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FILMS 



RADIO 



VIDEO 



MUSIC 



STAGE 




Published Weekly at 154 West 46th Street, New York 1*. N. T.. by Variety, Inc. Annual nibacrlptloft, 8ingt« copies. It cent* 

Entered «» second clau matter December 22, 1905, at the Poet Office at New York, N. ¥., under Ula act of March S. IS'.'S 
COPYRIGHT, 1948, BIT VAKIKTV, INC. ALL BIGHTS RESERVED 



VOL. 171 No. 9 



NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1948 



PRICE 25 CENTS 



RADIO'S FIND: FE MME COMICS 

%dios Decide War Shock Over, 
^jmch New Series of Battle films 



Giveaways as Top B.O. Attraction 
For Pix Houses, 1-Nighters, Fairs 



Show business' biggest boxofficef 
factor may well be giveaways. With ' 
"Stop the Music" the second high- 
est Hooperated air show and one 
of the top vaudeville grossers of 
the year at the Capitol theatre, 
N. Y. other entertainment fields 
are studying the Santa Claus show 
as a hypo to lagging trade through- 
out the country. 

Giveaways, until recently con- 
' fined to radio, has not edged itself 
into theatres, and is set to invade 
one-nighters and fairs. 
. Latest development is the Olsen 
& Johnson lineup for the Cana- 
dian National Exposition, Toronto, 
which starts today (4). The comics 
have lined up a sizable amount of 
merchandise, including automo- 
biles to be given away at that out- 
door event. " 

Ray Anthony band is lining up 
one-night stands on- the basis of 
having a variation of "Stop the 
Music." His "Melody Time" to be 
featured . in all ballrooms played 
by him, will give away prizes 
snagged from national advertisers 
and local merchants, as bait "for 
increased admissions. A spokesman 
for General Artists Corp., booking 
Anthony, says that one-night prb- 
(Continued on page 55J 



Hillbillies to Decide 
Fate of Congressional 
Race in Ozark Region 

St. Louis, Aug. 3. 

Radio hillbillies are doing okay 
in a hotly contested Congressional 
race in the Seventh Missouri (Oz- 
ark region) District as two candi- 
dates for the Republican nomina- 
tion have hired the mountain lads 
to hypo their cause. 

The incumbent Dewey Short is 
relying on "Slim Pickins" Wil- 
liams, out of Springfield, Mo., and 
his .opponent, Quentin Haden, has 
enlisted the histrionic talent of his 
"Uncle Carr" Haden family, cous- 
ins of his and who have a large 
radio following in the Missouri 
hills. ' 

The hill folks opine they have 
been receiving more entertainment 
in this campaign than ever before 
and they like it. 



ARTIE SHAW'S CONCERT 
TOUR WITH RAY LEV 

Artie Shaw, who broke up his 
band some years back, is following 
another licorice-stick wielder, 
Benny Goodman, into longhair 
music. Shaw • has tentatively 
mapped a concert tour with Ray 
Lev, w.k. concert pianist. Shaw 
will perform clarinet concerti, 
specializing on Mozart and Hinde- 
mith. 

Formation of another name band 
by Shaw is apparently out because 
the salary nut and overhead on a 
top-bracket musical array is cur- 
rently too high. 



N.Y. Times-Life Tolerance 
Slant on Joe Louis Biog 

New York Times and Life mag 
will give Joe Louis the "Winston 
Churchill treatment" in publishing 
the heavyweight champ's serialized 
biography this fall. Louis will 
receive $100,000 from the Times, 
which is opening its columns to the 
pug's saga as a boost to racial tol- 
erance. 

As .with the Churchill memoirs, 
the paper will distribute the biog 
to other sheets through its syndi- 
cate. Life mag's price for the 
rights has not been disclosed. 



New D. C. Legit's 
Non-Segregation 

Washington, Aug. 3. 

The Strand, 3,000-seat film house, 
may be sold to legit interests and 
again give the Capital a stage 
stand. Theatre, formerly the Acad- 
emy of Music, is being sought by 
Joseph Curtis, "son of Columbia 
Pictures vice-prez Jack Cohn, and 
by the American National Theatre 
& Academy. Asking price for the 
property is $400,000. Present owner 
is Marcus Notes, 

The theatre, originally built for 
legit shows, would be operated on 
a non-segregation policy, which 
would put it on the okay list with 
Actors Equity, whose regulation 
forbidding its members from ap- 
pearing in a Jim Crow house' in 
this city became effective Aug. 1. 
This would bring stage productions 
(Continued on page 18) 



U.S. Newsreels Ired By 
Poor First Shots Of 
(Rank's Excl.) Olympiad 

The Anglo-American feud over 
newsreel coverage of the Olympic 
Games in England, apparently 
ended and forgotten with the sign- 
ing for pool coverage by J. Arthur 
Rank, exploded into actipn again 
yesterday (Tues.) when the first 
clips on the event reached U.S. 
shores. The blowoff came, accord- 
ing to toppers of the five Yank 
newsreei companies," following in- 
spection of the footage which dis- 
closed only several hundred feet 
(Continued on page 18) 



FRIGIDAIRES VICE ACTORS? 

The giveaway show is regarded 
by members of the American 
Guild of Variety Artists as severe 
competition to live entertainers. 

At a meeting of the union held 
yesterday (Tues.) at the Capitol 
hotel, N. Y., performers present 
agreed that they could be replaced 
by a refrigerators >•-. , 






I SI 



Out of the current amb, 
gramming pattern beinr, 
at CBS is emerging a • 
school of comedienne^ ' 

At a time whe. 
increasing awareness 
within the industry ? 
lay listeners of tK 
fresh crop of ma- 
could some day rep 
Bennys, Cantors an, 
quite by accident, 
formula that has, 
jected into the limel. 
three potentially bigv 
air stars. 

These are Marie V. 
hit the comedy jackpot . 
time up in radio Via "ffi^ 
Irma"; Lucille Ball, who bv___ 
the CBS house-built "My Favorite 
Husband," and Eve Arden, star of 
"Our Miss Brooks." AU the shows 
are situation comedies, peculiarly 
patterned to the talents of the 
femmes. And on the basis of an 
audition platter cut last week, 
, : (Continued on page 53) 

Hughes Wants No 
'Messages in Pix; 
Viz, 'Green Hair 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

Dore Schary's pet project at 
RKO, "The Boy With Green Hair," 
is reportedly taking a trimming. 
New owner Howard Hughes, since 
resignation of the former produc- 
tion chief, is understood to have 
ordered that the entire tolerance 
message be chopped from the film. 

"Boy With Green Hair" is a 
fantasy designed by Schary to 
point up the plight of minority 
groups. Lad in question is a sym- 
bol. He was born, through no fault 
of. his own, with a mop of hair 
that was different in color from 
all the other people of the world. 
Thus he was a minority and he 
was persecuted for no other reason 
than that his hair was green. 

Idea was looked upon wittf great 
favor by all those Hollywoodians 
(Continued on page 2) 



lay Take 
est Circuit 

Jake this sea- 
uness to do 
Blk' on the 




Ex-War Secy Patterson 
May Legally Rep ASCAP 

Robert W. Patterson, former 
Secretary of War and now presi- 
dent of the N.Y. Bar Association, 
may be named special counsel to 
the American Society of Compos- 
ers, Authors & Publishers at its 
board meeting today (Wed.) in N.Y. 
As such he would be more than le- 
gal counsel for the Society since 
his function would be vividly in- 
fluential on a broad public rela- 
-. (Continued on page 55) 



Set forV^al 

Any action to expand the activi- 
ties of the United Service Organi- 
zations and its entertainment aux- 
iliary, Veterans Hospital Camp 
Shows, is unlikely to be taken un- 
til the fall. 

Secretary of Defense Forrestal 
issued an order last week to re- 
activate the USO on a broader 
scale because of the new draft laws 
and the voluntary recruitment pro- 
gram. It's expected that USO will 
have to create facilities to take 
care of 2,000,000 troops perma- 
nently. 

It's expected that the six com- 
ponent organizations that during 
the war comprised the USO. will 
(Continued on page 53) 

Kapp a Life-Saver 

London, Aug. 3. 

Jack Kapp, U. S. Decca prexy, 
brought 80 grams of streptomycin 
to save the life of the brother of 
John Bryan, film art director: 

Customs officer told Kapp: "You 
are a messenger of mercy." 



By WHITNEY WILLIAMS 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 
, Deluge of war pictures is slated 
for the cameras, with couple al- 
ready and several ' more on the 
way. It's the first time in several 
years that picture companies have 
beamed their efforts on yarns With 
World War II conflict background. 

At time late war ended, several 
such films, were prepped for pro- 
duction, but once hostilities ceased 
properties were immediately shel- 
ved. 

One producer stated that it 
would be five years before there 
would be another cycle of war. 
films, with others going on record 
that memory of the war would 
still be too poignant for any studio 
to chance a war picture for even 
longer. 

Apparently, three years were 
sufficient to dispell these fears that 
audiences wouldn't go for screen 
stories based on war. As long as 
a year ago, story departments of 
all the majors, and some of the 
(Conti nued on pa ge 53) 

Oscar Straus Abroad 
To Conduct, Also For 



Oscar Straus, the venerable 
Viennese composer, sails today 
(Wed.) for Paris on the S. S. Amer- 
ica, his first return to the republic 
which first gave him refuge when 
he fled the Nazis but who turned 
him out perforce in 1939. The 
composer of "The Chocolate 
Soldier," etc., will conduct a series 
of concerts in the French capital, 
Italy and Spain, and in October 
personally attend the world pre- 
miere of his latest operetta, "Here 
Comes the Waltz." 

Book is by Armin Robinson, an 
American, who did the libretto 
for Straus' "Three Waltzes." Com- 
poser isn't due back until mid- 
winter when he has a number of 
concert commitments in the U. S. 



74t 7&9fiBcrja#OG*A»fjfil. 



TELEVISION 

the i;5J 




ALL GIRL 

ORCHESTRA and CHOIR 

Uodti fh* Dlnttlon of 

PHIL SPITALNY 



as BEAUTIFUL to SEE as to HEAR! 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



British, French, Norwegian, Danish 
Film Subsidies Cut Further Into U. S. 



Hollywood, already fighting for* 
Hs life in the foreign field, is facing 
an overwhelmingly serious new 
spectre. It is nationalization of 
film industries abroad. Always a 
development that was feared, as 
one nation after another moved to- 
ward socialization, the spectre has 
suddenly become tangible in the 
past two weeks with four countries 
— Britain, France, Norway and 
Denmark— off ering subsidies to na- 
tive producers. 

In none of these countries is 
there direct nationalization or so- 
cialization of their production in- 
dustries. It doesn't take any ex- 
pert, however, at reading hand- 
writing on walls to see that that is 
only .a step removed from govern- 
ment financing of filmmakers, in 
the opinion of U. S. production and 
distribution execs. 

Not only are the loans to produ- 
cers seen as moves toward social- 
ization of native industries, but as 
the forerunner of a trend toward 
use of films as "instruments of na- 
tional policy" — in other words, pur- 
veyors of propaganda, such as they 
already are in all the Iron. Curtain 
countries and were in Germany 
and Italy. 

V.p. in charge of film loans for a 
large New York bank put his finger 
on this trend Monday (2). "When- 
ever we lend a producer money," 
he said, "we insist on seeing the 
shooting script. We make sure it 
•fits our idea of what will make a 
good picture. That is only common 
business prudence. If a govern- 
ment is doing the lending instead 
of a bank, there is no reason why 
(Continued on page 46) 



French film Pact Set? 

Paris, Aug. 3. 

Gerald Bj **, chief of the Mo- 
tion Picture Assn. of America's in- 
ternational division, -who has been 
in Paris for the last two months 
hammering out revisions of the 
Blum-Byrnes pact with French of- 
ficials, leaves for the U, S. tomor- 
row (Wed.), by boat, accompanied 
by his wife. 

It's understood Mayer reached an 
agreement with the French for the 
U.S. film industry. 



SHOWFOLK BACK FROM 
ABROAD TODAY (WED.) 

Several show biz names are due 
to arrive in New York today 
(Wed.) on the Queen Elizabeth. 
Duke Ellington is returning after 
8 solo concert tour of Britain and 
France, as is music publisher Jack 
Bobbins, who went abroad last 
month on a combined business- 
vacation trip. 

Other passengers include band- 
leader Kay Kyser and his wife, 
Georgia Carroll, back from vaca- 
tions in London and Paris. List is 
rounded out by radio comedian Pe- 
ter Donald, also returning from 
an European vacation; actor Rob- 
ert Morley and E. R. (Ted) Lewis, 
prexy of the London Gramophone 
Corp. and director of Decca Rec- 
ords, Ltd. 



Toots Shot's Projection 
Rooms; 400G Expansion 

When Toots Shor premieres his 
enlarged restaurant on West 51 
street, N. Y., in September, it will 
represent an additional investment 
of over $400,000 and include the 
building adjoining the present 51 
W. 51 location. Backed by the late 
Leo Justin, eastern theatre owner, 
whose widow and a syndicate of 
four own 50% as against Shor's 
80%, the midtown eatery in a few 
years has become a national land- 
mark and its host a personality. 

Shor will be compelled to shut- 
ter the last two or three weeks in 
August in order to facilitate the 
final touch which includes a top- 
floor projection rooms adjustable 
to three different sizes; a radio 
broadcasting room for sports pick- 
ups (due to the dominant sports 
character of the establishment); an 
enlarged bar, waiting rooms, 
separate kitchens, etc' A proposal 
for a television room has been 
nixed by the host who, while he 
thinks TV at the moment helps 
rather than hurts sporting events, 
still feels it unfair to keep cus- 
tomers away from important 
games, fights, etc. 

Toots Shor's eatery is one of the 
signal bistro successes in Ameri- 
can catering because of its unique 
accent on radio, show biz and 
sports personalities attracted to the 
spot. It is also unique as a hold- 
out against the encroachment of 
the Rockefellers' expansion pro- 
gram in the Radio City sector. Like 
Leon & Eddie's at 33 W. 52 and 
the 21 Club, also on 52d street, 
-which like Shor's owns its own 
realty, they will thus benefit from 
"the building-up of Rockefeller 
Center, being parcels of property 
not sold to the development, 
mi«fl ."•,•.>/ .. tTsi :;i ••• 

) i 



SAG, 4A's Row 
Widens Over TV 



Differences between the Screen 
Actors Guild and the other unions 
in the Associated Actors & Artistes 
of America widened last week- on 
two issues. Latest wrinkle is a 
jurisdictional matter, primarily in- 
volving representation over the 
production of films for television 
but potentially relating to the 
tire video field. Previously" 
had tossed down the mittr" 
eastern actor groups by S' 
ing down both the alt' 
posals for consolidate 
into "one big union," 

As a resul^ o f ' 
between the", 
George Hell0 
secretary of.* 
tion of Raf 
Jaffe, naif 
to the W 
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in an ei% 
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n nuuu utui jr 

lsfoTi4 Documentaries 




31$th Week! 

KEN MURRAY'S 

"BLACKOUTS OF 1948' 
El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, Cal. 

All-time long 1 run record in the 
legitimate theatre. 

"BILL AND COO" 

Now in National Release 



Columbia Broadcasting System's 
analysis of the film industry, "The 
Hollywood Story," has been slotted 
for the 10-11 p.m. period Sept. 21. 
It will take up the industry from 
the standpoint of the producer, ex- 
hibitor, banker, distributor, tech- 
nician and the public, but will 
draw no conclusions, according to 
Werner Michel, CBS documentary 
unit topper, who will produce the 
show. 

Script will go extensively into 
the structure of the industry, show- 
ing the activities of the five majors 
in production, distribution and ex- 
hibition and will detail economic 
controls. It will go beyond the 
glamor, Michel said, and show Hol- 
lywood as big business. 

Samuel Goldwyn's "Best Years 
of Our Lives" will be used as an 
example throughout, many other 
aspects of the industry being 
hinged to this one. film. Shown will 
be" its genesis, its financing, its 
production and its exhibition, as 
indicative of how these details of 
operational procedure are carried 
out. 

One of the points made in the 
script is that better films will be 
made only when the public de- 
mands them. "Have you ever gone 
to your local exhibitor • and told 
him what you like and don't like?", 
it is asked. 

Show, in the works for more 
than five months, is being written 
by Peter Lyons. It is the first of a 
series of four documentaries on 
mass communications media. Mag- 
azines probably will be next. 



Col. Morton's Pic Job 

New chief of. the motion picture* 
unit of the Army's public informa- 
tion division is Lieut. Col. John E. 
Horton. Headquartering in Wash- 
ington, he's to aid and assist the 
film industry on all problems and 
matters that pertain to the Army. 

Post recently was vacated by 
Maj. ^uart Palmer.. . ; . ( 



'COMMUNISM IN 
H'WOOD' TAKES 
C ENCORE 



Washington, Aug. 3. 

lunism in Hollywood^' 
-> front pages again, as the 
.investigating committee 
by Sen. Ferguson scored a 

victory over the House 
•rican Activities Commit- 
the struggle between the 

ps for the red-hunt head- 

>run for the senators 
i by Louis Budenz, for- 
''cmber and now pro- 
'ordham University 
he senate group that 
"a very big financial 
lollywood — so big in 
jne time there was a 
_;l squabble within the 
who should get the film 
<e party's finance com- 
idenz said, finally ruled 
Hollywood contributions 
to the national office 
irian the California district. 
..enz did not name any or- 
ganizations or individuals, and the 
members of the committee did not 
press him for details. 



'Emperor Waltz,' 'Easter Parade,' 
'Street With No Name' July's Top 3 



July's 'Big Ten' 

1. "Emperor Waltz" (Par). 

2. "Easter Parade" (M-G). 

3. "Street No Name" (20th). 

4. "Island'' (M-G). 

5. "Key Largo" (WB). 

6. "Fuller Man" (Col). 

7. "Fort Apache" (RKO). 

8. "High Seas" (WB). 

9. "Foreign Affair" (Par). 

10. "Regards B'way" 20th). 



D.C. Probers Want 'Good' 
Gimlet Eye on Coast 

Washington, Aug. 3. 

The House Unamerican Activi- 
ties Committee is still trying to 
find a topflight investigator to head 
its Los Angeles office, according 
to committee member McDowell 
of Pennsylvania. 

Meanwhile, it has repeatedly 
postponed opening the office. One 
of the L. A. office's jobs will be to 
keep a weather eye on the film in- 
dustry. 

• McDowell said the committee is 
now trying to get former commit- 
tee investigator Jim Stedman to 
give up a job in private industry 
to take the L. A. post. Until a 
good man is found, McDowell in- 
dicated, there'll be no west coast 
office. 



Vandy's Rough 
Road to Rome 



By CORNELIUS VANDERBILT. Jr. 

Rome, Aug. 1. 

Couple of days ago, in the moun- 
tains north of Siena, near the Futa 
Pass where the 5th Army stood so 
gallantly in the fall and winter of 
1944, our Airstream trailer was 
stoned by the Communists! And a 
little while later we were com- 
pletely run off the highway into 
the ditch by officious government 
troops, steel-helmeted and riding 
in fast-operating, black-steel gov- 
ernment tanks. I think I got mov- 
ies of them. Some sort of local up- 
rising has been taking place in 
that area for some days now and 
we saw troops everywhere. Later 
that night we were held up at the 
point of two guns by local Car- 
binieri who insisted on riding with 
us and took us to the little moun- 
tain fortress town of Radicofoni, 
on top of an ancient volcano and 
kept guard over us all night as 
other Communists jeered outside 
and made dire threats against "cap- 
italistic America." 

In the towns all the way from 
Venice here the hammer-and-sickle 
predominates. 

Art McChrystal, who was Eisen- 
hower's PRO and a three-star gen- 
eral, is now running Vienna. He 
thought the trailer the best means 
of Public Relations in Europe this 
summer and got the French and 
Russian representatives in Frank- 
furt to give us passes to get to 
Vienna. But, instead, when we got 
to Stuttgart, the rain was still 
teeming down and we decided to 
try Switzerland instead. At the 
Graf Zeppelin Hotel in Stuttgart, 
which was never damaged by the 
war, a U.S. troupe of acrobats were 
piling in the crowds into the Snack 
bar every night; but the best thing 
we saw in all of Germany, after 
dark, was the Circus in the Frank- 
furt Zoo. It was so good, we went 
to see it twice! peer act are The 
Morgans. He's the guy in top-hat, 
(Continued on page 46) 



PARIS LOSING OUT 
AS STYLE CAPITAL? 

There's a trend away from Paris 
as a fashion center, 20th-Fox de- 
signer Bonnie Cashin declared 
upon her arrival in New York last 
week after several weeks in the 
French capital. The styles, she 
said, are now more or less inter- 
nationalized with couturiers of 
New York, London and other 
glottol centers all contributing to 
the decor of the femme wardrobe. 

One authority, just back from 
Paris, -pointed out last week that 
with the fall and winter styles due 
to start early this month, most 
French designers have become 
alarmed at the lack of American 
buyers. Stiff prices, he said, have 
discouraged their attendance. Only 
a fourth as many U. S. buyers are 
on' hand as in pre-war days. 

As a result some of the leading 
houses are hard pressed to main- 
tain their solvency. In fact so 
difficult is the situation that"' the 
trade feels it's only a question of 
time before the government steps 
in with a subsidy to bolster the 
nation's style prestige before it's 

- ... f. "■ J i , , "m ...... .» * 



Bing Crosby copped the July na „ 
tional sweepstakes by nearly six 
lengths, his "Emperor Waltz" 
( Par ) , ( with Joan Fontaine ) , being 
far ahead of the field, according to 
reports from Variety correspond- 
ents in some 22 key cities. "Waltz" 
ran "nearly $600,000 ahead of its 
nearest rival in actual coin, and did 
big to smash trade in nearly every 
spot played, most phenomenal 
being its record racked up at Radio 
City Music Hall, coming close to 
$980,000 in seven weeks, biggest 
grosser and longest run at the Hall 
this year. 

Second money was won by 
"Easter Parade" (M-G), which also 
was a strong favorite, particularly 
in the last half of July when it was 
around generally in the keys. Judy 
Garland-Fred Astaire-Irving Berlin 
musical showed such strength in 
final week of the past month that 
it took the national leadership away 
from "Waltz" in the last session of 
July. 

"Street With No Name" (20th) 
was a close third-place winner. "On 
an Island With You" (M-G) was 
considerably behind the top three 
but easy fourth-spot champ. 

"Key Largo" (WB), which really 
only got started in final two weeks, 
displayed such sock trade at the 
wickets that it moved up to a strong 
fifth position. Sixth best was 
"Fuller Brush Man" (Col), this 
Red Skelton comedy continuing to 
show unusual b.o. potentialities. It 
was in fifth groove in June stand- 
ings. 

"Fort Apache" (RKO) again was 
if\ the chips, finishing seventh. This 
western meller copped third spot 
in June. "Romance on High Seas" 
(WB) managed to land eighth po- 
sition although inclined to spotti- 
ness some weeks. "Foreign Af- 
fair" (Par;) landed No. 9 money on 
the basis of only a limited number 
of books in July. Tenth spot went 
to "Regards to Broadway" (20th). 
Runners-Up 

Best runners-up finished as fol- 
lows: ' "Canon City" (EL), "Re- 
turn of Bad Men" (RKO), "Melody 
Time" (RKO), "Paradine Case" 
(SRO), "Best Years" (RKO), 
(Continued on page 46) 



17-Piece U. S. Army Band 
Accomps Jack Benny & Co. 
On Tour Into Germany 

London, Aug. 3. 
* The U. S. Army gave Jack Benny 
& Co. a 17-piece band to travel 
with the comedian during his cur- 
rent week's tour of Germany to en- 
tertain the Occupation troops. 

Benny, who is remembered for 
his USO tours, has with him per- 
haps the top cast of any war en- 
tertainment unit, comprising Mary 
Livingstone, Alice Faye, Phil Har- 
ris and Marilyn MaxweU. His 
Hollywood publicist, Irving Fein, 
is also accompanying the troupe. 



BOB O'DONNELL-HUGHES 
LAUGH OFF RKO RUMORS 

Dallas, Aug. 3. 

Friends of Bob O'Donnell and 
Howard Hughes believe the ru- 
mored association of the pair 
would be spectacular — but brief. 
O'Donnell, v.p. and general man- 
ager of the Interstate Theatre Cir- 
cuit, has a reputation for fiery in- 
dividualism equalling that of the 
new RKO owner. 

It had been rumored that O'Don- 
nell might be the next prexy of 
RKO. Honeymooning in Holly- 
wood, he denied the rumor quickly 
and emphatically. It was echoed 
here that O'Donnell never had any 
Hollywood ambitions. O'Donnell 
said that he was "doing pretty well 
with Interstate" and "would rather 
.. ■ t iCpntinued ofl. page .4(8}, ■ 




No Message Pix 

iii Continued from page 1 

and critics who agreed with Senary 
that the screen must occasionally 
use its power for more than mere 
entertainment. New York Herald 
Tribune, as a matter of fact, had a 
highly laudatory layout of stills on 
the film in Sunday's (1) magazine 
section. 

Hughes, on the other hand, has 
made no bones of the fact that in 
his opinion films have no duty but 
to entertain. All "message" pix 
have been killed or are being 
edited, as is "Boy," to take out. the 
moral angles. "Boy" is expected 
to come out a straight fantasy. 

This difference in philosophy of 
approach to the screen is seen as 
one of the basic reasons leading to 
Schary's resignation from RKO 
following Hughes' purchase of the 
company. "Boy" cast includes Pat 
O'Brien, Robert Ryan, Dean Stock- 
well and Barbara Hale. Stephen 
Ames is producer and Joseph 
Losey director. It is in Techni- 
color to point up the difference in 
hair color, but otherwise was. plan- 
ned for the low-budget category. 



Exhibs' Tepid Reaction 
Cools Prod, of Commie Pic 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

John Sutherland has shelved 
plans for production of "Confes- 
sions of an American Communist," 
for which United Artists release 
had been set. Survey disclosed 
that films dealing with Communism 
aren't too favorably received by 
public. Set as documentary. w » tn 
Gen. William "Wild Bill" Donovan 
as associate producer, may be re- 
activated later. 

Sutherland, back after a four- 
week trip through Idaho, Mon- 
tana and Oregon, says exhibitors 
reported little smalltown interest 
in propaganda films or pix with 
messages; ditto problem pix, or 
those concerned with sophisticated 
people and smart dialog. They 
want adventure, comedy, romance. 
Sutherland also discovered small 
towners feel Hollywood's business 
should not include any such themes 
as world problems. ,• , 

...v.. .<v ...... a . d . 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



PICTURES 



YANKS LOSING BRITISH PROD. YEN 



UHopes for $7,000,000 U.S. Tax Break; 
Big Exec Powwow Slated on Coast 



Universal has recently redoubled*- 
pressure on the Government, it ' 
has been learned, for quick- ad- 
judication of tax claims that would 
give it a windfall of more than 
$7,000,000. With prospects of 
showing a possible loss for the cur- 
rent fiscal year, ending in Novem- 
ber, the coin — or any part of it — 
would come as manna in perking 
the annual profit-and-loss state- 
ment. 

In the meantime, U has become 
the butt of a flood of rumors in 
the industry, mostly emanating 
from the fact that a series of its 
pictures in the past six months or 
so have not shown the anticipated 
vigor at the boxoffice. However, 
whether or not the tax court rules 
in U's favor and whether or not 
the current year's operations show 
a profit, company is reported by 
knowledgeful financial circles to 
have assets well in excess of what 
any emergency drain on its re- 
sources could conceivably require. 

Nevertheless, -a continued suc- 
cession of films which, in many 
cases, have received strong critical 
acclaim but little substantial re- 
turn at the boxoffice, has undoubt- 
edly created some internal ten- 
sions. A full-dress session of all 
(Continued on page 20) 



Corn Popping Bullishly 

Washington, Aug. 3. 

There may be more popcorn next 
year, the Agriculture Department 
indicates. 

The Department reports that the 
1948 acreage of popcorn planted in 
the 12 chief commercial producing 
states will be about 51% larger 
than the 1947 acreage. The in- 
crease follows two successive years 
of decreases. 

Weather since planting was gen- 
erally favorable for good growth 
and development, Agriculture 
states. 



Everybody 'Plays Ball' 
With Video Producers 
To Get Into Game Early 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

Coming of video is rapidly mak- 
ing of Hollywoodians a race of 
"ball players." About two-thirds 
of the TV films being produced 
here, it's said, are on the basis of 
writers, players and technicians 
heeding producers' pleas to "Play 
ball with me now and I'll take care 
of you later." 

Since the economics of television 
at the moment make it all but im- 
possible for pictures specially pro- 
duced for video to pay for them- 
selves, producers are up against 
the problem of getting them out at 
the lowest possible cost. Thus the 
gsowth of the "ball playing" tech- 
nique to the point where some 
writers, directors and players 
claim it is bordering on absurdity. 

The "play ball with me" ap- 
proach is made possible by the fact 
that most video films are being 
(Continued pn page 18) 



BUZZELL MAY DIRECT 
'J0LS0N SINGS AGAIN' 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

Columbia Pictures will probably 
borrow Eddie Buzzell from Metro 
to direct "Jolson Sings Again," the 
sequel to "The Jolson Story." 
Larry Parks again will play Al 
Jolson, but in spades this time, i.e., 
a dual role of Jolson pere and fils. 
Buzzell would displace Al Green 
who directed the original $10,000,- 
000 grosser. 

Sidney Buchman did the story 
and again will produce. Sidney 
Skolsky, who sparked the original 
Jolson deal, doesn't take an encore 
on this one, however. 

As part of the new script, the 
film fans will see how the sound- 
track was mixed, i.e. the real Jol- 
son doing the warbling and Parks 
dubbing the simulation. , 



Skouras' Rebate 
Still Bonus Of 
20th Contention 



The $3,500,000 which Charles P. 
Skouras, head of National theatres, 
and his three aides Frank H. (Rick) 
Ricketson, Jr., Elmer C. Rhoden 
and Harold J. Fitzgerald are offer- 
ing to compromise minority stock- 
holders' actions against 20th-Fox 
and its directorate is an "illusory 
figure representing a paper settle- 
ment." This is what the lawyers 
for shareholders maintained yester- 
day (Tues.). during hearings on the 
settlement before Justice Ferdi- 
nand Pecora in N.Y. supreme court. 
Court reserved decision after a full 
day of pro-and-con argument. 

Contention was repeatedly raised 
that Skouras and other NT execs 
were not giving up a penny of their 
own. Other charges were aired in- 
cluding one that 20th lost in excess 
of $2,300,000 by conceding that 
stock options granted the NT quar- 
tet, along with Spyros P. Skouras, 
Darryl F. Zanuck and William C. 
Michel, exec veepee, were capital 
gains and not compensation subject 
to income tax laws. 

During the hearing former Judge 
Samuel I. Rosenman, attorney for 
the defendants, disclosed that Na- 
tional theatres, wholly-owned 20th 
subsid, would earn a minimum of 
$9,000,000 in the current year. 
Rosenman made that disclosure in 
attacking stockholder arguments 
that Charles Skouras, by accepting 
a $360,000 ceiling on earnings from 
(Continued on page 16) 



Griffith Estate Put 
At $25,000-$50,000 

Los Angeles, Aug. 3. 

David Wark Griffith's estate, 
estimated at between $25,000 and 
$50,000, was left to 10 nieces, 
nephews and grandnieces in his 
will, filed for probate in L. A. su- 
perior court. 

Named as sharers in the estate 
were Ruth Griffith, Marie Dun- 
can, Marguerite Butler, Myrtil 
Seaman Griffith, Lynn Griffith, 
Williard Griffith, Barbara Griffith, 
Geraldine Reichard, Mary Ruth 
Duncan and Maryann Butler. 



Fortune Mag Article 
Inspires Exhib to Sue 
Par in Galesburg, 111. 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 

As an outgrowth of an article 
appearing in Fortune, August issue, 
Weldon Allen, operator of the 
Grove theatre, Galesburg, 111., is 
taking action against the major 
distributors and the Great Lakes 
(Paramount) circuit for anti-trust 
violations. 

Article, which told of the trouble 
that Allen has had trying to get 
first run product in competition 
with Great States, aroused such 
interest from indies that he has 
retained Seymour Simon, Chi at- 
torney, to file suit for damages and 
to force distribs to permit him to 
buy first run. 

Grove, 390-seater, had been in 
second run until 1947, when it 
asked for first run films and, with 
the exception of United Artists, 
was refused pics although it was 
willing to pay equal and in some 
cases higher fees for films than 
Great Lakes. Allen, who grossed 
from $600 to $700 in second run, 
claims that he can gross as much as 
$2,500 in first run with extended 
showings. However, he is unable to 
film. Paramount owns three of the 
other four houses in town, the 
other being a subsequent-run 
theatre. 



ONLY 6 (NOT 25) 
PLANNED FOR ENG. 

Large-scale plans of American 
picture companies to produce in 
England, formulated after the tax 
settlement of last March, have 
been rapidly falling by the way- 
side. It appears likely now that 
less than half a dozen pix spon- 
sored purely by Yank producers 
will be made in Britain during the 
initial year of the new Anglo-U. S. 
films pact. 

With American execs going to 
England in droves last spring to in- 
spect the situation and make 
grandiose announcements of plans, 
there was talk of as high as 25 or 
more pictures being made there. 
Hollywood labor was getting fear- 
ful of losing its jobs to the British, 
And the British were equally fear- 
ful of losing all, their studio space 
to the Americans. 

Motion Picture Assn. of Amer- 
ica prexy Eric Johnston found it 
necessary to administer a sedative 
to both groups and issued a pro- 
nunciamento that, with the scarcity 
of space, equipment and techni- 
cians available, no more than 12 
to 15 films could possibly be made. 
Now it appears that under 
(Continued on page 21) 



WB's 5-Year Pacts 
To Two Veepees 

Indicating an intention to hold 
the salary line for ^top-ranking film 
execs in the facet of dwindling 
profits, two major Ifilm companies 



Suggest Calling Anglo-US. Group 
To Ease Pic Industry Tensions 



CoL's British Offer 

London, Aug. 3. 

Indie producers got a whopping 
big offer from Columbia last week 
— if they have a suitable story and 
players for a picture, Joseph Fried- 
man, Col's British manager, an- 
nounced that his company was of- 
fering not only studio space; but' 
all the cash required. 

Up to the week's end, Friedman 
had had a number of prospective 
deals presented. He was said to 
be sorting out the ones from 
"worthwhile" indies. 



Pars $1,500,000 
Budget Ceiling 
On Future Pix 



Hollywood, Aug. 3. 
Paramount se» a limit of $1,- 
500,000 on budgets for future pro- 
ductions, in keeprWg with its new 
policy of rigid economy, New rule 
applied to producers? un d er studio 
contract and to inde\, en( jents re- 
leasing through Paramount. Move 
was explained as an effw t„ 
production costs below ci ari . ent 
mestic boxoffice returns.? Decision 
was made after a nationwide sur- 
vey of theatres by Barney ij a i a ban 
Charles M. Reagan andf Austin 
Keough. ■'■ 

Cecil B. DeMille's conty act as 
producer-director contains a C ] a use 



have granted extensions in em- , P tiijjiH«#f««At««e*, studio ffi? ; 
Ployment contra^teVl^r^ 

own bankroll. How the new rule 



dept. toppers at peak pay. Warner 
Bros, last month inked five-year 
extension tickets for Benjamin Kal- 
menson, company's distribution 
veepee; and Harry Kalmine,' the- 
atre veepee, it was disclosed this 
week. A two-year stretching of his 
ticket with 20th-Fox was accorded 
Murray Silverstone, head of the 
foreign dept. 

Kalmenson and Kalmine will 
each pull down $125,200 annually 
for the five 'years, running from 
Dec. 31, 1950, to the end of 1955. 
Silverstone's annual paycheck will 
amount to something over the $96,- 
850 which he was given during 
1947. 

Present contracts of Kalmine and 
Kalmenson, running for five years, 
expire Dec. 31, 1950. Renewal 
(Continued on page 21) 



will affect his "Samson and De- 
lilah" has not bee# disclosed. The 
budget for this picture was re- 
cently announced as $4,500,000. 
Escaping the slash is "The Heir- 
ess," currc .tly In production and 
too far along to reduce the budget. 

Vancouver's Lure 

Vancouver, Aug. 3. 

As an inducement to attract 
Hollywood producers to western 
Canada, a new film studio will be 
built in Vancouver this fall, cost- 
ing $750,000 and affording facil- 
ities for indoor as well as outdoor 
shooting. 

Project will be financed by a 
Canadian syndicate headed by C. 
French Burns, mining man. 



National Boxoffice Survey 

Cool Wave Ups Trade — 'Largo,' 'Parade,' 'Street,' 
'A. & C.,' 'Waltz,' 'Melody,' 'Affair,' 'Canon' Tops 

Brush Man" (Col). Continued 
strength by last-named, although 
now fairly well played in principal 
keys, attests to renewed popularity 
of Red Skelton. 

Best of new entries, besides 
"Frankenstein," appear to be "Date 
With Judy" (M-G), which tees off 
this week at N. Y. Music Hall, and 
"Babe Ruth Story" (Mono). Also 
showing possibilities is "So Evil 
My Love" (Par), sturdy in Phil- 
adelphia and neat in Chicago. 
"Ruth Story" looks headed for a 
possible record in Baltimore but 
in N. Y., where panned by crix, the 
baseball picture rates only strong. 

"Escape" (20th), another new- 
comer, is credited with only modest 
biz pn L.A. preem. "Tap Roots" 
<U) continues great in third Philly 
frame. "Dream Girl" (Par), while 
fairly nice in Seattle and okay in 
Cincinnati, still is proving disap- 
pointing, especially in Minneapolis 
and San Francisco. "Deep Waters" 
(20th) looks better currently than 
last session, being good in Cleve- 
land, sturdy in Detroit but very 
thin in N. Y. 

"Feudin,' Fussin'" (U) is mild in 
Balto and Pittsburgh. "Paradine 
Case" (SRQ) looks steady in Chi 
and okay in Philly. 

(Complete Boxoffice Reports on 
Pages 8-9) 



Stronger all-round biz this week 
stems from cooler weather in many 
key cities covered by Variety — 
with rain keeping thousands from 
beaches and ballgames. Because 
the letup in torrid heat was partic- 
ularly felt along the Atlantic sea- 
board, it showed up in many of 
largest cities. 

"Key Largo" (WB), which was in 
third place last stanza, takes over 
national leadership this week, with 
strong to sock showings in nearly 
all spots. "Easter Parade" (M-G), 
last week's champ, was pushed 
down to second position, the color 
opus suffering also from holdovers 
and extended-runs in many cities. 

Third best is "Street With No 
Name" (20th), this thriller moving 
up from fourth while "Abbott- 
Costello Meet Frankenstein" (U> is 
edging into fourth slot on basis of 
great performances in most of its 
dates. "Emperor Waltz" (Par), 
July's all-round champion, dropped 
back to fifth. 

"Melody Time" (RKO) is copping 
sixth money, managing to nose out 
"Foreign Affffalr" (Par), a strong 
seventh place winner. 

"Canon City" (EL), with addi- 
tional playdates, winds up a stout 
eighth. Runner-up pictures are 
topped by "Mr. Blandings" (SRO), 
"On Merry Way" (UA) and "Fuller 



• With current bitterness between 
U. S. and British picturemakers se- 
riously hurting the industries in 
both countries, the time has come, 
it's beer, suggested, to call into ses- 
sion the joint Anglo-American 
films committee which was set up 
last year but has never met. The 
joint committee plan was formu- 
lated in a burst of good wills by 
Eric Johnston and British trade 
toppers, led by J. Arthur Rank, 
during a visit to Britain last year 
by the Motion Picture Assn. of 
America prexy. 

Its purpose was to solve by 
roundtable discussions the mutual 
problems of the English and U. S. 
industries. If ever there was a 
time they have problems, observers 
in both New York and London 
pointed out this week, this is it. 
And since all other efforts at so- 
lution have hit a solid brick wall, 
face-to-face talks by industry lead- 
ers might be the way, it is thought. 

Plans announced by Rank and 
Johnston for the joint committee 
were highly optimistic, it is re- 
called. The committee was to be 
divided into two parts, one to meet 
in the U. S. and one in England. 
They were to be small groups that 
could readily get down to brass 
(Continued on page 50) 

M-G RULES IT'S CHEAPER 
TO LET OPTIONS DROP 

Hollywood, Aug.' 3. 

.Metro is taking the easy way .out 
of its economic stress, permitting 
time, rather than expensive sur- 
gery, to dispense with high-salaried 
contractees. The idea is to let op- 
tions fall like autumn leaves and 
forget about them. 

When Charles C. Moskowitz and 
J. Robert Rubin, . economic engin- 
eers for Loew's, came here recently 
with the idea of settling a number 
of contracts held by producers, di- 
rectors and stars, they discovered 
that amputation would cost a lot of 
coin. Now they are waiting for 
options to drop, without echoes. 




Trado Mark Rogfstored 
FOUNDED BY SIME SILVERMAN 
I-ulilislird Weekly by VARIETY, Inc. 

Sid Silverman, President 
154 Wesl 40th St., Now York 19. N. Y. 
Hollywood 88 
6311 Yucca Street 
Washington 4 
. 1292 National Preas Building 
Chtengo 1 
300 No. Michigan Ave. 
London H e; 
» St. Martin's PI.. Trafalgar So. 



SUBSCRIPTION 

Annual 510 Foreign $11 

Single Copies 25 Cents 



Vol. 171 



No. 9 



INDEX 

Bills 46 

Chatter 54 

Concert 48 

Disk Jockey Reviews 34 

Film Reviews 11 

House Reviews 47 

Inside Legit 50 

Inside Pictures 16 

Inside Radio 31 

International 13 

Legitimate 48 

Literati 53 

Music 34 

New Acts 47 

Night Club Reviews 45 

Obituaries 55 

Orchestras . . • . 34 

Pictures 2 

Radio 22 

Radio Reviews , ,.24 

Records 34 

Frank Scully 53 

Television 25 

Unit Reviews 44 

Vaudeville 41 



DAILY VAVRTBXX 

(Published In Hollywood by 
Dally Variety. Ltd.) 
$15 a Tear— $20 Foreign 



± 



PICTUKES 



WrJnrfwlay, August 4, 1918 



Low-Budgeters for Specialized U. S. 
Audiences, a la Foreign Film Idea 



Plan, frequently talked of since* 

the end of the war, for making low- ' 
budgeted features for specialized 
audiences may soon get a trial. 
Irving Lerner, documentary direc- 
tor, is heading a unit to make this 
type product. He arrived in New 
York from the Coast last week to 
sound out indie distribs on poten- 
tial income of the films in order 
to put their production on an eco- 
nomic basis. 

Lerner, partnered in the project 
vrith writer Ben Maddow, has the 
necessary financing. Plan is to 
make, films with acknowledgedly 
limited audience appeal that would 
play the art houses now using for- 
eign pix. plus a small number of 
regular theatres. 

It is figured that the same audi- 
ences who now regularly patronize 
the lingualers could be attracted 
to unusual and "adult" American- 
made product. In addition, since 
the films would be in English, of 
course, limited patronage could 
also be expected from filmgoers 
who do not ordinarily plunk down 
coin for foreign language pix. 

Lerner is tentatively figuring on 
budgets of about $75,000. Actual 
coin involved would be consider- 
ably less than that, however, since 
everyone involved, except the tech- 
nicians and crew, would get a 
profit participation and defer his 
salary. Lerner said this week that 
be had sounded out some top 
Hollywood names, including writ- 
ers and stars, and' found them 
ready to go along with the plan. 
Some Available Names 

He said he was now pushing the 
Idea, which has long lain dormant, 
because the present dearth of 
regular production has made avail- 
able a great quantity of important 
talent. With no prospect of major 
studio jobs for some time to come, 
many of these people are 1 anxious 
to- join the experimental tyne pro- 
duction on a participating basis. 

Lerner's expectation is to do 
little better than break even on 
most of the films, but — without 
making any conscious bow to so- 
called popular taste — to play for an 
occasional big winner. His idea is 
to get a click once in a while such 
as the Italian "Open City" or 
French "Baker's Wife," which 
grossed an amount in the Ameri- 
can market which would give the 
unit a heavy profit. 

Idea has been discussed by vari- 
ous groups since the end of the 
war for making pix for specialized 
audiences, rather than concentrat- 
ing on heavy budgeters which must 
have universal appeal to get back 
their nut. Maurice Bergman, Uni- 
versal^ publicity-advertising direc- 
tor, has been an advocate -of the 
scheme in a number of speeches 
during the past few years. With 
rising costs in Hollywood, the plan 
has been pushed aside as un- 
feasible economically, since the 
films couldn't be made cheaply 
enough. High incidence of unem- 
ployment on the Coast now, how- 
ever, has changed the situation in 
that top talent is available on a 
participation basis. 

Lerner. shortly before his ar- 
rival in the east, completed direc- 
tion of "Human Growth" for Eddie 
Albert Productions. Two-reel in- 
structional film, made for the Ore- 
gon school system, has received 
wide publicity as the initial picture 
to completely explain elements of 
conception and birth to children. 



Cong. Hartley Says He 
May Front for Show Biz 

Washington, Aug. 3. 

House Labor Committee Chair- 
man F.red Hartley, who steps out 
*>f Congress at the end of the year, 
admits he has been approached to 
act as "legislative representative" 
for a major motion picture organi- 
zation — but isn't saying, which one. 

Hartley said he received an jn- 
formal offer from an industry of- 
ficial several weeks ago. but re- 
fused to name him. The New Jer- 
sey Republican said he had the 
Impression that if he accepted he 
would not bfwronting for just pro- 
ducers, exhibitors or distributors, 
but "rather the industry as a 
whole." 

He did not accept nor turn down 
the bid, Hartley said, but outlined 
conditions under which he might 
take the job. "I'm not getting ex- 
Cited until a formal offer is made," 
be declared. 



Can't Be— Everything 
Sweetness & light in N W ? 

Minneapolis, Aug, 3. 
North Central Allied, which in- 
duced 20th-Fox to join it in a plan 
for settlement of exhibitor griev- 
ances by a mediation committee 
and which is trying to interest 
other distributors in the plan, ad- 
mits in a bulletin just issued that 
no complaints against the company 
for committee action are being re- 
ceived. 

President Bennie Berger previ- 
ously had been beefing about 
alleged Supreme Court consent 
decree ruling violations and threat- 
ening law suits and recourse to the 
Justice Department. Accordingly, 
there's nothing for the board to do. 



Porters Crack 
At Theatres, Pool 
HaHs, Gm Mills' 

Washington, Aug. 3. 

President Truman's anti-inflation 
adviser, Paul Porter, last week gave 
a fine demonstration of how to 
alienate theatre-owners and lose 
Democratic v< te *- 

He classed ;theatres with "pool 
halls and P* n mills" as types of 
structures- ,v " at can be spared dur- 
ing the present housing shortage. 

Testify?" 8 before the House 
Banking Committee last Friday 
(30) B* rter was asked where the 
Admu £lstration would get the need- 
ed materials if the Taft-EUender- 
Wag? er housing bill \ve« passed. 

porter said that if the Admin- 
istr?^ 00 - na< * allocation powers and 
othr r controls, "I think you can 
sto i enough gin mills, pool halls 
and theatre s to get the miaterials."' 

rA^^ n «^J^n%rs4^3L. 
worry; 1 Vt There's no chance 

of Congress "voting the allocation 



controls. 



TRENET PREPARING 
CONTRACT SOFT VS. EL 

Hollywood, Aug. 3.^ 
Charles Trenet, the French sing- 
er, is preparing a $100,000 breach 
of contract suit against Eagle Lion. 
He claims that studio cancelled his 
deal for two films to be made this 
year at $85,000 as result of his de- 
tention at Ellis Island, N. Y. Sing- 
er was barred from entry for some 
time, but has since been allowed 
into this country under the quota. 

Papers, currently being prepared 
by New York theatrical law firm of 
Silverstone & Rosenthal, claim 
that the studio had no reason to 
cancel the contract inasmuch as he 
was cleared, of charges of "unques- 
tionable visa" which held him up 
when he came here. It's also 
claimed that the cancellation is in 
line with the general studio re- 
trenchment policy under which 
many contract players are being 
let out on the grounds of economy. 



England Gets Sweet Call 
From O'Reilly Candy Co 

Wilbur B. (Bill) England, RKO 
Theatres exec, resigned as of last 
Friday (30) to go into the theatre 
candy business. It is understood 
he will become an official of the 
O'Reilly candy concern, which serv- 
ices RKO houses via a contract 
with ABC Vending Co. 

England handled the contract 
with O'Reilly for RKO and also 
was personnel director for the 
theatres. He will not be replaced. 
His duties will be parcelled out 
among other execs of the company. 
He's been with RKO since 1932. 



20th Dno Swap Press Jobs 
Shuffle of personnel duties in 
2Qth-Fox' homeoffice ad-publicity 
dept. has resulted in trade press 
rep Ira Tulipan and press book 
editor Lou Frick swapping posts. 

Change was announced yester- 
day (Tues.) by Charles Schlaifer, 
20th's ad-pub director. Tulipan and 
Frick have long been members of 
Schlatter's staff. 



Milder, Payette Dead 

Two prominent Warner Bros, 
executives, Max Milder in 
England and John J. Payette 
in Washington, died Sunday 
(1) after long illnesses. (De- 
tails in Obituary section). 

Milder, who resigned as 
managing director of Warner 
Bros. Pictures, Ltd., in Eng- 
land last month because of his 
health, was succeeded then by 
Arthur S. Abeles, Jr., his as- 
sistant for the past year. Suc- 
cessor to Payette, general 
zone manager of Warner the- 
atres in Washington, has not 
been named sft yet, but it's 
understood George Crouch, 
Payette's assistant, is slated 
for the post. 



MOT May Reenter 
Fall-Length field 

Possibility of the March of Time 
entering the full-length documen- 
tary field for the first time since 
the war was revealed by MOT pro- 
ducer Richard de Rochemont be- 
fore he sailed from New York, 
Friday^ (30) on the Queen Mary. 
He said that he had several ideas 
in mind for films which would 
have a European background. In 
the past MOT turned out the full- 
length "Ramparts. We Watch," 
"We Are the Marines" and "Story 
of the Vatican" between 1940-1942. 

De Rochemont, whose usual 
practice is to visit Europe at least 
once a year, will stop briefly at the 
company's offices in London and 
Paris as well as jumping to North 
Africa and Egypt for short tours 
there. In addition to the prospec- 
tive feature-length pix, the pro- 
ducer pointej) out that MOT is par- 
ticularly actiW in Europe now with 
standard-footake clips in produc- 
tion in Germaby, Scandinavia and 
England. > 

In all de Rochemont expects to 
be away about' two months. 



/ 'Outlaw' 
^JfoJZMk Youth 
Frown on Texas Nabe 

, San Antonio, Aug. 3. 

More than 2,200 Catholic youths 
of San Antonio last week repri- 
manded the Hi Ho, nabe house 
here, in a scorching letter to 
Douglas Askey, manager. Miss 
Florence Ehrler, apostolic commit- 
tee chairman of the San Antonio 
Sodality Union, said the youths 
placed the theatre under interdict 
for one year, advising Catholic 
youths to abstain from patronizing 
the theatre until June 30, 1949. 

She disclosed that the letter, 
signed by Leo Ehlinger, prez of 
the San Antonio Sodality Union, 
charged that the theatre manage- 
ment had on several occasions "at- 
tempted to offer its public motion 
pictures that was -onensive and 
often immoral," The letter spe- 
cifically cited the pics "Mom and 
Dad" and "The Outlaw." 

The youths also charged that a 
high percentage of "B" pictures 
were shown at the house. ' 

Askey could not be reach) for 
any comment, but an employe of 
the house. P. J. Fernandez; stated 
that the film "Mom and Dad" had 
been shown to several city offi- 
cials, two priests and others, be- 
fore it was released for showing 
in June. 



Europe to N. Y. 

Georgia Carroll 
George Cukor 
Peter Donald 
Duke Ellington 
Tudi Kroeck 
Kay Kyser 
E. R. Lewis 
Noel Madison 
Robert Morley 
Tom O'Brien 
Jack Robbins 
Howard Strickling 
Spencer Tracy 

N. Y. to Europe 

Merricl Abbott 
Dorothy Barko 
Larry Barnett 
Joseph Burstyn 
Hoagy Carmichael 
Anita Colby 
Richard de Rochemont 
John Ringling North 
Norton V. Ritchey 
Ed m undo Ros 
Oscar Straus 
Rebecca West 
Max Wilkinson 



Schary Urges Writers With New Ideas 
To Help Hollywood Ride Out Crisis 



John Balaban at Helm 
of TOA Chi Convention 

John Balaban (& Kate), Para- 
mount-owned Chicago circuit top- 
per, will serve as convention chair- 
man for Theatre Owners of Amer- 
ica's national confab which kicks 
off Sept. 23 in Chi. Balaban will 
be seconded by Edward G. Zorn, 
prexy of United Theatre Owners of 
Illinois, who has accepted the 
vice-chairmanship. 

Meanwhile, Ted Gamble, TOA 
prez; Robert Coyne, retiring exec 
director, and Gael Sullivan, exec 
director, are lining up a list of 
prominent speakers. Trio hope to 
bring to Chi a number of top- 
ranking Government officials. 



Fear Cities Would 
Pick Up Amus. Tax 
If U.S. Drops 20% 

Houston, Aug. 3. 

At a meeting held here of city 
attorneys, the Dallas city attorney 
told the group that if the Govern- 
ment dropped or altered the pre- 
sent 20% tax, cities ought to take 
moves to pick it up. The cities and 
towns throughout the state for 
some time have been eyeing vari- 
ous biz to tax in order to increase 
their revenue. At the present time 
Texas law prohibits the levying of 
special taxes on "biz. 

It was the general opinion of 
exhibitors that the present tax of 
20% was unjust and too burden- 
some and that a state or city tax 
would be unbearable whether it 
was in addition or a part of the 
present levy. 

The theatre men stated that eyes 
should be focused on the state 
legislature at Austin as well as on 
the various towns and cities and 
to curb at once any attempt to start 
the levy on the theatres. 



FORM NEW INDIE 
FORTUINYON'BIOPIC 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

New indie unit, Sheg, Inc., was 
formed here to produce "The Life 
of Damon Runyon," probably for 
Republic rejease. 

Corporation gets its title from 
the surname initials of the four 
members, Bill Saltiel, Charles F. 
Haas. Norman Elzer and Marshall 
Grant. Haas and Art Cohn are 
writing the screenplay, with pro- 
duction slated for late autumn. 



N. Y. to L. A. 

Maurice Bergman 
Betty Betz 
Steve Broidy 
George Brown 
Nicki Burnett 
Frances Buss . 
Lois Butler 
Bonnie Cashin 
Ann- Corio 
Carl Eastman 
John Farrow 
John Gibbs 
Don Gillis 
William Goetz 
Harry Goldberg 
Bob Goldstein 
Graham Greene 
Abner J. Greshler 
William Jaffe • 
Ben Kalmcnson 
Edwin Knopf 
Jerry Lewis 
Dick Manning 
Dean Martin 
Earle McGill 
Oliver Nicoll 
Johnny Olsen 
Lester O'Keefc 
Maureen O'Sullivan 
Louclla O. Parsons 
Joel Preston 
Charles D. Prutzman 
Charles Polacheck 
Carol Reed 
Robert J. Rubin 
William A. Scully 
Joseph H. Seidelman 
Robert Lewis Shay on 
Bernard Straus 
William Sweets 
Jonie Taps 
George Zachary 



Boulder, Colo., Aug. 3 
Dore Schary, Metro production 
topper, told the Writers' Confer- 
ence here that the industry "is fac- 
ing tough days." "There are for- 
eign tax problems," he declared, "a 
falling domestic, market and in- 
creased competition from many 
sources, including, sports, radio and 
the undetermined threat of tele- 
vision. The industry faces a re- 
adjustment of economics based on 
a boom market that is rapidly 
diminishing. It faces labor con- 
fusions. It faces all these things, 
and all of them are problems that 
need solution. But solutions will 
be found, and as they are found 
the industry will continue to make 
its contributions — its' contributions 
to our standard of living, to add to 
our information, to report to us the 
news of the world and to entertain 
and amuse us, and occasionally to 
make us contemplate and think. 

"And if every other medium has 
a right to make us think, why 
doesn't the motion picture?" 
Schary queried, adding "in any 
event, the future's coming along, 
and with it will be opportunity for 
new writers and new ideas Fresh 
ideas. Hollywood stimulates and 
subsidizes more new talent than 
than any other creative art. No 
rose blushes unseen. It may take 
a littte time to bloom, but the de- 
mand for original thinking is so 
great that somebody alwavs will 
find the new talent." 

At Writers' Conference 
Schary was speaking by invita- 
tion to the Writers' Conference of 
the University of Colorado, in ses- 
sion here. He is vacationing at 
Brook Forest Inn near Denver, 
where he will stay for another 
week before going to New York. 
Recently resigned as production 
head of RKO because of differ- 
ences with Howard Hughes, Schary 
declared he quit "before Hughes 
and I got to the point of being mad 
at each other." He stressed that 
he and Hughes parted friends, but 
that they "just didn't agree on 
basic things.' He is vacationing 
before entering his new job at 
Metro. 

Speaking on the role of the 
writer, Schary said: 

"Hollywood had profits at stake, 
and was willing to pay big salaries, 
so out came the writers, and with 
them they brought what Henry 
Stimson regards as one of the most 
ungodly sins — cynicism. They 
brought their contempt, based en 
cynicism. They brought their type- 
writers, but left their integrity at 
home. They came to Hollywood 
determined to make some easy 
money, and then to run back and 
write that decent novel or good 
play. 

"This was the era in which pro- 
ducers, desperate for product and 
eager to supply a demanding pub- 
lic, rushed out picture after pic- 
ture. The writers who came out at 
that time were not trained artists 
who were destroyed by a system. 
They were people who helped cre- 
ate the system. They came out and 
bought the loud plaid coats, the 
sport shirts, the fancy cars; they 
posed for funny publicity pictures 
and contributed to the extrava- 
gance, waste and screwball charac- 
ter of the industry. Their cynicism 
permitted them to write all the 
cliches and to rewrite them into 
worse cliches.. They fed the pub- 
(Continucd on page 50) 

L. A. to N. Y. 

Jerry Bressler 
Richard Carlson 
Vicki Cummings 
Gerald Fairlie 
Sidney Franklin 
Thomas Freebairn-Smith 
Y. Frank Freeman 
Jed Harris 
Leland Hayward 
Paul Henreid 
Milton S. Kusell 
Al Lewin 
Monica Lewis 
Jack Linder 
Stfsan Miller 
Robert Mochrie 
Charles C. Moskowite 
George Pal 
Hal Roach 
Sigmund Romberg 
Hal Salzman 
Fred C. Schang, Jr. 
John Sinn 
George Skouras 
Sam Sunness 
Richard Walsh 
Walter Winchell 
Danny Winkler 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



PICTURES 



NAT1 ALLIED INTO DISTRIBUTION? 

— : ; * — — : ■ — 

U. S. Getting Tougher by Nixing 

Arbitrations in Exhibs' Suits 



The Dept. of Justice has4 
catapulted the main anti-trust ac- 
tion into another bitter skirmish 
and struck a crippling blow against 
the prospects of an all-industry 
arbitration system by demanding 
that the American Arbitration 
Assn., administrator of the current 
system, immediately discontinue 
accepting exhibitor complaints. 
V. S. Attorney's office made the 
move within the past week in a 
letter forwarded to J. Noble Bra- 
dep, executive head of the film ar- 
bitration setup, it has been 
lea ined. 

If the action of the DofJ stands 
in a possible court test, it means 
the final junking of all systematic 
arbitration in the industry for the 
time being. Only a ruling by the 
three-judge statutory court after 
prolonged hearings slated for a 
fall start could recreate a new sys- 
tem. 

The AAA has been informed by 
the Government that it is not au- 
thorized to hold any more .arbitra- 
tion hearings under the consent de- 
cree which originally bound the 
Big Five on awards made- on clear- 
ances and other related matters. 
Instead, the Government has ad- 
- vised the AAA to turn over to the 
DofJ any petitions for arbitration 
henceforth filed under the decree 
with it. 

The Government, it is under- 
stood, intends to examine these 
petitions and where the complaint 
presents charges of. violations of 
court rulings, it will proceed with- 
in the pending anti-trust action on 
contempt proceedings. It is in- 
(Continued on page 18) 



Bouncing Ball Telepix 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

New video firm, "Television 
Clearing House," .has been formed 
by Dave Fleischer, Lou Notarius 
and Walter Bowman. 

Firm will make animated telepix, 
the first of which will be "This 
Amazing World." and will employ 
the old motion picture bouncing 
ball in filming commercials. 
Fleischer asserted that company 
will make TV reels on order only. 



Nassours-A.&C. Pards 
In Deal For Indie Pic 
With UA As Distrib 

Abbott and Costello will make a 
picture for United Artists release 
if present negotiations are consum- 
mated. Production will be by Nas- 
sour brothers, Hollywood studio op- 
erators, with A&C holding a profit- 
participation in the film. 

Nassours presented plans for 
their production to UA last week. 
Deal to handle distribution will 
come up before the next session of 
the board and will undoubtedly be 
approved. A&C's "Abbott and Cos- 
tello Meet Frankenstein," made for 
Universal, is currently doing sock 
biz and their recent "Noose Hangs 
High" for Eagle Lion did fairly 
well. 

UA has also had presented to it 
a project by Nat Perrin for release 
of "The Life of Van & Schenck." 
However, there has been no action 
on it by Perrin since the idea was 
originally presented to UA prexy 
Grad Sears on the Coast last 
month and UA is awaiting further 
dope before considering a distribu- 
tion pact. Edward Silverman, 
Chicago distrib, was supposed to 
advance the coin, with agent Nat 
Goldstone, director Danny Dare 
and Tony Martin partnered in the 
deal. 



EXCESS PROFITS TAX 
PROPOSAL LOOKS COLD 

Washington, Aug. 3. 
Details of the Administration's 
excess profits tax bill were re- 
vealed here today (Tues.) by Rep- 
resentative John Dingell (D.-Mich.) 
who plans to introduce it to Con- 
gress tomorrow. The measure, he 
said, calls for Federal" imposts of 
50% to 80% on all corporate 
profits. 

Under the bill the bite would 
be levied upon 140% of 1936-1939 
profits. After that figure is ob- 
tained, a $50,000 credit would be 
subtracted. Congressman Dingle 
estimated that out of the country's 
360,000 corporations some 25,000 
might be affected. However, in- 
dustry breathed easier when Rep. 
Harold Knutson, (R.-Minn.) chair- 
man of the House Tax Committee, 
declared: "There'll be no tax 
legislation at this session of Con- 
gress." 



U.S. Census in '50 
To Survey Pix Biz 

The film industry, which in its 
four decades of existence has never 
yet been, able to compile complete 
statistics of its activities, will have 
that job done for it at Government 
expense. For the first time since 
the U. S. Bureau of Census started 
counting heads in 1790, the agency 
intends to delve into film industry 
statistics in its 1950 census. 

Bureau will check into the num- 
ber of theatres; total attendance; 
number of seats; price scales; total 
employed in pix and other relevant 
info concerning the three wings of 
the business. All data collected, as 
is customary, will be published at 
the completion of the census along 
with other information collated by 
the bureau. 

A. Julian Brylawski, Warner 
Bros. Washington rep, and other 
filmites including Gael - Sullivan, 
director of the Theatre Owners of 
America, have been approached by 
the census-takers for cooperation. 

Research department of the Mo- 
tion Picture Assn. of America is 
now attempting to collect some of 
the same statistics the Government 
will seek, but Census figures are 
expected to be on a broader basis. 



Majors Settle Another 
Indie's Anti-Trust Claim 

The summer drive by the majors 
to clear the books of as many 
triple-damage, anti-trust suits as 
possible before the courts open in 
the fall produced another settle- 
ment this week. Attorneys have 
reached an agreement on the $375,- 
000 damage action brought in 
Pittsburgh by David N. Green 
against the majors. 

Reportedly, Green will receive 
approximately $40,000 as cash 
balm for dropping his trust-bust- 
ing action. In addition, his two 
nabe houses in Pittsburgh will be 
given a better break on clearance 
and run. 

Compromise is the third made 
in the past month. Majors started 
off early in July by handing $200,- 
000 to Theatco for dropping its 
action in San Francisco against 
them. 

Understood Warner Bros, thea- 
tre chain is paying- major share 
of the coin to Green, with balance 
being chipped in by other majors. 
He had filed the suit in 1947 in 
the Federal district court of Penn- 
sylvania. 



Mono Seeks Longer Chi 
Playing Time For 'Ruth' 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 

Monogram Pictures will ask 
Judge Michael Igoe of Chi federal 
district court for- extension of the 
two-week playing time for "The 
Babe Ruth Story" which opens at 
the State-Lake Sept. 1. Limitation, 
under Jackson Park decree, applies 
to the Balaban & Katz house. Pitch 
will be on the basis of proceeds 
being donated to charity and will 
be made by letter and not by going 
before the court. 

Judge Igoe several weeks ago 
lifted the ban to allow a four-week 
showing of "Emperor Waltz," now 
in third week at the Chicago. 



ILLS THE iDEfl 
VIA REISSUES 

National Allied, which flirted sev- 
eral years ago with the idea of 
going into production, is now kick- 
ing around another scheme which 
would take it into pix distribution 
in a limited way. The film peddling, 
if ultimately adopted, would' be 
used to raise funds for administra- 
tion and other expenses of both the 
National and local units. 

Allied units are now being polled 
on the proposal. The plan, em- 
bodied in a letter sent to the vari- 
ous locals, would be for the the- 
atre group to buy up the states' 
rights to a number of films. These 
pix would be distributed, presum- 
ably in the main to Allied mem- 
bers, with any profits derived 
therefrom, allocated to the locals 
participating in the plan. 

Idea is a minor version of that 
on which First National (since 
merged into. Warner Bros), was 
established years ago. That was a 
cooperative production venture by 
exhibs. • 

Number of full time employees 
would be hired by Allied to handle 
film sales. Allied does not expect 
to buy up rights to new pix— the 
wing, when and if formed, would 
(Continued on page 18) 

Goldwyn's ' Joan 
Deal Looks Cold 
But Ri^tS 

Deal for the Goldwyn organiza- 
tion to supervise distribution of 
Sierra Productions' "Joan of Arc" 
appears very likely to fall through, 
while that for Monterey's "Red 
River" is virtually all but inked. 
In both cases, multiple ownership 
of the films has caused long delays 
in getting requisite approvals and 
may be the cause of the "Joan" 
deal fizzling. 

Primary owner? of "Joan" are 
producer Walter Wanger, director 
Victor Fleming and star Ingrid 
Bergman. Additionally involved 
are the Bankers Trust Co., New 
York, which put up about 80% of 
the financing, and other persons 
who provided financing or deferred 
their income. They must all give 
their nod, since the arrangement 
calls for Goldwyn to get .3% of the 
gross oft' the top of the producers' 
share. 

It is understood that some of the 
okays have been stymied for more 
than a month, during which time 
the deal has been cooking. The 
bank is among those in favor of it. 
On the negative side, it is reported, 
is RKO, which has a small invest- 
ment in it and which claims it can 
(Continued on page 20) 



F-WC NIXES UNGER'S 
50% 'RED RIVER' TERMS 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 
After week-long negotiations, 
deal between Fox-West Coast's 
Charles Skouras and United Artists 
sales chief Joe Unger for "Red 
River" fell through. It is under- 
stood UA asked 50% terms in both 
firstruns and subsequents, with F- 
WC trying to buy the picture on a 
flat rental basis for subsequent 
runs. 

Unger arrived here a week ago 
following Howard Hawks' protest 
against giving his film a first-run 
playoff in UA's four music hall the- 
atres. Prolonged talks took place 
between the factions throughout 
the week, with Fox execs screening 
the pic several times. They de- 
scribed it as excellent, but refused 
UA's terms. 

Unger, with western district 
sales manager W. E. Calaway, left 
for Frisco, where they hope set 
individual deals for the film. Unger 
wouldn't comment on whether 
further efforts would be made to 
reach agreement with the Skouras 
group. 



Selznick Focusing His Production 
Next 6 Months on Video Pix Only 



WB's 50G to Cancer Fund 

Walter Winchell, in behalf of 
Damon Runyon Memorial Fund, 
received $50,000 from Warner 
Bros, yesterday (Tues.), represent- 
ing the profits from WB's Techni- 
color two-reeler, "Power Behind 
the Nation." 

Film, which was distributed by 
the Motion Picture Assn. of Amer- 
ica, played in over 10,000 theatres 
as part of the film industry's par- 
ticipation in the fund. 



20th-Fox Pushes 
Its TV Network 



Washington, Aug. 3. 

Pushing its program of creating 
a network of television stations, 
20th-Fox has asked the Federal 
Communications Commission for 
permission to operate an experi- 
mental station in ?New York and, 
at the same time, >ias set up two 
new video corporat&ms in Missouri. 
The New York statlflU according to 
the application, woui^ be used to 
test high frequency \ ra nsmission 
for TV for possible use\i„ theatre 
television. 1 

In ' Missouri, 20th-Fo3L i s part- 
nered in the two new out*ts by its 
SubsidFox Midwest theatrV s j n one 
arid iby ..another subsid, Rational 
Theatres, twthe^, pfrho wr i. » j wo 
new co rporatiorg^i 0PM . ate ra _ 
d^MM i^Ve^tlP^ns in St. Louis 
nd Kansas City. 

KC outfit is labelled 20th Cen- 
tury-Fox of Missouri, Inc. It is 
authorized to issue 10,000 shares of 
common at $100 par. Fox Midwest 
and its parent have each acquired 
500 shares for $50,000 apiece. Bal- 
ance is to be acquired in two years 
with the ultimate nut being $1,- 
000,000. 

St. Louis unit isr tagged 20th 
Century-Fox of St. Louis, ' Inc. 
Stock authorization is identical as 
is the issuance of 500 shares apiece 
to 20th and NT. Balance is also to 
be picked up within two years. 



'JOAN OF ARC LIKELY 
FOR B'WAY VICTORIA 

Maurice Maurer, of City In- 
vesting Corp., who has the Astor, 
Victoria arid Bijou, N.Y., under his 
wing, leaves this week for the Coast 
to line up new product for the re- 
vamped Victoria on Broadway. 
House is now being given an elab- 
orate facelift with seating capac- 
ity boosted to 1,100. Present reno- 
vation program is expected to last 
until late September or October, 
having just started last Monday 
(2). 

While not committing himself on 
just what pictures he is trying to 
land for the Victoria, it's under- 
stood that Maurer has "Joan of 
Arc" in mind, for reopening of this 
deluxer. In fact, part of the the- 
atre revamping will be done with 
such booking in mind. 



Wants Out on Chi Decish; 
RKO Honses-Pix Not Same 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 

Myles Seeley, RKO attorney, 
last week filed an appeal to Judge 
Michael Tgoe's ruling in Chi fed- 
eral district court that the RKO 
Palace and Grand were part of the 
same corporation as RKO Pictures 
and therefore liable to two-week 
limitation on playing time under 
the Jackson Park decree. 

Appeal stated that theatres and 
producing company were two sep- 
arate companies. 

DeLuxe theatre, Chi nabe, was 
granted an extension until Sept. 
'27 to amend its brief in anti-trust 
suit against the major dlstribs and 
Balaban & Katz circuit last week 
by Federal Judge John Barnes. 



Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

Uncertainties of the foreign mar- 
ket and softness of the domestic 
boxoffice for big pictures has led 
to a decision by David O. Selznick 
to pull in his horns on production 
and spend the next six months or 
so experimenting with films for 
television. He has developed a 
great enthusiasm for video since 
his stay in New York during the 
past winter and spring. ' 

"Portrait of Jennie," wound up 
retakes and editing at the studio 
last week and is now being scored. 
Two pictures to have been made 
by indies with Selznick players for 
distribution by the Selznick Re- 
leasing Organization have been 
cancelled out. . Thus, the producer 
has nothing on his agenda except 
ftfur pix to be made by Sir Alex- 
ander Korda in England with Selz- 
nick stars and with Selznick con- 
sultation." 

First of the British films, Carol 
Reed's "The Third Man," is to go 
into production shortly and will 
give SRO at least one new film for 
next year. Otherwise, the Selz- 
nick-owned distributing company 
will be kept occupied until Octo- 
ber or November with three films 
now in release and, after that time, 
with "Jennie." 

Currently in distribution are 
"Duel' in the Sun," on regular re- 
lease following last year's road- 
showing;. "The Paradine Case" and 
"Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream 
House." Also being sold, but play- 
ing off very slowly, is the reissue 
of "Rebecca." 

SRO also anticipated having as 
grist for its mill the two indie 
(Continued on page 11) 



Film Classics Reviews 
Its Progress; Biz Up 702; 
Co-op Bonuses to Staff 



Backed up by a 70% increase In 
revenues during the last sixmonth 
period, Joseph Bernhard, Film 
Classics prexy, pepped up the com- 
pany's first international sales con- 
vention last weekend in New York 
with a pledge to push FC into the 
front ranks of distributing com- 
panies. B. G. Krauze, general 
sales manager presiding over the 
conclave, announced that 29 new 
films, including 10 in Cineeolor, 
would be released by FC before 
the end of 1949. • 

Beginning Jan. 1, 1949, Bernhard 
disclosed that a permanent bonus 
plan would be instituted whereby 
all personnel would share in the 
company's profits, independent of 
special sales drives. Amplifying 
Bernhard's statement that FC "is 
going to be a cooperative com- 
pany," Kranze said a large melon 
will be sliced at the end of each 
year among all employees. 

Although aiming, for the top, 
Bernhard cooled off prospects of 
immediate large expansion by de- 
( Continued on page 46) 



PAR'S MOVE TO SPEED 
LIQUIDATION OF FILMS 

Paramount has set up a new cen- 
tralized playdate department to 
speed the liquidation of its prod- 
uct. Par's newly-formed wing is 
headed by Martin Friedman who 
formerly served as assistant to Ted 
O'Shea, one of the company's sales 
biggies. Friedman came' to Para- 
mount last year with O'Shea from. 
Liberty Films when the company' 
acquired that production unit. 

Friedman will work under Al 
Schwalberg who is in charge of ex- 
changc operations. Previously, 
Paramount handled playdating 
through its 31 exchanges without 
operation of an overall supervi- 
sion from the homeoff ices. 

Centralization is symptomatic of 
all. majors' efforts recently to hypo 
liquidation of expensive product. 
Par's idea is to press for earlier 
dating of films after availability 
date. Company also intends to 
work for more complete liquidation 
of its products. 



<mu m w 



f^RMEff [ WeJaesil&y, Angaat 4, 1948 



Wednesday, August 4, 1943 



P&RIETY 





\ 

IRVING BERLIN S 






Lf 





JUDY GARLAND * FRED AS1AIRE 

PETER LAWFORD - ANN MILLER 




COLOR BY 

Scrmn Play by SIDNEY SHELDON, FRANCES GOODRICH and AUEftT HACKETT • Story by FRANCES GOODRICH md AIWMHACK6TT 

lyric* nnd Mw'x »y Mvdcal Nvmbtrt Dirwt«<i by > Directed by Prodmd by 

IRVING BERLIN • ROBERT ALTON * CHARLES WALTERS • ARTHUR FREED. 

a METKO-eoiDwrN-MAYir naun 



8 



PICTURE GROSSES 



VcJne«<lay, August 4, 1<HJ 



EO.'s, Polio Slow LA; 'Escape' Easy 
$48,500, lelody' Bright 38G; A.&C. 
Okay $25,000, 'Affair' 28G, Both 2d 



Los Angeles, 
Warm weather and 
weight product will mean only 
mild grosses here in the current 
frame. Number of holdovers also 
is hurting. Increase in polio cases, 
too, is believed nipping junior 
matinee trade after announcement 
of a mild epidemic, this particu- 
larly affecting bills with kid ap- 
peal such as newcomer "Melody 
Time." 

"Melody" is shaping for a nice 
$38,000 in two theatres but had 
been figured as being somewhat 
stronger. "Escape" looke like 
only moderate $48,500 in five 
houses. .Reissue combo,' "S e a 
Spoilers" and "Storm" is light $15,- 
000 in four situations. Foreign pix, 
"Raven" and "Lover's Returh," 
shape fancy $5,000 in a smallseater.- 

Third week of "Key Largo" will 
hit neat $33,000 in three spots. 
"Foreign Affair" looks fine $28,000 
in two locations. "Meet Franken- 
stein" will be okay $25,000 in five 
nouses, second frame while "On 
Island" is trim $30,000 for second 
round, three sites. 

Estimates for This Week 

Belmont (FWC) (1,532; 60-$D— 
"Canon City" (EL) and "Lady at 
Midnight" (EL) (2d wk). Slim $2,- 
000. Last week, okay $3,900. 

Beverly Hills Music HaU (G&S- 
Blumenfeld) (826; 65-$l) — "Sea 
Spoilers" (Indie) and "Storm" (In- 
die) (reissues). Fair $3,000. Last 
week, "Commandos Strike at 
pawn" (Col) and "Invaders" (Col) 
(reissues), $2,500. .< 

Carthay Circle (FWC) (1,518; 60- 
$1)— "Escape" (20th) and "Fighting 
Back" (20th). Mild $5,500. Last 
week, "Deep Waters" (20th) and 
''Checkered Coat" (20th) (2d wk), 
$3 100 4 

Chinese (Grauman-WC) (2,048; 
60-$D— "Escape" (20th) and "Fight- 
ing Back" (20th). Okay $11,000 or 
over. Last week, "Deep Waters" 
(20th) and "Checkered Coat" (20th) 
(2d wk). $8,300. 

Culver (FWC) (1,145; 60-$D— 
"Canpn City" (EL) and "Lady At 
Midnight" (EL) (2d wk). Oke $3,- 
O0Q. Latt week, good $5,300. 

Downtown (WB) (1,800; 60-$D— 
"Key Largo" (WB) and "Music 
Man" (Mono) (3d wk). Good $14,- 
000. Last week, stout $18,400. 

Downtown Music HaU (Blumen- 
feld) (872; 60-$l)-— "Sea Spoilers" 
(Indie) and "Storm" (Indie), (re- 
issues). Slow $6,500. Last week, 
"Commandos" (Col) and "Invaders" 
(Col) (reissues), $7,600. , «• 

Egyptian (FWC) (1,538; 60-$D— ■ 
"Island With You" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Neat $8,000. Last week, good $13 
500. 

El Key (FWC) (861; 60-$D— 
"Canon City" (EL) and "Lady at 
Midnight" (EL) (2d wk). Near 
$2,500. Last week, good $4,400. 

Esquire (Rosener) (685; 85-$1.20) 
■ — Dreams • Money Can Buy" 
(Indie) and "Girl of Canal" (Indie) 
(3d wk). Oke $2,000 or over. Last 
week, $2,600. - 

Four Star (UA-WC) (900; 60-$l) 
—"Search" (M-G) (5th wk). Nice 
$3,500. Last week, $4,300. 

Guild (FWC) (968; 60-$D— -"Ab- 
bott, Costello Meet Frankenstein" 
(U) and "King Olympics" (UA) (2d 
wk). Down to $2,500. Last week, 
good $5,000. 

Hawaii (G&S-Blumenfeld) (1,106; 
E: ?1) T" Sea Spoilers*' (Indie) and 
"Storm" (Indie) (reissues). Modest 
$3,000. Last week, "Commandos" 
(Col) and "Invaders" (Col) (re- 
issues), mild $2,600. 

Hollywood (WB) (2,756; 60-$D— 
"Key Largo" (WB) and "Music 
Man" (Mono) (3d wk)..Good $9,500. 
Last week, strong $14,000. 

Hollywood Music Hall (Blumen- 
feld) (475; 60-85)— "Sea Spoilers" 
(Indie) and "Storm" (reissues). 
Okay $2,500. Last week, "Com- 
•mandps" (Col) and "Invaders" (Col) 
(reissue's), same. 

Iris (FWC) (828; 60-85)— "Meet 
Frankenstein" (U) and "King Olym- 
pics" (UA) (2d wk). Mild $2,500. 
Last week, nice $5,000. 

Laurel (Rosener) (890; 85)— 
"Raven" (Indie) and "Lover's Re 
turn" (Indie). Fancy $5,000. Last 
week, "Die Fledermaus" (Indie) 
(4th wk), $1,800. 

„ Loew's State (Loews-WC) (2,404; 
60-$D— "Escape" (20th) and "Fight- 
ing Back" (20th). Moderate $18,000. 
Last week, "Deep Waters" (20th) 
and "Checkered Coat" (20th) (2d 
Wk), $12,600. 

Los Angeles (D'town-WC) (2,097; 
60-$D— "On Island" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Good $15,000. Last week, sturdy 
$25,200. 

Loyola (FWC) (1,248; 60-$l) 
"Escape" (20th) and "Fighting 
Back" (20th). Medium $7,000. Last 



Aug. 3. I "Checkered Coat" (20th) (2d wk) 
medium- $6,000. j 
Million Dollar (D'town) (2,093:J 
50-85)— "Sign of Wolf" (Mono) and 
"Stage Struck" (Mono) (2d runs), 
with Red Ingle, Dorothy Donegan 
on stage. Okay $10,000. Last week, 
"Angel's Alley" (Mono) (2d run) 
with Dizzy Gillespie, Hadda Brooks 
on stage, solid $21,200. 

Orpheum (D'town-WC) (2,210; 
60-$D— "Canon City" (EL) and 
"Lady at Midnight" (EL) (2d wk). 
Solid $10,000. Last week, big 
$20,000. 

Pantages (Pan) (2,812; 60-$l) — 
"Melody Time" (RKO) and "Mys- 
tery in Mexico" (RKO). Nice $18- 
000. Last week, "Lulu Belle" 
(Col) and "Rusty Leads Way" (Col), 
very dim $5,600. 

Paramount (F&M) (3,398; 60-$l) 
— "Foreign Affair" (Par), and "Big 
Town Scandal" (Par) (2d wk). 
Light $14,000. Last week, okay 
$20,000. 

Paramount . Hollywood 
(1,451; 60-$D— "Foreign 
(Par) (2d wk). Smooth 
Last week, strong $17,900. 

RKO Hillstreet (RKO) (2,890; 60- 
80)— "Melody Time" (RKO) and 
"Mystery in Mexico" (RKO). Fine 
$20,000. Last week, "Lulu Belle" 
(Col) and "Rusty Leads Way" 
(Col), very dull $7,100. , 
Ritz (FWC) (1,370; 60-$l) 
Frankenstein" (U) and "King 
Olympics" (UA) (2d wk). Oke $5,- 
000. Last week, good $8,000. ' 
Studio Cit# (FWC) (880; 60-$D— 
Meet Frankenstein" (U) and 
"King Olympics" (UA) (2d wk). 
Fair $2,500. Last week, oke $4,800. 

United Artists (UA) (2,100; 60- 
$1)— "Meet Frankensle»«*^U) and 
"King OIympie*>iesT( r r\ 'M wk). 
Sturdy $12,r~ 
$21,000. 

Uptown (FW» (1,719; 60-$D— 
^Escape" (20tH) and | ."Fighting 



Key City Grosses 



Estimated Total Gross 
This Week $2,776,000 

(Based on 23 cities', 214 
"theatres, chiefly jirst runs, in- 
cluding N. Y.) 
Total Gross Same Week 

Last Year $2,687,000 

(Based on 21 cities, 212 
theatres). 



Bad Men' Hangup 
in Sad Det. 



'Parade' Paces Pitt, Rousing $28,( 
'Feudin ' No Fuss, 8G; 'Largo' 12G, 2d 




(F&M) 
Affair" 
$14,000. 



Fair $7,000. Last 



Back" (20th) 

week, "Deep Waters" J (20th) and 
"Checkered Coat" (20th) (2d wk), 
$4,200. 

Vogue (FWC) (885; 60-85) — 
"Canpn City" (EL) and "Lady at 
Midnight" (EL) 2d wk). Okay 
$3,000. Last week, sturdy $5,300. 

Wilshire (FWC) (2,296; 60-$l)— 
"On Island" (M-G) (2d wk). Nice 
$7,500. Last week, healthy $12,600. 

Wiltern (WB) (2,300; 60-$l) — 
"Key Largo" (WB) and "Music 
Man" (Mono) (3d wk). Good $9,- 
500. Last week, fine $14,000. 



Detroit, Aug. 3. 
Biz continues very mild here 
| especially in the face of new prod- 
uct being launched currently. 
"Deep Waters" at Fox is fairly 
sturdy with "Return of Bad Men" 
surprisingly good at Broadway- 
Capitol. Of the holdovers, "Em- 
peror Waltz," at Michigan, and 
"Easter Parade" at Adams con- 
tinue steady. Of the others, little 
can be said. 

Estimates for This Week 
Adams (Balaban) (1,740; 70-95)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (3d wk). 
Good $13,000 compared to very 
good $15,000 second stanza. 

- Art Cinema (Marten) (459; 70- 
95) — "Tawny Pipit" (Indie) and 
"Hungry Hill" (Indie). Strong 
$4,000. Last week, "The Brothers" 
(Indie) and "Holiday Camp" 
Meet (Indie), $3,000. 

Broadway - Capitol -(United De- 
troit) (3,300; 70-95)— "Return of 
Bad Men" (RKO) and "Take My 
Life" (EL). Surprisingly strong 
$18,000. Last week, "Intermezzo" 
(Indie) and 'JBetrayed" (Indie) (re- 
issues), fair<$10,000. 

Fox (Fox-Michigan) (5,100; 70- 
95)— "Deep Waters" (20th) and 
King of Olympics" (UA). Sturdy 
3,5;0O0. Last? week, "Street No 
Name«?-=-j(2flth) and "Adventures 
Silverado" (Rep). (3d wk), lively 
$27,000. 

Michigan (U-D) (4,089; 70-95)— 
"Romance High Seas" (WB) and 
"Big Punch" (WB) (2d wk). Okay 
$16,000 as compared to very good 
$22,000 last week. 

Palms State (U-D) (2,716; 70-95) 
—"Mr. Blandings" (SRO) (2d wk). 
Fair $15,000 compared to stout 
$26,000 first stanza. 

United Artists (U-D) (2,976; 70- 
95) — "Emperor Waltz" (Par) and 
"Waterfront Midnight" (Par) (5th 
wk). Steady $12,000 after strong 
$16,000 fourth round. 



'Melody Big 8& Omaha, 
But Moves for 'Largo' 

Omaha, Aug. 3. 

"Melody Time" looks smash at 
the Brandeis but is not being held 
over because RKO is anxious to get 
"Key Largo." "The Dude Goes 
West" at Orpheum and "The Smug- 
glers" at Omaha are doing only so- 
so although weather is not bad. 
Estimates for This Week 

Brandeis (RKO) (1,500; 16-65)— 
"Melody Time" (RKO). Smash 
$8,500. Last week, "Return of Bad 
Men" (RKO) and "Blondie's Re- 
ward" (Col), $7,000. 

Orpheum (Tristates) (3,000; 16- 
65)— "Dude Goes West" (Mono) 
and "Hunted" (Mono). Okay $11,- 
500. Last week, "Noose Hangs 
High" (EL) and "Enchanted Valley" 
(EL) with Mills Bros, and Sonny 
Dunham orch on stage, big $19,000 
at 20-80c scale. 

Omaha (Tristates) (2,100; 16-65) 
—"The Smugglers" (EL) and "Lead 
Soldiers" (20th). Fair $9,000. Last 
week, "Romance High Seas" (WB) 
(m.o.) and "Meet Me at Dawn" 
(20th), $7,500. 

Paramount (Tristates) (2,800; 16- 
65)— "Easter Parade" (M-G) (2d 
wk). Big $10,000. Last week, 
$15,700." 

State (Goldberg) (865; 16-65)— 
"Big City". (M-G) and "Old Los 
Angeles" (Rep). Started today 
(Tues.). Last week, "Summer Hol- 
iday" (M-G) (2d wk), okay $3,500. 

'Affair' Wow $19,000 In 
Frisco; A.&C. Fast 20G, 
'Judy' 20G, 'Melody' 25G 



Too Much Baseball in Hub But 'Canon 
Lively $22,000; Tflelody Sofid 20G 



Boston, Aug. 3. 
Height of vacation season, two 
hot ball clubs drawing big crowds, 
and several holdovers add up to 
smaller takes at most houses this 
week. "Melody Time" at Memorial 
looks good and will hold. "Canon 
City" at Paramount and Fenway 
shapes sturdy. Second week of 
"Foreign Affair" looms nice at 
Met. 

Estimates for This Week 
Astor (Jaycocks) (1,300; 40-80) — 
"San Francisco" (M-G) (reissue). 
Good $5,000 after fine $6,300 first 
week. 

Boston (RKO) (3,000; 40-80)— 
"Man-Eater of Kumaon" (U) and 
"King of the Gamblers" (Rep). 
Average $16,500. Last week, "Fur- 
nace Creek" (20th) and "Jiggs, 
Maggie in Society" (Mono), fair 
$14,000. 

Exeter (Indie) (1,000; 45-75) 
"Take My Life" (EL) and "Great 
Waltz" (M-G) (reissues). Only 
$3,200 after last week's oke $3,800 

Fenway (MP) (1,373; 40-80)— 
"Canon City" (EL) and "Lady at 
Midnight" (SL). Nice $8,000. Last 
week, "Emperor Waltz" (Par) (2d 
run) and "Big Town Scandal" 
(WB), fair $5,500. 

Memorial (RKO) (3,000; 40-80)— 
"Melody Time" (RKO) and "Mys- 
tery in Mexico" (RKO). Solid $20,- 

000. Last week, "Mr. Blandings." 
(SRO) and "Madonna of Desert" 
(Rep), fine $19,500 second week. 

Metropolitan (MP) (4,367) (40-80) 
— "Foreign Affair" (Par) and 
"Shaggy" (Par). Strong $19,500 
after big $25,000 first week. Dr. 

1. Q. on Monday nights. 
Orpheum (Loew) (3,000; 40-80) — 

"Easter Parade" (MtG). Good $17,- 
500 third week after neat $21,000 
second. 

Paramount (MP) (1,700; 40-80)— 
"Canon City" (EL) and "Lady at 



Last week, "Emperor Waltz" (Par) 
(2d run), very nice $13,400. 

State (Loew) (3.500; 40-80)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G). Fair third 
week $9,500 after nice $11,000 sec- 
ond. 



un ™?*r UM }, VA'HS'i Uds i '-anon uity" (jsl.) and "Lady ai 
Week, "Deep Waters" (20th) andl Midnight" (EL). Sturdy $14,000, 



'Largo' Key Buff. Fdm 
18G, 'Canon' Hot 15G, 
'House' Full at $17,500 

Buffalo, Aug. 3. 

Biz is looking up this week. 
"Key Largo," "Canon City" and 
"Blandings Dream House" are all 
in the chips. 

Estimates for This Week 

Buffalo (Shea) (3,500; 40-70)— 
"Blandings Dream House"" (SRO) 
and "Shaggy" (Par). Fancy $17,- 
500. Last week, "So Evil My Love" 
(Par) and "Big Town Scandal" 
(Par), $14,500. 

Great Lakes (Shea) (3,400; 40-70) 
—"Key Largo" (WB). Sock $18,- 
000 or near. Last week, "Easter 
Parade" (M-G), $16,000. 

Hipp (Shea) (2,100; 40-70)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (m.o.). Big 
$7,500. Last week, "Crusades" 
(Par) (reissue) and "Devil's Cargo" 
(Par), $9,500. 

Teck (Shea) (1,400; 40-70)— "The 
Search" (M-G) (2d wk). Nice 
$3,000. Last week, sturdy $5,000. 

Lafayette (Basil) (3,000; 40-70) 

"Meet Frankenstein" (U) and 
"Blondie's Reward" (Col) (2d wk) 
Still good at $9,000 or over. Last 
week, smash $19,000. 
• 20th Century (20th Cent.) (3,000; 
40-70)— "Canon City" (EL) and 
"Shed No Tears" (EL). Big $15,- 
000 or close. Last week, "Return 
of Bad Men" (RKO) and "French 
Leave" (Indie), $15,500 in 8 days. 



San Francisco, Aug. 3. 
Cooler weather and an apparent 
influx of tourists is being reflected 
here currently in a slight upbeat in 
biz, with the launching of several 
new films helping. Best showing is 
being made by "Foreign Affair" 
with smash session at the small St. 
Francis. "Abbott-Costello Meet 
Frankenstein" also looks fine at 
Orpheum. 

"Date With Judy" shapes strong 
at Warfield while "Melody Time" 
is a" bit better with husky take at 
Golden Gate. "Dream Girl," how- 
ever, shapes mild at Paramount. 

Estimates for This Week 
■ Golden Gate (RKO) (2,844; 65-$l) 
—"Melody Time" (RKO). Husky 
$25,000 or near. Last week, "Re- 
turn of Bad Men" (RKO) (2d wk), 
okay $12,000. 

Fox (FWC) (4,651; 60-95)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (3d wk). 
Still hefty at $14,000. Last week, 
strong $20,000. 

Warfield (FWC) (2,656; 60-85)— 
"Date With Judy" (M-G). Strong 
$20,000 or close. Last week, "Isl- 
and With You" (M-G) (2d wk), fast 
$14,500. 

Paramount (Par) (2,646; 60-85)— 
"Dream Girl" (Par). Mild $16,000 
or under. Last week, "Romance 
High Seas" (WB), husky $21,000. 

St. Francis (Par) (1,400; 60-85)— 
"Foreign Affair" (Par). Socko $19,- 
000 or near. Last week, "Paradine 
Case" (SRO) (6th wk), big $10,000. 

Orpheum (Blumenfeld) (2,448; 
55-85) — "Abbott-Costello Meet 
Frankenstein" (U). Fine $20,000. 
Last week, "Black Arrow' 7 (Col), 
fancy $16,500. 

United Artists (Blumenfeld) 
(1,207; 55-85)— "Four Faces West" 
(UA) (2d wk). Good $7,000. Last 
week, $8,500. 

Stagedoor (Ackerman) (350; 60- 
85)— "End of River" (Indie) and 
"Dear Octupus" (Indie),. Nice 
$3,500. Last week, "On Approval" 
(Indie) and "Jeannie" (Indie) (re- 
issues), $3,000. 

Esquire (Blumerffeld) (955; 55- 
85)— "Black Arrow" (Col) (m.o.). 
Trim $7,000. Last week, "Man- 
Eater of Kumaon" (U), about same. 

State (Par) (2,133; 60-85)— "Ro- 
mance High Seas" (WB) (m.o.) 
Colorless $5,000. Last week, "Em- 
peror Waltz" (Par) (m.o.), fine 
$7,500 for fourth downtown week. 

Clay (Roesner) (400; 65-85)— 
"The Idiot" (Indie). Solid $3,000 or 
close. Last week, closed for re- 
pairs after fire, 

Larkin (Roesner) (400; 90-$ 1.20) 
—"Henry V" (UA) (3d wk). Fine 
$3,000 or over. Last week, $3,600. 

United Nations (FWC) (1,149; 60- 
85)— "Street With No Name" 120th) 
(m.o.). Okay $3,500. Last week, 
lofty $4,000 for fourth downtown 
week. 



Pittsburgh. Aug. 3 
Sock "Easter Parade" has things 
pretty much to itself this week at 
the Penn, house doing best biz in 
months. "Key Largo" at Stanley 
is okay holdover but "Feudin* 
Fussin,' " at Harris and "Another 
Part of the Forest," are not mak- 
ing much of a dent. "Fuller Brush 
Man" continues at Senator to be 
the surprise of the summer in its 
fifth week downtown. 

Estimates for This Week 
Fulton (Shea) (1,700; 44-76)-, 
"Another Part Forest" (U). Excel, 
lent notices but taking it on chin 
as a result and came out last (Mon ) 
night after just six days to dis- 
mal $4,000. Replaced by "Deep 
Waters" (20th). Last week, third of 
"Street No Name" (20th) limited 
to four days, under $3,000. 

Harris (Harris) (2,200; 44-76)— 
"Feudin,' Fussin' " (U). Mild $8,000 
or near. Last week, "Letter Un- "' 
known Woman" (U), yanked after 
six days with only $7,000. 

Penn (Loew's-UA) (3,300; 44-76) 
—"Easter Parade" (M-G). Smash- 
eroo $28,000" and may go over 
that. Last week, "Mr. Blandings" 
(SRO) around $18,000. 
/ Ritz (Loew's) (800; 44-76)— "Mr. 
Blandings" (SRO) (m.o ). Figured 
to do okay here since it did well 
at Penn, but very dim $2,000 looms. 
Last week, "Emperor Waltz" (Par) 
(m.o.) good $3,500 after two previ- 
ous weeks at Perin. 

Senator (Harris) (1,750; 44-76)—. 
"Fuller Brush Man" (Col) (3d wk). 
StiU clicking although in fifth week 
downtown. Fine $3,500 on top of 
$4,500 last week. 

Stanley (WB) (3,800; 44-76)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) (2d wk). Doing 
all right on h.o. at near $12,000. 
Last week, smash $22,000, best 
here in at least six months. 

Warner (WB) (2,000; 44-76) — 
"Melody Time" (RKO) (2d wk). At 
least $7,000, better than average 
here for an added stanza. Last 
week, healthy $14,000. 



'My Sons' $11,1 
Paces Mild Mpk 

Minneapolis, Aug. 3. 
Films had. to fight two days of 
Ringling Bros. . Barnum & Bailey 
circus and spectacular Aquatennial 
(summer Mardi Gras) parades at 
start of current week, and thus 
made a slow start. "All My Sons* 
looks good at State but "Dream 
Girl" is very mild at Radio City. 
"Return of Bad Men" looks in for 
nice Orpheum week. Annual Rol- 
ler Derby is new competition for 
next month. 

Estimates for This Week 
Century (Par) (1,600; 50-70) ~~ 
Beyond Glory" (Par) (m.o.) Mod* 
est $6,000 indicated. Last week, 
"Mr. Blandings" (SRO) (2d wk), 
$7,000. 

Gopher (Par) (1,000; 40)— "Are 
You With It?" (U). Mild $2,500 
Last week, "Gung Ho" (U) and 
"Eagle Squadron" (FC) (reissues), 
good $4,200. 

Lyceum (Nederlander) (1,900; 50- 
70)— "Man They Couldn't Hang?' 
(Indie) and "Scared to Death" (In- 
die) (reissues). Very dim $1,000. 
Last week, "Muggs from Brooklyn" 
(Indie) and "Kelly the Second" (In- 
die) (reissues), $800. 

Lyric (Par) (1,000; 50-70)— "Mr. . 
Blandings" (SRO) (m.o.). Okay $4,- 
000. Last week, "Emperor Waltz" 
(Par) (4th wk), satisfactory $4,500, 
giving it big $47,000 for loop run. 

Radio City (Par) (4,400; 50-70)— 
"Dream Girl" (Par). Thin $12,000 
looks about all. Last week, "Be- 
yond Glory" (Par), big $20,000. 

RKO-Orpheum (RKO) (2.800; 90- 
70)— "Return of Bad Men" (RKO). 
Fairly nice at $12,000 or over, i^ast 
week, "Melody Time" (RKO), $12.- 
500. 

RKO-Pan (RKO) (1,600; 50-70)— 
"Melody Time" (RKO) (m.o.). Still 
healthy at $7,000. Last week, 
"Flowing Gold" (WB) and "Woman 
in White" (WB) (reissues), $6,000. 

State (Par) '(2,300; 50-70)— "All 
My Sons" (U). Highly praised pic 
but won't go over good $11,000. 
Last week. "B. F.'s Daughter" (M- 
G), $10,000. 

, Uptown (Par) (1,000; 44-60) — 
"Romance High Seas" (WB). First 
nabe showing. Moderate $3,500- 
Last week, "Regards to Broadway » 
(20th), $3,000. 

World (Mann) (350; 50-85) -r 
"Anna Karenina" (20th). British 
picture copped good notices, but 
only fair $2,500 looms. Last wceK, 
"Noose Hangs High" (EL) (2d wk),. 
$1,800. 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



PICTURE GROSSES 



Rail Fair Ms Chi; 'Melody Tops Off 
New films, Sweet $25,11; M Good 
20G, Dude largo' Fat 26G, 2d 



Chicago, Aug. 3. 

Chi film . grosses continued on 
the upbeat for the third week this 
session being paced by the Chicago, 
■which is heading for smash $54,000 
on third week of "Emperor Waltz" 
and Harmonicats on stage. Chi 
Railroad Fair is bringing in a horde 
of out-of-towners who are also- 
taking in the film houses, with 
matinees getting a very heavy play. 

Best of new product appears to 
be "Melody Time" at the Palace, 
with sweet $25,000. "So Evil My 
Love" at United Artists, looks tidy 
$20,000. "Best Years" started slow- 
ly at the Roosevelt. Duo bill at 
the Apollo of "Dude Goes West" 
and "Wouldn't be in Your Shoes" 
looks light with $9,500. 

"Street With No Name" plus 
Keenan Wynn at the Oriental leads 
second week bills, with hefty $50,- 
000. Also in the groove is "Key 
Largo" with fat $26,000 on first 
State-Lake holdover round. "Para- 
dine Case," in fourth week at 
Woods, looks strong $20,000. 

Estimates for This Week 

Apollo (B&K) (1,500; 50-98) — 
"Dude Goes West" (Mono) and 
"Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes" 
(Mono). Light $9,500. Last week, 
"Man In Iron Mask" (UA) and 
"Gentleman After Dark" (UA) (re- 
issues), $8,500. 

Chicago (B&K) (1,500; 50-98)— 
"Emperor Waltz" (Par) with Har- 
monicats topping stagebiU (3d wk). 
Sock $54,000. Last week, $60,000. 

Garrick (B&K) (900; 50-85)— 
"Next Time We Love" (U) and 
"High Seas" (Col) (reissues). Fair 
$8,000. Last week, "Black Arrow" 
(Col) and "Adventure in Silverado" 
(Col) (2d wk), $7,500. 

Grand (RKO) (1,500; 50-98) — 
"Big City" (M-G). Helped by 
Danny Thomas p.a. Fair $14,000. 
Last week, "Four Feathers" (UA) 
and "Drums" (UA) (reissues) (2d 
wk), $12,000. 

Oriental (Essaness) (3,400; 50-98) 
—"Street No Name" (20th> with 
Keenan Wynn in person (2d wk). 
Hefty $50,000. Last week, $61,000. 

Palace (RKOi. (2,500; 50-98) — 
"Melody Time" (RKO). Nifty $25 - 
000. Last week, "Remember 
Mama" (RKO) (2d wk), $18,000. 

Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500; 50-98)— 
"Best Years" (RKO). First pop 
price showing here. Looks okay 
$13,000, not getting off strongly. 
Last week, "Mickey" (EL) (2d wk), 
$8,500. 

State-Lake (B&K) (2,700; 50-98) 
—"Key Largo" (WB) (2d wk). Ex- 
cellent $26,000. Last week, $32,- 
000. 

United Artists (B&K) (1,700; 50- 
98) — "So Evil My Love" (Par). Neat 
$20,000. Last week, "On Merry 
Way" (UA) (2d wk), $13,000. 

Woods (Essaness) (1,073; 98) — 
"Paradine Case" (SRO) (4th wk). 
Steady $20,000. Last week, $24,- 
000. 

World (Indie) (587; 77)— "King's 
Jester" (Indie) (2d wk). Trim $3,- 
000. Last week, $3,500. 



Estimated Total Gross 
Last Week $618,000 

(Based on 15 theatres) 

Last Year ...$543,000 

(Based on 18 theatres) 



'LARGO' LUSH $25,000, 
D.C.; W NICE 16G 

Washington, Aug. 3. 

Big news here this week is "Key 
Largo," terrific at Wartfer. "On 
Merry Way" looks fine at Palace. 
"Blandings" shapes good at Keith's. 
Estimates for This Week 

Capitol (Loew's) (2,434; 44-80)— 
"Furnace Creek" (20th) plus Lar- 
ry Storch and acts. Nice $23,000. 
Last week, "Regards Broadway" 
(20th) with Tex Ritter and his 
horse, solid $25,500. 

Columbia (Loew's) (1,263; 44?70) 

"Easter Parade" (M-G) third 

downtown week, excellent $10,000. 
Last week, "Island With You" 
(M-G) (m.o.), oke $6,400. 

Dupont (F. W. Mann) (440; 50- 
85) — "Antoine and Antoinette" 
(Indie). Good $3,500. Last week, 
"Tosca" (Siritzky), $3,000. 

Keith's (RKO) (1,939; 44-74)— 
"Mr. Blandings Dream House" 
(SRO). Good $13,000. Last week, 
"Melody Time" (RKO) stout 
$17,000. 

Metropolitan (WB) (1,163; 44-70) 
—"Raw Deal" (EL). Okay $8,000, 
Last week "Flowing Gold" (WB) 
(reissue). $8,500. 

Palace (Loew's) (2,370; 44-74)— 
"On Merry Way" (UA). Fine $16,- 
000. Last week, "Easter Parade" 
(M-G) (2d wk), solid $17,000. 

Warner (WB) (2,154; 44-74)- 
"Key Largo" (WB). Terrific $25, 
000. Las;; week, "Emperor Waltz' 
(Par) (2d wk), neat $14,000. * 



Ram Helps Balio; 
'Ruth' Smash 21G 



Baltimore, Aug. 3. 

Steady downpour over the week- 
end kept them in town' and is giv- 
ing current first runs a shot in the 
arm. Way out in front after po- 
tent advance bally is "Babe Ruth 
Story" and may reach record fig- 
ure at Town. Good response also 
reported for "Mr. Blandings Builds 
His Dream House" at Century. 
Others are only fair with hold- 
overs doing nicely. ■ 

Estimates for This Week 
Centaury (Loew's-UA) (3,000; 20- 
60)— "Mr. Blandings" (SRO). Nice 
$16,000. Last week, third of "East- 
er Parade" (M-G), held well at 
$12,800. 

Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2,240; 
20-70)— "Raw Deal" (EL) plus 
vaude. Fairish response at $14,000. 
Last "week, "Thunderhoof" (Col) 
and Horace Heidt's Winners, $13,- 
900. 

Keith's (Schanbergerr (2.460; 20- 
60)— "Abbott-CosteUo Meet" Frank- 
stem" (U). Opens today .(Tues.) 
after week of "Feudin," Fussin'" 
(U) at mild $6,500. Ahead "So 
Evil My Love" (Par), $6,700. 

Mayfair (Hicks) (980; . 25-55)— 
"Shaggy' (Par) . Unexciting $3,500. 
Last week, "Crusades" (Par).(re- 
issue) (2d wk), $3,200. 

New (Mechanic) (1,800; 20-60)— 
"Deep Waters" (20th) (2d wk). 
Steady $7,000 after oke opener at 
$10,300. 

Stanley (WB) (3,280; 25-75)— 
"Romance High Seas' 4 (WB) (2d 
wk) Holding well at $8,000 after 
modest $10,700 opener. 

Town (Rappaport) (1,500; 35-65) 
—"Babe Ruth Story" (Mono). Ex- 
ceptionally strong bally drew 
smash opener; near-record figure 
of $21,000 for week looms. Last 
week, "Melody Time" (RKO) (2d 
wk), off to $8,600. 

St Loo Biz Uneven As 
Weather; 'Streel'-'Circle' 
Mild 17G,W Fine 19G 

St. Louis, Aug. 3. 

Biz at the mainstem houses is 
as uncertain as the weather, fair 
one day and bad the next. Its a 
toss up between "Deep Waters" 
and "On Merry Way" for top coin. 
"Winner's Circle" coupled' with 
"Street With No Name" looks 
mild at Fox. 

Estimates for This Week 

Ambassador (F&M) (3,000; 50- 
"75)— "Deep Waters" (20th) and 
"Mine Own Executioneer" (20th). 
Average $18,000. Last week, "An- 
other Part Forest" (U) and "Cas- 
bash (U),* $13,000. 

Fox (F & M) (5,000; 50-75)— 
"Winners' Circle" <20th) and 
"Street With No Name" (20th). 
Mild $17,000. Last week, "Key 
Largo" (WB) and "Checkered 
Coat" (20th), $19,000. 

Loew's (Loew) (3,172; 50-75)— 
"On Merry Way" (UA) and "Drag- 
net" (SG). Nice $19,000. Last week, 
"Easter Parade" (MG) (2d wk), 
$18,000. 

Missouri (F &W) (3,500; 50-75)— 
"Fuller Brush Man" (Col) and 
"Fort Apache" (RKO) (ni.o.) (2d 
wk). Fast $10,000 after neat $15,- 
000 first stanza. 

Orpheum (Loew) (2,000; 50-75) — 
"Easter Parade" (M-G). (m.o.). Oke 
$9,000. Last week, "Sign of Ram" 
(Col) and "Police Reporter" (SG), 
$8,000. 

. St. Lonis (F&M) (4,000; 50-60) 
—"Happened One Night" (Col) 
and "Penny Serenade" (Col) (re- 
issues). Mild $7,500. Last week, "I 
Wake Up Screaming" (20th) and 
"Blood and Sand" (20th) (reissues). 
$5,500. 

Shubert (Ind) (1,500; 40-60)— 
"The Fugutive" (RKO) (m.o.). 
Good $6,000. Last week, "t Jane 
Doe" (Rep) and "Gallant Legion" 
(Rep), ?5,000. 



Good Fix Weather Ups 



$20,000, 'Regards' 12G 

Indianapolis, Aug.. 3. 

Film biz continued average or 
belter at most firstruns here this 
week. "Fuller Brush Man" is big 
stuff at Loew's and sure of hold- 
over. "Give My Regards to Broad- 
way" at Indiana shapes nice. Bad 
weather for outdoor competish 
helping situation here. 

Estimates for This Week 

Circle (Gamble-Dolle) (2,800; 44- 
65)— "Furnace Creek" (20th) and 
"Arthur Takes Over" (20th). Aver- 
age $10,000. Last week, "Feudin,' 
Fussin'" (U) and "Big Town Scan- 
dal',' (Par), with Marjorie Main 
P.A. first two days, hefty $15,500. 

Indiana (G-D) (3,300; 44-65) — 
"Regards to Broadway" (20th) and 
'^Counterfeiters" (20th). Nice $13,- 
000. Last week, "Melody Time" 
(RKO) and "Shanghai Chest" 
(Mono). $14,000. 

Keith's (C-D) (1,300; 44-65) — 
"Melody Time" (RKO) and "Shang- 
hai Chest" (Mono) (m.o.). Modest 
$3,500. Last week, "Aanother Part 
Porest" (U) and "Stage Struck" 
(Mono), $4,000. 

Loew's (Loew's) (2,450; 44-65)— 
"Fuller Brush Man" (Col) and "Ad- 
ventures in Silverado" (Col). Siz- 
zling $20,000. Last week, "Easter 
Parade" (M-G) (2d wk). Sock $15,- 
500 in 10 days. , 

Lyric (C-D) . (1,600; 44-65) — 
"Feudin,' Fussin'" (U) and "Big 
Town Scandal" (Par) (m.o.). Oke 
$6,000. Last week, ''Flowing Gold" 
(WB) and "Gods Country and 
Woman" (WB) (reissues) so-so 
$5,000. 

'Key Largo' Giant 
$42,000 in Philly 

- Philadelphia, Aug. 3. 

Rain proved a life-saver over 
weekend and cut down the regular 
resort exodus. Strong bills drew 
lines tor solid biz. Best newcomer 
is "Key Largo," being helped by 
several late shows, will hit an ex- 
ceptional $42,000 at Stanley, best 
figure at this house in months. 

The Fox, switching its policy 
of exclusive 20th-Fox product, 
brought in Metro's "A Date With 
Judy" for solid $30,000. "So Evil 
My Love" looks neat at Karlton. 
Estimates for This Week ' 

Aldine (WB) (1,303; 50-94) — 
"Intermezzo" (UA) (reissue). Fine 
$13,500 hi 10 days, replacing 
"Smart Woman" (Mono), pulled 
after dim $4,000 in 4 days. 

Arcadia (S&S) (700; 50-94) — 
"Pirate" (M-G). Great $6,000 or 
over. Last week, "Romance High 
Seas" (WB), $5,000. 

Boyd (WB) (2,350; 50-94)— "Para- 
dine Case" <SRO) (5th wk). Okay 
$12,500. Last week, $14,600. 

Earle (WB) (2,700; 50-94) — "I, 
Jane Doe" (Rep) and "In Old Los 
Angeles" (Rep). Weak $12,000. 
Last week, "River Lady" (U), 
$13,000. 

Fox (20th) (2,250; 50-94)— "Date 
With Judy" (M-G). Fancy $30,000. 
Last week, "Deep Waters" (20th), 
slow $17,000. 

Goldman (Goldman) (1,000; 50- 
94)— "Tap Roots" (U) (3d wk). 
Continuing great pace at $20,000. 
Last week, socko $26,000. 

Karlton (Goldman) (1,000; 50-94) 
—"So Evil My Love" (Par). Neat 
$16,000. Last week, "Berlin Ex- 
press" (RKO) (2d wk), $8,000. 

Keith's (Goldman) (1,300; 50-94) 
—"Street With No Name" (20th). 
Mild $5,000. Last week, "Island 
With You" (M-G), $6,000. 

Pix (Cummins) (500; 50-94) — 
"Hunted" (Mono) and "Who Killed 
'Doc' Robbin" (U). Mild $4,000 for 
double bill. Last week, "Lady 
from Shanghai" (Col), $5,000. 

.Mastbaum (WB) (4,360; 50-94)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (4th wk). 
Holding well at $18,000. Last 
week, sturdy $24,600. 

Stanley (WB) (2,950; 50-94) — 
"Key Largo" (WB). Best thing in 
town at smash $42,000 or over. 
Last week, "Dream Girl" (Par), 
very dull $14,200. 
, Stanton (WB) (1,475; 50-94) — 
''Man-Eater of Kumaon" (U). Dis- 
appointing at $8,000. Last week, 
"Flowing Gold" (WB) and "God's 
Country and Woman" (WB) (re- 
issues), $8,500. 



Estimates Are Net 

Film gross estimates as re- 
ported herewith from the vari- 
ous key cities, are- net, i.e., 
without the 20% tax. Distribu- 
tors share on net take, when 
playing precentage, hence the 
estimated figures are net in- 
come. 

The parenthetic admission 
prices, however, as indicated, 
include the U. S. amusement 
tax. 



Rain lifts B way; 'Isiand'-'Stop Musk' 
Loud $96,000, A. & C. Rousing $38,000, 
'Ruth' Lofty 36G, 'largo -Basic 6SG, 3d 



Break in the heat Saturday (31) 
night following rain which kept 
temperature down again Sunday 
(1) is proving a real lifesayer for 
Broadway firstrun theatres this ses- 
sion. Rainy Sunday and cooler 
weather that day which kept thou- 
sands from beaches and cancelled 
two major league ball games, 
helped overcome losses sustained 
from sweltering heat last Tuesday 
(27) and Wednesday. 

Start of three new pictures and 
a second-run combo in past week 
also gave business a fresher' tone. 
End of airconditioning strike at 
Loew and RKO theatres late last 
Wednesday (28) night was a great 
help to the Capitol, Criterion, 
State and Palace, Broadway houses 
involved, after Tuesday-Wednes- 
day heat had melted trade badly. 

"On Island With You" and 
"Stop the Music" radio show on- 
stage is giving the Capitol a big 
$96,000. "Babe Ruth Story," after 
beim. leaped on by nearly all N. Y. 
crin-otfs not living up to initial 
pnhe jse. Finished first week last 
M" May (2) night at strong $36,- 
0>the Mt far from sensational. 

accebott-Costello Meet Franken- 
s. ' ■*!; is bringing the Criterion a 
f ggf* week with $38,000. Had 
" f„e handicap, too, opening in 
} • heat while house was without 

laSS n l 9n t "EV.ii,- Vatxae Worf" 



iair plant. "Four Faces West' 
opened a day ahead of schedule 
at the Globe yesterday (Tues.) 
when "Deep Waters" sagged. "Kill- 
ers"-"Brute Force" second-run com- 
bo, looks okay $12,000 at Winter 
Garden. 

After playing to about 233,000 
people in first two weeks, "Street 
With No Name" with Cab Callo- 
way, Vivian Blaine, "Jackie Miles 
and iceshow will get very- strong 
$93,000 in third stanza at Roxy. 
House is opening; "Walls of Jeri- 
cho," with stageshow headed ' by 
Dick Haymes, Tommy Trent and 
iceshow today (Wed.) because of 
previous Commitments. 

Seventh and final week of "Em- 
peror Waltz" at Music Hall looks 
to reach nice $115,000, making 
around $980,000 for seven weeks, 
new high for 1948 and longest run 
of year at Hall. "Date With Judy" 
opens tomorrow (Tours.). 

While off from second session, 
"Key Largo" with Count Basie 
band and BiHie Holiday topping 
stagebiU still is very sturdy $69,000 
for third round at Strand. May- 
fair brings in "Return of Bad 
Men" today (Wed.) after 10 very 
successful weeks with "Time of 
Life." 

Paramount launched "Beyond 
Glory" last night (Tues.) with pic- 
ture and new stageshow headed by 
Peggy Lee, Jan Murray and Ray 
Eberle band. Group of 300 cadets 
from U. S. Military Academy and 
big Army band stationed at Point 
went to theatre for preem showing. 
"Foreign Affair" with Jo Stafford 
on stage finished off slightly ab- 
breviated fifth week at around $53,- 
000, for very solid engagement. 
Estimates for This Week 

Astor (City Inv.) (1,300; 70-$1.50) 
—"Babe Ruth Story" (Mono) (2d 
wk). First week ended last Mon- 
day (2) looks to hit strong $36,000, 
special ad campaign featuring Babe 
Ruth personal letter helping over- 
come crix rhubarb. However, not 
measuring up to optimistic advance 
hopes. Final 11 days (8th wk) of 
"Melody Time" (RKO) okay 
$16,000. 

Capitol (Loew's) (4,820; 80-$1.50) 
—"Island With You" (M-G) and 
"Stop the Music" radio show on- 
stage. First week ending today 
(Wed.) looks big $96,000 or near; 
naturally holds over. Restoration 
of air-conditioning helped teeoff. 
In ahead, fifth week of "Ft 
Apache" (RKO) and Lena Home 
heading stageshow was* hurt by 
walkout of airconditioning engi- 
neers, especially at end of run, 
and got only mild $44,000. • ' 

Criterion (Loew's) (17700; 70- 
$1.85) — "Abbott-CosteUo Meet 
Frankenstein" (U) (2d wk). First 
round ended last (Tues.) night was 
near rousing $38,000. In ahead, 
third week "Canon City" (EL) slip- 
ped down to $12,000, no aircondi- 
tioning hurting badly final days. 

Globe (Brandt) (1,500; 90-S1.50) 
—"Four Faces West" (UA). Opened 
yesterday (Tues.), a day ahead of 
originally planned date. Second 
week of 5 days for "Deep Waters" 
(20th) was very dim $6,000 after 
thin $12,000 initial week. 

Mayfair (Brandt) (1,736; 90-$1.80) 
—"Return of Bad Men" (RKO). 
Opens today (Wed.). Last week, 
(10th-6 days) for "Time of Life" 
(UA) okay $8,000 after $10,000 for 
ninth, for very successful run. 

Palace .(RKO) (1,700; 40-95) — 



"Regards to Broadway" (20th) and 
"Green Grass" (20th) (2d runs). 
Looks fairly good $9300. Last 
week, "Romance High Seas" (WB) 
and "Father, Dunne" (RKO) (2d 
runs), slipped to mild $7,000, way 
below hopes, lack of aircondition- 
ing cutting deeply into final days. 

Paramount (Par) (3,664; 55-$1.50) 
—"Beyond Glory" (Par) with 
stageshow headed by Peggy Lee, 
Jan Murray, Ray Eberle orch. Teed 
off last (Tues.) night with picked 
group of upperclassmen from West 
Point attending preem for topshelf 
bally. Last week, "Foreign Affair" 
(Par) with Jo Stafford, Sam Dona- 
hue orch topping stagebiU (5th wk- 
6Vfe days), down to $53,000 after 
$59,000 for fourth. 

Radio City Music Hall (Rockefel- 
lers) (5,945; 80-$2.40)— "Emperor 
Waltz" (Par) with stageshow (7th- 
final wk). Winding -up longest, 
biggest coin run of year today 
(Wed.) at good $115,000 after $126,- 
000 for sixth, over hopes. Makes 
close to $980,000 for full seven 
weeks, new high here for .1948. 
"Date With Judy" (M-G) and new 
stageshow open tomorrow (Thurs.). 

Rialto (Mage) (594; 44-99) — 
"Money Madness" (FC) and 
"Blonde Ice* (FC) (2d wk). Initial 
holdover round ending next Fri- 
day (6) holding well at $7,500 or 
better after solid $11,600 opener, 
unusually big for this combo. 
"Gung Ho" (FC) and "Eagle's 
Squadron" (FC) (reissues) open 
Saturday (7); 

KivoU (UAT-Par) .(2,092; 60- 
$1.25)— "So Evil My Love" fPart 
(2d wk). Off, sharply in second 
frame with good $24,000 likely 
after strong $34,000 opener. Likely 
wiU stay a third, with "Velvet 
Touch" (RKO) due to follow 
around Aug. 12. 

Boxy (20th) (5,886; 80-$1.80) — 
"Walls of Jericho" (20th) plus 
Dick Haymes, Buster Shaver, 
Tommy Trent and iceshow featur- 
ing Carol Lynne. Fritz Dietl on- 
stage. Opens today (Wed.). Last 
week, "Street No Name" (20th) 
with Cab Calloway, Vivian Blaine, 
Jackie Miles and iceshow (3d wk), 
still stayed very strong at $93,000 
after big $107,000 for second, con- 
siderably over hopes, hot weather 
not doing nearby picketed houses 
any good. Opener was sock $132,- 
000, making highly profitable run 
for this combo. 

State (Loew's) (3,450; 80-$1.50)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (6th wk). 
Doing comparatively better in fifth 
week ended last (Tues.) night than 
recently, with return of normal 
airconditioning a big boost; cool 
Sunday also a big help. Looks 
stout $35,000 after $40,000 for 
fourth. Both figures rated splen- 
did profit for this stage of run. 

Strand (WB) (2,756; 76-$1.50)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) with stageshow 
headed by Count Basie orch, Billie 
HoUday (3d wk). Slipping off to 
$69,000, stUl very big for third ses- 
sion after great $80,000 for second. 
Show booked for four weeks, and 
may go longer. 

Victoria (City Inv.) (720; 70- 
$1.50) — House now shuttered for 
complete facelifting and enlarging 
of seating capacity, with no open- 
ing until late fall. Last week, 
"Raw Deal" (EL) (3d wk-11 days), 
okay $16,000 after $12,000 for sec- 
ond. 

Winter Garden (UA) (1,312; 55- 
$1.25)— "Killers" (U) and "Brute 
Force" (U) (2d runs). First week 
ending today (Wed.) looks nice 
$12,000 for second-run combo. 
Looks to stay only one week long- 
er. In ahead, "Man-Eater of Ku- 
maon" (U) (4th wk) was $6,000. 



'Street 7 NSG f 15,500 In 
Denver; 'Parade' Hep 23G 

Denver, Aug. 3. 

"Easter Parade" is heading pro- 
cession of mild business here with 
smash week at Orpheum. "Street 
With No Name" looks on mUd side 
at two theatres, being fair in one 
but okay in the other. "So Evil My 
Love" is good at Denham, and 
holds. . 

Estimates for This Week 

Aladdin (Fox) (1,400; 35-74)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) and "Stage 
Struck" (Mono) (m.o.). Fair $3,500 
or over. Last week, "Romance High 
Seas'.' (WB) and "Winner's Circle" 
(20th) (m.o.), fair $3,000. 

Broadway (Cinema) (1,500; 35- 
74)— "Best Years" (RKO) (6th wk). 
Trim $7,000. Last week, $7,500. 

Denham (Cockrill) (1,750; 35-70) 
—"So EvU My Love" (Par). Good 
$11,000. Holds. Last week, "Em- 
(Continued on page 18) 



THEY'VE MADE 
THEIR DATE WITH 





Mm 



CINCINNATI • ALBEE 



lit 



III 




• KEITH 
ATLANTIC CITY • APOLLO 
SPOKANE • POX 



BETTY DOUGLAS 

GRABLE- FAIRBANKS jr. 

ady in Ermine 

color by TECHNICOLOR 
CESAR ROMERO • Walter abel - Reginald gardiner 

HARRY DAVENPORT * VIRGINIA CAMPBELL - WHIT BISSELL 
Produced and Directed by ERNST LUBITSCH 

Screen Play by Samson Raphaejson • Lyrics and Music 
byLeo Robin and Frederick Hollander 



mm 



lit 




111 



Dances Staged by Hermes Pan 




YOU* DATE TODAY fOR THE NATION-WIDE 
DAY-S.-DATE PREMIERE AUGUST llfh 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



FILM REVIEWS 



11 



Pitfall 

Hollywood, July 31. 

1 r ttlie.l Artists release of Samuel Bischnlr 
(tte^al Films) production. Stars Dick Po- 
well. Lizaheth Scott, Jane Wyatl; -features 
Ka.Miiuiijl Uurr, John Intel, Byron Burr, 
Juinm Hum, Ann Doran. Kclmor Jackson. 
liii'Mii.i i>y Andre De Toth. Sereenjilay, 
Karl Kamlj; based on novel, "The Pitfall"' 
by .l.i> Deader; camera. Harry Wilrt; edi- 
tor, Waller Thompson: music. X.ouis 
Km -bes Previewed July 30, '48. Running [ 
tuno, 8.1 M INS. 

#'••!« KwbM ,. Dick Powell 

lliin,i Stevens, Lteibelh Heotl 

Sue Knrhes Jtine Wyutl 

Jdact)onald , Raymond Burr 

J'Msirl. i Attorney John Lllrt 

Mill Smile> ; . liyron Harr 

T.uittny Forbes jimmy Hunt 

W-'ti^'e , Ann Doran 

JM lit an ley ...Selmer Jackson 

Terry Margaret Wells 

l'esk Sergeant Dick Wassel 



"Pitfall" never lives up to its 
promise of tight, suspense) ul melo- 
drama. It's a watered-down screen 
version of Jay Dratler's . tough 
novel that loses an excellent idea 
for high dramatics somewhere 
along the production road. The 
promise of exciting stuff is always 
present, but never delivered. Just 
moderate b.o. attention is all it will 
rate. 

Dick Powell, with a reputation 
for credible toughguy characteri- 
zations, has ' scant chance to get 
going in this one. He works well 
enough with material and has a 
few high spots but, on the whole, 
he disappoints as docs the picture. 
Lizabeth Scott gets a bit more 
credence into her role. Soundest 
characterization is given by Jane 
Wyatt, who makes believable her 
wife role with an intelligent per- 
formance backed by the script's 
best dialog. 

Screen adaptation of the Dratler 
novel presented a tough problem 
and only basic idea was lifted. 
That was still solid enough for 
sturdy film fare, but Karl Kamb 
has given it weak-kneed scripting 
and a tritely projected ending 
which Andre De Toth's direction 
doesn't help. Production sight 
values are excellent. Samuel 
Bischoff should have exercised the 
same care in insuring entertain- 
ment that would pay off on meller 
promises. 

Powell is an insurance man, 
bored with his humdrum, clock- 
ruled life. This makes him a set- 
up for Miss Scott's charms when 
he calls on her to collect gifts 
made by an absconder, now in jail. 
Their mutual attraction leads to 
one amorous night together and a 
guilty conscience. Raymond Burr, 
mountainous private eye, tries to 
make something of the incident be- 
cause he has been spurned by Miss 
Scott. The something leads to 
Powell killing the absconder, 
paroled from jail and egged on to 
attack Powell by Burr. There's 
a full confession to the wife and 
the d.a., i. lecture from both and 
ending finds Powell hopeful of re- 
newing a happy married life. 

Jimmy Hunt is cute as Powell's 
son and has been given equally cute 
lines. Burr is excellent. Litel has 
only one scene as the lecturing d.a. 
Byron Barr, the absconder, Ann 
Do ran, Selmer Jackson and others 
have been given casual direction 
by De Toth. 

Technical aids are topnotch; 
Harrv Wild's camera work, score, 
editing, settings and art direction 
all representing expert craftsman- 
ship. Brog. 



Ha<:hel «■••! the Stranger 

(SONGS) 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

BKft release of Richard H. Berger pro- 
duction, stars Loretta Young-, William 
IlitMen. Hubert. Mitchum; features Gary 
(Stay. Tom Tully, Sara Haden. Frank 
FViXUson. Wither Baldwin, Regtaa Wal- 
lace Directed by Norman Foster. Screcn- 
ttlar, Waldo Salt; from Btory, "Rachel" by 
Howard Past; camera, Maury Gertsnian: 
editor, l.es Millbrook; songs, Roy Webb, 
Wsldo Stilt. Trsdeshown at Los Angeles, 
Auk. 'W. nunnlng time, 92 MISS. 

Rachel ' Loretta Young 

Hi, navey William Holden 

jiiii Robert Mitchum 

Pavey Gary Gray 

. Putsuu Jackson ,...Tom Tully 

Mo. Jackson Sara Haden 

Wr. Kreeu Frank Ferguson 

Gitllus Walter Baldwin 

Mo>. Ureen Rcglna Wallace 



makes a play for her. Such at- 
tention sparks some interest in the 
husband and the triangle spins an 
anticipated- course, with the Indian 
raid bringing the husband and wife 
together »s lovers for the finale 
clinch. 

Within the bounds of the script, 
everyone concerned do good, if 
not outstanding jobs. Even pace 
maintained by Norman Foster's di- 
rection is in keeping with writing 
but his handling of the night raid 
on the settler's cabin by redskins 
is solid action stuff. Flaming ar- 
rows and war whoops pinpoint 
pioneer danger but, unfortunately, 
there isn't enough of it in preced- 
ing footage. ■ 

Holden enacts the dour settler, 
so deeply in love with his dead 
wife he fails to appreciate, or even 
notice, the charms of his new 
bondswoman bride. Miss Young 
has only two costume changes and 
her makeup is true to role, but 
she makes some glamor shine 
through. Mitchum is the aimlessly 
wandering hunter — Romeo who, 
like the angel, in "The Bishop's 
Wife," makes the husband aware 
of wifely charms by his own ad- 
miration of them. Gary Gray is 
good as Holden's wild young son. 
Others make only brief appear- 
ances. 

There is- an appeal to the five 
songs that aptly fit story demands. 
Mitchum lends an untutored pleas- 
ing vocal nonchalance to "Oh He 
Oh Hi Oh Ho," "Just Like Me" 
and "Foolish Pride." He joins 
with- Miss Young on "Tall, Dark 
Stranger" and "Summer Song." 
All have a folksy flavor as cleffed 
by Roy Webb and Waldo Salt. Lat- 
ter also was responsible for the 
script, from a story, "Rachel," by 
Howard Fast, and Webb did the 
smooth background score. 

Richard H. Berge.r's production, 
under executive supervision of 
Jack J. Gross, utilizes exteriors al- 
most completely, with the rustic 
cabin and a wilderness fort the 
only sets required. Scenic values 
are good and Maury Gertzman 
gave them sharp lensing. Editing 
holds the film to an adaptable 92 
minutes. , Brog. 



Miniature Reviews 

"Pitfall" (UA). Melodrama 
with only moderate entertain- 
ment values. 

"Rachel and the Strangrer" 
(RKO). Unexciting saga of a 
love triangle In pioneer days. 
Strong cast to help b.o. 

"Two Guys, from Texas". 
(Musical-Color) (WB) Enter- . 
Uining ' musical about two er- 
rant nitery performers. 

"The Spiritualist" (ELK Tur- 
han Bay, Lynn Bari in unusual 
meller of mediums and murder. 

"Fighting Back" (20th). Okay 
dualer. 

"The Red Shoes" (British) 
(GFD). Meller with ballet back 
ground; too limited in audi- 
ence appeal and too long for 
big V. S. biz. 

"Variety Time" (RKO). 
Well-edited series of clips 
from many films made cohe- 
sive by Jack Paar's emceeing. 



no harm in the actors being casual 
about it. What matters is that 
there are the proper comedy situa- 
tions, song cues, and the musical 
numbers and laugh lines are re- 
soundingly put oyer. Visually, the 
picture is good, as the color photo- 
graphy capitalizes on the vivid 
ranch decor. 

David Butler's direction suits the 
tempo to the style of the picture 
and the mood of the scene, 
skillfully avoiding lagging spots. 
Morgan is likable enough as the 
romantic lead, and Carson does 
some hilarious mugging as the 
comedy lead. Dorothy Malone has 
the requisite looks as the heroine, 
while Penny Edwards puts over the 
musical femme lead reasonably 
well, but occasionally hammers her 
song numbers a trifle. Forrest 
Tucker, Fred Clark and Andrew 
Tombes are notable in supporting 
parts. Kobe. 



Two Guys from Texas 

(COLOR-MUSICAL) 

Warner Bros, release of Alex Gottlieb 
production. Staff* Dennis Morgan, Jack 
('arson: features Dorothy Malone, Penny 
Edwards. Directed by David Butler. 
Screenplay. I. A. L. Diamond and Allen 
Boretz, suggested by play, by Robert Sloane 
and Louis Pelletier: songs. Jule Styne, 
Sammy C'atin; dances by l.e Roy Prlnzi 
musical director, Leo F. Forlistein; or- 
chestral arrangements. Ray Helndnrf: car- 
toon sequence directed by 1. Freleng; 
camera (Technicolor), Arthur [-Meson and 
William V. Skall; editor. Irene Morrit. 
Previewed K. Y., Julv 28, '4S. Running 
lime, H« WINS* 

'Steve Carroll Dennis Morgan 

Danny Foster ....luck '("arson 

Joan Winston Dorothy Malone 

Maggie Ueed IVnny Edwards 

" 'Tex*' Bennett Forrest Tucker 

Dr. Slraeger Fred nark 

Link Jessup Gerald Mohr 

Jim Crocker lohn Alvitt 

"The Texan" Andrew Tombes 

1'ete Nash Monte fllue 

Specialty Philttarmonlca Trio 



The Spiritualist 

Hatgle Lion relottse of Ben Stotoff pro- 
duction; Stars Turhttit Bey, Lynn Bari, 
Cathy O'Donnell. Directed by Bernard 
Vorhaus. Screenplay, Muriel Roy Boltun 
and Ian Hunter from original by Crane 
"Wilbur; -camera, John Alton; editor, Nor- 
man Colbert. Tradexlfowt,, N. Y., July 
SI, '48. Bunnlng lime, 78 SUNS. 

Alexis . ..Tul-lian Bey 

Christine V'aber .'Lynn Burt 

Janet Burke Cathy O'Donnell 

Martin Abbott. Richard Carlson 

Paul Faber Donald Curtis 

Kmily ■ ..*........., ..Virginia Gregg 

Hoffman Harry Mendoza 



"Rachel and the Stranger" plods 
an agreeable, if unexciting, enter- 
tainment path in narrating story of 
pioneer days and love Jn the wil- 
derness. Star names are good, some 
marquee luster being provided by 
Loretta Young, William Holden 
and Robert Mitchum, which should 
sharpen b.o. response. 

Mood of the picture is pleasant 
but is so even that interest isn't 
too strong. Dangers of pioneering 
in a wilderness, vaguely referred 
to as the northwest, could have 
been more excitingly depicted. 
Single incident of excitement— a 
strong one — is put off until the 
finale and has a socko Indian raid 
on a settler's homestead in the 
wilds. 

Otherwise, narrative maintains 
its even pace in telling story of a 
pioneer who buys a bride to do the 
chores and teaches niceties of life 
to his motherless son. The bride 
is onlv a servant until a hunter, 
friend of the groom, appears and 



This mistitled filmusical is about 
a couple of mediocre nitery sorig- 
and-dance men who go to, not come 
from, Texas to run afoul of misad- 
ventures and romance on a dude 
ranch. It's lightweight stuff, but 
unpretentious and moderately di- 
verting, and should at least keep 
the customers seated until the top 
feature comes on. 

In a modest way, "Two Guys 
from Texas" is a spoof of musical 
westerns, for it presents the 
broncho-bustin', gun-totin', frontier 
stuff as window dressing to give 
the big city dudes their money's 
worth. Also, there's a lampoon 
Hollywood cowboy number as well 
as some kidding t almost - on - the- 
square about swaggering Texans. 
The songs are tuneful, though un- 
distinguished, the musical numbers 
are skillfully staged and pleasantly 
brief. 

The opening song number, "Mu- 
sic in the Land," done by. Dennis 
Morgan and Jack Carson supposed- 
ly bouncing over the Texas range 
in a aged Ford, is enjoyable. 
There's also a fairly good song and 
dance number, "I Don't Care If It 
Rains All Night," by Carson and 
Penny Edwards, but possibly the 
top musical spot is the hokum "I 
Want to Be a Cowboy in the 
Movies" duet by Morgan and. Car- 
son. Other songs are "Everyday I 
Love You a Little Bit More" and 
"HankerinV 

In the comedy department there 
are a few good scenes, notably one 
in which the two girls and two boys 
prepare for bed in adjacent rooms, 
with their two conversations clever- 
ly integrated for laughs. There's 
also some passably good slapstick, 
as the two performers flee jail and 
mix with a rodeo crowd in almost 
Keystone Kop fashion. A cartoon 
dream sequence is only mildly 
effective. 

Nobody could take the plot 
seriously, of course, least of all 
the authors themselves, so there's 



Novel story, working in methods 
used by mediums to obtain high 
fees, turns out to be high tension' 
melodrama. It has .been expertly 
directed by Bernard Vorhaus from 
a whale of a yarn' by Crane Wilbur. 
Helped by topflight performances 
by Turhan Bey, Lynn Bari and 
Cathy O'Donnell, "The Spiritual- 
ist" should prove strong boxoffice. 
Whether only passably stout or 
really big in most spots will depend 
on how sold, because picture is 
one that can be circused into real 
proportions. 

Idea of mixing a spiritualist's 
machinations and usual spook 
screen sounds with a slambang 
murder plot has been worked out 
effectively. Miss Bari, as the rich, 
young widow, imagines being - in 
contact with her deceased husband, 
who supposedly had died in an 
auto crash two years previously. 
That proves a workable thesis for 
seance expert Bey until he finds 
the mate, Donald Curtis, actually 
is alive. Also that the "dead" hus- 
band is plotting to get control of 
his wife's estate. 

Ben Stoloff has given the picture 
magnificent production, with much 
action in and about a stately man- 
sion perched high on a cliff over- 
looking the Pacific. Such setting 
makes for breath-taking scenes and 
obvious thrill sequences as the wife 
is lead along the top of the cliff 
while half-drugged. The odd 
sound effects, mysterious voices 
and other peculiar noises have been 
captured in one of the top sound- 
recording jobs of the year. 

Bey chips in with probaDly bis 
top performance as the money- 
grabbing medium while Miss Bari 
as the much-distressed wife who 
yens contact with her dead hus- 
band is also considerably better 
than in recent efforts. Miss O'Don- 
nell .does excellent work as the 
younger lass Who seeks to save her 
sister, first from the spiritualist 
and then from her supposedly dead 
husband. 

Curtis tops the support as the 
hubby who returns to life. Harry 
Mendoza does a neat job as the 
ex-magico, now a sleuth, who helps 
run down Bey's seance setup. Rich 
ard Carlson does well in the thank- 
less role of a persistent suitor. 

Besides Vorhaus' fine direction, 
picture Is helped by sterling cam- 
eraing by John Alton and slick 
editing by Norman Colbert. The 
unusual photo effects are nicely 
done by George J. Teaguc. 

Wear. 



Fighting Hack 

Hollywood, July 30. 

Ttveuticth-lfox release of Hoi M. Wurtstel 
production. Features Caul Langum, Jean 
Rogers, Gary Gray. Joe Sawyer. Mortis 
Ankrutn, John Jellogg, Daisy (canine). 
Directed by Mai Si. Clair. Story and 
screenplay. John Stone; camera, Benjamin 
Kline: editor. William P. Claxlon. At 
GraumaJtCs Chinese, Hollywood. July 30, 
•18. Running time, tU MIN». 

Nick Sanders , Paul T,tiitgl«n 

June Sanders .....Jean Rogers 

Jimmy Sanders <lary Gray 

Sergen.nl scttdder '.' Joe Sawyer 

Mr. Hlgby Morris Aukrum 

Sam Lung .'...John Kellogg 

Mrs. Bitchy Dorothy Christy 

]j»rrv Higliy , Tommy . Ivo 

Mrs. Winkle I'l'la Tyler 

Colonel ...Metro H'ntkin 

Snuffy Daisy 

"Fighting Back" never gets 
above its programmer classification 
but, in that bracket, is okay ma- 
terial. Plot is fairly plausible and 
fits the title.- Dramatic elements 
come off best and would have been 
stronger but for distracting comedy 
hokum. 

Story concerns ex-convict who 
starts on the straight and narrow 
after serving in the war. On 
parole, his attempts to provide a 
legal living for himself, his wife 
and son are going smoothly until 
an old criminal associate appears 
on the scene. Parolee becomes in- 
volved in the theft of a bracelet 
from his employer's wife.. Bauble 
lias been stolen by the canine, 
Daisy, at instructions of the 
former gangster pal, hut inevit- 
able happy ending rights all 
wrongs when the dog points out 
the real culprit. 

Mai St. Clair's direction keeps 
the piece on the move and draws 
acceptable performances from the 
cast. Paul Langton handles his 
lead role pleasantly, as does Jean 
Rogers as his wife and Gary Gray,, 
the son. Daisy will please the 
femmes and kiddies, John Kel- 
logg is an okay villain. Joe 
Sawyer, policeman; Morris Au- 
krum, Dorothy Christy are among 
others in featured spots. 

Production supervision by Sol 
M. Wurtzcl has obtained good 
values for budget allotment, set- 
tings, art direction and other phys- 
°cal appurtenances being kept sim- 
ple to fit struggling young couple's 
financial standing. • Brog. 

The Red Shoes 

(Color) 
(BRITISH) 

London, July 27. 

General Film Distributors release of J. 
Arthur Rank-Archera production. "Stars 
Marius Goring, Anion Waibrook, Moira, 
shearer. Directed and written by Michael 
1'owell, Emetic Preasburger; additional 
dialog by Keitb Winter; editor, Reginald 
■Mills. Music by Brian Haednle; ballets, 
Robert Helpmann: camera (Technicolor). 
Jack Cardiff, Christopher Challls. At 
Odeon. Umdon, July 20. '-48. Running time, 
13* MI.VS. 

Boris I.ermontoc Anton Waibrook 

Julian Craaler Marius Coring 

Victoria Page ..Molra Shearer 

LJubov Leonide Mnssine 

Ivan Boleslawsky Robert Helpmann 

Ratov , Albert Basset-man 

'dvy ..Esmond Knight 

Roronskaji , T.udmilla Tcheri na 

U>rd Oldham Derek Elphlnstone 

Lady -Neman Irene Brown 

Professor Palmer. .Austin TrcvtoV 

Madame Rambert Madame Humbert 

Dlmitrl Eric Berry 

The growing popularity of the 
ballet in Britain has been a post- 
war phenomenon, and undoubtedly 
influenced Powell and Presburger 
to produce this, their last for Rank. 
Although good ballet is assured 
boxoffice in London and possibly 
other big cities, its popularity in 
small towns and country districts 
is dubious. And in America, too, 
it will- probably only attract a 
limited audience. 

For the first 60 minutes, this is 
a commonplace backstage melo- 
drama, in which temperamental 
ballerinas replace the more con- 
ventional showgirls. Then a superb 
ballet of the Red Shoes, based on 
a Hans Anderson fairy tale, is 
staged with breath-taking beauty, 
put-classing anything that could be 
done on the stage. It is a colorful 
sequence, full of artistry, imagina- 
tion and magnificence. The three 
principal dancers, Moira, Shearer, 
Leonide Massine and Robert Help- 
mann, are beyond criticism. 

Then the melodrama resumes, 
story being about the love of a 
ballerina for a young composer, 
thus incurring the severe displeas- 
ure of the ruthless Boris Lermon- 
tov, guiding genius of the ballet 
company. Caught up between her 
two loves, her husband and her 
dancing, the ballerina dances her 
way to death, echoing the theme of 
the Red Shoes ballet. 

Although the story may be trite, 
there are many compensations, 
notably the flawless performance 
of Anton Waibrook, whose inter- 
pretation of the role of Lermontov 
is one of the best things he has 
done, on the screen. Moira Shearer, 
glamorous red-head, who has al- 
ready achieved fame as a ballerina, 
shows that she can act as well as. 
dance, while Marius Goring, pol* 
ished as ever, plays the young com- 
poser with enthusiasm. 

The supporting roles have been 
carefully filled, including Esmond 
Knight, Eric Berry, Austin Trevor 
and Albert Basserman. 

Other assets that can be chalked 



up are the wide variety of inter- 
esting locations — London, Paris, 
Monte Carlo, magnificent settings, 
firstclass Technicolor and some 
brilliant musical scores played by 
the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 
with Sir Thomas Beecham as con? 
ductor. In spite of all this, the pic- 
ture fails to come up to expecta- 
tions. It will disappoint the ballet- 
fans who won't be satisfied with a 
15-minute show, and there isn't 
enough in the story for the general 
public to hold interest for two and 
a quarter hours. 

Variety Time 

(MUSICAL) 

HKO release of fSeorffe Blhton production. 
Leon l-h-rol and K.icur Kennedy seauencea 

dirccicd by H n I I'tttos. Krrol screenplay, 
Hal Law: Kennedy screenphty, Yates; Jack 
Pilar material by Leo Solomon, Joseph 
Qttlllan; editors, Lee Millbrook, Edward 
W. Williams. Tradeshown, Aug:, a, *48- 
Banning: time. 59 'M1NS. 

Cast: Jack Paar, Edgar Kennedy, Leon 
Krrol, Frankie Carle ft Ot-cb. Pat Kootiey, 
Mifruellto Valdes. Harold K- Lola. Jesse * 
James, Lynn. Royce & Vanya, Dorothy 
Grander, Jack Norton, Minerva I'l-ecal, 
Florence Lake, Jack Rice, Dot Farley, Hal 
Concern", 



RKO in putting together a fea- 
ture length film consisting, of clips 
from out-of-circulation musicals, 
comedy shorts, sequences from si- 
lent films and faces left on the 
cutting room floor, have pre- 
destined such a release to the 
lower end of a dualler. However, 
the results coincide with the best 
video formula that's been found to 
date. "Variety Time" resembles 
closely the format that's been 
clicking on the Texaco Star Thea- 
tre, regarded by many as televi- 
sion's brightest program, 

"Variety Time" is similar to the 
tele program, inasmuch as there's 
a good emcee (Jack Paar) tying 
together various song, dance, and 
specialty sequences. It's virtually 
perfect video fare. But sole 
drawbacks in selling this film to 
the 28 video stations now operat- 
ing are the insufficiency of funds 
to buy current features and the 
low key photography in many se- 
quences which would make parts 
of the picture not bright enough 
for the sets now on the market. 

For theatres, the well-edited 
"Variety Time" will he mildly 
amusing. Although Jack 'Paar does 
a clever job of projecting the in- 
dividual sequences, many will have 
the ring of familiarity, inasmuch as 
pictures they were taken from hav* 
been previously released. The Ed- 
gar Kennedy and Leon Errol shorts 
have already made the rounds as 
has the Miguelito Valdes "Babalu". 
clip with terping by Harold & Lola. 

The vaude specialties are well 
staged with Pat Rooney doing his 
familiar "Daughter of Rosie 
O'Grady" tap, originally made for 
the Eddie Cantor pic, "Show Busi- 
ness;" Jesse and James hitting * 
good pace With their tray-balancing 
and acrohoofery, and Lynn, Royce 
Sc Vanya (team is now split with 
Vanya doing straight terping with. 
Pierre D'Ahgelo) making a nice 
impression with comedy dancing. 
Frankie Carle's band contributes 
the "Carle Boogie." 

The silent clips comprise a 1922 
fashion newsreel, a William S. 
Hart western and a 1911 Biograph 
release, "Two Paths." Paar does an 
amusing commentary for all three. 
He also has a funny bit with Hal 
Conreid. Latter spoofs French 
cafe singers. Jose. 



Selznick 

Continued from page 5 



films which have- been dropped by 
Selznick. They were "What Every 
Young Bride Should Know," to be 
made by Edward and Robert ! 
Golden with Shirley Temple and 
John Agar starred, and "If This Be 
My Harvest," to be made by Wil- 
liam Bacher with Alida Valll, 
Robert Mitchum and Louis Jour- 
dan. 

Selznick stated that the script 
of neither film pleased him. 
Golden's pic was dropped with dif- 
ficulty, but Bachv has filed suit 
against DOS and claims he will 
make the film elsewhere with other 
stars. 

In the meantime, Selznick is go- 
ing ahead with his video plans and 
expects to start work on the first 
experimental reels within the next 
couple months. Initial production, 
to be labeled "The Selznick Test 
Stage," will be a presentation of 
new talent under contract and un- 
der option to the Selznick studio.' 

Producer has declared he's al- 
ready received offers for the show 
from video chains and sponsors, 
but has nixed them because he 
wants perfection in the experi- 
mental shorts before they are 
shown to the public. Cecil Barker 
and Arthur Fellows will be in 
charge of production. 



12 



Wedneeday, Angnat 4, 1948 





WARNER BROS 




9 




Screen Play by Richard Biooks ond John Husion « Based on the Play by MAXWEll ANDERSON 
As Produced on Ihe Spoken Stage, by the Playwrights Company • Music by Max Steiner 



« IU. MaAU't Kmmm. Timf.lt.' ~ 



■NYKRIVATIONAL 



13 



EVA PERON TAKES ARC B.O. CUT 



Norwegian Crix Laud Upbeat In 
U.S. Pictures; British Rated Worse 



Washington, Aug. 3. 



Norwegian critics have become i «• — , , _ 
more friendly to Hollywood offer- Mex IWUUDS SCC BlZ Oft 
ings lately as result of recent 40%* From '47 Summer 
showings of "several excellent U.S. w/prruin OUimnei 
films." At the same time, import ,„,_'., . Mexico City, July 28. 
of some second-grade British pix ! , . Wmle D1X toD all other paid pub- 
has lessened the general popular- I hc amusements here in popularity, 
ity of English films. thelr hoxoffice is disappointing, 

, , . „ j. average gross of the 93 cinemas 

development," according , here pe r month during the first 



"This 
to Nathan D. 



Golden, U. S. Com- 



merce Dept. film chief, in a series 1 
of reports this week on Norway, i 
Sweden and Spain, "emphasizes the 1 
importance to the film industry of ; 
sending the highest quality motion 
pictures abroad." 

Other developments pointed out 
by Golden include: 

1 — British film officials have 
been visiting Madrid to get Spanish 
films for the British market, while 
French officials have been there . 
discussing joint Franco-Spanish ! 
production. Both visits were in j 
late May. 

2— U. S. films are still often 
"more brutal" than Swedish cen- 
sorship allows, and 7 of 190 Holly- 
wood films were rejected last year. 
(Three of 36 British films were 
turned down.). About 30% of all 
films were cut. 

In the report on Norway, Gold- 
en states that 54% of all films cen- 
sored last year were from the U. S. 
The study puts Norwegian theatres 
at 364, of which 160 were munici- 
pally owned. Municipal theatres are 
reported as having had an 11% 
drop in earnings last year. All 
Norwegian theatres are said to 
have grossed over 53,000,000 
kroner ($10,600,000). 

U. S. films accounted for about 
77% Of Spanish grosses in May, 
Golden reports. Two German films 
were revived in Madrid during the 
month. 

The report on Sweden gives this 
"typical example" of Swedish cen- 
sorship: "A recent U. S. gangster 
movie was altered in that the mur- 
der of an elderly woman and the 
climactic shooting of the hero were 
both shortened. In each case, 
enough of the scene was left to 
present the idea and to ensure con- 
tinuity. The only real loss was 
some'excellent acting and this may 
be considered in general to be the 
only loss a well-made picture is 
likely to suffer. In the majority 
of cases, there is probably no ar- 
tistic loss at all." 

Approximately 185 U. S. feature 
films were imported last year, the 
report estimates. It quotes trade 
sources -is estimating the boxoffice 
income of these films at ' about 
$10,000,000 — the same as the ap- 
proximately 45 Swedish films 
shown last year. 



half of 1948 being only $1,100,000, 
according to the city amusements 
supervision department. 

Exhibitors claim a 40% drop in 
biz this summer from the 1947 
summer level. 



Eight U.S. Pix For 
Venice Festival 

With the Venice Flm Festival 
scheduled to get under way Aug. 
19 for a 16-day period, U. S. com- 
panies already have submitted 
eight features in the competition, 
according to the Motion Picture 
Assn. of America's Paris office. 
Named as entries are Disney's 
"Melody Time," Metro's "National 
Velvet," Paramount's "Big Clock," 
RKO's "The Fugitive," 20th-Fox' 
"Gentleman's Agreement," UI's "A 
Double Life" and Warner's "Treas- 
ure of Sierra Madre." 

Added as a late starter is David 
O. Selznick's "Duel in the Sun," 
according to an announcement by 
the producer. Also to be exhibited 
in a special category, he said, 
would be his "Since You Went 
Away" and "Rebecca." 

Sponsoring the festival are the 
Italian government and the Inter- 
national Exhibition of Cinemato- 
graphic Art of the Biennale of 
Venice, in cooperation with the 
Italian Motion Picture Assn. Top 
award will be a Grand Prix Inter- 
national which will go to the best 
feature film presented at the festi- 
val. Other prizes will be distrib- 
uted for best director, actor, ac- 
tress, cameraman, composer, scen- 
arist and set designer. 



HAYES' LONDON 'GLASS' 
SHINES IN DULL WEEK 

London, Aug. 3. 
Helen Hayes' bow here in the 
local preem of Tennessee Williams' 
'The Glass Menagerie" at the 
Hay market last Wednesday (28), 
lent a note of sparkle to an 'other- 
wise drab week. Universally ac- 
claimed, the actress scored an out- 
standing success. Despite a mixed 



U.S. Film Cos. Again Do 
Biz in Brazil as Rio 
Tables Price-fixing 

American film companies have 
instructed their branches in Brazil 
to resume normal operations, fol- 
lowing receipt of cabled advices 
Monday (2) that the government 
has suspended its price-fixing or- 
der. Yank distribs had curtailed 
operations since the order went in- 
to effect about three weeks ago. 
It put a ceiling of 40% on rentals 
and of seven cruzeiros (38c) on ad- 
missions. 

Suspension of the price controls 
will continue in effect, Rio dis- 
patches said, until a final decision 
has been handed down on the ap- 
plication of American companies 
for judicial relief. Joaquin Rick- 



PIX EXHIBTAX 
SPLIT 3 WAYS 

Montevideo, July 27. 
Everyone wants a cut in box- 
office receipts in Argentina and 
the first to get her finger in the 
pie is the president's wife, Senora j 
Maria Eva Duarte de Peron, who 
has signed a deal with exhibitors, 
distributors and producers. This 
followed lengthy dickering between 
the Entertainment Board Director, 
Senor Claudio Martinez Paiva and 
reps of the picture industry, and 
brings a tax of 10 centavos (2c.) on 
every film ticket sold in Argentine 
during the next two years.. 

Of the coin collected v;a this | 
tax,. 50% will go to the welfare 
fund administrated by the Senora 
de Peron for the poor; 40% to set 
up a fund to "improve long-reel 
national pix" and 10% to the wel- 
fare fund of Exhibitors Assn. 

Senora de Peron's welfare fund 
is run largely like Hitler's "Win- 
terhilf." All fields of activity are 
gradually being roped in to con- 
tributing in one way or another, 
and any attempt to avoid donating 
whatever amount that is assessed 
meets with reprisals, either via re- 
fusals of permits to import neces- 
sary raw materials, denial of loans 
from banks or in other ways. 
Argentine Stock Exchange has been 
one of most recent contributors to 
the fund, with Buenos Aires 
brokers taxed $50 for each em- 
ployee used on the exchange floor. 

The new tax is to apply only on 
film theatres exhibiting feature 
films, and not on newsreel or docu- 
mentary theatres. Houses charging 
admission under. 80 centavos (16c.) 
are also excluded. The 40%, which 
is to be devoted to production of 
improved Argentine pix, is to be 
used only to assist studios already 
working when the tax came into 
force, and should benefit produc- 
tions filmed here. 

Boxoffice receipts have fallen off 
slightly although. the height of the 
winter season here. Cold and rainy 
weather conditions may account for 
the slump, but exhibitors are more 
inclined to blame it on the drop in 
quality of products. During the six 
months ending June 30, only 238 
pix were preemed in Buenos 
Aires film theatres. Of these, 126 
were North American productions. 

These figures show a decrease in 
the number of Hollywood releases, 
chiefly due to dollar shortages and 
the Peron government's protection- 
ist policy for Argentine films. Only 
two more Argentine pix have been 
released than in 1947, however, 
which is not" a very considerable 
increase to justify all the protec- 
tionist measures. The figure is 
down for French and British, but 
the Italians and Mexicans show a 
bigger importation than last year. 



Devaluation in Mexico May Result 
h Higher Percentage Pix Deals 



Manila Symph Mapping 
Tour of U.S., Hawaii 

Manila, July 28. 
The Manila Municipal Symphony 
Orchestra is planning an extended 
concert tour in Hawaii and the 
U. S. 

Alfredo Lozano, Manila impre 1 
sario who is arranging details of 
the tour, said the government is 
subsidizing the cultural venture, 
indicating growing government 
interest in musical development. 



Lab Workers In 
London May Walk 

London, Aug. 3. 
Labor trouble is breaking out in 
the industry again and a general 
stoppage in the labs is threatened 
unless an agreement on wage in- 
creases between the employers and 
the union is concluded In the next 
few days. 

General Council^of the Assn. of . more pesos in exchange for their 
Cine-Technicians Is meeting tomor- foreign currency, especially from 



► Mexico City, July 28. 

Decision of government here to 
devaluate Mexican money has re- 
sulted in upsets here, some produc- 
ing gloom and others considerable 
optimism. New value of Mexican 
coin, under devaluation, would be 
6.50 or nearly seven pesos per U.S. 
dollar as against 4.85 or about five 
pesos per American dollar. Latter 
rate has prevailed since 1939. 

U. S. pix: distributors are still as 
bewildered as other lines of busi- 
ness over the devaluation an- 
nouncement of July 22. Most 
American distribs waiting for fix- 
ing of new peso-dollar setup before 
remitting to N~ Y. Some are buy- 
ing dollars at 6.28 pesos per and 
sending the coin to homeoffices. 

Distributors of, U.S. and other 
foreign pix would have less coin 
for homeoffices unless they boost, 
their percentage rental deals since 
it will take more Mexican pesos in 
exchange for the American dollar. 

Equipment dealers would hike 
their prices, already up 40%, in 
order to get additional pesos for 
dollar exchange. 

The devaluation would help ex- 
porters and those catering to tour- 
ist trade, since visitors would get 



row (Wed.) to receive reports from 
its reps in the labs and decide its 
course of action. Attempts so far 
for a get-together with the Film 
Laboratory Assn. haven't borne 
fruit and union is talking of .taking 
strong action unless an immediate 
meeting is arranged. 

Demand of the workers is for a 
20% all-around increase, but the 
employers have countered with a 
proposal for an extra shilling (20c) 
on the cost-of-living bonus, which 
is based .on official figures pub- 
lished from time to time by the 
government. Counter offer has 
been turned down flat by ACT, 
which declares it has already sub- 
stantially reduced its demands. 

For the time being, Technicolor 
is outside the row,, as it has a 
separate agreement with the union, 
but' once a settlement is reached 
with the other employers, the 
Technicolor outfit will be expected 
to put its hands in its pockets 
again, and bring its pact up-to-date. 

Meanwhile, what may well be a 
reflection of the state of the labs 
today is the announcement that 
Dufay-Chromex has decided to 
postpone payment of the dividend 
on the 6% first preference shares 
due Saturday (1) until the accounts 
for the year ending Sept. 30 are 
available. % 



critical reception for the play, it i a rd, Motion Picture Assn. of Airier 



aupears headed for a long run. 
"Two other openings don't look 
substantial in the current heat- 
wave here. "No , Trees in the 
Street," a social drama whose ex- 
aggerated characters are .badly 
overwritten, drew a lukewarm re- 
ception at the St. James Tuesday 
(27). Play's star, Beatrix Lehmann, 
was disappointing. 

Also disappointing is "Jona- 
than," unveiled Thursday (29) at 
the Aldwych. A first play by revue 
author Alan Melville, the piece is 
a Biblical story of David 



ica rep in South America, is due to 
leave Rio by plane today (Wednes- 
day) for huddles with foreign de- 
partment execs in New York on 
the matter. 



BURS1WS FOREIGN PIC 
QUEST TO TAKE 6 WEEKS 



Joseph (Mayer &) Burstyn, for- 
eign film importers and distribu- 
tors, sailed for Europe last week 
and on the Queen Mary. He'll visit Eng- 
Bathsheba embroidered with mod- )and France ano Italv in a six " 



ern dialog. Leo Genn and Coral 
Browne top a good cast 



William Satori, Monogram's con- 
tinental European representative 
who previously headquartered in 
London, is now permanently sta- 
tioned at the company's homeoff ice. 



week search for new product. 

Among the producers Burstyn is 
slated to see is Roberto Rossellini 
in Rome. M&B are distributing 
Rossellini's "Open City" and "Pai- 
san" and have first-refusal rights 
on his new "Berlin. Yeav Zero," 
on which Burstyn will talk a deal. 



Current London Shows 

(Figures show weeks of run) 

London, Aug. 3. 
"A La Carte," Savoy (7). 
"AU My Sons," Globe (7). 
"Anna Lucasta," Majesty's (40). 
"Annie Get Gun," Col's'm (61). 
"Bless the Bride," Adelphi (61). 
"Bless the Bride," Adelphi (61). 
"Bob's Yew Uncle," Sav. (13). 
"Caee Peacock," Strand (7). 
"Caribbean Rhap," Wales (9). 
"Carissuna," Palace (21). 
"Chiltcrn Hundreds." Vaude (49). 
"Edward My Son," Lyric (62). 
"Four, Five, Six," York (21). 
"Giaconda Smile," New (9). 
"Glass Menagerie," H'market (1). 
"Happiest Days," Apollo (19). ■ 
"Jonathan," Aldwych (1). 
"Linden Tree," Duchess (51). 
"Little Lambs," Ambass. (17). 
"Musical Chairs," Playhouse (4). 
"No Trees in St." St. James (I). 
"Off Record." Piccadilly (57). 
"Oklahoma!" Drury Lane (66). 
"Paragon," Fortune (13). 
"People Like Us," Wyncl. '4). 
"Relapse," Phoenix I27>. 
"Starlight Roof," Hipp. '39>. 
"Travelers Joy," Crit. (9). 
"Together Again." Vic Pal. (69). 
"Worms View," Whitehall (66). 
"Written For Lady," Garrick (2). 



the U.S. New setup will mean less 
coin for U.S. and other visiting 
entertainers playing Mexico unless 
they insist on being paid in their 
own currency. 

Fear of strikes has increased. 
First such in pix industry was 
against Cine Avenida, San Texmel- 
ucan, where workers walked out in * 
wage dispute. 



BRITISH PROBE EXHIBS 
REVOLT VS. GOVT. FILMS 

London, July 27. 

The British government's propa- 
ganda voice — the Central Office of 
Information — has been instructed 
by the cabinet to make a special 
inquiry into the*, growing cinema 
exhibitors' revolt against the show- 
ing of government films. 

Latest revolt move comes from 
the head office of a four-cinema 
chain in Exmouth, S. Devon, 
owned by A. Sinclair Hedges, 
which has banned the screening of 
government information films. 

The films division of the Central 
Office of Information directed byj , * ™. 

r. e Tritton, makes about i2j M-li s Femme Matador PlC 

special-issue films a year. They in- 
clude National Savings appeals, 10- 
minute cartoons describing the new; 



Wainer Bros. Maps 
Latin Overhaul 



Plans for a major overhauling of 
the Warner Bros. International 
sales supervisory staff in Latin 
America was unveiled by vice- 
prexy Wolfe Cohen at the opening; 
sessions of a two-week sales meet- 
ing of south-of-the-border heads 
in New York. Under the new set- 
up, the entire territory will be di- 
vided into three divisions — Atlan- 
tic, Pacific and Caribbean — with a 
division manager in charge of each. 

Ary Lima, supervisor over Bra- 
zil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and 
Paraguay, will be district manager 
for the Atlantic division with head- 
quarters in Rio de Janeiro. Peter 
Colli, supervisor of the Caribbean * 
area, will manage a territory in- 
cluding Cuba, Puerto Rico, Trini- 
dad, Venuezuela, Haita, Santo Do- 
mingo, Jamaica and the British 
and Netherland West Indies, with 
headquarters in Havana. 

James V. O'Gara, formerly east- 
ern sales manager for Republic, 
will manage the Pacific division, 
including Mexico, Panama, Colom- 
bia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru, 
with headquarters in Mexico City. 
Cohen said the new setup is 
planned to give greater concentra- 
tion on sales problems and assist- 
ance to local managers. 



Peruvians' B.O. Nod To 



National Health Service, and "Fuel 
Flashes." A ban on these films has, 
also been applied in the Midlands 
by several independent cinemas. 



Armed Forces Radio 

In Manila Expands 

Manila, July 28. 

WVTM, Armed Forces station in 
the Clark Field area, has an- 
nounced that plans are nearing 
completion for a jump in broad- 
casting schedule to 17 hours daily. 

KZRH, Philippines' pioneer ra- 
dio station, recently celebrated its 
ninth anniversary. It is the oldest 
station in the Philippines. 



30. 



Lima, July 
The excitable Latinos are no- 
torious for their sensitivity on any 
films reflecting on Latin American 
customs or locals, but they've 
found nothing wrong with a wom- 
an bullfighter who pinch hits for 
her brother. Metro's "Fiesta," 
Technicolor starrer for Esther Wil- 
liams, this week preemed at the 
Metro theatre here and broke 
every boxoffice record for Peru. 

M-G officials here are pfenty 
pleased since this is the first Latin 
showing of the film. They were 
afraid the Latinos would hoot the 
pic off the screen since the plot 
is equivalent to an American gal, 
disguised as her brother, stepping 
up to the plate at the big college 
game and whaling out a homer for 
alma mammy. 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 




liiiiiiiil 



man* 

PLAYED BY PLAYED BY PLAYED BY 

LONCHANEY BELA LilGOSl GLENN STRANGE LenoreAubert Jane Randolph 




r * 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



P&RIETY 



IS 




■ ■ 




every previous A&C record 
with powerhouse grosses topping 
even "The Killers," "The Egg and I" 

and "Naked City"! 

HHP OMR at Loew's Criterion, New 
York! HUP OMR in Cincinnati . . 
Syracuse . . . Buffalo ... Oklahoma City 
...Albany! URRIFIC'm San Francisco! 
Booming the box-office and HOLD' 
IH$ OMR in five-theatre day-and- 
date run in Los Angeles! big 
BIO • . . BIG everywhere! 



lliiiiillll 



, : - ,^iv.:^.:V ._, 



16 



FICTURKS 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



U. S. Distributors Charge Rank 
Maneuvering 'A' Fix Into B' Terms 



I Ski 



Skouras Suit 



Fruits of the recently enacted 4 
45% quota law in Britain are al- 
ready forming on the vine in the 
shape of a breakdown in booking 
relations of Yank distribs with J. 
Arthur Rank. The British film 
magnate, American foreign chiefs 
are freely charging, is using the 
new quota act in an attempt to 
bludgeon major U. S. distribs into 
selling their product at lower rent- 
als to the Rank-controlled Odeon 
and British-Gaumont circuits. 

Rank, it is claimed, is seeking lo 
force rentals down by attempting 
to book normally top-bracketed 
American product into filler posi- 
tions in dual bill houses, U. S. 
majors are balking at the claimed 
maneuver. Hence, while ordinarily 
the majors would have sold their 
product in Britain for the next six 
months, bookings on new Yank 
films are far behind that schedule. 

UT S. foreign chiefs are assault- 
ing the Rank plan as a way of rid- 
ing on the coattails of strong 
American product without paying a 
fair price. The Britisher, it is said, 
has slotted low-budget home prod- 
. uet to head dualers with the 
stronger U. S.' pix bracketed for 
second spot. 

Capitulation by the Yanks would 
mean a further nicking of revenue 
from Britain. American toppers 
point out that the pic designated 
to head a double bill ordinarily 
grabs 35%-40% of the gross. The 
filler customarily is given 15%- 
18% at best. 

Since the 45% quota applies 
• only to the top film dualers, 
Bank has offered the second spot 
as the best he can do under the 
Jaw's provisions. American execs 
believe the designation would only 
be a theoretical one and that the 
stronger U. S. product would lure 
the British public to the boxoffice 
regardless of which pic nominally 
heads the bill. In that way, it is 
thought, Rank can turn out quick- 
ies, encouraged by the quota law, 
without suffering reverses at the 
till. 

Whether American distribs can 
hold out indefinitely against Rank's 
blandishments is problematical 
While the quota doesn't go into 
effect until Oct. 1, bookings have 
already slowed down and some 
V. S. companies which have yet to 
feel any substantial decline in 
British revenues are now being hit 
for the first time. 



BEIEVE THEATRE MGR. 
SLAIN FOR $120 HAUL 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 

Harry Martin, Chi theatre man- 
ager, was believed slain for $120 
last week, $80 of which was vend- 
ing machine money. Martin, 27, 
was found in two feet of water in 
a clay pool after being missing for 
several days. He was manager of 
the Atom theatre, owned by Saul 
Lockwood, and operated by the 
Gallos Circuit. 

During the day he was attending 
the University of Chicago. 



Producers Prep 
To Get Aid From 
Brit. Films Bank 



North Central Allied 
, Crowing About Indies' 
Victory Over ASCAP 

Minneapolis, Aug 3. 

"ASCAP: The Beginning of the 
End of a Racket" is the heading 
used by North Central Allied in a 
review in its current bulletin of the 
Judge V. L. Leibell federal court 
decision in the New York ASCAP 
theatre fee case. 

While conceding there will be 
an appeal and that it may be 
many months "before the U. S. 
Supreme Court finally decides that 
ASCAP is an illegal combination 
and without legal power to enforce 
its demands against theatre own- 
ers," the bulletin "strongly urges, 

fdvises and recommends" that no 
linnesota independent exhibitor 
sign ay more ASCAP contracts or 
pay it any money. 

The advice applies to those ex- 
hibitors who presently have ASCAP 
contracts, the bulletin says. _ "Do 
not pay any further' fees," it .ad- 
vises. The prediction is made that 
while "ASCAP is down, it will not 

fo out without a lot of bluster and 
ght," but exhibitors shouldn't be 
influenced by this, is declares. 

"This is a signal victory and 
these are great days for the inde- 
pendent exhibitor," the bulletin 
asserts. "One by one ancient en- 
emies find their unlawful conduct 
is catching up with them." 

It s pointed out that the New 
York fereral court upholds the 
contention of Bennie Berger, North 
Central Allied president, in the 
ASCAP suit against him for non- 
payment of fees. The federal court 
has that case under advisement. 



London, Aug. 3 
Seeing their hopes of getting a 
picking of the government's $20,- 
000,000 Films Bank rapidly reced 
ing into the background,- indie pro- 
ducers are busy organizing them- 
selves in preparation for a cam- 
paign when the project comes be 
fore Parliament in the autumn. 

Two separate groups have met 
during the past week discussing 
the pros and cons of the scheme. 
One group, Assn. of British Inde 
pendent Film Producers, had a 
five-hour huddle on the subject, 
and eventually came to the con 
elusion that until more details 
were available any comment from 
them "would possibly serve only to 
aggravate the situation." 

Second group was brought to- 
gether Thursday (29) by David 
Morgan, onetime exhib and now 
a director of a small production 
outfit and also head of a firm of ac 
countants. His idea is that the pro- 
ducers — all indies — should woo the 
indie exhib, and at a later stage 
also indie distribs, and eventually 
set up an Independent Film Alii 
ance. 

Morgan suggests that through 
such an alliance, producers will 
have a sure outlet for their prod 
uct, exhibs will be able to get 
firstrun showings without resort to 
the combines and will have a flow 
of product to meet quota, and dis- 
tribs will handle the output on 
terms favorable to producer and 
exhib, as well as to themselves. 

Interesting comment on the 
Films Bank comes from Maurice 
Ostrer, leading indie producer, in 
letters to the press, in which he 
declares that loans aren't the 
answer for the present crisis in 
British films. What is necessary 
he contends, is a reciprocal trading 
arrangement with the states, point- 
ing out that the Quota Act doesn't 
provide for obtaining a portion of 
the cost of a British film from the 
American market. 

Ostrer considers that it's a rea 
sonable probability that U. S. film 
companies would at this stage be 
willing to make an annual payment 
of a portion of their aggregate in 
comes from the United Kingdom 
in exchange for the distributing 
rights of British films. 



(See other ASCAP stories 
Page 1 and in Music). 



1 



j^-grrm Continued from pact 3 

profits until 1954 was waiving little 
or nothing since the theatre cir-. 
cult's net had dropped. 

More Disclosures 
Another important disclosure in 
the course of argument was that 
20th's board on June 24 passed a 
resolution which requires the com- 
pany's general sales manager, at 
least once a season, to prepare and 
submit a report of distribution 
deals made with the Skouras, Rand- 
force, United Artists and Metro- 
politan Playhouse circuits. The 
resolution, which specifically states 
that no preferential treatment of 
these chains had been made, is an 
answer to one clause of stockholder 
complaints so claiming. 

Subject of the hearing was a 
settlement made several months 
ago with the company which pro- 
vides for cancellation of most ex- 
tra compensation due the NTers 
for 1946 and 1947, totalling $1,750,- 
000, plus fixing of a $360,000 ceil- 
ing on future Skouras' profit-shar- 
ing earnings. Complaints, among 
other things, had attacked a deal 
made in 1944 whereby the four 
NTers received convertible stock 
of the circuit and turned it into 
a $6,800,000 profit in 1946. 
'Overpaid' 
Claiming that Skouras had been 
overpaid over many years, Louis 
Fieland, one of the attorneys 
opposing settlement, said that the 
biggie received an average of 
$255,000 yearly for the five years 
ending Dec. 31, 1941. Thereafter, 
he said, Skouras was paid $292,- 
000 in '42; $377,000 in '43; $427,- 
000 in '44; $436,000 in '45; and 
$1,314,250 for '46-'47 combined. 

It was Fieland's and other at- 
torneys' argument that Skouras 
was not surrendering anything of 
value because his contract under 
which he receives a percentage of 
profits scaled to 6V£% is invalid. 
This pact, it was claimed, was 
wrongfully substituted in 1944 for 
another which fixed a $285,000- 
ceiling on extra earnings. The 
earlier contract would have run 
to 1954. 

Fairness of the settlement was 
strongly supported by Milton C. 
Pollack, attorney of record for the 
suing stockholders; by Otto E. 
Koegel, attorney for 20th; former 
Secretary of War Robert P. Patter- 
son, repping the four NTers; and 
Rosenman. Company has withheld 
payment of $1,800,000 in profit 
cuts to the four, it was said, cover- 
ing 1946-47 pending determination 
of the suits. 

If the court wanted to know 
whether the settlement was "il- 
lusory," Rosenman declared, it 
should hear "the howls and shrieks 
raised by Skouras and his aides" 
when this was done. All four have 
repeatedly demanded payment of 
these sums, he said. 



Inside Stuff-Pictures 

Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., exec -tssistant to United Artists prexy Grad 
Sears, is becoming something o. radio regular. He was heard on two 
shows last week and has been i' iking numerous radio and video ap- 




was on John McCaffrey's "Room 416," NBC morning sliow. Lazarus 
discussed film censorship with McCaffrey in free-swinging style. He 
defended the necessity of the industry's own Production Code Admin- 
istration, but named the Legion of Decency and local censors, such as 
Lloyd Binford, in Memphis, as deterring Hollywood from making the 
best possible product. 

A few weeks before, Lazarus was on the "Author Meets Critic" video 
show. "Time of Your Life" was also the subject at that time, with a 
six and one-half-minute sequence of it shown on the air. 



Separation of N. Peter Rathvon from his job at RKO was' the result 
of a number of circumstances, the climax of which was a clash with 
Howard Hughes over Robert Ryan. Enterprise wanted to borrow 
Ryan for the heavy role in "The Best Things in Life Are Free," but 
Rathvon nixed the loanoul after reading the script. Charlie Einfeld 
invited Ryan to a huddle at Enterprise and together they conferred 
with Hughes over the phone. Hughes said he liked the script and 
okayed the loanmit deal. When Rathvon heard about the countermand- 
ing of his veto he had a hot argument with Hughes. It ended in his 
resignation. 

Amazing strides made by the candy and popcorn business as an im- 
portant source of theatre income is evidenced by figures on the RKO 
circuit. Company's approximately 100 houses 10 years ago were re- 
ceiving a total of about $150,000 from the sweets concessions. Current 
"year's income is expected to be close to $750,000. That represents one- 
half the take, RKO splitting profits equally with the company that 
owns and services the candy machines and counters". 



Eagle Lion, which is U. S. distrib to J. Arthur Rank's proposed Tech- 
nicolor features of the 1948 Olympic Games, is ballying its forthcoming 
pic by wide distribution of the official souvenir book of the interna- 
tional sports event. Elaborate brochure includes articles on the history 
of the games, past Olympic heroes and the Olympiads leading up to the 
present one now under way in Britain. 



4th Miami Drive-In OK'd 
Despite Track's Squawk 

Miami, Aug. 3. 

Despite objections on the part of 
Tropical Park execs and legal de- 
partment, the Dade County Com- 
mission this week okayed plans for 
a drive-in to be constructed directly 
opposite the famed racetrack. 

Objections had been filed with 
the commission on the grounds that 
the screen towers could provide a 
vantage point in the daytime for 
bookies and gamblers to flash race 
results around the country before 
the wire services could get them 
off. Tropical Park owners had re- 
vealed recently, that plans for a 
drive-in on the track's grounds 
were in the making. 

W. L. McComas of Miami Beach 
will build the outdoor spot, mak- 
ing the fourth new one announced 
in recent weeks. 



U.S. Taxes Siow 
May B.O. Above '47 

Washington, Aug. 3. 

Theatre business in the Broad- 
way district and throughout the 
country in May was well above 
levels of a' year ago, according to 
figures released by' the Bureau of 
Internal Revenue. 

General admission tax collec 
tions in June — reflecting May box- 
office receipts — were close to 
$4,000,000 above last June for the 
nation as a whole. In the 3rd New 
York district alone, collections 
were close to $1,500,000 above 
June, 1947. 

Nitery business shared in the up- 
turn, with nationwide roof garden 
and cabaret taxes, almost topping 
1947 levels for the first time this 
year, and actually going over the 
1947 level in the Broadway dis- 
trict. 

June, 1948, general admission 
tax collections amounted to $31,- 
639,479, compared with $27,829,982 
last June. Roof garden and cabaret 
tax collections in June amounted 
to $4,444,702, against $4,479,193 
last year. 

For the third N. Y. district gen- 
eral admission collections were $5,- 
340,483 this June, against $3,956,- 
629 last June. Nitery taxes amount- 
ed to $524,140, against $516,483. 

All admission tax collections, in- 
cluding general admissions, cabaret 
taxes, brokers' sales, and various 
overcharges, piled up to $36,262,- 
679 in June, compared with $32,- 
417,990 last year. 



David O. Selznick's withdrawal of Valli and Robert Mitchum from 
the cast of "If This Be My Harvest" will cost him around $1,000,000. 
Bill Bacher, producer of "Harvest," had agreed to pay $400,000 for the 
use of the three players, plus 25% for distribution of the film through 
Selznick Releasing Organization, plus a percentage of the profits. 



BRITISH PROD. TEAM TO 
COAST FOR DOS CONFAB 

British director Carol Reed and 
Graham Greene, author of "The 
Third Man," arrive in New York 
today (Wed.) on the Queen Eliza- 
beth and head for the Coast to- 
morrow for story and production- 
conferences with David O. Selz- 
nick. Selznick and Sir Alexander 
Korda are partnering a deal to pro- 
duce "The Third Man" in England. 

Joseph Cotten has already been 
inked for the pic while Valli may 
be tapped for the femme lead. 
Reed and Greene. will remain in 
the U. S. for about a week and 
will start production on the film 
shortly after. 



Rank May Ease 
His % Demands 

London, Aug. 3. 
Allegations by indie exhibitors 
that J. Arthur Rank is charging ex- 
orbitant rentals for his product 
and indulging in unfair trading 
practices may bear fruit for them. 
Rank has announced that he will 
address the sales convention of his 
distribution organization, General 
Film Distributors, when it meets 
Aug. 20. 

It is expected that the film top- 
per may make some conciliatory 
move toward the indies at that 
time by instructing his sales force 
to ease up somewhat on demands. 
The whole move is an outgrowth 
of Rank's appearance at a meeting 
of the Cinematograph Exhibitors 
Assn. last month, when he prom- 
ised to investigate the complaints 
of the indies. 



'Musketeers' Follows 
'Parade' Into State, N.Y. 

In light of the strong grosses 
chalked up by "Easter Parade," 
which begins its sixth week at the 
State today (Wed.), Metro is def- 
initely convinced that the house 
can be operated most profitably as 
a deluxe first run showcase with 
suitable product. "Parade" is the 
first picture in the history of the 
State to go four weeks and has 
averaged close to $60,000 weekly 
since it opened. 

Metro's Technicolored "Three 
Musketeers" follows "Parade." 
First print on the Gene Kelly-Lana 
Turner starrer, however, isn't hie 
in from the Coast until Sept. 12. 
If "Parade" fails to hold out that 
long, the company will be forced 
to substitute another picture. 



2 N. Y. CoOarite 
Unions Cautious 
On New Pix Pacts 

Two CIO white collarite unions 
in New York, the Screen Publicists 
Guild and Screen Office & Profes- 
sional Employees Guild, have sent 
out initial feelers on the stance of 
film companies towards negotiating 
a .new contract. *In an uncertain 
atmosphere caused by both unions' .'. 
refusal to comply with the Taft- 
Hartley law, SPG and SOPEG have 
requested talks with the majors 
for the new pacts to replace thosi 
expiring at the end of September. 

Except for United Artists, the 
companies thus far have kept mum 
on their attitudes. UA, whose con- 
tract expired at the end of April, 
however, already has thrown the 
gauntlet to SOPEG by turning it* 
back on writing a new contract 
with any union "failing to obey 
the laws of the U. S. government," 
as UA put it. 

■ The jackpot question concerning 
homeoffice labor peace is whether 
the rest of the film companies will 
go along with UA's position. At 
UA, the situation has been com- 
plicated by the intervention of 
Local H-63, International Alliance 
of Theatrical Stage Employees, 
which claims a majority of that 
company's employees. If Local 
H-63 can show support in the other 
companies, there is likelihood of a 
general showdown between the in- 
dustry and the CIO locals. 

SOPEG and SPG, repping about 
2,500 workers, are proceeding, 
meanwhile, with the formulatio* of 
their contract demands. SPG has 
already submitted to its member- 
ship the following proposals: a two- 
and-a half hour reduction in the 
work week to 35 hours, three week 
vacations after three years' service, 
and a two-year pact with wage re* 
opening provisions after every 
eight months. Wage demands have 
been kept open pending additional 
discussion With the membership. 
It's expected SOPEG demands will 
be similar. 

Under the old contract's wage re- 
opening clause, SPG wrapped up 
arbitration awards Monday (2) 
granting pay hikes to publicists at 
Universal and Metro. Raises range 
from $5.50 for apprentices to $2 n ..^ 
for senior publicists, retroactive to 
Sept. 27, 1947. SPG previously 
won 1 similar awards at seven other 



TKat FUMY' A#air 
is a MOtfEV Affair in 

Haw York 



Artist Al Hirscftfeld sketches 
that hilarious moment Louella 
Parsons went all out for in her 
Cosmopolitan Citation naming 
this The Best Picture of the 
Month. She says: "Jean Arthur's 
a riot in the filing room scene 
where Lund is after her with 
the worst intentions." 




Like the hold in this clinch, 
5 weeks were a cinch at the 
Paramount where it proved its 
extraordinary holding power 
as the 2nd week accelerated 
pace of 1st; the 7th day of the 
4th week topped the 3rd and 
the 1st 5 days of the 5th week 
topped the 4th ... 



m * 




JEAN ARTHUR 

tmmi oiemicH 

JOHN LVNQ 




Produced by 

MILLARD "MITCHELL • CHARLES BRACKETT 

Directed by BILLY WILDER 

Screenplay by Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder and Richard 1 Bref-r 
Adaptation by Robert Harari • Original Story by David S*o* 



1ft 



PICTURES 



P^RIETY 



Wednesday, Augrat 4, 1948 



Picture Grosses 



'Merry Way' Brightens 
Clev€., $21,000; 'Melody^ 



Oke 18G, 'Waters' 13G ?7 S 



DENVER 

(Continued from page 9) 
peror Waltz" (Par) (5th wk), and 
Big Town Scandal" (Par), okay 



Cleveland, Aug. 3. 

Multi-starred "On Our Merry 
Way" is breaking through the dol- 
drums here by giving the Hipp a 
rather smart summer gross. Pal- 
ace's, afternoon trade was boosted 
by "Melody Time" but night biz 
dropped. Second lap of "Easter 
Parade" Js holding up admirably 
at State. . ■ . 

Estimates for This Week 

Allen (HKO) (3,000; 55-70V— 
"Deep Waters" (20th). Good $13,- 
000. Las; week, "Feudin,' Fussin 
<U>. fine $13,500. 

KHw (Warners) (3,700; 55-70)— 
"On Merry Way" <UA>. Bright 
$21,000. Last week, "Street With 
No Name" (20th), swell $26,500. 

lake .Warners) (800; 55-70)— 
"Street No Name" (20th) (m.o.). 
Heating- up $4,000. Last week, 
"Best Years" (RKO) (m.o.), $5,500 
in 11 days. , 

Lower Mall (Community) (570; 
55.7O)— "It Happened One Night" 
(Col) and "One Night of Love" 
(Col) (reissues). Worthwhile $5,000. 
Last week, "Anna Karenina" (20th) 
(2d w!0 oke $4,000. 

Ohio (Loew's) (1.200; 55-70)— 
"Search * (M-G). Nicely exploited 
for $8,000. Last week, "Drums" 
(UA) and "Four Feathers" (UA) 
(reissuesi, lively $9,000. 

Palace (RKO) (3,300; 55-70)— 
"Melody Time" (RKO). Middling 
$18,000. Last week, "Big Punch" 
<RKO) plus Bob CroSby orch on 
stage .it advanced prices, very 
pleasing at $28,500. 

State ILoew's) 13,450; 55-70)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Nice $13,500 after copping $27,- 
000 last week. 

Stillman (Loew's) (2,700; 55-70) 
— "Crusades" (Par) (reissue). Not 
too spectacular at $9,000. Last 
week, "Emperor Waltz" (Par) 
(m.o.), satisfactory $8,000 on third 
downtown session. 

'FULIER' CLEANS UP 
HUGE $21,000, L'VILLE 



Louisville, Aug. 3. 

"Fuller Brush Man" is making a 
tremendous sales pitch this week 
at Loew's State, with the ropes up 
from opening. Fact that this is 
doing such sock biz is helping 
other spots. "Fort Apache" at Ri- 
alto and "Key Largo" at Mary An- 
derson also ' are solid. " Weather is 
mild after recent showers. 
Estimates for This Week 

Brown (Fourth Avenue) (1.200; 
45-65)— "Street No Name" (20th) 
and "Sweet Genevieve" (20th) 
(m.o.). Moderate $4,500. Last week, 
"Miracle of Bells" (RKO) (m.o.), 
$4,000. 

Kentucky (Switow) (1,200; 30-40) 
— "Unconquered" (Par) and. "Who 
Killed 'Doc' Robbin" (UA). Sturdy 
$3,200. Last week, "Silver River" 
UVBI and "Tarzaa Mermaids" 
(RKO), fairish $3,000. 

Mary Anderson (People's) (1,100; 
45-65)— "Key Largo" (WB). Nice 
reviews helping to sockeroo $9,000. 
Last week, "Big Punch" (WB) 
$7,000. 

National (Standard) (2,400; 45- 
65)— "Black Bart" (U) and "Dear 
Murderer" (U). Medium $5,000 in 
Sight. Last week, "Foreign Corre- 
spondent" (Indie) and "Trade 
Winds" (Indie) (reissues), $4,000. 

Rialto (FA) (3,400; 45-65)— "Fort 
Apache" (RKO) and "Lightnin' in 
Forest" <Rep).» Loud $15,000. Last 
week, "Street No Name" (20th) and 
"Sweet Genevieve" (20th), $12,000. 

State (Loew's) (3,000; 45-65)— 
"Fuller Brush Man" (.Col) and 
"Thunderhoof" (Col). Red Skelton 
comedy a wham hit and may shat- 
ter some house records. Sockeroo 
$21,000 looms. Last week, "Easter 
Parade" (M-G) (2d wk), satisfactory 
$16,000. 

Strand (FA) (1,000; 45-65)— 
"Berlin Express" (RKO) and "Main 
Street Kid" (Rep). Modest $5,000. 
Last week, "Furnace Creek" (20th) 
and "Devil's Cargo" (FC) (2d wk), 
about same. 



Denver (Fox) (2,525; 35-74) 
"Street No Name" (20th) and | 
"Shanghai Chest" (Mono), day- 
date with Esquire. Modest $13,000. 
Last week, "Key Largo" (WB) and 
"Stage Struck" (Mono), fine $17,- 
000. 

Esquire (Fox) (742; 35-74) — ' 
"Street No Name (20th) and I 
"Shanghai Chest" (Mono), also 
Denver. Okay $2,500 or over. Last 
week, "Key Largo" (WB) and 
"Stage Struck" (Mono), good $3,- 1 
000. , J 

Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 35-74)—! 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) and "Dear 
Murderer" (U). Smash $23,000 or 
over. Holds over. Last week, ■ 
"Homecoming" (M-G) (2d wk), 
fair $10,500. 

Paramount (Fox) (2,200; 35-74)— 
"Four Faces West" (UA) and 
"Kings Olympics" (UA), also Web- 
ber, Fair $10,000. Last week, "Cen- 
tral Park" (U) and "Counterfeiters" 
(20th), thin $9,000. 

Rialo (Fox) (878; 35-74)— "Old 
Los Angeles" (Rep) and "I, Jane 
Doe" (Rep). Moderate $4,000 or 
near. Last week, house closed for 
remodeling. 

Webber (Fox) (750; 35-74)— 
"Four Faces West" (UA) and 
"Kings* Olympics" (UA), also Para- 
mount. Thin $2,000. Last week, 
"Key Largo" (WB) and "Stage 
Struck" (Mono), good $3,000. 

'House' Sofid 19G, 
Prov.; W 166 

Providence^ Aug. 3. 
Housing shortage with most 
people thinking of a future is help- 
Albee-'s "Mr. Standings Builds 
Dream House" to a nice figure. 
Loew's "Time of Your Life" is 
fairly good. All spots hurt by dire 
weather prediction of a storm. 
Estimates for This Week 
Albee (RKO) (2,200; 44-65)— 
"Mr. Blandings Dream House" 
(SRO) and "Argyle Secrets" (FC). 
Solid $19,000 or near. Last week, 
"Melody Time" (RKO) and "Mys- 
tery in Mexico" (RKO), swell $16,- 
000. 

Carlton (Fay) (1.400; 44-65)— 
"Woman in White" (WB) and "Big 
Punch" (WB). Fairish $4,000. Last 
week, "Romance High Seas" (WB) 
and "For You I Die" (WB) (2d 
run), oke $4,000. 

Fay's (Fay) (1,400; 44-65)— "Fur- 
nace Cijeek" (20th) and "Shanghai 
Chest" (Rep). Average $5,000. Last 
week, "Man-Eeater of Kumaon" 
(U) and "Stage Struck" (Rep), fair 
$5,000. 

Majestic (Fay) (2,200: 44-65)— 
"Street No Name" (20th) .and 
"Checkered Coat" (20th) (2d wk>. 
Surprising high $13,000. First week 
was snappy $17,000. 

State (Loew) (3.200; 44-65)— 
"Time of Life" (UA) and "Rusty" 
(Col). Fairly good $16,000. Last 
week, "Easter Parade" (M-G) (2d 
wk), good $15,500. 

Strand (Silverman) (2,200; 44-65) 
— "So Evil My Love" (Par) and 
"Shaggy" (Par). Opened Mondav 
(2). Last week, "Coroner Creek" 
(Col) and "Port Said" (Col), okay 
$12,000. 



'Island' Terrif $13,000, 
Port.; 'Street' $12,500 

Portland, Ore., Aug. 3. 

Several new pictures are in town 
this week, but hot weather and 
outdoor activities is keeping biz 
down. "On Island With You" at 
United Artists and "Street With 
No Name" at Oriental and Para- 
mount are top money getters. 
"Emperor Waltz" and "Romance 
On High Seas" are ace holdovers. 
Estimates for This Week 

Broadway (Parker) (1,832; 50-85) 
—"Another Part Forest" (U) and 
"Are You With It" (U). Disappoint- 
ing $6,000. Last week, "Central 
Park" (U) and "Bush Christmas" 
(U). $8,600. 

Guild (Parker) (427; 50-85)— 
"Central Park" (U) and "Bush 
Christmas" (U) (m.o.) Fair $2,000 
in 11 days. Last week, "Four Faces 
West" (UA) and "Here Comes 
Trouble" (UA) (m.o.), mild $1,000. 

Mayfair (Parker) (1,500; 50-85) 
— "Sainted Sisters" (Par) and 
"Blonde Ice" (FC). Okay $5,500. 
Last week. "Raw Deal" (EL) and 
"Open Secret" (EL), $4,600. 

Music Box (H-E) (1,000; 50-85) 
— "Romance High Seas" (WB) and 
"Argyle Secrets" (FC), (m.o.) Good 
$2,500. Last week, "Fort Apache" 
(RKO) and "Let's Live Again" 
(20th) (2.1 wk) ( m.o.), solid $2,900. 

Oriental (H-E) (2,000; 50-85)— 
"Street Without Name" (20th) and 
"Meet Me At Dawn" (20th), day- 
date with Paramount. Excellent 
$4,000. Last week, "High Seas" 
(WB) and "Argyle Secrets" (FC), 
$4,200. 

Orpheum (H-E) (1,750; 50-85)— 
"Deep Waters" (20th) and "Count- 
erfeiters" (20th). Fine $6,500. Last 
week, 'High Seas" (WB) and 
"Argyle Secrets" (Indie), big 
$7,800. 

Paramount (H-E) (3,400; 50-85) 
— "Street No Name" (20th) and 
"Meet Me Dawn" (20th), also 
Oriental. Big $8,500. Last week, 
"Emperor Waltz" (Par) and "Big 
Town Scandal"" (Par) 3d wk), 
smash $7,500. 

Playhouse (H-E) (1,200; 50-85)— 
"Emperor Waltz" (Par) and "Big 
Town Scandal" (Par) (m.o.). Big 
$3,500 or near. Last week, "Berlin 
Express" (RKO) and "Devil's 
Cargo" (Indie) (m.o.), fine $2,300. 

United Artists (Parker) (895; 50- 
85)— "Island With You" (M-G) 
torrid $13,000. Last week. "The 
Pirate'' (M-G) (3 days) (3d wk). 
fine $2,200. 



BILL JAFFE PUSHING 
FILM ON GEORGE POLK 

Plans for a feature film built 
around the life story of George 
Polk, Columbia Broadcasting Sys- 
tem correspondent who was mur- 
dered in Greece recently, are be- 
ing pushed by attorney William" B. 
Jaffe, who arrived on the Coast 
from New York over the weekend 
to huddle on the project. Jaffe, 
member of the firm of Weisman, 
Grant & Jaffe, represents Polk's 
widow. He took on the task of 
selling the idea in Hollywood most- 
ly as a labor of love at the behest 
of Burnet Hershey, head" of the 
Overseas Press Club, of which 
Polk was a member. 

Reports, that the State Dept. had 
frowned on the idea of a picture 
about Polk were denied by Jaffei.". 
He said the Department had never 
indicated the slightest concern one 
way or the other. It was reported 
that Jackson Leighter, who had 
taken an option on the Polk story, 
had dropped it because of State's 
objection. Jaffe declared that was 
not the reason. 



Arbitration 

Continued from page j 



1 



Rank Newsreel 

; Continued from page 1 i 



'Arrow' Not Swift At 
$14,000 in Slow Cincy 

Cincinnati, Aug. 3. 
Pix trade is lolling in summer 
stride this sesh after a fatso fort- 
night. "Easter Parade" is tynping 
the town in its second week follow- 
ing a sock preem. "Black Arrow" 
is liveliest of two newcomers with 
"Dream Girl" equally as routine. 
"Abbott and Costello Meet Frank- 
enstein" still is sizzling in third 
round. Too many holdovers are 



hurting overall total. 

Estimates for This Week 
Albee (RKO) (3,100; 50-75)— 
"Black Arrow" (Col). Good $14,- 
000. Last week, "Melody Time" 
(RKO), fine $16,000. 

Capitol (RKO) (2.000; 50-75) — 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Holding town's lead for second 
round at fancy $15,000 after wow 
$24,000 takeoff. Stays third. 

Grand (RKO) (1,400; 50-75)— 
"Tarzan's N. Y. Adventure" (M-G) 
and "Tarzan's Secret Treasure" 
(M-G) (reissues) plus "Superman" 
(Col) serial. Fancy $10,000. Last 
week, "Feudin', Fussin'" (U) and 
"Superman,"okay $8,500. 

Keith's (City In v.) (1,542; 50-75) 
— Abbott - Costello Meet Frank- 
enstein" (U) (3d wk). Maintaining 
click pace at wow $8,500 in wake 
of hefty $12,500 second sesh. 
Lyric (RKO) (1,400; 50-75) — 
Feudin', Fussin' " (U) (m.o.). Av- 
erage $5,000. Last week, "Street 
No Name" (20th) (m.o.), okw«.$7,000 
in 9 days. 

Palace (RKO) (2,600; 50-75)— 
Dream Girl" (Par). Okay $12,000. 
Last week, "So Evil My Love" 
(Par), ditto. 

Shubert (RKO) (2,100; 50-75)— 
Melody Time" (RKO) (m.o.). 
Pleasing $6,000. Last week, "High 
Seas" (WB) (m.o.), $5,500, 



'AM' Frank'stein' Loud 
$17,000,K.C.; < Years'Same 

Kansas City, Aug. 3. 
Biz shapes fairly good as- weather 
settled down to one of better Sum- 
mer weekends. "Abbott and Cos- 
tello Meet Frankenstein" in the 
Tower-Uptown-Fairway trio is run- 
ning neck and neck with "Best 
Years" which returns at pop scale 
in the Midland. Both are in for five 
weeks. "Years" is first RKO re- 
lease ever to play the Midland. 
"Melody Time" in second week at 
Orpheum still is nifty. 

Estimates for This Week 
Esquire (Fox Midwest) (820; 45- 
65) — "Man-Eater Kumaon" (U) and 
"Jungly Terror" (U) (reissue). Aver- 
age $4,000. Last week, "Broadway" 
(FC) and "Flame New Orleans" 
(FC) (reissues), $3,500. 

Midland (Loew's) (3,570; 45-65)— 
"Best Years" (RKO). First time 
' here at regular prices, also first 
RKO release in house. Nice $17 - 
000. Last week, "Easter Parade" 
(M-G) (2d wk), dandy $15,000. 

Orpheum (RKO) (1,900; 45-65)— 
"Melody Time" (RKO) and "Mys- 
tery Mexico" i RKO* (2d wk) with 
"Superman" serial at matinees. Up 
to expectations with trim $11,000. 
Last week, bright $16,000, crack 
coin for house. 

Paramount (Par) (1,900; 45-65) 

"Dream Girl" (Par). Moderate $13,- 
000 or under. Last week, "Romance 
High Seas" (WB) about same. 

Roxy (Durwood) (900; 45-65) — 
"Intermezzo" (FC) and "Rebecca" 
(FC) (reissues). In usual groove at 
$4,000. Last week, "Mr. Reckless" 
(Par) and "Waterfront at Midnight'' 
(Par), ditto. 

Tower.- Uptown - Fairway (Fox 
Midwest) (2,100, 2,043, 700; 45-65) 
— "Abbott-Costello Meet Franken- 
stein" (U). Fine $17,000 or over. 
Last week, "Deep Waters" (20th), 
only $14,000 in 8 days. 



useable from a mass delivery of 
8,000 feet. 

Issues hitting New York theatres 
today (Wed.) will include those few 
hundred feet on the Olympiad. 
As for most of the balance, fum- 
ing company execs claimed that 
blurred photography and unin- 
telligible sound marked it as good 
only for the junk heap. 

Feelings have been considerably 
strained over the Olympic issue 
for many months and receipt of 
allegedly bad negatives touched off 
the ill will. Rank had obtained ex- 
clusive film rights to the interna- 
tional matches by advancing 40,000 
pounds ($160,000) to the British 
Olympics committee. He thereupon 
barred Yank cameramen and forced 
acceptance of pooling arrangements 
which included payment of $8,000 
apiece by each American company 
and another $8,000 by each British 
subsid of these reels. 

Buttressing their contention that 
the first batch was n.s.g., newsreel 
editors said that the most impor- 
tant event covered was the opening 
speech by King George VI and the 
swearing of the oath by con- 
testants. Because- of poor timing, 
it's claimed, this footage is useless, 
since the voices are indistinct 
and unintelligible. Photography on 
sport events, it is further said, was 
poorly focused, resulting in blurred 
and wavering shots. 

Under the deal with Rank, the 
American quintet will be served 
with a total of 40,000-50,000 feet in 
five shipments of 8,000-10,000 feet 
each. Yanks are restricted to a 
maximum use of 1,000 feet for any 
one issue and only five .issues may 
be released. 

United World Films, subsid Of 
Universal, is handling the tele- 
vision rights. UWF has sold tele- 
casting privelege on the Olympics 
to Life magazine and NBC. (See 
story on page 25.) First telecast 
is slated for tonight (Wed.). U has 
a distribution tieup with Rank. 
Eagle Lion, another company with 
a Rank tie, will release a feature- 
length, Technicolor pic devoted to 
the event. 

Peculiarly enough, Fox, Movieto- 
news which services a video net- 
work, won't be able to use its is- 
sues for that purpose under the 
terms of the contract. Pact forbids 
16m or tele use by the reels. 
Movietonews is seeking to skirt 
that restriction by including shots 
of the American trials in the U:S. 
in both its regular theatre reel and 
tele issue. 



istent that the AAA take no steps 
on its own to determine disputes. 

Braden was informed that the 
Government construes the consent 
decree as no longer having any 
force or effect. Taking that stand, 
it contends that the film arbitration 
system has been deprived ' of its 
power to enforce its own rulings 
under the provisions for punish- 
ment of disobedience provided in 
the consent decree. 

Attorneys for the majors have 
not yet decided whether to accept 
the Government ukase to disband 
the arbitration system or to take 
the question to the court for an- 
other full-blown legajl hassle. On 
the point, there is a division of 
opinion whether the Government 
interpretation that the rulings 
spell the demise of arbitration is 
correct. The possibility that the 
AAA may challenge the Govern- 
ment's ukase is also strong. 

Arbitration can still be had on a 
purely voluntary and individual 
basis. But if the Government de- 
mand is sustained, no system as 
such in the industry can be main- 
tained without further word from 
the courts. 

Harsh attitude by the D of J is 
generally regarded as a tactical 
move in the court battle now shap- 
ing for the fall. The Anti-Trust 
Division has been hipped on arbi- 
tration ever since statutory court 
hearings. Undoubtedly, it feels 
that arbitration, regarded favor- 
ably by both the statutory and 
Supreme Courts, represents the 
greatest threat to winning a strong 
divestiture provision. 

Company attorneys believe the 
Government wants no record of 
successful arbitration to be pre- 
sented to the court as a possible 
out for the defendants. 



Allied Distrib 



Continued from page 5 



Pitt's Ex-'Escapade' 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 3. 

Chamber of Commerce was bit- 
terly disappointed recently when 
RKO decided to change the title 
of "Pittsburgh Escapade" to "Bal- 
timore Escapade." Shift was made 
because script called for a beach 
scene and Pittsburgh has no 
beaches. • Now the Chamber is 
really upset. 

In film's final form, beach scene 
has been eliminated but label 
nevertheless remains "Baltimore 
Escapade." 



D. C. Legit 

Continued from pase 1 



probably concentrate on surefire 
reissues which would ordinarily 
turn in a fair profit. 

Whether the distribution venture 
will signal another intra-industry 
fracas between the exhib group 
and distribs poses a question. Ma- 
jors may consider the action a 
challenge in their particular field 
and a move towards integration by 
exhibs. Allied, of course, has been 
the chief enemy of integration by 
the majors and has frequently 
threatened entry into production- 
distribution to drive down rentals. 

Recent dip in theatre business 
and the clipping taken by related 
businesses is behind Allied s mull- 
ing of the scheme. Heretofore. Al- 
lied locals have been able to raise 
sufficient sums to carry their or- 
ganizations through annual conven- 
tions, equipment exhibits and year- 
ly journals. The take, however, on 
these revenues has now fallen to 
the point where the groups must 
look elsewhere for added cash. 

Step somewhat parallel to the 
distribution plan was taken last 
month by North Central Allied. 
NCA's board reached a deal with 
Screen Guild whereby a percentage 
of all revenues garnered by the 
distrib from NCA members will be 
paid to the unit without additional 
costs to exhibs. 

NCA bulletin urged Allied mem- 
bers to use SG product whenever 
possible;. Money taken in would be 
used for administrative purposes, 
Allied members were told. 



back to the Capital and reopen one 
of the top stands for touring' shows. 

The National, long the sole legit 
house here, went dark Saturday 
night (31) for stage bookings. The 
theatre's management, which has 
refused to drop a policy of not 
admitting Negroes, rang down the 
curtain on a three weeks' run of 
"Oklahoma!" and said they would 
reopen in September, after altera- 
tions, as a film house. 

Meanwhile, no progress has been 
made in getting new bids for leas- 
ing the old, government-owned 
Belasco theatre. The Federal 
Works Agency turned down two 
bids — one from ANTA and the 
other from Curtis— on the ground 
they had too many "ifs." Both bids 
promised non-segregation policy. 



[~'Ball Players' || 

n , Continued from page 3 : 1 
produced in 16m, The narrow- 
gauge field is entirely non-union, 
so it is strictly up to the individual 
whether he wants to play catch 
with the producer. 

Large-scale layoffs recently by 
the major lots has been very help- 
ful to these sports-minded film- 
makers. There is a great deal of 
talent available and, with everyone 
anxious to get his feet wet in tele- 
vision, most of it is willing to take 
a chance in investing time— time 
being what to many writers, direc- 
tors, actors and technicians have 
too much of currently, anyway. 

Despite the fact that most of the 
video producers are finding takers 
for the no-pay jobs offered, talent 
is squawking, at the "play ball" 
routine, since-^-if the picture or 
pictures they make do prove suc- 
cessful—the filmmakers aren't of- 
fering any percentage cut. All they 
hold out in return for the for-free 
services is a job in future pictures. 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



19 




E MEN WHO KNOW BEST 




mfai 




"Better than 'Brute 
Force,' 'Naked City' 

and 'The Killers'!" 

<~N. Y. inquirer 

"A haymaker 
among hard-hitting 
mellers!" 

-Waltor WincMI 

"3 Belli' Shoots and 
punches its way to posi- 
tion among the best ac- 
tion films of the year!" 

— ifmmi* fidivr 

"One of most stirring pictures 
ever made!" 

-Alton Cook, N. Y. World TaUgram 

"More exciting than o headline | 
. . . has 'Brute Force' wallop!" 

-frtkino Johnson, Notional Columnist 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 




PetriHo Adamant on Extra Com 
From U. S .for Filming Musical Fed 



U. S. War Dept. has been forced< • 
to drop one of its pet film projects 
— a two-reeler on the Berkshire 
Musical Festival — following a 
head-on collision with a personal 
ruling by James C. PetriHo, prez 
of the American Federation of Mu- 
sicians, that the Army would have 
to pay extra coin to the Boston 
Symphony Orchestra to make the 
pic. Army brass has called off 
all bets after Petrillo's refusal to 
relent on his previous stand. < 

Petrillo's nix was incorporated in 
a letter sent by the AFM topper to 
Charles Mertz, in charge of the 
film section of the War Dept's 
Civil Affairs Division. In it, 
PetriHo demanded that something 
over $5,000 in total be paid to the 
Boston Symphony musicians for 
the fihnization. Boston orchestra 
regularly stages the summer con- 
certs at Tanglewood Festival, 
Lenox, Mass. 

The Army asked for a special 
break on the ground that the film 
was a non-profit venture being set 
by a Government agency. It also 
argued that the pic, intended to 
propagandize America's.' cultural 
attainments in music, would only 
be distributed in occupied terri- 
tories as part of its campaign to 
win the Germans and Japs to an 
appreciation of one of America's 
outstanding musical events. ' 

It is conceded that PetriHo, 
while sticking to a demand for 
extra compensation, cot the rate 
from what would ordinarily be 
paid. At the same time, the Army, 
operating on a limited film budget, 
felt the added $5,000 nut made the 
venture prohibitive. 



C 



UTax 



Robert J. Rubin, counsel for the 
Society of Independent Motion 
Picture Producers, left New York 
last night (Tuesday) for Washing- 
ton, prior to returning to his head- 
quarters on the Coast. He has been 
in New York the past two weeks 
huddling with distribution chiefs 
of SIMPP members and looking 
into tight sales situations affecting 
indie producers in various parts of 
the country. * 

Rubin will plane out of Washing- 
ton for the Coast tomorrow. He is 
there on tax matters. 



U Wave of Guts, 
Letouts in N. Y. 



Still trying to break the scissor- 
lock of rising operational costs, 
the major film companies are em- 
barking on their second round of 
economy cuts within 10 months in 
the New York homeoffice staffs. 
Duplicating the priming campaign 



i UHDERWOOD'S CHARITY 

'■ " Dallas, Aug. 3. 

W. G. Underwood left $2,500 in 
his wiU to the Boys Ranch Founda 
tion, a project close to his heart 
while he was alive. 

The project is one of the many 
carried on by the Dallas Variety 
Club of which he was a member. 



New York Theatres 






Cwwl UMta Am KM 

WILDE DAHNELL BAXTER DMIC1AS 

"THE WALLS •fJBBtW" 

A z*tk C«M>ry-r« PMsra 
0* VARIETY STAGE— DICK HAYMES 
OH ICE OTACE-CAMLjyyjWE 
ARNBLl* SHODA • TBITZ OIET1. 



initiated last September, the cur- 
rent h.o. slashes are following as 
echoes of the recent deep cutbacks 
in Hollywood studio payrolls. 

Harbinger of bigger cuts to come 
when vacation periods are over. 
Universal has already given the 
pink slip to six staffers in the h.o. 
publicity - advertising department 
The company Informed the dis- 
charged flacks and the Screen Pub- 
licists Guild last week that the 
move was necessitated "for econ- 
omy reasons." The layoffs become 
effective Friday (6) with the six 
due to receive doable severance 
pay as provided for in the SPG 
contract. . 

Other companies, which have re- 
duced their production schedules 
and budget outlays for individual 
films, are expected to, follow suit 
shortly with down-to-the-bone par- 
ing of clerical workers, publicists 
and salesmen. Last year's axing to- 
taled over 500 employees in all 
categories with an overall savings 
to the major companies of over 
$1,000,000. This savings, however, 
was eaten up by wage boosts won 
recently by SPG and Screen Office 
& Professional Employees Guild 
for the remaining 3,000 employees. 

Attempts of the various homeof- 
fice unions to bar the cutbacks 
have failed in the past Specific: 
court rulings have been handed 
down granting companies full 
power to reduce payroll loads for. 
economy reasons. While defeated 
in the courts, the unions, however, 
will probably buck the economy 
measures by a public relations 
drive charging the film companies 
with "spearheading a new depres- 
sion," as they did last year. 



Continued from page 3 s 

the company's toppers wiU be held 
on the Coast next week, during 
which it is expected that policies, 
pictures and personalities will be 
thoroughly threshed out. It is not 
anticipated by insiders, however, 
that there will be any changes in 
either studio or homeoffice execs, 
although there may be some in- 
ternal revision of controls; 

Eastern Executives West 
William A. Scully, distribution 
veepee, and Maurice Bergman, 
eastern pub-ad chief, plane west 
on Friday (6) for the confabs. They 
will be followed Saturday by J. 
Cheever Cowdin, board chairman, 
and Joseph H. Seidelman, foreign 
department topper. Already on 
the Coast for the huddles are Nate 
J. ' Blumberg, prexy; William 
Goetz, production chief, and John 
Joseph, pub-ad director. 

Tax claims on which U is hop- 
ing for quick and favorable action 
have been filed under Section 722 
of the Internal Revenue Code for 
relief from excess profits tax for 
the fiscal years 1941 to 1946 inclu- 
sive. Under one section of that 
code, a taxpayer who has filed such 
an application may defer payment 
of 33% of his excess profits, pend- 
ing determination of his claim. 

Accordingly, the company has 
accrued, but not paid, a sum in ex- 
cess of $7,000,000. Should it get a 
favorable ruling on all or part of 
this sum, it could be transferred to 
the earnings column. There's a 
slight gimmick, however. Should 
U lose its claim, the amount would 
be payable with interest. The in- 
terest amounts to around $1,- 
000,009, for which no provision has 
been made in its accounts, U re- 
ported in its annual statement, 



FOR FILM UNIONEERS 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 
A pension program, covering 
union workmen in the motion pic- 
ture industry, was broached here 
last week at a conference between 
Richard Walsh, IATSE president, 
and representatives of the major 
studios. 

Walsh plans to discuss the ques- 
tion further when he returns here 
to complete negotiations for a new 
labor contract between the local 
unions and the producers. 



Hdiywood-AFM 
Meet (Hi New Deal 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 
James C. PetriUo's huddle with 
film studio reps will start here Aug. 
9, with both sides prepared for re- 
visions in studio orch demands. 



Frim Salesmen's 
Drive for Union 
Pad Covers 1,906 



British Labor 
Leader to Talk 
At IATSE Conv. 

Aiming to stemjthe rising tide 
of resentment towards the British 
film industry in the U. S., Tom : * 
O'Brien, general secretary of the 
National Assn. of Theatre & Kine 
Employees, wiU give the British 
side at the Aug. 16 convention in 
Cleveland of the International Al- 
liance of Theatrical Stage Employ- 
ees. O'Brien, who is also a member 
of Parliament, sails for the U. S. . 
from London Saturday (7). 

At the IATSE convention, 
O'Brien will face several resolu- 
tions for the boycott of British 
films by U. S. labor which are be- 
ing introduced by Hollywood I A. 
locals. Richard F. Walsh, IATSE 
prexy, has voiced no opinion on 
these resolutions, but it's under- 
stood he'll counter with more dip. 



Although it is taken for granted 

that PetriHo will ask for salary in- ] lomatic proposals to negotiate any 
creases, the studios have already outstanding Anglo-U S. differences, 
warned their reps to counter such 1 Walsh, who has been on very 
offers with a return to setup of j cordial terms with his British coun- 



ROXY 



7tii Am. * 
SOth^St. . 



— RADIO tWt *MJSIC; «AIL — - 

Boefceial** Cjfentsr- ■ * 

j*a pah vtfnfi; jotiY" 

w»ju« na-«v • j»» pjjwhu. • 

• • EliM*ik TAYLOR VCaribM MIRANDA 
Xuier CO GAT • Rakert STACK 
A Metro -GflWwjrn-Mayer l'klure 
, Spectacular Stage Presentation 



Rocky Mt Screen Club's 
Rehabilitation Drive 

Denver, Aug. 3. 
In an effort to establish better 
public relations as weU as to re- 
flect importance and dignity of the 
film industry in the Rocky Moun- 
tain area, the Rocky Mountain 
Screen Club has launched a sub- 
stantial program of charity and re-' 
habitation, scope of which is the 
biggest ever attempted by this or- 
ganization. Donations are now be- 
ing solicited as part of the drive to 
augment the Screen Club's charity 
work. 

In the drive for funds, Pat 
McGee, chairman of campaign, lists 
such outstanding members of the 
Screen Club as Rick Ricketson, 
Charles Gilmour, Charlie Yaeger, 
Bob SeHg, Charles Klein and Dave 
CockriH as being viiaUy interested 
in the campaign among the several 
hundred members in Colorado, 
New Mexico, Wyoming and Mon 
tana. 



AMcafttri 

FSTHER WIUIAMS 
PETE* LAWF88D 

ISLAND # 
WITH YOU" 


irshh 
{M9»n-CMf$M«. 

$5000.00 

MvsTfuv mxo&i 
; jAocrot nmei 


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a 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

Errol Flynn climbs a horse in 
his next Warners starrer, "Mon- 
tana," a tale of strife between 
sheep and cattle ranchers, written 
by Ernest Haycox. 

William Jacobs will produce and 
Ray Enright will direct, as the 
first job under his new long term 
contract. 



Negotiations for the first union 
contract to cover approximately 
1,000 film salesmen nationally 
opened in New York this week be- 
tween industry execs and leaders 
of the Colosseum of Film Sales- 
men. Climaxing a two-year fight 
for recognition by Colosseum, the 
talks are a result of a recent bar- 
gaining election victory won by the 
guild at 11 major distributors. 

Wage boost demands of the 
salesmen are understood to be 
substantial, although Colosseum 
spokesmen have denied reports 
that they are asking for a 50% 
base salary rise. Previously, Colos- 
seum leaders said they would 
press to lift salesmen's salaries 
high above the average $75-$85 
level which has been held over 
since the prewar years. Th« cur- 
rent boxoffke dip and rumors of 
layoffs, however, has resulted in a 
moderation of original demands. 

In a move to safeguard the posi- 
tions of older salesmen, Colosseum 
is laying heavy stress upon 
seniority clauses in the industry 
contract. One of the top beefs of 
salesmen during' last year's econ- 
omy drive was that men with 15 to 
25 years of service were discharged 
in some instances ahead of younger 
men. Colosseum is also asking for 
increased automobile mileage and 
other expense allowances. 

A shift in Colosseum's leader- 
ship has taken place, meanwhue, 
With the resignation of A. M. Van 
Dyke, 20th-Fox branch manager in 
Chicago, as prexy. Van Dyke's 
stepdown follows a recent ruling 
by the National labor Relations 
Board that sales execs are not priv- 
ileged for guild membership. 
N. M Provencher, Colosseum's 
exec secretary with headquarters 
in Milwaukee, is heading the union 
negotiating committee. Pat Scol- 
lard, Paramount labor relations 
chief, is acting spokesman of the 
11 -company industry group. 



yesteryears in which a nuclei of 
a dozen or so members will be 
hired by each studio and the rest 
will be on call. 

This is one of the planks that 
studios say is necessary with 
mounting cost of production and 
toss of revenue. However, Petril- 
lo, who fought for many years to 
outlaw this "casting" system for 
musicians, will insist that studios 
maintain full staffs, pointing out 
that, even with musicals includ- 
ed, average cost of music per pic 
is only 4%, one of the smallest 
items in production budget 

One of the studios is prepared, 
if opposition is steadfast against 
lower costs, to use old musical 
backgrounds rather than hire addi- 
tional men. There has been a tacit 
oral agreement for years that stu- 
dios would not use tracks over 
again, but in the event of a stale- 
mate action, such backgrounds 
could be easily reused. Studio, 
which is one of the larger inde- 
pendent producers, feels that it 
can, without much effort, use old 
tracks for next 10 years without 
repeating. 



terpart, invited O'Brien to address 
the convention. 

O'Brien will also engage in un- 
official talks with Eric Johnston, 
Motion Picture Assn. of America 
prexy, while here. Hell also go to 
Washington to discuss general po- 
litical questions with Congressional 
leaders. 



Rob. 



Ohio Drive-la »f $250 

Columbus, Aug. 3. 
Burglars who broke into the 
National Auto theatre on the 
National Pike, Sunday, July 25, 
stole nearly $250. Two suspects, 
captured later, carried a money 
bag containing $61 belonging to 
Academy Am us. Co., operators of 
burgled <~ ' 




FIVE -STAR 

K-i 



'Jan' Deal 

Continued from page 5 



□ 



11 



19 



roll up an equally big gross without 
aid of Goldwyn's staff. 

Aim of the tieup was to give the 
picture the same roadshow treat- 
ment as Goldwyn's "Best Years of 
Our Lives." With Goldwyn han- 
dling distribution and RKO in the 
technical role of a mere physical 
agent, complete roadshow policy 
could be used, since Goldwyn is 
not subject to the Supreme Court 
injunction against fixing admission 
prices, as is RKO. Should the deal 
completely faH through, RKO will 
give "Joan" limited roadshowing, 
restricted to those houses which 
the distrib can lease on a four- 
walls basis. By actually leasing a 
theatre for a showcase engagement, 
injunction is circumvented, since 
the company, naturally, can set 
admission prices and policy in its 
own houses. 

"Red River" deal has also been 
a long time in the making because 
of the complexity of ownership 
Among those who must give ap- 
proval are Dan O'Shea and Edward 
Small, whose Motion Picture In- 
vestors, Inc., put up most of the 
coin; Howard Hawks, who pro- 
duced and directed; the bank and 
the players who deferred salary. 
In this case, too, 3% of the pro- 
ducers' share goes to Goldwyn. 
Practically all the okays are now 
in or have been indicated. 

United Artists, the distributors, 
wUl handle on its own the 250 or 
more bookings in Texas with which 
the picture will be kicked off later 
this month. All further dates will 
be supervised by the Goldwyn or- 
ganization, which will also work 
with UA on the publicity-advertis- 
ing campaigns: 

"River" will not be rdadshown, 
but top percentage terms will be 



CHICAGO 



Phone HAvMwyar I 
or your trawl «gaat 

T/clcef Offices.- Airfmd Torminof 
Rot*efe//er Center • Hotel New Vorief 
120 Broadway • Hotel Si. George 

AMERICAN 
AIRLINES 



8 Col. Reissues to Astor 

Bob Savini's Astor Pictures last 
week inked a reissue deal with Co- 
lumbia covering distribution of 
eight "Wild BUI" Elliott caters in 
the U. S. and Canada over a seven- 
year period. ' - Pact hands Astor 
both 35m and 16m rights. 

All are about 8-10 years old. 



THE SHOWMAN'S FBlEtitt 

in £u /Infele* 
• 

500 Modem Rooms 
with both and radio 
"Everything New but tfce Name" 

ALEXANDRIA HOTEL 

Fifth at Spring • Los Aagele* 
FRANK WALKER. General Manager 
Formerly at Olmsted, Cleveland. O. 



TATRA 1948 

Czechoslovakia car, 8 ' cylinder, 
rear engine, 4-door, 5-pasrtnger 
sedan, sliding top, for immediate 
«le; $4,500. REgent 7-2002. 



James A. Mulvey, .Goldwyn 
prexy, who has been negotiating 
the "Joan" and "River" deals; . left 
last Saturday (31) for' Rangery, 
Maine, where he'U spend twb 
weeks fishing. His objective in 
obtaining the outside supervision 
setups is to bring down the over- 
head on Goldwyn's extensive east- 
ern distribution organization. 




No*» Specializing 
in Refreshment 

^Concession* /«* 

iWMg THEATRES / 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



PfffZIETY 



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,+»»»+m» MM »»♦♦♦»♦ »MMMMMMMM»» 

Ops from Film Row 

M ♦ < « ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ M ♦ ♦ ♦ 4 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ « ♦ I M M M » UHM ♦ ♦ M M M ♦ 4 » 



MINNEAPOLIS 

New Nate Shapiro-Bcnnie Ber- 
ger neighborhood theatre to be 
balled the Gedar, after street on 
Which it's located. • . 

Ev, Seibei, Minnesota Amus. Co. 
ad head, joined the Alan Ladds at 
Gull Lake, Minn., where they 
went for a week of fishing after 
participation in Aquatennial cele- 
bration here,.:. " 

Emil Montemurro, Movietone 
cameraman, here from K. C. to 
shoot Aquatennial parades. 

Mel Evidon, former Columbia 
branch manager at Des Moines, 
joined Savereide Theatre Brokers 
and opens branch office in Los Aff- 
geles. 

Charles A. McAvoy and Harry 
Buckwald, localites, joined Water- 
loo, la., pair to buy Palace thea- 
tre there and will spend $35,000 to 
improve it. 

, Max E. YoUngstein, Eagle-Lion 
veepee in charge of ad-publicity, 
here to hold a Bill Heineman sales 
drive meeting. * 
Roger Dietz of Paramount spend- 
ing fortnight with National Guard 
at Camp Ripley. ';..■„ 



PITTSBURGH 

Donn Wermuth, with WB for 20 
years as p.a. and manager, resigned 
as manager in Fairmont, W. Va., 
being replaced by Arthur Pearce. 

With death of Dr. Charles II. 
Herman, veteran Carnegie, Pa., ex- 
hibitor, his widow, Louise B. Her- 
man, took over ownership and ac- 
tive management of four Herman 
theatres. ' 

Bill Graner resigned from Frank- 
lin Film exchange to join Mono- 
gram as office manager-booker; 
succeeds Carl DOrtic, from Metro 
office in Chicago. 

Dan C. Hay man's associate in 
the ownership of Seneca theatre, 
Belington, W, Va., is W. C. Lloyd. 
Both are newspaper circulation di- 
rectors in Uniontown, Pa., and also 
own another house in Tunnelton, 
W. Va. : s':,\ 



confabs on preein of "Babe Ruth 
Story" at State-Lake, Sept. 1. 

Harold Stevens, Paramount ex- 
c ^ a i*^?, Head, elected Chi chairman 
or Will Rogers Sanatarium drive. 
Local group has $100,000 quota. 
. Sam Shernoff and Jack Rubins 
bought the Chopin, 625-seateiv on 
west side; will remodel. 

Frank Anderson and Alvin 
J! rank, assistant managers at Ori- 
ental, are resigning to open a res- 
taurant in Evanston, 111. 

MEMPHIS 

Dave Flexer, head of Flexer 
Theaters, Inc., said his chain's as- 
sociation with M. A. Lightman 
theatre interests here had been 
severed. Lightman associates with 
Ed Sapinsley and Herb Kohn 
bought a small piece in Flexer 
Theatres last January. Purchase 
gave Lightman and associates the 
green light to handle booking and 
buying for Peabody and Ritz here, 
Strand arid Varsity, Amory, Miss., 
and Tower, Sardis, Miss. Flexer 
said no cash was involved in trans- 
fer..-.'. 



ROONEY'S 1-A-YEAR 
VIA OWN UNIT FOR M-G 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 
Metro handed Mickey Rooney a 
five-year player contract calling for 
one picture annually, to be made by 
Mickey's own corporation, Rooney- 
Steifel. 

Pact gives Rooney the privilege 
of making pictures on the outside. 
His latest film on the Metro lot is 
"Words and Music." 

While new deal frees Rooney for 
outside pix, radio and video deals, 
it's understood Metro, in turn, ef- 
fected an economy since the 
amount lie gets for each picture is 
substantially lower than his former 
annual salary. Reported that other 
Metro topnotch contractees may be 
allowed to renew contracts on a 
similar basis. 



NEW YORK 

• James R. Grainger, Republic ex- 
ecutive veepee in charge of sales, 
returned to New York. last week 

-after tour of company's North Hol- 
lywood studios and visiting 
branches in the midwest. 

" Lou S. Hart, of Gloversville, has 

- a s s u m e d zone" managership of 
Schine's Northern New York the- 
atre chain with headquarters in 
Watertown, ■ N. Y. He succeeded 
Harold F. Sliter, transferred to 
Lexington, Ky. 

•- Carbons, Inc., headed by Edward 
Lachman, prexy of New Jersey Al- 
lied, has appointed three new local 

- distribution reps to handle theatre 
carbons. Earl E. Jameson, prez of 
Exhibitors Film .Delivery Service, 
has taken over the Kansas City ter- 
ritory;" Sun Distributors, the New 
York area; and Academy Theatre 
Supply, the Chicago sector. Lach- 
man's concern has U. S. distribu- 

' tion rights td Lorraine Carbon, 
" newly-created: French Carbon.' 



SAN FRANCISCO 

John Ettlinger ankles Par, pub- 
licity job for L. A.-television berth. 

W. C. Gehririg, 20th-Fox assist- 
ant sales manager, and B. D. 
Stoner, assistant Western division 
manager, due here on western 
branch tour. 
* "Min" Levy of PRC and Helen 
Wobbe, Golden Gate Theatre pub- 
licity head, booked passage on Lur- 
line for Hawaii, Sept. 20. 

Van P. Garrison transferred 
from Merced, where he was di- 
vision manager for- T. & D. Enter- 
prises, to Oakland divisional man- 
ager post. Garrison was 15 years 
with Golden State Theatres. Re- 
placed by J. L. Pilegard, former 
manager of Tulare. 

Lux opened in downtown Oak- 
land by D. B. Levin and Louis 
Kaliski. ■ 

George Seitch, RKO salesman, 
suffered serious burns when his 
automobile exploded while he was 
repairing motor. 



WB Pacts 

SS5 Continued from page 3 

grants them compensation equal to 
the rate paid for the third, fourth, 
and fifth years *f their current 
tickets, amounting to the $125,200. 
Actually, both WB biggies waived 
the automatic increase for 1948 
earlier this year along with Samuel 
Schneider, V.p.,' and Mort Blumen- 
stock, ad-pub veepee. No refer- 
ence to the waiver of the $12,500 
boost : is made in the extension 
deals. . ,.: 

All other terms of the Kalmine 
and Kalmenson contracts will apply 
to their new tickets. 

Silverstone's present pact also 
expires Dec. 31, 1950, His new deal 
pushes the deadline to Dec. 31, 
1952, with his pay fixed at the rate 
for the fourth and fifth years of 
the current contract. All other 
terms will be applicable for the 
added two years. 



EETEAM FORD, KEYES 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

Glenn Ford and Evelyn Keyes 
will team again in "Mr. Soft 
Touch," formerly titled "Mr. Mir- 
acle," at Columbia, with Gordon 
Douglas directing. 

Pair worked together in "The 
Mating of Millie" on the same lot. 



Yanks Lose Brit Yen 



Continued from page 3 



half that number will actually face 
a lens. ' 

Latest to he scratched Is "The 
Secret Garden," which Clarence 
Brown was to have produced for 
Metro at Elstrec with Dean Stock- 
well and Margaret O'Brien starred, 
Metro has made no official an- 
nouncement of cancellation of its 
plans, but the film appeared this 
week on the schedule of produc- 
tions to be made at the Coast stu- 
dio. J;'/ V. 

M-G It now winding up lensing 
of its initial and, perhaps, final— 
for the time being, anyhow — film 
in England. It is "Edward* My 
Son." Producer Edward Knopf re- 
turned to the U. S. last week, and 
star Spencer Tracy, director 
George Cukor and publicity chief 
Howard Strickling and his wife 
leave on the Queen Mary next Sat- 
urday (7). , •' ' 

Twentieth-Fox is planning to 
make "The Affairs of Adelaide" 
("Britannia Mews") With Maureen 
O'Hara and Dana Andrews'. It is 
the only company showing any real 
interest in British production and 
is tentatively planning a Scotland 
Yard picture there and ''Black 
Rose," filmization of the novel. 

Beyond that there are no definite 
plans by any company, although it 
is anticipated that a few more pix 
may be made when coin frozen 
under the March agreement begins 
to pile up. 

'A twist of the film pact is re- 
sponsible for the dearth of purely 
American production. Companies 
are finding it much more profitable 
to make deals with. British pro- 
ducers and to let them make the 
pictures, perhaps with U. S, stars. 
Then the Yank companies use their 
blocked currency to buy western 
hemisphere rights. 

This is an angle of the pact that 
developed when American compa- 
nies were trying, to agree among 
themselves on interpretations of 
the terms. It cuts down on the 
amount of coin going into the U. S. 
dollar pool derived front income 
of British pix playing in America. 
That is because these films bought 



outright are ao longer consider 
British product, since they s 
American*owned. • 

However, the companies figure 
it advantageous because they don't 
have the large investment in dol- 
lars necessary to send a troupe to 
England to make a picture. There 
is a considerable amount of hard 
U. S. cash involved in an American ; 
production in Britain, since all the 
people sent over must be paid in 
dollars here. Thus, it is advan- 
tageous to buy the purely British- 
made pix and just use frozen 
pounds. 

' Tight interpretation of the Brit- 
ish government on terms of the 
pact, making it difficult for Ameri- 
can companies to produce .there, 
have also discouraged some treks 
abroad. British clamp resulted 
from fears generated by the flood 
of announcements of production 
plans immediately after the, pact 
Was" inked. " 

Still another factor discouraging 
Yank production in England is the 
generally mediocre success in this 
country of pix made there, even" 
if producer, writers, director and 
chief technicians are American. It 
is said that some of the British 
atmosphere is absorbed that makes 
the films unpalatable to Americans*; 

Jimmy Cross Meeting 
Baby Son for 1st Time 

Jimmy Cross, vet vauder and 
husband of former Universal play- 
er Peggy Ryan, flew to the Coast , 
last week, where he met their 
first son, born last May 26, for the 
first time. 

Cross has been abroad since 
April, originally going over with 
the illfated Bert Friedlob-Bob Top- 
ping midget auto racing venture,, 
and stayed on to travel to Germany 
to entertain the troops with Lana 
Turner, a visit to Cannes, etc. 

Miss Ryan, since severing from 
Universal, has been devoting her- 
self to The Ryan Pan, a San Fer- 
nando Valley eatery in which she 
invested for Her family. 



DALLAS 

Eph Charninsky, San Antonio 
head of Southern Theatre circuit 
houses announces Charles Wolf as 
manager of Harlandale, a suburban 
house. 

Charley Wise and M. Mitchell- 
have purchased Edge, theatre at 
Edgewood, Texas. Wise is general 
manager of Phil Isley Theatres. 

Interstate Theatres returned the 
Lamar and Dixie, Paris, Texas, to 
C. J. Musselman following the re- 
cent U. S. Supreme Court decision. 
Gem . at Wichita Falls, also, was re- 
turned by Interstate to Aaron Mc- 
Ilheran and Mrs, R. C. Mellheran. 

B. A. Haralson, exhibitor con- 
tact man for Allied Theatre Own- 
ers of Texas, resigned and plans 
on retiring from organization. He 
is a nephew of Col. H. A. Cole who 
previously announced similar plans. 

Full ownership of the Stude 
theatre in Houston 'purchased by 
R. Z. Glass. House was operated in 
partnership with the Interstate 
Theatres Circuit. He also owns 
and operates the State, another 
suburban house. D. L. Murray 
will be general manager of both 
houses. , ; 



9<»(ror*K> 



'My Beauty Facials bring quick 



new 



Lovel 



meSS says Clair* Trevor 



CHICAGO 



Herb Ellisburg in from Florida 
to renew lease on Studio theatre. 

LaSalle opened July 30 after re- 
modeling foyer and back. 

Herman Tett appointed manager 
of Palace, Cicero, 111.; formerly 
was with Century Theatres, New 

Y °Steve Broidy, Monogram Films 
prexy, and Roy Del Ruth, in for 



Here's a proved complexion care! In recent Lux 
Toilet Soap tests by skin specialists, actually 3 out 
of 4 complexions improved in a short time. 
* "Lux Soap care leaves skin softer, smoother," 
says lovely Claire Trevor. "I work the fragrant 
lather in thoroughly. As I rinse and then pat with 
a soft towel to dry, skin takes on fresh new beauty!" 

Don't let neglect' cheat you of romance. Take 
the screen stars' tip. See what this gentle beauty 
care can do for you! 





RADIO 



cana Exotica Due for a Going 
Over in CBS' Fall 'American Diary' 



CBS is grooming a new venture- 

an Actuality Productions Unit. 

It's set to preem Sept. 12 in an 
ambitious series called "The Amer- 
ican Diary," and such peculiar 
facets of Americana as comic 
books, etiquette, the high cost of 
Jiving, new draftees, superstitions, 
etc., will get a wholesale going 
over. 

The series will represent a new 
development in tape recording 
technique to give it the flexibility, 
of a motion picture camera. As 
such it will be a "candid mike 
without gimmicks," mirroring a 
cross-section of the American pub- 
lic. Th,e combined talents of the 
CBS News Dept., Special Events 
Dept. and the Documentary Unit 
are being enlisted for the series, 
which will be produced under the 
overall supervision of Werner 
Michel, with Lee Bland and Sam 
Abelow as producers and Ned Cal- 
mer as the writer and narrator. 

Tape recorded series is slated 
for a Sunday afternoon time peri- 
od, as a companion piece to the 
web's "You Were There" histori 
cal series. 



RWG Signs With Webs 

New contract covering dramatic 
and documentary staff scripters 
has been signed by the Radio 
Writers Guild and CBS, ABC and 
CBS. Pact is retroactive from last 
July 1 and extends to Sept. 30, 
1949. It provides for 10% salary 
Increases and more favorable 
terms for severance. 

Mutual, with no -continuity writ- 
ers on staff, is not included in the 
setup. 



FM Assn. Claims 
AT&T Reneging 

Washington, Aug. 3. 

An exchange of letters between 
the FCC and American Telephone 
and Telegraph Co. was released 
Monday (2). FCC said it had re- 
ceived a complaint from the FM 
Assn. stating that certain inter- 
city facilities, agreed upon at a 
meeting last winter, bad not been 
made available by AT&T. 

FM requested another hearing. 
AT&T protested that it had com- 
plied with the agreements and had, 
in fact, on order additional facili- 
ties for use of FM and FM net- 
works. AT&T does not see any 
need for a hearing, it told the FCC. 



Longines to Put 
Piastro on CBS 



Deal looks set for Longines to 
buy the Sunday afternoon 2 to 2:30 
stretch on CBS for the Mishel 
Piastro orchestral-" ensemble. Final 
pacting is contingent on whether 
the network can obtain station 
clearance, with most of the affil- 
iates already chiming in affirma- 
tively. 

The Longines Simfonette is al- 
ready heard in a recorded nightly 
stanza on WOR, New York, and 
approximately 100 other stations 
on a "national spot" basis. The 
CBS network show, to be done live, 
would mean an expansion of the 
Longines entry into radio, with the 
recorded show continuing. 
- Longines pact would break the 
solid Sunday afternoon sustaining 
roster on CBS. 



Dinah Back to Cantor 
Show at $1,250 Wkly. 
After 25G London Date 

Dinah Shore, set for two "weeks 
at the London Palladium, starti»g 
Aug. 30, is due back Oct. 1 on the 
Coast for the start of the Eddie 
Cantor series. She's signed as fea- 
tured vocalist on the comedian's 
Pabst series, at $1,250 a week for 
39 weeks, with the right of can- 
cellation at her discretion. She's 
also free to do a program of her 
own or guest on other shows, pro- 
vided there's no sponsor or product 
conflict. 

Singer is getting $25,000 for the 
two-week London engagement, plus 
expenses for her and her arranger- 
accompanist, Ticker Freeman. Her 
husband, film actor George Mont- 
gomery, will probably make the 
trip, too. A clause in Miss Shore's 
contract with tHe Palladium per- 
mits 'her to cancel the date if she 
gets a radio series that interferes. 

QUAKER OATS BUYS 
'YUKON' ABC SHOW 



ABC has recouped the Quaker 
Oats billing lost in the bankroHer's 
cancellation of the 15-minute cross- 
the-board "Terry and the Pirates." 
Cereal outfit has beeri pacted to 
sponsor "Challenge of the Yukon," 
now a once weekly nighttime 
stanza, as a three-a-week feature in 
the 5-5:30 p.m. slot. 

Tuesday-Thursday segments of 
this strip will be occupied by 
"Green Hornet," also now a weekly 
nighttime show, which General 
Mills currently sponsors but is 
dropping. Two dramatizations will 
move Into the late afternoon line- 
up Sept. 6, with QO to pick up the 
tab on "Yukon" the following 
week. 



Toni's Own Dilemma: 
, Which Half of 'Ladies' 
Is a Chi Permanent? 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 
Report that' the Toni Co. was 
contemplating splitting away its 
half (the second) of "Ladies Be 
►Seated" and moving it to Holly- 
wood was described by the Chi 
Toni offices yesterday (Monday) 
as just having a glimmer of fact. 
What had happened, said the Toni 
source, was that during the course 
of a meeting between officials of 
Quaker Oats, which supports the 
first half of the ABC series, and 
the Toni Co. something was said 
about two originations if it were 
okay' with Quaker. 

Purpose of this meeting last 
week was to see whether the two 
couldn't cooperate more closely on 
determining the show's policy. 
Toni, which followed Quaker into 
the "Ladies" picture, has lately 
been especially unhappy over the 
fact that like other matters in- 
volving actual composition of the 
show it's been shut out of the 
prize-giving phase. Toni office now 
feels that as a result of the get- 
together with Quaker it should be 
easy to resolve any differences and 
wishes that come up and also to 
keep the two quarter-hours linked 
in Chicago. If the split were to 
occur it would be the first time In 
network history that an across-the- 
board stanza had two originating 
points. 

Ton! Is making plans to move 
intq television. Foote, Cone & Beld- 
ing, its agency, is now. working on 
spot announcements for placement 
in the fall. Account has also just 
bought the comedy team of Wayne 
and Schuster for a Trans-Canadian 
hookup starting Sept. 9. Makes 
Toni's second show in the domin- 
ion, having been on the past year 
with Russ Titus' "Sing-along." 
Canadian buy lifts Toni's network 
billings in both countries slightly 
above the $5,000,000-mark. 




Wednesday, Angmt 4, 194f 



KLZ Commercial Manager 

R. MAIN MORRIS 

background of 25 years in ad 
circles including some of the largest 
radio accounts in the Rocky Moun- 
tain region qualifies R. Main Morris 
for his top job as KLZ's commercial 
manager. 

KLZ, DENVER. 



BMB 'Old Hat— At Least To H 
Mutual Web Affiliates Told 



Claim Pix Angle 
Caused Vamoos Of 
Azearraga in 6 A 

When Emilio Azearraga, Mexico's 
top broadcaster, frequently re^ 
ferred to as "Mr. Radio of North 
America," walked out on Goar 
Mestre and the other champions of 
a free radio who ganged up on the 
Peron-controlled Argentine Broad- 
casters Assn. at the recent B.A. 
conference of western hemisphere 
broadcasters, he was motivated pri- 
marily by a desire to protect his 
Argentine pix interests. 

That, at . any rate, is the con 
elusions drawn by broadcasters 
who have been closely observing 
hemispheric relations. Always in 
the past identified as a champion 
of a free and democratic radio, 
Azearraga literally threw a bomb- 
shell into the B.A. conference by 
taking a powder on Mestre, Cuba's 
No. 1 radio man and ardent foe of 
the Argentine broadcasting setup, 
who led in the 14-nation gangup 
on Peron. 

In addition to his firm grip on 
Mexico radio, Azearraga is also 
prominent in Mexican and South 
American film circles, distributing 
his product widely in Argentine. It 
was a case, it's now argued, where 
he had to "lay off" in the con- 
demnation of the Peron govern- 
ment, or, face the loss of his lucra- 
tive film biz in Argentine. Azear- 
raga chose to play it safe. 



Frankel Exits CBS 

Mortimer Frankel, associate 
script editor at CBS, NT Y., for the 
past five years, is checking out 
next week to join Murphy-Lillis, 
Inc., producers of industrial and 
television films. He'll work on 
scripts and new program develop- 
ment, also freelancing on the side. 

M-L's major account is Chester- 
field, for TV films. 

Metro Discovers 
There's Radio, Too 

When WHN, N.Y., swings over 
in mid-September to its new 
regime, changes its call letters to 
WMGM and takes possession of its 
elaborate new Manhattan quarters 
at 711 Fifth avenue, which repre- 
sents an outlay of approximately 
$1,000,000, it's expected to spark 
a radio-TV consciousness on the 
part of the parent Metro picture 
organization. 

Until now the Metro film lords 
have not only remained aloof from 
the N.Y. indie radio operation, con- 
tent with the fact that it was reap- 
ing annual billings bordering the 
$2,000,000 mark, but practically 
kept itself at arm's length from the 
whole radio and television picture. 

However, with the recent acquisi- 
tion of its KMGM-FM operation on 
the Coast and the more exacting 
WMGM identification in New York, 
it's reported that Metro -will re- 
verse its longstanding policy and 
play a more vital role in AM, FM 
and TV, paralleling the close re- 
lationship of Warner Bros, with its 
KFWB operation on the Coast and 
its projected plunge into tele- 
vision. 

Encompassed within the sphere 
of WHN's thinking is the utiliza- 
tion of its new Fifth avenue quar- 
ters for television, the onetime 
NBC building being equipped with 
elaborate studio space. The move- 
over as such is seen as to prelude 
to Metro's long-range planning for 
asserting itself not only in radio 
but in the realm of video as well. 



♦ Mutual research and promotion 
veepee E. P. H. (Jimmy) James. 

adveiv 



served notice on stations, 



MITCHELL TO NAB 
* ADVERTISING POST 

Washington, Aug. 3. 

Maurice B. Mitchell, general 
manager of WTOP, CBS outlet, 
has been named Director of NAB's 
Department of Broadcast Adver- 
tising. Proposed sale of 55% of 
WTOP stock to the Washington 
Post puts John S. Hayes, general 
manager of the Post's WINX, in 
top managerial job at WTOP. 

CBS asked Mitchell to return to 
New York, where he was last year, 
in a television sales capacity. 

Int'I Silver Prefers 



Young as Schnoz Foil 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 
Jimmy Durante and Pbil Cohan, 
his producer and co-owners of the 
package, gave the nod to Alan 
Young over Vera Vague as comedy 
foil on the new Camel series next 
fall. 

Deal gives Young the right to 
do an outside show, 



BAKER CLEARED OF 
BREACHING CONTRACT 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

Arbitration board cleared Phil 
Baker of the charge preferred by 
Philip Morris and the Biow agency 
that he breached the morals clause 
of his contract when he was arrest- 
ed and fined for reckless driving. 

It appear.-: certain, however, he'll 
be dropped as emcee of "Every- 
body Wins" when the next option 
rolls around in October. Dick Po- 
well looks like the winning candi- 
date as his successor. 



er 

International Silver is reported 
unhappy with the time-buying de- 
partment of its agency, Young & 
Rubicarn, because of the network 
setup of the "Ozzie and Harriet" 
program the coming season. The 
scheduled 6:30 p.m. Sunday spot on 
NBC, immediately preceding Jack 
Benny, is figured an, excellent buy, 
except that it isn't over full net- 
work facilities. That will force the 
account to broadcast the series by 
transcription at later time in a 
number of markets. 

The silver concern had the 6 p.m. 
Sunday spot on CBS for many 
years, but switched last season to 
9:30 p.m. Fridays on the same net 
work. 



Johnson to Sit Tight On 
Fibber Summer Sub When 
Resuming Show in Fall 

When Johnson's Wax resumes 
sponsorship of Fibber McGee & 
Molly in the fall, it will also sit 
tight on its summer replacement, 
upping its radio budget by an ap 
proximate $300,000 a year for the 
two-way ride. It will mark the 
client's biggest network splurge to 
date. 

Unable to pact Fred Waring for 
the Tuesday night 9:30 NBC pe- 
riod while Fibber & Molly vaca- 
tion, because of Waring's General 
Electric nighttime show, Johnson's 
Wax, instead, bought into-the morn- 
ing cross-the-board Waring show 
on NBC. But instead of dropping 
the orch when F & M return, the 
bankroller has decided to continue 
sponsorship of the Monday and 
Wednesday a.m. segments. 

Client is also bankrolling a 15- 
minute Saturday afternoon NBC 
sportscast by Dizzy Dean, but it's 
only a summer ride during the 
baseball season. 



Users and- agencies this week via 
letter that MBS is "through" sup. 
plying Broadcast Measurement Bu. 
reau listener figures as the bashi 
for coverage estimates. 

He pointed out that BMB's 1848 
nationwide station listening survey 
is now more than two years old and 
Mutual, which has added affiliates 
by the score in that period (total is 
now over 500), today has more 
stations which have not been meas- 
ured by BMB than those which 
have. 

"We're not criticizing BMB," 
James says, "but the BMB data is 
so hopelessly outdated as far as we 
are concerned that it's simply 
stupid for us to go on using those 
figures." 

He noted, too, that it's going to 
be another year to 18 months be- 
fore BMB's 1949 figures are avail- 
able. In the meantime, he indi- 
cated, Mutual will base its cover* 
age claims on its own "listenabil- 
ity" findirtgs. (Only the daytime 
claims under this measurement 
have been unveiled by Mutual, but 
the web is expected to uncork the . 
nighttime findings early in tht 
fall.) 

The other networks apparently 
will go on using the BMB figures. 
Ed Evans, research director of 
ABC, which has had the greatest 
station growth next to Mutual, said 
that web was continuing to use 
BMB data, supplementing it where 
stations have been added or have 
increased power with estimates of 
their coverage. He said BMB's '48 
figures confirmed early ABC esti- 
mates of coverage within a couple 
of percentage points. 

Sealtest Show 
To Benefit AFRA 

Philadelphia, Aug. 3. 
National Dairy, which has spon- 
sored Sealtest "Village Store" for 
the last decade, will probably re- 
place it in the fall with a guestar 
variety series, with Dorothy La- 
mour as m.c. Latter show is being 
submitted to the client this week 
by the N. W. Ayer agency, which 
recently took over the account 
from McKee & Albright. Series is 
to continue in the 9:30 spot Thurs- 
day nights on NBC. 

Gimmick of the new show is the 
guest angle, which will be another 
charity setup along the lines of 
"Screen Guild Theatre." In this 
case, $2,500 a week will he paid 
by the sponsor to the welfare fund 
of the American Federation of 
Radio Artists, which will not only 
okay the guests to waive their nor- 
mal, performance fees but will un- 
dertake to assist in lining up the 
stars and clearing their appear- 
ances with their regular sponsors. 

Music Corp. of America is pack- 
aging and agenting the program. 



POP-SON GOODWILL 



SHUMATE'S KSO POST 

Des Moines, Aug. 3. 
Tom Lewis Shumate has been 
named program director of KSO, 
Des Moines. v He succeeds Edmund 
Lin eh an, who will become station 
promotion manager. 



Rival Pitt. Stations Yield on Kauf- 
mann Pinchhit Deal For Month 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 3. • 
Although Gene Kaufmann's " a 
Staff announcer on KQV, station 
management gave him the green 
light to do a month of fill-in news- 
casting on WCAE, a rival station. 
The guy he's pinch-hitting for only 
happens to be his father,- Lou 
Kaufmann, who has shoved oil for 
Cape Cod on a month's vacation. 

It was a goodwill gesture to the 
elder Kaufmann inasmuch as he 
was a long-time fixture at KQV 
before shifting to WCAE. Latter 
station had no objection when 
news man's sponsors expressed 
their satisfaction with the sub- 
stitute. 



WMCA Has a Brand New 
Concept on Disk Jockeys; 
Dorsey Show to WUB 

With Tommy Dorsey taking over 
his transcribed disk jockey show 
from Lou Cowan on Aug. 16, show 
is also doing a WMCA (N. Y.) fade. 
Instead WLIB, the Dorothy Thack- 
rey-owned Manhattan indie, takes 
over the program starting Sept. 6, 
the day after it winds up on 
WMCA. 

WMCA is reported prepping a 
revamp of its disk-jockey format, 
and may toss most of them out the 
window. It's recalled that when the 
station adopted the disk jock con- 
cept, Herman Bess was major 
domoing the operation. Bess is now 
gen. mgr. of- WLIB. 



Ralph Atlass Stricken 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 
Ralph Atlass, v.p. in charge of 
WBBM, Chicago, is seriously ill of 
virus pneumonia and was yester- 
day (Monday) reported as not re- 
sponding satisfactorily to treat- 
ment. 

He was stricken on his yacht 
while cruising on Lake Michigan 
about 40 miles from Mackinaw. 
Atlass has suffered a couple severe 
heart attacks during the past year. 



Wednesday, Input 4, 1948 



RAMA 2s 



NETWORKS IN A POLITICAL STO 



Crime Doesn't Pay in B.A., Either 

, Montevideo, July 29. 

Production men andagency reps in Buenos Aires are hurriedly 
trying to change the format of whodunits on the Argentine air 
Since a government decree, issued on July 27, axed any type of 
police or crime story from the air, except after 10 p.m., when good 
children are supposed to be in bed. (Edict is similar to NBC's, 
which forbids whodunits before 9:30 p.m.) 

Wielding of the axe is believed to have been inspired by the 
new Minister of Education, Dr. Oscar Ivanissevich, formerly 
Argentine Ambassador in Washington, who is anxious to get most 
radio matters under the control of his Secretariat. 

In issuing its decree, the Radio Control Board states that the 
police department reports show an increase in juvenile delin- 
quency and infer that the juves have been learning crime from 
the various detective serials broadcast by the major webs in the 
late afternoon and evening. The axe affects Sterling Products' 
sponsored "Peter Fox Knew" on Radio Mundo, "The Saint" series, 
sponsored by Kolynos on the Splendid web, and a number of other 
similar programs. 



Sifting of Port Huron Case on Tap 
As Probe of FCC Gets Under Way 




• Washington, Aug. 3. ♦ 

Initial hearings in the newest 
Congressional probe of the Federal 
Communications Commission open 
tomorrow (4). The Select House 
Committee for the investigation 
plans to discuss the recent Port 
Huron decision with the question 
of censorship of libelous material 
In a political broadcast. 

Committee Chairman Forest A. 
Harness (R.-Ind.) said they would 
spend a couple of days exploring 
the issue. He said FCC would be 
given a "searching, complete and 
thorough investigation." 

Members of the Committee are: 
Reps. Leonard W. Hall (R.-N.Y.), 
Charles H. Elston (R.-Ohio), J. 
Percy Priest (D.-Tenn.), and Oren 
Harris (D.-Ohio). Frank T. Bow of 
Canton. Ohio, is general counsel 
and already has investigators at 
tyrork in the Commission going 
0ver files and interviewing per- 
sonnel. 

It is generally believed that Rep. 
F. Edward Hebert (D.-La.) stirred 
tip the probe with his repeated at- 
tacks on Edward Lamb, Toledo. 
Lamb, who received five radio 
licenses within two weeks, was ac- 
cused of communistic association 
and activities. 

The investigation was ordered 
by Sen. Wallace H. White, Jr., (R.- 
Me.) chairman of the Senate In- 
terstate and Foreign Commerce 
Committee, and long associated 
with radio interests in government. 
The Committee is to make a re- 
port and give recommendations to 
the new 81st Congress. 

Washington spokesmen say the 
purpose of the probe is to leave 
a watchdog at the Commission dur- 
ing the campaign year. 

House committee disclosed that 
parade of witnesses to be heard 
tomorrow (Wed.) and Thursday will 
include FCC chairman Wayne Coy; 
(Continued on page 32) 



The Long Way Home 

Gag around NBC is how 
John Royal detoured his visit 
to the Argentine as a delegate 
to the Western Hemisphere 
Radio Conference into a 
23,000-mile junket. 

Here's how Royal eventually 
got to Buenos Aires and back 
to New York (he checked in at 
his office last week): First he 
went to Geneva (3,881 miles), 
then to Paris (268), then to 
Buenos Aires (7,553), then to 
Lisbon (6,361), then to Madrid 
(317), then to Rome (736), 
back to Lisbon (866), to the 
Azores (768), and then to New 
York (2,520). 



RCA s Radio-TV 
Boston'Pops'Show 

RCA, currently sponsoring the 

tobert Merrill -Russ Case NBC 
unday afternoon show, has blue- 
printed a whole new program deal 
for the winter and is throwing out 
the present format. On Dec. 5, 
RCA will preem a new Show fea- 
turing the Boston "Pops" Orches- 
tra, under direction of Arthur 
Fiedler, with Merrill to continue 
on the vocals. Oddly enough, the 
regular Boston Symphony is heard 
On ABC, with a 45-minute Tuesday 
night sustaining ride starting 
Oct. 5. 

RCA show is now heard at 2:30 
in the afternoon but plan is to 
move it into the 5:30 afternoon pe» 
riod, with a simultaneous TV pick- 
up which RCA also plans to bank- 
roll Company may also buy the 
preceding 5 to 5:30 time on video, 
too for a full hour TV showcase. 
New Boston "Pops"-Merrill show 
will be a J. Walter Thompson pro- 
duction, whereas the present pro- 
gram is an NBC-built feature. 



'Castanets' Royal 
Dances In From 
Foreign Junket 

John F. Royal, NBC's roving vee- 
pee, returned to New York last 
week from Spain and from what 
RCA and NBC boys describe as 
"Operation Castanets." Royal's 
visit to Madrid, the "next to clos- 
ing" spot in a 23,000-mile junket 
which also extended to Argentine, 
was linked to RCA's ambitious 
program to penetrate foreign coun- 
tries with its television and other 
equipment. 

In Madrid, Royal, on behalf of 
RCA's International Division, put 
on a television' demonstration for 
Premier Franco with a mobile jeep 
unit— the same type that was dem- 
onstrated in Rome last year. 

Success of the Madrid demons- 
tration was seen as given RCA an 
opening wedge looking to the time 
when Spain is ready to embrace 
video. As such RCA will be in 
competition with a flock of Euro- 
pean equipment manufacturers, 
particularly in , Holland, England 
and France. 

RCA's International Division 
from all accounts is projecting it- 
self as one of the vital operational 
arms, with out-of-the-country sales 
reportedly exceeding even the 
company's fondest expectations. 

UNITY NIXED ON FM 
CHANNEL REHEARING 

Washington, Aug. 3 
FCC on Monday (2), denied the 
petition of New York's Unity 
Broadcasting Co., to reopen the 
April hearings on allocation of 
FM channels in the New York-New 
Jersey area. Unity claimed chan- 
nel 282 put it at a severe com- 
petitive disadvantage. 

FCC said all FM assignments 
were substantially the same in the 
area, and refused to reopen hear- 
ings which involved 17 applicants. 



'10 GETS WHAT' 

The major networks are plung- 
ing into the political melee in an 
every-man-for-himself manner, with 
no united front on the question of 
equal time, and there's a growing 
feeling in some quarters that sev- 
eral of the webt are allowing them- 
selves to be pushed into a mathe- 
matical equation of the whole prob- 
lem which can develop endless 
"time to reply" demands. 

Emergence in this election year 
of a third major contender, the 
Progressives, has, of course, added 
to the overall time problem. But 
the thing that's dragged the nets 
into a brain-racking position is the 
contention of the Republicans, 
Wallaceites, et al, that President 
Truman's recent message to Con- 
gress was political. • And the Dem- 
ocrats' equally determined stand 
that it wasn't. 

On this score, the webs have 
gone off in all directions. Depart- 
ing from time-honored industry 
rules, ABC and NBC gave Republi- 
can spokesmen time to reply to 
Truman's message. This riled the 
Demos, bringing charges of "favor- 
itism" from John Redding, the 
party's publicity chief. He told 
Variety in Washington this week 
that complete satisfaction on this 
count was yet to be reached. 

NBC- has agreed to give equal 
time to Democratic speakers to an- 
swer the Repubs who, answered 
Truman, Redding said, but ABC 
has turned thumbs down. NBC and 
ABC both also gave time to Wal- 
laceites ( Henry Wallace himself in 
the case of NBC). 

CBS steered clear by holding 
Truman's message to be non-politi- 
cal, but announced the web would 
give time to "spokesmen" of other 
parties, other than the candidates 
themselves, to discuss the issues 
before the special session of Con- 
gress. 

•As We See Fit': Schechter 
Most independent of all, Abe 
Schechter, Mutual's news veepee, 
declared he'd give time to the vari- 
ous parties as he saw 'fit. "We're 
trying to be fair to everybody," he 
explained, "but I'm running this 
thing as any impartial editor would 
and we'll give them all time as 
they warrant it from a news stand- 
point." Mutual put several Con- 
gressmen, both Republican and 
Democratic, on the air following 
Truman's message, and has since 
given time to Rep. Vito Marcan- 
(Continued on page 32) 



Multiple Factors Seen MM Naming 
Young to ABC Board; Noble Getting 
Ready to Unload? Stock Sale Issue 



The Long Count 

In the face of ABC's bright 
picture on co-op payoffs, three 
more co-op shows are set to 
take the long count. Among 
these are the Robert L. Ripley 
cross-the-board daytimer on 
NBC, which fades on Sept. 10, 
with the network claiming that 
the response didn't warrant 
the show's costly outlay. (Rip- 
ley embarks in the fay on a 
tour of the Orient to build up 
a transcription film library for 
television. ) 

Also calling it quits as co-ops 
are the Dick Tracy late after- 
noon show on ABC and the 
same web's Boston Symphony " 
hour, which winds up Aug. 10 
and will revert back as a sus- 
tainer starting Oct. 5. 

Despite ABC's unimpressive 
co-oping of the Hub symph, a 
co-op deal is being talked up 
for the NBC Symphony. It 
hinges on Arturo Toscanini's 
willingness to go along. 



Lots of Sunday 
Time A-Begging 

There's a lot of commercial Sun- 
day afternoon time going begging 
on the major networks. It's par- 
ticularly applicable to CBS, where ; 
with the likely exception of the 
to 2:30 segment, there's a solid 
block of sustaining time clear 
through to 6 p.m. The 2 o'clock 
niche looks set for Longines. The 
3 to 4:30 permanent tenant is the 
New York Philharmonic. Whoever 
buys the time must also pick up 
the tab for the symphony. 

There's a full hour (5 to 6) in 
the "for sale" column on NBC 
now that "Ford Theatre" has vac- 
ated the spot in preference for a 
nighttime hour on CBS. The 2 to 
2:30 period is also vacant on NBC 
However, RCA may switch from 
2:30 to 5:30 in preeming its new 
show in December. 

ABC has a lot of commercial 
availability, too. With the excep- 
tion of the 4:30 "Metropolitan Au- 
ditions," the 5:30 "Counterspy" 
and a brace of 15-minute segments 
(Sam Pettingill and "Changing 
World"), the Sunday matinee 
stretch is strictly sustaining. 

Of all the nets, Mutual has prob- 
ably registered the strongest in 
the sale of Sunday afternoon time 
with its pulling card of "Juvenile 
Jury," "House of Mystery, The 
Shadow," the Helbros Watch show, 
etc., as a continuing sponsor lure. 



ABCs Local-Rate 
Policy on Co-ops 
As Sponsor Bait 

ABC's co-op shows are being 
repriced downward in a move 
which the web says will bring 
about an average saving of 20% to 
sponsors. New rate structure, ini- 
tiated thus^ far on four programs, 
is based on a percentage of the 
local station rate in place of a per- 
centage of the network rate (ex- 
cept for spot advertisers). 

Top stanza affected by the move 
is the Abbott & Costello show, 
which, at its former tag of 80% of 
the network rate, was the highest 
priced co-op on the market. New 
policy tabs it at 60% of the local 
rate. First A&C sale under the re- 
duced rate was made by WJZ, 
N. ^Y., to Cyl-Dent toothpaste, a 
new product, for 52 weeks start- 
ing Sept. 8. 

Other programs now under the 
new rate are "Town Meeting," "Mr. 
President" and "Gangbusters." Ad- 
ditional shows will be switched 
over as commitments to talent can 
be revised to permit the shifts. 
Basis for the estimate of a 20% 
saving under the new plan is that 
the 260-station network hourly 
rate amounts to $30,000, whereas 
the local rates total $24,000. 

Webbers said the local-rate 
policy was decided upon following 
a survey of affiliates. It'll mean 
less revenue for ABC, per sponsor, 
(Continued on page 32) 



f Speculation was rife in New 
York radio circles last week m to 
the possible motivations underly- 
ing the naming pf Owen D. Young 
to the board of directors of ABC 
network. For one thing, the trade 
was all too mindful of the timing, 
of the appointment to coincide with 
the current ABC stock issue on 
the market. It's the prevailing 
sentiment that by giving the di- 
rectorate facade such impressive 
trimming, it can't but help bolster 
the web's stock. 

As one of the founders of Radio 
Corp. of America, Young was re- 
sponsible for formulating many of 
the industry policies that still, pre- 
vail and, as the original RCA 
board chairmanT groomed David 
Sarnoff for the eventual takeover 
of the RCA dynasty. Thus the 
acquisition of a man of Young's 
stature, it's conceded, should un- 
questionably rest well in financial 
circles. .'•'■. • 

However, the top motivation in 
Young's appointment is regarded 
as the prelude to a bid on Ed 
Noble's part to unload ABC, some 
recalling that it was Young him- 
self who brought Sarnoff and 
Noble together at the time of the 
divorcement of the Blue skein 
from NBC. As such Young's tie-in 
is seen as a possible reprise of his- 
tory repeating itself. 

That Noble, who bought the 
network for $8,000,000, might find 
in Young the proper contact should 
he decide to dispose of ABC, thus 
hasn't been lost among some indus- 
try observers. Some quarter%hold 
that the network has blossomed 
financially to a degree, where, to- 
day, the original $8,000,000 -invest- 
ment has been parlayed into an 
$18,000,000 to $22,000,000 sales 
ticket. 

Still another .factor entering the 
realm of speculation is the identi- 
fication of Young with General 
Electric Co. as its honorary board 
chairman, and the report that ABC 
has ambitions toward copping the 
prize upstate WGY in Schnectady 
as an addition to its few 50,000- 
watt affiliates. 

Snaring WGY, with its vast 
blanket of coverage and similary 
attractive television facilities, 
would be the coup of the year and, 
although -currently on the NBC af- 
filiation books, the talk is that 
CBS also envisions it within the 
realm of possible capture. As 
some top industry observers see it. 
Young may be the link to maneu- 
ver the switchover to ABC. 



Master Defense Plan 
Evolved for Radio-TV 
In 



Washington, Aug. 3. 

Russell J. Hopley, director of 
the Civil Defense Planning Divi- 
sion of the Department of Defense, 
today (3) told Variety that a tenta- 
tive Master Plan in case of an 
emergency in the Capitol had 
reached Secretary James Forrestal. 

Hopley said it would be 60 to 
90 days before revisions were made 
and a complete and final plan, 
including communications, would 
be ready. He said Television, FM, 
AM and Facsimile were included 
in the report, and their place in 
the overall defense plan charted. 

Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, Rep. 
J. Percy Priest (D.-Tenn.), said he 
would like to introduce legislation 
to guarantee an emergency system 
of broadcasting from a specified 
point outside of Washington. 



Sindlinger's Free 
Radox on Gamble 

Al Sindlinger, latest entrant in 
the radio-television audience re- 
search field, who is currently pre- 
testing his qualitative-quantitative 
Radox rating technique in Phil- 
adelphia, has evolved an unusual 
price setup for clients. 

Sindlinger has established a 
$100 flat fee rate structure for 
broadcasters, sponsors, etc., using 
the Radox radar device, plus 1% 
of the station's commercial rate 
for a show. That's for the strictly 
quantitative aspects in arriving at 
an instantaneous rating. 

However, for a qualitative fol* 
lowup which will break down the 
various segments of a program to 
reveal its low and high spots, 
there's to be a 4% tab, depending 
on the cost of the show. 

In the case of sustainers, Sind- 
linger says he'll gamble on them. 
If he thinks a show has potential 
sales value, he'll Radox-it for free, 
but if and when a sale is wrapped 
up, he's down in the books for a 
4% rakeoff. 



24 



It AttMC* REVIEWS 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



I^APSIE MAXIE SHOW 

nSLiX?*^ S»senbloom, Patricia 
JffiSffif , Be ,tty Harris, Florence 
MacMichacI, Phil Leeds, Phil 
Kramer, . Bernie West, Norman 
Cloutier orch 

Writers: Floria Vestoff, Carl Jam- 
pel 

Director: Kenneth MacGregor 
30 Mins., Fri., 10 p.m. (EDT) 
Sustaining 

NBC, from New York 

Listening to tKe new "Slapsie 
Maxie Show" which preemed last i 
Friday night (30) as one of the I 
more ambitious NBC comedy ven- 
tures, recalls the days when the 
pix studios plunked down $200,000 
and more for a novel, then pro- 
ceeded to scrap everything but the 
title. 

The NBC programming boys 
have pacted the ex-boxing champ 
for this weekly series, called 
it the "Slapsie Maxie Show," 
and, in a reasonable approximation 
• of the Hollywood strategy, have 
jampacked the show with assorted 
stooges and secondary characters 
to" give it the required comedy lift. 
And it's this self-same strategy 
that got the program off to a flying 
start last week, for the quotient of 
ssanyisms, satirical barbs and down- 
right of unny business ran surpris- 
ingly high, not only in terms of 
summer doldrum programming, but 
as competing fare for the fall- 
winter semester. 

While the real-life situation com- 
edy of a pug trying to crash radio 
. is naturally patterned to the com- 
edic talents of Rosenbloom, how- 
ever dubious they are, it must have 
been fairly obvious to the show's 
developers that a minimum stress 
on the Slapsie technique would be 
all to the show's' favor. 

Thus the auxiliary business, the 
hilarious touches of an NBC eleva- 
tor operator, the network casting 
director, the lampooning of NBC 
parliamentary rules, with the mili- 
tary escort of a platoon of NBC 
page boys to escort the radio aspi- 
rant into the casting director's of- 
fice — all was funny business played 
to the hilt for laughs. And if too 
many cliches and old-familiar 
bromides crept into the Floria 
Vestoff-Carl Jampel scripting job, 
there were still enough attempts 
away from the old formulas and 
patterns to establish the show as 
something woFth playing along 
with. It has the makings of some- 
thing distinctively worth while. 

Patricia Bright, a familiar figure 
in the intimate N. Y. nitery jspots, 
has" tossed aside her song satiriza- 
tions and impersonations to play 
Slaps^'s girl friend, and she plays 
it well indeed. Florence Mac- 
Michael, Phil Leeds, Phil Kramer, 
Bernie. West and Bob Sherry play- 
ed their roles for maximum laughs. 
Since the show is aimed strictly 
- at nonsense, the misplaced "sus- 
taining commercial" at the midway 
mark comes-as something of a jolt 
to listeners. Even recognizing the 
worthiness of plugging CAKE 
packages to alleviate distress in 
Europe, it Wasn't surprising ' that 
the cut-in at one of the high com- 
edy moments threw a damper on 
the whole proceedings. Rose. 



PAUSE THAT REFRESHES 
With Percy Faith's orch; Jane Fro- 
man; Roger Pryor, host; Joe 
King, announcer 
Producer-director: Paul Louis 
30 Mins.; Sun., 6:30 p.m. 
COCA COLA 
CBS, from New York 
(D'Arcy) 
This 30-minute musical "pause" 
is refreshing, all right, in a num- 
ber of ways, not the least of which 
is the sponsor's use of the time. 
Dialers would be sheer ingrates if 
they didn't drink cokes after en- 
joying this almost plugless half- 
hour. Then there's the absence of 
ear-shattering studio applause and 
whistlin:? following each number, 
this demonstration of frenzied ap- 
proval being restricted to the 
windup. Then there's the absence 
of inane chatter between princi- 
pals to cue upcoming numbers, the 
intros being brief and intelligent. 
■Coupled with Percy Faith's top- 
notch .tunesmithing and Jane Fro- 
man's smooth song salesmanship, 
these factors make the coke stanza 
easily one of the listenable musical 
intervals on anybody's ether. 

Sunday's (1) edition of ''Pause" 
marked the return of Faith and 
Miss Froman, and it found them 
both in fine form. A hard-to-out 
class chirper in the musicomedy 
class, Miss Froman contributed 
her ricti, throaty piping to "Some- 
one to Watch Over Me," "It's 
<Magic" and "Steppin' Out With 
My Baby." Faith, who knows how 
to make bright use of all the in- 
struments under his baton,' cele- 
brated the occasion with numbers 
ranging from such, faves as "Lady 
Be Good" and "Moore Than You 
•Know" to a rhythmic, exciting cx- 
.tra, "Jungle Fantasy." It certainly 
can't be said that Faith misses any 
chance to make a musical splash. 
" . Whole , production is woven to- 
gether with melodic segues and 
marked by good taste, Doan. 



COMMUNISM— U. S. BRAND 
With Norman Rose, narrator; Joe 
Julian, Santos Ortega, Joe de 
Santis, Roger de Koven, Peter 
Capell, Somcr Alberg, Stuart 
Macintosh, Ed Jerome, Jerry 
Hausner, Kermlt Murdock, 
Grace Keddy, Alice Goodkln, 
Hazel Shermel; David Broek- 
man's orch 
Writer: Morton Wishengrad 
Director: Martin Andrews 
Producer: Robert Saudek 
60 Mins.; Mon. (2), 9 P.m. 
Sustaining 

ABC, from New York 

This, ABC's fifth major docu- 
mentary effort, was undertaken to 
"summarize the documented facts 
and present conclusions and recom- 
mendations to the American pub- 
lic " The stanza was introed with 
the statement: "The evidence will 
be ours; the conclusions will be 
yours." But before that, the 
presentation had already stated its 
thesis— quotation of the oath pur-, 
portedly taken by members of the 
U. S. Communist Party: ". .1 
pledge myself to rally the masses 
to defend the Soviet Union, the 
land of victorious Socialism. 1 
pledge myself to remain at all 
times a vigilant and firm defender 
of the Leninist Line of the Party, 
the only line that insures the tri- 
umph of Soviet Power in the 
United States" 

If any doubt existed in listeners' 
minds that the network was going 
to be assertive on the question at 
hand, it was thus immediately dis- 
pelled. Manifestly, the presenta- 
tion was an out-and-out damnation 
of Communist motives and manip- 
ulations, built upon documented 
"footnote" quotes and embellished 
with the dramatized tale of the ex- 
periences of a U. S. "comrade." 
The stanza declared that the U. S. 
party takes orders from Moscow, 
that the "party line" has been 
changed in the U. S. seven times 
since 1919, that in Communism "mo- 
rality is subordinated to the inter- 
est of the class struggle," that the 
U. S. party exacts "iron discipline" 
and unquestioning obedience to 
orders. Its dramatization depicted 
how the CP operates to. take over 
labor organizations and social and 
civic service movements. It as- 
serted at one point: "You can't 
trust a Communist. It's too 
damned bad, but that's how it is." 

It left listeners, of course, on the 
basis of the evidence it presented, 
with but one "conclusion:" It did 
not attempt to specify how to iden- 
tify "a Commie — except to indicate 
that he is one who will speak no 
evil of the Soviet Union and who 
declares any evil so spoken is "red 
baiting." It did not attempt to 
estimate how much of a hold Com- 
munists have in America, how 
many are in the government, 
armed forces, etc. It did not refer, 
even in passing,, to the recent in- 
dictments of top U. S. Communists. 
It did not refer to the fact — a 
strikingly timely coincidence, if 
that's what it was — that the Com- 
munist Party was holding its 1948 
convention in Madison Square 
Garden at the very moment the 
stanza was being aired! (In fact, 
ABC gave 15 minutes of time 
later the same evening to William 
Z. Foster's keynote address.) The 
stanza did not bother with a lot 
of figures and statistics or history 
Nor did it bother with « discourse 
on liberalism and its left-wingers 
and whether or not they are fel- 
low travelers. 

Rather, the presentation 
drummed away relentlessly on just 
one point, and attempted to prove 
it: that U. S. Communists are dis- 
loyal Americans, . under sworn 
fealty to a foreign power to over- 
throw the United States govern- 
ment and way of life. 

As a radio presentation, "Com- 
munism" was excellently produced, 
skillfully enacted, vigorously ex- 
ecuted. The musical scoring had 
power and fire. The narration 
was forceful. But above all, .the 
project was daring on ABC's part, 
tackling as it did, with no equivo- 
cation, the hottest potato on the 
market today.' It didn't pretend 
to state the Communists' answers 
to its charges; on the basis of the 
evidence presented, the producers 
apparently did not deem this neces- 
sary. 

From the standpoint of effective- 
ness, the program appeared to em- 
body at ieast two notable weak- 
nesses. It is debatable, perhaps, 
but nothing seemed to be gained 
by the windup in which the fic- 
tional CP worker was disclosed 
to have mysteriously disappeared 
— the victim, it implied, of a one- 
way ride, courtesy of his fellow 
conspirators. He had been de- 
picted as a faithful partyliner. It 
was a melodramatic climax which 
detracted from the credibility of 
the preceding sequences. 

Another and more important 
flaw — also open to debate — was the 
apparent inability of the program's 
researchers to uncover proof of 
the alleged party oath in a more 
recent party document than one 




HARRY SALTER 

MUSICAL DIRECTOR 
■ Stop the Music — ABC 
It Pays to Be Ignorant — CBS 
and in person 
"Stop the Music" 
Currently Capitol Theatre, N. Y. 



45 MINUTES ON BROADWAY 
With Danton Walker, Hy Gardner, 
guests; Arthur Van Horn, Ted 
Brown, announcers 
Producer: Van Horn 
45 Mins.; Sun. 10 p.m. 
Sustaining 
WOR, N.Y. 

With the airlanes already clut- 
tered with "celebrity" interviews 
and guestars, columnists Danton 
Walker and Hy Gardner brought 
out still another in the same vein, 
"45 Minutes on Broadway," Sun- 
day night (1) on WOR, N.Y. Ap- 
propriately enough, the first ses- 
sion originated at the Hotel Astor 
for which Gardner is publicist. 

Molded around an ad-lib format, 
the show trotted out an assorted 10 
guests whose appearances were fre- 
quently interrupted by sundry 
phone calls which the columnist re- 
ceived from the public. These were 
in response to an earlier observa- 
tion of the pair that they'd try to 
answer any phoned queries relating 
to show business. 



SWINGTIME AT THE SAVOY 
With Noble Sissle. emcee; Lucky 
Millinder, Hall Sisters, King 
Odum Quartet, Jackie (Moms) 
Pabley, Paul Breckehridge, Mil- 
ler and Lee; Ella Fitzgerald, 

guest « ■ 

Writers: Sissle, Langston Hughes 
Director: James Haupt 
30 Mins., Wed., 8 p.m. 
Sustaining 

NBC, from New York 

NBC originally scheduled an 
all-Negro minstrel show as the 
Wednesday night at 8 summer fil- 
ler while Dennis Day and Colgate 
take a hiatus. But when the Na- 
tional Assn. for Advancement of 
Colored People protested that a 
minstrel program would tend to 
perpetuate stereotypes, the web 
wisely revamped the all-Negro for- 
mat into a variety showcase. 

Result is this "Swinglime from 
the Savoy," designed to recapture 
the peculiar flavor and atmosphere 
of the Harlem spot with emphasis 
on the Savoy grads who have 
crashed the bigtime in the past 
decade or two. Ella Fitzgerald, tor 
example, was the guestar on- the 
initial presentation last Wednes- 
day (28). 

For all the production values 
given "Swingtime," last week's 
preem might just as well have 
been a remote pickup from the 
w k. hot spot. But the main short- 
coming was in "Swingtime's" fail- 
ure to establish itself as something 
distinctive for radio. Wiring the 
Savoy ballroom lor sound, which, 
to all intents and purposes is what 
it amounted to, gave forth some- 
thing that was loud, brash and 
practically all in one tempo. As a 
midsummer attraction, it only 
added to the discomfort. 

As for the accenting of stereo- 
types, the Miller and Lee comedy 
contrib was strictly out of the min- 
strel end men book, long since dis- 
carded. 

Noble Sissle emcees the show but 
he's far from an asset, relegating 
himself to merely bringing on the 
turns and handicapped by a none- 
too-clear diction. There was some 
uninhibited swing by Lucky Mil- 
linder's Savoy orch; a none-too- 
successful try at calypso singing by 
the Hall Sisters; a fine tenor solo 



NBC UNIVERSITY THEATRE 
With Norman Cousins, Vanessa 
Brown, Leon Ames, Lois Oor- 
bett, John Beal, Herb Lytton, 
Theodore Von Elte; Don Stanley, 
announcer 
Director: Andrew Love 
Scripter: Agnes Eckhardt 
GO Mins., Fri., 9 p.m. 
Sustaining 

NBC, from Hollywood 

, NBC's new "University Theatre," 
outgrowth of its longrun "World's 
Great Novels" series, has a broader 
scope and a much worthier purpose 
than the former. Series is a part 
of the web's new and commend- 
able college-by-radio idea. As such, 
it's subject to all the criteria and 
critical gaze of an important edu- 
cational experiment. Fact that it 
passes its tests satisfactorily (as 
judged by Friday's (30) opener), 
is quite a feather in NBC's cap. ■ 
Series is a special five-week span 
of hour-long dramas on the con- 
temporary U. S. literary scene, 
which is to be followed by a regu- 
lar half-hour "course" of programs 
starting Sept. 3 in the same spot. 
It's hoped the series will eventu- 
ally form the core of a course in 
literature for participants in the 
NBC college-by-radio project, with 
several U. S. colleges already join- .. 
ing in. 

Initial piece chosen for Friday's 
(30) dramatization was Sinclair 
Lewis' 1921 prize novel, "Main . 
Street." (Hemingway's "A Farewell 
to- Arms," Dos Passos' "Number 
One," are among others to follow). 
The novel, under Agnes Eckhardt's 
smooth radio adaptation, had an 
excellent -dramatization, equalled 
by the performances of a group of 
Hollywood screen players. The, 
dramatization had the feel, the 
flavor of the book, so that the pro- 
gram flowed smoothly for a full 
hour, without any dull spots. Con- 
sistently good music bridges by- 
Henry Russell's orchestra, connect-, 
ing the brief narrative flashes, gave, 
them emphasis and point. • 

Lewis' novel, written 27 years 
ago, still has pertinence and bite, - 
as a satire on the U. S. small town 
and its petty bourgeois mentality. 
The program captured that bite as 
it revived the feel and spirit (and 
yes, some of the corn) of the small; 
town saga. Vanessa Brown gave an 
excellent performance as the St. 
Paul girl transplanted as a doctor's 
wife in tiny Gopher Prairie. Minn. ' 



In masterminding the - layout, | by Paul Breckenridge; a feeble at- i and finding herself unable to cope 



Walker's delivery often bordered 
on the pompous while partner 
Gardner affected a glib, flip de- 
meanor. Obviously a show of this 
type must work in a few gratis 
plugs, but why go overboard on it? 
Walker virtually opened the stanza 
with a puff for "Beyond Glory" 
which opens at the Paramount, 
N.Y. today (Wed). 

Later the Par received another 
boost via Jo Stafford's brief stint. 
Singer closed a p.a. at the theatre 
yesterday (Tues.). The Astor, of 
course, was whole hog what with 
the intrd of a honeymooning couple 
from Philadelphia who related the 
contents of a prize-winning letter 
that won them a free trip to New 
York and a room at the Astor. 
Bandleader Dick Jurgens, who's at 
the hostelry's roof, was another ful- 
crum for more encomiums. 

Among others who guested were 
mimic Dean Murphy, songstress 
Lisa Kirk, a campaign button man- 
ufacturer, a milliner; the Costello 
Twins, dancers, and comic Herb 
Shriner. Phone calls were pretty 
inane. Samples: — Why is Dean 
Murphy stopping at the Warwick? 
whereabouts of Betty Garrett, Dean 
Martin, etc. Calls could be more 
carefully culled to oiler questions 
of wider interest to the public at 
large. Celebs themselves had little 
to say and the inept prodding of 
the columnists failed to improve 
the situation. 

Show originally bore the tag of 
"Night Life in New York" then 
shifted to its present one. Mean- 
while, there's a possibility that the 
"45 Minute" label might be 
changed if it becomes an hour's 
length. In that event it'll become 
Nitecaps on Broadway." Point of 
origination is also due to be moved 
around to such, spots as the Wal- 
dorf-Astoria, Toots Shor's and the 
Latin Quarter. Gilb. 



tempt to emulate the late Bert Wit 
liams by Jackie (Moms) Pabley, 
and a fairly diverting rendition in 
the spiritual idiom by the King 
Odum Quartet. 

Granted that NBC rates a bow 
for this all-Negro showcasing the 
fact remains that the ensemble 
wasn't properly showcased for ra- 
dio. Rose. 



with the petty gossip and outlook 
of her nosy neighbors. Leon Ames , 
was well cast in the role of the 
stodgy, obtuse doctor. Subordinate, 
parts were well handled and pro- 
duction details were okay. Norman" 
Cousins, Saturday Review of Lit-, 
erature editor, speaking at intcr-_ 
mission from New York, paid trib- 
ute to the 1920's in commenting on. 
the Lewis book. ' Bron. 



dated 1935 ("The Communist Party, 



a Manual on Organization, by ,T. 
Peters, published by the Workers 
Library Publishers in July, 1935 
. . . pages 104 and 105). For if in- 
deed U. S. Communists take this 
oath, the issue is clear-cut and, 
for Americans, has but one side. 
But if it cannot be proven that this 
oath is actually administered to all 
U. S. Communist Party members, 
the whole question is still open to 
debate and the primary premise of 
"Communism," as well as its fair- 
ness on the subject, is seriously 
weakened. 

In a word, ABC made a strong, 
but possibly ,not watertight, case 
for the prosecution. The defense 
isn't apt to be heard from. 

Donn. 



CLUB 15 

Bob Crosby, Margaret Whiting, 
Modernaires, Jerry Gray Orch, 
Del Sharbutt 
Producer: Murray Bolen 
Writers: Carroll Carroll, David 

Grcggory 
15 Mins., Mon-Fri., 7:30 p.m. 
CAMPBELL SOUPS 
CBS, from Hollywood 

(Ward Wlieclock) 
Given the type of dialog Bing 
Crosby uses, there's little discern 
ible difference between the Groan- 
er and his younger brother Bob, 
the permanent conferencier on 
CBS' "Club 15" program. It's no 
coincidence that the boys sound 
alike inasmuch as Carroll Carroll, 
who used to write the Kraft Music 
Hall dialog and who was a major 
factor in establishing the elder 
Crosby's easy-going characteriza- 
tion, is doing a similar chore for 
Bob Crosby. 

The Carroll-Crosby embroidery 
on a program with excellent all- 
around staples results in an affable 
and entirely pleasant 15-Tninute 
turn. Margaret Whiting, who 
regularly alternates on the show 
with the Andrews Sisters, now in 
England, again proves herself an 
entirely acceptable thrush who's 
equally at home with dialog as 
with her tunes. She's a top singer, 
having made a terrific splash some 
years ago with a series of click 
recordings and is continuing that 
pace with her current "Tree in the 
Meadow" (delivered on the preem 
session). The other musical in- 
gredients, Jerry Gray's band and 
the Modernaires, similarly give ex- 
cellent accounts of themselves. 
Crosby's singing contribs are simi- 
larly of top cut, and Del Sharbutt 
keeps the Campbell soup commer- 
cials at acceptable, length for a 
quarter-hour show. 
With the Andrews Sisters away 



EDWARD R. MURROW 

15 Mins.. Mon.-thru-Fri., 7:45 p.m. 

CAMPBELL SOUP 

CBS, from New York 

(Word WheelocJc) 
Edward R. Murrow was back on 
the. air Monday (2), after an eight- 
week leave of absence, to resume 
his nightly series of news and. 
analyses. He had had a vacation, in- 
terrupted by coverage of the con- 
ventions and a speech to the 
U. S.'s 48 governors, and he in- 
jected a personal touch into his 
opening session's talk by comment- 
ing on these items. The' trip bad 
also brought a clearer view of our 
land and its problems, he added. 

The news the first 10 minutes 
was couched in his cool, even 
speech and quiet, authoritative 
«tyle, as it briefly touched on the 
day's highlights— the Stalin meet- 
ing with foreign diplomats; Con- 
gress; the Budenz testimony; Olym- 
pic Games. It was good, capsule 
news. But analysis was lacking, 
the significance or interpretation 
of this news which means so much 
to the hurried, harried listener 
avid for some clarity out of the. 
news' mazes. Murrow might have 
done a bit of that, but forbore. 

Bron. • 



JOHN KIERAN 
With Nelson Case, announcer 
15 Mins.; Mon.-thru-Fri., 6:45 
PROCTER & GAMBLE 
CBS, from New York 
( Compton ) 
Lowell Thomas has gone on va- 
cation, his second in 18 years, ana 
John Kieran has been unaceoiuit- 
ably singled out by P&G to do the 
fillin stint. It amounts? simply to a 
case of miscasting. Kieran is exact- 
ly as much , at home in Thomas 
role as the newscaster would be in 

Intor- 



, Kieran's longtime spot in 
for the better part of the summer, hmation Please." Apparently ,J" 

the show has lined up a series of sponsor and agency' had an Me ° 

top warblers including Doris Day, 'hat Kieran would supply a breezy 

Evelyn Knight, Helen Forrest, summertime fillip on the stanza. 

Marion Hutton and Dorothy Shay. But he'd have to be cut ttee itim 

When the trio gets back, they'll be straight newscasting and allowcu 



on the program Monday's, Wednes- 
days and Fridays and Miss Whiting 
will alternate on Tuesdays anu 
Thursdays. Jose. 



lo go his own whimsical way to 
click at all. „, _ 

As it is, judging by last lues- 
(Continued on page 32) 



Wednesday, Augm! 4, 1948 



TELBV1S1»M 25 



TIME-LIFE PREPS 'PROJECT X' 



TY a Blue Chip Game, 'And Don't 
Play It Too Close to Vest': Strotz 



Hollywood, Aug. 3. ♦ 
''Those. brave souls who are get- 
ling into television face terrific 
losses for the first few years and 
those who say they are making 
money now are only kidding them- 
selves. It's strictly a blue chip 
game and you can't play it close 
to the vest. 

Sidney N. Strotz, NBC's chief of 
tele, who is passing two months 
here on his N. Y.-to-Hollywood 
shuttle, sounded this note of pes- 
simism in his rundown at a press 
conference yesterday. 

Sure there are a few that think 
they are making a profit," added 
Strotz. "but wait until they write 
off depreciation and obsolescence 
of equipment. Nobody even 
breaking even yet and the period 
of growing pains will last for two 
or three years." 

Only cheerful note injected into 
his summation of tele's progress 
■ to date was the quality of film be- 
ing used and the interest in video 
by sponsors. An order was coming 
through, he said, from Cluett- 
Peabody for national sponsorship 
of the Jerry Fairbanks "Public 
Prosecutor" series, which he com- 
pleted exclusively for NBC. 

Bottlenecks and obsolescence 
were the major problems facing 
television, he said. Tubes and 
cameras are not being turned out 
fast enough and the cameras or- 
dered by NBC for Hollywood will 
be obsolescent in six months, he 
said. Transcontinental connected 
tele by 1953 is dependent on the 
ability to buy transmission equip- 
ment after -facilities are estab- 
lished. Under the present sched- 
ule for use of coaxial cable be- 
tween New York and Chicago it 
will allow' for only two hours of 
programming a week by NBC. Un- 
less the telephone company adds 
new loops there'll be a bottleneck 
there, too, said Strotz. 

There is no market at present 
for films that cost over $10,000, he 
declared, and the only way spon- 
sors can come out is to use them 
four limes over a period of two 
years. He said that NBC in the 
east will be sold out of night time 
periods by October. Looking to 
. the future, he said that there won't 
be more than 8,000,000 receiving 
sets in use 10 years from now as 
against the 62,000,000 radio sets 
now owned. NBC's tele station in 
Hollywood won't be on the air until 
Dec. 1, he said, because of in- 
ability to get equipment and lack 
of trained personnel. 



KTTV Ready in Fall 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 
CBS will have its television 
building on Mount Wilson com- 
pleted during the third week in 
August. 

Site is expected to be completely 
equipped 30 days later, and the 
station, KTTV, hopes to be throw- 
ing out a test pattern by October. 





TD's TV Audition 
For Coca-Cola 

Tommy Dorsey's orchestra may 
become the first name band to do 
a sponsored television show. Dor- 
sey made an audition film last 
week for Coca-Cola, at the instiga- 
tion of Music Corp. of America, 
using his band as the nucleus, of a 
professional-amateur artists contest 
idea. He used three selected acts 
in the audition and if the show 
does hit the ether the idea calls for 
audiences to name the winning con- 
testant. 

During recent months, Dorsey 
has been doing considerable re- 
search into possible uses of name 
bands by video. He feels that 
several years ago, when Hollywood 
was making extensive use of the 
marquee power of name maestros, 
both the latter and film producers 
failed in evolving methods of get- 
ting the most out of what they had. 
As a result, he's foremost among 
name maestros in wrestling video 
ideas. 



7 Tele Station 
Permits Granted 



Washington, Aug. 3. 
Last week the FCC gave con- 
struction permits for seven new 
television stations, the largest 
number of grants in several 
months. 

New stations have been given to 
Radio Service Corp. of Utah, Salt 
Lake City, channel 5; WSAZ, 
Huntington, W. Va., channel 5; 
W.IIM, Lansing, Mich., channel 6; 
Peoria Broadcasting Co., Peoria, 
channel 6; Fetzer Broadcasting Co.. 
Kalamazoo, Mich., channel 3: 
WSM. Inc., Nashville, channel 4; 
and Leonard A. Verslius, Grand 
Rapids. Mich., channel 7. Lowest 
cost estimate for construction was 
Verslius for $141,175, and highest 
was WSM for $365,155. 

Minnesota Broadcasting Corp., 
of Minneapolis, was given 90 days 
(Continued on page 30) 



'Gay 90Y on ABC-TV 

ABC-TV has signed oh a "Gay 
Nineties Revue" emeeed by Joe 
Howard for eastern-web airing. 
Deal was set through Tel-Air As- 
sociates. Seymour Kaplan and Mort 
Singer. 

Half-hour variety show with such 
latent as Marilyn Day and the Elm 
City Four is tentatively slated for 
teeoff. during the week of Aug. 15. 



'Stop the Music' Now 
Looks Headed for Fall 
Bow on ABC Tele Web 

ABC is currently working with 
the Lou Cowan office and other 
principals on plans for a fall preem 

of "Stop the Music" on WJZ-TV, 
N. Y., and other eastern tele out- 
lets. 

Idea will be to build an evenings 
programming around the stanza, 
much as has been done Sunday 
nights on the AM version. Video 
edition can't be simultaneous, how- 
ever, because of the phone gim- 
mick. TV "Music" will play its 
guessing game solely with tele set 
owners in the areas reached by 
the telecast. 

Web will offer the stanza for 
sponsorship in quarter hours, as 
in AM. 

Fact that fans -are swarming to 
see the show in its current stage 
engagement at the Capitol, N. Y., 
helped convince the producers that 
their package has strong visual 
appeal. TV, of course, will give 
the stanza the opportunity of actu- 
ally showing, rather than just 
telling dialers the arrays of booty 
offered. 

Chances of copping some of the 
prizes will be greatly increased on 
tele, the number of potential win- 
ners being so much fewer than- on 

AM. 

463943TV SETS 

SINCE WAR'S END 

Washington, Aug. 3. 

Radio Manufacturers ' Ass'n. an- 
nounced that total TV set output 
by RMA members since the war 
was 463.943. June, which hit a 
peak, produced 64,353 sets. 

RMA members turned out 100,- 
000 more tele receivers during the 
first half of 1948 than they did dur- 
ing the entire year of 1947. 

Radio receiver production in 
June continued at a seasonal low 
level with a total of 1,049,517, of 
which 90,414 were FM-AM sets 
RMA manufacturers produced 695,- 
313 FM-AM sets during the first 
half of 1948 as against 445,563 in 
the same period of 1947. However, 
during the second quarter produc- 
tion fell 41 r ;. below the first 
quarter total. 



mem Fiir 



The widely - endorsed tieup of 
NBC and Life magazine for tele- 
vision coverage of the recent 
Republican and Democratic con- 
ventions paved the way for future 
joint undertakings in TV by these 
two bigtimers. It very likely also 
launched a new "Project X" in the 
Henry Luce publication empire to 
evolve a suitable format in pic- 
torial journalism - via - video for 
Time-Life bankrolling. 

For there's no doubt that the 
two - convention project sparked 
enthusiasm for the new medium at 
high levels in the Luce organiza- 
tion: Life publisher Andrew Heis- 
kell, who personally ran the mag's 
side of the two shows from Phila- 
delphia, is openly excited about the 
vast potentialities of tele in visual 
journalism. Luce himself is re- 
ported keenly anxious to jump in- 
to the field. And it's said that he 
has a cool $15,000,000 ready to 
clunk in, if the right blueprint is 
turned up. 

Bui if their experiences on the 
two conventions gave them any 
definite ideas, the Luce toppers are 
being pleasantly mum about them. 
Heiskell, for one, admitted last 
week that "everybody has been 
coming around with ideas for tele- 
vision — and some of them good, 
too." But he denied flatly that any- 
thing definite was in the works, 
beyond the expectation that Life 
would again team up with NBC 
sometime this fall for some special 
TV coverage of the election cam- 
paigns. 

Heiskell said he and his wife 
were shoving off Monday (2) for 
Sweden for a month's vacation and 
that he would talk over a new pro- 
ject with NBC as soon as possible 
following his return. 

This week, however, the editors 
of Time and Life were already set 
for another tie-in with NBC-TV. 
They bought exclusive U. S. tele 
rights to films of the Olympics 
from United World Films and will 
present them in five-minute stanzas 
on NBC starting Friday (6). Reels 
will be 10 minutes in length, with 
(Continued on page 28) 



WW J-TVs Own Sports Arena To 
Insure Plenty Detroit Tele Activity 



Motual's 'Song' on TV 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

"What's The Name of That 
Song?'" Mutual-Don Lee program 
will become a regular Don Lee tel- 
evision feature, starting Aug. 7. 
Program has been on Mutual for 
the past five years. 

Teleshow will be produced sep- 
arately from the KHJ net shows. 
Carleton Winckler will produce, 
Bill Gwinn, in c. and Bob Bence, 
announce. Show is audience partic- 
ipation. 



WLWTs Bigtime 
Program Pattern 

Cincinnati, Aug. 3. 

Widening of WLWT's program 
slate, recently inaugurated, in- 
cludes the addition of new shows, 
televising of several WLW pro- 
grams while they are being broad- 
cast on that Crosley 50.000 .watter, 
regular use of live music from 
three-piece combos up to full 
orchestras, and consolidation of 
afternoon programming. 

Among the pickups of WLW 
shows by the video station are the 
Thursday night "Builders of Des- 
tiny" 30-minute dramatic episodes 
and the Friday night 15-minute 
programs featuring Nancy Wright, 
warbler, with Jimmy Wilbur's orch. 

One of the new shows "Sweater 
Swing," is an informal concoction 
for teenagers with modern dance 
steps by instructors from the local 
Fred Astaire school to music by 
Wilbur's band. 

Stepping up schedule of James 
D. Shouse, head man of the Cros- 
ley Broadcasting Corp., calls for 
early inclusion of Saturday night 
televising of hoedowns by estab- 
lished favorites among WLW's 
troupe of hillbilly entertainers. 

'JOHN LOVES MARY' 
LOVES TELE SPOTS 

Chicago. Aug. 3. 

"John Loves Mary," currently at 
the Harris, makes the first legit 
show in Chicago to buy time in 
video. It's contracted for 12 spots 
daily for the next six weeks with 
WBKB, Balaban & Katz outlet. 

Straight commercial copy w ill be 
used. 



Miami's TV Nix 
In 1st Revocation 



Washington, Aug. 3. 
In the first television revocation 
proceeding, the Federal Communi- 
cations Commission last week sus- 
pended the construction permit of 
the Southern Radio and Television 
Equipment Co., for tele station 
WTVJ in Miami. 

FCC revoked the cp as of Aug. 
30, allowing written application, on 
or before Aug. 20, for a hearing. 

WTVJ had been granted channel 
4 at Miami on the basis of repre- 
sentations made by the applicant. 
FCC found that the three stock- 
holders who had agreed to provide 
a total bank balance of $214,000. 
hadf in reality no such money in 
the bank. The stockholders de- 
posited no such checks after the 
grant; one of the stockholders with- 
drew May, 1947, taking with him 
his checks for $213,660; another 
stockholder relinquished his con- 
trol to Wolfson-Meyer Theater 
Enterprises; and despite the above 
changes in financing and control, 
the company sent a statement to 
FCC on July 6, 1948, claiming the 
same ownership and financing as at 
the time of the original applica- 
tion, FCC stated. 

Mitchell Wolfson and Sidney 
Meyer are principal directors and 
stockholders of Wolfson- Meyer 
Theatre Enterprises of Miami. In 
an AM case which the FCC desig- 
nated for hearing this week, Lin- 
coln Operating Co. requested con- 
sent to assign cp of WMIE from 
Lincoln to Sun Coast Broadcasting 
Corp. Wolfson and Meyer are ex- 
ecutives of both companies. 



Detroit, Aug. 3. 

What has been a common conjee* 
ture in the tele trade may within 
the coming year become a reality 
here. Harry Bannister, head of the 
Detroit News' radio-tele interests, 
is preparing for submission to his 
board of directors plans for the 
construction of a sports arena 
which would be operated as an 
adjunct of the. newspaper's WWJ- 
TV. * 

Bannister's proposed project 
would put into form a prediction 
which has been frequently voiced ' 
in the trade that TV operators to ' 
insure themselves, a consistent flow 
of sports material, would eventual- " 
ly go into the business of promot- 
ing such events. Bannister sees - 
such an arena serving a twofold 
purpose as far as WWJ-TV is con- 
cerned. It would not only guaran- 
tee the station a regular schedule 
of boxing and wrestling events 
available for sponsorship but pro- 
vide a properly equipped ' audi- 
torium which could be offered to 
civic and other organizations for 
the staging of larger spectacles and . 
of which the station would have 
the telecasting privileges. 

The undertaking would be treat- 
ed strictly as a self-protective de- 
vice. The station is not concerned 
with making a profit from the 
arena operation, and if it does turn 
out that way it will be because 
the potency of the tele tieup 
proved greater than had been anr 
ticipated. 

As for the location of the arcva, 
it happens that the station would 
not be under the necessity of scout- 
ing around for a plot. It owns a , 
spacious parcel -right next to the 
WWJ studio and office building,, 
with most of that plot now being 
used for auto parking and the re- 
mainder containing an old biacfc 
structure. 



Wrigley Gums Up Deal 
For Autry's TV Plugging 
Of Rival Leaf Product 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 

Plans to pin Leaf Gum's label on 
a Gene Autry serial produced by 
Mascot Films in 1934 were hastily 
scuttled last week after beefs by 
Ruthrauff & Ryan and its client, 
Wrigley Gum, which sponsors 
Autry's CBS series. Autry film, 
offered for tele bankrolling by 
WBKB, was set for testing under 
Leaf sponsorship as a 12-time 15- 
minute show. 

R&R execs informed WBKB that 
Autry, via phone from Hollywood 
had threatened suit if the film hit 
tele screens. WBKB promptly 
dodged legalistics and agreed to 
separate Autry from Leaf. Station 
enjoys free tele rights to home 
games of the Chicago Cubs, owned 
by Phil Wrigley of Wrigley chicle. 

Leaf Gum, through Turner Ad- 
vertising, currently is eyeing a 
Tom Mix serial as a sub for the 
Autry opus. . If okayed and found 
effective with local viewers. Leaf 
will use the film in other markets. 



Guild Show s Spot 
NBC's Problem 

The Philco-sponsored 60-minute 
Actors Equity television dramatic 
show is set for an Oct. 3 preem on 
NBC-TV, occupying the 9 to 10 
Sunday night segment. Equity is 
currently working out the exact 
format which will likely embrace 
revival of top Broadway shows and 
current hits. 

Meanwhile, the question of 
where the Theatre Guild tele show 
will go poses a problem for the 
network. Obviously, NBC will 
yank it out of the Sunday night 
8 to 9 spot to avoid two successive 
hours of legit dramatic fare, even 
though the Guild was a once- 
monthly TV showcase. 

Guild, on the other hand, defi- 
nitely wants to continue with the 
program. Best guess is that it will 
stay on -NBC facilities, but switch 
to another evening. 



GAC Integrates Radio, TV 

Radio and television departments 
of General Artists Corp. were com- 
bined last week under John Mulvi- 
hill, who came in from GAC's of- 
fice to head the setup. 

Previously, tele activities were 
handled by Jack Philbin, GAC 
veepee in charge of talent. 



DuMont's Price Schedule 
On Teletranscriptions 

DuMont this week announced a 
complete Teletranscription price 
schedule for ad agencies, adver- 
tisers and other "clients, a feature 
of which is a clause Offering Du- 
Mont TV network sponsors, free of 
charge, one Teletranscription for 
each three affiliated stations se- 
lected to carry a program. 

Exclusive DuMont. processed film 
may be used ( 1. ) for networking of 
live shows, (2) for reference or 
file purposes on live shows, (3) 
for closed circuit showings to pros- 
pective sponsors, sales groups, etc., 
or ( 4 ) for minute commercials for 
future telecasts. Charge, for in- 
stance, for each additional print 
of a 30-minute film (after the free 
one for each three affiliated out- 
lets) will be $30. This film re- 
turns to DuMont after use. Cost of 
a similar film for file or ref pur- 
poses will be $240^ 



26 



TELEVISION 



ABC Sets Bigtime Teeoff Splash 
For WJZ-TV; Reprise Palace Vaude 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



ABC's . all-01% splurge for the* 
teeoff of WJZ-TV, N. Y., next 
Tuesday night (10) is shaping into 
a full-fashioned flashback to old 
Palace vaude days. Coupled with 
a showcasing of ABC's top radio 
stars and a timely tieup with New 
York City's Golden Jubilee cele- 
bration, it'll be a three-way inaug- 
ural splash with promise of coming 
off as the most spectacular TV sta- 
tion takeoff to date. 

The web isn't sparing the dollars 
In its effort to make the three- 
hour-plus affair as impressive as 
possible. Item as proof: Bing 
Crosby was offered $10,000 to sing 
one song. (As of yesterday (Tues.) 
he hadn't accepted.) Walter Win-- 
chell" was still being sought yes- 
terday to make this the occasion 
of his . video debut. Ray Bolger 
has- beert ticketed to emcee the 
•Palace reprise of vaude heydays. 
Others definitely billed included 
James Barton, Beatrice Lillie, Ella 
Logan, Pat Rooney, Sr., and Paul 
Whiteman. George Jessel and 
Jimmy Durante also were ap- 
proached, but couldn't make it. 

Whole show, hitting the air at 7 
p.m., will be carried by ABC's out- 
lets in Boston, Philadelphia, Balti- 
more and Washington as well as 
WJZ-TV. To do the round of stu- 
dio and remote pickups, web will 
use a total of 11 cameras and two 
mobile units. N. Y. station will 
take to the TV ether with more 
than $500,000 in commercial com- 
mitments. Opening night, how- 
ever, will be entirely plugless. 

Show from the old Palace stage, 
before an invited audience of biz 
and industrial and civic figures, 
vaude, film and radio personalities, 
is being assembled by ABC pro- 
gramming department's Larry 
Puck. Here's how it shaped up 
this week: 

9 p.m. — Carlton Emmy's Mad 
Wags (dog act); Buck & Bubbles 
(patter and softshoe); Ella Logan 
(songs); James Barton ("Annabelle 
(Continued on page 30) 



KFI-TV BOWS AUG. 25 
WITH FOOTBALL REMOTE 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

KFI-TV will be on the air this 
week over channel nine with pro- 
gram tests. Tele station will start 
broadcasting regularly with re- 
motes of the Los Angeles Rams 
football games sponsored by Union 
Oil of California. First tilt will be 
televised on Aug. 25. 

KFI's program tests to go on this 
week will be of the Los Angeles 
baseball games at Wrigley field. 
Games, up to this time, have been 
broadcast exclusively by Para- 
mount's KTLA but station does not 
have the exclusive rights to games 
according to KFI. Earle C. Anthony 
station has had an arrangement 
with Wrigley Field to pick up the 
games for televising when they 
found themselves ready. Station 
has been running a series of closed 
circuits tests now to break in a 
green camera crew. 



'Swarthout Music Room' 
Primed at TV-Pic Series 

Washington, Aug. 3. 

Gladys Swarthout and her hus- 
band, Frank Chapman, have formed 
a company to produce 13 15-minute 
shorts on film for television. To be 
called "Gladys Swarthout Music 
Room," format calls for' guest 
singers and musicians, keynote is 
informality, Chapman said. 

Miss Swarthout sang at the final 
summer concert of the National 
Symphony Friday (30). This was 
her third appearance in Washing- 
ton in the past six months. Concert 
was a sellout. 

The new company has bought a 
modern studio at Newtown, Conn., 
where the films will be produced. 
If -successful, plans are to make 
tele films featuring other artists. 



Dannenbaum to WPTZ 
As Comm'I Manager 

Philadelphia, Aug. 3. 
Alexander Dannenbaum, Jr., has 
left his post as commercial man- 
ager of WPEN to join Philco's tele- 
vision station WPTZ, in a similar 
capacity. Dannenbaum succeeds 
James D. McClain, who has been 
moved to Philco's national opera- 
tions in charge of microwave and 
communications radio relay equip- 
ment. 

Although only 36 years old, Dan- 
nenbaum is a veteran in Philly 
radio. 

ABC Sets 1st 
Videomentary 

ABC, even before any of its own 
television stations are on the air, 
disclosed plans yesterday (Tues.) 
to air the first documentary in TV 
history. It'll be an examination of 
the European Recovery Program, 
titled "The Marshall Plan: A First 
Report." Date will be sometime 
this fall. 

Robert Saudek, ABC public af- 
fairs veepee, announced that ma- 
terial for ihe stanza will be gath- 
ered in South and North America 
as well as in Europe. The produc- 
tion will combine live pickups 
from N. Y. and Washington with 
specially prepared films shot in 
cooperation with the International 
Film Foundation. European seg- 
ments of the films already are be- 
ing shot by a crew headed by 
Julien Bryan, author-lecturer and 
executive director of IFF. 



Television Reviews j 



HUB'S INTRO TO TV NAGS 

Boston, Aug. 3. 

WBZ-TV, Hub's Westinghouse 
station became the first in this area 
to televise horse racing, picking up 
the fifth and sixth races at nearby 
Suffolk Downs, Thursday (29).. 

While no definite schedule for 
televising racing cards will be fol- 
lowed, stunt was so successful other 
races will be telecast as station 
time permits. 



MOVIELAND QUIZ 

With Patricia Bright, Arthur Q. 

Bryan 
Producer: Lester Lewis 
Director: Ralph Warren 
30 mins.; Sun., 8 p.m. , 
Sustaining 

ABC-TV, from Philly 

With the quiz shows the thing 
in radio, it was to be expected that 
video would follow suit. "Movie- 
land Quiz," new ABC-TV net sus- 
tained which is being pumped 
from the. Phila. studios of WFIL- 
TV, is a mildly amusing 'guess 
who" deal, featuring Patricia 
Bright and the veteran Arthur Q. 
Bryan. 

This newest of brainteasers is 
strictly for the pic fans. . The set 
depicts a film theatre front, with 
Bryan acting as emcee and Miss 
Blight serving as a combinaUon 
receptionist and cashier. The 
cameras dolly up to a frame hold- 
ing still shots of the pic selected. 
Contestants are brought up and 
asked to identify the stars in the 
picture and the film, for cash 
prizes. 

Audience participation is solicit- 
ed with a catch-all series of stills, 
representing pics through the 
years. Viewers are asked to iden- 
tify the five films shown and then 
send in a brief letter stating which 
of the pics they would want to see 
revived— and why. The jackpot 
award for this effort is $25, plus 
the dollars from contestants who 
miss questions. Last Sunday's (1) 
jackpot totalled all of $29. 

Chief complaint against the pro- 
gram is the too broad help, which 
emcee Bryan gave both the studio 
contestants and the air spectators. 
Most glaring example was a still 
showing William Holden and Lee 

89bb In a scene from Clifford 
dets "Golden Boy." Bryan cued 
this one by stating: "This boy 
missed his golden opportunity." 

The over-simplifying of the 
questions led only to the conclusion 
that the show was trying to milk 
listeners for letters. The jackpot 
prize, however, was too small to 
compete with the radio Golcondas. 
Contestants, who can win $5, were 
practically shoved into the correct 
answers. 

Idea has something for possible 



film backing. Columbia product 
was displayed exclusively at Sun- 
day's show, and the studio con- 
testants, in addition to making 
themselves $5, also got two tickets 
to "The Fuller Brush Man," at the 
Earle — also a Columbia item. 

Gogh. 

REEL ASiD RIFLE 
With Stan Smith, guests 
Writer-producer: Smith 
30 Mins.; Thurs., 8 p.m. 
Sustaining 
WPIX. N. Y. ' 

This show is strictly for the out- 
door enthusiasts. Fishermen who 
drool at the drop of a halibut will 
undoubtedly get a kick out of this 
show. But for others, including 
this reviewer, subtitles to explain 
the lingo on this program are sore- 
ly needed. Highly specialized 
items are certainly in order on 
video, but it speaks volumes for 
TV's programming difficulties 
when such shows have to be pre- 
sented in a cream Thursday eve- 
ning time spot. It's like having 
the Daily News give front page dis- 
play to its "reel and rifle" column. 

Stan Smith conducts the prr- 
ceedings without giving an inch to 
the outdoor unsophisticates. To- 
gether with a panel of experts, 
Smith ranges over such matters as 
the latest, rig for fishing and other 
technical sports data. Most inter- 
esting item for the layman on the 
last stanza (29) was a short film 
about a tuna expedition. The film, 
however, was only fair. Within his 
sphere, Smith registers as an au- 
thentic character who could prob- 
ably tackle a bear with as much 
nonchalance as his conduct before 
the video cameras. Herm. 



BOB HOWARD 
Director: Bob Stevens 
1$ Mins., Mon.-Fri., 7 
Sustaining 
CBS-TV, from N. Y. 

Bob Howard, the vet vauder, is 
a busy gent these days. Aside 
from this new tele stint which 
started July 26, he's one of 
the regulars on the CBS "Sing It 
Again" radio show and has been 
appearing at the Aquashow at 
(Continued on page 32) 



beauty and the east . . . 




Barbara Welles can wrap up the whole eastern 
seaboard for participating sponsors 



THE GIRL 



beautiful. Complete with brains, warmth, showmanship. A 
mike manner that has housewives hanging on her words. Has 
the rare knack of doing a commercial as if.it were a personal, 
from-the-heart endorsement (which it is). That's WOR's 
Barbara Welles. (Off-stage, she's well-known Helen Hall.) 

THE SHOW: 

All the intimacy of the usual woman's program . . . PLUS. Guest 
interviews, glamour news, a panel to discuss topics near to a 
woman's heart, AND a false-fact gimmick that we'd like to tell, 
you more about. That's WOR's 'The Barbara Welles Show" 

Want to sell a product fast in the East?. Phone LOngacre 
4-8000 and ask for Sales today. 



• heard by thm most people 
where tfce most people are 



WOR 



mutual 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 


































.IE 







r 









Complete returns from the new 1944 CIS- 
KMOX Listener Diary show that KMOX has 
won another landslide victory in mid-America 
...is the 6 to I favorite of listeners throughout 
KMOX's70-county 50-100% Penetration Area. 
Conducted by Benson & Benson, this compre- 
hensive and impartial measurement of listen- 
ing habits records the '48 vote as follows... 

DAYTIME... (6:00 tt.rn.to 6:00 p.m.) 50000- 
watt KMOX has the biggest audience during 
83% of the 336 daytime quarter-hours— morm 
than ten times as many "first place" programs 
os any other St. Louis station! 

NIGHTTIME.. .(6:00 p.m. to Midnight) KMOX 
has more listeners than any other St. Louis sta- 
tion during 68% of the f 68 nighttime quarter- 
hours —nearly two and a half times as many 
"firsts" as any other "candidate." 

DURING THE ENTIRE WEEK.. .KMOX is 
first during 395 of thm 504 quarter-hours... 
the 4 to I favorite over the mnthrm field and the 
6 to I favorite over any other St. Louis stations 

Again, in '48, KMOX— "The Voice of St. Louis"— 
is the people's choice in mid-America. To make 
your product a successful candidate in KMOX's 
two billion dollar market, get on the band- 
wagon— call us or Radio Sales. 

"The Voice of St Louis" KMOX 
51,008 watts, < 



Represented by RADIO SALES 
Radio Stations ReprMenfaftVe, CBS 



18 



ItABIO 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



Coys last Chance' Warning To 
V Educators to Grab Off Channels 



Washington, Aug. 3. 

Boards of Education, colleges 
and universities were urged to 
make -full use of radio in educa- 
tion by Federal Communications 
Commission Chairman Wayne Coy 
at the second annual conference 
J>n radio in education at Indiana 
University last Thursday (29). 

Coy pointed out that early in 
the days of radio, educators had 
t>een interested, but had done 
nothing, so that education channels 
were removed from AM broadcast- 
ing. Now education has an oppor- 
tunity with 20 channels allocated 
for the non-commercial educa- 
tional FM service— enough to pro- 
vide for at least 800 stations, he 
said. Although there was general 
rejoicing four years ago when 
these channels were allocated, 
there are now only 17 such stations 
in operation, 10 are under con- 
struction, and only four applica- 
tions are pending, he added. 

Warning that radio channels are 
too valuable to be left in idleness, 
he predicted educators would lose 
their second and perhaps last 
chance to own and operate their 
own radio stations unless they take 
advantage of their opportunity. 

"Radio makes it possible for an 
elementary school system to make 



the services of a few highly-spe- 
cialized and skilled teachers avail- 
able to classes in scores of build- 
ings scattered over a large city. 
The less highly-trained classroom 
teachers can supplement the radio 
programs with many types of 
visual aids. This is in effect a 
crude form of television. This is 
real dollars and cents economy — 
not just an illusory economy pa- 
rading at cut-rate education," Coy 
stated. 

He told those present that no 
tele channels are now reserved 
specifically for non-commercial 
educational use, although they are 
welcome to apply for regular com- 
mercial channels. Purdue Univer- 
sity and Iowa State University are 
now operating experimental tele- 
vision stations. 

"If education should lose out in 
FM it will also lose its chance for 
facsimile broadcasting," Coy said, 
calling facsimile the electronic 
newspaper and the electronic text- 
book. 

The Chairman praised the work 
being done at WHAS in Louisville. 
The station in cooperation with 
the University of Louisville by 
broadcasting the first college 
course for credit ever offered by 
any standard commercial station. 



He said the plan of NBC for a na- 
tionwide college-by-radio project 
is a bold approach to the adult edu- 
cation problem. 

In addition, Coy complimented 
Indiana University on its "Indiana 
School of the Sky" series broad- 
cast over 12 commercial stations 
for 30 weeks to the elementary 
schools last school term. He said 
he understood a high school broad- 
cast was to be included this win- 
ter. 

Syracuse University for more 
than a year has been broadcasting 
an effective well-rounded program 
service over a 2 1 /2 watt FM trans- 
mitter, he said. It covers a three- 
mile area around the campus and 
can be received by 'AM sets. The 
transmitter for this type station 
can be installed for around $2,500. 
This midget has been operating on 
an experimental- license, Coy said, 
but now FCC has issued a pro- 
posed amendment to permit such 
broadcasting with power of 10 
watts or less as one of its estab- 
lished services. DePauw Univer- 
sity has applied for a construction 
permit, he said. 



Topeka — New general manager 
of WREN is John S. Major, accord- 
ing to an announcement by the 
WREN Broadcasting Co. last week. 
It's a new field for Major who 
comes over from the Sunflower 
Ordnance Works, Eudora, Kans., 
where he was with the government 
and directed personnel programs 
and acted as consultant to war 
contractors. 



MENKIN SLATED FOR 
WVNJ PROGRAM SPOT 

Larry Menkin, scriptwriter who 
exited the Gotham scene about 
eight months ago to take over the 
program reins at WPWA, Chester, 
Pa., has checked out of that opera- 
tion. Starting this week he be- 
comes 3 program director of the 
new 5,000-watt WVNJ in Newark, 
N. J., which is scheduled to go on 
the air Sept. i. 

It's reported that WPWA execs 
wrangled over a contract, which 
Menkin claims was not forthcom- 
ing, as promised. As WPWA pro- 
gram director, Menkin is prepping 
a documentary series based on the 
American family, to be called 
"Give Us This Day," and other 
shows already in the works include 
"A Penny for Your Thoughts," 
"The People,. Now" (utilizing news- 
reel technique I ; "Folk Songs of 
America," "Don't Call Us, We'll 
Call You" (a quiz satire) and an 
early morning "Larry Menkin 
Show." 

WVNJ, operating at 620 kc, also 
announces a number of other ap- 
pointments, including Milton Las- 
ker, who resigned from WHN, 
New York, last week, as account 
exec, and Alan Saunders, formerly 
of WBMS, Boston, as chief an- 
nouncer. 




VOTE FOR WINSMORE 



************ jMMM£ * * » * *2t * * * *'» * * 



You guessed it! WINSmore is on the stump this -year. Like thousands 
upon thousands of New York listeners, he's sold on the WINS platform — 1 
the best in music, news and sports. - 

Realizing there are other hopefuls on the stump this election year, WINS 
is there to cover them. With direct lines from three political hotspots, 
Washington, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati, plus three wire services, 
WINS is giving New Yorkers by far the best coverage of any independent 
New York station.. 

Our veteran newscasters, Don Goddard. Sidney Walton, Gil Kingsbury. 
Paul Jones, Carroll Alcott, and Howard Chamberlain, give WINS listeners 
vivid, complete commentaries, not capsule coverage. 

The WINS news coverage is just one of the reasons why the New York 
audience is getting behind WINSmore. He has the word on what New 
Yorkers like to hear. 

More and more advertisers prove that it's WINS! . . . more 
than ever before. 



WINS 



Time-Life 

Continued from page 25 




NBC filling the other five minutes 
with news, interviews and com- 
mentary on the games. Pix will be 
aired Tuesday and Friday nights, 
9-9:15 p.m., through Aug. 20. 

Deal was signed by Time-Life 
via UWF's tele department, headed 
by Steve Alexander. United World 
is a stibsid of J. Arthur Rank's 
British film outfit, which has all 
pix rights to the Olympics. How 
much T-L paid for the TV rights 
wasn't disclosed, but the figure 
was reported around $50,000. It 
was reported that General Petro- 
leum had signed to bankroll Coast 
TV airing of the same films. 

It's pretty certain, Heiskell in- 
dicated, was that the Luce coin 
won't go into tele station buying 
and operation. Also, despite the 
fact that the "March of Time" ob- 
viously is adaptable to TV, Heis- 
kell claimed that no serious con- 
sideration was being given either 
to this or any other specific series 
as a program for Luce bankrolling 
on TV. 

One thing also pretty certain, 
however, is that Luce will even- 
tually get into tele, Heiskell ad- 
mitted. As for the possibility that 
video might injure the popularity 
of pix mags such .as Life, the pub- 
lisher dismissed it as no more of 
a threat than radio has proven to 
I the circulation of newspapers. 



Maryland Press Joins 
With NAB in Balto's 
Tree Air' Controversy 

Baltimore, Aug. 3. 

Latest addition to the groups lin- 
ing up to fight the recent charges 
of contempt of court filed by the 
Baltimore Supreme Bench against 
five local radio stations and Com- 
mentator Jim Connelly of WITH 
is the Maryland' Press Assn., state- 
wide organization of newspapers 
representing practically every town 
or county in Maryland. 

Decision to join in with Amer- 
ican Newspaper Publishers Assn. 
and the National Assn. of Broad- 
casters to fight the local court rule 
which forbids publication or broad- 
casting of statements made by an 
accused between his arrest and 
trial, \vas made over the weekend 
by the Press group's board of gov- 
ernors which is also mapping a 
fight against a move now in the 
Maryland Court of Appeals to 
broaden the scope of the Baltimore 
ruling to take in statewide boun- 
daries. 

Current fight has attracted na- 
tionwide comment and an indus- 
try-wide protest against the im- 
plication of free speech restriction. 

James Lawrehce Fly. former 
head of the FCC, has also added 
his protest to those of the NAB, 
ANPA, and others, against the 
contempt citations given the Balti- 
more radio stations. 



Boston — Howard Malcolm, for- 
merly of WSAI and WBNS has 
joined staff of Hub's WCOP. He 
will do early morning (6 a.m. to 
8:30) news and disk jockey show. 



Glen Stadler to WDGY 

Minneapolis, Aug. 3. 
Glen Stadler. onetime CBS war 
correspondent, has joined WDGY 
here as an announcer and news- 
caster. 

Stadtler, who was the first Amer- 
ican correspondent arrested by the 
Gestapo in Berlin in December, 
1941, at various times has been 
with two other Twin City stations. 
WCCO and WLOL. 



TOMMY 

LYMAN 



Now at the 



Leslie House 



New 
York 



BUGS BAER SAYS: 
'THERE ARE MORE 
ROAD SHOWS OF 
TOMMY LYMAN THAN 
CARTER HAS PILLS.' 



SEE 'ESQUIRE' FOR STORY 
OF LYMAN IN SEPT. ISSUE, 
BY GEORGE FRAZitR. 



Singing 

Peace of Mind 

By Charles Murray, Bobby Goldman 
and Henry Lawrence 

The Old Ferris Wheel 

By Nick and Chas. Kenny 

A Nickel for a Memory 

By Perry Alexander, Bob Milliard 
and Ann Beardsley 

Voice Coach: 
JOHN QUINLAN 
Special Material by 
MILT FRANCIS 



COJMJVIEIICIAL 




IN SALT LAKE CITY 



Wire, write or bhime 
for details 



* * * * * ^ 

National Representative: 
JOHN BLAIR ft CO. 



VLt>\V 




* * 



1 



****** 



******* 



C R 0 S L E Y 8 R 0 4 0 C A s I I N c C 0 " 0 » 4 * 0 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



FOR YEARS — AND YEARS—AND YEARS- 



MUSIC LOVERS, RADIO STATIONS AND SPONSORS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR 



a new series of 
30 minute programs 

5 times per week featuring the 

World's Greatest 
Recorded Music 

plus— on transcription 
the commentary of 

America's foremost composer, music-critic, 
author and radio commentator 

DEEMS TAYLOR 

end distinguished GUEST STARS* 

' *The first four, Gladys Swarlhout, Fritz Reiner, Pierre 
Monteiix, Jan Peerce. Other big names to follow. 




To millions of Americans, Deems Taylor has 
opened Hie portals to a whole new exciting world 
of music. These millions will form the nucleus of 
a vast audience ready to welcome him in Ins new 
transcribed program — The Deems Toylor Concert 

A noted composer and author, Deems Taylor 
has been almost constantly on the air since 1931. 
For seven years he was commentator on the 
New York Philharmonic Symphony broadcasts 
—the most popular talks of their kind ever aired. 

Other big network programs he has starred on 
include the Chesterfield program, Prudential 
Family Hour, Philco Hall of Fame, The Metro- 
politan Opera Quiz, and Information Please. 




Starting September 13,. 1948 



DEEMS TAYLOR, radio's ace music commentator, whose fascinating radio talks on music make the classics 
understandable to the millions . . . Deems Taylor, the man with a huge radio following among fine music 
lovers coast-to-coast\ . . can now be your "long-hair" disc jockey! 

DEEMS TAYLOR personally selects the records to be played and builds a well balanced concert of top-flight 
music. He personally introduces the records and emcees the show on transcribed bands. All this... 

Plus Outstanding, Top Name Guest Stars* from the opera and concert world; 

DISC JOCKEY WITH A DIFFERENCE— On ordinary disc jockey shows, the pop tunes used play second 
fiddle to the showmanship of the emcee being exploited. In the Deems Taylor Concert— the music is the 
thing— each selection a masterpiece. And Deems Taylor's sparkling, witty, enlightening commentary is an 
essential part of that music . . . adding much to the pleasure of the listener. Great m usie ... a great commentator 
...great guest stars — an unbeatable entertainment combination! 

YOUR CHANCE TO ATTRACT AND HOLD THE BIG AUDIENCE FOR FINE MUSIC IN YOUR COMMUNITY! 

The Deems Taylor Concert is tailored for this audience ... gives them the masterpieces and artists thry 
know and love... plus a unique commentator they admire and eagerly listen to. Here's a quality show, 
prestige show for your station ... all that and a selling show, too! Feature it five half hours per week, an,> 
time of the day, and see how fast it starts to produce for your sponsor and you! 



avaiia ble as a half hour, five times per week — or 



adaptable up to a solid two-and-one-half hours of consecutive music programming. 



P. S. — To Advertising Agencies-, Locol 
and Regional Advertisers: 

To moke sure of getting first call on this 
great new transcribed show, write, 
phone or wire today for descriptive 
booklet, prices and audition platter. 



RADIO FEATURES, Inc. 

Walier Schwimmer, r f tiid*nf 

75 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago 1, Illinois 

Phone: FRAnkiin 4392 



Wednesday, Angmt 4, 1948 



From the Production Centres 



IN NEW YORK CITY . . . 

Ferame execs of rival webs, Grace Johnson of ABC and Elsie Dick 
of Mutual, paired for a Carribean cruise, sailing Friday (6) and re- 
turning Aug. 23 Mary Margaret McBride vacationing all this month, 

but being heard (WNBC) twice weekly via e.t Red Barber, bowled 

over in Pittsburgh by a gastro-intcstinal disorder, planed home on a 

stretcher and now bedded at N.Y. Hospital Bill and Judy Brennan, 

who also produce the Jack Smith Show, took over Mutual's Coast- 
originated "All Star Bevue," which initiates a new guestar policy to- 
morrow (Thurs.). 

Hy Zaret, parody writer on CBS '"Sing It Again," fathered a sec- 
ond son last Wednesday (28) . . Howard Cordery, formerly in NBC 
tele production, joined the ABC tele staff this week Upcoming 
Fortune mag doing the RCA Story Parade mag among those prep- 
ping pieces on radio's giveaway fever Mutual's Thursday night 

•'Meet Your Lucky Partners" mulled as a daytime cross-the-board entry 

Albert Grobe, WQXR's chief announcer, has just finished narrating 

four reels of film on Palestine, produced by Peter Elgar, N.Y. and 

Hollywood indie producer WQXR execs Elliott and Eleanor Sanger 

cruising in the Carribean Martin Seligson, ex-radio director of 

Roberts & Roberts ad agency. Denver, joined Gainesborough Asso- 
ciates, indie production and promotion outfit, as sales manager. .. 
George Connolly and John Intorcia, undergrad comedy due from Ford- 
ham Univ.'s FM station WFUV, got a showcasing on Margo Whiteman's 
ABC "Tomorrow's Tops" last week. 

Audition of a new juve soaper, "That's My Girl," cut last week with 
Jean Gillespie and Jack Lloyd featured . . .Kingsley Horton, assistant 
manager and sales director of WEEI, Boston, shifted into CBS-TV 

sales in N.Y. Monday (2) Kate Smith again to chairman "National 

Grandmother's Day" this fall Publicist Arthur Miller to be a papa 

in September Ned Midgley's "The Advertising and Business Side 

of Radio," conies off the Prentice-Hall presses in mid-August. . . .Clar- 
ence Menser, ex-NBC program veepee now owner of WEAT, Lake 
Worth, Fla., arriving at the Westchester Country Club next Monday 

(9) with Mrs. Menser for vacation stay C. Israel Lutsky, WEVD's 

Jewish philosopher, recuperating at Beth-El hospital following major 
surgery .... Audition script for a 15-minute video series called "Tele- 
crime" has been prepared by Mort Levin. WNBC-TV reported in- 
terested. 9 

Johnny Olsen ticketed to m.c. the Saturday night "Whiz Quiz" 

prceming on ABC Sept. 11 Joan Alexander into Mercedes McCam- 

bridge's role in "This Is Nora Drake," while latter and Elspeth Eric 

junket in Europe for two months Treasury sec'y John Snyder named 

Dick Jurgens "Treasury Dept. Band of the Year" during an ABC 
airer last week .... Frank Papp. NBC producer, planed Europeward 
for a two-month looksee Monday (2). 

Mary -Mason new to "Lorenzo Jones" Sam Wanamaker added to 

"Front Page Farrell" cast Lauren Gilbert joined "Stella Dallas" 

roster. . . .Alice Yourman with "David Harum". . . ,WOR clearing 12:45 
p.m. cross-the-board for Gabriel Heatter's Mutual "Mailbag" starting 
Aug. 30, which means local's "Answer Man" must find a new slot .... 
Lou Cowan Productions negotiating to ship the upcoming "Deems 
Taylor Hour" show for Walter Schwimmer .... New type summer cir- 
cuit: Mardia Miller, Conover girl who appeared in the "Young Man's 
Fancy" Broadway legiter the past season, teaming with another Con- 
over beat, Selma Cane, in plastering the Big Street with Don McNeil 
for President buttons. 

Blutual reported gandering Lanny Ross for 15 minutes cross-the- 
board .... Benny Rubin permanent replacement for Morey Amsterdam 
on "Stop Me If You've Heard This" ... George Petrie, star of "Call the 
Police," spotted for the second time in four weeks as lead in "The Big 

Story" next Wednesday (11) WHN's Bert Lebhar, Jr. (Bert Lee to 

sports dialers), participating in the 21st annual national contract bridge 
championships in Chicago .... Robert C. Mayo, WOR account exec, 
succeeding Gene Thomas as sales manager of the station, Thomas 



going to Washington to head up WOIC (TV). 5 Bob Edge, Dodger tele- 
caster, has incorporated "Television Agency to handle sports figures 
for TV and is huddling with Jack Dempsey and Lefty Gomez on video 
ideas. 

m HOLLYWOOD ... 

Sidney Strotz put the quietus on reports that he would relinquish 
his post as NBC western division manager to devote full time to his 
television duties. Rumor had it that the job would be filled by Lewis 

Frost, his assistant Ted Steele setting up a picture department at 

Benton & Bowles, which he'll' head John Knight came in from 

Washington to be - chief engineer of NBC's tele operation .... Eileen 
Wilson, Patti Clayton, Marjorie Hughes and Bonnie Williams will be 
replacements for Beryl Davis on Hit Parade, with Frank Sinatra to 
designate who gets the extra two weeks ... Ed. Simmons, who heads 
up the Cecil & Presbrey agency here, adds a new holiday next year- 
father's day ... Jack Rourke, packager and announcer, was wed last 
week to Joan Lane of the David Selznick publicity staff ... Eddie 
Holden is reviving his "Frank Watanabe" character, which was quietly 

laid away after Pearl Harbor Lou Fulton's "Comedy of Errors," 

last season - integrated into -Kay Kyser's program, gets a new format 
and goes on wax. for fall sale. . . Bob Considine's daily report on the 
Olympic Games being shortwaved from London for insertion on Hank 
Weaver's KECA newscast. . . Bob Ballin and the frau hopped into their 
car, headed north without destination or reservation. . . Janet Widmer 
of the Hooper office followed the lead of her boss, Kay Lancaster, 
and got herself hitched .... Howard Harris took off for the east for 
audition of the Judy Holliday show, which he and Sid Zelinka created 
; . . ."Corny" JacXson and Viv Hunter passed a weekend with Charles 
Luckman at his Lucky Five ranch in the hills back of San Diego. . . 
Joe Rines splitting up his vacation between La Jolla (pronounced Hoya) 
down the coast and Lake Arrowhead up in the mountains .... Bernie 
Schubert waxed the George O'Hanlon Show for the fall comedy market. 

fJV CHICAGO ... 

Dan Ryan, former chief of Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample's radio com- 
mercial and tele production, has switched to Tatham-Laird. Frank 



Lee" number, dance and famous 
maddog routine); Willie West and 
McGinty (the "Bricklayers Act"). 

9:45 — Half-hour non-televised in- 
termission show- (while TV cam^ 
eras move to Duffy Square for a 
block party) featuring 25-year-old 
newsreels and other earlyday 
films. 

10:15 — Back to the Palace stage: 
Pat Rooney, Sr. (talk and "Daugh-. 
ter of Rosie O'Grady); Mary Raye 
and Naldi (ballroom act); Ray Bol- 
ger (dance numbers); Bea Lillie 
(comedy prima donna act), and 
Paul Whiteman (first with a replica 
of his original' nine-piece band as 
it played the Palace, then with his 
present SS^-piece aggregation, with 
Earl Wilde at the piano, playing 
"Rhapsody in Blue"). 

In the pit for the show will be 
Jules ("the professor") Lenzberg, 
who batoned the Palace orch in its 
vaude headline days. 

Other segments of the teeoff 
ceremonies: 7 p.m., official open- 
ing by ABC board chairman Ed- 
ward J. Noble, with Gotham's 
greeter Grover Whalen. and city 
officials; commentary by Milton 
Cross, vet WJZ gabber; film on 
the growth and development of 

RaycroftTeplaces at"D-F-s".'. "NormanTlndguistTow'ing"out as "vee^ N. Y.; parade in front of the Pal- 



ABC-TV Splash 

Continued from page 26 ; 



pee in charge of sales for Television Advertising Productions .... CBS 
veepee Les Atlass fishing at Lake Superior. .. .Helen Bolstad leaving 

as WBKB Back to become Chi ed of Radio Mirror Tom Wason, 

former account exec for Hill Blackett, now with Morris F. Swaney, 
Inc . . . . Skelly Oil renewing Alex Dreier's news commentary on NBC 
regional net....FM construction permits granted to the Lake Shore 
Broadcasting Co., Lewis CoUege of Science and Technology, and the 
North Shore Broadcasting Co. . . .Staff recruits for forthcoming WENR- 
TV include Gregg Garrison, lately of WFIL-TV, and Monte Fassnacht, 
former stage manager for the Chi Civic Op Co. Fassnacht joins as pro- 
duction mgr., Garrison as staff director Rep switch has WIND go- 
ing from Pearson to Katz NBC-Northwestern University Summer 

Radio Institute folds Aug. 6, with 90 students fondling sheepskins. . . . 
Jack Owens, "Breakfast Club" crooner, set for the WLS Barn Dance 
origination at the Illinois State Fair, Aug. 14. . . .Economy axe wielded 
on the "Junior Junction" cast, with Mary Hartline, Loda Ameche and 
Dick York severed .... Jimie Spanos, promotion chief of WIND, back 
in the old home town of Pittsubrgh last week to orate at the Rotary 

Club Budget balancing at WGN has brought two departures in the 

traffic dept Phil Stewart, radio chief of Roche, Williams & Cleary, 

off to the Coast for an overhaul of "Revere All-Star Revue." New 
orch and new producer are certain. .. .Ernie Shomo, WBBM sales 
mgr., to N.Y. on biz .... Sports caller Bert Wilson on the road with 
the Chi Cubs for three weeks. . . ."Ladies Be Seated" will seat 'em at 
the state fair, Springfield, 111., week of Aug. 16 .... Announcer John 
Mallow narrated the Abe Lincoln pageant at Park Ridge, III., Monday 
(2). 

■ ♦■ 



ace, with-Walter Kiernan narrating 
and interviewing personalities ar- 
riving for the stage show. Later 
participants: an FCC rep. Bert 
Parks, Allen Funt and his "Candid 
Mike," ABC prexy Mark Woods. 
Remote pickups will pan Times 
Square; street dancers of N. Y.'s 
various national groups, typical 
city scenes, etc. 



Albany, N. Y. — Frank D'Armond, 
pianist and arranger, has been ap- 
pointed musical director of WPTR. 
His selection was announced by 
Howard W. Maschmeier, program 
manager. D'Armond will conduct 
the 10,000-watt station's 14-picce 
orchestra. 



The Ford Motor Company 



and 



Kenyon & Eckhardt inc. 

are pleased to announce the appointment of 

MR. FLETCHER MARKLE 

as director of 

THE FORD THEATER 



Presented over the full network of The Columbia Broadcasting System 
Fridays, 9:00 to 10:00 PM, EST, starting October 8, 1948 



7 Tele Stations 



Continued from page 25 



Atlanta Prcems Its 8th 

Atlanta. Aug. 3. 

Atlanta's eighth radio station, 
WERD, a daytime indie, went on 
the air Monday (2) morning bright 
and early. 

Station, a 1,000-watt. 860-kc clear 
channel job, is owned and operated 
by Radio Atlanta, Inc.. with Jesse 
Draper as president, Harvey Per- 
sons, vice president, and Harvey 
Hill, secretary-treasurer. Dick 
Granville is station's general man- 
ager and William F. Kennedy is 
chief engineer. 



to dispose of all its stock interest 
in either the Minneapolis Star apd 
Tribune Co., or the broadcast com- 
pany, FCC said. 

WCAU, Philadelphia and Ala- 
mance Broadcasting Co., Burling- 
ton, N. C, were allowed to transmit 
facsimile signals with non-standard 
paper width for a period of 60 
days. Both were advised by FCC 
that further extension will not be 
authorized in view of the fact that 
engineering standards for fac- 
simile broadcasting do not con- 
template such 41-inch operation in 
the FM broadcast band. 

Robert H. Hinckley, former As- 
sistant Secretary of Commerce, 
and a veepee of American Broad- 
casting Co., and his partners were 
allowed to transfer their stock in 
the Northeastern Indiana Broad- 
casting Co.; Fort Wayne. This is 
the second station in which he has 
disposed of his stock. He recently 
sold holdings in WTHI, Terre 
Haute. Hinckley said he wanted 
to devote his time to WISH, In- 
dianapolis. 

Western film star Gene Autry 
was given an extension of 90 days 
to sell his interest in KPHO, 
Phoenix. Autry recently bought 
into another Phoenix statipn, 
KOOL. He says the extension of 
time will allow him to complete 
the deal. 

WKBW of Buffalo, and WXFR 
of High Point, N. C, tendered ap- 
plications for television stations 
during the week. 




WPTR Set for Preem 

Albany, Aug. 3. 

WPTR, 10,000-watt station op- 
erated by Schine's Patroon Broad- 
casting Corp., goes on the air Fri- 
day (6), three days before WHKN, 
also a.lO,000-watter, begins its reg- 
ular schedule with ABC affiliation. 

The addition of these two sta- 
tions, and a third, WROW, which 
debuted last October, gives Albany 
Ave radio outlets. 

WPTR', which has cost' the 
Schines more than $300,000. em- 
ploys a studio staff of 30. J. Meyer I 
Schine is presic nt; his brother, H 
Loiiis W.'," is vice-iYesld'ciif:' ' ' 1^ 



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WV-ilnesday, August 4, 1948 



SI 



Inside Stuff— Radfio 

v .", ■ ' ■ . , ;..'...„v 

Draper Lewis, former CBS writer now a writer-director with the 
American Forces NetWork in Germany, writes that the AFN recently 
„ reS ented ''Kilroys"— their equivalent of "Oscars"— to the programs 
selected as best by AFN listeners. Winners were: Best.comedy pro- 
cram Henry Morgan; best musical program/ Fred Waring Show;, best 
dramatic program, "Suspense"; best quiz, "Twenty Questions"; best 
educational program, "Science Magazine of the Air"; best girl singer, 
jo Stafford; best male singer, Bing Crosby; best comedian, Bob Hope; 
best comedienne, Joan Davis; best orchestra, Vaughn Monroe; 

Lewis has recently written and directed special broadcasts for Lana 
Turner, Rita Hayworth, Cyd Charisse, Lauritz Melchior, Tony Martin, 

etc. ,. ' : :. ; ■ " :->' : ~-' '■]■/■'■:- > ■ 

Secretary of State George C. Marshall has named Justin Miller, 
president of the NAB. to be a member of tha National Citizens Commit- 
tee for United Nations Day, Oct. 24, and chairman of the subcommittee 
»n radio and television. ; 

The committee, formed in response to thr all of the U. N. General 
Assembly, asking that member nations pi note the observance of 
United Nations Day, will consist of 50 members. 

Purpose. 6f the committee, State explained, will be to enlist support 
and cooperation of "people generally, and cities, towns, civic organiza- 
tions, the press, the radio and other media groups." 

Motion Picture Association of America head Eric Johnston will serve 
as chairman of the film subcommittee of the State Department's Na- 
tional Citizens Committee for United Nations day, the department 
announced. Johnston will work out the industry's role in the national 
celebration Oct. 24. MPAA Officials here said Johnston was very in- 
terested in the program, and would begin work when he returns here 
from the Coast. # 

The NAB and the Federal Radio Education Committee have an- 
nounced an extensive list of 109 depositories for literature on radio 
broadcasting in libraries through the country, Institutions representing 
all. types of libraries have agreed to participate in the plan, which will 
bring within easy reach of students and the public in general, the bulk 
of the valuable literature on radio broadcasting. 

Each depository library will be placed on a distribution list which 
automatically sends to such a library all publications of the NAB, the 
FREC, all nets, and other interested sources, 

Current lists of participating libraries may be obtained from Mrs. 
Gertrude Broderick, secretary, FREC; or Mrs. Louise Aldrich, librarian, 

sab. :i'v 



Documentaries to Show 
How $16,500,000 Is Spent 

When the Federation of Jewish 
Philanthropies launches its nation- 
wide campaign for $16,500,000 in 
October, it will take to the air 
in an unusual series of weekly 
documentaries designed to shpw 
how the coin is used; 

A 13-week series 'called "A 
World to Win," detailing the med- 
ical and social work of the Fed- 
eration, is currently being prepped 
by Mort Levin, who has been 

[named to handle the radio efforts 

. tor the '48 campaign. 



Ed. Wolf's ABC radio package, "Break the Bank," sponsored by 
Bristol-Myers, is agencyed by. Dbherty, Clifford & Shenfield. The 
D-C-S agency's name was misspelled by error in last Week's issue. 



Mutual Buildup For 
N'Orleans Disk Jockey 

.Mutual this week handed over its 
30-3:30 cross - the - board strip, 
irhich Martin Block Was washed out 
>f, to a New Orleans disk jockey, 
Job Poole, for several weeks' try- 
tut.'.-' ■ :>'.;. 

Poole is with CBS' NO outlet, 
WWL, where he does 'a wax twirl- 
ng stint called "People's Paradise." 



Jack Holt's Sports Drama 

With Jack Holt as its star, a half- 
hour sports drama tagged "Pete 

Baxter— Special Sports Investiga- 
tor," is being offered by script 
agent Blanche Gaines, Show is 
written by a trio of authors— Ed 
Meyers, Barbara Hotchkiss and 
Byron Mankiewicz. 

Holt has arrived in New York 
for huddles on the show. 



Tossup Between Ginny, 
Curt Massey for Alka's 
'Liim' Cross-Board Sub 

It looks like a tossup be- 
tween Curt Massey and a musical 
co-starring Ginny Simms and Bud- 
dy Clark as Alka Seltzer's cross- 
the-board replacement for Lum 'n' 
Abner on CBS. Client has definite- 
ly committed itself for the 15-min- 
ute afternoon segment (5:45), with 
a 6:30 p.m. New York showcase on 
WCBS. 

Understood Alka Seltzer has put 
a $5,000 weekly ceiling on the 
musical, with Miss Simms and 
Clark each down for about $500 a 
week. (Matty Melnick is in for the 
orch batoning assignment.) It's 
question now whether Miss Simms 
would commit herself to a five- 
times'a-week show for that kind of 
coin. As the star attraction of the 
$12,500 budget Borden show a a 
couple of seasons ago, she was 
grabbing off about $2,500 as her 
end. • : ' : 



HEDY HAIR WAVE SPOTS 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 

Hedy Hair Wave will be moving, 
shortly into ra Ao with a spot cam- 
paign. Plan is to bruit the brand's 
name among listeners first with 
recorded announcements and then 
swing over to r etwork with a day- 
time program.- 

Hedy is part of the Pepsodent 
division of Lever Bros. J. Walter 
Thompson here handles the prod- 
uct. ; 



Ziv Buys Out World Broadcasting 
Transcription library for $1,500, 



Dean Martin^erry Lewis 
Radio Pkge. Via Greshlei* 

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis 
have cut a radio program, pack- 
aged by their agent, Abner J. 
Greshler. which a number of agen- 
cies are currently considering, Ray 
Block's orchestra of 17, singer 
Georgia Gibbs and announcer 
Frank Gallup participated in the 
package. F ' Block scripted. 

Martin and Lewis, accompanied 
by their rep, leave tomorrow 
(Thurs.) for the Coast, where they 
open at Slapsie Maxie's nitery in 
Los Angeles Aug. 9. Team was on 
the Texaco video show, out of 
N. Y., last night (Tues.). 

ELLIOTT NUGENFS5G 
DOCUMENTARY SERIES 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

Elliott Nugent is adding radio to 
his multiple pix-legit activities as 
producer, director, writer and 
actor, appearing as the star of a 
documentary series, "I Free the 
Innocent," for which Colin Miller 
and Robert Hopkins cut an audi- 
tion platter at NBC Thursday (5). 
Music Corp. of America is repre- 
senting the .$5,000 package, with 
several agencies reportedly show- 
ing interest. 

"Innocent", is based on career of 
Herbert L. Maris, Philadelphia 
lawyer, who has freed more than 
300 prisoners! from penetentiary 
sentences for crimes of which they 
were innocent. National attention 
was focused on Maris by an article 
outlining his history in Reader's 
Digest. Miller and Hopkins rights 
to Maris material include television 
and pictures as well as radio. - 

James and Elizabeth Hart have 
written three scripts based upon 
material taken from Maris' files and 
prepared story outlines for 10 more 
which will be used when series 
goes on air. ,•" 



f Frederic W. Ziv Co., already the » 
biggest producer of radio tran- 
scribed programs, projected itself 
still further into the e.t. limelight 
this week by buying the World 
Broadcasting System, Inc., biggest 
disk library, from Decca Records" 
for a reported $1,500,000. 

purchase includes World Broad- 
casting's name, World Features, 
World Feature Library and World 
Programs, It'll all be a wholly- 
owned Ziv subsidiary. Deal was 
set following two and a half 
months negotiations. Report had 
been circulating that Decca might 
sell World to Muzak. 

Plans call for continued service 
to" 670 AM, FM and tele stations 
now using World's library, with 
Ziv, John L. Sinn and other Ziv 
execs taking active roles in their 
new subsid's operations and expan- 
sion. . _ .; _ ■'; 

All present World personnel will 
stay on, it's announced, with Al 
Sambrok in charge of station rela- 
tions, Maynard Marquard in charge 
of the Coast office, etc. Offices of 
Ziv and World will he consolidated 
in Chicago and other cities Where 
they both operate as soon as pos- 
sible. 

Herb Gordon, formerly* with 
World and how an administrative 
exec with Ziv, will again be asso- 
ciated with the running of World. 



WRC's 25th Anni 

Washington, Aug. 3. 
WRC, here, owned and operated 
by NBC, in Washington, observed 
its 25th year of broadcast service 
Sunday (1). One of the nation'* 
oldest commercial radio. stations, 
WRC went on the air with only 
one studio and a staff of eight, 
'including the porter.' . 

Now NBC's Washington office 
has a staff of 173 connected with 
NBC network Operations at WRC, ' 
WHC-FM and the network's Capi- 
tal television station, WNBW. > 



li 



li 



Ills 




How can you reach these five million? 



Willi a KNX program that is tailor-made to fit your Sales objectives. 
One that will get results like this ... 

The world's largest home furnishings store sponsors a KNX program 
devoted to new ideas for interior decorating. They give KNX credit 
for a 500% increase in the use of their home information services. 

Another KNX advertiser sells title insurance to Southern California!-* 
with a program that relives the exciting days of the Spanish land 
grants. Their program has a higher average Hooperating than any 
other local program on a Los Angeles station.* 

A food manufacturer uses a KNX show that tests kitchen products to 
help women get the most out of their shopping budgets. His sales 
have jumped 45% in six months. 

KNX tan do the same for you . . . with a program specially designed 
to complement your sales story. 

When KNX adapts its selling-power to advertising aims soles curves 
zoom up. That's why ... 

Year after year, local business men spe nd more advertising 
dollars with KNX than with any other So uthern California station. 

• Los Angles "City" Hooperatings, 
* Fall-Winter 1943-44 through Winter-Spring 1947-48 




KNX 

Los Angeles • 50,000 Watts 



COLUMBIA OWNED 

Rrrmrnird by RADIO SALES. It.*. Suifcw Reorts«ni«iive...A DimlM it CBS • Nc» Yttfc. Chic«w. l*> A»bK PrM>. Stn Frmcisc, 




32 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



Cleveland's 
Only Video 
Outlet Banks 
{Among Nation's 
Largest 



TELEVISION DAILY, June 
24th, states Cleveland "has 
nearly 10,000 sets after only six 
months of TV service." More 
const -vative station figures indi- 
|cate 7,100 sets as of July 1, 1948 
. . a plus value for WEWS 
I advertisers. 



WEWS Offers 

I • More than 35 hours per week 
of programs in addition to 
test pattern time! 



More than 80 full time staff 
employees, in addition to 
talent employed! 



I • Bigger and better studio fa 
cilities ... on a par with the 
finest in the nation! 



"Cleveland 
Mushrooming 
Video-Wise 

. . faster than any of the major 
I cities — despite the fact it has 
only one outlet — WEWS.' : 
That's right, Television Daily 
more people are watching 
I WEWS Television than ever be 
I fore! 



The 

SCRIPPS-HOWARD 
RADIO STATIONS 

[• WEWS Television — WE WS-FM 
Cleveland, Ohio. 

• WCPO. Cincinnati, Ohio (Now 

building Television!. 

• WNOX, Knexvili*. Tenn. 
All these stations represented by 

THE BRANHAM COMPANY 




TELEVISION 

First In Cleveland/ 



Radio Reviews 



55 Continued from page 24. ; 



day night's '27) sequence. Kieran . getting lost, the show retained his 
"stuck with a job of news read, flavor. Miss Staftord, who did a 
ng at which he is not especially smooth ob. was coupled with or 



adept. Now and then he relaxed a 
little to inject a comment, but the 
bulk of these asides were far from 
Kieran at his best and added little 
.o the session. It appeared, in gen- 
eral, that Kieran was hogtied copy- 
wise and simply not allowed to un- 
bend enough to give affairs of the 
day the flavor of his own treat- 
ment. 

Nelson Case does his usual 
slandup job on the fore-and-aft 
plugs for Ivory soap. The copy 
states, of course, that the product 
has no equal. Doan. 

LOUELLA PARSONS 

With Carl Frank, announcer 

15 Wins., Sun., 9:15 p.m. 

WOODBURY 

ABC, from New York 

{Robert W. Orr) 
Back from a 10-country Euro- 
pean jaunt, Louella Parsons re- 
established herself in the 9:15- 
9:30 Sunday night segment on 
ABC this week (1) as Woodbury's 
companion-piece to the web's top 
drawing card, Walter Winchell. 
And although WW departs from 
the House of Jergens (a Woodbury 
subsid) after Jan. 1, the Winchell- 
Parsons back-to-back parlay re- 
mains intact. 

Which, in a sense, is fortunate 
for the Hollywood chitchat artist, 
for although there's a continual 
listening segment that likes to be 
fed on the Hollywood-Broadway 
gossip, with its dubious distinction 
of divorce "exclusives," there's lit- 
tle question but that the post-WW 
network ride is a major factor in 
paying off Hooper dividends for 
Woodbury. 

The fact that Miss Parsons ap- 
proaches her script as though she 
were reading it for the first time 
(as occurred in a few instances last 
Sunday when the emphasis was di- 
ected on the wrong words and 
even syllables) can tend to negate 
the value of "hot copy." 

Format remains essentially the 
same, with the editorial insert (on 
this occasion a "thank God for 
America ' toast cued to the condi- 
tions she found abroad), and the 
guestar for the windup (Rosalind 
Russell). 

New season's initialer was a one- 
shot New York origination, with 
Miss Parsons resuming from the 
Coast next Sunday (8). Rose. 



followed by Skitch Henderson 
(morning show), Woody Herman, 
Connie Haines, all of whom han- 
dled themselves well. Herman add- 
ed a unique touch to Thursday s 
(29) evening show by doing his in- 
tro spiels via transcription, because 
his band was working at Asbury 
Park, N. J., and time was tight. 
Ed Sullivan, N. Y. Daily News col- 
umnist, took a crack at it Monday 
(2) and, keeping within prescribed 
lines, did a stiff, but acceptable 
job. 



adaptation of Paul Vincent Car- 
roll's "Green Cars Go East:" What- 
ever shortcomings there were 
could be attributed to Carroll's 
script, but the acting, notably of 
the supDorting roles, captured the 
drabness and squalor of the "other 
side of the tracks." The direction 
helped to get more out of the script 
than the actual story divulged. 



Political Stew 

= Continued from page 23 s 

tonio, not as a Wallaceite, but as a 
Congressman." 

Both Schechter and CBS prexy 
Frank Stanton pointed out, in re- 
ply to demands for time to answer 
Truman, that the Democrats did 
not request the nets to broadcast 
his message, t 

Redding declared that if— and 
he did not agree — the nets consid- 
ered Truman's message political, it 
should be answered by GOP can- 
didate Thomas E. Dewey. ABC, it's 
understood, did invite Dewey to an- 
swer, but he declined. 

Redding further charged that 
ABC and NBC gave the Repubs 
popular evening listening hours in 
which to reply, whereas Truman 
spoke at 12:35 p.m., when most lis- 
teners were away from their ra- 
dios, at work. 

The Dixiecrats also have added 
to the webs' worries. They have 
requested two hours' coverage of a 
rally next Wednesday (11) in 
Houston, where their candidates 
will deliver acceptance speeches. 
ABC has offered the Southerners 
30 minutes, 10:30-11 p.m., or 25 
minutes, 11:35-12 midnight. CBS 
also has offered 10:30-11. Mutual 
has asked for further information 
on time of speeches, etc. NBC of- 
fered 11:30-12:30, which would be 
9:30-10:30 Dixiecrats' time. 



"Texaco Star Theatre" television 
broadcast (NBC-TV) is showing 
ear on the theory that yesterday's 
vaude will be the basis of today 
and tomorrow's video. Strangely 
enough, whereas in vaude's hey- 
day it was the headliner who car- 
ried the load and the fill-in acts 
„ust time-spreaders, in tele it's be- 
ing proved that the fill-in acts are 
the easily acceptable talent and to 
carry the front end video must de- 
velop its own. For example, on 
the Tuesday (27) show in ques- 
tion. Trixie, perhaps vaude's out- 
standing femme juggler, proved 
good for eyes tired of the comedy 
and takeoffs of Georgie Price, Bert 
Wheeler and Al Bernie. Same 
went for the Shyrettos, trick bi- 
cycle trio. They stood out where 
they were inserted to bolster the 
top names. Video obviously must 
find its stride hobbled by basing 
its approach to entertainment val- 
ues on patterns established before 
was born. Vaude is vaude and 
video is video. 



WHAT DO PEOPLE THINK 
Holcombe Parks, Jack Terry, Ed 

win Reimers 
Producer - Director: William Mar 

shall 

Writer: Carl G. Meller 
15 Mins., Tues., 10:30 p.m. 
NATIONAL ASSN. OF MANU 

FACTURERS 
ABC, from New York 

The National Assn. of Manufac- 
turers with this program comes up 
with something a little more subtle 
than that which they've delivered 
in the past. But even witli the 
more indirect approach, the organ- 
ization is still about as subtle in 
plumping for the virtues of busi- 
ness (big and little) as a bass drum. 

On this 10-week series, time 
for which is donated by ABC, 
they've come up with a quiz show. 
Questions are based on the results 
of a series of polls by a euphemis- 
tically named group called the Ob- 
jective Opinion Research, which 
apparently polls people on such 
vital questions as whether the gals 



Tele Reviews 

Continued from pace 2< ; 

Flushing Meadows. He's appar- 
ently taking these multiple acti- 
vities in stride, inasmuch as the 
infectiousness -of his singing is evi- 
dent on his newest activity. 

This Negro songster who accom- 
panies himself at the piano has a 
solid brand of musicianship that 
makes itself evident on the tele 
screen. His tunes, such as "Dark 
Town Strutters Ball," "As Time 
Goes By" and his player-piano 
impression are his vaude standby s 
which come over as well on this 
medium. Between songs, he fills 
in with news of subsequent pro- 
grams on the CBS channel. He 
handles all these chores well. 

Since there are so many facets 
of Howard's particular brand of 
showmanship, the cameras are 
fairly busy trying to capture them 
all. For instance, during "Them 
There Eyes," the cameraman gets 
a closeup of his optics. There are 
plenty of super-impositions com- 
bining his face and the keyboard 
his foot tapping and the keys, ant\ 



look good in slacks or do business- | the ivories and the hammers 



men make enough profit. 

Contestants are pre-selected and 
after giving their names are never 
heard from again, a factor which 
gives the program a cold imper- 
sonal note. The quizzees select a 
number they believe to be the per- 
centage of people believing that 
the question is correct. Answers 
are checked against the OOR poll 
and contestant having the nearest 
answer cops top prize. 

Program is a fairly dull presen- 
tation. Holcombe Parks, NAM vee- 
pee is hardly a personality to 
make a show jump, and if any of 
the contestants have a bright per- 
sonality, it's never brought to the 
m'f; The format Itself is not one 
thats bore-proof, and consequent 
y, needs more than a normal quo 
ly, needs more than a normal 
quota of brightspots to make the 
show sound less like unadulterated 
propaganda. j 0 se 



While" this trick photography fre* 
quently de-accentuates Howard's 
work, it's a wise procedure inas- 
much as a full quarter hour on any 
single performer can be too flat a 
landscape for tele. 

Program ran an Esso film com- 
mercial during the show, and it's, 
likely that other spot announce- 
ments will be' used. Jose. 



Tele Followup 



, . ♦*« M *« « I O e*4*e« ♦♦♦■ »» ■ ( « 

IFolfowup Comment ; 

Jo Stafford began a list of per- 
sonality guest jockeys on Ted 
Husing's disk show, WHN, N. Y. 
last week, to relieve Husing during 
his vacation. But, since Husing had 
transcribed his commercials before 



Swift is still juggling with the 
format of the Lanny Ross show on 
NBC-TV,, but the basic ingredients 
(Ross and his singing) hasn' 
changed much. Last week Ar- 
nold Moss was on and his recital 
of some Thomas Wolfe prose anent 
"a fabulous America" was really 
a humdinger. A fine actor with an 
eloquent voice, natural and com- 
pletely at ease, Moss shapes up as 
a natural for video . . . Regardless 
of the merits of the CBS "Toast of 
the Town" vaudeo talent vs. "Tex- 
aco Star Theatre," the CBS camera 
crew seems to be pushing out in 
front in creating the better rhyth- 
mic quality. Pictures, too, are 
clearer. . Kraft Theatre is still 
turning in good solid productions, 
as evidenced , again by last week's 



Port Huron 

Continued from page 23 



Benedict Cottone, general counsel 
for FCC; Don Pettey, general 
counsel for the National Assn. of 
Broadcasters; Joseph H. Ream, 
CBS exec veepee; Louis Caldwell, 
attorney repping Mutual, and 
C. K. Richards, assistant attorney 
general of Texas. Calling of latter 
indicated the committee would 
look into the Houston libel law 
case. 

Meanwhile. Sen. Charles W. Tt> 
bey (R-, N.H.) succeeds Sen. 
White as chairman of the senate 
commerce subcommittee conduct- 
ing the communications inquiry. 
White resigned and appointed To- 
bey on Friday. Sen. Albert W. 
Hawkes ' ( R., N. J. ) has been ap- 
pointed to fill the vacancy of the 
three-man committee. 



