RADIO SGREEN PRICE 15/ Publlatasd, Weakljr at 1S4 Wesr 4«th Stmt. Naw York, N. T., by VarUtr loa Annual •abacrtptlon; ft SInsU coplii, ts c\ii in- dustrial elements but rather on the scary precipice . of political domina- tion v/ith whlc^ this great business of entertaininerlt has absolutely noth- ing in common, Zippy Zanuck Darryl Zahuck's radiogram . bill was $3,000 en route to New York last week on the .Uot- mandie. He had six scripts shipped, him abroad and he Worked on these almost ' all- the way with his French-American secretary^ whom he . brought over with him on his.holiday; As soon as he embarked from Le Havre, Zanuck was Working oil the new season's product, " , than surrender in shame to any ih- To me, the motlon.picture cries out sidious ,influences,^no matter how today for both "Moses and a Patri>:k Henry. There are those who when thwarted cry; 'Wolf and. the sheep run with them. Now is the time for our soberest thinking. Those .who love this business must be its true standard bearers and st^ye us. from ourselves. Speaking for this section ot the United States, I feel that our 'prob- lems are identically . those of the others. : j Two things are outstanding: ' (1) .The sanctity of sigtiatures to buy- ing contracts.. (2) .The horiesty of purpose of our producers' who sub- mit those contracts. We simply heed an application of mutual confidence and tolerance. There are all too many good business men and women involved in. the traffic of films for us to lose respect in each- others mo- tives and purposes. There , may be some 'shysters' among . us, but' few who weather thWr own Iniquities for long, and when found out, these fall like rotten apples from a tree. PoIiUeU 'BernlaUaa No one can influence me to the belief that good can come from al- lowing aiiy persons not a part of our business to lay down, rules for Its conduct The step from . govern- mental suggestion to political regu- lation is so short, that biie designing politician could deliver us to enemies many time worse than those who, many believe, now threaten our ruin. There is no problem of the . stu- dio, exchange, or screen that cannot be solved withiii ,the ranks. There will never come a time when the producer, the distributor, or the theatre can function one with- out the other, Let's cut out the. ballyhbo— we're sensible, practical people with in- vestments to protect. No other group openly seeks meddlesome. biisy bodi.es to run to ruin their lifetime etiorts, It's shE^meful to fly into rages; to pant like children and to cry to tlis heavens for help when a little sane friendliness, a disposition to meet together, and just a bit of common- sense could be bur salvation. Nothing will ever come from any effort that will prove a panacea (or bU our ills— but there is a fuiida- mental principle which will work it out up to the point of our personal grievances— and. nobody will ever take care of those who can't take care of themselves^verything else being equal Trade Most Settle Tblns« Maybe it's the MPTOA 10-point plan— maybe It will be something yet to come — but it will be from the wis- dom and experience of those who have weathered the storms iii the past and who are honest, sincere and purposeful in their desire to be of service to all elements of our busi- • ness— unselfish, upright and sacriflc- ins individuals, upbuilding, and hot destroying the wonderful genius ot this great industry, content to do [ their part— to. take the bitter with ; their sweet — and to face, like men' worthy — ;the challenge of today. j TTiese leaders are . In our ranks, they are in the exchanges and in the . great distributing organizations; they . know the best way- Is the easiest way. ' TTie cah has be*n sounded— j For God's sake don't let's sell our- selves down the river In the bel;et ^ that we need regulation frpni the ^ outside. It Just W'on't work any mow than any other type of censor- shlp. ■ Let's stand and ftght— and If sink we must— let's go down carrying our own standards pf fair ideallng— rather 1 sugar-coated, their bait. U. toewenstein, ftresldent, THEATRE O'WNERS OF OKLAHOMA. John E. Otterson got back, to the istates Monday (1) after a. sojourn in France studying the- French piicture siVuatipii. , The former ,Erpl and Paramount prexy has . been buying a numbei: of French fl'msjor U. S. | distribution, with . the idea of reT- l makijig some ot thpm. j . However, .Otterson finds . the marked strides in recent French, filnri' making augurs a healthy market for the Gallic, product, especially in vie\y of tlie fact thsy make: their pic- tures so cheaply 'abroadi ' Rctarn to Show Bii New Haven, Conn. Editor, Vabiety: It is a very peculiar thing, but we all laugh at the drug store that has deteriorated from, its original status to £i place where you can get any- thing from- a steak sandwich to. home furniishings, yet the theatre seems to liave^ approached the same hodge- podge; category. Lei's gbt back into straight show: business . without any other Induce- ments tPr patrons except good en- tertainment This means, of course, the elimination of rpulette wheels, china-ware, dishes, etc.. I repeat, , let the . manager go out and sell his shows, in the good old-' fashioned way, cpncentrating -all his time' and eflprts on the pictures; he isp laying and exploit; them. In other. Words, it is neigh-time we got back to show business. Harry F. Shaw,^ Division Manager. LOEWS FOLI NEW ENGLAND DlVI^lOlf. Fablic't Itca«tleii Richmond) Va., Editor, Variety: 'We. too, heartily endorse the pro- posed trade conference, and think that, oiit of it consldelrable good 'Will come to the industry in general. The state of Virginia, generally, Is a single-bill situation, and the ex; hibitors find great difficulty in using pictures made !by so many of tlie major companies, obviously for ter- ritories that 100% double bill.^ They find the producers unsympathetic to larger cancellation privileges, or t^e sale of a selected contract, even in small towns where there is only one theatre, and .it is impossible for the exhibitor to use all of the pictures of the major companies. The exhibitors, in my opinion should receive more . consideration from-, the producers, inasmuch as they buy the pictures before they are m?.de. and When the pictures are not properly made and are unsuited tor exhibition in the Virginia terri (Continued on page 45) SAILINGS Aug. 17 (New York . London) Edith Head, Dick Henry (Nor- mandie).. Aug, Iff (Paris to New York) Louis Bernstein, Leojnard Xiyons, Lawrence LoWihan (Normandie); Aug:.10 (Genoa to New York) Don Ameche, Harry Warren, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Morris (Conte di Savoia). * . Aiig. 4 (Los Angeles, to Honolulu) Mr. and Mrs. Joe Pennei: (Lurline). Aug. 3 (New : York, to iLondon) Peggy Wood (Aquitania). ; Aug. 3 (New YorJt to London) Dayid Sarhoff, Clifford C. Fischer, Frank E. Gannett, Mr. and Mrs.' Lee' Tracy, Simone Simon, Kitty Carlisle, 'Jacques, Thery, . ' Julien Duvivder, Emillo ; Azcarraga, Robin Thomas, Kaiheriiie Roche (Normandie). ' July 28 (Los Angeles to Honolulu) Mr. and ■ Mrs. O. M.' (Monte ) Samuels (Mariposa). July 28 (New York to London) Dave Butns, Mary Roland,. Deems Taylor, Natalie ' Bodanya (He de France). , July 27 (New York to Hamburg) Herna Menths, (New York). (Continued frpm jpage 1), lace territory! when aided and abetted by healthy independent com- petition, to handle personally film sales In excess of $500,000 annually. Big circuit deals negotiated in New York by home office sales executives exceed such amounts many times, of course. , There isn't much about the film business which these traveling show- men' don't know/ understand and are. quite qualified tP discuss. They get the kicks and few pf the boWs. They negotiate but seldom close a deal, as confirmation comes from home office headquarters. As a group they are paid less; for services rendered than any other division ot employees in the industry performing comparable service. Their Worki.ng hours." are frorn Monday morning tp Friday night, evenings included, and their combined weekly mileage would en- eircle the earth a. dozen times, ; Because they are astute and prac- tical, a chance meeting with several experienced salesmen . developed ^sbnie interesting ideas- about current industry problems. Ifitt Salesmen ARRIVALS Darryl Zanuck. John E. Otter.-,on Gabriel Pascal, H. E. Spohable, Jo- sep',1 H. Moskpwitz, Evelyn Waugh, Clifton Webb, Eddie Cantor, Bonny Goodman, Feodor Chaliapin, Jr., Dr. A. H. Giannini, Abel Green, Leland ■Slowe, Al Laney, Elnxer Rice, Robert E; Sherwood, Ladislaus Czettelj Capit, Eddie Rickenbacker, Archibald Crossley. J. W. Brown; D. G. Dobie, Chester -Lauck, Felix Greene. l: A. to N Y. William Baker. I. Robert Broder. Jane Dewey. C. V. France. Doirothy : Haas. Jack Haley. Nedda Harri ;EdilH Head. . .Jasciia Heifietz. Hugh Hiiber. Sidney Justin. Kay Karhen. Phil Lceb. Joshua Logan. Louis B. Mayer. James Mulvey. Ken Murray. Harhion Nelson. . Frank Orsatti. Daniel O'Shea. . Diiik Pitlinger. Eric Pominer. Tyrone Power. • Ritz Bros. . Murray Silverstone. Howard Strickling. Don Terry. Harry M. Warner. Jack Yellen. N Y. to L. a. Eddie Cantor. Dr. Saul C. Colin. Sidney Davis. Bill' Dover. Dr. A. H. Giannini. Joseph Click. Mrs. Florence Marslon. Hal Hackett., Mike Nidorf. Corky O'Kieefe. Monte Proser. Edward Small. George While: Darryl F. Zanuck. Other News of Interest to Films French film production. .. . . . ....... U.S. anti-trust ■ suit pushes, similar Argentine and Far East. .......... ; Alice Fay'e. and Menjou . for- SAG'S radio show Eddie Cantor's show,... Jimmy Durante' sued. .......... . Joe Ei' BrPwn's radio show,. ; . .;....;;;;., Page 11 Axistraiid, .Page 11 ..Page 23 . . .Page' 23 . . . . . . . , /.Page 24 Page 24 . . .Page 24 Radio reviews, of Irving Berlin cavalcade, Conrad Nagel, CantPr on BBC, Lanny Ross-Gloria Stuart.". Page 25 Status pf television. .. .... : . . ... ........,.;...:. . . . . .Page 37 Limit name-a(;t salaries. .. . , . . ...Pafee 43 Broadway's dictator-^Equlty . . . . . . .. .. .... .. ..... Page 49 There are about 1,200 salesmen veals a quantity of subjects far in excess of playdate possibilities. 'There is apparently '.but cine method by which production may be ' trimmed to constructive, commercial numbers of releases. That method, according to one suggestion, is chop down the supply to the jnaxi- mtim requirements based ■ on acluial and npt wasteful return, . Film rental tiiat is paid for pictures wliich are not or can not be shown on the screen is an industry waitc. . That the theatre-going public : has been informed In detail of the most intitiiate controversial trade subjects and discussions is rhahifest froni. im- partial survey. Industry leaders may privately state their opinions about the Hollywood radio film com- mentator with his open letters to stars and producers,- and with his judginent of entertainment values of recent releases, .but the fact remains that the. public is listening to What is said. . The newspapers, too, are open forums for industry griefs. Wlslpr Up the Public Through ■ the , Ohio .' section in whicii ' the Cleveland Plain Dealer ciirculates the readers of that paper I have had a recent lesson in exliibi-. tor troubles as a result of editorial, working daily -out. of the country's film exchanges whose business it is to get their company's releases, shown wherever tihere is a projection ma- chinp and " a .'row of theatre seats; :Each branch office territory is. divid- ed I into smaller distric'ts wherein each theatri is listed, its film rental possibilities computed and -its play- ing time figured. The : theatre may operate under a three-changes-a- week policy. With opportubity to show annually only 156 feature films, but no !matter; hpw small the house, the intensive/seilihg brings to the exhibitor's- attention the advan-; tagcs and 'rich returns (assured, but not guaranteed) of more than -SW picture's every season. Now the mathematical paradox of trying to fit .'into 156; playdates three times that number of major and In- dependent -releases has been one of the. basic causes of much confusion and riot a little dissension' in the in- dustry. Double billing of. features, which started two decades ago in the Boston territory and. crept westward to merge with the same trend in ex- hibition policy, given its greatest Im- petus five years ago by Fox-West Coast theatres, \has opened up much additional playing- tinne. It hasn't in- creased the average of feature filrn rentals over the single bill policy,' computed .after the exchanges sub- tract ' their 'lessened revenues from short reel pictures. ^ On the contrary, the duals have emphasized neW com- plexities and have created new prob- lems of clearance and the protectiph of first-run admission prices. To« Much Product; It would appear from discussion with film salesmen that the most dlflicult problems of the film indus- try arise from the inability ot the exhibition machinery, to . absorb profitably ' the large and varied amount ot film which is produced in i discussion with V respect to why neighborhood houses have not yet played Walt Disney's 'Snow White,' although 'flrst-run engagements, end- ed some weeks . ago. . W. Ward • Marsh, fllni editor ot the . paper, raised the issue by . writing; 'Here is 'Snow White' hot appear- ing in neighhprhood theatres \yhen such theatres declare they need good . pictures more thah anything else in the world; And here is The Birth ot a .Baby;' which has established such high records in Ohio cities and small towns that they may not be met , again in a generation, and . it, top, fails to reappear after its' initial showing here.' . ; From an exhibitor,, whose name Marsh withholds, came the follow- ing:. 'We are always on the lookout for. good pictures, the same as any other . merchant is on the lookout for . good merchandise, but do you know of a. merchant who would go' out aiid pay $3.25 per dozen for merchandise and then sell them- for. 25c feacli— well, that is exactly , our position in regard to the two; pic- tures above. 'When the distributors get a good attraction they want the whole World with a fence around it. They, are demanding 40% of every dollar taken in for these attractions and I, as a neighborhood theatre owner, make the statement that no exhibitor can pay any such -prices for filin and continue in business. 'You might be thinking to yourself: 'Why' are other cities playing these pictures?' and you might be say- ing to yourself that they - are nPt asking any more in Cleveland than they are in the other cities, but let me tell you that the cost of; operat- ing a neighborhood theatre in Cleveland Is greater than it is in any other city in the United States. 'We must have two operators in the booths— we pay for stase hand.i Hollywood and imported trom "^o^eh we do not need th'em abroad. An economist might term the situation as an unscientific ap- plication ot the laws of supply and demand. Certain artificial rules and regulations have developed ^within the industry to cope with this par- ticular issue. It is a live subject that is bandied about rather recklessly by social retprm groups and, ladies' sewing circles.' It is what is known in and out of the trade as blPck- booking, a figure of speech which is associated with all that everyone think is wrPng; Blockbooking finds its way into every bill of complaint i n every anti-trust suit, into every regulatory argument and into public conversa- tion about films. It has come to .be synonomous with duress and high pressure' salesmanship. .There Is something abput the word which ap- peals to the layman's vocabulary. It seems to stimulate in popular fancy the . vision ot an exhibitor . entirely surrounded by film salesmen brow- beatjng. him into submission by shouting in unison, "If ypu want Gable, 'Snow White,' Gai-y. Cooper, Ginger; Rogers and Danielle Dar- reaux, you've got to buy all the Others.' It really isn't as bad a.e placed in a. trust, f lind until his majority . Re-written contract, as of July. 1, raises the boy's salary from $150 to $300 a week and provides for suc- cessive increases for seven years, up to $2,500 a week. It also calls for a bonus of $3,000 for the first com pleted picture, and $4,000 extra at the completion of each first picture in the successive periods of the cph' tract Father, a policeman on the S-I lot, flatly refiised his parental consent. Superior Judge Emmett Wilson, who made the ruling -after the Jackie Coogan case, set the Kelly matter aside to await a conference of law- yers on both sides. Young Kelly is currently on loan to Sol Lesser for the name role in Teck's Bad Boy at the Circus.' The loan-out contract is not . affected by the court ruling. Fields to Star in Own 'Honest Man' for U Hollywood, Aug. 2. "W. C. Fields signed^ contract'vtrith Universal today (Tuesday) to make one pictyre, 'You Can't CKieat an Hone.«t Man,' which he also wrote. • Production gets under -way around Sept. 15. - Hollywood, Aug. 2. Baseball, comedy and ' charily frolicked hand-in-hand before a ca- pacity crowd of 22^000, at Wrigley Field on Saturday (30) and contrib- uted about $35,000 toward the erec- tion of a free clinic for Mount Sinar , Hospital. - Technically .It was a ball game be- tween the Comedians and Leading- Men of Hollywood. The boys for- got about baseball shortly after Mary Pickford tossed out the first ball. Gag followed gag until the third in- ning when the three umpires were chased off the field and the three Ritz brothers took up the job, ar- rayed in bathing siiits and assisted by seven dwarfs. Joe E. Brown, ' captain . of the Comedians, showed lip with a spavi and did not play. To. show that, his heart was in the right place he took command of the loud speaker and announced the batters as they stepped to the plate, which was a man's size job, -with half the male inhabitants of the film colony horn- ing into the' game- at one time oi an^ other. Dick Powell, captain of the Lead- ing Men, led oil with a single and tried to steal second but was shot by somebody on the Comedians' bench. At least, there was a pistol shot, and Powell was carried off the field, in- jecting a touch of mystery into the comedy. Milton Berle, patroling left field for the Comedians in a cop's hel- met, stole a .three-bagger with one hand. The Comedians dropped to theit knees and salaamed in. Berie's direction, but the Leading Men claimed it was a mistake. The game wound, up with the score something to something, but nobody ' could agree. Statistics were sent to. the higher mathematicians at the "University of Southern California to , be untangled. Opening lineups were: Leading Men— Dick Powell. 2d; Jackie Coogan, lb; Preston Foster, cf; Stanley Morner, rf;\ Warren Wil- liam, If; John Boles, 3b; Kane Rich- mond, ss; ChWk Phalen, c; Walter Abels, p. Comedians— Nat Peiidleton, lb; Buster Keaton, 2b; Jack Smart, 3b; Benpy Baker, If; Wally Vernon, ss; Milton Berle, If; Hugh Herbert, rf; Mike Frankovich; c; 'Vince Barnett, . Before the ganrie. Bill Robinson, running backward, beat Keye Luke, running forward, in a 75-yard, dash.' A team of four runners, composed of Coogan, Bill Gargan, S. Morner and Glenn Morris, ran around the bases four times while George Brown, Olympic walking champ, -walked around twice. Morris -won by a nose. Fans were camped outside the. park as early as 10 a. m. and had a field day getting autographs. Ponuner Ends Quest On Coast for Talent Hollywood, Aug. 2. Eric Ponimer has ended his talent quest and hauled east Sunday (31). Will sail for London from N. Y. late this week. He, discussed talent with Myron Selznick and others for work this winter in Mayfair productions abroad. Blondell Resumes At WB in Newspaper Pic Hollywood, Aug. 2 Joan Blondell, who recently took time out for maternity, rettirns to the screen at Warner's, in a tale of newspaper life, 'Unfit to Print.' Pat O'Brien will share the top bracket. LADY IN WHITE Hollywood, Aug. 2. 