ABC Co-ops 

Continued from page 23 



Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the 
Town" tele show started out Sun- 
day (1) evening (CBS -TV) as 
though it were going somewhere 
and as though a continuity had 
been arranged. It was launched 

ith Palermo's Dogs a swell act 
for kids and even their elders, 
then went into a comic golf routine 
with Willie Shore, which segued 
into an interview with pro Claude 
Harmon, which in turn segued into 

routine by the June Taylor line, 
based on the use of golf clubs, 
"rom there in it was every act for 
itself and Cab Calloway took the 
hindmost time, bad spotting since 
his lively work was the highlight 
of the show. Vivian Blaine was in 
the prime slot and while her per- 
formance was okay, except for a 
tendency to press and overact de- 
livery, what the lighting did to her 
blonde looks was a crime. Since 
Peggy Lee was originally sched- 
uled, it's quite possible Miss 
Blaine's stint was in the nature of 
a hurryup call. Still, that's no ex- 
cuse. 

This show, incidentally, brought 
up something that caught even a 
hardened burlesque viewer up 
short. During the *Raul and Eva 
Reyes dance turn, a good one, the 
tatter's routine calls for torso shak- 
ing and bumps. Ditto in a bit by 
the June Taylor Girls, to the tune 
of "Dinner Music for Pack of 
Hungry Cannibals." Video is a fam- 
ily medium, bringing sight as well 
as sound into the living room, and 
bumps have no place in it, partic- 
ularly when a third-grader pipes 
up with "what's she doing, daddy?" 

Sullivan himself has improved 
over the weeks, but he's still too 
deliberate and occasionally fumbl- 
ing in his spiels. 4 



but the net is. hopeful via the re- 
duced prices •to woo enough new 
sponsors to make up the difference. 

Spiking reports of a slump in 
ABC co-op biz, Harold Day, sales 
manager of this department, re- 
ported the number of local bank- 
rollers is up 20% over a year ago, 
while the dollar volume of co-op 
sales has jumped 50%. 

Co-ops on the other three major 
nets are all sold on a percentage 
of the network rates. Oddly 
enough, Mutual, which introduced 
the co-op idea, initially priced 
these shows against local rates, but 
dropped the policy five years ago 
because of continual complications 
involved in keeping up with local 
rate changes. 



GFs Comic Test 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

Comedy team of Sweeney and 
March, long a sustainer on CBS, 
has been signed by General .Foods 
through Young & Rubicam for a 
six-week test run starting Aug. 27. 

Comics will fill out the time, now 
on the CBS hiatus list, until Jack 
Carson takes up his stand for GF's 
Sanka. Program airs from here at 
5:30 p.m. for the east on Friday 
nights with a Coast repeat. 




M-G-M — 
"On am Island with Yon" 
"This Tim* for Keeps" 
Mat.: LOU CLAYTON 



DEATH 

to • dearth of good material you 
too can have a super - duper 
Hooper. Completely unknown, un- 
discovered penniless genius avail- 
able as gag man script writer, idea 
man or what have you. New York 
and vicinity. Write California 
Carson (distant relative to Tennes- 
see Williams) c/o box 815, Variety, 
154 West 46th St., New York 19. 
N. Y. 



Public Relations Director for Well 
Known Seashore Resort 

Capable of creating and developing amusement 
and premetlenal event*; create and manage 
advertising exhibits. Vear round position 
with City government for rifht man. Give 
age. experience, termer employers and salary 
expected. Address Gamher. Suite 803, The 
Fairfax, <3rd anal locust sit., fnilaeoMiia 
4. Pa. 

i mm— 




"I wouldn't laugh, Edith! Mel Ott may call him yet . 
If he finds out what a Wheatie* fan old gram? hi" 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



RAMO 



S3 



Counting Minutes On Air No Criterion 
Sez Taylor On Progressives Beef 



New York. 

SOUor, Variety: - 

In the July 28 Variety, your 
Philadelphia correspondent has a 
piece quoting Edward . R. Frisbie, 
who runs radio for the National 
Wallace for President Committee, 
rather extensively on his views as 
to CBS coverage of the Progres- 
sive Party Convention. 

At the Progressive Convention, 
our coverage was based on the 
same principles of news values 
which governed our coverage of 
the Republican and Democratic 
Conventions. 

Proportionate to the length of 
the convention and the strength of 
the party as demonstrated by the 
best polls available, it is my opin- 
ion that the Progressive Party got 
a slightly better break on CBS 
than did the other two parties. 

However, I do not believe that 
merely counting minutes on the 
air is the way to decide how ex- 
cellent the coverage of an event 
like the Progressive Convention is. 
The proper criterion, in my opin- 
ion, is, did the news get to the 
people, and did it give them a fair, 
accurate and interesting picture of 
what was taking, place? 

It was my business to hear all 
of the broadcasts we did on the 
subject of the Progressive Con- 
vention, and I am happy to stand 
cn the record. However, the lis- 
teners are the ones to be consulted. 
Before the Progressive Conven- 
tion, we had a total of 12 letters 
asking us to give the convention 
fair coverage. Since the conven- 
tion, we have had not one com- 
plaint about the fairness of our 
coverage. Every letter, we have re- 
ceived has praised the job we did. 
Someone has to decide how much 
coverage a political convention 
should get. According to Variety's 
report, Mr. Frisbie feels that he 
should decide. Obviously, respon- 
sibility for decision lies with the 
network, and could not be waived 
even if we wanted to. 

By the way, Mr. Frisbie was un- 



| able to hear one of the most in- 
teresting shows that we did from 
I his convention. We are going to 
I play him a record sometime after 
he simmers down. 

Davidson Taylor 
(CBS Veepee, Director of 
Public Affairs) 



Colleges Fail Down In 
Use of Air Education, 
Sez KLZ's Hugh Terry 

Denver, Aug. 3. 
As main speaker for the windup 
dinner of the recent annual con- 
vention of the American College 
Public Relations Assn., KLZ man- 
ager Hugh Terry laid the problem 
of up-to-date educational broad- 
casting flat in the laps of the col- 
leges. 

Describing the advances in tele- 
vision and FM during the past 
year, and pointing to the great fu- 
iture for the visual medium, Terry 
j warned the college front men to 
| use more practical intelligence in 
the future than they had in the 
past with AM radio. 

"One of the great troubles in 
years gone by," he said, "was with 
that monster known as 'Education- 
al Broadcast.' Usually heard only 
by its proud author and the station 
engineer it made misuse rather 
than use of radio." 

Listing types of unfortunate ex- 
periences which stations have hau 
with educators, he continued: "Sta- 
tions have always been glad to 
supply air time, but too frequently 
were sadly disappointed to find 
their offerings taken lightly 
Their time was filled with unat- 
tractive, hastily prepared pro- 
grams that served only to drive 
listeners away from the radio and 
into the nearest film theatre to 
take a chance on a set of dishes. 
If radio hasn't yet reached a high 
level of usefulness to educational 
institutions, then you educators 
must stand up and share the 
blame." 

i — — mm mmmmmmmmwmAsBSgE^Si 



Commie Reprise 

ABC got such terrific .de- 
mand yesterday XTues.) to re- 
peat Monday i2) night's 
hour - long "Communism — U.S. 
Brand" that the web is sched- 
uling a rebroadcast for Sun- 
day (8), 9:30-10:30 p.m. If 
platters of stanza aren't of ac- 
ceptable quality, program will 
be done over live, public 
affairs veepee Robert Saudek 
said. 

Phone, mail and telegraphed 
reaction to program up to yes- 
terday afternoon was unani- 
mously approving except for 
protest wire from magazine of 
Harry Bridges' Longshore- 
men's Union, Saudek reported. 



Donegan Prez Sets Nucleus of '5th 
Network' in Upstate NX Hookup 



Paul Manning Packages 
'Inside Europe' Show 

Paul Manning, former CBS and 
Mutual war correspondent, has 
packaged a unique "Inside Europe" 
stanza which he would do from 
N. Y., utilizing info cabled to him 
from his own . staff of newsmen 
stationed in the major capitals of 
Europe. Program is being offered 
via the William Morris agency and 
several agencies already have ex- 
pressed interest. 

Manning recently returned from 
a swing through London and the 
Continent to line up top diplomat- 
ic sources and half a dozen key 
newsmen to feed him behind-the- 
headlines dope on developments. 
He points out that recent surveys 
show the European situation to be 
second only to the high cost' of liv- 
ing as the top interest of the U. S. 
public today. 

Manning was sponsored by 
Sperry Corp. in MBS for nearly 
two years during the wa^He was 
the only correspondent in the 
world to witness and broadcast 
both the German and Japanese 
surrender ceremonies. Recently 
he's been writing a nationally 
syndicated column on European 
affairs. 



Washington— Station WOL has 
renewed its contract with the 
American Federation of Radio 
Artists. Staff actors, singers and 
announcers get raises. 



Albany, Aug. 3. 
A new upstate Nejiv Yorkjmokup 
which its .promoters hope to build 
into a nationwide "fifth network" 
was chartered Thursday (29) with 
the Secretary of State by the Union 
Broadcasting System. Proxy of the 
new outfit is James T. Healy, head 
of the Governor Dongan Broadcast- 
ing Corp., which has operated 
WOKO here since last Nov. 1. 
(WOKO has been ABC's Albany 
outlet, but is being replaced by 
WHKW on Aug. 9.) , ■ 

UBS is a„ subsid of Dongan, 
Healy announced, and is tentatively 
slated to begin operations Sept. 15 
i with a phone wire hookup of sta- 
I lions in New York, Albany, Utica, 
Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo. 
WOV, N. Y. indie, will feed com- 
mercial programs to the web, al- 
though not actually a part of the 
net, Healy said. He claimed the 
hookup would open with an hour 
of sponsored programs daily. (Par- 
ticipating stations outside of 
WOKO and WOV weren't identi- 
fied.) 

Key city outlets, the UBS topper 
said, will also make tape recordings 
of "outstanding local shows and 
radio personalities" for sale to 
smaller stations outside the primary 
areas of the major affiliates. Web 
will receive 30% of the local sta- 
tion's rate card, "in contrast with 
percentages as high as 70% charged 
by present networks." , 

Healy predicted that it would be 
at least a year before the hookup 
could be made transcontinental. 
"We hope," he explained, "to make 
a fifth network, revolutionary in 
character and eventually spanning 
the United States, with time and 
advertising sold on a regional basis. 
"Programs will always be adver- 
tised by -the local announcer," he 
added. 

Lorensen & Thompson, national 
representatives of WOKO, also will 
rep the new web. Healy claimed 
more than 60 stations already have 
expressed interest in UBS. 

Principals in the venture besides 



tllealy are Chester T. Hubbell ex- 
prexy of the Albany Chamber- 
!of Commerce, veepee; attorney 
Charles A. Tobin, Jr., secretary, and 
John Aiello, local produce mer- 
chant, treasurer. A director will he 
Ira Mendleson, of the family own- 
ing the B. T. Babbitt Co. 



NBC, Mutual Distressed 
About Marriage Problem; 
Line Up 



By a strange coincidence, two 
networks last week disclosed plans ' 
to do documentary broadcasts on 
the problems of marriage. One of 
the webs is NBC, and announce- 
ment by veepee Ken Dyke 6f 
preparations to air a full-hour 
stanza on the subject late in 
August seemed to signal a new 
trend of thinking in this network... 
For NBC has been the last of the 
major nets to jump into the docur 
mentary field, where CBS and ABC 
have picked off industry kudo's and . 
Mutual began to try its hand last 
season. 

Mutual is the other, web blue- 
printing a look at U.S. marital life, 
but educational and religious di- 
rector Elsie Dick has tentatively 
broken the MBS sequence into 
three parts, to be aired once weekly 
sometime in the fall. It's under- 
stood Allan Sloane will script the 
series and Mitchell Grayson direct. 

Miss Dick also disclosed that she' 
is at work on a four-part docu- 
mentary,' for fall airing, examining 
latest developments in atomic 
energy and its peacetime potentials. 

NBC has been researching Its' 
upcoming one-shot, titled "Mar- 
riage in Distress," for the 'past 
four months, Dyke said. Public 
affaire staff under Wade Arnold is 
completing this work and the pro- 
gram itself will be scripted by Lou 
Hazam, who has been writing the 
net's "Living— 1948" series. 




mm- ■ „-.<! revye 



tk« l">T 



LEONARD SILLMAN'S 

NEW FACES RADIO REVUE 

FOR 

MAXWELL HOUSE COFFEE 

-8:30 EDT. WNBC EVERY THURSDAY 



"AN ORIGINAL HEVUE, PROBABLY THE SCARCEST COM- 
MODITY IN RADIO . . . a show that purely from the production 
standpoint hat far more pace than most. The cast goes about 
its work with obvious relish and vigor . . . the enthusiasm of 
the players is undeniably contagious." 



' "TZl bursting «••- 



>■»>< 



— N. Y. TIMES 



-PERMANENT CAST- 



LE* ^CtS 



Y. POST 

with rapif P taLENT. An •"- 
tertain.ng h»" n _ BllA .BOARD 



FRANK MILTON 
ELEANOR JONES 
GENE MARTIN 
JACK WILLIAMS 



JAY PRESSON 

GEORGE HALL 

JUNE CARROLL 

THE SKYRIDERS QUARTET 



WRITERS 



music- 



Director: KENNETH BURTON 



(With THANKS for their Brilliant commercial*) 
JEFF RAILEY JUNE CARROLL 

ARTHUR. SIEGEL JAMES SHELTON 

GEORGE HALL 
• 

NEW FACES Television Show 
NOW IN PREPARATION 

Music: ALLAN ROTH and His Orchestra 




Announcer: KEN ROBERTS 



Advertising Agency— BENTON & BOWLES 



Publicity— NATIONAL PUBLICITY ASSOCIATES 



84 



•KOllBSTItAS-MlJSlC 



Wedbeada 7, Am&M 4, VMM 



U.S. Charges American and British 
Decca, Also EMI, M Being a Carte! 

TT Decca Records was charged by*- 

^SST&t&ffi JTcoS; Maxe Records Reorg 



spiracy and disk cartel agreements, 
la aq, action filed in federal dis- 
trict court N.Y- yesterday (Tues- 
day). Clark cited Decca, Decca Rec- 
ords Co. Ltd. (of England) and 
Electrical Musical Industries, Ltd. 
(England) as conspirators in re- 
straining the distribution and sale 
of recordings. 

Clark's complaint alleges that 
U.S. Decca maintains an agreement 
with British Decca and EMI under 
•which the three outfits designated 
^territory each is to control for the 
manufacture, sale and licensing of 
recordings. In the territories not 
controlled by either of the Decca 
firms, EMI has the say, and the 
profits of the latter's operations 
allegedly are divided between the 
U.S. and British Decca companies. 

For example, the agreements, 
which began in 1934, give U. S. 
-Decca North and South America; 
EMI has Australia, New Zealand 
and Far East, and British Decca 
has the rest of the world. British 
and TJ. S. Decca split the profits 
from EMI's Far East Operation. 

Industry attorneys, aware of "the 
Government suit, recall the back- ; 
ground relations between E. R. 
(Ted) Lewis, head of British Dec- 
ca, and Milton Diamond, former 
U- S. Decca counsel, but now one 
of the American Federation of 
Musicians attorneys. Originally, 
British Decca held a large share 
of TJ. S. Decca and Diamond more 
or less represented its interests. 
Several y ears .hack, Lewis and his 
British company were out of the 
U.S. Decca picture and Diamond 
followed soon after. Meanwhile, 
U.S. Decca retained the right to 
release in this country any Brit- 
ish Decca disks made in England. 

Last year, to bring American 
dollars into England, British Dec- 
ca set up the London label for its 
disks made in England for U. S. 
release. The U.S. Decca has no 
connection in London; in fact, 
these records compete in the U. S. 
market with U.S. Decca. 

Clark's suit asks cancellation of 
all contracts; an injunction against 
restraint of trade; and an order 
against price-fixing by tfaei trio. 

Lewis, incidentally, gets into 
New York today (Wednesday) on 
a visit. Meanwhile, .Jack Kapp, 
U. S. Decca head, is in England 
and is to make a Continental tour 
thereafter. 



Plan Gets Aug. 16 Airing 

Reorganization plan developed 
to allow DeLuxe Records to con- 
tine in business will be heard 
Aug, 16 at federal court, Newark, 
N. J. Summary of the plan was 
served on debtors of the company 
last week. It calls for a 25% settle- 
ment on the dollar, 10% upon okay 
of the plan and the remainder in 
5% installments over 13 -months' 
time. 

Deluxe has been in business 
since August, 1943. . 



LONDON'S NORRIS MUSIC 
TO BE REACTIVATED 

London, Aug. 3. 

Norris Music, non-operative for 
two years, is going into business 
again next week. In charge of ex- 
ploitation and co-director with Sid 
Roy of the company, is Sid Green, 
who thus returns to the firm with 
which he started in the music busi- 
ness in 1935. 

Leaving Norris during the war 
after helping make such < hits as 
"Goodnight Children Everywhere" 
and "You Made Me Care," Green 
went to Southern Music and then 
to Irwin Dash. He recently left 
Dash to accompany his son, Barry, 
to the U. S. and help launch his 
singing career there. 

First numbers which he will 
work on are two Norris revivals — 
"Teats On My Pillow" and "Cuban 
Pete" — together with a new num- 
ber, "One Too Many," which Green 
brought back from the U. S. though 
it was written by British song-team 
Lubin and Lisbona. * 



New Four-Label Indie 

Newest entry into the platter 
business is. Remington Records, 
New York outfit headed by Bob 
Simon, former program director 
for Vox label. Company, which has 
acquired a 10-press plant in New 
Jersey, will issue its first release 
late this month. 

Remington will print four dif- 
ferent labels, including the Broad- 
way, 35c pop disk; Lenox, a 75cer 
featuring colored talent; Junior, 
95c unbreakable kiddie record and 
Arco, a classical label. Company 
has also negotiated a distribution 
deal with the Swiss Elite and 
m. ?? c ^ c » two European out- 



Brit. Decca Cuts 
Prod, to Boost 
U.S. Export Disks 

The 1948-49 English-Decca Rec- 
ord program will sharply accent a 
great step-up in the export of Lon- 
don label discs to the U. S. Quotas 
of British Decca British dealers 
are being scaled down to enable 
maximum raw materials to be 
switched to export platters. 

American Decca chief Jack 
Kapp, now in Britain, has been 
finalizing the program this week 
With his British counterpart E. R. 
Lewis, of Decca, and Harry Sar- 
ton. Kapp is busy completing de- 
tails of Decca's new finance 
scheme. Millionaire Harold C. 
Drayton, 46-year-old City invest- 
ment trust "king" is putting a large 
slice of cash into Decca. ~ 

Drayton's finance company — Se- 
curities Agency Ltd. — is subscrib- 
ing to 500,000 Decca 25c common 
shares at $3.50. Coin is needed to 
re-equip Decca's factory just out- 
side London, and finance "Decca 
Navigator" stations opening in 
Denmark next month. The "Navi- 
gator," a war-developed ship and 
plane radio guide, is pulling sub- 
stantial worldwide orders for the 
company. 

Drayton's group has backed 
Decca before. In 1933 it put lip 
$160,000 in debentures, this being 
later increased by another $440,- 
000 — since repaid. Shares being 
bought will not be quoted on the 
Stock Exchange until after Jan. 1. 
They will not rank for any final 
dividend to be paid on the com- 
pany's accounts for the past year. 
Reason for the Drayton deal is that 
British Decca chiefs do not think 
the country's general financial 
makes it a good time to i 
shares. 



Disk Jockey Review 



BOSTON BALLROOM 
With Bob Clayton 
Daily 4-6 p.m. 
Participating 
WHDH. Boston 

One of the most popular disk 
jockeys of the Hub, WHDH's Bob 
Clayton, runs a slick late after- 
noon show that garners a good- 
sized loyal listening audience. 

With show slanted more to 
younger element interested in jazz, 
Clayton varies stanza to include all 
types from Bebop to Dixieland, but 
not overlooking ballad singers and 
harmonica groups. He does not 
force his opinions on his audience, 
allowing listener reactions to 
guide him in further playing of 
disks, and has a vast fund of in- 
formation on artists' backgrounds, 
result of diligent research. 

With his informal mike style, 
Clayton gets good results inter- 
viewing guests. An oft-used idea is 
to allow a w.k. personality to pick 
out favorite records and act as 
guest jockey, Clayton filling in' with 
background questions. 

In addition to some staff an- 
nouncing, Clayton makes many 
personal appearances at local rec- 
ord shops and has recently begun 
a weekly column in Boston Trav- 
eler, 



Jocks, Jukes and Disks 



By Bernie Woods 



BRITISH MORE HEP TO 
GOOD AMERICAN TUNES? 

• New York. 

Editor, Variety 

Noted much ado about a forth- 
coming Tony Martin recording of 
"Tenement Symphony" as report- 
ed last week. The number, re- 
ported by you as dormant since 
its first appearance in "The 
Big Store," has actually been 
quite popular with the British 
for the past several years, as note 
Martin's performance of it in an- 
swer to many requests. The num- 
ber, too, has long been available in 
HMVs standard catalog, and IVe 
had a copy of this recording in my 
personal collection since 1943 (No. 
EA 3138, 10-inch, two sides, Eric 
Winstone and His Band, vocalist : 
Alan Kane.) ' 

All the above is singularly unim- 
portant except to bring your files 
up to date, and to note once again | 
that the British are np to their old ! 
tricks of giving recognition to 
worthy melodies that have fre- 
quently been glossed over by na- 
tive publishers in the U. S. Re-' 
member "The Man I Love?" Fulted i 
out of "Strike Up the Band" on the 
pre-Broadway tryout, and first pop- 
ularised in Britain. And some of] 
Cole Porter, etc. ! 

Dam H. Laurence. 



Being shackled to a turntable to 
listen to 50 or 60 disks at two 
sittings, one hears foul balls whiz 
past from that pitching needle so 
fast and often that when a high, 
hard one comes up it stands out 
like a Cadillac in a junkyard. 

For months the music publishing 
industry has been crying into its 
ASCAP royalty checks, bemoaning 
sloping biz. It's been the cry that 
the AFM's disk ban is killing, off 
copy sales because the public feels 
no new recordings are being is- 
ued. That's not the truth. At 75c 
a crack no one can be blamed for 
passing up the sort of tripe that's 
been served lately. The music biz 
is not bad because of the disk ban 
it's because of bad songs on 
disks. Tin Pan Alley could use new 
blood. How long can the writers 
who have built and sustained those 
valuable catalogs hold it up.. 

We may be strung from the Brill 
Bldg. flagpole for this, but it's our 
considered opinion that the tunes 
that have been taking the play 
away from so-called top writers in 
recent months — "You Can't Be 
True, Dear," "You Call Everybody 
Darlin'," etc. — actually are quality 
songs in comparison to the mis- 
mated music and lyrics that too 
many publishers latched onto in 
a hurry before the ban. At least 
they are understandable lyrical 
stories, played simply. 

An example is a Decca release 
by the Mills Bros: of a tune titled 
"I'll Never Be Without a Dream." 
Quartet pours into it the identical 
treatment given their "Paper Doll" 
hit. It's a rendition, to tickle any 
pub on that type of rune. But the 
melodic content shortweights the 
group. It serves to highlight the 
fact that with few exceptions the 
only saleable music available cur- 
rently is the increasing number of 
standards being Issued and those 
"overnighters" pubs continue to 
sneer at as "freaks." 



Bills: Crosby "I'd Love to Live In 
Loveland" — "Love Thy Neighbor"; 
"Pale Moon"^' 'Dolores" ' (Decca). 
A nostalgic sounding ballad, "Love- 
land" rates as a fine possibility. 
Crosby's sharply defined lyricing 
is supported and abetted by lush 
strings and a whispering beat. 
Backing, "Neighbor," is an out- 
standing standard which, with 
"Pate Moon" and "Dolores" on a 
companion release form a trio of 
standards any one of which can 
hit a coin machine revival jackpot 
It's a cinch they're jockey musts. 
"Moon" and "Dolores" are brightly 
ribboned by the Merry Macs and 
John Scott Trotter's orchestra. 

Tony Martin "This Is the Mo- 
ment" — "Ah But It Happens" (Vic- 
tor). From film of the same name, 
■"Moment" is a beacon among em- 
bers. Martin's rendition is the sort 
that makes a publisher begin esti- 
mating royalty checks, it's that 
commercial. Lyttle Sisters weave in 
and out of the lyric and Earle 
Hagen's understanding background. 



10 Best Sellers on (^-MadmesM " , k ( f.f*. ?>! 



YOU CALL EVERYBODY DARLING (5) IMayfair) 
WOODY WOODPECKER SONG (10) (Leeds) 



4. 
5. 
6. 

7. 

8, 



Al Trace ; Regent ± 

jKay Kyser Columbia 

(Mel Blanc- Sportsmen Copitol t 

{Dick Haymes Decca '• ■ 

} Doris Day Columbia 

Grij fin-Wayne , .Rondo i > 



IT'S MAGIC (6) (WMmark) 

YOU CAN'T BE TRUE DEAR (17) (Biltmore) 

MAYBE YOlFLL BE THERE (2) (BV© Cordon Jenkins... Decca :: 

LOVE SOMEBODY (3) (Kramer- WJ ... D. Day-B. Clark . ... ..Columbia " 

MY HAPPINESS (12) (Blasco) ^{fe^^SSi^^SSl 1 

WM. TELL OVERTURE (9) (Tan* Town) Spike Jones . . .Victor 

LITTLE WHITE IJES (21) (SVC) , i Dick Haymes .Decca Y. 

{Tommy Dorsey Victor " 

TREE IN MEADOW (1) (Shapiro-B) Margaret Whiting Capitol - • 



Coming Up 



RUN. JOE, RUN (Preview) Louis Jordan Decca " 

f LONG WAY PROM ST. LOUIS (Jewel) Ray McKinley VictOT 

PUT 'EM IN BOX (Reiniek) King Cole Capitol-- 

CONFESS (Oxford) { ?. atti Pa ^ e Mercury '. 

[Jimmy Dorsey..,. .M-G-M 

<■ 12TH STREET RAG (Shapiro-B) Pee Wee Hunt Capitol 

TEA LEAVES (Marris) Cote Columbia V. 

I Ella Fitzgerald Decca ■> 

MAHARAJAH OP MAG; DOS. (MutmaR Vaughn Monroe Victor ' ' 

i : BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS (T. B. Harms) Art Mooncy " M-G-M 

BLUE SHADOWS (Santiy-Joy) Bing Crosby .....Decca •• 

V- HAUNTED HEART (Williamson) ...... H? s Wfor& Capitol 

!• \Perry Como Victor >• 

% BABY DONT BE MAD (Paramount) Frankie Laine Mercury '• '■ 

EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY (Sinatra) { I H ra,ik sinatr * Columbia 

I Peggy Lee Capitol •• 

IFigures in parentheses indicate number of weeks song has been in the Top 10 J 
«* IDmiHiniinmi.niiiil-t'^tlttlitn.., . ♦ 



"Happens" is given the same pitch, 
but in this case it's along for the 
ride. 

Andrews Sisters "You Call 
Everybody Darling" — "Underneath 
the Arches" (Decca). Andrews trio 
cut this pairing in England with 
musical background. Done in a 
sparkling shuffle rhythm style, 
"Darling" will easily take slot in 
the forefront of the tune's coin' 
machine and jockey race. •"Arches,'* 
the promising English oldie, 
doesn't match its companion piece, 
but should grab attention if the 
tune keeps coining on. Background, 
by Billy Ternent, is fair, but at 
least it's not harmonicas. 

Jerry Wayne "You Call Every- 
body Darling"— "Cuckoo Waltz." 
(Columbia) Wayne retains the sim- 
ple and direct approach to both 
promising melodies, fitting his 
lyric to plain rhythm and organ 
accompaniment, respectively pre- 
sumably 'made in England. He'll 
get a share of the tunes' takes al- 
though neither side is up to rival 
renditions. 

Peggy Lee "Don't Be So Mean 
To Me" — "Just a Shade On the 
Blues Side" (Capitol). Both are 
excellent shares of Miss Lee's im- 
mense fund of feeling for blues. 
Unfortunately, they'll appeal more 
to her fans than widespread juke 
and jock attention. Top tune is by 
the singer and hubby-guitarist 
Dave Barbour; the other by Hoagy 
Carmichael and Harold A damson. 

Tex Beneke "At the Flying 
W" — "A Woman Always Under- 
stands." Beneke's "Flying W" is a 
pleasant bit of rhythm which will 
earn him fair coin machine and 
jock spins for a brassy effort not 
quite the equal of Elliott Law- 
rence's Columbia pass at the tune. 
Beneke. does the vocal under- 
studied by the Moonlight Serenad- 
ers. "Womari" displays little, al- 
though the rendition and vocal, by 
Garry Stevens, is nicely turned. 

Platter Pointers 

Carmen Cavallar* (Decca) flares 
into flashy pianistics on "Rhumba 
Maria," based on the theme music 
of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and 
"Carinhoso"; both fine sides for 
jocks but light for jukes . . . Colmn- 
' i Orchestra, which can mean 
anything, is responsible for a trio 
of attractively colored pieces in 
"Jazz Pizzicato" and "Jazz Legato," 
coupled, and "Fiddle Faddle." Jocks 
looking for unusual items should 
check them . . . Spanish lyrics are 
Andy Russell's forte and the flavor 
with which he covers "Cielito 
Lindo," the Latin standard, could 
form a hit serve. "Sunday In Old 
Santa Fe," backing, is edged in the 
same vein . . . Why Columbia ever 
assigned tunes such as "A Tree In 
the Meadow"- and "Galway Bay" to 
Bill Johnson is one of those things 
not easily understood . . . Three 
Suns work up a cute rhythm 
novelty in "Simon Says," vocalled 
by Sun Maids and Artie Dunn, and 
back it with "Remind Me To Tell 
You" (Victor) . . . Polka punchers 
will find Henri Bote's ".Tunnel of 
Love" and "Portrait of a Toy Sol- 
dier" good fare. 



ANDREWS SIS RECORD 
2 SONGS IN LONDON 

Andrews Sisters and Decca Rec- 
ords took expected advantage last 
week of the trio's vaude date at the 
Palladium, London, recording two 
songs with British musicians sup- 
plying accompaniment. Trio cut 
"You Call Everybody Darl- 
ing," and "Underneath the Arches" 
a week ago Monday (26) and the 
masters were in Decca's hands in 
N. Y. two days later for processing. 
Pressings will be marketed some 
time this week. Background was 
directed by Billy Ternent, British 
maestro. 

Pairing is the first time the An- 
drews trio have been able' to use 
musical accompaniment since the 
AFM's disk ban began. They have 
cut a number of tunes since Jan. 1, 
mostly -with harmonica accompani- 
ment. Lou Levy, manager of the 
trio and head of Leeds Music, and 
Jack Kapp, president of Decca, 
now in England preparatory to a 
Continental trip, were both at the 
recording date. 



Weemi Exits GAC in Chi 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 
Bob Weems exited from General 
Artists office here last week. He is 
into the concert-promoting 
field in the midwest area with a 
group of men including Pat Hayes 
and Sid Page. 

Weems' initial effort is a string 
of dates being set for Fred Waring. 



Wednesday, August 4» 1948 



Henry Spitzer Exits Buddy Morris 
To Go Into Business on His Own 



Henry M. Spitzer, general man- 
ager of the Edwin H. (Buddy) Mor- 
ris music firms, has resigned to go 
into business for himself. Spitzer's 
move exploded on the industry 
Monday <2) as a result of a minor 
conflict of ideas between himself 
and Morris, and for no other rea- 
son. Morris for some time has 
been devoting increasing attention 
to his properties and intends to 
take over active management. His 
theories concerning the way they 
should be run did not coincide 
completely with Spitzer's and the 
result was a mutual agreement to 
part. 

Spitzer held a 10% stock interest 
in the various Morris Companies, 
and in return for relinquishing his 
shares, assumes ownership of the 
Waroek and Vogue catalogs, which 
Morris owned. Warock is the firm 
Morris recently purchased from 
Johnny O'Connor, and Vogue is a 
Broadcast Music outfit Morris set 
up to hold BMI copyrights such 
as its hit of a few years ago, "Pistol 
Packin' Mama." 

As result of the parting arrange- 
ment, Morris intends to spend 
much more time in N. Y. He does 
'not intend to replace Spitzer. 

Spitzer is seeking offices for his 
new firms in N. Y. in addition to 
the catalogs he receives from Mor- 
new firms in N, Y. In addition to 
within the Morris setup will pass 
into his hands with which he will 
go to work immediately as an in- 
dependent publisher. He will set 
up offices in Chicago and 
Angeles. 



Los 



Osf eld Reviving 
Stevens Music 



Stevens Music is being reac- 
tivated by Jack Osfeld, who set it 
up originally a couple of years ago 
with Broadcast Music backing, only 
to have the firm go into bankruptcy. 
Osfeld, who left a job with Jewel 
Music last week, has made a sec- 
ond deal with BMI covering the re- 
opening of Stevens and the setting 
up of a second, as yet untitled firm. 

At the beginning, Osfeld intends 
to run Stevens until it pays off ex- 
isting obligations, meanwhile work- 
ing on tunes that will be placed in 
the new catalog. When Stevens, is 
clear of debt, both firms will be in 
full operation. 



Lead-Lease 'Chi Concerto' 

Kansas City, Aug. 3. 

Bill Snyder, pianist, orch leader 
and composer, is trying out a new 
plan in marketing his latest com- 
position, "Chicago Concerto." Sny- 
der is withholding the score from 
publication, although he's had 
offers from publishing houses. In- 
stead he will rent the score out, 
and only in that way will the com- 
position be available. 

He expects to combine the com- 
position with a fall concert series 
now being lined up for him. Idea 
is for Snyder to appear with vari- 
ous symphonies and longhair 
orchs introducing the "Concerto" — 
a musical picture of Chicago, a 
composition for piano with full or- 
chestral accompaniment. Snyder 
has scored the number for 100 
men, and packs the score with him. 
Part of each personal appearance 
-specifies that the orch rents the 
score from him at $150 per per- 
formance. " 



Tracey, All Co-Execs 
Of Majestic Held In 
Posts by Chi Court 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 

Eugene A .Tracey and other offi- 
cers of Majestic Radio & Television 
were retained in their jobs last 
week under an order issued by Chi 
federal district court Judge Phillip 
Sullivan. Motion to retain Tracey 
and the others was made by the 
trustees of the company. Action 
was taken although a report sub- 
mitted to the court by Master-in- 
chancery Charles A. McDonald 
found that Tracy showed "sub- 
stantial profits" on sales of his 
stock to the public, while the com- 
pany was operating at a loss. 

Company is being reorganized 
before Judge Sullivan as the after- 
math to an involuntary bankruptcy 
action filed by a group of creditors. 
Trustees made no report on offers 
to buy masters. Eddy Howard is 
still seeking to buy -up his masters 
and pressings and turn them over 
to Decca, whose banner he is set 
to go under as soon as the ban is 
over, or as soon as he can get disks 
to release. 



Seek Suspect in Ohio 

Dancehall Bomb Plot 

Bellefontaine, O., Aug. 3. 

Police are seeking a man seen 
leaving the dance hall operated by 
Jack Stone at nearby Russells 
Point, shortly before a bomb with 
the fuse burning was discovered 
by a watchman. 

The bomb, which he carried to 
an adjoining parking lot, exploded 
Wed. (28), breaking windows and 
rousing residents of the Indian 
Lake resort. Police said no one 
was injured. 



Continental Into 
Glaser's ABC Fold 



Continental Artists, talent 
agency formed last year by Milt 
Deutsch, Abe Turchin and Jack 
Archer, literally passed out of ex- 
istence last week when a deal was 
completed with Joe Glaser's Asso- 
ciated Booking Corp. Under the 
agreement, Deutsch, the only mem- 
ber of the launching trio who was 
still active with Continental, will 
head a Hollywood office for Glas- 
er's ABC. He will represent both 
his own properties and Glaser's in 
that area. In turn, Glaser will han- 
dle Continental artists in the east. 

As it was worked out, the deal 
expands ABC's talent list and at 
the same time solves a problem for 
Glaser. For some time he has been 
endeavoring to establish a Coast 
office, but had been having con- 
siderable difficulty finding a site, 
and also a suitable salesman to 
head it up. He takes over Continen- 
tal's offices in the Beverly-Wilshire 
hotel, and Deutsch, now in New 
York, moves in Sept. 1, the date 
the deal is effective. Turchin, inci- 
dentally, remains with Woody Her- 
man's orchestra, whose contract 
with Continental expires Oct. 15. 
Archer bowed out of Continental 
several months ago and is now 
back with the William Morris 
agency in Chicago. 

Talent which will accrue to Glas- 
er's ABC, from Continental, in- 
cludes Noro Morales, Esy Morales, 
Saccassas, Argueso, Pallado, Pepito, 
all Latin personalities. 



Vancouver Nitery Date 
Splits Jones' 1 -Niters 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

"Spike Jones' September one- 
niters will be split by a two-week 
date at the Cave Club, Vancouver, 
B.C., nitery. "Musical Deprecia- 
tion Revue" takes to the highway 
after its Cal-Neva date, which 
marks band's return to work fol- 
lowing leader's honeymoon with 
vocalist Helen Grayco. 

Bookings set include: Civic Aud., 
Oakland, Sept. 5; Aud., San Jose, 
Sept. 6; California State Fair, 
Sacramento, Sept.' 7-8; Cave Sup- 
per Club, Vancouver, B.C., Sept. 
10-22; Seattle, Sept. 23; and Port 
land, Sept 24. 



A3CAP Must Get Stay of 
Decision to Halt Current Confusion 
Over H'wood Synchronization Rights 



'Happiness' Disk 
Bootlegging Cues 
Appeal to FBI 

Federal Bureau of Investigation 
has been asked by Damon Records 
to look into and stop the bootleg- 
ging of recordings of its "My Hap- 
piness" recording, by Jon and 
Sondra Steele, which launched that 
tune into a national hit. Damon, a 
Kansas City disk-maker, bases his 
complaint to the G-Men on the 
theory that every undercover pres- 
sing of his hit sold to the public 
does the Internal Revenue Depart- 
ment out of excise tax. 

In his letter, Damon cites pres- 
sing plants, including RCA-Victor's 
Camden and Indianapolis factories, 
Signature, Commodore and others 
in various parts of the country, 
who are legitimately producing 
copies of "Happiness" for him. But 
he also mentions distributors by 
name whom he feels are selling 
more copies of his hit than they 
have been ordering. And the only 
way, he points out, that such un- 
ordered disks could be obtained 
is through bootleg sources. 

Damon explains in his letter the 
methods used by bootleg disk- 
manufacturers, a practice the re- 
cording industry has been aware of 
for some time. It's usually accom- 
plished by a pressing plant em- 
ployee smuggling a master or 
mother matrix at night from a 
plant pressing a particular hit. 
From either of these bases stamp- 
ers are made in a matter of hours 
and the smuggled master returned 
to its rightful place before morn- 
ing. From the stampers a consid- 
erable number of bootleg disks 
can be made, which are fed into 
the market by devious channels. 

That such methods were being 
used was suspected for the first 
time more than a year ago, partic- 
ularly on the west coast. As far as 
is known, however, no record com- 
pany has ever complained to the 
government, naming suspects. 



Agey. Hot After Herman 

Woody Herman's contract with 
Continental Artists expires Oct. 15 
and won't be renewed due to the 
merging of the agency with Joe 
Glaser's Associated Booking. As 
a result, all of the major agencies 
have been hot on Herman's trail 
for the past week or so trying to 
sign him. 

Herman played Convention Hall, 
Asbury Park, N. J., last week and 
during his run was visited by or 
spoke to reps of all agencies; Gen- 
eral Artists is supposed to have the 
inside position. Herman was with 
that agency for, eight years pr so 
before switching to Continental 
last fall. . . 



Top Disk Artists' 

V 

Contracts Run Out 



Since the beginning of the Amer- 
ican Federation of Musicians disk 
ban, Jan. 1, a fairly large number 
of contracts between major disk 
companies and their artists have 
expired. And, since the terms of 
the ban ; forbid any artist who is 
an AFM member from renewing 
during the tenure of the ban, it 
means that at the moment there 
are a number of valuable record 
names who. are unattached. 

It isn't likely, however, that any 
of the major diskeries will set out 
on a raiding campaign. All are 
vulnerable to some extent and the 
minute one company makes a grab 
for an unattached artist a scramble 
would be started. Too, there's the 
legal aspect; most recording com- 
panies have some sort of an agree- 
ment with artists which extends 
contracts for the length of time 
the ban continues, even though the 
clause may not be included in the 
pacts. -Any artist who decided 
another company's field was green- 
er most likely would find himself 
in a legal stew. 

Another angle that has never 
been settled legally, since no test 
occasion arose during the last re- 
cording ban in the early 1940's or 
so far in this one, is whether a 
union could break a bona fide con- 
tract between an artist and a com- 
pany by calling a disking ban. 



Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne au- 
thored the score for Warners "Two 
Guys from Texas." This credit 
was omitted from a recent 
Variety ad. 



4 RH' Logging 




A Fella With Umbrella— -t "Easter Parade"— Feist . 



Just For Now—Advance 



P.S. I Love You— LaSalle 



Every Day I Love You — f'Two Guys From Texas' 

—Harms. Chic. 
\ Cal. 
Put 'Em In Box— t "Romance On High Seas" 

— Remick . 



N. Y. 
Chic, 
Ca). 

Blue Shadows On the Trail— f'Melody Time" N. Y. 

— Santly Chic. 
Cal. 

Little GM— Leeds '. N. Y. 

Chic. 
Cal. 



17 
23 
3 
6 
11 
7 
1 
13 
6 
10 
17 
0 
6 
11 
5 
2 
4 
3 
3 
10 
1 
6 
4 
4 
6 
4 
3 
3 



Sust. Comm. Comm. Ctmm, Comm. Total 
Vocal Instr. Vocal Instr. Vocal Points 

184 



133 



Richard Hitriber's new ' development in logging broadcast performances lists tunes in the survey, 
based on four major network schedules. They are compiled on the basis of 1 point for sustaining instru- 
mental; 2 points for sustaining vocal; 2 for local commercial instrumental; 3 for local commercial vocal; 
4 for net commercial instrumental; 6, network commercial vocal. . > 

SURVEY FOR WEEK OF JULY 23-29 

Loc. Lot. Nctw. Netw. 

Sust. 
Instr. 

It Only Happens— t "Easter Parade"— Berlin ...... .N. Y. 7 

Chic. 
Cal. 

A Tree In the Meadow — Shapiro N. Y, 

Chic. 
. Cal. 

It's Magic— f'Romance On High Seas"— Witmark . . N. Y. 

Chic. 
Cal. 
N. Y. 
Chic. 
Cal. 
N. Y. 
Chic. 
Cal. 
N. Y. 
Chic. 
Cal. 
N. Y. 



11 


0 


0 


1 


4 


15 


8 


0 


0 


1 


17 


2 


1 


0 


0 


10 


0 


0 


0 


3 


5 


3 


1 


0 


0 


22 


3 


0 


0 


1 


8 


0 


0 


1 


6 


2 


2 


1 


1 


1 


7 


0 


0 


0 


3 


12 


0 


1 


0 


1 


7 


3 


0 


0 


0 


13 


2 


0 


0 


0 


5 


0 


0 


1 


0 


6 


1 


0 


1 


2 


12 


0 


0 


0 


1 


11 


0 


0 


0 


4 


2 


1 


0 


0 


1 


7 


1 


1 


o 


0 


8 


0 


2 


0 


2 


5 


2 


0 


0 


1 


6 


2 


0 


0 


0 


5 


0 


2 


0 


4 


5 


1 


0 


0 


0 


8 


0 


0 


0 


1 


11 


O 


0 


0 


4 


4 


0 


0 


0 


1 


4 


0 


0 


0 


0 


5 


0 


1 


Q 


4 


2 


0 


0 


0 


0 


13 


0 


0 


0 


1 



130 



118 



t 91 



88 



86 



85 



82 



81 



*■■ The necessity for a stay of exeat* 
turn, pending the appeal from the 
recent adverse decision handed 
down by Judge Vincent L. Leibell 
in N. Y. federal court, faces the 
American Society of Composers. 
Authors and Publishers, Other- 
wise the organization finds itself ia 
a confused position over the grant- 
ing of synchronization rights. 

The film companies, in turn, also 
find themselves uncertain about 
the exhibition rights, since the 
issue. The proposed passing on of a 
sync fees don't cover the seat-tax 
certain segment of the synchroniza- 
tion fees to allegedly embrace the 
exhibition license fee is fraught 
with much danger. 

For one thing, once again the 
bugaboo of "acting in concert* 
rears its head. This bogey now 
stems from the songsmiths, whose 
counsel wonders wlvther any 
agreement about an apportionment 
of a certain percentage of the fees 
may not be legally suspected ait 
"acting in concert." (This was 
made much of by Judge Leibell 
who, in his important opinion— ad- 
verse as it may be to ASCAP, it is 
nontheless viewed as "of major im- 
portance" — stressed, the' fact that 
this pooling of copyrights consti- 
tuted a violation of the Sherman 
anti-trust act). : 

The Hollywood filmusical mak- 
ers meantime, particularly those 
who have no music pub affiliations, 
(Continued on page 50) 

Sheet Sab h 
Continued Hypo 

Music sheet sales continue to 
show a marked improvement week 
by week, according to jobbers and, 
top publishers. At the same time, 
record sales show only a minute 
tendency to pick up. Where there 
is any improvement, it's usually 
due to individual hits affecting 
overall sales totals, although disk 
company salesmen assert that re- 
tail stores are showing more inter- ' 
est in their entire line rather than 
confining themselves to top hits. 

In both categories, any sort of 
upward movement is noticeable, 
since sales have been so slow. In 
the music field, there hasn't been 
such a sales slump in more than 15 
years. 



4-Way Tooter Switch 
Deal Working Between 
Dutch, Eng., Swiss. Beig. 

A recent reciprocal agreement 
between the musicians unions of 
Holland, Belgium, England and 
Switzerland has aided traveling 
orchestras of all four- countries, 
according to Dutch maestro Ma- 
thieu Niel now in the U. S. on a 
three-month visit. Arrangement, he 
said, works on the principle that 
for every Belgian, Swiss 'or British 
band permitted to play in Holland, 
a Dutch outfit must be permitted 
to perform in those countries. 

Top bands in Holland, Niel says, 
are the "Skymasters" and another 
group known as the "Ramblers." 
Former crew has a style somewhat 
akin to that of Stan Kenton while 
the other combo leans toward 
sweet arrangements. Most Holland- 
ers by-pass be-bop, Niel points out, 
for "it's something that they just 
don't understand." Turning to the 
current status of the Dutch music 
publishing field, he said the trade 
is ^almost entirely dependent upon 
plugs from radio and phonographs 
to boost sales. 

A "best seller" in Holland, in- 
cidentally, is lucky to top 2,000 
copies, Niel avers. Also a song- 
writer, he has a tune best trans- 
lated as "Eyes in Love," that's 
now on the Dutch equivalent of the 
hit parade. The bandleader, who 
entertained American troops in 
Holland during the war, came to 
the U. S. on a short visa as a 
guest of Lincoln Brownell of Wa- 
terbury Conn., whose son is buried 
in an American military cemetery 
near Niel's home, Maastricht 



86 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 




Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



Major Recorders Cool Off On 
Plan to Defy Petrillo Disk Ban 



Heat of the burn by major disk*, 
companies against the refusal of 
James C. Petrillo to do anything 
about the American Federation of 
Musicians disk ban, has cooled 
somewhat. As a result, the major 
recorders who a few weeks ago 
were all for banding together to 
proceed with recording, using 
Union musicians willing to flout the 
AFM, have subsided. 

It seems that one of the top 
companies, RCA-Victor, put the 
brake on the idea to resume full- 
scale cutting, using musicians. Vic- 
tor, which is only one part of the 
vast RCA holdings, foresaw that 
the parent organization would have 
much more to lose than the other 
disk companies in the event it by- 
passed the AFM and thereby 
earned the union's enmity. It's as- 
serted that *after the first heat of 
the all-together plan was cooled 
somewhat by Victor, others among 
the majors which also are affiliated 
in other fields, drew away from 
the plan. 

As a result, the recording situa- 
tion is right back where it has been 
since Jan 1. Recording is being 
done in England and elsewhere and 
most of the major company execu- 
tives seem satisfied at the moment 
to continue along those lines. Sale:* 
are still far below par, but the feel- 
ing now is to wait a while longer 
and see what may happen. Petrillo, 
with nothing to lose since he's not 
getting any royalties from record 
sates anyhow, is standing pat and 
saying nothing. 



Cunningham's 5-Yr. Run 
At Adolphus, Dallas, Ended 

Dallas, July 27. 

Herman Waldman's orchestra 
opens at the Adolphus hotel Cen- 
tury Room Aug. 12 replacing Tony 
Cunningham's band which has set 
a local record with a five-year run. 
(Cunningham worked the Room as 
vocalist with Ligon Smith band for 
two years making a total of seven 
years for him at the spot). 

Waldman was a partner in the 
Sky Vu Club here, selling out re- 
cently to resume batoning. 

Capitol Makes Masters 
Of 'Arches' and 'Hair' 

Add Capitol Records to the disk 
companies which are rushing 
through recordings of "Underneath 
the Arches" and "Hair of Gold," 
two likely hits, Andy Russell re- 
corded "Arches" last week and 
Gordon MacRae did "Hair," in 
Hollywood, with the usual substi- 
tute background. 

It's the first post-ban recording 
for both. Until now. Jack Smith 
,and the Sportsmen had done the 
majority of Capitol's disking re- 
quirements. 



Top* of the Tops ± 

Retail Disk Seller 
"You Can't Be True, Dear" 

Retail Sheet Music Seller 

"You Can't Be True, Dear" 

"Most Requested" Disk 

"Woody Woodpecker" 

Seller on Coin Machines 

"You Call Everybody Darling" 

British Best Seller 

"Galway Bay" ■ 




New York 

Tommy Dorsey's transcribed disk 
jockey show moves to WLIB from 
WMCA, Sept. 7; Dorsey, inci- 
dentally, is now running the show 
himself, having bought it from the 
Lou Cowan agency. . .M-G-M 
Records has developed a substance 
called Metrolite, unbreakable, etc., 
which it will use for kiddie disks 
. . . Grady Watts now handling 
Larry Clinton's orchestra . . . Rec- 
ord Merchandising now handling 
Apollo line in southern California 
. . .American Weekly, Hearst maga- 
zine section, starting four-part 
series on music industry Aug. .15 
. . . Bernie Cummins orchestra was 
booked into New Yorker hotel, 
N. Y. by MCA not GAC.Bick- 
ford Bros., Buffalo distribs, took 
RCA-Victor's annual $1,000 award 
for best promotion activities . . 
Illinois Jacquet combo to play 
Roxy theatre, N. Y., starting Sept. 
9. . .Buddy Moreno band into Tav- 
ern-on-Green, N". Y., Sept 15 for 
four weeks. . Freddy Martin set 
back Strand theatre, N. Y. date to 
Oct. 1, with film "Johnny Belinda." 
Don MacLeod replaced Al Gross in 
Johnny Long's orchestra. 



RCA Cuts 1st 
Post-Ban Disk 



RCA-Victor made its first post- 
ban recording about 10 days ago 
in New York, using Jack Lathrop, 
backed by a harmonica group, to 
cut "Hair of Gold" and "You CaU 
Everybody Darling." Sides are 
being rushed out to take advantage 
of the peak popularity of "Darlin" 
and the fast-climbing "Gold," 
started by the Harmonicats. 

Before the _first of this year, 
when the disk ban became effec- 
tive, Victor perhaps recorded and 
stocked away more material than 
any other major manufacturer. 
And it had not found the need 
since to cut additional disks. 
Lathrop was formerly with Glenn 
Miller and Les Brown's orchestras 
and the two sides just made are 
his first as a soloist with Victor. 



N. Y. Hotel Major Band Bookings 
Take Alternate Sweet Sour Turns 



Court Okays tita Sate Of 
Masters to Artists for $930 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 

Maury Murray, American Broad- 
casting net producer, became the 
first to buy back his masters from 
Vitacoustic Records last week, with 
Chi federal district court approval. 
He bought four masters for $930. 

Company is also considering of- 
fers from Leo Diamond and Joan 
Edwards for their disks. 

Elliot Lawrence Reopens 
Dailey 's Meadowbrook 

Frank Dailey will reopen his 
Meadowbrook, Cedar Grove, N. J., 
Sept. 9, with Elliot Lawrence's or- 
chestra. Band is dated for two 
weeks and four days and his suc- 
cessor has not yet been signed. 

Since July 4, when Dailey fold- 
ed Meadowbrook for the summer, 
the spot has been used as a sum- 
mer theatre by a New Jersey stock 
outfit, presenting outstanding hits 
of the past. Series expires Sept. 4 
and Dailey will have only five days 
to ready for the resumption of his 
band policy. 



Hollywood 

Margaret Whiting inked by Par- 
amount for two-reel short, which 
will be shot in N. Y. . .Saul Striks, 
pianist, fined $200 by AFM's Local 
47 for breaking quota-of-work rule 
by 88ing seven nights weekly in 
Georgian Room, Santa Monica. 
Striks also has been forbidden to 
work in spot for at least six 
months. . Toni Harper shares bill- 
ing with Mickey Katz combe- on 
Million Dollar stage week of Aug. 
3. Big Joe Turner and hoofer 
Nicoli fill out bill. . .Allie Wrubel 
and Mort Greene set by Walter 
Wanger to collab on song which 
Chill Wills will warble in "Tulsa" 
...KFWS disk jockey, Gene Nor- 
man, promoting Andre Previn and 
Paul Nero in jazz concert at Wil- 
shire-Ebell tomorrow night (28) . . . 
Jack Mass, Morris Plugger, and 
l>ave Bernie, Paramount rep, back 
from tune-touting tours across Pa- 
cific Northwest. Primarily con- 
tacted disk jockeys in small towns. 
Leeds Music's Bob Stern swings 
out over route next week... Mrs. 
Hoagy Carmichael Will turn flack 
for husband's London vaudate at 
Casino, where he opens four-week 
stand Aug. 9. She flies to London 
io plant yarns prior to pianist- 1 
composer's arrival. He will train 
to N. Y. and sail on Queen Mary 
July 30... Mickey Goldsen has 
shifted from N. Y. to Hollywood 
neadquarters of his music publish- 
ing houses, Capitol . Songs, Cri- 
terion, Leslie and Barbour-Lee mu- 
sic companies. . Goldsen . left one 
man in Gotham to tout tunes for 

, f °» u r firms • • Hoy Acuff's 
bmoky Mountain Boys wUl pre- 
sent six tunes, "Smoky Mountain 
(Continued on page 39) 



RETAIL MSI BEST SELLERS 





PffiRMETY 

Survey of retail disk best 
sellers, based on reports ob- 
tained' from leading stores in 
12 cities, and showing com- 
parative sales rating for this 
and last week. 




New York — (Liberty Music Shop) 


V3 
U) 

O 

P3 
i 

c 


ll's) 


nkins Music Co.) 


mel's Mus. Shop) 


Sherman-Clay) 


Music Co.) 


Kresge Co.) 


m-Clay) 


mi Leary) 


Omaha — (Schmoeller & Moeller) 


sarson) 


X 
O 

T 

A 


National Wc&k Ending 

Rating J^y 31 
This Last 

wk. wk. Artist, Label, Title 






Chicago — (Hudso 


Detroit — (Grinne 


Kansas City — (Je 


Q 

I 

V 

■— . 
e 
to 
c 
< 

to 
O 
►4 


San Francisco — 


% 

■*-> 

in 
O 

I 

e 

-*> 

<n 
o 

n 


St. Louis — (S. S. 


Seattle — (Sherm; 


Minneapolis — (Di 


ft. 

I 

a 

5 

c 

S 

a 


h 
p 

O 

I 

N 
T 

s 


1 1 


K. GRIFFIN -JL WAYNE (Rondo) 


3 




2 


1 


4 


1 




3 


3 


3 








68 


2 2 


KAY KYSKR (Columbia) 






1 






2 






4 


1 


6 






5 




47 


3 4 


DORIS DAY-B. CLARK (Col) 


4 


5 


7 


9 


5 






7 


8 


8 






2 


44 


4 5 


PEE WEE HUNT (Capitol) 








2 


1 




10 




2 




7 


9 






3 


43 


5 3 


DICK HAYMES (Decca) 
"Little White lies" 






6 






4 


8 


4 


5 


5 


4 










41 


6 8 


AL TRACE (Regent) 

"You Call Everybody Darling 


»» 


9 


1 












2 








2 


4. 


37 


7 7 


MEL BLANC-SPORTSMEN (Cap) 




4 


3 






2 








4 






6 


36 


8 10 


SPIKE JONES (Victor) 
"William Tell Overture" . . . 










8 


5 




8 


7 


9 


5 


6 




9 


7 


35 


9 9 


GORDON JENKINS (Decca) 
"Maybe You'll Be There". . . 




5 


6 










1 






5 






5 


33 


10 12 


JON-SONDRA STEELE (Damon) 


2 


8 




3 




_ f 


3 










10 




29 


11 6 


PIED PIPERS (Capitol) 
"My Happiness" 










4 














2 






1 


26 


12 11 


VAUGHN MONROE (Victor) 


8 




5 






3 












7 


9 


23 


13A 12 


DORIS DAY (Columbia) 








3 














1 








8 


21 


13B 14 


ELLA FITZGERALD (Decca) 










6 






4 


2 










21 


14 17 


RAY McKINLEY (Victor) 






6 




1 


















15 


15A .. 


DORIS DAY (Columbia) 














3 


5 
















14 


15B 17 


"' ART MOONEY (MGM) 
"Bluebird of Happiness". 
























7 


1 




14 


16A 13 


DICK HAYMES (Decca) 














2 




10 














10 


16B 16 


ANNIE VINCENT (Mercury) 
"You Call Everybody Darling" . . . 




















1 






10 


17A 16 


VAUGHN MONROE (Victor) 








10 


















3 




9 


17B .- 


ANDREWS SISTERS (Decca) 








6 




7 
















9 


18A 14 


TEX BENEKE ■> (Victor) . 
,"St. Lonis Blues March" . . 








9 


9 










8 












7 


18B .. 


BLUE BARRON (MGM) 
"Vnu Were. Onlv Foolinu" 




























4 




7 


19A .. 


FRANK SINATRA (Columbia) 
"It Only Happens When Dance' 










6 
















6 


19B ..' 


MARGARET WHITING (Capitol) 
"Tree in the Meadow" 












8 




9 








10 


6 


FIVE TOP 
ALBUMS 


I 

EMPEROR WALTZ 
Kng Crosby • ■ 


. 1 

SONG HITS OF OUR 
TIMES 

(/Albums) 
Decca 


3 

MUSIC FOR 
ROMANCING 
Paul Weston 

Capitol 


4 

PROGRESSIVE 

JAZZ 
Stan Kenton 

Capitol 


'5 

ALBUM NO. 3 
Al Jolson 

Decca 



' Situation involving name 
"swing" bands in major New York 
hotels took two turns within the 
past 10 days, one for the better and 
one for worse. Though top sweet- 
band maestros such as Frankie 
Carle, Guy Lombardo, et al,- have 
consistently played N. Y. prestige 
spots during recent years, none of 
the big jazz or swing combos have 
been in, except Stan Kenton, who 
worked the Commodore last week. 
High* prices and low bids by hotel 
men Jiave kept them out and band 
agency men feel that it is a con- 
dition that must be righted to help 
inject new life into the field. 

However, the Commodore, which 
used Boyd Raeburn, Woody Her- 
man, and others as well as Kenton, 
has dropped out of the picture, tt 
served notice recently on agency 
men that when its Century Room 
reopens in the fall a policy of con- 
cert music (no dancing) will pre- 
vail on weekday evenings. On 
weekends, a non-name group will 
supply dance fare. It's explained 
by the hotel that its name band 
policy of last season didn't make 
money and that in view of prices 
asked by major maestros it would 
be closed to them. Vaughn Mon- 
roe, who did consistently good busi- 
ness at the spot, and whom the 
Commodore wanted to retain, was 
asked to cancel his six-week book- 
ing and did so. Commodore ex- 
plained that it couldn't get together 
with other maestros for periods be- 
fore and after Monroe. 

On the other band, Tommy Dor- 
sey has been discussing the pos- 
I sibility with James McCabe, Penn- 
; sylvania managing director, of re- 
opening the Cafe Rouge Sept. 21 
I (Room closes Aug. 20 for remodel- 
j ling). So faV, T. D. and McCabe 
haven't gotten together on price 
and may not at alL Nevertheless, 
Music Corp. of America says 'Dor- 
sey will play a N. Y. hotel in the 
fall. Dorsey hasn't played in N. Y. 
in five years or so. 1 




Dimitri Tiomkln set to do the 
musipal score for David O. Selz- 
nick's "Portrait of Jennie." Scoring 
and recording is expected to be 
completed to meet early October 
release date . . . Bob Allen, former- 
ly with Hal Kemp, and Louise 
Tobin, previously with Benny 
Goodman, have joined Ziggy Elman 
band for stand at Palladium, begin- 
ing Aug. 10 . . . Universal-Interna- 
tional has bought picture rights to 
tune, "K-K-Katie" which studio will 
use in Claudette Colbert, Fred Mac- 
Murray starrer, "Family Honey- 
moon." . . , Johnny Miller will leave 
the King Cole Trio following the 
group's engagement at the Million 
Dollar Theatre, week of Aug. 10. 
Miller, who has been thumping the 
base with Trio for nine years, is 
being replaced by Joe Comfort, 
formerly with Lionel Hampton and 
Benny Carter bands . . . Betty Reilly 
set for two weeks at Flamingo, Las 
Vegas, beginning Aug. 19 . . . Nellie 
Lutcher set for Ciro's, Phila- 
delphia, Aug. 20 for one week . . . 
Frankie Laine playing one niters 
at Monterey Park and Balboa Aug. 
13-14, then two weeks at Palomar 
Club, Vancouver, Aug. 19. He goes 
into Fairmont Hotel, S. F. Sept. 
21 through Oct. 3. 

Jane Pickens inked by RCA- 
Victor to chirp for label when disk 
ban dissolves . . . Beatrice Kay in 
for fortnight stand, at El Rancho, 
Las Vagas, opening Oct. 13,..Robert 
Emmett Dolan will compose and 
direct musical score for Para- 
I mount's "The Great Gatsby" . . . 
! Franz Waxman signed to score 
I "Dark Circle" for Par. . . •. David 
! Snell will conduct score for Met- 
! ro's "Act of Violence" . . Bob 
; Ecton held over for four weeks at 
jCasa de Manana, La Jolla. . .Allan 
Roberts-Doris Fisher's "The More 
;We Get Together" and Smiley 
j Burnette's "I Can Dance" and "My 
' Home Town" bought by Columbia 
! for "Challenge of the Range" ... - 
i Gabbe, Lutz and Heller have taken 
over personal management of 
Sktlch Henderson band . . . Esy 
Morales recording "Jungle Fan- 
tasy" for U-I's "Criss Cross" with 

■ Burt Lancaster; Yvonne DeCarlo 
' and Dan Duryea. 

; • Art Whiting has closed band- 
i booking agency, turning over 
' three combos to MCA. In re- 
turn MCA is getting Whiting 
1 inside (rack on personal-managing 

■ some of its atractions . . . Esy 
Morales orch opens at President 
hotel, Atlantic City, for six weeks, 

' storting Aug. 1. . . Joe Barbarry, 
violinist, has left Harry James 
: orch to form his own band. 



38 



_gg€HBSHtAS-MirSMC 



Leeds Mulls Own 
Suit Vs. Stravinsky 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



tJ?»» ?! u . s » c t is Panning a coun- 

«£KLW* i? or Stravinsky, 

tswnm J. r S filing of a sult Sr 
r °^?0 damages against Leeds in 

geles . s nP erl or court. Strav- 
TiJ. aSserted . ln action that, 
Leeds promotion of the pop tune, ! 
4?, ^ e i' Mpon." based on his \ 
Firebird Suite," was done with- 
out lus authority. 

^LeedsV plans for a countersuit 
are based on its being placed in an 
unfavorable light by Stravinsky's! 
charges that the title page of 

Moon', was to have carried the 
notation that it was simply an 
adaptation of the "Firebird" music, 
and not to be attributed directly to 
hmr as composer (John Klenner 
aid the lyric). Publisher holds reg- 
ular Songwriters Protective Assn. 
contracts which cite Stravinsky as 
the composer of the music of the 
melody and isn't happy with the 
widespread publication of news of 
the suit, which implies unfair prac- 
tices. *> 

..It's agreed by Leeds that the 
Firebird" music is in public do- 
main and that it could have been 
used as the basis for a pop with- 
out Stravinsky's permission. But 
since Stravinsky agreed to the use 
of his name for exploitation pur- 
poses it doesn't like being left 
holding the bag. 



Kay Starr Settles Suit 
Vs. Coast Indie Label 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 
- Kay Starr has made a $1,200 
out-of-court settlement with Ted 
Yerxa of the bankrupt Lamplighter 
Records. Money involved guaran- 
tees which she never collected on 
the disks, which have never been 
released. 

Miss Starr's platters, in the 
meantime, had been sold by Yerxa 
to Coast label. Coast has not yet 
released any of the waxings. Miss 
Starr is now under contract to 
Capitol. 



RETAIL SHEET BEST SELLERS 



Pfi&IETY 



Survey of retail sheet music 
sales, based on reports obtained 
from leading stores in 12 cities, 
and showing comparative sales 
rating for this and Vast week. 



National 
Rating 

This Last 
wk. wk. 



Week Ending 
July 31 



Title and Publisher 



31 3 



T 

o 

T 
A 
L 

P 
O 
I 

N 

•r 
s 



1 


1 


"You Can't Be True" (Biltmore) . 


1 


1 


1 


3 


1 


1 


1 




1 


1 


2 


3 . 


105 


2 


3 


"My Happiness" (Blasco) 


5 


2 


2 


2 


2 


2 


9 


1 


2 


2 


1 


2 


100 


3 


2 


"Woody Woodpecker" (Leeds) .... 


2 


4 


3 


1 


5 




4 




3 


3 


10 


1 


82 


4' 


4 


"Tree in the Meadow" (Shapiro-B) 


4 


5 


9 


5 


7 


7 


2 


3 


5 


6 




7 


61 


5 


7 


"It's Magic" (Witmark) 


3 


7 


10 


4 


3 




7 


4 


6 






8 ' 


47 


6 


6 


"Little White Lies" (BVC) 


6 




4 


10 


6 


4 






9 


5 


7 


5 


44 


7 


7 


"You Call Everybody Darling" (M) 




3 


5 








5 


5 


4 






4 


40 


8 


5 


"Toolie Oolie Doolie" (C.K.Harris) 








6 


8 


5 


8 




7 


4 


4 


10 . 


36 


9 


10 


"Love Somebody" (Kramer-W) . . . 


7 


6 


6 










7 








6 


23 


10 


7 


"Nature Boy" (Burke-VH) 








8 




10 






8 




3 


9 


17 


11 


11 


"Maybe You'll Be There" (BVC) . . 




8 












2 


10 








13 


12 




"Now Is the Hour" (Leeds) 




9 




9 


9 












6 




11 


13 


9 


"Haunted Heart" (Williamson) . . . 










10 


6 








8 






9 



14 "Confess" (Oxford) 



Oberstein Clicks 
With 39c Disk 

Public reaction to the first couple 
of weeks of sales on Eli Oberstein's 
new 39c Varsity label is so good 
that the new company hasn't the 
[capacity to fill orders. Checks with 
l various chain outfits, such as 
iKresge. Woolworth, et al, show 
ithat each outfit has expanded 
! initial, or test, -orders when reor- 
dering the Varsity disks. 

Oberstein's approach to the prob- 
lem of marketing a cheap but well" 
; made disk is unique. He uses non- 
; name artists to make accurate re- 
[ productions of hit disks marketed 
i by other companies. It's based on 
ibis- theory that the average record 
buyer today is much more inter- 
jested in a hit song than the artists 
; who originally recorded it. There- 
fore, a recording that serves a hit 
in a manner similar to the rendi- 
tion used by the originating artists, 
is money in the bank, and at 39c 
a copy has added appeal over the 
i75c asked for the average major 
label. 

Few executives of the recording 
industry believe that Oberstein can 
clear a per-disk profit with a 39c 
tag on his platters. But apparently 
he does. 



GAC Grabs Olsen, Pieper 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 

George Olsen orch moves over 
to Gen'eral. Artists Corp. Sept. 1 
from William Morris Agency. 
Olsen joined WM after 15-year 
stay with MCA last October. 

Also picked up by GAC is the 
Leo Pieper band, which had been 
booked by the McConkey agency. 

Ken Nelson, WJJD music direc- 
tor, will head the transcription de- 
partment of Capitol Records. He 
replaces Lee Gillette, who moves 
over to the pop record division. 
Don Lavery, Nelson's ass't, takes 
over as WJJD m.d. 



Reg Connelly Due Over 
In the U.S. Next Oct. 

London, Aug. 3. 

Reg (Campbell) Connelly ready- 
ing another trip to the U. S. ,in 
October. His last American junket 
was several months ago. 

Connelly's pub firm has done 
rather well in the U. S. music mart 
what with its "Underneath the 
Arches," "Tree in the Meadow" 
and "Turkish Delight" all proving 
good "money songs." Company's 
current local bestseller, "Time May 
Change," is figured another good 
American bet. 



Eduardo Res In N.Y. 

Edmundo Ros, perhaps the No. 1 
Latin maestro in Britain, is making 
his first visit to New York since 
1935 and taking in a whirl of the 
bands of the east. Recording for 
Decca in England (London Records 
release in the U.S.), Ros doubles 
from the Bagatelle to the Astoria 
for supper. 

Maestro clippered in but returns 
tomorrow (Thursday) on the Queen 
I Elizabeth to England. 



Buddy Bernard to handle Holly- 
wood end of Richard Himber's new 
broadcast logging sheet. He's now 
in New York. 



MERCURY SETS 3 NEW 
ARTISTS, BUYS MASTERS 

Chicago, Aug 3. 

Mercury Records last week went 
on a buying spree, taking up 
masters made elsewhere and set- 
ting three new artists. First deal 
gave Mercury a batcli of Norman 
Granz's "Jazz at the Philharmonic" 
masters, which he had been re- 
leasing himself on the Clef label. 
Mercury will release a "Jazz" 
album next week. 

Company later bought 18 masters 
by Vivian Green from Trylon Rec- 
ords, as well as signing Miss Green 
herself. Then the Fisher Jubilee 
Singers, Tennessee group, Daisy 
Mae and Old Brother Charlie, Pee 
Wee Jenkins' Barn Dance Buddies, 
and Sammy Madden's Polka Band 
were signed. 




LOOKS LIKE THE BIGGEST 
THING IN AMERICA! 




Vocal by Bud Brees and Tht Gatli Sittcrs—Potm Recitation by Art Moon*y 
Backed by SUNSET TO SUNRISE 

(Art M«on«y*t Thtmt) . 

A NEW SMASH SUCCESS RECORD following "CLOVER" and "BABY FACE" 

ART MOONEY 

and his ORCHESTRA 

On MOM Record No. 10207 



M G M RECORDS 



i he c- r t -ME ; ' 



WwlneMlay, August 4, 1948 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



Leeds Tees New 
ASCAP Campaign 

Leeds Music has launched a new 
campaign with the American So- 
ciety of Composers, Authors and 
publishers to attain the availability 
rating it feels it should rightfully 
have. Now pegged at 750 points, 
Leeds has for some time sought 
1,750. More than a year ago, the 
Society's Appeals Board had 
granted a jump to 1,000 points, but 
the board of directors knocked it 
down to 750 again. . 

Leeds' new campaign is based on 
claim that since its last tiff with 
ASCAP for an availability increase, 
it has contributed "Now Is, the 
Hour" and "Gypsy" to the stand- 
ard works classification and has 
added many other songs of im- 
portance. It wants to again pre- 
sent its case to the Society's Pub- 
lishers Classification Committee. 



89 



JOHN 0 'LEAHY'S NEW POST 

John O'Leary, for years road 
manager for Glenn Miller's orches- 
tra and latterly with the Tex 
Beneke combo, leaves that post 
soon to become New York rep for 
Don Haynes, Beneke's manager. 
Haynes lives in Hollywood and 
works out of there. 

O'Leary's place with Beneke 
will be taken by Vincent Carbone, 
who'll double from sax. 



Fealnrwl In M-G-H'e 

"■IG CITY" 

DON'T 
BLAME 
ME 

Music by. . . 
JIMMY McHVGH 

ROMINS 



A GREAT 
RHYTHM BALLAD 




OXFORD 
Hit 



MUSIC 



CORPORATION 
New York 



Ward* and Mam by 

BERN IE WAYNE 

and •* 

BEN RALEIGH 

WALKIN' WITH 
MY SHADOW 

". . . spreading into another one of 
those sleeper hits."— Billboard 

JOHNSTONE MONTEI MUSIC 

IK 19 BKemdwMjr, New York. 



j Songs with Largest Radio Audience j 

The top 30 sohqs of the week based on the copyrighted Audi- 
ewe Coverage Index Survey of Popular Music Broadcast Over 
Radio Networks, Published by the Office of Research, Inc., Dr. 
John G. Peatman, Director, 



Survey Week of July 23-39, 1948 

A Fella With an Umbrella— f 'Easter Parade" 

A Tree In the Meadow 

Baby Don't Be Mad at Me 

Beyond the Sea . . 

Blue Shadows On the Trail— t "Melody Time" . . . .. . 

Bride and Groom Polka .' 

Confess 

Dolores . . , . 

Ev'ry Day I Love You— < "Two Guys From Texas" . 

Haunted Heart— *"Inside U.S.A." 

I Went Down To Virginia 

Only Happens Dance With You — t"Easter Parade". 

It's a Most Unusual Day— i "A Date With Judy" 

It's Magic— i "Romance On High Seas" 

It's You Or No One— ^'Romance On High Sea's". . . 

Judaline— f'Date With Judy". 

Just For Now 

Little Girl 

Little White Lies 

Love Of My Life 

Love Somebody 

My Fair Lady '. 

My Happiness 

Nobody But You 

P. S. I Love You 

Put 'Em In a Box— ("Romance On High Seas" 

Rhode Island Is Famous For You— ""'Inside U.S.A.". 

Sabre Dance 

Serenade (Music Played On a Heartstring) 

Steppin' Out With My Baby— f'Easter Parade". 

Tea Leaves 

Toolie Oolie Doolie 

We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye 

Woody Woodpecker 

You Call Everybody Darling 

You Can't Be True Dear 



Feist 

Shapiro-B 
Paramount 
Chappell 
Santly-Joy 
Simon 
Oxford 
Famous 
Harms 
Williamson 
Jefferson 
Berlin 
. Robbins 
Witmark 
Remick 
Robbins 
Advanced 
Leeds 
BVC 

T. B. Harms 
Kramer-W 
United 
Blasco 
Duchess 
LaSalle 
Remick 
Crawford 
Leeds 
Duchess 
Berlin 
. Morris 
C. K. Harris 
Words-Music 
Leeds 
Mayfair 
Biltmore 



The remaining 25 songs of the week, based on the copyrighted 
Audience Coverage Index Survey of Popular Music Broadcast 
Over Radio Networks. Published by the Office of Research, Inc., < ■ 
Dr. John G. Peatman, Director. 

A Boy From Texas Shapiro-B 

Best Things In Life Are Free Crawford 

Better Luck Next Time— f'Easter Parade" Feist 

Blue Bird of Happiness T. B. Harms 

Caramba It's the Samba Martin 

Crying For Joy Monacho 

Cumana Martin 

Delilah ...Encore 

Dream Peddler Southern 

Evelyn Melrose 

Everybody Loves Somebody Sinatra 

Highway to Love BMI 

I'd Love To Live In Loveland '. BVC 

Long- After Tonight . BMI 

Maybe You'll Be There .... Triangle 

Rambling Rose Laurel 

Take It Away Pemora 

Takin' Miss Mary To the. Ball Miller 

£ Tell Me a Story Laurel 

Things I Love Campbell 

This Is the Moment Robbins 

Time and Time Again London 

When the Red Red Robin Comes Bobbin Along Bourne 

You Were Meant For Me Miller - 

Yours Marks 



* Lepit Musical, t Filmusicol. 
i HIMHMIttOttl t' f «" »* * ********* ****** 



— Continued from page tl s=, 
Moon." "Tennessee Central" 
i "Thank God," 'Upid.es,' B.lly 
Boy" and "For He's a. Jolly Good 
'Fellow" in Columbia s Smoky 
i Mountain Melody" . Freddy Stew- 
;«t opens at Manchester Club July 
j 29, for four weeks, with options, ai 
!$L250 per week. 

King Cole Trio takes off on west 
coast tour Aug. 6 at Bakersfield: 
l paying Balboa Aug, 7; El Cernto, 
week Aug. 17; Portland. 27; Seattle 
1 28, winding with two weeks at 
Palomar Club, Vancouver, Aug. 30. 

Freddy Martin's four-weeks at 
■ Waldorf Astoria, N.Y., open Thurs- 
day ( 5 ) -Ike Carpenter orchestra 



will back Frankie Laine during 
week at Million Dollar Theatre, 
starting Aug. 31 . . . Freddie Fish- 
er's Schnicklefritz band opens La 
Kotas, Milwaukee Aug. 2 . . . Ginny 
Jackson re-joined Spade Cooley's 
oat group. 



PREP BOTE U. S. 
SHOWCASE FOR BARELL 

Aram Barell, French maestro 
who sings in English as well as 
French and who plays trumpet, is 
to be brought to the U. S. in the 
fall by Billy Shaw, Gale Agency 
executive. Shaw" signed a- contract 
with Barell during his last trip 
to Paris with a jazz band o£ U. S. 
musicians, to represent him on 
this side of the ocean. 

Barell plays both "commercial" 
and jazz trumpet and sings in Eng- 
lish with a Charles Boyer type of 
accent and trades people who have 
heard recordings by Barell arc 
high on his chances of succeeding; 
in the U. S. band industry. He's 
to be launched here, when plans 
are solidified, with a huge exploita- 
tion and promotion campaign. One 
of the major U. S. recording com- 
panies, incidentally, is also deeply 
interested in his shift of operations 
to the U. S. It's probatJle that be- 
fore Barell leaves France, •' this 
disker will record him extensively 
in Paris, as a means of course of 
avoiding the U. S. AFM's record- 
ing ban. . 



Sherman Sets 
Herman Debut 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 

Woody Herman's orchestra has 
been signed to debut the return to 
a name band policy by the Panther 
Room, Sherman hotel. Ernie By- 
field, operator of the hostelry, con- 
cluded a deal with Herman over 
the- weekend which calls for him 
to open Oct. 15 for four weeks, 
followed by Lionel Hampton for 
four. Joe Glaser, of Associated 
Booking, made the deals. 

Panther niche, which has been 
closed to name bands for more 
than a year because of a combina- 
tion of high prices and weak b.oi,' 
has used a policy of name singers- 
and . small jazz combos in the in- 
terim. Room is now being* re- 
modeled. 

Frankie Carle is still looking for 
a singer to fill daughter Marjorie 
Hughes" spot. Miss Hughes has 
left the band under doctor's or- 
ders. ' • 



jjuuuua^aaxo^r 

Box Office Champions \ 

HORACE HEIDT'S 

"PARADE OF STARS" 

ORIENTAL. Chicago. Two Weeks 
.Aug. 5 and 12 
HIPPODROME. Baltimore 
Week Aug. 22 



Chicago 

Vic Lombardo band into the 
Edgewater Beach Oct. 22 for four 
weeks . , . Honey Dreamers re- 
corded the "Wisconsin Song" for 
free distribution at the Wisconsin 
State Centennial . . . George Olsen 
does a one-weeker at Muehlebach 
hotel, Kaycee, Sept. 15 . . . Disk 
jocks Ernie Simon, Dave Garroway. 
Linn Burton and Eddie Hubbard 
packaged for ' "licago theatre, Aug. 
13-26, with He Die Fields' orch. . , . 
Ina Ray .' utton into Lookout 
House, Covington. Ky., Aug. 30, for 
four weeks . . . Dave Rose penning 
"Holiday for the Harmonioats." . . . 
Illinois Jacquet set for Club Sil- 
houette, starting Aug. 14 . . . Ella 
Fitzgerald and Dick Davis combo 
opening duo-weeker at the Tia- 
juana Club. Cleve.. Aug. 21 . . . 
Rosemary Wayne added a quarter- 
hour six-days-a-week to her line-up 
I of deejay stints on WJJD Monday 
(2) . . . Al Freidman to take over 
Coast office of Porgie Music . . . 
Mildred Bailev into Blue Note for 
two weeks, Sept. 7 . . . ilarmonicats 
hit the Roxy theatre. K Y.. Aug. 
25 ,". . Guests inked for Revere 
Camera's air show include Mel 
Torme Aug. 19 and Clark Dennis 
Aug. 26 . . . Johnny "Scat Davis 
on indefinite run at Capitol Lounge. 

BRILL TURNS AGENT 

Sam Brill, Jack Pearl's nephew, 
has switched to agenting. He s 
joined the Al Grossman office 

Previously, he was with Mellir 
Music Corp. and Famous Music 
Corp. 



bmi 

HIT TUNES FOR AUGUST 
(On Records) 
CHILLICOTHE, OHIO «MelKn! 

Peggy Mann-Eddie Heywood— Vic. 20-2839 
Art Maoney— MGM 10230 »• Four Tunes— Manor 1017 
Le* Brown— Col.* 

DELILAH 

Glonn Miller-Vic. 20-2942 • Heroce Meidt-Col. 34370 * 
Buddy Clark-Ok*h 6403 • Mills Brothers— Dec. 4108 
'Dick Jurgwis— Okeh 4389 

DREAM PEDDLER, THE ciw 

Frankie Carle-Col. 38036 • Hal DrTrwin— Cap. 411 
Sammy Kayo— Vic. 20-2632 • Snooky Ionian— More. 3124 
Marry Roy— London 225 • - Del Courtney— Vita.* 

FOOLIN' (Joy.Der) 

Francis Craig-Bullef 1013 • fd McMutlen-Crown 11-164 
Gloria Carroll— Back Bay* 

I WANT TO CRY (Ex«.ui#ri 

Chris Cross— Sterling 4004 • Savannah Churchill— Master .1129 
Dinah Washington— Mercury (082 • Phil Reed— Dance-Ten* 214 

IT'S SO PEACEFUL IN THE COUNTRY (K*g«t> 

Mildred Bail.y-Dec. 39S3 • Bab Chester— Bluebird 11227 
CharKo Spivak-Ok.h 6291 • Harry Jom*s-C*l. 34244 

Jan Savitt-Vic. 27444 

JUST BECAUSE .r«*r> 

Frank Yankovic-Col. 38072 ■ Ion* Star Cowboys-Vic. 20-2941 
T. Park*r's Four Jocks-P.ldo 1002 • Th* »oHcat**rs-Cont. 122S 

Sheriff T. Ow*ns-Mer.4086 • Riley 5 he pard— Embassy 1003 
Al George -Sig. 15207 • Penn- Jersey String Band— Metro. 20-01 
Jo* Gumin-Chord 664 • Dick Stabile-Dec. 24376 
Al G*org*-Mast*r 101 • Eddy Howard-Mai. 1231 

LONG AFTER TONIGHT (imd ~ 

Kate Smith-MGM 10157 • Andy Russell-Cap. 15055 
Betty Rhodes-Vic. 20-2737 • Sn*«ky laman-Morc. 5095 
Yv*H*— Vitacoustic 919 • Russ Titus— Musicana 14 

SERENADE— music played on a heartstring 

! Duchess) 

Buddy Clark-Ray Noble— Col. 38091 • Jan Garber-Cap. 15043 
Bob Eberly-Russ Morgan — Dec. 24374 • Jerry Wald-Com. 7503 
John laureni— Merc. 5099 

SOMEONE CARES (Pared*) 

Vaughn Monroe- Vic. 20-2471 a Art Lund— MGM 10170 
Franks. Cork— Col. 38130- • Mint Brothers-Dec. 24409 
Al Gaorgo-Master 101 • Eddy Howord-Maj. 1231 

SPRING CAME (Republic) 

Sammy Kaye— Vic. 20-2886 
TAKE IT AWAY (femora) 

tnric Madrigv*ra-Dec. 24460 • Emit Coleman-Deluxe 1010 
Xavier Cugat-Col. 38239 • Edmundo Ros-london 230 

TIME AND TIME AGAIN (London) 

Wayne King-Buddy Clark-Vic. 27516 • Eddy Duchin-Col. 360S9 I 
Bob Chester-Bluebird 11 172 • Tommy Tucker-Okeh 6177 

WALKIN' WITH MY SHADOW (John.tone-Mont.il 
Four Knights-Dec. 48014 • Jimmie Valentine Quartet-Varsity 107 I 
Jack McLean-Wayne Gregg— Coast 8001 • Monica Lewis— Sig. 15229 
YOURS (Mark.) 



Xavier Cugat-Vic. 26384 • 
Benny Goodman— Col. 36067 
Andy Russell-Cap. 10112 
Nat Brand wynne— Dec. 3913 
E. LeBaron— Dec. 25205 
G. Carter— B C W 3005 
Cuba Libre Six-Coda 5004 



Jimmy Dorsey— Dec. 25121 

• Eddy Howard-Col. 37995 
a Tito Guiior— Vic. 27410 

• Phil Reed— Dance-Tone 17 

• Ben Light— Tempo 598 

• Roy Smeck— Dec. 3790 

• R. Armengod-Dec. 18159 



Vaughn Monroe-Vic. 20-2984 

'Soon To Be Released. 



ASSOCIATED BOOKING CORP. 



EXCLUSIVE 
MANAGEMENT. 

JOE GLASER, Prt-t. 
745 F.fth Ave. New York 22 203 No. Wobaifc 

PL 9-4600 Chicago 



BROADCAST MUSIC INC. 

' 4<tfJ_t NSW YORK I f N Y 

NEW YORK . CHICAGO ' HOllYWOO 



4C 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



iper 

Gets McCoy Promoter 
Indary^Ind^Mfgr. 

John W. Anderson Co., Gary, 
ind.. maker of automobile wind- 
shield wipers, has gone all out in 
promotion for Tony Pastor's 

fS ds £l e l d ^P er " recording 
(Columbia) issued a few weeks 
Pack. Anderson has bought 13 
weeks of spot announcements, 
tim *s weekly, on various 
mid -western stations, plugging 
Pastor's recording. 
- A " d «son also purchased 3,600 

?! a?T$K* disk to be distributed 
and tied-in with the spots. 



BALLROOM MGR. HEAVES 
BOMB IN NICK OF TIME 

Russells Point, O., Aug. 3. 

A homemade bomb was found 
sputtering early Wednesday morn- 
ing (28) in Danceland, large frame 
dance hall and refreshment build- 
ing at this Indian Lake, Ohio, re- 
sort spot. 

Jack Stone, manager, was told 
by the night watchman, of a pow- 
der fuse burning toward a strange 
carton at one end of the ballroom 
floor. Stone picked up the bomb, 
carried it 60 feet and tossed it into 
a parking lot north of the building, 
where it exploded eight minutes 
later. 



Negro Musicians Open 
25th Convensh Aug. 22 

Columbus, Aug. 3. 

National Assn. of Negro Musi- 
cians will hold its 25th annual con- 
vention here Aug. 22-25 at Shiloh 
Baptist church, Columbus chapters 
of NANM and the Music Lovers 
Guild acting as hosts. 

W. C. Handy, "St. Louis Blues" 
composer, will head the list of 
noteworthy musicians who plan to 
to attend. Clarence H. Wilson is 
president of the org, and Helen 
Carter Moses is chairman of ar- 
rangements. 




00- 




GEORGE 



- ORGANIST - 



Gwment Radio-: 
JACK BERCH— NBC 
MORTON DOWNEY — NBC 
MAYTAG— NBC 
ARCHIE ANDREWS — NBC 

NBC THESAURUS LIBRARY 

Hecondi: 

REGENT ALBUMS— Fall Release 

Personal Management — GLORIA SAFIER 



Bands at Hotel B.O.'s 



Band • 

Guy Lombardo 
Skitch Henderson . 
Bernie Cummins* . 
Dick Jurgens 



Hotel 

Waldorf (400; $2) 

Pennsylvania (500; $1-$1.50). 
New Yorker (400; $1-$1.50). 



Week* 
riuyed 

. 8 
. . 4 
. 0 



. Astor (700; $1-$1.50) 3 



Coven 
Past 
Week 

2,975 

1,073 

675 

2,450 



Total 
Cover* 
On Data 

24,675 

5,025 

675 

8,450 



* New Yorker, ice show. 



Chicago 

George Olsen (Beachwalk, Edgewater Beach; $1.50-$2.50 min.). Hot 
weather helped this outdoor spot. Fine 12,000. 

Benny Strong (Boulevard Boom, Stevens, 650; $3.50 min., $1 cover). 
Kept pace with last week's draw of 3,300. 

Florian ZaBach (Empire Room, Palmer House, 550; $3.50 min., $1 
cover). Summer revue hit a pleasing $3,400. 



Los Angeles 

Frankie Laine, Shep Fields (Ambassador, 900; $1.50-$2). Excellent 
3,200 tabs. ., 
Jan Garber (Biltmore, 900; $1-$1.50). Strong 2,800 covers. 



Location Jobs, Not in Hotels 

(Cliicaqo) 

Marty Gould (Chez Paree, 500; $3.50 min.). Danny Thomas still the 
big draw with giant 5,800. 

Charlie Splvak (Aragon; $1-$1.15 adm.). In for two-week run; hefty 
17,000. 

AI Trace (Blackhawk, 500; $2.50 min ). New Hill Billy Monday Night 
hypoed total to 3,300. 
George Winslow (Trianon; $1-$1.15 adm.). Fair 12,000 first week. 



(Los Angeles) 

Buddy Rich, Helen Forrest (Palladium B., Hollywood, 4th wk.). Poor 
6,500 callers. 

Frankie Masters (Aragon B., Santa Monica, 3rd wk.). Steady 6,800. 
: ♦ 



Band Review 

CHARLIE FISKE ORCH (12) 
With Ginny Coon, Glen Canfield 
Glen Is. Casino, New Rochelle, N. Y. 

Charlie Fiske's orchestra is new 
to the eastern territory, heretofore 
having been confined to the mid- 
west. But it stands a good chance 
of hauling itself out of the category 
of "territorial combos" on the basis 
of what it shows ' at this spot, A in 
conjunction with Vic Damone (see 
nitery reviews). 

Bear in mind that this combina- 
tion of four brass, four sax, three 
rhythm as no Claude Thornhill, .et 
al, whose chances at success were 
based on a new approach to ar- 
ranging pop and standards. Fiske's 
bid is based on fundamentals, that 
too many top-name maestros have 
lately by-passed (1) good dance 
music, (2) a college-boy appearance 
throughout the entire band, and (3) 
an obvious attempt to please the 
customers. 

Perhaps the most surprising 
thing about this combo is the 
amount of music drawn from the 
limited instrumentation. You must 
count twice to be certain that 
there's only 11 musicians, plus 
Fiske's Charlie Spivak style trum- 
peting. Yet it sounds as full as 
many larger outfits and delivers a 
dance beat that surpasses most. 
Worked into the library is a num- 
ber of choral and novelty numbers 
that employ the entire personnel, 
nicely relieving the straight dance 
arrangements, which, incidentally, 
all also colorfully written. 

Ginny Coon, a daughter of the 
former co-leader of the old Coon- 
Sanders orchestra, handles vocals 
along with Glen Canfield. She's a 
cute trick who does nice work, but 
she's surpassed by Canfield, who 
turns up excellent ballads. Fiske 
himself, a crew-cut youngster who 
gives the impression of still being 
a bit self-conscious when not blow- 
ing, also participates in vocals. 

Wood. 



RAMBLING 
ROSE 

By JOE BURKE owl 

joe McCarthy, jr. 
LAUREL MUSIC CO. 

1619 Broadway. New York 

TOMMY VALANDO 



* PAUL DIXON PICKS 

(Famous Disc Jockey, WCPO-Cindnnati] i 




•' Die reaction out here has been tremendous on 'Arches'. 
Will continue to play this regularly on oil shows!" 

LONDON RECORD #238 

*i 



'OA'DOA r/cor/js 



WALDMAN'S DALLAS DATE 

Dallas, Aug. 3. 

Herman Waldman brings his 
orchestra to the Hotel Adolphus 
Century Room on Aug. 12 opening , 
simultaneously with the premiere 
of Dorothy Franey's new ice revue. | 

Band replaces Tommy Cunning- ] 
ham and his orchestra who have ! 
had the longest continuous run in 
local history. i 



A Sure SWEET Hit! 

SAY SOMETHING 
SWEET TO YOUR 
SWEETHEART 

on LONDON RECORD #260 with 

THE LAW IS C0MIN' 
FER YA PAW! 

MILLS MUSIC, INC. 

4619 Broadway • New York I» 



***********. 

BORNE Y BERGANTINE r 

Composer of tlic Hit Tune p 

"MY HAPPINESS" 

wishes to express his appreciation to 
friends and music lovers who helped to 
make "MY HAP"tmrss» a top tune fat 
America. 

BORNEY BERGANTINE, Composer 

52SSO B. 7th St., Kansas City, Mo. 

"MY HAPPINESS"— Lyric* by Betty Peterson 
Published by Blasco Music Co.. Inc., A.S.c.flj.p. 




Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



VAVBBVUjJt 



41 



New Talent, Bands Seen Nudging High 
Priced Acts Out of B'way Deluxers 



Despite decrease of playing time* 
on Broadway, more new faces and 
bands have been able to break into 
presentation houses that in many 
years previously. The ability of 
new personnel to penetrate the 
major houses is, for one reason, 
caused by the inability of some of 
the more expensive names to pay 
off at the b o. 

Paramount theatre, N. Y., has 
probably been the most consistent 
user of new talent. During the 
past year, theatre has projected 
such newcomers as Georgie Kaye, 
who's previous Broadway ap- 
pearances were confined to the 
now vaudeless Loew's State, and 
was the first to play Mel Tonne 
and Frankie Laine. Harry Levine, 
the house booker, has signed Jack 
Leonard for a September stand, 
his first at that house. 

Among new bands that have 
bowed there recently are Buddy 
Moreno, Ray Anthony and Ray 
Eberle. Latter is set for repeat on 
next show. Other new talent and 
bands are being set «to follow. 

The experiment has, so far, 
proven successful. In some cases, 
there's been little difference in 
values and boxoffice offered by a 
$500 act and one who gets $2,500 
or more. Some of the newcomers 
have been re-signed for later ap- 
pearances at a salary hike, but the 
wage will still be under that paid 
acts in the past. 

Although the Paramount ^will, in 
some cases, repeat higher priced 
performers and bands, the house 
will generally attempt to make the 
run with less expensive shows and 
fresh talent. , 



A.C. Syndicate May Take 
Over Paddock Club 



Kay Thompson To Coast 
On Possible Legit Musical 

After her current Piping Rock, 
Saratoga, N. Y., engagement, Kay 
Thompson huddles with Bob Alton 
on the Coast with an eye to stag- 
j ing five new numbers, and also 
I that hoped-for Broadway legit mu- 
| sical. 

Much of that depends on the 
Metro studios disposition to give 
Alton a leave, and part of the 
songstress' powwow will be with 
M-G producer Arthur Freed who 
| must OK Alton's sabbatical. 
; Team, during its first year, are 



« Atlantic City, Aug. 3. 
The Paddock International, one 
of the resort's top flight niteries, 
shuttered early in June when spot 

Se V^SS'SZ r°e- j porte d to have grossed $ 436,000. 
opened if city rulers grant transfer 
of license. 

Commissioners are pondering j 
plea of Paul-Morris Corp., which 
would transfer Boardwalk license 
of Louis Friedberg and reopen the 
club. City limits liquor licenses 
here to 300. As quota is filled, 
only way spot can resume business ! 
is by th< transfer of a license held 
by another bar. 



held 



The Paddock license was 
by Mrs. Rebecca Kravis. 

Paddock has large circular bar 
in front with cabaret in rear. It 
had floor shows throughout the 
season. 



Georgie Price Sparks 
Omaha Fiesta Show 
To New Record High 

Omaha, August 4. 

Georgie Price set a new attend- 
ance record at the second Ak-Sar- 
Ben "Stars Under The Stars" sum- 
mer show Friday night (30). A lit- 
tle over 11,000 were in the stand. 
Attraction was Price, Charlie Mag- 
nante. accordionist and duo-pian- 
ist* Mario Braggiotti and Jack 
Chaikin. Accent of the program 
was on fun and light melodies 
which crowd ate up. 

After the show, a smash, Price 
said he was mulling a concert tour 
with Magnante and the pianists. 
Figures that with such a response 
from a cross-section audience, tour 
ought to get money. Only item in 
addition was a 15-piece orch. 

Fact that the show was free to 
Ak-Sai-Ben members is nothing 
against its drawing power. Many 
an "Ak" show has been presented 
under the same circumstances and 
drew around 5,000 to 6,000. That 
Ihey came out in such numbers and 
ran the show late with heavy ap- 
plause proved that it was the show 
thai drew. 

Price, who hasn't been here since 
old Orpheum bigtime vaude days, 
was given a tumultuous ovation. 

Under Back in N.Y. To 



Saratoga Talent 
Bright But Looks 
Dark for Casinos 

Saratoga Springs, N. Y., Aug. 3. 
Saratoga cafe owners aren't 
happy about the prospects of this 
season. The okay on casino opera- 
tion hasn't come down, and the 
■ backroom operators are fearful 
j that any attempts at "sneak-gam- 
bling" will be squelched not only 
by local police, but by N.Y. state 
I troopers as well. There have been 
some raids on horse parlors indi- 
cating that the lid is on tight. How- 
ever, the lake-front cafes on the 
outskirts of town are putting on a 
bright front with expensive talent 
outlays. 

The Saratoga fave, Joe E. Lewis, 
Kay Thompson and the Williams 
Bros., at the Piping Rock, and a 
capsule version of the erstwhile 
Broadway ■ musical, "Hold It," 
headed by Jean Carroll and the 
Glenns, at Delmonico's (formerly 
.Riley's), spark Spa night club fare 
is no longer in as active head, that for the open j ng of t he annual rac- 
he. while prexy. had devoted most | ing season. For the first time in 



New Frederick 
Agency Mixup 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 
Ankling of Tom Kettering, vee- 
pee, and Herb Pauley, office man- 
ager, from Frederick Bros. Chi 
agency several weeks ago has cre- 
ated some interesting develop- 
ments. According to Kettering, 
L. A. Frederick, prexy of outfit, 



of his time to the real estate busi 
ness. Kettering talked to him last 
week, and he is said to have admit- 
ted being unfamiliar with dev#op- 
ments that had taken place in the 
last year. 

B. W. Frederick, temporary head 
of the Chi office, is said to have 
sold a piece of the agency to Tony 
Cavalier, Youngstown, Ohio, nitery 
operator. However, even with new 
coin, 'several of the orch leaders 
are in arrears. Ray Pearl, orch 
leader, is said to be owed upward 
of $1,000 in deposit dough, al- 
though he has not pressed any 
claim as yet. 



Jack Linder, who headed his own 
indie booking agency in New York 
prior to \ nude's collapse and later 
went to Hollywood to set up pix 
talent agency, plans a return to 
former operations in N. Y. Back 
from the Coast Monday (2), he im- 
mediately set up plans for estab- 
lishing an indie vaude booking 
agency here. He'll retain his Hol- 
lywood agency, with his son, Sey- 
mour, and Norman Rice handling 
matters there. Unless present 
Plans go awry, booker plans to 
shuttle between both agencies, but 
will headquarter in N. Y. 

Before talking pictures nudged 
vaude out of indie and chain the- 
atres in N. Y. and elsewhere, Lin- 
«er s Booking Agency had been one 
of the toppers in the field, contem- 
porary with Fally Markus, Gus Sun 
and Frank Keeney agencies. His 
office eventually took over book- 
ings of Keeney chain when it 
snaved down to six or seven houses. 
*or a consistently long time the 
finder Agency booked 120 indie 
nouses, comprising about a dozen 
full-week stands, the others being 



TORONTO RELAXES TALE 
BAN IN SMALL CAFES 

Toronto, Aug. 3. 
Following recent ban on live 
talent in the smaller bistros, liquor 
license board has reversed deci- 
sion in part and will permit a 
pianist in spots seating less than 
hundred customers and an instru- 
mental trio where capacity is over 



years, Arrowhead Inn is dark, At- 
torney Jack Adler, for Arrowhead, 
Inc., announcing that it had not 
been leased. 

Outhwaite's (formerly the 
Meadowbrook) is slated to open 
tomorrow (4) with Imogene Coca 
and Emery Deutsch's orchestra. 
Newman's year-round spot, pre- 
sents a new featured singer, Bern- 
ice Byers, who has been at the 
Waldorf-Astoria and the Roosevelt 
hotel in New York. Freddy Her- 
man's orchestra provides the music, 
and the Clicquot Club Trio enter- 
tains in the cocktail lounge. 

Appearing with the headliners 
at Piping Rock (managed by Nat 
Harris, of New York's Harem) are 
Jerry Coyle, radio singer; Vin- 
cent Travers' orchestra, Val Ol- 
man's Society Band, Copsey & 
Ayres, Marcia Leighton, M. Piros- 
ka, Nevada Smith and Wally Wan- 
ger Girls. Chris O'Brien, tenor, 
is in the cocktail room. 

The streamlined edition of 
"Hold It" is titled "We Found Us 
An Angel," reference being to An- 
thony Brady Farrell, wealthy Al- 
.ibany industrialist." Farrell, who 
that figure. New ruling was reached I had a ringside table Monday night, 
after several discussions between | decided to become a Broadway 
the board and the legal department , prodllcer wnile visiting Saratoga 
of the musicians union. Meanwhile, j ]ast August He spent $300,000 on 
for obscure reasons yet to be ; .' Ho i d i t ;» which may reopen in 
ironed out, new regulations still j Sep tember at the Warner Theatre, 
ban singers, ventriloquists and N Y ., recently purchased by Far 
juggling acts. re u_ Night club version, which has 

Union action was prompted when 
liquor license board inspectors 
unexpectedly walked in to advise 
nitery owners that no live talent 
would be permited unless one fifth 
of floor space was devoted to danc- 
ing. Bonifaces countered that cus- 
tomers in the smaller spots did not 
want to dance. That operating ex- 
penses did not permit taking out 
of tables to provide that required 
20% of dance floor space, that art- 
ists were all union members and 
held long-term contracts. However, 
niterv men have been warned by 
the liquor license board to restrict 
long-term contracts as such new 
live talent permission may be with- 
drawn at any time at the discretion 
of the board. 

Jacoby's Triple Chores 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

Deal is on whereby Herbert Ja- 
coby, who operates Le Directoire 
and Blue Angel in N. Y., with Max 
Gordon, will take over entertain- 
ment policies at the Beverly Wil- 
shire hotel, Beverly Hills, and the 
Blackstone hotel, Chicago. 

Its reported Arnold Kirkeby, 
operator of both inns, wants Ja- 
coby to institute policies that click- 
ed in the Gotham cafes. 



Lou Walters m Quick-Change Act 
In OK ing TV Stint for Willie Shore 



Ringlings Turn Other 
Cheek to Plug Rival Show 

Minneapolis, Aug. 3. 

During its two-day stand here 
Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey 
circus devoted a considerable por- 
tion of its newspaper display ads 
to plugging the Aquatennial, an- 
nual summer mardi gras, with 
which it was competing. The lower 
third of the ads, after telling read- 
ers to see their grocer for a genu- 
ine miniature 3-ring circus, said, 
"and don't miss the Minneapolis 
Aquatennial." 

Ads were a good-will gesture. 
Aquatennial Assn. had unsuccess- 
fully opposed permit for circus' ap- 
pearance during festival because, 
it was contended, the competition 
would injure attendance at Aqua- 
tennial events. Circus played to 
turnaway crowds each of two 
nights and to near-capacity after- 
noon attendance at $1.50-$3.00 
scale. 



Andrews Sisters 
Boff London Hit 



London, Aug. 3. 

American acts continue as the 
top/applause winners on the Lon- 
don variety stages. New bill at the 
Palladium is in keeping with the 
high standards set by previous 
shows with U. S. talent. The 
Andrews Sisters, who are well- 
known here because of their Decca 
recordings, excited the audience 
with their numbers. They were 
obliged to overstay their allotted 
time because of demands for en- 
cores. They did 55 minutes on 
the first show and 65 minutes on 
the second. 

Frank Marlowe, a holdover from 
the previous show, has been re- 
tained for the third show in a row, 
but has been forced out for a few 
days because of a leg injury. 
Comedian Lew Parker was also af- 
forded a warm reception by the 
audiences at this show. 

The sisters drew ' unanimous 
raves from the London critics. 
Times' appraiser declared that the 
Palladium becomes "one gigantic 
party." David Lewin of the Daily 
Express wrote that the audience 
gave the Andrews Ssisters "the 
Danny Kaye roar" while the Daily 
Herald stated that "the fans were 
aroused to a frenzy." 



♦ Lou Walters, Latin Quarter 
N. Y., operator, last week about- 
faced on his television stand, and 
permitted Willie Shore to go on 
Ed Sullivan's CBS-TV "Toast of 
the Town" and will allow him to 
play the Texaco Star Theatre 
(NBC-TV). Granting of permission 
to do these shows represents a 
change of mind on the clause in 
the LQ contracts which forbids 
performers from doubling into 
video. 

Walters gave his permission 
prior to entraining for the Coast 
with his partner in the nitery, E. 
M. Loew. 

The incident caused a consid- 
erable flurry at the American 
Guild of Variety Artists. Union 
execs late last week investigated 
the incident to determine whether 
"pressure" had been applied to get 
Walters to change his mind on the 
video stance. Willie Shore was 
called in and he testified that prior 
to Walters' departure, permission 
was granted to work both shows. 
He had already signed contracts to 
appear on the Sullivan show, Sun- 
day (3) and had been inked for 
the Texaco layout on a later date. 
William Morris agency, booking 
the Texaco show, declared that 
Shore had not been set for that 
display. Walters corroborated Shore 
in a long-distance call from the 
Coast. 

Shore's fee on the Sullivan show 
was the prevailing scale of $75. Fee 
on the Texaco layout would have 
been $1,000. Latter pjjee has vir- 
tually become standard with Tex- 
aco for top-cut comics. 

Morris agency execs wanted 
Shore for that show, but since his 
appearance with Sullivan, are 
doubtful that he'll go on for some 
time. 



a cast of 30, will run at Delmon- 
ico's for the entire month. The 
Peyson Re band is also on tap. 

The American Guild of Variety 
Artists Monday.(2) collected a $4,- 
000 bond from operators of Del- 
monico's. Union had wired per- 
formers not to go on until bond 
was posted. Matter was subse- 
quently adjusted. 

SUES TO ENJOIN RIVAL'S 
USE OF 'AQUA FOOL' TAG 

Minneapolis, Aug. 3. 
Federal court here granted an 
injunction to Laurence (Larry) 
Griswold, appearing in the "Water 
Follies" to restrain use of his 
comedy diving act, "The Aqua 
Fool," without permission. . 

In suit filed against F. W. (Nick) 
Kahler, promoter of Northwest 
and other Sportsmen's shows, and 
Ed Jones, diver, Griswold claimed 
Jones, one of Sportsmen's show 
acts, had infringed on his copy- 
righted act. 



RESORT BOOKERS MAKE 
PEACE IN AGVA ARB. 

Bookman U Fransky, mountain 
resort bookers, made a partial 
peace last week with the American 
Guild of Variety Artists. Bookers 
who were up on carpet by union 
told AGVA that they would have 
Roy Gerber and Jackie Bryce take 
out agent franchises, and promised 
to give' Rex Webber a date in one 
of the resort spots they book. 

Webber complained to union that 
bookers had reneged on a verbal 
commitment made to him. B&K 
said Gerber, working in their of- 
fice, would apply for associate 
franchise through the Artists Rep- 
resentatives Assn, Bryce will apply 
for own franchise and. operate in- 
dependently. 

Sole charge remaining against 
the bookers is for asking talent to 
appear gratis at a recent testi- 
monial at the Yankee Stadium, 
N. Y., for hoofer Bill Robinson. 

Outcome of this will await the 
return of Theatre Authority exec 
secretary Alan Corelli's secretary. 
Bookers claim she phoned them 
that since stadium affair was not 
a benefit, it would be okay. Corelli 
stated he left instructions to the 
effect that "it would be okay to 
play it — provided AGVA ap- 
proved." She's expected back next 
week. 



Gracie Barrie into Mounds Club, 
Cleveland, Aug. 11. Follows with 
El Rancho, Las Vegas, Sept. 27, and 
Chez Paree, Chicago, Oct. 29. 



Shrincr for N.Y, Copa? 

Deal is on for Herb Shriner to 
double from "Inside USA" into the 
Copacabana, N. Y., starting Sept. 9. 
Bill will be headlined by Lena 
| Horne. 

i The deal is expected to be closed 
I by William Morris agency this 
I week. 



Most N.Y. Clubs Which 
Closed for Summer Wilt 
Reopen But Some Doubtful 

The roster of fall nitery open- 
ings in New York as yet isn't as 
large as the list of the cafes that 
closed for the summer. The major 
clubs still uncertain are the Carni- 
val and La. Martinique. Others will 
reopen after Labor day. 

As for the Carnival, operator 
Nicky Blair is looking for an at- 
traction strong enough to lure cus- 
tomers west of Broadway. Blair 
previously tried a variety of head- 
liners but few brought in business. 
This time he's waiting for the 
right name to come along before 
he'll relight. 

La Martinique's Dario^, prefers to 
wait until a definite pattern for 
the season is established, Dario 
had been considering the idea of 
employing intime policy ala Blue 
Angel-Le Ruban Bleu and chang- 
ing spot's tag to La Chanson. 

Le Directoire, the Max Gordon- 
Herbert Jacoby operation, is still 
seeking a headliner for its preem 
show. Gordon had been dickering 
with Beatrice Lillie to double from 
"Inside USA." However, no such 
deal has been set. The other Gor- 
don-Jacoby enterprise, Blue Angel, 
is set for a Sept. 14 preem. 

The Embassy, recently bought 
by David Lowe, is also planning a 
September preem. The Glass Hat 
of the Belmont Plaza hotel, is also 
planning to restore acts next 
month. 

The Persian Room of the Plaza 
hotel ushers in season Sept. 23 
with Paul Draper and Rosalind 
Courtwright. Charles Trenet will 
follow in on Oct. 21. 

One of the major question marks 
is the Harem. It's definite that 
operator Nat Harris plans to re- 
open, but it's likely he'll keep spot 
dark until a headliner of sufficient 
potency comes along. 



Earlc, Phiily, May 

Restore Stageshows 

The Earlc theatre, Philadelphia, 
is expected to resume stage shows 
Aug. 27 with a road company of 
"Stop the Music," radio giveaway 
show. Music Corp. of America is 
dickering with' Warner talent buy- 
ers Harry Mayer and Don Sher- 
wood, and expect to cinch deal this 
week. 

Philly is currently without a 
centre-city vaude outlet. Its only 
current vauder, Carman theatre, is 
a nabe house. 



Foldo of Swank Pitt Membership 
Clubs Ends Honeymoon for Top Acts 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



Pittsburgh, Aug. 3. 
Honeymoon for 



i°o r cioTeKLber- j Ohio Niteries Given Clean 
Bill in Gambling Probe 

Columbus, Aug. 3. 
Grand juries sitting in Sandusky 
and Bucyrus could find no evidence 
i of gambling in state-licensed tav- 
erns in Erie and Crawford coun- 



ship clubs, the Bachelors and the 
Hunting and Pishing, is over as a 
result of the grand jury investiga- 
tion of spots. Bachelors has 
dropped shows altogether and 
Hunting and Fishing has closed 
down for couple of months, osten- 
sibly to remodel. 

two spots had been making it 
plenty tough on the regular down- 
town bistros, paying more dough [department enforcement chief, 
tnan the places open to the public I WO uId continue his investigation in 
could afford and at the same time | the area 
offering an added inducement to _ 
the acts in the form of abbreviated 
weeks — at Bachelors only five days 
and single show nightly.- 
- Not only that, but they were 
holding out added inducements in 
form of high-stakes bingo games, 
with a $1,000 top prize and flock of 
smaller one.s. Result was that there 
was practically no late business &: 
all. in Golden Triangle, with most 
of the trade moving out to the 

East Liberty district for the big | night's receipts. They also forced 



ties, Liquor Director Dale Dunifon 
said Thursday (29). Juries recessed 
without returning indictments. 
Dunifon said Donald T. Geyer, 



CHI BANDITS GET 3iG 
IN RIO CABANA STICKUP 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 
Rio Cabana, nitery was robbed of 
$3,500 Sat. (31) morning. Three 
gunmen, one carrying a sawed-off 
shot gun, broke in and forced the 
secretary to turn over Friday 



names and the big stakes 

Elsewhere, too, the act situation 
ja, tightening up locally. Vogue 
Terrace dropped floorshows last 
week, and is now using acts only 
on weekends while Ankara club 
eliminated shows early in the 
summer. 



Calloway, Rose Murphy 
Pacted for B'way-Cap, Det. 

Two more stageshows have been 
booked for the Broadway-Capitol 
Detroit, next month. 

Cab Calloway opens there Aug. 
13, featuring Peggy Mann. The 
following week Harry Babbitt and 
Rose Murphy will head bill. 





HUSSON 



"Mr. Everybody" 

just concluded: 

• Olympic*, Miami 

• Embassy Club 

Jacksonville 

• Five O'Clock Club 

Miami Beach 

currently: 

• Henry Grady Hotel 

Atlanta 

personal management 

• Phil Offin 

48 W. 48th St.. 

New York City. N. Y. 



Harry Jacobson, co-owner with his 
brother, to open the safe. 

Police believe it might have been 
an inside job. 



Gleason Ankles Musical 
For Pitt Nitery Date 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 3. 

First word that Jackie Gleason 
had bowed out of Monte Proser'-s 
new musical, "Heaven On Earth," 
came when Jackie Heller an- 
nounced he had booked the comic 
at his Carousel next week. Gleason 
only a fortnight ago did "Rosalie" 
for al fresco company at Pitt Sta- 
dium and had been widely publi- 
cized locally over fact that outdoor 
production made him several days 
late in reporting for rehearsals of 
new show. As a matter of fact, he 
almost came cancelling out "Ros- 
alie" on account of the Broadway 
commitment. 

It'll be a return engagement for 
Gleason at the Carousel. He played 
there last summer, too, immediately 
following and on the strength of 
his Stadium click in the same mus- 
ical, "Rosalie," recent presentation 
having been a repeat. 



Tin Pan Alley, Chi Nitery, 
Closed on Tax Rap 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 
Tin Pan Alley, north side bistro, 
was shuttered by Internal Revenue 
agents last week for failure to pay 
taxes. 

Revenue collector said that own- 
er, Ben Asher, owed $18,000 in in- 
come, withholding and Social Se- 
curity taxes. If matter is not ad- 
justed by Asher, the club fixtures 
will be auctioned. 



BUFF'S TOWN CASINO SET 

Town Casino, Buffalo, N. Y., is 
slated to reopen Sept. 11 with Rose 
Marie topping the bill. 

Harry Altman, spot's operator, 
plans to continue top budget shows. 




Atlantic City Clubs 
Geared for Racing Trade 

Atlantic City, Aug. 3. 

The bangtails start running at 
the Atlantic City Racing Associa- 
tion's track next Monday, (9) and 
hotel and nitery ops are wondering 
this year whether it will help or 
hurt business. 

Both are hoping for the best, and 
most, of the top spots have set good 
shows to lure influx of track at- 
tendees. 

Officials of the Racing Assn. are 
sanguine of doing top biz. 



Arthur Fisher, 55, Top 
Indie Vaude Booker, 
Dies of Heart Attack 

Death of Arthur Fisher Friday' 
(30i at the age of 55, leaves the 
status of his independent vaude 
booking agency unsettled. It's prob- 
able that the office will be operated 
with Al Rickard at the helm, with 
Fisher's widow, the former Flor- 
ence Newton (Rice &> retaining a 
major interest. However, details of 
operation will be unknown until 
his will is probated. 

Fisher was the talent booker for 
the Steel Pier, Atlantic City; the 
Skouras theatres in New York and 
vicinity, the Brandt, Ralph Snyder, 
Sam Stiefel, and E. M. Loew cir- 
cuits. In addition, he operated the 
Park theatre, Union City, N. J., in 
conjunction with Charles Moses, 
and owned a prosperous liquor 
package store in Malverne, L. I., 
N. Y. 

Running of all these enterprises 
is said to have contributed to the 
heart attack which hastened his 
end. He had been suffering with 
the ailment for many years. 

Fisher had planned taking it 
easy during the fall and was ne- 
gotiating with a new assistant to 
come into the office. Negotiations 
were set to be finalized when he 
returned from his vacation. 

He started in the business nearly 
35 years ago as an office boy with 
Fally Markus, who during his hey- 
day was the largest independent 
booker. He soon acquired an in- 
terest in the business, and after 
several years went into business on 
his own. 

Fisher was reportedly a shrewd 
booker. He was frequently the 
bane of agents and acts because of 
his strict adherance to set budgets 
of clients. He often declared that 
it was more important to keep 
vaudeville theatres open, and con- 
sequently tried to keep costs at a 
minimum in order to insure profit- 
able operation. 

Fisher, until last year, booked 
some top night clubs. Because of 
his intimate association with E. M. 
Loew, the New England circuit 
owner, who's a partner of Lou 
Walters in nitery ventures, he was 
in on the talent inking of the Latin 
Quarters in New York and Miami 
Beach, and was booker for the 
Harem, N. Y., in which Walters 
was interested during the first few 
weeks of operation. He gave up 
nitery bookings last year. 

He was born Arthur Sonnasardo, 
but assumed the Fisher tag as some- 
thing easier to pronounce when he 
went into showbusiness. He's sur- 
vived by his widow, a daughter, and 
a stepson. He was at one time 
married to Ethlyn Clark, a former 
wife of Joe E. Howard vet song- 
writer. 



Columbus Jury Continues 
Probe of Cafe Shakedowns 

Columbus, Aug. 3. 

Franklin County grand jury here 
is continuing investigation of al- 
leged shakedown of liquor perjnit 
applicants, and last week (27) 
heard Daniel Diloerto, of Ravenna, 
O., repeat story he told the Ohio 
Liquor Board at a hearing in 
Cleveland last June. Diloerto 
charged that a state liquor inspec- 
tor telephoned him at Miami, Fla., 
last Feb. 21, to demand $3,000 if he 
wanted a night club license. 

One state department official 
and two Portsmouth, O., residents 
were indicted by the grand jury 
earlier on charges of soliciting and 
accepting bribes. Prosecutor 
Ralph J. Bartlett indicated an ad- 
ditional session of the grand jury 
would be held on the shakedown 
probe before another report is 
made. . 



Dolly Dawn set for Perez club, 
New Orleans, Aug. 9. 

Sacassas rhumba band for Ciro's, 
Miami Beach. Dec. 20 for 10 weeks. 



Revised Code on Ohio Booze Licenses 
Aims to Curb Blacketeer Transfers 



Columbus, Aug. 3. 
Predicting that the black market 
in Ohio liquor permit's would be 
stamped out. Liquor Director Dale 
Dunifon announced Friday (30) a 
set of sweeping revisions effective 
Aug. 15 in ownership transfer reg- 
ulations. 

Under present rules, Dunifon 
said, a new owner is issued a per- 
mit in. his own name when the pre- 
vious owner's permit is canceled 
and a bill of sale filed with, the 
department. It is almost the same 
thing as a new owner getting the 
former proprietor's permit. Be- 
cause of quota limitations on issu- 
ance of permits, the value set on 
the license in a sales transaction 
has soared in some cities far above 
the visible value of the business. 
Tavern and nightclub owners, when 
lucky enough to get additional per- 
mits, pad out the sale value of their 
business to an exorbitant rate. One 
operator boosted his selling price 
$7,000 upon receipt of additional 
licenses which cost him $800. 

The new regulations establish a 
six-month waiting period for the 
new owner when an existing per- 
mit is canceled as a result of 
change in ownership. An additional 
rule, affecting D-3 (drink by the 
glass with I a.m. closing) and D-5 
(nightclub) permits also was set Up. 
D : 3 and D-5 permits canceled be- 
cause of change in ownership, and 
which are in a district where the 
legal quota is filled, will not be 
reissued to the new owner until 
the quota allows. 

D-4 (private club) permits are 
unaffected since they are non- 
transferable, except for location. 
The new policy will apply, how- 
ever, to stock transfer involving 
majority blocks and to partner- 
ships. 

. Won't Affect McCoy Sales 
"We do not intend to hurt the 
legitiritete operator who holds per- 
mits," Dunifon said. "If he -has a 
reasonable cause for selling and 
can prove his case, he will be al- 
lowed to do so. But we do intend 
to drive out black market operator, 
the profiteer and the racketeer who 
enter the industry only to spec- 
ulate, batter and gouge," he con- 
tinued.- 

Ownership changes which come 
under hardship classes or fall 
within purposes defined by regula- 
tions will be handled as "trans- 



fers," Dunifon said. The "transfer" 
! regulation provides for transfer of 
permits in cases of death, bank* 
ruptcy or receivership, coroprate 
reorganization, property settle- 
ments in divorce action and similar 
cases. 

Ordinary sales of places operat- 
ing with permits are known as 
"substitutions," with rules of pro- 
cedure a matter of discretion for 
the department. Past procedure 
allowed the department to approve 
"substitutions" upon filing of a bill 
of sale and regular application by 
the new owner of the business for 
a permit. 

Approximately 4,000 permits 
changed hands last year in Ohio 
under this "substitution" pro- 
cedure, Dunifon revealed. Many of .'• 
the places are "repeaters,", and it 
is not unusual to find one person 
buying and selling as many as 
three establishments in 12 months, 
he said. 

The effect of the new policy in 
places where permits are over 
quota will be to -cause permits to 
die upon a change of ownership, 
unless the change qualifies as a 
"transfer." Dunifon said this phase 
will be felt most keenly in Cleve- 
land, "where past administrations 
have issued permits far over 
quota." 

r Courts have held there is no 
vested property right to a liquor 
permit; that it is only a privilege 
bestowed under the liquor statute. 



BISMARCK, CHI, PREPS 
NEW NITERY ROOM 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 

Bismarck hotel will open a new 
nitery room this fall in addition to 
the Walnut Room. Spot will use a 
band and specialty acts in theme 
with name, Swiss Chalet. 

It will occupy space of the 
Tavern Room, which has been I 
closed for past three months. 

Bob Lastfogel Vice Green 
In Morris Chi Branch 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 
Bob Lastfogel, formerly of N.Y. 
agency, takes over act department 
in the Chi William Morris agency 
next week. He replaces Irving 
Green, who left WM several weeks 
ago. 

As yet.no replacement has been 
made for Neff Wagner, who also 
left WM two weeks ago. 

Calvert's Interstate Dates 

San Antonio, Aug. 3. 

John Calvert, illusionist, and 
new Falcon in the film and radio 
mystery series of that title, has 
been signed for tour of Interstate 
Theatres. 

Calvert and troupe travel in 
magico's plane. 



SPARKLING 

Professional 
Photographs 

JAMES KOLLAR 

In Radio City 
By Appointment Only 

NEW RATES 
100 Photos — 3 Posts — From. $50 
Reprints or Repros, 100 for SIS 

RKO BLDS. 
1270 Sixth Ave. New York 
Suite 609 Circle 4-1421 



JACK PARKER 




"THE JACK 
OF CLUBS" 

Return 
Engagement 

BROWN 
HOTEL 
LOUISVILLE 

Available 
August 16 

Management: 
Tom Fitzpotrick 



BIDS WANTED 

The American Legion 1948 Conven- 
tion Corporation of Florida will re- 
wive bids for Concession!) for supply- 
ing tlie following items during (lie 
National Convention of tile American 
Legion in Miami, Ontober 11-81, IMS: 
refreshments of all kinds, novelties of 
all kinds, helmets, canes, and any- 
thing else that can be vended during 
the tonventlun to Legionnaires and 
others. 

An exclusive protective contract will 
be Issued to those licensed. Submit nil 
oners in writing only to the under- 
signed: Appointments will be made 
lor personal discussion. 

Address: 

HENRY COItltH. Chairman 
Concessions & Decorations Committee 
V.O. Box 1. Little Hiver Station 
Miami, Florida 



MAX1NE 

SULLIVAN 

CURRENTLY 
LONDON CASINO. ENGLAND 



Personal I 
JOE MARSOLAIS 



Edwin Sefton 



in 



"LONDON DAILY GRAPHIC" 



"HARRY RICHMAN 

back in London after ten years had the noisiest 
reception given any star since Danny Kaye." 



George W. Bishop 

in 

"LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH" 

"Harry Richman captures the audience the mo- 
ment he steps on the stage and holds it. He was 
recalled so many times the first house almost ran 
into the second." 

Harold Conway 

in 

"LONDON EVENING STANDARD" 

"After ten years Harry Richman, immaculate as 
ever, sang with' a style and vigour which would be 
the envy of most performers half his age." 

A. t. Wilson 

in ■ 

"LONDON STAR" 

"Harry Richman's voice can easily fill Albert 
Hall. His physique is equally robust and so is his 
manner of putting over a s°ong." 

John G. Drummond 

in 

"LONDON NEWS CHRONICLE" 

"But Harry Richman dominates the bill. He gives 
his well-remembered and brilliant impersonation of 
being a tuneful, smiling thug in a dinner jacket." 

K. G. 
in 

"LONDON WEEKLY SPORTING REVIEW" 

"Harry Richman made a terrific come-back at 
the Casino after ten years away from us. He's still 
supreme seller of songs. Super showmanship and 
contagious personality." 

Cecil Wilson 

in , 
"LONDON DAILY MAIL" 

"Harry Richman swept back into success at the 
Casino. His success was certain. Shouts at the end 
for encores which he had no time to do." 



P. I. Atannocfc 
• in 
"LONDON DAILY HERALD" 

"Harry Richman Is a great personality, climax of 
the evening and duly acclaimed." 

Dick Richards 

in 

"LONDON SUNDAY PICTORIAL" 

"That great showman, Harry Richman, is back 
and well deserved his riotous first night reception." 



The Old Trouper 



in 




"LONDON NEWS OF THE WORLD" 

"Audiences will never tire of songs as long as 
voice and rich personality go with It. Richman has 
both." 



W. A. Wilcox 

in 

"LONDON SUNDAY DISPATCH" 

"Harry Richman's voice and stage personality 
are today as strong and compelling as ever." 



Leonard Alosfey 

in 

"LONDON DAILY EXPRESS" 

"He sang all . his old favorites and they loved 
them all." 

Geoffrey 

in 

"LONDON MORNING ADVERTISER" 

"Harry Richman is dashing, debonair. There was 
never a doubt about the great success of his return 
to this country." 

"LONDON SUNDAY CHRONICLE" 

"At the Casino Harry Richman gives a demon- 
stration of what can be achieved by personality and 
showmanship." 

J. L. R. 
'n 

"BRITAIN'S MUSICAL EXPRESS" 

"Harry Richman made his debut to a wildly en- 
thusiastic audience. This artist is one of the great 
personalities of show-business." 

And many other newspapers, including all pro- 
vincial leading press, each one equally eulogistic. 



. . TO MY PAL 



HARRY GREEN 

WHO WORKED HARDER THAN I DID 



... TO MY PAL 



JACK GOLDEN 

AT THE PIANO 



MY SINCERE THANKS TO A GREAT BOSS 

BERNARD DELFONT= 

. . WHO MADE THIS ALL SO POSSIBLE . . . 

-MY THANKS TO~ 

WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY - HARRY FOSTER 

ROSE HiPPNER — Publicity 



44 



VAf/WRVnJUK 



Utah Fair Bd Pact With Autry 
Being Probed By State Auditors 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



Salt Lake City, Aug! 3. ♦ 
Utah State Fair Board ran into 
another session of trouble, when 
State Auditor Ferrell H. Adams 
announced his department was 
checking into the legality of the 
Days Of '47, Inc. agreement, which 
makes the fair board, the Daugh- 
ters of the Utah Pioneers and the 
Sons of the Utah Pioneers equal 
partners in any profits resulting 
fi-om the annual Pioneer Days 
celebration. 

The investigation was launched 
when the auditor noticed there 
was no contract covering the use 
of the fairgrounds by the Gene 
Autry rodeo, presented as Days 
of '47 attraction. 

Sheldon R. Brewster, fair man- 
ager and secretary of the . Days 
Of '47, said the "non-profit" pri- 
vate organization had set Autry 
rodeo, with take slated to be cut 
three ways this year. ■ * 

'Gus P. Backman, exec secretary 
of the Salt Lake Chamber of Com- 
merce, urged the accumulated fund 
be divvied up each year, because 
the -state had agreed to share 
profits only, and not underwrite 
losses. Backman pointed out that 
holding the fund for more than 
a year might result in one year's 
profits, being used to write off a 
subsequent year's losses. 

The only written evidence of 
the agreement covering the use 
of the fairgrounds is in the by- 
laws of the Days Of '47, Inc., arid 
in the fair board minutes, with 
no regular pact being -inked. 



Native Talent Fiesta Will 
Spark Wise. 100th Anni 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 

Wisconsin, which celebrates its 
100th anni' as a state on August 
7, will nold native son and daugh- 
ter talent display for two weeks. 

Lucille Meusel 6f Green Bay, 
and Donald Gram, Milwaukee, will 
head operatic contingent. Charles 
Winninger, Agnes Moorhead, Den- 
nis Morgan, Spencer Tracy, Jack 
Carson and Frederic March will 
make p.a.'s. 



MIRANDA DEAL COOKS 
FOR MILLER'S RIVIERA 

Deal is on for Carmen Miranda 
to open at the Riviera, Ft. Lee, 
N. J,, in late August or early Sep- 
tember. Salary is said to be 
$7,500*- It's likely that Phil Fos- 
ter will also be on that layout. 

The Aug. 8 display at the Bill 
Miller spot will be headed by Jane 
Froman, who's in at $6,000 weekly. 
Paul Winchell will have comedy 
spot on that show. 




AGVA Meet Winds Up 

In Stormy Session 

First post-convention meeting of 
the New York branch of the 
i American Guild of Variety Artists 
held yesterday (Tues.) at the Cap- 
itol hotel, N. Y., after a peaceful 
start wound up'in a near riot. Fire- 
works were occassioned with a 
motion from the floor asking for 
an advisory committee to be 
elected to help rule the N. Y. of- 
fice. 

Phil Irving, who introduced the 
motion, declared on the floor that 
inasmuch as it would be around 
November before results of the 
election and subsequent board 
meeting would take place, an in- 
terim committee of 11 members 
should have a voice in the han- 
dling of matters in the N. Y. 
branch. The motion passed, but 
afterward some of the members 
started withdrawing and adjourn- 
ment followed immediately. Sev- 
eral members protested the ad- 
journment, but members started 
leaving anyway. 

This fight is slated to continue 
and it's likely that the Associated 
Actors and Artistes of America 
appointed commjtte now handling 
AGVA affairs will be called in to 
settle the matter. 

The meeting was ostensibly 
called for a- report on the recent 
convention. Report was accepted 
by the membership. 



HELENE and HOWARD 

'Comedy Dunce Antiea' 
BliMI OVKJt 8tl< WKISK 

RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 
NEW YORK 

■■ill Doubling "TKXACO TV" 
also Mudison Mil. (•imtait 



Walters' H wood Deals 
Fade; Cafes Not For Sale 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 
Possibility of Lou Walters buy- 

I ing a local nitery appeared last 
night (2) to have faded almost to 
vanishing point. Within 48 hours 
of his arrival in town, reportedly 
to make offers for Earl Carroll's, 
Slapsy Maxie's and defunct Floren- 
tine Gardens, management of two 
bistros currently operating had put 

) a damper on his plans. 

Slapsy Maxie's reported flatly 
it is not for sale. 

Similar statement came from 
Virginia Lear, business manager 
for Bessie Schuyler, who inherited 
Carroll's under terms of showman's 
will. She reported nitery is not for 
sale "to Lou Walters or anyone 
else." 

Statements leave only the Flor- 
entine Gardens still to be ac- 
counted for. Understood last night 
that Walters made no offer there 
either and that owners of the 
property are going forward with 
plans for reopening the nitery 
i themselves as soon as government 
approval can be obtained on cer- 
| tain details. Frank Bruni's opera- 
I tion of spot collapsed several 
I weeks ago, with debts around 
$100,000 mark. 

j Meanwhile the American Guild 
of Variety Artists is preparing a 

j claim against Bruhi for $1,700, in 
behalf of unpaid choristers and 
other employes. 



MACICOS LOSE PROPS 
IN DUAL BURGLARIES 

Kansas City, Aug. 3. 

Bill and Mary Chaudet, magic 
team, arc out about $1,000 in gim- 
micks and clothing as the result of 
some sleight of hand pulled on 
them by thieves twice within two 
weeks. The first robbery came 'in 
Shreveport, La., three weeks ago, 
and cost the 'team about $350 in 
magic props and costumes. 

Second happened here last week, 
and added about $650 to the losses. 
Thieves broke into the Chaudet s 
station wagon and made off with 
the contents of car. 




Jackpot Coin Salvaged 

Columbus, Aug. 3. 

Nearly $5,000 taken from the 
jackpots of confiscated slot ma- 
chines seized by the Ohio Liquor 
Department ir licensed taverns and 
night clubs has been returned to 
the machines' owners, according to 
Donald T. Geyer, state liquor de- 
partment enforcement chief. 

He said owners of 82 of 250 con- 
fiscated machines, which will be 
destroyed this month, had applied 
for the return of the money. 



1948'S SENSATIONAL SINGING GROUP 

KING ODOM FOUR 

Currently Dl ID A U Dl Fl I New 



Appearing 



RUJBAN BLEU 



York 



12th Smash Week 



And Held Over Indefinitely 



VARIETY, July 21, 194S 
"Soeko holdover it the King Odom 
Quartet. They bespeak clem without 
being too much so. Their showmanship 
if innately expert." 

Abel. 



ON THE AIR EVERY WEDNESDAY 
8:00-8:30 P.M., EDST 
NIC— COAST TO COAST 



MUSICRAFT 
RECORDING ARTISTS 



Personal Manager: Helen King, 14S W. 45th Street, New York 
Exclusive Management 

JULES ZIEGLER, Inc. 

v> *4S Fife* Avw«»,-»kM¥-Y»*li, MUrrey Hilt 7-425* 



Aejiia Follies e>f 1948 

(WIRTH POOL, MPLS.) 

Minneapolis, July 27. 
Patricia Robinson, Phil Morton, 
Stubby Kruger, Charles Dichl, Earl 
Clark, Jimmy Patterson, Dorothy 
Poynton Hill, Tommy Thompson, 
Sam Howard, Preston Lambert, Gil 
Maison, Sylvia Manon Troupe ( 4 ) , 
Francisco & Dolores, 4 Song Styl- 
ists, Burt Hanson, Water Ballet 
(30), Stage Ballet (25), Ben Bar- 
nett orch. (12); produced by Al 
Sheehan; Helen Starr, water ballet 
director. 



Mex Vaader Wins Over 
Pistol-Toting Censor 

Mexico City, July 28. 
The six local vaude houses won 
a victory over officious city amuse- 
ments inspectors that's perhaps 
unique in show biz history. 

Case popped up when a cohort 
of inspectors, led by their chief, 
pistol in hand, burst in on a re- 
hearsal at the Teatro Lirico, and 
ordered the place shuttered. They 
claimed that lines in skits and 
sketches, and chatter by individual 
comedians offended good taste, 
; and that it ridiculed certain promi- 
nent politicians. 

The other houses closed in sym- 
pathy. Ditto all cinemas, but for 
; only one show. Lirico and the other 
five reopened when Mayor Fer- 
nando Casas Aleman agreed with 
what the impresarios said in paid 
ads in local prints that the Mexi- 
can consttitution guarantees free 
speech. He fired the pistol pack- 
ing inspector and assured the thea- 
tremen of freedom of speech on 
the stage, but asked them to keep 
talk within bounds. 



A georgeous outdoor setting and 
a 15-foot deep natural pool shaved 
off from the lake in its rear, as 
well as layout'-s entertainment 
merits, help to make this annual 
water show solid fare. . Presented 
each year as one of the features of 
the city's Aquatennial, it's pro- 
duced by Al Sheehan on a lavish 
scale. There are some of the na- 
tion's foremost swimmers, divers, 
and water clowns, a large water 
and stage ballet of pretty girls, 
stunning costumes, flashy water 
and' stage production numbers and 
lighting' effects, three first-rate 
vaudeville acts, pleasant vocalizing 
and a thrilling fireworks finale. It 
follows the same pattern with most 
of the same principals each year, 
shows of this sort permitting little 
variation, but, like the circus, it 
bears wnat almost amounts to an- 
nual repetition. 

With personable Preston Lam- 
bert as emcee the show moves 
swiftly. Burt Hanson and the Four 
Song Stylists provide vocal accom- 
paniments for many of the num- 
bers. The rustic "Aqua Hoe 
Down," a hillbilly opening, bring 
on the 55 girls comprising the 
water ,ind stage ballets. Top- 
notchers Jimmy Patterson, Earl 
Clark, Sam Howard, Charlie Diehl, 
Dorothy Poynton Hill and Tommy 
Thompson offer diving stunts from 
the three and five meter spring 
boards and then there's stage 
comedy contributed by Gil Maison 
and his funny monkey and pooches. 

Glamourous Patricia Robinson, 
demonstrates why she's national 
medley swimming champion. An 
Indian fantasy on the stage is a 
colorful production number featur- 
ing the thrilling Sylvia Manon and 
her three male adagio dancers. 
Participjating are the water and 
stage ballets with intricate forma- 
tions by the swimming gals. The 
second diving events from the very 
high boards afford plenty of thrills 
supplied by the same expert group 
that appeared in the initial presen- 
tation. Stubby Kruger, one of the 
nation's top water comedians, cops 
gasps and laughs with his clowning. 

Another spectacular production 
number is built around the Fran- 
cisco & Dolores perch act which 
provides additional thrills. The 
"diving maniacs" include most of 
the male high divers plus Clayton 
Mains and Phil Morton and their 
funmaking stunts are the show's 
highlight "Winter vs. Summer." 
the lavish finale utilizing the entire 
cast, finishes in a blaze of fire- 
works, AU -m all, a good -show, 
Recs. 



Saranac Lake 

By Happy Benway 

Saranac Lake, N. Y., Aug. 3. 
G. Albert Smith ("State of the 
Union") skedded into general hos- 
pital for a major operation. 

Andy Grainger Greenfield, Mass. 
manager doing nip-ups since being 
checked out of the infimary for 
meals and mild exercise. 

Many thanks to Joseph McCar- 
thy, T.P.U. exec of N. Y. C, for 
books and magazines donated to 
library and lounge room. 

Birthday greetings are in order 
to Forrest (Slim) Glenn, Victor 
(IATSE) Gamba, Alfred Michalski 
and Frank Scheedel, all Rogerites 
who are doing O.K. 

Frank Parson's nitery, The 
Birches, has added an Hammond 
organ with Ralph C. Yale, manipu- 
lating; also Doug Rabideau on 
vibes and xylophone. 

Mrs. William (Mother) Morris 
back to Camp Intermission for bal- 
ance of season, returning from a 
plane trip (her first) ' to Europe 
and a short stay in N. Y. C. 

Lila Lee. former silent pix star, 
flooded with birthday greetings at 
her downtown cottage. 

Msgr. Joseph Flannery, of St. 
Patrick* Cathedral N. Y. C, in to 
ogle the lodge and chat with Frank 
(Par) Hynes, wtjo was recently ap- 
I pointed downtown shopper, 
j King Reid Shows, first carnival 
I to hit the colony this season, here 
I under auspices local Fire dept. Ex- 
I tended open house courtesy to 
j gang. 

I Louise (RKO) Harris mastered 

| fourth stage of the thoracoplasty 

I operation like a veteran. 

Among the Rogerites attending 

| picnic at Fish Creek given by the 
Jewish Center were Moe Gould, 
Frank Kaplan, Ben Schaffer, Mary 
Mason, Carl Kessler and Walter 
Romanik. It's an annual treat for 
the theatre's shutins. 

Rose Hanken, ex-Rogersite who 
beat the rap here two years ago, in 
for vacation and check-up. After 
an all-clear she left to resume 
work as secretary to Freddie Mar- 
tin, orch leader. 

Thanks to Art Goldie and Sports 
Condensed News for placing us on 
their mailing list. 

(Write to those who are ill.) 



Pitts CUb Society 



Rocky as Bui 
Lam With 200G 



Pittsburgh, Aug. 3. 

Town's newest cafe. Club So- 
ciety, which opened only few weeks 
ago, looks headed for the rocks 
with the disappearance of its back- 
ers, Raymond E. Reynolds, and his 
son, Raymond L. Reynolds, build- 
ing contractors, who are charged 
with embezzling more than $200,- 
000 in funds earmarked for con- 
struction of new homes. 

Employees of the cafe haven't 
been paid for two weeks but said 
they would keep Club Society 
running in an effort to get their 
wages out of the place,' although 
funds are expected to be frozen by 
receiver appointed to look into the 
affairs of Reynolds Construction 
Co. 

Federal investigators claim they 
have positive proof that around 
$40,000 of the company's dough 
went into Club Society for remod- 
eling, liquor license and operation 
costs (spot .has lost money steadily 
since opening). Place was for- 
merly Hour Glass bar and restau- 
rant and went out of business last 
March when police raided room 
and exposed it as a call-house. 

Reynolds, father and son, are 
said to have duped the $200,000 
from prospective home-owners, 
most of them veterans, with prom- 
ises of putting up attractive, low- 
cost residences, none of which ever 
went up. Club Society has been 
under the operation of Mrs. Jo- 
seph Limpert, who served as host- 
ess and cashier, and her husband, 
head bartender. In addition to 
regular employees, musicians didn't 
get $351 in last week's, wages 
either. 



RALEIGH ROOM'S NEW POLICY 

The Raleigh room of Warwick 
hotel, N. Y., reopens with an intime 
entertainment policy Sept. 15. 
Opening bill hasn't been set yet. 

Last season it tried a variety of 
formats. 



NICK LUCAS 

Now Appearing 

"KEN. MURRAY'S 
BLACKOUTS OF 1948" 

El Capitan Theatre 
Hollywood. Cef. 



COMEDY MATERIAL 

For All Branches of Theatrical! 

FUN-MASTER 

"The ORIGINAL Show-lir. Gag File" 

Not. 1 to 22 @ $1.00 each 
3 DIFFERENT BOOKS OF PARODIES 
(10 in each book) $10 per book 

I'KoJ 5 ,, £ OMt OIr "HUM0K BUSI- 
MCSS," The Show-Bin i;uri«».ine with 
each 83.00 minimum order. 
Send loo for lists of otlior comedy 
■nuterlal, bourn. imioilies, minstrel 
patter, black-oaU, ele. 

NO C.O.M.'S 

PAULA SMITH 
200 W. SMI, Street. New York IS 



WILLIE 
SHORE 

Latin Quarter 
New fork 




AMERICA'S TOP HEADLINE SINGING GROUP 

t 




A "NATURAL 
FOR 
TELEVISION 

All Major Networbe, 
Theatres and Clubs, 
D. 8, oa«l Canada. 

reiaosal Direction- — bd KIM 
WM BKO" KrfMiac. Swn Terk St. ST. ». 



RCA 
VICTOR 
FAVORITES 



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Circle «-**«• 



VeJncBday, August 4, 1948 



Night Club Reviews 



VAUDEVILLE 



45 



Norinaiidie Roof, Mont'I 

Montreal, July 30. 
Carl Brisson, Neil Golden Orch, 
Peter Barry's Rhumbaists; cover $1 
weekdays, $1.50 Saturdays and holi- 



Strictly top - drawer entertain- 
ment is offered in this fancy roof- 
top room as the Carl Brisson takes 
over. A strong fave, the Brisson 
polish and performance is packing 
this big room. 

Tall and charming, Brisson and 
the familiar gardenia, gathers up 
the crowd with "Hello There," 
shifts to a hand-mike and for sock- 
eroo version of "Serenade of the 
Bells." With every nitery here 
carrying its quota of local Danes, 
Brisson spots a little Danish num- 
ber which gets heavy palming and 
participation. 

The nostalgic plug is pulled 
when he does a tear-jerker, "A 
pink Cocktail for a Blue Lady." 
"Fancy Free" gives songster a 
chance for table-hopping that's en- 
joyed. Follows with "A Double 
Martini Please," and some of his 
old faves which score solidly. En- 
cores with "When I Smoke a Cig- 
arette" and a smash version of 
"The Last Time I Saw Paris" to 
tumultuous reception. Brisson lost 
three days of current stand due to 
a cold, but a return date later in 
the year is a certainty. 

Kudos go to Dick Lewis for 
some fine pianoing of Brisson's 
songs, plus strong backing by Neil 
Golden's orch and particularly the 
violin solos of Frank Gula. Peter 
Barry's very fine group take over 
for the Latin terping sets. Newt. 

Copa, Pitt. 

Pittsburgh, July 30. 
Dorothy Lawlor, Stuart Foster, 
OUie O'Toole, Buddy Martin, 
Johnny Marino Orch. (5); no cover 
or -minimum. 



Old vaude days of freak attrac- 
tions are being revived at Copa by 
Lenny Litman with booking of 
Dorothy Lawlor, the ex-hatcheck 
gal from Long Island who put in a 
bid for a husband who would settle 
$10,000 on her. From looks of 



things, the gal may set the in 
grand herself without 8 any help 
from the outside. v 

ThProV nn t Uer g l t tt fast - however. 
I I es " ot much she has to offer 
as an entertainer, that's for sure 
P" 1 while the publicity keeps com- 
ing— she knocked down plenty of 
spreads here in the dailies-Miss 
K 01 ' ls apparently a quick shot 
for business Up to midweek, Copa 
had done its best biz in months and 
there was no other place than 
tne i-wanna-get-married-for-$10,000 
blonde to credit it. 

„„H 0 L a ' to °- bad appearing chick 
and she's on and off like a flash. 
Alter a saccharine intro, she steps 
to the mike, talks, doesn't sing, a 
combo of "I Wanna Get Married" 
and A Good Man Is Hard to Find" 
in a flat monotone and quickly 
breezes before anyone has had a 
chance to say who, what or when. 
It s no act, no presentation, no 
nothing— just a look-see flash at a 
front-page femme. She's bringing 
them in, though; no question about 
that. 

Fortunately for the Copa, it has 
a couple of sock acts to look after 
the needs of the customers. Stuart 
Foster, on his own after a stretch 
as featured vocalist with Tommy 
Dorsey, has an easy style, smart 
set of pipes and sells his okay 
selection of pops with lot of stuff. 
What with the boom still on in pash 
balladeers, Foster ought to have 
no trouble making the grade. Ollie 
O'Toole, graduate of radio here, is 
back home again after a tour with 
Horace Heidt and his mimicry's 
sure-fire. Bangs out a flock of solid 
impressions of the comics and 
commentators of the air-waves, and 
his material's about average. 

Near end ■ of Foster's single, 
O'Toole comes out and they get 
together for an entertaining bit, 
Foster proving to O'Toole that he 
can impersonate, too, doing Gable, 
Boyer and Robinson, and O'Toole 
showing Foster he can also sing, 
doing crack takeoff s on Vaughn 
Monroe and Jack Smith. Boys 
worked out the duet on moment's 
notice for local engagement and 
it's going over solidly. 

Intermission songs at the piano 
are provided by Buddy Martin, 
with a pleasant voice, and for only 
a five-piece combo, Johnny Ma- 
rino's band makes a lot of good 
dance music, both domestic and 
Latin. Cohen. ■ 



One Fifth Ave., N. Y. 

(FOLLOWUP) 

This intime room continues as a 
phenomena of N. Y. bistro busi- 
ness. Located far off main drag 
and sans name talent, it neverthe- 
less continually has the ropes up. 
Probably the chief reason is the 
patron's reliance upon Bob Dow- 
ney's ability to select promising 
newcomers and build to estab- 
lished faves. 

Newcomers on this layout are 
the Turner Twins (New Acts), a 
pleasant twosome who fit in well 
with the spot's intimate atmos- 
phere. The other major ingredi- 
ent is Jack Kerr, who's been play- 
ing spot for many seasons. His 
robust delivery of risgaieties keeps 
'em calling for encores and he's 
one of the top palm-getters in the 
spot. 

Downey, aside from being in 
charge of shows, contributes to the 
bill along with Harold Fonville. 
The pair contrib two-piano work 
for neat response. Their pianoing 
comprises tunes from hit musicals, 
with an occasional classic for 
change of pace. 

Hazel Webster, another regular, 
completes' lineup with lull piano 
work, displaying a good commer- 
cial brand of 88ing. Jose. 



Minn. Terrace, Mpls. 

(HOTEL NICOLLET) 

Minneapolis, July 24. ' 
Dorothy Lewis Ice Show, "Glid- 
ing the Globe" (8), Cecil Golly 
Orch. (12), with Mildred Golly; 
$2.50 min. 



Despite small cast and cramped 
skating space, showmanship 
achieves flash in this iceshow, with 
resultant pleased customers and 
the sort of favorable word-of-mouth 
that boosts patronage. Clever, col- 
orful costuming, and skilfully ex- 
ecuted pattern which gives cohe- 
sion to the swiftly paced skating re- 
vue and lively, showy routines turn 
the trick. 

It's the 10th summer engagement 
in this room for Miss Lewis, local 
favorite, and her Terrace ice show, 
which is drawing heavily at a time 
when supper club business gener- 
ally keeps hitting new lows. Titled 
"Gliding the Globe," it take* the 
audience to the North Pole, Paris, 
Vienna and China, affording the 
opportunity for a display of a varie- 
ty of eye-arresting costumes and 
for skating to music traditionally 
associated with the lands visited. 
Considering budget and other lim- 
itations, the show has a lot of 



punch and entertainment- and, 
varying the usual supper-club fare, 
it clicks consistently throughout, 
although absence of comedy is felt. 

Whirls, spins and acrobatics are 
the forte of the attractive three 
girls and four boys who, together 
with Miss Lewis, comprise the cast. 
The eye-filling star, an accom- 
plished skater, is in fine fettle. The 
opening penguin number and an 
exciting, cyclonic finale with stro- 
bolite effects and to the music of 
"Sabre Dance" and "Orientale" arc 
the highlights. Miss Lewis' stun- 
ning costumes include a satin cre- 
ation on which hundreds of tiny 
silver bells are strung and another 
red satin standout with glittering 
sequins and a dragon embroidered 
in gold threads. Vocalizing embel- 
lishes some of the routines. 

The Golly orchestra does its show 
chore expertly and provides first- 
rate dance music for the customers. 
Mildred (Mrs.) Golly vocalizes 
neatly. Recs. 

Five O'Clock, Miami 

Miami Beach, Aug. 1. 
DeCastro Sisters, "Van Kirk, 
Freddie Lane, Nino Yacovino, Ra- 
feal and Peter Herman Orchs; 
?nininium $2-$2.50. 

i*- 

Still doing the hest biz in town, 
spot has a satisfying show for the 
mixed Latin and American trade. 

DeCastro sisters from Havana 
are familiars in this area via ap- 
pearances at the Clover Club and 
Olympia theatre. In the topliner 
spot they deliver their standard 
mixture of straight harmonies on 
Latinairs and cute comedies on 
Americano tunes. On the straight 
stuff they click with their song 
Mendings-. It is when they essay 
the mugging-comedy and strutting 
around the ringside that their act 
sags. It is obviously forced, lack- 
ing naturalness material calls for. 
Less of the cuteness and more of 
the legit harmony would give turn 
greater stature. However, they do 
nicely as is. 

Van Kirk (doubling 4 the Olym- 
pia) goes better in an intimate 
room than in a big vauder with its 
family trade. The nuances of his 
British humor hit for telling effect. 
His mugging, plus material garner 
him steady laughs. Toppers are 
his "What Not" song of "Major 
Bungstarter" and his version of the 
Bert Lahr classic, the "Woodchop- 
per Song." He's added some yock 
compelling hits to the sequence. 

Terp slot is held in zingy fashion 
by young Freddie Lane. The agile 



lad exhibits neat acro-tappings to 
boff reception. Nino Yacovino, vet 
ballroomologist turned emcee, in- 
troes capably. Lary. 

ftlcn Island Casino 

(NEW ROCHELLE, N. Y.) 

Vie Damone, Charlie FisKe Orch. 
(12) with Glen Canfield, Ginny 
Coon. 



Glen Island Casino, for years one 
of the ;lass summer spots in the 
New Y >rk area for name bands 
(with Frank Dailey's Meadow- 
brook), departed from its policy 
for the first time when Vic Da- 
mone, rising pop soloist, was 
b.-oked. Since Glen Isle opened its 
season in May, a succession of 
name combos did more harm than 
good to the spot's bank balance 
and the idea of using Damone as 
a lure, backed by Charlie Fiske's 
orchestra (see Band Reviews), is 
in the nature of an attempt to 
strengthen the season's b.o. 

Damone has come far as a per- 
sonality since his first nitery date 
in New York, last year at the Com- 
modore h*tel. Firstly, he has wisely 
discarded the idea that what num- 
bers are good enough for Frank 
Sinatra and other singers are good 
enough for him. He's now project- 
ing his own talent rather than re- 
flecting someone else's and the 
change in repertoire gives him in- 
dividual stature that must eventu- 
ally push him along the path to- 
ward higher reception. 

Damone starts out here with the 
rhythmic standard, "Three Little 
Words," then "It's Magic," a new 
and rising pop; a medley of "Wrap 
Your Troubles in Dreams," "I've 
Got the World On a String" and 
one other; a specialty that's real 
cute titled "My Fraternity Pin" 
and, to finish, a try at "Summer' 
time." Latter demonstrates that the 
youngster is not only »■ •"•ooner, 
that he can sing out, and it caps 
a well-paced and wisely chosen 
package of melody. Young in ap- 
pearance and smartly turned out, 
Damone does a fine job. He has 
acquired considerable polish, too, 
via the experience gathered from 
a long string of nitery bookings. 

Fiske's band ably underwrites 
Damone's background requirements 
and aids in the overall effect. Be- 
tween the two, Glen Isle's biz has 
improved weekends, but rentains 
only fair during the week. Glen 
Isle, like other class name spots, 
is still missing teen-age business 
to fill out its weekly take, a cir- 
cumstance brought about by y%h 
prices the kids can't meet. Woe;.."... 




to the WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY 

... Jackie Miles 



46 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



Variety Bills 

* . WEEK OP AUGUST 4 - 

l.'nmeraU in connection with bills below Indicate •neauar day »t (Sunt 

whether fuii or split weefc. 

Lc . l !. er i n Pa'eBtheM» Indicates circuit: (I) Independent : (I.) I.orw (Mi M«a.» 
(D ranu-OMt; <B> KKO; (S) Stall | (W> ^r£r t <WR> Walter UoSShf ' 



ing" (M-G), national champ in 
June, did not appear in key city 
dates after having been around for 
nearly two months. "Coroner 
Creek" (Col) racked, up • some 
fairly nice biz. two weeks during 
the past month. "Up In Central 
Park" (U> hung up some sizeable 
coin three sessions of July. 



NKW YOUK CITY 
Capitol (1.) 5 

Si up the Music 
Bei t Parks 
II ai ry Sailer Ore 
•Tack. Carter 
Trlxie 
Musk- Kntl (I) 5 . 
V i n Mayo 
Charles Tyrell N 
'Wilfia Jones 
Andy Arcavl 
Kstelte Sloaii 
Rockettes 
Corps <le Ballet 
Sym Ore 

Vara mount (F) 4 

Peggy Lee- 
Pave Barbour 5 
Jan Murray 
Rudy Cardenas 
Itav -Kberle Ore 
Itosy (I) 4 
T>ick Haymes 
Tommy Trent 
Buster Shaver 
' Carol I.ynne 
Arnold Sltoda 
Jean Sturgeon 
Fritz Dietl 

Strand (W) « 
Count Basie Ore 
Billie Holiday 
Zephyrs 

Stump * Stumpy 
BRONX 
Crotona (I) 9-10 
Leo l>elyon 
The Crawfords 
S Morano Sin 
Daniels & Denise 
Gvpsy Alarkofff. 
qrKKNS 
Jamaica. (I> 4-7 
T.eo De Lyon 
3 Morano Si««- 
Daniels * Denlae 
Lillian Carvell 
' Bob Coffey v 
Tlie Tsilaks 
The Sword 
Morev & Eaton 
M. Hendricks 
8-10 

Marshal) Young 
(tour to fill) 
ATLANTIC CITY 

Steel Pier (1) 1 
Oaiidsmilh Bros 
Spaolding 3 
.Tack Olson 
Mary Small 
The Boxeyettes 
BALTEHOBB 
Hippodrome (1) 5 
The Marcos 
Dave Barry 



Salicl Puppets 

State (1) S-l 
The Lu-Raya 
Jean Nelson 
Lou Growne 
Anson Sis 

8-11 
The Springers 
Janet Stevena 
Al Stevena 
Parks 

CAMDEN 
Towers (1) «-« 
Wesley & Audrey 
Patsy Garret t 
Woody & Barry 
George FrefmiH 
" Reid Bros 
CHICAGO 
Chi raj; ii (V) 5 
Harry Babbitt 
Harmonicats 
Ross * LaPierve 
Evans 

Oriental. (I) 4 

Horace_21eidt Show 
Johnny Band 
Jean ■ Harvey 
Jimmy Crogso 
Ralph Peer 
Melodaircs 
Jitterbugs 
Pat Theriault 
KINGSXOS 
B'nav (WRI «-7 
A & V Felltnn 4 
B tc D Scott 
The Freddys 
Lew Nelson 
S Saltons Co 
MIAMI 
Olympiu <l>) 4 
Martingales 
Norma Krieser 
Dick Foran 
Jack DeLeon 
Craddocks ■ 
PHILADKI.rll I A 
Carman (I) S 
Herman Hyde Co 
Madeline Russell 
Grace Drysdale 
Ross A Mann 
. ROClUOKIl 
Palace (I) 6-8 
"All tn Fun" 
Bob Dietrich 
Al Dault Co 
Al Verdi Co 
Marie Lawler 
J & D Barrett 
WASHINGTON 
Capitol (1.) -1 
Burns 2 & Evelyn 
Lowery & Eat 
Sammy White 
Winter Sis 



Merry Macs 
Toledo- Klly ft Joan 
Turner Lay! on 
Kl Granadas & 

Peter 
Albert Whejan 
Terry O'Neill 
Ar. hie Rlray Co 
A ,T Powers 

SWANSEA 

Empire <sj) S 
New Atudhalters 
Syd Seymour 
Madllatters Bd 
Constance Kvans 
Kane ft Oscar 
I'm O'P.rien 
Eric Plant 

Wol verhnmpton 
■lll>podronie (M) 2 



Naughty Oirls '*S 

Ben Wrigley 

Maria Carpien 

Tlco ft Chico 

Dick Thorpe 

Moray Bros ft 
I>a ve 

Joy Dexter 
Bunny ft Byron 
Moore ft Itatton 

■Poppy William* 
WOOD GREEN 
Empire (S> 3 
Peter Cavangh 
Freddie Sanborn 
Leon forte'/. 
Norman Thomas 
Slim Rhyiler 
V & At Norman 
St Dennis ft Beryl 



Cabaret Bis 



NEW YORK CTTT 



BRITAIN 



BIRMINGHAM 
Hippodrome <M) 2 

Boswell Twins 
Frances Day 
Conrad's Pigeons 
D Wakefield Co 
B Wright ft Marion 
Hal Swain Co 
Eddie Gray 
Benson Dulay 
BRADFORD 
Alhambrn (M) « 
MaoD n d ft Grahm 
Cliefalo 

Veronica Martell 
Terry-Thomas 
Peggy Mortimer 
Tommy Fields 
Tommy BOrke Co 
Bienardo Co 

CARDIFF 
New • (S) 2 
Dancing Years 
Barry Sinclair 
Odelts Field 
Nicolette Koeg 
Ver-onlia Brady 
Sara Romano 
John Palmer 
Frank Thornton 
Warde Morgan 
Gina Coward Co 
CHISWICK 
Empire (S) 2 
Bobb Wllto> 
('avail O'Connor 
Arnaul 'Bros 
S.-ott * Foster 
• I'Htil Wln'grave 
Harris ft- Christine 
Floyd ft B'Nay 
Bega 3 

DERBY 
Grand (S) 2 
Talent Parade 
A rrique 

D * .1 O'Gorman 
L Clifford ft Freda 
La Celeste 
Jlills Sis ft Michael 
K'PIMH KliH 

Empire (311) 2 
And So We Go On 
Issy Bonn 
T & D Kendall 
Noixy A I ft Kemble 
Jack Kelly Co 
Peterson Bros 
Francanas 

<i IjASGOW 

"Empire (M) 2 
Tflscanelli 
Vera Lynn 
Madrigal 

Maurice Bocco . . 
Saveen 
p.ov Lester 
Van Dock 
C Warren & Jean 
Robinson Xc Martin 
LEEDS 
Empire (M) 2 
Ta Ra. Rah Boom 
Frankle Howerd 
Adrlenne 4c Leslie ' 
Morprau & Royle. 
Irving Cirdwood 
LEICESTER 
Palace (S) 2 
Soldiers in Skirts 
Joe Stein 
Max Carole 
Ronnie Stewart 
Fred Sloan 
Jackie Carr 
Vii-ki -Raymond 
Kenneth Allan 
Archie Usher 
Cyrus 

Forile & Sheen 
1/tVERPOOL 
Empire (M) 2. 

Syclo Bros 
leholas Bros 
Melville & Rekar 
Ben Yost CO 
N Hope & D Ray 
Billy Russell 
• ' Jl Louise &. Charles 
Raymond Smith 
B While & Ann 
„„ LONDON 
lllppodrome (BE) ■% 
Ylo Oliver 



Pat Kirkwood 
Fred Emney 
Melachrino Ore 
Marilyn Higl'tower 
Michael Bentine 
Jolie Andrews 
Jean Garson 
Santigo Bd 
Palladium (M) 3 
Andrews Sis 
Lew Parker. 
M CoUeano Co 
Frank Marlowe 
Elsa & Waldo 
Fayes 3 
r*en Youns: 
Joso Moreno Co 
Yvonne Walts 
FINSBl'RY PARK 

Empire Ol) 2 
Kaye's Pekinese 
Donald Peers 
Peter Brounh 
Arnley* St Gloria 
M Colleano Co 
Elsie Bower 
Houston * Stewart 
Scott Sanders 
Yvonno Wan** 
HACKNEY 
Empire (S) 2 
Forces Showboat 
Bartletl & Boss 
Harry Sei-ombo 
Loren Ijor'enz 
Cliff Sherlock 
Douglas Harris 
Reg Darnley 
Ttmar Bros 
Billy Wells 
Intl Singers 
SHEPHE'DS BLSII 

Empire (S> 2 
Mystery Cavalcade 
Great Lyle 
Con Colleano 
Stanelll 
Moke & Poke 
Wheeler & Wilson 
Kftrlson 3 

MANCHESTER 
Hippodrome (S) 2 
Poek-A-Boo 
Collnson & Breen 
Riley S, Heller 
Jack Edge 
Boros 
Kinyots 

Palace (31) 2 
Thanks for Memory 
Edgar Bergen 
Charlie McCarlby 
O H Elliott 
Gertie Gllana • 
Nellie Wallace 
Ella Shields 
Randolf Sutton 
O'Farrell & D'nvei'K 
Freddie Sanborn 
F B'mberg'r * ram 
Frank Marlowe 
Mario Louise ('has 
NEWCASTLE 
Empire (M) » . 
Vernon Sis 
John Boles 
Stevano 
Geo AVood 
Dolly ltarmer 
Joyce Golding 
F B'mberg'r & Pain 
Bill Kerr 
V it J Craslonlan 
NOTTINGHAM 
Empire (M) 2 
Picadilly Hayrlde 
Nat Jackley 
4 Hurricanes 
4 Pagolas 
Marienne Lincoln 
Jack Francois 
SHEFFIELD 
Empire (M) 2 
E & J Paul 
G & B Bernard 
B Lloyd & Betty- 
Eddie Gordon 
Dorothy Gray Co 
W Latona 4V.Simrks 
David Poole 
Reg Dixon 

SENDEItLANO 
Empire (.Mf Sy • 
■Vic .Bay 3 • 1 ; 



Cafe Society 

Downtown 

Mildred Bailey 
Avon Long 
Calvin Jackson 
Edmund Hall Ore 

ConaentHina 
F -l-ansford 
Gali-Gali 
Betty Bouney 
Ralt>h Young 
Ray Malone 
M Dnrao Oro 
Alvares Ore 
Illamnnd Horseshoe 
Jay Marshall 
Grace & Nicco 
Norma Slieperd 
Choral Octet 
H Sandler Ore 
Alvero-/ Mera 
Juenger Ballet Line 

El Chilli • 
Fernanda Crespa 
Comte Luis 
Victoria Barcelo 
Rita ft RoKino 
Los Panchos 

Havana-Madrid - 
l.os Bocheros 
Trfnl Reyes 
It Sanlillana 
Ralldl Font Ore 
.M.icluto Ore 
Hotel Behn't-riasa 
Eildie Stono Oro 

Hotel Biltmore 
Uums Morgan Ore 
Harold Nagcl Ore 

Hotel Edison 
Henry Jerome Ore 
! No 1 Fifth Ave 
I Turner Twins 
JaeU Kerr 
[laxel Webster 
Downey & Fonvllle 

Penthouse Club 
Martha Short 
Johnny Thompson 
Oscar Walzer 
Riviera 
Jane Froman 
Homo Vincent 
Ola ntlers 
Tony Ravaar' 
Joey Gilbert 
Donn Arclen Line 

Hotel Astor 
Dick J ui gens Ore 



Lenny Herman Ore 
Hotel New Vorkri 
B Cummins Ore 
Ice Revue 
Hotel Pennsylvania 
Skitch Henderson O 

Hotel Kt Merits 
Menconl Ore 
Jacutietina 
ida ft Vuro 

Hotel Taft 
Vincent Lopez Ore 
Charlie Drew. 

Latin Quarter 
Ina Ray Hut ton Oi 
Willie Shore 
Cross ft Dunn 
Land re ft Veirna 
Costello Twins 
Bon Vivants 
B Harlow Ore 

Le Riilaan Hlfn 
King Odoiu 4 
Naomi Stevens 
Louise Howard 
Edu Lubich 
Nermann I'aris 3 
Leon tt Eddie's 
Eddie Davis 
Art Wancr Ore 
Mar'ita ft Barreira 
L Nomura Dcrs 
.1 Lawrence 
Beverly Arnold 
Harry Prime 
yhepard-Line 

Old Roumanian • 
Sadie Banks 
Joe LaPorte Ore 
D'Aquila Ore 
Spivy's 
Tony Craig 
Mary McCarty 
Splvy 

Versailles 

Nancy Donovan 
Bob Grant Ore 

Panchito Oro 
Village Barn 

Hnl tlraham Ore 
Chubby Roe 
Kddv Howard 
Hill Duffy 
Barbara Duffy 
Mobs. Richard 
Piute Pete 

Walilnrf-Asiorla 
Freddy Martin Ore 
Mis'cha Borr Oro 



SAG-4A f s 

Continued from pafe 2 



questions they'll be officially repre- 
senting the 4A's. but their real 
authority will stem primarily from 
AFRA'S powerful position in the 
emerging TV setup. 

At a meeting of the 4A's inter- 
national board last Friday morning 
(30i, it was voted to protest to SAG 
over reports that the new agree- 
ment with the studios contains a 
clause giving the picture union jur- 
isdiction over films for tele. The 
4A's note to the SAG board noted 
that all TV jurisdiction is officially 
the domain of the parent union, 
with temporary control in the 
hands of the 4A's television com- 
mittee. 

According to SAG sources, the 
union's new pact with the studios 
states merely that an agreement 
covering telecasting of films will 
be worked out, but doesn't specify 
any terms or set a date for such an 
agreement. Under the circum- 
stances, if a satisfactory agreement 
isn't reached, all SAG can do is 
wait for expiration of the new con- 
tract, in October, 1949, or call a 
strike on 90 days' notice. SAG 
representatives explain that the 
clause calling for an agreement 
over films for tele serves merely 
as a "protection" for all the unions 
in the 4A's. 



Vanderbilt 

Continued from page Z ; 



tails, etc, who stands on his thumb 
atop a moving glass ball! A local- 
ly well known comedian, called 
something., like Charlie Boy (or 
Roy) did one of the best takeoffs 
on Charlie Chaplin I've ever seen. 
Crowd went wild. It was pouring 
outside and most people have to 
bicycle or come by tram to get 
there to see the show. In Stutt- 



10,000 lire with 900 to get in (lira 
now about 575 to the dollar.) 

Ran into Gene" Markey and 
Myrna Loy, the John Gunthers, 
Nancy de Marigney and Henry 
Fletcher'at the Excelsior, also boys 
from US carrier Keersage. Most 
Rome liquor is diluted and smells 
like vanilla. 

Trailer is parked here of all 



gart all British movies are showing ! Places, inside the Spanish Embas- 
The Macomber Affair.' It costs a I sy because the U. S. Embassy is too 



bar of soap or chocolate, or the 
equivalent of 6c, to get in. Coke 
is served when the reels are 
changed. Costs 4 wo bits a bottle. 



snooty to let "such crude American 
exhibition" into the US Embassy 
compound! The Greek Legation, 
Spanish and Yugoslavs all immedi- 



Switzerland is medium gay with ^* sk< : d \° h hous f us ' bl * t!le 



O'DonneN-Hughes 

' Continued from page 2 



ride the wide open spaces of Texas 
than be 'confined to the RKO cor- 
ral." 

Giving rise to the rumors prob- 
ably was the fact that Karl Hoblit- 
zelle, chief owner of Interstate, 
holds a big block of RKO stock. 



CHICAGO 



Rlackhawh 

Al Trace Ortrh 
Jackie Van 

Hotel Bismnrk 
Don McGrane Orcli 
Uic!iard Gordon 
Chester Dolphin 

Helslngs 
Prof. Backwards 
Lenny t'olyer 
Mike Young 
Hill Chandler Ore 
H Etlgewater Beaelt 
(Icq Olsen Ore 
II Williams Trio 
I'aul Sydell 
Ital Ray win 
Beltv Gray 
Dorothy Ktld 

Dancers (12) 
Gay nor ft Ross 
Cher. Puree 
Danny Thomas 
Martha King 



Mnffe ft Karr 
Leroy Bros (3) 
M Gould Ore (10) 
Lane Adams 
D t'hlesta Combo 
Dorothy Dorgen 
Dancers Co 
Hotel Stevens 
Bennv Strong Ore 
K ft F Ballard 
John Flanagan 
Jen il Arlcn 
Matian Spelman 
Skating Blvdears 
Bok Turk 
Kebileia ft Del Tori. 
Doris Donavan 
Etwood Carl 

Palmer House 
Llherace 
Clifford Guest 
M Abholt Doers, 10 
r-'lorinn ZaBach Ore 
Giselle ft F Szyoni 



Huddle on Last of '48 RKO Pix 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 
Production program for the bal- 
ance of the year is being worked 
out by the new RKO triumvirate, 
following weekend conferences 
with Howard Hughes. Committee, 
comprising Bicknell Lockhart, C. 
J. Tevlin and Sid Rogell, already 
started huddles with indie produ- 
cers. 

The trio was unable to prepare 
in five days last week a program 
which generally requires months to' 
plan so it couldn't present the com- 
plete slate to Hughes at the week 
end meeting. Understand a strong 
possibility is "set-up" to teeoff pro 
duction when it resumes in Sep- 
tember. Meanwhile, new duties arc 
being lined up for Edgar Peterson, 
Dore Schary's former executive 
production assistant, idle since 
Schary left the lot. 



'Waltz' July Topper 



Continued from page 2 



which was out on pop-scale dates; 
"Mr. Blandings" (SRO) and 
"Fighting Father Dunne" (RKO). 

Besides "Largo" and "Affair," 
"Tap Roots" (U), "Beyond Gipry" 
(Par), "Abbott-Costello Meet 
Frankenstein" (U) and "So Evil 
My Love" (Pari, hint the greatest 
future possibilities on very limited 
engagements thus far. Of these, 
"Roots" and the new A&C horrific 
comedy have shown by initial test 
dates the biggest money potential. 
"My Love" and "Glory" both have 
only preem playdates to their 
credit thus far. "Feudin', Fussin' " 
(U) also has done fairly well to 
date. 

Both "Hazard" (Par) and "Deep 
Waters" (20th) were extremely 
spotty in the past month, latter 
being a definite disappointment. 
"Summer Holiday" (M-G) also did 
not go far in July. "Dream Girl" 
( Par) turned in few good weeks, 
most sessions being very light- 
weight. Another to get slim pick- 
ings was "Wallflower." 

"Remember Mama" (RKO) still 
was taking in nice coin during the 
3i days of July while "H^niecpriv 



Film Classics 

Continued from page S 



clai ing "our growth must be gradu- 
al." "We have already gained the 
respect of producers and exhib- 
itors, and their faith in us must 
not be shaken by any attempts by 
us to skyrocket to the top. The 
goal shall be reached in proper 
time/' 

Krauze announced the following 
eight promotions' in the company's 
sales setup: Jake Lutzer, from Dal- 
las exchange manage? to southern 
division manager; Jules K. Chap- 
man, from assistant general man- 
ager to assistant g.s.m.; Ralph 
Peckham, from Atlanta to Dallas 
branch manager; George Lefko, 
from Indianapolis to Detroit branch 
manager; John McKci.na, sales- 
man to heed of the N. Y. exchange; 
Lou Bernhard, salesman to head 
of playdate department; Ed Spiers 
from Milwaukee to Chicago branch 
manager; and Bob Bernhard, sales- 
man to assistant foreign sales man- 
ager. 

Al Zimbalist, ad-publicity chief, 
outlined exploitation plans for the 
company's new product, including 
upped trade paper campaigns and 
national advertising. Also in at- 
tendance were David Home, for- 
eign sales manager; reps from 
Canada, Portugal, Philippines and 
Hong Kong; and A. Pam Blumen- 
thal, chairman of the board of 
Cinecolor, parent company of Film 
Classics, • .', ■ 



Lugano the gayest spot of all. In 
Zurich the Petit Palais, at the Hotel 
Baur-au-Lac, puts on- tea dancing 
from 4 to 6; supper dancing from 
9 to 1. The orchestra here plays 
Americanese but the chanteuse 
sings it with a decidedly French 
accent. It is crowded to capacity 
and quite expensive. All whisky is 
about $2 a drink; all brandies 
about $1.50. Even bottled-waters 
are $1.50 the pint! Frascatti is do- 
ing the biggest dinner business at 
$5 the meal. The Dolder, on the 
hill, is duller than ever. All Eng- 
lish movies in local theatres save 
'GI Joe.' At Lucerne we went to 
the Kursall and saw an excellent 
exhibition of flag-throwing and 
horn-blowing — the latter eerie. It 
should be imported to the U.S. 
vaudeville st a g e . Dancing in 
another room here rather dull; or- 
chestra too British. Drinks also 
high at $2,50 apiece. Costs $1 to 
get into Kursall. Crowded with 
British and U.S. tourists on Thurs. 
nights. 

Italo Spots 

In Lugano the Capione is de- 
cidedly the best. You take a boat, 
go about an hour across to the tiny 
Italian town where there is a huge 
casino ■ — roulette, chemin-de-fer 
and bottle. Limit $1.25 per chip. 
This is the only spot Mussolini per- 
mitted to remain open for many 
years. Trade seems to be U. S., 
British, Italians, Belgians. Had ex- 
cellent steak dinner here for $16. 
Wines are high but good. Serve 
real caviar with all meals; also 
great assortment hors d'oevres. 

The Cecil also does a big busi- 
ness from 9 to 1 a.m. Has three 
floor shows: talent mostly French. 
Admission $2; an evening here with 
drinks about. $10 per person. On 
the outskirts of town three little 
jernts serve beer, vermouth and 
apple - drinks; have stringed or- 
chestras. 

Then comes the Castagnola with 
a big German dance band. This is 
all for the locals; averages about 
$3 per night per couple. The best 
spot in -town is the Kursall, which 
covers a city block. Has gambling 
(boule) at two bit limit; plus a 
huge dance-floor under a tent. The 
show Here excellent. The Saunders 
(2> feature a typical Houdini trunk 
act, one of the best ever seen; and 
troupe of Viennese gals which are, 
out-of-this-world. One of them, a 
child called 'Poushy' does one of 
the best acrobatic-dance-numbers 
seen- in Europe. There is also a 
female - impersonator with the 
troupe who is tops. All seven girl 
members have their Austrian moth- 
ers travelling with them. Town is 
filled with sidewalk cafes, each 
vying with the other with stringed 
orchestra. 

Villa d'Este was very dead. We 
learned here of Mike Romanoff's 
marriage. Very expensive here too. 
The Lido, Venice, is deader still. 
They have a wonderful setup; the 
show and 20 chorines from Paris. 
But no customers, due largely to 
fact that few Britishers can travel; 
there are practically no Americans; 
and other Europeans who are 
travelling are heading for Switzer- 
land where they can buy things. 
'Hitler, the Beast' OK B.O. 
Two pictures in Venice proper 
are doing a fair business. X)ne is 
"Hitler, the Beast of Berlin"; and 
the other "The Great Lie"! The 
gondoliers had a strike and upped 
their fare to $2 an hour from 50c! 

In Milan "Birth of a Nation" 
and "King Kong" are doing good 
business. In Florence the roof* 
garden of the Barvaroldi Hotel 
near the station has tea and supper 
dancing; both 'are also at the 23 
Club. Both pretty quiet, both with 
semi-US type orchestras. Film do- 
ing the best business was "The 
Thin Man"; also several local 
Italian films and some British.* 

In Rome, Josephine Baker, hav- 
ing doffed her banana-peels for 
some very chic ' Parisian 7 gbwns is 
packing 'em in at the Jardin della 
Roses. An evening here is about 



Spanish is the only one large 
enough to accomodate us. This is 
especially interesting to me as 
Franco kicked me out of Spain in 
1938; and my visa to Spain has 
been held up now for the past four 
months! We leave today for Athens 
I think. 



Film Subsidies 

; Continued from page 2 



J 



it shouldn't be just as cautious. 
And, there is also no reason to ex- 
pect it will allow in the film any- 
thing that isn't acceptable to the 
regime. While a bank is interested 
only in seeing that a film is enter- 
taining enough to pay the way, a 
government is naturally interested 
in keeping itself in power. Under 
such circumstances, it is hardly 
conceivable that films can be any- 
thing but propaganda media." 
British Started It 
Britain started the government- 
help trend two weeks ago with the 
announcement in the House of 
Commons by Board of Trade prexy 
Harold Wilson that legislation is to 
be introduced setting up a $200.- 
000,000 fund for loans to indie pro- 
ducers. These filmmakers have 
been stymied by inability to get 
coin from regular commercial 
sources because the investment is 
too risky. 

France came through next, with 
the French Assembly voting last 
week a 400,000,000 franc loan 
(about $1,860,000) to help the na- 
tive industry over its present hard 
times. The law also calls for an ap- 
proximately 20% tax on admissions 
to cover the loan, which must be 
repaid by the end of 1949. 

Loan to French producers is be- 
ing made for the same reason as 
the British — the filmmakers can't 
get the money from commercial 
sources because the risk is too 
great. French producers have long 
been asking for a subsidy or loan 
to help them compete with what 
they call unfair competition from 
foreign — especially American — 
films, which they say have already 
been amortized in their country of • 
origin. 

The Norwegian government, ac- 
cording to a report issued last 
week by U. S. Commerce Dept. film 
chief Nathan D. Golden, is ready 
to buy into Norsk Film and grant 
a large loan to expand the firm's 
production. Golden says the gov- 
ernment has proposed to become a 
stockholder in the firm to the tune 
of 203,000 kroner ($40,000), appro- 
priate another 250,000 kroner to 
establish an educational film 
branch of the firm, and grant a 
3,000 kroner loan to develop Norsk 
Film's studio at Jar. Many munici- 
palities have pledged 1% of the 
gross of municipally-owned the- 
atres as security for the loans. 
Danish Exhibs Support Plan 
In Denmark, according to a dis- 
patch to Variety, theatre owners 
have to pay heavily from their 
profits to the state film fund to pro- 
vide rewards to Danish producers. 
Almost every maker of serious 
films get a "reward" from the gov- 
ernment. And cartoon studios that 
make films which do not resemble 
those of Walt Disney too closely 
get an extra subsidy. 

Biggest sum went to Johan 
Jacobsen for his hardboiled cinema 
version of Soya's play, "Jenny and 
the Soldier." He got 100,000 
kroner (about $20,000). Dansk 
Tegne-og Farvefilm, which made 
the big local hit, "The Tinderbox," 
first Danish cartoon film, got 10,000 
kroner to make preparations for a 
new Hans Christian Andersen car- 
toon story, "Hans Clodhopper." 

None of this is news, of course, 
in the sovietized nations of Europe. 
There films are publicly stated to 
be instruments of the state for the. 
"education and enlightment of the 
people." The industries, in most 
cases, are complete government 
monopolies. 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



HOUSE REVIEWS 



47 



'Stop the Music' as Sock Theatre 
Parlays Banko With Top Show Values 



By ABEL GREEN 



I numbers are played, and around 7 



The more things ciiange the is the average of those who can 
e the same— from identify the L„ \° C L" 



more they are 
the cliche of the same name. Here 
'tis all over again — banknite with 
an ultra-modern jackpot gimmick, 
sparked by a • coast-to-coast radio 
show which is virtually the climax 
of radio's giveaway cycle. That the 
jure of something-for-nolhing has 
always been *a popular boxoffice 
feature, spurious as may be its 
basic premise, dates back in show 
business to "country store" nights 
and down through the years from 
free dishes to bingo and banko as a 
means to hypo the b.o. 

The spuriousness comes,' of 
course, from an obvious confession 
of weakness on the part of the 
basic entertainment values. When 
free dishes became the best mar- 
quee lure that talkers could offer, 
it was a sorry note for the picture 
business. And when radio's head- 
liners are keynoted by fabulous 
giveaways rather than basic talent, 
it certainly is something for radio 



Louis G. Cowan radio pack- 
age transmuted to Capitol, 
N. Y., stage; maestroed by 
Harry Salter with orchestra of 
16 (Salter created the idea); 
Bert Parks emcee, Kay Armen 
and Dick Brown; entr'actes 
Trixie, Jack Carter: "On an 
Island With You" {M-G), re- 
viewed in Variety April 28, 
'48. ' 



to worry about. And they are. True, 
the Fred Allen downbeat in the 
radio Hoopers — for whatever value 
these "ratings" have — came toward 
the ebb of the radio season, but it 
certainly dramatized what Louis 
G. Cowan's "Stop the Music" hour 
of giveaways, with the rather in- 
genious challenge to customer in- 
genuity via a "mystery melody," 
could do to further upset the nor- 
mal pattern of radio showmanship 
and merchandising. 

The sundry quiz and nonsense 
shows, capped of course by Ralph 
Edward's "Hush" and other con- 
tests, snowballed into making "Stop 
the Music" the highlight of them 
all. For here was a blend of aver- 
age values and average knowledge 
— the identification of a not-too- 
difficult pop songs, with the gim- 
mick of a longdistance phone call 
to some lucky individual— and the 
big payoff coming via the identifi- 
cation of the much more difficult 
"mystery melody." 

That Cowan, et al, don't bank on 
being bankoed out of business is 
this array of $5,000 jackpot prizes 
— a four-door Hudson sedan, West- 
inghouse refrigerator, Westing- 
house Laundermat, 72-plece silver 
service, a Philco video set. a vacu- 
um cleaner, complete lady's out- 
fit, complete man's ditto, two 
weeks' vacation trip to Lake Placid, 
a gas range, U. S. rubber bedspring 
and mattress, GE electric blanket, 
etc. Almost all of it is "promoted," 
and thus, too, brings into the the- 
atre a radio commercial sur-le-cuff. 
For .one thing, this is certainly a 
terrific trailblazer and trailer for 
the inevitable piping of commercial 
television into -theatres. (And the 
customers squawk when a sugar- 
coated commercial short, plugging 
a broad industry like tobacco, avia- 
tion, etc., is rung in by some ex- 
hibitors! It's a cinch, therefore, 
that henceforth this, too, will have 
a salutary effect in breaking down 
• that resistance. This is . something 
Charles P. Skouras has been prop- 
agating as a means to bolster the- 
atres' income but upon whieh the 
Johnston office and kindred bodies 
have frowned, on the theory the 
public comes into the theatre only 
to be "entertained," not com- 
mercially exposed to commercial 
' propaganda, in film form!). 

"Stop the Music" is a socko stage 
attraction under existing public 
standards, bringing to any theatre 
a vast radio audience which has 
been further conditioned by sun. 
dry columnar tipsters who make no 
bones about identifying the sundry 

mysterious melodies.'^ This was 
evidenced by the fact that one of 
the radio show's earliest "mystery" 
tunes was now performed like any 
casual pop tune, but was readily 
identified by a Tenafly, N. J., youth 
m the audience. 

The theatre presentation is 
simple and foolproof. Numbers 1- 
w-io whirl on an electric device 
and when maestro Harry Salter 
' who invented "Stop the Music," 
incidentally) pressed the electric 
wip to halt at any arbitrary point, 
one of the 10 aides of the program 
--scattered throughout the audi- 
torium — has a corresponding num- 
oer in huge numerals on his red 

«i az ?n' An usher is with each o£ 
we io, and he meantime has select- 
ed a patron, via a iishbowl system, 
the scat number in the correspond- 
ing section identifies each au- 
<"cnce participant. Some 11 or 12 



>-,k I . tne avera ge pop tunes, 
m *2 ato " ed by Salter or expertly 
warbled by Kay Armen and/or 
Dick Brown. Naturally the latter 
hum or slur over the title when 
rendering the tune vocally. 

These seven prizes usually aver- 
age around $50 each in value. Bert 
Harks, a very personable and en- 
gaging emcee, who is a cinch for a 
Hollywood test, calls the lucky 7 or 
8 qualifiers to the rostrum to com- 
pete tor the grand prize of $5,000, 
so far none has identified the 
. mystery melody" which, of course, 
is changed at every performance, 
lor obvious reasons. 

Even, without the change in pro- 
gram sequencing, as a means to de- 
teat any holdover wise-guy custom- 
ers, what was anticipated— an in- 
sufficent turnover— has not come 
to pass. For one thing, at least 
judging by opening day, the clien- 
tele attracted seems a rather "new 
faces" bunch of downtown deluxer 
customers. Many are elderly house- 
wives, from the suburbs, and not 
the bobbysox type who would stay 
on and on. Besides, it is readily 
apparent that the device of shift- 
ing programs, and the long-shot 
hazards of being anywhere in the 
neighborhood of one of the 10 ush- 
ers, makes for very difficult odds 
against any machinating custom- 
ers. All of these potentials have 
been thought out, and, as Allen 
Zee, the Cap's chief stager, has 
projected this presentation, it's a 
solid 35 minutes of entertainment. 
True, it is a mechanized form of 
showmanship which is devoid of 
the personal appeal of any of the 
pash warblers, for example, which 
at least is one element in favor of 
"round" actors. . After all, there 
apparently is a limitation to cash 
appeal only. 

Anyway, here is another show 
business phenomenon. That it's 
not all the soinething-for-nothing 
draw is a credit to all concerned, 
because with it has been blended 
some solid entertainment. Besides 
Parks' warm enthusiasm as emcee, 
and the vocal prowess of the sultry 
Miss Armen and the fetching bari- 
tone of Brown, there are the 
suave orchestrations of maestro 
Salter, some judicious mixing up of 
prizes for comedy appeal (such as 
$50 worth of fancy pipes to a girl, 
lingerie to a male runnerorp, etc.), 
and the human-interest appeal in 
Parks' staccato interviews with the 
7 or '8 lucky semi-finalists. He is 
quick on the uptake as they iden 



' The 1st Winnah 

The "Stop the . Music" give- 
away stage show at the Capitol 
theatre, N. Y., for the first 
time since it preemed last 
Thursday (29), poured out a 
$5,000 shower of merchandise 
to a musically hep patron at 
the second show yesterday 
(Tues.). The winner was James 
M. Hughes, Jamaica, L. I., and 
the tune, which he correctly 
name'.l, was "The Whistler and 
the Dog," author unknown. 
Hughes recognized the tune as 
one that' he played while a 
member of a juve orchestra in 
primary school. He's an x-ray 
technician in the N. Y. Dept. 
of Hospitals. 

Under the rules of the con- 
test, the next jackpot prize 
has been boosted to $7,500 in 
merchandise. Among the prizes 
Hughes received were" a new 
Hudson sedan, Philco televi- 
sion set, Westingbouse refrig- 
erator, gas range and rnany 
other smaller items. 



rounded song group topped by 
medley from "Oklahoflna!" with 
authenticity, through having ap- 
peared in the Iongrun musical. 

Second comedy spot has Van 
Kirk with his British music hall 
type of comedy. Some of it hits 
for yocks, but a good portion is 
lost. 

Teeoff spot is held down ade- 
quately try Mario and Francisco 
with their balancing stunts. Closers, 
the Albins, with their standard 
dance burlesque, garner hefty re- 
turns. 

Les Rhode house orch turns.Jn 
neat backgrounding. ■ . Lary. 



Casino, Loudon 

London, July 27. 
Les Coinpaonons de la Chan- 
son (9), Maxine Sullivan, Senor 
Wences, Moran & Elof, Jackie 
Hunter, Newman Twins, 3- Wiles, 
Roily Rolls, Doyle Kids, Medlock 
& Marlow, Harold Collins' Casino 
Orch. 



With a good all round bill of 
international appeal, current Casi- 
no show is destined to beat Lon- 
don's much delayed heat wave and 
certain to attract many tourists' 
here for Olympic Games. 

Newcomers to London, Les Com- 
pagnons de la Chanson, a troupe 
of nine Parisian singers who per- 
formed before Princess Elizabeth 
and the Duke of Edinburgh during 
their recent visit to the French 
capita], are refreshing and origi- 
nal. Possibly not more than one 
per cent of the audience could un- 
Jsung in 



!^-5f^ 1 **uWJte r K French"?, but they "enjoyed every 

minute of their act, particularly 



emote geographical places, high 
lighting anew what a transient 
draw a Times Square theatre must 
be for tourists. % 

Incidentally, in the event the 
giant selector, electrically moti- 
vated, breaks down— as occurred at 
the show caught— Parks has 10 
pingpong balls .with numbers 1-10 
therein, from which he can con- 
tinue drawing in fishbowl fashion. 

Rounding out "Stop the Music" 
is Trixie, expert femme juggler 
who has been around. Still liss- 
some and lithe, she gives her gams 
good display. Her tricks with balls, 
hats, juggling sticks, etc, make for 
a tiptop teeoff turn. 

Jack Carter is a comedy mopup 
with a good brand of mimicry. Per- 
sonable and authoritative from the 
start, the ex-"Call Me Mister" fun- 
ster has a strong routine that 
should click in cafes, radio and 
video as it does on the rostrum. 
His timing is worthy of a more 
seasoned veteran; his travesties on 
film stars clever and betimes devas- 
tating; and the finale newsreel bit 
socko. , , . 

The nearby Strand brings CBS 
"Winner Take All" to its stage 
later this month and the cycle ap- 
pears to be snowballing. _ 

Oh yes, a Technicolor filmusical, 
"On An Island With You" (M-G) is 
theoretically the major attraction, 
but looks like the radio giveaway 
program is really the prime draw 
this semester. 

Olviiipia. Miami 

Miami, July 31. 
Pat Patrick, Ruth Clayton,. Van 
Kirk The Albins, Mario & Fran- 
cisco' Les Riiode Hon.se Orch.; 
'•Miracle of the Bells" I RKO ) . 

Current layout makes for an on 
and off palm payoff for the talent. 
Reception was spotty at show 

Pat : Patrick, featured as Ercil 
Twing on the Bergen-McCarthy 
airer. holds topliner slot with a 
sesh of typical radio humor that 
too often didn't hit for laughs. 
Stuff could stand revamping, now 
that he's playing to a paying audi- 

ent'C 

vol laurels go to Ruth Clayton. 
The attractive ('•■'l'sh knows her 
way around and delivers a well 



their slick interpretation of a 
French folk song as done by an 
American singing act, a Russian 
cossack choir and an Italian tenor. 

Maxine Sullivan, colored song- 
stress, singing eight songs, cap- 
tured the mood of the house and 
was given an ovation. Favorite, of 
course, was delightful rendering of 
"Loch Lomond," with "Cockles and 
Mussels" a close runnerup. 

Although other acts are of sup- 
porting grade, the standard is com- 
mendably high and the show never 
has a dull spot. Moran and Elof, 
good team of eccentric dancers, 
open the bill, followed by Jackie 
Hunter, whose one man B.B.C. 
takes in everything from the 
chimes of Big Ben to "Children's 
Hour" and consists of a series of 
non-sto: gags, some of which, how- 
ever, are familiar to radio listeners 
here. 

Another importation from the 
U. S., the Three Wiles, win a big 
hand for their effective wooden 
soldier act. Roily Rolls, who can 
make a piano do anything from 
Liszt to boogie-woogie, is an ac- 
complished musician as well as a 
first class showman. Medlock and 
I^arlow score with knockabout 
comedy antics, while the Newman 
twins display energy and dexterity 
in a fine balancing turn. 

The Doyle Kids were out of bill 
at opening show. • Myro. 

Apollo, ¥. 

Gene Amman* with Jimmie 
Dale's orch (16) and Leon Ketch- 
um, Una Mae Carlisle, Woody & 
Bobby, Coles & Atkins, Crack- 
shot/' Edna Harris, Monte Hawley; 
•'Crime Doctor's Gamble" < Col). 

Layout at this Harlem sepia 
vaudery this week falls into a 
familiar groove. Format has sax 
star Gene Amnions with Jimmie 
Dale's band to lure 'em in, aided 
by songstress-pianist Una Mae Car- 
lisle. Sandwiched in the show are 
the ofay roller skating turn of 
Woody « Bobby, comedy tcrp team 
Coles & Atkins and the houses 
standard comedy blackout players 
"Cr.-u'r Edna Harris and 

M Wood> & Bobby, two youthful 



males, whirl around a small, circu- 
lar platform. One lad, attempting 
to skate among a group of bottles 
without knocking 'em down, mis- 
cued or his first try, but handled 
the feat successfully on next try 
for appreciative reception: For 
closer both skaters dish out tandem 
spinning atop a raised platform. 

Dale's band, despite its size, 
emerges as only an ordinary aggre- 
gation. It's chief forte is its vol- 
ume, furnished by the eight brass 
in respense to the exhortations of 
Dale, who hops up and down in 
jumpingjack fashion. He played no 
instrument when caught. Among 
other tunes dished up by the out- 
fit are "Red Tpp," a noisy instru- 
mental piece, and a. blaring, non- 
descript item tagged "Bop vs. 
Boogie." Orch's vocalist, Leon 
Ketchun:, displays a wooden de- 
livery on "Where or When." 

Miss Carlisle, as per usual, clas- 
sily warbles %nd ivories a quintet 
of numbers. Standout is "Piano 
Boogie," in which she rouses the 
patrons from their lethargy via ter- 
rific pianistics. Closes with own 
composition, "Walkin' by the 
River." Hers is a lacquered turn 
that's plenty solid. 

Honi Coles & Cholly Atkins, fre- 
quently booked here, tee off with 
a little stepping then segue into 
song. Follow with slow motion 
terping. One lad breaks away to 
contrib some spirited footwork on 
his own. Pair rejoins for a fast 
finish to nice mitting. Rounding 
out the bill is comedy blackout 
featuring "Crackshot," Miss Harris 
and Hawley. It's pretty feeble hu- 
mor, but nevertheless registered. 

Gilo. 



Steol l»ier, A.C. 

Atlantic City, July 30. 
Mills Bros., Narda, Maja & 
Doves, Varsity Coeds, Jack Leon- 
ard, Roxyettes, Johnny O'Connell 
and orchestra; "Heart of Virginia." 

Another sock show with the 
Mills Bros, topping on display at 
this huge vaude theatre this week. 
On night reviewed, all 2,400 seats 
were filled plus standees. 

Rotund Jack Leonard, who plays 
this spot every summer, is back -as 
emcee and keeps things moving at 
nice pace with slick timing and 
patter. He brings on the Roxy- 
ettees in clever Scot number for 
good returns. Then introduces the 
Varsity Coeds for song stanza, in- 
cluding "It's a Good Day" and a 
medley of top college tunes to reg- 
ister solidly.. Dot Norton, soprano 
pleases with "Italian Street Song" 
followed by Roxyettes who come on 
while Varsity girls remain on 
stage. Girls are dressed in Mexi- 
can, in a colorful Mexican number 
as prelude for Narda, Maja and the 
Doves. 

The two dancers, to the beating 
of a tom-tom, come on a dimly lit 
stage as dancers gradually exit. As 
the lights slowly come up audience 
isees fluttering doves trained to 
i take off from a stick mounted over 
girl's head. They perch all over 
her as she does her dance. Turn 
has smashing climax when the two 
dancers' costumes, and the . doves, 
glow out of darkness in strobolitc 
numbers. Gets nice reception. 

Leonard returns with patter 
aimed at South Philly crowd and 
Johnny O'Connell, baad leader. 
After stint which is tops with audi- 
ence he brings on Mills Bros. 

This foursome with guitar play- 
er e a s i 1 y cop the show. They 
swing out with "You Broke The 
Only Heart That Ever Loved You" 
and then "What You Don't Know 
Won't Hurt You." Encore with 
bestseller disk, "Paper Doll" and a 
jump tune, "Up A Lazy River," and 
"Basin Street Blues" for solid re- 
turns and begoff. Line comes 
back for neat bell number. Spec- 
ialty tuned bells are strapped to 
girls' arms, legs and bodies. They 
do neat turn followed by "Two 
Hearts Beat In Three Quarters 
Time" as the various groups jangle 
chords with orchestra carrying mel- 
ody. Number winds up with playing 
of "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" 
with huge billow of colorful bub- 
bles as background. 

Bill is best George Hamid has 
offered here this year. Walk. 

Aquashow, N.Y. 

(Flushing Meadows Amphitheatre) 

Gus Van, Marshall Bros. (2) 
Tip, Tap & Toe, Walter Scheff. 
Jimmy Ross; June Dearing, Bobby 
Knapp, featured swimmers; diving 
champs, Joe Flynn, Betty Ball, Lc'n 
Carney, Norma Dean, Stanley Du- 
dak, Sheila Kelly, Whitey Bond, 
Marshall Wayne.; Aquazanies (8), 
Afjuadorablcs (32), Louis Basil 
Band (13). 



the topflight piano act of Van It 
Schenck. Van scores, per usual, 
with his comedy versions and pat- 
ter to practically steal the show. 
Despite late spotting, next to clos- 
ing, he held them in a 25-minute 
session of songs and funstering for 
a begoff. Teeing off with "I'm So 
Glad to be Remembered," which 
sets him pretty, he segues into 
"McNamara's Band" for a dialect 
workout for additional salvos. Then 
a reprise of Van & Schenck yester- 
year hits as a nostalgic salute to 
his departed partner, which the 
mob saengerbunding with him in 
house-party style. Encores with an 
income tax parody for more 
plaudits. Marshall Bros, are as- 
clicko as usual with their zanyisms 
and ribbing or radio stanzas, that 
ring high on the laugh meter. Top 
with satirical takeoffs on Holly- 
wood greats to sew things up. Tip, 
Tap & Toe, colored male trio, are 
also solid in dance stanza. Lads 
contrib a cavalcade of hoofing in 
expert fashion, knock themselves 
out to please and are amply re- 
warded. Walter Scheff pleasingly 
baritones way through "Plenty of 
Nothin'," "Temptation" and "OP 
Man River." 

Tank section of the show, spear- 
headed by June Dearing and Bobby 
Knapp, provides color and plenty 
of aqua artistry. Each offer nifty 
solo work and later team for- 
equally effective tandem items. 
Trick and fancy diving is projected 
by contingent of diving champs 
listed above and carried over from 
previous show. Comedy is ac- 
centuated by male octet of clowns, 
Aquazanies, who keep things roll- 
ing in merry fashion. There's also 
a Superman satire and fire-diving 
stunt for the thrill section. The 
Aquadorables, 32 lookers with nifty 
chasis and colorful costumes, are 
spotted in a trio of production 
numbers that point up precision 
ballet stuff and win nice returns. 
Jimmy Ross emcees affably and 
handles vocals for productions. 
Louis Basil, former batoneer at 
Loew's State, N. Y., prior to the 
demise of vaude there, fronts a 12- 
piece brass and reed outfit that 
provides capable backing for show. 

{New vaude bill opening last 
night (3) is topped by Johnny 
Burke, sad sack comic, and includes 
Brookins & Van, colored musical 
team, and Three Cantons, Chinese 
acrobats. ) "Edba. 



Elliott Murphy has hit the jack- 
pot with his combo of aquatic fea- 
tures and vaude displays on the 
. former World's Fair site of Billy 
! Rose's Aquacade. In its fifth week 
of current season the water frolic 
has been doing turnaway biz. 

Current "on stage" layout Is 
i topped by Gus Van. vet dialect 
songster and surviving member of 



Hippodrome, Balto. 

Baltimore, Aug. t. 
Winter Sisters (3), Ada Lynne, 
Lee Davis, Ames Bros. (4), Jo 
Lombardi House Orch ( 12 ) ; "Raw 
Deal" (EL). 



Current layout is nicely paced by 
Lee Davis and highlighted by 
strong contributions by Ada Lynne 
ar.d the Ames Bros. Flashy opener 
is provided by the Winters Sisters, 
trio of tumbling gals who come 
up with some new tricks, good for 
a potent getaway and a swell spot- 
setter for Miss Lynne. Comedienne 
gives out with special material 
wrapped around vocals which are 
top flight and good for sock beg- 
off. Impression of Martha Raye 
and bit about "the act that ruined 
vodvil" are standout. 

Davis is a pleasing comic who 
gets better on each appearance, 
thanks to new material. Gags on 
political situation and parodies are 
sold well. Does a good job as emcee 
as well as his own extended bit. 
Sets pace for punchy closing by 
the Ames Brothers. Quartet of 
singers ing the bell. Arrangements 
of "Sing, Ging, Sing," "Because," 
"Barher Shop," a medley of oldies, 
and a solid "Sabre Dance" are all 
groovey and a perfect clincher. 

Biz: okay. Burm. 




TURNER TWINS 

Songs 

10 Ming. 

No. One Fifth Ave., N. Y. 

The Turner Twins, a decorative 
singing combination who look and 
dress alike, have a good chance of 
making the grade in intimeries. 
Gals are personable, have good de- 
liveries, and make an okay impres- 
sion on the customers in the 

•special material idiom and straight 
song work. 

However, the team has still to 
reach its maximum effectiveness. 
They are still in the process of final- 
izing their routines. One neces- 
sary item is the addition of special 
material which comes off with 
greater impact than their straight 
numbers. Their material tunes 
have a slight touch of sophistica- 

jtion, but are not indigo enough to 
get them in wrong with the family 

I trade. The Turners' straight num- 

jbers need some rearrangement to 
take out the long stretches of uni- 
son singing. These are minor mat- 
ters that can be worked out during 

; their stand at this spot, and upon 
completion can be a safe bet for 
most intimate cafes. Jose. 



48 



Lucia Chase Quits After $2,( 
Outlay; Free-for-M Seen in Dance 
With Ballet Theatres Suspension 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



News that Ballet Theatre was-* 
suspending performances till 1949 
caused consternation in dance cir- 
cles. On the employment side 
alone, 40 dancers are out of work, 
following soon after loss of jobs 
to 80 or 90 dancers via closings of 
the legiters "Allegro," "Look; Ma, 
I'm Dancin' " and '-'Brigadoon." 
Significance of Ballet Theatre's an- 
nouncement, however, has much 
wider ramifications. 

Ballet Theatre announced over 
the weekend that it was suspend- 
ing this fall and cancelling all 
bookings until after the first of the 
year. Troupe, recognized as the 
leading V. S. dance company, and 
about to celebrate its 10th season, 
had set up bookings through next 



NEGRO OPERA HOUSE 
PLANNED FOR WASH. 

Washington, Aug. 3. 
Mrs. Mary Cardwell Dawson, 
president of the National Negro 
Opera Co., has launched a drive 
for funds to build an opera house 
in Washington with its "doors open 
to all America." A music festival 
is scheduled for Saturday (7) with 
Noble Sissle, bandleader, as master 
of ceremonies. The group is con- 
ducting free discussion periods 
daily this week and an "opera ex- 
hibit" is planned. 

The group has an appointment 
spring. It was to open in early Friday (6) morning with President 
October in Allentown, Pa., with j Truman to discuss the plans. 

-bookings on the eastern seaboard j . • 

until Christmas. 

Company announced that in- 
creased production and operating 
costs, plus unsettled conditions in 
the theatre generally, led to "the 
suspension. They had decided to 
give no performances this season 
until a sum was raised in advance 
"to meet all financial needs." Com- 
pany announced it definitely wasn't 
going out of business, and that 
Blevins Davis, as president of Bal- 
let Theatre Foundation, would try 
to raise $200,000 this fall to insure 
BT's continuance, including a 
spring season in '49 at the N. Y. 
Metopera House. 

Ballet circles, however, regard 
the suspension of BT as likely to 
be longer than the announced pe- 
riod. Company's 40 dancers, whose 
contracts were to be renewed this 
month, will likely all look for other 
jobs, and unless BT wants to keep 
them on salary for five months 
(which, is unlikely), many won't 
be available in '49. BT would like- 
ly have to recruit a complete new 
, company. 

Managers Scurry for Subs 
BT's suspension has left open 
• dates, and local managers through- 
out the country have been scurry- 
ing around New York looking for 
substitute bookings. This leaves 
the field open for rival ballet 
troupes, which will make BT's re- 
emergence that much more diffi- 
cult. Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, 
It's chief rival, is already com- 
pletely booked up for next season 
and isn't available for sub dates. 

Sol Hurok, who is now in Eu- 
rope, is importing the Paris Opera 
Ballet for a fall New York en- 
gagement in conjunction with the 
Greater New York Jubilee, and 
for a short subsequent tour. This 
•tour may now be extended. Two 
other French ballet companies, as 
well as the Marquis de Cuevas' 
Grand Ballet de Monte Carlo are 
anxious to play the U. S., and it's 
now considered likely that Hurok 
(wltt> used to book Ballet Theatre) 
will grab one. 

Weary of Totin' That Bankroll 



Twofer Switches 
Ire Legit Public 

Although two-for-ones are cred- 
ited with supplying the boxoffice 
hypo that's keeping several Broad- 
way shows on the boards, the de- 
vice has also led to situations in 
which theatre patrons have blown j 
their tops. In one such instance 
last week an enraged femme play- 
goer phoned Variety to report 
being turned away from the ticket 
window of a Broadway house after 
attempting to use a two-for-one ad- 
mission check. 

According to her story, another 
femme immediately ahead of her 
in line was told that the perform- 
ance was sold out when she pre- 
sented two-for-one pasteboards. 
When she herself reached ticket 
window, she related, she first asked 
for tickets, which the b.o. man 
took from the rack. Then she pro- 
duced her two-for-one stubs, where- 
upon the b.o. man pulled back the 
tickets and refused to sell them to 
her except at face value. When- 
she argued with him, he became 
abusive, she claimed, and threat- 
ened to have her ejected from the 
lobby. 

There have been a number of 
more or less similar incidents re- 
ported at various shows using the 
"twofers," although there's been 
no "other stated case of the b.o. 
treasurer threatening the playgoer 
with a heave-ho. It's explained 
that some cases of dissatisfaction 
are probably inevitable, as theatre 
treasurers usually refuse to sell 
tickets on a two-for-one basis if the 
sale for any performance is ap- 
proaching a sellout. The idea is 
that a certain portion of the house 
should be held for full-price pa- 
trons who arrive just before, cur- 
tain time. 

Some of the unpleasant incidents 
Reason given in the trade for i are regarded as resulting from mis- 



BT's suspension is the fact that 
Lucia Chase, its co-director and an- 
gel, is tired of shelling out money 
for the troupe and is acquiring 
other interests. Ballet Theatre last 
season cost her an estimated $275,- 
000. Of that about $170,000 was 
dropped in the five-week spring 
engagement at the Met; N., Y., 



understanding on the part of the 
holders of the "twofers." Actually, 
nothing on the face of the bargain 
check actually guarantees that it 
entitles' the bearer to the discount 
price. On the other hand, there's 
nothing .to indicate that the two- 
for-one privilege is at the discre- 
tion of the theatre treasurer. The 



ed statement, "One-half price good 
now until (specified date), all per- 
formances," entitles the holder to 
the reduced price scale shown on 
the check. 



With $80,000 going to pay for two : natural assumption is that the print 
new ballets produced, and,$90,000 
for five weeks' loss in running ex- 
penses. Miss Chase poured about 
$235,000 into Ballet Theatre the 
previous season. 

Ballet Theatre's suspension will 
-thus likely conclude an unusual 
situation in show biz annals — the 
spectacle of an "angel" pouring 
huge sums annually into a dance 
venture, to total almost $2,000,000 
over a period of 10 years. No other 
person, in the present or past, in 
Europe or America, ever spent so 
much money on the ballet. 



Linnit & Dunfee to Do 
Hinton's French Play 

Linnit & Dunfee, British pro- 
ducers, have bought Jane Hinton's 
adaption of the French comedy 
success, "Premier Bal," by Charles 
Spaak and Pierre Brive. Play will 
be produced in London this fall 
under title of "Love's a Funny 
Thing." 

Miss Hinton, New York scribe 
and literary agent, will also handle 
the American dramatisation of 
Paul Vialar's French novel, "Une 
Ombre." Rights to the novel have 
been obtained by Aub'ry Publica- 
tions, New York literary agents. 

Yule Finds There's 
NoRestforThesp 
In Connecticut 

Joe Yule, title comedian in 
"FinianV Rainbow," at the 46th 
Street theatre, N. Y., missed two 
performances last week because of 
a sore - throat. But the two-day 
layoff was too strenuous for him, 
so he hurried back to the show to 
recover his health. 

When the actor withdrew from 
the cast after the matinee 
Wednesday (28), producer Lee 
Sabinson invited him to his Con- 
necticut home for a rest. At the 
pace Sabinson drove along the 
Merritt parkway in Connecticut, 
Yule immediately began wishing 
he was back in the show. That 
night, Sabinson, Yule and press- 
agent Sam Friedman drove to 
Guilford, Conn., to see a strawhat 
performance, and, on the way home, 
the rear of the car, where the actor 
was sitting, caught fire. 
, Thursday afternoon (29) on the 
beach at Westport, just as Yule 
got comfortably stretched out on 
the sand, he was dragooned into 
participating in a remote broad- 
cast by shortwave ' pickup over a 
local radio station. A severe case 
of sunburn kept him awake all that 
night. His sore throat was well 
next day — well enough for him to 
return to "Finian," -that is. 



Stadium Finale Proves Pops' Pays 



'WINSLOFS' SNAG IN 
FRISCO ON BOY ACTOR 

San Francisco, Aug. 3. 

Management of "The Winslow 
Boy" was railed before the Cali- 
fornia State Labor Commission last 
week (28) to explain why a theat- 
rical permit had not been obtained 
for Michael Newell, 16 - year - old 
performer, appearing in the pro- 
duction. James Troup, manager of 
the all-British company, told Sam 
Burman of the labor law enforce- 
ment division that it was "an un- 
fortunate oversight" which would 
be corrected immediately. The re- 
quired permit was obtained im- 
mediately following the hearing 

It was explained that young 
Newell had received permission 
from a British magistrate to ap- 
pear on the. stage and had complied 
with English educational require- 
ments for working youngsters. 



SEATTLE SYMPH SEEKS 
GROFE, GOULD FOR TOPS' 

Seattle, Aug. 3. 

The Seattle Symphony Orchestra 
is negotiating with composer-con- 
ductor Ferde Grofe and composer- 
pianist Morton Gould to direct 
popular concerts here during the 
coming season. 

Bid was tendered by Louis La- 
Bow, president of the orchestra. 



'Desire' to Tee Off Nixon 
Next-to-Closing Season 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 3. 
Legit season at the Nixon will 
tee oft Sept. 13 with the No. 2 
company of "Streetcar Named De- 
sire," headed by Uta Hagen and 
Anthony Quinn, which comes here 
as the opening American Theatre 
Society — Theatre Guild subscrip- 
tion play. Gertrude Bromberg, who 
left "John Loves Mary" in Chicago 
last week, goes out in advance of it. 

This will be the next to last year 
for the local playhouse. Building 
was recently sold to Aluminum Co. 
of America, and is to be torn down 
in the spring of 1950 to make way 
for new Alcoa offices. So far noth- 
ing's being done to insure a thea- 
tre site for Pittsburgh after that, 
and prospects for the future of 
legit locally are pretty gloomy. 



Gala Ballet Russe Met 
Season Reunites Stars; 
Massing Markova Return 

Ballet Russe de" Monte Carlo is 
augmenting its regular company 
with a group of former stars for an 
autumn three-week season at the 
Metropolitan Opera House, N. Y., 
to inaugurate its 10th season. The 
troupe, whose stars are Alexandra 
Danilova and Frederick Franklin, 
will also have Leonide Massine, 
Mia Slavenska, Alicia Markova and 
Anton Do fin temporarily on its 
roster. All, except Dolin, are for- 
mer members of Ballet Russe. 

Miss Markova made her Ameri- 
can debut -with the company in 
1938, then going on to Ballet Thea- 
tre and her own small troupe with 
Dolin. Miss Slavenska now heads 
her own small troupe, booked by 
Columbia Artists Mgt Trio of 
Danilova, Markova and Slavenska 
will give Ballet Russe the strongest 
ballerina , lineup in current ballet 
history. Engagement begins Sept. 
18. 

Massine has been in England 
lately, making films (such as "Red 
Shoes") and staging ballets at 
Covent Garden. He was due in 
New York yesterday (Tues.). In ad- 
dition to dancing, he'll revive two 
of his ballets, Beethoven's Seventh 
Symphony and Rouge Et Noir. 

Tamara Toumanova, wife of film 
producer-writer Casey Robinson, 
was asked to rejoin the company 
for the Met engagement, but 
bowed out in a disagreement over 
dancing roles. She's' also busy on 
the Coast heading a company film- 
ing ballet shorts, first of them be- 1 
ing "Swan Lake." in which she 
dances the lead role. 



Rain Can't Dampen 
Lambs Gub Wash 



Even inclement weather Sunday 
(1) couldn't stymie the fun and 
frolicking at The Lambs annual 
Wash, held as usual, at the Percy 
Williams Home, East Islip, L. I. 
Some 300 were in attendance and 
despite wet grounds and wetter 
Lambs, the outdoor events, such as 
races, etc., went on as per sched- 
ule. Topping this division was a 
five-inning baseball game between 
"Senator" Ed Ford's Little Pota- 
toes Hard to Peel and Al Schact's 
Clowns. Game was called on ac- 
count of rain and started for the 
same reason. The pellet was hit 
over the lot so many times the ex- 
pert accountant keeping score was 
seized with writer's cramp before 
completing tabulation of runs. Joe 
Laurie. Jr., and Larry McDonald 
called shots at the game. 

Preceding the outdoor exercises 
the gang - tucked napkins under 
their chins at luncheon and again 
at dinner. The 30 guests Of the 
Actors Fund home participated in 
festivities and enjoyed ensuing 
revelry. 

After dinner a show was staged 
for these "guests" in the main hall 
and gifrpackages distributed to all. 

Those participating in the show 
were William Holbrook, George 
Jayson, magico; George Shelton 
and Al Madru in comedy skit, a* 
group of others in a Paid Gerard 
Smith playlet, "Holywood Holdup" 
and "Three Prominent Love Chil- 
dren," with Bruce Evans, Don 
Gautier, Jack Curry and Les 
Kramer. ' 

Happy Felton was Collie for the 
affair, ably assisted by committee 
of Herders. 

Entourage made trip both ways 
in special train. 



* The Rodgers and Hammerstein 
program Saturday (7) that will 
close the season at Lewisohn Sta- 
dium, N. Y— the first time in its 
31 years that the Stadium has de- 
voted an entire program to Ameri- 
can musical comedy and film melo- 
dies — i s only another proof of the 
increasing draw of "pop" programs 
in alfresco longhair circles. 

The Gershwin program June 28 
at the Stadium drew 18,000 people. 
Hazel Scott drew 14,000; Sigmund 
Romberg, 18,000. Classical artists 
like Isaac Stern drew 9,000; Wil- 
liam Kapell, 10,000; Claudio Arrau 
and Nathan Milstein, 12,000 each, 
and Mischa Elman, 17,000. Jose 
Iturbi drew the season's record 
crowd, 19,000, and his film popu- 
larity is credited for part of the 
draw. Likewise for Lauritz Mel- 
chior, who sang light songs as well 
as classics, and who drew 16,000. 

Night-by-night attendance has 
held up at the Stadium this year 
as against last, except for bad 
weather. Where there was only 
one rainout last season, there have 
been eight thus far this year, as 
well as six more threatening- 
weather nights. Total receipts will 
thus be off. Where the Stadium's 
deficit last season was $75,000, on 
a budget of $250,000, this season 
it is expected to be much more. 
This year's operating budget was 
$262,500. 

Saturday's Rodgers and Hammer- 
stein program will consist of songs 
and music from the legiters "Okla- 
homa!", "Carousel" and "Allegro," 
and the film "State Fair." Soloists 
will be Annamary Dickey, Gladys 
Swarthout, Thomas Hayward and 
Robert Weede, and the "Allegro" 
Chorus of 40. Alexander Smallens, 
borrowed from Radio City Music 
Hall, will conduct. 



Kettering's New Play 

Chicago, Aug. 3. 

Ralph T. Kettering, the veteran 
playwright and publicist, has a new 
play, "Not By Might," which he 
will talk over when he hits Broad- 
way .the end of this month. 

For the next four weeks, how- 
ever, he has taken over as sub for 
Sam Weller, ahead of the national 
company of "Oklahoma!" who has 
been doing that chore for five 



Interstate Lining Up 

Its Texas Legit Slate 

Dallas, Aug. 3. 
Charles J. Freeman, head of In- 
terstate Circuit's legit department, 
has announced tentative dates for 
some of the shows to be presented 

I here during the 1948-49 season. 
"Oklahoma!" will play a four-day 

! return engagement at the Majestic, 
Sept. 27-30. The show played a 
record-breaking run during the 
spring of 1947 at the State Fair* 
Auditorium under Interstate 
auspices. In addition to the local 
booking, "Oklahoma!" will be pre- 
sented in Fort Worth, ' San An- 
tonio and Houston. 

"Burlesque," with Bert Lahr, 
will be on the Melba stage Dec. 
3 and 4 following engagements at 
Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio 
and Houston. "Carousel" will be 
presented at either the Majestic or 
Palace, Dec 16. It also will be 
seen in Fort -Worth, Houston and 
San Antonio. Shaw's "Man and 
Superman," starring Maurice 
Evans, has been booked for the 
Melba, Feb. 18-19. It's also sched- 
uled for Houston, San Antonio, 
Austin and Fort Worth. 



Idea' in Dual Bow 6,000 
Miles Apart; Anderson 
To Share in Both Grosses 

Two companies of Robinson Jef- 
fers' "-Medea" will open simulta- 
neously 6.000 miles apart, when the 
touring troupe headed by Judith 
Anderson bows Sept. 6 in San 
Francisco and a British production 
headed by Eileen Herlie preems in 
London same date. English troupe 
is debuting Aug. 23 at the Interna- 
tional Arts Festival in Edinburgh, 
before the London run. 

Miss Anderson will make a hefty 
piece of change out of the British 
production, without having the 
least hand in it. On the U. S. tour 
in which she's starred (with John 
Emery and Hilda Vaughn as likely 
support). Miss Anderson will play 
for a $1,500 guarantee against 15% 
of the gross, plus 30% of whatever 
the firm of Whitehead & Rea 
makes out of it. 

Robert Whitehead & Oliver Rea 
produced "Medea"„ on Broadway 
last season with Miss Anderson, 
but because of a disagreement with 
them, Miss Anderson refused to 
tour under their management. 
Guthrie McClintic is presenting 
the attraction. on tour, by arrange- 
ment with W&R. McClintic is also 
staging the tour version. When 
producers W&R originally sought 
Miss Anderson for the lead (author 
Jeffers had promised her first re- 
fusal of it), they agreed to give 
Miss Anderson a share in the play, 
wherever it might be staged, 
whether she was in it or not. 

Hugh. Beaumont is presenting the 
British version, in association with 
W&R. Latter have to give Miss An- 
derson 30% of whatever they real- 
ize in Britain on Miss Herlie's and 
the play's draw. The U. S. tour is 
booked through next March. 
Drama will play three weeks in 
Frisco, then three more in Los 
Angeles. It will then tour north- 
west and east, to land in Chicago 
for Thanksgiving. Show will likely 
play there through Christmas. 



Kernut Bloom garden has 

dropped his option on Kenneth 
White's "The Inconceivable War" 



Bay to Work on 'Girls' 

Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

Howard Bay has inked to direct 
and design sets for "As the Girls 
Go," new Mike Todd musical 
scheduled for Broadway in the fall 
With Bobby Clark starred. Music 
is by Jimmy McHugh and Harold 
Adamson. 

Bay, who designed "Magdalena," 
turned down a pair of film offers 
to do "Girls." 



Wednesday, Awgnit 4, 1948 



ILECITIIIfATi: 



IRON CURTAIN OPENS FOR LEGIT 




Tax Bogey Nixed in Treasury 
Ruling; FuD Losses Can Be Deducted 





The dreary financial outlook for* 
the coming legit season was light- ' 
ened a. trifle last week by the 
Treasury Dept.'s new okay of lim- 
ited partnerships for production 
investment. Instead of subjecting 
such ventures to a 38%' profits tax 
and limiting investors to a deduc- 
tion of only $1,000 per show, the 
Government decision restores the 
old setup for limited partnerships. 

For the moment, the financing of 
new shows is eased, and a number 
of pending productions that had 
fceen more or less in abeyance be- 
cause of insufficient backing are 
apparently again in active prepara- 
tion. There were several reported 
instances of investors "putting up 
production coin as soon as the Gov- 
ernment ruling was announced. 
Other shows, for which money-rais- 
ing was at a standstill are again 
being auditioned, or scripts are be- 
ing circulated, for prospective 
backers. 

The Treasury Dept. decision is 
a two-fold windfall for showmen. 
Oq one hand, it exempts produc- 
tion, profits from the 38% corpora- 
tion' tax. On the other, It permits 
investors to deduct the full amount 
of their theatrical investment losses 
on their income tax returns. 
League is Clarified 

The League of N. Y. Theatres, 
which appealed the earlier Treas- 
ury .ruling, was notified that the 
partnership agreement it submitted 
"created a partnership within the 
meaning of. the Internal Revenue 
Code and the applicable provis- 
ions." The statement also said that 
"a partnership created by such an 
agreement lacks the essential char- 
acteristics of an association taxable 
as a corporation." 

It's expected that the new Treas- 
ury ruling wpl also apply to Max 
Gordon's production of "Junior 
Miss," which was financed by letter 
of agreement as a joint venture, 
but which tax officials will now 
presumably classify as essentially 
similar to a limited partnership. 
The Government had previously 
levied a claim of $120,000 in cor- 
porate taxes and penalties against 
the producer in connection with 
"Junior Miss." 

The limited partnership agree- 
ment submitted by the League of 
N. y. Theatres is virtually the same 
as that used by most Broadway 
managements in recent years, 
though most such pacts have 
special clauses of various kinds to 
cover individual circumstances. 
Copies of the League's limited 
partnership agreement are avail- 
able at the organization's office in 
New York. 

As an example of how the tax 
snarl was holding up show financ- 
ing, Howard Cullman, one of the 
largest and most active backers of 
shows, was reported, for instance, 
to have agreed to take a 10% share 
fa the scheduled production of 
•Kiss Me Kate," the Cole Porter, 
musical version of "The Taming of 
the Shrew," but with the proviso 1 
that my investment in your show 
Is altogether contingent upon the 
tax decision which I hope will be 
forthcoming soon." 

There had also been a number 
of strenuous efforts by producers 
to get backing for their shows, to 
some cases by novel means. Lucille 
Lortel and Alfred H. Tamarin, for 
instance, held an audition a couple 
?* weeks ago of Sean Q'Casey's 
Red Roses for Me" at Miss Lor- 

Kl WWte Barn theatre, Westport, 
with Kim Hunter, George Hill, 
«arry Collum and other Broadway 
•Mors reading various parts. A 
tended* ° f prospective "ngels at- 

Claire Leonard, as agent for the 
author, has Invited prospective pro- 
„ uce f s and investors to a reading 

Abram Hill's adaptation of Leo 
,/S Power of Darkness" at 
Wed) studios ' N - Y - knight 





Bard's $4,500 Weekly Presentation 
Cost May Open Avenue for Legits 



Jfed Harris doing a new adapta- 

*^K f K S ^? ndber g' s "Tne Father," 
which he'll put into rehearsal late 
bus month, with Paul Lukas and 
Jr'' ,an pish as leads. Stager re- 
turned last week from the Coast 



Styne, Cahn in Berle 
. Parlay on B'way Show 

t , ~ Hollywood, Aug. 3. 

Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn 
have worked out an agreement for 
3 . ° ro ? dwa y musical this winter 
with Mdton Berle. Composer- 
lyncist pair are already working 
on the score and are looking for 
an author to do the book, for which. 
Berle has the idea. 

Besides supplying the songs for 
the current stage click, "High But- 
ton Shoes," Styne and Cahn have 
written the tunes and lyrics for 
several recent pictures, including 
Warners' "Two Guys from Texas." 
Berle won't appear in the pro- 
jected new edition of "The Zieg- 
feld Follies," for which the Shu- 
berts have been reported trying to 
sign him. 

AFM Dickers With 
N.Y. League Again 

Negotiations between the League 
of N. Y. Theatres and Local 802, 
American Federation of Musicians, 
started Monday (2), for a new con- 
tract covering Broadway legit. The 
union had previously declined to 
bargain with the League, pre- 
ferring to dicker with individual 
managers, but finally agreed to sit 
down with the producer organiza- 
tion again. The present two-year 
contract expires Sept: 1. 

Musicians have asked for a 15% 
increase, with a number of changed 
conditions covering contract and 
non-contract houses, the most im- 
portant of which would call for 
new employment quotas. Theatres 
of under 1,100-seat capacity would 
be required to increase the number 
of footers from 16 to 18, and 
houses of 1,100 or more capacity 
would be upped from 22 to 26 
men. It's estimated that the 15% 
pay increase would come to be- 
tween $11.50 to $20 per week per 
man. 

Union demands were given ver- 
bally, by Sam Suber, chairman of 
its theatre committee. It was 
stated, however, that the terms 
would be submitted in writing in 
a few days. Another meeting is 
set for next Monday (9). 

When an agreement with the 
musicians is concluded the League 
is slated to negotiate new contracts 
with the porters and cleaners and 
wardrobe attendants' unions, after 
which it will attempt to settle with 
the Assn. of Theatrical Agents & 
Managers on the Iatter's request 
for a wage boost under the existing 
contract. 

Next on the slate is an attempt 
to persuade Congress to cut the 
present 20% excise tax on theatre 
admissions. The League will send 
a delegation to Washington to at- 
tend committee hearings and urge 
a return to the old 10% levy. 



Woolley, Taking ft Easy, 
Rejects Olivier Bid; 
No Autumn Pacts Yet 

Saratoga, N. Y, Aug. 3. 

Monty Woolley, who will 
guest in "The Man Who Came to 
Dinner" at the Spa Summer thea- 
tre in his home town of Saratoga 
week of August 24, hasnt signed 
for any fall radio show or motion 
picture. He received an offer re- 
cently to appear in an English film 
With Laurence Olivier and Vivien 
Leigh, but rejected it because the 
shooting would require him to re- 
main abroad for four months. The 
schedule called for four weeks in 
Italy and 12 in England. Since he 
underwent two major operations in 
nearby Albany last year, Woolley 
has been taking things easier. 

The 60-year-old actor looks and 
feels well, although he is reported 
to have been ill briefly on a recent 
visit to MontreaL 



If it had done nothing else, the 
recent international theatre con- 
ference in Prague at least demon- 
strated that representatives from 
both sides of the iron curtain can 
work together without friction. 
Among the Soviet-dominated na- 
tions whose delegates worked amic- 
ably with those of the western 
countries were Poland, Czechoslo- 
vakia, Yugoslavia and Hungary. 
Russia wasn't represented. 

It was agreed in advance by the 
100 spokesmen of 20 nations par- 
ticipating in the confab that there , 
would be no political discussion of i 
any kind. The meetings were to 
be devoted entirely to theatrical 
matters and, despite some difficul- 
ties, that policy was maintained. 

The conference formally set up 
the International Theatre Institute 
as a permanent organization for 
the purpose of linking together the 
theatre and theatrical people 
throughout the world. Each coun- 
try is to participate through a na- 
tional theatre center. 
. Eight of the countries represent- 
ed already have such centers in 
the form of national theatres, and 
the others will presently have 
something of the same sort. It's 
hoped that the U. S. will also ulti- 
mately have some sort of agency 
that functions as a national center, 
but in the meanwhile the American 
I National Theatre & Academy will 
1 serve unofficially in that capacity. 

The ITI was established and will 
function under the United National 
Educational, Scientific & Cultural 
Organization. Its temporary inter- 
national headquarters are at 
UNESCO House, Paris, but it's to 
have its own quarters in 1949 and 
is aimed to become self-supporting 
within a year later. 

The plan is to have ITI arrange 
contacts between theatres and the- 
atre people in various countries 
and, where possible, bring about 
;the international exchange of plays, 
! theatrical groups and dramatic art- 
ists, authors, directors, etc. It al- 
ready has a number of such proj- 
ects on the fire. 

Day-by-day administration of the 
ITI is in the hands of Maurice 
Kurtz, executive-director, located 
in the Paris headquarters. Perma- 
nent policy control is determined 
by an executive committee, of 
which Armand Salacrou of France, 
is chairman, and including Erich 
iNikowitz, Austria; S. I. Heiung, 
| China; Llewellyn Rees, United 
[Kingdom; Richard Ordynski, Po- 
land; Emil Oprecht, Switzerland, 
(and Jindrich Honzl, Czechoslo- 
1 vakia. The publications committee 
comprises Oprecht, Kenneth Rae, 
United Kingdom; Rosamond Gild- 
er, U. S.; Rene Hainaut, Belgium, 
and Salacrou, ex-officio. 

V. S. Committee Set 

The committee for the formation 
of a U. S. center of the ITI is co- 
chairmanned by Clarence Derwent 
and Moss Hart, and includes Miss 
Gilder, C. R. Kase, Blevins Davis, 
Vera Allen, Sidney Fleisher, Ray- 
mond Massey, Kenriit Bloomgar- 
den, Samuel Selden, Richard Al- 
drich, Morton Baum, John Mason 
Brown, Warren Care, Barrett H. 
Clark, George Freedley, Harold 
Freedman, Lincoln Kirstein, Rich- 
ard Maney, Winston O'Keefe, Oli- 
ver Saylor, Gala Ebin and Edward 
Greer. 

Spokesmen for the V. S. at the 
recent conference in Prague were 
Warren Caro-of the Theatre Guild, 
and Rosamond Gilder and Clarence 
Derwent, representing ANTA. All 
were present as "observers" rather 
j than "delegates," according to in- 
' structions from the U. S. commit- 
i tee. Derwent planed back from 
[ the confab and has stnee gone to 
the Coast to play a guest engage- 
roent in "The Rivals," with Aline j 
MacMahon, at Leland Stanford: 
Univ. Caro and Miss Gilder re- 
turned last week by boat. 



♦ Experiment of sending out the 
Margaret Webster Shakespearean 
company on a school and college 
circuit . tour will be "watched with 
interest in the trade because of the 
various angles involved. One is the 
low expense of touring; another is 
the type of transportation and 
handling of scenery. A third is the 
new field for legit the tour may 
open up. This will mark the first 
time that a full professional com- 
pany will do Shakespeare in onc- 
nighters and longer stays in college 
towns and elsewhere. If it suc- 
ceeds, producers plan to add more 
of the Bard, eventually to have a 
living drama shelf to tie in with 
the curricula of high schools and 
colleges. / 

Under the name of Marweb Pro- 
ductions, Miss Webster as produ- 
cer-director is sending out a troupe 
to do "Hamlet" and "Macbeth." 
Carol Goodner, Henry Brandon and 
Alfred Ryder will head the casts, 
with a possibility that Miss Webster 
may act with the troupe occasion- 
ally. Tour was originally set for 
16 weeks, and has now been ex- 
tended to 27. College towns will 
take up about 80-85% of the tour, 
Ella Logan may go back into the with one-nights to four-perform- 



Road 'Annie's' Ingenue 
Lead to Dancer Walters 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 3. 

Mimi Walters, dancer, left here 
for Chicago right after close of 
summer opera production of "Hit 
the Deck," to rehearse with the 
touring company of "Annie Get 
Your Gun" for a few days before 
going into show. Her role will be 
the ingenue lead opposite Tommy 
Wonder, part originally played in 
No. 2 version of "Annie" by Biliie 
Worth, who recently stepped into 
the title part when Joan Edwards 
fell ill. Latter had supplanted 
Mary Martin. 

Miss Walters' last show was 
Follow the Girls" on Broadway, 
in which she. was also a replace- 
ment. 



Ella Logan likely 
For Road Tinian' 



femme lead of "Finian's Kainbow 
for the tour, with a preliminary 
week or so in the part before the 
E. T. Harburg-Burton Lane musical 
closes -at the 46th St., N. Y. 
Singer is being sought by producer 
Lee Sabinson as successor to Nan 
Wynn, who has decided not to con- 
tinue the part on the road. Miss 
Logan created the role when the 
show was first done on Broadway, 
but left the production after dif- 
ferences with Sabinson, principally 
over billing. 

Miss Wynn was reluctant to go 
on the road with "Finian," but in- 
dicated she would have done so if 
given featured billing and various 
concessions, such as a dresser to 
travel with the company and a 
dressing room onstage to facilitate 
her numerous costume changes. 

Pitt Alfresco Season 
Looming 100G in Red; 
Deck' Hits Only $33,000 

• Pittsburgh, Aug. 3. 

Disappointing summer opera 
season at Pitt Stadium continued 
on that key last week with the next- 
to-closing show of the year, "Hit 
the Deck," which got only around 
$33,000. Musical co-starred Gil 
Lamb and Maureen Cannon and 
was figured to do better than that 
because of the good weather break; 
for a change. Although the rains 
came shortly before curtain time 
Friday, they stopped shortly and 
performance went on, and on other 
nights conditions couldn't have 
been better. 

Understood that the series of 
nine operettas will wind up around 
$100,000, or close to it, in the red, 
for the third losing season in a 
row. Management doesn't expect 
to reduce that much with finale, 
"Babes in Toyland," even in view 
of nameless cast, since there hasnt 
been much of an advance sale for 
the Victor Herbert fantasy. 

GINGOLD GUILD BOW 
STYMIED FOR PRESENT 

Westport, Conn., Aug. 3. 
Hermione Gingoid, British come- 
dienne, who was to have been pre- 
sented in a revue in this country 
by the Theatre Guild this season, 
has nixed the venture, at least for 
the present. 

Revue was to have opened here 
at the Country Playhouse Aug. 30, 
with material selected from three 
successive revues "Sweet and 
Low,*" "Sweeter and Lower" and 
"Sweetest and Lowest," in which 
Miss Gingoid starred during the 
war years at the Ambassadeurs the- 
atre in London. Inability to secure 
a satisfactory male costar prompted 
Miss Gingold's decision. Miss Gin- 
gold wanted Henry Kendall, her 
London costar, but he has other 
commitments there. 



ancc stands in each. Edward 
Choate is general manager. 

Tour opens Sept. 26 in Buffalo 
for a full week, with local Board 
of Education cooperating. Similar 
school boards are involved in full- 
week stays in Toronto, Montreal, 
New Orleans and on the Coast. At 
present there's a layoff for Christ- 
mas, during which there's possi- 
bility of troupe playing in New 
York. 

Company Shares in Gross 

Sol Hurok and the National Con- 
cert & Artists Corp. are jointly 
booking the tour, with Hurok hold- 
ing the contract The company has 
a weekly guarantee from Hurok, 
but will also share in the gross if 
it goes above a certain figure, ac- 
tors' salaries rising along with man- 
agement's take. Average price of 
the attraction .is $1,700 per date 
(with price much less pro-rata, of 
course, by the week). 

Company of 27 (including crew) 
will travel in a specially built bus 
arid truck, and will average six 
dates a week. Cost of company, ad- 
ministration and transportation is 
set at $4,500 per week, broken 
down as follows: company, $3,600; 
administration, $300; bus transpor- 
tation, $500; truck transportation, 
$100. Marweb got various conces- 
sions from unions and even build- 
ers of truck, sound equipment and 
scenery, all of whom will get 
special program mention. Scenery, 
built by Wolfgang Roth, can be set 
in the open without any theatre, 
and consists of latest improve- 
ments, such as telescoped booms 
and scenery rolling up like blinds. 
General Truck Sales & Service, 
which built a special truck at re- 
duced price, introduced several in- 
novations! Costumes, for instance, 
will be hanged instead of packed, 
on specially designed racks. 



TO VIEW US HAMLET* 

Robert Porterfteld, operator of 
the Barter theatre, Abingdon, Va., 
is planning a Junket for New York 
newspaper men to visit the straw- 
hat the weekend of Aug. 27-29. 
Idea is to take a couple of dozen • 
drama editors, critics and column- 
ists to view the Barter production 
of "Hamlet," with Robert Breen in 
the title part, Leo Chalzell as the 
King and Jacqueline Logan as the 
Queen. 

Visitors would also he shown the 
local sights and attend various 
special entertainments devised by 
Porterfield. They'd leave New York 
by train late Friday (27). and start 
back Sunday night (29). Bill Doll, 
who does publicity for the Ameri- 
can National Theatre & Academy, 
of which Porterfield and Breen are 
board members, is arranging the 
trip. 



50 



UBGITIM ATB 



Scribes, Sheriffs Play Selves in Mpk 
Tront Page ; Pitt Barn Cops 'Money 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



Minneapolis, Aug. 3. 
Local newspaper people and city !„, ¥ TO 
officials will have the chance to St. LOO Playgoers PlCK 
portray make-believe stage char- 1 
acters in the same profession when I 
the Old Log, Equity strawhatter, 
presents "The Front Page" week 
of Aug. 10. They've been recruited 
for the drama for "realism" and to- 
determine if they can virtually 
play themselves. 

Gideon Seymour, Minneapolis 
Star executive editor, has been cast I were Carl Roess i er> pres tdent; Mrs. 
Sher^ L Heckma'n and Adolph 

county as the sheriff; John K a - ,,r 



Hizzoner as Chairman 

St. Louis, Aug. 3. 
Mayor Alois P. Kaufinann was 
elected chairman of the board of 
the Playgoers of St. Louis, a non- 
profit organization whose purpose 
is to bring the best legit attractions 
to town. Other officers elected 



Anglo U.S. || 

Continued from page 3 ,!1 



Sherman, Star drama and music 
critic, a hypochondriac reporter; 
Bob Murphy, Star film critic and 
feature writer, a reporter named 



Adolpl 

vice-presidents, and 
EHy Baack,- secretaiy. A seven- 
man exec committee also was 
elected. 

Group was organized several 



Murphy; and Sally Luther andi vears a «° under the guidance of 
Barbara Flanigan, Star feature | Paul Beisman, manager of the 
writers, as reporters. George Guise American theatre and Municipal 
and Bower Hawthorne, Star and Theatre Assn. 
Tribune city editors, respectively,! 
will be demoted to reporters in the 
play. 

All performances are a sellout 
• week in advance of the opening 



Inside Stuff-Legit 



and the offering's 
will be extended. 



run probably 



White Barn's 'Money' Break 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 3.. . 
White Barn theatre, local straw- 
hat in its first season at Irwin, Pa., 
about 20 miles from downtown, got 
a last-minute break for its sched- I 
ule when rights to "For ■ Love Or | 
Money" were suddenly released j 
after show had folded in Chicago. | 
- Play hadn't previously been avail- 1 
able since it was expected to be an 
entry next fall at the Nixon. 
, Although White Barn series har' 
already been set, management 
quickly skedded "For Love Or 
Money" week of Aug. 23, blacking 
out "Love From a Stranger." It's a 
break for the summer venture 
since it'll be the only compara- 
tively new attraction in the lineup, 
and only the third out of 10 shows 
that Pittsburgh hadnt previously 
seen in the past, the other two be- 
ing "Made in Heaven" and "Thea- 
tre." 

Looks like White Barn will come 
well out of the red in its first year 



ST. LOUIS HEAT FELLS 
XONNECTICUT'S' RYAN 

St. Louis, Aug. 3. 

Sue Ryan, comedienne in "A 
Connecticut Yankee," collapsed 
from the heat offstage during the 
first act Thursday (29) at the Muni- 
cipal Theatre Assn's alfresco per- 
formance in Forest Park, but re- 
covered to resume her role the 
following night. 

Nan Stratton, a member of sing- 
ing chorus, successfully subbed for 
Miss Ryan and was warmly re- 
ceived by the audience. 



Added Strawhats 



The following summer theatres, 
not previously listed; are operating 
this season. This brings the total 
number of strawhats to 216 so -far. 
MICHIGAN 
Battle Creek: Michigan Caravan 
players; Al LaGuire; touring coni- 
and looks 4 set to "be" a" permanent 1 pany. (Non-Equity). 

OHIO 

Kent: Kent college; Ohio River 
showboat; Harry, Wright. (Non- 
Equity). 

PENNSYLVANIA 
State College: Town & Nine 
players, Penn State college. (Non- 
Equity). 



institution. Monday night benefits 
. have been capacity, midweek is 
pretty good and weekend perform- 
ances turn 'em away regularly. 

Denver Stock Bullish 

. Denver, Aug. 3. 
With Chester Morris currently 
starring in "Small Miracle" and 
Gypsy Rose Lee signed to- play the 
lead in "Biography ' the next wauK, 
, interest in the Artists'. Repertory 
Theatre, putting on stock at Phipps 
Auditorium, has come 'to life. 
Gross is running better than $7,000 
weekly, and building. 

The stock is running with vis- 
iting stars and a resident company, 
and the venture may become a 
year-round run. Denver has been 
without winter stock for many 
years. ■ - 



Strawhat Jottings 



Green Hills Name Linenp 

Reading, Pa., Aug. 3. 
Manager George R. Snell, of 
Green Hills Lake summer theatre, 
is featuring radio and film people 

this season. Bela^Lugosi spent .a ; k f A g 6 t tfi Berkshil 

r a e T«,^ I Playhouse, Stockbridge, Mass 

I "The Gilded Cage," by Charles 
I Robinson Kenyon will be tested 



The tryout of the comedy; 
"Never Say Never," by Effie 
Young, has been moved up a week 
to Aug. 31 at the Cape theatre, 
Cape May, N. J ... "Chastity 
Street," dramatized by Bernard 
Evslin from the Henry James 
novel, "The Bostonians," will be 
tried out for two weeks starting 
Aug. 16, . at the Provincetown 
(Mass.) Playhouse . . . "The Happiest 
Years," by Thomas Coley and Wil- 
liam Roerick, v il be prcemed the 

moolr nf Alia 1 R at Ilia R.M-lr elli I * 



summer. Signe Hasso and Buddy 
Ebsen are coming this month. 

Rain and chilly weather hurt 
business at Green Hills in the first 
month of the season, but in the 
past several weeks an Increase was 
noted. Snell is planning to run two 
weeks into September. 



Barbara Brady's Bow 

Stockbridge, Mass., Aug. 3. 
Barbara Brady; daughter of Kath- 



the week of Aug. 23 at Bucks 
County Playhouse, New Hope, Pa. 

Geoffrey Lumb has been ap- 
pointed stage director oS the New- 
port (R. I.) Casino theatre for the 
balance of the season. He'll be in 
the cast of John Gassner's produc- 
tion of "The Comedy of Good and 
Evil" on Broadway in the fall . . . 
leffrey Lynn guestars the week of 



erine Alexander is appearing at| Aug , ]6 ln « John Lo ves Mary" at 

I h ^? eI & smre „ P ^y hous ^ nere in i the Chapel Playhouse, Guilford, 
"Little Woman" this week | Conn ; The new Re g ina id Den- 

Originally, mother and daughter | ham-Mary Orr play, "Twice Born," 



tacks and keep things from reach- 
ing the government level. 

Such a threshing out is badly 
needed now, observers feel, since 
relations between the two indus- 
tries have reached a perfect im- 
passe. On the one hand British 
product is getting an absolute min- 
imum of playing time in the U. S., 
badly hurting Rank and his fellow- 
producer, Sir Alexander . Korda, 
and indirectly stabbing British ef- 
forts to ir crease dollar credits in 
this country. 

Other Resistances 
On the other hand, the Ameri- 
can industry is rapidly being shut 
out of England. Under the new 
quota law, exhibs will have to re- 
serve 45% of their playing time 
after Oct. 1 for homegrown prod- 
uct. Worse than that, however. 
Rank is making efforts to person- 
ally push the quota to * 609b or 
higher on his own Odeon and Gau- 
mont-British circuits, the two most 
important in England. * 
In addition, the British are mak- 
ing it tough for Americans to pro- 
duce films in England in an effort 
to get Mocked currency out and 
are otherwise giving U. S. com- 
panies a difficult time on interpre- 
tations df permitted uses of this 
frozen money. Result is that the 
American firms won't get much 
more from England than the $17,- 
000,000 guaranteed under the An- 
glo-U. S. agreement of last March. 

American companies first thought 
of reimposing a general boycott on 
shipments of film to Britain. Then 
they considered a system of cen- 
tralized control of selling in Eng- 
land, which could be used to put 
in embargo on sales to Rank and 
perhaps force the situation. These 
schemes are now -dead, killed prin- 
cipally by inability of the*major 
U. S. companies to agree on their 
desirability. Result is a complete 
vacuum of ideas for meeting the 
situation and a gradually growing 
acceptance by top American execs 
of the inevitability of losing much 
of the British market. 

State Dept.'s Stalleroe 
Yank industry has asked the 
State Dept. to intervene on its be- 
half in getting the quota reduced. 
It has been well over a month now 
since the request was made and 
not a word has been heard on it, 
with the Department heavily occu- 
pied in the Berlin imbroglio with 
the Russians. Which makes it evi- 
dent that for the time being, at 
least, the American industry can- 
not expect to get anywhere on the 
government level. 

That makes it -all the more rea- 
sonable, it appears to observers, 
that Johnston and Rank call some 
sessions of their joint committee 
and try to iron out the difficulties 
around a table. As in diplomatic 
negotiations, it could hardly be ex- 
pected that the top boys them- 
selves would plunge right into the 
talks. Underlings could set the 
stage, get the agenda down to es- 
sentials and perhaps plot some sort 
of path to a reasonable peace. 

Final conference table talks, 
however, it is believed must be be- 
tween the kingpins themselves on 
both sides. That means not John- 
ston, as in the past, for the Ameri- 
can industry, nor reps for Rank 
and Korda, but other higher level 
executives, who can actually put 
into being whatever settlement is 
agreed upon. Situation has suffered 
in the past, it is thought, by too 
many long distance messages, and 
the conduct of business by subordi- 
nates- who hadn't the power to 
come back and put into effect at 
once the agreements at which they 
were trying to arrive. 



It's not generally known that the deal by which Anthony B. Farrell 
purchased the Warner theatre, N.Y., didn't include title to two parts 
of the property. Latter are the frontage on Broadway, on which the 
theatre entrance and boxoffice are located, and a slice of land in the 
rear, the site of the backstage dressing rooms, etc. Annual rental on 
the two extra plots is understood to be around $40,000 apiece. 

On the basis of a reported purchase price of $1,500,000, the interest 
on the investment, at 4%, would come to $60,000 a year. In addition, 
taxes are estimated at about $40,000 a year. Including the rental of 
the two added pieces of land, it's figured Farrell's annual investment 
for the title alone comes to somewhere around $160,000-$200,000 a year. 

Figuring on such items as heat, light, maintenance, theatre staff and 
regular backstage crew, it's estimated that Farrell would have to get 
between $12,000 and $15,000 a week to operate the house, 52 weeks a 
year. Any dark weeks would raise the weekly rate, of course. Under 
the circumstances, a show would have to gross a minimum of about 
$35,000 to cover the theatre's upkeep— and that on : a 52-week basis. 

Incidentally, Farrell last week signed Benjamin H. Segal, house 
manager of the Shubert, New Haven, to double in the same capacity 
at the Warner. It will be Segal's first such assignment on Broadway. 



Harry A. Huguenot, stage veteran who is observing his 41st year in 
the amusement field, gave his 8,000th performance before the footlights 
several days ago. Now appearing as "Dr. Bartell" in "Three's a Fam- 
ily," in the Mt. Gretna, Pa., summer playhouse, near Lebanon. "Hugue- 
not says the roll of Dr. Bartell is the 647th part he has played in his 
41 years on hte stage. 

. A.siagejr. as. well as. an. actor, Huguenot recalls that he sang- the Koko 
role in "The Mikado" for more than 500 nights. He never appeared in 
talking films, but played in the silents with Mary Pickt'ord, John Bunny, 
Flora Finch and others. 



Lawrence Langner, co-head of the Theatre Guild, was telling the 
N. Y. Daily News' John Chapman that it's his patent law practice which 
really underwrites the Langner standard of living, and the newspaper- 
man—in his Sunday column — observed, "I think I shall invent a hat- 
rack to fasten to the bottom of a theatre chair and see if I can sell it to 
Lee Shubert." Langner had urged Chapman to become an inventor 
and thus one of his patent law clients. 



Vivian Cherry, chorus dancer whose last Broadway appearance was 
in the revival of "Show Boat," has recovered from the knee injury 
that has kept her inactive since shortly after the show closed. She^s 
supported herself, meantime, by doing commercial photography. One 
of her picture-stories. covering children's reaction to a television show, 
is slated for publication shortly in This Week mag. 



were to play together, but Miss 
Alexander found it necessary some 
weeks ago to cancel her engage- 
ment. 



Buffalo Houses Boulevards 
Buffalo, Aug. 3. 

The Erlanger, which has been 
dark for several months with 
short interludes, is currently hous- 
ing the Boulevard Players' per- 
formance of "You Can't Take It 
With You." Strawhat organization, 
which failed to receive license for 
use of its barn theatre on Niagara 
Falls blvd., was taken into the Dip- 
son legiter for five performances 
on the cuff. 

House will resume regular per- 
formances with: premiere of Ten- 
nessee William's "Summer and 
Smoke'' Sept. 6, to be followed by 
Frank Fay in "Harvey". Sept. 13 
and Margaret Webster's new 
Shakespearean repertory in "Mac- 
beth" and "Hamlet" Sept. 27. 



will be tested the week of Aug. 9 at 
Guilford . . . Geraldine Fitzgerald 
and Alfred Drake co-star next 
week in "The Man With .a Load of 
Mischief," at North Shore Play 
house, Marblehead, Mass . . . "The 
Road from Mandalay," by Giles 
Playfair, will be preemed next 
Monday (9) at Lakewood theatre, 
Skowhegan, Me. . "Partition," top- 
ical drama by C. Hart Schaaf, will 
be .tested Aug. 12-14 at Forest- 
burgh summer theatre, Monticello, 
N. Y... Elaine Barrie plays the 
lead next week in "Ladies in Re- 
tirement," at the Ocean City (N. J.) 
Playhouse. . .Brooks Atkinson, N. Y. 
Times drama critic, viewed Earle 
Reynolds' original play, "I Weep 
for You," at the old Opera House 
in Yellow Springs, O., over the 
weekend. This is the fourth Reyn- 
olds play preemed by the Yellow 
Springs Area theatre. Atkinson 



Schary Urges 

Continued from page 4 



lie anything thp public would buy, 
and thjen arranged this regurtitated 
creative effort into new entertain- 
ment meals and fed it to the public 
once more. But the business was 
growing and nobody cared because 
the profits were coming in. And 
then came the lean years — the 
early and middle thirties— and with 
those years came a new concept, a 
new dedication, and a new drive. 
Depression Generation 
"The depression years brought 
a new young generation of writers 
to Hollywood. They floundered 
around in the quicksand built by 
writers before them. They came 
out with the same cynicism. But a 
world was beginning to stir with 



w^guest^a cocktail party* aUhe (social resttessness Other mediums 
Biltmore in Dayton Monday. I of information were becoming 



more sharply attuned to these signs 
of restlessness. A new .word called 
Fascism was stirring up world ten- 
sion. Communism was a force 
people were talking about. We be- 
gan to search for new definitions 
of democracy, and writers were be- 
coming just a bit more preoccupied 
with what they wanted to write 
about. 

"In this frame of mind the young 
writers began to look at the screen. 
In a desire to break down a wall 
between them, and the authority 
which had beerT created by slipshod 
writers before them, the writers 
began to think in terms of writing 
originals over which they would 
have some degree of control; they 
wanted to direct, they wanted to 
produce. They began to organize a 
Guild which would protect them 
on credits and do away with the 
absurdities of multiple credits. 
They began to search around for a 
dignity they felt entitled to. 

"They began to break down old 
concepts about writers. Because of 
their integrity they walked out on 
jobs, gave up contracts, fought for 
better scripts and a better attitude 
about picture-making, and they 
have begun to be heard. Most im- 
portant, they studied and mastered 
their technique; their technique of 
screen writing which, believe it oi 
'not, is a craft that is related to 
every other writing craft, but has 
a mind, a personality and a phy 
sique-of its own. 

"Now we come to the future. The 
future of Hollywood is directly 
concerned with the future of the 
world. There is a whole field open 
for the original motion picture 
writer. The man who will concern 
himself about writing good material 
for the screen. 

"Of course there are inhibitions 
in writing for the screen. It is 
quite true that one cannot deal with 
certain things that 'are taboo, but 
the things that are taboo are those 
things that cannot be palatable to 
a mass audience. But the fact that 
one cannot say a four-letter word 
on the screen does not mean that 
the screen cannot be mature. Good 
art is not necessarily the portrayal 
of ugliness. There are mature sub- 
jects beyond incest and adultery, 
and even these subjects if handled 
with tact and intelligence .and good 
taste can be discussed on the 
screen." 

Schary declared that war stories 
do not fail because they are war 
films, but because they are bad 
films, just as in other times he saw 
musical films become anathema at 
the boxoffice just because bad ones 
were being made. 

Hitting at certain Hollywood 
critics, Schary said: "I believe that 
anyone who has worked hard and 
long in Hollywood has a right to 
criticize it. I believe people who 
have made a contribution have a 
right to demand further reforms 
and changes in attitude and tech- 
nique; but the people who come out 



to take money and dine in the best 
restaurants and live in the periph- 
eral social life of Hollywood and 
then damn it, these people I have 
no patience with and they have no 
right to damn. The Hojlywood 
community — including the speaker 
— is a hard working community. 
And the film industry constantly is 
becoming tougher and more ex- 
amining. The writer, in it is going 
to have to work harder to be more 
successful. He is going to be forced 
to deliver for what he is paid, but- 
his opportunity to contribute is 
greater than it ever was, and he 
will have the opportunity on the 
screen to make a contribution to 
the kind of world he wants to live 
in." 




ASCAP-Leibell 

- Continued from pace 35 

want to know what might happen 
two or three years hence; that is, 
just as some important production 
might get into exhibition, just 
about that time, perhaps, might 
come some adverse ruling follow- 
ing ASCAP's appeal. The sync li- 
censees want indemnification from 
the Society, but since that runs 
into staggering sums this leaves 
ASCAP in an awkward position in- 
deed. , 

Writers' Rights 
The writers have suddenly loom- 
ed importantly because their by- 
laws provide that those rights can 
revert to them, under certain con- 
ditions. The film interests prefer 
to deal with "the copyright own- 
ers," which invariably are the 
music publishers. The LeibdH de- 
cision militates against this, to 
some extent. 

The publishers, meantime, have 
suddenly developed inflated ideas 
of values. ': The Warner Bros, 
group wants as much for the ex- 
hibition rights as the synchroniza- 
tion; i.e., if it's $20,000 to sync 
certain of their songs, another 20G 
should be paid for the exhibition 
rights, in View of the Judge Leibell 
decision kayoing the seat tax. On 
the other hand, Louis Bernstein 
(Shapiro-Bemstein) thinks 33% 
additional should be adequate for 
the seat tax. 

All" of this is part of the legal 
masterminding now going on with- 
in ASCAP, and which its new spe- 
cial counsel (see Robert W. Pat- 
terson story on P. 1) must help 
untangle. 

In turn, this is complicated by 
the picture companies which have 
their special interests to protect. 
Harry Fox,, who is trustee for the 
Music Publishers Protective Assn., 
and acts in other licensing deals, 
had proposed a • confirmatory li- 
cense, to follow the privilege 
granted to record and perform, but 
this is something to which some 
of the film interests have great 
objections. 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



UEISITiMATE 



51 



CM Grosses Slipping Somewhat; 

'Shoe' 37G, 'Annie' 26G, 'Mary' 9G 



Chicago, Aug. 3. 

Grosses were slightly off with the 
exception of "High Button Shoes." 
"Annie" slipped a little and "John 
Loves Mary" continued downward 
after months of excellent business. 
"Oklahoma!" opened yesterday (21 
with packed house at the Erlanger. 
"Shoes" looks set for top biz for 
many more months. 

Lineup for September makes the 
iall season look the strongest in 
years, with most of the number one 
Broadway hits forming Chi com- 
panies or coming in. "Mister Rob- 
erts" bows into the Erlanger, Sept. 
7: "Leading Lady," with Ruth Gor- 
don in her newest play, is due at 
the Selwyn, Sept. 13; "A Streetcar 
Named Desire" arrives at the Har- 
ris, Sept. 21. The Blackstone 

fhould be finished its remodeling 
y Sept. 13 to invite "Angel in the 
Wings" in. "Allegro" is likely for 
(he Shubert during September and 
"Winslow Boy" will also* come in 
as soon as a theatre is available. 
Estimates for Last Week 
"Annie Get Tour Gun," Shubert 
(4th wfc) (2,100; $4.94). Not quite as 

food as last week, but still sturdy 
26,000. 

"High Button Shoes," Great 
Northern (11th wk) (1,500; $6.18). 
It's still virtually a solid sellout; 
$37,000. . 

"John Loves Mary," Harris (25th 
wk) (1.00O; $3,71). Still on the 
downgrade. Weak $9,000. 

"Oklahoma!" Erlanger (1,334; 
$4.33). Opened yesterday (2) with 
sellout b.'o. 




Ken England huddles with 
Jerome Robbins today (Wed.) 
about the possibility of the latter 
staging the former's forthcoming 
musical, "Sweet Dreams," for 
which Vernon Duke and Ogden 
Nash are writing the songs and 
lyrics. Lou Levy, who'll co-pro- 
duce the show with Englund, is 
due back about Aug. 20 from Lon- 
don... The American Theatre So- 
ciety will present "The Heiress" 
as a subscription play in Chicago 
only. 

At the Tuesday night (27) per- 
formance of "The Play's the 
Thing," at the Booth, N. Y., Louis 
Calhern and Arthur Margetson 
played their third-act scene in 
Such a way as to keep Faye Emer- 
son almost continuously broken up, 
but not tipping the audience what 
they were doing... Max Gordon 
will open "Bravo," the- new George 
6. Kaufman-Edna Ferber play, Oct. 
20 in New Haven, with the Broad- 
way preem slated for Nov. 8 . . . Al- 
fred Fischer is reported planning 
a production of a new William 
Saroyan play called "Don't Go 
Away Mad". . .Gilbert Miller and 
Henry Sherek will present "Ed- 
ward, My Son," with Robert Mor- 
ley, Peggy Ashcroft and Ian Hun- 
ter, at the Martin Beck, N. Y., 
Sept. 30, after a New Haven 
breakin starting Sept. 22. 

Blevins Davis, not Joseph Ver- 
ner Reed, contributed the $2,500 to 
cover the expenses of Clarence 
Derwenf s trip to Prague to attend 
the recent UNESCO theatre con- 
ference . . .Jerry Carter, former 
Washington radio singer, has come 
to New York to try musical com- 
edy... The Stage Relief Fund re- 
ceived a total of $32,871 last sea- 
son from benefit performances of 
'Finian's Rainbow," "Annie Get 
Your Gun," "Bora Yesterday," 
'Harvey," "Command Decision," 
"The Heiress," "John Loves 
Mary," "All My Sons," "For Love 
or Money," "The Winslow Boy" 
.and "Man and Superman" ... Ira 
Gershwin is reported doing the 
words and Harry Warren the songs 
for a musical version of "Tovarich" 
...And the Theatre Guild has 
persuaded Dorothy and Herbert 
Fields to do the adaptation and 
lyrws and Burton Lane to compose 
JS* score of .a musical edition of 
The Pursuit of Happiness. 



'Sweethearts' $36,000; 
'Winslow' 10G, Frisco 

<.o S an Fr ancisco, August 3. 
Sweethearts," with Bobby Clark, 
s still hitting hard, having switched 
trom Wednesday matinees to Sun- 
day night performances. This Civic 
Light Opera production showed a 
tremendous $36,000 for its second 
week at the Curran (1,776; $4.20). 

"The Winslow Boy" shuttered 
Saturday (31) after a neat four 
weeks at the Geary (1,550; $3.60), 
and chalked up a pleasing $10,000 
for Its final stanza. 

Ethel Waters, with accompanist 
Fletcher Henderson, moves into the 
Geary for four performances, 
Thursday (5, 6, 7) plus Saturday 
matinee, in what has been titled 
"Cavalcade Of Hits," with a $3 top. 
On Aug. 9, "April Fool," with Otto 
Kruger and Katherine Alexander, 
moves into the Geary. 

Help Wanted on Cine 
To 'Help Wanted' Debut 
Behind Iron Curtain 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 
Playwright Alfred Golden, back 
to the old home town for a visit 
last week, would like to know 
what's going on behind the Iron 
Curtain, too, but for reasons quite 
apart from those the State Dept. 
in Washington is concerned about. 
It's a long story, and a puzzling one 
to Golden. 

Couple of years ago, the^author 
of "A Young Man's Fancy," in 
collaboration with Harry Thrusch- 
well, wrote a little domestic com- 
edy, with Howard Buerman, called 
"Help Wanted: Female." It made 
the usual managerial rounds but 
nothing happened, and Golden 
stored the script away in his trunk. 

Then out of the blue, some 
months ago, the author's agent got 
a. query from a producing outfit 
hi Hungary asking for an okay to 
put on "Help Wanted: Female." 
How the play ever got over there, 
playwright insists he'll never know, 
unless it was through some indi- 
vidual to whom a copy Had been 
submitted at one time or another 
for possible backing. At any rate, 
more out of curiosity than anything 
else, permission was cabled back, 
and since then a number of strange 
things have happened. 

"Help Wanted: Female" has been 
announced for production all over 
that part of the Balkans which is 
Soviet-controlled as well as in 
Argentina and Uruguay, both 
known to be considerably less than 
democratic countries. Golden can't 
understand why what he consid- 
ered a harmless domestic piece 
should find such favor in Commu- 
nist-dominated nations, and won- 
ders if perhaps the thing has been 
pointed in other directions through 
the translation. 

"Help Wanted: Female" has 
since been retitled "A Lovely Girl" 
and is currently being tried out by 
a friend. of the author's, Madge 
Skelly Foust, at her. summer thea- 
tre in Aspen, Col. 

Golden stopped off in Pitts- 
burgh, where he used to teach 
drama at Duquesne University and 
write plays on the side, on his way 
back to New York, his present 
home, en route back from a 
month's visit to Hollywood. He had 
gone there to try and arrange a 
screen sale for "Young Mans 
Fancy" and says deal is all but 
set at a major studio. In addition 
to polishing "A Lovely Girl" with 
Buerman, a collaborator m Mis- 



'WIDOW' NOT SO MERRY 
21G IN 7 IN INDPLS. 

Indianapolis, Aug. 3. 
"Merry Widow," with Charles 
Purcell, Victoria Sherry, Dennis 
Carroll, Phyllis Wilcox and Mar- 
guerite De Anguerra in leads, 
grossed only $21,000 in seven per- 
formances at Butler Bowl here 
July 25-31. The Alonzo Price pro- 
duction was plagued by threaten- 
ing weather all week. Price put on 
grease paint to play Baron Popoff 
himself. 

Fourth week of Bowl series will 
be highlighted by production of 
"Carmen" Aug. 4 and 8 with Re- 
gina Resnik, Brian Sullivan, 
Claudia Pinza and others under di- 
rection of Fabien Sevitzky. Cur- 
rent week's bill also includes two 
concerts by Sevitzky and a sym- 
phony orchestra, with Patrice Mun- 
sel as soloist Sunday (1) and stars 
of "Carmen" Friday (6). • 

fag«a'49G,LA.; 
'Carousel' $32,500 

Los Angeles, Aug. 3. 
The town went musical-happy 
last week. Three of the seven at- 
tractions offered were in the music 
category. Two others were revues 
and the remaining duo were farce 
comedies. 

Biggest business in town was at 
the Philharmonic where "Magda- 
lena" opened to a hit $49,000 busi- 
ness. Figure was $2,000 under the 
opening week for "Annie Get Your 
Gun" at the same house and same 
scale. "Carousel" bowed in across 
the street with a juicy $32,500 

Sole opening this week was 
"Anything Goes," which bowed at 
the Greek theatre last night (2), as 
the third offering of the summer 
operetta season. 

Estimates for Last Week 
"Blackouts of 1948." El Capitan 
(319th wk) (1,142; 2.40). $17,000 
again. 

"Carousel," Biltmore (1st wk) 
(1,636; $4.20). Smash $32,500 
opening, especially in light of com- 
petition from world premiere of 
"Magdalena" across the street. 

"Cupid Thumbs His Nose," Cor- 
onet (2d wk) (255; $3). First full 
week disappointing. So-so $2,650. 

"Lend an Ear," Las Palmas (7th 
wk) (388; $3). Another SRO $6,- 
300. 

"Magdalena," Philharmonic Aud 
(1st wk) (2,670; $4.80). Good $49,- 
000 on first of three subscription 

weeks. 

"Separate Rooms," New Beaux 

Arts (11th wk) (560; $3). $4,000. 

"The Vagabond King," Greek 
theatre (2d wk) (4,419; $3.60). 
Picked up to $39,000 for second 
frame to finale with $73,000. 



Broadway Grosses Continue to Sag 
But Pickup Due This Week; 'USA' 
38G, Ice' 51G in 9; 'Annie' 22G, Stays 



♦ The anticipated arrival of vaca- 
tioning tourists still hasn't oc- 
curred, and Broadway grosses have 
continued to sag. As a result, sev- 
eral shows that might have held on 
have had to fold, and others may 
follow unless the upturn material- 
izes soon. Some improvement is 
expected this week, with gradual 



'Student' Stout 25G 

In Six at Louisville 

Louisville, Aug. 3. 
"Student Prince," a local favor- 
ite, proved a winner at Iroquois 



day (31). Gross of $25,000 is 
to date. Six performances were 
unmarred by rain, and what few 
showers that did fall came in the 
afternoons. 

Singing cast headed by Robert 
Shafer, Edith Fellows and Alex- 
ander Gray, made a solid impres- 
sion with patrons, as did a strong 
supporting cast, which included 
Doris Patston, Detmar Poppin, 
Betty Ann Busch, A. J. Herbert, 
Dorothy Jay, Clifton Hughes, Jes- 
sie Cimberg and John Hogue. 

"Floradora," with" a cast headed 
by Arthur Treacher and Helene 
Arthur, Jack Goode and Dick 
Smart featured, is current. 



'OKLAJ' $39,200 IN D.C.; 
NATIONAL SHUTTERS 

. Washington, Aug. 3. 

With the final curtain of "Okla- 
homa!" Saturday (31), the National 
theatre closed for legit shows, to 
reopen the middle of September as 
a picture house. Washington's 
only legit house closing leaves the 
capital with films only. 

The final week of "Oklahoma!", 
with the New York company, 
grossed $39,200 with a Sunday 
night performance included. 

•Okla* $31,300, Seattle 

Seattle, Aug. 3. 

Touring company of the Rodgers- 
Hammerstein musical, "Oklahoma!" 
racked up a nifty gross of $31,300 
at the Metropolitan here last week. 

It was presented by the Theatre 
Guild, but not on subscription. 



Current Road Shows 



(Aug. 2-14) 
"Annie Get Your Gun" 

bert, Chi. (2-14). 

^ouri 'he "has never met, by the way, | "April Fool" — Lobero, Santa 
?,?h„r ^another script, "Collec- ; Barbara (5-7); Geary, Frisco (9-14). 
?o U r's° Item> a "rcXbor P ation .with | "Blackouts of 1NR-K Capitan, 
Lillian Day, who wrote ^ lae , V Carouse j» _ Biltmore, L. A. 

(2-14K „„ >r .. 

"Hish Button Shoes"— Gt. Norlh- 

Chi. (2-14). 



Lillian fay, wuo 
Youngest Profession," for a Broad- 
way production in the fall. 



Shu- 



Olsen and Johnson are reported T A U» a J IT„ Mf h\ "'"John Loves Mary''— Harris, Chi. 

Planning to hiring another of their (#62017 10 iieaO Up 1HV« » ,0.14" 

bpobyhatch revues to Broadway in £ 1 .1* 1 l\ t "Magdalena"— Aud., L. A. (2-14;. 

r^ faU / Eugene O'Neill between ReSlilHeO tOnCert VCDl. "Oklahoma!" - Erlanger, Chi. 
revisits , to his old haunts on the " w ■ . „„ io.u) 

• Cape and motor trips through New Music Corp. of America is re- "ouahoma!" _ Metropolitan, 
England, signed into a Boston hos- S uming its concert department. ^ (2 _ 7) .. stran d, Vancouver 
Pital recently for a checkup on the 1 m y office has assigned longhair ! (g l .. 

*™ he fractured last winter. He's j t j, pe bookings to Paul Gregory- 1 . ipr - vatc Liv es" — Metropolitan, 

• a n^flr maii 5 g t sl ^ w **°Sress ° n MCA , unt U two years ago, had a Seattle (2G . 3 i). C t,„wt 
writ?™ ? Iay ' dictates * and re- 1 ' rt divis ion which was started; « SuJ1 down Beach" — Shubert, 

• Phi!^ g n from th t rough transcript. i ( b °, narry Squires. Paul O'Boyle . Bost (2 -7). 
vauip 1 Barry, whose adaptation of by n<UTy ^ - 
jS*? ; Paul Aumont's "The Emperor 

' ?5„9 hhla " is also on the Guild s 



place. 

Closings Saturday (31) were 
"Brigadoon," at the ZiegfeM, and 
"Strange Bedfellows," at the Mor- 
osco, with "The Play's the Thing" 
going dark at the Booth, but slated- 
to resume Aug, 23. There are 14 
shows on the current list, including 
seven musicals and seven straight 
plays. 

Estimates for Last Week 

Keys: C (.Comedy), D (Drama) , 
CD (Comedy-Drama), R (Revue), 
M (Musical), O (Operetta). 

"Angel in the Winxs," Coronet 
(34th wk) (R-998; $4.80). Two-for- 
ones are credited with the pace 
here; $16,000 last week 

"Annie Get Your Gun,'' Imperial 
(116th wk) (M-1,472; $6.60). Up a 
bit to $22,000; longrun musical has 
... cut salaries and is holding on until 
Fw* If S Vttlt In 1444t Kthel Merman's return Aug. 16, 
JiJO U.vJ. ion. Ill 17*9. af ter wn i c h cuts will be. restored. 

"Born Yesterday," Lyceum (130th 
wk) (C-993; $4.80). Getting by with 
a steady profit with two-for-rone 
hypo; about $12,200 again last 
week; road company headed .by 
Lon Chaney and Jean Parker to 
tour starting Sept. 23. in Wilming- 
ton. 

"Brieadoon." Ziegfeld (73d wk) 
(M-1,628; $4.80). Critics' 'Circle 
prize musical closed Saturday (31) 
after 580 performances, but opens 
a tour Sept. 6 in Philadelphia; $20,- 
000 for the finale week 

"Command Decision," Fulton 
(33d wk) (D-9C8; $4.80). Eased, to 
$11,500, but has an operating mar- 
gin and is scheduled to continue 
until Sept. 11. 

"Finian's Rainbow," 46th Street 
(81st wk) (M-1,319; $0). Business 
slipped a bit for this longrun tune 
show, $18,000; closing is announced 
for Oct 2, after 723 performances; . 
slated to open tour Oct. 4 in Boston. 

"Harvey," 48th St. (197th wk) 
(C-902; $4.80). Mary Chase comedy 
hopped to nice $9,500 and contin- 
uing indefinitely. Frank Fay com- 
pany resumes its tour in Boston in 
the fall, and Joe E. Brown may 
again head a third troupe. 

"High Button Shoes," Shubert 
(33d wk) (M-1,387; $6). Click pe- 
riod musical got about $34,000 
again. 

"Howdy, Mr. Ice," Center, (6th 
wk) (B-2,964; $2.88). Skating revue 
again a draw .with out-of-towners; 
$51,000 in nine times. 

"Inside U. S. A,," Century (13th 
wk) (R-1,670; $6). Arthur Schwartz 
musical is earning about $5,000 
operating net weekly for producers 
at its current pace; $38,000 last 
week. 

"Make Mine Manhattan," Broad- 
hurst (29th wk) (R-1,160; $6). In- 
timate revue is getting by, though 
it eased a bit last week to $21,700. 

"Mister Roberts," Alvin (24th 
wk) (CD-1,357; $4.80). Always a 
sellout, with standees at every per- 
formance; $34,500 again. 

"Strange Bedfellews," Morosco 
(29th wk) (C-935; $2.40). Finally 
called it quits after using "twofers" 
for some weeks and' halving 
the top. Closed Saturday (31) after 
229 performances; opens tour Sept. 
13 in Chicago; $6,000 last week. 

"Streetcar Named Desire," Bar- 
rymore (35th wk) (D-1,064; $4.20). 
The other steady sellout; $27,300 
again last week ' " 

"The Heiress," Biltmore (44th 
wk) (D-920; $4.80). Attendance 
tilted a bit to $9,600; management 
hoping to keep the drama open un- 
til the skedded tour, starting Sept. 

"The Play's the Thine," Booth 
(14th wk) (CD-712; $4.80). Revival 
j pulled $4,800 for four perform- 

than his original planned Sept. .21 j SR, JjJ ^jSESti Cet 
date. He's been working on revi- tral Citv Pol ^ntf»A £ 
sions of his dramatic poem, "Tower ! Aug. 23 3ted t0 reSUme 

Beyond Tragedy," his setting of j "The Respectful Prostitute" and 
the Clytemnestra-Elektra story, "The nappy Jonmey " Cort (20th 
which Guthrie McClintic would i wk) (C-1,064; $4.20) ' Climbed a 
like to stage, this or next season. I few notches to $10 000 and con- 
"Tower" has been done on the [tinu--: Meg Munday may quit the 
Coast by a university group in dra- I femnn lead to take another show, 
matic reading as a poem, but ■ not 
in new revised form as a play. It's 
reported that Judith Anderson I 



pes ILS. Visit In 1949! 
Smith On Scot Looksee 

Carleton Smith, director of the 
National Arts' Foundation, is sail- 
ing Friday (6) for England, to con- 
sult with the Arts Council of Great 
Britain and with John Christie, 
founder-owner of the Glynde- 
bourne Festival, on a project to 
bring the Glyndebourne opera com- 
pany to America next year. It's re- 
ported that the Rockefellers want 
the group for a special celebration 
'at Williamsburg, Va. But Christie is 
reported set on having his operas 
done at the McCarter theatre, un- 
der Princeton University auspices, 
with plan for two Mozart operas to 
be" done for three weeks in Octo- 
ber, 1949, at the Jersey college 
spot. Out-of-way location doesn't 
faze Christie; who thinks N. Y. and 
Philadelphia will supply the main 
audience. 

Smith will attend the Edinburgh 
Festival, then fly to Finland to 
visit Sibelius. He'll also visit Ber- 
lin, Leningrad and Moscow. 

'YANKEE' 47€ IN ST. LOO; 
'SUNNY'S' BRIGHT START 

St. Louis, Aug. 3. 

"Sunny," Jerome Kern's musical, 
presented in the Municipal Thea- 
tre Assn.'s alfresco playhouse in 
Forest Park in 1935 and 1943, has 
been revived for, the current and 
ninth offering of the season. With 
clear skies and summer resort tem- 
perature on tap, the piece teed off 
a seven-night run last night (Mon.) 
before a crowd cS 10,000. Esti- 
mated gross was $4,000. Laurel 
Hurley, Hal Leroy (returning after 
an absence of 13 years). Mavis 
Mims, Gale Sherwood, Pittman 
Corry, Edwin Steffe, Patricia Bow- 
man and Rudy Kroeller took leads. 

The Rodgers-Hart musical com- 
edy, "A Connecticut Yankee," 
wound up its one week stand Sun- 
day (1). The piece was beset by 
bad weather but won the nod from 
the crix and attracted 70,000 pay- 
ees for a gross of approximately 
$47,000. 

Cornell, Anderson Eye 
Jeffers* New Tower' 

Robinson Jeffers, who is touring 

the Hebrides with his wife, may 
cut short his vacation because of 
illness, and return home sooner 



'Sundown' W/ 2 G, Hub 



(about to tour in Jeffers' "Medea") 



Boston, Aug. 3. 



foil t ; » " Jau u " ule uruiia s 

*au Ust, is working on still another 
«npt a t his place on Long Island 



took over after Squires resigned, J "Winslow Boy"-Aud-. San Diego 
and : witfc f OTBoyle's resignation,. any (2); Fox, Santa Barbara (3), Aud., 
tongbair bookings /were taken care | Pasadena 
oi by the one-nigjit dept. 



(41; Aud., Oakland 
J AudT ^Sacramento. 47). 



would like to appear in the play U ]fi £T fnr" i*? 6 !**!' di(3 , » neat 
in the fall of 1949, Katharine Cor- :l„X rt &St Week at the 

nell is also reported interested in : pi a v was hon\tt>A in v,™, 
jit the' play having leads for both j sock US? at i fe d £a&f mS£ 
actresses,,, , . ,„ . „, , Ihead strawhatter., „, y , arWe ^ 



52 



LEGITIMATE 



P&RIETY 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



Strawhat Renews 



Perfect Pitelt 

Westport, Conn., Aug. 2. 

John C. Wilson production of comedy bv 
Sum and Bella Spewuck. Stars Roland 
Yountt; features Buddy Jfibsch. Directed 
by Martin Munulia. Setting and' lighting 
by Kdward T, Cooper. 

Henry Saville ..Philip Coolidge 

Mi Martin .Kolund Youns 

Wong t Peter I.opouliln 

Sacha Rostov .Daniel Ocko 

Joo Peters Buddv Ebaen 

Sarah Pelera ...Joyce Arllnj? 

Joel Peters..; Jonathan Marlowe 

Chauffeur : Harold Stone 



The Spewacks get into the con- 
cert business in "Perfect Pitch," 
their first stage play in a number 
of seasons, which John C. Wilson 
is tuning up for, a Broadway show- 
ing. They have been to Steinway 
Hall, all right, but they keep a suc- 
cession of their best characters 
offstage in "Perfect Pitch" and by 
such dramatic economy turn up 
with a comedy of anthem propor- 
tions when it should be a bacchanal. 

There is a devastating portrait 
of the trying parents of a child 
prodigy, and the appearance of a 
legendary hypochondriac pianist. 
There are the flamboyant and un- 
predictable impresario, and his 
.long-suffering but resourceful 
pressagent. And there is the child- 
wonder himself. But since the 
Spewacks are all for exploring the 
frantic activities that go on in 57th 
street, they should also trot out 
that unbeautiful lady cellist, the 
faded tenor, the distracted music 
chairwoman and the shrill man- 
ager of Hollywood Bowl that they 
now present only on the telephone. 

Roland Young, classy and ever 
so roguish, is strangely and inap- 
propriately cast as the frantic im- 
presario, and is not fleet enough to 
compete with top figures in one of 
show businesses most energetic 
branches. 

Best effort -in this initial tryout 
is Buddy Ebsen as the hoked-up 
parent. It's a fine legitimate per- 
formance from the ex-hoofer, 
pretty frightening out front per- 
haps, but not unfamiliar in the 
grizzly greenrooms of the concert 
halls. Joyce Arling is a, little try- 
ing as his dumb wife, but the au- 
thors will probably fix up that part. 

Jonathan Marlowe is okay as the 
wunderkind, while Daniel Ocko 
gives a minor performance as the 
hypo pianist, a part that obviously 
yearns for fortissimo playing. 
Philip Coolidge does not have 
enough to do as the harassed, 
agent, but Peter Lopouchin, look- 



thusiasm. A veritable shout of ap- 
proval followed Joan Lorring's 
pungent last line, touching off nine 
curtain calls. 

House was three-quarters full, 
mostly women in sleeveless cot- 
tons. Bathroom sallies kept them 
snickering. They like It, although 
some had their doubts about Miss 
Lorring, and thought she overacted 
a bit. They labeled Larry Parks 
cute — and he really was. He fits the 
part of the husband who has liber- 
alism thrust upon him. 

Cameron Mitchell has a tough 
assignment. It's hard for an amor- 
ous stage colonel to win friends, 
but he does it. Maurice Manson 
tops the supporting performers as 
the Lunkhead father-in-law whose 
formula expounds the four stages 
of women. 

Show is excellent theatre, well- 
paced and funny, ably • cast and 
directed here. Meara. 



C'ain's-Meep 

Abingdon, Va., Aug. 2. 

Robert PorleiTield production of drama 
in then''' acts (nine scenes!, wkli prolog 
and epilog, by Montgomery Itara. Staged 
by tlio author. Settings. J. I). r'ltz-Hudi; 
light ing, Wallace ]}nee. Ai Barter theatre. 



Abingdon, Va., Aug, *J. 

Erg., 

Darla 

Mr. t'outcs 

Francis Coates 

Mrs. Coates. 

Bella Behn. N,... 

Mr. F.ehn 

The Pole 

Mr. Soames 

Mrs. Sonm* » 

Sammy Koames. 

Gloria Soames 

••Birdy" 'Ketcham 

Mr, Ketcham 

.lulian Lash 

Mary May hello 

"Doc" DeVeau 

Mr. Larkin 

Mrs. Larkln 

'fhe Caller 



•48. 

. , ..Tames Andrews 
..Kllxaboth Wilson 

I'retl Warrmer 

Hay Boyle 

Virginia Baiter 

..Josephine Parker 

James Reese 

. . .Krnest Korgnine 
.VadUell Burroughs 

Joan Sullivan 

SleH Turner 

Betty Manly 

Gerry Jedd 

...II. Halle fhiice 

James Garner 

Joyce savage 

Frank Stevens 

, . .Gordon Soinmers 

Virginia Ma tils 

Arthur Parker 



This modern morality play remi- 
niscent of Eugene O'Neill borrows 
some of Greek art forms including 
chorus prolog and epilog. It deals 
with a well-educated family living 
in comfort on a prosperous farm 
as Adam and Eve lived in Paradise'. 
With characters of Biblical origin 
beset by same temptations, play 
is a parable of the evil that has 
always led to the downfall of man. 

Its symbolism and study of 
changes of character are often con- 
fusing, with characters changing 
and taking on aspects of Biblical 
persons. Each player is cleverly 
assigned to certain colored cos- 
tumes to aid in grasping the syrn- 

^^la'^i^S^^^\)^ g v T%Z ana Aoefthe 
fugitive from the Platoff Don Cos- ^./fc^HSdSrtSLrS 
sack Chorus, makes much of the 



role of the impresario's oversized 
houseman. 

Incidentally Edward T. Copper 
has prepared, here at Westport, a 
nifty setting that could be moved 
into New York: it is up to Wilson's 
high standard. As for the play, 
the Spewacks' first blast of their 
pitchpipe is a slender but well- 
focused tone. Many additional 
workouts are called for, steady 
practice, and a little more prodigal- 
ity in design. Then the Spewacks 
may hit their comedy pitch. 

Doul: 



A Free lland 

Princeton, N. J., Aug. 2. 

Harold J. Kennedy and Herbert Kenwlth 
production of comedy in three acts by Mel- 
vin Feixnlt and Norman Panama, stars 
Larry Parks, Joan l.oning and Cameron 
Mitchell. Directed .by J.oren Gage. Set- 
tings by Don Gilham. Opened at McC'ar- 
ter, Princeton, Aug. 2. "4S; *3 top. 

Delivery boy •..Frank Maxwell 

Mrs. Hoyt Virginia McCarter 

•Jim Stakes...' ..Alexander Campbell 

Julio Murdoch. J'«n Lorring 

Jeffrey Murdoch Larry Parks 

J. B. Murdoch, Sr. Albert Bergh 

Mr. Prltc.hard Thomas Potter 

Malt Taylor.... .....Maurice Manson 

Bliy May- Taylor Patricia Quimi O'Hara 

Col. Ben Sutherland. Cameron Mitchell 

Bishop .Ilarkness. . .V. Robert McManus 

The new Melvin Frank-Norman 
Panama comedy, "A Free Hand," 
made its Princeton bow in McCar- 
ter theatre Monday (2) night a 
riotously successful, one. In the 
college town for a week's run, the 
show's auguries are bright if they 
continue the first night's promise. 
Oppressive heat in the playhouse 
didn't blanket the audience's enT 



play has deep moral undertones in 
its theme of conservation. Since 
the soil is inanimate, it's given 
voice through a chorus of masked 
cattle.' 

Although author's intentions 
aren't always too clear, the absorb- 
ing poetry commands attention. 
Fred Warriner, as master of Cain's- 
Keep, carries on in fine tradition 
established earlier this season and 
is effectively domineering as the 
masterful father. James Andrews 
puts much character into his role 
as Coates, the vengeance seeking 
son. Josephine Parker is beautiful 
and designing as the wealthy girl 
and Elizabeth Wilson winning as 
the servant girl. The dreamer is 
ably played by Ray Boyle. Unit 
setting is easily converted to 
scenes in barn, rich girl's dressing 
room and farmhouse. Play was 
written by resident playwright AI 
Barter with players' abilities in 
mind, so show is cooperative work 
of company. ' Barn. 



locate the third act of a play that 
had its premiere here. The act 
apparently got lost some place be- 
tween the original Guy de Maupas- 
sant story, "The Legacy," from 
which it was taken, and. its emer- 
gence as a play titled "Madame Is 
Served." If the party has any luck 
in its mission, they may develop 
the total handiwork into a fairly 
interesting production. 

After an amusing stretch of pre- 
liminary effort, the last portion of 
this comedy disintegrates so mark- 
edly that abruptness of its finale 
washes out much of the value that 
had preceded it. 

Story is a simple pne, but it af- 
fords excellent opportunity ror 
some first-rate characterizations. 
This opportunity is only partially 
realized due to a combination of 
stock players in a curtailed prepar- 
atory period. Theme concerns a 
wealthy pinchpenny spinster, of 
Paris in the last dentury, whose 
niece is anticipating inheriting the 
old maid's fortune. 

Latter, however, wants to see 
some progeny around the premises 
so she tries to drive the niece and 
! her husband into production. Be- 
I fore a decision is reached, the spin- 
ster dies through an accident and 
the reading of her will points out 
that her fortune is to go to charity 
unless the young people have off- 
spring, or indications thereof, with- 
in a year. 

An attempt by the pair to pro- 
duce such offspring brings out the 
fact that the husband is "ineffici- 
ent" in that department and it 
looks like they're going to lose the 
legacy. A colleague of the husband 
comes into the picture during" a 
period when the latter is undergo- 
ing a revitalizing campaign and 
eventually evidence of a forthcom- 
ing family addition comes through' 
just in time to get the legacy-seek- 
ers under the wire. Third act con- 
fusion never clarifies whether the 
husband or the friend is respon- 
sible for the turn of events, but a 
title paraphrase, "Madame Is 
Serviced," indicates such a possi- 
bility. . 

Jabez Gray is featured as an in- 
dolent brother of the spinster who 
is just waiting around for her to 
die so that his daughter can get 
the inheritance. He's good in the 
role. Also good in a brief char- 
acterization is Anna Syarse, youth- 
ful player who does the ancient 
spinster. William Robertson, the 
husband; Gloria Willis, the wife, 
and Bruce Carlisle the- colleague, 
make an okay triangle. Lesser 
roles are handled by Edmond Le 
Comte, a doctor, and Lew Casale, 
a notary. 

Staging is in keeping with the 
Paris 19th century atmosphere and 
a similar spirit has been caught in 
the single parlor-dining room set 
which acquires an unusual effect 
through an offstage slant. Bone. 



isn't enough byplay as they go into 
judicial huddles. 

Much play-doctoring seems to be 
indicated, since life fabulous non- 
sense has too many naive spots 
and not enough side-business to be 
consistently funny. Musical score 
is its best asset, but songs are not 
always spotted accurately. Lead 
roles have juicy potentialities and 
are well played here. William 
Boehm, as prince with a strong 
baritone, clicks with "Love Has 
Found Him" and "What Makes the 
World So. Glorious" in duet with 
Renee Orkin. Latter has flashy 
role as erratic princess but needs 
a song hit of her own. 

Best comedy bits are done by 
Henderson Forsythe, prime minis- 
ter of China, who ribs everybody, 
including author, with dry humor, 
and Louis Camuti, as chief eunuch, 
in some rather racy innuendo. Au- 
thor intends to rename show "Re- 
luctant Virgin" if and when it 
reaches Broadway. Pull. 



Two Dossra Red MtoM»« 

Lake Hopatcong, N. J., Aug. 1. 

Dean Goodman presentation of comedy in 
three acts (one set) by Aldo de Bem'ilctti. 
Adapted from Italian by Ernestine Pei-rie, 
Charles Guff, Morton Sarelt. stars Wil- 
liam Prince: features Helen Marcv, Bert 
Thorn. Staged by Miss Perrie. Set, Bev- 
erly Hume and Clifford Stanton. At Lake- 
side Summer Theatre. July 27, '4H; fl.80 
top. '.' •.. '. 

Kmmet Diexel Bert Thorn 

Marilyn Vnllin Helen Marcy 

Ted Valllri William Prince 

IXellie ..Vivian Purceil 

.Messenger ;Juck Carron 



Madame Is Served 

New Milford, Conn., July 31. 

Louis Townsend production of comedy in 
three act* (four scenes) by Joe. Grenze- 
haek. Features Jabex Gray. Directed by 
Fred Stewart; set. John Status, Opened at 
Theatre-in-the-Dale, New Milford, Conn., 
July as, •Hi; *itu top. 

Cesar Hoissler ..Jabez Gray 

Charlotte ■■' Boissfer Anna Syarse 

Jean Ferret. William Robertson 

Marie Pernit Gloria Willis 

iOdoitai'd Savon Bruce Carlisle 

'Hnucne"" Hdnunid Le Comtc 

Pltolet Lew Casale 



Reluctant Lady 

Cleveland, July 27. 

Oaln Park .Civic Summer Amphitheater 
production of musical comedy in two acts 
(six scenes) by Maurlae Valency. At, Cain 
Park. Cleveland, July 20, '48. ■ 



Somewhere in the underbrush 
surrounding this woodland straw- 
hat a searching party is trying to 



C. R fl. ARTISTS, LTD. 

ATFILIATEO WITH CONSOLIDATED RADIO ARTISTS, INC. 



RCA- BUILDING 




30 ROCKEFELLER PtAZA 



n«ui voni, 2o,n.v. 

TELEfHONt COLUMBUS 5-35BO 

30 Weeks Booking in Auditoriums 
& Independent Theatres For 
The BETTER ATTRACTIONS, 



Considering that tuneshows with 
fantastic backgrounds are the 
vogue these escapist days, the 
"Mikado"-like flavor of this mu- 
sical comedy and its satirical treat- 
ment by Maurice Valency are two 
commercial points in its favor. 

Show ran haltingly and over- 
long" (nearly three-and-a-half 
hours) at tryout, which was at- 
tended by Canada Lee, actor-pro- 
ducer who has an option to 
produce- it in New York. A pre- 
dominately amateur cast can't 
quite put across the tone of gay 
mockery demanded, since this 
travesty on poor-prince-meets- 
rich-princess extravaganzas has to 
be played on a brisk Gilbert and 
Sullivan vein to be persuasive. 

Yet the Cain Park strawhat pro- 
duction, directed by Alan Schnei- 
der from New York Theatre, Inc., 
brings out its more colorful phases 
in illustrating its possibilities. 
Chinese costumes are as pic- 
turesque as the rather pretentious 
Pekin settings. Besides having 
many fanciful ironic contrasts, ac- 
tion is bolstered by about two 
dozen original tunes by Albert 
Hague, New York composer. About 
six of the songs, sung admirably 
by two professional singers in 
leads, have a real contagious lilt 
and slickness that pulls show over 
the rough spots. 

Valency, a professor at Colum- 
bia Univ., knows how to write 
pungent, witty, dialog at times. He 
gets off some amusing cracks at 
politics, quiz games, warmongers 
and the backwardness of China in 
his fable about a man-hating Chi- 
nese princess who tries to stave 
off marriage by requiring all suit- 
ors to solve three riddles she pro- 
pounds. 

Some of it resembles a mad 
Marx Bros, musical, especially 
broad buffoonery of four politicians 
plotting against two- lovers to agi- 
tate a war. Chorus of eight beard- 
ed wise men muff their comedy 
chances, perhaps because there 



"Two Dozen Red Roses" is trite 
fare that will need plenty pulmo- 
oring before kicking up much dust 
on Broadway. Whether the adap- 
tors, Ernestine Perrie, Charles Goff 
and Morton Sarett, translated liter- 
ally from the Italian original of 
Aldo de Benedetti, or revised it, is 
I beside the point. The slight prem- 
ise of plot is weighted down for 
| most part with verbose dialog and 
'.little action, A slick editing job, 
i might improve it. 

"Roses," which reputedly had 
| successful runs in the author's na- 
I tive Italy and European countries, 
I in its current motivation seems too 
' lethargic for hep Yankees. Play 
has some redeeming qualities, if 
not an briginal theme.. 

William Prince, recently on 
Broadway as male lead in "John 
Loves Mary," essays a young 
scrivener, whose marital bark is 
headed for the rocks. Helen Marcy, 
the wife, is also fed up with his in- 
difference. A tangled phone call, 
presumably to a florist, comes by 
mistake. It's an order for roses 
for a glamourous actress. He plans 
to fill the order, anonymously, of 
course. • Frau gets roses by mistake 
and canters on in a fool's paradise, 
believing they have been sent by 
a phantom admirer. This sparks 
off proceedings that wend their way 
to a happy ending. 

Prince gives a likeable portrayal 
of the writer and probably does 
okay with the material at hand. 
Miss Marcy bubbles over as the 
wife, while Bert Thorn strikes a 
balance for the duo as the literary 
agent friend. Other minor roles 
are played by Vivian Purceil and 
Jack Carron. Direction of Miss 
Perrie is pedestrian. The pent- 
house set is attractive. Edba. 



to search for his lost son by means 
of capital furnished by sale of two 
pearjs he has dredged up. He is 
robbed of these treasures by a 
Laurel & Hardy duo, comprised of 
the local magistrate and his tax- 
collector stooge, and promptly dis- 
appears from most of the remain- 
ing action. Meawnhile the kimono- 
ed A. K.'s of the village are pro- 
moting amours for themselves with 
all the femmes within reach, from 
the viceroy's soprano daughter to 
the fisherman's B-girl offspring. 

Frank Rogier baritones the ro- 
mantic lead as assuredly and effec- 
tively as if he had been handling 
it through recent seasons instead 
of leads in "The Medium" and 
"The Telephone." Lois Hunt, has 
an expert set of pipes, doing full 
justice to her arias and lending 
more credence to her part than the 
lines carry. As her stuffed-kimono 
father, Rhys William, troupes 
sparklingly, creating a character 
that is wholly an example of the 
actor's art. 

Madeleine Clive does nicely with 
the fisherman's hoyden daughter's 
sides and songs, neatly lifting some 
of the lyrics from what might have 
i been considered awkward taste. 
1 Robert Burton and Don Doherty 
| give the comic duo more risability 
; than the bare gags supply, although 
i never garnering more than mild 
I laughter. Latter parts are glar- 
ingly underwritten. 

Balance of cast do adequately, 
with John Kirkpatrick's direction 
providing entire production with 
professional polish. Terp routines, 
including pro team- the Franklyns, 
are nothing startling, but don't 
grate either. Setting by youngster 
Robert MacKichan is excellent. 

Don. 



Ting-Ling 

Ogunquit, Me., July 27. 

Mrs. Walter Hartlvix production of music- 
al comedy in two 'acts (six scenes), with 
book Rhd lyrics by Richard. Diamond, music 
by Ignalss Wajfhalter. Features Lois Hunt 
and Frank Rogier. Directed by John Kirk- 
patrick. Choreography, Herman Smith: 
choral singing, Harold Weiner; setting, 
Robert MacKichan: costumes, Lygia 
Opened at Ogunquft Playhouse, 
'48; $8 lop. , 

Man .Tuck Moore 

^ John Helberington 

.Madeleine Clive 



Bernard. 
July 2«, 
Property 

Wong 

Li Fab 

Viceroy Liu.... 

Ting-Ling 

Yn 

Cb'ung 

Sing 

Mula n 

Wan Si 

Li Po 

MajOrdOmp 



. .Rhys Williams 

Lois Hunt' 

Don Doherty 

........ .Robert Burton 

Bmil Kovach 

. . . Ka t hleen Slaughter 

Helen Talley 

Frank Rogier 

Vernon Bates 



Full kudos for courage and imag- 
ination goes to Mrs. Walter Hart- 
wig for again challenging the ham- 
mock-set with an offering as far 
removed from the "John Loves 
Mary" scheme of playing it safe 
as might be staged. This "Chinese 
I musical romance" may fare no bet- 
I ter in citified locations than did 
I |ast season's "Dear Judas." . And if 
it bloops it will be for the same 
reason. The grand old lady of 
strawhat theatre is a sureshot at 
picking 'em for irrelevancy to cur- 
; rent payola tastes and trends. 

Here is a modem "Mikado" with 
more Deutsches-Operhaus diso- 
; nances than swing. And more col- 
j lege-professor wit than broad yaks 
I for the $6.60 masses. But if music 
I alone could sell a show any longer, 
this would be in. Ignatz Waghaltcr 
:has defied a sock score, gamuting 
from serious atmospheric stuff in 
Hindemith vein to romantic ballad- 
ing that haunts uncloyingly. 

But straightfaced plot, despite 
smart lyricing, is embarrassing. In 
Imperial China, thousands of years 
ago, Wong, a poor fisherman, plans 



The King's Servant 

Winooski Park, Vt., July 28. 

St. Michael's College Playhouse produc- 
tion of Felix Dohevtyts drama, "The King's 
Servant. " in three scenes, and eight acts. 
Features Doherty, Fred Graves, Marian- 
Seldes, George Kyron, John Forrest. Mil- 
ton Slater and Robert Stevenson. Directed 
by Doherty. Setting by Otto Huvben.-z. 
Opened ot St. Michael's Playhouse, July 
L'S. '48; SI. 211 top. 

Richard Rich , George Kyron 

Henry VIII I'Y.d Craves 

Anne Boleyn ...Marian Seldes 

Thomas Boleyn tbruld yandow 

Thomas Cromwell lobn Forrest 

William Warhan t'hilip Edwards 

Mrs. Margaret Roper Dolores Masming 

Lady Alice More lieulah Riley 

Thomas More Felix Drdierty 

Palmer , Walter Wallace 

William Kingston George Dcrlan 

Richard Southwell Robert Stevenson 

Thomas Audley Milton Slater 

Christopher Halo Spines McManus 

Felix Doherty, whose "Song Out 
of Sorrow" was a 1941 N. Y. Black- 
friar's production, has an infinitely 
more powerful drama in the story 
of Sir Thomas More. It will be a 
serious contender for the Christo- 
pher award and its reception here 
by secular press and mixed audi- 
ences augurs well for its general 
acceptance. 

Although the play has a religious 
aura, its theme is the perennial 
problem of man's right to have an 
opinion and not be penalized for 
thinking it. Doherty, a lawyer, has 
written a play which makes the 
King's Chancellor a real person 
who uses to the end .of his legal 
weapons to try to save his life. 
. More, the scholarly, urbane, witty 
chancellor, is a juicy role that 
Doherty assumed 36 hours before 
curtain when the original More 
hadn't mastered the lengthy, pre- 
cise, legal lines. He handles it 
masterfully.' 

More, after 15 years service to 
England, resigns when he can't in 
conscience approve King Henry 
VIII's yen for Anne Boleyn and a 
son, a situation which leads the 
King to ask the Pope for a divorce 
and ultimately to take over as head 
of the English church. 

Fred Graves fills out sympa- 
thetically the picture of Henry 
VIII as a monarch bedeviled by be- 
witching Anne Boleyn, handsomely 
played by Marian Seldes, and dis- 
couraged at prospect of getting 
heir from his wife, Catherine of 
Aragon. Cast of 17 requires only 
two other women, More's wife and 
daughter. Action takes place in 
Chamber of State at Westminster, 
London, except for one scene in 
Tower of London and another in 
Tower Hill. Lines are written 
smartly enough so that in pro 
hands shortage of action will not 
be a drawback. Dono. 



SAMUEL FRENCH 



SI NCK IB30 



Play, Brokers and 
Authors' Representatives 

85 West 4(11 Ii Street. New York 
7633 Sunset Ultd., Hollywood 40, VA 



PRODUCERS ATTENTION 

Investment or 11,000 or $t!,000 will lie ma* 
in limited number of new shows wllHMf'to I>I«J 
on« brent-la week «l ulamhrd sbarhm awl 
manatee terms la ' eatnlilhlieit independent 
lwltlmntt theatre In city of l.ODO.OOO populs- 
llon. Write details to Hox 731. Variety. 15* 
West 40th Street. New *Mk 11). N. V. 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



UTEBATl 



S3 



Literati 



Hollywood Subsidies 
Despite economy-mindedness that 
lias kept them from purchasing 
screen rights to more than a few 
novels and plays during the past 
year, major studios are still willing 
to pass out subsidies to authors of 
likely screen material. Metro, 20th- 
Fox and Paramount are principal 
sources of this largesse, in return 
for which .they get first refusal on 
rights to yarns of the writers they 
help. 

Metro, during the past week, 
handed a $2,000 grant to John 
Brick, 26-year-old scrivener of Yon- 
kers, N. Y., to finance him in com- 
pleting a novel he's working on 
located in the Hudson river valley 
during the post-Civil war period. 
Award was made in a tieup with 
Farrar, Straus & Co., which will 
publish the novel. 

While 20th and Paramount have 
handed out no such subsidies re- 
cently, this does not indicate any 
lack of interest in this type deal, 
they said this week. Reason given 
is merely that there have been no 
suitable stories presented which 
authors need financial help to 
finish. 

Brick, New York University and 
Columbia grad, is managing editor 
of the Export Trade & Shipper 
magazine, New York. Current 
novel is his first accepted for pub- 
lication. It will come out in 1949. 



Bill Bueno s New Spot 

J. R. (Bill) de la Torre Bueno, 
former manager of sales promo- 
tion and advertising for Appleton- 
Century-Crofts, is now with E. P. 
Dutton & Co. in a similar post, 
effective Aug. 1. He replaces 
Frank Frazier. 

Bueno, who has been active in 
the publishing field for some 21 
years, had been associated with 
such firms as Macmillan, Knopf 
and Whittlesey House as well as 
Appleton, chiefly in ad-pub capac- 
ities. He's also a member of the 
Publishers Adclub board of direc- 
tors. 



lillard McGee' Vice Martin 
Lillard (Mike) McGee, radio and 
real estate editor of the Memphis 
Commercial Appeal has temporar- 
ily moved into Harry Martin's va- 
cated amusements editor post. 

McGee is no stranger to cover- 
ing the theatre and' show beats 
here as lie also handled the post 
for four and a half years during 
the war. He is a veteran news- 
paperman and columnist having 
been with the St. Louis Post-Dis- 
patch, Kansas City Star and several 
other topflight midwestern publi- 
cations. Martin, who is president 
of the American Newspaper Guild 
(CIO) is cow in Paris as a special- 
ist and adviser to the ECA. 



career on the old Brooklyn Citi- 
zen later moving to the Brooklyn 
Eagle. As a rewrite man and pol- 
itical writer he worked for a time 
on the New York Tribune, shift- 
ing to the Boston American and 
back to New York on the Amer- 
ican, where he attracted Hearst's 
notice. Eventually he became 
Hearst's right-hand man in the 
newspaper tycoon's dealings with 
his various editors and columnists. 
Col Willicombe was given his mil- 
itary title as lieutenant colonel for 
his intelligence work in World 
War I. He is survived by six 
children by his first wife and one 
by his second. One of his sons. 
Joseph, Jr., is publicity director 
for the King Feature Syndicate, 
and another, John W., is circula- 
tion supervisor lor the New York 
Journal-American. 



Nowadays Supplement Launched 

New weekly newspaper supple- 
ment which will hit towns under 
25,000 population will be launched 
Nov. 15 by Lyman Ames, former 
publication officer for Yank during 
the war. Already tabloid has been 
signed for 305 newspapers in 13 
midwest states with total of 824,- 
000 circulation. Slant will be po- 
sition of small towns and their in- 
habitants on Broadway, Hollywood, 
and in national and world affairs. 
Paper will be called Nowadays. 

Ames' father and grandfather 
started the Chicago Journal of 
Commerce in 1920. Harold Han- 
gaer, formerly with Parade and 
American Weekly, is advertising 
director. 



The HCL 

New York Times' lead story last 
Sunday (1) on the IdlewUd (L. f.V 
international airport ceremonies 
gave a detailed description of the 
stunning air maneuvers and reac- 
tion of the thousands on hand for 
the occasion. Story ran on for two 
breathless columns and out of a 
clear sky wound up with: 

"Watermelon slices were 15 
cents." 



CHATTER 

Joseph Schillinger's new book, 
The Mathematical Basis of the 
Arts" will retail for $12 when re- 
leased Sept. 3. Proofs were cor- 
rected by Leeds' publicity director. 
Arnold Shaw, prior to his depar- 
ture on a holiday. 

Monthly supplement on non-the- 
atrical 16m films will be a new 
feature of the Saturday Review of 
Literature starting Aug. 14. 

Paul (N. Y. Post) Denis* book, 
"Your Career in Show Business" 
(Dutton), into second edition, eight 
weeks after publication. Post's 
radio critic (ex-nitery beat) trailer- 
izing the book via framed covers in 
the Broadway agencies and mid- 
town N. Y. restaurants. 

Los Angeles Times came out this 
week with a new look, tinted green, 
on its sports section. Metro gets 
the first break with a big ad for 
"On An Island With You," starring 
Esther Williams, whose stream- 
lined chassis often decorated the 
sport pages before she went dram- 
atic. 

Toledo Blade, afternoon daily, 
began issuing a Sunday morning 
edition on Aug. 1. Paul Block Jr., 
and William Block, co-publishers of 
the Blade and the Times, morning 
paper, said the franchises, circula- 
tion lists, and other assets of the 
Times were transferred to the 
Blade. 

Earl Wilson, N. Y. Post column- 
ist, profiled in the July 24 issue 
of Editor & Publisher by Carle 
Hodge. 

Paul Kamey, Metro flack, has 
sold an article on the "Optimists 
International" to Tom Breneman's 
Magazine. 



H'wood Market Overloaded 

So many screen writers, tossed 
out of work by the studio retrench- 
ment policy, are turning out Holly- 
wood stories for magazines that 
editors in the east have declared an 
embargo. 

They are willing to take yarns 
with various backgrounds but not 
about doings in the film" business. 
The celluloid literary market is 
overloaded. 



Col. Willicombe Dies at 76 

Col Joseph Willicombe, 76, ex- 
ecutive assistant to William Ran- 
dolph Hearst for 33 years, died 
suddenly July 29 at his home near 
Monterey, Calif. 

Born m New York City in 1872, 
Willicombe started his newspaper 



More War Fix 

— Continued from page 1 — 

smaller studios, started search for 
suitable properties along this line, 
and year 1948 promises to be a 
period when war in. all its finer 
phases will be presented for delec- 
tation of public. 

Columbia Leads Way . 
Columbia started ball rolling, 
insofar as release is concerned, 
with reissue of two war features, 
"The Commandoes Strike at Dawn" 
and "The Invaders." Latter isn't 
exactly a story of battle, but scene 
is laid in wartime Canada with 
Nazis on the loose, and qualifies in 
category. 

Metro, too, in a sense, went back 
to war for subject matter of its 
"Homecoming," co-starring Clark 
Gable and Lana Turner. 

Gable recently completed "Com- 
mand Decision" for his studio, in 
picturization of Broadway play of 
same title authored by William 
VVister Haines. This is story of a 
bombing squadron,' partially based 
on fact and partially Actionized, but 
with a very definite background of 
conflict. Produced by Sidney 
Franklin and directed by Sam 
Wood, with Gable in east are Walter 
Pidgeon, Van Johnson, John Hod- 
iak, Edward Arnold, Brian Don- 
levy and Charles Bickford. Picture 
was made through cooperation of 
Army Air Forces. 

Warners, too, is making an AAF 
picture, "Fighter Squadron." Pic- 
ture is in Technicolor, and most 
of air base sequences were filmed 
at Oscoda Air Field, on Lake Hu- 
ron in Michigan, with Army lend- 
ing its full support. Cast in this 
is headed by Edmond O'Brien and 
Robert Stack, with Henry Hull, 
Tom D'Andrea and John Rodney 
also in cast. Raoul Walsh is direct- 
ing. 

Navy Pix Too 
Same company will make "Task 
Force," to be produced by Jerry 
Wald. Story of Naval aviation, 
Wald was readying this for produc- 



tion when war ended and straight- 
way shelved all further activity 
on it. 

Resurrected some time ago, and 
with a new story of history of 
Naval aviation written by Delmer 
Daves, script was presented to 
Navy for official sanction, which 
was forthcoming last week. Film 
now goes on Wald's active list, and 
is being rushed to hit cameras as 
soon as possible. Daves will handle 
direction. Most of action centers 
around part Navy fliers played in 
late war. 

On 20th-Fox lot. preparations are 
being made for "12 O'clock High," 
history, of 8th Army Air Force by 
Sy Bartlett and Beirne Lay, Jr., 
to hit cameras by late Fall. Louis 
Lighton will produce this. 

Background deals with readying 
atom bomb for dropping on Hiro- 
shima and the planes and fliers 
which dropped it. Authors were 
part of command which enacted 
this feat, so much of material will 
be documentary in nature. 

The military is continued in pair 
of West Point pictures, one turned 
out by Paramount — "Beyond 
Glory" — and other being prepped 
by Warners, "Classmates." "Glory" 
starring Alan Ladd, embraces war 
scenes, with other expected to get 
in similar footage. 



Femme Comics 



Continued from page 1 

CBS has a fourth- comedienne — 
Judy Holliday — who, the web 
feels, shows equal promise of rat- 
ing star calibre on the kilocycles. 

The Ripley in the CBS program 
venture is that the web's primary 
aim was to scout around for up- 
coming male comics, but thus far 
only one personality — Morey 
Amsterdam — out of multiple audi- 
tioning shapes up in the web's 
opinion as meriting continued 
buildup for an eventual bigtime 
payoff. 

Where, Oh Where, Are Men? 

Just where the new male air 
comics are coming from is some- 
thing that has all the webs doing 
some fast and fancy guessing and 
squirming. Thus far the attempts 
to integrate such comics as Danny 
Kaye, Danny Thomas, Donald 
O'Connor, etc., into the radio pic- 
ture have failed. All four webs are 
on the prowl, but frankly acknowl- 
edge it's a tough assignment. 

The emergence of the Marie Wil- 
son, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, Judy 
Holliday comedy parlay is some- 
thing that just happeneS, without 
any deliberate attempt on the part 
of the network to groom a new 
school of femme attractions. In 
recent years Joan Davis, Judy 
Canova and Cass Daley have had 
the femme comedy sweepstakes 
pretty much to themselves, but 
Miss Daley has been missing from 
the air the past year; Miss Davis 
is shopping around for a sponsor 
after an unsuccessful season on 
the co-op roster, with Miss Canova 
set for a fall return for Colgate. 



SCULLY'S SCRAPBOOK 



Camp Shows 

— — Continued from page 1 I 

unite again in the new setup. The 
Young Men's & Women's Chris- 
tian Assns., the Travelers Aid, 
Jewish Welfare Board, National 
Catholic Community Service and 
the Salvation Army, together with 
representatives from the general 
public, will again comprise the re- 
vived organization. 

Showbusiness is prepared to go 
along with the new group. The 
Veterans Hospital Camp Shows, 
which supplies entertainment to 
hospitalized veterans, is regarded 
as the "mothball fleet" of USO's 
entertainment arm. The same or- 
ganization entertaining the vets 
can be enlarged to take care of 
training camp and overseas amuse- 
ments, just as the USO-Camp 
Shows did during the last war. 

As yet, VHCS execs have not 
been officially notified of their 
future role. The problem of get- 
ting funds to take care of the en- 
larged organization, is still to be 
met. It's likely they'll get the coin 
from the forthcoming fall Com- 
munity Chests campaign. For- 
restal in his original announce- 
ment notified Edward L. Ryerson. 
president of the Community Chests 
of America to notify the 1,000 local 
Chest organizations of the need for 
an enlarged USO. However, local 
quotas in many cases have already 
been set, and in order to obtain 
funds in that campaign, quotas will 
have to be higher. 



% ♦♦»»»♦♦♦«♦♦♦»♦ By Frank Scully « » * 

Llon's.Den., July 31. 
I find that among many subversive documents .which clutter Bedside 
Manor and had best be heaved over the side before a former prosecutor 
takes over the White House is one which holds the view that even char- 
acter actors seem to lack character. Forced to recant, I would nave 
to admit that it's rather shallow to put courage on an occupational 
basis. Just as meek people often become brave when conditioned by 
regimented ferocity in warfare, so do brave people often become cau- 
tious when their livelihood depends on soft-pedaling their political 
opinions. 

Recently I received a "directive from John Joseph in charge of public 
relations at Universal-International ordering, me to report at 2 p.m., in 
Projection Room 8 at Universal City on a certain Monday afternoon. 
I was to report alone. A print of "Hamlet" as interpreted by Laurence 
Olivier was being rushed to Hollywood from New York for one day 
and I was to appear unarmed. 

Being among the first to catch Olivier in "Private Lives" in London 
18 years ago when he was a nobody and being again among the first 
to hail him as an arrived genius in "Henry V" two years ago, I suppose 
I should have crawled on my hands and surviving knee to see the 
master in "Hamlet." But it so happens I have on my dresser a portrait 
of Hans Jacob Nielsen in the role of "Hamlet." At the base of the 
portrait is a bouquet of recent critical opinions from Copenhagen, 
which make Olivier's performance seem melancholy for other reasons 
than following script. 

Both had played the Mad Prince at Kronberg, giving the critics ample 
grounds for comparing their performances. 

If anything, the critics would be inclined to fawn before Olivier 
rather than Nielsen because Olivier is British and Nielsen is a Nor- 
wegian, and the Danes are inclined to look up to England and down 
on Norway. But on this occasion they braved all national bias and said 
Hans Jacob made Larry look the original sad sack. 

As a counter proposal, I therefore offered Mons. Joseph the privilege 
of viewing this portrait. I told him if he would come (alone) -between 
6 and 6:15 on July 14 I'd let him "gaze at the still for 12 minutes. The 
remaining three minutes would have to be reserved for the commercials. 
If he were particularly impressed I might waive the middle commercial. 

For there is a vast difference in standing up to Hitler's hatchetmen 
with a friendly army on either side of you and doing so with armed 
invaders all around you. 

The Nazis, remember, moved into Norway almost overnight, there 
to be greeted by Quislings and a horde of fifth columnists. 

With almost equal speed the surprised Norwegians dived under- 
ground to form an invisible army, but most of the actors were caught 
in the Nazi n it. These were told that the show must go on. All except 
five refused to obey the order. They were further ordered' to pitch for 
the Nazis from the now Hitler-controlled radio stations. The Gestapo 
threatened to shoot anybody who blew up in his lines. The actors 
dummied up on this directive as well. Twelve of their leaders were 
clinked. The rest immediately went on strike. This so annoyed the 
invading lice they took Henry Gleditsch. who had been a leader in the 
actors' strike in Trondhjem, and shot him. 

But before that in the summer of 1941 the board of directors of the 
Norwegian National theatre were arrested and replaced by Nazi pup- 
pets. With the threat of death over actors if they didn't act, it- was- now 
up to the public to strike. On instructions from the Nielsens under- 
ground they did. The underground order went out that no Norwegian 
should put his feet inside either the Nazi controlled National theatre 
or Det Norske Teatret. . . 

The Nazis finally decided to let the remaining actors out of jail under 
certain conditions. The. actors refused the main one. They still would 
not shill over the radio. The Nazis ultimately waived that proviso. 
They found, however, that nobody would go to plays. Abstentions be- 
came a patriotic duty. Houses were empty except when Nazi troops 
poured in. Passes were circulated all over Oslo to make Norwegians 
go to shows. Everybody reported sick. 

Shows Close Cold 

Hundreds of tickets were disposed of in factories and free time 
allotted to the workers. Managers reported "The factory has a cold." 

The Nazis then issued an order that no play could be cancelled be- 
cause of a lack of audience. Once a cast played to two persons — one 
in the orchestra and one in the balcony. During the intermission, with 
Nazi guards all around, the guy in the pit shouted to the balcony lone 
wolf, "Come on down and sit next to me so we Can have a conspiracy." 

Small private theatres, on the other hand, were always packed. 
People gathered together to whisper information to each other and to 
watch for code stuff in scripts which might have got by the Nazi censors. 
They even slipped over a few laughs now and then. 

In the Central theatre in the spring of 1942 the cast decided to put 
on "Greven.av Luxembourg." This was the oldie "The Count of Lux- 
embourg." tt seemed harmless enough to the Nazi censors when first 
produced but it had a line in it which went: "This is'the devil's birth- 
day." The cast picked it figuring they would still be running on Hit- 
ler's birthday. When they came upon the line on April 20, the laughter 
just about split the rafters. The applause went on for 10 minutes. 

Trying to crack this hostile curtain, the Nazis dragooned playwrights 
and set up prizes for the best plays. The pros answered this one with 
icy quiet. Only Nazi amateurs responded to the directive. One Per 
Reidarson won the fixed race with "Siste Skrik" — "The Last Cry-" It 
was his first and last scream. 

The Nazis ordered "Cry" into the National theatre. The theatre 
promptly burned. For this three top actors were sent to Grini— a con- 
centration camp. 

Everybody Wants To Gel Out of the Act 

The play was transferred to Det Nye Teater. Suddenly Lars Nordrum 
who had one of the leads, "disappeared." Jorn Ording was released 
from bondage at Grini to take over the part. A few days later he 
"disappeared" too. Per Aabel was next released from Grini to play it. 
He was watched every minute. He couldn't disappear. But he could 
act. So he acted himself into a simulated psychiatric breakdown. 

Finally, with forced labor, the play went on. It ran four days. Per 
Reidarson's royalties for the four performances was 7.75 kroner— not 
even two bucks. 

During the short run a Nazi goon came upon an actor reading a 
London paper. The paper was only one day old. 
"How did that get here?" the goon demanded. 
"Oh we subscribe," said the actor. 

Sometimes I tell Nonny the stoi-y of little Otto Nielsen, the son of 
Hans Jacob Nielsen. The Nazis had decided to liquidate the actor's 
family as a penalty for their father's disappearance. The underground 
on learning this hustled mother and children into a truck bound for 
Sweden. Buried under canvas, the boy was told that one whimper 
would mean death to all of them. Being only three years old that was 
j pretty hard. 

For three days and nights he lay huddled and hungry as the truck 
I crawled toward safety. Finally over the border and free to breathe 
j fresh air again, he was still so full of misery that he asked his mother, 
"Now can I cry?" 

She said yes, whereupon he cried his heart out for a father and a 
country he thought he would never see again. 

But all lived to be united and little Otto may now be old enough to 
understand that actors may be heroes, too, as well as to act the roles of 
heroes. It should make him proud to know that his father is not only 
a great "Hamlet" but an actor who played his part in outwitting the 
> most horrible barbarians in all „h.isU>«L and even has fans in faraway 
Holly woVd'wKd' are* pfoTOTdl Ms* greatest performance." 



84 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



George McCall (cx-Variety) in 
town on an indie film deal. 

Peter Donald and wife back from 
European trip on Queen Elisabeth. 

Alex Lawrence back agenting 
after suffering heart attack several 
weeks ago. 

Publicist David E. Green back 
from Hollywood, Frisco and Hono- 
lulu business jaunt. 

J. Arthur Warner, Wall St. man 
and w.k. Broadwayite, in Doctors 
Hospital for a checkup. 

Judy Gershwin back at Le P.uban 
Bleu; set for Aug. 9 stint on 
WABD's "Doorway to Fame." 

Harry Sosnik to orchestrate and 
baton the new Bobby Clark star- 
ring musical for Mike Todd. 

World-Telegram's Willard Mullin 
to illustrate Al Schacht's baseball 
reminisences tome, "Tall Tales of 
Alexander." 

Herb Sheldon vacationing from 
Latin Quarter luncheon audience 
shows; Alan (Candid Mike) Funt 
pinch-hitting. 

Sam Behr/nan, the playwright 
sold his 43-acre estate in Ridge- 
field, Conn., to David Tod Bulkley, 
a Wall Streeter. 

Armand Deutsch and Benay 
Venuta (Mrs. D.), now Bevhills 
residents for keeps, off to Hono- 
lulu on a holiday, 

Louella O. Parsons and her hus- 
band, Dr. Harry Martin, entrained 
for the Coast Monday (2) and get 
in the 6th, her birthday. 

Midtown novelty shops loaded 
with Babe«Ruth gadgets (inkwells, 
paper weights, etc.) as part of the 
tieup with "Babe Ruth Story." 

Jack Warner and Darryl Zanuck 
quite the chemin-de-fer compan 
ions on the Riviera these days, ac 
cording to reports from overseas. 

Leo Heller of Paramount's press 
book dept., luncheoned by com- 
pany's ad-pub staff prior to shoving 
off for Augusta, Ga., where he will 
study law. 

Metro's homeoffice happy about 
the settlement of the theatre air- 
' conditioning engineers' strike. The 
offices are cooled by the State the- 
fitrt^'s sy stern. 

Mort Blumenstock, Warner Bros, 
ad-publicity chief, planed to San 
Antonio yesterday (Tues.) to spark 
preem campaign for "Two Guys 
From Texas." 

The Charlie Schlaifers (20th) 
plan a 3-4 week getaway this week- 
end to the Cape Cod country, be- 
fore Darryl F. Zanuck returns 
from abroad. 

Humphrey Doulens, Westport 
Variety mugg, hitting the concert 
trail under auspices of Columbia 
Lecture Bureau. He'll talk about 
show business. 

Hotel Brevoort in lower 5th ave- 
nue" no more, after 94 years. Fire 
regulations forced its closure but 
the restaurant and sidewalk cafe 
continue operating. 

Robert Ryan, RKO contractee, 
had to nix a couple of Broadway 
play bids because of sudden ava- 
lanche of home-lot and loanout 
film commitments. 

Lew Kerner, former talent di- 
rector for Goldwyn, in New York 
from two months in Europe setting 
up a package unit to handle pro- 
duction for indie filmmakers. 

Evelyn Koleman, Republic pub- 
licity topper, back at her desk after 
two weeks on the Coast with Rep 
star Roy Rogers and his family. 
She's godmother to Rogers' son, 
. Dusty. 

Dorothy Barko, Century circuit 
legalite, presenting a paper at the 
second international conference of 
the Bar Assn. slated at The Hague. 
She sails today (Wed.) aboard the 
S. S. America. 

Dancer Tudi Kroeck, who is the 
wife of British actor Jeremy Hawk, 
arrived in New York yesterday 
(Tues.) from England with her 
four-month-old daughter to visit 
her parents. 

Max Wilkinson, Goldwyn story 
editor, en route to Europe for hud- 
dles with Sir Alexander Korda on 
remake of "Scarlet Pimpernel," in 
which Goldwyn and Korda will be 
partnered. 

Pat Gray, secretary for many 
years to William J. Heineman, 
Eagle Lion distribution veepee, has 
stepped out of that post to do some 
executiving on her own with Five 
Continent films. 

Bob Gillham, Selznick eastern 
pub-ad chief, returns to New York 
tomorrow (Thursday) from 10 
days of confabs with the producer 
on the Coast, setting up "Portrait 
of Jennie" campaign. 

Arthur Lesser, U. S. rep for 
Maurice Chevalier, is authority for 
' the statement that the Gallic enter- 
tainer will marry Nita Raya, his 
longtime friend, who is a lead in 
the Folies Bergere, Paris. 

Ashton Stevens, dean of Ameri- 
can critics, has been sitting up the 
past few days at his Chi home 
Nephew George Stevens, the direc- 
tor, powwowed with his uncle for 
several days en route L. A. to N. Y 
George Brown, head of Para- 
• mount studio publicity and adver- 
tising, back to the Coast this week- 
end following a week's homeoffice 



powwows with Stanley Shuford, 
Charles M. Reagan, Paul Raibourn, 
et al. 

Martha Wright, wife of Teddy 
Baumfeld, indie film rep, named by 
George Jean Nathan in current 
American Mercury as most prom- 
ising of newer actresses in a mu- 
sical. She was in "Music in My 
Heart." 

Jack Hylton, Irene GaHagher 
(Chappell), Rudy "Vallee, et al., 
making efforts anew to get Jimmy 
Campbell (ex-Campbell, Connelly 
Co., music publishers) out of 
Riverside, Cal., jail on a bad check 
charge. 

Barnard Straus heading for the 
Coast over the weekend to huddle 
on sale of screen rights to "For 
Love or Money," which he pro- 
duced on Broadway during the 
>ast season. He'll be accompanied 
jy p.a. Joel Preston. 

Jack Val, who clicked with "All 
Dressed Up With a Broken Heart," 
is now in music pub business for 
himself as Sunset Co., and with 
(the late) Ira Schuster's brother, 
Joe Schuster, and Johnny Tucker, 
authored "Anything Can Happen 
When You're Lonesome." 

Leeds Music's Arnold Shaw 
broke P. 1. of the N. Y. Times 
twice, with the same story: first 
when Stravinsky agreed to "popu- 
lar versions of his classics, and 
against last week when he sued for. 
alleged "ignominy" because of the 
"desecration" of his works. 

Fredric March, currently work- 
ing in England in J. Arthur Rank's 
"Christopher Columbus," expects 
to be back in N. Y. by September. 
His wife, Florence Eldridge, and 
daughter, Penny, are in Switzer- 
land and March will join them for 
a two-week vacation there Aug. 14. 

Bill Berns, former MBS gabber, 
leaves New York today (Wed.) for 
a 16-city tour to gather broadcast 
material on United Artists' "Red 
River." He'll follow the Chisholm 
Trail, locale of the pic, making 
tape-recorded bits for Mutual's 
nightly radio newsreel and other 
shows. 

Since Borrah Minevitch has 
been doing quondam columning for 
Variety, from Paris, where he has 
been headquartered for almost a 
year, the ex-harmonica virtuoso 
turned manager, has been getting 
fan letters, including a particularly 
significant one from S. Jay Kauf- 
man, who used to be a columnist 
himself. 

The Sam Zolotows back from a 
coast-to-coast motor trip during 
which period the veteran N. Y. 
Times- dramatic dept. writer dis- 
covered, for the first time, "what 
a wonderful country this is; a pul- 
sating, thriving and .powerful na- 
tion." Zolotow heretofore had 
never been west of a Pittsburgh 
legit opening. 



Spencer Tracy and Howard 
Strickling sailing for New York 
Saturday (7). 

Laurie Audrian, advertising' and 
publicity chief for Prestige Pic- 
tures, holidaying in London. 

Following a long period of free- 
lance work, trumpeter Duncan 
Whyte has formed a new band. 

Bareness Orczy, creator of the 
Scarlet Pimpernel, left $141,000, 
but died without making a will. 

Taking a month's vacation from 
the Milroy nitery. bandleader Paul 
Adam has opened at the Grand ho- 
tel, Excelsior, Rapallo, Italy. 

Film director David Macdonald 
turned novelist, having written 
"The Valley of a Thousand 
Knives," soon to be published 
here. 

Trade lunch to Darryl Zanuck 
is off. Believed he didn't want to 
become involved making speeches 
on present situation in the in- 
dustry. 

Old Vic star Margaret Leighton 
joins the cast of "Under Capri- 
corn," which Hitchcock is direct- 
ing in Technicalor for Transat- 
lantic. 

Dr. Mosco Carner, who has just 
completed a two months' stay in 
Dublin as guest conductor of Ra- 
dio Eireann Symphony Orchestra, 
returns to his BBC duties Aug. 5. 

Joe Muddel and Billy Wiltshire, 
on tour with Sophie Tucker, also 
played for Maurice Rocco on the 
same bill. Rocco has now asked 
them to join his act on completion 
of the Tucker engagement. 

When Alan Jones was unable to 
appear this week at the Palace 
theatre, Blackpool, due to a bad 
throat, Ted Heath's vocalist Paul 
Carpenter stepped in at an hour's 
notice to make his first appearance 
as a solo artist in vaude. Jones in- 
troduced Carpenter, who did a 20- 
minute act. 



performance for Senora de Peron's 
"Winterhilf" funds. 

Cinemactress Delia Garces mull- 
ing musical comedy appearance at 
Presidente Alvear theatre in Au- 
gust. Star is banned from screen 
and radio by order of Senora de 
Peron. 

Hugo Fregonese reported prep- 
ping Argentine-made film version 
of Xavier Cugat's biog and trying 
to line up Rita Hayworth and Lina 
Romay to play themselves in pic. 
Cugat is expected in Buenos Aires 
in April, 1949. 

Chicago . 

Charles Whittaker, manager of 
Paramount theatre, Miami, here 
for vacash. 

Bob Nelson, son of late muni- 
cipal oudge, mulling plans for an 
outdoor theatre in Lake County. 

Alan Edelson, Hildegarde's 
praise agent, convalescing from re- 
cent bout with virus pneumonia. 

La Salle theatre, shuttered for 
several months, opened Friday 
(30) with "Mr. Blanding's Dream 
House." 

"One Woman" camera crew 
shooting at Grant Park concerts, 
the Chi Stadium and the old 
Armory. 

Herb Carl in, manager of Civic 
Opera House, and Theon Wright 
plan to bring in the French Ballet 
for first postwar sighting here. 

Gertrude Bronberg shifting as 
flack for "John Loves Mary" to 
"Streetcar Named Desire," which 
opens here Sept. 21. Max Gendel 
replaces on "John." 



at 



Westport, Conn. 

By Humphrey Doulens 

Ben Boyar bought a house 
Fairfield. 

Max .and -Millie Gordon visiting 
Edna Ferber. 

Helen Traubel leaving for Coast 
dates this week. 

Mrs. William Anthony McGuire 
visiting the Peppy d'Albrews. 

Jean Dalrymple, back from Eu- 
rope, is at her farm near Danbury. 

Mary Martin and family checked 
in at Norwalk for rest of the sum- 
mer. 

Harold Stone, playing small part 
in tryout of "Perfect Pitch" at 
Country Playhouse this week, is 
stepson of S. N. Behrman. 

Westporters will send special 
delegation to honor Richard Rodg- 
ers at Rodgers and Hammerstein 
Night at Lewisohn Stadium, New 
York, Aug. 7. 

June Havoc hostess at big party 
after "Anna Christie" closing last 
Friday (30). Guests were invited to 
dress as the actor they always 
wanted to be. 

Broadwayites seeing "Anna 
Christie" at Country Playhouse 
last week: John Hersey, Lee Shu- 
bert, Elmer Rice, Betty Field, 
Renee Carroll, Gene Tierney, 
David Brooks, Margaret Pember- 
ton, George Zachary, Eva LeGal- 
lienne, Henry Fonda and Rita 
Weiman. 



Dublin 

By . Maxwell Sweeney 
Actor Ronald Howard vacation- 
ing here from England. 

Announcer Sheila O'Brien named 
station supervisor for Radio Eire- 
ann. 

Ingrid Bergman weekended here 
from stint in "Under Capricorn" 
in London. 

Dorothy Arthur, of American 
Catholic Forum of the Air, here on 
a brief visit. 

Comedian Stanley Holloway here 
for exteriors on "Another Shore" 
for Rank's Ealing Studios. 

Irish actors are asking Finance 
Minister Patrick MacGilligan to re- 
move import tax on greasepaint. 

Conductor Sixten Eckerberg 
here from Sweden for special sea- 
son with Radio Eireann's symphony 
orch. 

20th-Fox London general sales 
manager Jimmy Pattison. planed in 
for talks with local execs and ex- 
hibs. 

Gainsborough's "Good Time 
Girl" and Republic's "Flame of the 
Barbary Coast" both got Eire film 
censor's nix. 

Leslie Arliss planed to England 
after scanning locations for "Saints 
and Sinners," film of Paul Vincent 
Carroll play which he'll direct for 
Korda. 

Cinema staffs in Dublin are to 
receive a $1.75 pay hike, retroac- 
tive to May 14, with further rise of 
50c in October following Labor 
Court decision. This is second up- 
ping of wage rates within 18 
months. 



By Larry Solloway 

Sonny Kay, Rosanne and Harvey 
Bell head new show at Club Bali. 

B. S. Pully and H. S. Gump 
opened to solid biz at Paddock 
club. 

Joaquin Garay, Leo Diamond 
D'lvons, featured in new Clover 
Club show. 

Johnny Greenhut in town for 
talks with the top club owners 
anent MCA talent. 

Jack Goldman offering Danny 
Thomas own terms to come into 
Clover Club for winter date. 

Chapter of 52 Assn., N. Y. group 
which entertains hospitalized vets, 
organized here this week by Lou 
Appleton. 

Dick Stern takes over Barry 
Gray's spot on WKAT-Copa show 
while latter tours the country on 
goodwill tour for new Copa. 

•Dorothy Raymer, ex-Miami News 
amusement ed and husband Charlie 
Duerkes, debuting new air show 
via WKAT. Format: amusement 
chatter and reviews. 



Hollywood 



Manila 

Local Chinese newspapermen 
and radio artists have organized 
the Cathay Broadcasting Agency, 
to air programs in Chinese. 

Violinist Yehudi Menuhin will 
visit the Philippines in November. 
He'll give a series of concerts Com- 
mencing Nov. 8 at the auditorium 
of the Univ. of St. Tomas. 

Offices and films of the Para- 
mount Films of the Philippines, 
Inc., on the top floor of the State 
Theatre building in downtown 
Manila, were recently destroyed by 
fire. 

The Far East Broadcasting Co.'s 
new radio station, KZAS, a non- 
commercial enterprise, was inaugu- 
rated recently, with Secretary of 
Justice Roman Ozaeta as the guest 
speaker. 



Buenos Aires 

Mexican warbler Pedro Vargas 
on air for Anjou perfumes at Radio 
Splendid. 

Three Lezcano sisters on Mundo 
web for Criet perfumes. Trio hails 
from Genoa. 

Comedian Luis Sandrini inked 
contract for legit appearances in 
1949 with Gallo Enterprises. 

Musical revue at Casino Theatre 
sold out for weeks ahead. Revue 
teams comedienne Nini with cine- 
mactor Pepe Arias. 

Italian conductor Victor de Sab- 
bato, batoning symphony concerts 
at Gran Rex theatre for Wagnerian 
Assn. of Buenos Aires. 

Mistinguetts' ex-partner, Harry 
Dressel, in Buenos Aires to line up 
music-hall bookings and direct 
choruses at Casino revue. 

Storm brewing in Argentine 
Assn. of Empresarios, with prexy 
Hector Quiroga slated to turn in 
resignation at any moment. 

Los Chavalillos Sevillanos, Span- 
ish dance team, lined up by Iri- 
berri Concerts Organization for 
season at Municipal Theatre. 

Italian screenstar Aldo Fabrizzi 
plans directing and playing-' lead 
in Argentine-made film about 
Nero, after present directing job 
on "Immigrant." 

Beniamingo Gigli and daughter 
ftina teamed together in "La Tra- 
viata" at Colon Opera, in benefit 



iai 

By Hal P. Mills 

Rain washing out biz at summer 
gardens. 

Film theatre biz hit new low due 
to bus drivers strike. 

"Sinbad the Sailor" biggest box- 
office film of the week. 

Mike Goldsthein's band into St. 
George summer garden. 

Rosita, 16-year-old daughter of 
Don Alindada, local band leader, 
killed by truck. 

Summer gardens packed as city 
bans air-conditioning in nite spots 
because of power shortage. 

Mei Lan-fan, China's No. 1 
artist, recently retired, is consider- 
ing offers for a few more ap- 
pearances. 

U. S. Navy negotiating for pur- 
chase of swank Edgewater Beach 
hotel at Tsingtao, popular summer- 
ing spot for Shanghailanders. 

City government authorities 
adopting a don't-care attitude on 
threat of foreign film distributors 
to withdraw from China market 
unless theatres can hike admission 
prices. 



Andy Russell left for Honolulu. 
J. Edgar Hoover visiting the film 
lots. 

Benay Venuta to Honolulu on va- 
cation. 

Armand Deutsch sailed for a 
Hawaiian siesta. 

Lee Shubert in town to gander 
new musical, "Lend an Ear." 

Fortunio Bonanova hosting Pro- 
cuna, Spanish bull fighter. 

Marina Koshetz left for a tour of 
concerts in the midwest. 

Boris Karloff in town after an 
eastern tour with "Tap Roots." 

Bob O'Donnell and bride in from 
Texas on a brief honeymoon. 

Max Opuls returned to work at 
Enterprise after two weeks of ill- 
ness. 

Helen Hoerle in from N. Y. to 
handle legit p.a. chores on "April 
Fool." 

Burns Lee succeeded Bernie 
Milligan as president of the Pub- 
licity Club. 

William Goetz checked in at Uni- 
versal-International after six weeks 
in Europe. 

Naomi Ethardo, former acrobat 
with Ringling Bros., seriously ill 
in Santa Anita. 

Theodora Lynch to Dallas to star 
in "The Vagabond King" at the -• 
Starlight Theatre. 

Lyle Fry left Metro's flackery 
to manage the Los Angeles Am- 
bassador theatre. 

Harry Warner bought a 37-acre 
tract in San Fernando Valley near 
the Wamer ranch. 

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., will rep- 
resent the Navy dept. at the Dutch 
coronation, Sept. 6. 

Fred Stanley taking a leave of. 
absence from the Metro flackery, 
on doctor's orders. 

Jack Mandell in from France to 
handle French and Italian pictures 
for California houses. 

Tony Martin and Cyd Charisse 
to Las Vegas where Tony is booked 
at the Flamingo hotel. 

Claire Trevor painfully bruised 
in auto collision, but continued 
work in "The Lucky Stiff." 

Frank Sinatra and Andy Russell - 
sponsoring Softball teams to play 
for the Hollywood Youth Fund 
benefit. 

Ray Nazarro hospitalized after 
collapsing on the Columbia lot 
while directing "Smoky Mountain 
Melody." 

Charles P. Skouras tossed a 
luncheon for civic leaders in con- 
nection with the National Youth 
Movement. 

Neville Blond in town as trade 
adviser for the United Kingdom to 
consult with film producers on 
Britain's film quota law. 

Nick Carmona and Dal Crawford, 
explosives experts, wounded by a 
premature explosion on the , Uni- 
versal-International lot. 



Atlantic City 

By Joe W. Walker 

Pearl Bailey into Irv Wolf's 500 
club. 

Traymore has Jose Melis orch 
and Freddie Baker Quintet. 

Orsatti's has Three Suns with 
Mills Bros, slated to follow in Aug. 
6. 

Mary Small and Art Mooney and- 
band head current Steel Pier's lay- 
out. 

Auditorium theatre in Conven- 
tion hall offering Janet Blair and 
Francis Lederer in "For Love or 
Money." 

Belle Baker opened at Clicoquot 
club Saturday (30), with Bruce 
Howard. The Cerneys, Ruth Daye 
and Shirley Paige dancers comprise 
support bill. 

Louis Armstrong and his combo 
(Jack Teagarden, Earl "Father" 
Hines, Barney Bigard, Sid Catlett, 
Arvell Shaw and Velma Middle- 
ton) drew large turnout at opening 
at Club Nomad Friday (30) night. 



Salt Lake City 

By Kathleen Phillips 

Giff Davison, RKO branch man- 
ager, winner of first place in na- 
tional drive. 

Hugh Braley, Par district man- 
ager, in town to hypo sales force 
on fall product. 

Les Brown orch doing neat busi- 
ness at Coconut Grove dancery, 
despite heat wave. 

Air Races last Sunday thrilled 
capacity crowd, but plane crash 
with two deaths^ brought state nix 
on future air contests. 

Jerry Jones, owner of burned- 
out Rainbow Randevu, off on a 
junket to survey dance halls for 
new ideas for rebuilding.. 

"National Barn Dance" booked 
to play Intermountain area, start- 
ing in Colorado, and one-nighting 
through Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. 

Charlie Pincus, manager of Utah 
theatre, picked by Deseret News 
as "Man of the Week." Daily de- 
voted full page to laud Pincus, 
known locally as "Mayor of Main 
Street." ' 



Cleveland 

By Glenn C. Pullen 

Art Warren and Chuck Marusic 
closing deal for sale of their 
Zephyr Club. 

Ink Spots slated to kick off fall 
season for Vogue Room, Hotel Hol- 
lendon, now shuttered. ' 

Doris Lee and Pat McCormick 
band moving back to Borsellino's 
Club in late August when it re- 
opens. 

William F. McDermott, Plain 
Dealer drama critic, visiting Ber- 
lin, Paris and Rome on writing 
junkej. 

Gene Erwin and Mike Cohan, 
owners of Rumbana Room, drop- 
ping Latin band policy and re- 
modeling it with a carnival motif 
for policy of comedy-novelty acts. 

Mark Marvin, N. Y. producer, 
and Canada Lee here last week 
to look over Maurice Valency's 
new musical, "Reluctant Lady, 
tried out by Cain Park straw- 
hat. Lee has option to produce it 
on Broadway. 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 



P^RIBTY 



SS 



OBITUARIES 



JOHN .1. PAYETTE 

John J. Payette, 56, general zone 
manager of Warner Bros, theatres 
in the Washington territory and a 
founder and first barker of Variety 
Tent Number 11 in Washington, 
died in that city Aug. 1. Death was 
caused by a combination of heart 
and kidney ailments. 
' A native of Washington, Payette 
was associated with the industry 
since 1904. He started as an usher 
at the Old Academy of Music, be- 
came assistant treasurer, then at 17 
became manager of the Rhode 
Island theatre. In 1914 he joined 
General Film Co., as assistant man- 
ager and later worked for Samuel 
Goldwyn Productions. 

After overseas service in World 
War 1. Payette joined the Harry M. 
Oandall Circuit as assistant man- 
ager of the Metropolitan- in Wash- 
ington. Three weeks, later he be- 
came manager. In 1920 he was 
upped to assistant general manager 
of all Crandall theatres and in 1925 
became general manager. 

When Crandall' merged with 
Stanley Co., Payette became Stan- 
ley supervisor in Washington, and 
when Warners took over he was 
made general manager of the 45 
Warner theaters in the District of 
Columbia: Maryland, Virginia, West 
A'irginia, and Pennsylvania. 

During World War II, Payette 
was co-chairman of the film indus- 
try's war activities committee in 
the district, and was active in. other 
industry and civic affairs. He is 
survived by his wife, Dorothy, 
daughter of Harry M. Crandall, 
Washington film pioneer, and a 
daughter and three sons. 

Funeral services will be held at 
10 o'clock tomorrow (Wednesday) 
at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart. 
Burial will be in Mount Olivet 
Cemetery. 

The pallbearers, all former asso- 
ciates of Payette at the Warner 
office here, will be George A. 
Crouch, Frank La Falce, Harry E. 
Lohmeyer, Charles V. Grimes, J. 
Alton Pratt and Louis F. Ribnitzki. 

Honorary pallbearers are: Harry 
Kalmine. general manager, and 
veepee of Warner Bros. Theatres; 
W. Stuart McDonald, treasurer, 
Warner Bros. Theatres; Joseph 
Beinhard, president of Film Clas- 
sics; Carter Barron, Eastern Divi- 
sion mgr. of Loew's Theatres; Nel- 
son B. Bell, radio and drama critic; 
Rudolph Berger, M-G division 
mgr.; W. F. Beiersdorf, manager 
of Warner Bros, exchange; Ralph 
Binns, manager of Highway Ex- 
press Co.; A. Julian Brylawski, 
Warner Bros. Theatres; Jay Car- 
mody. drama editor of Evening 
Star: Jake Flax, manager of Re- 
public exchange; Robert J. Fol- 
liard, division mgr. of RKO ex- 
change; J. Edward Fontaine, divi- 
sion higr. of -§elznick Releasing 
organization; Sam Galanty, divi- 
sion mgr. of Columbia Pictures; 
Nat Glasser, district manager of 
Warner Bros. Theatres; Frank Har- 
man, veepee of Hamilton National 
Bank; Garfield Kass, Kass Realty 
Co.; C. E. McGowan, Warner Bros. 
Theatres; Joseph P. Morgan, for- 
mer associate; I. J. Rappaport, 
Rappaport Theatres, Baltimore, 
Md.; Robert Smeltzer, division 
mgr., Warner Bros. Pictures; L. T. 
Souder, electrical contractor. 



MAX MILDER 

Max Milder, 57, veteran film 
exec who resigned as managing di- 
rector of Warner Bros. Pictures. 
Ltd., in England last month, died 
Aug. 1 at his home in Surrey, Eng- 
land. Milder resigned his execu- 
tive post because of illness after 
managing Warner interests in Eng- 
land for 17 years. 

Born in Zanesville, Ohio, Milder 
was active in the film industry for 
36 years, the last 30 of which were 
with Warners. He was eastern di- 
vision domestic sales manager be- 
fore going to England in 1931 to 
take over the top position. In 1941, 
Milder negotiated the purchase by 
Warners of 2,000,000 shares in As- 
sociated British Pictures Corp. 

Upon his resignation in July, the 
bo rd of directors of Warner Bros., 
Ltd.. issued the following state- 
ment: "His resignation has been 
received with sincere regret by 
every member of the organization. 
Mr. Milder has been associated 
with Warners for more than a 
quarter of a century and since 1931 
as head of the Warner activities in 
the United Kingdom. The board is 
appreciative of and extremely 
grateful for the important accom- 
plishments Mi-. Milder has achieved 
during his years as managing di- 
rector." 

Survived by wife, daughter and 

son. 

PAT POWERS 
Patrick. A. (Pat) Powers, 78, 
early soisid motion picture pro- 
ducer, died July 30 after a short 
illness at Doctors' Hospital, N. Y. 



He lived at the Metropolitan Club, 

.■" and » l Lon g Shore Estates, 
Westport, Conn. 

Powers was born in Waterford, 
Ireland, and came to this country 
as a young man. For a time he 
was a policeman in Buffalo. After 
lie bought a phonograph shop, he 
became a distributing agent for the 
Edison Phonograph Co. and the 
Victor Talking Machine Co. 

In 1912, he and a partner formed 
Universal Pictures Corp. in New 
York from eight indie production 
companies. This concern later be- 
came Universal International. He 
also organized Film Booking Of- 
fices of America, now part of RKO. 
Through these enterprises he in- 
troduced the "Mickey Mouse" and 
"Silly Symphony" animated car- 
toons. He also produced the "Flip 
the Frog" and "Willie Whopper" 
film series. 

Until a year ago, he was presi- 
dent of Celebrity Productions, Inc., 
723 Seventh avenue, which he 
founded in 1930. but his main in- 
terest in recent years had been the 
velopment in Westport. Surviving 
and Country Club, a residential de- 
velopment in Westport, Surviving 
are his daughter, Mrs. Roscoe N. 
George, of San Fernando, Cal., and 
a sister, Miss Mary E. Powers, of 
Buffalo. 



Valley Forge Hospital, Phoenix- 
ville. Pa. 

Lockbourne band is mainspring 
of "Party Line," Army Air Force 
recruiting show, aired weekly over 
WCOL and all-Ohio network. Brice 
was recommended for the Army 
Commendation Ribbon for out- 
standing service. Award was to 
have been made day following his 
death. 

Survived by wife and daughter. 



LEE McGOVERN 

Leo Paul McGovern, 52, known 
in the trade as Lee McGovern, 
died recently at Veterans Hospital, 
Pittsburgh. Back in the silent film 
days, he was a film salesman and 
an ad sales representative. He 
ballyhooed many attractions at 
theatres in the mideast, exploited 
films in arrangement with distribu- 
tors and exhibitors and also sold 
theatre premiums. 

He leaves a wife and six chil- 
dren. 



BERNHARD GARDNER 

Bernhard Gardner, 73, commer- 
cial counsellor for International 
division of the Radio Corp. of 
America, died at his home in N. Y. 
July 29 following a heart attack. 

Since joining RCA in 1918, 
Gardner had been associated with 
everal of its plants and subsidiaries 
in Montreal, London, Tokyo and 
New York. In 1921, he was made 
acting secretary of His Master's 
Voice, Ltd., and of the Berliner 
Gramaphone Co., Ltd., both of 
Canada. Seven years later he be- 
came managing director of Victor 
Co. of Japan. Returning to Canada 
in 1930, he was elected prexy of the 
Victor Co., of Canada, Ltd., and 
managing director of the Interna- 
tional Division of the RCA Victor 
Company in Camden, N. J. 

In 1935, he was made European 
manager of RCA and managing 
director of RCA Photophone, Ltd., 
of London, He returned to this 
country in 1940 and acted as liaison 
with the British Purchasing Com- 
mission. He retired in 1946, but 
continued to act in a counselling 
capacity with the RCA Interna- 
tional division up to the time of 
his death. 

Survived by. wife and two broth- 
ers, Dr. Leo Gardner, of Miami, 
and Michael Gardner, of Montreal. 



A. J. (DICK) KEARNEY 

A. J. Kearney, 69, assistant gen- 
eral manager for the Shea Circuit, 
theatre chain in Ohio, Pennsyl- 
vania and New England, died July 
30 at Medical Arts Center Hospital, 
N. Y. 

Kearney joined the firm in 1901, 
when it was a vaudeville circuit, 
and was manager for a number of 
its performers, including the 
late Will Rogers, Irene Castle and 
the late Vernon Castle. After 
vaudeville gave way to motion pic- 
tures he was placed in charge of 
film bookings and labor relations. 

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Sara 
B. Kearney, a brother and three 
sisters. 



FRANCESCO PELOSI 

Francesco Pelosi, 53, general 
manager and artistic director of 
the Philadelphia La Scala Opera 
Company, died of a heart attack in 
his automobile, Aug. 2, 15 miles 
southeast of Hammonton, N. J. 
Pelosi headed the Philadelphia 
opera company since 1926. 

He was a former director of the 
Civic Grand Opera, the Florentine 
Grand Opera, and the National 
Civic Opera companies, and a for- 
mer general manager of the 
Pennsylvania Opera Co. He was 
born in Italy and came to the U. S. 
at the age of 12. 

Survived by wife, two daughters 
and two sons. 



ELLIS CHANEY 

Ellis Chaney, 63, veepee of 
Southland Industries, owners of 
WOAI, died of a heart ailment in 
San Antonio July 25. 

He was widely known in the 
radio industry, a pioneer who 
helped to make Texas broadcast- 
ing history. With the late Joe 
Cummings, he was co-founder of 
WOAI in 1922. For years he 
headed the Southern Equipment 
Co. 

Survived by wife and three sons. 



JOHN J. BRICE 

Chief Warrant Officer John J. 
Brice. director of Lockbourne 
766th U. S. Air Force. Band, in 
Columbus, Ohio, died' July 28 jn 



JOSEPH P. EGAN 

Joseph P. Egan, 77, an associate 
of William A. Brady in the pugi- 
listic and theatrical affairs of 
James J. Corbett, Bob Fitzsim- 
mons'and Jim Jeffries, died July 
20 at Jeffries' home near Los An- 
geles. 

For a time Egan was advance 
man for John Bunny. He is sur- 
vived by a brother, Chris P. Egan, 
of New York. 



CHARLES RICHARDS 

Charles Richards, 51, film casting 
director, died July 29 in Holly- 
wood. After a short career as an 
automobile race driver in In- 
dianapolis, Richards moved to 
Hollywood 25 years ago to become 
an actor. 

For the last 19 years he had been 
a casting director, chiefly with in- 
dependent companies. His last 
connection was with William Cag- 
ney Productions. 



VICTOR POLATSCHEK 

Victor Polatschek, 53, clarinetist 
with the Boston Symphony, died in 
Pittsfield, Mass., July 27. He was 
also adviser in woodwind music for 
Edward B. Marks Music Corp., N. Y. 

After establishing a reputation 
as a soloist in Europe, he came to 
the U.«S. in 1930 and had been 
with the Boston orch since that 
time. 

Survived by wife and a sister. 

GEORGE SEACH 

George Seach, for the past 30 
years salesman for RKO Pictures, 
died July 28 in San Francisco from 
burns received when his car ex- 
ploded while he was repairing the 
fnotor. 

A native of St. Thomas, Ontario, 
Seach is survived by a son and 
daughter. 



Hoffman was in the furniture 
business as well as radio. He 
opened WMIN in 1936. He was a 
member of the Twin Cities Radio 
Stations and Newspapers Assn. 
Survived by mother and sister. 



Joseph J. (Goldie) Goldschmidt, 

65, ticket agency owner, died at 
his homo in St. Louis, July 29: He 
handled ducats to every form of 
entertainment in St. Louis since 
1927. His wife and son survive 

him. . 

Edgar P. Love, 61, seat cushion 
concessionaire who pyramided an 
idea for his own comfort into a 
profitable business, died at St. An- 
thony's hospital, St. Louis, July 
26 of heart ailment. 



Mother, 74, of Fred Waring, 
orch leader, died at her home in 
Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pa., Aug. 1. 



Alfred C. Mueller, 78, retired 
violinist, died in Chicago, July 23. 
Survived by four sisters. 



Mother, 75, of Norbert F. Bro- 
dine, 20th-Fox cameraman, died in 
Hollywood, Aug. 2. 



Mother, 74, of Paramount de- 
signer Edith Head, died in Holly- 
wood, July 31. 



ARTHUR S. PHOENIX 

Arthur S. Phoenix, 78, for 30 
years director of the Weiting Opera 
House, Syracuse, N. Y., died in that 
city, July 27. 

In 1937 he became an instructor 
of music at Syracuse Univ. and 
directed university band. He re- 
tired in 1942 because of ill health. 



MRS. JULIUS KENDLER 

Mrs. Cecilia Alienkoff Kendler, 
61, widow of Julius Kendler, the- 
atrical attorney, died in New York, 
July 26. . She had been a school 
teacher and retired last year after 
28 years of service. 

Survived by two daughters, a 
sister and brother. 



ARTHUR FISHER 

Arthur Sonnasardo (55), known 
professionally as Arthur Fisher, 
head of the largest independent 
vaudeville booking agency in 
N. Y., died in Southhold, L. I., 
July 30 after a heart attack. 

Further details in Vaudeville 

section. 

LOTTIE HARVEY 

Mrs. Charlotte Action, 58, screen 
actress, known professional as Lot- 
tie Harvey, died in Hollywood, 
Aug. 2. Survived by two sons, one 
of them, Ralph Action, assistant 
casting director for Eagle Lion. 



EVERETT HAYS 

Everett Hays, 71, former mana- 
ger of Majestic theatre, Chicago, 
died in Minnesota, July 30. 

Survived by wife, two daughters, 
and a son. 



HARRY MARTIN 

Harry Martin, 27, manager of the 
Atom theatre, Chicago, died there 
July 30. 

Survived by his mother, cashier 
at the theatre. 



HOMER LESPERANCE 

Homer Lesperancc, 54, head of 
RKO's printing department, died 
July 29 in Hollywood, following a 
heart attack. 



EDWARD HOFFMAN 

Edward Hoffman, 50 years old, 
president of Twin City radio sta- 
tion WMIN, died after a heart at- 
tack in his summer home at Lake 
Mahtomedi, near Minneapolis. ; ■. ".- 



MARRIAGES 

Lia Vetti to Tino Rossi, Cassia, 
Riviera, July 30. Bride is screen 
actress; groom is film and stage 
singer. 

Nancy Walker to Gar Moore, 
Mexico, Aug. 1. Bride is come- 
dienne formerly starred in recent 
musical, "Look, Ma, I'm Dancing;" 
he's Selznick contract player cur- 
rently appearing in strawhat at La 
Jolla, Cal. 

Gay Hess to Harry Wells, New 
York, Aug. 1. Bride is dancer and 
captain of line at the Latin Quar- 
ter, N, Y.; he's member of the act, 
"Men .of Distinction" in same 
show. •> 

Irene Manning to Clinton H. 
Green, London, July 31. Bride is 
stage and screen actress, who 
starred in recent London produc- 
tion of "The DuBarry"; he's head 
of photographic bureau of N. Y. 
Times London office. 

Nicole Hargrove to Paul Pear- 
son, Paris, July 31. Bride is a 
dancer and daughter of Charles 
Hargrove, Paris' correspondent of 
the Wall St. Journal; he's son of 
Leon Pearson, NBC correspondent 
in Paris, and employed in press 
division of European Recovery 
program there. 

Betty Goldberg tfl» Paul T. 
Smith, Detroit, July 13. He's pian- 
ist and arranger with Tommy Dor- 
sey's orch. 

Jeanne Connell to Bob Bassin- 
dale, Fort Worth, Tex., recently. 
He's on news staff of WBAP, Ft. 
Worth. „ 
Audrey Sabetti to Albert John- 
son, Los Angeles, Aug. 1. She's a 
singer and he's a technician with 
"Carousel." 

Rose Rothschild to Jack Weiner, 
Santa Barbara, July 30. He's a 
Hollywood agent. 



BIRTHS 

Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Plowe, son, 
Pittsburgh, July 23. Mother's for- 
mer Shirley Stevenson, showgirl. 

Mr. and Mrs. John Zomnir, son, 
Pittsburgh, July 18. Father's with 
Eagle Lion. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Markley, daug- 
ter, Pittsburgh, July 15. Father's 
a box-office man. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kelly, son, 
New York, July 6. Father's a dance 
director 'and brother of Gene 
Kelly. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dave Gifford, son, 
Pittsburgh, July 20. Father's a 
bandleader. 

Mr. and Mrs. Al Chance, daugh- 
ter, St. Louis, July 28. Father's a 
radio director with KSD there. 

Mr. and Mrs.' Martin Friedman, 
son, New York, July 27. Father is 
head of Paramount's playdate 
dept. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gene Reynolds, 
son, Fort Worth, recently. Father 
is staffer of WBAP there. 

Mr. and Mrs. John H. Rugge, son, 
Hackensack, N. J. Father is assis- 
tant to Ralph W. Budd, personnel 
director of Warner Bros. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Steffner, 
son, Hollywood, July 25. Father 
is western sales manager for CBS. 

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Slezak, 
son, Hollywood, July 31. Mother 
is the former Johanna Van Rhyn, 
operatic singer; father is an actor. 

Mr. and Mrs. Murray Glazer, son, 
New York, recently. Father is as- 
sistant manager of Loew's 175th 
Street theatre, N. Y. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jack McCoy, son, 
Hollywood, July 31. Father is KNX 
announcer. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ted Westermann, 
daughter, New York, July 30. 
Mother is Phillis Creore, radio- 
tele actress-singer. 

Mr. and Mrs. E. H. (Buddy) Mor- 
ris, son, Hollywood, Aug. 2. Father 
is head of Morris Music; mother is 
former Carolyn Grortrwell,. actress.- 



Giveaways 

Continued from page 1 



meters are offering a long string of 
dates on the strength of that angle. 

Fhilly Road Company 

The potency of giveaways was 
given impetus by the "Stop the 
Music" show. -Although an expen- 
sive layout ($18,000 -weekly for the 
Capitol), it's paid off tremendously 
with an opening week's take of 
$96,000 with a "film that got nega- 
tive reviews. The nearby Strand 
booked "Winner Take All," Aug. 
27, with entire show costing arou«d 
$10,000, and the Earle, Philadel- 
phia, which has been without stage- 
shows for two years, is dickering 
for "Music" to relight the house 
Aug. 27. House bookers are re- 



Week's Top Giveaway 

Bill Cullen, emcee of "Win- 
ner Take All" and "Hit the 
Jackpot," was married last 
week to Carol Ames, the CBS 
singer. 

One of Cullen's rivals in the 
giveaway sweepstakes, Todd 
Russell, of "Strike It Rich," 
drove 140 miles in to N. Y. to 
be best man — and to give the 
bride away. 



ported so intent on getting "Mu- 
sic" for its preem show, that they 
will not reopen unless they can 
come to terms for that show.- 

Version to play Philadelphia 
will be a road company. Original 
cast with Bert Parks, Harry Salt- 
er's band, Hay Armen and Dick- 
Brown, cannot go too far- from 
New York because of the necessity 
of beiny in N. Y. Sunday evening. 
Parks and Salter have other radio 
commitments as well. Personnel of 
the road show "Music" hasn't been 
set as yet. But Music Corp. of 
America, booking the package, Is 
happy none the less, as it gives 
them a chance to set a band, now 
tough to sell in theatres, as veil as 
a pair of fingers and accompany- 
ing acts. 

Dates are also being lined up 
for that outfit in fairs. Although 
the original cast may play several 
days at- the Reading (Pa.) Bicen- 
tennial, dates at outlying fairs are 
being readied for the substitute 
outfit. 

Howe\er, one booker,' Sidney 
Piermont, Loew talent buyer, has 
Warned that the giveaways better 
have entertainment values as well 
as a sizable amount of free mer- 
chandise and cash. If layout is 
sufficiently entertaining there will 
be no squawks from the customers 
even if they don't win, since they 
got their money's worth by the 
show. If there isn't sufficient 
amusement value, those not get- 
ting some of the loot will feel 
gypp«d. 

Where the giveaway craze will 
end is anybody's guess. Nabe film- 
ers, when product was bad and 
patronage low, used to make their 
customers happy with dishes. 
Crockery will be too piddling once 
the expensive swag gets general 
theatre distribution. It's also re- 
called that radio studio audiences 
used to be ecstatic over a $64 ques- 
tion. That's peanuts today. 

The prizes keep getting bigger, 
with loot all the way up to $20,000 
or more.' The limit is not yet in 
sight. 



ASCAP Council 



Continued from page 1 



tions front, embracing legalities, 
management and general direction. 

Patterson has the lead over a 
couple of other candidates ad- 
vanced by the film attorneys prom- 
inent in ASCAP affairs, since the 
Paramount, Warner. Bros., Metro 
and 20th-Fox film picture interests 
have important ties to the music 
business. Other nominations are 
the Root, Clark, Buckner & Ballan- 
tine firm; the Cravath, deGers- 
dorff, Swaine & Wood law firm; 
and also Simpson, Thacher & 
Bartlett, all high up in legal 
circles. 

ASCAP's need for special influ- 
ential counsel, long a moot point 
within the organization, was 
dramatized by the recently adverse 
decision by Judge Vincent L. Lei- 
bell wherein he ruled for the In- 
dependent Theatre Owners of 
America in the seat-tax issue. (See 
story in the Music dept. on another 
aspect thereof), > „ 



Wednesday, August 4, 1948 





ALL 





^g^y^^OHl ST** 




AND HIS ORCHESTRA 

(tafwU*?— BILL LOCKWOOD • SHIRLEY LLOYD •" THE BLUE HUES 



JUST CONCLUDED 
FIVE WEEKS 



PARAMOUNT 



THEATRE 
NEW YORK 



Jtate4t (faftftd %?ecwd4 
SAXO-BOOGIE H5081) • I NEVER KNEW uo* • ROBBINS NEST (493) 



Publicity - 

jim McCarthy 

1619 Broadway • New York, N. Y. 




GENERAL ARTISTS CORPORATION 



FILMS 



RADIO 



VIDEO 



MUSIC 





Published Weekly at 154 West 4Cth Street, New York 19, N. T., t>y Variety, Inc. Annual subscription, tlo. Sinirle copies. 25 cents. 
Entered as second class matter December 22, 1905, at the Post Office at New yolk, N. Y., under ttie act of March S, 1879. 

COPVBIGHT, 1948, Btf VAKIETV, INC. AIX 1(1 GUI'S RICSERVICI) 



VOL. 171 No. 10 



NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1948 



.'V 



PRICE 25 GENTS 



FILMS' TRY WOLF' BOOMERANGS 

, , — -+ . ♦ , : ; . , , ,„ . -vw,; , ; 

Boycott of British Films, Because 
Of Palestine, Spreading in the U 



Met Shutdown Purely Real Estate 
Deal to Get Out From Under? 



By ARTHUR BRONSON 

A week after N. YVs Metropolitan 
Opera Assn. tossed out its bomb- 
shell announcement that it was 
cancelling its 1948-49 season due 
to deficits and union trouble, it 
looked to the trade that the close- 
down would stick. 

Despite recurrent rumors that 
the statement was a blind or a 
trial balloon; that it was a pitch 
for public funds; that the Met 
would still open on schedule "in 
October, or. at least have a cur- 
tailed season starting in January — 
the Met's board seemed likely to 
go through with its decision. That 
is, unless there was stronger pres- 
sure, or a greater public outcry, 
than the polite protests made by 
the interested parties, or in the 
press, to date. 

There have been scurryings 
about of artists on the Met roster, 
and by their managers, as well as 
other parties involved. The mu- 
sicians union, fingerpointed as the 
chief culprit because it asked for a 
wage raise after two years, then 
(Continued on page 50) 



First Olympic Pro 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 

First Olympic winner to turn pro 
is Mrs. Vicki Draves, swimming 
star, who will make her debut in a 
show, "Rhapsody in Swingtime," in 
Soldiers' Field here starting Aug. 
29. Crosby Productions pacted the 
mermaid. 

Show will be for the benefit of 
the Illinois Police Assn. ' 



Ohio Showboat Does Boff 
Biz as Prof Uses Steamer 
For College Thesis Work 

East Liverpool, O., Aug. 10. . 
The steamer Majestic, believed 
the only floating showboat in the 
U. S., which has been presenting 
programs at various ports on the 
Ohio River, has shown a steady 
profit since the first month (June) 
and 24 of the last 25 performances 
in July have been sellouts. This 
is reported by Prof. G. Harry 
Wright, of Kent State Univ., man- 
ager and co-director, with Prof. 
Robert Pearce of - Hiram College, 
of the plays and vaudeville pro- 
grams. 

Prof. Wright is writing his doc- 
tor's thesis on the showboat era 
of theatre business, and is' making 
the Majestic's schedule conform 
to his research. The cast is made 
up of a group of speech students 
from Kent and Hiram, who will 
receive credit for 15 college hours 
for their work on the Majestic 
this summer. Nearly every student 
(Continued on page 55) 

Kenny Foundation Asks 
Ban on Fake Exhibits 

New Haven, Aug. 10. 
The Sister Kenny Foundation, 
for relief of polio, has issued a 
warning to carnival and circus op- 
erators not to book phony exhibits 
under guise of being sponsored by 
the foundation. Warning came as a 
result of arrest of a carnival op- 
erator at Savin Rock, Conn., for 
showing an iron lung under foun- 
dation sponsorship tag. Tray for 
contributions was beside the ap- 
paratus. 

Organization spokesman stated 
the SKF does not sponsor such 
exhibits. 



ABCs$UW 
OG Amateur Hr.; 
Also Com! on TV 



Biggest spurt of selling around 
the webs in recent weeks has just 
been achieved by ABC, with the 
wrap up of Old' Gold bankrolling 
for a full-hour Wednesday night 
"Original Amateur Hour," hiking 
gross time billings inked by the 
web in the last two weeks to 
$3,524,000. 

OG, which already picks up the 
tab on two quarter-hour segments 
of "Stop the Music," at the same 
time bought the video version of 
Amateur Hour" on the DuMont 
network. Plans call for airing of 
the stanza over at least nine TV 
stations, some serviced via Du- 
Mont's Teletranscription film. Deal 
makes QG the first sponsor of a 
regularly aired coast-to-coast tele 
show, one or more of the sched- 
uled outlets being on the Coast. 

"Hour," produced by the same 
staff which did the show for the 
late Major Bowes for. 14 years — 
present packager is Lou Goldberg 
•will be carried by 173 ABC sta- 
tions at a gross time cost of 
$1,300,000. Stanza gets the 8-9 
p.m. Wednesday segment and the 
(Continued on page 53) 



DOWNBEAT TALK 
HURTING AT 8.0. 

By HERB GOLDEN 

, Those screams of "Murder!" that 
have sounded through the film in- 
dustry this summer on the status 
of the b.o. are more than some- 
what exaggerations of this situa- 
tion. That is clear from a careful 
company - by - company survey on 
film and theatre grosses during the 
past week. 

At least one distrib is actually 
ahead of a year ago on rentals, two 
others are even with 1947, and the 
rest are admittedly behind. Like- 
wise, major and indie theatre cir- 
cuits are trailing their last year's 
records. But the declines, ifhen it 
comes to actual statistics, are rela- 
tively minor and not to be unex- 
pected in comparison with postwar 
boom years. Grosses are still 50% 
or more better than pre-war and, 
fiscal officers of the companies ad- 
mit, far from a reason for the free 
use recently made of the crying 
towel routine. 

Beefs on the state of the box- 
office, started by certain industry 
leaders themselves, may have 
turned into a boomerang that has 
actually hurt business, in the opin- 
ion of astute observers. The "we're- 
so-bad-off" technique was insti- 
tuted by several company toppers 
as a means of impressing their 
(Continued on page 46) 



NEW LOOK IN SHOW BIZ; 
CHORINES ON HOSSBACK 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

Galloping thisaway, but not on 
the screen, comes a new equestrian 
show, 'Horsecapades," described 
as a musical extravaganza on 
horseback, to be produced by 
Mark T. Smith with beautiful gals 
on beautiful steeds, it says here, 
for 90 minutes of entertainment. 

"Horsecapades" makes its bow 
Aug. 21 at the San Joaquin Coun- 
ty 0 Fair, Stockton, Cal., Jerry 
Colonna rides his trick horse and 
emcees the opener. Show then 
goes into ball parks, football stadi- 
ums and indoor arenas across the 
country. Smith, internationally 
known as a horse trainer, will 
function as ringmaster. Asso- 
| (Continued on page 55) 



EVEN WITH GAMBLING, 
SARATOGA SEASON NSG 

Saratoga, Aug. 10. 
Lifting of the gambling lid at the 
resort has accelerated trade to 
some extent, but not enough to get 
the nitery operators out of their 
pessimistic moocl. Niteries have 
been playing to sparse crowds 
despite the openings of the casinos. 
The cafes are still running in the 
red and indications are that it may 
be impossible to put the season on 
the black side of the ledger. 

The local politicos permitted the 
games to reopen Wednesday (4), 
but it was the type of okay that 
still has the boys in the back rooms 
a bit shaky. Okay didn't stem from 
Albany where it really counts, and 
if the politicos from the state capi- 
tal give an adverse word, state 
(Continued on page 53) 



Paris Creations With 

A Singing Com'I Lift 

Paris, Aug. 10. 

Paris couturiers, long noted for 
their showmanship, have added a 
wrinkle via a glorified singing 
commercial. This occurred twice at 
the Jacques Fath opening when, 
for a wedding gown, the manne- 
quin was -serenaded, during her 
parade, with Gounod's "Ave 
Maria." Another wedding dress, 
later in the fashion show, was 
themed by Schubert's "Serenade." 

For fashion scouts : skirts a little 
shorter, but not much modification 
of the "new look"; and they are 
tight around the legs. 



Jolson's London Yen 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

Al Jolson has that London yen, 
too, now that Danny Kaye, Sophie 
Tucker, Harry Richman, the An- 
drews Sisters, Jack Benny, et al. 
have clicked so resoundingly. 

Jolson may hop to London in 
October for four weeks at the 
Palladium. His idea is to take four 
acts with him and go over as a unit. 



Coast Air Shows 
Seen in N.Y. Shift 
For Tele Spread 

Strictly as an offshoot of televi- 
sion and the bid to "wrap up top air 
stars for a two-way AM and TV 
spread, New York's preeminence 
as an originating point for radio 
shows may be reestablished. 

As far as the major comedy show 
personalities, are concerned, it's 
been strictly Hollywood's "baby" 
for some years. But with Man- 
hattan destined to remain the key 
production center of television, at 
least until coast-to-coast Coaxial 
programming becomes a reality 
(perhaps in '51 or *52), more and 
more of the bigtime stars and air 
properties are expected to fall in 
with an L. A.-to-N. Y. trend as they 
set their sights on the video 
medium. .And by the '51-'52 era of 
transcontinental TV networks, . it's 
anticipated that New York • will 
have firmly entrenched itself as the 
No. r.TV production center and 
retain its hold on the top artists. 

For years Amos 'n' Andy have 
been entrenched on the Coast, but 
when their Lever Bros, contract 
expires next year and they move in 
on their projected two-way radio- 
tele ride, they plan the eastward 
(Continued on page 55) 



HOME STATE TALENT 
ROUNDUP FOR PENNA. 

Department of Commerce of 
the State of Pennsylvania is round- 
ing up stars from all theatrical 
fields who were born in that state, 
to participate in a "Pennsylvania 
Week" celebration, Sept. 27-Oct. 1. 
Idea is to stage three' gigantic 
shows at the Auditorium, Harris- 
burg; Mosque, Pittsburgh, and 
Convention Hall, Philadelphia, as 
part of the week's fiesta. 

Fred Waring is chairman of the 
task of rounding up the home- 
staters, who are scattered through- 
out the country. Nelson Eddy, 
Adolphe Menjou, Tommy and Jim- 
my Dorsey are only a few of the 
long list of names being sought. 



The boycott -against British films, 
initiated by the radical wing of the 
Zior-«»t movement, has become 
highly effective in New York and 
now shows signs of spreading to 
other cities. The next stop may be 
Boston where J. Arthur Rank's 
"Hamlet" is slated for its U, S. 
preem this month. Sons of Liberty 
Boycott Committee, organization 
sponsoring the drive against Brit- 
ish imports, is attempting to ar- 
range a picket line around the As- 
tor theatre there on the opening 
night. r; 

The boycott's bite has. been felt 
in a number of metropolitan cen- 
ters and is one factor in again 
driving down total revenues on 
Anglo, plx to approximately $35,- 
000 weekly. Following settlement 
of the Anglo-American tax difficul- 
ties, British films had rallied in 
the U. S. to the point where they 
were garnering some $55,000 week- 
ly. High point reached was early 
last year when Rank's pix alone 
were doing $100,000 weekly. 

Resistance in New York has 
grown so strong that for the first 
time a boycott against an Ameri- 
(Continued on page 55) ' • • 

Canadian-Made Film 
About YD a Bbxoffice 
Phenomenon in Toronto 

Toronto, Aug. 10. 
Current film phenomenon Is 
"Sins of the Fathers," now in its 
second week, with the Royal Alex- 
andra the only house in town en- 
joying four-block-long lineups for 
thrice-dally performances of a 
made-in-Canada feature dealing 
with the perils of venereal 'disease. 
This type of picture moves in cy- 
cles and currently it's the afore- 
said, made in 11 days of shooting 
at a cost of only $98,000 by "Larry 
£ ro «» en ' producer of Canadian 
Motion Picture Productions, and 
being distributed by Paul May- 
nard, 

Apart from boxoffice reception, 
with capacity at all times to date 
for the segregated audiences— 
twice for women and once for men 
daily:— startling fact is that "Sins" 
is literally bowling over the cus- 
tomers to extent that six registered 
( Contin ued on page 55) x , 

Patrons Hoofijng Barefoot 
In Kansas City Nitery 

at» . Kansas City, Aug. 10. 
• N t i west f ad among nitery patrons 
in this area is barefoot dancing, 
reaching a peak in the Ozark re- 
n 0 i£ Sfj? atr y- Key figures in the 
22! ^ ad arc ^ve and June Rob- 
erts, former vaude team who dicfa 
barefoot routine in clubs and the- 
atres more than a decade ago. 

Couple y as booked into the 

utlf^T^ 12 years a ®>. and 
« S • <T e countr y so well they set- 
tled there In 1942 they bought 
lh e 0 * a »* **dge, and now operate 
the Barefoot Night Club. Floor 
is covered with eedar sawdust. 



picrvass 



Wednesday; Angnet 11, 1948 



Parisians Flock to Eiviera to Beat 
Heat; Cannes Has Stars, No Festival 



— 



Paris, Aug. 3. 
** Following a winterisb. season, 
which brought wood fires to Paris 
drawing rooms in July, the tem- 
perature is now hitting 95 de- 
grees. The sudden heat wave 
makes everybody anxious to get 
away to the Riviera or oilier sea 
resorts 

Tourists are still arriving in 
droves but not staying here long. 
The Bob Considines stayed just 
two days on their way to London 
while Hildegarde is rushing to the 
Biviera and Rome after a brief 
week in Paris. Since the fine 
weather arrived so late, Deauville 
missed much patronage and ' the 
Riviera was the heavy scorer. Lat- 
ter spot is where Broadway and 
Hollywood visitors are parking 
now, with Biarritz hoping to catch 
some of them later on. • i 

Nudity is the current craze on 
the Riviera, with nude midnight 
bathing parties off Cannes. 

Gendarmes have nothing to say 
about the "prettiest legs" com- 
petition at Maxim's, in Juan les 
Pins, where the girls, wearing 
masks and the equivalent of tops 
of pajamas, appear in public. So 
they don't exactly fear the offi- 
cials. 

Last year Cannes had a festival 
and no stars. This year, it has no 
festival but stars galore. Latter, 
however, are getting tired of be- 
ing a tourist attraction and are 
seeking some seclusion, like the 
Duke of Windsor, who complains 
there are too many interlopers 
around. 

Alberto Dodero, Argentine mil- 
< Continued on page IS) 

& Bas^H's MB.O. 
Hurting the Lesser Exhibs 



Minneapolis, Aug. 10. 

Film exchanges here report that 
with night baseball springing up 
even in the territory's smaller 
towns the small -town exhibitors 
are being badly hurt and request- 
ing summer film rental adjust- 
ments on an increasing scale. 

League and independent bail 
clubs, in towns of 2,000 and up, 
have been installing lighting sys- 
tems in enclosed ball parks and 
improving old systems as welt as 
expanding their night baseball pro- 
grams to as many as four or more 
nights a week, it's pointed out. 

Local branch managers realize 
that the night baseball is much 
worse competition" for" the show- 
houses in the small towns than it 
is in the cities because of the limi- 
ted population that amusements 
have to draw on in the smaller 
communities. 

. A typical example cited is that 
of Delano, Minn., population 3.000, 
where there's night baseball as 
often as four nights a week and' 
where a Monday night game be- 
tween the home team and House 
of David grossed $600. 



Metroites m the lam; 
Schary, Tracy, Stroking, 
DietzltY.-LA. and tain 

While Metro sales veepee Bill 
Rodgers was conducting a student 
salesmen and other merchandizing 
seminar at the Hotel Aston N. Y., 

■ on Monday <9), Do re Schary met 
; the homeoffice executives at an 
tinner-circle luncheon in the 
; Loew's private dining room. Schary 
I new production chief at the studio 
•'(second only to Louis B. Mayer), 
! arrived in New York on Sunday 
, to meet executive associates and 
, returns today (Wed.). 
1 Spencer Tracy, Howard Striek- 
! ling and Clark Gable get in tomor- 
) row (Thurs.) from several 
J months in< London, where 
i Tracy made "Edward My Son." 
: Loew's pub-ad veepee Howard 
j Ditz clippers to ' London, Satur- 
day (14>, but is purposely staying 

! over until Strickling, who set up 
j a new London studio p.ub-ad opera- 
tion, returned. They will huddle 
; intensively until Strickling pulls 
i out for the Coast on Friday. Gable 
; was vacationing. 

Can. Clergy See 
Evil in 'Summer 

Toronto, Aug. 10. 
Charges that "evil and per- 
I nicious scenes" have been allowed 
to remain in "Summer Holiday" 
• <M-G) after a Canadian clergy pre- 
, j view audience was promised that 
i such scenes would he scissored, 

■ has O. J. Silverthorne. censor 
board chairman, on the spot. In 

i an editorial in > the Canadian 
■United Church, Protestant month- 
| ly periodica}, Silvertborne is casti- 
gated for a "Double-Cross" for 
! omitting deletions that were 
I asked by Protestant clergy pre- 
viewers and Father Paul McGrath, 
I head of the Catholic Legion of De- 
cency in. Canada. Silverthorne 
claims in rebuttal that he made the 
deletions agreed upon. 

"Summer Holiday" cuts, asked 
for by the religious censors, in- 
cluded the Fourth of July beer- 
drinking contest and the "make" 
scene with the juvenile in the 
Tavern. United Church Observer 
editorial claims these sequences 
weren't deleted and that customer 
complaints are coming into church 
authorities. that Silverthorne 
"broke his promise." 




320th Week! 

KEN MURRAY'S 

"BLACKOUTS OF 1948 ' 
El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, Cal. 

All-time lotifr run record in the 
legitimate theatre. 

"BILL AM) COO" 

Now in National HcJeax* 



Cong. Hoffman 
Airs Rx Views 



Washington, Aug. 10. 

Congress heard another plea for 
'cleaner and more amusing pic- 
tures" last week — from extreme 
right-wing Congressman Clare 
Hoffman (R., Mich.). "If the indus- 
try would only, wake up and realize 
that this is* what the movie-going 
public wants," Hoffman said, "box- 
office receipts„would zoom," 

Occasion for the speech was 
Hoffman's inserting in the Congres- 
sional Record an article on Erie 
Johnston by Roy Norr in the Au- 
gust issue of Salute. The article, 
entitled "The Man in Hollywood's 
Hottest Seat," lauds Johnston as 
typical of the "new blood" needed 
to improve Hollywood's films, but 
declares that he is "now shaky on 
his throne." 

~ Villains of the Norr piece are a 
'few counting-house showmen, 
without training, taste or tradition 
in the arts," who Norr declares 
have a stranglehold on film-mak- 
ing. * 

Hoffman quoted a "prominent 
(Continued on page 16) 



Studios Rush Slapstick Pix In 
Heavy Trend to Bellylaff Grosses 



► By WHITNEY WILLIAMS 

| Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

I Hollywood, is in the midst of 
j the biggest furious-comedy cycle 
j since the days of screwball fun-. 
. _ ;fests seven or eight years ago. 

Fur Foreign Into Setuo K * n stem * £rom tne s "<i<i< "iy- 

Washington, Aug. 10. ' producers that if boxoffice is to 
. President Truman on Monday j be revitalized comedies will do 
(9) named the members of the the trick, and the more slapstick 



Pres. Tramaii 
5-Man Advisory Board 



five-man advisory commission set 
up under the Smith-Mundt act to 



and farcical the material the long- 
er lines outside the boxoffice. Ed- 



advise the State Department on its ward Small's "The Fuller Brush 
foreign information program, in- Man" ^ typical of the trend. "Ab- 
cluding radio, pix, newsreels, and Costello Meet Franken- 

pubii cations; stein" is another. 

Chairman will be Mark Eth- , Slapstick Rules Lots 

ridge, publisher of the Louisville j Result is that at least one of 
Journal. Members include NAB ;• these wild-eyed vehicles is on 
president Justin Miller, General . every sche dule, with some lots 
Electric chairman Phtlip D. fteed, I dipping more into tlle 

Christian Science Monitor Editor j lopper lor more than one. 
Erwin D, Canbam. and Mark A \ Already completed, and fitting 
May. Director of the Yale Institute neatIy in{o ^ current trend are 
of Human Relations. • ,.j uUa Misbehaves" (Garson and 

The five members, who will Pid g eon) at Metro; Bob Hopes 
serve as interim appointees since „ The Paleface at Paramount, 
senate ; confirmation is required un- wjth ffi Crosb y s «> A Connecti- 
der the law, will advise Assistant . Yankee >t Ki Arthur>s 
S^retary of SUte George V ^ whUe ^ sla * stick , stm 

Pres. Truman was much cnt azed ., d heUy _ variety comed .. The 
for his delay in naming the board ; Mini „„ c „ ' ola „ 



i Tatlock Millions," also at Para-, 
mount. 



Jack Warner, Jr.'s Spot 
In London for a Year 

With its Burbank lot currently 
humming with some six films in 
work, Warners is also considering 
a step-up in foreign picture-mak- 
ing. Studio's production veepee, 
Jack L. Warner, has been abroad 
for some time, studying the situa- 
tion, while his son. Jack M. 
Warner, sailed from New York 
Friday (6) on the Queen Elizabeth 
for huddles with his father in 
Britain on the same subject. 

Tins younger Warner, it's under- 
stood, will be away about a year 
and will act in the nature of a 
liaison chief between the company's 
production staffs in Britain and its 
top staffers in New York and Hol- 
lywood. Firm's Teddington studio 
(Continued on page 47) 



RKO COMPLETES FIRST 
j PRO-INDUSTRY SHORT 

j Initial one-reeler to plug the film 
| industry under the joint auspices 
j of the Motion Picture Assn. of 
America and Academy of Motion 
Picture Arts & Sciences has been 
completed by RKO. Film is now 
being cut but will not be released 
until MPAA gets the full approval 
of such exhib organizations as Na- 
tional Allied States and the Thea- 
i ire Owners of America. Grant 
I Leenbouts is handling the series 
| of industry-boosters for MP A A. 
j Titled "Let's Go to the Movies," 
i screenplay by Carl Foreman for 
! the kickoff short analyzes relation- 
ship between Hollywood and the 
' rest of U. S. economy. Pic breaks 
| down the boxoffice dollar into the 
following channels: 41c. remaining 
1 in neighborhoods for theatre op- 
j erating expenses; 10c. for distribu- 
' tion costs, 14c. for production costs, 
; 25c. for Government taxes, and 
1 10c. for profit 
■ ■jBBssaa iwppw— — — « 



members— the act authorizing the 

board passed congress in January. ; ' Wamers has .-r wo Gl)ys from 

j Texas" iDennis Morgan and Jack 
Carson) which qualifies for this 
classification. Of higher - order 
comedy, Leo McCarey's "Good 
Sam." which RKO will release, is 
a classy affair, and Universal's 
"Mr. Pcabody and the Mermaid," 
produced by Nunnaily - Johnson, 
iContiniled on page 24) 



Brit. Pix Talent 
Beef at US. Influx 



London, Aug. 10. ■ 
Left on the shelf by their ex- 
clusion from the official and semi- ■ 
official bodies that have been set 
up to guide British production, 200 
film artist members of British Ac- 
tors Equity, including many top- 
line stars, attended a mass pro- 
test meeting in London Saturday 
(7) and launched a barrage against 
American topliners who are sched- ' 
uled to work in British studios. 



Gripe in Israel With 
Show Business Active 



Keaton's Paris Circus 
Booking for 6 Weeks 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

Ready for signing is a deal call- 
ing for Buster Keaton to star at 
the Medrano " Circus in Paris for 
six weeks in late autumn. 

Keaton played there last fall and 
was slated for a return engage- 
ment early this year but the deal 
was postponed because of a writ- 
ing commitment at Metro. 



Too Much Civic Virtue 

Paramount homeoffice em- 
ployes are going nuts — almost 
literally — from the constant 
din of giant loudspeakers in 
Times square plugging various 
charities and civic events. The 
haranguing by the announcer, 
singing by guest stars and al- 
leged entertainment for pas- 
sersby has had such an unnerv- 
ing effect on the Par staff and 
so lowered efficiency that com- 
pany execs are considering 
carrying a plea to the city for 
a halt. 

Initial campaign for which 
the gargantuan amplifying set- 
up was used was one staged by 
the film industry — so Par was 
in no position to put up a 
squawk. It was the United Na- 
tions Appeal for Children. Last 
week it was an effort to sell 
tickets to the city's Golden 
Jubilee Air Show at the new 
International Airport. The 
sound comes wafting into open 
Paramount building windows 
in such strength that it is fre- 
quently impossible even to 
hear on a telephone. 



Tel Aviv, July 30. 
Showmen in Palestine aren't 
griping about business. They 
a u^"TTJ. r A^ I have plenty of it despite air raids. 
Opening the barrage, Gordon st --f A sh is ne electric short- 
Sandison, Equity general secretary, | "£f el ngm,ne ma eJetluc haon 
said artists were well aware of the j age ^at th t _ ic 

dangers, as well as the possibilities, ! Wnat they want me new p,c 
of the Anglo-U. S. agreement, and ' 
proceeded to criticize the Korda- 



Selznick agreement under which 
films will be made here with 



dues. For nearly three months, 
not a single print has been de- 
livered in Jewish Palestine due 
to the waterfront blockade and 



frozen coin, using American stars ' elTa f ,c wr schedules. Their back- 
but British technicians. ! lo « 18 quickly diminishing and the 
Sandison contended that owing j Jewish Army is pressing for sol- 
to their exclusion from Harold d,er shows as welL 
Wilson's Advisory Committee, ac- Outside of Jerusalem, where 
tors were unable to press for the I m °st of the cinemas are closed 
same safeguards as technicians and ; due to the fighting, Tel Aviv and 
others engaged in production of 1 Haifa are the major centers of cin- 
British films. ~ : ema biz. The two coastal metro- 
Quoting a Variety story on the i polises share 11 permanent houses 
use of frozen dollars. Derrick de : and the villages and settlements 
Marney declared they mustn't al- have 30 more. 



low Hollywood or the Board of 
Trade to ship in any number of 
Hollywood stars just to make the 
film agreement work. 

Dame Edith Evans, who is now 



The Israeli Army. has established 
a "USO" which tours the front- 
j (Continued on page 20) 



«M"»tU CMailD, WHO IS BOW (It f) If t Al 1 P 

working on her second pix produc- LOiil 06116 Uka¥€{! rOr 

(Continued on page 47) ' 

nuiHiM inrcrwrcuujiw I' Only Downtown Memphis 
BERLIN, LIKE GERSHWIN, Memphis. a us 10 

GOES IN FOR PAINTING VTSNF» ^ 

U *" 1VI% ln, """ U ;week Lloyd T. Binford. Memphis' 
Irving Berlin is emulating anoth- : baffling censor czar, has token the 
er American songsmith, (the late) 'play away from the gals. 
George Gershwin, in possibly be-j After putting the "Binfordized 
coming a successful painter as well, blasteroo" on Columbia's "Lulu 
Berlin took up the painting, hobby Belle" here last month, the Mem- 



in Bermuda on his recent month's 
holiday there with his family, fol- 
lowing an arduous exploitation 
trek in connection with the release 



pbis censor chairman finally gave 
the pic the green light to open 
at the local Malco Aug. 12. In 
reconsidering his banning of the 
of his current "Easter Parade" i Columbia pic, starring Dorothy La- 
( Metro), and discovered that his mour, Binford said: "The picture- 
idling may perhaps produce realis- j can play here in Memphis at only 
tic results. Intimates of the song- j downtown theatres and not neigh- 
sraith point to three canvasses Ber- ; borhood houses where children can 
lin brought back from the island j see it." 

retreat which indicate he pos- Binford continued by saying, 
sesses an heretofore unsuspected "the objectionable scenes of the 
talent. picture have been deleted and I 

The Gershwin analogy continues j believe it is worthwhile now for 
its direct parallel in that one day our Memphis audience only in the 
(Continued on page 46) I downtown area," he emphasized. 



WALL STREET'S 
MOST WIDELY READ 
FINANCIAL WRITER 



Journal- American's Leslie Gouli 
Scores 88% Readership Among 
* top-Ranking Executives. 

Recent "Financial World" independent 
survey places Journal- American editor 
tops in New York. 42 of every 100 
families who buy a metropolitan N. V. 
evening paper read the J-A. Among 
'ij^Jthem is this dominant Wall St. audience. 



NEW YORK 

JOURNAL- 
AMERICAN 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



PICTURES 



U. S. EXECS FOREIGN INVASION' 



lingers Ankling From DA Spurs Exec 
Reshuffle To Speed Pix Liquidation 



Realignment of execs in United* 
Artists' sales organization this week 
is aimed at speeding up liquidation 
of films. While that is not viewed 
by prexy Grad Sears and the board 
of directors as a cure-all, it is 
hoped that, in large measure, it 
will solve the company's two major 
problems currently: 

1. Frequent weeks in the red, 
when overhead and the cost of 
operating the organization has ex- 
ceeded income; and 

2. Uncertainties on availability 
to the company of indie product 
for distribution. ' „ 

Major change this week was the 
resignation, after two and one-half 
years in the post, of Joseph J. 
Unger as general sales manager. 
With no successor to be named to 
Unger, plan is for Sears himself 
and for Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., his 
executive assistant, to take a more 
active and direct hand in selling 
films. Result is expected to be con- 
siderable added pressure on the 
sales organization to clear the 
bottlenecks and get dates for pic- 
tures. 

Unger's resignation was fore- 
shadowed by Lazarus' promotion 
from advertising and publicity di- 
rector little more than a month 
(Continued on page 22) 

Legion of Decency Gives 
Its Part Okay To 'Outlaw' 
For 'Adults Only' Class 

Howard Hughes has reportedly 
'succeeded, through an intermed- 
iary in New York, to have the 
Legion of Decency take his "Out- 
law" off its condemned list and 
move it up into the "B" (for adults 
only) classification. Move is said to 
be preliminary to the Motion Pic- 
ture Assn. of America granting the 
long-embattled Jane Russell-star- 
rer a Production Code Administra- 
tion seal. 

Hughes is understood to be mak- 
ing certain deletions in the film to 
meet the objections of the Cath- 
olic agency. HeUl probably have to 
change certain of his advertising, 
too. since it was his refusal to 
abide by MPAA rules on ads that 
led to the revocation of the "Out- 
law" seal. 

Producer's new industry position 
as controlling stockholder of RKO 
is undoubtedly tied up with his 
willingness, never before expressed, 
to make the changes necessary for 
Legion and MPAA approval of the 
film, which he made independently 
for distribution by United Artists. 

, Pic has done phenomenal biz 
wherever .it has played, but it has 
suffered in income because of in- 
ability to get more than scattered 
dates. Lack of a PCA seal pre- 
cluded the major companies from 
booking the pic and many indies 
feared it because of local objection 
from Catholic organizations. 

Merrill Gay Makes 4th 
U.S. Film Aide This Year 

Washington, Aug. 10. 

The State Department got a new 
film expert last week — its fourth 
this year. Picked to fill the post 
left vacant by W. T. M. Beale on 
Aug. 1 was Merrill C. Gay, a mem- 
ber of the Department's Commer- 
' cial Policy Division since 1943. 
Gay, who headed two negotiating 
teams at the Geneva trade confer- 
ence last year, has had occasional 
film experience since joining the. 
Department. 

A former economics instructor at 
the University of Illinois, Michigan 
State and Maryland, Gay worked 
on international financial problems 
for the Treasury from 1941 to 1943, 
then transferred to State. 

George Canty, filled the State 
Dept. job for four years, left at 
the end of January for a new post 
in Berne. He was followed in rapid- 
fire order by R. Horton Henry, 
Beale, and now Gay. 



Stock's July Skid 

Amusement stocks in July con- 
tinued their retreat from the year's 
high in May along with the general 
level of heavy industry and luxury 
holdings. Total price quotes on all 
amusement stocks listed on the 
N. Y. stock exchange slid $53,505,- 
624, settling to an overall valuation 
c# $673,858,685 by July 30. Among 
the stocks on the big board are the 
seven major film companies (all 
except United Artists), the big ra- 
dio nets and disk outfits. 

Average price of amusement 
stock was $15.63 per share on July 
30. Closeout price in June was 
$17.10 while May's average was 
$18.39. 





EL Proves Prod. 
Can Bring Costs 
Down, Up Profit 

Tackling the production cost 
problem which is proving the in- 
dustry's toughest nut to crack, 
Eagle Lion in the past year has 
brought down its average per-pic- 
ture outlay to $500,000 from a high 
which averaged over $1,100,000. 
The big job swung under the sup- 
ervision of Arthur Krim, EL's 
prexy who iook over studio chores 
in June, 1947, has meant the dif- 
ference between losing operations 
and an advance into the profit 
margin. Company execs empha- 
size the trick was turned in con- 
junction with a strengthening of 
the films' b.o. exploitability. 

While EL suffered sizeable losses 
in a number of pix made in its 
(Continued on page 22) 



In the most dramatic move yet 
made by the film industry to settle 
its overseas problems, 14 top execs 
of the major companies will make 
a mass flight to London and Paris 
next Tuesday (17). Blueprint of 
the procedure to be followed when 
they arrive abroad will be 'plotted 
at a hurriedly called secret session 
of the 14 at headquarters of the 
Motion Picture Assn. of America 
in New York tomorrow (Thurs- 
day). 

Startling action is a take-the- 
bull-by-the-horris movement for 
personal contact with J. Arthur 
Rank and the French foreign min- 
istry in an effort to clear up, on an 
across-the-table basis, problems 
that might otherwise fester into an 
incurable boil. U.S. industryites 
have certain ideas on countering 
British restrictions on their prod- 
uct and feel they can considerably 
Clear the air with some man-to- 
man talks. 

A special subcommittee of four — 
three company toppers, plus MPAA 
prexy Eric Johnston— will be 
named tomorrow to call on Rank 
when the party arrives in London. 
Small group will beTJart T>f the 14 
execs making the trip via TWA 
next Tuesday. 

One of two plans to meet the 
British restrictions will be laid be- 
(Continued on page 18) 



Bankers Trust VP. Sees Comeback 
T WEEK - ^ ^pendent Film Producer 
When Economic Conditions Improve 



WB's British Largesse 

London, Aug. 10. 

All Warner Bros, personnel in 
England, numbering 550 at the 
Teddington studios and the Warner 
theatre in London, were given a 
mid-year bonus last week. Un- 
disclosed amount of coin was div- 
vied on the basis of income over 
the last 12 month period. 

Bonus payment was arranged be- 
tween managing- director Arthur S. 
Abeles, Jr., and U. S. execs Jack 
L. Warner and Samuel Schneider 
during their recent visits to. Lon- 
don. 



LITTLE LIKELIHOOD OF 
GOP SLICING B.O. TAX 

Washington, Aug. 10. 

Faint hope is held here for a 
slice in admission taxes, despite a 
statement by Senator Eugene D. 
Millikin (R.-Colo), chairman of the 
Senate Finance Committee, that 
he's confident the next session -of 
Congress would- legislate cuts in 
existing excise taxes. Solon, how- 
ever, qualified his optimism by ad- 
mitting that any prospective reduc- 
tions hinged on whether a budget- 
ary surplus is in the offing. 

A scale-down . in excise bites 
would fit in with the GOP's avowed 
tax-reduction program, but Repub- 
licans privately admit that there 
won't be any slices especially in 
view of continued high-level mil- 
itary appropriations. Harold Knut- 
son (R.-Minn), chairman of the 
House Ways & Means Committee, 
also has gone on record as intimat- 
ing that one or two excise taxes 
might be cut. But he indicated the 
admission bite is far too lucrative 
to drop it. 



Sam Katz Talks 
Retiring From M-G 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

Sam Katz has been talking with 
Metro execsi. about retiring since 
returning from Chicago where he 
attended the funeral of his brother 
Harry Katz, prexy of Monarch 
Theatres. Katz, with the studio 
around 13 years, has been one of 
the top executives in charge of pro- 
duction. His retirement would not 
be effective until March. His cur- 
rent contract, which has about Wz 
years to run, includes provisions 
for bonuses. Under the Metro re- 
tirement plan, he's eligible to re- 
tire the beginning of next spring 
and understood his annual income 
from the retirement plan would be 
around $35,000 for life. 

It's also reported that, should | Rogers claimed that amount 
Katz arrive at a settlement of his', was due for services rendered dur- 
contract, he will have $1,000,000 j ing. four months ending July 10, 
(Continued on page 22) this year. 

National Boxoffice Survey 

Weather Tilts Biz: 'Largo,' 'Walls,' 'Life,' 'Island,' 
'Canon,' 'Parade,' 'Fuller,' 'Paradine' Pace Field 



D. Production 
Meet Decides On 
Accenting the As 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 
Series of meetings being staged 
at Universal's studios this week, 
by company's production and dis- 
tribution toppers have apparently 
resolved in a compromise in the 
company's hunt for an answer to 
flagging- pix revenues. U's execs 
have decided on budget ceilings 
between $1,500,000 and $2,000,000 
per pic for upcoming "A" prod* 
uct. This indicates that William 
Goetz, U's- production chief, has 
won his point that the company 
should not* backslide into produc- 
ing a mixture Of A's and B's. 

A ' vociferous faction in U had 
been plugging for more B's, others 
proposed that U make six or more 
purely "exploitation" films yearly, 
not to exceed $500,000, while 
(Continued on page 22) 



FLACK WANTS DOUGH 

Los Angeles, Aug. 10. 
Peggy Ann Garner's salary at 
Eagle Lion was attached by the 
sheriff in a suit for $2,000 filed 
by Henry Rogers, press agent 



Bankers Trust Co., New York, 
one of the three most active banks 
in the country in indie production 
financing, hasn't even had a re- 
quest for a loan in almost three 
months. That was cited by Alex H. 
Ardrey, bank's v.p. in charge of 
ftftn financing, as indicative of the 
current status of indie production. 

Ardrey isn't . pessimistic, how- 
ever, about the future of the indie. 
"They're out to lunch at the mo- 
ment," he declared in New York 
Monday (?), "but they'll be. back. 
The elements that caused the in- 
flux into independent production 
three or four years ago have 
changed somewhat, but they're still 
basically present." 

High costs and the questionable 
status of the market have caused 
some of the solo filmmakers to 
seek shelter of the major lots, but 
when economic conditions come 
into better focus, Ardrey asserted, 
desire of many producers to get out 
of the studio mold will . again be 
felt. . 

Bank exec blamed the current 
production dearth on lack of second 
money, rather than on difficulty of 
the producers in getting coin from 
(Continued on page 20) 

Eddie Small Defines 
Indie Producers Into 
Two Basic Categories 

No upsurge in indie production 
is foreseen by Edward Small de- 
spite reports of some slight loosen- 
ing of bank and second-money fi- 
nancing coin. Producer, comment- 
ing just prior to his departure 
Monday (9) for the Coast after six 
weeks in New York, said he thought 
indie production would be limited 
to a small handful of men in the 
future. 

Small declared that the haz- 
ards -of independent filmmaking, 
(Continued on page 16) 



Latta Named Director 
Of ABPC; Milder's. Idea 

London, Aug. 10. 

At board meeting held here C. 
J. Latta was named managing di- 
rector of Associated British Pic- 
tures Corp. while D. J. Goodblatte 
was elected managing director of 
Associated British Circuit. Both 
appointments were made at the 
suggestion of the late Max Milder 
who previously held both posts. 

Formerly Warners' Albany zone 
manager, Latta went to England 
several months ago to supervise 
WB'S' theatre interests there after 
Milder resigned because of ill 
health. While WB has a close af- 
finity with ABPC, the British 
firm's chairman, Sir Philip War- 
ter, recently denied at a stock- 
holders' meeting that the U. S. 
company held a controlling inter- 
est. 



Continued cool weather in nu- 
merous keys is keeping biz at 
high pitch this session. Rain on 
several days paved way for un- 
seasonably mild temperature but 
was just what exhibitors wanted. 

"Key Largo" (WB> continues to 
pace the nation's boxoffice for sec- 
ond week in' succession, being far 
ahead of nearest' rival. Although 
only in a few playdates this stanza. 
Walls of Jericho" (20th) has be- 
come solid second place occupant. 
Only in Los Angeles is it not so big. 

Just starting around, "Time of 
Life" (UAi is showing enough 
strength to finish third, with a high 
batting average. "On Island With 
You" (M-G i also has moved higher 
to land fourth. 

"Canon City" (ELI, which has 
shown marked stamina in previous 
weeks, climbs up to fifth slot. Big 
in Bostoh, the semi-documentacy 
thriller of a Colorado prison break 
is standout in Cincinnati with a 
sock week in prospect. It just 
finished two weeks in L. A., and 
currently is solid to big in Mem- 
phis, Atlantic City, Portland, Ore.; 
Syracuse and Newark. 

Others in the Big 10 are closely 
bunched, being "Easter Parade" 
(M-G), "Fuller' Brush Man" (Col), 
"Paradine Case" (SRO), "Melody 



Time" (RKO> and . "So Evil My 
Love" (Par). "Parade," pace setter 
for weeks, now is mainly holdover 
or moveover, but, of course, still 
sock in most locations. Same 
holds true of "Emperor Waltz" 
(Par) which has played main first- 
run dates in keys covered by 
Variety. 

Best runners-up are "Return of 
Bad Man" (RKO), "Meet Franken- 
stein" (U), "Street No Name" (20th> 
and "Four Faces West" (UA). 

Aside from "Walls" and. "Life," 
"Date With Judy" (M-G) and "Ber 
yond Glory" (Par) look best of new 
pix. Former is tops in Seattle and 
great on initial Music Hall, N. Y„ 
week. "Glory" is giving N. Y. Par- 
amount a very big preem session. 
"Black Arr«v" (Col), also new, is 
1 fancy in Detroit. 

"Babe Ruth Story" (Mono) is 
holding nicely in second in N. Y. 
and Baltimore weeks. "All My 
Sons" (U) looks fine in Louisville. 
"Ruthless" (EL) shapes sturdy in 
K. C. 

"Gallant Legion" (Rep) is doing 
strongly in Louisville and neat in 
Cleve. "Bring 'Em Back Alive" 
(RKO), on reissue, shapes stout in 
Washington and Pitt. "Blandings" 
(SRO) looks solid in Buffalo. 

(Complete Boxoffice Reports on 
Page* 11-13.) 



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Fublislirri Weekly by VABIKTY, Inc. 

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INDEX 

Bills 46 

Chatter 54 

Concert 50 

Film Reviews 8 

House Reviews 47 

Inside Legit 52 

Inside Music 36 

Inside Pictures 16 

International 15 

Legitimate 48 

Literati 53 

Music 36 

New Acts 46 

Night Club Reviews ..... 44 

Obituaries 55 

Orchestras 36 

Pictures , 2 

Radio . .\ 25 

Radio Reviews 34 

Records 36 

Frank Scully 53 

Television 28 

Vaudeville :* : 43 



DAttlT V:\ltiF.TY 
(Published in Hollywood bf 
Dally Varloty. Ltd.) 
*15 ,a Year — $20 Foreign 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, August 11, 1945 



Skouras-Korda Talldng Outright 
Western Hemisphere Sales of Brit 
Pix to Achieve 'American-Owned' 



Strong possibility exists, it has 
teen learned, that Sir Alexander 
Korda and 20th-Fox will call off 
the deal they entered into last year 
for distribution by 20th in this 
country of 14 Korda Ijlms made in 
Britain. Instead of the company 
releasing the pix on a percentage 
arrangement, deal is cooking by 
which it may buy outright from the 
producer the western hemisphere 
rights. ; 

Only two films, "An Ideal Hus- 
band" and "Anna Karenina," have 
been delivered under the pact, with 
12 more to be given 20th for release 
by May 1, 1951. Korda and Spyros 
Skouras, 20th prexy, have been 
discussing the new arrangement 
via trans-Atlantic phone and cable 
find the new deal will very possibly 
start with the next film Korda is 
slated to deliver, "Bonnie Prince 
Charlie," David Niven-starrer which 
is now nearing completion. 

In the meantime, 20th has . al- 
ready bought outright two Korda 
pix not covered by the original 
contract. They are "Mine Own Ex- 
ecutioner," which it is about to put 
into release, and "Man About 
House." Opposition that has devel- 
oped among both exhibs and the 
public to British pix because of 
economic policies regarding the 
American industry and political 
policies regarding Palestine, has 
slowed distribution of the four 
Korda films 20th now has on hand. 
What effect this might have on 
ZOth's thinking regarding further 
films isn't known. 

Several Advantages 

Switchover from the present 
purely distribution arrangement to 
outright purchase of territorial 
rights is figured by both Korda and 
Skouras to be advantageous in 
light of present conditions. From 
Korda's standpoint, it would give 
Mm guaranteed income for his 
output in advance of production. 
He hasbeeri badly disappointed at 
the meager grosses garnered by 
"Husband" and "Karenina." Orig- 
inally promised- an advance by a 
U.S. bank of $1,000,000 for each of 
the. two films, conditions changed 
to such an extent as time went 
along that the eventual sum ad- 
vanced was $500,000 for a combo 
of both pix. 

As far as 20th is concerned, the 
new arrangement would have very 
definite advantages growing out of 
the Anglo-U.S. films agreement of 
last March. Fox would use its coin, 
frozen as a result of that pact, to 
buy western hemisphere rights. 
Under agreed-upon interpretations 
by U.S. distribs of the agreement, 
that makes the film "American- 
owned." 

U. S. income from "American- 
owned" pix goes entirely into the 
hands of the company distributing 
.it. On the other hand, under the 
original arrangement with Korda 
the films would be "British-owned." 
And the agreement provides that 
U.S. income from "British-owned" 
films goes into an American dollar 
pool to augment the $17,000,000 
yearly guaranteed by Britain from 
earnings of Hollywood product 
there. Money that goes into this 
pool is shared by all U. S. distribs 
in proportion to their British re- 
ceipts. 

Thus, under the outright buy- 
arrangement, 20th would get all 
its U.S. income in dollars, while 
under the old setup it would have 
to share these dollars with the 
other companies. 

Jefferson Circuit Maps 
Expansion Plan in Texas 

Beaumont, Texas, Aug. 10. 

Jefferson Amus. Co., Paramount- 
partnered circuit of 69 theatres, is 
planning an ambitious expansion 
policy »in Texas and other parts of 
the southwest, r Julius M. Gordon, 
prexy of the circuit, is currently in 
New York huddling with Para- 
mount theatre biggies on his ex- 
pansion proposals. 

Reportedly, there is a big ques-' 
tion to be straightened of how 
much circuit profits Gordon can 
Put into building operations and 
how much must come out in the 
form of dividends to Paramount 
and otter stockholders. 1 



ASCAP's Move 

With the retention of ex- 
Secretary of War Robert W. 
Patterson as its adviser on the 
deepest problem it has faced 
in years, ASCAP has begun a 
search for the direction it 
will head as a result of Judge 
Vincent Leibell's decision out- 
lawing the Society's collection 
of exhibition fees. 

Meanwhile, N. Y. independ- 
ent theatre exhibitors, who 
brought the suit vs. ASCAP, 
are reported prepping an ap- 
peal in an attempt to have the 
court fix financial damages. 
(Details in Music section.) 



Exhibs Groups Get 
Plenty Advice On 
ASCAP Pay Row 

Spotlighting the muddled waters 
which the decision of N. Y. Federal 
Judge Vincent L. Lelbell has 
stirred in tagging the American 
Society of Composers, Authors & 
Publishers an illegal combination, 
film industry theatre groups and 
circuits individually have embark- 
ed on widely divergent courses. 
With the ruling on the suit brought 
by a group led by circuit operator 
Harry Brandt less than one month 
old, confusion on a course to be 
followed by exhibs in paying (or 
hot paying) seat taxes to ASCAP 
is the outstanding symptom. 

Advice pouring in - a steady 
stream to exhibs from theatre orgs 
and legalites connected with these 
groups has ranged from a warn- 
ing to keep forking out the bite 
without letup through , all shades 
of opinion to equally strong ad- 
monitions to cease paying forth- 
with. Question of who pays what to 
whom is so muddled that local 
theatre units of both National Al- 
lied and the Theatre Owners of 
America are pursuing independent 
policies which differ from recom- 
mendations made by the two rival 
national groups. 

Having hailed the Leibell-ad- 
ministered shellacking to ASCAP 
as a big victory for theatre owners, 
National Allied has recommended 
(Continued on page 18) 

PAR'S NEW THEATRES IN 
W. PALM BEACH, TOLEDO 

While laying off any major ex- 
pansion program because of the 
j legal tangles presented by the Gov- 
i ernment anti-trust action, Para- 
I mount has now put final touches to 
i blueprints for two new houses. 
Plans call for erection of de-luxers 
in West Palm Beach, Fla., and 
Toledo, O. They will be the first 
houses constructed by Par since 
the war. 

Toledo theatre will be a 2,538- 
seater intended to replace the 
Paramount theatre on which the 
company's lease has expired. West 
Palm Beach theatre is also planned 
to replace an existing theatre. 

Under the decree handed down 
by the statutory court and affrmed 
in part by the U. S. Supreme Court, 
the Big Five may build or lease 
theatres to. replace those in opera- 
tion. Actually, there is no existing 
ban on expansion by the majors 
since the statutory court has re- 
fused to act until a third judge is 
appointed to fill the vacancy 
cause by the death of District 
Judge John Bright. "Majors, how- 
ever, are not risking a future 
clampdown by the court. 



Europe to N. Y. 

Edgar Bergen 
Alan C. Collins 
Katharine Hepburn 
Ted Husing 
Paul Muni 
J. My r Schine 
M. A. Schlesinger 
Oliver Smith 
Robert Wolff 



SPU BSD TO REP EXTRAS 
TURNED DOWN BY NLRB 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

National Labor Relations Board 
turned down a petition filed by the 
Screen Players Union, for an elec- 
tion and certification as bargaining 
agent for film extras. Dismissal was 
on grounds of ah insufficient num- 
ber of signatures on the petition. 

Perry Bertram, SPU attorney, 
declared the verdict would be ap- 
pealed to the NLRB's national 
headqarters in Washington, 

Okay 'Capricorn 
To Remit in $ 

All earnings in England of "Un- 
der Capricorn," now being made by 
Alfred Hitchcock in London, will 
be remittable to the U. S. in dol- 
lars. Through <& deal made before 
current restrictions on dollar ex- 
ports were imposed, Warner Bros., 
the distributors, will be able to 
get out all the film's earnings. 

Picture, starring Ingrid Berg- 
man, is being produced by Trans- 
atlantic Productions, indie unit 
owned by Hitchcock and Sidney 
Bernstein, British circuit operator. 
They arranged financing for it in 
dollars, rather than in pounds, with 
the result the British Treasury 
okayed remittance to the U. S. of 
its English income. 

Financing was by the Bankers 
Trust Co., N. Y., and Security-First 
National, Los Angeles. They ad- 
vanced dollars, which Transatlantic 
turned over to the Bank of Eng- 
land, and for which, in turn, they 
were given sterling credits in 
Britain for the production. Per- 
mission to remit the dollar earn- 
ings is, therefore, in effect, a cour- 
tesy for giving the British the use 
of the dollar advance. 

Bernstein is due in New York 
from London Aug. 22 for the 
preem of the unit's initial film, 
"Rope." It will open at the Globe 
qn Broadway Aug. 26. It will also 
be distributed by WB. 

Bernstein is due to return to 
London a few days' later to con- 
tinue supervision of the business 
end of the "Capricorn" production, 
which Hitchcock is directing. It 
has been learned, incidentally, that 
the production schedule has been 
lengthened by several weeks be- 
cause of unexpected slowness in 
the British studio work. 



Jackson Park Attorney 
Protests Bmg's 4 Weeks 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 

Tom McConnell, attorney for the 
Jackson Park theatre, filed a peti- 
tion in Chi Federal Appeals Court 
yesterday (9) against granting a 
four-week playing time to "Em- 
peror Waltz" at the Chicago thea- 
tre. Lawyer claimed Judge Michael 
Igoe didn't have the right to grant 
the additional two weeks to B & K 
on the ground the lower court 
lacked jurisdiction to make any 
change in the JP decree, which, 
according to the lawyer, does not 
make provision for exemption. 

"EW" closes at the Chicago, 
Thursday (12). 



CP. Skouras' Youth Stamp 
Ceremonies in D. C. Wed. 

Washington, Aug. 10. 

Presentation of the first sheet of 
3c "Salute to Youth" commemora- 
tive stamps will be made tomor- 
row (Wed.) at the White House by 
U. S. Postmaster General Jesse M. 
Donaldson to Charles P. Skouras, 
National Theatres head. Skouras 
is chairman of Theatre Owners of 
America's Youth Month committee. 

TOA has been pushing the cam- 
paign in conjunction with U. S. At- 
torney General Tom Clark. The- 
atre group is flying a press detach- 
ment from New York to specially 
cover the event. 



N. Y. to Europe 

Irving Berlin 
Saul Carson 
* Marc- Davis 
Yvonne '3e Carlo 
Howard Dietz 
Clifford C. Durr 
Gerald Fairlie 
Charles Hodges 
Irving Hoffman 
Nora Kaye 

Hya Lopert - > 

Jayne Meadows 
E. R. Zorgniotti 



Lurid B way Bally Worries Pix Biz 

Public relations-minded industryites have been eying balefuliy 
for the past couple weeks the advertisbig in front of the Rialto »& 
Broadway. With the New York City license commissioner and 
tjolice department known to be keeping a glim set on theatre ad- 
vertising, they were wondering how long it might be before there 
would be a crackdown that would hang a bad public relations rap 
on the whole industry. 

Rialto, recently taken over by James Mage and with an exclusive 
deal for exhibiting Film Classics product, was showing "Blonde Ice" 
and "Money Madness" until last weekend. Blurbs out front includ- 
ed: "What lust drove her to indulge in these unnatural practices," 
"Killer vs. Killer in a lustful orgy of crime," "She killed men to 
satisfy her lust" and "She traded love for a life of crime and 
shame 1 — she wouldn't share her man with any woman— not even 
his wife." 

Major companies and most of the minors subscribe to the, rules 
of the Motion Picture Assn. of America, which provide that for 
issuance of a seal the film must hot only be okayed by Joe Breen's 
Production Code Administration, but that all copy must be ap- 
proved by the Advertising Code Administration. Rialto copy was 
not submitted to the ACA. 



WB and 20th Neck V Neck for No. 2 
Profits-Earner in '48; Par the Leader 



Nothin' Happened 

Washington, Aug. 10. 

As everyone expected, the 
amusement industry went un- 
scathed in the special ses- 
sion of Congress. 

The only possible measure 
affecting the industry — the 
move to give the Administra- 
tion allocation and priority 
power over scarce materials — 
was roundly beaten on the 
Senate floor. An Administra- 
tion-sponsored excess profits 
tax wasn't even considered in 
committee. 



Report Warners 
Selling Off 3 
Philly Deluxers 

Philadelphia, Aug. 10. 

Vine street is buzzing with re- 
ports of the sale of three Warners 
first-run houses — the Mastbaum, 
Earle and Aldine — which would go, 
according to the rumors, to Loew's, 
Paramount and RKO, respectively. 

Sale is believed imminent and 
gossip has L?ior Day as tbe pos- 
sible date for the switcheroo, 
which would cause something like 
a revolution in the Philadelphia 
film mise-en-scene. 

With Fox, Warners and Goldman 
already in the breakneck competi- 
tive bidding here, inclusion of the 
other three companies would throw 
the situation wide open. Current 
scarcity of major product capable 
of sustained runs would leave re- 
course to one alternative — stage 
shows. Predictions are that if re- 
ported sale materializes, Philly can 
look for a lot of flesh entertain- 
ment in the immediate future, a la 
the Broadway first-runs. 

Local Warner office had no com- 
ment to make on the sale but re- 
ferred questioners to the New York 
home office, where, it is reliably 
understood, there was no con- 
firmation forthcoming but there 
was no denial either. 

Curiously enough, news of the 
big transaction broke in indirect 
fashion. For the last couple weeks, 
William Ehrenburg, a Vine street 
familiar and premium seller, an- 
nounced that he was forming a 
(Continued on page 22) 

. nTy . 7oT . a7 * 

Sam Behrman 
Frederick Brisson 
Jean Dalrymple 
Dick- Dorso • 
Clark Gable 
Leland Hayward 
George Heller 
Jerry Hoffman 
Fred Jack 
Henry Jaffe 
Sonya Levien 
Tom McKnight 
Robert Morley 
Ella Raines 
Jack Robbing 
Rosalind Russell 
Dore Schary 
Grad Sears 
Edward Small 
Polyna Stoska . 
Howard Strickling 
Spencer Tracy 



♦ Warner Bros, and 20th-Fox are 
currently staging a hot race over 
i which of the two will finish second 
i in. the 1948 profits derby. With 
Paramount's now traditional spot 
las the No. 1 earner practically con- 
j ceded, recent profits reports of 
'both Warners and 20th indicate a . 
I photo finish for show and place. In 
1947, WB was an easy second with 
$22,094,979 while 20th trailed with 
$14,003,640. 

Close race was played up. last 
week when Warners turned in a 
nine-month net of $10,321,000 
against a '47 take of $19,134,000, 
Since the last quarter of WB's fis- 
cal year is the hot weather, nor- • 
mally low-profit, stretch of June, 
iJuly and August, the company's 
{net for the year is estimated at a 
j little over $12,000,000 by the finan- 
cial pundits. 

^Twentieth has reported $2,926,- 
482 for its first quarter. Company's , 
fiscal year corresponds with the 
i calendar year. Second-quarter 
i profit , will reportedly be higher 
(than the first and should give it 
|$6,500,000r$7,000,000 for the half 
[year. Boost in net, it is said, is due 
| to a gain in gross revenues par- 
layed on distribution of less costly 



pix. 

With all seven majors f United 
Artists excepted) - airing at least 
first-quarter returns, the order at 
the finishing line is expected to be 
as follows: 

1. Paramount (1st quarter — 
$7,760,000). 

2: .& 3. Warners and 20th 

4. Metro (nine-month — $4,729,- 
063). 

5. RKO (first quarter— $1,345,- 
327). 

6. Columbia (nine-month — $855,- 
000). 

7. Universal (half-year — $232,- 
866). 

Possible shuffling of second and 
third spots would be the only 
change in positions from '47. 
WB's 3d Quarter, $3,010,000 
Warners' net for the third quar- 
ter, ended May 31, totalled $3,010,- 
000. Equivalent Mock 'earnings for 
the nine months comes to $1.41 per 
(Continued on page 20) 

L. A. to N, Y. 

Val Arms 
Helena Carter 
Guy della Cioppa 
Charles Coburn 
Bette Davis 
Jack Dempsey 
Robert' Emmett Doian 
Douglas Fairbanks; Jr. 
Sidney Franklin 
John Gibbs 
Robert Giliham 
Marshall Grant 
Richard Greene 
Paul Henreid 
Paul Hollister 
John Huston 
William Katzell 
William B. Levy 
Luba Malina 
Dick Manning 
Jimmy McHugh 
Patricia Medina 
Allen Miner 
Robert Mochrie 
Joe Newman 
Joseph H. Nadel 
Joseph Pasternak 
Katina Paxinou 
H. C. Potter 
Dick Powell 
Richard Powers 
Frank Seltzer 
Lee Shubert 
Charles P. Skouras 
Paul Stewart 
Lou Walters 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



PICTURES . S 



BACKLOG OF FILMS AT PEAK 114 



Schary St 



ates Metro Can Make 5-10 
'Progressive Pix; Details Plans 



The experimental film program ■* 
which Dore Schary introduced at ' 
RKO with such socially significant 
features as "Crossfire" and "The 
Boy with Green Hair" will be as- 
sumed intact by_ Metro when 
Schary takes over as vice-president 
in charge of production next week.. 
Exuding a confidence in his film 
philosophy unmarred by Congres- 
sional probes and his departure 
from RKO, Schary told the New 
York trade press yesterday (Tues.) 
that he was convinced as ever that 
the industry must turn out a pro- 
portion of "progressive" pix. 

Metro can absorb five-to-10 of 
these "progressive" films yearly, 
Senary said. Scouting the label 
"message films," the new Metroite 
explained that these pix would be 
experimental in any or all brackets 
of cast, direction, story and 
technique. 

"This shouldn't surprise you, 
Schary said, "because Metro has a 
history for making daring films. 
In the past few years, the com- 
pany took a beating but before 
that it turned out some very 
progressive and challenging films. 
Among those were 'Mutiny on the 
(Continued on page 20) 



Hughes Bldg. for Sale 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 
Real estate ad in Hollywood dis- 
closes that the Hughes Bldg. is for 
sale at an asking price of $450,000. 

Structure belongs to Otto K. 
Oleson and has been the headquar- 
ters of Howard Hughes Produc- 
tions, Inc. Hughes has moved to 
the RKO studio. 



Likely 



That the Annual 
RKO Stockholders Meet 
Will Not Be Held Aug. 31 

Strong likelihood is seen that 
the annual RKO stockholders' 
meeting, set for Aug. 31 in Dover, 
Del., will be postponed. Company 
officers in New York, who would 
have to be provided with informa- 
tion to make up the proxy state- 
ment for the session, have received 
no word yet from the new con- 
trolling stockholder, Howard 
Hughes, despite the nearing dead- 
line. 

Aug. 31 date was announced for 
the meeting by Hughes following 
sessions with RKO execs several 
weeks ago. It was expected that 
the former controlling stockholder, 
Floyd Odium, and his reps on the 
board of directors, would submit 
their resignations at that time. 
Then Hughes would select his own 
nominees. Thus, with the new 
board constituted, a series of ma- 
jor changes were expected at RKO, 
including election by the directors 
of a president to succeed N. Peter 
Rath von, who recently resigned, 
and a production head to succeed 
Dore Schary, who also pulled out 
after Hughes assumed control. 

Names of the new owner's nom- 
inees for the directorate must ap- 
pear on the proxy statement, which 
is sent to all stockholders when 
they are informed of the date of 
the meeting. These statements, 
which under Securities & Ex- 
change Commission and N. Y. 
Stock Exchange rules must carry 
considerable detailed information, 
take some time to prepare. In ad- 
dition, they must be filed with the 
SEC at least 10 days before the 
meeting. 

That means that unless Hughes 
makes his choice of nominees with- 
in the next couple days and speeds 
the names to New York, the much- 
vaunted Aug. 31 session will have 
to be pushed back. 

RKO Resumes Sept. 1 As 
Hughes Hastens Lensing 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

Howard Hughes is hoisting his 
RKO production into flight two 
weeks sooner than people around 
Hollywood expected. The new 
shooting program on the Gower 
street lot starts Sept. 1, with 
"Follow Me Quietly," to be pro- 
duced by Herman Schlom. 

"Quietly" was originally on bid 
Rogell's production program, but 
Rogell is now one of the trium- 
virate ruling all production on 
the RKO lot. Second picture on 
the new program will be Ine 
Set-Up, ' starting Sept. 15. 



N. Y. Collarites 
In Middle On 
AFL vs. CIO Row 



Labor peace in the New York 
offices of the film companies is 
now balanced on a razor's edge 
with two rival white collarite 
unions,, one AFL and the other 
CIQ, stripping for an all-out battle 
for jurisdictional control. The rival 
unions are the Screen Office & 
Professional Employees Guild, 
CIO, and Local H-63, International 
Alliance of Theatrical Stage Em- 
ployees, AFL; the issue allegedly 
is that of "Communism" vs. "com- 
pany stoogism," and the stake is 
over 3,000 employees in the majors' 
homeoffices. 

Long burning fuse to the inter- 
union fight, which was lighted at 
United Artists in May, flared up 
this week with disclosure that H-63 
was pushing through an organizing 
campaign at Paramount, now under 
SOPEG's jurisdiction. Operating 
secretly for over a week, 20 H-63 
organizers have been attempting to 
sign up a majority of the 600 work- 
ers at Paramount, including Para- 
mount Music and Famous Music 
publishers and Par labs in Long 
Island. The campaign's secrecy was 
blasted when an IATSE organizer 
tried to slip a membership card to 
a SOPEG stalwart. 

Faced with a flanking threat 
from Local H-63, SOPEG officials, 
meanwhile, are girding for a show- 
down with the industry over the 
writing of new pacts to replace 
those expiring Sept. 27. There's a 
glowing possibility that some of 
(Continued on page 16) 





FADIMAN NAMED 
RKO STORY EDITOR 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

William J. Fadiman former ex- 
ecutive, aide to Dore Schary, was 
assigned as story editor at RKO. 
William Nutt remains on the staff 
as assistant editor. 

Fadiman was story editor at 
Metro for 14 years before moving 
to RKO 19 months ago. 



Albee, Prov,, Manager 
Robbed of Cash & Pants 

Providence, Aug. 10. 

Two armed holdup men sur- 
prised treasurer Russell Mowry 
on a stairway of the RKO Albee 
theatre here Tuesday (3) morning, 
and after forcing him to open the 
safe, made away with $1,636 and 
his pants. Both men made their 
getaway before police arrived. 

Mowry's pants were later found 
in the theatre minus a few bills 
he had in the billfold. 



ALSO A RECORD 



Backlog of completed but un- 
released films on major shelves 
which has now mounted to a total 
of 114 — peak figure in the past 
two years — is sparking the heaviest 
flow of films to theatres in many 
months. With three companies — 
Paramount, Metro and.20th-Fox — 
already announcing sizeable re- 
leases and the others readying 
plans, fall season will see a big 
turnout of pix particularly in the 
color bracket. 

Of the 114 pix now canned, over 
30 are in Technicolor. That is the 
biggest number of Techni features 
in the starting lineup at one time. 
Majors' economy drive of the past 
year may have sliced the nut some- 
what but it apparently has not hurt 
the quality of pix or their boxoffice 
chances. . , : ' 

Paradoxically, the cost-cutting 
operation of the past 12 months 
has been an important factor in 
adding to backlogs. While the 
studios have not had as many films 
before the cameras as in the past, 
reduction in shooting time has re- 
sulted in a faster turnout of nega- 
tives. At the same time, release 
schedules have just about held 
their own with the pace of 1946- 
1947. 

Indicating the extent of back- 
log-fattening, eight majors hid 91 
completer! pix at the beginning of 
the year. When the drive first 
started, the year before, total was 
110, while the peak in* October, 
1946, was 129. 

Speeding Releases 

Fastest releasing schedule has 
been set hy 20th which is dispatch- 
ing five features to theatres in 
September. Metro has set five re- 
leases for the next two months and 
Paramount 11 until the end of the 
year. 

Big proportion of color films — 
generally more expensive than 
black-and-whites — is believed due 
to a policy of the majors to hold 
up release on more costly product 
because of recent b.o. doldrums 
which have been emphasized by 
the hot weather. Figuring on an 
upturn in the fall, majors will 
shoot the works on important 
properties. 

Columbia, for instances, has now 
slated one Techni pic for each of 
October, November and December. 
"The Loves of Carmen," Rita 
Hayworth starrer, hits the screens 
in October, followed by "Return 
of October" in November and 
"Man from Colorado" in December. 
Company, with a backlog of 21 
completed pix, will release four 
or five films each month. 

Top in its Technicolor holdings 
is Metro with an abnormally high 
10 completed out of a total back- 
log of 18 films. Two of its .five 
releases for September - October 
will be tinted. Warner Bros, is 
second with seven Teclinipix out 
of a total of 17. 

Other companies are 20th With 
13 completed pix, four in Techni; 
Paramount, 16 in the can, three in 
color; RKO, 10 completed, two in 
Techni; and Universal, 19 com- 
pleted, with one, "Tap Roots," in 
color and being released this 
month. 



Boxoffice Click of Technicolor Pix 
Cues 30% of New Films in Tints 



Deutsch Rejoins Schary 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

Armand Deutsch, former pro- 
duction aide to Dore Schary at 
RKO, fellows his boss to the 
Metro lot in a like capacity. He 
had just been given his first pro- 
duction assignment when the How? 
ard Hughes regime eventuated. 

Deutsch with his wife, Benay 
Venuta, took a 10-day quickie in 
Honolulu while the Scliarys were 
vacationing in Boulder City, Colo. 



Woods, Chi, Stickup 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 
The Woods, Loop Essaness house, 
was the scene of an attempted 
robbery Sunday (8) at midnight. 
Bandit who took $400 from the 
cashier was seriously wounded by 
the police who captured him after 
a short chase. Thief also shot a 
bystander who tried to stop him, 
but the victim was not badly 
injured. 

This is the first effort made to 
rob a theatre in the Loop for many 
years. Area is heavily patrolled. 



Big 5 Promises 
Justice Dept. To 
Help Speed Case 

In an attempt to get the Gov- 
ernment anti-trust hearings started 
promptly on the Oct. 13 date set 
by the three-judge statutory court, 
the Dept. of Justice has the prom- 
ise of the Big Five that they will 
make every effort to answer the 
voluminous interrogatories by that 
date. Agreement by the theatre- 
owning companies to push their 
statistic-gathering activities on 
partnership-held theatres has been 
embodied in letters sent to' Spe- 
cial Asst. U. S. Attorney Robert L. 
Wright, in charge of the case. 

Attorneys, however, are con- 
vinced that the case cannot pos- 
sibly go to trial on the October 
date despite the promise. For one, 
the court must still appoint a 
judge to fill in for Judge John 
Bright who died after the original 
decision was-made. Once a judge 
is named to fill the gap, he must 
still familiarize himself with the 
case — a long-drawn job in view of 
the mountains of legal documents 
which must he studied. 

Secondly, Big Five have now 
formally served notice of objec- 
tions to a number of questions 
asked by the Government on the 
background and history of part- 
nership deals. One of the queries 
which the companies do not want 
to answer, because it may disclose, 
trade secrets, is the amount of 
coin Or other property which 
passed hands when a theatre part- 
nership was created. 

Objections must be argued be- 
fore the statutory court — but in 
view of the Government's position 
that cannot be done- until a third 
judge is named. Hence, the 
maneuver is figured to mean a fur- 
ther delay in hearings on the 
pivotal anti-trust action. 



Hollywood, Aug. 10. 
Boxoffice mopup by such color 
specials as Paramount's "Emperor 
Waltz" and Metro's "Easter Pa- 
rade" are sparking increasing use 
of color. Close to 30% of pix now 
lensing will be tinted, with current 
plans calling for a fall and winter 
upswing in the number of color 
films. Ten of the 36 pix currently 
before cameras are In color classifi- 
cation. 

Metro is on a 100% Technicolor 
kick with "Little Women," "Bark- 
leys of Broadway" and "Take Me 
Out to Ball Game." Eagle Lion's 
complete current program consists 
of "Big Cat," Walter Wanger's 
"Tulsa," both Technicolor, and 
"Red Stallion in the Rockies" in 
Cinecolor. 

Republic has one, "The Far 
Frontier," In Trucolor; Paramount, 
20th, Warners, Transatlantic, one 
each in Technicolor, respectively, 
"Streets of Laredo," "Sand," 
"South of St. Louis" and "Under 
Capricorn." 

A strong budget of 32' Techni- 
color pix is awaiting release, in- 
cluding such top budgeters as "A 
Song Is. Born," "Three Muske- 
teers," "Adventures of Don Juan," 
"Connecticut Yankee," "Joan of 
Arc," "Loves of Carmen," "Pale- 
face," "Red Pony," "Rope," Silver 
Lining," "Whlspering.Smith," "The 
Lady in Ermine." Ih preparation, 
Warners has "Happy Times" and 
"Montana;" Transatlantic has "Con- 
fess;" Metro has "Annie Get Your 
Gun," "Greyfrlars Bobby," I'Three 
Little Words," "Neptune's Daugh- 
ter" and "Shop Around Corner;" 
Universal has "Bloomer Girl" and 
"Sam Bass;" 20th-Fox*s "Blonde 
From Bashful Bend," "Mother Is 
a Freshman," "You're* My Every- 
thing;" • Paramount has "Samson 
and Delilah;" Columbia "Supersti- 
tion Mountain;" and Eagle Lion's 
"Meadowlark." ' 



Wynne, Lawrence, Kapp 
Return to U.S. Aug. 25 

London, Aug. 10. 
• Sydney Wynne, head of J. Arthur 
Rank publicity, makes his first 
American visit with his wife in 
company of the Jock Lawrences, 
who return Aug. 25 on the Queen 
Elizabeth. Lawrence, veepee of the 
U. S. Rank organization, has been 
here all summer setting sales 
plans. 

Lawrence is currently on the 
Continent with the Jack Kapps 
(he's president of Decca Records 
of America), flying from Paris into 
Germany for an official looksee, 
thence Zurich, motoring from there 
to Milan via Lake Como, with a 
Venice stopoff likely for the film 
festival. Kapps also will return 
on the Elizabeth. 



SAG AND PRODUCERS 
CLARIFY 30-DAY RULE 

Hollywood,' Aug. 10. 

Formula requiring new film play- 
ers to join the Screen Actors 
Guild within 30 days of first em- 
ployment, based on decision by 
NLRB counsel Robert Denham, 
was agreed upon by the Guild and 
the Association of Motion Picture 
Producers. Unless there's a ruling 
to the contrary, this will be incor- 
porated into the new union shop 
pact with actors. >, 

AMPP has been seeking inter- 
pretation of the 30-day clause in 
the Taft-Hartley law to determine 
how it is applicable to newcomers 
in the film acting field. SAG was 
particularly anxious since, if it 
meant 30 days on one job. the 
field would have been overrun by 
non-union thesps. 



Mpk Indies Nix Upped 
Film Rentals Despite 
Faster Availabilities 

Minneapolis, Aug. 10. 
Minneapolis independent neigh- 
borhood exhibitors continue to re- 
sist higher film rentals by remain- 
ing aloof frohi the earlier availa- 
bility deals offered to them by 
20th-Fox and Metro. The deals 
would cut down their availability 
from the present 56 to 28 days. 
The only local neighborhood house 
that up to now has been enjoying 
the 28-day clearance is the Min- 
nesota Amusement Co. (Para-, 
mount) • uptown. 

The 28 -day availability deal, 
offered so far to only a few of the 
independents in different areas of 
the city, calls for percentage and 
requires a boost' in admission from 
44c to 60c and six days' playing 
time for the highest bracketed 
pictures and five days for others. 
The houses now have two and 
changes a week. 

One thing holding back the ex- 
hibitors is the fact that other 
major distributors haven't yet de- 
cided on similar deals, assuring 
them of sufficient product on the 
same basis. However, Bennie 
Berger, president of North Cen- 
tral Allied, as spokesman for the 
independents, declares that no 
deal involving higher film costs 
can be acceptable to local exhibi- 
tors. 



Music Powwow in N. Y. 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 

Meeting with film studio heads 
set for Chicago yesterday (9), to 
discuss new wage demands for stu- 
dio musicians has been transferred 
to New York. 

Powwows start Aug. 18. 



Metro Rushes /Yankee 
For Labor Day Release 

Hollywood, Aug, 10. 

With Red Skelton's Columbia 
starrer, "The Fuller Brush Man." 
returning high grosses, Metro is 
rushing his "A Southern Yankee," 
into release ahead of its original 
schedule to cash in on the success 
of the Columbia film. 

"Yankee" will hit the screen in 
as many key spots as possible on 
Labor Day. Studio had planned to 
release it late in October. 



PtiLKIETY 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 




LINDA 



ANNE 



WILDE 



DARNELL 1 BAXTER 



A 



KIRK 

DOUGLAS 




This is 
smart sho 
country are 
Star Power of 




f 





llliilil 



BETTY . DOUGLAS 

GRABLE h FAIRBANKS 



the type of lobby 
wmen across the 
using to sell the 
"Star Month"! 




1 



8 



FILM REVIEWS 



Wednesday, August II, 1948 



A Soul hern .Yankee;. ■■ 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

Metro release «£ Paul Jonea production. 
Stars Red Skelton,, Brian Bonlevy; features. 
Arlsne Dahl, George eoulourts, Ltoytf 
Cough, John Ireland. Minor Watson. Di- 
rected liy Edward Sedgwick. Screenplay, 
Harry Tugend.; original By Metvin Prank 
and Norman Panama; camera, Kay June-; 
editor, Ben Lewis. Tradeshown Aug, 6, 
■MS. Running time, 90 MISS. 
Aubrey i'ilinore. . ...... . . , . . , .Red Rkelton 

Kurt Devlynn . , . . . . . a . ■ »','. .Brian Donlevy 

Saliyarin ■ Weatharby. . ... .-. . . .-. . Arlene Dahl 

■Major Jack Brumman, . . .George Coulourts. 
Capt. Stev« lasted, .-.146yd Gough 

Capt, Jed Calbern John Ireland 

General Wat-kins ...Minor Watson 

Col. Weatharby. ....Charles Dingle 

Col.. Clifford M. Baker....... .. .Art Baker 

Fred Miineey'. . . ... . . . ; ... . . . v.. Reed Hadley 

Mark Haskins. . ............ .Arthur . Space 

Bortensc Bobson . ...-.Joyce Comptnn 

About the only sense "A South- 
ern Yankee" makes is that it has 
Red Skelton. That's enough. It's as 
wild and raucous a conglomeration 
of gags and belly-laughs as Skel- 
ton's recent "The Fuller Brush 
Man." The kiddies, the family and 
the general film tan will 2nd it 
bait for the risibilities and respond 
with hearts' ticket window payoff. 

\Production-wise» "Yankee** is an 
erratic jumble, puBed together 
only by a funny idea and Skelton's 
knack for clowning. That's a criti- 
cism that will mean little to these 
who lay the cash on the line at the 
boxoffice. Lack of smoothness 
probably can be attributed, to fact 
that film had two directors and 
considerable re-workiagv with Ed- 
ward Sedgwick drawing final di- 
rector credit. Again, production 
faults mean little. It has Skelton 
and sock laughs. No more is 
needed. 

Camera is seldom off Skelton as 
he presents an eager young man 
who wants to aid the Union army 
by being * spy. A lucky capture 
of the dreaded Confederate spy. 
Grey Spider, gives Skelton more 
than he bargains for. He's forced 
to go behind the Southern lines to 
deliver and pick up information 
while posing as the Spider. Natu- 
rally, there's a mush-mouthed 
daughter of the south with, whom 
Skelton is smitten. The co'n-pone 
is laid on thick as Skelton tries 
to pursue his romance, he a. hero 
and keep a whole skin. It's all 
boisterous derring-do that has the 
laughs popping a mile-a-minute. 

Harry Tagend*s -script .from the 
original by Melvin Frank and Nor- 
man Panama is loaded with situa- 
tions and gags tailored to Skel- 
ton's clowning and the uproar is 
so furiously paced that when the 
story often runs thin it doesn't 
matter. "... 

Fact that Arlene Dahl . -as,- the 
souths own magnolia blossom 
makes her footage noticeable is a 
credit to her charms. Brian Donlevy 
is lost in the shuffle as a war-prof- 
iteering Southerner: Working hard 
to hold * their own are Greorge 
Coulouris* Lloyd Gough, John Ire- 
land, Minor Watson, Art Baker* 
Beed Hadley and others. 

Hurry-scurry production was 
guided by Paul Jones with tech- 
nical assists from Ray June's por- 
tography; the art direction, score' 
and special effects. mm 



' Ijureearjr . 

Hollywood,. Augi. 5. 

Universal release ojr Leouara Goldstein 
(Aaron RosenbergV production. Stajw John 
Payne, Joan eSmlHeltf, Baa Duryea. SHClley 
Winters; feature* Dorothy Hart, Patricia 
Alphin. BteeteK by CJeerge Sttennan. 
Screenplay, Herlier* E. MargioHs-,, LoBis 
Morheim, William Bowers: from novel, 
"The Velvet Fleece,"- by .Lois M»y ana 
John Fleming.-, camera, Irving Glasabergi 
edltoj, Frank Stoss; music. Leitt Stevens., 
Previewed Auk:. 3, '18.. Banning; time. 8» 
MINS. 

Rick Maxon... , „».:■, '». . . ... .John- Payne- 

Deborah Qwens Clark Joan. CaaWeld 

Silky Randall. ............... ...Ban .Duryea, 

*0ry. ..... ...Shelley Winters 

Madeline. Borothy Hart 

Max. . it. ; „,,. . R-icoard Sober- 

Buke. , . . i. .,-.:.„. < v..;..:.B«t». o-a-trtinx 

Walter Va Hderline. Nicholas Joy 

Charlie Jordan?. . . • ....... . . i .Percy Helton 

Mr, OwenHi... .:..,.,.i..»;...'Walter GreaSK 

Waitress. . ...i...,,,...,.. .JPatricifc AlBhhtt 

Mr. MtsNulity.. ...»..,,.... .IBUorjp Antrim. 

Detective. . ......... ..v.Busw Conway 

Mechanic . . . ... vi, .. .Paul Bricegar 

Master, of. Ceremonies j ....Bon, Wilson 



Miniature Reviews 

"A Southern Yankee" (M-G),- 
Wild and wacky Bed Skelton 
comedy of a Yankee spy be- 
hind Confederate lines. 

*%arceny" Wk Snappy mel- 
odrama, glibly dialoged and 
rapidly paced. Neat dual bill 
topper for general situations. 

"Hollow Triumph" (EL). 
Good program melodrama star- 
ring Paul Henreid and Joan 
Bennett. -. 

"Miraculous Journey" 
(Color- Song) (FC). Jungle 
drama that can be sold with 
exploitation. 

"Phantom Valley" (Songs) 
(Col). Routine westerner for 
juve trade, 

"Miracle in Harlem" (SG) 
(Sepiatone-Songs). All - Negro 
film for moderate grosses in 
colored houses. 



set in. The gang leader's girl goes 
for the smoothy and makes no 
bones about it. Her amatory inter- 
est in the front man, and bis awak- 
ening love for the widow finally 
spoil the pitch. There's a slam- 
bang finish in which front man 
turns himself and the gang over to 
the police, an ending that has no 
happy-twist.. . 

John Payne does a good Job as 
the gang's front man. Joan Caul- 
field is appealing, if a bit too gul- 
lible, as the widow. Dan Duryea 
turns in his customary tight-lipped 
characterization as the brains of 
the confidence gang. Shelley Win- 
ters will capture audience fancy 
with her bold, sexy portrayal of a 
ghrl on the make for Payne. 

Nifty smaller characterizations 
are ably projected by Dorothy 
Hart, Patricia Alphin, Percy Hel- 
ton, Richard Bober, Dan OUerlihy 
and others. Helton's role is partic- 
ularly well done. 

Leonard Goldstein and his asso- 
ciate producer, Aaron Bosenberg, 
have hacked the melodrama tics 
with a strong framework. Lensing 
by . Irving Glass berg capably dis- 
plays the players audi settlings. 
With exception of one abrupt cut, 
editing is smooth and holds film to 
tight S3 minutes. Bros. 



Hallaw TriHNipK . ■ 

Eagle Lion release' at Paul Henreid pro- 
duction. Stars Henreid and Joan Bennett;- 
features Kiiuartf Franz, Leslie- Brooks. John 
Stolen. Mabel Paige. Herbert Rndley. Di- 
rected by Steve- Sekely. Screenplay. Daniel 
Puchsv based: «n Ravel by Murray Forbes; 
camera, laHa Attorn; editor; Fret! Alien ; 
mustc. Sol Kaplan. Previewed: X. S. Aos» 
5. "48. Bunninc time, S3' MESSi. 
Johrt MuBerf 

Dr. Bartosr (. Paul Henreid 

Evelyn. Itahn '. Joan Bennett 

Frederick Mutlfr. .......... .Eduard Franz 

Virginia Xiwlor;.... ........ J . J j.esBe Brooks 

Swangroa ...John Qaalen 

CharwsBUtn. . . ........ ..... .. .Mabel Palee 

•Marey Herbert Rndtey 

Cobienx.. Charles Arnt 

Aubrey, assistant Oeorre Chandler 

Artel!, manager Sid Tcmack 

Jerry.. ..... Alvin Hammer 

BEontle, ...Anre Staunton 

Clerk— .i, „....,.. . ... . ..Paul Bums 

Depnty Charles TWrtvbviage 

Howard Anderson MorKan Farley 



Miraculous Journey 

(COLOR^-ONJE SONG) . 

Film Classics release ot Slgmunft Neufeld 
niwiuction. Stars Rory CaUionn; features 
Audrey Bong, VirKWia. Grey. Directed by 
Peter Stewart. Screenplay. Fred Myton; 
camera (Clnecolor), Jack Greenhalfeh: edi- 
tor, Hotlbrook ». Todd; sonr. Bee Erody, 
Bew porter. Tradeshown K. T. Aug. 4, *». 
Running: Time 83 MIJTS. . . v ; 

Larry.,. ..Rory Calhoun 

Mary .. ■ .......... * • .Audrey Long 

Patricia. ............... ... . . ■ .Virginia Urey 

Hermit. ... , .(li orKf Cleveland 

N'lclc, . . ... . . .Jim Bannon 

iteiie ' ' . v.'. , , .-, .v.,'.. V, • .June Storey 

Kcnd'rii'ks.. , Thurston Hall 

lane. ■ . ........... .. ...... . .Carole Donne 

Co-pllot. .Tom Lane 

Bog Elame H msett 

Jimmy the Crow Hlmaeii 

The familiar theme of collecting 
a cast of characters in the midst of 
a remote jungle and watching their 
reactions while close to nature 
comprises the subject matter of 
Film Classics' most ambitious re- 
lease, "Miraculous Journey." Hand- 
somely mounted with Cinecolbr— 
one of the better jobs to date— the 
lush jungle scenery lends itself 
nicely to tinting a dualler. 

There is considerable confusion 
in character delineation for best 
story results. There are some ap- 
parent contradictions and unex- 
plainable character reversals so 
that several entities fail to stand 
up on their own; 

On a plane forced down in the 
African jungle are a powerful fi- 
nancial figure, a spoiled heiress, 
an actress, a gangster, and a blind 
girl on her way for an operation 
to restore her sight. In addition 
there's the pilot and hostess. Soon 
after their arrival, an old gent ma- 
rooned in the jungle for many 
years turns up, and shews the 
wreck survivors how to get along 
next to nature. As anticipated, 
the unsocial characters acquire hu- 
mility and a different slant on life, 
and the unregenerate gangster gets 
rubbed, out by a crocodile. They 
are eventually rescued when pilot 
Rory Calhoun makes his way out 
of toe jungle and returns to the 
wreck via helicopter. 

Calhoun, Audrey Long, latter as 
the blind ghrl, and Thurston Hall 
as the businessman, give probably 
the most consistent characteriza- 
tions of those that survive the trip. 
There's a degree of muddling in 
the writing of the others. 

The film itself can lend itself to 
exploitation that wiB hypo it be- 
yond its actual worth. There are 
several angles that can be played 
up and thus create some curiosity 
at the boxoffice. 

Peter Stewart's direction prob- 
ably stems from the indecision of 
the writers on whether they wanted 
a picture with a moral or an ac- 
tion meller. The curious mixture: 
Of both incorporated into this set- 
up doesn't lend itself to * cohesive 
story. ■:-'■•' Jose. 



"Larceny" is a good melodrama 
for general situations. Its action is 
tough and fast, toe dialog Sharp 
and the development logical, indi- 
cating neat returns. Exploitable 
theme deals with biltong of war 
widows by confidence racketeers 
and is excellently supported by 
showmanly values; 

Smooth saapting is marked by 
punchy dialog that lifts the melo- 
drama f ormula Mo attention-hold- 
ing class, and George Sherman's 
direction E$ rapid and pointed in 
building story and characteriza- 
tions. Plot is one that could easily 
have fallen apart with less able di- 
rection and scripting. 

Locale of $*r» is a small South- 
ern California city oi wealthy in- 
habitants. - A' gang vt confidence 
men move in to promote a phony 
war memorial for one of the town's 
heroes. They pick on the hero's 
widow, with the smoothy of the 
gang acting its front. The widow 
is a gullible gal and scheme moves 
forward easily until complications 



Here is a suspenseful melodrama 
that comes close to out-twisting O. 
Henry. Liberal use of irony has 
been made in "HoBow Triumph." 
But so frequently has this literary 
artifice been employed that the 
overall story takes on a contrived, 
manufactured ring. Nevertheless, 
it is well qualified to hold up its 
e ml. 

Producer of "Triumph)'' as well 
as its co-star, Paul Henreid has 
dealt himself a meaty, dual role. 
He's a renegade ex-medical stu- 
dent who caries- his coin from 
stickups and confidence games 
rather than exercise his mental 
ability in more prosaic fields. On 
the lam with a big haul from a ca- 
sino robbery, he discovers a promi- 
nent psychiatrist is a dead-ringer 
for bis phis.: Henreid rubs out his 
double and assumes the latier's 
name as a sure means of shaking 
off pursuit by the casino operator, 
Preparatory* to carrying ou.t the 
impersonation, he romantically cul- 
tivates the physician's secretary, 
Joan Bennett. Later she becomes 
wfee to the switch when it's exe- 
cuted, but her philosophic analysis 
of the situation prevents her from 
exposing him as an imposter. : ... 
! ' Eventually the Taw of retribution 
asserts itself when Henreid himself 
is Idffled--kUled by gunmen as- 
signed toknq£k off the psychiatrist, 
: aU:. unsuccessful gambler to- - his. 
after-office hours. 

Also on the credit side are good 
product!©* values and the marquee 
garnish afforded by the Henreid- 
Bennett combo. Former star turns 
-. kit a believable performance in por- 
traying both his parts. Miss Bennett 
isn't afforded the opportunity tor 
any fancy Mstrioufes, ba*dees*iefe 
a ,S a pretty secretary who's been 
short-changed on romance. - Sup- 
porting players aid $m sustaining 
the film's mood. Steve Sekely's di- 
rection is good as is the camera- 
work of John Alton. Gilb. 



Phantom Wmttmy 

(SONGS) 

Columbia release of Colbert Cjlarfic produc- 
tion. Stars Charles Starrett. Directed by 
Ray Nazarro. Original screenplay. J. Ben- 
ton Cheney; camera, George F. Kelly; edi- 
tor, Paul Borof sky J songs, SmUey Buraette. 
At New York, N. T„ Aug. 3, "4S. Running 
time, 53 MISTS. 

Durango Kid. . . .... . . ... . .Charles- Starrett 

Smiley. Smiley Bumette- 

Janlce MUleJohn. .... . . . . . .Virginia- Hunter 

Sam Uttlejotaa. ...... ..... ,.K«t Franklin 

Bob Reynolds. ...»..,. ..Robert W, Jfllmer 

Crag Parker Mike Conrad 

Frazer, .Don. Murray 

Jim Umrant ..Sfcxn Flint 

Ben Tnuebold « Freol Seats 



Champagne Charlie 

"Champagne Charlie" Brit- 
ish-made musical which 
opened at the Park Ave. thea- 
tre, N. Y., Friday 17) was pro- 
duced by Michael Balcon, and 
is being released in the U. S. 
by Bell pictures, Jolo, who re- 
viewed the picture for Variety 
from London Sept. 13, 1944, 
felt that it "might find some 
favor in America." 
■; Film stars Tommy Trinder 
in the role of George Ley- 
bourne, one of Britain's ace 
singing comics of the late '60s. 
Pic gives a clear depiction Of 
backstage life during the early 
days of English vaudeville, 
with direction and production 
helping general effectiveness. 



Miracle in Harlem 

(SEPIATONE— SONGS) 
Screen Guild release of Herald Pictures 
production by Jack Goldberg. Features 
Sheila: Cuyse, Stepin Fetchit. Directed by 
Jack Kemp. Screenplay, Vincent Valen- 
tin!; camera, Don Melkames; music. John 
Gluskin. At Apollo, N. T-. week Aug. 6, 
"<8. Running time, 89 MISS. '..'■■■' 

Julie Weston .Sheila Guyse 

Switty . , .Stepin Fatchlt 

Aunt Hattie.. ..... . -Hilda. OK ley 

Reyererol Jackson. .....erelghton Thompson 

Jim 3SraxshaR. ......i .. ...... .Kenneth. Freeman 

Bert Hallam William Greaves 

Alice Adams, Sybyl Lewis 

Albert Marshall' . Lawrence Criner 

PWIUp. Stanley.. .......... .....Jack Carter 

Wilkinson. Milton Williams 

1*. Renard ....... ... Monte Hawley 

Detectives Ruble Blakey, Alfred Chester 

Specialties by Savannah Churchill. Juanita 
Hall Choir. Mvada Carter, Norma Shep- 
herd. Lynn- Proctor Trio. 



language barrier, the elucidation 
merely serves to focus more em- 
phasis on the dull yarn. 

Picture boils down to a charac- 
ter study Of Enrique Muino, a one- 
time symphony conductor, who 
sought, and temporarily found 
anonymity after the death of his 
ballerina daughter, Linda Lorena 
While working as a night watch- 
man in an opera house, Muino be- 
comes acquainted with Garzay an4 
for a time acts as his mentor. Later 
the watchman's true identity js 
revealed,' '-..' : ": 

Cast in the meatiest role, Muino, 
delivers a ponderous and stiff in- 
terpretation of the conscience- 
stricken conductor. So gruff and 
crotchety is his demeanor that sel- 
dom has he the audience's sym- 
pathy. Garzay is relatively color- 
less as the pianist although his 
solos on the instrument afford 
some of the few high spots in the 
film. Other of the pic's more inter- 
esting passages are scenes of the 
famed puppets of Podreeca and 
the orchestra and ballet of the 
Buenos Aires Philharmonic. 

Supporting players are generally 
lustreless with the exception of 
Xtalo Bertini who manages to inject 
some authenticity into the part of 
the opera house manager, Hugo 
Fregonese's direction is. heavy- 
handed Both production values 
and Jose M. Beltran*s camerawork 
are fair. Writers Ulysses Petit de 
MUrat and Bomero Manzi had a 
difficult subject to begin with. 
Their treatment doesn't make the 
theme any more plausible. Gilb. 



Latest in the Burango Kid series 
starring Charles Starrett, "Phanh 
fom . Yalley'* gallops down a fa- 
miliar trail of that-a-way chases 
and hard six-shooting. In all re- 
spects, film is an assembly-line 
oatuner cranked out for the juve 
trade for which it will serve as 
okay fare. . ■■■•■■■■; 

Pruned down to an economical 
53 minutes, yarn concerns a feud 
between two gangs of ranchers and 
homesteaders with Starrett trying 
to maintain the peace as marshal. 
Some varmint, however, keeps stir- 
ring up trouble in an attempt to 
become baron of the valley . Finger 
of suspicion points at several prom- 
inent, citizens but surprise climax 
reveals an innocent-looking gal as 
the culprit. HngaBantls, Starrett 
shoots her in the hack to save the 
state time and trouble. 

Starrett registers effectively as a 
square-jawed cowboy hero. Offer- 
ing a broad type of comedy relief , 
Smiley Burnette also neatly war- 
bles a couple of buckskin ballads 
with help of a good male quartet. 
Virginia. Hunter is okay as the 
heavy, while rest of the cast is ade- 
quate in stock parts. Herm. 



Herald Films, having produced a 
string of pictures with all-Negro 
casts, has apparently gotten itself 
into a groove from which it makes 
few departures: Formula of endow- 
ing a meller with musical se- 
quences has been successful up to 
a point. However, that point as 
demonstrated in "Miracle in Har- 
lem" has been worn down to the 
degree where some new departures 
are necessary if there's to be any 
respect from Negro audiences for 
film product with all-Negro casts. 

The opening night audiences at 
Harlem's Apollo theatre didn't 
take too kindly to "Made in 
Harlem." Sequences which were 
intended to impart a warm glow 
were actually laughed at, and the 
gauche acting, directing and pro- 
duction were never taken seriously 
at any point. 

Particularly appalling is the 
story hue which drags religious 
themes info a routine murder yarn. 
Plot deals with an elderly widow 
who runs a candy shop which is 
taken Over by a syndicate. After 
the widow and foster daughter are 
swindled out of the property, head 
of the syndicate is murdered and 
the foster-daughter is. a prime sus- 
pect. She's ultimately cleared with 
the aid of a few implausible de- 
vices. ■■■,:.■ 

Herald has been using virtually 
a stock company with Sheila Guyse 
playing the lead in aB their pic- 
tures. She's just about adequate 
for the assignment, while Hilda 
Offley shapes up a little better as 
the widow. Creighton Thompson, 
Wuliam Greaves and Kenneth 
Freeman do okay in supporting 
roles, while Stepin Fetchit man- 
ages some laughs as the slow-mov- 
ing handy man . 

The musical numbers are better 
handled than is the story. Savan- 
nah Churchill,. Norma Shepherd 
and the Juanita Hall Choir pro- 
vide tuneful relief in the pro- 
ceedings. 

Don Melkames' photography is 
passable. Dialog runs along well- 
established cliches. Jose. 



Puerto Kico Pix Grosses 
Off 25% from War Peak 

Tastes and "picture-going habits 
of Puerto Ricans are so different 
than those of UJS. film patrons, 
according to Rafael Bamos Cobian, 
pasty of Cobian Theatres, Inc., a 
circuit of some 42 houses through- 
out Puerto Rico. In New York for 
the past two weeks, Cobian said 
that his grosses were off about 25% 
from the wartime peak. 



Where Words Full 

(Donde Mueren las Palabras) 

::;,;-■-;,: (argentine* . ■ 

topert Films release of Artists*. Argen- 
ffinos Associados production. Stars; Burtons 
Maino; features Carlo Garzay, Italo Ber- 
troi. Directed by Hugo Pregonese. Slcreen- 
play, Ulysses Petit de Murat, Homero 
Mansij camera, Jose M. Beitran. Pre. 
BsSras' July - 28 t '4- BUnntos ttoie 
Victurio.. .... ... , . . ...... , Enrique 3*ulno 

S«2S" • ' * •..•■• -Itato Bertini 

Rogella. Hector Memjez 

onrai.. Dario Garzay 

Fertera. ..Linda- Lorena 

MaHa. ..................... . Amelia. Ferrer 

iRiSgSLr ■'- Rene Kngica 

Boletero-.,... . , ,., ,,.,.»a.blo Cteno 

Au - r ° 1 ? 1 - »..,« ....... i.y,. . .MariR. Hurtado 

••«».►*. , . Jose- A. Vansuez 

Director. .. . , .KnElime Ferraro 
Primerai Ballei'lnn Maria HuanoVa 

'■ This Argentine import is somber 
film fare whose boxoffice poten- 
tialities are- decidedly meagre. Its 
strong musical background, but- 
tressed with time-honored selec- 
tor from Bach, Beethoven, 
Chopin, et al., may prove draw to 
some music lovers but a confused 
and gloomy plot militates against 
the picture's effectiveness as enter- 
tainment. 

. ToW principally in flashback, 
"Where Words Fail" recounts the 
early struggles in the career of 
concert pianist Dario Garzay. A 
technique of using Garzay's voice 
in English to supply an explanatory 
narration supplements the printed 
English titles. But while this trans- 
lator method capably hurdles the 



En Svensk Tiger 

(A Swedish Tiger) 
(SWEDISH) - 
Stockholm, July 27. 

KungstSIm AB prodaetinn and -relesse. 
Stars Kdvin Ailolphson, Mmrgareta Fahlenj 
"features Sven Undberjr. riirected by 6us- 
taf Kdgren. Screenplay. Oscar Ry«l«ivist, 
Gustav Edgren: camera. Martin Boilin. 
At Spegeln, Stockholm. Running time, M 
-MISS. 

Johasi Tiger......... . . . .Bdvin AdoIphcsoK 

General l.ucky,. ....... ..BOvin Adolphssom 

T-ena Antlersson Margareta, Fahlen 

Kurt Moller • .Sven IJndgren 

Hanna AntlerSson-Tlger. .^larianne I^jfgren 

Wolff. ..Gunnur Bjornstrand 

Dickman. .Arnold Rjostrand 

Gaptair* Andersson Erik Berghind 

Leonard- Stromlund. ....... Fritlof Billquist 

Swedish Minister. OloC Wirinerstranti 

Endahl . . .... Tore! Stal 

VttUkB Fredriksson txouglas Hag* 

Ktara. ................ i .Suit Natoqs 

Police Inspector. Henrik SemWt 

British: GeneraL. ........ ..Gosta «'>deriur.«l 

British Oaieer. Stan DJerf 

Sue Lieutenant...,., ..Peter Winner 

One of better films produced by 
the Swedish industry, "En Svensk 
Tiger" is a gripping espionage yarn 
revolving around the work done 
by agents of three countries in the 
past war. A dash of comedy helps 
in change of pace. Grosses on this 
entry will be surefire in Scandi- 
navia and the picture's overall ex- 
cellence makes it a prospect for 
the international market 

Despite an involved plot, the 
story threads are woven together 
well by scripters Oscar Bydqvist 
and Gustav Edgren. In essence the 
tale is built around the efforts of 
the British to mask Gen. Mont' 
gomery*s movements prior to the 
European invasion. Edvin Adolphs- 
son, a Swedish actor, is hired to 
impersonate the general in North 
Africa to mislead the' Germans. 
With that mission accomplished, 
Adolphsson becomes snared in 
further intrigue as a passenger on 
a Swedish ship which the Germans 
are seeking to blow up through 
their agent, Sven Lindgren. 

There are some minor story 
flaws and several action sequences 
are far-fetched. 

As the actor who portrays Gen.- 
Montgomery, Adolphsson is cred- 
ible enough in handling his dual 
role. Supporting performances 
measure up. Lindberg contribs an 
able interpretation as German 
agent. Margareta Fahlen, cast as 
a Swedish counter-spy, registers 
weB. Gustav Edgren, .who collabor- 
ated on the script with Bydqvist, , 
cleverly directed the film while 
camerawork of Martin Bodin also 
is good. , 



Sid Lust Cuts D C. Arty 
To 65c as B.O. Hypo Test 

Washington, Aug. 10. 

Adding to the scattered shots- of 
admission tab cuts around the 
country, the Hippodrome, operated 
by Sidney Lust, has slashed its 
prices fix the first fiJm house cut 
in the last year. last price cut in 
D.C occurred when the Warner 
dropped its stage shows. The last 
price cut made independently of 
operating expenses, however, was 
made before the war.' 

Dropping to 65c, as against the 
previous 85c. evening top, Lust 
execs said they were experiment- 
ing with the reduced prices to see 
if added business would make up 
the difference. The Hippodrome is 
an art house specializing in foreign 
pix and revivals. Reductions are 
not planned for any of the other 
local Lust theatres. 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



PICTURES-TV 



THREE TYPES OF FILM BUDGETS 



Distribs Deny Exhibs' Charges 
Anent Block Booking, But- 



Charges by exhib organizations* — 



recently that major distribs "are 
gradually returning-to block book- 
ing is denied by top homeoffice 
sales execs. They're not returning 
to the old mass selling methods, 
they declare, because — aside from 
legal prohibitions — peddling of 
each picture individually is more 
profitable. 

They do admit that, however, on 
subsequent runs, salesmen fre- 
quently sell four, five or more films 
at one time. This, they maintain, 
is merely a matter of convenience, 
but that each picture is on a sepa- 
rate contract and, in compliance 
with terms of the anti-trust de- 
cree, the sales of one film is not 
contingent on an exhib buying any 
other. 

Likewise admitted are occasional 
over-exuberances by salesmen in 
the field. It is entirely possible, 
distrib execs say, in that working 
out a deal a salesmen may shade 
the terms on one film in order to 
close a contract on another. De- 
spite the strict instructions from 
the h.o. that they are not to in- 
dulge in this practice, it is in- 
evitable, it is said, when two men 
sit across a desk working out a 
deal. 

Exhib complaints concerning ef- 
forts at block-selling have been 
rare, sales chiefs state, with the re- 
cent disclosure of a number of 
specific instances in an Allied bul- 
letin the first public squawk. What 
few complaints there have been 
have been made to branch mana- 
gers and quickly adjusted on a lo- 
cal level. 

Accent on Subsequents 

Any block selling of this brand 
that has taken place has applied 
only to subsequents, it is said. The 
later the run, the more likely it is. 
It results from the fact that the 
branches, to keep step with avail- 
abilities, naturally sell the big first- 
run accounts first. This frequently 
causes four or five pix to pile up 
before a salesman has a chance to 
get around to the later runs. When 
he does, as a matter of conveni- 
ence, he makes contracts for all 
available films at one time. 

It is admitted by some majors 
that the visits by salesmen to late- 
run exhibs have been getting far- 
ther and farther apart. Instead of 
calling on them perhaps once a 
month, the salesman may get 
around only once in two or three 
months. This saves him time and 
trouble by giving him a multiplic- 
ity of pix to peddle at one swoop, 
and has perhaps brought about the 
charges of block selling, distribs 
declare. 

Since every film must be trade- 
shown before it can be offered an 
exhib, the old style block booking 
and blind buying of a whole sea- 
son's product in advance is im- 
possible. Distribs make every ef- 
fort to tradeshow pix early, so 
salesmen can start getting their 
contracts as soon as possible, but 
it is physically impossible for more 
than a handful of films to pile up. 



Albany Zone's $10,000 
Goal for Saranac Drive 

Albany, Aug. 10. 
Drawings in the $5,000-value 
giveaways now being promoted in 
the Albany exchange district for 
the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital 
will take place at a film dance in 
the ballroom of the Ten Eyck hotel 
Nov. 6. Jack Bullwinkle, chairman 
of the ticket committee, and 
Charles A. Smakwitz, head of the 
theatres section, are in charge. Tap 
is $3. 

Some 1,500 books of tickets were 
distributed at a meeting of branch 
managers and salesmen in the 20th- 
Fox projection room last week. 

A Buick sedan will be the top 
prize among 25. General Chair- 
man Rav Smith hopes to raise 
$10,000 as the district's contribu- 
tion to the national goal of $170 - 
000 for the Saranac Lake Hospital. 
Now operating at . half capacity, 
due to limited funds, it will be 
closed on Oct. 31, unless fresh 
money is raised. 



Krushen's Bally Trek On 
2 UAers for SW Preems 

Mori Krushen, United Artists ex- 
ploitation chief, left New York for 
Dallas Monday (9) to put the 
finishing touches on the campaign 
for the four-state preem of "Red 
River." Film will have the first of 
some 250-300 engagements Aug. 26 
in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico 
and Kansas houses. 

Krushen will be away a week. 
While there, he'll also eye the 
world preem of "Texas, Brooklyn 
and Heaven" at the Palace, DaUas, 
tomorrow (Thursday). Guy Madi- 
son and producers Edward and 
Robert Golden are expected to be 
on hand. 



M-€'s 'Foolproof 
Bidding System 

Metro has swung into a "fool- 
proof" system of selecting winning 
bidders in those- 150 situations 
where it sells its product competi- 
tively, William F. Rodgers, com- 
pany's distribution' veepee, dis- 
closed this week. Adopting a 
technique used by U. S. Govern- 
ment agencies on bids to avoid 
leaks, Rodgers has ordered all ex- 
changes to keep bids sealed until 
one day past the deadline. They 
must then be opened in the pres- 
ence of more than one exchange 
official. 

While not so stating directly, the 
Metro topper intimated that some 
exhibs previously may have been 
tipped off as to previously turned 
in offers of competitors. There 
have been instances in the past, 
Rodgers explained, where bids 
proffered a half-hour before dead- 
line beat out rivals by a mere frac- 
tion. Metro's action, he said, "is 
to assure exhibitors that there is 
no danger of a leak and to con- 
vince them that they'll get a fair 
shake." 

Attacking the impression of "some 
people that we have a bonanza" 
in competitive bidding, Rodg- 
ers said his company had no real 
evidence that the method means 
higher rentals. Real reason for 
the use of bids is to solve the 
product problem in troublesome 
areas, he stated. "We do not seek 
(Continued on page 18) 



UA DISTRIBS 2D ISRAEL 
SHORT, 20TH HAS 1ST 

Second documentary one-reeler, 
"Israel Today," produced by 
Palestine Films, will be released in 
the U. S. on a regular commercial 
basis by United Artists. Deal for 
permanent handling of the docu- 
mentaries by UA is currently pend- 
ing upon confabs between Norman 
Lurie, head of Palestine Films, and 
Joseph Krumgold for a financial 
setup to insure continued produc- 
tion of the reels. 

Initial film by the Palestine out- 
fit, is now being distributed on a 
gratis basis to exhibs by 20th-Fox. 
Spyros P. Skouras, 20th prexy, had 
to receive special permission from 
Richard de Rochemont, March of 
Time producer, to issue the Pales- 
tine film on a one-shot basis. Un- 
der new setup, UA will only give 
physical distribution for the sh*rt, 
with Jewish organizations in the 
U. S. to do the selling to nabe 
exhibs for a flat fee. 



Darnell in Tire' 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

Linda Darnell will star in "Fire," 
based on the Random House book 
of the month selection- authored 
by George R. Stewart and pur- 
chased last week by Sam Engel 
for 20th-Fox. 

Story will be made as a factual 
film with the cooperation of the 
U.S. Department of Forestry. 



G'S TO A'S RANGE 
IMG PLUS 

Industry observers see films 
gradually dividing themselves into 
three distinct budget categories — 
those that cost $100,000 to $125,000, 
those that come in at $400,000 to 
$600,000, and those that hit the 
cash drawer for $750,000 and over. 

General distinctions along this 
line have always existed, it's said, 
but have recently become very 
sharp with costs up, the domestic 
b.o. soft and the foreign market 
questionable. Thus, a producer 
must definitely decide what he's 
going to aim for and keep his budg- 
et closely in line with that aim. 

The lowest category has a certain 
beauty about it' as far as either 
indie producers ' or • major lots are 
concerned. That is that they have 
very little chance of losing money. 
No matter how bad they are — with- 
in reasonable limits, of course— 
they'll turn in rentals of $200,000 
to $250,000, the same as better pix 
in the category that are handled by 
one of the more important distribu- 
tion outfits, whether major or 
minor. 

On the other hand, just as the 
losses are limited, so are the 
profits. These "C" films, unlike 
those in the $400,000 - $600,000 
group, find it impossible to rise 
above their class. They are defi- 
nitely limited in the number and 
type of theatres they can play and 
no amount of salesmanship or ex- 
ploitation can do much to improve 
their grosses. The $20'0,000-$250,000 
(Continued on page 24) 



Pars TV Fib 
Pickup Now Down 
To 20 Seconds 



After more than two years of 
intensive engineering research and' 
experiments, Paramount has its 
Intermediate film - wide screen 
television perfected to such a de- 
gree that it is virtually simul- 
taneous with" actual televising of 
a public event. Recent tests have 
shown an actual time lapse of 
only 20 seconds between the time 
the event is picked up by TV 
camera and when it is actually, 
shown via film on a theatre's 
screen. Previously the best time 
was a little under 60 seconds. This 
means that Par is able to pick up 
a TV event on film negative, have 
the picture developed and ready 
to project on the screen within 
a space of less than third of a 
minute. 

Marvel of this new achievement 
is that such quick reproduction is 
done without distortion, televised 
event coming out with rare fidel- 
ity, just as picked up by the TV 
camera. Previously, faster time 
than 60 seconds had been made 
with the Par Intermediate film 
method but it did not show up on 
the screen with the required 
clarity. 

New achievement means that 
Paramount is the first major pic- 
ture company to have wide-screen 
(Continued on page 16) 



n 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 
Eclipse Productions has been 
formed by Dorothy Colin with 
Michael Colin as executive pro- 
ducer and Leslie Urbach as dialog 
director. Firm will make television 
films. 

First telepic is a 'comedy, 
mystery half-hour show featuring 
a husband and wife team and a 
missing clue gimmick for audience 
participation. Jeff Corey, Keith 
Hetherington, Joe Warfield, Martha 
Montgomery, Kay Christopher and 
Dana Knight appear in film which 
Floyd Crosby lensed and Lee Loeb 
scripted. 



Rank Set to Launch Big-Screen TV 
In His Bid for World Video Lead 



Coslow-Frank's Musical 
Shorts Series for NBC-TV 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

Sam Coslow and George Frank 
last week inked a deal with NBC 
Television calling for delivery of a 
series of musical shorts. NBC pre- 
viously had entered into a similar 
agreement with Jerry Fairbanks, 
who is turning out a batch of 
dramatic pix for the net. 

With their new firm recently in- 
corporated as Telefeatures, Inc., 
prexy Frank and veepee-producer 
Coslow will go into production this 
month at" the Nassour Studios. 
Their first short will be a two- 
reeler tagged "Hollywood Brevi- 
ties," using a revue format Coslow 
is also filming an untitled full- 
length musical at the same lot in 
association with Noel Clarke for 
United Artists release. 

Shooting starts Aug. 26. Joseph 
Be~ne will direct 



Chi Houses Plan 
TV Into Theatres 



Chicago, Aug. 10. 

Chicago's leading theatre cir- 
cuits will install large screen 
video in Loop film houses this fall. 
Balaban & Katz chain have ordered 
66-second, telefilm - developing, 
processers and will show special 
events taken off the tele receiver, 
mainly from WBKB, the B&K- 
owned station. First theatre will 
probably be the Chicago, with 
other installations following. Cir- 
cuit will also use film flown from 
New York and Paramount's Hol- 
lywood, KTLA. 

Essaness Theatres, operator of 
the Oriental and Wood, is also con- 
templating special video projec- 
tions, and will probably use the 
Oriental, 3,400-seater. Essaness 
has no present tiein with any video 
station but it figures it will get the 
right of projection from one. or all 
of the network operations which 
are due on the air here within the 
next few months. RKO, which 
operates the Grand and Palace, has 
no immediate plans for theatre 
tele showings and neither docs 
Warner Bros.' local circuit. 



'PARADE' ESTABLISHES 
STATE'S NEW POLICY 

With "Easter Parade" racking 
up over $300,000, unprecedented 
gross for the theatre, at Loew's 
State, N. Y., in the first six weeks, 
Metro is convinced that a high- 
scale policy with topflight produc- 
tions is feasible at this former 
vaudfilm house. Big "if" of course, 
is whether the studios can con- 
tinue turning out big enough pic- 
tures to fill requirements. "Three 
Musketeers" (also M-G) opens La- 
bor Day weekend. 

One thing that "Parade" has 
done for the State is to set it up 
in the public's mind as a class de- 
luxer with higher scale and big pic- 
tures. Earlier weeks in run of 
"Parade" found considerable re- 
sistance to higher prices since the 
State seldom got more than $1.25 
top. In fact, it was this resistance 
that prompted the management to 
eliminate the $1.80 maximum for 
weekends after the first week. 



'Thunder' Starts Stephens' 
12 Picture Deal With SG 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. ' 

William Stephens opens his 12- 
picture production deal for Screen 
Guild release with "Thunder in 
the Pines," starting Aug. 25, on 
the Nassour lot. 

Second of the dozen will be 
"The Banana Fleet," based on a 
story by John Wilste, and third 
will be "Three-Alarm Fire," au- 
thored by Arthur Caesar. 



London, Aug. 3. 
Waiting for the go sign from the 
British government, J. Arthur 
Rank is all set to launch big-screen 
television, in his picture houses 
and to secure for Britain the lead 
in world video. 

From his experimental station 
on the site of the old Crystal 
Palace; Bank is daily transmitting 
to a specially equipped cinema in 
Bromley, Kent a few miles away, 
for which an experimental license 
has been granted. 

To this picture house Rank has 
taken Herbert Morrison, M.P., 
Lord President of the Council and 
right-hand man of Premier Attlee. 
Morrison's report to fellow mem- 
bers of the Cabinet of the excel- 
lence of the picture, which rivals 
the film for clarity, may lead to 
prodding of the government's Tele- 
vision Advisory Committee. 

For more than two years this 
committee has been talking around 
the problem, but has failed to re- 
solve different viewpoints within 
the industry, particular stumbling 
block being attitude of exhibs who 
fear growth of video might put 
them out of business. 

While sympathetic to this exhib 
viewpoint and not wanting to fall 
out with them, it is believed Hank 
is willing to talk a deal with the 
British Broadcasting Corp. on the 
supply of films if they'll give him 
the okay to go ahead with his big 
screen in some of his West End 
theatres, Once he gets that okay, 
Rank reckons he could equip the 
first theatre — probably the Tatler 
in Charing Cross Road — in three 
or four weeks*and others could be 
readied at short notice. 

Rank's policy on provision of 
films to the BBC, while breaking 
the barrier that exists at the mo-* 
ment, wouldn't cut across the in- 
terests of theatre owners, but 
would be to supply educational arid 
travel shorts which could he used 
to supplement the afternoon pro- 
grams put on for the benefit of 
youngsters. Occasionally, permis- 
sion might be given for a film to 
have its preem over the air, but 
that wouldn't be done unless the 
prior consent of the industry was 
obtained. 

Over $l,0M,»et> Outlay 
Since the end of the war, Rank 
has sunk a fortune in his television 
experiments and conservative esti- 
mates place the figure at consider- 
ably in excess of $1,000,000. A 
greenlight from the government 
now would involve considerable- 
expenditure, but would also give 
him an opportunity of recouping 
some of his cash by manufacturing 
transmission and other equipment 
for the wide-open export markets. 

In addition to their work on per- 
fecting the big screen, the back- 
room boys working at the research 
labs at Crystal Palace have mas- 
tered the method of canning tele- 
vision pictures as they, are re- 
ceived, thus enabling topical 
events, photographed through 
video cameras, to be screened at 
any time in the same way as news- 
reels. 

Details of the way in which the 
Rank Organization would use the 
television medium in its theatres 
have still to be worked out, hut as 
seen at the moment would be com- 
plementary to the film program, 
although actual films would be tele- 
vised instead of being run through 
the projection box. 



Lund Switching Roles 
In Paramount's 'Mask' 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

Paramount is shifting John 
Lund, originally cast in a sec- 
ondary spot in "A Mask for Lu- 
cretia," to the top role of Caesar 
Borgia, Which Ray Milland ducked 
and drew a consequent suspension 
from the payroll. 

Lund recently impressed the 
studio toppers by his work in "A 
Foreign Affair" and "The Tatlock 
Millions." Filming of "Lucretia," 
delayed by the Milland suspea- 
sion, starts Aug. 26. 



"BEYOND GLORY ALAN LADD - DONNA REED ^george macready 

GEORGE COULOURIS • HAROLD VERMILYEA • HEN$Y TR AVERS • produced by ROBERT FELLOWS * „„ JOHN FARROW 

Original Screenplay by Jonathan lotimer. Chart** Marqoit Warren anil William WUter Haine* 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



PICTURE GROSSES 



11 



Chi Still Brisk; Heidt Amateurs 
Help life,' Rousing $70,000, 'Island' 
30G S Teudin" 15G, Belle No Lulu 9G 



Chicago, Aug. 10. + 
The Loop is entering its fourth I 
week of sock business with the 
Oriental taking over leadership 
from (he Chicago. Former looks 
great $70,000 with "Time Of Your 
Life" and Horace Heidt amateurs 
on stage. "On An Island With You" 
at Slate-Lake appears strong at 
$30,000. "Feudin', Fightin' " is 
neanng neat $15,000 at Grand. 
"Lulu Belle" at the Apollo doesn't 
look good at $9,000. 

Holdovers are strongest in six 
months, with "Emperor Waltz" in 
fourth week leading at hefty $47,- 
000. "Paradine Case" ending its 
fifth at the Woods looks staunch 
$18,000. "Melody Time" at Palace, 
in second week* still is solid with 
$18,000. "So Evil My Love" shapes 
fair $14,000 at United Artists for 
second week. 

Estimates for This Week 

Apollo (B&K) (1,400; 50-98) — 
"Lulu Belle" (Col). Light $9,000. 
Last week, "Dude Goes West" 
(Mono) and "Wouldn't Be In Your 
Shoes" (Mono), $7,000. 

Chicago (B&K> (3,900; 50-98) — 
"Emperor Waltz" (Part with Har- 
monieats oustage (4th wk). Solid 
$47,000. Last week, $52,000. 

Garrick (B&K) (900; 50-85) — 
"Hired Wife" (U) and "Told That 
Ghost" (U) (reissues). Mild $7,500. 
Last week, "Next Time We Love" 
(U) and "High Seas" (Col) (re- 
issues i, $7,500. 

Grand (RKO) (1,500; 50-98) — 
"Feudin', Fussin* " (U). Trim $15,- 
000. Last week, "Big City" (M-G), 
$12,000. 

Oriental (Essaness) (3,400; 50-98) 
—-"Time of Life" (UA) with Horace 
Heidt's amateurs on stage. Gigan- 
tic $70,000. Last week, "Street 
With No Name" (20th) with Keenan 
Wynn topping stagebill (2d wk), 
fine $46,000. 

Palace (RKO) (2,500; 50-98)— 
"Melody Time" (RKO) (2d wk). 
Tidy $18,000. Last week big 
$26,000. 

Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500; 50-98)— 
"Best Years" (RKO) (2d wk). Mod- 
est $11,000. Last- week, okay $14,- 
500 

State-Lake (B&K) (2,700; 50-98) 
—"On Island With You" (M-G>. 
Nifty $30,000. Last week, "Key 
Largo" (WB) (2d wk), big $24,000. 

United Artists (B&K) (1,700; 50- 
98 1 — "So Evil My Love" (Par) (2d 
wk). Fair $14,000. Last week good 
$17,500. 

Woods (Essaness) (1,073; 98) — 
"Paradine Case" (SRO) (5th wk). 
Final week looks strong $18,000. 
Last week, $21,000. 

World (Indie) (587; 77)— "Kings 
Jester" (Indie). (3d wk). Trim 
$2,400. Last week, $3,000. 

'So Evil' Good $19,000 In 
St. Loo; 'Street' Dull 18G 

St. Louis, Aug. 10. 
Combo of cool weather and new 
screen fare is not sufficient to off- 
set slack biz at the cinemas here 
this week. "So Evil My Love," with 
a nod from the crix, is headed for 
the best take. "Time of Your 
Lite'' is runnerup and nearly as 
solid. 

Estimates for This Week 
Ambassador (F&M) (3,000; 50-75) 
—"So Evil My Love" (Par) and 
"King of Gamblers" (Rep). Nice 
$19,000. Last week, "Deep Waters" 
(20th i and "Mine Own Execution- 
eer" (20th) mild $15,000. 

Fox (F&M) (5.O00; 50-75)— "Win- 
ner's Circle" (20th) and "Street No 
Name" (20th). Modest $18,000. Last 
week. "Key Largo" (WB) and 
"Checkered Coat" (20th) (2d wk), 
sock $24,000. „ 

Loew's (Loew) (3,172; 50-75) — 
"Time of Life" (UA) and "Thunder- 
hoof" (Col). Trim $18,000. Last 
week, "On Merry Way" (UA) and 
"Dragnet" (SG), $18,000. 

Missouri (F&M) (3,500; 50-7o>— - 
"Fuller Brush Man" (Col), and 
"Fort Apache" (RKO) (m.o \ (3d 
Wk). Fine $8,000 after $10,000 for 
second session. 

Orpheiim (Loew) (2,000; 50-75 - 
"Easter Parade" (M-G). (m.o.) <2d 
Wk). Fast $8,500 following fine 
$11,000 opener. 

St. Louis (F&M) (4,000; 50-60)— 
"Bambi" (RKO) and "Arizona 
Ranger" (reissues) (RKO). Mild 
$6,000. Last week, "Happened One 
Night" (Col) and "Penny Serenade 
(CoK (reissues), $7,000. 

Shuhert (fed) (1.500; 40-60 — 
"Flowing Gold" (WB). and "City »f 
Conquest" (WB) (reissues) 
$5,000. Last week, 
(RKO) (m.o.) same. 



Broadway Grosses 

Estimated Total Gross 

Last Week $571,000 

(Based on 14 theatres) 

Last Year . .$697,000 

(Basea on 18 theatres ) 



'Paradine' Best 
Bet in DX., $23, 



Washington, Aug. 10. 
"Mr. Blandings Dream House" 
promotion campaign caught on well 
here to push it to big opening 
frame at Keith's and a healthy 
second week currently. "Paradine 
Case" looks top newcomer with 
sock round at the Palace. "Deep 
Waters" looks excellent at the Cap- 
itol. » 

Estimates for This Week 
, Capitol (Loew's) .(2,434; 44-80)— 
"Deep Waters" (20th). Excellent 
$29,000., Last week, "Furnace 
Creek" (20th), $23,000. 



'Largo' Lush 8|G, Omaha 

Omaha. Aug, 10. 

"Key Largo" and "On an Island 
With You" are running far ahead 
of other newcomers this week, 
former being especially big gross 
at Brandeis in some time. 

Estimates for This Week 

Brandeis (RKO) (1,500; 16-65) — 
"Key Largo" (WB) and "Heart of 
Virginia" JRep). Big $8,500, and 
maybe holdover. Last week, "Mel- 
ody Time" , (RKO), $8,200. 

Paramount (Tristates) ((2,800; 16- 
65)-*-"On Island With You" (M-d 
Solid $11,000. Last week, "Easter 
Parade" (M-G) (2d wk), surprising 
$10,200. 

State (Goldberg) (865; 16-65)— 
"Big City" (M-G) and "Old Los An- 
geles" (Rep). Fine $5,000 or close. 
Last week, "Summer Holiday" 
tM-G) (2d wk), $3,500. 

Omaha (Tristates) (2,100; 16-65) 
—"Valley of Giants" (WB) and 
"Fighting 69th" (WB) (reissues). 
Good $10,000. Last week, "The 
Smugglers" (EL) and "Lead Sol- 
diers" (20th), fair $9,000. 

Orpheum (Tristates) (3,000; 16- 
65) — "Wallflower" (WB) and 
"Shaggy" (Par). Okay $10,000 or 
over. Last week, "Dude Goes 
West" (Mono) and "Hunted" 
(Mono), $11,000. 



Tidier Cleans Up 
In K.C. at 




N. Y. Dates Up 'Judy,' Sock $153,000; 
'Glory'-Lee-Murray-Eberle BiglOOG, 
'Walls-Hapes-Iceshow Lofty 116G 



Kansas City, Aug. 10. 
Theatre wickets are perking up 
on current bills, town having one 



Columbia (Loew's) (1.263; 44-70) oi its better summer N -weeks. 
—"Easter Parade" (M-G) (2d wk). Weather is moderate "Fuller 
Good $8,000 for fourth downtown Brush Man," smash at Midland, 
week. Last week, $10,000. wil1 lal » d t°p money. Also sock is 

Dupont (F. W. Mann) (440; 50-85) ; Key ^ arg0 " at Paramount. "Ruth- 
-"Antoine *nd Antoinette" (Indie) ! Jf*"" new solo policy at 

(Mwk, Nice $3,000. Last week, j ^^g^gA^j* 45 

"Mr e,t M.ndSS" ?SRO> ltd "wj^ £^S b ^!^SsO& 
Good $10,000. Last week, smaSh . }SS^m^I *S£i^S^JSff& 
$22 000 so '° B "l jn S ls temporary change in 

Metropolitan (WB) 1.163; 44-70) P°l iCy v F W » ^hr^S' 
-"Bring 'Em Back Alive" (RKO) I £ r •SfS'Sj (U 2?non JUDgle 
(reissue). Fine $8,000. Last week, ! Te ™' W) (reissue), $4,000. 



Raw Deal" (EL), $8,500. 

Palace (Loew's) (2,370; 44-74)— 
"Paradine Case" (SRO). Sock $23,- 
000. Last week, "On Merry Way" 
(UA), good $15,000. 

Warner (WB) (2,154; 44-74) — 
"Key Largo" (WB) (2d wk). Sturdy 
$18,000. Last week, terrific $25,000. 



Cool Spell Perks Mpls.; 
'Parade' in Lead, 18G; 
'Largo' Larruping 15G 



Minneapolis, Aug. 10. 
Exceptionally cool weather has 
been and continues to be a box- , , 

office tonic here, with biz looking feature policy here, sturdy $6,500 
up again after several weeks. At " ' 



Midland (Loew's) (3570; 45-65)— 
"Fuller Brush Man" (Col) and 
"Thunderhoof" (Col). Red Skel- 
ton's "Fuller" getting smash $20,- 
000, and possible holdover. Last 
week, "Best Years" (RKO), first 
RKO 'release in this hguse, nifty 
$19,000 at regular scale. 

Orpheum (RKO) (1,900; 45-65)— 
"Four Faces West" (UA) and 
"Blackmail" (Rep). Okay $11,000. 
Last week, "Melody Time" (RKO) 
and "Mystery in Mexico" (RKO) (2d 
wk), trim $10,500. 

Paramount (Par) (1.000; 45-65) 
"Key Largo" (WB). Fancy $18,000 
and will hold. Last week, "Dream 
Girl" (Par), $14,000. 
Roxy (Durwood) (900; 45-65)— 
Ruthless" (EL). Starts new single 



Okay 
"The Fugitive" 



trading thousands of visitors 
American Legion state convention 
is no help currently. Trio of par- 
ticularly outstanding newcomers, 
"Easter Parade," "Key Largo" and 
"Best Years," also are helping. All 
are big. 

Estimates for This Week 
Century (Par) (1,600; 50-70) — 
"Shaggy" (Par) and "Bill and Coo" 
(Rep). First new pix combo here 
in weeks. "Bill and. Coo" getting 
praise but yanked after 6 days.* 
Thin $3,500. Last week, "Beyond 
Glory" (Par) (2d wk), oke $6,500, 
giving it sock $26,000 for fortnight 
downtown. 

Gopher (Par) (1,000; 40)— "Tar- 
zan's Secret Treasure" (M-G) and 
"Tarzan's.N. Y. Adventure" (M-G) 
(reissues). Looks mild $3,000. Last ' 
week, "Are You With It" fU), weak 
$2,500 in 6 days. 

Lyric (Par) (1,000; 50-70)— "Mr. 
Blandings" (SRO) (4th wk>. Healthy 
$4,000. Last week. $5,000. 

Radio City (Par) (4,400; 50-70)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G). Stout 
$18,000. Last week, "Dream Girl" 
(Par), light $13,000. 

RKO-Orpheum (RKO) (2,800; 50- 
70)— "Key. Largo" (WB). Sock $15,- 
000 or near. Last week, ."Return of 
Bad Mea" (RKO). good $12,000. 

RKO-Pan (RKO) (1.600; 50-70)— 
"Return Bad Men" (RKO) (m.o.). 
Fair $5,500 in 6 days. Last week, 
"Melody Time" (RKO) (2d wk), 
brisk $7,500. 

State (Par) (2,300; 50-70)— "Best 
Years ' (RKO) (3d run). First show- 
ing at pop prices. Fast $12,000. 
Last week, "All My Sons" (U), 
$11,000. 

Uptown (Par) (1,000; 44-60) — 
"Fuller Brush Man" (Col). First 
nabe showing. Big $4,500 in pros- 
pect. Last week, "Romance Higli 
Seas" (WB), fair $3,500. 

World (Mann) (350; 50-85) — 
"Anna Karenina" (20th) (2d wk). 
Has built steadily. Still punching 
hard at $3,000. Last week, big $4,- 
000 and over hopes. 



Last week, "Intermezzo" (FC) and 
"Rebecca" (FC) (reissues), $5,000. 

Tower - Uptown - Fairway (Fox 
Midwest) (2,100, 2,043, 700; 45-65) 
— "Up in Central Park" (U). Only 
moderately good at $15,000. Last 
week, "Abbott - Costello Meet 
E/ankenstein" (U), fancy $20,000 in 
8 days. 



New Films Boost Cincy; 
Great Campaign Lifts 
'Canon to Sock $15,000 

Cincinnati, Aug. 10. 

No beefs from exhibs at this 
stage of 'dog days about biz gener- 
ally. Of four new bills, all velvety. 
"Return of Bad Men" is edging, 
"Canon City" for front money but 
"C a n o n" comparatively is far 
stronger. "Deep Waters" has a 
shade on "Man-Eater of Kumaon," 
other fresh entrants. "Easter Pa- 
rade" continues plenty solid in 
third week to easily face .holdovers. 
Estimates for This Week 

Albee (RKO) (3,100; 50-75)— "Re- 
turn of Bad Men" (RKO). Solid 
$16,000. Last week, "Black Ar- 
tow" (Col), $14,000. 

Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 50-75) — 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (3d wk). 
Sugary $11,000, after socko $16,000 
second round. 

Grand (RKO) (1,400; 50-75) — 
(Continued on page 20) 



Estimates Are Net 

Film gross estimates as re- 
ported herewith from the vari- 
ous key cities, are net, i.e., 
without the 20% tax. Distribu- 
tors share on net take, when 
playing precentage, hence the 
estimated figures are net in- 
come. 

* The parenthetic admission 
prices, however, as indicated, 
include the U. S. amusement 
tax. 



Extended cool spell with several 
rainy days and helped by arrival 
of seven new bills is Brightening 
Broadway firstrun picture this 
stanza. The temperature ranged 
several degree below normal for 
this time of year most of last week, 
keeping thousands in town and 
away from resort spots. Many 
went to film theatres. However, 
N. Y. deluxers had to contend with 
(wo big league baseball games 
(Giants and Dodgers),' former with 
a doubleheader, last Sunday (8), 
but mild weather kept the day 
above par for a summer Sabbath. 

With the Music Hall, Paramount 
and Roxy all launching new shows, 
the Street was assured of having 
strong returns. . "Date With Judy," 
with Jubilee revue boosting N. Y. 
50th anni onstage, opened unusual- 
ly well and will land the Music 
Hall a great $153,000 first week. 

"Beyond .Glory" plus stagebill 
headed by Peggy Lee, Jan Murray, 
Ray Eberle band, is giving the 
Paramount one of its biggest open- 
ing weeks, with about $100,000 in 
prospect. Par launched this picture 
in big league style, with West 
Point upperclassmen • guests of 
honor Tuesday (3) night. 

"Walls of Jericho," with Dick 
Haymes, Tommy Trent, iceshow 
on stage, looks to hit smash $116,- 
000 opening week at Roxy, this be- 
ing particularly good in view of 
crix barbs. "Four Faces West" is 
doing little with $15,000 at Globe, 
and stays only four days of second 
frame. 

"Return of Bad Men" shapes 
fairly fine $25,000 at Mayfair, but 
won't go over two or three sessions. 
Bandbox Rialto has a winner with 
"Gung Ho" and "Eagle Squadron," 
reissues, at $15,000 or over. Palace 
found "Best Years"-"Big Punch" 
not holding up and brought in 
"Four Feathers"-"Drums," reissue 
combo, for final two days of 6-day 
week, doing a, stout $10,000. House 
.was closed yesterday (Tues.). to 
ready it for WJZ television preem 
tonight. 

Capitol is feeling fresh competi- 
tion of current week, tumbling 
abruptly to $85,000 in second week 
of "Island With You" and "Stop 
Music" radio show on stage. First 
was big $101,000. "Babe Ruth 
Story" also is down sharply at $23,- 
000 in second Astor week. "Key 
Largo" with Count Basie band still 
is strong at $58,000 in fourth week 
at Strand, and" goes six. "Abbott 
Costello Meet Frankenstein" looks 
fancy $28,000 in second Criterion 
week. 

"Mr. Pieabody and Mermaid" 
opens Friday (13 » at Winter 
Garden. Globe brings in "Escape" 
Saturday (14). 

Estimates for This Week 

Astor (City Inv.) '(1.300; 70-$1.50) 
—"Babe Ruth Story" (Mono) (3d 
wk). Second session- ended last 
Monday (9) did not hold up well at 
sturdy $23,000 after first week went 
to big $36,000. Stays on, indef. 

Capitol (Loew's) (4,820; 80 
$1.50)— "Island With You" (M-G) 
with "Stop Music" radio show on- 
stage (2d wk). Initial holdover 
round not holding up as well as 
had been hoped at $85,000. First 
went to sock $101,000, above' hopes, 
with continued rainy weather a 
formidable factor. Continues a 
third. 

Criterion (Loew's) (1,700; 70- 
$1.85) — "Abbott - Costello Meet 
Frankenstein" (U) (3d wk). Second 
stanza ended last (Tues.) night at 
nice $28,000 after first hit rousing 
$37,000. 

Globe (Brandt) (1500; 90-$1.50) 
—"Four Faces West" (UA) (2d wk- 
4 days). First week ended last 
Monday <9' hit only modest $15,000. 
In ahead, second week (5 days) of 
"Deep Waters" (20th) was slim 
$7,000. "Rope" (WB) is due to 
come in Aug. 26. "Four Faces' 
stays over only four days, with 
"Escape" (20th) opening Saturday 
(14). 

Mayfair (Brandt) (1,736; 90- 
$1.80) — "Return of Bad Men' 
(RKO) (2d wk). First stanza ended 
last (Tues.) night was fairly nice 
$25,000. In ahead, "Time of Life' 
(UA) (10th wk-« days), okay $8,000 
"Bad Men" looks good for two or 
three weeks, with "Race Street' 
(RKO) due in next/ 

Palace (RKO) (1,700; 40-95)- 
"Best Years" (RKO) (2d run) and 
"Big Punch" (WB) (1st run) (4 
days) split with "Drums" (FC) and 
"Four Feathers" (FC) (reissues) (2, 
days). Strong $10,000 in 6 days, 
latter dual combo brought in when 
"Years" faltered. House closed 
yesterday (Tues.) while workmen 
readied house for preem of WJZ 
television today (Wed.). Last week 
"Regards to Broadway" (20th) and 



"Green Grass" (20th) (2d runs), 
$9,000. 

Paramount (Par) (3,664; 55-$1.50) 
—"Beyond Glory" (Par) with Peggy 
Lee, Jan Murray, Ray Eberle orch, 
heading stageshow (2d wk). First 
week soared to very big $100,000, 
after being given big teeoff on 
Tuesday (3) night, with West 
Point upperclassmen attending. 
Last week, "Foreign Affair" <Par) 
plus Jo Stafford, Sam Donahue 
orch (5th wk), $56,000 in abbre- 
viated 6'/S-day session. 

Radio City Music Hall (Rocke- 
fellers) (5,945; 80-$2.40) — "Date 
With Judy" (M-G) plus new stage- 
show including "Jubilee," revue * 
salute to N.Y. City's 50th anni. 
First week looks to hit great $153,- 
000. Holds, natch! Last week, sev- 
enth of "Emperor Waltz" (Par) and 
stageshow went to $116,000, a bit 
over hopes, making $980,000 for 
seven-week run, new 1948 high. 

Rialto (Mage) (594; 44-99)— 
"Gung Ho" (Ft) and "Eagle 
Squadron" (FC) (reissues). For first 
week ending next Friday <13) likely 
will soar to very, big $15,000 or 
over. Holds. Last week, "Money 
Madness" (FC) and "Blonde Ice" 
(FC) (2d wk), fine $8,000. 

Rivoll (UAT-Par) (2.092; 60- 
$1.25)— "So Evil My Love" (Part 
(3d wk>. Third round ending to- 
day (Wed.) Is down to $22,000, 
house feeling nearby competition; 
second was fine $27,000. "Velvet 
Touch" (RKO), in next, opens like- 
ly about Aug. 26. 

Roxy (20th) (5,886; 89*1,80)— - 
'Walls of Jericho" (20th) with Dick 
Haymes, Tommy Trent, ^Buster 
Shaver and iceshow on stage (2d 
wk). First frame ended last (Tues) 
night hit smash $11,000 despite 
hammering of film. Last, week, 
"Street No Name" (20th) with Cab 
Calloway, Vivian Blaine, Jackie 
Miles and iceshow (3d wk), big 
$93,000. 

State (Loew's) (3,450; 80-$1,50>— 
Easter Parade" (M-G) (7th wk). 
Sixth session ended last (Tues.) 
night wound up at $27,000 after 
very sturdy $36,000 for fifth. Con- 
tinues until end of month with 
'Three Musketeers" (M-G) due in 
for Labor Day^ opening likely to 
be Sept. 2 or 3. ' „ 

Strand (WB) (2,756; 76-$1.50)— 
'Key Largo" (WB) with stagebill 
topped by Count Basie. orch, Billie 
Holiday • (4th wk). Feeling new 
openings on Broadway but still in 
chips at $58,000. Last week was 
fancy $68,000. Now set to go six 
weeks; original booking was for 
four. 

Winter Garden (UA) (1,312; 55- 
$1.25)— "Killers" (U) and "Brute 
Force" (U) (2d runs) (2d wk). Sec- 
ond stanza ending today (Wed.) 
still very good at $7,000. Stays * 
couple of extra days to open "Mr. 
Peabody and Mermaid" (U) on Fri- 
day (13 ). ' 

Bad Men Robust 
$15,500 in Philly 

Philadelphia, Aug. 10. 
City is glutted with holdovers, 
with the result that the few new- 
comers are stepping out In great 
style. Cool, rainy weather also is 
helping. Top newcomer is ''Fuller 
Brush Man" with sock session at 
Earle. "Return of Bad Men" also 
is in for rousing total at Stanton. 
"Up in Central Park" looks weak 
at the Boyd. ..*'■'. 

Best holdovers are "Date With 
Judy" at Fox and "Key Largo" at 
Stanley. 

Estimates for This Week 
Aldine (WB) (1,303; 50-94)— "The 
Pearl" (RKO). Mild $9,000. Last 
week, "Intermezzo" (UA) (reissue), 
good $13,500. 

Arcadia (S&S) (700; 50-94)— "Un- 
conquered" (Par). Disappointing 
$4,500. Last week, "Pirate" (M-G), 
fine $6,200. 

Boyd (WB) (2,350; 50-94)— "Up in 
Central Park" (U). Weak $14,000. 
Last week, "Paradine Case" (Par) 
(5th wk), big. $12,700. 

EarW (WB) (2,700; 50-94)— 
"Fuller Brush Man" (Col). Best of 
new pix. Sock $28,000 or over. 
Last week, "I, Jane Doe" (Rep) and 
"Old Los Angeles" (Rep), $13,000. 

Fox (20th) (2,250; 50-94)— "Date 
With Judy'! (M-G) (2d wk). ^Fairly 
good. $20,000. Last week, great 
$30,000. 

Goldman (Goldman) (1,000; 50- 
(Continued on page 20) 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



fammm m mm m mm mmmmmmm 



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NOTHING 




OPENED 





RECORDS 





KEYIARGO 



FIR9T 
AT 

N.Y. GLOBE 
AU6.26TH 



HUMPHREY 

BOGART 



EDWARD G. 

ROBINSON 



LAUREN 



JAMES STEWART ROPE 

ximJOHN DALL • FARLEY GRANGER 

SIR CEORtC HAROWICKC • CONSTANCE COLIIER •no JOAN CHANDLER 
Scraan flay by Arthur Uurtnti • Prom Iha Flay ay Patrick Hamilton • Ditaclor ol Photography 
l.ieprtValonlin.,A.S.C. • A TRANSATLANTIC PICTURES PRODUCTION 



I 

mmmmmmm»mmmmmmmmmwmmmmi& 



"KEY LARGO" 

Lionel BARRYMORE- Claire TREVOR 

and directed by produced by 

THOMAS GOMEZ • JOHN RODNEY- iohn huston .jerry wauj 

i Screen Pity by Richard Brook; and John Huston • Band on lb« Play by 
MAXWELL ANDERSON As Pioduccd on Ihe Spoken Stat* by the 
Playwri|h1s Company • Music by Mix Steiner 



NOTHING 




COMBINED 
UMTS, MUSIC 
& THE GREAT 
OUTDOORS 




FROM 







BROUGHT 
PLEASURE 
TO 

AMERICA 




DENNIS jACK 

MORGAN* CARSON 
"TWO GUYS from TEXAS" 

end DOROTHY MAIONE • PENNY EOWARDS 

directed by DAVID BUTLER • produced fay ALEX GOTTLIEB 
Screen Play by I. A. L.OIamond and Allen Boieli 
4 Suiitsted by a Play by Robert Sloan* and louis Pelletier 
Orchestral Arrangements by Ray Helndorl 
Music by J tile Slyne • lyrics by Sammy Cahtl 



AT REGU LAR PRICES 



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"LIFE WITH 
FATHER" 



Starring 
WILLIAM 



IRENE 



Wm • wis 8mm&jmM& jm mfw w -m m m 

NOTHING EVER LIKE THESE 4 ■ 
SIMULTANEOUS SMASHES FROM 



POWELL -DUNNE 

*«„ ELIZABETH TAYLOR 

EOMUNO GWENN • 2ASU PITTS 
Scraan Play by Donald Olden Stewart . 
from Ilia Or.ojnil Play by HOWARD UMOSAY and RUSSEt. CROUS1 
from Oscar Stalin's State Production • Mulic by Man Slainar 
«lif«ted by MICHAEL CUR1IZ • etodlKcd by ROBERT BUCKNER 



1 




Wednesday, Aognst 11, 1948 



Hub Cool, Biz Torrid; largo' 

in % 'Street' Same, All Big 



PICTURE GROSSES 



1$ 



'Melody' Sweet 14G, Port. 



lime 



Boston. Aug. 10. ♦ 

Traditional cool week in August f 
hit town along with strong product 
to hypo takes in most theatres : 
'Key Largo" is on top at the Met, I 
with "Street of No Name" at the < 
RKO and "Time of Your Life" at 
the State and Orpheum running at 
stout levels. Others, especially 
"Canon City" on holdover 'at Par- : 
amount and Fenway, are okay. ' 
' Estimates lor This Week 

Astor (Jaycoxi (1,300; 40-80)—' 
"Fuller Brush Man" (Coll and 
"Adventures Silverado" (Coll. Skcl- 
ton film had a week at the State. 
" and Orpheum. Socko 312,000. Last 
week, "San Francisco" (M-G) ire- 
issue). $4,900. 

Boston (RKOi 13,200; 40-801— 
"Street No Name" (20th) and 
"French Leave" (Monoi. Fine $26,- 
000, and holds. Last week, "Man- 
Eater Kumaon" (Ui and "King of 
Gamblers" (Rep), $11,500. 

Exeter (Indie) 1 1,000; 45-751— 
"Hungry Hih" (Ui and "Smart 
Woman" (Mono). Not bad $4,000. 
Last week, "Take My Life" (EL) 
and "Great Waltz" (M-G) (reissue), 
$3,000. 

Fenway (M-P) (1,373; 40-80)— 
"Canon City" (ED and "Lady Mid- 
night" (ED (2d wki, good $5,000 
after $9,000, first. 

Memorial (RKO) (3,000; 40-80)— 
"Babe Ruth Story" (Mono) and 
"Devil's Cargo" (FC>. Opened to- 
day (Tues.). Last week "Melody 
Time" (RKO) and "Mystery in 
Mexico" (RKO) (2d wk>, solid $17,- 
000 in 6 days after big $20,000 
opener. 

Metropolitan (M-P) (4,387; 4CMf 
80) — "Key Largo!' (WB) and 
"Shanghai Chest" (Mono). Doing 
strong $28,000. Dr. I. Q. on Mon- 
day nights helping. Last week, 
"Foreign Affair" (Par) and 
"Shaggy" (Par) (2d wk), $16,800. 

Orpheum. (Loew) (3,000; 40-80) — 
"Time of Life" (UA> and "Thun- 
derhoof" (Col). Nfeely plugged and 
sturdy $17,000 looms. Last week, 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (3d wk), 
$16,000. 

Paramount (M-P) (1,700; 40-80)1 
— "Canon City" <EL» and "Ladyj 
Midnight" (EL) (2d wk). Strong! 
$13,000 after big $16,000 first. 

State (Loew) (3.5(H); 40-80)— 
"Time of Life" (UA' and "Thun- 
derhoof" (Col>. So-so $9,000. Last 
week. "Easter Parade" (M-G) (3d 
wk), $7,300. 



M. Dull With 100,000 
Idle; largo' Ragged At 



Key Gty Grosses 



Estimated Total Gross 

This Week $2,379,000 

(Based on 19 cities, 176 
theatres, chiejly first runs, in- 
cluding N. Y.) 

Total Gross Same Week 
Last Year . $2,824,000 

(Based o)i 20 cities, 199 
theatres). 



Sons' Fine 
L'ville; legion' 6G 



Portland, Ore., Aug. 10. 
"Key Largo'.' is coining the real 
I dough in town this week at the 
I Broadway. " "Melody Time" is 
doing nicely at Orpheum and 
: Oriental, while "Dream Girl" isn't 
so hot at Paramount. 
, Estimates for This Week 
, Broadway (Parker) (1,832; 50-85) 
I— "Key Largo" (WB) and "Ma-don- 
na Desert" (Rep). Torrid $17,000. 
Last week, "Another Part Forest" 
!(U) and "Are You With It" (U), 
■ disappointing $6,000. 
: Mayfair- (Parker) (1.500; 50-85) 
—"Letter Unknown Woman" (U) 
and "Police Reporter" (SG) (6 
| days). So-so '$4,000. Last week, 
"Sainted Sisters" (Par) and 
"Blonde Ice" (Indie), $5,600. 

Oriental (H-E) (2,000; 50-85) — 
"Melody Time" (RKO) and 
"Rocky" (Mono), day-date with Or- 
pheum. Fine $4,500. Last week, 
"Street No Name" (20th) and 
"Meet Me At Dawn" (20th), Par- 
amount, $3,800. 

Orpbemn (H-E) (1,750; 50-85)— 
"Melody Time" (RKO) and 
; "Rocky" (Mono), also Oriental. 
Soiid $9,500 or near. Last week, 
Louisville Aug 10 i " Dee P Waters" (20th) and "Count- 
Cooler weather is helping film ! terfeiters" <20th>_$6 700., 
houses here this week. Product ,,„ Param °H"',^ L ' ,3 ' 4 °° J 0 " 8 ,?^ 
quality is also on upbeat. Rialto "Dream Girl Par) and So Well 
with "Dream Girl" will lead the I Remembered" (RKO). Fairly good 
b.o. parade this week but not sock. $ 7 . 500 - Last street No 

National looks fine with "All My Name" (20th) and "Meet Me Dawn 
Sons." "Gallant Legion" shapes i (20th), $8,500. 

strong at Strand. United Artists (Packer) (895; 50- 

. . ™, ^ 85)— "On Island With You" (M-G) 

Estimates for This Week j (2 d wk). Sock $8,000. Last week, 
Brown (Fourth Avenue) ( 1,200; 1 torrid $13,000. 

45-65)— "Fort Apache" (RKO) and i " ■ 

"Lightning in Forest" (Rep) (m.o.). 
Neat $5,000. Last week, "Street No 
Name" (20th) and "Sweet Gene- 
vieve" (2flth) «n.o), $4,500. 

Kentucky (Switow) (1.200; 30-40) 
-"Sainted Sisters" (Par) and i 
"Lady From Shanghai" (Col).! 
Lively $3,000. Last week. "Uncon- 1 
quered" (Par) and "Who Killed 
*Doc' Bobbin" (UA), $3,200. 

Mary Anderson (People's) (1,100; ' 
45-«5)— "Key Largo" (WB) (2d wk), 
nice $7,000 after last week's sock i 
$9,000. 

National (Standard) (2,400: 45-65) I 
—"Alt My Sons" (U) and "Bad 
Sister" <U>. Fine $9,000. Last 
week, "Black Bart" <U> and "Dear 
Murderer" «U), medium $5,000. 

Rialto (FA) (3,400; 45-65) — 
"Dream Girl" (Par; and "Water- 
front at Midnight" (Par). Healthy 
$14,000 or near. Last week, "Fort 
Apache" (RKO) and "Lightnin' In 
Forest" (Rep), load $15,000. 

State (Loew's) (3,000; 45-65) — 
"Fuller Brush Man" (Col) and 
"Thunderhoor (Col) (2d wk). Good 
$12,000 after solid $21,000 first 
week. 

Strand (FA) (1,000; 45-65)— "Gal- 
lant Legion" (Rep) and "Eyes of 



LA. Still Forte; 'Walls' Not So Tall 
$59,000, Teudin" Not Fassy at 35^G, 
'16 Fathoms' Same, 'Affair 27G, 3d 

Los Angeles, Aug. 10.' (3d wk-4 days). Okay $7,000. Last 
Film theatre biz continues on the week, good $15,600. 
more cheery side currently al- Loyola (FWC) (1,248, 60-$l) — 
though new pictures are not rated "Walls Jericho" (20th) and "Your 
outstanding. Polio scare still is Shoes" (Mono). Medium $8,000. 
clipping juvenile trade. Easter week> "Escape" (20th ) and 

Parade" and "Life With Father," j "Fighting Back" (20th), light 
due in later in week, are figured ; $6400. 



larjo' Key Cleve. Pic, 
$27,000; Taradine' / 
M akes Case, Low. 256 

Cleveland. Aug. 10. 
It's hard "-to tell whether "Key 
Largo," which Is a . wow, .at the 
Hipp, or the fast -moving "Para- 
dine Case" at State will walk away 
with the jackpot currently. 'It's 
that close. "Black Arrow" ts also 
shooting higher than Palace's aver- 
age summer mark. Night baseball 
games at city's stadium continue to 
hack away at film biz. 

Estimates far This Week 
Alien (RKO) (3,000; 55-70) — 
"Four Faces West" (UA). Solid 
£13,500. Last week, "Deep Waters" 
(20th), $12,500. 

Hipp (Warners) (3,700; 55-70) — 
"Key Largo" (WB). Explosive 
$27,000, one of season's best. Last 
week, "On Merry Way" (UA), $16,- 
000. 

Lake (Warners) (800; 55-70) — 
"Street No Name" (20th) (m.o.). 
Smart $3,500 on fourth downtown 
Texas" (Rep). Strong $6,000" Last | lap following breezy $5,000 last 



i <HT II * D:_ ">tf week, "Berlin Express" (RKO) and 
, WallS Dig J£U "Main Street Kid" (Rep), 55,000. 



1ARG0' ROSY $20,000, 
BALTO* AIM' 01 14G 



Detroit, Aug. 10. 
With close to 100,000 auto work- 
ers jobless because of strikes and ■ 
parts shortages, and the hot 
weather prevalent, biz shapes on, 

? n riVHdLaT'is leader ^s S weeki Current listTfiXng aVlLt 

^th^WaRjericto 6 " a^'the Fox! ! battle with perfect weather which 

second. "Black Arrow" is fancy at | 's drawing hordes to nearby shore 

Palms-State. "Melody Time" looks : J^sor s and nicking the /l-impor- 

0 „nrf .ji Tin«*»di Ai-ffuit tant. weekend trade. Oat front in 

sol.d at United Aitists. . gnM ^ . g „ Rey hatgfj „ >t th<f 

Estimates for This Week Stanley. "Abbott and Costello Meet 

Adams (Ba)ab»n> (1,740; 70-S5V— Frankenstein" is still big at Keith's 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (4th wk). I after one of best figures in recent 
Satisi'actorv $10,000 compared to ; months for first week. "Time 
good $13,000 third stanza. j Life" shapes mildish at Century 

Art Cinema (Marten) (459; 60-90)'; 
— "Spring" (Indie) and "Son of I 



week. 

Lower Mall (Community) (570; 
55-70) — "Carmen" (Indie) and 
"Open City" (Indie), Okay $3,700. 
Brought in last Saturday (7) with 
"Only Angels Have Wings" (Col) 
and "Coast- Guard" (Col) (reissues) 
pulled out after two days at only 
S500. Previously, "Happened One 
Night" (Col) and "One Night of 
Love" (Col) (reissues), moderate 
$3,500. 

Ohio (Loew's) (1,200; 55-70) — 
"Gallant Legion" (Rep). Neat $4- 
500 hn 5 days. Last week, "Search" 
(M-G), oke $8,500 in 9 days. 
Palace (RKO) (3,300; 55-70) — 
Black Arrow" (Col). Fairly good 



to brighten up things materially. 

"Walls of Jericho," which is get- 
ting moderate $59,000, is regarded 
as okay coin for the summer sea- 
son in five theatres. "Feudin,' Fus- 
sin' " shapes fairly good $35,000 in 
five houses, mostly small-seaters. 
"16 Fathoms" will do about the 
same in as many locations. 

Second round of "Melody Time" 
is doing alright $26500 in two 
spots. "Foreign Affair" likely will 
hit $274)00 in third week in two 
Paramount houses, - being big in 
Hollywood but way off downtown. 
Final five days of "Key Largo" 
shapes nice $25,500 in three sites. 
Estimates for This Week 

Belmont (FWC) (1,532; 60-$D— 
"16 Fathoms Deep" (Mono) and 
"Michael O'Halloran" (Mono). Okc 
$4,000 or near. Last week, "Canon 
City" (EL) and "Lady at Midnight" 
(EL) (2d wk), $2,000. 

Beverly Hills Music Hall (G&S- 
Blumenfeld) (826; 65-$! >— "Vicious 
Circle" (UA) and "Olympic Caval- 
cade" (UA). Dark $1,500. Last 
week, "Sea Spoilers" (Indie) and 
"Storms" (Indie) (reissues), slim 
$2,400. 

Carthay Circle (FWC) (1,518; 60- 
$1)— "Walls Jericho" (20th) and 
"Wouldn't Be in Shoes" (Mono). 
Medium $7,000. Last week, "Es- 
cape" (20th) and "Fighting Back" 
(20th), mild $5,400. 

Chinese (Grauman-WC) '2,048 
60-$D— "Walls Jericho" " 
"Your Shoes" (Mono). Average 
$14,000. Last week, "Escape" 
(20th) and "Fighting Back" (20th), 
light $10,300. 

Culver (FWC) (1,145; 60-$!)— "16 
Fathoms" (Mono) and "O'Halloran" 
(Mono). 'Nice $5,000. Last week, 
"Canon City" (EL) and "Lady 
Midnight" (EL) (2d wk), oke $3,000. 

Downtown (WB) (1,800; 60-$l>— . 
"Key Largo" (WB) and "Music j 
Man" (Mono) (4th wk-5 days),! 
Finals near $10,000. Last week, 
sharp $15,200. i 

Downtown Music Hall (Blumen-* 
feld) (872; 60-$D— "Vicious Circle"! 
(UA) and "Olympic Cavalcade"! 
(UA). Only $3,000. Last week, "Sea 
Spoilers" (Indie) and "Storm" 
(Indie) (reissues), $6,400. 

Egyptian (FWC) (1,538; 60-$D— Seattle, Aug. 10. 

"On Island With You" (M-Gi (3d Better weather is boosting biz 
wk-4 days). Okay $4,500. Last week, cenerally this" week. Actually, 
smart $8,600. 1 Seattle so far has had few hot days 

El Bey (FWC) (861; 60-$D— "16 , this summer. "Date With Judy" at 
Fathoms Deep" (Mono) and "Mi- 'Music Hall and "Melody Time" at 
chael O'Halloran" (Mono). Mod- 1 Fifth Avenue are top newcomers, 
erate $4,000. Last week, "Canon j both sock. "Key Largo" is biggest 
City" (EL) and "Lady at Midnight" ; moveover in months at Music Box. 
(ED (2d wk), oke $2,400). Estimates for This Week 



Regiment" (Indie*. Strong $4,200. 
Last week. "Tawny Pipit" (If) and 
• Hungry Hill" (U>, $4,000. 

Broadway-Capitol (United De- 
troit) (3,300; 70-95' — "Return of 
Bad Men" (RKO) and "Take My 
Wife" (EL) (2d wk>. Drop to $10 - 
000 compared w i t h surprisingly 
strong $16,000 first round. 

Downt*wn (Balaton) (2JS63; 70- 
95i_"Blood and Sand" (20tln and 
"Wake Up Screaming" (20th ! (re- eastern, 
issues). Fair $7,000. Last week,! welt at 



of $17,000. Last week, "Melody Time' 

Life" shapes mildish at Century, j <»«». ft ^'^S' 51 ^™ ' 
Estimates for This Week « 3,4*0; 55-70) - 

Century (Loew's-UA) (3.000; 20- Paradine Case fSKOK Burning 
60)— "Time of life" (UA). Fairish ! U E turnstiles, at $25,000. Last week, 



, $13,000. Last week, "Mr. 
| ings Builds Dream House" (SRO), 
I nice $18y800 in 10 days. 

HfppodrwMe (Banpaport) (2,240; 
20-70) — "Bring 'Em Back Alive" 
(RKO) (reissue) plus vaude. Not 
getting far at $14,000. Last week, 
"Raw Deal" (EL) and vaude, un- 
exciting at $13,000. 

Keith's (Schanberger) (2,460; 20- 
60)— "Abbott-Costello Meet Frank- 
(U) (2d wk). Holding very 
$8,000 after big $15,000 



You 



"Jassy" (U> and "Are 
It" JU) (2d wk>, $5,000. 

Fox (Fox-Michigan i (5,100: 70-95) 
—"Walls of Jericho" (20th) and 
"Checkered Coat" (20 th ). Big $32,- 
000. Last week, "Deep Waters 
(20th) and "King of Olympics 
(UA), $35,000. 

Michigan (U-D) (4.089; 70-95) — 
"Key Largo" (WB) and ' Wall- 
flower" (WB). Great $34,000. Last 
week. "Romance High Seas ( WB 
and "Big Punch" (WB) (2d wk>, 
okay $16,000. 

Palms-State (U-D' '2.716; 70-95) 
—"Black Arrow" (Col) and Blori- 
die*s Reward" (Coif- 
000. Last week, "Mr. Blandmgs 
(SRO) (2d wk), $15,000. 

United Artists (U-D> f2£76; 70 
95) — "Melody Time ' (RKO) 
"Old Los Angeles" 'RepJ 
$19,000. . Last week, Empeioi 
Waltz" (Par) and "Wat ^onl ^. 
night" (Par) (5th wk), $12,000. 



With 1 opener. 

Mayfair (Hicks) 
Big City" (M-G). 



Bi an d- 1 "Easter Parade" (M-G) (Zd wk). 
Excellent $18,500 for second lap. 

Stillman (Loew's) (2,700; 55-70) 
— "Easter Parade" (M-G) <m.o.). 
Powerful $12,000. Last week, 
"Crusades" (Par) (reissue), $8,500. 

'Way' Not So Merry At 
19G, Denver; 'River' 11G 

Denver, Aug. 10. 
"On Merry Way" is landing high 
money here at two theatres in a 



good for this stand. Last week, 
"Shaggy" (Par), $3,600. 
, New (Mechanic) (l,800r 20-6W— 
"Escape" (20th). Average $9,000. 
i Last week, second of "Deep Waters" 
1 (20th), ?«.<WO. 

i Stanley (WB) (3,280; 25-75)— 
j "Key Largo" (WB). Leading town 
[ with very rosy $20,000. Last week, 
"Romance High Seas" (WB) (2d 
'.»*>, all right $7,300. 
' .Town (Rappaport) (1,500; 35-65) 
j— "Babe Ruth Story" (Mono) (2d 
* vk), Maintaining steady pace at 



(280; 33-55) — 

Okay $7,000, 1 generally lukewarm session at most 



spots. "River Lady" looks mildish. 
Estimates for This Week 
Afaddili (Fox) -(1,400; 35-74)— 
"Street No Name" (20th) and 
"Shanghai Chest" (Mono) (m.o.). 
Fair $3,500. Last week, "Key 
Largo" (WB) and "Stage Struck" 
(Mono) (m.o.), $3,250. 

Broadway (Cinema) (1,500; 35-74) 
—"Best Years" (RKO) (7th wk). 
Good $7,000, and holding. Last 
week, about same. 
Denham (Cockrill) (1,750; 35-70) 
So Evil My Love" (Par) (2d wk). 



Million Dollar (D'town) (2,093; 
450-851— "Fuller Brush Man" (Col) 
and "Take My Life" (EL) (2d runs) 
with Toni Harper, Mickey Katz on 
! stage. Good $19,000. Lagt week, 
■ "Sign Wolf" (Mono) and "Stage 
! Struck" (Mono) (2d runs), with 
i Red Ingle, Dorothy Donegan on 
i stage, nice $14,000. 

Orpfaeu (D'town-WC) (2,210; 
6e-$l» — "Iff Fathoms Deep" 
(Mono) and "Michael O'Halloran" 
(Mono). Good $17,500. Last week, 
"Canon. City" (EL) and "Lady at 
Midnight" (EL) (2d wk), solid 
$10,300. 

Pantages (Pan) (2,812; 06-$l) 
—"Melody Time" (RKO) and 
"Mystery in Mexico" (RKO) (2d 
wk). Fair $13,000. Last week, nice 
$17,000. 

Paramount (F&M) (1,398; 60-$l) 
— "Foreign. Affair" (Par) and "Big 
Town Scandal" (Par) (3d wk). 
Lean $11,500. Last week, light 
$14,300. • 

Paramount Hollywood (F&M) 
(1,451; 60-$D— "Foreign Affair" 
(Par) (3d wk). Sock $1&,500. Last 
week, big $15,100. 

RKO Hflktreet (RKO) (2,890: 
60-30)— "Melody Time" (RKO) and 
"Mystery Mexico" (RKO) (2d wk). 
Fair $13,500. Last week, nice 
$19,fO0. 

Site (FWO (1,378; S0-$1>™ 
"Feadin,' Fussin' " (U) and "Bad 
.Sister" (U). Oke $7,000. Last 
(20th) and week, "Meet Frankenstein" <U> and 
"King Olympics" (DA) (2d wk), 
good $4 300 

Stndio City (FWC) (880; S0-$1) 
—"Feudin,' Fussin' " (U) and "Bad 
Sister" (U). Mild $4,500. Last 
week, "Meet Frankenstein" tU> and 
"King Olympics" (DA) (2d wk), 
$2,400. 

United Artists (UA) (2,100; 60- 
$1)— "Feudin/ Fussin'" (U) and 
(Continued on page 20) 



Seattle Goes For 

'My'Fat$15, 



— "Dreams Money Can Buy" (In- 
die) and "Girl of Canal" (Indie) 
(4th wk). Closes at $1,500. Last 
week, neat $2,200. 

Four Star (UA-WO (900; 60-$l) 
— "Seacch" (M-G) (8th wk). Up to 
$4,000. Last week, nice $3,700. 

Guild (FWC) (968; 60=$D — 
'Teudin' Fnssin'" (U) and "Bad' weak $$200 In S days. 

Abbott Costello Meet Franken, ; , »E>rea.m Gill" (Par). (2d wk). Slow 
J '■K»ng.9 , i' m P^ I $4,500 after only $8,2)0 last week. 



i "Smart Woman" (Mono) (3d wk). 
Good $3,500 in 5 days. Last week, 
very good $4,200. 

! Fifth Avenue (H-E) (2,349; 45-80) 
— "Melody Time" (RKO) and 
."Curley" (UA): Great $14,000. Last 
i week, "God's Country" (WB) and 
Flowing Gold" (WB) (reissues). 



stein" <U) and 
(UA) (2d wk). solid $3,000. 

Hawaii (G&S - Blumenfeld) (1,- 
10ft; «0-$D— "Vicious Circle" (UA) 
and "Olympic Cavalcade" (UA). 
Just $1,500. Last week, "Sea 
Spoilers" (Indie) and "Storm" (In- 
die) (reissues), modest $3,100. 

Hollywood (WB) (2,756; 60-$ 11— 
"Key Largo" (WBf and "Music 
Man" (Mono) (4th wk-5 days). Near 



Music Box (H-E) (800: 45-80) — 
"Key Largo" (WB> and "Fabulous 
Joe" (UA) (mjo.). Sock $6,500 for 
third downtown week. Biggest 
moveover in months. Last week, 
"Street No Name" (WB) (m.o.) oke 
$3,200. 

Musie Hall (H-E) (2,200: 45-80)— 
"Date With Judy" (M-G) and 
(Par). Smash $15,000. 



o* 1 fin «w«- Last week, solid , Last week "Etaperor Waltz" (Par) 

Vr m i %m : .... ! and "Wo»»a» in White" (WB) (5th 

Hollywood Music Hall (Blumen- wk), solid $5 300 
mfw <475 i. ^'-"yicious Circle" OtpheuM (H-E> (2,600; 45-80) — 
r a h d c ^ m P^ Cavalcade" ("Man-Eater of Ktintaon" (U) and 
L UA -V_Z2? n «, $1 i 0 , 0 - Las t week. "Sea, "Jinx Money" (Mono). M 
Spoilers" (Indie) and 
die) (reissues) 



and 
Solid 



$14,000 or less after big $19,600 , Tbin , ; 7 m Last we ck, good $11, 

500. 

Denver (Fox) (2,525: 35-74)— "On 
Merry Way" (UA) and "Code Scot- 
land Yard" (Rep), day-date with 
Esquire. Neat $15,500 or near. Last 
week, "Street No Name" (20th) and 
I (Continued on page 20) . . 



i opener. 

I Valencia (Loew's-UA) (1.780; 20- 
60)— "Mr. Blandings" (SRO) (m.o.). 
| Drawing very well after 10 days 
j immediately preceding in dovvn- 
! stairs Century, nice $9,000. Last 
1 week. "Easter Parade" (M-G) (m.o.), 
i $11,200. 



Storm 

$2,300 

Iris (FWC) (828; 60-85)— "Feud- 
in." Fussm' " (U) and "Bad Sister" 
(U). Mild $5,000. Last week, "Meet 
Frankenstein" tU) and "King Olym- 
pics" (UA) (2d wk). good $3,000. 

Laurel (Rosener) (890; 85) — 
' Raven" (Indie) and "Lover's Re- 
turn" (Indie) (2d wk). Big $5,000 
or near. Last week. $5,300. 

Loew's State (Loews-WC) (2,- 
404; 60-$D— "Walls Jericho" (20th) 
and 



Money" (Mono). Mild $7,000. 
(In- [Last week "Largo" (WB) and "Fab- 
ulous Joe" <UA>, (2d wk), nice 
$8,200. 

Palomar (Sterling) (1,350; 45-80) 
—"Lulu Belle" (Col) and "Heart of 
Virginia" (Rep), Good $6,500. Last 
week, "Tarzan Mermaids" (RKO) 
and "King of Bandits" (Mono*. (2d 
wk), nice $3,000 in 4 days. 

Paramount (H-E) (3,039; 45-80)— 
' Abbott - Costello Meet Franken- 
stein" (U) and "Stage Struck" 
(Mono) (2d wk). Okay $6,500 in 



nJ°V r ? h0es ," ( ,M ono) - , Mod e s t 1 6 days. Last week, big" $12,306. 
$22 ,-92?.' ?'?. st w eck. "Escape" (20th) Roosevelt (Sterling) (800- 43-80) 



and "Fiehting Back" (20th), moder- 
ate $17,800. 

Los Angeles (D'town-WO (2.- 



, The Search" (M-G). Modest 
$3,500. Last week, "Gung Ho" (FC) 
and "Eagle Squadron" (FC) (re- 



097; 90*$l)-4-Wa Islands (M-GHteswes) (£| wk), $3,000. 5 



14 



WgJuegtlay, August 11, I94J 



Which is the twin 
that takes 

p ■ 1 ', ■ : 

Vitamin M-G-M? 

* ** ■ 




The talk of New York's Film Row is the Preview of "JULIA MISBEHAVES" held 
last week at Loew's 72nd Street Theatre. Everything you've heard about Greer 
Garson's new picture is true. {What a cast! Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Peter 
Ldwford, Elizabeth Taylor, Cesar Romero.) The audience was in hysterics from beginning 
to end. Nothing like it has been seen on the screen. A survey of the patrons by Motion 
Picture Research Bureau following the Preview yielded a new high in audience reaction. 
"JULIA MISBEHAVES" joins M-G-M's non-stop hit parade: "HOMECOMING", 
Frank Capra's "STATE OF THE UNION", Irving Berlin's "EASTER PARADE" 
(Technicolor), "A DATE WITH JUDY" (Technicolor), "ON AN ISLAND WITH 
YOU" (Technicolor), and soon "THREE MUSKETEERS" (Technicolor), "HILLS OF 
HOME" (Technicolor). PLENTY MORE VITAMIN M-G-M COMING! 

Extra at Press Time! "A Date With Judy" first 5 days at Music Hall sets new M-G-M all-time high! 

It's so good for what ails you! 



• «7 A « I I?T S ' LONDON orrir« 
1 Bt. Wiutluj l-iate, Trafalgar S«(ar* 



IINTERIVATTONAL 



IS 



ARGENT. 



Bombay Cracks Down on U.S. Films; 
Mex Pix Relieved of Special Tax 




, HOLDS COIN 



Washington, Aug. 10. « 
Producers and distributors of 
Mexican films have been exempted 
from paying the special mercantile 
income tax 1n the federal district, 
Commerce Dept. film chief Nathan 
Golden reports. New film enter- 
prises won't be exempt, however. 
It isn't known yet, Golden says, 
how U. S. film interests will be af- 
fected. 

Golden also reports that the 
Bombay government is moving in 
the direction of setting up a cen- 
tral censorship board for all India, 
to replace the present three boards 
in Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. 
The appointment of a central board 
has been urged by the industry be- 
cause each of the three boards use 
different standards. 

The Bombay government banned 
13 foreign films during the year 
ended March 31, '48, most of which 
were of U. S. origin. In addition, 
deletions were ordered from 86 
foreign films, mostly drinking 
scenes in Hollywood pix. Perhaps 
for the first time, says Golden, a 
kissing scene was asked to be cut 
from a U. S. feature. 

XJ. S. offerings didn't fare much 
better in Turkey, either, with at 
least three features turned down 
during the first six -months of 1948. 
"One was considered to constitute 
leftist propaganda," Golden re- 
ports; "One was rejected on the 
grounds that it carried religious 
propaganda, and the other was re- 
jected as' a result of representa- 
tions made by a friendly govern- 
ment which claimed that the film 
in question offended its national 
sentiments." 



Coin Freeze Puts 
Skids On U.S, Acts 

Sydney, July 28. 

Before leaving for London, ahead 
of sked, David Martin, head of 
Tivoli vaude-revue chain, said that 
he was now compelled to buy Brit- 
ish talent because the Aussie gov- 
ernment had further tightened up 
on dollars. Martin said he figured 
it wouldn't be long before the gov- 
ernment completely nixed take- 
away of any dollars from this zone 
by imported talent. Currently, it's 
possible to take out around $4,000 
after tour completion. 

Tivoli topper said that his Lon- 
don agents, Lew and Leslie Grade, 
had a big array of British talent 
keen to play Down Under. Gil 
Lamb, via a prior booking, planes 
in here next month to open a run 
at the Tivoli, Melbourne, with 
Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane to 
follow. 

Ben Blue, currently sock hit over 
the Tivoli loop, has renewed con- 
tract with David Martin for addi- 
tional playing time in Sydney and 
Melbourne. Comic only came for 
a four week's' span. Looks like 12 
now. 



Ritchey Off on 2-Month 
O.O. of European Market 

Norton V. Ritchey, prexy of 
Monogram International, sailed 
last week on the America for a, 
two-month tour of Europe. First 
stop in his itinerary is London, 
where he will huddle with Pathe 
Pictures, Mono's . British distribu- 
tor, regarding release of fresh 
Mono-Allied Artist product. 

Following his London stopoff, 
Ritchey plans to fly to Rome and 
later will visit Switzerland and 
Paris as well as most of the con- 
tinent, with exception of territory 
served by the Motion Picture Ex- 
port Assn. MPEA handles Mono 
product in some overseas markets. 

Army S.S. Signs 
Pix, Radio Stars 
For Europe Trek 

Vienna, July 30. 

Special Services branch of the 
U. S. Army has signed up the big- 
gest lineup of screen, stage and 
radio stars to entertain troops in 
Europe since the end of the war. 

Already touring U. S. zones of 
.Germany and Austria or due to ar- 
rive shortly are Jack Benny and 
his troupe, including Mary Living- 
stone, Phil Harris; Alice Faye, 
Marilyn Maxwell and Frankie Rem- 
ley; Edgar Bergen, whose itinerary 
includes Berlin; Edward G. Rob- 
inson, Martha Raye'and Wallace^ 
Beery. Beery was a big hit in the 
zones last year and is making 25 
appearances this time. 

Incidentally, Katharine Hepburn 
lost some admirers among GIs in 
Vienna by announcing an appear- 
ance with local personnel - in "The 
Philadelphia Story," and then call- 
ing it all off after a lot of fanfare 
and publicity. ' 

Rex Stewart and his five-man 
combo are also booked for a three- 
month return tour. They're also 
playing Berlin. In Paris recently, 
Stewart completely reorganized his 
band. 



STRIKE AT ELSTREE 
ENDED IN 24 HOURS 

London, Aug. 10. 
Unofficial strike of 80 electri- 
cians at Metro Studios, Elstree, 
which began Aug. 5 was settled 
the following morning without 
causing any delay in production. 
Strike was sequel to dismissal of 
two electricians earlier in week 
and followed an hour's ultimatum 
to the management to reinstate i 

them. . . , I 

Metro Studio execs met officials 
of the Electrical Trades Union on | 
Friday (6) morning, and men 
voted for an immediate resump- 
tion of work. 

"Edward My Son," the M-G pic- 
ture, which is way ahead of sched- 
ule, was already off the floor, and 
the Hit*hcock unit, shooting "Un- 
der Capricorn," switched over lm 
mediately the strike began * 



British Newsreelers May 
Split After Pathe Move 

London, Aug. 10. 

Split in the ranks of the News 
reel Assn. is seen here as imminent 
following decisions of Pathe News 
to terminate as soon as possible the 
supplemental contract governing 
pools, a policy adopted on the out- 
break of war to save raw stock and 
continued ever since. 

Newsreel execs went to White 
hall this week to discuss the raw 
stock situation with Board of Trade 
film chief R. C. Somervell, but 
came away convinced that there 
was no hope of an improvement 
for some time to come. 

Meeting subsequently, the asso- 
ciation heard that the Pathe reps 
intended to terminate the contract, 
but in an effort to solve the diffi- 
culty that has arisen, it was agreed 
by all newsreel companies' that the 
pact should be continued for the 
time being. 




Korda Sells 4 Pix to BBC 

London, Aug. 3. 
Because the films had exhausted 
their audience potential in the 
London area, Sir Alexander Korda 
made a deal with the British 
Broadcasting Corp. for four Con- 
tinental pictures to be shown on 
television programs. With only one 
television transmitter working — at 
Alexandra Palace— video reception 
is restricted to the greater London 



. to! area. The films are "Les Enfants 
S Tcordhig and consequent- du Paradis," "Panique," "Open 
^ tost no production time i City" and "Les Portes de la Nuit." 



U.S. IN FUTURE 

Buenos Aire's, Aug. 6. 
Within the last eight days, U. S. 
distributors in Argentina have 
come to an agreement with the 
government here, giving them as- 
surance against any quota system 
for imports of foreign pix, such as 
has been predicted for some time. 
The agreement will allow the dis- 
tributors to import films freely to 
cover their requirements for the 
next nine months, on the basis of 
being allowed to remit blocked 
funds "as dollars are made avail- 
able by the Argentine Central 
Bank." 

The snag in this pact is that, for 
the time being at any rate, no one 
can tell when dollars will be avail- 
able. Much' depends on whether 
Marshall Plan dollars eventually 
are to be spent on the purchase of 
Argentine foodstuffs for Europe's 
distressed areas, at the prices 
which Argentina's economic czar, 
Miguel Miranda, has been trying 
to obtain. 

U. S. Ambassador James Bruce 
and Miranda have been battling 
over this for some time now. U. S. 
importers in Argentina are in a 
quandary as to their future or un- 
til some basis can be worked out 
between the two countries to ease 
the dollar shortage here. There is 
some hope that Ambassador 
Bruce's present trip to Washington 
"for consultation" may lead to 
something. 

As a result of the agreement, 
distributors have been removing 
prints from the customs in the past 
week. In some cases, these have 
been lying there for six months or 
more, awaiting the necessity gov- 
ernment permits. 

National producers have been 
fighting all along the line to try 
and intensify the Perph govern- 
ment's protectionist policy" and to 
establish even greater privileges 
for the local pix. However, until 
the Argentine studios are able to 
increase production considerably, 
there are insufficient pix to cover 
the national screens and justify im- 
position of a quota system. 

As one means of overcoming the 
blocked funds stymie, some local 
distributors have been importing 
film negative for local studios. In 
this way they use some of their 
blocked dollars, otherwise they can- 
not get a nickel out of the country. 
U. S. distributors have found par- 
leys with the economic bosses here 
pretty tough sledding. 

PARIS BANS SPORTS PIC 
FILMED BY NEWSPAPERS 

Paris, Aug. 3. 

A two-reel tinter shot by the 
Paris daily, Paris-Presse, showing 
the round-France, month-long bi- 
cycle race which just ended, has 
been suppressed at the request of 
the Newsreel Syndicate here. 

Syndicate protested on the 
grounds that an edict of the Petain 
regime, which hasn't been abol- 
ished, prevents the printed press 
from infringing of the province of 
the Filmed Press, as the newsreels 
style themselves. 

Stolz Clefs Army Short 

Vienna, July 30. 

Robert Stolz is writing the music 
for the third documentary to be 
done by U. S. Army's Information 
Services Branch. It is called "A 
Door Is Open," dealing with the 
work of American Information 
Centers in Austria. Versions are 
both in English and German. 

"Facts," the first ISB short, was 
about the occupation. The second, 
"Helping Hands," dealt with U. S. 
aid to Austria. "Facts" is currently 
showing in 450 Austrian cinemas in 
all four occupation zones to an esti- 
mated 600,000 people. 



U. S. Pix Grossing High in Iron Curtain 
Countries Despite Current Heatwave 



Russ Crow Over Color 
Cartoon, 'Frisky Colt' 

Stockholm, Aug. 2. 

Russian film industry has turned 
out a full-length feature color car- 
toon, according to reports received 
here. Picture was made at Soyuz- 
multfilm, a newly-constructed spe- 
cial studio for cartoon production 
in Moscow. More than 200 artists 
are said to be on the plant's staff 
under supervision of L. Miltjin. 

Composed of more than 150,000 
sketches, the cartoon is based upon 
an old Russian folk story, "The 
Frisky Colt and the Foolish Ivan." 
Soviet trade press claims the film 
is "better than the American in 
the same class." 



UA, in Dutch With 
Dutch Film Trust 
Sets Own Distrib 

Refusal of the Bioscoop Bond to 
admit United Artists to member- 
ship has resulted in the company's 
making a deal with Frederick L. 
Strengholt to distribute UA 
product in the Netherlands on a 
franchise basis starting, Sept. 1. 
UA had hoped to be given a Bond 
license and establish Dutch subsid 
which it would lease to Strengholt 
to .operate. 

. Bond is a monopoly of all Neth- 
erlands film outlets. It is so set 
up with the government that only 
members may participate in the 
picture industry. Universal, Co- 
lumbia, and Monogram-Allied Art- 
ists, as well as«UA, were refused 
membership, but are not concern- 
ed, since they are planning to sell 
their product outright for distribu- 
tion in Holland when the Motion 
Picture Export Assn. ceases ac- 
tivity there Sept. 1. The coop- 
erative American overseas distrib 
outfit after that date will serve 
only as an agency for physical 
handling of film. 

UA's original plan was to obtain 
a Bond membership and lease its 
Dutch subsid to Strengholt for five 
years. - At the end of that time, if 
conditions made it appear that the 
unit could be operated profitably 
by UA itself, it would take it over. 
Otherwise, it would exercise an 
option with Strengholt to renew 
the lease. 

As it stands now, this is impos- 
sible, Strengholt is being granted 
a franchise for distribution of UA's 
product by his N. V. Filmverhuur- 
kanoor Nederland. 

Metro,- 20th-Fox, Warner Bros., 
RKO and Paramount have been 
granted Bond licenses and will 
start their own distribution. Sept. t. 
In issuing the permits, the Bond 
said it was because these com- 
panies had operated independent- 
ly, before the war. The other com- 
panies did not and it is not desired 
that they start now, they were 
informed. 



10% Brit Studio Pact 
For Foreign Personnel 

London, Aug. 10. 

Agreement between producers, 
labor and the government under 
which 10% foreign producing and 
directing personnel may be em- 
ployed in British studios, is likely 
to be renewed for the third suc- 
cessive year. 

Further talks between the three 
parties involved are to take place 
in the near future, and it is not 
anticipated there will be any ob- 
jection to the principle, although 
there may be some difficulty in 
estimating the number of pictures 
to be made next year. 

It is on the basis of these esti- 
mates that the number of labor 
permits to be granted are calcu- 
lated. 



♦ Despite a European heatwave 
in recent weeks, American films 
have continued to pile up strong 
grosses in a quartet of Iron Cur- 
tain countries according to the 
Motion Picture Export Assn. At 
least* two U.S. pictures have 
proved to be top b.o. prpduct in 
Bulgaria, Poland and Czechoslo- 
vakia while six Yank films are all 
registering holdovers to. Austrian 
Cities. 

In the Bulgarian capital of « 
Sofia, where Universal's "His But- 
ler's Sister" is in its 18th week 
at the Kulture theatre, the film 
broke a house record by topping 
the 17-week run of Metro's "Music 
for Millions" at the same house. 
Also doing well at the wicket is 
"Tarzan's Secret Treasure" (M-G) 
at the Kino Modern, 
, Warner's "Casablanca" and 
"Random Harvest" (M-G) are car- 
rying off the honors in Poland 
where the former pic recently 
completed a 52-day stand in Lodz 
and is passing its fifth week in . 
Warsaw and Krakow. "Harvest" is 
clicking in Warsaw, Katowice and 
Krakow. Similar encouraging busi- 
ness is being racked up in Czecho- 
slovakia by 20th-Fox's. "My Friend 
Plicka" at a firstrun Prague 
house. Another Czech longrunner 
is Universal's "All Baba" which 
went into its seventh stanza at a 
Pilsen theatre. 

Paramount's "Reap the Wild 
Wind" and Columbia's "Gilda" top 
the field in Vienna. Appeal of 
U.S. imports isn't confined to 
Austrian urban centers alone. 
Hinterland cities of Linz, Graz and 
Innsbruck have proved a cleanup 
for "Ali Baba" (M-G), "Waterloo 
Bridge" (M-G), "Destry Rides 
Again" (U) and "Phantom of the 
Opera'* (U). 

Mull U. S. Films 
For Europe Prod. 

i 

Paris, Aug. 3. 
Despite many other difficulties, 
the low production costs here 
appear to b.e inducing several 
American producers to start work 
in France. Irving Allen is prepping 
a picture with Charles Laughton 
and Frahchot Tone (latter shares 
in financing) to be made here in 
English plus a French version. 
Budget* will be about $650,000, 
which should make a production 
equivalent to one budgeted at over 
$2,000,000 in the U. S. It will be a 
detective story based on a Simenon 
bestseller, "Man Without a Head." 

Other producers also are tempted 
to try European facilities. Paul 
Graetz is working on a Van Gogh 
biopix in Belgium. Boris Morros 
is ogling Scandinavia for future 
production work. 

French technicians are opposed 
to foreign producers working here. 
Headed by M. Chezeau, head of the 
Te.ch syndicate, they are seeking 
some proviso inserted in any future 
film pact. 

French production is picking up, 
too. Whore only five pictures were 
started in April this year, there • 
were 12 in May and another 12 
went into, production in June. For 
the first half of year, the French 
actually turned out 46 films as 
against 41 in the first six months 
of 1947. 

Latest Bulletin of the Centre 
National de la Cinematographic 
(government film agency) reveals 
there have been 240 Visas de Cen- 
sure (exhibition permits) delivered 
for French or French-dubbed pix 
during the first half of the year as 
compared with 194 for correspond- 
ing period of 1947 and only 86 in 
1946. 

From January to June this year, 
releases have actually numbered 
52 French plus dubbed-in-French 
films, 70 U. S., seven British, nine 
Italian, three Mexican, five Russian 
and one each for Danish, Norwe- 
gian, Portugese and Swiss pro- 
ducers. 



ii. 



pictures 



Wednesday, AugHBt 11, 1948 



Fdm Salesmen's Union and Major 
Distrfts May Work Amicable Deal 



Winding up the first phase of* 
negotiations for a union contract 
to cover the nation's 1,000 film 
salesmen, the Colosseum of Film 
Salesmen and industry execs sus- 
pended talks Friday (6) in a 
friendly" atmosphere. Both sides 
•greed to the suspension in order 
to study all counter-proposals be- 
fore resuming negotiations next 
week. 

Discussions are expected to be 
drawn out over a period of weeks 
before a settlement is reached. 
Both the salesmen's guild and 



Pacific Drive-In Plans 
Suits Vs. Anto Theatres 

Hollywood; Aug. 10. 
C. A. Caballero, head of Paci6c 
Drive-In Theatres, Inc., reported 
his firm is planning suits involv- 
ing the basic Hollingshead Drive- 
in patents against a number of 
auto theatres here. This company, 
which operates under an original 
•patent, is mulling infringement 



major company reps Wfacing the! su * te "gainst drive-ins in Clear- 



hurdle of writing a new union con- 
tract from the ground up with dif- 
ferences cropping up over every 
clause, both- major and minor. But 
according to an industry rep, both 
sides are cooperating in a "give 
Mid take" spirit which should 
speed up matters considerably. 

It's understood that Colosseum 
has presented the industry with a 
sweeping- series of demands involv 



water, Foothill, West Los Angeles, 
Keseda as well as several circuits 
operating drive-ins. 

Caballero charges that theatres 
were constructed under the Josse- 
rand improvement patent, which 
he asserts is an infringement on 
the- basic -Hollingshead patent. In 
a move separate from the planned 
infringement actions, he has asked, 
the Department of Justice to de- 



ing substantial wage boosts, strict t'Jh^rn m «~ 

wnioritv H 9IIW »n<< inr^orf the Gilmore dnve-in, the Vealey 

I at Pomona and a site owned by 
ithe same group in- Sah Fernando 
Valley. 



seniority clauses and increased 
expense allowances. Industry lead- 
ers, however, are confident of 
reaching a satisfactory compromise 
since it's only natural, as one exec 
put it, for a new union "to reach 
for the sky" in its first contract 
negotiation. Colosseum was for- 
mally certified to act as bargaining 
agency by the National Labor Re- 
lations Board only last week. 

Leaders of the Colosseum com- 
mittee headed back to their nation- 
al headquarters, Friday (6) in Chi- 
cago to report on progress to date. 
Committee includes Melvih Keller, 




2 More Chi Nabes Settle 
Under Jackson PL Ruling 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 
The Rivoli and Rockne theatres' 
anti-trust suits, sequels to the Jack- 
son Park action, were settled out 
of court last week with northside 
nabes getting, undisclosed sum and 
upped playing time for dropping 
their $900,000 triple damage ac- 
tion. Paramount, Metro, HKO, 
20th, Universal, and Balaban & 
Katz okayed the agreement, with 
Warner Bros, and United Artists 
expected to sign in the next few 
days.- 

Still named as defendants are 
Columbia and Essaness Circuit 
who are expected to sign pact with- 
in the month. 



inside Stuff— Pictures 

Dave Bamholtz, absentee Pittsburgh exhibitor who now makes his 
home in Los Angeles and formerly worked for years as a Universal 
salesman in Pitt, has a chunk of the new Fay Kanin play, "Goodbye 
My Fancy," which will star Madeleine Carroll on Broadway. It's going 
to be produced by playwright's husband, Michael Kanin, in association 
with Aldrich & Myers. Barnholtz, who moved to Coast during the war 
got interested in "Goodbye My Fancy " through strange set of circum- 
stances. He lives in same apartment as Kanin's parents and had be- 
come quite friendly with the older people. He met Mike and Fay there, 
heard about the show and wondered if they needed some dough. They 
did and Barnholtz invested. He owns some Pittsburgh theatre proper- 
ties in partnership with Mervis Bros. 



Chicago, Aug. 10. 
Chicago Motion Picture Oper- 
ators Union, local 110, which has 

Warner Bros hranrfi Mle<™ fl n in tbe hi « llest wa S e scale in the 
Warner Bros, branch salesman in j colmtrv a i rea dy, won another hike 



Into Union Fund 



Portland, Ore:, as chairman;. N. M. 
Provencher, United Artists sales- 
man in Milwaukee; Frank Flaherty, 
Columbia, Chicago; and David 
Beznor, counsel. Pat Scollard, 
Paramount labor relations exec, 
heads the industry group which in- 
cludes Harry Buckley, UA; Charles 
O'Brien, Metro; Joseph. MacMahpn, 
Republic; . and Burton A. Zorn, 
counsel. 



NLRB Certifies Film 

Salesmen's Union Rep 

Washington, Aug. 10. 
The NLRB has officially certified 
the Colosseum of Motion Picture 
Salesmen as the bargaining 'agent 
for salesmen, of all major film dis- 
tributors, except National Screen 
Service. The Board said it had dis- 
missed the union's petition for 
certification at National Screen be- 
cause salesmen there voted against 
the union 32 to 19. 

Following official results were 
given: Paramount, 66 for, 15 
against; Columbia, 81 to 19; United 
Artists, 61 to 10; Eagle Lion, 45 to 
13; Republic, 61 to none; Universal, 
•m to 7; 20th-Fox, 76 to 8; Loew's, 
43 to 30; Warner, 80 to 8; RKO. 



last week. Scale, which ranged 
from $2.40 to $3.93 per hour, is 
being upped 10%. However, pay 
will not go into operator's pocket 
but into a fund which will provide 
disability benefits, retirement pen- 
sions of not less than $100 per 
month for life, vacation fund for 
members of two weeks, and in- 
creased sick and death benefits,, 
Pact covers 363 theatres and over 
700 members. Eugene Atkinson, 
business agent for the union, said 
that provisions complied fully with 
the Taft-Hartley act. 

Members had previously been 
assessed for death and sick bene^ 
fits, with Atkinson estimating that 
reduction of levies would cut 
members cards' cost from $80 to 
100 a year. Fund will be jointly 
managed by three union officials 
and three theatre management fig- 
ures, and will run for five years. 



Hoffman 

Continued from pace 2 s 



one against. 



book reviewer" as telling him that 
current novels are spiced up with 
"sex, passion and crime" to get big- 

81 to 18; and Monogram. 1J for, <Tr\^Z%°^ P "? S \ T *£*?I I £? " 

|er. said Hoffman, declared that the 

i "difficulty with the motion picture 
l industry is that altogether too 
I many of those who select the plays 
t and plots have dirty minds them- 
selves, and having that kind of a 
mind, they think the people like 
that kind of sordid nastiness." 
brought about by the state of the ! - "Perhaps he is right," the Miehi- 
domestie b.o. and restrictions gan Republican continued, "I do 
abroad, were so great that only 1 not k _" ow - Perhaps some day those 
two classes of producers could be 1 wno duect the motion picture in 
expected to operate in the future. ! dustrv will discover that the Amer 



Eddie Small 

Continued from page 3 



lA'sPre-Gonvensh 
Meetmgs Start 

Cleveland, Aug. 10. 

As the exec board of the Interna- 
tional Alliance of Theatrical Stage 
Employees began meeting in closed 
sessions today (Tues.), on pre- 
convention business, the vanguard 
of 1,100 delegates to the IATSE's 
nation;!! convention are pulling 
into town for the opening gavel at 
Municipal Auditorium Monday (16). 

Facing the most peaceful con- 
clave since the Browne-Bioff ma- 
chine was kicked out of IATSE, the 
exec board has been discussing, 
routine pre-convention business, 
sundry appeals from IA locals and 
the convention agenda. It's re- 
ported that two of the most prom- 
inent-points on that agenda will be 
television's impact upon theatrical 
union organization and the Anglo- 
American dispute over film playing 
time in Britain. IA prexy Richard 
»F. Walsh will cover both questions 
in the opening "President's Report" 
to the delegates. No opposition to 
the incumbent slate of officers is 
expected to rear its head at the 
convention. 

Other major, points to be placed 
before the convention include fu- 
ture organization of . 16m workers, 
jurisdictional agreement with ra- 
dio unions or video problems, pos- 
sibility of trading a pay raise re- 
quest for an industry-wide pen- 
sion and recommendations for op- 
position to the Taft-Hartley Act. 

Guest speakers at the convention 
will include Eric Johnston, Motion 
Picture Assn. of America prexy; 
Thomas J. Herbert, Ohio governor- 
and William Green, AFL prez. 
Prior to the convention's opening, 
14 district conventions of IATSE 
locals will be held at the Hollenden 
hotel, here. Walsh, meanwhile, 
has extended an invitation to Con- 
gressional members to attend the 
national convention to combat the 
"distorted picture as to the power 
of labor leaders in America." 

International problems facing 
labor will be brought into focus 
through the presence of Tom 
O'Brien, general secretary of the 
National Assn. of Theatrical and 
Kine Employes and member of 
British Parliament. He'll report on 
the interchange of British and 
American technical workers. Role 
of U.S. labor in the forthcoming 
political elections will be reported 
on by Joseph D.-Keenan, head of 
Labor's League for Political Educa- 
tion, of which Walsh is a member. 



During, the man shortage caused by the war, women received their 
chance to become theatre managers and they have, made good, accord- 
j ing to E. V. Richards, chief of the Paramount-Richards chain in Loui- 
! siana, Mississippi, Western Florida and Alabama. Richards, writing in 
] the American mag, said that a majority of his 60 theatres are still 
; headed by women who have given his houses "a more-homey, informal 
I atmosphere." The circuit now employs 888 persons whose work brings 
j them into contact with patrons, and only 35 of these are men. 



I Invention of a revolutionary type of film reel that eliminates re- 
winding, is claimed by a Brooklyn designer, John P. Coulon.. In a 

: statement last week He said: "I have not tried to market this reel nor 
have I offered it for sale to anyone . . . but would like the trade's opin- 

j ion of such a reel." In his description of the gadget he says not only 

' does it do away with rewinding, but makes it possible to operate a 
projector with only one reef, affords continuous automatic projection 
and is a genuine reel — not an attachment. 



Death last week in New York of film pioneer Pat Powers temporarily 
has shelved plans of Frank Sinatra and Homo Vincent to remake a 
number of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle comedies for television Powers 
who controlled rights to the Arbuckle pix, was to have been partnered 
in the video project. Meanwhile, the deal is cold pending settlement 
of the estate. Original setup called for Vincent to step into the Ar- 
buckle roles. 



United Artists is ready to crack down on fly-by-night indie producers 
who have been announcing that they are making pictures for UA re- 
lease. George Bagnall, UA veepee, was informed by a Los Angeles 
bank that an indie producer had tried to promote a loan on the claim 
that he was making a film for UA distribution, backing it up with news- 
paper clippings. From now on, the company will keep an eye on all 
such phoney news releases and take steps* against the offenders 



N.Y. Collarites 



ican people like pictures which are 
clean and wholesome, that they do- 
not care for barroom scenes, that 
they do not care for any of those 
things which a dissolute, decaying 
nation sometimes sanctions. It 
would be a relief if we had at least 
one picture house in each town or 
? h A. £ f c ?? d _? 0U P» s ? maU . s / id ; <*y whe C e only cCptor^ 

modest actions were portrayed, 
where there were no words, sen- 
tences or phrases of double mean- 
ing, where the reward went to the 
decent, the honest— the attendance 



One is that group which can be 
counted almost on the fingers of 
one hand — Goldwyn, Selznick, Sol 
Lesser, Small himself, etc. — who 
have proved themselves to banks 
and financial sources over the 
years. 



consisted of men of independent 
wealth amassed outside the film 
Industry, such as several- Texas oil 
millionaires who have recently 
evinced interest in Hollywood pro- 
duction. These are people who can fn Time wiu'ld educate C the^uroXfr 
afford to "take a flyer" with their | era as to what the American pic- 
own backing, the producer ex- ture audience really wanted " 
plained. At another point. Hoffman said 

Thus eliminated, he said, are , the filmgoer wants to be enter- 
the promoters who, during the i tained, and not see "so many prob- 
lush war years, found the banks 'em plays, so many" plays with too 
a soft touch for loans and had lit- j much dialog, which leaves a bad 
tie trouble lining up second I taste." 
money. 



Continued from page S 



EL TO MMSS. RANK'S 
TBHf INSTEAD OF U 

"Blanche Fury," J. Arthur Rank 
Technicolor film originally allo- 
cated to Universal for release in 
the U. S., has been taken over by 
Eagle Lion in a last minute switch 
iu plans. Film, starring Valerie 
Hobson and Stewart Granger, did 
not fit into U's release program, 
according to company officials. EL 
has slated it for a special pre-re- 
lease run at the Sutton, New York 
art house. 

U's Prestige unit, meanwhile, 
which handles most of the Rank 
films usually grooved for arty au- 
diences, took on three more pix 
this week. They include "End of 
the River," starring Sabu and 
already booked for pre-release 
runs; "Her Man Gilby," starring 
Michael Wilding and Peggy Cum- 
mins, and "Corridor of Mirrors." 



Small was in New York for 

huddles with Harry Kosiner, his n .. J-°; s Angeles. ?350,0(H) Chi Outdoor Tlreatre 

calesmanager and eastern rep, and w„ \ £? U -J>° der " Chicago, 

with execs of the four companies ! Co*o cL^rtl\ S J he f tre Nor J, h * Avenue Outdoor 

through which he distributes - i „ ° W P i nnn i£ S»"i?.l uc «? n ^ a op ! n .? d Aug - 6 - u $350,000 
20th-Fox, Eagle Lion, Columbia : f„T'o^ 

ud United Artists. ' i near here ' * beach town jF i n n k ed by bvlnK GaU and Frank 



the major companies, following 
UA's lead, will refuse to sit down 
with SOPEG. No company replies 
have been received thus far to 
SOPEG's request for pact renego- 
tiations, but SOPEG prexy Sidney 
Young minimized this fact's im- 
portance by declaring, "There's 
plenty of time between now and 
Sept. 27." 

SOPEG-SPG Pitch 

In any event, SOPEG is deter- 
mined to hang on to its control 
over homeoffice employees. To- 
gether with the Screen Publicists 
Guild, SOPEG has organized a 
"screen strategy and bargaining 
committee" to combat Local H-63 
and urge the industry to come to 
terms. Denied protection of the 
National Labor Relations Board 
due to its failure to comply with 
the Taft-Hartley law, SOPEG has 
indicated its intention "to use all 
the economic strength at its dis- 
posal" to maintain its position. 

SOPEG claimed a major victory 
last week with signing of a new 
2V£ year contract with Eagle Lion 
granting a 1Vz% wage .increase to 
about 100 workers with future 
raises tied to a cost-of-living index. 
Wages will go up or down every 
six months, depending upon the 
index figures. Rebutting SOPEG's 
claims, Local H-63 said the EL con- 
tract was a complete rout for 
SOPEG since it abolishes the 
maintenance of membership pro- 
visions and, in effect, establishes 
an open shop. 

Election for a bargaining agency 
for UA employees, hanging fire for 
two months, was finally put into 
the lap of. NLRB regional director 
Charles Dowel last week by hear- 
ing officer Arthur Younger. If 
Dowd orders an election, only 
Local H-63's name will appear on 
the ballot due to SOPEG's anti- 
Taft-Hartley law position. Local 
H-63 will use this fact as its ace- 
in-the-hole in its drive to push 
SOPEG out of the other companies. 

Schlaifer'* Father Stricken 
Omaha, Aug. 10. 

Charles Schlaifer, 20th-Fox ad- 
publicity chief, rushed to his home 
here- to be at bedside of his stricken 
80-year-old father, pioneer Oma- 
han, Abraham Schlaifer. Other 
members of the family also were 
summoned. 

He fell last Wednesday (4) and 
suffered a broken hip, with com- 
plication developing. His condition 
is critical. 



Par's 1¥ 

Continued from page 9 — 

television for bigger deluxe thea- 
tres almost as fast as any direct 
pickup of a televised event. Full im- 
port of the development is expected 
to be revealed in the next few 
months at the N. Y. Paramount, 
flagship of Par theatres. When 
the time is ripe (all legal aspects 
and exclusivity have been ironed 
out), this key house will be able 
to bally having straight televising 
of big events when "booked" into 
the theatre. The new speed sys- 
tem is expected to be gradually 
extended to other key Paramount 
houses as co-axial cable networks 
expand over the country. 

Some idea of what this super- 
fast film-TV means was revealed 
last week at preem of "Beyond 
Glory," Alan Ladd starrer about 
West Point, when some 300 up- 
perclassmen from U.S. Military 
Academy attended that Par, N. Y., 
unveiling. Not oAly was the ar- 
rival of the cadets at the theatre 
picked up but later a TV camera 
was focused from a theatre box 
on the actual theatre audiences. 
This was flashed on the screen 
right after the earlier material, 
was run off. Also material taken 
by TV camera in Central Park 
with the West Pointers participat- 
ing in skits, with N.Y. femmes 
was shown. 

Few in the audience realized at 
first that they were being • tele- 
vised untU the material was 
actually flashed on the screen. 
The- surprise of seeing oneself on 
the screen only a few instants be- 
fore- actually picked up by the TV 
brought the greatest applause re- 
action since Paramount theatre, 
N. Y., started using wide-screen 
television coverage on special 
events and selected prize fights. 

With Paramount now having a 
widescreen television system per- 
fected and actually tried out in 
theatres, the company is expected 
to take advantage of having the 
jump on the field by rushing in- 
stallations in all key houses 
where desired or where there's a 
link with a coxial cable lineup. Par 
is having a tough time supplying its 
own theatres with the system be- 
cause of slowness In getting essen- 
tial materials and having outfits 
manufactured 

Reported that the new system 
would be made' available to other 
majors, just as soon as equipment 
can be turned out, because Par 
executives are convinced that it 
has a new revenue - producing 
gadget ot wide scope. 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



P^RIETY 



17 \ 



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MULTIPLE DAY-AND-DATE 
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Picture cast leads jubilee 
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and celebrities tc Dallas tor 
premiere ..state dignitaries 
all-Texas network radii hock- 
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wide celebratior of Texas. 
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Small British Exhibs Cool on Rank's 
Plan to Arbitrate Rows Over Rentals 



London, Aug. 10. * 
Bv the time the General Council 
of the Cinematograph Exhibitors 
Assn. meets again in London Sept. 
9, indie exhibs throughout the 
country will have had an oppor- 
tunity of considering Rank's pro- 
posal for an independent tribunal 
to adjudicate on film rental dis- 
putes, and of submitting their 
opinions to the secretariat. • 

As more and more branches of 
the CEA discuss the idea, it's be- 
coming evident that the small 
exhib is treating the setup with a 
suspicion bordering on ' distrust, 
and various alternative suggestions 
on the composition of the tribunal 
are being put forward. 

Constitution of the tribunal as 
originally suggested by Rank is 
one British distrib and two exhibs. 
Exhibitor making the claim against 
Bank would nominate the distrib. 
Bank would choose one exhibitor, 
and these two would decide the 
third member. Such a composition, 
it's claimed, would weigh unfairly 
against exhibitors, and unless the 
plan is' modified there will prob- 
ably be widespread opposition. 
» Biggest branch in the CEA — the 
London and Home Counties — will 
support the tribunal, but want the 
CEA to have qje right to select 
the third tribunal member, and 
suggest CEA should appoint a 
panel of exhibs who would be held 
available tto serve on such 
tribunals. 

In areas, however, where the 
small independent exhib predomi- 
nates, there is solid opposition to 
the tribunal, contending that it's 
tackling the problem from the 
wrong end. Bring _down rentals 
first, say exhibs in the West of Eng- 
land, and"- the tribunal becomes un- 
necessary, and they make it clear 
they don't approve of any system 
of trading under which the exhib 
has to plead for alleviation after 
the contracts have matured. 
They've made' it plain, in fact, that 
having to go cap in hand to Bank 
is as distasteful as his fact-finding 
bureau. - t 

If a fair sliding scale formula 
for rentals can be worked out, the 
need for argument later will be 
washed out, it's claimed. 

The indies who are. leading this 
anti-tribunal agitation on a local 
basis will be meeting en masse in 
London again\ on the eve of the 
General Council, and will try to 
formulate a unified policy which 
can be pursued at the CEA meet- 
ing. But their efforts to form an 
association within the association 
isn't winning universal support, 
and London exhibs have suggested 
the idea is pointless as indies are 
already in a majority in the asso- 
ciation. 



2,700 Quota Exemptions 
Filed by British Exhibs 

London, Aug. 10. * 
Some 2,700 quota exemption ap- 
plications have been filed here by 
exhibitors. Of these requests, 
about 1,600 have been handled in 
a preliminary examination. More 
than 700 were rejected while the 
remaining applications are due for 
further consideration by the Films 
Council Quota Committee. 

"Board of Trade has pointed out 
that the quota is based upon ex- 
pectation of new product, irrespec- 
tive of reissues. Already granted 
quota tickets are 56 oldies while a 
large number has been turned 
down. ' • 



See No British 
Govt. Loans For 
Individual Fix 

London, Aug. 10. 
Film Finance Corp., British gov- 
ernment's $20,000,000 agency to 
provide production funds to pic- 
turemakers, will not advance coin 
for individual films, it was dis- 
closed yesterday (Monday). Work- 
ing capital will be loaned only for 
complete : programs, which may 
well militate against small indie 
producers, who it was originally 
thought the setup was principally 
designed to aid. 



Variett 

2 NX State Film Posts 
To Be Set Sept 18, Oct. 2 

Albany, Aug. 10. 

Two examinations for important 
positions— director of the motion 
picture division, State Education 
Dept., and director of motion pic- 
ture unit. State departments, with 
a vacancy existing in the Albany 
office of the Dept. of Commerce- 
have been arranged, by the Civil 
Service Department for Sept. 18 
and Oct. 2, respectively. Both 
posts have a starting salary of $6,- 
700 (including anjemergency bonus 
of $700) and run to $7,375 (and 
bonus) at the end of five years. 

The motion picture division di- 
rectorship — actually it's chief cen- 
sor—has not been filled per- 
manently since April 1, 1945,, when 
Irving Esmond retired at the age 
of 70. Dr. Ward G. Bowen, head 
of the bureau of visual aids and 
radio in the Education Dept., is 
temporarily doubling in the job. 
Ke is not a candidate. None of the 
present members of the Division 
is said to have been accepted by 
the Civil Service Dept., on the 
basis of requirements laid down. 
Past association with the film In- 
dustry is barred. 

The Dept. of Commerce post, 
chiefly production, promotional 
and administrative, has been held 
provisionally for some months by 
Glen Allvine, formerly public re-' 
lations director for the Motion Pic- 
ture Association. 



U. S. Execs 

Conti&tied from p»g« * 



fore the British film chieftain. 
First is the scheme, discussed by 
company toppers for some weeks, 
of channelling all U.S. product 
through the Motion Picture Ex- 
port Assn., or its equivalent, for 
distribution in England. This would 
give centralized control of selling, 
which would open the way to the 
second step— selling away from 
Rank. 

This is a very severe economic 
weapon against an exhibitor, such 
as Rank, with his many hundreds 
of theatres to keep supplied with 
product in Britain. Pix would be 
sold to competing exhibs, building 
up their houses while starving 
Rank's. 



W ednesday, August 11, 19 48 

U. S. Fibers Nix 
Proposed French 
Com Compromise 



Paris, Aug. 10. 
The French foreign ministry was 
informed last Week that the Ameri- 
can film industry had nixed the' 
compro:nU,e worked out here dur- 
ing the past few weeks regarding 
U. S. funds frozen here and a 
revision of the Blum-Byrnes ac- 
cord. Gerald Mayer, Motion Pic- 
ture Assn. of America international 
division chief, who had booked 
passage for home last week in an- 



Proposal will probablv not be ! Ucipation of acceptance of the 
rroposai wu - . b t . compromise by his principals n 

IT*n e ^'m ^1 iSo n">« U. S:. will remain here in- 
he'll undoubtedly be made to un continue nenotiations 

derstand that the Arftencan indus- uennueiy to continue negotiations, 
try will not stand idly by and see j Nix is reported here to have 
him lead the way to shutting it I been put on the deal by MPAA 
out of the British market. member-company presidents meet- 

' | ing in New York early last week. 

France Next j They were as i; e ,i by the French to 

In France, the group will meet keep the terms secret, and a simi 



M-6 Bidding 

Continued from page 9 



it nor do we solicit bids, we only 
use it where it is requested." 

At . times Metro has denied re- 
quests for open bidding, Rodger 
added, and there have been reper- 
cussions in the form of threatened 
litigation. In the face of these 
threats, company has sometimes 
•withdrawn from its position of 
refusal. 

While competitive bidding "has 
straightened out many trouble- 
some situations," Rodgers is "very 
glad the court did not order it 
adopted generally." Administer- 
ing it countrywide would have 
been a terrific problem, according 
to the sales chief. What is more, 
wherever Rodgers can halt com- 
petitive selling by dividing product 
on request of exhibs, he gladly 
does it. 

To acquaint M-G's field force 
with b.o. policy and broaden their 
industry outlook, company is now 
completely launched on an edu- 
cational . program. In the fall, 
every branch manager will be 
brought to New York .for one-to- 
two weeks of indoctrination. 
Metro's five division managers and 
their assistants have already spent 
one month at the N.Y. headqua'r- 
ters attending staff meetings, con- 
sulting company legalites, etc. 
New school to train promising 
" field staffers for executive work 
tees off Sept. 13, Rodgers said. At 
that time, one branch manager, 
one assistant, four salesmen and a 
booker will be called in for the 
. - company course. 



FFC may prove a help to solo 
film makers indirectly, however, if 
a distrib will take a flock of them 
under his wing and they are will- 
ing to band together in making up 
a program. Since the coin is given 
by FFC only to distribs, who must 
in turn issue it to producers, it is 
possible that the distrib could thus, 
finance makers of single films. . 

Government strengthened se- 
curity of its loans, in regulations 
disclosed yesterday, by not limiting 
repayment to the earnings of any 
single picture, but, from the assets 
of the whole program, which in 
turn would be guaranteed by the 
distrib. Thus some indies might 
have to forego part of their profits 
to make up losses of a fellow-pro- 
ducer. 

Meantime, formation of the cor- 
poration's board is underway. It 
will include reps with a good 
knowledge of the business. Un- 
expected difficulties, however, are 
facing Harold Wilson, Board of 
Trade prexy, in. obtaining per- 
sonnel. 

Original candidate for chairman- 
ship of the. corporation, Lord Por-' 
tal, has rejected Wilson's invita- 
tion, pleading preoccupation with 
the Olympic Games Committee. 
Actually; there is reluctance to as- 
sume responsibility for doling out 
public money in such undertaking. 

Lord Portal's past experience in 
the industry (he was one time as- 
sociated with the late C. M. Woolf 
in formation of General Film Dis- 
tributors) would have made him a' 
good choice. Now Wilson has to 
look elsewhere. 

Trade discussion on the. scheme 
continues, and a prolonged debate 
took place at the executive meeting 
of the British Film Producers' 
Assn. Wednesday ,<4)„ when the 
plan was welcomed in principle, 
but further comment was deferred 
until publication of the govern- 
ment bill this fall. 

To avoid delay, the producers al- 
ready have set up a committee to 
examine the bill when it comes 
out, but ironically enough, the 
small independents, who hope to 
benefit from the government's de- 
cision, are left out in the cold. On 
the committee are J. Arthur Rank, 
George Archibald, Major R. P. 
Baker,, Robert Clark, Sir Arthur 
JarraU and Sir Henry L. French," 
Director-General. Archibald and 
Baker are Rank affiliates, Clark is 
in Associated British group, and 
JarraU, of course, is associated 
with Korda. French says there's 
nothing sinister in this. He de- 
clares it's just one of those things. 



ASCAP Advice 

Continued from pace 4 ; 

the most radical policy — one of no 
more coin to ASCAP. Since the 
I music group has been branded 



'monopolistic and illegal," Allied 
declares, there is no more need to 
pay the seat tax. 

. Allied Not Unanimous 
Number of Allied units have 
gone down the line with the Na- 
tional on its suggestion but their 
course is far from unanimous. New 
Jersey Allied, one of the larger 
groups avoided advising its mem- 
bers to halt payments until this 
week. Jersey board then voted to 
hold up payments 'and contracts 
"until further clarifications." 

Top TOA officials, on the other 
hand, express fears that the ruling 
is a "Pyhrric victory." It is their 
interpretation that the decision 
does not wipe out the necessity of 
paying license fees, only the pos- 
sibility of ASCAP making the col- 
lection under a different setup. 



with American embassy officials 
who have been negotiating with the 
foreign office on revisions of the 
film clauses in the Blum-Byrnes 
agreement and on unfreezing of 
part of the $18,000,000 in U.S. pic- 
ture coin new tied up. Gerald 
Mayer, MPAA's international divi- 
sion chief, now in Paris, was in- 
strumental in aiding the U.S. Em- 
bassy officers to work out a com- 
promise with the French, which 
was turned down by the U.S. in- 
dustry last week. 

Johnston, who had been vaca- 
tioning at his home in Spokane, 
flew into Washington yesterday 
(Tuesday) and is due in New York 
today, preparatory to tomorrow's 
session. He and the 14 company 
toppers will take off from 
LaGuardia Field next Tuesday by 
Trans-World Airlines plane for 
London. 



Parisians Flock 



— Continued from page 2 5^ 

lionaire, gives parties which are 
sensations, even on the Riviera. 
Felix is Opening a new restaurant 
in the Palais des Festivals at 
Cannes. • * ■ ' 

Dairyl Zanuck and his family 
are at Cap d'Antibes, where the 
Gilbert Comtes were vacationing, 
Vincent Korda bathes at Eden 



! Roc. Lana Turner and Bob Top- 
TOAe'rs* fea7the1formation of ma& j * lng as well as Freddy MacAvoy 
groups by composers and publish- a,so als 'here 



ers to collect the bite and a re- 
sulting boost in administration 
costs. 

Most TOA units have told their 
members to continue meeting the i 
tax. One of these, Kentucky Assn. | 

of Theatre Owners, this week came j Popeye and Dimitry have opened 
up with a variation on that theme. • » new Cabaret, "Boite a Ordures" 
KATO members, bulletin declared, j (Garbage Can). The crowds are 
should insert a 60-day cancellation | such that many escape to lies de 
clause in any 10-year contracts ] Lerihs, which is more exclusive. 



Rita Hayworth caused a stir by 
dining alone with Orson Welles. 
Michael Emer runs the Palm 
Beach Kind. Theodore de Medem, 
who operated the Pavilion Bleu 
restaurant, diecl suddenly. Coco, 



submitted by ASCAP. 

There have been several in- 
stances in Kentucky, bulletin 
added, where contracts containing 
the cancellation clause have been 
mailed back unaccepted. When 
this is done, however, KATO 



The show at the Palm Beach 
Casino in Cannes presents Chaz 
Chase funny as ever. Cabot and 
Dresden, U. S. dance tepm. and a 
young Spanish dancer, Pedro Cor- 
doba, fill the bill. Neat support- 
ing music is provided by Michel 



claims, exhib is protected from any | Emer orchestra with Emer at the 
serious copyright' infringement j piano and Ann Nicolas singing the 

On the other 



charges. Hence, exhibs are told to 
save the envelopes with the re- 
turned contracts. 

Majors Also Paradoxical 
Major affiliated circuits, sur- 
prisingly, lean towards the National 
-Allied interpretation. These affili- 
ates stopped payment last week of 
seat fees to ASCAP pending fur- 
ther study by company legalites 



Kans. House Burns Again 

Kansas City, Aug. 10. 
Cozy, Attica, Kans., house is 
closed again tor the second lime 
in a year as a result of a fire last 
month. Spot had been back in op- 
eration only since May 1, follow- 
ing rebuilding after a blaze virtu- 
ally razed it a year ago. 



latest American hits 

side, Dario Moreno orchestra 

breaks in with Latin American 

rhythm. Champagne, is 2,000 
francs ($6). 

Of other nightclubs in Cannes, 
La Jungle is one of the most popu- 
lar. Clarence Orchestra is led by 
Andre Salvador, singer and quitar- 
ist. Martine Florence sings hot 



lar quietus was put on news here, 
since the compromise was worked 
out within the foreign ministry 
and hadn't gone to its highest 
echelons for final okay. That was 
to have followed indications of 
American willingness to accept it. 

It is further feared here that 
French indie producers and«other 
elements might put up a loud howl 
that . would bring an end, for obvi- 
ous political reasons, to efforts for 
freeing at least part of about £18,- 
000,000 in American coin tied up 
in France. It is hoped, therefore, 
to present publicly a fait accompli, 
rather *han an indication that ne- 
gotiations are in progress. 

While the French indies squawk 
ai any possible easing of restric- 
tions against U. S. companies, it is 
probable that the local producers 
will get something of what they 
want out of tha negotiations. That's 
an extension of the present Blum- 
Byrnes guarantee of four weeks 
out of each quarter allotted to 
French pix in every theatre. This 
will probably be increased to 
something between five and seven 
weeks. 

Freeing of coin, of course, is the 
major point sought by the Ameri- 
cans. There is $9,750,000 of earn- 
' ings prior to July 1, 1947, plus al- 
j most another $9,000,000 since that 
' time. Otherwise the Americans 
j want an easing of French needling 
tactics -gainst U.S. pix, such as 
■ limitations on raw stock allotments, 
I refusal to allow release of pix over 
! two years old, refusal of permis- 
sion to play more than 15 situations 
for original versions subtitled in 
French, and restrictions on uses of 
frozen revenues. s < 

There have been reports that the 
French are willing to unfreeze 
$4,000,000 of the coin tied up un- 
der the Blum-Byrnes*- deal. U.S. 
companies are also said to be de- 
sirous, aside from any other thaw- 
ing of funds, of being allowed 
$500,000 each half year to pay 
actual costs of importing and dub- 
bing films. , 

Since revision of the B-B agree- 
ment is involved,, all negotiations 
are on a government leveli Com- 
mercial attaches of the U. S. Em- 
bassy here are handling American 
negotiations with the counsel of 
Mayer. 



curious since a number of these ^ «"; x,m s : -Spe"**"* Dolphin, 
majors are members of ASCAP 



through music publishing subsids. 



and two or three other small ones. 
Outside Cannes, the Snorting 

opens at Monte Carlo Aug. 6 for 

ASCAP is signalling a determi- a short season with Allan and San- 
nation to push an ultimate appeal ! sky orchestra. 



to the U. S: Supreme Court by its 
retention of former Secretary of 
War Robert P. Patterson as special 
counsel in the suit. 



as 



Hyde Exits Sperling 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

Donald Hyde has resigned 
veepee and general manager of 
U.S. Pictures, indie production 
company releasing through War- 
ners. His contract hajd another 18 
months to run. 

Before joining Milton Sperling's 



Gayest place on the coast is 
Maxim's in Juan les Pins, with 
Thomas and his Merry Boys or- 
chestra <12t. Thomas leads the 



FBI Unearths 70 Hot' 
Prints of 66 Features 

.. Federal Bureau of Investigation's 
drive to clean up a raft of bootleg 
16m films which illegally found 
their way, to small-fry distribs from 
the;, Mined Services during the war 
came up with a major haul this 
week. Some 70 prints; of 66 differ- 
ent features, recovered from a 
merchant seaman (identity other- 
wise Atndisclosed), have been re- 
ceiv(#d by the Army Motion Picture 
Service in New York. 

'Hot" prints will either be de- 



, "jut »ua in tiutrge ui uicj rrenvn pianist, winner or. tl 
literary department of the William 1 Grand Prix du Disque, leads 
Morris agency. i small band. 



dancers with a whip and a whistle stroyed or "turned to film com. 

'panies which have still retained 
title to them. Seaman was arrested 
in San Francisco where the prints 
were found in his possession. 

All of the films had been con- 
tributed to the armed services as 
part of the industry's wartime cam- 
paign to keep the troops supplied 
with' cuff o entertainment. 'FBI in 
conjunction with the industry s 
Copyright Protection Bureau tor 
the past two years has been scour- 
ing the country for bootleg prints. 



like a ringmaster in the circus. 
Juan also has the Hollywood night 
club of the Casino, with Rosetti 
Orchestra U2). 

In Nice, the Casino has the Geo 
I Mouquai orchestra; Louis Frosio 
orchestra is at the hotel Royal, and 
at the Maxim, French guitarist 
Marcel Bianchi leads a small band. 
At St. Maxime, Jack Dieval, the 



WORLD-FAMOUS NOVEL! 




Swashbuckling 

adventure 

and tremendous 

new thrills come 
to the screen! 



liiii 



mi 



r f 



COLUMBIA FHCTU RES presents ' 1 




louis HAYWARD ■ janet BLAIR 

and featuring 

1E0RGE MACRfADY EDGAR BUGHANAti 



Sercerroiay by Richard Schay$r, Dsytd P. Sheppard aft'Oi^M^ 
Directed by GORDON DOUGLAS • Produced by GRANT WHYTOCK 




20 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



Picture Grosses 



, PHILADELPHIA 

(Continued from page 11) 
94)_"Tap Roots" (U) (4th wk). 
Fine $18,000. Last week, solid 
$20,000. 

Karlton (Goldman) (1,000; 50-94) 
— "So Evil My Love" (Par) (2d wk). 
Fast $11,000. Last week, big 
$16,000. 

Keith's (Goldman) (1,300; 50-94) 
—"Deep Waters" (20th). Dim $3,- 
500. Last week, "Street No Name" 
(20th), small traffic at $5,000. 

Pix (Cummins) (500; 50-94)— 
"Foolish Virgin" (Indie) and "Play- 
boy" (Indie). Good $8,500 for 10 
days. Last week, "Hunted" (Mono) 
and, "Who Killed 'Doc' Robbin" 
(UA), yanked after four days, dim 
$1,100. 

Mastbauui (WB) (4,360; 50-94)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (5th wk). 
Fair $15,000. Last week, oke $17,- 
300. 

Stanley (WB) (2,950; 50-94)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) (2d wk). Nifty 
$28,500. Last week, smash $39,000 
for opener. 

Stanton (WB) (1,475; 50-94)— 
"Return of Bad Men" (RKO). 
Geared for rousing $15,500. Last 
week. "Man-Eater of Kumaon" (U), 
thin $8,000. 

W Tops New fix 
In Pitt, Lofty $14,000; 
'Back Alive' Lusty 10G 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 10.. 
Only two new pix in town, "Walls 
of Jericho" at Harris and "Deep 
Waters" at Fulton and they're both 
okay. Former is in for smart ses- 

§ion and holdover. "Life With 
"ather" is limp at Stanley. In 
person of Frank Buck opening day 
for "Bring 'Em Back Alive" reis- 
sue gave the Warner good teeoff 
and jungle epic should do all right. 
Estimates for This Week 

Fulton (Shea) (1,700; 44-76) — 
"Deep Waters" (20th). Notices 
weren't so hot, but it has Dana An- 
drews, who means something here. 
Close to $10,000 justifies a few ex- 
tra days. Last week, "Another 
Part Forest" <U) yanked after 6 
days with thin $4,000. 

Harris (Harris) (2,200; 44-76) — 
"Walls of Jericho" (20th). Lots of 
marquee pull here. Crix -Were 
lukewarm « but admitted women 
would go for it, and that's helping. 
Smart $14,000, and that's h.o. biz. 
Last week, "Feudin,' Fussin' " (U), 
$7,800. 

Penn (Loew's-UA) (3,300; • 44-76) 
—"Easter Parade" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Sturdy $18,000. Last week, gave 
house its biggest gross of year 
great $29,000. 

Ritz (Loew's) (800; 44-76) — 
"Drums" (FC) and "Four Feathers" 
<FC) (reissues). Kicked off to big- 
gest opening day here in months 
find $4,000 is little short of sen- 
sational. Last week, "Mr. Bind- 
ings" (SRO) (m.o.), $3,500. 

Senator (Harris) (1,750; 44-76) — 
"Rose Washington Square" (20th) 
and "Slave Ship" (M-G) (reissues). 
Nice $3,000. Last week, "Fuller 
Brush Man" (Col) (3d wk), fancy 
$3,500 for fifth downtown week. 

Stanley (WB) (3,800; 44-76) — 
"Life With Father" (WB). Picture 
had a healthy run of five weeks 
last summer at Warner at an upped 
scale and that's hurting it here, 
with very thin $11,000, about all 
that's likely. Last week, second of 
"Key Largo" (WB), fine $12,000. 

Warner (WB) (2,000; 44-76) — 
"Bring 'Em Back Alive" (RKO) 
(reissue). Frank Buck here in p.a. 
opening day and that helped. Ought 
to get $10,000, sturdy for oldie. 
Last week, "Melody Time" (RKO) 
(2d wk), $7,000. 

$ LOS ANGELES 

(Continued from page 13) 
"Bad Sister" (U). Nice $14,500. 
last week, "Meet Frankenstein" 
<U) and "King Olympics" (UA) (2d 
Wk), big $13,300. 

Uptown (FWC) (1,719; 60-$D— 
"Walls Jericho" (20th) and "Your 
Shoes" (Mono). Medium $8,000. 
Last week, ''Escape" (20th) and 
"Fighting Back" (20th), slim $6,100. 

Vogue (FWC) (885: 60-85)— "16 
Fathoms Deep" (Mono) ' and 
"Michael O'Halloran" (Mono). 
Good $5,500. Last week, "Canon 
City" (EL) and "Lady at Midnight 
<EL) <2d wk), oktorlSaoo. • 

^WUsMre (FWC) (2,296; 60-$i)— 
"On Island" (M-G) (3d wk-4 days). 
Wnales at $3,500. Last week, nice 
$7,700. 

Wiltern (WB) (2,300; 60-$D— 
'**y Largo" (WB) and "Music 
Man" (Mono) (4th wk-5 days). Near 
$7,500. Last week, sturdy $9,900. 



'Fuller' Still Sweeps 
Indpls. on H.O., $16,000 

Indianapolis, Aug. 10, 
Firstrun film biz continues at a 
fast clip here this week, while out- 
door competition suffered from 
rain and unseasonal cold. "Key 
Largo" registered the heftiest take 
of summer at the Indiana and "Ful- 
ler Brush Man," in its second week 
at Loew's, still looks good for extra 
playing-time. 

Estimates for This Week 
Circle (Gamble-Dolle) (2,800; 44- 
65)— "Up Central Park" (U) and 
"Dear Murder" (U). Fair $10,000. 
Last week, "Furnace Creek" (20th) 
and "Arthur Takes Over" (20th) 
same. 

Indiana (G-D) (3,300; 44-65) — 
"Key Largo" (WB). Socko $17,000. 
Last week, "Regards to Broadway" 
(20th) and "Counterfeiters" (20th), 
nice $13,000. 

Keith's (G-D) (1,300; 44-65) — 
"Regards Broadway" (20th) and 
"Counterfeiters" (20th) (m.o.). Oke 
$4,500. Last week, "Melody Time" 
(RKO) and "Shanghai Chest" 
(Mono) (m.o.), $3,500. 

Loew's (Loew's) (2,450; 44-65)— 
"Fuller Brush Man" (Col) and "Ad- 
ventures Silverado" (Col) (2d wk). 
Hefty $16,000 .after sock $21,000 
opener. Third week likely. 

Lyric (G-D) (1,600; 44-65) — 
Smart Woman" (Mono) and "Jinx 
Money" (Mono). Slow $4,500. Last 
week, "Feudin,' Fussin'" (U) and 
"Big Town Scandal" (Par) (m.o.) 
oke $6,000. 

life' Big Time $17,000, 
Buff.; 'Melody' Hep 16G 

Buffalo, Aug. 10. 

Too many holdovers here this 
week. Top newcomers are "Time 
of Life" at Buffalo and "Melody 
Time" at the Century. 

Estimates for This Week 

Buffalo (Shea) (3,500; 40-70)— 
Time of Life" (UA) and "Song of 
Heart" (Mono). Stout $17,000. Last 
week, "Mr. Blandings" (SRO) and 
"Shaggy" (Par), $18,500. 

Great Lakes (Shea) (3,400; 40- 
70)— "Key Largo" (WB) (2d wk). 
Down to fine $14,000. Last week, 
great $20,000. 

Hipp (Shea) (2,100; 40-70)— "Mr. 
Blandings" (SRO) and "Shaggy" 
(Par) (m.o.). Solid $10,000. Last 
week, "Easter Parade" (M-G), $8,- 
600. 

Teck (Shea) (1,400; 40-70)— 
"Four Feathers" (FC) and "Drums'* 
(FC) (reissues). Sturdy $4,500 or 
over. Last week, "The Search" 
(M-G) (2d wk), $2,500. 
Lafayette (Basil) (3,000; 40-70)— 
Lulu Belle" (Col) and "Adven- 
tures Silverado" (Col). Mild $10,- 
000. Last week, "Abbott-Costello 
Meet Frankenstein" (U) (2d wk) 
and "BlondieV Reward" (Col), 
trim $9,000. 

20th Century (20th Century) (3,- 
000; 40-70)— "Melody Time" (RKO) 
and "Inside Story" (RKO). Bangup 
$16,000. Last week, "Canon City" 
(EL) and "Shed No Tears" (EL), 
fast $14,000- 



Name" (20th) and "Shanghai 
Chest" (Mono), fair $2,700. 

Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 35-74)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) and "Dear 
Murderer" (U) (2d wk). Sturdy 
$12,000. Last week, smash $23,500. 

Paramount (Fox) (2,200; 35-74)— 
"River Lady" (U) and "Devil's Car- 
go" (FC), day-date with Webber. 
Mildish $11,000 or less. Last week, 
"Four Faces West" (UA) and "King 
of the Olympics" (UA), $10,000. 

Rlalto (Fox) (878; 35-74)— "Key 
Largo" (WB) and "Stage Struck" 
(Mono) (m.o.). Good $4,000. Last 
week, "Old Los Angeles" (Rep) and 
"I, Jane Doe" (Rep), fair $3,800. 

Webber (Fox) (750; 35-74)— 
"River Lady" (U) and "Devil's 
Cargo" (FC), also Paramount. Fair 
$2,500. Last week, "Four Faces 
West" (UA) and "King Olympics" 
(UA), $2,000. 

'Raw Deal' Smart $11,000, 
Prov.; 'Pirate' Only 19G 

Providence, Aug. 10. 

Holdovers are slowing pace here 
this week with exhibs blaming pro- 
duct for spotty showings of new 
pix. "Raw Deal" looks steady at 
Majestic. RKO Albee with "Mr. 
Blandings" and Strand's "So Evil 
My Love" are best of holdovers. 
Estimates for This Week 

Albee (RKO) (2,200; 44-65)— "Mr. 
Blandings" (SRO) and "Argyle 
Secrets" (FC) (2d wk). Good $13,- 
000. First was nifty $19,000. 

Carlton (Fay) (1,400; 44-65) — 
"Street No Name" (20th) and 
"Checkered Coat" (20th) 2d run). 
Fair $3,500. Last week, "Woman in 
White" (WB) and "Big Punch" 
(WB), good $4,000. - 

Fay's (Fay) (1,400; 44-65) 
—"Smart Woman" (EL) and "The 
Hunted" (Indie). So-so $5,000. Last 
week, "Furnace Creek" (20th) and 
"Shanghai Chest" (Rep), $5,500. 

Majestic (Fay) (2,200; 44-65) — 
"Raw Deal" (EL) and "Adventures 
of Casanova" (EL). Steady $11,000. 
Last week, "Street No Name" (20th) 
and "Checkered Coat" (20th) (2d 
wk), happy $12,000. 

State (Loew) (3,200; 44-65) — 
"Pirate" (M-G) and "Night At 
Opera" (M-G) reissue). Modest 
$19,000 or over. Last week, "Time 
of Life" (UA) and "Rusty" (Col), 
good $16,000. 

Strand (Silverman) (2,200; 44-65) 
— "So Evil My Love" (Par) and 
"Shaggy" (Par). Second week be- 
gan Monday (9). Last week, okay 
$12,000. 



CINCINNATI 

(Continued from page 11) 
"Deep Waters" (20th). Above par 
$9,000. Last week, "Tarzan's N. Y. 
Adventure" (M-G) and "Tarzan's 
Secret Treasure" (M-G) (reissues), 
fairly good $8,000. 

Keith's (City Inv.) (1,542; 50-75) 
—"Man-Eater of Kumaon" (U). Av- 
erage $7,500, but below expecta- 
tions. Last week, "Abbott & Cos- 
tello Meet Frankenstein" (U) (3d 
wk), snappy $7,500 to bag nearly 
$40,000 for three-week stay, a great 
record here. 

Lyric (RKO) (1,400; 50-75) — 
"Melody Time" (RKO) (m.o.). Third 
downtown week, okay $5,500. Last 
week, "Feudin/ Fussin' " (U) (m.o.), 
$5,000. 

Palace (RKO) (2,600; 50-75) — 
"Canon City" (EL). Looks sock 
$15,000 or over. Opening day biz 
one of theatre's best in months. 
Hypoed by extra ads, radio spots, 
flash house front and street bally. 
Last week, "Dream Girl' 1 (Par), oke 
$11,000. 

Shubert (RKO) (2,100; 50-75) — 
"Black Arrow" (Col) (m.o.). So-so 
$4,500. Last week, "High Seas" 
(WB) ( m.o.), good $6,000. 

DENVER 

(Continued from page 13) 

"Shanghai Chest" (Mono), fair 
$13,000. 

Esquire (Fox) (742; 35-74)— "On 
Merry Way;' (UA) and "Code Scot- 
land Yard" <Rep), also Denver. 
Good $3,500. Last week, "Street No 



Israel's Gripe 

2 Continued from page 2 j 



lines with acts and at some spots 
gives film shows. Flesh talent is 
generally much better than what 
Allied GI's had in Europe and 
the Pacific, as it represents some 
of the prewar top acts from Ber- 
lin and Vienna. Girl shows and 
gag men, naturally, are most pop- 
ular. One comedian playing an 
outpost near Tira village, an Arab 
stronghold, finished his act, picked 
up a sten gun, then went along 
with Haganah on a night opera- 
tion. The spot was captured that 
night after a lengthy stalemate. 

Metro and Fox have succeeded 
throughout the Palestine crisis in 
flying in prints of their newsreels 
featuring war scenes. These are 
widely billed in Hebrew newspa- 
pers — even reviewed like feature 
pix. Managers have experienced 
turnover trouble with soldiers 
staying several performances to 
watch their image on the screen 



Palestine Production Perks 

Film production in Palestine is 
perking with a full-length feature 
due to roll this fall while shoot- 
ing continues on a documentary 
series labeled "Israel Today." 
Nathan Silberberg, who leaves 
later this month for Tel Aviv, will 
make a Hebrew-English pic there 
under supervision of Nathan 
Films, Ltd. He's already inked 
Julian Hoffman to direct it. 

Meanwhile, Norman Lourie, 
prexy of Palestine Films, Inc., 
planed to Tel Aviv Friday (6) for 
a four-week stay to work out film- 
making plans with his partner and 
PFI's production head, Joseph 
Krumgold. Firm's initial feature 
"A Place Called Home," Is slated 
for U. S. release in October. Com- 
pany is also carrying on with its 
monthly series, "Israel Today." 

Another Palestine film producer, 
Meyer Levin, has temporarily 
stepped out of the field after mak- 
ing "The Illegals," a documentary 
chronicling the efforts of a group 
of refugees to reach Israel. He's 
currently in Paris producing a 
series of puppet shows for televi- 
sion in association with Robert De- 
Sartis, director of Paris' Luxem- 
bourg Marionette Theatre. 



Too Fast a Payoff 

"Road to Rio," made by Bob 
Hope arid.Bing Crosby as an 
indie production for Para- 
mount release, enjoys the dis- 
tinction of paying off its bank 
loan more speedily than prob- 
ably any other film ever made. 
Bankers Trust Co., N. V., and 
Security - First National, Los 
Angeles, which put up $1,600,' 
000, or 80% of the $2,000,000 
budget, had their money back 
within six weeks of the date 
the film went into release. 

They weren't too happy 
about it, either, having hoped 
for the interest to run over a 
considerably longer period. Pic 
has gross rentals in the till 
now of over $4,200,000 and is 
expected to hit $4,500,000 in 
U. S. and Canada. Par put up 
second money financing and 
the guarantees as part of a 
deal by which the two players 
can make one-a-year independ- 
ently. 



Bankers V. P. 

5 Continued from page 3 



banks. He said he was perfectly 
willing to entertain deals "by pro- 
ducers who have their sights 
trained down to present potentiali- 
ties," but that there has been such 
difficulty getting second money 
and completion bonds that produ- 
cers have never even got as far as 
trying to line up bank financing. 
Last Loans 3 Months Ago 
Last loans he made, Ardrey dis- 
closed, were about three months 
ago. One was to Santana Produc- 
tions (Humphrey Bogart and Mor- 
gan Maree) and the other was to 
Edward Small for a series of six 
small budgeters to be made for 
20th-Fox release. 

Asked about the plan whereby 
Bankers Trust and some Coast in- 
stitutions have been loaning 60% 
of the budget, with the last 15% of 
the 60% guaranteed for the pro- 
ducer by an outside source, Ardrey 
said he was not sticking to that 
pattern. He declared he had "no 
desire to make the same bed fit all 
producers," that the terms and size 
of loans must hinge on the individ- 
ual deal.. 

"The principal value, so far as I 
am concerned, of forcing the pro- 
ducer to guarantee the last 15% 
of the bank loan," Ardrey ex- 
plained, "is that it is a way of caus- 
ing him to show his faith in his 
product. 1 see no reason why he 
should expect us to be more op- 
timistic about the potential of his 
film than he is himself." 

Bankers Trust and Security-First 
National share one of the largest 
bank loans ever made for an indie 
production in "Joan of Arc," pro- 
duced by the Ingrid Bergman- 
Victor Fleming-Walter Wanger unit 
for RKO release this winter. The 
two banks, put up 75% of the budg- 
et and have outstanding at the 
moment about $3,500,000. The only 
larger loan recently was that by 
the same banks to David O. Selz- 
nick for "Duel in the Sun." It 
amounted to $5,100,000 and has 
since been completely repaid. 
There was little danger involved, 
however, since there were a flock 
of other Selznick pix for, collateral. 

Ardrey said he had no concern 
whatsoever about getting his 
money out of "Joan." He predicted 
the film would gross at least $10,- 
000,000 and would be a great 
moneymaker for years because of 
its high potential in the foreign 
market and its reissue value. 



WB Profits 

Continued from page 4 , 



share on 7,295,000 outstanding 
against $2.60 per share last year on 
7,341,680 then outstanding. 

Gross on film rentals, theatre ad- 
missions, etc. dipped to $112,415,- 
000 compared to $125,078,000 in 
corresponding period of '47. All 
told, income amounted to $117,592,- 
222. Amortization of film costs 
amounted to $30,187,025 while 
operating and general expenses 
added to $58,178,884. 

Estimated provision for Federal 
income taxes was $7,400,000. On 
film inventories, company figured 
films m release at $15,289,723; com- 
pleted but not released at $17,909,- 
125; and productions before' the 
cameras at $8,738,967. Earned sur- 
plus was computed at $53,009,178. 

Meeting of Warners' board last 
week declared a quarterly dividend 
of 25c per share to holders of com- 
mon stock. Melon will be split Oct. 
4 to holders of record Sept. 3. 



Schary States 

52 Continued from page S ss 

Bounty,' 'Fury' and 'Joe Smith, 
American." ; 

"Metro, heretofore ' challenged 
all other companies," he went on 
"I grant you that in the past few 
years it has been playing it safe. 
But energy and the ability to get 
the industry excited is essential. 
New, different films excite busit 
ness and keep a company going." 

Schary took pains to note that a 
production exec must steer a mid- 
dle course, remaining conscien- 
tious to his obligations to turn in 
profitable films. "You can't make 
a $3,000,000 film with a limited 
market and this must be con- 
sidered when producing experi- 
mental features," was his way of 
putting it. 

Reiterates His Stand 

His interview was closely paral- 
lel to the one given by him last 
year when he took over chief pro- 
duction duties at RKO. He again 
repeatedly stressed the need for 
the industry to make "good pic- 
tures for a good world." Explain- 
ing that slogan, Schary said "I'd 
like to see arbitrary violence, hate, 
evil and banality dispensed with. 
I don't like sordid or morbid pic- 
tures. And I think some longhair 
critics are all wrong when they 
confuse art with adultery and ob- 
scenity." 

Metro, which made 29 pix last 
year, will up its number by about 
six in the coming season, Schary 
disclosed. This means a boosting 
of the production budget. The in- 
crease in number is primarily in- 
tended, he said, to keep the com- 
pany's backlog high enough to af- 
ford flexibility in releasing sched- 
ules. 

-No specific budget ceiling such 
as has been fixed by some other 
majors will be clamped on Metro's 
future product, according to 
Schary. "While I'm not going to 
say a picture is going to cost so 
much or so little, I'm still aware 
that the potential market has 
shrunk. The smartest approach is 
to budget for the domestic mar- 
ket. At the same time, I've never 
said that the foreign market is 
lost entirely." 

$3,000,000 Gross For A's 
Schary estimates the average 
domestic take of a good A pic un- 
der current conditions at $3,000,- 
000. By this he does not mean top 
AA films. In effect, he explained, 
his estimate puts a production 
cost ceiling of $1,600,000 on the 
average A feature. 

Neither he nor Metro has "any 
unusual plans available" for cost- 
cutting operations. "The way to 
slash costs are simple and basic 
and everybody knows about them 
although they're not always ap- 
plied. Such tMngs as better prep* 
aration of scripts to avoid overlong 
films are the way out for producing 
companies." Costs have been de- 
clining for the past eight months, 
he added, but the percentage of 
decline is not easily ascertainable, 
Schary has overall supervision of 
all Metro production, domestically 
and abroad, subject only to com- 
mand of Louis B. Mayer, M-G's 
studio chief. His contract, conced- 
edly "unusually long" has 14 years 
to run, he said. Understood that it 
is for seven years with an option 
to renew for another seven. His 
relationship with Mayer is the 
same as he had with N. Peter Rath- 
von, then company prexy at RKO, 
Schary stated. 

Studio Changes 
On the subject of changes in 
Metro's personnel, M-G newcomer 
declared "I don't know when there 
will be changes or if changes will 
take place. I'll undoubtedly add 
manpower as we go along. Un- 
questionably, it will be people I 
know, respect and have worked 
with." 

When the omnipresent question 
of television popped up, Schary 
edged away. "It's too early to 
answer that one (effect.on film biz). 
I don't know and I don't think any- 
one else knows. If they tell you. 
they're really coffee-housing you.' 
M-G has no plans at present to 
make pix exclusively for video, 
Schary added. 

Schary returns to the Coast 
today (Wed.). He has had confabs 
with all Metro's h.o. officials while 
here. 



New Salisbury, N. C, House 

Raleigh. 

The Ritz, new picture house ex- 
clusively for Negroes, opened at 
Salisbury. It has all modern 
equipment Including air-condition- 
ing. 



.^M,,,. ,..«..... UN ..„,,.,, « .-..-....I-- 





* 4 w afe. 




flfBK 



a FREDERICK BRISSON production 

also starring 




with LEON AMES • FRANK MCHUGH 
WALTER KINGSFORD > DAN TOBIN 

Directed by JOHN GAGE • Scretnploy by IEO ROSTEN 

An INDEPENDENT ARTISTS Picluie • Released by RKO RADIO PICTURES 



OPENS AT BROADWAY'S FAMOUS RIVOLI THEATRE , 



^22 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, August 11, 1943 



Bluraenfeld's Interest in 4 L A. 
I Music Halls to Corwin and Lesser 



j Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

' Sherrill Corwin and Sol Lesser 
take over Joe Blumenfeld's inter- 
ests in the Los Angeles Music Hall 
theatres this week, following Anal 
inking of papers yesterday (9) . Pur- 
chase was stymied last April be- 
cause of title problems arising 
from the assignment of leases on 
the properties. This problem was 
cleared over the weekend, permit- 
ting finalizatiqn of the deal cover- 
ing a portion of United Artists in- 
terests in the Down town.Holly wood 
and Beverly Hills Music Halls, as 
well as all of Blumenfeld's inter- 
ests in the local houses and the 
United Artists theatre in Frisco. 

New operators have extensive 
plans for raising the unit's seating 
capacity. The Hollywood MH will 
be upped to 1,300 seats, giving an 
overall capacity approximately of 
4,000. The fifth house will be added 
at a later date, bringing the total 
seats to 5.000, or equal to the 
majority of other first run units 
locally. 

With the increased seating, Cor- 
win and Lesser expect to step out 
in pushing product for extended 
runs, assuring maximum returns to 
United Artists theatres. Price 
policy will be flexible to permit 
advance prices for films warranting 
It This is expected to be advan- 
tageous to producers with costly 
features that need maximum ex- 
tended runs to rate profit. 
* With smaller operating unit of 



| the Halls, compared to other first 
run deluxers, top pix can be held 
indefinitely at advanced admissions. 
Pooling arrangement between Al 
Galston and Jay Sutton, operators 
of the Hawaii and Bevhills Music 
Hall, and Blumenfeld will be con- 
tinued under the new setup. G & S 
recently inked a new three-year 
agreement starting Aug. 1, with 
Blumenfeld. This will be trans- 
ferred to Corwin and Lesser. 

New operators kickoff the take- 
over with "Zuniba," Brazilian jun- 
gle film lensed on location by 
George Breakstone and York Cop- 
len. They are holding over "Olym- 
pic Cavalcade" with it. "Pitfall " 
opens Aug. 20, as first of parade of 
top United Artists features. 



■X 




m> FIVE-STAR ) 

DC-6 

FLAGSHIPS 

LOS ANGELES 

11 hours, 10 minutes 



CHICAGO 

3^ bows 

Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 
•r your travel agent 

Ticket Offices.- Airlines Terminal 
Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 
)20 Broadway • Hotel St. George 

AMERICAN 
A/RUNES 



GEORGE 
WRIGHT 



* 



——ORGANIST — 

Currently 

PARAMOUNT THEATRE 
NEW YORK 



WANTED 

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAYS 

Or 

Screen Treatments 

fer 

Immediate Production 
Variety. Box 36S 

1S4 W. 46 St.. New York 19. N. Y. 



U Prod. Meet 

Continued from page 3 




others had suggested a ceiling of 
$1,000,000. 

Instead, the beginning of con- 
fabs resulted in the fixing of the 
higher ceiling, with emphasis on 
other economy measures. Produc- 
tion plans now mapped mean that 
the company will turn out quality 
films for an average of $1,500,000. 
Few will hit the $2,000,000 mark 
and none will go higher, a com- 
pany spokesman told Variety. 
Careful planning cost-wise will at- 
tend to that, he said. 

First $1,500,000 budgeter will 
be "Amboy Dukes" with Maxwell 
Shane producing-directing. Total 
of nine are expected to be started 
by the year's end with four prob- 
ably completed by that date. 
Twenty writers are now scripting. 

Following "Amboy" will be Irv- 
ing Brecher's indie production of 
his "Life of Biley," and "Night 
Watch." Others being prepared are 
"Air Crash," "Illegal Entry," 
"Take One False Step," "Toma- 
hawk" and "Bagdad." Latter two 
are in Technicolor, as is anothgr 
untitled -screenplay. 
. Attending the huddles are J. 
Cheever Cowdin, U's board chair- 
man; Nate Blumberg, company 
prexy; William A. Scully, distribu- 
tion veepee; Goetz as production 
head; Leo Spitz, board chairman 
of Universal-Internationl; Charles 
D. Prutzman, general counsel; 
Joseph H. Seidelman, foreign 
chief; John Joseph, ad-pub top- 
per; Maurice Bergman, eastern ad- 
pub head; Robert Goldstein, east- 
ern studio rep; and Edward Muhl, 
studio exec. 

The big cry which Goetz faced 
was to get away from pretentious 
critics' films which win the kudoes 
and then die at the boxoffice. Two 
of those being cited at Universal as 
prime examples are "Another Part 
of the Forest" and "Letter from 
an Unknown Woman." Both pix, 
along with others of their ilk, are 
blobs of red ink on U's profit-and- 
loss statement. 

Proponents of a return to B's 
and exploitation films had been 
strengthened by recent boxoffice 
performances of several of the 
company's films. Biggest argument 
was the business currently being 
pulled in by two of the company's 
lesser films— at least from a pres- 
tige standpoint. 

Brace of pix in question are 
"Abbott & Costello Meet Frank- 
enstein" and "Feudin*, Fussin' and 
A'Fightin'." While some of U's 
$1,500,000-$2,000,000 product has 
caved in at the wickets, these two 
are piling up fancy grosses. A & C 
pic cost less than $1,000,000 and is 
figured to do $2,500,000-$3,000,000 
domestically. "Feudin"' had a 
production nut of $600,000 but will 
better $1,000,000 on current re- 
turns. 

U's Writing Mill 

Universal's writing mill had 12 
scripters at work preparing screen- 
plays fop the resumption of film- 
ing after the current shutdown. 
Nine of the scribes are busy on 
feature films and three on shorts 
to be produced by Will Cowan. 

Michael Blankfort is working on 
"Air Crash," Robert Buckner on 
"Night Watch," Maurice Geraghty 
on "Tomahawk," Tamara Hovcy 
on "Bagdad," Joel Malone on "II- 
?ugal Entry," Irwin Shaw on 
"Take One False Step," Irving 
Brecher on "The Life of Riley" 
(which he owns and is producing 
independently) and Oscar Brodney 
on an untitled yam. Working on 
shorts are Lucl Ward, Jack Nat- 
teford and Edward Bock. 



Singer's Ankiing 

Continued from pace 3 ssi 

ago. Long close to Sears, Lazarus, 
as a result of the realignment, will, 
to aU intents and purposes, be serv- 
ing as general sales manager, ex- 
cept that the top execs under him 
will have somewhat more autonomy 
than usual. 

Lazarus, the company announced, 
"will maintain policy and adminis- 
trative supervision" over the sales 
organization. "This move," it was 
stated, "will free Sears for greater 
concentration on corporate affairs 
and the securing of product. 

Two sales managers, one for the 
east and one for the west, have 
been named in the new setup and 
will report directly to Sears and 
Lazarus. They are Edward M. 
Schnitzer, who has been eastern 
division manager and will continue 
to handle the eastern territory, and 
Fred Jack, southern district mana- 
ger, who will be in charge of the 
western territory. Actually, Jack 
has been serving pro tern in the 
western division managership since 
resignation of Maury Orr a. couple 
of months ago. He will continue to 
headquarter' in Dallas. ; 

Mark Silver's Shift 
Further strengthening the setup 
is the transfer of Mark N. Silver 
from the PhiUy-Pittsburgh-Wash- 
ington district managership to New 
York as aide to Schnitzer. He'll 
handle circuit deals and other spe- 
cial assignments. A former pub- 
licity man who turned to distribu- 
tion in 1936, he's viewed by UA's 
top brass as one of its most-likely- 
to-s u c c e e d-to-high-places contin- 
gent. 

Changes in the foreign depart- 
ment are also expected. It is 
known that Arthur W. Kelly, exec 
v.p., who presides over the inter- 
national organization, is awaiting 
expiration of certain contracts to 
realign his staff. 

Slow liquidation of product on 
the domestic front has been one 
of UA's chief sources of headaches, 
frequently contributing to lack of 
sufficient income to keep it in the 
black and preventing it from get- 
ting much potential product from 
indies. 

Other Aims 

The streamlining of the organ- 
ization which has taken place this 
week is not primarily a money- 
saving device, but to clear blocks 
from getting pix dated as fast as 
possible. That will improve UA's 
financial status, since it will mean 
more pix in release simultaneously 
in earlier stages of amortization. 
That means more income per week. 

Trouble in the past has been — 
partly due to the fact tfiat many 
of the pictures have been weak — 
that UA's staff has been unable to 
get dates for them fast enough 
and they've piled up. Company 
would set Oct. 1 release date for 
a film, for instance, and find it 
didn't actually play its first engage- 
ment until perhaps Dec. 1. That 
cost much income. 

It also caused producers to look 
elsewhere for distribution deals. 
Banks and second-money lenders 
were loath to advance coin to the 
indie filmmakers when there was 
an abnormally long period between 
delivery and release, as happened 
at UA. By pressing for more speed, 
Sears hopes to make UA distri- 
bution more attractive to under- 
writers and, as a result, to pro- 
ducers. 

Likewise, it is thought, UA's pro- 
ducers with adequate sources of 
financing now will be encouraged 
to make more films. They hadn't 
much reason to increase their out- 
put when perhaps one, or even two, 
of their films was still on the shelf 
unreleased. Thus, the sales depart- 
ment changes, it is hoped, will add 
to the quantity and quality of UA's 
product. 

Sears left New York Friday (6), 
the day after details of the realign- 
ment were agreed upon, for Chi- 
cago and the Coast. He's had meet- 
ings the beginning of this week 
with district managers in Chi to 
explain the new setup and lay 
down the law on what he wants in 
the future. He'll hold similar ses- 
sions in Los Angeles later in the 
week with the rest of the district 
managers. 

Further reassignment of the 
branch and district managers is ex- 
pected. Clayton Eastman, chief of 
the Boston, New Haven and Buf- 
falo district, has resigned. 



Latinos' Lament Again 

That •old Latino war cry that 
Hollywood pix are distorting 
the South Americans' view of 
U. S. life got its first airing in 
five or. six years in the New 
York press this week. Ship 
news reporters picked up the 
squawk in interviewing an Ar- 
gentine lawyer, Isaac Garcia. 

Garcia said that Hollywood 
emphasizes crime, divorce and 
drinking, instead of showing 
the fine home life and "the 
goodness and charity of the 
American people." This beef, 
once frequent, hasn't been 
heard, as applying to Latin 
America, since the U. S. Office 
of Coordinator of Inter-Ameri- 
can Affairs (Rockefeller Com- 
mittee) went into action in 
1942. It started a program of 
weeding out unsuitable films 
that has since been adopted by 
the Motion Picture Assn. of 
America and applied on a 
worldwide basis. 



EL Proves 

Continued from page 3 



earlier stages at costs of $900,000- 
$1,200,000, not a single film lensed 
since June of last year has yet to 
turn in a loss, a company spokes- 
man said. Only the amortization of 
the more expensive, older films is 
now keeping the company from 
better than the break-even point. 
Once they are out of the way, EL 
will consistently rack up profits, 
it's claimed. 

At the same time, the change in 
production policy pushed through 
by Krim, plus new sales super- 
vision by William J. Heineman, dis- 
tribution veepee, has seen the com- 
pany score a sharp gain in rentals. 
Since June, 1947, domestic reven- 
ues have climbed by 150%. 

"Canon City," company spokes- 
man said, is a case in point. Film, 
produced by Bryan Foy on the EL 
lot, cost only $387,000 to make. 
With it now piling up substantial 
grosses throughout the country, 
"Canon" is expected to be the com- 
pany's most profitable film to date 
with a take figured at $2,000,000. 
"T-Men," EL's biggest grosser so 
far, cost $450,000 and is raking in 
$1,500,000 in domestic rentals. 

Basing his action on experience 
garnered with the most recent re- 
leases, Krim has ordered that no 
films be made unless they have a 
specific exploitation angle. Com- 
pany's success in the near past has 
been engineered by parlaying 
drastically-slashed budgets with 
pix which lend themselves to 
easier sales via an exploitation-pub- 
licity handle. 

Krim's permanent h.q. on the 
Coast, away from his New York 
base, has been made easier through 
close cooperation of Robert Ben- 
jamin, attorney to Robert R. Young, 
controlling stockholder of EL, and 
a law partner of the EL prez. Ben- 
jamin, who is incidentally head of 
J. Arthur Rank's U. S. organiza- 
tion, acts as alter ego for Krim 
handling, policy matters which crop 
up at the homeoffice. 



WB Selling 

Continued from page 



syndicate to buy the 68 Warner 
houses in this area. 

Ehrenburg's syndicate allegedly 
had been formed at a meeting in 
the Hotel Claridge, Atlantic City, 
and was supposed to have the back- 
ing of Jimmy Cromwell, Doris 
Duke's ex, the late John D'Agostl* 
no (Renault Wine Co. president) 
and several others. 

Known as a promoter of sorts, 
Ehrenburg's idea was discounted 
and believed to have stemmed 
from the recent divestiture suits 
entered against the film majors. 
At the local Warner office, Ted 
Schlanger, zone manager, merely 
laughed when queried about the 
"Ehrenburg purchase." The staff 
at Warners joshlngly called Ehren- • 
burg "boss" when he entered for 
premium sales. 

Report, however, started discus- 
sion of possibilities of sale and 
soon gossip about the Loew's-Para- 
mount-RKO deal began to circu- 
late. 

The reasons why Warners would 
be in mood to drop houses is evi- 
dent. Local setup has been unsatis- 
factory from the exhib standpoint 
for some time. Entry of William 
Goldman into the scene as first- 
run competitor upset the tidy hold 
the Warner people had on the big 
midtown houses. 

It also charged the Philadelphia 
film setup has evolved into a dis- 
tributors' field day. Competitive 
bidding jacked up prices of pic- 
tures beyond hope of reasonable 
profit. It is well known, for ex- 
ample, that $35,000 was bid for a 
picture that grossed., only $39,000 
in a five-week run. 

Film men here find themselves 
unable to predict what sort of a 
dog-fight will ensue if six bidders 
enter the first-run scramble. One 
thing they are agreed on, the pub- 
lic will benefit as the result of the 
free-for-all—the public and the lo- 
cal advertising media, newspapers, 
radio, etc. 

Concerning the Ehrenburg deal, 
he was said to be making an offer 1 
to Harry M. Warner. Checkup 
through local Warner office reveals 
that the promoter has not had to 
date even an appointment with 
the head man. 



New York Theatres 



raises**. J *MMIMfJ| 
" f •ramvwnt F nil M, 
RAY « ' 

MIILAND 

ANN 

TODD 

... OERAUHNE 

ElTZGJIRAm. 




700-Car Drive-In Near Salt Lake 
Salt Lake City. 
Newest drive-in to open in this 
area is the Hyland, 700-car capac- 
ltl operation, owned by William P. 
Wright. 



Katz Talks 

Continued from page 3 



coming to him, including bonuses 
which would be due him. Katz told 
Variety yesterday that since the 
death of his brother he felt that he 
would have to devote more time to 
their joint interests. Monarch 
Theatres, organized by the Katz 
brothers, Milton Feld and Dave 
Chatkin in 1933, has lost three of 
the partners through death in the 
last year or so, and with 40 to 50 
theatres in operation, Katz feels 
duty-bound to look after these in- 
terests personally, besides other in- 
terests he has. The Monarch group 
is located in the midwest, with 
principal holdings in Illinois, In- 
diana, Ohio, and some houses in 
Pennsylvania. 



'2 Guys' Texas Preem 

San Antonio, Aug. 10. 

Warner's "Two Guys From 
Texas" preemed here at the Ma- 
jestic with Jack Carson, Dennis 
Morgan and Dorothy Malone, stars 
of the film here in person. Others 
in the group attending included 
Mort Blumenstock, v.p. in charge 
of advertising for Warners; Herb 
Pickman, Blumenstock's assistant, 
of New York; and Bill Hendrick, 
Hollywood press agent. 

From here, the group went, to 
Houston and to Dallas for Initial 
showings of film. 



AlAN DONNA 

LADD REED 





Cereal 
WILDE 



Line* 
DARNELL 



Aim 
BAXTER 



. Kirk 
DOUGLAS 



'THE WALLS of JERICHO" 

A 2Mb Century- Fax Picture 
ON VARIETY tTA8E— DICK HAYMES 
ON ICE 8TA6E-CAR0L . tVNNE 
ARNOLD SHODA • FRITZ DIETL 



ROXY 



7th Avt. & 
90th St. 



— RADIO CITY MUSIC HAll 

Rockefeller Center 

'A DATE WITH JUDY' 

', \ Wallace BEERY • Jane POWELL 
- . Elteabcth TAYLOR • Came MIRANDA 
Xavlcr CURAT • Reaert STACK 
A Melro-Goldwjn-Muer Picture 
Spectacular Stage Presentation 



Af-G-M'i uSSES 

ESTHER WILLIAMS 
PETER LAWFORD 

"ON AN/* 
ISLAND * 
WITH YOU" 



IK STAGE 

STOP"* MUSIC 
$5000.00 

MYSTERY MELODY 
jACxroT rants i 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 
m*mmmmmmmmmm 




ACTION 



Big-scale western. Well-stocked with ac- 
tionful moments. 

- HARRISON'S REPORTS 



ACTION 



Head-and-shoulders above routine western. 
Production, camera, acting, story, direction 
unquestionably superior. 

MOTION PICTURE HERALD 



ACTION 




Good western. Generous helping of ,sus- 
pense. 

— THE EXHIBITO* 



ACTION 



Well plotted western. Top production. High 
satisfaction. 

. - FILM DAILY 



ACTION 



Tightly-woven story. Tense and credible 
outdoor drama. Will bring strong boxoffice 
results. High above average appeal for en- 
tire family. Sure. bet. 

-INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL 



ACTION 



ACTION 



ACTION 





Big brawling western that will stand up in 
any situation. Solidly based story. Director 
has given a wallop that spells sturdy en- 
tertainment. 

- DAILY VARIETY 



Slam-bang oater. Will be big hit with action 
fans and all who like good entertainment. 
Lots of suspense. 

— HOLLYWOOD REPORTER 




Sufficiently impressive to easily earn desig- 
nation of super-western. Highly-competent 
cast. Spectacular production values. Hair- 
trigger direction. 

- BOXOFFJCE 



ACTION 



first Class 



More men, more horses, more shooting, all 
help make this western more effective than 
usual. First class production. 

- SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 



LEGION 



with 



ANDY DEVINE JACK HOLT and GRANT WITHERS • ADELE MARA * JAMES 

Screen Play by GeraW Mam* Ori^a! Story by John K. Butler and Gerald Geraghty tesociata Producer-Director JOSEPH KANE 

A R t P U B LI C PICTURE 




«4 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



Cfips from Film Row 



NEW YORK 

TvToe Goldman and Gilbert Jo 
sephson closed longterm lease for 
the Audubon theatre, 2,800-seater 
in upper Manhattan. New lessees 
plan opening the house Sept. 1 
after complete renovations. Lessor 
company is Broadway-St. Nicholas, 
Inc., headed by Jack Schechter. 
Berk & Krumgold agented the deal. 

William B. Zoellner, head of 
Metro's short subject and reprint 
sales, shoved off for Chicago' yes- 
terday (Tues.) for a series of meets 
with four field sales managers. 
Zoellner. will be in Chi for one 
week then heads for Los Angeles, 
Pittsburgh and Washington. 

i PITTSBURGH 

Morris Lefko, ex-RKO manager 
here recently elevated to a district 
sales berth, will be honored by 
Variety Club at a testimonial din- 
ner in William Penn hotel bn Aug. 
30. 

Bill Shartin, who left manager- 
ship of UA in Pittsburgh some 
time ago to go with Eagle Lion in 
Cleveland, heads Film Classics 
setup in Seattle-Portland territory. 

Werner (Fuzzy) Lund, indie cir- 
cuit owner, wijl construct a new 
850-seat theatre in Carmichaels, 
Pa., adjacent to present Lund 
house. 

Mark Goldman, former Mono- 
gram head here, resigned as Eagle 
Lion manager in Cleveland, suc- 
ceeded by Robert R. Richardson, 
long-time RKO salesman. 

Leo, Isaacs quit sales berth with 
Columbia. He had been ill for a 
week but was back on job when 
surprise resignation was an- 
nounced. 



i ST. LOUIS 

Sam Pirtle, head of Pirtle 
Amus. Co., Jerseyville, 111., expects 
to light his new 700-seater in 
Abington, 111., in about a month. 

Wilfred Fromm purchased the 
Enfield, Enfield, Mo., from Vernal 
M. Elliott, who now manages the 
State, Centralia, 111. 

The Legion, Steelville, Mo., sold 
by J. R. Thompson to N. R. Pruitt, 



who formerly operated the. Lyric, 
Summerville, Mo. 

O. W. Hutcheson lighted his new 
McCutcher, a 600-seater, Charles- 
ton, Mo. House replaces the Amer- 
ican, destroyed by fire last year. 

W. R. Waring, Jr., Cobden, 111., 
lighted his new 500-car drive-in 
near Carbondale, 111. 

French Miller switched from 
Eagle-Lion sales staff here to 
United Artists. Continues in 
southern Illinois territory. 

American Cancer Society re- 
ceived the $200 in admission fees 
from opening of Crest, new 1,100- 
seater in Affton, St. Louis County, 
after preem was delayed because 
of a row with the stagehands' local. 
Organization said the house would 
be picketed unless a member was 
hired. However the union decided 
not to interfere with the benefit 
opening but will insist on a gripper 
st the house. 



INDIANAPOLIS 

Herb Boss, EL office manager, 
resigned this week. 

Hobart Kaylor, Paramount of- 
fice manager, resigned to take sales 
post with Selznick. 

Harry Hayes, UA branch man- 
ager, released from hospital this 
week after heart attack, has gone 
to his home in K. C. to recuperate. 

Variety club staged testimonial 
dinner Saturday (31) for George 
T. Landis, who resigned as 20th- 
Fox branch manager after more 
than 20 years' service to enter ex- 
hibition. » 



BOSTON 

Don Alexander. Jr.. of Alexander 
Film Co., currently tied up at Bos- 
ton Yacht Club in his cruiser to 
entertain local exchange boys with 
cruises around the harbor. 

Ed Lachman, prexy of New Jer- 
sey Allied, in town currently in the 
interests of Carbons, Inc. 

A 1,000-seat theatre is proj- 
ected for Hingham, Mass., suburb 
of Boston, in a $300,000 building 
project that includes six stores. No 
exhibitor so far signed for the 
house. 

Old Criterion theatre in Roxbury, 
gutted by fire, four years ago, re- 
opens this week under M. & P. 



management following a c «r?P lete . 
rebuilding job. Plaza is title of 
house. - 

SALT LAKE CITY 

Jerry Safron, Columbia western 
division manager, in for routine 
visit. . . . 

Joe Lawrence circuit expected to 
start work immediately on 1,350- 
seater on Highland drive. 

New drive-in, operated by K. R. 
Wright, opened to good biz; thea- 
tre accommodates 700 cars. 

Eagle Lion premiered "North- 
west Stampede" in Great Falls, 
Mont. ' . 

Lon Fidler. Denver franchise- 
holder of Monogram, recuperating 
at Utah hotel from heart attack, 
suffered last month. 

Vern Austin, former city mana- 
ger for Cooper Foundation Thea- 
tres, Grand Junction, Colo., ap- 
pointed manager of Lyric, operated 
by Joseph L. Lawrence Theatres 
here. Austin has managed houses 
in Denver and Lincoln before go- 
ing to Grand Junction. 

CHICAGO 

Harold Stevens, Paramount 
branch manager, celebrating 25th 
anni in film business. 

Irving Stacil leaves Academy 
Theatre Supply for National 
Screen Service, replacing the late 
LeRoy Alexander. 

Raffle date for the Will Rogers 
Sanitarium Memorial Fund has 
been set for Dec. 27. 

Allied Artists had regional sales 
meeting led by Steve Broidy, with 
exploitation of "Babe Ruth Story" 
main topic of discussion. 

Art O'Toole, formerly with RKO, 
joins Paramount as country sales- 
man. 

Walter Immerman back at Bala- 
ban & Katz post after several 
months' illness. 

St. Francisville, 111., closed all 
theatres and amusements in polio 
quarantine for two weeks. , 

Harold Butchin leaves flack de- 
partment of Universal here. No re- 
placement under company's econ- 
omy drive. 



PHILADELPHIA 

National Film Service added an- 
other big unit to its nation-wide 
facilities — Bonded Film Storage 
Co., Inc., of New York, which has 
been appointed representative for 
the Greater N.Y. exchange terri- 
tory. 



Studios Rush 

= Continued from paie 2 as 

rates as fantasy-comedy. Unadult- 
erated slapstick is offered in 
RKO's "Variety Time." Abbott & 
Costello last week finished "Mexi- 
can Hayride." 

Currently in production is 
"Lucky Stiff," fast mystery-com- 
edy with Dorothy Lamdur and 
Brian Donlevy in top roles, for 
United Artists release. Marx Bros, 
also are in production, with 
"Blondes Up," an Artists Alliance 
production for UA release, their 
wacky offering. 

Danny Kaye returns to the 
screen in "Happy Times." film 
taking off next Monday at War- 
ners, and "Two Guys and a Gal," 
again with Morgan and Carson, 
tees off same day. Bette Davis 
and Robert Montgomery recently 
wound iip "June Bride." 

20th Preps Four 



Twentieth-Fox in particular is 
making fast comedy a field day. 
"Mother Is a Freshman." a farce 
with Loretta Young and Van John- 
son paired, starts to camera next 
Monday, and sequel to "Sitting 
Pretty" rolls following Saturday, 
under tag of "Mr. Belvedere Goes ! 
to College." Clifton Webb again 
portrays Mr. Belvedere. 

On the same lot, Preston Sturges j 
is prepping "The Beautiful Blonde 
from Bashful Bend" (Betty 
Grable). Cary Grant also is to do 
title rola of "I Was a Male War 
Bride," which won't be slow-paced. 

Rosalind Russell also will enter 
comedies in Columbia's "Miss 
Grant Takes Richmond," with 
"The Pasadena Story," situation 
comedy, to be made there by Irv- 
ing Cunimings. 

Edward Nassour, who owns the 
Nassour studios, enters produc- 
tion with "Africa Screams," Ab- 
bott & Costello film which should 
be as slapstick as book will al- 
low. Hal Roach is another indie 
who is devoting himself exclusive- 
ly to slapstick, starting off his 
Metro deal with "Mr. Wilmer," 
slated to hit cameras within next 
few weeks. 



HAMLET' AT $2.40 ON 
U.S. 1ST-TIME-AR0UND 

"Hamlet," J. Arthur Rank's film- 
ization of the Shakespearian'* 
classic, will play at a $2.40 top in 
all situations on its first time 
around the country. Advanced ad- 
mission policy has been set for the 
film by William A. Scully, Univer- 
sal^ distribution veepee, following 
his recent confabs with Rank in 
England. U is handling the pic in 
the U. S. 

To put the plan through, U in- 
tends leasing theatres on a four- 
wall policy wherever possible. 
Film preems at the Astor. Boston, 
this month and follows through at 
the Park Avenue, N. Y., early in 
October. 

Selection of the Park Ave., the- 
atre which U operates on a long- 
term lease, is figured to tide the 
company over on a losing proposi- 
tion. The deluxe house which was 
built by Walter Reade has been a 
continuous drain since it has failed 
j to pay off on a $2,000 weekly rent- 
al. Understood Scully convinced 
Rank that the pic should play in 
the house despite the fact that it 
is a comparatively small one, seat- 
ing less than 500 customers. 



Types of Budgets 



Continued trom page 9 



It 



I'm a Lux Girl, too! 

lays this famous star 

'Here's a proved complexion care! In 
recent Lux Toilet Soap tests by skin spe- 
cialists actually 3 out of 4 complexions 
improved in a short time. 

Lovely Elizabeth Taylor smooths the 
fragrant Lux Toilet Soap lather well in. As 
she rinses and then pats with a soft towel 
to dry, skin is softer, smoother. Don't let 
neglect cheat you of romance. Take Holly- 
wood's tip! Try these beauty facials. 

m c 





in rentals is the limit.. After dis- 
tribution and print costs, that 
leaves a small profit. 

The medium-c st films can win 
or lose a couple hundred thousand 
dollars and so offer the producing 
studio more incentive to give them 
productive values. Good salesman- 
ship and exploitation definitely im- 
prove their grossing potential. Nor- 
mally, however, for the general run 
of acceptable pix, the potential is ' 
within narrow and well-defined 
margins, since they play only on 
flat rental, not percentage, deals 
and at the bottom of dual runs. 

Neat part is, though, that one of 
these middle-budgeters, if it has 
exceptional qualities, can break its 
bounds arid give'a producer, wheth- 
er an indie or major, a tremendous 
profit on his investment. This is a 
rare event, but it happens, as in 
the case of RKO's "Crossfire," 
which cost $600,000 and will gross 
just under $3,000,000 domestically; 
Edward Small's "T-Men" (Eagle 
Lion release), which cost slightly 
over $400,000 and will gross about 
$1,500,000 in the U. S. and Canada, 
and Bryan Foy's "Canon City" 
( also EL release ) , which cost little 
more than $350,000 and will get a 
domestic gross of almost $2,000,000. 
$750,000-and-Over PIx 
The $750,000 or over budget cate- 
gory is where most of the indus- 
try's big money , is made or lost. 
There's not much limit in either 
direction. Inasmuch as distribution 
charges, prints and. advertising 
added to the negative cost mean 
that a $750,000 film must gross 
more than $1,100,000 to break 
even, it is evident that there is 
room for a whopping loss. During 
the boomtime war days, a gross of 
$1,500,000 was relatively common- 
place for a picture in this category 
and a good bit of coin was made. 
Now a film must show considerable 
b.o. strength to get that kind of 
money. 

When the budget gets over the 
$750,000 mark it almost invariably 
means that the film uses one or 
more name players. This is requi- 
site in order to get exhibs to play 
it on percentage terms. It is only 
by getting a large number of per- 
centage engagements that grosses 
in excess of $1,000,000 can be piled 
up. 

Stars 

Star names for the marquee 
aren't a surefire means of getting 
percentage terms, however, if a 
film is weak. Thus it may wind up 
with a lot of flat deals and take 
quite a shellacking. On the other 
hand, since it will play percentage 
if it has b.o. quailty, there's wide 
leeway in profits open to the pro- 
ducing studio. 

How much above $750,000 a com- 
pany should go in budgeting top 
"A" product is strictly a matter of 
masterminding potentials inherent 
in story, players and production 
values. Paramount reportedly has 
set a ceiling of $1,500,000 and most 
companies are believed likewise 
trying to keep below that, except 
for rare pix. A $1,500,000 negative, 
with distribution, prints and adver- 
tising costs added, must gross well 
above $2,500,000 to show a reason- 
able profit. That is by no means 
easy these days, so there's even 
more room for loss than for gain 
when pix get into this budget class. 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 




Exit: Frigidaire Headliners 

When free dishes were the headliners in the depression days of the 
picture business, that was the undoing of that industry— luckily for 
a limited time only— and when an electric refrigerator is a more 
potent radio headliner than talent, that figures to be the beginning 
of the end. 

Fortunately for the radio industry the Federal Communications 
Commission has now stepped in and will bear down on some of the 
more fantastic giveaway programs on the theory they constitute 
lotteries. 

Whatever the excuse to outlaw this preposterously snowballing 
business of giant jackpots and gargantuan giveaways, that's at least 
one gimmick which showmen should endorse. Assuming that the 
FCC is stretching to read lottery violations into some of the pro- 
grams, even those radio showmen identified with this type program 
should exercise a longrange perspective on the situation. Being 
subjectively tied in with a perhaps socko program which has struck 
extraordinary public fancy, nonetheless an objective viewpoint must 
concede the fact that the giveaway gag was running away with itself. 

Horizons seemed limitless. The loot seemed easy because it's so 
readily "promoted," in exchange for a cuffo mention for this watch, 
that television set, this household appliance and that make automo- 
bile. It go: so that the basic sponsor, in turn, was underwriting 
cuffo plugs for a dozen or more contiguous sub-products, inci- 
dental perhaps to the basic intent of the sponsored program but, in 
a large measure, eclipsing the show's underwriter. Got so that the 
swag and the identity of the brand names were more important 
than the basic commodity which sponsors the entire package. As 
such, this is but one more plus in favor of the FCC crackdown. 

But, obviously, from the performer's viewpoint, where the prizes 
eclipsed the headliners; where giveaway shows were successful in 
downbeating time-honored and distinguished names in American 
humor; when all this happened, it is a fortuitous happenstance indeed 
that the official Governmental watchdog of radio — the Federal Com- 
munications Commission — has stepped in. 

It's fortunate for other reasons, for it must swing the public back 
to appreciation of genuine talent, not just banknite gimmicks. It's 
fortunate for the public and sponsor alike in that an appreciation 
of a bon mot instead of a money or merchandise handout will again 
come into vogue. Comedy and skillful programming are rarities 
beyond measure in entertainment; jackpot prizes and giveaways 
are only circumscribed by their intrinsic worth. Eventually the 
more the giveaways pyramid in intrinsic value the less valuable they 
become to the public. Already, the public realizes they are being 
exploited unwittingly, as part of a big ballyhoo over a coast-to-coast 
hookup. The element of skill has become secondary to the roulette 
potential. The knowledgeability of the participant had taken a bad 
second place to some long-shot gambling device with a prodigious 
payoff to one out of many millions. 

The $64 question now is to what degree will FCC and the pro- 
grammers refine the giveaways to once again recapture the elements 
of skill in quiz shows and sidestep making them lotteries. Abel. 



Chi Boys Come Up With Giveaway 
'Code' But FCC Beats 'Em to Punch 



Chicago, Aug. 10. > 

The disclosure by the FCC last 
week that it was issuing a new set 
of regulations for giveaway shows 
not only kicked up a mass of com- 
ment in Chicago radio and agency 
circles but oddly came just as a 
packaging organization here was 
polishing the draft of a code of 
practices to govern such shows. 

Feature Productions, which con- 
trols a weekly chunk of five hours 
of giveaway program on CBS and 
ABC, had been showing the draft 
around the trade with the view of 
submitting it soon for considera- 
tion and adoption by the four na- 
tional webs. 

Chuck Acree and Stewart Daw- 
son, co-partners in Feature, whose 
two network across-the-boarders 
are "Hint Hunt" and "Ladies Be 
Seated," hopped on the code idea 
several weeks ago out of a fear 
that unless the giveaway snowball- 
ing were brought under control 
their own stakes in the business 
might sooner or later become im- 
perilled. The thinking that guided 
the composition of their code was 
simply that giveaways as such wtire 
harmless so long as they played a 
subordinate part in a programs 
entertainment and that what hap- 
pened was that the original pur- 
pose of the giveaway had been be- 
clouded in the stampede for bigger 
prizes and jackpots. That original 
intent of scheduling of merchan- 
dise as giveaways, as they recalled 
it was purely as a reward or thank- 
you gift for a participants ap- 
pearance on the show. .... 

The FP partners believe that by 
following the precepts of their pro- 
posed code the radio business could 
return the giveaway thing to its 
original motivation and thereby 
preserve what is essentially a 
wholesome facet of radio prorrram- 
(Conlinued on page 30) 



Haymes' Bowout 

Dick Haymes has pulled out of 
the deal to star in a network show 
for the Assn. of American Rail- 
roads. Withdrawal, it was an- 
nounced yesterday (Tues.>, is via 
mutual consent with the Benton & 
Bowles ad agency, repping the rail 
group. 

R. R. show is expected to be 
time-slotted with one of the net- 
works today (Wed.). 



Make the San Fernando 
Valley My Home? Nuts, 
Sez East-Bound Block 

Martin Block is going to shake 
off the California sand and return 
to his old New York stomping 
grounds. Currently he's " in the 
Cedars of Lebanon hospital in Hol- 
lywood suffering from an attack 
of jaundice. But when he gets 
out, he'll sell his San Fernando 
Valley home, pack up his family, 
disks and turntables, and head 
east. That'll be sometime in Sep- 
tember or October, it's expected. 

Block's reasons for terminating 
his two-year residence on the Coast 
are said to be multiple. His KKWB, 
Hollywood, deal is washed up. 
Ditto his Mutual five-a-week stint. 
The California climate doesn't 
agree with his children. He feels 
more at home in N.Y. He has an 
eye on TV and feels he'll be closer 
to opportunities in that medium if 
he's in Gotham. Too, he can again 
do his WNEW, N.Y;; show live and 
eliminate the complicated proced- 
ure of plattering and shipping east 
his bt-tween-disks gab for the 
stanza. 



TRADE PONDERS 
OVERALL EFFECT 

By GEORGE ROSEN 

It's still a bit vague as to whether 
the Federal Communications Com- 
mission has issued a warning or 
proclaimed a fact on giveaway 
shows. 

The trade this week was sharply 
divided on whether the FCC will 
have the courage of its apparent 

..r, n...,.i. r. « f Ki. Wnnlflllnrt 5 fl ♦ #» 
llHIMHIVll.l UJr UUI13iall>IQ • *-JC» 

illation its proposed ruling that 
telephonic giveaway and gift pro- 
grams would be considered lotter- 
ies and, if they fell into any of four 
definite categories, would be 
ordered off the air. 

While the FCC notice had the 
immediate effect of throwing radio 
into almost unprecedented chaos, 
since so many programs and pend- 
ing deals are at stake, in some 
authoritative quarters it was the 
feeling that in the -end the lawyers 
for the networks and the package 
producers may con the Commission 
into a weasel, with the FCC stop- 
ping one or two of the worst ex- 
cesses but letting the thing ride. 
In that event, it was conceded, it 
will be just one more flash in the 
pan. 

However, it's the feeling that 
only the enforcement of explicit 
regulations declaring funny money, 
telephone quizzes and like stunts 
not in the public interest can halt 
a boom which it's acknowledged 
has growl* to staggering dimen- 
sions. 

Thinking Is Reversed 

Even among those who have de- 
precated the giveaway as a pass- 
ing fad and have been siding with 
idle actors, musicians, writers and 
creative people of all kinds against 
the current fever, it was the feel 
ing that giveaway shows, if un 
molested, were good for at least 
another two-year reign of pbpu 
larity on the kilocycles. But the 
FCC "bombshell" has already re 
versed thinking and program 
policy-shaping. NBC announced it 
won't, take any more giveaway pro- 
grams pending clarification. The 
other three webs by report are 
busy trying to save their interest 
in these shows, of which over 40 a 
week are aired. (FCC, incidentally, 
said its rule would apply to AM 
FM and television.) 

Alarm has spread beyond the 
networks into the advertising agen- 
cies, package producers and spon- 
sors. For over and above the 40- 
odd shows with their annual $2,- 
500,000 plus in cash-merchandise 
awards, an FCC enforcement would 
result in a complete overhaul of 
programming, and it's a question 
whether either the webs or the 
agencies are equipped for any such 
sudden drastic revamp. A timc- 
and-talent investment of multi- 
million proportions would be 
affected, with deals currently in 
negotiation involved. 

NBC indicated that only the 
Ralph Edwards "Truth or Con- 
sequences" (in its sporadic tele- 
phone sequence, such as "Miss 
(Continued on page 30) 



Coy Reassures B casters on Loss 
Of licenses in Political Deletions; 
Web Execs Help Clear Atmosphere 



Net's Met Fret 

The off-again, possibly-in-again 
status of the Metropolitan Opera's 
1948-49 season (see story on Page 

»u;~ ,,, nq i, ARr 

one/ tn*a j/uot wm;* 

and the sponsors of two web shows 
still up in the air on fall plans. 
Stanzas are the Texaco-sponsored 
Saturday pickups of the Met and 
the Farnsworth-bankrolled "Metro- 
politan Auditions of the Air." 

Webbers say "Auditions" may be 
able to take to the ether even 
though the Met remains shuttered. 
In that case, of course, the Texaco 
pickup would be out, hut there's 
said to be some possibility that the 
web may air the short season of the 
San Francisco Opera. 



Hooper Facing 
A Slight Case 
Of Financing 

What interests the trade most 
about C. E. Hooper's new popular- 
ity-projectable rating combo deal 
unveiled a couple weeks back, is its 
financing. Hooper announced that, 
"contingent upon acceptance" by 
his clients, he'd include the pro- 
jectable ratings in his twice-month- 
ly Pockctpiece and issue two . U. S. 
Hooperating reports yearly, ' start- 
ing the Pocketpiece innovation in 
October. f 

Since one .U. S. Hooperating re- 
port already has been issued and 
the general concept of Hooper's 
projectable rating system is fa- 
miliar to the industry, it was the 
cost item which the networks, 
agencies and advertisers eyed spec- 
ulatively. For, Hooper said the ap- 
nual budget for this extra service 
would total $200,000. And he has 
decided to apportion it this way: 
$100,000 additional from the nets, 
each paying a proportion deter- 
mined by its percentage of total 
network time sales during the pre- 
ceding year; $100,000 additional 
from agency and advertiser sub- 
scribers, each paying a rate 33M<% 
higher than now (involving a hike 
in ceiling for these clients from 
$1,200 to $1,600 monthly and "ad- 
justment" in agency minimums to 
$100, advertisers to $50 monthly). 

The new rates would be effective 
next Jan. 1, which means that the 
new service would be free as an 
introductory offer (and "to provide 
time for inclusion in 1949 radio 
audience measurement budgets") 
for three months. 

"While the networks reportedly 
(Continued on page 33) 



Washington, Aug. 10. 
Broadcasters need not fear los- 
ing their licenses if they continue 
to delete defamatory, libelous or 
slanderous statements from politi- 
cal broadcasts, FCC Chairman 
Wayne Coy told the Select Com- 
tee to Investigate FCC at . a 
brief afternoon session Friday (6). 
Coy, who had testified the opening 
day, Thursday (5), vvas recalled by 
the Committee to iron out the 
doubts created in the industry by 
the recent Port Huron decision. 

The Port Huron decision upheld 
Section 315 of the Radio Act that 
broadcasters would not censor ma- 
terial going out over the air, but 
stated it thought the licensee was 
not responsible in case of libel. 
FCC said it thought the speaker 
was libel, however, admitted before 
Uie House Committee that a Su- 
preme Court ruling would probably 
be the test. 

During the two days of hearings, 
Commission and industry wit- 
nesses were called. The hearing 
seemed on the" horns of a dilemna 
until CBS exec yeepee Joseph 
Ream took the stand. 

Two possibilities had been pre- 
sented by several of the witnesses: 
(1) allow the broadcaster power of 
censorship over libelous material; 
or (2) prohibit all censorship, but- 
relieve the broadcaster of respon- 
sibility. 

Ream proposed returning to the 
status the broadcasters had main- 
tained before the Port Huron de- 
cision. He said his net hall had no 
trouble in getting politicians to 
delete willingly anything libelous 
when it was called to -their atten- 
tion. He said the industry had done 
very well without censorship dur- 
ing the past 20 years. 

Chairman Forest A. Harness 
(R.-Ind.) had been leaning toward 
such a solution, until the Commit- 
tee had more time to establish 
whether legislation was needed in 
this connection, so he called Coy 
back and the Port Huron case as 
a big stick diminished. 

Elston Does a Burn 
Meanwhile Rep. Charles H. El- 
ston (R.-Ohio) was indignant with 
FCC on several counts. He wanted 
to know if decisions were made in 
the legal department or on the 
Commission level. He questioned 
vigorously the right of FCC attor- 
neys to make such a ruling when 
the Congress which set up the 
Communications Act had original- 
ly included a clause* to the effect 
(Continued on page 33) 



From the Giveaway Centres 

Toots Shor's "hucksters," heretofore exclusively concerned with the 
boxoffice end of radio, have finally caught up with the meaning of FCC, 
now that the Government agency's giveaway edict hits them all be- 
tween the eyes. There wasn't a Shor's table last Friday, when the D.C. 
threat broke, that wasn't kicking around those FCC call letters and 

debating the pros and cons of the lottery accusation The quipsters 

were no time at all getting in their licks. The FCC, they rumored, is 

packaging a new show called "Break the Back" At least half a 

dozen of the country's top magazines are caught with their giveaway 
exposes down Among' stanzas claimed in-the-clear is WNEW's take- 
away, "You Can Lose Your Shirt" — because contestants don't win any- 
thing, and only lose dough if they miss questions. Most often over- 
heard words of the week: "Well, we saw pur attorneys and ..." 

Between the giveaway bombshell and the blowup of 1ATSE troubles 
on the WJZ-TV preem, ABCers from Mark Woods on down had as 
hectic a week as they want to contemplate. . . .Coziest place in town was 
NBC — where you could see the smoke coming up from another web's 
dens, floor or two below. . . .Editorials all over the place in the upright 
press (which accepts contest ads, the Webs- note), one suggesting that 
the biggest loss in the giveaway crackdown will be suffered by the car- 
toonists . . Feeling Is around that emcees' cracks to contestants that 
"all you really have to do is breathe in and out" or that "we have to 
have some excuse for awarding this stuff" helped push the giveaways 
onto thin lottery ice . . Most resigned comment from a webber who's 
an admitted giveaway dialer: "Oh, well, I only had one chance in 22,- 
000,000 anyway." 



Myron Kirk Steps Up In 
Kudner Agcy. Revamp; 
Ed Sobolas TV Head 

Pending switchover and over- 
haul of the ABC "Texaco Star 
Theatre" show as a N. Y. origina- 
tion next season is cueing a re- 
vamp of the Kudner agency radio 
setup, with Myron Kirk stepping 
up into a post of broader ex- 
ecutive powers as aide to agency 
prexy Jim Ellis. 

Ed Sobol, NBC tele producer 
prominently identified with the 
Texaco Star Theatre" TV show," is 
moving over to the Kudner opera- 
tion to head up TV activities. He'll 
continue to direct the Tuesday 
night NBC 60-minute vaude layout. 

Agency is also moving Ed Cash- 
man into N. Y. as radio director to 
take over many of the duties now 
held down by Kudner. Move east 
by Cashman, which takes place 
after tile- current Gordon MacRae- 
Evelyn Knight ABC Texaco series 
runs out its string next month, 
closes the Kudner office in Holly- 
wood, as no other accounts are 
serviced from there. 

Cashman had headed up the Hol- 
lywood office for Kudner for the 
past year and a half and also pro- 
duced the Texaco show. He's a 
20-year veteran* of radio and 
formerly was air topper for Foote, 
Cone k Belding and handled the 
American Tobacco account. 



Wednesday, August 11, 1943 




Swiss Prefer AFN Jazz Airers, But 

• - .<■ I! ...... 

Soviet Transmitter Drowns 'Em Out 



By DOROTHY HOLLOW AY 

Berne, Aug. 3. 
American Forces Network shows, 
which have a surprisingly high 
Hooper and Swiss radio listeners, 
have suffered increased interfer- 
ence over the past few weeks from 
what all hands here agree is a 
high-powered Soviet transmitter. 
Swiss authorities report the first 
big onslaught of jamming not only 
to the highly popular AFN jazz 
airers but to their own broadcasts 
to 'Turkey and the Iron Curtain 
countries in Eastern Europe. Fact 
irks the radio toppers, particularly 
since Switzerland has also main- 
tained a neutral role in EUropean 
politics. > The Swiss technicians are 
presently experimenting on new 
shortwave bands to Eastern Europe 
in an effort to override the inter- 
ference but so far have reported 
little progress. 

In contrast to the seldom heard 
"Voice of America" programs, the 
AFN shows enjoy considerable pop- 
ularity on the Continent. Fact that 
they concentrate on top network 
music and comedy shows airing 
wellknown U. S. stars provides 
plenty of competition to the rather 
slow-moving fare aired on the lo- 
cal government systems. And, per- 
haps even more important, up un- 
til the recent Soviet crisis in Ber- 
lin, the AFN transmitters operating 
out of Hanover and Wiesbaden in 
the American Zone of Germany de- 
livered an excellent signal in most 
of Europe. 

Swiss bureaucrats admit that 
they have plenty of competition 
from the AFN stations since the 
government radio airs a steady diet 
of serious and 'semi-classical music. 
As a result, the hepcats here rely 
almost entirely on the Yanks, for 
their jive and popular dance music 
In the evening hours. 1 Not more 
than a "handful" of listeners were 
reported for the. "Voice" shows. 

(French radio sources in Paris 
last week speculated— on the basis 
of reports reaching them from DX 
listeners in Eastern Europe — that 
the Russians may have activated a 
new high-powered transmitter in 
their sector of Berlin. The Swiss, 
however, are inclined to the view 
that the jamming comes from a 
Moscow transmitter ranging in 
power from 300 to 500 kw — the 
highest powered operation on the 
Continent. None of the other Eu- 
ropean countries beams shortwave 
programs on more than a 100 or, in 
a few instances, a 150 kw trans- 
mitter). The jamming of Allied 
plane communications on the air 
lift to Berlin has already received 
considerable attention in the local 
press but the interference to AFN 
airers is of more direct interest to 
the 1,000,000 Swiss radio homes. 

Meanwhile, the whole subject of 
international radio allocations be- 
ing studied by the Provisional Fre- 
quency Board in Geneva is now 
bogged down by new Russian op- 
position, according to direct reports 
by U. S. delegation members there. 
The Soviet reps at this conference 
have pulled a Gromyko by vetoing 
every technical suggestion put 
forth by the engineering staff of 
the Western powers. This attitude 
is in striking contrast to the be- 
havior of the Societ delegates who 
went along with 52 other countries 
in signing the international radio 
pact at Atlantic City last summer. 
The U. S. S. R. has replaced the 
Atlantic City contingent with a new 
batch of radio experts in Geneva 
who regularly take issue with the 
decisions reached there. 



Ben Bodec to K.&E. 

Ben Bodec has resigned from 
Variety to join the radio depart- 
ment of the Kenyon & Eckhardt 
agency, effective Monday (16). 
He will handle talent buying and 
also program development under 
Leonard Erikson, veepee in charge 
of the department. 

Bodec's previous agency -jxperl- 
ence was with the J. Walter Thomp- 
son Co. 




ABC to Salvage 
4 Hiatus' Entries 



Four ABC summer entries look 
set to survive the rash of warm- 
weather contenders. The casualties, 
come the end of hiatus time, are 
expected to include such stanzas 
as "Superstition," "Criminal Case- 
book," Margb Whiteman's "Tomor- 
row's Tops" and "The Comedy 
Writer's' Show," "Ross Dolan, De- 
tective," already has been axed. 
"Front Page" may or may not get 
a reprieve. 

The survivors will include 
"Johnny Fletcher," "Go for the 
House" (unless the FCC giveaway 
ban hits it) , "Get Rich Quick" (also 
threatened by the ban), "Second 
Honeymoon" (likewise), and "Chat 
lenge of the Yukon." Latter, of 
course, has just snared a bankrol- 
led 

Other sustainers (pre-dating the 
summer .entries), definitely riding 
into the fall schedule, according 
to program veepee "Bud" Barry, 
include "Candid Microphone," 
"Child's World" and "Amazing Mr. 
Malone." 

Casualties "don't stem in every 
case- froni failure of the show to 
click, Barry added. With "Tomor- 
row's Tops," which he likes, it's 
"just a matter of budget," he said. 
Also, of course, returning shows 
will narrow down the number of 
gaps to be programmed. 

Meantime, Barry disclosed, pro- 
gram salesman Margan Ryan is on 
a swing through the midwest with 
a couple of new packages for which 
ABC has inked exclusive sales 
rights. One is "My Romance," 
subtitled "Harriet Holden's Story," 
formatted for either 15 or 30 
minutes across the board, each 
day's episode retailing a complete 
love story. Show was packaged 
on the Coast by Carl Wester. 

Other stanza, put together with 
the William Morris agency, feat- 
ures Mike Dutton, better known .as 
a radio producer, in a quarter-hour 
strip titled "Mother's Little Help- 
er." He'd take a tape recorder 
into homes, ask housewives about 
their chores, and intro a little guy 
name Gadget to help with house- 
work. 

Barry also is dickering with Kay 
Kyser, whose "Kollege" was can- 
celled by Colgate, to do an hour- 
long, five times weekly daytime 
show which would be peddled in 
quarter-hour segments, a la Paul 
Whiteman's late disk jockey stanza. 
Neither a deal nor a format set yet, 
though. Kyser, just in from 
Europe, had another huddle with 
Barry on the matter last week. 



KLZ Writer-Producer 

CLAYTON BRACE 

The Sunday a.m. Funny Paper 
show which he scripts packs the 
KLZ studio with kids and grown-ups 
every week. He is producer for such 
KLZ shows as "Colorado Speaks" 
"Penthouse Serenade" and "Joe Al- 
port's Barn Dance." 
V KLZ, DENVER 



From the Production Centres 



Masters*! Exits 'B'fast' 

John Mastcrson has resigned as 
manager of "Breakfast in Holly- 
wood" program. He's part owner 
of the package and has managed 
it for seven and a half years. 

Masterson is currently in New 
York conferring with ABC, agency 
and client heads regarding the re- 
placement of Garry Moore as pro- 
gram's m.c. Moore is leaving un- 
der doctor's orders. 



SCHWARTZ F-C-B VEEPEE 

Chicago, Aug. 10, 
Milton H. Schwartz, director of 
radio copy for the Foote, Cone & 
Belding agency here was named 
a veepee last week. 

He returned to the company last 
summer. >... 



Army's Time and Talent' 
Deals for Fail Gridcasts 
Hikes ABC, Mutual Biz 

Army Recruiting Service, via the 
Gardner Agency, planted a couple 
of grid season billings this past 
week. 

Biggest slice of business went to 
ABC for a Saturday afternoon 
"Game of the Week" schedule call- 
ing for two and a half hour airing 
of eight games starting Sept. 18. 
Play-by-play will be handled by 
Harry Wismer. 

Mutual got an order with a long- 
er time tab. It's for a 15-minute 
roundup ,.ok..sp<>rts highlights by 
Mel Allen, Saturday nights at 7:45, 
also teeing off Sept. 18. Deal is 
for at least 13 weeks and may run 
. longer. 

I Unlike some Army airers of the 
past which got free time and picked 
up only the talent check, both of 
these series will bill the military 
for both time and talent. 



♦ >m i »m ii mi» Mmmtmi mm ) H 

flV NEW YORK CITY . . . 

Niles Trammell off on three-week fishing trip to Canada . . Jean 
Hurley of Mutual's program booking staff off on a two-month gander 
of Europe. . . .Michael O'Duffy, WOR's newly imported Irish tenor, got 
news via- cable Friday (6) that he's a father. It's a boy, born in Dublin 

Helbros has given "Quick as a Flash" a Sept. 5 greenlight 

Gainesborough Associates peddling a Theatre Arts mag-sponsored TV 
show "Broadway on Parade," calling for pickups from legit houses. ... • 
J Donald Wilson, ABC's Coast program topper, in for three weeks of ' 
homeoffice huddles, with accent on plans for the web's tele teeoff in 
L A this fall. . . Add Family Production Centres: it's a 7V£-pound girl, 
Barbara, born Saturday (7), at the home of Dick Pack, WNEW's pub- 
licity and special events chjef. 

Ben Grauer's career due for a reprise tomorrow (Thurs.) on John 
McCaffery's WNBC "Room ,416" .... Dubonnet Trio (Mac MacQuarrle, 

arranger) broadcasting from the Hearst ranch in California Grattan 

McGroarty, ex-UP foreign correspondent, and Michael Dann, ex-pub- 
licity director of the New Haven RR, annexed to NBC's press staff. ... 
Lurene Tuttle has taken over Monty Margetts' role in "The Guiding 
Light" . . . . Lowell Thomas details the life of a newscaster in the Au- 
gust Redbook Don Hirst, scripter on NBC-TVs "You Are an Artist," 

to resume legit thesping for one week as The Fool in Maxwell Ander- 
son's. "Elizabeth the Queen" at the Ridgefield (Conn.) Summer Theatre 
starting Sunday (15). 

Prospects brightening that Mutual's "Newsreel" will have a fall bank- 
roller Savarin Coffee picked up the WJZ tab on "Gangbusters," ef- 
fective Sept. 11.... ABC moved its tele department offices over the 
weekend from 30 Rock to the fifth floor of the web's new video h.q. at 
7 West 66th Carl Jampel's many irons in radio's fire: besides script- 
ing "Archie Andrews" and the Slapsie Maxie Show, he's (1) remodelling 
his recent "Suzie" audition to fit a time slot NBC has in mind; (2) ready- 
ing a situation stanza which Mutual will audition shortly starring Vir- 
ginia and Woody Klose, and (3) revamping his own quizzer, "Your 

Three Wishes," in response to a bile MCA has for it New baby son 

for Terry Clyne, Bulova account exec at Biow. . . .Mrs. Gertrude Speer, 
formerly of WMPS, Memphis, and recently with Sperti, Inc., new sec'y 
to Johnny Johnstone, in NAM's radio-tele department .... Diane Court- 
ney again vacation-pinchhitting for Irene Beasley on "Grand Slam." 

Staats Cotswocth and his actress frau, Muriel Kirkland, touring New 
England with palette and oil paints .... Les Tremayne and actress wife, 

Alice Reinheart, doing Mexico with Leicas Russell Birdwell outfit 

has taken over publicity chores for the American Civil Liberties Union 
. . ...F. J. Bingley, Philco's chief TV engineer, wooed away by WOR to 
be chief engineer of its N. Y. and D. C. tele outlets. . . .1948 Music 
Festival at Lewisohn Stadium tonight (Wed.) for the Amsterdam News 
welfare fund to be covered from 10 p.m. to midnight by WAAT, New- 
ark. Three gabbers, Paul Brenner, Jerry Roberts and Bill Cook, 
WAAT's Negro announcer, will be on the job. . . .Eloise McElhone now 
co-emcee (with Jack Bright) of NBC-TV's "Try and Do It." 

WCON, Atlanta, followed up ABC's Commie documentary the same 
night with a "Communism-Georgia Brand" half-hour stanza .... Stude- 
baker buying the plugs on WNBC's 6 p.m. news Tuesdays, Thursdays 
and Saturdays starting this week . Dorothy Francis into the "Stella 
j Dallas" cast. . . Elizabeth Morgan new to "Backstage Wife". . . Grant 
Richards with "Our Gal Sunday" ..'.-. Guy della Cioppa, asst. to Harry 
Ackerman on CBS Coast programming, is spending a few weeks in 
New York, occupying office of Gerald Maulsby, web's asst. director of 
public_ affairs, while latter vacations in Nantucket. Other CBS pro- 
gramming heads vacationing: Bill Fineshriber in Maine and Werner 
Michel in Canada Toni Gilbert new addition to CBS writing di- 
vision, handling music : variety shows. Formerly with Wm. Esty agency. 
Revere Camera's "All Star Revue" on Mutual being expanded from 

15 to 25 minutes starting tomorrow (Thurs.) night WOR's Dorothy 

(Kilgallen) and Dick (Kollmar) hopping to Europe Aug. 26 and will air- 
ship platters home for their breakfast table stint until Sept. ,19 Joe 

Gottlieb now handling the Duke Ellington disk show from Harry S, 
Goodman's office .... Benton & Bowles' Olga Druce, recovered from 
surgery, planed to London Monday (9) to wax a couple of "Hous* of 

WOR, N. Y„ is getting out in- Mystery" sequences with all-British casts Treva Frazee back in N.Y. 

for radio commitments after five weeks on the road in the legit, "Sun- 
down Beach," which opens on B'way Sept. 7. 

Len Doyle and Fred Uttal have a new show for waxing ABC mull- 
ing a new comedy featuring Bette Garde and Alice Frost, scripted by 

Norman Tokar, one of the "Aldrich Family" writers WOV's Arnold 

Hartley planes to Italy via Air France next Wednesday (18) to arrange 
dedication of- a hospital, near Boggia, to the memory of F. H. LaGuar- 
dia. Ceremonies slated Sept. 1. From there he'll go to Paris to huddle 
with Radiodiffusion Francaise on Italian-language programs for WOV 

. . . Jean Meegan quitting AP to work for Steve Hanagan WWRL 

puffed up over its four-column spread in Monday's (9) World-Tele. ... 
FM stations, prompted by WGYN, getting together to tab Freddie Mar- 
tin's the "FM Band of the Year" . General Electric renewed "What's 
My Name?" for another 52 ... . WOR may book Mayfair Transcriptions 
Damon Runyon Show," half-hour dramats of his yarns . 24th floor 

r „7.f? y J?. Ue6 ?' \ of KWK - St terrace at 1440 B ' wa y bein e fitted out as a sun deck for WOR em- 
Louis; Bill Armstrong, 11, of | ployees! 

KORN, Fremont, Neb.; Bobby I 

Womack, WDXB, Chattanooga; fjV HOLLYWOOD 

Bob Hope made his first casting for next season's new lineup by put- 
ting Doris Day under contract for the thrushing role. . . Mutual passed 
up j; rank Graham's quizzer, "The Man Said Yes" after paying for two 
auditions. Too similar to Ronson's "20 Questions," it was ruled ... 
1,1 , C II b f five Crosb ys on the Philco platter that spins Sept. 29 to 
S the tape on the new season. Four of them call the fifth papa. . . . 
Kight back where he started from is Jack Smith, who'll permanently 
,A T f c Carl stant °n. director of night time radio for Dancer, 
SSm, Sample, here to set up the origination, is also a home 
n*L I™n7 111 Bfennan continues as director of the Smith strip and 
aobbmith scripts. . . Dick Dorso and Al Levy of Century Artists swap- 
R,?Ln Pera i n f £ ases ' witn the latter taking the eastern trick. . Dan 
Hnn fltw ? H? B nets> named Program director of ILGWU's FM sta- 
Hte»Jk ° g t0 £ he air ! n a lew weeks. . . Beth Brown sold one of her 
,111 arv Properties, "Riverside Drive," to Robert Cotton, indie pack- 
FH rll'! warm !Pg «P a sponsor for matinee airing in five 15's. . . . 
w»vn» t?. a " med over Texaco sta r Theatre to Bunny Coughlin, and 
wnnri " Iwif °*l" g standt) y duty for Hilliard Marks on "Let's Talk Holly- 
"BHnrt twL» 6 regu i ar cue fl^Pers take their midyear sabbatical. . . • 
art w?nL Was - aud,t,oned with a ne w format by Jack Rourke for 
sfln£i» riSE? 1 b »5 dated "P with y° un g Aim players and on the 
Jr BinttlL^ 6 , Kathy ^ ovvns - Ann Soling and Joe Kirkwood, 
of ~J2SS S? a H ma tchmaker. . . Russ Hudson resigned as head 
kIo western division sales service and recording department to 

^cce m ,nr1fX nag ra 0f Audio and Vidro fto*StaofN«? York. His 
E£2r& „ W A J ^ n .e L .^ a ! ded 5* .* G- Fernhead. . . .Admiral Rad.o 



Colgate Roster 
In Overhaul 

Colgate is once more in the 
process of overhauling its fall- 
winter program roster and it looks 
•now like Judy Canova, along with 
Kay Kyster, gets the axe. Also in- 
volved is a switchover of the Col- 
gate (Super Suds) "Blondie" show 
from the 7:30 Sunday evening time 
on CBS to Wednesday at 8 on NBC. 

Here's how the Colgate maneu- 
vers shape up: Dennis Day, origi- 
nally scheduled for a 13-week layoff, 
is returning on Sept. 1, but moves 
into the Saturday night at 10 seg- 
ment, the Canova spot. Thus it'll 
be Day and Colgate's "Can You 
Top This?" (9:30) as the back-to- 
back NBC showcase. Into the ex- 
Day spot on Wednesday moves 
"Blondie" in October. 

Meanwhile, Colgate has given the 
okay to Prince Albert's "Grand Ol' 
Opry" to occupy the Sat. at 10 
slot until Day takes over, when 
"Opry" returns to its regular Sat- 
urday, at 10:30 berth. 

Moppet Disk Jockeys 
To Be Guests of WOR 
At Convention in N.Y. 

Y. 

vites to moppet disk jockeys 
throughout the country to come to 
Gotham at the end of August for 
a "convention" as guests of the 
station, with WOR's six-year-old 
Robin Morgan (also of "Juvenile 
Jury"), "dean" of them all, as 
hostess. 

What amazes station execs is the 
number of knee-highs twirling | , . . . Jean 
disks on the nation's airwaves. In 
response to a conference call query 
on Mutual's wires the other day, 
WOR's Bob Blake has received 
letters in behalf of: 



Joanne Brooks, WEBR, Buffalo 
(daughter t>f Foster Brooks, jockey 
on WKBW, Buffalo); Michael Hun- 
nicutt, Jr., 7, of WOL, Washington, 
son of WOL's ayem gabber; Lynn 
McDonald, 11, of WCOH, Newman. 
Ga.; Barbara Dale Morgan, 11, of 
KCBC, Des Moines; Billy Bob Mc- 
Ahster, 8, of KICA, Clovis, N. M. 
(who has been on the air since 3 
and also covers baseball games). 

ACE-HIKEN IN COMBO 
TO DO B'WAY REVUE 

Goodman Ace, writer-producer 
and costar of the CBS' "Mr. Ace & 
Jane" comedy show, and Nat Hiken, 
radio comedy script writer, are 
taking a joint fling into legit next 
season. They've signed contracts 
with Anthony Farrell, "angel" of 
last season's "Hold It" Broadway 
musical, to write a revue for the 



upcoming season. It'll be a satire , 

""J* 16 th ^ trC - ' ' w A f kln ' S J 0 - This Is Holiywood-'foTieiecasting on KTLA. 

Meanwhile Hiken, former writer , & ™ ™- ree , t ; 'nterviews, games and sundry hij inks. .. Bill 

for Fred Allen who scripted Milton .!£° m ? f son J t Mr - , w J m P le > « starred in a 12-minute film for tele called 
Berle's Philip Morris show last \„^ n , tr yfP r e, ' directed by Joe Parker. .. .Mutual has Rotten around 
season, is slated for a return to the , n-,, ~ R *^ dand cut a record of his show, "Mirth and Madness,' 
Berle fold if and when his Texaco | u „ m . G rey -*4L lian Leigh, Audrey Young and Irving Miller's orch 
deal is consummated (sec separate 1 • • ' - "ugh Beach, %wsweek\s promotion manager, in town to check up 
story - ) ; - I !^Continue,d on page 32) 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



MILLER DUE FOR NEW 



27 




$2,01,080 Take for Sports-Conscious 
^ p (W/o of Total Hings) 



PHILIP MORRIS COLD 
ON 'HEART'S DESIRE' 



Mutual's claims to fame (world's + 
"largest" network, etc.). can defi- 
nitely include, the distinction of be- 
ing the most sports-minded of the 
webs — and making this type of pro- 
gramming pay off handsomely. A 
tabulation of Mutual's billings for "Heart's Desire," the Bay Mor- 
sportscasts shows that for the cur- j gan-packaged daytimer on Mutual, 
rent year they'll amount to I is no longer Philip Morris' desire 
roughly $2,00(1,000, or close to 10% j Show, which has slipped as low as 
of the net's total gross time sales. < a program can get in Hooper's 
It's significant, too, that this web i Monday-through-Friuay stakes, is 
not only has been able to wrap up belng Qum P e <l by the ciggie outfit 
bankrolling for virtually all of its on **** 2( >- It's a case of "De- 
sports stuff, but is here and there ! slre -'.' formatted by Morgan as a 
grabbing impressive rating payoffs | ™nn<ng mate for his successful 
for these special eventers. Zale- °- ueen . for * Day, ' never quite 
Graziano-fight (sponsored by Bal- measuring -up to the latter, 
lantine brew) early in June picked PM. which has bankrolled the 
off the No. 2 spot in Nielsen's Top I final quarter-hour of "Desire" for 
20. Ballantine happily jumped in ' weI1 over a year, apparently isn't 

leaving Mutual's field, however. 



with sponsor coin for last month's 
lightweight title bout between Beau 
Jack and Ike Williams. 

This fall Mutual will augment its 
heavy sports schedule with its first i 
airing of the Army-Navy grid i 
classic. Additionally, a weekly I 
sports roundup by Mel Allen will 
be sponsored by Army Recruiting. 

Other sports events for which I 
MBS picks up bankrolling include: 
the World Series, All-Star baseball j 
and football games, Indianapolis 
Speedway race, East-West football j 
game, Cotton Bowl game, North- ! 
South football game. i 

Web boasts the only sponsored j 
cross-the-board sports show, 3$ayuk 
Cigars' "Inside of Sports" with Bill 
Brandt and Joe Cummisky. Only 
Items in this field carried sustain- ! 



Ciggie outfit, via Cecil & Presbrey 
agency, is reported closing a deal 
with the web for another 15-minute 
cross-the-board sequence. It may 
be "Luncheon at Sardi's." 
"Desire" is headed for a fade. 



ABC Hits Back In 
WSAft Two-Web 
Conspiracy Claim 



Washington. Aug. 10. 

American Broadcasting Co., has 
ing, in fact ..are. sports director Paul filed a brief with tte Suprerae 

Jonas' Saturday "Sports Parade', Court opposition to the peti- 
and 48 weeks ot horseracing high- j tion of radio station WSAY of 
lights Saturdays. I Rochester, N. Y., which asks treble 

Next up oh the web's sports damages from ABC and Mutual 
agenda is the College All-Stars vs. Broadcasting System. 
National Pro Football League grid ABC states that WSAY's basic 
clash Aug 20 It 11 be bankrolled ; tbesjs js that in buymg broa dcast 
by Wilson Sporting Goods. \ time the ne t W orks must, as a mat- 

It's noted, too, that every one of ter of law, submit to the dictates 
the sponsored sportscasts are full . D f the sellers as to the price to 



500-station affairs, which means 
they get wider airing than most of 
Mutual's other programming. 



Berles Radio-TV 
Deal for Texaco 



Milton Berle's 1948-49 radio- 
television spread for Texaco was 
all set for signaturing yesterday 
(Tues.) by the Kudner agency, 
which handles the Texaco account. 

Berle parting cues a moreover 
of the ABC "Texaco Star Thea- 
tre" from Hollywood to N. Y., 
with Berle in the emcee spot. He 
also takes over as permanent head 
man of the Texaco Tuesday night 
TV vaude show on NBC. 

Radio show gets a complete re- 
vamp when it moves in to N. Y. 
next month, after the current 
cycle run.? out, with Gordon Mac- 
Rae stepping out, but with like- 
lihood that Evelyn Knight will 
continue as the fern me chirper. 

Deal is also being negotiated to 
move the ABC radio airer into the 
9:30 Wednesday (pre-Crosby) time 
slot, instead of its current 10:30 
slotting. Plan is to turn the late 
evening segment over to the 
Groucho Marx show, with Abbott 
& Costello scheduled for 9 
o'clock and Old Gold occupying 
the 8 to 9 segment with its newly- 
acquired Original Amateur Hour. 

Earle McGill in Hosp 

Hollywood, 'Aug. 10. 
Earle McGill, here for the Radio- 
Television Directors Guild conven- 
tion, was ill on arrival and has 
been confined in the hospital. His 
case hasn't been diagnosed. 

Outgoing national president of 



be paid for such time. ABC feels 
this would preclude any possibil- 
ity of tha operation of a network 
as a cohesive unit. There is no 
precedent in anti-trust law ABC 
can find to support WSAY's 
| theory. ABC asked the Supreme 
j Court to deny the petition. 

WSAY claims the two nets con- 
I spired to violate the Sherman 
i Act, and alleges that all four nets 
j are engaged in an illegal con- 
; spiracy to exclude radio stations 
I from the national advertising mar- 
1 ket except at prices dictated by 
! them. 

Until 1943, WSAY was affiliated 
with Mutual. After that the radio 
| station did business on its own 
I terms with both ABC and Mutual 
I on a non-affiliated basis. ABC 
1 says the station dictated its own 
i terms, which both nets considered 
I exorbitant until 1947. The nets 
j met WSAY's demands because of 
its monopolistic position as the 
I only unaffiliated outlet in Ro- 
chester. The two other Rochester 
stations were affiliates. 

However, in 1947 FCC licensed 
two new stations with which ABC 
(Continued on page 32) 



3-WAY CANDY PARLAY 
SUGARS ABC COFFERS 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 
Mars Candy is reducing its 
stable of programs on NBC from 
three „to two and its competitor, 
Schutter, will again pick up the 
tab for "Counterspy" on ABC, 
starting Sept. 12. The Mars can- 
cellation applies to "Dr. I. Q., Jr.", 

' a Saturday morning event and be- 
comes effective Aug. 28 after a 

j 26-week run. 

' Reason cited for "Jr.'s" shelving 
jis that after Mars had expanded 
I its hookup for "Curtain T,Jme" and 
! further swelled the tin" it for 



the "organization had "an internal j this s h <™; ^"h^antaneoW 
disorder for some days, but in- overrun the radio ty M and A Jt948. 



had 



sisted on flying from New York 
for the meeting. He was ill 
on the plane throughout the trip, 
and was taken to the hospital di- 
rectly from the airport. 



Mars also ( still J[ e ava ii a blc tF 
"Dr. I. Q." - r on a CO mmer\ 

5-30^6% .^ ting neKt Monday ' 



PRO, CON STAND 
WITHIN THE 

It's reported that tbe board of 
directors of the National Assn. of 
Broadcasters, as in enthusiastic 
endorsement of his administration, 
is prepared to re-sign prexy Jus- 
tin Miller to a new contract, al- 
though the present one still has 
about, two years to run. 

The report has stirred pro 
and con comment within the in- 
dustry as to the leadership pro- 
jected by prexy Miller since his 
appointment, and the overall ad- 
ministration of the NAB as an in- 
dustry organization toward elevat- 
ing the standards of broadcasting 
and protecting the broadcasters' 
interests. 

On one score in particular, the 
broadcasters concede. Miller has 
asserted the type of leadership 
the • broadcasters long felt has 
been needed. That's on the vigor- 
ous campaign he's been carrying 
on to reverse the Mayflower De- 
cision and thus lift the radio edi- 
torial ban. Practically the whole 
industry will go along with Mil- 
ler on that one, and bestow en- 
coniums on him for his forthright 
approach to the whole campaign 
and his ability to back up the 
fight with a chapter-and-verse 
espousal of constitutional law. 

In the field of labor relations, 
too, the NAB, the broadcasters 
acknowledge, has put its best foot 
forward, and can raise its head 
high for its accomplishments over 
the past two years. 

Television Slighted 

But from there on, there's a 
sharp division of opinion among 
many of the key industry men as 
to how forcefully the NAB has in- 
tegrated itself into tbe broadcast- 
ers' operational pattern. Many 
argue that, in his determination 
to junk the Mayflower rule, Mil- 
ler has permitted too many other 
vital issues to go by the boards. 
This, they say, is particularly ap- 
plicable to television. 

Some go so far as to say that 
the NAB today is fully five years 
behind in its thinking on video; 
that only now, after the more 
ambitious broadcasters on their 
own hook have set the patterns 
and made television a working 
.reality, has the NAB discovered 
that there's such a thing as TV 
on the horizon. 

What particularly gripes some 
broadcasters is the fact that most 
of the coin siphoned into the NAB 
coffers comes from these broad- 
casters v/ho have staked their fu- 
ture in television yet find that 
turning to the industry organiza- 
(Continued on page. 32) 

Indies Win fight 
For Voice on NAB 

Non-affiliated radio stations are 
claiming victory in their long fight 
to win an official voice for indies 
in the affairs of the National Assn. 
of Broadcasters. Justin Miller, 
NAB prexy, has confirmed the ap- 
pointment of a seven-man indie 
committee headed by Ted Cott of 
WNEW, N.Y., and additionally has 
named Howard Lane of WJJD, 
Chicago, and Calvin J. Smith of 
KFAC, Los Angeles, as board liai- 
son members. 

Committee members besides 
Cott are David Baylor, WJMO, 
Cleveland; Melvin Drake, WDGY, 
Minneapolis; Bob Maynard, WSVS, 
Crewe, Va.; Lawrence W. McDow- 
ell, KFOX; Long Beach, Calif.; 
Pete Schloss, WWSW, Pittsburgh, 
and Eugene P. Weil, WJRD, Tusca- 
loosa. 

Setup carries out a plan pro- 
posed to the board by Cott, who 
has sparked the fight for indie 
representation at the last two NAB 
conventions. Miller advised Cott 
that he had asked Jess Willard, 
NAB exec secretary, to work with 
the indie group and that -Willard 
will huddle with Cott probably late 
this month to. gander proposed ac- 
tivities of the committee. 



Wointranb's Gabber Stable Tops 
ReM;WWDealOutorHucbters 



Wonders Never Cease 

Washington, Aug. 10. 
A new' type of bureaucrat 
has come to Washington with 
the arrival of the- new ^Federal 
Communications Commission- 
er Frieda Hennock. Miss Hen- 
nock is shocked to be taken 
to lunch by local correspond- 
ents — she expects to pay the 
check. 

Miss Hennock. pointed to 
the leather couch in her lux- 
urious office. The leather was 
split badly, but she remarked 
airly: "It would cost^ $250 to 
re-cover, so I told them not 
to bother. I don't want to be 
an expense to the Govern- 
ment." 

Another day when leaving 
a hearing one of the FCC 
minions ran after her and 
aske.d if be could call a Com- 
mission car to take her where 
she was going. She refused 
with "I'll take a taxi." 



Nielsen Setup 




o 



* William H. Weintraub's outfit has 
emerged, with the inking of Walter 
Winchell for Kaiser-Frazer, as the 
top agency in the billing of com- 
mentators. New deal for WW puts 
him under the same agency as 
Drew Pearson, who' is often Win- 
e-hell's . nearest competitor in the 
(gabber rating stakes. 
I in addition to Pearson (for Lee 
Hats) and WW, Weintraub's stable 
of newsgabbers includes Don 
Gardiner on ABC's "Monday Morn- 
ing Headlines" for Seeman Bros., 
and William L, Shirer on Mutual 
for the Wings shirts. (Latter is 
off for the summer but returns 
Sept. 5). Seeman also bankrolls a 
Saturday ayem -"Hollywood Head- 
lines" on ABC, future status of 
which is understood in doubt at 
the moment, , 

Gabbers constitute all of Wein- 
traub's program billings at the mo- 
ment except for Helbros' "What 
Makes You Tick," subbing for 
"Quick As a Flash." (During past 
season, agency also had "Sherlock 
Holmes" for Trimount Clothes.) 
It's believed Weintraub's concen- 
tration on gabbers stems from ■ 
growing conviction, come what may 
in programming fads, news stan- 
zas are the surest bets in rating 
payoff per dollar. 

That Winchell Deal 

Purported inside story of how 
Weintraub and bis radio topper, 
Harry Trenner, sold Winchell on 
the K-F deal, listens like something 
out of "The Hucksters." It s told 
this way: 

Agency got the K-F account last 
March 30— the day before Wein- 
traub's wedding. At that' time, 
the auto outfit was sinking a 
$1,600,000 gross in a cross-the- 
board "Newscope" on Mutual. 
Weintraub felt that if K-F was 
going to spend money like that for 
a news show, why not get a top 
name? When it became known 
that WW was parting company with 
Jergens, Weintraub and Trenner 



Embrace TV 



A. C. Nielsen is revamping his 
whole approach to audience meas- 
urement to embrace television, as 
well as AM and FM radio. It will 
mean the virtual' scrapping of all 
the Nielsen Radio Index audi- 
meters and reconverting 'them for 
the three-way research job, al- 
though the Nielsen outfit believes 
it can salvage many of the. AM- 
only audimeter parts. 

Currently five weeks behind in 
his counting-noses rating service, I went to work. 
Nielsen is also stepping up the NRI I They made a couple, of tentative 
operation to service client with [ approaches to him, feeling their 



two-weeks-old tallies, thus closer 
approximating the Hooper service. 
Nielsen, now servicing clients on a 
twice-monthly schedule, is also 
moving into the once-a-week rating 
field. (Previously NRI had covered 
every week Of- the year via a con- 
tinuous record, but had discarded 
50% of all the basic data. NRI, 
heretofore attaining a 65% U. S. 
coverage, is also set to move into 
full national coverage. 

Meanwhile, CBS' Instantaneous 
Audience Measurement System 
(radar-ratings-while-you-wait), is 
being prepped for a late Septem- 
ber teeoff. It, too, will cover AM, 
FM and television, IAMS has also 
already been sneak-previewed 
among various trade segments with 
reported enthusiastic results. CBS 
aim is to invite a full industry's 
"come-on-in" rather than restrict 
its use to Columbia programming 
and stations aloiie. 



way, but keeping Identity of their 
bankroller secret. Then at 1 
o'clock one morning, Weintraub and 
Trenner, out. with their wives, 
spotted WW in front of the St. 
Moritz' hotel in N. Y. They sent 
their wives home, grabbed Win- 
chell, pushed him into a cab and 
made for their agency pffice in 
(Continued on page 32) 



SWEETS NEW PREXY 
OF DIRECTORS GUILD 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 
Radio-Television Directors Guild 
closed its three-day national con- 
vention here yesterday (Mon.) by 
electing William Sweets, former 
N. Y. local head, as its prexy. 
Named to other posts are Charles 
Vanda, Hollywood, first veepee; 
Lyle Barn hart, Chicago, second 
veepee; Robert Lewis Shay on, cur- 
rent N. Y. local chief, third veepee; 
William N. Hobson. Hollywood, 
treasurer, and Oliver W. Nicoll, 

secretary. Latter is U. S. rep of , , 

Towers of London, package outfit, j shap e*up as ^ more impressive 
In the closing session of its sec- i on talent layout, with the Thanks- 
ond annual conference, the RTDG giving show including Danny Kaye, 
approved four resolutions; Guild i Kay Thompson and Williams Bros 
would take part in future FCC • Amos ' 'n' Andy. King Cole Trio 



Elgin, Wrigley 
Hooper Race 

With the brace of Elgin Thanks- 
giving and Christmas holiday 
shows moving over from NBC to 
CBS this year, and Columbia re- 
placing them with a pair of Wrig- 
ley -sponsored holiday attractions, 
radio is witnessing one of its keen- 
est rivalries , in the bid- to out- 
Hooper each other. 1 ' 

Apparently money is no object, 
and Elgin has upped the talent 
ante this year to an approximate 
?100,000 for the double matinee 
spread. Thus far it's got Jimmy 
Durante and Garry Moore, in a 
reprise of their old Rexall team- 
up. Red Skelton and Vera Vague 
(with a flock of others to come) for 
the Thanksgiving- show, and Ozzie 
Nelson and Harriet Hilliard. Cass 
Daley, Edgar Bergen and Danny 
Thomas thus far for the Xmas two- 
hour layout. 

Wrigley brace of shows, which 
will be slotted in the opposition 4 
to 6 p.m. corner on Columbia, 



proceedings and hearings. Guild 
would have a national publication, 
Guild would have the complete 
organization of • all unorganized 
freelance radio and television di- 
rectors as well as bring to conclu- 
sion contracts for them.: 



Arthur Godfrey as emcee; Gene 
Autry, Louella Persons, Dorothy 
Lamour, Abe Burrows, arid An- 
drews Sisters. Xmas roster 1 is cur- 
rently being shaped. Estimated 
Wrigley nut will probably exceed 
Elgin's $100,000. 



28 



TELEVISION 



Wednesday, August 11, 194ft 



Detroit s WWJ to Expand This Fall 
With Accent on Topical Interest 



) Detroit, Aug. 10. 

WWJ-TV, Detroit News outlet, is 
arranging to move into the fall with 
a considerable expansion of its live 
program activities. While the aug- 
menting of the schedulers still in 
the more-to-come stage, the items 
already posted disclose a sensitive 
appraisal of the type of local ma- 
terial that can best be adapted to 
the medium and of programming 
ideas that hold a topical interest 
for the viewer. 

In aligning the live entertain- 
ment segments, WWJ-TV prefers to 
think in terms of modest and in- 
timate presentation as far as studio 
originations are concerned, leaving 
it to remotes to dress up the 
schedule with the spectacular. 
WWJ-TV feels that with the bumps 
and levels in the road more clearly 
defined now, it can proceed with 
.greater surety of step and direc- 
tion. 

Detroit ranks as' one of the 
hottest sports communities in the 
country. Aside from the feet that 
sports make low-cost TV fare and 
is the easiest thing to sell, audience 
checks consistently show that such 
telecasts fetch, and by a wide 
margin, not only peak attention 
but the most rabid boosting for the 
medium. A schedule can be well 
loaded with sports when other 
events of equal importance become 
available, and it is from such situa* 
tions that quandaries are born for 
telecasters intent on the broaden- 
ing idea. Problem, then is whether 
to give 'em what they want most 
or stick to the blueprint. 

Heavy Football Sked 

WWJ-TV expects to have about 
the heaviest football schedule in 
the country and a stack of such 
sports as ice-hockey, boxing, wrest- 
ling and basketball. But it has^ at 
the same time cued itself to keep 
rounding out the general interest 
picture by the addition of a couple 
variety shows, another dramatic 
series, an ambitious weekly docu- 
mentary on what the city is doing 
to combat juvenile delinquency and 
an election trend study. The last 
item will be a combination of man- 
on-the-street -quizzing and poll- 
reporting, with the figures derived 
either from the Gallup organization 
or through a local surveying outfit. 
The delinquency project will have 
as a byproduct the placement of 
video sets in playgrounds and other 
centers of juvenile recreation. 

The appended variety inning will 
be a weekly half-hour amateur 
procession titled "Television Try- 
outs." WWJ-TV's schedule already 
carries a professional vaudefest, 
"Television Showcase." The new 
dramatic package is to be staged 
by the Univ. of Michigan, with the 
station picking it up Sundays from 
Ann Arbor. 

Also on the agenda is a weekly 
visit • with the Detroit Symphony 
Orchestra, but the actual schedul- 
ing of this and other musical prop- 
ositions depends on the, outcome 
of current negotiations with the 
local musicians union. On the net- j 
work (NBC) front the outlook is for 
at least three additional commer- 
cial events via Kinescope. Definite- 
ly set is B'irestone's half-hour vari- 
ety show and Disney Hat's Sunday' 
review of the news. The third is 
a General Electric half-hour. 



BLUE RHUBARB AGAIN 
POSES TV PROBLEM 

Television's air turned blue 
again last week, spurring renewed 
talk in trade circles over what to 
do to prevent such incidents. 
, This time it was ballpark rhu- 
barb that fouled up the TV waves. 
CBS-TV -was airing the Dodgers- 
Club games from Ebbets Field, 
Brooklyn, last Thursday night (5) 
when the umpires, several players 
and Cub manager Cholly Grimm 
got into a hassle, right over home 
plate, following a close decision 
on Jackie Robinson's steal home. 
The parabolic mike behind home 
plate sizzled with profane and ob- 
scene oaths. 

CBS-TV special events director 
Edmund Chester said it just 
couldn't be helped. The field mike 
is set up to pick up the crack of 
the bat On the ball and the crowd 
noises, for atmosphere. It was 
true that, seeing a batch of 
rhubarb developing, a mike could 
be switched off. But he was afraid 
fans would just have to be tol- 
erant. "It's part of the game," he 
suggested. ' 

Nevertheless, the breathing was 
easier when it developed that the 
fans evidently really were tolerant. 
CBS-TVers claim nary a beef was 
heard. 



KTSL, Don Lee Telestation, 
Losing $4,536 Weekly 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

Mutual-Don Lee Television sta- 
tion, KTSL, is operating at a week- 
ly loss of $4,536. Station, which 
received its temporary commercial 
from the FCC about three months 
ago, is taking in $464 and laying 
out $5,000 weekly. 

KTSL, currently airing 12 and 
one-half hours weekly, has only 
four commercials, all one-minute 
spots. Day and Night Water Heat- 
ers is spending $56 per week, Bulo- 
va Watches spends $250 weekly, 
with five one-minute spots; General 
Electric is paying $58 per week, 
and Walco Lens goes for $100 
weekly; with . a one-minute spot 
during the Friday night boxing 
bouts. 

Video station costs run $2,500 
for talent and production, while it 
is figured that station also spends 
$2,500 on its technical operation. 

Commercial take varies slightly 
from week to, week, it is reported, 
due to sponsors who step in for a 
one-shot spot or special event, but 
figure to date averages- close to 
this week's $464 take. 



ROACH SET TO START 
j VIDEO PRODUCTION 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

Hal Roach expects to be ready 
for video production within the 
month with his Halro Television 
Corp., according to Hal Roach, Jr. 

Roach, Jr., would not reveal any 
factual information, but he related 
that firm is investigating the TV 
field thoroughly from production 
and distribution angles to be abso- 
lutely sure they find the right di- 
rection before sinking money into 
medium. 



Spots Penetrate WBKB 
Test Pattern Time 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 

WBKB is finding it easy to sell 
spots on its test pattern time. 
They're being offered in two-min- 
ute segments, packaged with an- 
nouncer, slide and recorded music. 

Each client is limited to six 
spots a week, one day, and to a 
single week's contract. 



WSPD TV's 63% Bffling 

' Toledo, Aug. 10.' 

After only one weelc on the air, 
WSPD-TV, the Fort Industry tele- 
Vision station in Toledo, has 63% 
of its air time on a sponsored 



• The breakdown on this is: 12 
hours, 25 minutes, per week com- 
mercial; seven hours, 15 minutes 
per week sustaining. 



Hubbard's TV 0.0. 

St. Paul, Aug. 10. 

Stanley E. Hubbard, KSTP prez, 
is back at the office with a mass of 
notes and ideas after a 10-day tour 
of TV operations in.Detroit, Toledo, 
Cleveland, Washington, Philly, Bal- 
timore, New York and Buffalo. 

While he scanned the overall 
setup of each station, Hubbard's 
main concern was with program- 
ming. 



Korn Kobblers on TV 

Korn Kobblers have been set for 
a video debut this fall via a 13- 
week half-hour show on NBC Tele- 
vision. Stanza, pacted by WNBT's 
Warren Wade, will have a country 
store setting. It'll be a sustainer 
budgeted at between $750 and 
$1,000, with 52-week options. 

Kobblers recently concluded a 
54-week run at the Flagship 
restaurant in Union, N. J. They 
wax a transcribed stanza for Fred- 
eric Ziv which is carried on more 
than 300 station*. They also rec- 
ord for MGM disks. 




HARRY SALTER 

MUSICAL DIRECTOR 
Stop the Music— ABC 
It Pays to Be Ignorant— CBS 
and in person 
"Stop the Music" 
Currently Capitol Theatre, N. Y. C. 



Hush-Hush Operations 
Mark Installation Of * 
WBKB Microwave Link 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 
WBKB microwave link, opened 
last fall ' between Chi and South 
Bend, Ind., is being extended via 
hush-hush installations along its 
southern leg. New towers in Laf- 
ayette, Ind., Champaign, 111. and 
intervening points will pickup 
sports events at Purdue and Illinois 
universities. Fall package of four 
Notre Dame, two Illinois and two 
Purdue grid games already has 
been offered for bankrolling at 
$40,000. 

With additional towers, WBKB's 
relay system will assume semicir- 
cular form, swinging southeastward 
from Chi. Construction of towers 
along the southwest arc would 
bring a dozen sizable cities and a 
vast rural area into WBKB's orbit. 
What's not generally appreciated is 
the fact that relay towers can op- 
erate as slave stations, televising 
for receivers in the immediate area. 

Capt. Bill Eddy, director of 
WBKB, is understood to believe 
that in the non-remote future re- 
lay loops following the WBKB pat- 
tern will arch out from other met- 
ropolitan centers. A succession of 
loops, he predicts, will connect for 
network programming. If he's 
right, some of the current thinking 
on the future of tele is slated for 
quick discard. 



CHI TELEVISION CITY • 
STILL IN MULL STAGE 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 

Chicago's proposed $50,000,000 
Television City is still in the 
cocoon stage, following announce- 
ment of the project early this year 
by the Walter Butler contracting 
firm of St. Paul. Development 
would be financed through L. J. 
Sheridan, real estate outfit, using 
mortgage or debenture money 
backed by equity holdings. 

Negotiations with . the Illinois 
Central R. R. are reported to be 
making gradual headway. Project 
would in part occupy air rights 
over the I. C.'s right-of-way. 

Nets and other local telecasters 
have been genuinely interested in 
the facilities blueprinted for the 
center, but none of tbem plans 
to stay on the hook while wait- 
ing for a greenlight, 




Chicago, Aug. 10. 
Beacon Camera Co", was able to 
pay out on its first venture into 
video selling, within a half hour 
after the fadeout of the debut 
show. Acount assumed the bill for 
the Knickerbocker variety program 
on WBKB the night of Aug. 1 and 
after showing othe Beacon flash 
camera in action, taking a picture 
of a dancing act on the bill, the 
blurb announcer told viewers the 
camera, bulbs and a gadget-bag 
could be had at a special reduced 
price for a phone call following 
the telecast. 

The orders that piled in sufficed 
to give the sponsor not only a 
profit to cover the show's cost but 
some velvet besides. 



Capsule Musicals Click 

Perhaps of all the program experimentati6n going on in tele- 
vision, the most solid impact, both in developing of potential TV 
personalities and in achieving a smooth rhythmic camera-produc- 
tion quality, lies in the series of five to 15-minute capsule musicals 
notably on CBS-TV and NBC-TV. la,S ' 

This is particularly applicable to the Johnny Desmond "Face the 
Music" show on CBS video and the NBC-TV back-to-back show- 
casing of Kyle MacDonnell ("For Your Pleasure") and Barbara 
Marshall's pianistics video vignette. Here are programs that show 
a week-to-week development of improved techniques, establishing 
its principals as strictly video headliners. It's definitely so in the 
case of Miss MacDonnell, Miss Marshall and Sandra Deel, the cur- 
rent femme attraction on the Desmond show. 

There's mounting trade interest in Miss Deel, who originally un- 
derstudied Ethel Merman in the "Annie Get Your Gun" Broadway 
legiter and "crashed" video via the Barry Wood show. And the 
interest is justifiable, for she's unquestionably the hottest thing 
to come in contact with the tele cameras since Miss MacDonnell 
The gal's got personality, looks, animation, a fine set of pipes and 
they all get a TV projection that's top drawer. 

Barbara Marshall's one-woman briefie at the ivories also adds ud 
to class video stuff. Those camera profile shots fail to do her full 
justice, and they're overdone. But with the full-face and finger 
manipulation accentuation, combined with her Grade A pipes 
here's a looker who's unquestionably a valuable TV property ' 

The trend on these shows is toward small combo musical back 
grounds, and the Norman Paris Trio on the Kyle MacDonnell show 
and the Tony Mottola Trio and "Face the Music" are particularlv 
distinctive. * Rose< y 



- . . » » ▼ . i 

Television Reviews I 

♦ +*tl«M | H M M mtl 



BALTIMORE SINGS 
With Louise Verna, Marilyn Burke, 

John Evans, dee club 
Director: James Allan Dash 
30 Mins.: Tues.. 9 p.m. 
Sustaining 

NBC-TV, from Baltimore 

Piped from the Baltimore WBAL- 
TV outlet as early evidence of 
NBC's smoothly functioning tele- 
vision network," "Baltimore Sings" 
is a dignified musical program pre- 
pared with care and executed with 
taste. Although not entirely suc- 
cessful, this show still rates as a 
firstrate model for the adaptation 
of straight musical shows for video. 
Like the Toscanini symphony ses- 
sions, this program attempted to 
add a visual dimension to the mu- 
sic via fadeouts, superimpositions 
and other camera tricks, all of 
which were expertly handled. 

On the network preem (3), a 40- 
voice glee club with Louise Verna 
and John Evans as soloists deliv- 
ered a program of semi-classical 
numbers ranging from Brahms to 
Noel Coward. While rendered with 
high polish, the bulk of the 
selections were interpreted with 
such a quality of sameness that a 
bit of monotony resulted. Greater 
variety in the type of music and 
more flexibility in vocal tone is in- 
dicated for best entertainment re- 
sults. 

Some of the camera byplay, 
moreover, was entirely superfluous 
thus detracting, not adding to the 
screen's interest. During one num- 
ber, for instance, Marilyn Burke 
pertormed an interpretive dance to 
accompany Gypsy music, but the 
dance was superimposed on the 
glee club for no reason at all. 
superimpositions have to be used 
to give the illusion of movement, 
but why use them only to blur the 
visibility of actual movement' It 
was a case of- a right idea used at 
the wrong time. 

Final shortcoming of the pro- 
gram was the emceeing of James 
Allan Dash, musical director of the 
company. His manner was stiff and 
his comments were unconvincing 
in their floridity. Henri 

W next7 ILL THEY th,nk of 

With Ed. Herlihy, emcee; Janet 

Hush" 1 ' Uf Q ' Bryan ' Harry 

Producer-director: Laurence 

Schwab 
30 Mins.; Mon., 8 p.m. 
Sustaining 

NBC-TV, from New York 

This new show has endless 
possibilities for the format is based 
demonstration of gadgets 
Whether they're practical or not is 
beside the point. These con- 
trivances were trotted out bv 
emcao Bd. Herlihy in a simple lil 

H n a f, r °,°oT S6 i °« n WNBT - N.Y., Mon- 
day (9), before the collective 
amazement of mag writer Janfct 
Graham, radio exec Arthur Q 

and .. a u I ? a,r y H «sh, de- 
scribed as a "business man " 

Judicious use of the camera via 
varying shots helped point up the 
Merits (and disadvantages) ofsUch 
devices as a burglar .alarm for cars, 
a mechanical man, a music writing 
typewriter, a shoeshine box for fat 
men, etc. Herlihy, who introed the 
respective creators, deserves credit 
1?f 0 ^£ laying « a 5 vearfh ° f enthu- 

am a of silIy inven - 

.. Not thefteast of the demonstra- 
tions was oneNbit of business where 
CarmL** chemical spray endowed a 
Ote ^^u^tW 00 * qualities. 

40 LikewiseV model'* 



dress. He harmlessly doused her 
with a sprinkling can, but well 
telegraphed was the reverse when 
she poured water on the wrong 
sleeve. 

For a closer there's the "Brain- 
storm Dept." That consists of ideas 
submitted by viewers. Their sug- 
gestions are exhibited by means of 
slides and Herlihy's running com- 
ment. Boiled down, "What Will 
They Think of Next?" is a step 
ahead of the usual tele novelty 
show and should gather momentum 
as it gadgets along. Gilo. 

NAVAL AIR SHOW 
With Chick Morris, others 
Producer: Ralph Giffen 
Sustaining 
WBZ-TV, Boston 

Most ambitious and best locally- 
produced telecast so far, this one- 
shot show held the mirror up to 
the U. S. Navy's- airbase at Squan- 
tum in Boston harbor in a simu- 
lated aerial task force launching 
from a carrier. 

Nicely routined, show, narrated 
by WBZ's special events broad- 
caster Chick Morris, moved along 
fast with officers in charge of dif- 
ferent phases of the operation be- 
ing intervfewed on reasons for tac- 
tics as they progressed. Action 
centered on dive bombers and 
fighters loading and taking off un- 
der carrier conditions. 

Climax came with a simulated 
crash, fire fighters and medicos 
dragging a dummy out of a crashed 
plane. Did the job in about three 
minutes in a plenty exciting scene. 
Near the end of the show lookers 
had a chance to see landing officer 
wig-wagging planes back onto the 
strip, pilots coming in on instru- 
ments. Additional suspense was 
added by fact a fog bank was roll- 
ing in and the instrument and 
ground control landings were not 
exactly mere demonstrations. 

Narrative was exceptionally well 
handled by Morris, himself an ex- 
Navy man, with nice camera work 
giving the show a good image for 
lookers. A few more like this and 
video will really begin to take in 
the Hub. EUe. 



Tele Followup 



WGN-TV, Chicago, seems to 
have evolved a professionally 
sound pattern for its Wednesday 
night "Club Television" but there 
are lots of loose ends that wilt 
have to be tucked in before it can 
be classified as Grade A fare. The 
series, which has been on since 
April, stands in need of more im- 
aginative opening- and kiss-ott 
which would impart a character ot 
its own to this 60-minute runoff ot 
nightclub diversion. 

The program's current resort to 
couples shuffling around the dance 
floor as "bookcovers" appears to 
be more of a case of marking time 
than an effective answer. Last 
Wednesday's '4) installment, de- 
spite the interpolation of a fur 
fashion, parade by way of left new, 
added up to a nicely balanced anrt 
pleasant vaudeo bill. Gene bnei- 
don doubled from his stylized mix- 
ture of character mimiery ana 
banjo antic's to m.c.ing the pro- 
ceedings. Recruited also from lo- 
cal boite stands were Countess 
Marina, who Hitegardes *em with 
not-too-vulnerable bits ol legerde- 
main, Jill Adams, a whirlwind ot 
a tapdancer with lots of pedal per- 
(Contlnued on page 35) 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



TELEVISION 29 



PIE ITERS FORM OWN GROUP 



TV, Stay lay From My Door' 

pacting of Charles O. Hedlund, sales exec whose specialty is the 
apparel, textile, chain and department store fields, to the CBS-TV 
sales staff, accents the policy being laid down by the Columbia 
network in building up its video sales structure. By bringing in 
outsiders with an appreciation of know-how techniques, CBS is 
■determined not to upset the AM sales department apple cart, 
v The network, for example, is trying to discourage the standard 
broadcasting salesmen from wooing TV even to the extent of trying 
to keep television sets out of their homes (although the web ac- 
knowledges that if a radio salesman wants to buy a TV receiver 
there's nothing the network can do about it). But CBS recognizes 
that the night-to-night impact of video watching might give the 
salesman ideas about embracing the new medium. Thus CBS can 
only go on the premise that the TV set costs are still a retarding 
factor and contributing toward keeping the sets out of the sales- 
men's homes. 

More and more CBS, too, is adopting the policy of integration, 
whereby key figures on the network, and particularly owned and 
operated stations, are moving into the video sales picture, but with 
the aim of an eventual buildup for these men into the key tele 
positions. 



FEEL BYPASSED 
IN TELE SPREAD 



WJZ-TV Preem Almost Blows 
A Union Fuse, But Show Goes On 



Based on a conviction thai' the 
independent producer in television 
may be the deciding factor in the 
immediate progress of tele pro- 
gramming, a group of indie TV'ers 
are banding together for the forma- 
tion of an Independent Television 
Producers Assn. 

For some time there's been a | m g ' n 
feeling among the indie producers area. 



D.C/s 15,500 TV Sets 

Washington, Aug. 10. 
The Washington Television Cir- 
culation Committee announced 
that as of Aug. 1, there were 15,- 
500 tele sets installed and operat- 
the D. C. metropolitan 



Plans Pushed For TV Writers Guild; 
'Subsid' Setup For Whodunit Boys 



With the Authors League of 4 
America preparing to form a Tele- 
vision Writers Guild as a new af- 
filiate group, the Mystery Writers 
of America is also taking steps to 
protect its members in the video 
field. Both organizations are mov- 
ing to set up a system on the prin- 
ciple of lease rather than outright 
sale of material for TV. 

Situation within the ' Authors 
League is somewhat confused. At 
a recent meeting of the eastern 
half of the League's television 
committee, it was decided to rec- 
ommend to the League council the 
immediate formation of a Tele- 
vision Writers Guild. This was on 
the recommendation of the Coast 
branch of the TV committee and 
presumably had the backing of the 
affiliate Screen Writers Guild. 

However, the SWG subsequently 
asked the League to hold off for- 
mation of the new Guild, at least 
for the present, so the matter is 
now in abeyance. SWG explanation 
was that it doesn't want any new 
affiliate to interfere with its 
"proper" jurisdiction over films. 

Exactly what this means isn t 
clear. The League is understood to 
have been willing to recognize the 
SWG's jurisdiction over the sale 
of TV -ights to material written 
for theatre exhibition films. How- 
ever, scripts for films produced ex- 
pressly for video would be under 
the jurisdiction of the new Tele- 
vision Writers Guild. It's figured 
that the SWG may want complete 
clarification of this point before 
proceeding with the revised setup. 

There are two basic aspects of 
the TV situation as regards the 
Authors League organization. One 
is the question of financing. The 
other is the matter of emphasis 
on salary and freelance writers 
within the League. The two groups 
inevitably have somewhat conflict- 
ing interests in the various writing 
fields, and each, has always tended 
to bolster its own approach. 
- The question of financing is ad- 
mittedly a toughie, particularly 
with the monetary affairs of the 
affiliate Authors Guild already in 
shaky condition. It't, estimated that 
it would cost about $12,000 a year 
to organize and operate a Tele- 
vision Writers Guild. There are 
figured to be a maximum of 200 
tele writers in the country. How 
soon the medium will be self-sup- 
porting and will enable a scripters' 
organization to operate in the black 
is anyone's guess. 
. Although it apparently has no 
intention of getting into the video- 
writing setup, the Mystery Writers 
of America is anxious to protect 
the material its members have 
written for the literary field. 

Kieran's Tele Corner 

Walter Kiernan has been signed 
/by ABC-TV for a 15-minute once- 
weekly stanza based upon his 
radio show, "Kiernan's Corner." 
Program will originate on WJZ-TV 
as a Wednesday 7 to 7:15 p.m» 
feature starting tonight (11). 

Kiernan will interview visitors 
to New York City concerning the 
state of the nation in their parts 
of the country. 



Zero Mostel's TV Show 

Zero Mostel's television disk 
jockey show on WABT, the Du- 
mont station In New York,' orig- 
inally scheduled ' to start in two 
weeks, has been indefinitely 
postponed. The comic -fractured 
his leg last weekend at his summer 
home at Wilton, Conn. 

Show was to have been a half- 
hour featuring Joey Faye and to 
have had a semi-situation format. 
Martin Gosch is producer. 



Pitt. Twiddles 
Its TV Thumbs 



hat they must organize if only 
as a matter of protection or preser- 
vation and that the contribution 
of the indies to' the creative side 
of TV programming has too long 
been bypassed. It's felt that, as a 
group, the indies sit on a much 
more comprehensive vantage point 
than the networks, and certainly 
more than the agencies. This is 
based on the fact that the indies 
vary in background — films, radio, 
legit — whereas the webs have 
largely pooled their creative re- 
sources from radio alone. While 
in some instances the agencies have 
made commercial film, this aspect, 
it's pointed out, has been more 
or less in a supervisory nature with 
the actual work farmed out to 
commercial film outfits. 

Further, it's 'felt that there are 
a multitude of union problems to 
be answered and general industry 
policies to be laid down, and that 
the indie influence must be able 
to assert itself. 

Inability of individual inde- 
pendents to participate in Four 
A's committee negotiations was 
one of the factors behind the 
move for formation of ITPA. Mar- 
tin Gosch, who created the recent 
"Tonight On Broadway" CBS-TV 
series, and who is sparking the 
new organization, points out that 
he, along with La,\vrence Langner 
and William Fitelson, among other 
representing various program out- 
fits, have been denied the right 
to join with the networks and the 
agencies in 4A's meetings. 

The contention on the part of 
many television people (clients 
and agencies, as well as independ- 
ents) that network operation is not 
the sole answer to television, wifs 
another factor prompting organi- 
zation of ITPA. Rapid develop- 
ment of the microwave relay 
which, some hold, might knock 
the pins out from .under coaxial 
cable; the big variable among 
clients with respect to film vs. 
live shows — these, the indies point 
(Continued on page 32) 



This represents an increase of 
1,750 sets over the previous 
month. 



Pittsburgh. Aug. 10. 

Television still looks to be some 
time away locally although Du- 
Mont still insists its video station 
will be in operation before the 
year's up. Company announced last 
week that it would get on the air 
in the fall "unless unforeseen de- 
lays occur." Originally DuMont 
had said it should get going this 
summer. 

Transmitter building is under 
construction now in Perry sville dis- 
trict, and tower and equipment are 
already said to 'be ordered. It's 
considered opinion, however, | 
among radio men that WDTV, the ' 
DuMont outfit, will be lucky to get 
going by early 1949. 

In meantime, there have been 
new delavs in FCC hearings for 
remaining channels locally. There 
are about three times the number 

avaiffi^" th\ h s1isScom!| Washing Aug. 10. 

mission was to have heard argu- Several Had.o Manutac urers 
ments in June, then they were | Assn. agencies are tak.ng initial 
nostponed to July and now no I steps to develop a future market 
definite date has been set for them. I overseas for Amenean television 

. ] transmitters and receivers. While 

i there is no present foreign mar- 
i ket, domestic demands being far 
'beyond possible current TV pro- 
IP j" Ci J Ca» | A WAa iduction, the industry through 
VlfleO MUfly Set lO WUe RMA plans to develop and insure 



Only 1 TV Show 
Giveaway Suspect 

Television, it turns out, not only 
is young but almost entirely in- 
nocent of the giveaway curse, as 
described in the FCC's proposed 
crackdown. The effect is to steer 
TV into the straight and narrow, 
as regards this defection in pro- 
gramming, almost from scratch. 

TV, of course, isn't big enough 
yet to: have attracted any golden 
flood of giveaway coin and mer- 
chandise comparable to radio's. 
But a checkup this week on the 
N. Y. scene showed that, aside 
from a few shows featuring studio 
audience contests, charades, etc., 
apparently the only video stanza 
with a gimmick offending FCC's 
lottery ideas is CBS-TV's "Scrap- 
book, Junior Edition." 

The Sunday kid show only last 
week introed a weekly phone call 
to a juve televiewer. He's asked to 
listen to a nursery rhyme, look at a 
picture on the screen illustrating 
it,, and tell what's wrong with the 
picture. Prizes are dogs, toys, 
games, etc. . . , 

Won't hurt the show any to cut 
the call, CBS-TVers said. 



Tele Mfrs. Eye 
Foreign Markets 



GUEDEL'S THREE SHOWS 
TO BE TESTED FOR TV 

Hollywood. Aue. 10. 

Television treatment via film 
will be given the three audience 
participation " shows controlled' by 
John Gucdel Productions. On a 
recent trip east Gucdel proposed 
the project to the sponsors and all 
were heartily in accord. 

Filming of "People Are Funny," 
"G. E. House Party" and Groucho 
Marx's "You Bet Your Life" will 
be strictly experimental .with the 
clients to test the efficacy of time 
buying and duplication in selected 
markets. , To meet the expanding 
tele operation, Guedel' has taken 
an entire wing of a Hollywood 
building. 



Sindlinger East Coast 



Philadelphia, Aug. 10. 
Directors of Sindlinger & Co., 
Inc.. radio-TV listening research 
outfit here, yesterday CMoJi i. , 
okayed a go-ahead on a qualitative 
television study in an area to ex- 
tend from Richmond. Va., to Port- 
land. Me., and as far westras^ the 
TV coverage goes on the Washing- 
ton - Baltimore - Philly-N.Y.-Albariy- 
Boston hookup. 

Action was taken at a first an- 
nual directors' huddle here which 
elected Albert E. Sindlinger prexy, 
Walter E. Sindlinger as veepee in 
charge of operation, and Haroia 
R. Reiss veepee in charge of en- 
gineering. Robert B. Wolf was 
named secretary and C. A. wor- 
bury treasurer. Other directors are 
Julia K. Rosenwald and Roy n. 
Heyman. 

Radox system of instantaneous 
measurement of tele. FM and AM 
listening will be made available to 
clients of Sindlinger on a commer- 
cial basis starting next Monday 
lit). 



a future overseas market. 

Plans are being developed in co- 
operation with the nrinagemcnt 
and members of the RMA Trans- 
mitter Division, under Chairman 
T. A. Smith and the RMA En- 
gineering Department. 

A technical problem is the gen- 
eral use overseas of 50-cycle 
power. American manufacturers 
have had limited experience with 
50-cycle power. The U. S. stand- 
ard of 525 lines in tele pix is also 
at variance with some parts of 
Europe and Latin America. This 
presents technical as well as com- 
mercial problems. 



ABC-TV's Sept. Chi Bow 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 

ABC's WENR-TV beams its first 
test patterns this week, with the 
formal teeqff coming Sept. 17. Sta- 
tion studio and offices will be lo- 
cated on the 44th floor of the Civic 
Opera Bldg. 

Amateur bouts from the Madi- 
son Athletic Club are among the 
shows set for lensing, with "Break- 
fast Club" and "Ladies Be Seated" 
earmarked as sure futures. Station 
also plans to organize a stock com- 
pany of pros and amateurs. 

Chicago Daily News, which has 
no affiliation with WENR-TV or 
ABC, will issue a special tele sup- 
plement to mark the TV bow. 



* WJZ-TV's (N. Y.) splash teeoff 
last night (Tues.), headlining a re- 
vival of old Palace vaudeville days, 
encountered an llth-hour union 
jurisdictional fight which threat- 
ened for a time to blow the open- 
ing night's agenda skyhigh. It was 
not until after the ABC network, 
owner of WJZ-TV, got a Federal 
court restraining order and went 
through hours of frenzied phoning, 
arguing, huddling, that the head- 
ache was temporarily eased to per-, 
mit the show to go on. 

It all came about when the Lo- 
cal No. 1, International Alliance of' 
Theatrical Stage Employees, de- 
manded 50% of the jurisdiction 
over the television cameras at the 
Palace theatre. ' ABC was bound 
by contract to' give jurisdiction 
over all technical- equipment, in- 
cluding cameras, to the National 
Assn. of Broadcast Engineers and 
Technicians. ABC, after fruitless 
parleys with the unions, went to 
the . National Labor Relations 
Board. The latter on Monday after- 
noon (9) obtained an order from 
Federal Judee Samuel H. Kaufman 
restraining IATSE from interfering 
with last night's telecast. . 

But the jurist at, the same time 
set a hearing for tomorrow (Thurs- 
day) at which IATSE will be asked 
to show cause why it should have 
an.< jurisdiction over the TV pick- 
up. And the outcome of this hear- 
ing promises to be of vast signifi- 
cance to the tele Industry, since 
it may establish the pattern for 
future, union operations in theatre 
pickups by video. It's a jurisdic- 
tional showdown which has been 
brewing for months. 

Stalemate 

ABC has been negotiatine with 
IATSE sii.ee June 1, but Richard 
Walsh, union prexy, refused to 
compromise. Meantime, NABET 
also stood pat: it had a contract 
with ABC and it expected the web 
to live up to it. Monday, when' it 
became apparent that no - settle- 
ment was going to be reached, ABC 
orexy Mark Woods filed unfair la- 
bor practice charges With NLRB 
against IATSE. ABC, he said, was 
about to be "the innocent victim 
of a jurisdictional dispute. The 
problems involved were not of our 
creating or choosing." 

Walsh's stand, it was reported, 
was that he had been dickering 
with the International Brotherhood 
of Electrical Workers, also a radio 
cn"ineers' . :iion, on a division of 
authority and work in tele, and 
IATSE felt it would ehdanger 
tfepe negotiations if NABET were 
allowed to move into the Palace 
for the WJZ-TV kickoff, unless 
there was a 50-50 split with IATSE. 

When the dispute blew up the 
first of this week, Walsh and all 
othvv top IATSE officials had gone 
to Cleveland for their union's con- 
vention. Reports simmerdd around 
that the stagehands wouldn't show 
up for last night's show, that the 
balcony of the theatre had been 
closed, that only two ushers and 
the assistant manager had agreed 
to show up for theWJZ-TV preem. 
Teamsters' union had also entered 
into the picture, on the Ciiiestion 
of hauling TV equipment to the ' 
house if IATSE stayed away. 

But by yesterday morning the 
trouble had blown over, and all 
hands pitched in for the time 
being. 



Melvyn Douglas Into TV 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 

Melvyn Douglas will produce 12 
television pictures concerning early 
California history. 

Telepix will be of half-hour 
duration and filmed on 35m, Doug- 
las will release through his Melvyn 
Douglas Enterprises. 



Capt. Billy's TV Showboat 

CBS-TV next Monday (16) will 
preem, as one-shot tryout, a new 
Robert Maxwell-packaged variety 
stanza, "Capt. Billy's Showboat," 
starring Ralph Dumke of the early 
day radio comic team of (Ed) East 
& Dumke. Cast „ will .include 
Johnny Downs, Juanita Hall, Betty 
Brewer, Bibi Osterwald and 
George Jason, with music by John 
Gart. 

Paul Killiam is producing, as- 
sisted by Alan Ducovny of Max 



Chi Securities Dealers 
Take Plunge Into Tele 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 
Group of securities dealers in 
Chicago have set up an organiza- 
tion to deal in open-end invest- 
ments in the station operating and 
manufacturing phase of the tele- 
vision field. It calls itself Television 
Fund, Inc., with Paul Just as presi- 
dent. 

Setup is now going through the 
process of getting SEC approval 
and qualifying in selected states 
according to local Blue Sky laws, 
Mnee it is intended to dispose of 



well's staff. Show will be in the I shares in this mutual investment to 
8:30-9 segment. the public 



so 



RAJHO 



Wednesday, Aligns! 11, 1948 



Argentine B'casters Denounce 1). S., 
Claim It's All a 'Sinister Plot' 



Chesterfield Winter 



Montevideo, Aug. 3. 4- 

The Argentine Broadcaster*' 
Assn. ha* issued a fiery com- 
munication of the sinister "plot 
which very powerful foreign inter- 
ests had worked out to do moral 
damage to Argentina in her own 
capital city," and seizing on the 
controversy between Brazil's 
broadcasters as to whether the Ar- 
gentine Assn. should be expelled 
from the Inter- American Assn. as 
proof of the fact that most Latin- 
American radio interests were op- 
posed to signing the declaration 
ascribing abolition of freedom of 
speech in Argentine radio. 