'Student Nurse' has. been set by Warners as first starrer for Ann Sheridan. Margaret Lindsay, Marie .Wilson and Ro'sella Towne top sup porting cast. ' Picture goes into! production Aug, 19. Fast 'Service' Hollywood, Aug. 2. Shortest production schedule on a Marx Brothers piqture was achieved by director William Seiter, who brought in 'Room Service' at RKO in 30 days. ' Contributing to speed w.is the shooting based on one story, and not the customary series of gags shot oft tho cuff. . Brickec Exits WB Hollywood, Aug. 2. George Bricker checks out at Warners as soon as he completes the script for the Kay Francis aviation starrer, 'Women in the Wind.' In three and a half years on the Warner lot, Bricker has. scripted 24 pictures. , He joins another rnRjT studio Sept 1. iC..«lncsJay. August 3, 1939 PICTURES VARIETY % TrhColored Durning Process Ready For Marketing; Oaim 30-40% Saving Hollywood, Aug, 2 Dunningcolor, a revolutionary ihSue proposition that may up- el the tinted ■ film business, will !hr.rtlv be offered Hollywood picture It will hit the market fc.r ..n»itv use at a cost 61 apprpxi- ; 30% to 40% under what the tfos are now paying lor tinted "uMitince out of the experlmenUl sUge,1nd already in generaruse for ad film purposes, Dunningcolor will probably be exhibited publicly jhortly after the .first of the year It's the brainchild of Carroll and Dodge Dunning,, father and son, re- spectively, and founders of the Dun- ning Process COi Dunning, Sr., has been working on qblor film for more tlian21 years. Stime of the arguments advanced by the Duhnings in behalf of their tint system, in addition to the low cost eleriient, include; . \ 1. It will bie orfcred production; companies under a license plan on a ' rovalty basis at a fraction of a cent j per foot.' - . I 2. Filming will be done by pro- 1 ducers own camera crews and with their oWn camera.s. 3. - Negatives will be develpped and prints made- in producers' own laboratories. . 4. Jjab. equipment now in use for blacic and white films can be utilized, ith a few inexpensive changes, for the processing of the color, product 5. Rushes can be readied, over- right, as is now the case with ordi- nary film^ O^n Season For Tax Liens On Film Folks Just to Make Sure Hoil.vwood,. Aug. 2. Four technical advisors are working . on • Paramount's. 'Es- cape From Yesterday' ■ under Alfred E. Green's direction. Akin TamirolT is advising ini Russian; Richard Talmage is handling fights; "Tom Nichol- , son teaching proper prison be- havior, and. Major Phillip kieffer is in charge of cavalry tactics. TOT HO' NEXT FOR UOYD VIA PAR Hollywood, Aug. 2. Income tax collector declared open season on 1937 arrears in the picttirc colony and brought down a fine bag of celebs with a volley of tax liens. Among the victims were: Busby Berkeley, $19,818; A. Edward Suther- land, $12,327; Walter Catltett, $6,482; Stepin Fetchet, $1,432; Carmel Myers Blum, $5,481; William Dieterle, W,703; Constance Collier, $2,263; Sam Jalle, $1,644; Erik .Rhodes, $1,465; James Dunn. $2,608; Bob Steele, »1,294; Dashiel Hammett, $2,107; William B. Hawks, $3,845; Luli Desti, Jl.nO; Max Steiner, $4,329; Harold •L Davis, $2,597; and Vi Bradley, $1,369. Uncle Sam al!!o filed a lien of ♦61,659 on Barbara SUnwyck's 1937 income, claiming additional Uxes. £arl Carroll, as. head of 'Murder in tne.Vanities.' Inc., was asked to pay ?<.o22 for 1934-35. Holly wood. Aug. 2. Harold Lloyd's next job as pro- ducer and star is 'What Ho,' a .be.st seller by Richard Connell, , On his recent New York visit,. Lloyd signed a contract to release the fllin through Paramount. Story is localed in Eng- land, . but: whether he will film it there or in Hollywood has not been, decided. Paramount has $122,500. invested in the book, taking it over from Emanuel Cohen, who had bought it; for around $40,000 before he split with the- studio. . Balancie of, the mone.v was spent on adaptations to suit Gary Cooper, for whom Cohen purchased it. Lloyd is putting his writers to work on the tale next week and hopes to, start sliooting in the fall. Coincidontally, Connell wrote the novel with i-loyd iii mind. Indie Chains Already Con- trol Film Baying and Theatre Operation* in Certain Territorie*— Gov't Victory Would Heighten Their Influence, Trade Foresees N. W. Allied Sounding Legislative Candidates on Minn. Divorcement Law; Will Support Those Favorable POINT FOR DEFENSE O'Dahiel Film Hollywood, Aug. 2. Gcne .Au.lry breaks into mu- sical -, politics in his next pic-; ture, 'Hillbilly Governor..' Story is based on the singing campaign of W. Lee Q'Daniel, successful gubernatorial candi- date in Texas. EARLY CHAPLIN PICS COMBINED AS FEATURE Max Winslow/ Jack Curtis Merge With Crawford Agency Hollywood, Aug. 2.. Max Winslow, who abdicated a production post at Columbia, last Januai-y goes into' the agency busi- ness with Jack Curtis. They will combine their interests with Bobby Crawford, under the firm name of Crawford, Winslow & Curtis. Win- slow is v.p. also of Irving Berlin, Inc. At Columbia WjnstoW was re- sponsible for the studio making its first Grace Moore pict\ii-p, 'One Night of Love.' He will handle writers for concern. , Ciu'tis. who wa.c on his own here and prior to that a. New Yoi-k agent in the firm of Curtis & Allen and also prominent a. with sound as 'I o,"?* H'm When,' to take advantage tur«* "'.^ent popularity of old pic- « Film is being rushed for the iuinmer market. Evans, Col Part Hollywood. Aus. 2. Juliu.' E\-an.< checks off the Colum- bia lot ibmoiiow (Wed.) after can- cellin,? his contract because of ss- sigiiment arguriients. . Originally slated for a producer spot. Evans has been aiding Kverett Riikin for the past few months in a talent search for 'Golden Boy.' Peniier,RK0 Tiffing Joi T> Hollywood. Aug. 2. 'M. r. '"''y leave RKO after . *''-Doodle .Kicks Oft.' avX?"""-' tift-.ing With the studio a new contract. ERICKSEN'S EXEC f OST Hollywood, Aug. 2. , C. E. Erickscn fills the newly i created job of businc-is manager and tioasuier at the Walter Wangcr sludio. Meanwhile, he will continue as Pendiiig further developments in the Government's anti-trust action agairist ?!1 niajor cojnpanies, plus in- dividua,!s, and the filing of an an- swer, diic Aug. 16, great and possibly dangerou.? control of buying power among independents is, seen by :the trade shpuld. divorcement of theatre operation from producer-distributors 'je forced. This would ultimately result in theatre monopolies in many sections of the country, it is cpn? tended, and cculd 'lead to a fai- worse situation than now exists, in the end probably making it incumbent on the government to break; up any kind Of chain, no matter how controlled, if competition that is corripletcly free shall be P.ciiieved. It is not unlikely, according to be- lief in sdme fllrh circliss, that one of Ihe strongest points the defendants in the U. S. anti-trUst case will ;,raise will concern the question of possible Franken.stein indie circuits. Out of around 18,000 theatres, the producer distributors control, operate or have an interest in only 2,400 of these. Par has around 1,150, twice as strong a.s any other numerically, but many cf these theatres are only owned 50% or less by Par and are operated by interests owning the balance . of control. Warner Bros, has slightly over 500 houiscs. National (Fox-West Coast) around 520, RKO, 125, and Loew's, 120. Powerful Indie Chain*. ' A point raised in connection with the compiaint of the Government seeking divorcement of retailing by wholesalers in pictures is that at present there are numerous very po\yerful independent circuits capa-' ble of the same monopolistic prac- tices as charged against distributor- controlled theatre operations. Some of them have their territories well sewed up, making it possible that an outsider would 'find , it ho easier to get into those territories or given town.s, than if producer-contrqlled theatres were there. Distributors also find that, some of these circuits, in view of their size and the man- ner in which they blanket certain territories, are no simpler to sell than chains controlled by brother dislri!)s. if as ecsy. Very often they are hnrdcr to sell at desired terms. Some of the larSer circuits, power- ful, in their respective zones, with approxirriate nimiber of theatres they contain, are the Grillith chain: in. the s;)uthweEt, 95; Cooperative thEalr.\<; of Michigan. 85: Martin the afres in the southeast, 35;, Randfoice in the New York ai-ea, 45; Brandt Bros,. ^I'-.-ia in Metropolitan N. Y., 45f; Prudsnlial Playhcuses, on Long ,I.-;land mtrsiiy. 35: Waller Reade cir- cuit, :iO; Feibcr-Shea, -45; Schine cir- ciift i.T ui;:t Withdrawal wa.=; prompted by lei- ■ u^-ciy tie in with the William M )i - ters from fans .saying she is un.suit- ; i.j,^ office ',o handle acts that U'l- able f.;r the p.ii t. Mar-^aret Siillivf.n ' ;.ovcrs across the sia. For the past ycai' here. ulabaa ; has, devoted himself to hi-; pirtu. 'i • theatre enterprises v.'ith h :> )n-;Mi- - PI'S, and particularly with lii j ii;,-/ i iiui'tho'idc Esquire. looms currently as strongest candi- date. unit 3.KI business manager- of the ' '^"'l in Pennsylvania and Nsiw York; Soufflus Fairbai,k.-= unit at Uniloil n,o vu lually in the lud.e '.•la;s,Com. Arti.it,s. V(.'J).'.i:ni>»'' ori pi^i 5") Mayer Passing Up N. Y. for Saratoga 'G^^d^Oiibert Hollywood: Au?. 2. ' So ,Hc Givos Pics CJo-By r. luis B. Mayer is pa.^sing up New' H.ill.ywrjud, Al:,:j. 2 York, for Saratoga .Springs, t-'riink i With seven monlll.v to uo;. illr Orsatli and Dr. Ellis Jones are acr Gilbert obtained u rcl nsc f'l'.-im h- companying him. j r«KD coiitract to go bad: in;o Ir;;;!.;. He wijl inpcl witli A'lP Long an;l . Cumic leaves for Broadway as ,-' Don. Cameron, who vy ill opei ale hi:> ! ; , ht finishes 'Mr. Doodle Kicks brecdina farm, tiicre. They plai-. t'l for;a ml" in Ihe le^ilcr. 'CliO'.'k , b'jy couple .ji' d.'izcn yeyi'liiigs. V'Hi,' VARIETY PIGTURCS Wcdaeaday. August 8, 1939 DISTRIBS TO HIGH^PRESSURE EXHIBS ON SHOWMANSHIP TO UP GROSSES Want More Energetic Selling of Fix by Theatres- Feel They're Not Getting All PoMible Coin from Percentagfif Dates On the ground that exhibitors do not get the maximum out of pictures, with the percentage share of the dis- tributors away under what it might be, the major companies this coming season (38-39) will pressure accounts more, than ever to sell every picture as forcefully as possible. To this end it is likely that the distributors will increase th^ amount of advertising in which they share with theatres and, with a view to pushing product through for the, greatest gain, are planning more extensive use of field exploitation men. These measures will b§ supported by strong trade paper campaigns to stimulate enthusiasm in advance of releases. ■ In the past, the distributors coiti- plaih, the exhibitors have been satis- fled to sit baclt and let pictures sell themselves, 'exerting little, and in some cases virtually no effort to get a little more out of each picture played. One' of the reasons the dis- tribs grew captious during the past season over the allotment of large sums to accounts for local campaigns, plus, large national campaigns de- signed to help product eviery where, was the feeling that in many cases exhibs cheated wherever they could, and failed to get up their usual share of advertising when getting aid from the distrib. . However, while the, feeling still persists that many extiibitoirs can't be trusted when. . money for cam- paigns is allotted by the majors, it is still regarded as wise to continue budgeting sizable amounts for adver- tising, both natibnal ' and local. The records' appear to show that, where large advertising campaigns have been indulged by distribs in behalf of exhibition, the results have justi- fied the cost, regardless of cheating here and there that is difficult to eliminate. Grosses Under Possibilities Too many pictures, it is figured, go into iniportant playdates as well as into lesser rengagements, and do not come .out with the amount of coiii they can earn. The difference in the gross results in playdates of compar- ative importance, .in widely spread areas as well as in local territories where tastes are not so divergent, would suggest that some theatres wring the maximum in possibilities .from a picture while others don't After a picture has gone out of date, it is too late to try it oyer again. With this' thought in mind, plus that distributors - regard it as more im- portant than ever before to stir up their accounts to a sense of. go-get- tiveness that will maice more for the theatre as well as for the wholesaler, the arrival of the. 1938-39 season will marlc the beginning of a program to high-pressure exhibs into action. Not only is it held imperative in distrib- utor circles that the accounts try to increase the intake for the big pic- tures, but . that the lesser product,^ from the 'B' pictures down, be also given as much showmanship and merchandising attention as possible. In som^ quarters the distributors ere hot in their ciritlcism of exhib- itors who tail or refuse to sell pic- tures properly or energetically, dis- trib earnings under percentage being lost in such cases. Many exhibitors advertise lightly or not at all, while there are legions that don't go out of their way to exploit product, create ticups or otherwise campaign for b.o. gain, sim[ily figuring their regu- lar customers will come, that bank nite or something of that kind will maintain the business pace, or, pos- libly, that mailing lists or last week's Irailer is sufflcient. Entirely too nany theatre operators go no further than a few window cards or a couple sne-sheets. If the distributing companies can iteam the country's exhibs into really going to wo'rk on all . pictures they play, spending a little money along with lending some energy, it is felt that unestimated gains would ehsue to both exhib and distrib. The pos- Eibilities are there for greater re- turns, and, now that costs are. up while conditions are down, the dis- tribs want, to see what these possi- bilities nia)^ amount to. U Skeds 15 Pics Hollywood, Aug. 2. Nine A pictuires, six B's and two serialiS' are set for summer and fall production at Universal. Two of the A's, 'Youth Takes a Fling' and .^That Certain^ Age,' are currently, before the cameras. Other top bracket films on the sked are "The Storm,' "The Sun Never Sets,' "Three Smart Girls Grow Up,' 'Destry Ridis Again,' 'Rio,' 'I Stole a Million' and a John- M. Stahl pic- ture. HAYS MULLS FOREIGN GAG Hollywood, Aug. 2. How to curb haphazard spreading of American picture publicity in for- eign countries Is a serious problem being mulled by the ' Will Hays of- fice. Joe-Breen, now en route home, frbni Europe, . is expected to turn in recommendations to iron out the dif- ficulty. American stars oh European visits frequently pop, off, or are misquote^ in disparaging remarks about, Hol- lywood pictures as compared to for- eign product, ' This may have- a ten- dency to lower the quota of Amier- ican films. Hays office execs . will go into a huddle as soon as Breen checks in. U. S. Closiiig Coast Exchange Scratiny, Prowl WB Books Los Angeles, Aug. 2. Departmeint of Justice operatives, prbbinj; boolciiig reicords and cor- respondence in major exchanges here for past eight . months, as part of government investigation into wide- spread indie charges of violation of Sherman anti-trust laws, iand the government's 1930 and 1932 Consent decrees by Fox-iWest Coast and dis- tribs, move into Warner's exchange this week' on last lap of their quiz. Delving into 'WB . records has been delayed, pending arrival here of I. Howard Levinsoh, company's eastern attorney, who trained in yesterday .(Mon.). from New York. L^vinson will sit in on the federal probe, in- so-far as searching of record^ is concerned. Government's investigation here is being conducted under supervision of Albert Law and Harold Collins, spe- cial assistants to the U. S: attorney- general, with the staff of Federal Biireau of Investigation agents in charge of the vetieran James Findlay. WB probe is expected to. require several weeks, after which FBI group; will spend some time checking up odds and ends before report is sent east to Thurman Arnold, assistant attorney-general. ALICE FATE BEDDED Hollywood, Aug. 2. Alice Faye collapsed on the 2bth- Fox lot Friday (29 ) and was ordered to bed for several days. Studio phy- sician diagnosed case as ptomaine poisoning, aggravated by a cold. . Work on 'By the Dawn's Early Light' was delayed while director .Gregory Ratoff rounded up cast , to shoot around Miss, Faye. Keeping Moppet Easy Los Angeles, Aug. 2. Approval of three outside deals for Anne Gillis, moppet were asked in Superior court by Sclznick -Inter- national. One is a loanout to Co- lonial Pictures for the title role in Little Orphan Annie,' while the other two are commercial ticups to advertise cfiild dresses. . Miss Gillis, whose real name is Mabel O'Connor, played the femme moppet lead in "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.' KeigUey Stager Out Hollywood, Aug, 2. Tviro new , assignments at Warners balked William Keighley's plan to direct the legit show, 'Spllloqiiy,' Keighley had asked three months' leave to stage the Victor 'Victor play, to be produced on the Coast by Homer Currah and John Cameron, but Hall Waliis nixed it. Gleffer Hari7 MiSer I^iadies Sok Vs. On Hovels' Character Harry Miller; song\ Titer, has re- tained attorney Harild M. Goldblatt in a case involving the recent RKO filin, 'Radio City Revels.' Miller's plaint against RKO that in 'Revels' there was a . character (played by Jaclc Oakie) caUeJ Hariy Miller and described as a 'broken-down song- writer.'