"Democracia," one of the Gov- 
ernment-controlled (Senora de 
Peros) in Buenos Aires, published 
an editorial this week charging 
that freedom of speech was non- 
existent in U. S. broadcasting, and 
pointing to an alleged refusal by 
the major U. S. networks to grant 
time to Henry Wallace for his 
electoral propaganda, as proof of 
this state of ail airs. 

The net result of the Inter- 
American Assn.'s meeting in 
Buenos Aires is that no unity exists 
amongst the hemisphere's broad- 
casters, and the general impression 
in Buenos Aires is that the asso- 
ciation might just as well go out of 
business. 

The Buenos Aires fracas led to 
a schism in the Brazilian broadcast- 
ing world, with the long-standing 
differences of opinion between the 
Eio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo out- 
lets coming to a head and cricking 
into the open. The Sao Paolo 
broadcasters were in favor of sup- 
porting, the expulsion of the Ar- 
gentine association, whereas the 
Rio de Janeiro delegates were op- 
posed to this, presumably to avoid 
putting any stymie in the way of 
an Argentine-Brazilian commercial 
agreement which involves a plenti- 
ful order for Argentine wheat from 
Brazil. 

Colombia also withdrew it's sup- 
port of the motion criticizing Ar- 
gentine radio's position of subservs- 
ance to the Peron regime, with the 
Colombian Broadcasters' Assn. (set 
up by the Colombian government 
after the Inter-American meeting 
had got under way in Buenos 
Aires) appointing the Colombian 
consul in Buenos Aires as delegate 
at the confab. . Once he had got 
his credentials accepted by the Ar- 
gentine association, this Colombian 
delegate J who has no connection 
whatsoever with private Colombian 
broadcasters) spent his'time trying 
to invalidate the representation of 
the Colombian radio outlets. 



NAB District 



Washington, Aug. 10. 
Schedule for the second series 
of NAB District meetings which 
begins Sept. 8, has been an- 
nounced. 

The first series, now in progress, 
ends Aug. 20 with the meeting of 
the 11th district at Minneapolis. 
The 14th District meeting will 



Now Ned Revamping 

The FCC's gangup on giveaways 
may have a bearing on the Ches- 
terfield fall-winter program lineup. 
Ciggie company has been planning 
to overhaul its cross-the-board 
"Supper Club" format on NBC by 
turning over the Wednesday niche 
to Sammy Kaye's "So You Want 
to Lead a Band?" on a permanent 
basis, with Jo Stafford and Perry 
Como sharing the other four j 
nights. t 

Kaye has been the summer re- 
placement for "Supper Club" with 
a different format each evening, 
but the once-weekly "Band" fea- 



be Sept. 8 and 9 at the Mammoth _ 

Hotel, Yellowstone National Parfc j ture hag been the chief aiK jience 
The 17th District meets Ssept. 1Z 
and 13 at the Davenport Hotel, 
Spokane, Wash. 

NAB executives, referred to as 
the "traveling party." go next to 
Los Angeles for the 16th District ! 
meeting at the Ambassador Hotel, ■ 
Sept. 14 and 15. 

Next meeting will be in San 
Francisco at the St. Francis Hotel, | 
Sept. 16 and 17. The NBC affiliates \ 
meeting Sept. 22, at Sim Valley, 
necessitated crowding the NAB 
meetings. 

A third series involving a swing j 
through the southern states will j 
later be announced according to 
C. E. Arney, Jr., NAB secretary- 
treasurer. 



NAB Wants Candidates 
To Declare Themsehes 
On Free 



Here's What the FCC Says 

Section 316 of the Communications Act of 1934. provides in part 
that no radio station "shall knowingly permit the broadcasting of 
any advertisement of or information concerning any lottery, gift 
enterprise or similar scheme, offering prizes dependent in whole 
or in part upon lot or chance, or any list of the prizes drawn or 
awarded by means of any such lottery, gift, enterprise, or scheme, 
whether said list contains any part or all of such prizes." 

In view of the growing number of "money" programs on the 
radio, the Commission explains in a notice of proposed rule mak- 

in S: . . . . » 

"The determination as to whether a particular program violates 
the provisions of Section 316 of the Communications Act of 1934 
depends on the facts of each case. However, the Commission will 
in any event consider that a program is in violation of Section 316 
if in connection with such program a prize consisting of money or 
thing of value is awarded to any person whose selection is depend- 
ent in any manner upon lot or chance, if as a condition of winning 
such prize: 

(1) such winner or winners are required to furnish any money 
or thing of value or are required to have in their possession any 
product sold, manufactured, furnished or distributed by a sponsor 
of a program broadcast on the station in question; or 

(2) such winner or winners are required to be listening to or 
viewing the program in question on a television receiver, or 

(3) such winner or winners are required to answer correctly a 
question, the answer to which is given on a program broadcast over 
the station in question or where aid to answering the question cor- 
rectly is given on a program broadcast over the station in question. 
For the purposes of this provision the broadcasting of the question 
to be answered over the radio station on a previous program will 
be considered as an aid in answering the question correctly; or 

(4) such winner or winners are required to answer the phone or 
write a letter if the phone conversation or contents of the letter 
(or the substance thereof) are broadcast by the station." 

The proposed rules would cover Standard, FM and Television 
broadcasting. 

.Interested parties may file statements or briefs with the Com- 
mission on or before Sept. 10, 1948. 



BBC Gangup Laid 
To RCA Pressure 



n 

Rochester, Aug. 10. 

Second District (N.Y. and N.J.) 
of the National Assn. of Broadcast- 
ers, confabbing here last Thurs- 
day and Friday (5-6), called on 
candidates for political office to 
state their position publicly on 
the question of free radio. Resolu- 
tion was introduced by Arthur 
Hull Hayes, WCBS, N.Y. 

Although news of the PCC's 
proposed ban on giveaway shows 
broke during the sessions, matter 
didn't come up for discussion. 

In other resolutions, the broad- 
casters urged inclusion of radio 
reporters in a N. Y. state bill de- 
signed to protect newspapermen 
from repealing news sources, and 
asked that the U. S. Census Bu- 
reau include a court of radio and 
TV receivers^in the 1 1950 census. 

N.Y. State Assn. of Associated 
Press Broadcasters was organized 
by delegates from AP-serviced 
stations. 

NAB prexy Justin Miller said 
association membership now in- 
cludes members from all cat- 
egories of broadcasting — AM, TV 
and FM— and that the large prob- 
lems facing each medium were 
common to all. 

Delegates took a tour of Strom- 
berg-Carlson's new WHAM studios 
here. 



Montevideo, Aug. 3. 

The Cuban and Mexican attacks 
against the BBC are attributed 
here to pressure from RCA (of 
which they are distributors in 
their respective countries). BBC 
has been found to have 60% of 
Latin - American shortwave I i s- 
teners, against the XJ. S. networks' 
40% for their "Voice of America" 
broadcasts. 

The impression gained here was 
that the U. S. delegates to the 
.Western Hemisphere broadcast 
conference were interested onty in 
getting a "testimonial" from the 
Latin - American broadcasters for 
"Voice of America," so as not to 
lose- the State Dept. subsidy they 
enjoy. 

John Royal, of NBC. personally 
drafted the tribute made the U. S, 
broadcasters at one of the opening 
sessions. This has caused some 
raising Of eyebrows here. 

Mexico and Cuba are popularly 
believed to be under the NBC 
thumb. They point to the fact that 
Emilio Azcarraga and Goar Mestre 
are chief RCA distributors in Mexi- 
co and Cuba. 



WIBG Dropping 9-Man 
House Band Aug. 14 



draw, cueing the permanent pact, j 

However, "Band" comes within 
the FCC no-like concept and if it's 
enforced would necessitate a | 
change in Chesterfield plans. 

Plenty of Sfting ! 
On Tobey Agenda j 

Washington, Aug. 10. 
A tentative agenda outlining 
procedure and scope of program to 
be followed in a broad study of 
communications, was announced 
Sunday (8), by a subcommittee of 
the Senate Commerce Committee. 
Commerce Committee Chairman 
Wallace H. White, Jr., ordered the 
study by the subcommittee headed 
by Sen. Charles W. Tobey, and 
with Sen. Albert W, Hawkes and 
Ernest W. MeFarland as members. 

The subcommittee is particularly 
concerned with international com- 
mon carrier communications, and 
has had conferences with FCC 
Chairman Wayne Coy. 

Sen. Tobey said he had followed 
the Commission allocations of fre- 
quency space for the various types 
of services. He said he knew that 
in the immediate future there will 
be the problem of more space for 
television so that a monopoly-free, 
nationwide service may be pro- 
vided. , 

The Committee plans to give 
close attention to communications 
treaties and conventions, even to 
including on the agenda a specific 
study of State Dept. procedure hi 
negotiating such agreements with 
the further objective of determin- 
ing whether basic organic com- 
munication law had been modified 
or violated by such agreements. 

Committee wants to know if the 
NAB is a lobbyist for its more than 
2.000 member stations. NAB works 
on legislative matters from time to 
time for' radio and the Committee 
will question, whether it should be 
registered as a lobbyist; 

Sen. Tobey said that before the 
study was completed he expected 
to give further attention to the 
question of patent controls in. the 
industry. 

The agenda outline is tentative, 
and subject matters will not neces- 
sarily be taken up in the order NAB prexy Justin Miller said his 
listed. No hearings are expected in attorneys were studying the recula 



FCC Give Way on Giveaways? 



Continued from page 25 ; 



Hush"), and the Sammy Kaye "So 
You Wanna Lead A Band?" would 
be affected, and was inclined to em- 
brace the FCC notice with open 
arms. CBS, on the other hand, was 
willing to admit that a flock of its 
shows might be suspect and moved 
swiftly by eliminating the phone 
gimmick from the local WCBS 
"Fact Finder" on Friday (6), within 
24 hours after the FCC released its 
proposed ruling. "Sing It Again," 
"Pit the Jackpot" and "Everybody 
Wins," the latter two sponsored, 
would definitely get the CBS heave 
if the FCC followed through. 

Ed Kobak, Mutual prexy, put 
himself on record that an examina- 
tion of the web's programming re- 
vealed little of its airers would be 
affected, with likelihood that only 
the "Three For the Money" phone 
giveaway would get axed. 

It's ABC, notably, that takes it 
on the chin, and it's considered a 
cinch that "the web will hit back 
hard, via the courts, if necessary. 
For one, "Stop the Music," a $2,- 
could easily be pulled out of the 
Are, it's pointed out. 

Within the ranks" of the Amer- 
ican Federation of Radio Artists, 
there were crossed-fingers this 
week in the hopes that the FCC 
would make good its threat, for to 
AFRA it means a return to nor- 
malcy in putting actors back to 
work. AFRA claims its ranks have 
been hit hardest by the giveaway 
ascendancy. 



and large prizes have begun to 
overshadow the entertainment 
value of programs. Such overem- 
phasis is not healthy for radio and 
if it reached undue extremes, it 
would kill itself off in any event." 
(WOR's syndicated "Teletest" and 
the "John Gambling Calling" show 
would be suspect under the ban.i 

FCC says a program is in viola- 
,tion if, in connection with such 
program, a prize consisting of 
money or thing of value is awarded 
to any person whose selection is 
dependent in any manner upon lot 
or chance and if. as a condition of 
winning such prize (1) the winner 
is required to furnish any money 
or thing of value or required to 
have in his possession any product 
sold, manufactured, furnished or 
distributed by a sponsor; (2) if the 
winner is required to be listening 
to or viewing the program on a 
tele receiver; (3) if such a winner 
is required to answer correctly a 
question, the answer to which is 
given on a program broadcast over 
the station in question, or where 
the aid to answering is given on 
the program; or <4> if the winner 
is required to answer the phone or 
write a letter and the content is 
broadcast by the station. 



the near future although data will j tions and "if changes are deemed 
be assembled during the congres- ' 
sional recess. 



Tobacco Network Elects 



WPIT MOP HEWS POST 

• •„• , Pittsburgh, Aug.. 16. 

Inability to sell any local news 
commercials, because of stiff com- 
petition from well-established 
names on bigger stations, WPIT is 
dropping: post of local news editor 
middle of month. 

It's resulted fn resignation of 
Walt Lafferry, who was in news- 
JWef work and public relations 
before going into radfo. 



Philadelphia, Aug, 10. 
Ed Cleary, g.m.„of WIBG, has 
notified Local 77, American Fed- j Raleigh. Aug. 10. 

era t ion of Musicians, that the sta- j Louis N. Moward of New Bern 
tion will discontinue its home band j was elected president of The To- 
as of Aug. 14. Notice insures the ; bac,co Network at a regular meet- 
musicians a two weeks vacation ' i n g of the board of directors held 
period, but ends the five-year tenure : at Greenville, 
of the station orchestra, con- j Howard is president of the 
ducted by Eric Wilkinson. i Coastal Broadcasting Co., licensee 

WIBG becomes the fourth Phila- i of WHIT, New Bern, and the Jack- 
delphia station to drop its band ! sonville Broadcasting Co., licensee 
this year. Others are WIP, WPEN of WJNC in Jacksonville. He suc- 
and WDAS, which carried nine, six ! ceeds B. S. Hodges, Jr., general 
and three musicians, respectively. 1 manager of WGTC in Greenville. 
WIBG orchestra consists of nine [ Others officers elected, were; 
men. I Vice President Victor W. Dawson, 

Despite the continued scuttling ; general manager of WFNC and 
of the station bands, there have I WFNC-FM, Fayetteville; Secretary- 
been, no repercussions as yet from j Treasurer ' Fred Fletcher, general 
Local 77. Cleary's attitude is that I manager WRAL and WRAL-FM, 
despite repeated efforts they are! Ka{t, Sh; and Rudolph K. Scott of 
no longer to sell the orch, either as ! Raleigh, general sales manager. 



an ensemble or in units. Since its 
rivals have dropped the musicians, 
WIBG feels it is entitled to the 
economy move. 



Cole Milling's Sooth Keprise 
Chicago, Aug. 10. 
H. C. Cole Milling Co. returns 
its "Eddie Lee's Omega Show" to 
Mutual for the second consecutive 
year Sunday, Sept. 20. Hookup 
consists of 65 southern stations, 



Stations Co-op in Polio Crisis 
Raleigh, Aug. 10. 
Four Greensboro radio stations f with the time 2 to 2:30 p.m. (CST)! 

Talent besides Lee, the m.c, 
will consist of Nancy Wright, the 
Trail Blazers. Brown's Ferry Four 
and Doe Wfldeson's orchestra. Or- 
igination will be Cmcnmatf. Gard- 
ner is the agency. 



in cooperation with Greensboro 
churches and the Ministerial As- 
sociation will broadcast Sunday 
school lessons for children unable 
to attend regular classes due to the 
polio situation. 



necessary will make proper presen- 
tation* to the FCC." 

Which raises the apparent con- 
tradiction in the networks' financial 
| zest for telephone quiz despite (1> 
j the recently adopted code' of the 
| NAB which the webs most of all 
,are expected to uphold and which 
j is on record against the prize 
mania; (2i the webs having them- 
selves condemned and rapped quiz 
and money gimmicks when these 
were predominantly "local." 

On the local level, WOR's (N.Y.> 
prexy, Theodore Streibert, also a 
Mutual board member, rushed in 
with a statement welcoming such 
FCC clarification of the anti-lottery 
rule. "There is no question," he 
000,000 source of revenue to the 
network, would be stopped. With 
briefs scheduled for filing with .the 
FCC by Sept. 10, it s expected that 
ABC will demand a hearing or take 
the court route. The web main- 
tains that all contests on ABC fac- 
ilities, at the time of acceptance, 
are examined carefully by coun- 
sel, "and are in full accordance 
with provisions of the Communica- 
tions Act." The web also points out 
that the shows have a postal au- 
thority okay. 

Obviously, a good -many of the 
studio audience participation 
shows will lend themselves to a 
modified switch in format to elim- 
inate the phone gimmick. Such 
shows as "Break the Bank" and 
"What's My Name?" for example, 
said, "but what .the giveaway craze 



Giveaway 'Code 1 



Contained from page 35 



ming. It is also their belief that 
the code would rid the business of 
parasitic elements that have crept 
in along with the scheduling of 
bigger and more merchandise 
prizes. 

The code which the pair are 
passing along to the networks fol- 
lows: 

(1> No prizes should be permitted 
on any show where the prizes are 
not subordinate or incidental to 
the entertainment. No prizes should 
be permitted on programs where 
the awarding is on the basis of 
luck or chance. 

<2> No merchandise should be 
used as prizes if any charge of any 
kind or in any way are made to 
the manufacturer for scheduling 
his product on the show as prizes. 

(&) Credit lines for prize mer- 
chandise should not contain any 
language or descriptive phrases 
that does other than set up the 
value of, or glamorizes, the prize 
in the mind of the radio listener 
and the studio audience. In other 
words, limit the credit to the brand 
name and stock size of the article. 

(4) No merchandise should be 
scheduled as prises on network 
shows unless it is nationally ad- 
vertised and has a readily ac- 
cepted vattre, since it is the public 
acceptance of a trade name that 
makes it desirable as a prize, and 
unless merchandise is desirable as 
a prize there is no valid reason for 
scheduling it. 

(5) No more than one of the 
same item or merchandise should 
be scheduled within any one show 
on any one day. 



0 



TAKES PLEASURE IN ANNOUNCING 
THAT IT IS NOW REPRESENTED RY 

RADIO SALES 

DIVISION OF CBS 

IN ALL MARKETS EXCEPT NEW YORK AND 
PHILADELPHIA WHERE IT WILL CONTINUE 
TO MAINTAIN ITS OWN SALES OFFICES 

WCAU 

50,000 Watts • CBS Affiliate 
THE PHILAIJELPHIA BULLETIN STATION 



32 



RADIO 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



Miller Due for Mew NAB Pact 



Continued from page 27 , 



tion for guidance and policy is as 
yet a futile gesture. 

As to the highly-touted, much- 
debated and long-sought-for in- 
dustry code on standards of prac- 
tice, the NAB's No. 1 agenda 
"baby" over the past two years, 
key personalities in the U. S. 
radio picture are inclined to brush 
it off as pretty much of a dead 
issue, engendered by "all talk — 
and no action." 

Others, however, still hold high 
hopes thil, through a proper edu- 
cational campaign and constantly 
alerting the station men to the 
need for its proper projection, the 
Code can be realistically trans- 
lated into something with .-mean- 
ing. The latter take the position 
that it's still too early to tell. 



has some one 1 attending all FCC 
hearings and keeping the mem- 
bership apprised of developments I 
there, the TBA has a major prob- 1 
lein in the matter of copyright, ' 
which in itself required a staff of j 
experts, which division alone would | 
absorb much of the $20,000. 



r_ 



Weintraub 

Continued from past 27 



NAB, TBA Merger to Be Aired 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 
Justin Miller, president of the 
NAB, is slated to meet tomorrow 
(Wednesday) with a group of mid- 
west television operators to can- 
vass the idea of merging the Tele- 
vision Broadcasters Assn. with the 
NAB. Miller will report on the 
discussions here to his board of 
directors when it meets in Novem- 
ber. 

Since the NAB prez was due in 
Chicago anyway for the District 
No. 9 gathering, which opens 
Thursday (12), Walter Damm, 
head of WTMJ and WTMJ-TV, 
Milwaukee, suggested that the TV 
operators and Miller get together 
the day before and exchange 
thoughts on the possibility of the 
NAB setting up a separate tele- 
vision department. The TBA has 
been pretty much hampered by the 
fact that because of its limited in- 
come it hasn't been performing all 
the services that are now and will 
be demanded by the video indus- 
try. 

The TBA's present budget is 
about $20,000 a year. Although it 



Radio City. There, until 4 a.m., 
they gave WW the works about 
K-F, . about Henry J. Kaiser's 
patriotism, etc. Winchell said he'd 
think it over. 

' Shortly after that, on his way to 
the Coast, WW stopped off his train 
at Albuquerque to send Weintrawb 
a wire saying "No." Weintraub 
hopped the first plane for Holly- 
wood and was there waiting when 
WW arrived. Enroute, the agency- 
man had worked some new lures 
into the proposed contract — the 
gabber would get a hike in pay the 
second year; he could do eight 
shows each year from Florida and 
take seven weeks off; K-F would 
give him absolutely free rein on 
copy, etc. 

Weintraub went over the new 
deal with WW that night at the 
Beverly Hills hotel. Still no dice. 
But the next night they, came to 
terms. Weintraub phoned Trenner 
in N. Y. Trenner got together with 
Robert Kintner, ABC's exec vee- 
pee.- Two days later, all was set. 
Trenner wired his boss, "Got the 
ink." 



Tom Mix Series Vice 
AutryonLeafTVShow 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 

Whirlwind of protest which 
WBKB stirred up when it pitched 
an old Gene Autry film series to 
Leaf chewing gum has now sub- 
sided, The Autry celluloid is out 
and the Leaf account will now use 
a Tom Mix series. Starting date 
is Aug. 22. 

The demurers were raised by J. | 
Walter Thompson, whicli pilots ; 
the Gene Autry show on CBS for i 
Wrigley. The agency argued that I 
tieing up Wrigley's cowboy stand- j 
by with another cud wasn't ex- I 
actly cricket and the station, ap- 
parently having acted without 
thought to the alliance, scurried 
around immediately for a substi- 
tute western. 



From The Production Centers 



Continued from page 26 ; 



TV Indies 

Continued from page 29 . 



I Raleigh — W. E. Debnam, com- 
mentator on the Smith-Douglas 
network of five stations in North 
I Carolina and Virginia, originating 
I his show here at WPTF, left Ra- 
1 leigh by plane this week for a six- 
weeks' tour of European countries 
to secure background information 
I for his commentaries. 



out, are elements which the indie 
producer by knowledge and ex- 
perience is best equipped to 
handle and on which the indies 
could do a good missionary job 
without having an. axe to grind. 

Gosch, who has set 1PTA head- 
quarters in the Savoy Plaza hotel, 
N. Y., is currently arranging for 
the teeoff meeting. Gosch points 
out that IPTA will work with the 
webs, rather than against them, 
on the basis that the nets need 
the indies. "Tele isn't radio," says 
Gosch. "It spread put into every 
phase of show business — whether 
it's a Bob Weitman who produces 
top vaude shows for the Para- 
mount; Jerry Robbins, Max Gor- 
don or Elia Kazan, who make the 
theatre bum; Willie 'Wyler, Darryl 
Zanuck or Jimmy Wong Howe 
who turn out the pictures, or the 
coterie who pay homage to the 
Hooper rating. All . these repre- 
sent the fundamentals of televi- 
sion. Obviously the networks can- 
not absorb them, so why not play 
along? We all have much to gain 
and lots to learn." 



3f mi mmtmtii 




foul W. Morency. Vlce-Pres— Gen. Mgr, Walter Johnson. Assistant Gen. Mgr.— SI*. Mgr. 

WTIC's 50.000 watts represented nationally by Weed * Ca. 



on the mag's program Don Thornburgh and John Guedel taking on 

all comers at paddle tennis and bowling 'em over There have been 

so many requests for ducats to the Horace Heidt show that the third- 
quarter finals for his ams will be held in Hollywood Bowl Sept. 12 ... . 
Gordon Strang here from N. Y. to supervise construction of NBC's tele- 
vision layout. 

IN. CHICAGO ... 

Ade Hult, MBS v.p. in charge of midwest operations, spoke Thursday 
(5) before a Blue Cross-Blue Shield public relations conference at the 
Stevens hotel on "Using Radio in Public Relations" .... Les Atlass, Jr., 
of WIND'S sales staff, flew to Mackinaw, Mich., to see his father, CBS' 
midwest chief, who had been stricken with virus pneumonia while yacht 

cruising on Lake Michigan Wilson Sporting Goods is picking up the 

tab on WGN-TV's telecast of the All-Star football game Aug. 20 

WMAQ garnered much columnar attention from its introductory use of 
two-way recorded phone conversation, now permitted by the FCC, in a 

news broadcast WBBM's press department in ballyhooing the "Make 

Mine Music" program cracked that here's a show that "gives away noth- 
ing but good entertainment". . . Edgar Kobak, Mutual prexy, in Chi- 
cago early last week for a quick solicitation .... John Norton, ABC head- 
man here, says WENR-TV starts its test pattern the latter part of this 
week, but the outlet's inauguration is off to mid-September .... Mc- 
Laughlin's Manor House coffee, which has a daily show on WMAQ, has 

switched from Sherman & Marquette to the Earl Ludgen agency 

Bert Wilson, who covers the Chicago Cubs games on WIND, and Bob 
Elson, who calls the White Sox plays over WJJD, are targets of needling 
by Warren Brown, Herald-American sports ed. Latter in series of 
columns has been urging the pair to cut out being cheer-leaders and 
saying that all is well with the cellar teams, and instead, like him 
(Brown), stir the owners to spend some money for better players.. .. 
George Herro, MBS flack, in Milwaukee for several days, setting up 
the origination of "Tom Mix" broadcast in connection with Wisconsin's 

celebration of "Tom Mix Day" WIND is switching reps, from John 

Pearson to the Katz agency Red Grange currently making tape 

recordings of interviews with members of teams in All-Star football 
game for promotion use of event by Mutuaf outlets. 

Fred Kilian, ABC program director, held forth on "Why an Adver- 
tiser Should Go Into Television Now" at yesterday's (Tuesday) grub- 
and-talk-fest of the Chicago Television Council .... Morton K. fuller 
and Melvin Wolens added to WBKB's sales staff. . . .William Kutsch,' 
owner of Peoria's WMMJ, looked in on the MBS gang last week as did 
his competition, Shag Morrow, of WWXL WMAQ erecting a 250- 
foot self-supporting emergency antenna tower on site of transmitter at 
Bloomingdale . .. ."Ladies Be Seated" (ABC) will spend much of the 
next three months on the road, with the route including a stack of 
state fair dates .... Floyd Van Etten, who recently resigned from ABC 
sales service, has joined the Needham, Louis & Brorby agency as as- 
sistant to media chief Otto Stadelman. Robert Brethauer has taken 
over Van Etten's spot at the network and Don Saraceno will become 
his assistant. 

+ ; 

: 

j Chain Broadcasting Regulations 
permit "price-fixing and' exclusive 
practices of the national chain 
networks." 

And finally, ABC says the 
charge of conspiracy alleged to 
arise from similarity of conduct 
of ABC and Mutual is false. 



ABC Hits Back 

S Continued from page 27 ^ 

and Mutual promptly became af- 
filiated. Each separatedly exer- 
cised its privilege of terminating j 
the use of WSAY and so notified j 
the station. WSAY sued. 

The trial court permitted Miir j 
tual's affiliate, WVET, to intervene 
and denied the request for a pre- 
liminary injunction ABC says. The | 
Circuit Court of Appeals con- 
cluded that the essential issue in 
the" case was whether the nets 
had "really acted individually and 
not jointly," ABC told the "Su- 
preme Court. After analyzing the.' 
facts relevant to that question, ] 
the court affirmed the denial of i 
the preliminary injunction, con- ! 
eluding that "In the record now ' 
before us there is no persuasive 
evidence of a conspiracy to boy- 
cott or otherwise unlawfully ex- 
clude the plaintiff from obtaining 
defendants' programs, whatever 
may later be established at a 
trial," the brief stated. 

In attacking WSAY's suit. ABC 
says its price fixing charge- is 
without foundation. It points out 
that as the lower court perceived, 
broadcast time for a net program 
is not bought by a national ad- 
vertiser from individual stations. 
It is bought as part of an "ag- 
gregate" of components. ABC 
points out that among these points 
are the network's own facilities, 
including nationwide wire lines 
which connect the individual sta- 
tions into a network, artistic and 
technical services, and simul- 
taneous time which the net has 
purchased over 'many other sta- 
tions. 

ABC says there is no ruling by 
the lower court, either express or 
implied, that the networks have 
the "right to exclude unaffiliated 
stations from all access to the na- 
tional advertising market." The 
nets say WSAY is completely free 
to offer its facilities and programs 
to national advertisers. However, 
they point out, it is unable as a 
non-affiliate, to supply the demand 
for network service. 

WSAY's real complaint is that 
because the affiliation terms it de- 
manded were unacceptable, other 
affiliates were chosen by the nets, 
to carry their programs in Ro- 
chester, ABC said. 

ABC feels that there is no merit 
'in WSAY's third specification of 
error to the effect that the lower 
court erroneously held that the 



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Yorkton, succeeding A. L. Garside 
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Wedneeday, August 11, 1948 



BA0IO 



S3 



Coy Reassures Blasters 



Continued from page 25 



of censoring libelous material, and 
then had omitted it. He wanted to 
know why FCC attorneys felt 
called upon to "pioneer" on a ques- 
tion the Congress had deliberately 
left.out of legislation. 
' NAB general counsel Don Petty, 
told the Committee he did not be- 
lieve the Port Huron case had come 
within the jurisdiction of section 
315 which refers to the use of a 
facility by a legally qualified candi- 
date. He said FCC was extending 
the power granted it by Congress 
in assuming that State libel and 
slander laws would be superceded 
fcy a federal rule. He said radio- 
men around the country were very 
disturbed about the next six 
months. The national elections do 
not worry them, but local elections 
for sheriff, mayor and assembly- 
men in the light of the Port Huron 
decision, might mean trouble, he 
said. 

Petty doubted that Congress 
could legislate in this matter with- 
out forcing a State's Rights issue 
in overruling the various slander 
laws. 

The FCC attorney who testified 
in the Houston, Tex., case, involv- 
ing station KPRC, and the first 
Pdrt Huron trial, said Port Huron 
was not a rule, only an opinion. 
Coy told the House Select Com- 
mittee that he concurred entirely 
with that testimony, which cleared 
the way for the peaceful interim 
settlement of the inquiry. 

Louis G. Caldwell, attorney rep- 
resenting Mutual, said he thought 
it might be possible to remove 
Section 315 entirely from the Act. 
He pointed out that there was no 
government censorship control 
.'over newspapers and that most 
communities had many more radio 
"stations than newspapers. He said 
he did not think it neces- 
sary to constrain radio stations to 
give equal free time in political 
elections, and that it was ridicu- 
lous when it was carried down in- 
to clubs, organizations and contro- 
versial issues. He said anybody 
with an idea could get time, and 
•anyone opposing on any question 
could also get it. He pointed out 
that competition would automati- 



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cally force the stations to act « 
the public interest. " 

NBC's counsel and veepee Gus 
tay B Margraf floundered around 
after he stated definitely that NBC 
had never censored a broadcast 
Els on asked if NBC's position was 
that it would never censor even if 
censorship reacted in the public 
interest. Margraf admitted that 
NBC required that a political script 
be submitted 24 hours ahead of 
broadcast, and that on occasion it 
had "discussed" deletion of slan- 
derous material from the scripts. 

NBC recommended that Section 
315 be amended to include a part 
of the White Bill and read- "Pro- 
vided, that licensee shall not be 
liable in any civil or criminal ac- 
tion in any local, state or federal 
court because of any material 
broadcast, under the provisions oL 
this section except as to such ma-" 
terial as may be personally uttered 
by the licensee or persons under 
his control." Margraf *s statement 
pointed out that licensees should 
not be subjected to liability for 
acts over which they have no con- 
trol. v 

Joseph McDonald, veepee and 
attorney for ABC, said he agreed 
in substance with NBC's stand. He 
said that although stations should 
not censor material, still neither 
should they join and assists in li- 
belous statements going out over 
their air. 

Committee counsel, Frank T. 
Bow, seemed pleased with the re- 
sults of the first hearings in an 
intensive investigation of the Com- 
mission. The Committee felt it had 
cleared up much of the confusion 
created by FCC's opinion" in the 
Port Huron case, and quoted Coy 
as telling the Committee: "for the 
time being, at least, until the mat- 
ter is settled, the honest and con- 
scientious broadcaster who uses 
ordinary common sense in trying 
to prevent obscene or slanderous 
or libelous statements from going 
over the air need not fear any 
capricious action." 



KPRC (TEX.) RESUMES 
POLITICO CENSORSHIP 

Houston, Aug. 10. 
- Censorship of political speeches 
was resumed here by KPRC. The 
station's attorney. Jack Binion, 
[Stated that the effect of a three- 
judge Federal court ruling last 
week was that radio stations would 
would not be affected by a FCC 
ruling prohibiting the editing of 
political speeches. 

The three judges dismissed a 
KPRC injunction suit against the 
FCC after saying the court was 
without jurisdiction. The court's 
opinion said the FCC action in ban- 
ning censorship was not in the 
form of a rule or regulation but 
was an opinion or interpretation. 



Kaycee's AFRA Strike Vs. KMBC 
imminent; Union Asks $95 Base Pay 



Kansas City, Aug. 10. 
Local of the American Federa- 
tion of Radio Artists has given 
state and federal labor department 
authorities notice that a dispute 
exists in wage negotiations with 
Midland Broadcasting Co., opera- 
tors of KMBC and KFRM, and a 
strike is imminent. AFRA filed 
routine notice with National Labor 
Relations Board July 7, of intent 
to strike. A meeting of the bar- 
gaining unit last Tuesday (3) fa- 
vored the strike when a vote was 



; taken, provided scheduled negotia- 
tions do not succeed, according to 
Fred Alexander, KMBC union 
steward and AFRA v.p. 

Meeting is scheduled between 
Karl Koerper, v-p of Midland, and 
Don Roberts, secretary of AFRA 
for this week. Roberts lists three 
points of controversy: (1) An in- 
creases in wages due to the fact 
that staff men work on both Mid- 
land stations (both are operated , 
out of the same studios in Kansas 
(Continued on page 34) 



Hooper 

Continued from page 25 




haven't yet received official noti- 
fication as to the amounts 
of their divvies under the new 
setup, it took only a little arith- 
metic 'to show them that Hooper's 
ratings are going to be a lot more 
expensive next year. 

On the basis of the webs' esti- 
mated billings for 1948, it would 
figure out roughly this way: NBC, 
now $18,000 a year, up to $52,000; 
CBS, now $18,000, up to $51,000; 
ABC, now $14,000, up to $34,QD0, 
and Mutual, now $14,400, up to 
$27,400. 

•At least one web exec, E. P. H. 
(Jimmy) James of Mutual, felt the 
new scales were in one respect a 
"victory" for the webs. James said 
he had for years been trying to-sell 
Hooper on billing the nets in pro- 
portion to the revenues instead of 
on an arbitrary basis which brack- 
eted NBC and CBS at one rate 
level, ABC and Mutual at another. 
James pointed out that ™. 2. Niel- 
sen, Broadcast Measurement Bu- 
reau and the National Assn. of 
Broadcasters all have rates bearing 
some relation to subscribers' in- 
comes. 

, Big question-mark raised by 
Hooper's rate proposals is, of 
course: how many clients will find 
them too expensive to go along 
with? And if one or more of the 
webs don't go along, can he go 
ahead with the projectables or will 
he have to further apportion the 
cost among remaining clients? One 
web exec said this week that, while 
he hadn't seen Hooper's new rates, 
he didn't know where the net was 
going to get the money for the 
hiked ante. 

(Up to July 1 of last vear. Hooper 
billed NBC and CBS each for only 
$9,000 annually, ABC and Mutual 
for $7,200 each.) 

Just- as a sample thing. Hooper 
issued the July 30 report on the 
Top 15 with projectable as well as 
popularity ratings 1 and with total 
U. S. listening homes (see separate 
box). 



Cincinnati — Dick Gillespie, until , 
recently with WQAM, Miami, on . 
facsimile, is a newcomer on the 
Crosley publicity and public rela- 
tions staff. He succeeds Chal 
Adams, who terminated an 18- 
month affiliation for a move to, 
Denver. ■ 



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EXHIBITED On the River Landing of 
THE COLUMBIA BROADCASTING SYSTEM TELEVISION NETWORK 
MONDAY, AUGUST 16 at 8:30 P.M. 



S4 



REVIEWS 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



PREMIERE SHOW 

With Moray . Amsterdam, John 
Reed King, Monica Lewis, Dor- 
othy Claire, Frank D'Armond's 
Orch 

60 Mins.; Fri., 8-9 pan. 
Sustaining 
WFTR, Albany 

The Schine theatre interests' 
first radio venture opened auspi- 
ciously Friday (6) with the strongest 
kickoff show yet presented by a 
Capital District station. It was 
strictly bigtime entertainment, pre- 
sented by Morey Amsterdam, John 
Reed King, Monica Lewis and Dor- 
othy Clare (from New York) and 
Frank D'Armond's 16-piece band. 

Attorney Harold E. Blodgett, vee- 
pee of Patroon Broadcasting Corp. 
and head of company operating 
WBCA <WFTR's FM affiliate in 
Schenectady) talked about the out- 
let's "high obligation for public 
service." Messages were read from 
Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, who wrote 
that "local stations supplementing 
the networks are as important as 
are our local newspapers," and 
from Justin Miller, NAB president. 

Amsterdam, who worked in three 
spots with great vigor, high speed, 
fine timing and -solid material, 
clicked strongest Comic dialoged 
and monologed in a style fresh to 
area listeners. 

King turned in a workmanlike 
emceeing Stint, although' his oppor- 
tunities were not overnumerous. 
Miss Claire, from "Finian's Rain- 
bow,™ rode the beam with one of 
the- smoothest bids of the show — a 
vocal of "Glocca Morra." She 
made a change of pace to the "Cof- 
fee" song, which, despite a spirited 
interpretation, did not seem appro- 
priate for the finale. Gal flashed an 
excellent speaking voice. Miss 
Lewis, tabbed for her Decca re- 
cordings, offered "The Gentleman 
Is a Dope" and "Tree in the 
Meadow." 

D'Armond's orch sounded excep- 
tionally good most of the way; a 
few spots might have been pol- 
ished. Former WGY arranger and 
batoneer extracted a lot of music 
from the local unit. Bill Van Steen- 
burgh, with a Browning poem, rang 
the bell clearest among the station 
singles. Howard Maschmeier and 
DeWitt Mower produced a credit- 
able script. Jaco. 

OSCAR BRAND FOLKSONG FES- 
TIVAL 

With Ursula Brand, Daniel ODon 

well: Hiliard Eden, announcer 
Producer: Arthur Lee 
30 Mins.; Sun., 6 p.m. 
Sustaining 
WNYC, N. Y. 

Let it not be said that Oscar 
Brand's Folksong doesn't offer a 
cosmopolitan appeal, for the show's 
initial semester offered tunes 
whose . origins stemmed from at 
least four different countries. 
Brand is an affable, engaging em- 
cee whose proclaimed objective is 
to "show that folk music is fun — 
that it doesn't belong to a small, 
fanatic group, but to all kinds of 
'folk'." 

On the basis of his first airer, 
Brand managed to get over his 
point despite a long-winded WNYC 
remote from Idlewild airport that 
spilled over a few minutes thus 
eliminating the festival's introduc- 
tory lines. Program's top spot was 
the guest fiddling of Daniel O'Don- 
nell who contributed some tradi- 
tional Irish airs. However, most 
of the half -hour was filled out with 
recordings. 

Brand has an idea that most 
dialers will find of interest. Gilb. 



THIRST BEYOND REASON 
With Harry Elders, Sunda Love, 
Tony Parrish, Russel Reed, Cliff 
Norton; Jack O'Dell, announcer 
Writer-producer: Ben Park 
30 Mins.; Monday (86), 8:30 p.m. 
Sustaining 
WCFL, Chicago 

Lately WCFL has shown an in- 
creasing tendency to air public 
service dramas that go beyond the 
dull inanities so readily concocted 
in that field. It's all well and good 
to roundtable professors and club 
women in a hot discussion of "Is 
the Fourth of July Really Patri- 
otic Without Firecrackers?" but 
there are other community matters 
of far greater urgency. Such a 
matter is alcoholism, which in Chi- 
cago is estimated to bear directly 
on 100,000 lives. 

Water-wagon treatment dispens- 
ed at Portal House is estimated to 
succeed with more than 50% of all 
drunks who enter there. In July, 
following withdrawal of further fi- 
nancial support by the city of Chi- 
cago, Portal House was taken over 
by a committee of private citizens. 
This group needs dough to keep 
the portals open, hence "Thirst Be- 
yond Reason" by Ben Park, whose 
"Report Uncensored" won this 
year's Peabody, DuPont and 
Variety kudos for public service. 

As drama in itself "Thirst Be- 
yond Reason" lacked punch and 
impact, mainly because of an un- 
emotional, case history approach. 
First-person narrative dealt with 
the ups and downs of Larry the 
Lush, whc eventually left the saw- 
dust floors of Skid Row for the 
sawdust trail of Portal House. His 
progress between both points was 
pedestrian. 

Absent from the drama was the 
nerve-crunching violence, the acid 
misery, and the horrible scream- 
ing meemies demanded by its cen- 
tral character. Certain of these 
elements were calmly reported, 
rather than slugged over via ac- 
tion. If Larry stood in bed be- 
cause of a possible obeisance to 
good taste, it was a mistake because 
good taste and drunkenness are 
mutually exclusive. In good taste, 
however, was the omission of pious 
moralizing or attacks on distillers. 

Baxt. 



YOU ARE NOT ALONE 

With Arnold Moss, Santos Ortega, 

Bernard Lenroe, Bryan Rey- 

burn, Donald Hastings, Hester 

Sondegaard, Barbara Decker, 
Writer: Charles Bennett 
Director: Walter McGraw 
Producer: D. L. Provost 
30 Mins.; Sun., 1:30 P.M. 
Sustaining 
NBC, from N. Y. 

This one-shot documentary, 
ostensibly aimed as a pitch for 
the Infantile Paralysis Foundation 
fund drive should achieve its pur- 
pose in collecting dimes and dol- 
lars, now and later. 

"You'Are Not Alone" pointed 
up the plight of an American lad 
who had staked his hopes upon be- 
coming a great trackstar until the 
malady threw him. After succes- 
sion of treatments he doesn't make 
the track team, but emerges as an 
expert swimmer. Case history is 
told with pathos, sans bathos, and 
holds to a neat line of not going 
overboard to challenge tearducts 
of listening audience. And that's 
a commendable feat for such docu- 
mentaries. 

Undoubtedly culled from^a case 
history, Charles Bennett has 
scripted tightly, Walter McGraw 
has directed expertly under pro- 
duction reins of D. L. Provost and 
intelligent portrayals by cast strike 
a poignant chord that warms the 
heart rather than provide emo- 
tional upset. The kid's plight 
is tough, but his optimistic accept- 
ance of condition and urge to con- 
quer the handicap is more than 
half the battle. His chin-uppish- 
ness rather than defeatist attitude 
makes it easy for listeners to take. 

Arnold Moss handled narration 
in impressive fashion, with other 
standout performances by Santos 
Ortega, Bernard Lenroe, Bryan 
Reyburn, Donald Hastings, Hester 
Sondegaard and Barbara Decker. 
Original score by Charles Paul was 
in keeping with motif. Edba 



Transcription Review 



SURPRISE SYMPHONETTE 
With Hush Downs, Ed Davies, 35- 

piece orch conducted by Joseph 

Gallicchio 
Writer: Bob Carmen 
Producer: Herb Lateau 
30 Mins.; Sun., 4:30 pm., CDT 
Sustaining 
NBC, from Chicago 

As a late entry in this year's 
roster of transitory summer musi- 
cals, "Surprise Symphonette" has 
qualities that might well be dupli- 
cated by more durable commercial 
shows. The scripting, for example, 
manages to be fresh and vigorous 
without substituting the painfully 
cute for the painfully hackneyed. 
And given such scripting, Hugh 
Downs' casual and urbane com- 
mentary falls easily on the ears. 

Standard model musicals often 
come equipped with boy and girl 
singers whose desexed romancing 
leads to an endless amount of 
mushy transitional dialog. "Sur- 
prise Symphonette" eschews mush 
— nobody's in love with , nobody 
— but the point goes by default 
since there's only one singer and 
a baritone at that. The baritone, 
Ed Davies, has been chanting in 
prime straight style on NBC airers 
from Chi for more than a decade. 

Musically, "Surprise Symphon- 
ette" comes midway between pops 
and classics, sounding the light 
note but not so light as Victor 
Herbert. Preem (1) avoided the 
more recently familiar of the old 
familiars, digging up "Southern 
Roses Waltz" .for the orch and 
"Green-Eyed Dragon" for Davies. 
Orchestrations had heft and sub- 
stance, with Joe Gallicchio wield- 
ing an accomplished baton. 

Franz Pfau keyboarded impres- 
sively on "Malaguena" and the 
string section romped nimbly in 
"Fiddle Faddle." Reprise on the 
novelty instrumental, "Mosquito 
Dance," had Downs slapping three 
times before he smashed the of- 
fending insect. 

It's always a pleasure to find 
sustainers done as . carefully as 
sponsored shows and that's the way 
it is with this one. Baxt. 



PUPPET-TOWN PLAYHOUSE 
With Doug and Gayle Anderson 
30 Mins.; Sun., 11:30 a.m. 
Sustaining 
WLIB, N. Y, 

This may be the start of a re- 
verse trend in which radio will try 
to ape the most successful, shows 
in video. . "Puppet-town Play- 
house," which is clearly patterned 
after the flock of video marionnette 
juve programs, is an ill omen, how- 
ever, for the success of any such 
tendency. Firstly, this show is 
overwhelmed by the impossibility 
of puppeteering on the sightless 
kilocycles, and secondly, it commits 
the deadly sin of patronizing the 
kids. 

On the preem stanza (8), the 
program introduced Pancho Pete, 
puppet character with a leaning 
towards such expressions as "gee 
willikens" and "golly," and in- 
cluded some recorded musical 
numbers, a modern fairy tale nar- 
rated by Gayle Anderson, the usual 
rigmarole about joining a juve 
club and an interview with an edi- 
tor of several comic strip mags. As 
entertainment, it must have been 
mild stuff for the younger set. As 
for its educational value, there's 
little for parents to recommend to 
their children. Herm. 



DEEMS TAYLOR CONCERT 
With Guest Interviews 
30 Mins. 

Producer: Radio Features, Inc. 

Deems Taylor's entry into the 
disk jockey sweepstakes may be a 
little belated but it certainly can't 
help but add class to the craft. 
Aside from his rep as a composer 
and critic, it's been some 15 years 
that the name has been synonymous 
with the commentary side of long- 
hair music in network radio. 

Judging from the No. 1 sound 
track of this disk jockey format, 
there's good, saleable, merehandis- 
able programming here for local 
operations. The repertoire has 
that authoritative touch of diversi- 
fication and balance, the commen- 
taries are pretty uniformly crisp 
and enlightening, the interview 
with Gladys Swarthout is a bright 
blend of the human side of the 
artist with the factual and the. 
whole thing is maintained on a dig- 
nified but ingratiating level. 

This syndication will probably 
fill a long-sought need in spots 
where accounts might have been 
interested in the masterpiece side 
of music but shied away from spon- 
sorship because of the lack of a 
personality to give the program un- 
equivocable authority. Odec. 



ANTIQUE RECORD SHOP 
With Joe Franklin 
Writer: Franklin 
60 Mins., Mon.-thru-Fii., 8 am. 
Participating 
WMCA, N. Y. 

This is more or less of a reprise 
by Joe Franklin of his "Echoes of 
the Bigtime" disk-chatter show. It's 
60 minutes of show biz nostalgia 
built around Franklin's collection 
of 25,000 disks of the old Palace 
(N. Y.) vaude favorites and anec- 
dota concerning the then-and-now 
bigtime personalities. 

New morning show, with a flock 
of participating sponsors, preemed 
on Monday (9) with such faves as 
Georgie Price, Belle Baker and Gus 
Van on hand for live guestshots to 
supplement the whirling of their 
circa 1927 platters. 

Those inevitable early Crosby 
and Jolsoniana recordings were 
conspicuous on the teeoff program 
and Franklin manages to give the 
early morning stanza a pleasant 
"now it can be told" lift. Rose. 



BEHOLD THIS LAND 
(The Joyless Child) 
With Murray Westgate, Catherine 
Graham, BUI Buckingham, Dor- 
othy Fowler, James Johnston, 
Paul Kligman; John Avison and 
orch, Allan Thompson, an- 
nouncer. 
Producer-director: Doug Nixon 
Writer: Yves Theriault 
30 Mins.; Sun., 7 p.m. 
CBC from Vancouver ' 

Powerful is the best word to 
describe a series of plays entitled 
"Behold This Land" written by the 
French-Canadian writer Yves 
Theriault. The plays are translated 
into English blank verse from the 
French with faithful and sympa- 
thetic feeling by Arthur Mitchell. 

Theriault writes for the hearers 
authentic presentations of Quebec 
folkways. Set in a Canadian vil- 
lage, the plays are closely asso- 
ciated with the soil and with the 
men who till the land and who lead 
simple lives. 

"The Joyless Child" deals with 
the conflict between the parents of 
a child born crippled and without 
the faculties of speech, sound and 
sight. In forceful and lucid lan- 
guage of blank verse, it is argued by 
the father that if the child is al- 
lowed to live it will be without 
joy, it will not have the opportuni- 
ties of other young men. He points 
out that the child will be of no 
value on the land, and won't have 
the pleasures in life's gamboling 
which are ordained to all youth. 
The mother feels the child deserves 
life since it is a product of both 
parents. 

Both leads, Murray Westgate and 
Catherine Graham, play difficult 
parts with great emotion and sin- 
cerity. Their parts were trying be- 
cause of their dramatic weight, and 
also because of the speeches* 
length. 

Although beautiful, the speeches' 
length would tend to distract the 
attention of the average listener, 
as would the conflict in the drama 
since it would not be at once obvi- 
ous. If, however, the listener re- 
mained beside the radio, a rare 
treat in the closing minutes of the 
play would be accorded him when 
the father describes his actions as 
he is about to drown the child, but 
breaks down as he realizes he loves 
the child just as the mother does. 

Theriault has been in French- 
language radio for some 13 years, 
which shows in his excellent fa- 
cility at handling radio techniques. 
More should be heard from Theri- 
ault before too much time passes. 

Allen. 



Raleigh — Mrs. Trippy Wisecup 
became director of women's pro- 
grams for WAYS of Charlotte on 
August 1, W. H. Goan, manager, 
announced. Mrs. Wisecup has for 
several years been active in wom- 
en's civic and fashion activities in 
Charlotte. 



Court Supports CBS 

In Andrews Action 

In 1945-John Andrews, a chem- 
ist, filed suit against CBS for al- 
legedly libeling him on "Radio 
Readers Digest" in a dramatization 
tagged "The Greatest Invention of 
the 20th Century." However, he 
failed to prosecute and as a result 
the court dismissed the complaint. 
"Then, seven months after the 
suit had been tossed out, Andrews 
sought to revive his action in N.Y. 
federal court. Last week Federal 
Judge Sylvester J. Ryan denied 
his motion to vacate the dismissal. 
Court said that according to facts 
presented by CBS the plaintiff was 
not entitled to damages. 



TONIGHT 

Wed., Aug. II 
TEX AND JINX SHOW 

NBC 9:00 P.M. 



THURSDAY NIGHTS 

MOV1ELAND QUIZ 
ABC-TV 7:30 P.M. 



NEW YORK'S 



FRIDAY NIGHTS 

NBC 10 P.M. EDST 

SLAPSIC MAXIE SHOW 
WITH PATRICIA BRIGHT 

Patricia Bright, a familiar figure 
in the intimate N. Y. nitery spots, 
has tossed aside her song satiriza- 
tions and impersonations to play 
Slapsie's girl friend, and she plays 
it well Indeed. — Variety.'" 




Unfitted STAR . . ; 



EVERY NIGHT 

(RETURN ENGAGEMENT] 

1m ltuban Bleu, X. Y. 

Patricia Bright, with her raucous 
satirizing, gets top billing, and jus- 
tifiably so. She's switched to the 
56th street boite after a long run 
at No. 1 Fifth Avenue. Her long 
repertoire is reined to an under- 
done minimum here. The custom- 
ers could stand a bit more like her 
pitch to be elected "Miss Rhein- 
gold of '49," the biting carbon of 
the French chantoosies from "le 
autre side de ocean" and the neat 
replica of Katharine Hepburn sing- 
ing "Glocca Morra." Material is 
good for this type spot, deadpan 
delivery, is sure for giggles and 
music and accompaniment top. 
notch. — Variety. 



PATRICIA BRIGHT 

Radio and Television Management: 

LESTER LEWS ASSOCIATES, On* Christopher Street. New York. WAtkins 4-8582 



K.C. AFRA 

Continued from page 33 



City); (2) The inclusion of a term- 
ination clause in the contract 
which would prohibit the station 
from firing except for misconduct, 
insubordination or incompetence; 
(3) Inclusion of special announcers 
(newscasters, sportscasters, home 
economists, etc.), in the bargaining 
unit. 

Contract between KMBC and 
AFRA expired last March 1, and 
station has been operating under a 
temporary agreement with the 
union. Union has asked a basic 
wage for announcers of $95 pqr 
week, against the present $85 in 
force. WHB, KCKN and WDAF, 
other stations with AFRA con- 
tracts are paying $86. Roberts 
said he believed the $95 at KM BO 
was reasonable request because of 
the dual character of the work. 

Some time ago AFRA filed 
charges of unfair labor practices 
against Midland with the NLRB, 
citing the station for dealing direct 
with personnel, instead of through 
the bargaining unit. Likelihood in 
case negotiations fail again this 
week is that a Federal conciliator 
will step in for further meetings. 

In event these meetings fail to 
result in a contract, the strike 
would be the alternative, according 
to Roberts. 



Television Followup 



Continued from page 28 ; 



sonality and style who seems 
headed for the big time. Tommy 
Port, personable crooner from the 
local radio marts, was the fourth 
and remaining act. Guests of the 
station provided the sideline fix- 
tures for the nitery setting within 
the rather jammed studio and 
there was the usual entre-act sport 
of introducing a table-occupying 
celebrity. Tagged for this occa- 
sion was Connie Mack, the vener- 
able boss of the Philadelphia Ath- 
letics, who in a quickie interview 
graciously paid tribute to the last- 
place White Sox. The fashion in- 
terlude, obviously hastily com- 
posed, had as its prime purpose a 
client pitch. It was done to dem- 
onstrate-to Maurice Sacks, a local 
furrier, how appropriate the med- 
ium could be for the merchandis- 
ing of his wares. While the pro- 
duction of the insert did lack fin- 
esse, the pictorial effect of the 
furs left nothing wanting, and it's 
easy to imagine the sort of domes- 
tic interplay this display evoked: 
the wife raving over each manni- 
kined coat and the old man sud- 
denly finding some excuse to re- 
fair elsewhere in the domicile. 

After the telecast, Sacks, a user 
of radio for 20 years,, was making 
tentative inquiries around the 
studio about the cost of such a 
tween $1,500 and $1,800 a broad- 
show. It's WGN-TV's most ex- 
pensive sustainer, running be- 
cast 

There's one facet in tele pro- 
gramming that has cued wide trade 
interest. That concerns the manner 
in which video is integrating into 
its pattern the terp teams in the 
comedic-satiric idiom. For example, 
the recent doubling of Helene & 
Harris from Radio City Music Hall, 
N. Y., into the "Texaco Star Thea- 
tre" on NBC-TV proved such ef- 
fective buffoonery for tele as to 
suggest that the small but none- 
theless fresh reservoir of talent 
(Hartmans, etc.) would be a natural 
in the TV programming picture. 

No matter what formula is used, 
the "Texaco Star Theatre" (NBC- 
TV) is only as good as the acts 
guesting on it. Last Tuesday (3), a 
crackerjack roster of vaude stars 



lifted the hour-long session back to 
an entertainment peak. It was a 
fast and funny show driven pri- 
marily by a top team of comics Gil 
Lamb, Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis 
and emcee Morey Amsterdam; 
Sugar Chile" Robinson also deliv- 
ered a terrific turn with his pre- 
cocious pianistics and the two 
items supplied by vocalist Gracie 
Barrie and the acrobatic Emerald 
Sisters were not lightweight either 
But basically this was the comedy 
men's show. 

Flanked by two other funny men 
Amsterdam found it tough to shine' 
Mebbe it was because a lot of his 
gags had dust on them, but Am- 
sterdam was below his usual par 
Even then, he's still an amusing 
gent and knows how to handle any 
emcee chore with savvy. He can 
mugg, double-take and drop a fast 
ad lib with the best. It's about 
time, however, that Amsterdam 
parked that corny number, "I Want 
to Hang My Hat On a Tree in 
Brooklyn," in Prospect Park Lake. 

Every show, supposedly, is 
allowed an occasional slump. Ed 
Sullivan's "Toast of the Town" 
took its tumble from its usual high 
standards with its Aug. 8 display. 
In this showcasing, the producers 
seem to have forgotten the already 
established precept of having the 
turn extract the meat of their 
act for video presentation. For 
example, a dance turn lasting 10 
minutes or so can hardly be ex- 
pected to hold complete attention 
for its duration, especially since 
cameramen have yet to devise a 
means of photography to capture a 
broad sweep of action and subtlety 
of terp turns. 

There was a surplus of terping, 
considering that the Shoregord 
dancers, Joey Gilbert, a line and 
Jimmy Smith worked in • that 
category. 

The Shoregord Balinese troupe 
(4) handicapped themselves with a 
long exposition of exotic dance 
moods. Photography was such that 
the number of people participating 
in, the act was indefinite until the 
final frames and episodic nature of 
the act didn't make ..Us long run- 
ning time worthwhile. Smith tap- 
ping atop a vibraphone a la Will 
Mahoney, despite Sullivan's build- 
up as "something fresh" made a 



nice dent as did Joey Gilbert, from 
the Riviera nitery. ■ 

Singers presented an entirely 
different matter. Peggy Lee, doub- 
ling from the Paramount theatre, 
N.Y., provided the highspot with a 
well-delineated group. She looks 
excellent in closeup, although the 
full-length shots tended to harden 
her appearance. Miss Lee con- 
centrated on ballads which made 
for a high degree of audience 
satisfaction. 

The De Marco sisters (5) from 
the Fred Allen radio show, gave 
the act dept. a good sen doff with | 
their vigorous renditions of tunes 
arranged for them by Murray 
Kane. 

One of the session's failings was 
a strong comedy note. Jerry 
Bergen's fiddle routine failed to ' 
fill in that spot for a variety of 
reasons, one of them ; being that 
the photography made him look 
like an average sized gent, where- 
as he needs to project his diminu- 
tive stature to accent his particular 
brand of comedy. 

Al Kelly, the double-talker, had 
insufficient time to get started, 
thus depriving the setup of his 
comedy style. 

Sullivan, despite his progress in 
this medium, must still acquire the 
ability to warm up the stage for 
an act. His deliberate and formal 
mannerisms make it necessary for 
every act to start from scratch even 
if the previous turn gets off to a 
hot hand. 



CIRCLING THE KILOCYCLES 



Dallas — Ralph Widman has been 
named sports director for WFAA. 
He was formerly program director 
of KWBC, Fort Worth, and an- 
nouncer on KFJZ, Fort Worth. 
Widman will be heard in "Sports 
Review" three times weekly. 



San Antonio — Betty Bradford, 
whose hints and cooking tricks have 
been aired for the past 17 months 
over KTSA has switched to KABC 
and will be heard daily in a quar- 
ter-hour program under the same 
sponsorship of Pioneer Flour Mills. 



& PASO ANNOUNCERS 
TO VOTE ON AFRA STAND 

El Paso, Aug. 10. 

Elections to determine if the 
American Federation of Radio 
Artists should be designated as 
their collective bargaining agent, 
were authorized for the an- 
nouncers of the three local sta- 
tions in a ruling by the National 
Labor Relations Board. 

Principals in the case were 
KROD, owned and operated by 
Roderick Broadcasting Corp.; 
KELP, owned and operated by 
Paso Broadcasting Co., and KTSA, 
owned and operated by Tri-States 
Broadcasting Co., and AFRA. 

Election must be held within 
30 days by secret ballot, accord- 
ing to the decision under super- 
vision of the NLRB regional di- 
rector to ascertain if the em- 
ployes wished to be represented. 



Kansas City — Contract between 
AFRA and WDAF here has been 
renewed, with a raise of $6 a week 
for staff annouiai-irs, etc. WDAF 
is the local NBC affiliate. 



St. Louis — Robert S. Holcomb, 
account exec at KMOX, has been 
shifted to Director of Press Infor- 
mation, succeeding Walter K. Rott, 
resigned. Prior to joining KMOX 
Holcomb spent eight years in the 
St. Louis newspaper field. 



Pittsburgh — Jim Bellamy is the 
new manager of WPGH, succeed- 
ing George Young, who resigned. 
Bellamy comes here from WWSO 
in Springfield, O. Added to an- 
nouncing staff is Lew Stone, for- 
merly of WPIT. 



Sah Antonio — Newcomer to the 
sales staff of KTSA here is Archie 
Owens: 



Waco, Tex. — Curtis Matties, 
former chief continuity writer here 
for KWTX has resigned his posi- 
tion to become full time Instructor 
in the radio department here at 
Baylor University. He had been 
teaching part time. 



Schenectady — G. Emerson Mark- 
ham, manager of WGY, WGFM 
and WRGB, received the Reuben 
Brigham award for outstanding 
services to the nation's agriculture 
at a meeting of the American Ass'n 
of Agricultural College Editors, in 
Spokane, Wash. (4). 

Raleigh — Jack Hankins, asso- 
ciated for several years with WBBB 



and later with WFNS, both at Burl- 
ington, has been named general 
manager of WADE in Wadesboro. 



San Diego — San Diego Union 
and Tribune-Sun have inaugurated 
a radio column titled "Around the 
Dial," authored by Dorothy Ma- 
honey. She's an editorial staffer 
who got her start on the papers as 
a copygirl. 



K. C. Radio Council 
To Rate Kid Shows 
Via Parent Vox-Pop 

Kansas City, Aug. 10. 

Radio kid shows will be rated for 
benefit of parents and kiddies alike 
under a plan being inaugurated 
by the Kansas City Radio Coun- 
cil, group of radio station program 
execs and parent-teacher represen- 
tatives. The Council is now circu- 
lating a questionnaire to several 
hundred parents, listing current 
kid shows available in K.C., and 
asking parents to evaluate shows 
for young listeners, "a" being ex- 
cellent, "b" average, and "c" poor. 

Project is being carried out un- 
der direction of Dorothy Heider- 
stadt„ city library representative on 
the Council, and chairman of the 
committee on evaluation of radio 
programs for children. Council has 
made a deal with Bob Hoyland, 
radio editor of the Kansas City 
Star, who will list the recom- 
mended ("a") shows in his depart- 
ment once a month. Other shows 
will get no billing other than agate 
listings in regular radio columns, 
and will receive some official 
frowns from the parent groups and 
others. 

lian was evolved at a meeting 
of the Council last week, with Ann 
Hayes, chairman of the Council and 
KCMO's director of women's ac- 
tivities, in charge. 

Results of the poll now under 
way will be tabulated in time for 
publication early in September, 
probably Sept. 5, with monthly re- 



Radio Sales 
represents: 

KCBS 
{ WCDS-TV 

[New York 



Chicago 

WCAU-TV 

Philadelphia 

KNX 

Los Angeles 

WTOP 

Washington 

KMOX 

St. Louis 
wcco 

Minneapolis- 
St.Paul 

WEE! 

Boston 

Waw-wafm 
Birmingham 

TWA 

Richmond 

KSL 

Salt Lake City 
war 

Charlotte 

Columbia ' 
»a«hc 
Network 

Columbia 

, CALIFORNIA 

Network 




Go native 

and be happy 



m 



When you want the natives to go for your product, go 
native yourself. The warm and friendly backing of a popular 
local personality will talk more people into buying more of 
your product. . . faster. The most effective way to go native 
in your most important markets is on your Radio Sales 
represented stations. Best proof is that each week national 
spot advertisers sponsor close to six hundred local live talent 
broadcasts on the Radio Sales represented stations! 

Hadlo Stations Heprememtmttvm ... CBS 

Radio Sates 



56 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



Jocks, Jukes and Disks 

1 1 - '/i ' ' By Bernie Woods 1 



Major recording companies are floor— j-a-c-k." That's where this 

' reviewer fell off. Flipover is au 



thentic hillbilly from London, a 
corn piece that can earn its way on 
Keynotes assist on 



culling vast catalogs of material 
made in the late 30's and early 40's 
by name bands, which at that time 
ruled the recording roost, losing it its own level 
a few years back to name singers. ! both sides 
With the band business at a low 
ebb, in record sales and ballroom 
b.o;, the reissuing of bygone plat- 
ters may be able to do for it what 
it cannot do for itself, i.e., set up a 
hit which could, touch off new in- 
terest. 

Such an occurrence could do- 
more than that. It could straighten 
out the twisted musical approach 
to the b.o. currently being made 
by most good name maestros. 
Virtually all of the hits of the 

&'ifflyiSb^OTlt^ I Heath's arrangements of either of 
Simple meioay ana peal, even inose . ctanHiinlii s a rare put His 



Barclay Allen "Loch Lomond"- 
"Muchachita" (Capitol). Allen's 

nimble fingers paint a piano pic- j nned " $25 and sentenced to 30 days 
ture of both standards which jocks [ in the Lucas County Jail. At his 



Snag Toledo Disk Thief 

Toledo, O., Aug. 10, 
Record thefts that have baffled 
Toledo music store operators for 
the past six months were solved 
when police caught Stephan Ad- 
ams running from the United Mu- 
sic Co. with a dozen records last 
Thursday (5). All of the disks 
stolen during the past half-year 
vere from the same series of al- 
bums, "Songs of Our Times," hit 
tunes through the years from 1916 
to 1940. 

Adam-, pleaded guilty and was 



will find interesting as a smart 
change of pace. "Lomond" is a 
well-knit thought embellished by 
excellent guitar, alternately above, 
below and with Allen's keyboard- 
ing, "Muchachita" is juke stuff. 
Again Allen's didoes are brightly 
edged .by guitar and rhythm. 

Ted Heath "You Go to My 
Head" - "Dark Eyes" (London). 



home a stack of "Songs of Our 
Times" was piled beside ? pho- 
nograph. . 
The phonograph was broken. 



S fei b n^ S co^ TpotHghtinl 

Prison to the^-reKive^mate- Pete Chilvers' guitar, is a luscious 

SffiCvet- Wt n of f taring performed I in r. 

nnhlir it's comv BuUt ? s b o And ot the same calibre have turned out 
If on 'of ti^S^XtfT* recent,v -. Same goes for the flip- 
quite possible that, in view of the over, which plays up fine trumpet- 
way top name bandleaders^ follow £g * Sns 3 will fln^them 



the leader, a new trend in full-band 
music could result. 

Don't misunderstand, there's no 
feeling in this corner against "pro- 
gressive" music, so long as it's 
done wel/. Unfortunately, the 
majority of the product in recent 
years wasn't. And maestros who 
perform thusly must make up their 
minds whether they want to be 
musicians following an unsuccessr 
f ul trend, or business men, which is 
what thev are in the final analysis. 
A revival of an old hit might bring 
them back to the '41 starting point 
and start them progressing in a 
different direction. 

In the last few months, RCA- 
Vlctor, " Columbia, Decca, which 
hold the only heavy band catalogs, 
have been reissuing old Tommy 
Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Benny Good- 
man and Jimmy Dorsey, et al., 
disks. Qf course many are stand- 
ard pieces which have been con- 
sistently in demand and which 
aren't likely to create fresh in- 
terest. Many aren't as well known, 
however, and, bolstered by new 
releases, something could happen. 

Victor is trying, for example, 
with Tommy Dorsey. It holds a 
new release by him of which big 
things are expected. And a huge 
promotion campaign is being work- 
ed to push the disking of a tune I 
titled "Until," which Dorsey has 
held within his own music com- 
pany for several years. A nos- 
talaic-feel melody similar to his 
"I'll Never Smile Again" hit of 
1940, "Until" has the sort of punch 
to tie a rocket to T. D.'s recording 
kite. Done at a medium beat by 
the full band, with vocals by the 
combined C'ark Sisters, and Town 
Criers, and Harry Prine, it's a lush 
performance. Jukes and jocks 
should look into it ' immediately. 
It's strong! 

King Cole "Little Girl"-"Baby. 
Baby All the Time" (Capitol). Cole 
has had nothing going since the 
advent of "Nature Boy." Either of 
these sides are juke potentials. 
"Girl" the stronger. A standard. 
It's done at bright tempo, vocalled 
by Cole. "Baby" is more charac- 
teristic of him, a blues piece done 
slowly and basted by sharp guitar 
work. . 

Jack Lathrop and Drugstore 
Cowboys "Hair of Gold"-"You Call 
Everybody Darling" (Victor).' Lath- 
rop's version of "Hair." a rising 
pop, will run strongly in the b.o. 
race of the tune. "Darling" also 
hits the spot, though not quite as 
well done. Backed by harmonicas 
and the Drugstore Cowboys, a vocal 
group, both sides are commercially 
cut and jukes and jocks will find 
them in there. 

Dinah Shore "Buttons and 
Bows" - "Daddy-O" (Columbia). 
Dinah Shore doesn't often dip into 
the country corn, but she seems to 
have hit a tall, ripe one in "Bows." 
Ably aided by the Happy Valley 
Boys, she gives the cute melody 
and lyric a lilting once-over in- 
stantly remindful of her "Daviing 
Daughter" hit. It has what it takes 
to climb the jukes and jocks rat- 
ings. "Daddy-O," a blues hit, is 
also well done, benefiting from 
sparkling musical background. 

Anne Shelton-Sam Browne "Say 
Something Sweet to Your Stveet- 
heart"-"Law Is Comln' Fer Ya. 

• Paw" (London). An example of 
overdoing a very acceptable tune. 
"Say Something" has gooti melodic 
quality for the current-type song 
market, but whoever devised the 
Idea for those interpolations added 

• enough unintended laughs to ruin 
the disk. A medium-beat ballad, 
it transcends the interruptions un- 
til, following a romantic line, 
Browne slips in "you've got the 



valuable. For jocks who program 
instead of picking in the dark, both 
are musts. 

Platter Pointers 

Benny Goodman's Capitol issue 
of "Love Is Just Around the Cor- 
ner" and "Cherokee" is a musical 
ball for the clarinest-maestro and 
a small group. B.G.'s own Work 
mellows and shines brighter with 
the years, but, unfortunately a 
limited market awaits both these 
bright sides . . . Dave Dennis disk- 
ing Of "Judaline," from "A Date 
With Judy," is a rather heavy and 
stilted approach to a tune that 
needed a lighter touch; it's backed 
by "After All," both accompanied 
by Bob Farnon's orchestra . . . 
Al Donahue's "My Old Fashioned 
Gal" (Crystal Tone) has many 
good, points. It's a nostalgic-sound- 
ing melody with a good lyric, 
smoothly performed by the band at 
an even dance beat and sung well 
by Charlene Bartley and chorus. 
Jaye Pace sings the reverse. "I'll 
Always Have Memories of You." 



Jimmy Spitalny Hangs Up 
Baton; Comic 'Or Else' 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 10. 

Jimmy Spitalny, local band- 
leader and. son of vet Pitt radio 
maestro, Maurice Spitalny. has 
hung up his baton to embark on a 
career as a cafe comedy single. 
He broke in the act last week-end 
at Gray Wolf Tavern near Sharon, 
Pa., and is leaving for New York 
to work out of the big town. He'll 
get a helping hand in new career 
from Harry Squires, who manages 
uncle. Phil Spitalny. 

Last summer, Spitalny decided 
to try the Coast as an entertainer, 



Hilh'ard Resigns 
Mercury V.P. Post 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 

Jimmy Hilliard, Mercury Rec- 
ord's v.p. in charge of artists and 
repertoire, resigned last week. In 
the past year, following the amal- 
gamation with Keynote Records 
and the bringing in of John Ham- 
mond and David Hall on the artist 
end, Hilliard's recording duties be- 
came lighter. Also with Mitchell 
Miller taking over the New York 
cuttings and the A&R division 
moving to New York under the 
scheduling of Miller, Hilliard had 
little left to do. He was with Mer- 
cury almost three years. 

Peculiarly, Miller, who is a clas- 
sical oboe player, will have direct 
charge of the cutting of the "pop" 
sides, while Hammond will super- 
vise race recording. Hall will be on 
the classical end. Murray Nash, 
who recently brought numerous 
masters into Mercury, has the 
western and hillbilly post. 

Hilliard, second of the old guard 
at Mercury to leave, first being 
Berle Adams, chairman of the 
board until last year, will prob- 
ably go to the Coast this fall. 



inside Orchestras-Music 

rently Mends are making efforts anew to extricate him from his pres- 
ent situation in Riverside, Cal. Among them are Irene (Chappell) 
Gallagher Jack ; Hylton, et al. When Reg Connelly, longtime partner 
wfth Wm in the Campbell Connelly music firm, heard of it, the London 
music publisher observed: .. 
■ "One thing the music business needs is men of his calibre; 01 was it 
men of his calibre that made the music business what it is (or isn t) 
today!" Campbell has long since been out of the CC firm. 

Ace Hutkins has formed a crew around six of Artie Shaw's 1939-40 
sidemen using Shaw's old library Formation of the group is part of 
a hefty campaign to get Shaw back on the bandstand Bob Keene w 1 
front the 14-piece group and Penny Parker will handle the Vocals. Bill 
Anson KFWB disk jockey, and Don Otis, KLAC platter pusher will / 
plug the old Shaw records on their programs with the slogan Let s 
draft Shaw back " RCA- Victor will erect a Shaw record display at all 
band's bookings featuring the leader's big-time platter sellers which 
the band will play. MCA is setting dates for the group. 

Decca prexy Jack Kapp and the Andrews Sisters, accompanied by 
their manager, Lou Levy, sailed jointly on the same boat for London 
recently whereupon the disk company head took occasion to present 
them with a plaque for a five-time "Million Record Club" award. The 
numbers made by the sisters (four of them with Bing Crosby and all 
with their favorite Vic Schoen orchestral accompaniment) were "Pistol 
Packin' Mama," "Don't Fence Me In," "South America, Take It Away," 
"Jingle Bells" and "Rum and Coca-Cola." Latter was the only. disk by 
the Andrews' on their own. 



but gave up in couple of months, where. 



WOODY HERMAN IN 
RETURN TO GAC FOLD 

\jVbody Herman last week ended 
the quest by virtually all major 
band agencies for a management 
contract with him. He signed with 
General Artists Corp. during a 
meeting in Asbury Park, N. J., 
where he was working Convention 
Hall. Milt Krasny, GAC v.p. engi- 
neered the deal. 

Herman was originally with GAC 
1 for eight or nine years prior to his 
shift last year to Continental Art- 
ists. His CA pact expires Oct. 15, 
however, and, since Continental 
has been absorbed by Joe Glaser's 
Associated Booking, he moved else- 



Some five years ago songwriter Ida Shurman made an ingenious at- 
tempt to have a tune published by integrating the song into the plot 
of a mystery novel she wrote called "Death Beats the Band." While 
she says the book was "quite successful," publishers failed to show any 
interest in the number. However, a few weeks ago her patience was 
rewarded when the Boston Music Co. brought out her "The Scarecrow 
Man" for which she did both words and music. Miss Shurman, who 
studied at the Juilliard School of Music, last year also composed music' 
to Bert Lahr's lyrics for some specialty songs in "Burlesque." 

Alan Courtney, former New York disk jockey, opened an icecream 
parlor-restaurant in Freeport, L. I., a while back and is said to be doing 
well. Main gimmick of the spot, called Radio Restaurettc, js Courtney 
himself. He does a disk show from the place seven nights weekly, 10-11 
on WGGB, and he plays only recordings requested by customers in the 
place at the time they file requests. Between disks, Courtney speaks 
of the people who are. in his spot, giving names, etc., lending the 
whole operation the flavor of a small town newspaper on the air. 



Independent record labels on the Coast have found that banks are 
turning a deaf ear to pleas for loans after being nicked by four bank- 
ruptcies within recent months. Waxeries can't get more than scrap 
value (5c per pound) on unsold pressings. Heavier blow came with the 
realization that the bottom has dropped out of pressing plant value. 
These, in high demand during the war years, now can raise but scrap 
metal value — about 8c per pound. ■ Operators could get about $1 -a 
pound on pressing machines up until last year. 



Herb Carlin, Chicago Civic Opera manager, says that any Chi dates 
played by Stan Kenton's orchestra would be played at the Opera 
House, contrary to the statement by Kenton on the Coast. Kenton 
said that Carlin would play him in another and since Carlin, as Civic 
Opera manager, couldn't take a promoter's cut since he is on salary. 

Carlin, however, might have Kenton for several out-of-town deals. 
He has set aside Oct. 9-10 for Kenton at the Civic Opera. 



Toledo Synd. Incorporates 
To Operate Dancehalls 

Toledo, Aug. 10. 
Interstate Amusements, Inc., head- 
ed by Stanley Jcchura of Toledo, 
has been incorporated with 500 
shares of no par value common 
stock to lease and operate race 
tracks, dance halls, and other 
amusement centers in Ohio and 
Michigan. 

Firm already operates the fair- 
grounds track at Adrian, Mich., for 
midget auto racing. 



SLIO Best Sellers on (m-to^™^, 



2. 



5. 

6. 
7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 



YOU CALL EVERYBODY DARLING (6) (Mayfair) % . . Al Trace Regent 

IT'S MAGIC (?) (Witmark) Haymes .... ...Decca :: 

I Dons Day Columbia 

.YOU CAN'T BE TRUE DEAR (18) (Biltmore). Crif/in-Wanne Rondo 

WOODY WOODPECKER SONG (11) (Leeds) ....{S ' ' Co }? m P f ia , 

[Mel Blanc-Sportsmen. . . .Capitol 

MAYBE YOU'LL BE THERE (3) (BVC) Gordon Jenkins Decca 

LOVE SOMEBODY (8) (Kramer-W.) D. Day B. Clark Columbia 

TREE IN MEADOW (2) (Shapiro-B) Margaret Whiting! Capitol 

MY HAPPINESS (13) (Blasco) ....... , . ; J^/pg^™ ' ' ' CaTol 

WM. TELL OVERTURE (10) (Tune Town) ,Spike Jones Victor 

LITTLE WHITE LIES (22) (BVC) J j?' cfc B«J»« • • • " D . ecca 

(Tommy Dorsey Victor 



Coming Up 



HAIR OF GOLD (Mellin) . Harmonicats , Universal 

LONG WAY FROM ST. LOUIS (Jewel) Ray McKinley Victor 

12TH. STREET RAG (Shapiro-B) Pee Wee Hunt. Capitol 

RUN, JOE, RUN (Preview) , . . . Louts Jordan ............ Decca 

PUT 'EM IN BOX (Remlck) King Cole Capitol 

CONFESS (Oxford) [Patti Page.: ...Mercury 

\ Jimmy Dorsey .... . M-G-M 

TEA LEAVES (Morris) J'f mil £? te ■ ■ ■ ■ ••• Columbia \ 

i Ella Fitzgerald Decca ' ' 

BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS (T. B. Harms) Art Mooney M-G-M 

BLUE SHADOWS (Santly-Joy) fling Crosby Decca 

' EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY (Sinatra) , [^ Tank Sinatra CoUmbia 

\ Peggy Lee Capitol 

X BABY DON'T BE MAD (Paramount) Frankie Laine Mercury 

J MAHARAJAH OF MAGIDOR (Mutual) Vaughn Monroe Victor 

[Figures in parentheses indicate number oj weeks song has been in the Top 10.1 



Arthur Godfrey Wins 
By Default in Suit Vs. 
Crown Over Old Disks 

Failure of the Crown Recording 
to defend a suit brought against it 
in N. Y. federal court by Arthur 
Godfrey resulted in a decision 
handed down last week by Federal 
Judge Sylvester J. Ryan awarding 
the radio comic an interlocutory 
decree. Plaintiff had charged that 
Crown failed to pay off on three 
recordings as well as a couple of 
masters he had handed the diskery 
under a 1947 deal. 

Under the decree Godfrey gets 
back all rights to his recordings, 
the deal is rescinded and Crown is 
enjoined from further use of the 
platters. In addition the wax firm 
was directed to make an accounting 
to Godfrey. Involved in the action 
were etchings of "Melancholy 
Baby." "Little Brown Jug," "When 
the Mountain Meets the Moon," 
"Blow the Man Down" and "Freck- 
les.". 



Des Moines Considers 
Jukebox Licensing Bill 

Des Moines, Aug. 5. 

Town is giving thought to licens- 
ing jukeboxes and "non-gambling" 
mechanical amusement devices. 
Proposed ordinance has been sub- 
mitted to the attorney-general's 
office for an opinion on its legality. 

Measure would ask $12 a year to 
the city for a jukebox and $15 for 
other machines. It is estimated the 
"take" would net the city $35,000 
annually. 

Measure would prohibit playing 
jukeboxes between midnight and 6 
a.m. and no coin-operated device of 
any kind could be installed within 
200 feet of a church, school or 
playground. Licensee also would 
be forbidden to permit any person 
less than 18 to operate any mechan- 
ical amusement device, defined as 
including "any ball or pin game 
marble game, mechanical baseball 
or football game, card game or 
game, of chance. 



Wednesday, Angust 11, 1948 



ASCAP Plans to Seek Modification 
Of Judge Leibell's Tough Decision 



The American Society of Com-* 
Authors and Publishers has 
£f£ yet planned further moves 
?n regard to the recent decision by 
wSSvlncent L. Leibell, in N. Y. 
jfSal court, which outlawed the 
JinMetv's collection of exhibition 
|° eS Last Wednesday (4), ASCAP's 
fcnard of directors, in a special 
Sne, named Robert W. Patter- 
fon former Secretary of War and 
current president of the N. Y. Bar 
Assn , as its leader and adviser on 
the deepest problem the Society 
has had to face in years. 

From now on, the case is Patter- 
son's baby. ASCAP will follow his 
recommendations. The ex -FDR 
cabinet member has gone on a 
brief vacation, taking with him all 
testimony, the decision, etc., rela- 
tive to the case. It's expected that 
upon his return ASCAP will know 
in which direction to head. Mean- 
while the N. Y. independent thea- 
tre exhibitors, whose suit vs. 
ASCAP brought about Justice 
Leibell's damaging decision, are 
said to be preparing an appeal in 
an attempt to have the court fix 
financial damages to them by 
ASCAP's pre-suit actions. (Leibell's 
decision flatly stated such damages 
were non-existent). 

Month to Digest 

Patterson figures to have at least 
one month to digest the angles of 
the suit and its result. Judge Lei- 
bell, is also away and isn't ex- 
pected to signature the injunction 
against ASCAP's collection of seat- 
taxes until mid-September. Before 
that time, ASCAP will seek to 
confer with Judge Leibell regard- 
ing a more favorable decree, on the 
theory that his decision was unus- 
ually far-reaching and could great- 
ly affect ASCAP's future. This is 
something that film producers, ra- 
dio, and many theatre operators 
would not like to happen since 
negotiating, thereafter, for music 
rights would be a burdensome 
headache, and would in the end 
involve much more money than it 
now consumes in being able to do 
business direct with the Society 
as a central clearing house. If 
Judge Leibell modifies his opinion, 
no appeal may Be necessary; other- 
Wise ASCAP will take it to the 
highest courts. 

While plans and counter-plans 
are being blueprinted, the music 
(Continued on page 42) 

B,0W Music BiO 



Landwehr Takes Over 
Ft/Worth Casino for 100G 

Ft. Worth, Aug. 10. 
In a $100,000 deal, ownership of 
the Lake Worth Casino here' passed 
last week to Joe E. Landwehr. 
Long a nitery operator, he built 
and formerly ran the Plantation 
Clubs in Dallas and Houston. 

Casino's sale does not include 
rights to the land which are re- 
tained by the city. Ownership 
shuffle resulted in Robert T. Smith, 
son of George (Casino) Smith, be- 
ing upped from assistant manager 
to manager. Elder Smith operated 
the ballroom since 1928. 




el 



Jonie Taps, Columbia Pictures 
executive and the film studio's mu- 
sic coordinator, returned to Holly- 
2M over 018 weekend with a 
J8O.000 music package for "Jolson 
5mgs Again," the forthcoming 
sequel to the Al Jolson biopic 
cycle. The music synchronization 
r%! or ' ,The JoI son Story" came 
to $120,000. 

There is a conditional clause 
anent the seat-tax in all the new 
?I mu ? 1 ^ 1 deals > in view of the 
anti-ASCAP decision by Judge 
L !?? L> Le »beU in N. Y. federal 
court last month, which can in- 
SSU 8 ? synchronization fees from 
83% to 100%, in the event the de- 
-«slon is upheld. 

_, 1 A **. e moment, this ruling is a 
SK for Broadcast Music, Inc. 
«m> no seat-tax policy. Re- 
wj" is that a number of indie film 
PPMucers have gone to BMI for 
iK? le music usages, since it 
P erf orming rights at the 

seat ta are no strings anent 



WIZELL, 



DAVIS TEAMUP; 
BMI BACKS NEW FIRM 

rin^ ray Wizel l. former profes- 
a n r^ mana 8er for Famous Music, 
so«.« Davis nave completed ne- 
umw 0a l, *W» Broadcast Music 
onpntLi w the former two have 
Im» urra y Wizell Music Co., 
hi'A [? m backing. Firm has 
sev«..i *? negotiating stage for 
tion S.» w ;? ks and with its comple- 
siHiJ; zeU Sot going immediately, 
Up offices In Davis* N. Y 
eMnS? rters - Da vis operates sev- 
vL^r. ASCAP and BMI firms. 
Ut&? s , ,mtia l t«ne will be one 
vS "I? 1 * Dreams," recorded by 
va «Snn Monroe for RCA-Victor. 



Tops of the Tops 

Retail Disk Seller 

"You Can't Be True, Dear" 

Retail Sheet Music Seller 

"My Happiness" 

"Most Requested" Disk 

"Love Somebody" 

Seller on Coin Machines 

"You Call Everybody Darling" 

British Best Seller 

"Galway Bay" 



D. C. BiU Would 
Make Bootlegging 
a Crime 



BMI Steps Into 
ASCAPTheatre 
Seat Tax Breach 



Broadcast Music last week 
stepped into the chaotic picture re- 
sulting from Federal Judge Vincent 
L. Leibell's decision that bars the 
American Society of Composers. 
Authors and Publishers from col- 
lecting a seat tax for the perform- 
ance of its music in films. In letters 
to the more important catalogs af- 
filiated with BMI, Sidney Kaye, 
executive v.p. and general counsel, 
urged such firms as Peer, E. B. 
Marks, Duchess and others to 
"make hay while the sun shines," 
i.e. seize the opportunity to for- 
mulate deals with Hollywood film 
producers for BMI music. 

BMI agrees wholeheartedly with 
Justice Leibell's decision that 
ASCAP acted illegally in demand- 
ing an exhibition performance fee 
on top of synchronization fees. 
BMI has from the start, it's pointed 
out in Kaye's letter, believed only 
in clearance at the source. And 
since Justice Leibell's decision has 
created a condition whereby neither 
ASCAP publishers nor writers are 
certain which faction has the right 
to dicker for synchronization, and 
are not selling music rights in the 
usual quantity to Hollywood until 
they do, Kaye points out the time 
is ripe for BMI affiliates to move 
in. He feels that BMI firms can 
at least achieve a more solid foot- 
hold in Hollywood despite the 
limited amount of music available 
through them in comparison to 
ASCAP pubs. Hollywood has and 
is using BMI music, but in small 
quantities. 

BMI asserts that since Justice 
Leibell's decision, it has been con 
tacted by at least three major 
Hollywood studios in search of 
suitable music for synchronization 
purposes, about which there is no 
argument over who has the right 
to license. No deals have been 
made. 



Washington, Aug. 10. 
One of the last bills introduced 
before Congress quit Saturday (7) 
was one that would make unlawful 
the pirating of phonograph records. 
Bill, hoppered'by Rep: King of Cal- 
ifornia, was sent to languish in the 
House judiciary committee. It 
will have to be reintroduced at next 
year's Congress if it's to get any- 
where. 

Measure says that "any person 
who willfully and for profit manu- 
factures, uses or sells any pirated 
recordings serving to reproduce 
mechanically a copyrighted musi- 
cal composition shall be guilty of 
a misdemeanor." Punishment is up 
to a year in jail and/or a fine of 
not less than $100 and not more 
than $1,000. Disks will be con- 
sidered pirated if they are un- 
authorized copies of a record man- 
ufactured by or for the copyright 
proprietor or by a person licensed 
by the copyright owner. 



Crew to Eng. to Cut 
Fresh Transcriptions 

Standard Transcriptions, one of 
the largest suppliers of recorded 
music to radio stations, will be 
first transcriber to send a crew to 
England for platterlng purposes, 
Harry Bluestone, production man- 
ager, Bob Callen, engineer, sail 
from New York Sept. 5, carrying 
tape recorder. They'll stay indefi- 
nitely, shipping back musio which 
will be dubbed onto master plat 
ters here. 

Standard, balked by Petrillo ban 
from disking here, has been hard- 
pressed to get new tunes, although 
som,e custom-made jobs have been 
ordered from Paris, Mexico City. 

Firm meanwhile has still re- 
ceived no opinion from NLRB that 
AFM ban is Illegal under section 
8B of Federal labor law as amend- 
ed by Taft-Hartley. Charge was 
filed May 13. As far as can be 
determined, this is the longest 
NLRB has waited before handing 
down opinion. Law "suggests" 
NLRB should give an opinion 
within 10 days after documented 
charges are presented. 



AFM Garifies Status of Bandsmen 
Who Sing, Act; Needn't Join AGVA 



Petrillo Stiff -Arms Can. 
Motilities Out of Union Job 

Toronto, Aug. 10. 
Canada's famed Mounties' band 
was forbidden to play at the Lib- 
eral Party convention to choose a 
new leader when James Petrillo, 
head of the American Federation 
of Musicians, stated that the red- 
coats were non-union and that 
other duly certified union musi- 
cians were available. 
Mounties were to have played at 
Liberal garden party Thursday 
(12) and, the following evening 
lead a torchlight parade. Petrillo 
decree forced convention officials 
to hire the Governor-General's 
Foot Guards for both events. 
Guards is a union band. 



L. A. Cracks Down 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 
Drive has been launched locally 
to track down disk counterfeiters 
flooding Los Angeles with press- 
ings of hijacked masters. Racket, 
disclosed by Variety three months 
ago, which originally duplicated 
indie hits, has now spread to spuri- 
ous copies of major platteries' best 
sellers. 

Counterfeiters have exact replica 
of labels of top firms. Joe Perry, 
of Decca, says 5,000 "Decca" plat- 
ters are now on market in this ter- 
ritory of waxings Decca hasn't even 
released yet. Bullet records also 
has been hit hard. Al Katz. Coast 
rep, says he knew of about 8,000 
copies of firm's big hit. "Near You," 
(Continued on page 42) 



Cap Hits Velvet In 
Post-Ban 



Capitol Records feels that it is 
one of the luckiest disk firms in 
existence because it has been con- 
sistent over the past two summers 
in coming up with surprise hits to 
help it over the summer's dog days. 
Last summer, for example, when 
few knew how close the newest 
major was to financial exhaustion, 
out of left field came the Jo Staf- 
ford-Red Ingle "Temptation" click, 
and Tex Williams' "Smoke, Smoke, 
Smoke." 

This year, when the company was 
in a much better financial condi- 
tion, but sales were sliced by the 
deepest slump in years, Cap latched 
on to Pee Wee Hunt's "12th Street 
Rag," Margaret Whiting's "Tree In 
a Meadow" and several harmonica- 
vocal items such as the Sports- 
men's "Woody Woodpecker," the 
Pied Pipers "My Happiness." All 
of the tunes that have supported 
Cap this summer, with the excep- 
tion of Hunt's, were cut after the 
disk ban. 



S.F.'s Blanco's Newest 
Mecca for Name Bands 

San Francisco Italian Restaurant 
— Blanco's — is the latest mecca for 
name bands in that town. Huge 
spot, which has used talent of 
various kinds for some time, last 
week bought Lionel Hampton's 
orchestra for two weeks, opening 
Sept. 1, with Cab Calloway to fol 
low. Hampton's coin is undisclosed, 
but it's big. 

Spot has also made Associated 
Booking, which handles Hampton, 
an offer for Billie Holliday. 



Decca No Longer 
Can Bolster Pop 
Issues Via World 



Decca Records gave up all rights 
to one of its sources of pop-record 
material when it sold its World 
Broadcasting subsidiary to Fred- 
eric Ziv last week for $1,500,000. 
World's deals with its artists, either 
maestros or singers, gave Decca 
the right to dub any desired tune 
from the World catalog for release 
as a pop Decca disk, through the 
simple expedient of paying scale to 
the musicians involved. Deal could 
apply, of course, 'only to name art- 
ists either under contract to Decca 
itself or unaffiliated elsewhere. 

Since the first of the year, when 
the American Federation of Musi- 
cians disk ban went into effect, 
Decca has made good use of the ex- 
tensive World fund of tunes. That 
Decca made fewer sides and spent 
less money on stocking itself with 
material before the ban, was partly 
due to the realization that the odds 
were in favor of its being able to 
draw from World a hit tune that 
hadn't been made for Decca's own 
stockpile. Here's how it worked: 
if,- for example, Russ Morgan, 
who's under contract to both Decca 
and World, cut a click tune for 
World that he didn't do for Decca 
and which had not been made for 
Decca by anyone else, Decca would 
dub Morgan's version from World's 
master, pay Morgan's men scale a 
second time, and release it on the 
Decca label. Morgan would be paid 
via his royalty deal with Decca. 

However, according to Ziv ex- 
ecutives, Decca relinquished all 
rights to World material when the 
firm was sold. Except for certain 
standard items, Decca is no longer 
able to bolster its pop issues with 
tunes made for World. 



♦ Whether bandleaders and/or 
their sidemen are musicians or 
actors on particular theatre or 
nitery dates is a question that for 
some time has aggravated the 
American Guild of Variety Artists 
and gotten it into squabbles with 
the American Federation of Musi- 
cians. Last week, however, • the 
AFM finalized the problem by cir- 
cularizing all agencies to the effect 
that AFM members who sing, 
dance, or tell stories in addition 
to their musician's chores, shall 
not become members of the vaude 
union "except with permission of 
the AFM." 

Agencies had been of the 
opinion, and so did many musi- 
cians, that an agreement existed 
between AGVA and the AFM un- 
der which musicians could be asked 
to join the former when their work 
encroached upon AGVA's terri- 
tory (there are many name leaders 
who do not play instruments, but 
who entertain in other ways, bring- 
ing them within the jurisdiction of 
the vaude organization. AFM flat- 
ly states that there had been an 
'understanding" with AGVA, but 
as of Aug. 5 the thin accord was 
severed, that no AFM member was 
to become an AGVAite. Door was 
left open, however, for unusual 
cases by that "except by permis- 
sion" phrase. 

AGVA as a rule "demanded that 
a maestro or sideman who was 
more a vaude-type artist than a 
musician, take out a "per job" card, 
at a $10 tap. Rarely, it's said, did 
AGVA insist upon full-year mem- 
bership. 

AFM's new stance will ease 
many headaches for agency book- 
ers and musicians. But they still 
are bothered occasionally by 
tangles with other unions, for ex- 
ample the American Federation of 
Radio Artists. Last year >( when 
Johnny Long's orchestra was set 
to do the Teen-Agers broadcast on 
NBC, AFRA insisted that every one 
of Long's men take out a full AFRA 
membership. Demand was based 
upon the fact that Long's arrange- 
ments called for choral work by his 
sidemen. Each was asked to get up 
$56 for an AFRA card though the 
band was to play only two shows. 
They refused and a tangle resulted 
in which the AFM took a heavy 
hand before the case was settled. 



Indie and Major Label 
Prices to Clear Stock 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 

Chicago record retailers have 
started to unload pop stock in 
wholesale fashion at cut rates. 
Under the guise of mid-year 
clearances and the "demonstrators' 
tag, stores are slashing prices of 
not only indie labels but majors 
product as well, with reductions 
ranging from 30 to 50%. Out of 
six large retail outlets in the Loop 
only one has refrained from join 
ing the mark-down rush. 

Another device for getting 
around manufacturers' price levels 
is to offer the records as survivors 
from broken albums. Majority of 
the disks are selling at 45c. to 50c. 
and in some instances off brands 
are being packaged at three for 
90c. 

Some of the outlets are buying 
up platters from either distribs- 
who are in need of immediate cash 
or stores in other towns that have 
given up the ghost in recent 
months. Manufacturers can't crack 
down on the price-cutting of such 
wares since these buys are not gov- 
erned by price-level pacts. At 
least, that's what the quick-turn- 
over element figures. 



Barton in Bid To 
Dust Off Shingle 

Ben Barton is making an attempt 
to straighten out the tangled finan- 
cial affairs of his Barton Music, 
retain ownership of the firm and 
put it back into operation. Publish- 
ing house lapsed into a financial 
hole late last year, and Barton at 
that time flew to the Coast and 
remained there, leaving with at- 
torneys the task of trying to dis- 
pose of the company and satisfy 
creditors. 

Barton returned east last week 
and immediately began legal hud- 
dles to untangle the mess. He says 
that he and Hank Sanicola, a part- 
ner, intend to put some of their 
own money back into the firm, and 
that a third man, whose identity 
is undisclosed, will put up more. 
They hope to pay off preferred 
creditors (all songwriters owed 
royalties) more than 75c. on the 
dollar, and general creditors at bet- 
ter than 25c. on the dollar. 

If the plan goes through, Barton 
will reactivate the publishing firm 
on a smaller scale than it operated 
during and following the period 
when Frank Sinatra was an active 
third partner. 



LAINE, DAMONE RENEW 
MERCURY DISK PACTS 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 

Frankie Laine and Vic Damone 
last week pacted new three year 
deals with Mercury Records. New 
agreement calls for minimum of 12 
sides each year, but Laine will not 
start his until after the recording 
ban is lifted, as he refuses to dub 
vocals to English backgrounds. He 
will record only with his accom- 
panist and arranger, Carl Fischer, 
who falls under the union ban. 

Damone is set for some sides 
this fall with overseas backgrounds, 



38 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



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Wednesday, AuguBt 11, 194& 



Duke's Click Cited 1 
Proof Europe Is 
Still Jazz-Happy 

Jack Robbins, the music pub- 
lisher, who just returned from an 
extensive British," French and 
Belgian tour with Duke Ellington, 
is authority for the observations 
that American jazz, more than ever, 
is one of the greatest international 
goodwill-cementers left in this 
troubled world. Ellington's click, 
traveling only with a rhythm trio 
of guitar; bass and drums, recruited 
in London, mopped up in concert, 
playing almost two hours in mam- 
moth auditoriums. Scales ran as 
high as $7 top. 

Forfended by British musicians 
union regulations from importing 
his U. S. band, Ellington went to 
the London Palladium as a piano 
solo act. He was, .naturally, some- 
what of a disappointment to the 
effete Londoners who remembered 
his full orchestra from its last tour 
in 1933, but none the less he fared 
fairly well in the ace variety 
theatre. 

Ellington, however, really found 
himself in concert, especially since 
augmented by the rhythm trio. In 
the lesser cities of England and 
Scotland, in Paris, Brussels, Ant- 
werp, Zurich and Geneva he was 
an extraordinary click. t 

Robbins saw how the Europeans 
*were jazz-crazy; that small rhythm 
bands— authentic jazz exponents — 
have a huge b.o. potential abroad. 
They can take out 50% of their 
money.. In the case of Ellington 
he got $7,500-$8,500 guarantees 
and cleared $5,000 for himself; he 
has a pre-war corporation setup 
and under that operation the Wil- 
liam Morris agency expedited the 
getting-out of his money in U. S. 
dollars. - 

Apart from the boxoffice aspect, 
Robbins felt that Yankee jazz was 
perhaps even better than the Mar- 
shall plan to cement international 
relations. 

Like Latin Tempos Too 

The paradox to this jazz vogue 
is the strange yen by the British 
and Continental dancing crowd 
for the Latin dances. They're not 
quite sure of the rhumba, samba, 
etc., but are keen to try it and 
seemingly favor it strongly. Rob- 
bins predicts its upsurge to parallel 
that of the U, S. 

-The music publisher heads for 
Hollywood tomorrow (Thurs.) with 
_W? wife to visit their son who is a 
~«CLA student. It's Robbins' fust 
COast trip on business in 10 years. 
In the time he was allied with 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



S9 



RETAIL SHEET BEST SELLERS 



PtRlZIETY 



Survey of retail sheet music 
sales, based on reports obtained 
Jrom leading stores in 12 cities, 
and showing co?nparath>e sales 
rating for this and last week. 



National 
Rating 

This Last 
wk. wk. 



Week Ending 
Aug. 7 



Title and Publisher 



•3 I W 



T 
O 
T 
A 
L 

P 

O 
I 

N 
T 

S 



1 


2 


"My Happiness" (Blasco) 


4 


1 


1 


4 


1 


2 


8 


2 


2 


2 


1 


2 


102 


2 


1 


"You Can't Be True" (Biltmore) 


7 


4 


2 


1 


2 


1 


1 




1 


1 


2 


3 


96 


3 


4 


"Tree in the Meadow" (Shapiro-B) 


3 


3 


4 


3 


4 


5 


2 


1 


5 


4 


3 


7 


88 


4 


5 


"Its Magic" (Witmark). 


1 


5 


3 


2 


3 


4 


7 


8 


6 




4 


8 


76 


5 


3 


"Woody Woodpecker" (Leeds) 


2 


G 




5 


5 


6 


5 


7 


3 


3 


6. 


1 


72 


6 


7 


"You Call Darling" (Mayfair).. . . 


6 


2 








3 


4 


5 


4 


10 


5 


4 


55 


7 


6 


"Little White Lies" (BVC) 


5 




7 


6 


7 


7 






. 7 


7 


7 


5 


41 


8 


9 


"Love Somebody" (Kramer-W) . . 




7 


6 


8 












6 


10 


6 


23 


9 


u 


"Maybe You'll Be There" (BVC) . . 






5 










3 


9 








16 


10 




"Put 'Em in a Box" (Remick) 








7 


6 






9 






8 




14 


11 • 




"Tea Leaves" (Morris) 








9 






3 












10 


12 




"It Only Happens" (Berlin) 


10 












10 


4 










9 


13 


8 


"Toolie Oolie Doolie" (C.K.Harris) 














9 




8 




9 


10 


8 


14A 




"If I Live to Be a 100" (General) . 














6 












5 


14B 




"Blue Bird Happiness" (T.B.Harms) 
















6 










5 



Metro he chose not to go west of 
the Rockies. 

Heitor Villa-Lobos, the Brazilian 
composer, is represented by J. J. 
Robbins & Sons, on a 50-50 "basis 
via a subsidiary corporation. Villa- 
Lcbos composed "Magdalena," 
operetta currently at the Los 
Angeles Philharmonic Auditorium, 
and slated for a Broadway try in 
the fall. Under Robbins' contract 
to publish 100 pages of his music — 
j this would mean around 25-33 com- 
! positions — there are four songs in 
j the score which he'll probably 
bring out. Louis Lurie, the San 
Francisco financier, incidentally, is 
said to' be the heaviest angel, back- 
ing the costly "Magdalena" op- 
eretta. 



Southern s Longhair Div. 

Southern Music is moving into 
the classical field with a depart- 
ment set up under supervision of 
Wladimir Lakond, former promo- 
tion director for Marks Music's 
j standard dept. Under arrangements 
already completed, Southern will 
! act as the sole agency in the west- 
; ern hemisphere for Liber-South- 
; ern, Ltd., London; Enoch & Cie, 
! Paris; Irmaos Vitale, Rio de 
i Janeiro, and Wagner & Levien of 
i Mexico City. 

I Negotiations to represent still 
other firms are in progress. 



Bands at Hotel B.O.'s 

— Covert To«nl 

_ ' ITeekn Past Corer» 

"»"* . Hotel Played Wet* On n«t» 

Freddy Martin Waldorf (400; $2) 0 1,700 1.700 

Stitch Henderson. . Pennsylvania (500; Sl-$1.50). . . . 5 1,300 6.325 

Bemie.Cummins* . New Yorker (400; $1-$1.50).... 1 1.075 +1.750 

Oick Jurgens Astor (700; $>$1.50) 4 2,700 11,150 

* New Yorker, ice show. tOnc week and three days. 



Chicago 

George Olscn (Beachwalk, Edgewater' Beach; $1.50-$2.50 min.). Cool 
Weather and rain cut. draw but still okay at 9.000. 
B«»ny Strong (Boulevard Room, Stevens, 650, $3:50 min., $1 cover). 
J" 8 inventions; off to 3.000. 

Floria ZaBach (Empire Room. Palmer House, 550, $3.50 min., $1 
.cover). Still in payoff groove with 3.200. 

^ v Lo» Angele* 

ta «*** Fields, Frankic Lain* (Ambassador; 900; $1 50-S2). Top 3500 
J«* «arber (Biltmore; 900; $1-$1.50). Steady 2,700 covers. 



'Rum' Suit Nod Stayed 
By N.Y. Judge Pending 
Circuit Court Appeal 

A stay of all proceedings in con- 
nection with an infringement suit 
won by Maurice Baron against 
Feist and a trio of writers was 
granted in N. Y. federal court last 
week by Federal Judge Simon H. 
Rifkind, providing the defendants 
post a $50,000 bond. Baron, who 
controls a West Indian tune, 
"L'Annee Passee," charged that 
the music of "Rum and Coca-Cola," 
published by Feist and written by 
Morey Amsterdam, Paul Baron and 
Jeri Sullivan, was lifted from his 
song. 

Feist and the writers had sought 
the stay pending determination of 
an appeal to the U. S. Circuit Court 
of Appeals. Baron's attorney 
argued that the defendants should 
put up a $250,000, bond contend- 
ing that the amount due Baron 
would exceed that figure upon an 
accounting. Previously a special 
master had been directed to com- 
pile "Rum's" earnings which go 
back to 1943, -date of the song's 
copyright. 



Pitt's Femme Spinner 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 10. 

A local model, Patricia Harring- 
ton, is the town's newest disk' 
jockey. She's spinning platters 30 
minutes every Saturday afternoon 
over WKJF, exclusive FM station 
which went on the air here for the 
first time last week. 

Lee Phillips manages the FM 
operation. 



MPCENixesRH 
Rating as Pitch 
For Payola Evil 

Music Publishers Contact Em- 
ployes Union last week wired all 
music publishers and trade papers 
to the effect that it does not ap- 
prove of the "RH Logging Sheet" 
devised by maestro Richard . Him- 
ber. 

Bob Miller, head of the MPCE, 
is of the opinion that Himber's 
sheet will bring about a resump- 
tion of the payola evil since it com- 
piles results in numerical order 
instead of in ' alphabetical order, 
which was the original reason for 
shifting official attention to Dr. 
Peatman's measurement sheet. 

In response to Miller's objection, 
Himber plans to alter his sheet to 
make the payola evil difficult to 
make inroads. It's his intention to 
widen the spread of points earned 
by song performances on sustain- 
ing remote band shots and network 
commercials. Where he'll give one 
point for the former, he figures to 
credit 12 points for the commer- 
cial. Himber is of the opinion that 
such a wide credit rating between 
the two types of shows will force 
publishers to aim for the network 
sponsored plug rather than pay for 
a flock of band remote perform- 
ances to achieve the same totals, 
thereby minimizing the possibility 
of adding fuel to the ever-raging 
payola fire. 

So far, there has been no serious 
opposition from music" publishers 
to Himber's sheet. Most have ex- 
pressed themselves as feeling that 
it's a fair measurement method 
that lets the publisher know where 
and how he can pile up points 
enough to get on the sheet — if he 
can get the plugs. 



Songs with Largest Radio Audience i 

The top 30 songs of the week based on the copyrighted Audi- ' ; 
■ ' ence Coverage Index Survey of Popular Music Broadcast Over . ■ 
. ', Radio Networks, Published by the Office of Research, Inc., Dr. • ; 
'• John G. Peatman, Director. 

Survey Week of July 30-August 5, 1948 * 



AFM Mobilizes Action To 
Fight 20% Nitery Tax 

American Federation of Musi- 
cians last week followed up on the 
resolution made at the "union's re- 
cent convention at Asbury Park, 
N. J.. conserninfe a putsch to elim- 
inate or reduce the 20% nitery tax. 
AFM comniuniqued all locals and 
their members to write and urge 
friends, relatives, etc., to petition 
their Congressmen for action 
against the tax. 

In making its move, the AFM is 
acting in concert with the AFL, Na- 
tional Hotel Men's Assn., and many 
other labor unions. 



A Boy From Texas 

A Fella With an Umbrella— f "Easter Parade" 

A Tree In the Meadow 

Baby Don't Be Mad at Me .•..;..„.. 

Beyond the Sea 

Blue Bird of Happiness .'. 

Blue Shadows On the Trail— -""Melody Time" 

Chillicothe, Ohio '.' 

Confess . . . : 

Dolores 

Ev'ry Day I Love You — < "Two Guys From Texas" . . 

Haunted Heart— *"Inside U.S.A." 

Only Happens Dance With You— f'Easter Parade" 

It's Magic — i "Romance On High Seas" 

It's You Or No One — '"'Romance On High Seas".. 

Just For Now 

Little Girl 

Little White Lies • '. 

Love Somebody , 

Maybe You'll Be There 

My Happiness 

P. S. I Love You 

Put 'Em In a Box— f'Romance On High Seas" 

Serenade (Music Played On a Jieaitstring) ....... 

Steppin' Out With My Baby— i "Easter Parade" .. . 

Tea Leaves 

When the Red Red Robin Comes Bobbin Along. . . . 

Woody Wopdpecker 1 

You Call Everybody Darling 

You Can't Be True Dear 



. Shapiro-B 
. Feist 
, Shapiro-B 
.Paramount 

Chappell 
.T. B. Harms 
, Santly-Joy 
. Mellin 
.Oxford 
. Famous 

Harms - 
. Williamson 
. Berlin 
. Witmark 
. Remick. 
. Advanced 

Leeds 
. BVC 
. Kramer-W 
. Triangle 
. Blasco 
. LaSalle 
. Remick . 
. Duchess 
. Berlin - 

.Morris 
.Bourne 
. Leeds 
. Mayfair 

Biltmore 



Location Jobs* Not in Hotels 

* (Chicago) 
imW* (Chez Parte, 500; $3.50 min.). Danny Thomas had ropes 

lii2» tSpivak <Aragon; $1-$1.15 adm.). Second and final week n.s.g. 

M§£ Jack Fina •» Tuesday (10). . , 

wi ^^««e,(Blackhawk, 500; $2.50 min.). Cornpiper still husking em 

at**?? Winstow (Trianon; $1-$1.15 adm. 
l **tWs Ballroom neat at 13,000. Lawrem 



), Final week ot long run 
Lawrence Welk followed. 



lyl 



(Los .Angeles) _ . 

W 84ch, Helen Forrest (Palladium B., Hollywood 5th wk.). Death- 



tffjj? Mastew (Ara*on B , Santa Monica, 4th wk,). Fair 6,500 



Best British Sheet Sellers 

' Week Ending Aug. 5) 
Aug. 6, 1948. 

Galway Bay Box & Cox 

Ballerina . . . Maurice 

Heartbreaker Leeds 

Woodv Woodpecker Leeds 

Four Leaf Clover F. D. & H. 

Time May Change. . . .Connelly 

Dream of Ohven Wright 

Golden Earrings Victoria 

Nature Boy Morris 

Tooiie Ooiie Doolie. Southern 

After All Cinephone 

Near You Wood 

Second 12 

Teresa Leeds 

Laroo Lilli Bolero Dash 

Million Tomorrows . Connelly 
Ought to be Society .. Kassner 

Serenade of Bells Morris 

Rambling Rose Dash 

Tree in Meadow Connelly 

Civilization Chappell 

Aching Heart Connelly 

You Can t be True Chappell 

Passing. Fancy Cinephone 

Echo Said No Wood 



The remaining 23 songs of the week, based on the copyrighted ■ ■ 
Audience Coverage Index Survey of Popular Music Broadcast ' ■ 
Over Radio Networlcs. Published by the Office of Research, Inc., > ■ 
Dr. John G. Peatman, Director. 

Baby Face Remick 

Better Luck Next Time^-t "Easter Parade" Feist 

Caramba It's the Samba Martin 

Cuanto Le Gusta Southern 

Delilah Encore *~ 

Don't Blame Me Warren 

Hair of Gold, Eyes of Blue Robert 

I Went Down To Virginia Jefferson 

I'd Love To Live In Loveland BVC 

It's a Most Unusual Day— f"A Date With Judy" Robbins 

It's So Peaceful in-the Country Regent 

Judaline— r' Date With Judy" Robbins 

Love Of My Life T. B. Harms 

Nobody But You .' Duchess 

On the Little Village Green Bourne 

Rambling Rose Laurel 

Rhode Island Is Famous For You— *"Inside U.S.A." . Crawford 

Take It Away Pemora 

Things I Love Campbell 

This Is the Moment Robbins 

We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye Words-Music 

You Walk By Cavalier 

Yours , Marks 

* Legit Musical, t FUmusical. 



40 



CIRCHES'raAS-MIJSIC 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



Decca's 50% Dip 
For 1st 6 Months 



Decca Records showed over a 
50% drop in its financial statement 
for the first six months of this year 
as against the same period last 
year. Company reported a net 
profit of $427,210 for the period 
ended June 30. Figure is unaudited 
and allowed for $26,840 in estimat- 
ed taxes. Net equalled 55c. pel- 
share for 776,650 holders of capital 
stock, as against the $1.14 per paid 
to the same number of sharehold- 
ers for the initial six months of '47. 

Net profit for the comparable pe- 
riod of last year totaled $889,150, 
and the comparison indicates how 
f . r the recording business has fall- 
en off in the past six months. Final 
six-month period of '47 had held 
and in many cases surpassed the 
ir.itial half of the year. Sales start- 
ed to slump in February and con- 
tinued downward ever since. A 
slight upturn has been noticed the 
past two weeks. 



Martin Sets BMI Deal 
For 2d Music Pub House 
On Radio Performances 

Freddy Martin last week com- 
pleted arrangements with Broad- 
cast Music under which he will es- 
trblish a second music publishing 
house, affiliated with the radio per- 
formance rights group. New outfit j 
is titled Fremart Music and is to 
be a fully active operation in com- 
parison to the Maestro Music op- 
eration, also. BMI, which Martin 
set up several years ago and which 
is now ina-,tive. 

Martin has an American Society 
of Composers, Authors and Pub- 
lishers firm, called Martin Music, 
which is now fairly inactive. It 
followed the original BMI Maestro 
firm into existence several years 
ago. 

Martin finalized arrangements 
for the new firm when he came 
into New York to open with his 
band at the Waldorf hotel Thurs- 
day (5). 



Featured In M-G-ST* 
, "BIG CITY" 

DON'T 
BLAME 
ME 

Music by . . . 
JIMMY MeHUGH 

ROBBINS 



RETAIL DISK BEST SELLERS 



i 
































Survey of retail disk best 
sellers, based on reports ob- 
tained from leading stores in 
12 cities, and showing com- 
parative sales rating jor this 
and last week. 




P. 
o 

J3 

t/> 

o 

3 

S 


)n-Rosst 




jKansas City — (Jenkins Music Co.) 


enel's Mus. Shop' 


(Sherman-Clay) 


Music Co.) 


Kresge Co.) 


an-Clay) 


on Leary) 


earson) 


roughs Co.) 


T 
O 
T 
A 


National Week Eltdlllfj 

Katin * Aug. 7 

This Last 

wk wk. Artist, Label, Title 




New York — (Lib 


to 

■a 

EC 
1 

i 

M 
a 

'£ 
o 


Detroit — <Grinn< 


Los Angeles — (D 


San Francisco — 


Boston — -(Boston 


co 
1 

(A 

'3 
o 
J 

•** 

CO 


Seattle — (Sherm. 


Minneapolis— (D 


Indianapolis — (P 


jcieveland — (Bur 


L 

P 
O 
I 

N 

I 

s 


1 


1 


K: GBIFFIN-J. WAYNE (Rondo) 
"You Can't Be True, Dear" 


2 




5 


2 


8 


1 


8 


4 


3 


3 


.« 




63 


2 


4 


PEE WEE HUNT (Capitol) 




9 


2 


1 






9 


7 


7 


4 


8 


7 


9 


47 


3 


6 


AL TRACE (Regent) 

"You Call Everybody Darling" . . . 


4 


1 








3 


10 


3 






1 




44 


4 


3 


D. DAY-B. CLARK (Columbia) 
"Love Somebody" 


7 


5 


4 


1 


4 


5 


9 


8 


10 








40 


5 


13 


DORIS DAY (Columbia) 
"Its Magic" 




1 


3 












9 


1 




4 




37 


6A 


7 


MEL BLANC-SPORTSMEN (Cap) 
"Woody Woodpecker" 




4 








2 




1 




9 


6 




33 


6B 


13 


ELLA FITZGERALD (Decca) 








2 




5 






2 


2 








33 


7 


2 


KAY KYSER (Columbia) 
"Woody Woodpecker" 




5 




8 


1 






3 




9 








29 


8A 


10 


JON-SONDRA STEELE (Damon) 


3 


3 




3 






2 












28 


8B 


5 


DICK HAYMES (Decca) 
"Little White Lies" 




10 






5 


9 


4 




5 


5 








28 


9 


9 


GORDON JENKINS (Decca) 
"Maybe You'll Be There" ... 




8 


6 










5 






4 


5 




27 


10 




PRIMA SCALA (London) 
"Underneath the Arches" ... 






7 










1 










1 


24 


11 


8 


SPIKE JONES (Victor) 
"William Tell Overture" ... . 








• * 






8 






8 


7 


3 


6 


23 


12 


19 


MARGARET WHITING (Capitol) 
"Tree in the Meadow" 








6 






6 




7 


6 


10 




20 


13 


15 


ART MOONEY (M-G-M) 






















5 


8 


4 


16 


14A 


16 


DICK IIAYMES (Decca) 
"Its Magic" 










4 






4 












14 


14B 


12 


VAUGHN MONROE (Victor) 














6 










2 




14 




























14C 


17 


VAUGHN MONROE (Victor) 








3 
















• • 


5 


14 


15 




SARAH VAUGHN (Musicraft) 








7 




2 
















13 


16 


14 


RAY McKINLEY (Victor) 
"You Came a Long Way" .... 








10 




1 
















11 


17 


16 


ANNE VINCENT (Mercury) 




















1 






10 


18A 




DORIS DAY (Columbia) 












7 








6 








9 


18B 




HARMONICATS (Universal) 


























2 


9 



18C 11 



PIED PIPERS (Capitol) 
"My Happiness"..- 



FIVE TOP 


i 

EMPEROR WAITZ 


2 

CLASSICS IN 


3 

SONG HITS Of OUR 


4 

MUSIC FOR 


ALBUMS 


Bing Crosby 


MODERN 


TIMES 


ROMANCING 


Frank Oe Vol 


(7 Albums) 


Paul Weston 


Decca 


Capitol 


Decca 


Capitol 



ALBUM NO. 3 
Al Jolson 

Decca 



Spitzer on Own 
As an Indie Pub 

Henry Spitzer has already start- 
ed work as an independent music 
publisher under the firm name 
Henry Spitzer Music Publishing 
Co., Inc.; a name he had difficulty 
getting rights to, incidentally, due 
to the registration of a similar 
name in another field. Spitzer has 
six current songs taken from Mor- 
ris Music, from which he resigned 
last week, ' i addition to assuming 
ownership of the Warock and 
Vogue catalogs in return for his 
10% stock share in Morris. 

Two of the six songs Spitzer will 
work on immediately. They are 
"Ain't Doin' Bad Doin' Nothin'," 
recorded by Bing Crosby, Sammy 
Kaye, Helen Forrest and Peggy 
Lee before the disk ban,' and "If 
I Could Be the Sweetheart of a 
Girl Like You," cut by Vaughn 
Monroe and Elliot Lawrence. "It's 
Raining Down in Sunshine Lane" 
comes up next. Spitzer is in the 
process of hiring a staff in Chicago 
and Hollywood. He Will take tem- 
porary offices in Morris' N. Y. suite. 

Edwin H. (Buddy) Morris gets 
into New York tomorrow (Thurs- 
day) to take over operation of his 
own firms from Spitzer, who was 
general manager. Morris remains 
east for a brief time, returns to 
the Coast and then plans tc bring 
his family back to N. Y. 



TD's 'Boogie' Paid 
. The Tab for Morris' 
Melrose Catalog Buy 

Tommy Dorsey's RCA-Victor re- 
cording of "Boogie Woogie" re- 
cently passed the 2,500,000 mark in 
sales and on it hangs an unusual 
story. Tune was in the Melrose 
catalog which Edwin H. (Buddy) 
Morris purchased some years back 
from George Simon. And the roy- 
alties from T. D. disking of the one 
song just about covered the coin 
Morris shelled out to buy the firm. 

Most of the sales on "B W" were 
at Victor's current 75c price. At 
2c per side royalty, Melrose col- 
lected between $40,000 and $50,- 
000 on the one disk alone and is in 
the position of having been handed 
the Melrose catalog virtually on a 
olatter. 



Sammy Kaye earned $4,400 by 
drawing 5,500 people into Hershey 
Park, Pa., Saturday (7). 



Lou Levy, Leeds Music head, 
picking up many new songs during 
stay in England. 



THANKS, GUYS AND GALS 

- FOR GIVING 

JUST FOR NOW" 

SUCH A FINE SEN DOFF 



Top Record Talent and TunesT—fl 




DICK REDMOND 

WHP-HARRISON 



James Deep in Heart 
Of Tex. State Fair Deal 

Harry James orchestra just about 
completed a deal via which his 
band will play the Texas State 
Fair, Dallas, in Octoher. In the 
event a price is worked out and he 
works the job, James' prospective 
one-night trip into the eastern ter- 
ritory will be delayed and restrict- 
ed. 

Music Corp of America's N. Y. 
office has been busy the past sev- 
eral weeks setting up a series of 
one-nighters to begin Oct. 16. Some 
contracts had' been written, but 
they'll be held in abeyance until 
the Fair deal is settled. 



The Nation's 
Biggest Request Song 

I'd Give 
A Million 
Tomorrows 

(For Just One Yesterday) 

OXFORD MUSIC CORPORATION 
1619 Broadway. New York 



Word* and Music by 

BEHNIE WAYNE 

and 

BEN RALEIGH 

YOU 

WALK BY 

( U AI.1KU MUSIC 
1619 lluny. Sew York 10 



a nmsten disc/ 



GEORGE PAXTON'S 



THIS IS THE MOMENT 



Smash Ballad Hit from 20th Century-fox's 
"THAT LADY IN ERMINE" 
Starring Self/ Grab,* and Dougfos Fairbanks, Jr. 
Produced and Directed in Technicolor by Ernst lubitscH 

UK-HI RECORD #10238 



MILLER MUSIC CORPORATION 



y^mWay, Angmt 11, 194» 



PftmEff 



MURRAY WIZELL 

MUSIC CO.. INC. 



MMYDffiAMS 



iWords and Music by JIMMY SHEARER 




VAUGHN MONROE 



and His ORCHESTRA 

^Scheduled for September Release) 



mm 



42 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



Conjecturing On 
That Decca Suit 



New York recording circles' 
buzzed last week with theories as 
to what caused the V. S. Govern- 
ment action vs. Decca Records, 
British Decca and Electrical Musi- 
cal Industries, charging conspiracy 
and disk cartel agreements. 

Meanwhile, E. R., (Ted) Lewis, 
British Decca head, now in N. Y., 
is noncommittal while Milton R. 
Rackmil, U.S. Decca executive y.p.y 
last week issued a statement which 
in part implied that Decca might 
be guilty and was "hopeful ... to 
adjust any allegedly restrictive 
practices which* upon fuller con- 
sideration, may be found to exist." 

Rackmil also vehemently denies 
a report from London that Jack 
Kapp, Decca prez now in Europe, 
is involved in any way with re- 
financing of British Decca. Latter 
firm is planning to expand its ex- 
porting of London label disks, 
which are made in Britain, but sold 
only in the U.S. and to do this 
must reallocate its materials, there- 
by lessening, production of British 
Dacca disks. Rackmil emphasizes 
tlfat Kapp could have had nothing 
to do with British Decca's refin- 
ancing plans. V.S. Decca and its 
English counterpart have had no 
relations of any kind since severing 
several years ago. 



4 RH' Logging System 

Richard Himber's new development in logging broadcast performances lists tunes in the survey, 
based on jour major network schedules. They are compiled on the basis of 1 point for sustaining mstru- 
'mental; 2 points for sustaining vocal; 2 for local commercial instrumental; 3 for local commercial vocal; 
4 for net commercial instrumental; 6, network commercial vocal. 

SURVEY FOR WEEK OF JULY 30-AUG. 5 

Loc. Loc. Netw. Netw. 
Comm. Comm. Comm. Comm. Total 



A Tree in the Meadow — Shapiro 



| Put 'Em In Box — i 



LONGHAIR DISK JOCK 
BOARDS KDKA, PITT 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 10. 

KDKA has decided to give stay- 
up late listeners longhair music on 
its platter programs, and as a re- 
sult has split up the Midnighters 
Club disk show Bill Brant has 
been jockeying for some time. 
Brant is losing Monday and Tues- 
day nights, which Jim Westover is 
taking over with classical records 
and commentary. Westover will air 
one hour, midnight to 1 a.m. 

Brant resumes Wednesday nights 
and continues through the week 
with popular platters for two hours, 
midnight to 2 a.m. 



'Romance on High Seas" 

— Remick. 



-f'Easter Parade" 
—Berlin . 



N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

- It's Magic— ."Romance on High Seas"— Witmark . . . N. Y. 
i . Chi. 

Cal. 
N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 
N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

• N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

• N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

• N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

• N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

Blue Shadows on Trail— 1 "Melody Time"— Santly . . N. Y. 

Chi. 



Only Happens Dance With You- 
Just for Now — Advance 



Little White Lies— BVC 

Baby Don't Be Mad — Paramount ... 
Bluebird of Happiness— T. B. Harms. 



RAMBLING 
ROSE 



■y JOE IURKE and 

joe McCarthy, jr. 
LAUREL MUSIC CO. 

- 1619 Broadway, New York 

TOMMY VALANDO 



Cal. 
N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

• N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

• N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

•N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 
. N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

• N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

• N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

• N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 
N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

• N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

• N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

. N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 
. N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

Rhode Island Famous for You— *"Inside U.S.A." N. Y. 

— Crawford . . Chi. 

Cal. 
N. Y. 
Chi. 
Cal. 

Confess— Oxford N. Y. 

Chi. 
Cal. 



Every Day I Love You— 1 "Two Guys From Texas" 

— Harms. 

. • * .***•' 
Dolores — Famous 

You Call Everybody Darlin'— Mayfair 

Woody Woodpecker 

Maybe You'll Be The^e— Triangle 

A Fella With Umbrella— f'Easter Parade"— Feist. 

Love Somebody— Kramer- W 

A Boy From Texas— Shapiro 

It's You or No One— 1 "Romance on "High Seas" 

. — Remick 

Take It Away — Pemora 

Nobody But You — Duchess 

When the Red Red Robin — Bourne 

My Happiness — Blasco 



Chillicotbe, Ohio— Mellin . 



If you can writ* the lyrics, 
Tcan writ* th* music. 
INTERESTED? 

Write Box 911, Variety, 154 W*«f 
46 Street, New York 19, N. Y. 



Sust. 
Instr. 
1 
4 
8 
2 
8 
15 
2 
4 
5 
3 
9 
7 
1 
0 
9 
4 
3 
10 
3 
2 
6 
2 
2 
3 
1 
1 
2 
4 
2 
16 
5'. 
9 
9 
0 
0 
5 
0 
0 
0 
2 
0 
5 
5 
3 
6 
0 
0 
0 
0 
1 
1 
0 
4 
7 
1 
4 
7 
0 
5 
1 
1 
0 
5 
2 
0 
1 
2 
2 
2 
4 
2 
10 
2 
0 
3 



Sust. 
Vocal 
10 
14 
13 
11 
8 
15 
10 
5 
13 
9 
2 
6 
4 
9 
12 
6 
5 
4 
6 
6 
9 
7 
5 
7 
11 
1 
7 
5 
4 
6 
9 
1 
4 
6 
0 
4 
2 
2 
9 
3 
3 
8 
7- 
2 
2 
7 
0 
0 
6 
3 
5 
5 
3 
2 
4 
0 
13 



Instr. 
0 
4 
0 
0 
4 
1 
0 
1 
0 
0 

1 

0 
0 

1 
1 

0 

1 
1 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0. 

0 

2 

0 



Vocal 
0 
1 
0 
0 
0 

1 

2 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

1 

0 
0 
0 

1 

0 
2 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 



Instr. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
1 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

1 

0 
0 
0 
0 



Vocal Points 
170 



0 



0 



5 
2 
5 

•7 
0 
2 
4 
1 
1 
4 
0 
1 
2 
1 
0 
3 
1 
1 
1 
2 

..1 
3 
0 
1 
1 
0 
2 
2 
0 
0 
1 
0 
0 

- 4 
1 
1 
4 
0 
1 
2 
1 
0 
2 
0 
0 
4 
0 
3 
3 
1 
0 
2 
0 
1 
0 
0 
0 

1 

0 

1 

3 
0 
2 
2 
0 
2 
4 
0 
0 
1 
0 
0 
" 2 
1 
1 



160 



109 



85 



82 



81 



80 



72 



66 



64 



62 



61 



6Q 



58 



58 



56 



54 



52 



52 



51 



Decca Plans Flock 
Of British Disks 

Decca Records expects to cut 
many more new disks in England 
than the ones made there two 
weeks ago by the Andrews Sisters. 
Trio all told is said to have done 
some 15 to 20 sides with British 
musical - background, in addition 
to the paired "You Call Every- 
body Darling" and "Underneath 
the Arches" which was released 
last week in the U. S. 

It's Decca's idea to secord in 
England every U. S. artist tied to 
a Decca contract who goes over- 
seas for a theatre, nitery or con- 
cert date. While it isn't admitted, 
it could be that these artists will 
deliberately seek booking abroad 
so as to be available for record- 
cutting with British musical back- 
ground. 

Decca had been among the fore- 
most major cfimpanies to plan to 
resume recording in the U." S. in 
the face of the American Federa- 
tion of Musicians disk ban. Its 
executives had been so aggravated 
with the rejection of a plan of- 
fered to AFM head James C. 
Petrillo by Decca prez Jack Kapp, 
that, along with certain other com- 
panies, it had been preparing to 
go ahead with recording, using 
U. S. musicians. Idea of expand- 
ing cutting operations in England,, 
however, probably has put a halt 
to the plan. 

LEEDS, COL. RECORDS ASK 
PEER SUIT DISMISSAL 

. Leeds Music and Columbia Rec- 
ords asked dismissal last week of 
a suit filed by Peer-International 
in N. Y. federal court charging in- 
fringement of its "Just Because" 
tune. Both Peer and Leeds own 
songs by the same title and when 
the lattev's copyright began a sales 
stir, via a Columbia recording by 
Frankie Yankovic, Peer started 
suit. 

Leeds and Columbia jointly as- 
sert in their answers and request 
for dismissal that the music of the 
melody is in the public domain; 
that under the three-year limitation 
law, Peer is barred from pushing 
the suit. 



50 



50 



50 



48 



47 



Bootleg Disks 

; Continued from page 37 



which got into circulation without 
the firm's imprimatur. 

Damon Records, Kaycee Odd 
label, last week dumped info on 
lacquer-legging into FBI laps. 
Great many counterfeits of firm's 
"My Happiness," by Jon and Son- 



MJUUJUU^3iJUUUJJU 

r HERBIE FIELDS^ 



and his 

Victor Recording Orchestra 

Now CLUB SILHOUETTE, Chicago 
Concluding August 12 
Hemming Theatre Tour • 

CHICAGO, CHICAGO 
Two Wtoks, Starting August 13 



1 



M 



dra Steele, are floating around. It's 
widely known that L. A. is the 
breeding ground for the racket. 
Many indie pressing plants existed 
here and. when business paled last 
winter, ?ome are known to have en- 
tered "legging" operations. Racket 
is also reported flourishing in 
Texas and around St. Louis. FBI, 
however, is said to have disowned 
responsibility for investigation, 
pointing out that the matter is one 
for Internal Revenue men, since 
the Treasury is the loser of excise 
taxes, which bootleggers naturally 
do not pay. 



man* g e m e n t — ASSOCIATED BOOKING CORP. 

JOE GLASER, Prti. 
745 Fifth Ave., New York 22 203 No. Wabash 
PL. 9-4600 Chicaq. 



ASCAP 

Continued Irom page 37 



industry is slowly coming out of 
the fog of indecision into which 
Justice Leibell tossed Hollywood's 
problem of buying synchronization 
rights for films now or soon to be 
in production. While- there has 
been no clear settlement whether 
publishers or writers will capture 
the right to dicker- with Hollywood 
for exhibition rights, Harry Fox, 
the pubs* agent and trustee in sync 
deals, is formulating a contract 
with Vif and when" clauses. Sync 
rights will carry the proviso that 
another sum will be added on top 
for exhibition rights in the event 
Judge Leibell's - decision 



DIRK CO I! ITEM Y NIKS: 

Khieojo's Famous Disc Jodtey) 



MKHUMI 




• Received' mora tolls lot this new smtsh than iny 
other song in ages! It's a natural!" 

LONDON RECORD #330 



MXDO.X Rf CORD: 



up. The exhib fee would be paid 
1 over to either publisher or writer, 
whichever is finally established as 
legal possessor of the exhibition 
right. 

Such a deal was made by Jonfe 
Taps with the Warner Bros, firms 
for music for the forthcoming Al 
Jolson picture. Taps bought sync 
rights to 12 WB tunes for $40,000 
and agreed, it's said, to pay an- 1 
other 40G for exhibition rights I 
when the issue is finalized. All told ! 
Taps spent $90,000 for music (see 
separate story) in the first large- 
scale sync buying since Judge 
Leibell's bombshell. 



A Sure SWEET Hit! v 

SAY SOMETHING 
SWEET TO YOUR 
SWEETHEART 

on LONDON RECORD #260 with 

THE LAW IS C0MIN' 
FER YA PAWS 

MILLS MUSIC, INC. 

1019 Broadway ■ New y«,,k if, 



a smmm .disc 



JO STAFFORD'S 



THIS IS THE MOMENT 



Smash tallad Hit from ?0fh Cenfury-Fox'j 
"THAT LADY {H ERMINE" 
Starring Betty Qrable and Doughs Fairbanks, Jr. 
Produced and Dtrecfed in Technicolor by Etnst lubifscfi 

CAPITOL RECORD #15139 



miller music corporation : ;.;.;/:;:"• .\ 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



P^RIETY 



VAUDEVILLE 



43 



AGVA Nixes Benefits Where 
Everybody But Talent Is Paid 



Ban on free acts for any affair in* 
wliich everybody, but performers 
are paid is due to be enacted at a 
Theatre Authority meeting slajed 
fcr tomorrow (Thurs.) in New York. 
American Guild of Variety Artists 
rep to TA. Henry Dunn, has de- 
clared that he'll move to outlaw all 
benefits. If ukase isn't adopted 
then he'll urge the incoming AGVA 
board, to be elected in September, 
to create an AGVA setup to 
operate independently of TA. 

Union during its recent conven- 
tion empowered its representative 
to TA to withdraw permission for 
performers to work affairs where 
stagehands, musicians, caterers, 
hall rentals, etc., are paid. 

Dunn declared that only one ex- 
ception will be allowed. He said 
that performers will be allowed to 
work at affairs where beneficiary 
provides aid to actors. He said 
that a tubercular institution or 
other tyoe hospitals which make 
provision to care for needy actors 
will get acts gratis. , 

Question of banning benefits has 
been a subject of discussion for 
many years. General run of actors 
are said to be in favor of eliminat- 
ing free shows, but nonetheless 
work them because of outside pres- 
sure. The issue was raised some- 
time ago by Lou Walters, operator 
of the Latin Quarter, N. %, who at 
the union's recent convention 
urged that benefits be banned. 
May Imperil TA 

Should AGVA create its own 
hoard to handle benefits, it's likely 
that such action will mean the end 
of Theatre Authority inasmuch as 
variety performers provide the 
bulk of talent appearing at the 
free shows. 

AGVA for sometime has been 
forbidding actors to appear at 
luncheons, dinners, etc., over which 
TA has no jurisdiction. This week, 
Milton Berle, Jackie. Miles and 
Gracie Barrie appeared gratis at a 
wedding of the daughter of a ticket 
broker. All of them were warned 
that should they again- appear at 
any affair without AGVA sanction, 
they would be fined. 



Breen, Safian Take Oyer 
Ron Hoi Club, Canton, 0. 

Canton, O., Aug. 10. 
Michael Breen, brother and man- 
ager of Bobby Breen, singer, and 
William Safian, have taken over 
management of the Ron Roi Supper 
Club which they'll reopen on Sept. 
23. They plan name talent 
policy. 

Deal involves $125,000, including 
$10,000 for remodeling of club 
opened in 1947 by. Jack and Ann 
Heller. Latter retain ownership, 

Earle^PhihYSets 
Back Vaude Bills 

Deal for a road company "Stop 
the Music" is still to be set for 
the Earle, Philadelphia. Originally 
set to open the house Aug. 27, af- 
ter a two year absence of vaude- 
ville, preem has now been delayed 
until mid-September because of 
the inability to get a company 
ready in time. 

There's been some difficulty in 
getting the deal set because of 
inability to set a price and per- 
centages. Because of the give- 
aways with $5,000 in the initial 
jackpot, show price is higher than 
that of the usual stageshow. 

There's been some talk that if a 
satisfactory deal is reached for 
the Philly Warner outlet, the show 
may go to the Earle, Washing- 
ton, which also dropped stage- 
shows several years ago. Should 
the deal extend to the Stanley, 
Pittsburgh, the Warner vaude cir- 
cuit will reach the same amount 
of playing time it had before 
the war. 



Jack Carter into El Ranehe, Las 
Vegas, Sept. 29. 



Rep. Madden Makes Pitch 
For Lower Nitery Tax 

Washington, Aug. 10. 

Rep. Ray J. Madden (D., Indi- 
ana), warned Congress last week 
that cafe owners, musicians, and 
the public are showing "consider- 
able opposition" to the present 
high federal (20%) amusement tax. 

Madden inserted in the Congres- 
sional Record an artitcle from the 
Washington Daily News on how 
the tax- is hurting local cafe and 
restaurant business, nitery employ- 
ees, and "the man on the street." 

Walters Bid For 
Coast Nitery 

Hollywood, Aug. 10. 
• Decision is expected this week 
on Lou Walters' deal to take 
over Florentine Gardens nitery 
Frank Bruni operation collapsed 
several weeks ago with debts re- 
ported around the $100,000 mark. 

Walters, who headed back to 
New York after several days here, 
is understood to have made an 
offer for the property on a straight 
lease basis. Owners of the real 
property are mulling the proposi- 
tion, but reportedly are more in 
favor of a percentage lease if one 
can be obtained. Several locals also 
have evinced interest in the prop- 
erty, it's reported, and indications 
are that the spot will be reopened, 
under some management, in the 
not far distant future. 

If the deal for the Gardens 
boulevard nitery goes through, 
| Walters would again be partnered 
' with E. M. Loew, New England 
exhib, with whom he operates the 
NY Quarter. 

Three creditors filed a petition 
in bankruptcy against Florentine 
Gardens in L.A. Federal court, fol- 
lowing the general consignment of 
assent made by the nitery oper- 
ators to Ralph Meyer and Asso- 
ciates. 

Creditors are Dr. Louis E. Ben- 
som, claiming $9,260; Bodini, Ltd., 
i printers, $1,347, and Frances Ob- 
1 Ion, florist, $916. 



Lack of U.S. Names, Stiff Opposish Of 
Palladium, Cues Foldo of London Casino 



Revenuers Attach B.O. 
Of Chi Music Festival 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 

Internal Revenue department- 
last week attatched the receipts of 
the American Music Festival at 
Comiskey park. Performers were 
not paid and both the Musicians 
Union and AGVA are huddling 
with the Government in an effort 
to obtain payment of salaries. 

Government took over coin be- 
cause similar affairs held in De- 
troit and St. Louis in 1945 and '46 
had failed to turn in • admission 
tax money. 



N.Y. Latin Quarter 
Eyes Berle at 15G 

Top salary ever paid an act in a 
New York cafe has been offered 
Milton Berle by Lou Walters, op- 
erator of the Latin Quarter. Berle 
has been offered $15,000 to open 
at the LQ for three weeks starting 
Aug. 21. Deal is not yet signed, 
although no hifches are antici- 
pated. 

Berle will take the place of the 
Ted Lewis band which was slated 
for the slot. Maestro cancelled 
out in order to treat a stomach ail- 
ment. 

Until the Berle contract is actu- 
ally signed, the highest salary ever 
given in a N.Y. spot was $12,500, 
which the Ritz Bros, got at the 
Harem, N. Y., last season. Abbott 
and Costello will get same figure 
when they open at the Latin Quar- 
ter, Jan. 5. 

Last time Berle worked a N.Y. 
spot was at Nicky Blair's Carnival, 
where he got $7,500 plus 50% of 
the gross over $44,000. Many 
weeks he earned more than $10,000 
on that deal. 



" London, Aug. 10. 

Bernard Delfont is retiring from 
the operation of the Casino theatre 
here Oct. 16 because of inability to 
book a continuous flow of topflight 
attractions. Delfont, reportedly 
unable to compete with the top 
grade names imported by Val Par- 
nell's Palladium theatre, is said to 
have broken even on his 15-month 
operation. .. > 

He will still continue to import 
talent for his houses in the prov- 
inces, and- may return vaude to 
Casino later on. 

The house reverts annually to 
Emlle Littler, owner, for a season 
of pantomime around the Christ- 
mas holidays, 

Delfont has done generally well 
with American acts, at one tin\e 
having declared that he's never 
lost coin on an import from the 
U. S. *In recent months he's been 
consistently outbid for top attrac- 
tions by Parnell. Latter, who re- 
cently played Jack Benny, now has 
the Andrews Sisters and Dinah 
Shore and Betty Hutton to follow. 
Casino has been unable to get such 
stars. The last .major star to play 
the Casino was Harry Richman, 
who followed Sophie Tucker. Lat- 
ter racked up a record for the 
house. 

One of the more difficult prob- 
lems tied in with the Casino's los- 
ing top flight talent' to the Palla- 
dium is the high salaries being paid 
acts. The standard price for a sure- 
fire U. S. headliner is now $17,500. 
That price has been paid to Danny 
Kaye and Miss Hutton. Miss Shore 
is. getting $12,500 weekly. Tariffs 
of this type make it difficult for 
the operator to come out ahead in- 
asmuch as the London music halls 
have small seating capacity and do 
only two shows daily. They're 
sometimes able to - get in an extra . 
Saturday midnight show, but gen- 
erally must rely on doubling into 
concert halls to make any real 
profit on the transaction. 

Delfont is slated to come to the 
U. S. next month. There's a pos- 
sibility he may buy enough talent 





~~ -BERNARD DELFONT 

And His London Casino Staff 


My 


-HAROLD FIELDING 

And His Staff 
JACK OLIPHANT 

ROSE HEPNER V 
JACK M. RUBENS 
DICK HYMAN 


Sincere 


-THE FOSTER AGENCY . 

-THE WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY 


< 

Thanks 


-MY FRIENDS, ADMIRERS AND FANS 
-THE LONDON AND PROVINCIAL PRESS 

For the 10 most wonderful weeks 1 had in England 


To 


-JACK YELLEN and MAC MAURADA rck'^X. Jkti 

My Songwriters . 

Me Too— 


Appearing soon at CHEZ PAREE, Chicago (Opening Sept. 3) • LATIN QUARTER, New 
York (Opening Oct. 31) # THE BEACHCOMBER, Florida (Opening Jan. 20, 1949) , 



41 



VAIJBEV1UMK 



Wednesday, Aagttst 11, 1948 



Night flub Reviews 



» N.Y. Hotel Roofs 
(Waldorf. BUtmore, St. Regis) 

Freddy Martin Orch (17), fea- 
turing Merve Griffm, Gene Conk- 
lin. Reed Williams, Stan Wild and 
the Martin Men with Roger Spikcr 
at piano, plus Mischa, Borr's or- 
chestra at Waldorf-Astoria's Star- 
light Roof; Ruts Morgan's Orch 
(17) featv'iing. Al Jennings and 
Dolores, phis Harold Nagel's Orch 
at Vie Biitmbre's Cascades Roof; 
Milt Shaw- Orch (111 and Pepito 
Arvelo's relief band (6} at the St. 
Regis Roof; all $2 converts. 



Three cf the top New . York 
hostelries are in high with their 
roof garden seasons. All are fetch- 
ing environments, and in all the 
dansapation is the prime draw. 

Freddy Martin returns to New 
York after two years for the Star- 
light Roof season, following the 
Lombardos, and in turn he'll be 
followed by Jack Fina, ex-Martin 
.pianist now heading his own band. 
Fina wi'l close the Waldorf sum- 
mer season, and when the down- 
stairs Wedgwood Room • reopens, 
another returner-to-the-fold will be 
Eddy Duchin. The Wedgwood, in- 
cidentally, again becomes the class 
room of the Waldorf, displacing 



COMEDY MATERIAL 

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FUN-MASTER 

"lb* OftlGINAt StMw-aii G*g Fife" 

No*. 1 to 22 @ $1.00 Mdi 
S DIFFERENT ROOKS OF PARODIES 
(10 m ooch book) $10 par book 

frkk rorv or "husiok bij»«- 

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PAUIA SMITH 

«8» W. iith Stmt, New Vork It 





Now Apptariafj 

"KEN MURRAY'S 
BLACKOUTS OF 1948' 

El Caption Theatre 
Hollywood, Cal. 



! the Sert Room which, with its Sert 
panels, was a rather too severe 
environment. 

Martin, long a fixture at the Ho- 

:tel Ambassador's Coeoanut Grove, 
Los Angeles, is wJe on the nation- 
al networks, and his premiere 
night's draw reflected this. His 
full band comprises five brass, six 
reeds, five violins and the usual 
compliment of rhythm instru- 
mentation. The- maestro himself 
pitches in frequently on the sax; 
and featured are vocalists Merve 
Grifftn, Gene Conk) in (also a reed 
man), Reed Williams and Roger 
Spiker, an expert Steinwayist. Mar- 
tin's music is always melodious, 
which is very much in the current 
idiom, away from the wild jazzique. 
Mischa Borr, of course, is stand- 
ard here with his svelte terp incen- 
tives ranging from Latin Viennese 
tempo as well as a general versa- 
tility in other dance forms. 

Russ Morgan and his smooth 
band arj incumbent in The Cas- 
cades of the Biltmore, The room 
itself is one of New York's more 
historic roof garden spots, natu- 
rally cooled. The familiar water- 
falls back of and above the band- 
stand account for The Cascades 
nomenclature. His "Music in the 
Morgan manner" has always been 
an effective brand of . dansapation. 
Al Jennings and. Dolores are the 
featured vocalists, the latter a par- 
ticularly personable Latin - type 
songstress. Morgan's click will see 
him held over into the "downstairs 
B wma;i Room in the fall. Inci- 
dentally, the maestro did a good 
disk jockey job as one of Ted 
Husing's substitutes ■ on the WHN 
bandstand while Husing is abroad. 

The Josef Urban-decored Vien- 
nese Roof of the Hotel St. Regis 
maintains its perennial character 
and top standard. Just the dance 
music apparently is the only attrac- 
tion necessary. A reminder of the 
lush Mitchell Leisen-prbduced re- 
vues still lingers as the trick floor 
opens for the alternate Milt Shaw 
(11 > and Pepito Arvelo (6) orches- 
tras. The disappearing stage ef- 
fects, a la Pierre Sandrini's tech- 
nique at the Bal Tabarin, Paris, 
were utilized by.Leisen (the Para- 
mount producer-director who used 
to -take a flyer into staging the 
St. Regis' floorshows) to produce 
lush fashion numbers and prize 

i lookers. 

• Came the boom years and the 
1 St. Regis, like so many other spots, 
, found it did as well, and to better 
i net profit, without anything beyond 
j two good dance bands, hence the 
exit of the roof shows. Same thing 
i was essayed last year in the down- 
| stairs Iridium Room, dispensing 
j with the trademarked ice shows, 
I but compelled to reinstate lesser 
attractions to augment the dansapa- 



tion. There was also an abortive 
attempt at a strictly formal policy. 
That's one wartime holdover with 



Esquire, Montreal 

Montreal, Aug. 4. 
. Ciro Rimac & Co., Roger Doucct, 
which the bistros can il seem to Ej(p(irettes Artnmd Meetre Orch; 
cope, i.e., on a must-dress policy, miniltlum S1 =n 

although the inclination to evening j ™*»«*BW _ 

dress has been evident in recent. ciro Rimac tops new Esquire 

ye S rs 'i • r..„„„i '.show and keeps a packed house 

So far as an informal summer ■ high , an . u „y (nr nearly an hour 
roofgarden policy is concerned, "t each Mrfor man ce He Presents 
this hostelry remains one of the |.K i ^£ 1 JS5 ^ve^rtSoti'^CtaSue 
best buys in town for hot-evening, ^ v com ffi oS.™ ™ 



dining-dancing in a svelte environ- 
ment at a not too prohibitive scale. 

Withal, all three roofs constitute 
the cream of the current N. Y. crop 
in the fashionable east side hot 
weather retreats for the in-tovvners 
and tourists alike. Abel. 



Boy. Rubita, Gonzales sisters and 
Reinita. Each a specialty artist 
with plenty talent. 

Gonzales sisters kickoff with col- 
lection of pooches that run through 
a fast series of rope skipping, 
dancing and acrobatics. Top ca- 
nine is a terrier who remains aloof 
from the others till he gets his 
cue and then steals the show with 
some very fancy tumbling high- 
lighted by a back somersault. Gals 
are lookers and handle dogs neatly. 

Rubita takes the vocal spot with 
a very okay selection of current 

Again the plush walls bulge as I «"&?£^J^& 



El Morocco, Montreal 

Montreal, Aug. 4. 

Artie Dann, Sunny Skylar. The 
Kramers, Buddy Clarke Orch, 
Walley Wanger girls, Hal White 
Trio; minimum $Z. 



the Morocco comes through . with 
another sock revue, that is getting 
nice response from its clientele. 
Comedian Artie Dann returns after 
a smash two. week engagement last 
January, the Kramer family and 
their amazing dolls are also a re- 
pea\ with songwriter - vocalist 
Sunny Skylar topping off as the 
only new act. 

The Kramers, family trio, open 
with their eleven marionets to 



Reinita joins Carlie Boy for solid 
terping. Gal then teams up with 
Rimac for slick tango, samba and 
rliumba. Follow, with audience 
participation in which they put 
ringsiders through the paces of the 
rhumba for solid returns. 

Holdover from last show, Roger 
Deucet pipes average selection of 
pops and semi-classicals. Arm and 
Meetre's orch backgrounds capably. 
Routines by the Esquirettes line 



spark bill. Initialer is over-sized, | s Lffer m comparison to Rimac 

loose-limbed doll with heavy Latin i troupe. Newt. 

American overtones. Back on I 
elevated stage a magician takes 



over followed by a dusky warbler 
and a stripper who winds up as a 
skeleton. Stan Kramer returns for 



flub IVoretauu Toronto 

Toronto, Aug. 6. 
Elaine Barrett, Marian Callahan, 



impresnes of Jolson and other vo-' Stan Patton's orch (8), Gene Cor- 




enlists for additional plaudits. How- 
ever, it seems anti-climatic after 
sock doll manipulating. 

Dann runs through some very 
glib patter. Material is above aver- 
age and smart delivery makes old- 
ies seem new. Skylar breaks into 
act to heckle comic, which makes 
for additional fnn. 

Skylar on own wins applause for 
his vocals of his own tunes, "Amor, 
Amor","Besame Mucho" and "Wait- 
ing For the Train to Come In." 
An old routine to "De-Lovely" with 
Dann gathers yocks. 

Finale is top spot for Dann as he 
returns with his impresh of a gal 
making her vocal debut. Obvious 
but surefire self-effacement chatter 
featuring his over-hanging probos- 
cis and after many requests repeats 
his Stokowski number. Garbed in 
an oversized coat, atop soap box, 
comic directs the band in Stokow- 
ski manner through some spine 
chilling music. Much new business 
and good timing makes for terrific 
closer. 

With production running 90 
minutes the Wanger line,, is held 
to two routines from previous 
show. Buddy Clarke fronts band 
for the revue and dancing. Newt. 



day; cover $1.50 Mon.-Thurs., 
Fri.Sat. 



$2 



Ei.glish drawing room. Satire on 
"Nature Boy," and other skits are 
equally splid to register for a beg- 
off. 

Mart a Ann Rentley, attractive 
protege of the Harriett Hoctor 
school, clicks in her terp sesh. The 
rough floor doesn't help her more 
complicated routines but she man- 
ages two numbers, an American 
version of a-Russian folk dance and 
jive, number to "Stormy Weather" 
and "Temptation." 

Adia Kuznetzoff, returns with 
his fine oice and explanatory 
songs. Applause getters are the 
Gypsy songs, "J'attendrai" and 
sock arrangement of Mussorgsky's 
"The Fl a". 

Zina and Kola Labashanova re- 
store the wild colorful Russian 
terping that is synonymous with 
the Samovar. In solo slot. Zina 
does a wild Tartar dance and later 
returns with partner in two rather 
.similar routines. Their work has 
plenty of fire and authenticity. 
Coming here months ago as D.P.'s 
and working in different parts of 
tl- country team had little time to 
dance. Recently they resumed 
partnership under a capable di- 
rector. If they improve as rapidly 
as in the last few weeks, their 
future on the nitery circuit is 
assured. 

Traditional Russian finale is 
sparked by Kuznetzoff with Bill 
Skinner's music backgrounding 
production- nicely. ftfeipl. 



It's an all-femme layout at the 
Club Norman, with brunet Gene j 
Corday as in c. Stan Patton's orch 
backgrounds acts neatly. 

Headlining • Is Elaine Barrett, 
songstress, whose polished per- 
formance reflects her earlier ex- 
perience in eoncert work and mu- 
sical .comedy. Draped in a silver 
lame gown she tees off with "I 
Get a Kick Out of You" and then 
"How Deep Is the Ocean?" Follow- 
ing with a "Sweethearts" medley 
and "Is There a Latin in the 
House?" and "Granada" for solid 
response. 

! Personable soprano has good vol- 
ume and slick delivery. All of her 
numbers win, enthusiastic returns. 

Marian Callahan (New Acts) 
also scores with neat tapstering. 
On atmosphere and good food, 
Club Norman is still the top spot 
in town and getting the best play 
of patronage. McStay. 



Clover « Ink. Miami 

Miami, Aug. 7. 
Joaquin Garay, Leo Diamond, 
D'lvons, Aurora Roehe-Carlyle Dan- 
cers 17 >, Tony Lopez Orcli; mini- 
mitm $3. 



Samovar. Montreal 

Montreal, Aug. 5. 
Flefcher & Sheidy, Martha Ann 
Bentley, Aida Kuznetzoff, Zina & 
Kola Labaslionoua, Bill Skinner 
Orcli, Marcel Dore Trio; minimum 
$2. 



Most sophisticated and original 
comedy team to hit Montreal in 
many Tioons is Fletcher and 



JIMMIE 
HUSSON 

"Mr. Everybody" 

cwronriy 

• Henry Grady Hotel 
* Atlart«, fro. 

Management 
• PHIL OFFIN 

41* West 4*th St. 
New Xork City 



IT'S A RECORD! 

202nd Consecutive Week 
os M.C. of the 

EARL CARROLL THEATRE 
HOLLYWOOD 

BILLY RAYES 

Juggling Satirist 
M.C.A. Artists 



tstti -\ Fletcher n it a 

r^-tli^S^SLi^^^l 8 ^- Without resorting to Wue 
Coast performers who ye hit this mat< , ria1 fm . i a „„hs iaTu ,.^> 
town for a sock impression. What 
makes his impress the more au 



GEORGIE KAYE 

-Just concluded 5 weeks 
PARAMOUNT, NEW YORK 



Currently Appearing 

DELMONICO'S NSW YORK 

Diractietn GUfElAL ARTISTS CORrOftATKMt 



thoritative is the room he's show- 
cased in, with a mixed trade that 
is tougher to please in summer 
than during the season. 

The personable Californian gets 
them from walkon, and builds 
steadily with an adroit mixture of 
straight ballading and special com- 
edy songs, plus a lively, ingratiat- 
ing delivery that adds to value of 
stint all the way. Tees off with 
bouncy "Gay Ranchero" in Span- 
ish and English, changes pace with 
"Made For Each Other" then turns | 
on the comedies with *his version j 
of "Ferdinand the BuU." The i 
"gay"' biz inserted is smartly ban- 
died to eliminate any offensive ; 
overtones. Follows with a tribute 
to Jolson, to make for a zingy med- 
ley of tunes. Encores with zany i 
cowboy-reformer routine on j 
"Smoke, Smoke, Smoke" with some 
new lyrics to "Manana" interwoven. 

Supporting show is stout. The I 
D'lvons remind of the DeMarco 
patterns with their ballroomology. 
Work in graceful easy style in fox- 
trot, samba or routining to "Horra 
Stacatto" for top reaction. 

Middle spot is again a pleaser, 
with Leo Diamond, vet harmonica- 
ist, offering a varied blend of mu-. 
sic that wins salvos. Shows virtu- 
osity with "Donkey Serenade" then 
introes a mouth-organ gadget that 
ranges from bass to soprano in 
four assorted sizes, to work in a 
comedy bit ala Spike Jones, that 
adds novelty and freshness. Hits 
again with "2nd Hungarian Rhap- 
sody" and encores "with medley of 
pops, with the "Woodpecker Song" 
the climaxer. 

Line turns in three well staged 
routines, with middle number an 
East Indian affair that features 
brilliant costumes and exciting terp 
work of Aurora Roche. , , Lary. , 



material for laughs, lads work 
through seven numbers, panto- 
mimed by Fletcher and narrated 
or sung by Sheidy. Opener, oper- 
ating room skit garners laughs. 
Follow with "The Three Bears," 
with the "Tobacco Road" over- 
tones. Sock impresh of Belte Davis 
is topped by skit in the Noel Cow- 
ard manne.- as it might be done in 
the Kentucky hills and then in an 





|U WILLIE 




[ SHORE 




%k | Latin Quarter 




W New York 



ARTHUR WARD 
and Company 

HOOPOLOGIST Supremo 
With • Doth of Humor 
WEEK. AUG. 11 
OLYMPIA. MIAMI 



AMERICA'S TOP HEADLINE SINGING GROUP 




A "NATURAL 
FOR 
TELEVISION 

All Major Nrtvrorbi, 
Xlitatrei and Cluhi, 
V. B. and Canada 



Pcrsnaal Direction — ED 
«90lt RKO Bnlldlnx, New York to. N. 1. 



^ 



BOYS 



{ 



RCA 
VICTOR 
FAVORITES 



Cirri. «-<KIM 



MAXIN 

SULLIVAN 

CURRENTLY 

tOfttON CASINO, ENGLAND 

* 

FafiOMi Mm«g«M«at: 
JOK MMOOLAIS 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



Talent Agencies Ask Lower Breaking 
Point on Vaude Percentage Deals 



VAUDEVILLE 



45 



Talent agencies are making a 
pitch to lower the figure at which a 
package show or attraction starts 
tretting percentages of the gross. 
They claim that since grosses have 
dived because of economic reasons, 
such adjustment is necessary. 

House averages, they state, have 
been lowered considerably. A the- 
atre which during .wartime boom 
averaged $20,000 is now hitting $16,- 
$17 000. They claim they want no 
extra coin for client on average 
business, but feel they should be 
rewarded if they go over the usual 
figures. 

The agencies point out that many 
attractions are taking theatre dates 
at figures below that obtained dur- 
ing the war, and the high breaking 
point makes it impossible for them 
to come out too far ahead. 

Another angle, according to 
agency men, is the fact that top 
- bands and performers pay higher 
salaries to lesser acts when they're 
included in a package. Since the 
headliner pays show costs if he's to 
share in the percentage, his gamble 
should be insured by setting up 
new points at which he'll share 
in profits. 

Most bookers, oh the other hand, 
favor keeping present percentage 
figures. They say that majority of 
packages are booked on a guaran- 
tee and percentage. Too frequently, 
they've lost money just by meeting 
the guarantee and they need the 
present level to make up losses in- 
curred by other shows. 

The talent buyers also feel that 
wartime figures were not equitably 
arrived at inasmuch as theatres 



Embassy, N.Y., Reopening 
With Accent on the Latin 

Tony Coluccio, owner of Don 
Julio's, in Greenwich Village, plans 
reopening the Embassy on East 
57th street, N. Y„ which lias had a 

were held up for all the traffic ' che ? kere 2 c ? reer ' * nd P" 1 *" 6 . 80 " 
could bear because of shortages i SP* °" Latln mu l lc a £ d 6 * DCin *: 
With present day business decline >l h *u VO h gue for V? r . humb » and 
the inequities have been wiped out \T™\ h f S a Specia i n *fy foUo . w - 
and present breaking points are K ng a11 lt l°T ; and i wi «» Gerardo, 
nearer to an equitable figure than I ? ance F who formerly with a num- 
thev've been in vear<i > ber of name bands - as the terpmg 

host, the, club will feature cham- 
pagne dance contests, etc. 
-Pupi Campo and Sacassas or- 
chestras will officiate. Opening 
slated for around Sept. 15. 



VHCS Can't Use More Talent Until 
Defense Heads Order Expansion 



JACK PARKER 




"THE JACK 
OF CLUBS" 

Return 
Engagement 

BROWN 
HOTEL 
LOUISVILLE 

Available 
Aug. 23 

Management: 
Tom Fitzpatrick 



KELENE and HOWARD 



•Comedy nance Antics' 

LIDO COUNTRY CLUB 



CAROUSEL. Pittsburgh 
Dir. MATTY ROSEN 



Carmen Miranda Files 
260G Suit Vs. Coast Troc. 

Los Angeles, Aug. 10. 

Carmen Miranda filed a counter 
suit against the Chit Corporation 
operators of the Trocadero nitery 
asking $260,000 in wages on a basis 
of $1,000 a week for five years. 

Cross complaint was an answer 
to Chit's $200,000 suit, charging 
breach of contract. It charges the 
corporation With failure to submit 
satisfactory plans for remodeling 
the old Trocadero, where the singer 
was scheduled to appear. 



Andrews Sisters' Special 
Show for Olympicers 
At London Palladium 

London, Aug. 10. 
Andrews Sisters will head a 
special midnight show at the Pal- 
ladium, London, Saturday (14) for 
those participating in the Olympic 
games. 

There will be no admission 
charge and entry will be open to 
those competing in the games, 
pressmen, . filmworkers and others 
who have been tied up with the 
event. 

Andrews Sisters, who opened last 
week, have caught on and advance 
sale is now at $80,000. 

The Andrews sisters at a Sunday 
concert at the State theatre, Kil- 
burn, broke every record for that 
house with an attendance of 11,800 
for two shows at $1.25 admission. 
Several thousand were turned 
away from this theatre, which is 
only 15 miles from the Palladium. 
It's one of the largest houses in 
Europe. 



Unit Producers Wary Due 
To Lack of Playing Time; 
Rose's 'Violins' Set for Tour 

The problem of getting sufficient 
playing time has, of late, stymied 
most unit producers* The show 
packagers are wary of taking 
chances unless sufficient time can 
be lined up in advance. A mini- 
mum of 12 weeks is generally nec- 
essary to insure a profit for pro- 
ducers. 

Billy Rose is currently contem- 
plating sending out his current 
Diamond Horseshoe, N. Y., show, 
"Violins Over Broadway." Agent 
Jack Curtis is submitting show to 
vaude houses. John - Murray An- 
derson will do the production. 

In previous years Rose sent out 
two Horseshoe units. The first was 
profitable inasmuch as it had a 
consecutive route. But second lay- 

i out wat pulled in because of gaps 

| in playing time. 

"Violins Over Broadway" will re- 
main in the^ N. Y. cafe until after 

i Jan. 1, when it will have rounded 

j out a year's run. 



Secretary of Defense Forrestal's 
announcement of proposed enlarge- 
ment of USO to entertain re- 
cruits coming in on the defense 
program, via the draft, is still to 
have its effect on Veterans Hospital 
Camp Shows. Latter' organization, 
which replaced USO-Camp Shows, 
has received no official word to ex- 
pand activities, according to Law- 
rence Phillips, former USO-Camp 
Shows executive yeepee and now 
member of the VHCS board; No 
has been inked yet. enlargement of its activities are 

This two-a-day vauder will make j contemplated until the need arises, 
a bid for the hlm-going trade with I The Forrestal proclamation has 
a scale of $2 top weekdays and i been mistaken by many performers 



Florence Desmond Sought 
For Amsterdam's Revue 

Negotiations are on for Florence 
Desmond, the British comedienne, 
to appear in the Ken Robey and 
Stan Zucker presentation of Morey 
Amsterdam's "Hilarities of 1949," 
opening at the Adelphl theatre, 
N. Y., Sept. 9 or 13. No contract 



$3 on weekends. It will give 10 
performances weekly, including a 
Saturday midnight show. 



Acts Paid Off With AGVA 
Bond in Pitt Nitery Foldo 



to mean that VHCS is expanding 
its entertainment facilities. As 
presently constituted, this organ- 
ization will take care of entertain- 
ment in Army, Navy and Veterans 
Administration hospitals only. Per- 
formers are being signed on the 
basis of present .needs. 

Phillips stressed the point that 
until such time that USO-Camp 



till n 1 n* until sucn lime mat uau-wamp 

When Backer Disappears shows is revived to take care or 

, ., , „ . JiF 4 v . ; draftees or others on active duty, 
Only the performers got their tnere>u fce 



dough out of Club Society, Pitts 
burgh, when Raymond Reynolds, 
who backed nitery for $50,000, 
skipped town in the alleged $200,- 
000 embezzlement of construction 
company which he operated. En< 



no additional outlet for 
performers, 

. Brasshats Must Decide 
Once the military heads decide 
that a revived USO-Camp Shows is 
needed, VHCS will probably get 
official notification to reinstall the 



tertainers were covered by bond u "'" al nowncawon nnwww 
pasted with American Guild of "Sfc*** ft« 



MILWAUKEE RIVERSIDE 
RESUMES VAUDE SEPT. 23 

Chicago, Aug. 10. 
- Riverside theatre, Milwaukee, 
resumes vaude policy Sept. 23 with 
Frankie Carle orch, and follows 
with three other bands, Desi Arnaz, 
Woody Herman and Sammy Kaye. 
House will take a pre-season shot 
with Gene Autry revue, Aug. 26. 

Charles Hogan office will book 
the attractions. 



Frances Langford and Jon Hall, 

Jerry Colonna and the Harmoni- 
cats comprise the next show at the 
Roxy theatre, N.Y., starting Aug. 
25. 



L FRANK 
IBUSE 

Currently 

Held Over by Popular Demand 

At 

TAHOE VILLAGE, Nev. 

★ ★ * 

Opening August 27 (for 2 Weeks) 

(Return Engagement) 

LAST FRONTIER HOTEL 

Las Vegas, Nev. 

AL GROSSMAN. Reporting 
1270 Sixth Avenue 
New York. N. Y. 



ROSE NOT INTERESTED 
IN ANY COAST NITERY 

Billy^ Rose is not interested in 
extending his cafe operations to 
the Coast. The N. Y.' showman, in 
response to reports that Chico 
Marx and others were attempting 
to get Jjim to open a Diamond 
Horseshoe on the site of the de- 
funct Florentine Gardens, Holly- 
wood, declared that he has neither 
the time nor inclination to embark 
on this type venture. He said he 
has enough to keep him busy here, 
inasmuch as he's now engaged not 
only with his cafe, but his "Pitch- 
ing Horseshoes" column, radio 
transcriptions, and running of the 
Ziegfeld theatre, which opens next 
month with "Magdalena." 

Rose said that Marx last week 
called him from California, but he 
was out of town, and therefore' 
didn't discuss the, proposition with 
him. "However," he said, "I don't 
want any more saloon business or 
any other business." ... 



Variety Artists. Musicians, waiters, 
bartendeis and managers were left 
holding the bag for several weeks' 
salary. 

Court appointed receiver for the 
construction outfit and is also ty- 
ing up funds of nitery, which will 
continue to operate a bar-restau- 
rant, without music or entertain- 
ment, at least until its affairs are 
straightened out. Investigators 
claim to have proof that the dough 
Reynolds sunk in Club Society 
came out of the $200,000 he took 
from prospective home owners, 
most of, them veterans, on prom- 
ise of putting up low cost dwell- 
ings. None were ever built. 

No trace of either Reynolds or 
his son, Raymond L. Reynolds, 
has been found since they disap- 
peared two weeks ago. 



Negro Songstress' Illness 
Nips Grosses at A.C. Nitery 

Atlantic City, Aug. 10. 

Irvin Wolf, operator of the 500 
club, Atlantic City, has run into 
a siege of tough luck which cul- 
minated in the inability of Pearl 
Bailey to appear at his club Sat- 
urday (8). Miss Bailey,, who open- 
ed the previous Tuesday, had been 
playing to a handful of people and 
was on the verge of recouping for 
the operator Saturday, when the 
Negro songstress was felled by 
pleurisy. 

Dick Henry, William Morris 
agency, who was vacationing at the 
resort, hurriedly got Billy Daniels 
to substitute. 

However, word that Miss Bailey 
would be unable to appear, affect- 
ed business for the rest of the 
week. 

The 500 club has been doing the 
bulk of its business on weekends. 
Martin & Lewis, who wound up 
prior to Miss Bailey's opening were 
unable to crack the weekday jinx. 



MIAMI COPA AIMS 
FOR DEC. 15 PREEM 

Miami Beach, Aug. 10. 

The new Copacabana, Miami 
Beach, is expected to be open by 
Dec. 15. Spot, designed by Nor- 
man Bel Geddes, is currently un- 
der construction to replace former 
site destroyed by fire. 

Building will have a cornerstone 1 
containing mementos from show 
business names. Henny Youngman 
has contributed a violin string and 
Hildegarde a rose. Other tokens 
are coming in. 



Sonny Skylar set for the 500 
club, Atlantic City, Aug. 17. 



problems are to be met before 
Camp Shows can be expanded to 
former wartime size. Foremost is 
additional funds. It's expected the 
forthcoming Community Chests 
campaign . throughout the country 
will provide the bulk of revenue 
for an enlarged Camp Shows pro- 
( Continued on page 46) 

















Lovely 








lady 








of 






WM 


Song 








JANE 



JOHNSON 



America'* 
Foremoit 
Marimbitt 



GEORGE 




GUEST 



Boles' British Click 

London, Aug. 10. 
John Boles provincial tour 
1 opened with a bang at the New- 
castle Empire, and he is following 
i with dates at Glasgow and Sunr 
derland. 

| Hyman Zahi, who is handling 
ithe Boles tour, is dickering for a 
London date, and hopes to get 
his star in the Palladium in 
September. 



Pages 



Of 



Romance 



With 



David and Dorothy 




PAIGE 

Currently 

CHEZ AMI, Buffalo 

Dircctiafi— JOHN LASTFOSEL 



46 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



Variety Bills 



WEEK OF AUGUST 11 



Numerals In connection with bill* below Indicate opening Any of show 
whether full or split week. 

Leller in parentheses Indicate* circuit: (I) Imlepcndrnf ; (I.) I.oitv; (M) Mossi 
(P) Paramount; (B) BUO; (S) Hloll; (W) Wnraerj (WK> Walter Bead* 



11 



Kxw vork city 

Capitol (I.) ve 

fiinp lite Music 
Bert Parka 
Jiarry Salter Ore 
Jack Carter 
Trlsie 

Music aii.il (I) 

Win Mayo 
Charles Tyrell 
IVillle Jones 
Andy Arearl 
tdajys 

Kstelle Sloan 
Rocketlos 
C'Mih de Ballet 
Sym Ore 
l'armnotint (P) 
P«ff«y I-ee 
Pave Barbour » 
J an Murray 
Rudy Cardenas 
Kay liberie Oro 
Rosy <I) 11 
Dick Haymes 
hominy. Trent 
Buster Shaver 
Carol kynne 
Arnold Shoda 
Jean Stureeon 
Frit* Diet! 

Strand (W) IS 
Count Basle Ore 
Billle Holiday 

tephyrs 
mmp A Stumpy 
HKONX 
. Crotona (1) 19-11 
Klonetta & Perry 
Lillian Oavell 
Karl Jack & Betty 
Larry J>anie!s 

Jamaica (I> 11-14 

franklin Twins 
Marilyn Frechette 
Castle & Helena 
Tyler St St Clair 
Nadine * Charles 
Pol Dellan Cats 
Beverly Becker 
(two to fill) 
ATLANTIC CITY 

Steel Pier (I) S 
Olsen & Johnson 
Clark Bros 
Kale Murtah 

HAI.ll.MOBE 
Hippodrome (1) tZ 
Dr Naff Show 

State (I) .12-14 
Larey Broa 

I'll > His Willis 

Sammy Mops 
The Marlboros 

15-1B 
Paul Mix 



Margie Taylor 
The Twirlera 
(one to All) 

CAMDEN 
Towers (1) is-l.% 
Gilbert ft Carroll 
Janet Stevens 
Panay the Horse 
Al Stevena 
3 Parks 

CHICAGO 
State-Lake (P) II 
Disc Jockey Rev 
Herb Fields Ore 
Sarah Vauirhu 

2 Ton Baker 
Tony • Harper 

Oriental (1) 11 
Horace Heidt show 
Johnny Band 
Jean Harvey 
Jimmy Orosso 
Ralph Peer 
Melodairos 
Jitterbuga 
Pat Theriault , . 
CXBVKLAJii* 

'Palace (R> 13 
Henny Toungluan 
Jerry Wayne 
Don Henry 3 
Sensationalists 
Sibyl Bowan 
Sallol Puppets 
DKTKOIT 

Broadway (P) 14 
Cab Calloway Co 
Wh'ltson Bros 
Peggy Mann 
Jack Leonard 
MIAMI 

Olynipta (P) 11 
Vanderbllt Boya 
Sue Carson 
Arthur Ward Co 
Benaon St Mann 
Ames Bros 

PHILADELPinA 
Carman (1) 13 
Woody 4 Bobby 
Leo De Lyon 

3 Morano Si a 
Clypay 'Markoff 

BOCKFOKI». 
Palace (D 13- I t 
Terry & Howard 
Lona & Mickey 
Allen Sio 
Kodell ,-. 

Chambers & Blair 
WASHINOTOX 
Capitol (I.) i- 

4 Evans 

Pitchmen 
Honeyhoys • 
Perry Lawlor 



BRITAIN 

151 KM I NGH AM 

Hippodrome (SI> • 
f; & I. Callenta 
Hal Momy 
ZiiUa 

Turner Layton 
Roniiisoll & Martin 
DoukIub Byng 
Pat ipsa 3 
Fredifte Sanborn 
l\tg Dixon 

III! VKi'OIill 

Alliainbra (M) • 

V.arle & Babette 
Frances Day 
Johnson Clark 
Doiiald Peers 
F .Mar* * Iris 
Donald B Stuart 
Dolaire 

l-:i Oranadas & 

Peter 
Joe Black 

BRIGHTON 
Hippodrome (M) I 
Wallabies 
Nicholas Bros 
Boh Grey 
Ben Tost Co 
Philippe A: Marta 
MyronR 

J pa ti Kennedy » 
111 Kerr 

C \R1HFP 

New (S) 8 

DniH'tivic Years 
Barry Sinclair 
(Mleites Field 
Is'icolelte lioeg 
Veronica Brady 
Sara Romano 
John Palmer 
Frank Thornton 
Wards Morgan 
Gina Coward Co 
CHISWH'K 
Kmpire (S) 8 
Monte Rcy 
Con Colleano 
Max Bacon 
B Wright * Marlon 
Douglas Robinson 
I> Vivienne & Irene 
ChlkOlas 
Italic & Rence 

DKItllV 

Grand <S) 0 
Piraillliy Ilayrlde 
Ka.l .Tackley 
4 "Hurricanes 
4 Taffolas 
>lai-iat»>* Lincoln 
„ Jack Francois 
GI.A8COW 
Kmpire WD R 
Vernon Sis 
John Holes 
Keefe Urns & 

Annette 
Riley A lTMler 
Foster & Clarke 
l.i'aile Strange 

fiilisort 
ni una 4- Sparks 
& J Crastohian 

LKEDS 
Kmpire (M) 9 
Mil Parade 1948 
B«iiy Driver 
Victor Barna 
Alee Brook 
C &■ R Yale 
Jfay ue ss llliliard- 

itHCKSTRB 
> Palace (S) 8 

t.eon Cortez 
3 Sc R AriiRUt 
Amazing Fogel 
Suoas & Summcra 
tlordon WJielan 
JCrnle Dillon 
Baswull Twins' 
Jienry D Adams 
■ : LONDON 
Hippodrome (M) 9 




NEW YORK CITY 



Cafe Society 

Avon Long 
I'aKin JsfcHffon 
K-.i tiniMil }Jall Or« 

t'opncnlmim 

Morton Dovney 
.Ii»nn Carroll 

Hetly H'Mint'v 
Rh 1 Tutiiig 
Kay Ma Ion e 
It Diu^t> Oro 
Ah'ares Ore 
Olumond Horseshoe 
Jay Marahnll 
Urar'a «fc Nlo. i o 

Xoi-ina SJifpitfi-J 
t'horal Octet 
il Smidlfr Oro 
AJverea Mora 
Juonger Ballet Une 

FernanMa Ore»pa 
f'imrte J.uis 
Victoria Uarcelo 
Kit* &. jRozlno 
Los Panclms 

H a v Ana -M » drld 
IjO* Bocheros 
Trin I Reyes 
U SantilJaiia 
Ralph Font Or* 
Aiachito Ore 
Hotel iMm -l-Vlnvx 
JSoi«l1tt Stone Oro 

Hotel Biltmoro 
Rufi MorKun Ore 
Hatroldl Naffpl Ore 

Hotel KilKnn 
Hent*y Jerome Ore 
No 1 Fifth Ave 
Tomer Twine 
.loWi Kerr 
H»zel "Webster 
Downey & Fonvllle 

reolliOBfin Club 
Johnny Thompson 
Oscar Waller 
Kivlrra 
.lane Froinan 
Paul Winchell 
Mario * >"loria 
Tony Bavaar 
Joey Gilbert 
Donn Arden Line 

Hotel A it or 
Dick Jin gens Oro 



I.enny Herman Ore 
Hotel .New Vorlier 
it Cummins Ore 
lee Hevuo 
Hoi el l't iins.vh :,nia 
Switch Hendei»on O 

Hotel 8t Moriti 
Menconi Ore 
Jacf|ue)ina 
\'ida &. Varo 

note! X«f* 
Vincent l*npez Ore 
Charlie Uruw 

Xntln Quurler 
Ina Kay Button Oi 
Willie Shoro 
Cross & =Dunn 
I.andre St Verna 
Costello Twine 
Bon Viva ut* 
B Harlow Ore 

S.e JBubaa Blea 
King Odoru 4 
Naomi Stevens 
).ouia« Howard 

Kdo liuhlch 
Nornian n Paris S 
I.eon Ml Fddie's 
Eddie Davis 
Arc Waner Ore 
Mar'fra & Barrelra 
I4 Nomura Dcrs 
,1 ]..a.wiem'e 
Beverly Arnold 
Harry Prion o 
Suepard Line 

Old RoamanfRB 
Sadie Banks 
Joe La Port* Ore 
D'AQUiJa Ore 
Splvys 
Katrine Van Os» 
Mary McCarty 
Splvy 

I'ersailleft - 

Nancy Donovan 
Bob Orant Ore 
Panchito Ore 

Villuice Barn - 
Hal Oraiiam Ore 
Chubby Roe 
Eddy Howard 
Bill Duffy 
Barbara Duffy 
Mods. Richard 
Piute Pete 

Wnlilorf- Awtorin 
Frcddv Martin Ore 
Mischa Borr Ore 



the meager state of the boxoffice, 

it is felt, company toppers should 
look inward for the reasons for 
declining profits. In most in- 
stances they have done so success- 
fully, although too late. 

Introspection is also called for 
by those companies which have 
seen their weekly film rental in- 
come drop. In every case, a pic- 
ture-by-picture comparison with, 
1947 shows that it is much less the 
state of business in general than 
it is just plain bad films. Lots of 
execs are howling about poor busi- 
ness by product that couldn't pos- 
sibly attract sizeable audiences in 
anything but the undiscriminating 
boom days of the war. Fortunately, 



New Acts 



JULIE WILSON 

Songs 

15 IMins. 

Mocambo, Hollywood ^ , 

In a room where the three B s — 
romance, rum and rhumba — have 
always been more important than a 
floorshow, singers don't expect too 
much attention. That Julie Wilson, 
making her Coast bow at the Mo- 
cambo, almost succeeds in making 
table Smalltalk disappear entirely 
is probably the best indication of 
her delivery. 

Attractively caparisoned, this 
brunet looker makes an immediate 



TV^^^^Z ^ssmnCan^e'ssion that is 



CHICAGO 



Vic Oliver 
Pat Kirkwoofl 
Fred Kmney 
Melachrino Ore 
Marilyn Higrliiower 
Michael Benlina 
Julie Andrew? 
Jean Garson 
SantlBO Bel 
Palladium OI) 8 
Andrews Si« 
Lew Parker 
M Colleano Co 
Prank Marlowe 
Blsa & Waldo 
FaycS 3 
lien Younp 
Jose Moreno Co 
Tvonne Watts 
FINSHl'BY l'AKK 

Empire (M> • 
Ignorance Is Bliss 
Harold Benes 
Gladys Hay 
Michael Moors 
Matt Nixon 
Foulharmonic Ore 
O'Kcefo Sis & 
B Richards 
Aerial Keirwayx 
Maurice French 
Jimmy Elliott 
J & M Klnson 
HACKXEY. 
Kmpire (S) » 
Phyllis r>!xey 
Jack Duvant 
Konyots 
Boros ■ 

Frank Preston 
Scott & Foster 
SHBPHB'DH Kl'SH 

Kmp|r« (S) » 
Now Madhatiers 
Syd .Seymour 
Madhatters 1M 
Constance Bvans 
Karle ft Osear 
Pat O'Brien 
Brio Plant 
WOOD GKEKX 

Empire (S) ft 
Snow Willie & J 
Dwarfs 

MANCHESTER 
Hippodrome (S) I 

Ta Ra Bah Boom 
Frankle Howard 
Adrtenne & I#sli* 
Morgan & Royle 
Irving Girdwood 
NOTMN«H.\M 
Kmpire Oli 9 

3 Dancettes 
Merry Macs 
Skating Rarodas 
Terry-Thomas 
Allen St Lee 
Claude Danmier 
Winters, & Fielding 
M Louise A Charles 
3 Bpallas 
Van Dock ■ 

SHKFFSKl.K 
• Empire (M) 9 
Skating Merinoi 
Charlie Kuuz 
2 Redheads 
Tommy Fields 
L Sharps & Ills 
Bontonds 
Jack Edge 
Dick Henderson 
Rlehardo <*o 
8WAXSK,\ 
Empire (31) 9 
Leon & Bsrrle 
B Reld tt D Suuires 
Hal Miller 
Joyce Coldinff 
Slim ' Rhyder 
Melville i- IMior 
S White & Anue 
Olga Varona 



Rlarkhntvk 

Al Trace OrcU 
Jai'Uie Van 

Hotel Hismark 
Billy Bishop Ore 
Florenre & Fred'rlc 

IlelsinicB 
Prof. Backwards 
Lenny Colyer . 
^iilie Toung 
Bill Chandler Oro 

ola Aniecliee 
H Kdgewater Beach 

eo Olsen Ore 
11 Williams Trio 
Paul Sydell. 
Hal Raywia 

otty Gray, 
Dorothy H I 1 d 

Dancers nil 
Gaynivr & Ross 
Che/. Pares 
Danny Thomas 
Martha. King 



Mace * Knrr 

Leroy Bros (2) 

M Gould Ore <10) 

Ann Hathwa'y 

D Chiests Combo 

Dorothy Dorben 

Dancers Co 
Motel Stevens 
Bennv Strong Oro 
B & F Ballard 
John Flanagan 
Jean Arleu 
Maiian Spelman 
Skating Blvdcars 
Bog Turk 
Jtebfleld Sr Del Toro 
Doris Donavan 
Elwood Carl 

Pnlmer lions* 
Llberaee 
<'lifford Gnest 
M Abbott Dncrs. 10 
Fiorian ZaBach Ore 
Giselle & F Szyoni 



to themselves and future output 
looks much more hopeful. 

To give any overall comparison 
on the income of distributing com- 
panies currently as against, the 
same period last year is virtually 
impossible and would be mislead- 
ing. There is too great a variance 
from company to company, depend- 
ing on the quality of product 
they've had to offer in recent" 
months. 

Theatres Down 6-10% 

On the other hand, theatre cir- 
cuits and indie houses appear to 
be down about 6% to 10% from a 
year ago. The first runs have been 
hit harder than the subsequents, 
with plenty of the latter doing 
just as well In 1947, despite the 
habitual cries of despair from their 
owners. The major chains, made up 
largely of early run houses, nat- 
urally are feeling most whatever 
decline there has been. Among 
other things, however, average ad- 
mission prices have been upped 
68% since pre-war. 

Increase In the number of auto- 
mobiles and the lure of competing 
forms of recreation have undoubt- 
edly accounted for some of the 
drop in business this summer. 
Summer grosses are very greatly 
affected by the weather and the 
industry has been fortunate in that 
respect this year. June was very 
rainy, keeping people from outdoor 
recreation. On the other hand, July 
was favorable for the swimming 
pools, night baseball and beaches, 
but August so far as been a bo- 
nanza to the theatre men. Business 
over both last weekend and the 
weekend before was excellent. 

Evidence on all sides, it is ob- 
vious, points to the fact that film 
grosses are nothing like what in- 
dustry word-of-mouth and the col- 
umnists would have people think- 
ing. Need now, it is felt, is for a 
psychological reversal that will 
acquaint Jane and Johnny Public 
with the fact that film business is 
still great and they ought to climb 
on the bandwagon for the nearest 
theatre. 



heightened as soon as she begins 
to sing. There's no strain on the 
vocal chords here, for Miss Wilson 
sings easily and softly. Her num- 
bers are delivered with just the 
proper shade of insinuation for the 
intimate bistros and she knows 
how to get her auditors quickly 
and easily into the mellow mood. 
- The growing trend toward more 
intimate niteries should bring a 
ready market for her wares. She 
stacks up as a good bet for the 
smaller clubs, having the looks, 
voice and delivery to click. Some 
of her stuff is special material that 
she projects with warmth for splen- 
did returns and the more familiar 
stuff is pretty surefire. She tops it 
all off with an understanding of 
her own lyrics, a rare trait now- 
adays, that permits her to sell in- 
telligently. Net result is topnotch. 
particularly for the candle-light 
and dusky drapes circuit. Kap. 



'Cry-Wolf 



Continued from page 1 55 

studio execs with the need for 
economy. 

They've created a Frankenstein, 
it- is asserted, for their cries that 
films are doing no business at the 
b.o. have been picked up by col- 
umnists and critics and retailed to 
the public as evidence that Holly- 
wood has lost its know-how. It has 
created a state of mind among the 
filmgoers that has hit grosses. A 
recent column in the Sunday New 
York Times by Bosley Crowther on 
the downbeat state of business is 
cited as a perfect example of the 
idea the industry's own execs have 
encouraged writers to give the 
public. 

Foreign 

Foreign income, no less than do- 
mestic, has dropped to nothing like 
the levels that the public, as well 
as most industryites without access 
to figures, believes. The British 
situation wasn't felt at all until 
June 14. when the new Anglo-TJ. S. 
agreement became effective. It is 
not possible to tell you exactly 
how much the new British. .regular 
tions will hurt overall foreign in- 
come, but most companies are fig 
uring on doing as well, or almost 
as well, on overseas receipts in 
1948 as they did in 1947. 

Despite the self-generating hue- 
and-cry, it is not the grosses that 
will be bad this year, but the nets. 
Costs of the pictures now being 
amortized are still in excessively 
high brackets. Effects of economies 
instituted a year ago only now are 
starting to be felt. As pictures 
made on lower budgets go into 
release, the > net profit situation 



MKRRIE DELANEY 
Oance-Sonrs 
6 iHins 
Apollo, N. Y. 

Merrie Pelaney needs an act be- 
fore her capabilities^ if any, can 
be brought out. This sepian comes 
on stage in what might be a femme 
tramp costume and does a comedy 
interpretation of "I Ain't Got No- 
body," which fails to get any ap- 
preciable degree of laughs. 

She follows with a modified strip 
in which she gets down to a dance 
costume, but terping is on the 
same par with her singing. There's 
no routining — no nothing except a 
bright and willing personality, 
which for a solo spot isn't enough 
in this or any house. Jose. 



JAY SMYTHE 
Skating 
7 Mins. 
Apollo, N. Y. 

Jay Smythe has an excellent line 
of taps done while wearing skates. 
His dance routines are such that 
they can stand on their own, and 
in addition, he's able to provide 
picturesque effects by the mobility 
afforded by the wheels. 

Colored artist works with ease, 
a deal of style, and has the knack 
of making comparatively difficult 
tricks look easy. His routine done 
atop a table is along the. lines of ' 
Tip, Tap and Toe. The off-the-table 
slides are conducive to top hands. 
He's capable of holding down a 
spot in any vauder. Jose. 



should improve immeasurably ......... 

Instead of public dissertations on i (Write to those who are ill.) 



Saranac Lake 

By Happy Benway 

Saranac Lake, N. Y., Aug. 10. 
Dr. Zina Bennett, veepee Inter- 
national Brotherhood of Magicians, 
and G. Ray Ferrell motored in to 
visit Carl Kessler (The Amazing 
Mr. Ballantine), who expects go- 
home papers soon. 

Edward C. Gaiser checked into 
the infirmary for observation. 

The Sorrell Trio, of Grand View 
hotel. Lake Placid, and Chago 
Rodrigo, Latin-American singer, 
gave an entertainment for the gang 
that was tops. 

"Hi-Lites of 1948," produced and 
directed by Eddie "Vogt, grossed 
over $3,000 for the local hospital 
fund. 

Gil Segal, of Warners Philly of- 
fice, in to bedside Bob Pasquale, 
who checks out next month. 

Among the Rogersites who took 
in the King Reid Shows were Mary 
Mason, Helen Grupp, Slim Glenn, 
Andy Grainger, Frank Hynes. 
Arthur Slattery, Joe DeNicolo, Carl 
Kessler, Bob Pasquale and Arthur 
Proffitt. And 'all on the cuff. 

Marie Gallagher and Charles 
Dillon visited Dolly Gallagher, who 
is doing nicely. 

Marie Lalis planed back to N.Y.C. 
after a two-week vacation with her 
hubby Bill (Decca) Lalis, who is 
flashing good clinic reports. 

Frank (Par) Hynes, who sue 
ceeded George Fee as chairman of 
"We The Patients," is planning 
lawnparty on the- Rogers grounds 
with entertainment and bingo. Aid- 
ing . him are Helen Morris, Mary 
Mason, Joe DeNicolo and Walter 
Romanik, 

George Powers (Powers' Ele- 
phants), "who recently checked out 
of the infirmary,, enjoys all privi- 
leges and mild exercise. 

Bedside birthday party tendered 
to Victor (IATSE) Gamba cheered 
him up plenty. Those attending 
were Thomas Curry, John Binkley, 
Carl Kessler, Eddie Vogt and Jack 
Claries'. Carl Kilroy donated his 
orchestra for entertainment. 



MARIAN CALLAHAN 

Dance 

12 Mins. 

Club Norman, Toronto 

When- Jane, of the dancing Cal- 
lahan Sisters, decided she would 
rather be an actress and enrolled 
in the Academy of Dramatic Art, 
N. Y., that broke up a team that 
had been on the nitery payrolls 
for eight years. Marian Callahan 
is now doing a single and will have 
no trouble getting engagements. 
The pert and diminutive dancer 
stays away from the straight rou- 
tine footwork and has developed a 
distinctive styling which is neither 
ballet tap nor standard hoofing. 

Her intricate footwork, plus per- 
fectly-timed cartwheels and splits 
in rhythm, register solidly. Sweet 
without being coy, Miss Callahan 
also puts over her act on youthful 
appearance and an apparent sin- 
cere enthusiasm for her work and 
the reception she receives. 

A cute switch was her next-to- 
closing number when she did a re- 
verse striptease, first appearing in 
blue briefies and then getting into 
her clothes without breaking the 
rhythm of her dance. This drew 
whistles from even some of the 
males in the well-mannered Club 
Norman clientele. Miss Callahan 
closes with a Pat Rooney imper- 
sonation to "Rosie O'Grady" and 
had to beg off when caught. The 
terp stylist has plenty of sparkle 
and spirit and is definitely top- 
drawer in her new solo venture. 

McStay. 

THE IDALYS (2) 
Aerialists 
6 Mins. 

Music Hall, N. Y. 

This is the first U. S. stage ap- 
pearance for this French circus act 
though it was with the Ringling 
Bros.-Barnum & Bailey show a cou- 
ple of seasons ago. It's an expert 
and impressive spot, with sufficient 
element of danger to provide sus- 
pense. Because of the height at 
which the pair performs, the act 
may be limited to theatres with 
ample stage dimensions. 

Man and woman do their bal- 
ancing from a unicycle arrange- 
ment on a circular track atop a 
high steel mast. First the man ped- 
dles around upside down, holding 
onto the unicycle with his thighs 
then does it with the gal balanced 
on a pole and hanging from a tra- 
peze suspended from a bit in his 
teetn - Kobe. 

ESTELLE SLOAN 
Dancing 
5 Mins. 

Music Hall, N. Y. 

A lively and skillful tap dancer 
with a trace of ballet and aero 

^iK 1 ** 81 ' 03 ?,^ 3 pl i yed the Radio* 
City Music Hall and various other 
spots, but isn't in the Variety New 
Acts file, so this is for the records 
Gal is a nice terper, particularly 
with the succession of tap-turnq 
with which she climaxes the act 
She's obviously okay for vaude and 
nitery (and has also clicked in 
filmusicals— Ed. ) 

She's an okay looker, but her 
costume at the show caught wasn't 
too becoming, possibly because the 
color didn't suit her or HuT sur- 
roundings. She undoubtedly would 
have more impact from a smaller 
ilobe. 



USO Expansion 



Continued from pace 45 



gram. Whether an appreciable 
part of the Chest campaign coin 
goes for Camp Shows will depend 
on whether military heads feel the 
need of a greater TJSO entertain- 
ment arm. 

VHCS Revamps Board 
Meanwhile, VHCS hgs enlarged 
its board of directors so that the 
heads of all sponsoring organiza- 
tions will have fcepresentaiton. 
Sponsoring organizations and di- 
rectors now include Actors Equity, 
Clarence Derwent and Bert Lytell; 
Authors League, Oscar Hammer- 
stein II; American Broadcasting 
Co., Edward J. Noble; American 
Federation of Radio Artists, Ken 
Carpenter and George Heller; 
American Guild of Musical Artists, 
Lawrence Tibbett; American Guild 
of Variety Artists, Dave Fox; 
American Society of Composers, 
Authors > and Publishers, Deems 
Taylor; Artists Managers Guild, 
Bert Allenberg; Associated Actors 
and Artistes of America, Paul Dull- 
iell; Association of Motion.Picture 
Producers, Y. Frank Freeman; As- 
sociation of Theatrical Agents and 
Managers, Ben Boyar; Dramatists 
Guild, Moss Hart; CBS, William 
Paley and Donald W. Thornburgh. 

Hollywood Coordinating Com- 
mittee, George Murphy; Interna- 
tional Alliance Theatrical Stage 
Employees, Richard Walsh; League, 
of New York Theatres, Brock Pem- 
berton; Music Publishers Protec- 
tive Assn. Walter G. Douglas; Mu- 
tual Broadcasting System, Edgar 
Kobak; National Assn. of Broad- 
casters, Justin Miller; Negro Ac- 
tors Guild, Noble Sissle; Screen 
Actors Guild, Ronald Reagan and 
Mrs. Florence Marston; Screen Di- 
rectors Guild, George Stevens; 
Screen Writers Guild, Sheridan 
Gibney; Theatre Authority, Alan 
Corelli; Theatre Owners of Amer- 
ica, Ted Gable. 

Other directors include John 
Shubert, of the Shubert Theatres, 
and A. J. Balaban, head of the 
Roxy theatre, N. Y. Lytell, Free- 
man, Murphy, Pemberton and 
Sissle were on the board prior to 
the additions. 



Berlin Paints 

Continued from page 2 




Berlin asked the late composer 
how he came to paint. Gershwin 
told Berlin, "I guess it started 
when Ira (Gershwin) gave me a 
set of paints "and I just went to it." 
Same thing happened with Berlin 
when a friend did the same thing — 
gave him a set of paints and he 
started daubing. 

Songsmith clippered to Paris 
over the weekend for three weeks, 
heading to London later to gener- 
ate a little pre-opening press inter- 
est in "Easter Parade" prior to its 
British debut, just as he does 
with all his filmusicals. Berlin also 
has branch music publishing inter- 
ests in both the French and British 
capitals which he wants to o.o. 
personally. 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



■ paramount, X. Y. 

PegSD Lee with Dave Barbour 
nuintet; Jan Murray, Rudy Carde- 
Sm Ray Eberle Orch (16); "Be- 
yond Glory" (Par), reviewed in 
Variety, Jun e 16, '4 8. 

The Paramount, known as a 
bandshow house since its inception, 
has with this show taken a step 
that indicates it's ready to drop 
that policy, although keeping the 
same format. For the first time, 
the band is given virtually nothing 
to do except play the opening num- 
ber to raise the pit and retire to 
(he background for its show-back- 
ing chores. 

The layout consequently is able 
to accent the highly competent 
group of principals which affords 
name as well as entertainment 
Value. The result, with a few mi- 
nor deflections, is first rate. 

Peggy Lee, who etched herself 
into the name brackets with her 
Capitol recording of "Manana," 
has consequently ,i increased her 
earning power from $850 since her 
. last appearance here, to $5,000 
weekly (latter tag includes the 
price of husband. Dave Barbour's 
crack quintet). She's a singer of 
considerable charm and ability, but 
unfortunately had to fight her way 
into audience acceptance because 
of faulty staging and routining. 
Coming on after the heavy mitt 
scored by Jan Murray was one of 
the reasons that made it difficult 
for her to get started. Her opening 
number didn't help either. Nor did 
the wide space between her accom- 
panying quintet and the spot whei-e 
she worked help her get across to 
the audience. The fact that she 
overcame these difficulties indi- 
cates her prowess as a performer. 
Once Miss Lee gets into "Caramba 
It's the Samba" and reprises "Gold- 
en Earrings" and "Manana," the 
audience is a wrap-up. 

Murray, ;. repeater here, is sure- 
fire in this house. He has a con- 
fident demeanor,, a bright parcel of 
stones and an ingratiating man- 
ner with throwaway lines. In his 
solo stint he gets as big a re- 
sponse as any comic who's worked 
this house. Unfortunately, he spoils 
the net effect with his bit with 
Toni Kelly, a looker who comes 
from the lines in the plush niteries. 
Not that Miss Kelly's looks are a 
handicap, but the bit of beating a 
doll is so hokey that it detracts 
from the class lines with which he 
Ivon audience acceptance. As far as 
the house mob is concerned, there's 
no stopping the laughs with any- 
thing he does. 

The third entertainer, Rudy Car- 
denas, is probably the best of the 
youthful crop of jugglers. He 
comes by his accomplishments nat- 
urally, being a nephew of the Great 
Rastelli, tops in this line more than 
a generation ago. The lad has 
class and excellent routines and 
several new twists to this ancient 
art that win top hands. 
1 Ray Eberle's band doesn't get a 
chance to show anything except 
for the warmup piece as the pit 
rises. Eberle himself gets a chance 
to do "Black Magic," which he does 
nicely and then he retires to com- 
parative obscurity. Perhaps he 
should have gotten another chance 
to use his orch between Murray 
and Miss Lee, which would have 
given the audience a chance to re- 
lax after Murray's smash reception 
and paved the way for Miss Lee 
to win her audience more rapidly. 
Again, it might have only acted 
as a stage wait. Jose. 



Oriental, Chi 

Chicago, Aug. 5. 

, Horace Heidi's Radio Winners," 
■with Don Rice, Harold Parr, Stan- 
ley Morse, Jeanne Harvey, Johnny 
Mongol Jack Creen> Melodares 
(4), Johnny Vana, Jimmy Grosso, 
Pat Theriault; Carl Sands Orch; 

Time of Your Life" (UA). 

Show speeds along without lag 
except for corny appreciation spiel 
by Don Rice at the end. Young- 
sters culled from winners- on Hor- 
ace Heidt's Philip Morris program 
(NBC), do well and the milking 
oy Rice isn't necessary to wangle 
applause. 

While most of the turns are on 
vocal and instrumental side, they 
ail make good. Jeanne Harvey, tap- 
stress, starts the ball rolling, fol- 
lowed by Jackie Green, who re- 
vises musical bottle stint. Jimmie 
^losso does vocal Impresh of name 
D ?nd signatures and singers for 
nice returns. 

First -eal professional talent is 
« splayed by Johnny Vana, 14-year- 
, . xvl °Phonist, who scores with 
terrif sense of timing and pitch on 
we vibraharps and drums. Melo- 
r* s . three high school youths 
° n d a miss, are ready for regular 
engagements. They're youthful, 
nave solid arrangements and good 
voices. Pat Theriault emulates 
Jr, ai , e , Peabody in some fast banjo 
Plunking. Stanley Morse, in next 
«> closing spot, offers "Sabre 



Dance" on trombone for hefty re- 
turns. 

Harold Parr, blind singer, ties 
show together with his baritoning 
all commercial. He's ready for an 
opportunity also. Some smart disk 
company might press his "Cool 
Waters" backed with Melodares. 

Rice, who does the m.c. chores, 
has two rpots of his own which 
get laughs. His takeoff on the 
early-rising femme with girdle 
trouble and the weekend drunk 
are strong, but some of material 
is dated. Carl Sands orch does 
usual neat job in backing show. 

Zabe. 

Steel Pier, A. €. 

Atlantic City, Aug. 5. 
Mary Small, Jack Olsen, Spauld- 
ing Trio, The Gaudsmiths, Roxy- 
ettes, Johnny O'Connell's orch; 
"Man From Texas" (EL). 



Mary Small, of radio's "Three 
For the Money," heads current bill, 
supported by acts not as strong as 
previous layouts but good enough 
to please huge crowds that jammed 
Music Hall's 2,400 seats during 
rainy spell. 

Jack Olsen emcees show and 
brings on the Roxyettes, held over 
for a second week. Dancing of 20 
girls, attired in white evening 
gowns, with fail " effect sparks 
things nicely. 

Spaulding trio, two girls and 
boy, on next in nice bit. which was 
well received. Olsen follows and 
offers smooth, patter, impersona- 
tions and novelty songs for nice 
returns. Ink Spots' "If I Didn't 
Care" gets best response. 

The Gaudsmiths, with French 
poodle act, adds to merriment of 
show. Roxyettes return for neat 
hoop number in strobolite as prel- 
ude to Spaulding triors adagio turn. 

Mary Small, songstress, gets nice 
reception and sustains pace with 
sock vocals of "Hy, Hy, Ho, Ho." 
"There's a Tree in the Meadow," 
"Love Somebody" and "Old Man 
River." Encores with "Every Day 
I Love You Just a Little Bit More," 
"Can't Be True" and "Put a Penny 
In the Box" for more pattycakes 
and begoff. 

Roxyettes close with nifty skat- 
ing routine. Walk. 



P&RIETY 



ROUSE REVIEWS 



4? 



Palladium, London 

London, Aug. 3. 
Andrews Sisters (3), Lew Park- 
er, Maurice Colleano Troupe (6) 
3 Shades & Reg RcdcHffe (4), Len 
Young, Elsa & Waldo, Trio Fayes, 
Arnaut Bros. (2), Jose Moreno, 
Woolf Phillips & Skyrockets Orch. 



A ' large and enthusiastic Palla- 
dium audience greeted the Andrews 
Sisters as if they were old friends. 
Trio walked on to ovation and 
offed to another at conclusion of 
act. 

For three quarters of an hour 
trio sang merrily along at the mike, 
and if audience had had its way 
would have stayed on indef. They 
gave 'em everything in their book, 
from pop hits like "Near You," 
"Civilization," "Heartbreaker" and 
"Sabre Dance," sure-fire choruses 
from their old faves, starting with 
«Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" and, as 
a special treat for Cockney Lon- 
doners, "Underneath the Arches" 
and "Roll Out the Barrel." 

It was not just the singing of 
popular hits that made the audi- 
ence yell for more, but their natu- 
ral charm, their good sense of fun 
and, above all, their sincerity and 
honest desire to please. They'll be 
at the Palladium a month bu<: then- 
success, assured before their visit, 
was considerably enhanced after 
the opening night. 

Show opens with Three Shades 
& Reg Redcliffe, a nifty dance and 
rhythm act, followed by Len 
Young," who sings and wisecracks 
with equal facility. Maurice Col- 
leano wins laughs via acrobatic 
dancing, admirably supported by 
other members of his company, 
which includes accomplished and 
attractive dancers. Elsa and Waldo 
get most laughs with their ludi- 
crous costumes, facial contortions, 
and nifty tapstering for merited 
applause. 

Subbing for Frank Marlowe, 
forced out by a leg injury, are the 
Arnaut Bros, with their popular 
whistling and fiddling act, topped 
by bird romance bit. The Trio 
Fayes, acrobatic turn, appeared to 
enjoy their work as much as the 
audience, and, in similar vein, 
Jose Moreno puts over clever bal- 
ancing act on slack rope to nice 
returns. 

Lew Parker's disarming honesty 
in admitting he hadn't come to tell 
new stories but to i - evive old mem- 
ories struck the right note. His 
combo of songs and story telling 
deserved warm reception accorded 
him. A solid hit. 

Without 1 rushing off the merits 
of other acts, there's no doubt the 
fans came to' hear the Andrews Sis 
and went home well satisfied t'ley 
had received high dividends. 

Myro. 



Roxy, If. Y- 

Dick Haymes, Tommy Trent, 
Buster Shaver with Olive, George 
& Ricliard, Ice Revue with Carol 
Lyme, Arnold Shoda-Jean Stur- 
geon, Fritz Dietl, Choral Ensemble. 
Roxyettes, Roxy Orch; "Walls of 
Jericho" (20th-Fox), reviewed in 
Variety July 7, '48. 



From the opening routine by the 
Roxyettes, based on the "Board- 
walk At Atlantic City" to the clos- 
ing "01' Man River," by Dick 
Haymes, this new Roxy show, in 
conjunction with "Walls of Jeri- 
cho," is a treat to the eye and ear. 
And it sticks around only some 47 
minutes, which is more in its favor 
entertainment-wise. 

That a show is short doesn't al- 
ways moar that it's fast, and there 
are a couple spots in this that 
makes it no exception. But, it's 
beautifully costumed, smoothly 
planned, and smartly executed. 
Opening scene utilizes the choral 
group in a beach ball bit which 
eventually segues into the ice-team 
of Shoda & Sturgeon. They cavort 
in a simple but smart setting seem- 
ingly designed as a hotel patio and 
do a good job of convincing the 
customers. Next comes Fritz Dietl, 
stunt skater on stilts, who's on a 
bit too long for what he does, al- 
lowing things to sag a bit. How- 
ever, things brighten immediately 
thereafter with Carol Lynne, top- 
liner of the blades bits. 

Miss Lynne, a good-looking bru- 
net, hits the jackpot with aero and 
figure routines. (And figure applies 
doubly.) From her turn on the 
show slips into vaude gear, start- 
ing with Tommy Trent's more or 
less standard puppet act. 

Trent's turn knows no Jaugh 
boundaries; it's as giggle-signifi- 
cant for grownups as for kids and 
it seems sharper than it ever was. 
H>. still finishes with the colored 
puppet jive dance bit, which now 
seems a weaker exit than hereto- 
fore in view of the impact of the 
meat of the act. Buster Shaver, 
Olive, George & Richard follow. 
Theirs also is a standard turn 
which slips smoothly into the plan 
of the show. Olive ' opens, singing 
"You've Got That Thing" with her 
two diminutive partners and then 
into the ballroom bit with the full- 
sized Shaver. 

Haymes closes. Smartly turned 
out in dinner jacket and occupy- 
ing the Roxy's huge ^tage all alone, 
he scores solidly with the way he 
handles himself, his lines and the 
tunes selected. At first glance 
after he finishes, his lineup of 
"Great Day," "More I See You," 
"Might As Well Be Spring" and 
"Ol' Man Fiver" seems as though 
it could be improved upon. Three 
are standards, however, and 
"More" is something that clicked 
for him; in addition he does it well. 
He really hits in high gear with 
"River." Here Haymes demon- 
strates the unusual range, power 
and control of his voice and it gets 
him off to a huge salvo. Wood. 



Apollo, N. V. 

Roy Eldridge Orch (15), Sonny 
Thompson Orch (6), Josh White, 
Jay-Smythe. Merrie Delaney, Spi- 
der Bruce & Co.; "Miracle in Har- 
lem" <SG>, reviewed in current 
issue of Variety. 



There might be some occasions 
at Harlem's Apollo theatre when 
the inclusion of a bit of melody 
during band sessions might get 
some attention. This sepia vauder. 
apparently, hasn't been apprised 
that there's a trend toward sweet 
music. There are many customers 
that would like to hear some re- 
laxing music just once in a while. 
Maybe the Apollo should give at- 
tention to this type payee. 

With the current bill it projects 
a lineup that's not too different 
from those that have been playing 
house for many weeks. Each has 
come armed with a batch of origi- 
nals or pieces which require in- 
tense concentration in order to be 
followed intelligently. It's gotten 
to be a continual sameness. 

The bands on tap this week are 
Roy Eldridge and Sonny Thomp- 
son. Eldridge plays one of the 
most picturesque trumpets in the 
business. He can hit notes that 
should be taken by clarinet and 
his virtuosity is excitable. The rest 
of the crew with an instrumenta- 
tion of five sax, six brass and three 
| rhythm, are accomplished musi- 
cians, but the arrangements cen- 
tering around Eldridge's trumpet 
doesn't give them too much of an 
opportunity to hit the mob. 

Thompson, backed by a quintet, 
plays a laudable piano that offers, 
some excitement with his "Long 
Gone," which clicks nicely. Com- 
ing at end of a long show he 
doesn't get too much time to give 
out. 

Josh White, one of the better 
ballad singers, offers one the 



more quiet interludes that's appre- 
ciated liere. His assortment of bal- 
lads go', over nicely, although 
"House I Live In" was fouled up 
at show caught by the inability of 
Eldridge band and White to ■ get 
together in proper key. However, 
White draws • deserved encore. 

Other acts . on the bill, Jay 
Smythe and Merrie Delaney are 
under New Acts. The comedy skit 
by Spider Bruce and Co. gets the 
usually good response. Jose. 

Music Rail, If. Y. 

Leon Leontdo/Z-Russelt Markert 
presentation, The Idalys <2),Bnnin 
& Co. (2), Andy Arcari, Estelle 
Sloan, Music Hall symphony orch 
directed by Alexander Smallc?is; 
' Music Hall glee club with Robert 
'Hayden, Winn Mayo, Charles Tyr- 
\ rell, Willis Jones, Rockettes, ballet; 
, setting, Bruno Maine; costumes, 
James Stewart Morcom, Marco 
Montedoro; special lyrics, Albert 
Stilhnan; choreography, Florence 
Roggc, organist, Richard Leibert. 
"A Date With Judy" (M-G), re- 
Mewed in Variety, June 23, '48. 

I - 

Taking its theme from the cur- 

jrent Golden Jubilee of Greater 

New York City, the current stage- 

i show at the Radio- City showplace 

: has five scenes to represent the five 

I boroughs. It is a large, ornate and 

j occasionally imposing presentation, 

sometimes relating to«the general 

theme and sometimes seemingly 

irrelevant. It has some impressive 

moments, or at least interesting 

ones, and some merely ponderous 

others. Altogether, it isn't up to 

! its motif or the Music Hall stand- 

! ard. • 

j After Richard Leibert's between- 
1 shows organ piece ja&d._tlie. sym- 
j phony orchestra "overture," Robert 
Hayden does a town crier bit to 
intro a musical number dedicated 
to the borough of Richmond. This 
has a Staten Island ferry setting, 
with films of upper New York har- 
bor ingeniously projected on the 
' backdrop. Andy Arcari does a 
pleasant accordion number, as ex- 
tras stand around as ferry commu- 
ters. But the scene never comes to 
a point and merely fades off incon- 
clusively. 

The second scene, dedicated to 
The Bronx, has the glee club cos- 
tumed as N. Y. Yankees and sing- 
,ing a medley of baseball songs, 
with special lyrics, by Albert Still- 
man. Winn Mayo, Charles Tyrrell 
and Willis Jones portray umpires 
and there's a hint of "situation," 
but again the scene ends without 
punch. This is followed by an even 
less pertinent scene as the Rock- 
ettes do one of their familiar preci- 
sion routines in honor of the bor- 
ough of Queens. 

As the Brooklyn portion of the 
show there are two good acts, with 
only the announced Coney Island 
locale as a tiein with Kings county. 
The Idalys (New Acts) do a notable 
and somewhat unnerving aerialist 
turn atop a high steel mast, and 
Bunin & Co., a man and gal, pre- 
sent their familiar' and amusing 
puppet act. For the Manhattan por- 
tion of the show, the staging is the 
most impressive element. The set- 
ting is the skating rink in Rocke- 
feller Plaza, with the RCA and 
| other adjacent buildings as back- 
j ground. The symphony orchestra is 
i onstage as the ballet does a drill 
j routine, followed by a good tap 
; number by Estelle Sloan (New 
1 Acts) and the finale by the entire 



company. 



Hobe. 



Olynipia, Miami 

Miami, Aug. 7. 
Dick Foran, 3 Craddocks, Jack 
DcLeon, The Martingales, Norma 
Kricger, Les Rhode House Orch; 
"Silver River" (WB). 



Hippodrome, Rait*. 

Baltimore, Aug, 8. 
Dave Barry, Marko Family (.2). 
Tony Donadia, Salici's Puppets, Jo 
Lombardi Mouse Orch (12); "Bring 
'Em Back Alive" (RKO), 

Pleasing setup of no great pro- 
portion is sufficiently entertaining 
in Its projection and another one 
of those practically all-male .settos 
booked in her j of late. This time 
it's headed by Dave Barry, back 
w!th some radio stature accumulat- 
ed on the Jimmy. Durante layout 
ai.d equipped with fresh material 
for top returns. Gives doings an 
opening via his ripple song and 
some gags to bring on the Markos, 
mixed duo of hand balancers in a 
pleasing sesh of okay tricks. 

Tony Donadia is next with vocals - 
of "Donkey Serenade," "Mamselle," 
"Thine Alone" and "A Million To- . 
morrows," all sold for .top returns. 
Lad has the pipes, and given some 
tricks of selling, and smart projec- 
tion could develop into more am- 
bitious possibilities. Sets matters', 
for Bar-y to follow with his act, , 
which is smoothly timed and han- « 
died for major laugh returns, hit- 
ting a high mark with the closing 
bit wrapped around a boy's speech. ' 
at a birthday party. Salicis close 
with smoothly operated puppet, 
show simulating a complete vaude 
layout, skillfully synchronized to 
music. Makes for a perfect clincher. 

Biz fair. Burni. 



British Talent 

SB Continued from" page 2 55; 

tion, referred to some "awful" 
American films she had seen, and 
added: "if we are to have these • 
awful things, let us at least have ' 
British." 

Meeting passed a resolution re- . 
cording its "emphatic protest" at 
being left out of the Films Council, ". 
Wilson's committee and the indus- 
try's own Joint Production Coun- : 
cil, and is to have a recall meeting 
in a month at which the president , 
of the Board of Trade will be in- 
vited to attend. r 

Actors have already put their ; 
case to an influential group of" 
Members of Parliament* and are- 
hoping they will initiate a meeting 
with Wilson, who has so far re-: 
fused to discuss, the matter with 
them. 



Equity Eyes Imports 

Admitting that any unnecessary 
restriction is alien to the • whole 
tradition of the profession, British' 
Actors Equity Assn. is nevertheless 
keeping a close, watch on the im- ; 
portation of foreign artists, particu- 
larly those engaged In vaudevilles 

In a lett.r to members, Gordon 
Sandison, secretary of Equity, sug- 
gests the present quota (25% out' 
of town and 33W% in London) is 
hardly working against British per- ; 
formers. Everyone Wants to see the ' 
top ranking acts and shws, he' 
says, but both in productions and, 
variety a close watch must be kept. 

Sandison. draws attention to the 
fact that applications for a labor 
permit must guarantee that no 
British subject (or foreigner long 
resident here) will be displaced 
or excluded, but points out that 
the "unfortunate plight" of the liv- 
ing theatre in America, where 
more than 80% of American 
Equity members are unemployed, 

While unemployment in the the- 
atre doesn't present a serious prob- 
lem at the moment, any change in 
the situation would undoubtedly 
lead to strong action by Equity 
here. 



House bookers have come up 
with a strong marquee lure this 
week in filmster Dick Foran, plus 
a layout that builds a pleasing 
sesh, with the Craddocks, acro- 
comedy trio walking off with top 
laurels. 

Foran projects an easy, amiable 
style that wins stubholders and 
garners warm reception via a good 
songstering of well balanced blend 
of pop and musicomedy tunes. 

Zany routine of the Craddocks, 
French team, is sock all the way. 
Build hilarious reaction with their 
balancing - nd acroantics, the slap- 
stick comedies intelligently woven 

j into routine to keep yocks coming 

j steadily. 

; In the emcee spot, Jack DeLeon 
! warms them up in slick fashion 
! and in own slot does his carbons 
; on filmstars with authority. Patter, 
; though, could stand strengthening. 
! However, on overall gets solid re- 
turns. 

Norma Krieger contribs stand- 
ard magico in easy, competent 
style. Teeoff slot has the Martin- 
1 gales, adagio duo, who build slow- 
, ly, but wind for reaction with final 
routine. Les Rhode house orch pro- 
vide solid backgrounding. Lary. 



Warner, Jr. Spot 

sss Continued from page 2 — pr 



was recently closed and the exact 
extent of its anticipated revived 
pioductional program will be de- 
cided by the elder Warner. 

Meanwhile, it was reported last 
week that Warners would back a 
string of medium-budgeters to be 
produced at Teddington by Arthur 
S. Abeles, Jr., recently installed 
as WB's managing director in 
Britain replacing the late Max 
Milder. As envisioned by Abeles", 
his projected pix would be grooved 
strictly for the British market and 
not necessarily would be aimed for 
the U. S. 

For the past year, Jack M. 
Warner has been studying produc- 
tion, distribution and exhibition in 
the U. S. and during his stay 
abroad he'll survey the same 
phases of the industry insofar as 
they're linked with the foreign 
market. His trip will also be in the 
nature of a belated honeymoon 
with his bride of last May. the 
former Branrara Anne Richman of 
New Haven. 



48 



IJSGnriMATB 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



Eytk-Gapor Tar' Clidk a Feaflier 
For Pitt Playhouse; Conn. Biz Good 



Pittsburgh, Aug. 10. 3 
Local Playhouse 5s basking in 
the click of Charles Gaynor's Coast 
revue, "Lend An Ear." which will 
be presented on Broadway this sea- 
son by William Katzell. For it was 
at the community theatre here that 
four Gaynor musicals, from which 
the present show has been com- 
piled, were first presented. This 
stemmed from friendship of the 
author*ornposer and Fred Bur- 
leigh, Playhouse director, who 
were classmates at Dartmouth. 

Fact is that the Gaynor talents 
have been lacking around for years 
before William Eythe decided to 
give him z Coast showing. Eythe, 
then a student at the- Carnegie 
Tech drama school, was in a Gay- 
nor show ft the Playhouse before 
clicking on Broadway and in films. 
That same summer, Burleigh gave 
Gaynor a production at Cohassct, 
Mass., and there was talk at that 
time that the Shuberts might do 
the revue in New York, but nothing 
ever came of it Last season Bur- 
leigh did still another of Gaynor's 
intimate revues at Cohassct. At 
that time it was supposed to make 
a tour of the strawhat circuit but 
that, too, fell through. 

First of Gaynor's musicals at the 
Playhouse, more than a decade 
ago, had as its dance director and 
leading dancer Gene Kelly, who 
was then running a dancing. school 
here. His experience in that led 
him to try his luck on Broadway, 
which later led to his Hollywood 



While serving in London as a 
captain in Signal Corps in World 
War H Gaynor became acquainted 
will) Hermione Gingold, star of the 
English revue, "Sweet and Low," 
and she put several of his musical 
sketches in her show, and Intended 
to use more of them when and if 
the Theatre Guild decided to pro- 
duce the Gingold entertainment on 
Broadway. Now with Gaynor's own 
"Lend An Ear" slated for New 
York, however, it's likely that some 
of the material he gave to Miss 
Gingold in London will be utilized 
in the Katzell-Eythe production. 
On Two Coasts 

"Lend An Ear" will be running 
simultaneously on both Coasts, 
since th-» original Hollywood Ver- 
sion is to continue with replace- 
ments for those who are going east 
to do the Broadway edition. One 
of them will be Al Checco. another 
graduate of the Tech drama school, 
who also appeared in a Gaynor 
show at the Playhouse. Checco 
likewise did the Gaynor musical at 
Cohasset a summer ago. Last sea- 
son he was an assistant stage man- 
ager in N. Y. for Thomas Mitchell's 
"An Inspector Calls" and was stage 
manager when the show went on 
tour. 

Eythe, who has been starring in 
"Lend An Ear" in Hollywood, as 
well as producing it, will head the 
cast on Broadway. Pittsburgh setup 
extends to Robert Finkel, also a 
Tech drama graduate and an old 
friend of Gaynor and Eythe, who 
has been a theatre manager on the 
Coast for the past year and has a 
chunk of the show, which is said 
to be netting around $2,000 weekly 
at little Las Palmas theatre. Finkel 
is the son of Bill Finkel, veteran 
Indie circuit owner here. 

It was the Playhouse, too. that 
made Gaynor's present break pos- 
sible. He had been committed to 
do another original revue for the 
community theatre this spring 
v/hen the offer from Evthe came 
along. Latter wanted Gaynor on 
hand for rehearsals, which would 
have conlicted with the Pittsburgh 
production, so the Playhouse and 
Burleigh let Gaynor out of the deal 
and substituted "Girl From Wyo- 
ming" instead .for its annual mu- 
sical. 



filled for August, has been can- 
celled. 

At Guilford they're unfolding 
the Reginald Denham-Mary Orr 
"Twice Born" this week as their 
first premiere. Last week- found 
John Loder a healthy draw in a 
good production of "O Mistress 
Mine." An early season presenta- 
tion of "A. ything Goes" pulled so 
substantially at the b.o. that 
they're tackling a second musical, 
'Girl Crazy," for late season. 
Others on the agenda are Jeffrey 
Lynn in "John Loves Mary" (Aug. 
16) and "Voice of Turtle" <Aug. 
30). 



Bucks' Actors Fund Contribs 

New Hope, Pa., Aug. 10. 

Although the annual Actors Fund 
of America drive in summer the- 
atres is skedded for week of Aug. 
16 this year, Bucks County Play- 
house, New Hope, Pa., jumped gun 
last week, with Theron Bamberger, 
the theatre's operator, figuring a 
sure-fire week with Kitty Carlisle 
in "O Mistress Mine" would hypo 
the take. 

The Playhouse has always been 
first or second in the drive, with 
annual collections reaching nearly, 
but never quite, $1,000. This year's 
contribution reached $1,175, best 
in theatre's history, and said to be 
largest sum ever taken for fund by 
any summer theatre. 



Gordon Checks Oat of Pitt 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 10. 

Robert H. Gordon, hook director 
for summer opera company here 
this season, left right after close 
of nine-week season Saturday night 
(7), to begin preparations for 
Arthur Lesser show,. "Fifth Ave- 
nue," which Gordon will direct. 
Musical is to star Willie Howard, 
Nancy Walker and Jane Froman. 

Gordon staged all of the alfresco 
shows locally except "Rosalinda." 
His last Broadway chore was on 
the Beatrice Lillie-Jack Haley re- 
vue, "Inside U.S.A.," and before 
that he did "Call Me Mister." 



Saratoga's 'Duet' Preen 

Saratoga, N. Y„ Aug. 10. 

Dan Morley is coming from New 
York to direct the tryout of "Duet 
For One," by Hollywood writers 
Eve Greene and Richard Blake, at 
the Spa Summer Theatre in Sara- 
toga Springs, week of Aug. 17. 
John Huntington, abandoning his 
guest policy for this play about 
marital conflict, has cast William 
Mcndrek, the strawhat's director, 
and Ruth Homond in the leading 
roles. Clyde Waddell and Kurt 
Richards, also of the resident com- 
pany, will be featured. 

This Is the second premiere 
scheduled for the Spa Theatre; the 
first being the intimate musical 
revue, "Without Rhyme or Rea- 
son," the opening week. Hunting- 
ton has a third tryout slated, "Miss 
Dilly Says No," a comedy by Theo- 
dore Pratt and William Mendrek, 
with Peggy Wood and Otto Kru- 
ger starred Saratoga presentation 
is preliminary to a Broadway show- 
ing. 



Stiefci, Harmon Doing Okay 

New Haven, Aug. 10. 

Two adajacent strawhats here- 
abouts report okay biz as of this 
stage of the summer game. Spots 
are Milton Stiefel's Ivoryton Play- 
house and its stone's-throw neigh- 
bor. Lew Harmon's Chapel Play- 
house in Guilford. 

Ivoryton season has been a suc- 
cession of b.o. clicks, with excep- 
tion of the Jackie Cooper version 
of "John Loves Mary," which fell 
below expectations. Last week's 
"The Beaux'' Stratagem," with 
Brian Aherne, got good critical re- 
action and standout biz. 

Stlefel will extend his season 
Into September, with an added 
week of Turhan Bey in "The Sec- 
ond Man." Others to follow the 
current "Here Today," with Ilka 
Chase, ar- Elisabeth Bergner in 

Escape Me Never" and "Sylvia 
Sidney In "Kind Lady." The Bert 
Wheeler musical, originally pen- 



Denison Winds Tip Season 

Granville, O., Aug. 10. 

Denison Univ. Summer Theatre 
wound up its second season with a 
gross of $9,600 for its seven-week 
run, as compared with 1947's $6,- 
900 in six weeks. Cast played to 
8,800 paid admissions as against 
5,500 in 1947. Besides a balance 
of $2,500 in the treasury, the group 
has $3,500 in equipment including 
a tent used this season. Of the 
net profit of $1,600, one-half was 
retained in the treasury and the 
remainder divided among the play- 
ers and members of the staff. 

As the season ended, Denison of- 
ficials announced eight members of 
the cast have been pacted for next 
year. Seven of these have found 
employment for 30 weeks in vari- 
ous professional theatrical adven- 
tures. 



Texas Co-op Clicking 

Waco, Tex., Aug. 10. 

The Southwest Summer Theatre 
is rounding out its fourth success- 
ful summer here. Theatre is the 
result of the pioneering of Paul 
Baker, and is a unique setup. It's 
a cooperative affair, where the 
stagehands have as much voice as 
the director. It has a $50,000 build- 
ing with the most elastic stage ar- 
rangements in the southwest. It 
makes use of local children, house- 
wives and the biz men by the 
hundreds when it needs them. 

Group has at present 33 mem- 
bers. They all put up $35, and re- 
ceive no salary. At the end of the 
year the profits are divided. 



Russell Ford to Stage . 
Henry St Productions 

Russell Ford, director of the 
-Georgia players, currently playing 
a strawhat season at St. Simon's 
Island, Ga., has signed to direct 
productions this winter at the dra- 
matic workshop of the Henry 
Street Settlement, N. Y. He's due 
Sept. I and the season will open 
Sept. 27. 

That means Ford's tentative plan 
to continue the Georgia players as 
a permanent repertory group and 
ultimately operate on a touring 
basis, is off, at least for this sea- 
son. He was director last season of 
the Macon (Ga.) little theatre, hav- 
ing been engaged through the 
American National Theatre & 
Academy. 

1st Strawhat 
Circuit Booms 
In Mass., Conn. 

Plymouth, Mass., Aug. 10. 

What's believed to be the first 
real strawhat circuit is being oper- 
ated by Franklin Trask, with six 
theatres in Massachusetts . and 
another in Connecticut. Producer 
is currently touring two of his own 
package shows around his chain. 
He regularly employs 115 actors, 
directors, scene designers, mana- 
gers, technicians, etc., all centered 
at his 16-building plant here. 

His active houses now include 
the Pris cilia Beach theatre here; 
Wareham Summer Theatre, Woods 
Hole Summer Theatre, • Manomet 
Summer Theatre (non- Equity), 
Rice Playhouse on Martha's Vine- 
yard, Bass Rocks theatre at Glou- 
cester, all in Massachusetts, and 
the Stamford Summer Theatre, | 
Connecticut. With $7,000 in bonds 
posted with Actors Equity, he's 
figured the most prolific operator 
in the strawhat field. 

Trask's two package shows are 
"Berkeley Square," starring Freddy 
Bartholomew, and "Laura," co- 
starring Diana Barrymore and film 
actor Robert Wilcox. Both are tour- 
ing the circuit, the Bartholomew 
troupe to play six weeks and the 
Barrymore-Wilcox unit likely to be 
out eight weeks, including the 
opening week of Trask's fall and 
winter stock stand, at Brattle Hall, 
Cambridge, Mass. 

Even when nominally on tour, 
most of Trask's companies actually 
live at the headquarters here in 
Plymouth, commuting by bus to 
their respective theatres and re- 
turning after the performance. 
That is the setup for engagements 
at Wareham, Woods Hole and 
Manomet Troupes playing Mar- 
tha's Vineyard usually spend the 
week on the island. It would be I 
economically feasible to return by 
chartered boat (the regular ferry | 
service doesn't run that late at I 
night ) , but it's frequently a wet I 
passage, hence not practical on a 
nightly basis. Gloucester and Stam- 
ford are beyond commuting dis- 
tance". 

Wholesale Rehearsal 
Besides living here most of the 
time, the various troupes also re-j 
hearse on the Priscilla Beach thea- 
tre stage or in one of the other 
buildings. Frequently there are 
three or four different plays in J 
simultaneous rehearsal, each with . 
its own cast and director, in differ- 
ent parts of the community. 

To handle the details of all this 
production, booking, theatre man- 
agement and living setup, Trask 
has a full staff of assistants, house 
managers, etc He plans to add two 
more theatres to his string next 
summer, giving his a nine-house 
circuit for the nine-week season. 
He figures on having nine different 
package shows to span the summer. 

Trask's season at Brattle Hill, 
Cambridge, is slated to open Sept. 
6 or 13. It will be his fifth season 
of stock at the spot As usual, he 
expects to have 2,000 season sub- 
scribers. 



Eight Strawhats in Fold So Far But 
Biz at Key Stands Okay lib Season 



Levant Set for 10 Coast 
Concert Dates m January 

Fred C. Schang, veepee of Co- 
lumbia Artists Mgt, has just re- 
turned to N. Y. after arranging a 
Coast series in January, '49, for 
Oscar Levant Deal calls for 10 
concerts. Levant, who will be 
making a film for Warners until 
January, is on the Kraft radio 
show, so that only two nights a 
week were available for concert 
dates. Schedule was made ac- 
cordingly, with two dates a' week 
in adjacent cities. 

Levant who played once at the 
Hollywood Bowl this summer, to 
be third highest draw there (be- 
hind Lily Pons and Paul Robeson), 
has one more alfresco date there 

this S6&SOU 

Schang, while on the Coast also 
signed up pianist Soulima Stravin- 
sky, son of the noted composer, for 
his company. 

Philly Dell Musicians 
Vote to Forego $27,600 
To Aid Future Season 

Philadelphia, Aug. 10. 
Two-thirds of the musicians of 
the Robin Hood Dell Orchestra 
voted to forget all about the $27,- 
600 owed them for balance of 
season due to the sudden cancel- 
lation of the Dell's 1948 season. 
They took the action at a two- 
hour meeting at headquarters of 
Local 77, American Federation of 
Musicians. Frank Liuzzi, president 
of the .local, said afterward that 
those members of the orchestra 
not present were, being contacted 
to obtain their waivers* on salary 
claims. 

Forbearance of the musicians 
virtually guarantees the Dell a 
chance to reopen under new man-, 
agement next season. Each of the 
90 musicians held ah individual 
contract with the Robin Hood Dell 
corporation, but had been paid 
only for the four weeks the out- 
door concerts were given. 

Fredric R. Mann, president of 
the Seaboard Container Corp. and 
newly eiected president of the 
Dell, attended the meeting along 
with his counsel, former City 
Solicitor Joseph Sharfsin. Al- 
though Mann is serving without 
salary, a paid assistant will be re- 
tained later on. The 1948 con- 
tract with conductor Dmitri Mitro- 
poulos hasnt been renewed, the 
Dell president said. 



Three Tryouts to Launch 
Shuberl, N. Haven, Sked 

New Haven, Aug. 10. 

The Shuberts bring legit back 
to the local entertainment picture 
Aug. 26 when the George Nichols 
production of the musical revue 
"Small Wonder" has its premiere 
as the new season's opener for a 
three-day (26-28) stand. 

House lees off with three break- 
ins in a low, others being "Grand- 
ma's Diary," set for Sept. 2-4, and 
the Cheryl Crawford "Love Life," 
with Alfred Drake and Nanette 
Fabray, due Sept 9-11. Other 
preems pencilled for unfurling here 
are the Kaufman-Ferber "Bravo" 
and Robert Morely in the British 
import "Edward, My Son." 

In addition to legit, the Shuberl 
will continue its policy of past 
several seasons, with Sunday 
vaude and band names, plus pix 
when legit bookings lag. Ben 
Segal, house manager here, has 
recently been made managing di- 
rector of Anthony B. Farrell's 
Warner theatre in New York. He 
will bicycle between the two 
houses. 



O'Neill, Mass. Squire 

Boston, Aug. 10. 
Eugene O'Neill, longtime resi- 
dent of the Coast, is set to become 
a permanent resident of Marble- 
head. 

He bought a house on Ocean 
avenue, Marblehead Neck, this 
summer, and extensive alterations 
are currently under way to winter- 
ize the house. 



'Women' $5,500 in Stockbridge 
Stockbridge, Mass., Aug. 10 

The Berkshire Playhouse here 
grossed an estimated $5,500 last 
w * eek r ° 4 n , lls no-name presentation 
°t '■ Lrttje Women." There were 

X ^ rf «,''^ anCes i at a scale from 
436 ' ^P 8 " 1 ? of 

Producer William Miles reports 
business running ahead of last sea- 
son, though several shows' have 
been done without guest stars 



' Strawhat grosses for the first 
half of the season have been spot- 
ty. Business at the key stands has 
generally been good. At the newer 
spots and hideaway locations, how- 
ever, the takings have ranged from 
fair to terrible. 

Eight strawhats have folded (in- 
cluding one that announced plans 
for the season but failed to open). 
They are the Ringside theatre; Sea 
Girt, N. J.; Williamsport (Pa.) sum- 
mer theatre; Sail Loft theatre, 
German town, N. Y.; Repertory Pro- 
ductions, Newport Harbor, CaL; 
Westchester Woman's Club Play- 
house, Mt. Vernon, N. Y.; Hartman 
theatre, Columbus, O.; County 
Playhouse, Suffern, N. Y., which 
never lighted, and Contemporary 
theatre, Trenton, N. J. 

On the other hand, grosses 
have been ahead of the profitable 
figures for 1947 at such stand- 
bys as the Berkshire Play- 
house. Stockbridge, Mass: Bucks 
County Playhouse, New Hope, Pa.; 
Cape Playhouse, Dennis, Mass.; 
Country playhouse, West port, 
Conn.; North Shore Playhouse, 
Marblehead, Mass.; Lake wood thea- 
tre, Skowhegan, Me., and Barter 
theatre, Abingdon, Va. 

Early Brutality 

For -the spots that were operat- 
ing that early, the week of June 21 
was brutal. Broadcasts (and, in 
communities where available, tele- 
casts) of the Republican national 
convention were figured to have 
kept many patrons at home. The 
other tough break that week was 
the twice-postponed Louis-Walcott 
heavyweight championship, which 
kept fight fans from the theatre 
three different nights. 

Unusually rainy weather the 
early part of the summer was fig- 
ured to have hurt business consid- 
erably, particularly at amphithea- 
tres presenting operetta. However, 
better weather recently has offset 
that to some extent 

As had been anticipated, the 
touring "package" shows have been 
a factor in the favorable attend- 
ance at the established stands. 
That has been especially true of 
such name combos as Gene Tierney 
and John Wayne in "Voice of the 
Turtle." As always, comedies and 
particularly romantic comedies, are 
the most popular type of play. And 
because of the limited capacity and 
backstage facilities of most straw- 
hats, one set shows Eire at a pre- 
mium. 

This season, as formerly, most of 
the top plays appear to be Broad- 
way successes of recent years. 
However, as before, there has been 
a liberal sprinkling of such oldies 
as The Second Man," "The Ghost 
Train," "Seven Keys to Baldpate ** 

June Moon," "Captain Apple- 
jack," "Ten Nights in a Barroom," 

Late Christopher Bean," "Last of 
MK. „Cheyney," "Rain," "Silver 
Cord," "20th Century," "Dracula." 

Hay Fever," "Springtime for 
™ m 7' '"Torchbearers" and "Peg 
O My Heart." 

There appear to have been mora 
tryouts so far this season than nor- 
mally and, from reports, indica- 
tions of growing audience interest 
in new plays rather than revivals. 

Weaver, Hellmer Finish 
'Causes,* Political Satire 

"Thesa Trifling Causes," pol- 
itical satire by Betty Jo Weaver 
and Kurt Hellmer, is making pro- 
ducers' rounds. Hellmer, for the 
last nine years one of the editors 
of Aufbau, German - language 
weekly, in New York, was one- 
time legit director and producer 
m Germany and Austria. He 
adapted several American plays 
for the German stage. 

Miss Weaver/s first play, "AH 
For Hecuba," written in collabora- 
tion with Elwyn Dearborn, 'was 

X* ne oL a ^ year at Peak ' s Island,- 
Me. She's a legit publicist 

Nederlander to Mpk 

Toledo, Aug. 10. 

James Nederlander, manager of 
Town Hall, 1,100-seat legit house 
which also showed films when 
plays weren't booked, has been 
named manager of the Lyceum, 
2,000-seat house in Minneapolis, 
which has been leased by a De- 
troit company headed by David 
Nederlander, his father. 

Town Hall will again offer 
legitimate plays this season, with 
'Born Yesterday" and "Command 
Decision" each booked for a week. 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



49 



HOW LONG CAN LEGIT TAKE IT? 



Hat (He Boxoffice Draw' Is Reason 
Given for 'Roberts' Tk Mixop 



Inability of actors in other 
Broadway shows to get tickets to 
a recent benefit performance of 
"Mister Roberts** wasn't the fault 
of the management, but mainly 
because the demand greatly ex- 
ceeded the limited supply. That's 
the contention of the Lei and Hay- 
ward office, the producer, in an- 
swering complaints voiced at the 
last meeting of the Chores Equity 
executive committee. Not a single 
■eat was sold through a broker. 

According to the management, 
members of the "Roberts" cast, 
with the exception of Henry 
Fonda, were permitted to buy 
eight tickets apiece. Fonda bought 
20. Most of these went to Equity 
members. In addition, members of 
the "Finian's Rainbow" and "An- 
sae Get Your Gun" companies 
were allowed to buy two seats 
, apiece, as those two shows had 
matinees the afternoon of the 
"Roberts" dress rehearsal, to which 
casts of the other. Broadway shows 
were invited. 

That accounted for 360 orch- 
estra seats, including the 20 
normally held by I lay ward and 10 
by his general manager, Herman 
Berstein. Those 360 seats com- 
prised alternate rows, and thus 
included more than half the 
choice locations downstairs. The 
orchestra capacity is 712. The bal- 
ance of the tickets, including prac- 
tically all the balcony and lower- 
price locations, were turned over 
to the Actors Fund for distribu- 
tion. The only seats sold at the 
Alvin boxoffice were a few singles 
returned to the theatre by the 
Actors Fund the week prior to the 
performance. 

Most of the Actors Fund tickets 
go to a regular -subscriber Bst, 
and tickets for any benefit per- 
formance aren't offered for sale 
until the sale for the previous 
Fund benefit show is completed. 
While many of the regular sub- 
scribers of Fund benefit tickets 
are actors, a substantial number 
are in other branches of the thea- 
tre, and others are outside the 
profession altogether. 

In the case of "Roberts," how- 
ever, it figured that no system of 
distribution could supply the ac- 
tor demand for tickets from the 
1,360 capacity of the Alvin. 



It's an III Wind 

Despite the recent Treas- 
ury Department okay of Iim- 
ited partnership agreements 
easing the financing situation 
for a number of Broadway pro- 
ducers, it's already proving an 
embarrassment for others. In 
the case of the former/ they 
have obtained backing from 
various individuals who were 
holding off until the tax situa- 
tion was clarified. 

However,, other manage- 
ments with shaky rating in the 
theatre and unimpressive pro- 
duction plans, can no_ longer 
blame the Government for 
their inability to raise- financ- 
ing. As a result, it's expected 
that a number of the an- 
nounced f uture productions 
will be quietly dropped. 



PAR 


FS F 


m 


iseu 





on MENorrrs toot 

Giaa-Carlo Menotti's "The Medi- 
um" and "The Telephone," which 
had a brief run in Paris this sum- 
mer, may reopen there again in 
October, according to the com- 
poser. Menotti is now in Holly- 
wood, and will know by the end 
*r the week whether the film, he 
scripted, "Happy Ending," will go 
into production, immediately at 
Metro. If not, he's returning to 



'Roberts' Dresses 
Up Ik Lines Some 

In response to "courteous sugges- 
tion" from police, some of the 
vigorous lines have been censored 
in "Mister Roberts," at the Alvin 
theatre, N. Y. Action took place 
several weeks ago, but was kept 
quiet at police request and because 
the management wanted to avoid 
hurting the reputation of the 
Thomas Heggen-Joshua Logan play, 
which drew unanimous critical 
raves and has been playing to 
standee houses since it opened last 
February. 

Deletions- included one particu- 
larly vivid line which was in the 
original script and appears in the 
published edition of the play, but 
which had been eliminated during 
the initial tryout engagement in 
New Haven. The star, Henry 
Fonda, who had the line, has since 
inserted it occasionally on his own, 
when he spotted personal friends 
in the audience, usually if from 
Hollywood. ' Also censored were 
various words of profanity. 

The censorship, suggested by 
James J. Sheehy, fourth deputy 
police commissioner, after officials 
had received several letters of 
complaint, was voluntarily carried 
out by the producer, Lelanti Hay- 
ward. The Dramatists Guild wasn't 
informed of the changes, but 
doesn't plan' any action unless 
either of the co-authors protests. 

Hayward and his general man- 
ager, Herman Bernstein, explained 
that they hoped to keep the inci- 
dent quiet in order to avoid pos- 
sible repercussions in Detroit, 
where a second company of the 
show is to open Aug. 23, and Chi- 



PROFIT MARGIN 




Snarl on 'Shoes' Royalties Now 
Spreading to British ProAictioii 



By BOBE MORRISON 

Although the recent Treasury 
Department tax ruling supplied a 
needed boost for the theatre, fu- 
ture prospects for production ap- 
pear increasingly grim. With costs 
of production and operation at an 
all-time high and still rising at an 
accelerating rate, the margin be- 
tween revenue and expense is be- 
coming prohibitively slim. 

The worst aspect of the situa- 
tion is that no one seems able to 
suggest a cure. Legit is. hog-tied 
in the middle of the general infla- 
tionary spiral and the inability to 
raise prices or otherwise increase 
revenue. There is an apparent tap- 
ering-off of the upsurge of the years 
during and immediately after the 
war. 

There have been several recent 
examples of the narrowing profit 
margin of theatrical production 
and operation. For instance, al- 
though "Allegro"' ran for about 10 
months at the Majestic, N: Y., 
mostly at virtual capacity, it earned 
back only about three-quarters' of 
its $250,000 production cost,, and 
will have to pull huge grosses to 
make a profit when it goes on the 
road this fall. 

Similarly, "Annie Get. Your 
Gun" played to solid capacity 18 
months at the Imperial, N. Y., and 
was in the black only seven months 
of that time. As a current case, 
"Inside U. S. A.," at the Century, 
N. Y., involved a production out- 
lay of $235,000, has an operating 
cost of $31,000 and earns back 
only around $5,500 a week on a 
gross of $40,000. 

Under such conditions, backers 
must risk large amounts to stand 
any chance of making a sizable 
profit. But it takes longer and 
longer to regain the initial invest- 
ment, even on a hit show, and at 
the same time the odds against a 
hit are becoming correspondingly 
steeper. 

Where it cost George- Abbott 
about $6,000 to ring up the open- 
ing-night curtain on the one-set 
"Room Service" in the spring of 
1937. Oscar Seriin bad to spend 
around $25,000 to produce "Life 
With Father" only two years later. 
Alfred de Liagre put on the orig- 
inal production of "Voice of the 
Turtle" for $18,000, hot had to 
spend $23,000 on the second com- I 
pany only a fe wmonths later, and I 



Brotherly Rib 

Byron McGrath, who en- 
tered the cast of "Command 
Decision." at the Fulton the- 
atre, N.Y., last week, ce inci- 
dentally with the general up- 
turn in business on Broadway, 
has been needling his brother 
Paul McGrath. whom he suc- 
ceeded in a leading pact in the 
play. 

Each night, when he gets the 
gross figure for that perform- 
ance, he sends a wire- to his 
brother, commenting on how 
attendance has increased since 
he entered the cast. The elder 
McGrath is vacationing at 
Montauk, L. I. 



Guild list Grows 
To 31 Cities 



The Theatre Guild has added 
another city, New Orleans, to its 
subscription list, bringing to 31 
the total of communities where it 
sells season tickets for its produc- 
tions. Plays will be presented there 
at the Poche theatre, operated by 
Irwin F. Poche, who will also 
handle the local subscription cam- 
paign. 

Guild had already added Dallas, 
Fort Worth, Houston, San An- 
tonio, Austin, EI Paso, Toronto, 
Wilmington and Richmond to Us 
subscription list for this season. 
Attempt is. being made to retain 
some of the Washington subscrib- 
ers by offering tickets for bookings 
in Baltimore. Unless the local 
situation is clarified,, there will be 
no legit presentations fax Washing- 
ton, as. the National theatre there 
is reverting to a film policy rather 
than abandon its racial segregation 
policy. 



'Late Mi Murray, In 
Perfect Heakh, Offers 
Himself Condolences 



New York. 

Editor, Variety 

When I first saw the story-head- 
then $25,000 for the third company, j fog, "Boretz A Busy B'way Lib- 
It's now considered practically refctist," in the July 28 issue of 
impossible to do a single-set. VAREKnt, I was pleasantly sur- 
produetion for less than $60,000. prised and naturally interested in 
Similarly, where the average must- any news a fcout my old friend and 
cal was budgeted for around $40,- ex-collaborator. So I read on . . . 



"The Medium" may also be done 
HJ Italy during the fall-winter sea- 
son Marie Powers, its lead, is va- 
cationing at Nice, on the Kiviera. 



' Rewal Now Off, 



The Shuberts have virtually 
abandoned Plans for producing 
•Bother edition of "The Ziegfeld 
fogies;" at least before next 
•jpwng. Lee Shubert, who returned 
*■"** we * from the Coast, has noti- 
*«Kt various writers, who had suh- 
™«ted material that the show is 
«« for the present, but that he'd 
«*e to retain rights to the numbers 
■ while longer. 

Boflh Danny ' Kayc ^ Marlene 
XMetrich had been mentioned re- 
«»uy as possible stars in a new 
folhes," but neither is immedi- 
?7 available. Bert Labr was 
iw j* vel * set for the assignment 
«rt fan, with e. Y. Harhurg sup- 
g^ng his material, but the deal 
through because the comedian 
»SBted oa retaining rights to the 
J*ewhes ia case he were to leave 
the show. 



0u0~$5O,OQO before the war, few 
tune shows cam be done now for 
less than $200,000. 

Of Debbil Operating Expense 
But even more serious, than the 
skyrocketed production cost is the 
operating expense. For despite the 



eago, where it goes two weeks' fj Uge initial investment, reasonable 



later. The case is the first instance 
of censorship by police in some 
years, the Commissioner of Li- 
censes office having figured in 
most. such incidents in New York 
in recent years. 

Although the language .in "Rob- 
erts'" is admittedly tough, unanim- 
ous opinion of the critics was that 
the lines realistically reflect the 
situation and characters of a war- 
ship crew after months of inaction 
at sea. The play, adapted by Heg- 
gen and Logan from the former'* 
highly praised book of the same 
name, received rave reviews in its 
tryout engagements in New Haven, 
Philadelphia and Baltimore. 



running costs would permit shows 
to regain the production outlay 
more quickly, would extend en- 
gagements considerably and 
greatly increase profits for backers, 
producers and everyone else in- 
volved fn the production. 

In general, operating costs have 
about doubled since before the 
war. As the cost of Irving has 
squeezed all the groups employed 
in the theatre, the various unions, 
have won wage concessions,, and 
the running expense of shows has 



"Allen Bewetz who, with the late 
John Murray authored "Room Ser- 
vice" l'O years ago . . ." and there 
I stopped-. The blow was too sud- 
den, too unexpected. 

I was profoundly shocked to 
learn, in this; offhand manner, of 
the sudden passing way of John 
Murray, who happens to have 
been, by the oddest coincidence, 
myself. Over and over I read the 
item, refusing to believe It, but 
there it was, the bitter truth star- 
ing me In the face — I was dead 
as a doornail. 

It is- still a little difficult for 
me to adjust to- the tragic fact 
that I am '..'«. gone; that I ami, 
alas, no longer with us. Needless 
to say, I mourn my loss . . . par- 
ticularly since ray state of perfect 



Hollywood, Aug. Id. 
Differences between the manage- 
ment and authors of "High Button. 
Shoes" now involve not only royal- 
ties on the two American compan- 
ies but also distribution, of the re- 
turn on the English production. 
The issues have been referred to 
the Dramatists Guild and may gw 
to arbitration unless a settlement 
is worked out. 

Under the deal for the British 
edition. Jack Hyfton, the London 
producer, paid a $10,000 advance to 
Monte Proser and Joseph Kipaessv 
the original producers. There's 
now a dispute over how this coin 
is to be. shared with Jule Sty**,, 
composer: Sammy Cahn, lyricist, 
and Stephen Longstreet, author of 
the book. 

Terms for the English produc- 
tion call for Hylton to pay 12%- of 
the weekly gross, plus 25% of the 
profits; after the original invest- ' 
merit has been regained. Half the 
$10,000 advance was against the 
12% weekly royalty and the bal- 
ance against the 25% share of the 
net. In addition, of course, the 
Dramatists Guild minimum basic 
agreement call* foe Styney Cahn 
and Longstreet to get the same 
royalties from the British produc- 
tion that they do from the original 
at the Shubert, N. Y., and the 
second company at. the Great 
Northern,. ChL 
Original Production Started It 
That's where the original dispute 
comes in,, however. For there's 
still contention, over what the roy- 
alties should be on the original 
production. It was first agreed that, 
the authors were to get 2*3% each, 
but they were sufoseqjaentliy asked 
by the management to accept 
a straight 2%. Proser claims 
they agreed verbally to the cut, and 
Sty ne and Cahn are reported will- 
ing to go along, but. Longstreet is 
holding out for the- originally stip- 
ulated percentage. 

Meanwhile, the management has 
been forwarding flat royalties of 
2% to the Guild, representing the 
authors, but the latter haven't ac- 
cepted it, so. the. money is. being 
held in escrow pending settlement 
of the question. Presumably, the 
royalties, from the English produc- 
tion will also be held by the Guild 
until the dispute is. is. ironed out. 

Pending decision on the manage- 
ments court appeal,, the regular 
payments to Mary Hunter, whose 
contract to direct the show was 
breached, are also being held in 
escrow. The arbitration award has 
been affirmed by the N. Y. supreme 
court and the appellate division, 
and is now before the court of 
appeals at Albany. The payments 
amount to 23/4% of the gross from 
the New York, Chicago and English 
companies (including the $30,000 
advance from Hyitem), but Miss 
Hunter must pay the legal cost of 
defending the award. 



Teasdaie Poem Is Setting . 
For New Opera Collab 

Glens Falls, N. Y., Aug. 10. 

Stanley P. Trusselle, director of 
music in Argyle (N. YJ- schools, 
and playwright Eugene Pillot are 
collaborating on an operetta 
based on music Trusselle set to 
Sara Teasdale's poem, "Pierrot," 
for production this season. 

Pillot. has concentrated hi recent 
years on plays for schools, and is 
author of several textbooks of 
plays for high school performance. 



soared. For instance, although the health and excellent spirits left 
minimum, pay for actors has risen, 
that's a relatively minor factor 
alongside the salary increases won 
by featured leads and established 
supporting players. In most shows 
there are few minimum scale peo- 
ple but the budget for middle- 
bracket and featured players has 
multiplied. 

One of the major expenses In the 
operation of a show, either musi- 
cal or straight play, Is the theatre 
rental. In most eases fan outstand- 
ing exception was "Arsenic and 
Old Lace," for which Howard 
Lindsay and Russel Grouse had the 
Fulton theatre, N.Y., on a flat rate 
of $850 a week), the house gets a , 
guarantee against a share of the I 
(Continued on page 51) I 



me so thoroughly unprepared for 
it. Ah well, one must adjust to 
realities . . . 

Unfortunately, however, one of 
the realities is that I too am 
extremely busy librettist at the 
moment and as a result the last 
rites will have to be conducted 
without the presence of my late 
lamented self. Realizing that this 
may be somewhat embarassing 
perhaps unnerving — to some of 
my friends and fellow mourners 
I would greatly appreciate it if 
you ran an item offering my re- 
grets and condolences and ex- 
plaining away my inability to at- 
tend my own funeral. 

Yours-in-sympathy, 

Jofwt Murray 



JERRY LESTER REVUE 
READIED m COAST 

Los Angeles, Aug. 10. 

Musical revue. "Raise the Raof," 
co-starring Jerry Lester and Chill 
Williams, will he produced on the 
Coast by Maurice Duke, opening 
early next month at the TSvoli 
theatre, San Francisco. 

Bah, by Sherwood's orchestra 
will handle the music 



Ronesm Dates Started 
Aside Due to Campaign 

Paul Robeson has advised his 
concert managers, Columbia Art- 
ists Mgt, that he wants no dates 
booked before the presidential 
election,* due to bis interest and 
active participation in the Henry 
Wallace campaign. Only excep- 
tions are two dates set kt Detroit, 
Oct. 22. and 23. 

Singer-actor is doing a Carib- 
bean tetnr after the election, with 
five dates in Jamaica, and others fa 
Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Cub*. 
In December he has two dates in 
Montreal and two in Toronto. 



50 



LEGITIMATE— COXCEItT 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



'Glad It Happened While I'm Alive,' Sez 
Rodgers of Record-Breaking Concert 



• The 
20,000 



season's record turnout- 
people, ' with 2,000 more \ 



turned away — filled Lewisohn Sta 
dium, N. Y., Saturday (7) night for 
the season's final concert — an all 
Rodgers-Hammerstein program. It 
was the first time in the Stadium's 
31-year history that a full evening 
had been devoted to American mu- 
sical comedy and film music. It 
was also proof to the lpnghairs 
that Rodgers & Hammerstein be- 
long In the select grade of writers 
of folk genre music, right alongside 
of the Lehars, Strausses, Hombergs 
and Stolzes. 

The program had more perti- 
nency and appeal than the previous 
evening's Night in Vienna, more 
even than a Gershwin program. 
This was music more of the present 
—part and parcel of the modern- 
day fabric — and it registered amaz- j gn) phed. 
ingly well. It was also a tribute to 
two of the best-liked personally, 
and best-rated professionally, tune- 
smiths on Broadway and a feather 
in legit's cap. "All I want to say," 
said Richard Rodgers, in a few 
felicitous words at intermission- 
time, "is that I'm awfully glad this 
happened to me while I'm alive." 
Program was a sort of concert 
"version of three R&H Broadway 
hits, and one of their films, in or- 
chestral and vocal selections from 
•JAllegro;" "Carousel," "Oklaho- 
ma!" and the film, "State Fab." 
The clever orchestrations of Don 
. Walker and Robert Russell Ben- 
nett, hardly sufficiently appreci- 
ated on Broadway when onstage 
doings obscure the artistry in the 
orchestra pit, brought out the mu- 
sic's full quality as well as its right- 
ful place high in permanent music 
Americana. Especially when played 
by a superb orchestra like the N. V. 
Philharmonic. 

Rodgers the Batoneer 
Gladys Swarthout, Annamary 
Dickey (from "Allegro"), Robert 
Weede and Thomas Hayward were 
the soloists; Radio City Music 
Hall's Alexander Smallens guest- 
conduc.ted, and the- "Allegro" 
chorus of 40 assisted. Soloists did 
a sparkling job, although the fact 
that they sang from sheet-music in- 
stead of having memorized'the mu- 
sic mitigated against its full effect. 
Miss Swarthout showed lack of 
animation in "So Far" but did a 
beautiful job with "You'll Never 
Walk Alone." Weede did well with 
all his numbers, and a brilliant bit 
with the "Soliloquy" from "Carou- 
sel." Miss Dickey's cool, limpid 
singing was an asset throughout, as 



Strawhats Into Short 



Closeup of the strawhats operat- 
ing this year in the area north of 
N. Y. has been completed by Mar- 
vin Flame Productions, with about 
3,600 feet of 16m film shot during 
the last two months. The material 
has been tagged "Young Man in a 
Strawhat" and will be packaged in 
a short. 

Activity in about 25 summer the- 
atres was photographed by Ed 
Hughes, an eastern cameraman, 
under the direction of Paul Ben- 
ard. Besides .shots in and about 
strawhat theatres, stars appearing 
at summer theatres this season, 
such as Gertrude Lawrence, Jackie 
Cooper, John Carradine, Mischa 
Auer and John Loder, were photo- 



Grand Ballet London Bow 
Singles Out 4 U.S. Dancers 

London, Aug. 3. 
Four U. S. dancers were singled 
out for special praise as the Mar- 
quis de Cuevas' Grand Ballet de 
Monte Carlo opened its London 
season at Covent Garden last night 
(2 1, Dancers are Rosella High- 
tower, Marjorie Tallchief, Andre 
Eglevsky and George Skibine. An- 
other American prominent with 
the company is William Dollar the 
ballet master, formerly with Amer- 
ican Ballet Co. and Ballet Interna- 
tional. 

Season, which will run till Aug. 
28, opened auspiciously. Sol Hurok, 
U. S. impresario, attended the 
opening, lending credence to ru- 
mors that he may tie up with the 
Marquis to present the Grand Bal- 
let in the U. S. next season. 



Met Shutdown a Realty Deal? 



Continued from p.iffe 1 , 



Ballet Russe Drops To 
$3 Top For N. Y. Met Run, 
In New Low For House 

~* The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo 
is setting a $3 top for its three- 
week engagement at the N. Y. 
Metropolitan Opera House this fall, 
to mark the first time for so low 
a price since ballet started regu- 
larly at the Met in 1935. Scale will 
be 60c to $3,, with prices including 
the federal tax. Engagement starts 
Sept. 18. 

B.O. top at the Met in recent 
seasons has been $4.80, with $6.60 
for opening nights. That applied 
to engagements of Ballet Theatre, 
Ballet Russe and Original Ballet 
Russe. Ballet Russe's current eco- 
nomy move is dictated by the fact 
that the company has been danc- 
ing in recent seasons at N. Y.'s 
City Center at a $3 top, as well as 
the feeling that its regular fans 
won't go for the usual Met $4.80 
rate. 

Company, celebrating its 10th 
anniversary this year has lined up 
a gala season at the Met, with 
several guest stars to augment the 
regular company. In addition to 
guests Alicia Markova, Anton 
Dolin, Leondei Massine and Mia 
Slavenska, already announced, 
company will present Jose Torres, 
Spanish dancer, in his U. S. debut. 
Torres is chief dancer at the Paris 
Opera as well as maitre de ballet 



AGMA Holds $3,560 Of 
Ballet Bond for Terpers 

As an aftermath to cancellation 
by Ballet Theatre of its fall tour- 
ing season, the American Guild of 
Musical Artists is holding part of 
BT's bond with them, to cover 
sums still due the dancers. 
AGMA's contract with BT is a 
year's pact, in which dancer is 
guaranteed 36 weeks of work. Usu- 
ally it's 21 weeks of performances 
and 15 rehearsal weeks, the latter 
at half-pay.* 

Current pact's expiration date is 
Aug. 31. There are due one or two 
rehearsal weeks to 40 BT dancers, 
involving about $3,500. Some 
dancers worked 34 weeks, others 
35. AGMA returned part of BT's 
original bond, and when individual 
contracts expire, AGMA will pay 
off the dancers from the balance. 
This, apparently' is satisfactory to 
BT execs. 




- TI - . .. _ of the Etoile de l'Opera Comique 

was Hayward s contributions. The 0 f p ar i s . 

chorus did yeoman work all eve- ' 
ning assisting singers, and had its 
own spot with an intriguing ren- 
dition of "One Foot, Other Foot" 
and "Clambake." 

Rodgers conducted the finale 
number, when the entire ensemble 
joined in "Oklahoma!," proving 
that a baton is only another accom- 



Sartre's 'Crime* Okay In 
London West End Switch 



London, Aug. 10. 
Transfer of the Jean-Paul Sartre 
plishment in his magical music I political melodrama, "Crime Pas- 



knapsack. 



Bron. 



Current London Shows 

(Figir show weeks, of run ) 
London, Aug. 10. 
"A La Carte," Savoy (8). 
"All My Sons," Globe (8). , 
VAnna Lucasta," Majesty's (41). 
"Annie Get Gini," Col's'ni (62). 
"Bless the Bride," Adelphl (62). 
"Bob's Your Uncle," Sav. (14). 
"Cage Peacock," Strand (18). 
"Caribbean Rhap," Wales (10). 
"Carissima," Palace (22). 
"Chiltcrn Hundreds," Vaude (50). 
"Crime Passionel," Garrick (1). 
"Edward My Son," Lyric (63). 
"Four, Five, Six," York (22). 
"Glaconda Smile," New (10). 
"Glass Menagerie," H'market (2). 
"Happiest Days," Apollo (20). 
"Linden Tree," Duchess (52). 
"Little Lambs," Ambass, (18). 
"Man Must Die," St. Mart. (1). 
"Off Record," Piccadilly (58). 
"Oklahoma!" Drury Lane (67). 
"Paragort," Fortune (14). 
"People Like Us," Wynd, (5), 
"Relapse," Phoenix (28). 
"Sit Down," Comedy (1). 
"Starlight Roof," Hipp (40). 
"Travelers Joy," Crit. (10). 
"Together Again," Vic Pal. (70)j 
"Worms View," Whitehall (67)/ 
"Written For Lady," Garrick (3). 



sionel," from the Neighborhood to 
I the Garrick last Wednesday (4) 
was the lone bright spot in an 
otherwise dull legit week here. 
Particularly acclaimed was the su- 
perb acting of Michael Gough, 
Joyce Redman and Basil Sydney. 

Not quite so fortunate was the 
preem of "Sit Down a. Minute, 
Adrien," at the Comedy Thursday 
(5). Piece emerged as an inept 
domestic comedy. Leisurely pro- 
duced and moderately acted, it's 
unlikely to succeed. 

"A Man Must Die," an involved, 
improbable murder drama, opened 
at the Saint Martins last Wednes- 
day (4i. Indifferently acted and 
produced, its success is unlikely. 



' Molly Picon will headline the 
"Cavalcade of Stars" presented at 
Convention Hall in Saratoga 

t rings, N. Y., under the auspices 
the Jewish community, Sunday 
night (15). 



Current Road Shows 

(Aug. 9-21) 

"Anne Get Your Gun"— Shubert, 
Chi. (9-21). 

"April Fool" — Geary, Frisco 
(9-21 >. 

"Blackouts of 1948"— El Captain, 
L. A.19-21). 

"Carousel" — Biltmore, L. A. 
(9-21). 

"Heaven On Earth" — Shubert, 
Bosl. U6-21). 

"High Button Shoes"— Gt. North- 
ern, Chi. (9-2U. 

"John Loves Mary"— Harris, Chi. 
(9-21). 

"Magdalena"— Aud., L. A. (9-14); 
Curran, Frisco (16-21). 

"Oklahoma!" — Erlanger, Chi. 
(9-21). 

"Oklahoma!" — Fox, Spokane 
(16-21). Strand, Vancouver (9-14). 



John Garfield, leaving for the 
I Coast Sunday (8) after filming 
I shots on "Numbers Racket" in 
I N. Y., stated he was coming back 
in the fall, either to do a new play 
(as yet undecided on), or the revi- 
val of "Peer Gynt" in the Paul 
Green adaptation . . Don Hirst, 
whose last legit stint was at Bucks 
County Playhouse last year as Mer- 
cury in "Amphitryon 38,"' will do 
The Fool in "Elizabeth the Queen" 
at Ridgefield (Conn/) Summer The- 
atre next week (15). He's scripter 
on NBC-TV's "You Are an Artist" 
. . Carroll McComas to be featured 
in Bucks Playhouse's "The Gilded 
Cage," week of Aug. 23. 

Joseph Kipness, co-producer 
with Monte Proser of "High But- 
ton Shoes," at the Shubert, N. Y., 
flew to Chicago over the weekend 
to o.o. the second company, at the 
Great Northern there . . . Morris 
Jacobs, general manager for Rodg- 
ers & Hammerstein, and John 
Fernley, casting director, were in 
Chicago last week to sign the 
"Annie Get Your Gun" road com- 
pany to new season contracts . . . 
With Harold Fi-eedman in Europe, 
Janet Colin is temporarily heading 
the Brandt & Brandt play depart- 
ment . . . Wynn Murray has joined 
the cast of the incoming musicale, 
"Heaven on Earth" ... Arch Sel- 
wyn, on the Coast for the last 13 
years, intends returning to Broad- 
way with the production of "Two 
Cents Plain," a comedy by Don 
Appell, and the presentation, in 
association - with James Merrill 
Herd, of Paul Heiman's adaptation 
of Kafka's "The Trial," with Joseph 
Schildkraut as star. 

Radio comedian-writer Goodman 
Ace and scripter Nat Hiken are 
collaborating on a satirical revue 
about the theatre, to be produced 
this season by Anthony B. Farrell 
. . . Georgia Gibbs, who was sought 
by Monte Proser for the singing 
lead in his incoming "Heaven on 
Earth," may be booked into the 
producer's Copacabana nitery, N.Y. 
. . LeTv Leslie is gathering mate- 
rial for a "Blackbirds of 1948". . . 
Sam Wanamaker will stage "Good- 
bye, My Fancy," with Madeleine 
Carroll. . "Where's Charley?" may 
be the title of the musical version 
of "Charley's Aunt." 



Shows in Rehearsal 

"Grandma's Diary" . — American 
Theatre Group. 

"Heaven on Earth," musical — 
Monte Proser and Ned C. Litwack. 

"Love Life," musical— Cheryl 
Crawford. 

"Mister Roberts" (second com- 
pany) — Leland Hayward. 

"Small Wonder," musical— Geo. 
Nichols, 3d. 

"Town House"— Max Gordon. 



compromised on a request for a 
system of unemployment insurance 
and social security, staled Us posi- 
tion in wires to Met and the press. 
Editorials in leading papers ex- 
pressed "regret at the situation, 
most stating the Met must not 
close, some stating that another 
management should step in, that 
N. Y. City should take over, and 
one suggesting that a Broadway 
legit manager show them how to 
do it. The 12 unions involved met 
Monday (9i and offered to meet 
with management and "cooperate 
to'the fullest" to insure a season; 
a meeting is scheduled for tomor- 
row (Thurs.). 

Few discussed what, if anything, 
could be behind the Met's appar- 
ently sudden move, or delved into 
the background of a situation that 
found the Met with a $220,000 de* 
ficit after an extended season that 
was 85% subscribed and 98% sold 
out, and the longest and most suc- 
cessful tour in its history. None 
brought out into the open the 
theory hinted at in the trade, but 
so far carefully hidden from the 
public— the most startling, yet 
highly plausible, theory of them 
all. 

. Deem Bldg. Passe for Opera 

^This was, that the Met move 
is a long premeditated one — a real 
estate deal, pure and simple, to 
get rid of the opera house at 39th 
street and Broadway once and for 
all, to get out from under an em- 
barrassing financial situation, and 
make a lot of money for some peo- 
ple. Theory is, in elaboration, that 
the outdated house, with its lack 
of stage and storage space, with 
its costs of operation offsetting 
sellout biz at a $7.20 top to produce 
deficits, is passe for opera but okay 
for an office building or textile 
centre. The Met is contiguous to 
the garment centre. 

Belief is that some board mem- 
bers who own the property want to 
sell the valuable blftck-square, cen- 
ter-city property; tear the build- 
ing down, and build a modern of- 
fice structure. The Met board, in 
large part (goes the theory) is com- 
posed of people no longer inter- 
ested in the social prestige of opera 
as were their fathers. The venture 
is a headache to them, and they 
want out before it becomes a heavy 
drain. 

As long as the Met came near 
breaking even, they wouldn't dis- 
turb the setup. But when it ran 
capacity, and got additional aid 
from radio and records and still 
lost heavily, it was time to quit. 
They can realize a lot of money 
from sale of the property, and have 
their heart set on the move. Trade 
belief is that the board made up 
its mind to this some time ago 
and won't be deterred now. If pub- 
lic outcry created demand for an- 
other board or management, so 
much the better; the new board 
would have to buy the property 
irom the old to continue giving 
opera, there. It's this part of the 
trade adhering to the above theory 
that doesn't think there will be 
opera again at the Met. 

Allied with this theory is one 
about the Met attitude towards 
unions. The Met announced that 
it had had difficulty with its 12 
unions in getting them to agree 
to a status quo in contracts for the 
new season, and that it had had no 
favorable response despite several 
deadlines set. It's reported that the 
Met began negotiations last Febru- 
ary and that such unions as the 
stagehands and musicians constant- 
ly delayed answer. Some in the 
trade believe that the Met would 
have given in to musicians' de- 
mands for a pay hike, since they 
hadn't had one in two years, or at 
least done something about social 
security, especially when the union 
volunteered to give benefit con- 
certs to raise the money needed 

But segments of the Met board 
are believed to have adopted a 
rigid attitude towards the unions 
especially the stagehands and mu- 
sicians, because of featherbedding 
practices of the past several years 
and various extras and overage 
charges. This may have lent cre- 
dence to charges on labor's side 
that the Met's cancellation move 
was a means of "intimidating" the 
various unions, a political move in 
keeping with the times and a "lock- 
out," and the claim on manage- 
ment's side that it "was being 
steadily throttled by the union set- 
up 

More Than a 220G Deficit 
Meantime, charges and recrimi- 
nations have been flying about from 
all sides. Some have wondered 



why a board representing so vast a 
structure as the Met setup should 
h;.ve been cared off by a $220,000 
deficit, when the Pittsburgh Sym- 
phony, for instance, drops $250,000 
annually and manager Ed Spector 
goes out and collects it in dona- 
tions, and when Lewisohn Stadium, 
N. Y, will have lost $80,000 this 
summer (it usually drops $50,000 
to $60,000 a season ) and one wom- 
an, Mrs. Minnie Guggenheimcr, 
scurries around and raises the 
needed dough. 

The Met- notified 400 members 
of the company that their services 
were no longer required, adding to 
an increasing roster of talent out 
of work through such closings as 
"Brigadoon.V "Allegro" and "Look, 
Ma, I'm Dancin' " on Broadway,... 
and Ballet Theatre's half-season 
cancellation. Board ' chairman 
George A'. Sloan stated that "it 
would be utterly impossible to pre- 
sent a new 'season now." But the 
trade has pointed out that man- 
agements of the singers involved 
haven't looked around for substi- 
tute jobs for their talent because 
(a) local managers are away in 
August and management's sales 
forces can't get started until Sep- 
tember, and (b) because practical- 
ly all concert series around the 
country are completely filled al- 
ready. The singers would still be 
available a month from now. 

The unions have raised several 
queries. The Met's 1946-'47 season 
ended with a small profit. Yet dur- 
ing 1947-'48 the Met took in $183,- 
000 more than the season before, 
and still had a, deficit of over $200,- 
000. This would mean an expendi- 
ture of nearly $414,000 more last 
season than the year before, and 
the unions want to know how 
come? Also, how was it that the 
Met couldn't anticipate the sea- 
son's deficit. Couldn't they figure 
their budget, knowing their costs 
and the capacity take they had all 
season? 

Management can point to the 
$220,000 deficit last season as being 
represented by increases to cer? 
| tain unions; by increase in touring 
costs, etc. It foresaw, it claimed, 
a larger deficit this season, espe- 
cially if it granted any wage hikes 
or other union demands. Its share 
of unemployment insurance and so- 
cial security on a $2,500,000 payroll 
would be a sum of $125,000, in- 
creasing its costs or probable defi- 
cit by th. t much more. Manage- 
ment claimed it saw no way of 
covering its deficits from "angels;" 
that that sort of money wasn't 
around any more. And members 
claimed that board chairman 
S.oan and president Charles M. 
bpoiford had the unanimous sup- 
port of the whole board in its ac- 
tions. Met's shutdown will mark 
only the third time it has done so 
in its 65-year history. 



Strawhat Jottings 



7rn1L Ro, n 0n , has deal with the 
United Booking Office to operate 
his Montclair (N.J.) strawhat as a 
regular road stand this fall and 
winter. Initial booking for the 
theatre will be the Mae West re- 
vival of "Diamond HI," for two 
weeks starting Sept. 27 Leo 
Chalzell 1. not fully recovered ' from 
a recent illness, has been forced to 
give up the part of the King in the 
upcoming production of "Hamlet," 
at the Barter theatre, Abingdon, 
Va He s now set to play the less 
active role of Polonius, with Fred 
Warnner taking over the part of 
the King. Jacqueline Logan as the 

nte p d Ge,Ty Jedd as OPhelia! 
Robert Breen is staging and play- 
ing the title part 6 Show plays 
seven performances, starting Aug 
23, but may tour the south beeiri- 
ning about Nov. 1 . . . Marv Bol-mri 

Wife \ h h e % ging P « the 
wife, at the Olney (Md.) theatre 
succeeding Arthur Sircom. Show 
opened last night (Tues.) . . . k ttv 
Carlisle gave her infant son Chris- 
,rX he l h A s s , tage ba Ptism Saturday 
(7) at Bucks County playhouse, 
New Hope, Pa. She carried the 
baby on for the curtain call of "O 
Mistress Mine." Papa Moss Hart 
was out front. 

• • - Guy Kibbee and his daughter 
Shirley guest in the tryout of 

Widow's Walk," a comedy by 
Howard Richardson and Francis 
Goforth, at the Barter theatre Ab- 
mgton, Va., starting Monday (16). 

• "Only Fools Hunt Foxes" a 
farce by Tom McElhany, will be 

t i' led „°, ut ! he , w;ek starting Tues- 
day (17) at Cragsmoor, N, Y. 



ff«dpesd»T> August 11, 1948 



Chi B.O. Continues Its Boff Pace; 
'Annie' 25G, 'Oklahoma!' 



Chicago, Aug. 10. -f 

Chi legit take has been about 
m% ahead of last summer and this 
last week continued in the same 
iein with the exception of "John 
Loves Mary,'' which is evidently 
waiting around to tour after Labor 
nav "Oklahoma!" had a strong 
week despite mixed reviews and 
mail orders look good for the five 
week run. "High Button Shoes" 
seems set through 1948 with an- 
other virtual capacity week. "An- 
nie Get Your Gun" got $25,000. 

Only legiter not booked is the 
Studebaker. All the others are set 
with road versions of Broadway 
hits or tryouts. First of the visitors 
will be "Mr. Roberts," at the 
Erlanger, Sept. 7. Due in Sept. 13 
are "Angel in the Wings," Black- 
stone, and the new Ruth Gordon 
production, "Leading Lady," Sel- 
wyn. "Streetcar Named Desire" 
rolls into the Harris Sept. 21. Also 
slated for local stands, but with no 
definite date, are "Allegro" and 
"The Winslow Boy." 

Estimates for Last Week 

"Annie Get Your Gun," Shubert 
(5th wk) (2,100; $4.94). Biz held 
about even, with the final take 
about $25,000. 

"High Button Shoes," Great 
Northern (12th wk). (1,500; $6.18). 
Three months of almost perfect 
b.o.; again $37,000. 

"John Loves Mary," Harris (26th 
wk) (1,000; $3.71). Seems to be 
waiting around until September. 
Lean $10,000. 

"Oklahoma!," Erlanger (1st wk) 
(1,334; $4.33). Still excellent in its 
third engagement here; $28,800. 



'Horodora' Mild $20,000 
In Six in Louisville 

Louisville, Aug. 10, 
"Florodora," fifth in the current 
summer series of musical shows at 
Iroquois Amphitheatre, was a treat 
for the oldsters, but garnered only 
$20,000 in six performances Aug. 
2-7. With Arthur Treacher, 
Helene Arthur, Jack Goode and 
Jack Albertson in the leads, pro- 
vided with excellent support by 
John Haynes, Betty Ann Busch, 
Doris Patston and Dick Smart, the 
venerable musical met with favor- 
able press comment, and word-of- 
mouth publicity helped. 

"Great Waltz," with music by Jo- 
hann Strauss, and cast headed by 
Walter Cassel, Ruby Mercer, Adel- 
aide Bishop and A. J. Herbert fea- 
tured, is current and final al fresco 
musical of the season. 



1JEGITP1ATE 51 




April Fool 

Santa Barbara, Cal., Aug. 6. 

Russell Lewis and Howard Young pro- 
duction of comedy in three acts (tour 
scenes) by Norman Krasna and Groucho 
Marx. Stars Otto Kruger; features Kath- 
• erine Alexander. Directed by Mabel Albert- 
eon. Settings by George Jenkins. Opened 
at Loberto, Santa Barbara, Aug. », 



•481 



S3. CO top. 

Wilson Kenneth Patterson 

Ed Davis Otto Kruger 

Walter P. Schaefter Russell Hicks 

Lily Schaeffer Lela Bliss 

Wr. McPherson Leonard Mudle 

Kay Davis .Katherlne Alexander 

Anne Davis Ann Henderson 

Richard Coburn Dick Hogen 

Mr. Jasper Harlan Bl-Igga 

George /willing Edward Clark 

Amy /.willing Theresa Lyon 



With this script, Coast producers 
Russell Lewis and Howard Young 
fire the opening salvo of what they 
expect will be a production bar- 
rage this year, -with some half- 
dozen properties planned. Repre- 
sented briefly on Broadway last 
season with the revival of "Tonight 
at 8:30," starring Gertrude Law- 
rence, they're making an early ap- 
pearance this year with this new 
Norman Krasna-Groucho Marx 
script. It's due for a late Septem- 
ber bow under Theatre Guild au- 
spices and there's no reason why 
it shouldn't still be running well 
at the season's end. 

"April Fool" is no hilarious com- 
edy, but a pleasant, amusing play 
that provides an evening of 
chuckles and good feeling. Basic 
premise is a good one in that it pro- 
vides a springboard for laughs and 
also hits home to the average the- 
atregoer. 

Script deals with the adventures 
Of a harried business executive who 
suddenly retires after 28 years in 
harness. He discovers that the 
green fields of leisure aren't as suit- 
able for middleaged grazing as he 
had expected. Florida sounds al- 
luring, but after weeks of incessant 
sunshine he remembers that New 
York has four seasons (sometimes 
In one day). And tarpon fishing, 
that wonderful sport that looks so 
exciting in photographs, probably 
could be a lot of fun if a guy didn't 
get seasick. 

Script needs a minimum of work 
before Broadway and cast needs to 
"cquire a little better pacing. 
..here s no reason, however, to be- 
lieve that these things won't be 
taken care of during current Cali- 
lorala shape-up tour. 

Producers have given the script 
a fine production and assembled a 
topnotch cast to work under the ex- 
perienced hand of Mabel Albert- 
son. Otto Kruger, starred, turns in 
a -IS® Performance as the executive 
with Katherine Alexander register- 
ing solidly as his wife. Russell 
Hicks and Lela Bliss shine as the 
vqss and his spouse. In lesser roles 
Leonard Mudle, Harlan Briggs, Ed- 
ward Clark, Theresa Lyon, Ann 
Anderson and Dick Hogan regis- 

George Jenkins, on loanout from 
Samuel Goldwyn, has contributed 
wo excellent sets representing 
Kruger's office and his Florida 
apartment. Kop. 



'Sundown' 12G 
In Boston 



Boston, Aug. 10. 
"Sundown Beach," in its second 
and final week at the Shubert, lost 
ground, to drop to an estimated 
$12,000, still pretty good for a town 
as dead as this at this time of year. 
Major cast change was effected this 
week, Phyllis Thaxter replacing 
Louisa Horton. 

Legit prospects continue good. 
"Heaven on Earth" is next at the 
Shubert, coming in Aug. 19, with 
"Small Wonder" following at the 
Majestic Aug. 30, "Town House" 
at the Colonial Sept. 2, and "Love 
Life" at the Shubert Sept. 13. 

Boston Summer Theater, mean- 
time, is in the middle of a big 
season. It has been averaging $9,- 
000 a week so far with package 
shows in the air-cooled New Eng- 
land Mutual Hall. A week ago it 
went close to an estimated $14,000 
with Ilka Chase; last week Ruth 
Chatterton got an estimated $11 - 
000, great. Also doing nice biz 
were Madge Evans at the Wellesley 
Summer Theatre and Sidney Black- 
mer at the South Shore Players in 
Cohasset. 



Prod. Worsens 

Continued from page 49 

gross, usually between 30% and 
40%. Theatre terms have generally 
become steeper in recent seasons, 
not only because theatre operating 
costs have risen, but as the de- 
mand has exceeded the available 
houses. 

A typical Broadway theatre, 
which occasionally houses a musi- 
cal but usually plays straight 
shows, normally gets a guarantee 
of $3,500 to $4,000 a week, but its 
running expense" is about $4,500, 
including rent, heat, light, mana- 
ger, engineer, doormen, ushers, 
backstage department heads, re- 
pairs and renewals, etc. Although 
all deals are subject to negotia- 
tion, an average straight play may 
have a stop limit (which both 
house and producer have the right 
to invoke) of, say, $10,000. Or a 
musical may have a stop limit of 
$18,000 or so. 

In any case, if a show grosses 
below the stop limit, either the 
theatre or producer, whichever 
one figures he's losing money on 
the deal, may close. In the case of 
a straight play with a stop limit of 
$10,000 and grossing $9,500, the 
show may be earning a small 
operating profit, but the house's 
expense may be higher than its 
35% share. 

Road Costs Worse 

While costs have been rising in 
New York, they have zoomed even 
more on the road. Latest headache 
for producers is the recent 17% 
increase in railroad rates east of 
the Mississippi, which will boost 
transportation expense substantial- 
ly for touring shows. At the same 
time, all other prices have been 
soaring out of town, in many cases 
exceeding New York levels and 
requiring higher pay to the per- 
sonnel of travelling productions. 



B way Reverses Trend With Grosses 
Bouncing Upwards; 'Ice' 53G in 9, 
'Annie' $22,000, USA' 42G, 'Shoes'35G 



'BABES' SWEET 44G IN 
PITT ALFRESCO CLOSE 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 10. 

"Babes in Toyland," closing 
show of summer opera season at 
Pitt Stadium, did second best gross 
of the year, getting strong $44,000. 
It was only topped by the opener, 
"Show Boat." At that, the Vic- 
tor Herbert operetta got rained out 
completely one night or would 
have been much heavier. It. had 
the distinction, too, of getting the 
first complete sellout of the series 
last Friday night (6), when stand- 
ing room was sold, and that hasn't 
happened before. 

The kid trade was responsible 
for putting "Babes"' in the upper 
brackets. They came in droves, 
and of course their parents were 
with them, and that's what sent 
trade soaring. Most of it was 
window sale, too, since there hasn't 
been a particularly big advance for 
show and cast had no names, with 
couple of leads going to local 
people. 

'Okla!' Wows Vancouver 

Vancouver, Aug. 10. 

Playing its first local engage- 
ment, "Oklahoma!" is doing abso- 
lute capacity this week at the 
Strand theatre, with an extra 
matinee. 

Gross for the nine performances 
is expected to reach $50,000. 

Bergner 10G, Olney 

OIney, Md., Aug. 10. 
Elizabeth Bergner did over $10,- 
000 at Olney theatre in "Escape 
Me .Never" last. week. 

It was. season's second biggest 
gross. 

"Susie," a new -comedy by An- 
thony Brown and James Truex, will 
be tested Aug. 18-21 at Monomoy 
theatre, Chatham, Mass. ..."Four 
Flights Up," mystery-comedy by 
Ken Parker, will be preemed Aug. 
26-30 at High Grange summer the- 
atre, Highland, N. Y. The author 
is a skater in "Howdy, Mr. Ice," at 
the Center theatre, N. Y. 



'Bloomer Girl' in Dallas 
Record With $50,642 

Dallas, Aug. 10. 
'Bloomer Girl," sixth production 
of the season at the State Fair 
Casino, wound up a banner week 
by breaking all boxoffice records 
in the seven-year history of the 
local Starlight Operettas. Accord- 
ing to Charles R. Meeker, Jr., man- 
aging director, week's receipts in- 
cluding tax, was $50,642, and this 
despite the fact the opening per- 
formance last Monday was can- 
celled because of rain. A total of 
32,575 persons attended the six 
performances. 

The previously established box- 
office high was the approximate 
$49,000, including tax, garnered 
during the second week of "Show 
Boat" last summer. 



Tougher Terms 

Theatre rental terms have also 
toughened considerably on the 
road in the last few seasons, par- 
ticularly for tryout shows. For in- 
stance, although "Mister Roberts' 1 
did capacity for its entire three- 
and - a - half weeks of tuneup in 
New Haven, Philadelphia and Bal- 
timore, it lost more than $10,000 
on, a gross of about $90,000 for 
the three engagements. 

Although it required about 30 
stagehands, the show didn't re 
ceive the same concessions in that 
category as "Bonanza Bound" was 
given in Philly, presumably be 
cause the latter was a musical. On 
the other hand, "Roberts" and the 
one-set, low-budget "Me and Mol- 
ly,' both straight plays, got identi- 
cal terms for backstage crew, even 
though "Roberts" was a certain 
b.o. smash and had a much heavier 
production. 

For most out-of-town engage- 
ments, the theatre shares on only 
a limited amount of the advertis- 
ing and other mutual expense. Yet 
it gets a straight percentage, rang- 
ing from 30% to 40% of the gross. 
In former years, the theatre share 
was on a sliding scale of, say, 35% 
on the first $20,000 and 20% on 
all above that figure. As In New 
York, rental terms and conditions 
are generally tougher for Shubert 
houses than for independents, in- 
cluding Marcus Heiman, although 
he and the Shuberts are associa- 
ted in the United Booking Office, 
the national theatre-booking syn- 
dicate, and other ventures. 

Generally speaking, better road 
terms can usually be gotten for a 
Broadway success than for a try- 
out, as the show is a proven com- 
modity, with less risk involved. 
As a result of t h e increasingly- 
prohibitive terms for tryouts, 
managements have shown a de- 
creasing tendency to take shows 
out of town before the Broadway 
presentation, but have come to de- 
pend more and more on preview 
performances before invited or 
benefit audiences. 

The recent boom from two-for- 
one tickets on Broadway indicates 
that there's a potential theatre- 
going public unable to pay prevail- 
ing b.o. prices. That suggests that 
a general reduction in admission 
scales might be helpful. But man 
agers, both in the production and 
theatre operating ends, believe 
such a reduction would be suicidal 
With shows like "Annie" and 
"U.S.A." taking many months to 
pay off, even at virtual capacity, 
the problem is not to expand at- 
tendance but to increase revenue. 

These showmen argue that 
there's only a relatively small au 
dience ready to buy "twofers" but 
unable to pay prevailing prices. 
The theory is that a show succeeds 



Magda 50G, LA.; 
'Carousel' $35,100 

Los Angeles, Aug. 10. 
With one exception improved 
business was noted last week at all 
local legit houses. Only downbeat 
was at Coronet, where "Cupid 
Thumbs His Nose" slipped again. 
Other houses all moved up and 
"Blackouts" and "Lend an Ear,*' 
which have been playing to' capac- 
ity, noticed the upward trend in 
the lengthening advance list. 
Estimates for Last Week 
"Anything Goes," Greek Theatre 
(1st wk) (4,419; $3.60). Got off to 
a smash start with a great $45,000. 
"Blackout" and "Lend An Eear," 
(320th wk) (1,142; $2.40). $17,000. 

"Carousel." Biltmore (2d wk) 
(1,636; $4.20). Up a notch to just 
over $35,100. 

"Cupid Thumbs His Nose," Cor 
onet (255; $3). Dull $2,100. 

"Lend An Ear," Las Palmas (8th 
wk) (388; $3). Again $6,300. 

"Magdalena," Philharmonic Aud 
(2d wk) (2,670; $4.80). Up $1,000 
to great $50,000. 

"Separate Rooms," New Beaux 
Arts (12th wk) (560; $3) up to $4,- 
200. 



'SUNNY' 50G IN ST. LOO 
IN SEASON'S BEST TAKE 

St. Louis, Aug. 10. 

A revised "Sari," Emmerich Kal- 
man's Viennese operetta, and 10th 
offering of the Municipal Theatre 
Assn., teed off a seven-night run 
last night (Mon.) in the alfresco 
playhouse In Forest Park. Opening 
night crowd of 10,031, largest 
opening of the season, brought 
estimated gross of $5,000. 

The Harbach-Hammerstein musi 
cal, "Sunny," wound up its one- 
week stand Sunday (8). Cool 
weather and okay critical reception 
aided in producing a profit-taking 
run. A total of 73,000 payees laid 
approximately $50,000 on the line, 
for the best take of the season. 



♦ After weeks of steadily sinking 
business, Broadway finally got Its 
long expected attendance break 
last week. The seasonal influx of 
visiting tourists and a succession 
of rainy days arrived together, to 
reverse the recent trend and 
bounce grosses upward. 

There were no closings last -week. 
The 14 current shows, having sur- 
vived the slump period, may all 
now continue until after Labor 
Day. Then, with new productions 
taking the available houses,, some 
of the incumbents will tour. 

Business was up again the start 
of this week. At "The Heiress," 
for instance the 'gross for Monday 
night (9) topped $1,000 for the 
first time in eight weeks. 
Estimates for Last Week 
Keys: C (.Comedy), D (Drama), 
CD (Comedy ~Drama), R (Revue), 
M (Musical), O (Operetta). 

"Angel in the Wings," Coronet 
(35th wk) (R-998; $4.80). Intimate 
revue benefited from the general 
surge, going to $17,500, its best 
gross in some weeks; engagement 
has been extended a week to Sept. 
11. 

"Annie Get Your Gun," Imperial 
U17th wk) (M-1,472; $6.60). Irving 
Berlin musical got over $22,000; 
Ethel Merman returns to the cast 
Monday (16). 

"Born Yesterday," Lyceum (131st 
wk) (C-993; $4.80). Also rose to 
nearly $13,000; Judy Holliday vaca- 
tions starting next Monday, with 
Jean Hagen substituting. 

"Command Decision," Fulton 
(34th wk) (D-968; $4.80). Click 
drama had several sellout. 'houses, 
hopping to $14,200 for the week. 

"Finian's Rainbow," 46th Street 
(82d wk) (M-U19; $6). Longrun 
musical comedy got a needed hypo 
from the general upturn; $22,000. 

"Harvey," 48th St U98th wk) 
(C-902; $4.80). Laugh show 
climbed to $9,800; James Dunn re- 
mains three more weeks, with re- 
placement still not set. 

"JHfch Button Shoes," Shubert 
(34th wk) (M-1,387; $6). Up a bit 
to $35,000. 

"Howdy, Mr. Ice," Center (7th 
wk) (R-2,964; $2.88). Influx of out- 
of-towners was particularly felt at 
this skating spec, with the gross 
going to $53,000 for nine perform- 
ances. 

Inside U.S.A.," Century (14th 
wk) (R-1,670; $6). Revue also rode 
the tide to almost $42,000; moves 
Aug. 23 to the Majestic, where the 
capacity will be approximately the 
same. 

"Make Mine Manhattan," Broad- 
hurst (30th wk) (R-I,160: $6). Other 
intimate musical up to $22,000. 

"Mister Roberts," Alvin (25th 
wk) (CD-1,357; $4.80). Boom or 
slump times make little difference 
with this steady sellout; $34,600. 

"Streetcar Named Desire,'* Bar- 
rymore (36th wk) (D-1,064; $4.20). 
The town's other capacity draw got 
another SRO at $27,500; Jessica 
Tandy, Marlon Brando and Kim 
Hunter returned to the cast this 
week. 

"The Heiress," Biltmore (45th 
wk) (D-920; $4.80). Rose with the 
trend; just over $11,400. Manage- 
ment will drop the use of "twofers" 
the last two weeks of the run. - 

"The. Respectful Prostitute," and 
"The Happy Journey," Cort (21st 
wk). Dual bill also profited nicely; 
just over $12,000; "Hope Is The 
Thing With Feathers" replaced. 
"Happy Journey" as the curtain- 
raiser, effective Monday (9). 



or fails on its initial public. If the 
reviews are good the public will 
pay $4.80 for a straight show or 
$6 (sometimes even $6.60) for a 
musical, and will stampede the 
boxoffice for the privilege. If the 
show isn't rated a hit the public 
won't pay $2.40 or even $1.20 for 
tickets. The two-for-one trade, ac- 
cording to this view, is merely a 
mop-up audience that provides a 
little added coin at the end of a 
run, but couldn't make a show in- 
to a hit. 

The same managers also point 
out that when a musical like "An- 
nie" plays to virtual capacity for 
a full year at $6.60 and still doesn't 
pay off the investment, it's obvious- 
ly impossible to reduce prices. The 
problem, they say, is not to in- 
crease theatre attendance, which 
in many cases is already capacity 
for a year or more, but to in- 
crea'se revenue or reduce expenses. 
With business at capacity, the only 
way to boost revenue Is to raise 
prices, which would be prohibitive. 
The only alternative is to decrease 
costs, which no one knows how to 
do. 



Solomon Due Back After 
Boff Israeli Concerts 

Columbus, O., Aug. 10. 

Izler Solomon, conductor of the 
Columbus Philharmonic Orchestra, 
is due to return to the U. S. by air 
Aug. 13, after directing the sum- 
mer season of the Palestine Sym- 
phony Orchestra during two 
periods of fighting and two truces 
in the Holy Land. 

Four concerts were presented in 
Jerusalem during July — and three 
in August — the first musical pro- 
grams in the battle-scarred city In 
nine months. AH were sellouts, as 
were those of the regular sched- 
ule in Tel Aviv and Haifa. 



'Okla!' 70G, Seattle 

Seattle, Aug. 10. 
"Oklahoma!," back at the Metro- 
politan for the second time, got 
just under $35,000 for its second 
week at the 1,500-seater, at $4.25 
top. 

Take was great—over $66,000 fop 
the two weeks. 



52 



LEGITIMATE 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



Strawhat Reviews 



All ih« Way Homo 

Ridgefield, Conn., Aug. 3. 

T. Edward Hambleton tmd Alfred X**. 
#ierti production of drama In three acts, 
(foot- scenes) by i,ynn lUggija, Directed by 
Mary Hunter; dance directed by Katharine 
J .It?.;* set tines and Ughling, Italph Alswanjc; 
hi-ore, Lehman MnKel; costumes. Jean 
Sutherland. At Ridnefleld Summer theatre, 
JtldBelleld, Conn., Auir. 3, '4S: S'J.',»4 top. • 

Cousin Annie Helen KinKstead 

C'itisln Dorey.., l,uc!lle Kenton 

Winnie Bauibi (.Inn 

Mavy Hayes ijemta Powers 

.loan Mayes Cruban Denton 

Tommy . . . Cliff Sales 

Charley Mayes .fared Reed 

J.lbby .Gloria Whitney 

Doll Katharine Balfour 

Tessie ICHzabeth Parrlsh 

Hush Blaltelee ....Will Jlare 

Preacher Robbison., Tom Holer 

Bub "Whlsenhunt Albert Penti 

Flossie... Lee Graham 

Lynn Riggs has been a respected 
name in the theatre since his 
"Green Grow the Lilacs" was pro- 
duced by the Theatre Guild in 
1930-31. He subsequently wrote 
such plays as "Cherokee Night" 
and "Russet Mantle," but never got 
into the real money until Rodgers 
and Hammerstein used his "Lilacs" 
as the basis for the fabulously suc- 
cessful "Oklahoma!" 

Like his other dramas, "All the 
Way Home" (originally titled "Ver- 
digris Primitive") is a sort of folk- 
play of the author's native Okla- 
homa of about 40 years ago. It 
tends to be thin on plot and struc- 
ture, uneven in tone and tempo and 
rather atmospheric. It also indi- 
cates that, • however he may have 
matured and developed as an 
individual, Riggs hasn't progressed 
much as a dramatist since '.'Lilacs" 
and the others. 

"All the Way Home" is being 
presented by T. Edward Hambleton 
and Alfred R. Stern, who have an- 
nounced that the present produc- 
tion will be brought to Broadway 
in the fall. On the basis of its pre- 
miere at this Alexander Kirkland- 
Carl Jacobs strawhat, the show 
seems a doubtful prospect for the 
rigors of a New York winter. Even 
allowing for the limited production 
facilities of a summer theatre, the 
play is uneven, confusing and un- 
satisfying. It's hard to visualize 
how rewriting, the greater produc- 
tion scope of Broadway, or recast- 
ing and restaging might offset the 
script's inherent weaknesses. 

Although the author's intentions 
aren't clear, his story is about a 
recurring romantic situation on an 
Oklahoma farm as three grownup 
daughters return home for their 
mother's birthday. A "city slicker" 
from Tulsa, arriving in pursuit of 
one of the older girls, remains to 
dazzle and ultimately fall in love 
with the artless, impulsive stay-at- 
home daughter of 17. 

In a puzzling flashback, this situ- 



ation reminds the mother of the 
tragic romance of her own girl- 
hood and, after ordering her daugh- 
ter's sweetheart to leave the farm, 
she relents and lets them go away 
to Tulsa together. Except tor the 
violent, cryptic flashback incident, 
it's a tender and disarming story, 
but lacks substance and consistent 
drive to sustain through three acts. 

Play depends too much on mood 
and atmosphere, without clarifying 
the important characters sufficient- 
ly and building the story around 
them. There aire also too many 
serious incongruities of tempo, 
such as the languid confab be- 
tween the mother and her husband, 
which dissipates the suspense cre- 
ated by the rapidly-approaching 
twister. 

Mary Hunter's staging is adroit 
, and evocative, within the obvious 
limits of the physical production. 
Individual performances are "un- 
even. Leona Powers is excellent as 
the wise, self-contained mother. 
Bambi Linn is appealing as the 
, young heroine, though she has a 
i tendency to overdo her facial ex- 
pressions. WH1 Hare is impres- 
sively direct as the romantic stran- 
ger. Helen Kingstead, Lucille Fen- 
ton, Crahan Denton, Jared. Reed, 
Gloria Whitney, Katharine Balfour, 
Elizabeth Parrish and Tom Hoier 
are varyingly acceptable in sup- 
porting leads. 

Ralph Alswang's settings are 
reasonably effective, particularly 
for a rural production, but Leh- 
man Engcl's background score is 
distracting, as presented here. 

Hobe. 



"Fats" Hagen), is a comedy about 
a film star who returns to his home- 
town. 

Film idol Steve Jackson (neatly 
portrayed by author Tuttle) comes 
home to Martins Ferry, O., to at- 
tend a world premiere of his latest 
picture and finds himself a guest at 
the home of his old flame. Romance 
is rekindled, then is threatened 
with extinction by a couple of ill- 
winds in the guise of a prim, scout- 
masterish fiance, and Steve's curvy 
Hollywood girl friend who turns up 
to keep on eye on Stevie-boy. 

By some amusing and original 
situation handling, plus deft dialog, 
Tuttle is able to give the stock plot 
a first and second act that are par- 
ticularly good laugh-getters. But 
"Absence" steps considerably out 
of character in the third act to lose 
the comedy formula in an intense 
final clinch that slows proceedings 
to a tortoise crawl. 

Despite the uneven pace, the act- 
ing is competent and ably handled. 
Best effort is turned in by J. Rob- 
ert Blunt (a Jasper Deeter-Hedge- 
row Theatre product) in the role 
of the Boy Scoutish bore. Lucy 
Hope Lyon is properly witchy as 
the gaudy babe from filmland. 
Others in the cast, Kay Williams, 
John St. Leger, Jean Titus, Wil- 
liam Andis and Lloyd Hubbard (he 
doubles as director), do okay with 
material at hand. Marv. 



Inside Stuff-Legit 



Arrangement under which "Annie Get Your Gun" is playing at tha 
Imperial, N. Y., calls for the cast to get half-salaries (though not below 
Equity minimum of $60 a week) when the weekly gross is below $26,- 
000, with the authors waiving all royalties (latter having been running 
about $1,800 recently). House's guarantee is $8,000 a week. Salary 
cut was approved two weeks ago by Equity with the proviso that the 
engagement be' continued at least three weeks from that date. All cuts 
will be restored Monday (16), when Ethel Merman returns to the cast 
after a six-week vacation in Colorado. Mary Jane Walsh has been sub- 
stituting. 

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, 2d, producers of the Irving 
Berlin musical, have decided to retain Billie Worth as lead in the touring 
company of "Annie." When she succeeded Joan Edwards recently the 
intention was to get a name actress-singer to play the part permanently. 
However, on the strength of Miss Worth's performance in Chicago, the 
management changed plans, and she will be retained for the Cincinnati 
and other engagements. Only on the unlikely chance that a major 
name becomes available will there be a change in the title part. In 
that case it would be for boxoffice reasons. 



Ultra Marine 

La Jolla, Calif., Aug. 4. 

Actor's Co. production of comedy in tbree 
acts by Peter Black more. Cast includes 
Diana- Lynn, Reginald Gardiner. Gav 
Moore, John Rodney, Fiona O'ShieJ. Lillian 
Bbnrt, Riokl Soma and Clara BlnndicU. 
Settings by John Boyt : lighting by James 
W. Nellson. Opened at Playhouse, La Jolla, 
Calif., Aug. 4. '48. 





At Kennebunhport This Week ' 
PLAYING 

"FATHER" 

IN 

"LIFE WITH" 

Mgt.: Peter Witt Associates 
63 W. 44th Sr. 
New York ' 



Peter Blackinore's new comedy, 
"Ultra Marine," is a breezy fantasy 
about the adventures of a mermaid 
who steps out of her natural habi- 
tat into polite London society. 
Frothy scripting and skillful com- 
edy thesping by Diana Lynn and 
Reginald Gardiner help turn this 
lightweight theme into a neat 
strawhat item. Actors Co. plans a 
Coast tour for this production. 

Gardiner is delightfully suave as 
the noted surgeon whose life is 
saved by Diana when his boat over- 
turns. He brings her to his home, 
her most prominent characteristic 
swathed in blankets to indicate she 
is a hopeless invalid who can't 
walk. 

Miss Lynn shows poise and self- 
confidence lacking in her first 
stage role last year in "Dear Ruth." 
Gar Moore and John Rodney are 
earnest young suitors who never 
discover her secret. Fiona O'Shiel 
and Lillian Bond provide genuine 
portrayals -of bewildered, yet sus- 
picious females, Ricki Soma is a 
pert housemaid, and Clara Blan- 
dick, the nurse, stages a hilariously 
hysterical scene when she sees 
Miss Lynn (in private) for the first 
time. 

Stage effects, including thunder, 
lightning and a downpour, enhance 
the marine flavor. John Boyt's sets 
and Jamds W. Neilson's lighting 
maintain their usual high stand- 
ards. 



Watch Out for Moon- 
light 

Woodstock, N. Y., Aug. 4. 

Woodstock Playhouse production of com- 
edy in three acls (six scenes) by John 
Meehah, jr.. and Claude .Stroud. Stars 
Nancy Carroll; features Tlugh Franklin. 
Directed by Robert fcllwyn. Opened at 
Woodstock Playhouse, Woodstock, N. Y., 
Aug. S, 

Uraee Ruth Lorn 

Jobu Hugh Franklin 

Ruhymi Michael l.inenthal 

Pete Michael Sivy 

iXaii Altbea Murphy 

Jet vy . Durwood Hyde 

Henry Joseph I.eon 

Barbara Denise Brian 

Ruth Nancy Carroll 

Frances Hildy Parks 

McCurniick Louis Frederick 



- Absenec Makes the 
Heart 

Pittsford, N. Y., Aug. 4. 

Pitlsfnrd Summer Theatre production of 
comedy In three acts by John Tattle, slaved 
by. author. At Pittsford, N. Y... Aug. 3. 



"Watch Out for Moonlight" con- 
cerns a 40-year-old scientist and in- 
ventor, John Emerson, who has re- 
cently moved into a house in Con- 
necticut, where he is being stalked 
by a fashionably-divorced female 
neighbor. The household consists 
of the scientist's partner, a middle- 
aged eccentric, and their indis- 
pensable butler, all of them wom- 
an-shy. The two scientists prefer 
the company of their telescope and 
the butler prefers no company. 

As surprise element, Emerson's 
ex-wife and two dress-filling 
daughters appear — they just hap- 
pened to be looking for a summer 
place. This coincidence turns out 
to be design — the ex-wife's design 
to win back Emerson. 

The play is light comedy, pleas- 
ant enough summer fare, with 
amusing moments, but which would 
certainly not light up Broadway. 
Good jobs from several of the ac- 
tors can't retrieve dull lines and 
trite situations. 

Nancy Carroll, while looking 
lovely, seems uneasy, playing the 
part of the ex-wife more for senti- 
ment than comedy. Hugh Franklin 
deserves credit for the ease and 
charm with which he handles a 
stock part. Direction was smooth 
but, opening night, the pace was 
hurried rather than swift. The 
three acts are divided into an un- 
necessary and cumbersome number 
of scenes. Play is in one set (well- 
excuted interior), with an insert of 
beach at night. Teos. 



Recent reading of Sean O'Casey's "Red Roses for Me" script for 
prospective backers was given by professional actors, with coaching by 
a Broadway director, but there was no "rehearsal." That was on or- 
ders of Actors Equity and was in line with the union's regular policy 
on script readings. 

Under .the circumstances, the various actors were all familiar with 
the script and read the parts smoothly, but there was reportedly little 
suggestion of overall integration of performance. Also, the director, 
John O'Shaughnessy, gave advance suggestions as to the interpretation 
of the play, but there was no detailed preparation of the various char- 
acterizations. Reading was arranged .by Lucille Lortel and Alfred H. 
Tamarin, who intend producing the play this season, and was held at 
the former's White Barn theatre, Westport, Conn. Actors who partici- 
pated included Kim Hunter, George Hill and Barry Collum, 



Management of a Broadway hit has reduced the number of $1.20 
seats from 68 to 30. Idea was that the minimum-price locations are al- 
ways least in demand and last to go. Original aim in setting aside the 
68 seats at the low rate was to take care of the small public to whom 
theatregoing is a real necessity, but who can afford only the modest 
outlay. Presumably most patrons figure locations at the $1.20 price 
aren't any good, as they usually prefer the $1.80 or $2.40 seats. 



Author Tennessee Williams, who attended the tryout opening of the 
Helen Hayes company of "The Glass Menagerie" in Brighton, England, 
also meant to attend the London premiere. He went to Paris in between, 
expecting to plane back for the latter. Plane was delayed, and Williams 
was on the phone from Paris trying to reach the London theatre 
with an explanation when curtain went up. British audience was yell- 
ing for the author at the finale, a little annoyed at his absence— the 
British take these matters seriously — and no one explained. 



Clyde Sharp, Jr., boy actor with considerable Pittsburgh Playhouse 
experience, did "Kiss and Tell" three summers ago with the South 
Shore Players in Cohasset, Mass., and liked the place so well that he 
and his sister, Betty Sharp, Pitt radio actress, have been going back 
there to vacation ever since. Sharp was there last week and it was a 
break for Fred Burleigh and Henry Boettcher, who operate the straw- 
hat there. 

They were without a kid for "All My Sons" up until almost the last 
minute and Sharp arrived just in time to go into the Arthur Miller 
drama, in the same role he had played for Burleigh at the Pitt Play- 
house a few months ago. 

— f 



dignified and polished as Ahito- [ 
phel, political advisor to the court, 
but acting honors go to Torin | 
Thatcher, as Bathsheba's soldier 
husband, who is sent to his death 
by David. It was unfortunate for 
him that his main scene was so 
drawn out. 

Settings and costumes are first 
rate, but Peter Ashmore's direction 
sorely needs tightening up. Myro. 



Plays Abroad 



j "Absence Makes the Heart" is 
I an amusing play, and satisfactory 
I light comedy fare for the straw 
I skimmer circuit. But unless author 
1 John Tuttle can come up with a 
third act that doesn't drag its feet, 
i "Absence" will never be a presence 
j on Broadway. Tuttle's first attempt 
| at a play in straight form (he pre- 
viously collaborated on a couple of 
musicals with songwriter Billy 



C R. fl. ARTISTS, LTD. 

ArriLIATCO WITH CONSOUOATCO RADIO ARTISTS, INC. 



R • C • A •' BUILDING 




30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA 



n<ui voRK.2o.av. 

TELEPHONE COtUMSUS Q '35BO 

30 Weeks Booking in Auditoriums 
& Independent Theatres For 
The BETTER ATTRACTIONS. 



Jonathan 

London, July 30. 

Firth Shepherd production of comedy 
drama in three acts (six scenes' by Alan 
Melville. Features I>o Genn and Coral 
Browne. 'Staged by Peter Ashmore. Opened 
Aldwych, London, July lift. '48, 

David •. T.eo Genn 

Ratlisheba (.'oral Browne 

Aliitophel. reell Trouncer 

Nathan Julian Somers 

Juab*. James Bale 

MMclml Cicely Paget-Bowroan 

Uriah Torin Thatcher 

Alan Melville, author of "Jona- 
than," has written a number of 
highly successful revues, -but this 
is his first effort at straight play- 
wrighting. He should stick to re- 
vues, which are obviously his forte. 

This story of David and Bath- 
sheba is split into two different 
moods. For the first two acts the 
author is flippant, and there are 
some diverting incidents in this 
biblical story done with modern 
dialogue. Then, without apparent 
reason, the third act switches over 
to heavy drama, which is entirely 
out of keeping with what has gone 
before. 

In the main the author is well 
served by the cast, but they de- 
served better material. Leo Genn 
and Coral Browne have the main 
roles of David and Bathsheba. Al- 
though the former is somewhat 
stodgy, Miss Browne is delightful 
and alluring particularly in the 
opening scenes. Cecil Trouncer is 



Trouble In ihe House 

London, Aug. 4, 

John Eastwood and T. Mijroy Gay pro* 
ductton of comedy in tliree acls (four 
scenes) by Anthony Verney. Directed by 
Stuart Latham. At Cambridge. London. 

Rei Fulljaines, M.P William Pox 

Bill Jackson.- M.P Patrick Barr 

.foe Hawkins (,'us McNaughlon 

Diana Tbnrnton Doreen Percheron 

Sonia Edwards Marmot Van Der Burgh 

Major Thornton .. Howard Marion Crawford 



Comedy possibilities of a story in 
which rival members of Parlia- 
ment, one Tory, the other Labor, 
are compelled to share an apart- 
ment, are obvious. Too obvious, in 
fact, to make a good play. It was 
all great fun to the groups of M.P.'s 
who were invited to the opening, 
but two and a half hours of polit- 
ical bickering without action will 
be a bit much for the non-polit- 
ically conscious multitudes . who 
normally -patronize the theatre. 

Endeavoring to be fair to both 
sides, the author meticulously 
scores points for each in turn, first 
with a dig at Churchill and then 
squaring matters with a poke at 
Bevin. But all the time the story 
lacks subtlety, and there's no doubt 
that 'the two protagonists will swap 
girl friends, get drunk together 
and eventually unite against a 
common enemy-r-a • Communist 
M.P. who is to occupy a vacant 
room in their apartment. 

Story doesn't make much de- 
mand on the cast although they 
make a real effort to retain in- 
terest.- William Fox and Patrick 
Barr try hard to make the two 
M.P.'s real characters, but aren't 
too happy when the plot lapses into 
farce. Doreen -Percheron and Mar- 
got Van Der Burgh aren't entirely 
at home as their respective girls. 
Gus McNaughton dominates the 
scene with his portrayal of the 
voluble janitor and there's a little 
gem from Howard Marion Craw- 
ford as the Tory Major who turns 
Communist M.P. in order to avail 
himself of the 24-hour bar at the 
House of Commons. Myro. 




Norman B. Kinj, 
General Manager 

III EAST 56th STREET ♦ NEW YORK 

Home of Bm»eU Bettaurant and Jad* Bar 




ELIZABETH EUSTIS 

Ths Original "Nancy" 
ll Up to Htr Old Trick* In 
ANGEL STREET" 
WESTCHESTER PLAYHOUSE 
MT. KISCO. N.Y. 
(Weak Aug. 16-21) 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



Literati 



Subway Fares and Newspapers 

N. Y. subway fares and the price 
of a newspaper seemingly are 
closely allied in the mastermind- 
ing of the N, Y. Times' intended 
tilt from 3c to 5c. But when the 
subways doubled the fare to a dime 
that kayoed the Times' plan, at 
least for the time being. 

The daily has run off a series of 
dummies of its new airplane edi- 
tion to be flown to Paris during the 
United Nations convention. 

Will sell for 150 francs (about 
45c). 



Jessel and Downey Profiles 

George Jessel and Morton 
Downey • are profiled in next 
month's October) Esquire. Earl 
Wilson did the former, under the 
caption of "Toastmaster General," 
and the Irish singer's closeup by 
Allen Churchill is titled "Up and 
Downey." 

Incidentally, David A. Smart is 
now listed as board chairman of 
Esquire; brother Alfred Smart 
(who was co-publisher and veepee) 
is president of the corporation; and 
George T. Sweetser is now billed 
as the publisher. He's also the 
business coordinator. 



Sports Extra Weekly Due 

Sports Extra, new weekly sports 
paper, will bow Sept. 15. Charles 
■ Bloomfield, brother of producer 
Harry Bloomfield, is president, and 
Eric Ridder, g.m. of^f. Y. Journal 
of Commerce, 'is treasurer of the 
new outfit. 



This Week's Shifts 

Jerry Mason has been shifted 
from executive editor to staff 
writer on This Week mag in a se- 
ries of changes resulting from the 
return to active editorial duties of 
editor-in-chief William Nichols. 
Mason will have a roving assign- 
ment and will prepare special is- 
sues. His initial turn will be a six- 
month combined vacation (with 
pay) and journalistic gander at Eu- 
rope. 

Among other switches, Charles 
Rice, who was cartoon editor, be- 
comes articles editor. He replaces 
Adie Seussdorf, who has been 
named a staff writer. Louis Berg 
will continue to be motion picture 
article scripter. 



Chi Typo's $3,380,000 Strike Fund 

International Typographical Un- 
ion (AFL) revealed that it has paid 
$3,380,000 in strike benefits to 
printers on strike or locked out be- 
tween Nov. 24, 1947, and July 20. 
Most of the benefits have gone to 
printers on five daily paper s, 
with the married men receiving 
$60 and the single men, $40 per 
week. 



Pan-Am's Pub Relations chief 
Dr. Hernane Ravares de Sa. Bra- 
zilian writer, heads the newly cre- 
ated Division of Public Relations 
at the Pan American Union. The 
D. C. division will be active in the 
fields of press, radio and cinema, 
according to Raul Diez de Medina, 
director of the Department of Pub- 
lic Information. 

Novelist and journalist, Dr. 
Ravares became Special Adviser to 
the Office of Inter-American Af- 
fairs in 1943 and served as con- 
sultant to Walt Disney on educa- 
tional films for the U. S. and Latin 
American governments. He lec- 
tured before Hollywood producers, 
directors and writers on problems 
confronting the film industry in 
the sister republics. Pan American 
Union said. 



*N.Y. Confidential* Tourists' Friend 

Here is a book written by two 
veteran newspapermen pounding 
out the knowledge they've gather- 
ed in many years of losing sleep 
and paying checks on Rowdy Lane, 
Gyp Canyon and on the Gay Way. 
Jack Lait and Lee Mortimer are 
two bread-and-butter journalists. 
They know how to make a type- 
writer tell a printer what they 
. think. In "New York Confidential" 
(Ziff-Davis; $2.75) they blow their 
knows! And these two birds know 
plenty! 

They feel the bumps on the with- 
ered brows of Harlem, Broadway 
and the side Dream Streets that 
make up New York. They are a 
couple of Chicago muggs that have 
adopted New York and love it in 
» rough sort of way. Their type- 
writers have a sharp tongue. They 
don't give New York the best of 
It, they write like a couple of guys 
telling a pal what's the matter with 
him, and still remain bis pal. 

They write of human chop-suey, 
the upper underworld and the still 
lower underworld,- women that 
walk at . night' in , the shadows, 
Rraberettes, and the snobology of 
the high class joints where you 
shouldn't dance with white shoes 
on. They trade memory gems of 



prohibition when drinking became 
an adventure and intoxication an 
achievement. They write of rude 
times, vintage years and the age 
of chiseiry! They uncover a mul- 
titude of shins, which they kick 
plenty! They give the Bronx 
cackle to everything and everybody 
and still have space for a favorite 
memory —Texas Guinan! 

Here are a couple of middle- 
brow guys who know their stuff 
and their New York. They give 
you a list of do's and don'ts, a list 
of backstage phone numbers, eat- 
ing *places, cabarets, names of 
headwaiters, a glossary of Harlem- 
isms, names of talent scouts, list 
of theatres, etc. They also tell 
you about sex life (the latter must 
be from memory). They even tell 
you where comfort stations and 
rest rooms are located, the free 
ones and the pay booths. They 
tell you where to bet on a horse, 
and give you the gimmicks on 
everything from slot machines to 
dames! 

"New York Confidential" is 
packed with information, the sort 
of information that no visiting Elk 
or fireman should be without. We 
predict a copy of this book will be 
found in the bags of every Ro- 
tarian. Elk, Moose, Mason, Wood- 
man of the World and Convention 
delegate. Joe Laurie, Jr. 



the U. S. He's been in New York 
for some weeks, but leaves soon 
Tor the Coast, with stopoffs plan- 
ned for various other American 
cities. His itinerary is being ar- 
ranged by the American National 
Theatre & Academy. 

Eric Johnston's book, tentatively 
titled "We're All In It," is set for 
publication by E. P. Dutton fc Co- 
Nov. 8. The Motion Picture Assn. 
of America head treats of the need 
for a changed U. S, foreign policy 
that must be shaped to fit a world 
of restless and turbulent people. 

Herb Mayes, the only double- 
featured editor in captivity — he 
edits both Good Housekeeping and 
Cosmopolitan ■ for Hearst — shifts 
back to his N. Y, town house Sept. 
2. following a Connecticut summer. 

Ted Pratt, quondam Variety 
mugg, will have his "The Barefoot 
Mailman" in a new edition for the 
Xmas trade. Duel 1. Sloan & Pearce 
publish. Latter also bringing out 
Howard Coggeshall's biog of his 
longtime personal friend, Fred- 
erick W. Goudy, the type-designer, 
for spring publication. 



55 



ABC's Am. Hour 



Coast Life With Music 
As if to offset the L. A. Times in 
its search for ' circulation with a 
new afternoon tab edition, some 
counterpointers have begun .count- 
erpunching with a mag called Life 
With Music. Editor is Richard D. 
Saunders. William J. Perlman, 
once a Broadway playwright and 
during the war with the Army En- 
gineers, is business manager. 

First issue features Jeanette 
MacDon :ld's return to pix, but as 
a concert singer. Mag runs 64 
pages in first issue and in format 
is halfway between Readers Digest 
ard Time. First issue carried 
enough advertising to clear $1,000. 
over production cost. 

Joh'n Baird, Betty Bronson, 
Saunders and Perlman feature 
first edition. There's even a mus- 
ical crossword puzzle by Olive 
Arnold, voice-teaching wife of Ed- 
ward Arnold. 



CHATTER 



Betty Hutton is going literary 
when she goes to London and is 
signed to write a tale of her adven- 
tures over there for Photoplay 
mag. 

Roy Topper in Hollywood to in- 
terview film toppers for the Chi- 
cago Herald-American. 

Novelist Gerald Kersh, working 
on a book in the Barbados, British 
West Indies, took time off to Set 
as an extra in J. Arthur Rank's* 
"Christopher Columbus," now be- 
ing lensed on that tropical island 
group. 

Beverly Paterno, cafe socialite- 
singer-daughter of Al Parker, Brit- 
ish talent agent, is dickering with 
a New York paper to byline a 
nightlife column. 

Sportscaster Guy Lebow, 'Veepee 
of the Sports Broadcasters Assn., 
readying a tome . on Les Patrick 
titled "Mister Hockey." 

Foreign film English title writer 
Herman Weinberg profiled in the 
Sept. Esquire in a piece tagged 
"The Man in the Title Role." 

Jacqueline Neben, formerly a 
copywriter with Macfadden Pub- 
lications, named promotion mana- 
ger for Photoplay mag. 

Charles Bonner finished final 
draft of a new novel, "The Last 
Romantic," which Coward-McCann 
is publishing next February. 

Helen Cambria Bolstad, who 
previously handled publicity for 
the Balaban & Katz circuit in Chi- 
cago, shifted to Radio Mirror and 
True Experiences as the mags' 
midwest editor. 

Pete Martin. Satevepost associate 
editor, wanted to know how it feels 
to be a film extra and. through the 
machinations of Metro's Sam Wood. 
Eddie Lawrence, Sam Sidman and 
Billy Grady, he stowed away on 
the "Command Decision" produc- 
tion. In the current issue, the 
writer concludes. "Gable Can Have 
It," meaning his Hollywood ca- 
reer. 

William Gardner Smith, author 
of Farrar, Straus' soon-due novel, 
"Last of the Conquerors," is a 
nephew of Charles Gilpin, late dis- 
tinguished Negro actor. This start- 
ed Smith to study drama and act- 
ing but, at 21, he is still a student 
at Temple and a member of the 
Philadelphia bureau of the Pitts- 
burgh Courier. 

Count Mikel G. A. Schereme- 
tiew. roving correspondent for two 
Stockholm dailies, is gathering ma- 
terial for a series of articles about 
the theatre, music and the arts in 



— Continued from page 1 i; 

order is for an Oct. 6 teeoff, but 
may be set ahead to Sept. 29 to 
preem simultaneously with the re- 
turn of two other Wednesday night 
ABC stars, Bing Crosby and 
Groucho Marx. • 

Lennen & Mitchell agency sewed 
up the two-way deal for the ciggie 
outfit. Ironically, Nick Keesely, 
now L&M's radio director, audi- 
tioned "Hour" last year while on 
Mutual's sales staff, but was un- 
able to sell it for the web. 

Coming at a time when give- 
aways are racking up the Hoopers, 
but are threatened with a fade un- 
der FCC orders, the OG •'Hour" 
splurge revives a show which still 
holds the alltime commercial 
Hooper, 46.9, picked off in '36. 
The TV version also has a smart 
Hooper, having clocked up a 46.8 
via WABD, N. Y., for the Gotham 
area. 

Plans are to revive road com- 
panies of "Hour" to tour the coun- 
try. The air show which will 
"salute" a different U. S. city each 
week, also, will be travelled month- 
ly. Emcee on both AM and TV 
will be Ted Mack, who under- 
studied Bowes. 

TV "Hour" has been on Du- 
Mont since January and had 
Kaiser-Frazer bankrolling for 11 
weeks. OG will take over the 
stanza Oct. 1 a Telecast won't be 
simultaneous with .ABC's airing, 
the DuMont origination being 
slotted 7-8 Sundays. 

OG pacting gave ABC its sixth 
new fall billing in a fortnight. Late 
last week the web signed Army 
Air Forces Recruiting to bankroll 
eight Saturday grid "games of the 
week" (see separate story). Krank 
Shave Cream has been inked to 
sponsor "Bob Elson on the 20th 
Century" on 21 Coast stations, 
cross-the-board. Other new orders 
in: Amoco for "Carnegie Hall" at 
1-30 Sundays: Quaker Oats for 
"Challenge of the Yukon"' thrice 
weekly at 5 p.m.; Beich Candy for 
"Whiz Quiz" at 10 p.m. Saturdays. 



Saratoga 

Continued from page 1 



police can stage a series of raids 
and close the resort down tight. 
That word may come if it's found 
that the prevalence of gambling 
may em harass Gov. Dewey's bid" 
for the presidency. 

The cafe operators expected a 
dismal season even if casino opera- 
tion was okayed. Prior to the okay, 
the town was generally loaded, but 
there was little spending. The bulk 
of the crowds came early, but 
eschewed cafes. 

The bonifaces feel that' the day 
of easy money is over and it will 
be a hard buck from this year in. 

The Piping Rock, for example, 
with a show topped by Kay Thomp- 
son & Williams Bros., and Joe E. 
Lewis, each getting $7,500, has 
been playing to light crowds. Op- 
erator Nat Harris next Monday 
116) is bringing in Connee Boswell 
for two weeks to work with Lewis. 
She replaces the Thompson act.' 

Track attendance is generally off 
and first week's gate was 9,000 less 
than for a similar period last year. 
Saturday's crowd was 2,500 below 
last year's first Saturday (high for 
that season). Betting was almost 
$690,000 less than last year. The 
end of the meeting at Monmouth, 
N. J., may bolster attendance here. 



SCULLY'S SCRAPBOOiSr 

♦ nHnt tiiti K By Frank Scully »■ ««mmm! 

Tombstone, Ariz., Aug. 4. 

The once lowly planters of the dead have been elevated by two emi- 
nent novelists recently, both British, and both, if I'm not mistaken, 
the products of the same Cambridge culture that raised Wiinnie Chur- 
chill from the nobility to bricklaying. 

Everybody knows about one of them, Evelyn Waugh, now enjoying 
top billing among the best sellers with "The Loved One." But the 
other is the subject of today's sermon in ermine. This one formerly 
caught pictures for my Lord Beaverbrook's Sunday Express, having 
followed Swaff in when the master of the moral sentence moved over 
to the London Herald. His name was Cedric Belfrage. 

Subsequently Sir Ced was demoted to catching legitimate openings, 
in London's West End because he had got in the habit of using his 
Sunday double-truck as a sort of concrete mixer into which he tossed 
practically all British and most American pictures. 

Previous to being elevated to Beavie's ace axeman, Belfrage had 
corresponded from Hollywood for the rotogravured rags which passed 
for fan mags in London in those days. Then one day he ran into Sam 
Goldwyn who. fetched by his American mind and his British accent, 
decided that here was just the boy to keep Goldwyn's pictures booming 
in the foreign market. 

It was in the capacity of -Sam's stooge that I first met Sir Cedric. 
He dated me for a luncheon at the Ivy up St. Martin's Lane, missed 
the date and was amazed to the point of undying admiration to dis- 
cover' that I had got in to see the premiere of "Whoopee," without 
either his aid or interference. - 

Bat Is It International? « 

We struck up such a solid Anglo-American alliance that any time 
after that Sir Ced was barred from a show he called on me to get into 
the house by means known only to those of us who held international 
cards in Gate Crashers Local No. 7 — the lucky one. 

I turned my back for a while and the next thing I knew he was dating 
Molly Castle. She was Beavie's femme feature-writer. Hearst was 
interested in her, too, in those days. Beavie himself wanted to marry k 
her, but Sir Ced beat the boss's time— a fast one that endeared him to 
nobody. 

For this heart attack Sir Ced was reduced to such peonage in the 
Beaverbrook menage that he decided to pull-up stakes and look for a 
place where the profit-motive was less sleazy. In fact he went around 
the world looking for such a lotus-eating land, but' each time he de- . 
cided to settle down he felt the thorns of the Old order sticking in his 
rump and had to move on. 

He salvaged all these disillusioning experiences under the title of 
"Away From It All," a buoyant book which was picked by one of the 
book clubs in New York. The royalties enriched him sufficiently to 
make another try at world-travel in the company of Molly Castle, now 
his wife. 

Molly meanwhile received an invitation to spend a weekend at San 
Simeon. She asked if she might bring her husband. This plainly was 
a surprise to the lord of San Simeon, but he consented. 

Meeting Marion Davies on one of the terraces the next morning was 
Sir Ced's greatest test of courage. No one. had panned her pictures 
harder. He expected to be tossed to the wild animals that were used 
as a sort of moat around San Simeon in those days. He has always 
considered it a high mark in civilization that ail concerned acted as if 
it were the first time any of them had ever met. In brief, everybody 
was gracious, polite, hospitable. 

Then Sir Ced found himself in the role of screen writer at Universal 
for a while. "Between pictures he Wrote a book on an earlier Holly- 
wood. It was called "Promised Land" and has remained a secret to 
this day. Lyndon liked it but no one in New York would publish it. 

After that he ran magazines that represented his own highly civilized 
point of view, and even went down with a ghastly attack of poisoning 
because he didn't know that you should never touch certain ivy or oak 
in California, let alone burn it and breathe its fumes. 

I suspect that cured him of playing country gentleman in California. 
Sir Ced Goes Underground , 

Came the war years and one night I found myself in New York at a 
Fanny Hpltzmann soiree surrounded by the top level of Anglo-American 
amity. I suspect Fanny hoped I'd sell my own unquestioned talents 
into a key-position of the war-behind-the-war, but what I did instead 
was to sell Sir Ced as the. ideal guy to pump warm blood' Into the 
hands-across-the-sea-thing. By then he had become an" American citi- 
zen, a heresy itself in the eyes of most British subjects, but I pointed 
out that this made him an ideal liaison officer during the alliance. 

The next thing I knew Sir Ced, his family and his Negro nursemaid, 
were being transported from Hollywood to New York on British funds. 
After that he went underground, and I didn't hear from him again until 
the conquest of Cologne was un fait accompli, where he ran into 
Madeleine Carroll who was also on official business among the ruins. 

Assigned to screen Nazis out of the literati, he fell upon a cache of 
linen-backed war maps in a kraut print shop and proceeded to bat out 
a continental edition of his "Away From It All" on the backups of the 
loot. By now the edition has become a collector's item. 

In time he got back to the land of his adoption and rejoined his family 
at Finney Farm at Croton-on-the-Hudson. 

I had expected to see Sir Ced hit the bookstalls with a sequel to his 
original best-seller, called, this time, "Into It All." But what had issued 
forth instead is this "Abide With Me," a novel about the drive and 
gusto that goes into the biz of embalming. 

Prodding my elephantine ears I seached back 10 years and remem- 
bered his telling, me he was working on such a book under the title of 
"Man Upside Down On Horseback." How he could pump either life 
or humor into such pathology was beyond me. He must have tired of 
trying, for he brought out another book in its place called "South of 
God." 

Race to the Swift 

Then about a year ago Evelyn Watogh was dispatched to see if "Brides- 
head Revisited" would be something for Lana Turner. While waiting 
around for the Metro high command to say "no can do," Waugh ran 
over to Glendale and gasped at the glories of Forest Lawn. Life mag 
spread Waugh's first reactions to this burial ground over several pages. 
It must have reminded. Belfrage that he had been first in the field and 
had better get busy on his own anatomy of melancholy. 

Thus between Waugh's piece in Life and "The Loved One" on the 
same morbid subject, Belfrage moved in with "Abide With Me," which 
is also definitely not for pix. Still, since embalming is the high water 
mark of Ameriean civilization and the exploitation of the loved ones 
beyond their numbered years on earth is peculiar to the American 
scene (a burial costs nine cents in parts of Mexico) it might entertain 
such ghouls as found fun at Montmartre's Grand Guignol. 
. I next heard that Sir Ced was ensconced on the 23rd floor of 401 
Broadway working on an item mysteriously labeled "Publication W," 
•J. W. Gitt, publisher. My own counter-espionage system soon gave me 
the run-down on Gitt. He's the boy that William Allen White thought 
he was, the editor of that world-famed York (Pa.) Gazette. But what 
was he doing in New York? 

Operatives reported that the "W" did not stand for "War" but for 
"Weekly" and that Gitt was working on a newsmag to offset Time. In 
fact 1 learned they were thinking of reversing Time's whole picture. 
They were going to call the weekly "Emit". 

But by now saner hands are in control and the book will come out 
under the title of National Gazette. The editor, to the surprise of 
everybody except my constant readers, will be none other than our 
old happy warrior, Cedric Belfrage. 



54 



CHA T** 8 * 



Don Sylyio, maestro at Bill 
Bertolotti's, to Coast Aug. 14. 



Wednesday, August 11, 1948 



Kay Coulter, manager of Re 
hearsal Club, vacationing in Can- 
ada. 

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and 
Yvonne de Carlo off to Europe this 
week. 

Fred Schader now doing public- 
ity for Ballet Russe de Monte 
Carlo. 

Dr. Lionel Auster, w.k. in show 
business, preemed new 5th avenue 
offices. 

Wally (ASCAP) Downey to South 
America next month on company 
business. 

Douglas Field back from Eng- 
land and has gone on to L. A. He's 
concert manager. 

Thomas Heggen ("Mr. Roberts" 
author) to Europe on a special as- 
signment for Life mag. 

M. A. Schlesinger, South African 
circuit owner, due in on the Queen 
Mary tomorrow (Thurs.) 

Vet thesp Arthur B. Walsh out 
of a Canadian hospital after a two- 
year siege, and convalescing at 
home. 

Francis Robinson, who -has been 
.handling press for Tangle wood this 
summer, is going out ahead of 
"Medea." 

-Mary McNally, Tony's Trouville 
pianist who did music for Canadian 
service show, "Meet the Navy," 
pencilling midwest tour. 

Jerry Hoffman, p.a.ing "Velvet 
Touch," back to the Coast this 
weekend via a Frisco stopoff, after 
first setting eastern campaigns. 

Karen Lewis, songstress in one 
of the "Oklahoma!" road compa- 
nies, left the show to undergo a 
tonsilectomy at Le Roy Sanitarium. 

Nov. 1 has been set for the 
nuptials of Renee Carroll, famed 
Sardi's hatcheck custodian, to 
Louis Schonceit, the ticket broker. 

Igor Schwetzoff, ballet master 
who has been in Rio the last 18 
months organizing the Youth Ballet 
there, arrived back in N. Y., Mon- 
day (9). , ' 

Al Daft", asst. foreign sales man- 
ager of Universal, showing off his 
new English bride. Supposedly a 
"secret," but now. pretty much an 
open one. 

Mort Blumenstock, Warner Bros, 
pub-ad chief, returned Monday (9) 
after setting up world preem cam-: 
paign for "Two Guys From Texas" 
in San Antonio. 

Alan C. Collins, head of Curtis 
Brown, Ltd., literary agents, planes 
to New York from Paris Sunday 
(15)- after completing a one-month 
tour of the continent. 

Pianist-lecturer Henry L. Scott 
elected prez of American Com- 
munity Theatre Corp. Latter spe- 
cializes in solo dates for talent in 
community .theatre series. 

Agent Al Rogers has separated 
from his wife, Roey, A disclaimer 
for debts incurred by Mrs. Rogers 
appeared last week in the Personals 
column of the N. Y. Times. 

Victoria, dark for repairs, has a 
sign on marquee reading: "Through 
these portals pass the world's best 
mechanics," 'also mentions the 
house's addition of 400 seats. 

Sammy Cohen (UA foreign pub- 
licity director) celebrating 25th 
anniversary with 10-day trip to 
Canada and Niagara Falls where 
they spent their honeymoon. 

Gabe Heatter gabbing from Lido 
Beach Club for rest of season; his 
mike set up in hotel suite. Also 
there: producer Lewis J. Singer, 
ex-assistant da. Burton Turkus, 
et al. 

Chappell will publish songs from 
the forthcoming Monte Proser- 
Ned Litwack produced musical, 
"Heaven on Earth," with music by 
Jay Gorney, lyrics by Barry 
Trivers. 

Max E. Youngstem, Eagle Lion's 
ad-pub veepee, shoved off yester- 
day (Tues.) on the fifth leg of a 
swing through EL's 31 film ex- 
changes, His next stopoff New 
Orleans. 

Film actress Jayne Meadows 
planed out for Rome Saturday (7) 
Where she will marry Milton Krims, 
scripter now working on picturiza- 
tion in Italy of 20th-Fox's "Prince 
of Foxes." 

Paramount's Wanda Hendrix 
clippered out Sunday (8) for Rome 
and 20th-Fox's "Prince of Foxes" 
which is being filmed there by di- 
rector Henry King. Miss Hendrix 
is on loanout from her home lot. 

Mrs. Ruby Schinasi to Cape Cod 
with the Judge William T. Col- 
linses prior to heading for a 
Malibu vacation with her daughter, 
Bubbles (Mrs. Arthur Hornblow, 
Jr., wife of the Metro producer) 

Nick Matsoukas, Skouras The- 
atres publicist, is exec-secretary of 
the National Committee of 13 
, Against Superstition and Fear 
which opens a 13-day exhibition 
Friday (13) at the Museum of Nat 
Ural History. 

Mayor William O'Dwyer and 
Grover A. Whalen, chairman of 



N. Y.'s Golden Jubilee committee, 
attended opening night of new 
show at Music Hall last Thursday 
(5) to see new stage revue. "Jubi- 
lee" that salutes Manhattan's 50th 
anni. 

With "The Velvet Touch" (RKO) 
preem set back until Sept, 25, the 
Frederick Brissons (Rosalind Rus- 
sell) returned to Beverly Hills, on 
account of their baby. Pic is their 
own indie production. Brisson may 
return east for the bpening at the 
Palace. 

The Tom McKnights (Marjorie 
Davies) back to the Coast after an 
eastern vacation while "Beulah." 
the radio program he produces, is 
on its summer layoff. McKnight 
with Mort Lewis also scripted some 
sketches for the Shuberts' proposed 
"Ziegfeld Follies." 

More than 50 Lamas guested on 
the Dalzell Towing Co.'s Dalzel- 
laird, by courtesy of John L. 
Sullivan, chief dispatcher and 
company manager, who took the 
showfolk Sunday (8) on a "trip to 
nowhere" up the Hudson. Break- 
fast, steak dinner, an al fresco show 
and supper comprised the program. 

Al Horwits, Universale eastern 
publicity manager, garners a bou- 
quet of posies from Bob Considine 
in the latter's article on Philly 
baseball manager Connie Mack in 
the current issue of Life. Mack, 
according to Considine, threatened 
to resign a few years ago unless he 
won his point — the hiring of Hor- 
wits, then a Philly baseball writer, 
as publicity manager for the Ath- 
letics. 



Miami Beach 

By Larry Solloway 

Phil Spitalny and the missus 
vacashing at Hyde Park hotel. 

Al Brandts (of the Brandt film 
chain) celebrated wedding anni 
last Thursday. 

Carl Ravazza into Clover Club 
Wednesday (11). Guy Rennie, fol- 
lows in Aug. 25. 

Jack Geldman^ claims to have 
Danny Thomas set for winter date 
at his Clover Club. 

E. M. Loew sez Abbott & Cos- 
tello will play his Latin Quarter, 
Palm Island, in February. 

Colonial Inn, where the annual 
take from gaming tables ran into 
millions in past seasons, on block 
since court ruled against gambling 
in that area. 

Hotels filled with Latinos and 
summer tourists but bars, hotels 
and most niteries getting slim 
play. Only consistent moneymaker 
is Five O'clock club. 

Reps of Cab Calloway and Joe 
Louis reported dickering for an 
island site off Hollywood (north of 
Miami) for hotel and apartment 
house colony exclusively for 
Negroes. 



Producer Bill Pine (& Thomas) 
scanning area for film location. 

Bill Powell's missus, Diane, vis- 
iting show-booker sister Maxine. 
with Bill flying up from Hollywood 
weekends. 

Walter Winchell's aide, Ed 
Weiner, who authored "The Damon 
Runyon Story", resting up at the 
Flamingo with the missus. 

Bob Crosby flew in from N. Y. and 
lingered so long he had narrow 
squeak in making his CBS Camp- 
bell Soup show in Hollywood, 

Jimmy Welter, old-time »referee 
and fighter, new LV resident. He 
has refereed such outstanding 
fighters as Joe Louis, Kingfish Lev- 
insky, and Gene Tunney. 

Tony Martin, who wowed Lon- 
don recently, is now stellar singing 
attraction at Flamingo, j with Dick 
Stabile imported from coast to han- 
dle baton for Hal Pruden's band. 

Wedding anni of six months cel- 
ebrated by the Fred Levys — he 
heads Blum's Candy Corp. and she 
gave up film career as Marian Can- 
to wed. Pair chartered plane in 
from San Francisco. 

Foster McClanahan, of the Dallas 
oil fortune, back at this spa with 
his bride, the former Terry Bolton. 
Nice twist on this romance is that 
Terry was Wedding Director of the 
famed Little Church of the West 
when Foster vacationed here last 
winter. 

Herb Jeffries, formerly of Duke 
Ellington's band, is "out of action" 
this week as top draw of Club 
Bingo show after plane crackup. 
Jeffries and "Chuck" Fredericks, 
personal pilot for actor Mickey 
Rooney, walked away from emer- 
gency landing. 

Eddie Peabody followed at Hotel 
Last Frontier by McCarthy & Far- 
rell's satire on disc jockeys. Patsy 
Ross headlines the Kathryn Duffy 
Dancers' "Footlight Parade" revue, 
to Dick Mulliner's music, on new 
orch formed by three pull-aways 
from Horace Heidt. 

At Rancho Vegas, Patti Moore & 
Ben Lessy, comedy duo, follow 
harmonica virtuoso Larry Adler in 
top spot. Bob Millar, his piano, and 
sweet music orch here until Sept 
14. The puppet act of Walton & 
O'Rourke, and Di Gatano dance 
team, complete the Roundup Room 
show. 

French stage star Marguerite 
Doree (a former baroness) at El 
Rancho to divorce Norman C. 
Senior of Beverly Hills. She and 
brother only members of family to 
survive war. Since evacuation at 
Dunkirk she's dreamed of Amer- 
ican citizenship — has now applied 
for papers. 

Three new resort hotels under- 
way on Las Vegas' famed "Strip": 
Joe- Smoot, who promoted Hialeah 
and Santa Anita, and partner Jack 
Dempsey,\ are drilling artesian j 
water well- ' 



Coast after completing eastern 
summer dates. , 
Ruth Chatterton opened to good 
business in "The Little Foxes" at 
Ridgefleld Playhouse (9). 

Eddie Knill of the John C. Wil- 
son office- giving "Perfect Pitch 
the onceover at the Country Play- 
house. 

Georgie Tapps, former musical 
comedy . and . nightclub dancer, 
breaking in new concert program 
here. Surrounded by small com- 
pany topped by JElen Longone, 
formerly of the Chicago Civic 
Opera. 

Broadwayites seeing "Perfect 
Pitch," the new Spewack comedy 
at the Country Playhouse; Jobn 
Golden, Winifred Lenihan, Nanette 
Fabray, Patsy Ruth Miller, Mike 
Mok, Ralph Bellamy, Fannie Fer- 
ber Fox, Mary Martin, Ben Hecht, 
Lawrence Tibbett, Rose Franken 
and Arline Francis. 



Hollywood 



Stockholm , 

By Sven G. Wlnqulst 

"Soldat Bomm" ("Bomm, • the 
Soldier") is the title of the newest 
Nils Poppe production. 

Actor-director Hasse Ekman re- 
cently finished his new film, "Re- 
turn Of Little Martha" and went 
to Paris for a vacation. 

Cirkusteatern, newest theatre 
here, will open Sept. 8 with "Tam- 
ing of a Shrew." Barbro Kollbcrg 
and Ake Ohberg are starred. 

German production company, 
Ondia Film A. G., is planning a film 
about the 18th century Swedish 
author Karl Mikael Bellman. Di- 
rector is Werner Illing. 

Three Swedish films, "It is Rain- 
ing On Our Love," "The Swedish 
Tiger" and "The Flowering Fields," 
have been sent'to the Czech Film 
Festival in Marianske L'azne. 

Sandrew-Bauman Film' prepar- 
ing film titled "Jungfrun Pa Jung- 
frusund" ("The Maid Of Jungfru- 
sund"). Ragnar Arfvedsson is di- 
recting. Sickan Carlsson and Ake 
Soderblom are starred. 



Atlantic City 

- By Joe W. Walker 

Nat Brandwynne Orch into Ho- 
tel Brighton. 

Mindy Carson into Bath and 
Turf with Jackie Small. 

Illinois Jacquet Orch in for ope 
nighter at Walter Dream. 

Francis Renault and Frency 
Martin into Jockey Club. 

Olsen & Johnson top Steel Pier 
vaude this week, with Woody 
Herman in ballroom. 

Janet Blair and Francis Lederer,. 
here in "For Love or Money," 
given nice reception. 

Auditorium theatre offering 
Anna Lucasta" this week instead 
of "Life with Father," originally 
skedded. 

Cab Calloway set for Orsatti's, 
Somers Point, Aug. 20. Louis 
Prima to follow. Spot playing to 
capacity crowds weakends. 



By Maxime de Beis 

35 Blvd. Montparnasse 

Gladys and Manny Robinson in 
England, and Eddie back in Cannes 
after trip to Paris. 

Edith Piaf doing a one-night 
appearance at Chez Carrere. 

Cynda Glenn giving the o.o. to 
several real estate propositions be- 
fore hopping to Riviera, Rome and 
Germany. 

Michele Morgan is making a pic- 
ture at studio here. 

Francois Jardel to Mexico. 

Lacy Kastner taking a solo mo- 
tor trip while Priscilla and the 
Marchioness of Coninck are on 
Mrs. Booth's farm near Chantilly. 

Oscar and Clara Straus guests of 
Mrs. Gielgud for a month. 

Ann Carnahan producing her 
World Video fashion shorts. 

The Gerald Mayers still in Paris, 
having cancelled their sailing on 
account of procrastination on the 
changes in Blum-Byrnes agree- 
ment; 

Rupert Allan to Venice for the 
international film festival. 

Jean Hellman, before hopping 
to N. Y, arranging to have his dis- 
pute with the newsreel syndicate, 
which objected to his releasing a 
short on bicycle race, taken to 
Conseil d'Etat. 

. Fashion buyers so thick here 
you walk on them. Jacques M. Fath 
opening, staged in his garden after 
dinner, was more like a social func- 
tion than a business agent. 

Edith Burger, Swiss torch 'singer, 
died following scratches inflicted 
by a cat. 



Pittsburgh 

By Hal Cohen. 

Jim Bellamy is the new man- 
ager of WPGH. 
Lew Stone, former announcer at 



■the first step — for , 
their Hacienda. The Thunderbird, I W? 1 ?, joined staff of WPGH. 
slated for Sept. opener, has had its ! , Pet % Schloss, boss of WWSW, 
swimming pool christened by im- Planed to Jamaica for couple of 
patient guests. Wilbur Clark is I v 
leasing back, for 30 years, the half- I 
finished Desert Inn which he sold I 
last week to the Palos Verdes Corp 
for $500,000. He'll gen'l mgr. the 
new spa beginning, he hopes, in 
February. 



Tokyo 

Bandleader Hiroshi Watanabe 
celebrated the- second anniversary 
of his debut, leading his "Star 
Dusters" on the roof of Tokyo's Dai 
Ichi Hotel, U. S. officers billet. 

Employees of the Toho Motion 
Picture and Theatrical Co., strike- 
bound for there months, have 
formed an "anti-Communist" un- 
ion which the management says it 
will doal with. 

Edward Simmel, v.p. of Simmel- 
Meservey Co., Coast film produc- 
ers, in Tokyo for 60 days as con- 
sultant to SCAP's Civil Informa- 
tion and Education Section on pro- 
duction and distribution of films. 

Takarazuka's all-girl opera 
troupe has run afoul of Japan's 
new Labor Standard Law. The 
gals play a 30-day run and take 
five days off. Law stipulates 
workers must receive one holiday 
a week. 



Westport, Conn. 

By Humphrey Doulens 

Jean Dalrymple planed to the 
west coast. 

Richard MealandS on a motor 
trip to Maine. 

John Conte vacationing here 
before "Allegro" tour. 

Philip Barry and frau guests 
here of Theresa Helburn. 

Edith Behrens of Columbia Rec- 
ords bought a house here. 

Richard and Dorothy Rodgers 
visiting Jean Dixon at Gloucester, 
Mass. . 

Peggy French to New York for 
rehearsals of "Town House" for 
Max Gordon. 

Gladys Swarthout off to the 



weeks. 

Mrs. Jack Kahn, wife of WB 
publicist, okay again and out of 
hospital. 

Everett Thorner back in town 
for UA drum-beating "Time of 
Your Life." 

Booker Ralph Harrison checked 
out of Presbyterian Hospital after 
observation. 

Karl Krug, drama critic, will 
vacation between mountains and 
Broadway shows. 

Dan Schmidt, barrister-hypno- 
tist, spending summer working 
borscht circuit spots. 

Cliff Daniel, manager of WCAE 
back on the job again after a tus- 
sle with virus pneumonia. 

Jerry Wayne into Copa this 
week tor, first nitery date follow- 
ing wash uo of his radio show 

Mrs. Mike Cullen rejoined 
Loew s division manager in Louis- 
ville after visiting with friends. 

Mexico City 

B/ D. L. Grahame 

Ciro's ACrG thC DeW mana 2 er of 

Pearl Primus and her "Dark 
Liric hmS " headlining at the Teatro 

Mrs Vincente Palmeri, wife of 
the U-I manager, recovering from 
an operation. 

Help of radio station XEIW 
Guadalajara, strinking for a 100% 
pay hike-$l to $2 (U.S.) a day 
. Cine Regis 900-seater, reopened 
after facelifting and joined the 
Golden Chain indie cinema circuit 

Mauricio de la Serna, producer- 
partner of Dolores del Rio for her 
pix m Mexico, recovered from a 
long siege of Malta fever 

Azteca, one of the big four of 
local pic studios, which recentlv 
had a $1,000,000 fire, is beinl liven 
a facelift with modern equipment. 

mfL akeS £ eare s .. '> Midsummer 
Night's Dream" in Spanish did 
eight weeks boff trade at the gov- 



Al Rogell vacationing at Del Mar. 
June Allyson laid up with bron- 
chitis. 

Tim Holt east to start a rodeo 
tour. 

Arlene Dahl injured in auto ac- 
cident. 

Jimmy Durante to Del Mar for 
the races. 

Samuel Goldwyn to Lake Tahoe 
for vacation. 

Isabelita changed her. film name 
to Leta Baron. 

Sir C. Aubrey Smith celebrated 
his 85th birthday. 

Lena Home ordered by doctor 
to take a long rest. 

Spyros Skouras in town for con- 
ferences at 20th-Fox. 

Robert Warwick celebrated his 
45th year in show biz. 

Gene Baylos booked into the Ta- 
hoe Biltmore in September. 

Jeanette MacDonald set for Hol- 
lywood Bowl concert Aug. 17. 

Ken Curtis galloping south and 
east on a six-week stage tour. 

Gene Autry planed in after five 
days of rodeo riding in Great Falls. 
Mont. 

Melvin Douglas to Dallas to plug 
opening of "Blandings' Dream 
House." 

Greer Garson in from a vacation 
to make a trailer for "Julia Mis- 
behaves." 

Ruth Hussey and Bob Longe- 
necker celebrated their sixth wed- 
ding anni. 

Guy Madison and Florence Bates 
to San Antonio for personal ap- 
pearances. 

Jacques Francois making his 
Hollywood bow in . "The Barkleys 
of Broadway." 

Ida Koverman took over her new 
job as a member of the Municipal 
Art Commission. 

A. Pam Blumenthal and Karl 
Herzog in from New York for Film 
Classics huddles. , 

Harry Kurnitz taking a Paris 
vacation after producing some five 
films for Warners. 

Joe Nolan, in charge of commit- 
ments at RKO, hospitalized at 
Santa Barbara with internal infec- 
tion. 

Charles P. Skouras will be pre- 
sented with the Great Heart award 
by the Variety Club of Southern 
California.- 

Cornel Wilde collapsed on the 
Columbia lot, causing a week's de- 
lay in the filming of "The Lovers." 

Arthur E. Miller, 40 years a cam- 
eraman and three-time Oscar win- 
ner, is lensing his 178th feature, 
"Three Wives," at 20th-Fox. 



London 

Frank Marlowe's Palladium suc- 
cess has led to offer of lead in West 
End musical. 

John Firman, chief of Feldman's 
music publishing house, to New 
York Sept. 8. 

' Binnie Hale temporarily out of 
cast of "Four, Five, Six" following 
internal operation. 

"The Linden Tree" (Duchess) 
passes 400 mark; "Off the Record," 
(Piccadilly) scores 500. 

Hildegarde due here mid-August 
to record series of radio programs 
'for Harry Alan Towers. ' 

Patricia Roc off to Paris to star 
in French speaking film. Educated 
in Paris, Pat is bilingual. 

Frank Shaw appointed publicity 
chief of Transatlantic, now filming 
the Hitchcock opus, "Under Capri- 
corn." 

Mildred (Mrs. Robert) Consi- 
dine in Switzerland till Aug. 15 
when she meets INS' Bob Consi- 
dine in Paris. 

Francis L. Sullivan planning 
New York, trip to talk with Metro 
on role of Nero in "Quo Vadis," to 
be filmed in Rome. 

Charles Boyer sailed Saturday 
(7) after three-day yisit, but is re- 
turning next month to film "The 
Romantic Age" at Teddington. 

Executors of J. M. Sygne, Irish 
playwright, have given Leonard 
Salzedo full rights to adapt "Deir- 
dre of the Sorrows" into an opera. 



Cleveland 



By Glenn C. Pullen 

Comeback of vaudeville rumored 
for Loew's State here. 

Borsellino's Club being remodel- 
ed for Sept. 2 reopening. 

Geneva-on-the-Lake's strawhat 
folded; not enough biz for 1,700- 
capacity house. 

Jack Gluck, local composer, had 
four songs waxed by Four Aces 
a-capella group for Decca. 

Wife of William F. McDermott, 
drama critic of Plain Dealer here, 
joined him in Paris last week. 

Alan Schneider, casting, director 
of New York Theatre, Inc., direct- 
ing plays for Cain Park strawhat. 

Milt Krantz started his ticket 
subscription plan, which other 
legit houses have copied, for his 
eighth season at Hanna. 

Larry Higgins, scenic designer of 
Cleveland 500 Operetta Co., In Los 
Angeles to see Gertrude Niesen in 
"Anything Goes" which she will 
also do here this winter for the 500. 



Wfjngwiay, Augnat 11, 194fl 




t^RIETY 



55 



CHARLES BRYANT ,his wife, Geraldine Ross Murphy 

Charles Bryant, 67, retired actor ■ and a brother. Earl Dunnell. 
and .former husband and leading Murphy spent 35 years in vaude- 
manof the late Alia Nazimova, died ville and headlined shows on the 
NT v Aiitr 7 Keith-Orpheum and other circuits 

| as a comedian, singer and emcee. 
Between bookings he operated res- 



at Mt Kisco, N. Y„ Aug. 7. 

A player of rortvantic leading 
roles when a young man, Bryant 
later became well known as a 
character actor, and bad appeared 
in many Shakespearean produc- 
tions. His last appearance was in 
1937 in "Yes, My Darling Daugh- 
ter." 

Bryant, who was credited with 
helping Nazimova to learn English, 
appeared opposite her from 1912 
to 1923 in such hits as" "Bella 
Donna," "Ception Shoals," "Hedda 
Gabler" and "Dagmar." 

For a time he was with her in 
motion pictures, including "Reve- 
lation," and directed several of 
her films. Among other pictures 
in which he played were "The 
Brat," "Out of the Fog," "The Red 
Lantern" and "Stronger Than 
Death." 

Born .in England, he made his 
first appearance on the London 
stage in 1901 at the Garrick thea- 
tre, in Pinero's "Iris." Later he 
enacted major roles with Forbes- 
Hobertson. Cyril Maude and 
Arthur Bourchier. 

He came to the U. S. in 1912 to 
play in "Bella Donna." Subse- 



taurants, starting with Murphy's 
Cellar in New York during prohibi- 
tion. He established the House of 
Murphy in Hollywood 11 years ago. 

As a film actor his career began 
in 1935 with a role in "Broadway 
Gondolier" at Warners. Other films 
in which he appeared were "The 
Case- Against Mrs. Ames," "Hidea- 
way Girl." "Nancy Steele Is Miss- 
ing," "Girl of the Golden West" 
and "Shine on Harvest Moon." He 
had been inactive in pictures for 
past four years. 



director, died Aug. 3. She had 
been making a motor trip to At- 
lantic City, when stricken and died 
at the wheel. 

Before her marriage Mrs. Hern- 
don had appeared in several of her 
husband's productions under name 
of Ann Walker. Her husband is 
currently directing productions at 
the Little theatre, Beach Haven, 
N. J. 



C. R. REAGAN 

C. R. Reagan, 56, former asso- 
ciate chief of the motion picture 
bureau of Office of War Informa- 
tion and more recently prexy of 
Film Council of America, died in 
Paris, July 31. 

Reagan had gone to the French 
capital to attend the UNESCO 
meet. 

He was an organizer and 
first president of the National As- 
sociation of Visual Education 
Dealers. 

In 1942, he went to Washington 



IRWIN D. SETZER 

Irwin D. Setzer, 47, producer of 
the first "Jaycee Jollies" in Char- 
lotte in 1946, died suddenly of a 
heart attack at his home in Char- 
lotte, N. C., Aug. 8. 

Setzer was with National Screen 
Service in Charlotte, and prior to 
that with the Joe Bren Productions 
of Chicago and Hartford Produc- 
tions. • 



Jftatmce % &peteer 

(Aug. 5. 1948) 
A Man to Remember 



VAL SHERRY 



FRANIUE ST. JOHN 
Frankie St. John LeFevre, 77, 
vet performer of yesteryear team 
of LeFevre & St. John, died July 
19. 

She was member of Boston Ideal 
Opera Co. and later appeared in 
"Davey Crockett," "On the Sahara" 
and Charles Hoyt's "A Bunch of 
Keys." She married Johnny Le- 
Fevre and played in act with him 
for 25 years Latter survives. 

LEROY SITTIG 

LeRoy Sittig, 43, member of the 
Orrin Tucker band, died July 31 
in Denver, Colo. 

He was a native of Youngstown 
and formerly played with the 
Beachcomber Band in that city and 
Gene Krupa's band before- joining 
Tucker. 

His wife, a son, parents, brother, 
and sister survive. 



Canadian-Made 

— Continued from page 1 =s 

nurses are in attendance for each 
performance. This was hard to be- 
lieve at beginning of first week and 
had to be actually witnessed. Per 
performance, some 30 to 5Q, are 
I keeling over in their seats or 
wavering out to the upstairs or 
downstairs lobby either out or in 
a fainting, condition to make the 
lobbies look like- an advance casu- 
alty station. 

Film story itself is treated with 
taste and restraint but it's the 
clinical sequences of syphilis vic- 
tims, including shots of newborn 
syphilitic babies, that has the cus- 
tomers, including 250-pound males, 
keeling over. Other sequence deal- 
ing with the birth of a baby also 
affects the women spectators. How- 
ever, film has been endorsed and 
recommended . by all Protestant 
and Catholic denominational groups 
in Canada, plus- the Salvation 
Army, after it was privately 
screened for them, and there have 
been no censorship troubles. Fan 
mail is also coming in daily com- 
mending the film. 

Phenomenon, though, is those 
long lineups not currently enjoyed 
by any other filmhouse here. 



A. B. MORRISON 

A. B. Morrison, 77, dean of 
Memphis theatre managers, died 
at his home Aug. 2. He was ill 
for the past six years. 

He managed some of Memphis' 
theatres of the old Vaude and legit 
era, and prior to his retirement in 
1942, managed the Warner house 
for 10 years. 

He leaves his wife and a sister. 



quently he appeared here in "That to help organize the National Of- 



Short," "Driven" and "War 
Brides." 

After an interlude in pictures 
he produced and appeared in "Dag- 
mar" in 1923 and "The Right to 
Kill" four years later. He played 
In "And So to Bed" in 1927. 

He leaves his second wife, the 
former Marjorie Gilhooley; a son 
and daughter. 



FRANK WITMARK 

Frank Witmark, 70, youngest of 
the six. brothers engaged in music 
publishing business of M. Witmark 
& Sons, died Aug. 3 in Weehawken, 
N J., where he had been visiting 
friends. He had made his home in 
New York city with his brother, 
Jay, and a sister, Mrs. Joseph A. 
Klein. 

Witmark was not among the' 
brothers who founded the firm. 
They were the late Julius and Isa- 
dore, and Jay. He was taken into 
the business later and composed 
music for it. Because all the 
brothers were minors when the 
firm was founded, the name of 
their father was used in its,title. 

In 1929 the company was taken 
over by Warner Bros, and is now 
» part' of the Music Publishers 
Holding Corp. with which Jlarms, 
Kemick and World Music Corp. also 
were merged. 

Witmark composed the music 
for 'The Zenda Waltz," "Camilla 
waltz and others, and also scores 
lor several musical comedies pro- 
duced in the '90s. Later he became 
professional manager for the firm. 
«e had never married. 



lice- of War Information 16m 
Advisory Committee. He took part 
in establishing the OWI non-theat- 
rical service of more than 300 out- 
lets by serving as field adviser- in 
the use of 16m films in the 
Bureau of Motion Pictures of the 
OWI. 



WALTER V. COYLE 
Walter V. Coyle. 60, former 
actor, died at his home in Freeport, 
L. I., Aug. 3. 

Coyle, who began his career as 
an actor at the age of 21, appeared 
on the stage with his wife, Alice 
Murrell Coyle, for more than 20 
years. They appeared in "Mon- 



ROBERT C. BRUCE 
Robert C. Bruce, 63, cameraman 
director- and producer since 1915, 
died in Hollywood, Aug. 6. He was 
one of pioneers of early days of 
technicolor. 

Besides wife, Mrs. Helen Bruce, 
two sons, daughter, brother and 
sister survive him. 



In loving memory of 
My Dear Wife 

MAUDE RYAN 

(Augmr 15. 19351 
CHAS INNESS 



tana," "Heir to Hoorah" and other 
stage plays. .. . 

. Later he was connected with 
Universal Pictures and the old Bio- 
graph. In recent years he was con- 
nected with the Pathescope Co., 
an industrial film concern, in New 
York. 

Besides his wife, he leaves two 
brothers and two sisters. 



• CHARLES C. PERRY 

Charles C. Perry, 58, former 
vaude performer and press rep for 
Paramount Pictures in southern 
Ohio territory, died in Cincinnati, 

Aug. 4. 

Before joining Paramount he had 
represented United Artists in Phil- 
adelphia for many years. 

NED DANDY 

Ned Dandy, 60, screenwriter and 
former burlesque comedian, died 
in Hollywood, Aug. 8, after a heart 
attack. 

He went to Hollywood 11 years | 
ago, and freelanced- after writing ' 
stint for Columbia Pictures. 



MARRIAGES 

Claudia Pinza to John Boiler, In- 
dianapolis, Aug. 4. Bride is -opera ' 
and concert singer and daughter of 
Ezio Pinza, Metropera basso; he'Sr 
former secretary to Pinza. 

Claire Klar to Leo Shull, Corn- 
.wall, Con., Aug. 8. Bride is legit 
actress; he's publisher of Actors 
Cues, theatrical tip sheet. 

Cepta. Cullen to Lieut. Richard 
Patrick Gower, Dublin, Ireland, 
July 30. Bride is ballet mistress 
and Irish Ballet Club founder. 

Pauline Howe to Carloc Caiati, 
Las Vegas, Aug. 7. She's Para- 
mount commissary hostess; he's 
studio' scenic artist. 

Mildred Miles to Wallace Bat- 
tiston. Pittsburgh, Aug. 5. He's a 
theatre -manager and son of Andy 
Battiston, Pitt exhibitor. 

Mary Miofsky to Al Fiore, Chi- 
cago, Aug. 8. He's member of the 
Harmonicats, harmonica trio. 

Ida Lupino to Collier Young, La 
Jolla, Cal., Aug. 5. Bride is a film 
actress; he's a studio executive. 

Grace Brans to Raymond" Dorian, 
Los Angeles. Aug. 7. Brid.: is 
singer, he's a dancer. Both are in 
"Carousel" Co. 

BIRTHS 



Mr. and Mrs. Bud Thompson, 
son, San Antonio, July 17. Father 
is program director of KTSA. 

Mr. and Mrs. James Nash. Jr., 
son, Pittsburgh, July 30. Father 
manages theatre for his father. 

Mr. and Mrs. Frank McCormick, 
{daughter, Pittsburgh. July 16. 
'Mother is Marjorie Thoma, radio 
I writer. 

1 Mr. and Mrs. Sterling Hayden, 
can-made, Universal film recently i son. Holly wood, Aug. 7. Father is 
developed at a Randforce circuit a *Hm actor 



Brit. Boycott 

Continued from page 1 ; 



house in Brooklyn When protest 
was made, pickets said that U and 
Rank were really the "same convr 
panyr or were so closely asso- 
ciated that "there was little dif- 
ference in the two." 



Mr .and Mrs. Robert Bruce, twin 
daughters. Hollywood, Aug. 6. 
Father is a travelog producer. 

Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Kaney, son, 
Chicago, July 25. Father is man- 
ager of NBC central division sta- 
tion relations dept. 
N, Y. Circuits Halted . Mr and Mrs. Robert Savage 

„ •. ... . w • . .. daughter, Chicago, Aug. 1. Father 

So far as the two major circuits , ^ ABC>S oon £inuity dept. 
in Gotham are concerned, the boy- Mr and Mrs . Eddie Bracken, 
cott to all purposes is 100% effec- daughter, Hollywood, Aug. 9. Father 
live. RKO was compelled to pull ji s actor; mother, Connie Nickerson, 
Sir Alexander Korda's "An Ideal j s former legit actress. 
Husband," Paulette Goddard star- ■ 

rer distributed by 20th-Fox, be- |i ^1 
cause of the tense situation. RKO- , I " ft ■ ■ r»|_—«. I- I 
ers want to hold up on the pic tin- I UutO &n0Wlj02l ] 

til the furore dies. Loew's has not 'I „ ., . , , ■ I 

Played a British film for many ,^ ««* ' rom »«• 1 = J 
months. • can double in brass for the band 

Force of the boycott is now and do specialties for the vaude- 
growing hotter. Opening of "Mine j ville routine as well as handle 
Own Executioner," another Korda 
opus, was postponed Monday (9) 
from a planned opening this week 
at the Sutton. "Piccadilly Inci- 
dent,". Herbert Wilcox production, 
was pul]ed from the Elysce also 
because of Zionist resistance. 
No Jewish organization has offi- 



scenery 



acting assignments and 
changes tor the plays.' 

Modern plays, "Arsenic and 
Old Lace" and "You Can't Take 
It With You," offered to attract 
present-day audiences, are shown 
alternately with temperance melo- 
dramas like "Ten Nights in a 
cially joined in the boycott. Sons I Barroom " The Majestic company 
of Liberty tags itself non-sectarian. ! presents a daily parade, a concert 
Major Jewish groups') such as the I on the steam calliope, a band con- 
B'nai B'rith and the Anti-Defama- cert and vaudeville routines pat- 
tion League, have stayed strictly tenied after the earlier era. Mem- 



SAM LANDERS 

Sam Landers, 61, pioneer motion 
picture cameraman, died Aug. 5 
at his home in Hollywood. 

He worked with the late David 
Wark Griffith and other early 
producers and retired five years 
ago because of failing health. 

Father of LaVerne Einloth, of 
Republic exchange staff in Pitts- 
burgh, died there Aug. 2. 

Mother of Pete Quiter, veteran 
office manager for U-l in Pitts- 
burgh, died on July 23. 

Waldo Lee Roberts, vet police- 



MAURICE J. SPEISER 

Maurice J. Speiser, 68, promi- 
nent theatrical attorney and long 
we general counsel for the Nation- 
al Assn. of Performing Artists, died 

d«i\ heart attack Au g- 5 in Phila- 
SfSPS^i He had been in failing 
nealth foi: several months. 
„„ S ls capacity as NAPA attor- 
ney, Speiser sponsored two Con- 
,™?i S JP? al biUs las t year which 
i ve strengthened the copy- 
ing avvs oy Preventing free play- 
i>,£«i°[ Phonograph records for 
pi? it y radio Nations, jukeboxes. 

f also campaigned for in- 
anM r concessions for writers 
ana performers. 

y 11 4 r ' 0r to turning to a theatrical 
sirf ? e \ s P e iser was a former as- 
j'5 an .t district attorney in Phila- 
fioi P u Atter 15 years in the of- 
HWki resigned in 1926, A son, 
Herbert, died last year. 

n„i, .. BOB MURPHY 

jiftm- M f«rphy, 59, former vaude 

of L an , c l more recently operator ......-» . , 

eali,^ Hoi,se of Murphy, Coast Mrs. Anna Her ndon. 54 foi 

eatery died Au g. 6 i n Sant a Mon- actress and wile of ^c»aid 

««. Cal., of pneumonia. He leaves Hermlon, Broadway pi oducei and 



FRANK HOLLIDAY, JR. 

Frank Holliday, Jr., 35, film 
actor, hanged himself with his belt 
in Hollywood jail. August 3, three 

sianon. . •• ** *■ -»*-» > * 

Patrolman R. F. Crarraker 
said Holliday told him: "Give me 
a break; I've never been in trouble 
before, and I was broke and walk- 
ing around with nothing else to 
do." . 

Holliday, a singer, appeared on 
a Hollywood radio program shortly 
before his arrest. His wife, 
Camilla, collapsed when she iden- 
tified him. 

CARLTON S. MONTAYNE 

Carlton S. Montayne, 56. author 
of mvstery yarns and detective 
stories, died at Larchmont, N.Y., 
Aug. 3, after a heart attack. 

Probably best known for his 
writings was The Phan t«"2 aen «- 
published by Street & Smith. He 
also wrote the book and lyrics of 
"Hose Girl," musical produced 
some years ago by the Shuberts. 
Survived by "ife. 

MRS. RICHARD G. llERNDON 

' former 



6. He had been with studio for 15 
years. 

Father, 78, of Clark Gable, film 
star died in North Hollywood, Aug. 
3 In addition to actor, he is sur- 
vived by wife (his third) and step- 
daughter. 

LaVonne Silvers, 35, former 
wife of Lou Silvers, musical di- 
1 rector, was found dead Aug. 3 in 
her Los Angeles home after tak- 
ing sleeping pills. 

Father of Saul Heller, Cleveland 
ticket broker and legit producer, 
died in that city, July 30. 



away from the movement. Report- 
edly, they disapprove of it and 
efforts are being made by both 
American and British film interests 
to induce them to come out against 
that maneuver. 

Picketing Aspects 
Boycott will continue until "the 
British cease all their instigation 
of the Arabs in Palestine," accord-., 
ing to Milton Eisenberg, research 
director of Sons of Liberty. Eisen- 
berg said five metropolitan circuits 
(without naming them) had agreed 
to cooperate. Picketing, so far, has 
only been employed in New York- 
{ but the- outfit distributes litera- 
' ture and posters to those sym- 
pathetic to the movement else- 
where. 

Eisenberg insisted that his group 
does not like to picket and only 
does so as a last resort. If- an ex- 
hib is tied with a commitment for 

a 



bers of the company also operate 
popcorn soft drink and candy con- 
cessions, hawking their wares as 
much as possible like the old 
professional pitchmen of 50iyears 
ago. 

The Majestic, was built by Capt.. 
T. J. Reynolds, (who still operates 
it) in 1.923. Proceeds from the 
current season will be used • to 
help pay for the students' ex- 
penses during their winter term 
at the two Ohio colleges. 



Coast Shows 

Continued from, page 1 ; 



Clawed by Tiger 

Chicago, Aug. 



itrek Similarly, the "Texaco Star 
Theatre" is presently a Coast origi- 
nation, but with the Kudner agency 
currently mulling; a Milton Berle 
deal to take over the Wednesday 
, night ABC program and perma- 
British pic the boycott group • nent i y emcee the T exaco TV show, 
frequently withholds picket lines the AM'airer, too, will be brought 
on the promise that no new British j 

films Will be booked. At times, ex* i gome of the stars are cons,d«ring 
bibs and their attorneys have- con- filming their radio shows tor cele, 
suited legalites repping the Sons j selling them independently to tele 
to determine how tightly tied the; stations around the country, but 
exhib is. .the present feeling of the agencies 

Picketing has been sporadic, iis to "bring em' back to N. Y. 
"Seventh Veil" recently played the j alive." 
Little Carnegie, N. Y., without at- 
tracting placard - bearers. Other 
British pix have had similar ex- 
periences. Understood that Ned 
Depinet, RKO's exec veepee, won a 
clean bill for "So Well Remem- 
bered." produced by RKO in Eng 



New Look 

(nut in tied from page 1 



the film was American. 
10 "Escape," another Korda film, 
Mabel SUrk."6ftyear-old"animal ■ opens at the Globe Broadway 
trainer was badly clawed by a i first-run, Saturday (14). Pic has 
tiger while appearing with 



(lie 
Mich. 



Shrine circus in Jackson, 
last week. , 
She refused to go to the hospital 
and was treated on the lot. 



ciated with him in the new en- 
land, because the company making terprise are- Bruce Gear, personal 

manager for Colonna, and Don W. 
Ilaynes, long identified in the man- " 
agement field with such band- 
leaders as Charlie Spivak, Tex 
Beneke and the late Glenn Miller. 

"Itorsccapades" is not a horse 
show in the usual sense of the 
phrase, lormat being similar to 
that of en ice show. 



been booked into the house by 
Andy W. Smith, Jr., 20th's sales 
j t hief, who reportedly said he 
.would risk a film in one theatre 
I but not on a circuit. 



AH**** 





frank 



\ 






v 



for 



pel** 0 




l* 1 * XorV 




FILMS 



RADIO 



VIDEO 



MUSIC 




33. 

so 

00 

- — 

o 




Published Weekly at 161 West 46th Street, New York 19, N. T., by Variety, Inc. 4nnual mibscription. $10. Sinjrle copies, 2S cents. 
Entered as second class matter December 22, 1905, at the Post Oifice at New 5Tork, N. Y., under the act of March S, 187». 
- COPIBIGHT, 1948, BS VAH1KXY, ISC. A IX UIGUXS BESKBVEB 



VOL. 171 No. 11 



NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1948 



PRICE 25 GENTS 



$8,000,000 FOR B WAY LEGIT 



Fiasco Season May Crack Political 
Snafu of Saratoga as a Resort 



Saratoga, N. Y., Aug. 17. 

The current* fiasco season at 
Saratoga may break things wide 
open and end the many-years stale- 
mate between the political factions. 
Solons in the state capital always 
felt this held back the development 
of the spa as an oasis for vacation- 
ers. The gambling and nitery ap- 
purtenances would then become 
incidental; Saratoga and its springs 
would take on the real values, and 
the greed and avarice of conflicting 
politicians would not be as blatant. 

Until now, between the Demo- 
crats controlling the city and the 
Republicans the county, the dice- 
men, stickmen, horserooms, . pool- 
rooms, casinos, etc., found them- 
selves uncomfortably in the mid- 
dle. Along with that, this past year 
or so found the Monmouth and 
Atlantic City racetracks fnot as 
"tough" on gambling and the gam- 
bling fraternity, with result the 
current local season is laying^ big 
omelet. 

A disgusted and/or hep public is 
either staying away or doing its 
entertaining at their Saratoga 
homes. The 24-30 day track season 
no longer is the bonanza it once 
was for greedy bellhops, cabbies, 
waiters, hotels and even the stores, 
especially (luring the August rac- 
ing season. 

Actually, at other times, the spa 
is a conservative community but 
has been retarded by political 
abracadabra which forfends piping 
the curative waters into hotels. 
Were it not for that, the big chains 
would seize the opportunity to 
build modern accommodations, 
sorely needed here. As result, save 
for the Gideon-Putnam, the newest 
hotel here, the community is 
divided between the so-called "re- 
stricted" hotels and those catering 
to the sizeable Jewish element 
which comes to Saratoga for the 
waters. 

When the late Franklin D. 
(Continued on page 14) 



Robeson to Sing in Texas 

Dallas, Aug. 17. 

A concert with political as well 
as musical interest looms here with 
the announcement that Paul Robe- 
son, Negro baritone, would give a 
recital here under the auspices of 
the (Henry A. Wallace) Progressive 
party of Texas. 

This is the singer's first appear- 
ance here, and the profits will be 
used for the Progressive Party cam- 
paign purposes. 



f 



Berle, Groucho, Bing, 
As Powerhouse For 
ABC on Wednesdays 

Powerhouse parlay in Wednes- 
day night programming was put 
together by ABC this week with 
the slotting of the new Milton 
Berle-emceed "Texaco Star Thea-, 
tie" in the 9-9:30 segment follow- 
ing Old Gold's hour-long "Amateur 
Hour," for the eastern time zone. 

Coupled with Groucho Marx at 
9:30 and Bing Crosby at 10, the 
two and one-half hour block looks 
to webbers like a combo able to 
beat even last ' season's strong 
sequence — and that was ABC's top- 
ranking night. 

Outside the eastern time zone, 
Crosby will be aired again at 9, 
with "Star Theatre" slotted follow- 
ing it at 9:30. Berle moves in 
Sept, 22, the night following his 
debut on "Star Theatre's" NBC- 
TV version. . 



Korda Rep Raps 

Distrib 'Collab' 

. • . 

On Fix Boycott 

Sizzling charge that major 
American distribs are "submitting 
to arid collaborating in" the cur- 
rent boycott of British films in this 
country was hurled this week by 
Morris Helprin, v.p. of London 
Film Productions, Inc., Sir Alexan- 
der Korda's U. S. subsid. Helprin 
declared that company toppers 
here are aiding and abetting the 
public boycott as "retaliation, per- 
haps only subconscious," for re- 
strictions placed on American films 
in Britain. 

Boycott, which has become so 
effective in New York that vir- 
tually no British-owned films are 
now playing there and which is 
spreading throughout the country, 
is being engineered by an outfit 
known as The Sons of Liberty. It 
is a non-sectarian group, claiininjff^ 
to be against "British imperialism 
in any form." 

Helprin's wrath has been fanned 
into a blaze by decision of 20th- 
Fox, which distributes Korda prod- 
uct in the U. S., and RKO to can- 
cel the engagement, scheduled to 
start today (Wednesday), of Kor- 
da's "Ideal Husband" on the RKO 
circuit. Likewise, Korda's "Mine 
Own Executioner" has had a date 
at the Sutton, N. Y., nixed as a 
result of pressure and threats of 
picketing by the Sons of Liberty. 

"The- boycott doesn't exist ex- 
( Continued on page 47) 



j MASKED SPOONER 
WOOS'EMON WAX 

L RCA- Victor signed the Masked 
'. Spooner to a term contract Mon- 
day (16). He's the masked charac- 
j ter developed from an idea by Jack 
I Rourke Productions, a Coast 
i agency which 'has him on a Don 
jLee network broadcast every Sat- 
urday night, Spooner half-talks, 
I half-sings the lyrics to pop> and 
' standard tunes and is said to have 
made a hit with the idea on the 
(Continued on page 47) 



67 SHOWS DUE 
BY YEAR'S END 

By HOBE MORRISON 

An estimated $8,000,000 will be 
invested in new legit productions 
on Broadway this fall. ' Despite 
adverse factors, there are 67 new 
shows figured as probable openers 
by the Christmas-New Year holiday 
week. That's a bullish prospect, 
particularly considering that . un- 
likely entries have already been 
eliminated from the announced list. 

The likely new productions in- 
clude 43 straight plays, including 
three revivals, and 24 musicals, in- 
cluding two revivals. In addition, 
five current shows appear set to 
continue at least through the fall 
and winter, and six others are pos- 
sibilities to ' bold on a few more 
months. Four of the current shows 
are slated to go on tour within a 
(Continued on page 42) 

Theatres' Video Lounges 
Seen as Exhibitors' B.O. 
Equalizer vs. Saloons 



Trenton, Aug. 17. 
New Jersey exhibs think they 
have hit on a partial but pretty big 
answer to the raids on business 
recently staged by bars and sa- 
loons equipped with television sets. 
Flock of Jersey theatre ops have 
now installed tele sets in lounges 
or specially built rooms for their 
patrons. It's working because the 
dip in grosses suffered heretofore, 
especially on fight nights and from 
night baseball, has leveled off ma- 
terially. 

Jerseyites' -find that theatres are 
_ain popular because the head of 
the "family can catch the sports 
event at the flickery while his 
spouse sees the picture. Almost 
every theatre in Jersey is expected 
to have tele sets before the year 
is up. 

NXCopsO.O.'StopMusic' 
In B'way House; Lottery? 

Official status of the theatre edi- 
tion of "Stop the Music" is up in 
the air since last week. Police 
made a surprise visit to the Cap- 
itol theatre, N. Y., last week to 
see if local lottery laws were be- 
ing violated. 

Since then, there's been no of- 
ficial notification as to police find- 
ings on the matter and show has 
been allowed to proceed. 



Babe Ruth Requiem Song 

The morning following the death 
of Babe Ruth on Monday night 
(16), Dubonnet Music. N. Y. pub- 
lishers, were ready with a requiem 
number dedicated to the baseball 
idol. 

Titled "Safe At Home," lyrics 
and music were written by Jack 
Rollins and Perry Alexander. 



Kate Smith, 'Miss Brooks,' Lum-Abner 
Inked in Upbeat for Fall Air Shows 



Paris in B.O. Slump 

Paris, Aug. 17. 

Vacationing patrons have dealt 
the entertainment Industry here a 
tough blow. 

More than, half of the legit 
houses have closed, while grosses 
at film theatres are slumping badly. 



Study Security 
For Musicians 
In Met Op Talks 

The N. Y. Metropolitan Opera 
Assn's. muddled situation about a 
season in '48-'49 remained' unclar- 
ified after yesterday's (Tues.) meet- 
ing of its board of directors, which 
followed the hour meeting be- 
tween management and unions last 
Thursday (12). Although no word 
was given out as to either meeting, 
it's, understood that George A. 
Sloan, chairman of the MeTs board, 
opened Thursday's meeting with a 
discussion of Variety's exclusive 
story of last week (10), which dis- 
cussed a possible real estate angle 
involved. Although admitting that 
certain Met directors owned stock 
in the opera house, Sloan said that 
(Continued on page 47)* 



FEW N.Y. BISTROS HIT 
BY BOOZE-ME EDICT 

As part of the postwar thinking, 
in relation to giving the customers 
a better shake for their money, 
born of course by the public's own 
shopping for best values, the Alco- 
holic "Beverage Control of the N.Y. 
State Liquor authority has kayoed 
(Continued on page 41) 



Radio show-buying perked up 
last week, with big spenders like 
Colgate and Philip Morris setting 
new program deals. The flurry of 
sponsor inkings found Colgate pick- 
ing up "Our Mlsa Brooks" on CBS, 
PM going for "Kate Smith Sings" ^ 
on Mutual, Frigidaire lining Up 
Lum 'n' Abner to replace "Man 
Called X," and Tunis signing on * - 
new Alan Young comedy stanza. 
A bank-roller, its first, was re- 
ported on the line for Mutual'* 
"Leave It to the Girls." 

Meantime, the Assn. of American 
Railroads, following a long stretch 
of mulling, tossed its! 45-minute 
weekly muslcomedy program— a 
$1,200,000 time and talent deal— to 
ABC, for a probable 02t. 4 debut 
in the Monday 8-8:45 p> m. period. 
Benton & Bowles, agency on the as 
yet untitled show, reportedly is 
dickering with Tony Martin to take 
the lead role. Dick Haymes was 
initially set for it, but the deal fell 
through. • • 

Fall program buying has been 
slow of late, with the crop of part- 
ings in the last few days having 
given the trade a big lift. Inde- 
cisions have been laid in part to 
(Continued on page 30) 

Balto Theatre 0p Will 
Finance Operation To 
Restore Singer's Sight 

Chicago, Aug. 17. 

Izzy Rappaport, operator of the 
Hippodrome, Baltimore, will 
finance operation on Harold Parr, 
blind singer with Horace Heidt 
radio winners unit. When unit 
played Baltimore a week ago,. Rap- 
paport found that Pan" was able 
to distinguish light from a sun 
lamp. Latter will leave, unit this 
week to enter Johns Hopkins hos- 
pital, Baltimore, for an operation, 

Rappaport's son Underwent a 
similar operation several years ago 
•that restored his sight; 



74c 7wr£er#eo<i/P4A* jfn. 

TELEVISION 

THE H0;j 




"All 6IRI- 

ORCHESTRA and CHOtR 

Undtr tin Direction of 

PHIl SPITALNY 
as BEAUTIFUL to SEE as to HEAR! 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, Angnst 18, 1948 



Wakh Scores Commie Agitation In 
H wood Labor at IATSE 39th Conv. 



Cleveland, Aug. 17. * 
Hollywood's "Communistic 
tendencies," as well as the 10 in- 
dicted film figures and Conference 
of Studio Unions chieftain Her- 
bert K. Sorrell were scorched by 
Richard F. Walsh in" his official 
report to the 39th biennial conven- 
tion of the ' International Alliance 
of Theatrical Stage Employees. 
The IA prexy also swiped at the 
Taft-Hartley law, urging immedi- 
ate repeal and stronger organiza- 
tion of labor groups. Gn brass tack 
union matters, Walsh promised to 
push a pension plan for IA work- 
ers and straighten out unionization 
of television and 16m fields. 

Terming Communist agitation as 
a. -'well organized plot of stooges 
of Moscow" to seize control of the 
nation's screen, Walsh said that 
"had it not been for lA's militant 
battle against the spread of sub- 
versive, foreign propaganda, those 
dictators might well have accom- 
plished this important objective." 
Sorrell was specially singled out 
by Walsh as one who was "posi- 
tively identified by handwriting 
experts of the FBI" as a signer of 
Communist party documents. 

Slamming the Taft-Hartley act, 
Walsh said its attempt to bar polit- 
ical activity by labor proved the 
existence of a "certain amount of 
pro-fascist thinking" in America. 
He said the IA would conduct a 
vigorous fight "not only against 
totalitarianism of the left but also 
against totalitarianism of . the 
right." He charged "vested in- 
terests" with playing a cat-and 



convention elections. It's reported 
group headed by Wallace Crowley, 
prexy of projectionists local 40, 
Los Angeles, and George Shaffer, 
business agent, had kittied up 
$10,000 liquor and entertainment 
fund to get votes for their man. 

Atkinson is keeping mum but in- 
dicated he's willing to be drafted 
if IA sentiment swings his way. 



Actor-Producer 
Units a Natural 
Thinks Henreid 




Paris Runaround 



. 321st Week! 
3303 Performance* 
All-time long run record in 
the legitimate theatre. 

KEN MURRAY'S 

"BLACKOUTS OF 1948" 
El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, Cat. 
And now in world-wide release 
"BFLL AND COO" 

Ken Murray's * 
Academy Award Film 



By Borrah Minevitch 



Paris, Aug. 12. i later (Queen Elizabeth), Harry 
The George V. lobby like Hill- 1 Richman and Sophie Tucker. 
Jst or . LadL Night. \ ■ » n ^ W 

Harry Richman celebrating his Ji«ers. 
53d birthday (willing to prove it) 



with a gang of 30 at a bistro seat- 
ing 15, and then hiked everybody 
over to the biggest table the Lido 
ever saw 



Could -be: Howard Hughes re- 
viving vaude by televising it from 
the • stage where it belongs — the 
Palace. 

Have yet to pass the Arc de 



Current sy/.ing ,^*»%ollywood's | 
thesps to combined acting-procluc- j 
ing stints is a' natural, according | 
to Paul Henreid who has just 
wrapped up "Hollow Triumph." his 
first along those lines. Henreid's 
opinion is that an actor can do a 
better job in the production end, 
particularly in casting, than the 
outsider who has never played a 
role. "Directing interferes a great 
deal with acting but the job of 
producer is a natural complement," 
he said. 

So far as Henreid is concerned 



Govt. Outlines 
Pix-Radio Coin 
For Overseas 



tion chores is the only surefire way 
o£ an actor escaping Hollywood's 
mouse game with labor by not I penchant for type - casting. He 
pressing for "strict enforcement of j swung into the job for Eagle Lion 
the law until after the November on "Triumph" because he "■ 



election. 



Other Benefits 



Washington, Aug. 17. 

State Department toppers last [here cost about the" same, but they 
the business of taking on produc- 1 week outlined just .how they will , Jo spray you all over with your 

'"" expand the overseas pix and radio j favorite parfum for the finale, 
programs to use the whopping ap- | Bob Tausig 'Paul Tausig & Son) 
propriation boost they got from thrilled because he received an air 
Congress this year. ; letter the same day it was post- 

Tbe radio division will add marked in N. Y. C. 
broadcasts in 10 new languages, in- s some colors the top 



lark Bennv telling a "how oumb.Triomphe ln ««e wee hours and 
Jack Henny !. no t see some bareheaded some- 

®¥ a , gU ^h b B H £? telled-Ma^eT- i body looking at the Unknown Sol- 
who laughed and yelled— M^ei . er , s fl 

Ious!-when in walked Phil Harris phu Harrig and ^ ^ 

m i! me r. t0 ? a l' W ,oc^Ti a n' a Turner With radio looking pale, vaude 
The English P«»-Laii a Turner j r(mtes scri tn Met , , and 

feud has come to the po 'f wnel « : night club operators a little deaf, 
they only print pictures of her re ■ ^ gam gtep jn ^ 

touched for ugliness. . t k M arsenal of mora | e 

There's something about a hel . ncome 

meted soldier on motoi cycle that flesh * an £ es for one wno , e 
means business. season 

M & 1™$ °Z T ZV ev°e™ mtaute i S Benny yelling after Phil 
grabbing Pans for every minute ■ Harris wno was dashing out o£ tne 

dur , ln l- ^' * L JS moh i George V. lobby: "Where ye'going 
Eddie Cantor raved about Rich -j ^ Tq ^ pm ^ S B 

ard Josef Inger 'Palestinian Chat , ., ^ . f chicken." 

,apin) to Jack Kapp and wants to Engla *, ^ eather ing a cigarette 

present Inger this fall in concerts ' famine 

in principal U. S. pities. , ^ags to think about before 

Irving Berlin^ reaching for a Nembutal— Sing- 

iu an 9R°th Amsterdam, returning apore>s (chieago) spare ribs; D fi. 

the zbth. ores (Hollywood) banana cream 

Two million left Paris for this f Tompson - s Spa (Boston) coffee 

■ month of ^USUtjoyou tan im- icecream soda versus Hicks , N y , 
agine whats happened to the film i same . Buckingham Pharmacy (57th 

*'« t, i t,„„ ,,j c...™ [St.) N. Y. C) coffee — Rieke's soup 

■ If Paul Re y na " d J. n .f^ h ,f" an ^! salon (Chicago); Chasen's ( Holly. 
! minister) can make with ^th jfranc d) c ^. ■ > 
land dollar with a lree hand. France „ , „ y , M £ 
I may give, birth to 'an economic ren- rul 
I aissance. ' 

Ladies the beauty parlor ordeals j 



Goo Gai Pan. 



wanted 

a change of pace in parts" and 
couldn't convince producers to 



Besides. pressing for higher social j make the switch, 
security benefits, Walsh said the IA "I've grown tired of the same 
would submit a worked-out pen- j part and I figure the public must 
sion plan for inclusion in the next be tired of it also," Henreid ex- 
studio contract. Details of -the j plained. "I couldn't get a producer 
plan will be disclosed at tomor- 1 to take a chance on another part, 
row's (Wed.) session. . 'so I've been forced into producing 

He also suggested taking steps . for myself. Forthe. past fewye lars, 
fn unionize alleaedlv non-profit the only part I've been permitted 
wmmer^eatrS which M to play is the quiet, understanding 
profits that are "a stiff/unfair com- lover who suffers a great deal, 
petitor" to commercial theatres. A producer's duties end when 
While still an advocate of local preparation jof a picture is.complet 
autonomy, Walsh said 1 6m juris 



diction would be directly under the 
IA national office. 

Same situation will apply to tele- 
vision, ■ Walsh declared. Com- 
plexities of working conditions in 
video field are causing too much 
misunderstanding, he admitted, 
particularly among young tech- 
nicians fr»m engineering schools 
who are not union-minded yet. 
After the convention, Walsh said he 
hoped to bring about an agreement 
with the International Brotherhood 
of Electrical Workers along the 
same lines as IA's pact with In- 
ternational Sound Technicians,' 
Local 693. 

Britain's Tom O'Brien 
Formation of an international 
corporation by picture industry 
leaders in U. S. and Britain to set- 
tle their problems was urged by 
Tom O'Brien, general secretary of 
Britain's National Assn. of Thea- 
tre and Kine Employees, in an un- 
official speech prior to opening of 
the convention. 

Over 1,100 delegates were wel- 
comed - yesterday by Walsh and' 
local union officials. They 
heard William Green, AFL 
president, blast at the 80th Con- 
gress for its "glaring failures" 
and "arbitrary injustice" of Hart- 
ley-Taft bill. The theatrical trades 



ed and the actor can then fake over 
(Continued on page 20) 



LEWIS & MARTIN'S U 
FILM DEAL NOW COLD 

The New York nitery comedians, 
Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, are 
cold on a Universal film deal 
which was in an on-and-off-again 
position all last week. At first 
they balked, through their per- 
sonal manager, Abby Greshler, on 
certain terms, but' eventually U 
changed its mind too. 

Comedians are currently a click 



crease English-language programs 
and broadcasts beamed to Soviet 
satellites, generally overhaul its 
schedule to give more emphasis to 
broadcasts to Europe. The pix di- 
vision will acquire 100 new reels, 
triple its staff, show in more coun- 
tries to more people. 

Congress this year voted the De- 
partment's overseas information 
program $28,000,000 for operations 
during; the 12 months ending June 
30, 1949. Last year, it had slashed 
the program to a mere $10,500,000. 
The funds cover book purchases, 
libraries, information centers, and 
other activities as well as pix and 
radio. Radio gets the lion's share. 

The 10 new languages, which 
the "Voice of America" pro- 
gram- will add as quickly as 
linguists can be recruited, will 
bring to 32 the number ' of 
languages in which the -Depart- 
ment is now turning out broad- 
casts. New tongues include Ara- 
bic, Persian and Turkish for Near 
Eastern listeners, with about 30 
minutes for each program daily; 
(Continued on page 21) 



at Slapsie Maxie's, Hollywood nit- j Cm, Prfthp MflV Rp 21 Btf&tk 
ery, which was booked to show-t^KJ 1 luuc mA J « «» SC « R 

For H wood Commie Quiz 



ery, 

case them for films since they I 
have had a number of bids, 



As Harrison's Anne 

Rex Harrison's femme lead in 
"Anne of a 1,000 Days" is expected 
to be Joyce Redman, British ac- 
tress, according to present plans of 
The Playwrights Co. and Leland 
Hay ward, who are jointly produc- 
ing Maxwell Anderson's play. Har- 
rison plays the Henry 8th role 



Actor clippered to Paris Monday 
must "root Reds from public serv- j (16) with his wife, Lilli Palmer, 
Ice," he said, hinting headlines but returns in time for Sept. 15 ; then. 



Washington, Aug. 17. 
Elizabeth T. Bentley may be a 
friend of the motion picture indus- 
try. 

Consensus in Washington is that 
the current "spies in governments 
hunt of the House Un-American 
Activities Committee, which Miss 
Bentley launched, has again put 
off reopening of the committee's 
Hollywood investigations. Some 
committee members think the pix 
hearings, which had been set fol- 
iate this month, may not take place 
now until after the elections — if 



about Communist spy rings may j rehearsals. She with Maria Mon- 
be "intention to obscure real j tez (who accompanied them) and 
issues" facing- the world. i Jean-Pierre Aumont will do a bi- 

Faction of California delegates I Ungual French-English film in 
set up headquarters here for a ! Paris, which Aumont's brother will 
political machine to push Gene direct. 

Atkinson, biz agent of projection- Bretaigne Windust will direct 
ists Local 110, "Chicago, against i "Anne," and Jo Mielziner is doing 
Walsh as presidential candidate in I the sets and costumes. 



The spy hearings, according to 
Committee Chief Investigator 
Stripling, will last another three 
weeks. Then come hearings on Bu- 
reau of Standards head Edward U. 
Condon, then Hollywood. 'But by 
that time, it'll be' September, and 
many committee members won't 
want to leave pre-election chores. 



stylists are splitting hairs with: — | 
mouse gray, mole gray, dawn gray 
— lampshade green, bottle green, 
pine and pea green — ink blue, and 
petrol blue. But faded claret red i 
stands uncontested. 

The Main Street tourists are | 
using the U. S. Embassy like as if 
it was "Ask Mr. Foster" — One 
woman demanded to know where 
she could board her cat. 

Installments DeLuxe ., 
Phil Harris, asking the price of 
an Alfa Romeo car, was told the 
chassis cost so much, the body so 
much, and the top, tires, and lights 
extra. Retorted Phil, — "What?— 
d'ye have to buy it in pieces?" 

Homesick department: Lewis & 
Conger (N. Y.I windows S. S. I 
Pierce's (Boston) ditto.— the Farm- i 
ers market (Hollywood). 

S.O.S. — Somebody - locate Larry, j 
the bartender (last seen in Holly- 
wood) for his Rob Roy recipe. | 
Mrs. Bob Considine sitting it out 
in Paris until Bob returns from the | 
London Olympics the 20th. 

The Jack Benny bunch 'Phil 
Harris, Alice Faye. Sam Perrin, 
Marlin Maxwell, Mary Living- 
stone and gang check nightly with 
the Harry Richman team (30) on 
which eateries and clubs they'll 
make so's to avoid overcrowding 
a joint. 

It gets you sore when you cable 
for action, only to get protraction 
(via airmail answers). 

Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr.'s show i 
trailer was chiseled into and 
robbed near San Remo, Italy. Lost 
his special movie equipment, pass- 
port, money, sport coats (they left 
his business suits) but overlooked 
his most valuable pearls. Feels he 
was marked before- he entered 
Italy F.B.I, got these facts: Bor- 
relli, Lucky Luciano aide, invited 
Vanderbilt to his nightclub for a 
lookaround and kept him inter- 
ested long enough for the job to 
come off. 

Jack Benny went antique shop- 
ping and came back with two new 
cups for coffee. 

Jack Kapp lunched with Sir 
Stafford Cripps while in London 
who told him France is the key to 
Europe's economy. 

Returners Home! 
Arriving in New York on the 
America, as you read this: Edward 
G. and Gladys Robinson, Eddie and 
Ida Cantor. Arriving two days 



L. A. to N. Y. 

Glen Anders 
. Maurice Bergman 
Turhan Bey 
Charles Boren 
Gilmor Brown 
Anthony Buttitta 
Jimmy Campbell 
Alfred Chamie 
J. Cheever Cowdin 
Ann Dvorak 
Harold Goldberg 
Jon Hall 
Teddy Hart 
George Heller 
Henry Jaffe 
Harry Kurnitz 
Louis Lipstone 
A. H. McCausland 
Fred S. Meyer 
Arthur Michaud 
Robert Newman 
Thelma Ritter 
William Scully 
Joseph H. Seidelman 
Spyros Skouras 
Bianca Stroock 
Jimmy Strdock 



N. Y. to L. A. 

Charles Boyer 
Tom Brady 
Al Delyn 
Stanley Gilkey 
Sam Goldwyn, Jr. 
Guthrie McClintic 
Mrs. Ruby Schinasi 
Irene Selznick 



Europe to N. Y. 

Alfred Bollington 
Eddie Cantor 
Jacques Chabrier • 
Edward G. Robinson 
Sol Hurok 
Marilyn Maxwell 
Vera Ralston 
Harry Richman 
Sophie Tucker 
Herbert J. Yates 



N. Y. to Europe 



Mary Bothwell 
Douglas Fairbanks, 
Richard Greene 
Joseph Harris 
Rex Harrison 
Joseph Lew J 
Micheline Loder 
I. E. Lopert 
Mrs. J. P. McEvoy 
Patricia Medina 
Maria Montez 
Lilli Palmer 
Katina Paxinou 
Martin Ross 
Howard K. Smiih 
Robert Wolff 



Jr. 



More Journal-Americans Are Sold in New York's 
8 "Blue Chip" Suburban Counties Than All Other 
Metropolitan Evening Papers Combined 

douFHateMmerican 

Doily, over 700,000 — - Sync/ay, over 1,250,000 




TOPS IN NEW YORK'S 
ijM TOP BRACKET 

• M"mm : ~- % SUBURBS 




Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



Pt&RIETY 



PICTURES 



SEE $30,000,000 FROM ENG. IN '4 



Efforts Anew by 'Big 5' to Settle 
With Gov't on Anti-Trust Issues 




Negotiations have been opened 
by the Big Five with the Dept. of ' 
Justice for settlement of the Gov- 
ernment anti-trust suit. Talks in 
Washington have been progressing 
several weeks, with conflicting re- 
ports on how close to a compro- 
mise deal the parties are, in an ef- 
fort to finally haul down the cur- 
tain on the A 0-year-old suit. The 
current efforts represent the third 
try by the majors, since inception 
of litigation, to get the case out of 
the way. 

Two former Government officials 
are said to be active in settlement 
■maneuvers in behalf of the Big 
Five. Former N. Y. Supreme Court 
Justice Samuel I. Rosenman, who 
was a close adviser to the late 
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, is 
one of the figures reportedly carry- 
ing the ball. The other is John F. 
Sonne tt, who recently resigned as 
chief of the anti-trust division and 
is now in private practice in Wash- 
ington. 

Successful windiip to negotia- 
tions would result in a tremendous 
shakeup in the present status of 
theatres. Understood the Big Five 
are offering to break open tightly 
closed theatre situations through- 
out the country by transfer of 
houses wherever present owner- 
ship means virtual monopoly in a 
territory by one of the film com- 
panies. Involved in the dickering 
also is the severing of all or al- 
most all partnership theatre ties. 

As to the Government's reaction 
to the settlement offers, according 
to one report, a deal is close to 
signing. Present rash of rumors 
that affiliate theatres are being of- 
(Continued on page 14) 



Judge Coxe's Naming 
Paves the Way for Oct. 
Anti-Trust, Film Trial 

Way was cleared for on-schedule 
hearings in the Government's anti- 
trust action with the naming of 
Federal District Judge Alfred C. 
Coxe as the third member of the 
statutory court. Judge Coxe steps 
into the vacancy .caused by the 
death of Judge John Bright dur- 
ing the interim between the statu- 
tory court's decision and that of 
the U. S. Supreme Court in May. 

Technically, his appointment 
again opens the door for the Gov- 
ernment to seek a theatre - expan- 
sion freeze pending final results 
of the suit. Dept. of Justice's pre- 
vious plea was nixed on the ground 
that the statutory court was not 
empowered to act without the va- 
cancy first being filled. Industry 
legali tes, however, do not believe 
the Government will risk another 
denial of its request for a ban on 
theatre acquisitions by the Big 
Five. 

Comparatively fast action in 
naming a successor to Judge 
Bright will better the chances of 
the case actually going to trial on 
Oct. 13, day now fixed by the 
court. Judge Coxe will have two 
months to familiarize himself with 
the protracted suit. 

Otiier two jurists sitting on the 
matter are Circuit Judge Augus- 
tus Hand and District Judge Henry 
W. Goddard. 



NUNNALLY JOHNSON 
RETURNING TO 20TH 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

Nunnally Johnson concluded- 
deal via transatlantic telephone 
with Darryl Zanuck to return to 
20th-Fox as a writer-producer. He 
checks in in mid-September, when 
Zanuck returns from Europe. 

Longterm deal was handled for 
Johnson by William Morris. He 
left 20th in 1943 to join Interna- 
tional after eight years - on the 
Westwood lot, during which time 
he produced 22 pix, including 
"Grapes of Wrath," "Country 
Doctor," "Jesse James," "Roxie 
Hart." "Life Begins at d:30" and 
"The Sullivans," his last there. He 
moved to U-I when International 
merged with Universal. 



Drop 'Message' Pix 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

Highly publicized production 
of "message" pictures has been 
virtually abandoned by studios, 
with no attendant fanfare. 

Twentieth - Fox's "Quality," 
planned as a followup to 
"Gentlemen's Agreement," has 
been placed on the shelf. So 
has Columbia's projected "Por- 
trait of An American Commu- 
nist." Other producers who 
had announced such films are 
now talking of other things. 



U'sSalesonRank 
Pix in U.S. to Be 
Highly Selective 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 
The soggy boxoffice returns from 
British pix in the past year has 
brought on a new sales policy by 
Universal in distributing J. Arthur 
Bank's product in the U. S. In- 
stead of a mandatory minimum of 
12 Rank films being peddled on a 
purely commercial basis during 
1948-49, as previously agreed, U 
has now set up three brackets for 
its share of Rank's product. Re- 
portedly, this is over th» direct 
opposition of Britain's ace film- 
maker. 

Henceforth, U has reserved to 
itself the right to reject any Rank 
pic if it doesn't feel that the film 
will do biz in America. As 1 for 
those which it accepts, the com- 
pany has the sole discretion to de- 
termine whether the pic will go 
into general release, along with 
U's Hollywood output; or to its 
Prestige unit, for special art thea- 
tre handling; or in specialized re- 
served seating, advanced admis- 
(Continued on page 21) 






STORY EDS FIND BRIT. 
YARNS AS POOR AS U.S. 

With purchases of story material 
in England one of the ways in 
which they can expend their frozen 
coin in that country, American film 
companies are keeping an intense 
eye out for suitable yarns. Story 
eds for the majors are squawking, 
however, that the British literary 
output is as bad as the current 
U. S. supply in lack of suitable ma- 
terial for films. 

Only two stories have been 
bought by Hollywood studios since 
the sterling freeze became effective 
last June 14. Both were acquired 
by 20th-Fox. One is "No Highway,", 
by Nevil Shute, and the other is 
"Inside Scotland Yard." 

Inability of Hollywood producers 
to find acceptable film yarns in 
England apparently isn't shared by 
British picturemakers. Two proper- 
ties have been purchased recently. 
Producer Ronald Neame, of the J. 
Arthur Rank Organization, has 
bought an unpublished novel by 
Victor Canning, while Two Cities, 
also a Rank group, has acquired 
"The Chi Item Hundreds," a play 
by W. Douglas Home". It has been 
at the Vaudeville theatre, London, 
since last August, under sponsor- 
ship of Linnit & Dunfee. 



Goldwyn, Jr., Back In 
U.S., Plans French Pic 

Sam Goldwyn, Jr., who's ready- 
ing a picture to be made in 
France, arrived in New York from 
Britain last week and yesterday 
(Tues.) left for the Coast. His 
French pic will be for United 
Artists release. 

Young Goldwyn went to Eng- 
land two years ago as an assistant 
to Sydney Box. More recently he 
has been a producer with Rank's 
Two Cities unit. 



TAKE IN 1947 

Major, film companies are now 
jotting down the last net figures 
in their ledgers for the period of 
free trade in Britain which ended 
June 14, and all indications point 
to a take of $30,000,000 by Yank 
distribs from the United Kingdom 
in '48. With the estimated return 
to American companies of $50,000,- 
000 in '47, the net profit would 
represent a decline of 40% in the 
British market. 

Despite crippling hurdles im- 
posed by last yeaV's ban on ship- 
ping new pictures to England — a 
ban only ended by the .Anglo- 
American accord — the eight majors 
and indies dealing in Britain gar- 
nered an estimated $21,000,000 in 
actual remittances for the Jan. 1- 
June 14 stretch. Losses in biz of 
the majors varied from a low of 
12% to a high of 20% over the 
comparative, period of 1947. 

Remittances for the balance of 
the year are fixed by the terms of 
the tax peace at 50% the $17,000,- 
000 permitted yearly to the indus- 
try, plus a credit for the earnings 
of British pix in the U. S. With 
the boycott against British films 
initiated over the Palestine ques- 
tion hurting considerably, plus the 
basic fact that English films are 
failing to hold up on their own, 
it is not expected that more than 
$1,000,000 -$1,500,000 can' be de- 
rived from that source. Hence, the 
last half of the year is not ex- 
pected to produce more than $9,- 
(Continued on page 19) 



Johnston and Mulvey to London FrL; 
OK Compromise on French Film Coin 



Joiie At It Again 

Hollywood, Aug. 17 
Al Jolson starts recordings to- 
day (17) on the "Jolson Story" 
sequel. Cast now being assembled 
at Col will be same as original 
with possibility that Larry Parks 
I will repeat Jolie's role. 

Already lined up are Evelyn 
Keyes, William Demarest, Bill 
Goodwin, Ludwig Donath, Scotty 
Beckett and Tamara Shayne. 



SIMPP's Pitch 
To Mayor ODwyer 

Mayor William O'Dwyer of New 
York has been under considera- 
tion by the Society of Independent 
Motion Picture Producers to be- 
come its topper, succeeding Don- 
ald M. Nelson, who resigned last 
January. O'Dwyer's name has now 
been dropped, however, from the 
list of candidates. It could not 
be learned whether he was ap- 
proached and nixed the offer or 
whether it was decided by SIMPP 
that he was unsuitable for the 
post. 

In the meantime, Frank Mc- 
Carthy, Continental rep of the 
Motion Picture Assn. of America, 
is ' understood to be high on the 
list of prospects for the SIMPP 
job. It is reported that feelers 
(Continued on page 19) 



Producers Stress 
Originals to Lure 
Shopping Public 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

Growing belief that fresh ma- 
terial is needed to lure a carefully 
shopping public into theatres has 
led film studios to concentrate on 
original stories in the last six 
months. Of 133 • story buys re- 
corded; during the first half of the 
year, 97 were original stories, 30 
were magazine yarns or novels, 
three were comic strips, one was a 
radio program and two were 
plucked from public domain. 

The 73% overall figure for orig- 
inal stories got its biggest boost 
at Republic where every one of the 
24 stories purchased was an orig- 
inal. 

Columbia led the pack in prep- 
ping for screening with a total of 
39 purchases. Twenty-nine of 
these were originals and five were 
from published works. Studio also 
inked rights to the trio of comic 
strips and the pair of public do- 
main stories included in the over- 
all total. Strips were "Congo Bill," 
"Bruce Gentry" and "Jungle Jim," 
latter to be made on a series basis 
(Continued on page 19) 

A&C-Nassours Set Pic 

United Artists and Nasspur Bros, 
have closed the deal, in negotiation 
for the past month, for release of a 
film starring Abbott & Costello. 
Picture is expected to go into pro- 
duction in late September or early 
October. 

Pact is now being drawn up and 
will be signed by Nassours after it 
is presented to the UA board for 
approval at its next session. It is a 
one-picture deal calling for distri- 
bution terms of 2VA%. 



* Top U. S. picture execs meeting 
in .New York yesterday (Tues.) 
okayed with certain reservations 
the French government proposal 
for unfreezing earnings there and 
at the same time voted in favor 
of Eric Johnston, Motion Picture 
Assn. of America prexy, and 
James A. Mulvey, rep of the So- 
ciety of Independent Motion Pic- 
ture Producers, flying to London 
to review the British situation. 
Johnston and Mulvey will plane to 
England Friday (20) with Joyce 
O'Hara, MPAA aide to Johnston, 
accompanying them. 

Modifications, asked by the in- 
dustry in the French proposal will 
be forwarded to the U. S. State 
Dept. for transmission to the 
French government. State has 
been handling all negotiations on 
frozen film currency. 

Johnston and Mulvey will meet 
London reps of American com- 
panies;, to consider the situation 
created by the British film quota. 
Duo were natural choices for th« 
jcb since they had arranged th« 
original Anglo-American tax ac- 
cord. 

Depending on developments 
after the two reach England, 
Johnston and O'Hara may con- 
tinue on and visit several other 
(Continued on page 14) 

Exhib Apathy Stalemates 
TOA's Projected Survey 
On TV's Adverse Effects 

The hurdles in statistics-gather- 
ing when it must come from the ex- 
hibitor end of the film business has 
been illustrated again. Theatre 
Owners of America's officials are 
now losing hope of getting any- 
where near a complete picture of 
the effect of television on the box- 
office. TOA had initiated a survey- 
six weeks ago in which it polled a 
number of exhib members in vari- 
ous key cities. 

Returns so far from exhibs have 
been short on figures and long on 
(Continued on page 41) 



National Boxoffice Survey 

Renewed Heatwave Hits Biz — 'Largo,' 'Foreign 
Affair,' 'Father,' 'Babe Ruth,' 'Judy' Pace Nation 



Nation's film boxoffice, after 
last week's good midsummer biz, 
took a slight tumble in most areas 
this week. Chiefly at fault was 
the return of hot weather, send- 
ing the public out again to 
beaches and other resorts. Base- 
ball took a heavy toll too in the 
Big League cities. 

"Key Largo" (WB> is pacing all 
contenders for top grosses this ses- 
sion, despite the fact that it's in 
its third and fourth holdover 
weeks in many spots. Pic did ter- 
rific second week of $27,000 in 
Detroit, neat $20,000 opener -in 
Boston, sock $13,500 for its Port- 
land teeoff, good $11,000 on its 
second St. Louis frame, fine $15,- 
000 for its second Cleveland round 
and is generally good all down the 
line. 

f "Foreign Affair" (Pari and "Life 
With Father" (WBr, latter going 
out at pop prices after an earlier 
run at advanced admissions, are 
neck-and-neck for second spot. 
"Affair" teed off with hefty $14,- 
000 in Cincy. is doing good $18,000 
in Boston, fine $18,500 in Pitts- 
burgh and good $14,000 in Denver. 
"Father" is terrific $19,000 in 
Portland, excellent *■ $1 7,000 in 



Kansas City, fine $22,000 in St. 
Loo but only mild $15,500 in off- 
ish Philadelphia. 

Also showing strong this week 
are "Babe Ruth Story" (Mono), 
and "Date with Judy" (M-G). 
Former slipped to fair $18,500 for 
third Broadway round, but is 
grossing hefty $30,000 in the Hub, 
top $28,800 in Philly and good 
$11,000 for second Baltimore 
frame. "Judy" mopped up oh 
Broadway with second week total 
of $148,000, is doing terrific $38,- 
000 in Washington and perky $23,- 
500 in Cleveland. 

In lower positions are "Walls of i 
Jericho" (20th) and "Street -With ! 
No Name" (20th), "Mr. Blandings" I 
(SRO), "Paradine Case" (SRO>, I 
"Canon City" (EL), "Abbott-Cos- ' 
tello Meet Frankenstein" (Ui and 
"So Evil My Love" (Pan. Of the 
lengthy holdovers, "Emperor 
Waltz" (Par) is still strong, fol- 
lowed closely by "Easter Parade" 
(M-G). "Escape" (20th) opened 
spottily, as did "Mr. Peabody and 
Mermaid" (U), while "That Lady 
in Ermine" (20th) teed off to lush 
$17,500 in Cincy. 

(Complete Boxoffice Reports 
on Pages 8-9). 




Trade Mark Registered 
FOITNWED BY SIMB SIWEHMAN 
ubllsliril Weekly btf VARIETY, Inc. 
Sid Silverman, President 
154 West 40th St., New York 19, N. Y. 
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SUBSCRIPTION 

^'^ e ,'" ^""VsQenU 

Vol. 171 E^g" No. 11 

INDEX 

Bills 4i 

Chatter .46 

Disk Jockey Reviews v ... 32 

Film Reviews ; n 

House Reviews 41 

Inside Legit 44 

Inside Music , 35 

Inside Pictures 16 

Inside Radio 29 

Inside Television 24 

International 13 

Legitimate 42 

Literati 45 

Music 32 

New Acts .' 41 

Night Club Reviews 40 

Obituaries . . 47 

Orchestras 32 

Pictures .• 2 

Radio 22 

Radio Reviews 29 

Records 32 

Frank Scully 45 

Television 24 

Vaudeville 38 

OAIJ.Y VARIETY 

(Published In Hollywood by 
Daily Variety, Ltd.) 
$16 a Year— J20 Foreign 



(The following article by Drew Pearson, internationally* Known columnist* 
appeared in the Asbury Park (N. J.), Press and hundreds of other papers in this 
country and abroad during the past few days.) 



WASHINGTON MERRY-GO-ROUND 



j By DREW PEARSON '« 

{Ed. Note: Drew Pearson today awards the brass ring, good for one free ride 
on the Washington Merry-Go-Round, to Charles P. Skouras, head of the National 
Theatres.) 

WASHINGTON.— When Charley Skouras came to the United States as a Greek 
immigrant boy forty years ago, no one ever figured that someday he would 
become head of the largest movie -theatre chain in the world. 

Nor did anyone ever dream that last week ha-would help the President of the 
United States dedicate a special "Youth Month Stamp"— a stamp commemorating 
the month of September and the drive which the theatres .of America and most 
of the communities of America will make toward wiping out juvenile delinquency. 
Charles Skouras is heading that "Youth Month" drive. 
Sometimes I think many of the Americans who have become United States 
citizens by adoption, who know first hand what it is to live in the old world, are 
inore appreciative of the United States than those born here who take this country 
lor granted. Certainly this is Charley Skouras' viewpoint toward the United States. 

When he first landed in New York Skouras got a job in a Greek restaurant 
paying him 50 cent's a day, plus meals and the privilege of sleeping on bags of 
.coffee in the rear at night. Later he moved to St. Louis, where he worked as a 
bus boy. His two brothers, Spyros and George, were also in St. Louis hotels, worked 
hard, saved their money. 

The bartender who employed Spyros made him recite The Star -Spangled 
Banner, from beginning to end, every morning before he began work, which is 
probably more than most native r born Americans can do at any time. Spyros can 
still recite it, all the verses, and later gave the bartender an interest in the Shaw 
theatre in St. Louis. 

World's Top Movie Magnates 

The Skouras brothers got into the theatre business when a friend offered 
to sell them a decrepit St. Louis nickelodeon. They had saved $3,500 and gambled 
It all on the then relatively new movie business. Fifteen years later, the Skouras 
brothers had acquired 36 theatres in Missouri, later sold out to Warner Brothers, 
became bankrupt in the 1929 depression, subsequently signed up to manage 550 
theatres in the West. 

Today Spyros dominates 20th Century-Fox, George operates a chain of theatres 
in the East, while Charley, the oldest brother, is president of National Theatres 
and Fox West Coast Theatres,, operating 1,500 movie houses. * 

I first got to know Charley Skouras when the Friendship " Train was being 
organized. His theatre managers had been asked to tell the public about the 
idea behind the Friendship Train, and to that end Skouras called them to Los 
Angeles for a conference. 

"But, boss," they protested, "we're just opening with 'Forever Amber.' How 
can we publicize that and the Friendship Train too?" 

"Which is more important—" grunted Skouras. "'Forever Amber' or your 
country? 'Forever Amber' can come later." 

"Youth Month" in September 

Today Skouras is heading the national committee for Youth Month, backed 
by the Theatre Owners of America whose 10,000 movie houses will do their best 
to create more interest in youth activities, beginning in September. 

"One trouble with most of us,", says Skouras, "is that we talk too much about 
juvenile delinquency and not enough about juvenile achievements. 

"When I go to the county fairs and see the prize cattle, chickens, hogs and 
all the things that the farm kids raise all by themselves, it gives me a big thrill. 
That's achievement. Those kids won't go wrong, because they've got pride In 
their work. And some of them are more self-reliant at 12 than adults three times 
their age." 

"But kids in crowded cities have a tough time," pleads Skouras. "So we've 
got to provide incentives, give them a chance to want to achieve, to improve 
themselves. 

"Most American boys are hero-worshippers. They don't want to be sideline 
sitters. Give them healthy outlets for their pent-up energy and they'll land on 
their feet. 

"Sure, some kids go wrong, maybe 2 percent. But when it comes to delinquency, 
it's the parents and our own communities which are the chief delinquents." 

More Playgrounds 

The aim of Youth Month is to promote more playgrounds, swimming pools, 

fymnasiums, and off-the-street boys clubs. In New York, for Instance, there is no' 
ome or institution where a boy picked- up by the police can be taken for the night 
except to a municipal lodging-house or to a jail. 

In the more crowded slums, it is Charley Skouras' ambition to have a play- 
ground for. every three or four blocks. 

"The average age of criminals in our penitentiaries is under 25," he points out 
"And most of them are in there chiefly as a result of the cities' squalor." 

During Youth Month, the Theatre Owners of America will show various short 
eubjects on youth and juvenile delinquency, as well as special films and literature 
on community youth organization. 

"Doing something for our youth is a lot more than a one-month job," explains 
Skouras. "This is only a start. But if we can make Youth Month in September 
really mean something, I hope the carry-thru will continue the rest of the year 
Giving youth a real stake in our democracy is the best way to make democracy 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



PICTURES 



PRE-TEST PIX FIRST, TERMS LATER 



Par's Partners Ignore H.O. By 
Adding Theatres Despite U. S. Suit 



A sharp division on policy has-f 
developed between Paramount and ' 
its partners over theatre acquisi- 
tions. The home company has laid 
down a rule of no theatre acquisi- 
tions during pendency of the Gov- 
ernment anti-trust action to which it 
has hewed with but few exceptions. 
Par's theatre partners, on the other 
hand, have set elaborate plans to 
boost circuit holdings over the op- 
position of the company. 

Wherever the company has the 
negative power, it is said, it has 
vetoed moves for substantial addi- 
tions to partnership . holdings. 
Power to veto depends on the per- 
centage of interest which Par has 
in a particular chain and the num- 
ber of reps on the circuit's board 
of directors. By these tactics, 
some attempts to expand have been 
nixed by the Paramount vote. 

In other instances, theatre pards 
have gone ahead with building or 
acquisition plans despite warnings 
by Par that such action may 
jeopardize the final decision of the 
court in the anti-trust litigation. 
In those cases, Par's representation 
on the local board was not suffici- 
ent to rule out expansion. 

Par's attitude, it's said, explains 
frequent hegiras to New York by 
company's associates recently. In 
the main, they are attempts to win 
approval for postwar ideas of en- 
larging theatre holdings. Company 
has been adamant in its insistence 
that the anti-trust applecart be 
kept upright at the expense of Im- 
mediate theatre gains, " 
Detroit Exception 

In one instance, that of a thea- 
tre proposed by United Detroit cir- 
cuit, Par approved construction of 
a new house. That action was due 
however, to the fact that unim- 
proved property had been pur- 
(Continued on page 20) 



Fib Checking 



Declines 44% 



Wright Seen Sticking 
With Paramount Case 

Washington, Aug. 17. - 
Government pix attorney Rob 1 
ert L. Wright is going to stick it 
out with the Paramount case, at 
least until the New York district 
court hands down its decision in 
the proceedings slated to start in 
October. 

Friends say that stories pub- 
lished this spring that Wright 
would soon enter private practice 
are false, that Wright is working 
like a beaver to get ready for the 
October hearing, and that he's 
sticking with the case until 
end is in Bight. 



the 



Exhibitors have found one ray 
of sunshine in the boxoffice hori- 
zon. That's the possibility of comb- 
ing troublesome checkers out of 
their hair. Survey of those compa- 
nies subscribing to the checking 
services of Confidential Reports, 
Inc., reveals a decline of 44% in 
the amount of checking being done 
over this time last year. 

Chief reason for the dropoff, of 
course, is the boxoffice slump it- 
self. With many small situations 
that play pictures only three or 
four days, the cost of checking 
often approximates about half the 
distributor's rental. One company 
sales chief for example, noted that 
his rental on one film was $75, 
whereas his checking cost was $45. 
Under such circumstances, the 
distrib chiefs would rather trust 
to exhibitors' honesty than cut into 
their earnings to such an extent. 

Because exhibitors at large are 
allegedly falsifying reports on per- 
centage pictures to the extent of 
$15,000,000-$20,000,000 yearly, how- 
ever, the dip in grosses has also 
seen a switch in sales policy on 
the part of several of the majors 
from percentage deals to flat rent- 
als. Trend towards flat deals is 
growing steadily in the industry 
(Continued on page 20) 



PetrilloPutsTV, 
Wages At Top Of 
Film Pact Talks 

With cost-of-living pay boosts,, 
increased employment of musi- 
cians and television complexities 
at the top of the agenda, reps of 
the major companies and James C. 
Petrillo, American Federation of 
Musician prez, open negotiations 
in- New York today (Wed.) for 
a new studio musicians' union con- 
tract. The current 28-month pact, 
which covers approximately 350 
musician,? at the major lots, ex- 
pires Aug. 31. 

The battery of industry execs 
for the initial parley at the AFM 
national headquarters will include 
Charles Boren, veepee of the Assn. 
of Motion Picture Producers in 
charge of industrial relations; Y. 
Frank Freeman and Lou Lipstone, 
Paramount; Richard J. Powers, 
Metro music chief; Fred S. Meyer, 
20th-Fox; A. H. McCausland, Uni- 
versal-International; Robert New- 
man, Republic; and Albert. Chamie, 
Boren's assistant. On the union 
(Continued on page 20) 



Judy Canova Settles 
Suit Against Lyons Agcy. 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 
Settlement of Judy Canova's 
suit against the A. & S. Lyons 
Agency was reached here after 
Miss Canova is understood to have 
made a cash settlement for an un- 
disclosed amount. Prior to the 
settlement, two demurrers filed by 
Lyons had been sustained by the 
court. 

Actress had sought termination 
of her contract with the agency 
which, in turn, had taken legal 
action to collect commissions al- 
legedly due. 





Hypoed British Prod. 
Heads M-G Agenda As 
Senary, Mayer Huddle 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

Dore Senary checked in at Metro 
yesterday (16) and plunged im- 
mediately Into huddles with Louis 
B. Mayer on studio's production 
program. High on the agenda will 
be final decision on plans for ac- 
celerated production in Britain. 

Metro has "tentatively scheduled 
at least four films for lensing at 
the Eistree studios and a fifth, "The 
Secret Garden," may be decided 
upon this week as a result of the 
Schary-Mayer talks. Quartet now 
slated to go includes "Young Bess," 
"Romance of Menafy," "The Con- 
spirators" and John Galsworthy's 
"The Forsyte Saga." Latter will 
star Greer Garson. 

First to go in England probably 
will be "Conspirators," with Arthur 
Hornblow producing.. Studio re- 
cently wound "Edward, My Spn," 
Spencer Tracy-Deborah Kerr star- 
rer, in Britain, and Mayer reported 
that director George Cukor brought 
it in nine days ahead of schedule 
as a result of cooperation between 
the mixed Anglo-American crew. 
Similar cooperation on other fea- 
tures is expected to make Leo's 
British production program a high- 
ly profitable venture. 
» Senary also is expected to green- 
light studio's documentary pro- 
gram, which had been stalled 
awaiting his arrival. Sam Marx is 
prepping six of the factual 
films while Louis de Rochemont is 
readying two others, one of „ them 
entitled "Lost ' Btirtndarlete.H %arx 
properties include "Scene of the 
Crime," "Bread on the Waters," 
"The Denver Murder" and "The 
Undesirables." 



Delaying the allocation of new 
pictures into specific rental cate- 
gories until they've been tested in 
trial engagements is expected to be 
one of the chief phenomena to 
emerge out of the new film indus- 
try selling season, which tees off 
for most companies Sept. 1. Ambi- 
tious announcements by several of 
the majors recently to turn out so 
many A films, so many Bs, etc., dur- 
ing the coming year, consequently, 
are looked on by exhibitors as so 
much eyewash. 

Both the majority of exhibs and 
spokesmen for the more conserva- 
tively-minded companies point out 
that, with the film boxoffice in its 
present faltering condition, it's 
what's in the can and not what's 
in the script that counts now. On 
the basis of experience compiled 
during the last several years, they 
claim it's impossible any longer to 
determine in advance, as was once 
done, into what rental bracket a 
film will be slotted. 

With a cast headed by George 
Murphy and Margaret O'Brien and 
with production supervised, by Joe 
Pasternak, Metro had high pre- 
release hopes for the current sea- 
son's "Big City," for example, to 
rate top A rentals. Film failed to 
catch on, however, and Metro was 
forced to put it out for general re- 
lease at a much lower allocation. 
Same situation held true last year 
for Eagle Lion's "Repeat Perform- 
ance." Film carried a moderately 
high budget and a good name cast 
topped by Joan Leslie, which 
should have rated it A rentals. It 
failed to click, however, and EL is 
is now reportedly trying to book 
dates for it in some situations at 
flat fee. 

Fact that the anti-trust decree 
has imposed a system of single sell- 
ing on' pictures also rules out the 
bracketing of a set number of fea- 
tures at the beginning of the sea- 
son - into certain "allocations. An- 
other factor that would tend to dis- 
approve the pre-production an- 
nouncements of so many A films is 
the fact that all the majors cur- 
rently have outside releasing deals 
with at least one indie producer. 
With no control over these indie 
productions, it's pointed out, it's 
impossible for the distrib chiefs of 
the majors to allocate their rental 
terms in advance. 

In addition, exhibitors declare 
they've had experience many times 
with a picture that will go out in a 
low rental bracket, but which, 
through inherent exploitation fac- 
tors, can gross enough to raise it 
to an A level. Distributors in such 
a case can take advantage of the 
upped grosses, however, only if the 
film is sold- on a sliding scale. Sell- 
ing it via flat rental or straight 
percentage leaves the gravy, en- 
tirely in the exhibitor's pocket. 

20th-Fox Asks FCC To 
Clarify Industrial Radio; 
Applies for 2 Channels 

Washington, Aug. 17^ 
20th-Fox yesterday (16) asked 
the Federal Communications .Com- 
mission for clarification of its re- 
cent proposed ruling on industrial 
radio channels. 20th said it in- 
tended to apply for two additional 
channels in the 25-30 megacycle 
band. 

The statement said the proposed 
amendment provided for power 
radio, petroleum radio, forest radio 
and special industrial radio. 20th 
figured it came under the last 
classification. 

20th said radio communication 
was very important in the motion 
picture industry, especially for 
production of films on location. 
It feared the new rule might cause 
interference, and called FCC's at- 
tention to the fact that films were 
produced for the, entertainment of 
s 8km pufcfic.' * %W lasted • whether 
the existing ruling, or a more defi- 
nite classification for motion pic- 
tures in the proposed rule, would 
'be more in the public interest. 



Agnew Joins Grinieffs Campaign 
To Buy Rep Control After SRO Exit 



Screen Plays Inks For 
Second-Money Guarantee 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

Deal for initial guarantee of 
$2,000,000 "second money" for 
five-picture program planned by 
indie Screen Plays was. inked by 
prexy Stanley Kramer and Rob- 
ert T. Stillman, repping N. Y. 
bankroller John Stillman. Bank 
loans now are in final negotiation 
for "first" loans. 

As part of the deal, Robert 
Stillman joins Screen Plays as an 
associate producer on the quintet, 
which will be made at Motion 
Picture Center. First to roll will 
be "Champion," which Carl Fore- 
man now is scripting for an 
October start. 



Ent Dropping 
Studio Lease 
As Space Eases 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

Enterprise Pictures' decision this 
week to allow the option on its stu- 
dio to drop is indicative of the 
change in the studio space situa- 
tion in the past couple years. When 
the Charles Einfeld-David Loew 
unit signed a deal for the lot early 
in 1946, space was at the greatest 
premium, with much indie produc- 
tion stymied because of inability 
to line up sound stages. 

Decrease in indie production in 
the past year and the construction 
of new studios since the end of the 
war has completely reversed the 
situation. There is great competi- 
tion among rental lots for tenants. 
So much so that they are offering 
considerable aid to indies in financ- 
ing projected production. 

Thus, rather than be saddled 
with the expense and burden of 
studio operation under the new cir- 
cumstances, Ent has elected to rent 
space as needed. This will allow 
it to take advantage of whatever 
(Continued on page 20) 

Par's KTLA Dishes Out 
14G to Lease 100 Shorts, 
35 'Hopalong Cassidys' 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

Paramount television station, 
KTLA, has laid out $14,000 on 35 
"Hopalong Cassidy" films and 100 
two reelers. KTLA has leased the 
films from Atlas Television Pro- 
ductions on-, a one-year basis for 
showing over single station. 

Toby Anguish originally pur- 
chased the pix for Atlas from bank- 
rupt Educational Pictures and 
Cosmopolitan Pictures. Anguish 
bought 787 one and two reelers 
from Educational and 51 "Hop- 
along" films and eight Bob Steele 
oaters from Cosmopolitan at a total 
cost of $358,000. 

Don Lee's KTSL is also playing 
the two reelers but is leasing them 
in groups at $50 per; not on a con 
tract deal. ' 



"f Neil Agnew, whose resignation 
as distribution chief for David O. 
Selznick was announced last week, 
is tied up with Jacques Grlnieff in 
efforts to buy up control of Re- 
public, it has been learned. Grinieff, 
film importer-exporter and finan- 
cier, went from New York to Eu- 
rope several weeks ago to huddle 
with Herbert J. Yates, Bep prexy, 
on the deal. 

Yates, who has been touring Eu- 
rope for the past two months, 
arrives in New York on the S.S. 
America tomorrow (Thursday). He 
has denied having any interest in 
making a deal with Grinieff, and 
whether the two men ever actually 
met in Europe, or the results of 
their meeting, ' has not been dis- 
closed. General trade opinion is 
that a deal is unlikely, . 

Agnew's plans, otherwise, call 
for him to head for France next 
spring and set up a film business 
that will keep him there part of 
each year and in this country part 
df the time, he disclosed in New 
York Monday (16). Plans for the 
exact form the business will take 
are so vague, he said, that he 
preferred not. to discuss them. 
Knsell In Sales Spot 
It is believed that no successor 
will be named by Selznick to 
Agnew's post. Milton Kramer, 
Selznick's counsel and chairman of 
the board of the Selznick Releasing 
Organization, may add the cor- 
porate title of SRO prexy, which 
Agnew held. He'll also act as gen- 
eral supervisor. Milton S. Kusell, 
sales chief under Agnew, will con- 
tinue to handle the selling, but will 
probably get some aid via a reor- 
ganization of the distribution exec 
setup. Kramer has been interview- 
(Continued on page 21) 



SDG Votes on Awards 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 
Deadline for voting on the first 
quarterly award to be given by the 
Screen Directors Guild is Friday 
(20), with ballots to be turned over 
to Price-Waterhouse for auditing. 
Eligible for the award are the di- 
rectors of the 100 films released in 
the metropolitan Los Angeles area 
during May and. June. 

Studios and the number of pic- 
tures are: Columbia, 9; Eagle Lion, 
1 9,- Film Classics, 5; Metro, 9; Mdno- 
I gram-Allied Artists, 11; Paramount, 
1 8; RKO, 7; Republic, 18; 20th-Fox, 
j 9; United Artists, 1; Universal-In- 
I ternational 9; and Warners, 5. 



UA Perks With 18 
Films Set to Jan. 



Spiked with new vigor by the 
switch in top distribution person- * 
nel last week, United Artists has 
laid out a schedule of 18 features 
for release between now and the 
end of the year. In the meantime, 
giving a further hypo to renewed 
enthusiasm .of the UA staff was a 
coincidental combination of play- 
dates' and improved grosses that 
gave the company last week its 
best seven-day income in three 
months. 

General upturn in business dur- 
ing the past few weeks, added to 
unexpectedly good .biz scored by • 
UA pix and a flock of early en- 
gagements of a number of films, all 
played a part in the Income tilt. 
"The Time of Your Life" (Cagney) 
scored excellently at the Oriental, 
Chicago, in its first date outside of 
New York and San Francisco; "So 
This is New York" (Kramer), after 
a sloppy teeoff a couple of months 
ago in Philly and Dayton, hung up 
top biz in San Francisco and won 
a holdover; "Texas, Brooklyn and 
(Continued on page 21) 

Sears Due Back in N.Y. 
For Gen'! Sales Powwow 

Grad Sears, United Artists prexy, 
is expected back at his desk in 
New York today (Wednesday) after 
a 12-day trip to Chicago and the 
Coast. He went west to negotiate 
circuit deals for UA product, ex- 
plain the new sales setup to UA 
district managers, and to talk re- 
leasing deals with indie producers. 

One of the major items on Sears* 
agenda was to huddle with Charles 
P. Skouras, National Theatres top- 
per, on a deal for Howard Hawks' 
"Red River" for Fox-West Coast. 
He also gave the lowdown to his 
distribution staffers, assembled in 
Chicago and Los Angeles, on . the 
new setup by which his aide, Paul 
N. Lazarus, Jr., and Edward 
Schnitzer and Fred Jack will head 
the sales setup, in place of chief 
Joe Unger, who quit two weeks ago. 



6 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



CLARK GABLE 

IANA TURNER 

Ann* Baxter, John Hodiak 

in "HOMECOMING" 

Ray Collins, Gladys Cooper, 

Cameron Mitchell. 



SPENCER TRACY 
KATHARINE HEPBURN 
VAN JOHNSON 
Angela Lansbury 
Adolphe Men jou, Lewis Stone 
in FRANK CAPRA's 
''STATE OF THE UNION." 



'."SUMMER HOLIDAY" 
(Technicolor). 
MICKEY ROONEY 
GLORIA OeHAVEN 
Waller Huston, Frank Morgan 
Butch Jenkins, Marilyn Maxwell 
Agnes Moorehead, Selena Royle 

* * * 
l"BIG CITY" 

Starring Margaret O'Brien 
Robert Preston, Danny Thomas 
George Murphy, Karin Booth 
Edward Arnold, Butch Jenkins 
Betty Garrett, Lotte Lehmann. 



JUDY GARLAND, GENE KELLY in 
"THE PIRATE" (Techmco/or). 
Walter Slexak, Gladys Cooper 
Reginald Owen. 



ESTHER WILLIAMS, PETER LAWFORD 
RICARDO MONTALBAN 
JIMMY DURANTE, CYD CHARISSE 
XAVIER CUGAT in "ON AN ISLAND 
WITH YOU" (Technicolor). 



GREER GARSON 
WALTER PIOGEON in 
"JULIA MISBEHAVES" 
PETER LAWFORD, ELIZABETH TAYLOR' 
CESAR ROMERO, Lucile Watson 
Nigel. Bruce, Mary Boland 
Reginald Owen. 



IRVING BERLIN'S 

"EASTER PARADE" 

(Techm'co/or). Starring 

JUDY GARLAND, FRED ASTAIRE ' 

PETER LAWFORD. ANN MILLER. 

* * ★ 

"A DATE WITH JUDY" 
{Technicolor) 

Starring WALLACE BERRY 
JANE POWELL, ELIZABETH TAYLOR 
CARMEN MIRANDA, XAVIER CUGAT 
ROBERT STACK. 





MONTGOMERY CLIFT 
ALINE MacMAHON 
JARMILA NOVOTNA 
In "THE SEARCH" 



"LUXURY LINER" 
(Techmco/or). Starring 
GEORGE BRENT, JANE POWELL 
LAURITZ MELCHIOR, FRANCES GIFFORD 
MARINA KOCHETZ, XAVIER CUGAT. 

* * * 

RED SKELTON, BRIAN DONLEVY 
in "A SOUTHERN YANKEE" 
Arlene Dahl, George Coulouris > 
Lloyd Gough, John Ireland 
Minor Watson. 

* * ★ 

"THE THREE MUSKETEERS'' 
(Technicolor). 

LAN A TURNER, GENE KELLY 
JUNE ALLYSON, VAN HEFLIN 
ANGELA LANSBURY 
Frank Morgan, Vincent Price 
Keenan Wynn, John Sutton 
Gig Young. 



"NO MINOR VICES" 

DANA ANDREWS. Lllll PALMER 

LOUIS JOURDAN 



"HILLS OF HOME" (Technicolor). 

starring EDMUND GWENN 
DONALD CRISP, TOM DRAKE 
JANET LEIGH and LASSIE. 



«s * 




* M ! 



HI 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



SHOT- IN -THE 



■ | 



9 




New Music Hall Record! 

"A DATE WITH JUDY" 

(Technicolor) 

Biggest M-G-M first week in Radio City Music Hall history! Every 
new "play-date with Judy "terrific! 



For Happy Box-Offices! 

"ON AN ISLAND 

WITH YOU" (Technicolor) 

Just what the fans want in romance 
and music! Swell biz from Coast to 
Coast! 




iVfttMINMei! 



"MS 





IRVING BERLIN'S (Technicolor) 

"EASTER PARADE" 

Hold overs! Extended runs! It's getting bigger and biggerlasjts 
fame iand_its song Jiits sweep the nation! 



Read the Reviews on 




A SOUTHERN YANKEE" 

Here's a typical review from M. P. Daily ? 

Red Skelton raises the roof. If you thought 
he was a boon to tired theatre-goers in Tuller 
Brush Man* you'll be as pleased as the preview 
crowd was, unanimously, to discover that you 
ain't seen nothin' yet. It's the fastest, funniest 
comedy of this or any recent year!" 



Ain't if the dog-gone truth! 



M-G-M GREAT IN '48! 



PICTURE GROSSES 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



Tarade Leads Spiffy L. A. Parade 
With $68,000, 'Father' Neat $47, 



Los Angeles, Aug. 17. _ 
Firstrun biz is perky here this 
week with "Easter Parade" out in 
front as the top coin-getter. The 
musical grabbed an easy $68,000 on 
the first frame and is very solid in 
three situations. . "Life With 
Father," at top prices, is garnering 
M nice $47,000, also in three sites. 

Among other product, "Dude 
Goes West" is shooting toward a 
pleasing $35,000 in five spots while 
fi BJack Arrow" is picking up a 

Seat $32,500 in two houses: Jungle 
lm, "Urubu," is rolling toward a 
fast $26,500 and holds a second 
frame in four theatres. "So Evil 
My Love" is a mild $28,500 in two 
situations, although holding for a- 
second stanza. "Walls of Jericho" 
is down to $33,500 on its second 
session, and the final four . days 
of "Feudin', Fussin" rates only 
$13,000. 

Estimates for This Week 
Belmont (FWO (1,532; 60-$D— 
"Dude Goes West" (Mono) and 
"Jinx Money" (Mono). Nice $4,000. 
Last week, "16 Fathoms Deep" 
(Mono) and "Michael O'Halloran" 
(Mono), oke $3,700. 

Beverly Hills Music Hall (G&S- 
Corwin - Lesser) (826; 60-$l) -r- 
"Urubu" (UA) and "Train to Al- 
catraz" (Rep). Pleasing $3,500. 
Last week, "Vicious Circle" (UA) 
and "Olympic Cavalcade" (UA) (6 
days), $1,700. 

Carthay Circle (FWO (1,518; 60- 
$1)— "Walls Jericho" (20th) and 
"Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes" 
(Mono) (2d wk). Light $4,000. Last 
week, medium $6,800. 

Chinese (Grauman-WC) (2,048; 
60-$D— "Walls Jericho" (20th) and 
"Your Shoes" (Mono) (2d wk). Fair 
$8,000. Last week, moderate 
313,300. 

Culver (FWO (1,145; 60-$D— 
"Dude Goes West"' (Mono) and 
"Jinx Money" (Mono). Sturdy 
$6,000. Last week, "16 Fathoms" 
(Mono) and "O'Halloran" (Mono), 
nifty $5,400. 

. Downtown (WB) (1,800; 60-$l)— 
"Life With Father" (WB) and 
"Heart of Virginia" (Rep). Smooth 
$17,000. Last week, "Key Largo" 
(WB) and "Music iMan" (Mono) (4th 
wk-5 days), good $10,400. 

Downtown Music Hall (Corwin- 
Lesser) (872; 60-$D— "Urubu" (UA) 
and "Train Alcatraz" (Rep). Fancy 
$15,500. Last week, "Vicious Cir- 
cle" (UA) and "Olympic Caval- 
cade" (UA) (6 days), $2,500. 

Egyptian (FWO (1,538; 60-$D— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G). Wow $19,- 
000. Last week, "On Island With 
You" (M-G) (3d wk-4 days), $4,500. 

El Rey (FWO (861; 60-$l) — 
'Dude Goes West" (Mono) and 
VJinx Money" (Mono). Okay $4,- 
000. Last week, "16 Fathoms" 
(Mono) and "O'Halloran" (Mono), 
moderate $3,700. 

Esquire (Rosener) (685; 85-$1.20) 
—''Story of Tosca" (Indie). Good 
$2,500. Last week, "Dreams Money 
Can Buy" (Indie) and "Girl of 
Canal" (Indie) (4th wk), $1,800. 

Four, Star (UA-WC) (900; 60-$l) 

rff^ ch J (M " G) < 7tl > wk). Near 
93.500. Last week, smart $4,000. 

Guild (968; 60-$l) — "Feudin, 
£" s s«h' A-Fightin'" <U> and 
Bad Sister" (U) (2d wk-4 days). 

£, n AX,?}' 500 on final four °ays after 
$4,000 last week. 

.Hawaii (G&S-Corwin-Lesser) — 
•Urubu" (UA) and "Train Alca'- 
traz (Rep). Good $4,000. Last 
We?*. 'Vicious Circle" (UA) and 

Olympic Cavalcade" (UA) (6 
days), $1,400. 

Hollywood (WB) (2,756; 60-SD— 

Life Father" (WB) and "Heart 
Virginia" (Rep). Nice- $14,000. Last 
^ ek ; ,„ Key Largo" and "Music 
Man" (Mono) (4th wk-5 days), neat 
5i,o00. 

Hollywood Music Hall (Corwin- 
Lesser) (475; 60-85)— "Urubu" (UA) 
2 nt L« Train Alcatraz" (Rep). Neat 
$3,500. Last week, "Vicious Circle" 

( ,rr A) * ,o and " 01 ympic Cavalcade" 
(UA) (6 days), $1,200. 

Iris. (FWO (828; 60-85) — 
"Feudin', Fussin"' (U) and "Bad 

fi^S? l U) (2d wk ' 4 days'- Scant 
$1,500. Last week, fair $4,400. 
Laurel (Rosener) (890; 85) — 
Raven" (Indie) and "Lover's Re- 
turn" (Indie) (3d wk). Near $3,000. 
Last week, solid $4,500. 
_ A oew ' s State ( Loews-WC) (2,404; 
60-$D— "Walls Jericho" (20th) and 
'Your Shoes" (Mono) (2d wk) 
||ow o $l 2,000. Last week, moderate 

Los Angeles (D'town-WC) (2,097- 
60-$l) — "Easter Parade" (M-G). 
Great $30,000. Last week, "On 

jjtoj} !•• j«wr« i m i »wk-4 s - ,d^sj) v 

Loyola (FWO (1,248; '60-$l) — 
"Walls Jericho" (20th) and "Your 
Shoes" (Mono) (2d wk). Mild 



$5,500. Last week, medium, 
Million Dollar (D'town) 



$7,800. 
(2 093* 

50-85) — "Secret Service Investiga- 
tor" (Rep) (2d run) with King Cole 
Trio, Benny Carter orch on stage. 
Stout $25,000. Last week, "Fuller 
Brush Man" (Col) and "Take My 
Life" (EL) (2d runs), with Toni 
Harper, Mickey Katz on stage, 
good $19,300. 

Orpheum (D'town-WC) (2,210; 
60-$l>— "Dude Goes West" (Mono) 
and "Jinx Money" (Mono). Neat 
$16,000. Last week, "16 Fathoms" 
(Mono) and "O'Halloran" (Mono), 
good $17,100. 

Pantages (Pan) (2,812; 60-$D— 
"Black Arrow" (Col) and "Blon- 
die's Reward" (Col). Pleasant 
$15,000. Last week, "Melody 
Time" (RKO) and "Mystery Mex- 
ico" (RKO) (2d wk), mild $10,200. 

Paramount (F&M) (3,398; 60-$l) 
—"So Evil My Love" (Par) and 
"Lightnin' in the Forest" (Rep). 
Light $16,500. Last week, "For- 
eign Affair" (Par) and "Big Town 
Scandal" (Par) (3d wk), lean 
$11,300. 

Paramount Hollywood (F&M) 
(1,451; 60-$D — "So Evil Love" 
(Par). Medium $12,000. Last 
week, "Foreign Affair" (Par) (3d 
wk), strong $12,500. 

RKO" Hillstreet (RKO) (2,890; 
60-80)— "Black Arrow" (Col) aird 
"Bondie's Reward" (Col). Neat 
$17,500. Last week, "Melody 
Time" (RKO) and "Mystery Mex- 
ico" (RKO) (2d wk), only fair 
$11,800. 

Ritz i FWO (1,370; 60-$D— "Feu- 
din', Fussin' " (U) and "Bad Sis- 
ter" (U) (2d wk-4 days). Thin 
$2,500 after fair $6,300 last week. 

Studio City (FWO (880; 60-$l) 
—"Feudin', Fussin' " (U) and "Bad 
Sister" (U) (2d wk-4 days). Poor 
$2,000 after mild $4,700 last week. 

United Artists (UA) (2,100; 60- 
$1)— "Feudin', Fussin"' (U) and 
"Bad Sister" (U) (2d wk-4 days). 
Okay $5,500 afte/ nice $14,500 last 
wtok * 

Uptown (FWO (1,719; 60-$D— 
"Walls Jericho" (20th) and "Your 
Shoes" (Mono) (2d wk). Slow 
$4,500. Last week, medium $7,900. 

Vogue (FWO (885; 60-85)— 
"Dude Goes West" (Mono) and 
"Jinx Money" (Mono). Brisk 
$5,000. Last week, "16 Fathoms" 
(Mono) and "O'Halloran" (Mono), 
good $5,400, 

Wilshire (FWO (2,296; 60-$D— 
"Easter Parade" (RI-G). Socko 
$19,000. Last week, "On Island" 
(M-G) (3d wk-4 days), $3,100. 

Wlltern (WB) (2,300; 60-$l) — 
"Life Father" (WB) and "Heart 
Virginia" (Rep). Smart $16,000. 
Last week, "Key Largo" (WB) and 
"Music Man" (Mono) (4th wk-5 
days), good $6,700. 

'ERMINE' STYLISH 17iG, 
CINCY; H.0/S ROBUST 

Cincinnati, Aug. 17. 

Four winning newcomers, with 
"That Lady in Ermine" leading 
stylishly, and robust holdovers are 
continuing a good summer level 
for downtown biz. "A Foreign Af- 
fair" is the best* marker among 
other new bills, followed by "Raw 
Deal" and "Mr. Peabody and Mer- 
maid." Still strutting in its fourth 
week, "Easter Parade" heads of the 
h.o. division. 

Estimates for This Week 

Albee (RKO) (3,100; 50-75)— 
"That Lady in Ermine" (20th). 
Lush $17,500. Last week, "Return 
of Bad Men" (RKO), sturdy 
$15,000. 

Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 50-75)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (4th wk). 
Maintaining handsome $9,000 
tempo after sock $13,000 third 
stanza. 

Grand (RKO) (1,400; 50-75)— 
"Raw Deal" (EL), Zippy $10,500. 
Last week. "Deep Waters" (20th), 
sock $13,000. 

Keith's (City Inv.) (1,542; 50-75) 
— "Mr. Peabody and Mermaid" 
<U>. Puffed by Cincy cricks, al- 
right $10,000 and holds for second 
round. Last week, "Man-Eater of 
Kumaon" (U), moderate $7,200. 

Lyric (RKO) (1,400; 50-75)— "Re- 
turn of Bad Men" (RKO) (m.o.) 
split with "Deep Waters" (20th) 
(m.o.). Pleasing $6,000. Last 
week, "Melody Time" (RKO), 
moveover for third downtown sesh, 
okay $5,500. 

Palace (RKO) (2,600; 50-75) — "A 
Foreign Affair" (Par). Hefty 
$14,000. Last week, "Canon City" 
:(m>4 hbfsy' $I5,0(K).' J - » <• • .•- < ' . 

"Canon City" (EL)' (m.o. I. Favor- 
able $5,000. Last week, "Black- 
Arrow" (Col) (m.o.), $4,500. 



Good Weather Nips 

Prov.; 'Water' 15G 

. Providence, Aug. 17. 

Alt stands found not too much 
to brag About as sunny skies put a 
crimp in theatre-going. Return of 
"Best Years of Our Lives" at 
Loew's State is so-so at pop s prices. 
Majestic'^ "Deep Waters" is fairly 
nice amang firstruns. 

Estimates for This Week 

Albee (RKO) (2.200; 44-65)— 
"Velvet Touch" (RKO) and "Ma- 
donna of Desert" (Rep). Opens 
today (17); Past week, "Four 
Faces West" (RKO) and Olympic 
films, slow $11,500. 

Carlton (Fay) (1,400; 44-65)— 
"Raw De«l" (EL) and "Adventures 
of Casanova" (EL) (2d run). So- 
so $3,500. Last week, "Street No 
Name" (20th) and "Checkered 
Coat" (20th) (2d run), fair $4,0Q0. 

Fay's (Fay) (1,400; 44-65)— "Egg 
and I" (U-I) and "Michigan Kid" 
(Rep). Not good, $4,000. Last 
week, "Smart Woman" (ED and 
"The Hunted" (Mono), fair $5,000. 

Majestic (Fay) (2,200; 44-65)— 
"Deep Waters" (20th) and "Win- 
ner's Circle" (20th). Best at $45,- 
000. Last week, "Raw Deal" (EL) 
and "Adventures of Casanova" 
(EL). Fair $11,000. 

State (Loew) (3.200; 44-65)— 
"Best Years" (RKO) (reissue). Pop- 
price return fairly good $17,000. 
Long previous first run (6 wks) 
holding down present biz. Last 
week, "Pirate" (M-G) and "Night 
at Opera" (M-G) (reissue), nice 
$19,000. 

Strand (Silverman) (2,200; 44-65) 
— "Blue Skies" (Par) and "Two 
Years Before Mast" (Par) (reis- 
sues). Open Monday. Last week, 
"So Evil My Love" (Par) and 
"Shaggy" (Par) (2d wk), slow 
$7,500. • 

L'villeOK; 'Jericho' 

Slows Down to UG 

Louisville, Aug. 17. 

Business downtown is okay this 
week, with the big-seaters putting 
out new product and getting nice 
response at the wicket. "Mr. Bland- 
ings" at Loew's State looks set for 
a healthy b.o. stanza, and "Walls of 
Jericho" is not tumbling down at 
the Rialto, where biz is satisfactory. 

Strand is coming up with the sur- 
prise biz of the week, oldie "fiam- 
bi" catching hefty juve trade 
coupled with "Guns of Hate," and 
experiment in the serial type of 
film is paying off. First episode of 
"Superman" is causing a biz stir. 
Estimates for This Week 

Brown (Fourth Avenue) (1,200; 
45-65) — "Dream Girl" (Par) and 
"Waterfront at Midnight" (Par) (2d 
wk). M.o. from the Rialto and 
slightly below par. Mild $3,500 in- 
dicated. Last week "Fort Apache" 
(RKO) and "Lightning in Forest" 
(Rep) (m.o.) neat $5,000. 

Kentucky (Switow) (1,200; 30-40) 
— "Noose Hangs High" (EL) and 
"Hazard" (Par). Looking for mild- 
ish $3,000. Last week "Sainted 
Sisters" (Par) and "Lady From 
Shanghai" (Col) about same. 

Mary Anderson (People's) (1,100; 
45-65)— "Key Largo" (WB) (3d wk). 
Looks like another healthy stanza, 
robust $6,000, fine after last week's 
(2nd) neat $7,000. 

National (Standard) (2,400; 45- 
65) — "Another Part of Forest" (U) 
and "Upturned Glass" (U). Wicket 
returns on the upbeat at this house 
lately, currently indicating nice 
$8,000. Last week "All Mv Sons" 
(U) and "Bad Sister" (U) excellent 
$9,000. 

Rialto (FA) (3,400; 45-65)— "Walls 
of Jericho" (20th) and "Checkered 
Coat" (20th). Teed off to nice biz, 
but slackened during week, to in- 
dicate fair $11,000. Last week 
"Dream Girl" (Par) and "Water- 
tyPLf* Mi dnight" (Par) healthy 
$14,000 and m.o. 

State (Loew's) (3,000; 45-65)— 
Mr. Blandings" (RKO) and "My 
Dog" Rusty" (Col). Natural combo 
to snare the family trade. Fine 
$15,000 in sight. Last week "Fuller 
Brush Man" (Col) and "Thunder- 
hoof" (Col) (2d wk) good $12,000 
Strand (FA) (1,000; 45-65)— 
Bambi" (RKO) (reissue) and 
"Guns of Hate" (RKO), with added 
Superman" serial starting this 
week. Brought one of best opening 
days in months, kids and femmes 
really turning out for this bargain 
bill; may cop strong $7,500 or more 



Holdovers Hog Mpls. Spotlight; 'Street' 
Hefty $14,000, British 'Jassy' NG % 



Key City Grosses 

Estimated Total Gross 
This Week $2,764,000 

{Based on 22 cities, 202 
theatres, chiejly first runs, in- 
cluding N. Y.) 
Total Gross bame Week 

Last Year $2,958,000 

(Based on 20 cities, 190 
theatres). 



'Escape' Big 30G, 
Detroit; Calloway 
Ups 'Doe to 27G 

Detroit, Aug. 17. 
Grosses continue to be affected 
in this city of high salaries and 
continuous work interruptions due 
to strikes, steel shortages and parts 
scarcities in the auto industry, 
though biz by and large is pretty 
sturdy. 

Even Cab Calloway's stage show 
is under expectations in a normal- 
ly stageshow-hungry town, though 
still good. "Escape" at the Fox tops 
him, and "Key Largo" continues 
terrifically at the Michigan in its 
second whirl. "So Evil My Love" 
at the Palms appears solid. 
"Melody Time" continues good as 
does "Easter Parade." Other 
grosses are skidding. 

Estimates for This Week 
Adams (Balaban) (1,740; 70-95)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (5th wk). 
Easy $8,000 compared to satis- 
factory $10,000 in its fourth stanza. 

Art Cinema (Martens) (459; 60- 
90)— "Lucky Bride" (Indie) and 



Minneapolis, Aug. w 
Major newcomers are almost 
conspicuous by their absence this 
week as holdovers pretty much hoe 
the spotlight. The lone important 
entries, "Street With No Name" 
%nd "Jassy," profit from the situa- 
tion, with former well out in front 
It's the fifth week for "Mr. Bland- 
ings" ana the second for "Easter 
Parade," "Key Largo" and the pop. 
priced engagement of "Best Yearn 
of Our Lives." " 

Favorable weather continues a 
boxoffice spur, and the trend seems 
upward again after the long de- 
cline. 

Estimates for This Week 
Century (Par) (1,600; 50-70)— 
"Jassy" (U). British picture; light 
$5,000 in prospect. Last week 
"Shaggy" (Par) and "Bill and Coo" 
(Rep), poor $3,000 in six days for 
duals. 

Gopher (Par) (1,000; 40)— "Old 
Los Angeles" (Rep) and "Jinx 
Money" (Mono) (duals). Twin first- 
runs getting moderate play. Fair 
$3,500 indicated. Last week, "Tar- 
zan's Secret Treasure" (M-G) and 
"Tarzan's N. Y. Adventure" (M- 
G) (reissues), light $3,000. 

Lyric (Par) (1,000; 50-70)— "Best 
Years" (RKO) (m.o.). Here after 
good State first week for initial 
regular-scale engagement for pic- 
ture that was roadshown several 
times downtown. Looks like satis- 
factory $7,000. Last week, "Mr. 
Blandings" (SRO) (4th wk), okay 
Escape" at the Fox tops $4,500. 

Radio City (Par) (4,400; 50-70)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Enthusiastically received picture 
has been a boxoffice -disappoint- 
ment here in view of its big grosses 
elsewhere. Will bow out to fair 
$12,000. Last week, good $17,000, 
considerably under expectations. 

RKO-Orpheum (RKO) (2,800; 50- 
70)— "Key Largo" (WB) (2d wk). 
Has been demonstrating hefty 
punch. "Dr. I. Q." starting on Mon- 
day nights this week. Grabbing 
I good $10,000 after fine $17,000 first 



'Bohemian Rapture" (Indie). 
Sparkling $3,800. Last week, 
"Spring" (Indie) and "Son of Regi- 
ment" (Indie), strong $4,200. 

Broadway - Capitol (United - De- 
troit) (3,300; 70-95)— "I, Jane Doe" 
(Rep), bolstered by stageshow 
headed by Cab Calloway and his 
Cabaleers, Jack Leonard, Whitson 
Bros., Peggy Ma'nn and Larrv 
Paige. Excellent $27,000. Last 
week, "Return of Bad Men" (RKO) 
and "Take My Wife" (EE) (2d wk). 
Sliding $10,000. 

Downtown (Balaban) (2,863; 70- 
95)— "Man Eater of Kumaon" (U) 
(Continued on page 18) 



week. 

RKO-Pan (RKO) (1,600; 50-70)— 
"Four Feathers" (FO and "Drums" 
(FC) (reissues). Good $8,500. Last 
(Continued on page 18) 



Vaude Ups 'Raw Deal' To 
28G, Cleve.; 'Jericho' 
14iG, 'Judy' Perky 23iG 



'JERICHO' MATS BOOST 
.BALTO TO STRONG 14G 

Baltimore, Aug. 17. 
Trade' continues fair here. Some 
spotty action here and there but, 
on the whole, rather unexciting. 

"Walls of Jericho" is .nicely 
spotted for strong daytime response 
from femmes, and "The Pirate" 
augurs well at Loew's Century on 
heels of recent bullish response ac- 
corded Judy Garland in "Easter 
Parade." Tying of "Lulu Belle" to 
stage layout of "Dr. Neff's Mad- 
house of Mystery" is paying off at 
the combo Hippodrome. 

Estimates for This Week 



Cleveland, Aug. 17. I 
Battle by Cleveland Indians for i 
the baseball championship is in- Century (Loew's-UA) (3,000; 20- 
directly yet visibly hurting biz ! 60)— "Pirate" (M-G). Good $17,000. 
here. Even against this threat, j Last week, "Time of Life" (UA) 



Last week "Gallant Legion" (Rep) 
ooo ' Eyes of Texas " (Rep) neat ? 6 -" 



Estimates Are Net 

Film gross estimates as re- 
ported herewith from the vari- 
ous, key cities, are net, i.e. 
withoift the 20% tax. Distribu- 
tors share on net take* when 
playing precentage, hence the 
estimated figures are net in- 
' tome;; . ' t J . i 1 
« ;Th£ 3 parVrttberle idriilssioTi 
prices,' however, as indicated, 
include fb» u. S. amusement 
tax. 



stage combo of Jerry Wayne, Sibyl 
Bowan and Henny Youngman plus 
Raw Deal" are giving the Palace 
a four-base b.o. sock. "Data With 
Judy" is fairly strong at the State. 
Second week of "Key Largo" is 
also building. 

Estimates for This Week 
Allen (RKO) (3,000; 55-70)— 
"Walls of Jericho" <20th). Com- 
fortable $14,500. Last week, "Four 
Faces West" (UA), extra good at 
$13,000. 

Hipp (Warners) (3,700; 55-70)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) (2d wk). Fine 
$15,000 following $28,000 last week. 

Lake (Warners) (800; 55-70) — 
"Women in the Night" (FC). 
Slugged by critics but going to 
fancy. $4,000. Last week, "Street 
No Name" (20th) (m.o.), excellent 
$3,200 for fourth downtown folio. 

Lower Mall (Community) (570' 
55-70) — "Carmen" (indie) and 
this ! "Open City" (revivals). Nice $2,- 
' 800 after $3,800 last week. 

Ohio (Loew's) (1.200; 55-70)— 
"Hatter's Castle" (Par). Opened 
Saturday (14) and sighting $7,500. 
Last week. "Gallant Legion" (Rep), 
good $5,500. 

Palace (RKO) (3,300; 65-90)— 
Raw Deal" (EL) plus Hennv 
Youngman, Jerry Wayne, Sibyl 
Bowan on stage. Potent flesh bill 
goading it to $28,000. Last week, 

$?7 500 Arro (Col) • satis *actory 

State (Loew's) (3.450; 55-70)— 
"Date With Judy" (M-G). Perky 
$23,500. Last week, "Paradine 
Case" (SRO), robust $23,000. 
yStjHman (Loew's): (2.70(0; • 55-70) 



fair $11,400. 

Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2.240; 
20-70)— "Lulu Belle" (Col) plus 
stage layout of "Dr. Neff's Mad- 
house of Mystery." Paying off, 
with extra midnite frolic Fri. (13) 
night a natural to help towards fine 
$16,000. Last week, "Bring Em 
Back Alive" (RKO) (reissue), plus 
vaude, didn't get started at $12,800. 

Keith's (Schanberger) (2,460: 20- 
60)— "Peabody and Mermaid" (U-I). 
Opened today (Tues.) after two 
weeks of "Abbott-Costello Meet 
Frankenstein" (U) fared well at 
solid $15,200 opener followed by 
$7,800. > 

Mayfair (Hicks) (890; 20-651— 
"The Gallant Legion" (Rep). Aver- 
age $4,000. Last week, "Big City" 
(M-G) drew some strong weekend 
trade bolstered by "Key Largo" 
turnaway in next-door Stanley but 
simmered down to somewhat bet- 
ter than average $4,900. 

New (Mechanic) (1,800; 20-60)— 
"Walls of Jericho" (20th>. Nicely 
located to catch bulk of daytime 
femme trade in heart of downtown 
shopping area, and pointing to 
strong $14,000. Last week, "Es- 
cape" (20th), fair $7,800.-. 

Stanley (WB) (3.280"; 25-75)— 
"Largo" (WB) (2d wk). Holding 
well at $10,000 after bango begin- 
ning at $19,600. 

Town (Rappaport) (1.500; 35-65) 
—"Babe Ruth Story" (Monoi (3rd 
wk). Took a slight spurt with $11.- 
000 indicated after an alright sec- 
ond sesh to $14,200. 

Valencia (Loew's-UA) (1.780; 20- 
60)->-"Time of Life" (UA't (m.o.i. 



"Paradine Case"' iSM)) ' (hlo.V I 'Mild' $4,000. >Eafct weekj "Bla'nd- 
$12,000. Last week, "Easter PaJ j ings"' (SRO) in m.o: after 10 days 
rade" (M-G) (m.o.), smart $13,500 in downstairs Century, held weH 
on eight days. 1 enough at $6,100. 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



PICTURB CROSSES 



Parade Eyes Record $42,000, Chi; 
A&C Big 34G, 'Regards Broadway' 68G 



Chicago, Aug. 17. 4 
Chicago boxoffices hit their I 
highest point this year with two | 
tl\eatres" going for house records 
this week. Woods opened with 
"Easter Parade" and first day i 
broke pop-price admish take with 
$6,400, and week looks likely to 
crack $42,000. In spite of critics, 
nix of "Abbott and Costello Meet 
Frankenstein" at Palace, film also, 
set record at over $7,100 for first 
day .and should do terrif $34,000 
on the week. Chicago theatre also 
has sock $68,000 in sight'with 
disk jockey revue and platter per- 
sonalities plus "Give My Regards 
To Broadway." 

"Summer Holiday" at United 
Artists i? settling down neatly, 
while "Life With Father" at reg- 
ular prices at the Roosevelt is 
heading for trim biz. 

Double fare at Garrick, "16 
Fathoms Deep" and "Thunder- 
hoof." looks toward light $8,000. 
"Life and Loves of Tschaikdwsky" 
at World- is apt to catch strong 
$4,000. 

"Time of Your Life," with Horr 
ace Heidc, radio winners at Orien- 
tal in second week, promises 
smash biz. "On An Island With 
You" seems profitable in second 
stanza at State-Lake. "Feudin', 
and Fussin' ", also second-weeker, 
at Grand appears fair, while "Lulu 
Belle" ends two week stay at 
Apollo disappointingly. 

Estimates For This Week 
Apollo (B&K) (1,400; 50-98) — 
"Lulu Belle" (Col) (2d wkl. Dismal I 
$4,500. Last week, $6,500. 

Chicago (B&K) (3,400; 50-98)— 
"Give Regards to Broadway" (20th) 
with disk jockey revue on stage. | 
Lush $65,000 in prospect. Last j 
week. "Emperor Waltz" (Par) (4th j 
wki, with Harmonicats, stage head- 
liners, $45,000. 

Garrick (B&K) (900; 50-85) — 
"Tliunderhoof" (Col) and "16: 
Fathoms Deep" (Mono). Light $8,- \ 
000. Last week reissues, "Hired 



Broadway Grosses 

Estimated Total Gros* 
Last Week $590,000 

(Based on 14 theatres) 

Last Year $697,000 

(Based on. 18 tfteatres) 



Weather Belts 
Phi!Iy;Me , 
Tops at 



j 'Blandings' Nifty 11 »/ 2 G, ( 
Bright Spot in. Omaha 

i Omaha, Aug. 17. I 

Grosses not so hot with plenty 

; of outdoor opposition, but "Bland- | 
ing's Dream House" looked tops at | 
weekend reading of situation. "Are I 
You With It" at State has locally 
popular Donald O'Connor. "Ruth- ; 
less." coupled with "Argyle Se- 
crets," not so hot. "Key Largo's" 
second week held up nicely. j 
Estimates for This Week 
Paramount (Tristates) (2,800; 16- ; 
65 >— "Blandings (SRO). Very good; 
$11,500. Last week, "On Island 
With You" (M-G), solid $10,800. 

Orpheum (Tristates) (3,000; 16-! 
65)— "Montana Mike" (UA) and i 
"Love From Stranger" (EL). Lively 
$12,000. Last week, "Wallflower" 
(WB) and "Shaggy" (Par), okay 
$10,000. 

Omaha (Tristates) (2,100; 16-65) 
— "Ruthless" (EL) and "Argyle 
Secrets" (FC), $9,500. Last week 



'Judy' Dates Music Hall to Big 148G 
2d Week; 'Glory'-Peggy lee-Murray 
Okay $80,000; Teabody Far 23G 



I Broadway film grosses remained 
; fairly steady this week, although 
. the paucity of newcomers and the 
: return of hot weekend weather 
I after a short coolish spell held re-: 
turns down considerably. Several 
! baseball doubleheaders over the 
j Weekend also dented filmery biz. 

Big vaudfilin houses were most 
1 consistent in holding their ' own. 
I Mammoth Radio City Music Hall, 
as usual, tops the parade, with 
"Date with Judy" and ."Jubilee" 
revue on stage attracting socko sec- 
ond week total of $148,000, almost 



Valley of Giants"' (WB) and -neck-and-neck with opening week's 



Fighting 69th" (WB) (reissues), 
! pretty good $10,000. 
! Brandeis (RKO) (1,500; 16-65)— 
: "Kev Largo" (WB) and "Heart of 
i Virginia" (Rep) (2d wk). Okay 
1 $6,000. Last week, $8,500, very big. 
I State (Goldberg) (865; 16-65) — 
I "Are You With It" (U-I) and 
"Casbah" (U-I), opened Sunday 
with prospects of okay business. 
Last week, "Big City" (M-G) and 
"Old Los Angeles" (Rep) solid 
$4,000/ 



, at pop prices. 

Wile" (Ui and "Hold That Ghost" I week "Up in 
(U), $9,000. 

Grand (RKOl (1,500; 50-984 
(Continued on page 18) 



Philadelphia, Aug. 17. 

The weather again proved a boon 
to the resort-bound weekenders, 
but straight r armed the film busi- 
ness. Most of the houses reported 
good Friday and Saturday evening 
attendance but Sunday was woeful. 

Only two new picts were added 
to the local film roster, which was 
also not conducive to- a rush of 
fresh patronage. "The Babe Ruth 
Story" bowed in at the Mastbaum, 
while the front pages carried the 
story of Ruth's fight for life. The 
other arrival was "The Black Ar- 
row" at the Aidine. Both films did 
good, if not sensational, business. 
Estimates for This Week 

Aidine (WB) (1,303; 50-94)— 
"Black Arrow" (Col). Very good 
for time of year; $15,500. Last 
week, "Pearl" (RKO), weak $9,200. 

Arcadia (S&S) (700; 50-94)— 
"Emperor Waltz" (Par). Okay $5,- 

?pL ^nn?ntm„nt^ n A l nn' ed ''l Memorial, however, is a four-ply 
With Father" (M-G). Mild re-entry 



Babe Ruth' Belts 
Out 30G in Hub 



Boston, Aug. 17. 
After fine* mid-summer biz at 
most houses last -week, takes lev- 



returns. "Beyond Glory," with 
Peggy Lee, Jan Murray and Ray 
Eberle orch heading stagebill, 
copped okay $80,000 for third round 
at Paramount. 

Roxy, coupling "Walls of Jericho" 
with Dick Haymes, Tommy Trent, 
Buster Shaver and iceshow on 
stage, continued to perk with fine 
$90,000 for second frame. "Key 
Largo," accompanied by Count 
Basie orch and Billie Holiday on 
stage at the Strand, also remained 
strong, chalking up solid fifth week 
total of $50,000. Capitol, other big 
vaudfilmer, dipped to slow $62,000 
for third and final week of "Is- 
land With You" and "Stop the Mu- 
sic" radio show on stage, 

Only newcomers were "Mr. Pea- 
body and Mermaid" at Winter Gar- 
den, which looked headed for fair 
$23,000 opening frame, and "Es- 
cape" at Globe sighting teeoff 
gross of mild $15,000. "Easter Pa- 
rade" -continued in fine fashion at 
the State, chalking up seventh 



elled off this week with h.o, s and week gl . oss o£ ?2 9,000, outstanding 
second runs at most houses. Con- for thi | ti f run> V. 
troversial "Babe Ruth Story" at .„.. «,.». 



Only' $15,500. Last 
Central Park" (U), 

poor $14,000 

Earle (WB) " (2,700; 5Q-94)— 
"Fuller Brush Man" (Col) (2d wk). 
Good $18,600 after $27,500 for 
opening stanza. 

AO p > €_„ OAJLf k: Fox (20th) (2,250; 50-94)— "Date 

. QL t. S ipOOKCr S INUt j With Judy" (M-G) (3d wk). Hold- 
m «v i « re ' » i i/» hig pace, fine $17,000. Last week, 

TopsDenver; Anair 14d okay $2o,ooo 

r ' Goldman (Goldman). (1,000; 50- 

Denver, Aug. 17. | 94)— "Tap Roots" XV) (5th wk), Ex- 
A.bbott-Costello's "Meet Frank- j cellent for length of run, $15,000. 
enslein" is garnering top money | Last week, $19,000. 
at the Denver and Webber. "Best j Karlton (Goldman) (1,000; 50-94) 
Years" goes into its ninth week — "So Evil My Love" (Par) (3d wk). 
at the Broadway smashing longrun j Fair $7,500. Last week, $10,500. 
records here. Matinees are brisk: Keith's (Goldman) (1,300; 50- 
at the Orpheum with "Melody 94)— "Drums" (reissue). "Four 



Time" but nights, are slim. 
Estimates for This Week 
Aladdin (Foxi (1,400; 35r74) 
"On Merry Way" (UA) -and "Code 
of Scotland Yard" (Rep), (m.o.). 
Fair $3,250. Last week, "Street 
With no Name" (20th) and "Code 
Scotland Yard" (Rep), (m.o;), mild 
$3,500. 

Broadway (Cinema) (1,500; 35- 
74i — "Best Years of Our Lives" 
(RKO) (8th wk). Fair $7,000 and 
holds. Last week, same. * 

Denham CCockrill' U.750; 35-70) 
— "Foreign Affair" (Par)". Good 
$14,000 and stavs. Last week. "So 
Evil My Love" (Par), poor $7;000 
(2d wki. 

Denver (Fox) .(2,525; 35-74) — 
"Meet Frankenstein" (U) . and 
"Checkered Coat" (20th), day-date 
with Webber. Nice $17,000. Last 
week. "On Merry Way" (UA) and 
"Code Scotland Yard'WRep), same 
as Esquire, good $15,000. 

Esquire (Fox) 4742; 35-74) — 
"Deep Waters" (20th) and "Jinx 
Money" (Mono), day-date with 
Paramount. Fair $2,500. Last 
week. "On Merry Way" (UA) and 
"Code Scotland Yard" (Rep), same 
as Denver, good $3,500. 

Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 35-74V 
— "Melody Time" (RKO) and 
"Mystery in Mexico" (RKO). Mod- 
erate $14,500. Last week, "Easter 
Parade" (M-G), and "Dear Mur- 
derer" (U), (2d wk), not bad 
$12,000. 

Paramount (Fox) (2,200; 35-74)— 
"Deep Waters" (20th) and "Jinx 
Money" (Mono),- day-date with 
Esquire. Fine $12,000. Last week, 
"River Lady". (U) and "Devil's 
.Cargo" (FC), same as Webber, fair 
$10,500. 

Rialto (Fox) (878;. 35-74) — 
"Street No Name" (20th) and 
"Shanghai Chest" (Rep), (m.o.). 
Fine S4.500. Last week, "Key 
Largo" (WB) and "Stage Struck" 
(Mono) Un.o.), good $4,000. 

Webber (Fox) (750; 35-74) — 
"Meet Frankenstein" (U) and 
."Checkered Cpat". (20th) t ,day r date 
. ,\virt ' Denver. | Good ($3,500., pfcist 
. .week-. "River , Lady"/,i(U) ... and 
."Devil's Cargo" (FC), -same as 
Paramount, fair $2,500, 



Feathers" (reissue). Combo draw 
ing surprise $12,500 
_ "Deep Waters'-' (20th), tepid $3,500. 
Pix (Cummins) (500; 50-94) — 
"Shoe Shine" (Italian) and "Panic" 
(French). Fine $6,500. Last week, 
"Foolish Virgin" (Indie) and "Play- 
boy" (Indie). Good $8,500 for 10 
days. 

• Mastbaum (WB) (4.360; 50-94)— 
"Babe. Ruth Story" (AA). Town's 
top grosser, $28,800. Last week, 
"Easter Parade," $14,600 for fifth 
week. 

Stanley (WB) (2,950; 50-94)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) (3d wk). Okeh 
$19,500. Last week, fine $26,000. 

Stanton (WB) (1,475; 50-94)— 
"Return of Bad Men" (RKO) (2d 
wk). Thin $8,000 after fine $15,500 
for opener. 



nice in second week at Met. 
Estimates for This Week 

Astor (Jaycox) (1,300; 40-80)— 
"Fuller Brush Man" (Col) and "Ad- 
ventures in Silverado" (Col). Fair 
$5,000 for second week after okay 
$7,200 for first' "Hamlet"' opens 
tomorrow (18). 

Boston (RKO) (3,200; 40-80)— 
"Street With No Name" (20th) and 
"French Leave" (Mono). Nice $18,- 
000 after strong $23,000 for first 
week. 

Exeter (Indie) (1,000; 45-75)— 
"Antoine and Antoinette" (SDr 
prize-wiunihg French pic, and "The 
Search" « (M-G). Good $5,800. 
Last week, "Hungry Hill" (U) and 
"Smart Woman," okay»$4,000. 

Fenway (MP) (1,373; 40-80)— "A | 
Foreign Affair" (Par) and "Out of 
the Storm" (Rep). Good $8,000. 
Last week, Last week, "Canon City" (EL) and 

Lady at Midnight" (EL), fair $4,- 

500 for second week. 

Memorial (RKO) (3\000; 40-80)— 
"Babe Ruth Story" (Mono) and j 
"Devil's Cargo" (FC). Very hefty 
$30,000. Last week, six days of j 
(Continued on page 18) 



Estimates for This Week 
Astor (City'lnv.) (1,300; 70-$1.50) 
—"Babe Ruth Story" (Mono) (4th 
wk). Third frame ended last Mon- 
day (16) slipped again, down to 
$18,500, after good $23,000 for 
previous week. Interest in Jthe 
passing of the Babe of course, will 
stimulate interest anew. 

Capitol (Loew's) (4,820; 80-$1.30) 
— "Island with You" (M-G) and 
"Stop the Music" radio show on 
stage (3d-ftnal week). Looks head- 
ed for a slow $62,000 windup, 
after fair but below hopes $76,000 
for the second frame. "Pitfall" 
(OA), with Dick Powell, Dick 
Jurgens orch heading stagebill, 
opens tomorrow (Thursday). 

Criterion (Loew's) (1,700; 70- 
$1.85) — "Abbott - Costello Meet 
Frankenstein" (U) (4th wk). Third 
week ended last (Tues.) night with 
good $20,000, after neat $25,000 the 
previous session. Holds one more 
round, with ".Tap Roots" (U) in 

Globe (Brandt) (1,500; 90-$1.50) 
—"Escape" (20th) Ust wk). Head- 
ing for mild $15,000 in first frame 
ending Friday (20) and holds.. Last 
week, final four days on second 



'Father' Fine $22,000, 

;$' 20G, St. Loo 



Baseball Just a Foul Ball to Pitt Pix; 
Affair* Perks to l^Time Life 17i/ 2 € 



St. Louis, Aug. 17. 



Pittsburgh, Aug. 17. 
•Night baseball is cutting in plen- 
ty at the Golden Triangle ticket- 
wickers, and weekend was hurt, 
too, by afternoon sellout crowds 
during Cards-Pirates series. Cur- 
rent leaders are "A Foreign Af- 
fair" at Stanley and "Time of Your 
Life" at Penn, with edge going to 



"Life With Father," being shown j former, which is building, while 
the first time locally at pop prices, i latter, although it opened bigger 



is winning the bo. battle from "Mr. 
Blandings" among the big houses. 
"A Foreign Affair," coming in the 
midst of the Russian spy unveiling, 
is also attracting gobs of custom- 
ers. After several days of cool tem- 
perature the mercury has shot back 
to midsummer heights. 

Estimates for This Week 
Ambassador (F&M) 3,000; 50-75) 
— "Life With Father" (WB) and 
"Michael O'Halloran" (Mono). Fine 
$22,000. Last week, "So Evil My 
Love" (Par) and "King of the Gam- 
blers" (Rep), $15,000. 

Fox (F&M) (5,000; 50-75)— "A 
Foreign Affair" (Par) and "Argyle 
Secrets" (FC), $18,500. Last week, 



oh same day than "Affair," is fall- 
ing off. Other new pix just doing 
so-so, with "Black Arrow" about 
average at Harris and twinner of 
"Embraeeable You" and "Dude. 
Goes West" at Warner hardly get- 
ting by. 

Estimates for This Week 
Fulton (Shea) (1,700; 44-76)— 
"Deep Waters" (20th) (2d wk). Dip- 
'■■ ping sharply on h.o. and won't get 
i more than $5,000, if that, for the 
' windup. Last week, "Waters" got 
: almost $10,000. 

Harris (Harris) (2,200; 44-76)— 
"Black Arrow" (Col). Got away to 
an about average opening and looks 



'Winners-Circle" (20th) and "Street ! as If it'll follow that route right 
With No Name" (20th), $16,000. 

Loew's (Loew) (3,172; 50-75) — 
"Mr, Blandings Builds His Dream 
House" (RKO) and "Close-Up" 
(EL), $20,000. Last week, "Time of 
Ypur Ljf,ey.(UA).-a<iid, '"Jfviid.erhoof" 
(£01 ) , . 530:0.00: , , • ■ . ! J v Vi • I > i ' 
. Missouri (F&M) (3,500;. 50^)-^ 

"Key Largo" (WB) and '.'Deep Wa- mixed reactions, and $17,500 will 
(Continued on page 18). „ be about all. Last week, seqond of 



down the stretch. Maybe $11,000. 
Last week, "Walls of Jericho" 
(20th), held an extra day and eight 
got a little over $13,000. 

Penn iLoew's-UA> (3,300; 44-76) 



"Easter Parade" (M-G), big at 
$20,000. 

Riti (Loew's) (800; 44-76)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (m.o.). 
Shifted here after terrific fortnight 
at Penn and still has plenty of 
:;tuff left. Shooting for around $5,- 
000 at this small-sealer.'Last week, 
"Drums" (FC) and "Four Feathers" 
(FC) (reissues), a pleasant surprise 
at better than $4,000. 

Senator (Harris) (1,750; 44-76)— 
"Walls cf Jericho" (20th) (m.o.). 
Off to fair start, $3,000. Last week, 
reissues of "Rose of Washington 
Square" (20th) and "Slave Ship" 
(M-G), okay at over $4,000, consid- 
erably above original estimate. 

Stanley (WB) (3,800; 44-76)— 
"Foreign Affair" (Par). Didn't 
start exceptionally well but critical 
raves and word-of-mouth building 
it; should sky over $18,500. That'll 
doubtlessly mean an h.o. Last week, 
"Life With Father" (WB), not too 
hot at $12,000, five-week run at 
advanced prices at Warner year 
ago having probably just about 
squeezed this one dry. 

Warner (WB) (2,000; 44-76)— 
"Embraeeable You" (WB) and 
"Dude Goes West" (Mono). Not 
very much in sight for this twin- 
ner and it'll have a struggle mak- 
ing it to even $6,500. Last week, 



round of "Four Faces West" (UA), 
WW off at $3,800. 

Mayfair (Brandt) (1.736; 90- 
$1.80) — "Return of Bad Men" 
(RKO) (3d .wk).. Second session 
ended last (Tues.) night okay $15,- 
000, after fair $23,000 for the tee- 
off frame. Holds at least one more, 
with "Race Street" (RKO) set to 
follow. )- ;-. • 

• Palace (RKO) (1,700; 40-95) •& 
"Street With No Name" (20th) ami 
"Music Man" (Mono) (2d runs) 
open today (Wed.). Last week. 
"Four Feathers" (FC) and "Drums'* 
(FC) (reissues), split week with 
"Best Years" (RKO) (2d run) and 
"Big Pufieh" (WB) (1st run), faur 
$10,000. •< : . ■ ;\" • 

Paramount (Par) (3*664; 55-$i;50) 
T7- "Beyond- Glory" (Par), with 
Peggy Lee, Jan Murray, Hay 
Eberle orch heading stageshow- 
(3d wk). Second week ending last 
(Tues.) night 1 dipped to $80,000, 
still good, after rousing $98,000 for 
teeoff frame. Holds. 

Radio City Music Hall (Rocke- 
fellers) (5,945; 80-$2.40) — "Date 
with jrudj?" (M-G) plus "Jubilee" 
revue, tied in with city's 50th 
anni. celebration, on stage (2d 
Wk). Still socko, with great $148,- 
000 in sight for second fram* 
ending tonight (Wed.), after boist- 
erous $151,000 for first week. 
"Good Sam" . (RKO) in next, but 
"Judy", expected to hold at least 
three or four wee.vs more. 

Rialto (Mage) (594; 44 - 99) -— 
"Gung Ho'r (FC) arid "Eagle 
Squadron" .(FC) (reissues) (2d wk). 
Heading ior neat $12,000 in second 
round ending Friday (20), after fine 
$15,000 for opening week. Holds a 
third. ' 

Rivoli (UAT-Par) (2,092; 60- 
$1.25)— "So Evil My Love" (Par). 
(4th wk). Continuing to slide, with' 
about $17,000 anticipated f o r 
fourth round ending tonight (Wed.) 
after fair $20,000 for previous 
week. Goes another session, with t 
"Velvet Touch" (RKO) in next. 

Roxy (20th) .(5,886; 80-$1.50) — 
"WaUs of Jericho" (20th) with 
Dick Haymes, Tommy Trent. 
Buster Shaver and iceshow on 
stage (3d wk). Second round 
ended last (Tues.) night to fine 
$90,000, after very big $110,000 
last week. Goes one more week, 
with ••Lady in Ermine" (.20th) set 
to follow. - , 

State (Loew's) (3,450; 80-$1.50)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (8th wk). 
Still perking fashionably, with 
strong $29,000 expected for seventh 
round ending tonight (Tues.) after 
fine $34,000 for sixth frame. 
"Loves of Carmen" (Col) follows, 
probably around Labor Day, con- 
tinuing the house's new showcas- 
ing policy. • 

Strand (WB) (2,756; 76-$1.50)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) with stagebill 
topped by Count Basie orch, Billie 
Holiday (5th wk). Going strong, 
with $50,000 expected for fifth 
frame winding tomorrow (Thurs.) 
night, after fine $58,000 for fourth. 
Stays one more, with "Two Guvs 

$T St^V™ 8 '- P 1us "Winner 
Take All" radio show on stage, due 
in next. 

*,^ r i? t *«^5 3arden (UA) <1,312; 55- 
W-? 5) r7 Mp; Peabody" (U) (1st 
wk)- Heading for okay $23,000 for 
iSir ai ."sssion ending tomorrow 
(Thttrs.) night and holds. Previous 
week, last two days of "Killers" 
^.f . Bfute Force" (U) (2d runs), 
mud $1,500. 




at opening, but fell off after that 
and wound up at about $8,000; 



'Parade' Flashy $13,000, 
Seattle; 'Canon' 8G 

Seattle, Aug. 17. 

Abbott and Costello are featured 
at two houses— ,Palomar, where it's 
reissue of "Buck Privates," and 
Blue Mouse where the pair "Meet 
Frankenstein" on moveover from 
Paramount where this opus went 
two okay weeks. "Melody Time," 
at Fifth Avenue, "Judy" at Music 
Hall and "Largo" at Music Box 
are hefty holdovers. 

Of the new pix, "Easter Parade" 
is setting fhe pace, while "Canon 
City" is also doing well. 

Estimates for This Week 

Blue Mouse (H-E) (800; 45-80)— 
"Meet Frankenstein" (U> and 
"Stage Struck" (Mono) fm.o.). Okay 
$3,500. Last week, 3rd of "Arch 
Triumph" (UA) and "Smart 
Woman" (Mono), five days, good 
$3 300 

Fifth Avenue (H-E) (2,349; 45-80) 
—"Melody Time" (RKO) and "Cur- 
ley" (UA) (2d wk). Fair $7,000 after 
g«aing. l5welP$14,8()0'la.st iecf) 

Liberty (Ind) (1,650; 49-80&— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) Fine $13,- 
<Cbntintfed on page 18) ti 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 




i 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



FILM KJKVIIiWS 



11 



Julia Misbehaves 

(ONE SONG) 
Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

. Metro release of Everett Riskin pro- 
duction. Stars Greer Garson, Walter 
Pidseon; features Peter Lawford. Eliza- 
beth Taylor, Cesar Romero, , Lucile Wat- 
son. Nigel Bruce, Mary Boland, Reginald 
Owen. Directed by Jack Conway. Screen- 
play, William I.udwig, Harry Ruskin, Ar- 
thur w imperii; adaptation. Gina Kaus, 
Monrklon Hoffe: based on the novel, 
"Tlie Nutmeg Tree," by Margery Sharp; 
camera, Joseph Ruttenberg: editor, John 
Dunning; song. Jerry Seelen and Hal 
Borne. Tradeshown Aug. 12, '48. Run- 
ning time, •» MINS. 

Julia Packett 

Wm. Sylvester Packett 

Ritchie Lorgan 

Susan Packett 

Fred Ghenoccio 

Wis. Packett 

Colonel Willowbrook. . 
Ma Ghenoccio 



The I .<»%«'* of i'armrn 

(MUSIC— COLOR) 

Hollywood, Aug. 14. 

Columbia release of Charles Vidor 
(Beckworth Corp.; production, directed by 
Vidor. Stars Rita Haywnrlh. Glenn Ford; 
features Ron Randell. Victor Jory. Luther 
Adler. Screenplay. Helen Deutsch: based 
on the story of "Carmen" by Prosper 
Merimee; camera Technicolor), William 
Snyder; editor, Charles Nelson; score, 
Mario Casteinuovo-Tedesco. Tradeshown 
Aug. 12. '48. Running time, »5 MINS. 



Benjamin Hawkins. 
. Lord Pennystone . 

Vicar 

Hanson 

PepUo. 

Daisy 



Greer Garson 
.Walter Pldgeon 
. Peter Lawford 
. Elizabeth Taylor 
... Cesar Romero 
. . . .Lui-ilc Watson 

Nigel Bruce 

. . . Mary Boland 
. . Reginald Owen 
Henry Stephenson 
. . Aubrey Mather 

Ian WoKe 

Frit/. Fold 
Phyllis Munis 



' Carmen . 

Don Jose . . 

Andres. . 
I Garcia . . . . 

Dancaire . . . 

Colonel 

Romendado 

Old Crone. 

1 Pablo 

' Lucas 

Sergeant . . . 



Rita Hayworth 

Glenn Ford 

Ron Uandell 

Victor Jory 

Luther Adler 

Arnold Moss 

. ... Joseph Buloff 
.Margaret Wycherly 
■ . ■ Bernard Ncdell 
John Baragrey 
. Philip Van Zandt 



Daisy Phyllis Morris 

Louise Veda Ann Borg 

"Julia Misbehaves"' is a mighty 
undignified lady — and a mighty 
funny one. A riot of. . screwball 
slapstick that never takes itself 
seriously for a single moment, film 
is geared for grosses as hearty as 
lis laughs. Greer Garson unbends 
In this one and the ballyhoo ex- 
ploiting that unbending shapes it 
for big returns. 

All forms of comedy but the 
subtle are used to spring the laughs 
that come from the frenetic antics 
of a middle-aged couple, long Sep- 
arated but bent on trying romance 
again. It'-s gag and situation farcing 
that's as artful as a slap in the face 
and answers all demands for esca- 
pist film fare. 

Jack Conway's direction is fast 
and vigorous in walloping over the 
comedy. Laughs are piled on top 
of each other, making a lot of the 
dialog unheard and unnecessary, as 
the plot spends its course under 
Conway's snappy handling. When 
a gag line won't do it, Conway 
resorts to the physical for a howl 
and always gets results. 

Miss Garson is punched, doused, 
muddied and tossed in her un- 
bending process. She wears tights, 
takes a bubble bath, sings and gen- 
erally acquits herself like a lady 
out to prove she can be hoydenish 
when necessary. She proves it and 
audiences will like the new Gar- 
son. As the other half of middle- 
aged team, Walter Pidgeon gives 
aw'ay no honors. He's pitching all 
the time and skillfully injects just 
the right amount of underplaying 
to balance broader delivery of his 
partner in fun. It's nigh perfect 
casting for the requirements of the 
roles. 

The fun starts when Miss Gar- 
son, entertainer, receives an invita- 
tion to the wedding of her daugh- 
ter. Not having seen the girl since 
she was a baby, the mother journeys 
to France for the wedding! The 
father again becomes interested in 
mother and maneuvers her into 
trying marriage again, while the 
mother is maneuvering the daugh- 
ter into casting off the fiance and 
eloping with another love. 

Brief outline doesn't do justice 
to the fun packed into the script 
by William Ludwig, Harry Ruskin 
and Arthur Wimperis. En route to 
France, Miss Garson joins an acro- 
batic act, becomes involved with 
an elderly wolf, and generally has 
herself a time. In addition to the 
aero turn, a big laugh-getter, Pid- 
geon" has his moments with .a 
trained se.il that makes for a socko 
sequence. 

Elizabeth Taylor is the daughter 
who upsets her rich relatives when 
she elopes with an eager painter, 
elegantly portrayed by Peter Law- 
ford. They shape up as a strong 
team of juves. Cesar Romero belts 
over an hilarious performance as 
an acrobat who goes for Miss Gar- 
son. It's a top job, rating a big 
hand. 

Nigel Bruce is delightful as the 
elderly Romeo who pursues ' the 
heroine. Mary Boland registers 
strongly as the tipsy mother of the 
acrobats. Lucile Watson, Reginald 
Owen, Ian Wolfe and others add to 
the generally uproarious fun. 

Everett Riskin's production guid- 
ance has shaped this for hefty 
returns on strength of showmanly 
values. The usual j^Ietro elegance 
is found in production trappings 
that give smart physical framing 
to the comedy. Miss Garson's song, 
spotlighted during her aero stint, is 
"When You're Playing With Fire," 
and is delivered with unharmonious 
vocals, complete with gestures, for 
laughs. 

Class lensing by Joseph Rutten- 
berg, art direction and settings, 
Adolphe Deutsch's music score, 
tight editing and special effects are 
among- contributions that lend 
production polish. Brag. 



Columbia has a potent piece of 
screen merchandise in "The Loves 
of Carmen." It is a bold screen 
adaptation of the Prosper Merimee 
novel that lends itself to the 
strongest type of exploitation. 
Such boxoffice factors as a socko 
title, sex, a colorful, lusty story and 
Rita Hayworth point the way to 
solid grosses. 

. Appeal is to both femme and 
male ticket buyers, sharpening .b.o. 
prospects, and profits for both dis- 
tributor and exhibitor should hit 
the upper brackets: Film carries 
the Beckworth Corp. label (a com- 
bination of the star's name and that 
of her daughter) and reflects con- 
siderable know-how in splashing 
the screen with a gusty, s.a. han- 
dling that will pay off. 

As producer-director, Charles 
Vidor has made artful use of the 
story, the players and the color 
with which the plot is endowed. 
Under his handling. Miss Hayworth 
makes just about her best screen 
appearance.- Her interpretation of 
Carmen, the beautiful gypsy with- 
out morals or conscience, is a socko 
s.a. reading, loaded with a personal 
magnetism. Carmen's not a nice 
creature and there's no attempt at 
soft-pedaling her wickedness or 
building sympathy. 

Helen Deutsch did an adept job 
of scripting from the Merimee 
novel, moving the plot forward in. 
development at a pace that holds 
interest as it builds to the inevita- 
ble finale wherein a fortune teller's 
prophecy that Carmen would die 
at the hands of the man she truly 
loves is fulfilled. Carmen's career of 
lovers, theft and murder is an oper- 
atic standard, but the film is 
drawn from the book with none of 
the, opera's arias. 

There is a musical score by Mario 
Casteinuovo-Tedesco that blends 
perfectly with the story's action. It 
never pounds or intrudes yet pro- 
jects the mood with telling effect. 
The gypsy and Spanish music, the 
dances and one Latin time done by 
Miss Hayworth are lilting moments 
that capture the fancy and* please 
the ear. 

Glenn Ford's character is the 
story pivot that poses moral of the 
dangers of falling in love with a 
conscienceless woman. He im- 
presses in his tough moments, par- 
ticularly in the deadly hand-to- 
hand knife duel with Carmen's out- 
law husband.. He uses his talent 
skillfully in depicting a man gone 
weak over love, and does these 
softer scenes so well they won't sit 
comfortably with masculine audi- 
ences. 

Ford's opponent in the knife 
fight is Victor Jory. Latter is a 
menacing gypsy outlaw, sharpening 
the characterization and making it 
a standout performance. Luther 
Adler. Bernard Nedell and Joseph 
BulotT, members of the robber 
gang, contribute topnotch charac- 
ters. 

Arnold Moss, the colonel whose 
death in a sword fight semis Ford 
into outlawry; John Baragrey, the 
bullfighter whose dalliance with 
Carmen eventually leads to her 
stabbing by Ford and his death; 
Margaret Wycherly, the old crone 
who predicts Carmen's death, and 
Ron Randell are among others in 
the cast who contribute capably. 

Wise use of Technicolor has been 
used in the lensing by William 
Snyder. Scenes have a breath-tak- 
ing beauty without garishness, pre- 
senting pictorial splendor of early- 
day Seville settings and rocky 
mountain fastnesses. Costuming, 
choreography, art direction, set 
decorations all rate kudos. 

: Bros. 



Miniature Reviews 

"Julia Misbehaves" (MG). 
Screwball comedy with strong 
laugh and gross potential. 
Garson-Pidgeon for marquee. 

"The Loves of Carmen" 
(Col) (Color). . Bold, lusty 
screen fare, based upon the 
book, not the opera. Rita Hay- 
worth's best and solid b.o. 

"Luxury Liner" (Songs- 
Color) (M-G). Operatic and 
pop music combined with light- 
ly diverting comedy. 

"Isn't It Romantic" (Songs) 
i (Par). Dull mixture, of come- 
dy and songs. 

"Sofia" (Color-Songs) (FC). 
Highly topical treatise on So- 
viet intrigue lends solid ex- 
ploitation angle and strong b.o. 
potential. • 

"Slondie's Reward" (Col). 
Above-average for series; 
should be strong second fea- 
ture. 

"The Dead Don't Dream" 
(UA). Routine Hopalong Cas- 
sidy western. 

"Urnbu" (UA). Jungle ad- 
venture thriller okay for dual- 
ers and exploitation houses. 

"Murderers Among Us" (Art- 
kino). Adult postwar German 
film; moderate sureseater ho. 

"The Return of Wildfire" 
(SG). Sturdy outdoor action 
film for general situations. 
Better than average western. 



Luxury liner 

(SONGS— COLOR) 

Hollywood, Aug. 14. 

Metro release of Joe Pasternak produc- 
tion. Stars George Blent, Jane Powell. 
Lauriu Melchior, Frances Gilford, Marina 
Koshetz, Xavier Cugat orch. Directed by 
Richard Whorf. Screenplay, Gladys Leh- 
man, Richard Connell; camera (Techni- 
color), Robert Planck; editor. Robert J. 
Ken; musical direction. George St oil. 
Tradeshown Aug. 11, '48. Running time, 
n MINS. 

Cant. Jeremy Bradford George Brent 

Polly Bradford lane Powell 

Olaf Eriksen Lauritz Melchior 

Laura Dene Frances Gifford 

Zita Romanka Marina Koshetz 

Xavier Cugat... Himself 

Denis Mnlvy Thomas. E. Breen 

Charles G. K. Wort on Richard Derr 

Cnief Officer .Carver John Rldgeley 

The Pied Pipers 1 Themselves 

Romo Vincent...' Himself 

Bertha Connie Gilchrist 



decided assist In making "Liner" 
diverting. 

Lush art direction and settings 
have been beautifully lensed in 
color by Robert Planck. Georgie 
Stoll's musical direction is a tune- 
ful contribution to pleasant mood 
maintained throughout. Brog. 



isn't It Hainan lie 

(SONGS) 
Hollywood, Aug.' 17. 

Paramount release of Daniel Dare pro- 
duction. Stars Veronica Lake. Mona Free- 
man, Billy De Wolfe, P.Iary Hatcher. Di- 
rected by Norman Z. McLeod. Screenplay, 
Theodore Strauss, Josef Mischel, Richard 
L. Breen; based on story by Jeamietttf 
Covert Nolan; camera. Lionel Lindon; 
soiiKs, Jay Livingston, Ray Evans; editor, 
LeRoy Stone. Tradeshown Aug. 13, '48. 
Running time, 17 MINS. 

Candy Veronica Lake 

Susie Mona Freeman 

Rose Mary Hatcher 

Horace Prazier Billy De Wolfe 

Ma ior EucliiJ Cameron .... Roland Culver 

Richard Brannon Patric Knowles 

Benjamin Logan Richard Welib 

Clarissa Thayer .Kathryn Givncy 

Hannibal Larry OJsen 

Abisail Pearl' Bailey 



signal their intentions before th* 
enemy at times assumes nonsensi- 
cal hocus-pocus. To top it all, in 
the welter of plot and counterplot, 
two Yanks openly kidnap a brae* 
of atomic scientists who are Rus- 
sian prisoners and -get away with 
it while cdzUy lingering behind the 
Iron Curtain. 

Substitute for the Nazis of yore 
the Russian heavies of today, and 
what remains is a garden-type of 
cloak-and-dagger meller spiked with 
loads of action, if little plausibility. 
It relates the story of how a group 
of Americans, operating in satel- 
lite countries, rescue the aforesaid 
scientists and dispatch them to the 
U. S. In the course of it, one of 
the operators (Gene Raymond), an 
ex-O.S.S. officer, finds again in one 
of the atomic wizards (Sigrid Curie) 
an old flame, and heads for the 
happy curtain clinch. 

Several songs are piped by Pa- 
tricia Mori son. who plays a nitery 
chanteuse woricingv both sides- of 
espionage- against the middle, 
of i Songs, however, are not given im- 
portance; since camera pans away 



| "Luxury Liner" wears the label 
j popularly called light summer 
diversion. It mixes its songs and 
comedy rather skillfully and be- 
decks itself in lush'^echnicolor to 
make an elegant, flashy physical 
appearance. It should find the b.o. 
going pleasant on most bills. 

Musical numbers are operatic 
and standard, with no new cleffing 
in the score. Lauritz Melchior 
gives a good account of himself on 
the long hair numbers with trilling 
assists from Jane Powell and 
Marina Koshetz. The vocals are 
smooth and the numbers interest- 
ingly presented. There's no feel- 
ing of crowding, despite 14 num- 
bers being included in the score.- ' 
On the sock side is Melchior's 
"Siegmund's Liebeslied" solo and 
Miss Powell's » "Gavotte" from 
"Manon." Others registering are 
"Spring Came Back to Vienna," 
"Aida," "Alouette," "Come Back 
to Sorrento," "Helan Gar," "Lohen 



"Isn't It Romantic" isn't. It's a 
seldom diverting mixture 
comedy and songs that misses. 

Story idea on its own. might frequently to uncover plot devcJop- 
have proved to be a mildly amusing ' m „ nr a surnrfcinclv matured Bav- 

musical handling gives it a hybrid bitten role he *» kes on « M ^ 
appearance. There's a spot of in- 
terest here and there but not 
enough to overcome the generally 
bad effect. An occasional line of 
dialog lias spark and Billy De 
Wolfe has one good comedy scene. 
Pearl Bailey lends some import- 
ance to two unimportant tunes. 
Otherwise, it's quite static. 

Locale of the turn-of-the-cen- 
tury costumer is an Indiana town 
.where lives Roland Culver, still 
fighting the war between states, 
and his three daughters, Veronica 
Lake, Mona Freeman and Mary 
Hatcher. Culver is a southern 
gentleman above labor, conse- 
quently the family is broke. Film 
rolls awkwardly along through 
trite, contrived situations that have 
the daughters ' in and out of love, 
the old man falling for an oil 
scheme. Everything comes out 
okay for the finale but it's all much 
ado about nothing, not too brightly 
presented. 

Norman Z,. McLeod directed this 
celluloid.: medley under production 
supervision' of Daniel Dare. Cast is 
adequate to demands but doesn't 
give a lift to proceedings. Five 
tunes, defied by Jay Livingston 
and Ray Evans, are included in the 
score and the two vocaled by Miss 
Bailey are "Won'rin' When" and 
"I Shoulda Quit When I Was 
Ahead." . •' * 

Technical contributions are. uni- 
formly good Jin backing the story- 
tune melange. Brog. 



Curie's comparatively minor part 
presents, no chances of ringing the 
bell. Other, parts, tinging on the 
pure action, are workmanlike. 

Production values are lush. Tint- 
ing shows a continuing improve- 
ment in net results of the Cine- 
color process. Editing and cutting 
is n.s since it misses coming up 
with cohesive and well-integrated 
footage. : Direction, aside from 
some sorry lapses in continuity, is 
competently done to keen the ac- 
tion sprinting. Wit. 

Mwll e'i JtewurJI 

'. Hollywood, Aug. 13. 

Columbia production and release. Fea- 
tures Penny Sbxtketoa. Arthur Lake, 
Larry Simnut, Mar jorie Kent. Directed by 
Abby BWHn. Or I final •eraenplay. Ed- 
ward Beradtf, baaed *n CbJc Young comic 
atalp; camera, -Vincent Fnxrar; editor. At 
Clark; music, attach* BakaleUiikoir. Re- 
viewed at Pan taxes. Aur. 13, '48. Run- 
nine time, *J MINS. 

Bundle ........... Penny Singleton 

Dagwood . Arthur Lake 

Alexander , Larry Simms 

Cookie .......... JIarjorie Kent 

George Hide-line '. T3erome Cowan 

Alice Dickson- ;-. Gay Notion 

Ted Scott ............. Rosa Ford 

Alvin .Danny Mummert 

John Dickson .>. Paul Harvey 

Ed Vance - . . . Frank .Tenks 

BiU Cooper ............. , Chick Chandler 

OlUe > Jack Rice 

Postman ... .. .. Eddie Aculr 

Mary ;.. . .'Alyn Loekwood 

Officer Carney ■«,•«; Frank Sully 

. Cluctt Ray ... Myron Henley 

Leroy Blodgett. ......... . Chester Clute 



Sofia 

(COLOR-SONGS) 

Film Classics release of ARPI produc- 
tion (Robeft.R. Presnell. Sr.. John Rem- 
hardl), directed by Relnhardt. Stars Gene 
Raymond, Sigrid Gurie; features Patricia 
Morison, Mischa Auer. George Baxter, 
Charles Rooner, Fernando Wagner. 
Screenplay, Frederick Stephani: camera 
(Cinecolor). William Clotheir; editor. 
Charles L. Kimball: isonfis. Serge and 
Karen Walter. Tradeshown N. Y. Aug. 
11, '48. Running time, (3 MINS. 

Steve Roark ? Gene Raymond 

Linda Carlsen.. Sigrid Gurie 

Magna Onescu Patricia Morison 

All Imagu Mischa Auer 

Peter Gol tzen ....... 



. , John Wengraf 

James Braden. : George Baxter 

grin's Abschied." Xavier Cugat g r - ^P/??. ^ Charles Rooner 

»»**♦ ♦« - Ana ^^:::::::::T*!! uaao uS'SSL 



gives bright workout to "Vamo a 
Rumbia" and "Con Maraccas." as 
well as ably backing "The Peanut 
Vendor," sung by Miss Powell as 
an operatic aria. "Sorrento," 
"Vienna" and "Ya Viechov Mlada." 

Light story line plots action on 
a luxury liner. Miss Powell is the 
captain's daughter and stows away 
on George Brent's ship when he 
refuses her permission for a cruise 
to Rio. Papa's treatment of 
daughter by making her work her 
passage after being 
springs laughs 



Marow Rgon Zappert 

Bell Captain Hamil Petroff 

Brother Johannes Peter O'Crotty 

U. Comdr. Stark John KeUy 

Chodorov.. Chel Lopes 

Warden Jose Torvay 



With Soviet captives hopping out 
of consulate windows and testimony 
of derring-do unfolding in Wash- 
ington as the current headliners, 
"Sofia" is promoted from the im- 
......... plausible \o a strictly exploitable 

discovered j fi lm synchronized to the news of 
and "young lady's the day. Otherwise, the loose ends 



acting as Cupid's assistant in a i'which keep dangling and utter im- 
romance between Brent and pas- . probabilities- of this film of Russian 
senger Frances Gifford also adds j intrigue in the Balkans would leave 



BALI ROLLS RICHMOND 
Hollywood, Aug. 17. 
Columbia set Lucille Ball to star 
in "Miss Grant Take«*r1chmoi»d.j 

S. Sylvan .SUpw.-fflll, P.rodi 1 ' 
from Gene- T6whe r s'- 'Original. ' 
director is set. 



No 



Blanche Fmi-v 

"Blanche Fury." Eagle Lion 
release of A. Havelock-Allen 
(Rank-Cineguild) production, 
starring Valerie Hobson and 
Stewart Granger, was pre- 
viewed at the Sutton theatre, 
N. Y., Monday (16 >. Kane, 
who reviewed pic for Variety 
from London, March 3, 1948, 
described it as being "a morose 
tale of sex and unabashed Vil- 
lainy. Avhich may only find a 
prestige market in the U. S." 

Film, a $1,50X1,000 Techni- 
color production based on the 
t famous Rush murder in *Jthe 
f ,19th century, is another MlHr] 
• * in tlie current Joseph Shea&ig?^ 

cycle ("Moss Rose," "Mark'bf' 
j Cain," "So Evil My Love"). 



to the fun. 

The Joe Pasternak touch for 
pleasantly diverting froth com- 
bined with music is all over this 
one, making It easy to take. Rich- 
ard Whorf's direction is capable, 
giving nice treatment to produc- 
tion numbers and putting the cast 
through the light moments inter- 
estingly. Gaining attention is the 
handling of "Alouette" sung by. 
Miss Powell, Romo Vincent and 
the ship's galley staff as a novelty 
special. Presentation is tuneful 
and amusing. Another specialty 
is the Pied Pipers' rendition of 
"Yes, We Have No Bananas," 
quartet giving it nifty selling. 

Miss Koshetz, as amorous 
opera singer, highlights a comedy 
scene with humorous treatment of 
"I've Got You Under My Skin" 
and otherwise aids the lighter mo- 
ments'. Brent acquits himself well 
as the captain and Miss Gifford 
Breen is good 



the customers unconvinced.- Aided 
and abetted- by vivid Cinecolor 
trappings, it will do good business 
in all but deluxe situations. . 

For the cloak-and-dagger stu- 
dent there's, no explaining much j 
that happens in "Sofia" except that 
it suited the conveniences of plot. 
Why sometimes the conspirators 
found it necessary to pass their 
mysterious messages by cake, car- 
rier pigeon or invisible ink while 
at others they loudly and openly 



Misadventures of Dagwood Bum- 
stead with his boss again provide 
basis- for latest in the "Blondie" 
films, which is one of better of- 
ferings in series. Original screen- " 
play by Edward Bernds is directed 
for best comic effect by Abby Ber- 
lin, and Penny Singleton and 
Arthur Lake in familiar tap roles 
do customary yeoman service, for 
laughs, Comedy is strong sup- 
porter. 

In line with past "Blondies," this 
one revolves around Dagwood get- 
ting in wrong with' his boss, when 
he buys option on wrong property 
site, and then, in - disgrace, pro- 
ceeds to become further em- 
broiled with employer by being 
blamed -for. socking prospective 
son-rin-law of wealthy industrialist 
whom boss is trying to land as a 
Client. 

Scripter Bernds -starts his yarn . 
from this opening, premise, or 
series of premises, and ifrom then 
on piece -lands Dagwood in one 
situation ; "after -another, with 
Blondie entering nlot frequently 
to add her bit. Whole narrative 
has been carefully prepped, when- 
ever there's corn, being popped 
with eye to giggles, and adds up 
to good funfest. Jerome Cowan 
repeats with clever boss perform- 
ance, Paul Harvey makes most of 
industrialist role, and Gay Nelson 
appears briefly but tellingly as his 
daughter. Danny Mummert. too, 
scores as hoy- next door, and Larry 
Simms and Marjorie Kent are the 
Bumstead moppets. Whit. 



mmm 

-'fSbus-'- personality Jind undeniable, 
talent for song and comedy are a 



Quiet Week-End 

"Quiet Weck-End," Associat- 
ed British production, being 
released in the U.S. by Distin- 
guished Films, was screened for 
the trade press Monday (16). 
Pic was reviewed in Variety 
from London May 15, 1948 by 
Ta.IJ> l Wh£ appraised \he r JUm 



Hub Head Iton'f Bream 

United Artists release of Lewis J. Rach- 
mil production. Stars William -Boyd; fea- 
tures Sand .-Brooks. Andy Clyde. Directed 
by George Archainbaud. Screenplay. J. 
Benton Cheney. Bennett Cohen. Ande 
[.amh. based on Clarence K. Muliord 
stories. At New York theatre. N. Y.. 
week Aug. 10, '48. Running time, •! 
MINS. 

Cast.: Boyd, Clyde, Brooks, Marv Saw- 
don. John ParrJsh. Leonard Penn, Francis 
McDonald. Bob Gabriel, Stanley Andrews. 
Forbes Murray. 



.•" sbpliisticate'sJ'-J^iMk'^ 
oiieht to do good at the.'Amtt,; 
ican boxoffice." 



"The Dead Don't Dream" is a 
routine entry in the Hopalong Cas- 
sidy series whose plot is composed 
of whodunit ingredients as well as 
a liberal sprinkling of elements 
found in all stock westerns. Pic- 
ture. wUl r satisfy Bill Boyd fans and 
Veral* 'shefpes up as an 
fer for.the double bills. 
Boyd (Hopalong) fer- 
(Continued on page 18) 




12 



Wednesday, August 18, 194ft 




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CENTURY-FOX 



% The company that leads the industry in Box office Champions for '48! 
* The ONLY company to make the list EVERY MONTH in '48! 

BBjj|j«ffij^^ ■iiriiiMiMii iiiini^MiMa^Hii rnlii-'-l-f 

Remember . . . September is YOUTH MONTH — Saluting Young America ! 



■ i ifWP 

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, a!*'™ 1 ™?® r-oxnov orrrrn 

B St. Murtln'a vi„Kt, Xrafiil B nr N,u:ir« 



INTERNATIONAL 



13 



Turkish Distribs Fight Scope of 18% 
Fix Tax; U. S. Films Decrease in Arg. 



/ Washington, Aug. 17. 4 . ; ' 

Distribs in Turkey are fighting I „ n , , . 
through the courts a ruling that a Vpp ( n| \ Aim Ifl PmniirP 
special 18% "transaction tax" OCB A/UI * 5 rt,m lU 1 1 UUUtC 

applies to film royalties as well as 
to the cost of the imported film, 
Dept. of Commerce pix chief 
Nathan Golden reports. 

The 18% tax applies to all proc- 
essed and semi-processed goods 
imported into Turkey. Up to March 
3, '48, it was levied only on the 
actual cost of the films. But then 
the government ruled it must apply 
to royalties on the film as well. 
Importers have objected, and are 
trying to get the courts to reverse 
the ruling. 

Golden says that despite rumors 
of impeding . restrictions on the 
number of dollars available for 
films, Turkish distribs as yet have 
had no difficulty in getting ex- 
change. 

Other foreign developments: 

1. Number of U.S., British and 
French pix in Argentina during the 
first half of this year was below th^e 
1947 figure, while Italian, Mexican 
and Spanish films increased. There 
were no Soviet films this year, com- 
pared with seven during the 1947 
first half. 

2. First Polish color cartoon is 
being made at the Czech laborato- 
ries in Barrandov. Other current 
Polish films are a full-length film 
on 19th century customs and eco- 
nomic and social conditions; one 
showing peasant high schools in 
former large estates, and another 
on problems of rehabilitation in 
Warsaw. 



Hawks' 'Bride' Stint Is 
' Latest Quirk in London 
Snarl on U.S. Technicians 

London, Aug. 17. 

Hardening attitude against im- 
portation of producers and direc- 
tors from Hollywood may lead to 
government ban on American tech- 
nicians \,*6rking on pictures in 
British studios . to be made with 
American finance. Latest case in 
point is 20th-Fox, which had 
planned to bring Howard Hawks 
over to direct "Mail War Bride." 
Bulk of the production was to be 
shot on location in Germany, and 
studio work would have occupied 
three to four weeks. 

Final arbiter in the case is the 
Ministry of Labor, but before ar- 
riving at a decision it is seeking 
the views of the organized techni- 
cians, and is to be told that as 
20th intends that the film should 
qualify for quota, Hawks won't be 
permitted to work on the picture 
here. 

• At one stage of the negotiations 
20th suggested that if the Hawks 
permit was rejected, the picture 
would be made outside Britain, 
but as this wouldn't enable them 
to get a quota ticket they may 
.think again. As 20th isn't mem- 
ber of the British Film Producers 
Assn., its application isn't within 
the confines of the agreement with 
Assn. of Cine-Technicians and is 
outside the quota agreed by the 
two organizations. 

Within that quota, however, is 
the application for three Holly- 
wood technicians to work on the 
Rank - Ed Small production of 
"Lorna Doone," scheduled to oc- 
cupy six months of studio space 
here. Applications have been made 
for permits ' on .behalf of Grant 
Whytock. as producer; Reuben 
Rosenberg, personal assistant to 
■the producer, and Rudolph Ster- 
nad. art director, and no opposi- 
tion will be lodged with the Minis- 
try of Labor by the union con- 
cerned. 

According to a communique re- 
ceived in London from the Motion 
Picture Art Directors in Holly- l TT t»- ' <-< 

wood, Sternad won't be coming j Uruguay PlX Gl OSSeS 



Extensively in Britain 

„, London, Aug. 17. 
Evidently contemplating an 
ambitious production program in 
Britain, Columbia has signed a 
three-year deal with the Nettlefold 
Studios whereby the American 
company has use of the premises 
for a sixmonth period of each year. 
Col's last locally-made picture was 
"The First Gentleman," a Jean- 
Pierre Aumont starrer. 

Nettlefold agreement closely fol- 
lows Columbia's recent offer to 
"worthwhile indies" through its 
managing director Joe Friedman! 
As outlined to unaffiliated . pro- 
ducers, Columbia would not only 
hand them studio space but also 
would provide ample financing if 
they have a suitable story and tal- 
ent for a film. 



Norwegian Pix 

■$ 

Production Up 

Oslo, Aug. 9. 
While only two films have been 
completed in Norway this year, 
production is due to pick up in -the 
near future, because three pix have 
been announced to roll soon an* 
space at the Jar studio is now be- 
ing used by the Swedish company, 
Svea Film, for still another. Those 
in the can are "Trollfossen" ("The 
Enchanted Rapids") 'and "Kampen 
om Tungtvannent" ("The Heavy 
Water Battle"). Latter was pro- 
duced by Hero Film in conjunction 
with Le Trident of Paris. 

Upcoming are "Veiskille" ('Cross 
Roads"), whose screenplay has al- 
ready been written by Sigurd Hoel, 
Ulf Greber and Olaf Storstein; 
"Hvor Fartoy Flyte Kan" ("Where 
Ships Are- Sailing"), a Rolf W. 
Popp production, and "Den Hem- 
melightetsfulle Leilightet" ("The 
Mysterious Room"), produced by 
Norsk Film and written and direc- 
ted by Tancred Ibsen. Svea Fijm 
is shooting "Jorund Smed" ("Jor- 
und the Smith") at Jar. 



Wolfe Cohen Named Prez 
Of WB Int'l Vice Milder 

Completing the realignment of 
its world setup, following death of 
Max Milder in London last month, 
Warner Bros, has elected Wolfe 
Cohen as prexy of WB Interna- 
tional. Since 1944, Cohen has' been 
vice-prexy of Warner International 
working under Milder as prexy. He 
will continue to headquarter in 
New York for the present. 

Cohen joined WB in 1925 "as 
head of the St. John branch in 
Canada. In 1936, he became -Ca- 
nadian district manager and five 
years later was named vice-presi- 
dent of Vitagraphy Ltd, 



Rank to Put GFD Execs on Carpet \ 
Re Exhib Beefs on Rents, Bookings 



British, French 
Pact Exchange 
Of Technicians 



London, Aug. 17. 

Assn. of Cine-Technicians has 
negotiated two agreements with the 
French technicians' union which 
will result in an exchange of film 
workers between Britain and 
France. First pact provides for a 
swap on a one-for-one basis irre- 
spective of grades, while the second 
gives mobility to newsreel techni- 
cal employees on a basis similar to 
that already granted journalists. 

Newsreel accord is the first to be 
worked out, and both unions ex- 
pressed confidence that other re- 
ciprocal arrangements would fol- 
low.' Although the French-British 
film employee exchange is now an 
accomplished fact, a like arrange- 
ment between the ACT and Ameri- 
can unions is proceeding slowly. 
Agitation for such an agreement 
has been sporadic for several years. 



Finnish Production Active 

Helsinki, Aug.' 9. 
Three films are set to go before 
the cameras at local studios here. 
Suomen Filmiteollisuus (SF) will 
produce "Toukokuun Taika" ("Jan- 
uary Signs") starring Finnish ac- 
tress Eeva-Karina Volanen, and 
"Onnen Pekka" ("The Happy 
Pekka"), with comedian Veli-Mat- 
ti heading the cast. Third pic is a 
drama, "Soita Minulle, Helena," 
("Call to Me, Helena") which AFO 
(Adams Filmi) is readying. 



'LIU MARLENE' PLANS 
EUROPE CONCERT TOUR 

Zurich, Aug. 7. 

Lale Andersen, German singer, 
better known under the name of 
the song she made famous, "Lili 
Marlene," : is staying in Zurich to 
make some records for Decca. Aft- 
er having been an overnight suc- 
cess during the war on the Nazi- 
controlled Belgrade network, she 
was banned by the Nazis in 1942 
for political reasons, upon which 
she went to live on an island in 
the North Sea. 

In 1945 she returned to Ger- 
many, her performances being 
asked for by Allied troops. After 
her Swiss stay, she is planning on 
a concert tour throughout Europe. 



Rabinovitch's Italian 
Taust' Winds Up Sept. 20 

Rome, Aug. 17. 
"Legend of Faust," third operatic 
filmusical to be produced here by 
Gregor Rabinovitch for Columbia 
release, is due to be completed at 
the Tit-inus studio by Sept. 20. 
Cast is topped by Italo Tajo and 
Nelli Corradi. 

"Faust" is the most ambitious 
of Rabinovitch's locally-made pic- 
tures, Willi a budget set at $500,000. 
Associate producer is Paolo Tam- 
burrella, while Carmine Gallone is 
directing. 



over now as Small has abandoned 
his plans to produce in Britain. 

VIENNA OPERA SLATED 
FOR FIRST U.S. TOUR 

Vienna, Aug. 1. 

For the first time in the history 
of the Vienna State Opera, the 
organization will appear on the 
North American continent starting 
in November, 1949. Inking of the 
final contract is likely to be done 
within a month. 

Under the agreement the com-, 
pany will perform five operas. A 
tour tentatively has been set up 
to cover key cities in the U. S. and 
Canada over a 10-week period." 



Spiralling in 1948 

Montevideo, Aug. 3.' 

Montevideo, with a population of 
722,318, had 87 film theatres at the 
end of 1947, with an attendance of 
14,181,734 throughout the year. 
Total grosses for 1947 were $5,273,- 
193 (U.S.) of which the municipal 
authorities take 6% in taxes. 

Uruguayan grosses are spiralling 
in 1948, particularly over the week- 
ends, when there is a considerable 
influex of tourists from the- Argen- 
tine side of the River Plate, who 
seize the opportunity to get in some 
entertainment and take in pix not 
yet on view in Buenos Aires where 
they are held back through import 
restrictions and dollar shortages. 



Munro Expanding Film 
Chain in Australia 

Brisbane, Aug. 10. 

Charles Munro, formerly with 
Hoyts' cinema* loop, now a major 
indie operator in Queensland, has 
added two more cinemas to his 
chain with the takeover of. the Gar- 
rick Entertainments, covering ur- 
ban holdings. 

Maurice TSloman, former Mel- 
bourne manager for Hoyts, is in 
the deal with . Munro. Duo also 
operates cinemas in the Melbourne 
zone. 



Current London Shows 

(Figures shows weeks of run) 
London, Aug. 17. 
"A La Carte," Savoy (9). 
"All My Sons," Globe (9). 
"Anna Lucasta," Majesty (42). 
"Annie Get Gun," Col's'm (63). 
"Bless the Bride," Adelphi. (63). 
"Bob's Your Uncle," Sav. (15). 
"Cage Peacock," Strand (19). 
"Caribbean Rhap," Wales (11). 
"Carissima," Palace (23). 
"Chiltern Hundreds," Vaude (51). 
"Crime Passionel," Garrick (2). 
"Edward My Son," Lyric (64). 
"Four, Five, Six," York (23). 
Giaconda Smile," New (11). 
"Glass Menagerie," H'market (3). 
"Happiest Days," Apollo (21). 
"Linden Tree," Duchess (53). 
"Little Lambs," Ambass. (19). 
"Man Must Die," St. Mart. (2). 
"Off Record," Piccadilly 159). 
"Oklahoma!" Drury Lane (68). 
"Paragon," Fortune (15). 
"People Like Us," Wynd. (6). 
"Relapse," Phoenix (29). 
"Sit Down," Comedy (2). 
"Starlight Roof," Hipp (41). 
^Travelers Joy," Crit. (11). 
"Together Again," Vic Pal. (71). 
"Worms View," Whitehall (68). 
"Written for Lady," Garrick (4). 



Portugal Puts Controls 
\- : On AH Film Imports 

Lisbon, Aug. 10. 

Ending- the Portuguese free-trade 
honeymoon with Hollywood, the 
government has clamped controls 
on importation of U. S. films due 
to ^he critical dollar situation. 
Applications for import licenses for 
films from the U. S., Italy and, 
Switzerland have been -nixed com- 
pletely for the time being. s 

Assn. of Producers, Distributors 
and Exhibitors of Portugal, mean- 
while, is currently mulling the ef- 
fect upon the local film industry in 
case film imports are cut by 50% 
of last year's total. It's reported 
the government is willing to grant 
remittances up to $650,000 for for- 
eign films, but nobody has figured 
out how to divide that sum among 
32 film importers operating in this 
country. 



Six Foreign Pix 
Bought for U.S. 

Foreign product continues to 
flow into the U. S. with acquisi- 
tion of six pictures from three 
countries announced last week in 
New York. Topping the boxscore 
are three French- films brought in 
by Vog Film Co., while Lopert 
Films, Hoffberg Productions and 
the Reconstruction Trading Corp. 
are handling* one apiece; ' 

Vog's trio is the celluloid ver- 
sion of Jean Cocteau's play, 
"Eagle With Two Heads;" plus a 
waterfront drama labeled "Dedee 
D'Anvers," as well as "Manon," 
described as a modern dress ver- 
sion of a story on which the opera 
of the same name is based. Lat- 
ter picture, partly financed by Vog, 
is, due to be completed at the 
Joinville studio in September. 

Lopert Films picked up Sacha 
Guitry's new picture, "Mile. Qe- 
slree," whose plot- concerns a 
romance of Napoleon. Guitry both 
wrote and directed the pic while 
Herman G. Weinberg has done the 
English titles. It's tagged for fall 
release. Company prexy, Ilya Lo- 
pert, incidentally, is slated to sail 
for- Italy and France next week 
on the America to scout around 
for more product. 

Rounding out the sextet of "im- 
ports, are an Irish entry, "My 
Hands Are Clay," for which Hoff- 
berg Productions obtained the 
western hemisphere ' distributional 
rights from- the pic's producer, 
Dublin Films, Ltd. Filipino film, 
"Fort Santiago," is being readied 
for U. S. release by the Recon- 
struction Trading Corp. Story 
deals with . a guerrilla campaign 
waged by the islanders against the 
Jap invaders. ..Nathan Cy Braun- 
stein is currently editing the print. 



London, Aug. VI. 

Executives, district managers 
and rank and file salesmen in 
J. Arthur Rank's distributing or- 
ganization, General Film Distrib- 
utors, 'will be told in plain lan- 
guage Friday (20) by their chief 
that they mustn't make extortion- 
ate demands on indie exhibs and 
must abide by the accepted codes 
of fair trading. 

Rank has called his salesmen to- 
gether to tell them of some of the 
allegations' made by exhibitor* 
when he appeared before the Gen- 
eral Council of the Cinematograph 
Exhibitors Assn. last month; 

Although Rank was unable to 
answer most of the charges at the 
time, he now has had an oppor- 
tunity of investigating the accusa- 
tions, and where they have been 
founded on fact will demand as- 
surance there will be no cause for 
complaint in the . future. Quite 
apart from high rentals demands, 
exhibitors voiced strongest objec- 
tion to activities of some of the 
salesmen, alleging that business 
transactions were carried out by™" 
telephone and not by letter, and 
that block-booking, although il- 
legal, was still being carried but, 
and exhibs -were being denied top 
product unless they were prepared 
to take the rest of the output. 

Because Rank acknowledges the 
fact that theatre owners will have" 
to get the bulk of the product to 
satisfy the 45% quota from his own 
organization, and realizing thai ex- 
hibs will have recourse to the 
Board of Trade if they can plead 
exorbitant film hire charges, he's 
determined that there be no justi- 
fication for such a plea, as that 
would at once destroy his conten- 
tion that British product is avail- 
able for the exhibitor who wants 
it, . 

On the outcome of this meeting; 
will depend, to a large extent,' the 
fate of the agitation now going on 
among indies for a separate or- 
ganization within the C.E.A. Al- 
ready many of them view with 
strongest suspicion the Rank tri- 
bunal to settle rentals disputes, 
and unless they see signs of a dras- 
tic change of policy,. will probably 
take initial steps, when they meet 
again on Sept. ?, to get the organi- 
zation underway. 



Danish Film Producers ,. 
Get Fund Coin Awards 

Copenhagen, Aug. 3. 

Danish State Film Fund, fi- 
nanced by heavy license fees paid 
by exhibitors, has shelled out this 
year to date more than $30,000 in 
prizes to film producers. Top coin 
went to Johan Jacobsen for his 
celluloid version of Soya's play, 
"Jenny and the Soldier." It won 
its maker a $20,000 award. 

Also gaining by the fund com- 
mittee's largesse was Dansk Tegne- 
Farvefilm, which turned out the 
Danish feature cartoon hit, "The 
Tinderbpx. 

a $10,000 grant "to ready a ^new 
Hans Andersen cartoon, "Hans 
Clodhopper." If the firm is suc- 
cessful in creating a style dis- 
similar to Walt Disney's, it's un- 
derstood the fund will make a fur- 
ther donation. 



Slow on Uptake About 
State Studio Control 

London, Aug. 17. 
For nearly three weeks the gov- 
ernment committee investigating 
studio space in Britain, "to see 
whether any of it should come un- 
der state control or direction, has 
been virtually ignored by the in- 
dustry. 

The unions which agitated for 
the government probe because of 
growing unemployment and idle 
stages, have done nothing to as- 
sist the inquiry and have neither 
submitted memoranda nor volun- 
teered oral evidence, and their ap- 
parent lack of interest has resulted 
in caustic comment in Whitehall. 

British Film Producers Assn» Is 
now readying a memo to the com- 
mittee which will deal with the 
problem in general terms, and will 
offer to appear before the commit- 
tee if that's considered necessary. 
But there appears to be no anxiety 
in producer ranks to speed the in- 
quiry, and a committee appointed 
more than a week ago to prepare 
the argument has yet to meet. 

JARBE'S FRANCO-MEX 
DISTRIB-PROD. PLANS 



Francois Jarbel, just arrived 
Company was handed i from Paris, heads for Mexico City 
where, with family associates, he 
will further a Mexican-French film 
distribution-production setup. Jar- 
bel will headquarter in the Mexi- 
can capital, exporting and import- 
ing product in both languages, but 
utilizing the accrual of Mex films* 
revenues in France for French pro- 
duction. 

The accumulated francs derived 
from Mexican pictures will be si- 
phoned to the Madison Corp., 
which is the overall operating com- 
pany for both the international 
distrib as well as the producing 
company. Idea would be to make 
the films in France with a Spanish 
soundtrack as well, for both the 
Gallic -and Latin markets. 



Glass' Debut U.S. Trip 

Sydney, Aug. 9. 
John Glass, general manager of 
Hoyts Theatres, Ltd., planes to 
the U. S. about the middle of the 
month. 

In making his first American 
junket, Glass expects to visit San 
Francisco, Hollywood and New 
York before returning to Aussie. 



14 



PICTURES 



Wefeggjay, August 18, 1948 



Seniorities Granted Five Unions 
By Majors in Inking 5-Year Pacts 



Meaty Plug 

With meat, prices at an nil — 
time stratospheric high, United 
Artists is planning one of the 
pleasantest exploitation stunts 
of the season. It is sending to 
each of about 180 newspaper, 
radio and magazine writers in 
New York a two-pound steak 
.to phtg "Red River." Packed 
in dry iee, the meat will arrive 
in a- cellophane bag proctem- 
ing: 

"This steak comes from one 
of the original 'Red River' 
steers, as seen in the mag- 
nificent Howard Hawks pro- 
duction."' 

PS. — It was discovered that 
retakes had made the original 
steers a bit too tough and, at 
last reports, TJA was doing 
i business with a wholesale 
butcher on 14th street. 



AFL Film Council Pitches 
For Union Support Of 
Hollywood Pictures 



Hollywood, Aug. 17. * 
New five-year contract between 
the major studios and five principal 
craft unions went into effect over 
the weekend following, successful 
conclusion of several days' negotia- 
tions. Pact, which expire* Aug, 14. 
1959, includes provisions for re- 
opening, on Aug. 15, 1945, and Aug. 
15, 1851. 

' • Agreement was announced joint- 
ly by the committees representing 
10 studios of the Assn. of Motion 
Picture Producers and the Interna- 
tional Brotherhood of Teamsters. 
Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and 
Helpers Local 399; International 
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 
Local 40? International Hod Car- 
riers, Building and Common la- 
borers Local 724-; Building Service 
Employes International Union Lo- 
cal 238; and Operative Plasterers j 
and Cement Finishers International | 
Local 755. ■ -■■• ''..-! 

. Under terms of the contract, 
studios will establish a registry in 
©rder to grant preference of em- 
ployment to those with six months 
experience in the film industry 
here. Producers also agreed to 
establish a seniority system ap- 
plicable to each department of the 
respective unions. Both groups ex- 
pressed belief that preferential 
seniority will be an important 
factor in furthering amicable rela- 
tions.. . 

Other features of the pact in- 
clude improved location conditions, 
improved vacation-pay conditions, 
Improved travel-time conditions 
and other related items. Contract 
is subject to ratification by the 
membership of the unions involved 
nnd by the boards of directors of 
the individual film companies. 

Sitting on the joint union negoti- 
ation committee were George Mul- you have a few 'quarters to spend 
key, international rep of 1BEW and i for entertainment . . . spend some 
Bert Thomas business rep of Local (){ them where they wiI1 belp 
40; Lou Helm, business rep of 
Local 724, and Al Smith, Interna- 
tional rep; Ben Martinez, business 
rep o£ plasterers, and Robert Der- 
niott of the union's negotiating 
committee; Jack Lyons, business 
rep of BSE; Ralph Clare, business 
rep of the teamsters, and John 
Stevenson, attorney for the team- 
sters and building service em- 
ployes. 

On the producers' committee 
were A. H. McCausland of U-I; 
Howard McCopnell, Republic; Car- 
roll Sax, Warners; Ted Leonard, 
Paramount; William Hopkins, Col- 
umbia; Mark BusKher, RKO; Or- 
ville Foust, Hal Roach; Don- Blair, 
Samuel Goldwyn; Ed CoIIyer, 20th- 
J?gk; William Walsh, Metro; Charles 
Boren, AMPP veepee in charge of 
labor relations, and his. assistants, 
Alfred Chamie and Ben fiatchelder. 

Also sitting in were members of 
the top AMPP labor committee con- 
sisting of Y. Frank Freeman, Par- 
amount; Fred S. Meyer, 20th Fox; 
X. K. Sidney, Metro; Marvin Ezzell, 
•Goldwyn; Hal Roach Jr.; Leon 
.Goldberg, RKO; Herbert Freston, 
Warners; Ed Muhl, U-I and Robert 
TSewman, Republic. 



EL s Progress 

kPathe's Profits Boost 

Reflecting a significant gain in 
gross returns from its wholly- 
owned subsid Eagle Lion, Pathe 
Industries has registered a sharp 
boost in net profits for the first 
half of 1948. Company's take for 
the 24 weeks ended June 12 
totalled $627,957, almost six times 
the $114,971 which it made during 
the equivalent period of '47. 

Statement noted the "very sub- 
stantial progress" score by EL 
which resulted in 133% jump in 
average weekly billings in 1948 s 
first six months over the opening 
half of '47. EL's sales group has 
placed particular emphasis on sell- 
ing its product to circuits which 
control large numbers of first-run 
theatres, in key cities, Path* re- 
port explains. 

Pathe's gross is far ahead this 
year with $13,564,035 amassed 
against $8,359,504 last year. Net 
current assets come to $11,524,094 
compared to. $5,695,203 for the pre- 
vious stanza. Longterm debt 
totals $12,586,851, a marked boost 
over last year when it amounted to 
■ $4,734,747, indicating substantial 
\ bank loans to EL. 
j Current liabilities, however, are 
I down to $6,415,188 against $12,289,- 
i 273 last year. 



Salient Terras in French Pact 

- Salient terms of the proposed Franco-American film agreement 
which company prexies discussed at a huddle yesterday (Tues.) are 
tv.« 'ollowing; 

* 1 Remittances of $"3,635,000 annually from France for a four- 
vear period starting July 1. 1948. Of this total, $2,438,205 yearly 
will be applied to the $9,752,820 frozen coin accumulated up to 
July 1 1947: balance of $1,186,795 towards current earnings. 

2 Limit of 121 American features to be dubbed in French yearly. 

3. Boosting of screen quota for French films to five weeks out of 
every 13. 

4 Back payments of $2,438,205 yearly at a rate of 119.30 francs 
to the dollar; current* payments at the regular current exchange 
rate (3.02 francs to the- dollar). 

5. No ceiling on pix with French subtitles except that they can 
only play at 10 Parisian and. 20 provincial houses. 

6. Of the 121 American pix yearly, 110 go to members of the 
Motion Picture Assn. of America; 11 to indies. 

7. France agrees to restrict dubbed pix from other countries 
to 65 annually. ' 

8. Two-year ban on dubbed films stands except for exemption 
of 24 pix of overage vintage. 



Johnston 

Continued from pate 3 



film clauses of the- Blum-Byrnes 
agreement drawn up between the 
If two countries two years ago. Act- 
ing as special counsel to the Em- 
bassy in the negotiations was Ger- , 
aid Mayer, .MPAA" International 
division chief. 

Company toppers had before 
them yesterday the full text of the 
new agreement, with schedules of 
permitted uses of frozen coin, not 
far different from the schedules 
that go with the Anglo- U. S. pact 
of last March. 



Centineed from fare 1 



Hollywood, Aug. 17. 
Drive for union support of Hol- 
lywood films got underway yester- t 

day (16). Letters went out to Roosevelt was governor he ap- 
5,000 AFL unions throughout the*' pointed a commission which re- 
country from the Hollywood AFL [ported back that Saratoga need not 
Films Council, urging- unioneers ; take second place to any» of the 
to patronize films made in- Holly- '. 
wood and "produced under AFL 
union shop conditions and con- ' 
tracts." - » ~ j 

Noting- that the decline of film j 
revenue in foreign countries has j 
reduced employment in Hollywood, j 
letter signed by Film Council 
prexy Roy M. Brewer adds: 



countries on the Continent. Mul- 
vejj, however, will return to the 
U.S. without extending his trip 
elsewhere. 

Session was held in the office of 
ISpyros Skouras. 20th-Fox prexy, 
i rather than MPAA headquarters, 
as usual. Reason given was that 
| Skouras's office is airconditioned. 
[while the MPAA board room is 
[not Erie Johnston, MPAA prez, 
[who arrived in New York shortly 
before the meeting from a United 
\ Airlines board meet in Chicago, 
[presided. 

Attending the meeting were 
I Nicholas M. Schenck, Arthur M. 
Loew and Joseph R. Vogel for 

Metro; Barney Baiaban and Washington, Aug. 17. 

George Weltner, Paramount; Spy- ' As yet there has been no judg- 
ros P. Skouras. and Murray Sil- ment in the Paramount case re- 
verstone, 20th-Fox; Major Albert ; 



Stanley Co. Argues 
Theatre Disposal In 
K-B Wash. Action 



provide work for AFL craftsmen, 
that is, spend them to see fine 



American motion pictures made on the casinos obtained, presum 

in I If.!] vivfi/>«^ '* : „ui.. t .......... n f I ' .< . F>n, r^»*-» 



in Hollywood.' 

Letter points out that , public 
support of Hollywood "helps to 
employ a brother member of the 
AFL under union conditions in 
Hollywood. And, just as im- 
portant, 65% of the money taken 
in by the movie boxoffiee in your 
town remains in your, town and 
helps to employ other AFL crafts- 
mew, for the movie theatres them- 
selves employ AFL workmen un- 
der AFL union shop conditions." 



great European spas, Vichy, Pau, 
Vittel. Baden-Baden, Bad Nauheim, I 

etc., excepting for its inadequate | Wolfe'cXX Warned ^"""fi at * defendant to dispose 

Bros ; Gordon E. .Youngman, RKO; of any theatre, the Stanley Co., 
Joseph H. Seidelman and John Warner subsidiary, told Federal 
O'Connor, Universal; Jack Cohn | district .court here yesterday U6>. 

and Joseph McConville, Columbia; ! „ „„. j „ . , . _ .. 

Mulvey for Samuel Goldwyn pro- '2"S!* u % ^ r f V * 

ductions; and Ted Black, Republic:'^ £• ^™ us ' . Co ' tl l ° forc ? 

„„. ' - ' r Stanley out of the jointly owned 

Officials of the MPAA were out MacArthur theatre on the ground 
in full force headed by Johnston. seV erage was required by the 
Others in attendance were O'Hara, Supreme Court's Paramount case 
Kenneth Clark, Tom Waller and | decision. 

Fred DuVall. ; K . B c iaj met ) tnat the court had 

Discussion of means of counter- ! declared Big Five companies must 



facilities which could be readily 
corrected, as hotel and other hous- 
ing accommodations improved. 

However, the annual August gyp 
went on and was pyramided with 
the lush war times. But now the 
public has balked. Its dire effect 
on the class niteries, with their 
lavish monthly entertainment lay- 
outs, is the result. Whether or not 
the sensitivity over the greenlight 



ably because of Gov. Dewey's posi- 
tion in an election year, it is now 
generally agreed that Saratoga's 
days are numbered unless it does 
a sharp about-face, and for the 
better. 



CentiBue* from page 3 



ing the new 45% quota and other 
restrictions imposed by the British 
on Hollywood output topped the 
agenda. ' There was considerable 
feeling by some execs that any 
mass "invasion" of England by U. S. 
chieftains would be a bad psycho- 
logical move.* This had been in- 
formally discussed as a possibility 
last week. 



give theatres owned jointly with 
independents where .the independ- 
ents would otherwise be sole own- 
ers. Stanley's motion to dismiss 
was based on the legal argument 
that when a case is remanded by a 
reviewing court for further pro- 
ceedings, there is no judgment 
until the lower court has those 



Majors Ask Dismissal 
j Of Writers Goild Suit 

' Dismissal of the Screen Writers' 
Guild suit, brought as result of the 
majors* refusal to hire the 10 "un- 
friendly witnesses" in the Con- 
gressional red probe, is demanded 
In a motion filed by the defendants 
this Week- Application does not di- 

, rectly attack the merits of the suit 
but is technical in' nature, claiming 
that the complaint fails to set forth 
* short and concise statement of 
charges. Jurisdiction of the Fed- 
eral district court of New York is 
also challenged. 

Dismissal plea "'will be heard 
Sept. 14. In the event that the 
court refuses an outright tossout 
of the case, defendants are asking 
alternatively that large number of 
allegations be stricken out as "re- 
dundant, immaterial and imper- 
tinent." 

Joining in the application are 
the Motion Picture Assn. of Amer- 
ica and all majors except United 
Artists, which was sot named a de- 
fendant. Rosenman. Goldmarfc, 
Colin & Kaye filed the motion for 
all defendants except Columbia, 
*tBCh made a separate •'. 
ftamgh ScJfflrarte & Frohlieh. 



IttSTMAN'S $23,017,724 
6-MO. NET; GROSS UP 25% 

Eastman Kodak's net profits for 
the half year ended June 12 
amounted to $28 ; 017,724, a size- 
able gaic over the $20,239,661 
which the company netted for the 
corresponding period of 1947. 
Gross sales showed a '25% im- 
provement to hit $132,480,338 
against last year's $153,581,750. 
Equivalent earnings came to $2*24 
per share compared to $1.62 in '47. 

Shortages persist, especially in 
certain film lines, despite record- 



! fered for sale in various locales is 
| attributed to the settlement nego- 
tiations. 

Straws in the Wind 
Frequent reports have recently 
cropped up that Warner Bros., for 
instance, has been sounding out 
purchasers. Latest of these re- 
ports came from Philadelphia last 
week where film row was buzzing 
over indications that Warners may , 
sell' its Mastbaum, Earle and Al- 



proceedings and enters its judg- 
British situation took second ment on the basis of them. It said 
position in heat,, however, to the the K-B suit was premature and 
French. Execs had before them a should be heaved, 
compromise worked out in Paris in I Supreme Court specifically said 
the past few weeks that will give some joint ownership is legal, Stan- 
them about $14,500,000 from j ley countered, and the whole ques- 
France in the next four years, tion is open until the New York 



court acts again. 

If motion to dismiss is denied, 



affected by a settlement. 

There are other indications, 
however, that the parties may be 
breaking production in these lines, I still far from crossing the bridge. 



After having turned, down a slight- 
ly less advantageous deal a . few 

weeks ago, they grudgingly ac- ; Stanley said, certain allegations 
cepted the new offer with modifi- i should be stricken from the K-B 
cation as the best that could be j complaint. These were mainly alle- 
obtained. gations about Stanley's "monopo- 
Major point at issue, however, 1 listic practices and intent." The 
was the formula that the distribs t brief said that since this was not a 
dine theatres to Loew's, Paramount I must devise for dividing the [treble damage anti-trust suit, these 
and RKO, respectively. Philly, ?, French income among themselves, j allegations were "irrelevant, im- 
controlied mainly by Warners ' Simple device of pro-rating it in 'pertinent and immaterial." 
would be one of the prime areas I accordance with the total amount i 



statement declared. Gradually 
however, the company is returning 
to some balance in supply and de- 
mand aid seasonal trends are' be- 
coming evident for a number of 
EK'j products. 

Prices have held to within 18% 



From one source it was learned 
that the early reaction of the D of 
J- was to sit back and listen with- 
out signalling, how it felt on the 
settlement proposition. 

Added support to this belief is 
given by current preparations ' by 



! of unremitted francs each company m , t 

has tied up in France is not accept- Clay Hake Supervising 
cfaTproMemT 1 claim ~ spe ~ [ Expansion 

Part of th» ™;„ tw ,„;n v, _ ! Paramount will widen its 16m 
past due, while the mvades LaUtl Amer,ca w,h 



ticipated future 



above August, 1939 while cost of the majors to serve cross-interroga- 
materials bought by the company j tories on the Government. Un- 
rose 80% for the period, accord- ; derstood the Big Five are now 
ing to the statement ' like other j working on a joint- list of questions 



related film businesses, foreign 
trade restrictions have begun to 
cut shaspry into EK's export vol- 
ume, it said. 



Bischoff Dickers 

With RKO as Indie 



Hollywood, Aug;' 17. 
' Howard Hughes is dickering for 
first indie to sign at RKO since he 
took over. Sam Bischoff would be 
the indie. 

If deal is closed, Bischoff's first 
film will be "Mrs. Mike," budgeted ', kicked over, by Paramount when 
at around $1,200,000, he currently it balked at giving up its partner- 
releasing through United Artists, I ship interests. Par is now said to 
plea : with which he has a deal for four be much more amenable to that 
more pix: t compromise recipe. 



which will seek from the D of J 
information as to what theatres the 
Government lawyers consider illeg- 
ally held. Moreover, staffs of field- 
men are still gathering informa- 
tion on partnership theatres in re- 
sponse lo previously served Gov- 
ernment interrogatories. 

First attempt at a settlement re- 
sulted in. the consent decree which 
has now expired. Second effort 
was made before the U. S. Su- 
preme Court handed down its de- 
cision. Those negotiations, front- 
ed by former Secretary of State 
James F. Byrnes, were reportedly 



[the distribution of narrow-gauge 
commune* hnv» il! , 4? product. Listed to top its time- 

PaSt fe \u y a e ntlies nd t ^ T ^ HTSftJKS "SSS %h 
quantities to maintain | subtuled and dubbed prints for 

ill rArwntn _ . _ * 



years and have 

IKfacSEta? ply for Co'pean i£! ; : ; ;.' „ ,'; " 

visits of their execs, problem is I CO ? SI S?.?5 



execs, problem is 
posed on how much more each ' 
company should get in the forth- 
coming liquidation. " 

Situation on the French divvy 
was also discussed at a lengthy ses- 
sion of foreign managers at the 
MPAA Monday afternoon. 1 They 
drew up some tentative outlines of 



ton. 

Clay V. Hake, formerly Par's 
representative in South Africa, has 
taken on supervision of the 16m 
program as part of his duties. By 
taking on Latin America, company 
is adding to recently opened opera- 
tions in the Far East, France and 
Belgium. 
Revenues, however, are consid- 



formulas that were presented to ered strictly minor, never approxi- 
the top echelon stanza yesterday, mating the giant returns, predicted 



Foreign managers Monday also ! in the industry immediately follow- 
heard a firsthand report on Latin I ing. the war. Best Paramount mar- 
SJS* 1 ! 6 * Joaquin Rickard, ! ket so far has been the Philippines 

MPAAs rep for south-of-the-bor- '* where perhaps 10% of the take is 
der territories. ! derived from narrow-gauge pix. 

French compromise, which still 
must get approval of upper-brack- 
et officials in Paris, was worked 
out on a governmental level by 



Texas Drlve-In Changes Hands 

Lubbock, Texas. 
C. R. Ballinger, who recently 



thf TT°« ei i n ^ inist ry and reps of opened" the Five Points drive-in 
the U. S. Embassy m France, since, here, has sold it to P. L. Smith, 
lit compromised a revision of the! owner of Plains theatre. 




Filmed a mid the breathtaking grandeur of the mightiest 
peaks of our continent,.. acted magnificently by a trio f of 

top stars— Joan Leslie, James Craig and Jack Oakie... 
jam-packed with all the thundering action of the wildest 
rodeo on earth - the fabulous "Calgary Stampede". . . 



iHiiilHil 

m Bmwmr • • ■ ■ ^ B SH0T » w good cihkovok. 




JAMES CRAIG as ' flan Bennttl' 



JOAN LESLIE- JAMES CRAIG «^ 

with CHILL WILLS - VICTOR KIUAN and the Dog, "FLAME" in CINECOLOR 
Executive Producer, David Hersh • Produced and Directed by Albert S. fiogetl - Story and Screenplay by Art Arthur and Lilli Haywafd 
Suggested by Saturday Evening Post Article "Wifd Horse Roundup" by Jean Muir • An EAGLE HON fllMS Production 



16 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, August 18, 19 43 Y l 



Aid Gives Exhib War Whoop 
Vs. M-G's 40% Rental for 'Parade 



, The running exhlb-distrib skir-^ 
Wish on rental terms detonated 
again this week with Metro at the 
receiving end of a blast from the 
eastern regional directors of Na- 
tional Allied. Sniping, which had 
showed recent signs of quieting, as 
result of the North Central Allied- 
20th-Fox compromise plan, grew 
hot and heavy when Allied direc- 
tors accused Metro of deviating 
from its own policy of "making a 
film earn its own way." 
■t Subject of the Allied bombard- 
ment are the terms asked by M-G 
pn "Easter Parade," currently 
making the theatre rounds. Me- 
tro, according to a spokesman for 
. 'Allied, is taking advantage of the 
Strong b.o. pull of "Parade" by 
demanding a minimum 40% up to 
a split in a number of situations. 
1 • Fears were expressed by several 
Allied officials that Metro, by this 
claimed device, was paving the 
Way for a new, high-bracket for its 
AA pix with rentals starting at the 
40% marker. Any such attempt by 
the company would be ■ fully re- 
— listed, it was said, since Allied 
members insist that M-G adhere to 
its former policy. 
1 Company's present method, it 
was said, is to start at a given 
. percentage which varies in accord- 
ance with the bracketing of a pic. 
- Bentals then slide either down or 
up from the starter, depending on 
earnings. No 'films have been sold 
by Metro in the past, it is claimed, 
which can only slide in one di- 
rection. 

No effort will be made by Allied 
directors to take the matter up 
directly with William P. Rodgers, 
Metro's sales chief, or his aides 
unless the company makes the first 
move. It is claimed that a num- 
ber of Allied theatre ops have re- 
fused to meet the terms demanded. 

While the fight with Metro 
flared, NCA-20th peace plan 
Showed signs of spreading. New 
Jersey Allied committee, appoint- 
ed to negotiate the same deal for 
the local unit, will meet with Ray 
Moon, northeastern division man- 
ager for 20th. Moon has been 
tagged in place of Andy Smith, 
Jr., company sales head, who is 
now on vacation. 



CANTORS, ROBINSONS, 
YATES DOE TOMORROW 

Loaded with film' names, the 
America is scheduled to arrive in 
New York tomorrow (Thurs.j. The 
Eddie Cantors are returning from 
a summer's vacation in Scandi- 
navia and France while the Ed- 
ward G. Robinsons (Gladys Lloyd) 
are also listed as passengers. Mrs. 
Robinson recently- had an exhibi- 
tion of her paintings at a Paris 
gallery. 

Also arriving are Herbert J. 
Yates, prexy of Republic Pictures; 
film actress Vera Ralston; British 
radio and theatre organist Alfred 
Bollington' as well as' Judy Gains- 
ford, Miss Australia of 1947. Yates, 
who's been abroad for about two 
months, has been making a per- 
sonal survey of the foreign mar- 
ket and Continental production 
possibilities. 



Variety Clubs' Interest 
In Rogers Memorial Hosp 

Washington, Aug. 17. 

Variety Cluhs International will 
honor Secretary of State George 
Marshall at the annual Humani- 
tarian Award dinner to be neld at 
the Hotel Statler Sept. 18. 

Preceding the dinner on Sept. 17, 
Variety Clubs have invited a group 
of show biz execs to discuss the 
setting up of an established pro- 
gram for financing the Will Rogers 
Memorial hospital at Saranac Lake, 
N. Y. 

WB Strand, Brooklyn, 
Sale Seen As Another 
Step in Divorcement 

Sale of the Brooklyn Strand by 
Warner Bros, to the Si Fabian cir- 
cuit last weekend is seen by WB 
insiders as the teeoff for a policy 
of gradual liquidation of a limited 
number of theatres. Tightening up 
its theatre organisation, Warner 
execs are currently mulling addi- 
tional unloading of isolated houses 
which, have been put into an. un- 
favorable competitive situation by 
Federal anti-trust decrees. 

Up to last 'year, the Brooklyn 
Strand was operating in a pooling 
arrangement whereby product was 
being shared among the Strand, 
the Brooklyn Fox and Brooklyn 
Paramount. With crackdown of the 
decree on such pooling setups, the 
Strand became squeezed by a lack 
of firstrun product able to compete 
with the other two theatres. Out- 
put of the Warner studios, total- 
ling about 20 pix per annum, was 
not enough to supply the Strand 
which operated on a double-bill 
seven-day booking schedule. 

Fabian circuit, which also op- 
erates the Fox and, at one time, 
operated the Paramount, takes 
title and begins management of the 
Strand Sept. 1. The 2,900-seater, 
whose" selling price was not dis- 
closed, will continue on a double- 
bill basis along with the other de- 
luxers in the Brooklyn downtown 
area. 

The sale of the Strand is the sec- 
ond major house to be cut loose 



Hughes Still Dickering 
To Recapture His 3 UA 
Fix; Sears' Proposals 

Howard Hughes may be forced 
to trade three RKO films to United 
Artists, it has been learned, to re- 
capture from that company the 
distribution' rights to a trio of 
films he produced himself. That 
was one of the alternate deals that 
Grad Sears, UA prexy, is said to 
have offered to the new RKO boss 
In renewed negotiations on the 
Coast last week for reacquisition 
of his three films by Hughes. 

Films, which Hughes is anxious 
to have his own company distrib- 
ute, are "The Outlaw," in release 
by UA for the past 2V6 years and 
"Vendetta" and "Mad Wednesday," 
both committed to UA but as yet 
undelivered. Distrib, incidentally, 
has filed a formal demand with 
Hughes for the films, in accordance 
with the clause of his contract pro- 
viding they must be delivered as 
soon as completed. 

Camera work on both films was 
finished well over a year ago. 
Hughes claims he has been editing 
them ever since. "Wednesday," as 
a matter of fact, played a few 
dates under its original title, "Sin 
of Harold Diddlebock," and did so 
poorly Hughes pulled it in for re- 
cutting. 

Sears has continually informed 
Hughes that UA will gladly turn 
the films over to him if properly 
compensated. The compensation, 
he has stated, may take one of 
three forms: (1) a trade of three 
other films for Hughes' trio; (2) 
a flat sum to be agreed upon; or 
<3) establishment of a production 
financing fund from which UA in- 
dies could draw to make films. 

No definite reply has been re- 
ceived from RKO's new controlling 
stockholders to - any of the pro- 
posals, according to UA execs. 



I SHEAPFER'S U STOCK SALE 

J! Daniel M. Sheaffer, director of 
Universal, Ms unloaded 7,500 
Shares of the company. 
jSheaffer- now holds 5,307 shares 
common stock. 



es 

Claim Won't Hah UA's 
Preem Plans for 'River' 

; ' - Dallas, Aug. 17. 
Howard Hughes' copyright suit, 
filed in Federal court here last 
Friday (13), will not alter United 
Artists' plans for opening of "Red 
River" in some 300 theatres in this 
territory next week. Company 
counsel, who will oppose Hughes' 
demand for an injunction, at a 
hearing Friday (20), declared that 
UA, sure of its legal ground, is 
willing to allow the action to go to 
trial later on a demand by Hughes 
for damages. 

Producer and new owner of RKO 
contends that one of the scenes 
and action in "River" infringe on 
his "The Outlaw."' He is not asking 
any damages now, merely an in- 
junction. UA contends that if the 
court enjoined next week's pre-, 
mieres and then discovered that recently from the WB chain, the 
"Outlaw" was not infringed upon, I first bein g the Warner theatre on 
UA would be irreparably damaged 
It claims that, among other things, 
it would lose a- $500,000 buildup. 

William Roach, of O'Brien, Dris- 
coll, Raftery & Lawler, of UA's 
counsel, arrived here today (Tues- 
day) from New York to present 
arguments at Friday's hearing, 
along with the local counsel for 
th£ Interstate Circuit, which is al- 
so named in the injunction suit. 

Hughes claims that the climactic 
scene from "The Outlaw" is re- 
peated in "Red River." Howard 
Hawksrwho produced and directed 
"River," was originally signed to 
direct "The- Outlaw." He never 
actually directed, but did do some 
work on the story, and Hughes 
claims he carried over the same 
ideas. 

Specifically, Hughes says that the 
action lifted depicts one of the 
players shooting off the lobe of the 
ear of the other in order to goad 
him into a fight. UA maintains 
that in "River," the lobe isn't shot 
off, the hero's face is merely 
creased, and, anyway, the whole 
thing is a standard bit of action 
that has been used in westerns for 
years. 

RKO GETS GOING ON 
NEW PROD. SCHEDULE 

Hollywood, Aug: 17. 
Despite previous announcement 
that RKO stages would be dark for 
several weeks between windup of 
final picture under old regime and 
date new program tees off, studio 
guns new program tomorrow (18) 
two days before "Interference," 
last of old product, shuts down. 

First of > films is "Follow Me 
Quietly," starring William Lundi- 
gan. Lensing is about three or 
four weeks ahead of originally 
scheduled date. Film is typical of 
B's which will be made under How- 
ard Hughes regime. With Rich- 
ard O. Fleischer directing for pro- 
ducer Herman Schlom, film car- 
ries 16-day shooting schedule— at 
least 10 to 12 days under any 
other B studio has made in several 
years, except the Tim Holt west- 
erns, which usually run 12 to 14 
days. Second film will be "The 
Setup;" Robert Ryan starrer, first 
of company's six A films between 
now and January. , 



Broadway which was sold to legit 
angel Anthony B. Farrell for $1,- 
500,000. The latter theatre, how- 
ever, was frankly a white elephant 
as a film showcase. Farrell may re- 
name it The Mark Hellinger. There 
have been additional reports that 
Warners was getting ready to sell 
three theatres in Philadelphia, but 
nothing has jelled so far. Current 
indications are that the chain will 
sell only a few more houses in a 
narrow liquidation scheme. 

6 MAJORS SUE EXHIBS 
IN BALTO ON % DEALS 

Baltimore, Aug. 17. 
RKO, 20th, Columbia, WB, U-I 
and UA filed suit in Federal court 
here yesterday (16) against Morton 
Rosen and Morris Oletsky, operat- 
ing the Windsor, Monroe, Victory 
and Fremont, nabe theatres, alleg- 
ing fraudulent representation of 
attendance figures between July, 
1939, and August, 1948. 

Plaintiffs admit no actual knowl- 
edge of correct attendance figures 
but ask the court to determine 
damages and impose punitive dam- 
ages on defendants. 

R. Dorsey Watkins, Baltimore, 
and Sargoy & Stein, New York, are 
representing the film companies. 



Inside Stuff-Pictures 

The Hollywood mentality runs a ragged second to the outlook of 
New York filmites, according to Thomas F. Brady, the N. Y. Times* 
roast correspondent, whose impressions of his current visit east was 
Dublished Sunday (15).- Where Hollywoodians live in a climate of hot. 
house ideas and anxieties, Brady says New Yorkers are part of a real 
world that's not made entirely of celluloid. "Hollywood's constant con- 
temolation of its own navel is, perhaps, the inevitable concomitant of 
cinematic creation," he says, while "New York's concern with the 
buving and selling of films makes for greater detachment. But, never- 
theless it is worth noting that the profound pessimism, both economic 
and philosophical, which currently pervades Hollywood has not pene- 
trated to the personnel of the home offices here." 

Describing Hollywood's fear of its shadow, Brady quotes a wag to , 
the effect that "Hollywood is the only town in this booming country 
which has managed to manufacture its own private depression." I n 
New York there's a feeling "that the film industry's cumulative record 
of capitulation to religious pressure groups, Congressional pressure 
groups and sectional, racial and business pressure groups is a re- 
versible trend. From the Hollywood point of view it never will be 
reversed" Brady says. Somehow New Yorkers escape from "the 
Hollywood neurosis that every man's hand is against them" because 
they are men of commerce, not of creation. Indicative of the cleavage 
in approach between* New York and Hollywood, Brady tells a tale about 
a recent "tractarian society's" broadside against the film industry on 
the score that "movies are schools for crime." In Hollywood, he says, 
such a charge produces hysteria. In New York, a film executive grinned 
cheerfully and said "What picture do they mean and how can we 
book it?" : _ 

Public relations campaign on industry self-regulation which the 
Motion Picture Assn. of America has built around Margaret Ann Young 
since last December has made the femme better known than most 
starlets. Tally prepared for MPAA execs by Tom Waller, New York 
press topper, shows stories and pictures on Miss Young, who rules on 
acceptability of titles for the industry, have appeared in a flock of 
national mags, in newspapers serviced by major syndicates, in a num- 
ber of columns, in fan mags, and on a bunch of radio stations serviced 
by United Press. It is estimated that more than 20,000,000 readers 
have been hit. 

Waller culminated the campaign— built on the theme, "Self-regula- 
tion rather than censorship" — with a yarn in last week's Saturday 
Evening Post. Gal was also profiled in American Magazine, The 
Woman, Silver Screen; in the columns of Earl Wilson, Frank Conniff, 
Lawrence Perry, L. L. Stevenson and Alice Hughes; in stories by King 
Features, North American Newspaper Alliance, Bell Syndicate, Herald 
Tribune Syndicate and International News Service; in special stories 
in the N. Y. Daily News, Journal American, Star and Herald Tribune, 
and on the Martha Deane radio show. 

Sticking to the femme angle, Waller is planning a new campaign for 
the fall around the women of the MPAA's Community Service Dept. 
They are the industry's contact with thousands of clubwomen through- 
out the country. 

Illustrative of the extent to which the economy wave has hit the 
major film company homeoffices is a statement from a company treas- 
urer distributed to employees at one homeoffice Friday (13) relating 
to excessive personal telephone calls. Although the calls created "in- 
terference with company business and an unnecessary burden on our 
accounting department," the treasurer stressed the real reason for his 
objection was the fact that this "lack of cooperation has resulted in 
rapidly mounting costs." 

Even "personal emergency calls" are now verboten. If one is nec- 
essary during Jnfsiness hours, employees are asked to use the public 
coin boxes wherever possible in the building. If emergency calls must 
be made on company phones, they must henceforth be placed only 
through the chief Operator. "When the personal emergency call is 
made," the statement concludes, "a charge slip will be furnished to 
the cashier's office, to whom payment for such call must be made by 
you within three days." 



Dore Schary's contract with Metro, as veepee in charge of production, 
is for seven years, with option for seven more, at $5,000 weekly; plus an 
expense account arrangement which is tantamount to a bonus and 
permits him "the opportunity to saye a few bucks," as Metro studio 
attorneys put it. Despite presence of Lew Wasserman, Music Corp. 
of America president, at the powwows at Louis B. Mayer's house whert 
the latter, Nick Schenck, J. Robert Rubin, et al, set the details, there 
was no "agent" in on this contract. Schary's personal attorney, David 
Tannenbaum, supervised the legal details for the producer. Contracts 
were formalized within 48 hours, instead of a suggested six weeks. 
Ditto the formalities of calling a board meeting, which prexy Nick 
Schenck did by phone, flying both ways frpm coast to coast. 

Schary, on the other hand, insisted on legal out if Mayer ever is 
displaced as major domo of Culver City; he "didn't want another 
Howard Hughes pulled on me," said the former RKO production boss. 



Goldwyn's Big Co-op 
Ad Drive on Kaye Pic 

In a switch in method, Samuel 
Goldwyn is putting full emphasis 
on newspaper and Sunday supple- 
ment copy, rather than magazines 
and national media.'in the adver- 
tising campaign now being pre- 
pared for the new Danny Kaye 
film, "A Song Is Born." Goldwyn 
has allotted almost $750,000 for 
cooperative advertising with ex- 
hibs, plus the Sunday supplement 
list. 

Generousness of the Goldwyn 
organization in doling out coin for 
local newspaper space prior to 
openings is being reflected in book- 
ings. Flock of engagements have 
come in as a result of the Goldwyn 
co-op ad plans, as explained to ex- 
hibs by the RKO sales organization 
and Goldwyn's own staff under 
Arthur Sachson. 



N. Peter Rathvon is still on RKO's payroll, despite his resignation 
as president. Rathvon's contract as an employe still has two years to 
run and he is awaiting a decision from Howard Hughes on' settlement 
of the pact. 

When Hughes was negotiating for the purchase of RKO, Floyd 
Odium requested,, as one of the conditions of the deal, that Rathvon 
be kept on the payroll with another year added to his contract. At 
the end of that time, Rathvon will be eligible to participate in com- 
pany's retirement plan. 



Producers are finding it virtually impossible to make any deals 
with Hollywood's top freelance screenwriters, pending a decision on 

i£ rn i Y f*erday" at Columbia. Harry Cohn is understood to have 
talked with practically all top scriveners regarding the assignment, 
and Yesterday" is regarded as such a choice credit that pen-pushers 
aren t making any other deals until they find out definitely who wins 
the screenplay chore on the film. 



Economy wave at Universal International is seeping into the upper 
brackets. Number of execs who previously held contracts now are 
working on a week-to-week basis. Studio is understood to be plan- 
ning renewal of only a few contracts at option time, so that majority 
ol execs can be dropped at week's notice if necessary. 



Minn. Exhib Sues 

Hosp on Treatment 

Minneapolis, Aug. 17. 
Clem Jaunick, Delano, Minn., 
whose legs are paralyzed, has filed 
a $10,500 district court damage suit 
against Northwestern hospital here. 
He alleges that when he went to 
the hospital for X-ray treatment 
for bursitis of the left shoulder 
and because of other ailments he 
was negligently given the wrong 
medication. As a result, it's al- 
leged, he was made "violently ill, 
jumpy, shaky, nervous and nau- 



seated," and that painful treatment 
contributing to his shock and dis- 
comfort was necessitated. 

Because of the experience, Jau- 
nick claims, his nervous system has 
beed shattered, and he asks for 
$10,000 damages and $500 for hos- 
pital expenses. 

In its answer served on S. P. 
Halpem, Jaunick's attorney, the 
hospital contends that if Jaunick 
suffered any illness it was due to 
his own negligence. 

Jaunick owqs the only theatre in 
Delano and is also building a drive- 
in there. 



Wednesday, Angust 18, 1948 



17 



COP 

Toughest on the force' 
on homicide. When 
he gets a killer, 
dead or olive, . 
the law calls 
it justice! 



GAMBLER 

"Protection" rack- 
eteer kills his 
best pal . . . 
if he i 



iBil 



i pays 
off, the law 
will call it 
murder! 



m 



GEORGE RAFT 
WILLIAM BENDIX 
MARILYN MAXWELL 



FILLY 

Is she the 
gambler's darling 
or the racketeer's 
come-on? . . . "Bad 
bet" whisper the 
boys in the know.. 



DORE SCHARY IN CHARGE PRODUCTION 
Produced by NAT HOLT Directed by EDWIN I. MARIN 
Scram ploy by Martin Raskin 



i 1 j f. 8 J ' ' } e 




BROADWAY ENGAGEMENT AT BRANDT'S MAY FAIR THEATRE! 



18 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 




SEATTLE 

(Continued Irom page 9) 
€00. Last week, "Dream Girl" (Par) 
(2d wk), fairish $4,600. 

Music Box- (H-E) (800; 45-80)— 
"Largo" (WB) and "Fabulous Joe" 
(UA> (4th wk).,Good $5,000 after 
phenomenal $6,300 last week. 

Music Hall (H-E) (2,200; 45-80)— 
"Date with Judy" <M-G> and 
"Shaggy" (Par) (2d wk). Nice $11,- 
000 following immense $15,700. 

Orpheum (H-E) (2,600; 45-80)— 
"Canon City" (EL), and "Jiggs and 
Maggie in : Society" .(Mono). Good 
$8,000. Last week, ,! Kumaon" (U) 
and "Jinx Money" (Mono), slow 
$5,300. 

Palomar (Sterling) (1,350; 45-80) 
—"Buck Privates" (FC) and 
"Broadway" (FC) (reissues). Good 
$8,000. Last week, "Lulu Belle" 
(Col) and "Heart Virginia" (Rep), 
mild, $5,100. 

Paramount (H-E) (3,039; 45-80)— 
"Return of Badmen" (RKO) and 
"Campus Sleuth'-' (Mono). Fair 
$7,500. Last week, "Frankenstein" 
(U) and "Stage Struck" (Rep) (2d 
wk), fair $6,000 on six days. 

Roosevelt (Sterling) (800; 45-80) 
—"The Search" (M-G) (2d wk). So- 
so Last week, fair $3,300, 

'Paradine' Sharp 16G, 
Buff; 'Jericho' 12G 

^Buffalo, Aug. 17. 

Best of the new entries are 
"Paradine Case" at the Buffalo and 
"Walls of Jericho" at the Great 
Lakes. "Up in Central Park" is 
also doing well at Lafayette. 
Estimates for This Week 

Buffalo (Shea). (3,500; 40.-70) 
"Paradine Case" (SRO). Nearing 
good $16,000. Last week, "Time 
Your Life'" (UA) "Song of My 
Heart" (Mono), $16,000. 

Great Lakes (Shea) (3,400; 40- 
70) "Walls of Jericho" (20th) "The 
Winner's Circle" (20th). Okay $12,- 
O00. Last week, "Key Largo (WB) 
(2d wk) nearly $13,000. 

Hipp (Shea) (2,100; 40-70) "The 
Time of Your Life" (UA) "Song of 
My Heart" (Mono) (m.o.). Fair 
$7,500. Last week, "Blandings 
Dream House" (SRO) "Shaggy" 
(Par) (m.o.) Good $12,000. 

Teck (Shea) (1,400; 40-70 "Key 
Largo" (WB) (m.o.). Nice $4,000. 
Last week, "Four 'Feathers'* (FC), 
"Drums" (FC) (reissues*, $4,500. 

Lafayette (Basil) (3,000; 40-70) 
"Up in Central Park" (UI) "Bill 
and Coo" 1 (Rep). Good $11,000. 
Last week, "Lulu Belle" (Col) 
"Adventures in Silverado" (Col), 
okay $10,0(KL 

20th Century (20th Century, 
Inc.) (3,000; 40-70) "Melody Time" 
.(RKO) "Inside Story'; (RKO) (2d 
wk). Moderate $5;000 on five days. 
Last week, trim $15,000:. .C 



Holdovers Cramp K.C. 
Newcomers; 'Father' 
Great 17G, 'Jericho' 16G 

Kansas City, Aug. 17. 

Week's newcomers getting some 
close competition from holdovers, 
but manage to stay out in front by 
a definite margin. "Life With 
Father" in its first regular-price 
run at the Orpheum is great, and 
"Walls of Jericho" at the Tower- 
Uptown-Fairway combo is a close 
second. "Fuller Brush Man" in 
second week at the Midland, and 
"Key Largo" at the Paramount are 
both nifty in second week. Weather 
no help as temperatures climbed. 
Estimates for This Week 

Esquire (Fox Midwest) (820; 45- 
65)— "An Ideal Husband" (20th) 
and "I Cover the Big Town" (Par). 
Topping averages slightly for $4,- 
000. Last week, "Abbott-Costello 
Meet Frankenstein" (U) slacked off 
a bit to $3,500, average. 

Midland (Loew's) (3,570; 45-65)— 
"Fuller Brush Man" (Col) and 
"Thunderhoof" (Col) (2d wk), 
Healthy $14,000, as much as many 
first weeks. Last week pair ran up 
surprising $27,000, 

Orpheum (RKO) (1,900; 45-65)— 
"Life With Father" (WB) and 
"Guns of Hate" (RKO). First time 
at regular prices for the Clarence 
Day story; excellent $17,000. Last 
week "Four Faces West" (RKO) 
and "Blackmail" (Rep), okay ! 
$11,000. 

Paramount (Par) (1,900; 45-65)— 
''"Key Largo" (WB) (2d,wk) holding 
up in good shape for $11,000. Last 
week nifty $18,000. 

Roxy (Durwood) (900; 45-65) — 
"Ruthless" (EL) (2d wk). Doing 
fairly well in inaugurating house's 
new solo-feature policy; $3,500, 
average. Last week film started 
new policy off to fine $5,500. 

Tower - Uptown - Fairway (Fox 
Midwest) (2,100, 2,043, 700; 45-65) 
—"Walls of-Jericho" (20th). Good 
$16,000. Last week "Up in Central 
Park" (U) couldn't hold its opening 
pace and came away with $12,000, 
moderate. 



ST. LOUIS 

(Continued from page 9) 
ters" (20th) (m.o.), $11,50*0. La»J 
week, "The Fuller Brush Man 
(Col) and "Fort Apache" (RKO; 
tm.o.) (3d wk), $9,500. 

Orpheum (Loew) (2,000; 50-75)— 
"Time of Your Life" (UA) and 
"Thunderhoof" (Col) (m.o.), $7,000, 
Last week, "Easter Parade" (M-G) 
(m.o.) (3d wk), $9,500. 

St. Louis (F&M) (4,000; 50-60)— 
"You Can't Take It With You" 
(Col) and "Penny Serenade" (Col), 
$7,000. Last week, "Bambi" (RKO) 
and "The Arizona Ranger" (RKO) 
(reissues), $7,500. 

Shubert find) (1,500; 40-60)— "So 
Evil My Love" (Par) and "King of 
the Gamblers" (Rep) (m.o.), $6- 
000. Last week, "Flowing Gold" 
(WB) and "City of Conquest" (WB) 
(reissues), $5,000. 



Film Reviews 



;s Continued from page 11 ; 



'Sons' Socko $11,000 

In Uppish Montreal ! Muifoj 



j MINNEAPOLIS 

(Continued from page 8) 
week, "Return of Bad Men". (RKO) 
(2d wk), mild $5,000, giving it good 
$17,000 for fortnight. 

State (Par) (2,300; 50-70)— 
"Street With No Name" (20th). 
Highly praised picture helped by 
lack of strong new competition.; 
Hefty $14,000. Last week, "Best 
Years of Our Lives" (RKO) (3d 
run), good $12,000. 

Uptown (Par) (1,000; 44-60)— 
"Emperor Waltz" (P^ar). Here for 
first neighborhood showing soon 
after end of long, prosperous loop 
engagement. Big $5,000 in pros- 
pect. Last week, "Fuller Brush 
Man" (Col), big $4,500. 

World (Mann) (350; 50-85)— "Mr. 
Blandings" (SRO) (m.o.). Fourth 
downtown stand and fifth week for 
this high-stepper. Striving for sat- 
isfactory $2,500. Last week, "Anna 
Karenina" (20th) (2d wk), good $2,- 
700, giving it excellent $7,000 for 
two weeks, both at this house. 



'Father'-'Wallflower' 

Terrif 18G, Port., Ore. 

Portland, Ore., Aug. 17. - 
Downtown houses are keeping 
the coin rolling into the boxoffice 
despite outdoor attractions and 
good weather. "Life With Father" 
at the Paramount and Oriental at 
popular prices, and "Canon City" 
at the Orpheum are tops. "Em- 
peror Waltz," "Melody Time," 
"On An Island With You" and 
"Key Largo" are ace holdovers. 
Estimates for 'This Week 
Broadway (Parker) (1,832; 50-85) 
—"Key Largo" (WB) and "Ma- 
donna of the Desert" (Rep) (2 wk) 
(9 days). Sock $13,500.* Last 
week, torrid $17,000. 

Mayfair (Parker) (1,500; 50-85)— 
"God's Country and the Woman" 
(WB) (reissue) and "Flowing Gold" 
(WB) (reissue). Fair $3,500, Last 
week, "Letter to an Unknown 
Woman" (UI) and "Police Re- 
porter" (SG)' (6 days). So-so 
$3,700. 



Montreal, Aug. 17. 

Unsettled weather sparking biz 
in most houses, "Give My Regards 
to Broadway" topping list "for last 
week. Completely renovated Prin- 
cess to run singles starting with 
"All My Sons." New policy of run- 
ning English speaking productions 
at Orpheum is paying off with good 
increase on first week. Reissue of 
"Best Years of Our Lives" at pop 
prices is playing to packed houses. 
Estimates for This Week 

Loew's (C. T.) (2,855; 34-45-64)— 
"Best Years" (RKO) (reissue). So-so 
$14,000. Last week "Regards to 
Broadway," okay $15,500. 

Capitol (C. T.) (2.412: 30-42-57) 
— "Scudda - Hoo! Scudda - Hay!" 
(20th). Mild $11,000. Last week. 
"On Our Merry Way" (UA), fair 
$13,000. 

Palace (C. T.) (2,625: 30-42-47)— 
"Miracle of Bells" (RKO). Mild 
$10,000. Last week, "B. F.'s Daugh- 
ter" (M-G), fair $11,000. 

Princess (C. T.) (2,131; 30-42-57) 
"All My Sons" (U-I). Sock $11,000. 
Last week, "Fury at Furnace 
Creek" (20th) and "Checkered 
Coat" (20th), very good $10,000. 

Imperial, (C. T.) (1.839; 26-34-42) 
—"Are You With It" (U-I) and 
"California Firebrand" (U-I). $5,- 
500. Last week, "Fighting Father 
Dunne" (RKO) and "My Dog 
Rusty" (Col), Slow $6,000. 

Orpheum (C. T.) (1,040; 26-34-45) 
—"Intrigue" (UA) and "Song of 
Idaho" (Col). Good $5,000. Last 
week, repeat of "The Noose Hangs 
High" (EL) and "Winner's Circle" 
(20th), average $5,500. 



The Dead Dou't ©ream 

rets out the mystery as to how 
three men were killed in a frontier 
hotel room. Before the killer is 
smoked out, there's a fair amount 
of action which varies in locale 
from mine tunnels to nocturnal 
chases hard by the hostelry. Andy 
Clyde supplies the comedy relief, 
while cast in the lone femme role 
is Mary Tucker. . . 

Per usual, Boyd is a forthright 
upholder of the law and his sup- 
porting cast largely measures up 
to his workmanlike thesping. 
George Archainbaud directed at a 
breezy pace and camera work is 
standard. While writers J. Benton 
Cheney, Bennett Cohen and Ande 
Lamb aren't too original in adapt- 
ing this varn from the Clarence E. 

d characters, this series has 
been flourishing a long time and 
the story barrel can't be expected 
to remain at the same high level. 



pace with which the story unfolds. 
Shallow sentimentalism in the ro- 
mantic passages between the doctor 
and his girl friend also is damag- 
ing to this otherwise adult produc- 
tion. Although made in the Rus- 
sian zone of Germany, the film is 
not weighted with heavy-handed 
propaganda. On the contrary, all 
the questions which it raises are 
left unanswered. 

Performances by the full cast 
measure up to the highest stand- 
ards. Especially standout roles are 
turned' in by Ernst Borchert, as 
the doctor; Arno Paulsen, as the 
captain, and Hildegard Knef. as the 
girl. Good score also contributes 
importantly to the film's sombre 
quality. Herm. 



I nihil 

United Artists release of World Adven- 
tures production. Directed and photo- 
graphed by George Breakston, Yorke t.op- 
len. Storv. Breakston; narration. Coplcn: 
editor, Holbrook N. Todd; score, Albert 
Glasscr. Tradeshown N. Y. Aug. 12, '48. 
Running time, 66 MINS. 



The 



Return of Wildfire 

(SONG) 
Hollywood, Aug. 13. 
Screen Guild release of Carl K. Hittle- 
man (Lippert) production. Stars Richard 
: Alien, Patricia MoVison, Mary Beth 
j Hughes. Directed by Ray Taylor. Screen- 
i play, Betty Burbridge and Hiltleman; 
| camera (Sepiatone), Ernie Miller; editor, 
j Paul Landres; music, Albert Glasscr. Pre- 
viewed Aug. 10, '48. Running time, 80 
MINS. 

"Urubu," a photographic record j ^ Vl0 Wi:: ! :." ' ! ! : ! :*B9y*«£SK' 

Of an expedition through the MattO ! .Tndy Marlowe Mary Beth Hughes 

Grosso jungle of Brazil, rates as Frank Keller James Miliican 



solid fare for the exploitation 
houses. Pic offers the usual pegs 
for sensational ballyhoo in its 
lurid yarn, shots of prehistoric 
monstei-o and flock of primitive 
Indians, including an average quota 
of unclraped native females. High 
interest level also makes this film 
a good supporting item for nabe 
situations. 

Producers, George Breakston 
and Yorke Coplan fabricated sev- 
eral incredible twists for this jun- 
gle thriller, but, on the whole, the 
film keeps within reasonable 
bounds. Best parts of 
which have an authentic 
the shots of natural terrain with its 
varied and amazing forms of wild 
life. Fictional sequences, while 
obviously hokey, serve as an ac- 
ceptable framework for the factual 
portions. 
Yarn concerns the search for an 



Marty Quinn Reed Hadley 

Pancho Chris-Pin Martin 

"Pop" Marlowe Stanley Andrews 

Dirk Holly Bane 

Wildfire » . Highland Dale 



Nice 
and 
Up 
fair 

70- 



Mus'ic Box (H-E) (1,000; 50-85)— I fan P y u $2 i 2 '*°^- 



DETROIT 

(Continued from page 8) 
and "Jinx Money" (Mono) 
$10,000. Last week, "Blood 
Sand" (20th) and "Wake 
Screaming" (20th) (reissues), 
$7,000. 

Fox (Fox-Michigan) (5.100: 
95)— "Escape" (20th) and "Mickey" 
(EL). Sturdy $30,000. Last week. 
"Walls of Jericho" (20th) and 
"Checkered Coat" (20th), big 
$32'000 

Michigan (U-D) (4,089; 70-95)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) and "Wall- 
flower" (WB) (2d wk). Terrific $27,- 
000 after great $36,000 in opener. 

Palms-State (U-D) (2,716; 70-95) 
— "So Evil My Love" (Par) and 
"Stage Struck" (Mono). Breezy 
$20,000. Last week, "Black Arrow" 
(Col) and "Blondie's Reward" (Col), 



A creditable job has been done 
by all concerned in shaping this 
one for the general market. Re- 
turns should please. Rugged out- 
door stuff has been beautifully 
lensed in Sepiatone and story has 
been given twists that lift it .above 
usual western filmfare. 

In addition to value of Sepiatone 
film makes gobd use of many clips 
of wild horse roundups and a 
the film, | bloody battle between two wild 
look, are stallions. 

Plotting concerns Reed Hadley's 
efforts to corner the horse market 
in a Western valley. When rancher' 
Stanley Andrews refuses to sell his 
stock he's murdered and the villain 
j tries his scheme on the rancher's 
daughters, ~ Patricia Morison and 



English explorer who disappeared ^ 



into the Brazilian interior many 
years ago. Accompanied by friend- 
ly natives, Breakston and Coplan 
cut their way through the Matto 
Grosso until they hit the land of 
the Urubus, an allegedly murderous 
tribe of Indians who have kid- 
napped a white girl. 

Camerawork (without sound) is 
handled expertly throughout. Nar- 
ration by Coplan, however, is full 
of cornily purple adjectives com- 
mon to virtually all travelogs. 
Breakston and Coplan. the only two 
whites who appear in the film be- 
sides the unbilled girl, wisely un- 
j derplay their performances onto a 
deadpan leVel. Herm. 



* CHICAGO 

■ j'. (Continued from page 9) 
'Jfc.udin', Fightin', and Fussin' "■■ 
(U) (2d.wk). Fair $13,000. Last 
week, $15,000; : . 

Oriental (Essaness) (3,400; 50-98) 
—"Time of Your Life" (UA) (2d 
wk), with Horace Heidt radio win- 
ners in person. Sweet ■ $55,000 
likely. Last week, $67,500. 

Palace (RKO) (2,500; 50-98) — 
"A&C Meet Frankenstein" (U). 
Terrif $34,000. Last week, "Mel- 
ody Time" (RKO) (2d wk), $18,500. 

Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500; 50-98)— 
"Life With Father" (WB) at pop 
prices. Neat $18,000. Last week, 

arSrWaaL 0 " Lim " (rko> 

&o^ g ^^^?#> 

. Unite* Artiste (B&K) (itfoij; 50- 
M) — "Summer Holiday" (M-G). 
Okay $20,000. Last week, "So Evil 



"Melody Time" (RKO) and "Rocky" 
(Mono) (m.o.). Fine $4,300. Last 
week, "Street With No Name" 
(20th) and "Meet Me At Dawn" 
(20th) (m.o.), good $2,600. 

Oriental (H-E) (2,000; 50-85)— 
"Life With Father" (WB)," at pop- 
ular prices, and "Wallflower" (WB), 
day-date .with Paramount. Big 
$6,200. Last week, "Melotjy Time" 
(RKO) and "Rocky" (Mono), day- 
date with Orpheum. Fine $4,400. 

Orpheum (H-E) (1,750; 50-85)— 
"Canon City" (EL) and "Smart 
Woman" (Indie). Excellent $8,400. 
Last week, "Melody Time" (RKO) 
and "Rocky" (Mono), also at Orien- 
tal, solid $9,700. 

Paramount (H-E) (3,400; 50-85)— 
"Life With Father" (WB), popular 
prices, and "Wallflower" (WB), 
also at Oriental. Terrific $11,700. 
Last week, "Dream Girl" (Par) and 
"So Well Remembered"' (RKO), 
good $7,700. 

Playhouse (H-E) (1,200; 50-85)— 
"Emperor Waltz" (Par) and "Big 
Town Scandal" (Par) (3rd wk) 
(m.o.). Good 32,400. Last .week, 
fine $2,300. 

United Artists (Parker) (895; 50- 
85)— "On An Jsland With You" 
(M-G) (3rd wk). Fine $7,200, Last 
week, sock $8,100. 



United Artists (U-D) (2.976; 70- 
95)— "Melody Time" (RKO) and 
"Old Los Angeles" (Rep). Holding 
well at $15,000 after solid $19,000 
in first round. 



BOSTON 

(Continued from page 9) 
second week of "Melody Time" 
(RKO) and "Mystery in Mexico" 
(RKO), fair $12,500. 

Metropolitan (M-P) (4,387; 40-80) 
—"Key Largo" (WB) and "Shang- 
hai Chest" (Mono). Neat $20,000 
after very solid $33,000 for first 
week. 

Orphenm (Loew) (3,000; 40-80)— 
"Paradine Case" (SRO) and "My 
Dog Rusty" (Col). First time at 



Murderers Among Us 

(GERMAN) 

Artkino release of Defa production. 
Stars Hildegard Knef, Ernst Borchert. 
Written and directed by Wolfgang Staudt. 
Camera, Friedl Behn-Grund, Eugen 
Klagemann; score, Ernst Roters. Pre- 
viewed N. Y., Aug. 9, '48. Running time, 
10 MINS. 

SuBanna Wallner Hildegard Knef 

Dr. Hans Mertenj . Ernst Borchert 

Captain Bruckner Arno Paulsen 

Frau Bruckner Erna Scllner 

Herr Mondschein Robert Forsch 

Herr Timm Albert Johann 



'(In German,' English Titles) 
The first postwar German pro- 
duction, ^"Murderers Among Us" 
("Die Moerder Sind Unter Uns"), 
is a serious film concerned with the 
knotty problem of the individual 
German's guilt for Nazism. While 
not fully successful, either as 
drama or ideology, film is marked 
by a superb camera and montage 
technique recalling some of the 



pop prices and not bad, $19,000. firstrate German productions be 

T ocf ,.r^,.lr «< r Ti»v,A e\f T.if«i" (TTA^ f,.,-,. f L,„ XT««; u , _ , . ■ 



My Love" (Par) (2d wk), $14,500. 

Woods (Essaness) (1,073; 98) — 
"Easter Parade" (M-G). Record- 
breaking $42,000. Last week; "Par- 
adine. Case" (SRO) (5th, wk), 
i0, stc i:tn ..SiiHi n 
'Arid (Indie) 1 (587;' '77) ^'"Llfe" 
of Tschaikowsky" (Indie). Smart 
$4,000. Last week. "King's Jester" 
(3d wk) (Indie), $2,500. 



Last week,. "Time of Life" (UA) 
and "Thunderhoof" (Col), fine 
$21,000. 

Paramount (M-P) (1,700; 40-80) 
— "Foreign Affair" (Par) and "Out 
of the Storm" (Rep). Solid $14,- 
000 for second run. Last week, 
"Canon City" (EL) and "Lady at 
Midnight" (EL), satisfactory $10,- 
500 for second week. 

State (Loew) (3,500; 40-80)— 
"Paradine Case" (SRO) and "My 
Dog Rusty" (Col). Average $11,- 
000. Last week, "Time of Life" 
(UA) and "Thunderhoof" (Col), 
neat $13,000. 



fore the Nazi era. It is slated for 
moderately good reception in the 
sureseater circuit. 

Framed against the ruins of Ber- 
lin, story is concerned with a young 
medico haunted into drunkenness 
by the memory of mass executions 
which were ordered by his captain 
in Poland. When the doctor once 
again meets the captain, now a 
kindly family man, he determines 
to kill the war criminal. At the 
last moment, however, the doctor's 
sweetheart intervenes to have the 
captain delivered up to the proper 
authorities. The final sequences 
in which the captain keeps shout- 



work is upset when Richard Arlen, 
roving wrangler, comes to the aid 
of the girls and finale presents a 
slambang gun and fist fight between 
the hero and Hadley. '• 

The sister team pleases, Miss 
Morison as the sensible prairie 
heroine with whom Arleiufalts in 
love, and Miss Hughes as the more 
amorous of the pair, who injects 
s.a. into the western .setting. 
There's a single tune, "Just An Old 
Sombrero," vocal by Miss Morison. 

Hadley is a smooth heavy and 
James Miliican, Chris-Pin Martin. 
Andrews und Holly Bane hold up" 
their ends in the development. 
Highland Dale does the title role 
as. a wild stallion. 

Ray Taylor's direction has an 
actionful pace that gets best from 
the script by Betty Burbridge and 
Carl K. Hittleman. Latter also 
served as producer, making that 
function worthwhile. The out- 
standing lensing was contributed 
by Ernie Miller. Broij. 



August -14 

(RUSSIAN) 
(Color — Documentary) 
Artkino release of Central Studio pro- 
duction. Directed by llya Kopalin. Irina 
Setkina. Camera (Agfa), Mikhail Gleeder, 
Theodore Bunimovich; music, Arould 
Roltman, David Shtilman. At Stanley, 
N. Y., week Aug. 14, '48. Running time, 
68 MINS. 



250-Car Drive-In Near Raleigh 

\ I The .'Car-Rif » iarivfeM^c^hbA i [ j MWU not gui^y'' "against ■ Jte» 
here on U.' JsT'ttignW >V South'. Ifdoscpplc shois of! the waif 'rfre 
The 250-car operation id managed tner ™ost effective and moving of 
by Earl Williamson of Raleigh, the whole film, 
former manager of Colony theatre, i Basic flaw of this film is the slow 



■ "August 14," photographed in 
1947 by a crew of 50 Soviet cam- 
eramen just two years after the 
end of World War II, is an inter- 
esting documentary on Russian re- 
construction. Of minor commercial 
value in the U. S., beyond the 
houses specializing in Russian im- 
ports, this film, nevertheless, -has 
considerable importance as a prop- 
aganda weapon. 

Life among the Soviets, as these 
cameras carefully selected it, is 
teeming with health, happiness and 
energy. Sandwiched between pan- 
oramic shots of the varied Russian 
landscape is the story of Russia"s 
emergence from the war as a 
greater power than ever before. 
The message of strength is explicit 
in the shots of military maneuvers 
and reconstruction of the dams, 
factories, mines and homes in the 
postwar five-year plan. 

Color photography, based on the 
so-called nevi^ Soviet tinting proc- 
ess (but actually it's the old Ger- 
man Agfa process), is uneven, 



done in Russia, has 
patriotic tone. 



restrained 
Herm. 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



PICTURES 



Six Tinters, 3 Indies 
, In U -Fs 23-Pic Program 
With $37,500,000 Budget 

' Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

Six Technicolor features are 
Included in the $37,500,000 program 
pf 23 ttlms for 1948-49 decided upon 
by Universal-International execs 
after four days of confabs at the 
studio. Three Indie producers, 
Robert Montgomery's Neptune 
Productions, Irving Brecher Pro- 
ductions and Geffen-Shane Produc- 
tions, are represented in the lineup. 
Films will cost between $1,500,000 
and $2,000,000 each. 

Tinters, "Bagdad," "Bloomer 
Girl," "Tomahawk," "Adventures 
of Sam Bass," "Streets of Cairo," 
and "Sierra," all will bear the 
studio's own emblem. Indie produc- 
tions are Neptune's ''Come Be My 
Love," Brecher's "The Life of 
Riley" and Geffen-Shane's "The 
Salem Frigate." 

Studio's 14 black - and - whites 
include "Harvey," "Amboy Dukes," 
"Paradise Lost — 1948," "Night 
Watch," "The Gay Goddess," "Air 
Crash," "It Gives Me Great Pleas- 
ure," "Illegal Entry," "The Fatal 
Step," "The Western Story," "Ma 
and Pa Kettle," "Arctic Manhunt," 
"Homicide Squad" and "Shop- 
lifter." First to go will be "Amboy," 
slated for a Sept. 13 start. 



See $30,000,000 



Continued from page 3 




FIVE-STAR 

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Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 
120 Broadway • Hotel St. George 

AMERICAN 
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500,000 to add to the $21,000,000 
garnered in the first half. 

Yank rentals for the first six 
months actually hit $30,000,000, 
but some 40% was consumed in 
meeting overhead and distribution 
costs. Part of the dropoff was due 
to a relapse in theatre revenues in 
Britain since the b.o. there de- 
clined some 25%. 

Metro Top Grosser 

Metro was the biggest earner in 
England for the half-year, fol- 
lowed by 20th-Fox, Paramount, 
and Warner Bros, closely clustered: 
RKO, Universal, Columbia and 
United Artists tag behind. 

No coin is expected from Eng- 
land for the first month of the op- 
eration of the peace pact until the 
end of August or early September. 
Since allocation of the monthly re- 
mittance depends on proportionate 
earnings of the companies in Eng- 
land, an audit is being taken in 
London before the credits are dis- 
tributed. 

Battle between the majors on 
one side and J. Arthur Rank, con- 
trolling stockholder of both the 
Odeon and British Gaumont cir- 
cuits, is continuing furiously and 
may adversely affect profits. At no 
time, however, is the net expected 
to drop below the $17,000,000. 

Rank is still seeking to book top 
American product as tail-enders on 
dual bills headed by British films. 
By so bracketing a Yank pic, it 
will not fall within the 45% Brit- 
ish quota. American distribs are 
balking. They charge Rank with 
seeking to reduce rentals by that 
device. 

The battle has ended booking of 
American films, to all intents, on 
these two circuits. Hence, distribs 
now have unreleased films on their 
shelves In London offices for the 
first time in many months. 



Stress Originals 



Continued from page 3 



GEORGE 
WRIGHT 



* 



— ORGAN/ST — 

Currently 

PARAMOUNT THEATRE 
NEW YORK 



MST US MAKE A 

SOUND-MOVIE 

SHORT OF YOU 

Sinning-. Dancing, or Acting; 
at our Studio — only JKG.OO 

BERGEN 4-3405 

Hollywood Motion Picture Production* 

466 Ocean Ave., Jersey City, N. i. 




Now Specializing 
In Refreshment 
Service for 



licaWco^ mos\ 



and not as a cliffhanger. Public 
domain material was filmed under 
the titles "The Black Arrow" and 
"The Loves of Carmen." 

Ten of the 17 properties pur- 
chased by 20th-Fox were originals, 
with Warners handing out coin for 
seven originals out of a total of 10 
buys. Paramount split even with 
five originals against four stories 
and a play. U-I bought seven orig- 
inals, a radio program ("Life of 
Riley") and two novels. 

Producers releasing through 
United Artists reported a total of 
23 story buys, 16 of which were 
originals. Figure incidentally is 
believed to set some kind of a rec- 
ord for independent producers, 
most of whom usually stick to such 
tried and tested properties as top 
plays and novels. 

'Accent on economy has forced 
studios to consider purchases care- 
fully. Stories requiring elaborate 
sets, costumes or casts are out. 

Another factor cuing interest in 
originals is the possibility of using 
stories on television. Two compan- 
ies admit frankly that their story 
buys are made with this potential 
market in mind. 

Rundown published in latest edi- 
tion of the Screen Writer, official 
SWG mag, shows less than 200 
stories purchased since July, 1947. 
Lack of interest is attributed to 
retrenchment, divorcement s iT i t 
and indecision on what constitutes 
entertainment 

Trend toward originals is only 
bright spot in otherwise dim pic- 
ture for scribes. 



0'Dwyer 



S5i Continued from page 3 ss 
have been sent out to him in 
Paris, where he headquarters. 

McCarthy was General George 
C. Marshall's aide during the war 
and served in the State Dept. at 
the conclusion of hostilities, He 
joined the MPAA about two years 
ago. He worked as a press agent 
for George Abbott for a short time 
before the war. 

Believed a possible reason for 
eliminating O'Dwyer from con- 
sideration is SIMPP's own inde- 
cision as to whether it wants a 
"glamor name" or a man at con- 
siderably lower salary who knows 
the industry and would handle the 
detail as an exec secretary. Mc- 
Carthy, it is thought, would fit 
somewhere In between. 

O'Dwyer's recurrent poor health 
is, ,thpugbt jalsq <to, have) been i a 
, pdnslflenationt. j possibly boiflv by 
q him and. SIMPP, in: eliminating 
his name from the candidates. 



Coilarites May Reverse 
ToCompIyWithT-HLaw's 
Non-Communist Proviso 

Facing industry-wide resistance 
to the negotiation of new con- 
tracts because of their hostile at- 
titude towards the Taft-Hartley 
law, two CIO whitecollarite unions, 
representing 3*000 homeoffice em- 
ployees, are currently in the 
midst of a membership referendum 
to determine whether they shall 
comply with the provisions of the 
T-H law. Referendum is being 
conducted by the United Office & 
Professional Workers of America, 
parent union of the Screen Office 
& Professional Employees Guild 
and the Screen Publicists Guild. 
Results will be known Aug. 27, ex- 
actly one month before SOPEG's 
and SPG's current two-year con- 
tracts with the film companies ex- 
pire. 

If the referendum forces com- 
pliance with the T-H law, both 
unions will find no opposition to 
new contract talks on the part of 
the companies. United- Artists, 
which broke off talks with SOPEG 
in May, has already indicated that 
it is ready to sit down with the 
union if and when SOPEG obeys 
the T-H law. Probability of the 
referendum returning a "no com- 
pliance" majority, however, ap- 
pears strong in view of continual 
attacks upon the T-H law by the 
unions' leaderships. Latter are 
specially adamant against submit- 
ting non-Communist affidavits to 
the National Labor Relations 
board as required by the law. 

In letters to the majors request- 
ing new contract talks, SOPEG 
execs said: "We are prepared to 
meet any requirements under the 
law which are compulsory. With re- 
spect to the voluntary provisions 
of the Taft-Hartley law, our mem- 
bership will make its own deci- 
sion in their referendum." Point- 
ing out that SOPEG was still in 
the process of. formulating de- 
mands, the letter said exploratory 
discussions would be welcomed. 
After Sept. 1, however, the let- 
ter informed the companies "we 
shall certainly be in touch with 
you." SOPEG prexy Sidney Young 
said this was normal procedure. 

SPG, meanwhile, received its 
first reply from a major company 
last week when Eagle Lion agreed 
to write a new pact for about 40 
company flacks. Eagle Lion re- 
cently concluded a new contract 
with SOPEG. SPG demands in- 
clude a 35-hour week, 3-week 
vacation after three years of ser- 
vice, seniority provisions in lay- 
offs and promotions, and some 
wage hike. 

NLRB Sets Aug:. 27 Date 
Winding up two months of hear- 
ings, the NLRB has set Aug. 27 as 
the date for a bargaining agency 
election for 300 UA white coilar- 
ites. With SOPEG -ruled off the 
ballot due to its. failure to comply 
with the Taft-Hartley law, the 
homeoffice employees Local H-63, 
IATSE, will be the only organizat- 
ion named on the NLRB ballot. 
Charles Doud, NLRB New York di- 
rector, also denied a place on the 
ballot to Cecile Schuman, UA em- 
ployee who wanted to rep her fel- 
low workers as an individual. 
Doud's investigations found that 
she was "fronting" for SOPEG. 

Only recourse now left for 
SOPEG, whose current contract 
with UA runs out Sept. 27, is court 
action for an injunction to re- 
strain the elections. In similar 
cases involving non-film industry 
unions, such jurisdictional disputes 
have dragged out many months in 
legal maneuvering. Local H-63 or- 
.ganizers, meanwhile, are continu- 
ing their drive to organize white 
coilarites at Paramount and Co- 
lumbia, now under SOPEG's con- 
trol. 



Conn. Nabes Sue Majors as Latter 
Settle Another With a Balto Exhib 



Charging unreasonable clear- 
ance, Prudential Theatres Co., Inc. 
and Playhouse of " New Canaan, 
Inc., operators of the Playhouse 
theatres in New Canaan and 
Darien, Conn, on Friday (13) filed 
a $1,170,000 triple damage anti- 
trust suit in N. Y, federal court 
against Paramount, United Artists, 
Universal, Columbia, Monogram, 
Eagle Lion and New England 
Theatres : Inc., a Par. subsidiary. 
Sum of $450,000 property dam- 
ages is also sought. 

Action alleges that first runs in 
Stamford and -So. Norwalk, both 
nearby Connecticut cities, have 
excessive clearance over the Play- 
houses in New Canaan and Darien. 
Practice of extended runs was also 
protested and the suit asks that all 
clearances beyond seven days 
should be eliminated inasmuch as 
long holdovers milks the surround- 
ing territory. 

In asking injunctive relief, Pru- 
dential and Playhouse of New 
Canaan charged the defendants 
with conspiring and acting in con- 
cert to favor "prior run theatres" 
in So. Norwalk and Stamford. In 
addition it was claimed that pre- 
ferred playing time handed first 
runs in the two situations had 
achieved an unlawful and unrea- 
sonable effect. 

According to the plaintiffs' at- 
torney, William Gold, four other 
distribs have already settled and 
hence were not named in the com- 
plaint. Originally the issue was 
submitted to the New Haven ar- 
bitration board but a subsequent' 
delay, it was said, was such that 
the suit was instituted. 



Father Peyton Mulling 
Documentary on Peace 

Albany, Aug. 17. 
Father Patrick Peyton; founder 
of the Family theatre on Mutual 
network and national director of 
the Family Rosary Crusade head- 
quartering here, has plans for a 
documentary film, "The Road to 
Peace." It would be produced with 
the cooperation of 20th-Fox, and 
will stress family prayer as the 
most powerful medium for world 
peace, a familiar thesis of Father 
Peyton. 

Bing Crosby will be asked to do 
the/ .commentary for. '/Peace.". ,he, 
hatting been.the first,bigjStar.fo aid, 
the Irishborn' priest on a network 
program. 



Harford's Better Clearance 

Washington, Aug. 1.7. 

The two-year old anti-trust suit 
by the Harford Theatre Co., Balti- 
more, against the eight major dis- 
tributors and the Durkee and Rome 
circuits has been settled without 
damages, but with a better play- 
ing break for the Harford. 

The Durkee and Rome circuit 
was dismissed from the case in 
December, 1946, when Judge Letts 
ruled they were not "transacting 
business" in the District, and could 
not be sued here. All the distribs 
but United Artists agreed to the 
settlement. The case against UA 
will probably go to trial here in the 
fall. 

Harford, in May, 1946, filed a 
$90,000 damage and injunction 
suit, claiming it was required to 
play pix 14 days behind two Dur- 
kee theatres and one Rome* theatre. 
It said it wasn't competitive with 
any of the three, and the better 
terms received by the Durkee and 
Rome theatres were due entirely 
to the chain's buying power. 

Under the settlement, the Har- 
ford will have an availability of 
seven days from the opening date 
of the first neighborhood run 
break in Baltimore, without re- 
gard to. when the Durkee and Rome 
theatres play the pix. 

Attorneys for the Harford said 
they did not know why UA 
backed out of the settlement. 

Another local damage suit moved 
ahead, too, this week. Two theatre- 
owning film salesmen, who were 
named in a $150,000 damage suit 
here in June, asked the court to 
dismiss the case on the ground 
that violation of the anti-trust laws 
was involved. The Center theatre, 
of Centreville, Md., sued Para- 
mount, 20th-Fox, RKO, Columbia, 
and Columbia salesman Charles 
Wingfield and Fox salesman F. B 
Klein. Klein and Wingfield own 
theatres in Church Hill and Ches- 
tertown, Md„ and the Center 
claimed they got better pix because 
of their "in" as salesmen. 

The salesmen's motion to dismiss 
Will probably be argued in the fall. 

Try Dipson Suit Sept. 14 
Buffalo, Aug. 17. 
The $1,300,000 anti-trust suit 
brought against the majors by Dip- 
son Theatres, Inc., of Buffalo, will 
be heard in the U. S. District Court 
here Sept. 14. It is now being pre- 
pared for trial before a judge with- 
out a jury. Depositions have been 
taken in the past month from Wil- 
liam F. Rodgers, Metro distribu- 
tion chief: Charles M. Reagan, 
Paramount sales topper, and Abe 
Montague, Columbia distrib boss. 
( Dipson- circuit claims that, four! 
of "its theatres in the' Buffalo area, 
were forced out of firstrun sltua- 



.tions by the conspiracy of the 
majors. Latter have a flock of legal 
talent operating on their behalf, 
including John Caskey for 20th- 
Fox and Harry Pimstein for RKO, 
with Sidney B. Pfeiffer, local at- 
torney of record for the two com- 
panies; Stanley Thompson for 
Loew's and Richacd Morgan for 
Paramount, with Frank G. Raichle 
their local counsel; George Raftery 
for Universal and United Artists', 
and Elliot Frohlich for Columbia. 



San Antonio House Gets 
Okay on 'Mom and Dad' 

San Antonio, Aug. 17. 

"Mom and Dad," which last weefe 
figured in 2,200 Catholic youths 
placing the Hi-Ho Theatre under 
interdict for one year, was shown 
only after approval- by city officials', 
clergymen and civic leaders, ac- 
cording to Douglas Askey, manager 
of house. Catholic youths had rec- 
ommended that Catholics abstain 
from patronizing the theatre until 
June next year. 

In a statement Askey stated thaf " 
"the management of the theatre 
greatly regrets the action condemn- 
ing the theatre. However, We feet 
that theatregoers of San Antonio, 
both Catholic and non-Catholic, are 
fully capable of selecting their own 
entertainment. 



2 



THE SHOWMAN'S FRIEND 

in Mod /J*tfe/ed 

500 Modern Rooms 
with bath and radio I 
"Everything New but the Name" 

ALEXANDRIA HOTEL 

Fifth at Spring • Los Angel*! 
FRANK WALKER, General Manager 
Formerly at Oimjted, Cleveland, O. 




RAY 
MILLAND 

ANN 

TODD - 

OERAIDINE 

imZGMAJ.D_._ 





ROY DEL RUTH'S THE 

BABE RUTH 
STORY 




Cont '*trfofme<KM.PopPtlci 




Cornol Linda • Anna Kirk 
WILDE DARNELL BAXTER DOUGLAS 

"THE WALLS of JERICHO" 

A 20th Century- Fax Piotura 
ON VARIETY STAGE— DICK HAYMES 
ON ICE STAGE— CAROL LYNNE 
ARNOLO SHODA • FRITZ DIETL 

_ROXY 50th St. 



RADIO CITY MUSIC HAIL 

Rockefeller Center 

'A PATE WITH JUDY' 

Wallace BEERY • Jana POWELL 
Elizabeth TAYLOR * Carmen MIRANDA 
Xavier CUGAT c Robert STACK 
A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture 
Spectacular Stage Presentation 




20 

_2 



PICTURES « 



Wcdneaday, August 18, 1948 



.-+++♦++♦♦♦♦ . ♦♦♦»♦< I »»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦«♦♦♦♦♦»»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦ 

Clips from Film Row 



ALBANY 

Upstate Theatres, Inc., has 
added three houses to the string 
for which it buys and books. They 
are the Lyric, Bouses Point; the 
Lyceum, Chaplain, and the Lake, 
Chazy, all owned by the Kennedy 
Estate and operated by William 
Kennedy. Upstate, whose counsel 
and adviser on film buying is Leon- 
ard Rosenthal, now acts, on a coop- 
erative basis, for 28 theatres in 
New York and Vermont. Offices 
are maintained in Albany. 

MINNEAPOLIS 

Minneapolis and St. Paul Or- 
pheums undergoing modernization 
of their exteriors and lobbies and 
foyers at estimated $50,000 cost. 
Improvements include new mar- 
quees and walls and change in 
ticket ■office location. 

In his large newspaper amuse- 
ment page display ads for his new 
local boulevard- Twins (theatre and 
restaurant combination), W. K. 
Frank plays up food items and 
features over screen attractions, 
devoting all but fiew inches to 
former. 

■ Preview showing of "Babe Ruth 
Storv" at Minn. Amus. Co.'s Nor- 
shore theatre, Duluth, for benefit 
of families of Duluth baseball club 
players killed and injured in bus 
accident netted $2,000. 

Minn. Amus. Co. (Paramount 
circuit) and Paul Mans & Don 
O'Reilly, independent circuit own- 
ers, both competing to obtain li- 
cense to build and operate new 
theatre in Rose, Twin City suburb, 
and town council has taken applica- 
tions under advisement. 

CHICAGO 



return,- Dana will be shifted to 
other duties. 

Saal Gottlieb, Metro manager, 
has been named local motion pic- 
ture industry chairman for three- 
day stop here next- month of Free- 
dom Train. 

W. Gillespie Milwain, from Kan- 
sas City office, new sales engineer 
for Pittsburgh branch of National 
Theatre Supply. Previously he was 
with NTS in Memphis and Char- 
lotte. His father, J. A. Milwain, is 
a pioneer exhibitor at Bardwell, 
Ky., where he opened his first the- 
atre 40 years ago. 

Charles Shannon, who resigned 
as WB manager in Sharon, Pa., to 
go on the road with a drum major- 
ette unit, has returned to the cir- 
cuit fold and has been reassigned 
to his old berth. 

Freddy Uhlman, former Char- 
leroi high school star southpaw 
and now employed in Warners' 
Pittsburgh zone, has been signed to 
a contract by the Pirates in Na- 
tional League and will be sent to a 
farm club for seasoning. 

John Kallstein, formerly with 
the Warner exchange here, is now 
working for Dun & Bradstreet as 
an investigator. 

Sneak previews, which used to 
be rare occurrences around here, 
have recently become quite com- 
mon in an effort to bolster declin- 
ing grosses. They're proving okay, 
too, with careful spotting to pick 
up generally weak nights. 



ular Theatres & Amusements, Inc., 
former lessee, which operates other 
theatres in Port Clinton, claimed 
its lease on the Madrid was valid, 
but the appellate court ruled that 
failure to pay rent to Mrs. Velma 
Hesselbart, owner, over a nve- 
month period constituted aban- 
donment. 



Betty Conroy leaves Paramount 
flack department! after four years. 
Nancy Irven rephvs. 

Wayne Brown r. / gns from Uni- 
versal as country salesman to take | t e "f s ,"San Antonio National Guard 
similar position with Warners. As unit . He will serve in headquarters 



SAN ANTONIO 

It's no longer just popcorn and 
candy for local pic-goers. The 
newest thing is ice cream cojies. 
The Palace is the first in the city 
to put them on sale. Besides 
cones, pints and quarts are avail- 
able for those who want to take 
them along on their way home. 

Richard H. Cornelisori, manager 
of the Laurel theatre, has joined 
the 56th Cavalry Group Headquar- 



CLEVELAND 

Bud Gilliam boosted to job of 
feature booker and assistant film 
buyer at Warner exchange, after 
Marvin Samuelson quit to join 
Tony Stern in forming indie Ohio 
Theatre Service. Larry Greenberg 
made Gilliam's assistant and Ted 
Minsky simultaneously was ele- 
vated to film buyer's post formerly 
held by Stern. 

LOS ANGELES 

Ernest Sturs appointed district 
manager of Fox Wes.t Coast thea- 
tres in San -Diego area. He re- 
cently was city manager in Santa 
Monica and Ocean Park. M. M. 
Mesher shifted from San Diego 
post to homeoffice as assistant to 
George Bowser. 

Miss Hossfelt and associates 
bought B. J. Crandall's interest in 
the Huntington and Park theatres 
in. Huntington Park. Understood 
Crandall is about to close a deal 
for the acquisition of other theatre 
properties. 

Westchester section of town, 
which now has one showcase in op- 
eration, will get four more houses. 
Griffith-Coleman Corp. plans to 
open a 1,500-seater on Thanksgiv- 
ing Day, first of trio it will build 
in the neighborhood with a total 
seating capacity of 4,750. Fourth 
new house will be built by Alex 
Schreiber of Detroit as part of an 
amusement center. Deluxer now 
in operation is FWC's Loyola, 
which is teamed in the Loew's 
State unit for 20th-Fox firstruns in 
Los Angeles. 



Chas. P. Skouras Honored 
For His Public Service 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

Before a heavy turnout of film 
industry, civic and business lead- 
ers who crowded the Cocoanut 
Grove last night (Tues.l, Charles 
P Skouras, head of National thea- 
tres, was presented with the first 
Great Heart award by Southern 
California Variety Club Tent 25 
Honor was bestowed by Robert 
J. O'Donnell, Variety's chief bark- 
er, in the form of a plaque in 
recognition of untiring, selfless de- 
votion to public service, to welfare 
of his fellow man, his community 
and his country." v 

O'Donnell praised the American 
systems and its traditions that made 
Skouras' rise to top possible. 
George Jessel toastmasteied and 
introduced a batch of biggies in 



Film Checking 

, Continued from page S ; 

in the smaller towns and subse- 
quent run houses in key cities. 
Even that, however, doesn't mean 
afi end to all checking practices. 

As one distrib chief pointed out, 
most theatre grosses run in cycles. 
A house may be down one month 
and up another. To make certain 
that the flat deals are not under- 
priced, consequently, distributors 
plan to check every house peri- 
odically to keep a constant barom- 
eter of its earning capabilities. 

Checkers will remain active for 
other reasons, too. New theatre 
building has been progressing 
sporadically since the war's end 
and all new houses must be 



eluding Louis B. Mayer, Metro's checked for at least several months 

nroduction chief: Mayor Fletcher under varying circumstances so 

Bowron of Los Angeles; Joseph hat the d,stribs can learn what 

M Schenck, 20th-Fox studio exec: the newcomers can pay on flat 



and Ted Gamble, prexy of the 
Theatre Owners of America. 
Bob Hope headed the entertain- 



rentals. Competitive bidding also 
makes necessary a periodic check 
of certain situations. Many exhibi- 



Ent Studio 

Continued from pace S 



yet no replacement" has been made. 

Alliance Theatres has upped 
Robert Baker to manager's post at 
Drive-In, Vincennes, Ind., and 
Robert Jackson to similar duty at 
Kokomo, Ind., drive-in. 

Local committees for the Thea- 
tre Owners of America convention 
starting Sept. 24 will be headed by 
Nathan Piatt, entertainment; David 
Wallerstein, registration; William 
Hollander and Tfibrton Sargent, 
publicity; Jack Conway, transpor- 
tation; Mrs. John Balaban, ferome 
activities. 



troop with the rank of captain. 
Cornelison was in the Army for 
four years during the war and was 
with the 20th Armored Division in 
Europe. 



ST. LOUIS 

Ruby S'Renco, owner of the Art 
theatre, donated a day's receipts to 
a fund raised for a teen-ager who 
suffered "a fractured skull when 
struck on the head with a bat dur- 
ing a baseball game. 

Nicholas Kerasotes made mana- 
ger -of the Decatur, 111., drive-in 
theatre opened by George Kera- 
sotes and associates, Springfield, 
111. 

Johnny Merfardi, regional mana- 
ger for . Fox Midwest, has pur- 
chased a home in St, Louis county. 

The Miller, operated by Harry E. 
Miller, Festus, Mo., escaped dam- 
age by a fire that destroyed two 
adjoining buildings. 

The Frisina-St. Clair Theatre 
Co., controlled by Thomas Tobin, 
East St. Louis and the Frisina 
Amus. Co., Springfield, 111., have 
let a contract for the erection of 
a new 800-seater in East St. Louis. 
It will be built on the site of the 
old- 40th Street theatre, destroyed 
by fire in 1945. 

The 500-seater in St. Francis- 
ville. 111., owned by Max Krut- 
singer has been shuttered along 
with other places of public assem- 
blage for two weeks because of the 
presence of polio. 

William Harper has sold the 
Harper, a 300-seater, Campbell, 
Mo., and taken over another at 
Medaryville, Mo., where he will 
reside. ■ 

Edith Brands relighting her 225- 
seater in Brighton, 111., which has 
been shuttered for several months. 

Sam Lowe has sold his Avon, a 
200-seater, Medora, 111., to an Al- 
ton, 111., syndicate. 

Dave Forbes, has opened his new 
Court, a 200-seater, Vienna, 111. 



KANSAS CITY 

Giles theatre, West side subse- 
quent run, changed hands when A. 
A. Hubbard bought out Malone & 
Kohlhorst, who owned and op- 
erated the theatre for about six 
years. The house is a 750-seater. 

Electric theatre, St. Joseph a top 
house of the Durwood circuit, tied 
up with Rainbo Bread Co., for a 
free kid show every Saturday 
morning. Irving Dubinsky, city 
manager; Jimmy Foster, Electric 
manager, and Bob Hynes, manager 
of the Missouri theatre, sister 
house, worked out the deal with 
Rainbo. 

Charles Barnes, manager of the 
Granada, brought in tflfe Kansas 
State beauty contest for the finals 
on the stage of his house last 
Wednesday (ID. Eleven entrants 
helped boost the house gross to 
virtual capacity. Winner of the 
contest, to . be announced, repre- 
sents Kansas at the annual contest 
at Atlantic City for the "Miss 
America" crown. Radio Station 
WHB's disk jockey. Bob Kennedy, 
m.c.'d the contest, and the station 
will sponsor the entrant in the' na- 
tional show. 



Petrillo 

Continued from page 5 



dou «"v e rr. i-j.i.irfpH ninah tors have been found to be over- 

m h n n rV»„d g nr Giovanni biddin « in thelr search for sui t*»le 

Shore and Dr. Giovanni. product and distribs are prevented 

by the Government from making 
adjustments in such cases. Where a 
check of a theatre shows the ex- 
hibitor is bidding over his head, 
the majors in most cases will ad- 

. i v. i itc nrnrtiiptinn vise nim to switch to a different 

financial help^or its pioduction run rathep tfaan take r chance . on 



BOSTON 

Domenic Turturro of Elm thea- 
tre in nearby Milbury, receiving 
congrats on birth of second daugh- 
ter. 

Dave Marshall, attorney, brother 
of Sam Marshall, mgr. of Film Ex- 
change Transfer, died suddenly of 
heart attack. 

Arthur Viano, operator of four 
suburban houses, has joined Affili- 
ated Theatres for purpose of buy- 
ing and booking. 

Gorman and St. George theatres 
in Fratningham, links in the Giles 
circuit, have installed video sets 
in inside lobby. 



side of the table, Peirillo will be 
flanked by C. L. Bagley, vice-prexy 
of the Los Angeles office; C. W. 
Gillette, Coast studio rep; and 
members of the AFM board. 
$8,000,000 Payroll Now 

Currently there are 339 musi- 
cians employed in the eight major 
studios at an annual payroll load 
of about $8,000,000. If Petrillo 
asks for another 30% wage hike 
for his members, as he received 
last time when he compromised his 
100% tilt demand, it will mean an 
additional music bill of almost 
$3,000,000 for the studios. 

Another crucial demand report- 
edly to be made by the AFM czar 
is modification of the 520-hour 
work year for individual musi- 
cians. Currently, the studios can 
distribute the 520 hours at their 
own convenience, depending on 
production needs. Petrillo, how- 
ever, is expected to repeat his de- 
mand of two years ago, that musi- 
cians be paid at the rate of 10 
hours per week, regardless of 
whether any work is performed, 
with no accumulation of hours for 
studio's use at some later time. 
According to studio calculations, 
this demand alone, if won, might 
mean an additional $5,000,000 per 
annum labor cost. 

Under pressure of the Holly- 
wood musicians Local 47, Petrillo 
is also readying a demand for an 
increase in the minimum number 
of musicians employed at each stu- 
dio. Local 47 members, after com- 
plaining about unemployment, 
were told by Petrillo that he'll 
take care of them, but without 
their help, Concerning television 



that the lots wilt offer. 

Dropping of its option on the 
studio, which means the Loew- 
Einfeld unit must vacate next Feb. 
15, when its three-year contract 
with Harry Sherman expires, has 
created some speculation here as 
to the future of Ent. It is thought 
that that will largely depend on 
the success of the three films on 
which it is now winding up pro- 
duction for Metro. 

After making six films for United 
Artists release on which the unit 
is expected to lose a considerable 
chunk of coin, it made a distribu- 
tion deal with Metro last spring for 
a minimum of three and maximum 
of four films. It went into rapid 
production on them, with the third 
—and probably the last until the 
pix begin to amortize— now com- 
pleting camera work. It is "The 
Best Things in Life Are Free." 
Now editing are "No Minor Vices," 
which is ticketed for October re- 
lease, and "The Numbers Racket" 
(to be rctitled), which will go out h 
in November. 



bidding himself out of business. 

Key city first runs and the larger 
theatres in the big circuits, of 
course, will continue to play pix on 
percentage. For most of these, dis- 
tribs have been able to ask for an 
auditing of their books any time 
the rentals returns look false. 
Some large circuits in certain ter- 
ritories, however, refuse to open 
their books in such cases, so these 
are blind-checked periodically. 

CRI now services all companies 
with the exception of Metro and 
Monogram-Allied Artists. Metro, 
which maintains it own checking 
staff, has reported a similar de- 
cline in the number of checking 
situations. Mono, which has gone 
into heavy - budgeted production 
through its tiein with AA, has ap- 
plied for CRI service so that it 
can get a check on percentage 
deals, 



Henreid 

Continued from page 2 



Setup has one more picture, I 
"Tennessee's Partner," (a Harry j without any division of interests, 
Sherman production), to deliver to 'Henreid notes. Direction, on the 
UA to wind up its deal with that | other hand must keep going with 
company. Film will go into work; tne ac ti n g and presents that pos- 
shortly. ■ sible conflict. 

Production hiatus will probably What's more, Henreid thinks an 
follow the completion of this group I ac t 0 r "more than anyone else 
of four films. Ent will then take -( knows who is a good actor when 
stock of itself and view the income , casting." A performer "can't be 
of the quartet before laying out easily bluffed about a perform- 



a future course. 

Ent was required to lift its op- 
tion by Monday (16) if it desired 
the two-year renewal from next 
Feb. 15 provided for in the lease. 
During the -period Loew and Ein- 
feld have been there they have, in 
addition to regular payments, ex- 
pended $700,000 on improvements, 
including a new sound stage. 



Par's Partners 



Continued from page S 



chased ind blueprints set before 
the AFM "prexy is aiming at a sys- ! the statutory court handed down 



PITTSBURGH 

Pete Dana's hopes that his son, 
Warren Dana, would follow in film- 
selling footsteps of the district sales 
manager for U-I were sidetracked 
when, younger Dana decided he 
preferred radio instead. Lad, ex- 
GI and recent graduate of Pitt, has 
joined staff of KQV, His first as- 

Reed, regular p.a,; is on a six-week 
tour of Europe with Louise Flood, 
Sun-Telegraph reporter. Upon her 



TOLEDO 

The old Madrid theatre, Port 
Clinton, O., subject of extensive 
legal action earlier this year, will 
be reopened about Oct. 1 as the 
Port theatre, announced Jack 
O'Connell, owner of the Loop, 
Toledo, and head of a firm build- 
ing a new 750-seater in Paulding, 
O. The Port Clinton house is be- 
ing remodeled and will seat about 
400. It will be operated by Port 
Theatres, Inc., of which O'Connell 
is head. 

u An-iMatjch, 0,'ConnelJ , w,as,. en- 
;JbIr\ett .by- an ptta^a, county scpurt 
from reopening the house, but In 
May the court of appeals reversed 
the lower court's decision. Pop- 



tem of extra payment for musi- 
cians when and if films for regular 
exhibition are to be distributed for 
TV purposes. 

Following talks with the majors, 
Petrillo will tackle new pact nego- 
tiations with indie producers or- 
ganized into the Society of Inde- 
pendent Motion Picture Producers 
and the Independent Motion Pic- 
ture Producers of America. 



HOUSTON WANTS OWN TENT 

Houston, Aug. 17. 

Application has been sent to the 
Variety Clubs International by 
Variety Tent No. 34 here for a 
charter, in accordance with a re- 
cent decision that.no tent operate 
any branch tent. A tent has been 
operating here as a branch of Dal- 
las Tent No. 17. 

John Paul Goodwin is chief 
Barker. Petitioners include Fred 
Cannata. Al Lever. Frank Wilkie, 
Lpu:C^6a4ieyJ W.;E..Bre'meK Rob- 
ert 2. eyas's. Jack Grove.s', Mitchell 
M. Lewis, Al Mortensen, B. F. Orr 
and Sid Suhler. 



its ruling, 

Only theatre moves have been 
in the case of a replacement for 
an already existing theatre. The 
company policy has been adhered 
to in the face of a lifting of the 
theatre freeze long before the case 
came up for argument before the 
U. S. Supreme Court. It is based 
on a fear that expansion, even 
without a ban. would, harden the 
I court's attitude towards the ma- 
jors. 



ance," Henreid believes. 

With his stint for EL now out of 
the way, Henreid intends setting 
up ah indie producing unit operat- 
ing year in, year out with a re- 
volving fund. He is currently 
negotiating with a story editor and 
a private financier to form a 
triumvirate. Unit would do two pix 
yearly. 

Creation of a revolving fund for 
indie units is the real formula for 
successful operation of that type' 
of production work, actor-producer 
contends. Coin in the till would 
be used for second money and post- 
ing of completion bonds. Pointing 
to the fact that John Garfield has 
done just that \yith his profits from 
Enterprise's "Body and Soul" which 
went into "Tucker's People," Hen- 
reid declared: "I know it can be 
successfully done." 

"The very thing I want to avoid 
is to bring in a releasing deal for 
a package before I have the 
money," Henreid said. "When you 
have to get your backing from a 
bank first, you usually must have 
both a cast and a releasing outlet. 
This doesn't permit essential flex- 
ibility in changing a script or the 



Meanwhile, the partners are said | acting lineup. The net result isa 
to be going on their merry way. 
Interstate circuit, for instance 



fixed its aim on a big program of 
drive-ins. Wilby-Kincey chain has 
expansion ideas, as have both the 
Momand and Jefferson circuits. 
Other Paramount partners are also 
intent on continued growth. 

Differences of opinion are all the 
more apparent because Par is said 
to be preparing psychologically for 

We Pf> r #Ie; day, tyhenJitf tteslwith 
nartnei'K sit-a pW " ftimi,™' jv' *i_ 



Fix rfPTV • Y B * WiesLiu H e 
partners; .are cut. Conipajiy ' fs! al- 
ready planning to operate only 
with its wholly-owned houses. 



producer with his hands badly 
tied." 

Henreid's job for EL on 
"Triumph" was a straight employ- 
er-employee relationship. His next 
two pix under current negotia- 
tions with Canadian International 
Screen Productions, a new produc- 
ing unit, would be made in '49 with 
an Allied Artists (Monogram) re- 
leasing tieup. 

. openings of "Triumph'' in the 
i Atlantic sector. 



Wednesday, August 1ft, WIS 



MCTDWRS 



21 



Neil Ignew 

Cotitinwei from pase 5 



•CoUockUwrence,O.B.E. Ea^taAtoDrfers British MoTO lefflfflt 81 

Rank Fix Distnb in OA 



London, Aug. 17. 
Jock- Lawrence, esiec veepee of i 
J. Arthur Rank's U.S. organization, I 




, , , Philadelphia, Aug. 17. 

log sales execs in New ^ork in the i-has been awarded the Order ot the ; Bowing to the increased ores- 
part couple weeks with this idea in 1 British Empire by King George for sulre a j ^ e boycott against Brit- 
wind. ,. , his .war ■ aerifies. - Cpl ; Uwrm<x, ish mms as result of ^ ¥a ^ stiBe 
Meantime, speculation cohtinued i ^ re sevcra J mo , ntBs l _ to prepare the \i vrort - Esqgl* Lion has decided to 
this week in trade circles tor the j new -seasons ad-pub campaign for ho i d ^ future releases of J. 
reasons for Agoew's resignation. ! • aaMlc 5 • P"* »n the U.S., was kudoed Arthur Bank's films ^'unttt the 
He declared Monday that it was 1 Prnnarily for bis work with the 1 
no sudden move, but one that he '.j commandos under Lord Louis 
has had in mind for the past several jMmmtbatten. He took part in the 
years. It was lor that reason, WjCOBMiaaiian *»d °n Dieppe, 
said, that be refused to renewtais 1 Subsequently. Lawrence^ served 
contract when it expired last April j* chief public relations officer for 
after loor years with DOS. . I th * American Army, ETO. He 

Teturns from England in two weeks. 
."v.;v;Tired— After :27. Years v ■ ] :,■ ■ V; ■ - - , 

; "Twentysevfin. years of selling _ :'V f ■ _ f . „ ■ 
films Is a gruelling job and I just d M Palfjft * m& MaYTiS 
got tired of it," *- »— ( » 4VK UOIW 



U. S. Film Coin Into Broader Uses 



waters calm a little.*' Disclosure 
was made here today (Tuns.) by 
William J, Heineman, distribution 
veepee of EL, in the course of re- 
marks made to exhibs gathered in 
a testimonial dinner to Milton E. 



he asserted, "I aui 
fed up with the same bid problems. 
I want to try something that will 
give me different ones to solve " 

Aignew, wbo will leave SRG Sept. 
1. parted amicably with Seknick. 
Back of his resignation, however, 
is believed to be a combination of 



Cohen 

division manager. 

Decision affects at least balf of 
Bank's films in the D, ,S, since EL 
divides this product with Uni- ; 
versai. It is thought unlikely, how- 
ever, that the company will hold 
jo j , > *« n ij. j i back on the feature on the OJym- 
iTOuflCt lot ¥11166 P ic Ciames since its timeliness is 
. . _• fan important element. } 

Thorough ; study of European 



Curtis Mitchell's New 
Theatre Giveaway Gog 

Curtis Mitchell, former ad-pub- 
licity director of Paramount, is 
currently pushing a new theatre 
audience-participation game, "Puz- 
zle Bank." Based on a quiz about 



newly-tagged EL eastern ] film peitonalities, gaipe bas been 



Eyes European Film 



product with a view to determining 
its suitability for television will he 



personal reasons and a satiation j made by Joseph Harris, board 
with the job of handling distribu- ' chairman and treasurer of Realart 
tion under. DOS. Selznick respected I Pictures, who sailed for England 
Agnew and wanted him to. stay, (Saturday (14) on the -Queen Mary, 
but he takes so much. of a personal .! Realart topper, who's ah* Chair- 
hand' in the distribution depart- man of Film Highlights, Inc., a 16m 
ment — as he does in every aspect ! producer and distributor 



flank-U 



l devised to conform with all anti- 
lottery laws in the various states, 
according to Mitchell, 

Game is being sold to exhibs at 
nominal cost, with the sponsormg 
company, Enterprise House, sup- 
plying all prizes. Merchandise 
jackpots may total a minimum of 
$5,000 ior the national award, 
thus .paving the big '"'giveaway 
shows on ; radio, Mitchell .said. 



Continued from page 3 

accorded Bank's 



as 



sions such 
"Hamlet." 
Final say-so 



on bow a British 



„, >. j,. j«. - .- v-^i" ~^r _- 7r ' ------- j import will be bandied now rests 

of his -organization— that ^he^K j compared, by Martin Ross, prexy l^fo William A. SfcuBy, 'U*s distri- 



generaliK considered- a difficult 0 f the latter firm, 
taskmaster.. j Harris, who plans a five-day stay 

Agnew's personal , problems con- 1 in London, will meet Jacques 
sisted primarily of getting a visa 'Grinieff there on Aug. i9. "Prior to 
for his Wife, a Frenchwoman, to ! his departure from New York last 
enter this country. He married her | week, the Realart exec said that 



bution veepee, with' no veto right 
held by Rank, it has been learned. 
Understood that Scully's contract 
with the company has always given 
him the right to decide whether a 
film from an outside -producer is to 



1st Returns On 
U.S. Earnings In 
England Ready 



First 



London, Aug. VJ, 
returns of earnings by 



early in 1947, wbileshe was .in the j he expected to discuss an expan- ■ b e distributed by the company and, j American companies here to deter- 



US. on a sis. month visitor's visa, sion program for Film Highlights 
which was renewed for six months, j with Grinieff who handles Realart's 
Thus, last April, after being bere-i foreign export trade. He disclosed 
a year, she was forced 'to return to itJiat participation in production on ' 

the continent might well be a pos- 
sibility but was iTelnctant to make 
a "prematare statement." 

In bis European- junket Harris 
will also briefly visit Paris and 
Amsterdam before returning to the 
U. S. in time for Jtealart's lliree- 



France. Agnew has been trying 
ever since to get her back here on 
a non-quota visa. He said Monday 
that he thought be has finally 
succeeded and, if so, his wife will 
arrive in Mew York next week. 

If be can't bring Mrs. Agnew to 
this country, he will join her in 
France. Thus, this was undoubt- 
edly a contributing factor to his 
resignation.... ' : 

Provided his wife arrives as ex- 
pected, Agnew said he will stay at 



if so, in what manner. Hence, he I mine the amounts they will be 
has the contractual right to pass able to remit to America under 
on BritiA pix an<L reportedly, in- the Anglo-U. S. Film Agreement 
sisted on that right when huddling were in the hands of John F. War- 
witb Rank recently in London. ren, chartered accountant ap- 
Sank Largest V StecIdiol#er j pointed to advise Bank of England 
TJ*s toppers won out with thi^ j on dollar transfers, last Satur- 
new treatment' of Rank's films (day (1.4): '."''■.'■.'■■ 
despite the fact that the latter is ' Returns will cover first seven 
still the largest stockholder of the j weeks of trading since the pact was 
company. American -Company was j concluded June 13, and in future 
*"L sa ™* ' aided in its battle foy"the fact that monthly figures will- have to be 



Sept. 20 at the Warwick hotel, 
ST. Y. Franchise holders and 
branch managers are expected to 
attend from some 22 cities. '. r Ac- 
cording to Harris, Universal has 



his Connecticut farm over the -offered use of its projection- rooms 
winter and head for France next j for convenience of the conclave. 

spring to lay out bis business there, j ' ■ : ^ — — '- r ~ r 

These plans would "undoubtedly be 
modified if the Grinieff -Yates deal 
showed any signs of consummation. 

Selzniek"s insistence of moving 
his distribotion headquarters from 
New York to the Coast, despite 
reports, is believed to be of no 
significance in Agnew's departure. , 



it actually lost money, in distribut- 
ing some of the Britisher's films 
last year. With its profit margin 
now greatly narrowed, V held firm 
for absolute freedom: in judging the 
b.o. -value of the Anglo imports. 

Meanwhile, the boycott against 
all British pix as well as other 
merchandise from the ; United 
Kingdom on the Palestine ques- 
tion and allied charges of imperial- 



M-G PLANS TO HP '48 

f FASFS Tfl 9ft OR ' 97 I ism * 0 « s n0 &Z™oi relaxtog. In 
nLLLiiuCiJ IW £AJ Vti Li ;j;ew York, the Sons of Liberty 



sent in by distribs not later than 
the 14th of each month. 

Basis of dollar allocations is to 
be the month-by-month earnings j The 



of American interests, and not on 
trading results in past , years. 
Transfers of dollars Will be author- 
ized monthly, and each month 
Warren will advise Bank of Eng- 
land the amount each company can 
remit, 

Indie distribs who buy American 
reissues outright will have to fol- 
low the same procedure and will 
only be* allowed to remit dollars on 
a proportional basis to all other 
companies, and watertight reguln- 



t British ^govern*ment, apparently 
in an effort to alleviate some of the 
bitterness it has engendered in 
American film men, is reported to 
have eased its attitude somewhat 
in recent negotiations. There are 
certainly no signs of a major re^. 
versai on any restrictions imposed 
by Board v qf Trade prexy Harold 
Wilson and " Parliament, but a gen- 
erally softer attitude is said being 
taken in talks with U. S. Industry ; 
rep!S,,'; : ; ...'..'.; : ';.,;.'".>:....■:..; '.-. 

The change is being felt mostly 
in meetings in London on inter- 
pretations of the AnglO-U. S. films 
agreement of last March. Unflex- 
ing stand wlticb the British origl:-i 
nally took on the interpretation of 
clauses governing uses to which 
frozen coin could be put has mate- 
rially eased, it is said. 

.".Sessions; at which U. S.- compa- 
nies are represented by Fayette, W, 
Allport, London rep of the Motion 
Picture Assn. of America, are now 
practically .concluded. Among the 
last of the: interpretations ivere 
taken up and approved at a meet- 
ing of the board of the Motion Pie-, 
ture Export AssnV (MPAA's over- 
seas affiliate) last Friday.<l31, 

Agreement with Wilson that was 
worked out last spring by Erie 
Johnston, MPAA prexy, and James 
A. MulveyV tapping the ..Society of 
Independent Motion Picture Pro- 
ducers, was more or less a skele- 
ton outline. It contained a list of 
27 way* in wfiieJi unremittabliis 
sterling could be used. Meetings 
have been going on both ,in is- 
land and hei'e ever since to fill put 
the skeleton with details. 

Easing' Technicalities 

■ At - first .the" 1 British -^jtew -very 
stringent on not letting a single 
comma <get into the interpretations 
that might 1 broaden in any way 
what bad been agreed on. A-s a 
matter sof: fact, they made consid- 
erable effort to narrow "the clauses. 
Amerdcan companies, of 



With five pictures set for release 1 non-sectarian group behind the 
last week during , September and ■; move, won Harry Brandt, w.k cir- 
October, Metro sales veepee Wil- j cutt operator, to its point of view. 
Nevertheless, the move now ap- 'j Warn F. Rodgeis plans tentatively | Brandt . declared that "nntil . 

Dears to be off unta next spring. 1 to let loose another four- or five ,Great Britain drops its pro-Arab ations have been evolved to pre- 
it was orisflnallv Planned for last i features daring the last two months actions" he will not book a Brit- j vent any bogus sales, of inferior 
spring and then pushed back to , of this year, which will give, ihe m ^ «* theatres ; films, 

this fall. There are no visible signs, Company a_total of either 26 or 27 ' whl c h he controls or buys for, 
yet of tlie move being made. Agnew " 
aaad other SRO execs have con- 



sistenHy argued against it. 



UA Perks 

C«*tinue< ii*m vsf,t 5 ; 



for 1948. Figure represents a sob- : the -W** York and New Jersey sec- 
stantial boost over the 22 released i : *br& "Any exhibitor wants to play 
dUiing the previous year. * j what the patrons want and there is 
Set for September »re '"Luxury '! no quesiaon' now that tbe patrons 
Liner'* and "Southern Yankee." j *™ Ae&aitely jS et agamst . British 
■October will -see "J-ulia Misbe- ™ ms ' ' ?i' a J nd t ^told Vahiety. 
baves," "No Minor Vices" (first i Br andt .said he had been approach- 
Enterprise productiSB via M-G> and ed * y "m 11 ** or lour orgamza 



Earnings on 16m pix can be in- 
cluded in the returns if so desired 

by the distribs;;. : ; . 



'Secret Land, 

■: Tentatively scheduled for Novem- 
ber and December are 'Three 
Muskeeters." "Hills of Home" and 
•"Tale of the Navajo*;," all in color, 
and "Kissing Bandit," as well as at 
least one Hal JRoach streamliner. 
"Command Decision" and "Edward, 



Heaven" (Golden) opened excel- 
lently in Texas, and "Pitfall" 
.(Bischoff ) was outshining "Body 
and Soul," company's previous Mgh 
grosser, in many spots throughout 

tbe country. Overall effect on UA | ""^"p^d^j ^£^1 ter j^u^g ^ ma^e^t ^ 

««« -»r this «mMm> wuMtfall was ! ^IJr^ZL --JL^~» ~J5L i staliang for a month. It attacked 

a placard posted by tbe theatre in 



tions" to drop British bookings 
and that the refusal of the public 
to- patronize Anglo pix was proof 
-of the strong resistance. 

Sons threw a line around the 
Little Carnegie,. N.Y., which is 
playing Rank's "Great Expecta- 
tions" and "Black Narcissus" af- 



Pix-Radio Coin 



execs of .this sudden windfall was i fond, are both expected to be ready 
obviously inflationary. - ... -before .the year's end but will be 

Release . -slate .includes two : re- jbeM.up pending -completion of . run' 



, r , „ -j,,. of the Broadway legiters from 
issues, three Hopalong Cassidy whk . n toe two werk adapted. "Ed- 
westerns, anS one unnamed film 1 wat -c|," originally staged in Britain, 
which Paul N. Lazarus, Jr,, exec j will be presented on Broadway 
aide to tlie president, promised during the csniijig fall season, 
would be a "surprise exploitation"'] — — - — - — ' . „■ ■ . - - 

item. Initlaler is "Pitfall," starring 



its lobby which declared that not a 
cent of the revenues from these 
films would go to England. Outfit 
also is seeking to widen the boy- 
cott by approaching a number of 
i Irish societies for a common front 
| against "British imperialism.'' 
j Brandt's commitment follows 
■ that of a number of other metro- 



es continue* from jf»gt 56 

Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Fin- 
nish and Dutch, 45-nuijul.e daily 
programs; - and Portuguese and 
Ukrainian, 3p minutes a day. 

The Ukraiiian broadcasts will be 
the first beamed to the U.S.S.R in 
any language other than Russian. 

English - language broadcasts 
beamed throughout Europe will be 
heard IV.-i hours daily, compared 
with the present f%, Austrian; 
Bulgarian, Yugoslav, Greek and 
Romanian programs will all be 
heard an bour each day, instead 
of the present 15 to 45 minutes. 



course," bowled . vociferously, and 
there were even public charges 
made that tbe British were WiaUjb-« 
ing. '"':- : '' ; . 

It was claimed by top Ameri- 
can execs in June that there -were 
seven separate clauses on which 
thcBritisb baa gone back on tbeir 
word. Wilson made an immediate 
denial, but it is said that the first 
signs of Britain's easier attitude 
date back to that time and there 
has been an acceleration since then 
of a willingness to agree on the 
interpretations. An example of tbe 
whole procedure of what bas been 
going on is clear in just one clause" 
of 'the - pact that was taken "up "at 
last Friday's session of the MFB&. 

This clause, coming under the 
schedule of uses of picture reve- 
nues "outside of the normal oper- 
ations of tbe -film industry," states 
simply that "within the general 
principles governing the use of 
such revenues," the coin maybe 
used for "the acquisition of real 
estate," 

Ceilings Relaxed 

When it came time to interpret 
this statement, the BriMsb at- 
tempted to put a ceiling on the 
amount of money that could be 
used to buy property. They said that 
It was implied that the Americans 
just couldn't buy up any .amount 
of real estate they desired without 
restriction. Tbe Americans main- 
tained there was no such implica- 



New languages will be added just j tto n. Tbe item was kicked back *nd 
as quickly as lingMsts can be re- j f0t t h ^ aerial weeks and finaaiy 



Dick Powell and Lizabeth Scott, : ; MaSS XMW&fS Into N. Y. 

?t h ope^ Today; 2 Months Abroad 

morrow (Thursday), where it will] Irving MaaS, v.p. and general 
be followed, incidentally, by an- ; manager of the Motion Picture Ex- 
other UA film, ""Bed Kiver." ' -port Assn., returns to New York by 
Bemainder of tbe feature sched- air today -(Wednesday) from Paris, 
ule comprises "Texas, Brooklyn , He has been abroad more than two 
and Heaven " Aug. 27; "Vicious months on a tour of European 
Circle" (Wilder), Sept. 3; "Red ' countries served by theMFEA. 
Biver" (Hawks), Sept. 17; "Urubu" ( Latter part of Maas' trip has 
(Breakston-Coplen* and "Caval- ; been taken up With plans of MPS. A 
cade of tlie Olympics," -(WestpartV 1 *o continue limited operations m 
Sept. 24; -"Girl From Manhattan''' j Holland, following reversal of de- 
(Bogeaus), Oct. 1; "Innocent Af- icision to discontinue there Sept. 1. 

fair" iliMasser)', Oct. 15; "surprise j Maas confabbed Monday -U6.i in • ■ .■■ 

exploitation film to be announced," 1 Paris with themajor companies' | pz r H, IV - r 

Oct 22- "My Dear Secretary" Continental managers, upon whose Army ric l>uy«r resigns 
(Popkin-)' Nov. 5- -High Fury" !seven>l surveys of tbe Dutch ' situs- . Gordon McFarland, chief of the 
(formerly "Wteite' Cradle lnn"3 jtioa the MPEA action was based. \ Army and Air Force film buying 
(Rogers-Cohn* Nov 19; "Lady of I Maas also huddled with Arnold ; service in the U. S. for the past 
Burlesque"* and "Guest in the .Childhoase. M-PEA rep in Holland, ; two years, resigned over the week 



c railed, officials indicated 

Four new radio relay plants at 
"secret" locations in the European 



tbe British agreed that there 
should be no ceiling. ; ^ 
Other clauses on Which the U. S. 
industry bad squawked last June 
that the British were reneging have 

let" but the Guild refused to go j compared ^^$339,000 last yean fc^/S^ 
,e proposal. ] Its plans mclude: _ . Aw^ ZJ2Z^& SSJSSl 



politan N.Y. circuits. Sonslast Week j area are also in the cards, 
sought to induce the Theatre GuBd i Tne fi^W section will have just 
to drop its sponsorship of "Ham- a shade under $2,000,000 this year, 



along with the.,.-, , 

Brandts Globe, on Broadway,! A bundred new reels, prints 
opened last week With "Escape," j «f which will be made in 

film lensed in England by 20th- ' languages. Before last year's 
Fox. Boycott group followed a budget slash, the pix section was 
policy of exempting pix made in S ett «"g about 130 new reels an- 



Britain by American companies in 
reference to "Escape" and with- 
held picket lines. It bad taken 
the same stand with BKO's "So 
Well Remembered." 



nually; last year it got none. As 



Wilson, contrary to the agreement, 
would not allow U. S. indies -to 
pool their frozen coin for film pro- 
duction in England, There is now 
no objection to this, * • 

Time and the change in the Brit- 



few as possible of the new reels i J sn attitude have somewhat cooled 
will be produced by tlie Depart- i tne tempers of most of the Ameri- 
ment. It will attempt to get most ' can execs. Easing of the interpre- 
of them from private sources. I tations, however, is viewed ruefully 

2. Sixteen new mobile units, ! by MPEA board members. They 
With generators, to boost overseas \ point out that tlie British eould 
showings. (well afford to ease their attitude, 

3. Tripling iLs staff to about 70: since, with the 45% quota which 
persons. It had 80 before the was put Into effect after the John- 
budget cuts, dropped to 24 last i ston-Wilson agreement was made; 
year. | V. S. companies won't have too 




' dition to his present duties, 



above last year's audience. 



I of frozen money. 



13 



RAttlO 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



McNeill Finds Up Boff Stunt; 'Quits' 
Presidential Race Amidst Huzzahs 



f New Philadelphia, O., Aug. 17. 

Don McNeill and his "Breakfast 
Club" gang wound up the "Don 
McNeill for President" routine 
here Friday (13) before about 10,- 
000 of his fans from the northeast 
and central sections of Ohio. 

The promotion scheme was a 
natural and McNeill's gang, ABC 
and the New Phila. Chamber of 
Commerce left nothing undone to 
make it the success that it was. 

McNeill a»rived jn Canton Fri- 
day night, climbed in an open car 
for the triumphal cavalcade to Kfew 
Phila., 30 miles away, and prompt- 
ly got drenched by a sudden down- 
pour. ABC and the C. of C. 
whooped it up for the press at the 
Hotel Reeves, while McNeill with 
his family ducked out after a bal- 
cony appearance to spend a quiet 
night in a private home.. 

The broadcast took place in a 
vernal setting — a natural amphi- 
Jieatre in Tuscora Park. Seats 
held !f,500 persons, and the balance 
mashed together around them. In 
usual form; McNeill and his crew 
ran through the show, while an 
audience composed of 65% of mid- 
die-aged women watched and lis- 
tened with rapt and worshipful ex- 
pressions. The amphitheatre was 
decorated with state campaign 
signs and bunting. As early as 4 
a.m., 50 people were on hand. 

VUih the exception of the end- 
ing, which required a script (a rare 
Item on the "Breakfast Club"), 
the show was the same as every 
other morning. Clowning Sam 
Cowlina kidded around; Patsy Lee 
sang, and Jack Owens went 
through the audience singing "I 
Love You" while sitting in a 
woman's lap, smooching one or ca- 
ressing another's hair. Fran Alli- 
son (Aunt Fanny) gave a fill-in on 
her political activity in behalf of 
McNeill's candidacy. A local quar- 
tet dressed in Gay '90s attire 
chortled "Coney Island Baby" 
With a McNeill twist on the final 
verse and chorus. 

McNeill ended the show on a 
serious note with a speech with- 
drawing from the presidential race. 
"Isn't it grand to- live in a coun- 
try where you can kid about a 
presidential race and gag about bal- 
lots — instead of being gagged by 
bullets?" 

Thus McNeill withdrew grace- 
fully from a comic situation he 
built months ago. The routine has 
been used by nearly every come- 
dian in radio but none ever went 
this far with it. The thing paid 
off with a bang in this section, thus 
offering some proof that an old gag 
is still good if you push it far 
enough— even to New Philadelphia. 



Hawthorne Hitting Gravy 
Train as ABC Inks Disker 
To $40,000 Five-Yr. Pact 

Jim Hawthorne, disk jockey who 
made his debut on ABC last week, 
has a five year pact with the net 
which guarantees him $40,000 a 
year. Hawthorne is exclusively 
tied to web for television as well. 
Out of any profit ABC gets above 
that 40G from Hawthorne's serv- 
ices, the jackey is to get half. 
Possibly inducing the net to high- 
ceiling the wage terms is fact ABC 
believes it* has virtually sold the 
Monday - through - Saturday night 
program to Chesterfield, for spon- 
sorship over net's skein of stations. 

Also, for another prospective 
sponsor, Hawthorne cut an audi- 
tion platter Saturday (14) night. 
| This won't be a disk-spinner, but a 
comedy layout including Ike Car- 
penter's band, and on the audition 
wax Mickey Katz was used. Haw- 
thorne, who is making his first step* 
into network circles, also is getting 
his first big coin out of radio. On 
KXLA, Pasadena, on a daily pro- 
gram' which consumed same time 
as his ABC caper, Hawthorne was 
earning a flat $85 weekly. In on 
the gravy, too, is Hawthorne's 
manager, Hal Gordon, who inked 
him just before the golden tide 
rolled in. 



N.Y.AFRA Mulls 
Natl Prez Choice 

N. Y. contingent of the Ameri- 
can Federation of Radio Artists is 
mapping strategy for the union's 
national convention in Boston, Aug. 
26-29, but as of -yesterday (Tues.) 
the Gotham delegation was yet to 
decide who it would back for the 
AFRA presidency. Question is ex- 
pected to be the No. 1 topic at 
still another caucus scheduled for 
tomorrow night (Thurs.). 

It's been decided that the N. Y. 
local will send every delegate 
available who can get to the con- 
fab for as long as two days' run- 
ning. Of the 104 elected delegates, 
anywhere from 50 to 70 are expect 1 
ed to make" the trip. 

The local will underwrite their 
expenses and tentatively plans to 
toss a cocktailery in the fall to 
raise funds for reimbursement. 

Aside from voting on quite a 
few constitutional amendments, the 
AFRAites are expected to devote 
much of their attention at Boston 
to the problem of establishing TV 
and simultaneous AM-TV rates and 
AFRA's continuing fight for a 4A's 
merger. 

New national board officers of 
■AFRA will take office at the.con- 

Prefeent nhtibhal bbaM, incidental- 
ly; meets in New York tonight 
<Wed.). 



lobby Is Latest 
In Revival list 



Vogue for hauling yesteryear's 
shows out of mothballs seems in 
the making. Now . it's "Hobby 
Lobby," Dave Elman's durable 
hobbyists' funfest, that's joining 
the list of revivals. 

Elman plans to wax the stanza 
and syndicate it. He has already 
sold WOR, N. Y.,.the program be- 
ing set to return to life Sept. 12 in 
the 10 p.m. Sunday segment. 

It's understood that Kim an plans 
to knock out the gewgaws which 
had been added to the "Cobby" 
format in later years and debut 
the dusted-off version in much the 
same form as the original. Blman's 
show first hit the ether on WOR, 
picking up Hudson auto sponsor- 
ship, in 1937. In subsequent years, 
the stanza was aired via WEAF 
(now WNBC) for Jello, on WJZ 
and WABC (Now WCBS) for Fels- 
Naptha, and on- the CBS flagship 
at other times for Palmolive and 
Anchor-Hocking Glass. Latter was 
the show's last sponsor, bankrolling 
it over CBS during the 1945-46 
season. 

Harry Salter's orch, now with 
"Stop the Music," was 'a longtime 
"Lobby" feature. Elman himself 
emceed the show until its final 
season, when he handed that chore 
over to Bob Dixon. 

"Lobby" is the fourth oldie to 
come out of wraps in recent 
months, most recent being Major 
Bowes'- "Original Amateur Hour," 
just bought by Old Gold for ABC 
(AM) and DuMont (TV) airirig this 
fall. Other revivals, both also doing 
nicely sponsorwise, include "What's 
My Name?" for General Electric 
and "True or False" for Shotwell 
Candy. All got their starts during 
the '30's. 




+ + ♦♦♦» M-MH II HMMM I MMMMM I ♦*»♦»>> M «>♦» + . 

From the Production Centres 



\ 



IJV NEW YORK CITY 



DIRECTS KLZ TRAFFICS 

F. TOM BOISE 

Boise keeps KLZ's heavy traffic 
schedule of network, national spot 
and local business moving smoothly 
along KLZ's 560 kc. lane. He 
came to KLZ last October with 
three and a half years experience 
in sales and traffic with leadmg 
airlines. 

KLZ, DENVER. 



Denver U. Uses 
Two Stations 
For Schooling 

Denver, Aug. 17. 

To give students firsthand knowl- 
edge of station operation in all 
its phases the Univ. of Denver 
will manage two radio stations and 
use them for training purposes. 
The university will manage KOKO, 
La , Junta, and KSFT, Trinidad, 
both in Colorado. 

R. Russell "Porter, director of 
radio at * the school, said five 
students will be sent to the two 
stations at once to augment reg- 
ular staffs. 

Burton Harrison, instructor in 
radio, will manage KSTF and will 
supervise operations at KOKO. 
Advanced students will use the 
stations for training. Problems in 
copy writing, Advertising, traffic, 
promotion and production will be 
studied in~terms of an actual situa- 
tion. 

Before joining the university 
Harrison was assistant manager of 
KTSW, Emporia, Kan.' 



Durr, Corwin Sail For 
LaGuardia Shrines Trip 

One World delegation including 
ex - FCC Commissioner Clifford 
Durr, Norman Corwin and Saul 
Carson sailed from N. Y. Saturday 
(14) on the S. S. Batory for Gdynia, 
Polish port, to participate in a se- 
ries of dedications of F. H. La- 
GUardia memorials in four Euro- 
pean countries. Another member 
of the delegation, Morris Novik, 
who was LaGardia's radio adviser, 
planes next Sunday (22) to Paris 
to join the group. 

Dedications will include a school 
in Prague, a library in Warsaw, a 
hospital in Italy and a public 
square in Lyons, prance. Majn 
sdua™ in Xel^vfo 'also* lLifc be 
rianied in-LaGuardla's 'memory and 
some of the One World group may 
go there for the ceremony. 



Engineers' Strike Takes 
Fort Wayne Stations 
Off Air for 44 Minutes 

Fort Wayne, Aug. 17. 
Strike of engineers at WKJG 
and WKJG-FM, Fort Wayne, took' 
the stations off the air last 
Wednesday (11) at 7:55 p.m. for 
44 minutes, and the stations' 
studio is being picketed by the 
striking union. 

National Assn. of Broadcasting 
Engineers and Technicians on Fri- 
day (13) filed unfair labor prac- 
tices charges against the station 
with the National Labor Relations 
Board in Chicago. George Maher, 
national representative for the 
union, said the charges were 
based on "management refusal to 
bargain and threats, coercion and 
intimidation." 

The seven engineers involved 
walked off their jobs after a break- 
down in negotiations on wages. 
All other phases of the contract 
were settled. Hilliard Gates, sta- 
tion manager, said other station 
personnel was summoned to the 
studio and transmitter and normal 
operations were resumed at 8:39 
p.m. Gates said up £o six minutes 
before the walkout, the engineers 
had given no indication of their 
intention and that no strike notice 
had been filed. 

Maher, said that under the Taft- 
Hartley law, a strike notice isn't 
necessary where there is no con- 
tract in effect between the two 
parties. He also said the manage- 
ment had refused to consider any 
wage increase for the striking en- 
gineers, and that the station was 
paying engineers' wages below 
the Fort Wayne pattern at other 
local stations. 

t , The, union ^se>tM aiLiAa&Jri 
wiflf lts.poritnict' demands June 
17, with negotiations' (Starting 
July 23. 



Teri Keane subbing for Elspeth Eric in "Big Sister" while latter 
vacations in Europe .... ABC board chairman Edward J. Noble on a 
10-day vacation .... CBS' European news boss, Howard K. Smith, re- 
turned to London Friday. (13) on the Elizabeth Symphony Sid's 

<WMCA) Royal Roost session on Saturday nights instead of Sundays as 
originally skedded. . . .WOR's "Ladies Man" moving from the 711 
Restaurant to Leon & Eddie's for a 4:30-5 teatime pickup .... Robin 
D Compton formerly in charge of construction and design lor WCAU- 
TV, Philly, named technical director of WOIC, WOR's new D. C. TV 

Adelaide Hawley returns to DuMont's "Fashions on Parade" Friday 

<20) following a three-week looksee at Paris and London styles 

Mike Rich, WLIB jock, twirling 'em again, haying recuperated from 

an Aug. 9 plane crash in Albany Daughter born to Herb Hobler, 

Mutual program sales, at Princeton Allan Stevenson subbing for 

Larry Haines in "Eight to Happiness" and also in "Official Detective" 

this week Blanche Gaines peddling a fresh approach to newscasts 

in a stanza created by Ruth Adams Knight and hubby Dickson Jay 
Hartwell Miss Gaines has just sold four Carol Warner Gluck scripts 

to the Hummerts for "Mystery Theatre" Scripter Sidney Reznick 

and theatre managers Norman Bialek and Robert Spodick have copy- 
righted a novelty game, "Movie Memory Quiz," designed to stimulate 
film attendance. 

Thelma Ritter has returned east after completing a month's shooting 
in "Letter to Three Wives" at 20th-Fox, and is spending the rest of 
the summer at Fire Island with her family (she's the wife of Joseph 
A. Moran, vice-president in the radio department of Young & Rubicam). 

Sid Eiges loafing for two weeks Henry Morgenthau III taking leave 

of absence from WNEW chores to accompany the One World group 

to Europe Hubbell Robinson, Jr., hops for the Coast today (Wed.) for 

two weeks of program huddles with Harry Ackerman and other CBS 

programmers out west Red Barber home from the hospital, but 

due for an extended recuperation and may hie to Martha's Vineyard 
shortly. Johnny Desmond doing his "Clubhouse" on CBS. 

Phil Lohman, son of Wauhillau Lahay, Ayer's top flacktress, named 
a principal candidate for West Point appointment next year .... Craw- 
ford Clothes inked by WQXR for 19 shows weekly, totaling six hours, 

starting this week Arnold Moss got a leave of absence from CBS* 

"Cabin B-13" and grabbed a night plane for Hollywood following Mon- 
day's (16) broadcast to take a top supporting role in Walter Wanger's 
upcoming "Reign of Terror" for Eagle Lion Sy Merns, WINS, cur- 
rently associated with New Age Studios in charge of TV commercial 

productions Jack Grogan, production manager, and Jeff Selden, 

continuity director, to give radio courses at City College School of 
Business this fall. . . ."Bud" Barry to the Coast. 

King Calder new to "Helen Trent" cast Toni Darnay and Joseph 

Conway added to "Stella Dallas" players Helen Choate and Jacque- 
line Billingsley join "Young Widder Brown" cast James Boles, 

Frank Thomas, Sr.; Roily* Bester, Athena Lorde and' William Adams 
new to "Front Page Farrell". . ..Bea Wain and Andre Baruch taking 
a week's vacation from their "Mr. and Mrs. Music" show on WMCA .... 
Lue Stearns joined WCBS' sales staff. He came to WCBS from ABC spot 

sales Stegmaier Brewing Co., of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., is now sponsor-. 

ing the .Frederic W. Ziv produced and transcribed musical, "The Barry 
Wood Show," in 14 N. Y. and Pa. markets. 

Carl Brown, partner and- head of the N. Y. office of Sherman and 
Marquette, is spending the week in Chicago huddling with partners • 
Stu Sherman and Ed Marquette. . . .After eight years of married life, 
Les Damon, of the "Thin Man," and his actress-wife, Ginger Jones, per- 
form together for first time tonight J18) on NBC's "Mr. District At- 
torney" Homer Heck, NBC Chicago production-director for the 

past six years, has been promoted to production manager for the net- 
work's Central Division. 

IIS HOLLYWOOD ... 

Before Stu Sherman '& Marquette) left town the word was around 
that he had been elected to the board of Colgate-Palmolive-Peet and 

will also serve on the executive committee George Gruskin of the 

Morris office back from New York, where he heated up deals for Dinah 
Shore, Fanny Brice, et al. Dinah's setup with Eddie Cantor calls for 
j guest shots, on the first four broadcasts with later appearances if no 
: conflict arises .... Arnold Marquis east to examine television techniques 
and then back to U. of Chicago for his second summer of tutoring the 
studes in radio writing and production. 

| A. B. Chamberlain, CBS chief engineer, scanning the net's site atop 
| Mt. Wilson amf head-thumping with L. L. Bowman, Coast technical 
head, on the projected far west skein of TV stations .... Lum and 
Abner close out their Alka-Seltzer contract next month from Las Vegas, 

Nev., where they'll compete in the national skeet meet Ted Steele 

drove in from New York to take up his new duties as top kick at Benton 

& Bowles Loss of the Texaco and'Old Gold programs to the east 

just about shutters Kudner and Lennen & Mitchell agencies. . . Don 
Davis hopped east to work up some client interest in Benay Venuta's 

"Keep Up With the Kids," which he packaged ABC had a record 

cut of a musical with Mitzi Green, Artie Wayne and Jerry Fielding's orch 

Sid Strotz breezed to Frisco, got back the next day and a few hours 

later was on a plane to New York. After two or three days he'll be 
on the wing again back to Hollywood Don Bernard, Marcelle Mitch- 
ell and Andy Potter packed up their belongings and moved across the 
street into a bank building, new quarters of the William Esty agency. 

Bert Prager of the James Saphier agency under observation at 
lemple hospital. .. .With Dennis Day's move to Saturday night, Bud 
Dant, music director, is giving up that show and remaining with Judy 

canova Stanley Davis and Elon Packard signed for their third 

season as Jimmy Durante's writers New addition to publicity staff 

at Young & Rubicam is Afra Ackerman, who says she drew that name 
at birth.. ..Dick Compton couldn't stay retired at Bahcho Santa Fe 
down the coast so he took a job as promotion manager of the inn there. 
He s on the payroll for $35 a week, which was his take-home pay on 
his first job in New York .... Johnny Olson is said to rate the best 

| "-nance to follow Garry Moore on "Breakfast in Hollywood" Dorothy 

illness &t AB ° heading up continuity acceptance after serious 

IIS CHICAGO ... 

Walsh Is Putting the bite on the Cook County Board for 
$5U,uoo to convert police radio system from AM to FM. Present AM 
, wavelength is shared with Los Angeles cops, whose calls are often 
;neara locally ... More than 500 stations have offered free time for 
,S s ^ e ? 1 °' Naval Air Reserve spot announcements produced by 
< ZS* 5 u W „ a " Klm «»ell, USNR. . . .Kay Turpin bowing out at Schoen- 
' " f r & ,£ r ? en for a ' DOSt »* the Ero Co. . . .First Chi inn to pro- 
inn J* * ith tele is the Hotel Sherman, which last week installed 
M«™tU ' "i U » Ch,ca g° scholarships passed out to Quiz Kids Noreen 
SE.,™ Bernard Griesel .... Motorola signed the check for the 
AlliR Ch X? C Festival telecast on WGN-TV Saturday (14) . - - - 



Wednesday, Augual 18, 1948 



NBC OFF PUBLIC SERVICE H 




FCC looking (or Bloody Nose On : OOCUMEKTK \Wip* P Buck Taboos, Show i 
Giveaways, Is Chi NAB Feeling RPi URGE READIED NewQnirkas'Condy-Docinnentary' 



Chicago, Aug. 17. ♦ 
Meet of ninth district NAB 
in embers here last week was gen- [ 
era lly torpid until FCC's portend- 
ing rules on giveaways came up i 
ior comment in the final hours 
ol the two-day session. And al- j 
though a wide range of eventual- 
ities and opinions was covered, ! 
the sum of it all was "we'li-know- j 
vhat's - meant - when - there 's- 
definite-action." 

One NAB board member eluded 
broadcasters as "suckers" for per- 
mitting -rampant free advertising 
via product mentions on give- j 
aways. Such plugs, he said, robbed 
the industry of sizeable income j 
that otherwise would be ledgered 
as billing to sponsors. As proof 
be cited e maker of household ap- | 
pliances who valued free plugs on j 
a 13-week giveaway at $200,000. j 

Same exec said that in putting ; 
the finger on giveaways the FCC j 
"was asking for another bloody 
nose." Lotteries, lie said, were 
classified as criminal acts .and as 
such already came under the 
jurisdiction of the Federal courts 
and the Sept. of Justice. Conse- 
quently, he Indicated, the FCC 
would be off base if it set itself 
up as a lottery tribunal. 

Discriminatory Action? 

Speaking as a non-member, a 
program packager asserted that. ac- 
tion against giveaways would be 
discriminatory unless there was a 
similar crackdown on newspaper 
and mag contests. The percent- 
ages of skill and chance in 



Overall Winchell 

It's Walter Winchell No. 1 
across-the-board. 

Gabber, who's often. topped 
the Hooper heap and was there 
when he went on vacation re- 
cently, has hit the No. 1 
rung in A. C. Nielsen's ratings 
for the first tune. <See sepa- 
rate box.) "He has also lately 
paced the Pacific Coast Hoop- 
ers and the Pulse ratings, 
which gives him a clean sweep. 

His deal with Kaiscr-Frazer, 
incidentally, calls for full ABC 
web airing (340-odd stations) 
whereas his Jergens stint is 
carried on but 219 stations. 



'Musics' Lead 
Spot Hwartd' 
By Hooper 

ABC's ambition to see its "Stop 
the Music" on the top of Hooper's 
Top 15 was thwarted this week by 
a switch in policy by Hooper. Final 
quarter-hour (Old Gold's) of the 
giveaway copped a 122 for the 

black- i Aug ' J " 7 tal,y ' P" tting {t m No - 1 
and-white contests and prize of- 1 But Hooper has decided to 

lers were no different-from those j rate the stanza on an overall basis, 
in radio, he contended. lumping the three sponsored seg- 

If phone quizzers are desig- j ments together. Even so, the score 



rated as lotteries, he said, it fol- 
lows that studio quizzers also. fall 
in that category, since the chance 
element enters in selection of con- 
testants. The entertainment con- 
lent of giveaways, he said, should 
be the main test applied. Charles 
Caiey. of WMBD, Peoria. 111., who 
was re-elected ninth district di- 
rector, cited the code nix on 
audience buying as a further 
yardstick. 

Despite the palaver, the word- 
chopping and attempts at clarifica- 
tion, many members felt they had 
gone out the same way they had 
come in — confused as to the 
exact scope of FCC finger-shaking 
at giveaways. 



WNBC in New 



came out 10.4, giving the show the 
second bracket. ^ 

"Summer journal," subbing for 
Walter Winchell, who topped the 
list last month, .came in with an 
8.0. putting it just outside the 
Top 15. 

The Aug. 1-7 honor rolb 

Take It or Leave It 11.0 

Stop the Music 10.4 

Mr. District Attorney 10.0 

Suspense 9.9 i 

This Is Your FBI 9.8; 

Crime Photographer 9:4 j 

Horace He|dt Mj 

Bi-eak the Bank. .,. P-S 

Drew Pearson 8.7 \ 

Big Story 8,4 

Hit the Jackpot 8.4 

Mr. Keen 85 | 

Fat Man . . . ; 62, 

Gangbusters 8.2 

Hit Parade 8.1 



NBC is getting off the public j 
service hook"wiih a lull -fashioned j 
plunge into the documentary held ' 
during the 1948-49 season, it wasi 
learned this week The blueprints j 
taking shape at the web call for; 
three hour-long special broadcasts I 
of this type in addition to an im- 
pressive array of timely subjects 
to he tackled in (he net's continu- 
ing '-'Living — 1948" series. 

Import of the plans, disclosed by 
program-public affairs veepee Ken 
Dyke, is all the more significant in 
view of recent criticism that NBC, 
in the wake of its accent-on-youth 
administrative reformating and re- 
ported prepping of fresh ap- 
proaches to old problems, hadij 
failed to translate these promises 
into performance. The develop- j 
ment of a trio of 60-minute docu- 1 ' 
mentaries — the web's first project ) 
of this category— manifestly p**-j 
jects NBC into the running for the 
industry kudos it has seen passed 
out to other nets in the past for 
public service programming of this 
format. 

Marriage Due for O.O. 
First of the hour-long stanzas — 
(announcement of which, two weeks 
ago, hinted that a new era in pub- 
lic service programming was dawn- 
ing at NBC — will look a t "Marriage 
in Distress." dramatizing fact and 
opinion on the status of marriage 
today in the light of the nation's 
high divorce Tate. Web's public 
affairs and education staff has been 
at work four months •researching 
the airer, which is slated for broad- 
cast late this month or early in 
September. 

Already in production also, for 
October airing, is a 60-minute re- 
port on "Mother Earth." which will 
take a globe-circling view of man's 
plundering of his own planet. Pro- 
gram's premise will be that man 
faces mass starvation unless he 
takes better care than he lias up 
to now of his life-sustaining soil. 
Third documentary, as yet un- 



Where's the Loot? 

Xenia, O., Aug. 17. 

Joseph E. Chamberlain is 
beginning to get a wee bit 
anxious about those dozen or 
so prizes he won from the U. S. 
Tobacco Co.'s "Take a Num- 
ber" quiz show in mid-June, 
especially since everybody in 
town is feeling wonderful 
about Ms good— if delayed — 
luck. For the last two months 
friends have been congratulat- 
ing him about it. 

Mutual, which airs the give- 
away, sent out releases on his 
good . fortune, and the Xenia 
store which sold him the to- 
bacco enabling him to enter 
the contest . displays an em- 
bossed certificate telling all 
about it. 

But up until Thursday £12) 
Chamberlain had yet to re- 
ceive any of his much publi- 
cized prizes. 



MBS $1,600,110 




HiarmacoBiz 



It looks like Mutual is out some 
$1,600,800 or more in gross time 
billing represented by Fharrnaco's 
four-way spread in bankrolling last 
season. The Feen-a-mint and 
Chooz manufacturer is reported to 
have* decided last week to forego 



*■ . Cy Howard, writer-director-pro- 
Idueer of "My Friend frroa,"" re^ 
1 turned from Italy Thursday '-(12?' 
for 10 days of huddles with CBS 
{ brass in N. Y. before returning t« . 
.the Coast to set the preem of 
CBS* new show, "The Little Immi- 
grant," as vnell as the Aug. 30 re- 
turn of ""Irma." 

Be spent two months abroad, 
chiefly in and around Rome" cd- 
iectiag background material for 
"Imwugrant.'' Hell write, direct 
and produce the show in addition -to 
continuing <the same eh ore* ott 
"irma,*' he said. <Some confusion 
exists on this point, since CBS 
program veepee Habbell 'Robinson, 
Jr., says Howard simply will "'su- 
pervise" the new stanza, witli .Hy, 
Kraft heading .the writing stall, and 
the direction ial assignment yet to 
be made.) "Irma" and "Immi- 
grant" are both CBS-packaged 
shows. 

Howard calls "Immigrant" * 
"comedy-documentary" and he be- 
lieves it's going to introduce. * 
number, of new concepts in comedy 
stanzas as well as buck a number 
of longstanding taboos. For one 
thing, the show (in which J. Car- 
roll Naish is set to star) will us* 
two orchestras, .'one of them sot 
authentic three-piece Neapolitan 
group. Opening will have no "bill- 
board" or booming theme; only the 
little Immigrant off -handedly sing- 
ing "Oh,' Marie: 1 The mike wilt 
"pan" the LI as he goes places, a 
la -film technique. The device of 
"creating comedy in narration." 
successfully utilized in "Irma," 'will 
again he employed via the LI read- 
ing ah open letter to his mother 
in the Old Country, 

As for the taboos, Howard note* 
that "Immigrant," like "Irma," will 



network advertising, diverting the j run counter to the belief that N. Y. 
bulk of the ad budget instead to j j s n .g. as locale for a , comedy 



printed media and spot radio 

The decision, if final, leaves on 
a sponsorless- limb a quartet of 
MBS shows — "Adventures of 
Charlie Chan," the Jinr Backus 
Show, "Official Detective," and 
"Song of the 



titled and not yet tabbed as to j Bret Morrison's 
approximate date, will deal with . Stranger." 

the -U.~ S. military potential in I it had been expected that Phar- 
terms of the nation's resources, | maco wouldn't go for such a heavy 
(Continued on page 30) 



BarroiiRoiighsUp 
'Musks' Course 



series. He disagrees violently with 
the theory that assy story -about 
Manhattan has to involve two 
Brooklyn dames, Macy's, m& 
MyrUesgirdle jokes. "Immigrant," 
too, will buck the foreign-dialect 
taboo, but Howard points out that 
it wont offer any grounds for 
"stereotyped character" charges. 
; The Little Immigrant will be 
of programming this i neither a fruitTvcnder nor an organ 
coming season, but Mutual had grinder with monkey, He'R be aa 
anticipated renewal of at least one | .average immigrant running afoul 
or two of the stanzas, "Chan" and | eacn wec k 0 f Mttie ^ American 
"Official Detective" in particular j .custom ne doesn't understand, 
having snared fairly satisfactory | Commenting on the 'film sale, 
rating payoffs. j ust announced, of "irma" to Hal 

Pullout was presaged, however, §f i3 j iSt Howard intended that both 



when Pharmaco shifted its account 
recently from Rutbrauff & Ryan 
to the Duane Jones agency. 




WNBC, N. Y., has come through 
with its biggest batch of- time sales 
in recent months- in Use midst of 
concentrated preparations, involv- 
ing most of the NBC flagship's de- 



ABC's "Stop the Music," already 
imperilled by the FCC threat of 

^^XTZ^ h^ti ABC S UET IS $850,000 

I week. Orch leader Blue Barron j 
I filed a lawsuit in New York j 



I 



m % MONTHS IN 1948 

FOR BAD LANGUAGE -?~ jl^J^^^X .. Arae ™ A «? d 



Irma" and "Immigrant" are natu- 
rals for television. "Irma" is doom 
in costume, he noted, and the new 
show ■will also be. Leads an "Irma? 
have had film and stage experi- 
ence; the characters look their 
parte; most of the sequences have 
the same stogie setting. 



Mexico City, Aug. 17. 
Fine of $1,500 <U. S.t was im- 
posed on XEW, 250,000 waiter 
here, by the Ministry of Communi- 



pavtments, for a new splurge in cations and Public Works for per- 
documentary programming. ] mitring bad language to be aired 

Two of the station's Saturday j during a quarrel 
a.m. kid shows — a lineup instituted ■ 



is based on a show packaged last i ^ ^b^aries i n the first six 
year by him and Music s pro- , mont}llS oi 1343 eamie d an esti- 
ducer Mark Goodson. He demands j aet of 4350,000 <after fed- 

a sum equal to one-half the show s . eraJ income taxes estimated at 
earnings. $520,000), equivalent to 50c a snare j 

Complaint states that Barron and on 1,689,017 shares of $l.par com- ! 
Robert Ray of CBS, together with man stock. In the same period last j 
Goodson and Howard Connell, | year the net was $890,000, equal to , 
put together a "Blue Barron's j 53c a share. 

Mystery Melodies" show in Feb- j Gross income for the first half 

ruary, 1947, cutting an audition 1 of '48 amounted to $28,"2SS,574, network shows, minus their com- 
platter of it at CBS. at Barron's j compared with $25,540,628 for the mercials, to stations across the 
expense, with a 13 -piece band, j same period the previous year. i country, has apparently fallen 
three vocalists, an announcer and | Edward J. .Noble, ABC's board j through, it was learned this week. 



Navy Gratis El's 
Nixed fay AFRA 



A U. S. Navy recruiting project 
calling for e.t distribution of top 



a quarrel between two 
drunks and an announcer during a 
program. 

« year and a half ago— have landed 1 Ministry got many complaints 
in the sponsored ranks. Bob j aDO ut the incident. Language was 
Smith's Triple B Ranch was sold ' described as the vilest ever broad- 

to D. C. Heath children's *^ ^&K£°tef w Impo^d^for 'director. "Stop the Music," the chairman, owns 901,667 shares tor 1 he cam, - 

Frank j^ M^^y ^ yf imposed «*\ wh , ea<ter asserts is the same ] nearly G0%t of the common stock. 

show, with "slight alterations in.Prexy Mark Woods holds another 
detail. j 37,000 shares, while exec veepee 

Defendants in the action are Bobert E. Kintner owns 36,000. 

ABC. Goodson, itvouis G. Cowan, « 

j Inc., packager of "Music;" Cowan 
I individually, Harry Salter, whose 
band plays on "Music," and Con- 
1 ncLL 



starting Sept 11, and the 
Luther Show will be bankrolled by 
Maltex cereals beginning Oct. 2. In | 
addition, H. V. Kaltenborn was 
sold on a Monday-Wednesday-Fri- 1 
day schedule to Pertussin cough i 



KWIK Stock Troisier 



Hollywood, Aug. 17. 
Carl E. Rose, Chicago attorney, 
remedy, effective Sept. 6, and Ken alM } George H. Bowles have pur- 
Banghart's « p.m. news has picked , chased 46 c- of KW JK, Burbank 
up three-times-weekly Studebaker - for upwards of! 

sponsorship. j ' j 

Station's upcoming documentary, $150,000. 
"The Hungry Dollar," will be a ' gose, who is now prexy and 
four part investigation of the high ^ treasurer 0 f t he Burbank firm, 
cost of food, tailored along the , e „„,i„c „„„. --TM.r.i manager 
lines of WNBCs "Housing-1947" ««« Bowles, now general manager, 
series last year. It's slated for mid- have purchased stock owned by 
September teeoff and is being Sam Keraer andlfari Altman. Pair 

pTogram 'chief! "Agnes 'EckbaVt & mostly owned 'by Billy Gray. *lte* 
doing the main preparatorj' chores, t two-months waiting period. 



WHL Paris Walsh 



can Federalaon of Radio Artist* 
refused to clear the deal unless full 
performance fees were paid- for 
the platters. 

George Heller, AFRA's national 
exec secretary, confirmed yester- 
day <Tues.t that he had rejected 
the pi'oject on any basis other than 
payment of the fees and ha*l been 



Philadelphia, Aug. 17 
George Walsh, vet sports an- upheld by tlw tinion's toarTin his 



O'FlakrtjExfeO. 

1 Maggy O'Flaherty, writer-pro- 
1 ducer of the- Tommy Dorsey disk 
'jockey show since last November, 
lis exiting 'the job at the end of 
August. It's an amicable parting 



{ nouncer, has been added to the 
I staff of WFJL-TV, as television 
.'sports commentator. Formerly 
sports director for WHAS, Louis- 
| viHe. Walsh's voice is familiar to 
i radio listeners from coast-to-coast, 
j having been heard on the annual 
j CBS broadcasts of the Kentucky 




month on a ranch in New Mexico. Reds. 



stand. 

It's understood that Bill Bailey, 
former NBCer now serving as a 
civilian radio consultant to Navy 
recruiting, had the show idea fully 
cleared except for AFRA. Talent 
and agencies gave Bailey a go- 
ahead during a recent trip to the 
' ' and , subpequeijtlv 
> okayed the/dea* 
lerican FederatioB 
I of Musicians was concerned. 



4 s 



TELEVISION 



PfiKlETY 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



Group Gangs Up vs. 20th Bid to Bring 
Oakland Studio Into Frisco Hearings 



Washington, Aug. 17. 

Hopes for 20th-Fox's Oakland 
auxiliary studio being admitted in 
evidence in the San Francisco tele 
hearings grew dimmer' as KROW 
joined CBS and Television Cali- 
fornia in asking the FCC not to re- 
verse the motions commissioner's 
decision. 

Twentieth was told at the hear- 
ing that its Oakland studio would 
be admitted in evidence, if the 
commission granted its petition to 
amend. The motions commissioner 
denied, it and 20th appealed to the 
entire Commission. 

As soon as 2Qth filed its appeal, 
Tele Cal. and CBS filed petitions 
to deny. KROW, local Oakland 
standard station, pointed out that 
SOth's "me too"., argument wasn't 
applicable. 20th claimed a right to 
amend since Paramount had been 
granted the right. KROW said the 
positions were different. It also 
said changing plans at the last min- 
ute to include an Oakland studio 
greatly upset KROW plans since 



T For Nothing? 

Washington, Aug. 17. 

One local attorney pointed 
out that 20th's Oakland fight 
may be a tempest in a teapot 
since in tele any remote broad- 
cast is made from an "auxil- 
iary" studio .because a sort of 
studio is set up for all remotes. 

Perhaps, he suggested, 20th 
is fighting for nothing. 



they had had no warning that any 
other applicant proposed an outlet 
in its territory. KROW is the only 
applicant proposing an Oakland 
outlet aside from 20th. KROW said 
it could show in concrete manner 
how it would be prejudiced if FCC 
granted 20th's petition to amend. 
, Par States Its Case 

' Meanwhile, the other applicant 
In the fight for two remaining 
channels, Paramount, filed a letter 
late Friday (13) with FCC, Par at 
torney Karl Smith said Par stressed 
it neither opposes nor supports 
r (Continued on page 30) 



Laurie's . Nifty 

Joe Laurie, Jr. observes that 
the WJZ-TV inaugural pro- 
gram from the Palace, along 
with the Ed Sullivan (Toast of 
the Town) and > Texaco Star 
Theatre programs "prove that 
television will not bring vaude- 
ville back, but that vaudeville 
will help television stay." 



WFIL Renews 
Warriors Sked 

Philadelphia, Aug. 17. 
For the second successive season 
the complete home schedule of the 
Warriors, local entry in the Basket- 
ball Assn. of America, will be tele- 
cast over WFIL-TV. 

The Norge Co., manufacturers of 
refrigerators and household appli- 
ances, through its local distrib. 
Trilling and Montague, will again 
pick up the tab. Campbell-Ewald 
agency, Detroit, placed the ac 
count. 

The games will be telecast every 
Tuesday and Thursday evening, be- 
ginning Nov. 4, when the Warriors 
open their season here. The games 
will be played at the Arena, di- 
rectly adjacent ta WFlE-TV's stu- 
dios. Prior to their sponsorship 
of the basketball telecasts last 
year, Trilling and Montague had 
never made use of video as an ad- 
vertising medium. * 




Sports Receipts Hold Up as TV Cuts 
Sharply Into Other Fields, Sez Survey 



HARRY SALTER 

MUSICAL DIRECTOR 
Stop the Music — ABC 
It Pays to Be Ignorant — CBS 
and in person .'* 
"Stop the Music" 
Currently Capitol Theatre, N. Y. C. 



Westinghouse In 
Airborne Rule Bid 



Washingtop, Aug. 17. 
Westinghouse Radio Stations last 
week asked the FCC to hold hear- 
ings, or a rule-making proceeding 
/to amend FCC rules and regula- 
tions and, standards, to authorize 
operation' of airborne television 
stations using their Stratovision 
method. Westinghouse also asked 
FCC to continue all pending hear- 
ings and withhold action on author- 
izations which might conflict with 
this request. 

Westinghouse wants to operate 
Stratovision over its KDKA outlet 
on channel eight in Pittsburgh. It 
would operate with a main studio 
in Pittsburgh and a plane flying 
•bout 30 miles .west of Pittsburgh. 

The short distance grounded TV 
carries makes it desirable to ele- 
vate the antenna, Westinghouse 
said, in order to increase tele range 
to 200 miles. 

The company pointed out that it 
could operate Stratovision, (1) 
without objectionable interference 
to any other construction permit 
holder; (2) without reducing the 
number of channels assigned to any 
city in the U. S. or Canada; and 
(3i without reducing the classifi- 
cation of any channel. 

The reallocation needed to clear 
channel eight at Pittsburgh for 
Stratovision would service approxi- 
mately 6,000,000 additional people, 
Westinghouse said. 

FCC was also asked to clear the 
proposal with the Canadian govern- 
ment 



Is. Ball Attendance 
Is'Up, With Management 
Crediting KSTP Airing 

Minneapolis, Aug. 17. 
KSTP televising of American 
Assn. baseball games here since 
the start of the home season ap- 
parently has helped ball park at- 
tendance rather than hurt it, man- 
agement of this Giants' farm team 
finds. At any rate, .Minneapolis, 
not so high in standings as at 
corresponding, time last season 
when there was no television, is 
18,000 ahead in attendance for the 
first 43 games. 

Moreover, attendance currently 
is running considerably ahead of 
the same last year period and is 
sure to break alltime local records, 
despite the fact that the amuse- 
ment business generally is on the 
downgrade. Ball club feeling is 
that TV has stimulated baseball 
interest Jiere. 

Other Twin City club, St. Paul, 
owned by Brooklyn Dodgers, re- 
fused permission to televise games. 
Although team has been higher in 
standings than last year, its attend- 
ance shows a drop. , 



Disney Hats In 
19-Station Net 
* Bankroll Pact 



Most expansive television net- 
work yet devised was rounded up 
this week by Disney Hats with the 
pacting to bankroll the NBC News 
Review of the Week reel on 19 
stations throughout the country. 
Series tecs off Sept. 5, with Dis- 
ney shooting a $125,000 bankroll 
for the 17-week contract. Number 
of stations is possible because the 
rtel, of course, is on film. 

Grey ad agency, which set the 
deal, copped another TV plum 
this week by bringing Macy's, 
N. Y. department store, into tele. 
Store starts an extensive spot cam- 
paign on all six N. Y. stations Sept. 
6, plugging its 6% budget policy. 
Campaign will use one-minute 
animated film cartoons, produced 
by the Fletcher Smith studios, 
N. Y. | 

Disney, according to a: Grey 
spokesmen, has decided to con- 
centrate practically its entire ad 
budget cn tele. Agency hopes to 
round up at .least 33 TV stations 
for the newsreel by the end of the 
year, adding them to the string as 
they come on the air. Reel is a 
special edition edited by NBC's 
Paul Alley. It's' been sponsored 
locally to date over WNBT (NBC, 
N. Y.) by Oldsmobile. ' 



♦■ Despite the scare television has 
thrown into the minds of sports 
promoters throughout the country, 
the new medium was found by a 
recent survey to have no appreci- 
able effect on gate receipts of such 
events as wrestling, boxing, base- 
ball, etc. The new study on tele's 
effects on family activities was con- 
ducted during the last several 
months by the television research 
bureau of Hofstra College, Hemp- 
stead, L. I. 

While the survey, conducted un- 
der the supervision of Dr. .Thomas 
E. Coffin, would thus tend to ease 
the fears of sports magnates, it has 
a reverse message for execs in the 
films, radio, niteries and other 
fields of entertainment. In a poll 
taken among 137 TV set-owning 
families, compared with ' an equal 
number of non-set owning families, 
it was discovered that the total 
participation in entertainment out- 
side the home declined 24% among 
those families possessing TV sets. 
Radio Worse Hit 
Film attendance is down 20%, 
with 59% of the TV families re- 



Roach Changes Name 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

Hal Roach has changed the name 
of his video company from Halro 
Television Corp, to Hal Roacn 
Television Corp. 

Firm was incorporated three 
months ago and capitalized origin- 
ally at $2,000,000. Roach expects 
to get under way with %lm produc- 
tion end of this month. 

Weekly Palace 
Show Stymied 

There had been talk of originat- 
ing a weekly vaudeo show from the 
stage of the Palace theatre, N. Y., 
in the wake of the all-star bill put 
on for WJZ-TVS inaugural last 
week. But plan is pigeon-holed 

now, said an ABC official, until the porting they now attend less than 



jurisdictional dispute with the In 
ternational Alliance Theatrical 
Stage Employees is settled. 

Meantime, the federal court 
hearing slated last Thursday (12) 
on injunction proceedings brought 
against IA by ABC has been post- 
poned to next Wednesday (25) and 
a restraining order forbidding the 
union from interfering with any 
web pickup from theatres was con- 
tinued in effect. 



before buying their sets. Radio 
listening is the most seriously hit, 
with listening hours dropping 26% 
for daytime and 68% for nighttime. 
While tele is thus seen to keep the 
family group more at home, con- 
centration on the screen precludes 
any increase in usual home activi- 
ties. Survey disclosed a dropoff of 
18% in the amount of reading done, 
for example, although there was no 
shift shown in the proportion of 



In Cleveland, where IA was in time devoted to newspapers, maga^ 



Rudy Bretz, formerly assistant 
news and special events manager 
at the N. Y. Daily News' WPIX, 
upped to production manager for 
the station, with Austin O. Huhn, 
former writer-director, named to 
assist him. New production depart- 
ment includes studio management, 
art department and traffic. 



Inside Television 



Tn its appeal to affiliates about holding the line on network exclu- 
sivity, NBC has been stressing the»point that it will for some time be 
making a great sacrifice when it comes to feeding them with sustaining 
film product. Stance taken by NBC is that such affiliates should resist 
the fitter of sponsored shows from other networks in light of the fact 
that NBC has arranged to price its programs specially made for video 
on the basis of 50 stations, thereby effecting quite a savings for the 
small number of affiliates already in operation. 



Godal's 'Cartoonews' 
Eric Godal, former political car- 
toohist for the Marshall Field 
papers including PM (now the 
N. Y. Star),, has been pacted by 
Gainesborough Associates, indie 
outfit, to do a five-minute cross- 
the-hoard TV show. 

W I*44urtfe.' GbHat doing' sWtfehe> ** 
'-Jtuman Interest stories' in the day's 
' aewa. . 



RCA's long-awaited 16-inch television viewing tube, believed to be 
the first to use both glass and metal, will not go into full production 
until early next year. A few models have already been turned over 
to set manufacturers using RCA equipment for experimental purposes 
and RCA itself hopes to have a few sets with the new tube out in 
time for Christmas, but the present limited capacity at the company's 
Lancaster (Pa.) tube plant will hold up early mass production. 

RCA this week scotched reports that the tube was to be incorporated 
into the present 10-inch table model set at no price increase, declar- 
ing the question of price hadn't yet been determined. Said to be a 
perfect vacuum-type tube, it has the cone sides made of metal, with 
the face made of glass, which will reportedly provide both better def- 
inition and clarity and longer life at lower cost. 



Test-pattern "shows" on tele are popular, loo. Housewives are re- 
norting that when they're too busy to watch their sets, or aren't in- 
terested in the stanzas being aired, or no shows are on, they often 
switch on their receivers just to get the continuous music played by 
many of the TV stations while showing only their test patterns. The 
music is usually' well selected, on the light classical or musicomedy 
side; it's clear as FM — and, what's more, no commercials! 

Spelling-Out technique which has carried over from radio in the 
copy for commercials seems strangely out of place and highly super- 
f tsuotis Htn TV,, * Case m JlSdints are the ,Benru$ fjme-.signal*. . /Bhereioer* 
tainiy 'aren't enough- illiterates* in the ,U/-S» WtmtW WaWtf the fail* 
nouneer intone "B-E-N-R-U-5" when the name of the product is right 
there on the screen. 



convention this week, prexy Rich- 
ard F. Walsh declared the ABC 
action would be fought all the way 
to the Supreme Court, if necessary, 
to get redress. 

Walsh also bitterly assailed the 
National Labor Relations Board as 
having ignored IA's established 
jurisdiction in the sphere of thea- 
trical television. 

Union dispute arose on the eve 
of the WJZ-TV inaueural when I A 
demanded 50% of tne jurisdiction 
over TV cameras installed in the 
Palace. ABC, bound by contract 
to give full jurisdiction to National 
Assn. of Broadcasting Engineers 
and Technicians, took the stale- 
mate to NLRB and got a restrain- 
ing order against .IA. 

Textiles Taking TV Dip 
Via Bates Show, to Open 
New Heavy-Coin Market 

Multi-million dollar textile in- 
dustry, long considered a natural 
for television advertising, took the 
first step into video this week with 
the inking of Bates Fabrics, N. Y. 
house, to bankroll a weekly 20-min- 
ute show over the NBC-TV web 
starting Sept. 8. It's to star Kyle 
MacDonnell and Johnny Downs 
and have a weekly complement of 
guest artists. Agency is James P. 
Sawyer. 

Both the textile and fashion in- 
dustries have . almost completely 
bypassed radio because of the ob- 
vious difficulty in trying to sell 
their products via mere oral de- 
scriptions. Tele, -with its sight- 
and-sound impact combined, was 
considered their near-perfect . ad 
medium, but only two or three 
fashion accounts have taken to the 
TV waves to date. Spring Maid 
Fabrics sponsored the Yankee foot- 
ball games on the DuMont web last 
fall but , the Bates' show, will be 
the first One for that industry to be 
built around textile products. 

Titled "Girl About Town," the 
show will emphasize topical show 
business events in its format. With 
Miss MacDonnell playing the role 
of a TV star "and Downs her press- 
agent, the two will take viewers be- 
hind the scenes of new Broadway 
shows, niteries and other events. 
"For Your Pleasure," Miss Mac- 
Donnell's current show on the 
NBC-TV web, is to continue but 
with a revamped format. Suc- 
cessor to the songstress for 
"Pleasure" hasn't yet been deter- 
mined. 



zines and books. 

While the survey showed the 
dropoff among set-owners at sports 
(Continued on page 30) 



FCC in Waiver 
On LA, Permit 



Washington, Aug. 17. 
FCC last, week granted construc- 
tion permits for two new tele sta- 
tions in Jacksonville, Fla. Hold- 
ers are Jacksonville Broadcasting- 
Corp. on channel six, and th« Met- 
ropolis Co. on channel eight. 

Earle C, Anthony of Los Angeles 
was granted special temporary au- 
thority to commence TV operation 
with facilities specified in construc- 
tion permit. Anthony was told he 
could operate not less than six 
hours per week, which six hours 
be spread over three days per week 
of operation until Oct. 6, in an un- 
usual waiver by FCC. 

TV permits were sought during 
the last week by 20th-Fox of St. 
Louis for channel nine; Granite 
District Broadcasting Co. for chan- 
nel nine at Salt Lake City; Sun- 
shine Television Corp. for chan- 
nel 10 at^Orlando; Television Ta- 
coma for channel four at Tacoma, 
Wash.; Charleston Broadcasting Co. 
for channel 13 at Charleston, W. 
Va.;' Mid -America Broadcasting 
Corp. for channel 13 at Louisville; 
and Charles E. Salik for channel 
six at San Diego. 

FCC gave licenses for experi- 
mental TV relay stations to Bremer 
Broadcasting Corp., Newark; Earle 
C. Anthony, Los .Angeles, and Pa- 
cific Video Pioneers, Pasadena. 



Whitehall's DuMont Buy 

The Mary Kay and Johnny show 
has been bought by Whitehall 
Pharmacal and starts Oct. 3 on 
NBC-TV. Currently on WABD-TV 
©iflpp»tt|,tt.\vill toeis-potteds at <7t 
7:20;p.trf.iSundaysi i .V \ I • • «; . . 

'•Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample is the. 
agency* 



DUMONT IN 1ST SALUTE 
TO ARMED SERVICES 

First armed services show 5n 
television teed off last (Tues.) 
night with "a half-hour program 
titled "Your Army— -1948." Suc- 
ceeding shows, produced in the 
studios of WABD, DuMont's NX, 
flagship station, will be devoted to 
the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force 
and Coast Guard. 

Shows are to be done live, with 
occasional use of stills and film- 
Drill teams will perform before 
the DuMont cameras and modem 
Army insignia will be explained. 
Series is produced by Jack Rayel, 
who also narrates. WABD pro- 
gram manager Tony Kraber di- 
rects. 



Beaumont, Tex.— Lufkin Amuse- 
ment Co. has applied to the ry^ 
for permit for a television outiei 
to) operate: htere on dltaimel •N.q.^iu- 
Station 'would 'Operate with zv* 
kw . visual power and 14.2 aur.« 
power on 192-198 mc. 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



TELEVISION 



25 



HEAFS OFF TV VIA 'COOL' LIGHTS 



Bigtime Giveaways to Get TV Billing, 
Despite FCC Stance, Via 'Bank's Bow 



Bigtime giveaways are due for< 
television billing this fall, if not 
sooner. This week ABC-TV parted 
Bristol - Myers, which bankrolls 
•'Break the Bank" on the ABC net- 
work, to sponsor simultaneous air- 
ing of the quizzer starting Oct. 22. 
It's expected the telecast will be 
carried on WJZ-TV, N. Y, and at 
least four other ABC-TV outlets. 

B-M deal is the second piece of 
TV web bankrolling picked up by 
ABC in a few days, although WJZ- 
TV, the net's key outlet, hit the 
sir only a week ago. Mosler Safe 
Co., N. Y., has signed to pick up 
the tab on "Quizzing the News," a 
half-hour show built by ABC, start- 
ing early October. Pact is for five- 
etation airing, for 52 weeks, at an 
overall time and talent cost of 
about $3,000 weekly. Price of the 
show is $800. Albert Frank-Guen- 
ther Law agency placed the billing. 

Full details of "Bank's" TV air- 
ing, including exact number of out- 
lets, are still to be worked out, via 
the Doherty, Clifford & Shenfield 
agency. Bristol-Myers foresight- 
edly took tele rights to the quizzer 
two years ago, Having thus per- 
ceived the possibilities of adapt- 
ing the stanza to video, the bank- 
roller wasn't hard to convince once 
ABC had TV network facilities to 
offer. *• 

Bristol - Myers' willingness to 
plunk additional coin on a give- 
away appears to refute the belief 
that sponsors will shy completely 
from this format at least until it's 
fjyen a clean bill of health by the 
FCC. On the other hand, execs in- 
volved in the "Bank" deal point 
out that, as nearly as can be as- 
certained at this point, the quizzer 
could be brought into line with the 
*> Cs proposed new rules by the 
simple expedient of axing its 
Phone gimmick. And, it's noted, 
Bank was a strong rating-getter 
long before the phone-call feature 
was added. 

"Bank" is currently No. 
Hooper's stakes. 



No Harm Meant 

Chicago, Aug. 17. 

Engineers ready to telecast 
the first test palfern of WNER- 
TV Thursday (12) found that 
the regular slide hadn't ar- 
rived, so they called a camera 
shop and got a Walt Disney 
product. Slide showed the Big 
Bad Wolf and two little pigs. 

Viewers at Chi's two other 
tele stations, WBKB and WGN- 
TV, interpreted the slide as a 
sly rib, but WENR-TV engi- 
neers insist it was used mere- 
ly because of its linear quali- 
ties. 



Pauley Firm Wants 
Whack at Thackrey 
LA. Video Station 

* Washington, Aug. 17. 
Southern California Television 
Co., newly organized Los Angeles 
firm, last week asked the FCC for 
a chance to bid for the Dorothy 
Thackrey tele station KLAC-TV in 
L.A. 

Ed Pauley, who is trying for a 





ST 

TO 74 DEGREES 

The heat's off television actors — 
and it's all because TV producers 
have finally incorporated motion 
picture lighting techniques into 
their work. Result is as good, if 
not better, than studio lighting, 
with about one-fifth the heat in 
which tele performers once swel- 
tered. 

System has been tried and 
proven at the WCBS-TV (CBS,' 
N. Y.) studios where, according to 
production manager John DeMott, 
the hottest spot on any set now in 
use is 74 degrees. Chief reason for 
this, DeMott said, is that CBS 
lighting is now being handled by 
George J. Stoetzel, former film 
cameraman in jFrance and Ger- 
many and associated in this coun- 
j try on many films with producer 
Louis de Rochemont. Stoetzel uses 
only standard incandescent and 
j fluorescent lamps, but keeps the 
| lighting system flexible and con- 
I trollable through techniques 
learned while working on films. 
Through. this method, he said, he's 
jbeen able to achieve better results 
with less heat. 

On "Face the Music," for ex- 
ample, a 15-minute across-the- 
board show, Stoetzel uses only five 
lights for the entire set, where the 
show formerly used 31. WCBS-TV 
formerly used 700-800 candlelight 
of power for its key lighting, which 
Stoetzel has since brought down to 
100. Same modification in lighting 
di^d~ii|^ ; i(aiH^.^ V U8 ^? e 5^ carried out at the Marine 
Television California, and five other ' 
prominent Coast business men, are 
officials and stockholders of South- 
ern. Warner Bros, has made a deal 
with Thackrey pending FCC ap- 
proval. 

Southern asked FCC to require 
Thackrey and Warners to specify 
the consideration being paid for 
KYA, San Francisco; and KLAC 
and KLAC-Tv, in Los Angeles sep- „ , 

arately. It also asked that through tne multi-banked lights^ which^for 
in the AVCO rule, 60 days will be al 



r - . 

TV Fight Blackouts Seen as Result 
Of 75-Mile Radius Stance in D. C 



WPIX's Kosenkina Beat 

In the speediest scene-to- 
screen achievement yet chalk- 
up by any television station, 
the N. Y. Daily News' WPIX 
had a newsreel film of the 
piunge of Mrs. Oskana Kosen- 
. kina from the third-floor win- 
dow of the Soviet consulate, 
N. Y., on the air less than 
three-and-a-half hours after 
the event occurred last Thurs- 
day (12). 

Telepix newsreel crew got 
to the scene as the Soviet 
school teacher lay on the 
pavement in the rear of the 
consulate, and stayed until she 
was carried to an ambulance. 
Jump took place at 4:20 p. m., 
with the pictures hitting the 
air at 7:30 p. m. as part of the 
regularly - scheduled Telepix 
reel. Stills of the event were 
also shown twice during the 
evening and were blown up for 
use in the News: 



Elliott theatre, N. Y., which CBS 
TV now uses as a supplementary 
studio, although not to so great a 
degree. Fact that the lights aren't 
mobile in the theatre precludes 
their flexibility, Stoetzel pointed 
out. 

Part of the secret, Stoetzel be- 
lieves, lies in training directors to 
use lights for the best possible re- 
sults. Despite its elimination of 



Five Clients On 
McBride Airer 

, New television series starring 
WNBCs (N.Y.) star Mary Margaret 
McBride was set this week to tee 
oft on NBCrTV's east coast net- 
work Sept. 21, with five separate 
clients of the Newell-Emmett ad 
agency bankrolling segments of 
the 50-minute show. It's slotted 
in the Tuesday night 9 to 9:50 
spot, immediately following "Tex- 
aco Star Theatre." 

Despite the presence of five dif- 
ferent sponsors, the show won't be 
a participating program. Instead, 
«s to constitute five separate 
snows, consecutively. Format will 
Jollow that established by Miss 
McBride on her AM program, fea- 
turing mostly interviews with 
guest celebs, done in the NBC- 
J-v studios. Variety arts will also 
oe presented when they fit into 
the format. 

Sponsors include Sherwin - Wil- 
liams, Proctor Electric, Sylvania 
weetne Products, Holmes & Ed- 
wards division of International 
»"ver and Sunshine Biscuits.- Con- 
wact for the shpw, which was 

ck aged by Newell-Emmett, runs 
for 13 weeks. 



lowed for competing bids. 

The company said it understood 
that Warners was paying $1,045,000 
for the "package" deal, and intend- 
ed to sell KLAC as soon as the deal 
went through, in order to maintain 
its other radio interests in L. A. 
Warners is trying to buy the Thack- 
rey television construction permit, 
Southern said. 

Southern also objected to the 
"package" deal. It wants to oper- 
ate a tele station on channel 13. 
now allocated to KLAC-TV, and 
feels it should have a chance to bid 
on the L. A. station, regardless of 
disposal of the San Francisco out- 
let. 

FCC doesn't require separate 
j valuations on AM and FM stations 
I in the same city, but Southern 
pointed out that TV was a different 
matter. There are plenty of FM 
channels for all applicants, but too 
few TV channels, it said. 

If FCC listens to Southern the 
long-awaited Trackrey-Warner deal 
will be further delayed by at least 
60 days. 



s Washington, Aug. 17. 
Fight promoters' fears of televi- 
sion coverage cutting into their 
gate receipts may result in a policy 
of TV blackouts in the localities 
where bouts are staged, while sta- 
tions in other areas are permitted 
tb air them. 

Such a prospect loomed this 
week in the circumstances sur- 
rounding a deal by. CBS-TV to pick 
up the Ezzard Charles - Jimmy 
Bivins heavyweight contender . 
match here Sept. 13. Promoters of 
the fight specified that the telecast 
couldn't be aired within a 75-mile 
radius of Washington. That not 
only cut out D. C, but also Balti- 
more (where WMAR-TV is a CBS 
affiliate), with the result that the 
fisticuffs will be seen only via . 
WCAU-TV, Philadelphia; WCBS- 
TV, N. Y., and WNAC-TV, Boston. 

Winner of the Charles-Bivins 
match is expected to be signed .for 
a go against Jersey Joe Walcott 
late in September or early in Octo- 
ber, perhaps also in Washington. 
Possible upshot, of course, is that 
capital area fight fans may likewise 
be denied a TV view of this battle. 

It's believed that, despite claims 
in some quarters that tele doesn't 
hurt sports events gates, promo- 
ters of the Upcoming fight here 
noted the beefs in Philadelphia last 
month when televising of the light- 
weight championship fight there 
during the Democratic convention 
apparently cut deeply into the 
ringside turnout. 

Charles-Bivins bout is being 
sponsored by the . Variety Club 
Any possibility for a reduction here, with Gabe Menendez as pro- 
in the price of television receivers moter and Charles Walker, D. C. 
this year is apparently more re- j attorney, repping the club. CBS- 
mote than ever now because of the TV, with "ho outlet in Washington 
general inflation which has hit the , at present, arranged with WMAL- 
nation's economy. Emerson Radio j TV, D. C, to provide the pickup 
announced over the weekend a and feed the web. Russ Hodges will 
price boost effective Sept. 1 on all j do the bloW-by-blow * descriptions, 
radio and TV sets and its move is . Telecast will be bankrolled by Bal- 
expected to be followed soon by lantine Beer. . , 

other leading manufacturers. ; ' . : — 

Set producers until now had 
hoped to be able at least to keep 
their prices on ah even keel, since 
the cost of component parts would 
prohibit any substantial reduction 
at this time. Instead of lower- 
ing prices, most manufacturers 
planned to incorporate new and 
improved features into present 
models in order to continue luring 
the public to buy. 

That, however, was before in- 
flation took hold. In. announcing 
Emerson's price boost, prexy Ben- 
jamin Abrams pointed out that the 
hike was made necessary by in 



Emerson Move 
Seen as Knell 
To Price Cuts 



AGENCIES CAN NOW GET 
TELEVISION LOWDOWN 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 
h» ~ orld Productions, headed 
py led Robinson, is sending out a 
Brochure on the costs and techni- 
ques of television commercials to 
*» agencies and video stations 
throughout the country. 

Robinson's pamphlet outlines 
.lueas far, TV, jcommercjals. gives 
c °st, breakdowns, and establishes 
new ways of , presenting to same 
oia commercial. 



merly gave off such tremendous 
heat, WCBS-TV has found it pos- 
sible to stage better productions, 
getting a greater variety of camera 
angles, with the lesser light. Stoet- 
zel also works on set designing 
with chief designer Richard Rych- 
tarik to get the light down pat in 
advance of set construction. 

Lighting' expert is now working 
on a system that will make possible 
the lighting of a new set imme- 
diately. As he put it, it will be pos- 
sible to "slap up a set, loss in two 
scaffolds and have lights immcdi- 

s'oon as the new WCBl-TV ^dio^reased cost of labor and materials. | had assigned TV rights to WCBS- 
are completed He "sealed, his company had re- I TV (N. Y.). 

cently granted an 8% wage in- I With three new stations on the 
crease .to factory employees. This, ' air in the metropolitan N. Y. area, 
combined with the steadily mount- j the" scramble for football rights 
ing cost of components, he said, I has been intensified this year, with 
led to the overall price rise. ] the result that rights to several 

Specific price revisions are to be j teams are still in the hopper. In 
announced as soon as cost calcula- 1 1947, CBS-TV carried the Dodgers 



N.Y.sFootbafl 
Scramble Bigger 

Fall football picture for* televi- 
sion began to take shape this 
'week, with announcements that 
American Tobacco (Luckics) would 
sponsor eight Ivy League games 
over the DuMont web and that 
the professonial Brooklyn Dodgers 



Leading British Outfit 
To Hypo Canadian Video 

\f 11 T i I»l 1 1 a ""0"«eeu as soon as cost caicuia- | l«J47, CBS-TV carried the Dodger: 
VIS NeW lOrOntO flan! i tions are^mpleted. Current Emer-|and Columbia Univ. games, NBC 
t ,„ a„„ it i son prices ran 8 e from $14 95 for a :TV had the pro N. Y. Giants and 
Toionlo, Aug. 17. j table model radio to .$495 for almost of the Army games, and Du- 



Four Name Programs 



Hypoing the dormant television • 
situation in Canada, the British 
firm of Pye, Ltd., manufacturers 
of television and electronic equip- 
ment, has completed negotiations 
with the Canadian, government to 
establish an overseas branch here 
D„„I r „„„J D„ I „„„„ and has leased 14.000 square feet 
raCKaged By LyOnS 0 f space in what was a shell-filling 
plant here during the war years. 

Considered a pioneer in the 
radar field, Pye, Ltd., employs 
some 5 000 people in its English 
plant. Meanwhile some 50 key 
technicians will sail immediately 
from Britain to make the. neces- 



combination phono-radio-TV set. 



Hollywood, Aug. 17. 
Four television programs featur- 
ing Bebe Daniels, Anita Colby, 
Vera Vague and Diana Lynn have 
been packaged and are being ped- 
dled by Wynn Hocamora of A&S 
Lyons. 



Miss Daniels, who will do "In- sary insls nations n the new ■ Ca- 
side Hollywood with Bebe," a be- I I' « nt . and JK*S 

hind the scenes idea, and Mill Col- ! trate on television equipment. It 
by's program, which will be a ■ isn't known yet how many people 
charm and fashion show, will both j will be employed in the work here 
be filmed on 35m. Miss Daniel's > At the present time, the TV 
telepic will roll at Roach studios I channels allotted to -Canada have 
probably as a Hal Roach Television ! not been distributed yet by ihe 
production. Miss Colby's vidfilm j C a n a d ; a n Broadcasting Corp. 
will go at Motion Picture Center, j which, in the nationalized radio 

Miss Vacue will do a romedv setup, will retain (he choicer chan- an affiliation contract with WBAL- 
teleprogram and Miss Lynn a ' nels itself. Numerous requests for ! TV Baltimore, owned and opera! 
musical TV show titled "The Di- i TV licenses from Canadian in- cd by 
ana Lynn Music Shop." Four , dependents are piling up but de- 
packages will be 15. minute shots eision op, these, ,qne way ^r./arn 
with Miss- Vague and Miss Lynn 1 other, -won t be. determined until 



Mont had the Yankees, as well as 
several college games. 

WJZ-TV (ABC) has. already 
! picked up rights to • the Giants 
I this year but so far hasn't snagged 
! a sponsor. DuMont will repeat on 
! the Yankees, with Chevrolet pay- 
i ing the freight. Who will carry 



Sobol to KNBH as Planned; 
Kudner Deal Falls Thru 

NBC television director Ed So- 
bol, contrary to previous reports. 

won't move over to the Kudner ad ; J. vhl * co " e & f m , es £?T1„m 

agency as TV head. Instead, he : d ?" b f t Chesterfields has bough 

stays with NBC, going to the Coast j to f Columbia co " tests 

as program director of KNBH <Los dec t lded ° n 1 \ e „ 0U „ Ue !' 



Angeles) in the fall as originally 
planned. 

Sobol, who directs "Texaco Star 
Theatre" for Kudner, confirmed 
he'd been approached to take over 
the agepcy job, but declared nego- . 
tiations had fallen through. His i 
Coast departure, incidentally, has j 
been delayed a month until Oct. 1. \ 



Rights to most of the other east- 
ern college teams are held by 
Luckies, whose agency, N. W. Ayer, 
is -currently drawing up a com- 
plete schedule of station assign- 
ments. 



NBC Pacts WBAL 

NBC television this week parted 



Hearst Radio. 
Contract is retroactive to last 



Hub's First Telecast 

Boston, Aug. 17. 
The first regularly skedded live 
studio telecast from the Hub hits 
the air tomorrow (Wed.) at 
7:15 p.m. 

WBZ-TV will telecast a very im- 
portant New England subject, 
namely the weather, with a series 



May J,* sin.ee, WBAL-TV. has (been. . of forecasts ; given. by> an Ms I. T. 
picking up NBC shows since that: professor., Di*. James Austin, in k- 
nmhahhT doins "their shots Tive i after a meeting of the CBS board date. WBAL, Hearst's AM outlet five-minute sustaining shot Wed- 
KCltoio of . governors, Oct. 1. \ in Balto, is also affiliated with NBC. nesday through Sunday. 



2* 



1WJKVISIOX REVIEWS 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



ABC Pnfls Out AH Stops for Its 
TV lnanpra! with 'Dream' Vaudeo 



By WICK DOAN 

In keeping with what seems to; 
have become the standard pat-* 
tern for launching a TV station,' 
ABC last week pulled out all the 1 
stops for the getaway- of its first 
owned and operated station, WJZ- , 
TV, N. Y., the sixth video outlet | 
to hit the air in- the Gotham area. ] 
It was a grandiose affair,' built on . 
high intentions, with some bold 
pretensions. It had some moments 
of highs, dramatic and entertain- 
ment value, notably during its air- 
ing of a two-part dream show; 
as it might have played the old 
Palace theatre. Televiewers, have . 
never before seen a show quite 
matching that one, and possibly 
never will again. 

Best function of the remainder 
of. the long evening's agenda was 
its showcasing of the station's 
future fare, with top billing in this 
sequence going, deservedly, to Al- 
len Flint's ''Candid Microphone." 
Slices of other stanzas were some- 
what less promising. The formali- 
ties attendant and apparently 



W«5-TV INAUGURAL 

Wait Beatrice Lillie, Junes Barton, 
£11 a Lagan, Paul Whiteman, 
Henry .Morgan. Pat Rooney, Sr.; 
Say SMser. Gus Van; Willie, 
West ti MeGinty; Buck * Bub- 
bles; Walter Dare Waal ft Jae; 
Carlton Emmy's Mad Wags, 

- Mary Rave It Naldl, Jul ex Leuz- 
aarg * arch, all from .stage of 
Palace theatre; Edward J. Noble, 
Mark Woods, Grover Whalen, 
Wayne Coy, other officials; 
"Haylaft Haedawn," Allen Font's 
"Candid Microphone," "Holly- 
waad Screen Test," "Cartoon 
Telenews," ather sample pro- 
erasas; New Yark City Golden 
Jubilee parade; dancers and 
singers af foreign nationa l ity 
groups; virtually • all of ABC's 
commentators and many pro- 
gram stars; George Hicks, Mil- j 
ton Cross, Walter Kiernan,! 
Pauline Frederick, Homo Vin- 
cent as emcees 

Producer: Paul Mowrey, assisted j 
by Burke Crotty 

Palace show producer: Larry Puck ! 

Technical Supervisor: George : 
Milne . 

4 Hr&, 37 Mins.; Tues., (16), 7 p.m. ; 

Sustaining . j 

ABC-TV, from N. If., Philadelphia, 
Washington 

; t 

■ 

necessary to the occasion — re-j 
marks by ABC toppers Edward J. j 
Noble and Mark Woods, city 
greeter Grover Whalen, FCC! 
Chairman Wayne Coy (picked upj 
from Washington) and others — 
were commendably brief. The 
program's weakest segments were 
those saluting the . city's Golden ' 
Jubilee. Civic-minded as this tie- ! 
up was, and perhaps spectacular, 
on paper, it jelled into nothing I 
more than a couple , of .fillers, (ft 
must be noted that, due to unex- 
pected last minute obstruction by 
the gendarmes, ABC had to move- 
its "block party" sequence from j 
Duffy Square, where it might have ' 
had more color, into a bare studio 
where it came off as a fortnless 
Tun-through of polyglot song and { 
dance numbers. It was a discor- 1 
dant amateurish interlude amidst 
. the wealth of expert professional ' 
talent.) 

The presentation of ABC's bat- 
tery of gabbers, seated around 
tables in a restaurant setting, was 
stiff and lacking in showmanship, j 
The sampling of shows had an un- 
rehearsed, thrown - together air. 
The lighting, staging, camera 
work were occasionally faulty. But. 
considering all things— that TV 
techniques are everywhere still in 
an experimental stage at this point; 
that ABC was badly handicapped 
hy shortage of studio space; that 
the long array of sequences repre- 
sented an immense amount of 
mobilization and coordination — 
the teeoff came across amazingly 
well, with nothing worse than 
minor hitches. Web's video direc- 
tor Paul Mowrey and his crew rate 
an A-plus for effort and plenty of 
kudos for overall performance. 

The Palace bill, aside from its 
sock entertainment payoff as a 
nostalgic revival of the top vaude. 
fare of yesteryear, presented tor 



trade observers some interesting 
developments. Acts by singles and | 
duos were comparatively simple 
TV pickups, offering televiewers 
an even closer than front-row seat 
closeup of performers' facial ex- 
pressions. On the other hand, the 
closeup camera (several rows back 
from the oreh pit), possibly due to 
its from-under angle, squashed 
some of the stars' images (notably 
Ella Logan and James Barton) 
with murderously unflattering ef- 
fect. Also, the cameras had an 
exasperating way, it was found, of 
often ogling the wrong person — or 
part of a person — that the viewer 
wanted to see. (I.e.. the pickup 
would switch to a long shot mid- 
way through a closeup sequence 
you wanted to see; two performers 
would be bantering and you only 
saw one; Ray Bolger's feet were' 
dancing and you only saw his face, 
or vice-versa. I The fault seemed 
to lie in too frequent camera 
switches, striving for variety and 
action when both of these were 
inherent in the act itself, and often 
ill-timed or poorly selected 
switches. 

As for the calibre of the Palace 
bill — what can be said of such top 
acts as Bea Li 1 lie. Barton, Miss 
Logan, Bolger, et al., that hasn't 
been said before? It was terrific 
entertainment. Pat Rooney, Sr., 
was ■ absolutely inspired. Bolger 
handled his difficult emcee ing role 
with a thoughtful checkrein on 
nostalgic emotion. The brief re- 
vival of vaudeville's heyday was 
complete even to Jules Lenzberg 
batoning the pit orch. ° 

It was a bill to end all Palace 
bills from a talent cost standpoint, 
too. ABC laid out $14,000 for the 
one-nigbfcer's -acts, not including 
Paul Whiteman's band and the pit 
orch. whereas the total cost of a 
week's acts in the Palace's best 
years usually hovered around 
$10,000. 

For some unapparent reason, the 
director of the Palace pickups 
favored two cameras, the closeup, 
which at times seemed almost too 
intimate, and a side balcony ike 
which seemed too far away on most 
occasions. A third camera, in cen- 
ter mezzanine, which afforded an 
undistorted and 



Another 'Ideal' Bill 

In the heyday of vaudeville 
VardsI-y ran an intra-trade con- 
test for the so-called "ideal" 
vaudeville layout. Showmen 
from all walks, in those days, 
rather fancied themselves as 
expert bookers of bigtime 
vaudeville, and many an inter- 
esting lineup of an "ideal" 
vaudeville bill was published. 

In light of the Palace's one- 
night stand last Tuesday— a 
revival stunt for the WJZ-TV 
inaugural— with a "dream" 
bill that cost $14,000 for the 
basic talent, not counting the 
Jules Lenzberg (pit) and Paul 
Whiteman (stage I orchestras, 
this is the show adjudged the 
winner in Variety's content 
in 1911: 

Pederson Bros. 

Alice Lloyd 

Harry Lauder (he wasn't Sir 

then) 
Mclntyre & Heath 
. Frank Keenan * &Co. 
Intermission 
Jack Norworth-Nora Bayes 
Julian Eltinge 
Nat Wills 

Annette Kellerman 



Teie FoHowup 



Duncan Sisters did a guest shot 
on "We the People" Tuesday (10) 
on WCBS, N.Y., and their perform- 
ance made it obvious to anyone 
who had never met up with them 
before, why they were headliners. 
There's no mistaking talent and 
the Duncans .showed on this brief 
bit enough to form the belief that 
their particular approach to the- 
atricals could find a spot in video. 
Rosetta'.s blackface routines are ex- 
cellent for the medium, as shown 
by her "Never Had No Mammy" 
bit, foiled by Vivian. It and they 
were swell. 



NEWS AND VIEWS 
With Walter Kiernan, guests 
Director: Bob Doyle 
Producer: John Madigam 
15 Mins.; Wed., 1 p. m. 
Sustaining 

wjz-tv, n. y. 