. According to the pic, the songwriter in question had loist his knack of penning tunes, but would swipe them frorn a friend who sang in his sleep. : Miller claims tha^ the film has brought him ridicule and damaged )iis reputation. : Charges that many people who saw the pic associated him with the Harry Miller of 'Revels.' MARK IIELLINGER MADE PRODUCER AT WARNERS Hollywood, Aug. 2. Mark Hellinger, Broadway columh' ist who came to Hollywood seven months ago as a screenwriter, has been handed a five-year' contract as producer at Warners. .Impressed by Hellinger's knack as a' showman, Warner tore up the one- year writer .pact and told him to make his own pictures. New pro- ducer will prepiare his own material. Hellingei''s contract was handled by the William Morris agency. . First producer assignment for Hel- lingei: will be 'HeU's Kitchen,' fea- turing the 'Dead End' toughles.' His last writer chore was on 'Curtain Call' for kay Francis. WB Makes Prodoct Pact In 4 European Natioiis Warner Bros, followed up 10-year pact with Hoyt^ circuit in Australia with a new deil with J.G. William- son and Fuller-Hay ward circuits of New Zealand, whereby Warner prod- uct will go into houses .of these chains for one year. Deal with Hoyts takes Warner Bros, full line of product into 110 theatres. Sam E. Morris, vice-president in charge of foreign distribution, announced new deal, Warners also announced 27 se- lected pictures will be released in Italy next y«ari contracts having been sighed recently for its pictures to go into Leonl and Enio circuits. Company also revealed pact for play- ing picture in Forum and Corsp, first-run houses in Budapest.' In Hpl; land, Warners has made a deal with Tuschinskl for entire output to go into de luxe theatres of Amsterdam' and Rotterdam. Warner Bros, complete 1938-39, line-up goes into, the RKO houses in, Rochester, Syracuse, Cleveland, De- troit, . Goliimbus. Cincinnati, New Brunswick and Trenton. . Pact was • signatured by Roy Haines, eastern-Canadian sales man- ager for WB. ■ Simon Now with MG Hollywood, Aiig. 2. Metro signed S. Sylvan Simon to a director's contract He swings over from Universal, where he .nade 'Road, to Reno.' Sings While He Rides Hollywood, Aug. 2, First of the Gene Austin films to be made by Max Alexander under the label, of Roadshow Pictures will be 'Songs and Saddles,' to be di- rected by Harry Fraser, Austin and his unit will roadshow the picture together with a stage 'show.' 20thV Fmt-Half Report Shows ^19,658 Net Net operating profit of 20th-Fox for the first half of the current year (26 weeks ending June 25) was $3,' 419,658, after all charges, as against $3,795,483 in the first 26rweeks of .1937. Total income for first six nionths wais $28,460,713. Mounting federal tax bill; was revealed in $518,748 set aside for income taxes. The 20th-Fox statement actually showed higher profits in the second quarter this year than in 1937 by about ^0,006. : Net for .... second quarter this year was $1,778,121, compared, with $1,687,885 in the same period last year. No dividends were received from National Theatres. Corp. during the first half of either year. All wholly- owhed .subslds except Roxy Theatre, Inc.; were included in statement : Company . figured the .first half earnings to be equal to $1.55 per common sharie on 1,741,932 shares outstanding at June 25, after allow- ing for preferred diwy require- ments. Mpls. Indie WiU Get MG Product Despite Duals Minneapolis, Aug. 2. Metro's threat to discontinue serv- icing the Princess theatre, indie neighborhood house that lias gone to double features in the face of North- west Allied displeasure, will not be carried out after all. W. L. Hamil- ton, owner of the showhouse, has been advised that he'll cohtiiiiie to get . films from the exchange under his contract, which doesn't prohibit twin billing, , However, Metro . will change the availability of its product for Ham- ilton, and it has notified him -that he can't pUiy its pictures until after. two other independent neighborhood the- atres with single feature policies in the same district Hitherto he -has had the releases day , and date witli the houses in question. , With the change in availability, Hamilton thinks he's entitled to a reduction in film prices, and a fight on that score now looms. It looked as though there might be a lawsuit wheii. Hamilton was called in by Metro and told that after July 24 it, would. discontinue servicing him because Northwest Allied disap- proved of his double, featuring when other Twin City independents were confining themselves to singles. , No other neighborhood exhibitor — circuit or- individual— has followed the Hamilton lead on double features yet and , other independents continue to insist they'll steer clear of the twins if the policy is confined to the Aster downtown and the neighbor- hood Princess here. 'Alex' Sokies in L A. Hollywood, Aug. 2, Fox West Coast is relaxing its dualer policy for 'Alexander's Rag- time Baiid.' Loew's State and Grauman's Chi- nese theatre both solo the film Sept 10, their first single bills in 16 months. PHIILYFILH SELLING IS SLUGGISH Philadelphia, Aug, 2 Pic sales in PhlUy territory »tu[ very sluggish, with exhibs all wait, ing to see what happens. Stall i| due principally to biz, exhibs being loath to sign contracts for anything whether it be pix or program print, ing. There is also some feeling that all the Government investigation talk may have a good effect on prices. Exchange men are unworried by the slowness of exhibs to ink the line. They know that the most Im. portant item in any hoiise is film and. if operators don't sign now they'll come in with a rush later! Pressure really hasn't been put on yet either, since deals .for the 'War. ner houses have not been set These take precedence over all others with' the distribs and many indie situa- . tions ' can't be sold tmtil WB has culled the lists. /Of all the companies here. Fox do- ing most • selling. That's ; because exhibs are pretty well satisfied with what it offered last season and be- cause similar prices are being asked. Universal, asking considerable;inore, is going slowest Several other ex- changes are also asking more than last year, but under haggling revert to the old . figure. Can't Doctor Tostman' To Satisfy Joe Breen; Metro SeEs to France Metro has sold a $60,000 cinematic property, 'The Postman Always Rings Twice,' the James R. Cain play and= novel. Jack Forrester of Forrester- Parant Films; Paris, will make In French. Forrester . .paid $9,000 for the rights to the which are held to be top strong for the Joe Breen blessing in America, but which would be subject to ho restrictions In France. , ■ Idea is to make it in French, but with an eye to the U. S. market, via innocuous titling. After tonight's (Wednesday),broad- cast over CBS radio-trailerizing the Irving Berlin fllmusical, 'Alex,' Dar- ryl Zanuck, Eddie Cantor, Louella. Parsons, and several other HoU.v- woodians return to the Coast. Gala broadcast will be the most preten- tious ether ballyhoo for any pic. Call the Hounds Hollywood; Aug, 2. Two game-hunter yarns are on tap at Paramount and Metro. 'Latter plant is preparing Wells Roots' 'Wild Heritage." while Par has Lucien Hubbard working on a yarn dealing with hunting on California- Oregon border. • U PDBUCITY SHIFTS Hollywood. Aue, 2. Ed Olmstead and Belle Kariter have been added to Universal s'.udio pres.s department replacing Ed Blake and Evan Hoskins,' resigned, Olm.stcad will specialize on cam- paigns for top pictures. Mis."! Kanter was formerly in U's New York of- fices. MONO'S 42 PIX ON $2,500,000 BUDGET Hollywood, Aug. 2, Monogram's 1938-39 schedule will be about the same as last year, with 42 features and a budget of $2,500,0001 according to Scott R. Dunlap, vice* president in charge of production, back from a directors meeting in New York. Monogram may produce, in Eng- land for the first time in its history, turning out four pictures during the 1938-39 season on the other sid?. The matter was given considerable dis- cussion at the board of directors^ meeting held in New York, when an' increase in the production budget for the coming year was also taken up. Levine at It Again Hollywood, Aug. 2. Nat Levine, re-entering the pro- duction field, opened headquarters on f, the Selznick-International lot yest^r- \, day (Mon.) and set about acquirinl j: stories and players. . Al Le Vpy, former Republic .pro- k ducer, is with him as assistant j. To Snare Corrigan r Hollywood, Aug, 2. Marcella Burke trained east yes- terday (Monday) to corner Douglas Corrigan long enough to get all the data On his wrong direction flifht to Ireland. Writer has the flier tied for fllms Ij and serialization, fi EOCKY MT. TOUENEY SET Denver, Aug. 2, Annual picnic and golf tourna- ment of the Rocky Mountain Screen Club will be held August 18 a Cherry Hills Country Club, s>:ene oi the 1938 National Open golf tourna- ment. . • Plans are being made to hold tne .convention of the Rocky Mountam Owners & Managers oh August tTeJnesdayf Augus! t, 19ii PICTURE GROSSES VARIETY pli Back in Stride with New ^P^^ tBterhoDse^^ %^larris$17m^W Chicago, Aug. 2. Plenty ot replacements all dpwm .J'une this week as previous pic- **J^ ctaeeercd into carmine and iinffes^ For the most part the front- iri^^^^^^ ^^l l eood deal of the business lost bv Sie previous entries. Roosevelt, which has been suflfer- jn^S bix-offlce malnutrition for IS! ?ast month,, snaps back into a Ttride with 'Little Miss B wdway/ United Artists which had a bumpy time of^it during fiJf n«t few weeks, re-establishes its fqlu^briim" currently with 'Love I?nds Andy Hardy. Tibiween the Palace and Chicago Iff a batt"e of bands, with Rudy Val- . ee 'at the latter .tpPPirtC the pace wfth the solid assistance of 'C itter- KoSe^ while Phil Harris is trying to gct^e femmes despite the picture, Aough Guy.' EsUiDBtes for Thla Week AmII* (B&K) (1,200: 35-55-65)— •AlvJ^s Goodbye* (20th). Weeping , sessions are always welcome fyeek, with /Always Cioodbye' (20th) and Tom Bi^Rs arid ZaSu Pitts on. stage, wham $43,000. Garrlck (BiK) (900; 25-35-55-65) — 'Booloo' (Par); Exploitation puU- ing'around $5,000 worth, fine. Last week 'Seven Seas' (M-G) managed $3,400, mild. Palate (RKO) (2,500; 35-55-75)— Tough Giiy' (U),.and , Phil Harris orch on stage. Combination looking for $17,000. . on the profit side. Last week 'Sky Giant' (RKO) hit okay $14,400. BoMeveU (B£K) (1.500; 35-55-65- 75>-'Broadway* (20th). Shirley Temple lifting the house to $15,000, smart total. Last week, 'Give Mil- lion' (20th). sad $7,300. SUte-Uke (Jones) (2.700; 25-35- 45-55)-'Devil's Party* (RKO) and vaude. (garnering profitable $11,000. Last week, Treasure Island' (M-G) (reissue) under the normal figure with$9.400. Vailed Artists (B&K-UA) (1,700; 85-55.65-75) — 'Andy Hardy' (M-G). Opened Saturday (30 ), and should tyoltectnlce $15,000. Last week, 'Shop- worn Angel' (M-G) one-weeker at $t.300, not so angelic; ; SHIRLEY 60, SEATHE; 'OnTERHOUSr $7,500 Seattle. Aug. 2. Seattle's revived 'Potlatch' cele- bration helped bring 'em into town tills week and put a bit of - the car- nival spirit into the old burg. How- ever fljms are not as - hot as the .weather, which Is not so good. Birth of Baby' is a surprise, hold- ing for third week and drawing stronger at finish than anticipated. > Eslinutes for This Week ■/•Si"* (Hamrick-Evergreen) (850; 32-37-42) — 'Cowboy from } gfooklyn^(WB) and 'AccidenU Will Happen' _(WB). dual (2d run). Look- $2,200. Last week, 'Lord Jeir (M-G) and 'You and Me' (Par), dual, good $2,500. an7?i .21-32 )^'Kidnapped' (20th) and 'Hardy's Children' (M-G), dual; fj?"?,'"? around $2,400. Last week, .5*,"*"c'ty Moonshine' (20th) and at Itsw""^ ^^"^^^^ •PH?i*°'*V (Sterling) (800; 10-21)— Mi.rnw''* '^^I^ and 'Sergeant T^K,/^^^' d"a'. split with bZ.^" I'" f "'s* (Col) and 'Lone for tfr. '^^.P^ "S'ng five episodes eLi M^ni? dual. Anticipate fmf'oJ^y-.i'^^' week, 'Judge Priest' dwl h.'^2 ^?"*"s^evenge' (20th), .and ^S"*]' reissues), split with 'Silks la* ^Saddles (Ind) and 'Lone «r»nf /o'^IS"^* (Hamrick - Ever- wav- Dn^U?^' 37-42)-'Miss Broad- dual ^."^ §^ Giant' (RKO). r«k- /.".""^ated $8,000. okay. Last Ta«n«^f'S*y! Goodbye' (20th) and SoTf^r' ""^bands' (20th), dual, $4,- ■B^tt,*'*i ^i-j:".) "-WO; 21-32-42)- ifofi^, of Baby (Ind) (3d week). indicatL"''), ""l ^°oks like finale; same fl?m """^y !1'''>0- Last week, ]«„ J'm- ereat $5,500. (800^ 32 ^7^9^^".^"?''ok-Eve^g^een) Key City Grosses Estimated. Total Cross This Week . ... , . ! .$l,q6$.80S (Based on 22 cities. 134 tliea- tres, cliie/lj/ first runs, ihcludino N. v.; . " Total Gross Same Week .Last Year... .$t,457;2«a (Based oil 23 cities, 151 theatres) <20th) in,;*'' ^" ■'^'^ays Goodbye' <20 h Hn,? ,™?^ssport Husbands' RlOO fe' (2d run). Expect slow 'M-(3) inrt* .w;eek,;Shopw6rn Angel' '•SS^^^' «'^^-' *"»ners in. Paradise" (U), dual. Anticipate great $7,500 and holdover. Laist week, "Cowboy from Brooklyn" (WB) and 'Accidents Will Happen' (WB).>dual, $5,000, -good. ^ . Palomar (Sterling) (1,350; 10-27- 37)— 'When Were You Borh' (WB) and Major Bowes aniateiirs. Step- ping along for possible $5,500, okay. Last week, 'Wombn Like That' (WB) and 'Mystery House' (WB), dual, plus vaude, $4,000. good. Paramount' (Harhrick-Evergreen) (3.049; 32-37-42)— 'Professoir Beware' (Par) and 'Prison Farm" (Par), dual; -Set for, mild $4,500. Last week. 'Give a Millioii' (20th) arid 'Devil's Party'. lU). dual, $3,700, slow. Roosevelt (Sterling) (800; 21-32)— 'Farewell to Arms' (Par.) (reis-sue) and 'Vivacious Lady' (RKO), dual. Indicated nice $2,000. Last week, 'Dr. Rhythm' (Par) and ■ 'Crime of Dr. Hallel" (.U). dual, $2,100. okay. 'ANDVTERRIFF $31,500 0110. BOSTON Boston. Aug. 3. 'Lova Find* Andy Hardy' oh double bill is scooping up the, hefty coin at the two Loew stiands this week. Everything els« Telatively pal6 alongside this surprise, smash. Shirley Temple in town over weekf end,, l)ut ,no ttieatre~ could capitalize: directly, because 'Mis^ Broadway' closed last week at the ■. Met and opens second i;un next week at the Par and Fenway. Keith Memorial saluted her in newspaper ads. how- ever, tying in with 'Just Around thei Corner.' her next film to be released here at an indefinite date. Estimates for This Week Fenway (M&P) (1.332; 25-35-40-55) —'Give a Million' (20th) and 'Booloo'. (Par),. dual. Pale $4,000 at best. Last week 'Tropic Holiday' (Par) and, 'Prison Farm' (Par), 2d run, doublei, skidded to $4,000. Keith Memorial (RKO) (2,007; 25- 35-40-55)— 'Mother Carey's Chickens' (RKO) and 'Sky Giant" (RKO). dual. Medium $13,000. Last week 'Little Tough Guy": (U) and Disney car- toons, soft $12,800. MetropollUn (M&P) (4.267: 25-35- 40-55) — 'Clitterhouse" (WB) and "Passport Husband' , (20th). double. Tepid $11,000 gait. Last week 'Miss Bi-oadway' (20lh) and 'Moto Takes Holiday' (20th) double, fair $14,500. Orpheum (Loew,) (2,900; 25-35-40- 55)— Andy Hardy' (M-G) and 'Storm in Teacup' (UA), dual. Socko $17,500 or better. Last week 'Blockade" (UA) and 'Reformatory" (Col), double, vei-y good $16,000. Paramount (M&P) (i:797; 25-35-40- 55)— 'Booloo" (Par) and 'Give a Million' (20th), dual. Struggling along at $6,000. Last week'"rropic Holiday' (Par) and 'Prison Farm' (Par). 2d run. double, oft at $5,600. Scollay (M&P) (2,538; 25-35-40-50) —'Prison Farm' (Par) and 'Tropic Holiday' (Par), dual. 3d run. Weak $3,500, Last week 'Gold Diggers in Paris' (WB) and 'Gangs of New York' (Rep), dual, 3d run, good $5,700. SUte (Loew) (3.600; 25-35-40-55)— 'Andy Hardy' (M-G) and 'Storm, jn Teacup' (UA). dual. Booming to $14,000. Last week 'Blockade* (UA) and 'Reformatory' (Col), double, dandy $12,500, B'KLYN BIZ FAIR Lloy4( on Dual, Good $13,500; hillbillyi Won a job iii: Metro's •Northwest Passage* by shooting the rapids of the Yosemite River, on a raft. Kid was put to work by Director W. .S. Van Dyke, with a promise of f iiture roles in Hollywood. . Prov. Hot, but ^Algiers' Pacing for OK $10,000 . Providence, Atig. 2, Ideal vacation weather beginning to- hurt stands as ■ the long awaited summer heat hit town with a bang. Loew's tops with 'Algiers.' Estimates for This Week : SUte (Loew) (3,200; _ 25-35-50)— 'Algiers' (UA) and 'Everybody's Do- ing It' (RKO). Looking for $10,000, okeh. Last week, 'Love Finds Andy Hardy' (M-G) and 'Storm in a Tea- cup' (UA), outstanding $14,800. Majestic (Fay) (2,300; '25-35-50)— 'Miss Broadway' (20th) and 'Crime of Dr. Hallef (U). Doing nicfely, . $8,000. Last week, 'My Bill' (WB) and 'When Were You Born* (WB), fair $6,000. Strand (Indie) (2,200: 25-35-50)— 'Army Girl* (Rep) andThe Shadow* (Col). Only so-so $5,000. Last week. Tropic Holiday* (Par) and 'Bar 20 Justice* (Par) soared to $8,000. 'ANDir DANDY AtmiNBUFF Buffalo, Aug. 2. Grosses are see-sawing within nar- row limits, with current week's take shiswing a little Improvement over 'Love Finds Andv Hardy' Is climb- ing nicely at the Buffalo; but 'Pro- fessor Beware' is h. g. at b. . Re- issue of 'Mr. Deeds* also isn*t draw- ing. £stlnui«s for This Week Bollalo (Shea) (3,500; 30-35-50)— 'Andy Hardy* (MG). Doing well and should go to good $13,000. Last week, 'Miss Broadway* (20th), topped anticipations .and came in with nearly $11,000, -satisfactory. . Centary (Shea) (3,000; 25-35)— 'Sky Giant' : (RKO). and «Mystery House' (WB). Showing Improve- ment and .may get nice $7,500. Last week, 'Always Goodbye' (20th) and 'Going to Be Rich*. (20th). fair $6,500. Great Lakes (Shea) (3,000; 30-50) -j'Professor Beware* (Par).. Lloyd pic not doing well and ;Won'i get over $7,000, so-so. Last week, *Dr. Clitterhouse' (WB), $7,500, fair. Hipp (Shea) (2,100; 25-40)— 'Give a MiUlon' (20th). Bracing notice- ably and should come in' with over $6,500. Last week, 'My Bill' (WB) and 'Passport Husband ' (20th), mild $5,500. Lafayettodnd.) (3,300; 25-35)— •Mr. Deeds' (Col) (reissue) and 'Womisn in Prison' (Col). 'Deeds* showing, little strength; maybe $4,000, poor. Last week, 'Devil's Party' (U) and 'Jury's Secret* (U), $3,800, very poor. Gov H V Demands (Continued from page 3) a reasonable amount to absorb the fair pro rata of such employee's Idle time, .is a fair trade practice, Matter of spotting pictures was handled in Exhibitors' Resolution No. 8:' That the refusal of a dis- tributor to lease a photoplay or photoplays to an exhibitor for ex- hibition within a reasonable time after its prior run, shall be con sidered an unfair trade practice CVote on this was sharply divided, with unaffiliated exhibitors favoring the measure). Special Contracts On the matter of contracts and allegation that there are special types of such, the 1927 Trade Prac- tice Conference report said: 'Exhibitors' Resolution No. 6: iFrom the standpoint of the In dependent exhibitor this is prob- ably one of the most important reso lutions passed by the conference It provides a means Whereby jus- tice -and equity should supplant the alleged unfairness to which in dependent exhibitors claim they have been subjected in the matter of being compelled to enter into contracts containing clauses of which they disapprove, but were left no choice other than to forego the purchase of films or sign on the dotted line.. The resolution pro vides for rewriting of the standard uniform contract ' and for such modification and changes in the system of arbitration as a' commit- tee of six shall deem . necessary, (three were, to come from In- dependent delegates and three from producer-distributor members) .' ■ Fart of the resolution reads that the iise of a standard uniform con- tract providing for arbitration both of disputes arising out of said- con- tract and of the provisions of the contract itself is a fair trade prac- tice.' This resolution (No. 6 for exr hibitors) was included .as a. rule ap- proved by the FTC. : DIstrib-Tbeatre Operations' Regarding the Department of Justice, complaint that monopolistic power : tends -to drive independent theatres out of business, or compel them.' to sell out on producer terms, the 1927 ccinterence had thil to say: . 