The search for » wholly satisfac- 
tory method of presenting news on 
tele, other than via newsreel, is 
still on. And WJZ-TV obviously 



PRESIDENTIAL STRAWS IN 

THE WIND 
With Elmo Roper, Lyman Biysou 
Director: Frank Schaffner 
30 Mins.; Tues., 9:35 p.m. 
Sustaining > 
CBS-TV, n. y. 

Alternating every other week 
with "People's Platform" in CBS' 
Tuesday night television lineup, 
"Presidential Straws in the Wind 
is a firstrate contribution to TV 



view, was seldom used. 

Another discovery: all-over-the- 
stage acts like the Willie, West & 
McGinty bricklayers' farce are dif- 
ficult pickups. The ike ogling the 
whole scene is too far back in the 
house to effectively display the 
act when it's reduced to a tiny tele- 
screen, and closeup shots are 
bound to miss 25 to 50% of the 
gags. It seems doubtful that a 
director, even if he knew the act 
as well as the performers . them- 
selves, could satisfactorily project 
it on TV as it is traditionally per- 
formed. (On the other hand, the 



"Toast of the Town" (CBS-TV) 
vaudeo show, on the basis of Sun- 
day' (15) night's session, could well 
follow the lead of NBC's "Texaco 
Star Theatre" in moving its cam- 
eras up on the stage, instead of 
keeping them anchored to the 
present three offstage positions. 
Despite the. probability that on- 
middle-distance stage cameras might often obstruct 



the view of the theatre audience 
it's the home viewers at whom any 
TV show should be aimed. 

Talent on Sunday night's pro- 
gram was good but could have been 
spotlighted to much better advan- 
tage by more precise camera work. 
On the King Odom quartet, for 
example, the cameras were held 
much too long on one shot because 
of their static positions. Same 
held true for the dancing Hollo- 
way sisters who. incidentally, al- 
most lived up to the rave intro 
handed them by emcee Ed Sul 



hasn't found it in this stanza. The j public affairs programming. Show 
viewer doesn't get much news, or j i s making an adult and entertain- 
many views, either, despite the fact ing efforf to probe some of the 
that the format seems to contain j crucial issues facing the electorate 
the germ of a good program idea. ! in the 1948 presidential campaign. 

Getaway sequence last week (11) Success of this program and others 
opened with Walter Kiernan point- j of the same type, however, de- 
irU to a world map showing where ;.P?nds upon the willingness of 
art's ,r« correspondents were vldeo viewers to listen to 30 
ABCs "^.^K'^f^'miiiiilts of talk, interrupted only- 
stationed. Then he sat inmse t be- ■ b v jc„ai pimmirit 
hind a small desk authentically j ra * el> oy a Vlsual Smmiek. 
cluttered with books, papers, etc.,' Format is a combination of a 
and introduced, sitting on either public opinion poll and straight 
side of him, a 'couple from Con- , *»Sg"£ 0 ?rarf Elm^ Rooer re- 
necticut and a gentleman from Mis- } £*e ^A^T^Zesut 
soun. It turned out they we e I of w , c ^ fefcfly out- 
passersby, plucked out of a group ; , ines the factual background of a 

! current issue. On the preem (10). 
the problem involved prices and 
; price control. Four studio partic- 
: i pants, representing an average 
cross-section, were then questioned 
by moderator Lyman Bryson on 
various aspects of price, wage and 
profit controls. Following the dis- 
cussion, Roper analysed, via 
graphs, the standing of national 
opinion on the same questions. 

In all cases on the preem stanza, 
the attitudes of the four guests 
varied widely from the national 
average. This result was not un- 
expected in view of the narrow 
studio sampling. The studio dis- 
cussion, however, served as clear 
backdrop to Roper's presentation 
of the national opinion poll results, 
which is the central purpose of 
this program. Both Roper and 
Bryson did a neat job of keeping 
the comments rolling and the focus 
sharp while maintaining an atmos- 
phere of free discussion Hcrm. 



touring the broadcasting studios. 

Kiernan would read a dispatch 
(or, rather, just the lead of it) from 
the ticker machines, then try to 
draw comments from his guests on 
the subject. As might be expected 
on such chance selection, they 
didn't prove any too articulate. The 
only action involved was the ap- 
pearance of a copy boy to spike 
some .late dispatches on Kiernan's 
desk and the amusing departure of 
the Missourian ("I have to continue 
my tour") followed by his replace- 
ment by \ schdblmarm from Vir- 
ginia. 

The camera viewing the whole 
scene was so close up that the Mis- 
sourian and his replacement never 
more than barely showed in the 
picture. Unaccountably, too, this 
camera seemed immobile, with the 
result that only the forearm of the 
Virginia schoolteacher was visible 
when she shook hands with Kier- 
nan. Kiernan got to about half a 
dozen news leads during the se- 
quence, but it could hardly be. said 
that the viewer learned much more 
than he would by a 10 second kibitz 
of somebody's newspaper in the 
subway. 

No question, though, but that I Writer: Jim Bridges 
ABC has a most engaging and capa- | 30 Mins.; Tues., 8:30 p.m. 
ble guy in Kiernan. He's smooth | WLWT, Cincinnati 
on the adlib, pleasant of voice and j Everything considered, all hands 
appearance, and equally at home turned in a creditable job on this 
in the roles of newscaster, inter- tele jtest of the film and radio 
viewer and "emcee. ABC should ferial, rights on which belong to 
make good use of him. Doau th « Frederic W. Ziv Co. 

Seven of Crosley s radio and 
j video spot thespians were almost 
j faultless in their lines and the 
I cameramen kept up with the short- 
! intermission changes of two apart- 
ments and an office set in the 30- 
minute unraveling of the double 
murder, committed miles apart by 



BOSTON BLACKIE 

With Bob Middleton, Laura Eraser, 
Bob Bentley, Allan Lurie, Tom 
Kane, Golda Setter, William 
Querncr 

Producer-directors: Chester Her- 
man, Rikel Kent 



, livan. Surprise of the show were 

$&2£^?&}5& M * lV the neat little comedy bits turned 



Carlton Emmy's dog act.) 

As TV material, the Palace bill 
put together by ABC's Larry Puck, 
who knows his way around in show- 
biz, only verified what the "Texaco 
Star Theatre" is proving everjn 
week: vaudeo has solid value in 
video. 



THE FAMILY SING 

With Grace Albeit, Eliiatt Sullivan. 
Diana Daimewirth, Mickey Car- 
roll, Bertha T. Powell, Margaret 
Irving, guest; Jack Rayel an- 
nouncer 

Producers: Arthur Ebrlich, Shee- 

lajfh K. O'Malley, 
Director: Carl Beicr: r" ' ■ • 
Writes: George Roosen :'• ■• * 
30 Mins.; Tues., 8 p.m; : " ;• 
Sustaining ■'■ 
DuMont, from N. Y. -. .. \ a . : 

This is a well-meaning, : folksy 
show of some appeal, whose corny 
quality in construction and direc 



in by bandleader Russ Morgan and 
"Toast" maestro Ray Block. Much 
more affable than the poker-faced 
Vincent Lopez, also on stage Sun- 
day, Morgan showed possibilities 
for a good video personality. As 
for Block, it's surprising producer 
Mario Lewis hasn't used his 
comedy talents more, before this. 

Comic Julie Oshins came up 
with a passable monolog and 
Tommy Trent pleased with his 
standard Punch and Judy act. 
Songstress Yvette evidenced her 
long experience as a tuneseller and 
looked well before the cameras. 
Her choice of last season's "Civil- 
ization," however, could have been 
improved upon, especially since her 
forte has always been the ballad 
and not the jump tune. Sullivan, 
sporting a new suit, was okay, but 
why he persists in using a mike 
for. both himself and the rest of 
the talent is hard to figure. Sub- 
stitution of an off-camera boom 
mike would perk up the show 



CAPTAIN BIHY'S SHOWBOAT 
With Ralph Dumke, Johnny Downs, 
Bibi Osterwald, Juanita Hall, 
Betty Brewer, George Jason; 
John Gart, music 



Ducovny Z^'™* * ^ »* 



Director: Roland Gillett 
30 Mins.; Mon. (16), 8:30 p.m. - 
Sustaining 

WCBS-TV-CBS, N. Y. 

. Here's a nostalgic little show 

built around the Ohio River show 




Stop It! 

It's about time the reviewers 
and the television bunch 
stopped crying over vaudeville 
and the dear old Palace. 
. especially the dear. old. Palace. 

Many * lousy bill played the 
Palace. If you don't think so 
take a look in VAsurn files. 



; tion limits its draw. Idea of a mu- 
sical family given to bursting into j 
song or running to the piano isn't j ""'""erauiy. 
. highly original, but could be made j 

j into an acceptable airer. Static, I Wnv radio and tele announcers 
amateurish qualitv of this produc- i persist in contradicting field an- 
| tion eliminates it from that cate- ' nouncers on the position of a foot- 
gory., j ball on the gridiron is an annoying 

! b n ,»at y fot^n^ ! ^y^Towt 1 w«S 

„ '" ... ' „ , ■ surround a grid mike. They don't 

Grace Albert, as Mom, was the |8eem to realize that field speakers 
most natural and appealing of the ! filt er through that pickup And 
I group, and sang a lovely old ballad, ; when the remote voice says the ball 
< I Know My Love ' very eharm, ) u on the H-yard line and Slater 
ingly. to net own zither accompani- 1 claims it's on the 13, but consist- 
i ment. Margaret Irving as guest, ; ently. it's enough irritation to flip 
I brought in some show biz rerain- a dial. ' Slater did this consistently 

through the WABD, N.Y., televis- 
ing of the N.Y. Yankees-Buffalo 
Bills grid battle at Ruppert Sta- 
dium, Newark, Thursday (12) even- 
ing and it took the edge off an 
otherwise good job of video report- 
ing by him and the Dumont cam- 
1 era men. 



iscences that had appeal, and sang 
j "A Pretty Girl" nicely. Diana 
I Donnewirth, 17-year-older, had the 
j best voice, and handled "Lost 
i April" and "Almost Like Being in 
i Love" well. Camera' wasn't too kind 
<to the ladies in certain shots, to 
> hurt the program further. Brou. 



hour 

Bob Middleton, in the "Blackie" 
assignment, seemed more like 
| "Boston Baldy," his. hair shortage 
: being conspicious in closeups. Bob 
Bentley, a vet of both the dramatic 
stage and radio, was at home in 
boats, that CBS-TV should have no the inspector role. Allan Lurie as 
trouble in selling. Showcase pre- ■ the heavy, did excellently ' ' 
sentation Monday £16) night, al- ! What might help considerably to 
though lacking in good camera! ease the abrupt finish, would he 
work because of the difficulty in . the use of a roll or traveler cur- 
staging such a show on a theatre I tain on the closing scene for an- 
stage, was jampacked with enter- j plication of the theatre standby 
tainment. curtain calls, for more warmth be- 

Show's basic format is the: tween Payers and audience. It 
vaudeo technique .already em- j also allows for talks about the play 
ployed so successfully on TV, but at nand 811(1 those to follow, 
presented against "a simulated j, Koll. 
showboat backdrop, complete even 
to the variety olios. For an added 
nostalgic fillip, the middle of the 
show was given over to an oldtime 
meller, suitably titled "The Mill- 

Sawine tehW rwt *1P ie, i, th ? M,SS KHEINGOLD CANDIDATES 
cast of avert H ih ££Lh kT ent ' With six Rir,s for "Miss 

«fvlp w fL J • b,0ad b" 1 ; 1650 " 6 Rheingold of 1949" 
I win iw it ma5U Ti? of J a ?S hs ' ! Director: Roger Pryor 
aided by .the requisite heckling ' 5 Mins 

m?iS iSS, il ud, ° a J udien E e '. i EIEBMANN BREWERIES 
m fhP Zl & CU f t0 thelr 3ol> l Foote - Co™ * Belding) 

sion pre " broadcast warmup ses- W hat sets this briefie apart as 
ro ... I one of the most cleverly contrived 

With Ralph Dumke, in the role; tele cemmercials to date is a 53- 
°LS a i Pt " Bi,ly Brv ant, serving as an ! foot-long "stop motion" sequence 
affable emcee, fine talent was all ' depleting in film cartoon fashion a 
down the line. Johnny Downs made parade bi beer-bottle howitzers, 
a sock TV bow with bis songs and beer-can soldiers, sin-troops glid- 
dances, also playing the hero's ing on beer-can openers, and even 
part in the meller. Comedienne a beer-keg blimp. 
hTboth ^.VhT^ 2**? ! Sequence foUows introduction of 
ins T StlndnT t^Stt six young femmes, come to life 
S;«jm j 1 ?! Juanita Hall, out of photos in a full-page mag 
BrS^^^^^W * d - md teU why th <* should be 
t5?m!!F£$ P - he fine's; elected Miss Rheingold. Five- 
t^LL I^iLf d u m x ag,c,an Ge orge ! minute commercial is being aired 
^I L r ^ £ l i e fun -„ Plano Dack - i throughout August over lour N. Y. 
ing by John Gart was fine. stations, WABD-TV, WCBS-TV and 

If CBS ever decides to move the ! WPIX. '/ 

£,h°i. l l am , lnt0 its new studios, j Beer bottle parade is said to have 
where the cameras are mobile and been conceived by Philip Lieb- 



not. stationary as in the Maxine 
Elliott theatre, results should be 
much better. As it is, however, this 



mann, advertising veepee of the 
suds outfit. Stop-motion tech- 
nique, of course, has been employed 



show gives promise of being one of ; in Hollywood for puppet shorts 
"Z^ Sl duri S? the new fiU season, but this Lietmoanh c»Slo7^-' 
once a suitable sponsor is tagged, j doubtedly is going to be copied 
•Stal. 'plenty. JDoas. 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



27 



/ 



tOO VERDICTS for the 

"Program that Sponsors the Product" 

...THE HOUSEWIVES' PROTECTIVE LEAGUE s 

Look at the list on the right. You'll agree it's a blue-ribbon 
panel of smart national spot advertisers. You'll agree, too, that each 
of these advertisers sets an example that pays— and pays to follow! 

All 100 of these profit-minded advertisers have been spon- 
sored by The Housewives' Protective League during the past twelve 
months. They pay for this privilege. 

... Because they know that listeners know every product spon- 
sored by the HPL must pass a rigid consumer test by the HPL 
. Testers' Bureau (a panel of housewives in each station's listening 
area) before being approved for sponsorship. 

...Because they know that every word of every HPL com- 
mercial is adlibbed in an interesting and sincere manner into the 
program format... is certain to get complete audience acceptance. 

...Because they have found that The. Housewives' Protective 
League is the most sales-effective participation program in all radio. 

The dollars and sense testimony of EACH of these 100 adver- 
tisers proves conclusively that this unique radio program can write 
a unique sales success story for you . . . if— like these 100 advertisers 
—you can qualify! For more information about The Housewives' 
; ' . Protective League, get directly in touch with any of the eight sta- 

v tions carrying the program, their national spot representatives, or 

"The Program tliat Sponsors the Product"... 

THE HOUSEWIVES' 
PROTECTIVE LEAGUE 



HPL MARKETS: 

Los /Ingcles (50,000-Kttlt KNX) 
Chicago (SOfiOO watt IFBBM) 
St. Louis (50,000-ivatt KMOX) 
San Francisco (5,000-icatt KQW} 
New York iSOfiOO-wutt WCBS) 
T'ashinglon, D. (.. 
(SOftOO icatt IT- TOP) 
Minneapolis-St. Paul 
(50,000-tcatt WCCO) 
Seatth-Tacoma (SOfiOO-i™" ^IRO) 
and more great marhcts and 
stations to be announced 
later in the year. 



A division of CBS 

Columbia Square, Hollywood 




DURING'THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS 

THESE 100 ADVERTISERS WERE SPONSORED BY 

THE HOUSEWIVES' PROTECTIVE LEAGUE PROGRAMS. \ 

Allied Food Industrie! (Holiday Mocoroon Mix) a 
Am.rican Home Produett torp. (G. Washington Coffee) 
American Packing Co. (Sunrise Meals) 
Armour 1 Co. (Hiss. Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese) 
Bollard and Ballard Co. (Bollard Oven-Ready Biscuits) 
Beatrice Foods Co. (Meadow Cold Butter and other products) 
Beltone Hearing Aid Co. (Hearing Aid) 
Birds Eye Snider Inc. (Birds Eye Frozen Foods 

and Snlder's Catsup) 
iMk-oMhe-Month Club - 

Blue Moon Foods Inc. -(Cheese) , 

Bordo Produett Co. (Citrus Juices) 

E. L. Bruce Co. Inc. (Bruce Floor Cleaner) 

California Almond Growers Exchange (Diamond Almonds) 

California Fig Institute (California Figs) 

California Prune and Apricot Growers' Ass'n (Sunsweet Prunes)' 

California Spray Chemical Corporation (Insecticides) 

California Walnut Growers' Association (Diamond Brand Walnuh) 

Campbell Soup Co. (Soups) 

Canada Dry Ginger Alt Inc. (Carbonated Beverages) 

Clean Home Products Int. (Apex Insecticides) 

Clorox Chemical Co. (Boon Household Cleaner) ' J 

Comfort Mfg. Co. (Craig-Martin Toothpaste) 

Consolidated Dairy Products Co. (Dorlgold Cheese) 

G. H. Coughlon Co: (Chimney Sweep) 

Curtis Publishing Co. (Holiday) ~,~ 

D'Arrigo Bros. Company (Andy Boy Broccoli) 

t. DeMartlnl Co. Inc. (Roosted and Salted Mixed Nuts) 

Dtnnison's Food Company (Dennison's Food Products) 

Doubjedoy and Co. Inc. (Book League tf America) 

August E- Drucker Co. (Revelation Tooth Powder) 

Durex Blade Co. Inc. (Durex Razor Blades) 

Electric Household Utilities Corp. (Thar Washing Machims) 

Frlto Company (Frltos). 

General Foods Corporation (La France) 

General Petroleum Corporation of California (Tavern Waxes) 

Golden Slate Ca. ltd. (Golden-V Vitamin Milk) 

Gold Seal Company (Glass Wax) 

I. F. Goodrich Co. (Tractor Tl(ts) 

The Great China Food Products Co. (China Beauty Brand Canned! 

Chinese Food Products) 
Griffin Manufacturing Co. Inc., (Shoe Polish) 
Hills Brothers Co. (Dromedary Gingerbread) 
Hubingtr Co. (Quick Elastic Starch) 
Illinois Meat Co. (Canned Meat) 
Inland Rubber Corporation (Tires) 
Juice Industries Inc. (Sunfillcd Whole Orange Juice) 
Kerr Glass Manufacturing Corporation (Canning Supplies) ' 
Kretschmer Co. (Happy Harvest Wheal Germ) 
Lon-O-Shten Inc. (Cleaner) 
leeward Products Ltd. (Threads) 
lever Brothers Company (Ireezo) 
Lindsay Ripe Olive Co. Inc. (Olives) 
Lite Soap Co. (lite Cleanser) 
los Angeles Soap Co. (Merrill's Rich Suds) 
Maggl Co. Inc. (Maggi Bouillon Cubes) 
Manhattan Soap Co. Inc. (Biu-White) 
Morlin Fireorms Co. (Marlin Razor Blades) 
Mcllhenney Co. (Tabasco Sauce) 
Michigan Chemical Corp. (Pestmaster Products) 
Michigan Mushroom Co. (Dawn Fresh Mushroom Products) 
Mickleberry Food Products (MicMebcrry Meat Products) 
Louis Milani Foods Inc. (1890 French Dressing) 
Nosh Underwood Co. (Donald Duck Peanut latter) 
National Biscuit Co. (Shredded Wheat) 
National Carbon Co. Inc. (Krene) 
O'Brien's of California Inc. (Candy) 
Omnibook Inc. (Magozino) . 
Orr Felt and Blanket Co. (Orr Blankets) 
Park and Tilford (Tintex) 
/0 Payne Furnace Ca. (Furnace Sales and Service) 
Peer Food Products Co. (Peer Brand Pie Dough) 
Penlck ( Ford Ltd., Inc. (MY-T-FINE Desserts) 
Perfex Co. (Perfex All-Purpose Cleaner) 
Perk Foods Co. (Perk Dog Food) 
Pillsbury Mills Inc. (Pillsbury's Pit Crust) 
Pomona Products Co. (New West Raw Apple Juice) 
The Procter I Gamble Co. (Prell) 
Puritan Company of America (Realemon Brand lemon Juice) 
Radbill Oil Co. (Renuzil) 
Rand, McNally and Co. (Institutional) 
Samuel Goldwyn Productions Inc. 
Schulza and Burch Biscuit Co. (Biscuits) 
Sholwell Mfg. Co. (Hi Mac Candy Bars) 
The Silex Company (Sllex Glass Coffee Makers and Filters) 
Simon * Schuster Inc. (Books) 
Sioux Honey Ass'n (Clover Maid Honey) 
Soil-Off Manufacturing Ca. (Soil-Off) 
Southern California Citrus Foods (Real Gold lemon, Orange lose) 
Special Foods Co. (Joys Potato Chips) 
A. E. Stoley Mfg. Co. (Cream Corn Starch, Sta-Flo liquid Starch) 
• Standard Irands Inc. (Royal Puddings) 
Stewart and Ashby Coffee Co. (Coffee) 
Sweets Co. of America (Toolsie Fudge Mix) 
Taylor-Reed Corp. (OT Pie Crust) 
Vacuum Foods Corp. (Quick Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate) 
Wonder Company (Ovaltine) 
Word Inking Co. (Tip Top Bread) 
Washington Cooperative farmers Ass'n 
The Welch trope Juice Co. (Welch Grope Juice) 
Western Stationery C*. (loll Point Pens) 
Zenith Radio Corp. (Zenith Radionic Hearing Aids) 



1 1 I '•■ 9 



i '. 'i t -■ t i 1 ; • 



m 



i « -- 



tan ll 

.-«.-(■,• 



j l i t i I . Ii 



28 



RADIO 



Wwlne»i1ay, Angus! 18, 1948 



FCC Sets Oct. 1 Deadline on New Role 
For Private Use of Indie Senders 



Washington, Aug. 17. 

General use of individual radio 
transmitter-receivers for personal 
and private communications may 
become a reality if the proposed 
ruling of the FCC announced on 
Friday ( 13 ) becomes a rule. 

The proposed service- would per- 
mit shortrange radio equipment, 
including camera-sized sets now in 
development, to be put to a wide 
variety of use, ranging from pro- 
viding contact in isolated areas to 
operating radio-controlled devices. 
This equipment would also be 
available in periods of emergency 
■when normal communication facili- 
ties are temporarily disrupted. 

Two classes of citizens stations 
are proposed. Class A stations 
would be permitted to operate 
throughout the 460-470 megacycle 
- band, which was assigned to this 
service by the Commission's fre- 
quency allocations report in 1945. 
Class B stations would operate on 
465 megacycles only. Class A 
would be required to meet more 
rigid technical requirements than 
Class.. B stations. A maximum 
power of 50 watts is provided for 
Class A while a maximum for 
Class B would be 10 watts, FCC 
said. 

Briefs for or against this pro- 
posed ruling may be made by Oct, 
1. If comments received warrant 
it, FCC said it would schedule a 
hearing or oral argument. 



McGiil Returns to N Y. 
Despite Serious Illness 

Earle McGiil, freelance director, 
taken ill on the Coast last week, 
returned to New York over the 
weekend and is in serious condi- 
tion in the Hospital for Joint Dis- 
eases, N. Y. 

Although he had been ill at 
home for several days, McGiil flew 
to Hollywood to attend the conven- 
tion of the Badio & Television Di- 
rectors Guild, of which he was re- 
tiring national president. He was 
taken directly to the hospital there, 
but was subsequently discharged 
and returned east by train, accom- 
panied by William Sweets, new 
RTDG prez, and Mrs. Sweets. 




M-G-M — 
"On an- Island with You" 
"This Time for Keeps" 
Mqt.: LOU CLAYTON 



Allen's Army Roundup 

Chicago, Aug. 17. 

U. S. Army and Air Force has 
tagged Mel Allen for a quarter- 
hour Saturday night football 
roundup, starting Sept. 18 via 270 
stations of Mutual. Coast repeat 
will have Bill Symes giving addi- 
tional late scores. 

Gardner Advertising, St. Louis, 
is the agency. 



Nation's Mental Health 
Due for Psyching on CBS 
60-Min. Documentary 

Arnold Perl, who scripts the 
"Mr. Tutt" show for CBS, is work- 
ing on an hour-long documentary 
for the web dealing with the state 
of the nation's mental health. On 
his return trip to N. Y. from the 
Coast after huddles with Harry Ac- 
kerman on the "Tutt" series, Perl 
stopped off for talks with Drs. Karl 
and William C. Menninger at their 
clinic in Topeka, Kan. 

The mental health documentary 
is one of a trio currently shaping 
up at CBS for presentation this 
year.' The film industry documen- 
tary comes off in September; the 
mental health program in October 
and the ambitious survey into the 
magazine field, with emphasis on 
Henry Luce's Life- and Time, now 
scheduled for a November show- 
casing. Latter has been delayed 
due to illness of Edith Sulkin, 
chief reporter on the mag docu- 
mentary, who has 
ing at her home in Stamford, Conn. 



Change of Heart 

. Two forum airers jumped on 
the FCC giveaway crackdown, 
as a topic for upcoming de^ 
bates, but one of them had a 
change of mind. 

M u t u a 1 ' s "Opinion-aire 
scheduled the topic for tonight 
(Wed.), the question to be 
"Should Giveaways Be Pro- 
hibited on Radio?" But yes- 
terday (Tues.) a web exec dis- 
closed the idea had been 
dropped because "it would 
make a poor show — of interest 
to the trade but to nobody 
else." MBS stanza instead will 
take up "Should the Voting 
Age Be Lowered?" 

Irving Sulds, who used to 
produce Mutual's "American 
Forum of the Air" and whose 
"Court of Current Issues" on 
DuMont tele is in the "Opinion- 
aire" pattern, is going ahead 
With the idea. He's even try- 
ing to get FCC Chairman 
Wayne Coy to "testify." Stanza 
is skedded for Monday (23). 



WEHS Into Cash & Carry 
With National Tea Deal 

Chicago, Aug. 17, 
WEHS, Chicago FM'er, will 
broadcast special programs for Na- 
tional Tea shoppers from 9 a.m. to 
5 p.m. daily, under terms of a deal 
with Storecast, Inc., and the gro- 
cery chain. Contract is for one year, 
starting in October, with 40 FM 
receivers being installed in Na- 
tional Tea super stores. 

Deal marks the entry of WEHS 
into the cash-and-carry field, after 
more than a year of non-commer- 
cial operation. Station is owned 
by WHFC, Inc., Cicero, III. 



Lourenco Sells 
Out Full Sked 

Johannesburg, Aug. 1. 
New bookings and contracts on 
Lourenco Marques Radio, eommer. 
cial Portuguese East African sta- 
tion beaming Into South Africa, 
have now reached the point where 
its agents, Davenport & Meyer, of 
Johannesburg, report they can no 
longer accept additional bookings 
for spot announcements. With ex- 
ception of a few odd 15-minute 
periods, station is virtually at ea- 
who has been recuperat- pacity in ail sessions. 



Six Vacancies on FMA 
Board to Be Filled At 
Group's Chicago Meet 

Washington, Aug. 17, 
The FM Assn.'s second annual 
convention is being held Sept. 27, 
28 and 29 in Chicago. Marion 
Claire, director of WGNB, the Chi- 
cago Tribune FM station, and a 
member of the FMA board, is 
chairman of the convention. 
| Six vacancies on the FMA board 
will be filled at the meeting. On 
the nominating committee are: 
Matthew H. Bonebrake, veepee 
and general manager of WFMY, 
Greensboro, N. C; Ben Strouse, 



veepee and 

WWDC-FM Washington; Robert 
M. Beer, cfe-owner of WATC, Ash- 
land, O.: 'Thomas B. Tighe, mana- 
ger of WJBK, Asbury Park, N. J.; 



FCC Gives 13 FM, 
16 AM Grants 



Washington,, Aug. 17. 
FCC handed out FM grants dur- 
ing the week to: NBC, Denver; 
Hazleton Broadcasting Co., Hazle- 
ton, Pa.; Northwest Broadcasting 
Co., Fort Dodge, la.; Fayetteville 
Broadcasters, Fayetteville, N. C; 
Nashua Broadcasting Corp., 
Nashua, N. H.; WFNC-FM, Fayette- 
ville, N. C; WFLA-FM, Tampa; 
WKJG-FM, Fort Wayne; KJBS 
Broadcasters. San Francisco; 
KPRC-FM, Houston Post; KDON- 
FM, Monterey, Cal.; WGH-FM, 
Newport News, Va.; WTMA-FM, 
Charleston, S. C. Radio Kentucky 
of Louisville asked for a permit 
for a new FM station. 
] During the past week the Com- 
I mission granted new standard 
' licenses to: WLOX Broadcasting 
Co., Biloxi, Miss.; Community Serv- 
j ice Broadcasting Corp.. Amster- 
| dam, N. Y.; Airplane and Marine 
i Instruments, Clearfield, Pa.; Semi- 
j nole Broadcasting Co., Seminole, 
; Okla.; Volunteer States Broadcast- 
ling Co., Nashville; Fannin County 
Broadcasting Co., Bonham, Tex.; 
Shelley Radio-Electric Co., Need- 
les, Cal.; Rose Bowl Broadcasters, 
Pasadena; Stuttgart Broadcasting 



general manager of | Co., Stuttgart, Ark.; Jasper Broad- 
casting Co., Jasper, Tex.; Lampasas 
Broadcasting Co., Lampasas, Tex.; 
Williston Broadcasting Co., Willis- 
ton, N. D.; North Central Indiana 



and Charles D. Lutz, general man- ■ Broadcasting Corp., Kokomo, Ind.; 
ager of KYFM, San Antonio. | Hays County Broadcasting Co., San 

The committee will meet prior to , Marcus, Tex.; Home Appliance 



AUTO-LITE EXTENDING 



New biz includes Chesebrough 
advertising "Vaseline tonic and 
shampoo via "Singin* Sam" pro- 
gram Monday through .Thursday, 

'SUSPENSE' 13 WEEKS | pushing Dren'e Sundays 10-10:30 
, , ■ , j a.m. via "Guy Lombardo Show," 
Auto-Lite has already picked up | and Prell shampoo Saturdays 
its first option on Suspense^^x- ; 8 . 8 30 p m with an Aussie tran . 



the convention, which is being 
held at the Sheraton hotel, and 
draft a slate of candidates. Candi- 
dates- will be selected for three- 
year terms to succeed five" whose 
regular terms expire. The sixth 
will be chosen for the unexpired 
term of W. R. David, resigned. 
FMA president Everett L. Dil 



Store, Susanville, Cal.; and Miami 
Broadcasting Co., Miami, Okla. 



the convention:' Agenda, C. M. 
Jansky, Jr., Jansky and Bailey 
Washington, reception; Frank A. 
Gunther, vice-president of Radio 
Engineering Laboratories, N. Y.; 

tending the CBS airer 13 weeks I ^j^"^^" Parade","" Tas j ffid Essex WSJS mfwhSSS' 
beyond Oct. 7, What cinched the „ as ts) Rolex Watches , on gatem N c' • *>xhihif« SS? t2" 
pickup fast fo£ the sponsor and hollI .i v tim „ Ki ffna ic an d Rriirnl- s>a . 1 . em ' r N - -Jr < exhibits, Sam In- 
Newell-Emmett aeencv was the ™ y , • sg T ' - ■ • sull, Jr., Stewart-Warner Corp., 
neweu ummett agency was me , Myers p i uggm g i pa na via "Music Chicago- entertainment Frhvarri 
stanza's appearance in the No. 4 with / LUt ,. e Sundays 63M:45 A Wh«ler 'EvS 

p.m. This is in addition to present j and publicity, Paul W Reed 
, booking of 7-7:30 p.m., Monday ! WFAH, Alliance O 

two weeks for Auto-L.te. ! through Saturday, for Ipana, In- | ', ' ^ 

Program is currently booked ] gram and vitalis I 
seven weeks-ahead, with Martha: „ , , , , , .. •, 

Scott slated for the guestar role L 1" L s i^c 6 " I p0t J'? gl f 
in tomorrow (Thurs.) night's edi- Monday through Saturday. Colgate 

tion. She'll be followed (in order) ! has t ta £ en a „ ^P-* 92"* t,me 
by Van Heflin, Madeleine Carroll s P. ot Wednesdays _9_:3> 10 p.m., in 



June Tube Sales Rise 

Washington. Aug. 17. 
More than 100,000,000 radio re- 
lard announces the, chairmen of i living tubes were sold by member 
committees to.workon plans for companies of Radio Manufacturers 

■of America during the first half of 



1948, RMA said. June sales rose 
slightly over those of May, but 
were under sales of the preceding 
four months. 

Total half year sales were 100,- 
005,963, while June sales reached 
.15,114,272. 



bracket of Nielsen's Top 20, after , 
the show had been on the air only ! 



P&G MAY DROP 'JORDAN' 
IN FAVOR NEW SERIAL 



MONEY 

Is Scarce 

Plu? your proilnct with ft eon ft for 
h Mtni(. OriglMttl ooliys written to 
order on royalty arrangement only — 
m, 6ttsli outlay. Hit 1'jimde material. 
No, men Tempi*, 1133 S. lucerne, 1.A.6 



Gregory 
Virginia 
O'Brien. 



Peck, Burt Lancaster. 
Bruce and Edmond 



Smith Drops Guests In 
Show Switch Next Week 

Jack Smith show will have a 
change of format starting Monday . 
(23). Five-a-week series on NBC | 
will discontinue guests and substi- 
tute a regular rotation of support- 
ing acts. Tentative setup calls for 
"Martha Tilton to be on two nights 
and the Clark Sisters two nights, 
with Smith doing a solo stint the 
remaining stanza. 

Procter & Gamble Is the sponsor 
| and Dancer-Fitzgerald-Sample "the 
ager%y. 6 ' 



addition to the Monday 8 p.m. ! "Joyce Jordan" may be dropped 
time. M. Bertish Co. has taken two j by Procter & Gamble in favor of a 
Towers of London transcriptions, I new serial, "The Searching Heart " 
| "Gracie Fields Show" and "Noel | by Orin Tovrov, author of the same 
Coward Show," 13 weeks each, on i sponsor's "Ma Perkins " 
Mondays 9-9:30 p.m. | The soap firm's program depart- 

Renewals include Ovaltine for 52 ! ment has okayed the move, and 
weeks, Sundays 5:30-5:45 p.m. and the media group will consider it 
7:15-7:30 p.m., and Lever Bros., \ today (Wed.). Adrian Samish, ra- 
with "Lever Concert Hall" Sun- ! dio director of Dancer-Fitzgerald- 
days 7:30-8 p.m. for Lux, and "Lon- Sample, is in Cincinnati to make 
don Playhouse" (Towers) Sunday : the pitch. ■ 
! 8-8:30 p.m. for Sunlight Soap. 
I By arrangement with Goodyear, 
"The Greatest Story Ever Told" is 
being broadcast in transcribed 
form as a sustainer Sundays at 
3 p.m. 




11 



*. * * '* * 



1 




for (ktmk 

■> '\ S ; >U WSfif? :.:t iiftaSS 



* * 



National Representative: 

twirl 

****** *^^"* ******* 



Herb Moss May Supervise 
Hildy's London Diskings 

Herbert Moss, former radio pro- 
ducer foe Hildegarde, may. decide 
this week to go to London to su- 
pervise the 26 open-end transcrip- 
tions the songstress will make 
there in the next two weeks. 
They're being done at the Towers 
(of London) studios. 

Hildegarde and her manager, 
Anna Sosenko, meantime are In 
Rome all this week where the 
chanteuse is recovering from a 
laryngitis attack, They had a 12- 
minute private audience with the 
Pope who discussed music and 
piano with them in particular*. 

Chirper's first U. S. return en- 
gagement will be at the Milwaukee 
(her home town) Auditorium Sept. 
18, for benefit of the St. Alex- 
ander's Congregation. 



WNEW Gets Waiver to Disk 
Public Service Jingles 

WNEW, N.Y., has obtained a 
recording-ban waiver from the 
American Federation of Musicians 
to cut two new public service jin- 
gle series, one on fire prevention, 
the other on safety. Like previous 
series, the new jungles are ex- 
pected to be made available to 
other stations via interested or- 
ganizations. 

Indie also has a request from tne 
N. Y. Board of Transportation to 
do a series of jingles directed at 
subway riders. 



Park's Health' Stanzas 
Making Agency Rounds 

Ben Parjt, who produced WBBM's 
(Chicago) "Report Uncensored" 
documentaries, was in New York 
last week showcasing a 15-minute 
cross-the-boarder, "It's Your Life," 
to ad agencies. 

He put the stanza together In 
cooperation with the Chicago In- 
dustrial Health Council, and It's 
especially designed for institu- 
tional bankrolling by an insurance 
or pharmaceutical firm/ Format 
involves use of on-the-spot tape re- 
corded material. 



Buffalo 



Rome, Aug. 17: 

Hildegarde was granted a 10- 
minute private audience with Pope 
Pius XII at the Vatican last week. 

Later, the chanteuse was bed' 
at the Excelsior hotel, Rome, 

mild flu attack for several daps? 

Accompanying Hildegarde is hei" demtOtem- of 'WB*BN ' 
personal manager, Anna Sosenkd. and WBEN-TV Baffalo' 



William R. Rich, for- 
3! ' 




... OF THE 
ENTIRE KANSAS 
CITY TRADE AREA 
by the 

KMBC-KFRM 

Team! 

Only The KMBC- 
KFRM Team delivers 
complete coverage of 
the actual Kansas City 
trade area— coverage 
specifically designed 
to provide the adver- 
tiser with an .econom- 
ical means of reaching 
those who are in the 
habit of looking to 
Kansas City as their 
trading center. 



KMBC 
KFRM 



'•' r "I ••! ! PS 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



RADIO REVIEWS 



29 



ide Stuff— Radi 



Proposed FCC ban on, giveaways comes at a time when stories put- 
ting some of these shows in a bad light have been trickling through the 
trade with increasing frequency. 

One such rumor circulated — and even printed— recently was that a 
certain quiz giveaway stanza had taken to running in professional ac- 
tors as "contestants" in order to liven up the proceedings. Another 
unverified report was that an emcee had stooges, tipped off to correct 
answers, who were called in to grab the payoffs, which then were split 
with the m.c. 

An account which holds more water, however, and which has even 
been privately admitted in the case of several giveaway shows is that 
they are rigged so the interval between jackpot payoffs can be con- 
trolled. It's common knowledge, of course, that jackpots almost never 
are won two stanzas in a row (except, as in the case of "Take a Num- 
ber," where somebody must win the jackpot every time). By odd coin- 
cidence, the stretch,between jackpot payoffs in many of the loot-divvy- 
ing programs runs usually eight to nine weeks. 

That the date of the payoff isn't always determined by the long 
finger of fate was confessed offhand recently by a programming exec 
of one of the webs which has gone in heavily for the giveaway tonic. 
•He confided that it was possible "at any time" to make certain the 
jackpot would be won. He admitted that such information, in the 
hands of listeners, wouldn't exactly be an inducement to them to tune 
In the show during the first six or seven weeks. . 



In 15 years of working with radio people, Lillian Stewart, who was 
associated with Dorothy Lewis in the NAB's New York office until it 
was shuttered last year, got to know how little time busy execs can find 
for shopping for or even remembering birthdays, anniversaries, etc. 
So she and Mildred B, Roselle have' teamed up to launch a shopping 
service, named P. S. For $25 a year, they'll do all of a client's personal 
and gift shopping— and even address Christmas cards— and they'll cater 
exclusively to radioites. Starting date is Sept. 1. 



Difficulty of getting work in radio today has apparently been solved 
by a couple thesps, Eddie Wragge and Merrill E. Joels, via their "Gag-' 
of-the-Month-Club." Duo came up with the idea about six months ago, 
and since then each month have given out gadgets to about 100 di- 
rectors—including cigarette lighters, oversize dice, cactus plants, all- 
day suckers, phony insurance policies, etc. 

Stunts have kept them in directors' minds and paid off. Wragge got 
three running parts as result of the gags, and Joels one. Duo has had 
60 jobs in all thus far, on "Quiet, Please," "Adventures of Frank Mer- 
riwell," "Radio City Playhouse," "Dick Tracy," and others. Moral 
seems to be to have badgets or angles as well as talent. 



The network and agency flacks won't be among the mourners at the 
bier of the giveaway shows. For them— as one of them pointed out 
this week — the jackpot era has just been "a pain in the neck and a 
robber of sleep and rest." No question the giveaways have been sen- 
sational space-grabbers, what with the wire services carrying stories 
(sometimes also pix) every timS some listener wins a bundle. It's 
wonderful local promotion, too, in the town where the winner resides. 

For the flacks, however, the craze has .involved "covering" every 
giveaway sequence and, if the jackpot is won, spending most of the 
night spinning the wheels of journalism with followup stories and 
photos. 



HEALTHY, WEALTHY & WISE 
With Lavelle Waltman, Bill Glad- 
den, Clifford Shaw; Bob Kay, 
announcer 
30 Mins., Sat., 11 a.m. 
Sustaining 
WAVE, Louisville 

This quizzer is slanted for the 
kids on Saturday morning, and 
originates in the auditorium studio 
of WAVE. It breaks on the air 
with the usual cheers and applause 
of the small fry, but subsides to a 
slow moving q. and a. half-hour, 
which is obviously sluggishly paced 
by an assortment of unresponsive 
contestants. Both Lavelle Waftman 
and Bill Gladden, the m.c.'s, work 
hard, but find the going rugged 
trying to get a spark of sharp an- 
swers from their school kid con- 
testants. 

First part of the show has the 
kids divided into teams, four teams 
with three contestants on each. 
Any contestant can answer the 
question, and his points are cred- 
ited to his team. 

Parents of contestants are in- 
vited guests in the studio, and the 
half-hour should be entertaining 
to the live audience. However, on 
the air it comes out as a slow, 
tedious affair, pointing up the fact 
that hep contestants make a good 
show, and dull, unresponsive kids 
can mean nothing but a boring 
stanza. Waltman, m.c. for the first 
portion, is quick on the upbeat, 
and has a swell sense of humor, 
but he's carrying a big load. 

Hold. 

t Followup Comment 



"Leaders In Exile," WWRL, 
N. Y., showcase of political opin- 
ions from ex-leaders in Europe, 
rodej the headlines Thursday (12) 
with an inside report on the sen- 
sational c;jse of the Russian 
teacher who jumped out of the 
Soviet consulate's window. Count- 
ess Alexandra Tolstoy, leading 
figure in the international drama, 
gave her story to Meade Davidson, 
WWRL commentator, who. handled 
the interview in topflight journal- 
istice style. Apparently making a 
career of anti-Communism, this 
show has scheduled interviews 
with Alexander., Kerensky and 
Vladimir Zenzinov, two former 
anti-Bolshevik Russian leaders. 



MORNING WATCH 

With Walt Sheahan 

60 Mins.; 8 a.m., Mon.rtlirh-Sat, 

STANDARD FURNITURE CO. 

WROW, Albany 

Walt Sheahan, a new hand at 
unwinding "Morning Watch," does 
so with a certain amount of smooth- 
ness and skill. Chief criticism of 
the program is its similarity to 
"Musical Clocks" on two other Al- 
bany stations at the same time. 
New ideas for such shows are badly 
needed nere, but the old ones have 
presumably satisfied sponsors on 
results. That, or fertile minds, 
have tended to become sterile. 

Sheahan, who has been progress- 
ing rather steadily in his two years 
of radio work, tries for a little 
different touch with a daily poem 
and a moment of prayer (by a 
clergyman) just before the signoff. 
Poems are of the surface popular 
rather than of the deeper stimu- 
lating kind; Sheahan reads them 
well. The prayer phase might be 
broadened a bit. Transcribed 
music, Capital District chatter and 
anniversaries comprise bulk of the 
60 minutes. Baseball scores and a 
60-second news trip around the 
world are included. 

Emcee possesses a friendly air 
personality and a deep voice — the 
latter more pleasant when he 
modulates it. Advertising runs 
overboard. Jaco. 



RHYME DOES PAY 

With Fred Daiger 

30 Mins.; Mon. thru Sat., 8:15 a.m. 

Sustaining 

WHKW, Albany , 

An inexpensive gimmick gives 
a rather fresh touch to a standard 
transcribed program on one of Al- 
bany's two new 10,000-watt sta- 
tions. Fred Daiger, veteran miker 
and director of special events for 
WHKW, pays $1 for each rhymed 
request by a listener for a particu- 
lar tune. Greetings in rhyme are 
accepted. Daiger has also been 
seeking an introduction. Format 
permits the mention of names. It 
likewise helps Steve Rintoul's out- 
fit to fill in the geographical pat- 
tern* of the audience. Judging 
from the shots heard the first week, 
station is reaching into Connecti- 
cut and northern New York. 

Some of the couplets and 
quatrains are pedestrian; others 
posses elements of cleverness. They 
call for a variety of selections, 
nicely met from WHKW's library. 
Daiger works freely, easily and 



SKYWARD WITH EMPIRE : 
With Warren Sweeney, Paul 

Luther, others . n • 
Writer-Producer: Dave Harris 
15 Mins., Wed. (11), 7:15 p.m. 
N. Y. State Radio Bureau 
WROW, Albany 

Opening of the giant Idlewild 
Airport, N. Y., and its interna- 
tional air show was made the basis 
for a provocatively-titled dramati- 
zation-narration by the State Radio 
Bureau of aviation history and 
N. Y.'s contributions to this spec- 
tacular development. Four CBS 
actors were used, the program be- 
ing recorded in the N. Y. studios. 

Principal scene recreated cen- 
tered around the "first publicly 
announced flight" 40 years ago, at_ 
Hammonsport, on Lake Keuka, by 
Glenn Curtis— the Wright Bros/ 
pioneer soaring at Kitty Hawk, 
N. C, didn't receive any advance 
notice. The upstate episode, in 
which Simon Lake, submarine in- 
ventor, figured, came off fairly 
well. Another bit, in which a miker 
played a Frenchman flying to the 
U, S. and to upstate cities, on a 
business trip, and back to Paris 
within 10 days, emphastred the 
speed of such communication, but 
the actor overdid the accent. ' 

Program highlighted the growth 
of air travel and airports (now 
about 300) in New York state. It 
also called the role or the epoch- ■■ 
making flights from or stopping in 
New York. Commerce Dept. Com- 
missioner Harold Keller, one time 
N. Y. newspaperman, was spotted 
for a summary. Noises at Idlewild 
were incorporated for realism. 
Organ music bridged. 

Like other State Radio Bureau 
shows, this one is a low budgeter, 
with a strong promotional message, 
and okay. * Jaco. 



kiddingly on the listenable though 
not sensational half -hour. Program, 
sandwiched between 15 minutes of 
e.t. Crosby vocals and a news 
roundup, is preliminary to the 
first ABC show, the popular 
"Breakfast Club." Joco. 



Akron — WADC, Akron, on Mon- 
day (16) inaugurated a new pro- 
gram known as "The Good Time 
Club," which offers a weekly priie 
of a trip to New York with all ex- 
penses paid. The program," heard 
from 9:15 to 9:30 a.m. 'Monday 
through Friday, is based on a 
weekly topic of local interest. 



advertisers 




JOHN NESBITT'S "PASSING PARADE" ON WOR 

IS ONE OF RADIO'S MOST FAMOUS PROGRAMS! 

this wor newcomer (started February 2) is one of the most popular shows 
(at its time) in New York. You can buy this big-name, low-cost show for 
Fall. It's a transcribed dramatic-narrative series; now heard weekday 
mornings from 9:15 to 9:30« 

John Nesbitt has been called "the foremost storyteller of the 
nation." His "Passing Parade" is featured in two-thirds of the country's 
movie theatres. His movie shorts won him four Academy Awards. 
You can cash in on all this glory if you move fast. 
Call LOilgacre 4-8000 and ask for Sales. 



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30 



RADIO 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



Monitoring the Foreign Countries 



Washington, Aug. 17. 
(Following is news of radio in 
various nations as monitored from 
their official broadcasts by the 
V. S. Government.) 

Norway: Former Norwegian Min- 
ister of Education and Ecclecias- 
tics, Kaare Fostervoll, who recently 
resigned from the Norwegian gov- 
ernment, has been appointed head 
of the Norwegian State radio. 

French Indo-China: The Viet 
Nam provisional central govern- 
ment will be granted half the total 
broadcast time of Radio. France- 
Amerique. Bureau of Press and 
Information in Hanoi has placed 
at the service of the government 
half of the broadcast time, and 
management and technical direc- 
tion will continue unchanged. 

England: Long distance wire 
communications with London were 
«eriously affected Aug. 9 by sun 
spots. Transmissions from Ger- 
many and Eastern Europe, Russia, 
the Far East and Africa were re- 
ceived poorly in London, and by 
noon the largest part of shortwave 
communications weren't audible 
at "a'tl; 

Argentine: The board of the In- 
ter-American Assn. of Radio 
Broadcasters, in its meeting last 
night (16) in Sao Paulo, expelled 
the Argentine members of the asso- 
ciation. One of the board mem- 
bers, on arriving in Rio de Janeiro, 
said "as free men of radio broad- 
casting, we believe it necessary for 
radio to be free from government 
control. We have nothing against 
the Argentine government, but ra- 
dio men of that country, where the 
radio is controlled by the govern- 
ment, cannot belong to our or- 
ganization." 

Japan: The local tax system in- 
vestigation council approved the 
collection by various prefectures 
of the radio tax, ranging from 100 
to 200 yen yearly.' 

Colombia: By authorization of 
the Ministry of Communications, 
the Secretary of the Interior of 
Antioquia has ordered the termina- 
tion of the regime of censorship 
which has been in effect on radio 
newscasts from Medellin. 

Australia: More experimental ra- 
dio signals are being sent to the 
moon from Radio Australia's trans- 
mitters at Shepparton, Victoria. 
The experiments are being con- 
ducted by the Council for Scientific 
and Industrial Research. Scien- 
tists have already proved that 
.Signals from Shepparton were re- 
flected from the moon and received 
in Sydney about 2Mi seconds later; 
however, the reflected signal shows 
signs of failing. Listening posts in 
America are taking part and elab- 



orate electric timing devices are 
being used to check the time for 
the reflection of the signals. 

Malaya: Responsibility for the 
British Far Eastern broadcasting 
service has been taken over by the 
BBC. Since the liberation of Ma- 
laya, this service has been ope- 
rated in Singapore under the aus- 
pices of the Foreign Office. This 
will be the first time the BBC has 
been responsible for conducting a 
broadcast service based out- 
side UK. 

Germany: Production of radio 
valves of the publicly owned 
Funkwerk in Erfurt is to be 
stepped up by 70% during the sec- 
ond half of 1948. It is to reach 
50,000 valves monthly and 150,000 
by the end of 1950. 



WAAT's $100 Minimum 

Newark, Aug. 17. 

Guaranteed minimum of $100 a 
week is granted staff announcers, 
singers and actors at station 
WAAT here, under a revised con- 
tract with the American Federa- 
tion of Radio Artists. 

Irving R. Rosenman represented 
the station on the deal. 



CIRCLING THE KILOCYCLES 



Fall Air Shows 

Continued from page 1 „ 



Group Gangs Up 



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— Continued from page 24 s 

admission of evidence on 20th's 
Oakland studio. 

Smith pointed out to the com- 
mission that its action in allowing 
Par to amend was proper. Par's 
application was the oldest pre- 
sented at the hearing, having been 
filed in October, 1945. Cost figures, 
facts in tele operation, have 
changed since that time, Par said. 
The site which was available in 
1945 for an antenna became un- 
available shortly before the hear- 
ing opened and that had to be 
changed, it said. 

Par was the first to give evidence 
in the SF hearing, and gave hear- 
ing examiner Jack Blume and 
other counsel its complete exhibits. 
Smith suggested the others -do the 
same, but they admitted their ex- 
hibits in evidemcc as testimony was 
given. Therefore Par had no op- 
portunity to change its application 
so couldn't be guilty of trying to 
outbid other applicants by chang- 
ing its application. 

While Par doesn't oppose 20th's 
appeal, the testimony in its letter 
is damaging to 20th's case, it's felt, 
since Par goes on the record to 
point out why it needed to amend. 
20th's request to amend isn't based 
on as solid ground. 

All three dissenters agree that 
Par should have been allowed to 
meand, and 20th claims that since 
Par was allowed to amend it's un- 
fair not to permit 20th's amend- 
ment. However, all three compa- 
nies, in their briefs, point out that 
Par filed to amend between the SF 
and Washington hearings on June 
21, whereas 20th filed to amend on 
July 13, 11 day* after the hearings 
closed. 

In an effort to get another chan- 
nel into the heated Sah Francisco 
tele channel hearings, Paramount 
and Television California had 
asked the FCC to put Don Lee 
Broadcasting System in the con- 
solidated proceedings. The com- 
mission denied this. 

Don Lee was severed from the 
consolidated hearing and one chan- 
nel was removed until FCC hears- 
Don Lee alone for that channel. 



Fort Wayne — Philo T. Farns- 
worth, who spent most of his time 
in Maine in recent years, has re- 
turned to the Farnsworth Televi- 
sion and Radio Corp. laboratories 
in Fort Wayne, where he is work- 
ing on a new projection type tele- 
vision tube. 



sponsors' uncertainty over how 
much of their budgets to hold back 
for television. 

Replacements Stand Out 
Inkings of the past -few days 
haven't been entirely added gravy. 
Philip Morris, for instance, is pick- 
ig up the 15-minute cross-the-board 
Kate Smith show (not to be con- 
fused with her "Kate Smith 
Speaks" co-op on Mutual) as re- 
placement for PM's 15-minute tab 
on "Heart's Desire." Colgate, while 
adding "Our Miss Brooks" on CBS, 
is cancelling "Can You Top This?" 
as well as the Kay Kyser show on 
NBC. Turns is said to be mulling 
cancellation of "A Date With 
Judy," although the agency (Roche, 
Williams & Cleary) says the show 
has been renewed to next January. 

Frigidaire will take on the new 
half-hour version of Lum 'n' Ab- 
ner, debuting it Oct. 3 in CBS* 
Sunday night sequence. Decision 
to drop "Man Called X" was 
prompted by its low rating due to 
being slotted opposite ABC's "Stop 
the Music." 

Contracts for the new Alan 
Young stanca are being drawn by 
the Music Corp. of America and 
Frank Cooper, manager of the 
comic, but details such as web 
.placement aren't set. Young also 
will be featured this fair on Jimmy 
Durante's show. 

Reported fall-winter roster of 
Colgate billings now calls for re- 
newal of the Judy Canova show, 
which earlier was said to be due for 
a fade, and cancellation instead of 
'Top This," effective Oct. 1. Lat- 
ter show's local stand on WOR, 
N. Y., for Kirkman soap also is 
headed for the axe. 

"Kate Smith Sings" is a show 
built by WOR for airing in the 
12:15-12:30 p.m. segment, imme- 
diately following her Mutual co-op 
"Speaks" stint. It's' been on for a 
number of months, with Miss Smith 
and Ted Collins chattering between 
twirlings of her recordings, select*- 
ed from her own large collection. 

Identity of the "Leave It to the 
Girls" sponsor hasn't been re- 
vealed, but the deal is reported 
being set via the Arthur Mayerhoff 
agency, Chicago, with a Sept. 10 
pickup in prospect. 



Dallas.— Aubrey Escoe has R e- 
signed as manager here of KLlt 
to become v.p. and director of ra- 
dio of Madeen-Barrett, Inc., local 

| agency. He helped launch KLIF 
and was previously with KtcL, 

| Austin and KAND, Corsicana. 

Boston.— WHDH, local indie, has 
renewed its AFRA contract, effec- 
tive June 8. Agreement was 
worked out by William B. McGrath, 
for the company, and Robert Se- 
gal, for the union. 

St. Louis.— KMOX, local CBS 
station, has renewed its contract 
with the American Federation of 
Radio Artists, giving a 5% wage 
raise to staff artists* 



Philadelphia— In a realignment 
I of program operations, KYW has 
' named Joseph Derbyshire head of 
continuity for the Westinghouse 
station, and added George Skinner 
to the production staff. 

Skinner, who replaces Derby- 
shire as producer, comes to KYW 
from WLW, Cincinnati. 

Cincinnati — WCPO, local Mu- 
tual outlet, has renewed its con- 
tract with AFRA, with a wage boost 
for staff artists. 



Sports Receipts 




"VfhtMtmt— I'll look 



= Continued from page 24 55 

events was zero, Dr. CoffiH quali- 
fied his findings with the statement 
that the "frequency of attendance 
by each- group was too small to 
render these figures reliable." 
They cannot be construed, he said, 
as proof that TV doesn't interfere 
with sports attendance but "only 
as a modest hint that it may not." 
(For another example of the sports 
promoters' feelings on this sub- 
ject, see story on this page on the 
75-mile TV radius instituted by 
D. C. promoters.) 

Also hit seriously by TV, accord- 
ing to the survey, are such activi- 
ties as dining, dancing and night- 
clubbing, for which set -owners 
showed an attendance decline of 
42%. Tele is also making serious 
inroads on legit, with a 28% at- 
tendance dropoff recorded for a 
combined "miscellaneous" cate- 
gory, including "plays, bowling, 
etc." 

Industry observers point out that 
there's no way of telling how in- 
dicative the survey is . of actual 
conditions, pointing to the small 
number of respondents (only 137 
in each group) as evidence that the 
sampling was not wide enough to 
prove any point conclusively. Sur- 
vey, moreover, was conducted 
among families in only one locality, 
which might have provided for 
more control in matching the set- 
owners against the families not 
possessing sets, but which might 
not be representative of other lo- 
calities, either in greater N. Y. or 
in the nation at large. 

Survey is part of a continuing 
project set up by Hofstra College, 
which plans to conduct periodic 
*' «es pi Tjtf»| effect on family life 
n h social, psychological and 
economic standpoint. 



Savannah — George P. Cooper, 
Jr. former account executive, 
has been appointed local ad- 
vertising manager of WSAV. 
Perry Silvey, former publisher 
of the Savannah iluustrated 
World, has joined the staff of 
WSAV as an account executive. 



Denver — KFEL-FM went for two 
days • without a commercial pro- 
gram, then sold all the games of 
the Denver Western League ball 
club to General Electric radio 
dealers. Local games are broadcast 
direct from park; away-from-homes 
are recreated. If Denver is rained 
out, next most- important game is 
used. 

Jack Fitzpatrick, KFEL news- 
sports editor, does the play-by-play. 



Flint, Mich. — H. Allen Campbell, 
vice president of Trendle-Campbell 
Broadcasting Corp., operators of 
WTCB, Flint, Michigan, has an- 
nounced appointment of Leo D. 
Smith as sales manager of WTCB. 

Smith will direct sales activities 



NBC Off Hook 

SS Continued from page 23 ;s 

both physical and human; indus- 
trial capacity, stockpiles and 
psychological factors. 

He indicated, additionally, that 
the splurge in documentaries won't 
be confined to AM, but also en- 
visions presentation of television 
"drama-documents." Specific plans 
for the latter, however, are still 
being kept under wraps. 

Wade Arnold will supervise the 
documentaries as well as continue 
overseeing the "Living" series. 
Lou Hazan, who scripts the lat- 
ter programs, .also is expected to 
head the writing staff for the hour- 
long presentations. 

Here's the "Living" lineup for 
the fall and winter: 

"The Biggest Job in the World," 
analyzing the Presidency and its 
"oversize" responsibilities. 

"If I Am Elected . . . ," a be- 
hind-the-scenes survey of the whys 
and hows of political campaigns 
and an inquiry into whether they 
change public opinions substan- 
tially between conventions and 
election time. (This is designed as 
a companion piece to the "Note- 
book for Convention Listeners" 
which was aired on "Living" in 
July and subsequently rebroadcast 
in a midweek nighttime spot in 
response to listener requests.) 

"What's Right with the United 
Nations," a report on the plus-side 
of the UN, designed as a high 
point of the week-long, NBC-spon- 
sored United Nations Week. 

"New Draft, New Army," ana- 
lyzing universal "military training, 
with a look at the Army's "new 
spirit." 

"Television," a study of the 
probable impacts of video on 
American life, with side views of 
TV as art, science and business. 

"The Plight of Our Hospitals," 
hitting the serious personnel short- 
age in the nation's hospitals. 

"Sports as Big Business," sur- 
veying "the good and bad" In big- 
time sports. 

A report, untitled as yet, on edu- 
cation from the viewpoint of the 
student. .(This progrjfm ' Will. Ite; 
timed to coincide with the open- 
ing of the school year.) 



under Don DeGroot, WTCB man- 
ager. 



Clear Lake, la. — Edward Breen, 
manager of KVFD-KFMY, Fort 
Dodge, la., was reelected president 
of the Iowa tallcorn radio network 
at the annual business meeting held 
Aug. 6-8. 

Tallcorn network now is com- 
prised of 17 radio stations in Iowa. 



Milwaukee — Charles J. Lanphier, 
president WFOX, was reelected 
president of the League of Wis- 
consin Radio Stations in Green Bay 
recently. Ben. Laird of Green Bay 
was elected vice-president and Ken 
Schmitt of Madison, secretary. 



Baytown, Tex. — E. R. Bush has 
been named manager of KREL, re- 
placing Virgil Evans, who has re- 
signed to become manager of 
KMUS, Muskogee, Okla. Bush was 
former commercial manager of 
KVLC, Little Rock, Ark. and 
previously manager or KRIS, Cor- 
pus Christi, Tex. 



Pittsburgh — Jack Beattie, Jr., 
formerly with WCAE, and Alan 
Black, of WJPA, in Washington, 
Pa., have joined announcers' staff 
at WPIT. Jerry Wyman, one of 
the pioneer announcers in the early 
days of radio here, is returning to 
the broadcasting'field as news ed- 
itor of WMCK in McKeesport. In 
recent years, Wyman has been in 
public relations work locally. 



Augusta, Ga. — Damon J. Swann. 
of Cincinnati, has joined the staff 
of WGAC, Augusta, as director of 
sales promotion. 



Seattle. — As a result of Gov. 
Mon Wallgren's appeal to local sta- 
tions to broadcast charms of Pacific 
Northwest for tourists, KIRO, lo- 
cal CBS outlet, is now doing week- 
ly show, "Welcome Mat," to wel- 
come tourists and get their com- 
ments on this area. 

Ann Bowden and Carrol Foster 
handle show, which is aired Thurs- 
days at 8:15 p.m. 



St. Louis — Two new members 
were added to staff of KSTL. Mrs. 
Polly Shannon Bangert was named 
director of the continuity depart- 
ment, and Gene Pollock added to 
technical staff as a studio engineer. 

Omaha — WOW announced rate 
revisions effective Sept. 1 and 
elimination of its retail rate card. 

Principal increases are in Class 
A, half hours, quarter hours and 
spots including news Sponsorship 
spots at all hours. 




WDSU 



WDSU broadcasts 5000 w»tt» 
"^i^ ' * from the. French Quarter to 
the Gulf and South Louisiana listeners. 

From daily association with time-honored 
Sew Orleans institutions WDSU has 
developed a high quality of integrity. 
WDSU devotes program time regularlf 
and exclusively to the Sc. Louis Cathedral; 
the International House, Moisant Inter- 
national Airport, Tulane University, 
Union Station, the Municipal Auditoriura* 
Symphonies and Operas. 

WDSU's dominate Hoop, 
crating proves that hon- 
oring local institution* 
creates high, listener 
loyalty. 



re 

iswOilei 



|V «9«=a 0 <S 
•leana..*^ 



NEW 
ORLEANS 

1280 Ice 



WDSU 



ABC 
Affiliate 

5009 



JOHN* BLAIR It CO.. ItoruMUtln 



$500 A Month For Life 
PENSION YOURSELF 

Satisfactory ratlrsmtnt Incoma It VOUH 
$nht»m. Maka tha .amino, at yaw tt» 
war* - gravida ,lt ,tar , you , thrsu.li „, a! 

i*nerie or v|llt, W. W, Murray. 527 Fifth 
Avtmw. Now Ytrk 17. H. Y„ MU 7-Q8». 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



Third Channel 
Due for LVille? 

Louisville, Aug. 17. 

Mid-America Broadcasting Corp., 
operators of new AM airer WKLO, 
to take the air about Nov. 1, last 
week filed application with the 
FCC for a new commercial tele- 
v sion station. If the request is 
granted, Louisville will have three 
television channels. TV channels 
nlready have been granted to 
WAVE and WHAS. WAVE-TV 
will be. ready for commercial tele- 
vision in October, and has a tech- 
nical and production staff ready 
to function, NBC television net- 
work last week added WAVE-TV 
as the third station to become a 
video affiliate within the week. 

Mid-America already has been 
licensed to operate the city's sixth 
AM station, WKLO, and is ready- 
ing facilities to get on the air be- 
fore Nov 1. Mid-America has in- 
creased its capital from $110,000 
to $500,000 to finance television 
operations if the FCC grants the 
license. No network affiliation has 
been made, and present program 
schedule stresses sports, news and 
entertainment, all to originate 
locally. 

MBS' New Disk Find 

Mutual is keeping a new white 
hope disk jockey show very q.t. 
Net is prepping its entry in the 
ayem cross-the-board field as pos- 
sible competition for Arthur God- 
frey. The "find" is Bob Poole, 
New Orleans jock, who recently has 
been given a two-week ' trial whirl 
in the afternoon strip exited by 
Martin Block. 

MBS'ers were so impressed with 
his style of gab and potentialities 
that they immediately set him for 
a cross-the-board ride from 9:15 to 
9:55 a.m. He's due in N. Y. this 
week to ready the show for takeoff 
next Monday (23). 

Poole has been doing a disk and 
gab show called "Poole's Para- 
dise" on CBS' New Orleans outlet, 
WWL. 



y&RlETY 



TELEVISION - KAP1Q 31 



Ward on Unfair List* ' 
Of AFR A in Spot Fees i 

Chicago, Aug. 17. 

James Ward, former local pack- , 
age producer, has been placed on ! 
the "unfair list" of the American ! 
Federation of Radio Artists. Ac- 
cording to local officials, Ward 
violated the union's code by fail- 
ing to pay repeat fees for addi- 
tional use of recorded spot an- 
nouncements. Platters were orig- 
inally made in 1945. 

Producer is now said to be on 
the Coast. 



NEW LOUISVILLE INDIE 
READY AS 2 MORE PERK 

Louisville, Aug. 17. 

New indie station WLOU is ex- 
pected to be in operation Sept. 30. 
according to Mrs. J. E. Messervy. 
New airer will operate on daytime 
only, and will air on a frequency 
of 1,350 kc. Program director and 
sales manager will be Fred .Dar- 
win, formerly on the staff of 
WINS, N. Y. 

Two other Louisville stations are 
seeking to expand."* FCC approval 
of an FM station is asked by Ra- 
dio Kentucky, Inc., which operates 
WKYW, and Mid-America Broad- 
casting Corp. is already licensed to 
operate WKLO in the Henry Clay 
hotel. Station plans to be on the 
air Nov. 1. 



How Nielsen Rates 'Em 

(July 4-10) 

Walter Winchell 13.4 

Crime Photographer .... 13.1 
Mr. Dist. Attorney ......13.1 

Suspense 12.7 

Big Story .12.5 

Stop Music (4th Qtr.) . . . . 11.3 

This Is Your FBI 11.1 

Hallmark Playhouse 11.1 

Fat Man ,11.0 

Mystery Theatre 10.6 

Take It or Leave It 10.1 

Philip Morris Night 9.9 

Bob Hawk Show 9.9 

Your Song and Mine.,.. 9.9 

Mr. Keen v . 9.7 

Thin Man 9.6 

Camel Caravan 9.4 

Sam Spade 9.3 

Break the Bank 9.2 

Mr. & Mrs. North. ....... 9.1 



Coast Indie Producers Follow Lead 
I Of N.Y. Group, Form Own Association 



Anti-Trust Suit Vs. RCA 

Philadelphia, Aug. 17. 

Nine local radio and television 
repair men, through the Phil- 
adelphia Radio Service Men's 
Assn., today (Tues.) filed suit in 
the U. S. district court here charg- 
ing the Radio Corp. of America 
with violation of . anti-trust laws 
and asking $210,000 damages. 

Petition sets forth that RCA and 
its service subsidiaries force all 
purchasers of RCA TV receivers to 
sign an agreement restricting serv- 
icing of the sets to RCA repairmen 
and thus freezing out independent 
servicemen. Suit asks the court to 
void all such contracts. 



KAYE TO SPIEL ABOUT 
MUSIC RIGHTS OR TV 

Thorny question of the "Right 
to Perform Music on Television" 
will be discussed in detail by 
Broadcast Music, Inc. veepee Sid- 
ney Kaye at a meet of the National 
Television Film Council tomorrow 
iThurs.) night at Sardi's eatery, 
N. Y. Session will be presided over | 
by NTFC chairman Melvin L. Gold, i 
National Screen Service ad-publici- 1 
ty chief. Officers are also to be j 
nominated at that time. 

J. A. Maurer, prexy of the com- 
pany bearing his name and a So- 
ciety of Motion Picture Engineers 
veepee, meanwhile, has been nam- 
ed to head up the NTFC's produc- 1 
tion clinic. Clinic has been set up ■ 
to service the organization's mem- j 
bers as far as possible with answers I 
to all known production problems 
confronting telefilm producers. 



No Com'l Changes Likely 
With New S. Africa Govt 

Johannesburg, Aug. 5. 

There has been no change in the 
radio situation • here since the 
change of government, Parliament 
meets for a short session in Sep- 
tember and it's unlikely that there 
will bedtime to debate the recent 
Broadcasting- Commission's report 
on commercial radio. It's generally 
thought that although there may 
be drastic changes in the South 
Africa Broadcasting Corp. organi- 
zation, these will not necessarily 
follow along the lines of the Com- 
mission's recommendations. . 

In view of the strong nationalist 
feeling of the present government, 
it's felt that the Nationalists are 
less likely to favor the introduc- 
tion of commercial broadcasting in 
the Union than was the United 
Party. 



Rankin Miller's Aide 

Washington, Aug. 17. 1 
Forney -A. Rankin, associate 
chief of the State Dept. Interna- 
tional broadcasting division, will 
leave that post to become, on Oct. 
1, international adviser to Justin 
Miller, National Assn. of v Broad- 
casters prexy, it, was announced 
today (Tues.). It's a newly created 
post. 



WARWICK & LEGLER GET 
DEMOS' AD CONTRACT 

Washington, Aug. 17. 

Advertising contract of the 
Democratic National Committee 
has been transferred to Warwick 
& Legler, New York, according to 
Chairman Howard McGrath. In 
June, the Demos' announced the 
Biow Co., of New York, had been 
awarded the contract. Demo 
spokesman said the Biow contract 
was tentative, and never put into 
operation. It was transferred by 
mutual consent. 

Contracting for leading radio 
and tele spots, campaign will be Detective." 
under the direction of Sam Young- 
heart, executive veepee. Aiding in 
directing agency operation will be 



Hollywood, Aug. 17. 
Move by a group of Coast in- 
dependent television producers to 
band together and set up machinery 
for solving mutual basic problems, 
as well as to state overall future 
policies, follows this week on the 
heels of an announcement from 
N. Y, of formation pf Independent 
Television Producers Assn. there. 

Hollywood nucleus of new west- 
ern association, tentatively named 
Television Independent Producers, 
joins N. Y. group in the belief that 
indies must band together for self- 
preservation and to assert their 
value to the future of tele pro- 
gramming. Hollywood spokesmen, 
however, state there's a crucial 
need for rapidly intensified net- 
work and agency financial interest 
in fele programming in the nation's 
third video market, on the premise 
that the smartest way to hypo set 
sales and audience acceptance is 
to raise ^programming values. 

Like ITPA, headed by N. Y. 
spokesman Martin Gosch, TIP_^ 
stresses its intention of cooperating 
with nets and agencies in every way 
possible, but believes organization 
of indies is necessary in order to 
set up flexible rules governing ■ 
group to prevent cutthroating 
among indies themselves, as well 
as discrimination toward individu- 
al producers from outside sources. 

Sparking formation of Coast TV 
indies is triumvirate comprised of 
Mai Boyd, video chairman for 
Hollywood Advertising Club and 
indie packager, and Mike Stokey 
and Bernie Ebert, whose "Panto- 
mime Quiz" telecast on KTLA lias 
paced Coast tele development and 
paved the way for heightened pro- 
gramming values, and who have 
established lead among Hollywood 
indie producers with "Quiz" and a 
second KTLA entry, "Armchair 



El Paso, Tex. — A. E. (Bill) 
Mickel, former general manager 



Lester Malitz, veepee for media, 0 f WBGA and WBGA-FM, has 



and Donald Gibbs, 
creative activities. 



in charge of ] been named manager of KSET, re- 
placing Vincent W. McCorut. 




. . . another reason why 
CPN is the West's 



Regional Netivork 



| 1 • 1 1 rt i i- 1; 

f 'f it ; l<|<< 



1 I . 



! . i i ( c r 'i i j 



if 



Columbia Pacific has the lafgest, most complete, 
most experienced radio news bureau west of New York 



LARGEST: CPN has thirty radio news specialists . . . 
more writers, reporters and analysts than any other 
radio bureau on the Coast . . . with a combined total 
of 223 years spent in gathering and editing news. 

MOST COMPLETE? CPN maintains five wire and f 
editorial research services . . . and the most modern 
technical news gathering equipment: tape recorders, 
around-the-clock monitoring facilities and two short 
wave mobile transmitting units. 

Columbia Pacific reporters are stationed at focal news 
points up and down the Coast. Every newsman at every 
CPN affiliate is in daily contact with CPN headquarter! 
. . just as CPN is in immediate touch with Columbia's 
eighteen overseas correspondents. When news happens 
on the Coast— or around the world— 'CPN is there. 

MOST EFFECTIVE: Ask the advertiser whose CPN 
newscast gets listeners for $1.72 per thousand for 
time and talent. Or the sponsor of a CPN news program 
whose inquiry cost in a contest offer was only 35c per 
thousand. They'll tell you . . . when you buy a news 
program on CPN you get the most effective news 
reporting, most effectively presented, and the 
tnost effective in selling goods . . . at the right cost. 



UymnUl ky 
KADIO SALES, 
Undid Stlllwi 
KtpnunMiM, CIS; 

Stn FhixIk*, , 
and Mimfhn 



The West's Complete Regional Network 



82 



OnOIKSTRAS-HfUSIG 



Disk-Sheet Ballyhoo Sees Pub; 
Recorders Fumble Coordination 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



The detailed planning by music* 
publishers and recording com 
panies to achieve close coordina- 
tion on the exploitation of songs 
recorded before the disk ban is 
coming apart at the seams. There 
Is increasing agitation among pub- 
lishers over the lately repeated 
failure of recording firms to dove- 
tail the releasing of recordings of 
new tunes with publisher's exploi- 
tation plans. 

Pubs point out many recent 
cases in which recording companies 
have released disks far in advance 
of plans to work on the songs they 
carry, or gripe that disks involving 
songs being worked on currently 
have not as yet been released. Re- 
cording companies admit that pubs' 
objections are in many cases justi- 
fied, but, they point out, in most of 
the cases cited they couldn't help 
themselves. They must act in every 
way possible to sustain the artist 
involved, which is a company's 
foremost worry. 

- --Eor. example, if a recent series 
o£ disks by a certain personality 
was unsuccessful, they cannot allow 
too long a time to elapse before 
releasing the next, even if that next 
disk carries a tune not scheduled 
for publisher exploitation attention 
for a couple months. Situation 
works vice versa, too. If the previ- 
ous release of an artist is still sell- 
ing, a disker cannot issue a new 
disk by him or her and thus per- 
haps smother the sales of the hit. 

Situation is posing a problem for 
many pubs, since a recording is 
their first line of promotion and 
figures vitally in costly exploitation 
blueprints. 



BOSTON SLAPS $5-YR. 
TAX RAP ON JUKES 

Boston, Aug: 13. 

Recently enacted city ordinance 
on juke boxes goes into effect in 
the Hub Aug. 31 forcing all loca-- 
tions to pay a $5 yearly tax on each 
machine. 

Edict affects about 1,300 spots in 
Boston proper. Suburban locations 
are being bothered though it's fig- 
ured the ordinance will spread to 
other cities and towns in the state. 
Simultaneously, the mayor's li- 
censing division slapped a $30 
license fee on pinballs, and a $12 
fee on "other automatic devices." 

Juke box ops figure the $5 "tax 
fs merely a nuisance, and offers no 
threat. Main gripe is that— like 
all license fees, taxes, etc. — its 
only the beginning. For while the 
$5 fee only amounts to about a' 
dime a week, a hike upwards each 
year can hurt. Plenty of spots 
formerly using pinball machines 
have already moved them out; ops 
are afraid same could happen to 
them. 



{Week Ending Aug. 12) 

London,* Aug. 13. 

Gal way Bay Box & Cox 

Ballerina .Maurice 

Woody Woodpecker Leeds 

Heartbreaker Leeds 

Four-Leaf Clover F. D. & H. 

Time May Change ....... Connelly 

Golden Earrings Victoria 

Dream of Olwen . . Wright 

You Can't Be True Chappell 

Nature Boy. .Morris 

Give Million Tomorrows. .Connelly 
Toolie Oolie Doolie. .... .Southern 

Second 12 

After All Cinephonic 

Ought to Be Society Kassner 

Near You B. Wood 

Serenade of the Bells Morris 

Rambling Rose . . Dash 

Tree in the Meadow Connelly 

Laroo Lili Bolero Dash 

Civilization Morris 

Miranda Kassner 

I May Be Wrong Wright 

You Do Chappell 

Ask Anyone Who Knows. .Feldman 



jTops of th« Top* 

Retail Disk Seller 

"12th Street Rag" 



Retail Sheet Music Seller 

"My Happiness" 

"Most Requested" Disk 
"Love Somebody" 

Seller on Coin Machines 

"You Call Everybody Darling" 

British Best Seller 
"Galway Bay" 



Pass-Hat Deal to Give 
Dailey Profit on Rental 
To Legit Strawhatter 



Meadowbrook, Cedar Grove, 
N. J., is likely to finish out the 

summer next month in the black worked up good figures in Hamil- 



Band 1-Niters 
Show Steady 
Biz Increase 



Bandleaders and agencies have 
noticed a quickening of interest in 
name band one-nighters in the past 
week or two, reflected in grosses 
being turned by outfits in the east, 
midwest and even on the Coast. 
They still have their poor and 
average dates, bothered in some 
instances by weather and other un- 
foreseeable factors, but, on the 
basis of figures, higher b.o. returns 
are now finally in the majority. • 
Sammy Kaye, Vaughn Monroe, 
Tommy Dorsey, Tony Pastor, 
Lionel Hampton and Tex Beneke 
all have been turning in superior 
figures much more consistently. 
Hampton drew 7,310 people at the 
Auditorium, Oakland, Cal., Sunday 
(15) evening, earning $5,565 for 
himself. Monroe piled up $7,900 at 
Hampton Beach, N. H. Pastor 



for the first time in 18 years of 
operation. And only because Frank 
Dailey rented his spot out to straw- 
Jiat troupe on a guarantee-and-per- 
centage basis. It's only the third 
or fourth time in those 18 years 
that music wasn't the b.o. lure. 

Strawhatters that leased Mead- 
owbrook since July 5 were not in 
too. good shape until last week, 
when Dailey suggested a change in 
b.o. prices, which had been pegged 
at $1.20 to $2.40. Instead of a 
definite price schedule, a policy of 
contributing to a passed hat was 
instituted and 15,000 invitations 
sent out. As a result, the last three 
nights of last week became a" job 
for New Jersey State Police in con- 
trolling traffic jams at Meadow- 
brook. Take average 70c per per- 
son, and the troupe's take for the 
week ran to $4,200, getting it out of 
the pale red they had been in, and 
adding a profit so far on the season. 



Al Trace's Followup 

Al Trace, one of the writers of 
"You Call Everybody Darling," 
current hit, is touting a new tune 
as a followup. Titled, "Don't Brush 
the Tears From Your Eyes," it 
drew the attention of a handful of 
N. Y. publishers last week. Leeds 
bought it Monday (9). 

Trace wrote the new one with 
Oakley Handleman, who's with 
Gene Autry's Western Music firm 
in Hollywood, and Jimmy Lee. 



ton, London, Ontario, and Niagara 
Falls. 



Blum's Encore Post 

Dave Blum took over the pro- 
fessional manager post at Encore 
Music, replacing Jack Osfeld, who 
quit 

vate his Stevens Music catalog. 
Blum started Monday (16). 

Henry Levine, music printer, 
owns Encore and Jewel. - 



Midwest Dates Improve 

Cleveland, Aug. 17. 
Outlook for name band bookings 
in northern Ohio's ballrooms, 
which were in doldrums for sev- 
eral seasons, Is growing brighter, 
according, to boffo grosses • regis- 
tered by . several major outfits 
lately. 

Tex Beneke orchestra on one- 
nighter Aug. 8 at Crystal Beach 
Park, Vermilion, O., did so hand- 
somely with approximate $4,500 
gross that manager James M. Ryan 
said it justified his new policy of 
special Sunday bookings. Follow- 
ing Tony Pastor's date Sunday 
(15), park has Ray MeKinley, Aug. 
22; Ted Weems, Aug. 29; Tommy 
Dorsey, Sept. 5. 

Beneke crew gave Indian Lake 
ballroom, Russel's Point, its big- 
gest take of this season (Aug. 10) 
by chalking up another $4,500. 
Gene Krupa's one-week stand at 
Bill Shaw's Buckeye Lake Park, 
nearby, also rang up a sock $5,800, 
encouraging management to buy 



. Tommy Dorsey and Ted Weems for 

several weeks ago to reac0.^o ne . ni g hters> Unexpected pickup 

in biz is growing more general in 
this territory, reports D'Arve Bar- 
ton, head of local MCA office, de- 
spite rainy weather. , 



Jock's Jukes and Disks 



By Bernie Woods 



The American Federation of 
Musicians recording ban has made 
the musical background and the 
securing of it a matter of vital im- 
portance to all disk manufaturers. 
They are being cut abroad at 
various remote points as well as 
right under the nose of the AFM. 
And on the basis of recently mar- 
keted disks the situation is akin 
to the kid who takes one bite of a 
stolen apple— then heaves it. He 
wanted it badly, but once he ob- 
tained it, it became unimportant. 

That's the way some recording 
companies, major and minor alike, 
seem to be using post-ban footer 
assistance on disks. Granted that 
planning a musical life raft that 
will sustain some narrow-gauged 
voice 3,000 miles away is like pin- 
ning the tail on a donkey blind- 
folded, it's also pretty apparent 
that in many cases the effort and 
expense could be better used if it 
were sunk in U. S. harmonicas. 

Even when things were normal 
with Petrillo and the AFM, the 
background was looked upon in 
various ways by name singers. 
Some want as little as possible, 
some want everything possible — 
others just don't care. But few 
artists and musical directors are 
properly conscious of the value of 
what goes on behind and below a 
singer. It often can and does make 
or break the selling potentialities 
of a disk. Before the war, the 
Acromaniacs were caught in a New 
York theatre one night working in 
conjunction with Stan Kenton's 
orchestra. Theirs is a great act of 
its type, but that night it drew 
reaction far out of proportion to 
its merit. Few realized that it was 
Kenton's tremendous performance 
of "Woodchoppers Ball," used by 
the team as background music, 
that caused, most of the commotion. 

Capitol Records is probably the 
foremost and most progressive of 
all companies in devising back- 
grounds that push a singer's per- 
formance, or, rather, the accept- 
ance of it, beyond normal. Capitol 
is often guilty, however, of provid- 
ing assistance so good that it 
swings attention from the person- 
ality to whom it rightfully belongs. 
Nevertheless, the company's mus- 
ical brains do a better job and, in 
at least one case recently, a back- 
ground laid out for a fair hit was 
as much responsible for the sale 
of the disk hit as the rather ordi- 
nary vocal performance by the 
name involved. Getting back to 
"too much" and "too good" assis- 
tance brings up Jo Stafford's latest 
disk. 

Jo Stafford "Trouble In Mind"- 
"Baby, Won't You Please Come 
Home" (Capitol). Miss Stafford 
builds a juke and jock case out of 
"Trouble" upon an excellently 
worked vocal and an accompani- 
ment which occasionally draws too 
much attention, latter is by Paul 
Weston's orchestra. It's a blues 
piece, and she does it well. With 
King Cole on piano, Miss Stafford 
works a b.o. pattern over the flip- 



J^^JO Best Sellers on Com-MacWnes^ll'lr:!. 4 




MARVIN ELLIN'S VARIETIES 
45 Mins.: Mon. thru Fri., 5 p.m. 
Participating 
WITH, Baltimore 

Above average disk layout has 
been built through consistent show- 
manship by Ellin, who accompanies 
his spinning with hep chatter and 
good pace. Selection of his record- 
ings leans toward top instrumen- 
tation and arrangement rather than 
pops and over-played plugs. Re- 
sult has been a higher bracketed 
listening audience than that ac- 
corded evening platter shows here 
and Ellin wisely keeps his com- 
mercials in line. Gets first choice 
' on transient personalities for guest 
appearances and has had some top 
names, including Milton Berle and 
Esther Williams, among others. 

Novel twist worked out recently 
had the entire show put on tape 
MurWa>«Bit«is^ Qyerspaarfiighji to- 

• interesting sesh. Lack of corn aha 
familiar jockey cliches and han- 
HBing, has r*"H this into a real 
"'standout. 



1. 



:; 4. 



6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 



Burm. 



YOU CALL EVERYBODY DARLING (7) (Mayfair) Al Trace 

IT'S MAGIC (8) 



(Witmark) j gj$ g H ^™ es 



• Regent J 

Decca 

Columbia „ 

YOU CAN'T BE TRUE DEAR ((19) (Blltmore) Grif/in-Waj/ne . . . . v Rondo J 

MY HAPPINESS (14) (Blasco) i Jon &_Sondra Steele Damon V. 

(Pied Pipers Capitol v 

WOODY WOODPECKER SONG ((12) (Leeds) *f er i.- • • • Columbia y 

IMel Blanc-Sportsmen. .. .Capitol 

TREE IN MEADOW C3) (Shapiro-B) ». Margaret Whiting Capitol 

MAYBE YOU'LL BE THERE (4) (BVC) Gordon Jenkins ... Decca 

LOVE SOMEBODY (9) (Kramer-W.) D. Day-B. Clark Columbia 

12TH STREET RAG (1) (Shapiro-B) Pee Wee Hunt Capitol 

HAIR OF GOLD (1) (Mellin) Harmonicats Universal 



Coming Up 



:; LONG WAY FROM ST. LOUIS (Jewel) Ray MeKinley Victor 

• PUT 'EM IN BOX (Remick) King Cole Capitol 

RUN, JOE, RUN (Preview) Louts Jordan ......... \ '. . Decca 

TEA LEAVES (Morris) ' * **° te • • • Columbia 

(.Ella Fitzgerald Decca 

CONFESS (Oxford) ........ I P ,? Ui Pa R e Mercury \ \ 

X Jimmy Dorsey M-G-M •• 

BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS (T. B. Harms) Art Mooney M-G-M '■ 

MAHARAJAH OF MAGIDOR (Mutual) Vaughn Monroe '.'.Victor 

RAMBLING ROSE (Laurel) I Perry Como Victor 

\Tony Pastor Columbia 

COOL WATER (American) Vaughn Monroe Victor f 

p'^i^l^l^ MARCHES Itotkjbmi . J ; ., , . .i-: . . . •{ Antrlwf SUterB * 



.Deccd '* 



[Figures in parentheses indicate number of weeks song has been in the Top 10.1 



over, too, an oldie. This side will 
fight the other for recognition. 

Frankie Laine "Hold Me"-" Ah 
But It Happens" (Mercury). Laine's 
success is based on just such ap- 
proaches as he uses here on "Hold 
Me." It should sustain and 
strengthen his stature. It's good 
juke and jock stuff, at ballad beat, 
done with all the unusual phrasing 
with which he dresses a song. 
Other side sounds like a far better 
song under his treatment than pre- 
vious releases. Laine puts more 
into it and gets more out. Carl 
Fischer smoothly backgrounds 
both. 

Art Lund "Hair of Gold"— "You 
Call Everybody Darling" (M-G-M). 
Coupling -of these two hits is 
M-G-M's first attempt at harmonica 
backgrounds. Both work out nicely 
enough, Lund hitting a good pace 
with "Hair" at bright tempo, 
helped by the Crew Chiefs vocal 
and Harmonica Gentlemen. It will 
reap a share of the sales figures 
being raised by the tune. Lund's 
"Darling" leans much closer to a 
legit performance than previous 
corned versions of the hit, and 
M-G-M is a bit too late with it. 

Sam Donahue "September In 
the Rain" — "Constellation" (Cap- 
itol). Organized name brands have 
been hit less for some time. And 
they consistently strike out be- 
cause they insist on swinging in 
the same old groove. Donahue's 
"September" has a different sound 
and -an attractive arranging ap- 
proach, and it could do a lot for 
him. It's fine jock material and 
may go in jukes. Done at a med- 
ium dance beat, the side with- 
stands repeated plays. Reverse is 
a fast jump bit that hasn't much 
character. 

Lena Horne "Sometimes I'm 
Happy"— "It's Mad, Mad, Mad'* 
(M-G-M). Lena Home's main fail- 
ing on disks has been due to the 
failure of her personality to trans- 
fer to wax (and we're not talking 
about pictures). That's not true of 
the standard "Sometimes." It cap- 
tures everything she has to give a 
song and is an excellent jock piece. 
Picked jukes will go for it,' too. 
Mad" is one of those things that 
create wonder as to how it hap- 
pened. 

Anne Vincent "Cuckoo Bird 
Waltz" — "When the Red Red 
Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin* 
Along" (Mercury). Mercury's aim 
with Anne Vincent for some of the 
attention being given "Cuckoo," 
started by Ken Griffin, misses the 
bull's eye. Dubbing of her voice 
to a rather dull accompaniment 
loses much of whatever flavor the 
tune has. Reverse is a brighter try 
at a standard being revived, but it 
still doesn't have the feel that 
would make it sell in quantity. 

Jack Fina "12th Street Rag"— . 
"Mama Gone, Goodbye" (M-G-M). 
Another disk gauged to take ad- 
vantage of a hit, Fina's version ot 
'Rag" is devoted almost exclusive- 
ly in flashy pianistics. It's good 
stuff and may well go in the 
marts. Reverse, an oldie, gets 
smooth treatment from Fina's 
fingers and band. It's pleasing 
fare. 

Platter Pointers 

Tex Williams' "Talking Boogie" 
(Capitol) is a lively bit of non- 
sense that should find good reac- 
tion in the country-music market: 
it's backed by "Just a Pair of Blue 
Eyes," which carries a wallop of 
its own in the same groove . . . Sy 
Oliver's cut of "Scotty" slices a 
portion of canned heat that makes 
good listening, but it's the reverse 
that makes better listening. An 
excellent ballad approach to "If 
You Believe Me," the side is un- 
usual; Henry- Wells vocals . . . Ray 
Anthony's orchestra is creating a 
stir in the midwest with "Gloria" 
(Signature), an attractive package 
fittll }g rhythm mi celeste to a 
vocal by Ronnie Deauville; reverse 

awR. iS . ^ h Moon " spotlighting 
Anthony's trumpet . . . Zigfy El- 
man's horn sparks a band that 

mov £ S /« s S? 1 £y with "Hup-Je-Be- 
Dee"- M-G-M), a jock pieced Back- 
ing "You're Mine You," is also 

Seal ' 1SCks unusual 

Fremart Sets Staff 

Freddy Martin, bandleader, has 
set up staff for his new pubbery, 
Fremart Music. 

Dick Arnold has been appointed 
general manager ,of new ifirin ,and 
will headquarter in Hollywood. 
Frank Kelton has been set as pro- 
fessional manager with headquar- 
ters in New York. 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



OBCHESTiUjS-MUSIC 



83 



DISK BIZ 201 OVER PREWAR 



AFM's New Public Pitch 

American Federation of Musicians, which has altered its attitude 
toward public acceptance to its policies since the hiring of Hal 
Leyshon Associates as public relations counsel, seems on a new 
tack in that vein. It is offering non-member subscriptions to its 
International Musician, house-organ mag, for the first time. 

AFM is asking $1 a year for non-members and the usual 30c 
annually for cardholders. That the idea is a bid to reach the 
public with its side of any argument is clear in this wordage, "Its 
policies (AFM's) are of interest to many elements of the music 
public outside membership ... in the past these . , . have often 
been misrepresented or distorted. . It is now possible ... to get a 
clear and candid first-hand account of moves and policies bv 
the AFM." 

Burke-Van H. Return to Buddy Morris 
As Writers Only on 10-Year Contract 



UPPED COSTS CUT 





Edwin H. (Buddy) Morris com-4- 
pleted an arrangement last week 
which brings the songwriting team 
of Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van 
Heusen back into his publishing 
setup. However, whereas the for- 
mer operation of the B-VH firm 
by Morris was a partnership finan- 
cially underwritten by him, the 
new deal is a,, straight 10-year writ- 
ing ticket. The team is no longer 
In the publishing biz, even as part- 
ners with Morris. 

Burke-Van Heusen firm, which 
' had been active until a few months 
ago under Morris, will be retained 
as a repository for copyrights pro- 
vided by B-VH, but any of the 
Morris firms or staffs will exploit 
them, and various rights will be 
negotiated' for by Morris. Contract 
between Morris and the writers is 
for five years with a similar option 
period and, at the expiration, if 
B-VH desire to pull out, the copy- 
rights held by the two firms will 
be divided between Morris and the 
writers. 

The deal was worked out thusly, 
with Bing Crosby prominent in the 
negotiations. Crosby held a 28% 
slice of the overall Morris opera- 
tion. Morris bought this back at 
an undisclosed price, said to be 
in six figures. Crosby has the right 
to designate the publisher of all 
scores stemming from his Para- 
mount pictures, with which B-VH 
also have a 10-year ticket to write 
for Crosby. Crosby advised Par 
that he wanted his scores to go 
to Morris (copyrights to B-VH), 
and Par signed a 10-year deal with 
Morris as outlined. Larry Crosby 
also figures in the arrangement, 
technically as an assistant to Mor- 
ris. 

In turn, Morris bought from 
B-VH the. stock the team had in 
the firm bearing their name. He 
owns it during the 10-year period 
of the agreement, but, as cited 
above, at the expiration of the deal 
the copyrights held within it must 
be split between the writers and 
himself (unless the agreement is 
' extended). 

Van Heusen culminated the deal 
all around by flying (his own plane) 
last week from Hollywood to 
Crosby's ranch near Elko, Nev. 
This was at a time when a B-VH 
(Continued on page 35) 

Old-Disk Collectors To 
Fete Early Recording 
Artists in NX Sept. 10 

Pioneer recording artists will be 
yartied by a group of old-disk col- 
lectors at a luncheon Sept. 10 at 
the Garden City hotel, Garden 
City, N. Y. Idea is to give the 
collectors an opportunity to meet 
the old timers as well as affording 
the latter a chance to reminisce. 

More than 20 performers who 
waxed in the pre-amplified record- 
ing era have indicated they'll at- 
tend. Perhaps the top guest will be 
Grace Spencer (Mrs. Willard Fos- 
ter Doolittle) (N. Y.), believed to 
be the first woman who made a 
Victor disk and one of the first 
to sing professionally for disks of 
any type. 

Others expected are Billy Mur- 
ray, a recording comedian since 
18&6; flutist Eugene C. Rose; whis- 
tler Joe Belmont; former opera bari- 
tone Reinald Werrenrath; minstrel 
Al Bernard, banjoist Harry Reser; 
Will OaTcland, Aileen Stanley, 
*rank Banta and Irvine Kaufman. 



Emerson's PXs On 



Basis of Disk Hit 



Jack Emerson, whose Metrotone 
recording of "Hair of Gold" started 
the tune into the hit class, is pre- I 
paring to cash in on the disk im- 
mediately. He's signed with Gen- 
eral Artists and will hit the road | 
as soon-as bookings are lined up for 
him. He'll front an 11-piece band. 

Emerson made the disk with 
Chet Howard's orchestra and a trio. 



Only 89 Pubs 
So Far Signed 
ToNewSPAPact 



Songwriters Protective Assn. has 
so far signed only 89 publishing 
firms to its new basic contract, 
formed recently after 16 months 
of debate between the SPA and 
the Music Publishers Protective 
Assn. That number represents less 
than half of the pubs who had 
been signatories to the old SPA- 
MPPA deal. 

While there are a few pubs who 
disagree with the terms of the new 
contract, SPA asserts that the 
number as yet unsigned remain in 
that category for various reasons; 
i.e., they are away; their attorneys 
are vacationing; others have had 
no occasion to use it because the 
disk ban causes some pubs to re- 
frain from accepting new songs, 
etc. It's pointed out that though 
the MPA shared iii forming the 
new pact, it only "recommends" it 
to pubs. They are not under any 
obligation to accept its terms and 
sign. If they do not, however, they 
cannot do, business with SPA writ- 
ers. 

Most of the major publishers are 
signed, including the Big 3, Warner. 
Bros, combine, Shapiro-Bernstein 
and Santly-Joy. But the few who 
disagree with the new pact's terms 
do so violently. They feel that the 
terms give SPA writers too much 
control of a song and place too 
many restrictions on a publisher's 
methods of selling' foreign rights. 

Contract in question involves 
only a signatory-publisher's agree- 
ment to abide by its" terms in ac- 
cepting a song from an SPA writer. 
Latter act is covered by a separate 
contract, also newly written. 



Recording sales showed a defi- 
nite rise during the 'past week 
among the major, companies, and 
executives who had been*" anticipa- 
tory all summer, are now certain 
that the industry has slipped back 
into its prewar groove of seasonal 
jumps and slumps. They had been 
given cause to believe that the 
wartime sales boom was finished in 
the spring of 1947, when the bot- 
tom fell out of the market. But 
the fall and Xmas sales reached 
such proportions it was generally 
thought the good sales times were 
again here to stay. Then came 
this summer's slump, which bit 
still deeper, and it took more for- 
titude to predict an August rise. 

Though sales figures have 
dropped an appreciable distance 
off the pace maintained through- 
out the war, it's estimated that 
what is now felt to be normal post- 
war business is still 20% to 30% 
ahead of the figures "of 1941, per- 
haps a bit higher with individual 
companies. That doesn't neces- 
sarily mean, however, that all com- 
panies are in as healthy a state as 
they were then. Operating and 
materials costs have risen sharply 
in the interim, to the point where 
the major company selling its pop 
product at 75c. retail an'd $1.25 for 
classical is not making as much 
profit and cannot hope to be able 
to reduce sales quotations.though 
it feels the need for cutting prices. 

Now that sales have given defi- 
nite indication of rising, the disk- 
eries are in another fix. None can 
claim to be in very good shape 
with new releases. It's almost 
eight full months since the disk 
ban was put into effect. As sales 
graphs rise* with the approach of 
Xmas there will be more and more 
importing of musical backgrounds 
(Continued on page 35) 



Film Studio Musicians Seeking To 
Incorporate Own Views in New 
Pact, Told Petri) Needs No Aid 



WCBS Sets Special 

Pickup Arms for LP 

WCBS, New York flagship of the 
CBS network, has installed special 
pickup arms on its turntables to 
enable its disk jockeys to. spin the 
Long-Playing microgroove record- 
ings recently developed by its sub- 
sidiary, Columbia Records, N. Y. 
installations are now being ex- 
perimented with and in a short 
time all CBS outlets will be so 
equipped. 

Arms will also be made avail- 
able to any radio stations that 
may want them (ordinary pickups 
cannot reproduce the LP disks 
since the grooves are minute in 
comparison to normal recordings). 
They spin only at 33 rpm's). 



See Possibility 
Of AFM Offering 
Disk Ban Solution 



There is said to be a good pos- 
sibility that the American Federa- 
tion of Musicians will come up 
within the next few weeks with a 
solution of its own to the record- 
ing ban. The AFM's executive 
board, meeting in Chicago last 
week, devoted some time to the 
disk situation as well as planning 
its course in the meetings with 
Hollywood picture men on a new 
contract. Film meetings started 
yesterday (Tuesday) in New York. 

According to the meager info 
James C. Petrillo and his assist- 
ants have allowed to get loose con- 
cerning the disk ban, there's a 
strong possibility that the situa- 
tion will come to a head shortly. 
Petrillo and his board apparently 
have devised their own plan of 
solution, which will be offered to 
the disk companies shortly. 



JIMMY CAMPBEL OUT, 
HEADING FOR ENGLAND 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

Through the offices of Sam Cos- 
low and others here, also friends 
in New York and London, former 
music publisher-songwriter Jimmy 
Campbell is out of the Riverside 
(Cal.) jail, following a check jam. 
He is headquartering with Coslow 
here at the Nassour Studios and 
heads east this week, with an eye 
to sailing for London pronto. 

Former partner of Campbell- 
Connelly has long since sold out 
to Reg Connelly. However Camp- 
bell has a stake in quite a few 
song copyrights. At one.time Jack 
Hylton gave him a connection and 
this may be resumed when he gets 
back to London. 



Pop Benefit to Defray 
Bowl Longhair Deficit 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

Hollywood Bowl will stage a ben- 
efit on Aug. 28 for the Hollywood 
Bowl. Coin raised will help de- 
fray deficit run up by its summer 
series of longhair concerts. Affair, 
titled "Songs Under the Stars," 
will be set up by Gene Norman, 
with Bert Shefter mapping musical 
routines. 

Johnny Mercer, Pied Pipers, Vic- 
tor Young, Ferde Grofe, Johnny 
Green and Dave Rose have acqui- 
esced to Bowl's request and will 
donate their services for the eve- 
ning. Each will do a specialty, 
backed by Bowl's symph ork. Show 
will sub for "ASCAP Night" on 
Bowl's sked. 

ASCAP performance, which was 
to have honored the composers' so- 
ciety, was called off after Society 
officials, who were to have pro- 
duced it, found they couldn't 
squeeze on the bill all the members 
of the organization who wanted to 
perform. 



No Royalty Fees 
To AFM From '48 
Sale of Records 

American Federation of Musi- 
cians has not been paid royalty 
fees from the sale of records for 
the first six months of this year, 
and .from the manner in which the 
major firms talk, the coin will not 
be paid. Several weeks back, James 
C. Petrillo, AFM head, had sent 
form letters to all manufacturers 
pointing out that the AFM antici- 
pated the payment for the first six 
months of this year and many of 
the indie companies queried majors 
as to the course the latter would 
take. 

From the first announcement of 
the disk ban last fall Petrillo had 
insisted that, according to the 
terms of his contract with the re- 
cording- companies, the AFM was 
to continue to collect royalties on 
sales of all recordings made from 
masters during the period of the 
contract he was then advising them 
would not be continued. Recording 
companies admitted that the terms 
of the contract obligated them to 
continue paying the AFM royalty 
sums even if the contract was not 
renewed. But, they pointed out the 
terms of the Taft-Hartley law, 
which made it a criminal offense 
to do so. 

AFM's last royalty checks were 
written early this year for the sec- 
ond six months of 1947. T-H law 
specifically forbade such payments 
beyond July 1 this year or beyond 
the expiration of a contract de- 
manding such payments. There was 
considerable indecision among the 
manufacturers as to which date 
should be observed for cutting off 
the payments, but Petrillo insisted 
they should continue. None of the 
companies are anxious to tangle 
with the criminal angle of the T-H 
act and won't pay. 



Freddie Fisher's "Schnicklefritz" 
band held over at LaKota's Res- 
taurant, Milwaukee, until Oct. 10. 



Local 802 Ups Scale 

For Sat. Club Jobs 

New York local 802 of the Amer- 
ican Federation of Musicians has 
boosted its Saturday night "club 
job" scales by $4 per man for a 
four-hour session. New rates, which 
apply to both Class "A" and "B" 
spots, are effective Sept. 18. 

Old scales called for $16 and $12 
per man, respectively.. 



♦■ Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

Members of American Federa- 
tion of Musicians' Local 47 last 
week received a letter from Local's 
prexy J. K. Wallace stating that he 
(Wallace) has been . advised by 
James C. Petrillo, AFM head, that 
the AFM hierarchy needs no as- 
sistance from studio lot' musicians 
in coming to terms with the picture 
producing companies. 

Thus Petrillo slapped down an 
effort by a large faction of Local 
47 musicians to insert ffipir jdeas 
into the discussions ofanew film- 
studio contract, now underway in 
New York (see picture section). 
Great number of local windjam- 
mers who habitually work in pix- 
scoring have been plaguing local 
union officials, asking to have 
either their views presented to film 
company reps through Petrillo, or 
be " premitted to fly members of 
their committee to N.Y. to per- 
sonally present their ideas. 

Under present setup, Local 47 
men do the work in the studios, but 
neither they nor the local officers 
have any say in contracts, working 
conditions or scale. This authority 
is invested • in the AFM and his 
international AFM board. The 
Petrillo rep on the scene here, J, 
W. Gillette, operates exclusively of 
the local. He is now in N.Y., sitting 
in on the new pact parley. 

In his letter, Petrillo notified 47 
members that he has. an "excellent" 
array of proposals to offer the 
studio reps, but has no intention 
of revealing them now to members 
here. Inferentially, the advice is 
that it's none of- their business. 

Group of lot-working musicians 
has scheduled a meeting at Holly- 
wood Masonic Temple for next 
Wednesday <25) night to again air 
their grievances. Whether it now ■ 
will be held is problematical. They 
had wanted to buttonhole Gillette, 
but he easted before they reached 
him. 

Essentially, the musicians are 
steamed up over pooling system 
which they claim cuts down on 
employment, and want.it erased 
from upcoming film contracts. Last 
September I. E. Chadwick directly 
appealed to Petrillo, saying mem- 
ber companies of Independent 
Motion Picture Producers Assn., 
paying about $60,000 yearly for 
musicians' services, could not af- 
ford that sort of nut. Petrillo cut 
back the demands in the contract 
in force, enabling the IMPPA to 
establish a pool of musicians and 
cutting time costs to $40,000. It 
was the first cutback Petrillo ever 
had given studios since he assumed 
presidency of AFM 10 years ago. 

AFM leaders are presently work- 
ing up a new pact with major 
studios. Thereafter agreements ■ 
with indies, both IMPPA and 
SIMPP, will be made. Present two- 
year pacts expire Aug. 31. * 

Bugs Baer's Daughter 
And Fiance Collab On 
Official 'Heart' Song 

The N. Y. Heart Association's 
Dream House campaign now has 
an official song. It's titled "My 
Dream House." It's another in the 
sundry tieups, such as the one 
with David O. Selznick's "Mr. 
Blandings Builds a Dream House," 
etc. 

Authors of the song (which 
Shapiro-Bernstein is publishing) 
are Atra Baer and Martin Kalmah- 
off. Miss Baer, who assists "Cholly 
Knickerbocker" on the N. Y. Jour- 
nal American, is the daughter of 
the Arthur (Bugs) Baers. Her col- 
laborator is her fiance; their 
marriage is due this fall. Louise 
(Mrs. Bugs) Baer,. of course, has 
been one of the more vivid spark- 
plugs in the Heart campaign, her- 
self a cardiac sufferer and only re- 
cently out of the hospital. Louist 
Baer was one of Ziegfeld's top 
beauts in the heyday of the "Fol- 
lies." 



81 ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



Wednesday, August 18, 1943 



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ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



SS 



Indde Orchestras— Music 

Capitol Records' prez Glenn Wahichs has dropped the idea of legal 
retaliation against RCA-Victor over the "imitation" of Cap's "Nature 
"BQ.v " Walliehs, who last month held an indignation meet with com- 
pany attorneys, decided that tune and sales are rapidly dying, and the 
RCA release, featuring English singer Dick James, never caught on 
Cap's King Cole-frank DeVol version sopped up the market before 
the RCA disk was released. DeVol, who arranged the eole platter and 
feackstopped it with his band, squawked lustily to Walliehs, but got no- 
where on an appeal to James C. Petrillo. Musicians' union prez didn't 
even answer DeVol's heated wire, asking Petrillo to remonstrate with 
RCA for what DeVol called "piracy" of his arrangement. 

Marian Kay and. Helene Roth wrote a novelty ditty, with Al Pianta- 
dosi, titled "Darf Men Gain in College?," which in Yiddish means 
'•Must You Go to College?" It's part of a recent cycle of gag titles 
("Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen," etc.), but in this instance there has re- 
sulted some controversy from college students and professors who 
couldn't see the humor or the satire as result of disk jockeys in the 
Hollywood secter playing the tune. A Rego disk was sent them. The 
writers also are west coast residents. The veteran Piantadosi is now 
in the publishing business in Encino, Cat 

William Morris agency, which booked Jack Nye's band into Mocambo, 
Hollywood, had to yank group to make way for Music Corp. of Amer- 
ica-booked D'Varga when American Federation, of Musicians Local 47 
ruled that D'Varga was not given "proper notice" when cut loose from 
spot. After Nye's first night, MCA, which handles D'Varga, squawked 
to union that its man had not received "proper" dismissal notice. Local 
agreed with MCA, told Morris to withdraw Nye and ordered Mocambo 
to restore D'Varga to its bandstand for a full two weeks. 

Jimmy Dorsey's orchestra won't return to Casino Gardens, Santa 
Monica, Cal., spot owned by his brother, Tommy Dorsey. Though J. D. 
wanted to play the spot again as a means of avoiding one-nighters and 
remaining on the Coast, the spot recently reduced its budget, and 
J.D.'s band costs more to operate than the Casino could afford to pay 
under existing b.o. returns. 



Jack Mills Renews Four 
After Initial 28 Years 

Renewal rights to a quartet of 
top-bracket songs of 1920 were ac- 
quired last week by Mills Music, 
according to company prexy Jack 
Mills. Tunes include "Broadway 
Rose," "Old Pal, Why Don't You 
Answer Me," "So Long, Oo-Long, 
How Long You Gonna Be Gone" 
and "Let's All Wear a Pair of 
Overalls." 

"Broadway Rose" was written 
by Otis Spencer, Martin Freed and 
Gene West. Sam Lewis, Joe Young 
and M. K. Jerome collabed on "Old 
Pal." "So Long's" authors are Bert 
Kalmar and Harry Ruby, while 
Ruby Cowan turned out "Overalls." < 



Bands at Hotel B.O.'s 



Weeks 

Rand Hntel W«jed 

Freddy Martin Waldorf (400; $2) .....1...,..* 1 

Skitch Henderson . . Pennsylvania (500; $1-$1.50). . . . « 
Bernie Cummins* . . New Yorker (400; $1-$1.50> .... 2 
B. Barron— 3 Suns. .Astor (700; $1-$1.50) 1 



fornj Total 
W«ek 0«Det« 
2.850 4.550 
1,200 7-525 
1,075 3,825 
3,40ft, 3,460 



* New Yorker, ice shotu. 



Band Reviews 



XAVIER CUGAT OBCH (19) ♦ 
With Norma 

Mark Hopkins hotel, S.F. 

Frisco Responsiveness to big- 
name talent is proving itself again 
with a high pressure reaction to 
Xavicr Cugat's troupe, here pour- 
ing out full measures of rate — a 
dance music with enough novelty 
pressing to make the b.o. a cinch. 

Cugat's combo of 3 violin, 5 sax 
to give his band an overtone of 
gleam. Together with his. excel- 
lent choice of musical copy adroit- 
ly paced for variety, he is quickly 
acquiring a local fandom. This en- 
gagement should provide Cugat 
with a new seasonal port-of-Call 
which in these unlush days is not 
a to-be-taken-lightly accomplish- 
ment. 

Cugats combo of 3 violin, 5 sax 
all doubling on ' reeds or wood- 1 
winds, 3 brass, 5 rhythm, marimba, j 
French horn, piano and '"Cugat I 
himself up front with violin, is top- 1 
'drawer for dancing or just listen- ■ 
Ing; Packed floors for all sets is 
.proof that it's mostly dancing and 
little listening. 

• Big kick for the cover payers I 
<$1.50 nightly, $1.75 Fridays, $2 ; 
Saturdays) is the bandstand rhum- 
ba-ing of Norma, a sliver of a I 
youngster (daughter of Cugat 
bandsman Albert Calderon) who 
■ seasons the musical dishes with 
pulsations, - wiggles, shoulder toss- 
ings, bimps (to distinguish them 
from bumps which are more vigor- 
ous) and general at-large Latin 
ogltngs . and come-on-mgs to the 
delight of all and sundry. Im- 
promptu dance by Cugat and 
Norma is gay stuff. Demonstra- 
tion of "La Raspa," dubbed 
"Mexican Shuffle" by Cugat, which 
had the dancefloor addicts doing, 
the item with enthusiasm, is strong 
•novelty. 

Cugat advent into Frisco is a 
high powered click from every 
slant. Ted. 



Disk, Music Sales 

Continued from page 33 - r - 



from England, etc. And in the 
event that sales really wax hot, a 
crisis will again develop along the 
lines of that of a few weeks back, 
when major company executives 
were of a mind to flout the AFM 
and begin fullscale recording using 
musicians they claimed could be 
secured. 

If the companies have enough 
items left and can get enough sales 
out of them to tide them over until 
November, however, a possible de- 
sire to ignore the AFM would be 
submerged by Xmas biz. All com- 
panies (majors, that is) have con- 
siderable catalogs of Yuletide ma- 
terial, and the marketing of these 
annually fakes precedence over 
pop items. During the final three 
months of every year, Xmas ma- 
terial far outsells the year-round 
things. Which could mean that if 
September and October don't bring 
a foreed showdown with Petrillo, 
the disk ban is likely to be main- 
tained until 1948. 

Meanwhile, music jobbers con- 
tinue to report consistent gains in 
sheet sales figures, which six to 
eight weeks ago were at the lowest 
point in 15 years. Not only are pop 
tunes moving at a faster pace, but 
sales of standard material, which 
also had slumped sharply, are 
again on the rise. ' 



Parlaying Pacts Puts 
Ken Griffin in Middle 
Of Agent's % Tussle 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 17. 
Ken Griffin, organist-composer 
of "You Can't Be True, Dear," in- } 
|nocently got caught in the middle 
of union-agent trouble here last 
! week and came within an eyelash 
of not opening at Blue Ridge Inn. 
. As it was, his first night was played 
I under protest and it wasn't until 
jthe following evening that the 
green light finally came through. 
[At that, General Artists Corp. had 
to go straight to AFM chieftains 
| for the okay. 

Originally Len Litman had Grif- 
fin booked for the Carnival Lounge 
I but date set had to be inked out 
j when tunesmith was held^ over in 
I St. Louis. Then Litman figured to 
I shift Griffin to his Copa, on same 
. bill with Jerry Wayne, whose re- 
! cording of Griffin's tune has been 
a long-time best-seller. At last min- 
' ute, however, it was decided to let 
, Wayne go it. alone. 

About that time, Bill Goldie, 
I owner of Blue Ridge and a friend 
'of Litman's, told latter he was in 
I the market for a name act. Litman 
j agreed to turn over Griffin's con- 
i tract. Don DeCarlo, local agent, 
| has an -exclusive on Blue Ridge 
bookings, but he doesn't hold an 
AFM license. Sa Griffin's contract 
made the mistake of listing both 
GAC.and DeCarlo, each to receive 
5%' commission. Under the circum- 
stances, Local 60 of AFM said that 
Griffin, who holds a card in musi- 
| cians' union, couldn't open, 
j Goldie had already spent "con- 
I siderable coin on advertising and 
| immediately appealed to GAC. 
j Agency, unaware of the DeCarlo 
set-up and pointing out that it had 
booked Griffin into the Carnival 
Lounge originally went to N. Y. 
AFM headquarters with its case. 

Meantime, Griffin's opening at 
1 Blue Ridge was just a few hours 
away, and organist didn't know 
\ where he stood. At last minute, 
| AFM let him go ahead under pro- 
'test pending review of the case, 
following morning Local 60 was 
! notified to give the go-ahead sign 
' to 1 Griffin for remainder of week. 



Los Angeles 

Dorothy Shay-Jan Savitt (Ambassador, 900; $lJ50-$2). Tremendout 

4,050 tabs new attendance mark. 

- Jan Garber (Biltmore; 900; $1-$1.50). Steady 2,750 covers. 

Chicago 

George Olsen (Beachwalk. Edgewater Beach; $1.5Q-$2.50 min.). Freak- 
ish mid- August cool wave held it down to 9,000 in this outdoor spot. 

Benny Strong (Boulevard Room, Stevens, 650, $3.50 ittin., $1 «over). 
Ice Revue pulling increase to 4,000. " „ . . ' 

Floruit ZaBach (Empire Room, Palmer House, 550, $3.50 mitt, $1 
cover). Slight tailspin to 3,000. 

Location Jobs, Not in Hotels 

(Chicago) •' ; 

Jack Fina (Aragon, $1-$1.15 adm.). First week passable 13,000. 

Marty Gould (Chez Paree, 500; $3.50 min.). Danny Thomas main- 
taining high 6,100. . , i 

AI Trace (Blackhawk, 500: S2..50 min.). Big promotion on Trace'* 
"You Call Everybody Darling" disk soaring take to 3,800. .-• 

Lawrence Welk (Trianon, $1-$1.15 adm.). Jamming doors^whh 
19,000. 



(Los Angeles) 

Ziggy Eiman-Top Notchers (Palladium B», Hollywood,. 1st wk.). Strong 
13,000 callers. 

Frankie Masters (Aragon' B., Santa Monica, 5th wk.). Hefty 7,500 
entrants. 



On the Upbeat 



New York 

George- Simon due east next Sun- ] 
day (25) . . . Artie Malvin is the 1 
vocalist on Rav McICinley's record- i 
irtg of "All the Way from San j 
Jose"; McKinley is named on the ] 
Victor disk . . . World label being I 
established by International Rec- 1 
ords, Nashville outfit, as hillbilly [ 
and race series : . . Sammy Kaye j 
took on new vocalist named "Clem- | 
entine" . . . -i Elliot Lawrence 
playing afternoon sessions at Pea- 
body hotel, Memphis; band is set 
for Roosevelt hotel, New Orleans, 
over Xmas period . . . Jack Dona- 
hue, brother of Maestro Al. D. and 
former mpmber of his band in 
Frankfurt 1 hospital, Philadelphia, 
recovering from ulcer operation. I 



Chicago 

Al Trace's Regent waxing, "You 
Call Everybody Darling" shooting 
oveB 150,000 mark here . . . Benny 
Meroff troupe at Schwartz Hotel. 
Elkhart Lake, Wis. . . . Bob Berkey 
h.o. two more -months at Melody 
Mill . . . Jan Sterling and Keenan 
Wynn, while touring wards at 
Vaughn Hospital, interviewed by 
disk jock Lou Zonka, who cuts 
transcribed show from his bed . . . 
Johnny Knapp, Rondo record tenor 
at Bowery, Detroit . . . Joe Sher- 
man, unofficial mayor of Randolph 
Street, back from fourth trip to 
Mayo's . . . Lawrence Welk hits 
one-nighters after current stint at 
Trianon, bowing at Oelwein, Iowa, 
Sept. 7, and winding up on Coast 



Oct 15. 



Quintones Combo 



now at Shin's, Cleveland . . . Bobby 
Byrne into Claridge hotel, Mem- 
phis, Aug. 20 for two weeks . . . 
Harry Gceven, booker, dissolved 
partnership with Paul Marr to open 
own agency . . . Orrin Tucker into 
Aragon, Aug. 31 . . - Johnny 
Moore's Three Blazes starting one- 
nighters in Gary, Aug. 21, ending 
in Oklahoma. City, Sept. 10 . . . 
Remco Distributing takes over 
Harmonia records for midwest . . , 
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Selvin in Chir 
cago . . . Joe Reichman into Schro- 
eder hotel, Milwaukee, Sept, 14, 
/or three weeks . . r Billboard At- 
tractions io open agency in CleveV 
land, with Hal Lynn, former band- 
leader, id driver's seat V ." Henry 
Basse slated for Blue Room, Roose- 
velt hotel, New Orleans, Sept. 1 . . . 
Miguelito Valdes at'Carnival, Min- 
neapolis, Sept 14-27 ... Honey 
Dreamers quintet will work with- 
Art Mooney band at Illinois State 
Fair, Springfield, Aug. 21 . . . 



Hollywood 

Leonard Sues' nine-piece orches- 
tra- slants- six weeks at El Rancho. 
Las Vegas, at $1,500 weekly, Sept.* 
15 . . . Jo"e Burton Trio opens month 
at Rendezvous, Santa Barbara, Sept. 
8, at $450 per . . . King Cole Trio 
do 'three stanzas at Red Feather 
nitery Sept. 15 at $3,500 weekly. 
Combo will play fortnight at Club 
Moderne, Long Beach, at same 
figure, beginning Oct. 6 . . . Page 
Cavanaugh Trio drew 2-weeks at 
Oriental Theatre, Chicago, starting 

(Continued on page 36) 



MAX LAKY QUINTET 
The Lodge, Old Orchard, Me. 

Mai Lary is a local lad who has 
worked with Glenn Miller (Army 
band). Randy Brooks, Ina Ray Hut- 
ton, Herbie Fields, Tex Beneke. 
Loafing around his home town for 
the summer months he drew many 
local offers- He took a 10 weeks' 
booking at Skylight Lounge, White- 
hall hotel, here going in with a 
small combo. Success of hooking 
brought multiplicity of new offers, 
with quintet now socking 'em at 
The Lodge, suburban roadhouse. 

Personnel, besides Lary on clar- 
inet and alto sax, has Red Con- 
nors, trumpet; Gramp Nye, 88s; 
Freddie O'Connell, drums; Bill 
Britto, bass (also ex-Glenn Miller I; 
each qualifying as a vocalist. Al- 
though outfit can send the juve 
crowd with belbop, Lary smartly 
caters more heavily to dancers with 
smooth intimate stuff that wears 
better with mature customers. Bop 
singing version of "Perfidia" in 
J-harlie Ventura manner never 
«uls to bring down the house, with 
fine ensemble work on "Suspen- 
!>on, ' an original that features a 
*ugue for percussion and clarinet, 
*<so a sock entry. Connors' soloing 
ff * Sag trumpet virtuoso, gamut- 
w»g from clinkers to the graduate 
«arry James, is another standout 
arrangement. Don. 



RETAIL SHEET BEST SELLE] 



Sufvey of retail sheet music 
sales, based on reports obtained 
from leading stores in 12 cities, 
and showing comparative sales 
rating for this and last week. 



National 
Rating 

This Last 
wk. wk. 



Week ' Ending 
Aug. 14 



Title and Publisher 



T 
O 
T 
A 
L 

P 
O 
1 

N 
T 

S 



1 


1 


"My Happiness" (Blasco) . . 


4 


1 


1 


4 


2 


2 


8 


1 


1 


5 


1 


1 


101 


2 


3 


"Tree in the Meadow" (Shapiro-B) 


2 


5 


2 


2 


5 


7 


-2 


2 


2 


4 


4 


5 


90 


3 


2 


"You Can't Be True" (Biltmore) . 


3 


3 


5 


e 


I 


3 


1 




3 


3 


2 


4 


87 


4 


4 




1 


4 


3 


J 


4 




5 


4 


6 


I 


5 


6 


81 


5 


6 


"You Call Darling" (Mayfair).... 


5 


2 




5 


9 


4 


3 


6 


5 


7 


3 


3 


69 


6 


5 


"Woody Woodpecker" (Leeds) 


6 


9 




3 


3 


1 


7 


8 


4 


2 




2 


65 


7 


' 7' 




7 




6 


7 


6 


5 






7 


6 


7 


8 


40 


8 


.8 


"Love Somebody" (Kramer-W) . . 




e 


7 


9 


7 


6 




7 




8 


8 


7 


34 


9 


11 






a 




8 






4 








S 




18 


10 


9 


"Maybe YouTl There" (Triangle). 






4 










3 


10 








16 


11 


12 


"It Only Happens" (Berlin) 


9 






10 






10 


5 










10 


12 


14 


"If I Live to Be a 106" (General) 














6 . 








9 




7 

9 



Morris-BVH 

Continued from Dnzt 33 



I deal was imminent with either 

i Metro or Par. 

Sidney Kornheiser, who had 
managed the B-VH setup while 
under Morris, and who was to have 
gone with any deal the writers 
made elsewhere comes back into 
the Morris picture under the deal. 
He'll headquarter in Hollywood, 
while Morris himself will alternate 
between the two coasts but main- 
taining his Hollywood home. 

Melrose Music, a Morris firm, 
will be bandied in N. Y. by Jack 
Lee and in Hollywood by Jack 
Maas. Morris and Mayfair firms 
will be run by Paul Barry in N. Y. 
and Sam Weiss on the Coast. 
Spot; formerly occupied by Henry 
Spitzer, as general manager, will 
not be filled. Morris will direct 
all activity. Spitzer is now in 
business for himself in N. Y., in- 
cidentally. 

Morris' new deal with B-VH adds 
up to an increasing list of writers 
with whom he has publishing ar- 
rangements. In addition, there are 
Frank Loesser. David Rose, Hoagy 
Carraichael, Sammy Cahn-Jule 
Styne, and Harold Arlen. Loesser, 
incidentally, is east preparing his 
legiter; "Where's Charley," and 
Kornheiser will remain in N. Y. 
until that show opens before mov- 
ing west.. 



36 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



GAC, Brooks bi 
AFM Hearing On 
Pact Wrangling 

General Artists Corp. and Randy 
Brooks will lock horns before the 
American Federation of Musicians 
over his management contract 
with the- agency. Maestro last 
week served GAC with notice that 
he was cancelling the agreement, 
which has some time to run. 

Brooks' move was based on a 
claim that GAC had not secured 
any bookings for his band for more 
than four weeks, the prescribed 
layoff time allowed by the AFM 
before a contract is automatically 
cancelled. GAC's answer to 
Brooks has a humorous side; it 
admits not having booked the 
band for four weeks, but asserts 
it hasn't been able to find the 
leader to offer him dates and has 
gone so far as to phone his New 
England home searching for him. 
— AJsg, GAC points out, Brooks has 
not haSr~an organized band for 
much longer than the four-week 
period Brooks is taking advantage 
of in an attempt to release him- 
self. GAC also points out, in a 
Jetter to the AFM contesting 
Brooks action, that A. Edward 
Masters, his attorney, has been in 
Europe and couldn't be reached. 

In addition, GAC claims that 
Brooks owes its accounting division 
approximately $10,000. 

— | 

Music Publishers Contact Em- j 
ployees rims its annual golf tour- ! 
ney today (Wednesday) at Beth- 
page State Park, Bethpage, L. I., 
using two courses. Medal play 
will again decide the winner in 
one 18-hole round. Jule Stern 
won top prize last year. 



RAMBLING 
ROSE 

By JOE BURKE and 

joe McCarthy, jr. 
LAUREL MUSIC CO. 

1619 Broadway. New York 

TOMMY VALANDO 



• Featured In M-G-M'i 

"BIG CITY" 

DON'T 
BLAME 
ME 

Music by . . «► 
JIMMY MuKUGH 

ROBBINS 



RETAIL DISK BEST SELLERS 









Q 
O 






-, 
o 


o 






















Survey of retail disk best 
sellers, based on reports ob- 
tained from leading stores in 
12 cities, and showing com- 
parative sales rating for this 
and last week. 


>rly Music Sh 


n-Ross> 


pi 


nkins Music C 


xs 

CO 

vt 
3 

s 

yi 

. "S 
c 
a 


ler & Muellei 


Music Co.) 


Kresge Co.) 


in-Clay) 


a 

a 


earson) 


roughs Co.) 


T 
O 
T 

A 


National Week Ending 

Katins . Aug. 14 
This Last 

wk wk. Artist, Label, Title 


S3 

~\ 

it 
u 

0 

> 

St 

'if. 


Chicago — (Hudso 


Detroit — (Grinne 


Kansas City — f Je 


a 

i 

m 

< 

vt 
o 


Omaha — (Schmol 


Boston — (Boston 


St. Louis — (S. S. 


Seattle — (Sherm; 


Minneapolis — (Di 


Indianapolis — (Pi 


Cleveland — (Bur: 


L 

P 
O 
I 

T 

s 


1 


2 


PEE WEE HUNT (Capitol) 
"12th Street Rag" 


7 


2 


1 


10 




2 


5 


6 , 


3 


7 


6 


6 


66 


2 


12 


MARGARET WHITING (Capitol) 




7 


G 


2 


6 


3 


9 




6 


2 


8 


10 


51 


3A 


5 


DORIS DAY (Columbia) 

"It's Magic" 


1 


1 




1 




10 




2 


1 




* 




50 


3B 


1 


K. GRIFFIN-J. WAYNE (Rondo) 
"You Can't Be True, Dear" 


2 




3 


3 


7 




4 




5 


3 






50 


" 4 


4 


D. DAY-B. CLARK (Columbia) 
"Love Somebody" 


5 


5 


4 


4 


3 






8 




8 


10 




41 


5 


3 


AL TRACE (Regent) 

"You Call Everybody Darling". . 


3 


3 




7 






6 . 


3 


4 








40 


6 


18 


PIED PIPERS (Capitol) 






2 






1 








5 


5 




31 


7 


9 


GORDON JENKINS (Decca) 
"Maybe You'U Be There" 




4 










1 








7 




21 


8 


10 


PKIMA SCALA (London) * 














2 










2 


18 


9A 


8 


DICK HAYMES (Decca) 

"Little White Lies" >. 


10 






• 








4 


10 




3 




17 


9B 


13 


ART MOONEY (M-GMK 




















4 


1 




17 


10A 


8 


JON-SONDRA STEELE /Damon) 
"My Happiness" . : f. ....... . 


4 


6 




8 


















15 


10B 


6 


MEL BLANC-SPORTSMEN (Cap) 




5 






4 








9 






15 


10C 


6 


ELLA FITZGERALD (Decca) 




--<• 






5 








2 








15 


10D 




D. DAY-B. CLARK (Columbia) 
"Confess" ..^ 










4 






7 


7 








15 


11 




PERRY COMO (Victor) 














7 








2 




13 


12 


16 


RAY McKINLEY (Victor) 

"You Came a Long Way" 






9 




1 
















12 


13 


7 


KAY KYSER (Columbia) 
"Woody Woodpecker" : . . . , 


6 














5 










11 


14A 


-BENNY STRONG (Tower) 
















1 










10 


14B 


17 


ANNIE VINCENT (Mercury) 
"You Call Everybody Darling" . . . 




















1 






10 


14C 


18 


HARMONICATS (Universal) 
























1 


10 


15A 




PATTI PAGE (Mercury) ' 
"Confess" * 




8 




5 


















9 


15B 


15 


SARAH VAUGHN (Musicraft) 










2 
















9 


16A 


14 


DICK HAYMES (Decca) 














3 












8 


16B 




CONNIE HAINES (Signature) 
























3 


8 



FIVE TOP 
ALBUMS 



i 

EMPEROR WALTZ 
Bing Crosby 

Decca 



ALBUM NO. 3 
AI Jolson 

Decca 



MUSIC fOR 
ROMANCING 
Paul Weston 

Capitol 



SONG HITS OF OUR 
TIMES 
(7 Albums) 

Decca 



'•'5 

THEME SONG 
(Various Bands) 

Columbia 



r_ 



Upbeat , 

Continued from page 35 



Aug. 19 . . . Wesley Prince, ex-King 
Cole bassist, joined Happy Johnson 
Five . . . Harry James, upon re- 
forming band after layoff, will trek 
east on gigs, sandwiching in a 16- 
day stand at Texas State Fair, 
Dallas, Oct. 9-24 . . . Cab Calloway, 
combo inked for two weeks at Club 
Moderne, Long Beach, opening 
Aug. 27 at flat $4,000 per frame , . . 
Del Courtney band breaks jump 





America's No. 1 Saxophonist 

CHARLIE VENTURA 

and 

MISS JACKIE KANE 

RAY KARL BENNIE GREEN 

At the Conclusion <if Tour Weeks at 

ROYAL ROOST, NEW YORK 

Engagement Extended 4 Additional Weeks 
Broadcasting NBC • National Records 



.back here from New Orleans, for 
Cocoanut Grove stand starting 
Sept. 7, with two-weeker at Lake- 
side Park, Denver, Aug. 20 . . . 
Million Dollar Theatre bought 
Memphis Slim, band, Chi outfit, 
week Sept. 14, Jack McVea combo 
will split billing on show . . . Ivory 
Joe Hunter into Cricket Club for 
two weeks, begining Aug. 18. 

Mischa Nbvy orchestra h.o. at 
Fairmont hotel, San Francisco, for 
two weeks . . . Trenier Twins band 
back to Somerset House, Riverside, 
for four weeks . . Frankie Carle 
closed at Casino Gardens Sunday 
(8) and takes a 12-day vacation 
before beginning • series of Coast 
one-nighters Aug. 20 in Stockton 



Pittsburgh 



Music Notes 



= m - ASSOCIATED BOOKING CORP. 

JOE GLASER, Pr«s. 
745 Fifth Ave., Ntw York 22 203 No. Wabash 

PL- 9-4600 Chiceat 



Tex Beneke plays one-nighter at 
West View. Park Aug. 25 . . . Ted 
Weems opens two-weeks at Bill 
Green's Aug. '30 . . . Vic Damone 
back to Copa Monday (23) for sec- 
ond, date at Lenny Litman spot in 
six months . . , Al Marsico band 
back into Nixon Cafe after vaca- 
tion; Marsico has batoned music 
at Tony Conforti's spot for nine 
years . . . Madhatters follow 18- 
week run at Town Casino, Buffalo, 
with Ankara stay with twin organ- 
ists, Ralph and Buddy Bonds, hold- 
ing over . . . Baron Elliott, WCAE 
j staff band into West View Park for 
one week, following Lee Kelton's 
WJAS staff crew . . . Buddy Martin, 
after run at Copa as singing pianist, 
now at Hollywood Show Bar with 
quartet which includes Elber Mori, I 
vibes; his twin brother, Elmer," bass, 
and Tony Fornaro, guitar . . .Or- 
ganist Marjorie Slightham option 
picked up again at Roosevelt hotel 
Fiesta Room. 



Lee Gillette moved up from as- 
sistant director of repertoire to the 
post of director of folk and west- 
ern repertoire for Capitol Records 
. . . Tex Williams opened Dallas 
Music pubbery (ASCAP) to handle 
western and novelty tunes . . 
Jeannie Taylor's "Gone Again," 

You Never Know" and "Baby". 
Lend Me Your Ear" published by 
Pic Music . . Danny Thomas into 
Chicago theatre with Marie Mac- 
Donald Sept. 3 . . . Dick Powell 
w £ r ¥,, Ca P ito1 theatre, N. Y., with 

Pitfall. ... Ted Lewis' Aug. 19 
opening at Latin Quarter, N. Y., 
set back to Labor Day. Lewis, after 
a hospital checkup, was instructed 
to take a month's rest to ease his 
u i cer l oA • M - G - M Records pur- 
chased 22 masters from the Bache- 
lors for $2,500 . . ,. Victor Young 

for Hal Walks' "The Accused" at 
Paramount, with Robert Emmett 
Dolan slated for similar assign- 
ment on studio's "Sorrowful 
Jones. 

Dick Stabile, currently at Slap- 
sy Mane's. L. A., inked to a writing 
Mu'sic' Ame »can Academy of 



IBMI Won't Dole 
j Guarantee Coin 
To Back Pub. Cos. 

Broadcast Music, Inc., has not 
recently" made any contracts under 
which it underwrites affiliate pub- 
lishers. Radio-owned organization 
states emphatically that it has 
given up all ideas of guaranteeing 
any minimum amounts of cash 
yearly«or any other way to set up 
music business ventures. 

Recent Joe Davis-Murray Wizell 
deal and the arrangement made 
with Nicky Campbell are simply 
agreements to pay so much coin 
for performances obtained by 
either, via which the music of both 
firms will be cleared through BMI. 
Added to the performance monies 
are occasional advances against fu- 
ture performances. Otherwise, 
BMI is doling out coin only after 
performances are logged. 

It's pointed out that last week's 
setting of the new Freddy Martin 
Fremart Co. was a rearrangement 
of a contract with Martin covering 
the inactive Maestro Music firm, 
which had been set up in 1.941. 



Waring's Conv. Date 

Fred Waring has been signed to 
headline talent at the annual Can- 
ning Machinery and Supplies Assn. 
convention and exhibit Jan. 15-19 
in Atlantic City. Group will make 
the heaviest talent splurge in its 
history for this affair. 

Convention is expected to bring 
20,000 visitors to the resort. 



TWIN SONG V : M : 

A DATE WITH JUDY 



1VS fc WW' 



ROBBINS MUSIC CORPORATION 

799 SEvEN'm A v 5 N « E • S i A ':t< 9 



A GREAT 
RHYTHM BALLAD 

CONFESS 



OXFORD MUSIC CORPORATION 
1619 Broadway, New York 



A Sure SWEET Hit! 

SAY SOMETHING 
SWEET TO YOUR 
SWEETHEART 

i LONDON RECORD #260 with 

THE LAW IS C0MIN' 
FERYAPAW! 

MILLS MUSIC, INC. 

161» Broadway » New York 19 



A NEW NOVELTY SONG 
TEENY WEENY OOW 

EEIVY FRANCES 
By Joe Schuster and Sid Friedman 

Published by Joe Schuster 
1 Bennett Ave.. New York 33. N. Y. 



A B.M.I. STANDARD 
BERNIE WAYNE and BEN RALEIGH'S 

LAUGHING ON THE OUTSIDE 



(CRYING ON THE INSIDE) 



Wednesday, Auguet 18, 1948 

'RH' Logging System 

Richord Himber's new development in logging broadcast perform- 
ances lists tunes in the survey, based on four major network schedules' 
They are compiled an Ihe basis of 1 point for sustaining instrumental- 
2 points for sustaining vocal; 2 for local commercial instrumental- 3 
for local commercial vocal; 4 for net commercial instrumental- 6 net- 
work commercial vocal, f indicates film excerpt. * stage excerpt 
SURVEY FOR WEEK OF AUGUST 6-12 

Plugs Sust. Sust. Comm. Comm. Tot. 

. .. . heard in Inst. Voc. Inst. Vocal Pts. 

A Tree in the Meadow— Shapiro . N. Y. 2 17 l io 233 

Chi. 2 11 7 9 

, , L. A. 8 15 18 

It's Magic— f'Romance on High N. Y. 0 18 2 7 991 

Seas*'-Witmark C hi. 2 15 6 6 

L. A. 15 16 2 6 

Dolores— Famous N Y. 8 16 0 C 211 

. Chi. 15 16 5 8 

T „ .. L. A. 13 12- 0 4 

Put 'Em In Box— i "Romai»ce on N. Y. • 0 9 0 8 1R« 

High Seas"— Remick chi. 7 9 2 6 

L- A. 9 15 0 6 

Blue Shadows on Trail— f 'Mel- N. Y. 1 . 11 0 8 ns 

ody Timer— Santly chi. 1 1 0 8 

L. A. 6 7 0 7 

P. S. 1 Love You— LaSalle N. Y. 4 7 0 7 128 

Chi. 7 11 6 

LA. 4 11 0 5 

Woody Woodpecker— Leeds N. Y. 0 5 0 9 122 

Chi. 0 12 8 

LT A. 0 2 0 8 

Little White Lies — B.V.C. ....... N. Y. 5 4 0 5 118 

Chi. 6.73 5 

L. A. 7 3 15 

Love Somebody — Kramer-W N. Y. 0 6 0 7 111 

Chi. 1 2 0 7 

L. A. 0 7 0 6 

Fella With Umbrella — ("Easter N. Y. 3 4 1 fi 110 

Parade"— Feist Chi. 2 2 3 6 

„ r L. A. 73 05 

Confess— Oxford N. Y. 0 11 ff 7 109 

Chi. 0 4 0 6 

L. A. 5 3 0 4 

Everyday I Love You — f'Two N. Y. 0 10 0 4 102 

Guys. From Texas"— Harms ... . . Chi. 13 1 4 

L. A. 14 5 0 4 

Bluebird of Happiness — T. B. N. Y. 1 11 0 3 101 

Harms . Chi. 3 6 14 

L. A. 6 5 0 4 

Only Happens Dance With You N. Y. 2 7 0 4 99 

f'Easter Parade"— Berlin Chi. 3 7 2 3 

L. A. 10 5 0 3 • 

Highway to Love— B.M.I N. Y. 0 3 0 4 96 

Chi. 3 2 0*5 

L. A. 4 12 1 4 

You Can't be True, Dear — Bilt- N. Y. 0 5 0 6 94 

more , Chi. 0 12 6 

L. A. 2 1 0 6 

Just for Now — Advance N. Y. 0 7 0 1 87 

Chi. 2 8 13 

L. A. 15 7 1 1 

You Call Everybody, Darlin' — N. Y. 0 5 0 4 83 

Mayfair Chi. 1 10 4 

L. A. 6 8 0 4 

My Happiness — Blasco N. Y. 0 2 0 7 82 

Chi. 0 10 5 

L. A. 4 2 0 5 

A Most Unusual Day — t'TJate N. Y. 1 5 0 3 82 

With Judy"— Robbins Chi. 7 4 3 3 

L. A. 1 5 0 3 

Rambling Rose— Laurel N. Y. 1 7 0 - 3 79 

Chi. 1 3.0 3 

L. A. 5 8 0 3 

Baby Don't Be Mad—Paramount. N. Y. 1 10 0 4 79 

Chi. 15 0 2 

L. A. 3 6 0 2 

A Boy from Texas— Shapiro N. Y. 0 8 0 2 78 

Chi. 2 3 2 2 

L. A. 10 7 0 2 

Rhode Island Famous for You— N. Y. 2 3 1 3 74 

*"Inside U. S. A."— Crawford . . Chi. 3 5 2 3 

L. A. 0 4 0 3 

Steppin' Out my Baby— f'Easter N. Y. 0 5 1 3 74 

Parade"— Berlin Chi. 3 4 13 

L. A. 2 3 13 



VARIETY 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



37 



Lyle Fogel, Pla-Mor Op, 
Hurt, Wife Killed, in Crash 

Kansas City, Aug. 17. 

Mrs. Mary W. Fogel, was killed 
and her husband, Lylc L. Fogel, 
one of the operators of Pla-Mor 
ballroom, was seriously ' injured 
when their car skidded on wet 
pavement and rolled down an em- 
bankment near . Wamego, Kans., 
last Saturday (14). Miss Ethel 
Walker, sister of Mrs. Fogel, also 
was injured in the accident, 

Fogel sustained a fractured hip 
and ribs and injury to the verte- 
brae. Miss Walker suffered a frac- 
tured leg. 



LAINE VOCALS CRACK 
BALLROOM B.O. MARK 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

Largest coin he ever netted for 
one-nighter r approximately $2,500; 
was pocketed by Frankie Laine 
for a Saturday (14) date at Balboa 
Beach Ballroom. He cracked the 
Terpalace record with 6,530 cus- 
tomers at $1.25 per head. 

In on $1,000 guarantee against 
50%, Laine collected $3,280 from 



operator Bob Murphy, paid $400 to 
Jimmy Zito orch which backed 
him. 



Km pa, T.D. Set for CNE 

Toronto, Aug. 17. 

Aug. 27 to Sept. 11, Gene 
Krupa's orchestra will play .the 
Canadian National Exhibition Aug. 
27-28 and Tommy Dorsey follows 
for three nights, Aug. 30-Sept. 1. 

Likelihood that other name 
br.nds will be signed shortly for 
remainder of Canada's annual 
"Big Show." 



N.E. Ballroom Ops Eye 
Totem Pole in Search 
Of Successful Formula 

Boston, Aug. 17, 

With resort and dance hall biz 
off all over New England, local ops 
are ogling the two spots that are 
still in the chips, Roy Gill's Totem 
Pole in suburban Boston and Ed 
Enegren's King Phillip, Wrentham, 
to see what makes them tick. 

Totem, "ong a fave for the high 
school set, goes light on the name 
band policy, bringing in a top crew 
only occasionally on a one-night 
stand basis, and then only on the 
spot's own terms. Gill doesn't go 
for fancy (prices. 

Ballroom is currently handling 
between 2,000 and 3,000 people 
from Wednesday through Saturday 
at $1.75 a couple, with Al Dona- 
hue's band working every night 
save Thursday, when a name, band 
takes over if it and Gill see eye 
to eye. Otherwise, hall is dark on 
Thursdays. Donahue, incidentally, 
is out this week with his first disk, 
a locally-produced Crystal Tone. • 

King Phillip, unlike the Totem 
Pole, operates on a name band 
policy only, having done fairly well 
this season with' such outfits as 
Tommy Dorsey, Tony Pastor, Ray 
Eberle, Lawrence Week, Louis 
Prima and Ted Weems. 

Ed Enegren, Jr., third of the 
name to operate the amusement 
park on Lake Pearl, tried local 
bands first, but they didn't pay off. 
This season, with name bands only, 
the hall scaled at $1.00 a head 
Tuesday through Thursdays, $1.50 
Fridays and Saturdays, the place 
began to roll. 



Armstrong Combo Set 
For Click Club, Philly 

Philadelphia, Aug. 17. 

Louis Armstrong's six-piece com- 
bination will inaugurate a new 
policy at Frank Palumbo's Click 
Club, Sept. 6. Armstrong will start 
Palumbo's idea of an occasional 
musical "act" such as Armstrong's, 
in conjunction with a dance band. 
King Cole Trio is also being nego- 
tiated for.' 

Armstrong's booking into the 
larger Click, which has used name 
bands almost exclusively since 
opening, is due to the high b.o. 
figures he ran up during a recent 
date at Palumbo's Ciro's, a short 
distance from the Click. This spot 
uses small combos exclusively. 



I Songs with Largest Radio Audience J 

■ ' The top 32 songs of the week based on the copyrighted Audi- .. . 

ence Coverage Index Survey of Popular Music Broadcast Over 
4 Radio Networks, Published by the Office of Research, Inc., Dr. , . 

John G. Peatman, Director. ■ 

Survey Week of August 6-Aiigust 12, 1948 

A Boy From Texas . , Shapiro-B 

A Fella With an Umbrella— f'Easter Parade". ..... Feist 

A Tree In the Meadow Shapiro-B 

Baby Don't Be Mad at Me Paramount 

Beyond the Sea Chappell 

Blue Bird of Happiness .T. B. Harms 

Blue Shadows On the Trail— 1 Melody Trail" .Santly-Joy 

Confess .'. .i .......... • Oxford 

Cumana < .Martin 

Dolores -c. .... . •'. . . Famous 

Ev'ry Day I Love You— I "Two Guys From Texas". . .Harms 

Haunted Heart— *"Inside U.S.A." Williamson 

Highway to Love ,BMI 

I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover. .......... , , Remick 

Only Happens Dance With You — r'Easter Parade" . Berlin 

It's a Most Unusual Day ....Robbins 

It's Magic — ("Romance On High Seas" Witmark 

Judaline — f'Date With Judy" .. .Robbins 

Little Girl , . Leeds 

Little White Lies .- , , . . BVC 

Love Somebody ,., . .v. . . Kramer-W 

P. S. I Love You LaSalle 

My Happiness Blasco ■ • 

Put 'Em In a Box— ["Romance On High Seas". . ; . 1 . Remick 

Rambling Rose .' m ..Laurel J^, 

Steppin' Out With My Baby— f'Easter Parade". . . . BeuHa ™ 

Takin' Miss Mary to the BalL . . . :Miller 

When the Red Red Robin Comes Bobbin- Along. J. . . Bourne > 

Whisper a Word of Love ,' Leeds 

Woody Woodpecker ( ... i Leeds 

You Call Everybody Darling ....... Mayfair 

You Can't Be True Dear ........... Biltmore 



The remaining 26 songs of the week, based on the copyrighted '. I 
Audience Coverage Index Survey of Popular Music' Broadcast • • 
Over Radio Networks. Published by the Office of Research, Inc., 
Dr. John G. Peatman, Director. 

Always You f Fox 

Better Luck Next Time— f'Easter Parade" Feist ' ". 

Best Things in Life Are Free .....Crawford 

Caramba It's the Samba Martin 

Chillicothe, Ohio Mellin . 

Cuckoo Bird Waltz „ .Lutz 

Don't Blame Me ; Warred •' 

I May Be Wrong . ; .... .Advanced 

I Went Down To Virginia. , . , .... Jefferson 

I'd Love To Live In Loveland BVC ' 

It's So Peaceful in the Country . Regent 

It's You Or No One— f "Romance On High Seas", . .Remick 

Just For Now — :' .Advanced 

Lonesome , , , . Republic 

Maybe You'll Be There Triangle 

Night Has Thousand Eyes— f 'Night Has' Eyes". . . . . Paramount 

Nobody But You '.,. ,. , ... .Duchess 

Rhode Island Is Famous For You— *"Inside U.S.A.". Crawford 

Take It Away .-. Pemora 

Tea Leaves ..-..Morris 

Things I Love Campbell 

This Is the Moment : Robbins ' 

We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye Words-Music ' • 

You Came a Long Way From St. Louis Jewel 

You Were Meant For Me Miller 

Yours -. ".. Marks 



t * Legit Musical, t Filmusical. 



Satchmo Marks Anni 

Atlantic City, Aug. 17. 

Louis Armstrong combo marked 
its first year as a unit at the Club 
Nomad Saturday (14), where the 
group is on a four-<lveek run. 

Armstrong said that his gang, 
including Jack Teagarden, Earl 
"Fatha" Hines. Barney Bigard, Big 
Sid Catlett, Arvelle Shaw, and 
Velma Middleton, will return for 
another tour of Europe in the Fall. 



AM Songsmith's 'Oscar/ 
A H'wood Bowl Preem 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

Lucky is the amateur songwriter 
who wins out in a contest spon- 
sored by the Hollywood Bowl Assn. 
With prominent composer-band- 
leaders assisting in screening the 
best tune from entries submitted 
before Friday (20), the prize- 
winning . selection will be the 
piece-de-resistance at a special pdb 
song concert to be held at the 
Bowl Aug. 28. 

Among judges who are slated to 
appear at the amphitheatre on that 
evening are' Victor Young, Johnny 
Green, David Rose and Ferde 
Grofe. Winning number will be 
orchestrated by Bert Shefter. Mills 
Music will publish the winning 
tune. 



L.A. PAT CLUB SIGNS 
WILLIAMS FOR 6 MOS. 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 
• Tex Williams' 13-piece oatune 
band is set for a six-month, non- 
cancellable stand at Riverside 
Rancho, according to terms of a 
contract deposited with Local 47, 
American Federation of Musicians, 
by Marty Landau, operator of ball- 
room. It's the longest period pact 
given a band by a terpalace here 
in many years. 

On July 7 Williams opened pres- 
ent date at the Rancho, on a deal 
giving him 65% of gross take. He 
has been averaging about $2,300 
weekly for the four nights a week 
spot is open, Thost are the terms 
which prevail 'iri the' long pact, to 
which is shirt-tailed' * six-month 
option. v. '■ 




t J 1 



KRAMER-WHITNEY, Inc., leso broadway, n y 19 



Hi 



in I 



Ed McCct&key 
1 New York ■ ' 



* • V 



i ( I ' ■ J M .>..>;.. • }.i I ! v t J| 6| J I ; ■ £ j » » J f 



WeVISSday, Angihin8," 1938 ~ 



Necessity of Repeating Top Talent 
Cues New Berle Texaco Format 



With vaudeo now established as 
one of the most potent tele for- 
mate, the coming fall season is ex- 
pected, to see furthex' experimenta- 
tion in the presentation of vaude 
shows in video. 

Most watched layout in the 
vaudeo picture will lie the Texaco 
Show (NBC) which has signed Mil- 
ton Berle for a 40-week stint start- 
ing Sept." 21. It's expected there 
will be considerable switching 
from the current Stat theatre for- 
mula of providing several top name 
comics along witii expensive acts 
of various types of support. 

Show's .handlers expect to have 
Berle contribute the major portion 
of the comedy. Inasmuch. as he 
does bits with various turns, the 
zany note will still be predominant. 
He'll be given writers and will have 
a hand in selection of surrounding 
talent so that he can build rou- 
tinej_around them. 

One of the reasons lor the switch 
is the scarcity of topflight' come- 
dians. Shortage of comics in New 
York, origination point 4>f- the Tex- 
aco Show, is expected to be more 
acute during the winter Florida 
season.' 

Even now Texaco " bookers have 
been forced to repeat acts, such 
■ as Jackie Miles. Sack Carter, Morey 
Amsterdam and Henny Yomxgman. 

Well-spaced repetition Of -acts is 
regarded as no 'drawback to a good 
shorn, but Texaco toppers do not 
want to be hit by a name shortage. 



A&C Pact With Morris Agcy 
But MCA Collects on 3 Deals 

i William Morris Agency, which 
recently signed Abbott & Costello 
to a booking contract, will not 
. share in two lucrative nitery en- 
gagements to be played by the 
' team. Comics' deal for the Latin 
I Quarters in N. Y. and Miami Beach, 
was set by Music Corp. of America 
before Morris contract was final- 
ized. MCA reports that since it 
j submitted the comedians for the 
i Latin Casino, Philadelphia, it will 
i get full commissions if the deal is 
• ; signed at any time during the year. 
Comedians open at the N. Y. 
Latin Quarter Jan. 6 and follow 
at Miami Beach branch in four 
weeks later. Salary is reported as 
512,500. 



Ernie Byfield Reopening 
Chi's College Inn Oct 15 

Chicago, Aug. 17. 
The College Inn of the , Hotel. 
Sherman, is slated to reopen j 
around Oct. 15. Spot will get a i 
surrealist decor and will have a j 
flock of models to act as steward- j 
esses. 



AGVA, 4A's Toppers Summoned h 
Congressional Probe of Vaude Union 

Philadelphia, Aug. 17: i summoned are Paul Dulzell, presi- 
A Congressional subcommittee I dent ^of the 4A's; George Hel.Scr, 



Ernest L. Byfield operator of . wiu begi „ hearings here on Mon- , J( . ; ; 

3S^H5d d ^ (23) to lea ™ the background; 
| Ambassador East, all Chicago, 
■ is planning to install a sea- 
I food bar at the south end of 
I the room. Name for this section 
of the room hasn't been decided. 



and Dave Fox, Dewey 

win uegin Hearings ncic i>u 
the hotel chain which includes the . h =*>ir*rnnnrt 

Sherman, Ambassador and Hotel ^ (23) to learn tne background . TipofT Qf pn)be came yesterday 

of the dispute in which three local | wit!l se rvice of subpoenas on 
groups seek to represent the local ' agents and managers groups in 
variety artists. i this city and local AGVA rep. 

Cong. Carroll D. Reams, who Among those subpoenaed here 
conducted the Petril.o i*^tt'^££B& = 
tion and the Screen Actors Guild gers Assn . j oel Charles, secretary- 
; probe, will conduct the hearings treasurer, of EM A; Edward Saks 
| label. Hes negotiating to buy the nere for the subcommittee, of. the and Edna. ? Graham, booking agents; 
! billing. I House's Education and Labor Com- Bob Bennett, president of Variety 

' mittee. ! Bookers Assn. and Vito Melfi, local 

Among other things the commit- AGVA rep. 
tee will probe into the activities 
of the National American Guild of 
Variety Artists and its parent 
body, Associated Actors and Art- 
istes of America. Among those 



Byfield had planned calling it the 
Davy Jones Locker, but there's ' 
already one Chi fishery with that 



Performers Playing 
A.C. Niteries Doubl 
On Polio Benefits 



AGVA Rules Stripper 
Mast Pay M. Cafe Op 



D'Angelo . and Vanys opened 
Monday (16) at the Piping Bock, 
Saratoga 'Springs, as replacement 
for Copsey, and Ayres. 




1MT 

"Mr. Everybody 



Closing 

• Henry Grady Hotel 

Atlanta, Ga. 

Coming up: 

• £«quir* Club ,l 

Wichita, Kant. 

• lake Club 

• Irown Hc**l 

ItmhviRe. Xy. 
fAvofloWe Se*+. 27th) 

persmnal management 

• Phil Offin 

4* W. 4tMi ■«!.. I 
thw Y«* H. Y. I 



Stacey. ■"Stormy" Lawrence, 
nitery stripper, was .adjudged 
guilty ( of contract breach via ar- 
bitration decision at ' American 
Guild of Variety Artists last week. 
Latter ruled Ihat inasmuch as she 
had signed .a. "play or pay" con- 
tract withStaniey Lyle, operator of 
Stormy's Casino Royale, New Or- 
leans, -which still had a year and 
13 weeks to ...go, she -would have to 
pay the operator full . amount, in 
the neighborhood of $18,000 and 
would fee placed on union's "un- 
{fair" list until she paid. Original 
pact was for three years at $300 
weekly. 

Case- was tried with Miss 
Lawrence in absentia, but repped 
by her husband. I. Robert Broder, 
N, Y. theatrical attorney, repre- 
sented- the Cafe operator, 
i Lyle testified he had spent con- 
I siderable coin in building up Miss 
I Lawrence into a potent attraction, 
i and had named his spot for her 
when she signed -the three-year 
: pact. He also said he paid her 
5100 per week while on a four 
weeks' vacation. Further testimony 
proved, according to AGVA, that 
dancer accepted the money without 
having any intention of returning 
to fulfill remainder of contract. 



Atlantic City, Aug. 17. 
Entertainers appearing in Atlan- 1 
tic City's nite spots have gone all 
oat to make August a month-long 1 
carnival for the kids of the Betty j 
Bacharach Home, which treats 
youngsters afflicted with polio and ! 
rheumatic fever. 

Peggy Lee started things off on 



Ed Sullivan s Vaudeo 
Tilts Salaries; Indie 
Agents Will Book Acts 

Indie agents Harry Bestry and 



the last day of her date on Steel ! So1 Tepper have been assigned the 

'task of funneling talent for N. Y. 
Daily News columnist Ed Sullivan's 
vaudeo show, "Toast of the Town." 
Assignment was made after Sulli- 
van found it was difficult to per- 
sonally catch all acts. Consequent- 
ly, auditions will be held by the 
percenters Wednesdays at the Nola 
Studios, N. Y. 

Simultaneously, show's' mini- 
charity institution's building fund; h $ % e ft 'KS'"^!^! 1 ^" striving to take over the lo 

doubles and $150 for trios. 



Pier fey making a return, visit to 
the Home with Dave Barbour and 
the- trio and ventriloquist Roy 
Douglas, of the same bill. 

Buddy Greco and his trio made 
trip from the Penn-Atlantic Hotel 
the *rst week in August, which is 
set aside as "Betty Bacharach 
Home Month," and during which 
funds are raised to assist the 



House investigators ordered wit- 
nesses to furnish all correspond- 
ence with AGVA and the Four 
A's and all the minutes of both 
organizations from Feb. 1, 1947, un- 
til last August. The witnesses were 
also asked for information con- 
cerning AGVA members, and 
agents and night club owners said 
to have been placed on an "unfair" 
list issued by AGVA. 

Man behind the projectile is be- 
lieved to be Dick Jones, executive 
secretary of Local No. 6 of AGVA 
and long-time stormy petrel of 
National AGVA. 

Jones, at any rate is taking cred- 
it for launching the Congressional 
inquisition. Concurrent with the 
service- of the subpoenas Jones is- 
sued a press announcement stat- 
ing that he and members of the 
Local had urged the hearings he 
held. 

The Four A's and AGVA had 



Belle Baker, starring at the Cli 
quot Club, appeared at a show put 
on by the kids of Camp Beach- 
-wood, a resort day-tamp, and sang 
several numbers during their "Gay 
Nineties" -revue. 

Arthur Tracy, Street Singer, 
who is spending the summer in 
nearby Pleasantville. made a visit 
to the Home, during which he sang 
as long as the kids asked him to. 
He will be guest star at a party to 
be given at the home of Milton 
Fine, in West 'Atlantic City, next 
week, for the benefit of the Home. 

Olsen and Johnson took their en- 
tourage from the Steel Pier to the 
Home on Saturday, and cheered up 
the kids plenty with their variety 
of tricks and, entertainers. The 
Mighty Atoms, midget group, went 



Only 

standard vaude and nitery acts will I 
get these amounts, while top name 
performers will be given individual 
deals. 

Columnist's talent budget is ! 
$1,350 weekly exclusive of music j 
and production costs. 

Under the current setup, Bestry ■ 
and Tepper will not issue contracts I 
for the show. Sullivan will con- 
tinue with that chore. 



cal here and -establish a branch in- 
stead, Jones said. The matter is 
now under litigation in Common 
Pleas and District courts here. 
Jones' fight in AGVA for the au- 
tonomy of the Philly local is of 
long-standing. 



Saranac Lake 

By Happy Benway 

Saranac Lake, N. Y., Aug. 17. 
Moo Gould, film salesman, re- 
ceived all-clear papers and green 
light to resume work. 

James Kirkwood Jr., and Lee 



over big with .the youngsters and ( Goodman , . nitery entertainers, 
Kate Murtah's facial contortions L t d off and * ave the R ' 
left them limp. 



Danny Thomas' Vauders 

Danny Thomas is slated to make 
a tour of vaude houses at the head 
, of a unit. He's being packaged 
I with Marie MacDOnald and other 
! acts and will start at the Chicago 
j theatre, Chicago, Sept 3. 

Unit goes into Chicago theatre 
at $15,000 and percentages." 

Thomas will do a single when he 
goes into the-noxy theatre, N. Y., 
i late September or early October. 



I gang an hour of top entertainment. 



Dean Murphy has signed with 
Music Corp. of America. 




George A. Hamid, Sr., is taking . isabelle Rook (Rogersite) . 
the circus acts which appear on pan ied them on the piano. I 
his two ocean piers to the Home i j nes (Loew's) Groething back at. 
! this week. Since construction work\] od g e aftel . attending funeral of her ■ 
i has taken away the small yard the mo ther in N. Y. C 
[Home had, it will be necessary to j Joe Phillips, formerly of United j 
; put the circus acts on in the street. ] Artists accounting department, 
I This will mark the first show ever ; checked in for observation and test. I 
, to play in Longport traffic. The I Colonial Inn, under aegis of Rob- i 
circus was skedded for Sunday, but j ert Puccuiii is new nitery here> Joe \ 
■ postponed due to conflicts. . j Bo i ana Trio heads floorshow. 

i Capt. Stubby and ^ Buccaneers^ Bob Cosgroves in for his annual I 
appearing in the Chelsea Hotel >. summer vacation on Lake Flower, i 
Grille, went to the Home on the j L i| a Lee tendered a bedside! 
same day as Olsen and Johnson. party celebrating recent progress. 
Their repertoire' was suited to | Th „,. p R n m Aina w»r« her son,! 

Lee Good- j 
man, her sister; Mrs. Leonard Tuf- ! 



repertoire' was sviiieu u> i Tnose attending were 
then- -audience and they did a fine James Kirkwood Jr 
half-hour. 

Louis Armstrong, and his combo 
from the Club Nomad, starring 
Fatha' Hines, Jack Teagarden, Sid 
Catlett, Barney* Bigard, Arvelle 
Shaw, and Velma Middleton, will 
visit the Home this week. 



ford, of Elyria. Ohio; J. Arthur 
Slattery, and others. 

Ruth Tarson took a week off < 
from strawhat tour to visit Mary; 
Mason, who is doing nicely. 

Harry Martin, comedian with 
"Laugh Time" unit, in from Lake 
Placid to mitt the gang. He has- 
leased a camp on St. Regis Lake 
for balance of fishing season. • j 
Robert "Hap" Connelly, Sr., and. 
Fredy Day visited Tom (IATSEf, 
Curry last week. j 
j Village solons arranging for $20,- > 
1000 appropriation to remodel old 



THREE 

WILES 

Held Over London 
Casino, Currently 
Fourth Week 

Reviewed July 22, 1948, 
London Casino, England 

PERFORMER, toyt: "The Three 
Wiles, air 'American girl and two 
men dance team. Their be>t effort 
at this performance was a toy sol- 
dier number which brought down 
the house." 

PERFORMER. July 29. 1948: 
"The Three Wiles scored solidly 
with a bright dancing act that was 
decidedly novel 'in theme and ad- 
mirably -execated. Their out of the 
ordinary magical and film face 
items made for «n ingenious 
wooden soldier num b er that won 
lor thorn fan >i 
served ovation.' 



Ice Shows to Be Fixture 
At Mpk Hotel Nicollet 

Minneapolis, Aug. 17. 
New floorshow policy is being 
inaugurated by Hotel, Nicollet 
Minnesota Terrace. It'll have Dor- 

othy Lewis ice shows year around, jDay Nursey in William Morris Me 
instead of only" during summer j £ a ?.'_^ J* turned mto * 

months. " I 
New shows will be produced by 
Miss Lewis with her as the star] 
for the loom every two or three | 
months or as frequently as busi- ; 
hess demands. 



Teen- Age Canteen. 
(Write it* those who are ill.) 



The Be Leon 

Sisters 

"Those Dancing Darlings" 
Cnrrontly 

BROWN HOTEL 
LOUISVILLE 

Available August 30 
Direction: 
TOM HTZPATRICK 
130 West 424 St.. Now York. N. Y. 
Pfceno PS *-OT76 



if )|niXn^PflHHPHMno)niM 

' ^ '.tih t ! I 



Cavalcade of French Stars 
Set for Versailles, N. Y. 

Margaret Phelan has been set for 
the Versailles, N. Y., Aug.i25, -suc- 
ceeding Nancy . Donovan. Edith 
Piaf, the French singer, who ap- 
peared there last season, will fol- 
low her at spot. 

Suzy Solidor, another CaUic' song- 
stress, doe later in the year. <-• 



MAXIME 

SULLIVAN 

CURRENTLY 

LONDON CASINO. ENGLAND 

' ••-*-• 1 .* I 1 » i'l-.'l tft>l ». ».. ti ' i Jil i ( „ « - . ■»-,.■„.. " * 



JOS MARSO LAIS' ... 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



VAVDEVIIAE 



39 



Lean Season Looms for British Acts As ; 
Merger Cancels Vaude in G-B Houses 



t> London, Aug. 17. 

Lean pickings for vaude artists 
is seen here as a result of the de- 
cision of the Rank organization 
to cut variety out of Gaumont-Brit- | 
ish theatres, following so soon after 
Bernard Delfonts decision to quit 
London Casino on .October 16. 

Change in Bank policy is due to 
the pooling of Odeon and Gau- 
mont-British circuits under the 
Circuits Management Assn., and is 
officially described as a "closer in- 
tegration" of policy by the two 
groups. 

Odeon houses have never de- 
parted from screen entertainment, 
but some of the major G.-B. thea- 
tres have from time to time put on 
vaude shows, and particulariy at 
Christmas time have had live en- 
tertainment, such as pantomime 
and circuses. Now these also are 
to be dropped, and in future both 
groups will have films only. 

Gaumont-British policy was to 
put in a vaudeville season as and 
when the occasion arose and it be- 
came a feature of some of their 
more important nabe and out-of- 
town theatres. Abandonment of 
that policy will be felt keenly by 
vaude acts. 

Decision to walk-out of the Ca- 
sino by Bernard Delfont has not 
come as a surprise here, as he' was 
not in a position to compete with 
Val Parnell, booking Palladium 
and Moss Empires group. Stars 
brought over from U. S. fly Delfont 
were barred at Parnell's houses, 
and could only hope for limited 
engagements after playing Casino. 

Consequently, Parnell's domi- 
nating position in securing top acts 
like Danny Kaye, Jack Benny and 
the Andrews Sisters overshadowed 
the more modest efforts by Del- 
font's opposition house, and unable 
to get the topliners capable of fill- 
ing his theatre twice nightly, Del- 
font wisely decided to quit before 
he was faced with losses. 

Delfont claims his 15-month 



season at the Casino has broken 
even, but observers here reckon 
the venture cost him close -on 
$4,000 a month. 

Meanwhile, Parnell is continuing 
at the Palladium with American 
headlining acts. Andrews Sisters 
month's run will be followed by 
Dinah Shore and Betty Hutton. 
each of whom have been signed 
for a month, and then' Ella Fitz- 
gerald and another topliner al- 
ready in the country. That will 
virtually take him through to 
Christmas, when he switches over 
to pantomime with Tommy Trinder 
starring. 

On the other hand, Delfont, who 
now has Hoagy Carmichael at the 
top of the Casino bill, is following 
with British comedian Max Miller, 
Harry Green, and winds up on Oct. 
4 with Italian tenor, Tino Rossi. 



Palace 'Revival' 

WJZ-TV, on the occasion of 
its debut in New York, staged 
a lavish vaudeville show at the 
Palace, reviving that one-time 
bigtime flagship in all its glory. 

All details in the Television 
section. 



Pooling System Seen as Only Salvation 
For Towns Unable toSupport Top Cafes 




mvmem-m 
mmmmvumi! 

Hq Giggles... 

Ho Sickens, 
m 

THE Wf 
AUCTIONEER 

PAUL 

BENSON 

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION 
BEAUTIFUL GIFTS 
AND SUR-PRIZES ! 

BOOKED SOLID 
ALL SUMMER 

AVAILABLE 

AFTER LABOR DAY 

• Direction • 

CHARLES YATES 

745 Fifth Ave., New York City 




SPARKLING 
Professional 
Photographs 

JAMES KOLLAR 

V In Radio City 
By Appointment Only 

NEW RATES 
100 Wiotot— 3 Po»e»— Prom $50 
"•prlnti or Repfoi, 100 for $15 

RKO ILDG>. 
«.1?70 Sixth Ave„ New York 
Hie •M«io«*dfrto<»f421 



•■f 

4 



31 One-Nighters 
For RKO, Loew 

Any increase in the number of 
Loew and RKO one- and two- 
nighters in the New York vicinity 
will depend on the picture situa- 
tion. Both circuits together have 
31 vaudeville stands around the 
vity, and possible increase in the 
fall will be determined by the 
drawing power of films. 

In nearly all houses, SRO signs 
are up when the vaude shows are 
played. Policy turns in a hefty 
profit on these stands and indica- 
tions are that popularity of shows 
are increasing because television 
has given impetus to the increased 
interest in live talent. However, 
since both circuits are primarily 
in the film business, live talent 
must be fitted into the needs of 
particular houses. 

Most houses play vaude shows 
on Tuesdays, since that's an off- 
night in most sections of the city. 
But even with the offish b.o. on 
those evenings with straight pic- 
ture fare, standees are evident at 
most shows. 

The RKO chain leads with 16 
stands. Playing Tuesday nights 
only are the Franklin, Regent, 
Hamilton, Chester, Proctors (Yon- 
kers), Keith's (White Plains), Madi- 
son, Bushwick, Greenpolnt, Tilyou, 
Republic, and the Prospect. The 
125th. street theatre plays Tues- 
days and Sundays; Royal, Mondays 
and Tuesdays, and the Orpheum, 
Tuesdays and Fridays. 

Tuesday night stands on the 
Loew chain are the Willard, De- 
lancey, Premier (Yonkers), Fair- 
mount, Triboro, Boulevard, Gates, 
Coney Island, Prospect (Flushing) 
and the 46th Street. Wednesday 
vaude stops are the Oriental and 
Melba, while the Bay Ridge gets 
Thursday showings. The Bedford 
displays are held Monday and 
Tuesday and the Orpheum shows 
also Monday and Tuesday. , 



Committee Set 
To Curb Benefit 
Shows Abuses 



Projected changes in Theatre 
Authority setup are being studied 
by a committee headed by Dave 
Ferguson, executive secretary of 
the Jewish Theatrical Guild. Com- 
mittee will meet Aug. 30 to finalize 
any revamping of the setup, and 
adoption is expected at the Sept. 2 
TA meet. Other members of the 
committee include Mrs. Percy 
Moore, representing the Episcopal 
Actors Guild, Mabel Roane, Negro 
Actors Guild, and Henry Dunn and 
Dewey. Barto, of American Guild 
of Variety Artists. 

Appointment of the committee 
followed the demand by the AGVA 
for elimination of all benefits 
where everybody but performers 
are paid. Meeting last week heard 
this issue and appointment of com- 
mittee followed. 

Committee's plans haven't been 
made known. However, it's be- 
lieved that a general strengthening 
of the regulations governing bene- 
fits is favored. Committee will 
most likely move to eliminate 
many organizations now getting 
gratis talent at" Madison Square 
Garden, N. Y. Organizations get- 
ting cuffo talent will have to prove 
that performers will benefit from 
the auspices. 

AGVA reps are expected to 
press for their original demand 
that performers be paid at affairs 
at which stagehands, musicians, 
caterers, -hall rentals, etc. get their 
coin. However,, if the rest of the 
committee refuse to go that far, 
they'll press for the most stringent 
control possible, including elimina- 
tion of most affairs now getting 
gratis talent, as well as AGVA 
approval on every benefit. 



CHI HOODLUMS DISRUPT 
SARAH VAUGHAN'S ACT 

Chicago, Aug. 17. 

Sarah Vaughan, currently ap- 
pearing at the Chicago theatre, 
Chicago, wilted under a tomato 
barrage which hoodlums let fly 
during her stint Saturday night 
(14). Singer broke emotionally 
and ran offstage. In the excitement 
the vegetable slingers were able 
to make a getaway. Dave Garro- 
way, Chi disk jockey, immediately 
berated the youngsters in a speech 
calling for tolerance. 

Miss Vaughan, who resumed the 
following show, headed a show 
made up of the platter pilot, Toni 
Harper, Two Ton Baker a local 
disk fave and the Herbie Fields 
band. 

No one could account for the ac- 
tion, except by the overall state- 
ment that there's no telling what 
hoods will do. Miss Vaughan is ex- 
tremely popular in the Chi area, 
having just completed a date at 
the Blue Note Club, Chicago, and 
is slated to return to that spot im- 
mediately after completion of her 
theatre engagement. 

The incident is a virtual repeat 
of one which occurred at this house 
last year when Perry 'Como was 
pelted in the forehead with a piece 
of hard candy. He walked offstage 
immediately. 



Linkletter Touring 
Airshows on 1-Niters, 
With Charity Tieups 

Hollywood, Aug. 17. 

Art Linkletter hits Pittsburgh, 
Sept. 2 to travel the two air shows 
he emcees, "House Party" and 
"People Are Funny." Sponsors of 
both are partial to peregrinating 
program and Linkletter will be 
touring greater part of the season. 
Charity tieups been arranged en- 
tente. Boston, Louisville, Dallas 
and St. Louis- follow Pittsburgh, 
then Linkletter returns to Holly- 
wood for three weeks before hit- 
ting road again, this time covering 
Denver, Kansas City, Salt Lake, 
Seattle. Jimmy Durante also opens 
new season out of town, being 
chief feature at Texas State Fair, 
Dallas, where his first three broad- 
casts will originate, starting Oct. 8. 

Before season gets underway, 
Linkletter will embark on tour of 
one-nighters, state, county fairs. 
Opening Thursday (19) at Daven- 
port, Iowa, putting on hour and 
45-minute audience participation 
shows on succeeding nights at 
Muncie, Ind.; Terre Haute, Ind.; 
Mason City, Iowa; Sac City, Iowa; 
I Sioux Falls, S. D. Shows follow 
i "People Are Funny" format, with 
! added feature of microphones in 
, audience for question-answer pe- 
! riod on Hollywood, with Linkletter 
; on receiving end,. He's drawing 
! $3,000 nightly guarantee against 
I 50% of gross. 

leer's Long Tour 

New edition of Arena Managers 
1 Assn. of "Ice Capades" tees off at 
j Pittsburgh Gardens, Sept. 8. Lay- 
j out will play until next July or 
I August before going to Atlantic 
; City to start rehearsal of next edi- 
: tion. 

i Tour will embrace Cleveland, 
! Philadelphia, Buffalo, Toronto, 
Montreal, Springfield, Boston, 
Providence, New Haven, Washing- 
Ion, Hershey, St. Paul, St. Louis, 
Chicago, Omaha. Kansas City, Ft, 
wirtfc, • LW; Arises/ /Ciiicinjffili; 
,anil Atlantic' CuT- ' 



Pooling operations of night clubs 
appear in the wind for many major 
cities.. Operators have come to 
realize they can't win in the battle 
to top each other with attractions. 
Again with the high cost of living, 
many towns can't support more 
than one major nitery. 

The first instance of a pooling 
en rapport came last week in Bal- 
timore where the Club Charles and 
the Chanticleer agreed on differ- 
ent operations so that each can 
stay in business. Terms call for 
the Charles' operation as a nitery, 

Ne^CSUinV 
To Play 30 Weeks 

Veterans Hospital Camp Shows 
will start its fall season with 10 
new units which will carry 130 
performers comprising 70 acts. 
Tour will be 30 weeks and will 
service 109 hospitals as against 
101 when started last year. 

Premieres are set for Septem- 
ber and October. Earliest open- 
ing Ezra Stone unit at Fort Cus- 
ter, Wye, Sept. 1, and latest 
slated for Ft. Dix, N. J., Oct. 11. 

Schedule calls for "Spotlight 
Capers" to open at the Veterans 
Administration hospital, Jiutler, 
Pa., Sept. 20; "Harlem on Pa- 
rade," Sept. 13, Fayetteville.'Ark.; 
"Round-the-World Revue," Rose- 
burg, Ore. Sept 10; "Broadway' 
Hillbillies," Pasadena, -Oct. 4; 
"Words and Music," Columbia, 
S. C, Oct. 4; "Going to Town," 
Oteen, Ore., Sept 27. Others are 
to be announced later. 



N.Y. COPA ANGLING 
MARTIN, BURROWS 

The Copacabana, N. Y., is cur- 
rently dickering with Tony Mar- 
tin and Abe Burrows to play that 
spot sometime next year. Martin- 
is likely to start immediately after 
Joe E. Lewis closes early in Jan- 
uary with Burrows succeeding. 
Martin's deal is reportedly around 
$9,000. He got $7,500 on previous 
Copa date. 

The Copa date, if finalized, will 
be Burrows' first, major nitery 
stand in the east. He has already 
played on the Coast after having 
achieved a reputation as a radio 
wit and comedy songwriter. 



White's Video 'Scandals' 

George White's "Scandals" is be- 
ing submitted as a video package 
by Sol Tepper. Vet showman plans 
to use many of the blackouts and 
sketches of his original series of 
legiters as well as a line. 

White, who recently made a 
comeback, last produced at the 
Florentine Gardens, Hollywood. 



while the Chanticleer will assume 
a cocktail lounge format, 

Until the close of last season, 
both spots had been competing 
bitterly. Each attempted to top 
the other in buying attractions, 
and both dropped plenty coin. Af- 
ter a summer of negotiations be- 
tween Curly Harris, Chanticleer 
operator, and Tom Shaw, head of 
Charles' combine, they came up 
with this face-saving format. 

Dick Henry, of the William Mor- 
ris agency cafe dept., will do the 
majority of the Chanticleer book- 
ing, and Sol Tepper, who set, tal- 
ent for the Charles, will get the 
commissions on talent he previous- 
ly booked and which will play that 
spot again, Booking of the spot, 
accofding to Shaw, isn't on an ex- 
clusive basis and all agencies can 
place talent there. However, 
Henry because of .his connections 
with Harris, is expected to do most 
of the booking. The Charles will 
shutter Aug. 23 and will reopen 
Sept. 3. 

Nitery pooling operationsjjaw?.— 
not been as direct previffusIyT In 
most instances, a spot has been 
bought up by the more prosperous 
operator and kept dark. That con- 
dition exists* in Boston where 
Mickey Redstone, is keeping the 
Mayfair under wraps," while 'his 
Latin Quarter operates. There 
have been other Instances where 
a cafe owner has bought up spots 
in order to stave off competition. 

However, the majority of night 
club owners are no longer that 
prosperous where they can buy out 
real estate. Consequently, this 
coming season is likely to see other 
deals with pool operation of sev- 
eral niteries. Majority of these 
deals are likely to come in towns 
outside of New York and Chicago. 

Film houses have long operated 
under such pooling arrangements, 
but most pools have since been dis- . 
solved because of the anti-trust 
proceedings against major studios. 




THE 
ANDREWS 
SISTERS 

Patty, Maxene, La Vem« 
• 

PALLADIUM 
LONDON ' 
• 

I' M*nager«»n»: 
s IOU UVY 



HARRY A. ROMM 



HELD OVER 



Our thanks to: 

PHIL AMIGONE, Owner 
JACK GROOD, Mgr. 
FRANK SENNE5, Booker 
Pat Van and Orchestra 
And the CHEZ AMI . 
Staff and Audiences 

For Making This Such a 
Wonderful Date 




David and Dorothy 



PAIGE 



IN 



Pages of Romance 



AT 



CHEZ AMI, Buffalo 

l «i inm» ** i i li iii Mi*!' I' 1 ^' IV'tVw I' l l I ti ' t ' h 



WIGHT CLUB REVIKWS 



Wednesday, August 18, 1918 



Copaeabana. IV. IT. 

Morton Downey, Jean Carroll, 
Ray Arnett, Betty Bonney, Ralph 
Yotmo, 8 Copa Girls; Micliael 
Durso and Fernando Alvares 

bands; $3 minimum. 



Morton Downey, perennial juve- 
nile, has been around a long time, 
and. has come a long way from the 
days when he toted a prop banjo 
in Pawl Whiteman's S. S. Levia- 
than orchesta and then "surprised" 
the customers by chirping a mean 
top tenor, without benefit of the 
pseudo-plinkety-plunk. It wasn't 
long before Downey threw away 
the prop banjo and., also his 802 
card and embarked as a straight 
thrush, with accent on the Irish. 

Through the years Downey has 
tried to do two things and suc- 
ceeded in only one. For a long 
time 



but it's a cinch the customers have j SlapNy Muxlc's, L. A. 

other ideas. j * Los Angeles, Aug. 17. 

Downey's choice of tunes is Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis; 4 
canny. He knows how to group Step Bros; jvfack Triplets; Dick 
them. He held the usually al fresco stabile's orch; Tony Martinez 
Copa like a Chautauqua. He mixes \ Rhwnoandr minimum, $4. 

his songs like he mixes his small- j 

talk and aside-patter to pals around j 
the room. Downey, in short, made ! 



I things which set him apart, as well | ltlvl«ra. ^F«r* JLce, N. «I. 

i?!™^.. 8 ^,^ h ,L h ^ le ,Lr h i| S R : J«n«. Froman, Paul Winchell. 



Arden's girls (18), Walter Nye 
orch, Catalino rhuniba ba?id; mini- 
mtun, $3.50. 



hard, and the by-p)ay with audi 
ence and orch sews up the 
stretches between his set routines. 
Latter portions are his satirical 
. . .. " , . ■ . mimicry of movie stars, a singing 

„„ I-'ilmites have been hearing for burlesque of . Laura " and some 

an August premiere at "thVs East I time about Dean Ma t d impres o{ jnging 

60th street spot an event. Carmen j & y n , t Le £ ^V y ^X had i ^"P*, 1 " ^T"* W SpotSl t 
Mastren trio is expert musical : » a V en \ 1)een east recently naa | j ac k le Heller, host, m.c, fea- 
tackground ,been brieled on them by those tllred singer ' nd co-owner of 

Likewise eventful is Jean Car- j who W ,W« n^f^JS^ Carousel, came up with a bad v . . . ,, , ... 

roll's impact. Here's a comedienne : flfcJ&5flBLjSSTLf i"|«V h °i" a 1 M»"?. at thwweejc ami hastily booked : tnrough with the cojn t ra ptions by 
who from here on should ring the 



Bill Miller is presenting an 
event of sentimental significance 
to show business currently. Jane 
Froman, for the first time since 
the Lisbon plane crash of 1943, 
walks out on a stage unaided. She's 



he kept himself broke by 
building up a $1,000,000 annuity; ^ n e ™fes 

the other try was to duck that Irish i ^"E; ot Carroll & Howe her 
minstrel connotation. He succeeded 1 hn^nf Il^W is now » 

also as an investor), and from that | gj^^tggjg 

forward gagging. The buying-a- 
dress routine is a gem. The race- 
track stuff punchy although the 
constant references to the Racing 
Form, etc. more becomes a Joe E. 
Lewis than a femme. As a mono- 



bell in important quarters. She is a 
cinch for any rostrum or room. She 
works like a man; in fact her race- 
track tout stuff is a bit reminiscent 

?und\mintaUv M he e r SnaHtV^s 1 A comed >' team tnat ™ re than 

tones, of Berle, Miles, et al. are P ^ Dr i C ed screen 

^!!J?i eSti0n ' certamly not car- j d w T'droS all over IhS 

place laughing incessantly at 



dwen Mroen^n^Jte^e'anf- 1 Jimmy * A ° the I which" she had herself propelled 

?°, z , en . I ne f?f.l a . cmg . a . „, a : m : ' tions and also his own act. Good-| to tne mike and so gamely made it 



j how severe, was going to keep her 
. from an audience. *'• 

The smash reception she is get- 
j ting at the Riviera, however, 
doesn't have to.be charged up lo 
I sentiment. Not only does she look 



he pyramided into the Stork Club 
set, winding up a three-way partner 
with Sherman BHllngsley and pub- 
licist Steve Hannagan in a perfume 
importing business. With the Stork 
Club boniface's predilection' ior 
" "iafgesse h_e figured it was cheaper 
to have his oWn perfume business 
— and. his pals, Downey and Hanna- 
gan shared the idea. 



a ~V «» . , ! cated yo yos and the mouth organs, 

They weren't disappointed. I and gets going llicely after a i uke . 

warm start. Leeds is followed by 
Vilma Sherry (New Acts), a whirl- 
wind tapstar who slops things cold 

dleman To go Mo private businel topnoteh lark for the boites, radio, 
after nearly two years here, Carou- : vaudefilmew. etc. She's an attrac- 
sel band is now under direction of tl0 "' »° matter now »«* 
Ralph DeStephano, trumpet player, ; and the Riviera is cashing m with 
and music of small combo is still heavy dinner trade. Unfortunately, 
tops, with rumbas their specialty. ! slle hasn 1 Deen able to do mucn t0 

CollC?!. 



team's antics. 

Fresh, fast and funny, these boys 
do to Mr. Red Ink what Postum , 
does to Coffee Nerves. The laughs 
are almost unceasing as Martin 
and Lewis calmly demonstrate that 
they ,can— and will — do anything, j 
They work together perfectly. | 
maintaining an excellent flow of j 
gags, punched across with expert [ 
timing. And everything is kept ' 



Uagaiellc. X. Y. 

(FOLLOWUP) 



los-Tnc comedienne she^s a -rarity w " hl » the bounds of good taste., Long at the 23 Room further 
info? out of niteries That she holds : Wnen Dot engaged in comedies, | downtown, Dorothy Ross with her 
in-or out ot nitenes. ±nat sne noids Martin turns on his yoca , Stents. I "fris-gay ballads'' is doing okay at 

Cor>a it's a ' Des P'te a quondam tongue-in-cheek ! this class East 52d street bistro, 

" . Irii-jl moiii I, ii Viae a J*. „u i-.i, ..f Iimiit t ti i ■ i I j. (' A .'Mini- 1 .1 .■£-...-' 



them in ttiis bistro is 
her credit. For the 



bolster the spot's traditional weak- 
ness — the supper traffic. 

Aided by Joe Bushkin, her ac- 
companist, she exhibits showman- 
ship and charm .with "It's a Great 
Life," "Little White Lies," "Be- 
guine" and an entertaining spe- 
cialty, "Millionaires Don't Whis- 
tle." 



This marks Downey's first saloon j inVart 'bookin^indeed^Vn"^^ 0 of 1 tlea tment, he has a fine set of long the site of Arthur Lesser's £ l "S? „rSSl fn^k 

^SSSS^^I^SSaX tA^mlnAtmZ^ \ ™ s whi «° he « ses * « wd ad van- , La Vie Parisienne . Miss Ro^ is no j ^ahon ^ Paul Winche 11 m^B 
SJSS^^Sl^SSgS ^Iheadliner and the No. 2 act. being ,| wi„„ ^. kJ££i!& W th" 1 h»!*u SSJiSS^S ! ***** Mahoney, is a first-rate techl 

He does one standout bit 



Roger Wolfe" Kahn's illfated Hu*'J2 , c mSSS" Sfl teni'teaML "aHS*! " Their option was picked up be- [ toosies; the double-entendre 

Le „ . „ K „„„ « „„' m »Hi= n n»' , f <> r e the end of the first 



is j ^ 

in "supportr^lthough overehad- j though °rathIr%leVef 1 1n ^'"iRabelai- j * f he ^l, he , m i k i!" i PP c 0S 1 ed, Lft t S 
owed by the headliners, Four Step ; sian sort of lyric way. A good f' hlm , a " d °<:f?" s , „ t0 , !JSSfE_%S** 
Bros, win tremendous returns with I audience worker, albeit sometimes ^"-Hv J^™^ 1 ?^*^^ 
some fancy hoofing. Team gets the j inclined to be "fresh" with unre- 1 and *f„? umm J ™ „ a J£™°: 

show off to a whizbang start with ! sponsive or inattentive customers, ^l m lf„ r £ unl ent ?J« wno cause « 
tricky tap routines. Both individual | none the less she seems to get i lne §aagei 10 go aeaa. 

n ^ u , m ,„ a ™ m ~„..i a nd ensemble numbers stand out. ! away with it. She possesses that I Ballroom terp team of Mario ft 

« fw^h^id new^ i^is L^kTwise Rema ining act, Mack Triplets, ! saloon know-how of when to stop, Fiorio are pleasant to look at and 
rfi,, Trn^f iinikrimr Hav i havm their Presentation by carbon- , and while the rest of the room may present interesting routines. The 
SmL» T tffi KSfiS m <>re famous sister trios. Re- ' think she oversteps the bounds, excessive manipulation of the hands 

'worked material should do won- j apparently the chumps she picks and arms of the male pard are par- 
ders here for there are indications j upon take it. I ticularly distracting at times but 

of a promising act if sisters project : To self-piano accomp she reels they hold the audience rather 
their own personalities more force- off parodies like "Why Did. I Be-! well and clean up for the blowoff 
fully and use more fitting numbers. ; gine With Levine" (Cole Porter's I with a very cute tufkey trot in 
„„t,Ki„ „„„, hin Apart from dishing dansapation i "Beguine " ), "Bennv, Benny" (the 1 which the lack of smoothness is of 

• m»v T H^i y Yn„ When the i tnat Phases, Dick Stabile rates an : "Jenny" song out of "Lady in the 
tES. m2?p P™^ has' cxtra nod tor^ providing topnoteh Dark" ) , the usual discourses about 

^.ggyAQg- Jsff^SS2E£% i bacldng for the zanies. Latune ar- men-men-men, an audience-partici- 
his portable, miniature Steinway. Deen . IO ™™'~ r „i l " :„"J , „ Si f,,il" '■ rangements are neatly taken care pation routine based on the 
with attached mike, he was a boy- ™ es S n*%l? g it h {f P „S » I of by Tony Martinez rhumband. 

ish, well-poised authoritative song- jfe, Jjg» ^JgfiSj "."gll Kap. 



completely out-of-this-world 
Perroquet, with its goldfish-bowl 
tables, a $40,000 bandstand for a 
dream band the millionaire maes- 
tro had assembled, and at that 
time Downey .was engaged at the 
then "big." price of $500. He also 
worked for Billy Rose's Casa 
Ma'nana, another prohibition peri- 
od bistro. 

In the interim he has sung in 
many a key hotel, but the Copa is 
really Downey's first straight N. Y. 
nitery engagement in many a year. 
The premiere night dispelled any 
worries. Not only the Stork Club 
bunch, Joe Kennedy and kindred 
ringside rooters, but the customers 
on the whole went -fo^ the tenor's 



2 act has never been a comedienne, 
and by contrast alone it's socko [ ( 
booking. I 
The show otherwise remains fun- j 
damental, with the same numbers j 
and routines. It's a credit to the ; 
wardrobe mistress (or the manage- 



Malone, in the terp specialty spot. 
Like Malone, Arnett is a "cute" j 
tapster who does all right with his i 
opportunity. Betty Bonney con- j 
tinues as the prima, an okay thrush j 
opposite Ralph Young singing the 



in 

ster who' sang. marathon medleys |"Re d Silk Stockings and Green j 

of past and presents ..pops, jnter- 1 "^copa girls are back to their t'afeSoe. Downtown, X.Y. ! men - Speed Fisher, handling^the { too much in the way, of imagina- 



naughty British doggerel, "Roll Me 
Over," and the like. 

Openers are a nice pair of young 



no matter. 

Bevy of 18 gals — most of them 
nifty lookers — with which Donn 
Arden has adorned the show, are 
all but wasted. Routines are so 
inept they almost seem satires of a. 
chorus line* at work. Perhaps not 



spersed with occasional Gaelic ., 

He may want to get, away ^^^l^T^Zl 



airs. 

from the "Irish tenor" connotation, 



COMEDY MATERIAL 

For AH »ronch»« of Hiratricab 

FUN-MASTER' 

"Tlw ORIGINAL Show-Bh Gog fiU" 
Not. I to 22 @ $1.00 Mich 
* 3 DIFFERENT BOOKS OF PARODIES 
(10 in each beak) $10 per book 

FKKK COW OIT 'TOillOIt BHSU 
NKSS." The Sliuw-Bkr. 4»ng&zbie with 
eaicfe Jjtt.OV minimum order. 
Sxmil !<><• for lists of other romrily 
litalrrinl. mmiks. parodies, mtnfttrel 
Itattcr, lilael<-wut9, etc. 

KO C.O.IX'S 

? A U I A SMITH 
900 W. SUh Street, New Y*ik » 



usual plays a tiptop show, also for 
dansapation; and Fernando Alvares , 

tempos. ! 
Abci. 



(FOttOWTJP) 



Mildred Bailey still sells a song 
whips" up the OK Latin tempos, j with the best of 'em a.nd is doing 



a very nice summer job at this i J!—?^ 0kay 
Greenwich Village bistro at a time 1 Iormers - 



piano and vibes, and Johnny Mar 
tin, pop singer who affably strolls 
through the room to serenade the 
customers with standard ballads. 

intime bistro 



Coeoanut Grove, L. A. 

tAMBASSADOR HOTEL) 

Los Angeles, Aug. 10. 
Dorothy Shay, Jan Savitt Orch. 
(15); cower $1.50 weekdays, $2 
Saturdays. 



when few niteries, downtown or 



Room is very attractive and a 
. nice post-dinner windup spot for a 




WILLIE 
SHORE 

Latin Quarter 
. New York 



. Dorothy Shay, second topliner to 
appear in Cocoanut Grove's sum- 
mer personality-plus-band policy, 
walked into a room which had 



mtdtown. are exactly turning them 'J ^ ^ fS? sort of liaht' enter- 
away. Until Nellie Lutcher's re, ' t ai nm en r wMch fa toesDeSv 
turn next , month, for a 10-week ' f'" Inciden allv Carlo the lmi- 
session, the sweet-swing songstress iStoTW' Le Ruban Bleu 

whips up "More Than You Know," , ^ SSS&elv essayed the Club 
"Honeysuckle Rose," the inevitable 1 C^Flitel tb. >S 
"Rocking Chair" (request) and the I f" c ° r _ e S&mbm Abe7 
rest in tiptop manner.. ! season ' ls n ostmg nere. Aoei. 

A right, tight and bright little 
band, maestroed by pianist Ed- , Xormnndie Roof, Mont'l 
mund Hall, comprising bass, traps I Sonny King, Andre, Andree ft 



tion and style should be expected 
from a nitery producer, whose dan- 
cers are chosen because they're 
eye-filling rather than talented, but 
per- i considering Arden's rep and stature 
it's surprising he's let things lapse. 

Tony Bavaar baritones the back- 
grounds for the chorus routines, 
while Walter Nye's orch provides 
the straight dansapation and Cata- 
lino's aggregation spells with 
rhumbology. Herb. 



turned away over 200 customers. ' f " jJi ofav) rtoubtes : from eood = M iib ™™ e Christopher, 

"Park Avenue Hillbilly," in her ; ' s a " J™** S'T SJS ' Neil Golden Orch, Peter Barry's 

first west coast appearance in three fSSSgrS,^,^*^,^ Avon i 9 r ? K C0VeT ?1 wecfcda f s - * 150 

year^ was .kept in the spotlight tor \ ^thT^^St Be«" ^days, 

a full 40 minutes: She went ; ri °' jfh hi qnmpwhst Vanv 

through 10 numbers, nine of which , D rouS rome-Tnext rahdn 1 New la y° ut here has Sonn y Kin 8. 
were mountain tunes to be found j l T el ? ™ m " i«' £ "SflniS ■ farnS Andre, Andree & Bonnie and rope- 
on her Columbia Records. Addi- ! i at ,f °" * -terial HiV rustic i s P inn - cr ¥ e »hourne Christopher, 
tional song, ballad "He's The One." ^LnTf 6 »hvW^-, v«?, wSS who click with the tab-lifters 

Opener goes to Christopher, 



... . c .„„ j ,„„. V,' i version of "Baby Won't You Please | 

which Miss Shay penned was the : c Home'" with skillful rhvth- 1 

rhythm, string quartet, five saxes 
two 



by a Spanish number from the 
- trumnrvto ,„h thA ma »rfrn arp ! standard catalog, and truly legit 
'mTsSfred »rn..o Free I Steinwaying. A personable colored 
uninspired group. tree. \ cbap Jackson's segue from the 

saloons to the salon-type virtuosity 
is. inevitable. Abel. 



Memo to • • • • 

S0LTEPFE8. 
RKO Building, New York 

Dear Sol: 

1 want to thank you for EMILE BOREO. 

. He is .without a doubt one of the greatest 
performers 1 have ever had the pleasure of 
booking into my hotels in Sullivan County. 

Sincerely, 



Carousel, Pitt. 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 12. 
Jackie Gleason, Vilma Sherry; 
] Jimmy Leeds, Jackie Heller, Ralph 
' DeStepJia?K> Orch (5); $3 wwni- 
miiiu. 



Pittsburgh's getting to be prac- 
tically home for big Jackie Glea- 
son. This is his second engagement ffnnA re . tnrn - 
year at the Carousel, but his 8 °^ti S 



a deft, fast talking performer. Act 
starts out much the same as most 
trick rope stints but develops into 
solid routines. With 'roping domi- 
nating, Christopher also does card 
bafflers to good applause. 

King, with a slick set of pipes, 
covers field from "Sorrento" to a 
jump version of "Blue Heaven" for 
nice returns. Encores with "Golden 
Earings" and slick arrangement of 
"Donkey Serenade" for additional 
plaudits. 

Most novel act in revue is Andre, 
Andree and Bonnie, wherein male 
drapes femme partners, supposedly 
modiste shop mannequins, as pre-' 
lude to adagio routines. It's a 
classy, colorful interlude that wins 



local popularity is based probably 
even more on several appearances 
here with summer opera company. 
Last season he did "Rio Rita" and 
"Rosalie" in outdoor productions, 
and starred in a recent repeat of 
"Rosalie," on each occasion draw- 
ing critical raves and building up 
big personal following. 

That's being reflected, too, in 
strong biz Carousel has been. do- j 
ing during bis engagement, and 
the terrific opening hand Gleason; 
always gets from crowd when he's : 
announced. Present date is a ; 
quickie, having been set practically 
I at last minute when comic pulled 
I out of. new Monte Proser show 
'Heaven On Earth. 



Neil Golden orch and Peter 
Barry crew take over for customer 
hoofing, featuring Joyce Hahn on 
the vocals. Newt. 




HELENE and HOWARD 

Tumulty Dance Antics' 

Olsen and Johnson Show 
Toronto, Can. 

Dir. MATTY ROSEN 



IT'S A RECORD! 

202nd Consecutive W«tk 
as M.C. ar th* 

EARL CARROLL THEATRE 
HOLLYWOOD 

BILLY RAYES 

Juggling Satirist 
M CA. Artists 




Gleason's easy style and beaming 
personality anyway. Those are the •! 



AMERICA'S TOP HEADLINE SINGING GROUP 



Opening Aug. 22 
STEEL PIER 

Atlantic City 

All Major Network* 
Thoal^eii mill Clubd, 

ft P- 99* ; 




' VICTOR 
FAVORITES 



1 



BOYS 



•Y-j- - " '' '' 

' renkaal 1 MrV»etiia— <'nr ' "*»>^T 1 < 
«90» RKO Bnlldln)?. New York SO. N. 



:Mi-. -ftl 
»<•«•»•• . ' ..{•.(•■ 

dwelt, «-»3M 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



House Reviews 



PRriety 



41 



Casino, London 

London, Aug. 10. 
Hoaov Carmichael, Les Compag- 
, 0 ns de la Chanson (9), 3 Wiles, 
Johnny Lockwood, 



nous de 
Al Norman, 

Mariora. Rex Ramer, The Kenways 
(4), The rmontreals, Harold Collins 
& Orch. 



There's something about Hoagy 
Carmichael London audiences like. 
Certainly, the fans who turned up 
at his opening show knew what 
was coming to 'em and enjoyed 
every minute of it. In his casual, 
confident way songsmith-filmster 
tapped away on the keys, sang 
some of his own compositions, and 
gave the audience a couple of easy 
lessons on writing a song hit. They 
clamored for his favorites and he 
responded; and when they ran out 
of requests yelled "just keep on 
playing. " 

His intimate style was something 
new, and normally reticent Lon- 
doners were quick in showing their 
appreciation by vociferous ap- 
plause. He was compelled to over- 
stay his time, took four curtains on 
opening show, and would have 
gone on playing had there not 
been hundreds more clamoring for 
admission to second show. 

The fans got all their favorites 
commencing with "Stardust." But 
there was no satisfying them and 
he could have gone on and on 
without limit. The 45 minutes 
which he held the stage wasn't 
enough to appease their yen for 
more. 

Held over from previous bill, 
Les Compagnons de la Chanson 
continue as one of the favorites on 
the London vaude scene. Another 
successful holdover are the Three 
Wiles, repeating their wooden sol- 
dier act and adding another nov- 
elty item for good returns. 

Mariora, a girl juggler, opens 
show displaying more dexterity 
than originality, followed by 
Johnny Lockwood, a confident 
comedian with an easy, fluent style 
of story telling. An improved ver- 
sion of the one-man band is con- 
tribbed by Rex Ramer, whose 
lively act includes good impresh 
of Gracie Fields. 

Th£ Kenways' aerial gymnastic 
»ct, which opens the second half, 
runs true to form, giving way to 
Al Norman describing the origin 
of the Conga and a few easy les- 
sons on how to get a night's sleep. 
Bright and breezy act, interspersed 
with a flow of good stories. 

Myro. 

Apollo, rv. V. 

Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Brown Trio, 
Boyd Raeburn Orch (14) with 
Gwen Bell, Howard Bros., Louise 
Madison, Apus, Eslrelita & George 
Wiltshire; "King of the Gamblers" 
(Col). 



s Sl«*el Pier, A- €. 

Atlantic City, Aug. n, 
Olsen & Johnson, Clark Bros 
Kate Murtah, Johnny O'Connell'i 
Orel,,- "Who Killed -Doc' Robbin" 



Olsen and Johnson with their 
Laffeade of 1948" in Steel Pier's 
big Music Hall this week is a zany 
60-minute socko show. 

Principals and company pop up 
from everywhere and audience 
plants keep the outfronters roar- 
ing throughout. ■ 

High point is giveaway,, sesh 
Country Store Nite." Johnson 
takes mike through audience and 
after getting right answer to some 
silly question gives away liquor 
carpet sweeper, candy, flowers' 
carving sets, etc. Crowd went for 
it in big way. 

Skits by pair top show. First has 
them asleep in hotel bedroom. 
Phone awakens them. A dozen 
characters including a burglar, a 
girl in the wrong room, etc., appear 
to whoop skit up. Picture of battle- 
ship on wall opens fire and duo 
fire back, and crowd roars as boat 
Ui frame sinks. Roars again when 
actor in sailor suit with huge fish 
Hushes onto stage claiming he was 
on boat. 

Another skit has them as barbers 
in a shop near railroad station. 
Every time train goes past the place 
shakes so violently that the bar- 
bers grip their chairs and the cus- 
tomer in the chair, while those 
waiting hold up walls. 

They send chorus girls in the 
audience where each nabs a male, 
puts a bonnet on him, and then 
takes him onto stage for more 
foolery. 

Pair get swell support from Ben 
Yost's Vikings, who give with slick 
harmony. Clark Bros, do nice tap 
dance routine while Kate Murtah 
clicks with imitations. Supporting 
the comedy team in their skits are 
J. C. Olsen, Michael Edwards, Billy 
Kay, Frank Cook, Maurice Millard, 
Shannon Dean and Johnny Howes, 
Andy Ratousheff, Shorty Renna, 
the Six Mighty Atoms and Frank 
Hart and the sixteen glamor gals. 

It's a show the average vacation- 
ist will remember for many a day 
and easily season's topper for this 
spot. Walk. 



for extra laughs before introing 
Calloway and his lads. 

Calloway and his lour musicians, I 
comprising piano, drums, bass and I 
trumpet, make an ear-splitting I 
bowon in fast and furious rendi- 1 
tion of "Everybody Eats When 
riiey Come to My House," "Nature 
Boy," "Manana," along with hi-de- 
hoing of the audience with "Mim- 
mie the Moodier" and closing 
with "St. James Infirmary" for 
smash finish. 

Larry Paige is admirable, as al- 
ways, in the in-between chores. 

Stan, 



The Apollo, Harlem, should have 
plenty happy returns on current 
stanza, what with double marquee 
lure of Ella Fitzgerald and Boyd 
Raeburn's ofay orch, both giving 
out in a manner to keep salvos 
coming consistently from the iive- 
happy colored clientele this house 
gets. Both contrib solid sessions. 
Aside from Raeburn and crew, it's 
an all-sepia layout. 

Raeburn's toptlers, comprising 
three rhythm, six saxes, two trum- 
pets and two trombones, with 
maestro alternating on miniature 
sax and licorice stick, give out with 
slick arrangements and provide 
neat backing for other acts. Teeing 
Sir u vitn nep arrangement of 
Night in Tunisia" to nice recep- 
tion, lads segue into "Man With a 
Morn," in which Raeburn and the 
sidemen have a field day. Prac- 
tically everyone is spotlighted in 
this stanza. Sets things pretty for 
the Howard Bros., youthful hoof- 
ers, \vho get over neatly in a brace 
«f rhythmic and tap routines. 
Wen Bell, personable band voca- 
list, wins nice reception for her 
Brace of ballads. Then band takes 
over for a musical salute to Duke 
JMUngton via "Concerto for the 
JJuke, ' worked out in sizzling style 
and climaxed with reprise of El- 
lington's "Sophisticated Lady." 
Apus Estrelita & George Wiltshire 
contrib the usual comedy skit, 
f^nty corny but nevertheless hits 
with this house. Louise Madison 
«oes nicely in her brief tapstering 
sesn. 

Ray Brown Trio, piano, bass and 
arums, contrib a couple of sizzlers 
« s prelude to Miss Fitzgerald's 
song stanza. Songstress walks on 
w> terrif reception and sustains it 
throughout her song stylings of 
new tunes and reprise of her best- 
seller diskings. "Don't Worry 
About. Me," "If You Ever Leave 
Wdu l', Ut - Paganini" and "How 
«igh the Moon" are as solid as 
ever to cue recalls. She encores 
• T-i » a . calv Pso treatment of J'Svfy 
J 6 £ actional plaudits and" 
oegoff. Raeburn takes. it from there 
with everybody on for torrid finale. 

£dba. 



Olyinpia, Miami 

Miami, Aug. 14. 
Ames Eros., Benson & Mann, Sue 
Carson, Vanderbilt Boys, Arthur 
Ward, Les - Rhode House Orch; 
"Sainted Sisters" (Par). 



Steady summer pace set here in 
recent weeks is sustained by cur- 
rent layout, which is pleasant fare 
for the regulars. 

Ames Bros. ( who played here 
last as the Amory Bros.) are a 
solid quartet with potent blend of 
harmony. Audience went for their 
versions of "Sabre Dance," "Or 
Man River," featuring the bass, 
"Because" and an old fave medley. 
Showmanship and delivery have 
improved since last around. 

Teeoff slot sets bright pace^via 
Vanderbilt boys' footwork. Comedy 
spot is okay, with Benson and 
Mann turning in comic crossfire 
that reminds of the old vauders. 
personable pair gather good meas- 
ure of laughs with broad material. 

Femme comedy slot has Sue 
Carson. Attractive lass offers spe- 
cial material songs to fair returns. 
Delivery shows flair for song- 
comedics; stronger routines would 
bring her into sock class. 

Novelty is contribbed by Arthur 
Ward and Co. with a palm-bringing 
return for juggling of hoops. Les 
Rhode house orch backgrounds 
layout capably. Lary. 



Chicago. Chi 

»" Chicago, >Aug. 13. 
Toni Harper, Sara Vaughan, Dick 
"Two-Ton" Baker, Herbie Field 
Orch (7), Ernie Simon, David 
Garroway, Eddie Hubbard, Linn 
Burton, Jack Fulton orch; "Give 
My Regards to Broadway" (20th). 

Chicago theatre has brought 
back the quartet of local disk jock- 
eys that appeared at its sister 
house, State-Lake, four months 
ago. Producer Nate Piatt has sup- 
ported them with strong record 
personalities and in most cases, the 
d.j's are only mildly obtrusive. 
Most improved is Ernie Simon, 
who has dropped his mugging and 
comes up with several bright bits 
of comedy. 

Dick "Two-Ton" Baker is strong 
opener as he is a radio fave and 
has built up hefty following. Over- 
sized singer also does neat job on 
piano and comic asides, scoring 
with specialty, "I'm A Little Petu- 
nia" and his closer, "Civilization." 

Dave Garroway, jazz disk spin- 
ner, introduces Sara Vaughan, 
songstress, who impresses with 
"Don't Blame Me" and "It's 
Magic." 

Eddie Hubbard does the honors 
for the Herbie Field combo. While 
Field has acquired more stage 
polish since then, he still favors 
high jumps and bends to work on 
his clarinet or sax. Freddie Rad- 
cliffe, drummer, does neat job in 
setting the beat on "Jealousy," 
"Dardenella," and "Flying Home." 
Group had to beg off. 

Linn Burton', last of the spin-, 
ners, gets over-enthused about- 
newest discovery, 11-year old girl, 
Toni Harper, who gives out with 
"Good Day."' Youngster has fully 
developed contralto voice with na- 
tural rhythm 'and clear diction. 
Follows with "Candy Store Blues" 
and "Jingle Bells" for happy re- 
turns. 

Jack Fulton house orch does 
neat backgrounding for show. 

■Kobe. 



VARIETY BILLS 

WEEK OF AUGUST 18 

___. - 

Numerals in connection with lilll« below Indicate opening- day of show ' 
t , ,. whether (nil or split week. 

1> pare " n ""*' i ■«***»*■ elreult: (I) Independent) <L> Loevr; <M) Moss: 
(nraramountj (B) RKO; (8) gtoll; (W) Wnrner; (\VB) Walter Rende 



1* 



New Act 



NEW YORK CITY 
Capitol <L> 1* 

Dick .Tureens Ore 
Dick Powell 
Gil Maison 
Lathrop & Lee 
Muiic Hall (|) 
Win Mayo 
Charles Tyrell 
Willie Jones 
Andy Arcari 
Idalys 

Estelle Sloan 
Kockcttes 
Corps de BaUet 
Sym Ore 
Paramount (P) II 
Ray Eberle Bd 
Martha Tilton 
Jan Murray 
Rudy Cardenas 

Roxy (I) 11 
Dick Haymes 
Tommy Trent 
Buster Shaver 
Carol Lynn 
Arnold Shoda 
Jean Sturgeon 
Frits Dletl 

Strand (W) 50 
Count Basie Ore 
BUlie Holiday 
Zephyrs 

Stump & Stumpy 
BRONX 
Crotona 0) .3-24 

3 Fontaines 

V & G * Haydock 
Don Henry 3 
Marilyn Frechette 
(one to fill) 

QUEENS 
Jamaica (I) 11-21 
Marcelli & Janis 

V & G Haydock 
3 Harpers 
Yvonne Moray 
Sully & Thomas 
Jack Bruno 
Raquel 

The Marfields 
Al Ruskin 

22-24 
Pat & Sylvia 
ATLANTIC CITY 
Steal Pltr (I) IS 
Hal Sands Girls 
Georgie Price 
Theron Troupe 
Franklin Twins 
The Bellaires 
BALTIMORE 
Hippodrome (I) 1* 
Holloway Sis 
Bobby Sargent 
J & L Seller 
Dick Foran 

State (I) 17-21 
Gilbert & Carroll 
Norman & Dawn 
Bobby .Herman 
The Fontaines 
22-25 

Mario & Francisco 
Zenith Sis 
Sir Alexander 
CAMDEN 
Towers (I) 20-22 



The Twirlers 
Leo DeLyon 
The Briants 
Al Schenck 
The Marlboros 
CHICAGO 
State-Lake (P) II 
Disc Jockey Rev 
Herb Fields Ore 
Sarah Vaughn 

2 Ton Baker 
Toni Harper 

Oriental (I) II 
Page Cavanaugh 3, 
Monica Lewis 
(two to fill) 

COLUMBUS 
Palace (R> 23-» 
Parade of Stars 
Horace Heidt 
John Mungall 
Melodaires 
Pat Theriault 
Jack Green 
Jimmy Grosso 
Johnny Vana 
Stanley Morse 
DETROIT 
•'way (P) 21 
Rose Murphy 
Harry Babbitt 
Bela Lugosi 
Barney Grant 
4 Evans 

KINGSTON 
B'way (WR) 20-31 
Kay & Karol 
Phyllis Willys 
F & A Carroll 
George Freems 

3 Arnauts 

MIAMI ■ 
Olympia (P) 11 
Garcias 
Workmans 
Stuart Foster 
Al Stevens 
Ladd Lyon 

PHILADELPHIA 

Carman (I) 1» 

Martez & Lucia 

Lee Davis 

Ducnt & Ksye 

Fontaine Sis 
ROCKFORO 
Palace (I) .20-22 

"Full Speed Ahead" 

McNallis Sis 

Tony DeMarco 

Ray Se Nardo 

Biff, Bev & Bob 
WASHINGTON 
Capitol (L) 1* 

Emerald Sis 

Betty J Watson 

Bob Evans 

Dunhllls 

Howard (I) 20 

Jimmy Dale Ore 

Gene Amnions 

Sonny Thomson 6 
I Wynonie Harris 

Garner A Wil.so » 

Fred & Sledge 
' Sonja Milbourne 



BRITAIN 



BIRMINGHAM 
Hippodrome (M) It 

Klefe Bros & 

Annette 
John Boles 
Phlllipe & Marta 
Riley & Heller 
Marie Louise 
Albert Whelan 
Medlock & Marlowe 
Bill Kerr 
Vernon Sis 

BRADFORD 
Alhambra (M) U 
Eva May Wong 
Merry Macs 
Valmar 3 
Jackie Hunter 
Terry O'Neill 
Jack Edge 
Doyle Kids 
Ivor Keyes 
2 Dancettes 

BRIGHTON 
Hippodrome (M) 14 
MacD'n'd & Gr'h'm 
Jack Durant 
Johnson Clark 
Donald Peers 



Broatlwny-('«pilol, Del. 

Cob Calloiuay & Cabaleers, Jack 
E. Leonard, Whitsou Bros., Peggy 
\Mann and Larry Paige Orch; "I, 
\Jane Doe" (Rep). 



VILMA SHERRY 
Dance 
7 .Mins. 

Carousel, Pittsburgh 

Vilma Sherry practically pops 
the eyes with the things she does 
with her feet. She's like a top, 
only faster, and at times one fears 
she may fly right out the front 
door. It's a flash act that can fill 
a spot anywhere, on a cafe floor 
or in a theatre. 

Miss Sherry starts outs in con- 
ventional fashion with some edu- 
cated taps, and then she shoots off j E, p G /" ndas * 
into her spins, going around the A rnaut Bros 
platform like a propeller gone | Joyce Guiding 
berserk without missing any of her v'ISc_M_rteU 
tatoos on the hardwood. Her arms Veronlca MarteU 
poised for flight, she takes off and 
makes fuzzy blur spinning around 
as if some mechanic had wound 
her up hours before. 

For a finish, the bandleader . 
comes on with one of those circus I Bro " * 
announcements and Miss Sherry, | joy Dexter 
after catching what breath she has 
left, tops everything that's gone 
before with an illustration of a 
whirling dervish in flight. The 
turn's top-drawer anywhere. 

Cohen, 



CHISWICK 
Empire (S) 1* 

Naughty Girls '48 
Ben Wrigley 
Maria Carmen 
Tico & Chlco 
Dick Thorpe 



! Cab Calloway and his Cabaleers 
'register solidly as topliners of new 
j bill here. It's a well-paced offering, 
nicely balanced, and presented in 
a manner that has the customers 
| veiling for more. 

Jack E. Leonard, hefty comic, 
teesoff with some localized gags, 
that pop all over the place, to 
bring on the Whitsons in a comedy 
balancing act. Their gags and 
stunts are nicely timed to a whirl- 
wind finish that brings salvos. 

Leonard returns for more clown- 
ing and then goes into his song 
and dance that rocks the house 
with laughter and applause. 

Raven-haired Peggy Mann fol- 
lows in a smooth delivery of 
"Somebody Loves Mo." "It's Ma- 
gic," pop medley "The Man I 
Love" and "Black Magic." 
i, The gal is terrific, with her soft., 
crMning voice," aftfl 'sWe- lias thfetn, 
.in .the palm of her hand when she 
bows off to allow Leonard a final 
chore with some impersonations 



Exhib Apathy 

Continued from page 3 



sugarcoating in the form of pooh- 
' poohing possible video forays. Fig- 
. ures have been so "spotty," it is 
Isaid, that no conclusion can yet be 
reached. TOA is mulling the idea 
1 of putting a couple of paid statisti- 
: cians in the field to get results. 

Exhibs had been asked to check 
on the percentage of television set jack'' Keily Co 
owners who have been staying away i pf^°naf tqs 
from films as a result of video , Leicester 
programs and relationship of j <«> B '« ss 

length of ownership of a set to film- j Harold Benes 
-nine habits ! Gladys Hay 

going iiduua. .... Michael Moore 

Number of agencies, including ; Matt Nixon 
the Motion Picture Assn. of Amer- • Fouiharmonic Ore 
lea, have despaired in the past of i 0 « Richards 



Bunny & Byron 
Moore & Hatton 
Poppy WiUiams 
DERBY 
Grand (S) H 
Jimmy James Co 
Con Colleano 
Taylor & Harris 
Nor Kiddie 
Ravic & Renee 
Bob Gray 
3 Garcias 

GLASGOW 
Empire (M> H 
Hamilton & Vassi 
Hal Monty 
3 Spallas 
Konalde 

Samuels A Marvclle 
Herschel Henlere 
Barna & Brook 
Houston & Stewart 
Zfska 

LEEDS 
Empire (M) 14 

And So We Go On 
Issy Bonn 
T & D Kendall 
Norry Al & Kemble 




whenever any sort of figures have H ,_ ood 0 0 N m D , OM M , » 
been asked of them. ' vie Oliver 



Pat Klrkwood 
Fred Emney 
Melachrino Ore 
Marilyn Hightower 
Michael tBentine 
Julie Andrews 
Jean Garson 
Santigo Bd 

Palladium (M) 14 
Andrews Sis * 
Lew Parker 
M CoUeano Co 
Frank Marlowe 
Elsa & Waldo 
Fayes 3 
Len Young 
Jose Moreno Co 
Yvonne Watts 
FINSBURY PARK 

Empire <M> 14 
3 Astalres 
D Wakefield Co 
Tommy Fields 
Wallabies 
Beryl Orde 
Bobbie Klmber 
Max Bacon 

3 Bertwinis 

F Marx * Iris 
HACKNEY 
Empire (S) 14 
Piccadilly Hayride 
Nat Jackley 

4 Hurricanes 
4 Pagolas 
Marianne Lincoln 
Jack Francois 
SHEPHERDS BUSH 
. Empire (S) 14 
Ta Ra Rah Boom 
Frankie Howerd 
Adtienne & Leslie 
Morgan & Royle 
Irving Girdwood 

WOOD GREEN 
Empire (S) 14 
New Madhatters 
Syd Seymour 
Madhatters Bd 
Constance Evans 
Earle & Oscar 
Pat O'Brien 
Eric Plant 

MANCHESTER 
Hippodrome (Si 
F Mendelssohn 
Hawaiian Ser'ders 
Berry Bros 
Sirdani 

Scod & Foster 
Mr Lyons 
BenKe & Single 
NEWCASTLE 

Empire (M) 14 
Skating Merinos 
Vera Lynn 
Peter Itaynor 
Terry-Thomas 
Allen & Lee 
Morris & Cowley 
Robinson & Martin 
Patinas 3 
G & L Calienta 

NOTTINGHAM 

Empire (M) 14 
Country Cousins 
Harry Lester Co 
Marie Lawton 
Chris Sands 
Bi.lou Freda 
Konyot. & Marion 
SHEFFIELD 

Empire (Ml 14 
Balmoral 4 
Nicholas Bros 



14 



SWANSEA 
Empire (M) 1* 

Shane Sis 
Fogel 

P Wingrave Co 
B Wright & Marion 
Less Lee 
Cyril Levis 



WOLVERHAMPTON 

KaTe%^ U 
Betty Driver 
Victor Barna 
Alec Brook 
C & H Yale 
Payne & HUliard 



Cabaret Bills 



NEW YORK CITY 



Cafe Society 
* Downtown 
Mildred Ballef 
Avon Long 
Calvin Jackson 
Edmund Hall Ore 

Copacebana 
Morton Downey 
Jean Carroll 
Gali-Gall 
Betty Bonney 
Ralph Young 
Ray Malone 
M Durso Ore 
Alvares' Ore 
Diamond Horseshoe 
Jay Marshall 
Grace & Nicco . 
Norma Shepherd 
Choral Octet 
II Sandler Ore 
Alvarez Mora 
Juenger Ballet Line 

El Chlco 
Fernanda Crespa 
Conde Luis 
Victoria Baroeld 
Rita &"Rozino 
Los Panchos 

Havana-Madrid 
Los Bocheros 
Trinl Reyes 
II SantUlana 
Ralph Font Ore 
Machito . Ore 
Hotel Belmo't-Plaxa 
Eddie Stone Ore 
Hotel Blltmore 
Russ Morgan Ore 
Harold Nagel Ore ' 

Hotel Edison 
Henry Jerome Ore 
No 1 Fifth Ave 
Turner Twins 
Jack Kerr 
Jock Kerr 
Hazel Webster 
Downey & FonviUe 

Penthouse Club 
Johnny Thompson 
Oscar Walzer 
Riviere 
Jane Froman 
Paul WlncheU 
Mario & Floria 
Tony Bavaar 
Joey Gilbert 
Donn Arden Line 

Hotel Aster 
Dick Jurgcns Ore 



Lenny Herman Ore 
Hotel New Yorker 
B Cummins Ore 
Ice Revue 
Hotel Piccadilly. 
Dell Trio 
Hotel Pennsylvania 
Skltch Henderson O 

Hotel St Morltz 
Menconl Ore 
Jacquetina 
Vida & Varo 

Hotel Taft 
Vincent Lopez Ore 
Charlie Drew 

Litlnjhutttttr 1 
MiHufrtieifle 
D'Andrea Trio 
Dorothy Clare 
Bon Vlvants • 
B Harlow Ore 

Le Ruban Bleu 
King Odom 4 
Naomi Stevens 
Louise Howard 
Edo Lubich 
Nermann Paris 8 

Leon ft Eddie's 
Jerri Blanchard 
Art Waner Ore 
Cernoys 
Terry Twins 
Bruce Howard 
Roslyn Paige 
Shepord Line 

Old Roumanian' 
Sadie Banks 
Joe LaPorte Ore 
D'Aquila Ore 
Splvy's 
Katrina Van Oss 
Mary McCarty 
Splvy 

Versailles 

Nancy Donovan 
Bob Grant Ore 
Panchito Ore - 

Village Barn 
Hal Graham. Ore 
Chubby Roe 
Eddy Howard 
Bill Duffy 
Barbara Duffy 
Mons. Richard 
Piute Pete 

Waldorf-Astoria 
Freddy Martin Ore 
Mischa Borr Ore 



CHICAGO 



•Isckhawk 

Al Trace Orch 
Jackie Van 

Hotel Blsmark 

BUly Bishop Ore, 
Florence & Fred'rlc 

Helslnbt 
Prof. Backwards 
Lanny Colyer 
Mike Young 
£111 Chandler Ore 
Lola Amechce 
H Edgewater Beach 
Geo Olsen Ore 
H Williams Trio 
Paul SydeU 
Hal Raywin 
Betty Gray 
D HUd Dancers (12) 
Gaynor & Ross 

Chez Paree 
Danny Thomas 
Martha King 
Mage & Karr 



Leroy Bros (2) 
M Gould Ore (10) 
Ann Hathway 
D Chiesta Combo 
D Dorben Dcrs Co ' 

Hotel Stevens 

Benny Strong Ore 
B & F BaUard 
John Flanagan 
Jean Arlen 
Marian Spelman 
Skating Blvdears 
Bog Turk 
Rebfteld & Del Toro 
Doris Dnnavan 
Elwood Carl 

Palmer House 

Llberace 
Clifford Guest 
M Abbott Dcrs (10) 
Florlan ZaBaoh Ore 
Giselle L T Szyoni 



Few If. Y. Bistros 



.dJeh^-St'lco.' ^ : 
A \P Pou'eVs ' 
Sandy Lane 
Rosinas 
Mayette 



SS Continued from page 1 sss 

the minimum check "for beverages 
only." Hereafter, as of July 20, 
any minimum tariffs in niteries, 
hotels, clubs, restaurants, etc., can- 
not be restricted to liquors, but 
will also include food. 

The only spots to be affected 
are several east side intimeries and 
some 52d street spots. Le Direc- 
toire, Le Ruban Bleu and the Blue 
Angel minimums applied to bever- 
ages only. At some of the swing 
street cubicles, minimums applied 
at the bar as well. It's apparent 
that the SLA had received numer- 
ous complaints about drink min- 
nies. Beefs, it's reported, were 
mainly directed at one spot which 
charged an unusually high mini- 
mum, and after the fust drink the 
waiters got "lost." There were re- 
ported instances where after an 
initial coke, patron was billed the 
minimum plus the 20%- tax. Cus- 
tomers squawked, not because of 
the high tariff for one drink, but 
because of the retarded service 
which looked like a deliberate 
managerial gyp for a large-profit 
margin. 

For practical purposes, so far as 
the N.Y. spots are concerned, most 
bistros include "food or beverages" 
in the minimums. Nationally, the 
same is true. Generally, the mini- 
mums were devised as a palatable 
subterfuge in lieu of the couvert, 
since it covers many hidden 
charges, upped items, etc. The 
.major N*Y.» hotols,, featuring' n Jtne 
*tfance; 5 bah_*,'' to* » M? <6n\y s3ots 
today which get away with! a 
couvert, usually $1.50-$2. 



IJBCITIMATE 



Wednesday* August JL8, 1948 



B'way Rise Continues; Biz Up 
As Much as $2,11; 'U.S.A.' 45G, 
'Manhattan $24,900, 'Annie' 24G 



The severe seasonal slump on* 
Broadway appears to be over, with 
last week's attendance continuing 
the comeback started after Aug. 1. 
Grosses were up as much as $2,000 j 
over the previous figures in the 
case of some shows, indications 
are that the rise will continue, with 
a temporary slack-off over the 
Labor Day weekend, and get into 
the real fall stride with the arrival 
of the new crop of productions. 

There continue to be 14 shows 
on the boards, seven musicals and 
seven straight plays. Resumption 
of "The Play's the Thing" next 
week at the Booth will, bring the 
list to 15 shows. 

Estimates for Last Week 

Keys: C (.Comedy), D (Drama), 
CD (Comedy-Drama), R (Revue), 
m (Musical), O (Operetta). 

Angel in the Wings," Coronet 
(36th wk) (R-998; $4^80). Revue 
^continued its comebacltElimb. with 
seve^^-4LeJj. o u t performances; I 
- $17,800; closing date moved for-: 
ward again to Sept. 4, with the 
tour opening Sept. 6 in Chicago. 

"Annie Get Your Gun," Imperial 
(118th wk) (M-1,472; $6.60). Boosted 
a bit more to $24,000; with Ethel 
Merman back in the cast this week, 
there should be indications of the 
probable continuation of the run. 

"Bern Yesterday," Lyceum (132d 
wk) (C-993; $4.80). Garson Kanin 
comedy moved up with the trend; 
over $13,000. 

"Command Decision," Fulton 
(35th wk) (D-968; $4.80). War 
drama is still drawing, with two- 
for-one hypo; rose to $14,800 last 
week; four more weeks to go, then 
tours. 

"Finian's Rainbow," 46th Street 
(83d wk) (M-1,319; $6). With the 
new musicals not yet arrived, the 
long-run holdovers still get atten- 
tion; up a bit to $25,000; slated to 
close Oct. 2. 

"Harvey." 48th St. (199th wk) 
(C-902; $4.80). Jumped again to 
around $11,500; Joe E. Brown takes 
over the star part Aug. 30, succeed- 
ing James Dunn. 

"High Button Shoes,' 
(35th wk) (M-1,387; $6). Also con- 
tinued its comeback last week, go- 
ing to $36,500, looks set at least 
through the fall period. 

"Howdy, IWr. Ice," Center (8th 
wk) (R-2,964; $2.88). Skating specr 
tacle doesn't always follow the gen- 
eral trend; $52,000 in the usual 
nine shows last week. 

"Inside U.S.A.," Century (15th 
wk) (R-1,670; $5). Revue click 
inched up again to almost $45,000. 

"Make Mine Manhattan," Broad- 
hurst (31st wk) (R-1,160; $6). In- 
timate revue has been faring con- 
siderably better lately; $24,900 in- 
dicated. 

"Mister Roberts," Alvin (126th 
"Wk> (CD-1,357; $4.80). As usual, 
complete sellout, with only the 
number of standees varying; since 
.' slight change in the scale, the gross 
is now up to nearly $35,000. 

"Streetcar Named Desire," Bar- 
rymore (37th wk) (D-1,064; $4.20). 
Another unvarying sellout; num- 
ber of standees limited by fire>reg- 
ulations; $27,500 again. 

"The Heiress," Biltmore (46th 
wk) (D-920; $4.80). Drama moved 
up again last week to over $12,500; 
Betty Linley subbing for vacation- 
ing. Patricia Collinge this week and 
next, with Velma Royden filling 



'Me-Molly' Doing Big 
In N.Y. Subway Loop 

"Me and Molly," the Gertrude 
Berg comedy starring Miss Berg 
and Philip Loeb, which played on 
Broadway last season, has been hit? 
ting sizeable grosses on the sub- 
way circuit this summer. Play did 
under $13,000 in its initial summer 
stanza at the Flatbush, Brooklyn, 
week of Aug. 2, and close to $12,- 
000 at the Windsor, Bronx, last 
week. It's playing at $2.40 top. 

Comedy, currently at the Audi- 
torium, Atlantic City, will make re- 
turn visit to Flatbush, Aug. 24 and 
Bronx, Aug. 31. Jules JLeventhal 
has stock rights to the comedy for 
the summer stops only. There's 
talk of the play going to Chicago 
for the fall, either under the origi- 
nal producer's aegis or another's. 



'PLAY'S THING' WHAM 
22G AT CENTRAL CITY 

Central City, Col., Aug. 17. 

"The Plny's the Thing," in the 
second- week of its three-week 
engagement here, racked up a 
$22,000 take. Revival grossed $19,- 
900 on the first, week, and is bulg- 
ing the walls this week for an 
expected $27,000. 

Production closes Saturday night 
(20) and returns to New York. 
Louis Calhern is starred. < 



Current Road Shows 

(Aug. 16-28) 

"Annie Get Your Gun"— Shubert, 
Chi. (16-28). 

"April Fool" — Geary, Fnsco 
(16-28). 

"Blackouts of 1948"— El Capitan, 
L. A. (16-28). 

"Blackstone" — Grand, London, 
Can. (26-28). 

"Carousel" — Biltmore, L. A. 
(16-28). 

"Heaven On Earth" — Shubert, 
Bost. (19-28). 

"High Button Shoes"— Gt. North- 
ern, Chi. (16-28). 

"John Loves .Mary"— Harris, 
Chi. (16-28). 

"Magdalena" — Curran, Frisco 
(16-28). 

"Mr. Roberts"— Cass, Det. (23- 
28). * 

"Oklahoma'." — Erlanger, Chi. 
(16-28). 

• "Oklahoma!" — Fox, Spokane 
(16-21); Aud., Winnipeg, Can. (23- 
28). 



$8,000,000 for B'way Legit 



Continued from page 1 , 



'Central Park' Neat 
$5,200 in St. L Opening 

St. Louis, Aug,, 17. 
Wilbur Evans, Maureen Cannon, 
Walter Burke, Rowan Yudor and 
Maurice Burke, five of the prin- 
cipals of 'the original cast in. Sig- 
mund Romberg's musical, "Up in 
Central Park," are making p.a.s 
ch „i.. rt in the first local open air presenta- 
r„"„™ I tion of the show in the Municipal 
Theatre Assn.'s Al Fresco Play- 
house, Forest Park. With cool tem- 
perature on tap and preceded* by 
big ballyhoo, the piece opened a 
14-night stand last night (Monday) 
before a mob of 11,000 payees for 
an estimated gross of $5,200. 
"Park" will ring down the curtain 
of the 30th season of the Assn. 

In addition to the principals, 
others who won the mob were June 
Preisser, Edwin Steffe, Jack Shee- 
han and Walter Lang, dancing juve. 
Outstanders • in support were 
Leonard Stocker, Albert Clifford 
and Bernice Maledon, Watson Bar- 
ratt cooked up several eye-filling 
sets for the piece. 

Although threats of rain on sev- 
eral nights beset the one-week 
j stand of the Viennese operetta, 
"Sari," it wound up its, engagement 
Sunday (15) with a neat $50,000. 

'Great Waltz' Sock 30G 

Louisville, Aug. 17. 
"Great Waltz," with music by 
Johann Strauss "(father and son), 
was final musical of the six-week 
summer season at Iroquois Amphi- 
theatre (9-15), and offering was 
such a financial success that an ex- 
tra Sunday (15) performance was 
added. 

tho 9<!uenm<>nt the following week- I Gross Y as abt,ut $30,000 for 
tH^S e SUfi« 1 ^T,fr Week ' se ™. n Performances by far the best 



show closes Sept. 18 to tour. 

"The Play's the Thing,'' Booth 
(CD-712; $4.80). Molnar revival 
reopens Monday (23) for its 15th 
■week, - after a threeweek "guest", 
engagement at Central City, Col. 

"The Respectful Prostitute" and 
"Hope Is the Thing," Cort (22d 
Wk) (D-1,064; $4.20). With Rich- 
ard Harrity*s one-act "Hope" as the 
companion-piece, the gross hopped 
to $14,500; Meg Munday quits 
Sept. 1 as the lead in "Prostie," 
being succeeded by Ann Dvorak. 

Shows in Rehearsal 

"Alfred the Average," musical — 
Joseph Kipness. ' 

"Grandma's Diary," play— Amer- 
ican Theatre Group. 

"Love' Life," musical — Cheryl 
Crawford. ■ , 

"Mister Roberts," play (second 
company)— Leland Hayward. 

"Small Wonder," musical — 
George Nichols; 3d." 
• "Sumjhter and Smoke," play — 
Margo Jones. 

• d.orf.lr> ' 

•"Where** CBarley?" mus^l' — i 
Fewer, Martin & Bickard. 



Of the season. 



'Goes 7 Record 54G, 
'Magda $51,000 Finale, 
'Carousel' $33,500, LA. 

Los Angeles, Aug. 17. 

Stratospheric $54,000 racked up 
by "Anything Goes" set a new 
record at the Greek theatre last 
week and overshadowed windup 
of L. A. Civic Light Opera Assn's 
season with "Magdalena." With 
Gertrude Niesen starred, "Goes" 
grabbed $2,200 better than the 
previous record set last year by 
"The Great Waltz." 

Finale of "Magdalena" was a 
very hot $51,000 to give it a three- 
week total of $150,000. Figure 
brought the tally for Civic's sea- 
son to a fine $654,500 — an average 
of $46,700 for each of the 14 weeks. 
Last year's 13-week season grabbed 
$609,700. "Annie Get Your Gun" 
led the way during the current 
season, setting a new house record 
of $58,500 for one week and a new 
high for four weeks of $222,000. 
Of the other attractions, "Sweet- 
hearts" drew $146,600 in four 
frames and ' "Naughty Marietta" 
grabbed $136,800 in three. 

Other finalist' last week was 
"Cupid Thumbs His Nose," which 
departed from the Coronet with 
another mild $2,100 week. House 
relights tomorrow (18) with "The 
Glass Pool." 

Estimates for Last Week 
" "Anything Goes," Greek Theatre 
(2d wk) (4,419; $3.60). Record 
$54,000 gave this a great two-week 
total of $99,000. 

"Blackouts of 1948," El Capitan 
(321st wk) (1,142; $2.40). Usual 
$17,000. 

"Carousel," Biltmore (3d wk) 
(1,636; $4.20). Slipped a bit to 
$33,500. • 

"Cupid Thumbs His Nose," Cor- 
onet (4th wk) (255; $3). Another 
dull $2,100, giving it sour $8,900 
for three weeks and four days. 
Closed Saturady (14). 

"Lend An Ear," Las Palmas (9th 
wk) (388; $3). SRQ $6,300 again. 

"Magdalena," Philharmonic Aud 
(3rd wk) (2.670; $4.80). Finaled 
with $51,000, no record but still 
smash. Three-week total of $150,- 
000. • 

"Separate Rooms," New Beaux 
Arts (I3th wk) (560; $3). Moving 
steadily up; $4,400 this frame. 



'Okla.!' Yippee 48«J 
In 9 Vancouver Shows 

Vancouver, Aug. 17. 

"Oklahoma!", yanked down a 
rousing $48,500 at the Strand 
theatre here last week. 

Musical added an extra matinee, 
for a nine-performance week. 



'Annie Up to $5,000, 'Shoes' 37G, 
'John'Offto9G ) 'OklaJ , $29i00,Chi 



Chicago, Aug. 17. 

Chi ticket sales went up again 
last week with exception of "John 
Loves Mary." "Annie Get Your 
Gun" picked up at the matinee, 
and the afternoon trade at "Okla- 
homa!" and "High Button Shoes" 
was almost sellout. Outdoor Chi- 
cago Railroad Fair and cool weath- 
er are the draws, with usual con- 
vention trade lacking. 

Outside of "Streetcar Named De- 
sire" and "Mister Roberts," dra- 
matic fare looks lean for the fall 
season. Most of the other Septem- 
ber openers are comedies or musi- 
cals. Other companies due in are 
"Angel in the Wings," "Brigadoon" 
and Ruth Gordon's, new. play; 
"Leading Lady/, ••'Mfcfgrd }"d$d U 
afthe ShaSertf ha? tteetf' replaced 
with "Brigadoon'." 

Only house available is Stude- 



baker, the Civic theatre being 
leased to the American Broadcast- 
ing System for television. The 
Blackstone, due to open Sept. 13 
with "Angel in the Wings," has 
ripped out all the seating, revamp- 
ed the stage and put in new wires 
and plumbing. 

Estimates for Last Week 
"Annie Get Your Gun," Shubert 
(6th week) (2,100; $4.94). Matinee 
business a little better with neat 
$25,000. 

"High Button Shoes," Great 
Northern (13th week) (1,500; $6.18). 
Did it again. Lush $37,000. 

"John Loves Mary," Harris (27th 
.week) (1,000; $3.71). Below par 
'with $9,000.---'---"- 

"(Oklahoma?'* : Erfanger ', '(Bnfi 
week) (1,334;. $4.33>. ' City slickers 
stiU go for this one. Fine $29,500. 



few weeks, with four others possi- 
bly following soon after. 

B.O. Prospects Uncertain 
There's no clear indication of the 
boxoffice prospects for the fall 
season. As usual, the general flow 
of attendance will probably depend 
largely on the number of hit shows. 
That is, if a number of the early- 
season entries get strong reviews, 
business should be relatively good. 

However, the overall volume of 
theatregoing frequently varies to 
some extent, according to general 
business conditions and other fac- 
tors. Broadway legit grosses in re- 
cent weeks have been running 
ahead of last season, but below the 
boom levels of the years immedi- 
ately after the war. 

As outlined last week in Variety 
theatre production and operating 
costs are at an alltime high, and 
are still climbing. At the same 
time, there's a fixed ceiling on 
revenue, governed by the number 
and seating capacity of available 
theatres and the fact that ticket 
prices are already at the apparent 
maximum. 

The recent Treasury Department 
ruling, okaying limited partnership 
agreements and withdrawing the 
proposed 38% tax on profits, has 
eased the production financing sit- 
uation to some extent. However, 
the available investor coin is still 
reported tighter than usual, with 
the established managements hav- 
ing more difficulty than usual in 
getting backing, and some lesser- 
known producers or less promising 
shows are apparently in abeyance 
for lack of sufficient funds. 

Besides the unusually large num- 
ber of musicals slated for produc- 
tion, an odd phase of the new sea- 
son is that only five revivals are in 
the works. Only one foreign com- 
pany is scheduled for a Broadway 
visit, a troupe from the Old Vic 
Theatre, headed by Sir Cedric 
Hardwlcke, being due in January 
under sponsorship of Theatre, Inc. 

Following tradition, more than 
twice as many shows have been 
announced as are likely to have an 
opening-night curtain. As of- the 
moment, the announced produc- 
tions number 142, but from indica- 
tions and reports in the trade, the 
67 listed are figured reasonably 
probable. Two shows have already 
opened since the official start of 
the season last June 1. They are 
"Howdy, Mr. Ice," at the Center, 
and "Sleepy Hollow," which played 
briefly at the St. James. There 
are 13 productions listed for Sep- 
tember (seven musicals and six 
straight plays), compared with five 
openings during the same month 
last season. 

There are 16 probable shows 
listed for October, (including 12 
straight plays and four musicals), 
10 probables (six straight plays and 
four musicals) for November, three 
(all musicals) slated for December, 
and 24 (including 18 plays and six 
musicals) with no approximate 
date. The list follows: 

"Sundown Beach," Sept. 7, at 
the Belasco; "Show Boat," Sept. -7, 
City Center; "Hilarities of 1949," 
Sept. 9, Adelphi; "Small Wonder," 
Sept. 15, Coronet; "Heaven on 
Earth," Sept. 16, Century; "Mag- 
dalena," Sept. 20, Ziegfeld; "Story 
for Strangers," Sept. 21, Royale; 
"Town House," Sept. 22, National; 
"Grandma's Diary," Sept. 23, Henry 
Miller (probable); "April Fool," 
Sept. 27, Fulton; "Edward, My 
Son," Sept. 30, Martin Beck; "Lend 
announced, and "Happiest Days," 
an Ear," date and house un- 
date and house unannounced. 
Subsequent List 
The subsequent list includes: 
"Private Lives," Oct. 4, at the 
Plymouth; "Leading Lady," Oct. 5, 
Cort; "Summer and Smoke," Oct. 
6, Music Box; "Love Life," Oct. 7, 
46th Street; "Where's Charley?" 
Oct. 11, St. James; "Naughty Mari- 
etta," Oct. 15, no theatre announc- 
ed; "Life with Mother," Oct. 20, 
Empire; "Comedy of Good and 
Evil," no date, Morosco, and the 
following October entries for which 
no specific date or theatre are set, 
<'A11 the Way Home," "Anne of the 
1,000 Days," "Alfred the Average," 
"Signor Chicago," "Clutterbuck," 
"The Father," "Silver Whistle" and 
Anthony B. Farrell's entitled revue. 

For November: "Light up the 
Sky" (probably at the Broadhurst), 
"Set My People Free," "Bravo!" 
(probably at the Lyceum), "As 
Girls Go," "Shotgun Wedding," 
"Before the Party," "Coming 

an' OlseM- Johnson' revue. F6r De- 
cember; "Rape of Lucretia," "45 



Minutes from Broadway" and 
"Fifth Avenue." 

Undated others include "My 
Romance," "Perfect Pitch," "Red 
Gloves," "Naked and Dead," "Mem- 
ber of a Wedding," "Jane," "Em- 
peror of China," "Pursuit of Hap- 
piness," "Woman in the Case," 
"A Winter's Journey," "Sweet 
Dreams," "The Little Woman," 
"Red Roses for Me," "Tales of the 
South Pacific," "Man with a Load 
of Mischief," "Hanging Judge," 
"The Victors," "Coriolanus," "Man- 
nerhouse," "In Praise of Folly," 
"Don't Go Away Mad," "20th Cen- 
tury," "Not for Children," "Kiss 
Me, Kate" and "Leaf and Bough." 



Hock of Name 
Authors Back To 
B'way in '48-'49 

The 1948-49 legit season on 
Broadway will be notable for the 
number of name dramatists repre- 
sented. For the first time in many 
years, virtually all the established 
authors will be active. That in- 
cludes both the dramatic and 
musical fields. The season also 
stacks up impressively for the num- 
ber of name actors on the boards. 

Top playwrights and composers 
who had no* shows presented last 
year but will have this season in- 
clude Robert E. Sherwood (has a 
drama in mind and hopes to get it 
written this fall). Marc Connelly 
("Story for Strangers"), Jimmy Mo 
Hugh ("As Girls Go"), William 
Saroyan ("Don't Go Away Mad"), 
George Kaufman-Edna Ferber 
("Bravo"), Arthur Miller ("Plenty 
Good Times"), Lynn Riggs ("All 
the Way Home"), S. N. Behrman 
("Jane" -and "Speak to Me of 
Love," the latter on the jroad), 
Philip Barry ("The Emperor of 
China"), Edward Chodorov ("Sig- 
nor Chicago"), Clifford Odets 
("Winter's Journey"), Ruth Gordon 
("Leading Lady"), and Bella and 
Sam Spewack ("Perfect Pitch"). 

Others who have been active in • 
recent seasons and who will again 
be represented are Elmer Rice 
("Not for Children"), Moss Hart 
("Light Up the Sky"), Howard 
Lindsay and Russel Crouse ("Life 
with Mother"), Arthur Miller 
("Plenty Good Times"), Tennessee 
Williams ("Summer and Smoke"), 
Maxwell Anderson ("Anne of the 
1,000 Days"), Lillian Hellman 
("Naked and Dead"), George Ab- 
bott ("Where's Charley?", musical 
adaptation from "Charley's Aunt"). 
Anita Loos ("Shotgun Wedding,' 5 
with Frances Marion), Garson 
Kanin ("Smile at the World"). 

Also Cole Porter ("Kiss - Me 
Kate," with Bella Spewack), Sig- 
mund Romberg ("My Romance"), 
Kurt Weill and Alan Jay Lerner 
("Love Life"), Allen Boretz and 
Franklin P. Adams ("45 Minutes 
from Broadway"), Harold Rome 
("Alfred the Average," with Philip 
and Julius Epstein), Richard 
Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, 
2d ("Tales of the South Pacific"), 
Norman Krasna ("April Fool," with 
Groucho Marx), John van Druten 
("Lucia"), Dorothy Hayward ("Set 
My People Free"), Thornton 
Wilder ("The Victors"), Marc 
Blitzstein (musical of "The Little 
Foxes"). 

Name foreign authors who may 
be represented include Benn Levy 
("Clutterbuck"), Jean-Paul Sartre 
("Red Gloves"), Sean O'Casey 
("Red Roses for Me"), Keith Win- 
ter ("Someone at the Door"), Paul 
Vincent Carroll ("The Wise Have 
Not Spoken"). 

Among the name players set for 
Broadway appearances during the 
season include Otto Kruger, Peter 
Lind Hayes, Irra Petina, Dorothy 
Sarnoff , Ray Bolger, Eddie Dowling 
Rex Harrison, Oscar Homolka, 
Robert Morley, Nancy Walker, 
Willie Howard, Madeleine Carroll, 
Kay Thompson, Florence Desmond, 
Estelle Winwood, Ina Claire, 
Blanche Yurka, Howard Lindsay 
and Dorothy Stickney, Roland 
Young, Buddy Ebsen, Tallulah 
Bankhead, ZaSu Pitts, Ruth Gor- 
don (in her own "Leading Lady"), 
Raymond Massey, Lillian Gish, 
Paul Lukas, Gertrudo Lawrence, 
Susanna Foster, Edward Everett 
HoWori,-' Wilbm*EYan* ; 'Bzid tpinza, 1 • 
'Mary> Martin, Jeslri Pierre* Aumbnt,' 
Kitty Carlisle arid Olseri and 
Johnson. 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



PfimETY 



UEClTIMATiE 43 



New Shows Creating Theatre Jam; 
Musicals Are Toughest Problem 



Prohibitive Tryout Costs Send Mgrs. 
To the Strawhats to Test Shows 



With the fall rush of incoming * 
shows still three weeks away, the | 
annual theatre-booking snarl is j 
again in prospect, both in New 
York and out of town. There are 
18 shows already booked into 
Broadway houses. Added to the 
five current productions slated to 
continue, that leaves only six avail- 
able theatres for all the other 
shows. However, some of the in- 
coming presentations may fold dur- 
ing road tryouts and others will 
undoubtedly fail quickly on Broad- 
way, temporarily easing the sit- 
uation slightly. 

The worst jamup will be in the 
larger theatres, with enough seat- 
ing capacity and backstage facili- 
ties to house musicals. Because of 
the unusually high percentage of 
tune shows among the incomers, 
there's already a shortage of thea- 
tres in that category. Unless some 
of the expected hit musicals flop 
there will quickly be a pileup of 
those not yet booked. 

The houses already set with new 
shows or having sure holdovers are 
the Adelphi ("Hilarities of 1949"), 
Alvin ("Mister Roberts"), Ethel 
Barrymore ("Streetcar Named Der 
sire"), Martin Beck ("Edward, My 
Son"), Belasco ("Sundown Beach"), 
Center ("Howdy, Mr. Ice"), Cen- 
tury ("Heaven on Earth"), City 
Center ("Show Boat" and various 
subsequent special bookings), Coro- 
net ("Small Wonder"), Cort ("Lead- 
ing Lady"), Empire ("Life with 
Mother"), 46th Street ("Love 
Life"), Fulton ("April Fool"), Ma- 
jestic ("Inside U. S. A."). Henry 
Miller ("Grandma's Diary"). Mo- 
rosco ("Comedy of Good and Evil"), 
Music Box ("Summer and Smoke"), 
National ("Town House"), Plymouth 
("Private Lives"), Royale ("Story 
for Strangers"), St. James 
("Where's Charley?'). Shubert 
("High Button Shoes"), Ziegfeld 
("Magdalena") and Warner (An- 
(Continued on page 44) 



'Streetcar' Key To 

Earlier Pitt Opening 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 17. 

Named De^eTheaded % , P^ag e .how, "Escape Me Never. 
Hagen, Anthony Quinn and Rus- 1 : T- ' 

sell Hardie, has decided to spend 
two weeks here instead of one 
polishing up for Chicago run, and 
as a result Nixon legit season will 
tee off Labor Day night, Sept. 6. 
Shutters were originally set to 
come down .on 13th. First eight 
performances will be under Thea- 
tre Guild-ATS auspices, with final 
stanza on its own. 

''Brigadoon" follows "Streetcar" 
on Sept. 20, also for a fortnight, 
with "The Heiress" tentatively set 
for Oct. 4. tor a 



Philip Huston Saves 

Wife From Drowning 

Dennis, Mass., Aug. 17. 
Diana Gardner Huston, English ! 
actress ::nd dancer, was pulled ! 
out of (he surf off Cape Cod by j 

her actor husband Philip Huston, | 

alter she was seized with cramps ' ■ ' 

n?st S c.Zin S oclber cting h " Moliere Play to Open ' 

Both arc currently -appearing at j For '48 Group in Dallas gSS^^SSS^ 

S^h^iitoS^h^SSS 1 Dallas ' Au S- 17 - Auction. Both authors and man- 

uenm.s, in the Elizabeth Bergner M oliere's "The Learned Ladies'* agers have formerly been reluctant 

("Les Femmes Savantes") will to test their shows in strawhats, as 
open the Dallas Theatre '48 season conditions were figured unfavor- 
on Nov. 8 at the Gulf Oil Play- able for a fair estimate, 
house. The comedy will run for I This summer, however, the 
three weeks. numerous prospective Broadway 

'Twelfth Night" by Shakespeare I entries given cowbarn tryouts have 



♦ Unusual .number of prospective 
Broadway shows given strawhat 
tryouts this summer is regarded 'as 



'Anna' Spread Out Over 
Globe, Productions Due 
In Paris, B.A., Far East 



New D. C. Bid 
For Legit House 

Washington, Aug. 17. 
Heads were being run into 
stone walls last week in the search 

for a new legit tueatre here. Wash- \) mm fogfc Longhair 

mgton has been without a legit |- _ « . ' 

house since the National closed j SeBSOH Is ShaDlDg Up*. 

July 31 rather than submit to an 1 



will be presented around Christ- j included not only straight plays 
| mas, with "The Sea Gull" as the but also several musicals. While 
i third classic revival. i the apparent reason is primarily 

; Among the new plays planned , that strawhat production costs are 
! to be presented by the group are I only a fraction of the Broadway 
! "Skoal," by .Vivian Johannnas and ! outlay, the higher standard of pro- 
"Here's to Us," by Sherland Quinn. 1 duction in the rural playhouses is 

* jalso a factor. Playwrights (and 

their agents) and producers have 



Equity ultimatum to admit Ne- 
groes. 

Federal Works Agency late last 
week nixed a new bid from a group 
headed by Joseph Curtis, son of 
Columbia Pix veepee Jack Cohn, 
to' lease the Government-owned 
Belasco. FWA gave no reasons, but 
! it had turned down an earlier 



"Anna Lucasta," seen heretofore 
only in the U.S. and England (with 
exception of a special fortnight run 
in Vienna), will spread out over 
the globe this season. Leonard &,,. . 

Cowl, play's N.Y. agents, have sold I c " rtis °H er u a S b % vi *g , to ° many 

French and Argentine rights with ! strings attached. Curtis' attorneys 
fienin ana Aigenune iifcnis, wun . . . . ihn ., aM „„,,. 



limit of April, 1949, set before 
which they must be produced. 

A white company will open in 
Paris some time this fall at the 
Grammont theatre, with Mile. Ver- 
ly as producer. Louis Verneuil, 
w.k French playwright now on the 



Legit Season 
Starting Labor Day 
With Double Preem 

Philadelphia, Aug: 17. 

Philadelphia's 1948-49 theatre 
season will have its lid pried off 
on its traditional opening date — 
Labor Day. Two houses will re- 
light on that night (Sept. 6), with 
another opening the following 
Monday (13). Last of the four 
■regular playhouses the city has 
left joins the parade Sept. 20. 

The pair of Labor Day openings 
are "Brigadoon and "For Love or 
Money." Former, which tried out 
here two seasons ago, comes into 
the Shubert this time (it played 
the Forrest last time), for two weeks 
only. "For Love of Money," with 
Janet Blair and Francis Lederer, 
currently doing the strawhat spots 
with it, in the leading roles. It 



; said they had thought their new* 
| bid met the Government objec- 
' tions. They promised Curtis would 
"continue to explore all possibili- 
ties," including possibly the leas- 
ing of the present pix-house, the 
Strand. 

Other developments of the week 
Coast, did the adaptation. For the | incIuded the se: American National 
Buenos Aires production, play was Tneatre an d Academy, which also 
translated by Jose Ameta, who has was turned down in a bld for the 
adapted several Broadway hits for Belasc0i said they would try their 
Argentina .including Life With (Continued on page 45) 

Father" and "Born Yesterday." ■ 

Australian rights have also 
been sold on a straight deal. f a |Ul ar AheiilviXI 
Originally, the agreement was to j V w ' al B lm *M»*wI¥CU 
include an American cast, but the 
Aussie money situation prevented. 
Agents are also dickering with sev- 
eral Scandinavian companies and 
a South African producer. They 
are also completing arrangements 
with the Far Eastern Command for 
a combination Gl-civilian cast to 
do "Anna" for 30 performances in 
Guam and other islands. 

"Anna," with a Negro cast in- 
cluding many of Broadway's orig- 
inals, is now in its 42d week-at His 



By Jules Leventhal In 
Turtle' Discrepancy 



New Ticket-Sale Angle 

Denver, Aug. 17. 
With a dozen legits signed for 
the coming season, Arthur M. 
Oberfelder is,, looking for a few 
more shows'to plug the longer in- 
termissions. Oberfelder will again 
use the city auditorium for most 
of the productions. Signed are 
"Carousel"; Earl Carroll Vanities"; 
Judith Anderson in "Medea"; 
"John Loves Mary"; "Command 
Decision"; "Born Yesterday"; Mau- 
rice Evans in "Man and Superman"; 
"Desert Song"; "Brigadoon"; Bert 
Lahr in "Burlesque," and "Show- 
boat." 



come to look on a tryout at one of 
the established strawhats as an in- 
dicative test of the show's poten- 
tial, 

Some of the coming season's 
Broadway productions that ha~ve 
been given strawhat trybujg_jf«r"**"" 
"Sundown Beach," premiered at 
Westport," Conn., and due to be 
presented by Louis Singer; "Alt 
the Way Home," tested at Ridge- 
field, Conn., and Jutland, N. J., bx 
T. Edward Hambleton and Alfred; 
R. Stern; "Coming Thro* the Rye," 
given a break-in at Stockbridge, 
Mass., slated by Warren P. Mun- 
sell; '.'Perfect Pitch," done at West- 
port by John C. Wilson; "Summer 
and Smoke," first done last season 
at the Theatre '48, Dallas; "Reluc- 
tant Lady," given an outdoor test 
this summer in Cleveland by Can- 
ada Lee. 

Other prospective Broadway of- 
ferings slated for hayloft test in- 
clude "Live a Little," a musical, 



trying out anew ticket - selling 
angle this year. Instead of break- 
ing the list in two groups, and re- 
quiring ticket buyers to take all 
in either group, he* has designated 
three, Leonard Warren, Cloe Elmo 
and Jacques Thibaud, as musts, al- 
lowing customer to pick five or 
more* for a season price. Top prices 
are $24 for eight concerts; $4.20 
for one. Signers for more than 
eight concerts get pro-rata price. 
Maurice Costello has been ex- Approximately 85% of last year 
onerated by Jules J. Leventhal i customers have signed for this 
from any responsibility for dis- ycar- 

puted financial accounts in connec- ' ConcertsJnclude Ezio Pinza, Fer- 
f. ... .. • « ■ « . . Uuccio Taghavini, Ballet Russe de 

Hon with the producer's touring : Monte Carlo Jerome Hines> Sam . 

production of "Voice of the Tur- son Francois, Cloe Elmo, Vladimir 
tie" last winter. Leventhal cleared Horowitz, Hazel Scott, Marian An- 
Maje'sty's, London. Play was also I njs former company manager in ' person, Leonard Warren DePaur 
done in Vienna last May 14-31. . .. , . * ' c^i^. _i ™*?tcy Chorus, Jacques >Taibaud, 

. . a letter last ween ro uosieno s Paul Draper and Larry Adler, First 

union, the Assn. of Theatrical | Piano Quartet, San Carlo" Opera 
fA ACT riDf! P TR0I1PF ' Agents and Managers. Co., Minneapolis Symphony Or- 

wlWl WIVVIjIj HWW u I T ne pro ducer had ' previously chestra, Artur Rubinstein, Phila- 
TA DAW AM DDA AflW AV I blamed the mixup on Costello, ex- delphia Orchestra, Tito Guizar, 
111 DllW \Jf% DIlU/U/Hfll plaining that the company man- 1 French Orchestre National, New 

ager had submitted erroneous box- ! Manhattan Opera Co., Ethel 
office statements on out-of-town | Waters and Fletcher Henderson, 
engagements through a mistaken 
excess of zeal in his (Leventhal's) 
behalf. As a result of the faulty 
reports, Alfred de Liagre, Jr., orig- 
inal producer of "Turtle," received 



j which Mildred Fenton is doing at 
For his concerts, Oberfelder is j East Hampton, L.Jt;. "Duet for 



. Hollywood, Aug. 17. 
Circle Players, local legit group, 
will bow on Broadway next year. 
Arrangements for a New York 
tieup with Ex- 



debut, through a 
perimental Theatre, possibly will 

will play two weeks at the Locust, j be n "? hz ?. d next ™ e ** J?. I less than his rightful share of the 



, Forrest, usually -first of local «f gfg ' r s y on E ° p £ ^"mrSS™ tourin8 receip „ tS - Whe !\ the dis " 

legiters to see action because it „ f n V h fcirele^rri?e in kS 5 r(pM 5, Wa! f "Tt 

has an aircooling system, opens of th * ° irc l ?\ amve Leventhal made good the amount 
Sept. 13 with the new season's first Debut vehicle probably will be 



'OKLA.!' REPEAT OPENS 
DES MOINES SEASON 



tryout, "Where's Charley?," musi 
cal version of "Charley's Aunt,' 
starring Ray Bolger. Length of en 
gagement isn't absolutely set, but 



Caligula" by Albert Camus, to 
which Circle holds American 
rights. Play has drawn raves in 
Paris. It will probably get its 



tuner will likely stay two or three American premiere at the Coronet, 
weeks. Hollywood, and then go east after 

(( On the 20th, the Walnut gets an extended run. 
"The Heiress," in for two weeks 
and on ATS subscription. Also on 



• Des Moines, Aug. 17. 
The KRNT Radio theatre 1948- 
49 season opens Sept. 9 with a 
three days of "Oklahoma," which 
in a week's run did more 



One," at Saratoga, N. Y.; "Suzie," 
at Chatham, Mass.; the Charles 
Robinson - Kenyon .Nicholson 
"Gilded Cage," at New Hope, Pa.; 
the Theatre Guild's- forthcoming 
"Silver Whistle,", at Westport, and 
"Never Say Never," at Cape May, 
N. J. . 

Where it costs around $60,000- 
$75,000 to produce a straight play 
(or a minimum of $200,000 for a 
musical) on Broadway, even an 
elaborate strawhat production costs 
only about $7,500-$10,000. Most 
rural showshops would lose money 
on a show costing that much, but 
the usual procedure is for the 
Broadway manager who owns rights 
to the property underwriting the 
loss. Even at $5,000 drop, it's com- 
ing to be considered a cheap in- 
vestment. 



due. 

Although the erroneous b.o. 
statements were signed by two than $90,000 here in 1946, when 
local theatre managers as well as . "Oklahoma" was the initial show- 
by Costello, the former were be- j for introducing the Cowles Broad- 
lieved not to have been aware of casting Co. operation of the 4.200- 
the discrepency in the quoted 1 seat 'house. It had formerly been 
gross figures. Both men had the Shrine auditorium. 
Circle may also give New York signed blank statements, which j The KRNT Radio theatre man- 
its first look at two Saroyan prop- j were subsequently filled out incor- agement had good success with 
the 20th, the Shubert gets the sec- I erties. One, "Sam Ego's House," rectly and forwarded to the de ! longer runs on attractions last 
ond tryout of the season — a musi- was world-premiered here by the Liagre office. season and will continue the pol- 

cal now called "That's the Ticket," I group last season and has not Apparently it is common prac- j cy this season. Shows scheduled 
produced by Joe Kipncss. It's been done elsewhere. Second is tice among theatre treasurers, man- ( t0 date are: Hoagy Carmichael, 
booked for four weeks. Also on ! Saroyan's "A Happy Birth, A De- a g els and company managers to Oct. 1; Phil Spitalny's "Hour of, 
the 20th— unless this booking con- cent Funeral." Decision on wheth- j sign blank b.o. statements, which charm," Oct. 10; Blackstone show 1 
gestion is relieved by a switch 
somewhere along the line— Tallu- 
J»l) Bankhead will bow in at the 

LWeif" in J^' .'T™ 1 ° f " P /' iVat< i I" addition to finalizing debut ^^Tefore "Se" tori S 1 '3 hC - DeS £ rt S ?? g C, N ° V „ 

pves, several times mentioned ._,.,.„..(, rhnniin inH Fn- , tne , atre peiore lne n "ai count-up 2 3; .Fred Waring, Nov. 24, 25 and 

nvo e w 1 e a e S ks SeaS ° n - US Skedded f ° r StetaWS set h a P, d n eai a f n o d r sev- a^tWAS "^"TS "^"^^ 
™ weekSl »ral npw wrints fnr world ttreem- ! , :Z nanale , tne recel P ls an( * "Born Yesterday," Jan. 3 and 4; 

This schedule leaves the week , fcoast " Kve :ma , keth ! t ? rt ', , • "Burlesque," Jan. 7 and 8; "Show 

of the 27 without bookings but P? 1 £ 1 „?° n a to^toiiT imnct Js ' « Leventhal regularly acquires the Boat ,.. Feb . 3> 4 and 5 . -skating 

*L? »LZ" i Bl ° adwa y hlts ' pa r ng t|«e original 27 .. An Evcnlng wlth RolnDcrg - 
othei nrsts. I producer a percentage of the gross. 
i He is currently presenting "Me 

nnTTftw n'mirami pt an«! and Moll y" in Atlantic City; "For 
DUTTON-0 COKNOK PLANS Love or Money ," a t the Flatbush, 

Patricia Dutton and Jane O'Con- Brooklyn, and "The Last of Mrs 



Ella Logan Nixes 
'Finian' Tour Due 
To Billing Wrangle 

Ella Logan has turned down a 
bid from Lee Sabinson to play her 
original femme lead in "Finian's 
Rainbow" on tour this season. Her 
reported reason is the. same as for 
her previous withdrawal from the 
show. That is, refusal of the pro- 
ducer to give her billing. Other 
aspects of the deal were satisfac- 
tory. 

Nan Wynn, currently playing the 
part, also refused to go on the 
road with the musical. She, too, 
wanted billing for the tour, but 
also asked for a dresser to travel 
with the company and for a stage 
dressing room to facilitate costume 
changes. 

Miss Wynn originally turned in 
two weeks' notice, but subsequent- 
ly agreed to remain another two 
weeks. She's now set to exit Sept. 
4, with a replacement still not en- 
gaged. 

"Finian" closes Oct. 4 at the 



er it wm be p=£ed here *Z ! are subsequently filled out and j Oct, 18; RCA Victor show, Oct! i *®' :n St reet, NY 

In New York is expected to be "submitted to the producer and 2 9; Nelson Eddy, Nov. 3; Horace I Z 

made shortly. otners lhl ? 1S Us « all y a ^ ne wl »en j Heidt, Nov. 7; "John Loves Mary," i HhOPho 

x" i. ^u... one of the signers has to leave the Nov . 10: "The Desert Sons" Nov. ' 1 uwcwc 



pn Oct. 4 a pair of openings are 
listed— "Man and Superman," with 
Maurice Evans, at the Walnut, and 
Born Yesterday" (a return) at the 
Locust. 

Counted on to come here during 
the first two or three months of 
the new season are "Allegro," 



March 23; Burl Ives, April 1 and 
"Brigadoon," the week of May 2. 



Phoebe Brand, actress formerly 
with the Group Theatre and more 
recently With the Actors Lab, 
Hollywood, will be instructor in 
acting technique this fall and win- 
ter at Bennington (Vt.) college. 
She's the wife of legit-film actor 
Morris Carnovsky. 

The American National Theatre 
& Academy, which suggested Miss 



otawt phtt cttvtttjc ! Brand ' s appointment, is also con- 
WANl rtllL blLVriKa ; sidering applicants for dramatic 
Phil Silvers may withdraw from | director-instructor jobs at^Tuiane 
the lead in "High Button Shoes," Univ., Kansas City Jewi;* Com- 



nor, who operate the Artillery Lane chevnev." at the Windsor, Bronx 
"Finian's Rainbow" "return)" "Anne Playhouse, St. Augustine, are in N . y,. on suc h a basis. 

of, j% c Thousand. ,Q aV s,"i • irvoUtfc I Ne>y, Yprk to }ine un p^iysjf or their , ; . n , 

"C^maadTDeefem"- and; "ilohV m $ s ^°>" WfWMMfyp* '' Manny FleisphWan will .bet imfsi- 

Loves Marv." The D'Oyly Carte They'll go to Dallas to attend the . cal director at the Downtown Na- Englund- Vernon Duke-Ogden Nash , Springfield (O.) 'Civio theatre, Bald- 
company from England is also opening of Margo Jones' Theatre Uonal theatre, N.Y., for the 1948- musical, for which Jerome Rob- win School, at Bryn Mawr, Pa., and 
skedded to tee off here for its '48. 49 Yiddish season. bins is being sought as director. . , Waynesburg (Pa.) college. 



.i'v*itK£« u M r V-2*' *«fV? Spt i^PJ h? u -«i$ y jQwter.fKansss, ffty, «nir., 
"Sweet, Dreams," . |the./ new Ken ^Univ. of New Mexico, Alfred Uni\5.» f 



44 



IJEGITIMATE 



Variety 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



Strawhat Reviews 



The Happiest Years 

Stockbridge, Mass., Aug. 16. 

Berkshire Playhouse production of com- 
edy by Thomas Coley and William Hoe- 
rick, in three acts (4 scenes). Staged by 
William Miles; setting, James Russell. At 
Berkshire Playhouse, Stockbridge, Mass., 
Aug. 16, '48. 

Martha Johnson Helen Stenborg 

Richard Johnson Kendall Clark 

Allda Wentworth .Ruth Vivian 

Clara , Graves Amy Douglass 

Bertram Graves,... Maurice Wells 

Roger Llttleteld Ray Fry 

Joan Miller. .Eleanor Wilson 

Florence Graves Lucille Benson 

Morton Graves...,. , Philip Ober 

This is a leisurely paced comedy 
that never gathers the momentum 
necessary for the click class. Its 
potential for a sustained Broadway 
showing will depend on topflght' 
casting and further character de- 
velopment at which the young ac- 
tor-playwrights, Thomas Coley 
<"Harvey") and William Roerick 
("The Heiress") display a marked 
aptitude. 

It is a homey comedy of char- 
acter more than of action or situ- 
ation. A draggy and over-long 
opening stanza fails to develop this 
angle. Tighter writing would elim- 
inate a "when does it start" reac- 
_ttpn by the audience at the close 
of"-this-act 

Story relates the efforts of a GI 
to finish an interrupted college 
career in preparation for a teach- 
ing position, while married and liv- 
a tag with his in-laws. Conflict is de- 
veloped by a wellmcaning but fidg- 
ety mother-in-law who misinter- 
prets the motives of a helpful coed. 
This, with an annual visit by an 
uncle and aunt, almost stymie the 
Gl's° endeavors. 

William Miles has given his cus- 
tomary distinctive direction. Helen 
Stenborg, as the young wife; Ray 
Fry,- a callow undergraduate, 
Louise Benson and Ruth Vivian 
give nifty performances. The lat- 
ter two, as the second wife of uncle 
Matt and the mousy librarian, re- 
spectively, are especially good 
'characterizations. Philip Ober 
starts with a bang. but goes dimin- 
uendo in the third act as the au- 
thors let the part down. Top hon- 
ors go to Amy Douglas, in her third 
season as a resident member of the 
Playhouse company. She gives a 
■portrayal of the mother-in-law that 
can be placed with Helen Lowell's 
memorable mother-in-law in the 
original company of George Kelly's 
"The Show-Off." 

James Russell continues to show 
his flair for atmospheric interior 
sets. Russ; 

Twice Born 

Guilford, Conn., Aug. 11. 

Lewis Harmon production of drama in 
three acts (five scenes) by Mary Orr and 
Reginald Denham, from a story by Joseph 
and Margaret Yablonski. Stars Erin 
O'Brien-Moore. Staged by Denham; set- 
ting, Paul Lammers. Opened at Chapel 
Playhouse, Guilford, Conn., Aug. 9, '48; 
$2.40 top. 

Crystal Lang Erin' O'Brien-Moore 

Wesley Lang .Alexander Clark 

Martha Foot Helen Carew 

Brandon Fisher Philip Arthur 

Bunny ' Fisher Sonia Shaw 



After "Twice Bom" has been put 
back in the incubator for added 
nursing, it may develop enough 
stature to emerge as a fairly inter- 
esting psychopus. Its theme is 
topical in that it concerns the type 
of split personality that has more 
or less cluttered up the outer of- 
fices of psychiatry specialists in the 
past few years. Based on a story, 
"Where Angels Fear," this one 
shapes up as more of an actor-di- 



§ 




rector play, rather than" an author 
standout. 

Central character. Crystal Lang, 
Is a femme Dr. Jekyll who Hydes 
her dual mentality from a second 
husband after the tragic loss of her 
first. Plot progression points out 
that spouse number one, who had 
been the 'great love of her life, was 
killed accidentally by a gunshot 
wound from a supposedly empty 
weapon after Crystal had unwit- 
tingly inserted a shell during a 
spell of amnesia. 

The tragedy had aggravated con- 
genital shortcomings in the wom- 
an's emotional makeup and 
prompted her to marry again, this 
time with the thought of molding 
her second husband into a replica 
of the departed one. Innocent 
subject of this experiment is Wes- 
ley Lang, professor of history, in a 
small Pennsylvania college. 

Crystal's unnatural possessive- 
ness impels her to break up Lang's 
long friendship with faculty col- 
leagues, but when she attempts to 
wean him from all outside inter- 
ests, the' matter results in a vio- 
lent quarrel that starts her mental 
processes to following their split 
inclinations. Final outcome is a 
cerebral hemorrhage that kills her, 
with the curtain leaving the dis- 
illusioned husband to the romantic 
potentialities of a faculty member 
who had been in love with him 
secretly for some time. 

Story is not particularly orig- 
inal and is overly contrived at 
times, yet it offers some good act- 
ing possibilities. Making much of 
those possibilities is Erin O'Brien-' 
Moore, whose role as the neurotic 
calls for considerable latitude 
of expression. Actress meets 
the task competently, in some 
phases outstandingly. Alexander 
Clark does excellent work as the 
peace-loving pedagog. Helen Ca- 
rew's picture of the faithful con- 
fidante who had raised Crystal 
from childhood Is good acting. 
Capable added support is given by 
Philip Arthur and Sania Shaw, 
brother and sister faculty duo. 

There's a 1st ef dialog passing 
over the. bridgework here and, on 
the whole, it is okay. Direction 
has capitalized on a suspense ele- 
ment that is maintained at a high 
pitch, especially in final stanza. 
Chapel Playhouse has given the. 
tryout an attractive physical send- 
off. Single setting of a living 
room, including an upstage stair- 
case, offers good playing spaee that 
is utilized to advantage in prevent- 
ing static moments in the play's 
long running time. Bone. , 

No Room for Peter Pan 

New Milford, Conn., Aug. 14. 

Louis Townsend producUon of fantasy 
in three acts by Harold Jaediker Taub. 
Features Katherlno Squire. Staged by 
Fred Stewart; scenery by John Matus. 
Opened at Theatre-ln-the-Dale, New Mil- 
ford, Conn., Aug. 11. '48; $3.40 top. 

Con Carbon Dan Reed 

A bar maid Pat Kelsey 

Kath MaUory Katherine Squire 

Jennie Subalko Gloria Willis 

Denny MaUory Sonny Recs 

Michael MaUory George Mitchell 

Doc Pillsbury Edmond Le Comte 

William Kane Michael Maros 

Mrs. Subalko Mildred Hudson 

John Subalko Chet Hawkins 

Jerry Connors Lewis Francis 

Father Mullarkey,... Robert Hubbard 

Mr. Bailey Bruce Carlisle 

Mr. CoUyer William Robertson 

Sheriff Joe Marosz 

Neighbors Anne Syarse 

Nancy Stochr 



traits that make Kath regret she 
sent him out into the world, and 
when the medical offer is again 
brought up, this time she accepts 
and sends away the circus owner 
who has come to take the boy back 
with hint. Play ends on a festive 
note as all the neighbors gather at 
a party to witness the first treat- 
ment that is to make Denny a 
normal man. 

Katherine Squire makes the 
mother role credible in a variety 
of emotions; Sonny Rees plays 
Denny with a bagful of thespian 
artifices that belie his moppet 
years; Mildred Hudson paints an 
amusing picture of a buxom Lithu- 
anian neighbor; Gloria Willis, an 
attractive ingenue giving romantic 
support, will probably be. picked 
up one of these days for something 
more important than summer stock. 

Narration is handled by Dan 
Reed as a mine minstrel who un- 
folds theme via song and story. 
Others in large cast range from 
routine to good. 

Fred Stewart's staging has pro- 
duced a continuity that is easy to 
follow and also has highlighted 
several important scenes capably. 
For a strawhat stage, John Matus 
has done an exceptional bit of de- 
signing in crowding the playing 
space of a kitchen, sitting room and 
back yard all into a single setting. 

Bone. 



Inside Stuff-Legit 



Abbey Players of Dublin will make their American film bow in 
"The Quiet Man," which John Ford will make in Ireland next spring. 
Director plans to use Abbey personnel extensively and to sign any 
standout talent to screen contracts. Film will star John Wayne and 
will be made entirely in Ireland. 



Present Perfect 

Medford, Mass., Aug. 10. 

Tufts Summer Arena Theatre produc- 
tion of comedy in three, acts by Norman 
Ashton. Staged by the author. At Tufts 
College, Medford, Mass., Aug. 10, '48. ' 

John Sherwood Oonald Cerulli 

Helen Sherwood Moore Pickering 

Sydney O'Brien Elaine Lockhart 

Peter O'Brien '...Michael Anthonakes 

Michael McLean Richard Knudson 



§ 

§ 



§ 
I 
§ 



J^ow Ceasing 

LUXURIOUS 

1 ■ 2 AND 3 ROOM 

APARTMENTS 

BEAUTIFULLY 

FURNISHED 

with lurse serving pantries. 
Completely Redecorated. Styled 
by Beryl S. Austrian. Also 
Transient. Accommodations. 



*8 




Several legit managements have stopped using the N. Y. News and 
Mirror for display ads. Reason is that the two dailies don't carry local 
ads or any theatrical news copy in their "national" editions distributed 
out of town, although they print film news and gossip columns in all 
editions. Showmen are continuing to use the two sheets for daily 
alphabetical show listings. 

Managements figure that a sizable share of Broadway playgoers, 
particularly for matinees* are from surrounding areas. Several of the 
producers, or their general managers, commuting from nearby com- 
munities in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York, have noted the 
number of train riders consulting theatre ads in the N. Y. Times and 
Herald Tribune, which carry both alphabetical and display copy in 
all editions. 

Managements that have complained to the News and Mirror adver- 
tising departments have been- sympathetically received. But the ad 
solicitors claim they can do nothing, as the matter is in the hands of 
top management at the two sheets. 

"Magdalena" is figured the biggest physical production ever done 
on the Coast. Show required 12 railroad cars (six for the sets, cos- 
tumes and equipment, and five for the Company of 110, plus a diner) 
for its transfer over the weekend from the Philharmonic, Los Angeles, 
to the Curran, San Francisco, where the opening curtain was adver- 
tised for 9:15 Monday night (16). R. Victor Leighton is general man- 
ager for producer Edwin Lester, with Anthony Buttitta pressagent. 
Latter comes to New York this week, with the show scheduled to preem 
Sept. 20 at the Ziegfeld. 



Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman are revising the script of their 
new play, "Bravo!". It's the first time since they began collaboration 
that they've had to do more than slight rewriting before the start of 
rehearsals and tryout. Fact that the "Bravo!" script wasn't right ap- 
parently explains why Max Gordon moved up his production of "Town 
House" (currently in rehearsal) after originally planning to do the 
Ferber-Kaufman play first. 



6 M| '^Wilm$m*tMft*% 

•WWH' ' ' -B&tui Of: i > S 1 
0*4 S«b Bar | 



Fantasy under the best of condi- 
tions is not the easiest form of en- 
tertainment to put across to the 
buying public. Under the curtailed 
facilities of summer theatre pro- 
duction, usually the best that can 
be hoped for is merely, a showcase 
to gamble on whether or not to 
proceed further. That's the situa- 
tion as it applies to the tryout of 
"No Room for Peter Pan" — and 
the gamble looks like pretty much 
of a tossup. Play has spurts of 
drama, humor and pathos which, 
with development, can be blended 
into a somewhat novel entity. 

Analogous to the mother who 
never wants her child to grow up, 
story employs a combination nar- 
ration-playing technique to unfold 
the tale of an early-century family 
in a mythical Pennsylvania coal 
mining district. Kath Mallory, the 
mother, dreads the day when her 
son Denny will grow into manhood 
and follow his father's footsteps 
into the hazardous field of anthra- 
cite mining. When a medical ex- 
amination brings out the fact that 
Denny is a midget; and will grow 
no more, Kath thinks her prayers 
have been answered in keeping the 
lad out of the mines. 

The boy's condition brings un- 
favorable publicity to the commu- 
nity, and a threatened investigation 
as to living conditions prompts the 
mine owner to arrange medical 
treatment, to r^tare.him to jnprmal 
.gVowtlc.: 1 • TKe TuStei? i refused the 
offer and ships the lad off- with a 
circus, where he becomes a star 
attraction. Returning a year later 
on a forbidden visit, Denny exhibits 



This one turns up an exceeding- 
ly promising playwrighting talent, 
missing the bigtime by a hair. How- 
ever, since it's been done arena 
style, conventional appraisal is 
somewhat unreliable. 

Norman Ashton, Tufts alumnus 
and Yale graduate student, starts 
off with a 'situation that seems at 
first to have about as much meat 
as a nickel hamburger. A former 
WAC, recently married to an 
amiable nondescript, can't forget 
her first love, an RAF Scotsman 
whom she met on a furlough in 
England, and who was. shot down 
over Normandy. She tries to fall 
in love with her husband, but it 
won't work. Her father tells her 
she's trying too hard to forget the 
flier; maybe it would help if she 
tried Just as hard to remember 
him. 

At this the disembodied Scot ap- 
pears in full RAF uniform: There 
then follow two acts of very su- 
perior comedy in the Coward-Behr- 
man manner as the wife tries to 
imagine her husband in the flier's 
role as she reconstructs their 
idyllic affair. It isn't any too clear 
exactly how she manages to switch, 
in her mind, the image of the flier 
into the reality of her husband 
but the author contrives to work 
it all up into an agreeable sort of 
moral. 

Rather than wearing thin, the 
play, despite the familiar apparatus 
of the disembodied spirit, gains as 
it goes along largely through the 
author's wit and theatre-wise in- 
vention of business for the charac- 
ters. An added touch being the 
wife's transitional narrative to the 
audience as. she tries to remember 
exactly how it happened. 

Company is capable enough, with 
a nice performance all around, 
but this is virtuoso stuff requiring 
the lightest touch. Given a know- 
ing professional production with a 
pair of deft and attractive lovers, 
and an assist here and there in 
the dialog, it could click both on 
stage or screen. But the arena 
stuff is too confusing to make the 
call too positively black or white. 

Elie. 



particularly in the little state of 
Lumpur, where the Maharajah 
thinks nothing of spending state 
coin for spectacular binges in Bom- 
bay. Play's opening was spiced by 
newspaper reports of a similar 
real-life incident involving the 
fabulously wealthy chieftain of 
Baroda. 

Dialog is" slow in developing the 
action, but helps create several 
penetrating characterizations. 
Author Whyte plays the lead and 
makes it an effective portrayal but 
the other cast members apparently 
had difficulty identifying them- 
selves with the out-of-the-ordinary 
characters who people the play. 



dramatic workshop of the New 
School for Social Research, N. Y. 

Old Vic Co., headed by Sir 
C£drlc Hardwicke and Dame Edith 
Evans, will, play a New York en- 
gagement, starting in January, fol- 
lowed by a U. S. tour, under the 
sponsorship of Theatre, Inc. At 
the same time, the Old Vic troupe 
headed by Sir ' Laurence Olivier 
and Vivien Leigh, currently tour- 
ing Australia, will take over the 
New Theatre, in London. 



0 



Theatre Jam-up 



Command Decision 

(FULTON, N. Y.) 

Byron McGrath, replacing Paul 
McGrath as Brig. Gen. Garnett in 
"Command' Decision," at the Ful- 
ton, N. Y., looks somewhat" young 
for the part, and has less poise and 
authority than" his older brother. 
But he, seems more direct and 
vigorous, and is probably just as 
effective. 

Rest of the cast and the William 
Wister Haines drama itself hold 
up well after the more than nine 
months' run. There may be even 
more teeth-clenching onstage than 
when the play first opened, but 
there's still plenty of fingernail- 
gnawing out front. Show should 
repeat its Broadway success when 
it tours, starting Sept. 13. Hobe. 



Play out of Town 



The Untouchables 

North Hollywood, Cal., Aug. 10. 

Horseshoe Theatre production of drama 
In three acts (five 'Scenes) by Patrick 
Iludman Whyte. Directed by Opal Guard. 
Opened Aug. 9, '43, at Horseshoe theatre. 
North Hollywood, Cal.; $1.80 top. 

Mohamcd Hussain ...Frank Mario 

Alan Korder Clarence Straight 

Dermot Landy Patrick Whyte 

Major Geoffrey Cloud.. Gordon Miller 

de Castro Rod Redwing 

Lali . . •. Peggy Stewart 

Maharajah of Lumpur George Adrian 

Eileen de Castro Hita Conde 

Jemadar WiUiam Van Gelder 



This is the six new play to be 
presented by the Horseshoe thea- 
tre since its inception last Novem- 
ber, and the first to be! penned by 
a regular member of the group. 
Drawn in part from the author's 
experiences as a British army 
major in India, it is the Horseshoe's 
first plunge into global affairs. 
There is little in the plot to excite 
«v 'legtt; producer, ? twit it might 
serve as the basis' ft* an okay sup- 
porting film. 

"Untouchables" is a story of the 
dying days of British rule in India, 



Lee Sabinson figuring on mak- 
ing his start as a director with his 
own production of Wilfred H. 
| Pettit's "Devil's Carnival" . . . Lon- 
| don rights to "The Heiress" have 
; been sold to Tennent Productions, 
i Ltd. (Hugh Beaumont), with Wendy 
Hiller slated to star in "the part she 
created in the Broadway produc- 
tion . . . Herman Levin, who re- 
turned last week from London and 
Paris, is considering an uniden- 
tified Saroyan play for Broadway 
production . . . Jerome Whyte 
planed to London last week to o.o. 
the West End edition of "Okla- 
homa!" He's due back Monday 
(23). 

Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne 
have switched plans and now won't 
be seen on Broadway this season. 
They'll tour next spring in "Speak 
to Me of Love," and bring it to 
New York in the fall of '49 . 
Paul and William Henebery an- 
nounce the formation of Fatima 
Productions, and are considering 
scripts "of a philosophical nature" 
. . . Elmer Rice has revised his 
"Not for Children" and the Play- 
wrights' Co. will produce it this 
fall . . . Sneakthieves ransacked 
offices in the Empire theatre, N. Y., 
I building last week, making off with 
I postage stamps, petty cash, and 
-several -bottles of , booze .from; vari- 
ous desk drawers . . . Robert C. 
I Schnitzer, general manager for the 
; Experimental theatre two seasons 
ago, has joined the staff of the 



Continued from page 43 , 

thony B. Farrell's new untitled re- 
vue, though he originally planned 
to bring back "Hold It" at the 
Warner). 

"Born Yesterday" is continuing 
at the Lyceum, but may be re- 
placed by "Bravo!" "Annie Get 
Your Gun" may play a while 
longer at the Imperial, but may be 
forced out • by upcoming musicals 
if its gross doesn't go back to siz- 
able proportions. "Harvey" is also 
holding on at the 48th Street, but 
could be a victim of pressure from 
new productions. Same is true of 
"The Play's the Thing," which re- 
lights the Booth next Monday (23), 
and "Make Mine Manhattan,' 
which might be forced out of the 
Broadhurst, possibly by "Light up 
the Sky." 

That leaves 10 possible houses 
for which bookings have not been 
indicated. They are -the Bijou 
(lately had films, but 'available for 
legit), the Biltmore ("The Heiress" 
closes Sept." 18), Broadway (dark, 
but could accommodate a large 
musical), Maxine Elliott (used last 
season by the Experimental thea- 
tre), Playhouse (dark), Hudson 
(dark). International (dark), Mans- 
fieia (dark), Golden (lately a film 
house, now dark, probably avail- 
able for legit), Winter Garden 
(now a film house, but reverts to 
the Shuberts in October). 

Snarl out of town is particularly 
bad in the eastern cities such as 
Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore 
and New Haven, which normally 
get most of the tryouts. Indication 
of how extreme the situation will 
be is shown by the fact that 
Garson Kanin and Ruth Gordon 
have booked the Jatter's new play, 
"Leading Lady," into Chicago for 
its break-in. 



SAMUEL FRENCH 

SINCE 1830 

Play, Brokers and 
Authors' Representatives 

85 West 4.1111 Street, New York . 
7023 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood 46, Cal. 



ROBERT A. BOYAR 

Wishes to announce his association 
,, with the 

D. DAVIDSON COr 

General Ititurartf Brokers 
„ _ WO William Street 
New York, N. If. „ bo S-4420 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



MTERAfl 



45 



Literati 



Ray Josephs' Good Wilier 

Author's careful down jotting of 
names in an address file has paid 
Off good dividends to Random 
House in promotion for forthcom- 
ing "Latin America: Continent in 
Crisis," by Ray Josephs. Writer 
who recently completed a year's 
o.o. of the tamale and rhumba belt, 
used system of typewriter inter- 
views on tour for Washington Post, 
Christian Science Monitor, Variety 
and others. He lugged portable 
into Presidential,- Cabinet and 
Embassy offices, pumping subjects 
for data and typing the replies, 
then dictating his material on-the- 
spot and having a carbon shipped 
back for correction. With this he 
kept an extensive file of every per- 
son given the q. and a. including 
man-in-the-street interviews, etc. 

When book was readied, a mail 
piece telling all those quizzed they 
were in book and including four 
colored maps showing where the 
interview took place. Response has 
been a flock of orders. 



Louis Sobol's New Contract 
Louis Sobol is back in N. Y. 
from an extended stay in Hollywood 
whence he did his Hearst columns, 
following a leisurely motor trip to' 
the Coast. Upon his return the 
columnist signed a new two-year 
contract with the N. Y. Journal- 
American, as well as a separate 
one with King Features for whose 
Home Magazine he does a regular 
feature. 

Sobol adds, "I suppose this ends 
whatever ideas ' I may have enter- 
tained — which I never have — of 

foing out to work in Hollywood, 
/hen I saw the frantic and har- 
rassed looks on those faces out 
there, it looked good to just stay 
back here (in N. Y.) and not have 
to worry about British taxes and 
boxoffice slumps." 



crowd as they leave track. It has 
chart of the first three races, next 
day's entries at major tracks, plus 
latest news. It's the first year the 
publishers have tried this. Plans 
were made some time before, but 
were delayed because of lack of 
^paper. 

Ornstein's 'Heritage* 
Metro homeoffice publicity staffer 
Bill Ornstein is currently round- 
ing up a group of his recently-pub- 
lished short stories for incorpora- 
tion in an anthology to be titled 
"This Is My Heritage." Plan will 
not materialize until late next year 
when about 15 of his yarns will be 
available. 

Ornstein turned down requests 
last year from both Houghton-Mif- 
flin and Thomas Y. Crowell pub- 
lishers to try his hand at a novel 
on the plea that he's not yet ready 
for lengthy writing. He hopes to 
pick up their invitation instead for 
the anthology. 

Lasky, Jr.'s, ' Second Novel 

Screenwriter Jesse L. Lasky, Jr., 
has completed his second novel for 
Prentice-Hall. Tentatively titled 
"September Song," it's expected to 
hit the bookstands next spring. 
Lasky's first novel was "Spend- 
thrift." 

Son of the film producer, Lasky 
is currently under contract as a 
scripter to Cecil B. DeMille, for 
whom he's currently working on 
the forthcoming "Samson and De- 
lilah" film. 



Ray Sprigle Series Into Book 
Series of articles by Ray Sprigle, 
star reporter of Pittsburgh Post- 
Gazette, on his experiences in 
Georgia while disguised as a Negro, 
will be published in book form 
some time this fall by Simon & 
Schuster. Deal was closed last 
week only a few days after daily 
publication began. Post-Gazette 
and its sister sheet, Toledo Blade, 
are using them under the title of 
"I Was a Negro in the South for 
80 Days," but N. Y. Herald Tribune, 
which is syndicating them to about 
20 other newspapers, has "In the 
Land of Jim Crow" for a caption. 
What title S & S will use hasn't 
been decided yet. 

Sprigle, onetime city editor of 
Post-Gazette before leaving morn- 
ing journal to take a county polit- 
ical appointment, later returning 
to staff as a general assignment 
newshawk, won the Pulitzer Prize 
in 1938 for his expose of Supreme 
Court Justice Hugo Black's mem- 
bership in Ku Klux Klan. 



Hazy 'Interchange' 

"The Interchange of Plays be- 
tween London and New York, 1910- 
1939" (King's Crown Press; $2.50), 
published today (Wed.), is an in- 
conclusive study of Alice Katha- 
rine Boyd of the factors involved 
in the success or failure of the 
500-odd shows done in both the 
West End and on Broadway over 
the 30-year span. The 126-page 
book, paper-bound and printed in 
offset, refutes the various popular 
theories about the supposedly dif- 
ferent tastes of English and Ameri- 
can playgoers. But the nearest it 
comes to explaining the flop of 
Broadway hits in London, and 
vice-versa, is the assertion that 
various intangibles and imponder- 
ables make any theatrical produc- 
tion an unpredictable gamble. Be- 
cause it casts doubt on some fa- 
miliar shibboleths, the book should 
be of interest to the trade, both 
here and in London. Hobe. 



Harrison's New Stint 
Dale Harrison, Chi columnist 
Whose "All About the Town" was 
discontinued early this year when 
the Chicago Sun and Times 
merged, will write and edit "Bally- 
Who," a weekly newsletter is- 
sued by the Bally Mfg. Co. to the 
coin machine trade. First issue will 
come off the press Sept. 4. 

Harrison's Chicago Tribune col- 
umn, sponsored by advertisers, was 
dropped last month. 



New A. C. Racing Editions 
Atlantic City, N. J., Press-Union 
is putting out two new racing edi- 
tions for track followers with open- 
ing of the track here iast Mon- 
day (9). Early morning Press, 
printed to catch inflowing crowd, 
devotes first page to latest racing 
information including scratches, 
selections and new race story. 

Evening Union edition follows 
home edition and is sold to the 



CHATTER 

Baef Blau sold an original to 
20th for $10,000, his second this 
year. 

H. L. Mencken doing a piece on 
video slanguage for the New 
Yorker. 

Milt Luban back at his novel 
after three weeks of surgery for 
the removal of a spinal disk. 

Gene- Fowler delayed again on 
the Jimmy Walker biog by ticker- 
trouble and bedded for 10 days. 

Burl Ives* autobiography, "Way- 
faring Stranger," will be published 
in November by Whittlesey House. 

Norman Katkov, N. Y. World- 
Telegram feature writer, resigned 
last week to do freelance mag 
work. 

Charles Bonner's new novel, 
"The Last Romantic," will be pub- 
lished by Coward-McCann in Feb- 
ruary. 

Olga Melchione, associated with 
Laura Wilk literary agency in 
L. A., in N. Y. scouting for pix ma- 
terial. 

Jack Haley's daughter, Gloria, 
writing a daily Hollywood column 
for the Valley Times, San Fer- 
nando newspaper. 

Max Wylie, back from the sum- 
mer writers' conference at Boul- 
der, is putting finishing touches on 
a novel for Rinehart. 

Doubleday publishing New 
Yorker staffwiiter Daniel Lang's 
short stories for his first book, 
"Early Tales of the Atomic Age." 

Mrs. J. P. McEvoy, photographer 
for Town & Country mag and wife 
of the Reader's Digest editor, 
sailed for Paris yesterday (Tues.) 
on the De Grasse. 

Father Edward F. Murphy, au- 
thor of "The Scarlet Lily," which 
is on the Selznick list, in Holly- 
wood from New Orleans about his 
"Mme. Lavalliere." 

H. Allen Smith, due in home- 
town Huntingdon, Ind., during Cen- 
tennial Week, Aug. 23-28. Smith 
started his newspaper career on 
the Huntington (Ind) Press. 

Sam Spewack has written a 
novel, "The Busy, Busy People," 
which Houghton Mifflin will pub- 
lish in October. His and Bella 
(Mrs.) Spewack's new play, "Per- 
fect Pitch," is slated for Broadway 
production .this fall. 

Victor Rueda, Hollywood corres- 
pondent for Neuva York Al Dia 
and El Nacional in South America, 
is heading back to Venezuela for a 
two-month vacation during which 
he'll publish his book "Este Es 
Hollywood" ("This is Hollywood"). 

Fleur Cowles, associate editor 
and head of the Women's Depart- 
ment of Look Magazine, announces 
transfer, of Kay C. "Casey" Jones 
from Hollywood office to the N. Y. 
office as asst. fashion ed. Miss 
Jones will continue to handle west 
coast fashions and Women's Dept. 
news. 

Dial Press lined up unusual ad 
campaign on Niven Busch's new 
novel, "The Furies," due Sept. 14 
with a first run of more than 100,- 
000 copies. Tome is novelist's first 
writing job since he completed his 
independent production, "Pur- 
sued," co-starring Teresa Wright 
and Robert Mitchum. 

Harry Koehler, senior executive 
officer of the Chicago Herald- 
American is 'retiring. He joined 
the Hearst organization in 1920 and 



was publisher of the Chicago Her- 
ald-Examiner, a position he held 
until the merger with Evening 
American, after which he became 
vice president of the H-A. 

Bart Hodges has collated into 
book form his "Life's Little 
Dramas" (Duell; $2.50), anthology 
of anecdota told him by over 170 
famous personalities. Each is illus- 
trated with a portrait sketch by 
Hodges and footnoted by the sub- 
ject's own autograph. He did these 
originally for the N. Y. Post. 

Illustrated Newsfeature on the 
actors who have portrayed Tarzan 
since Elmo Lincoln created the 
role in the first ape man picture 
in 1918, will be distributed by the 
Associated Press. Feature is in 
connection with the latest Sol 
Lesser film, "Tarzan's Magic Foun- 
tain," in which Lex Barker makes 
his debut as the tree-swinger. 

Lester Bernstein, of the N. Y. 
Times drama department, switches 
next week to the Time mag staff, 
to work on "the back of the book," 
as the entertainment field is called 
on the publication. His successor 
will be selected by Brooks Atkin- 
son, drama critic and head of the 
Times amusement section, when 
Lewis Funke, drama editor, returns 
from vacation. Bernstein is vaca- 
tioning, having left the Times last 
Friday (13). 



New D. C. Bid 

Continued from page 43 



hand at a new offer in the next 
day or so. 

Elliott Hoffman, president of the 
Alexandria Amus. Corp., -said his 
board would meet Aug. 28 to con- 
sider three offers to convert his 
Virginia theatre, at present a film 
house, to a legit theatre. Hoffman 
said he thought Equity might not 
object to playing in Virginia since 
segregation there is required by 
law rather than being merely a 
decision of the theatre's manage- 
ment, 

George Washington university 
ruled out a suggestion made edi- 
torially by the Washington Post 
that the university's Lisner audi- 
torium be made available for stage 
plays. 

Alexandria Plan Deflated 

Possible use of the Virginia thea- 
tre, Alexandria, Va„ as a legit 
house to get around the Actors 
Equity ban on racial segregation 
in Washington is minimized in 
Broadway circles. Such a move is 
regarded as an obvious evasion of 
the spirit of the Equity-League of 
N. Y. Theatres agreement. 

Equity officials refuse to say 
what the union's stand on the 
question will be, as the decision 
will be up to the council, if and 
when the matter actually comes to 
a head. However, several members 
of the council indicated privately 
that they will put up a battle to 
have the council outlaw the pro- 
posed setup. On the basis of re- 
ports from Washington, they claim 
the Alexandria plan is based on a 
mere technicality and that 'it would 
violate the intent of the Equity- 
League contract. 

A number of Broadway authors 
and producers stated that, even if 
Equity should decide that the Alex- 
andria house were not an actual 
violation of the Washington ban, 
they would not permit their shows 
to play the house. Among those 
who expressed this intention were 
Arthur Schwartz, Hermit Bloom- 
garden, Oscar Hammerstein, 2d, 
Russel Crouse, Moss Hart and Har- 
old Rome. . 

Both Hammerstein and Hart said 
that, if the proposed deal to con- 
vert the Alexandria house to legit 
should go through, they would 
favor circulating a new petition 
among name dramatists, pledging 
signers not to sign contracts allow- 
ing their shows to be booked into 
that theatre. Both said they would 
sign such a pledge and would ask 
others to do so. They and other 
signers of the previous statement 
said they believed all the original 
signers would join in such a move 
again. 

The original pledge, which re- 
lated to the National theatre, Wash- 
ington, was signed by George Ab- 
bott, Maxwell Anderson, Philip 
Barry, S. N. Behrman, Irving Ber- 
lin, Edward Childs Carpenter, Ed- 
ward Chodorov, Jerome Chodorov, 
Marc Connelly, Crouse, Owen 
Davis, Arnaud d'Usseau, Dorothy 
Fields, Herbert Fields, Ruth Gor- 
don, Morton Gould, James Gow, 
Paul Green, Hart, Ben Hecht, Lil- 
lian Hellman, Garson Kanin, How- 
ard Lindsay, Anita Loos, Charles 
MacArthur, Elliott Nugent, John 
O'Hara, John Patrick, Elmer Rice, 
Richard Rodgers, Robert E. Sher- 
wood, Donald Ogden Stewart, John 
van Druten, Kurt Weill, Thornton 
Wilder and Tennessee Williams. 



>*«M«HM«tH«««<MM t> M>tHHM« < MMMMM«» ! 

SCULLY'S SCRAPBOOK I 



♦>»♦♦♦♦ By Frank Scully """ «'♦ » 

Success, Calif., Aug. 14. 

Leonard L. Levihson, Variety vnugg emeritus, now prez of Im- 
possible Pictures, drove up the other day to Scully's Bedside Manor 
in a Model A Ford that was worth $25 if it was worth a buck. 

"Where's your new Cad?" I asked. 

"Hop in," he ordered. It was an order to be taken literally, on ac- 
count the door wouldn't open, 
"In hock, eh?" 
"Ruth has it," he said. 

Ruth is Mrs. L. L. Levinson, now secretary or treasurer or some- 
thing of Impossible Pix. Through her lord and master's years as a 
writer on "Fibber and Molly," "The Great Gildersleeve," Jacit-Carson 
and Stu Erwln programs she stood like an older Ruth amid all this 
alien corn— beautiful, cool, quiet as a goddess in marble. Two piano 
crates would have afforded more office space than the prez of Im- 
possible Pix throws away On his staff. 

Staff? He use,s Doris Sharpe's Radio Register's telephone service 
two buildings away. He calls a "secretary in from some other guy's 
office. A kid with a motor attached to a regular boy's bike parks in 
the square below to run Impossible' messages. The prez himself has 
to lean out the window to sharpen pencils. 

Before I could view his first fantasy, however, I found myself 
eavesdropping on a series of transcontinental telephone conversations. 
First, it seems that in the contracts between Republic as the re- 
leasing company and Impossible as the producing company of "Jerky 
Journeys," somebody habitually misspelled David" Flexer's name. 
Flexer is Levinson's partner. ' Though now identified with Mejnjihis, — - 
Flexer originally, came, like Levinson, from Pittsbuxghi-^Heowns 
drive-ins in 25 cities, which reduces his civic pride to even finer 
fragmentation. But he need not subject Levinson to any further 
loyalty tests. I will testify his partner will fight to the last "whereas" 
to see that the name Flexer is spelled correctly. 

Next in the list of tremendous trifles was a four-way traffic jam 
involving permission to use the name of a radio program in ah Im- 
possible picture. 'If I hadn't overheard the conversation I wouldn't, 
have believed that so many big shots could make so much ado about 
practically nothing. 

Finally L. L. L. cut the Gordian knots by calling in a secretary to 
sit on my lap (there was no room for her 1 otherwise) while he dictated 
a letter for his messenger boy to take to the Compton Agency and 
get signed before their vice-president in charge of commas left that 
afternoon for a month's vacation. The letter, in six copies, which 
Levinson addressed to himself ran: 

Impossible Pictures, 

1585 Crossroads of the World, 

Hollywood, Calif. 

Gentlemen: 

We herewith grant permission to "mention the radio program 
"Truth or Consequences" in your Trucolor cartoon, now entitled 
"Bungle in the Jungle," in the following manner: 

As the scene opens, camera is on group of people aboard a 
steamer and the narrator , say's: 

"This is our party. Six people who missed a question on 'Truth 
or Consequences' and had to come to Africa as a penalty." 

Permission to mention program "Truth or Consequences" as 
outlined is hereby granted to you, your assigns, etc., forever. 

Very truly, 

FLOYD HOLM 

■ In "Romantic Rumhola" Levinson came on a town called "Nisatra." 
He found it was Sinatra spelled sideways. But he couldn't say so 
over a soundtrack without obtaining the permission of the agency 
holding Sinatra in tow. He found further that "Nisatra" was on "Tur- 
han Bay." More lawyers and more releases. • . * 

To prevent this sort of thing going on forever L. L. L. .took out a 
paid ad in "The Radio Writer" and informed his old confreres: 

"You think I formed Impossible Pictures for profits. You're wrong. 
I did it to provide my fellow-writers with the name of a corporation 
you can use in radio scripts without clearing it through network cen- 
sors. This gives you full permission to do so as long as radio lasts." 

He found that he could not do business without invoice numbers. 
Okay, so everything around Impossible has the same invoice number. 
It's called the "invoice of experience." 

His desk finally cleared of all these legal puce, L. L. L. began ex- 
plaining to me . what he was trying to do besides becoming a million- 
aire. Having lived through the royal two-reel reigns of John Bunny, 
Charlie Chaplin, Harry Langdon, Laurel and Hardy, Ed Kennedy, 
Charlie Chase and others not sufficiently humorous to mention, Levin- 
son saw shorts squeezed down and finally out by double-features. 

Coming-upward from the cartoon field he saw the Disney shorts ex- 
pand into full-length features. 

Neither the fall of one nor the rise^jf the other quite satisfied our 
old V. M. E. Currently cartoons limit their activities to animals and 
a chase. That, in L. L. L.'s opinion, is the comic cartoon of today, 
whether in tight minutes or 80. 

He decided about a year ago that he had to do something about It. 
What he wanted to do was to cut awfully fast to the chase, knock out 
comic cartoons in one month instead of nine, reduce the cost to one- 
seventh of the present nut, and glorify people instead of rodents. "Let's 
be loyal to our own kind!" he cried. 

He would cut the gizzards out of costs by substituting camera action 
for animators. 

"For all their in-between cartoons," he explained, "no animator has 
been able to imitate a man walking. We're not even trying." 

Thus a comedy that currently takes 15,000 drawings would be told 
by Levinson in 350 pictures. He was told that what he wanted to do 
was impossible. He heard it so often he accepted it as a compliment. 

Well, his first one, "Romantic Rumbolia" released this month, should 
give the picture biz its first homeopathic hypo of the year. It be- 
longs in a group of "little known journeys to lesser known places by 
completely unkown people." Painted by Paul Julian, directed by 
John Hubley, narrated by Frank Nelson, written and produced by 
Leonard Louis Levinson, it was sneaked in New York, Chicago, and 
L, A. houses this spring. All felt as if they were studying a delight- 
ful sort of geography under a younger Chaplin. 

"Rumbolia" in the cans, Levinson is now working on "Bungle in the 
Jungle," to be followed before the end of the year by "The Three 
Minnies, Sota, Tonka and Haha," and, finally, "Beyond Civilization to 
Texas." These are all in production. My pet among them is the 
"Three Minnies," a tale of three Indian maidens, their mother and an 
Indian brave. I predict that this one will live on for years in story 
books, for it has humor, pathos, romance, and a switch that mothers 
will love to use across the libidos of their up-and-going daughter. 

If I ever become vice-president of an ad agency and get a month 
off I'm going after that Indian squaw's amazing case-history for Prof. 
Kinsey's "Sex Behavior in the Human Female." I feel certain I can 
! get the proper credentials from L. L. L. because in Volume One of the 
1 scrapbooks of Impossible Pictures he proudly points to the fact that 
' the first mention of his company was in Scully's Scrapbook on July 4, 
1947. 

Behind me will be along line of sapient second-guessers, among them 
being Fred Allen who wrote Levinson: 

' "Glad to know you're president of Impossible Pictures. So 
: many pictures I have seen recently have been so impossible I 
know you must be producing practically all the product coining 
1 out of Hollywood at this time." 



'■V 
y 



4g_ 



CHATTER 



Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



Broadway 



Wife of vocal coach «ddie Miller 
•uing at Memorial hospital. 

Phil Reisman, RKO veepee, 
Saratogaing for a week' with 
Joseph P. Kennedy. 

. J o s eph Winters, theatrical CPA, 
to Yellowstone Park and the Yose- 
mite for his holiday. 

Comic Red Buttons pondering 
change of professional name that 
looks better in the billing. 

The Howard Reinheimers (he's 
the theatrical attorney) at their 
*Sun Valley home for three weeks. 
. Twentieth-Fox sales chief Andy 
W Smith, Jr., to Nantucket last 
Friday (13) for a two-week vaca- 
tion. 

The Hampshire House convert- 
ing many of its apartments for per- 
manent occupancy into "coopera- 
tives." 

The Willie Shore-Cross & Dunn 
night at the Latin Quarter Sunday 
(15) heavily attended by the 
Friars. 

Peter Donald, signed by Jack 
Horn (Dale Productions) for six 
three-minute shorts, "Laugh-of- 
the-Day." 

Boh Edge, who telecasts Dodgers 
"— giKBea-Confers with Jack Dempsey 
re video "show-JKhich Edge plans 
producing. 

Jane Pickens to make her sym- 
phonic debut Aug. 27, as soloist 
with the Fairfield (Conn;) Sym- 
phony Orchestra. 

Sam Dembow, Jr., understood 
likely to he named sales rep for 
Jack Benny's Amusement Enter- 
prises, Inc., currently producing 

Edwin K. (Ned) Armstrong back 
on legit publicity beat after a sea- 
son on special assignment for Citi- 
zens Committee on Displaced Per- 
sons. 

Eddie and Ida Cantor detoiired 
into Paris from the Scandinavian 
countries after all. They get in 
today (Wed.) from two months 
abroad. 

Ken Englund commuting from 
NY to New Hampshire where Og- 
den Nash and Vernon Duke are 
working on their forthcoming 
musical. 

Mrs.- Micheline: Cheirel Lowe 
Loder, French film actress and 
former wife of John Loder, sailed 
for Paris yesterday (Tues.) on the 
De Grasse. 

Margo. Whiteman; Paul's 17-year- 
old daughter, making her profes- 
sional stage debut next week ^t 
Bucks County Playhouse, New 
Hope, Pa., in "The Gilded Cage." 

Toots Shor folded his eatery for 
three weeks, until early Septem- 
ber, pending the preem of his new' 
$400,000 addition, and many a 

• Broadwayite is jhomeless as result. 

Paul Laufer handling publicity 
' for United Artists in connection 
with , Dick Powell's personal at 
Broadway Capitol, with "Pitfall," 
in which he's starred, as the film.. 

Bullish display of Coca-Colas at 
ringside, for Morton Downey's 
debut at the Copa, explained by 
the large Coke management con- 
tingent which turned out for their 

• favorite thrush. 

The femme office help at the 
William Morris agency have had 
their collective morale lifted con- 
siderably since Sol Leon, of the 
radio dept., announced his engage- 
ment to his secretary, Lee Edwards. 

. Many midtown apartment houses 
will be self-seryice-elevatored. Con- 
versions now going on to eliminate 
the manual operators. With ren^ 
' tals frozen and mounting labor 
costs, the self-piloted lifts are the 
landlords' out for economies. 

• Welcome-home cocktailery to- 
morrow (Thurs.) at the Latin 
Quarter for Sophie Tucker who 
arrives the same morning on the 
Queen Elizabeth. She's been in i f or 0 ne-nighter 
Europe since spring, her first en- 1 



Col. Knight had been hospitalized I 
several months, due to war injuries. 

S. Jay Kaufman will stage his | 
seventh semi-annual show for the 
guests of the Actors Fund Home, 
Englewood, N. J., Sunday after- 
jnoon, Sept. 12. Participating in 
program 'will be John Alexander, 
of "Born Yesterday;" Guy Kibbee, 
Pat Harrington, Theresa Breuer, 
Alex Rotov. Don de Leo, Robert 
Toms, Florence Aquino, Barry i 



London 



McCollum, Eddie Weber and 
others. Walter Vincent, prez of the 
Fund, will chairman the affair. 



Lester Ferguson out of "Caris- 
sima" at the Palace for tonsilecto- 
my. Bruce Trent replacing. 

Dolly Haas coming to England to 
appear in the forthcoming musical, 
"Lute Song." She was popular for 
her film work here before the war. 

Joy Russell-Smith, producer of 
popular radio feature, "Varsity 



Las Vegas 



Norma Ballard, keyboarding the 
cocktail hour in Gay Nineties 
Room. 

El Rancho's new show: song- 
stress Pearl Bailey, Beatrice" Kraft 
Dancers, and Ben Beri. Bob Mil- 
lar's band a continual attraction 
here. 

The Little Theatre of Las Vegas 
opens fall season Sept. 14 with 
"Life with Father,"" starring Archie 
Twitchell, former Paramount 
standby. 

Rudy Kahr, formerly of the Troc, 
Ciro's, and the Mocambo, now 
maitre d' at Golden Nugget Res- 
taurant. He brought long-time as- 
sistant Henry Van Dyke with him. 

Oct 2-3 will see speedboats from 
all the waterways in the country 
competing in the. Lake Mead re- 
gatta on the desert sea close to 
Las Vegas, in America's 
playground. 

At the Flamingo: Archie Mayo 
and his missus; Mrs. Harry Brand, 
(the 20th-Cen's publicity chief) and 
their two children; Nancy Valen- 
tine, the model now beginning a 
film career; Fred Kohlmar, pro- 
ducer. 

At Hotel Last Frontier: Aug. 13 
opener for Wiere Bros., in Ramona 
Room. Also, Josephine -Premice, 
Anna Held-Haiti style; Coleman 
Clark returns with table tennis ex- 
hibition, Kathryn Duffy Dancers, 
and Dick Mulliner (held over). 

At the Rancho:: Ray Milland, 
back from fishing on Lake Mead, 
exchanging tall tales with Nimrod 
friends. Watching the show: :Eddie 
GaiT, the Eddie Mosses, Monte 
Hale, young cowpoke from Texas, 
who is ridin'the range for Holly- 
Westerns now. 

Harry Pilcer, old-time partner 
of the late Gaby Delys, a house 
guest of ' the Carville Jameses 
(Norma Talmadke). Pilcer is ad- 
visor on pic skedded to cover 
fabulous career of Gaby. His hos- 
tess, Norma, new part-owner of 
Del Mar racetrack. 

Club Bingo's new show features 
Paula Drake, direct from Bar of 
Music, Hollywood Buddy Worth 
orch here, with Carole (Bob 
Mitchum's sister) carrying the 
vocals. Dining at this gourmet 
spot: Cyd Charisse and Tony Mar- 
tin (still newlyweds) Joan Haymes, 
Joe Pasternak, Cornel Wilde and 
Wjfe Pat. 

Celebrated here: r9th wedding 
anni of Morris and Elizabeth Goff 
("Abner" of Lumn' Abner network 
show), hosted by spa's vice-prexy 
and his wife, Bill and Pat Moore, 
Guests included Goff's partner, 
Chet Lauck, and his wife Harriet, 
in from. their nearby Bar-Nothing 
Ranch, under the scarlet cliffs of 
Red Rock Canyon. 



Bandbox," made her farewell 
broadcast Aug. 8, having retired on 
doctor's orders. 

Dover's only vaude house, the 
Royal Hippodrome, badly blitzed 
in the war and famed as an enter- 
tainment hall for troops during the 
last two wars, closed down Aug. 12 
and is to be demolished. 

Binnie Hale in University Col- 
lege Hospital, London, recuperat- 
ing from internal operation. Her 
roles in the revue, "Four, Five, 
Six," at the Duke of York's, are 
being played by Maude Long. 

Theatrical colony threw a fare- 
well party to Sophie Tucker at Al- 
bany Club Aug. 12, with clusters of 
stars doing her honor. Soph has 
collected over $20,000 for her pet 
charities since her advent here in 
May. ' 

David Niven and his family on 
vacation here before star goes to 
France for exterior shots in his 
new film for Archers, "The Elusive 
Pimpernel." Local scenes have al- 
. ready started at Marlborough; then 
newest the unit crosses the channel to es- 
tablish a main base at Tours. 

London and District Cinemas, 
Ltd., small circuit owning six pic- 
ture theatres, and allied to Sidney 
Bernstein's Granada group, made a 
profit for the year ended Jan. 31 
last of $17,352. Company is paying 
a dividend of 5% on $160,000 ordi- 
nary stock at a cost of $4,400. 



Philadelphia 



now 



By Jerry Gash an 

Motion Picture Associates 
taking bookers into its member- 
ship. 

Morris Felt, is said to be slated 
for post on Pennsylvania Board of 
Censors. 

Hal Warner, manager of the 
Benson theatre, is in hospital with 
back ailment. 

Ed Sullivan, N. Y. Daily News 
Columnist, acted as a judge in the 
"Miss Greater Philadelphia" con- 
test. 

Lewen Pizor, local head UMPTO, 
enlisting exhibitor cooperation in 
"Youth Week". Scheduled for 
next month. 

Maxie Kendrick, songplugger 
for Harms • Music, will petition 
Common Pleas Court' here to 
legalize tag. Right handle is Med- 
nick. 



Cushing, an apprentice at Stock- 
bridge Playhouse this summer. 

Broadwayites seeing "Seven Keys 
to Baldpate" this week: Tallulah 
Bankhead, Maurice Evans, Made- 1 
line Cameron, Claiborne Foster, I 
John Dall, Elmer Rice, Herbert 
Fields. Dorothy Fields, Joshua 
Logan, Nedda Harrigan, Nicholas 
Schenck. 



Hollywood 



Atlantic City 

Jackie Miles into the 500 C*afe. 

Barton Bros. (Joe and Paul) back 
at Ciiquot Club. 

Buddy Greco Trio at the Penn- 
Atlantic Hotel's Riptide Room. 

Mary Osborne Trio at Hialeah 
Club with Jose Pillado orchestra. 

Frances Faye into the Bath and 
Turf on Friday, replacing Mindy 
Carson. 

Jose Melis orchestra drawing 
crowds at the Traymore Submarine 
Lounge. 

Gertrude Berg and Philip Loeb 
co-starring in "Me and Molly" at 
Auditorium theatre. 

Georgie Price headlining Steel 
Pier bill, with Tommy Dorsey's 
band in the Ballroom. 

Paul Henreid and Audrey Long 
to make personals at Hollywood 
theatre with preem of "Hollow 
Triumph," Friday (20). 

Mills Bros, closing Thursday 
after two weeks at Orsatti's Casino, 
Somers Point, with Cab Calloway 
opening Friday. Louis Prima fol- 
lows on Aug. 27. 



Lisbon 



By Les Rees 

Anne Bollinger of Metopera here 
for concert. 

Tex Beneke into Prom Ballroom 



gagements there in 12 years. 

Harry Kurnitz, WB producer, in 
from Hollywood for 10 days before 
heading for London. "My trip is 
strictly educational,", the WB pro- 
ducer writes, "just to the museums 
and libraries; of course if I get 
into a museum while they are 
having a party I'm not gonna fight 
the fates ■ 

Ted (WHN) Husing clippered in 
from London and the Olympics last 
Wednesday (11) "and went directly 
from LaGuardia Airport to his 
10 a.m. disk jockey stint as if noth- 
ing happened. In his absence 
abroad, guest-jocks like Ed Sulli- 
van, Russ Morgan, Jo' Stafford, 
et al., pinch-hit. • 

Car3 Erbe, partnered with the 
News' Dave Charnay in Allied Syn- 
dicates, Inc., public relations firm 
for big industries, staged a "Cities 
Rights" Convention at 21 on Mon- 
day (16) to secure for Hollywood a 
postmark of its own. The film col- 
ony, of course, is still a sector only 
within the pity of Los Angeles. 

Col. Ed Knight, longtime aide 
to Clay Morgan in the old French 
Line days, before latter shifted 
to NBC as assistant to prexy Niles 
Trammell, out of Walter Reed 
hospital and back with the steam- 
ship line in charge of publicity. 



Edyth Bush Little Theatre pre- 
senting "The Barker." 

Plantation strawhatter present- 
ing "A Working Girl's Secret." 

Minnesota State Fair this year to 
have four days of auto racing. 
Roller Derby, at Auditorium foF b " g F »* ?, Uin ° ls S t tate Fa "' 



Chicago 

Theatre Owners of America's an- 
nual convention here Sept. 24-25. 

Ann Marsters, Chi Herald-Ameri- 
can film critic, off on Paris holiday. 

Dave Rose, composer, took in 
Railroad Fair while visiting family. 

Marie McDonald joins Danny 
Thomas for his stintat the Chicago 
theatre Sept. 3. 

Leo Salkin, William Morris 
agent, celebrates 40th anni in show 
biz along with 55th birthday. 

Jack Kirsch, head of Allied The- 
atres, urging theatres to back up 
National Youth Month, set for Sep- 
tember. 

Buff Cobb, recently with Tallu- 
lah Bankhead in "Private Lives," 
guesting on NBC's "Curtain Time" 
Aug. 28. 

Lois June Nettleton goes to At- 
lantic City as "Miss Chicago," after 
snagging title at Oriental theatre 
last week. 

Chris G. Janus, Chicago exporter 
and owner of Hitler's Mercedes- 
Benz auto, planning to exhibit 



First air-conditioned system in- 
stalled in Lisbon is now in the 
Politeama. 

"Crossfire" (RKO) a flop in 
Portugal, where racial pr religion 
problems don't sell., 

Odeon, firstrun house, is now on 
reissue fare at reduced prices, 
owing to lack of material. 

Trio Carioca, Brazilian singers 
from Walt Disney's "Saludos 
Amigos," on stage-show at Poli- 
teama. 

Lisboa Films took lease for eight 
years on three film theatres in 
Porto, one of them the recently 
opened, ultra-modern Batalha. 

Coliseu, 3,000-seater, now being 
redecorated, will open in Septem- 
ber and continue up to March with 
circuses, followed by Italian opera 
and then filfn shows. 

Trindade 1 and Ginasio, firstrun 
houses, reverted to strawhat policy 
for" four months, in accordance 
with their licenses, to support 
Portuguese comedians. 

Avenida, legit house, still con- 
tinues with the Brazilian Company, 
"Eva and Her Artists," Eva Todor 
in the leading roles. Her husband, 
Luis Inglezias, writes the plays. 



I month, drawing capacity houses. 

St. Paul Civic Opera Co. to offer 
"The Telephone" on double bill 
with "Pagliacci." 

Sally Rand and her fan dancers 
set for Minnesota State Fair's mid- 
way Aug. 28-Sept. 6. 

More than $75,000 of food give- 
aways promised at National Food 
Show at Auditorium Sept. 11-18. 

WTCN-FM installing its tele- 
vision pole preparatory to compet- 
ing with KSTP television in opera- 
tion the past six months. 

Virginia Safford, one of local 
newspan tr people in Old Log straw- 
hatter woductlon of ""The Front 
Page," at one time played leads in 
stock here. 

Present state administration's 
ban on gaming devices has cut 
down federal slot machine tax re- 
ceipts from 1948-47 high of $858,- 
000 to $48,600 covering 213 ma- 
chines in state, 167 of them in 
Minneapolis, for 19|7-48. .• 



Marshall Grant, producer of 
"Moonrise," in Chicago conferring 
with backers of Marshall Grant 
Productions. Firm's second movie 
slated to be "The Story of Damon 
Runyon." 



Westport, Conn. 

By Humphrey Doulens 
Paul Draper holidaying at Ridge- 
fleld. 

Leo Miller and family are in 
Cuba. 

Margharita Tirindelli here for 
vacash. 

Cheryl Crawford has bought a 
place at New Canaan. 

Chloe Elmo, Metopera contralto, 
visiting the Dario Sorias (Dorle 
Jarmel). 

Theatre Guild entry, "The Silver 
Whistle," closing Country Play- 
house week of Aug. 30. 



Cleveland 

By Glenn C. Pullen 

Gracie Barrie, int# Mounds Club 
for fortnight. 

Pittsburgh interests dickering 
for Golden Dragon Cafe, owned by 
Tong Y. Chin. 

Loew's chain shifted State and 
Stillman sked from Thursday to 
Friday openings. 

Reported that Bandmaster Sam- 
my Kaye is considering Don James, 
local crooner still under contract 
to Sammy Watkins. 

Don Yarnell, ex-actor, resigned 
from WHK publicity staff which is 
being merged with promotion de- 
partment headed by Paul Bairstow, 
with Bill Sprague as assistant. 

Bandleader Hy Baron had to call 
off honeymoon trip with bride 
when Shondir Birns decided to 
use his unit as well as Joe Di- 
Lalla's Tune-Toppers at Alham'bra 
Club. 

Stuart Lancaster, new technical 
director of Lakewood repertory 
company, opening 18th season 
Sept. 15 with "I Remember Mama." 
Replaces Fred Keiffer, who re- 
signed. 



Janis Carter back from' Europe. 
Bob Sill underwent minor sur- 
gery. 

Hedy Lamarr relaxing at Lake 
Tahoe. 

Kenneth MacKennas celebrated 
their 10 anni. 

Errol Flynn back after a three 
month schooner trip. 

Jan Peerce boarded the Lurline 
<or Honolulu and a series of con- 
certs. 

Jimmy Stewart left for Akron 
to do the honors at the Soap Box 
Derby. 

Irving Cooper, iormer Chi exhib, 
now a dialog director at Para- 
mount. ' 

Zachary Scott headed south to 
see how they're biting off La Paz, 
Mexico. 

George Howard and Jack Walk- 
lin prepping a new legit revue, 
"Music Sends Me." 

Ronnie Ames handling publicity 
for Earl Carroll hitery under di- 
rection of Harry Long. 

Frank McFadden, veteran of 12* 
years in the UI Hackery, named as- 
sistant to John Josephs. 

Jackie Green and Carl Aultman 
reopening the old Blackhawk Cafe 
as Jackie Green's Club.' 

Una Mortished, Barry Fitzger- 
ald's niece, went back to Dublin 
to resume her career with the Ab- 
bey Players. 

Rube Wolf due back from Europe 
with his son Wally Wolf, member 
of the winning USA 800-meter 
relay swim team. 

Jean Dalrymple here to huddle 
with Dan Taradash on American 
adaptation of Jean-Paul Sartre's ' 
"Les Mains Sales." 

John Farrow will direct the pre- 
miere of Ringling Bros, Barnum S.- 
Bailey Circus for the benefit of 
St. John's Hospital. 

Diana Lynn broke her arm in a 
bathtub fall while strawhatting at 
LaJolla and had to cancel out of 
"The Green Promise." « 

Theodora Lynch forced to bow 
out of "The Vagabond King" pro- 
duction at the Starlight theatre in 
Dallas due to sacroiliac trouble. 

Robert Siodmak has been on a 
bicycle directing films between 
Universal and 20th-Fox and now 
set for Gootfried Reinhart's pro- 
duction of Dostoievsky's "The 
Gambler." • 

E. A. "Pat" Patterson heading 
out on swing through Northwest 
to gander possible theatre buys 
after resigning as UI column and 
trade press planter after five years. 

Cecil B. DeMille celebrated 67th 
birthday last week and" his 46th' 
wedding anni Monday. He's been 
in town 35 years and is currently 
working on his 68th film, "Samson 
and Delilah." 

Henry Nemo and Will Jason 
completed lyrics and music* for 
"Aurora Borealis," Billy Gilbert's 
new musicomedy and rotund comic 
expects to finish the book within 
three weeks. 

The George (Par) Browns' boy, 
Bobby, doing postgraduate work in 
Chicago, motoring here after Labor 
Day for brief visit before he and 
his new bride go to University of 
London, where they have been in- 
vited to deliver series of lectures 
on anthropology and related sub- 
jects. They'll be gone about a year. 



New Haven 



By Harold M. Bone 

Savin Rock park having a so-so 
season. 

Local interests mulling outdoor 
musicals for next season. 

Harry Feldman readying Shubert 
for seasonal opening Aug. 26. 

Conductor Harry Berman vaca- 
tioning from Yale Bowl concert 
series. 

Poli manager Morris Rosenthal 
back on the job after a month's 
holiday. 

Burt Shevelove, directing preem 
of "Small Wonder" here, back to 
scene of former Yale drama activ- 
ities. 

Albert Kay and Edward Dudley 
pulmotored their Clinton Playhouse 



Antonia Cushing, daughter of I concert-ballet series after threaten 
Edward Cushing and Mary Watkins l ed shutdown. 



Pittsburgh 

By Hal Cohen 

Sylvia Walters, singing guitarist, 
on the mend after undergoing sur- 
gery. 

Throat ailment forced Ollie 
O'Tolle to cancel second week at 
the Copa. 

Eddie Brennan, Post-Gazette re- 
porter, and Mary Rose honeymoon- 
ing on Cape Cod. 

Keith Lundy playing leads this 
summer with Madge Skelly's As- 
pen, Colo., Players. 

Phyllis Bateman, who was in 
"Song of Norway," marrying James 
J. Kesler on Coast Friday (20). 

Jerry Jedd, recent graduate of 
Tech drama" school, playing Ophe- 
lia in Barter Theatre's "Hamlet." 

James Jamieson, of "Oklahoma!" 
and- "Brigadoon," here participat- 
ing in . annual Scottish -Clans'" 
games. 

Mike Shapiro, indie theatre cir- 
cuit operator, okay after treating 
stomach ailment at Montefiore 
hospital. „ 

Peg and Jerry Manning back 
after working Detroit niteries four 
years, and plan to open their own 
spot here. 

Bandleader Sande Williams came 
on to visit his 82-year-old mother 
following run at Shoreham in 
Washington. 

Shirley Eckl, local ballerina who 
quit the Ballet Theatre a year ago 
to enroll as a student at the Uni- 
versity of Pittsburgh, has decided 
against continuing her studies, and 
will return to the stage this season. 



Wednesday, August 18, 1943 




47 



charitable organizations and hos- 
pitals. 



MAY DE SOUSA I merstein, legit producer. Her 

May de Sousa, 66, who had been I mother, Jean Hammerstein, divor- 
a musicomedy star on Broadway"* 1 her father in MUOv He subse 



and in London, died penniless and 
friendless in a rooming house in 
Chicago, Aug. 10. Police reports 
attributed death to malnutrition. 
Neighbors said sbe had tried to 
eke out a meagre existence as a 
charwoman until she developed 
arthritis and could no longer work. 
She was too proud to apply for 
Home Relief. Listed under her 
marriage name of Mrs. May O'Hara 
at the Cook County morgue, her 
remains were about to be sent to -a 
pauper's grave. However, Jack 
Irving, Chi director of American 
Guild df Variety Artists, made in 



quently married Dorothy Dalton, 
screen star. 

Prior -to her marriage to Kays in 
1913, she had appeared in several 
productions of her father after de- 
buting in his musical, "High 
Jinks." She later went to Holly- 
wood where she was subsequently 
featured or starred in a series of 
motion pictures, including "The 
Argyle Case," "The Mad Lover," 
"Drums of Jeopardy," "Greater 
Than Fame" and "Broadway Gold." | Aug 3 

Rnn rawrr The Scotts operated 

» x> BOB u a nickleodcon in 

Bob Barre, who had managed 



■ EMERY N. DOWNS 
Emery N-. Downs, veteran thea- 
tre manager who reputedly gave 
the musical Spitalnys their start in 
show business, died in Cleveland, 

from Brook7y h n: n N. h Y..To V o d pen h fh r e ^'^S^^ 
Knickerbocker theatre in 1912, he ln S to American aims 



or English woolens or Austin 
cars? "Because the proprietors of 
those businesses aren't collaborat- 
ing with the boyeotters as the film 
distributors are. 'they think that 
by encouraging the boycott they 
will exert pressure on the British 
Board of Trade to ease up on the 



organized a semi-symphonic pit 
orchestra with Phil, Leopold and 
Maurice Spitalny as its key men. 
They later organized bands of their 
own. Surviving are his wife and 
two brothers. 

MRS. THOMAS S. SCOTT 

Mrs. Thomas S. Seott, 75, who 
with her husband pioneered- in mo- 
tion picture field in Jacksonville, 
111., died at her home there 



the first 
Jacksonville and 
later ponstructcd the Scott, a mod- 
ern house. Their activities also 
included operation of the Grand, 
now a unit of the Fox Midwest cir- 
cuit. Her husband survives. 



vestigation and after establishing vaude units and roadshows ' for 
her real identity, provided funds Harry Howard, producer, died in 
for burial. Friends that knew her J Australia, Aug. 8, succumbing to 
■were completely shocked at her | spinal mengitis, according to word 
plight, many claiming they would j received by friends in New York, 
have gladly come to her assistance j After having been associated 
had they known of her poverty and : with Howard for some 20 years, he 
illness. • went to Australia several years ago 

At the age of 13 Miss de Sousa j to produce "Stardusters," "Fine 
was the toast of the turbulent Chi- 
cago Tenderloin district, singing a 
nonsensical ballad called "Dear i circuit there 

Midnight of Love," which had been ' Although -burial was in Australia, 
written by Alderman John Cough- j Sibyl Bowan, actress-friend of 
lin. known as Bathhouse John. She ! Barre, has arranged for a memorial 
went into vaudeville while still j mass in the Actor's chapel of St. 
young, and was still in her teens \ Malachy's R. C. Church on Aug. 
when she came to New York to 23 at 9 a.m. 

join Richard Carle in "The Ten-j 

derfoot." BERT PRAGER 

She sang in "A Chinese Honey- Bert Prager. 36, veepee of James . nhi«' C iiiPd"tnWp ^Aiip' 'jTattne^a 



HAL BRYAN 

Hal Bryan, 66, British music hall 
star, died in London. Aug. 14. 
Brvan gave up comedy role in 
i : torWA-"^^«r^^«i?'tonSBn production of "Annie Get 
!?L..? t a ?< ?.„ Mart,n 0f the riV0h Your Gun" in June because of poor 



moon," "Babes in Toyland," "The 
Land of.Nod" and "The Wizard o£ 
Oz." Later she went to England. 
. Her success in England, and 
later on the Continent, far out- 
measured her success in America. , 

and she became a favorite of ; mercial writer, and was with N. Y. ; 



our Uun " in June oecause 01 poor 
health. In addition to his London 
successes, he also appeared in the 
U. S. in 1929 in "The Fortune 
Teller" and other plays. He also 
made several tours of Canada. 

HERBERT C. KNELLER 

I Herbert C. Kneller, 50, manager 
of the Broad theatre, Lancaster 
1 Ohio, died there Aug. 9 after a 
« Ta en t Agency, died u 1 U ^ ^ Active in Ohio film 

I h» il£c hi theatre operations for 34 years, lie 
' i 111 ZJt 1a 1 IX™%& i formerly had managed Palace and 
„ fi m S brother, , Lyric t £ eatres in Lancaster. 

PweeV stalled in radio as com- ' Survived by wife, daughter, par- 
i-iager staged, in radio as com-. ents _ brothpr and sister 



It is obvious what's happening," 
Helprin added, "from the fact that 
the picketing and boycott has de- 
veloped strength only since the 
45% quota was enacted. Why 
wasn't there picketing before?" 

[Liquor stores, British ' leather 
goods places, etc., have' been- wide- 
I ly boycotted, tooj 

Fact that only British-owned 
films are being boycotted, while* 
such pix as "Escape," made by 
20th-Fox in England, are allowed 
to play unmolested, was also 
scored by the Korda exec. He 
declared that Britain «nd British 
workers had profited by the pro-, 
duction of such films in England 
and it was ah evidence of "col- 
laboration," with the Sons of Lib- 
erty that they were,, not being 
picketed. . 

Aside from the financial damage 
being done to Britisl* producers by 
not having their pictures played 
here, Helprin declared that can- 
cellation of ptaydates was damag- 
ing to the prestige of the English 
filmmakers. 



had netted the Met $1,057,679.0». 
Of that, $500,000 was used as cash 
down-payment to the boxholders. 
(Thereat made up the Met's deficits 
of the- next two seasons.) 

The Guaranty Trust Co. gawe a 
first mortgage of $470,000 on the 
building. The boxholders* who got 
$500,000 cash, also get second 
mortgage bonds for an additional 
$1,000,000. 

In 1947 the property carried a 
book value of $2,000,000 ($1,970,000 
for the house; $30,000 foe the ware- 
house). Today the actual value of 
the -property is believed to.be much 
greater, and being in the eenter- „ 
city business district, in the -active- 
garnient center, is. highly desirable , 
real --estate; Were tine building sold, 
aad the opera, company moved to 
more- practical quarters - elsewhere, 
the landholders would stand to 
make a neat. profit. 

Bondholders have gone along 
with the setup since 1940, with 
one exception. Some- time ago <the 
estate of Elbert Gerry wanted to be 
paid off in cash- and bronght suit, 
which was settled. - - • ■ • 




IN MEMORY OF 

BOB BARRE 

— Departed August 8th in Melbourne, Australia 

"Death's but an open door, ice move from room to 
room. 

"Life is eternity, There is no death." 



Memorial Mast at 
Sh Malachy's Chapel, 
9:00 A.M.. August 23. 



From his old friend, 
SIBYL BOWAN 



ISABEL PITT LEWIS 

j Isabel Pitt Lewis, 82, retired 
] legit actress, died in New York, 
j Aug. 5. She last ■ appeared 
I in "Passion Play" at the Hip- 
podrome hi 1929, and prior to that 
had appeared in stock companies 
and in vaudeville. 
Survived by three brothers. 



Brit. MP Raps Boycott 

"Crass stupidity" was the reac- 
tion last- week of Tom O'Brien, 
Member of Parliament and gen- 
ial secretary of the National 
\ssn. of Kinematograph Em- 
)loyees, to a boycott of British 
ilms in the U.S. instituted by the 
Sons of Liberty, and other pro- 
Zionist organizations. "While I 
fully appreciate the feelings by the 
American groups," he said, "it is 
;,n unintelligent attitude to take 
however, they feel about British 
policy." 

O'Brien, who arrived in the VJ. S. 
to attend the current Cleveland- 
convention o£ 



Coast. Life mag did a spread on 
him several weeks ago. 

Snootier does all his street and 
radio, television (worked "We, 
The People" show Tuesday (10) 
in N. Y. > in a full-bead mask, plus 
a carmine-lined cape. In signing 
the Victor pact, he refused to do 
anything- but thumbprint the deal. 
Ttourke guarantees the American 
Federation tjt Radio Artists that 
the- guy is: * AFRA member, but 
wont give- bis name. 

Whether Victor intends to record 
him: immediately or wait until 
after the disk ban is uncertain. 



MARRIAGES 



Hollywood producers would find it 
infinitely more damaging. 



theatregoers of a dozen nations. 

Her successes in England in- 
cluded "Cinderella," "The Geisha," 
"The Girls of Gultenberg," "Ha- 
vana," "The Girl on the Train," 
"The Count of Luxembourg," 
"Peggy" and "Arms and the 
Girl." She played leads at 
London's Drury Lane Theatre for 
several seasons, and often sang at 
the Moulin Rouge, Paris, and 
the Winter Garden, Berlin. She 
played in "Lieber Augustin" with 
De Wolf Hopper. 

Her first marriage, to Eaton 
Arthur Haines, ended in divorce in 
1914, and in 1918, on another of 
her world tours, she met William 
O'Hara, an Australian surgeon. 
They were married, and Miss de 
Sousa retired from the stage. 

She and her husband moved to I 



agencies of Donahue & Coe, Ben- 
ton & Bowles, Foote. Cone & Beld- 
ing, for a time. He later branched 
into production and came to Holly- 
wood to direct Jack Carson's show, 
then under Campbell Soup spon- 
sorship, for FCB. He also handled 
Sam Jafle for radio before joining 
Saphier. His last production chore 
was at helm of "Corliss Archer" 
program, which he handled in ad- 
dition to agenting duties. 



JAMES T. MACK 

James T. Mack, 77, character 
actor, died in Hollywood, Aug. 12. 
Born in Chicago, he started his 
stage career in Gilbert & Sullivan 
operettas. 

Leaves wife ancLjiaughter. 

SANTO P. ROMAN 
Santo P. Roman, 62, former own- 
er and operator of the Grand, 
Benld, 111., died in Litchfield, HI., 
July 29. He retired from exhibi- 
tion field 10 years ago. His widow - the building was not for sale and 



Virginia LaMendola to Theodore 
ih« 'T^SS Gee, Donora, Pa., Aug. 2. He man- 
tle International ! Princess theatre there 
Alliance of Theatrical Stage - Em^ I ag l s * "ncess tneatre mere, 
ployees, minimized the- need of Rosalind Kharfen to Dr. Zola 
the Brituh industry for the Amer- ' Alpert, Pittsburgh, Aug. 5. Bride 
ican market and emphasized that > Nancy Dixon on KQV, Pitt, 
were a similar boycott imposed in Elizabeth ' M. Barke to Paul 
Britain against American, pictures [Myers, New York, Aug. 14. He's 



Met Op Talks 

; Continued from pace 1 ; 



survives. 



FRANK HETTERICK 
Frank Hetterick, 64, actor and 
stage director, died in New York;. 
Aug. 14. Funeral service will be" 
held today (Wed.) at 10 a. m. at 
Campbell's Funeral Chapel, N. Y. 



EVERETT HAYES 
Everett Hayes, 71 , former Owner 
of the Grand. Sullivan, 111., and in 
recent years exec, secretary of the 
Sullivan Chamber of Commerce 
died July 29 at International Falls, 
Minn. 



FRANKLIN. D. MILLER 
Franklin Delano Miller, 60, of 
Warner Bros, electrical dept. for 
23 years, died Aug. 9 in Van Nuys, 
Cal, His- wife survives. • 



Father of Charles Schlaifer, 
publicity-ad chief of 20th-Fox, 



Hetterick had appeared in and 
directed dramatic stock companies 
Shanghai7where1irdu2d" , m V \VL I over a period of. years until that j died in Omaha. Aug. 4. In addition 
Twice^ taken as a prisoner by the I lo !'. m o£ s j?. ow business gave way to to son, he is survived by his wife 
Japanese during World War II, 
she- was repatriated in 1943 and 
returned to Chicago, alone, penni- 
less, and unrecognized. She got a 
job as scrubwoman in the public 
schools. 



EDWIN MAXWELL 

Edwin Maxwell, 62, character ac- 
tor and former director of the 
N. Y. Theatre Guild's repertory 
company, died suddenly of a cere- 
bral hemorrhage at the Tangle- 
wood Summer theatre in Falmouth, 
Mass., following, a rehearsal for a 
play in which he was to play the 
lead. 

Born in Dublin, he came to the 
V. S. at the age of six and appeared 
as a child in "A Village Case" and 
other plays of the era. Later he 
appeared in the "Potash and Perl- 
mutter" plays, and directed and 
acted in "The Donovan Affair," 
"The Jazz Singer" and many 
others, also engaging in play doc- 
toring and production. He went 
to -Hollywood 16 years ago, since 
appearing in more -than 150 films. 
For the past 10 years he has been 
an associate director with Cecil B. 
DeMille. , His wife died last year. 



ELAINE HAMMERSTEIN 

Elaine Hammerstein, 50, former 
musicomedy actress and film star, 
who in private life was Mrs. James 
Walter Kays, died in Tiajuana, 
Mexico, Aug. 13, as a result of an 
automobile collision. Her husband 
also was killed in the crash. She 
was the daughter of Arthur Ham- 



talking films. He subsequently 
appeared in Broadway and touring 
legits, including "If Booth Had 
Missed," ."Blow Ye Winds" and 
"Killers." Later he managed the- 
atres in Omaha and Winnipeg, 
Canada. 



WILLIAM A. HURD 

William A. Hurd, 48, director of 
media and research in the New 
York office of J. Walter Thomp- 
son ad agency, died of a heart ail- 
ment at his home in New Rochelle, 
N. Y., Aug. 10. Prior to joining 
JWT, he had been a director of re- 
search for the McGraw-Hill Co., 
Liberty and Newsweek magazines. 
He wrote extensively on media re- 
search. He had been president, 
vice-president and treasurer of the 
New York- chapter of the Ameri- 
can Marketing Association. 

Surviving, are his wife, a son, 
his mother, and a sister. 



and four other sons. 

. Nelson Galbvaith, 4*4, a music 
cutter at 20th-Fox for the last 15, ballet 
years, died in Seattle, Aug. 9, y/hile ' 
on vacation. 

His wife- and a sister survive. 



wasn't a factor in bringing about 
the present opera crisis. 

Sloan also advised the unions 
that he- would take- up with' the 
Met's board, at yesterday's- ses- 
sion, the matter of social security 
which the musicians had sought. 
In turn the musicians, as well as 
the other unions, said that if social 
security wasn't practical, they 
hoped at least to get a. full season 
of employment this year despite a 
late start. 

Various rumors continued to Ay 
this week. Although it was an- 
nounced that the Met had notified 
all of its employees of cancellation 
of the '48-49 season, it's reliably 
reported, for instance, that depart- 
ment heads (such as carpenters), as 
well as conductor Emit Cooper, 
stage director Herbert Graf and 
master Boris Romanoff, 



among others, hadn't received 
notices of cancellation. 
Talk persisted that a certain seg- 

• ment of directors-stockholders was 
Father of Dorothy Ritko. seere- i„t~- a <, { -A ;„ .i,„ l„ 1U :„„ 

tary to sales department of WWSW I ,n Se i lmg ^ h ,T btMld, " g 
in Pittsburgh, died at his home in : £*? us « lt was fl ." an £ M "* unprof " 
that city Aug 9 stable to run,, while doubt was ex- 

__I j pressed elsewhere that they could 

Mother, 83, of Rosalie, Lee and! b< : in position to sell even ii they 



Stuart Stewart, Hollywood agents, 
died in Hollywood, July 31 



LOUIS ISAACS 

Louis Isaacs, 59, veteran in mo-' 
tion picture industry and a past ! 



wished. 

Shareholders Carried Brunt 

When the Metropolitan Opera & 
Father of Reis Bros., vaude and j Beal Estate Co., Inc., was incor- 
nitery act, died in New York, Aug. j porated in 1883, the original share- 
13. [holders who put up the money to 

, I build the house each got a box for 

Wife, 34-, of photographer Leo all performances. The Metropolitan 
Tover, died in Hollywood, Aug. 10. {Opera Co., the producing organiza- 
tion, put on the operas; never paid 
j rent; received all the boxoffice 
.receipts (which were insufficient 
.for operation), and shareholders 
j made up the rest. 

Shareholders were assessed 



Korda Rep Rails 



Continued from page- 1 



president of the -Mystic 52 organiza- i f P f in tne R minds of ra « ut ,^« " f i * ear * or de , ficit f> Seattle Aiie 4 Father is radio 

tion of magicians, died after a heart ? American film companies," Hel- 1 repairs, etc. The real estate com- Seattle, Aug ; 4^ J* ™ 10 



an author and. assistant. curator of 
N. Y. Public Library's Theatre 
Collection. 

Joan Lorisfa to Sid Brokaw. Hol- 
lywood,. Aug, 14. He's, with Eagle 
Lion music department. 4 

Phyllis Ana Pearson to WaBaee 
Dale MacDonald, Salt Lake City, 
Aug. 19. He's son of Karl MacDon- 
ald. veepee, of Warner Bros. Inter- 
national, in chares of sales for 
Latin America. 

' Winnie Lightner to Soy Del 
Roth, Hollywood, Aug. 14. Bride is 
former vaude and mnesieomedy 
star; he's the film director and pro- 
ducer. 1 -: : 
Karen Gay lor to Dom MeGnire, 
Hollywood; Aug. 16i Both are film 
players. 



BIRTHS 

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Berkowitz, 
daughter. Hollywood, Aug.- ». Fath- 
er in Eagle- Lion legal department. 

Mr. and Mrs. Russell Cutler, sen, 
Santa Monica, Aug. 10. Father and 
mother, former Marguerite Burns, 
are, film thesps. 

Mr. and Mrs. Art Pallas, daugh- 
ter, Pittsburgh, Aug. ». Father's 
a WWSW disk jockey. 

Mr. and Mrs. Max: Silverman, 
daughter, Pittsburgh; Aug. 8.-. Fa- 
ther manages Kenyon theatre for 
Warners in that city. ) 

Mr. and Mrs. Gene King, daugh- 
ter, Aug. 7. Father is program 
director of WCOP, Hub's ABC out- 
let. 

Mr. and Mrs. James E. Benton, 
twin sons. Saratoga Springs. N. Y., 
Aug. 8. Father is associated with 
his dad in operating, Benton Thea- 
tres chain. 

Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Cbernin, 
son, New York. July 29. Father is 
theatrical accountant. 

Mr. and Mrs. Barry Kramer, son, 
New York, recent iy. Father Is 
photographer for flack firm and 
music publishers. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Fleischer, 
daughter. New York, August. 12. 
Father is in the contract dept. of 
William Morris- agency. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Ferris, son, 



aUa'ck'arhis home'^nlWsburgh" t P5 iB dee, f5^- " Tn , ey ar « creating ! pany lost money continually the 
July 30. A brother, Leo Isaacs, was I the boycott themselves, through en- jMet running behind except for a. 
a Columbia salesman in Pitt for I couraging the so-called Sons of j few years when Gatti-Casazza. as 
five years up until a couple of Liberty by their timorous accept- • manager, built up an operating 
weeks ago. • ance of its threats. It is all just j surplus. In 1940 the shareholders 

Louis and Leo Isaacs owned and an excuse for retaliation, perhaps j decided to unload 

operated a commercial - industrial subconscious, agtmst the British ] House was sold in 1940 to the ; former Jinx Falkenhurg, currently 
film laboratory for a score of years, . Si™ industry. inew non-profit organization, the] teamed with husband on "Hr- 

but Louis was chiefly known- for "Why aren't the pickets in front Metropolitan Opera Assn.. for SI.- I Jinx" and "Tex and Jinx" radio 
his magic show entertainments' at of stores ' selling ' Scotch whiskey 500,000. A radio drive that year shows. 



reporter for KJR in that eity. 

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Luther, son. 
New York, Aug, 11. Parents- head 
own radio show on WNBC. 

Mr. and Mrs. John Reagan (Tex) 
MeCrary, son (their second). New 
iYork, Aug; 13. Mother is the 




Wednesday, August 18, 1948 



really bre^jL . 



AND THAT MEANS ALL 



"» 9 




* 




RADIO 



VIDEO 





-3& 

l 

3 




r»l)liah«<J Weekly at 1G4 West 46th Street, New Toilc 19, Ni Y„ by Variety," Inc. Annua] subscription, J10. SinKle Conies. 25 cents, 
wintered as second cl«»s matter Beceniber 22, 1906, at the Post Office at Now Yorlc, N. Y., under the act ot March 3, »;». 
COPIKIOHX, 1948, MX VAKIEIV, ISC. All KIGHTS RKgEUVHO 



VOL. 171 No. 12 



NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1948 



PRICE 25 0EN3PS 



H'WOOD SOUR ON COSTLY LEGITS 

— -4 +- < — ; — , — ; • x , ■ Mm ■ '. 1 .1 n 1 . 1 . ? ■ -„ . , . " 

Coming Election, British So- What 
Held Key to AFM Losing Disk Grip 



American Federation of Musi-+- 
cians is fast losing control of the 
recording situation (many record- 
ing execs firmly believe the union 
is already on the defensive), and 
it's very likely that the next few 
weeks will see a break in the im- 
passe. Two things may cause the 
AFM to throw in the sponge (1) 
the approaching election, and (2) 
the consistent refusal of the' Brit- 
ish musicians union to. back up the 
AFM's ban, as it did during the 
previous strike. Britain is hungry 
for U. S. dollars and apparently 
will continue filling orders, by U. S. 
manufacturers for musical back- 
grounds as long as the latter re- 
quire them. 

Meanwhile, major U. S. record- 
ing companies finally have joined 
the minors in making recordings in 
this country using AFM musicians. 
While it's being flatly denied by 
the top companies, disks have been 
made by some of them (RCA-Victor 
is the only exception) during the 
past week or 10 days. Those' re- 
cording are the firms that were 
on the verge of doing so a few 
(Continued on page 53) 



No Showmanship 
To NX City Expo 

New York City's Golden Anni- 
versary Exposition at Grand Cen- 
tral Palace is loaded with the civic 
"virtues — but little else. Apparently 
the city fathers, who vetoed the 
idea of turning swank Park avenue 
into a spectacular midway for the 
celebration, decided to tell the 1 
story of the -world's richest city on 
a shoestring, The string is show- 
ing, too. 

" Bff contrast, this exposition re- 
calls New York's great splash on 
the Flushing Meadows for the 
1939-40 World's Fair. The differ- 
ence between the two spells one 
word— showmanship. Or, rather, 
the lack of it. Where the fair had 
(Continued on page 55) 



Open-End Forgiveness 

When Goodman Ace learned 
that many of the Easy Aces' 
open-end transcriptions were 
being sponsored by such strange 
time-buyers as a Los Angeles 
funeral parlor, receiving a flock 
of indignant mail as result, he 
wrote back: 

"Forgive us our transcrip- 
tions, as those who transcribed 
against us." 



Ask $1,034,000 
For Gab Airer By 
Mrs. FDR & Anna 



A sponsor can have Eleanor 
Roosevelt and her daughter, Mrs. 
John (Anna) Boettiger, across-the- 
board afternoons on the full ABC 
network, for $1,034,000 a year. The 
mother-daughter act, packaged for 
$3,250 weekly (talent only), has 
been- bought by ABC and set for.an 
Oct. 4 preem. Time spot isn't defi- 
nite, but is likely to be 3:45 or 4 
o'clock. It'll be a 15-minute pro- 
gram. 

Stanza, on which the late Presi- 
dent's widow and her daughter 
will gab about "national and world 
events of interest to women, as 
well as items of general interest 
in the fields of fashion, the theatre, 
(Continued on page 38) 



G0SCH PACTS MERMAN 
FOR OWN TELE SERIES 

Ethel Merman h"as;signed to star 
in her own television series, to be 
produced by Martin Gosch. Show 
will be submitted to agencies and 
sponsors in about a week,, in pre- 
sentation form.- Exact price hasn't 
. been set, but it will be an expen- 
sive operation. 

It will, have a revue format, 
stressing legit material and. legit, 
values. It will be offered in both 
60-m.hHite and half-hour length. 
Writers and director haven't been 
selected. ; 

Actress-singer, currently star- 
Ting in "Annie Get Your Guh," at 
the Imperial, N. Y., won't go on 
the road with the legiter, so will 
be available in New York indefi- 
nitely. 



Cullman May Soon 
Arrange to Include 
Govt, as a Dependent 

Howard S. Cullman has arranged 
to invest in three more incoming 
Broadway productions. They are 
"Tales of the South Pacific," the 
new Richard Rodgers-Oscar Ham- 
merstein, 2d musical; "Bell, Book 
and Candle," new John van Dru- 
ten play, and "Red Gloves," the 
Jean-Paul Sartre drama. 

He's already in on Moss Hart's 
"Light Up the Sky," Ruth Gordon's 
"Leading Lady," the Lindsay- 
Crouse "Life with Mother," Max- 
well Anderson's "Anne. of the 1,000 
Days," the Bella Spewack-Cole Por- 
ter' -"Kiss Me, Kate," and Maurice 
Valency's "In Praise of Folly." His 
current legit investments include 
"Mister Roberts," at the Alvin, 
N. Y. (and on tour), and "Streetcar 
Named Desire," at the Barrymore, 
N. Y. (and about to.tour). He's also 
in on Maurice Evans' touring pro- 
duction of - "Man and Superman" 
and the tour of "Allegro." 

In addition, Cullman has an in- 
terest in the Hudson theatre; N. Y., 
with ' Howard Lindsay, Russel 
Crouse, Leland Hayward and Elliott 
Nugent. He also owns the Ham- 
merstein theatre, N. Y., but has a 
swap deal with CBS, which owns 
(Continued on page 47) 





HITS Rumblings Heard of TVs Inroads 



FAIL TO PAY HFF 

By HERB GOLDEN 

Day of the million-dollar buy of 
screen rights to Broadway plays is 
definitely over. Hollywood's new 
accent on economy is only a sec- 
ondary reason. Much more impor- 
tant is the inescapable fact that 
hit legiters have scored a startling- 
ly low b o. batting average when 
translated to celluloid. 

Clincher to mounting industry 
skepticism concerning the value of 
Broadway successes as screen ma- 
terial' is the flock of pictures of 
legit origin which have hit the na- 
tion's screens in the past six 
months or so. Of 17, only Warner 
Bros.' "Key Largo," from the Max- 
well Anderson play, is an unquali- 
fied smash. The others range from 
disappointing to complete flops.. 

Among those doing considerably 
less at the boxoffice than their 
producers anticipated — especially 
,in view of the high prices paid for 
screen rights — are "Dream Girl," 
for which Paramount paid $300,- 
000; "State of the Union," Metro 
release for which Liberty, the pro-, 
ducers, paid $350,000 and a percen- 
(Continued on page 22) 



U's 'Senator' Deemed Too 
Sensitive at This Time 
For Overseas Market 

Universal's "The Senator Was In- 
discreet" has been put quietly on 
the taboo list for shipment over- 
seas by the selectivity committee 
of the Motion PJcture Assn. of 
America. It is feared that the satire 
on American politics will be mis- 
interpreted as something more 
than just satire and reflect badly 
on the democratic system, at least 
at this time. 

Selectivity committee has been 
(Continued on page 55) 



xassidy; 'claghorn' 
axed by fred allen 

Two of the characters in Allen's 
Alley have been pitched in the 
ashcan. Both "Senator Claghorn" 
and "Ajax Cassidy" won't be 
around when Fred Allen goes 
knocking on doors this fall. 

Kenny Delmar is polishing up a 
new Russian act as successor to 
his "Claghorn." Peter Donald's 
new characterization hasn't been 
disclosed. 

"Old Timer" and "Mrs. Nuss- 
baum" will still be around. 



On Radio; Latter Asks Rate Cuts 



484,350 TV Sell 

. Television sets in the U. S.« 
numbered 484,350 a* of. Aug. 1, 
representing an increase of 
64,350 sets over the July fig- 
ure. New York is still the No. 
1 video city with 243,200 re- 
ceivers. 

City-by-city breakdown is in 
the Television section, 



B.O. Hop of Russ 
Pix Part of 'Cold 
War' from the West 

Highlighting another sector in 
the "cold war" between east and 
west, Russian films have virtually 
been driven off the 'world screen, 
except within Soviet borders, by 
the pulling power of Hollywood. 
This Soviet film blackout has taken 
place despite a redoubled postwar 
drive by the Russians to push their 
film output for international propa- 
ganda and profit. Most amazing 
to U. S. observers is that the Rus- 
sians, who are such expert purvey- 
ors of their uniquely planted line 
in other fields, have proved so 
inept in their film productions. 

Tipoff to the Russian films' inef- 
fectiveness is their lukewarm re- 
ception even in the Soviet-dominat- 
ed countries of eastern Europe. 
(Continued On page 55) 



How Giveaways Are Born 

Mexico City, Aug. 24. 

General biz has been so bad here 
that most of the smaller radio sta- 
tions jumped at their time-buyers* 
proposition to pay with goods, in- 
stead of coin. 

Now that stations are building 
up a goodly stockpile of groceries, 
etc. they plan to introduce give- 
away programs in Mexico. 



Fears Television Will 
Hurt Boxoffice, Title 
Bout Denied to Video 

Twentieth Century. Sporting 
Club, in its first swipe at television 
since the medium went big time 
in New York several years ago, has 
definitely turned dpwn all bids to 
telecast th,e forthcoming Ike Wil- 
liams-Jesse Flores lightweight title 
bout from Yankee Stadium, N. Y. 
At the same time, the club's gen- 
eral manager, Sol Strauss, con- 
sented to a request from the ABC 
radio network to delay the fight a 
day from its scheduled Sept. 22 
date. It's now to be held Sept. 23, 
so as not to interfere with the Sept. 
22 preem of Milton Berle's "Texaco 
.Star Theatre." 

Twentieth Century,' which has 
staged all the Joe Louis title bouts, 
has long been a tele advocate, fol- 
lowing the line laid down by Madi- 
son Sq. Gardeh prexy . Gen. John 
Heed Kilpatrick that tele would 
help, not cut into. Its gate receipts, 
thus,, all fights staged by the club 
for the last few years, either from 
the Stadium or the Garden, have 
been televised under sponsorship 
of Gillette Safety Razor. Fact that 
tele has now. been outlawed indi- 
cates that line of reasoning hasn't 
(Continued on page 23)' 



" Climaxing a long string of s&oke 
signals pointing up television's in- 
roads on radio, several top-spend- 
ing AM sponsors are currently de- 
manding that their ad agencies get 
them lower network radio, rates for 
the new fall season. They base .their 
claims on statistics revealing that a 
large share of the audience they 
once reached has now switched 
over to tele. ' " : - - ■■■ 'hi . ' 

Thus, despite the fact that radio 
billings are expected to top all pre* 
vious records this year, that Jong- 
anticipated time when; radio take*; 
a back seat to TV.inay be closer 
than some network execs, will ad- 
mit. Fact that tele is still a local 
proposition to date has! confined the 
switch in budgets from radio to TV* 
mostly to local spot advertisers. 
Growing use of film or kinescope 
recordings to expand tele from, 
coast-to-coast ahead of the nation- 
spanning network facilities, how- :* 
ever, has led the top national ad- 
vertisers to demand the rebate. 
(See. story on TV jttrti. networks- in 
the Television section,) ' . ; 

Although some top AM execs 
scoffed" at the idea of bankrolled 
(Continued on page 34) 

Playing Down Air 
Star Hypos Film 

Coouiess of film patrons toward 
radio names appeal's to have been 
cinched beyond a doubt as result 
of United Artists' experience in 
the past few weeks with the Henry'- 
Morgan-starrer, "So This Is New 
York." Reduction of Morgan's bill- 
ing in the ads and the substitution 
of emphasis on the film's comedy 
theme has Seemingly changed it 
from a near-flop to- a b.o. sock. 

Pic hasn't actually played 
enough dates with the new ad cam- 
paign to draw any hard-and-fast 
conclusions, but UA -and Stanley 
Kramer's Screen Plays, Inc., which 
produced the film, are highly 
elated at the results to date. 
They're planning to continue the 
Morgan billing in the smallest type 
(Continued on page 55) 

RANK HOLDS BRITISH 
RECORD WITH 64 JOBS 

'London, Aug. 24'. 

British film chief J. Arthur- Rank 
holds the record of multi-director- 
ships, with a total of 64 board room 
jobs. •'" .; 

According to . latest edition of 
Directory of Directors, Rank's 64 
directorships include chairmanship 
of 19 companies. Interests, of 
course, are dominated by the film 
business, but extend to flour-mill- 
ing, insurance, publishing, insur- 
ance, radio and milk-bars, 

Close behind Rank is his asso- 
ciate, Leslie William . Farrow, char- 
tered accountant, whose 52 direc- 
torships include, apart from films, 
paper manufacturing and oil. 



i 



P1CTUMES 



British Vaude Is Bigtime Thanks To 
Yanks, Sez Swaffer; Star invasion 



Has Been like 'A Long Olympics' 



Wedneday, August 25, 1948 



By HANNENT SWAFFER 

London, Aug. 24. 
Bigtime variety exists in London 
by kind permission of whatever j 
American stars condescend to top J 

our bills, although the salaries, paid Parig Aug 18 . 

them by the Palladium manage- , Jacfc Benny telling' Alice Faye 
ment are fabulous judged by Bnt- wheil nis preS ent two-year contract 



: . Paris Runaronnd 

! I — By BORKA1I MINEVITCH- 



J 




ish standards. Most of them come 
here, bringing Lady Bountiful gifts 
of soap and chocolate, "just for the 
holiday," to meet old friends or to 
fill in time between engagements 
in Hollywood or on the air. 



with Amer. Tob. is finished he's 
really going to do the things he 
likes, i.e. radio, vaude, television, 
legit, and Friars Frolics. 

Jack Kapp really concerned over 
the fact that show biz today hasn't 



They tell audiences that their the .sawdust cradles that pro- 
earnings, after Sir Stafford Cripps 1 duced the Cantors, Jolsons, Ber- 
SHone with them, are ^^P^^VSSFZjSfc 
chicken-feed." They bring their , ^ ran d?yf He's 

own gag writers and publicity ex- ; muUing a new labe i for strictly 
perts, and throw big parties, paid new talent; claims you don't 
for hy the ChanceBor of the Ex- scratch for material at 10 grand 
chequer, to . the press. • i per week or write great songs on 

They think so little' of our best a $2,500 a week basis. Worried who 
hotels that Mickey Rooney threw ! the stars will be 10 years from now 
up his riverside suite at the Savoy , * h en younger Personalities are 
Wause he felt "shut in " But needed to knock off the first 10. 
i^^ht »fc ,.tmi tTth*. ™\Ao nnpn Kapp heard Rfchard Josef Inger 
then he i was used ^ to the wide open : „^" wondered wny Decca sUpped 

spaces he had caused in the Palla- 0n him and Columbia g rab bed. 
oium stalls. ] RUa Hayworth has reservations 

"So anti-American is London : on tnree different boats sailing 
that no American artist stands any nex t week but as yet cannot be 
chance there," said Mickey, after . located. 

a flop that was all his own fault, j Benny Davis and Abner Silver 
A few days later, Danny Kaye fro™ London. 



was so excited over his firstnight 
triumph that he" rushed off the 
stage saying, "How do I get natu- 
ralized?" That was the start of 
(Continued on page 22) 



322nd Week ! 

3313 Performances 
AlT-time long run record in 
the legitimate theatre. 

KEN MURRAY'S 

"BLACKOUTS OF 1948" 
El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, Cal. 
And now in world-wide release 
"BILL AND COO" 

Ken Murray'* 
Academy Award Film 



Martha Raye and Nick Condos 
have struck Paris. 

Cliff Fischer here to liquidate 
all his treasures. 

| Danny Winkler checking his con- 
tract withs Michele Morgan. 

There is as much excitement, 
gossip, fuss and intrigue around a 
[Christian Dior or Jacques Fath 
I style opening as there used to be 
a Ziegfeld opening 25 years ago. 

With our B-29 boys back in Eng- 
land the limeys are digging up the 
old line about them "overpaid, 
oversexed and -overhere.-" 

Ingrid Bergman in from London 
for the weekend. 

Great Showmanship 
There must be a master show- 
man that books Paris as though it 
was a theatre. Look how be keeps 
the show running right through 
the summer to capacity (without 
airconditioning). First "Paris in 
the Spring" (6 weeks), the Grande 
Semaine fetes and galas, the 
Grand Prix racing week, the Inde- 
pendence week with all Paris a 
stage for free dancing, shows and 
circuses. Then he empties the 
town to the Riviera to make room 
for the world's greatest fashion 
buyers for a 6-week run of style 
shows. That brings him to Sept 
5 when 'the "chic" season starts all 
over again to capacity with the 
Automobile show and UN conven- 
tion as added attractions. They 
{should put boxoffices at the eight 
gates to the town and charge ad- 
mission. 

Edith Piaf did a one-nighter at 
Chez Carrere especially to intro- 
duce her new male singer find 
(who didn't quite come off). She 
invented this gimmick. 

The ole cry back again, "Do you 
have a pull with any steamship 
line? I gotta get home." 

The first 10 songs here haven't 
changed positions in two years. 

The croupiers at the Casinos 
handle 5,000 francs plaques as 
though they were nickel chips, yet 
a solid standard act has a tough 
time getting ONE for a night 
show. 



Masquers Fete Sennett; 
Friars Honor Wynns 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 

Honored by 200 friends at a 
Masquers testimonial dinner last 
week (18), Mack Sennett revealed 
how a . couple of New York, bookies 
originally set him up in business. 
The "Keystone Kop" impresario, 
now retired, said the bookies came 
looking for a payoff on a $100 bet 
on a losing nag but he talked them 
into investing $2,500 in the Key- 
stone company. 

After a run of bad luck and 
broke again, Sennett borrowed 
another $2,500 from the bookies 
and transported his company to 
Hollywood. Here, Sennett and his 
"kops" bumped into a Shriners 
parade, and the incident was 
lensed as a basis for a story idea. 
The footage went east and' word 
came back: "That's what we want. 
Million dollar stuff, no quickie pro- 
duction." 

Outside the Masquer headquar- 
ters, six original "Keystone Kops" 
gave a typical Sennett testimonial 
by directing traffic. Sextet were 
Hank Mann, Chester and Hymie 
Conklin, Glenn Cavender, George 
Grey and Jimmy Finlayson. Head- 
ing the entertainers were Joe 
Frisco, Bob Hopkins, Jimmy 
O'Brien, Alan Carney and Larry 
Collins. 

Chief toastmaster was Chuck 
Reiser. A eulogy was given by 
Frank Fay, and tributes were 
voiced by Frank Capfa, Hal Roach, 
Jesse Lasky, Harold Lloyd, Walter 
Catlett, Richard Lane, Buster 
Keaton, Harry Rosenthal, George 
Stevens, Charles Kempner (Mas- 
quers prexy), Charles Coburn, 
Fred Niblo, Tay Garnett, Andy 
Clyde and others. 

At the Friars the same evening, 
Ed and Keenan Wynn were hon- 1 Chester Morris has been signed 
ored at the first father-and-son , to open at the Hippodrome, Low- 



Brit. Producers, 
like Hollywood, 
Favor Originals 

Hollywood's concentration on 
original stories as one way of chop- 
ping production costs is currently 
being echoed by parallel action by 
British producers. The Anglo film- 
makers have turned heavily 
towards originals and "plays by 
comparatively unknown writers" 
to duck the high cost of buying ma- 
terial from w.k. authors, according 
to David MacDonald, British di- 
rector who is on the verge of com- 
pleting- his fifth film stint for J. 
Arthur Rank. 

Parallel doesn't go much further, 
however, MacDonald said. British 
economy efforts are far more com- 
plicated than those of Hollywood, 
MacDonald believes, because "we 
are hidebound by our unions." In 
England, for instance, the unions 
won't permit work Saturdays and 
their hours during weekdays are 
strictly limited from 8:30 a.m. to 
5:90 p.m. 

British producers are lagging 
on other cost-saving devices now 
being used here, MacDonald noted. 
While he insists upon intensive re- 
hearsals before shooting, no other 
director has followed that course. 
"They claim it's not economical," 
Britisher said, "but of course it is. 
I saved at least 10 days shooting 
time in making 'Christopher Col- 
(Continued on page 16) 



Gosch Asks $1,000,000 
In Second Libel Action 



CHESTER MORRIS INKED 
FOR LONDON'S HIPP 



rsast festival of the fraternity 
George Jessel, Abbot, emceed the 
event, and Al Jolson topped the 
evening with four numbers, wind- 
ing up with "Brother, Can You 
Spare A Dime." After talks by 
both Wynns, Lou Holtz spoke, and 
Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly did 
a scene from "Carousel." George 
Burns and Buddy Clark also did 
turns. 



don, in the fall. He's being pre- 
sented by British comic Sid Field, 
under whose auspices he'll play 
that house, and will follow with 
four weeks in the provinces. 

While abroad, Morris may make 
another film in the "Boston 
Blackie" series for Columbia. 

Morris has frequently played 
vaudeville in the V. S., with a 
magic act. ' - 



Hollywood, Aug. 24. 

Second libel and slander suit to 
grow out of last year's Town Hall 
radio program on Communism in 
Hollywood was filed here by pro- 
ducer Martin A. Gosch. Listed as 
defendants in the $1,000,000 action 
are Lela Rogers, Sam Wood, Mor- 
rie Ryskind, Robert Arthur, 
James K. McGuinness, Ayn 
Rand O'Connor, Frank O'Con- 
nor, Town Meeting and the ABC 
I network, on which the program 
was .aired. 

Papers filed by attorney Max 
Fink allege that Gosch was pre- 
paring to produce Emmet Lav- 
ery's play, "A Gentleman From 
Athens," in New York when the 
program held him up to hatred, 
ridicule and prejudice through 
false and malicious slander about 
him and about the play. 

Laverv, a participant in the 
Town Meeting airtr in question, 
filed a $2,000,000 action against 
some of the same defendants last 
January. 



HM«>MMm»MHMHMHMMHI»MHMM I MH< 

I: SCULLY'S SCRAPBOOK 

nit By Frank Scully «'» **t 

Klink, Cal., Aug. 21. 

Though it was not hot news for 10 years, the excommunicated Ex- 
aminer recently discovered that any dope can become a licensed psy- 
chologist in Los Angeles simply by paying a $12 fee. In fact, one of its 
reporters bought such a license under an assumed name, and no one 
*ould be more obviously doped than a Hearst reporter suffering from 
a Mac Arthur hangover. 

The reporter found to his feigned amazement that, among others, a 
tired bagalinger (tired of being picked up and fined) had got into the 
lucrative field of psychology ahead of him. He went to consult her 
about some phoney family trouble. She gave him the standard treat- 
ment. At least that's what he says. ^ 

It shocked the Hearst high command into doing three stories expos- 
ing the racket. But nothing came- of their exposures fov the simple 
reason that it's perfectly legal to practice psychology in L. A. if you 
buy a license. 

In fact I'm even practicing without one. This comes under the head 

of "Folie." You'll find it in Scully's Psychiatric Word Book under: 

Fables Test. A test based on the reading of a stpry to see if the lis- 
tener understands what it is intended to teach. Not to be con- 
fused with "The House of the Seven Fables," which is an affection- 
ate term story editors use when referring to M-G-M. 

Fabrication. Korsakow's syndrome. Recital of imaginary events as 
true. Romancing. Picture business from A. to Z. 

Facial Nerve. Seventh cranial. Supplies motion to face. ^Receives 
taste from rear of tongue. Equity te^t establishes degree of taste. 
No taste sends the actor to Hollywood. 

Facies. Certain acquired patterns of facial activity used as social and 
language mechanisms. Popularity believed to indicate character 
and personality. In brief, mugging. 

Factor Theories. Based on statistical findings which seek to explain 
intelligence. Boxoffice grosses of "The Outlaw" and "The Lost 
Battalion" to prove that the nation's I.Q. is improving. 

Fad. Line of activity pursued with undue zeal. (1) Stars who go to 
restaurants where other stars go' and rave over hamburgers they 
wouldn't even feed their dogs at home; (2) the Crosby shirts; (3) 
The Hopper hats; i4) Mona Freeman moans. 

Faith Cure. The healing of disease by the patient's mental attitude 
alone. What Nathan calls "the triumph of sugar over diabetes." 
Exhibitors who believe a sick picture can be cured by putting the 
word ' love'' in the title, or a picket line in front of the house. 

Fame. A widely disseminated opinion or rumor. In German it's called 
Ruhm, which is practically the same word as the French rhume. 
That's a cold in the head. In Hollywood the name of a trade paper. 

Fashion. A custom which develops rather quickly and disappears in 
time. Dresses vacillating between the knee and the ankle. In 
psychiatry the particular craze ot the moment and the particular 
cure of the year; i.e. insulin-shock treatment for split personalities, 
calling people unAmerican because they talk like Jefferson, Lin- 
coln or Roosevelt. In the Hopper syndrome. 

Fastidium. Loathing for food. Common to stars whose options have 
been dropped because of overeating. 

Fatigue-Nerve. Neurasthenia. Excessive stimulation which results in 
turning neurons into morons. Flappers who wake up screaming 
for Same Spade. 

Feigned Fastium. English' actors who choke while drinking lea be- 
cause some teen-ager is dunking a, doughnut. In the Society Drama 
syndrome. 

Faxensyndrome. Bleuler's term for a clowning psychosis. Suggests 
malingering but is actually disassociated from rest of the person- 
ality. Cause- of- sequels. Hope-Crosby-"Road" pictures. Laurel 
and Hardy frustrations, Fibber McGee's closet, Jack Benny's thrift- 
complex. 

Festinagion. Quick-walking gait. Associated with Sennett's syndrome 
and silent pictures generally. Paris waiters when competing in a 
race with full trays along the boulevards. 

Fiction. An imagined condition contrary to- reality. The make-believe 
of a neurotic by which a simulated condition is utilized to com- 
mand the world about him. Longterm producers talking to free- 
lance writers, actors, directors. In the Zanuck syndrome. 

Film. In medicine, a thin skin. In pictures, a thin medicine. 

Fixation. An arrest or attachment of one of the component impulses 
of the libido. Producers who pick . classical subjects for their 
nudity. In the Salome syndrome. 

Flicker Phenomenon. A rapid periodic change perceived in a visual 
impression. The critical flicker frequency is about 30 cycles a 
second. If slower the person is destined to buy his tickets instead 
of getting in on passes. 

Folie. French for psychosis or mania. Thus they would translate it, 
"Ziegfeld's Psychoses." 

Folie Da Doute. Obsessive scruples and anxious doubts. Hairsplitting 
distinctions continually revised and restated. Directors who can't 
make up their minds whether a dull picture should have a happy 
or sad ending. Critics who lambast them either way. 

Formication. No, not that. The "m" makes all the difference. It's 
a psychotic symptom as if ants were crawling all over you. Also 
called Location Syndrome and Picnic Disease. 

Free Association. Trains of thought which arise when all restraints 
are removed. Communist viewing of Freedom Train. Opposite 
is "controlled associations" which function under dictatorship, cen- 
sorships, loyalty tests, witchhunting. legislative committees. 

Freud. Originator of psychoanalysis. Saw sex in even a Vienna roll. 
Said a dozen of them, was simply sex of one and a half dozen of 
the other. Father of scores of Hollywood pictures, American novels 
and wolf cries. Saw sex in everything from a walking stick (male) 
to an umbrella stand (female). Died in London at a ripe old age 
with no more repressed desires, compulsions, neuroses, oedipus 
complexes or unfulfilled wish-fulfillments than when he was born. 

Frohlich's Syndrome. Feminine appearance in the male. Related to 
diseases of the pituitary. Also called West End Swish, Hollywood 
Rash, etc. 

Fugue. Disturbance of consciousness related to dual personality. Jay- 
walkers who think they're driving and, when they get clipped ex- 
plain "My mind was in a fugue." 

Functional Psychosis. Mental disorder formulated in behavior terms 
without reference to physiological factors. .People who ask you 
questions in restaurants and keep looking around for someone else 
while you answer. Table hoppers; 

Fusion. Combination of two or more stimuli which produce a single^ 
unanalyzed sensation. Sight of a girl in a low-cut gown bending 
down to examine a run in her stocking. Sam Wood reciting the 
Communist Manifesto. 



. % 



SMASH HIT 
IN NEW YORK 



' New York's dominant evening newspaper is a seH-out at rite 
newsstands . . . clicks with 700,00 families every day — and on 
Sunday, the Journal-American reaches mere than a million 
families in the city and suburbs alone. 




Doily, over 700,000 — Sunday, over 1,250,000 



1 



Wednesday, August 25, 1948 



PfiRIETT 



PICTURES 



SHORTER FO OTAGES 

. ___ + 4 

Mutually Unhappy' Over Distribution 
And B.O., Korda-20th Deal Looks Foldo 






Continuing deterioration of rela-4 
tions between 20th-Fox and Sir 
Alexander Korda is about to cause 
sharp and definite split shortly in 
their tieup, it was learned yester- 
day (Tuesday). That would mean 
the end of distribution by 20th of 
Korda product in the U. S., Can- 
ada, South Africa, Australia, New 
Zealand and Tasmania. 

Dissatisfaction with the setup by 
both parties is leading inexorably 
to a break. Korda is completely 
unhappy with the distribution be- 
ing given his pictures, while 20th 
is displeased with their poor b.o. 
power in the U. S. and the trouble 
it has had distributing them, par- 
tially due to the boycott on British 
product by the Sons of Liberty. 

What may be the final straw in 
the relationship was the blast made 
in last week's Variety by Korda's 
U. S. rep, and echoed by Korda in 
London over the weekend, that 
American distribs are "encourag- 
ing" the boycott as "subconscious 
retaliation" for restrictions on 
their pix in England. Officials of 
20th were incensed at the charge 
and sent a letter to Helprin Mon-- 
day (23) demanding a retraction. 

It was thought likely a few 
weeks ago that the U. S. distribu- 
tion arrangement by which Fox 
handles ICorda pix on a percentage 
arrangement might be called off, 
but that 20th would go on buying 
Korda pix outright with its frozen 
British funds for release in the 
U. S. Even that now appears un- 
(Continued on page 18) 

Joan Leslie Counsel 
Charges Cal. Lobbying 
On Pact Fight Vs. WB 

Washington, Aug. 24. 

Counsel for screen actress Joan 
Leslie charged last Thursday (19) 
that .the California Legislature 
rushed through a bill specifically 
designed to cut the ground from 
under her long drawn-out contract 
fight with Warners. 

Statement was contained in a 
petition to the U. S. Supreme 
Court, asking that tribunal to hear 
an appeal in the case. The brief, 
accompanying .the petition, de- 
clares bluntly that the legislators 
were subtly influenced by picture 
industry lobbyists and amended 
the California laws affecting the 
rights of minors to void their con- 
tracts. 

Miss Leslie signed with WB at 
17 and stepped out of her contract 
at 21. She beat the Warner com- 
plaint in two lower courts in Cali- 
fornia but lost out in the State Su- 
preme Court. Prior to the Supreme 
Court action, the Legislature 
amended the law on minors to re- 
strict sharply the rights of three 
groups to void their contracts. 

The Federal Supreme Court will 
probably decide in October or 
early November whether it will en- 
ter this case 



Anyway, It Seems Big 

Whlie film business in for- 
eign lands has dwindled, along 
with domestic, from last year's 
figures, one country alone^ 
shows a tremendous hoist in 
grosses. The land in question 
is China, where Yank distribs 
■are now grossing 2,500% more 
than in 1947. In dollars and 
cents, the gross take has in- 
increased $480,000,000,000 
since last year. 

There's only one trouble, 
foreign dept. staffers say. The 
dollars are Chinese and the 
big gain in biz is strictly in- 
flation, not more customers. 



Korda-20th Execs 
Steam Anew Over 
'Boycott' Charge 

. Feud erupted publicly this week 
between 20th-Fox sales chief Andy 
W. Smith, Jr., and Morris Helprin, 
veepee of London Film Produc- 
tions, Sir Alexander Korda's U. S. 
subsid. It's the direct -result of 
Helprin's sizzling charge, last week^ 
that major American distributors 
are "submitting to. and collaborat- 
ing" in the current boycott against 
British films in this country. 

Twentieth, which distributes 
Korda's product in the U. S., was 
drawn directly into Helprin's blast 
with the charge that it had decided, 
in conjunction with RKO, to can- 
cel a booking of Korda's "Ideal 
Husband" on the RKO circuit in 
N. Y. Smith, in a letter sent to 
Helprin yesterday (Tues.), vehe- 
mently denied 20th was respon- 
sible for the cancellation. He de- 
clared Helprin himself had re- 
quested the cancellation in a phone 
conversation with Smith and that 
Helprin had agreed to take "full 
responsibility" for the move with 
Korda. 

Helprin, answering Smith's let- 
ter the same day, tossed the hot 
potato back into • the- 20th chief's 
lap, declaring "exactly the opposite 
(Continued on page 16) 



E 

FINALLY DOES IT 

All that talk about a reduction 
in running time of pictures to 
lower production costs and boost 
rentals is finally beginning to pan 
out. Random scanning of 11 top 
A-budgeted films reviewed in 
Variety during the last several 
weeks reveals only two of them 
run over 100 minutes, which is be- 
lieved to represent a significant 
break from the average 110-130 
minutes similar pictures ran last 
year. 

Suggestion that producers would 
be wise to trim footage on their 
features was first broached as long 
as two years ago. Besides the fact 
that a shorter film would make for 
a shorter shooting schedule Av.ith a 
resultant cut in production costs, 
it was also pointed out that ex- 
hibitors would be able to achieve 
a much greater customer turnover 
on pix with shorter running times. 
Many producers at the time scoffed 
at the idea on the claim that their 
"artistic integrity" required them 
to make each film as long as it took 
to tell the story adequately. That 
artistic integrity, according to one 
industry spokesman, has apparent- 
ly given way to economy. 

Two recent films running over 
100 minutes are both indie produc- 
tions — Leo McCarey's "Good Sam" 
at 114 minutes, being released by 
RKO, and: Howard Hawks' "Red 
River," a United Artists release. 
Indies, without the hot breath of 
major studio production chiefs on 
(Continued on page 18) 



Man-Bites-Dog; Indie Producers Sue 
Detroit Theatres as Moi 




frank McCarthy exits 
mpaa to aide zanuck 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 

Frank McCarthy's resignation 
from the notion Picture Assn. of 
America is to join 20th-Fox as exec 
assistant to production chief Dar- 
ryl F. Zanuck. He reports at the 
studio next Jan.* 11. " * 

Zanuck made the deal with Mc- 
Carthy recently when he was in 
Paris, where McCarthy headquar- 
ters as- Continental rep of the 
MPAA. In his new job he will 
take over the former duties of Gen- 
eral Lyman Munson, now in charge 
of London studios for 20th. Full 
announcement is expected to be 
made when Zanuck returns to the 
studio from Europe next month. 

McCarthy has been with the 
MPAA for about VA years. During 
the war le was aide to General 
George C. Marshall and later was 
an assistant Secretary of State. He 
was also for a short period, in 
1940-41, a press agent on the road 
for George Abbott's "Brother Rat." 
He is 36 years old. 



TV's Faster Coverage 
Forcing Newsreels 
Into Magazine Pattern 

Paramount's newsreel issues are 
now taking on a new format with 
repercussions from television 
sparking the change. Since the 
company feels it can't meet video's 
newsreel competition on spot news, 
Par's bi-weekly issues henceforth 
will receive "more and more edi- 
torial treatment," according to a 
company spokesman. In effect, 
Par is now swinging into a maga- 
zine-type of reel. It is expected 
that this may set a pattern for the 
other four reels. 

Change has been gradual but 
definite in accordance with long- 
range plans of the company. Last 
weekend's issue, for instance, had 
five subjects of which two were 
given the editorial approach while 
the other three were given less 
than usual footage. 

Treating both the National Youth 
Month drive and Communism in 
this manner, Par included back- 
ground shots, story-behind-the- 
story angles, and estimate of'the 
significance of the events involved. 
Result of the plan is expected to 
be a decrease ia subjects covered 
and a boost in footage on those 
handled. 

Soap box derbies, ship stuff fea- 
turing cheesecake, and other light- 
weight material is going to be jet- 
tisoned in favor of three-dimen- 
sional treatment of the big news, 
it's said. Ultimately, reel will be 
entirely in the magazine tradition. 



Not 'Pompous/ Just 
'Determined and Firm/ 
Says Judge Jackson 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 

Not his "pomposity," but his 
"determination and firmness" in 
administration of the industry's 
production code was the reason 
why certain Hollywood execs re- 
cently prevailed upon Eric John- 
ston to transfer him out of his post 
as aide to Joseph I. Breen, Judge 
Stephen S. Jackson declared this 
week. It was an open Hollywood 
secret, when the Motion Picture 
Assn. of America prexy recently 
announced the shift of Jackson to 
New York, that industryites ob- 
jected to him because he was "too 
pompous." 

Asserting he knew the .charge 
(Continued on page 23) 



When You're a Hit! 

Producer . Leonard Gold- 
stein's penchant for picking up 
Universal-International board 
chairman Leo Spitz en route to 
the studio some time ago 
created the Hollywood bon 
mot about the former "having 
the only producer-chauffeur 
contract in Hollywood." 

Now that Goldstein has 
clicked with "Feudin', Fus- 
sin'," the $460,000-budgeter 
doing top business, Nunnally 
Johnson— himself a recent cas- 
ualty of Universal conservation 
— wired his ex-home lot, "Un- 
der those circumstances, I hear 
Spitz is NOW chauffering 
Leonard to the studio." 



U in Good Cash 
Position Because 
Of Its Reserves 



Unusually large wprking capital 
that Universal piled up in the past 
half-dozen years is said in financial 
circles familiar with the company's 
fiscal standing to have put it in 
a good position' currently. Despite 
an adverse year in disappointing 
b.o. showings by expensive pic- 
tures, tJ is said . to be in a very 
stable financial condition as result 
of the $34,000,000 in working cap- 
ital which it reported available in 
its last financial statement. 

In addition, U still has available 
to it $3,000,000 in credit from a 
trio of banks on the $15,000,000 
loan it set up May 1, 1947. U's 
last draw on that credit was $1,- 
000,000 which it took July 31 with 
the avowed purpose of supplement- 
ing the company's general funds. 

That gives U a total indebted- 
ness to the three banks of $10,- 
(Continued on page 18) 

Sam Katz Settles Pact 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 

Sam Katz has effected a settle- 
ment of his Metro pact, which still 
had five years to run. He checks 
out March 1. 

Other Metro executive letouts 
impend. . 



Detrblt, Aug. 24. 

! In a case -of man-biting-dog, the 
Society of Independent Motion 
Picture Producers and eight pig- 

| name producers reversed the pic- 
ture yesterday (Tues.) by .filing an 
$8,750,000 treble-damage action in 
the Federal district court here de- 
manding dissolution of United 
Detroit theatres, Paramount affili- 
ate, and Cooperative Theatres of 
Michigan, a buying combine, of 125 
indie houses, Suit is the first legal 
outbreak of a running battle be- 
tween SIMPP and buying combos, 
and the first instance of a producer 
suing exhibs on anti-trust charges. 

Similar, litigation pushed by 
SIMPP may be taken hi- other 
"tight" situations, it has been 'in- 
dicated. Understood it will depend 
on whether the current test action 
brings a loosening of bookings else- 
where. Detroit, was chosen because 
SIMPP felt it presented a strong 
case. Organization claims particu- . 
lar difficulties in the south among 
both Paramount affiliates, and 
indies." •. ';' 

. Action aired sensational charges 
of claimed collaboration between 
the defendants to clamp a monopo- 
listic system of playing off pix in 
Detroit and its environs. It 
charged the two with together con- 
continued oh page ,23) 

U.S. Mulls Theatrical J 
Pistrib of 7-Reeler 

Of Nuremberg Trials 

U. S. War Dept. top : brass are 
now glimmering the finally-com- 
pleted film of the Nuremberg 
trials, American Version, to decide 
whether to seek commercial dis- 
tribution of the picture through 
one of the major companies, That 
decision is expected within the 
next few days with the determining 
factor whether its b.o. pull is 
broad enough to warrant theatrical 
release, • • , 

Completed version of the seven- 
reel opus was flown from Germany 
(Continued on page 16) 



National. Boxoff ice Survey 

New Product, Rain Cheer Exhibs — 'Judy,' 'Walls,' 
'Paradine,' 'Largo,' 'Parade,' A.&C. Best Bets 

turn of Bad Men" <RKO) was ninth 
place winner. 

Best runner-up films are "Babe' 
Ruth Story" (Mono), "Blandings 
Dream House" (SRO) and "Foreign 
Affair" (Par). 

"Tap Roots" (U) shapes as one 
jpf the best newcomers, being 
leader in two cities and smash in 
a third. Also just getting started 
are "Lady in Ermine" (20th) and 
"Velvet Touch" (RKO). Both look 
uneven this round, with ensuing 
playdates expected to tell better 
how they will shape up nationally. 

"Pitfall" (UA) looks like a comer 
on basis of initial two playdates, 
being credited with great week in 
San Francisco and is strong in N. Y. 
"Race Street" (RKO) is not strong 
on preem N. Y. date. "Hamlet" 
(U) is near-capacity on its Boston 
world preem. 

"Gallant Legion" (Rep), good in 
L. A., shapes sturdy in Seattle. 
"Raw Deal" (EL> looks big in Chi- 
cago. Same is true Of "Time of 
Life" (UA) in Detroit. "Black 
Arrow" (Col) is pacing mild Buf- 
falo with fancy returns. 

"On Merry Way" (UA) is sock in 
Portland, Ore. "Evil My Love" 
(Par) is on mild side excepting in 
Detroit where good in second 
frame. 

(Complete Boxoff ice Returns on 
Pages 12-13.) 



With distributors starting to un- 
veil some of their stronger product 
to take in Labor Day weekend and 
rainy weather in many keys, na- 
tional boxoffice picture shapes 
brisk this stanza. Several key 
cities covered by Variety reported 
that interest in the close major 
league baseball races was cutting 
in, especially where night games or 
doubleheaders were played. 

Moving up* into top position is 
"Date with Judy" (M-G), to take 
the biggest coin and make fine to 
smash showings. Not far behind, 
in second place, is "Walls of 
Jericho" (20th) although not going 
so big in 'a few spots. Third money 
goes to "Paradine Case" (SRO), 
which checks in with the greatest 
number of dates for a single week 
thus far. «> 

Fourth slot was taken over by 
"Key Largo" (WB>, now holdover 
or moveover in many keys. "Easter 
Parade" (M-G) slipped down to 
fifth for the same reason. 

"Abbott-Costello Meet Franken- 
stein" (U) moved up into sixth 
position on basis of marked 
strength in every spot it's playing 
j this round. "Life With Father" 
j (WB), which is on spotty side, 
wound up seventh. "Canon City" 
; (EL) again is racking up big coin 
i to land eighth money while "Re- 



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Vol. 171 



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No. 12 



INDEX 

Bills 47 

Chatter 54 

Film Reviews ' $ 

House Reviews 48 

Inside Legit 52 

Inside Music 41 

Inside Pictures .J. 20 

Inside Television 32. 

International ig 

Legitimate , 49 

Literati , 53 

Music 39 

New Acts 4g 

Night Club Reviews 47 

Obituaries 55 

Orchestras 39 

Pictures 2 

Radio 25 

.Radio Reviews 37 

Records 41 

Frank Scully 2 

Television gn 

Vaudeville , 45 

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(Published, In Hollywood by 

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*1.. a Year— $20 Foreign 



1 



MCEI9UES 



PftmETY 



WwlnedaT, Augnrt 25, 1948 



Boycott Group Gams Added Allies* 
In EKtendmg Anti-British Fix Drive 



Boycott action against British* 
films shown in the U. S., stemming 
mainly from the hot question of, 
British policy in Palestine, stirred 
more troubled waters this week as 
a number of Irish organizations re- 
portedly joined the movement.- 
Two of these, it was said, Irish Re- 
publican Prisoners' Release Assn\ 
and United Irish Counties supplied 
jtame'of the pickets patrolling the 
Astor iheatre, Bosttfn, when J. Ar- 
thur Rank's "Hamlet" opened , last 
week. 

v Simultaneously, the onslaught 
brought on other repercussions, in- 
cluding a move by a number of 
New York exhibs to caH a confer- 
ence of theatre men on the prob- 
lem. The huddle would he t» set 
the rules as to exactly "what is a 
British picture" subject to picket- 
fag and what is not. 
. More drastic action shaped up as 
the Sons of Liberty, non-sectarian 
outfit plugging the boycott, dis- 
closed it was now considering an 
attack against all pix, Hollywood- 
made or British, distributed by 
Universal. Group is currently 
awaiting an answer from TJ to a 
letter sent on the subject. U has. 
been singled oat because Rank is 
one of its largest stockholders. 

Various Irish groups have been 
Invited to join the boycott, accord- 
ing to Professor Johan Sraertenko, 
acting chairman of Sons. Several 
have already consented to place 
reps on the directorate of Sons, he 
added. He "expects!' these organ- 
izations to join future picket lines. 

Smertenko is a former teacher 
of English literature at Hunter Col- 
lege and a lecturer on that subject. 
(Continued on page 24) 

SAM COSLOW FIRST UA 
INDIE TO SELL TO 16M 

Indie producer Sam Coslow this 
week became the first of the indies 
releasing through United Artists to 
enter the 16m business. Coslow as- 
aigned worldwide 16m distribution 
rights to Astor Pictures, N. Y. in- 
die releasing firm, on his "Copaea- 
bana," with the deal starting next 
May in line with UA's standard 
contract, which requires a two-year 
wait after the film's original re- 
lease before it can go out in 16m 
form. 

Deal between UA and all its 
Indie producers gives either party 
an option to make a deal for 16m 
distribution. It's believed Coslow, 
in need of financing for future pro- 
ductions, tied in with Astor for an 
advance in his eut on the 16m 
rights, since the deal was made so 
far in advance of its taking effect. 
With ho 16m distribution setup of 
its own, Astor plans to lease the 
film in this country to film libraries 
and will sell states rights to for- 
eign distribs. 



CBS Not Postponing Its 
Documentary on Pix Biz 

Columbia Broadcasting System 
denied this week trade reports that 
it was "postponing indefinitely" its 
planned one-hour documentary 
radio show on the film industry. 
Warner Michel, in charge of the 
CBS documentary-unit, said that 
the show has been merely pushed 
back for a few weeks to allow in- 
clusion in the script of new ma- 
terial recently acquired. 

Hollywood study was originally 
set for airing Sept. 21, According 
to Michel it will now be held until 
early October. 

U s Big Push On 
Hamlet' in NIC. 



Brit. Goods (Scotch, Etc.), 
Increased U. S. Exports 

Import of most British products 
Into the U. S. has increased steadily 
during the last year; indicating that 
the Palestine situation, which led 
to an attempted boycott of British 
pictures in this country, hasn't af- 
fected such commodities as Scotch 
whiskey, British cars, etc. 

London Daily Express, in a New 
York-datelined story, last week 
quoted H. L. Lourie, exec vcepce 
©f the National Alcoholic Beverage 
Importers Assn., as saying that 
Scotch drinkers are ignoring the 



William A. Scully, Uniyersal's 
distribution vcepce, is meeting the 
boycott movement against British 
pix head-on in a direct refusal to 
withdraw J. Arthur Rank's "Ham- 
let" from circulation. Without re- 
ferring to the buy-no-British cam- 
paign directly, Scully declared 
yesterday (Tues.) that "the tre- 
mendous public interest already 
demonstrated in 'Hamlet' will be 
the guiding factor in the release 
plans for this roadshow!" 

"The tremendous business in 
Boston at the American premiere 
of 'Hamlet' together with the un- 
precedented enthusiasm expressed 
by the reviewers — particularly the 
Page one review in the Boston 
Herald — proves that the only factor 
to be considered in the release of 
this much heralded attraction is the 
enthusiasm the public has for good 
pictures." 

Eagle Lion, co-distributor with 
U of Rank's pix in the U. S., has 
also taken a similar stand. EL has 
no intention of holding back on 
Rank's films, William .1. Heineman, 
company's distribution veepee, told 
V&biety last week. He corrected 
an impression given recently that 
EL would wait until the storm 
blows over. 

"Blanche Fury," one of EL's 
Rank releases, would go to the 
I theatres in October while "Olym- 
pic Games" is set to open at the 
Gotham (N. Y.>, Sept. 3, Heineman 
disclosed. Rumors that EL would 
pull in its horns were derived from 
the fact that the company is de- 
laying release of "Oliver Twist." 
The market is not ripe for this film, 
Heineman explained, since adver- 
tising has not been set. 

As for "Hamlet," Scully said that 
hundreds of telephone inquiries 
were made asking when tickets 
would be on sale following an- 
nouncement that the pic would 
open at the Park Avenue theatre 
IN. Y.), Sept. 29. "Therefore," he 
declared, "Universal will arrange 
for the exhibition of 'Hamlet* with 
a policy which is- consistent with 
this public enthusiasm and desire 
to see the picture." 

U's defi of the Sons of Liberty. 



U-l Sues Deattii 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 

Suit to recover $87,083.23 from 
Deanna Durbin was filed by U-l 
in superior court, here. 

Studio said the money was owed 
over a. period of two years, ex- 
plaining that the dispute arose 
over funds paid the actress while 
she was on leave of absence. 

. Suit is said to be technical, for 
studio protection under statute of 
limitations. Actress has still a year 
to go at U-I. . 
r' 

20th's 6-Month Statement 
A Switch: Much Economy 
Achieved on Eastern End 

While economy talk in the in- 
dustry has centered on the pro- 
duction end, the other two wings 
of the film business have under- 
gone the more vital paring of costs. 
That's the surprising disclosure 
made in the 20th-Fox half-year 
profits report which showed a net 
of $6,894,659 for the period ended 
June 26 against $8,401,778 turned 
in last year. 

Some $4,291,363, or two-thirds 
of the company's entire net, was 
knocked off film distribution, the- 
atre operations and administrative 
i expenses on a comparison with the 
same 26 weeks of 1947. At the 
same time, amortization of film 
costs were different by only a 
shade with $26,026,229 absorbed 
this year against $25,753,837 in 
'47. 

In the important bracket of 
operational costs— referring both 
to distribution and exhibition — 
20th planked out only $44,172,178 
for this half-semester against 
$48,463,541 in 1947. With those 
savings, company was able to show 
a boost in the second-quarter net 
which totalled $3,967,817 against 
$2,504^175 in the previous year's 
comparative stretch. 

Added reason for 20th's gain in 
the second quarter was the fact 
that the company was able to boost 
its gross by slicing rentals on a 
number of films, it's understood. 
Outfit had met strong exhib re- 
sistance early in the year on some 
50% pix and later cut the asking 
price to 40%. 

Gross on film rentals and theatre 
receipts slipped to $82,660,467 in 
the first 26 weeks of '48 against 
$39,631,283 in '47. Total gross, in- 
cluding rents front tenants and 
other income, toted to $90,216,305 
for the current period compared to 
$96,096,871 last year. 

Equivalent per share earnings 
came to $2.37 against 1947 r s $2.91. 
Quarterly dividend of 50c per 
share on outstanding common has 
been declared payable Sept. 25 to 
stockholders of record Sept. 3. 
Board also ordered quarterly divvy 
of $1.12% per share to holders of i 
prior preferred stock and 37^c. J 
per share on outstanding convert! - | 
ble preferred. Former will be 
paid Sept. 15 to stockholders of 
record Sept. I. Holders of con- 
vertible as of Sept. 3 will receive 
their melon Sept. 25. 



Wanger s Plug for British Prod. 

There were plenty of raised eyebrows and not a little profane 
comment in the industry last' week on the interview with Walter 
Wanger which appeared in the Wall Street Journal. Principal 
shocker was the quoting of the producer as "recommending that 
Hollywood finance the expansion of British motion picture, studios 
with American dollars." Most U. S. industryites sizzle at the very 
thought of helping to build up a source of product which has most 
definitely become competitive with Hollywood in the world market. 

Main purport of Wanger*s interview, which also got some ask- 
ance looks, was the suggestion that bankers and Wall Streeters are 
needed by the industry to get it out of its present difficulties 
abroad. "We in the motion picture industry," Wanger was quoted 
as saying, "have made many mistakes in handling our European, 
Asiatic and our other foreign markets. Wall Street could help us 
develop our foreign market, help us deal with governments that 
are hampering our trade, help us to expand our production and 
investments so that our industry becomes worldwide in scope." 

Wanger specifically suggested Alex Ardrey, v.p. of the Bankers 
Trust Co., N. Y„ who handles film loans, as an impartial arbitrator 
to settle the Anglo-American film dispute. Most industryites were 
wondering exactly how you go about convincing the British to 
arbitrate what they feel the economic situation and dollar shortage 
has made no arbitrable situation. 



Far Renews Its Program to Buy 
Back More Stock on Open Market 



Atlas Unloading? 

Wall Street followers of film 
stocks are wondering if the 
action of Atlas in lightening 
its holdings of motion picture 
shares is a sign of further 
weakening of interest in these 
amusement issues. Besides 
selling its RKO common stock 
in the first six months this 
year. Atlas also cut down the 
number of Paramount shares 
in its portfolio. 

Report shows that as of June 
30. Atlas held only 50,000 Par 
shares with a market value of 
about $1,100,000 as compared 
with holdings of 70,500 com- 
mon shares at the close of 1947. 
These shares had a value of 
$1,515,750. As compared with 
a year ago, ^this Atlas' lighten- 
ing of holdings in Paramount 
more than halved its financial 
stake in the film company. 
On June 30 last year, Atlas 
owned 93,000 Par shares with 
a value of $2,429,000. 



♦ In a first step towards shrinking 
; its outstanding capitalization be- 
cause of the Government's anti- 
trust suit. Paramount has now 
launched a renewal of its tremen- 
dous stock-purchasing program. 
Company purchased 31,000 shares 
of its own common stock in July 
to bring the total of shares held in 
its treasury to a high of 611.133. 
Renewed buying campaign comes 
after a lull of several months in 
which Par - bought little if any 
stock. 

Par now holds approximately 
$13,500,000 worth of its own stock 
at current market prices. If a court 
decision in the anti-trust action 
brings on partial or complete di- 
vorcement, this stock and addition- 
al quantities to be purchased in 
the interim will undoubtedly be 
retired under the company's pres- 
ent plans. 

New wave of buying by Par is 
in conformance with the proposal 
announced by Barney Balaban, 
company prexy, and now first be- 
ing carried out. His plan is to re- 
i Continued oo page 24) 



Par Chopping Its 
Loan 



Original loan of $10,600,000 
which Paramount obtained from 
three banks last year on an au- 
thorized indebtedness of $25,000,- 
000 has now been whittled to $5,- 
500,000. Company is planning to 
retire this loan — its sole indebted- 
ness — within a year by the pay- 1 
ment of $500,000 monthly. Pre- 
payment of $500,000, in accordance 
with that policy, was made July 31, 
it has been learned. 

As the books now stand, Par 
owes $2,200,000 to the First Na- 
tional Bank of Chicago; $1,760- 
000 to the Manufacturers Trust 
Co.; and $1,540,000 to the Bankers 
CAD AUI7DCC iC VIAC i Trust Co - lMsat was contracted 
flm UYtKjLAo MUO June 25, 1947 when the British 



CAJfFOR'S 12-CFFY TOUR 



Eddie Cantor is doing some dates 



group backing the boycott, may n at fairs m& y hmsas y.through-Sun 
bnng on _an extension by the outfit , day in antJ Readingi Pa .. un _ 
of the buymg-ban to all of the^ er a ial Poking set up by 
company s films. Group is now 
mulling the move. 



'Macbeth,' 3d Shakespeare 
Film, Due for Hub Preera 

Boston, Aug 24. 
.Orson Welles* version of "Mac- 
boycott completely. According to I beth" for Republic is slated for 

on | American premiere in the Hub next 1 
October. Film was figured to move 



crisis threatened the company's 
liquid status but healthy domestic 
profits and studio economies have 
removed the pinch on dollars in 
the bank. 

July installment consisted of 
$200,000 to First National; $160,000 



the Willian- Morris office, and then 
goes on a series of 12 key-city 
personals on behalf of the United , - 

Jewish Appeal for Overseas Chil- ! tft Manufacturers, and $140,000 to 
dren's Relief. The comedian found Bankers. Notes call for \V*% m- 
sueh stimulating-results first-hand I terest to maturity and 3% there- 
from the UJA's succor for Disr . after. , 
placed Persons that he plans to , 



L. A. to N. Y. 

John Bertero 
Daniel Blum 
George Bowser 
John Cromwell 
Jean Dairy Mtple 
Linda Darnell 
Roy Disney 
Dale Evans 
Philip Gerard 
Joe Glaser 
Robert Goldstein 
Mitchell Hamilbttrg 
Al Horwits 
Rochefle Hudson 
William B. Katzell 
Jack. Oakie 
Tom Page 
Eleanor Pinkham 
Carroll Richter 
Roy Rogers 
Al Rosen 
George "idney 
Sol C. Siegel 
Charles SimonelU 
Charles P. Skouras 
Dick Spier 
Rise Stevens 
Mike Vallon 
Com >1 Wilde 
Foy Willing 



w.k. en- 



Lourie; Americans paid taxes 
13,980,000 bottles of Scotch in the 
first six months of 1947, but the 
figure rose to 17,088,000 bottles 
during the same period this year, 
tourfe declared that certain groups 
In the U. S. had tried to convince 
importers not to handle British 
goods, but claimed the boycott was 
dying a natural death. 

British Information Service 
meanwhile, reported last week' that 
British sales were at a record peak 
In the U. S.. currently and that ex- 
ports of British-made products to 
the U. S. now pay for one-third of 
British imports from this country, 
Only one- fifth of Britain's imports 
from the U. S. were covered by her 
exports to this country at the be- 
ginning of the year. Biggest in- 
crease, according to the BIS sur- 
vey, mm chalked up U British cam 
Surrey made »*,me»tioB whatso- 
ever «t British films m the U.S. 



into the Esquire, only hitch being 
that Theatre Guild is supposed to 
have prior rights on the house in 
the event biz on "Hamlet." cur- 
rently a hit at the downtown Astor, 
drops off enough to make the move 
uptown necessary. 

in view of the Hub's receptivity 
to Shakespearean films, as proved 
both by "Henry V," which got 36 
weeks at the Esquire, and "Ham- 
let," which should easily do 18 
weeks, this third American preera 
for "Macbeth' would make a neat 
Shakespearean parley. Prevalence 
of schools and colleges (at least' a 
: dozen top-ranking colleges within 
20 miles of downtown Boston), adds 
a solid backlog of special parties. 
"Hamlet." for example, has thea- 
tre parties set well into October 
already, and schools haven't opened 
yet- 



re-intensify his already 
thusiasm for the ftork. 

Cantor and his wife, who got 
back from abroad last week, had 
shifted their tour from the Scan- 
dinavian countries to take in Paris. 
It was for personal reasons ( having 
found the Norse countries duller 
than popularly believed) and also 
to see the DP rehabilitation camps 
in France. Ha returns to Holly- 
wood in two weeks. 

Cantor's show business commit- 
ments include the "Cantor Story," 
at Warner Bros., which Lou Edel- 
man will row produce; plus the 
Pabst Beer sponsorship over CBS. 
Pabst. which also controls Hoff- 
man's Beverages (soft drinks), 
wants Cantor to add an additional 
two years to his term with them, 
and indue*; ;. possible supplemen- 
tary program via television on be- 
half of the affiliated products. If 
he does TV, the comedian favors 
.the film technique.. 



Nestle* Buys Theatre 

Harry Nestler, former exec with 
Interboro circuit, has purchased 
Florence theatre, Florence, N. J. 
Seller is Martin Fishbein, now re- 
tiring. Berk & Krumgoid agented. 



N. Y, to L. 

Wallace Beery 
Allen Boreti 
Melvyn Douglas 
Alice Faye 
Irving Fein 
Joe Glaser 
Phil Harris 
George Jesse! 
Mort Lewis 
Nola I.uxford 
Marilyn Maxwell 
Agnes Moorehead 
Morris Novik 
Frank Rem ley 
Edward G. Robinson 
Shtne« Sheldon 
John Springer 



A. 



N. Y. to Europe 

George Btoch-Simon 
Donald Crisp 
Graham Greene 
■lean Hellmann 
Howard Hawks 
Laudy Lawrence 
Charles Lederer 
Ilya Lopert 
David MacDonatd 
Hortense Monath 
Gregor Piatigorsky 
Carol Reed 
Douglas Ritchie 
Albert Sharpe 
Dinah Shore 



Europe to N. Y. 

George Balanchine 
Jack Benny 
Harold Conrad 
- Howard Dietz. 
Jed Harris 
Kay Harrison 
Jack, Kapp 
Jock Lawrence 
Mary Livingstone 
David Niven 
Sam Perrin 
Jules C. Stein 
Sidney M. Wynne" 



Wednesday, August 25, 1948 



PICTURES 



FOREIGN PACTS SPLIT PRODUCERS 



Ranks 2-Ply Advantage 

The amazingly strong business some of the British B's do at home 
is unbelievable to the U. S. film people who reject these films for 
the American market and yet find they do socko in their native 
heath. It supports the argument of J. Arthur Rank, John Davis, 
et al. that, so far as run-of-the-mill pix are concerned, a native- 
made film of comparable quality will outgross a Hollywood "B". 

As regards the British, independents protesting at Rank's setup 
where, on the one hand he can dictate terms for the American pix 
he imports and also for the British films he produces, the fact is 
that the British theatre men are in the middle. They may protest 
Rank's fancy ideas about rentals on Rank-made pix, and may even 
be sincere that the U. S. product is to be preferred, but none the. 
less the independent must straddle. He must live with Rank, gince 
he needs his product (or Korda's, or any other British producer's) 
since the quota law restricts him to a 45-55% ratior And Rank 
produces and distribs the bulk of the home-grown product for that 
45% quota. 





Yanks' Nix on Coupling U. S., British 
Pix Seen as Johnstons Trump Card 



Major trump in the hand of Eric + 1 ; 

Johnston in his present conversa- 1 _ . . . 
tions with the British is the threat CumiMngS AnSWCFS AgOU 

ened refusal of American distribs ! ■ s» » 



to allow their product to be coupled 
with that of English producers on 
double bills in United , Kingdom 
houses. It is believed by the U. S. 
industry that the 45% quota, which 
becomes effective in Britain Oct. 1, 
can't possibly work without this 



Hollywood, Aug. 24. 
Actor Robert Cummings asked a 
judgment of $240,000 in a cross- 
complaint filed against his former 
agent, Oscar Cummins. Thesp 
charges the agent tried to peddle 
a femme client on the strength of 



use of Hollywood features in the Cummings' name, and failing to do 

so did not get the actor proper film 
roles. 

Cummins previously had filed a 



dualers. 

Plan of J. Arthur Rank for his 
circuits is to hitchhike his own 
films onto American pictures — but 
to put his own in the top-billed po- 
sition, while important U. S. fea- 
tures got the bottom spot at flat 
rentals. This, for one thing, would 
permit Rank to play 20% more 
U. S. pictures, since the new quota 
is only 25% for so-called "second 
features," while for top-billed prod- 
uct the law provides that every 
British- theatre must allot 45% of 
its playing time to home-produced 
films. 

Playing U. S. product as the short 
end of dual bills would also serve 
to cut down the amount of dollars 
the films will earn, since the bot- 
tom of a twinner customarily plays 
flat rental, while the tops plays 
percentage. At that rate, the Brit- 
ish would be able to exhibit most 
of the top Hollywood films and still 
not go beyond the $17,000,000 min- 
imum remittance provided in the 
Anglo-U. S. agreement of last 
March. 

A third important aspect of the 
coupling of U. S. and British films 
would be that considerable amount 
of poor domestic product would be 
sold the public on the strength of 
the Hollywood output it was tied up 
with. That would make it all the 
more' possible for Rank to live up 
to his pledge that instead of the 
official 45% quota he is going to 
apply a 60%-65% quota' in his 
Odeon and Gaumont-British cir- 
cuits. 

As a matter of fact, however, the 
situation regarding U. S. pix pull- 
ing up the b.o. of accompanying 
British films is not quite so one- 
(Continued on page 20) 



$247,000 suit, charging Cummings 
had discharged him without provo- 
cation. 



Gerald Mayer Joining 
Johnston's European 0.0. 

Gerald A. Mayer, chief of the 
international division of the Mo- 
tion Picture Assn. of America, who 
is now in Paris, will accompany 
Erie Johnston on the MPAA 
prexy's tour of Europe. Mayer has 
completed his task as adviser to the 
American Embassy on negotiation 
of a film agreement with the 
French and will make the trip 
with Johnston prior to returning to 
his New York headquarters. 



Kelly's Trip to Win 
Rank & Influence 
Playdates for UA 

With departure of Arthur W. 
Kelly, United Artists exec v.p., for 
England over the weekend, it has 
been learned that UA has all but 
given up the idea of bringing le- 
gal action against J. Arthur Rank 
to win a break in playing time on 
the Odeon circuit. Kelly's aim is 
to gain some dates for UA product 
via persuasive conferences with 
Rank and his circuit execs, 

Kelly lias also pretty much aban- 
doned the idea, it has been learned, 
of using UA films as the keystone 
for building up a circuit of inde- 
pendent houses in England to com- 
pete with the two Rank chains, 
Odeon and Gaumont-British, and 
Associated British Cinemas, par- 
tially owned by Warner Bros. The 
indie exhibs are interested in the 
idea, but want assurances of suf- 
ficient product to maintain the 
policy if they switch to first-run. 
Kelly has been unable to get other 
American companies to forego the 
possibility of important dates in 
Rank houses in order to guarantee 
product to the indies. 
, Still another UA hope concern- 
ing the'United Kingdom has gone 
aglimmering. Kelly had been 
working on a deal by which a 
group of Irish capitalists were to 
erect a studio in Dublin which 
(Continued on page 18) 



DISNEY'S SQUAWK 

Dual split that has developed 
during the past week in the unity 
maintained by majors and indies 
on the international front for more 
than a year appears destined to 
widen. Indie squawks that may 
well upset the French agreement 
negotiated in recent weeks by the 
majors could be the wedge causing 
a lasting split in the common fight 
the two groups have been making 
for foreign markets. 

Refusal of the Society of Inde- 
pendent Motion Picture Producers 
to sanction a plan for James A. 
Mulvey to accompany Eric John- 
ston on his current trip to England 
proved the initial wedge last week. 
The actual failure Of Mulvey to go 
with the Motion Picture Assn. of 
America prexy appeared only sec- 
ondary in creating a schism to the 
heat Johnston generated among 
the indies by his remarks on the 
subject. (See separate story here- 
with. ) 

With the French agreement be- 
lieved ready for signature this 
week, the lengthy telegram of pro- 
test on behalf of the indies sent 
by Roy Disney to Secretary of 
State George C. Marshall came as 
quite a shock. Disney protested 
the 11 pix a year that the indies 
may import into France as com- 
pared with the 110 allotted to the 
majors. 

I The arrangement was negotiated 
through U. S. Ambassador Jeffer- 
son Caffrey in Paris with the Min- 
istry of Commerce in a revision of 
the film clauses of the Blum-Byrnes 
agreement. MPAA international 
division chief Gerald Mayer acted 
as expert adviser to the Embassy 
and the deal was approved by the 
MPAA board last week. Disney's 
wire to Marshall disputed the right 
of the MPAA to negotiate for "the 
industry." 

Selznirk Echos Disney 
Selznick Releasing Organization, 
which was lumped among the in- 
dies, as well as lesser Hollywood 
(Continued on page 22) 



SAG OVER 99% UNITED 
IN OKAYING GUILD SHOP 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 
Record-making 99.33% of Screen 
Actors Guild members voted to re- 



Johnston said before he left last | tain the union shop in an election 



Friday (20) that he would follow 
his current 10-day stay in London 
with visits to Berlin, Paris, Rome 
and Madrid. He declared he'd also 
visit some of the Iron Curtain 
countries if possible. ' 

MPAA prexy's daughter, Har- 
riet, who' was celebrating her 22d 
birthday on the day of their depar- 
ture, accompanied her father 
abroad. She recently was grad- 
uated from Smith College. Also 
accompanying Johnston were Joyce 
O'Hara, his aide, and Merrie Smith, 
his secretary. 



conducted 'by the National Labor 
Relations Board. Vote was 3,828 
for the union shop and 29 against. 

Identity of the "aginers" was not 
revealed but insiders describe them 
as malcontents among the SAG 
membership. Of 4,377 eligible to 
vote, 3,857, or 88%, cast a ballot. 
Fifteen votes were voided. Ballot- 
ing validates new ■ clause in SAG 
pact stipulating that newcomer to 
acting ranks must join the guild 
within 30 days after first day's 
work. SAG has had union shop" 
condition with studios since 1937. 



Johnston-Wilson 
Powwow Next Sat. 



.London, Aug. 24. 
Eric Johnston will meet with 
Harold Wilson, president of the 
Board of Trade, in Oxford next 
Saturday (28). It will be their first 
meeting since the Motion Picture 
Assn. of America prexy was here 
to work out the Anglo-U. S. films 
agreement last March. The 45% 
quota and other Restrictions im- 
posed since that time will undoubt- 
edly be the subject of the session, 
although Johnston has little hope 
of reducing the quota before the 
end of its first year in October, 
1949. 

Before Johnston, however, was 
able to make his proposals, he be- 
came the object of a sharp editorial 
attack in the London Daily Ex- 
press. The editorial said: "John- 
ston will try to persuade Wilson to 
reduce the 45% quota in favor of 
the Americans. There is only one 
fault with the quota — it's too low. 
The day of Hollywood domination 
is over. We cannot be driven, and 
we will neither relinquish nor 
abandon our 'cultural right. It is 
the heritage of our people." 

Johnston met with J. Arthur 
Rank today (Tues.), in a broad dis^ 
cussion of Anglo-American film 
problems. Prior to resuming talks 
again with Johnston, Rank will con- 
fer with Sir Alexander Korda and 
Sir Henry French, both members of 
the Anglo-American film council. 
Also attending the Johnston-Rank 
talks today were Fayette W. All- 
port, London rep for MPAA, and 
John Davis, Rank's chief aide. 

MPAA topper had a six-hour ses- 
sion yesterday with local managers 
for American companies, who 
briefed him for his talks with Rank 
and Wilson. JJe will confab with 
them again at MPAA headquarters 
here tomorrow. 



State Dept.'s Influence in French 
Film Accord Further Evidence U.S. 
Biz Erred in the British Strategy 



Garbo's 1st in 7 Years 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 
New producing combination of 
Walter Wanger and Eugene Frenke 
will follow "Reign of Terror" with 
an untitled film starring Greta 
Garbo. It will be lensed in Europe 
in the spring. 

Picture will be Miss Garbo's first 
in seven, years. Her last film was 
"Two Faced Woman" at Metro. 



SIMPP Charges 
Johnston Trying 
To Split the Org 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 
Members of the Society of In- 
dependents Motion Picture Produc- 
ers were sizzling this week over, 
what they charged were efforts of 
Eric Johnston to split the organiza- 
tion as result of its refusal to sanc- 
tion the plan of James A. Mulvey 
to accompany the Motion Picture 
Assn. of America prexy to London. 
As a matter of fact, there vteis a 
division along the lines indicated 
by Johnston before he planed from 
New York for England last Friday 
(20). 

Since the final vote by SIMPP 
members, however, was unanimous 
for keeping Mulvey at home and 
the organization was exhibiting a 
united front to the outside World, 
feeling in SIMPP is that Johnston' 
was outside the bounds in com-' 
menting on its internal affairs. Two 
successive daily Johnston state- 
ments which were taken by the 
indies as inferring a breach of 
faith on their part and interference 
in the. organization's activities were 
seen in the trade as creating a 
cleft between the MPAA and 
SIMPP that will be a long time 
healing. 

Action started with the meeting 
of the MPAA board in New York 
on Tuesday (17) at which Mulvey 
agreed to accompany Johnston, as 
(Continued on page 16) 



UA Board Meets in N.Y. 
Tomorrow on Hughes' Bid 
To Recapture His 3 Pix 

United" Artists board will hold a 
special meet at the. N. Y. homeof- 
fice tomorrow' (Thursday) to dis- 
cuss the deal offered by Howard 
Hughes, new RKO owner, to gain 
back distribution control of the 
three films he made for UA re- 
lease. 

Deal was lined up by UA prexy 
Grad Sears in huddles with Hughes 
on the Coast. Sears brought back 
details yesterday (Tues.). UA top- 
pers are keeping silent on the pro- 
posal until Sears gets a chance to 
present it to the board, but they 
definitely denied earlier reports 
that it involved a swap of pictures, 
or that it would be a straight 
money deal. Three pictures in- 
volved are "The Outlaw," "Mad 
Wednesday" and "Vendetta." 

"Outlaw" played 5,000 of a pos- 
sible 18,000 dates, and grossed over 
$3,000,000 although it hasn't played 
any of the bigger circuit bookings, 
nor has it played certain censor- 
ship areas such as Ohio. However, 
it's figured that with Legion of De- 
cency approval it will play virgin 
dates, and may gross more than 
double what it's already done, thus 
accounting for enormous profit. 

"Wednesday" was withdrawn 
after playing a few dates under its 
original title of "Sin of Harold Did- 
dlebock," and would get benefit of 
full playdates in its new version. 
"Vendetta," not released, naturally 
will be brand new piece of product 
for RKO to distribute. 



* Quick acquiescence by the 
I French government to modifica- 
| tions of the new films agreement 
requested by American company 
toppers last week is being cited 
currently in industry- circles as 
further proof of the value of hav- 
ing the State Dept.'s help in fight- 
ing Hollywood's battles. Many dis- 
trib execs have strongly felt that 
the U. S. government's aid shpuld 
long ago have been insisted upon 
in disagreements with the British. 

Feeling is that an industry-vs.- 
government fight, as in the case of 
the U- S. film interests vs. the Brit- . 
ish, is a losing proposition from the 
start. With government vis-a-vis 
government, as in the case of the 
French negotiations, the parties sit 
down with the aces in the deck 
more evenly distributed. 

French agreement is cited to 
back up this contention. Films 
were made part of an Overall finan- 
cial and trade pact negotiated two 
years ago by Leon Blum, then 
premier of France, and -James F. 
Byrnes,, then U. $. Secretary of 
State. A very favorable film clause 
was included in this agreement. - 
When the French, because of dol- 
lar shortages and domestic political 
pressures, found themselves un- 
able to live up to the arrangement, 
the American Industry again enlist- 
ed the State Dept. and a new 
agreement^was made in a relatively 
short time. American Embassy han- 
dled the deal in Paris, with Gerald 
(Continued on page 18) 

Yanks Can Produce, 
Build Pic Studios On 
French Frozen Coin 

Paris, Aug. 24. 
American film interests would be 
permitted to produce pictures and 
erect new studios, but not labora- 
tories or theatres, with the coin 
j frozen, in France, according to the 
proposed new FranccAmcriean 
film accord. With proper okay, the 
U. S. film people might even be 
able to make limited investment in 
the French picture industry, includ- 
ing the purchase of securities, since 
the proposal allows a wide latitude 
for spending the coin which could 
not be returned to the U. S. in dol- 
lars. 

Following are the important ways 
in which the frozen coin could be 
spent under the plan now being 
mulled by American toppers. 

1. Payment of expenses by com- 
pany officials living or visiting in 
France. 

2. Purchase, lease, or improve- 
ment of real estate, Erection of 
new studios would be permitted 
but not improvement of old ones 
Building of theatres and film labor- 
atories would be barred. 

3. Cost of dubbing, subtitling, 
advertising, distribution, etc. 

4. Purchase of goods and mate- 
rials for export, if deemed benefi- 
cial to French economy; 

5. Production of films, if 
(Continued on page 18) 



ap- 



STUDIO IC0N0MY CUES 
LYONS AGENCY SHAKEUP 

• Hollywood, Aug. 24. 

Economy drive at the studios is 
reflected in the personnel shakeup 
at A.&S. Lyons Agency.. 

Agency, which has been carrying 
a staff of 40 in Hollywood and 30 
in New York, expects to oust 15 
from the local office and five from 
New York. Replacements prob^ 
ably will be made within 10 days * 
idea being to bring Into the agency 
personnel with a thorough workimr 
knowledge of film production as 
well as problems of handling 
agency's talent clients. Arthur 
Lyons reported he expected to see 
more stars working on percentage 
deals under the new studio econ- 
omy drive, hence the need for pro- 
duction-wise personnel ir the 
agency. *■■■■* 



9 



Wedneday, August 25, 1948 ' 




NOTHING EVER HELD 
WALTER WINCHELL 
LIKE ALFRED 
HITCHCOCK'S 

ROPE 

w It ties you into 
knots! Hitchcock at 
his big-time best! 99 




NOTHING 

EVER 

HELD 

J. EDGAR HOOVER 

F.B.I. CHIfF 

LIKE 

ALFRED 

HITCHCOCK'S 

ROPE 

w Never saw 
anything like it! 
Terrific suspense! 
Leaves you 
breathless! 99 



mm 



NOTHING 
EVER HELD 
DOROTHY KILGALLEN 

FAMED COLUMNIST 

LIKE 
ALFRED 
HITCHCOCK'S 

ROPE 

e? Nerve-racking 
from the opening 
until the end! 
Audiences will 
remain cemented 
to their seats! 
The fan who doesn't 
hurry to see ROPE 
is cheating himself 
of screen history!" 



Wednesday, August 25, 1948 P^LHiJSf'T * L 




FILM REVIEWS 



WetlneJay, August 25, 1948 



A Song Is Born 

(COLOR; SONGS) 
KKO release of Samuel Goldwyn pro- 
duction. Stan Danny K»ye; features Vir- 
ginia Mayo, Hugh Herbert. J. Edward 
Brombcrg. Steve CoehFen, Felix Bressart, 
Benny Goodman. Louis Armstrong. Buck 
& Bubbles, Page Cavanaugb. Trio, other 
bandleaders, Directed by Howard Hawks. 
Based on story. "From A to Z>" by 
Thomas Monroe and BiBy Wilder; cam- 
era, Gregg Toland; editor, Daniel Mandell; 
songs. Don Raye and Gene De Paul; musi- 
cal direction, Emll Newman, Hugo Fried- 
hofer; orchestrations. Sonny Burke. Pre- 
viewed N. Y., Aug. 23. '48. Running time, 
112 MiNS. 

Professor Hobart Frisbee Danny Kaye 

Honey Swanson Virginia Mayo 

Professor Magenbruch... Benny Goodman 

Professor Twingle Hugh Herbert 

Tony Crow ............ Steve Cochran 

Br. Elfinl J. Edward Brombcrg 

Professor Gerkikoff Felix Bressart 

Professor Traumer Ludwig Stossel 

Professor Oddly O. Z. Whitehead 

Miss Bragg ..Esther Dale 

Miss Totten Mary Field 

Mr. Setter Howland Chamberlin 

Joe Paul Langton 

Adams Sidney Blackmer 

Monte Beri Weldon 

Ben Ben Chaien 

Louis Peter Virgo 

Bass Harry Babaato 

Drums Louis BeUaon 

«uitar Alton Hcndrickaon 

Tommy Dorscy Buck & Bubbles 
Louis Armstrong Page Cavanaugh Trio 
Lionel Hampton Golden Gate Quartet 
Charlie Barnct Russo & Samba Kings 
Mel Powell 



denouement, successfully foil the 
thugs and all ends happily. 

Rest of the cast follow the 
comic's fine thesping under Hawks' 
capable touch for comedy. Miss 
Mayo, slimmer but beautiful as 
ever, surprises with some top act- 
ing in.this one. Professors, includ- 
ing Hugh Herbert, J. Edward Brom- 
berg, Felix Bressart, Ludwig Stos- 
seland O. 2. Whitehead, milk their 
lines and situations for the maxi- 
mum of laughs. Steve Cochran is 
sufficiently menacing as the gang 
chief. Buck and Bubbles, colored 
vaude act, turn in a couple of neat 
tricks as a pair of window-washers. 

Two new songs defied for the 
film by Don Raye and Gene De 
Paul are good, with the title tune 
showing hit potentialities as 
groaned by Louis Armstrong with 
the "dream band" backing. It's the 
hot jive numbers played by the 
musicians, expertly arranged by 
Sonny Burke, though, that are 
standout. Rest of the production 
credits are up to the usual top 
Goldwyn standards, with Gregg To- 
land's Technicolor lensing, especi- 
ally good. Stal. 



"A Song Is Born" represents 
Danny Kaye's fourth and final pic- 
ture under- the banner of producer 
Samuel Goldwyn, with the come- 
dian now at Warners. With a star- 
studded cast featuring some of the 
top name bandleaders and vaude 
acts in the country, plus the usual 
lush production mountings given 
by Goldwyn to the Kaye films, 
there's no question that "Song" 
will chalk up hefty grosses in all 
situations. 

However, film represents a slight 
letdown from his previous efforts, 
largely because Kaye does none of 
the special songs usually penned 
for him by Sylvia Fine, his wife. 
Picture is a remake of Goldwyn's 
"Ball of Fire," released in 1941 
and starring Gary Cooper and Bar- 
bara Stanwyck. Because the earlier 
edition is so recent, audiences will 
probably note the resemblance 
early in ''Song," but it's doubtful 
that this will militate against the 
picture's acceptance. Most of Gold- 
wyn's production crew worked on 
both films; including director How- 
ard Hawks, cameraman Gregg To- 
land, editor Daniel Mandell, etc. 
Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder 
screenplayed "Ball" from an orig- 
inal by Wilder and -Thomas Mon- 
roe, but there's no screenplay 
credit given on "Song." 

While "Ball" dealt with a group 
of stodgy old professors writing -a 
new dictionary and the way a bur- 
lesque stripper tossed a bombshell 
into their work, "Song," presents a 
similar group of professors, only 
this time they're compiling a his- 
tory of music and the stripper is a 
nitery thrush. Revised situation 
gives Goldwyn a chance to toss into 
the film the aforementioned name 
maestros and vaude. acts whose 
work, for a change, is integrated 
neatly into the script. When Kaye 
is working with them before the 
cameras, in fact, the picture is 
standout entertainment. Last half 
of the picture, though, in which 
they get a seml-brushoff as Kaye 
becomes Involved with a, group of 
gangsters, drags by comparison. 

Kaye himself does his usual neat 
thesping iob as the youngest of the 
bachelor pedants, who gets his first 
intro to feminine wiles at the hands 
of a worldlywise nitery singer, 
played engagingly by Virginia 
Mayo. He demonstrates again that 
he's a real clown in the old tradi- 
tion, handling the pathos as.deftly 
as he does the comedy. It's diffi- 
cult to understand, though, why he 
wasn't given a chance at • his 
double-talk songs, always the high 
spot of his pictures. They're defi- 
nitely missed in this one. 

Script makes good use of the 
various musicians involved. They're 
spotlighted neatly at the beginning, 
as Kaye tours various Broadway 
niteries to get an idea of swing and 
jazz, which is completely unknown 
to the professorial group. They 
really click in several numbers in 
which they play together, result 
being a "dream band" seldom 
heard before. Benny Goodman, the 
only one not playing himself, is 
particularly standout as one of the 
professors. One sequence, in which 
he's invited by Mel Powell and 
Lionel Hampton to sit in on a num- 
ber they played together when 
"members of Benny Goodman's 
band" is the comedy highpoint of 
the film. 

Plot follows closely that of the 
earlier picture, with Miss Mayo 
hiding out in the monastic music 
foundation from the D.A/S office, 
which wants her in connection with 
a murder committed by her gang- 
ster fiance. When Kaye falls in 
love with her, she plays along be- 
cause the cops are hot on her trail. 
Gang chief gets sore, takes her 
back to the foundation to show her 
what a milquetoast Kaye actually 
is after she falls for huh and then 



One Touch of Venus 

(SONGS) 

Hollywood, Aug. 21. 

Universal release of Lester Cowan 
'John Beck) production, stars Robert 
Walker. Ava Gardner. Dick Haymes; fea- 
ture* Eve Arden, Olga San Juan, Tom 
Conway. Directed by Willam A. Seiter. 
Screenplay. Harry Kurnitz, Frank Tash- 
Un; based on. the musical of same title 
by S; J. Pereiman, Odgen Nash and Kurt 
Welle: camera. Frank Planer; editor. Otto 
Ludwig; new songs, Ann Ronell; Pre- 
viewed, Aug. 17. '48. Running time, 81 
WHpfav 

Eddie Hatch Robert Walker 

Venus.... Ava Gardner 

fix-, Grant ■ ^ .Dick Haymes 

If, 0 "? Stewart Eve Arden 

S,S ;; -- Olga San Juan 

Whitfield Savory Tom Conway 

Corrigan , Jama Flavin 

Landlady s - Sara Allgood 



One Touch of Venus" comes to 
the screen as a pleasant comedy 
fantasy. Its theme of love is 
thoroughly exploited in a gay, 
saucy manner, told with rare good 
humor and infectious charm. Ava 
Gardner steps into the top ranks as 
the goddess, Venus. Hers is a 
sock Impression, bountifully physi- 
cal and alluring, delivered with a 
delightfully sly instinct for com- 
edy. . 

Three of the songs from the 
original stage musical have been 
used, with new lyrics to fit the 
broadened theme. Merits of the 
stage piece gain additional worth 
in the Screening. The film treat- 
ment is deft and racy, always 
clever at garnering the utmost in 
audience response. 

The story, of the love affair be- 
tween goddess and a mortal is a 
blithe subject and the aura of ro- 
mance casts a subtle influence 
that quickens the pulse. The 
good-humored handling of the plot 
is emphasized through William A. 
Seiter's good direction. He com- 
bines sly comedy with slapstick, 
slickly times the bits of business 
to create an effect of almost spon- 
taneous and continuous mirth. 

Plot, briefly, covers the romantic 
adventures of a department store 
window dresser, who, in -a com- 
pletely pixilated moment, kisses a 
statue of Venus and brings her to 
life for- 24 hours. Those are event- 
ful hours; Venus' aura of love 
casts a spelV over all, bringing 
couples together and spreading 
happiness of romance. The script 
by Harry Kurnitz and *rank 
Tashlin is punctuated with snappy 
dialog and funny situation. 

Robert Walker delivers a gifted 
comedy performance. An ingratiat- 
ing personality .and talent empha- 
size a performance that never lets 
down and never goes overboard, 
making his window dresser char- 
acter real and earnest. Eve Arden, 
the store owner's glib secretary, 
gives another of her punchy de- 
liveries, smartly shaded to catch 
the full worth of every throwaway 
line and situation. 

Musical high spots please the ear 
and best is "Speak Low," from the 
original Kurt Wettl-Odgen Nash 
score, reprised several- times. Miss 
Gardner uses it too woo Walker 
and the magic of its spell is picked 
up to another part of the city by 
Dick Haymes in romancing Olga 
San Juan, pert clerk who loses 
Walker to the goddess but gains 
Haymes in the swap. The four- 
some are used for "Don't Look 
Now But My Heart is Showing " 
tune, spotting an amusement park 
production number and a breath- 
quickening love scene between 
Miss Gardner and Walker. 

The ,_ three femmes bounce 
through "That's Him" for humor- 
ous results, completing film's mu- 
sical portions that have had some 
new lyncs added by Ann Ronell. 

Tom Conway is the wolfish de- 
partment store owner and his ap- 
parent pleasure when he thinks 
he s making time with the goddess 
will be understandable to all 
males. Story setup permits Miss 
Gardner to work in goodness cos- 



iniature 



"A Song Is Born" (Songs- 
Color) (RKO-Goldwyn). Danny 
Kaye, Virginia Mayo, top band- 
leaders in big b.o. comedy.. 

"One Touch of Venus" 
(Songs) (U). Gay musical 
fantasy with sock perform- 
ance by Ava Gardner. 

"An Act of Murder" (U). 
Fredric March, starred in con- 
troversial story on mercy 
killing. B. o. prospects good. 

"Night Wind" (20th). Good 
programmer for the juvenile 
trade.- 

"I Surrender Dear" (Songs) 
(Col). Minor budget musical 
for secondary bookings. 

"Joe Palooka in Winner 
Take All" (Mono). Good ac- 
tioner for twin bills. Excit- 
ing ring footage. 

"The Prairie" (SG). Better 
than average frontier fare. 

"London Belongs To Me." 
(GFD). British-made melo, 
which turns to farce, doesn't 
quite come off. 

"The Spirit and the Flesh" 
(Indie). Fair Italian-made im- 
port for art houses. 



Amfitheatrof's score especially 
standout in hypoing the story's 
various themes. Hal Mohr's camera 
work is fine and Ralph Dawson has 
edited the film down to a tight 91 
minutes. Stal. 



slick, new-look outfits'* that are 
plenty smart. 

Lester Cowan and his associate 
producer, John Beck, have given 
the story lush backing, but never 
let the trappings become ostenta- 
tious. It's a showmanly chore by 
both that realizes on the top en- 
tertainment values. The produc- 
tion elegance and the players have 
been brightly displayed by Frank 
Planer's photography. Editing is 
expert, holding the film to a fast 
81 minutes. Brog. 

An Act of Murder 

Universal release of Jerry Bresler pro- 
duction. Stars Fredric March, Edmond 
O'Brien. ~ Florence Eldridge. Geraldine 
Brooks; features Stanley Ridges, John Mc- 
Intire. Frederic Tozere. Directed by 
Michael Gordon. Screenplay, Michael 
Blankfort and Robert Thoeren. based on 
novel. "Mills of God," by Ernest Lotbar; 
camera, Hal Mohr; editor, Ralph Dawson; 
music; Daniele Amfitheatrof. Tradeshown 
N.^Y., Aug. 19. '48. Running time, »1 

Judge Calvin Cooke Fredric March 

David Douglas., Edmond O'Brien 

Catherine Cooke Florence Eldridge 

EUie Cooke Geraldine Brooks 

Dr. Walter Morrison Stanley Ridges 

Judge Ogden John Mclntire 

Charles Dayton Frederic Tozere 

Judge Jim Wilder.... Will Wright 

Mrs. Russell Virginia Brissac 

Mr. RusseU Francis McDonald 

Julia Mary Servoss 

Pearson Don Beddoe 

Mr. Pope ...Clarence Muse 



*ad the bandleaders, in a contrived 'the femmes, she is tfVen three 



"An Act of Murder" Is as adult 
and well-handled a picture as any 
that have come out of Hollywood 
in recent months. Universal went 
far out on a limb with this one by 
putting the subject of euthenasia, 
or mercy killing, squarely up to the 
audience and then taking a nega- 
tive stand on the problem. Film, 
consequently, is very close to a 
documentary in theme, although 
it's given straight dramatic treat- 
ment. 

Because euthanasia has been 
spotlighted in various newspaper 
stories recently, "Murder" is wide 
'open to good exploitation selling. 
With the exception of Fredric 
March, the cast is relatively light 
on boxoffice names so that exhibs 
will have to rely mainly on bally- 
hoo to get 'em in. Once the ice is 
broken, though, word-of-mouth 
should catapult the film to good 
grosses in all situations. 

Most sock aspect of "Murder" is 
the fine thesping turned in by all 
members of the cast under the 
adept direction of Michael Gordon 
March, Edmond O'Brien, Florence 
Eldridge (who incidentally plays 
her real-life counterpart as March's 
wife) and Geraldine Brooks are 
standout, with Miss Eldridge, in 
particular, turning in a notable 
performance. 

Screenplay by Michael Blankfort 
and Robert Thoeren is equally 
socko, maintaining the best qual- 
ities of Ernest Lothar's "Mills of 
God" novel but lightening the grim 
aspects of the film substantially for 
top audience reaction. March is a 
smalltown judge who decides his 
cases strictly on the letter of the 
law, ruling out any emotional con- 
siderations. Then, Miss Eldridge, 
as his wife, is stricken with a fatal 
disease accompanied by excruciat- 
ing pain. Knowing she'll die soon 
anyway and tortured by the pain 
she's suffering, March decides to 
kill her by crashing their car over 
a cliff. 

March's portrayal of the judge 
runs the full gamut of thesping and 
is consistent throughout. He's only 
slightly overshadowed by Miss 
Eldridge, who has the difficult part 
of .the suffering wife down pat. 
OBnen's splendid work, partic- 
ularly in the final courtroom scene, 
should materially boost his box- 
office rating. Same goes for Ger- 
»Wln« Brooks as the daughter and 
Stanley Ridges as the doctor. Rest 
of the cast is equally good. > 

Producer Jerry Bresler has back- . 
grounded the film with neat pro- ; 
duction trappings, with Daniele 



Night Wind 

20th-Fox release of Sol M. Wurtzel pro- 
duction. Features Charles RusseU. Vir- 
ginia Christine, Gary Gray. Directed by 
James Tinling. Original story, Robert G. 
North; screenplay. North and Arnold Bel- 
gard; camera. Benjamin Kline; editor, 
William F. Claxton. Previewed N. Y. Aug. 
23, '48. Running time, (8 MINS. 

Ralph Benson Charles Russell 

Jean Benson Virginia Christine 

Johnny Benson Gary Gray 

Walters John Ridgely 

Sheriff Hamilton James- Burke 

Dr. Hiding Konstantin Shayne 

Barlow.,...' William StelUng 

Wilson Guy Kingsf ord 

John Steele Charles Lang 

Margie Benson Deanna Woodruff 

"Big Dan" .Flame 



A dog story, "Night Wind" is fine 
entertainment for juvenile audi- 
ences. Although adults will find 
the plot quite obvious, the yarn has 
the basic suspense that the Satur- 
day matinee trade thrives upon. 

Picture is built around the post- 
war life of Flame, a discharged 
Army German shepherd. Dog is 
idolized by moppet Gary Gray 
whose father was killed in the war. 
Canine supposedly was de-trained 
at his service exit. Nevertheless 
it's proved that he was the "killer" 
who snapped the necks of two al- 
leged duck hunters. Writers Rob- 
ert G. North and Arnold Belgard 
conveniently ease their way out of 
this by exposing the "hunters" as 
foreign spies. Hence, it was legal 
for the dog to kill. 

In this modest Sol M. Wurtzel 
production, the cast does a uni- 
formly good job. As a rocket re- 
searcher and stepfather to Gray, 
Charles Russell does a forthright 
portrayal. Gray Is natural as the 
lad, while Virginia Christine is a 
typical mother whose only worries 
are whether the supper will get 
cold, etc. Flame, who has the role 
of "Big Dan," is a well-trained 
canine. Supporting cast is ade- 
quate. 

Director James Tinling paced the 
situations nicely. Benjamin Kline's 
camerawork is good while produc- 
tion values are fair. "Night Wind" 
might well be the forerunner of a' 
dog series for 20th on the basis of 
this effort. Gilo. 



I Surrender Bear 

(MUSICAL) 
Hollywood, Aug. 21. 
Columbia release of Sam Katzman 
production. Stars Gloria Jean. David 
Street; features Don McGuire. Alice Tyr- 
. Robert Emmett Keane. Douglas 
Wood. The NoveUtes* Directed by Artnur 
Drelfuss. Original screenplay. M. Coates 
Webster; added dialog. Hal Collins; cam- 
era, Vincent Farrar; editor. Richard 
Fantl; musical director, Paul Mertz. At 
vantages, Hollywood, Aug. 19, '48, Run- 
ning time, 67 MINS. 

Patty Nelson.. Gloria Jean 

M ryletv... David Street 

tommy Tompkins.. Don McGuire 

Trudy Clements Alice Tyrrell 

'5 us s Nelson Robert Emmett Keane 

St. • S"} Unt Douglas Wood 

Mrs. Nelson Hegina Wallace 

George Rogers Byron Foulgor 

_, , , [Jack Eigen 

Disc Jockeys I Dave Garroway 

_ I Peter Potter 

The Novelites 



A mildly amusing budget musical 
has been built around the song 
title, "I Surrender Dear." There's 
pleasant piping by Gloria Jean and 
David Street to help offset the 
ambling pace. It's all minor stuff 
but passable for the secondary 
market. 

Plot has a disk jockey twist of 
orch leader turning platter twirler. 
It features romantic feud between 
Miss Jean and Street when latter 
turns jockey and eases her father 
out of his radio station job. It is 
all set up for the expected happy 
ending clinch and the finale pro- 
duction number. Film introduces 
three real-life disk jockeys, Jack 
Eigen, Peter Potter and Dave Gar- 
roway. Their brief footage is in- 
serted in opening sequences, 
amounting to only a quick flash as 
story points establish platter-chat- 
terer's salesmanship. 

Score spots four songs, including 
the title number which Miss Jean 
vocals. She also does "How Can 
You Tell" and "Amado Mio," both 
by Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher. 
Street's vocals are on "When You 
Are in the Room." Two leads are 
best on tune work and only ade- 
quate otherwise. 

Strong comedy trouping by Don 
McGuire and Alice Tyrrell capture- 
some chuckles and Robert Emmett 
Keane and Douglas Wood as father 
and station owner, respectively, are 
okay. The Novelites are in for a 
comedy special that runs too long. 

Production framework, furnished 
by Sam Katzman is acceptable. 
Arthur Dreifuss' direction is slow. 

Brog. 

New Miami 945-Seater 

Miami, Aug. 24. 
Newest house in Miami area will 
open next week when the Claugh- 
ton Theatres, Inc., debuts the 
Trail in suburban section of city. 
This 94.5-seater boasts the latest 
construction, and free parking for 
200 cars. 



Joe Palookn in Winner 
Take All 

HoIlywood,'Aug. 20 
Monogram release of Hal E. Chester 
production. Features Joe Kirkwuod, Flvss 
Knox, William Frawley, Stanley ClemeniV 
John Shelton, Mary Beth Hughes. Sheldon 
Leonard. Directed by Reginald Le Bora 
Screenplay, Stanley Rubin; added dialol. 
Monte V. Collins; camera, William Sick! 
ner; editor, Otho Lovering. Previewed at 
HoUywood, Aug. 19, '48. Running time, 
6# MINS* 

Joe Palooka Joe Kirkwood 

Anne Howe ..Elyse Knnv 

Knobby Walsh WUliam FrawlS 

' • • " ' Stanley ClemenlS 

Sml Tanner •• • ■ • John Shelton 

Millie Mary Beth Hughes 

Herman Sheldon Leonard 

Louie Frank JenS 

Henderson Lyle Talbot 

Waldo rack Roper 

g a nvas. Eddie GribBon 

Taxi Driver Wally Vernon 

U. Steve Mulford Ralph* sinford 

Sportscaster Bill Martin 

Bobo Walker. . "Big" Ben Moroz 

Sammy Talbot Ha! Fieberlina 

Talbot's Manager William Ruhl 

Doniger Chester Clute 

Reporters ( Douglas Fowley 

t Stanley Prager 

Instructors (Hugh Charles 

„ 1 Forrest Matthews 

Mrs. Howard Gertrude Astor 

Television Announcer Hal Gerard 

Monogram's latest Joe Palooka 
adventure is film merchandize that 
will have a ready market. Entry 
maintains the consistent worth of 
the series, furnishing fans with 
exciting ring footage and the 
proper amount of comedy and 
melodrama. It's a strong pro- 
grammer. 

Title role is capably filled, 
physically, by Joe Kirkwood, whose 
appearance has the brawn of Ham 
Fisher's pen-and-ink hero. He 
handles his dukes ably, making 
believeable the ring sequences and 
generally proves satisfactory on 
all counts. Elyse Knox's Anne 
Howe character is appealing and 
William Frawley is good as the 
worrisome, slightly comic Knobby 
Walsh. Threesome teams Well. 

This time Palooka. has his 
troubles with gamblers and a ward, 
the younger brother of a war pal. 
When gamblers fail to bring down 
the odds on Paiooka's champion- 
ship fight by threats, they use the 
ward and a phoney kidnapping to 
make the champ throw a fight The 
ward gets over his peeve at Palooka 
in time for the hero to stage a 
last-minute comeback. It's all pat 
stuff, but neatly twisted in writing 
and direction to command audience 
interest. 

There are a number of ring 
sequences, all solidly staged by 
John Indrisano." A standout one 
for laughs and thrills, is Paiooka's 
go with a seven-foot boxer, "Big" 
Ben Moroz. The championship go 
between Kirkwood and Hal Fieber- 
ling is an authentic piece of action 
stuff. 

Stanley (Clements portrays the 
Palooka ward smartly, pointing up 
the assignment and giving film a 
decided lift. Sheldon Leonard is 
a joy as a dumb gambler with 
mojiey, making for nifty laughs. 
Mary Beth Hughes and John Shel- 
ton are good as Leonard's part- 
ners. Others in the cast give 
capable support. 

The Hal E. Chester production, 
directed by Reginald Le Borg, has 
been expertly mounted to get the 
most for budget dollar. Lensing, 
editing and other techinical credits 
reflect production care in hewing 
to an entertainment line that 
should give "Winner" plenty of 
playdates in its market. Brog. 

The Prairie 

Screen GuUd release of Edward F. Fin- 
ney (George Moskov) production. Stars 
Lenore Aubcrt. Alan Baxter; features 
Russ Vincent. Jack Mitchum. Directed by 
Frank Wisbar. Screenplay, Arthur St. 
Clare; camera, James S. Brown; editor, 
Douglas W. Bagier; music, Alexander 
Steinert. At New York, N. Y., Aug. 17, 
"48. Running time, 65 MINS. 

EUen Wade Lenore Aubert 

Paul Hover Alan Baxter 

Abiram White Russ Vincent 

Asa Bush Jack Mitchum 

Iebmacl Bush Charles Evans 

Esther Bush Edna Holland 

Eagle Feather Chief Thundercloud 

Abner Bush Fred Coby 

Jess Bush... Bill Murphy 

Gabe Bush David Gerber 

Enoch Bush Don Lynch 

Luke George Morrell 

Matoreeh Chief Yowlachie 

Running Deer Jav Silverhecls 

Annie Morris Beth Taylor 

Commentary by Frank Hemingway 

The novels of James Fenimore 
Cooper have provided excellent 
screen fare for several decades. 
They usually have action, broad 
sweeps of motion and well-defined 
story lines, and "The Prairie" fol- 
lows form. It's good frontier fare, 
a bit more adult than the general 
run of western and should fit on 
dual bills other than those pre- 
sented on Saturday matinees. 

Story concerns a covered-wagon- 
ing family into the newly opened 
Louisiana Purchase territory. It's 
a hard trek, made more difficult by 
Indians and danger of starvation. 
The entourage inherits an addition 
when two of the sons rescue a girl 
whose family has- been wiped out 
by Indians. She splits the two 
male members of the clan, but is 
eventually won by Alan Baxter as 
an Army cartographer who turns 
up at strategic moments. ... 

Cast is uniformally good witn 
(Continued on page 18) 



Wednesday, August 25, 1948 



PICTURES 



SOLO SALES AS ANTI-TRUST OUT? 



Video, Pay Boosts and More Jobs 
Sparred by PetriUo-H'wood Reps 



Sparring between James CA 
Petrillo, American Federation of 
Musicians prez, and major company 
reps over a new studio musicians' 
pact wound up an inconclusive first 
week yesterday (Tues.) as negotia- 
tions at the AFM headquarters 
were adjourned. With the wafmup 
period in the talks coming to an, 
end, three major issues — televi- 
sion, pay boosts and increased 
minimum employment — have 
arisen as the pivotal points in fu- 
ture sessions. 

Leading with their proposed 
amendments to the current pact 
which expires Aug. 31, spokesmen 
for the majors have asked Petrillo 
to clear all musical rights on any 
backlog films to be used for dis- 
tribution to video channels. Petril- 
lo is not expected to okay this 
proposal since he looks upon it as 
setting a dangerous precedent for 
future use, of soundtracks. 

Petrillo, on the other hand, is 
demanding a new wage scale for 
musicians employed for pix aimed 
for TV distribution. It's under- 
stood that the AFM czar is opposed 
to the double use of films for both 
regular exhibition channels and vi- 
deo stations. As with the record- 
ing of film soundtracks before the 
present ban, film companies will 
be asked to pay each musician full 
scale for the TV rights. 

Looming as even more important 
than disagreements over video, 
Petrillo's demands for a substan- 
tial cost-of-living wage boost and 
increased employment for tooters 
is expected to encounter stiff re- 
sistance from the companies. With 
the studios on an economy binge 
for the past year, any demand lead- 
ing to an increase in ' production 
costs will be looked upon with 
jaundiced eye. With studio musi- 
cians' costs now running up to 
about $10,000,000 for the majors, 
any scale hike would up costs con- 
siderably, . 

Unique feature of the current 
negotiations is the tight lid which 
has been clamped on union and 
studio spokesmen to prevent them 
from disclosing progress in the ne- 
gotiations. According to a mutual 
agreement, neither side will reveal 
any information until final agree- 
ment is reached. , 



Indies Prep AFM Talks 

Hollywood, Aug. 24: 
Indie producers meet Wednes- 
day (25) to plan for new contract 
negotiations with the musicians 
union. Huddle was set after re- 
ceipt of word from the east that 
James C. Petrillo named a three- 
man committee to represent him 
in talks. All indies were invited to 
meet. 

Indie negotiating committee will 
be named and plans and policy for 
meeting Petrillo group will be set. 
Acting for Petrillo will be J. W. 
Gillette, the AFM prexy's studio 
rep; C. L. Bagley, AFM Inter- 
national veepee, and Spike Wal- 
lace, Local 47 prexy. 



FILM PEDDLERS UNION 
CONTINUES PACT TALKS 

Negotiations between Colosseum 
of Film Salesmen and the major 
companies for the first union con- 
tract to cover the nation's 1,000 
salesmen are slated to be resumed 
early next week following a two- 
week suspension of talks. First 
round of the negotiations ended in 
an amicable deadlock with Colos- 
seum execs returning to their mid- 
western headquarters to report on 
the progress made towards a set- 
tlement. 

Pat Scollard, labor relations 
chief for Paramount, and chairman 
of the industry committee for the 
talks, will issue the call for re- 
sumption of the negotiations at a 
convenient date for the Colosseum 
execs, all of whom are working 
film salesmen. Both sides have ex- 
pressed optimism over reaching a 
satisfactory agreement, although 
working oul details for a new pact 
may take several months. 



Cinecolor's Plans 

Film Classics and Cinecolor 
prexy Joseph Bernhard planed to 
the Coast Thursday (19) for hud- 
dles with Cinecolor execs on future 
picture commitments lor* the color 
process. 

Bernhard left the FC homeoffice 
following the company's first inter- 
national sales convention, where it 
was it was disclosed that half of 
the new product slated for FC re- 
lease would be lensed in Cinecolor. 



BIG 5 PREPS 





Strip Old Films 
Of Music for TV 



Plea being urged by the majors 
on James C. Petrillo, prez of the 
American Federation of Musicians, 
to free the tremendous mine of old 
features for television follbws in- 
tensive experimentation by' some 
film companies on methods of tele- 
casting these pix without musi*. 
One company, it has been learned, 
has been able to prepare over 50 
features for tele by cutting all 
parts which have music In the 
soundtrack. 

Petrillo's ban is directed against 
the use of recorded music, on tele- 
vision. By slicing out the musical 
sections, the features become sale- 
able for video. In the experimen- 
tal phase, the narrative parts which 
had to be scissored along with the 
music have been bridged by the 
insertion of a spoken commentary 
which fills in on the missing action. 

If the Petrillo nix stands, it is 
expected that these features will 
be offered for sale in their present 
revised shape. They are being 
withheld from the market pending 
the results of the present nego- 
tiations. 

Interesting point has been made 
by industryites that the present 
stymie which Petrillo is exercising 
over the sale of old features to 
tele originated from a lack of vault 
space in Hollywood. When a film 
is first made, the sound strip is on 
a separate negative from the visual 
strip. Both strips are then merged 
into one negative which is used to 
strike prints and then stored. 

Because of the scarcity of vault 
space, the separate sound and. vis- 
ual strips are destroyed after the 
merging process. Merged negative 
cannot be separated again in two 
component parts so as to preserve 
the visual while substituting for 
the sound. 



Picture-by-picture and theatre- 
by-theatre sales system will be pro- 
posed by the major defendants in 
the Government's anti-trust action 
as a substitute for the com- 
petitive bidding method, it has 
been learned. The proposal, cur- 
rently under preparation by indus- 
try legalites, will be the answer to 
the Dept. of Justice's expected de- 
mand for a drastic substitute to 
competitive selling when the statu- 
tory court convenes Oct. 13. 

The new method of selling would 
include strictures against any 
special consideration given to old 
customers — a proviso which the 
court originally included in its 
competitive selling plan — plus a 
further condition that the only de- 
termining factor on rental terms 
should beAthe theatre under con» 
sideration without reference to 
other houses in the circuit, if it be 
one. That provision is in line with 
the U. S. Supreme Court's decisions 
in the Schine and Griffith cases 
which barred the use of circuit 
buying power. 

As a supplement to the picture- 
by-picture, theatre-by-theatre 'sys- 
tem, it is expected that a'hew arbi- 
tration setup will also be proposed 
to replace the present kayoed 
method. The new system, with am- 
plified jurisdictional powers, would 
be presented by some or all of the 
Big Five. 

Rigidly enforced individual sell- 
ing is envisaged as the majors' best 
defense to Government suggestions 
which the majors fear will be 
crippling in their effect. U. S. Su- 
preme Court, in sending the case 
back for new hearings, stated that 
competitive selling was the "key- 
stone" of the lower court's - decree 
and asked that body to devise other 
regulations. 

It is thought that individual sell- 
ing without regard to the custom- 
er's identity will cure the film in- 
dustry of trade practice violations 
found by both Federal courts. 
Three-judge statutory body will be 
told that the system would guaran- 
tee all exhibs a fair break on terms. 
It would, of course, eliminate other 
outlawed practices such as block 
booking, discriminatory clearances 
and runs, price .fixing, etc. 



FCC's Coy Among Gov't 
Biggies to Address TOA 

Theatre Owners of America's 
hunt for b.g-name Government of- 
ficials to showcase its coming na- 
tional convention in Chicago 
brought a prize this week in the 
acceptance of Wayne Coy, chair- 
man of tl e Federal Communica- 
tions Commission. Coy will appear 
as guest speaker at the Sept. 25 
(Sat.) session. Convention is slated 
for Sept. 24-25 at the Drake hotel. 

FCC chairman will undoubtedly 
talk on television and problems 
that the- new medium presents to 
film exhibition. FCC supervises 
Federal control of both radio and 
video. Meanwhile, Gael Sullivan, 
exec director of TOA and former 
exec secretary of the National 
Democratic committee, continues 
putting the bee on other Govern- 
ment biggies. 

Ted Gamble, TOA prexy; Robert 
Coyne, former executive director; 
and Sullivan are huddling this 
week on further convention de- 
tails/ Gamble flew in from his 
Portland, Ore., home and will re- 
main in New York for several 
weeks. 



SPG Spurns Compliance 
With Taft-Hartley Act 

Upholding leadership of the 
Screen Publicists Guild, N. Y., in 
not bowing to provisions of the 
Taft-Hartley law, SPG membership 
referendum Monday ' night (23) 
turned in a vote of 125 to 44 in 
favor of non-compliance. The other 
CIO whitecollarite union, Screen 
Office & Professional Employees 
Guild, will hold a similar referen- 
dum Friday (27). Both unions are 
girding their memberships for a 
showdown fight with the major 
companies in event that the indus- 
try refuses to negotiate new con- 
tracts on the basis of SPG and 
SOPEG's refusal to file the non- 
Communist affidavits. 

Increased job security clauses 
and a 25% wage hike will top the 
list of 'demands to ' be made 'by 
SPG in anticipation of new con- 
tract negotiations with majors in 
New York slated to open in 
September. In contract proposals 
approved by SPG membership re- 
cently, union will attempt to rigid- 
ly define layoff rights of the com- 
panies so that no work of an ^em- 
ployee discharged for economy rea- 
sons can be transferred to another 
publicist. 

SOPEG," meanwhile, moved to 
block bargaining agency elections 
at United Artists Friday (27) by 
filing an appeal with the Washing- 
ton office of the National Labor 
Relations Board against a decision 
of- the N. Y. NLRB regional direc- 
tor, Charles Doud. Doud ruled 
both SOPEG and Cecile Schuman, 
a UA employee, off the election 
ballot, leaving only Local H-63, In- 
ternational Alliance of Theatrical 
; Stage Employees, as single choice 
I before voters. NLRB chiefs will 



Yates Pulls No Punches in Raking 
Rank's Pix Methods; 'No Rep Sale 



20th's Foreign Kick 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 

Twentieth-Fox's foreign produc- 
tion goes into high gear next 
month when three 'films will be 
tensing abroad. 

"Affairs of Adelaide," Dana An- 
drews - Maureen O'Hara starrer 
which Jean Negulesco is directing 
for producer William Perlberg, 
now is before the cameras in Eng- 
land. Tyrone Power starrer, "The 
Prince of Foxes," gets underway 
in Italy this week with Sol Siegel 
producing and Henry King direct* 
ing. Another Siegel production, "I 
Was a Male War Bride," starring 
Cary Grant and Ann Sheridan, gets 
underway early next month in 
Germany with Howard Hawks 
directing. Five weeks of British 
lenslng also is planned for the film. 



20th s K.O. of B's 
Still Undecided 

Possibility of 20th-Fox tossing 
out its indie B producers and en- 
tering production of low-budgeted 
films on its own is still up in the 
air. A 20th homeoffice sales of- 
ficial disclosed this week that the 
problem is one of "daily discus- 
sion" among company toppers. It's 
expected to be settled some time 
next month, prior to 20th's nation- 
al sales meet, when .production 
veepee Darryl F. Zanuck returns 
from Europe and goes into intense 
huddles with prexy Spyros P. 
Skouras am! sales chief Andy W. 
Smith, Jr. 

Skouras reportedly is opposed to 
renewing any of 20th's B produ- 
cers. Smith has already confirmed 
that position but is believed to be 
opposed to it, since he must sell 
company output and show a profit. 
Conflicting views are based on the 
fact that 20th would like to under- 
take Its own B production to ab- 
sorb about $1,500,000 in overhead 
which now must be charged to its 
regular product. Smith Is opposed, 
since with extra costs chalked up 
against those films, he couldn't 
show any profit on the Iow- 
budgeters. 

Low rentals usually derived 
from B product are believed to be 
at the saturation point, so that ex- 
hibs would not go for any upping 
of prices. It's believed that if the 
studio turns out the Bs, It could 
not hold costs down to the low 
budgets on which indies turn them 
out. Distribution would therefore 
show a loss on them and this Smith 
is reportedly unwilling to accept. 

Company now has five indie pro- 
ducers turning out its second-fea- 
ture program for 20th. List in- 
cludes Sol" Wurtzel, Frank Seltzer, 
Edward Alperson, Edward Small 
and Sam Baerwitz. 



Coyne Continuing With 
TOA in Consultant Spot 

Robert Coyne, who recently re- 
tired as executive director of the 
Theatre Owners of America, will 
continue actively with the group in 
a consul an*, role. Coyne has agreed 
to devote - txt of his time to TOA, 
handling special problems and 
projects of the organization. In 
that capacity, he is currently work- 
ing on the TOA convention, along 
with Gael Sullivan, his successor, 
and Ted Gamble, TOA prexy. 

Originally it was planned that 
Coyne wo- Id step out entirely after 
l the convention, scheduled Sept. 24- 
25, was out of the way. That has 
been changed for a more active 
part in a consultant capacity. 

Coyne returned this week from a 
six-week vacation. He is currently 
weighing a number of propositions 
both in and out of the industry. 
One of these is to go in with Gam- 
ble on one of the latter's business 
ventures. 



♦ Raking Great Britain for its 
quota restrictions, Herbert J. 
Yates, Republic prexy who just re- 
turned from, a nine-weeks tour 
abroad, pinned the rap on J. Ar- 
thur Rank for selling the British 
government "a. bill of goods" 
against U. S. films. "The situation 
is disastrous for the American in- 
dustry," he said,, "and we should 
let them stew in their Own juice 
for a while." Yates, predicted that 
the British won't make a go of 
their productibn plans because of a 
lack of know-how. 

"We ought to pull out complete- 
ly," he said, adding that 90% of the 
British people. and a majority of 
the British exhibs were in favor 
of revising the quota provisions. 
"If the U. S. industry had stood 
pat a few more months in its em- 
bargo when the 75% tax was im- 
posed, the British would have been 
forced to come to' us for a deal," 
he said. Yates admitted, however, 
that the U. S. companies had too 
many irons in the fire for arriving 
at an unanimous plan for drastic 
action. Under current conditions, 
he said "we'll be lucky to pull out 
25% of the 1946 . returns." 

Scotching reports that he was 
planning to sell Republic, Yates 
said that his asjking price is now 
$5,000,000. "Anybody who wants 
] to pay that price must be crazy," 
he said. Possibility of deal in two 
or three years, however, is not ex- 
cluded, he declared, if the fight 
price is offered. As "for reported 
deals pending with Neil ■ Agnew, 
Jacques Grinieff, Lou Wolfson and 
Steve Broidy, Yates said he never 
met. spoke or negotiated witti-these ' 
individuals regarding sale of Re- 
public. • ' ... . 

Harping on Rink' as the heavy 
in the British quota conflict, Yates 
said the producer convinced the 
Labor government to underwrite 
the film industry as a way "to re- 
establish a world market" by ad- 
vertising British goods and teach- 
ing the "British way of life." But 
British pix "will be dead ducks 
on the world market," Yates said, 
reporting that even Scotland ex- 
hibitors were'nixing British pix as 
"too slow." 

British Pound 'Unstable' 

Yates was sour on the British : 
blockade against remittances of 
U. S. film revenues. "The value of 
the British pound is unstable," he 
said, "and maybe, like France, 
they'll cut the dollar ratio to one- 
half or less when the payoff time 
comes. We have to retaliate and 
we have to expect counter-retalia- 
tions in return." 

Regarding plans for foreign 
production, Yates frankly said he's 
(Continued on page 23) 

N.Y. FILMERS MEET ON 
WILL ROGERS SAN FUND 

Moving to, set up a scientific 
schedule for the financing of the 
Will Rogers Memorial Hospital at 
Saranac Lake, N. Y., leading ex- 
hibitors and home-office execs 
laid plans at an Industry luncheon 
at the Astor hotel, N. Y., yester- 
day for an estimated $250 000 
fund-raising campaign to start 
immediately. Since its founding, 
the hospital has been operating 
on a day-to-day basis with result- 
ing economic difficulties. Recent- 
ly, Variety Clubs International 
signified a wish to take over the 
institution, completely and change 
Its name. » 

The New York fund - raising 
campaign will be based on a sys 
tcm of prizes. Clarence Eiseman 
chairman of the Drive to Save the 
Will Rogers Memorial Hospital 
presided. Jack Ellis, N. Y. division 
manager for United Artists, will 
handle details of the campaign. 

Among those present at the 
meeting were William F. Rodgers 
Metro; Robert Mochrie, RKlO- Her- 
man Robbins, National Screen Ser- 
vice; Charles M. Reagan, Para- 
mount; Gus EyselJ, Harry Brandt, 
Si Fabian, Eddie Grainger, Sam 
Rinzler and other exhibitors. 



1© 



WeAnetUv, August 25, 1948 





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mmmmmm 



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MMMmmmmmmmmmm 



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in the kind of role . . . in the kind 
of arms you want him in! 



Happy -Go- 
Lucky* Horace 
says— 

YOU CAN'T 
BEAT 




nne 



LUCK Op 

THE IRISH 





James 




CECIL KELLAWAY 
LEE J. COBB 

Directed by HENRY KOSTE 



Sere* 
Based on a 



1 j~> 



Every Exhibitor says 

YOU CAN'T BEAT 



m 



First Time- 
First Run at 
Regular Prices! 

FOREVER 
AMBER 

TECHNICOLOR 



September is LUCK 



Month at 20th Century-Fox . . . September is YOUTH MONTH all over America! 



12 



PICTURE GROSSES 



Wedneday, August 25, 1948 



'Bad Men' Solid $38,000 in Okay L.A.; 
'Ermine' NSG54G, 'Mermaid' Slick 3SG, 
'Pearl' Fine 21G, legion -Stage 18G 



Los Angeles, Aug. 24. 

Pleasing biz is being registered 
In most firstruns this stanza al- 
though there is nothing outstand- 
ing. Best gait is being set by 
"Return of Bad Men" among new- 
comers, -with neat $38,000 in two 
theatres. "Lady in Ermine" shapes 
mild at $54,000 in five situations. 

"Peabody and Mermaid" looks 
to hit nice $35,000 in five houses 
while "The Pearl" is heading for 
fine $21,000 in two showcases. 
Reissue bill of "Happened One 
Night" and "Penny Serenade" is 
disappointing at $20,500 in five 
spots. "Easter Parade" continues 
strong with' $43,000 in second ses- 
sion for three sites. . Other hold- 
overs look light. 

Estimate for This Week 

Belmont (FWC) tl.532; 60-$l)— 
"Happened One Night" (Col) and 
"Penny Serenade" (Col) (reissues). 
Mild $3,500. Last week, "Dude 
Goes West" (Mono) and "Jinx 
Money" (Mono) (10 days), $4,500. 

Beverly Hills Music Hall (G&S- 
Corvvin-vLesser) (826; 60-$l) — 
"Urubu" (UA).and "Train to Al- 
catraz" (Rep) (2d wk). Fair $2,500. 
Last week, pleasing $3,300. 

Cartway Circle (FWC) (1,518; 60- 
$1)— "Lady in Ermine" (20th) and 
"King of Gamblers" (Rep). Medium 
$7,000. Last week, "Walls Jericho" 
(20th) and "Wouldn't Be in Shoes" 
(Mono) (2d wk), $4,200. 

Chinese (Grauman-WC) (2,048; 
60-$l)-^"Lady Ermine" (20th) and 
"King Gamblers',' (Rep). Moderate 
$12,000: Last week, VWalls Jericho" 
<20th) and "Your Shoes" (Mono) 
(2d wk), fair $8>500. 

Culver (FWC) (1,145; 60-$l) — 
"Happened One "Night" (Col) and 
"Penny Serenade" (Col) (reissues). 
Slow $3,500. Last week, "Dude 
Goes West" (Mono) and "Jinx 
Money" (Mono) (10 days), stout 
$7,000. . 

Downtown (WB) tl,800; 60-$D— ■ 
"Life With Father" (WB) and 
"Heart . Virginia" (Rep) (2d wk). 
(5 days).. Good $8,500. Last week, 
pleasant $15,000. 

Downtown Music .Hall (Corwin- 
Lesser) (872; 60-$D— "Urubu" (UA) 
and "Train Alcatraz" (Rep) (2d wk). 
Good $9,000. Last week, stout $14,- 
700. 

Egyptian (FWC) (1,538; 60-$D— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Hefty $12,500. Last week, wow 
$19,000. 

El Rey (FWC) (861; 60-$D— 
"Happened One Night" (Col) and 
"Penny Serenade" (Col) (reissues). 
Light $3,000. Last week, "Dude 
Goes West" (Mono) and "Jinx 
Money" (Mono) (10 days), nice $4,- 
700. 

Esquire (Rosener) .(685; 85-$1.20) 
—"Story of :Tosca" (Indie) (2d wk). 
Mild $2,000. Last week, fair $2,500. 

Four Star (UA-WC) (900; 60-$ 1) 
—"The Pearl" ,(RKO), Good $7,000 
or near. Last week, "The Search" 
(M-G) (7th wk-10 days), neat $4,700. 

Guild (968; 60-$D— "Peabody and 
Mermaid" (U) and "Daredevils of 
Clouds" (Rep). Pleasant $4,500. 
Last week, "Feudin,' Fussin' " (U) 
and "Bad Sister" (U) (2d wk-4 
days), $1,400. 

Hawaii (G&S-Corwin-Lesser) (1,- 
106; 60-$D— "Urubu" (UA) and 
"Train Alcatraz" (Rep) (2d wk) 
Thin $2,500. Last week, $3,500. 

Hollywood (WB) (2,756; 60-$D— 
"Life With Father" (WB) and 
"Heart Virginia" (Rep) (2d wk). 
Fair $8,500. Last week, nice $13,000. 

Hollywood Music Hall (Corwin- 
Lesser) (475; 60-85)— "Urubu" (UA) 
and "Train Alcatraz" (Rep) (2d wk), 
Oke $2,500. Last week, good $3,400. 

Iris (FWC) (828; 60-85)— "Pea- 
body and Mermaid" (U) and "Dare- 
devils Clouds" (Rep). Nice $5,000. 
Last week, "Feudin," Fussin' " (U> 
and "Bad Sister"- (U) (2d wk-4 
days), $1,600. 

Laurel (Rosener) (890; 85)—" 
"Raven" (Indie) and "Lover's Re- 
turn" (Indie) (4th wk). Above $2,- 
000. Last week, okay $2,800. 

Loew's State (Loew's-WC) (2,404; 
60-$D— "Lady Ermine" (20th) and 
"King Gamblers" . (Rep). Mild $20,- 
O00. Last week, "Walls Jericho" 
(20th) and "Your Shoes" (Mono) 
(2d wk), slow $12,200. 

Los Angeles (D'town-WC) (2,097; 
60-$D— "Easter Parade" (M-G) (2d 
wk). Fast $17,500. Last week, 
great $59,400. 

Loyola (FWC) (1,248; 60-$D— 
"Lady Ermine" (20th) and "King 
Gamblers" (Rep). Fair $7,500. Last 
week, "Walls Jericho" (20th) and 

$W00 Sbo * s " (Mono) (2d wk) ' WW 

«A ! 2M , ' 0 . , !U , ?? I ! ar «>'town) (2,0d3: 
80^85 WGallant Legion" (Rep) (2d 



run) With Sweethearts of Rhythm 
and Joe Liggins' Honey Drippers 
on stage. Good $18,000. Last week, 
"Secret Service Investigator" (Rep) 
(2d run) with King Cole Trio, 
Benny Carter orch on stage, stout 
$25,300. 

Orpheum* (D'town-WC) (2,210; 
60-$l) — "Happened One Night" 
(Col) and "Penny Serenade" (Col) 
(reissues). Dim $6,500. Last week, 
"Dude West" (Mono) and "Jinx 
Money" (Mono) (10 days), okay 
$18,000. 

Palace (D'town) (1,224; 60-$D— 
"The Pearl" (RKO). Nifty $14,000. 
Last week, subsequent-run. 

Pantages (Pan) (2,812; 60-$D— 
"Return Bad Men" (RKO) and 
"Surrender Dear" (Col). Medium 
$14,500. Last week, "Black Arrow" 
(Col) and "Blondie's Reward" (Col), 
pleasant $14,500. 

Paramount (F&M) (3,398; 60-$l) 
— "Evil My Love"-* (Par) and 
"LightnhV in Forest" (Rep) (2d wk). 
Near $13,500. Last week, light $16,- 
800. 

Paramount Hollywood (F&M) 
(1,451; 60-$D— "So Evil Love" (Par) 
(2d wk). Fair $9,000. Last week, 
medium $12,400. 

RKO Hillstreet (RKO) (2.890; 60- 
80)— ''Return Bad Men" (RKO) and 
"Surrender Dear" (Col). Sharp 
$23,500. Last week, "Black Arrow" 
tColl and -'Blondie's Reward" (Col), 
heat $17,300. 

RItz (FWC) (1,370; 60-$D— "Pea- 
body and Mermaid" (U) and "Dare- 
devils Clouds" (Rep). Good $8,000. 
Last week, "Feudin', Fussin' " (U) 
(Continued on page 22) 

'Roots' Taps Mpk 
For Top Coin, 14G 

Minneapolis, Aug. 24. 
Smallest number of holdovers 
currently in recent, weeks — only 
two — so mast spots are sporting 
fresh fare. However, there are few 
causing any boxoffice stampede. 
Strongest are "Tap Roots" and the 
reissue of "Crusades."" "On Our 
Merry Way" is not proving too 
potent. Heat wave is hurting. 

-With the Minneapolis baseball 
team fighting for a. place in the 
playoffs, the night games are lur- 
ing many. Annual roller derby, 
attracting 5,000 to 9,000 nightly, 
also hurts. 

Estimates for This Week 
Century (Par) (1,600; 50-70)— 
"Crusades" (Par) (reissue). De- 
Mille oldie getting surprising 
amount of attention', okay $8,000 in 
9 days. Last week, "Jassy" (U), 
light $4,500. 

Gopher (Par)' (1,000; 40-50) — 
"The Hunted" (Mono) and "Train 
to Alcatraz" (Rep).- House infre- 
quently plays new duals, but this 
looks only fair $3,500. Last week, 
"Old Los Angeles" (Rep) and 
"Jinx Money" (Mono) (duals), light 
$3,000. 

Lyric (Par) (1.000; 50-70) — 
"Street No Name" (20th) (m.o.). 
Still good at $6,000. Last week, 
"Best Years" (RKO) (2d wk) (3d 
run), fine $6,500. 
• Radio City (Par) (4,400; 50-70)— 
"On Merry Way" - ( U A ). Ads 
stressed all-star cast lineup. Mod- 
erate $11,000 looks all. 'Last week, 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (2d wk), 
disappoiuting $12,000, but got 
sock $32,000 in two stanzas. 

RKO-Oipheum (RKO) (2,800; 50- 
70)— "Tap Roots" (U). Heavily 
plugged with much more newspa- 
per lineage than usual used. Pay- 
ing off to fine $14,000. Last week, 
"Key Largo" (WB) (2d wk), good 
$10,500 after smash $17,000 open- 
er. 

RKO-Pan' (RKO) (1,600; 50-70)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) (m.o.). Third 
week downtown. Good $6,000. Last 
week, "Four Feathers" (FC) and 
"Drums" (FC) (reissues), brisk 
$7,000. ~ • 

State (Par) (2,300; 50-70)— "On 
Island With You" (M-G). Crix ap- 
proved this one, but musicals 
haven't been faring too well here 
recently. Fairly nice $11,000. Last 
week, "Street No . Name" (20th), 
big $15,000. 

Uptown (Par) (1.000; 44-60)— Mr. 
Blahdings" (SRO). First nabe 
allowing, Big $5,000, Last week, 
"Emperor Waltz" (Par), $4,500. 

World (Mann) (350; 50-85) — 
"Mine Own Executioner" (20th). 
Daring ads stressing sensational 
angles helping some but only fair 
$2,000 looms. Last week, "Mr 
Blandings" (SRO) (5th wk), big 
$3,000. . • ] 



'CANON' LOUD $15,000, 
OMAHA; 'VELVET' 7G 

Omaha, Aug. 26. 

"Canon City" looks out in front 
with rousing total, best in weeks 
at the Orpheum. "Date With Judy" 
is not as big as expected at Para- 
mount but still fine. "Velvet 
Touch," aided by stage styleshow 
will hand Brandeis' a nice gross 
With one or two exceptions, down- 
town houses have been in the dol- 
drums during the current August 
hot spell. 

Estimates for This Week 

Orpheum (Tristates) (3,000; 16- 
65)— "Canon City" (EL) and "Here 
Comes Trouble" (UA)/ Smash $15,- 
000 for best gross in weeks here. 
Last week, "Montana Mike" (UA) 
and "Love from Stranger" (EL), 
$11,000. % 

Paramount (Tristates) (2,800; 16- 
65)— "Date With Judy" (M-G). Oke 
$10,000. Last week, "Blandings" 
(SRO), $11,000. 

Brandeis (RKO) (1,500; 16-65)— 
"Velvet Touch" (RKO) and "King 
of Gamblers" (Rep). Nice $7,000 
or near. Last week, "Key Largo" 
(WB) and "Heart of Virginia" (Rep) 
(2d wk), stout $6,000. 

Omaha (Tristates) (2,100; 16-65) 
—"Blandings" (SRO) (m.o.) and 
"Web of Danger" (Rep). -Fair $10,- 
000. Last week, "Ruthless" (EL) 
and "Argyle Secrets" (FC), $9,000. 

State (Goldberg) (865; 16-65)— 
"The Pirate" (M-G). Starts today 
(Tues.). Last week, "Are You With 
It" (U) and "Casbah" (U), good 
$3,000. 

'Pitfall' Great $17,000, 
Frisco; 'Mickey' $19,000, 
'House' Sturdy $28,000 

San Francisco, Aug. 24. 

Five important newcomers here 
this week are helping to perk up 
business with fog also aiding. Per- 
sonals by Lois Butler at all shows 
is boosting her starrer, "Mickey," 
at Paramount,- to good session. 
"Pitfall" at United Artists is head- 
ing for a great week. 
. "Blandings Builds Dream House" 
js giving the Fox a big gross. 
Estimates for This Week 

Golden Gate (RKO) (2,844; 65- 
$1.00) — "Velvet Touch" (RKO). 
Only $14,500 which is disappoint- 
ing. Last week, "Big City" (M-G), 
fair $13,500. 

Fox (FWC) (4,651; 60-95)— "Mr. 
Blandings Dream House" (SRO). 
Big $28,000. Last week, "Key 
Largo" (WB) (2d ,wk), okay $14,000. 

Warfleld (FWC) (2,656; 60-85)— 
"Walls Jericho" (20th). Husky 
$18,000. Last week, "Deep Waters" 
(20th), same. 

Paramount (Par) (2,646; 60-85)— 
"Mickey" (EL) plus Lois Butler 
P.A. at every show. Good $19,000. 
Last week, "Evil My Love" (Par), 
$18,000. 

St. Francis (Par) (1,400: 60-85)— 
"Foreign Affair" (Par) (4th wk). 
Strong $14,500. Last week, $13,000. 

Orpheum (Blumenfeld) (2,448; 
55-85)— "Drums" (FC) and "Four 
Feathers" (FC) (reissues). Fancy 
$12,000. Last week, "Feudin,' Fus- 
sin' " (U) plus p.a. by Marjorie 
Main, good $15,500. 

United Artist (S. Corwin) (1,207; 
55-85) — "Pitfall" (UA). Great 
$17,000. Last week, "So This Is 
New York" (UA) (2d wk), oke 
$9,200. 

Stagedoor (Ackerman) (350; 60- 
85) — "Life Loves Rembrandt" (FC) 
and "Scarlet Pimpernel" (FC) (re- 
issues). Fine $3,200. Last week, 
"Anthony Adverse" (WB) and 
"Jezebel" (WB) • (reissues), $2,800. 

Clay (Roesner) (400; 65-85)— "La 
Boheme" (Indie). Trim $2,500. Last 
week, "The Idiot" (Indie) (3d wk), 
pleasing $2,400. 

Larkin (Roesner) (400; 65-85) — 
"The Raven" (Indie) and "Lover's 
Return" (Indie) (2d wk). Fine 
$2,700. Last week, husky $3,200. 

United Nations (FWC) (1,149; 60- 
85)— "Key Largo" (WB) (2d wk). 
Climbed to nice $4,500. Last week, 
$3,000. 

Esnuire (Blumenfeld) (955; 55 
85)— "Commandos Strike At Dawn' 
(Col) and "The Invaders" (Col) (re 
issues). Dim $7,500 in 9 days. Last 
week, "Return of -Wildfire" (SO 
and "Jungle Goddess" (SO, 6 days, 
only $5,800. 

State (Par) (2,133; 60-85)— "Evil 
My Love" (Par) (m.o.). Oke $6,500. 
Last week, "Life With Father" 
(WB) (m.o.), healthy $7,500. 



A.-& C. Scare Up Real Coin in Cleve., 
; Canon Lofty 16G, 'House 21G 




Key City Grosses 

Estimated Total Gross 
This Week : $2,582,000 

(Based on 22 cities, 201 
theatres, chiefly first runs, in- 
cluding N. Y.) 
Total Gross Same Week 

Last Year $3,166,000 

(Based on 20 cities, 204 
theatres ) . 



Estimates Are Net 

Film gross estimates as re- 
ported herewith from the vari- 
ous key cities, are net, i.e., 
without the 20% tax. Distribu- 
tors share on net take, when 
playing, precentage, hence the 
estimated figures are net in- 
cpme. 

The parenthetic admission 
prices, however, as indicated, 
include the U. S. amusement 
tax. 



1 1>< !-;> r t •; 



> J -< it'll* 



'Bad Men'-Foran 
Robust 17G, Balto 

Baltimore, Aug. 24. 

The big news here this week is 
"Paradine Case" at Loew's Century 
with top trade indicating a rosy 
figure, and a definite h.o. Also 
going well is the Hippodrome's 
cpmbo of "Return of Bad Men" 
and a stage layout headed by Dick 
Foran. Remainder of town looks 
just fair. 

Estimates for This Week 

Century (Loew's-UA) (3,000; 20- 
60)— "Paradine Case" (SRO). Very 
bright $19,000. Last week, "Pirate" 
(M-G), solid $16,300. 

Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2,240; 
20-70)— "Return of Bad Men" 
(RKO) plus vaude headed by Dick 
Foran. Highly pleasing $17,000. 
Last week, "Lulu Belle" (Col)- and 
"Dr. Neff's Madhouse of Mystery" 
on stage, $15,400. • 

Keith's' (Schanberger) (2,460; 20- 
60)— "An Act of Murder" (U). 
Opened yesterday (Mon.) after all 
right week of "Peadbody and Mer- 
maid" (U) at $7,400. 

Mayfair (Hicks) (890; 20-65)— 
"Rose of Washington Square" 
(20th) (reissue). Not getting very 
far at $3,500. Last week, "Gallant 
Legion" (Rep), average $4,200. 

New (Mechanic) <1,800<; 26-60)— 
"Walls of Jericho" (20th) (2d wk). 
Holding fairly well at $7,000 after 
nice getaway at $13,200. 

Stanley (WB) (3,280; 25-75)— 
"Life With Father" (WB). Back at 
pop prices and disappointing at 
$10,000. Last week, "Key Largo" 
(WB) (3d wk), okay $11,400. 

Town (Rappaport) (1,500; 35-65) 
—''Babe Ruth Story" (Mono) (4th 
wk). Took a nice lift to $12,000 
after a very steady third round at 
$10,600. 

Valencia (Loew's-UA) (1,780; 20- 
60)— "Pirate" (M-G) (m.o.). Going 
well to $6,500 after pleasing pre- 
vious sesh in downstairs Century. 
Last week, m.o. of "Time of Life" 
(UA) failed to hold up at $3,600. 

'Walls' Not High $18,000, 
D.C.; 'Father' Okay 16G 

Washington, Aug. 24. 
General midsummer lull in cur- 
rent session, with grosses along 
the main stem consistently in 
lower register. Holdovers are do- 
ing comparatively better than the 
newcomers, with second stanza of 
"Date With Judy" at Loew's Capi- 
tol, bolstered by a new vaude bill, 
leading the town. "Hatter's Castle," 
at Loew's Columbia, looks above 
average. "Walls of Jericho," at' 
Palace, and "Life With Father" at 
Warner, are on disappointing side. 

Estimates for This Week 

Capitol (Loew's)" (2,434; 44-80) 
—"Date With Judy" (M-G) (2d 
wk) plus vaude. Firm" $23,000 after 
sock $34,000 last week. 

Columbia (Loew's) (1,263 ; 44- 
70— "Hatter's 'Castle" (Par). One 
of town's brighter spots, with 
above average $10,060. Last week, 
"Drums Along Mohawk" (Indie) 
and "Four Feathers" (Indie) (re- 
issues), hot $9,500. 

Keith's (RKO) (1,939; 44-74)— 
"Mr. Blandings" (SRO) (3d wk). 
Okay $12,000 after smooth $17,- 
000 last week. 

Metropolitan (WB) (1,163; 44-70) 
—"God's Country and Woman" 
(WB) (reissue). Satisfactory $6,000. 
Last week, "Embraceable . You" 
(WB), so-so $7,000. 

Palace (Loew's) (2,370; 44-74)— 
"Walls of Jericho" (20th). Disap- 
pointing $18,000. Last week, "Par- 
adine Case" (SRO) (2d wk), fair 
$14,000. 

Warner (WB) (2,154; 44-74) — 
"Life With Father".. (WB). First 
showing at pop prices. Not up to 
hopes, but okay at $16,000. Last 
week, "Babe Ruth Story" (Mono), 
sluggish $16,000, considering cur- 
rent interest ' 



Cleveland, Aug. 24. 

Attendances are coming up to 
above-average August level, with 
"Mr. Blandings Dream House" 
building up smart biz for Palace. 
"Meet Frankenstein" is the most 
lucrative Abbott-Costello starrer 
the State ever had, summer or 
winter. Pop-priced "Life With 
Father" doing almost well enough 
at Hipp to match its take on first 
showing. 

"Canon City" looks big at the 
Allen, giving- this house its best 
session in weeks. 

Estimates for This Week 

Allen (RKO) (3,000; 55-70)— 
"Canon City" (EL). Big $16,000 or 
close. Last week, "Walls Jericho" 
(20th), fine $12,000. : 

Hipp (Warners) (3,700; 55-70)— 
"Life W>th Father" (WB). First 
pop-priced showing, hearty $20,000. 
Last week, "Key Largo" (WB) (2d 
wkr, oke $16,000. 

Lake (Warner) (800; 55-70)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) (m.o.). Nifty 
$4,000 on third downtown week. 
Last week, "Women in Night" (FO, 
extra good $3,500. 

Lower Mall (Community) (570; 
55-70)— "Bad Sister" (U). Weak 
$2,000. Last week, "Carmen" (indie) 
and "Open City" (indie) revivals), 
fairish $800 in 4 days. - 

Ohio (Loew's) (1,200; 55-70)— 
"Saboteur" (indie) and "I Cover 
the War" (indie) (reissues). Nice 
$8,000. Last week, "Hatter's Castle" 
(Par), thin $5,000. 

Palace (RKO) (3,300; 55-70)— 
"Mr. Blandings" (SRO) (RKO). 
Brisk $21,000 or over. Last week, 
"Raw Deal" (EL) plus . Henny 
Youngman, Jerry .Wayne, Sibyl 
Bowan on stage at advanced prices, 
okay $25,500. 

State (Loew's) (3,450; 55-70)— 
"Meet Frankenstein" (U). Breezy 
$24,000. Last week, "Date With 
Judy" (M-G), ditto. 

Stillman (Loew's) (2,700; 55-70)— 
"Date With Judy" (M-G) (m.o.). 
Fine $12,000. Last week, "Paradine 
Case" (SRO) (m.o.), $9,000. 

'Roots' Grows Stalwart 
$15,000, Indpk; 'Father' 
Hep 13G, 'Time' Hot 12G 

Indianapolis, Aug. 25. 
Film biz is better than average 
this stanza at four top firstrun 
spots here. "Taps Roots" at the 
Indiana is pacesetter, and may 
hold. "Life With Father," first 
time at pop prices is equally as 
big at Circle. "Time of Life" at 
Loew's is comparatively as big as 
these two. 

Estimates for This Week . 

Circle (Gamble-Dolle) (2,800; 44- 
65)— "Life With Father" ,(WB>. 
Solid $13,000. Last week, "Dream 
Girl" (Par) and "Wouldn't Be In 
Shoes" (Mono), thin $8,500. 

Indiana (G-D) (3,300; 44-65) — 
"Tap Roots" (U). Hefty $15,000. 
Last week, "Key Largo" (WB) (2d 
wk), oke $9,000 on top of sock 
$17,000 opener. 

Keith's (G-D) (1,300; 44-65) — 
"Dream Girl" (Par) and "Wouldn't 
Be In Shoes" (Mono) (m.o.). Tepid 
$3,000. Last week, "Central Park" 
(U) and "Dear Murderer" (U), 
$3,500. 

Loew's (Loew's) (2,450; 44-65)— 
"Time of Life" (UA) and "Trapped 
by Blackie" (Col). Nice $12,000. 
Last week, "Fuller Brush Man" 
(Col) and "Adventure Silverado" 
(Col) (3d wk-4 "days). Extra good 
$6,000, making wham $40,000 total 
for two and half weeks run. 

Lyric (G-D) (1,600; 44-65)— "Mat- 
ing of Millie" (Col) and "Straw- 
berry Roan" (Col). Nice $7,000. 
Last week, "Man-Eater, of Kumaon" 
(U) and "Guns of Hate" (RKO), 
$5,000. • 



'Island' Lush at $19,500, 
Denver; 'Father' $19,000 

Denver, Aug. 24. 
"On Island With You" looks 
standout here this week, packing 
the Orpheum. "Life With Father" 
is good at two spots. "Foreign 
Affair" is big enough in second 
frame to get a third week at the 1 
Denham. 

Estimates for This Week 
Aladdin (Fox) (1,400; 35-74)— 
"Abbott-Costello Meet Franken- 
stein" (U) and "Checkered Coat" 
(20th) (m.o.). Fair $3,000. Last 
week, "On Merry Way" (UA) and 
"Code of Scotland Yard" (Rep) 
(m.o.), fair $3,200. 

Broadway (Cinema) (1,500; 35-74) 
—"Best Years" (RKO) (9th wk). 
(Continued on page 22) 



Wednesday, August 25, 1948 



P^RIETY 



PICTURE CROSSES 



IS 



Chi Spotty But 'Ermme'-Cavanaugh 
Pins Lewis Stout $50,000; 'Man-Eater 
Lusty IfiG, 'Walls' Not So Tall 25G 



Powell-M Jurgens 



Chicago, Aug. 24. ♦ 

Disk jockey revue on stage and i 
"Give My Regards to Broadway" I 
in second week at Chicago still 
leads the downtown houses cur- 
rently. "Early-bird" matinees are 
breaking records almost daily. 
Revue may be kept over another 
week with "Dream Girl" replacing 
"Regards." Should hit lush $55,000 
this round. 

Elsewhere business shapes spotty 
Oriental with "Lady In Ermine" 
plus Page Cavanaugh Trio and 
Monica Lewis on stage is reaching 
for excellent $50,000. "Man-Eater 
of Kumaon" should reach satis- 
factory $16,000 at Grand. "Raw 
Deal" at Apollo appears in right 
groove at $9,500. "Walls of Jericho" 
at State-Lake looks about average 
with $25,000. 

"Abbott and Costello Meet 
Frankenstein" at Palace is way 
ahead of other second-weekers with 
smart $25,000. "Easter Parade" at 
Woods slipped slightly alter sock 
opening but still is great With $29,- 
000 for first holdover round. In 
the minor league, are "Summer 
Holiday" at United Artists with 
$11,000 and "Life -With Father" 
at Roosevelt with $12,000 on second 
frames. "16 Fathoms Deep" and 
"Thundcrhoof" at Garrick shape 
nice at -$7,500. 

Estimates for This Week 

Apollo (B&K) (1,400; 50-98)— 
"Ray Deal" (EL). Fine $9,500. Last 
week, "Lulu Belle" (Col) (2d wk), 
$4,500. 

Chicaeo (B&K) (3,900; 50-98)— 
"G>ve Regards Broadway" (20th) 
with disk jockey revue (2d wk). 
Terrif $55,000. Last week, ^72,000. 

Garriek (B&K) (900; 50-85)— "16 
Fathoms Deep" (Mono) and "Thun- 
derhoof" (Col) (2d wk). Neat $7 ,500. 
Last week, $9,000: 

Grand (RKO) (1,500; 50-98)— 
"Man-Eater of Kumaon" (U). Trim 
$16,000. Last week, "Feudin', 
Frghtin' " (U,i (2d wk), fine $13,000. 

Oriental (Essaness) (3,400; 50-93) 
— "Lady in Ermine" (20th) with 
Monica' Lewis and Page Cavanaugh 
Trio. Excellent $50,000. Last week. 
"Time of Life" (UA) with Horace 
Heidt radio stars (2d wk), big 
$47,000. 

Palace (RKO) (2,500; 50-98)— 
"Abbott-Costelio Meet Franken- 
stein" <U> (2d wk). Solid $25,000. 
Last week, big $34,000. 

Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500; 50-98)— 
"Life With Father" (WB) (2d wk). 
Meek $12,000. Last week, $14,500. 

Slate-bake (B&K) (2,700; 50-98) 
—"Walls of Jericho" <20th).- So»SO 
$25,000. Last week, "On Island 
With You" (M-GJ (2d wk). okay 
$18,000. 

United Artists (B&K) (1,700; 50- 
98i— "Summer Holiday" (M-GM2d 
wk). Slim $11,000. Last week, 
$15,000. 

Woods (Essaness) (1,073; 98) — 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Great $29,000. Last week, smash 
$37,000. „ ■ 

JWorW (Indie) (587; 77)— "Life 
Loves Tschaikowsky (Indie) (2d 
wk). Lush $4,500. Last week, $5,000. 



Estimated Total Gross 

Last tVeefe $571,000 

(Based on 14 (lieatres) 

Last i' ear .'..$785,301 

IBasea on 18 theatres) 



'Arrow' Trim 15G, 
Buff; 'Velvet' 11G 

Buffalo, Aug. 24. 
Plenty of new fare here currently 
but it is not shaping up too big. 
"Black Arrow" appears best at 
Lafayette. "Velvet Touch" looks 
a bit disapponting at Century. 
"Life With Father" at Buffalo and 
"Foreign Affair" at Great Lakes 
shape up moderately. 

Estimates for This Week 
Buffalo (Shea) (3.500: 40-70) — 
Life With Father" (WB). Mod- 
erate $12,000. Last week, " "Para- 
dine Case" (SRO), big $17,600. 
Great Lakes (Shea) (3,400; 40-70) 
"Foreign Affair" (Par). Pass- 
ably good $12,000. Last week, 
"Walls Jericho" (20th) and "Win- 
ner's Circle" (20th), $14,000. 

Hipp (Shea) (2,100; 40-70) — 
"Paradine Case" (SRO) (m.o.). 
Stout $T,000. Last week, "Time of 
Life" (UA) and "Song of Heart" 
(Mono) (m.o.), about same. 

Teck (Shea) (1.400; 40-70) — 
"Walls Jericho" (20th) .and "Win- 
ner's Circle" (20th) (m.o.). Oke 
$3,500. Last week, "Key Largo" 
(WB) (m.o.), $4,000. 

Lafayette (Basil) (3,000; 40-70)— 
"Black Arrow" (Col) and "Trapped 
Blackie" (Col). Fast $15,000. Last 
week, "Central Park" (U) and 
"Bill and Coo" (Rep), $11,500. 

20th Century (20th Century) 
(3.000; 40-70) — "Velvet Touch" 
,RKO), and "Mystery in Mexico" 
(RKO). Not so big $11,000. Last 
week, "Melody Time" (RKO), and 
"Inside Story" (RKO) (2d wk), 
down to $6,000 in final 6 days. 



Providence, Aug. 24. 

"The Paradine Case" shapes big 
at the State despite warm weather 
over the weekend. Majestic is 
nearly as big with "Key Largo,'.' 
followed closely by RKO Albee's 
"Velvet Touch." 

Estimates for This Week 

Albce (RKO) (2.200; 44-651— 
"Velvet Touch" (RKO) and "Ma- 
donna of Desert" (RKO). Fairly 
good $14,000. Last week. "Four 
Faces West" (RKO) and Olympic 
films, so-so $11,500. 

Carlton (Fay) (1,400; 44-65)— 
"Deep Waters" (20th) and "Win- 
ner's Circle" (20th I (2d run). Good 
$4,000. Last week, "Raw Deal" (EL) 
and "Adventures of Casanova" 
(EL) (2d run), $3,500. 

Fay's (Fay) (1,400; 44-65)— "Lost 
Hoi-izon" and "Adam Had Four 
Sons" (reissues). Fairish $5,500. 
Last week, "Egg ,and I" (UI) and 
"Michigan Kid" (Rep), $4,000. 

Majestic (Fay) (2,200; 44-65)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) and "French 
Leave" (WB). Sturdy $16,000. Last 
week, "Deep Waters" (20th) and 
"Winner's Circle" (20th), $15,000. 

State (Loew) (3.200; 44-65)— 
"Paradine Case" (M-G) arid "Re- 
turn of Wildfire" (M-G). Tall $23,- 
000. Last week, "Best Years" 
(RKO), acceptable $17,000. 

Strand (Silverman) (2,200; 44- 
65)— "Black Arrow" (Col) -and 
"Lulu Belle" (Col). Opened Mon- 
day (23). Last week, "Blue Skies" 
(Par) and "Two Years Before Mast" 
(Par) (reissues), good $9,000. 



Strong $92,000, Top B'way Newcomer; 



KM. Wow of Week In 
Pitt, Huge 14G; < Vd?et' 
0kell€/Paradine2IG 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 24 
Wow of week is "Abbott and 
Costello Meet Frankenstein" at 
Fulton where they haven t seen 
crowds like this all summer. Kids 
are jamming the place and only 
that ' appears to be keeping the 
comedv from a new record. It will 
hold, naturally, as will "Paradine 
Case," which is moving up into b 
chips at Penn. "Texas, Brooklyn 
and Heaven" is going nowhere at 
Harris but "Velvet Touch" al 



'Walls' Sturdy $18,500 
In St. Loo; 'Paradine' 
Makes Case With 1SG 

St. Louis, Aug. 24. 

Interest stirred up by hot fight 
of Cardinals in National League 
pennant race and sock biz being 
done by "Up In Central Park" le- 
giter are clipping trade at cinemas 
this week. tipped attendance at St. 
Louis county drive-ins also is hurt- 
ing. "Walls of Jericho" and "Para- 
dine Case" likely will make the 
best showings, both being solid. 
"Melody Time" is fairly nice at the 
huge Fox. 

Estimates for This Week 

Ambassador (F&M> l3,00Q; 50-75) 
—"Walls Jericho" (20th) and "The 
Creepers" (20th). Bright $18,500. 
Last week, "Life With Father" 
(WB) and "Michael OHalloran" 
(Mono), $19,000. 

Fox (F&M) (5,000; 50-75)— "Mel- 
ody Time" (RKO) and "Strawberry 
Roan" (Col). Good $17,000. Last 
week, "Foreign Affair" (Par) and 
"Argyle Secret" (FC), nice $20,000. 

Loew's (Loew's (3,172; 50-75)— 
"Paradirfe Case" (SROi and "Ad- 
venture Silverado" (Col). Solid 
$18,000. Last week. "Mr. Bind- 
ings" (SRO) and "Close-Up" (EL), 
$22,000. 

Missouri (F&M) (3,500; 50-75)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) (2d wk) and 
"Street No Name" (20th) Fine $8,- 
000. Last week. "Key Largo." (WB) 
and "Deep Waters" (20th) (m.o.), 
$9,500. 

Orpheum (Loew) (2,000; 50-75)— 



'Affair Rousing 

$17,090, K.C. Ace 

Kansas City, Aug. 24. 

Business is off moderately all 
over town as temperature lingers 
near 90 degrees. "Foreign Af- 
fair" looks like best bet, with 
trim biz at Paramount. "Paradine 
Case" is on disappointing side at 
Midland. "Feudin', Fussin' " 
shapes nice in three spots. 

Estimates for This Week 

Esquire (Fox Midwest) (820; 45- 
65)— "Tower of London" (FC), and 
"Man Reclaimed Head" (FC) (re- 
issues). Average $3,500. Last 
week, "Ideal Husband" (20th) and 
"Cover Big Town" (Par), $4,800. 

Midland (Loew's) (3,570; 45-65)— 
"Paradine Case" (SRO). On dis- 
appointing side at $18,000. Last I 
week, "Fuller Brush Man" (Col)| 
and "Thundcrhoof " (Col), strong 
$16,000. 

Orpheum (RKO) (1.900; 45-65)— 
"Life with Father" (WB) (2d wk). 
Still solid at $12,000. First week 
was neat $16,000. 

Paramount (Par) (1,900; 45-65)— 
"Foreign Affair" (Par). Trim 
$17,000. Last week, "Key Largo" 
I (WB) (2d wk), $10,500. 
i Roxy (Durwood) (900; 45-65) — 
I "Coroner Creek" (Col)." Good 
$6,000. Last week, "Ruthless" 
(EL) (2d wk), $3,500. 

Tswer - Uptown - Fairway (Fox 
Midwest) (2,100, 2,043, 700; 45-65)— 
"Feudin," Fussin'" <U). Nice 
$17,000, really' solid considering 
hot weather. Last week, "Walls 
Jericho" (20th) romped home at 
$16,500. 



Rainy, days most of current ses- 
sion are aiding considerably in 
overcoming a plethora of holdovers 
and extended-runs on Broadway 
this week. Favorable outdoor 
weather last Sunday (22). and fact 
that the N.Y. Giants were playing 
a doubleheader while the Dodgers 
were taking on the Braves in a 
crucial pennant-race game, also on 
their homegrounds, cut into the 
usually strong business of that 
day. 

Only two new bills were launch- 
ed. Best newcomer, "Pitfall," with 
Dick Powell, star of film, and Dick 
Jurgens band on stage, is giving 
the Capitol a very strong $92,000. 
Film drew crix praise. "Race 
Street" is no ball of fire with 
$30,000 at the Mayfair. 

Leading the holdovers is "Date 
With Judy" and "Jubilee" revue 
on stage which looks to reach 
$150,000 or better in third week at 
Music Hall, 

"Beyond Glory" and stagebill 
topped by Martha Tilton, Ray 
Eberle band and Jan Murray, is 
holding up sufficiently well at 
$67,000 for third week to win bill 
a fourth session at the Paramount. 

Big array of new pictures comes 
in this week and others are set to 
open the following stanza, to take 
advantage of Labor Day weekend. 

Roxy brought in "Lady in Er- 
mine" with stageshow headed by 
Frances Langford, Jon Hall, Jerry 
Colonna, Hatmonicats and new ice- 
show yesterday (Tues.) a. day ahead 
of usual opening, day. House held 
"Walls of Jericho" and stagebill 
topped by Dick Haymes and ice- 
show six days of third week to 
conclude a highly profitable 'en- 
gagement. Roxy looked headed for 
smash $19,000 opening day (Tues.) 
and possible new opening day high 
for 1948. 

"Tap Roots" tees off today 
(Wed.) at Criterion after four very 
nice weeks of "Abbott-Costello 
Meet Frankenstein." On same day, 
"Velvet Touch" opens at Rivoli as 
docs a new i win bill at Riaito. 

"Rope" comes into the Globe 
tomorrow after 12 desultory days 
with" "Escape." 

Strand opens "Two Guys From 
Texas" and "Winner Take All" 
radio show Friday (27) after six 
record weeks of "Key Largo" and 
Count Basie band plus Billie Holi- 
day. 

•Estimates for This Week 
Astor (City Inv„> (1,300; 70-S1.50) 
—"Babe Ruth Story" (Mono) (5th 
wk). Fourth stanza ended last 
Monday (23) held up fairly well, 
being helped by better weather and 
added interest in film. Okay $19,- 
700 after only fair $18,500 for third. 
Stays. House closed for half-hour 
while Babe Ruth funeral services 
were being conducted. 

Capitol (Loew's) (4,820; 80-S1.50) 
—"Pitfall" (UA) and Dick Powell 
with Dick Jurgens orch heading 
stagebill. First week ending today 
(Wed.) shapes to hit very strong 
$92,000 or near. Last week, 
"Island With You" (M-G) and 
"Stop Music" radio show (3d wk), 
fell to mild $63,000. 

Criterion (Loew's) (1,700; 70- 



'Hamlet' Preem Big News in Hub At 
Hot $21000; 'Walls' 20G, 'Ruth' 24G, 2d 



Warner should do fairly well. 
Estimates for This Week 
Fulton (Shea) (1.700; 44-761 — 
"Abbott Costello Meet Franker.- 

their early "Buck Privates." Crix |™- 
turned their heads the other way | 
but that's not keeping the place 



i "Mr. Blandings" (SRO) and "Close- 



from a steady jam. Headed for 
better than $14,000, sensational 
for spot. Last week, "Deep 
Waters" (20th i (2d wk). dim $5,500. 

Harris .Harris) (2.200; 44-76)- 
"Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven 
(UAL Opened very weakly and 
may not even last out the full 
week. If it does, woeful $7,000 
looks to be story. Last^ week, 
(Continued on page 22) 



week, "Time of Life" (UA) and 
"Thunderhoof" (Col) (m.o.), $7,500. 

St. Louis (F&M) (4,000; 50-60)— 
"The Crusades" (Par) (reissue) and 
"Hatter's Castle" (Par). Okay $5,- 
000. Last week, "Can't Take It 
With You" (Col) and "Penny Sere- 
nade" (Col) (reissues), $5,200. 

Shubert (Ind) (1,500; • 40-60)— 
"Life With Father" (WB) and 
"Michael O'Halloran" (Mono) 
(m.o.) Torrid $6,000. Last week, 
"Evil Mv Love" (Par) and "King of 
Gamblers" (Rep) im.o.', $5,000. 



Boston, Aug. 24. 

Long awaited "Hamlet" is doing 
sock biz at Astor with high-brow 
audienc, censorship hassle and 
picketing by anti-British also hypo- 
ing gate. "Babe Ruth" still is 
holding up in second week at 
Memorial. Only newcomer, "Walls 
of Jericho," looks okay at Met. 
Estimates for This Week 

Astor (£aycox) (1,300; 90-$2.40) 
—"Hamlet" (U). Playing two 
shows a day and three on Satur- 
day at roadshow prices for terrific 
$23,000. Guild discount accounts 
ior under capacity at this scale. 
Last week, "Fuller Brush Man" 
(Co!) and "Adventure Silverado" 
(Col), mild $4,800. 

Boston (RKO) (3.200; 40-80)— 
"Return Bad Men" (RKO) and 
"Campus Sleuth" (Mono). Good 
$20,000. Last week, "Street No 
Name" i20th) and "French Leave" 
(Mono) (2d wk), fair $17,000. 

Exeter (Indie.) (1,000; 45-75)— 
' Antoine and Antoinette" (Indie) 
and "Th? Search" (M-G) (2d wk). 
i Okay $4,000 after $5,000 first. 



Fenwaj (MP) (1,373; 40-80)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) and "Shanghai 
Chest" (Mono). Okay $6,000. Last 
week, "Foreign Affair" (Par) and 
"Out of Storm" (Rep), $5,900. 

Memorial (RKO) (3,000; 40-80)— ; r< rar JU Tnri4#l «19AAH 
Babe Ruth Story" (Mono) and " raDle AOmfl §LZ,WX), 



$1.85)— "Tap Roots" (U). Opens 
today (Wed.). Last week, "Abbott- 
Costello Meet Frankenstein" <U) 
(4th wk), down to $16,000, not bad 
for stage of run, after $19,000 for 
third. 

Globe (Brandt) (1,500; 90-$1.50) 
—"Escape" (20th) (2d wk-5 days). 
Down to $6,500, after mild $15.00» 
opener. "Rope" (WB) opens to- 
morrow (Thurs.). 

Mayfair (Brandt) (1.736; 60-1,25) 
—"Race Street" (RKO). Initial 
week ending next Friday (27) looks 
fairly nice $30,000 or near. In 
ahead, "Return of Bad Men" (RKO) 
(3d wk-3 days), only $4,700 after 
okay $15,000 for second. 

Palace (RKO) (1,700; 40-95)— 
"Melody Time" (RKO) and "Re- 
turn Bad Men" (RKO) (2d runs). 
Open today (Wed.). Last week, 
"Street No Name" (20th) and 
"Music Man" (Mono) (2d runs), 
fancy $11(500. 

Paramount (Par) (3,664; 55-$L50) 
—"Beyond Glory" (Par) with 
Martha Tilton, Ray Eberle orch, 
Jan Murray (4th-final- wk). Third 
week ended last (Tues.) night held 
up fairly well at $66,000 after very 
strong $80,000 for second. Martha 
Tilton started last week, replacing 
Peggy Lee, who had to leave be- 
cause of prior commitments. 
"Sorry, Wrong Number" (Par) 
opens Sept. 1. 

Radio City Music Hall (Rocke- 
fellers) (5,945; 80-$2.40) — "Date 
With Judy" with "Jubilee" revue 
on stage (3d wk). Continues smash 
at $150,000 or near after sock $152, 
500 for second, over hopes. Con- 
tinues another week, and maybe 
longer. "Good Sam" (RKO) opens 
next. 

Riaito (Mage) (594; 44-99)— 
"Forbidden Love" (Indie) and "Girl 
from Paris" (Indie). Open today 
(Wed.). Final 4 days of third week 
for "Gujng Ho" (FC) and "Eagle 
Squadron" (FC) (reissues) was 
around $6,000, big; second was 
$12,000. Might have held longer 
except for previous commitments. 

Rivoli (UAT-Par) (2,092; €0- 
$1.25) — "Velvet Touch" (RKO). 
Opens today (Wed.). In ahead, ""Sav 
Evil My Love" (Par) (5tb vvk-6 
days) wound up at mild $14,000 
after $17,000 for fourth round. 

Roxy (20th) (5,886; 80-* 1.80)— 
"Lady in Ermine" GJOth) .plus 
Frances Langford, Jon Hall, Jerry 
Colonna, Harmonicats, new ice- 
show featuring Carol Lynne, Fritz 
Dietl on stage. Opened yesterday 
(Tues.) with around $19,000 for 
initial day sock. In ahead, "Walls 
Jericho" (20th) with Dick Haymes, 
Tommy Trent and iceshow on 
stage (3d wk-6 day*), very good 
$80,000 after big $99,000, over ex- 
pectancy, for second and great 
$116,000 opener. 

State (Loew's) (3.450; 80-$1.50)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) <9th-final 
wk). Continues in chips at $25,000 
or near, in eighth stanza ended last 
(Tues.) night after stout $29,000 for 
seventh. "Loves of Carmen" (Col) 
due Sept. 2. . 

Strand (WB) (2,756; 76-$1.50)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) and stageshow 
headed by Count Basie orch, Billie 
Holiday (6th-final wk). Looks to hit 
around $45,000 in final session, 
plenty okay for this time of run 
after brisk $49,000 for fifth. "Two 
Guys from Texas" (WB) with 
"Winner Take- All" radio show on 
stage opens Friday (27). 

Winter Garden (UA) (1,312; 55- 
$1.25) — "Peabody and Mermaid" 
(U) (2d-final wk). Doing only $15- 
OO0 in initial holdover frame after 
okay $22,000 first week, albeit dis- 
appointing. Probably will stay part 
of third week with "Larceny',' (U) 
set to come in next House is shut- 
tering about Sept. 30. 



"Devil's Cargo" (FC) (2d wk). Nice 
$24,000 after very strong $31,000 ! 
first. 

Metropolitan (MP) (4.387; 40-80) 
—"Walls Jericho" (20th) and 
"Michael O'Halloran" (Mono). 
Okay $20,000. Last week, "Kev 
Largo" (WB) and "Shanghai Chest 



Port; 'Parade' Big 16G 

Portland, Ore., Aug. 24. 
"Easter Parade" is drawing lines 
this week, being first time that's 
happened here in a long tune. "On 
Merry Way" at Broadway and 
Lady In Ermine" at Oriental and 
big. Latter, 



(Mono) nice $18,000 second week. P r P h , el "™ also , s i la P e 
,500: 40-80) ! atcs t Betty .G: 
(SRO) and ^ m 8 tw0 houses 



Orpheum (Loew) (3,500: 40-80) | J^t Betty .Grable opus, is play- 



— "Paradine Case 
"Dog Rusty" (Col) (2dwk). Fair 
$16,000 after $19,900 first. 

Paramount (MP) (1.700; 40-80)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) and "Shanghai 
Chest" (Mono). Third week down- 
town, fair $10,000. Last week. 
"Foreign Affair" (Par) and "Out of 
Storm" (Rep), nice $14,500. 

State (Loew) (3.500; 40-80)— 
"Paradine Case" (SRO) and "Dog 
Rusty" (Col) (2d wk). Fair $8,000 
after okay $11,500 first. 



Estimates for This Week 
Broadway (Parker) (1,832; 50-85) 
—"On Merry Way" (UA) and 
"Olympic Cavalcade" (UA). Sock 
$13,000. Last week, "Key Largo" 
(WB) and "Madonna Desert" (Rep) 
(9 days) (2d wk), huge $13,500. 

Mayfair (Parker) (1,500; 50-85)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) and "Madonna 
Desert" (Rep) (m.o.). Solid $6,000 
Last week, "Flowing Gold" (WB) 
(Continued on pffge 22) 



Yes, it's really .wonderful the way M-G-M's "A DATE WITH JUDY'-' is 
coming along in the "Easter Parade" manner in all its first engagements. The 
phenomenal run at Radio City Music Hall, where its FIRST 2 WEEKS ARE 
A NEW ALL-TIME M-G-M HIGH, parallels its rousing nationwide box- 
office reception. Have you had your Vitamin M-G-M today? 

3<?c 

M-G-M presents "A DATE WITH JUDY" starring WALLACE BEERY, JANE POWELL, ELIZABETH 
TAYLOR, CARMEN MIRANDA, XAVIER CUGAT and his Orchestra, ROBERT STACK • Color by 
TECHNICOLOR • Screen Play by Dorothy Cooper and Dorothy Kingsley • Based on the Characters 
Created by Aleen Leslie • Directed by RICHARD THORPE • Produced by JOE PASTERNAK. 



'TARIP-TT'S' I.ONDON OFFH-Jt 
* flt. MarHiTa l'lace, Trafalgar 8uua» 



nVTKRSATIWWAi; 



French Fib Production in Bullish 
Trend; Joint Deals Seen Further Aid 



With 16 to 18 pictures currently* 
in work at French studios, Paris 
trade feels the uptrend will con- 
tinue partly due to the recent $1,- 
860,000 loan granted by the govern- 
ment, plus assurances ol improved 
domestic playing time bound to re- 
sult from a revision of the Blum- 
Byrnes accord. That's the present 
Gallic film situation according to 
Jacques Chabrier, head of Pathe 
.Cinema's U.S. branch, who returned 
to New York last week after a short 
Paris vacation. 

Of films now in the shooting I 



Irish Films Imports 

Tripling in Value 

Dublin, Aug. 17. 
Statistics just issued by the Eire 
Dept. of Commerce rate the value 
of films imported in the first six 
months of 1948 at $1,373,712, com- 
pared with $514,948 in the corre- 
sponding period last year. 
Increase is regarded by the trade 
stage, Chabrier said, Pathe will dis- \ here ? s surprising because the ac- 
tribute about seven. In all, his com- \ J ual footage shipped into Eire in 

the period reviewed (3,395,095 ft.) 
was below that of January-June 
last year (3,831,343 ft.). 



pany expects to handle about a 
dozen pix this year, basically the 
same as 1947. Four or five will be 
primed for the international mar- 
ket while the balance will be 
grooved to the domestic field. 
Budgets on the home-consumed 
films won't quite measure up to the 
export pictures, but in that type of 
product greater emphasis will be 
placed on a good story calculated 
to please the localites. 

With representatives of. the Mo- 
tion Picture Assn. of America cur- 
rently working out final details of 
the Blum-Byrnes pact revision with 
the government, Chabrier said that 
both French producers and tech- 
nicians alike looked upon its vari- 
ous concessions as a definite stim- 
ulus to native production. Another 
aid to the Gallic industry is the 
possibility that Pathe may work 
out joint production deals with 
U. S. producers similar to the ar- 
rangement the company had with 
Sam Bischoff last year. In that 
deal, the French firm financed 
North African exteriors on the 
American indie's "Outpost in 
Morocco." 

Meanwhile, Pathe's new Paris 
theatre in midtown New York is 
due to open Sept. 13 with the Mi- 
chele Morgan-Pierre Blanchar star- 
rer, "Symphonic Pastorale." The 
house, Chabrier noted, will be the 
flagship in what ultimately may be 
a Pathe circuit in various U. S. key 
cities.' Amplifying the new unit's 
booking policy, he said its films 
would not necessarily be confined 
to French pictures but would be 
culled from the top foreign imports 
of various countries. 



Pay 



Italo Director's 'High' 
Riles B.A.; Studios 
Busy with New Filming 

Buenos Aires, Aug. 14. 

Local directors are considerably 
peeved over the unprecedented 
high salary which Italian director 
Antonio Leonviola is getting from 
San Miguel Studios— $24,000 (U.S.) 
per year — which is much more than 
local meggers rate. 

Emelco Studios has been hard 
hit by losses sustained in making 
"White Horse Inn," which was di- 
rected by Benito Perojo. Emelco 
plans hiring out it's studios to 
Brazilian and Italian producers in 
an effort to recoup its losses. 

San Miguel Studios has already 
launched "Jack," with Carlos Bor- 
cosque directing and . Juan Carlos 
Barbieri as the juve lead. Cast, 
which includes Nedda Francy, 
Guill(jrmo Battaglia, Francisco 
Martinez Allende, Homero Carpena 
and Berta Moss, also has Eva 
Caselli, selected Queen of Labor 
by Senora de Peron, from a bevy 
of beauty labor queens brought 
down from the provinces by the 
Labor Confederation for last May 
Day's celebrations. San Miguel has 
completed 'Mundo Extrano" 
("Strange World") a joint Brazil- 
ian- Argentine picture, with an in- 
ternational cast, directed by Fran- 
cisco Eichorn. 

Eme'co is putting the finishing 
touches to "Cita con las Estrellas" 
("Date with the Stars"), directed 
by Carlos Schliepcr, with Carlos 
Thorry and Maria Duval in the 
leads. 



Bolivia Pix 
Outgo Hiked 

Washington, Aug. 24. 
Bolivia has upped to $1,500 a 
month the amount of dollars it 
will allow out of the country 
monthly in payment for 16m the- 
atrical films, reports the U. S. De- 
partment of Commerce. The figure 
was $500 monthly until the end of 
last year and $1,000 per month for 
the first half of 1948. Bolivia Films, 
Ltd., which imports and distributes 
16m commercial prints, has a deal 
with U. S. producers which bars it 
from distributing the 16m prints 
in localities where 35m prints are 
shown. Company is currently show- 
ing 16m pix in fixed locations in 
about 25 towns. In addition, there 
are 13 travelling exhibitors who 
have regular circuits in all parts 
of the country, screening for audi- 
ences of from 100 to 300. Most of 
the pictures are imported from 
the United States. 

Other countries reported on: 
Uruguay: Theatre biz is booming 
at the nation's 194 film houses, of 
which 92 are in Montevideo, the 
capital city. Says the report: "The 
public is buying more admissions 
than ever before, in 1947, a total 
of 14,181,734 tickets were sold in 
Montevideo, a substantial increase 
over the 12,443,087 of 1946, and 
more than double any prewar 
total." 

Netherlands: British Eagle Lion 
recently produced "Holland in 7 
Lessons," which was intended to 
be a short documentary but which 
was finally expanded to full length. 
Pic was described as poorly pro- 
duced, not well received in the 
Netherlands and no competition 
for the Hollywood product. During 
May of 1948, three of the 28 Ameri- 
can pictures imported into the 
Netherlands were rejected in toto 
by censors. 

Paris Shorts Producer 
Claims New Approach 
In Plastic Puppets Use 

A novel method of producing 
third dimensional animated shorts 
by the use of plastic puppets has 
been developed by the Publicolor 
Co. of Paris, according to com- 
pany head George Bloch-Simon, 
who planed home from N. Y. yes- 
terday (Tues.) after a three-week 
stay in the U. S. While here he 
made preliminary arrangements 
toward securing an American dis- 
tributor for two of the firm's shorts 
which will be ready for release 
within three or four weeks. 

Mode of production, Bloch- 
Simon said, really isn't a com- 
pletely new technique but its 
freshness lies in its form of pres- 
entation. Puppets give the shorts 
both height, width and depth and 
the final result is described as a 
cross between the system used by 
Paramount producer George Pal 
and that employed by Lou Bunin 
who finishes his full-length "Alice 
in Wonderland" in Paris this week. 
Publicolor's clips are filmed in 
Agfacolor, which is basically sim- 



Roman Vinoly Barreto is meg- j[ ar to the American Anscocolor. 
ging for Film Andes a picture with 



Calle Corrientes— the Buenos. Aires 
Broadwayr-as its theme. Tango 
composer Marianito Mores is to 
play the juve lead, with Yeya 
Duclel, Judith Sulian, Lydia Quin- 
tana, Maruja Roig, Amalia Barnabe 
and Diana Ingro. 



Rome— An American company 
bought" a film called "Harlem" 
from Cines, local company. Film 
was one of Fascist Italy's biggest 
propaganda films for the superior- 
ity of the white race over the 
black. 



Selznick Pacts Hoare 

London, Aug. 24. 

Victor J. Hoare, former super- 
visor for Eagle Lion Distributors 
in England, has been named exec- 
utive director of the Selznick 
Studios, Ltd., by Louis Lewis, Selz- 
nick's European director. 

Hoare will handle all distribu- 
tion for Selznick Releasing Organi- 
zation's pix in Great Britain and 
Europe. 



Film Quota Asked 
By S. Africa Gov't 

Cape Town, Aug. 16. 
In House of Assembly yesterday 
(15), nptice was given by the 
Nationalist government of inten- 
tion to introduce legislation to im- 
pose quota system on South Afri- 
can films. Act, if passed, will 
make it compulsory for all cinemas 
to exhibit a quota of South Afri- 
can-made films, believed to be 

61/4%. 

There has been agitation for 
long time among a small section 
of the community for more Afri- 
kaans (Dutch) films and three 
companies have at various times 
produced full length features. 
Major one is African Film Produc- 
tions, 'with three to its credit; 
Uniefilms, two, and Alexander 
Films, one. Appeal of these films 
is limited to the Afrikaans-speak- 
ing section of South African audi- 
ences and lack of overseas mar- 
kets has given makers little if any 
profit on heavy outlay. 

Companies concerned have so 
far made no comment on proposal, 
although indications are that audi- 
ences in key cities, Which are pre- 
dominantly English speaking, 
would object to imposition of 
quota of Afrikaans films. 

Production of English language 
pictures has so far been confined 
to shorts and a regular newsreel, 
but cooperation of Rank interests 
in new African Film Productions 
studios now building in Johannes- 
burg, may lead to increased output 
here. Whether industry and audi- 
ences' will want protection of quota 
is doubtful. 



Balcon Asks Wilson To 
Change Decision Re 
Distribs Financing 

London, Aug. 24. 
Appeal to Board of Trade Presi- 
dent Harold Wilson to change his 
mind on decision to' operate the 
Film Finance Corp. solely through 
distributors, was made by Sir 
Michael Balcon, chi :f of Ealing 
Studios, when he opened the sec- 
ond International Festival of Music 
and Drama at Edinburgh Sunday 
(22). 

Balcon declared the provision of 
finance through distribs was a mis- 
take, as their only qualification was 
salesmanship, and they had no 
proper sense of values. He urged 
Wilson to think again, pai-ticularly 
so far as documentaries were con- 
cerned. 

Describing the 45% quota as a 
challenge, Balcon said it wasn't to 
be treated lightly, but urged pro- 
ducers to maintain quality while 
striving for increased output. 



Current London Shows 

(Figures shows weeks of run) 
* London, Aug. 24, 
"A La Carte." Savoy (10). 
"All My Sons," Globe (10). 
"Anna Lucasta," Majesty (43). 
"Annie Get Gun," Col's'm (64). 
"Bless the Bride," Adelphi (64). 
"Bob's Your Uncle," Sav. (16). 
"Cage Peacock," Strand (20). 
"Caribbean Rhap," Wales (12). 
"Carissima," Palace (24). 
"Chiltcrn Hundreds." Vaude (52). 
"Crime Passionel," Garrick (3). 
. "Edward My Son," Lyric (65). 
"Four, Five, Six," York (24). 
"Giaconda Smile," New (12). 
"Glass Menagerie," H'market (4). 
"Happiest Days," Apollo (22). 
"Little Lambs," Ambass. (20). 
"Man Must Die." St. Mart. (3). 
"Off Record," Piccadilly (60). 
".Oklahoma!" Drury Lane (69), 
"Paragon," Fdrtune (16). 
"People Like Us," Wynd. (7). 
"Relapse," Phoenix (30). 
"Sit Down," Comedy (3). 
"Starlight Roof," Hipp (42). 
"Travelers Joy," Crit. (12). 
"Together Again," Vic Pal. (72). 
"Worms View," Whitehall (69). 



Pix & Politics Entwined in Europe, 
Sez Maas; Only 3 Bright Spots Left 



Aussie Sets Minimum 
2 Kates^ for fix Players 

'tS '-^i Sydney, -A$(g. 11. 

Fittsit award' for Aim pjjayers in 
the,, state of New South A^ales, 
which covers thegydjiey zone, has 
beeit sejt.by ^Conciliation Commis- 
sioner W. F. Reid, V 

Minimum rates of pay are set at 
$56 weekly for male and femme 
players; $56 weekly for singers and 
dancers; $40 weekly for bit play- 
ers. Awar.d dates from Aug. 1, 
and is set for two years. 

Only trouble with this award is 
that presently there aren't any pix 
in production of a major nature. 
And there doesn't look like being 
any for a long time. 



Brit Technicians 
Reverse on Hawks 



London, Aug. 24. 

Bowing to trade opinion, execu- 
tive council of Assn. of Cine-Tech- 
nicians, meeting here Wednesday 
night (18), reversed its decision 
taken a week earlier and has de- 
cided not to oppose the 20th-Fox 
application to bring Howard Hawks 
over to direct. 

Earlier •• decision to bar Hawks 
working in a British studio on the 
filming of "I Was a Male War 
Bride" was greeted with storm of 
protests throughout industry, com- 
pelling technicians to capitulate: 
They made their first decision 
when they heard the film was to 
qualify for quota, and opposed be- 
cause they felt British directors 
without current commitments de- 
served preference. 

ACT will now advise Minister of 
Labor George Isaacs that they have 
no objection to the application and 
as opposition from any other 
source is but of the question the 
sole obstacle to Hawks working 
here has now been removed. . 

"Bride" unit will • be going to 
Germany soon to film backgrounds, 
and studio work will follow, prob- 
ably at Shepperton's Sound City. , 



Hawks 'Indifferent' 

Prior to leaving. New York on 
the Queen Elizabeth Saturday (21) 
Hawks expressed complete indif- 
ference on the adverse attitude 
previously held by the ACT. While 
the matter had been handled by 
the studio itself, he added that he 
thought the union's stand was a 
ridiculous one. Director disclosed 
that shooting on the film would get 
underway in occupied Germany 
within 10 days. Cary Grant and 
Ann Sheridan, who'll star in the 
big budgeter, are scheduled to 
leave for Europe about the first of 
the month. - 



WILSON NIXES IDEA 
OF QUOTA ON SHORTS 

London, Aug. 24. 

Advocates of a policy that news 
theatres which don't show any fea- 
ture films should play a 45-50% 
British quota on shorts, have re- 
ceived short shrift from Board of 
Trade President Harold Wilson, 
who has reaffirmed he has no pow- 
ers to vary quotas already fixed by 
Parliament. 

Claiming that news theatres were 
important shop windows to mak- 
ers of shorts, Assn. of Specialized 
Film Producers wrote to the Board 
of Trade "strongly representing" 
that a quota of 45-50%, without 
taking newsreels into account, 
would in no way harm exhibitor 
interests. 

But the Newsreel. Theatre Assn. 
has retaliated by advising Wilson 
that they'll find it difficult even to 
fulfill existing obligation of a 25% 
quota, and asking for an opportuni- 
ty of putting their viewpoint to him 
personally or to his advisers. 



Nanking Acad: Resumes 

Nanking, Aug. 10. 
The National Academy of Dra- 
matic Arts, back in Nanking after 
spending the war years (1937-45) in 
the refugee capital of Chungking, 
is getting back to normal operation. 



t Describing a flock of ideological, 
and economic obstacles to the free 
flow of U. S. films overseas, Irving 
Maas, vice-prexy and general man- 
ager of the Motion Picture Export 
Assn., said the future of the indus- 
try's market in Europe is insepar- 
ably tied to solution: of the general 
political situation. Just returned 
from a 10-week tour of MPEA con*, 
tinental territories* Maas said 
American films were being increas- 
ingly hedged in, forcing restrictive 
selection of product and division or 
profits out of one kitty. The dete- 
rioration of the foreign market, h<* 
said, is making the MPEA type of 
operation a matter of necessity. 

In a review of the situation in 
each of the MPEA countries in 
Europe, Maas painted only three 
bright spots — Holland, Germany 
and Austria. In. eastern Europe; 
difficulties with the Communist-, 
controlled countries, from Poland 
to Yugoslavia, are gradually 
squeezing American films off the 
screen, despite their popularity. 
Maas emphasized that the disagree- 
ments with the Vlron curtain" na- 
tions stemmed not so much from 
ideological as straight business 
grounds, 

In Holland, Maas disclosed that 
the U. S. film industry will be able 
to remit about $1,800,000 in th« 
year beginning Sept 1. Maas has 
protested to the tl. S. State Dept., 
however, against an allegedly dis- 
criminatory Dutch law compelling 
all theatres in Holland to reserve 
a minimum of 12 weeks playing 
time for pix from western Euro^ 
pean countries. The MPEA exee 
said this law would prevent S f 
distributors from opening an exclu- 
sive showcase in Holland, but not 
the British. 1 
Austrian Setup Good 
The Austrian situation is good, 
Maas said, as a result of the return 
of a normal competitive situation. 
In Germany, business in the west- 
ern sectors has been traveling on 
an even keel since the introduction 
of the currency reform. Confidence 
in the means of exchange, he said, 
has spurted German reconstruction 
and improved morale. 

In the east, there are headaches 
for which there is no simple rem-' 
edy. Rumania, Maas said, has 
banned all U. S. films by an edict 
which permits only- "progressive 
and realistic pictures" on domestic 
screens. Rumanian authorities 
don't believe Hollywood pix con- 
form to these standards. 

Following unsuccessful negotia- 
tions with the Hungarian film trust, 
Maas became, the object of a. sharp 
newspaper attack directed by 
George Angyal, prez of the Hun- 
garian National FUm Bureau. Maas 
was charged with trying to estab- 
lish a "U. S. film monopoly" in 
Hungary. No settlement on further 
distribution of U. S. pix in Hun- 
gary was reached, according to 
Maas, because* that government 
wanted to buy films qutright at 
prices which American pix nor- 
mally earned in a single firstrun 
theatre in Budapest. 

Deal with Czechoslovakia' is still 
cooking, Maas said, but it has 
slightly cooled off from the high 
point in the negotiations. MPEA 
was unable to finalize a deal due to 
the Czechs' desire for a reciprocal 
trade agreement. Maas informed 
the Czechs that such a deal was im- 
possible although the MPEA would 
be happy to "encourage" the distri- 
bution of "good" Czech films in this 
country. 

In Poland, MPEA still has a 
backlog of 30 pix to be played off 
before reaching' the end of the line. 
Maas said that in all the eastern 
countries, there was a special gov- 
ernment effort to promote the play- 
ing of Russian films in the best thea- 
tres. This step Is part of an overall 
campaign to inculcate the people 
with the Soviet ideology. 

'WILDERNESS' LOOKS 
FERTILE DOWN UNDER 

Sydney, Aug. It. 
Eugene O'Neill's "Ah, Wilder- 
ness," which premiered at the 
Minerva fOr Whitehall Produc- 
tions Aug. 9, looks set. It's the 
best show, put on by Whitehall 
since "Wfnslow Boy." Cast in- 
cludes Lou Vernon, John Cazabbn, 
Bebe Scott and Edward Howell — 
mostly recruited from radio. 

"Wilderness" was produced by 
Fifi Banvard, who originally came 
;here via vaude for the Fullers 



Cni Clearances b New N. Y. Area; 



r 



4 




fete With MO 



Nationwide campaign bydistribs* 
to cut clearances because of the 
implications of, the Government's 
anti-trust suit has finally reached 
metropolitan New York. The 
change — so far only covering four 
outlying indie houses — was put 
through with the okay of RKO 
theatre chief Maiqolm Kingsberg, 
whose houses are affected toy the 
•lash. Increased pressure, how- 
ever, is- being brought by a num- 
ber of indie circuits that' want to 
play day-and-date with both RKO 
and Loew's theatres in many nabe 
sectors. 

■ Four houses now promoted to 
day-and-date spot with competing 
RKO theatres are Century circuit's 
Lynbrook and Long Beach thea- 
tres; Randforce circuit's Walker, 
Brooklyn; and Jolson circuit's 
Earl, Bronx. 

Revamping of clearances will not 
be general, according to Kings- 
berg. In each ' of the four in- 
stances, he said, the .theatres are 
located in comparatively new areas 
which have recently become denser 
In population. Increased number 
of potential customers permitted 
day-and-date availability for com- 
peting houses — hence RKO was 
ready- to permit the change. 

Kingsberg does not think any 
New York clearance-cutting .will 
be carried out In older sections of 
the city. Impression that RKO has 
n clean clearance sweep ever in- 
dies throughout the city is not so. 
Kingsberg said. In a number of 
situations, competing houses have 
always had .day-and-date avail- 
ability with his circuit 

.RKO veepee noted that compet- 
ing chains "have always de- 
manded" shorter clearances. On 
their part, distrib toppers pointed 
out that, the* New York area has 
had. far more reasonable clearance 
than other parts of the country. 

'Largo' Turns the Key To 
New way Strand Record 

"Key Largo" is. winding up its 
sixth week at the Strand, N. Y., 
tomorrow (Thurs.) to establish an 
all-time high at this Broadway 
house under the present stage-film 
policy. Picture with stageshow 
beaded by Count Basic band and 
Brllie Holiday looks to go slightly 
over $380,000 for the: six weeks. 

"Largo" enjoyed a longer run 
at the Strand than any film in 
many years. It started off by 
cracking the house record open- 
ing week, and then continuing with 
bigger business for the two follow- 
ing sessions than the Strand en- 
Joys with many bills opening 
weeks- 

"Big Sleep" came closest to this 
new high money mark in 1946. 



'River' Finale Snipped, 
, ■ ; Hughes Drops Suit 

Hollywood. Aug. 24. 

Controversy over the 111181 se- 
quence of Howard Hawks' . "Red 
River" ent ed after several days of 
discussion when .Grad Sears, 
United Artists prexy, and Edward 
Small; repping the producer, yield- 
ed to Howard ■ Hughes' demands 
that the sequence be eliminated. 
Film opens tomorrow (25) in 256 
situations in Texas, Oklahoma and 
Kansas. - 

Hughes had filed an infringe- 
ment suit against the film in Dal- 
las, alleging' that the- climatic 
gun-duel footage was copied from 
a similar final sequence in his 
film, "The Outlaw." After the 
agreement to drop the controver- 
sial footage, Hughes announced he 
was dropping.the suit. 

Understood Hawks, who is en 
route to Europe, had given Sears 
and Small full power to act for 
him; former in his capacity as 
prexy of UA, which is releasing the 
film, and latter as the one who 
furnished second-money for the 
muiti-million-dollar western. 

Hughes was shown a compromise 
ending during the discussions, but 
rejected it Sears-Small decision to 
eliminate the gun fight reportedly 
was based on information that 
Hughes held what he called "hair 
curling" affidavits and other evi- 
dence from writers and other film 
folk. Fistfight in. the final reel re- 
mains intact, it's understood. 



Consolidated and Pathe 
j turned out 400 of the revised se- 
quences over the weekend. UA 
planed them to exchanges in Dal- 
las, Kansas City and New York. 
Film Cutter Mae Thorsen went 
along to supervise splicing in the 
three keys. The foreign versions 
were planed to- Paris and Rome 
yesterday (Tues.). 



Variety Clubs Plan 



Kuf enberg Pic 

I a Continued from page 3 

last week. It went directly to 
Washington for o.o. by department 
biggies. Question of release is 
touchy since the Russians have al- 
ready sprung their own treatment 
of the trials both at home and 
abroad. 

Word from the War Dept. offi- 
. cials is that the Yank edition is 
far more detailed than the' Soviet 
. version; which ran 30 minutes or 
. approximately half the length of 
the American one. Additionally, 
it is claimed-that the V. S.rfilmiza- 
tion is much" more factual;, contains, 
considerably more background; 
*nd what's most important gives 
. all four participating powers a fair 
. shake. 

The Russians withdrew their 
film from Germany after only a 
few screenings when the pic was 
virtually laughed off the screen. It 
only presented the Russian partici- 
pation in the trials confining its 
subject matter to Soviet prosecu- 
tors, Russian guards posted, at the 
gates, etc. The one-sided presen- 
tation brought on the Teutonic 
, laughter, it is said, since the Ger- 
man public knew that the trials 
were a four-power project. 

American pic includes a good 
deal of the film evidence used at 
the trial to prove Nazi crimes. 
Script was propped id the U. S. by 
Stewart Schulberg and all film re- 
search was done here. Schulberg 
worked with U. S. Supreme Court 
Justice Robert H. Jackson on the 
treatment Justice Jackson was 
chief U. S. prosecutor at the trials. 



Honor to Fr. Flanagan, 
Saranac San Takeover 

Washington, Aug. 24. 

Variety clubs' midyear confer- 
ence, slated here Sept. 16-19, is 
shaping into a big turnout with 
every tent likely to be represent- 
ed. Flqrk of reservations have al- 
ready been received by Carter Bar- 
ron and Nate Golden who head the 
local committee. 

Business sessions will include 
two proposals among other matters. 
First, erection of a statue to 
Father Flanagan in Boys' Town, 
Neb. Second, to take over opera- 
tion of the Will Rogers Memorial 
hospital at Saranac and to change 
its "name to the Variety Club sani- 
tarium. 

Secretary, of State George Mar- 
shall will receive the 1947 Humani- 
tarian award at a Hotel Sutler din- 
ner Saturday night <18). Chief 
barker Robert J. O'Donnell and his 
wife are guests of honor at a Thurs- 
day (16) dinner tendered by the 
delegates. 



Boycott Charge 

Continued from pace 3 ss 
is true." To lend further fuel to 
j the fire, 20th revealed yesterday 
that Smith had sent Helprin, a let- 
ter Aug. 6, 12 days before the 
Korda exec's blast was publicized, 
in which he said in part: "This 
will confirm your suggestion that it 
(the date on 'Husband') be de- 
layed." Fact that Helprin didn't 
deny at that time that it was his 
suggestion, according to 20th, 
proves the fact that he holds orig- 
inal responsibility for the idea. * 

'Libelous' 

Smith, in his letter to Helprin, 
labeled the Korda exec's charges of 
industry collaboration in the boy- 
cott as "incorrect, incomprehen- 
sible and unfair." He declared 
that "your references to 20th-Fox 
were factually incorrect and your 
general statements concerning the 
American film industry were not 
only unfair but libelous." 

Helprin's charge that 20th had 
collaborated with the so-called 
Sons of Liberty to- prevent picket- 
ing of 20th's "Escape" at the 
Broadway Globe, when it opened 
last week, was "completely false," 
Smith said. "At no time did I or 
any other member of 2flth discuss 
the showing of this picture with 
anyone associated with that organi- 
zation," he declared. Smith, called 
upon Helprin to "immediately pre- 
| pare yourself to either prove this 
I charge or admit publicly that it is 
I false." 

Helprin, in rebuttal, refused to 
backtrack. He declared: "There 
can be no question but that' Ameri- 
can distributors are 'submitting' to 
this boycott. As far as 'collaborat- 
ing in' goes, my sub-phrase in con- 
nection with this was 'perhaps, only 
-subconscious.' At no lime did I 
ever make a direct statement to 
anyone,, including Variety (which 
had printed his original blast ex- 
clusively), to the effect that there 
was direct collaboration. 

'Collaboration* 

"However, since you bring up 
the matter of collaboration on the 
part of American distributors, 
there has to be some collaboration 
somewhere along the line on some- 
body's part, in order for the SOns 
of Liberty to know which pictures 
to boycott and which, to stay away 
from. Details of a production or 
distribution deal are not disclosed 
in the public prints and only high 
film executives are in a position to 
give those facts." 

On the cancellation of "Hus- 
band" from the RKO circuit, Hel- 
prin reiterated his charges. "You 
called me grging this be done, as 
did Sol Schwartz (general manager 
of the RKO circuit)," he said. "At 
the time, although I had serious 
doubts as to the effect of the boy- 
cott, I agreed to this cancellation 
only because, as I explained to you, 
I thought that the terms could be 
improved and that a later booking 
date in cooler weather might be 
more remunerative." 



3 E. St. Loo Theatres Nix 
'Bank Nite' in Crusade 

St. Louis, Aug. 24. 

Caught in the middle of an anti- 
gambling crusade, operators of 
three East St. Louis film houses 
were ordered last week by Chief 
of POHce Henry C. Bishop to 
eschew their "Bank Night" policy, 
although such boxoffice ballyhood 
has been to practice for the last 14 
years. The Chief's order was re- 
layed to customers at the downtown 
Majestic, the town's largest house, 
in * curtain speech by the manager, 
Vincent O'Leary, who said the $2,- 
900 in the pool would be held until 
further developments. 

At the same time the managers 
of the Esquire and Roxy, located 
away from the downtown area, an- 
nounced that a joint pool of $300 
likewise would be frozen. 

The edict against "Bank Night" 
followed the closing of several 
handbooks after Fire Commission- 
er Richard T. Carter, in a City 
Council meeting, charged that the 
bookies were operating without 
molestation. 



TELEFEATURES PREPS 
1ST OF VMC SHIES 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 

Sam Coslow and George Frank 
video firm, Teiefeatures, will start 
shooting first vid-pic at Nassour 
Studios Sept. 2. 

Lina Romay, Derry Falligant, Al- 
fonse Berge, Gene Baylos and Juan 
Rolando have been inked for ini- 
tial film. Twenty-minute telefilm 
will be shot on 35m and- reduced 
to 16m Coslow and Frank will 
use live orchestra for background- 
ing and plan to have original 
scores defied for entire proposed 
26-week series. 



Drive-Ins Cash k on Polio Scare 

;•, Hollywood, Aug. 24. 

Polio scare on the Coast has. proved a boon to drive-ins. Attend- 
ance and concession profits have jumped, particularly in the Sari 
.Diego area where no- child under 12. is permitted to" attend a con- 
ventional theatre. Doctors say kids can attend auto-theatres if 
they remain in the family car. 

In other sections of the west, incidentally, drive-in operators are 
luring customers with a*$l per car priee regardless of the number 
of passangers. Cutrate admission generally results in doubled and 
even tripled concession sales which are more profitable than ad- 
missions. 



SIMPP Charges Johnston 



Continued from page S 




he had done when they teamed on , situation. Some companies, such as 
working out the Anglo-U. 3. films ; 20th-Fox, which has made an ad- 
agreement of last March. Mulvey's i vantageous deal ' with Rank, and 
agreement hinged, of course, on j Universal, which has contractual 
getting approval of SIMPP's mem- ! obligations, favor a lighthanded 
hership, which was taken as such a | approach, while Paramount's Bar- 
foregone conclusion that the I ney Balaban and other sufferers 
MPAA made formal announcement ; under the new restrictions are 
of his and Johnston's London plans willing to get tough, 
immediately after the Tuesday I SIMPP apparently feels that it 
session. [Can best make its own deals by 

A SIMPP meeting was held here maintaining its independence of 
that same night on the proposal j action, rather than going- along 
and violent objection was inter- ; with the majors. 

posed.. Inasmuch as there was little i — ■ '■ —— 

strong feeling among those who [ O „_ 0 II* KOT 

favored his going, it was agreed /ilTlttir tttflHW *HHl 

that he shouldn't. -Transmitted, to n, i • nm n 

^wYork, * he decisioi j start ,f d a Mock in Mo. F heatre Corn. 

whirlwind of cross-country calls. - —wmv 
» «. ' ' * j, " ■ ' , ' «. i " St. Louis, Aug 24. 

3 Top Indies Give In, But . . Harry Arthur, Jr., head man for 
Johnston and prexies of some of j Fanchon & Marco in St. Louis, is 
the major companies succeeded in j expected to sell his $98,200 worth 
eonvineing Samuel Goldwyn, '.of stock in the Missouri Theatre 
David O. Selznick and Walter j Building Corp., owner of the mid- 



Wanger that Mulvey should go. As 
a result, another SIMPP exec com- 
mittee meeting was held Wednes- 
day night. The matter was left in 
the air, with another bevy of phone 
calls taking place, until a member 



town Missouri theatre, and also to 
acquire from the estate of the late 
Sam Komm $448,000 worth of 
bonds of the Ambassador Building 
Corp.. owner of the downtown Am- 
bassador theatre, for sale to the 



w«"6 fMH-ti uiim a luciiinrcri- "«o.iuuiu nictftitr, 

ship session took place Thursday j Skouras brothers. He's also ex 
night. By then it was clear thar-i pected to close a deal to con- 
majprity opinion was against Mul- ] tinue the management of the St 
vey's going and a final vote was ] Louis Amus. Co. and its four de- 
taken making the decision unani- 1 luxe theatres — Ambassador, Fox, 



mous. 

Johnston had requested SIMPP 
to give Mulvey the same unlimited 
powers that the MPAA had handed 
him to make whatever decisions 
were necessary in London to im- 
prove the situation. SIMPP didn't 
kick to that, but objected to indi- 
cating. Unanimity with the majors 
on any solution they might find for 
their problem ' of getting playing 
time in England. This could entail 
the withholding of product from J. 
Arthur Rank or other serious steps 
which the indies were not sure was 
best for them. 

SIMPP members were willing to 
continue unity with the majors on 
the matter of the Anglo-U. S. 
agreement of last March, but not 
necessarily on British exhibition 
problems. That's why they were in- 
censed when Johnston issued a 
statement on Thursday (19) saying 
not only flatly that Mulvey would 
be on the plane the next day, but 
that Mulvey had been actively co- 
operating with him as late as the 



Missouri and St. Louis. 

The Skourases have offered to 
the holders of both the Ambassador 
and Missouri Bldg. Corp. voting 
trust certificates the redemption of 
all of their outstanding mortgage 
fee and leasehold sinking: fund in- 
come bonds in full, with current 
and accumlated interest, and their 
stock in the respective companies. 
The Skourases Have offered to pay 
■$15 per share for all stock of the 
Missouri Corp. and have agreed to 
lend that ' corporation sufficient 
funds to redeem all of its outstand- 
ing bonds, together with interest, 
or $115 for each certificate and 
$100 bond. In the caseof the Am- 
bassador Corp., the .price offered 
is $108.25. The twe.proposals have 
been interlocked, since each offer 
is conditioned- upon the purchase 
at the same time of the stock of the 
other corporation. 

Bond and certificate holders have 
until Sept. 10 to accept the offers, 
and the' general public, which holds 
about 3% of the stock, is expected 



past week in regard to the Anglo- to be out of the picture 
U. S. agreement. i Meantime, the management con- 

Mulvey's Statement ! tract of F&M to operate the St. 

Indies' charges that Johnston j . Louis Am»s. Co. and the four de- 
was trying to confuse their cooper- ! l uxers "as been extended to Sept. 
atibn in regard to that pact with ' , * Local observers believe a new 
current problems growing out of I *^i?"fl pac J wm 06 signed to 
the 45% quota and Rank's refusal f ,ve F & M continued control of the 
of anything but minimum playing nouses " now manages, 
time. This separation by SIMPP ] 
members of the two matters was 
evident in a statement by Mulvey j 
which he prepared at Johnston's ' 
request to be issued at the airport 
before Johnston left, to indicate a 
united front. Mulvey's statement 



Brit. Producers 



Continued from page i 



umbus' by having a one-week re- 

which Johnston'never "handed oui R^i^i^T" t <■ 
read ■ I Kone "ieless, average costs, "even 

"The change in my plans is due j SLnfnSI^! «*? %°?**» 
matters entirelv aside fmm fh» ?^ tt . m England, he said. Mainly, 



To€BSatW3ftis 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 
Independent Motion Picture Pro- 
ducers Releasing Organization has 
signed a $97,500 deal with CBS for 
13 telefilms. IMPPRO gets $.7,500 
a picture, plus 50% of everything 
above that figure that CBS gets 
from a sponsor. 

Pix are the "Eddie Drake" pri- 
vate eye series, based on radio's 
"Eddie Ace" show. IMPPRO top- 
pers Herb , Stroek,. Paul Garrison, 
Harlan Thompson and Jason James 
nave completed one test picture 
and will get rolling immediately 
on the dozen new ones at Nassour 
Studios. Don Haggeriy is. the star. 



to matters entirely aside from the 
March 11 agreement. My represen- 
tation of the SIMPP in dealing 
with the agreement as such or any 
modifications or interpretations 
thereof, and dealing with the con- 
trol committee, continue uninter- 
ruptedly." 

What the MPAA prexy did say 
at the airport was gasoline poured 
on already hot embers. He de- 
clared: "I understand Mr. Mulvey 
is not going with me because of a 
split in SIMPP. I \yas disappointed 
that United Artists producers fell 
he should not go. I am pleased that 
Samuel Goldwyn, Walter Wanger 
and David O. Selznick agreed with 
ime that he should. I don't know 
1 why they don't want him to go." 
. One of the factors in indies 
doubt about advisability of giving 
their sanction to any new^ negotia- 
tions by having Mulvey go along 
is disagreement among the majors 
themselves as to steps to be taken 



it s the savings now being exer- 
cised in cast, costumes and story. 

'Columbus," a good part of 
which was shot on location in the 
Barbados, will be ready for release 
next May. In Technicolor, it cost 
Hank some $2,250,000. With that 
film out of the way, MacDonald's 
next directing stint, again for 
Rank, will be "Digger's Republic" 
to be leased on location in South 
Africa. 

MacDonald has been under con- 
tract to Metro since he came out 
of the British army three years ago. 
However, he has never worked for 
the company since he has been on 
loanout to Hank for the entire 
stretch. There's a likelihood that 
he will take up chores for M-G af- 
ter "Digger's" is completed since 
Ben • Goetz, Metro's British chief, 
has already approached him on the 
subject of going to Hollywood. 

British director shaves off for 
Loadon' thi* week following a stop- 



to clear up the present playdate «ff of a few days in New York 



August 25, 1948 



7 



Innmi 



till 



HI 



RAY 



ANN 



MILLAND TODD 



GERALDINE 



By Courtesy of J, Arthur fenk 



FITZGERALD 



in 



HAL WALLIS' 



production 



So Evil, 
My Love" 

..h Leo G. Carroll • Raymond Huntley 
Martita Hunt • Raymond Lovell 

Moira Lister • Roderick Lovell • ma* b, lewis alien 

Screenplay by Leonard Spigelgass and Ronald Miliar • Based on a novel by Joseph Shearing 



IN 




IS 



We<liie<Tayv Angiwi 25, 1948 



Fito Rectus 



; C—tim-i (MB ytce X 



FroKl Ilea t f Fwlage 
I (large StS Hot Kayod 



Paris, Aug. 24. 

. - . j, , „_ .... ' Metertge tax with which, the 

jj^i^a^5a*.»ep^9.sta^ II ^^ . govemmest , ■ h«». ■ been 



U*m MJ^mS^tSS^-mKuvSL ittaea^dng V. S. films> Mill very 



^ ^i^^^to Brini Pro- ™«h ™* elimination was 

S^^ISe^CteiSKl^;; «3nes are good. ; j guaranteed under one of the origi- 

S^S^^aSSaBSS ' M« a trio of editors work- :nai compromise .proposals for re- 
'S^^SdaM^S^lSlS-^'' 0 "-** print, '.''the films pace ;■ vision of the Blum-Byrnes agree- 
^^SfS.^wS? ' «nM fen* speeded faaSr-irient, tat the clause banning the 



Frank 'Wisfeaa's' dtreetsea '-& -^teE***-- o£ ' . superSHws ;■■;»» tax is not in the final compromise. 

df aetSoB and .«iatea&tfc. : i! ff^Pq;: 'WP'Pff'g J^&Pt £ ttci£.' of ■: the'. Motion ' Picture 
6k fatfrodaetfeas of set-tos are «- -SSl Assn. of Aroeriea are fighting it 

variants' timed aflat stew PS^it^S^S** w . Btstones, ^.^jng it wouM be Con- 

go that greater lNp^ffj^!*gg&' j *?ig««n : -. : ' . • ; ■;; ■■ ; .trary to the spirit of the agreement 

The , smm&m JgP 4 t f a ff % < ff aac * I ' "'^i-- - ■■ 'iw-=:-- reached last vveek by which about 
isma«iW^*liW'rfi*;4^'easftsa f : vote- SM S gat Mc ■■• , ; .':;*H«M)9^)00 in frozen. U. S. funds 

J»»»«w^.«^™*^i^V ' C*rtfcWfi*i»«.' ': twill be thawed in return tor Blum- 

^^SSSE&^SZStt jS^-i amxmm ' 'Byrnes revisions decreasing the 

ea! had^roona adequate- J««e.,-;i, , .iSmiiw «f if S filmi imnorted 

^.TOSI^rnai Thj ta wyuid amount to about 
: >" 1 mwm&ffl-:'' -J*- .Briee. ». x. a»*. ' W . -item™* $6,000- tof» the average picture, 

' gfe.lL l * ,w ^- 'which runs about 10,000 feet in 

"rSr/'if^ length. a» passed by the lower 

house, it calls far a le>y Of ssero 



■■': : '\'\^ :: ljmdtm, 'Aug. 12. 

CWB release X Aritoiz Kaaufc-In^Tad. 
«»|<awid«r<aBat-'|>rbdlii1i»w. 5»B«>ia^|<aBaew.^i.'j. , .v;^».-.!.. • ". Claude' Cenia 

■iHTillllirtHHIWll nintifr 9a. Dimoetejt :j Jteqwei... ...Ifaymoiid Itmitcau 

W.K*»er.e«Sa*- **e«t^'-J>y-5S8S»tl ■.■'.'.;■■>'■■' : -''- '■ , . .'■'- .■ ','• 

sail" A' Bt WBBmwS. Me. mwel by Nor-| j. b-.kj, n>ai^.v ■ 

3 cww **SS Tbdmx ifeerjc **■*.}.-, * *» French; English Titles) 
-<m* '^m^:^ mm*'Tm f.,*¥m l >r.^£: \ ' -*The Honorable Catherine" is 
SS"1&5S* *»S4^*£toSteoSl one of those had French mistakes 
Me' ftiii*BitV«>;v^«.w« ' 'iUwrta*-. fttj that 'never should' have, been im- 
' S^j2£^'''"^'''''"" _; ' a i^co«S«. 'I^^d.. into ''tins ■country. ■This'pic 
SrJiSJT. .' ' .' r.'.*" .*.' .' ." *.WtB* waiam . attempts a genre of madcap comedy 
rx.ri* loum...., ^Saam _a»*jwliiCh only succeeds- in being ab- 
»««*L- r -* -.»jjaj ' |g** | surd, it .will have-as appeal for the 



Jin. Viaar* 



usually discriminating art house 
bestseller by i clientele. 

it's doubtful | Disheveled yarn t o nee r n s a 



Adapted from a 
Korman Collins, 

wfsether this Launder-Gilliat pro- { blackmailing femme who makes 
deletion will repeat the success off capital out of extra-marital she- 
the original novel. Starting out nanigans. in a complicated boudoir 



as tense inelo M develops into 
broad far.ee, and many people may 
rightly resent being expectett to 
langh while a fight is being, made; 
fox the life of a youth sentenced 
to. death. ■ ' 

Set in a typical house in a typical 
street, the plot depicts the struggles 
and hopes of a group of ordinary 
peoplei They include a 'bjenian old 
c»»Ile with their attractive daugh- 
feji.'a; widowed mother with her 
only son, a faded blonde who ekes 
Umi-K pittance at a night club, and 
the landlady herself, slightly 
soured but almost falling for a 
fake spiritualist. All lead a hum- 
drum existence until the young lad, 
in his desire to make some easy, 
money and court the girt down- 
stairs, gete involved in a murder 
and is sentenced to death. . 

Until now it lias been a vigorous 
piece of melodrama, tense and ex- 
citing, and up" to the standard ex- 
pected from the Launder-Giliiat 
team. But without warning, and in 
questionable taste, the tempo 
Changes and the. organizing of a 
petition 5 to save the ttffe pf the boy 
is- treated- as something' meant to 
be hilariously : funhy v It doesn't 
come off. 

Lack of consistency in the treats 
meht unfortunately brings the film 
down to an average-level. With its 
excellent characterizations, ' ; i t s 
meaty story and fine London back- 
grounds: it should- have been a 
ftrstrate thrillers But it isn't 
An exceptionally big cast handles i 



Fre«ch Coin 

Continurii frem pate 



scene full of irate husbands' and 
ducking, wives, the blackmailer 
gets involved in a love- affair with 
a young roue. But before the final 

clinch occurs, there are a series of proved by the Centre Nationale de 
wild episodes of pretended insani- la Cinematographic with approval 
ty which have little relevancy to not to be withheld "unreasonably." 
the discernable plot. f Revenue earned outside of France 

Edwige Fepillere,: who was seen 
last in the U.S. in her brilliant 



to 1,200 francs per meter at the 
discretion of the Finance Minister. 
He has indicated hell make it 300 
to 400 francs pe«« meter. 

Although the two items were not 
actually traded off against each 
other, the meterage tax was left in 
the compromise draft that in- 
creased the number of films the 
majors can import from 100 to 110. 
It is said that the income from the 
extra 10 films will }ust about cover 
the per-meter tax. 




performance in "the Idiot," im 
parts verve to the role Of the 
blackmailer but she' can't cope 
with the zany situations. Andre 
Luguer registers as a conventional 
lover. Rest of the east play in a 
broad style of Comedy. Herm. 



Shorter Footages 

SSSi. Continned from' page 3 1 




Korda-20th Deal 

_ a Continued from »*(« 3 

likely, the relationship ban become 
so', strained.- '■ 

Korda's announcement In Lon- 
don over the weekend that he is 
holding up further delivery to 20th 
Of his films until the boycott sit- 
uation clarifies Is believed to have 
been the tipoff on « pending break 
that will be final, Korda hits de- 
livered so far only two films, "An 
Ideal It u s b a nd " and "Anna 
Karenina," under the pact, which 
has run 16 months. He Is under 
obligation to deliver 12 more by 
May %■ 1951, if both sides don't 
agree to call it quits. 

Two Korda plx have also recent- 
ly been bought outright by 20th. 
They are "Mine Own Executioner" 
and "Man About the House." 
Neither has been released yet. al- 
though "Executioner" was dated in 
New York and pulled because of 
the boycott. 

"Husband" .and "Karenina" have 
fared rather badly in the U. S., but 
the former is now in distribution 
by 20th in Australia and South 
Africa and doing very well. If the 
20th deal is nixed, as expected, it 
is though Korda might again set 
up the deal he formerly had with 
Metro for South African distribu- 
tion. What he'd do for U. S. and 
Canadian distribution is a moot 
.point 

,Tw»„ Films 'New. Ready. . * 
London, Aug. 24. 
The two films which would have 
been delivered to 20th in Septem- 
ber and October under the Korda 
contract are "Bonnie Prince 
Charlie," a Technicolor production 
starring David Niven, and "Fallen 
Idol." produced by Carol Reed with 
Michele Morgan" and Ralph Rich: 
ardson starred. 
The two pix which Korda has 



their necks, are thus seen able to . ,,..„„„,. :_,*„„»_, i ««* h™ip«™» 

make their pix longer; Two .othw ^.^^ w :^ b ff^^ m S^l^] A - cbicif of th * internation- ruled the merger legal under 



by such films would not have to be 

returned to France. .. : almost ready and which ordinarUy 

G. Purehase Of rightSMto motion i would have gone to 20th on out- 
P^^.P 10 ^"^ M.RMBee. w fright ^ fop its distribution in 
worldwide distribution or sale out- the westem hemisphere, are "The 
side the franc zone, such purchase | Winslow Boy." starring Robert 
to be^bject to Frmch approval.. Donat, and "Small Back Room," 

7. Pundiase of films rights tola Michael Powell-Emeric Press- 
books, plays, stories ^ ™wsi c s burger production. 

properties, and film patents, pro- . 
vicletl subsequent royalties, dae to| 
the seller be paid in the currency I 
I of the nation in which royalties ac- 1 
(crue. "■•■/:' ■ "' ■■ . I 

8. Purchase of longterm French 



French Pact 

Ce«tijs«e* ftm page 5 



indie producers, however, have tol- ™Sf2L ™m™ ^f.^Sh^f t 81 of the Motion Picture trust laws, A previous, combining 

lowed the trend, with Independent]^ J"*^ 1 ' 0 ".^'"^^ of America, at its elbow as of 20th and Paramount to distrib- 

Artists' "Velvet Touch*' (RKO re- ""i^Jftf * fh „ V«„fr» j^t^nat^ e3tpert **4s«r. ute I Sm prints, overseas was sty- 
lease) coming out' at .96 minutes, ^^^^wr.nht | . S mi ! d whe , n Par ' B le 8 alites objected 
and Hal WaUis' "Sorry, Wrong de la Cmematographie. - The aew pjiet was p rmn | c d to t « it on that ground. 

Numbet- (Paramoumrreieased at ^^S^J^^^^l*^^ to ^ m 1 

week '"and approved '-with certain 



Back of 20th-RKO Deal 
In So. Africa Is Desire 
To Enlarge Film Pool 

Wobbly status of 20th-Foxs 
worldwide distribution deal with 
Sir Alexander Korda and the un- 
certainties of product delivery by 
United Artiste brought on this 
week's 10-ycar distribution tie up 
between 20th and RKO in South 
Africa, It has been learned. Since 
20th is no longer certain of obtain- 
ing Korda's pix for the South Afri- 
can dominion, company found it 
necessary to supplement its supply 
elsewhere in order to keep its cus- 
tomers going. Twentieth and UA 
together %avc been feeding one of 
the Schlesingcr circuits- plus cer- 
tain indies in the dominion. 
■'■' These theatres bad been sup- 
plied by 20th and UA on a product 
division of 60%-40% respectively 
between the two companies. Be- 
cause 20th can no longer count on 
the delivery of Korda's British 
films and UA's releases have been 
uncertain, Company turned to RKO 
for additional product. 

Tieup, beginning Sept. 1, makes 
20th the sole and exclusive distrib 
of RKO pix in South Africa, in- 
cluding films made on the RKO 
lot; those made by indies -such as 
Samuel Goldwyn and distribuled 
through RKO; and those produced 
in Britain by the company. 

Advantage to RKO in the deal 
is the fact that it can bring along 
.its big indie producers. Heretofore, 
RKO released through the Schle- 
singcr interests; Since it was with- 
out its own distribution facilities, 
outside producers were free to 
make their own releasing arrange- 
ments through other companies or 
in any other manner under, the 
terms of their contracts with RKO. 

Without outside product such as 
that of Korda, 20th has always 
found it difficult to keep the South 
African theatre Customers going. 
Several years back, it distributed 
J. Arthur Rank's films in the do- 
minion but that arrangement 
ended when Rank made a three-ply 
partnership tie with Universal and 
the Schlesingers for the entire 
I country, 

j Since the 20th-RKO combo gives 
I both companies added bargaining 
[strength, it is thought likely, that 
i similar deal* may be made in 
{other dollar areas. Apparently, 
lawyers tor both companies have 

anti- 



89 minutes, 

; More Examples .:.y.\ '-.y 
Among the majors, Metro's 
"Julia Misbehaves" runs 98 minutes 
and "Luxury Liner" a Technicolor 
musical that would have gone well 
over an hour and 40 minutes* last 



or commerce except the motion 
picture biz unless the Centre Na- 
tionale approves the last 



the characterizations with skill, but ' year, now released at 97 minutes, 
top honors go to Richard Atten- : Same situation is true for Colum- 
borough, living the part of thelbia's "Loves of Carmen," out at 
flashy youngster who wants to go ! 95 minutes. Par's "Isn't It Re- 
places the easy way, and Alastair'l mantle" is «7 minutes and its 
Sim, who -ust, can't miss as .the j " N j gnt Has a Thousand Eyes" is 
fake medium Fay Compton, Wylie B0 minutes. Unrversal's "Mr. Pea- 
Watson and Susan Shaw are typical and the Mermaid" runs 89 

minutes and 20th-Fox's 



U's Cash Position 

— — continued from paje 1 „ 1 



; requested modifications. These 
were transmitted to the State Dept. 
for consultation with the French, 
and agreement was wort on them 
[ within four days. The agreement 
| in final form was slated for signing 
| this week if squawks to the State 
Dept. by Walt Disney and other 



000,000. Under terms of the $15,- ! indies, charging discrimination in 
000,000 credit, the amount av£at-. favof of the majors, don't upset 
able to O decreased by 52,000,000 the dc , 



Kelly's Trip 

Continued from pore S 



at the end of the first year. It ex- 
pires May 1, 1952, Banks involved 



suburbanites, but Stephen Murray 
is more of a caricature than a 
character. Myro. 



The Spirit, ami ttw VIvhU 

" ■ (I'PAMAN) ' 
Variety Kim releaiie of Lux (Mario Can- 
*rini> production. Stars Girio Cervf, 0ina 
Sa«»Hi feature* ftuggero Kiigsseri, Enrico 
Cloii. I.uis Hurtado. Dir*cte<i by Valen- 
tma Brosio. ; ^asteapiiy, CaBerini, from 
AljesEaJadm Man/.otti's novel: camera.. An- 
cliJso Bti/./i: editors, Gtno Bi'osio, Natban 
Cy Braunstein. Clement Rouneias; mwsic, 
II«!rl>raiM!o Plixetl; En^Ush titles^ John. 
Erskine, Prevtewed N. V. Au«. 11. '48. 
Itimning time. US MINS. 
tienzo .;■'.....-,.. . ;'■. 
Xu«-ia. . 



Ermine" is 89 minutes. 
Downward trend in 



Major modification requested was 
a reopening each year of the clause 
governing the number of films that 
can be imported. Yank distrib* felt 
that the 121 plx annually ,(110 
from the majors, It from the in- 
dies* was too small for the life of 



are Guaranty Trust, N. Y., First 
National of Boston and Bank of the 
Lady in Manhattan. Co., N. Y. 

( Various rumors concerning the 
footage company's condition, publicly 
Iength,"Tcc"orcling ,U to "homeoffice .'teffltod malictou? by VP^i^Jf thelour-yeaf « ^m«^L^m-«Sr 
spokesmen, offers proof that the Blumberg on the ^C^stvlastweAj sired tne prospect of sending in 
studios are keeping an eagle eye: were likewise said by top banking moce pni^ u the French eco- 
on their producers, making cerfain " w «5 c 5 s '° V e 'TWti'if \j n(mic situation improved, 
that all scripts are tight as possible ijt is freely admitted by IT execs , i„ itia i French counter-proposal 
and that shooting is kept down to that th ? company s net profits, ^as wa s that if the pact was to be re- 
the lowest minimum. One interest- i s howl * m its statement for the re- opened at the end of each year, 
ing aspect of the situation on which "'binder of its current fiscal year, af mpect s of it 1 should be reviewed 
the majors hadn't planned but!* 111 be disappomtingly low, but at)d be subject to rewriting. If 
. which has already begun to bear i ih ?¥ are looking forwatd to an ex- there was no agreement, then the 
• ^ ^S> evidence is that shorter features ! eellent first quarter tor the 1949 ) whole thing could be cancelled by 
.^^T&ii have widened the market for i ?, scaI vear - Th . e economies, which > either party and they would fall 
Armando Falcone ) s h 0 rts. Those exhibitors playing ; tne eompany has made at hotn Ms . back on existing contracts. 

'.'.'.'. ca?fowSlsingle features now have time for home office and studio, .and the | This was unacceptable to the i and .inj^^~'"s|uirelHd«iers' have 
•• • if** . } l u '^, two shorts where thev formerly g 00 ", b.o. results of- a number of j Americans, who didn't feel it fair \ nothing to say. Kelly, while in 
" Ici;uiS?ra 1 ran one, while double-bill houses, > * te W s . now *'\ l , be r f* I fhat the whole pact be jeopardized London, nevertheless will attend 

a«i«m.v.v ...fflw»OMM«iifo j-'whicli ■ formerly confined their nected tnen. tap Koots, macje j by efforts to improve one aspect, a directors' meeting of Odeoit 
S,^*; ^V.'rr'?^^^ *orte'lKM»Wngto o*dy -a-newsreeli f » r lt by Walter Wanger, whojA few days of further negotiation Cinema Holdings Corp., parent 

_ : -mow -find" time" oh their scbedules ^'^^^'y.™ th - e Ptofite,.».de-.;were. cMrted-'dn-aiid «he\.Fi^h. «bm|>n«y of the circuit and of 

i to book In a single-reeler, .ing better than the company sj?re- agreed to reopening as the Ameri- which UA owns 80*%. 

j vious high-grosser, Canyon Pass- j cans wished, with inability to come Potential lawsuit which UA had 
;age. Abbott & Costello Meet , to agreement on the number of ! British counsel scouting was based 
! Frankenstein" and ' Feudin', Fuss- ! — »•■•-• « - ■■ ~ ■ 



II c-MMtmie ..,.».. 

Bon AI»l>oa4Io 

Son HnJlrifflp.. -. . 
171i)Bominalw - . . . 
Fail re CUristoforo . . 

Verpetua 

II Conic Attilio.... 



would turn but 3S pictures over a 
nve-ycar period for UA release. 
Idea Hm just about been given up 
now «* impractical, since equip- 
ment for a new studio Isn't avail- 
able, even If UA and the Irish syn- 
dicate were willing to spend dol- 
lars to get it, ' 

There are no other immediaie 
plans for production in England 
and Kelly will concentrate on ef- 
forts to relieve the booking jam for 
UA product. It is understood 
there is not a date for « new re- 
lease by the company until next 
January. Part of this big hiatus is 
due to Rank's having filled in the 
time otherwise for six months 
ahead during the embargo on U .S. 
film shipment to Britain and partly 
to lack of sympathy toward U A by 
Rank on a personality Basis. 
. UA is particularly nettled by the 
fact that it is a .part owner of 
Odeon. Under British law. how- 
ever, Rank, as majority stockhold- 
er, always Casts the decisive vote 



(In Italian; English Titles) 
Adapted from a classic romantic 
novel by Alessandro Manzoni, "The I 
Spirit and the Flesh" is a lengthy 
Italian import whose market ap- 
pears to lie in carefully booked art 
house situations. 

A wealth of pageantry has gone 
Into this period piece, and the 



'Intruders' First In 
, New Metro Schedule 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 
"The Intruders," one of 10 
. "progressive" pix scheduled, will 
basically simple plot builds into a be the first film -on Metro's new 
* to / y . J ot tremendous scope. Picture (production slate, Dore Schary an- 
r^^J^i^B%ftJ t Z^ after huddles with Louis 

Sn^pV'the'lnte^: k^tn^t *S thCZ 
ence of Enrico Glori, the heavy. ■ ffi£iw£2* % « C L,f ° k„ Wuliam 
Story is also a deeply religious Faulkner novel about a boy and an 



in' and A'Fightin'," are also rack- 
ing up encouraging grosses, 

"•Feudin*" at $460,608 

Hollywood, Aug, 24. 



one in -which there is more than 
*n» concrete example where genu- 
ine faith is bound to save one from 
evil. Performances are uniformly 



<<Wd with Cervi, Miss Sassoli and ed yarn. 



elderly woman who save an inno- 
cent Negro from lynching. 

Claude Jarman, Jr., will play the 
boy in the Mississippi-background- 



films meaning merely that 121 ; on these holdings in Odeon. Some 
i would continue to be the figure. J lawyers thougiit there was a poten- 
j , The industry has, as a matter of tial cause of action, but most felt 
; fact, asked for State Dept. aid in { there Was not and thus the idea is 
the past few months, but, it is being dropped. 
., r . ■ thought, belatedly. State has al- 1 British Situation, as outlined 

First month s bookings of 'Feud- ways avoided, if possible, getting above, was discussed by live UA 
in, Fussin' and A-pighthV" are j into the dispute with the British. 1 board in * Session in New York 
expected to return the film's nega* • On the reetuest recently made for last Tnarsday (19). Kelly, who 
five costs, UI is pointing to the J its aid in fighting the quota law, = presided in the absence ot piexy 
comedy as an example of entertain- < department has made no move ex-] Grad Sears, who was on the Coast, 
ing film fare at low cost Racking cept to refer the matter to Ambas- ! detailed the situation; Directors 
up high grosses in its early engage- j sadbr Lewis Douglas in London, .were also brought up to date on 
ments, "Feudin*" was made in 17 1 He is said privately to be very recent changes in personnel in the 
days at a reported cost -of $460,000. , sympathetic, but biding his time sates department and several pros- 
George Sherman directed for awaiting the proper opportunity to pective releasing deals were dis- 
producer Leonard Goldstein. I present the case. ■ cussed. 




COLUMBIA PICTURES presents 

m 




with Scotland 
Yard lending 
a hand • . . 
with a gun in it 
... to avenge 
G-Man's 
murder! 



n 

■ 



- LOUISE ALLBRITTON ; 
... CARL ESMOND , . . ' j 

An EDWARD SMALL Production 1 

Scr«enp!oy by George Bruce . Direcred by GOROON OOUGtAS • IVod.jcod b, GRANT WHYTQCK j 



YOUTH MONTH 
SALUTING YOUNjS AMERICA \ 



20 



PICTURES 



Wedneday, August 25, 1948 



Picture Grosses 



Last 



DENVER 

(Continued from page 12) 
Okay $6,500 for final week. 

—"Foreign Affair" ' (Par) (2d wk). 
Good $10,000. Holds. Last week, 

^nvef °<Fox) (2,525; 35-74)- 
"Life With Father" (WBJ and 
"Wallflower" (WB), day-date with 
Esquire. Good $16,000. Last week, 
"Meet Erankenstein" (V.) and 
"Checkered, Coat" (20th), nice $17,- 

O0 )E«iniM! (Fox) (742; 35-74)-^"Life 
Withf Father" (WB) and "Wall- 
flower" (WB). also Denver Nice 
$3,000. Last week, "Deep Waters 
(20th) and "Jinx Money" JMono), 

i8 Or $ pheunV (RKO) (2,600; 35-74)- 
«'On Island With You" (M-G) and 
•'Guns of Hate" (RKO). Big $19,500, 
pnd holding. Last week, Melody 
Time" (RKO) and "Mystery in 
Mexico" (RKO), $14,500 

Paramount (Fox) (2,200; 35-74)— 
"Man-Eater of Kumaon" (U) and 
"Wouldn't Be in Shoes" (Mono), 
day-date with Webber. Modest at 
$9,000. Last week, "Deep Waters 
(20th) and "Jinx Money" (Mono), 

^totfox) (878; 35-74)-"Will 
It Happen Again" (FC) and "Argyle 
Secrets" (FC). Mild $2,500. Last 
week, "Street No Name" (20th) and 
"Shanghai Chest" (Rep) (m.o.), fine 
$4 500 

Webber (Fox) . (750; 35-74)— 
"Man-Eater of Kumaon" (U) and 
"Wouldn't Be In Shoes" (Mono), 
also Paramount; Thin $2,000. Last 
week, "Meet Frankenstein" (U) and 
"Checkered Coat" (20th), fine $3,- 
600. ^ 

boots' Mighty $18,000, 
'Largo* Same, Top Cmey 

Cincinnati, Aug. 24. 
Returns at major stands are on 
the bounce, adding up to a brisk 
summer session. "Key Largo" and 
"Tap Roots" are socko and about 
even for top money, with another 
firstrun, "Velvet Touch" trailing 
in smoothy stride. 

Estimates for This Week 

Albee (RKO) (3,100; 50-75 )— 
"Velvet Touch" (RKO). Smoothy 
$12,500. Last week, "Lady in 
Ermine" (20th), hotsy $16,500. 

Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 50-75) — 
"Key Largo" (WB). Smash $18,000, 
warranting extended run. Last 
week, "Easter Parade" (M-G) (3th 
wk), strong $8,000 finale for socko 
engagement. 

Grand (RKO* (1,400; 50-75) — 
"Search" (M-G) .and "Night at 
Opera" (M-G) (reissue). All right 
$9,500. Last week, "Raw Deal" 
(EL), nifty $10,500. 

Keith's (City Inv.) (1,542; 50-75) 
— "Peabody and Mermaid" (U) (2d 
wk). Pleasing $6,500 after good 
$9,500 preem. 

Lyric (RKO) (1,400; 50-75) — 
"Foreign Affair" (Par) (m.o.). Par 
$6,000. Last week, "Return of Bad 
Men" (RKO) (m.o.) split with 
"Deep Waters" (2#th) (m.o.), so-so 
$4,500. 

Palace (RKO) (2,600; 50-75) — 
"Tap Roots" (U). Mighty $18,000. 
Last week, "Foreign Affair" iPar), 
great $16,000. 

Shnkert (RKO) (2,100;- 50-75 — 
"Lady in. Ermine" (20th) (m.o.). 
Average $5,000. Last week, "Canon 
City" (EL) (m.o.), $4,500. 

* 

LOS ANGELES 

(Continued from page 12) 
and "Bad Sister" (U) (2d wk-4 
tifiys) -$2 700 

Studio City (FWC) (880; 60-$D— 
"Peabody and Mermaid" (tD and 
"Daredevils Clouds" (Rep). Nice 
$5,000. Last week, "Feudin', 
Fussin* " (U) and "Bad Sister" (U) 
(2d wk-4 days), $2,100.- 

United Artiste (UA) (2,100; 60- 
$1)— "Peabody and Mermaid" (U) 
and "Daredevils Clouds" (Rep) 
Fair $12,500. Last week, "Feudin', 
Fussin' " (U) and "Bad Sister" (U) 
(2d wk-4 days), oke $5,700. 

Uptown (FWC) (1,719; 60-$D— 
"Lady in Ermine" (20th) and "King 
• Gamblers" (Rep). Light $7,500. 
Last week, "Walls Jericho" (20th) 
and "Your Shoes" (Mono) (2d wk), 
slow $4^200. 

Vogue (FWC) (885; 60-85)— "Hap- 
pened One Night" (Col) and 
"Penny Serenade" (Col) (reissues). 
Mild $4,000. Last week, "Dude 
West" (Mono) and "Jinx Money" 
(Mono) (10 days),' stout $6,000. 

. wiisMre mm wm 6o-$d- 

"Easter Parade" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Strong $13,000. Last week, very 
fancy $19,500. 

«.v« i,te ™ (WB) <2.300; 60-$D— 
"Life Father" (WB) and "Heart 
2M¥ a <Re P> <2d wk). Okay 

fefo°W% L oS S Week,gOOd$13 ' 50 ° bUt 



Det. Still Slow Albeit 
'Canon' Hangup $29,000; 
Time' Fast at $21,000 

Detroit, Aug. 24. 
Biz continues on the downgrade 
here and the end apparently is not 
in sight. Fox is stopping the city 
with session for "Canon City." 
United Artists with "Time of Life" 
shapes big while third week of 
"Key Largo" at Michigan is okay, 
Others are mainly so-so. 

Estimates for This Week 
Adams (Balaban) (1,740; 70-95)— 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (6th wk). 
Satisfactory $7,000, compared with 
easy $8,000 in fifth stanza. 

Art Cinema (Marten) (459; 60-90) 
— "Spectre of Rose" (Indie) and 
"Beauty and Beast" (Indie). Good 
$3,000 or over. Last week, "Lucky 
Bride" (Indie) and "Bohemian 
Rapture" (Indie), $3,800. 

Broadway-Capitol (United De- 
troit) (3,300; 70-95)— "Train to Al- 
catraz" (Rep) and "King of Gam- 
blers" (Rep) plus stageshow featur- 
ing Bela Lugosi, Rose Murphy, 
Harry Babbitt, Larry Paige orch. 
Disappointing $20,000. Last week, 
"I, Jane Doe" (Rep) and stageshow 
headed by Cab Calloway and Ca- 
baleers. Jack Leonard, Whitson 
Bros., Peggy Mann, Larry Paige 
orch, fine $27,000. 

Downtown (Balaban) (2,863; 70- 
95) — "Drums" (Indie) and "Four 
Feathers" (Indie) (reissues). Fair 
$7,000. Last week, "Man-Eater of 
Kumaon" (U) and "Jinx Money 
(Mono), nice $10,000. 

Fox (Fox-Michigan) (5,100; 70-95) 
—"Canon City" (EL) and "Return 
of Whistler" (Col). Fat $29,000 or 
over. Last week, "Escape" (20th) 
and "Mickey" (EL), $21,000. 

Michigan (U-D) (4089; 70-95)- 
"Key Largo" (WB) and "Wall 
flower" (WB) (3d wk). Satisfactory 
$18,000 after terrific $27,000 
second stanza. 

Palms State (U-D) (2,716; 70-95) 
—"So Evil My. Love" (Par) and 
"State Struck" (Mono) (2d wk). 
Good $15,000 after breezy $20,000 
opener. 

United Artists (U-D) (2,976; 70- 
95)— "Time of Life" fUA) Big 
$21,000. Last week, "Melody 
Time" (RKO) and "Old Los An- 
geles" (Rep) (2d wk), nice $15,000. 



scale and "Wallflower" (2d wk). 
Solid $8,500. Last week, $9,000. 

Playhouse (H-E) (1,200; 50-85)— 
'Canon City" (EL) and "Smart 
Woman" (Indie) (m.o.) (6 days). 
Fair $1,500. Last week, "Emperor 
Waltz" (Par) and "Big Town Scan- 
dal" (Par) (3d wk) (m.o.), good 
$2,500. 

United Artists (Parker) (895; 50- 
85)— "Easter Parade" (M-G). Giant 
$16,000 or near. Last week. On 
Island With You" (M-G) (3d wk), 
fine $7,200. 



'Sisters* $11,000, 

. Montreal, Aug. 24. 
Four new bills here this week 
but none is big. Best showings are 
being made by the holdovers of 
"All My Sons" and "Best Tears.' 
Top newcomer looks to be "Sainted 
Sisters," okay at Capitol. 

Estimates for This Week 
Loew's '(C.T.) (2,855; 34-64) — 
"Best Years" (RKO) (2d wk). Good 
$14,000 after big $18,000 opener. 

Capitol (C.T.) (2,412; 30-57) — 
"Sainted Sisters" (Par). Okay $11,- 
000. Last week, "Scudda Hoo! 
(20th), $9,000. 

Palace (C.T.) (2;625; 30-57) — 
"Winter Meeting" (WB). So-so 
$10,000. Last week, "Miracle of 
Bells" (RKO) $9,500. 

Princess (C.T.) (2,131; 30-57) — 
"All My Sons" (U) (2d wk). Nice 
$9,000, after big $12,500 opener. 

Imperial (C.T.) (1,839; 26-42) — 
"Wallflower" (WB) and "Thirteen 
Lead Soldiers" (20th) Average $4,- 
000. Last week, "Are You With It" 
(U) and "California Firebrand" 
(U) $4,700. 

Orpheum (C.T.) (1,040; 26-45)— 
"Woman In White" (WB) and 
"Trapped By Blackie" (Col). Fine 
$4,000. Last week, "Intrigue" (UA) 
and "Song of Idaho" (Col) $4,700. 

PORTLAND, ORE. 

(Continued from page 13) 
and "God's Country and Woman" 
(WB) (reissue); fair $3,500. 

Music Box (H-E) (1,000; 50-85)— 
"Melody Time" (RKO) and "Rocky", 
(Mono) (2d wk) (m.o.). Excellent 
$3,500. Last week, $4,300. 

Oriental (H-E) (2,000; 50-85)— 
"Lady In Ermine" (20th) and 
"Checkered Coat" (20th), day date 
with Orpheum. Good $4,000. Last 
week, "Life With Father" (WB) at 
pop prices and "Wallflower" (WB), 
Big $6,200. 

Orpheum (H-E) (1,750; 50-85)— 
"Lady in Ermine" (20th) and 
"Checkered Coat" (20th), also Ori 
ental. Excellent $8,000 for Betty 
Grable starrer. Last week, "Canon 
City'; (EL) and "Smart Woman" 
(Indie). Big $8,500. 

Paramount (H-E) (3,400; 50-85) 
—"Life With Father" (WB) at pop 



>ion 

Rugged $13,000, Seattle 

Seattle, Aug. 24. 

Personal by Eddie Anderson 
(Rochester) is boosting "Gallant 
Legion" at Palomar to great $13,- 
000. "Lady in Ermine" at Par- 
amount is surprisingly slow, and a 
real disappointment. "Life With 
Father" shapes sturdy at the Fifth 
Avenue. 

Estimates for This Week 

Blue Mouse (H-E) 800; 45-80)— 
"Melody Time" (RKO) and "Cur- 
ley" (UA) (3d wk). Good $3,500. 
Last week, "Meet Frankenstein" 
(U) and "Stage Struck" (Mono) (3d 
Wk), nice, $3,300. 

Fifth Avenue (H-E) (2,349; 45-80) 
—"Life with Father" (WB) and 
"WaU flower" (WB). Sturdy $11,- 
000. Last week, "Melody Time" 
(RKO) and "Curley" (UA) (2d wk), 
nice $7,300. 

Liberty (Ind) (1,650; 45-80) — 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (2d wk). 
Tall $11,000. Last week, terrific 
$18,300. 

Music Box (H-E) (800; 45-80)— 
"Key Largo" (WB) and "Fabulous 
Joe" (UA). (5th wk). Steady $4,500 
after very good $5,000 last week. 

Music Hall (H-E) (2,200; 45-80) 
—"Date With Judy" (M-G) and 
"Shaggy" (Par) (3d wk). Great 
$9,000, Last week, $10,700. 

Orpheum (H-E) (2,600; 45-80)— 
"Enchanted Valley" (EL) and "Gal- 
lant Bess" (EL). Slow $6,000. Last 
week, "Canon City" (EL) and 
"Jiggs, Maggie in Society" (Mono), 
good $8,000. 

Palomar (Sterling) (1,350; 45-80) 
— "Gallant Legion" (Rep) with 
"Rochester" Eddie Anderson on 
stage. Radio comic on stage help- 
ing to rousing $13,000. Last week, 
"Buck *Privates" (FC) and "Broad- 
way" (FC) (reissues), okay $7,300. 

Paramount (H-E) (3,039; 45-80)— 
"Lady in Ermine" (20th) and 
"Fighting Back" (20th). Fairly 
good $9,000 for new Betty Grable 
starrer. Last week, "Campus 
Sleuth" (Mono) and "Return of 
Bad Men" (RKO), fair $7,600. 

Roosevelt (Sterling) (800; 45-80) 
"Tarzan N. Y. Adventure" (M-G) 
"The Search" (M-G) (2d wk), 
$2,900. 

and "Tarzan Secret Treasure" 
(M-G). Nice $3,000. Last week, 



Inside Stuff-Pictures 

While the announcement from Paris several months back of the 
nprfeetion of the Rouxeolor process brought again into the limelight 
meSTof obtaining tinted pix through use of black-and-white film, 
several majors have been working Intently on basically similar proc- 
esTeTwhich also employ simple black-and-white negatives. Understood, 
one company is almost ready to spring the new system on the industry. 

Method it's said, uses the same four separate images on one frame 
which both Rouxeolor and Thomascolor employ plus one big improve- 
ment This major is attempting to skirt the need for special apparatus 
on theatre projectors. That special equipment, so far, has been neces- 
sary to merge the four images into one on the screen. Black-and-white 
film use, incidentally, is considered the ultimate in tinting because it 
permits shooting with ordinary camera, an obvious cost advantage. 

John Ford and.Merian C. Cooper of Argosy believe they've got an- 
other Gary Cooper in Ben Johnson— if they can keep him all in one 
niece Former stunt rider became a star in "Fort Apache" and now is 
hiked for leads in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" and "Stingaree." Fame 
and the resultant cash haven't impressed Johnson too much, however. 
He doesn't see why ha shouldn't continue to pick up what he considers 
to be easy money at rodeos. He picked up $800 last weekend busting 
a bronc at the Santa Paula rodeo and was at the Orange County rodeo 
the week before. Last week Cooper caught Johnson practicing in a 
local stockyard and the producer's hair got grayer. Johnson landed in 
town eight years ago as a nursemaid for 18 cowponies Howard Hughes 
imported for "The Outlaw." 

A diamond-mining cycle of films appears in the offing. Already 
announced for production are three films which deal with a quest for 

8e "King of the Diamonds" is to be made next year by Frederick Bris- 
son under the Independent Artists banner for RKO release. Picture is 
based upon the life of the diamond pioneer, the late Barney Bamato. 
Another is "Rope of Sand," which Hal Wallis is producing for Para- 
mount. Based upon a story by Walter Doniger, the picture has a South 
African diamond background. Costarred are French actress Corinne 
Calvet and Burt Lancaster. A third is "Diggers Republic," which 
David MacDonald will make in South Africa this winter for J. Arthur 
Rank. 



PITTSBURGH 

(Continued from page 13) 
"Black Arrow" (Col), fairly good 
$11,000. 



Nunnally Johnson, who went back to 20th-Fox as a writer-producer 
last week, is awaiting return from Europe of Darryl Zanuck before 
making any pitch to dispose of the assets of his indie, Inter-John, Inc., 
formed when he joined U-I four years ago. Besides proceeds from 
trio of completed films, assets include three novels, "The Great Snow," 
"Treachery" and "One More Unfortunate," and a play, "The Purple 
Mask." U-I owns 51% of Inter- John, remainder being held by Johnson 
and Johnny Hyde of the William Morris agency. Trio of pix on which 
proceeds still are coming in consists of "The Dark Mirror," "The Sen- 
ator Was Indiscreet" and "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid." 



Part of its ad-publicity campaign for Alfred Hitchcock's "Rope," War- 
ner Bros, is issuing a slickly published brochure describing the film's 
continuous narrative technique. Being distributed en masse to schools, 
libraries, community groups as well as exhibs, the brochure contains 
articles by Jack L. Warner, Hitchcock, and Technicolor director Natalie 
Kalmus on various phases of the pic's production. "Rope" is first of 
the Transatlantic Pictures (Hitchcock-Sidney Bernstein) to be released 
by Warners. 



Hollywood| group of writers, story editors, agents, et al, were kicking 
around "topi story idea men" in the industry, and the voting reduced 
itself down to Darryl Zanuck, Dore Schary, Jerry Wald, Jerry Horwin 
and Bryan Foy, in that order. Of the quintet, four are producers, 
and Horwin is an agent (Nat C. Goldstone agency), as well as a 
writer. Of the group, four were or are writers. 



Newest ballyhoo gimmick is the audience-participation trailer de- 
vised by U-I. Studio has lensed a one-minute trailer which opens with 
a shot of Ava Gardner and wolf whistles on the soundtrack. Audiences 
will be asked to add their own whistles to the bedlam. 



Yanks Nix 'B' Position 



Continued from, page t ; 



sided as it appears. 



Penn (Loew's-UA) (330; 4j4-76) cause of a change in taste, or pos 

sibly the growing nationalistic 
spirit, domestic product is now 



— "Paradine Case" (SRO). Notices 
were lukewarm but that all-stars 
cast is helping to strong $21,000 or 
near. Holds. Last week, "Time of 
Life," (UA), $18,000. 

Rltz (Loew's) (800; 44-76) — 
"Easter Parade" (M-G) (m.o.) (2d 
wk). Sturdy $5,000 on top of sug- 
ary $6,000 last week. 

Senator (Harris) (1,750; 44-76)— 
"Black Arrow" (Col) (m.o.). Rou- 
tine $3,500. Last week, "Walls of 
Jericho" (20th) (m.o.) $3,000. 

Stanley (WB) (3,800; 44-76) — 
"Foreign Affair" (Par) (2d wk). 
Okay $11,000 after nice $18,500 

Warner (WB) (2,000; 44-76) — 
"Velvet Touch" (RKO). Rosalind 
Russell starrer looks just a bit bet- 
ter than, average entry or around 
$11,000. Last week, "Embraceable 
You" (WB) and "Dude Goes West" 
(Mono), dreary $5,500. * 



Chi's Towne Granted 
1st Run in Chi Verdict 

Chicago, Aug. 24. 

Aftermath of $1,050,000 triple- 
damage anti-trust . suit filed July 
20 in Chi federal district court by 
Towne theatre, Milwaukee, is the 
granting of firstrun product to 
house by Metro and Paramount. 
Suit filed by Tom McConnell, Jack- 
son Park theatre attorney, stated 
majors Conspired to give exclusive 
rights to all 20tb, Metro, Par and 
Columbia films to Palace, Strand 
and Wisconsin houses, with • the 
WB- owned Alhambra and River- 
side having prior rights to WB, 
RKO, and Universal films. 

Attorney asked that theatre own- 
ership by majors be declared mon- 
opolistic and that all their stock 
holdings be diverted from them.. 
Lawyer said he would still prose 



quite popular with the British pub- 
lic. As against an American *B,' 
the English 'B' will far outdraw the 
Yank film — in fact far in excess of 
what the U. S. 'B' would gross back 
in the States. 

The MPAA prexy, as he stated 
before he flew to England last Fri- 
day (20th), has been given "broad 
powers" by the American com- 
panies for his talks with British of- 
ficials and with Rank. While there 
is considerable difference of opin- 
ion among the major distribs on 
what steps to take to combat cur- 
rent British restrictions and how 
tough to get, there is unanimity 
that the hitchhiking of British prod- 
uct onto U. S. in dualers is unac- 
ceptable. 

The American companies can 
prevent this by merely adopting a 
broad statement of policy, which 
would be transmitted to their Brit- 
ish offices. It would not require a 
centralized distribution organiza- 
tion, such as the Motion Picture 
Export Assn., which is unaccept- 
able to a number of companies and 
too complicated to put into being. 

There is no illusion among U. S. 
distribs that Johnston will be able 
to ease the terms of the quota. It 



Whether be- | Only alternative is the Associated 
British Cinemas web, which War- 
ner Bros, and Loew's regularly 
play, and the independent houses. 
British indies provide about 60% 
of British revenues, but they are 
far from a satisfactory solution, for 
a variety of reasons and, when it 
comes to a showdown, it is not 
100% certain that all the U. S. dis- 
tribs will be willing to desert Rank. 

Attitude of the independent U. S. 
producers in this regard is another 
question and one made more per- 
tinent by the refusal of some of 
them — particularly the smaller 
ones — to have James A. Mulvey ac- 
company Johnston to represent 
them. This is thought perhaps in- 
dicative of a feeling on the part of 
some of the indies that it might be 
better to play the bottom half of a 
twin bill on flat rental than get no 
British playdates at all. This 
schism, of course, makes Johnston's 
job that much harder. 



Goldhammer's New Post 

Appointment of Nicky Goldham- 
mer last week as western sales 
manager for Monogram-Allied art- 
ists marked the creation of a new 
sales post for the company, accord- 
ing to the firm's general sales 
manager Morey Goldstein. He also , 



- revealed that three other men had 

is thought possible, however, that been taken on rece ntly as special 

5f. H?? < COn t v, £. ( S ? ank o£ the ad - exploiteers for the "Babe Ruth, 

visabihty of his givmg more ^con- story." They are Irwin Zeltnef, 



sideration to Yank product in 
bookings on his circuits. It is also 
thought that the British govern- 
ment might be convinced to go a 
bit easier in the tightness of its in- 
terpretations of the clauses of last 
spring's films agreement. 

Question occurs, of course, as to 
what the Americans will do if Rank 



cute suit against the rest of the: refuses to change his policy of 
distribs and their affiliates. 



Milton Crandall and Arthur Price 
Goldhammer, incidentally, was lor- 
merly w.s.m. for Eagle Lion. 

Goldstein, who returned to New 
York over the weekend from 
j Boston where he set up circuit 
I deals for the "Ruth" film, was op- 
| timistic over the company's fan 
sales outlook. Both AA and Mono 
.'bookings, he said, have shown 
dualling U. S. and British films, sharp improvement over last year. 



Wednesday, August 25, 1948 





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22 



PICTURES 



PftRIETY 



Wedneday, August 25, 1943 



H'wood Sour on Costly Legits 



Continued from page 1 



tage of profits for a 10-year lease; 
"Voice of the Turtle," for which 
Warner Bros, gave $500,000 plus a 
percentage; "Another Part of the 
Forest," which cost Universal-In- 
ternational $250,000 against 10% 
of the distributor's gross; and "Are 
You With It?" for which U-I paid 
$150,000. 

Likewise, disappointers were 
"Mourning Becomes Electra" 
(RKO), "I Remember Mama" 
(RKO), "AH My Sons" (U-l), "Up 
Jn Central Park" (U-I) and "Sum- 
mer Holiday," Metro's version of 
"Ah, Wilderness." 

Denaturing the Originals 

Reasons for the failure of the 
yarns to be as effective in screen- 
play treatment as they were on the 
stage are manifold. At least part 
of the reason, it is generally 
agreed, is a lack of adeptness by 
Hollywood producers in making 
the story transition. A few plays 
are bettered in the changeover, but 
most of them are hurt, as is evi- 
dent from their lack of appeal. 
;That would make it seem that the 
studios can do better by sticking to 
originals or other story sources. In 
some cases, it is apparently just 
lack of judgment in casting and 
scripting. 

A major factor, certainly, is that 
all of the elements of plot and lan- 



rights — and that will be for a play 
that's not only a smash hit, but 
one that's easily adapted to the 
screen. Number of hits that have 
been on Broadway during the past 
season (some of them still there) 
which have had no nibbles from 
producers indicates the careful 
0.0. they are getting. 

Current year has probably seen 
the largest number of films-from- 
plays in history to hit the screen. 
They represent the free-and-easy 
buying that was going on in the 
lush war years when money was 
frequently no object. 

Going back over the three pre- 
vious years discloses that the ratio 
of success of legit-derived films 
then wasn't much better than in 
1948. As during this year, most of 
the pix have done considerable 
business, since they almost invari- 
ably were provided with top mar- 
quee-draw players, but results 
were a lot less than anticipated. 
Survey appears to prove that Holly- 
wood can make better and more 
profitable pictures with source ma- 
terial derived from originals. 

\ One Lone Sockerpo 

During 1947 there were 10 pix 
from plays, with Paramount's 
"Dear Ruth" ($450,000) the only 
real sockeroo. Even the redoubtable 
"Life With Father" ($500,000 down 



Plays Into Pictures 



1948 



"If Winter Comes" M-G 

"State of the Union" M-G 

"Summer Holiday" M-G 

("Ah, Wilderness") 

"The Pirate" M-G 

"Dream Girl" Par 

"Sainted Sisters" ....... Par 

"Mourning Becomes Electra" 

RKO 

"I Remember Mama" RKO 



"Voice of the Turtle" WB 

"Wallflower" WB 

"Key Largo" WB 

"An Ideal Husband" 20th 

"The Time of Your Life". . .»UA 

"Are You With It" U-I 

"All My Sons" U-I 

"Another Part of Forest" U-I 

"Up in Central Park" U-I 



1947 



"Good News" M-G 

"Perfect Marriage" ......... Par 

"Dear Ruth" .' Par 

"Beat the Band" RKO 

"Late George Apley" 20th 



"Dishonored Lady" UA 

("Letty Lynton") 

"Two Mrs. Carrolls" WB 

"Cry Wolf" WB 

"Life With Father" WB 

"Escape Me Never" WB 



1946 



"The Postman Always Rings 

Twice" M-G 

"The Showoff" M-G 

"The Searching Wind" Par 



"Kid from Brooklyn" RKO 

("The Milky Way") 
"Caesar and Cleopatra". .. UA 
"Abie's Irish Rose" UA 



1945 



"Counter- Attack'' Col 

"Over 21".. .Col 

"Kiss and Tell" Col 

"Snafu" Col 

"Without Love" M-G 

"Bring On the Girls" Par 

"A Bell for Adano" 20th 

"Junior Miss". 20th 



"And Then There Were None" 

("10 Little Indians") 20th 

"Blithe Spirit" UA 

"See My Lawyer" U 

"Uncle Harry" U 

"Pillow to Post" WB 

"The Corn Is Green" WB 



'Pretty' Sermon 

Dublin, Aug. 24. 

Preacher at city church told 
story of "Sitting Pretty" (20th) 
in sermon, to illustrate evils of 
calumny and uncharitable talk. 

Pic is currently playing at 
Regal Rooms. 

20th-Fox 'Sitting Pretty,' 
From Title of Same Name 

Twentieth-Fox's "Sitting Pretty" 
may well emerge with the biggest 
repeat-booking total of the year on 
the basis of second-time-around 
playdates. Sales executives are cer- 
tain the repeat dates will add at 
least another 25% to the final fig- 
ure. Film, incidentally, is a rela- 
tively low-budgeter. » 
Repeat dates are being booked for 
Sitting" in small towns as well as 
key cities. Most action is centered 
in the Chicago territory, where the 
film has already had 22 repeaters, 
with 5.3 more scheduled within the 
next six weeks. Illustrative of the 
repeat biz is Eddie Silverman's 
Crawford theatre, first-run in its 
Chi area, which brought "Sitting" 
back for seven days after it had 
played all down the line and still 
grossed $5,100 for a new one-week 
record. 

Biz on some of the repeats tops 
the original playdate. DeLuxe, Chi, 
originally played the film seven 
days, including Memorial Day, for 
a $3,300 gross. A two-day repeat 
grossed $800. Comparatively big- 
gest repeat biz done to date was at 
the Lark theatre, Larkspur, Cal., 
which ran "Sitting" originally for 
three days to a $688 gross, then 
brought it back 10 weeks later 
when it ran 12 days and brought 
in $1,858. 



British Vaude Bigtimej 

__ Continued from page 2 'j 



the greatest sensation in the his- 1 dium figure is $10,000. Higher 
iory af the British vaudeville. | jgi ^ ^salary cripples th» 
Princess Elizabeth and her sister , Britisn acts> naturally, have re« 



Foreign Pacts 

- Continued from page 5 ; 



guage that are acceptable to legit | 
theatregoers cannot be included ' 
when the switch is made to the 
■universal medium of the screen. 
The "Mr. Roberts" dialog not only 
has to be sapolioed, perhaps rob- 
bing the play of some of its char- 
acter, but the plot elements must 
be made as clear to a Hindustani 
as they are to the kid from Brook- 
lyn. 

Problem is evident in the $1,- 
000,000 which Columbia paid for 
rights to Broadway's smash "Born 
Yesterday." Whole laugh-providing 
plot of the play hinges on the re- 
lationship of the two top charac- 
ters, the femme being the mistress 
of the leading male player. That's 
certainly not too difficult a prob- 
lem to lick— as is evident from the 
number of times Hollywood has 
done it — but Broadwayites are 
wondering how much of the bite 
of the play the change will elim- 
inate. Difficulties being encoun- 
tered are evident from the fact, 
that Col has just pushed the pro- 
duction schedule back on "Born" 
indefinitely because of script 
trouble. 

Two $1,000,000 Buys 
Certainly the new economics of 
, Hollywood can also be expected to 
militate against very high-priced 
play buys. The $1,000,000 cost Co- 
lumbia must charge up against 
"Born Yesterday" and Universal 
inust charge against "Harvey," be- 
fore a scriptwriter or adapter touch- 
es the first typewriter key, is a ter- 
rific handicap to profits. It means a 
tremendously 'costly picture that 
must be an unqualified sock at the 
b.o. to get its studio off the nut. 
^ Feeling is now that $200,000 to 
1250,000 will be the absolute maxi- 
mum that Hollywood will pay for 



plus %age of the gross) showed 
considerably less b.o. stamina in the 
Warner Bros, version than it did 
in Oscar Serlin's long-run legit 
fixture. And 20th-Fox's "The Late 
George Apley" ($275,000) proved a 
real flop in comparison with suc- 
cess of the play. 

There were only a half-dozen en- 
tries in 1946, and one of them was 
the bewhiskered "Abie's Irish 
Rose." It died a sad screen death. 
On the other hand, "The Postman 
Always Rings Twice," with the 
background of the lurid James M. 
Cain story and the marquee aid of 
Lana Turner and John Garfield, 
cleaned up. Serious plays again 
proved themselves as most difficult 
to transfer to the screen in a suc- 
cessful boxoffice metier. For in- 
stance, Lillian Hellman's "Search- 
ing Wind," produced by Paramount, 
proved only a light puff as a film. 

Biggest year prior to the current 
one for pictures-from-plays was 
1945, with 15 of them, There were a 
few that did well, such as Colum- 
bia's "Over 21" and 20th-Fox's 
"Junior Miss," but the majority 
again were in the second division 
when it came time to tally grosses. 

The many buys during the 
wealthy war years haven't been 
used up yet by any means. A flock 
are now on the shelf, completed 
and awaiting release, or are in pro- 
; duction. They include: "Lady in 
•Ermine" (20th), "One Touch of 
Venus" (U-I), "Under Capricorn" 
and "Rope" (Transatlantic - WB), 
"Lady Windermere's Fan" (20th), 
"Connecticut Yankee" (Par), 
"Chicken Every Sunday" (M-G), 
i "Command Decision" (M-G), "Call 
'Me Mister" (20th), "The Heiress" 
I (Par), "Edward My Son" (M-G) 
I and J'Joan of Arc" (RKO). 



filmmakers echoed the Disney wail. 
It appeared likely that the State 
Dept. might heed their cries rather 
than allow itself to be criticized 
for siding with the big companies 
versus the small ones. 

Disney, prez of Walt Disney Pro- 
ductions, Inc., said the arrange- 
ment was "highly discriminatory 
and unfair to us and others in the 
industry similarly situated. Neither 
we nor others of like status were 
advised or consulted. . . . We sin- 
cerely hope that these negotiations 
will not be finalized before full 
consideration is given to our posi- 
tion and that of all independent 
producers." 

Purport of Disney's beef is that 
each of the 10 companies who will 
share in the 110-a-year import per- 
mits for France hasn't got 11 pix of 
a quality meriting the expense of 
dubbing and printmaking. "This 
will no doubt lead to blackmarket 
peddling of permits by some of the 
'favored 10'," Disney stated. 

The 10 companies who will bene- 
fit by the agreement are the eight 
majors, plus Monogram-Allied Art- 
ists and Republic. Aside from such 
important indies as SRO, there is 
no allowance for Eagle Lion, Film 
Classics and minor companies, ex- 
cept in the general classification of 
"independents." 

Disney, specifically, is up against 
the problem of cuttng down the 
backlog of product created when 
war made exports to France impos- 
sible. Since the end of the war 
he has been shipping over two 
films a year. Even so, by the time 
"So Dear to My Heart" is released 
this fall, he will have six films 
piled up awaiting distribution in 
France. 

Since he sees no likelihood of 
getting an import permit for more 
than one a year through his dis- 
tributor, RKO, and he is making 
at least one new film each year, 
Disney thinks it will be impossible 
to slice the backlog. The only ad- 
vantageous thing he sees to the 
agreement is the fact that he'll 
share in the $14,500,000 which it 
will serve to unfreeze in the next 
four years. 

Since there will probably be at 
least a half dozen indies releasing 
through RKO, none of them sees 
himself ge'ting more than one per- 
mit and they feel some doubt even 
about that. They point out that if 
RKO hands six permits to indies, 
it will leave itself in the almost 
impossible position of only export- 
ing five of its own pix to France.. 
Because of that, the indies are bid 
i ing their time on deciding whether 
I they'll sell through RKO at all in 
France. On the other hand, they 
don't see themselves faring much 
better in vying for the 10 indie 
permits. 



went round to his dressing jroom. 
The King, becoming the first Brit- 
ish monarch to visit a music hall 
except on a Variety Command 
night, took his entire party to see 
him and afterwards joined the 
Queen in talking with Danny for 
half-an-hour in private. Later, 
Winston Churchill saw the show 
and then, master orator though he 
is, asked Danny the secret of his 
control over an audience. "I can't 
do it like that," he said. "It's posi- 
tively frightening." Meanwhile 
ticket touts, new to England, 
hawked tickets outside at 10 times 
their normal price. 
.Soon the phrase ''the greatest 
reception since Danny Keye" quali- 
fied newsaper praise for Tony Mar- 
tin, Jack Benny, Sophie Tucker 
and the Andrews Sisters, perhaps 
the greatest successes among the 
score of American acts that fol- 
lowed him. He had dated a new 
era in British vaudeville. 

Sophie Tucker was Teceived al- 
most like a queen. At the Sun- 
day Pictorial garden party for film 
stars, her sudden arrival with Harry 
Richman knocked them silly. On 
July 4, she held a rival reception 
to the Ambassador's in a tent in 
the Embassy grounds. Because of 
her book, "Some of These Days," 
she was the first variety star to be 
entertained at a Foyle Literary 
Lunch, where usually honor is paid 
to noted authors. 

Raye's Band of Pipers 

Martha Raye, after a hectic six 
weeks at the Palladium, did so 
amazingly well on tour that, in 
Glasgow, a band of pipers saw her 
off when she left, and in Blackpool 
she was photographed, breaking all 
tradition, in the mayoral robes. 
And both Sophie and Martha suc- 
ceeded with material that had been 
made as clean as virgin snow be- 
cause of my Nosey Parker crusade! 

It was at Sophie's farewell sup- 
per to nearly 60 of her intimates 
that I apologized to them both. "I 
suppose I should tell them how 
sorry I am," I said. "I cleaned up 
Olsen and Johnson after getting 
the London Casino license threat- 
ened. I cleaned up Martha Raye 
with the puritanical help of Al 
Burnett. I even cleaned up my 
I old friend Sophie. 

"Then the King didn't go to see 
them. Instead, the Queen took 
him and the family to see the 
Crazy Gang for her birthday treat. 
After Bud Flanagan had spent 
hours in cleaning up the show 
specially, the King asked him, in 
the interval, 'What's wrong with it, 
Bud? If you've cut out anything 
put it all back. We want to see 
what Princess Margaret saw when 
she came!" So all the dirt went 
in again. 

"Hannen Swaffer may be power- 
ful. But who is he when the King 
doesn't like it cleaned?" 

The other chief sensation of the 
American invasion period was the 
banning from the Moss Empires 
tour of acts booked, in rivalry to 
the Palladium, by Bernard Delfont 
for the London Casino. This so 
added to Delfont's troubles that he 
decided to terminate his variety 
season. (There is a chance he may 
decide to continue — Ed.) 

So, despite Sophie's great per- 
sonal success, she had to go on a 
two weeks' concert tour of one- 
night stands.- Once she had to face 
a gaping void at Bellevue, a Man- 
chester circus arena which can seat 
7,000! Yet she made enough money 
to say that, when she returns in 
1950, she'll again repeat the ex- 
periment. 

Allan Jones, another Casino ar- 
tist, broke records at Golders 
Green, and then had to rusticate 
in hideout halls at Swindon and 
Peterborough. Finally he broke 
a Wimbledon engagement, "be- 
cause of a bad throat." 
I Harry Richman, who is as fine 
! a performer as when he was here 
10 years ago, was driven to an 
old hall in a Brixton suburb. We 
gave him a real welcome back at 
a dinner at the Sterling Club, 
which he and I formed. 

The Moss Empires combine, 
linked as it is in a dominant -thea- 
tre trust, is so all-powerful in the 
provinces that Delfont couldn't get 
supporting British artists afraid to 



sented the American conquest. 
They went, represented by the Va- 
riety Artists Federation, to Val 
Parnell and demanded that 60% 
of the money paid for a bill should 
go to native performers. 

"What British stars are there 
who could fill the Palladium?" 
asked Parnell. They recalled only 
three. Sid Field, one of them, was 
filming. Tommy Trinder, another 
had just ended a long Palladium 
engagement in a revue. Grade 
Fields, a third, was too nervous to 
venture a return but is now slated 
for the autumn show at the Palla« 
dium, says Val Parnell. . 

Unchecked Invasion 
So the American invasion was 
unchecked. The plain truth is that 
Yankee radio, film and disk stars 
have a bobbysox audience ready- 
made for them when they arrive. 
Also, they are "novelties." The 
Royal Family knew of Danny Kaye 
because they had his records at 
the Palace. Princess Margaret 
went to see the Andrews Sisters 
for the same reason. 

Our own acts need modern 
methods. They can't afford, for 
instance, the swagger costumes in 
which our trans-Atlantic visitors 
glamorize their entrances. Who 
among them could pay, as Jack 
Benny did, such supporting stars ■ 
as Phil Harris, Mary Livingstone 
and Marilyn Maxwell? "Next time 
I shall bring Rochester," said Jack." 
"It's a holiday to me." 

Nearly all the stars thought it 
worthwhile to come, if only to play 
the Palladium. 

"This is real show business" is 
the remark they usually made 
when they faced the most, appre- 
ciative and most theatrewise audi- 
ence they've ever known. "I can 
use here show gags that, in Amer- 
ica, only a professional audience 
would laugh at," said Benny. 

Besides, under Parnell's man- 
agement, the Palladium is the best 
run amusement house in the world. 
Everything is done so that artists 
can do their best. As much as- 
$8,000 was spent for a special set- 
ting for Carmen Miranda's turn. 
And the Skyrockets, which accom- 
panies the acts, has no equal in any 
hall or cinema on earth. , 

I must relate, by the way, the 
great success achieved by Ameri- 
can suporting acts, like Frank Mar- 
lowe — whose fall into the audience 
was a riot — Jack Durant, the Merry 
Macs, Lew Parker and the Nicholas 
Bros. Never have they been so 
acclaimed anywhere. Indeed, all 
of them, if return permits allowed, 
could stay here for good. Pearl 
Bailey unexpectedly stole the Duke 
Ellington show. 

Olsen & Johnson, those master 
showmen, left innumerable friends 
I here. Edgar Bergen suffered only 
| by comparison with Wences, a 
much finer ventriolquist, who was 
playing at the rival hall. Tony 
Martin, had he preceded Danny 
Kaye, would have been even a 
bigger hit than he was. 

But, say what you like, it's been 
a Danny Kaye year. He could fill 
the toughest hall in any British 
city for a month — and then have to 
Play a return. 

Well, Yanks, it's been a joy to 
meet you. Nearly all' of you have 
been fine fun. And if, regarding 
me as a poor relation, you have 
given me a bar of chocolate like 
you would a German kid, well, you 
meant well. It's been like a long 
Olympics, with the Americans 
scoring all the points and with the 
beaten British cheering their 
American conquerors as if they 
liked it. 



Ex-Cop Charges Wall' 
Mirrored Him, Sues 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 
Charging that one of the charac- 
ters in "Pitfall" evidently was 
based on his own life, Arthur J. 
Fitzpatrick, a former Beverly Hills 
policeman, filed a $300,000 dam- 
age suit against Jay Dratler, au- 
thor of the book, Grosset & Dun- 
lap, the publisher; Samuel Biscn- 
off Productions, United Artists ana 
Regal Productions, all concerned 
with the film version. 

Suit alleges that Fitzpatrick was 
held up to contempt and public 
- ridicule because the portrayal 
offend the Moss Empires bookers, i based on him was made in an "un- 
Never mind what fantastic sala- scrupulous, sadistic and brutai 
ries are talked of— the top Palla- manner." 



Wednesday, August 25, 1948 



PICTURES tS 



'Not Pompous,' Jackson Says 



Continued from page 3 



had been made against him by 
some studio execs who had never 
even met him, Jackson declared it 
"is a flimsy and concocted smoke 
screen to cover the real objection, 
In some quarters, that I could not 
be dominated or prevailed upon to 
say a thing was right when I knew 
it to be wrong." 

During the period of Breen's ill- 
ness, when Jackson was in charge 
i>t the Production Code Adminis- 
tration, he declared, a large num- 
ber of problems were presented 
and solved. 

"There was not a single in- 
stance," he said, "in which a prob- 
lem was not approached with sym- 
pathy and understanding. Natu- 
rally, there are bound to be, if the 
Production Code means anything, 
instances where there will be a 
difference of opinion. There are 
times when, in spite of exhaustive 
discussions, study and conferenc- 
ing, a difference cannot be re- 
Solved. In such comparatively rare 
instances, a firm and consistent 
stand must be taken, or certainly 
should be taken, by the Code Ad- 
ministration. Such a stand could 
be easily reported in a distorted 
manner concerning a compara- 
tively new person, into an allega- 
tion that he is 'arbitrary,' 'judici- 
ous' or 'pompous.' 

"I brought to the work of the 
Production Code, first of all, a long 
and enthusiastic interest in the 
entertainment field. All during my 
youthful days in school I was ac- 
tively connected with one phase of 
it in the carnival and amusement 
park business for eight years. 
Later, I was a professional dra- 
matic coach. In more recent years, 
in connection with my work as di- 
rector of the Bureau for the Pre- 
vention of Juvenile Delinquency in 
New York City, I produced nearly 
40 dramatized radio performances. 



GEORGE 
WRIGHT 



* 



— ORGANIST »— 

Currently 

PARAMOUNT THEATRE 
NEW YORK 



MOVIE DIRECTOR 
WANTED 

for Movie Serials. Stats particulars 
in Brut letter. All replies confidential. 
Box 1252, Variety, 154 W. 46th St., 
New York 19, N. Y. 



! MARQUEE LETTERS 
FOR SALE 

Both round and square type— glast 

and tin. Words — letters — symbols, 
etc. Will ship anywhere. Phone WE. 
9163 or write P.O. Box 1945, Los 
Angeles 36. 



For several years before coming to 
Hollywood I was a special review- 
er of legitimate plays on Broadway. 
I mention this background to sub- 
stantiate the statements which I 
make that I came to the work in 
the motion picture industry with a 
very real sympathy and under- 1 
standing of the problems that con- 1 
front the people who are providing 
the greatest source of entertain- 
ment in the world. 

"It is easy to build up a false . 
picture of a man who has been a 
judge to the effect that he is 'pom- 
pous' and 'judicious.' It so happens 
that I was a judge in the Children's 
Court in Ne\v York City where 
about 95% of my 'judicial' duties 
were in helping youngsters from 
the sidewalks of New York who 
found themselves in trouble. 
' "The motion picture industry, 
because of its tremendous audience 
throughout the nation, and nor- 
mally throughout the world, cater- 
ing as it does to the entire family, 
has a corresponding responsibility. 
The industry has recognized 'the 
high trust and confidence which 
have been placed in it by the peo- 
ple of the world' in setting up the 
Production Code, of which the 
foregoing is a quotation. Intelli- 
gent, sympathetic, constructive but 
consistent, and if necessary firm, 
administration of this splendid 
Code is absolutely essential if the 
motion picture industry hopes to 
retain its position in the field of 
entertainment. There are many ex- 
ecutives in Hollywood who appre- 
ciate the importance of this in the 
overall, long range interests of the 
industry. Tljere are, unfortunately, 
however, some others who have no 
concern from a practical stand- 
point, for the general good of the 
industry and are concerned only 
with their own Interests to the ut- 
ter disregard of the good of the 
industry or the good name and 
reputation of an individual." 



All 3 SIMPP Lawyers 
Former Anti-Trusters 

All three of the attorneys who 
prepared the monopoly suit for the 
indie producers against United De- 
troit Theatres and Cooperative The- 
atres of Michigan are former prose- 
cutors of anti-trust cases for the 
Dept. of Justice. Entire trio, as a 
matter of fact, are former special 
assistants to the U. S. attorney- 
general. . 

Robert J. Rubin, chief counsel 
for the Society of Independent Mo- 
tion Picture Producers, who di- 
rected the research and did most 
of the heavy work in the case, filed 
in Detroit yesterday (Tuesday), was 
with the D. of J. for seven years. 
He was in charge of anti-trust 
prosecutions on the Coast and was 
assistant to Tom Clark, present 
attorney-general, when Clark was 
assistant a.-g. there. 

Among the cases Rubin success- 
fully prosecuted was a fishing in- 
dustry combine that was organized 
similarly in some aspects to the 
cooperative setup of the Michigan 
theatres. Rubin, now 36, joined 
SIMPP in June, 1947, as assistant 
to former prez Donald M. Nelson, 
with the assignment of studying 
whatever impediments existed to 
exhibition and distribution of indie 
films. 

A. Stewart Kerr, local Detroit 
attorney in the suit, was also with 
the D. of J. for seven years. He is 
a former special assistant attorney- 
general in Chicago and was chief of 
the War Frauds ' Office in Detroit 
during the war. He handled about 
30 major prosecutions, getting 
some $10,000,000 back for the Gov- 
ernment. A native of Chattanooga, 
Tenn., he's now a member of the 
Detroit firm of Crawford, Sweeny 
& Dodd. 

Joseph Alioto, who was called 
into the case by Rubin,- is now in 
private practice on his own in San 
Francisco. He was formerly special 
assistant to the attorney-general in 
that city. 



Indies Sue in Detroit 



Continued from page 3 



0 



Fears Television 



Continued from page 1 



paid off and that TV has hurt the 
club's gate recently. 

Tournament of Champions, rival 
fight promoters, has reportedly 
a.lso nixed televising of its double- 
feature bill from Roosevelt Sta- 
dium, Jersey City, Sept. 21. That 
card will match Gus Lesnevich 
against Jersey Joe Walcott, and 
Marcel Cerdan against Tony Zale. 
Fact that bad weather on the "date 
scheduled might have forced a 
postponement of the T. of C. card 
to Sept. 22, incidentally, which 
would have put it directly opposite 
the 20th Century fight, is believed 
to have partially influenced Strauss 
in agreeing to postpone his date. 
Twentieth Century bout is also a 
doublebill, with the second match 
pitting Ray Robinson against Kid 
Gavilan. 

With Gillette signed to bankroll 
the AM broadcast of the fight, ABC 
had appproached both Texaco and 
Strauss to change one of the dates 
to avoid the conflict in time. 
Maxon . agency, repping Gillette, 
got a turndown from Texaco, so 
ABC appealed to Strauss. 



New Magnetic Recorder 
Developed at Warners 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 

Development of a new 35m 
magnetic sound recorder, using 
either photographic or magnetic 
film in absolute synchronization 
with a motion picture camera, was 
announced by Warners. First ma- 
chine is being tested on "The 
Fountainhead," currently lensing 
at the studio. 

Assuring an important saving in 
film since sound tracks can be 
erased and re-used, Warner engi- 
neers expect the device will 
eventually be used in all theatres. 
It eliminates sound distortion, for- 
eign noises and scratchiness. 

Saving to producers is seen in 
the fact that the sound track, can 
be played back instantly, eliminat- 
ing the five or six-hour delay 
caused by developing ordinary 
sound film. 

Recorder was developed at 
Warners through the joint efforts 
of studio and RCA engineers work- 
ing undei the supervision of Col. 
Nathan Levinson, WB sound top- 
per. 



New York Theatres 



ALAN DONNA 

LADD REED 




I ROY DEI RUTH'S THE § 


BABE 


RUTH I 

maim turn &» 

-HB-lll 1 

**** 'cum wnHPW I 


[astor 





RADIO CITY MUS'C HAH' 

Rockefeller Center . 

'A DATE WITH JUDY' 

Wallace BEERY • Jane POWELL 
Elliabeth TAYLOR • Caraiee MIRANDA 
Xavler CUOAT • Retrtrt STACK 
A MBlre-Oolditjn-Muwr Picture 
Spectacular Stege Presanfatton 



Betty 6RABLE - DouilM FAIRBANKS, JR. 

"THAT LADY IN ERMINE" 

A 30th Century-Fox Picture— TBCHSICOLOB 
On Variety Sfaeer Franeee laaateri A Jee Hall 
Harmteicali - Jerry Celeaaa 
On lee State: "THE MERRY WIDOW'* 
Starrlna CAROL LYNNE - FRITZ DIETL 

ROXY " h 



90th St. 




RKO Preuata 
GEORGE WILLIAM MARILYN 

RAFT • BENDIX • MAXWEU 

RACE •STREET 

MAYFA1R 



Brandfe 
Ceel 



7th Ave. & 
47tk St. 



' Yates 

Continued from page 



"agin it." "American producers are 
cutting their own throats by teach- 
ing the British, French and Italians 
how to make pictures," he said. 
Through Ms tour of France and 
Italy, Yates declared both countries 
were making rapid progress in 
postwar reconstruction. Republic 
will open branches in Paris and 
Rome around Jan. 1, using blocked 
funds for overhead expenses. 
Despite absence of hard "money 
from these areas, Yates said it was 
important to keep the Republic 
trademark on the screen. 

The Republic prexy slapped Sir 
Alexander Korda for making "care- 
less statements" concerning an 
alleged "conspiracy" between 
American producers and boycotters 
of British pix. He disclosed that 
the single British film, "The Code 
of Scotland Yard," produced by 
British Lion which Republic bought 
outright last year, has been shelved 
due to exhib resistance to British 
pix. Republic, incidentally, has a 
releasing deal with British Lion 
which Yates said may be cancelled 
if conditions in England grow less 
favorable. 

* Republic's producing schedule 
for next year calls for 50 pix, in- 
cluding 22 westerns and four 
serials, Yates revealed. A mini- 
mum of 16 will be in Trucolor. 



trolling 90% of all subsequent run 
houses and with United dominating 
first-runs. As result of a "highly 
artificial and restrictive" system, it 
asserts, which has cut down public 
choice of pix, only four feature 
programs are offered in 62 leading 
theatres at one time for a com- 
munity of almost 2,500,000 people. 
Hudson and Sharkey Named 

Named as individual defendants 
are Earl J. Hudson, UDT topper, 
and James. F. Sharkey, head of Co- 
operative. Specifically, besides 
damages, suit demands an injunc- 
tion against future "monopolistic 
practices;" receivership and sale of 
UDT's 16 theatres to indie exhibs; 
dissolution of Cooperative; and a 
declaration that the buying com- 
bine is illegal. 

Complaint claims a tightly inter- 
meshed working arrangement be- 
tween the two defendants. Because 
of this, it alleges, when a down- 
town first-run house of the Para- 
mount affiliate is playing a film 
"no other theatre in Detroit, nor 
any within an area of 65 miles may 
show the same picture." 

Stating its alleged case, SIMPP 
declares that UDT's "dominant 
position" has given'it the power to 
prohibit dealings by distribs with 
other first-runs "unless specific 
permission is granted." Cooperative 
has aided this setup, suit maintains, 
by taking "reprisals" against dis- 
tribs attempting to license films 
outside UDT's domain. These "re- 
prisals" take the form of less ad- 
vantageous terms, bookings and 
playing time in subsequent-runs, 
it's claimed. 

Cooperative, according to the 
complaint, is a tightly knit organi- 
zation which exercises its "eco- 
nomic power" for preferential 
treatment. As a way of maintain- 
ing control of -members, each of 
these must execute an' option to 
the combine giving it the right to 
purchase a member's theatre in the 
event of proposed sale. 

Collaboration 

It is asserted that the two de- 
termine terms and conditions on 
every film and that they have 
agreed not to compete against each 



other to raise the tprice. Sharkey 
and Hudson, it is said; have a fur- 
ther understanding that neither 
will bid for an exclusive license. 
Policy is pursued of "compelling'* 
distribs to conclude a deal wita 
both outfits before either will date 
a picture, the "charge is made. 
Both defendants, it is said, have 
depressed prices by adopting * 
policy of preventing distribs from 
obtaining percentages on the sama 
film from first and subsequent- 
runs. 

As a result, SIMPP asserts, a 
set pattern of playoffs has been 
fixed which allows only a limited 
number of pix to percolate through 
Detroit at the same time. Pro- 
grams are therefore limited, it 
is alleged, and films are frequently 
inordinately delayed in hitting 
subsequent - runs after playing 
downtown Detroit. Walt Disney's 
"Dumbo" is cited as an example, 
since the pic reached the napes al- 
most eight months after its first- 
run. '. 

Of the $8,750,000 treble damages, 
top sum is asked by Samuel Gold- 
wyn Productions, amount being 
$1,521,000. Balm demanded by 
other plaintiffs and- their com- 
panies are as follows: Walt Disney, 
$074,220; David O. Selznick, $836,- 
817; Benedict Bogeaus, $808,886;. 
James and William Cagney, $704,- 
748; Walter Wanger, $637,500; 
Edward Small, $1,121,844; Hunt 
Stromberg, $1,422,291, and SIMPP, 
$724,500. . ' 




SCRIPT WRITERS 
WANTED 

tor Movie Serial*. State particular* 
In Hrst letteri All replies confidential. 
Box 1250, Variety, 154 W. 46th St, 
New York 19, N. Y. 




"-i'vv 



< 



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AMERICAN AIRLINES 



24 



PICTURES 



Pfissffiff 



WwTneday, August 25, 1948 



Clips from Film Row 



publicity director for H, B. Meisel- 
man theatre circuit. For nine years 
with Metro here, Burks was also 
with Balaban and Katz theatres in 
Chicago before coming to Char- 
lotte. Burks will help the opening 
of new Center theatre, first-run 
900-seater in September. 



MINNEAPOLIS 

J. R. Powers, formerly with Na- 
tional' Screen and owner of the- 
atres in Minnesota, and H. F. Wil- 
liams, owner of 25 theatres in Okla- 
homa, Arkansas and Texas, granted 
permit to build $100,000 theatre in 
Golden Valley, Minneapolis suburb, 

Duane. - Becker. Paramount's 
North Dakota salesman, back on 
job after recovery from back in- 
jury. • 

" Volk Bros.' new $175,000 neigh- 
borhood house here, to replace 
another in same area, will be 
opened Sept. 25. 

Ritz, neighborhood theatre, to be 
enlarged from 700 to 1,000 seats 
and improved at cost of $72,000. 

Drive-in theatre opened at Mil- 
bank, S. D. 

SAN DIEGO 

Metzger & Srere, operators of 
theatres here and in Los Angeles, 
take over three theatres in Coro- 
nado- Beach from Hyde & Millen 
on Sept. 1. Houses, Coronado, Vil- 
lage and the open-air Palms, have 
a combined seating capacity of ap- 
proximately 2,200. 

ALBANY 

• Leo Rosen bowed out as assistant 
manager of Fabian-Hellinan drive- 
ins and assistant to Neil Hellman 
in Hellman indoor theatres. Leo A. 
Young, who has been RKO ex- 
ploiters in upper New York, re- 
places him. Young covered both 
Albany and Buffalo districts for 
RKO last winter. Rosen, sched- 
uled for an operation here, left 
Warner theatres i8 months ago to 
go with Fabian-Hellman 



CHARLOTTE 

Salesmen of Charlotte ;film; ex- 
changes organized" a Union With 
David Williams (Eagle. Lion) as 
prexy. 

Wtarsh Funderburke, Republic 
salesman, resigned to open a drive- 
in on the highway between 'Selma 
and Smitbfield. Robt. Finlayson, 
head booker, takes Funderburke's 
old spot. >. 

Al Burks, for' several years in 
Charlotte picture business, named 



DENVER 

Frank Childs resigned as man- 
ager of several Selected Pictures 
exchanges; succeeded by H. D. 
George. 

. James Morrison,, retired 20th- 
Fox branch manager, given honor- 
ary life membership Rocky Moun- 
tain Screen club. 

Resort theatre, Reserve, N. M., 
and equipment burned. G4en Mc- 
Carty, owner, using high school 
auditorium temporarily for house. 

Hugh Rennie, Monogram sales- 
man, recovering from ulcer opera- 
tion at Presbyterian hospital. 

Bernard Newman, of Gem in 
Walsh, Colo., named president of 
Chamber of Commerce there. 



model 1,000-seat house, now under 
construction in John Hancock vil- 
lage, a housing development m su- 
burban West Roxbury and Brook- 
line. 



CHICAGO 

William Gehring, 20th-Fox exec, 
made kick-off speech for Will Rog- 
ers Memorial hospital drive here 
before 300 filmitejs. 

"Time of Life" is being submitted 
for subsequent-run dates by UA in 
line with recent policy of treating 
each release on an individual basis. 

Film Studios of Chicago will dis- 
trib its tele films through Alfred 
Sack Films. Eilms comprise shots 
of vaude artists made prior to 1920. 
Four brandies, Dallas, New York, 
Atlanta, and New Orleans, and two 
franchise holders, Variety Pictures, 
Chicago, and R. F. Ginson, Char- 
lotte, N. C, will handle sales. 

BOSTON 

Thompson Square an<i Holly- 
wood«theatres in Charlestown have 
been added to E. M; Loew chain. 

Altec moving accounting depart- 
ment to N. X, Sept. 1. 

Olympia theatre in Cambridge 
sold by Julius Myers to L. L. G. Co. 

Michael Redstone's new drive-in 
opened last week in Dedham. 

M. & P. chain believed ready to 
sign a lease for the operation- of a 



DALLAS 

Richard Landsman appointed! 
manager of Alamo drive-in in San 
Antonio. Succeeds Wesley Hol- 
stine. • Holstine goes to Mission 
drive-in there as skipper. 

Harold Harris made assistant to 
II. J. Griffith, prez of Theatre 
Enterprises Inc. with offices here. 
At one time lie was district man- 
ager for Theatre Enterprises, Kan- 
sas City. 

William D. Patton, casting di- 
rector for Melton Barker produc- 
tions in San Antonio arrived to j 
begin picking children for roles I 
in three two-reel comedies to be 
made there. One will be made for I 
Uptown, Haiiandale and Highland j 
theatres, each house sponsoring a i 
film. 

James A. Dolman named man- j 
ager of Azie theatre here, by C O. j 
Donalson, manager of the seven 
Community Theatres in Ft. Worth. I 
He was a salesman for National ! 
Theatre Supply. 

James O. Cherry, city manager of I 
Interstate here, upped. Cornelius 
Webb, manager of Varsity, to skip- 
per of Inwood; remains, at Varsity 
until successor is named. 

Walter Deen named manager of 
Forest; was treasurer of Telenews. 
Charles McGlothlin, chief of staff 
at Palace, fills Telenews vacancy. 

Frank E. Work, .ormer head of 
downtown theatres service staff, 
made manager of Knox. 

Leon Glasscock, indie, theatre 
operator, purchased the Luling 
Amus. Co., operators of the Texas 
theatre in Luling. 



Central Canada Exhibition, Ottawa, 
reflected this year in prices slashes. 
Show opened Aug. 23. Due back 
are Goldman band, Hamid Follies 
and World of Mirth midway, 

Ross McLean, Canadian govern- 
ment film commissioner, on over- 
seas junket will visit London. 
Edinburgh, Paris, Rome, Florence 
and Venice. 



Boycott Group 

- continued from page 4 - 



OTTAWA 

Doug Peacock, theatrical distri- 
bution chief of National Film 
Board, resigned to enter own busi- 
ness. 

Steve McManus, former Elgin 
theatre manager, moved from man- 
aging Kingston, Ont., Odeon, to 
open new Odeon in Fort William, 
Ont.' 

Wet, chilly weather brought 
back long lines at local theatres 
this week, reminiscent of wartime 
queues, after slow biz in last two 
months. 

Last year's blasts about high i 
prices on rides and midway at^ 



- PITTSBURGH 

Irving Frankel promoted to city 
salesman by 11KO, replacing Dave 
Silverman, recently upped to 
branch manager following assign- 
ment of Morris Lefko to a district. 
Main Line territory, which Frankel 
vacates, is being taken over by 
Lawrence Carettie, late of Eagle 
Lion. 

EL salesman Herb Berman has 
gone with Columbia, succeeding 
Leo Isaacs. 

Donn Wermuth, who recently 
quit as Warner manager in Fair- 
mont, W. Va., opened his own ad 
promotion ollice in that city. He 
was nearly 20 years with WB. 

Harris Amus. Co.- lease on 
Adelpfil theatre in Reynoldsville 
has expired and house goes back 
to Midstate theatre circuit. 

Guy Peterson, Par salesman here 
for nearly quarter of a century, is 
now in the mining business in 
Canada. 

SEATTLE 

Jack Engerman, ad manager of 
Sterling Theatres, presented 
placque for outstanding exploita- 
tion on "State of Union." 

Jerry Ross booking fair dates in 
Washington and British Columbia 
with outdoor acts. 

Jackie Souders band a draw this 
summer for teen-age special dances, 
at Trianon ballroom one night 
weekly. 

Newest night club here is the 
Cirque, just opened by Frank Ack- 
erman, at old Forty & Eight Club 
rooms. It is swanky add has floor 
show. 



DES MOINES 

Starting Aug. 24, the Tri-States 
Theatre Corp. Strand, became a 
first-run house. This' downtown 
house as well as the Des Moines 
and Paramount are now firstrun. 

Strand was remodeled in 1947 to 
become an ace house but booking 
contracts on subsequent-run pic- 
tures made it necessary to delay 
the policy change until now. 



"Yes, indeed, I'm a Lux Girl! 

$ay$ lovely Susan Hoyward 

Here's a complexion care that really works! In 
recent tests of Lux Toilet Soap by skin spe- 
cialists, actually three out of four complexions 
became lovelier in a short time. 

"I work the fragrant lather in thoroughly," 
Susan Hayward tells you. "As I rinse and then 
pat with a soft towel to dry, skin is softer, 
smoother!" Don'tlet neglect cheat you of 
romance. Take the screen stars' tip! 





He is the author of several books 
including "Palestine in Revolt,"' 
i and a biog of Alexander Hamilton.' 
j He resigned, some 18. months ago, 
i as executive v. p. of The American- 
League for Free Palestine, group 
associated with the Irgun Zvai 
Leumi, dissident Jewish army. 

Some Board Members 
j Among those on the board of- 
Sons are Judge Jonah J. Goldstein, 
who ran for mayor of New York in" 
i 1945 on the Republican ticket; 
; Rabbi Max Reichler, president of 
| the Reformed Rabbis of Greater" 
! New York; Charles Connelly, edl-. 
tor of Irish Echo; Sean McCarthy, 
' official of United Irish Counties;- 
! and Dr. Joseph Ratner, former pro- 
| lessor of philosophy at New York 
j University. 

; - Smertenko took sharp issue with, 
i Morris Helprin, veepee of London- 
Film productions, Sir Alexander 
Korda's U. S. subsid, who aired a 
charge to Variety last week that 
Yank distributors are "collaborat* 
ing" in the boycott. "Some of the 
most active opposition to our aims 
came from film distributors who 
didn't want the boycott on the 
ground of precedent," he declared. 

Head of the boycott group (lis-, 
counted Helprin's argument that 
exceptions made to films produced 
in Britain by American companies' 
j proved "collaboration." "If we're 
I in a position to exercise a 1 00% 
boycott, we would not okay those 
films either," Smertenko said. "But 
the fact remains, if we stopped a 
few British workers from making a 
few thousand pounds that Britain 
would keep anyway, we would have 
no effect on British policy." 

"On the other hand," he added, 
"when we hit the pocketbooks of 
such influential men as Rank and: 
Korda, we know that to protect 
their own interests they will begin 
to exert pressure on the British; 
government. I'm sure 'that at least 
five members of Parliament are 
also members of the board of di- 
rectors of the Rank and Korda or- 
ganizations." 

As for his threatened boycott 
against U, Smertenko said his 
group had done the same thing 
! against other concerns where large 
1 stock holdings were in British 
hands. It is done to cut .potential 
dividends going to Britaifi, he ex- 
plained. 

Smertenko also maintained that 
the picketing is not confined to 
theatres. "We've picketed Macy's 
department store every Thursday 
night for the last four weeks and 
Hearn's for 10 days straight when 
they had a sale of Scotch liquor." 



Par Stock 

Continued from 0age 



□ 



Star of 
Walter Worker's 




duce the number of outstanding 
shares in proportion to the reduc- 
tion in theatre holdings. While no 
divestiture has yet been ordered, 
Par's toppers believe some forced 
sales of theatres is almost inevita- 
ble in view of the U. S. Supreme 
Court opinion handed down this 
year. 

Hence, renewed buying is for an 
entirely different reason than the 
original one which started the com- 
i pany on its course. When first be- 
I gun in November, 1946, stock ac- 
I quisitions were primarily intended 
j to buy out theatre partners. High 
court, however; has nixed that ma- 
neuver in instances where joint 
holdings are considered to violate 
anti-trust laws. 

In all, Par has now bought 802.- 
000 shares at an estimated cost of 
$20,500,000. Of this total, 191,677 
Shares have gone towards the pur- 
chase of Liberty Films and Rain- 
bow Productions. Balance is still in 
the treasury. ' 

Current purchases are now being 
made to avoid the necessity of pick-, 
ing up tremendous blocks, once a 
decision comes down. Company 
toppers want to avoid driving up 
the price of stock by flooding the 
[market with sudden, giant buying 
.orders. : .: . 

Several other majors last month 
continued gradual retirement poli- 
cies on special stocks by acquiring 
blocks on the market, Twentielh- 
Fox removed 7,100 shares of $l-5t» 
preferred from its listing. Comply 
also purchased 900 shares of this 
stock to bring its holdings to 12,500 
shares. , 
Universal added 20 shares of 
VA% cumulative preferred *»»« 
now holds 1,250 shares of tnis 
stock. 



FCC CAUGHT WITH KILOS DOWN 



Kaycee Ready With Axe 

Chicago, Aug. 24. 
-Proposal to end the broadcast of giveaway shows on net outlets 
in Kansas City was made at a huddle there last Wednesday (18f. 
It already has the okay of spokesmen for three stations while the 
fourth says, "if they cancel, I'll cancel." 

Don Davis, prez of WHB, Mutual affiliate, plans to call a meet- 
ins; shortly at which steps to put the ban In force will be threshed 
out. 

Giveaway nix has the approval of Davis, Sara Bennett, sales 
veepee of KMBO, CBS affiliate, and Dean Fitzer, manager of 
WDAF, NBC affiliate. Joe Hartenbower, manager of KCMO, ABC 
outlet, protests that the ban would involve inequality of sacrifice, 
with KCMO hardest hit. He nevertheless stated, "if they cancel, 
I'll cancel," indicating that the actual loss of chips would dampen 
enthusiasm of other K.C. broadcasters. . , 

•David, prime mover in the giveaway ban, says, "we've lost sight 
of entertainment in the barrage of free plugs and free dishes. The 
quicker we get back to actors, writers and composers the better it 
will be for radio." 



Lustiest Free-for-All Yet Looming 
From Sunday Night Network Setups 



The Sunday night networks- 
boardwalk, where "Stop the Music" 
set up shop last spring with telling 
effect on NBC's powerhouse spread 
of toprated attractions, is shaping 
for the fall-winter season into the 
most competitive battleground for 
dialers yet. In the past week ABC 
threw still another giveaway, "Go 
for the House," into the race and 
CBS entered "Lum 'n' Abner" for 
Frigidaire, back-to-back with the 
new Colgate entry, "Our Miss 
Brooks.". NBC already had spotted 
Ozzie Sc Harriet as potent replace- 
ment for "Hollywood Star Pre- 
view." 

Two big question marks remain- 
ing in the Sabbath after-dark line- 
up were CBS' 7:30 segment, be- 
ing vacated by "Blondie's" move to 
NBC, and the same net's 8:30 
period, opened up by Frigidaire's 
switch in time as well as program 
(dropping "Man Called X") in 
order to escape "Music" competi- 
tion. No takers for either time 
have been announced, although the 
web is said to be closing with 
Lever Bros, for the 7:30 spot, 
for "Big Town" or some other 
Lever billing. 

ABC is pinning its hopes of 
nicking Jack Benny's Hooper, as 
it did the Bergen-Allen combo 
with "Music," on its present 
Wednesday night giveaway, "Go 
for the House," and may ink Al- 
lied Chemical to bankroll the 
stanza. It'll be up to Amoco's new 
"Carnegie Hall" stanza at 7:30 to 
hold the giveaway fans over from 
"House" to "Music." 

CBS had planned to move 
Luden's "Strike It Rich" up from 
10:30 to 10, but has cancelled .the 
shift in favor of a two-hour block 
"bracketing Helen Hayes' new show 
for the Electric Companies at 9 
With "Brooks" at 9:30, "Lum 'n' 
Abner" at 10 and "Strike It Rich" 
at 10:30. 

Mulual's Sunday night sequence 
is pretty much up in the air, two 
of its '47-48 entries, the "Meet Me 
at Parity's" co-op and Pharmaco's 
Jim Backus Show, being out of the 
running. 



'Cabin £-13' to Continue 
Cruising in CBS Waters 

"Cabin B-13," one of CBS's sum- 
mer entries, gets a nod for the fall 
semester via reslotting into the 
Tuesday 10-10:30 period, starting 
next, week (31), Dramatic series 
now is aired Mondays at 8:30. 

Fate of a number of other warm- 
weather stanzas is yet to be decid- 
ed, although a final draft of CBS' 
fall-winter schedule is scheduled 
to be drawn within a week. 



HEAT NOW OFF 
THE I 




Absence of Wm Morris Acts on JURA 
Show Result of Agency-MCA Tussle 



Sympk Sponsors 
Perk; Standard 
Mulls N Y. Phil. 



IS 



Writers Guild Set 
For Strflre Vote 



Hollywood, Aug. 24. 
• Radio Writers Guild has broken 
off negotiations with ad agencies 
and will take a strike vote soon in 
Los Angeles. New York and Chi- 
cago. Impasse arose over a con- 
tract which would give the Guild 
members rights to their material, 
minimum fees, payment for refuse 
and "effective grievance machi- 
nery." . 

Guild has bulletined its mem- 
bership "on the imminent strike 
action and announced a change in 
its constitution to liberalize its 
method of obtaining a strike vote. 
Ballots will be mailed out this 
week. Series of meetings are be- 
ing called to review the network 
contract and "strengthen the de- 
mand we will make on the agen- 
cies." 



The market for symphony airers 
picking up. CBS this week was 
close to a deal with Standard Oil 
of New Jersey to bankroll the N. Y. 
Philharmonic. The Sunday long- 
hair conceits haven't bad a sponsor 
since _ U, S. Rubber pulled out a 
couple of seasons back after having 
picked up the tab for four years. 
When U. S. Rubber walked in in 
1943, CBS picked up $1,500,000 for 
the time and talent involved in the 
90-minute airer. 

Standard Oil has been toying 
with network ' sponsorship for 
years, but apparently its large di- 
rectorship never could get together 
on the type of stanza to back. Last 
fall the outfit, was reported near a 
decision to bankroll "Tex and 
Jinx" on NBC, but the deal never 
I jelled. 

For most of this year there 
hasn't been a sponsored symphony 
on the nets. The Boston Symphony 
! on ABC didn't make & go -of it as 
a co-op offering. Henry Reichhold, 
prez and "angel" of the Detroit 
Symphony, ran into a union dis- 
pute and dropped his bankrolling 
of this orch on ABC. NBC Sym- 
phony has failed to attract sponsor 
coin since General Motors can- 
celled several years ago. 

Now. however, the Boston 
"Pops" is set to be picked up by 
BCA-Victor for a balf-hour Sunday 
concert on NBC starting Sept. 5. 
And Reichhold is again in conver- 
sation with ABC over a possible 
new deal for the Detroit Sym- 
phony. 



Radio giveaways have been re- 
prieved. Just as suddenly and un- 
expectedly as the ominous storm 
threatening them rose several 
weeks ago, it blew over last week; 
end. A frankly embarrassed Fed- 
eral Communications Commission 
admitted it had just now learned 
that Congress, back in early June, 
had repealed Section 316 of the 
Communications Act, under which 
the FCC proposed to crack down 
on jackpotters. 

The action, part of a recodifica- 
tion act, incorporated the section 
into the Criminal Code, under 
which the Justice Dept. prosecutes, 
and left the FCC virtually power- 
less to act against networks and 
stations airing the get-rick-quick 
stanzas. 

Justice action would be much 
slower than FCC's thus giving the 
bonanza shows a longer lease on 
life, even if the Justice Dept. did 
decide to move against the pro- 
grams as lotteries. A test' case 
might even be taken as high as the 
U. S. Supreme Court, which action 
could take two years or more for 
determination. 

Around the networks, immediate 
reaction was that the development 
took all the heat off the giveaways. 
None of the webs has yet filed a 
statement with the FCC on its 
proposed rules. And up to yester- 
day (Tues.), the nets were yet to be 
informed whether the FCC intends 
to draft a new attempt to curb the 
jackpotters. 

Comment of one network topper 
whose web has been "going along" 
with the giveaway mania was: "I 
guess this permits us to continue 
bad programming." He felt the in- 
dustry, for its own sake, ought to 
clean out the jackpots. But in most 
other quarters, notably ABC, whose 
.highriding "Stop the Music" was 
imperilled, the news was greeted 
with elation. ABC's giveaways 
[aren't lotteries, the webbers main- 
tain — but they were relieved over 
j the letup anyway. 
| Blowup of the FCC move came 
| before any of the nets had made 
'any motions toward axing or re- 
vamping any of their giveaways. 
Commission Can Still Art 
Observers in Washington said 
FCC didn't lose all authority over 
giveaways. The Commission could 
(Continued on page 36) 

NAfi's Miller Confuses 
Trade by His Varied 
Stands on Giveaways 

What appeared to be_ varying 
! stances by National Assn. of. 
j Broadcasters toppers on the sub- 
ject of giveways developed last 
• week in reports on two NAB dis- 
i trict meetings in the midwest. 
! In his address at Kansas City's 
10th and 12th district meeting 
Monday and Tuesday (16-17.), NAB 
! prexy Justin Miller compared the 
■ jackpot shows to the bank nights 
j of the film palaces a few years 
, ago. Both he and Don Petty. 
| NAB's general counsel, appeared 
1 disturbed by the increasing num- 
; ber o£ such shows, and warned 
j broadcasters that the FCC's threat- 
' cned crackdown suggested close 
I scrutiny of the something-for- 
' nothing stanzas. 

At the 11th district meeting in 



Miles Replacing lum' .. 
With Revived 'Hilltop' 

Miles Lab (Alka Seltzer and Vita- 
mins) has decided to plunk its coin 
on a revived serial, "Hilltop 
House," as its. cross-the-board re- 
placement for "Lum V Abner" on 
CBS. Earlier the choice had looked 
like a tossup between Curt Massey 
and a musical costarring Ginny 
Simms and Buddy Clark. 

While Miles also was said earlier 
to be committed to continuing in 
the 5:45 slot occupied by "Lum *n' 
Abner," "Hilltop House" will re- 
main in the 3:15 time it now holds 
as a sustainer. Serial, off the. air 
several years, was revived last 
spring with most of the original 
cast except Bess Johnson, who for- 
merly played the lead. Miles will 
pick up the tab Sept. 20. 



Blue Book Gets 
To Supreme Ct 




Washington, Aug. 24. 
The FCC Blue Book was laid 
against its ultimate yardstick — the 
Supreme- Court — last week, with 
the request that the tribunal deter- 
mine whether the Blue Book is 
censorship of radio programs in 
violation of the Communications 
Act and the First Amendment. 

Step was taken by Allen T. Sim- 
mons, licensee of WADC. Akron. 
He asked the high court to review 
a U. S. court of appeals decision 
here upholding the authority of 
FCC on overall station program- 
ming. Thus, nearly two and one- 
half years after its issuance, the 
controversial Blue Book has at last 
come to the Supreme Court for 
review. 

However, the Court might decide 
to .sidestep the issue at this time. 
It will probably decide by October 
or November whether to hear the 
appeal. If it should refuse, then 
the court of appeals decision will 
stand. Interesting sidelight is that,* 
if the Supreme Court should hear 
arguments, and should rule against 
the FCC*, the Commission would 
suffer a c. rtailment of its author- 
ity over programming far more 
severe than the recent action of 
Congress in turning enforcement 
of radio- lottery violations over to 
the Dept. of Justice. 

The WADC case involved refusal 
by FCC to grant higher wattage 
for lack of certain "standards of 
programming." Interesting angle is 
this: If WADC should win, the 
FCC would probably be barred 
from inquiring into proposed pro- 
gramming plans of license appli- 
cants and also from cracking down 
on any stations which fail to make 
good their program pledges. 



t There's a notable absence of 
William Morris agency talent in 
the long list of name comics and 
.dramatic stars willing to appear 
in the new American Federation 
of Radio Artists show on NBC un- 
der Seaitest sponsorship. This 1* 
a direct result of a Morris vs. 
Music, Corp. Of America tussle for 
the program. 

Stanza, with Dorothy Lamour as 
f emcee and slated for debut Thurs- 
day, Sept. 9 at 8:30, as successor 
te> Jack Carson's "Scaltest Village- 
Store," was packaged by MCA. 
Originally the Morris office had 
made a pitch for- the show. Reg- 
ulars will include the Crew Chiefs 
Quartet and Henry Russell's orch. 
In addition, Miss Lamour will have 
two guests each week, one a 
comic, the other a dramatic star. 
Glenhall Taylor will produce. Sev- 
enty six "NBC stations will air the 
show. ^ ' ,. . i 

Deal, set by 'the Ayer agency, 
calls for Miss Lamour. and guest* 
stars to receive' what AFRA de- 
scribes as a "substantial" sum, 
but less than they normally,; w»* 
ceivc, and others, describe as a 
"token" payment. Sponsor will 
pay the usual fees, the difference 
going to AFRA" for its health in- 
surance fund. Amount the union 
will net is reportedly around 
-$2,500 weekly, "-. ■<: v. > 

It's understood that, prior to 
setting of the deal with MCA. both 
Nat Lefkowitx and Bill Murray «C 
the Morris office went to AFRA 
with proposals to talent-stock such 
a show for the union. When AFRA 
chose MCA instead, the Morris 
agency advised the union that it 
(Continued on page 36) 

WFILIub Sports 
Show for 5th Yr. 

Philadelphia, Aug. 24? 
The "Schoolboy Sports Show," 
sponsored by Jacob Seed's Sons 
(men's clothiers) ' will go over 
WFIL for the fifth consecutive 
year Roger CIIpp, general mana- 
ger of the station, announced. 
Half-hour scholastic sports series 
be broadcast Saturdays at - 



ABC GETS McCONNELL 
FOR POP MUSIC GABBER 

ABC has picked up a once 
weekly, Friday, 4:15-4:30 p.m. order 
from the Mantle Lamp ' Co. of 
America for a "Smiling Ed Mc- 
Connell" stanza to start Oct. 1. 

Instead of a kid show like his 
Saturday a.m. stint for Brown 
Shoes on NBC, however, the ABC 
program will feature light pop mu- 
sic interspersed with McConnell's 
gab. Deal was set by the William 
, Hart Adler agency, Chicago. 



Hollywood, Aug. 24. 
Kay Kyser last week cut an au- 
dition of a 'cross-the-board daytime 
stanza for ABC program veepee 
I *"*• ,t"" — "Bud" Barry. It's not clear, though, 

I Minneapolis Thursday and Friday j ugt what the web placs to do ^j, 
(19-20), however, Judge -Miller the half ^ our strip. Kyser stint has 



KYSER ABC AUDITION 
AS BREAKFAST' SUB? 



Sept. ,18 through 
with the local 
and basketball 



will 

7 p.trk from 
March 12, coil 
schools' footb 
seasons. 

E. L. Brown Agency again 
placed the account and the show 
wiR feature Tom Moorehead, 
WFIL sports director, and Jack 
Ryan, schoolboy sports authority 



said that radio giveaways will stay 
by popular demand. He declared 
the FCC had received "practically 
100% condemnation from the pub- 



been rumored as a replacement for 
"Breakfast in ■ Hollywood." But 
there's also talk of co-oping the 
latter show, indicating that Procter 
lie of its plan fo ban all giveaway j & Gamble is yanking its 15-minute 
shows. The Commission, he said, !.t aD 0 n the stanza, 
had been bombarded with letters | Another possibility is that the 
defending the jackpotters. 



The future of the soap opera is 
assured lor the same reason. Mil- 
ler averred, saying "Soap opera is 
an essential part of American cul- 
ture, growing from the back fence 
gossip, tea party gossip and cock- 
tail party tales. Women oon't have 
i to go away from their stoves to 
'get gossip nowadays." 



Kyser series, if the deal is set, will 
be slotted in the afternoon se- 
quence, where it would replace 
"Second Honeymoon." This sus- 
tainer might be bought out as ve- 
hicle for Kyser. "Honeymoon" is 
currently emceed by Durward Kir- 
by. Johnny Olsen may get the em- 
jcee chore on "Breakfast" if that 
I show stays. 



17-Year News (fai- 
Over a Time Hassle 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 

NBC lost one of its pet accounts 
last week because California's gov- 
ernor. Earl Warren, can't make up 
lus mind whether to continue dav- 
light saving time beyond Sept 23 
when the east gives back the hour 
it borrowed. Lacking any definite 
assurance it would retain the 10 
p.m. time it has held-for 17 years 
Richfield Oil Co. moved its Re- 
porter 0 ^ 1 ' to ABC where that time 
slot will be theirs regardless of how 
the clock runs. 

Richfield Reporter has been a 
10 o'clock dialing habit alaug the 
Coast and far out in the Pacific for 
all the years of its newscasting and 
the oiler preferred to change net- 
works rather than change time 
John Wald continues as the news 
dispenser. 

ABC said the deal represented 
the largest contract for stations 
(20) and time (15 minutes at 10 
pjn., seven days a week) in the 
history of Coast radio. . 

Juicy plum in billings also Is a 
promotional landfall for ABC, as 
Iiichfield plans spending $145 00(5 
to advertise the "Reporter's" switch 
to ABC stations. 



ItADIO 



Wedneday, August 25, 1948 



Reverse 'Octopus' Effect Likely 
On FCC Multiple Ownership Rules 



Washington, Aug. 24. 

The FCC revision- of multiple 
ownership rules, designed "to pre- 
vent concentration of control," 
may have quite the opposite effect 
in the opinion of some radio law- 
yers here who feel that the Com- 
mission has liberalized rather than 
tightened its regulations. 

FCC had restricted video owner- 
ship to five stations, FM to six, and 
had informally had a ceiling of 
seven AM stations. The new rules 
would formalize the ceiling of 
seven, and would also set ceilings 
on the number of stations a person 
might have less than controlling 
interest in, or might be an officer 
or director of. 

These less-than-control interests 
would vary— depending upon how 
many stations the person or cor- 
poration owned control of. Less- 
than-control interests would range 
from zero for persons or corpora- 
tions controlling the maximum 



Danger to Par 

Washington, Aug. 24. 
The proposed new multiple 
ownership rule would deal 
Paramount's television plans a 



solar plexus wallop, even if 
the FCC should fail to get at ^ 

the pix company in any other ^,i so veterans— had percentages of 



way. 

Par wants to own five video 
outlets and also to maintain 
its hold on the DuMont "B*' 
stock which the FCC has con- 
tended would give Par effec- 
tive control of the DuMont as 
well as the Par stations. Du- 
Mont is also, seeking the full 
quota of five stations. 

Under the rule, if Par should 
retain its DuMont "B" stock 
and . DuMont should acquire 
five stations, then Par could 
own only two stations of its 
own. Or if Par should get five 
licenses, it would have to 
divest its DuMont holdings. 



number allowed (i.e. seven stand- 
ard, six FM, or five video) to 14 
standard, 12 FM, or 10 video for 
those owning no stations outright 
in the respective categories. 

Here, say the radio lawyers, is 
the liberalization of policy opening 
entire new vistas. 

If a single corporation, through 
minority stock ownership, can elect 
officers for 14 standard stations, it 
might have far more effective con- 
trol than by owning seven stations 
outright. Officer control of 12 FM 
stations could be as effective as 
(Continued on page 38) 



Troy's WFLY Away 

Troy, N. Y., Aug. 24. 

The first newspaper-affiliated 
FM station in the Troy-Albany- 
Schenectady area went on the air 
Wednesday (18), When WFLY be- 
gan broadcasting. 

It's under direction of Frank L. 
York, general manager and treas- 
urer .of the Troy Record Co. The 
Record and the Times-Recerd are 
the only dailies in the city. 

Radio Bureau Publicity 
Post Is Won by Moylan; 
Starting Salary $4,620 

Albany, Aug. 24. 
Neil Moylan, former Syracuse 
radioite, has been appointed asso- 
ciate state publicity agent in the 
Radio Bureau, at a starting salary 
of $4,620, plus a 10% cost-of-living 
bonus. Moylan, employed in the 
bureau for a year as a producer, 
finished third in an open competi- 
tive examination, with a mark of 
86.22. The first two candidates 



Hub Shortwaver 
Plugs Friendship 

Boston, Aug. 24. 

WRUL, Hub overseas shortwaver, 
working up a new Voice of Amer- 
ica on a more personalized basis 
with its "Bridge of Friendship" 
show, is debuting this week; 

Idea, is to take a sound record- 
ing truck around the country to 
record impromptu views, opinions 
and voices of Americans in the 
street and beam them to European 
countries. First broadcast origi- 
nated from Lexington Green, first 
American, battlefield, with inter- 
views with German-Americans, 
Yankees, etc. Idea developed from 
the station's successful series 
beamed to Italy prior to the elec- 
tions, which were given plenty of 
credit in helping snow under the 
Reds. 

WRUL crew includes Wy man 
Holmes, station manager; Thomas 
Middleton, engineer; Edwin Wes- 
ley, scripter, and Odie Monahan, 
public relations. Caravan is sked- 
ded for general New England 
coverage followed by nationwide 
tour. Station is a non-profit, co- 
operative undertaking heade<~ by 
Walter Lemmon. 



90.42 and 86.62, respectively. They 
were John .Marshall, of Utica, and 
John J. O'Shea, of Woodside, L. I. 
Veterans have preference in state 
civil service tests. Associate agent 
is the salary classification for which 
$5,720 is the maximum. 

A disabled veteran, Anita Beren- 
bach, of Brooklyn, with a 77,56 rat- 
ing, was placed first for the posi- 
tion of senior publicity agent in 
radio. Frederick Ai Carr, of Al- 
bany, likewise a veteran, was rated 
second, with 81.50. Lorraine Brun- 
dage, associated with the Radio 
Bureau for two years and onetime 
\YGY writer and' producer, came in 
third, with 81.90. The job pays 
from $3,720' to $4,620, plus emer- 
gency bonus. 

Fourth on the list for associate 
agent was Deuel Richardson, a non- 
veteran and assistant general man- 
ager of WOKO and WABY under 
the previous ownership. He estab- 
lished a figure of 92. 

CGM'L RADIO SEEN AS 
S. AFRICA'S ONLY OUT 

Cape Town, Aug. 14. 
Report for 1947 of South African 
Broadcasting Corp., presented to 
House of Assembly today (14), 
states that growing cost of admin- 
istering radio networks is causing 
concern, and suggests introduction 
of commercial broadcasting as only 
| means of increasing revenue. Num- 
ber of licensed listeners is now 
4,45,710, which is believed- to be 
almost saturation point for South 
African population, so that income 
for coming year' will show very 
little increase on 1947, whereas ex- 
penditure curve is rising alarm- 
ingly. 

In 1947, report profit margin on 
expenditure of £630,116 ($2,542,- 
520) was only £14,515 ($58,570). 
Money is urgently needed for im- 
provement in programs and tech- 
nical equipment, so that report 
concludes that recent Broadcasting 
Commission's suggestion of com- 
mercial radio is only solution. 



WHLI'* New AFRA Pact 

WHLI, indie station in Hemp- 
stead, L. I., has signed a new con- 
tract with AFRA, calling for a 
Salary minimum of $55 a week for 
«taff members. 

Standard wavelength outlet Is 
operated - by the FM Broadcasting 
Corp. • 



Seifert Rejoins World 
In Charge of N.Y. Offices 

Walter Seifert, formerly with 
.World Broadcasting, has rejoined 
the transcription outfit under its 
new Frederick W. Ziv Co. owner- 
ship and has taken charge of Ziv's 
630 Ninth avenue offices in N. Y. 
Additional office space has just 
been acquired at this address to 
house several World departments 
in addition to some Ziv Television 
Programs, Inc., activities. 

John Sinn, exec veepee of Ziv, 
reports that WB personnel in Chi- 
cago has been moved to. added 
quarters in the Ziv office at 360 
North Michigan avenue, and in 
Hollywood extra space has been 
rented in the Equitable bldg. to 
merge World and Ziv staffs. 

First World releases under Ziv 
direction will go out. next , month, 
Sinn said. 




Alias "Sue Carson" 

PALMO FULLER 

Palmo is the "Sue Carson" of 
KLZ's popular afternoon partici- 
pating stanza, "Budget Brigade." 
She mixes recipes and household 
hints with guests such as Lon Mc- 
Allister, Donald Duck and Donald 
Woods. She's also a veteran on 
KLZ's writing staff. 

KCZ, DENVER 



Mark Woods Denies 
ABC Time to Reds 
For Reply on Attack 

Mark Woods,, prexy of ABC, 
yesterday (Tues.) denied a demand 
by chairman William Z. Foster of 
the Communist Party that the net- 
work grunt, within a month, equal 
air time to the party to reply to 
the web's recent documentary on 
"Communism— U. S. Brand." 

"ABC considers its presentation 
to have been fair, factual, and, as 
to the aspects of the subject 
which it treated, complete," Woods 
wrote Foster. He pointed out that 
many labor unions, both CIO and 
AFL, have praised the program 
"without qualification" and "so 
have many radio critics through- 
out the country," 

Foster had stated in his time 
demand that "Reviewers of peri- 
odicals as far removed from the 
Communist Party as Variety, the 
New York Post and The Nation 
concur with our judgment that 
this .program violated all stand- 
ards of honesty, simple fairness 
and objectivity." To this, Woods 
replied, "Although one of the 
three publications to which you 
refer, Variety, did take issue with 
one of the citations, I have seen 
no indictments of the integrity of 
the program in either of the 
others to which you refer, the Na- 
tion and the New York Post." 

Woods asserted that the pro- 
gram cited "in its documentation, 
only such speeches and literature 
as were delivered, written, edited 
or published by the Communists." 



Variety's Dick Doan concluded 
his review of "Communism — U. S. 
Brand" in the Aug. 4 issue with 
this reference to the context (the 
rest of the review having no spe- 
cial pertinence to the argument): 

"Another and more important 
flaw — also open to debate— was 
the apparent inability of the pro- 
gram's researchers "{6 uncover 
proof of the alleged party oath in 
a more recent party document 
than one dated 1935 ('The Com- 
munist Party, a Manual on Or- 
ganization,V,by J. Peters, published 
by the Workers Library Publish- 
ers in July, 1935 . . . pages 104 
and 105). For- if indeed U. S. 
Communists take this oath, the 
issue is clear-cut and, for Amer- 
icans, has but one side. But if it 
cannot be proven that this oath 
is actually administered to all 
U. S. Communist Party members, 
the who> question is still open to 
debate and the primary premise 
of 'Communism,' as well as its 
fairness on the subject, is serious- 
ly weakened. 

"In a word, ABC made a strong, 
but possibly not watertight, case 
for the prosecution. The defense 
isn't apt to be heard from." 

Nancy Craig to Do Three 
Broadcasts From Dallas 

Nancy Craig,planes to Dallas to- 
day (Wed.) and will broadcast her 
early morning confab show from 
there through next Monday (30). 
Then she flies back to resume her 
NL Y. origination Tuesday (31). 
She's going to attend the premiere 

?f .l^ ed A Ri ? r '' on a deal with 
United Artists. 



From the Production Centres 

; 4 4(|MM illt ? t t * * ***************** * **** 



fjV NEW YORK CITY 

Anatole Chujoy recorded two broadcasts on ballet in America for 
Voice of America, which were beamed to Russia last week and yester- 
dav (Tues ) . . Radio writer Olga Druce's play, "The Universal Heck- 
ler-was feature of the International Congress on Mental Health in 
London last week, performed by American Theatre Wing cast-the first 
appearance of Community Plays on foreign soil. Radie Harris due 
haok from the Coast next Monday (30).... Eve Arden also Gotham- - 
bound for a fortnight, "Our Miss Brooks" being up for a brief hiatus 
before Colgate takes over. . . .First Nafl Food Stores renewed Guy 
T nmbardo on 19 New England ABC outlets for another 52 weeks . . 
WOR's George Monaghan and wife, Norah, skedded for BBC and TV 

annparanVes in Bermuda over Labor Day weekend Girl born Thurs- 

day (19) to Rose and i Tom Flynn. He's WOR flack and both of them 
formerly were with CBS .... Film interests looking at Admiral Zacha- 
rias' "Secret Missions" series on Mutual. ' ' 

Helen Rowland rounding out her third year of penning the radio-TV 
news for Writer's Digest. . . Peg Lynch„ writer and costar of "Ethel' 
and Albert " on a month's honeymoon in Europe with groom O. Knut 
Ronning of Oslo, Norway Winifred O'Keefe, veepee of Lang- 
Worth et packaging outfit, set to sail yesterday (Tues.) for. Europe to 
scout talent and recording availabilities in England and France in event 
the recording ban here is prolonged .... Greater N.Y. Safety Council 
handed its first radio award Friday (20) to* Mayor O'Dwyer for WNYC's 
accident prevention efforts. . . . 

Inga Adams has joined hubby Ian Martin in the cast of Linda s First 

Love" Ziv-plattered serial Franklin Pulaski, narrator on "The 

United Nations Today," now also with WCBS-TV's "Winner Take All" 
John Sylvester back in town for radio chores following road ap- 
pearances in legiter, "Sundown Beach" Dick Charles, recently re- 
turned from California, throwing the cues on ABC's "Treasury Band- 
stand" . Norman Brokenshire bought Victor H. Lindlahr's three-story 

brownstone at 272 West 84th street Staffers annexed by Newark's 

new 5 000-watter, WVNJ: George Field, ex-World Transcriptions, and 
Charles Seitman, ex- WHN, as account execs; Irving Bobbin, ex-WPWA, 
Chester, Pa., as music director, and Phyllis Houston, ex-WCTC, New 
Brunswick, as continuity writer . Joan Blondell's sis, Gloria, replaced 

Eve McVeigh in "Guiding Light" Grace Matthews taking a lease 

from her starring role in "Big Sister" to,await the stork. Helen Dumas 

will pinchhit Walter Kiernan's son out of the hospital following an 

appendectomy. 

Alan Sands has scripted a 15-minute TV film series titled "Glamour 
House" for New World Productions. It's slanted at femmes' with a 

comedy format Ernest Sarracino directed and starred in the CBS-TV 

showcasing last week of "Cap'n Billy's Showboat." Musical direction 
and accompaniment was by Herbert Kingsley, composer of "Lament 
Over Love," which was sung by Juanita Hall'/. . . CBS press chief 
George Crandall's sec'y, Linda Casazza, wed Sunday (22) to Rider 

College prof, Alfred A. Moran Al Morgan, writer-producer of 

WCBS' "This Is New York," to step into Bill Leonard's mike spot while 
latter vacations Sept. 4-20 .... Paul Manning, ex-Mutual and CBS war 
correspondent, awarded a Lettre de Commandatioji by the French con- 
sul general Monday (23) for being the first American to broadcast the 
liberation of Paris in '44. . . . WNBC's Dick Dudley has received an- 
other offer from BBC, where He did an Armed Forces show during the 

war Robert Q. Tiedje, ex-NBC info staffer, joined the web's Bing- 

hamton (N.Y.) affiliate, WINR, as a salesman Auditions of Brooks 

Randall, femme disk jockey from the Coast, and Ann Crowley, ex- 
"Oklahdma!" songstress, being readied by WNBC program chief Tony 
Provost Walter Law, who conducts the WNBC "Stamp Club," join- 
ing the flagship as a staff producer Sept. 13, replacing Vic Campbell 

. . . Hermit Murdock and Carl Eastman join "Lora Lawton" cast 

Marion Allen new to "David Harum" and Henry Neely added to "Young 
Widder Brown" cast . . . . Charme Allen, Gregory Morton, Rita Ascot 
and Maurice Gosfield added to "Front Page Farrell." 

Joel Marston, character juve actor, the second to get a pic contract 
out of appearance on WJZ-TV's "Hollywood Screen Test!" Steve Broidy 

signed him to a long-termer for Allied Artists NBC to sponsor a 

mobile radio broadcasting company in the U. S. Army Signal Corps. . .'. 
Norah K. Donovan, until recently on ABC's legal staff, hanging out her 

shingle on 5th ave Robert J. Landry, ex- Variety, and until recently 

with CBS, taking a month's hiatus in Maine CBS auditioning an 

hour-long Robert Q. Lewis show for possible slotting at 5-6 Sunday 
this fall. It won't tee off, though, until sometime after Lewis returns 
from Europe next month. He's sailing Saturday (30) on the Maure- 
tania. 

Paul R. Milton assigned to script chores on MBS* new "Great Scenes 
From Great Plays. ...Harry Algus, ex-public relations man for the War 
Assets Administration in N.Y., annexed by Mutual's publicity staff. . . . 
Camel cigs already inked to bankroll MBS airing of the next New 
Year s Day Cotton Bowl game . . Margaret Draper doing "Famous Jury 
Trials Saturday (28) .... Patsy Campbell, on weeks' vacation, being 
written out of "Second Mrs. Burton". .. Rosemary Rice to read for 
Sam Wanamaker for the Broadway legiter, "Goodbye, My Fancy." 

IN CHICAGO . . . 

Sid Roberts, WIND announcer, bedded at Michael Reese hospital 
with yellow jaundice. . Charles Luckman, Lever Bros.' prez, huddling 
with comedian Danny Thomas with tele as the topic . Norm Lind- 
quist, former veepee of. Television Advertising Productions, joining 

Malcolm Howard agency as television . director Hal Rorke, radio 

chief of J. Walter Thompson, will scale the peaks in Tennessee during 
his vacation in- early September. . . .Mutual veepee Ade Hult orates at 
the dedication of the new Radio Center on the state fair grounds, In- 
^ la "?i p u 0lis ' Sept 4 ' " The Morris B. Sachs Amateur Hour rounds out 
its 14th year next Sunday (29). 

Hub Jackson upped from account exec to veepee of Russel M. Seeds 

\° Ed Borroff, former ABC veepee in charge of the Central Divi- 

t0 „ announce his new Pact with a station rep. . . Jack Ryan, 
™ ck A°, 25f four-week handshake tour of radio eds and affiliates 
... . ine Quiz Kids start their ninth year for Miles Laboratories next 
month. Ralph Atlass, WIND chief, cruising on Georgia Bay in his 
ST*. ?; "•' N l ws commentator Jim Hurlbut upped to captain rank 
rf.«f Ma " ne Corps . Reser ve....Dave Atchison has left NBC's flack 
Stan to become associate ed of the new Sunday supplement, Nowadays, 
tho I 0 !"' W ^ B1V J Producer-writer, and Minnie Galatzer, who heads 
the CW Actors Co., have organized a seminar for potential playwrights 
♦ « Bel1 telephone using a heavy sked of transcribed station 
K£ u £ CU *u te ?u lon > on its new dialin « system. . . News writer Pat 
Burton kudosed by the American Medical Assn. for her scripting of the 
t M ,ici meet ,i ere ? t J "?e - ; Schoenfeld, Huber & Green blanketing 
Louisiana with spots in a test for an intro of Dolly Madison Wine. 

IN HOLLYWOOD ... 

wifh d r«f°n? ^ ed , here i for a raonth and then moves on to Sun Valley 
K f5n f L. NB . C l brasS £ or annual meeting with affiliates Sept. 22-25 
Mo^i « , , taklng a feather at the swank Ocean House, formerly 
Marion Davies' summer shack. . . ."Junior Miss" air troupe will display 
r, , .!5T the footlights at Laguna Beach strawhatter this 

with ;.r'p L P I'l f0 L firSt J W0 a,rings of new seas °n, opening Aug. 30 
with I Remember Mama," starring Irene Dunne, and following it up 

(Continued on page 36) 



Wednesday, August 25, 1948 



RADIO 



27 . , 



SEPTEMBER SONG SOUNDS SOUR 



Quirk in N.Y. Municipal Code Putting 
Snafu Into Control of Indie WNYC 



A struggle looms for control of — <. — ; — 

New York's city - owned indie, j ... . , „, ., _ 

WNYC, which since the days of WeitZel dOlltS bOOt III 

en i " 



the late P. L. LaGuardia has been 
directly under the mayor's office. 
Frederick Zurmuhlen, who became 
city commissioner of public works 
last fall, recently discovered a 
provision in the municipal ad- 
ministrative code which he in- 
terprets as giving him full super- 
vision over the station. 

The code states that the PW de- 
partment shall "maintain and op- 
erate" the station. Zurmuhlen 
notified Seymour Siegel, director 
of the Municipal Broadcasting Sys- 
tem, that he expected, in view of 
this, to oheck the station's pay- 
rolls, supervise its programming, 
etc. Siecel went to Mayor William 
O'Dwyer. who told him to continue 
as in the past. 

As an upshot, Zurmuhlen last 
week ordered WNYC paychecks 
held up Siegel protested and in- 
duced the commissioner to let 
them go out. 

Zurmuhlen is said now to have 
changed his mind about wanting 
to oversee the whole broadcasting 
setup, but contends that if the 
code places the station under his 
jurisdiction, it's His responsibility 
at least to okay its expenditures. 

It's -believed, however, that May- 
or O'Dwyer will recommend im- 
mediately to the city council that 
the cod<j be revised to place the 
station officially under the may- 
or's authority. 



Detroit News Flareup 

Detroit, Aug. 24. 
Tony Weitzei, local columnist 
, who was fluffed off the air at WWJ 
■ when he struck a discordant note 
that displeased the publisher of 
| the Detroit News, severed associa- 
j tion with that newspaper last week, 
j He then hit the airwaves Saturday 
(21) over WJR in "Brunching With 
i the Weitzels," gabbing with his 
| wife Dotty. 

Program originate's from Esquire 
room of Book-Cadillac. One 15- 
minute segment of~the half-hour 
program is sponsored by Kowalski 
SausageCo.; other half of the tab 
is picked up Harvey Berkshire, 
Eaiser-Frazer dealer. 



Barring of Announcers, 
Petition Fried at FCC, 
Spark WSNY Execs Hassle 

Schenectady, Aug. 24. 
• Controversy between -Winsiow 
R. Leighton, president of the-West- 
ern Gateway Broadcasting Corp. 
(WSNY), and George It. Nelson, 
removed by Leighton June 21 as 
general and commercial manager 
of the 250-watt independent sta- 
tion, took a new turn Sunday (22) 
when Ed Flynn, former program 
manager, and Bill Carpenter, until 
recently sports announcer reported 
they were barred from broadcast- 
ing a Schenectady Canadian-Amer- 
ican league baseball game. 

General Electric Co.'s Schenec- 
tady works are sponsoring play- 
by-plays of home contests at Mc- 
Nearney Stadium this season. 
Flynn and Carpenter, who say they 
signed a contract With WSNY, 
through Nelson, then general man- 
ager, for the assignment, had been 
airing Can-Am games for three 
years. Schenectady papers -an- 
nounced the previous day that 
Bob Wallace, a WSNY standard, 
and Dick Moore, a new man from 
Rome, would do the ballcasts. 

Nelson, who has opened an ad- 
vertising office in Schenectady — 
the long successful Leighton & 
Nelson agency has been dissolved 
and Leighton has set up his own 
office — filed a petition with the 
FCC in Washington last week. He 
asked it to investigate "a series of 
stock transfers to determine if such 
transfers involve a violation- of 
Section 310 <b> of the Communica- 
tions Act of 1934 as amended, and, 
if so, to take appropriate action in 
the premises." Suit refers to ac- 
tions taken by Leighton at WSNY , 
in Nelson's absence. 

Falling out of the two men, who , 
had been closely associated in the : 
agency business here since 1936 
and who had been at WGY before j 
that in sales executive capacities, ! 
has caused a shock in radio circles 
hereabouts. 



Summer fiins 
Eye NBC Fall 




With.fiye Sunday .afternoon half- 
hours yet tinassigired for the fall- 
winter season, -a flock of NBC -sum- 
mer fillin shows are yearning to oc- 
cupy one of these time -slots. 

The Jane Pickens Show is favor- 
ite for the 5-5:30 period currently 
held down by "Author Meets the 
Critics." Latter stanza, carried last 
season only on WNBC, N. Y., is 
among the hopefuls. 

Cancellation, of the Eddy How- 
art stanza by Sheaffer Pens and 
transfer of the RCA-Victor billing 
to the 5:30 segment (but not until 
early December), leaves the 00- 
minute stretch .from 2. to 3:30 open. 
Also unassigned is the 12-12:30 
time. / 

The leading candidates include, 
besides "Author," the newsroom's 
"Who Said That?", emceed by Bob 
Trout, which has been pulling 
plenty of unexpected fan mail; Lou 
Cowan's !'BFD America," which 
has been holding down Fred Al- 
len's time as a sustainer; the First 
Piano Quartet, which has been do- 
ing triple duty on the summer 
airwaves: and the Slapsie Maxie 
Show, which will have to make way 
for "Life of Riley." 

Another warm - weather item 
which may get a reprieve is Leon- 
ard Sillman's "New Faces of 1948*" 
the Burns . & Allen standin. Max- 
well House has been highly pleased 
with the reception given the revue 
and has suggested it to General 
Foods' front office as a good pros- 
pect in event GF mulls additional 
web time or a show replacement; 

Among the hiatus standins ap- 
parently due for an autumn fade 
are the Robert Shaw Chorale. 
Luckies' "Let's Talk Hollywood," 
Carmen Cavallero's stint for Turns, 
Lever's "Call the Police," Pepso- 
deht's "Corliss Archer," Raleigh's, 
"Evening With Romberg," Bristol- 
Myers' "Tex and Jinx," Pabst's 
"Thin Man," "Swingtime ,at the 
Savoy," and Sealtest's Ray Noble? 
Ilene Woods. 




Retaliation' Seen in AFRA Nix of MBC 
Announcers on Mpls. 'Dr. If Shows 



Trend is under way on a whole- 1 n i n n 
sale scale toward later fall teeoffs KOHli UtWV LOtlSllltailt' 
for returning network shows, i nnr . n n . . n 

a mounting conviction! BBD&O OH Ad-PrOmOtiOH 



There's 

among bankrollers and their 
agencies that there's too little re- 
ward, ratingwise, in bringing shows 
back in late August or any time in 
September until near the month's 
end. 

For instance, on NBC, where the 
fall-winter schedule is more nearly 
in final form at this moment than 
on other webs, only 10 programs 
are returning before Sept. '27, 
whereas 23 will make their autumn 
debuts on or after that date. Last 
year, 17 were back by Sept. 27 and 
only 14 returned after that time. 

The trend obviously isn't making 
the nets happy, what with the re- 
sulting added financial burden of 
prolonging sustainer fills anywhere 
from one to four or five weeks 
longer than usual. Sponsors and 
agencies, for their part, may or 
may not run their billings later 
into next spring and summer as a 
result of the later fall returns. But 
they seem to feel late spring, and 
early summer jnight pay off better 
than early fall. . 

Year of Adjustment 

"It's a year of adjustment," one 
agency exec commented. "As far 
as we're concerned, September 
just, doesn't pay Off. Maybe this is 
the beginning of the end of the 39- 
week cycle." 

One factor in slotting of shows 
for return after Sept. 26 is that 
this is the date on which daylight 
saving time ends. Feeling is that 
•evening programs stand, a lot better 
chance of catching dialers at their 
sets after d.s.t. concludes. 

One agency which especially has 
applied this thinking is Benton & 
Bowles. Its Burns & Allen stanza 
for "Maxwell House took a 15-week 
■layoff and will return Sept. 30. Last 
fall the show was back Sept. 4. 
Prudential "Family Hour" was 
,given a 17-week hiatus; it will re- 



Washihgton, Aug. 24. 

Ford Bond, president of Ford 
Bond Radio Productions Inc., and 
Gov. Thomas E. Dewey's radio ad- 
viser for the past six years, will 
serve as radio consultant to Gov. 
Dewey during the campaign, the 
Republican National Committee 
announced last Friday (20). Ed- 
ward T. G. Ingle will continue as 
radio director of the Committee, 
however. 

Batten, Barton, Durstine & Os-. 
born was selected to handle the 
advertising and promotional end 
of the presidential campaign, with 
Ben Duffy, president of the agency, 
in charge. 



turn Oct. 3 instead of Sept. 14. 
Still another B&B show, "Juvenile 
Jury," preemed Sept. 7 last year. 
This year it won't be back- until 
Oct. 3. 

Here are some of the other web 
stanzas and their fall starting dates, 
with last year's return dates in 
parentheses: 

"Cavalcade of America,". Sept. 
13 (Aug. 18); "Chesterfield Supper 
Club" with Perry Como. Sept. 27 
(Sept. 8); "Supper Club" with Jo 
Stafford, Sept. 28 (Sept. 9); Eddie! 
Cantor Show, Oct. 1 (Sept. 25); j 
lX** n Canova Show Oct 2 (Aug. J t . ag0 studios 
30); Ozzie & Harriet, Oct. 3 (Aug. 1 
30); Edgar Bergen, Oct. 3 (Sept. 7); 

Lux Theatre," Aug. 30 (Aug. 25); 
"My Friend lima," Aug. 30 (Aug. 
25); "The Shadow," Sept. 12 (Sept. 
7). 



Socialists Mull 
Suit Vs. CBS For 
KaegerNixing 

Chicago, Aug. 24. 
The 'Socialist Party may take 
legal action against CBS follow- 
ing cancellation last week of a 
speech by Maynard C. Krucger, 
Univ. of Chicago prof, and mem- 
ber of the Socialist national exec 
committee. Fifteen-minute speech 
on "Why the Special Session of 
Congress Failed" got the net's 
okay on Aug. 5, but two hours be- 
ior air time Thursday (19) Krue- 
ger was told it had been cancelled. 

Accormng to CBS spokesmen, 
his talk was nixed because they 
originally had thought the special 
session would last longer and also 
because political programs were 



put on a cash basis. as of Aug. 12. 
It's understood that Davidson Tay- 
lor, CBS veepee and director of 
public affairs, assumed that Krue- 
ger's speech was exempt from 
tire ban on political sustainers, 
since it had been skedded before 
Aug. 12,. Sales department, how- 
ever, didn't see it his way. 

Krueger, an independent can- 
didate foi Congress from Illinois, 
was particularly burned because 
he had cut short his vaca- 
tion in Colorado in order to de- 
liver the speech from CBS Chi- 



Gagwriters' Getaway Set 

Gagwriters Institute is prepping 
its third annual sessions, with the 
getaway set for Sept. 15. George 
Lewis of thJ National Laugh Foun- 
dation, which sponsors the course, j tions in the two countries. The 
reports it will be limited this year j agreement is somewhat similar to 
to 50 enrollees. I the TV agreement in that it in- 

Classes will meet Wednesday ; volves assignments only within 
nights through next June 15. 1 250 miles of the border. 



FCC, CANADA IN ACCORD 
ON fM ASSIGNMENTS 

Washington, Aug. 24. 
The Federal Communications 
Commission and the Dept. of 
Transport of Canada last week an- 
nounced an agreement concerning 
FM broadcast assignments in the 
two countries in the 88 to 108 
megacycle band. 

FCC said the agreement was 
made so that no objectionable in- 
terference will occur between sta 



FCC's Suspension Of 
Mobile Services May 
Hurt Film Companies 

Washington. Aug. 24. 

To protect the public from use- 
less expenditures for experimental 
radio installations, and to expedite 
adoption of rules under which ap- 
plicants may obtain regular li- 
censes, the FCC last week suspend- 
ed consideration of applications for 
experimental mobile radio services. 

This move will affect motion pic- 
ture companies operating radio 
communication between studio and 
location and between sets. Pix 
co'me under the Industrial Radio 
Services as rural users of chan- 
nels. 

The Commission is now engaged 
in A study of the extensive com- 
ments filed following proposed rul- 
ings on these broadcast services. 



COLONIAL FM PACTS 
EKINS FOR NEWS STINT 



Syracuse, Aug. 24. 



Minneapolis, Aug. 24. 

Lew Valentine, "Dr." IQ," on 
Monday (23) started a seven-weeks 
Monday night broadcast series 
here for NBC but without an NBC 
announcer on his broadcast staff, 
due to an AFRA ban. 

Quiz show usually uses sis. an- 
nouncers spotted in the house, in 
this case RKO-Orpheum theatre, 
to introduce contestants. NBC out- 
let here, however, is KSTP, only 
non-AFRA organized station In the 
Twin Cities. 

Valentine, an AFRA member, got 
orders from national headquarters 
in New York not to use non-AFRA 
members on the show. When pro- 
gram comes over KSTP, then, an- 
nouncers heard will be from WTCN 
and WDGY. 

Last year, when Valentine ap- 
peared at St. Paul Orpheum thea- 
tre, KSTP announcers were Used, 
although not then AFRA members, 
and received some $45 each for 
their part in each weekly broad- 
cast. Last October, however, in an 
NLRB election, KSTP staff mem- 
bers voted 7 to 1 not to affiliate 
with AFRA. 

KSTP staff members expressed 
themselves as bitter about the deal 
and termed it a case of retaliation. 
They have filed a complaint with 
the NLRB charging their firing by 
Valentine was illegal and unfair 
labor practice, and that the union 
coerced Valentine. NLRB may 
seek a temporary court injunction. 
Station itself, however, kept mum, 
saying it had no part in the con- 
troversy, since pressure was all 
brought on Valentine: 

KSTP's promotion department 
was not loo happy. During previ- 
ous week, it had spotted Valentine 
in several radio appearances build- 
ing up "IQ" series, without know- 
ing other station members would 
be represented on its broadcasts. 

Warner^ Mrs. Ttockrey 
Deny AVCO Rule Use In 
2 Coast Stations Sale 

Washington, Aug.. 24. 
Warner Bros, aad Dorothy S." 
Thackrey yesterday (23) told the 
FCC they didn't believe the AVCO 
rule was applicable to the sale of 
the Thackrey wholly-owned inter- 
est in KYA, San Francisco, and 
KLAC and KfjAC-TV in Los An- 
geles. 

Southern California Television 
Co., partially owned by Ed Pauley, 
last week invoked the AVCO rule, 
and requested that a separate price 
be put upon each property. South- 
ern wanted a chance- to bid for the 
TV channel In L. A. 

The petition points out that all 
the property is broadcast property 
and cites 33 cases where the Com- 



The Colonial FM Network, whieh i mission has okayed transfer of 



will tee off operations Sept. 20 with 
five upstate stations as charter out- 
lets, has reacted a name commen- 
tator, H. R. Ekins, to do a 7 p.m., 
cross-the-board news stint. Ekins, 
for 18 years with the UP, and for- 
merly also with the N. Y- Times 
and Christian Science Monitor as 
foreign correspondent and editor, 
now is d'-ector of the Citizens 
Foundation of Syracuse. 

Colonial veb's affiliates thus far 
are WKRT-FM. Cortland; WOPT- 
FM, Oswego; WKNP-FM, Corning; 
WWHG-FM, Hornell, and WHLD- 
FM, Niagara Falls. 



multiple broadcast properties for 
one lump sum. 

Warners proposes to pay Mrs 
Thackrey $1,045,000, with $104,50» 
paid when the agreement is made 
and $52,250 by Dec. 5 if FCC has 
approved the sale by that time. 



BROWN GIVES LOWDOWN 
ON CLEVE. GRID DOINGS 



KXOK Seeking Sales OK 



WEEK Pacts AFRA 

Peoria, Aug. 24. 
WEEK, local affiliate of NBC, has 



Cleveland, Aug. 24. 
Paul Brown, pro gridders* coach 
i and general manager of Cleveland 
; Browns -team, is doubling on the 
j air as commentator In "Inside 
, Football" fall series over WGAR 

On Sister Station KFRUjff^ 

St. Louis, Aug. 24. I in the g} 30 P- m - slot, set up last 
The St. Louis Star-Times Pub- week through Lang, Fisher & 
lishing Co., owner and operator of , Stashower agency. ,, 
KXOK and KFRU, the latter at 1 Besides dishing up the lowdown 
Columbia, Mo., is seeking the ' on the pigskin season, Brown in- 
greenlight from the FCC to sell the terviews star players and coaches 
latter station. Outstanding stock in the Ail-American Football Con- 
would be transferred to H. J. ferencc. Bob Neal will handle the 
Waters. Jr., president of the j play-by-play reports in assisting 



signed a new staff contract with I Columbia, Mo., Tribune Publishing j him in coverage of games Preced 
the American Federation of Radio j Co., and Mahlon R. Aldridge, Jr., ing them, Van Patrick will handle 
Artists. j station manager for $85,000. I 15-minute sideline interviews for 

Pact calls for union shop and i KFRU has been on the air since WGAR, with Fisher Grocery Stores 
provides for wage raises. I March, 1925. , sponsoring. 



g&nejgf, August 35, 




Not Displaced Persons— but Divorced People-are the subject of an hour-long 
drama document, "Marriage In Distress," to be heard on the NBC Network 
Wednesday, September 1, from 8 to 9 p. m. N. Y. T. 

What has happened to the American family circle during the past 75 years? 
Why has the divorce rate risen 2,000 per cent? 

In 1890 there was one divorce for every 16 marriages— why, today, is tliere 
one divorce for every three marriages ? 

What happens to the displaced children of divorced people ? 

How important is sex in marriage? 

Has modern business, by removing production of food, clothing and other 
essentials from the home, brought about the break in the family circle ? 

These are only a few of the questions to be investigated in "Marriage 
In Distress." Every married person, every divorced person, every person who 
hopes to be married and every married person who is looking" longingly 
to the divorce courts will want to hear this program, speaking out fearlessly 
on the problems of Marriage — 1948. 

This special broadcast highlights the importance and timeliness of NBC's 
several weekly series programs of Public Affairs and Education. Each Sunday 
afternoon, "Living 1948" documents in Vital drama form such subjects as, 
"Freedom is a Home-made Thing," "As Europe Sees Us," "Mental Health of the 
Nation" and "Wisdom in the Streets." The American Institute of Public 
Opinion and its director, Dr. George Gallup, co-operate with NBC in the 
over -all planning of the series and in certain phases of research. Dr. Gallup 
himself appears on those programs where his publicly polled facts and 
figures aid in understanding the subject under discussion. 

Planned with a purpose, aimed at a goal, NBC's programs of Public Affairs and 
Education seek to serve, inform and awaken public interest— to do this 
consistently week after week, year in and year out. 



broadcast Wednesday, September 1, from 8-9 p. m. N. Y. T. by the National Broadcasting Company 
mm ®® America's No. 1 Network ... a service of Radio Corporation of Am 



so 



TELEVISION 



Wedhedaj, Aligns! 25. 19i3 



'Celluloid Network' Idea Spreading; 
May Lead to AM Web Setup Discard 



Apparently unwilling to wait for* 
coast-to-coast networking to give it 
nationwide coverage, television has 
come up within the last several 
weeks with a shortcut. New idea is 
based on the rapidly-growing use 
of film and kinescope recordings of 
* live shows, which permits a spon- 
sor to air his program, if he so 
desires, on at least one station in 
all 21 cities from coast to coast 
that now sport TV, 

It's believed that this intensified 
use of the so-called "celluloid net- 
Works" may conceivably lead to 
the discarding of the network idea 
v, as it's now known in radio. Fact 
that a sponsor can choose his own 
string of stations and thus ease 
himself of much of the trouble of 
dealing" with established networks 
could conceivably mean there 
would be little function left for the 
established webs to assume. Net- 
work execs, however, knock down 
this theory on the assumption that 
tele shows are still best when 
they're aired live to give them that 
inherent sense of spontaneity. 
Thus, when the coaxial cable is 
extended from coast-to-coast, it 
will be controlled by the webs, so 
that sponsors will come to them 
just as they've done in radio. 

Nets, in fact, are so confident of 
their position that they're cooper- 
ating with sponsors in every way 
possible by arranging to sell kine 
recordings of their shows to sta- 
tions in other cities with whom 
they're not even affiliated. In addi- 
tion, the nets are using the film 
transcriptions as further lures to 
sign on indie stations as affiliates, 
since the system assures them of 
(Continued on page 34) 



Chi Pro Gridders Unsold 
On TV Yet; Rockets Inked 

Chicago, Aug. 24. 

WBKB has signed the Chicago 
Rockets for exclusive telecasting j 
but two other pro grid teams here 
— the Bears and Cardinals — haven't 
been wrapped up. Deals have) 
snagged because of high costs and 
the fact that team owners aren't, 
completely sold on tele as a boon 
to the b.o. 

ABC meanwhile may scout prep 
grid teams as possible fare for 
"WENR-TV, which bows Sept.. 17. 
Highschoolers have been given the 
go-by so far but as college and pi - o 
availabilities diminish, it's ex- 
pected they'll begin to hit local 
tele screens. 



Jordan Bows Out 

NBC director of mobile 
operations Noel Jordan bows 
out of the network following 
his supervision of the telecast 
on board a Navy aircraft car- 
rier Sunday (29). He and his 
wife leave for Denver because 
of illness in family. 

Jordan's new home will be 
one of the few key cities re- 
maining in the U. S. without a 
television station so his return 
to TV work is indefinite. His 
successor at NBC hasn't yet 
been named. 



U.S. Video Sets Now 484,350 

Television sets in the U. S. numbered 484,350 as of Aug. 1. repre- 
senting an increase of 64,350 sets over the July figure. Compi ed by the 
NBC research bureau under the supervision of Hugh M, Bevillc Jr 7 the 
total comprises those for 33 operating stations in 21 cities, plus those in 
five other cities where stations are expected to take the air within the 
next month or so. Three new stations, WSB-TV in Atlanta, WJZ-TV 

! in New York and WSPD-TV in Toledo, have begun operation since the 

I July survey was made. Total of 243,200 sets in the metropolitan N. Y. 

i area is still more than four times that in Philadelphia, the No. 2 tele 

! city. 

i Following is the city-by-city breakdown: 



NBC Documentary 
Growth Seen hi 
Carrier Program 



NBC. which only last week 
nounced an expansion of its radio j Cincinnati 1 



No. of 

City Stations 

New York 6 

Philadelphia X 

Chicago ... 2 

Eos Angeles 2 

Washington 3 

Baltimore 2 

Boston 2 - 

Detroit 1 

St. Louis 1 

Schenectady I 

Cleveland , 1 

St. Paul 1 

Milwaukee 1 

New Haven 1 



Credit Ban May 
Cut TV Sales 25% 

Television set sales, which have 
been booming steadily for the- last 
year, may strike an imposing, snag 
when the Government reimposes. 
its eredif controls on many install- 
ment purchases Sept. 20. Consen- 
sus among leading TV set manu- 
facturers is that the curbs will 
cut installment sales of receivers 
about 25</c, while a roundup of de- 
partment stores reveals that at 
least 50% of all sets bought now 
are purchased on the installment 
plan. 

Government order, which fol- 
lows wartime regulations, will re- 
quire downpayments on all house- 
hold appliances, including tele 
sets, of at least 20%. Most strong- 
ly hit, therefore, will be those 
stores which have been offering 
sets for as little as $3 down and 
$3 per week. Others have re- 
quired a 10-15% downpayment 
which will also be outlawed. 

Despite the comparatively high 
cost of TV receivers, it's long been 
an established fact that the major- 
ity of sets are bought by families 
in the middle-income brackets. 
Since few of these can shell out 
the $15O-$2,50O price of a TV set, 
most have been buying on install- 
ments. Surprisingly large number 
of sets, moreover, have been 
bought by low-income families. 
It's the latter group which is ex- 
pected to be. hit most by the new 
Government regulations. 



M'waukee Brewers Set 
Record Attendance 
Using TV for 1st Time 

Milwaukee, Aug. 24. 
Pointing up the belief that tele- 
vision will boost, rather than cut 
into gate receipts at sports events, 
Milwaukee Brewers of the Ameri- 
can Assn. have already topped the 
alltime attendance record for- 77 
home games, despite the fact that 
the entire- season's schedule is be- 
ing telecast for the first time this 
year by WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee 
Journal video outlet. 

Last winter WTMJ-TV began 
broadcasting weekly wrestling 
shows and attendance subsequent- 
ly doubled. Results in Milwaukee 
| are in line with findings of a sur- 
vey conducted recently by Hofstra 
College, Hempstead, L. I., which 
revealed that sports was the only 
outside activity that hadn't suf- 
fered a'- dropoff' in attendance 
among families owning TV sets. 

WTMJ-TV, meanwhile, set its 
| own record for number of remote 
pickups Aug. 8-14, when it carried 

19 different remote shows totaling 

20 hours. 



CROSLEY NAMES TERRY 
AS VEEPEE OVER VIDEO 

Cincinnati, Aug. 24. 
Marshall M. Terry was*appointed 
vice-president in charge of televi- 

8lon activities of the Crosley Broad- 
casting Corp. yesterday (Mon.k 
James B. Hill was appointed sales 
manager of WLW-TV, Crosley tele- 
vision outlet in Cincinnati, at same 
time, and a shift in duties of Jack 
M. Zinselmeier and David E. Part- 
ridge was made. 

Terry, previously was vice-presi- 
dent in charge of promotional ac- 
tivities for WLW. Merchandising 
responsibilities of his recent post 
will be taken over by Zinselmeier. 
Partridge, WLW sales promotion 
manager who previously reported 
to Terry, will be responsible 
directly to the general manager's 
*ffice. Terry's administrative du- 

, ties will include the overall opera- 
tion .of WLW-T; WLW-D, Dayton, 
»Ud WLW-C, Columbus. 



2 PA. FIRMS IN 1ST 
TIME-SHARING BID 

Easton, Pa., Aug. 24. 
The first time-sharing proposal 
by two applicants for TV licenses 
has been filed with the FCC by the 
Easton Publishing Co., of Easton, 
Pa., and Lehigh Valley Broadcast- 
ing Co., of Allentown, Pa. 

Under the proposal, the Easton 
firm, which publishes the Easton 
Express, a daily, and owns WEEX- 
FM, and Lehigh company, which 
operates WSAN and WSAN-FM in 
Allentown, would telecast on alter- 
nate dates, each from its own 
studio and transmitter. 
Although time-sharing, was. com- 
i mon in early days of radio- this is- 
first time' it has ever been proposed 
in television. • ... 

■■'•The proposal" grew out of the 
fact that only one television chan- 
nel is presently available to the' 
Lehigh Valley area, 1 which encom- 
passes cities such as Allentown, 
Bethlehem and Easton, and Phil- 
lipsburg in New Jersey, with a total 
population of about 600,000. Other 
applicants for the channel are 
Philco Radio Corp., Penn-AUen 
Broadcasting Co. and 



documentaries, doesn't plan to re- 
main at the post when it comes to 
television. Web is currently plan- 
ning a full-scale expansion of its 
TV documentary work, based on 
devising formulas for the best-pos- 
sible presentation of news, special 
events and documentary shows, 
! such as the upcoming telecast Sun- 
day (29) from a U. S. aircraft 
I carrier 35 miles off the N. Y. coast. 

Tied in with the documentary 
expansion is a closer integration of 
the NBC newsroom with the TV 
department. Idea was tested and 
found successful during the NBC- 
Life magazine coverage of the re- 
cent political conventions and NBC 
plans to make full use of its top 
newsroom staffers henceforth in 
the preparation and production of 
all documentaries. Newsroom has 
already been assigned production 
of the NBC-TV newsreel, which has 
been produced, since last March by 
Jerry Fairbanks under his pact for 
exclusive TV film work with NBC. 

Web staged one of the first im- 
portant tele " documentaries last 
year with a two-hour telecast from 
a Navy submarine off the Brook- 
lyn Navy Yard and hopes to repeat 
the success of that show with the 
telecast from the carrier, scheduled 
for 3 p.m. Sunday. Participating in 
the hour-long ^show will be the USS 
Leyte and its full complement of 
aircraft, which is to go through 
mock battle maneuvers under the 
command of Capt. Charles F. Coe. 
Transmitter will be installed in one 
of the ship's radar fire control in- 
struments, which will keep the 
microwave beam to shore steadily 
aimed at the receiving point. 

Eighteen technicians, manning 
four cameras, are to board the 
■carrier for the show, which is be- 
ing conducted jointly by NBC and 
the Navy. 



Buffalo 1 

Toledo 1 

Richmond 1 

Atlanta 1 

Salt Lake City 1 



Sub-total 33 



No. of 
Sets 
243,200 
55,100 
33,700 
27,200 
15,500 
13,700 
12,900 
12,300 
8,700 
7,400 
7,000 
5,«00 
5,000 
4,800 
4,200 
3,800 
1,800 
1,600 
800 
' 600 

464,900 



Increase Over 
July Total 

28,200 
5.700 
2.000 
1.200 - 
1.750 
1.200 
4,800 
3,000 

600 

400 
1.400 

400 

200 
2,300 

100 

700 

700 

100 

800 

100 



Dayton 

Indianapolis 
Louisville . . 

Peoria 

Others .... 



OTHER CITIES 

300 
. 200 

500 
.. 1,100 
16,650 



TOTAL 



484,350 



55,650 

200 
200 
200 
1.100 
7,200 

64,350 



Telecasters Inc., latter two of Al- 
lentown. 

Hearings on the applications will 
be held by the FCC beginning 
Sept, 13 in Allentown and contin- 
uing in Bethlehem and Easton. 



KTSL Grabs 3 Sponsors, 
Two Going for Packages 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 
KTSL, Hollywood television but- 
let for Mutual-Don Lee net, signed 
its first three commercial programs 
last week. Stokey and Ebert Tele- 
vision. Enterprises have packaged 
two of the programs which are be- 
ing sponsored by .L. K. Ward and 
Philco Freezers and L. K. Ward 
and dibsp'n \ Refrigerators. Third 
teleshdt is the -"-''Original Amateur 
Hour", '.presented by • Old Gold 
cigarettes, 

Stokey-Ebert packages, "Philco 
Players" and "Prime Ribbing," 
have been signed for 13 weeks. 
Twenty-minute TV-shows will be 
presented on Tuesday and Thurs- 
Tri-Citv ■ c,a y nights, starting tonight (Tue.) 

. . f Initial tola/)4L-t e\f "Dl^irfli'p " 



Kintner Elected to TBA 
Board, Vice Bingley; 
4 Chairmen to Huddle 

ABC exec veepee Robert E. 
Kintner last week was elected to 
the board of the Television Broad- 
casters Assn. He succeeds F. J. 
Bingley, former Philco exec, who 
is now chief tele engineer for Bam- 
berger Broadcasting. Kintner's 
term runs until TBA's annual meet 
in January. 

TBA board also named four act- 
ing chairmen to organize the four 
regional committees recently cre- 
ated to expand the organization's 
activities on a national basis. Head- 
ing up the eastern committee is 
Neil H. Swanson, WMAR-TV (Bal- 
timore) ; midwestern region, Wal- 
ter Damm, of WTMJ-TV (Milwau- 
kee); southern region, Charles 
Crutchfield, WBT (Charlotte), and 
western region, Klaus Landsberg, 
KTLA (Los Angeles). 

TBA prez J. R. Poppele an- 
nounced that the four acting chair- 
men would huddle in N. Y. early 
next month to draw up an agenda 
for the initial regional meets, for 
which organization is slated to 
start during October and early No- 
vember. All-out membership drive 
to coincide with formation of the 
regional committees is being 
planned. 



TELEVISION FUND SETS 
STOCK LET WITH SEC 



TBA, NAB Merger 
Appears Remote 

Television Broadcasters Assn. 
last week accepted an invitation of 
the National Assn. of Broadcasters 
for joint huddles on future TV 
industry needs, but the possibility 
of a merger of the two groups is 
reportedly more remote than ever. 

It's believed there's a definite 
need for an organization to deal 
with the problems of tele exclu- 
sively. §ihce TBA was first set up 
to handle that operation, the job 
would naturally fall to it. Fact that 
at least 75% of the NAB member- 
ship represent AM Interests only 
would also militate against a merg- 
er, since the AM'ers could be ex- 
pected to squawk if NAB attempted 
to devote too much time and 
money to TV. 

Appointed to the TBA commit- 
tee which is to huddle with NAB 
are TBA prexy J. R. Poppele; Du- 
Mont tele director Lawrence Phil- 
lips; G. Emerson Markham, sta- 
tion- manager of General Electric, 
and Will Baltin, TBA secretary- 
treasurer. Meanwhile, Harrv Ban- 
nister, WWJ-TV (Detroit) topper, 
was named chairman of NAB's tele 
advisory committee, -appointed 
Aug. 6 by NAB prez Justin Miller 
to probe into TV, Bannister is also 
:to serve as chairman of NAB's 
i three-man liaison committee, suc- 
ceeding Walter Damm of WTMJ- 
|TV (Milwaukee). Other members 
| of the NAB liaison group, which 
will meet with the TBA committee, 
'are Clair McCoullough, WGAL 
| (Lancaster, Pa.), and NAB exec 
veepee A. D. Willard, Jr. 



Initial telecast of "Players," a 
j dramatic series, is titled "The Last 
Orchid," . by Inez Asher. Tom 
Brown will star in and direct the 
program which Stokey and Ebert 
are producing. "Ribbing," which 




Chicago, Aug. 24. 
Television Fund, Inc., first open- ! 
end investment company to spe- i 
cialize in radio, tele and elec- j 

tronics securities, has completed } vtnn u •• n* l 
registration of 4,987,500 shares of I'LL MaKCS Dil i lUan^S 

common stock with the Securities »»P»"5° 
and Exchange Commission. Firm 
was incorporated in Delaware last 

May. 

I Officers are Chester D. Tripp, 
| prez; William P. Pope, veepee; 
I Russell H. Matthias, sec.-treas., 
j and Vernon A. Forsberg, asst. sec- I ',. 

treas. Directors include Charles , n '? start experimental commer- 
D. James and Herbert H. Taylor | cial , vldeo operations on a six hour 
in addition to Pope, Tripp and < we * kIy schedule. 
Matthias I Commission has eased its ruling 

Principal underwriter is Televi- \{f »?« 
siou Shares Management Co., | & {XBffiKS 



Easier for LA/s KFI-TV 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 
> FCC, which minimizes telecast- 
ing time for new stations, has re- 
lented on its rules in the case of 
indie KFI-TV. FCC is allowing sta- 



(26), is a. quiz .program. Mike 
Stokey is still handling his "Pan- 
tomine Quiz Time" over Para- 
mount's KTLA once weekly. Pro- 
gram is now on sustaining as Gen- 
Herrscbner Needle Crafts, Inc.. | e ral Electric, sponsors, didn't re- 
has signed for a 15-minute Tuesday j new contract which ran out, three 
seg of "Woman's World,'- starting | weeks ag0 

Oct. 5. Deal was direct with ■ 

WBKB, Chicago. . 

Cycloid Micromatic Reel (Cycloid ; Fort Worth — Robert Gould has 
Corp.) using minute films in front joined the staff of WBAP-TV as 

here 
here 



airs for the first time Thursday headed by Robert D • Mjchels, with stafE 6 and o ne W 'compleTely new to 



of sports shows and events on 
WGN-TV, Chicago, through Ben- 
nett, Petesch & O'Connor agency. 



chief producer. He comes 
from WRGB, Schenectac'- ■ 
he has been since 1939. 



Paul A Just as exec veepee 

Hub't l»t Football TV 

Boston, Aug, 24. 

First football game telecast out 
of Hub was given this, week with 
WNAC-TV on channel 7 beaming 
game between the N. Y. Yankees 
and Brooklyn Dodgers. 

Lester Smith, Hub sportscaster, 
handled the assignment for the 
first All America Conference 
team game in the city. 



the TV medium. 

KFI will telecast on Wednesday, 
Friday and Sunday, staying on two 
j hours per day. When station com- 
| mences its 12 hour operation Oct. 
7, there will be a formal opening. 

C. G. Alexander, business man- 
ager of the WNBT (NBC, N. Y.) 
program department, is resigning 
eftcctive Sept. 10. Replacement 
hasnt been set. Alexander,' who's 
been with NBC's tele department 
11 of his 13 years wilh the web, 
has no definite future plans. 



Wednesday, August 25, 1948 



TELEVISION 



SI 



WOR, N.Y., INTO FILM BUSINESS 



WNBT Hikes Rates 33 1/3% as Against 
Concurrent N.Y. Set Increase of 67% 



First indication that television* 
time rates won't attempt to keep 
up with the steady increase in set 
circulation was furnished this week 
by a new rate card instituted by 
WNBT, NBC's flagship video sta- 
tion in N. Y. While the number of 
TV sets in Greater N. Y. will have 
Increased an estimated 67% by 
Oct. 1 (date the new rates take ef- 
fect) over April 1, when the cur- 
rent rate was set, the new base 
hourly evening rate is $1,000, an 
increase of only 33Ms% over the 
current rate of $750. 

New increase is included in pro- 
gram time charges, formerly re- 
ferred to by WNBT as its trans- 
mitter charge. Studio facilities 
charge remains the same, at $1,000 
per hour. Where a one-hour show 
done live in the studio presently 
costs $1,750 per hour, consequent- 
ly, the new rate will be $2,000 per 
hour. Rate includes the current 
grant of five hours of free camera 
rehearsal time for each hour of 
studio time purchased. Discounts, 
ranging from on a shffw 

aired 26-38 times, to 20% for 208 
times or more, are also included. 

New rate card, complete to the 
last detail, is believed to be the 
first ' "full - disclosure" card re- 
leased by any station. Drawn up 
by James V. McConnell,. NBC na- 
tional spot sales director and 
WNBT sales chief, it includes info 
on program production and serv- 
ices, personnel and. equipment 
offered for live and film studi6 pro- 
ductions; contract requirements 
and discounts, as well as time 
rates, live and film studio usage 
rates and announcement charges. 

McConnell hopes the inclusion 
of all these details will help the 
station sell time on its own merits 
by making things as easy as pos- 
sible for agency time-buyers and 
sponsors. If successful, the card is 
expected to set a pattern for the 
entire industry. 



WEWSSnarledBy 
IATSE Confab 



Cleveland, Aug. 24. 
Presence of the 39th biennial 
convention of the International 
Alliance of Theatrical Stage Em- 
ployees in this city last week 
threw a hitch into plans by WEWS, 
Scripps-Howard tele station, for 
airing the finale of the "Miss Ohio" 
beauty contest from the Music 
Hall. 

Scheduled for more than two 
rronths, the telecast was to start 
at 6:30 last Thursday night.- At 
6:10, according to the station's ex- 
ecs, WEWS was advised by Wil- 
liam Finegan, prez of the Cleve- 
land Federation of Labor, and 
John D. Fitzgerald, head of Local 
27, Cleveland stage employees, 
that the Music Hall stagehands re- 
fused to work because no WEWS 
staffer "carries a card." 

Finegan, according to J: Harri- 
son Hartley, WEWS news director, 
told Hartley: "I can't let this go 
on with this convention in ' prog- 
ress." 'Referring to the LATSE 
confab.) 

The telecast was cancelled and 
the contest" finale was started. 
WEWS newsreel cameramen tried 
to film the proceedings, but had 
to stop that too. Finegan threat- 
ened to "pull the lights" if they 
didn't. 



Cantor's TV Plans 

In line with the new trend 
towards films for television, 
Eddie Cantor revealed plans in 
N. Y. over the weekend to tee 
off his own telefilm production 
in the near future. According 
to Cantor, benefits to come- 
dians in using film are many, 
including the advantages of be- 
ing better able to time gags, as 
well as the possibility of edit- 
ing, intersplicing, etc. He said 
his productions may be bank- 
rolled by Pabst Brewing, his 
radio sponsor, to plug Hoffman 
Beverages. 

Jack Benny, meanwhile, is 
also reported thinking of going 
into telefilm production for the 
same reasons as Cantor, when 
he returns from Europe next 
Monday ( 30 ) . Benny still has 
two more years under his AM 
contract with American Tobac- 
co but is definitely thinking of 
ways to e iter the tele picture. 



Ford's Fall Dip 
Into TV Via 3 
'Theatre Shows 



Ford is dipping into television 
this fall with three experimental, 
hour-long versions of the "Ford 
Theatre." Network, day, time, etc., 
are yet to be decided. Initialer 
will be done in October, with sec- 
ond presentation to follow in No- 
vember and the third in December. 
Presentations also are being blue- 
printed for 1949. 

Outstanding Broadway plays of 
recent years will be utilized, ac- 
cording to Kenyon & Eckhardt, 
Ford's agency. The TV "Theatre" 
will definitely be neither a simul- 
taneous airing of the CBS AM pro- 
gram nor a reprise of any of the 
radio stanzas. Different directors, 
writers and cast will be employed 
for the video version. (AM show 
returns to the air Oct. 8.) 

Bob Wolfe, head of K&E's Hol- 
lywood office, arrived in New York 
yesterday (Tues.) for huddles on 
the project, Inasmuch as the TV 
programs will feature some Holly- 
wood stars. 

Wellknown legit and film direc- 
tors, will be assigned to the show. 

Ford has been one of the early 
big spenders in TV sports cover- 
age, but this is the auto outfit's 
first plunge into bankrolling of 
drama on video. 




TV 

PIX TO BE SHOT 

WOB, N. Y., which has television 
stations building in New York and 
Washington, and already operates 
an artists' bureau and recording 
studios as sidelines, is going into 
the film business, too. The Mutual 
key station will begin shooting at 
20th-Fox studios in Manhattan to- 
morrow iThurs.) on the first of a 
30-minute TV film series featur- 
ing Samuel R. Zack's "Labor Ar- 
bitration" radio show. Additional 
picture series are blueprinted for 
1949 production. Film production 
unit is the first to' be set up by a 
radio station. 

While the films will be shot es- 
pecially for television and will be 
syndicated to TV stations outside 
N. Y. and Washington, the pictures 
will be packaged by WOR also for 
non-theatrical uses, including over- 
the-counter sale as 16m two-reel- 
ers. Non-theatrical rights have al- 
ready been sold, although to whom 
isn't disclosed. 

Active supervision of the whole 
WOR film project is under Norman 
Livingston', station program exec, 
who owned and operated an indie 
outfit, Associated Film Producers,- 
turning out industrial and' theatri- 
cal pix in N. Y., before he went 
Jnto radio. (WOR prexy Theodore 
C. Streibert also has had film ex- 
perience, having been with RKO.) 

At what rate WOR will produce 
films hasn't been determined, but 
it will have facilities, under pres- 
ent arrangements, {or packaging 
up to 104 half-hour pictures per 
year. -"Livingston expects to have 
a print of the initialer within 10 
days and to begin distribution next 
month of screening prints of two 
"Labor Arbitration" sequences to 
TV stations throughout the coun- 
try. 

Radio Outlets, Too 

As an additional facet of the 
project, some of the series — includ- 
ing the arbitration sessions — which 
are satisfactory for listening with- 
out viewing, will.be plattered from 
the sound track by WOR Record- 
ing and made available to radio 
stations. 

No moie than 26 sequences per 
year will be made on any oncsub- 
ject, belief being that most of the 
(Continued on page 34) 



Parker Seeking U.S: TV 
Rights for British Pix 

London, Aug. 24. 
Al Parker, theatrical talent rep 
whose clients include James 
Mason, is negotiating for U. S. 
television rlghfs to feature films of 
independent British producers. He 
hopes to offer most of these pix to 
American TV stations at bargain 
vates. 

List of availabilities is expected 
to include some films Mason has 
made for indies. 



DUMONT'S NEW METHOD 
USED IN 'COURT' CASE 

DuMont television, demonstrat- 
ing again the advantages to be 
found in its teletranscription meth- 
od, used the system this week for 
a delayed broadcast of its "Court 
of Current Issues" show to avoid 
conflict with a night baseball game. 

Last Monday's (23) session of 
"Court," which delved into the 
problem of radio giveaway shows, 
was aired by all stations on the 
DuMont web except WABD 
(N. Y), which carried the Yankee- 
White Sox game from Yankee sta- 
dium, N. Y. "Court" was done live 
in the WABD studios and tran- 
scribed on film for presentation 
next Sunday (29) night from 8 
to 9. 



New TV Info Setup 

George F. Dempsey heads a new 
American Television Guild setup 
in, N. Y. "to promote the under- 
standing and appreciation" of TV 
and to act as a clearing house for 
info and personnel for video. 

Others in the setup include Hugh 
Robertson as veepee, Katherine 
Rosser as secretary and Harold 
Singer as treasurer. 



Name Larry Puck 
ABC Talent Buyer 

Larry Puck, executive producer 
of the American Broadcasting 
Company's television programs, has 
just been made the official buyer 
of all ABC-TV talent. His veteran 
vaudeville background makes him 
a natural for the post. 

Incidentally, Puck is of the 
opinion that good video directors 
won't develop for another two. 
years. It just takes a lot of experi- 
ence and a natural aptitude to 
know the high spots of acts, where 
to take the applause at the peak, 
etc. It was demonstrated to him 
at ABC's lavish vaudeo inaugural 
program of Palace-type headliners, 
and the trade, of course, saw how 
the cameras frequently missed the 
action where it Was at its best and 
segued into other angles, away 
from the most effective happen- 
ings. 

On the subject of the Palace, 
Puck was o.o.ing the old RKO 
vaudeville books with Arthur Willi, 
now RKO Pictures' talent scout In 
the east, and saw some amazing 
salaries such as Jack Benny at 
$275; Burns & Allen, $350; Bill 
Robinson, $275; Adler, Weil & Her- 
man (later the Yacht Club Boys), 
$750, etc. Puck didn't want to note 
their old vaudeville salaries as 
' much as a refresher of some of the 
: standards who played the Palace, 
i Big time bills, in those days, 
averaged $8,000-$>10,000. Willi 
pointed out that when the RKO 
,Albce, Brooklyn, debuted with a 
i super-vaudeshow the talent nut 
iwas only $11,000. 



Chi Network Tele May lake Its Bow 
At Same Time as Preem of WENR-TV 



Exceptional Case 

There's one current labor 
dispute which WOR-TV's 
(N. Y.) telefilm series of Sam- 
uel Zach's "Labor > Arbitration" 
program won't tackle. 

The ABC-IATSE jurisdiction- 
al case — slated for hearing 
today (Wed.) in N. Y. federal 
court — is, as one WOR'ite put 
it, "just a little too close to 
home." 