'Distributors' Resolution. No. 16-A: That any agreement among distributors to prevent any exhibitor from contracting for the picture: of such distributors, or to exact from such exhibitor a higher rental for the pictures, of SMch distributors than could, otherwise be obtained .in open, competition, is an unfair trade practice. , Also, in 'Distributors* Resolution No. 18: 'That the use of buying power for the purchaise of more photoplays than ah exhibitor can:consume (over- buying), in order to deprive a com- peting exhibitor of the opportunity of piurchasing his supply of photo- plays, whether it be an attempt, to comer the market agaiinst such com- peting exhibitor, or :whether it be with the thought of forcing a com- peting exhibitor oiit of business, or the compelling of- such, competing exhibitor to sell his theatre, is an unfair trade practice.' (-Both resolu- tions were adapted as fTC rules.) THiis also covered the allegations on f till line forcing, high rentals, etc, brought up ' by the' Department of Justice last week.: Regarding divorcement o.f theatres frofm producer-distributor companies, Myers, in making his report back in 1927, said: •Sidney S. Cohen delivered the keynote address : for . independent theatre owners. . . . C!ohen represents the extrenie of Independent exhibitor views, ile advocates, for :e;tample, that all producers be compelled to dispose of their theatres.' Cohen died in N. Y. in 1935. Regarding the restoration of free enterprise and. open, competition, brought out in jiistlCe. department statement, the 1927 trade parley showed that the exhibitors* resolu- tloii: Nol 4 failed to reach a vote. However, the director of the con- ference report showed the resolu- tion, as amended and presented,' to read as follows: 'Tliat coercive blocic booking is an unfair trade practice, and that all distributors be compelled to furnish exhibitors with the quotation on each and every plctiire offered ' for sale, with the exhibitor having the privi- lege of ' selecting . any of these pic- tures at an agreed price. However, if the exhibitor, feels that more than one, most, or all of any group of pictures are of such- .quality as to be desired by the public patronizing his theatre, then ' and in that case the distributor should be permitted to sell said exhibitor more than one, most, or all of said group of pictures; further provided, however, that no inducement greater than a. 10% dis- count be allowed for such quantity sale.' The subject matter of this resolution, was treated in the state- ment of policy offered by the pro- duceir-distributor-affiliated g r.6 u p s and accepted by the independent ex- hibitor group. Kent's Attltade Speaking of this Exhibitors' Reso- lution No. 4, the conference director wrote: 'The distributors* position and the length to which they were willing to go in this matter were stated by Sidney R. Kent in the following lan- guage: 'We believe that there is a public interest; not to the extent that some would indicate, because we believe the public has a misconcep tiori of what block booking is. If a picture does not happen to be popu- lar, that should not be blamed on block booking, because you get poor ones in any . method. ■ As far as changing the present method of wholesale selling is concerned, these distributors will, not object to pric ing pictures individually or negoti- ating with exhibitors of their own free will on the basis of less than a block of pictures^ We want to be the final judges— and the- loss of business would be our penalty — as to whether or not we shall , accept the proppsition. Further than, that ;cann6t go, because of the limitations that have been imposed upon the profits here. We are willing lo meet in conference to talk over any plan that anyone else has to suggest that may be practicable. We have "ot been able to find it. We believe we are within our legal right to sell as we are now selling. We have hot been able to And a substitute.' Regarding a resolution proposed to prohibit producers and dtstribu- Inside Stutf-Pictures How to dissuade a nationally known magazine outfit from swampliie tK studio with sight-seeing mag fans is a diplomatic problem confronting on' of the major press agents. Publishing firm, with four monthly flim xtiJ^ started several years ago to send semi-annual excursions of circulatioh contest winners to Hollywood to gander the studios. In return, studiM were promised plenty of free space. Presently the publishing house got the profit-making idea, picking up oglers from all parts of the east and midwest and collecting' a divvy from the railroads at so ihuch 'per hea± Most recent stampede practically wrecked the valley hbnie of a featur^ male t^ctor, who made the mistake of inviting the oglers to a cocktail party. . Hollywood knew it all the time, but now there is official proof that Russell Bird\yell pulled a fast one when he wept those tears lover the sad fate of passe picture star's. When those eight former celebrities, working as extras in David O. Selznick's "The 'Ypung in Heirt,' signed a petition for a 'career insurance' law and filed it with Gov; Frank Merriam, the. nation's newspapers fell for it hard. Now the. American InstitiiUoa of Propaganda Analysis, organized to teir the world what is what in propagandist . movements, brands tiie story as out-and-out press agentir Not only that, one . of the members of the institute Is Russell Birdweli himself. Concludihg booker and ad salesmen • conventions in the south and far west, ;Warner Bros, over' the weekend (30-31) held a session in New York to cover the. Eastern and. Canadian . branches of . the company, ' with A. W, Schwalberg, supervisor : of; exchanges, presiding at the. meeting. Stanley Hatch,' advertising accessories, sales mgr. and .1. F. Dolid, assistant to Nor« ' man Moray, shorts sales manager, also figured prominently : in the con- ference. ■ '. . ': Regional booker and ad sialesm.en attended from the New York, Albany, Boston, New Haven, Philadelphia, Pitisburgh,\Washingtoh, Montreal and St John exchanges. Meeting of the Southwest Editors Association is scheduled shortly to discuss a Ibok-see into the Interstate circuit's. policies, particularly follow -ing the take-over of the Austin Dispatch by Karl Hdblitzelle and Bob O'Doxinell. Editors are still burning over 'what they allege is unfair tnd« competition and . practice on the. part of the theatres in accepting screen 'advertising. '■.-'-■'' . Newspapers squawk that the theatres^ are not licensed for the.exhibitioii of screen, ads or as a medium, for advertising of products other thaii no- tion pictures, vaudeville aiid other recognized show business items, Flock of reissues which hit-Philly territory during the past couplamontbi have turned out to. be a false start. Oldies quickly' made the rounds. A few showed .pretty good profit at the b.O;, biit most were mediocre and plenty piay^ to carmine ink. Now they're practically . all washed up and it's difficult to sell an exhib a reissue with a bonus tied to ea(:h reel Initial biggie was 'Son of the Sheik,* which came in with a load of fan> fare and exploitation. It clicked neaUy in the early spots but nis.g. by the time it reached the Subsequents. Paramount's 'Sheik,* on the other hand/ fiived from the start P. A.*s in a major. studio , aire red behind the ears as a result of an eaves- dropping plot- concocted by a supervisor- recently installed over the de-. partment Scheme consisted of a set of direct communication boxes in various department offices, with, the control box in his own. , By tuminj. a key he could listen, tb what was going on iii any office. Plot was tipped off when the supervisor complained to his secretary that the spying con- trivance was too sensitive. Flies, buzzing around the boxes, interrup.ted the conversations and interfered \yith his gumshoeing. Strategic maneuvers- by Paramount will bring entire ^American Legion up to the front line to plug the forthcoming picture, 'Sons: of the Legion.' SSaneuver No. 1 was to cast Keith MacKenzie, six, in the film, His father is Victor MacKenzie, advance man for the Legion convention to be held in. Los Angeles in September. Maneuver No. 2 'was to have Evelyn Keyes; femme lead in the piicture, appointed official fiying hostess to the Legioa Miss Keyes will, accompany MacKenzie oh an air tour of 37 major cities, plugging the show, Farewell dinner tossed, in Pittsburgh for Mike Cullen, elevated from managership of Pehn theatre there to hedd of Loew's midwest divlsioh, had .qne of the speakers crediting honored guest with 'great^ publicity stunt in picture industry.' He recalled that on morning 'Scar- face' (WB) opened at Penn several years ago, the notorious Volpe brothers (3), were' wiped out by machine guns in Pittsburgh's biggest gangland killing. Speaker kiddingly remarked that Cullen had engineered the coup in behalf of the Paul Muni pic. : Less 'hoofing and more drama 'will mark Fred Astaire's future film* if the dancing st^r has his way at RKO. He is ready to Shelve his foot- work and do straight roles with a femme lead strong enough' to support a dramatic theme. Under his contract Astaire has the right to approve his stories and leading women, and may insist on a serious yarn for hiJ next picture. Arthur Mayer booked 'Crime Over London* from Gaumont-British fot his Rialto, N. Y, second picture from this firm he has ever played at his bandbox house. However, understood that what he saw when it was screened for him, and what was delivered after the censors and the Hays office got through with it, was something else again. Mayer bought the picture before the emasculation. 'Inside Nazi Germany,' March of Time release which stirred up so mud discussion in U. S., has been banned in Hong Kong, according . to word ,, received in N, Y.. Film had been set for showing at two theatres, but J the British censor's office screened it for the German consulate, Ban j followed. t Arthur DeTitta, Washington bureau manager of Fox Movietone, is i*- ported being groomed for an important post in- Europe. Task, if deal goe* through, would be to .Americanize or pep up foreign shots for Fox news* reel. Tony Muto, formerly attached to the Hays: office in Washington an» now publicist for the lATSE,, is scheduled to get the post he vacates. Metro's new Robert Taylor starrer, "The Crowd Roars,* is parading i^- der a title once owned by Warners arid used on a picture released in 19». Burbank studio swapped it to the Culver City outfit for some library I footage. tors from operating theatres,. Com- missioner Myers stated back in 1927: 'There was a provision in the com- iiiis-sion's order in the Famous Play-, ers-Lasky case which T will :read to you as indicating the, limitations which the commission obviously felt were imposed on : its jurisdiction in' such matters. In the first instance, the Supreme Court held at its last session that the Federal Trade Com- mission had no' power under its act to divest property that had already been acquired, and secondly, you- d» not find in this order provision WJ . divesting ownership, and apparently i you might gaUier from this orde> fc that , the commission did not [ within its jurisdiction to prevent «, distributor or producer from entei* k ing the exhibition field under circumstances— in other words, ■tj'" I the exhibition of products by .a.^J^j tributor or producer, whs not i" of itself, an unfair method of wn> petition.* W<.Jiie9day, Auguflt 3, 1938 PICTURE CROSSES VARIETY Fme $^000, Rage of Mpk; W W 'Goodbye $4^00 Minneapolis, Aug. 2.. Paris' has become tne ■'^ViLnMPolis and is spread- rfoto.^ b°*offlce joy. ft will *l*iE uo the biggest gross of any ?£!Sht film ent^ainment In many '^LS^ter its eight days at the J^eiS, will inove over to the ^B^''tSS«uarauiet KnhSy buTi^ total will be noth- .'^^tlSg. 'Texans.' State offer- Jt^ Ttiiiy with the flrst^ atege IhoTto be^n here, in months and ifs i Siich things will hum durmg «h« flve-day engagement. _ ^ Alter (Par-Singer) (900;' 15-25 )— m?S? Party- (U) and 'Crime Rin^ ■ffiaatory^ (Col) and 'P^namint's Bad Man' (20thJ. aUo dual ilrst-runs. wJ. 11400 in prospect' Last week, T^n Farm' (Par) and 'Sinners in pS' (U)i dual first runs., aU ^It^'^fffiineer) (1.600; 25-. 35Sfl)!?Always Goodbye' (20th). Good magnet lor lemlnme trade, and lioing nicely at matinees; mi d $4,- jSnndlcated. Last week. ^ 'Seven W (M-G), pretty good $5,500. Oniheaiii (Par-Singer) (2,890: 25- 3540)-'Rage of Paris' CU). Dar- rieui bringing 'em in; best week any looD house has had for some time; en route to good $8,000 for eight days. Last week. 'Professor Bewared (Par), out after six days, light $4jB00. ^^ StiUe (Par-Singer) (2.300; 25-35- 40)-Texans' (Par). Will cop fair $5 500. Last weejc "Miss Broadway' (20th), good $7,000, lime (Berger). (290: 15-25)-'Di. vorce of Lady^ X' (UA) (2d run). Picture had a nice fixst-run recently at the swanlw sure-seater World and is getting some attention on the strength of that; pretty good $800 indicated. Last week, 'Uncivilized' (Indie). Ught $800. .^^^ Upiewa (Par) (130; 25-35>— Three Comrades' (M-G), split with Three Blind Mice' (20th). First neighborhood showings; headed tor; fair $2,500. Last week, 'Gold Dig- gers In Paris' (WB), mild $2,000. W«rl< (Steffes) (350; 25-35-40-55) •^'Kathleen' (Hoffberg). Just a fliler-in and light $900 looks tops. Last week. 'Gaiety Girls' (UA). disr appointing, $1,400. HC MIDDLING; . Kansas City, Aug. 3. Nobody bragging about current .week, with near average figures in tight all around. 'Little Miss Broad- wajf* is the leader biit by a narrow, uncertain margin, somewhat better- inraverage. . Product has little on the ball and pit runiJng as expected. Tony Mar- tin and band in a one-night stand at f?i7H"i Park made litUe differ- enct the lethargic b.o. pace. lor This Weiek 'S..??!!^ (LoeWs) (3.573; 10-25-40) |K;^i^eis' (UA) and 'City Streets' •'""I'led. Too heavy for the Si?' ?ay bit $9,000. Last week, 's?«,S/'^*' Andy Hardy' (M-G) and tlffl J° i.: T«""P' (UA) dual, ♦'ZjOOO, fourth best of year. K-mT55? (Paramount) (1,950; 10- vfeA^"^!''.^'^? i (Par) single (2d *Mk i«7^"w*?*'?'">' **'50O- First T«3'%i "^^t "> several months. •Mkc ? .(1'200: 10-25-40) - ("druJViy^J^i^/"' Time' (RKO) w1ek "All!J'''"^i°'" Last - ■ '..A'ways Good\ve' (20th) (2d slow pace, $2,800. 'Ladies in Distress' (Col). fair.$4,500. Princess (CT) (2,3(j0; 50)— 'Pro- fessor Beware' (Par) and 'Shadow' (Par),: Pacing foi: oV . $4,500. Last week, 'White Banners' (WB) and 'Little Miss Thoroughbred' (WB) nice $4,500. Orpheom (Ind) (1,100; 50)— 'Din- ner at the Ritz' (20th) and 'Big Town Girl' (20th). Will run nine days from Thursday (28): sO far points to very good $4,500i Last week, 'Girl was Young' (Emp-Brit) and 'Glamorous Nights' (Emp-Brit) yanked Wednes- day (27) after poor $1,200. . Cinema de Paris (France-Film) (600: 50 )— 'Legion d'Honneur,^ Fair- ish $1,400. :. Last week. 'Les Filles de Rhone' (2d week) v^ry poor $800. St. Denis (France-Film) (2,300; 34) —'Regain' and 'Obsession.' At best $3,500, middling. Last week, 'Les Honimes Noiiveaux' and 'Tamara, la Complaisante,' poor $3,000. fun), Having worn' Neal ?7,500, --'$5,000, Montreal i Looks like '"""treal,, Aug.. 2. h'i'h only "P'li""" « and Uereun i«v"'^ near-fiop, all grosses i hpysei t ' i , - ,, Ansel' (M-G ) mam- French PaUce Will some betterment. EiuifP'". t"^* heap. fali*r^^nt;? ™ls Week o^'.J,PEi2.7qg::50)-'; lilte. . ShoD- Will pull $7,500. r C»»llo^ rn^l "'ce at $7,000. i ''ondertui ^ ,(2-700: .50 )-'HavinK Sn»t' (RKm (.^'^O) and 'Nicht wecK, Seven Seas' (M-G) and SHIRLEY-VAUDE ftiL$2imDEr. Detroit, Aug. 2. Biz remains spotty, with 'Little Miss' Broadway' ' at the vaudfllmer Fox getting what play there is, even though that's not up to standard.. Estlmatei tor This Week . ' AdaiBS ■ (Balaban) (1,700; . 30-40)—^ 'Rascals' (20th) plus 'One Wild Night' (20th). dual. Just so-so $3,3.00. Last session, 'Gangs of New York' (Rep) and 'A Trip to Paris' (20th), fairish $3,400. Fox (Indie) (5,000: 30-40-65)— .'Miss Broadway' (20th) plus stage show. Good $23,000 coming up, but not equalling previous Temple stan- dards. Last wiecki okay, for "I'll Give a Million' (20th). and Phil . Harris band on stage, okay. $20,000. . much ado in press over controversial- flicker, but plenty of opposish from church element: looks like $3,500, better than usual. Last week, 'Theo- dora Goes Wild' (Col) (reissue) and 30-40-50) -^'Blockade' (UA). Not Twentieth .Century' (Col) (reissue) got only $1,900. . ' . Michigan (United Detroit) (4,000: 30-40-65)— 'Having Wonderful Time'. (RKC)) plus 'Woman Against Woman' (M-G), dual. So-so $7,000. Last stanza, 'Professor Beware' (Par) and- 'Saint In New York' (RKO), under $7,000. Palms-State (United Detroit) (3,000; 30-40-50)—' Bdoloo' (Par) and 'Professor Beware' (Par) (2d run), dual. Paced for $4,400. Last week, 'Crime School' (WB) and 'Tropic Holiday' (Pari (both 2d runs), tepid Madison (United Detroit) (2;000; $3,900.. . ' Lloyd Plus Toby Wing P.A. Nifty $12,000 in Omaha Omaha, Aug 2. Toby Wing on the Orpheum stage, with 'Professor Beware' as screen attraction, are making the manage- ment happy. Other first runs are doing average or better, with Oma- ha's strong dual, 'Showorn Angel and 'Fast Company! building well. Estimates for This Week Brandeis (Singer-RKO) (1,250; 10- 25-35-40)— 'Sky Giant' (RKO) and 'Man's Ca.stle' (Col) reissue. Doing nicely, with interest about even in. new and old pics. Will get $5,200 Last week. 'Crime School' (WB) and •Limberlosf (Mono), good $6,200. Avenue - Dundee - Military (Gold- berg) (950-650-810; 10-25) — 'Robin Hood' (WB). single first four days, with 'Hold Kiss' (M-G) and 'Yellow Jack' (M-G) rounding out week. Good $2,500. Last week, 'Dr. Rhythm (Par) and 'Kentucky Moonshine (20th). split with 'Holiday ■ (Col) and. 'Goodbye Broadway' (U), $1,900, so- so. ' ■ ■ ' Omaha (Blahk)- (2.700: 10-25-40)— 'Shopworn Angel' CM-G) and 'Fast Company' (M-G). Dandy $8,000. Last week, 'Blockade' (UA) and 'Un- der Suspicion' (U). so-so $5.C00. drpUeum (Blank) (3,000; 15-35-55) — 'Professor' Beware' (Par) and vaude. Socko $12,000 likely. Last week 'Ccwboy,' (WB). and 'Woman Against Woman' (M-G); fairish $7,300. Town (Cotdberi:) Cl.nSO: 10-20-25) — 'Roon-r 18' (WB), 'International Crime' (GN) and 'Girl of Street' (20th), tlriplcr for first half, all 1st runs; last- three days. 'Six-Shootin' Sherift' (GNi, 1st run. 'Kentucky Moonshine' (20th), second,- and a welding -of three Warner shorts into a 'Charlie McCarthy Revue,' last throe days. Over average at $2,000. Last wee!:, 'Gangs bf New York' (Rep), 'Loved an Actress' (GN) and 'I Was Spy'. (GB). all 1st runs fore- part of week, with 'Cheyenne' (Col), 1st run. 'Dr. Rhythm' (Par) and 'Lady X' (UA). 2d runs, last of week- Fair $1,800. First Rons on Broadway (Subject to Change) i Week of Aag. 4 . Capitol — 'The Crowd Roars' (MG), (Revleu>ed in .current Vabieiy) Criterion — 'Booloo' (Pair) . (2d wk). Globe — 'Highway Patrol' (Col) (3). MdsIc Hall — 'Mother Carey's Chickens' (RKO). iRevlewei in Vahietv, July 27) ■. Paramount — 'The Texans' (Par) (2dwk). Blalto — 'The Chaser' (MG) (1). Boxy — 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' (20th) (5), (Reviewed in VAmEiY, Jiine I) Strand — 'Amazing Dr. (ilit- terhouse' (WB) (3d wk). Week of Aug. U Astor — 'Marie Antoinette' (MGM) (16). (Reuleiued.in Variety, July 13) . Capitol— 'Crowd Roars' (MG) (2d wk). Criterion— 'Army Girl' (Rep) (12). (Reviewed in VARncTV/ July ' 20) ■ Mnsic Hall — Four's a Crowd' (WB). Patambunt — 'Give Me - a Sailor' (Par) (10). (Reulewed in Vahiety, July 27) Rialto — 'Dark Sands' (Rec- ord) (8). Boxy — i 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' (20th) (2d wk). Strand — 'Racket Busters' (WB) (10). LA. Only So-So; Lloyd-Vaude W^M Time $19,000 Two Spots, Edward G $20, CINCY BEHER; TEMPLE $12J Cincinnati, Aug. Showers- and cooling breezes jumped takes of major houses to mid-^season level. - Nip and tuck- for top nlbney currently are 'Little Miss Broadway,' at the Albee, and 'Cow- boy from Brooklyn,' at the Palace. Keith's is racking up a nifty figure wiUi 'I'll Give a Million,' and the Lyric is doing okay on 'Sky Giant.' Estimates for This Week Albee (RKO) (3,300; 35-42)— 'Miss Broadway' (20thl Swell $12,000. Last week, 'Tropic Holiday' (Par), mild $10,000. Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 35-42)— 'Clitterhbuse' (WB) (2d run). Dandy $5,000. Last week, 'Rage of : Paris' (U) (2d run), pleasing $4,000. Family (RKO) (1,000;: 15-25)— 'Gangs of New York' (Rep), 'Prison Farm' (Par), 'Young Fugitives' (U); separate. Okay, $2,000. Last week 'Heart of Arizona' (Par), 'Three Le- gionnaires^ (Ihd),' separate, ditto. Grand (RKO) (1.200; 25-40)— "Tropic Holiday' (Par) (2d run). Fair $2,600. Last week, 'Man's Castle' (Col) (reissue) (2d i:uh), light $2,200. Keith's (Libson) (1,500; 35-42)— 'I'll Give a Million' (20th). Excellent $5,500. Last week, 'Little Tough Guy' (U), okay $4,500. Lyric (RKO) (1,400; 35-42)— 'Sky Giant' (RKO). Satisfactory $4,800; Last, week, 'My Bill' (WB) fair $3,800. PaUce (RKO) (2,000; 35-42)— 'Cowboy from Brooklyn' (WB), Swell $12,000. Last week, 'Clittcrhouse' (WB), nice $10,500. 'Give Million' $4,000, 'Carey' 5G, Porlland, Ore. ■ '_ Portland, Ore., Aug. 2. 'Birth of a Baby' stilj doins sur- prisingly !good biz at Parker's Broad- way in a second week. The U.