Sp 



orts Scramble 
Pointed UpBy 
Tennis Deal 



Pointing up the mad scramble 
for television rights to major sports 
events in the N, Y. area, DuMont 
last week grabbed off the Forest 
Hills national tennis champion- 
ships from under the nose of NBC, 
which has televised the matches 
for the last several years. DuMont 
is currently seouting for a sponsor 
for the tourney, which runs from 
Sept. 10-19. 

NBC-TV, meanwhile, has signed 
to pick up the Davis Cup tourney 
from Forest Hills Sept. 4, thereby 
repeating Its last year's stint. Web 
is looking for a sponsor for the one- 
day event, same as DuMont. 

With only CBS, DuMont and 
NBC stations operating in N. Y. 
last year, the sports picture was a 
fairly cut-and-dried affair, since 
there were plenty of major events 
to go around and keep everybody 
happy. Three more stations have 
taken the air during the last six 
months, including WATV (Bremer 
Broadcasting, Newark), WPIX 
(N.Y. Daily -News) and WJZ-TV 
(ABC). As a result, bidding on 
TV rights to sports affairs is get- 
ting rapidly hotter, with the new- 
comers already making a strong 
showing against their older com- 
petitors. ' 

For the tennis tournament, Du- 
Mont is offering a package includ- 
ing exclusive TV rights, remote 
pickup from Forest Hills, full 
simultaneous network rights, as 
well as rights to teletranscribe any 
or all matches for syndication to 
other stations throughout the 
country. This year's tourney is 
being held in conjunction with 
Forest Hills' West Side Tennis 
Club's 25th anni, so that special 
pageantry is being planned to lend 
color to the affair. 



* Chicago, Aug. 24. 

| As a stunt for the teeoff o£ 
| WENR-TV Sept. 17 there's ah out- 
i side chance that ABC might make 
I first use of the Buffalo, Cleveland, 
'Toledo and Chicago co-ax line 
now nearing completion. If so, it 
would mark the bow of network 
tele in these parts and put ABC 
in prime position for wrapping up 
groundfloor deals. 

Co-ax line originally was set 
for October completion but tele- 
phone engineers have- managed to 
advance the date' to Sept.' 20. Some 
ABC tele experts believe that it's 
not impossible to clip off an addi- 
tional three days so that the debut 
of network co-ax and WENR-TV 
'would be simultaneous. 

Engineers, however, are inclined 
to think that Sept, 20 is a firm 
date that can't be bettered. 

Regardless of whether co-ax .is 
available by Sept. 17, ABC is ne- 
gotiating pacts to supply shows to 
any or all stations on the line.'The 
stations are WBEN-TV; Buffalo; 
WEWS, Cleveland; WSPD-TV, 
Toledo; WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee; and 
KSD-TV, St. Louis. . WBENrTV,- 
WSPD-TV and WTMJ7TV are NBC 
affiliates. .... 

NBC's midwest tele net tees off 
Sept. 20 with six stations linked via 
co-ax and microwave relay. Sta- 
tions- are WBEN-TV; WNBK, 
Cleveland; WSPD-TV; WTMJ'TV; 
WWJ-TV, Detroit, and KSD-TV. 

Programming at outset will total 
minimum of 12 hours weekly, with 
St. Louis and Detroit as main orig- 
ination points. WNBQ, NBC's Chi 
station set for late December de- 
but, wiR become flagship of mid- 
west network. Points linked by . 
relay are Milwaukee and Chicago/ 
Detroit and Toledo. Others aire 
co-ax spliced;. Joining of NBC 
midwest and eastern nets skedded 
for Jan. 1. 

WENR-TV will telecast 29 hours 
weekly, with 32 live programs ac- 
counting for more than 50% of all 
program f are. Opening night show 
will run 245 minutes, including 
two 15-minute films of "Candid 
Microphone" and "Bride and 
Groom," which are currently oft 
the net's AM sked* Hour-long 
variety rhow may be emceed by 
Danny Thomas. 

Deal to lease the Civic Opera 
theatre for ABC tele and radio, 
shows was inked last week. . Net 
i'P to this time has rented studio 
space from NBC in the Mer- 
chandise Mart. 



PUBLISHER CHANDLER 
HEADS Li. KTTV SETUP 

Hollywood, Aug. 24.- 
Norman Chandler, prexy of Los 
Angeles Times, has been elected 
president of KTTV, Inc., CBS- 
Times-Mirror . Co. television sta- 
tion. Corporation members, at 
organization meeting, also elected 
D. W. Thornburgh, exec, veepee; 
Harry Bowers, treasurer and Ned 
Marr, secretary. 

Board of directors will consists 
of Phillip Chandler, Harrison 
Chandler, Norman Chandler and 
Omar Johnson, representing the 
Times-Mirror, and Frank Stanton, 
Thornburgh- "and Marr repping 
CBS. 



Carmen Plans 3-Tongne 
Telepix in Brazil 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 

Carmen Miranda is planning a 
series of tri-lihgual telepix when 
she goes to Brazil late this year. 
Her husband, Dave Sebastian, just 
completed a survey of South 
America which, he says, discloses 
video beginning to take hold there. 

Films will be in Spanish, Eng- 
lish and Portuguese. 



55 Com! Accounts 
Claimed by WPTZ 

Philadelphia, Aug, 24. 

With the announcement of the 
installation of a new $87,000 trans- 
mitter, WPTZ, NBC-TV outlet, 
laid claim to the largest number 
of television accounts in the U.S. 

WPTZ leads the field ift -Phil- 
adelphia with a total of „S5 com- 
mercial accounts. Although (here 
are fewer receivers in, philly than 
in New York, the three local sta- 
tions have more commercial ac- 
counts than the four outlets in 
Manhattan. * 

Of the 16 commercial network 
programs televised in this city; 12 
are seen on WPTZ. The new 
transmitter, which will be in- 
stalled in September, promises im- 
proved quality and better cover- 
age for the station. 

For direct sales results, televi- 
sion is rated tops here. Davis 
iBuick, which co-sponsors the A's 
' and Phillies games over WPTZ, 
credits more than 600 new ac- 
counts to the telecasts. 



DuMont Tower to Top DC 

Washington, Aug. 24. 

DuMont's local tele outlet 
WTTG, will construct the highest 
tele tower in the metropolitan 
Washington area. 

Construction at a new site in 
Arlington county, Va., will com- 
mence within the next six weeks. 



32 



TKLKVISIOX REVIEWS 



Weilneday, August 25,- 1948 



CRITIC-AT-LARGE 

With John Mason Brown; Brock 
Pemberton, Richard Maney. Marc 
Connelly, Russell Maloney; Wal- 
ter HeHlhy, announcer 

Producer: Ralph Warren 

30 Mins., Wed., 7:45 p.m. 

Sustaining 

\w TV from N. i* 

John Mason Brown's informal 
living-room discussion of the arts 
including books, theatre, radio 
and newspaper— is a good show. 
It's appeal may be a bit limited, 
bv its very nature and type of 
euests to the intelligentsia or 
literati, but within its scope it s 
good tele. Premiere show Wed- 
nesday US), which discussed drama 
criticism, was animated, contro- 
versial, witty and entertaining. It 
will find its audience and amuse 
them. 

Show had its faults. There was 
a fuzzy quality on the screen, and 
ocS.al inaudibility from the 
Darticipants. Brown, who makes a 
witty! literate emcee, talks too fast 
in tne stress of getting h{f ."^as. 
into phrases, and also talked too 
much, not giving his guests enough 
time for comment on their own. 

Wednesday's show was enter- 
taining, because while it discussed 
the general subject of criticism in 
the theatre (which was interest- 
ing enough), it slipped happily out 
of hand frequently into personali- 
ties, with the guests laying about 
with a will at those most sacred of 
cows, the N. Y. drama critics. 
Frankest was pressagent Richard 
Maney, who found present-day 
drama reviewing in N; X. news- 
papers at "an all-time low, con- 
sidering the oldtime crowd of 
Percy Hammond, John Anderson 
and Gilbert Gabriel land including 
George Jean Nathan) as "giants 
compared to the "present midget 
crowd." Maney was a little incon- 
.sistent, at another time not blam- 
ing critics for the low estate of 
dramatic criticism, but rather in- 
dicting the publishers and editors, 
who "have only a mild scorn tor 
the theatre;" 

Producer Brock Pemberton said 
that 10 years ago he'd be hot and 
bothered about critics; now he 
doesn't care. "I take critics or 
leave them now," he said. I may 
never produce again— plays being 
so hard to find now— so I can 
speak freely." Pemberton felt that 
most of Broadway's critics didn t 
know their own emotions or feel- 
ings; thought the judgment of the 
N Y. Times' Brooks Atkinson 
"terrible," and singled out Kclcey 
Allen Women's Wear) for praise 
for bringing some life and wit to 
reviewing. „. . _ 

Playwright - journalist Russell 
Maloney thought the New Yorker s 
Wolcott Gibbs was in love with 
criticism, not with the theatre. In 



YOU'RE INVITED 

Starring Romo Vincent; euests, 
Norma Sfaephard, Myrna Gallo, 
Turner Twins, Stanley Burns. 
Galento & Leonardo 

Producer-director: Ralph Warren 

30 Mins.; .Won.. 9-9:30 p.m. 

Sustaining- 

ABC-TV, from N. Y. 

Romo Vincent, the rotund comic, 
paces a fair half-hour vaudeo in an 
attempted informal setting, that of 
a house party. At best it's an awk- 
ward format, and when not deftly 
staged it's inclined to be stiff if for 
no other reason than that the per- 
ipatetic emcee, in contrast to 
the sitting-around-and-waiting-to- 
get-on "guests" (talent) suffer by 
comparison. 

Vincent opens rehearsing "Some- 
times I'm Happy" (fluffing one of 
the major punchlines) and closes 
with his standard cabbie song. 
In between he ad libs something 
about an excerpt from Irving Ber- 
lin's "Easter Parade," and the 
dusky Norma Shephard, who piano- 
logs throughout, says, "Yes, you 
mean 'Put It In the Box' " (which 
is from some other Warner Bros, 
filmusical). Then come Myrna 
Galle with a semipro ballet routine 
to a Chopin Waltz: the Turner 
Twins, from No. 1 Fifth Avenue 
cafe, whom the camera angle make 
appear chubby, not helped by mis- 
fit costuming, such as that choker 
with their high-necked jackets, 
but they struggled through a fair- 
ish routine. Stanley Burns next, 
working with one, then two dum- 
mies in an* okay ventriloquial rou- 
tine, but the video lens is such as 
to defeat .any attempt at inert lip- 
movements. It was • especially no- 
ticeable with the personable Burns 
who, otherwise, does a neat stint. 
Galento & Leonardo, hailed as 
from the Shoreham,- Washington, 
manage- a mild' ballroom routine 
of little distinction to "Moonlight 
Sonata," working in the parlor set, 
and qualifying just about that— 
parlor entertainment, although 
they've been around in the hotel 
circuits, etc. 1 

The staging and production is 



KIFRNAN'S CORNER 
With Walter Kiernan 
Producer-Director: Marshall Diskin 
30 Mins.; Mon., 8 p.m. 
.Sustaining 

ABC-TV, from N. Y. 

Walter Kiernan, one of the more 
capable adlibbers in radio and tele, 
preemed his latest solo stint in an 
atmosphere that would have been 
envied by N. Y. Post columnist Earl 
Wilson. Selection of the site of his 
initial telecast on his Monday night 
series was, of all places, a femme 
reducing salon. It might not have 
been the ideal selection for home 
consumption, but it must have been 
great in the bars and grills. 

There was sufficient humor in the 
camera work, and 'Kiernan, for a 
time, did a fine job of interviewing 
the femnies while all kinds of me- 
chanical gadgets rolled off pounds 
and inches. 

However, it's the kind of show 
that would have been terrific for a 
15-minute stanza. It seems that ad- 
libbing for a half hour is too much 
to demand of anyone. After a 
while, Kiernan found himself ask- 
ing the same questions of the same 
people and getting answers pre- 
viously heard. Because of the com- 
paratively small number of people 
in the room, Kiernan was forced to 
make repeat visits to each .stall. 
Show suffered because of its run- 
ning time. 

Some interesting camera angles 
were unavoidable. There were 
several Helen Hokinson types in 
the shrinking salon which could 
have been photographed with bru- 
tal effect. Fortunately, the cam- 
eraman was as gentle as possible in 
these circumstances. 

Kiernan got in a few good adlibs, 
but he wisely let the inherent hu- 
mor of the situation speak for it- 
self. Cutting this layout to a 15- 
minute session would, with all re- 
spect to Kiernan, constitute quite 
an improvement. Jose. 



who knows, perhaps greater lat- 
itudes. That's the magic of the 
along the lines of a house party au- electronic form of entertainment 



dition for a new Broadway show 
Vincent plans, and as he kudoses 
each it convinces nobody. At best, 
it's all very Fanchon & Marco. 

Which brings- up the talent cost 
problem again. As intra-trade 
knowledge it must be offered at 
this point that this 30-minute pack- 
age costs ABC around $1,000 in- 
cluding band (heard but unseen), 
etc. Acts figure around $65-$85 for 
singles, and'doubles are $110-$150. 



ever since talkers and radio 
reached full effulgence. That this 
doesn't apply, save in one instance, 
to this particular program is also 
beside the point at the moment. 
But it is apparent that quality -will 
always demand and command its 
just price. As this new video 
medium develops, this will be a 
natural evolution. 

Vincent, for example, who looks 
like Alfred Hitchcock but is as 



The emcee gets more. These are lithe as a lightweight boxer, is an 



QUIZZING THE NEWS 

With Allan Prescott, Ray Josephs, 
Arthur Q. Bryan, Albee Treider, 
Milton Caniff, Mary Hunter 

Producer: Bob Brenner 

Director: Bob Doyle 

Writer: Milt Subotsky 

30 Mins.; Mon., 7:30 p.m. 

Sustaining 

ABC-TV, from N. Y. 

Video's adlib quiz sessions are 
still to find a group of sight-and- 
sound wise personalities, similar to 
the permanent cast that made 
' Info Please" the first quiz show in 
i-adio for many years. Admittedly 



PEOPLE'S PLATFORM 

With Dwight Cooke, moderator 

Director: Frank Schnffiier 

Producer: Leon Levine 

30 Mins.; Tues., 9:35 p.m. 

Sustaining 

CBS, from New York 

"People's Platform," which is al- 
ternating every other Tuesday 
night with "Presidential Straws in 
the Wind," has developed a power- 
ful television format, making it far 
superior to its CBS counterpart on 
the radio channel. The producers 
of this show are pioneering for all 
future forum shows on video. 



it's a difficult task, and until a They're aware that something has 
panel of that calibre is obtained, ' - 
many off-the-cuff sessions are 
likely to be slow affairs. 

"Quizzing the News" is of the 
type that demands a sprightly 
panel consisting of trigger-mind 
personalities and an emcee who 
can fill natural lags with a bon mot 
or so. Unfortunately, this collec- 
tion of notables didn't measure up 
to video's demands. There were 
several holes that needed to be 
filled with some bright conversa- 
tion. However, the major fault was 
the selection of questions that fre- 
quently made dummies out of the 
quizzees. 

Show's modus operandi has quiz- 
master Allan Prescott asking a 
question with cartoonist Albee 
Treider drawing hints. If the first 
hint is ineffective, another cartoon 
is' drawn. Three is the limit, by 
which time the candidates should 
be in scoring position. 

There was one particular ques- 
tion which couldn't be answered 
due to faulty geographical place- 
ment of a country. There's also a 
listener incentive of having view- 
ers send in a photograph with the 
face dressed up to make identifica- 
tion difficult. Person sending in 
picture selected gets an automatic 
washer. 

Prescott does a fairly good job of 
keeping the show going but not 
well enough to put it in the hit 
class. On show caught, Prescott 
amazed by scratching various parts 
of his body while reading a script. 
In radio these things didn't matter, 
but it's not Emily Post on video. 

Jose. 



assured performer. He knows how 
to use his hands. He has repose 
and poise. He works to the audi- 
ence like he works in a saloon — 
the lens is his customers, and the 
studio the other three walls of a 
nitery. Abel. 



Inside Television 



arbitrary figures, until a standard 
is set, and for value offered there 
should be little argument from 
both sides of the iconoscope. If s 
apparent that many a Small act is 
. offered emergence into a fuller 
referring to his recent, short-lived J light via this new medium and, 
musical "Sleepy Hollow," Ma- 1 
loney spoke of "people 1 don't ; 
consider my intellectual equals 
capping my show." I 
Playwright Marc Connelly kept 

TJlfJ'SSS^^lSS^^St' Capt. Bill Eddy, director of WBKB, Chicago, is reported to have 
d d take toto sav tie thoufiht ; developed a new microwave relay tower that can be installed within 
that Atkinson Gibbs Tune's Louis ' three days. WBKB currently is extending its relay system in northern 
Kronenberger Post's Richard Illinois and Indiana. Capt. Eddy, inventor of many radio and tele 
Watts, Jr and Brown (Saturday improvements, is an owner of Television Associates, which manufac- 
Revievv of Literature) were good ■ tures video equipment at Michigan City, Ind. < 

critics. ! 

Informal living room atmosphere Mutual-Don Lee television, KTSL, Hollywood, was forced to cancel 
helped the mood and setting, and plans for televising Ringling Bros., Barnum Si Bailey Circus Sept. 4, 
Brown kept the conversational ball when list of studio performers slated to appear became ponderous: 



AT OUR HOUSE 

With Jim and Edie Dexter 

Producer: Don Faust 

Director: Dick Rider 

Writer: Sue Ray 

IS Mins.; Tues., 9 p.m. 

Sustaining 

WBKB, Chicago 

Household humor of standard 
brand is the substance of this one, 
showcased on WBKB by Television 
Advertising Productions. The frau 
is pert and impractical, if not 
featherbrained. Her husband is 
vaguely harassed and expository. 
Their grade-school son, Junior, 
owing to budget restrictions," has 
yet to materialize on the screen, 
existing meanwhile via script al- 
lusions. They're all working out 
familiar situations on the apparent 
premise that what has caught on 
with radio listeners will catch on 
with tele viewers. 



to be added to the usual flow of 
palaver to hold the viewing audi- 
ence. 

The fundamental improvement 
on this program is its use of news- 
reel clips to add dramatic point to 
the problems under consideration. 
Integration of the live and celluloid 
portions into a compact unit per- 
mits a flexibility and range which 
would be impossible to achieve 
with straight studio techniques. On 
the kickoff show Tuesday (17>, with 
the House un-American Activities 
Committee being spotlighted in the 
discussion, the insertion of news- 
reel shots from the Washington 
hearings was a striking bit of show- 
manship. 

The verbal encounter between 
Rep. Emanuel Celler and Henry D. 
Dorfraan, his Republican opponent, 
was amusing, if not instructive. 
Rep. Celler, who bitterly critized 
the House committee for its alleged 
whipping up of hysteria, made 
some sharp comments but had a 
tendency to mugg in front of the 
camera. Dorfman didn't mugg but 
he was badly confused in his think- 
ing. Dwight Cooke made a com- 
petent moderator who let the de- 
baters wrangle between rather 
wide limits. Cooke's attempt, how- 
ever, to sum up the discussion with 
a couple of catchwords on a black- 
board was grade school stuff inap- 
propriate for an adult public af- 
fairs program. Herm. 



MAJOR EVENTS 
With Jerry Doyle, Harry Robert 
Producer: Bill Sears 
15 mins., Mon., 7:45 p.m. . 
Major Oil Co. 

WCAU-TV, from Philadelphia 

(Shaw & Schreiber) 
Topical value of the cartoonist's 
art has always been a newspaper 
asset. It's problematical just how 
effective the same medium is on 
television. 

Jerry Doyle, whose pen and pen- 
cil skill was so integral a part of 
the editorial policies of the late 
Philadelphia Record, has- turned 
his considerable graphic talents to 
video, in "Major Events." With 
Doyle in the 15-minute illustrated 
news- stint is Harry Robert, former 
sportswriter for the Record and 
also an illustrator of some ability. 

The men go in for editorializing 
with their choice of cartoon ma- 
terial. Robert does niost of the 
spiel and Doyle wields "the char- 
coal. On program caught, the sub- 
jects picked were the Dixrecrats, 
in which Doyle cleverly converted 



rolling, 
lapses. 



in spite of 



occasional 
Broil. 



STORY LADY 

With Mrs. Elizabeth Doubleday, 

Berenice Ledford 
Producer-Director: Bob Wahl 
19 Mins., Sat., 7:20 p.m. 
Sustaining. 

WF'I.-TV, Philadelphia 

Curtis Publishing Co., which has 
been flirting with television in an 
experimental way, is behind "They 

o , r .,_.*.» _ ii, ■ . .. — ^ « ...» ... I 



Performers under contract with studios, for the most part, are pro- 
hibited from appearing on TV. KTSL had planned to shoot around 
them but realized the impossibility of doing so when list started grow- 
ing. Circus is a one-night benefit affair for the purpose of adding a 
wing to the St. John's Hospital. 



Show sighted (17) had to do with 
a mimeographed newspaper that ; a bellows into a Southern rabble- 
invisible Junior, the boy editor, ' f°user with a couple of deft 
was passing out to neighbors. Pay- 
off came when it was learned that 
! he had spiced up his sheet by pub- 
I lishing some of Pop's old love 
] letters to Mom. In between Mom 
I poured Scotch on the mimeo- 
i graph machine when Pop asked 
| her to put alcohol on it, and per- 
formed odd vocal exercises in prep- 



touches; a price-control study, 
which showed how Congress was 
giving it to us by the simple 
process of turning the cartoon up- 
side-down, and a picture of Uncle 
Joe and Uncle Sam, with the rats 
(Commies) finally finding "the 
right uncle." 

Doyls has great facility at con- 



Sight and Sound: The "closeup" mania of tele's technicians is re- 
sponsible for the poor job being done on dancers, especially the girls 
doing ballet or tap. Pictured from the waist up or down the camera 
gives .both the dancer and the viewer" the worst of it. Heavily muscled 
legs, are not pretty. ,The girl tapsters better learn to keep away from 
short skirts or,- perhaps, adopt operaiiength hose to slim down the legs. 
Story Lady 4 '* a 10-mmute program' 5 But the' cameta can accomplish the most by screening the full figure 

slanted for Philadelphia moppets, \ If that was Jack Lescoulie's video debut the other night (WJZ) he 

which WFIL-TV airs Saturday eve- \ didn't do himself any favor by making his first entrance chewing gum. 
nings at 7:20. Another example for performers of. what not to do on tele. . . WPIX's 

Elizabeth Doubleday, in the title 1 wrestling narrator and phrases like "that's what I call raw courage" 
role, sings for children, interviews , is edging him into the "gee whiz" class of announcers. . . .Bill Harring- 
a couple of young guests and then | ton probably won't linger on WJZ's "3 About Town" show very long, 
narrates a bestseller juve yarn j The boy has appearance, sings too good a song and plays a nice piano 
from the pages of the Curtis maga- • am i accordion. He looks like musical comedy material. . He also sings 
zine Jack and Jill. Appropriate i tne eas i es t and smoothest tune of any of the boys now being screened 
illusUations for the visual part of and iVs , pleasure 

RyL p story i r el H ng i lre furnished by j Maggi McNeills femceeing the Crystal Room, ABC's Sunday night 
Sterv which i is miior oart of vaudeo, was relaxed enough, but the device of table-hopping was con- 
m-ogrim is ^conventS farefor I t rived - Hour sh - ow wouId have P laved better in 3 » minutes. Willie 
juniors Opus heard was geared Shore did his entire routine OK, but it was a case of overdoing a good 
for the very young audience and thing. Fifi D'Grsay's "Oh Johnny'* version, with its s.a. overtones, evi- 
conccrned "Prince Roland and the | dences the great need for self-regulation by acts going from the niteries 
Six Words" recited to a. back- j to the ike. Earl Wrightson sang his ballads well. WNEW's all-night 
ground of organ music. Mrs. , disk jock Art Ford screens well but that hyper-affected gal in the 
Doubleday's delivery- was remark- camera proximity, when the lens picked them up, was emoting all over 
•-ably clear and well calculated to ; the place. The Crystal Room, incidentally, is being extended ad lib 
hold auditors in the four tp eight until World Video Theatre (dramatic show) is ready, 
years range. ' i its evident that many of the nitery acts have an awareness of the 

Programs, so far, have been ar- ! new medium's more conservative standards. If it's a case of bamps, 
ranged to suit a different age ; the gals don't do the grind or torso-tossing as strenuously when before 
'fP u S each week, running from. the video medjum . other al fresco habits, long deemed standard on 
IlS rJSf .«£.;lV» the rostrum or floors/ must be moderated for telecasting. By the 

tianf (silhouette-^) token - the c °n« e «» ital mike singers find themselves a bit ata loss 

,W putting across the punch situa- ' "> th * new medium, i.e., when deprived of the clinging-vine mike 
tionk H Cagh, I stance, since they work via overhead or footlight amplifiers. 



aiation for her speech at a femme keying an important idea visually. 

' But the impact, which is so vital 



club. 



Show has neat bookends, using I a factor in a newspaper cartoon 



a window with a rising blind for 
the intro and a downed blind for 
the close. Pop, who has five 
o'clock shadow, prologs out of cam- 
j era range and then joins Mom in 
j the kitchen. Single set and two 
j characters make for low budget, 
| but situations built on non-existent 
j Junior should be used sparingly, 
i If he's planted too strong, as in 
] this one, his appearance becomes 
j obligatory. 

As a gambit to circumvent steep 
costs, "At Our House" has merit 



was missing as one saw the thing 
develop before one's eyes and sus- 
pected its final message long be- 
fore the drawing was completed. 
Robert's conversational byplay was 
far behind inspired, and the pair 
failed to keep the dialog bounc- 
ing, which made for a number of 
dead spots. A good script, which 
i could be studied beforehand, 
1 would do lots for this one. 

Commercials are films showing 
a lot of happy locals, who achieved 
that blissful and secure state by 



TAP currently is putting it on j "sing Major Oil. They were in 

teresting and very well-done. 

Gogh. 



film for national sale 



Baxt. 



TELE-PUN 

I With Johnny Bradford, Ray Mich- 
i ael; others 
i Director: Vance Halleck 
: Writer: Boyce de Gaw 
i 30 Mins.; Sat., 8:30 p.m. 
j WNBW (NBC), Washington 
j NBC and Boyce DeGaw, packager 
of Tele-Pun, have a TV natural in 



come out of the local soil and serve 
to prove the old adage that "every- 
one wants to get into the act." 

Show's format is simple and fun 
making. Contestant is brought be- 
fore the court for "errant punsters" 
and charged with punning in public 
places. He is defended by the At- 



j this one. It takes full advantage of < lorney for the Defense Ray Michael 
the visual and at the same time co- land acts out the pun he is charged 



ordinates everything that is sale 
iable in the audio medium. It in- 
corporates a quiz show with con- 
tinuity, a mixture of amateur pres- 
entation, has audience participa- 
tion, and pays it off with prizes. 

Basically the show is a charade 
quiz with props, but its freshness 
stems from the fact that there is a 
show within a show when contest- 
ants from the audience act out 
their visual puns. The contestants 



with commiting. These puns rep- 
resent geographical designations, 
famous sayings or people, proverbs, 
titles, but they must be puns. 

Show also has a viewer partici- 
pation gimmick. The "Tele-Pun of 
the Week" is acted out progres- 
sively during the show, and at the 
windup the completed pun is of- 
fered to the viewer for: solution. 
(Program is now on fuU NBC net- 
work). 



Wednesday, August 25, 1948 



as 




the favorite 
of more listeners 

any other 
Boston station! 



WHDH Is the Favorite Station of More Boston Listeners 
than Network Station AP 

WHDH is the Favorite Station of More Boston Listeners 
than Network Station Bl* 



WHDH is the Favorite Station of More, Boston Listeners 
than Network Station C, Network Station D, and all other 
stations combined I* 

If you ore placing your advertising dollars in Boston and New England, "the. 
favorite'' is available at the lowest cost per thousand (Compare rates in 
SRDS). 



Special survey made by The Pulse, Inc. 




BOSTON 



Represented nationally by John Blair & Company 



84 



TELEVISION 



Wednedey, August 2S, 1948 



TV Due Down Under by Year s End; 
$1,600,000 to Go for Govt. Tests 



Sydney, Aug. 17. - 
The Ben Chifley Labor Govern- 
ment is setting plans for the intro- 
duction of television in six key 
Aussie cities within the next six 
months. Okay sign has been given 
on a reported initial cost of $1,- 
600,000. 

L. B, Fanning, in charge of gov- 
ernmental postal services here, to- 
gether with other top govern- 
mental officials, recently com- 
pleted a looksee into video in U. S. 

It's understood that the Austra- 
1 i a n Broadcasting Commission, 
non-commercial radio operators, 
and under governmental control, 
will handle the video setup for the 
government here. Whether the ma- 
scheme of things at a later date 
remains to be seen. 

Insiders indicate that the govern- 
ment intends to keep video within 
its own control for a long span. 
Maybe the commercials will seek a 
way out of any monopoly that sets 
a bar to their video Did. Anyway, 
it's learned that top commercial 
execs will huddle with govern- 
mental officials on the possibility 
before making any opposition 
plans. 

No official statement has been 
made in governmental circles re- 
garding the purchase of video 
equipment, but understanding is 
that equipment for the experi- 
mental bid will be purchased in 
the U. S. irrespective of the dollar 
situation. , 



'Girls' Snags Sponsor 
After 3 Yrs. as Sustainer 

Martha Rountree's "Leave It to 
the Girls," after a three-year sus- 
taining run on Mutual, has landed 
a limited-network sponsor in the 
Continental Pharmaceutical Co., 
makers of a reducing agent called 
Kyron. Meyerhoff agency in, Chi- 
cago set the deal. 

It isn't certain, however, that the 
stanza, -now a Hollywood origina- 
tion, will have a N. Y. outlet. It's 
slotted Fridays at 8:30-8:55 p.m., 
and WOR, N. Y., has just sold that 
time to Prentiss Clothes for a 
"Share the Wealth" quiz stanza 
emceed by Ward Wilson, starting 
Sept. 10. 

Moora's Cross-Country 
Junket Caters to Juves 

Pointing up television's catering 
to juve audiences, newsreel cam- 
eraman Dean Moora has been 
added as a regular staffer to the 
crew of DuMont's "Small Fry 
Club" by producer Bob Emery. 

He'll roam the country taking 
newsreel shots of any events- of 
special interest to moppets for in- 
corporation in the across-the-board 
show. 



Smith's Musical Show || wnB „ v 
To Replace NK'Arfisl'l J^^-J.-,, 



ADDED ATTRACTION 

eTAe 



n its endeavor to bring Detroiters a diversity of 
entertainment, WWJ-TV, Michigan's first television station, 
has added weekly televised broadcasts of the Detroit Sym- 
phony Orchestra to its ever-growjng list of program features. 
^Compliments received from the thousands of television set 
owners in Detroit attest to WWJ-TV's perfection in technique 
during the first broadcasts of the Symphony. It marks another 
'milestone in the. progress of WWJ-TV, which, in its second 
year of operation, has already become an effective advertis- 
ing medium in this multi-billion dollar market. 



ASSOCIATE AM-fM STATION WWJ 




NBC WwMwi Nttwark 

fflRST IN MICHIGAN . . . Owned and Opmcafd by THI DETROIT NEWS 
kj ««»/.««/ R.^r. i. nl.Hv. i, THE OEORGt P. HOLLINORERY COMPANY 



Bob Smith, WNBC-AM star and 
emcee of the "Howdy Doody" pup- 
pet show on the NBC-TV web, 
starts a rew half -hour nighttime 
video show on NBC Sept. 2 from 
9 to 9:30. Gulf Oil sponsors 
through tb; Young & Rubicam ad 
agency. 

Show, packaged by Martin Stone, 
will carry a musical audience par- 
ticipation format, giving Smith a 
chance to demonstrate his prowess 
as a musician. Various name musi- 
cians will also appear from time 
to time. Show, as yet untitled, re- 
places Jon Gnagy's "You Are An 
Artist," which has been sponsored 
by Gulf for several years on the 
NBC-TV web. NBC is currently 
trying to line up a new sponsor for 
Gnagy. 



TV Inroads on Radio 



Continued from page 1 



series will be good for re-runs after 
six months owing to the great num- 
ber of new viewers being added by 
tele every month. Films will be 
made available immediately, too, 
to TV stations outside N. Y. and 
Washington, despite the fact that 
WOR's stations in these cities won't 
get on the air until some time this 
fall, or later. 

■ The tele versions of the films 
will be put together as open-enders, 
on 35m, running 29 minutes 30 
seconds. Each sequence, however, 
will be shot so it may be cut to a 
20-minuta version for theatrical 
and 16m non-theatrical uses. In 
the case of the "Labor Arbitra- 
tion" series, release in the non- 
theatrical field for film libraries 
and visual education has already 
been arranged. Industrial rela- 
tions groups are particularly inter- 
ested, Livingston said. 
Ben Parker has been pacted for 



directorial chores on the "Arbl- 
demanding rate cuts, others quickly tration » pix> which wnl D e shot' 
confirmed the report. A spokesman with tnree camera s. (Long shots, 
for one of the four major webs, in | unsuita blo for TV, will be cut into 
fact, revealed a statement prepared th non . xv product.). Since the 

arbitration program tackles actual 




several weeks ago by his network 
for answer to just such a request. 
Statement points out, that, regard- 
less of any inroads made by TV, 
sponsors aren't entitled to a cut in 
rates because the advertiser today, 
with greatly-increased AM cover- 
age, reaches more listeners than 
ever before for each advertising 
dollar. 

According to the statement, 
there's been a 32% increase in the 
number of available listeners since 
before the war, based on a 62% | 
boost in the number of AM sets in '■ 
circulation. Cost-per-thousand lis- i 
teners, consequently, has declined | 
15% since prewar, the last time at 
which this particular web instituted 
a general" rate increase. In addi- 
tion, according to the statement, 
the general public has more money 
to spend now, which gives the ad- 
vertiser even more for his money. 
Radio Listening Off 68%? 
Amid the mass of conflicting re- 
ports and denials, however, is cer- 
tain statistical data which, accord- 
ing to both advertisers and 
agency toppers, cannot be brushed 
off. CBS pre'xy Frank M. Stanton 
has already gone on record as say- 
ing that TV will very soon cause a 
50% dropoff in the amount of ra- 
dio listening. Backing up his pre- 
diction are results of a recent sur- 
vey made by the television research 
bureau of Hofstra College's'lLong 
Island) psychology department 
among tele set-owning families, 
showing radio listening hours off 
26% for daytime and 68% for 
nighttime shows in such house- 
holds. 

Considered even more significant 
are results of a recent C. E. Hooper 
survey among tele homes. Taken 
for the Kudner ad agency to test 
the viewer pull of its "Texaco Star 
Theatre" on the NBC-TV web Tues- 
day nights from 8 to 9, the survey 
gave the tele show an overall rat- 
ing of 40.5, with a total share of 
the audience of 82.4. That means 
that 40.5% of all the TV sets in 
use were tuned to the Texaco show, 
which garnered 82.4% of the avail- 
able audience. Top radio rating in 
the tele homes during the same 
hour was a lowly .3, racked up by 
WJZ (ABC) with a half-hour 
"Youth Asks the Government" 
show, a 15-minute newscast featur- 
ing Erwin Canham and "America's 
Town Meeting." 

On a half-hour breakdown, the 
Texaco tele show polled a 46.7 rat- 
ing, with an 85.8 share of audience 
measurement. .Top AM show dur- 
ing that half-hour was "Official 
Detective" on WOR (Mutual), with 
a 1.8 rating and a 3.4 share of audi- 
ence. Other tele stations carried a 
pickup of the Democratic conven- 
tion pooled coverage from Phil- 
adelphia, averaging a 2 rating, 
while the highest radio show on 
other stations was "Mr. and Mrs. 
North" on WCBS (CBS), with a 1.5 
rating. 

The "it's-later-than-you-think" 
sentiment, consequently, is growing 
rapidly more intense among radio 
execs, who are gradually being led 
to concede that their AM business 
may soon be eclipsed by tele's 
steady expansion. 



employer-employee disputes, the 
films will show only Zack, mem- 
bers of the arbitration panel, and 
opposing attorneys. Participating 
employers and employees and their 
witnesses won't be identified and 
will be seen only in silhouette 
(such as their shadows on a wall). 
Sequences will be unrehearsed and 
shot with candid camera technique. 

Zack stanza has had a success- 
ful, if unspectacular, eight-year run 
on Nathan Straus' N. Y. indie, 
WMCA. Labor-management dis- 
putants airing their disagreements 
on the show agree beforehand that 
the decision of the arbitration pa- 
nel will be final. 

Products of the Mutual key's film 
unit will be labelled as "produced 
in cooperation with WOR-TV." 
Organizational setup of the unit 
hasn't been exactly defined, but 
Livingston said he would continue 
his WOR programming duties. 



FCC Grants 3 Permits; 
Par Gets Frisco Bid Stay; 
United Detroit Put Aside 

Washington, Aug. 24, 
Television channel requests at 
the FCC were slow again last week, 
However, the Commission granted 
construction permits for three new 
tele stations. City of Jacksonville 
was granted channel 2 in the 
Florida city, bringing the total tele 
stations in that city to three. 
WTAR Radio Corp. of Norfolk, 
Va., got channel 4. West Central 
Broadcasting Co., was granted 
channel 12 at Peoria, 111. 

Paramount was granted its' peti- 
tion for a 20-day extension of time 
to file proposed findings in the 
proceedings on TV channels in 
San Francisco. Time for filing is 
now extended to Sept. 7. Edward 
Lasker of Hollywood, Westing- 
house and three other applicants 
for tele channels in Portland, Ore., 
were designated for a consolidated 
hearing. 

United Detroit Theatres Corp., 
Detroit, subsidiary of Paramount, 
was denied its petition asking FCC 
to put aside, its order of May 6 
denying United's hearing request. 
King Trendle Broadcasting Co., 
had been given an extension of 
time for completion of its tele sta- 
tion in Detroit, and United wanted 
FCC to hold a hearing and not 
grant this routine matter without 
hearing. 



'Celluloid Net' 

; Continued from page 30 ; 



Washington — The Navy has been 
distributing 15 minute transcrip- 
tions by the Navy Band to over 
1,000 local radio stations through- 
out the country. 

Distribution is handled through 
400-odd main and sub recruitment 
stations. 



being able to sell time on affiliate 
stations, which is still the webs' 
chief stock in trade. 

Several of the new fall shows, 
consequently, are going out on as 
many as 19 or 20 stations. Trend 
was led off by P. Lorillard (Old 
Golds), which inked to bankroll 
TV's version of the Major Bowes 
Amateur Hour, which originates on 
WABD (DuMont, N. Y.), on nine 
stations from coast-to-coast, utiliz- 
ing DuMont's teletranscription 
service to record the show on film 
for any station not connected by 
coaxial cable or radio relay. Idea 
was followed through by Disney 
Hats, which last week signed to 
sponsor the NBC Sunday night 
newsreel on 19 separate stations, 
which then was the largest net- 
work ever attempted by an adver- 
tiser. 

That figure has been topped, 
though, by Philco, which is to air 
the Equity Theatre hour-long dra- 
matic shows on at least 20 stations. 
Program, backed by Actors Equity, 
tees off from the studios of WNBT 
(NBC, N. Y.) Oct. 3. It's to be 
carried live on NBC-TV's seven- 
station east coast web and will be 
transcribed via NBC's kine re- 
corder for shipment to the other 
stations. Bert Lytell, former Equity 
prez, is to serve as permanent host 
on the show. Plays are to be se- 
lected by a committee comprising 
current Equity prez Clarence Der- 
went and Raymond Massey, Ralph 
Bellamy and Louis Calhern. 
Agency for Philco is Hutchins. 

Another new show slated for 
celluloid networking is a 15-minute 
public opinion program featuring 
Dr. George Gallup, which will be 
bankrolled by the Wall Street 
brokerage firm of Merrill Lynch, 
Pierce, Fenner & Beane over the 
basic CBS-TV five-station network, 
as well as on stations in Los An- 
geles, Detroit, St. Louis and Chi- 
cago. Show starts in the Sunday 
night 10 to 10:15 slot from the 
studios of WCBS-TV (CBS, N. Y.), 
with Gallup and guests presenting 
public trends on the forthcoming 
Presidential election. Since CBS 
has no transcription system of its 
own, It has arranged for Paramount 
to record the shows on film during 
the nine-week tenure. Agency for 
the brokerage outfit is Newell- 
Emmett. 



N.Y. Dept. Store's Dual 
Bankrolling of Quiz Show 

First sponsored local deal for a 
simultaneous AM-TV show was 
wrapped up by ABC veepee Mur- 
ray Grabhorn yesterday (Tues.) 
when Alexander's department 
store, N. Y., was inked to bankroll 
a "Quizdown Class" session weekly 
on both WJZ and WJZ-TV, N. Y. 

Show will preem Sept. 18 in the 
6:30-7 p.m. segment, originating 
from ABC's -new tele center on 
66th street. Deal, of 41 -week dura- 
tion, was set via the William War- 
ren agency. 



ABC Will Air Metoperas 
Now That Union Snarl OK 

ABC, as a result of the an- 
nouncement that the Metropolitan 
Opera won't be cancelled after all, 
will again carry Saturday after- 
noon broadcasts of the operas — 
and possibly also televise them. 
Latter depends on the outcome of 
current negotiations with unions 
involved; 

It , still isn't certain, though', 
whether Texaco again will bank- 
roll the series. Oil company al- 
ready is heavily committed on its 
"Star Theatre" deals via ABC and 
NBC-TV. 



Washington News Views, a 
weekly 10-minute television news- 
reel out of Washington is being 
offered on an exclusive basis in 
each city, by Colonial Films. 



MODERN Country Estate 
BARGAIN 

Must toll my beautiful country 
estate consisting of 8-room Dutch 
Colonial Residence with 4 bed- 
rooms and 3 baths. Also care- 
taker's home, 3-car garage, large 
barn, granary, horse stalls. Situ- 
ated on 63 acres of rolling land all 
tilled. Beautiful woods, natural 
spring. Professionally landscaped. 
Located on excellent paved state 
highway only 45 minutes from 
Chicago on North Shore Electric 
Line. Five minutes from shopping 
center and schools. Can be had 
famished if -desired Including 
Chiekering Parlor Grand Piano and 
Oriental Rugs. Urgent, sell imme- 



' Total Price $58,500 

$30,000 Cash' Handles 
Phone Owner 
CHICAGO — FRANKLIN 4646 

or write Roth, Room 21 S 
134 S. LaSallo St., Chicago. III. 



M.A. Degree, audio-visual 
field, vet, 27, single. Wants 
position as production assist- 
ant in show business. Experi- 
enced. Write: UL, c/o Variety, 
360 N. Michigan, Chicago. 



Wednesday, August 25, 1948 



S3 





t 0 




50,000 wolfs 

"Umbrella Coverage"— in 
all directions 

Nation's third largest market 

First in every Philadelphia 

listener's survey ever made 

..) 

CBS affiliate 





THE PHILADELPHIA BULLETIN STATIONS 



36 



RADIO 



Wednectay, August 25, 1948 



CIRCLING THE KILOCYCLES 



Lansing — Alex Dillingham, an- 
nouncer and former news editor 
of W1LS, has been appointed pro- 
gram director. 

Boston — John Wllkoff, formerly 
of WCAE, Pittsburgh, has been ap- 
pointed promotion director of 
WCOP, Boston. 

Pittsburgh — John Wilkoff, pro- 
motion manager for WCAE,. Hearst 
station here, has resigned to take 
a similar job with WCOP in Bos- 
ton, like WCAE an ABC outlet, too. 
He goes into new berth immedi- 
ately "and will be replaced here by 
William Kelley. 

Margaret Petyo, fashion expert 
whose "Charm School" program 
has been a feature on WPGH since 
that station began operations a 
year ago, has moved program 
downtown to WWSW. It'll be a 
five-days-a-week feature there at i 
11 a.m. , | 

Oklahoma City — WKY, Okla- 
homa City, was granted exclusive 
rights for television coverage of all 
athletic events at the Univ. of 
Oklahoma. 

The Sooner football games of 
this fall won't be televised, it was 
explained, because complete equip- 
ment won't be installed in time. 
However, crews of cameraman, 
technicians and producers will 
practice during the . season as a 
means of training. 



are exclusive TV rights to televise 
all municipal auditorium attrac- 
tions. 



New Orleans — Martin Burke, 
former copywriter at the Sewell 
Advertising Agency, has joined 
W.TPS and WTPS-FM as writer- 
producer. Burke previously was 
chief copywriter and sales promo- 
tion manager at WWL, New Or- 
leans. 



Birmingham — G. P. Hamann has 
been appointed technical director 
and manager of FM and TV opera- 
tions for the Birmingham Broad- 
casting Co., owners and operators 
of WBRC. Announcement was made 
by Eloise Smith Hanna, president 
and general manager of the com- 
pany. 



St. Louis — Richard J. Dutson has ; 
been upped to continuity director 
at KMGX by program director Al 
Bland. Dutson formerly was asso- 
ciated with KSD and KWK. James 
Alt is the latest addition to the . 
KXOK gabbing staff. For the past i 
two years he has been a freelance I 
announcer in St. Louis. 

.Bruce Barringtbn, news editor at 
KXOK, has been elected chairman ! 
of the Missouri Radio Assn., com- ! 
posed of radio station members of 
the Associated Press in Missouri. 
James Monroe, KOMO, Kansas 
City, was elected vice-chairman. 



'All's Well Ikt Ends .. I 
Even With Giveaways 

Xenia, O,, Aug. 24. 
It was all a clerical error, the 
emcee of Mutual's "Take a Num- 
ber" explained over the telephone 
to Joseph E. Chamberlain, who 
last . week revealed he hadn't re- 
ceived any of the $7,500 worth of 
prizes he won from the show in 
June. 

Chamberlain said four of the 
prizes were delivered while he- was 
talking to the emcee on the tele- 
phone and the rest had been prom- 
ised soon. The winning contestant 
turned down a party, which in- 
cluded a serenade by a 23-piece 
name band. "We're not that kind 
of people," Mrs. Chamberlain said. 

Because of the. mixup someone 
else got Chamberlain's winnings, 
which included a home freezer and 
a year's supply pf razor blades. It 
wasn't revealed who the "someone 
else" was. 



Worcester — Margaret Cox, of j 
WTAG (and FM)'s "Open House," | 
has taken another step in expand- 
ing the "family party" atmosphere ] 
of her five-a-week show. 

For her new feature, "The Story | 
Behind. the Song," Miss Cox in- 
vites listeners to submit letters 
telling some incident in their lives 
which has gone to make a particu- 
lar song their favorite. Best letters 
are read on the air, with Danny 
Patt playing the song on the nova- 
chord as background. 



San Antonio. — South Texas Cot- 
Ion Oil Co., makers of Crustcne 
Shortening, have signed' a year's 
contract for a 15-minute program 
of songs by Red River Dave to be i . 

aired Tuesday, Thursday and Sat- « bles 1 °" th ^ T °P, lo evening and 
urday mornings. Program will i 10 ?™ d ? T ytlme stanzas, 
originate here in the studios of ! <U. S. Hooperatmgs— as the pro 
WOAI and be carried by KPRC, j jectables are called— won't be is 



'Hit Parade' 2d 
Or I5th Hooper? 

There's increasing speculation 
on" which type of Hoopcrating— 
the old 36-city popularity or the 
new U. S. projectable — will emerge 
this coming season as the standard 
of comparison. What has particu- 
larly perked trade talk are the 
wide discrepancies in standings of 
network shows in the two cate- 
gories, as revealed since Hooper 
recently started issuing project- 



From the Production Centers 



Continued from page 26 



with William Powell and Irene Hervey in "Mr. Peabody and the Mer- 
maid" George Duning was passed the baton on the Dennis Day 

show by Bud Dant, who was forced to withdraw when Day shifted to 

Saturday night, Dant chose to remain witli Judy Canova Mark and 

Karl Breneman are being packaged by Tom Wallace in a two-family 
quizzer with giveaways galore. ABC gets the first record .... Krnnk 
shave cream taking up the tab on ABC's "Bob Elson on the Century" 
for 21-station western spread. 

Newsweek Looks Ahead changed sponsorship from Flo-Ball Pen to 

Dennison's Foods on 20-station ABC hookup eden ahbez, lowercase 

composer of '-'Nature Boy," will have five-minute strip on KMPC de- 
voted to his other creations and views on health and philosophy 
Radio p.a.'s are on the move. Ayer's diet Brouwcr headed east for 
three weeks; NBC's Les Raddatz touring the western sector, and Bea 
Carpenter making out-of-town calls in the interest of Caroline Leon* 
ettl's new fashion and charm show. . . . Dorothy Shay likes it in Holly- 
wood so well that she would sign for only 13 weeks with Coca-Cola and 
then will settle here and maybe have her own show. .'. .Esty and Newell- 
Emmett agencies moved to larger and newer quarters last week..,. 
Radie Harris sticking around until the 27th so she 'can use up the 
guestars on her booking sheet. \ 

Bob Redd getting his papers in order for a flight to Ireland and Scot- 
land... Bob Wolfe hopped east for consultations at Kenyon & Eck- 
hardt on the talent and picture properties he has lined up for the Ford 
dramatic series . . .Phil Baker, who loves California, is not too happy 
about moving east with "Everybody Wins" for an indef stay .... Agen- 
cies are clamoring for the record of the Wesson Bros.' show cut by Joe 
Bigelow, who wrote, directed and controls the package. There's also 
considerable interest in the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis platter. 



Oklahoma City — City Council has 
granted WKY a five-year lease for 
use of the little theatre in the 
municipal auditorium building as 
a television studio. 

Also included in the agreement 



Houston; WFAA, Dallas; KTBS, 
Shreveport, Louisiana, and KARK, 
Little Rock, Arkansas. Program 
will start Sept. 7. 

Cowboy singer has also been 



sued as a full service on all shows 
until October.) 

In his Aug. 1-7 tabulation, for 
instance, no projectables were 
shown for six of the Top 15 (in- 



signed by Vick Chemical Co., to I eluding' second-place "Stop the 

start on Sept. 13 a series of 15- Music"), either because they were 
minute broadcasts over WOAI each 
Monday, Wednesday and Friday, j 



not yet included in the U. S. 
Hooperating Report" or because 
n-»n,< n-k on„«„«i i they had "changed 'size' of net- 

e^ntm B c-oT^«\r^T4r^ by fft ? « Jf ub " 
here, and former pilot of the ! Ration of the U. S. Hooperatmgs 

WFAA "Early Birds" program, will ; Report. 

be heard in a new show to be aired ! But one of the shows for which 
for a half-hour each Monday, Wed- a projectable was given was "Your 



nesday and Friday at 10 p.m. 

Baton Rouge. — J. Roy Dabadie, 
manager of WJBO, has been elect- 
ed president of the Louisiana Assn. 
of Broadcasters. He succeeds 
James E. Gordon of WNOE, New 
Orleans. 

Henry Clay, Jr., of K.WKH, 
Shreveport, was elected vice presi- 
dent and Paul Goldman of KSYL 
i secretary-treasurer. 



You can put The 
Texas Rangers, stars 
of stage, screen and 
radio, to work for your 
products - your client. 

Over the past few year* 
The Texas Rangers have 
done an outstanding sell- 
ing job on both small and 
large stations — ..over four 
straight years for two dif- 
ferent breweries, five years 
for a bakery, over five 

ears for a dairy. 

The Texas Rangers a^e 
America's largest and fin- 
est group, playing and 
singing Western tunes. 
Their music is transcribed 
vertically for high fidelity; 
ideal for either FM or AM. 

They are priced right 
for your market and your 
station. 

Wire, Write ' or Phone 
for Complete Details 



ARTHUR S. CHURCH PRODUCT' ON 

KANSAS CITY *, MO. 



Hit Parade," and while it ranked 
15th in the Top 15 on 36-city popu- 
larity, its 8.90 projectable placed 
it No. 2 behind the 9.50 of "Take 
It or Leave It" in the U. S. Hoop- 
eratings. And while "Mr. D. A." 
was third in both categories, 
"Crime Photographer," sixth in 
the 36-city poll, was fourth in the 
U. S. sweeps. 

Similarly, in the Top 10 day- 
timers, "Pepper Young's Family" 
was 10th in the 36-city, but second 
in the projectables. 

Attitude of web execs toward 
the matter seemed to be one of 



Wm. Morris 

— Continued from page 25 5 

would recommend to its clients 
r.ot to appear on the stanza. 

It's obvious, however, that 
AFRA is going over the agency's 
head, directly to talent, with the 
pitch to guest on the show for 
the sake of their union's fund. 
Talent listed as available for the 
show includes Fred Allen and 
Eddie Cantor, both Morris clients, 
as well as Abbott and Costello, 
who are new in the Morris fold. 
They're the only ones, though, so 
far — and there are such con- 
spicuous absentees as Milton Berle 
?nd Bums & Allen. 
. The full "willing to appear" list 
as of this week: 

Comedians: Jack Benny, Edgar 
Bergen, Fred Allen, Jimmy Dur- 
ante, Bob Hope, Abbott & Cos- 
tello, I5ob Burns, Phil Harris, 
Eddie Bracken, Eddie Cantor, Den- 
nis Day, Ozzie & Harriet, Alan 
Young, Kay Kyser, Garry Moore, 
Phil Baker, Celeste Holm, Phil 
Silvers, Rochester, Clifton Webb, 
Victor Borge, Jerry Colonna, Rudy 
Vallee, Burt Gordon and Ralph 
Edwards. 

Dramatic talent: Ronald Colman. 
Jimmy Stewart, Van Johson, Fred 
Astaire, Marlene Dietrich, Don 
Ameche, Ray Milland, Basil Rath- 
bone, William Powell, John Gar- 
field, Dick Powell, Gene Tierney 
and Jane Wyman. 



Bump Hadley Tees Off 1st 
Hub Studio Sportscast 

Boston, Aug. 24. 

Bump Hadley, former major- 
leaguer with the Yankees and 
long a fave Hub sportscaster, tees 
off with the town's first studio 
sports telecast this week out of. 
WBZ-TV. 

Format of the show calls for a 
review of the day's sports activities 
with interviews with leading 
athletes. Feature Is a play-of-the- 
day diagram via a baseball dia- 
mond in miniature with cardboard 
player figures. Same technique is 
planned for football, basketball, 
hockey, etc. 

Show starts as sustaining, with 
Van Heusen sportswear picking up 
tab Sept. 24. 



Chicago — Mantle Lamy Co. 
(kerosene lamps and vacuum 
bottles) has signed for a quarter- 
hour transcribed show by Smilin' 
Ed McConnell. Tuesdays, starting i wait-and-see. As yet they weren't 
Oct. 1 via ABC. I taking the projectables seriously. 

• William Hart Adler, Inc., is the i — 

agency. 



FCC Caught 

Continued from page 25 



still establish rules on what con- 
stituted lottery and was a violation. 
But instead of meting out its own 
punishment, like a denial of li- 
cense, FCC would have to warn 
the net or show, then alert the 
Justice Dept. for action in the 
courts 



Irish Are Looking For 

Another Sweepstakes 
j. In Giveaway Airers 

Dublin, Aug. 24. 
Sponsors are beginning to fall for 
(he giveaway show in a big way. 
"Double or Nothing," Theatre 
Royal quiz show, started off as a 
routine cash-f or-knowledge pro- 
gram. Later, airline tickets were 
added for a Pot of Gold night and 
A net or show could abide by the .'that started the run. To date the 
FCC's contention, or could con- 'show has given away $4,000 in cash, 
tinue with the program and fight it \ with goods — promoted from mer- 
out in court with no fear of losing j chants — totaling another $3,000. 
a license for ahy affiliate pending • Show is now off the air, but mer- 
ultimate decision. " | chants anxious to climb on the free 
. The FCC, from top to bottom, i advertising bandwagon are inquir- 
appeared to be unaware of the ing about its return — with a queue 
Congressional action taken two ready to offer everything from a 
months ago. It was caught with its refrigerator to a New Look suit, 
kilocycles down, arid stayed mum. Idea is also catching on in 
* Frank T. Bow; general counsel smaller shows, while the Imco 
of the House Select Committee in- 1 Cleaners program is giving away 
vestigating the FCC, sent FCC disks used on its show to telephone 
Chairman Wayne Coy a letter ask- 1 caller who first names the tune be- 
ing: "Would you kindly advise this | mg played. 
Committee whether the Commis- j 

un^fi x h v l an ^° ?* ro , c * ed ' if and ! Wandell Quits Troy WTRY 

under what authority?" i „ TT ^ ,. r ./ _ , 

The House Select Committee two ! * Or Henry Wallace Post 
weeks ago ironed out the snarl FCC : Troy, N. Y. Aug 24 

got itself and the broadcast indus- 1 Jack Wandell, who served on the 
try into through FCC's unhappy I WTRY news staff and in recent 
Fort Huron decision. After sue- , months had done a nightly sports 
cessiully rescuing FCC once, the j program over the station, resigned 
Committee isn't expected to look; to join the Henry Wallace forces, 
too favorably on another blunder. He was scheduled to broadcast on 
During the Port Huron hearings, behalf of the Progressive Party 
the legal department, which appar- ! presidential candidate last week, 
ently slipped up on the Congres- 1 but the date was changed, "an- 
sional action, was under heavy fire. I dell is from Mechanic-vale. 



Cohen Starts Fifth Year 
Conning Pittsburgh 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 24. 

Harold V. Cohen, drama critic 
and editor of morning Post-Gazette 
and Variety mugg here„ begins the 
fifth year of his weekly "Cohening 
the Town" program on WJAS Sat- 
urday night (28J at 6:30. Show is 
returning to the air after a sum- 
mer hiatus of eight weeks. 

Cohen began the series, which 
picks the bests of the week on the 
local entertainment front, in mid- 
1944 for Jerome Wolk and Bro., 
Pittsburgh furriers, switching in 
February, 1947, to. Brent Cleaning 
Stores, under whose sponsorship 
the program continues. 

KSTP-TV's Grid Sked 

Minneapolis, Aug. 24. 

KSTP football program contem- 
plates televising of Univ. of Min- 
nesota's away-from-home as well 
as home games, according to Stan- 
ley Hubbard, general manager. 
Plan is to film out-of-town games 
and rush film here by plane to TV 
it the same night following the af- 
ternoon contest or the next day. 

Hubbard has Minnesota's cdhsent 
for the TV, but also must obtain 
that of its opponents. He's now 
negotiating with Univ. of Washing- 
ton, the Gophers' opening foe, at 
Seattle. 



Schenectady — General Electric 
Co. is giving Syracuse Univ. a $50,- 
000 television transmitter, as the 
first step toward the establishment 
of a video engineering department. 
Funds and FCC authority must be 
obtained before operations can be- 
gin, the university announced 
Friday (20). 



TOMMY 

LYMAN 



Now at tht 



New 
York 



Leslie House 



BUGS BAER SAYS: 'THERE 
ARE MORE ROAD SHOWS 
OF TOMMY LYMAN 
THAN CARTER HAS 
PILLS.' 



SEE "ESQUIRE." NOW ON NEWS- 
-STANDS, FOR STORY ON LYMAN 
(PAGE 26) IN SEPT. ISSUE, BY 
GEORGE FRAZIER. 



I GOT THE BLUES 
(For th. Groin Hills of Erin) 

By tllMK HREUKR, H. WrCOFJF 
and 1'Al'l, CU.NNIXUHA.U 



MOTHER NEVER TOLD ME 

By JOHN iNjr/ltnOCK and 
JANK ( I. A Kit 



SHAKE THE HAND THAT SHOOK 
THE HAND OF CALLAHAN 

By Hlf.n HII.IMiBRAND 

A NICKEL FOR A MEMORY 

Br fKRBY ai i:\ \m»i:k. bob MIL- 
LIARD and ANN BEAKDSLKV 

Vole* Coach: 
JOHN OUINLAN 
Spocial Material by 
MILT FRANCIS 




M-G-M — 

"On an Island with You" 
"This Tim* for Keeps" 
Mat.; LOU CLAYTON 



tt/eJnesday, August 25, 1948 



PRriety 



\ coUNB OFF 

Vviflt Anita Gordon, Matty Mal- 
! jiecfc Sextet, Jeff Alexander 
Chorus, Arno Tanney, Mark 
Warnow orch; George Fenne- 
m an, announcer 

Writer: Charles Graves 

producer-director: Charles Herbert 

30 Mins., Mon., 8 p.m. 

V. S. ARMY 

ABC, from Hollywood 

n ;N. W. Aver) 

Jointly sponsored by the V. S. 
Army and ABC, "Sound Off" re- 
turned to the ABC net Monday 
(23) after a summer layoff. Stanza 
is neatly produced. A wealth of 
talent seeks to plug the message 
that the Army needs men. Preem 
guests were songstress Anita Gor- 
don; vacationing from the Edgar 
Bergen show, as well as the Matty 
Malneck sextet. Former displayed 
en appealing voice while Malneck's 
small combo also registered. 

Mark Warnow's orch ably han- 
dled the preem of "Iowa March," 
written especially for the airer by 
Meredith Willson. Piece was the 
12th of a series of new marches 
saluting each of the states. War- 
now's other arrangements meas- 
ured up. Rounding out the musi- 
cal fare was Jeff Alexander's 
"Sound Off" chorus. Plugs- pri- 
marily were directed to the vet and 
stressed the usual "lifetime se- 
curity," good pay, etc., if he re- 
turned for a three-year hitch. 

Gilb. 



TILLIE LOU 

With BarrUI Smith, Phyllis Carver 

15 Mins.; Mon.-thru-Fri., 7:45 a.m. 

Sustaining 

WGY, Schenectady 

Show, featuring a "talking bird." 
Is reported to have pulled 800,000 
pieces of mail from children dur- 
ing a 12-month period. Smith, who 
Is assisted by his wife, Phyllis Car- 
ver (a member of the WGY Play- 
ers), creates a number of characters 
(policemen, et al.), to surround 
"Tillie," in a running story of the 
fantasy type. Recently, the scenes 
have been set on a carnival lot; 
realistically reproduced. 

Kid listeners, up to a certain age, 
will revel in "Tillie." Some adults 
may find it uninteresting and at 
times ear-wearing. The bird is 
quite expertly projected. 

Sequences are spaced by tran- 
scribed music— carefully selected 
—and riddles. There are minor 
giveaways. Production rates above 
average. Jaco. 



RADIO REVIEWS 



87 



WILLIAM L. SHIRER 

With Russ Dunbar, announcer 

Production: MBS News Dept. 
15 Mins.; Sun., 1 p.m. 
Sustaining 

MBS, from New York 

Ending his summer sabbatical 
early, William L. Shirer last Sun- 
day (22) began an on-the-air warm- 
up for the return of his sponsor, 
Wings shirts. He was a little rusty 
in his reading, but his material and 
his clarity and calm delivery were 
■ par Shirer. After a rather unor- 
ganized discourse on last-minute 
I news and the past week's develop- 
ments, the commentator got down 
to some interesting analyses of the 
current Red scare. He rapped the 
Thomas committee for "playing for 
headlines" and for smearing repu- 
tations "without due process of 
jlaw." ■ 

| Shirer is entirely at home, in the 
I medium of radio. He talks conver- 
sationally to his listeners, without 
, bombast or pomposity, and his re- 
marks offer food for thought. At 
! the moment he's at a distinct ad- 
1 vantage on one phase of the news 
— he can talk with authority on 
Germany, a fact which gives weight 
to his observations on the Berlin 
crisis. Doan. 




"Life Begins at 80," Mutual's 
sprightly, entertaining contribution 
to radio and old age, was highlight- I 
ed Sunday (22) by a travel down ! 
i the road of reminiscence with Mrs. , 
i Georgia Carhart, former concert i 
I and musical revue singer. Mrs. ' 
j Carhart, who spoke with an . 
; epigramatic fluency and humorous ! 
j sharpness that surpassed many 
| radio professionals less than half j 
; her age, gave delightful closeups I 
i of Victor Herbert, Diamond Jim 
i Brady and Lillian Russell. She told 
emcee Jack Barry, who flashed a : 
fine change of pace from that; 
shown on "Juvenile Jury," that : 
Broadway seemed to her "more 1 
glamorous" in the 1890's than i 
today. 



CHARLOTTE ADAMS 
With Bruce Eliot, announcer 
45 Mins.: Sat.. 10:15 a.m. 
WOR, N. Y. 

Charlotte Adams, who formerly 
conducted a woman's program on 
WQXR, N. Y., is turning this 45- 
minute stint on WOR into a highly 
useful homemaking aid for house- 
wives beset by high shopping 
prices, although there's a conven- 
tional amount of incidental palaver 
on this show (common to all 
women's programs), Miss Adams is 
wisely putting the accent on utility. 
As an experienced mike hand, she 
dresses up the bread-and-butter 
items with enough personality 
touches to sustain audience interest 
over the rather long program 
stretch. 

On the kickoff stanza (21), Grace 
and Paul Hartman, starring in 
"Angel in the Wings" on Broadway, 
guested in a chatty interview about 
running a suburban household. The 
rest of the show, however, was 
devoted to the plebeian metropoli- 
tans. Besides the recipes and fur- 
nishing hints, Miss Adams ex- 
amined the market places, giving 
the best buys in meats and fish. 
Statistics are usually dull but the 
price of steak was astonishing. 

Herm. 



"Church of the Air" (CBS) held 
an interesting forum Sunday (22) 
on the meaning of radio in the 
promotion of religious life. Numer- 
ous clergymen and missionaries 
from South America and the Far 
East, currently attending the Re- 
ligious Radio Workshop in Chicago 
under direction of Rev. Everett 
C. Parker, emphasized the link 
between civilizations which radio 
made possible. Highspot of the 
show was the report from Bolivia, 
describing the poverty and back- 
wardness - of the great mass of 
people and the immense role radio 
could play as an, educational force 
if sets could be distributed. 



BOD'S SCRAPBOOK 

With Maurice Bodington; Jimmie 

Shields; Don Gordon, Bill Bessey, 

announcer 
Producer: Drew Crossan 
30 Mins.; Sun., 6 p.m. 
Sustaining 
CBC, from Toronto 

As a presentation of wit, wisdom 
and everyday philosophy, "Bod's 
Scrapbook" is a new Sunday ex- 
tension of his Mon.-thru-Fri., 15- 
minute stint over CJBC, Toronto. 
But his Sunday show is carried over 
the Dominion network (38 stations) 
of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. 
It's one of those commendable 
pause programs that soothe Sun- 
day listeners after drama and sym- 
phony onslaughts. 

Bodington tells anecdotes and 
reads poetry in the style of his 
daily format but his 30-minute 
Sunday stint avoids any monotony 



AL CAPP 

With Hugh James, announcer 

15 Mins.; Sun., 6 p.m. 

LEE HATS 

ABC, from New York 

(William Weintraub) 
People are always straying out 
of their own backyards Into other 
people's pastures. Drew Pearson's 
is green (with $1 lettuce, among 
other things) and here's Al Capp, 
creator of "Li'l Abner" in the 
comics, exploring it. And the re- 
sult isn't overwhelming happy, 
despite the fun Capp himself seems 
to get out of it. 

Pinchhitting for Pearson while 
the Washington columnist - com- 
mentator vacations, Capp makes no 
pretense of reporting the news or 
anything serious-j-to which listen- 
ers of this period are accustomed 
— devoting himself instead to ram- 
bling repartee and autobiographi- 
cal anecdota, to the evident great 
delight of a small circle of studio 
admirers. After a few opening 
"wise and witty comments," includ- 
ing a little mimicry of the Holly- 
wood gabbers ("Now for my first 
exclusive . . ."), Capp on his sec- 
ond go-round in the stint last Sun- 
day (22) launched into a yarn 
about the time he called for a blind 
date. He was almost through the 
story when announcer Hugh James 
broke in with word that his time 
was up. 

If the idea here was that Capp 
would cop a good Hooper because 
his comic strip is so popular, 
wouldn't it have been more to the 
point to put on Li'l Abner himself? 

Doan. 



because of his wide range of dialect 
and his shying from the usual 
Pollyanna curse. In his choice of 
subject and delivery, this former 
vaudevillian draws on his past ex- 
perience. As Cockney, rube, 
Chinese, carney barker or minstrel 
end-man (when caught), Bodington 
is a one-man revue. 

Don Gordon for background 
music and his own organ inter- 
ludes, is an intangible part of the 
production. Ditto Jimmy Shields 
in his singing of "Now Is the Hour" 
and "Nearer, My God, to Thee." 
But it's Bodington's show, with 
honest sentiment In poetry reading 
as divorced from bathos. McStay. 



Lufkin, Tex. — KTRE has re- 
placed KRBA here as local Mutual 
affiliate. KTRE is also a member 
of the Texas regional, the Lone 
Star Chain. 



CRUSADE FOR CHILDREN 
With Gen. D wight D. Eisenhower, 
Arthur Godfrey, Bob Hop*. 
Dinah Shore, Dorothy Kirsten, 
Artur Rubinstein, Rosalind Rus- 
sell, Madeleine Carroll, Mar- 
garet O'Brien, Edward R. Mur- 
row 

Writers: Norman Corwin, Jean Hal- 

loway, Walter Newman 
Director: William N. Robson 
Supervisor: Guy della-Cioppa 
60 Mins.; Tues. (17), 10 pan., EDT 
Sustaining 

CBS, from HoUywood, Denver and 

N. Y. ;■ .! 

There are two standard types of 
fund-appeal presentations: the 
shocker, utilizing the documentary 
technique In radio, and the benefit 
show, utilizing name-star entertain- 
ment. The hour-long show in ques- 
tion was a combo of about 75% 
benefit show, 25% shocker. It suc- 
ceeded rather well in both cate- 
gories, thanks to a catch-all-types- 
of-listen«r galaxy of guesters and 
really poignant selections from tape 
recordings made in Europe for the 
UN by Allan Sloane. 

General Eisenhower, vacationing 
in Colorado, came in from Denver 
to open the stanza, introducing 
himself, and made additional 
pitches for the aid of the world's 
hungry children midway through 
the hour and at the windup. Arthur 
Godfrey emceed the Hollywood- 
originated guestar sequence a little 
too folksily. Bob Hope hit the. gag 
trail for a par take In boffs. Dinah 
Shore chirped a lullabye and Dor- 
othy Kirsten offered Rachmanin- 
off's "To the Children." Rosalind 
Russell reprised scenes from "Sis- 
ter Kenny." Margaret O'Brien re- 
cited a plaintive "Prayer for Small 
Children." Artur Rubinstein soloed 
at the ivories. Madeleine Carroll 
did a straight pitch for the child- 
ren who "are dying of starvation 
while you listen to this program." 

Edward R. Murrow, in the Ji. Y. 
pickup, narrated the tape recorded 
excerpts. Shocker was a blind, 
armless Italian boy, victim of war 
bombings, trying to learn Braille 
via tip of his nose. Miss Carroll 
had said "the American heart does 
not have to be shocked" — but jn 
case it does, this simply stated case 
was sufficient to that end. 

Stanza was aired in behalf of the 
American Overseas Aid-United Na- 
tions Appeal for Children. Dean. 



Denver— Hugh B. Terry, for past 
seven years station manager -of 
KLZ, Denver, has' been, elected 
secretary-treasurer and director. 



WIND 



CHICAGO 



announces the appointment of 



7<u KATZ AGENCY** 

NEW YORK • CHICAGO • DETROIT • KANSAS CITY 
ATLANTA • DALLAS • SAN FRANCISCO • LOS ANGELES 



as NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES 

"OUTSIDE CHICAGO AREA 



W-I-N-D • 560 KC • CHICAGO'S ONLY 24-HOUR STATION • SOOO WATTS 



S8 



RADIO 



WeAie»lay, August 25, 1948 



Edna Ferber Pulling New Switch By 
Retaining Story Adaptation Rights 



- Edna Ferber has worked out a + 
new gimmick for increasing her 
income from the radio perform- 
ance of her stories. In leasing her 
literary properties for the air, the 
novelist includes in the contract 
the stipulation that the radio adap- 
tation becomes her . property. 
Thus, in subsequent deals for the 
same yarn, she's able to increase 
the price by tossing in the use of 
an already-written radio version. 

For example, when she leased 
the single-performance rights to 
."Cimarron" last season to "Ford 
Theatre," the authoress set a fee 
of $1,000 and also required the 
Kenyon & Eckhardt agency to give 
her ownership of the Howard 
Teichmann adaptation. As a con- 
sequence, the next time anyone 
wants to broadcast the story, Miss 
Ferber can include the adaptation 
for an additional $500 or so. If 
the next sponsor doesn't want a 
full-hour version it would presum- 
ably be fairly simple to cut down 
Teichniann's script. 

There's no question of injustice 
involved in Miss. Ferber's arrange- 
ment. She doesn't (and obviously 
.wouldn't) claim authorship of the 
adaptation, but would, permit the 
adaptor to get air credit if the 
next agency and sponsor desired. 
Also, the adaptor isn't deprived of 
anything when the novelist be- 
comes owner of his script, since its 
value depends on a sponsor leas- 
ing the performance rights to the 
original story. 

The only loser would be the 
agency or sponsor, which under or- 
dinary circumstances would own 
the -adaptation, but in this case 
would have to pay for using it 
again (or paying to have another 
written) if it wanted to repeat the 
same story. But even in that case 
Miss Ferber would presumably 
charge less for the adaptation 
than the agency would have to pay 
to have a new one written. 

On the unlikely chance that 
some other agency were to lease 
the rights to a Ferber story and 
proposition the same writer who 
had done a previous adaptation 
(which the novelist had acquired), 
he could easily do a "new" version 
by making relatively minor re- 
visions from his old script. 



Ward MBS Midwest Mgr. 



I Roosevelt Package j Nobody Wants to Cross Music Bridges, 

II Continued from page 1 =x=i\ n 111 AJI JL Hfl 1 * 

bays 



Chicago, Aug. 24. 
Mac Ward, who joined Mutual's 
sales force less than six months , , • 

ago, was upped to midwest sales [ velts." Mrs. Rposevelt ( _ who Jikes 
manager yesterday (23). Post has 



literature and education," was put 
together by the Masterson, Reddy 
& Nelson production outfit. I.John ! 
Masterson is also producer of j 
ABC's "Bride and Groom" and; 
"Breakfast in Hollywood.") 

Title for the program hasn't been j 
selected. One being mulled is; | 
"Getting Personal with the Roose 



been open since the resignation of 
DeWitt Mv-wrer last May. 

Ward has been a sates exec for 
CBS, th? Blue Network, and, more 
recently, the Adam Young Co., sta- 
tion reps. 



Don Lee Is Renting Out 
Space to CBS for Six 
Coast Audience Shows 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 

Ever since Don Lee's new $3,- 
000,000 edifice shed its scaffolding, 
envious glances have been beamed 
from Columbia Square. All those 
beautiful studios and not too many- 
shows to be put into them. And 
here CBS was carrying a peak load 
of audience shows and shopping 
around for remote space. 

So last week it came to pass. 
Don Thornburgh of CBS broke 
bread with Don Lee's Lewis Allen 
Weiss and the deal was closed. 
Jack Smith will do his warbling 
five nights a week from 1313 Vine 
St., and on Sundays a dramatic 
piece will be installed. It may be 
a little confusing to the sitters 
but CBS ushers will do the seating. 
Columbia will also use its own en- 
gineers. 

When the season is in full swing 
CBS will be broadcasting 56 audi- 
ence shows weekly for a total of 
71 quarter hours from Hollywood. 
That's the heaviest load the net has 
ever carried. 



'Harvest' May Shift Back 



the medium of radio and has fa 
vored ABC, moderated a forum 
series on that net last year. 

New program will originate from 
Hollywood, where Mrs. Boettiger 
will make her home, and from 
wherever Mrs. Roosevelt is at the 
time. Latter, who is a U. S. dele- 
gate to the United Nations, will go 
to Paris next month to attend the 
UN General Assembly. While 
there, her portion of the stanza 
will be shortwaved to the U. S. 
John Reddy of the producing firm 
will accompany Mrs. Roosevelt to 
Europe. 

Deal for the show was set in 
Hollywood between Masterson and 
Charles (Bud) Barry. ABC's pro- 
gram veepee. Fact that the pro- 
gram will originate from the Coast 
apparently precludes any possibili- 
ty, for the time being, of it also 



Yet Cuffo Disks Ready 

Washington, Aug. 24. 

Charles Dillon, Veterans Admin- 
istration director of information 
for radio and television, announced 
last week that the ninth series of 
13 quarter-hour all-star "Here's to 
Veterans" transcriptions is avail- 
able gratis to stations, for broad- 
cast September through November. 

The platters include shows by 
praminent radio artists. 



Greater Cincy Preems 
7th Station in WNOP; 
Nesbitt's Double Duty 



By JACK MEAKIN 

I had a rather disquieting experi- 
ence recently. I was introduced 
to a gentleman at a party and in 
the course of our conversation he 
asked me: "Aren't you in radio?" 
And when I told him I was, he 
asked: "Are you an actor?" "No,", 
I answered, "I'm the musical direc- 
tor on 'The Great GildersleeVe* 
program." "Why, that's one of my 
favorite programs," he said, "that 
Gildy kills me." Then, with a 
questioning glance at me, he con- 
tinued rhetorically: "But there's no 
I music on that show, is there? It's 
I a situation comedy show." 
i And that's where I rose to my 
] own defense. With the courage of 
a crusader I looked my newly- 
made acquaintance squarely in the 
eye and asked: "Have you ■ ever 
heard a musical bridge? You 
know, that little snatch of music 
that 'bridges' from one scene t» 
the next?" I think only in kind- 
ness to me he hesitated before an- 



Cincinnati, Aug. 24. 
Greater Cinoy's broadcasting 
field bulged anew Saturday (2JO 
with the opening of WNOP, a 

1,000 watt daytime indie, in New- i swering: "No, I don't think I have." 



port, on the Kentucky side of the 
Ohio, as the seventh standard sta- 



being an ABC-TV offering, unless, j tion Another Kentucky addition, 
the net decides to film the sequen- WZIP, Covington, also a daytime 



indie, unveiled a year or so ago. 

Dick Nesbitt, president of 
WNOP, which has some county 
officials as part owners and ex- 
ecutives will continue to do sports 

program on WKRC, CBS affiliate, lean see the action as well as hear 
majority stock ownership— and it which he joined nearly a decade j the dialog. The audience can 
means control of twice as many | ago. His station will follow the \ also see the setting in which the 



Reverse Effect 

- continued from paje 26 3 



I hunched my chair closer to his 
and began; "First of all, let's see 
how important the musical bridge 
is to the dramatic or situation com- 
edy radio program. Radio appeals 
to only one of our six serfses, the 
ear. All other forms of dramatic 
entertainment are visual. The 
audience at a play, opera, or film 



stations. , news-on-the-hour. music, sports 

Lawyers point out that in the ! and public interest pattern and aj.- 



realm of big business, the multi 
million and billion dollar Corpora- 
tions are controlled by interests 
which own a relatively small chunk 
of the stock. FCC appears to be in- 
viting the same situation in the 
field of broadcasting, it's claimed, 
irrespective of its good intentions. 

Fact is, with few exceptions, 
there has been no effort in broad- 
casting up to now for octopus con- 
trol of stations via the medium of 

To NBC After CBS Year!:hS lategic minority stock owner " 



GOSS SHIFTS BALTO 
STATIONS ON 'PARADE' 

Baltimore, Aug. 24. • 
Bailey Goss, one of town's lead- 
ing sportscasters, has shifted his 
"National Sports Parade," spon- 
sored by National Brewery through 
Owen & Chappell. from WBAL to 
WCAO. Ten-minute slot, on every 
evening except Sunday at 6:05, has 
been a WBAL feature for 10 years. 

Goss will also handle television 
broadcasts of the Baltimore Colts, 
professional football games, for Na- 
tional over the Baltimore Sun's 
WMAR-TV. 



There's possibility that "Harvest 
of Stars" will return to NBC. It s 
understood the show was moved 
over to CBS last season against 
advice of the agency, McCann- 
Erickson, on insistence of execs in 
International , Harvester. Stanza 
went into the 9:30 p.m. Wednesday 
spot, where it bucked both "Mr. 
District Attorney" and Groucho 
Marx. It's believed the prospect 
of again 'acing this competitive 
combo is back of the contemplated 
return to NBC. 

"Harvest" exited the 2:30 Sun- 
day segment on NBC. The web 
could again offer the IH program 
a Sabbath afternoon time, or 10:30 
Monday nights. Other evening slots 
are sold out. 



The matter is most interesting at 
present in television because that 
is the "hottest" thing in the field 
and is the medium in which big 
money is currently spreading out. 
Several of the big motion picture 
companies — Paramount, 20th. War- 
ners, etc. — have been scrambling to 
own five tele stations to protect 
themselves for the future and to 
assure strategic outlets; for the en- 
tertainment product they may have 
to sell video. One source points out 
that a film company might do itself 
far more good by buying into 10 
well placed stations than by build- 
ing five of its own — and the cost 
might be a lot cheaper. 



Exclusive Pact For 
Stafford on 'Supper' 

Chesterfield's plans for the Sept. 
27 resumption of its NBC "Supper 
■ Club" show are just about com- 
pleted. And for the first time a 
non-exclusive contract is involved. 
This went to Jo Stafford, who'll 
Work Tuesday nights for the cig- 
aret sponsor, and is dickering for 
another program out of Hollywood. 
. As it stands. Perry Como will 
occupy Monday-Wednesday-Friday 
at 7 p.m., supported by an as yet 
unselected maestro and band. Miss 
Stafford does Tuesdays, backed by 
Paul ...Weston's orchestra, and 
Peggy Lee takes the Thursday 
niche, backed by a combo under 
her husband, Dave Barbour. 



Fort Industry Shifts 

Detroit, Aug. 24. 
Fort Industry Co. Friday (20)-an- 
nounced change in . managerial 
operations. Richard E. Jones, for 
eight years commercial manager 
for CKLW, becomes managing di- 
rector- of WJBK-FM. Ralph G. El- 
vln, who for past year has been 
coordinating both sound and tele 
broadcasting, will be managing di- 
rector of video station WTVO, 
Which is expected to be in opera- 
tion Nov. 1. 



Mort Lewis' Kiddie Yarns 
May Be Waxed in Albums 

Mort Lewis, radio scripter with 
Ralph Edwards' "Truth or Conse- 
quences," east for several weeks, 
returns to Hollywood in the next 
week or two. While east, his 
brother, agent Lester Lewis, plans 
setting up a couple of disk albums 
of children's stories created by the 
radio scripter perforce, as result 
of his private charity work in mak- 
ing the rounds' of Los Angeles 
children's wards and entertaining 
them as a raconteur. 

Having run out of Aesop and 
Anderson and kindred material, 
Lewis started improvising, from 
which evolved the idea of waxing 
his original kiddie tales. When 
the nurses heard his "Horse for a 
Day," ad lib born of emergency, 
they suggested book publication. 
From that stemmed the disk idea. 
"Horse for a Day," incidentally, 
was a "consequence" on Edwards 
T or C program, having to do with 
the lucky horse who lunches with 
Trigger (Roy Rogers' horse), basks 
in Hollywood Park watching all the 
other horses run, solos in the win- 
ner's circle as- a surefire derby 
winner, etc. 



TIMES BYLINERS IN 
1ST REGULAR PROGRAM 

N. Y. Times for the first time 
has authorized its top byliners to 
take part in a regularly {scheduled 
program. Stanza, titled "Keep Up 
With the Times," will tee off next 
Wednesday ( 1 ) as a cross-the-board 
feature on the Times' WQXR, N.Y., 
9:45-10 a.m. 

Alice Pentlarge will interview 
the newshawks. Initial guest will 
be Anne O -iare McCormick, Times 
foreign news analyst. 



ready has arranged to carry all 
Ohio State football games. 

Four former Crosley staffers, 
popular in these parts, are on 
WNOP schedules. Ramona, pianist- 
singer, and her husband, At Hei- 
fer, who did sports before turning 
news commentator, are doing a 
half-hour "Breakfast at 8" music 
and chat program from their 
home. Burt Farber, pianist, and 
Sylvia, warbler, are doing . sep- 
arate morning and evening disk 
jockey stints. 

Cincy'.i fourth F M station, 
WSAI-FM, Marshall Field prop- 
erty and ABC affiliate, is sched- 
uled to tee off Sept. 1. 



CHI STATION OWNER 
ROBBED BY GUNMEN 

Chicago, Aug. 24. 

Gene T. Dyer, owner of WAIT, 
Chicago, was robbed of money and 
jewelry valued at $23,000 when five 
gunman forced their way into his 
Libertyville, 111., home Sunday 
night (28). Dyer, his wife, and 
E. J. Bulwinkel, who works at 
Dyer's Skycrest Country Club, near 
Libertyville, were bound and left 
on the floor while the bandits ran- 
sacked the house. 

Loot included a $10,000 diamond 
ring and a collection of firearms 
valued at $2,000. 



Fort Wayne — William A. Kun- 
kel, 3d, has become treasurer of 
Northeastern Indiana Broadcasting 
Co., Inc.. which operates WKJG 
and WK.IG-FM, Fort Wayne, suc- 
ceediflg Frank E. McKinney, who 
sold his stock to W. A. Kunkel, Jr., 
president of the firm. Virgil M. 
Simmons, Bluffton, Ind.. was elec- 
ted a director, succeeding McKin- 
ney. 



McGill Recuping Now 
From Brain Operation 

Radio director Earle McGill is 
reported in satisfactory condition 
alter a brain operation last Friday 
(20) in N- Y. hospital. He was 
transferred there in serious con- 
dition Wednesday (18) from the 
Hospital for Joint Diseases, N. Y. 
According to physicians, he will be 
hospitalized for a month or more, 
but is expected to be able ulti- 
r ately to resume his career. 

As retiring national president of 
the Radio & Television Directors 
Guild, McGill flew to the Coast a 
couple of weeks- ago to attend the 
organization's convention. But he 
collapsed on the way and was taken 
directly from the airport to the 
hospital. He was brought back on 
the train a week later by William 
Sweets, new RTDG prez, and Mrs. 
Sweets. 



Harris-Faye-Maxwell 
Troupe Back From Europe 

Back from a British vaude tour 
and a stint in Gerntany, where 
they entertained American occupa- 
tion troops, Phil Harris, Alice 
Faye, Marilyn Maxwell and guitar- 
ist Frank Remley of Harris' radio 
show, returned to the Coast Fri- 
day (20). 

Harris, who acquired a British 
auto abroad, motored to the Coast 
in it accqmpanied by Remley. 



action takes place. In radio the 
listening audience can only hear 
the action. 

A Tall Assignment 
"Thus, music is employed to as- 
sist in providing the setting in 
which the action takes place. Mu- 
sic must substitute for the curtain 
rising and falling at the beginning 
and ending of every act. The mu- 
sical bridge must take the place of 
a change of scene on the stage or 
a dissolve on the screen. It must 
completely describe the mood at 
the end of one scene and just as 
completely transport the listener 
to the mood at the beginning of 
the next. And this all in 10 sec- 
onds, for if the bridge is too long 
or too involved it ruins the pace 
and the program has a tendency to 
drag. 

"And another thing," I con- 
tinued," "a lot of thought and hard 
work are put into the composition 
of musical bridges. Unlike the mo- 
tion pictures in which the com- 
poser of the musical background 
is able to develop a mood through- 
out an entire scene or ev^n many 
scenes, the composer of dramatic 
music for radio has to create his 
mood quickly and accurately. He 
must say musically as much as 
possible or is demanded in the 
shortest possible time. He has 
to say it unobtrusively. If the 
mood of the radio listener changes 
with the musical bridge without 
the listener being conscious of 
what the orchestra was actually 
playing, then the bridge has been 
Well written." 

As I finished we both rose from 
our chairs. The gentleman shook 
my hand weakly, mumbled some- 
thing about musicians, turned and 
walked away: I think I got over 
my point, to him, but I don't know. 



FCC TO LICENSE LOW 
POWER SCHOOL SERVICE 



Washington, Aug. 24. 
Non-c 0 m m e r cial educational 
broadcast service of low power, of 
Miss Faye (Mrs. Harris), Miss Max- 1 10 watts or less, will now be li- 
well and Mrs, Remley trained but, 
Harris resumes his alrcr Oct. 3 



while Miss Maxwell is mulling an 
indie film. 



Seattle AFRA Elects 



censed, the FCC announced last 
week. 

Syracuse and DePauw universi- 
ties have been operating on 2'i 
walls with special temporary per- 
mits, but shortly after the rule is 
changed Sept. 27, Syracuse will be 
granted Us application for a li- 
cense, 

FCC said the U. S. Office of Edu- 
cation favors the licensing of low- 



Minneapolis, Aug. 24. 
Gordon Tucll, KIKO announcer, 
has been elected president of the 

Seattle local of the American Fed- power FM transmitters for school 



Boston — John Wilkoff has been 
appointed promotion manager at 
WCOP, Hub's ABC outlet. He was 
formerly with WCAE, Pittsburgh. 



eration of Radio Artists, succeed- 1 systems, 
ing Cliff Hansen, K.IIl, who hud 
served as president for the past 
two years. 

Fred Vonn, KING, was named 
vice-president; Bob Spcnce, free- 
lancer, secretory-treasurer, and 
Gloria Thomps6n, KOMO, record- 
ing secretary. Hanscr and Jack 
Kinzel, KIRO, former business 
agent were chosen delegates to the 
national convention. 



Nashville— -WSM is inaugurating 
a series of pre-season football 
broadcasts involving facilities of 
six stations in the South. 

Broadcasts to be transcribed on 
college campuses, will be packaged 
as a quarter-hour 13 week series 
and offered for Individual spon- 
sorship in each of the towns in- 
volved. 



Wednesday* August 25, 1948 



Lack of Recorded Songs for Ballyhoo 
Crimping Many Smaller Publishers 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



S9 



Most of the medium and smaller 
music publishers are fast approach- 
ing the end of their skein of re- 
corded songs. If the disk ban con- 
tinues li'ore than a couple months 
longer, the majority of these pubs 



Eddie Condon to Head 
Tele Jazzique on WPIX 

Eddie Condon, jazz guitarist who 
did two television shows for CBS 



wU l be in ^» 0 "\^°" r b o 1 mo J h 7;" j before the war, will return to video 
have no disks to promote new ncxt Tuesday (31) wpix N y 

songs, and the music business to- Condon will head a week y broad^ 
day completely revo ye* around cast t b produced' by World Video 
the exploitation provided a new mA which P will tell tn J e ^™ 0 ^ 
song by even one platter. I direct from the stand Qf m gui J tar _ 

Of course, many of the firms in- ist's nitery (Eddie Condon's Club) 



eluded in the group mentioned 
• above have been in existence since 
before or came into being since 
the war. In some cases they have 
tunes in the files which were re- 



in New York's Greenwich Village. 

Bob Sylvester, N. Y. Daily News 
drama editor (News owns WPIX), 
will m.c. the broadcasts, first of 
which, title "Mardi Gras," will tell 



'Something Sweet' Gets 
Major Disk Attention 

"Say Something Sweet to Your 
Sweetheart" is the newest melody 
to which all major companies are 
turning recording attention, follow- 
ing the London disking by Anne 
Shelton <md Sam Browne. Tune 
is in a melodic vein similar to "You 
Call Everybody Darling," "My 
Happiness," etc. 

Victor cut it last week with Eve 
Young and the Drugstore Cowboys, 
and Capitol made it with Jo Staf- 
ford and Gordon MacRae back- 
grounded by the Starlighters. Mer- 
cury made a version. Others are 
preparing sides. 



corded before the ban but which \ the history of New Orleans jazz. 



didn't achieve public attention 
These tunes already are being 
looked over with an eye to reissu- 
ing them and getting disk manu- 
facturers to reissue recordings. It's 
felt' that such tunes may keep some 
of the firms in business until the 
disk ban is lifted. 

Smaller companies which were 
vnable to get more than a couple 
tunes on wax before the ban, for 
one reason or another, will be in 
real trouble, however. And the 
majors, incidentally, don't feel too 
badly about it; most big pubs feel 
there are too many firms in exist- 
ence. 

None of the majors has anything 
to worry about. They all have con- 
siderable amounts of material on 
wax. 



Idea will call for the use of guest 
names such as Tommy Dbrsey, 
Gene Krupa, et al., depending on 
who's available. Show will be up 
for sponsorship. Ernie Anderson 
will assist in production. 



Sync 




Back to Normal 



Licensing of music for synchron- 
ization purposes, which fell off to 
nothing immediately following Jus- 
tice Vincent L. Leibcll's N. Y. fed- 
eral court decision' against the 
American Society of Composers, 
Authors i.nd Publishers, is back to 
normal. Harry Fox, agent and 
trustee for most pubs in Hollywood 



RCA Biz Upsurge 
Catches It With 
its Plants Dawn 

Upsurge in disk sales during the 
past 10 days caught KCA-Victor so 
unprepared that for the first time 
in many months the company's 
production facilities were lagging 
behind demand. During the past 
week or so RCA has added a num- 
ber of pressing-plant personnel to 
the payroll, as has most of the 

| other majors, Columbia, Decca and 

| Capitol. 

If sales continue to move up- 

I ward, it's likely that as Xmas ap- 
proaches the factories closed by 
Columbia and Decca will be re- 
opened. Columbia several months 
ago folded its King's Mill, Ohio, 
plant, the largest in its siring. 
Decca has folded one plant in New 
York and another in Richmond, 
Ind. 

Xmas biz as a rule consumes an 



NX State Tax Men Don t Agree With 
U.S. Supreme Ct., Causing Tangles 



Coast AFM Okays 7thNite 
For 'Act' Musickers 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 
Musicians' Local 47 is quietly 
okaying full-week engagements, 
providing the members can qual- 
ify under an "act" classification. 



Imminent issuance by the Amer- 
ican Federation of Musicians of a 
new contract blank replacing, its 
much-abused Form B is expected 
to further scramble the tax situa- 
tion of bandleaders in New York 
State. Tax department officials in 
N. Y. continue to insist that as far 
as they are concerned the person 
who hires a band is. its employer 



deals, has found the traffic in 

licenses back at normal flow for increasingly larger slice of produc 
the past week or 10 days even j tion, starting in September, and if 
though it has *ot been decided as this year s holiday sales are even - 
to whether a publisher and/or fairly close to last season's, quite 
songwriters legally own exhibition an amount of extra production 
rights, which Justice Leibell de- 1 would be necessary to keep up 



Here's Another Of 
Those Music Suits 
By Ira Amstein 

Ira B. Arnstein, songwriter, who 
has been a prplific litigant — invari- 
ably unsuccessfully — has started 
another suit of an all-embracing 
character. Acting as his own lawyer , 
and giving his 343 West End ave-' 
nue (N. Y.) home as his filing ad- 
dress, Arnstein's grievances run the 
gamut from alleged plagiarism by 
"Nature Boy" and dozens of other 
w. k. songs, to conspiracy by the 
American Society of Composers, 
"Authors & Publishers and the Mu- 
sic Publishers Protective Assn. to 
keep him from earning, a living, 
barring him from membership, etc. 

Variety and its editor are also' 
named co-defendants with the alle- 
gation that "Abel Green and 
Variety have been induced or sub- 
sidized by them la roster of de- 
fendants previously named) to print 
the most amazing distortions and 
falsehoods about all of plaintiff's 
lawsuits." 

The Herald Tribune (he 
doesn't identify it as the N. Y. 
daily) also printed false and libel- 
ous information which; gave its 
readers the impression that plain- 
tiff was a crackpot who suffered 
from delusions that his music was 
being plagiarized — that's another 
allegation, coupled with the charge 
against Variety. 

Crestview Music Corp., Burke, 
Van Heusen, Inc.. Edwin H. Morris 
& Co., Inc.. King Cole and Eden 
Ahbez, ASCAP, Deems Taylor, 
(Continued on page 44) 



with demand at the same time pop 
and classical fare gets its share, 

Mercury label, incidentally, 
claims that instead of being off in 
sales all through the slump, it ac- 
tually has been increasing totals. 
It's asserted, for example, that 
sales for the current month are 
running 36% ahead of August, 
Meanwhile ASCAP itself has not j 1947. -The company, of course, is j companies are beginning to show 
made any moves. Robert. W. Pat- larger now than it was then. | the effects of the buffeting they've 

terson, ex-Secretary of War and I taken in recent weeks from tunes 

president of the N. Y. Bar Assn.. JA C r*TTir TAATODC I that .?*J5f,5S W °^l d be , shunte . d 
whom ASCAP retained to advise it ' 40 SEATTLE TutlTERa I mto the hillbilly and country music 



cided were not ASCAP's. 

Fox has been quoting prices to 
Hollywood producers, who must 
have a constant flow of music re- 
gardless of legal stymies, which in- 
clude "if and when" clauses. These 
producers will pay for exhibition 
rights on top of sync rights as soon 
as the snarl is focused 



lation sternly forbidding any musr 
cian working a location job for 
more than six nights per week. 

Union is not likely to okay any 
musicians working full time at 
scale, and, of course, no mere 
sidemen. But if a group or- single 
can prove to Local 47 execs that no 
average call-in musicians can do 
their "acts," and that biz in a spot 
will droop during that seventh 
night, union will abrogate its own 
rule for the occasion. Last year 
the "non-seventh-night" regulation 
was established to spread work 
among union members. 



Cugat 



s Deal With 
SA Dentist like 
Pulling Teeth 



not the leader. That was the con- 
tention of the AFM's Form. B, 
which for more than five years 
forced buyers to underwrite both 
unemployment and social security 
taxes. ' ; ;; 

N. Y. state's argument is based 
on a decision by the State Court of 
Appeals. Ruling which eliminated 
Form B's tax clause was 'made by 
the U. S. Supreme Court, which 
declared that a bandleader was 
the employer and, as such,- obli- 
gated for the tax sums. 

As a result of the state and Gov- 
ernment connection, there have 
| been many mixups. Bandleaders 
! who have paid unemployment 
| taxes for their men have had the 
j money returned to then* long after, 
i Spot owners who had not been 
I paying, under the impression that 
;the U. S. Supreme Court ruling 
i eliminated their responsibility, 
| have been dunned for the same 
| taxes. In many cases the tax. sums 
I had been added to bandleaders' 
I salaries (where scale salaries ha* 
j been paid). Spots therefore wound 
! up paying the taxes twice., 
I In situations such as that, the 
spot pays 2.7% to the state. At 



Montevideo, Aug. 14. 
For some time Xavier Cugat, 
through representatives, has been 
dickering with River Plate im- , 

presarios, to line up a 1949 tour ] the end of the year, the bandleader 
in Brazil, Uruguay, Chile and Ar- ] makes a report to the Government 
gentine listing and getting credit for and 

Until' recently it looked as deducting all state taxes paid. In 
though the deal might jell for th,s case - not havu 18 P? td to .the 



Cugat to open in Argentina in Feb- 
ruary, 1949, at the gigantic Mar 
del Plata Casino on the Atlantic 
| coast, seguing later to Buenos 
Aires, when the summer season 
closes. In the city he would double 
in a musical revue at the Casino, 
legit theatre, and in the Embassy 



state he gets no credit Briefly, he 
pays the Government and the spot 
pays the state on the same Job 
whereas under ordinary circum- 
stances only one, the leader or tlW' 
employer, would pay. Then it's ;up 
to the spot owner to try to recover;, 
from the bandleader. The tangle 



Pop A&R Men 
Corn Conscious 



Pop division artists and reper- 
toire directors of various recording 



iegu meaire, ana in ine cmoassy ,; i . — r 

nitery, after midnight. In addition 18 drivi ng band accountant s crazy 
he would have two weekly broad- 

casts; over one of the major net-1 t* } T\ ft 

works, with Miindo and Belgriino ! Lf/ivMtl a KAtr 
battling for the honor. The blue- Jjcfjlll $ DUI1 

print also called for two Cugat 
shows at the Luna Park Stadidm, ! 
which seats around 20,000, at popu-' 
lar prices. 

Deal involved some $80,000 
(U. S.) between transportation and 
talent fees, and the financing 
hinged on the Mar del Plata Casino 
tiein. Impresarios feel that with 
| holiday-makers at the Atlantic re- 
sort all on spendfhg sprees, bring- 



on the case, is still on vacation. 
He's studying the testimony and 
decision, and isexpected to return 
the first week in September with a 
course iaid out for ASCAP. It's 
quite possible, many music men 



divisions, or not recorded at al). 
rnpM QVMPH flRPH Since the advent of the type of tune 
rUnlll Dl Willi V1H/Ii: that is more successful currently 
Seattle, Aug. 24. | than the best Tin Pan Alley writ- 
Long-brewing controversy over , ers can dream up, a & t execs have 
symphony orchestra activities here become so conscious of what they 
,.„c,',n^i in formation of a term "commercial" music that it 



London Personal 

London, Aug. 24. 
Irving Berlin, currently visiting 
London isproving receptive to sug- 
gestion thrown out by Emile Litt- 
ler that he should come back here 
ine ri.eat south would he » oavinc to write a successor for "Annie Get 
nl£n i Your Gun " at the Coliseum, also 

pi "position. , „ M star Dolores Gray and Bill John- 

However, when Cugat s reps ap- . son . Berlin says he would like, 
prbached the program director of ! nothing better, but emphasizes it 
the Mar del Plata gambling spots, : wou)d not oe done before "Annie" 
; they found that the latter— a politi- | terminates its run, and that is not 
; cal appointee of the Buenos Aires i ukely to be for at least another 
provincial government — is a dental ! year. 

surgeon with only a very limited! ti,,™.j<„ rtavo « , 

knowledge of the entertainment ftll ^^ 1 ^6) Berlin planes 

field. He had never heard of ; f" 1 *™? 'EEL on „ a , two-day trip 
Cugafs Latin terping, and blinked i tJt^L^i^ winners, of a- 
at the asking price, Stating that he I f,^5 W f„ nv Z v Sc ; hed " 

"could easily get several local i ultd to fIy back to New . York on 



Single"' £dS?f & ! s>n£^^™^™ j occupies most of their conversa 
tSSSSii- vision and, instead, fa- appointment of Cecilia Schultz tion and planning^ 
vor seeking a consent decree from veteran concert manager and And for good reason, fcucn tunes 
tte GS^tm^SS^^A put' lessee of the Moore theatre, as j occupy many of the positions on 
ASCAP ^bS the reach of mo ! manager of the as -yet unnamed I each company's private bestseller 
nopoly suits. outfit The new .group proposes l lists, and combined disk bes sellers 



Sept. 2. 



ROW ON STANDBYS 
FOR CANADIAN FAIR 



to nlav 16 concerts at the Moore. . show 10 of the 25 slots taken by 
but conferences are still continuing i material that formerly received , of a suitable size 
between the musicians group and only brief attention. As a result, 
the executive board of the Seattle a & t heads accustomed to deahng 
Symphony Orchestra Assn. 



The Symphony Assn. had an- 
Toronto, Aug. 24. nounced that it would operate dur- 
Decision of the Canadian Na- ing the coming season with guest 
tional-Exhibition authorities to dis- conductors, and that hiring ot a 
pense with Canadian standby bands permanent conductor and any ex- 

to connection with the appearances pension of the season would have cernea^ , „ d 
here of Tommy Dorsey. Gene to wait on greater financial aid £ Your Sweet heart and are eye 
Krupa and the Olsen and Johnson , The formation of a "permanent tog Combe t S ™°" y j ne earthy 
grandstand show, has given rise to symphony orchestra" by 40 mus- It. s possible, loo, that the eartny 



with "smart" music don't • take 
many chances with "corn." The 
minute one begins to cause a rip- 
ple anywhere they assign it for 
rutting immediately. This week, 
for example, the majors are con- 
Say Something Sweet 



GLEN GRAY SLATED 



.•auastana show, has given rise to sympnony orci c»u a »j fvn „ nf ma h>ria! is influencing sales 

« dispute between the Musical Pro- cians. all regular members of the type of material « to & 

tective Assn. and civic officials of former orchestra, followed. in the straight hilimny ana coim 

Canada's annual two-weeks' fair, j — ~~ 

Unless matter is settled, Canadian | CAMPBELL'S SAILING 
wuon musicians with other CNE ; Jjmmy CampbeU , ex .Reg Con 



at An^l 0n f S ma yw« ndraw - v Ineny'sniusic .publishing and song- 
Apart from Dorsey and Krupa nel .'-, . " '. t „ a ,., is elated to 
engagements, controversy centers " smithing parbwi Us . n0 * u s,al |? ™ 
on the imported 40-piece orchestra , »« « ^nftead of 

fo Play for Olsen and Johnson's ! the S. S. ™naanger im ^ 
Xaffacade of 1948." which is be- , coming to New Y^«S,™ft« 



try music division. The bestseller 
list of RCA-Victor. lor example, 
was topped last week by an Eddy 
Arnold recording. He led all pop 
artists and bands in sales. 



Glaser's Coast Look 

Joe G laser, head of Associated 



~.w .. ul iu Ul u nrpnxc miucsua.- „ Trftn J anecr instead of 

}o Play for Olsen and Johnson's ! the S. S. ™naanger ins >■ 

Xaffacade of 1948." which is be. .coming [to New ^oik and «-« ng . fw m Coast m 

tog produced by Leon Leonldoff as : from the eastern port lor his native s Hollywood of- 



Milt Dcutseh, (oih 



the grandstand attraction. Claim js England. fice underway, 

that the Canadian union wants a Sam Goslow and a hosto sno^w , ^ Co „ Uncntal ArtistS( 

wparate orchestra unit to play for | folk came ^to his aid dmw g e r ^ ^ 

th* outdoor acts preceding the cent incarceration in ™ ™ 
0 & j revue. i iCal.) J a>1 oa a chetk tnalfie 



Glaser stays west only a week. 



; classical orchestras together for i e^n^mith mart* hie t;™t ta—ts u 
less than that amount." This prac- ' m „^ g l^ , 2152^5^2 rs , t En 8»sh 
tically stymied the deal,' and I ™" S ' C KS !! T ny 

ICugat's reps are now dickering fl 3 '",^" h a e . JJS^S.'S fro "l 
1 with imnmariiK nn thu Ttrn tlle a "dience at the Palladium at 
'2 a X e River Plate "o'? e behe c f , of ^e headlining An- 
; Im him in "he Uruguayan'tsort I d ^„ s tn f^ e w » fought 
rations of whirh thprp arp R«vprai down me tiouhe with his cracked- 
e A s i n0 .^°l, W ^„ there ye several, voice renditions and, to further 

sew up the audience, did a dance 
turn with Patti Andrews. 

The Andrews are crowding the 
Palladium theatre record now held 

TOREORGLOMABAND ported close to the absolute house 

Glen Gray, who disbanded his j opacit y of $32,000. 
orchestra months ago to tempo rari- ! ' : — ~ 

home, is bent on reorganizing his LES BROWN RENEWED 

Casa Loma orchestra. However.; _^ _ „___ _ _ 

SSStt S ZSS2!S£1& | F0R B0B WW SHOW 

of a maximum of perhaps 15 men Les Brown's orch has been re- 
as against the much larger outfit he newed for the Bob Hope show, 
broke up. which returns to the air Sept. 14-. 

Gray split the band originally He'll use a 19-piece band, consist- 
due to difficulties the band busi- '"g of four sax, five brass, four 
ness was in last winter, plus which rhythm and six strings, a much 
he needed a long rest. It was the smaller group than he conducted 
first time the Casa Loma crew, . on last season's show, 
which at one time had been the ! Brown's and the Skinny Ennis 
No. 1 band of the country, had hands are the only two Hope has 
been out of existence in about 18 "sed for more than one season. 
yeai . s , v Pacting of Brown's orch is one of 

j. the first moves toward organizing 

i Fay's theatre, Providence, will , the upcoming season's cast, an 
resume vaude Sept. 3. booked by other elements of last season's cast 
Joe Feinberg agency. t having been dropped. 



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VrJufsday, August 25, 1948 

Inside Orchestras-Music 

Pee Wee Hunt's waxing of "12th Street Rag'' for Capitol Records Is 
one of the few disklicks in wax history which w as actually etched as a 
nalio transcription, not a platter. Capitol recorded the item last year 
as a portion of transcription series Hunt made for subsid of the stand- 
8 rd Cap label. Several months ago Cup execs exhumed the work cut a 
chorus out of iUand marketed it as a straight disk. Nationally "Rae" 
j, as racked up sales orders totalling 450,000 copies. Hunt, who waxed 
tune at a flat fee, has been given a new royalty per-platter sale ticket 
Hunt hit has reawakened interest in his outfit and General Artists Corp 
signed combo to three-year pact, inking crew into Rag Doll Chi nitcry 
next month at $1,250 per week. Hunt cut away from Music Corp of 
America late last spring after being with that agency for about five 
years, since he broke with Casa Loma to form own combo here. 

Columbia Records is continuing the idea of selecting from time to 
time five new releases and concentrating exploitation and promotion on 
them. Company feels that it was very successful with the initial five 
disks so marked for special attention, and during the past two weeks 
concluded choosing the second five. 

Among the new sides to be spotlighted by extra-powerful promotion 
are Dinah Shore's "Buttons and Bows" and Frank Sinatra's "Melan- 
choly Baby" and "Kiss Me Again." Initial batch consisted of Doris 
Day-Buddy Clark's "Love Somebody," still riding high; Sinatra's "I've 
Got a Crush On You"; Kay Kyser's "Woody Woodpecker" (which 
needed little promotion), and two others. 



Max C. Freedman, who collaborated on "Heartbreaker." "Sioux City 
Sue" and "Tea Leaves," among the past year s hits, authored "Give 
Me Back Those Kisses," in collaboration with Jean Blaine and Sid 
Onflick. Recorded by Emile Cote for the Algene label, Leeds Music 
just picked it up for publication. Despite the Petrillo ban, the song- 
smith states he hit his peak in the last two or three years, both for 
diskings and publications, after more than 30 years of songwriting. This 
leads him to the conclusion that, despite the fact he often wanted to 
quit, his wife's axiom may have been correct when she persisted, "A 
winner never quits and a quitter never wins." 



Musicians' Local 47 has determined that after next Wednesday (1) 
all arrangers, orchestrators and copyists must, collect half the fee for 
any job upon contracting for it and the rest o£ the coin when they turn 
in the work. Excluded from this regulation is any work performed for 
a film studio or radio network program. Union drew up the rule fol- 
lowing numerous complaints by arrangers that various bands haven't 
been paying off for arrangements. Films and radio have caused no 
squawks in this regard. Members of Local 47 are being notified that 
any arrangers found violating the new regulation may be punished by 
the Trial Board. 



OKCHKSTKAS-MIJSIC 



41 



Best British Sheet Sellers 

(Week ending Aug. 19) 

London, Aug. 24. 

Galway Bay Box & Cox 

Ballerina Maurice 

Woody Woodpecker Leeds 

Heartbreaker Leeds 

Time May Change . .- Connelly 

You Can't Be True Chappell 

Four-Leaf Clover . F. D. & H. 

Dream of Olwen Wright 

Golden Earrings Victoria 

Near You Wood 

Million Tomorrows Connelly 

Toolie Oolie Southern 

Second 12 

After All . Cinephonic 

Ought to Be Society Kassner 

Nature Boy Morris 

Rambling Rose Dash 

Serenade of Bells Morris 

Tree in Meadow Connelly 

Laroo Dash 

Civilization Morris 

Miranda Kassner 

You Do Chappell 

I May Be Wrong Wright 

Wishing Waltz Gay 



Jocks, Jukes and Disks 



By Berate Woods 



Latest record of the month club, called "Music of the Month Club," 
made its bow in Chicago recently. It purposes to operate like the 
book of the month clubs, offering free albums with every five albums 
bought, the yearly minimum requirement. Buyer has choice of five 
albums per month. Music shops will take subscriptions, but shipments 
will be made direct. Contact for selections has been made with 45 
diskers. but no names were given out and check with the majors re- 
vealed that none had any deals with the company. First album is due 
out Sept. 10. 



Eight Benny Goodman sides, featuring Peggy Lee, will be released 
by Columbia Records this week but chirp will get no coin despite equal 
billing with bandleader. Miss Lee made sides when earning $100 
weekly with Goodman orch in 1941 and she received from BG $25 
extra for each face etched. Columbia makes no bones about reissuing 
the platters primarily because Miss Lee is this year, on Capitol label, 
the best-selling femme singer on shellac 

4 




New Favor Cues Release 



DINAH SHORE TO DISK IN 
ENGLAND WHILE P.A -ING 

Dinah Shore, one of Columbia 
Records' top artists, will cut disks 
in Engian. when she plays the Pal- 
ladium theatre, London, next 
month. Columbia has a set of 
tunes planned for the singer to 
put on wax with English musicians 
backgrounding. 

Miss Shore arrived in 'New York 
yesterday (Tuesday) from the 
Coast and sails Friday (27) for 
England. She is one of the half 
dozen or sc major artists who have 
not done any recording since the 
disk ban was put into effect last 
Jan. 1. 



N.Y. Hotel Penn Maps Bow 
Sept. 20; No Band Set 

Pennsylvania hotel. New York, 
expects to reopen its Cafe Rouge 
about Sept. 20, but as yet hasn't 
decided on the choice of a band. 
Room folded Saturday (21) for re- 
furbishing at the end of Skitch 
Henderson's run. 

James McCabe, director of the 
Penn, has had conversations with, 
both Tommy Dorsey and Vaughn 
Monroe to reopen the room. Dorsey 
is said to have asked $4,000 weekly 
to play the spot for the first time 



Of 1933 Boswell Disk ! in five years, but McCabe won't go 



New York 

' Les Elgart formed a new band 
in N.Y. consisting of five brass, 
four sax, three rhythm ... Pat 
Laird, who was with Russ Morgan 
before, rejoins the band at the 

BiUmore J?« of • • • George Mario j Miss Boswell's "It's All My Fault 
back in N.Y. after giving up on 
quick car wash venture in Wilm- 1 Arcnes 



Connee Boswell recording 
"Underneath the Arches," made in 
1933 for the old Brunswick label, 
Will be released this week by Co- 
lumbia Records to take advantage 
of the new surge here of the Eng- 
lish tune. Disk will be backed by 



of | that high. As for Monroe, his or- 
ganization is made up of 33 people 
and even if he were to draw flat 
scale the tap would be consider- 
able. 



which came to life in 



ington. Del., with Leonard Vanner- 
son and Dave Jacob, who also quit 
and returned to Coast . . . Thomas 
G. Rockwell, General Artists pres- 
ident: back in N. Y. from Coast . . . 
Commodore Records wrote a new 
contract with production employees 
union for Yonkers plant, losing 
only one day's work; it had been 
rumored plant had shut down . . . 
Regent and Savoy labels will be 
distributed in Canada by Regal • • 
Records, Ltd. . . . Vaughn Monroe | ; ; 
established a new attendance rec- 
ord at Convention Hall, Asbury | 
Park, N. J., drawing 18,000 people | •• 
in six days and going $1,600 into j I 
Percentage above $12,500 salary, j . . 
• . . Lamplighters, formerly with 
Ray McKinley, reorganized as 
single act and added Rita Ryan 
Charlie Ventura-Billy Eckstine set , - • 
for Blue Note, Chicago, opening!" 
Nov. 8 . . . Johnny Long band into ! , . 
Strand theatre, N.Y~, Sept 17. first 
date on Broadway in two years . . . 
Stan Kenton into Paramount thea- 
tre about Dec, 1. 

Norman Cogan's orch closes at 
Hotel Seven Gables, Greenfield 
Park, n. Y.. Labor Day, then, moves 
to Hotel Erin, Atlantic City, for 
four weeks. 



the U. S. recently due to the Primo 
Scala London label recording, was 
big in England in 1932, when the 
Boswell Sisters worked that coun- 
try. 



BMI Expands Offices 

Chicago, Aug. 24. 
Broadcast Music, Inc? is expand- 
ing regional licensing offices 
throughout the country. 

Field reps are setting up district 
offices now in major cities. 



The manner in which indie re- 
cording companies have made the 
majors look bad in recent months 
has been a source of amazement. 
The indies have consistently bred 
hits which the majors have been 
forced to appropriate for their 
own in order to compete. 'But that 
doesn't prove anything beyond the 
fact that the indies have been ex- 
tremely lucky: as for the majors, 
they were unfortunate in getting 
caught in a switch of public taste 
at a time when the disk ban pre- 
vented recording. 

As it stands, the smaller com- 
panies accidentally struck the 
mother lode of buying trends 
mainly' because they were well 
aware that in using comparatively 
unknown artists to cut major 
publishers' pops they would not 
be able to buck in the market the 
same tunes done by major names. 
So, they, were forced to record 
items the majors did not or 
weren't likely to make. When buy- 
ers showed a tendency over the 
counter for the simpler corny style 
of music, the indies found them- 
selves in the driver's seat and well 
out in front of the majors, which 
had simply been following a pat- 
tern, 

The situation proves one thing 
beyond any possible doubt, if there 
are any doubters left on the sub- 
ject — the song is the primary 
item. For every indie disk that 
clicks there are hundreds of badly 
recorded, poorly rendered and in- 
adequately processed sides. And 
in more than one instance indie 
Kits have been in this category. 
Yet they, have and are clicking, 
making it quite obvious that a hit 
will hit regardless of who does it 
or how well, who produces it, and 
often with but little help from the 
promotion pitches of a publisher. 

For years the argument of how 
important a major name is to a 
tune has raged. This artist or that 
one has been pointed out as a "hit- 
maker." There's no question that 
it's much more desirable to have 
a Perry Como, a Bing Crosby or 
any top name perform a tune. It 
gets that much of a headstart. But 
if the tune isn't there nothing they 
or the publisher can do will make 
it click, » 

Ray Anthony "Bye Bye Blues" — 
"London Bridge Is Falling Down" 
(Signature). Hay, Anthony's 
orchestra has moved back into a 
more commercial style and is mak- 
ing good strides, particularly in 
the midwest. This release of "Bye 
Bye" is fine from, the b.o. angle. 
Arranged much like Tommy Dor- 
sey might have done it in 1940, the 
side uses a dance beat and Ronnie 
Beauviile and band chorus for ex- 
cellent results. Jocks "and jukes 
will both find it good. "London 
Bridge" opens its run like it would 
race "Blues," but it stumbles over 
an arranger's imagination and falls 
fiat. 

Bing Crosby "Ain't Doin Bad 
Doin' Nothin"— "Ida I Do." (Decca). 
Both sound like they were made 
last year, when Crosby didn't care 
much. But his lazy approach to 



PftRIETY 



Chicago 

Al Trace's orch at Blackhawk 
slaying, on indefinitely . . . Bt» 
Kanter, contactman, joined Camp- 
bell Music . . . Sarah Vanghan re- 
turns to Blue Note after Chicago 
theatre hiatus, Aug. 30. backed by 
Jill Harris and Shelley Mann . . . 
Mnjtssy Sjuutfer, Pee Wee Kussell. 
Miff Mole an* Art Taeum open 
get. 11 at Blue Note . . . "BwUets" 
"■reom in for Page Cavanaugh 
opening; at Oriental . . . Floria* 
*»»ach into Brown hofe), Louis- 
ville, after Palmer House stint 
ends Sept 15 . . . Carl Sands* house 
oieh leader at Oriental, celebrates 
(Continued on page 44) 



10 Best Sellers oh Coiihlfecfc!^^, 



5, 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 

10. 



, ,. ( Dick Haymes Decca «. 

IT'S MAGIC (9) (Witmark) ■••) Doris Day Columbia 

TREE IN MEADOW (4) (Shapiro-B) Margaret Whiting Capitol V. 

YOU CALL EVERYBODY DARLING (8) (Mayfalr). . , Al Trace . .Repent ;; 

j Jon & Sandra Steele Damon • • 

MY HAPPINESS (15) (Blasco) ...... \Pi e d pipers ..Capitol 

12TH STREET RAG (2) (Shapiro-B) , Pee Wee Hunt. Capitol 

YOU CAN'T BE TRUE DEAR (20) ^Biltmore) Griffin-Wayne ..- ..Rondo 

HAIR OF GOLD (2) (Mellin) Harmonicatt Universal. 

MAYBE YOU'LL BE THERE <4> (BVC) Gordon Jenkins Decca 

I OVE SOMEBODY (10) (Kramer-W.) . . .'. D. Doy-B. Clark .... ...Columbia ± 

. . . ) Kay Kyser Columbia 

WOODY WOODPECKER SONG (13) (Leeds) (Mel Blanc-Sportsmen. .. .Capitol 



Coming. Up 



T I ONG WAY FROM ST. LOUIS (Jewel) • • • nay McKinley Victor 

COOL WATER (American) ya«ohn Monroe ......... Victor 

_ , , k JPnnio Scala London 

;• UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES (Bobbins) [Andrews Sisters... ..Decca 

! Perry Como Victor 

f RAMBLING ROSE (Laurel) [Tony Pastor Columbia 

| PUT 'EM IN BOX (Remicfc) King Cole. Capitol f 

RUN, JOE, RUN (Preview) L<m . ,s 

TEA LEAVES' (Morris) 



Jordan Decca 

i Emil Cote Columbia 

^Ella Fitzgerald Decca 

( Patti Page Mercury 

\ Jimmy Dorsey M-G-M 

Art Mooney M-G-M 

Vaughn Monroe Victor 



CONFESS (Oxford) • 

I BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS (T. B. Harms) 

*" MAHARAJAH OF MAGIDOR (Mutual) 

[Figures in parentheses indicate number of weeks song has been in the Top 10.1 
^H^nmtH H HWtt w I t ■ 



"Ain't" seems just what the tune 
needs; he develops a mood that 
seems to fit the song nicely. Hi* 
version of the oldie "Ida," doesn t 
carry much appeal. , „• 

Dinah Shore "S" Wonderful"— 
"Let's Do It" (Columbia). A pair- 
ing that will get a lot Of plays all 
around. Clark, who seems at tas- 
tiest working with Columbia * 
distaff side, combines with Miss 
Shore in two excellently done 
pieces of Cole Porter *nd George 
and Ira Gershwin. "Wonderful'* 
rolls along at an easy dance beat 
while the two play catch with the 
lyric. Flipover cutely trips 
through Hie verse and duplicates 
the punch of the first Two good 
bets. . .*■- ' , 

Vic Damone "Liltette" — "Night 
Has a Thousand Eyes" (Mercury). 
"Lillette" has a good chance to go 
places and Damone's disking' of it 
sparkles. His vocal is well drawn 
at an easy up-tempo, ably aided 
by Mitchell Miller's lush back- 
grounding; Reverse also is bright 
with possibilities; a smart rendi- 
tion of* the title tune of a Para- 
mount picture, it has a keen edge. 
Glen Osser's band aecomps 
smoothlv. 

Bing Crosby-Andrews Sisters "At 
the Flying W" — "A Hundred and 
Sixty Acres" (Decca), Two west- 
erns. Crosby and the trio have a 
lot of fun with "W" and get out 
a side that tops all previous disks 
on the new nop. Curat a medium 
beat, it's real bright under the 
treatment. Jukes and jocks will 
use if. Reverse, also a newie, is a 
pleasant companion piece. . Vic 
Schoen's orchestra backs both 
sides. 

Les Brown "A Woman Always 
Understands" — "Floatin'* (Colum- 
bia). Brown's arrangement and 
Eileen Wilson's vocal of "Woman" 
do something to the ballad which 
lifts it far above previous rendi- 
tions. At ballad pace,' the treat- 
ment burnishes -what previously 
seemed like a very ordinary me- 
lody. It's an unusual tune, "Float- 
in' " is a drive piece borrowed 
from the ja*x field. Ifs well played 
an 1 will give jocks in that idiom 
fresh -fare. - .- '•' 

Anne Vincent "Combelt Sym- 
phony" — "A Strawberry Moon" 
(Mercury). "Combelt" is just 
about the last word In the earthy, 
ripe style that has been clicking 
lately. It has possibilities. Miss 
Vincent makes of it a .commercial 
disk to musical accompaniment 
that might have been dreamed up 
by Spike Jones in. one of his 
quieter moments. "Moon" side • 
pops up as a listenable melody that ' 
doesn't draw much effort from 
Miss Vincent or her accompani- 
ment. 

Louis Jordan "We Can't Agree" 
—"Don't Burn the Candle At Both 
Ends" (Decca). Typical Jordan, 
with "Candle" a shade the better. 
Either side, however, will get 
Jordan into a lot of jukes and 
jocks spins. "Agree" is done slower 
and the lyric less wordy than the 
flipover. But it's "Candle" that 
works best 

Platter Pointers 

Gordon Jenkins "Manhattan 
Tower" (Decca) (12-inch, four side 
album). This Is a rare piece. Gor- 
don Jenkins, writer and conductor, 
draws a grand word-picture of the 
thoughts that occupy the minds of 
most Manhattanites who remain 
out of town too long It's all 
framed in excellent musical ideas 
and impressively performed by 
full orchestra and chorus. Elliot 
Lewis narrates. Discerning jocks 
will find it a must . . . National has 
issued four sides by Billy Eckstine 
(now with M-G-M), two standards, 

a semi-standard and a new piece 

"I'm In the Mood for Love" 

"Long Long Journey," and "All 
the Things You Are"— "Don't Take 
Your Love From Me." They're 
fine pieces . . . Ethel Smith (Decca) 
gives jocks some new .organ fare 
with solid diskings of "By the 
Waters of the Minnetonka" and 
"Parade of the Wooden Soldiers" 
. . . Also good stuff is the Geftden 
Gate Quartet pairing of "Do Unto 
Others" and "Hush." 



Kapp Sails for U. S. 

Jack Kapp, president of Decca, 
sails for home today (Wednesday) 
from England aboard the Queen 
Mary. He's been in England and 
on the Continent since mid-July, 
and during his London stay made 
recordings with the Andrews Sis- 
• • ters, who were over there to play 
the Palladium theatre. 

Milton R. Rackmil, Decca execu- 
tive v.p.. left New York Friday 
(20) for a month's vacation in Ha- 
waii, 



42 



onenBSTRAS-MiJsic 



Installment Payoff Gets 
Coast Nitery Operator 
Off Musicians Blacklist 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 
Billy Berg's Hollywood nitery 
has been removed from the Ameri- 
can Federation of Musician's black- 
list after discussions with Ed Bai- 
ley, prexy of Negro Musicians' Lo- 
cal 767. 

Recently the AFM international 
headquarters relayed word here to 
Local 767 that Berg should be put 
on "defaulter" list because he still 
owed some . coin to Louis Arm- 
strong for a date trumpeter's- com- 
bo essayed sometime ago at the 
Vine' street jazz grotto. Bailey 
and Berg have worked out a deal 
whereby nitery can pay off over a 
period of time. ' It was felt that 
spot could corral the coin to pay 
off only through full operation, so 
arrangement was made whereby 
union okayed entry of Dizzie Gil- 
lespie into spot, Blessing of 
James C. Petrillo was secured 
thereafter. 

• This is one of the few instances 
on record whereby the AFM has 
given a nitery or ballroom an okay 
on such an arrangement. Local 47, 
the white musicians' organization 
also look Berg- off its blacklist af- 
ter being told of the deal. 



Weilnetlay, August 25, 1948 



Oberstein Adds Plant 
In L.A. for New Label 

Eli Oberstein has put a Los An- 
geles factory into operation to sup- 
plement production of his new 
Varsity label. Plant, consisting of 
10 presses, was one formerly owned 
by AI Middleman and used to press 
the tatter's Sterling label. Middle- 
man was a partner with Oberstein 
in the^ Hit Record firm, sold to Ma- 
jestic.*'. 

Oberstein claims to be disposing 
of 100,000 copies weekly of his 39c 
sides, virtually all going to chain 
stores. 



RAMBLING 
ROSE 

ly JOI IURKK and 

joc McCarthy, jr. 
LAUREL MUSIC CO. 

HI* Iroadway, New York 

TOMMY VALANDO 



Words and Music by 

BJERNIE WAYNE 

and 

BEN RALEIGH 

YOU 

WALK BY 



im BW>, Hew Tfork 18 



RETAIL DISK BEST SELLERS 















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Survey of , retail disk , best 
sellers, based on reports ob- 
tained from leading stores in 
12 cities, and showing com- 
parative sales rating for this 
and last week. 




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5 


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1 


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7 


2 


2 


4 


4 


2 


73 


2 1 


PKE WEE HUNT (Capitol) 

"13th Street Rag" 


9 


2 


5 


4 






9 


8 


1 


7 


8 


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56 




DORIS DAY (Columbia) 

"It's Magic"... 


I 


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2 








1 


3 


8 




10 


51 


4 3 


K. GRIFFIN-J. WAYNE (Rondo) 
"You Can't Be True, Dear" 


2 


9 


8 


5 


8 


5 




3 


4 


5 






50 




AL TRACE (Regent) 

"You Call Everybody Darling" . . . 


4 


3 




3 






6 


6 


9 








35 


'fi 4 


DORIS DAY-B. CLARK (Col) 
"Love Somebody" » . 


7 


7 




7 


3 


4 




5 






10 




34 


7 10 


JON-SONDRA STEELE (Damon) 


3 






6 






5 • 4 










26 


8 7 


GORDON JENKINS (Decca) 
"Maybe You'll Be There" 


8 


4 










1 








6 




25 


. 9 6 


PIED PIPERS (Capitol) 




8 


9 














3 


2 




22 


io ii 

111 XX 


PERRY COMO (Victor) 




10 




g 






4 






10 


<i 
o 




9ft 


11 11 

X X xo 


SARAH VAUGHAN (Musicraft) 






1 




2 
















19 


19 in 

Xtt III 


ELLA FITZGERALD (Decca) 










9 








5 








1R 

JO 


13A 10 


MEL BLANC-SPORTSMEN (Cap) 

"WaaHv Wn*iffliiprf*lid»i*" 












2 




7 




9 






15 


13B 8 


PRIMA SCALA (London) 
"Underneath the Arches" 














3 










4 


15 


14A 14 


ANNIE VINCENT (Mercury) 

(IVaii rf"' -all Pifniii'lmdir ¥Tl «» «•! i *i rr * ' 












7 








1 






14 


14B 


VAUGHN MONROE (Victor) 




6 


2 




















14 


la 


SPIKE JONES (Victor) 












o 






O 








XA 


16 9 


DICK HAYMES (Decca) 

"Uttle White Lies" 


10 








10 








7 




5 




12 


17 16 


DICK HAYMES (Decca) 

"It's Magic'/ 












A 

9 


2 












11 


18A \% 


RAY McKlNLEY (Victor) 

"You Came a Long Way" 










1 
















10 


18B 9 


ART MOONEY (M-G-M) 

"Blue Bird of Happiness" 






















1 




10 


19A .. 


TONI HARPER (Columbia) 
"Candy Store Blues'; 








5 














8 


9 


19B .'. 


GORDON MacRAE (Capitol) 




















2 






9 


20 14 


HARMONICATS (Universal) 
"Hair of Gold" 
























3 


8 


21 


BING CROSBY (Decca) 
"Blue Shadows" 








9 




6 














• 7 



FIVE TOP 
ALBUMS 



EMPEROR WALTZ 
Sing Crosby 

Decca 



ALBUM NO. 3 
AI Jolion 

Decca 



LATIN AMERICAN PREVIN PLAYS 

FAVORITES PIANO 

Freddy Martin Andrs Pravin 

Victor Victor 



MUSIC FOR 
ROMANCING 
Paul Wstton 

Capitol 



Madhatters Have to Add 
Man in Pitt Wrangling 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 24. 
Madhatters, crazy - house type 
band coming here after 18-week 
run at Town Casino, Buffalo, had 
to add another man for their local 
engagement at the Ankara. 
. , Union deal at highway spot calls 
for eight musicians, and Madhat- 
ters is seven-piece outfit, but Local 
60 refused to make ariy concessions 
and. group put on Ivajr Morris, 
Pittsburgh trumpeter. , He just sits 
in on the dance sessions. 



The Greatest Names in Jazz 

1011 ARMSTRONG 

and the ESQUIRE All-Stars 

EARL FATHA JACK BARNEY 

HINE5 TEAGARDEN BIGARD 



SID 

CATLETT 



ARVEU 

SHAW 



VELMA . 
MIDDLETON 



" Click, Phila., Starting Sept. 6 
ORIENTAL THEATRE, Chicago 

W««k» of Sept. 23 and 30 • 

VICTOR RECORDS 



U 



MANAGEMENT— 



ment- ASSOCIATED BOOKING CORP. 

JOE ©LASER, rr*s. 
Ave., New York 22 203 Ne. Wstaaik 

PL. 9-4600 Chieaq* 



Bands at Hotel B.O.'s 

_ • Cover* Tnlal 
tCeekD l'nst Cover* 

Bund Hotel 1'luyeJ Wevk On Date 

Freddy Martin Waldorf (400; $2) 2 2,975 7,525 

Skitch Henderson .. Pennsylvania (500; $1-$1.50) .... 7 1,275 8,750 

Bernie Cummins* . New Yorker <400; $1-$1.50) 3 900 3,725 

B. Barron — 3 Suns. .Astor (700; $1-$1.50) . 2 3,125 6,525 



* ice show. 



.!^^>>vj.:..:^|.. • , ^'Chicago 

^i^°°di^e»^Beachwalk, Edgewater Beach; $1.50-$2.50 min ). Good 
wea1h^||ke;s take to 12,000. 

Bann*,v&tt«ns (Boulevard Room, Stevens, 650; $3.50 min.-$l cover). 
MQ^e, .convention helps hold with 4,000. ' 

Florian ZaBach , (Empire Room, Palmer House, 550; $3.50 min.-$l 
cover >. Summer revue hovering around 2,900. 



fcos Angeles 

Dorothy Shay, Jan Savitt (Ambassador, 900; $1.50-$2). Top 4,100 
tabs . . . 

• Jan Garber ; (Bilt.more; .9.0.0;. $1-$1.5.0), Steady 2,800 covers. 



Location Jobs, Not in Hotels 

(Cfiiccwo) 

Jack Fina (Aragon, $1.-$1.15 adm.), Fine weather gave nearby Beach- 
walk the edge, but spot got 10,000. . .. . 

Marty Gould (Chez Faree, 500; $3.50 min.). Conventioneers over- 
board for Danny Thomas. Lush 6,200.- • • 

Al Trace (Blackhawk, 500; $2.50 min.). Biz up 35% over last week, 
with disk fave helping sellout at 4,200. 

Lawrence Welk (Trianon, $1-$1.15 adm.). Continuing strong with 
solid 16,500. 



- - (Los Angeles) 

Zlggy Eilman, Top Notchers (Palladium B., Hollywood, 2nd wk). 
Strong 13,500 callers. 



M. T. Putnam Takes 
Active Charge Of 
Yitacoustic Disks 

Chicago, Aug. 24. 

Milton T. Putnam, Universal 
Record prexy, took over active 
management of Vitacoustic Rec- 
ords last week with consent of 
Lloyd Garrett and Jack Buckley, 
president and v. p. of the company, 
respectively. Latter two/ become 
inactive. Putnam as a creditor was 
not legally entitled to position, but 
court referee Arthur Hall ruled 
that in view of debtors agreeing 
to decision, move could be made. 

Company had filed an operating 
loss statement of $2,275 for July. 
Master-in-chancery had previously 
said if statement showed loss he 
would ask for judication, which is 
interpreted to mean an action to 
place business in involuntary bank- 
ruptcy. 

Putnam's takeover was move to 
avoid this action and was made 
with the consent of the creditor's 
committee. Putnam will make ef- 
fort to dispose of the Vita masters 
as well as to continue to distribute 
disks available. Vita had previ- 
ously offered records to Mercury 
Records but Mercury was only in-' „ 
terested on a royalty sales basis. 

Universal prexy will move Vita 
offices into Universal headquarters. 
Furniture and other assets will be 
sold. 



'Secret Music of China' 

In Album for Col. 

Columbia Records is bringing out 
an unusual album next month, ti- 
tled "Secret Music of China." Disks 
(4) were made in Hollywood prior 
to the disk ban by a Chinese cast 
of singers, backed by U. S. musi-^ 
cians. All of the music is original. 

One side at least reflects wartime 
events. It's titled "The Rape of 
Nanking." 



TWIN SONG mis ' ' ' " M • 3 M, 
A DATE WITH jliC t 




iiuuHt 



ROBBINS MUSIC CORPORATION 

79« SEVEN*- 4-fS.t • SEA :B« '? 



Featured In K-d-M'* 

"■IG CITY" 

DON'T 
BLAME 
ME 

Music by . . . 
JIMMY McHVCH 

ROBBINS 



A GREAT 
RHYTHM BALLAD 

CONFESS 

OXFORD MUSIC CORPORATION 
1619 Broadway, New York 



A Sure SWEET Hit! 

SAY SOMETHING 
SWEET TO YOUR 
SWEETHEART 

on LONDON RECORD #260 with 

THE LAW IS G0MIN' 
FER YA PAW! 

MILLS MUSIC. INC. 

Ifllft Hrm»rtYm r • New York I* 



We<fa««*»y, Auggrt 25, 1948 




n::::::::;:::::::::::;: 





1 



HITTING THE TOP ON 

10 BEST SELLERS 
ON COIN MACHINES 

TOP RECORD TALENT 
AND TUNES " 

RETAIL DISK 
REST SELLERS 




by Bud Br«*» and Tfi« dyilli Sisters 



i:s::i::::c::::i:tt:: 



Backed by 



:::::::::::::::::::: 



:it:i:ii ::;:i:::iJi 



:::::::;:::::::::::::: 




ui 




-.••1,1 

::::::::::i::c: 





:::::::::i:::t:r 

:: :::::::::::::i:::::::i:::::::::. 

:::::::::::::::;:::::::::::::::::::!:: 

:::::::::::::::::i:::it::!:;i:-.::::::: 



3 ffi i iiS nniiH!! 



:::::::::::::: ::::::: 



:»•:•::: 



inilP 



urn mmm% wmm 



::::::::::::::::;:::::::::JI 




IMG M RECORDS 
•Mf r.'.Tt' ! NAVE @) IN f N ' t •■' T .'• 

I 



44 



ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC 



| Songs with Largest Radio Audience i 

The top 33 songs of the week based on the copyrighted A%idi--\ 
ence Coverage Index Survey of Popular Music Broadcast Over 
Radio Networks. Published by the Office of Research, Inc.. Br. 
John- G. Peatman, Director. . • ■' : .. 

Survey Week of Aug. 13-19, 1948 x . . • 



A Fella With an Umbrella— -i "Easter Parade". 

A Tree In the Meadow . ; . . . . . . 

Blue Bird, of Happiness 

Blue Shadows On the Trail — t "Melody Time" . 



Cuanto Le Gusta 



. . Feist 
. '.-.Shapiro-® • 
'. ".Ti.B. Hai-ms 
. .Santly-Joy. 
, Oxford 
. ;Soa^hera 

" Dolores .. 'r. . .r.,., .....Famous 

-4 Everybody Loves Somebody ; . . ■ : . ; .-Sinatra 

Ev'ry Day I Love You — t'Two GuysS^om Texas". . Harms 

For Heaven's Sake ••„ .-. Duchess 

Hair Of Gold, Eyes of Blue Robert 

Haunted. Heart-^*rins*de U.S.A-" Williamson 

I'd Love Ito live Jto Loveland 'v.'. . . BVC. 

Only Happens Dance With You— i "Easter Parade" . Berlin 

It's a Most Unusual Day . . Bobbins 

It's Ma^;-— "'"Eomance On High Seas" Witmark 

Judaline — -?"Date With Judy"...* Bobbiss 

Just For «T«w. ■'. Advanced 

Little Girl . Leeds 

Little White Lies ■ . BVC 

Love Somebody Kr->mer-W 

Maybe You'll Be There Triangle 

My" Happiness Blasco 

P. S. 1 Lore You . . . LaSalle 

Put 'Em In a Box — "'Romance Oa High Seas" Bemick 

Bambling Rose \ .... ' Laurel 

Steppin' Out With My Baby— ."Easter Parade" Berlin 

Tea Leases - Morr-'s 

Things I Love . Campbell 

Woody Woodnecker Leeds 

You Call Everybody Darling ; Mayf air 

You Can't Be Tme Dear Biltmore 

You Walk By ...... Cavalier 



1 



The rewimaxeg'Xi Asanas of the week, based on the copyrighted 
Audience- Coverage Index Survey oj Popular Music Broadcast 
Over Radio Networks. Published by the Office of Research. Inc. 
Dr. Joh't G. Tcatman, Director- 

. A Boy From Texas Shapiro-B 

Baby ©on* Be Mad at Me Pdwnoimt 

Baby face t Remick 

Better Luck -Next Tiine— i^Easter Parade" Feist 

Beyond the Sea . ... . : -.C ~*»pell 

Caramta It's the Samba . " .Marian 

ChilBoathe, Ohio Mdlin 

Hankerin' Keaaiek 

I Bmh Care If It Bains All Night -.Wttmark 

I Went Down .To Virginia -. JtSffcrson 

It's Yen Or No One — t"Romance On High Seas" . .Bemick 

Just Beeiause' ,*. -- Leeds • 

My Fair Lady , . . United 

Night Has Thousand Eyes — f "Night Has Eyes". . . , . Paramount 

Nobody 'But You - . .Duchess 

Rhode Island Is Famous For Yon— *'1nside U.S.A.". CSawfcwd 

Serenade (Music Played On a Heartstring) Bochess . 

Take R Away '. Penwra 

This Is the Moment . - . - Bobbins 

We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye Words-Music 

When the Red Red Robin Comes Bobbin -Along Bourne 

When You Left Me -Bacgie 

You Came a Long W,ay From St. Louis Jewel 

You Were Meant For Me ..Miller 

Yours. . ... Marks 



" Legit Mtisicdl. tFfimusical. 

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦ ♦ ♦♦♦♦ ♦ *»* ««« « «»< * «»»»4 « ««**4 4»»»««4««»« 



CsBtiuuett from fwse it 




Herb Headier now back with 
RCA- Victor at its Camden, N: J., 
main Office, shifts to tbe New York 
office Sept 1. 



Weclneday, August 25, 1943 



Tops of the Tops 

Retail Disk Seller 
"Tree In the Meadow" 

Retail Sheet Music Seller 

*?Tree In the Meadow" 

"Mm* Reflnested" Disk 

"Tree In, 'the Meadow" 

Seller on Coin Machines 

"It's Magic" 

British Best Seller 

. "Galway Bay" 



'RHP Logging System 

Richard Himber's new development i'i logging broadcast perform- 
ances lists tunes in the survey, based on four major network schedules. 
They are compiled an the basis of 1 point for sustaining instrumental; 
2 points for sustaining vocal; 2 .for local commercial instrumental; 3 
for local commercial vocal; 4 for net commercial instrumental; 6, net- 
work commercial vocal, f indicates film excerpt. * stage ex-cerpf. 
Week of August 13-19, 1948 



British Dancehalis 
Would Employ Own 
Songwriters m PRS Tiff 

London, Aug. 24. 

Protesting against new tariffs 
drawn up by the Performing 
Rights Society, a number of dance- 
hall owners are threatening to 
employ their own songwriters in- 
stead of playing tunes written by 
established composers. Revision of 
fees which have been in operation 
since 1922 will make a consider- 
able difference to big dancehalls. 
and one establishment in the North 
of England reckons it will have to 
pay annually $3,200 intead of $160. 

As the new tariff is based on size 
of hall and price of admission, 
smaller balls are not -affected so 
badly. 

Although dancery owners realize 
that . -employment of songwriters 
will prove more -expensive than 
payment of revised fees, they 
daim they can afford it, but they 
overlook the fact that talent will be 
very restricted as most dance-tune 
coaaposers are - members of the 
VRS. 



Total 
Pts. 

. 232 
. 209 
. 194 
161 



Song \ Publisher 

A Tree In the Meadow— Shapiro U . 

Its Magic— f "Romance on High Seas"— Witmark ■,, . . . . 

A Most Unusual Day— f "Date With Judy"— Bobbins ...... 

You Call -Everybody Darlin — MayXair .... 

Maybe Yotf U Be There—Triangle.. .-. . . . .". . r . : . . : . 155 

Rambling Rose— Laurel 118 

Put 'ifim In Box— i ' Romance on High Seas"— Remick 118 

Just For Now — Advance , . -. "... 143 

j Love Somebody — Kramer-W .' 139 

I Every Day I Love You — '"Two Guys From Texas" — Harms . . . 128 

Bluebird of Happiness — T. B. Harms 135 

! Judaline— f "Date With Judy"— Robbins 135 

For Heavens Sake — Leeds .*...< ; » 115 

Woody Woodpecker — Leeds 130 

Dolores — Famous '. ' ' 109 

Little Girl— Leeds 108 

P.S. I Love You— LaSalle 105 

Only Happens When Dance — f'Easter Parade" — Berlin . . . r 101 

Hair of Gold, Eyes of Blue — Robert 83 

The Things I Love — Campbell f,5 

Blue Shadows On Trail (Melody Time) — Santly . . 85 

You Can't Be True Dear — Biltmore 78 

Fella With Umbrella — t "Easter Parade" — Feist 77 

My Happiness — Blasco \ 74 ' 

Carramba it's the Samba— Martin 73 

A Boy From Texas — Shapiro 73 

Steppin Ont With Baby— f'Easter Parade"— Berlin 71 

Cuanto Le Gusto— f'Date With Judy" — Southern C8 



Manes 1st in MPCE 

Gelf Tournament 

Sy Manes took the Music Men's 
Contact Employees golf cup at 
Bcthpage State Bark. L. L, last 
Wednesday (18). With a 25-stroke 
handicap. Manes came in with a 94 
to beat out Mickey Garloek's 25 
gross, 71 net, and Harry Link's 84 
.gross and 72 net. It was the second 
straight year a high-handicap play- 
er copped first prize. Julie Stem 
baring knocked off tbe "A" players 



who went out to Beth- 
page with no idea of taking part in 
the tournament, wanting to play- 
only nine boles, was forced to ac- 
cept a bnrriedly given handicap. 
He won a television set as first 
prize. Garlock drew a complete set 
of clubs, as did Link. Norman 
Foley came out on top in the "B" 
class and Mack Clark in the "C" 
group. Charlie Yates, Associated 
Booking v.p., copped the guest 
prize, with a gross of 76, beating 
out Perry Como's 82. 

In the side competition, Irving 
Siegel won the driving test; Nelson 
Ingram, putting, and Harry Bernie, 
chipping. 



67 
67 
66 
63 
60 
58 
56 



Little "White Lies— B.V.C. 

Hankerin — t"Two Guys From Texas"— Remick 

Highway To Love — B.M.I. 

Love To Live In Loveland — B.V.C , 

This Is the Moment — +"Lady In Ermine" — Miller . ••„• • 

Night Has Thousand Eyes — i "Night Has Thousand Eyes" — Par 

Take It Away — Pernor* 

Nobody But You— Duchess 54 

When the Bed Red Robin — Bourne 54 

-Haunted Heart— *"hiside U.SrA."— WiUiawson 54 

Tea Leaves— Morris ". 53 

Confess — Oxford 52 

Beyond tbe Sea — Cfaappell 52 

Yours — Marks ; 51 

Baby Don't Be Mad — Paramount 50 

Rhode Island Famous For You — *" Inside U.SA." — Crawford £ 9 

You Were Meant For Me — Miller . .,. >44 

With a Twist of the Wrist— Patniar 44 

-Better Luck Next Time — t"Easter Parade"— Feist 43 

My Fair Lady— United -43 

Serenade — Music Played — Duchess <41 

Don't Care If Rains -All Night — t'Two Guys From Texas"— Witmark -41 



Arnstein Sues Again 



MPPA, Louis Froelich, Herman 
Finkelstein, Sigmund Spaeth, War- 
ner Bros, and its affiliations, Wit- 
mark-Remick-Harms, Inc., Max 
Dreyfus and affiliates (Chappel, 
T. B. Harms and Crawford, Inc.), 
Robbins and affiliates (Metro Gold- 
wyn Mayer (MGM), Feist Music 
Miller, Inc.), Irving Berlin and af- 
filiates (ABC and Bourne Musip 
Co.), Bregman Vocco & Conn and 
affiliates, 20th Century Fox, Su- 



Contianea from i»se 39 - 

preme Music, Inc., Francis Craig 
and Emery Deutsch, Leeds Music 
Co., Lou Levy, Paramount Music 
Co., Edward B. Marks Music Co.. 



first anniversary there ... Latin i 
Quarter scheduled :to reopen. Sept. ' 
10., with new handle, China BoU 
, . . Frankie Carte takes in a one- 
weeker «t Riverside theatre, Sept. ; 
23, Milwaukee . . . Henry j 
plays Forest Park Highlands, St. . 
Louis, Aug; 29 to SepL € . . . Jack.: 
Owens and daughter Mary Ann 
Will be guest artists at Fair Store i 
teen-age style show -Aug. 28 ... j 
Don La&er takes «ver "Night ■ 
Watcbf" WIND, whale Jewry: Saa*»j 
vacations . , . Lawrence KTeJk P*ay*i 
Coin Festival, ; Mitchell. SB.. Sept.! 
19 to 25 . . . Horace HeMt's win- 
ners at RKO Palate, Columbus, 
O., for three days . . . Berie Adams 
in town for Louis Jordan opening j 
at Rag Doll . . , Ray Morton's orch | 
roopens Mayfair Room of Black-.. 
stone, Sept. 10, for indefinite 
period . . . Louis Armstrong does 
a iwo-weeker at Oriental theatre, 
beginning Sept. 23 , . . Herbie 
Fields scheduled for Silhouette 
Aug: 31 for a month . , ..»ee W«« 
Hunt snags Rag Doll engagement | 
in Sept. at $1,250 a»wcek, cashing : 
in on disk . hit, "TweU'th Street) 
Rag" 



Hollywood 

Dick Peterson band signed by 
Martin Murray Productions to do 
baekstopping for telepix and 16m 
commercial films . . . Horace Heidt 
will handle his broadcast at the 
Hollywood Bowl Sept. 12, during 
* ' ' wvedbour concert with bis band 
artists . . ; Xlonel 
t "Ow Scrio have been 
fami Musicians*' Local 47' 
;#9M fines levied m 

room. : «. 




RETAIL SHEET BEST SELLERS 



Survey of retail sheet music ; 
sales, based. an reports obtaiiied; .. 
~ftw»-iaSih£$ jrtolce's in 12 cities,-!-*' 
end showing comparative sales 
rating for this and last week. 



National 
XaSbur 

? t'Ms Last 
wk. wk. 



Week Ending 
Aug. 21 



Title and Publisher 



T 
O 
T 
A 
L 

P 
O 
I 

N 
T 
S 



1 


2 


"Tree in the Meadow" (Shapiro-B) 


1 


2 


3 


2 


4 


4 


1 


t 


2 


3 


2 


2 


105 


2 


1 




2 


■■i. 


2 


3 


2 


1 ' 


9 


£t 


1 


4 


1 


1 


103 


3 


4 


"It's Magic" (Witmark) 


3 


3: 


1 


1' 


3 


3 


2 


3 


3" 


2 


3 


5 


100 


4 


5 


"You Call Darling" (Mayfair). 


-4 


s 


9 


5 


5 


7 


4 


8 


5 


1 


4 


3 


72 


5 


3 


"You Can't Be True" {Biltmore). . 


6 


4 


« 


4 


I 


2 


3 




4. 


t 


5 


6 


70 


6 


8 


"Love Somebody" (Kramer-W) . , . 


5 . 


- s 


5 


S 


fi 


5 




7 




5 


S 


7 


48 


7 


6 


"Woody Woodpecker" (Leeds)..... 


1" 


9 


6 


• S 


10 


« 






C 


6 




4 


39 


8 


7 


"Little White Lies" (BVC) » 


a 




-4- 


10 


,7 


10 






.7 


7 


9 


t 


29 


9 


11 


"It Oiljr Happens" (Berlin) 


10 




10 








3 


C 






• * 




IS 


10A 




"Wue Bird Happiness" (T.B.Harms) 




6 










10 


4 










13 


10B 








7 






8 


8 






8 








13 


»*• 


at.' 1 


^r*ra*e. TBMP Be" (Triangle). . . . 






7 










5 


10 




10 




12 


12 


Si 












9 






9 


9 




7 




10 


13 


•» 


s*fPea (Morris). .' 








7 






7 












8 




Vt - 


■*iT I Ure to Be a MT (General) . 




* * 










6 










9 


7 



Jack Mills Music Co., Shapiro-Bern- 
stein Music, Inc., Philip D. -Watten- 
berg, Stanleigh P. Friedman. Per- 
kins (no first name given; presum- 
ably the WB chief counsel, Robert 
W. Perkins), Julian Abelis (presum- 
ably J. T. Abeles, copyright coun- 
sel for tbe Metro and 20th-Fox mu- 
sic groups), Francis Gilbert, Sam- 
uel Silverman, Louis Greenblatt, 
VABiErv-Abel Green and Herald 
Tribune are the listed co-defend- 
ants; obviously, not too accurately 
or professionally identified and 
grouped. 

Some of the latter individuals 
named have been successful attor- 
neys who previously defended Am- 
stein's actions (Gilbert, Friedman, 
Abeles, et aL). Silverman-Green- 
blatt were formerly Amstein's own 
lawyers whom he now charges 
"conspired ... to suppress- evi- 
dence nod to present fraudulent 
contracts, in order to defeat jus- 
tice." Abelis (Abeles). he charges, 
"also forged and signed perjured 
affidavits and agreements." Also, 
"That the defendants Sigmund 
Spaeth (who was charged "not only 
to lie and to deny the most obvious 
similarity in court, but to write li- 
belous falsehoods about the plain- 
tiff"), Abel Green (Vakiety) and 
the Herald Tribune, by their false 
and malicious slander, have caused 
the plaintiff deep anguish and sor- 
row. And has caused many people 
to shun him, which deprived him 
of employment" 



Whitennn Preps 

Two^Cotiiert Tours 

Paul Whlteman, now music 
director of American Broadcasting 
Co., is preparing two concert tours. 
First is slated to start in mid-Octo- 
ber and will last four to six uteeks; 
second will take place in March. 
He's being sofa by Harry Squires 
°n a guarantee-and-percentage 
basis. , 

Maestro last Thursday (191 
played the Forum, Montreal, draw- 
ing 7,000 attendance. Pianist Earl 

Wild was the soldist. 



Wednesday, August 25, 1948 



Conventioneers, Railroad Fair Visitors 
Spiral Chi Niteries' Summer Grosses 



VAUDEVILLE 



45 



Chicago, Aug. 24. 
Summer b.o. of Chi niteries is 
„ surprisingly lush, despite moans 
that' the federal tax and the high 
cost of living have put brakes on 
takes in other' areas. Biz is so good 
that by fall the town may have as 
many top c|ubs as in 1946. 

The College Inn of . the Hotel 
Sherman shuttered in July, but re- 
lights in October with name band 
policy. The Latin Quarter, a cas- 
ualty early this year, reopens in 
September as the China Doll with 
top bands as the lure. The Bis- 
marck Hotel's Tavern Room is get- 
ting a Swiss decor for semi-name 
attractions. The Rio Cabana, 
which switched to strippers a year 
ago to bolster sagging biz, is going 
back to straight acts, in late Sep- 
tember. 

Reasons for the b.o. briskness 
are not hard to find. Big conven- 
tions popping all summer, the Rail- 
road Fair's pull on the hinterlands, 
and bumper crops in the corn belt 
have all helped to bring in spend- 
ers. In addition the ranks of na- 
tive spenders haven't thinned as 
during last summer when blister- 
( Continued on page 47) 



Ed Sullivan Picks 
j Another Agenting Team 

Mark Leddy and Leon Newman 
have replaced Harry Bestry and 
Sol Tepper as the CBS-TV "Toast 
I of the Town" talent scouts for 
|N. Y. Daily news columnist Ed 
i Sullivan. Substitution was made 
because Bestry's illness makes it 
difficult for him to do the neces- 
sary legwork in gandering acts. 

Auditions will be held approxi- 
mately every 10" days, not so much 
to determine capabilities of a turn, 
but to select the bits best suited 
for television. Sullivan will be .the 
final arbiter in the selection of 
talent and will attend the audi- 
tions. 

Leddy and Newman will get no 
commissions from the acts for 
their services, but will be paid a 
fee by Sullivan. Show pays $100 
minimum, with doubles getting 
$125, trios $150. Talent outlay, is 
$1,350 exclusive of music, tech- 
nical, production costs and Sul- 
livan's services. 



Latin Quarter, Chi, 
Reopening as China Doll 

Chicago, Aug. 24. 
The Latin Quarter, which went 
bankrupt- this spring reopens as 
I the China Doll on Sept. 10. Art 
Blumenthal, operator of a north- 
; side bowling alley, has taken over. 
| Name bands will be policy, with 
lAlvino Rey. combo set as , opening 
' attraction. 

Other shuttered spot to reopen 
is the College Inn, Sherman Hotel, 
with Woody Herman orch set for 
Oct. 15. 




HELENE and HOWARD 

OPENING AVC. 27 

Olten and Johnson Show 
Toronto, Can. 
Dir. MATTY ROSEN 



COMEDY MATERIAL 

For AN Branches of Tbtotijcab 

FUN-MASTER 

"Tho ORIGINAL Show-Biz Gag Filo" 

Noi. I to 22 @ $1.00 tosh 
3 DIFFERENT BOOKS OF PARODIES 
(10 In ooch book) $10 pur book 

FREE COFY OF "UCIMOK BU8I- 
NK8S,'' The Show-Biz Gocaxlne with 
eitcli 93.00 minimum order. 
Send 10c for lists of other comedy 
material, souks, parodies, minstrel 
natter, black-outs, etc. 

NO C.O.D.'S 

. PAUIA SMITH 

300 W. 64th Street, New York M 



Clergy's Beef Scrams 
Gal Shows on Midway 
Of New Ulm, Minn. Fair 

Minneapolis, Aug. 24. 

After Ministerial Assn. and Farm 
Bureau representatives demanded 
the elimination of the three "World 
of Today" carnival girl shows, and 
200 youthful 4-H exhibitors had 
withdrawn in protest against 
them, the county fair at New Ulm, 
Minn., surrendered and banned the 
shows before they had given a per- 
formance, threw' out the midway 
entirely and confined itself to live- 
stock and educational exhibits. 

William Lindemann, fair secre- 
tary, said the girl shows were those 
usually seen at fairs, and included 
striptease dancers. The fair has 
always had girl shows on the mid- 
way, he pointed out. 

A committee • of three pastors 
representing the Ministerial Assn. 
and including two ministers and a 
priest, objected on grounds such 
shows were "lewd and suggestive." 
Fair officials offered to compromise 
by "toning down" the shows. Ob- 
jectors demanded the shows be 
eliminated on threat of 4-H exhibi- 
tors withdrawing. When the shows 
were still onjhe midway when fair 
opened, exhibitors started vamping 
with their livestock and 4-H dis- 
plays. 



VAFRelaxes Quota 
On Foreign Acts 
To 50-50 Basis 



London, Aug. 24. 
The Variety Artists Federation 
has extended the quota of alien 
acts that can play the Palladium 
and Casino theatres, London, from 
40% to 50%. On the basis of the 
new quota, one-half of any bill at 
houses can be blade up of imported 
turns. However, new quota will 
have to be ratified by the British 
Labor Ministry. 

No immediate changes are ex- 
pected because of the new quota. 
At the present time, the Palladium 
and Casino are using the maximum 
number of imports, but under the 
new regulations they'll be able to 
book with a greater flexibility. 

The Palladium, currently head- 
lining the Andrews sisters, has 
signed Gracie Fields for an autumn 
date. 

Miss Fields, now vacationing "on 
the Continent, will play the Lon- 
don house before returning to the 
U. S. 



N.Y. Cafes Optimistic on Fall Season, 
But Plunging on Talent for Insurance 



SIBYL BOWAN 

Aug. 12-PALACE THEATRE. Cleveland 
Aug. 23-B0WERY. Detroit 
Sept. 10— BEVERLY HILLS G.C., Cincinnati 

MILES INGALLS — Personal Management Auoclate — JOE FLAUM 



Richman Seeks Union Deal 

Discussions initiated by Harry 
Richman during his recent stay in 
London may lead to a reciprocal 
agreement between the American 
Guild of Variety Artists and the 
British Variety Artists Federation, 
benefiting visiting acts to either 
country. 

Under present arrangements, 
American artists working here pay 

.75 for a V. A. F. t&rd, whereas 
British artists are charged $60 for 
an AGVA card. To Bring their 
fees more fci line, V.A.F. had 
decided on a $40 entrance fee from 
Sept. 1, but decided to defer the 
increase until Sept. 15, hoping that 
in the interim an agreement can 
be made providing for a readjusted 
fee in both countries. 

V. A. F. already having recipro- 
cal deals with every European 
country excepting Germany, have 
recently concluded pacts with Aus- 
tralia and Eire, and are hopeful of 
a friendly settlement with AGVA. 



Hildegarde to London 

Rome, Aug. 24. 
Hildegarde and her manager, 
Anna Sosenko, have left here for 
London. Singer was suffering 
from a slight ailment, which is now 
cured. She was bedded for a few 
days. 

Writer Bob Considine and his 
wife, now here, are heading for 
Paris shortly and will sail from 
Cherbourg, Sept. 2. ' 



Jordan's 2 Weeks in N.Y. 
Follows Chi Nitery Date 

Louis Jordan band has been "set 
for a two weeks' engagement at 
the Apollo theatre, N. Y., Sept. 17, 
following his run at the Rag Doll, 
here. N. Y. sepia vauder, operat- 
ing with weekly change policy, is 
said to have pacted Jordan for the 
doubleheader. because of his b.o. 
pull on last engagement there. 
However, surrounding* vaude bill 
will be changed weekly. 

Upon completion of N. Y. date, 
Jordan and crew will do a two- 
month string of one-nighters, 
which will take them to the Coast, 
where he's slated to open at the 
Million Dollar theatre; Los An- 
geles, on New Year's Eve on a 
straight 50-50 split of the gross. 

MCA Delaying Plans 
On 'Stop Music' Units 
Due to Lottery Angle 

Music . Corp. of America has 
dropped its plans to build road- 
show*editions of "Stop the Music." 
One of the reasons for the ban is 
said to be the fear of violating local 
lottery laws. Another, although 
minor reason, is the suit brought 
by bandleader Blue Barron, who 
claims he originated the idea used 
in the ABC air show. Should Bar- 
ron's suit be successful,- he'd get a 
healthy cut of profits from the air- 
show. 

However, primary reason is that 
lottery laws in various states would 
prevent its playing sufficient time 
to make it profitable. 

Talent agency , got an idea of 
what could happen when the N.Y. 
city police dept. visited the Capitol 
theatre, two weeks ago when "Stop 
the Music" played there. Although 
no official report was turned into 
the theatre, house toppers during 
the last few days of the run 
changed the method of selection of 
those going on stage. The wheel 
selecting patrons for a try at the 
jatrkpot was eliminated. 

However, "Winner Take All" 
will still open at the Strand the- 
atre, Friday (27). Method of conr 
testant selection will get a careful 
o.o. by legalites to prevent lottery 
law .violations. 



♦ Now that bonifaces must use 
ingenuity to capture sufficient trade 
! to stay open, the coming fall in 
! New York cafes promises to be the 
most interesting season in years. 
Cafe operators are brushing up on 
their plans, and result .will be a 
Gallic invasion in the eastside 
bistros and an unprecedented ex* 
penditures for name talent in the 
Broadway sector. 

It's evident that cafes which re- 
mained open during the summer 
| were able to get by because of the 
I number of spots that shuttered .for 
I this period. Autumn will tell the 
tale, when it will be a case of sur- 
vival of the best spots. 

As a result, the Latin Quarter 
has been signing up top names. 
After the current run of Milton 
Berle, Ted Lewis, Sophie Tucker 
and Abbott & Costello will follow. 
Lou Walters, during his recent trip 
to the Coast, attempted to sign 
Danny Kaye, but without success, 
since comic has picture commit-; 
ments at Warners to tie him up for 
some time. 

The rest of of the 1 Broadway 
cafes are still unsettled on future 
(Continued on page 47) '.«;■ 



Nancy Donovan transfers from 
Versailles, N. Y., to Mounds club, 
Cleveland, starting tomorrow 
(Thurs.). 





Lovely 




Lady . 




of 




Song. 




JANE 



JOHNSON 



America'$ 




Foremost 




Marimbitt 


' $&*•)? | 






GEORGE 


\mSMm 



GUEST 



MAXINE 

SULLIVAN 



CURRENTLY 

LONDON. INDEFINITELY 



Personal Management: 
JOE MARSOLAIS 




COPSEY 



and 



AYRES 



Just closed Piping Rock, Saratoga, N V Y. 

OPENING SEPT. 8 

COPACABANA 

NEW YORK 

(Return Engagement) 

Management. HENRY BECKMAN, 1697 Broadway, New York City COIombus 5-7788 



4 * 1M 



46 



VAIWBVnJU 



Wedneclar, August 25, 194S 



Saratoga Perking for Season's Finale, 
But Swank Clubs Still Deep in Red 




Saratoga Springs, Aug. 24. 
Business picked up somewhat in 
this town's swank clubs" the past 
week, but it's unlikely that enough 
coin will be reaped in tab* and 
gambling takes to wipe out the 
early weeks' deficit. Season ends 
Saturday (28) and unless the Pip- 
ing Bock and Delmonico's snag 
some important takes via the dice 
or wheels they'll finish deep in the 
redj - ■ 

Piping Rock show, which this 
week- brought in Connee Bos we It 
to follow Kay Thompson and the 
Williams Bros., is an example ol 
the nut that won't be erased. It's 
an expansive and expensive layout 
as bait for the adjoining casino, 
with headliner Joe E. Lewis draw- 
ing $3,000 and refusing to take a 
cut for. the final week. He does 45 
minutes of gags twice nighty 1, bol- 
stered by Miss Boswell's 20-23 min- 
utes of- imartly-paced « standards 
and pops, plus D'Augclo & Vanya's 
dance routines and a smartly cos- 
tumed-, line beaded by Nevada 
Smith. Delmonico's show is topped 



| by Willie Howard and the spot is 
i in the same financial position. j 
t Race track, which started the ■ 
• season disappointingly, has been ' 
I drawing better, too. Saturday's (21 ) : 
j card drew just under 24,000, the j 
: best since opening, and the handle ; 
j went over $1,000,000. 



JIMMIE 
III SSO\ 

"Mr. Everybody" 

Currency: 

Dunes Club, Virginia Beach 

(Cleiing Ae*. 1S*3 

lake Club, Sprinoftekf, III. 

(S.pt. 3rd-OM Week) 
F*Sew«f l»y: • 

Brawn Hotel, Louisville, Ky. 

» (Sept. J3»h-Tw« Weeks) 

Maeagemoit; 

• Phil Offin 

48 Weil 4tth St. 
Hew r«rk CMy 



j Nicollet's Ice Show Policy 
! Cuts Down Talent Outlets 
i In Minneapolis Cafes 

Minneapolis, Aug. 24. 
j Adoption of a year-around Doro- 
j thy Lewis ice show policy for floor 
entertainment- by the Hotel Nicol- 
let Minnesota Terrace reduces the 
number of niteries here playing 
acts. It had been playing such 
acts as Dean Murphy, McCarthy & 
Farrell, the Merry Macs, the Har- 
monicats, etc. Miss Lewis will pro- 
duce and appear in a new ice show 
.every two or three months, with 
guest ice stars under the • new 
policy. 

Hotel Radisson Flame Room 
and Club Carnival will be the only 
local niteries using name acts reg- 
ularly during the coming fall" and 
winter season, but Curly's, another, 
loop club, books such acts oc- 
casionally. Club Carnival also 
books traveling bands and changes 
its shows every two weeks, the 
same as the- Flame Room. The lat- 
ter; which has Victor Borge set to 
open its fall-winter season, oc- 
casionally retains a show four 
weeks. 

Minnesota Terrace did excep- 
tionally big business this summer 
with the . Lewis ice show add this 
influenced Neil Messick, hotel's 
president, to make the policy 
change. The Netherland Plaza, 
Cincinnati, has a similar policy. 



Jan Murray is slated for the 
Hollenden hotel, Cleveland, Oct. 
14. 

Raye and Naldi set for the Bev- 
erly Country Club, New Orleans, 
Oct. 21. , 

Carl Ravazza into Beverly Hills 
Country Club, Newport, Ky., Oct. 
22. 

D' Andrea Dancers open at Shore- 
ham hotel, Washington, Dec. 27. 

Jerry Bergen pacted for El 
Morocco, Montreal, Oct. 11. 

Elissa Jayae set for Chex Parec. 
Chicago, Sept. 3. v 

Frances Langford set for Glenn 
Rendezvous, Newport, Ky., Sept. 17. 

Jackie Gleason heads the-Sept. 3 
show at Club Charles, Baltimore. 



Jones, Discharged AGVA Rep, Brands 
4A's Leftists at Congressional Hearing 



I 



THE 

DE LEON SISTERS 

"These Beet leg Deaffegt" 
2nd Week 

BROWN HOTEL 
LOUISVILLE 

Available Sept. 6 

\ ":■ Direct! oa: 

TOM FITZPATRICK 




WILLIE 
SHORE 

Latin Quarter 
New York 



JUNE RICHMOND, SEPIA 
TEAM CLICK IN LONDON 

London, Aug. 24. 

American talent on the bill at 
the Casino theatre, London, con- 
tinue to win top applause honors. 
Show which opened Monday <23) 
has two U. S. sepia acts. Singer 
June Richmond and dancers Coles 
and Atkins scored a tremendous 
success here. 

Layout is topped by British 
comic Max Miller, who clicked 
with a familiar line of sexy patter, 

Kay Thompson Signed 
For Beverly-Wilsbire 

Kay Thompson and the Williams 
Bros, have been signed to open at 
the Beverly-Wilshire hotel. Bever- 
ly Hills, some time in October. 
Herbert Jacoby, who operates the 
Blue Angel and Le Directoire, both 
| N. Y„ in conjunction with Max 
'Gordon, was recently placed, in 
j charge of entertainment in that 
: spot. 

I The room itself hasn't been 
1 given a formal name as yet. 



WB Earle, Philly, 
Resumes Vaude 



Warner Bros.' Earle, Philadel- 
phia, is finally set to resume vaude- 
ville after a two-year run of 
straight pictures. Initial show, 
topped by Louis Prima, starts Sept. 
9, followed by the Freddy Martin 
band. This WB house, however, 
will, use stageshows only when suit- 
able headliners are found. Circuit 
heads feel that it would be bet- 
ter to miss a few weeks than to 
buy shows that will fail to make 
a profit for the house. 

With the Ea lie's resumption of 
stageshows, this house will be the 
only stageshow spot in the center 
of town. Other vaude operation, 
the Carman, is in, North Philadel- 
pria. 



Giveaway Vaude Unit 
With $2,500 in Prizes 
Set for 1 -Niter Tour 

Giveaway shows are now invad- 
ing the one-night auditoriums. 
Jack Shea, who does a vaude auc- 
tioneer act, is producing a vaude 
layout which will give away $2,500 
per show. Unit is slated to start 
at Charleston, W. Va., Oct-. 1 and 
will play 27 dates. 
*She is combining the television 
angle by labeling it "Television 
Stars on Parade," inasmuch as 
acts will comprise those who have 
appeared on video. ' " 

Unit is being booked on a 
guarantee and percentage, with 
show getting 60% of the gate. All 
dates lined up. so far are under 
sponsorship basis, • The American 
Legion is sponsoring initial show. 



Philadelphia, Aug. 24. . 
.Dick Jones, deposed executive 
secretary of the Philadelphia local j 
of the American Guild of Variety 
Artists, testified yesterday (Tues.) 
before the Congressional Subcom-j 
mittee on Education and Labor I 
that the policies of the Associated 
Actors and Artistes of America are 
so far to the left that they seem 
dictated by the Kremlin. He urged 
that Congress pass legislation pro- 
hibiting union ballotting by mail 
and force unions to grant full 
I autonomy to its branches. s 

Testimony was given at the hear- 
ing being held by Rep. Carroll D. 
Kearns .(Rep -Pa.) and Rep. O. C. 
I Fisher (Dem.-T^x.) with Irving Mc- 
Cann acting as committee counsel. 

Jones was dismissed during the 
administration of Matt Shelvey, 
who was fired by the 4A's nearly a 
year ago. Despite Jones' ouster, 
he continued to function as head 
of the Philly union. At one time 
there- were three locals functioning 
in Philadelphia, one ■ headed by 
Jones, another by Shelvey, and a 
third by the 4A's. 

Jones' testimony was contra- 
dicted by George Heller, executive 
secretary of the American Federa- 
tion of Radio Actors and acting 
president of the 4A's. Heller also 
described the 4A's actions in rid- 
ding the AGVA of the threat of 
control by George Browne and 
Willie Bioff. both former Inter- 
national Alliance ' of Theatrical 
Stage Employees officers who were 
jailed for racketeering. He was 
commended by the committee when 
he testified tbat the 4A constitution 
prohibits Communists from hold- 
ing office. 

A. Frank Real, assistant to Heller 
in AFRA, further testified that 
Jones in a conversation with him 



Jan go, Geiler Shift 

Larry Jango and Aivin Geiler, 
both previously with Continental 
Artists, join Joe Glaser's Asso- 
ciated Booking Co., Sept. 1. 

They'll be in the Latin hand 
dept. 



VAUDERS FILL ROSTER 
IN NEW 'HILARITIES' 

The legit vauder, "Hilarities of 
1949," will have one of the largest 
casts ever assembled for that type 
layout. Show, opening at the 
Adelphi, N. Y., Sept. 9, will have 
31 performers. 

Included are Morey Amsterday, 
who's in on the production; 
Georgie Tapps, Gali Gali, Betty 
Jane Watson, Connie Sawyer, Raul 
and Eva Reyes. Abbott Mazzone 
dancers, Al Kelly, Calgary Bros., 
Harold and Lola, Holloway sisters, 
Larry Douglas, Herzogs, Connie 
Stevens and Enrica and Novello. 

Comedian Mervyn Nelson is 
directing. 



held last May, said that there 
would be no further affectation if 
the 4A's paid his (Jones) debts 
incurred while running the 
union. Rebecca Braunstein, 4A's 
counsel, testified that the parent 
organization had peacefully run 
all unions, and difficulty with 
Jones stemmed from his efforts to 
get t back his job from which he 
was dismissed with reason. 

Bill Hopkins, head of the Cafe 
Owners Guild 'of Philadelphia, and 
Harry Steinman, operator of the 
Latin Casino, Philadelphia, testi- 
fied that the only correspondence 
they had with AGVA was on the 
subject of unfair lists. 

Further fireworks are expected 
today when Matt Shelvey takes the 
stand. He's expected to Bay the 
4A's for interfering ■ with AGVA 
affairs. 

The Congressional hearing is 
said to have been instigated by 
Jones who complained to "Rep. Fred 
Hartley (R.-N. J.) head of the 
House Labor Committee which 
heads the Subcommittee on Edu- 
cation and Labor. 




JERRY 
COLONNA 



Ms 



111 

m 



m 

a 

m 
ill 



CurT«n»ly. 

ROXY THEATRi 

NEW YORK 
• 

ManogMwnt: 
BRUCE GEAR 



if 



HARRY A. ROMM 



••V.' *.• t-^JrS 3 



LOEW 

BOOKING 
AGENCY 

oiNfiAt fxccertvi emeu 
LOEW BUILDINQ ANNEX 

;1*0 W. 4W> St. N.Y.C -•%*<* WW» 



Saranac Lake 

By Happy Benway 

Saranac Lake, N. Y., Aug. 24. 
Former show folk' who made the 
grade here, and assisting in the 
Will Rogers Fund drive are H. D. 
"Hank" Hearn, Sam (RKO) Lefko, 
Harry Martin and Alice Farley. 

First summer party given at the 
Rogers by "We The Patients" 
packed plenty entertainment. 
Emceed by Frank Hynes, bill in- 
cluded Alice Dudley, Andy Grain- 
ier, The Amazing Mr. Ballantine, 
Walter Romanik and Joe Lawrence... 
Music was furnished by Bill Poplin 
and his Hot Pops (Howard Mar- 
shall, Danny Paige, Francis Quig- 
ley. Joe Boland). Show was a real 
treat for the gang. 

Mary Lou ,3Veaiver, of Warner 
Bros; Cleveland exchange; upped 
for pictures. 

Ann Rowe, who mastered four 
stages of the thoracoplasty opera- 
tion, elated over surprise visit from 
the Joe Lewey's, Ernest Skeens 
and Virginia Rowe, her sister. 

Joe Phillips, United Artists 
staffer, upped for pictures. 

Colony getting a nice break by 
•attending practice games of the 
Philadelphia Eagles football team, 
doing summer training here. 

Eileen Grotte recuperating from 
recent operation. 

Walter Romanik given an all- 
clear and left to absolute medical 
O.K. resume work. 

Fred Sweeney, (Duffy &) is cur- 
ing at the I.O.F. Sanatorium, Lopez 
Canyon, Pacoima, Cal. 

Lee KUmick upped for all .meals 
and mild exercise. 

Write t* ibosc wh# arc iU. 



Coast Nitery on AGVA 
Unfair list for Using Ams 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 

American Guild of Variety Art- 
ists has put the York Club, nitery 
operated by the Fine Bros, on its 
national "unfair" list for using 
amateurs in its floorshow. Accord^ 
ing to Florine Baje, coast chief of 
AGVA, she caught the spot mixing 
unpaid simonpures into bills with 
professional acts. 

Hereafter no AGVA acts can 
play the York, and union is investi- 
gating those who recently worked' 
there in effort to determine wheth- 
er they knew amateurs were work- 
ing with them. Those guilty of 
such breach will be penalized bj> 
union. 

The York had a contract with 
AGVA and deposited a $500 bond, 
which the union is returning. The 
spot is .the. fourth blacklisted this 
year by AGVA for using amateurs. 
Union rule is that any nitery which 
hires professional talent cannot at 
any time, employ amateurs on 
same bill. 



IT S A RECORD! 

204th Consecutive Week 
as M.C at the 

EARL CARROLL THEATRE 
HOLLYWOOD 

BILLY RAYES 

Juggling Satirist 
M.C.A. Artists 



MIAMI DAILY NEWS (AUG. 12) 
(OLYMPIA THEATRE) 
"Arthur Ward's juggling it as 
good at any s*«n here, bat Ward 
adds something to-' kit act which 
other jugglers seem to lack. He 
keeps the folks laughieg while lie's 
working, and has an entirely happy 
routine.'' —RICHARD LOWE. 

ARTHUR WARD 

HOOPOLOGIST SUPREME 
WITH A DASH OF HUMOR 



Thanks to LEO SALKIN. 
WM. MORRIS and JOE 
JACOBSON for three weeks 
at Cfcei Parec, Chicago. 

Aim 



AMERICA'S TOr HEADLINE SINGING GROUP 




RCA 
VICTOR 
FAVORITES 



Currently 
STEEL PIER 
Atlantic Gty 

All Mnjor Net works, 
Xhentrea nml Clubs, 
U. 6. and Canada 

Person*! Mnetfen— XB 
SMS KKO BuiWItiR. New ¥*rk Z*. H. X. 



1 



BOYS 



Circle «-««• 



Wednesday, August 25, 1948 



Night Club Reviews 



47 



Latin Quarter, X. Y. 

Milton Berle, Kanazawas (3), 
»wtu Bradlei/, Son & Sonny, Moun- 
taineers (5), Sid Gary, Don Saxon, 
S Bennett, Dorothy Reid, Vmg 
Merlin Orch, Buddy Harlow Orch; 
minimum, ?5- 

■ The current Latin Quarter ap- 
noarance is Milton Berle's first 
Sav-date in N. Y. cafes since his 
record-shattering deal at the now 
inoDerative Carnival two years ago, 
and it's likely he'll continue his 
record-makfhg during his three- 
week stay at the Lou Walters 
bistro. 

Firstly, Berle is getting $15,000 

the highest salary ever earned 
' bv a single in a N. Y. boite. More 
•important to the healthy Berle 
draw is his ability to cloek more 
laughs than practically any comic 
that's played here and his ability 
to stay on longer than anyone else. 

With his LQ preem, Berle also 
stressed his ability to showcase 
new talent. It's not commonly 
thought of, but he can also build 
up another performer. This he re- 
vealed particularly in the case of 
the veteran Sid Gary. The major 
surprise of the show is Gary, who's 
been in radio for years. Gary is 
again a baritone star. His standard 
and robust baritoning of "Without 
a Song" and "Old Man River" on 
opening night drew a hand ex- 
ceeded only by that given Berle. 
For encores he does a set of clicko 
song impressions of Morton 
Downey, George Jessel and Al 
Jolson, with his Jessel offkey sing- 
ing particularly devastating. Gary 
and Berle do a blackface bit to- 
gether that ties up the house. 

Berle, as per usual, works with 
every act on the show, encasing 
the various bits with new material. 
Biggest yock of the evening comes 
■in his work with the Mountaineers, 
a five-person hillbilly act that has 
supplanted his bit with the Ben 
Yost singing group. Principle is 
essentially the same, but instead 
'.of donning the outfit of the har- 
monizing unit, he's in hillbilly garb 
'and gets 'a master mitt with his 
song and instrumental perform- 
"inces. 

.' What hasn't changed to any ap- 
preciable degree is his turn with 
-the Kanazawas. Comic takes some 
•punishment from the risley per- 
formers and does a few gags to 
^provide some hilarious moments. 
He works in similar fashion with 
Betty Bradley, a competent song- 
stress who does a pair of person- 
ably projected tunes before Berle 
starts a mugging session with her. 
Son and Sonny, a sepia dance 
team, similarly show up strongly 
' on their own, with Berle chiming 
in at the finish. 

The LQ line also gets a shot of 
Berle's japeries. In the school days 
number, he dons femme garb to 
sing a few choruses of "I'm a Big 
Girl Now."" That, too, floors the 
"mob. 

It's' one of those shows that 
keeps the customers entertained 
for two solid hours. And the long 
running time is no break to boni- 
face Walters. During the show, 
•little liquor is sold. But to compen- 
sate, he's charging a $5 minimum. 
Even with that, rope's-up business 
seems inevitable. 

Berle will be followed by Ted 
Lewis, who in turn will be suc- 
ceeded by Sophie Tucker and 
Abbott and Costello. It's possibly 
the strongest cafe-lineup any 
Broadway spot has had in years. 

Jose. 



ness of the old combo. However 
in a few weeks here, they'll be in 
top form and ready to resume on 
the class circuits. The duo do a 
charming samba and a good "Be- 
guine," with lifts and spins done 
in a manner that gives their turn 
an overall effectiveness. 

The surrounding show shapes up 
fairly well, with Bruce Howard 
emceeing; Terry Twins, tapsters, 
and songstress Roslyn Paige. All 
New Acts. 

The Frank Shepherd line (6) 

s . ho . w f„ a pair of 8° od WUtihes, and 
Art Waner, per usual, showbacks 
in top form. j ose . 

Clover Club. Miami 

Miami, Aug. 22. 
Cart Ravazza, Burns' Birds, 
Jane Wynn, Roehe-Carlylc Dancers 
(7), Toney Lopez Orch; $3 min- 
imum, . 



Leon & Eriilie^, X. Y. 

Jerri Blanchard, Cerneys <2), 
Bruce Hoivard, Terry Twins, Ros- 
lyn Paige, Frank Shepherd line 
(6), Art Waner Orch; $3.50 mini- 
mum. 



Boniface Eddie Davis has seen to 
it that his spot will have a fine 
brand of entertainment while he's 

• vacationing. It's during these vaca- 
tion stints that the spot has potent 
Personalities as partial compensa- 
tion for Davis' absences. This time, 
Davis hay installed Jerri Blanchard 
as the mainstay of the session. 

" f Miss Blanchard has a Davis-like 
faculty of getting a dinner crowd 
to take to everything from straight 
songs and stories to indigoisms. 

. fche s got a pleasing personality 
?nd a choice assortment of mater- 
>al that should put a party-like 
aspect on the evening's festivities. 
™>ss Blanchard has been around 
tor sometime and shows up with 
equal effectiveness in this spot as 
« the intimeries. 

Among the various other acts 
are the Cerneys, who have ap- 
peared with extreme effectiveness 
'" local niteries as well as vauders 
with their dancing. Cerney is now 
snowcasing an act with a new part- 
ner. His twin sister, with whom he 
previously performed, left show- 
ousiness a few months back. At 
tnis point, the turn is just a couple 
ot shades below the top effective- 



Consistent run of solid perform- 
ers that have played here in past 
weeks continues with current lav- 
out, which adds up as one of the 
best of the summer series. 

In Carl Ravazza, it has a top- 
liner who fits the room. Featured 
at the Beachcomber last season, 
Ravazza was somewhat overshad- 
owed by Sophie Tucker and Peter 
Lind Hayes in that engagement. 
This time out, he's on his own and 
displays a sock set of straight 
songs and special material that 
ring the bell all the way. In this 
more intimate showcase, he re- 
veals smart showmanship, plus in- 
telligent blending of his material 
to make for a solid impact. In the 
straight section he hits with 
"Seems Like Old Times," "Acap- 
ulco," "Ballin' The Jack" and "It's 
Magic." They make for effective 
contrast to his comedy songs. 
Standard laugh getters are "Pedro" 
and "Her Bathing Suit Never Got 
Wet," both interspersed with pat- 
ter that builds to laughs. Another 
standout is twist on cowboy 
laments for the "lone prairie," con- 
tained in "In Your Buttons And 
Bows." Had. to begoff. 
. Supporting show is paced in 
same' easy, -intimate style. Top- 
stress Jane Wynn, whp clicked here 
last winter, hits again with her 
precision heel and toe work, wind- 
ing into spins that bring top .palm 
reaction. 

Burns' Birds are a refreshing 
novelty „ turn. Superbly trained 
group of tiny lovebirds and two 
macaws go through a series of 
tricks ranging from wire walking 
through toy trains travelling 
through burning hoops, ladder- 
climbing, letter - mailing, strong 
man bits ar\d tunnel building. The 
macaws provide the comedy, with 
bix between them and Burns pro- 
voking. 

Roche Carlyle line, in second 
i vear here, keep to high standard, 
i Standout for this session is the 
Spanish Fiesta routine, featuring 
smartly designed costumes and 
sock cape dance toy Aurora Roche. 

Tony Lopez and orch handle 
backgroundings and fill the floor 
between shows with smooth dance 
arrangements. Lary. 

El Morocco, Monfl 

Montreal, Aug. 20. 
Jackie Winston, Dr. .Marcus, 
i Naomi Stevens, Wanger Girls 1 6 ) 
■ Buddy Clarke Orch; minimum, $2. 

! Dr. Marcus, with his double- 
talk, sharp repartees and card 
i tricks, is the hit of new show here, 
! getting heavy mitting from audi- 
jence. His trick of cutting a piece 
!of paper which never breaks and 
'stunt of changing $2 to $20 and 
back to $2 go over. But its lus 
delivery that racks up top returns. 

Blonde Naomi Stevens, a fave 
here, has smart material coupled 
with a fair voice and smooth ap- 
proach. She does a takeoff on 
saloon singers, which includes a 
chorus in French on "Je Chante 
and another in Hebrew that's sock. 
Also "Let's Not Sing About Holly- 
wood," "She Likes It" and A 
Girl's Best Friend is No, lor 
additional plaudits. 

Comedian Jackie Winston has to 
work hard before winning over 
audience. Chap's material lor first 
half of act is run of the mill. But 
he cooks when he hits series ot 
Jolson, Chevalier, Boreo, bone 
and Durante impreshes. Closes 
with old-time song and dance lor 
nice bow-off. 

Wanger girls display nitty 
costumes and three good routines. 
Buddy Clarke band backs show 
neatly. ________ 

Mxon Cafe, PM 

Piffsbtirr;li. Aug. 18. 
Lucille & Eddie Roberts. Hoctor 
& Byrd, Bob Carter, Al Mursicos 
Orch (8); 50c. cover. 

Current lavout is about the 
briskest and" most entertaining 
Tony Contorti's downstairs spot 



, has had in some time. Only two 
I acts besides Bob Carter, singing 

mc. standby here, but they're both 

sock. 

I Dance team of Hoctor & Byrd 
| opens and have plenty on the ball 
I in all terp departments. Ballet 

tap, ballroom and even a trace of 
! satire they score all the way for 
;a solid click. Good act for anv 

spot. 

I Carter, wraps up middle spot 
with classy tenoring. He gives 'em 
:pops and snatches from the light 
operettas and there's hardly a 
ishow when his following will let 
him get off gracefully without at 
least half a dozen numbers. Al 
Marsico has had the dance band 
here for nine years and wouldn't 
look the same anywhere else. The 
:fatt that neither management for 
I clientele has tired of his dansapa- 
I lion is tip-off enough on his music. 
. For the windup of current show, 
Lucille & Eddie Roberts come on 
and slay 'em with their mental 
act, done with class and a sense 
of humor. Nixon's type of room 
doesn't usually cotton to talking 
acts—they like their stuff visual 
j here— but the Roberts have the 
: crow eating out of their hands in 
no time at all. Their patter is 
i geared for laughs, and they get 
! plenty besides the raised evebrows 
on their trickery. Cohen. 

Samovar, Montreal 

Montreal, Aug. 19. 
3 Beaus and A Peep, Mara Kim, 
Jack Wallace; Bill Skinner Orch: 
minimum $1.50. 



VARIETY BILLS 



WEEK OF AUGUST 25 



Numerals in connection with hills below indicate opening day of show 
Whether full or split week. 
Leltrr In parentheses Indicates circuit: (I) independent; (JU Lneiv: <M) MTo««J 
(!') Paramount; (B) KKO; (S) Moll; (W) Waner; (WH) Walter Kendo 



Current layout inaugurates 
club's new policy of three shows 
a night and the three acts on dis- 
play fit in nicely. Smooth singing 
of 3 Beaus and A Peep clicks 
and arrangements are solid, par- 
ticularly opener, "The Family's 
Always Around." Follow with nice 
workout on "How High the Moon," 
and "Hurdy Gurdy Man" in which 
they blend "Figaro" with "Chick- 
ery Chick." Encore with "Little 
Spanish Town," "Lero Lero" and 
"At Sundown" for plenty applause. 
Solid all the way. 

Jack Wallace contribs his record 
act. He works hard and scores with 
operatic fantasy. Best for timing 
and interpretation is "Open the 
Door Richard" with* a Louis Jordan 
record. Dance costume in Carmen 
Miranda number garners, laughs 
and appreciation. Mara Kim, 
Chinese dancer, displays boogie 
and jive numbers. Best is her 
fantasy on "Song of India." 

Marc. 



NEW YORK CITY 
Capitol ID 26 

Dick Jurgcns Ore 
! Dick Powell 
i Gil Maisbn 
i Lathrop & Lee 
Music Hall (11 U 

Win Mayo 
, Charles Tyrell 
i Willie Jones 

Andy Arcari 

Idalys 

Estelle Sloan 
Rockettcs 
Corps de Ballet 
Svm Ore 

Paramount (P) 25 
Kay Eberle Bd 
Martha Tilton 
Jan Murray 
Rudy Cardeuas 
Roxy (I) 24 
Frances Langford 
Ion Hall 
Harmonicats 
Jerry Colonna 
Carol I.ynne 
Fritz Dictl 

Strand (W) 11 
Winner Take All 
Cy Reeves 
Alvy West Ore 
BRONX 

Crotona (I) 30-31 
Lou Browne 
Rariuel 

Ross & Dean 
QUEENS 

Jamaica (I) 2S-2I 
3 Fontaines 
F & K Watson 
The Havwards 
Wally Dean 
Robert Shanlev 
Masters & Rollins 
The Duflys 
Continentals 
Dennis & Thomps'n' 

2»-3l 
Al Bernle 
Tanner tc Betty 
Massive Twins 

ATLANTIC CITY 

steel Pier (I) 27 
Scotty Burbank 
Juggling Jewels 
Deep River TBoys ' 
Benson tc Mann 
Hal Sands Girls 
BALTIMORE 

Hippodrome (I) 2* 
The Barretts 
Joe DeLyon 
Martin Bros 
Peggy tee 
Dave Barbour 5 
State (II 2»-2l 
Berk tc Hallow 
Ginny Lowry 
Herby Lynn 
J tc S Taylor 
W-1 

Romaine Sc Babelte 



Terry Bennett 
Boyd Heath 
(one to fill) 

CAMDEN 

Towers (I) 27-2» 
Lavcrne & Jon 
Tom Osborne 
Dennis & Thomps'n 
l.ou Browne 
.Marino Sis 

CHICAGO 

State-Lake IP) 25 
Disc Jockey Rev 

2 Ton Baker 
Toni Harper 
Illinois Jgcquet Ore 

Oriental (I) 71 
P Cavcnaugh 3 
Monica Lewis 
Marshall Bros 
Dewey Sis 
Carl. Sands Ore 
DAYTON 
Keith's (R> 24 
Parade of Stars 
Horace Heidt 
John Mungalt 
Melodaircs 
Pat Theriault 
Jack Green 
Jimmy Grosso 
Johnny Vana 
Stanley Morso 

KINGSTON 
B'way (WR> -27-21 
Frank Benham 
June Brady 
Bob Fitzgerald 
Grandma Perkins 
J & E Pelmar 
Glenn tc Jenkins 
MIAMI 

Olympia (P) 25 
Church tc Hale 
Mary Montoy 
Guy Klbbee 
Al Schenck 
Madcaps 

MINNEAPOLIS 
Radio City (P) 25 
Phil Spitalny Ore 

PHILADELPHIA 

Carman (I) 2t 
Ray English 
Tayton Dancers 
Diane Barron 
ROCKFORD 

Palace (I) 27-2* 
"Follies of Day" 

3 Marvels 
JAB Simpson 
Nip Nelson 
Louise Shanon 
(one to till) 

WASHINGTON 
Capitol (LI 2* 
Going Native Rev 
YOUNGSTOWN 
Palace (I) 30-1 
Woody Herman Ore 
Vic Damone 
Don Cummings 
Marion Callahan 



Cabaret Bills 



NEW YORK CITY 



i Cafe Society 

Downtown 
. Mildred Bailey 
! Avon Long 
j Calvin Jackson 

Dave Martin Ore 
! Copacabana 

Morton Downey 

Jean Carroll 

Gall-Gali 

Betty Bonncy 

Ralph Young 

Ray Malonc 

M Durso Ore 

Alvares Ore 

Diamond Horseshoe 

Jay Marshall 

Grace tc Nicco 

Norma Shepherd 

Choral Octet 

II Sandler Ore 

Alvarez Mcra 

Juenger Ballet Line 
El Chico 

Fernanda Crcspa 

Conde Luis 

Victoria Barcelo 

Rita & Uozino 

l.os Panchos 
Havana-Madrid 

Los Bocheros 

Trini Reyes 

II Santlllana 

Ralph Font Ore 

Machito Oro 

Hetel Btlmo't-Plexa 

Eddie Stone Ore 
Hotel llltmore 

Russ Morgan Ore 

Harold Nagcl Ore 
Hetel Edison 

Henry Jerome Ore 
Ne 1 Fifth Ave 

Turner Twins 

lack Kerr 

Hazel Webster - 

Downey 4: Fonville 
Penthouse Club 

Johnny Thompson 

Oscar Walzer 
Riviera 

•lane Froman 

Paul Wlnrhell 

Mario Sc Floria 

Tony Bavaar 

Joey .Gilbert 

Dnnn Arden Line 

Blue Barron Ore 
Hotel Astor ■ 

Three Suns 

Hetel New Yorker 

B Cummins Ore 



BRITAIN 



Ice «-R<3vue , 
Hotel Piccadilly 

Dell Trio 

Hotel Pennsylvania 

Skltch Henderson O 

Hotel St Morltz 
Mcnccnl Ore » 
Jacduclina 
Vlda & Varo 

Hotel Tatt 
Vincent Lopei Ore 
Charlie Drew 

Latin Quarter 
Milton Belle 
Don Saxon 
Kanazawas 
Betty Bradley ' 
Son tc Sonny 
Sid- Gary 
Mountaineers 
Promlnaders 
V)ng Merlin Ore 
B Harlow Ore 

La Rubsn Bleu 
King Odovn * 
Patricia Bright 
Bernie George 
Sonny Raye 
Nermann Paris 3 

Leon A Eddie'* 
Jerri Blanchard 
Art Waner Ore 
Cerneys 
Terry Twins 
Bruce Howard 
Roslyn Paige » 
Shepard Line 

Old Roumanian 
Sadie Banks 
Joe LaPorte Ore • 
D'Aquila Ore 
Splvy'i 
Katrina Van OsS 
Mary McCarty 
Splvy 

Versailles 

Nancy Donovan 
Bob Grant Ore 
Panchlto Ore 

Village Barn 
Hal Graham Ore 
Chubby Roe' 
Eddy Howard 
Bill Duffy 
Barbara Duffy 
Mons. Richard 
Piute Pete 

WaldnrfAsleris 
Freddy Martin Ore 
Mischa Borr Ore 



CHICAGO 



N.Y. Cafes 

.Continued from page 45 



plans. Nat Harris, who planned to 
reopen the Harem, Sept. 16; is still 
without an attraction although he's 
been angling for Kay Thompson 
and Williams Bros.,, or Myron 
Cohen, with neither deal set yet. 

Nicky Blair, Carnival operator, is 
also unsettled on an attraction, suf- 
ficiently potent to lure patronage. 
La Martinique's future is also in- 
definite. Latest is that Blair will 
attempt an intime policy.. 

Other major westsider is Billy 
Rose's Diamond Horseshoe, which 
will change layout after Jan. 1. 
Idea of the new display hasn't been 
revealed yet. 

The eastsiders are going Pari- 
sian. Le Directoire is preeming 
Sept. 17 with Campagnons de la 
Chanson, while Edith Piaf plays a 
repeat at the Versailles starting 
Sept. 22. Both acts are managed 
by Clifford C. Fischer. Before 
opening at "the cafes, Miss Piaf and 
Campagnons . will do . a series of 
concerts in Canada. Other Pari- 
sians coming to the Versailles in- 
clude George Ulmer and Suzy Sol- 
idor. 

The Persian Room of the Plaza 
hotel will also have Charles Trenet, 
while Jean Sablon may repeat a 
stand at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. 

The Blue Angel is set to preem 
Sept. 9 and the Cotillion room of 
the Pierre will bow Sept 14. 

The Raleigh room of the War- 
wick hotel reopens Sept. 15 with 
intime policy with several acts and 
Jan August band for dancing. 



Cullman 

— Continued from pat* ' = 

the Alvin, N. Y. Under this no- 
cash arrangement he operates the 
Aivin as a legit house and the net- 
work uses the Hammerstein as a 
radio studio-theatre. Reason is that 
the Hammerstein is already wired 
for radio production, and it would 
involve considerable expense to 
move, while Vie Alvin is regardco 
as a desirable house for legit. 



BIRMINGHAM 
Hippodrome (M) 23 

Ta Ra Rah Boom 
Frankie Howerd 
Adrienne & Leslie 
Morgan & Royle 
Irving Girdwood 

BRIGHTON 
Hippodrome (Ml 23 
Winters & Fielding 
Martha Raye 
Richardo Co 
Tommy Fields 
Fogel 

Dick Henderson 
2 Dancettes 
La Petite Poupee 
CHISWICK 
Empire (SI 23 
Arthur Lucan 
Kitty McShane 
Wilier Neal 
Jimmy Klllott 
Keith tc Cortes 
Barton 4 
Eddie Hart 
Geo Beck 

peter Ser'by 

Grand (S> 23. 

Soldiers in Skirts 
Joe Stein 
Max Carole 
Ford It Sheen 
Ronnie Stewart 
Fred Sloan 
Jackie Fair 
Archie Oeher 

Cy ' US GLASGOW 
Empire (M) 23 

Drage Ik Vivienne 
Reid tc Squires 
D ic D Hcmy 
Max Bacon 
Scott Sanders 
Terry-Thomas 
Freddie Sanborn 
Marlota 

LEEDS 

Empire (M) 23 
G &■ L Calienta 
Nicholas Bros' 
Terry HaU_ 
Ben Yost Co 
Olga Varona 
Tommy Burke Co 
Joyce Golding 
Norman Carroll 
Toscanetli 

LEICESTER 
Palace (S) 23 
Dr Crock Co 
Con Colleano 
B Wrieht & Marlon 
Slim Rh.vder 
Frankie Iligglns 
Bob Grey 
Dynamic 4 

LONOON 
Casino (23) 
June Richmond 
Cotes & Atkins 
Max Miller 
Hippodrome (M) 23 
Vic Oliver 
Pat Kirkwood 
Fred Kmney 
Melachrino Ore 
Marilyn Hightower 
Michael Bentine 
Julie Aildrewa 
Jean Garson 
Santigo Bd 

Palladium (M) 23 
Andrews Sis 
Lew Parker 
M Colleano Co 



Frank Marlowe 

Elsa & Waldo 

Fayes 3 

Len Young 

Jose Moreno Co 

Yvonne Watts 
FINSBURY PARK 
Env>ire (M) 23 

And So We Go On 

Issy Bonn , 

T "& D Kendall 

Norry Al lc Kemble 

Jack Kelly Co 

Peterson Bros 

Francanas 

HACKNEY 
Empire (S) 23 

Monte Key 

Suzette Tarri 

Geo Doonan 

Bill Kerr 

Rosalre'a Tony 

Kaye's Pekes 

Doyle Kids 

Les Marcellis 

SHEPHERDS BOSH 
Empire (5) 23 

Piccadilly Hayrlde 

Nat Jackley 

4 Hurricanes 

4 Pagolas 

Marianne Lincoln 

Jack Francois 
MANCHESTER 

Hippodrome (S) 23 

Country Cousins 

Harry Lester Co 

Marie Lawton 

Chris Sands 

Biiou Freda 

Konvot & Marion 
NEWCASTLE ■ 
Empire (M) 23 

Jack LeDair 

Steve Conway 

Walter Niblo 
, nrnaut Bros 
i Cawalini's Dogs 
j Young China Trp 
: Hamilton & Vassi 

Michael Miles 
NOTTINGHAM 
! Empire (M) 23 
' Frankie Handle 
| Gus Aubrey 
! A J Powers 
J-Stan Stafford 
I John Boden 
i SUNDERLAND 
i Empire (M) 23 
! Jenny IJjyes 
j John Boles*. 

F iMarx tc' Iris 
■ Wood tc Harmer 
| Bil Sc Bil 

Arthur Worsley 

Vernon Sis 
I Fostero Clarke 
SWANSEA 
1 Empire (M) 23 
I E tc M Harvey 
; Donald Peers 
; Jimmy Robbins 
1 Jackie Hunter 
! El Granadas tc 

Peter 
1 Rilcv i Heller 

Wallabies 
' limmv Edwards 
1 Freddy Black 
i WOLVERHAMPTON 
; Hippodrome (M) 23 
I New Madhatters 
i Svd Seymour 
: Madhatters Bd 
! Constance Evans 
! Earle tc Oscar 
I Pat O'Brien 
• Eric Plant 



Blackhawk 

[ Al Truce Orch 
, Jackie Van 

Hotel Bismark 
i Billy Bishop Ore 
j Florence & Fred'rie 
! Hetslngs 
I Prof Backwards 

Phil D'rcy 

Bonnie LineU 

BUI Chandler Ore 

Lola Amechee 

H Edgewater Beach 

Geo Olsen Ore 

A Konyot 

Paul Renins 

Hal Raywin 

Betty Gray 

D llild Dancers (12) 

Maurice & Maryea 
Chei Paree 

Danny Thomas 

Dahna 

Mage Sc Karr 



Leroy Bros (31 ». 
M Gould Ore (10) 
Lane Adams 
D Chlesta Combo. 
D Dorben Dcrs Co 

Hotel Steven. 

Benny Strong Ore 
B tc F BaUard. 
John Flanagan 
•lean Arlcn 
Marian Spelman 
Sl;atin? Blvdear* 
Bog Turk 

Rehlield Sc Del Tore 
Doris Donavan 
lilwood Carl v 

Palmer Beote 

Uberace 

Cl tit ord Guest 

M Abbott Dcra (10> 

Florian ZaBach Ore 

Glsell tc F S/yoni 



Aeriaiist Injured When 
Pole Trick Backfires 

Chicago, Aug. 24. 

Mrs. Melanie Antalek was se- 
riously injured Sunday (22) when 
she fell 29 feet from top of pole 
balanced on husband's feet ni 
Stradford thez.tre. • In the act in 
w' ich Mrs. Antalek was injured 
three women climb to the top of 
the pole which Joseph Antalek bal- 
ances on feet while lying on back. 

Pole fell across the orch pit, but 
Edward Copeland, musician, caught 
it, preventing injury to audience 
in front rows. 



Fire Destroys Upstate House 

St. Regis Falls, N. Y., Aug. 24. 

Fire believed caused by a short 
circuit destroyed the Waverly the- 
;>tre here last week. Stanley Lav- 
tllcy of Potsdam, N. Y., is owner. 



Conventioneers 

— Continued from page 45 — 

ing heat sent them off to resorts. 
This year's cool weather has kept 
a lot of well-heeled Chicagoans at 
home. 

Danny Thomas is hitting an all- 
time high at the Chez Paree, with 
more, than 6,000 covers per week. 
Al Trace's orch at the Blackhawk, 
aided by his disk hit, "You Call 
Everybody Darlin'," has kept white 
space scarce. The Empire Room 
of the Palmer House packs 'em in 
nightly with Liberace and Florian 
ZaBach's orch. 

Cool weather has occasionally 
cut into take of the . Edgewater 
Beach Boardwalk, but biz on the 
whole is okay. Ditto the Boule- 
vard Room of the Stevens Hotel, 
with an ice show that's a must on 
the list of many Chi-bound vaea- 
tioneers. The Bismarck's Walnut 
Room has its share of Loop-edge 
biz. while the Pump Room of the 
Ambassador East continues as the 
mecca of celebs and the plush 
trade. 



48 



REVIEWS 



Wedneday, August 25, 1948 



House Reviews 



Capitol, N. V. 

Dick Powell, Dick- Jurgens Orch 
(16), with AX Galante, Bob Hen- 
derson, Jimmy Castle; Gil Maison 
(2), Lathrop & Lee; "Pitfall" 
(UA), reviewed in Variety Aug. 4, 
•48. 

The Capitol combination is a 
healthy blend of entertainment and 
boxoffice in which the individual 
components, topped by Dick Powell 
and the Dick Jurgens band, make 
a lively indentation on audience 
reaction. 

Major credit of the fine impres- 
sion 'goes to Powell, who hijs as big 
an exit hand as he does at his en- 
trance — rare indeed for a Holly- 
wood personality. Although he 
hasn't hit a Broadway vauder for 
six years, he's very much at 
home in this medium.- And tunes 
he catapulted to prominence in his 
Warner musicals of the past serve 
him well at this session. 

Even with., that, he's re-intro- 
duced former bits of stage busi- 
ness, such as his gag session with 
the orchestra, and winds up with 
a trumpet duet with Jurgens. Pow- 
ell seems uncertain of his opening 
lines, but that's dissipated once he 
goes into his tunefest. He's a 
bright and affable personality, one 
of his functions at this house being 
to provide additional boxoffice for 
his film, "Pitfall" (UA), which is 
preeming here. And he'll do that 
extremely well. - 

The Jurgens band comes 
equipped with a set of good stage 
routines. Jurgens introduces a 
good comedy note with a set of 
comedy singers and zany gleeclub 
arrangements which hit the mob 
nicely. There are some instances 
in which the crew goes overboard 
in the comedy direction, such as 
the rendition of "Woody Wood- 
pecker," an item which has had the 
last ounce of novelty extracted 
from it by its innumerable presen- 
tations. His straight numbers, par- 
ticularly, "Clair de Lune" and 
"Bolero," provide a smart change 
of pace and show excellent -musi- 
cianship, with four fiddles predom- 
inating. The band's vocalists, Al 
Galente, Bob Henderson -and 
Jimmy Castle, also Click. 

The major comedy note is by 
Gil Maison, who has one of the 
cleverest animal acts on the 
boards: Maison, aided by a pair of 
miniature mutts and the monk who 
goes into a tantrum at the mention 
of Frank Buck, is the type: act that 
makes any audience a pushover. 

Dance turn is by Lathrop and 
Lee, class standard tap turn with 
- smooth routines that get top re- 
sponse. Jose. 

Roxy, IV. V. 

Frances Langford & Jon Hall, 
Jerry Colonna, Jerry Murad's Har- 
momeats (3), Al Gordon's Dogs, 
Fritz Dietl, Carol Lynne, H. Leo- 
pold Spifainif Chorus; "That Lady 
m Ermine" (2Qth-Fox), reviewed 
in Variety July 14, '48. 

the Roxy, with many years of 
production experience, has during 
the past few ' months virtually 
transformed itself into a straight 
vauder, with only minor produc- 
tion dressing to give each show a 
setting.to enhance the acts playing 
there. The major Roxy concentra- 
tion is now on talent, where it 
should be, and it's a formula that 
caal miss. 

With the exception of the ice 
chow, the production is down to a 
minimum, and 'it's evident that 
with a solid performer lineup, this 
huge seater is cut to proportions 
that makes virtually every act a hit. 

The current bill fits these dimen- 
sions. With Frances Langford and 
Jon Hall, and Jerry Colonna sup- 
plying marquee dressing as well as 
entertainment, the new layout 
plays well. 

Miss Langford (Mrs. Hall) is one 
Of the more durable song^ylists 
whose pipes carry weight in thea- 
tres, cafes or radio. With four 
numbers on her own including "It's 
Magic" and a two-tune medley she 
sets herself off neatly to aid hubby 
Hall come on to a warmed up audi- 
ence: Hall does some repartee 
with Her," getting by with his 
charm, and duets in "I Like Mike." 
Audience is surprised that he can 
simulate singing and it aids for a 
hearty exit salvo. 
- Colonna is similarly a hit, al- 
' though he can stand punchier in- 
troductory lines. Nevertheless, 
when he opens his mouth, he's in 
as far .as the audience is. concerned. 
He does the familiar "Pale Hands" 
and "Mandalay" in his trade- 
Marked style to insure fine re- 



lished with good sight .comedy and 
excellent arrangements. After 
renditions of "El Relicario," "Har- 
monica Boogie" and a reprise of 
their best known platter, they walk 
off a hit. 

Gordon's bit with his stubborn 
pooches provides a high degree of 
entertainment The turn is well- 
presented with Gordon cueing the 
hounds for good laugh returns. 

The blades display is the only 
portion of the show that goes over- 
board on production. With a 
"Merry Widow" theme and an Alt 
Wien setting, Carol Lynne and 
Fritz Dietl show some graceful and 
rapid turns for continuous rounds 
of applause. Miss Lynne, at the 
Roxy since the ice show policy was 
inaugurated, has accustomed her- 
self to this house so that the com- 
paratively large space between the 
rink and audience, is of little mat- 
ter to her. Dietl still has to over- 
come this mental hazard, but his 
routines indicate that he'll be hit- 
ting solidly with a few more shows 
under his belt. The line of three 
couples dress up this sequence 
nicely. The boys' costumes pro- 
vide an optical illusion at first 
glance. They're wearing form fit- 
ing red guardsmen suits with 
ornaments not easily discernible at 
first. Initial impression is that 
they're in red flannel undies. 

Jose. 



Broadway-Capitol, De*. 

Detroit, Aug. 20. 
Rose Murphy, Barney Grant, 
Bela Lugosi, Harry Babbitt, 4 
Evans, Larry Paige Orch; "King of 
Gamblers" (Rep) and "Train to 
Alcatraz" (Rep). 



Layout this week fails to hit 
mark of previous shows. Lacking 
sparkle, it is saved by the shrill 
chi-chi piping of Rose Murphy, 
sepia songstress. Larry Paige orch 
tees things off with "Just Because." 
Barney Grant, emcee, needs better 
material for his introes. the Four 
Evans, family team of hoofers, 
have neat act. Younger pair con- 
trib snappy- routine to nice returns 
and bring on parents, who re- 
prise routine they did 30 years ago. 
Some soft shoe follows, and aero 
routine by younger girl for hefty 
returns. 

Harry Babbitt does neat bari- 
toning-of medley of "Little White 
Lies," "Little Girl" and "Night 
and Day." However, his top 
applause-getter is "Woody Wood- 
pecker Song;" Encores with "I Re-* 
member Mama" and a comedy 
number, "All I Want for Christmas 
is Two Front Teeth" for solid re- 
turns. 

Bela Lugosi from films, slithers 
through some colorless chatter 
which leads up to a skit in which 
the chill-master of the screen falls 
short of winning this audience. It's 
mild and unconvincing. 

Life saver of program is Miss 
Murphy. Hefty, with personalable 
songstress-pianist scores, with her 
inimitable squeaky-voice treatment 
of "Time on My Hands" for salvos. 
Follows with "My Blue Heaven," 
"Cecelia," "Dark Eyes" and closes 
with slick version of "I Can't Give 
You Anything But Love" to steal 
the show. Stan. 



the surrounding talent is also of 
'"' with Jerry Murad's Har- 
and Al Gordon's dogs, 
rmonica team now has to 
its ability as they haven't 
3-stselling disk since "Peg 
Wart," However, they of- 
d set of routines enibel- 




StceT"Pier, A. C. 

Atlantic City, Aug. 19. 
* Georgie Price, Franklin Twins, 
The Belle Aires, Theron Family, 
Hal Sands Dancers', Johnny 
O'Connell's Orch.; -"Here Comes 
Trouble." 



Nostalgia runs rampant here this 
week and they're packing them in 
to hear Georgie Price bring back 
the good old days. From the mo- 
ment he steps onto stage for his 
theme, "Bye, Bye, Blackbird," time 
marches backward— and even the 
youngsters enjoy it. 

Price, who interjects explanatory 
material to hep up the younger set 
on yesteryear doings, runs through 
his slick imitations of Jolson, Can- 
tor, George M. Cohan, and a sat- 
irical off-key takeoff of George 
Jessel. Sitting on the edge of the 
stage, he explains the successes of 
his contemporaries, and the take- 
offs— particularly Jolson— are tops. 

After two encores Price comes 
back and closes with a poem pok- 
ing fun at his old-time routines 
and the oldsters in the house. 

The zany Franklin Twins, Bill 
and Stan, do all sorts of facial con- 
tortions a la Danny Kaye— whom 
they resemble. They follow with 
imitations of Chinese, Hindus, 
Englishmen, etc. then a clever "Dr. 
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" satire and 
takeoffs on radio commercials and 
soap operas, which make for addi- 
tional fun. 

Weak spot on bill is the Belle 
Aires quartette (two girls and two 
lads), who make nice harmony, 
but don't have that sock salesman- 
ship. This may come later with 
more experience. Best number is 



a novelty called "In One Ear and 
Out the Other." 

The Theron Family, eight French 
cyclists, are repeaters here. Papa 
Theron, Parisian edition of 
Groucho Marx, steals the show 
with fine trickery on bicycle. Other 
Therons pyramid on single bike, 
for thrill stunts. Slick act for any 
bill, that gets over solidly here. 

The 16 Hal Sands dancers add 
flash and color. Timing is off but 
the girls are pretty, and routines 
are interesting. They do three 
numbers: "Latin - American 
Rhythm." "Feather Fantasy," and 
"Let's Go Collegiate." 

O'Connell's orchestra does nice 
backgrounding for the show. 



Olympia, Miami 

Miami, Aug. 20. 
Stuart Foster, Al Stevens. Ladd 
Lyon, The Workmans, Dancing 
Garcias, Les Rhode House Orch; 
"The Big Clock" (Par), 

There's a pleasant mixture of 
novelty here this week, to keep 
show moving at a steady pace. 

Topliner Stuart Foster follows 
a long line of featured vocalists 
from top orchs and pix who've 
played here and does okay with a 
straight, simple delivery that ef- 
fectively embraces song stanza. 
Routine is intelligent, with "Begin 
The Beguine" and a zingy arrange- 
ment of "Bye, Bye, Broadway" 
stand outs. 

Latin terpers, the Garcias open 
with some standard terping and 
native delineations" that set well 
with the palm-pounders. 

The Workmans, annual repeat- 
ers here, click with their bell ring- 
ing. Turn is a throwback to the 
old vaude days, and aud reaction 
proves its still potent. 

Ladd Lyon wraps up show with 
his acroantics. Rings in an au- 
dience plant who "volunteers" 
when he calls for participant. 
Clowning gets giggles and laughs, 
with gasps aplenty when the un- 
billed aide reveals expertness. 

Comedy slot is handled well by 
Al Stevens: Some of the bits he 
essays could stand refurbishing, 
but overall measures up for plenty 
laughs. Lary. 

Capitol, Wash. 

Washington. Aug. 24. 
Emerald Sisters, Bob Evans, 
Dunhills (3); "Date With Judy" 
(M-G). ' 



Capitol's standard format of four 
acts has been whittled down, this 
stanza by last minute illness of 
chirper Betty Jane Watson, ex of 
"Oklahoma" who bowed out too 
late to be replaced. Remaining 
three acts are rounded into a well 
paced, pleasant bill which doesn't 
stop the show at any point, but 
gets sustained appreciation 
throughout 

Surprise of the layout are the 
Emerald Sisters, who copped lion's 
share of mitt action at show caught 
with novel comic aero routine. Gals 
make it all look very simple and' 
get laughs as they toss each other 
around the stage, pull chairs from 
under each other and clown in 
some highly difficult aero turns. 
Act is a pleasant relief from the 
run of the mill curtain raiser. 

The Dunhills. touted as the 
dancing stars of "Wild Irish Rose," 
click with slick precision terping 
and perfect team work. Their act 
has polish and a fast pace. Trio 
of young men, dressed alike in 
business suits, work in unison for 
their two number routine and then 
come back for some challenge 
work and fancy individual terping. 
Got hefty response. 

Bob Evans, teamed with Jerry 
O'Leary, the conventional "fresh 
kid" dummy, gets the worst of an 
exchange of wise cracks with 
wooden partner and . garners laughs 
with a running line of gags. Ventro 
technique is fine, with the dummy 
singing in several keys while Evans 
retains smiling composure. Tricks 
include a crying jag on -part of 
the dummy, and some alternate 
singing between Evans and Jerry. 
There is nothing different about 
the 'act, but' it is smoothly execu- 
ted, and pleasantly entertaining, 
. Lowe. 



Unit, comprising three rhythm, one 
brass and two reed,, also scores 
with "Cuttin' Out" Bostic croons 
the chorus on the latter. 

Sandwiched in are the comedy 
turn of George Williams plus 
terper Ralph Brown. Former rat- 
tles his lines off at a pace so brisk 
it's difficult to follow in the rear 
of the house. Best of his patter is 
; a baseball anecdote which drew 
| mild palmwhacks. He needs a bet- 
ter sense of tuning for an improved 
: projection of his gags. 

Brown shuffles his brogans 
adeptly, sports a pleasant smile 
and climaxes his act with an able 
takeoff on Bill Robinson for nice 
returns. Bostic returns for the 
closer, giving out with a frenzied 
tune and injecting a personal ele- 
ment into it by- marching up and 
down the aisles, simultaneously 
blaring away on the sax. An un- 
billed pit band tees off the show 
with a Calypso number. Gilb,' 

,; V Oriental, Chi 

. Chicago, Aug. 20. 
Monica Lewis, Page- Cavanaugh 
Trio, Marshall Bros. (2), Dewey 
Sisters (2), Carl Sands Orch; 
"Lady in Ermine" (20th). 

Current revue is woven around 
Carl Sands' first anniversary as 
house orch leader with huge birth- 
day cake setting on stage. Orch has 
a 10 minute opening stint high- 
lighting some 6t the hit tunes of 
'47-'48 with Smith Howard, drum- 
mer, baritoning, with the aid of 
the band glee club, "Whiffenpoof 
Song" and Sands getting salvos for 
88'ing of "Malaguena." 

Dewey Sisters are strong openers 
with aero dancing, sommersaults 
and pinwheels, for nice response. 

Monica Lewis, radio songstress, 
socks with "Lady In Love" to bring 
on wolf-calls, then "Tree In the 
Meadow." She really cooks on 
"Gentleman is a Dope" and scores 
again with encore, "It's Magic" and 
"Dancing in the Dark" 

Marshall Bros, are "must" re- 
peats for this house. Youthful 
comics, from moment younger 
hugs the mike, with Sinatra satire, 
to closer with junior member tak- 
ing a cuffing, garner incessant 
laughs. Usual run of radio and film 
impressions is brightened by spe- 
cial material and sharp asides. A 
solid hit all the way. 

Page Cavatiaugh Trio swing into 
the nursery rhyme tunes about 
"Goldilocks and the Three Bears," 
and "Little Bo-Peep." Material is 
good, but better suited for bistro 
work, tunes sounding much the 
same. Trio, composed of guitar, 
piano, and bass, get more in the 
groove with Cavanaugh's vocal on 
"After You're Gone" and pianoing 
of "Walking My Baby Back Home/* 
Trio blend well in soft voiced ren- 
ditions, but mike arrangement was 
poor and several times voice/! over- 
lapped. Close solid with fast ver- 
sion of "How High The Moon," in 
which Al Burns, bass, sets a furi- 
ous beat. Zabe. 



Apollo, W. Y. 

Earl Bostic Orch (6), "Dr. Neff's 
Madhouse of Mystery," George 
Williams, Ralph Brown; "Devil's 
Cargo" (FC). 

Temporarily de-emphasizing be- 
bop and torrid trumpets to some 
extent, this Harlem vaudery has 
switched to an ofay magic show as 
its top marquee lure for the cur- 
rent layout. Replete with illusions, 
skeletons, ghosts, etc., "Dr. Neff's 
Madhouse of Mystery" (New Acts) 
registers fairly well #Kh the 
payees in more than 30 minutes 
onstage. 

Lest jive be completely shelved, 
Earl Bostic's small sepia combo is 
on hand and it pleases with a neat 
"8:45 Stomp" augmented by the 
leader's solid contrib oh the sax. 



Hippodrome, Balto. 

Baltimore, Aug. 21. 
Dick Foran, Jay & Lou Sexier, 
Bobby Sargent, Holloway Sisters 
(2), Jo Lombardi House Orch 
(12); "Return of the Bad Men" 
(RKO). 

Well routined layout or good tal- 
ent plays very well.. Impressive 
opening is contributed by the Hol- 
loway Sisters, duo of good-looking 
girls who shake out legit hoofery 
in unison and challenge. Makes for 
nice opener. 

Bobby Sargent, in the deuce, is 
a smart young.comic essaying fun- 
ny impressions and good material 
for solid returns. Dick Foran, 
cowboy vocalist from Hollywood, 
comes on in sport togs and gives 
out with straight vocals, tossing 
-in only one oater, "The Last 
Roundup." Does "Night and Day" 
and "Whiffenpoof Song" for solid 
applause. 

Jay and Lou Seiler close with 
practiced clowning and expert tim- 
ing for maximum laugh returns. 
Business on curved skis is funny, 
and closing bit of a horror scene 
from a picture employing Peter 
Lorre and Bela Lugosi, made up 
mostly of grunts and growls, is a 
perfect clincher for a ( groovey 
windup. 

Biz good. Burm. 

CHI COUNTY FAIR SET 
FOR SOLDIER'S FIELD 

Chicago, Aug. 24. 

Chicago will have its first down- 
town Cook County Fair complete 
with midway, stock judging shows, 
aquatic spectacle, and cooking conr 
j tests. Fair, one of the largest in 
the midwest, usually plays outly- 
ing towns, but lack of space has 
forced it into Soldiers' Field. 

Show, which runs from Aug. 29 
through to Sept. 6, has parted 
Johnny Jones Shows and Crosby 
Productions' "Rhapsody in Swing- 
time," water extravaganza, as main 
lures. 



New Acts 



DR. NEFF'S MADHOUSE OF 

MYSTERY (9) 
Magic 
35 Mins. 
Apollo, N. Y. 

Format of ofay "Dr. Neff s Mad- 
house of Mystery" is based prin- 
cipally upon stock-in-trade illu- 
sions common in the repertoire of. 
most magicos. Neff uses audience 
volunteers. On the whole, he runs 
through a liberal quantity of 
hocus-pocus whose quality is am- 
ple to satisfy the payees at this 
Harlem house. 

Neff's necromancy varies from 
the trick of extracting a rash of 
colored handkerchiefs out of a 
receptacle to the guillotine routine. 
A versatile magi, he's also adept at 
hypnotism. In a scene tagged a 
"Zombie's Nightmare, "a gal clad in 
a White gown is "mesmerized" so 
that her rigid body rests at right 
angles to a perpendicular pole. 
For the skeptical, he passes a hoop 
around the legs and torso. It's an 
effective trick. 

"Madhouse of Mystery" label 
stems primarily from several se- 
quences where the volunteers are 
used. First bit is called "Tail of 
the Ghost." Three lads hold a 
long cloth which Neff cuts in half. 
In the course of the business three 
gals dash across the stage carrying 
skeletons, much to the alarm of the 
impressed aides. Upon re-ex- 
amination of the cloth later, it's 
discovered to. be whole. 

Other scenes are "The Haunted 
House in Drury Lane," a miniature 
structure from which strange 
sounds emanate although previous- 
ly it was concluded to be empty as 
well as the feat of reproducing a 
young woman from an "empty" 
trunk. For a finale Neff has the 
theatre's lights doused ..and lumi- 
nous, wraith-like objects,- "ghosts," 
etc., flit about in the murk. 

Entire layout practically bolls 
down to a one-man show, for Neff 
is onstage continuously and accom- 
panies his prestidigitation and 
sleight-of-hand work with a con- 
stant flood of explanatory remarks. 
While this spiel, of course, is nec- 
essary it could be brightened. 
Magico's delivery, too, tends to be- 
come monotonous. 

Show was rather draggy when 
caught Friday (20) and trimming 
its extreme length would punch it 
up considerably. This unit is like- 
ly for the average vauder, but bet- 
ter production values and a tauter 
continuity are needed before it's 
ready. Assisting Neff are several 
femmes whose chores are chiefly 
confined to arranging props and 
other gear. Gilb. 



BRUCE HOWARD 

Comedy 

10 Mins. 

Leon & Eddie's, N. Y. 

Bruce Howard's comedy impres- 
sions, generally, give the impres- 
sion of vocal fidelity, but at this 
stage of his development he's 
failed to catch the personality of 
his various subjects. He has a 
basically good act, but needs 
stronger material. - 

One of his failings is the need 
to provide -his bits better tie-ins, 
a matter that will have to be 
worked out between his writer and 
himself. 

* Among his better takeoffs are Ed 
Gardner, Ronald Colman and 
Wallace Beery. However, the 
majority of his work is confined to 
familiar voices. Jose. 



TERRY TWINS 

Dance 

7 Mins. 

Leon & Eddie's, N. Y. 

The Terry Twins, a nicely-fig- 
ured tap twain, have a well-in- 
tegrated set of routines that should 
work itself into good family time 
fodder. The girls' taps are clean 
and their routines are designed to 
give a semblance of polish. 

Girls still need to punctuate 
their terps with some applause- 
winning tricks. Their aero bits fail 
to fill that purpose completely, al- 
though they help in the good over- 
all reception. Costuming, while 
adequate, similarly needs a few 
touches to arrest attention. Jose. 



ROSLYN PAIGE 
Songs m 
6 Mins. 

Leon & Eddie's, N. Y. 

Roslyn Paige is a well-groomed 
songstress with a basically good 
voice and okay projection. She 
has an engaging personality and a 
good feel for rhythm tunes. 

Miss Paige, however, has yet to 
capture the knack of working 
large spots. She needs a more 
knowing use of her hands and a 
a more sapient brand of showman- 
ship before she can be clasr d as 
standard act. .Jose. 



Wednesday, August 25, 1948 



PSriety 



IJSC1MMATE 



49 



1948-49 Season s Edge 

Although recent weeks' Broadway grosses have been running 
eUghtly below those of the corresponding weeks of last season 
the total gross for alt shows so far this season is still ahead of the 
similar 12 weeks of the 1946-47 season. 

The combined take for the 14 current shows last week was 
$374,200, compared with $376,300 for 17 shows the corresponding 
week last season. The total gross so far this season is $5,074,600 
for 236 show-weeks, compared with last season's $4,817,100 lor 239 
diow-weeks. 

With 13 new productions listed for September (against five for 
September, 1947) the edge over last season's running total gross 
should be increased next month. The first real hit last season 
didn't open until well into October. 



Romberg Score Still Not Ready, 
But Guild to Take ly Romance' 



Although Sigmund Romberg- 
hasn't yet completed the new score 
for "My Romance," the musical has 
already been set as a Theatre Guild 
subscription show in New York. It 
will be the first Shubert production 
ever offered to local Guild sub- 
scribers. The premiere is slated 
for fall at an unspecified theatre. 

According to Lawrence Langner, 
co-director of the Guild, the selec- 
tion of "My Romance" as a sub- 
scription show was not the result 
of any pressure. The Guild -was 
governed by favorable report on 
the musical from Boston last sea- 
son, he said. From other 
sources it was explained that the 
Guild has been anxious to get its 
New York subscription season un- 
der way early, and that "My Ro- 
mance" is figured a likely change 
of pace from the other two sched- 
uled subscription shows, "Silver 
Whistle", and "Set My People 
Free," both straight plays. The 
Guild's own musical, 'Toe Pursuit 
of Happiness," may or may not be 
ready this season. 

Also, it's said, the Guild man- 
agement is glad to give a business 
assist to the Shubert s, with whom 
it's associated in numerous theatre- 
rental deals both in New York and 
on the road. And the Guild and 
lee Shubert are associated in the 
American Theatre Society, each 
holding a one-third interest, with 
Marcus Heiman having the other 
third. Under that setup, any one 



Houseman Drops Hold 

On 'Bernards Alba' 

John Houseman no longer holds 
an option on "The House of Ber- 
narda Alba," the Richard O'Con- 
nell-James Graham Lujan transla- 
tion of the Garcia Lorca drama, 
which he tried out last fall on the 
Coast. There's still an outside 
chance of his producing it. New 
Stages is interested in the script, 
but there's nothing active on the 
play at the moment. 

Before returning to Hollywood 
in January to produce a picture for 
HKO, he may stage the Ashley 
Dukes play, "The Man with a Load 
of Mischief," which Herman J. 
Mankiewicz has slated for revival 
on Broadway. That's currently be- 
ing held up by casting difficulty. 
Meanwhile, Houseman is writing a 
series of articles on show business, 
for which a publication deal is not 
definitely set. 



Gordon Takes Over 
'Signer Chicago' But 
Production Uncertain 

Max Gordon has taken over the 
new. Edward Chodorov play, "Sig- 
nor Chicago," from Edward Choate, 
but it's still not certain that he'll 
actually produce it. With two new 
productions ("Town House" and 
"Bravo!" on his fall schedule now, 
Gordon is already heavily com- 
mitted and may not want to under- 
take raising the additional financ- 
ing necessary for a third show 
immediately. The producer 
usually has a relatively small list 
which invests in his productions, 
and there may be limits to how 
much they might want to put up 
over a short period, before any of 
the new shows could begin to pay 
off. 

Choate's reason for dropping 
"Signor Chicago" is understood to 
have been primarily trouble about 
raising the necessary production 
coin.' However, he'll have on inter- 
est in the show if and when Gordon 
actually puts it on. "Signor," 
which Chodorov adapted from "The 
Women Have Their Way," by the 
Quintero brothers, would cost about 
$60,000 to produce. Beulah Bondi, 
Rhys Williams and Marc Lawrence 
have been mentioned for the cast. 



1-Act Plays Held Good Possibility 
For Comeback as Video Material 



♦ One-act plays, long a drug on 
the script market, may have a ma- 
jor comeback via television. Such 
a development would bring a spec- 
\uiltrn (a RamntAfP tacular boost in revenue for a num- 



D.C. Guild Subscribers 



Washington, Aug. 24. 

As many as 1,000 Theatre Guild 
subscribers in Washington are ex- 
pected to transfer their affiliation 
to Ford's theatre in Baltimore for 
the Guild season this year, accord- 
ing to the local Guild office. 

With the shutdown of the Na- 
tional here as a legiter, the Guild 
has been promoting the Baltimore 
house and is scheduling special 
buses to hajdlc those who do not 
drive to Baltimore in their own 
cars. 



Gordon, Kanin 
Condense Kiting 



To simplify the billing, Ruth 
Gordon and her husband; Carson 
Kanin, are no longer listed as co- 
ol the three can vote a show as, a j producers of Miss Gordon's new 
subscription offering in the 30 ATS j play, 'The Leading Lady." Corn- 
cities. ! edy will be billed as presented by 
Romberg, currenUv on the Coast, Victor Samrock and William Fields, 
Is due Sept. 10 in New York, but formerly listed as associate pro- 



will send the new score east song 
by song, as he composes it. Fact 
that he is working on "My Ro- 
mance" is regarded as a reconcilia- 
tion, as he has been reported on 
the outs with 'the Shuberts for 
many years. 

Tiff arose after the Shuberts 
made an outright buy of his "Blos- 
som Time" and "Student Prince" 
operettas, and played the shows 
perennially without paying him any 
royalties': With the formation of 
the Dramatists Guild years ago 
such deals are outlawed. 

"My Romance," an operetta ver- 
sion of Romance," the Edward 
Sheldon dramatic hit of 1920-21, 
was done on the road last season 
with a score by Denes Agay and 
. Philip Redowski, but did spotty 
business. At the beginning of this 
season it was decided to scrap the 
entire score, and Romberg was 
signed to supply the new one. 

Only three previous outside pro- 
ductions have ever been offered as 
Guild " subscription plays in New 
York. They were "The Merchant of 
Yonkers," produced by Herman 
Shumlin in 1938-39; "Morning's at 
Seven," done by Dwight Deere 
Wiman in 1939-40, and "The Cream 
In the Well," presented by Carly 
Wharton-Martin Gabel in 1940-41. 
AH were flops. 



ducers, as they were with the 
Kanins last season on "How I Won- 
der." 

Miss Gordon and Kanin feel that, 
since she will be billed as star and 
author of the play, with Kanin as 
stager, it would also appear osten- 
tatious to give themselves producer 
listing. They will retain major 
share of show, of course, with Sam- 
rock and Fields having an interest. 

"Lady" premieres Sept. 13 in 
Chicago and opens Oct. 5 at the 
Cort, N. Y. 

Schwartz BOG Advance; 
Reopen Parkway, R'fclyn 

Advance sales on Maurice 
Schwartz's four new productions, 
to be presented this season at the 
Yiddish Art Theatre, N. Y., has 
reached $90,000 so far, the manager 
reveals,,, 

His first play, "The Voice Of 
Israel," a drama on contemporary 
Palestine by Elias Gilner, will open 
Oct. 25. 

Jacob Jacobs, actor-producer of 
Yiddish-language legit, and Nathan 
Goldberg plan reopening the Park- 
way theatre, Brooklyn, this fall. 

They will head a new eompany 
that will present a series of musi 



M White Quits 
'Charley' in Tiff 
With Producers 



Al White's replacement by 
George Balanchine as choreograph- 
er of "Where's Charley?" over last 
weekend followed a series of dis- 
putes with Gwen Rickard, co-pro- 
ducer of the musical and wife of 
Ray Bolger, the star. White finally 
walked out Saturday night (21), 
and the management announced 
Balanchine's signing the next day, 
Sunday (22). Balanchine was origi- 
nally mentioned as choreographer 
of the show last summer, but quit 
as a result of differences over se- 
lection of dancers. 
• According to White, Miss Rick- 
ard began interfering with the 
staging of the dances more than 
a week ago, with matters reaching 
a showdown latejast week. Finally, 
when it was suggested that he be 
billed as Albert White, Jr., in 
the progra i because Al White 
wouldn't sound "dignified," he 
blew up tad quit. 

"Where's Charley?" a musical 
version of "Charley's Aunt," is be- 
ing staged by George Abbott and 
produced by Cy Feuer, Ernest Mar- 
tin and Miss Rickard. White's last 
previous-stint was doing the dances 
for the Bolger starrer, "Silver Lin- 
ing," for Warner Bros. He got out 
of another commitment with the 
studio to do "Charley." He expects 
to return to the Coast shortly, but 
has no assignment as yet. 



Equity Plans Ban 
On Nearby Va.,Too 

Actors Equity may decide within 
the next few days to extend its ban 
on racial segregation in Washing- 
ton to Alexandria, Va.. and other 
nearby communities. Such action 
was proposed to the union's coun- 
cil yesterday (Tues.), but the matter 
was referred to the segregation 
committee, which is to consider it 
at a special meeting today (Wed.l. 

The question of broadening the 
Equity ban arose last week when 
it became known that "New York 
theatre interests" including the 
United Booking Office, was nego- 
tiating with the owners of the Vir- 
ginia theatre, Alexandria, to con- 
vert the house for legit, and to 
book touring shows there. It's fig- 
ured that use of the Alexandria 
house would get around the new 
Equity rule barring segregation in 
Washington, since the Virginia 
state law requires segregation. 

The National Assn. for the Ad- 
vancement o£ Colored People sent 
a wire to the Equity council yester- 
day, urging extension of the 
union's anti-segregation rule be ex- 
tended to "Virginia and other parts 
of the Capital area." It added that 
the proposed use of the Alexandria 
theatre "is so clearly an evasion of 
Actors Equity's ban that this fur- 
ther step is necessary to prevent 
a mockery of Equity's purpose." 

As reported in last week's 
Variety, a number of Broadway 
managers and authors have stated 
that they would not permit their 
shows to be booked into Alexandria 
even if the Equity ban were not 
extended. Also, various name 
dramatists indicated that if such 
a thing became necessary they 
would circulate a new pledge, 
among leading authors not to allow 
their shows to play Alexandria. 



Heaven" Hub Delay 

Costing 10G 

Boston, Aug. 



Figured 



24. 



'MAGDALENA' 1ST SOLO 
FOR HOMER CURRAN 

"Magdalena," slated to open 
Sept. 30 at the Ziegfeld, N. Y., will 
be the solo presentation of Homer 
I Curran. It will be the first time in 
[the Coast showman's long career 
that he's had sole presenter billing, 
although he's had co-producer and 
"in association with" listing with 
noted producers for several dec- 
ades.' , 

New operetta represents almost 



cals. House is scheduled to open a lifetime ambition for Curran. He 
Oct. 13 with a new play by Louis j is cre(U ted with the idea of the 
Freiman, as yet untitled. j show, and collaborated with Fred- 

Weekly tabloid Yiddish legit will I erick Hazlitt Brennan on the book, 
be produced by actor-director Irv- i with Heitor Villa-Lobos composing 

ing Jacobson, with the opening the music and Robert Wright and 

"Heaven on Earth," orginally ! Sept. 3 of the Downtown National, j George Forrest writing the lyrics, 
t for a Shubert opening on Aug. I n. Y. "Song of Israel," Louis Frei- Musical was originally slated to be 



man's musical starring Max Klet- 
ter, will tee off. 

Barbara Bel Geddes 

In Sartre B'way Play 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 
If film commitments don't in- 
terfere, Barbara Bel Geddes re- 
to Broad 

Wilbur, "Sept. 6; "Command De- 'P^^^^l^fntnt 
cision," Wilbur, Sept. 20; "Set My 1™*"^? * daptaU ° n ™ Je 



presented by Curran and Edwin 
Lester, but the billing will now list 
Curran as presenter and give Les- 
ter production credit below the 
show title. 

'Bostonians' Held Over 

Provincetown, Mass., Aug. 24. 
"The Bostonians," dramatized by 
Bernard Evelyn from the Henry 



Vic Hyde May Replace 
Herb Shriner in 'USA'; 

Herb Shriner is seeking out from 
his "Inside USA" Broadway legit 
contract, now that he has estab- 
lished himself, and Victor Hyde 
may succeed him for eight weeks. 
The musical comedian, currently 
playing fairs for Barnes & Car- 
ruthers, via Naomi Horrabin, his 
personal .manager from Des 



From indications, that trend is an" 
der way and will probably mush- 
room as the video medium expands, 
Because of the gradual change In 
the economic setup of legit over 
the last quarter-century, short dra- 
matic sketches became a negligible 
factor in the script field. With the 
decline of vaudeville, in which 
stage stars used them as vehicle* 
for bookings between legit engage- 
ments, a large source of royalties 
evaporated. About the same- time, 
the disappearance of stock also 
dealt a brutal wallop to one-act 
play authors. - - 

In recent years few established 
dramatists have bothered to write 
playlets, as there has been no mar- 
ket for them, and thus little incen- 
tive. Noel Coward wrote and, with 
Gertrude Lawrence, starred in 
three bills of nine one-acters, under 
the title of "Tonight at 8:30," in 
New York in 1936-37. There have 
been other sporadic attempts, to 
present bills of short sketches on 
Broadway, such as the current New 
Stages production of Jean-P»ol 
Sartre's "The Respectful Prosti- 
tute," and Richard Harrity's "Hope 
Is the Thing with Feathers,' at the 
Cort, N. V. 

■ But except for these and some 
playlets written by William Saro- 
yan, Thornton Wilder and the vari- 
ous Eugene O'Neill one-acters .done 
by the old Provincetown playhouse, • 
the field has been left largely to 
obscure authors and little -theatre 
groups. 

Now, however, the dramatic play- 
lets are becoming popular for tele- 
vision. Various production groups 
are reportedly being formed to use 
one-acters for video, and at growing 
number of indie TV stations are 
finding them suitable material. The 
American Theatre Wing is working 
on one such project, and Burgess 
Meredith and Robert Ross are set- 
ting up another. 

Vp to 25 Outlets Usinsr 'Em 

According to Samuel French, 
which probably handles more one- 
act plays than any other firm, there 
are between 20 and 25 TV outlets 
in various cities now regularly us- 
ing standard dramatic sketches. 
Perhaps the most popular one-act 
play author on the French list is 
Florence Ryerson and her late hus- 
band, Colin Clements, who for 
many years had a substantial in- 
come from scripts for amateur per- 
formance, but who never clicked in 
the professional theatre until their 
"Harriet" and more recent 
"Strange Bedfellows" were done on 
Broadway. 

One-acters are leased by French 
on a royalty basis, with the fee de- 
pending on the number of per- 
formances, whether the show is 
sponsored or sustaining, and 
whether it is carried by a single 
station or a network. In the case 
of single-station telecasts, the size 
of the potential video audience is 
also a factor. Within those wide 
limits, royalties may run from $25 
to $100 per performance. But the 
scale is rapidly rising as television 
expands and the demand increases. 
While the Kraft and Theatre 



Moines, would be available end- , 
September until his opening for Guild tele programs are 60 minutes 
Val Parnell in a Xmas panto in j J » n «- U"» use somewhat condensed 
London Dec 6 | versions of full-length plays, it's 

Shriner's exit is chiefly because ; figured that the production cost 
of the short dough, now that he j factor may ultimately make 30- 
has television and nitery offers, minute shows more or less the 
He will probably go into the- Octo- standard. In that event, one-act 



ber show at the Copacabana, N. Y. 



plays would be the natural vehicle. 
For one thing, their length would 
be suitable (or readily adapted so). 
Also, their limited-scene setup 



Boretz-Bassman Doing 

GoSCh-Healey Musical would generally be more practical 
Allen Boretz is writing the book 



set for a Shubert opening on Aug. 1 
19, was set back to Aug. 23 
on account of the complicated 
scenery. Show rehearsed simul- 
taneously at the Shubert, Wilbur, 
Majestic and Plymouth, and set- 
back figured to cost Monte Proser 
an additional $10,000. Show bud- 
geted well above $200,000. 

Other, legit prospects currently 
are "Small Wonder" at the Majes- 
tic, Aug. 30; "Town House," Colo- BroTdwayTrounTchrist- Jame « n0 J*i ^ thTwhSf^v- 1 easTto do the tunes. Gosch and percentage deal, 
rdal. Sept. 2; "Grandma's Diary," . ™ £ **y ^Gloves," KSSJK* at *** P Y Miss Healey were associated last i Play is being presented by he 

• house here. «« season in the production of Em- Playwrights' Co., in association 



James novel, has been held, over a 



material than radio scripts or short 
iB stories, either of which would like- 

comedy, tentatively titled "Have a ™* stor y-telling technique . 

Heart," to be produced by Martin j 

Gosch and Eunice Healey. Jerome , e i»_„.i p _1,„_„._1. 

Robbins or Robert Lewis will be • L»ue for Anne Kenearsali 

sought as director, and the leading j Joyce Redman, set for the title 
part is figured a natural for Louis part in Maxwell Anderson's new 
Calhern. A January preem is ' drama, "Anne of the 1,000 Days." 
planned - opposite Rex Harrison, is now in 

Boretz, who left Monday (23) for England, but will come to the U. S. 
the Coast, will work on the show shortly for the start of rehearsals, 
there, with Bassman remaining . Harrison has a hefty salary and 



People Free," Guild show, Oct. 4 
and "Romance," Shubert, Oct. 4 



, Sartre play. 

.1 Jean Dalrymple is producing. 



1 taigne Windust will direct 



80 



LEGITIMATK 



Wedneday, August 25, 1948 



Star System Hurting Strawhats; 
Say It Wrecks Stock Companies 



New Haven, Aug. 24. 

Present strawhat season, now on 
its last legs, has brought out cer- 
tain factors which, according to 
some operators, will require re- 
vision before another semester 
rolls- around. One Connecticut spot, 
climaxing another red season un- 
der several years of Equity opera- 
tion, has just about decided to 
switch over to non-Equity for next 
year. Another w.k. barnyard im- 
presario, who Insists an anonymity 
for obvious reasons, has this to say: 

"Some years ago, we set out to 
give our community a high stand- 
ard of entertainment at a reason- 
able cost. We developed a. good 
stock company of talented players, 
provided enjoyable attractions, arid 
everybody was happy. Then some- 
body introduced the star system, 
which was the beginning of a radi- 
cal change in summer theatre op- 
eration. ■'■>■'"' * '; 
- "Each theatre tried to outdo its 
neighbor, which resulted in a»con- 



the tune of a hefty $10,000, reach- 
ing the b.o. heights scaled by Elisa- 
beth Bergner in "Escape Me 
Never"- several sessions ago. Only 
show to top this record was Helen 
Hayes in '.'Alice Sit By the Fire," 
but latter had the edge helped by 
two extra days of playing time. 
Barn outfit expanded its capacity 
of 596 adding 120 extra seats on 
the side aisles. , 

Current attraction, Arthur 
Treacher in the revival of the Sir 
Arthur Wing Pinero opus, • "The 
Magistrate," is clicking. Jerome 
Mayer is producing, and is still 
Broadway-bound with the show. 

. Brian Aherne in "Beau Strate- 
gem," starting Aug. 31, brings the 
Olney to its final .week, with pro- 
ducer Richard Skinner still scout- 
ing around for a show to bring 
down the curtain for the season. 
Katharine Hepburn, who had been 



an exciting "almost," bowed out 
dmonTf' most' of "the week's^ I r f centl J when Metro beckoned and 
roll going to the star, with neces- ! sne had to returnta the Coast, 
sarily inferior talent being used to 



fill in. 

"Now we find ourselves in a third 
phase of operation in which the 
stars are all. but taking us over, 
leaving the theatre operator in the 
position of someone who merely 
provides the wherewithal for the 
star to make a good thing of the 
summer tour. 

"This has been particularly 
noticeable this season because of 
the fact that the star, usually for 
economic reasons wants to . play a 
full season without rehearsals. 
The policy now is to send along the 
play's stage manager a week ahead 
and tell us where >the star will 
stand, how the star will do so 'and 
so, and, in short, take the direc- 
tion of our attractions completely 
out^of our hands. 

"The fact that we have had years 
of experience in knowing just what 
our particular audiences will or 
will not take means nothing to 
these stage manager-directors, so 
there is often plenty of friction 
from that angle. 

• "Another headache is the fact 
that the star usually insists on 
bringing along certain players of 
limited talent, a situation that 
means it is-" impossible for us to 
maintain a. company of the calibre 
we've been used to, only to have 
various members idle half the sea- 
son. Frankly, this has resulted in i 
a letdown in the quality of our i 
supporting players and we're not \ 
at all' pleased about that. 
"Between the fact that it is cost 



Denver Rep Folds, Prematurely 

Denver, Aug. 24. 

Artists Repertory Theatre, play- 
ing stock, closed its season after 
six weeks of a scheduled 12. Plan 
was to vse visiting stars with a 
resident company at Phipps au- 
ditorium, seating 960, and with a 
top of $2.40. Nearby Elitch theatre 
at $2 top is having its usual fine 
business in its 58th year. 

Reasons for the flop was the un- 
usually heavy run of attractions 
in Denver, Central City and the 
local Red Rocks shows, the latter 
seating 7,000, with one to three 
shows a, week, including the Den- 
ver symphony orchestra. 



Woollcy In 'Dinner' 

Saratoga Spgs., N. Y., Aug. 24. 

Monty Woolley this week is play- 
ing "The Man Who Came to Din- 
ner" at the Spa Summer Theatre, 
in the part he created on Broad- 
way. The actor makes his home 
here with a brother. 

The nurse is being played by 
Marjorie Feggs. Others in the cast 
are Teddy Hart, Martha Brooks, 
Ted Allegretti, Roderich Winchell, 
Margaret Halbert, Helen Doherty, 
Mary Richardson, Clyde Waddell, 
Virginia Maddocks, William Jeff- 
rey, Ruth Hermansen and Kurt 
Richards. 



Seek Ala. State Theatre 

Abingdon, Va. Aug. 24. 
Emily Bell, one of the co-found- 
ers of the Joseph Jefferson Play- 
ers at Mobile, Ala., is conferring 
with Governor Jim Folsom on or- 
ganizing a State Theatre of Ala- 
bama. 

As a result of growing interest 
in her home state, Miss Bell has 
been observing operations of the 
Barter Theatre, State Theatre of 
Virginia, at Abingdon for the past 
two months. 



Newspaper-Owned TV Stations Snag 
Legit Actors on 'Pressure' Interviews 




Pitt White Barn's Extension 
Pittsburgh, Aug. 24. 
Unexpected click of White Barn 
theatre in its first year of opera- 
lng us more and more to operate tion has resulted in extension of 
and we are being placed in a post- ! the season from the 11 weeks, orig- 



tion where we have less and less 
to say about our operation, it looks 
like we'll have to' make a . few 
changes before next season gets 
underway." „ 



nally set to 13. Announced in the 
beginning to wind up Sept. 4, com- 
pany will keep going until 18th. 

One of two added plays will be 
"The Little Foxes;" other hasn't 

■ I been selected yet. \ 

'Front Page* Hypo 

Minneapolis, Aug. 24. 
Strawhat theatre got a strong 
lift here with Old Log theatre's 
stunt of producing "The Front 
Page" with cast including numer- 
ous actual newspaper people and j xlle Dock, street theatre, oldest 
the Hennepin county sheriff Ed legit house in America is curren tly 
Ryan who played the role of the ofler ing the Footlight Players, a 
sheriff 



Met Agreement Looked 
On as Union Defeat; 
Social Security legal' 

The Metropolitan Opera Assn. 
agreement with its 12 unions Mon- 
day (23)', reopening the cancelled 
Met season, is regarded in the 
trade as a definite defeat for the 
unions in- their original pitch for 
wage increases and social security. 
In certain circles the recent nego- 
tiations are also looked on as a 
successful attempt on the part of 
the Met management to intimidate 
the unions and a portend of what 
is in store for labor unions gen- 
erally in future contractual nego- 
tiations. 

Most of the unions had agreed 
several weeks ago to forego pay 
increases in the light of the Met's 
last season $220,000 deficit, al- 
though some had had no pay hikes 
in two years. A few unions — the 
musicians, notably — had held out 
for social security on the basis that 
they- worked a maximum of 30 
weeks a year, and were entitled to 
some cushion the other 22, Social j 
security would have cost the Met | 
3% of its payroll, or about $125,- 
000 yearly. 

The Met management refused to 1 
add this to its costs, adding that 
as a non-rrofit organization they 
were not called upon to do so. But 
Ballet Theatre, also a non-profit 
organization, had voluntarily instl- 
tuted it. as had Ballet International j 
several leasons ago. 

In the Met's announcement Mon- 
day (23), it stated that manage- 
ment would try to bring itself un- 
der federal social security "as soon 
as benefits can be extended legal- 
ly" to employees of non-profit in- 
stitutions. Trade was quick to point 
out that thr, suggested it was "ille- 
gal" to grant social security in non- 
profit setups, when this isn't so. 
The Government doesn't demand 
social security from non-profit 
groups, bu'. permits it, as above in- 
stances show. 

Schedule for the Met's opening 
will be worked out on manager 
Edward Johnson's return to N. Y., 
with likelihood that the original 
18-week season setup will be some- 
what curtailed. 



Strawhat Jottings 



Don Stolz, Old Log director, re- 
hearsed newspaper people and the 
sheriff for two weeks before put- 
ting them into rehearsals with the 
pros who had their interim shows 
to perform. Gideon Seymour, 
Minneapolis Star & Tribune execu- 
tive editor, played the role of Wal- 
ter Burns, the managing editor, 
with adroit bluster and change of 
pace. Hildy Johnson, its star re- 
porter, was played by Guy Arbury, 
regular Old Log cast member, and 
Bea Roth, also a pro, was the tart. 
Other Old Loggers were in the 
• cast, but reporters were played by 
John K. Sherman, Star & Tribune 
drama and music critic; George 
Guise, Star city editor; Bower 
Hawthorne, Tribune city editor; 
Bob Murphy, Star & Tribune movie 
critic; George Rice and Brad Mor- 
rison, Tribune staff members; Joe 
Seager, Star market assistant, who 
played a dumb cop; Virginia Saf- 
ford, Star columnist, onetime pro- 
fessional actress and dramatic, 
stock leading woman, who had the 
small role of the scrubwoman; Bar- 
bara Flanagan, Tribune reporter, 
the girl; Margaret Foley, Tribune 
editorial employee, the mother, and 
Sarah Lee Luther, Star society re- 
Porter, Mrs, Schlossef. 

'Horton-'Henry' Hefty MG 
i Olney, Md., Aug. 24. 

Udward Everett Horton in 
"Springtime for Henry" packed 
them into the Olney past week to 



little theatre group . . . Dolly Lush 
and Harry Rigby are reported 
having taken over the Cape play- 
house, Cape May, N. J., from T. C, 
Upham, and have appointed Gus 
Schirmer, Jr., manager-director 
. . . Harvey T. Warren, director of 
the Youngstown (O.) playhouse the 
last two seasons, has been named 
managing director of the Topeka 
Civic theatre for the coming sea- 
son . . . "Widow's Walk," a tryout, 
did virtual capacity business last 
week at Barter theatre, Abingdon, 
Va. Almost the whole countryside 
turned out Monday night (23) for 
the preem of Nat Karson's produc- 
tion of "Hamlet" there, with Rob- 
ert Breen, Fred Warriner, Leo 
Chalzell and Jacqueline Logan 
featured. 

Barbara Brady, granddaughter of 
William A. Brady, at the Berk- 
shire Playhouse, Stockbridge, 
Mass., this week in "The Bat." 



Added Strawhats 

The following summer theatres, 
not previously listed, are operating 
this season. This brings the total 
number of strawhats to 219. 
NEW YORK 
Highland: Highland Grange 
summer theatre; James Busby. 
OHIO 

Yellow Springs: Opera House. 

WEST VIRGINIA 
Wheeling: Players, Inc. 



'LIFE WITH MOTHER' 
ADDED TO PHILLYSKED 

Philadelphia, Aug. 24. 
' Another important booking has 
been added to Philly's early-sea- 
son list and now the four regular 
legit playhouses are all solidly 
booked for the first six weeks of 
1948-49 except for two weeks at 
the Forrest in October not as yet 
officially filled. 

The now booking is "Life With 
Mother," which % comes into «the 
Walnut Oct. 4 for a two-week fur- 
ther tryout prior to its Broadway 
j opening This gives the Walnut 
j three name attractions in a row, 
' "The Heiress" (Opening Sept. 20), 
"Life With Mother" and Maurice 
Evans' 'Man and Superman." 
They're all in for two weeks' each. 
' Where'.:; Charley," the new mu- 
sical starring Ray Bolger and 
based on the old farce,, "Charley's 
Aunt," opens the Forrest Sept. 
13 for three weeks. Forrest's next 
attraction (Oct. 4) is the .one doubt- 
lul spot in the booking chart al- 
j though another musical try-out is 
| mentioned. 

"That's the Ticket", still another 
musical tryout, opens a four-week 
spin at the Shubert Sept. 20, fol- 
lowing two weeks of "Brigadoon", 
which pries off the season's, lid 
Labor Day (Sept- 6). Also Labor 
Day night, "For Love or Money" 
bows at the Locust, to be followed 
by Tallualah Bankhead in "Pri- 
vates Lives" and "Born Yester- 
day." First two are in for two 
weeks; ''Yesterday" may linger 
longer. 



George M. Cohan, assistant treas- 
urer at the Fulton, N. Y., is a 
cousin of the late star of that name 
. Al Rosen, general manager of 
the Montclair (N. J.) theatre, re- 
turned this week from the Coast 
. . . Also back from the Coast Is 
Daniel Blum, editor of Theatre 
World, the annual legit almanac 
. . . Alexander Cohen, whose pro- 
duction of Benn Levy's "Clutter- 
buck" is scheduled for fall, under- 
went an appendectomy last Thurs- 
day (19 1 at Mt. Sinai hospital, N. Y. 
. . . William R. Katzcll, who'll pre- 
sent the revue, "Lend an Ear," on 
Broadway, planed in Monday (23) 
from the Coast, but returns there 
next week . . . Thornton Wilder 
goes to Ireland about Sept. 15 for 
a six months' stay, but denies he's 
working on a new play. He won't 
reveal his writing plans. 

The Dover (N. J.) Little Theatre 
is holding Broadway playgoing 
parties, commuting to New York 
by chartered bus . Walter Fried 
and Barry Hyains have optioned 
"Woman in Arms," by Abraham 
Polonsky, John Reinhardt and Hans 
Rehfisch, with Harold Clurman 
slated to direct. Fried and Clur- 
man .will then do the new Clifford 
Odets script, "Winter Journey," 
after which they're figuring on 
"Woman in the Case" (working 
title), by Howard Teichmann . . . 
Julie Haydon is to have the Laur- 
ette Taylor role in a revival of 
"Peg O' My Heart" this season . , . 
Eleanor Plnkham, general manager 
of the Los Angeles Civic Light 
Opgya Assn., is due Saturday (28) 
trom the Coast as the personal 
representative of Homer Curran 
?nd Edwin Lester in setting up the- 
atre parties for "Magdalena," 
which is slated to open Sept. 20 
at the Ziegfeld, N. Y. 

Mimi Kelly, daughter of Paul 
Kelly, succeeds Nan Wynn as 
femme lead in "Finian's Rainbow," 
at the ,46th Street theatre, N. Y.y ef- 
fective Sept. 6. Jay Martin replaces 
Donald Richards the same day . . . 
John van Druten's newest play, 
"Bell, Book and Candle," will be 
presented on Broadway around 
Jan. 1 by Afrea dc Liagre, Jr . . . 
"A Comedy of Good and Evil" is 
due Sept. 27 at the Morosco, after 
a tryout at the Wilbur, Boston, 
Starting Sept. 13 Bill Doll suc- 
ceeds Michel Mok next Monday 
(30) as pressagent of "Make Mine 
Manhattan," at the Brdadhurst, 
N. Y., continuing to handle "Annie 
Get Your Gun," at the Imperial, 
N.Y. . . . Jane Berlandina, scenic 
and costume designer from San 
Francisco, is now in New York 
with sketches for a ballet, for pres- 
entation either in musical comedy 
or by a dance group . . . Miriam 
Hopkins will head a road company 
for "Happy Birthday." 

John Battles,' lead last season in 
"Allegro," sails tomorrow (Thur.) 
for Ireland to join the Dublin Gate 
Theatre Co. for the coming season 
. . . The cast of "Angel in the 
Wings," at the Coronet, N. Y., plans 
to clown up the revue at the final 
performance, Sept. 4 . . . Ben Ed- 
wards will head the scenic division 
of the new drama department oi 
the Henry Street Settlement . . . 
Herbert J. Freezer, the legit show 
angel, bought a 35-foot» power 
cruiser. 



| Syracuse Opens With 'Harvey' 
Syracuse, Aug. 25. 
i Legit season opens here Labor 
j Day, Sept. 6, with "Harvey," 
starring Frank Fay. Broadway hit 
is underlined for three days 
through Sept. 8, at the RKO-Em- 
pire. . 

Booker for the fall are Maurice 
Evans' "Man and Superman," Oct. 
8 and 9, and "Command Decision" 
with Paul Kelly, Nov. 1 and 2. 
"Carousel" is slated for Feb. 7, 8 
and 9. 



Peter Wolf will design settings 
for the State Fair auditorium 
shows, Dallas, of the next Fair sea- 
son, Oct. 9 to 24. 



Kirk Won't Tour in 'Allegro' 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 24. 
Pittsburgh won't get to see Lisa 
Kirk, hometown girl who made 
good in her first Broadway show, 
"Allegro," when Theatre Guild 
musical comes here this season as 
a subscription offering. Miss Kirk, 
who introduced song, "Gentleman 
Is A Dope," in Rodgers-Hammer- 
stein show, has decided not to tour. 
I Miss Kirk got her start locally in 
| a revue at the Pittsburgh Play- 
1 house several years ago. . 



Television interview programs 
are getting to be a bigger headache 
to legit names than radio guest 
shots used to be. Difficulty is great- 
er out of town but is something 
of a nuisance in New York. Actors 
and managers figure it will get 
much worse before it gets any 
better. 

Chief trouble are the newspaper- 
owned video outlets, which per- 
formers don't dare turn down. As 
with radio interviews, there's never 
any pay mentioned for such guest 
appearances. But if an actor nixes 
a bid from a newspaper-owned sta- 
tion there's at least an implied 
threat of both him and his show 
being either rapped or ignored in 
the sheet's news columns. Some of 
the tele program people don't hesi- 
tate to go beyond implying a 
threat, either. 

Even more than with radio~inter- 
views, the TV question-and-answer 
stanza is figured of little value to 
either the legit actor or his show. 
With tele still admittedly playing 
to small audiences, the guest ap- 
pearances is regarded as little 
more than an audition for a new 
medium. As "some legiters express 
it, too, what's the use of trying to 
plug a chow via TV when many -of 
the viewers are probably people 
who never attend plays? What 
makes it worse, the visiting thesp 
I can't read a prepared interview 
I in video, but because of the sight 
angle must generally either mem- 
orize it or adlib. 

It's figured the guest-interview 
nuisance may never be eliminated 
from tele, but may merely be 
brought under a sort di. loose con- 
trol in a couple years. That's what 
occurred in radio, where the per- 
former unions have outlawed gratis 
guest "performances," but have 
never succeeded in curbing for- 
free -"interviews." The latter are 
still migraine material to name 
actors, although some legit press- 
agents consider them valuable as 
exploitation. 

Follow Radio Pattern 

Particularly with the start of the 
new season, TV guest programs 
show signs of following the pattern 
set by radio. Every self-styled 
critic, commentator or gabber with 
his own series descends on the 
principals of the latest hit show. 
These spielers generally demand 
the top star for a gratis guest spot, 
but frequently settle for a minor 
player (the relative importance of 
the actor usually depending on the 
popularity of the' program). Al- 
most invariably, the gabbers with 
shows on newspaper-owned sta- 
tions are the most demanding. 

Out of town there are generally 
j fewer such programs than in New 
j York, but the percentage of paper- 
I owned stations is higher. "That ap- 
1 pears to be particularly true of 
i television, in which newspaper 
publishers are staking out claims 
in station ownership. The requests 
for interview guests out of town 
involves touring shows, of course, 
so the stampede doesn't follow the 
opening but hits the advance agent 
before the production arrives at 
each city. 

So far the newspapers tend to 
pay off generously in printed pub- 
licity stories and art for actors 
I who make guest appearances. But 
that's the enly way they do pay off. 

So far there have been few 
known instances of legiters being 
pressured to make free guest "per- 
formances," and presumably the 
television committee of the Asso- 
j ciated Actors & Artistes of Amer- 
ica, representing all the actor 
unions, would halt any such devel- 
opment. However, one ne>wspaper- 
owned video outlet in Buffalo is 
said to take its equipment into a 
local little theatre to televise 
~scenes from the group's perform- 
ances. In that case, though, the 
thesp organization is an amateur 
one, and its members are glad to 
do the tele stint for free. 



Werris Writes Revue 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 

Snag Werris inked to pen all 
the skits for the new revue, "Raze 
the Roof," which Maurice Duke 
will produce in San Francisco next 
month. Jerry Lester and Chili 
Williams will be featured. 

Duke iy trying to build "Roof" 
along the lines of Ken Murray's 
"Blackouts" here, with a longrun 
in Frisco the ultimate goal. 



Wednesday, August 25, 1948 



LEGITIMATE 



51 




Visitors Boost Chi; 'Oklaf 
'Annie' Neat $29,000, 'John; $10,i 



Chicago, Aug. 24. * 
Legit take last week soared when 
hoards of Moose conventioneers 
and visitors to Chi Railroad Fair 
also decided to view stagers. Mati- 
nees were heavy with the distaff 
side. "High Button Shoes" and 
"Oklahoma!" were near sellouts and 
"Annie Get Your Gun" had a fine 
week. After almost a month of 
weak business, "John Loves Mary" 
turned to the right side of the 
ledger. 

Mail orders have been excep- 
tionally heavy for "Mister Roberts" 
although public announcement was 
made only last week. "Angel in 
the Wings," also set to open Sept 
7, is doing fair job in letter de 
partment. "Streetcar Named De- 
sire" pulls in Sept. 21. Also due 
In is Ruth Gordon's "Leading 
Lady," and standing by until Oc- 
tober are "Brigadoon" and "Wins- 
low Boy." 

Estimates for Last Week 

"Annie Get Your Gun," Shubert 
(7th week) (2,100; $4.94). Conven- 
tioneers gave this musical heavy 
play with fine $29,000. 

"High Button Shoes," Great 
Northern (14th week) (1,500; $6.18); 
Gross here doesn't vary more than 
$100 each week. Terrif $37,000. 

"John Loves Mary," Harris (27th 
week) (1,000; $3.71). Perked up 
under out-of-town interest with 
neat $10,600. 

"Oklahoma!," Erlanger (3rd 
week) (1,334; $4.33). Still loads 
of people who haven't seen it. Boff 
$29,200. 

UBO SHOWS SLATED 
FOR MURAT, INDPLS. 

Indianapolis, Aug. 24. 

United Booking Office Shows 
will go to the Murat here this 
year, Cecil Byrne, president of 
Theatrical Productions, Inc., which 
leases the house from Murat 
Shrine, has announced. 

No plans have been made for 
reopening the English, home of 
road shows for many years. Vin- 
cent Burke, formerly house man- 
ager of the English, will shift to 
Murat as booker. 

Equitable Life Insurance Co., 
which recently bought the English 
block as site for a department 
store, has asked tenants for pos- 
session by Dec. 1. One of oldest 
legit houses in middlewest, Eng- 
lish opened in September, 1880, 
with Lawrence Barrett in "Ham- 
let." Murat, built in 1910 and op- 
erated until .930 by Shuberts, is 
being completely renovated for 



Legit FoUowup 



Horn Yesterday 

(LYCEUM, N. Y.) 
With most of the leading parts 
recast since its opening three sea- 
sons ago, "Born Yesterday" now 
has different va|ues as a show. It 
doesn't seem as funny as it was 
originally, but possibly more seri- 
ous and probably almost as timely. 
Even with its obvious imperfec- 



'Vagabond' Fair $24,000, 
Closes Ind'pls Season 

Indianapolis, Aug. 24. 
Alonzo Price . production of 
"Vagabond King," featuring Har- 
old Patrick and Marguerite Piazza, 
closed six-week "Stars Under 
Stars" series at Butler Bowl Sat- 
urday (21) with fair $24,000 take 
in seven performances. 

Second annual series, including 
three operettas, one grand opera: 
and three weeks of concerts by" 
Indianapolis Summer Orchestra 
with soloists under direction of 
Fabien Savitsky, was rain-plagued 
and losing proposition. Guarantors, 
who got off scot free last year, will 
be called on for approximately 
$50,000 to make up deficit. 

Biggest seller in series was 
Sevitzky's production of "Carmen" 



tions, it remains an absorbing and 1 j, n E S| U * h ' give 2j wl ^ e 'n^ l?5f 
enjoyable comedy. 8 - with Regina Resnik, Brian Sulli- 

t . . , ' ' , ., van, Claudia Pinza and Hugh 

John Alexander, who recently Thompson ir» leads. It played to 
succeeded Paul Douglas as the 13,500 customers and grossed $22,- 
rampaging junk dealer, lacks the j 000 
natural, bull-like quality that made 
Douglas just right for the part. 
Jean Hagen, substituting as the 
hilariously semi-conscious heroine, 
hasn't the subtle touch that Judy 
Holliday gave the role, but lends it 
both a comic and touching flavor 
of her own. 

Laurence Hugo is fine as the 
muck-raking reporter, although 
final scene would be more effective 
if he underplayed against Alex- 
ander. Otto Hulett now mouths 
the part of the souse reporter pain- 

» MJ^SSJrtf-i Greek t=e° l£t week.^First 



Broadway Continues to Improve; 
Merman Boosts 'Annie to 3SG; 
'Shoes' $36,700, Testerday M 



'Carousel' 
'Musk'24UA. 

Hollywood, Aug. 24. 
Chill winds that blew nightly 
across the hills in Griffith Park 
froze business at the open-air 



edge as the laconic Eddie, but 
Larry Oliver, as the Senator, seems 
preoccupied when not actually 
reading lines. 

The costumes are in generally 
excellent condition, but the $235- 
a-day hotel room setting needs 
cleaning and retouching' here and 
there. ' Hobe. 



The Heiress 

(BILTMORE, N. Y.) 

With Betty Linley substituting 
for the vacationing Patricia Col- 
linge and Peter Cookson back in 
the role of the fortune-hunter. 
"The Heiress" continues a few 
more weeks at the Biltmore, N. Y., 
before taking to the road. Miss 
Linley lacks the finesse that Miss 
Collinge originally haa as the silly 
Aunt Lavinia, but she seems more 
legitimate than her. predecessor 
had become in recent months. As 
Miss Linley plays her, the roman- 
tic widow is less comic, bu{ more 
plausible. 

Cookson remains believable as 
the scheming swain, establishing 
the attractiveness and then reveal- 
ing the essential selfishness of the 
character, but avoiding obvious- 
ness. Most of the other supporting 
players are adequate, but Jean 
Piatt, filling for Miss Linley as the 
young man's sister, gives a con- 
fusing impression. 
Having played the part for some 



lagdalena' Sock 40G, 
'Sweethearts' 33G, Frisco 

San Francisco, Aug. 24. 
"Magdalena" the Homer Curran 
musical starring Irra Pctina, John 
Raitt, Dorothy Sarnoff and Hugo 
Haas, opened at the Curran (1,776; 
$4.80) last week to rave reviews. 
Even the longhair music critics 
commented favorably on the Villa- 
Lobos score, although nearly all 
fourth esfaters felt at least one 
hummable tune would more than 
help for popular appeal. Pro- 
ducers are reported making 
changes, which include additional 
ballet and possible switch in end- 
ing. First week did tremendous 
$40,000 gross, best bell-ringer since 



♦ Business on Broadway improved 
a bit more last week, continuing 
its recovery from the midsummer 
boxoffice low. The general picture 
was somewhat spotty, with some 
shows jumping almost $2,000 over 
the previous week's take, but others 
merely holding the same pace. , v 
Attendance was off slightly the 
early part of the week, except at 
"Annie Get Your Gun," at the 
Imperial, where Ethel Merman's 
return brought an instantaneous 
b.o. flurry. Threatening'' weather 
the last few days of the week 
boosted grosses, so the final tally 
was better. 

Estimates for Last Week 
Keys: C (Comedy), D (Drama). 
CD (Comedy-Drama), R (Retiue), 
M (Musical), O (Operetta). 

"Ansel In the Wines," Coronet 
(37th wk) (R-998; $4.80). Intimate 
revue, which posted notice and 



Annie Get Your Gun," which,. - 
however, had Opera House capacity almost closed some weeks ago. 



fall opening. New seats have been weeks, Beatrice Straight is fine as 
Installed and capacity jumped to ! the heiress. The timidity of the 



2,000. Problem of accommodating 
UBO shows for present is com- 
plicated by fact Indianapolis sym- 
phony orch. has 14 Saturday nights 
and Sunday afternoons reserved 
in mid - season while Burton 
Holmes has five consecutive Tues- 
day nights starting early in No- 
vember. House also will take care 
Of several lecture series, a num- 
ber of one-nighters by name bands 
and novelty attractions, conven- 
tions, exhibits, private entertain; 
ments and Shrine ceremonials. But 
many of these dates which conflict 
with UBO purposes will be 
dropped after next season, it's un- 
derstood. 

Byrne is keeping two sets of 
dates in October for "Annie Get 
Your Gun" as possible opener. 
Other dates tentatively set include 
' John Loves Mary," Nov. " 3-5; 
Blackstone, week of Nov. 22, minus 
one night for Holmes; "Command 
Decision," Dec. 1-2; "Born Yester- 
day," Dec 12-15; "Man and Super- 
man." Jan. 19-20; "Allegro," Jan. 
31-Feb. 5, and "Brigadoon," Feb. 
15-20. 



week of "Music in the Air" regis- 
tered a dour $24,000, matching the 
alltime low for the Gene Mann op- 
eration set during the first season, 
1946, with the second week of 
"Wizard of Oz." 

* Business elsewhere was steady. 
Estimates for Last Week 
"Blackouts of 1948," El Capitan 
(322d wk) (1,142; $2.40). Like old 
man river, $17,000 keeps rolling in. 

"Carousel," Biltmore (4th wk) 
(1,636; $4.20). Got $33,000, still 
profitable and pleasing. - 

"Lend An Ear,"" Las Palmas 
(10th wk) (388; $3). Up to $7,100 
by virtue of a Saturday matinee 
added last week. SRO all perform- 
ances. 

"Music in the Air," Greek Thea- 
tre (1st wk) (4,419; $3.60). Chilly 
nights duplicated at the boxoffice; 
$24,000. 

"Separate Rooms," New Beaux 
Arts (14th wk) (560; $3). Around 
$4,000. 

"The Glass Pool," Coronet (1st 
wk) (225; $3). Mixed notices 
greeted "opening Wednesday (18) 
and first four days hit only a fair- 
ish $2,200. 

N.Y. LEGITS-AFM NEAR 
ACCORD ON NEW PACT 

An agreement will probably be 
reached this week between the 
League of N. Y. Theatres and Lo- 
cal 802, American Federation of 
Musicians. The League board of 
directors will meet today (Wed.) 
to consider the union's latest pro- 
. posal. The two sides are now re- 
f ZT?Z May sti nam* and per* P^ted near a settlement that 
sonali*" mV taingT it's ^expert the matter may be cleared up at 



to help. 

"Sweethearts," with Bobby 
Clark, concluded its four-week 
stanza at the Curran Saturday (14) 
(1,776; $4.20) with a sock $33,000. 
Total run showed approximately 
$150,000. 

The Russell Lewis and Howard 
Young production of the Norman 
Krasna — Groucho Marx comedy, 
"Springtome," chalked up a second 
week's gross at the Geary (1,550; 
$3.60) of fair $12,000. Play, star- 
ring Otto Kruger, is being rewrit- 
ten after tepid reaction by local 
crix. 



first scenes is skillfully changed 
to eagerness and confidence in the 
second act and bitter imperious- 
ness in the third. Though this per- 



and moving. 

Basil Rathbone is still superb 
as the proud, tragic father. If his 
playing has lost any of its edge 
or impact it isn't Immediately ap- 
parent. And even with its various 
oast changes, the show itself re 
mains continuously engrossing. 

Hobe. 



Current Road Shows 



if as Cleve. Opener 

Cleveland, Aug. 24. 
Advancing its fall season a 
week, Hahna is reopening Sept. 6 
with "Oklahoma" as a result of 
shifted -bookings, when company 
closes its current Chicago run. 
"John Loves Mary" was also set 
. by Milt Krantz, house manager, 
for Sept. 13. Following it are 
"Wlnslow Boy," Sept. 20; "Summer 
and Smoke," Sept. 27, following 
its tryout in Detroit; "Born Yester- 
day," either Nov. 8 or a later date. 
Krantz has a chance of snagging 
"Annie Get Your Gun" for same 
week. 



(Aug. 23-Sept. 4) 

"Annie Get Your Gun"— Shu- 
bert, Chi. (23-4). 

"April Fool" — - Geary, Frisco 
(23-28); Biltmore, L. A. (30-4). 

"Blackouts of 1948" — El Cap- 
itan, L A. (23-4). , J 

"Blackstone" — Grand, London 
(26-28) Royal Alex., Toronto (30-4). 

"Carousel" — Biltmore, L. A. 
(23-28); Aud., Fresno (30-1); Civic 
San Jose (2-4). 

"Grandma's Diary" — Shubert, 
N. Haven (2-4). 

"Heaven On Earth" — Shubert, 
Bost. (23-4). 

"High Button Shoes" — Gt. 
Northern, Chi. (23-4). 

"John Loves Mary"— -Harris, 
Chi. (23-4). 

"Masdalena" — Curran, Frisco 
(23-4). 

"Medea" — Aud., Sacramento 
(3-4). 

"Mr. Roberts"— Cass, Det. (23-4). 
"Oklahoma" — Erlanger, Chi. 
(23-4). 

"Oklahoma!" — Aud., Winnipeg 
(23-28); Lyceum, Mpl's. (30-4). 

"Small Wonder"— Wilbur, Bost. 
(30-4). 

"Town House" — Colonial, Bost. 

"Winslow Boy" — Met.. Seattle 
(30-4J. 



one more meeting. 

The new deal, covering employ- 
ment of musicians for all Broad- 
way legit houses, will supersede 
the present contract expiring 
Sept. 1. 

Shows in Rehearsal 

"That's the Ticket" (formerly 
"Alfred the Average"), musical — 
Joseph Kipness. 

"Brigadoon" (road company), 
musical — Cheryl Crawford. 

"Grandma's Diary," play— Amer- 
ican Theatre Group. 

"Leading Lady," play — Kanin- 
Gordon-Samrock-Fields. 

"Love Life," musical — Cheryl 
Crawford. 

"Small Wonder," musical — 
George Nichols, 3d. 

"Story for Strangers," play— 
Dwight Deere Wiman. 

"Streetcar Named Desire" (road 
company), play— Irene Salznick. 

"Summer and Smoke," play 
Margo Jones. 

"Town House," play — Max 
Gordon. » 

"Where's Charley?" musical — 
Feuer, Martin & Rickard. 

Seek New Pitt Theatre 

Pittsburgh, Aug. 24. 
Pittsburgh Playhouse will launch 
drive in October for a new build 



continued its recovery last week* 
at $18,200, but goes on tour after 
next week; "Small Wonder" due to 
reopen the house Sept. 15. 

"Annie Get Your Gun," Imperial 
(U9th wk) (M-1,472; $6.60). With 
Ethel Merman back as star after a 
six-week vacation,' business boun- 
ced up; standees were reported 
Monday night (16) and the week's 
gross went to nearly $36,000; now 
slated to continue indefinitely. 

"Born Yesterday," Lyceum (133d 
wk) (C-993; $4.80). Receipts 
climbed again for this Garson 
Kanin comedy; several sellout 
houses, but "twofers" limited the 
gross to $13,500; next few weeks 
should indicate whether the show 
can hold on through the fall or 
will be forced out by incoming 
productions. 

"Command Decision," Fulton 
(36th wk) (D-968; $4.80). Another 
run show profiting from two-for- 
ones; $15,400 last week; closing 
postponed a week to Sept. 18, with 
tour to follow. 

"Finian's Rainbow," 46th Street 
(84th wk) (M-1,319; $6). Musical 
comedy fantasy inched up again to 
$26,500, but set to go on the road 
Oct. .2. 

"Harvey," 48th St. (200th wk) 
(C-902; $4.80). Longest-run show 
on the boards is still making a 
profit; edged up with the general 
trend to $12,000; Joe E. Brown 
succeeds James Dunn as star next 
Monday (30), with Marion Lome 
replacing Frances Lawrence as 
femme lead. 

"High Button Shoes," Shubert. 
(36th wk) (M-1,387; $6). Period 
musical comedy nearly back- to 
capacity at $36,700, and looks set 
through the fall and winter. 

"Howdy, -Mr. Ice," Center (9th 
wk) (R-2,964; $2.88). Skating revue 
keeps on pulling huge attendance; 
considering the low top, last week's 
gross of $54,000 for the regular 
nine performances was impressive: 
extra matinees tomorrow (Thur.) 
and Sept. 2 will make 10 perform- 
ances these two weeks. 

"Inside U.S.A.," Majestic (16th 
wk) (R-l ,659; $6). Arthur Schwartz- 
Howard Dietz revue held its own, 
with several turnaway houses; 
good operating profit at $48,000; 
performance remains precise and 
fresh. 

"Make Mine Manhattan," Broad- 
hurst (32d wk) (R-1,160; $6). In- 
timate revue has been doing better 
lately; nosed up over $25,700. 

"Mister Roberts," Alvin (27th 
wk) (CD - 1,357; $4.80). Another 
plus-capacity week, with the limit 
now $35,000 because of reseating 
some balcony seats; second com- 
pany playing Detroit this week 
before going to Chicago for a run. 

"Streetcar Named Desire," Bar- 
rymore (38th wk) (D-1,064; $4.80). 
The other current show that never 
I fails to get standee trade; $27,500 
I is the limit permitted by fire regu- 
1 lations. 

"The Heiress," Biltmore (47th 

"Oklahoma!" got a ^^A^^hft^bS^lM^ 
000 in six performances at the Fox | tZpe^$l3m,^^twoU^ 
theatre here last week. The musi- 1 > f £ to going on tour Sept. 18. 
cal played Monday-through-Thurs- : « Tne plav's the Thins" Booth 
day (16-19) with two matinees. I fCD n2; $4 80). ReWvafreo^ned 
then jumped to the Auditorium, ; Mon( 5 ' *j eht (2 q) f or its 15th 
Winnipeg (where .it opened Mon- ™™ffi ol Cin g a click Wee-week 



THEATRE WING MAPS 
CHANGES IN FORMAT 

The American Theatre Wing's 
training program for ex-GI talent, 
going into its third year this fall, 
plans several changes in format, 
as well as the addition of new 
courses. 

Certain courses will be given on 
a seasonal, alternating basis, in- 
stead of right through the four- 
term, 10-week periods as before. 
This procedure will apply, for in- 
stance, to the new course in sum- 
mer theatre management which 
will be conducted by Richard Skin- 
ner. It will be given in the winter 
and spring sessions only. 

Same will also apply to the new 
course in problems of off-Broad- 
way theatre, which Richard Beck- 
hard will likely give in the fall. 
This is to be done in cooperation 
with the American National Thea- 
tre St Academy. Two old courses 
to be given under the alternating 
principle are those in stage light- 
ing and publicity. 

Other new Wing courses will in- 
clude one on motion picture tech- 
nique, with an actual rehearsing 
work group under Elizabeth Mor- 
gan and Robert Ross; one on 
sketch writing, for revues, mu- 
sicals or niteries, organized by 
Toby Rowland, with Bert Sheve- 
love (writer and director of "Small 
Wonder") as instructor; and sev- 
eral courses in the dance by 
Katherine Dunham. An ' advanced 
work group for actors started this 
summer under Lee Strasberg will 
continue. 

Wing is taking on civilians for 
the first time, but only in two 
fields, writing and directing. Ap- 
plicants must apply by mail before 
registration time. Strasberg is to 
handle direction, with Robert An- 
derson handling writing. Fall ses- 
sion starts Sept. 15, with registra- 
tion Sept 7-11. Winston O'Keefe 
is exec director. 



'Okla.!' 38G, Spokane 

Spokane, Aug. 24, 



day (23) with an advance indicating 
a probably gross of more than $50,- 
000 for eight performances this 
week. 

Show goes to Minneapolis next 
week. 



visit to Central City, Colo.; this 
week's gross may indicate play's 
chances of continuing; house isn't 
booked for an incoming show. 

"The Respectful Prostitute" and 
"Hope Is the Thine," Cort (23d 
wk) (D-1,064; $4.20). Substitution 



Tentative list of plays to be pro- Qf Richard Harrity's "Hope" may 
ing to house local community , duced next season by the Dallas 1 mean the difference in the recent 
theatre. I Little Theatre will include "Anna i b 0 spurt . $14300; Ann Dvorak 

Present one which group has oc- Christie," "Our Town," "Spring- 1 succeeds Meg Mundy next week 
cupieTfor morrthanVdlcaae, is time for Henry," "The Breadwin- as femme i ea 6 d of "Prostie"; thea- 
Xin too small to accomodate ■ ner," "Years Ago" and "Kiss The tre ls booked Oct. 5 for "The Lead- 
freTent^lrsuTscriplion t lisf i Boys Goodbye." I ing Lady," new Ruth Gordon play. 



52 



LEGITIMATE 



Wedneday, August 25, 1948 



Plays Out of Town 



Heaven on Earth 

Boston, Aug. 23. 

Monte Proser and Ned C. Litwack pro- 
duction of musical in two acta (15 scenes). 
Stars Peter Lind Jlayes. Book and lyrics 
by Barry Trlvers; music. Jay Uorney. 
Sets and costumes, Rene Paoul DuBois; 
dances, Nick Castle; vocal arrangements. 
Hugh Martin; musical arrangement, Robert 
Hussell Bennett and Don Walker; musical 
conductor. Clay Warnick; production su- 
pervised by Eddie DowlJng. At Shubert, 
Boston, Aug. 23, '48; $4.20 top. 
James A. McCarthy ... .Peter Lind Hayes 

Friday Dorothy Jarnac 

Punchy Danny Drayson 

Fannie Frobisher. Caren Marsh 

Fiorabelle Frobisher ....Ruth Merman 

Mrs. Frobisher . Nnia Varela 

Commissioner Frobisher Irwin Corey 

Officer Clabber Claude Stroud 

Johnny Bowers Robert Dixon 

Mary Brooks Barbara Nunn 

Lieut. Sullivan Wynn Murray 

Officer Jonesy..... Dorothy Keller 

Officer Handings.. Betty George 

Sailor.'. Billy Parsons 

Masher Jack Russell 

Sergt. Kennedy George Mathews 

H. H. Button David Burns 

Sailor with Trumpet Steve Condos 

Butch Bert Sheldon 

Mayor Dick* Berate 



sonable job. Corey has two big 
comedy scenes and lends them an 
improvisational air that keeps 



also sings, lightly but effectively. 
The composer, Bucci, plays the 
piano in the pit as accompaniment. 

Virtually the entire strength ol 
the Hedgerow repertory company 
is seen in supporting roles, includ- 
ing Deeter, who most effectively 



Inside Stuff-Legit 



them going long after they could K*d8 a Prolog, which Includes* 
be ex-pected to survive, w.ine , Biblical bit, and also plays three 
Burns goes over big as the housing : other short but "nportant roles. 
nnn^uMiM- George Ebeling, as a later stoiy- 

teller who accompanies the action 



"See you at the rewrite," ad- 
libbed one of the characters in 
Monte Proser's new opus as he tot- 
tered off the stage at midnight at 
opener here, thereby putting his 
tongue right on the < situation. 
Show, trotting out the biggest ar- 
ray of sock nitery and comedy spe- 
cialties seen around here in years, 
can hardly fail to click, but a mam- 
moth job of pruning, tightening 
and focussing is indicated. 

Few musicals ever came in with 
such a complicated book. Plot is 
thick to begin with and rapidly 
gets thicker as a Central Park cab- 
bie (Peter Lind Hayes) and his girl 
Friday (Dorothy Jarnac), trying to 
straighten out the housing situa- 
tion, for a vet who lives in a tree, 
starts off to spoof red tape, switches 
to kid police courts, shifts to prod 
contemporary publicity methods," 
and finally ends up tearing radio 
to bits. 

Result is more dialog than in an 
O'Neill trilogy, more comedy black- 
outs than a burlesque show and 
more loose ends to tie up than a 
Da Ponte libretto. A good deal of 
the book is funny from a situation 
point of view, but most of the 
laughs come from the slapstick per- 
formances of Irwin Corey and Da- 
vid Bums, and the nightclub spe- 
cialties of Peter Lind Hayes. Aside 
from the book, the chief flaws are 
the music, which is okay but not 
distinguished beyond one tune ("So 
Near"), a click possibility, and some 
mannerisms in the dances, which 
• go as far back into history as the 
New Look — and are equally hard 
to 'get used to. •; 

•From there on, however, things 
are mostly on the black side of the 
book. Hayes himself, once he gets 
into his familiar nitery specialties, 
wows. His small voice and casual 
manner project nicely, with warm, 
friendly attitude gaining customers 
by the minute. Biggest new per- 
sonality wow is registered in the 
first act by newcomer Dorothy Jar- 
nar, whose mimicry in illustrating 
a. dictated letter stands out as the 
top moment. 
There are plenty favorable im- 
. pressions, too, for- the romantic pair 
of Barbara Nunn and Robert Dixon, 
whose simple charm and small but 
excellent voices ask for catchier 
tunes. They handle the plaintive 
romance exceptionally well, more- 
over, and draw plenty of favor 
throughout. Wyrin Murray does an 
assured job paired with Claude 
Stroud, she handling the vocals 
"strongly and attractively, he sec- 
onding Hayes and turning in a per- 



con tractor. 

Although it's a, hoofer's show, 
with an oldtime modified chorus 
line, the ballet team of June Gra- 
ham and. Richard Darcy lends a 
smart contemporary note, with the 
hoofing team of Dorothy Keller 
and Billy Parsons in contrast. 

Costumes tend to be over-sump- 
tuous and gaudy, but the sets of 
Cgntral Park, with various sorties 
around the neighborhood, are ex- 
quisite. Despite complicated pro- 
duction, which held up debut three 
days, opener went off with preci- 
sion and, unlike most musicals 
opening here, drew protracted ap- 
plause at final curtain. It has three 
weeks here, which should be 
enough to smooth the rough spots. 

Elie. 



Caucasian Chalk Circle 

Philadelphia, Aug. 20. 

Hedgerow Theatre production o! drama 
by Bertolt Brecht, translated from the 
German by Eric and Maja Bentley. Di- 
rected by Eric Bentley; lighting. David 
Metcalf; music, Mark Bucci, Presented at 
the Hedgerow theatre, Moylan-Rose Val- 
ley, Pa., Aug. 20, '48; *2 top. 



throughout, is notable. He will as 
sume the role of Azdak for four of 
its eight performances, and Renee 
Gorih (Hedgerow) will take over 
for Miss Brill four times.. 

Although the first part of Act II 
seems to let down from the fast 



Elsa Lanchester's seven-year run at the tiny Turnabout theatre, Hol- 
lywood, has been widely publicized as being cuffo. Truth of the matter 
is that she receives no cash — but has acquired performing rights to 45 
original songs by Forman Brown and can use the numbers, which she 
does in the Turnabout revues, gratis in out-of-town engagements. Re- 
sult is her tours during Turnabout vacations are made without the 
necessity of ponying up coin for material. Incidentally, in the seven 
years she's missed only two performances. 



Film bow plans of the "Elderlovelies," oldtimers featured in Ken 
Murray's "Blackouts" on the Coast, went awry when their "There'll be 
a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" number wound up on the cutting 
room floor after editing of Paramount's "Isn't It Romantic." Aging 
, I chorines got $400 each for the stint, but the prospects of a film ap- 
pace of the opening act, the play s , pearance and billing were more important. All they have left now is 
finale and the scene leading up to 
it are first-rate theatre, and the 1 
overall tempo is so swift and sure 
that there are few if any really dull 
or laggard spots. 

The stage here, necessarily, has 
to be of an expressionistic or im- 
pressionistic nature, and if the play 
is to be given a Broadway trial, 
some similar mode of presentation 
must be used. The fact remains 
that "The Caucasian Chalk Circle" 
is distinctly interesting and has 
something on the ball. A large 
group of New Yorkers, including 
crix, was on hand at the opening. 

Waters. 



William Saroyan's new play, "Don't Go Away Mad," which Alfred 
Fischer has optioned for Broadway production this season, is located 
in the cancer ward of a hospital. The leading character is a Negro, 
and much of the dialog stems from discussions of words in a dictionary 
belonging to one of the patients. The music Saroyan always uses in 
his plays is supplied in this instance by a phonograph and a supply of 
Mozart records belonging to another patient. 



"The Hammerstein Haze Over Broadway," Stanley Frank's article 
about Oscar Hammerstein, 2d, in the September issue of Coronet, out 
today (Wed.), summarizes the lyricist's up-and-down career to date, 
including his 11-year succession of flops, and also presents a recogniz- 
able sketch of Hammerstein's personality. 




NowZeasing 

LUXURIOUS 
1. 2 AND 3 ROOM 
APARTMENTS 
BEAUTIFULLY 
FURNISHED 

with, larg-c serving pantries. 
Completely Redecorated. Styled 
by Beryl S. Austrian. Also 
Transient Accommodations. 



By all odds- one of the most am- 
bitious productions seen at Hedge- 
row in a long time and one of the 
most interesting plays seen in the 
Rose Valley playhouse in the last 
decade, "The Caucasian Chalk 
Circle," although strictly artistic, 
rates more than a nod for some fu- 
ture Broadway presentation. For 
this— the 162nd production put on 
at Hedgerow and a highlight of its 
25th-year — Jasper Deeter, 'Hedge- 
row founder and director, stepped 
aside and offered to Eric Bentley, 
professor of English at Carleton 
College, Northfield,.Minn,, the op- 
portunity of putting on and direct- 
ing a play of his own choice. 

Bentley has done a noteworthy 
job in his staging of this sprawling, 
panoramic, unpublished play by 
Bertolt Brecht. The script called 
for more than 100 speaking parts 
and 25 scenes. Forty-one of Hedge- 
row's players, a number of them 
playing several roles, are seen in 
support of the two leads, Minnie 
Brill and Alvis Tinnin. The play, 
which the German playwright 
wrote in California during 1943-44, 
combines music, poetry and pag- 
eantry, and yet there" are times 
when the dialog veers towards the 
naturalistic, with racy lines, frank 
wording and an unblushing use qf 
present-day slang. Oddly enough, 
in the Bentley translation, this 
transition from one mood to an- 
other is never jarring or disturb- 
ing. 

Brecht, known to Broadway as 
author of "Galileo," done by 
Charles Laughton briefly last sea- 
son at ANTA's Experimental Thea- 
tre, and "The Private Life of the 
Master Race," also briefly seen in 
New York in 1945, has given here 
his own twist to the Biblical story 
of the judgment of Solomon as to 
the distribution of the child 
claimed by two mothers. 

Georgia, in the Caucasian inter- 
ior, is the setting of the tale, the 
time being rather on the indefinite 
side, which is also stressed by the 
variety of costumes. The play is 
presented in two parts, the first 
one dealing with a revolution in the 
land in which the Grusinian 
(Georgian) governor is slain and 
his wife compelled to flee into 
exile. She deserts, callously, her in- 
fant son, who is picked up and 
saved by a maid in the palace who 
carries him into the mountains, ajt 
the constant risk of her life at the 
hands of the pursuing soldiery- 

The last act, taking place for 
the most part, after the revolution 
has been overthrown and the 



Tine «Iaes Pool 

Hollywood, Aug. 19. 

Producers Associated production of 
new play in three acts (live scenes! by 
Henrietta Buckmaster and Peter John | 
Stephens. Stars George Zucco. Whit Bis- , 
sell, Luis Van Rooten. Duected b.v Ben 
Norman. Opened at the Coronet, Holly- 
wood, Aug. 18, '48; <3 top. 

Manfred Mark Dennis 

Lili Lisabeth Fielding 

Eva Lisa Golm 

Major Field Mack Williams 

Hans Neubert Whit Bissell 

Ernst Bohler Luis Van Rooten 

Paul HaJler Paul Stevens 

Colonel Von Gort George Kticco 

Stefan Taussnick Wm. Challec 

Helmut Rittenhausen Seymour Malkin 

Martin Bax Alan Hale, Jr. 

Rudi Bax James Jones 

Sgt. Bendix John Williams 

Pvt. Hamilton Seamas GUlespie 

Neumann Alex Keeie 



Strawhat Reviews 



Back in 1943, when victory and 
the occupation* of Germany were 
matters for pontifical discussion, 
the film "Lifeboat" posed the prob- 
lem of distinguishing between Nazis 
and run-of-the-mill Germans. The 
question of re-educating dissidents 
and accepting Germany back into 



Tho Young an«l Fair 

F&Iinouth, Mass., Aug. 14. 

Arthur J. Beckhard and Richard 
Krakeur production of drama in three 
acts (8 scenes) by N.' Richard Nash. Di- 
rected by Beckhard and author; sets by 
Joseph W. Kapler. At Tanglewood, Fal- 
mouth, Mass., Aug. S, '48. 

Frances Morrill ...Audra Lindley 

Patty Morritt Anne Jackson 

Lee Barron.. Gloria Stroock 

Sara Cantry .lean 'Adair 

Drusilla Eldridge Doe Avedon 

Nancy Gear... ....Judy Scheer 

Mildred Cheaver ...Gloria Harper 

Laura Cantry..... Carolyn Coutu 

Seinia Keeney Sara Harl'e 

Emmy Foster Adele Fortin 

Boots McGregor Sally Moftett 

Mary Louise.. Patricia Bouchard 

Sally Kay Francis 

Georgetta Charlotte Falkenburg 

Sylvia Rita Brodley 

Matilda Natalie Radcliff 

Sue Nancy Morrison 

Jane Carol Lawrence 



An interesting and effective 
play, "The Young and Fair" stands 
a good chance of combing the 
the family of nations was dropped straw out of its hair and contend 



neatly into the lap of the audience 
with a fadeout that fairly screamed 
"What would you - do?" 

Much the same thing has been 
done with "The Glass Pool." This 
drama of postwar Germany ends 
on the same note. The authors ap- 
parently have no solution them- 
selves and the play emerges as a 
gigantic question mark, a legiti- 
mate theatre "Stop the Music" in 
which the hope of peace rather 
than tangible prizes is held out as 
a reward for the proper answer. 
There must be an easier way to 
achieve a solution. 

The confusion in the authors' 
minds is translated into a wordy 
script that doesn't begin to get 
started until the second act is al- 
most over. By that time, most of 
the audience is confused, if not in- 
different. 

The plot line follows the ma- 
chinations of a group of diehard 
Nazis in a small town who are seek- 
ing to form the nucleus of a power- 
ful organization against "Der Tag" 
when the Americans leave. The 
situation is credible, but the con- 
fused and confusing dialog fails to 
create any sustained interest. 

Barring a- considerable amount 
of work, its chances are slim; and 
the question of whether it's worth 
the effort is as debatable as the 
subject matter itself. 

Best thing about this production 
is thi fine ensemble acting. Each 
role is carefully cast and each of 
the actors and actresses delivers 
solidly. George Zucco, Whit Bis- 
sell and Luis Van Rooten, CO' 
starred, turn in excellent perform 
ances and receive tremendous sup 



Widow'* Walk 

Abingdon, Va., Aug. 16. 
Barter Theatre production of comedy 
by Howard Richardson and Frances Go- 
forth. Opened at Barter theatre, Abing- 
don, Va., Aug. 16, '48. 

Kitty Webber Shirley Kibbea 

Olin Maddox Charles Durand 

Gurney Washburn Caddell Burroughs 

Old Seaman Guy Klbbea 

Jessica Kilgore Shagg. . .Elizabeth Wilson 

Bonnie Lovelace Virginia Maltis 

Tottcn O'Toole Roy Fant 

Sailor Donald Symington 



port from William Challee, Mark 
Dennis, Lisa Golm, Lisabeth Field- 
monarchy" restored, deals with the ing, Mack Williams and Paul Stev 




nan E.King. W 



0ft 

Norman 

General Manager 

Ul£AST5«thST.. N.V. 

Horn* of 

" a „d Jade Bar 



§ 



attempt of the mother to'get back 
the child, and the sturdy efforts of 
I the .young but devoted foster- 
mother to keep him. She does so, 
thanks mostly to the presence on 
the bench of Azdak, as Village 
Recorder, ~a rascally fellow, who 
has won the' job by chicanery, and 
kept if by unabashed bribery and 
thievery. However, despite his 
crookedness, he has both a heart 
and a shrewd mind, and, with the 
use of the traditional Caucasian 
costume of the "chalk circle" from 
the middle of which the rival wom- 
en are supposed to pluck the child, 
and his own cute reasoning, he 
solves the problem. The foster- 
mother gets the child and her own 
sweetheart as well. a 

Minnie Brill is a highly satisfac- 
tory heroine, and Alvis Tinnin. a 



ens in the meatier roles, with the 
remainder of the cast falling in line 
with effective portrayals. 

Single, uncredited set is good. 

Kap. 

Ohio Theatre Service 

Bowling Green, O., Aug. 24. 
Interest in the theatre in 22 
northwestern Ohio counties, cover- 
ing approximately one -fourth of 
the state, is" expected to get a lift 
from a new theatre advisory serv- 
ice being offered this fall by Bowl- 
ing Green State University. 

The Community Drama Service 
set up by the University, with 
Harold Obee as director, will offer 
church 



school, church and community 
Xnt"ofTman' U nu?c^ theatle grou P s in the a^a free as- 

Azdak in Act II, which requires ing plays, in booking companies 
that he sing two of three numbers, on tour, and in sponsoring play fes- 



foaWnwe* ofewM0»<w«ee*«o»ei»i«0»» and he does them well. Miss Brill • Ovals and clinics. 



ing on Broadway where Richard 
Krakeur plans to move it in this 
fall. Needs a lot of work at the 
moment, but that's what it's here 
for. 

First" all-femme play to turn up 
in .some time, it's the Story of 
Frances Morritt (Audra Lindley), 
a well-born girl who, faced with 
supporting and educating her 
younger sister, gets a job as Eng- 
lish teacher and personnel coun- 
selor in the Brook Valley finishing 
school for girls, her own alma 
mater. The presence of a klepto- 
maniac among the girls brings a 
quick crisis for the teacher when 
the daughter of the school's top 
trustee insists on maintaining a 
vigilante committee of seniors 
after its traditional first-week haz- 
ing function is over. 

Opposing this, the teacher in- 
curs the enmity of the viciously 
spoiled child, who, aware of her 
father's position in the financial 
security of the school, plots to oust 
the teacher. Meantime, the princi- 
pal, in an effort to protect her 
school from any breath of scandal, 
forces the teacher into one moral 
concession after another, thus 
alienating her impetuously high- 
principled sister. When the sister 
is framed as the klep, the play 
moves into a. taut climax. 

Since the play's theme is the 
universal — and still contemporary 
— one of how far can appeasement 
go, or to what extent can moral 
principles be sacrificed, and since 
it deals acutely with every individ- 
ual's struggle with economic pres- 
sures, two important points inter- 
fere, at the moment, with the 
play's effectivf*ness. First is the 
occasionally school-girly atmos- 
phere or rah-rah stuff unsuited to 
a socially advanced school. Second 
is that the teacher and her sister, 
as well as a Jewish girl (who en- 
tered under fals> pretenses) are 
completely vindicated, but do not 
remain at the school. Seems that a 
note that they would stay and fight 
for their principles despite the ob- 
stacles would leave the play on the 
upbeat without making it pat. 

Jean Adair seems to lend just 
the proper air to the harassed, 
pitiful principal whose integrity 
has long since vanished, while 
Audra Lindley's performance as 
the teacher is distinguished and 
intense. Also standout are Anne 
Jackson, a refreshing personality, 
as the sister; Doe Avedon, a prom-' 
ising firsttime-outer. as the vigi- 
lante, and Gloria Stroock as the 
Jewish girt, Play is done on levels 
to achieve almost unbroken con- 
tinuity, and production is okay 
strawhat. Smartly directed by 
Arthur Beckhard and the author 
play got undivided audience attci, 
tion. EU». 



This Howard Richardson and 
Frances Goforth comedy is amus- 
ingly satisfactory as light theatre 
fare. It is paced neatly by Guy 
Kibbee, who makes a boisterous 
ship's captain who has been miss- 
ing at sea for seven years and re- 
turns home at a very inopportune 
moment. During his absence his 
wife has been operating a tea room 
on the Charleston, S. C, water- 
front, and she's just married a 
meek, nautical shopkeeper, Totten 
O'Toole, when the old seadog re- 
appears. "Walk" is a good laugh- 
getter but will stand some polish- 
ing before it can hit Broadway. 

Kibbee is making his first profes- 
sional appearance with his daugh- 
ter Shirley. He creates a delight- 
fully gruff old captain who likes his 
beer and women, and delights in 
bragging about conquests nobody 
believes. 

But he by no means walks, off 
with all laurels. The Barter The- 
atre's Liz Wilson is fine as the cap- 
tain's wife and very instrumental 
in maintaining a mystery mood in 
scenes with a ouija board. Roy Fant 
gives a humorous portrayal of the 
meek shopkeeper, and Shirley Kib- 
bee makes a pert young southern 
lady. Virginia Mattis, Don Syming- 
ton, Charles Durand and Caddell 
Burroughs are adequate. Colorful 
tearoom set forms the play's back- 

ound. Barn. 



Broadway Showfolk Due 
For Barter Anniversary 

Abingdon, Va., Aug. 24. 
Vinton Freedley, president of 
American National Theatre & 
Academy; Col. C. Lawton Camp- 
bell, chairman of ANTA's board 
of directors, and Blevins Davis, 
ANTA board member, will be in 
Abingdon this week for Barter 
Theatre's celebration of its 200lh 
performance since its organization 
in 1933. 



MR. and MRS. 

DONALD COOK 

Announce Hie Opening of Their 

MAGYAR KENNELS 

(Registered) 
For the Selective Breeding of 
That Amazing Hungarian Sheepdog 

The PULI 

Exceptional Pupl Available 
AKC. Reg. 
Far Hills, New Jersey 
Phone: Feapack 8-03B3-M 



EDWIN R. (NED) ARMSTRONG 

"back on lcglt publicity beat atiM 
ft seuson on special asslgnmoiU "> r 
Citizens Committee on IMsplawd 
sons." VARIETY, Ampul « 

Overall M.mb.r ATPAM tine* 1937 

S37 Madison Ave., New York 

MU 3-9381 



(LITERATI 



Literati 



League Censor Setup Irks 

Small group in the Authors 
League of America has circular- 
ized the membership with a protest 
against the organization's setup on 
censorship. Specifically, the seyen 
signers condemn the League's par- 
ticipation in the protest against the 
N. Y. City Board of Education's 
ban of The Nation from public 
school libraries. Signers, all mem- 
bers of the League council or Au- 
thors Guild council, are Margaret 
Culkin Banning, Thomas B. Cos- 
tain, Dale Eunson, Fulton Oursler, 
Maud Parker, Gretta Palmer and 
Jerome Weidman. 

Group proposes that the League 
council "agree on a clear, diction- 
ary-derived definition of 'censor- 
ship' and limit its committee to 
eases which fall within this defini- 
tion": and that the "censorship 
committee be empowered to com- 
mit the Authors League to a cause 
only after a majority of its own 
seven members and at least six. of 
the 36 League council members 
have approved of the stand." 

Circular asserts that, under the 
present setup,' "any single member 
of the censorship committee may, 
by obtaining ' the telephoned, ap- 
proval of any two council mem- 
bers, commit the Authors League 
to support the cause of anyone who 
claims that he is being censored." 
It further claims that in the case 
of The Nation, the decision to sup- 
port the magazine was authorized 
by only one council member. The 
circular argues that The Nation 
case does- not constitute censorship, 
and compares the Paul Blanshard 
articles on Catholic church policy, 
which brought about the ban, with 
"such scurrilous works as the 'Pro- 
tocols of Zion' or such smut as 
Tanny Hill/" 

Members are urged to wire pro- 
tests to Oscar Hammcrstein, 2d, 
League president, before today's 
(Wed.) scheduled council meeting. 
Board of Education is slated to 
meet tomorrow (Thurs.) to decide 
whether to hold a public hearing 
on The Nation case. 



foreword by John Kieran, and by- 
lines comprising Granttand Rice, 
J. Roy Stockton, James P. Dawson, 
Bryan Held, Stanley Woodward 
Arch Ward, Weldon Hart, Fred 
Russell, Braven Dyer, Arthur Da- 
ley, O. B. Keeler, Danzig, Jesse 
Abramson, Tom O'Reilly, Joe King 



able unhappincss among veteran 
Times personnel. Adding to the 
grumbling is the report that those 
oldtimers who do make the grade 
will sacrifice their rights under the 
Times' pension plan. 

Applicants for jobs on the Mir- 
ror, first big newspaper actually 
created in the U. S. since Marshall 
Field founded the Chicago Sun, 
number about 100 a day. 



Votsteadism Re-Lived' 

"The Pleasures of the 'Jazz-Age," 
L. deB. Handley, Tom Meany, edited and with an introduction bv 
George C. Carens, William II. Tay- 1 William Hodapp (Farrar, Straus; 
lor, Robert F. Kelley and Fred i $4) is an excellent reprise of a 
Hawthorne. ' j pleasurable and nostalgic era. 

! Through literary excerpts from 

Paris Whodunits Lively lw»«*» , like f- Sc°U: Fitzgerald, 
Although the French publishing I Vina Belmar, Michael Arlen, W. R. 
business is reported in a stump, 



the whodunit market is apparently 
booming there. This is indicated 
not only by a number of recent 
sales of French rights of American 
whodunits, but also by news that 
one of the leading Paris publishers,. 
Librairie Gallimard, is increasing 
its mystery list from 24 titles a . 

year to 48. Literary Masterworks, companionate marriage to postwar 



Burnett, Anita Loos, Sinclair 
Lewis. Aldous Huxley, Erich Maria 
Remarque, Vicente Giasco Ibanez, 
Judge Ben B. Lindsey, Havelock 
Ellis, Warner Fabian (Samuel Hop- 
kins Adams), E. M. Hull, Elinor 
Glynn, et al., the entire gamut from 
Babbittry to flaming youth, Cape- 
oneism to s.a. on the half-shell. 



Inc.. representing Gallimard in the 
U. S., has asked Mystery Writers 
of America for suggestions in se- 
curing American titles for the ex- 
panded list. 

The Paris firm offers an advance 
of about $300 (depending on the 
exchange rate) against 8*o royal- 
ties to 10,000 copies and 10% 
thereafter, with a first printing of 
30,000 and a second printing of 
30,000 within three months of the 
first printing being exhausted. At 
a retail price of at least 75 francs 
(around 25c), royalties will range 
from $600 to $1,200, with payment 
in dollars in New York. 



(I) phenomena, is vividly recap- 
lured and entertainingly projected. 
Withal an expert anthology. 



Brown Sees More Things 
"Seeing More Things," a second 
volume of John Mason Brown's 
critical pieces from the Saturday 
Review of Literature, will he- pub- 
lished Sept. 14 by Whittlesey 
House: His "Portable Charles 
Lamb" will be issued in February 
by Viking. 

N. Y. Drama Critics' Circle presi- 
dent is also doing his "Critic at 
Large" television series, making 
; lecture appearances and continuing 
his Saturday Review articles. 



Ike's Secretary's Inside Stuff 

Kay Summersby. the Irish lass 
who was Gen. Dwight Eisenhower's 
chauffeur, thence secretary and 
finally his confidential aide, will 
have her book, 'Eisenhower Was 
My Boss," brought out by 
Prentice-Hall next month. She has 
taken out her first papers for U.S. 
citizenship. 

Miss Summersby was aided on 
the e d i t o r i a 1 preparation by 
Michael Kern, freelance writer. 
The book will get three-part pre- 
Rava1'« TV I onkspr 1 1)00,1 publication first in Look 

NBC veWe John F Roval's starting Sept. 28. It's said to be 

-Televisior P p?oduc°Uon 'VtaTdlmS affairs ** ^ 

(McGraw-Hill, $2.50) points up j military-diplomatic affairs. 



emphatically television's beanstalk- 
like growth. Book is a symposium, 
comprising lectures given by a 
group of 11 NBC tele execs in a 
TV course conducted jointly by 
NBC and Columbia Univ. Although 
the course was held only last year, 
much of the material in the book 
is already outdated, which factor 
limits drastically its ' value to 
readers. 

Despite that limitation, however, 
the book still presents sufficient 
interesting material to make it 
good reading for anyone in show 



CHATTER 
Jack Level, editor of Flash. | 
BKO home-office mag, has written 
article in current issue of Golfing, 
titled "The White House as a Home 
for Golfers." 

Margitret O'Brien, Metro star, 
will have her "My Diary," self-il- 
lustrated, published by Lippincott's 
Sept 29. Lionel Barrymore has 
written the introduction. 

Western Newspaper Union syn- 
dicate division will move from 
.Chicago to Frankfort, Ky., where 
it has purchased a printing plant. 
Syndicate services 10,000 small 
j town newspapers, 
i "Bernard Shaw Through the 
S It S into Kid Disks j Camera," a volume of 238 photo- 

Simon & Schuster is going Into graphs, many taken by the dram 



the sale of disks, in conjunction 
with its Golden Books. Latter are 
a popular kids' seller, at $1 and 



atist himself, and published by 
B.&H. White Publications, Ltd.. 
London, will be distributed in the 



$1.50. Disks are mostly based on JJ- S. in September by Baker & 
Hooks material with class- I Taylor. 



Golden Books material, with class- 
ical music for balance. Ireene 
Wicker, radio's Singing Lady, will 



Merle Miller is a third way 
through a new novel, an as yet 



in bright yellow color, with same 
art work as the Golden Books, 
disks will sell at 29c., federal 
excise tax included. They're the 
first low-priced unbreakable disks. 
S & S is issuing 12 disks at first, 
with first release on Sept. 7. First 



biz hoping to get into tele some|be Put out by Golden Records, 
day. With a full-blown intro byjsubsid of S&S. Made of bakelite, 
Royal covering the entire subject' 
generally, the 10 other NBC'ers 
scan the various problems inherent 
in TV production with authority 
based on their own experience. 
Best of the sections are a lengthy 
piece on tele scripting by NBC 
script manager Richard P. 
McDonagh, and a finely-written 
and „ suspenseful story on "Prob- 
lems in the Studio" by staff di- 
rector Fred Coe. 

As was to be expected, all the | 
lecturer-writers deal only with I 

NBC shows. Since NBC is one of i tentative first printing of the $1 
the acknowledged leaders in the | paper edition at 100,000 copies, and 



do narration or voice on most; i untitled story about politics in 
Alec Wilder supplying the music. Washington. William Sloane As- 
Disks were made last year, before sociates will publish. Sloane also 
the Petrillo recording ban. j published. Miller's novel That 

Disks, which are six-inch, will Winter " in January, 1948 Tome 



has sold "26,000 copies to date. 



AFM Disk Grip 

; Continued from »1K* i : 



weeks ago but cooled off when Vic-. 
. tor refused to join with them. They 
printing called for 100,000 of each. \ may not go at it fuH-scai^, however. 

i for two reason's: One is that by 



Rose Book Due Oct. 15 

Billy Rose's "Wine, Women and 
Words," a reworking of his news- 



paying AFM men to work for them 
the companies involved are help- 
ing feed one of the levers that 



paper columns, will be published f , . - . t Pe i r ju 0 

Oct. 15 by Simon & Schuster, with «5*J» **IL^?ttJ2EZ 



applecart. Secondly, it's cheap and 
easy to obtain disks from England 
when it's feasible. British record- \ 
ing scales call for $12 per man for 



industry that extra plug some- ' 25,000 more in the $3 cloth bind- 

times thrown in for the web may ; ing. One-fourth of the book has _ . . 

be passed over. Others in the in- ; been running in eight alternate | a session, as against the $41 AIM 
dustry however might take issue : issues in Look mag since July. ! men get. Decca. for example, paid | 
with some of the statements re- Also on S&S's October list is Lud- j no more than $250 for the two-sides | 
garding such controversial prob- j wig Bemelmans' "The Best of ! made in London recently by the j 
lems as color video, etc., that the Times." i Andrews Sisters, including import-! 

NBC'ers blandly toss out. One of \ The firm's November list will : duty. ! 
the best features of the book, .in- I include "The Book of Great Con- ; p e trillo and his executive board i 
cidentally, is a 13-page glossary . versations." edited by Louis Bian- £ e;u . the com j n g election in the 
•f tele terms. Stal. ; colli, music critic on the^ N. Y. - cvent the djsk ban is sti)1 in exist . 



Two New Anthologies 



World-Telegram; "Victor Book of j ence The? j ee , that ' if Gov Th 'om- 



Operas," edited by Biancolji and 
his fell 

K';r1S^n^?-'»^ChariS ; *»™« Will go after labor heavily 
been issued by Dutton ($3.75), "As Book of the Symphony, by Charles ^ <w ^ 4pMr hMv fhp 



uperas eoiiea oy oiancom anu , E D ls p,. esident Tru . 

Fourth book by the Overseas ^fellow Telegram . J lt '^R* rt I man , s bid for another term the; 
Press Club of America has just Bagar and a revision of Victor . ,._ ...... _„ ^„,,„ u _ — ;,„ 



and that the AFM will bear the 
brunt of his attack. That's the rea- ; 
son behind the AFM's consistent 



We See Russia," an anthology to ; O Connell. 
which the following members con- 1 - . 

tributed their views: Henry Cas- . Doubleday s 8th Club . . f members t o rally 

sidy. Leland Stowe, Josef Israels. ! Doubleday will start a new book , °L£ a J T„Tneighbors to 
2d, Hal Lehrman, Reuben H. Mark- ; club, its eighth, in January New ^"uj"^ fends and neignDors 10 
ham to LenBvel Harold R. one will be the Mystery Guild, j the Democratic cause. 
Isaacs Paula LeGlei George covering the whodunit field, with} Recording companies unques- 
Moora'd, Bill Downs, Ori'ana Atkin- | John Beecroft, editor-in-chief of all j tionabiy would like a peaceable 
son Trccey Phillips Leo Glass- Doubleday book clubs, as editor, i settlement with Petrillo. But if 
man Sonia Tomara Joseph B. and Howard Haycraft as assistant. ; that's not possible there's also no 
Phillips Ralph McGiU, Edith W. Other Doubleday clubs include . ouestion t | la t they are not going 
Thompson John Strohm, John F. ; the Literary Guild, Junior Literary , to let nim drive the i r business to 

f the point of exhaustion. They have 
too much at stake. And they're 
angry. So are the tooters who dur- \ 
ing normal years made a good 
living Xor themselves and families , 
and who since last Jan. 1 have been 



Chapman. William Zukerman, Lar-j Guild, Young Peoples Division oi 
ry Lesueur. Henry C. Wolfe. Eu- the Literary Gui °. Book League 
gene Lyons. Richard C. Hottelet ; of America, Doub eday One Dollar 
and Craig Thompson. Bob Const- Book Club Family Reading Club 
* - - - — ' and Home Book Club. 



B^^!i iWS d^,L^of ll "v[r ( Dl l «rn i °g what smal1 amounts they 
Reported decision at Virgil , * , . . . ^.^^ 



dine, prex of the OPC, did the pref- 
ace. 

Another anthology by working 
newspapermen has just been is- 
sued by Harper' 
Golden Age" la < 
ulous '20s>. edited by 
zig and Peter Brandwein* with a for top spots is causing consider- freight. 




A revealing portrait of 

OTIS 
SKINNER 

by his famous daughter 

Cornelia Otis Skinner 

• nostalgic moment in 

You'tt enjoy every faini w life 

of one of America sgr^ <, F&m ity 
r^y^ her^ents, 

^^^^^ 
whose hearts ^ ^ 

throughout heirhves article 
studded ch.ldhood. The m 
in the September J^^Srt^ 
» condensed from * M \^ *Z*^ 
lished. Get your copy and read it today 



IN THE SEPTEMBER 
LADIES' HOME 






ON SALE FRIDAY 

1 ^ 

M- .,, n r i-Mift ikMWH Mtfta .jji_iiijM MMMHMB Wft'd MUMtK. HSMItittk INMMbiUtf 

WwwP'w WPWaW JWWwJif ww.w """w" '■"'ww www" <<m«-w ^i«»jwwiji 



uiai inn 



Broadway 



The Alan Hynds (he's the au- 
thor) summering In Sea Girt, N. J. 

Joyce Selznick left Max Richard 
agency to go into biz on own as 
artists' personal rep. 

Lana Turner and husband Bob 
Topping slated to return Sept. 3 
after extended European honey- 
moon. 

• Richard Korn appointed asso- 
ciate conductor of the new Brook- 
lyn Symphony Orchestra. 

Metro ad-publicity veepee How- 
ard Dietz due back by air from a 
quickie to Paris last week. . 

Ex-radio scripter Eddie Davis, 
now on the Coast, working on a 
legit musical for Mitzi Green. 

Milton Harris, past two years 
sales promotion head of Filmack 
Trailers' local office, resigned. 

Alfred Bollington, British or- 
ganist, en route to Toronto for 
opening of the new Odeon there. 

Joe Shea going out ahead of 
"Harvey" again this season, this 
time with the Frank Fay company. 

The Dick Barthelmesses bought 
the Lucien H Trying estate at 
Wickapogue, near Southampton, 
L. I. 

The Irwin (theatre builders and 
realtors) Chanins' boy, Paul Rich- 
ard Chanin, engaged to Carol 
Kaplan. 

Director George Sidney arrives 
with his wife from the Coast next 
Tuesday (31) for a three -week 
vacation, , • . 

Mori Krushen, V U. A. exploita- 
tion chief, in Philly and Washing- 
ton this week on radio promotion 
of Sam Bischoff's "Pitfall." *« 

NBC's : Bill Stern's "Favorite 
Football Stories" being brought 
out in book form by Garden City 
Pub. Co., subsid of Doubleday. 

.Monte PrOser*s second son was 
born Monday (23), the same day 
his musical, "Heaven on Earth," 
opened at the Shubert theatre, 
Boston. 

Tonight (Wed.) radio's "The 
Shadow," otherwise known as Bret 
Morrison, starts a run as singing 
star at Club Bagatelle. Dorothy 
Ross holds over. . 

Toby Rowland, formerly of the 
Sam Jaffe office, will head up the 
service department of the Ameri- 
can Theatre Wing's professional 
training program. 

Stage designer Mordecai Gorelik 
back in N. Y. from Hollywood. He's 
expecting to do one show before 
shoving off for an extended Euro- 
pean tour in three or four months. 

Franz Steiniger back after 14 
weeks in Pittsburgh conducting 
the Civic Light Opera series, and 
now working on score of his legiter 
"Angelita," formerly titled "Queen 
of the West." 

Abe Lastfogel, William Morris 
agency g.m. and Veterans Hospital 
Camp Shows president, expected 
from the Coast next - 



head of Universal Films' foreign) 
have a double-featured family 
event soon due; son Bob's wedding 
to Phyllis Kent, and daughter's 
prospective second child making 
them grandparents for the second 
time. 

George Jessel and Eddie Cantor 
went to the Dodgers-Braves game 
Sunday and "it's the first time 1 
got top . billing over Cantor," says 
Jessel, referring to their video in- 
troduction. Jessel flew east for 
Tommye Adams' op at Post-Grad- 
uate hosp; she's the No. 1 girl 
friend. 

After bivouacing at the Hotel St. 
Moritz for years, Sophie Tucker 
finally got a 6-room apt. on Park 
Avenue for fall occupancy. The Hy 
Gardners will also have a Park 
Ave. address by mid-October when 
the new house at No. 710 is com- 
pleted. He's the columnist-publicist- 
new'scaster. 

Chase Bank advertised un- 
claimed bank accounts for follow- 
ing show people: Irving Aaronson 
& Mrs. Christine Aaronson, 1515 
Shakespeare Ave., N. Y. City (he's 
now with Metro's music dept. on 
the Coast); Concert Dancers 
League, Inc., Carnegie Hall; 
Madam Johanna Gadski, in trust | 
for Hans Ernst Bush, 50 Central 
Park West. 

This week's issue of Griswold's 
Public Relations News kudoses 
Paramount "for producing one of 
the best of the special reports tell- 
ing stockholders exactly what oc- 
curs at an annual meeting." Par's 
lengthy report, circularized last 
month, gave a detailed blow-by- 
blow description of everything that 
went on at the meet for stockhold- 
ers who couldn't attend. 



iington 

By Florence S. Lowe 



confer on the reactivation of USO 
in relation to VHCS. 

So much stirring politically on 
the other side that INS decided to 
keep Bob Considine on the Euro- 
pean scene another month or so, 
since he's already abroad follow- 
ing his coverage of the Olympics. 

Al Horwits, Charles Simonelli 
and Philip Gerard back today 
"(Wed ) after a three-day quickie 
to the Coast to set advance cam- 
paigns on U's "You Gotta Stay 
Happy" and "Family Honeymoon." 

Metro's Sidney Sheldon, back 
from 10-week European o.o., flew 
west for the scripting assignment 
on "Annie Get Your Gun." He last 
did "Easter Parade." Sheldon 
found Europe very Commie-vulner- 
able. 

The Fred Aliens, summering at 
Sea Girt,' N. J., flirting with • the 
idea of buying a house there. One 
real enterprising real estate sales- 
man is rehearsing an Ajax Cassidy 
routine with which to "sell" 1 the 
comedian. 

Canada Lee, who was American 
Labor Party candidate for N. Y. 
State Senator from 23d HX. Y. cily 
district, withdrew because Of Holly- 
wood commitments, and James 
Malloy, of National Maritime Un- 
ion, will run in his place. 

George Feinberg, president of 
-Dazian's back from Hollywood 
after six weeks' tour of a number 
of cities, including Chi, Dallas and 
New Orleans. Dazian's working on 
17 legit productions, which is more 
than at the. same time last year. 

Jack Benny, Jules C. and Doris 
Stein, Mary Livingstone, the Jack" 
Kapps, the Jock Lawrences, Sam 
Perrins, the Sidney Wynnes among 
the large show biz contingent sail- 
ing home from Paris-London on 
the Queen Mary, due in Monday 

Phil Harris and his radio aide, 
Frank Remley, driving former's 
new Bentley (English car) west, 
but Alice Faye (Mrs. Harris) 
trained out "with Mrs. Remley, 
fnxiOus to see the children. Jack 
: Benny's p,a., Irving Fein, also hur- 
raed west. 
Rose and Joe Seidelman (he's 



Larry Snoots, manager of the 
Sheridan, in for minor operation. 

Les Sands, WWDC disk jockey, 
clicking with weekly amateur show 
at Club Kavakos. 

Nathan Golden, Dept. of Com- 
merce film chief, off to St. Louis 
with his frau to attend the VFW 
affair. 

Nicholas Webster, ex of theU. S. 
Dept. of Agriculture film section, 
has joined local film scripter 
Oeveste Granducci. 

Maj. Hardie Meakin 2d,' son of 
the D. C. rep for RKO, returning 
to active duty via a training course 
at Ft. Leavenworth. 

Sonia Stein, ex radio editor of 
the Washington Post, currently do- 
ing a tele column for that paper 
and pinch-hitting on the drama 
desk. 

Assn. of American Railroads 
debuts a series of musiebmedy 
hits over ABC Monday nights 
starting Oct. 4, with Benton and 
Bowles agenting. 

Sara Young, 20th booker, who 
heads the worhen's committee for 
the Variety Club Welfare Fund, 
month to I launched her campaign at a work- 



ers' luncheon last week 

Olney Theatre, nearby strawhat- 
ter, being plugged by Mrs. Claude 
Pepper, wife of the Florida Sen- 
ator, who tells friends she hasn't 
missed a show there this season. 

Local Variety tent has added 
to its membership roster: Gordqn 
Williamson and Jules Huber, both 
of Dumont, Dan Holland, head of 
Automatic Fountains Inc., and 
Robert J. Enders, advertising exec. 



Albert de Courville Is planning 
a London-made film about Sir 
Basil Zaharoff, the armament king. 

Flora Robson to^appear in a re- 
vival of "Captain Brassbound's 
Conversion" at the Lyric, Ham- 
mersmith in the fall. 

Jack Hylton's plans for present- 
ing "The Lady of the Camellias" 
are beinij shelved until a suitable 
theatre becomes available. 

Molly Veness played lead in try- 
out of her new play, "So What?", 
a cockney comedy, at the little 
Gateway theatre club, Aug. 18. 

Clive Brook's daughter, Faith 
Brook, gets big chance in forth- 
coming Old Vic season, with star- 
ring roles in "Twelfth Night" and 
Congreve's "The Way of the 
World." 

Lilian Braithwaite will star in 
R. C. Sherriff's new comedy, "Miss 
Mabel," which Norman Marshall 
will produce for Alec Rea and E. 
P. Clift for a provincial tour be- 
fore its West End presentation. 

Recovered from his motorcycle 
crash, Bonar Colleano is flying to 
Berlin for first shots in the new 
Grand National pic, "A Tale of 
Five Cities," which is being di- 
rected by five international direc- 
tors: 

Michaei Pertwee, author of "The 
Paragon" (screened as "Silent 
Dust"), is back from Rome where 
he was working on a script set for 
production in Italy in September, 
titled "Thief of Venice." English 
and American versions will . be 
made of the story, a period 
romance. 

Herbert Wilcox's next Techni- 
color presentation, costarring Anna I 
Neagle and Michael Wilding again, ' 
will be "Maytime in Mayfair," set 
for shooting at M-G-M's Elstre'e 
studios. Nicholas Phipps, who 
scripted "Spring in Park Lane," 
will handle the new screenplay, 
and also appear in the pic. " 



Wedneday, August 25, 1948 



tional license tax on niteries, res- 
taurants and hotels. Proceeds will 
go to publicity and advertising 
budget. 

Cuban syndicate, which has 
bought heavily in Miami Beach ho- 
tel properties in recent months, 
grabbed another Deering estate, 
south of Beach in Biscayne Bay. 

Jack Goldman bought out part- 
ner and now sole owner of the 
Clover Club. He'll shutter next 
month for short period, to enlarge 



Hollywood 



James Mason hosted Carol Reed 
at Enterprise.. 

Norma Talmadge headed for Las 
Vegas vacation, 

Olivia De Haviliand confined to 
her home with a cold. 

Masquers' Club tossed a testi- 
monial for Mack Sennett. 

Gene Stutenroth changed ' his 
screen name to Eugene Roth. 
Howard McDonnell back at Re- 



Portland, Ore. 



By Ray M. Feves 

Will Maston Trio headlining at 
Clover Club. , 

Ike Carpenter orch at Jantzen 
Beach for week stand. Shep Fields 
follows. 

Leo Carrillo and Cal.'s Gov. War- 
ren here as guests of the Oregon 
City Centennial. 

Werner Janssen to resume con- 
ductorship of the Portland .Sym- 
phony Orchestra. 

Harry Knauss took over Club 
Hy Mac. Will continue floor show 
policy with Norm Anderson as 
booker. 

Don Ameche brought his pro 
football team, the Los Angeles 
Dons, here last Sunday to win over 
the Baltimore Colts. 



Atlantic City 



Jane Harvey into Bath and Turf 
club. . • 

Marjorie Hyams Trio into Rip- 
tide Room. . 

Roy Branker into El Capitan 
with The Four Blues. 

Jackie Miles and Sonny Skylar 
drawing boff biz at 500 club. 

Andre Dorsey into The Show- 
place with Three Loose Nuts. 

Nancy Carroll starring in "Too 
Many Husbands" at Ocean City 
Playhouse this week. 

Louis Armstrong band closed 
Sunday (22) at Club Nomad, with 
The Toppers and Johnny Alberts 
replacing. 

Paul Henreid and Audrey Long 
here for p.a.'s with preem of "Hol- 
low Triumph" at Hollywood thea- 
tre, Friday (20). 



Bucks County, Pa. 

Moss Harts back from Province- 
town. ' 

MOe Behrmans weekending with 
Martin Vorhauses. 

Party tossed Friday for treasurer 
Adeline Walter at Logan Inn by 
Playhouse staff. 

Flemington Fair opening Aug. 
31 and runs until Sept. 6. Horse 
show slated Sept. 4. 

Ted de Corsia checked out of 
Langhorne home for motor trek to 
Coast on film assignment. 

Sidney Blackmers, starring in 
"Gilded Cage" tryout, living with 
Capt. Von Wormer Walsh in New 
Hope. 

Gerald Savery and spouse in to 
catch "Road to Rome" last week at 
New Hope as possibility for Boston 
rep season. 

Lester Cohen hosted by neigh- 
boring writers on birthday Wed- 
nesday (18), at Carversville home 
with surprise party. 

Phyllis Perlman, " Playhouse 
flack, tub thumping for "Leaf and 
Bough," Charles Heidt and Rouben 
Mamoulan production. 

Fred Finklehoffe polishing new 
version of Strindberg's "The 
Father" at Springtown farm. He'll 
produce it with Jed Harris. 

John Wexley completing play at 
his Ottsville farm. Ditto Jack 
Kirkland at Springtown. Latter is 
doing stage version of novel "Mr. 
Adams." 

Robert Garland, and Joe Magee 
in to catch preem of new Ken 
Nicholson-Charlie Robinson script, 
"The Gilded Cage" Monday (30) 
at the Playhouse. 

Three male stars winding up last 
three stanzas at New Hope, Aug. 
30. Arthur Treacher in "The Mag- 
istrate," Pinero farce package 
coming in from Olney, Md.; John 
Loder in "For Love or Money," 
Sept. 6; Jackie Cooper in "John 
Loves Mary," Sept. 13. 



seating capacity and redecorate ^^^'Zlor^y 

Mrs. Sonny Tufts recovering 
from emergency appendectomy. 

Si Fishkind of the NY Times 
Sports staff in town on vacation. 

Edward Arnold's son Bill re- 
joined the Air Corps as a first 
looey. 

j John Garfield will tour with key 
1 city openings of "The Numbers 
Racket:" 

Jacquelyn Ross, to do decor for 
the new Independencia Theatre, 
Mexico City. 

Paul Nathan, Hal Wallis talent 
exec, back at his desk after two 
months illness. 

Walter Wanger went north to tell 
Frisco Press Club "Don't Sell 
Hollywood Short." 

Mary Beth Hughes bruised her 
hip in a fall from a horse while 
vacationing in Oregon. 

Harry Horner will do the sets 
for legit revue "My L.A.," based 
on Matt Weinstock's book. 

Bob Fender subbing for Neil 
Rau on Louella Parsons staff while 
Rau vacations at Arrowhead. 

Mike Todd in to eye legiter "All 
You .Need Is One Good Break" for 
possible Broadway production. 

Monte Hale broke his right arm 
in a fall from a cowpony while 
making "Sundown In Santa Fe" at 
Republic. 

Mrs. Gertrude Ermatinger, wife 
of Biltmore. Theatre manager Pete 
Ermatinger, recovering from brain 
operation. 

Metro hunting a moppet for "The 
Secret. Garden" to replace Claude 
Jarman, Jr., who got too big since 
the film was announced two years 
ago. 

Eric Johnston and Dore Schary 
accepted bids to gab at Screen 
Publicists Guild second annual 
Panhandle dinner. It's a repeat 
chore for Schary. 

Bretaigne'Windust heads back to 
NY next week to direct Maxwell 
Anderson's legiter "Anne of a 
Thousand Days" in which Rex 
Harrison will star. 



Vienna 

Opera singer Harry Payer has 
leased the Stadt theatre. 

Cabaret Simpl will open under 
new management. Adi Berger is 
licensee. 

•Tirolfilm imported first Mexican 
pic, "Torero," being shown in 
Innsbruck. ' • 

Roman Grabmayr, director of 
U.S. - controlled Red - White - Red 
station, died suddenly. 

Albert and Else Bassermann 
inked for Kammerspiele, to Sept. 
12, then proceeding to U.S. 

Edmund Eysler's latest operetta, 
"Archduke Johann," will have its 
world preem in Gratz City Theatre. 

Willi Forst's production, "Woman 
on Crossroad," with Brigitte 
Horney, directed by Eduard von 
Borsody is well under way. 

Marika Roekk, Wolf Albach- 
Retty and Elizabeth Markus to ap- 
pear in Raimund Theatre's preem, 
"A Night in Transylvania." 

Gustav Ucicky directing Swiss- 
Austrian film, "After the Storm," 
in Salzburg. Stars Marte Harell 
and Nicholas Smart. American, 
U. S. troops, stationed in Salzburg, 
participated in several scenes. 



Chicagc 



Taggart Casey replaced Earl Co- 
bert in "Annie Get Your Gun." 

J. J. Shubert in town gandering 
remodeling of Blackstone theatre. 

Hoagy Carmichael set for alma 
mater date . at Purdue University, 
Oct. 8. 

Leonard Hicks, general manager 
of- Morrison, bought Casa Marina 
Hotel, Key West, Fla. 

I. S. Anoff, Chi Convention Bu- 
reau prexy, announces 597 meets 
here drew 690,061 visitors. 

Sheil Players, Catholic theatre 
group, presenting "Trial by Fire" 
at Morrison Hotel, Aug. 25. 

Variety Club is sponsoring Sept. 
10 performance of "Mister Rob- 
erts" as La Rabida benefit. 



Shanghai 

By Hal P. Mills 

An EngMsh circus is set for 
Shanghai in September, the first 
Big Top in seven years. 

Screening of "The Lady from 
Shanghai" (Col) at local theatre 
was brief. Chinese public nixed 
the picture. 

Alice Lee, Chinese stage and 
film actress, booked for American 
tour by Shanghai Theatrical Enter- 
prises through Len Mantell, of 
Seattle office of Bert Levey. 

Jack Vidumsky, manager of Nan- 
king Theatre, painfully injured by 
mob of angry Chinese ticket scalp- 
ers, trying to oust them from thea- 
tre lobby. Chinese police looked 
on as hoods beat Vidumsky up. 

One woman was killed, and 19 
other persons injured in clash at 
Golden Castle Theatre, Chinese 
film house, between Chinese sol- 
diers and police. Soldiers threw 



Minneapolis 



By Les Rees 

Old Log strawhatter offering 
"The Double Door." . 

Grand, lower loop film house, 
offering burlesque with films. 

Dinning Sisters, Dick Buckley 
arid Hal Derwin orchestra into. 
Club Carnival. 

Carlton Miles, here ahead of 
"The Winslow Boy," due at Ly- 
ceum Sept. 8-12. 

Robert Lamouret and Peggy 
Mann into Hotel Radisson Flame 
Room with PiersOn Thai orchestra. 

Univ. of Minnesota Theatre to 
tour Minnesota, Wisconsin and the 
Dakotas in "Arms and the Man" 
in October. 



iami Beach 

By Larry Solloway 
New Delano hotel installing film 
and television setup on roof ter- 
race. 

Bruce Stevens and Sonny Kay 
held over at Club Bali. 

Ned Schuyler, Beachcomber op 
in New York on talent hunt. 

Ben Gaines and the missus (Joan 
Abbott) back from European jaunt. 

Carl Ravazza, Jane Wynn and 
Burns' Birds top new Clover Club 
show. 

The Mitchell (Wometco chain) 
Wolfsons, back from long South 
American tour. 

Tato & Julia added to Five 
O'clock club show, with DeCastro 
Sisters and Nino Yacovino held 
over. 

New show at Five O'clock club 
feature Monroe Seaton, Keith 
Hall, Tato & Julia and Nino Yaco- 
vino. 

Jack Perper, former Herald Trib 
(N. Y.) staffer, new public rela- 
tions director for Miami Fashion 
Council. 

City council increased occupa- 



Leonard C. Utrecht, theatre I nand grenades, after being refused 
manager, heads local drive for Sis- ! tree admission, 
ter Kenny Foundation, assisted by 
theatre managers Lee Bruby, Jr., 
Charles TCusak, Sam Krimstein, 
Charles Hall, John Kerzan, Robert 
Brosseau, and James L. Smith. 



Mexico City 



Actor Fernando Soler and Jaime 
Menache to produce pix, starting 
in October. 

Austin Lara orch inked to play 
in the nitery, the Hotel del Prado 
is organizing. 

Actress Julieta Palavicini out of 
retirement and dubbing pix in 
Spanish at the Churubusco studio. 

"Gone with 'the Wind" (M-G) at 
the Cine Cosmos is doing bigger 
biz than it did when exhibited lo- 
cally seven years ago. 

Regina Bulawa is the only 
American singing Mexican folk 
songs professionally in Mexico. 
Sings in English and Spanish once 
weekly at local station XEW. 

Salt Lake City 

By Kathleen Phillips 
Red Skelton and Frank Borzage 
enjoying bucolic life on latter's 
farm. 

Symphony committee has set 
Isaac Stern as soloist for coming 
season. 

Production crew of "Big Cat" 
leaving Cedar City for Los Angeles 
after shooting finishing scenes. 

Foster Blake, Universal district 
manager in town to set pictures for 
Bill Scully Drive in September. 



Pittsburgh 



By Hal Cohen 

Burlesque resumes for the new 
season at Casino, Saturday (28 >. 

Walter and Jean Brown, dancers; 
have opened' at Winona Beach, 
Mich. 

. Tom Troy, William Penn Hotel's 
boss, off to Cape Cod for a few 
weeks. 

Johnny Mack Brown due for 
flock of p. a.'s in tri- state area 
theatres. 

Billy Catizone, who has the trio 
at Terrace Room, vacationing in 
Atlantic City. 

OUie O'Toole and family drove 
back to Hollywood after visit here 
with his mother. 

Murray Levy has resigned from 
boxoffice of Nixon theatre and will 
move to Florida. 

Art Strahl named regional sales 
promotion chief in this area for 
Varsity Records, 

Ada Lynn headlining new floor 
show at Carousel, sharing featured 
slot with Jackie Heller. 

Keystone Hotel changing name 
to Sheraton; Organist Ernie Neff 
goes into lounge for a run. 

Joe Hiller's brother-in-law, Hy 
Silverman, has gone into the book- 
ing agency business with him. 

Nancy Wible, Playhouse actress, 
copped runnerup spot in Miss 
Western Pennsylvania" finals. 

Jenny Lou Law spending couple 
of weeks on 9trawhat circuit stage- 
managing Jane Cowl's tour in An 
and Mrs. Bottle." 



^Tr<lng»<T»y, August 25, 1948 



c 



P&RMETY 



55 



OBITUARIES 



body was planed to Hasbrouck 
Heights, N. Jh. for interment. 
Survived by wife. 



VECHESLAV SUOBODA 
Vecheslav Swoboda, 57, died in 
tn.,i-»H v «. iSl Y " Monda y <23>> after a long 

was later ballet master of the Chi- 



DK. ERNST WALLENBERG 

^Orpheunr theatre. Brook^ 



i an( >uage textbooks, died- Aug. 21 in 
Boosevelt Hospital, N. Y. 
Dr. Wallenberg was an editor of 



MARK S. WILDER 
OTsUin from 190frto 1933 In the vee £* a * d Sf' r 8 & £ ™J 
course of this association he had , WS YR, Syracuse^ died at his 

served as editor-iibchief of the • - • ' • 81 nis 

Berlin B.Z. am Mittag, Tempo and 



years he had conducted a ballet 
school in N. Y. 
His wife survives. 



Vossische Zeitung. 

In 1931 he broadcast from the 
base of the Statue of Liberty his 
impressions of the 



parents, 
top - ranking 



KAY BYRNE 

Kay Byrne, 33, radio and nitery 
summer home st Alexandria Bay I s-inger, died of a heart ailment 
on Aug 18. He w as fat her of Col. I Aug. 24. at the home of her par- 
™7 c - Wilder, president of I ents in Rye, N. Y. 

in 1039 w. M I Miss Hyrne as a child had been 

changes | wife ^^ln"thr P S^ & e V "^ hel ' 

vrought in the skyline, of New WSYR and remained a veepee and filiMTiam ni i » 

York in 27 years. His oroadcast director until WSYR's recent is lale i t0Ulnament g° lfer - 

was transmitted by wire and slmrt- i to S. T. Newhouse, newspaper chain ! 

wave radio to listeners in Ger- owner. : ■ | THOMAS SULLIVAN 

many. .... . , Thomas Sullivan, 72, former 

After his arrival here, he taught j FELIX wintfrnit? i bujrlesqiie producer, died Aug. 16 

German to American singers in; F u winti*ni?»^ni »Lti .,.> hi Cincinnati. 

New York. Then he > re-wrote for ; a „d CO mposer dted In Con \ r. °, ne ot ' his shows was " M °"t* 
English-speaking students and had ■ A " composer, aied In Boston.^ Carlo Gir , in nj n nj jf 

published here his "1,000 Word" j ^ rn t 



books. 

Born in Berlin, he attended the f , D . »- -- -• 

University of Berlin and received i ™ h«f r , « ° St ,° n ^P" 0 "* 

a Ph.D. degree from the Univer- I olchestra ; He wa « » ^acher, corn- 



Born in Lin?a Austria he- cam* ! H. va Waterman, was starred. She, 
I to Wo" at the a^e of 17 aTa i three S1Sters and a brother survive 



sity of 
dentistry 



Greiffwald. He studied | P ° 1 se 'L and c ° nc ? rt violinist, making 
ind first practiced as a I s^Yf*!, world tours. 

I He leaves three sons, Robert, 
head of a N. Y. advertising firm, 
Kurt and Roland, a film and radio 
actor known as Roland Winters. 



Charles B. Diffingham 

Augu.t 30, 1«4 
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN' 

R. H. B. 



MIKHAIL TARKHANOV 

Mikhail Tarkhanov, who for a 
number of years had been a prom- 
inent actor in the Russian theatre, 
died in Moscow last week. • 

He was given a state funeral. 



The Reading event-, which started 
Aug. 14, and runs until Sept. 16, is 
being handled by Baldwin & Mer- 1 
mey, New York, public relations 
outfit. 

Engineered by Alfred Stern, 
Baldwin & Mermey exec, the Read- 
ing celebration has made a heavy 
splurge into outdoor shows out of 
the $100,000 fund allocated for the 
event. All levels of show business, 
from top name talent through 
scenic designers, stage technicians, 
musicians and costumers to lower' 
case vaude- talent, are sharing in 
the gravy. 

The roster of talent who did or 
will 



Russ B.O. Flap 



Continued from page 1 



According to reports by the Mo- 
tion Picture Export Assn., Holly- 
wood films in these areas have 
continued to grow in popularity 
despite the flock of obstacles 
placed in their way by local au- 
thorities. In s»we cases theatre- 
owners in : ' eastern Europe have 
been compelled to play Russian 
pictures, despite empty houses-, to- 
ward off political reprisals. 



itn-th* recent blowup given 

appear at the Reading, fair *° ^ effectiveness of the. U. S. 



grounds include Eddie Cantor, ^artment's film production 

George Jesse!, Olsen tt 'Johnson, i industry feeling is that 



Dick Haymes, Frances Langford, 
Claude Rains and Ezra Stone, 
among others. Cgntor received 
?7,000 for a two-night stand, while 
Olsen & Johnson, plus a company, 
garnered $15,000 for three nights. 



Ben Morris, 57, ni?ht watchman 
at Universal, was found shot to 



MARRIAGES 

June Melender to Norman Mur- 
fee, San Francisco, August 22. 
Bride is organist; he's owner of 
Villa Chartier in that city. 

Kathleen Kelly to Johnny Mac- 
Intyre, Boston, July 21. He's Hub 
press rep. for Shubert theatres. 

Wanda Barbour to Thomas. E. 
MacDougall, Hollywood, Aug. 21. 
Bride is a showgirl in Earl Carroll's 
nitery. 

Edna McCrodden to Roy Croft. 
Dublin, Aug. 18. Bride is secre- 



dentist before embarking on • a 
journalistic career. 

He leaves his wife, Sophie, and 
three sons. 



Edw E a?d*H*?Amet inventor I j&f \% "^^SL^"^ i ^of'The|{re"Koyai; Dublin; he's 

i In di6d : A-*? Se ^tr^Vir' 

nenuonao eeacn, cal. „,„,„ Bruce by marriage £ e is 

survived by his wife and a daugh- 
ter. 



Among his inventions is the 
I magnagrapb, considered tops in 



the real diplomatic spadework for 
America Is being accomplished by 
Hollywood pix. One film industry 
exec with a background of foreign ! 
experience put it this way; "It's 
one thing to round-up a couple of 
hundred diplomatic officials, teach- 
ers and social workers to see a pro- 
gram of short subjects about Amer- 
ica. But it's far more important 
when people voluntarily pay at the 
boxoffice to see America in action 
through Hollywood films." 

Joaquin Richard, South Ameri- 
can rep for the Motion- Picture, 
Assn. of America, currently in New 
York, reports that Russian pictures 
are rarities south-af-theifoorder. 
Despite strong Communist blocs in 
several Latin-American countries, 
Soviet films have declined to the 
vanishing point. In some cases, un- 
fortunately, it's been censorship 
rather than public indifference 



former vauder. 

Pat Campbell to Eddie Short, «Wchhave forced out the Russian 



PERETZ HIRSHBEIN 

, Peretz Hirshbein, 67, Hebrew 
author and lecturer, died in Los 
Angeles, Aug. 16. He was best 
known for his novel, "Green 
Fields," which was adapted for the 

screen, and shown at Squire thea- I motion picture cameras. First 



' In loving memory of 

ARTHUR A. ROSE 

Who died August 26, 1*47, in 

Hollywood . 
TO KNOW HIM WAS TO IOVE HIM 
The- Family 



Sister, 49. of Jack Oakie, come- 
dian, died in Brooklyn. N. Y., Aug. 
16. Comic planed in for the fun- 
eral. 



Wife of Arnold Cornelissen, con- 
cert pianist-composer, died at Cat- 
taraugus, N. Y., Aug. 16. 



Chicago, Aug. 21. Bride -was form- 
erly in WGN's production dept.; 
| he's publicity head of WJJD, 
, Chicago. . 

Diana Halperin to Danny New- 
; man, London, Aug. 18. He's 1 1 , 
i legit flack and hall owner of Astor | " L 
I Theatre, Chicago; bride is Yiddish SSfjS <2 

legit star, appearing in London. ! If™ 8 *, w Pay off against competi- 



tre. N. Y., in 1937. He had also 
written several plays in Hebrew 
which were subsequently trans- 
lated and presented in N. Y. 

His , play, "Far Away Corner," 
was produced by the Yiddish Art 
Theatre in 1919 and revived 20 
years later. "Once Upon A Time," 
another of his' plays, was produced 
at the Second Avenue theatre, 
N. %• in 1933. "The Blacksmith's 
Daughter," A Life for a Life," 
"Child of the World," "Who the 
Devil Knows" and "The Dew 
Falls" were among his other plays. 

The film. "Hitler's Madman," for 
which he did the screenplay from 
an original story by Emit Ludwig, 
was , shown at Rialto, N. Y., in 
1943. He also wrote novels, travel 
books- and poetry. 



EDITH W. KINKEAD 
Mrs.- Edith Warner Amos,- former 
actress and astrologist, known pro- 
fessionally as Edith W. Kinkead, 
died in New York, Aug. 19. She 
was the wife of Lindsay C. Amos, 
financial manager of Charles Pratt 
& Co. and treasurer of the Pratt 
Institute. 

She had been an actress for a 
number of years, having appeared 
in productions of the late Henry 
B. Harris and others. Later she 
became assistant to Evangeline 
Adams, astrologer, "who died in 
1932. She had continued the work 
of Miss- Adams since her death. 

In addition to husband, she also 
leaves a son by a previous mar- 
riage, Eugene Kinkead. 



model of camera is in the Smith- 
sonian Institute. He also invented 
the Geneva movement control for 
camera shutters, which still is in 
use today. 

His wife, two daughters and two 
brothers survive. 



MRS. WALTER FRAMER 
Hannah Golding Framer. 34, wife 
of Walt- Framer, N.Y. radio pro- 
ducer and co-paekager of CBS net- 
work show, "Strike It Rich," died 
at her home in New York Aug. 15. 



No Showmanship 

Continued from page 1 — 

the hoopla and the glitter of Broad- 
way and Coney Island mixed with 
the solid stuff of industrial achieve- 
ment, the Grand Central affair has 
the excitement of a civics text 
book. It'll be tough to sell the 
jaded city masses, on this, even 
with the Police and Fire depart- 
ments retailing the tabs at 50c. 
per head. 
Four stories of the Grand Cen- 



pretures. 

ft some cases, Russian film dis- 
tributors have tried to palm off 
their product practically at no cost 
to the exhibitors. Some Soviet films 
did manage to reach firstrtui houses 
in this manner. But even these 
so-called "propaganda bookings" 
, wy off against competi 

Betty Byrd to Danny Hoctor. ' care td handle Russian pix. 
Covsngtan,Ky.. Aug. 12. Both were y 
in- road company of "Call Me- If ' - 
Mister," and dance team of Hoctor , f . ,„ m 

& Byrd Playing Down 

Alice Glover to Harry C. Ander- f it, 



A former performer, Mrs. Framer . * «/ «'« ««™ w 

teamed up years ago with her hus- 'traL Palace ate taken up with the 
band in a number of shows on? workings of the city government, 
WWSW in Pittsburgh. After her 
marriage she retired. 

Besides husband, she leaves 
daughter, 10, and a son, 6. 



ALBERT H. GROSS 
Albert H. (Pete> Gross, 



AlDert « ireie, vmiss, 53 l,, ww - haw ever - are weightea aown 
translator of writings in Yiddish ; ,u„ ( . **X*s«»i«. 



each department having an exhibit 
to spotlight its own activity. Some 
of them hav.e a showmanship flair, 
such as the layout for Department 
of Correction, which looks like 
some advance bally for a Holly- 
wood urison saga. Most of the ex- 



JOHN MAGANOTTI 

John Mifganotti, 46,- veteran 
nitery operator, who owned several 
Pittsburgh spots, died Aug. 19 
after a heart attack in that city. 

At one time, Maganotti was a 
partner in one of Bittsburgh's most 
successful bistros. Plaza Cafe, and 
after that ran the oW Show Boat 
for a. couple of seasons. Hisjast 
post 
a 

Mercur's Music" Bar. 



of Sholem Asch and other writers, 
died in New York, Aug. 17. Before 
becoming known as a translator, 



in a welter of charts, statistics and 
other forms of desiccated data. 
The crowds, most of which are 



son, Washington, Aug. 7. Bride- 
was formerly of Glover & LaMae, 
dance- team; he's with Cleveland 
500 Operetta Co. and Dramaturgy, 
Inc. 

Nelda Anne Dotson to Charles 
LeRoy Shields; Des Moines, Aug. 
15. He's- continuity writer for sta- 
tion KRNT in that city. 

Barbara Mclnnes to Richard 
McKay Tibbett. Bel-Air, Cal., Aug. 
21. He's son of Lawrence Tibbett. 
baritone and head of. American 
Guild of Musical Artists. 

Patricia Cohn to Harold Mel- 
nikcr, Santa Barbara, Cal., Aug, 21. 
He's director of public relations at 
RKO. 



notably of "East River," he had , made up of kids who are cuffoed, 
been on editorial staff of Boni & [give a fast brushoff to the routine 
Liveright, publishers. He also I layouts and search for the more 
worked in the production field for intriguing corners. The younger set 
Coward-McCann, Inc. . j manage to get some kick out of a 

Survived by wife, daughter and toy model of a roller coaster, pin- 
son. •» ball machines (nort- gambling 



Continued from page 1 = 

commensurate with contractual 
obligations to the radio comic. It 
won't hurt him, either, of course, 
since he-is- in the. picture on s per- 
centage arrangement. 

"New York" played two engage- 
ments using, the old ad- campaign. 
That was in Philly and Dayton. 
Both were extremely disappoint- 
ing- Then the- ads were, revised. 
The copy merely played up the. 
fact that it was * funny picture. 
To find Morgan's, name .would take 
at least a second, glance.. Film 
opened in San Francisco three 
weeks ago with the new campaign, 
racked up a very smart $17,000, 
and won itself a .holdover, tb* first 
UA pus in ae hous* to do that for 
some tune. 

Kenny Delmar, the ^Senator 
Claghorn'* of Fred ARefi's show, 
! was the most recent previous radio 



BIRTHS 

Mr. and Mrs. Al Jarvis, son, Hol- 
lywood, Aug. 22. Father is disk 
jockey on KLAC. 

Mr. and Mrs. Nunnally Johnson, - comic whose name failed to attract 



GEORGE SILVER (atomic research center. The elderly 

George Silver, 47. musician and . folks give the place a fast twirl 
entertainer, died July 22 in Union- (and head for the strategically- 
town. Pa. For the last 24 years, i located folding chairs, for which 
he had headed Musicians Union y,ere is a short wait only. 



°f" n ™f .h. w„;SZ: daughter, Chicago, July 30. Parents 
type!), and the Westinghouse | are the vaufl(! tpam nf Arr „ n & 



son, Santa Monica, Aug 23. customers to the nlmeries. He ap- 
Father is scre'enwright-producer; peared in "It's a Joke, Sea" for 
mother is former Doris Bowden. I 
film actress. 

Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Broderick, 



there and was also secretary to the 
Uniontown Recreational Assn. For 
a time, he headed a dance band 
which played chiefly through 
Pennsylvania and Eastern spots. 

Besides his wife, he leaves three 
children. 



In the. panorama of metropolitan 
life, presented in the central ex- 
hibit on the main floor, one section 
i is laid aside for the "city's theatri- 
[ cal variety," as the publicity hand- 
outs put it. The flack description 
is also worth quoting: "the city's 
| theatrical variety is spotlighted "on 



Joke, Sen" for 

Eagle Lion. 

Bob Here. Bing Crosby and Jack 
Benny are the trio of outstaading. 
exceptions- to the pattern «f radio 
stars making poor marquee draws. 
Lesser tights have almost invar ia- 
bly fared mediocrely afc best. 



are the vaude team of Arren 
Broderick. 

Mr. and Mrs. Homer Cables, son; 
New York, Aug 12. Father is with 
Life mag; mother is daughter of Al 
and Myrtle White, former vaude 
team. 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Weems, son, i c**tLa»eat tnm -pact X 

Chicago, Aug, ft. Father is head of !„„.„„,:,,„ ,„„ _ 
Concert Presentations; I operatlve for more , th »?. « year 

„, , * " _ „ . . now, screening and making rec- 

Mr and Mrs. GeorgeLIcid, son, ommendaUons as to suitaSy for 
Pittsburgh, Aug. 11. Father's a overseas showing of M&i of 
radio producer. doubtful content There- are com- 



'Senator* 



MRS. MYRTLE J. HANCOCK \^^£^^Mh1hMeL Mr ' ^ Mrs Dave ^ osen ' daugh- paratively few nixed, -sW Jo e 
Mrs. Myrtle J. iMarty) Hancock, ! ft^j^^jS^Jf^^S^g dartn?^! j * er ' Pittsburgh, Aug, 18. Father Breen's Production CodeAfeini^ 
'end man" of Emmett t Welch ^s ^ "SSffi-^Mf'SSbS ™J*™*' raanj W« r ot M ar t y tratmn in HoUywood ha»*Sot 



iJf » T Hipri Aua 19 in Phila-' oran1a : Pavlova and her partner 
rat, before buying the Marco Polo rf'.^hu she played in the Em- 1 teetering in a ballet position; Pa- 
iew weeks ago, was manager at : " C '»J * . . t ' heatre here from : gUacci singing in the Metropolitan 



Gregor's band. 



HoUywood ha* a division 
■ which goes over scripts for over- 
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Glicksman, | seas political implications, 
daughter, Hollywood, Aug. 19. Generally, studios are warned 



n,A »■•. 1I.N, and ,u_ a n ~1rt,ttc C "ilUBlltCI, I1UUJWUOU, AUg. 

' ^i 19 A na\S San Francisco, shej Kg . aSoss^ M««^ BbS | ^^^JfSLS^L, W.***?*® 



and daughter and four brothers in- 1 the stage at the age of stage;" Miniature is correct— exact- 

±S9 J^UJSS ^t,tZ five, playing children's parts. ;ly one square-yard for snow-busi- 



conneeted with several of Magan- 
ottis business ventures. 



! ness. Other facets of New York 
life are shown in proportion. 
I In one respect, however, this ex- 



MILTON L. PRARIE 

Milton L Prarie, 46, musician, 
ana composer of popular music, ! position has that gay, abandoned j Qu artet on ABC- 



Mr. ard Mrs. Art Passaglia, son, 
Chicago, Aug. 13. Father is com- 
mercial artist for ABC. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sheppard Lehn- 
i'off, daughter, Chicago, July 28. 
' Father is member of Fine Arts 



-RALPH C. FAULKNER, SR. 

Ralph C. Faulkner, S r -. d "ea in Syracuse. N. Y., Aug 20. j flavor. A 5c. glass of orange drink j Mr . and Mrs. John Marcen 
forn^ impersonator^and^ sketch j Among J nis CO mpositions_ are J costs 15c. daughter, Washington, July 31 

of Warners' 



artist, died in Washington Aug. 21. | ,'■ SgTSS World Comes to Its End," I : Father is manager 

He wa» recently a freelance car- . Blues," "Won't Yonip ^- p VJmvAVPr j Metropolitan. 

Please Come Back tb Me." and Keadmg, r3., MOWeVCr, j Mr. and Mrs. William Rogers, 

Where the Tropics Begin." J s plenty B.O. Boffo *>". New Y ? rk * 

. , 7 , y_ „ i on announcing staff at CBS, N. Y. 

Industrial showmanship, a - 



tooaist and ghost writer. 
* Faulkner strongly resembled the 
late President Woodrow Wilson 
and often impersonated him on the 
stage. In 1918, while Faulkner 
•was- appearing at the' old Poll's 



stage that they are unsuitable for 
export or have elements- that are 
not acceptable. Studios usually 
make changes at that time in order 
to avoid loss of revenBe. incurred 
by an embargo placed on the pic- 
ture later. 

Compliance, by companies with 
recommendations of the selectivity 
committee is entirety voluntary, ex- 
cept in countries serviced by the 
Motion Picture; Export Assn., which 
refuses to send overseas any pix 



nr.Ri.p r r MONTGOMERY I uhiumiuu swiwuinuH Mr. and Mrs. Monte- Proser, son, : the taboo list. Companies all 

» S irr^ Tvet- technique for dressing up civic Hollywood, Aug. 23. Father is op- ; ^Perate, however, since the selec- 
Robert B. Montgomery, oo, vei_ industrial fairs in theatrical erator of Copacabana, N. Y-. nitery tlvlt y plan has full support of the- 



was- appearing ai me oio x-u« » 4 "L,Z lt ~~ T_ nallas died in ana muusinai lairs m mc^uiui erator of Uopacanana* «. x>, nitery """J t"*" "as iuii support ot the 

theatre in Washington, Pres. Wil- • eran exhibitor la " ,1 "^' "{S He : spa ngles, it currently being given and co-producer] Q f the musical, State Dept. and violations would 

son went back .stage, to congratu- , Wichita rails, texas. aur. i&. . _^ _f, auu — Si •> — t« — 

late him on the nUmicry. 



, . , lf j,Vk M-CuUunt an all-out apphcation at the Read- "High Button .Shoes;" mother is be expected to produce reaction 

-DuirnVtheflrsTworid war, he ITthe KS^rt'&K ^ 



i from that quarter. 



56 



Wedtaedar, 'August 25, 1948 







A NEW ALL-TIME 
HOUSE RECORD 

$95,000.00 



"Count Basic's powerful pull at the box-office is being demonstrated again at the Strand* 



N. Y. Minor 



1st Week-Strand Theatre, New York 
...soaring to a new high in 
Smashing 6 week engagement 
. . . closing August 



LEO fAORGAN 
GEORGE DINOAS 

'Strand Staff 



Thank* to 
a GREAT «'«'*'■"., 



Thank* to 

MAT KALCHiWA 
CRESS COURTNEY 
jOE WOIFSON 

and th* *n!ir« 
Wm. Morris Ag«ncy 



AND 

,. Th , Academy Award to 

HUMPHREYBOGART 
EDW.G.ROfflN$0 N 
LAUREN BACAU 

and Warner'* 

"KEY IARGO' 



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