\ is also holding 'Clittcrhouse.' All houses got a burst of biz last week, due to ! Fleet Week, with several thou:>ahd sailors ashore. The Rivoli has built, a steady b.o. trade around sarial "Lone Ranijcr.' House is using its 30 reels in five fea- ture length episodes and tied up with a local bakery, which pluys the thea- tre on its radio programs.. Estimates for This Week Broadway (Parker) (2.000: .';0-40) —'Birth of a Baby' (Indic) (2d week). Great S5,500l First svcak big S8,0D0. House found this pic strong enough to eliminate d,oubIe feature. • Mavfair (Parker-Evergreen) d,- 500; 30-40)— 'Miss Broadway' (20th ) (single) , (2d run). Averaii $2,000. Last week, 'Cowboy from Brooklyn' (WB)and 'Reformatory' (Co!) (dual) (2d run ), good cnbujjh '52.300. O r p h e u m (Hainrick-Evergrccn ) (2,0t(0; 30-40)— 'Give a Million' (20rh) and 'Miss ThorouKhbred' (WB) dual. Fair. • $4,000; Last week 'Profss.sor Beware' (Par) and 'PrI.sOn B'arm' (Par), dual, poor $3,500. Paramount (Hamritk - Evcrtirecn) (3,000; 30-40)'Molher Carey's Chick-; en.s' (RKO) and 'Skv Giarif (RKO). dual. . Average $5,000. Lost v/cck, 'Little Miss Broadway' (2!)lh). single, trifle better than average, $3,200. ■. RIvoIl (Indie) (1,200; 30-40)— 'Hell Divers' (M-G) with stanza of. the serial. Lone Ranger' (Rep). Strong $2,000. Last week, 'Bluebeard' (Par) and 'Lone Ranger'. (Sep >. ■ Average $1,600. ■ ■•■„■ United Artists (Parker) (1,000: 30- 40)-^'Clitterhouse' (WB) and 'Pen- rod's Double Trouble' (WB), dual (2d week ). Okay $4,000. First week got an added slice of biz due to Fleet Week, strong $5,500. . TEXANS' $5,500; H.0.'SB0GBALT0 Baltimore, Aug. 2. Holdovers and letdown in product are taking some of the bulge out of biz. 'The Texans,' given a .going over by local crix, is. moving along at an unexciting gait ahead 'of 'Pro- fessor Beware.' which is tail-ending the - week's parade. Hot spell not helping matters. Estimates for This Week . Century (Loew's-UA) (3,000; 15- 25-35-40-55) — 'Love Finds Andy Hardy' (M-G) (2d week). Holding up to splid $6,500 after ringing the bell on the first lap to a resounding $10,600. . Hippodronie (Rappaport) ' (2,205; 15 - 25 - 35 -'40 - 55 - 66)— 'Sky Giant' (RKO) coupled to N.'T.G. stage unit. Hitting a fairish pace, $10,000. Last week, 'Having Wonderful, Time' (RKO) (2d week) and local talent 'Stardust Revue' breezed along to a strong $11,200 after grand opiener. $16,700. . Keith's (Schanberger) (2.460; 15- 25-35-40-55)— 'Texans' (Par). Getr ting a 'mild play in spjte of adverse recebtion by crix with $5,500 the bossible count. Last week; 'Little Tough Guy' (U) attracted sorne in- terest and $4,400. New (Mechanic) (1,558: 15-25-35- 55)— 'Miss Broadway' (20th) (2d week). Continuing matinee draw to S4,000: after satisfactory opener. $5,600. . Stanley (WB) (3,250; 15-25-35-40- 55)— 'Professor Beware' (Par). Not in the running with ooorish |$5,500. Last week, 'Cowboy from Brooklyn' (WB) hardly up to expectations at $5,800. 2 Houses Close, Lincoln; '4 Men'-'Rascals' $3,300, 'Cowboy' Normal $3,100 Lincoln, Aug. 2. New era in b.o, is expected start- ing this week, what with two houses, the Sun (500 seats) and the Orpheum (1,350 seats) shuttered in the down- town area. It's the first time in miany years Lincoln has been anything but 100% -operating. Sun was a second and third-runner, and the Orpheum handled B firsts. Latter house re- opens about Oct. 1, after extensive remodelling - and may be a vaude spot, as in the past. 'Four Men and a Prayer* with 'Ra.scal.s' at the Lincoln i? getting the lion's share of pic tr?de, the 'Cow- boy from Brooklyn' flick only so-so at the Stuart. Estimates for This Week Liberty (Cooper) (1,200; 10-15)— 'Penrod's Double Trouble' (WB) and 'Fight for Your Lady' (RKO), split with 'Law Commands' (Mono) and 'Double Danger' (RKO)., So-so. S900. Liist week, 'Mystery Rartge' (Vie) and 'When Were You Born' (WB). '■•olit v/ilh 'Prison Break' (WB.) and 'Nietlcr than in .several weeks; fair $4,000. Last week, 'Birth o£ Baby' (Sltirball) (4th week), tepid $2,200. CIrrIc (KalzrDollc) (2,800; 25-iiO- 40)— 'P)-ofe.ssnr Beware' (Par) and 'Pri.son Farm' (Par). Weaki.'^h $S.«Or). Last week, 'Miss Broadw.iv' (2nih). and 'Going to Be Rich' (20lh) in'id- ei-ately good $fi,2()0. ■ I.ocw's (Lncw'.s) (2,400; 2"). .10-10)— 'Love Firtfl.s Andy Hrir(l,y' i M-f; ) •••nd 'Dark Journey' (UA) (2.1 w,j:c!<). Holdover : worth the giiinbl:; ;il .SS.Ono, okay. Opcnin;; wi;;ck iiifly .$8,500. . .Lyric rOI;-ion) (2.000: 25-.')0-4O)— 'Clitterhoii.Kc' (WU) .nud i-iiude hfiad- - lining H.if)/)^ Kcltoii. K:lw!ii:ri G. Robin.son Oi(;.i.< l;ii";clv eroditc;! with bulk Of S!),r)On. f|.-\ivh'. f,;i.;t week,. 'Cowboy from fljooklvn' (WB) iin'l yaudc niimi;; h-nrnc.'; did $9,000, go'id 1* •VAHIECT'S* T.ONDON OFFICK. St. Martin'* Pli>c«; Tr»f«l»Hr M«iumK mTERNATIdNAI. NEWS CabI* Addrait TABIETr, rOMDON TfiteplMiBe Temple Biu MII-MMZ London Legit Season Plenty Tough, Heavy UstPrimelft^ Loncloh, July 26. W«st End show business this year, has caused more, sad hearts and denied bankrolls than usual. Big- gest disappointment wasv the super spectacle at Drury Lane, The Sun Never Sets,' from the Edgar Wallace •'Sanders' gerieSi which lost the man- agement and O'Brycn, Linnet & Dunfee IISCOOO -in its four weeks run, and constitutes a record m the last four years. _ - _ Another, heartbreaker , was The Engadine Express," the super, ice sliow, which Sir Oswald StoU staged at the London Coliseum as a fpUow up to "St. Moritz.' , This lasted barely three weeks to a loss of ?75,000, with the Libraries being nicked to the tune o£ $30,000; "No Sky: So Blue,' a Gor- don Harbord venture, blacked out at the Savoy after, a Ave weeks' linger- ing death to the extent of ?60,000. Smaller loss was sustained by Jack Davis on 'Follies of 1938,' which fin- ished a run of nine weeks at the Seville to a loss of $30,000. 'Countess Maritza,' the Austrian musical, now dubbed plain 'Maritza,'. is lingering at the Palace after a provincial try- out. It's already $75,000 down, and does not look like getting it back. Against these losers are several- pleasing features,, and many surr prises. Biggest is 'Me and My. Girl, which, alter several weeks in the sticks, losing money consistently, came to the Victoria Palace and lingered on the danger zone. Then the promoters decided .to put in an- other $5,000 as a last throw. After a broadcast the show began to pick up and has how run for over seven, months to Very good , coin. To. date it has made over $150,000 for its backers. Looks like running in- deflnitelyi.: Another outstander is 'Idiot's De- light,' which has, clicked from the start. Seems good for a year and will bring the ttam of Henry Sherek and Raymond M'assey a sweet $100,- 000 profit - Of the" English ventures; 'Wild Oats,' the Firth Shepherd mu- sical, in which anyone could have had an interest before the curtain went up at Prince's, also looks like adding another $150,000 to Shep- herd's bank account. Of the established successes, •French Without Tears,' at the Cri- terion, will bring the promoters an easy $250,000 profit before it bows out, while 'George and Margaret' se«ms assured of at least $100,000 oh' the black side of the ledger. : The ups and downs of show busi- ness have never had any effect on the optimism of producers who are already set to do at least 30 new shows in the West End for the fall. The.se include two by Gilbert MjU- «r, Fredetick' Lonsdale's 'Once Is Enough.' done in New York.- and an adaptation of Tolstoi's 'War and Peace/ Basil Dean has a number of shows. One is based on the life of Olive Shreiner, adapted by Merton Hodge; three new J. B. Priestley plays. 'Wedding Giroup* and 'John- son Over Jordoti.' and another, in which he will put up his Own coin; 'Last Train South,' by H. C. Hutch- inson, starring Flora Robsph, which goes to the St. Martin's and which he presents in conjunction with Priestley, and 'Murder in Soho.' H. M. Tenncnt has a new Dodie Smith play, starring Marie Tempest and John Gielgud; new play at Wyndhams, to follow 'Georce and Margaret, as yet untitled, with Ed- mund Gwenn already engaged to . star; 'Lovely to Look At,' by Phillip Johnson; 'Quiet. Wedding,' a recent tryout at 'Q' theatre, in conjunction with O'Bryen, Linnet & Duhfee, which will star Elizabeth Allen and Frank LaWton. O'Bryen, Linnet & Dunfee will also do the long-delayed. James Hilton'jt best seller. 'Good Bye, Mr. ChipSi' With Ralph Richard-i son already . engaged for the lead. Jack W-aller has. a . trio, the most important of which is the Bobby Howes musical; 'Heaven and Charing Cross,' which was .originally bought by Tommy Bostock after a local tryout, and ^Swprds Against Us.' from the Cecil Roberts ribvel of the same name. Charles Cochran is con- cerned with only one, 'Father Mai achy's Miracle.' previously done in New York. Gordon Harbord has four, the bisgest 'Of which; is 'Bird on the Wing,' based' on the life of Lola M'ontez, and will" star Mary Ellis: the others are 'Down in the Forest,' 'Promised Land' and hew play by Evadne Price. There is the new George Black musical for the Hippodrome, 'The Fleet Is Lit Up,' with Stanley Lupino: Frances Day and Adele Dixon in chief roles; Eric Maschwitz's 'Pap- rika/ a sequel to 'Balalaika': a. new Lee Ephraim musical, starring Cicely Courtneidge and Jack Hulbert. The new Firth, Shepherd Gaiety theatre musical, starring Leslie Henson, be ing tried '^ut at Blackpool . in mid Auaust. coming to the Gaiety in Sep- tiember. "The Women' sponsored by Jack Buchanan. . A new musical whioh Ivor Nnvello . Is ^writing nl- ready named 'Casino.' *rop of the Trefe' by Reginald Denham, and Ed- ward Percy, which former will pro- duce at the Comedy Aug. 9, and an Austrian musical which Gpeffrey Gwyther has tht rights to, as well as Charles Morgan's 'Clashing Stream,' to . be done by Godfrey Tearle, in which the actor-manager will star with Margaret Raw.lings. Estimates; $5 to the £ 'panana Ridge/ : Strand (12th week). Doing $1,400 a performance, which is very gopd going, and -eem- ingly set for months. • 'Comedienne/ Hay market (5th week); At $8,000 weekly intake, making 75% capacity, which is prof- itable, and can look forward to bet- ter time's as season advances. 'French Withoat Tears/ Criterion (2d year). Daddy of : 'em all, and slvbwing no' sign Of old age; still around $5,500 and good for many more rhonths. 'Golden Boy/ St. James's (5th' week). Started slowly and at one tiihe nearly reached the danger zone; but backers had confidence and show is 'now. in the hit c'?>ss, do- ing $8,000,' but matinees light. - 'George: and Margaret/ Wynd- ham's (2d'year).' Second longest run in West-End; doing $'6,000, and with practically; no overhead, can stay on for soni.etinrie; rnanagement already- has new play in :hahd iri case. 'Habpy -Returns/ Adelphi (9th week). Has picked up after slow start, and now around $12,000, slightly profitable; Charles Cochran expects it ' will pick:, up by '.he Tall, and intends to hold out.. 'Idiot's Delight,' . Apollo USth week); S'lairted out big, and . now bigger than eiver; capacity at every night performance, ~ with matinees having an occiisional ! vacant ' seat or two; steady $9,25d; plenty for all con- 'cerned. LitUe Stranger/ Royalty (2d week). Has chance at this small house, iespecially as newspapers have been kind; no overhead, and can break even at $3,000; should do above that figure: . 'Lot's Wife/ Aldwych (6th week), Two-for-pner, and hot exceeding $4,000, slightly out of the red. _ . 'Me and My Girl/ Victoria Palace (30th week). Biggest surprise of the season, with the promoters more surprised than anybody; doing con- sistent trade, never below $15,000, and now steady $18,000; at this gait is good for ; a year. "The Lambetb Walk' song.'craze from this show helping it at the b.o. 'Marliza,' Palace (3d week ). Never touched niore than $7,000 week, and is well on losing side; promoters still have. faith in show, and tooting the bills: questionable if destined for much longer. 'Nino Sharp/ Little (24th week). Was not ' expected to stay half as long, but has proved real money spinner; cast on ' percentage, with, some getting three .times their nor- mal salary; doing' , steady $4,500, which is practically capacity for this sir.all-seatcr. Plan for. a Hostess/ St. Martin's (18th week). Made some money, but dwindled to danger zone, with clos- ing notice up; dping $6,000, which Js good, but overhead big for this small capacity house. ■Robert's Wife/ Globe (34th week) Has been a. money spinner for H. M; Tennent, and still weU in the coin at $8,000. although at times it touched $10,000; looks good for many more months. 'Poison Pen/ Playhouse f 16th week). Transferred from Shaftes- bury theatre, where it lost money at $3,U00, and even smaller house with low. overhead is still not in the money; barely doing the former $3,- 000 mark. 'Sprinir Meelliig/ Ambassrfdor (7th week). Is making money at just un- der $1,000 per show, and should liave no trouble to go along steadily at this rate for several inore months. The Island/ Comedy (22d week). Has made some rhoney, as overhead is. hot big; now doing $3,500. which abput covers expenses;, not destined for much longer stay. The Insect Play/ Duke of York's (12th : week); Has not made any money, and only in as stopgap till management get something better; at $3,000 cannot break even. 'Wild Oats/ Princes (14lh week). Doing steady $7,000. very good; looks like it can stay for several more monllis. 'Operette' Waits Retorn Of Peggy Wood for Tour London, July 26. 'Operette,' the Noel Coward play, which . just finished run at His Majesty's theatre, will start a pro- vincial tour end of August, including week' each at Golders Green and Streatham. • Delay is due to Peggy Wood, the lead, who, had to get back to America as sbbh, as play finished its London run, to settle up 'her late husband's affairs, with tour com- mencing as soon as Miss Wood re- .turns. . ;. 260 Films, 181 frpm U. Released In R A.; German Production Down 'SNOW WHITE' HIKES IN SYDNEY DESPITE COLD Sydriiey, July 19. Intense cold, plus the cricket broad'casts from England, kicking the b.p.'s down. Mats holding lip nicely. Show White' (RKO) is smash with- out letup. 'Test Pilot' (M-G) shbUld play- tp high stakes. 'Bluebeard's Eighth Wife' (Par) quits, with - 'Stolen Heaven' . (Par) replacing. 'First Hundred Years' (M-G) came in for try, and 'Joy of Living^ (RKO) is a holdover. Cine- sound's .'Proken Melody' looks okay pn femme ' biz. 'Cloistered' (BEF) to be -followed • by 'Rose of 'Tralee' (BEF). Metro is doing all', right with 'Merrily We Live' and 'Judge Hardy's Children/ 'Fools for Scan- dal' iWB)' and 'Slight Case of Mur- der' (WB) eased off. Par's French Program Paramount's Schedule for France in coming year will. not. differ from that of previous years, according to announcement in New York.- Com- pany wilt make the -usual three or four featuries during the year and call on outside companies to do the producing. They will be turned ptit at Joinville, where there are three different studios at the present time. As in the past. Par will not make costly Frenc'h productions. They are made in accordance with past policy of turning oiit.a. certain nuniber of pictures on French soil. Films gcn- eraliy only have limited distribution. Par is said to have no knowledge of ideal with Alexander Korda whereby he might produce, fpr Par, as previ-. ously had been indicated. LUDWIG BERGEif S NEW FRENCH FILM PROD. Melboiirrie, July 19. 'Happy Landing' (20th) is- smash here despite trade, lull, 'Bluebeard's Eighth Wife' (Par) having no trouble; 'Stella Dallas' (UA). 'I'll Take Romance* (Col), "They Won't Forget' (WB), 'You're a Sweetheart' (U), and 'M'arie Walewska' (M-G) drawing the biz, 'K^ep Fit' (BEF) only British aim getting by.' , Auckland/ N. Z., July 1&, Films playing ace spots here are: 'Weils Fargo', (Par), 'Wife^ Doctor, Nurse' (2()tH), 'lilad About Music' (U), 'Old Chicago' (20th), 'Firefly' (M-G), 'Marco Polo' (UA); 'Hawaii Calls' (RKO), 'Bluebeard's Eighth Wife* (Par), and 'Portia on Triar (BEF). Cecfle Soret Troope Sail for ToDr of S. A. Paris, July 25^ Cecile- Sorel, grande daine of the French theatre, sailed from Mar- seilles last, week for a four-rnonth tour in' South: America., .It was her original intention to fly from Paris to Dakar, but -when the manager of the. troupe threatened to siie her if, by accident, shis failed ,tb catch the boat, she changed her mind; In all, 16 leading players are in- cluded in the troupe, which will head first for ■ ivenos Aires, and wil' pre-: sent the . entire repertoire ot Mme. Sorefs plays during the four 'months it will be in S. A. Paris, July .25. • France's latest film production company is Sofror,- headed by' Lud- wig Berger who will mark his entry' intP the French prbductibh field with the Three Waltzes/ starring Pierre Fresnay aivd Yvonne Printemps, Capitalized at $30,000 ^fror was created by Berger, who states he means to produce all of his future films here. When , the Three Waltzes"' is finished he will conri- mence work on a film bpsed on the life of J. H.. Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross. With the new pro(Juctipn company, a new distribliting firm has also sprung into existence. The new one on .this count is National Dist'ribu-. tiori Film/ located in the Champs- Elysees, and has announced ifs mak- ing a grab for some.ot the French films fpr the cbming:year. Pix Piayiiig So. Af ria Capetown, July 15. Following ' films ; have played: liere recently: - Colosseum. 'I See Ice' (ATP), fol- lowed by 'Hitting New High* (RKO); Alhaihbra, 'Slight Case of Miirder* (WB), followed by "This Way Please' (Par); Plaza, 'Romance for Three' (M-G); Royal, 'Bad Man of Brim- stone' (M-G), followed by 'Man Proof (M-G); Adelphi, 'Love. Honor and. Behave' (WB), and Elstree,, "Thanks a Million/ Wheeler London Click London. Aug. 2. Bevt Wheeler c1ir1;e' mill .My Olil,' Vktoi'ia I>uI.k;b— D*c. in. :)•:. •Nine .<;iinii>.' T.ltilp-.I.in. SO, '58. •The l.-sliiiHl.' coniedv- Keb, 10. .'.Ifl. . 'rian Tor u lloMioHa.' ,St. .Mai-lin's— Mai-ch in. -as •tdlol's D,;llpht.' .*i)oll«-Mnrch S!. '.IS, ■' 'PolJirtn Mor,' I'Inyhouse— April 'HN. •WIM OnlK." Piini-p»»-Aprll II. '3S. 'Bnonna I'.ldee,' su-hnJ-ADrll 1'7, 'People of Out-- fin?*!".' New— Mit.v' 11., '.IS. ■TtiB Inwct ri.lj',' Duko -ot Vork's— .'Iprll "7 . ■ •riop'oy netiirns,', .A,l>Mplil— Miiy jo, '.18. 'rtlol-liiUii .M,M-nliic.' Dllcllpjw— Mfly 20, '.1R, 'f^pi'liiK Mecilnu;' .\inba88ndot'— .May d'l, '3.«. ', ' . - 'Vo Sk.» ,<=o Blue.' S.ivoy— .Tune 8. •lAI'M wife.' Alil\vych-.Iun« 10. ' 'i:oineir<> Riiniji On,' AvU— .Tiily 10. ■'LlDlf SlrnrKer.* nnyBlly— July l;t. 'In'l'.l .CiicuH,*' Coliseum- July iO. .;, Durban. July 15. Pictures that have played, here recently .are: Prince's. 'True Contc.'i.sion' fPar), fpllowcd by "Beethoven '.Concerto King's, 'Gabriel, Over 'While Hou.se' (M-Gi; Metro ill be headed by Arluro .i , Iluehos Aires, Julv 26 ■ During the first six months of i'mb 260 feature length pictures have been released on the local market. Prbm these, 181 or 70%, were from the ,U. S. , Second were Frehch films with 30 releases, profiting totally by the Ipss of prestige suffered ,by German prbductioh, which here- tofore had always followed a good second, but has been poorly rcpre- ■ sented this ■ year by only six pic- tures. Argentina released iweply. one'. Runners-up; are' British.' 10; Austrian; 3, and Mexican, Spanish] Hungarian and 'Viddish, 1 each. From the U. S., , Paramount lops with 26 releases, fpllowed b.v War.' her and Metro, with 22 each,' and 20th-Fox, RKO and Republic, 2l each. Universal had 19 releases, Co- lumbia, 16; United Artists, 10, and Monogram, 6;' Not all hits from the States are clicking here. Biggest b. p. altrac- tion'fpr the period was '100 lien and a Girl' (U),' closely followed by 'Lile of Emile Zola' (WB), 'Awful Truth' (Gol), 'Buccanieer' (Par) and 'In Old Chicago* (20th).' Others in the big money group were 'Conquest' (M-.G), "Prisoner of Zenda*' (UA), 'Soiils at Sea' tPar), 'Bringing. Up- Baby' (RKO), 'Hurricane' (UA), .'Heidi' (20th) aind 'Stage Door' iRKO). This,: of course, is not the result of a full season, and a later survey imay change the list tP some extent. 'Snow White' (RKO), which is predestinat- ed to the s^me b. o, smashes here, as elsewhere, is hot yet in general dis- tribiition. Had -hitherto a -three- week first run at the ideal and a second: eixclusive engagement for two weeks at the Ambassador, drawing - up new ,all-tiine records for these two :key theatres of the Laularet b Cavallo groiip. Prpmisiiig new- comers are "Test Pilot' tM-G), just, out of a' two-week run at the Ideal, and 'Robin Hood* (WBi), which foU lows today : (20 ). 'Joy of Living* (RKO) and 'Mad About Music' are still waiting, for nabe releases. Local execiltlVes of U. S. com- panies state that, the number of pic- tures hitherto little- changed in com- parispn with fprmer' seasons, finally may decrease next season. lii local offices, .as well as in N. Y., there's some feeling, that rediiced imports may improve to some extfent net profits of .the companies. Releasing fewer pictures ;means less custom? house diity, reduced print costs and savings in publicity. Another, approach is that steps, possibly under consideration in 'Ar- gentine government quarters, and destined to protect national produc tion, could be. crushed before they start, by reducing the imports. Such steps would include forced dubbing in Spanish, increase, in custom house duties, etc. All this is nothing else but the old question of local distribution, which pops up every -year. ' But this time, it will mostly be due to giealer in- crease in local production. The higher level of Argentine picUires, : compared to former years' output, makes them more appealing. to local picture'goers. ' Echo to this can I* found in the b.o. reports of the A.,merican companies. Their claim ii that business in general drops as, a consequence, of the reduced ctopf, but .does so especially with loreign pictures. Heaviest loss is felt in the inlerioi of the country, where people are res-: . olutely favoring Spanish-spoken fllins, namely Arge tine produCjons. iPossibly, Ui S. companies will meet this , situation ' by dubbing part ol their material In Spanish. Difficul- ties, however, will, arise from the fact that there's no uniform pro-, huncialion of the Spanish languaR* in, the, Latin-American countries While, fp,r instance, the local.^ slill may agree to see a Mexican picture and accept it, if it is a good one, there is little chanc^ that * hey will accept an American picture dubbed in Mexico, and vice versn. >=ince, Mexican and Argentine Spanish zre difierent. Besides, for the . other Latin-American countries and Spain;. the problem is the same- Therefore, it , U. S. companie.s would eventually decide to rnnke Spanish dubbings, there is no doiipt this work would have tp be done m Argentina, /lerely on accoimt oi market conditions. Thin.^,< being • they actually are, thi; w.hola l"**!^^"' is not yet hot^ but rumor i."^ spme of the companies concern^ Alvarez Bolip of 'Distribuidora Hisr bave already inquired at local pano Mexicans.' 'dios ifdr synchronization cu-.ls. •VABIETfr LONDON OFFIOK, S St. Msrtla'a na«*> Trafalsa* Sqwra INTERNATIONAL NEWS Cable Addrcni VARIKTX, LONUOII TelephoB* Tnapl* Bar SMI-SMI II labor &oup Hits Fre^^ Made Abroad as Harming Home Industry Paris, July 25. The growing habit of French pro- ducers to make their films either in Germany or Italy arid not in French studios has brought a stiff protest from the . Synese films are made by French directors and French artists; even though the shooting is done in foreign studios, tfey do not come unde the .heading of 'foreign films' and therefore are not affected by ine law regulating the number b( films which may be imported— limited to 188 each year. Chautemps, it is understood, while promising nothing, did undertake to investigate and place the facts, as found, before the propC- ministry so, it necessary, measures could be taken to stop the practice or in some measure make it necessary for these AIt; to cornpete on an equal basis with French films produced in French studios. One of the latest outstanding films of this type was 'Les Gens de Voy- age,' produced in, Munich by a French director and with French art- ists. The. German dubbing of the picture was also done in Germany, t'-: French studios getting a look-in on nothing. Marcel THcrbier plans two pic- tures in Italy, the first of which Terre de Feu* ('Land of Fire') is supposed to be in production in the near future will be another . of the same categor.v no doubt as, with the exccftion of Tito Schipa. the leads in the cast are French, Mirielle Balin and Marie Glory already have signed to aonear i-i the pic. If the RQvernment does nothing to answer the seemingly just prote.'it n-.ade by the filfn syndicate it is dif- ficult to say what icfon the latter might tPke, but it is a certainty that the practice is hurting French studios iu H^"' '""^'^ is necessary if jne French indii.slry is to be pro- tcctcd aiP.tnst this type of compeli- 20th Fails to Get Backing In So. Africa fw Theatres . Johannesburg, July 15. aouth African prospects of 20th- 'ox enlerinu theatre field has ."oused considerable interest in att?"'!' picture circles. But attempts to interest Kali & Lurie, ci'L - "^^^^ building a de luxe to h, ' '1' •'o'linnesburfe are reported "•".J^^ failed: Otto W. Bolle, repre- h 20th-Fox;, was understood to An '''''' with K. & L. SoumT ?^"=''.°nai efforts to interest Dromio- i."^'" "^^P'*"' do not seem thi. » because general opinion In this country is that there are suffi- tii "V""?''*^'' of theatres to care for ence - cinema audi- 2 Aussie Trade Mags On Pan for 'Payoritism* Sydney, July 15, Two trade magazines,'Fnm. Weekly and Exhibitor's Monthly, are .bh the pan. Film Weekly ran into trouble with exhibitors because of alleged favoritism fowards distributors While the latter' publication pur- portedly has leaned towards the ex- hibitors. Exhibitors talk of boycotting Film Weekly by eliminating their silb- scriptions while the monthly is threatened with loss of distrib adver^ t.isirig. 'Withdrawal of advertising by distributors from' the monthly : may cause political repercussions since it's the official organ of the Austra- lian Motion Picture Exhibitors Assn. fibbetl Tauber, Ruth Draper Pufl Big in Australia Sydney, July 15. : Concert season in Australia, with .Lawrence Tibbe't, Kirsten Fiagstad, Richard Tauber and ' Ruth Draper, among others, has played to big houses and held up surprisingly well. Fiagstad and Tibbett are clicking for Williamson-Tait, ■ while Tauber is doing . eriually well for Australian Broadcasting Commission. Tibbett is set to play repeats in acc spots, plus a season in New Zealand. Tauber also has pulled better trade than anticipated. Miss Draper, who came here little known to Aussie concert lovers, has wound up in Melbourne and will do a'repeat for Willianison-Tait here. Current concert season has proved so successful that l>oth ABC and ^yilliamson-Tail are planning addi- tional importation of stars. Severar representatives of Aussie circuits now in U. S. arc framing- bookings. Because of boxoffice possibilities and fact that the usual European .tour nowadays docs not offer as much as it did in past ycari;, concert stars new figure an .'Aiistralian tour as prcsentin,? best bet outside of the United Slates. 8S IN 1ST 8 84 SLIITED TO GO Studios Busier Than Any Time in the History of the Industry, with Improve- ment in Quality Revealed ■ 4 6 Cos. and Producers at Work U. S. Anti-Trust Suit Provides Push entina Laws To Curb Monopoly by Major Cos. DARRIEUX TOPS STARS JACKSON, WARNER AIDE, TO HLM HERBERT NOVEL London. July 26. Jerry Jackson, managing director of Warner Bros.' Teddinalon .studios here,. has purchased the film rights to A. P. Herbert's satirical novel, 'Holy Deadlock.' The book was writton years ago, before the author became a Member of Parliament and spent considerable time securing an enactment whereby married couples could gel divorces for desertion and lunacy, which prior did not constitute grounds. Jackson faced the problem, loo. of securing a script that would not jar the opponents of the reform, and has submitted one that has been passed by the British Board ot Film Censors. Ga1>in's Zola Piece Paris. July 25. Jean Renoir, director-brolher of actor Pierre, is going to use an Emije Zola work for hi.-i next film, in' which Jean Cabin is set to take the lead. , ■La Bete Humaihe" ('The Human Beast') is the piece that will be adapted. Cabin's next film, how- ever, will be.'Le Train d'Enfer,' hut he will start with Ronhir w-hcu that i is firiislied. • Paris, July 25, French, film production hung up a record for itself during the first six months of :this yeac by completing 55 films during that ■ time, 30 of which mark recent productions that have not been released. From the 64 films announced for future pro- duction, some more records are like- ly to be topped before the end of the year. At no time in the history of the industry here have studios ' been busier, with 22 films in the making and others to be started 6ny day.. According to the industry here it looks like a banner year in almost every respect .for there Is no getting around the fact that the average; quality of product, so far, has bieen much aboye that of last year, with more outstanding numbers coming up. ■ ■ ■■ ■ The most peculiar aspect of all of this production activity, viewed from the American standpoint, is the fact that no less than 46 companies and individual producers are responsible for the undertakings. Three films are usually tops for any one company, which looks puny from the Yank stance. 34 Original Scenario!. . Of these 60-odd films planned, 34 will be . original scenarios, eight of the stories will be taken from orig- inal books, eight adapted from plays, eight from history .'with some pull- ing original scenarios. . Danielle Darrieux tops the list for. films made from stories with 'Retour a I'aube,* from a Vicky Baum novel, and Marcel Carne is going to make 'Hotel de Nord,' taken from; an orig- inal story, with' Annabella in the lead. From the theatre will come 'La .Vierge FpUe,' 'Noix de Coco,' after a piece by Marcel Achard; 'Madame Capet,' 'Three Waltzes,' 'La Petite Fonctionnaire,' from a Capus piece; 'Education de Prince,' by Maurice Donnay; 'Sixieme Etage,' by Gehri, and 'Louise,' after the work of Gus- tave Charpentier. On the historical side. Marcel I'Herbier is going to make 'Edouard VII et son Temps' from a scenario, by Andre Maurois. Louis Jouvet will take the part of .Fouche in 'Ministre de la Police,' Edwige Feuillere will portray Charlotte Corday in a film of the. same name; Jeff Musso is go- ing to make a film on Goya, and films on Moliere, Cuynemer, Talley- rand and others have been an- nounced. Trenet's Debut For the originals, a newcomer will make his debut in a scenario he has written himself. 'La Route Enchan- tee,* by Charles Trenet. Achard has written a new yarn called 'Le De- sorteur' and 'A nous la Jeunesse' is a story which will see Micheline Cheirel and John Lodcr appearing together for the first time. Other films which have been an- nounced, which draw original stories, are 'Le Dompteur,' 'Campement 13,' which Jacques Constant will direct; 'Trois de Saint-Gyr,' which J. P. Paulin will make; 'La Cite des Lu- mieres,' by Jean de Limur; 'Meteore 39,' by Maurice Dekobra, and 'Pilotes de Lighos,' by. O. P. Gilbert. Yves Mirande is going to make 'Q'uartier Latin' and Pierre Chcnai, 'Sabotage.' Priestley, Jeans Form Co. to Produce Shows London, July' 26. J. B. Priestley and Ronald Jeans have formed a new show producing company, the tondbn Mask Theatre,, to present first-class repertory sea- son, at this Westminster theatre. Each season would last 40 weeks. Open- ing end of Septeniber. It will be a, purely artistic under- taking. The company, being formed oh a non-profit basis, will hot pay entertainment taxes. . G-B Decides To Return to Stage Names; 12 Weeks ' London, July 26. Gaumont-British' has decided to revert to name attractions for. its deluxe theatres. Originally told to soft-pedal on vaudeville by Arthur Jarratt, circuit picture boolcer, experiment had proved a b.o. standoff. As G-B has arburid 10 delux^rs, and by the end of the year will have two more, it means 12 extra weeks for imported talent. The new Gaumont, Holloway, which was originally started by the Hyams Bros/, has been sold to. Gen- eral Theatres Corp.',~a subsidiary of G-B, and will stage name vaudeville acts, besides its picture program, with George Black in charge of the variety, which opens first week in September. Winkler, Hogan Imported As Cuba Co. Technicians Havana, Aug.; 2, Ben Winkler and Tommy Hogan, Yank film technicians, being im- po"ted by Pelic ilas Cubanas, na- tionally subsidized film combine. Pair will handle camera and sound, respsctively, for hew company. U. S. Not Enthusiastic Veteran foreign language cinema operators in New. York are not overly optimistic about new French feature product early next year. While most of them expect three, or tour more fair grossors, probably due to hit New York arty or foreign languagcrs early this 'fall,, they are skeptical about anything after that. Not that there will not be plenty ol French produced films available. In fact, some operators believe that there already are signs of overbuy- ing and that lesser productions, are beginning to clutter up the market Such a situation is not entirely un- expected, in the opinion of French picture distributors, who have kept close tab over the last three or four years. It's simply that foreign pro- duction, particularly in France, goes by cycles. Several years ago, French product was viewed in N. Y. as mighty thin. There have been about two or three years now of excellent production comin.? from that country, though ad- mittedly only, five or six really good grossers have appeared out of about 200 made each year. Contributing to the better type of French-made films was the iriflow of emigrants from Germany to r>aris all of them with fine knowledge of the picture producing business. This in i turn brought more attention to the ; film-making field with a steady ih- ; nation of producing proclivities. I Now. there Is a trend in the other I direction, according to observations ; made by N. Y. distributors. The I most disturbing part about the entire! 1^ setup, as far as the foreiKn-language theatre manager is concerned, Is that there will be a surfcitage of quantity with the quality dwindling lower as the 1938-39 season progres.ijes. • : Repercussions from the U. S. anti- trust suit filed against major , com- panies recientl'y .'in N; 'Y:, which' had been anticipated by picture company foreign executives^ began breaking in foreign territory late last week. First . came word that the governr ment of New South Wales would press for anti-trust investigation.. Then came intimations from Argen- tina that the long pendirig. suit against American distributors in that country nvight be! developed along monopolistic lines , since , the U. S. court action provided . tiie 'necessary ammunition. Suit in which a Buenos Aires exhibitor claimed inability- to obtain product also was deemed un- fortunate in tJ, S. trade circles. Major company representatives have described the Argentina case as. simply one in which .certain prod- uct was denied by distribs because of previously unpaid bills at- the same house and not. involving so-called monopoly claimed !>by the plaintiff.. F'drthcoming visit of Dan Micha- love to Australia for 20th-Fox is re- ported to be more than an inspection of the film company'.'; investment in the Hoyts circuit. While ostensibly only for that purpose it's reported that Michalovc will make specific recommendations to Sidney R; Kent On his return and that one of these will cover the advisability of holding Its present control over the Aus- tralian theatre chain under the cur- rent setup. - Sydney, July 29. The present anti-trust suit against major film companies in U. S; is serving as the force behind similar protection here. Premier Stevens: is also l>ehind: the movement against, monopolistic control in New South Wales. This is important because amend- ments to the New South Wales quota law are due to . come up shortly. Consequently, legislation may be in- troduced at that time to cover the monopoly situation. The- premier haa hinted that the state's .powers are not sufficieht to cover the comprer hensivc nature of the situation. It's now felt that the anti-trust angle and alleged monopoly charges may. become one for 'the Federal, government to. handle. Reported here that the Motion Picture Ex- hibitor's Assn., Greater Union, to-, gether with other independent inter- ests, are ready to support such legis- lation. More Lesal Chop Suey Shanghai, July 20. Formation ot Asia Theatres, Inc, with five film theatres included in merger, representing a seating capacity of several thousand, has American distributors generally up iri arms because new corporation virtually dominates the flr.st-run situation here. U. S. distributors ■have not been particularly happy here anyway because business has not been comparatively as good as in other metropoli of the Orient. About the only brfeak distributors get is through the fact that all con- tracts. run until the fall. Then the. battle will be on over new product buys. It has been said here that dis- tributors might start federal pro- ceedings to prove a mohopply ex- ists. . • There is so solace in the fact that all other amalgamations in the Far East have failed in the past 10 years, including a 91-thcalrc circuit Grand, Nanking, Cathay, and Melro- pol, all first-run, and the sccond-run nialto merged early this month, as- sets- of Cathay.-Grand Corp. and Shanghai Amu.sements being pooled. About 85% of the capital is held by Chinese. Because of laws and China Trade Act driSinal companies were allowed to incorporate under Ameri- can provisions. Chinese 'studio,';, other than gov- ernment propaganda shorts from Hankow, are virtually all shut down. No production here though ei','ht studi'.s functioned before. Hong Kon;! i$ working on six films. 12 VARIETY Wednesday^ August 3, IQ.ig UNCLE GUS BEEBE . . . Birig Crosby discovery, who makes star debut in Paromeunt's >'SING YOU SINNERS" TAKE A TIP FROM THE BOYS WHO KNOW PLAY PARAMOUNT ON THE NOSE! The Winners-August Thru October 1 I HAROLD LLOYD 1' \ in Prolessor Bewcenario also enables , Miss Bsnnett ana _her family, plus all the ranch^ Jjands, to escape the Yankee, soldiers with much too much ease.: However, one of the best scenes of the whole picture is the one in which May Kobson Re.ts the cbmmand of a troop 01 Yankees so drunk that the family stage the run^iway with all the cattle. Robert Barrat plays the neavv and very crediUbly does a Slwii • it's -Miss . Robson who really triumphs., in this scene. She swell stew and is caried for- wara the next day on a han-rover for some excellent comedy relief. . "i'wd with Miss Bennett fl""! Jioniantic interest, shenherds the nodic (nien and cattle) throush to finally edftes but Robert ii!!!?^]"'*' ^vlio also ftsures on the K"i?"t.'C,end.. but unsymoathetieallv. l""/? fves an even oerformance and ihi- ^^'^^ the pioneer typo : ^"n„^*'^ opposite him. rtn^r^ ?^ t'^s .sterlini! j'^b.s Is that fronV: ""-^ Raymond. Half on: as un ^riT'^'*" ''"'^ traoper. who hooks n?.^;^th Scott at an early staib of the ,:^"?!?^'n.'?s.. Another colorful iran- iiersman is Walter Bronnan. Francis i Ford plays the peg-leg ranch hand who gets knocked off, while Harvey Stephens, npt in so much footage, IS a Union officer. Both are excel- lent. Many lesser lights also figure in the large cast,: Char. THE CROWD ROARS Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer release of Sath Klmballat production, stars Hubert Tuylor Features, Edward ^ Arnold, Frank Morgan,, Maureen O'Sulllvan, William Gargan. • DU rocted by Richard Thorpe. Screenplay by Thomas Lennbni George Bruce and George .Oppenhelnier; original by George Uruce; music, Edward. Ward; camera,' John' Sellz;' monuge, Slavko Vorkaplch. Previewed in, ProJectlon'Room, N. y;, Aug. 1, '8S, Run- ning time, 87 minutes. 1 ^"^oy i .... ^Robert Taylor i'7„ coin . . Edyvord : Arnold Shin" Jf'Coy. Frank Morgan Sheila Carson ■. . , .Maureen U'Sulllvan Johnny Mnrlln. . . . . . ; . .William Gargan Happy Lane ; . ;.. Lionel Sunder ^P,^iJ"Cu;;-i;- • • • ■ • • • -J^ne Wyman mVi^^w^"'"'- • • • • "... .Nat Pendleton SiiP'jy^.^' • • ■/ •'-■"a'-lo Brown Tommy McCoy (as a boy). ; .Gene Reynolds Pete Marlola., ....Donald Barry Murray . . . , Donald Douglas S'h Martin. Isabel Jewel Father ,«yan J. Farrell Macdonald '". The rjianly art jf self-defense, otherwise , known as the cauliflower industryj alias prize-fighting, is^^a rough and tumble racket operated by big time gamblers With small time ethics, according to the film, 'The Crowd Roars," in which Robert - Tay- lor leads With his left hand and registers satisfactorily at the box- office. It's exciting melodrama with plenty of ring action, some plausible romanc'e and several corking good characterizations'. For the displays, in addition to Taylor, are Edward Arnold, Frank Morgan,- Maureen O'SuUivain and William Gargan. , Title refers; of course,- to the shout of .arena spectators when a knockout is near. There are moments early in the film when it' appears that George Bruce, the author, intends to dwell on this.angle of mob psychology. ' He steers away from any depth in the treatnieht of his: theme, however, and holds tb a plot about , a choir boy who becomes a contender for ■ the light heavyweight chanipionship, As most of the. action , scenes .are laid . in and aroiind Madison . Square Garden, it would appear that the fighting' industry is very much in need of .housecleaning right . in New York State, where there is. a boxing commission that is siipposed to look after such skullduggery- as fixed fights and the physical condition of the boys who take it on the nose for cash. ' The manipulators Of crooked matches are shown up as gangsters and gunmen. Only the fighters are upstanding young menj. out o'l the ring. Frank Morgan .cireates something interesting out of the. role of ' the pug's father; a drunkard and brag- gart Edward Arnold Is the conven,^ tidnal bookmaker and fight manager,' who Works successfully on the ^theory that the smartest gamblers are the biggest suckers. .Heart, interest is centered in a .love affair between Taylor and Miss O'Sulllvan. . Siich popularity as the film will experience will corne from' Taylor's convincing portrait of a young fitjhtcr, arid the excitement in ' the ring battles. As the background has been used many times in pictures, Richard Thorpe, the director; finds little that is new and refreshing, although the scenes are realistic and Well photographed, Picture-is a good vehicle for Tay- lor arid returns him to the spot he occupied after 'A Yank at Oxford.' Flin. Letter of Introduction Universal release of John M. Slahl pro- (lucllun. Features Adblphe Mcnjou. Anilroa IxscdB, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCailhy, ncorge Murphy, Rita Johnson. Ann Sheri- dan. Eye Arden. Directed by John M. .Slahl: screenplay, Sheridan GIbney and Leonard Splgclgasa from story by Bernlce Uobnc: nim editor, Ted Kent; photography, Knrl Freund. Previewed at Rlvoll. N., If.. July 29; '.IS. Running lime. 100 minutes. .Tohn .MnnnerJng. .Adolpho .Menjou Kay Mnrlln Andrea T*ed» Edgar Ilei gen .Bdg.-ir Bergen Barry Paige. ......George Murphy Tloney... .....Rita Johnson; Lydia HoyI i ..-.Ann Sheridan Cora...' .Eve Arden His first production since 'Parnell' (M-G) over a year ago, John M. Stahl comes through with 'Letter of Introduction,'-, about which there is. everything to suggest big business In all types, qf situations and on all types of playdates, Stahl both pro- duced and directed. 'Letter of Introduction.' In addition to adept, Imaginative direction, has the benefit of a -vei-y good story, a fine cast, eflcctive comedy relief and competent , editing. . It represents a masterful job In all directions, in-, eluding the photography and the backgrounds^ Cast names arc not big b.o., but, Edcar Bergen, with his Charlie McCarthy, pliis another dummy subject called Mortimer, should help pull 'em In. Bergen has one of the, pivotal -roles and. with his: dummies, particularly McCarthy,, is prominently displayed in the- action. Besides providing, ex- cellent comedy relief for' a punchy drama. Bergen is biiilt tip for ."iome roriiaritic interest.: - His new .>;ubject, Mortimer, is a scream, and mi"ht or could di.splace Charlie McCarthy, if that was ever de.sired. New dummy sugfiCst.s a backwoods farmer type dressed up, one of -the odd charac- tci-islics of which is buck teeth. ' The Mioiatnre Reviews •The Texaiis* (Par). Large- scale western With Civil War reconstruction period flavor; should do well generally. , fThe Crowd Boars' (MG). Rob- ert Taylor in ari excitirig piigi- . Kstic melodrama which has b.o. punch. ' > 'Letter of Introdactloii' (U). Excellent drama, that is headed ..for big biislness ' everywhere. ' . 'Man's Country' (Mono). Faist galted western. ■ dialect -and' material used, for Morti- mer adds heavily to laughs; StahVs production is built mostly around a father and daughter who- haven't met since latter's childhood, when divorce separated the .parents. Heart-throb story . finishes - on a strong tragic note When the drunkard father - dies from injuries received when he steps in front of ah auto- mobile: tO: commit suicide. A -happy ending -might have , been desirable, since-audlence Interest and sympathy Is intensely in favor of anything but a tragic, separation of the 'father arid daughter. , Something that .the average audi- ence will look for hopefully., is the announcement to: the wojld that the girl, masqueraded as a protege, is acttially , the daughter of the stage and screen, star : whom she has learned is her father. -' Tltl6 is gained from a. letter' left the girl on her mother's death, telling her that John ManrierlnE;, the much-married actor. Is her father. She takes 'this letter to the latter. The parent arid, his offspring, now grown, determine' to keep, the matter secret. This forms the basis for the development of various dramatic and tense situations. .It- wrecks a new romance of the actor and it almost tears down the love that 'a vaudeville dancer has developed for the j!irli~ In the end "only the dancer and -Maii-i nerlng's butler are let in on the se- cret, the picture finishing on this note, but, oddly enough, with the fade itself on Bergen' and his girl friend; Rita Johnson. Production's assets iticlude lack of unnecessary dietail and' good cutting. Building frbril a fine beginning, it :carrles through , to the finish at an extremely even pace. 'Th^re isn't a letdown anywhere. Adolphe Menjou is capital as the pbmooiis and vain star, while. Andrea Leeds is equally as good as the girl playing his daughter. She injects much .sweetness ;into a difficult' role. Her h,bofing . sweetheart Is done by George Murphy in a. highly compe- tent rijariner. The three girls who are important to the action are Rita Johnson, Murphy's dancing partner; Ann Sheridan, fiancee of Mannerlng, and Eve Arden as, a sonhlstlcated, hard-boiled showgirl. All turn: in fine performances. Chanr. BOOLOO Paramount production ' and release. Pro- duced iand directed by Clyde K. Elliott, Story. Clyde E. Ellloll: ecr(-enplay. Robert B. Welsh; camera,, -Henry Sharp, Carl, Der- ger and Ben Woizler. At Criterion.. N. Y., dual, July iiS. 'SS. Running time, 01 mine. Cnpt. Robert Rogers; Colin Thpley Knto Jaye Jdyne Regan Sukal Chief... ....Mirhio Ilo Rod DeSou7.a- ..Herbert DeSouza Nah Laku.. Fred Pullen Nnllve Girl.... Mamo Clark Major Frenlon Claude King Ool. Stanley Jaye William Stack Qove'i-nors. ;..'... .Ivan Simpson, Lionel Pape, 'npler Ralkes, Phil Smalley Ferguson .John Sutton Radio Operators. Clive Morgan. Colin Kenny Ah Lee.. ..Himself 'Booloo' won't, make 'em boo, nor will it make them cheer, being just a zoologicar collection with a sem^ blarice of story and some n.s.g. act- ing. Plenty oke for the blood-and- thunder jiives, but taxing credulity too much for elders. Will need, sup- port in the duals. Acting all the way through Is ,of the little theatre variety, except for couple of vets in minor roles: Dialog is choppy, but fortunately there's some excellent sceriic and animal photography. Rapid succession of camera'ed beast captures help consid- erably to lift, first half of the film. ' Heart Interest Jayne Regan docs nothing but fly. to arms of Colin Cfap- ley or boo-hoo Into., a short-wave radio while communicating with hirh in the jungle. Possible that lack of material gives her the black eye; Tapley is . considerably better, but still none too good. Mamb Clark as a native girl does as well as any with her looks and by ju.st keeping silent or.mumbling 'native tongue.' ' Havin.g written a book describing i his late father's adventures, Tapley Is I called on. carpet arid hi? father's | memory dishonored by dLsbcIief In a white tiger described in book. He hies himself tb Malaya to .bring back proof. Every conceivable kind of iiin^le cre>>ture is ba?i(ed to'ml.slead n.ilives as to Tapley 's rp.ii mission. When they di.scover hi.s true aim: (their sacred feline), poi.sin darts, etc, are eniplyoyed to rout the expe- dition, lie :.'iaye.'i a girl from liHtr'.s iaw.';, gels himself , scratched .and is hung up by , the wrists for a dart- blowing party Avhen the British Co- lonial Tommies arrive. Suspense is. not entirely lacking in final half and in/couple, of hunting incidents In earlier sections. How- ever, "audience exits with" feeling of haying seen a glorified version of 'Big Bad , Wolf.' Hurl. MAN'S GbUNTRY Monogrom .production nnd release. Stars Jack Randall; featun'B Marjdrle ll'eynolds. Directed by Robert Hill; screMtplay by Riib- ert Bmmett; .film editor, Howard DIlllhKer;- camera, . Ilert Longehecker, At Central, K. W. dual, July ,20; '38, Running .time, B3- mine. . JflcK. : , ,, . : Jack Randall Snappy, . . . . . ,,. . . . .Ralph Peters Madge, ..;MarJorle Reynolds Lex.; I Ruck} . ............. ,., , .Wiillar Lung Jed; -. ,. i . . .'. .'iBud, Osborne Berl , .Dave O'Brien Caleb Hart Brnle Adams Guard . . . : ,/. .Chark-s King Galloping; hoofs, twirling six-shoot- ers arid kribck-dowh-drag-out- flghts help to grip attention jn this typical western. 'Man's Country' possesses more bellevabie Intrigue and sus- pense than, is often found in these outdoor operas.' Should serve on the after half of doiible-billers; : Jack Randall Is listed as the Aim's star, but it is Walter Long, for years in important subsidiary, roles, who actually steals the production with dual characterizations of two ranch brothers. Marjorie Reynolds, solo feminine character, hints of future development' and adds to the- feature. Picture starts' moving as a typical ranger - versus - the - outlaw ' thriller. That's orily , the background for dauntless heroics of the ace trooper, who strives to r.un down a ba'nd of cutthroats led by one- brother. Who is trying to get eveh with his. more for7 tunate twin-brother. Yarn, has a couple, of out-bf-the-ordlnary turns and seldonv dirags. Jack Randall, as. the hero ranger,' Is effectivie when in action, but lightweight on acting. Seems a bit stilted for an outdoor character, too. Walter Long, playing both the good arid ornery brothers; . chips in With probably his best western film work. Though nbt enjoying the best pho- tography in closeups, Marjorie Reyn- olds cashes, in on every opportunity as the ranger's sweetheart. Charles King, Ralph Peters, Bud Osbbrne arid .Dave O'Brien head capable! suppoTt.^ After a few initial moments'of in- decision, Robert Hill directs with an even hand, Bert Lorigenecker's cam- eraing is a stro'ng point, " Wear. HERiOES OF THE HILLS Republic Pictures: release, of : William Bcrke production. Features ftobert Llv- Ingfltnn. Ray Corrlgnn. Max, Tortiune. Di- rected by Georg* Sherman. Screenplay. Betty. Durbrldge, .Stanley Roberts;, from original story by Stanley Roberts and Jack Nalteford; .camera. Reggie Lannlng; edi- tor, Tony Manlnelll: song, Eddie Cherkose, Alberto Colombo. , Reviewed In . the Projec- tion Room, N. Y., July 28, '38, Running time, RB mins, , Stony, Brooke.., ; , , , .Robert Livingston llTI" .Ray Corrlgan Ldllaby JOslln, ; . . .Max Terliune Madelyn. . ;.....■..... / .Prlscllla Ln waon 5,«<'- • • • • • • . .La Itoy Mason Ihe Kid. James Eoglos neaton. , . . .Roy Bnroroft Regan. Barry Hays c.onnors ., ..Carlelon Young n- V.:- •, • • • • • Forre,« Taylor Bonrd Chairman. . ; John Wade f^Ki'..^ Maston Williams ...John Beach hiim. . . . . . -. Jerry Frank Warden Roger . Wllllama ......Kit Guard DICK TRACY RETURNS ■ ^ (SEEIALj Republic release of Ilobert Bedie pro- duction. : Features Ralph Byrd. DlrecieA by William Witney, and John Kngllsh. Screenplay (10 ohaplcrs) by Harry :}ihiii- man. Kraklyn Adreon.' Ronald DtivldHnn, Ilex Taylor and Sol Shor, based, on Iha cartoon -by Chester Gould; camera. -William' Nobles; editors, Helene Turner and Edward Tocid; Reviewed In the Projection' Rooni, .v. v., July 28, '38. Running time, 30 mine. Dick I'rocy, , , Ralph Byrd 'iiyen. Lynn noberls Pa .stark. . .: ........Charles .Mlddleton Junior. .: .Jerry Tucker Itim .Merlon. David Sharps ,MlkB McGurk ..,.,; I;ee Ford .Steve. > .. .Michael ■ Kent- -hanip ... ...... . . John Merlon rrigr.er. ..Raphael Bennelt DUde . ; . Jack. Roberla The Kill i...Ned Qlass loo- Hanner. . . . . ..; . . ; Gdward Fostisr . ■Snub. . .........;.. .Alan Gregir llance. : ; . ...... .Reed Howes tleynolds , Robert Terry Hunt: ,Toni ^eldel Sluaher.. .Jack Ingram Dick Tracy cmcrgies from Chester Gould's, cartoon strip to flash his de- tective prowess biifore cinematic au-, . di.ences, ThIs-15-chapter serial should attract a flock of young followers. Jnitial stanza Is crammed full of action; after the prellihinary .lobkse« into the operations of the. Federal Bureau of Inyestljgatldn, • However, it's mostly fleeting : glimpses ' of the Inner ■ workings and then moves straight into the. yarn, Tracy Is - a , G-man leader, tralh- ins; potentials. : He sends a youngster, whom he fancies, out on his flrst as- signment, guarding a shipment : bt currency, but the lad - Is slain in , stacking , up. against Charles Middle^ j ton, as Pa Stark, a cunning, criminal, and his Ave sons, who steal' the coin. : Then, Tracy takes a hand and per- son.ally sets out for the band, ini- tial episode ends in Tracy; craisbihg into a mpiintain in a plane: El Canillita 7 la Dama ('The Xewsvehdor and the Lady') (ARGENTINE MADE) Buenos AIre$, July 26, ', :Sud ,AnierIca- 4lo Fllma release of Cor- Piil-ntlon Cliiematograllca Argentina produc* tiun. Stars Luis Sandrlnl; Koslta. Moreno; r<-i'.»:-M Lalo liouiiler, S^ra Olmos, Miguel t-'.mu-,:; Bao. :Junn::Mi^nslanto, - Armando dii: Vicente., l^ircclcd .by Luis Cesar' Amadorl; R:^rccnp!-iy; Amadorl jind noli.T; /camera, Ciinier ]:arr('lro., : At ,Clne Te-.\tro Monu- nvenlni; Duenou Aires. , Running time, 100- lUlns; " •The Three Mesqulteers, characters created by Wlliiam Colt MacDonald, are delving into prison reform in this Republic opus, and ♦hey do a pretty thorough jbb of it Of course, Rob- ert Llylngston, Ray .Corrigan and Max Tcrhune are aided by a few c'r.ematic conveniences, plus good direction. Film should please in the duals. Republic and the Mesquiteers would , have their audience believe that the way to reform the peri boys would be to -'give them greater lee- way. For instance,: allow them to work on a ranch instead of wasting their years : In' stir. Which is all right, except that when they put the idea into practice the entire film al- most takes on a collegiate aura, with the boys adopting a fair enough song bv Alberto Columbo and Eddie Cher- kose as their Alma Mi mmy faithful. The skeeters al.so serve as the profs in ranching. Then, too, there aren't any guards around, which makes It all just divine for the boys, who, however, have just too, too much honor to. take advantage of the sit- uation. Then, too, there are a couple of ■sr.ags that enter into the situation when a rontractlng firm sets out to wreck the experiment, -since it has c.ves on a contrp-it .to constriict a new prison. But It windJ up the u.sual way after a couple of fatal shootings. Livin«toTi, Corrigan and Terhune are rapidly becoming a faved trio in films and this blc enhances their po- ,'iit)ons. There's a suggestion .of ro- mance between PrisciUa Lawson and Livingston, but she just fades from the picture. Republic iust won't have a wife, disrupting the Me.sqtiitecr ■"!ries. Mi.ss Lawson is a looker, a lil- tle out of proportlbri for the horse '■Dcras. Le Roy Mason. James Ea«lc.^. C'arletbn Young .and Roy Banrrof! handle supporting roles capably. . (Zn Spanish) - . Capitalizing . two. names and the, sympathy, of the. natives for the 'B, A. newsvendors, this film. Was specially . written for the w.k. local comic, Luis Sandrlni. Due also to Rosita More-' no's appearance, it. wiU have enough, drawing power to make it one of the mOre iriiportant pictures of this sea- son's local product. Liiis Cesar Amadorl^ who directed, also 'collaberated on the screen play.' He comes from the stage, and al- thoijgh his pictures show- that he has a good film; conception, he-overloads It with dialbg. This .film has a- lot ot fun, but it's all in Sandrinl's jokes. This may b«i ' sufficient for the natives, but not so ■for the. foreign field. There . are also possibilities for pictorial situations which th-* director has left out. How- ever, it's a smart. Story and handled' well. Photography o;k. Story is something like a fairy tale, telling of a newsvendor, : supposedly the , son of a rich man, -whose daiighter. loves- a guy,;, who her. father , recognizes as a swindler. But she finally marries the friend of the newsboy. ; : ' SandrinI, as the newsboy. Is excel- lent; Miss: Moreno, who' was birought from the: u. s. to be the female lead, is charming, acts in- telligently and also does well in two ' taps. Supporters are commendable,, with some domination by Armando de 'Vicente, " Afarey. NIGHT ALONE (BBItlSH MADE) London, July 16. Palhe Pictures relenso of Wulwvn i'ro- dudlon. Stars- Emlyn Williams. 'Directed by Thomas Uenlley. Adapted by Victor Kcnhrily and Vernon Clancy from stag* play by Jetfrey nell. At Camlirldgc, L«n- il'in. July. 13. '38, Running time; 7.-, mIns. (;n Raymond Mn'rxot U nda '.lorlH . . ., ; .Julie .Suello .Suiicriniendcnt ; . , , . John Turnbull Amusing comedy with a serious, twist to give it weight. Some of the scenes need tightening tip, and 10 minutes could prdfltably be cut. Youthful Darby, and Joan spend first night apart In seven years, while on -brief visit to London from the country. Lured by a gadabout fricrid he encounters In tlie bar- ber .'ihop, the 'model' hu.sbahd Kcts plastered- at a night cliib. removed to a girl's nearby apartmcfit to recover and yanked off to jail for being in pos.sessibn of forged banknotes. Frantically anxious to return to his hotel before hi.s wife returns from visiting hor .sister, the accu.scd ifii'st threatens, then plead.s, claiming he knew nplhing of the air! he was f.)i.ind with, nor the suitcase ahii >v;.'rf,'oat con.tainini; the , notes. Fin;illy admitting h's Identity as • oi'Mliy "iOlicitor and Kivlnt; hi.s un- ^•l'.-'-- narne, tvlib is a chief constable, ,l'i'.' hariis.scd night' bird gots back ; 1: 1 in time. ' - . , . .M ).st bf the humor con.si.sts Of Ih" (Continued on page 21) VARIETY Wedaesday, August 3, 1938 It begins a new era of entertainment! A Iivin9 stotv . . . drama that reaches heart-close to things as they a re... comedy that is infectious ..events you'll follow with tip-toe eagerness. ADOLPHE MENJOU ANDREA LEEDS EDGAR BERGEN and CHARLIE McCarthy GEORGE MURPHY RITA JOHNSON EVEARDEN « ANN SHERIDAN ERNEST COSSART J/LUMirU 1 VedneBday, August 8, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY IT BOOKING (For information of theatre and film exchange, bookers, Vabiett presents a complete chart of feature releases of all the American distributing panics for the current quarterly period. Date of t^ tompantes (B) BEISSOES COPTBIGBT, 193S. BT VABIETT, INC. ALL BIGHTS RESERVED WEEK OF BELEASB TITLE rsODUCEB DISTBIB. TYPE TALENT DIRECTOB tlHB MIN3; WHEN BEVIEWED BT VABIETT 5/20/38 5/27/38; 6/3/38 SIX SHOOTIN' SHERIFF SWISS MISS NUMBERED WOMEN COCOANVT GROVE BLIND ALIBI RASCALS THE DEVIL'S PARTY MYSTERY HOUSE M. & A. Alexander GN. Western Hal Roach . MGM Comedy E. B. Dcrr Mona Drama Geo. Arthur • Par Musical Cliff Reid RKO Meller John Stone 20th. Musical Ed Grainger •' U ,' Drama Bryan Foy WB Drama Ken Maynard S, Laorel-O. Hardy . S. Biane-L. Hnrhes . F. MacMurray-H. Hllliard R. Dix-W. Bonrne J. Wlthers-R. Hiidaon V. McLaglen-B, Roberta H. Botatt-G. Pace . Harry , Fraser John G. Blyston* It B/11 Catl Brown M ' Al Santell 94 5/18 Lew L'anders 85 5/2S ■ a.B.Humberstono 11 5/25 Ray McCarey 6« 5/25 Lew Seller: 68 6/1 YELLOW JACK HUNTED MEN DESERT PATROL KIDNAPPED CRIME SCHOOL Jack Cummings MGM Drama R. Mbntsomery-V. Brae*. Geo. Seitz Harold Hurley Far Meller L. Nol»n-M. Carlisle Louis King A. W. -Hackel Bcd Western Bob Steele-W. Meldod Sani Newfleld K. MacGowan 2*lh Rom-Dr W.Baxter-F.Bartholomew Al Werker . Bryan Foy WB Drama ; H. BerartrGale Page ' Lew Seller 8S 5/25 5/18 5/25 5/4 THREE ON A WEEKEND GB GB Rom-Dr THREE COMRADES H Manckiewicz MGM Rom-Dr A FAREWELL TO ARMS (B). F. Borzage Par Drama SIGN OF THE CROSS (R) C, B. de Mille Par Drama iSAINT IN NEW YORK Wm. Sistrom RKO- Meller- Gene Markey tOth Musical WIVES UNDER SUSPICION Ed Grainger ■ U Drama LITTLE MISS THOROUGHBRED Bryan Foy WB Com-Dr M. Lockwood-J. Lodge-B. Bay B. TaylorrTone-M, Siillavan G. Cooper-H.. Hayes . F. March-Colbert^LaaghtoB . . L, Hayward-K. Sotton S. Slmen-D. Araeche-B. L*hr W. Willlam-G. Patrick J. Chapman-J.. Lite! Carol Reed Frank Borzage F. Borzage C. B. deMille Ben' Holmes . Allan Dwan Jas. Whole John Farrow 18 100 90 124 ' 11 10 68 85 , 6/15 5/25 . 12/3/1932 12/6/1932 ■'■ 8/25 ,6/1 6/8 6/15 6/10/38 HELD FOR RANSOM THE TOT WIFE YOU AND ME KING KONG (it) RIDERS OF BLACK HILLS LADIES IN DISTBESS ONE WILD ;NIGHT GOLDDIGGERS IN PARIS GN- GN Meller ' Merlan C. Cooper MGM Drama Fritz Lang Par Rom-Dr M. C. Cooper - BKO St>ec Wm. Berke B«p WeSterni Harry Grey Bep Meller John Stone .2eth Meller . Sam BischofT WB . Musical G. Withers-B. Mehaffey-J. Mnlhall L, Rainer-M. Douglas-R. Yonng S. Sidney-Gi RaftrH. Carey F. Wray-B. Cabot-Cdoper ' 3 Mesqillt^ers . A. SUpworth-P. Moran ' J. Lang-L. Talbot^S. Toler R. Vallee-R. Lane Clarence Bri.ckier Richard Thorpe Fritz Lang Schoedsack George Sherman Gus'Meins : Eugene' Forde Ray Ehright 69 93 9* 98 85 88 83 100 7/20 6/8 6/8 3/7/1933 6/a 6/15 5/11 5/25,. 6/17/38 HOLIDAY Everett Riskin Col Drama K. Hepburn-C. Grant George Cukor 93 5/18 CRIME OVER LONDON GB GB Mystery M. Grahame-P. CaTanaafh AU. Zeisler 84 11/11 /3« WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN Edw. Chodorov MGM Rom-Dr V. BrBee-H..MaraIull R.. Sinclair ■ 60 6/22 PRISON FARM Par Par -Meller . S. Boss-L. Nolan-j. C. Natsh Louis Kiiig 89 7/20 BLONDE CHEAT Wm; Sistrom BKO Rom-Coih J, Fontalne-D. de Mamey Jos. Santley THREE BLIND MICE Ray GrifBth 20th Rom-Dr L. -YoangrJ; McCrea Wm. Seiter H 0/8 BLOCKADE Walter Wanger UA . .'Drama . H. Fonda-M, Carroll Wm. Dleterle as 6/8 OUTLAW EXPRESS ; Treih Carr ■ U Western Bob Baker-C. Caller* Geo. Waggner 68 7/20 WHEN WERE YOU BORN Bryan Foy - WB Drama C. Ralns-J. Cooper Wmi McGann 65 6/15 6/24/38 SIGHWAY PATROL LORD JEFF ROMANCE OF LIMBERLOST BAR 20 JUSTICE , BORDER G-MAN MB. MOTO TAKES CHANCE YOUNG FUGITIVES WHITE BANNEBS W. MacDonald Col Meller J. WelU-R. Paige C.C. Coleman, Jr. Frank Davis MGM Bom-Dr F. Bartholomew-Sondergaard Sam Wood 78 - Mono Moiaa . Rom-Dr J. Parkcr-E. Linden Wm. Nigh. 80 Harry Sherman Par .Western W.Boyd-G.Hayes Les Selahder 10 Bert Gilroy HKO Western George O'Brien David Howard - 61 Sol Wurtzel 20th Mystery P. Lorre-R. Hadson . Morman Foster ■ 61 Batt>.'»y S?recky .. . .. ...U,. MeJJ.sr- ..-B^RoatJSt TOhn*!; - ■ Johft-Rdllhrs - •■ '-^ Henry Blahke WB Dr C> Balns-J. Cdopeir Ed, Goulding 90 'e/2»~- 7/20 7/20 6/15 • .7/20^-*^ . 5/25 7/27 1/15/39 6/15 7/20 6/29 .7/27 7/20 .6/15 . 6/22 6/29 8/3 7/27 11/21/33 6/15 7/1/38 CITY STREETS EVERGREEN. (R) HAVING WONDERFUL TDIB ARMY GIRL ALWAYS GOODBYE SOUTH RIDING DANGER ON THE AIB RAGE OF PARIS MEN ARE SUCH FOOLS W. MacDonald Col Meller Carrlllo-E. Bellows-H. J. Eddy Al Rogel V. Saville GB Musical . . J. Matthcws-B. Maekay Victor Savi lie S. Berman BKO Comedy G. Bogers-D. Fairbanks, Jr. Al Santell Soi.Siegel Bep Rom-Dr M. Evans-P. Foster Arm'd Schaefer Ray Griffith 20th Hoih-Dr B. StanWyok-H. Marshall Sid Lanfleld Alex Korda UA. .Drama B. Rlchardsbn-E. Best. Vic Saville Irving Starr V Mystery p. Woods- A. Grey; Otis Garrett B. G. DeSylva U Com-Rom , D. Darrlenx-D. Fairbanks, Jh Henry Koster David Lewis WB . Rom-Com W. Morrla-P. Lane Busby Berkeley 68 it 10 90 IS 84 65 •0 69 .7/8/38 FAST COMPANY F. Stephani MGM Rom-Conn. MAN'S COUNTRY Mono Mono Western CRIME RING . Cliff Reid BKO Mystery LITTLE WOMEN (B) K, MacGowan BKO Rom-Dr DURANGO VALLEY BAIDEB8 A. W. Hackel Bep Wesjtern PANAMINT'S BAD MAN ■ Sol Lesser 20th Western MY'BILL Bryan Foy WB; . Drama M. Doaglas-F. Rico Jack Randall . A.^ Lane-F. Mercer Hepburn-J. Bennett-F.' De* Bob Steele-LK Stanley S. Ballei«-N. Beery . K. Francis- . Litel Eddie duzzcl Robert Hill Les Goodwins Geo. Cukor Sam Newfield Ray Taylor . John Farrow 15 63 10 111 :60 60 7/15/38 PIONEER TRAIL STRANGE BOARDERS SHOPWORN ANGEL FRIDE OF THE WEST GOLp MINE IN SKY PASSPORT HUSBAND PRISON BREAK Col Col ■ ■ Western Geo. B. Mason GB Mystery J. L. Minckiewici MGM Rom-Dr Harry Sherman Par . Western C. E. Ford Rep Western Sol Wurtzel 20Ui Com-Dr Trem Carr . U . Meller J. Luden-J. Barkley T. Walls-R; Saint Cyr M. Sallavan- J. Stewart . BlU Boyd G. Autry-S. Burnett*. P. MoorcrS. Erwin G. Farrell-B. McLan* Jos. Levering George Mason H. C. Potter Les Selander ,J6e Kane Jas. TinlinK Arthur Lubin 60 14 12 7/13 7/6 7/27 7/20 7/22/38 REFORMATORY LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY TROPIC HOLIDAY BOO-LOO HEROEiS OF THE HILLS SKY GIANT I'LL GIVE A MILLION ALGIERS LITTLE TOUGH GUY PENROD'S DOUBLE TROUBLE Col Col Drama J. HolUC. Wynters Lew D. Collins Hal Roach MGM Com-Dr. M. Rooney-J. Garland Geo. Seitz A. Hornblow, Jr. Par > Musical .D. Lamonr-Burns-Ray* Theodore Reed G.E.Elliott Par Adv-Dr C. TapleyrS. Asmara-A. Lan* C. E, Elliott Wm, Berke Rep Western Three Mesqulteers Geo. Sherman Rdbert Sisk RKO Meller !Dix-C. Morris- J.' Fontaln*' i;ew Lander.i K. MacGowan 20th Drama , W. Baxter-M. Weaver Walter Liang Walter Wanger UA Rom-Mel - C. Beyer-S. Gurle-H. Lamsrr John Cromwell Ken Goldsmith U Drama Dead End Kids ' Herold Young Bryan Foy WB Com-Dr . Manch Twins Lew Seller 61 90 17 6* 55 80 10 95 85 65 6/29 7/13 7/6 8/3 8/3 7/20. 7/13 6/29 7/27 7/29/38 SOUTH OF ARIZONA 9°l Ji?lr THE CHASER Frank David MGM PROFESSOR BEWARE Harold Lloyd ^r MOTHER CAREY'S CHICKENS P. S. Berman BKO LITTLE MISS BROADWAY D. Hempstead 20th THE YOUNG IN HEART D. O. Sel^nick UA AMAZING DR. CLITTERHOUSE Anatole Litvak WB Western C. Starrett-I. Meredith Sam Nelson Com-Dr D. O'Keefe-A. Morrls-L^ Ston* E. L. Marin Comedy H. Lloyd-P. Welch Elliott Nugent Drama B. Keeler- A. Shirley Rowland V. Lee Rom-Com S. Temple-G. Murpby-Diirant* Irving Cum'mings Rom-Dr J. Gaynor-D. Fairbanks, Jr. vtichard Wallace Drama E. G. Roblnson-C. Trevor Anatole Litvak 81 7/13 ,7/27 .7/6 6/22 8/6/3g THE WHEEL SPINS ' ' THE QROWD ROARS BAREFOOT BOY BULLDOG DRUMMOND IN AFRICA COME ON, LEATHERNECKS I'M FROM THE CITY GATEWAY ... LETTER OF INTRODUCTION MR. CHUMP A. Hitclicock Sam Zimbalist E. B. Deri- Harold Hurley Herman Schlom Wm Sistrom • Samuel G. Ehgel John Stahl Bryan Foy GB Rom-Dr . M. Lockwood-P. Lnkas A. Hitchcock MGM Rom-Dr R. Taylor-M. O'Sulllvan R. Thorpe Mon* Drama J. Moran-M. M. Jones-R. Morgan Karl Brown Par Mystery J. Howard-H. Angel-H. B. Warner . Louis King Rep Sports R. Crdmwell-M. Hunt Jas. Cruze RKO Comedy J. Penner-L. Kraeger Ben Holmes .20th Drama D, Ameche-A. DVhelah-RatoB Al Werker ; U ' . Rom-Dr A. Leeds-A. Menjou-Bergen John Stahl WB Com-Rom JOhnhle-LpIa Lane Wm. Clemens' 71 13 100 iSO 8/3 8/3 8/12738 THE GLADIATOR RICH Man, POOR GIRL THE TEXANS FAINTED DESERT KEEP SMILING THE MISSING GUEST RACKET BUSTERS .David L. Loew Edw. Chodorov Lucien Hubbard Bert Gilroy Sol Wurtzel B. Sarecky Sam rischoll Col Comedy J. E.' Brown- J. Travis MGM Com-Dr . B. Y6ung-R. Hassey Par Outdoor ' . J; Bennett-R. Scott RKO Western G. O'Brlen-L." Johnson 20th Com-Rom . J. Witbets-C. Stuart U Mystery P. Kelly-C. Moore-Lundlgan WB ' Meller H, BoKartrGloria Dickson Ed ScdKwick R. Schunzcl Jas. Hogan David Howard Herbert I. Leeds, John Rollins - Lloyd Bacon 8/3 8/19/38 CONVICTED . „^°} , MAN WITH 100 FACES A, Hitchcock MARIE ANTOINETTE H. Stromberg GIVE ME A SAILOR Jeff Lazarus SMASHING -THE RACKETS B. P. Fineman A ROMANTIC ROGUE John H. Auer ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND H. J . Brown THAT CERTAIN AGE J. Pasternak FOUR'S A CROWD David Lewis 8/26/38 I AM THE LAW TOO HOT TO HANDLE BLOCK-HEADS CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN SPAWN OF THE NORTH BREAKING THE ICE TENTH AVENUE KID SPEED TO BURN THE YOUNG IN HEART WOMEN COURAGEOUS Eveirett Riskin L. Weingarten Hal Roach Wm. T. Lackey Al Lewin Sol Lesser Harry Grey Jerry Hoffman D. O. Selznick Ben Glazer Col GB MGM Par RKO Rep 20th U WB Col . MGM MGM Mono Par RKO Bep 20th •-UA WB Meller Drama Drama Comedy Meller Rom-Dr ,■ Musical 'Musical Com-Rom Meller Com-Dr Comedy . Rom^lDr Outdoor Musical Meller Sports , Rom-Dr Com-Dr ' R, Ilayward-C. Quigley L. Palmer-T. Walls N. Shearer-T. Power M. Raye-B; Hope-B. Grable ;,C. Moirrla-F. Mercer R. NovarrorM. Marsh T. Power.-A. Faye-Amecho. D. Darbln-J. Cooper-I. Rich R. Ru9sell-E. Flynn Leon Bar.sha A. Hitchcock W. S. Van Dyke Elliott Nugent Lew Landers John.H. Aucr Henry King Edw. Ludwig Michael Curtiz ISO 80 80 95 7/13 7/27 6/1 £. G. RobinsonrW. Barrte Gable^Loy-Carrlllo. Laurel aiid Hardy A. Nagel-J. LaRue d.. Ratt-IL, Fonda-Lampur B. Breen-C. Ruggles : B. Cabot-B. Roberts M. Whalen-L, Barl J. Gaynpr-D. Fairbanks, St; ' . Priscllla-Rosemary-Lane AlHall . Jack Conway John Blyslorie ; Karl Brown Henry Hothnway Edward Cline ' -; B'nard Vorhaus Otto Browcr . Rieh.nrd Wiill.i(-e. , MichaeJ Cur.ti-,c 18 VARIETY Wednesday, August 3, 1938 A GREAT SHOW OPENS AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL THIS WEEK. . ^'Pandro S. Berman has sent forward what promises to prove a panacea for box-office iils. Mixture of comedy and drama, it will warm theheartsofexhibitors, for it contains ali the ingredients necessary to start the turnstiles cliclcing again!" --HOLiyV/OOD VARIETY "Has tremendous drawing possibilities and will unquestionably clean up at the box-office. Women will go for it hook* line and sinker." -HOLLYWOOO REPORTER "Not since 'Little Women' a picture with more sentimental heart throb. A swell picture for the entire family." -LOS ANGELES EXAMINER "One of the notably worthwhile pictures produced in recent months. Admirably cast, Anne Shirley and Ruby Keeler rise to new heights." -LOS ANGELES TIMES "Heart-warming, tender story capably handled by able ca st should please fans generally." -FILM DAILY V. ^eiiiU'Bjajr, August 3, 1938 PICTURES yARlETY Bfind Checking Will Get Court Hearing jn Mpls. in Complaint Vs. Ross Federal Minneapolis, Aug. 2. Whether blind checking of thea- tres constitutes a private detective iunction .will be the Issue when the; KoS Federal Service tried in municipal court here op a, complaint Tworn against it by Sidney Vollt. indie habe operator. Charging opera- lion of a detective igehcy without * {["the second shot flred by North- west Allied States in its fight .against blind checking generally and the Boss outfit ill particular. Jirst- blow was delivered by; the -organization at iU recent convention here, when jnenibers voted, to refuse Ross check- ; ers admission to their theatres. ■ Volk is a member, of- Northwest Allied and brought the charges at iti . behest; He has been particularly re- sciitful because of the blind checking of his two local theatres. ;■ ,. , .I( Ross Federal is convicted of the present charge, it will be a mii- dem'earipr punishable by .a finis. In contracting for pictures oh per- centage, Northwest Allied itiembers now ai-e specifying that the check- ; ing- niiust not be; done by, the ROss Federal company. Par's Partners Invade N. Y. for Confabs On Operations and Product Several Paramount partners are in New - York, where they ' coiifcrred with Y! Frank: Freeman . and; other executives at the home office on cur- rent operating rnatters as well as to consider product deals. They include R. J; O'Donnell. of the Interstate cir- vcuit in. the .sout.h\yest; Carl.Bamfoird, solitheasterh operator; Artliur- Lucas; and Bill, ifenkins, who' are in the Georgia territory; Mike Kincey, of the"; Kincey-Wiiby interests in the soupie£st, and M. A. Lightman, who has the Tennessee - Arkansas - Mis- sissippi Par theatres. Additionally, the Par partners eariie on to discuss the national greater pictiires drive. . Y. Frank F.eemian, following the eonferences, left over the weekend with his family tor his summer place near Asheville; N. C. Y. Frank Free- man, Jr., vy-ho also 'is associated with .Par. at this' h.o., went along. Family will be away around, two \weeks. Going up. to the: Adirondacks by car, Fred Mohrhardt, comptroller of Tar, also shoved off over- the week- . end for a couple week;* rest. Louis Phillips, : Par attorney presently in Mexico, will Ije bask in 10 days or two weelc."!. • N; Y.^ Air Terminal Will Also House Iteel Theatre Grand Central theatre operators;! who :ruh .the ncwsreel-shorts- feature : hou.se in the Grand Central station, '■ N; Y., have an option, on the pro- posed 586-scat newsrefel house in the planned Air-line Terminal building opposite Grand ' Central, It Would be on the ground floor of the three- story 'building,: which will be pas- senger terminal in N. Y. for alirplane lines, . Penn Newsreel theatre, near , the Perlns.vlvama station, will be opened officially either Aug. 25 or Sept. This 45(J-seat, house will be run ijy Joseph Steiner; Cut Rale New. low in an advertising pass -^'as achieved last weejc by the Miami theatre on Sixth ave- ;nuei New York, ^oy was handing them out in the after- noon while the house was charging 10c. . Pass admitted one when ac- .companicd by 5c. B&K Sets the lead for D^^^ Plii% Exchaonges Also P^^^ (JN Takes Ovfer Oat Opera from Condor Los' Angeles, Aug. 2. . Federal court gave Grand National permission to close a deal with Con- dor for the release of 'King of the ; Sierras,' a western which suspended production several months ago but is flow bein.s completed by Condor. Release will enaible Grand National to pay off a $6,000 lien held against the picture by consolidated Film In- oustry. Condor gets $25,000 from .aistribution. plus . $11,000 spent to "»»h shootinir. Profit Educ. Fdm Distrib Set Up; Hearon Tops Long expected educational; pic-: tu re . corporation to serve - as quasi distributoi: ;6r iiaisdn for film pro: ducers desiring to get their piroduct ' extensively spotted in the classroom, \va^ ; established last week. . Non- prdfit .outfit,, known as the . Associa- tion. oC School ;Filin Libraries, Inc., has' Fanning Hearon, forrher news- paper man; and two years director, of the motion pictures division of the U.' S. Interior bcpartmeii.t, as ex- ecutive director with headquarters in ■N..y. ;■ -In' {lie 'past; 'the: difliciiKy en- countered by ' industry companies and other makers of educational •.subjects or scmi-instriictipnal films has been; that there was no system, whereby they might set their, pic- tures put to the- schools. Film Libr.ifies, financed by . a grant froni the General Education board, a Rockefeller foundation,' has sufficient funds from this source to. carry on for ai threcTyear period. It will look at and appraise any film 'submitted. If found suited for cla-iss- room use, outfit will canvass all 400 different school systems or represen- tatives in the. U. S. Ground work for Fiftn Libraries was laid during confabs between fllnri producers' and educators from November, 1937, and extending through June of this year. ' Promi- nent, educators interested in . visual education are. on the- association's board of directors. Assistant to. Heiii'On will be Mary Losey, ; formerly in the educational division of 'March of Time' reel; Headquarters have been opened in the Timc-LKc .^building,. Radio City. Spitalny Pic 'Charm' Hollywood, Aug. 2. . Phil Spitalny's femme orch, billed on the air as "The Hour .df Charm,' will put it on celluloid. Paramount will make it as a Cine;- cplor short; Pic Night in the Bowl Hollywood. Aug. 2. ''!u" Pt^rsonalities slated to take summer music festival at Bnr-*^?'^ .Bowl .tonight (Tuesday ). aoris MoiTos conducting the Sym- Pnony orchestra and Cecil B. De- « e as narrator. Hope Hamoloh . 'La Valsc' written by Jimmy McHugh. . Edm'"j^?."y'^°'"*' T^ynne Overman. Robinspn, Ronald Col- "jan and Basil Raf.Vhone will eiiact ' comT '!;°[" plays, with music wwpose d by studio tun esmiths. Hydraulic Lift Cam N*,., Holly wood. Aug. 2. di'ai.r «?"i<:ra c.irriage with a hy- •th» a? ''cen introduced in of Samuel Goldwyn's ea Artists "^'=^°*'^oy' at 0""- ItUfli^" Toland Invented the con- aiid »?,"' speeds up oporation "i^elianical tripods, ^ Fleischery Cartoonists Talking Pact Prior To Studio's Miami Takeoff Negotiations have been opened for a renewal of the contract with Max Fleischer, cartoon producer, cover- ing the artists and animators who. are rriembers ol Local 60, United Ameri- can Artists' of the .United Office & Professional Workers of America, a GIp affiliate,-, whose: presfent: agree- ment runs out in three months. . New contract is being sought in ad- vance of plans of 'Fleischer to move production to the new studib he is building in Miami, Fla. .In addition to a guarantee of one year's employ- ment, 'union seeks the: payment of transportation costs and all extra expenses for . the first mbiith in Florida for those shifting, . .Fleischer consented to negotiate after six weeks . ' of deliberation. Louis Nizer. attorney for the eartooh producer; finally indicated his client was- willing to discuss a' renewal of i, the present conlract,:;signed last Oc- ! tober after many months of intensive picketing activity. 2 Drive-Ins Fail To Toot; Couldn't Get Pix Philadelphia, Aug; 2. Drive-In Theatre in ' Pennsauken, N. J.,, near here, has failed: to open this summer. Another similar ven- ture skedded fur the Roosevelt boule- vard, on the, route, to New York, has not materialized -either, leaving Philly, .. home - of the' iftrst of . the neck - in - your - car - and-walch-the- shbw spots, without any such con- venience. . Lack of product was. the trouble in both cases. Couldn't get anything worthwhile in competition with reg- ular established houses. •PehnsaUken Drivc-In was operated fpr a, while' by such expcriepced cxhibs as Wil- me.r St .Vincent and Var.balow Bros:; and even so failed to click ;sub.stan- tially. Did oke for a. short timie on , Chicago. Mii... 2 Any indie nabe operatorsMii)|).;:i tor a i eiiM-n lb single features iocull.)' this year look pretty Weak, witti Balaban ■& Kalz now in a serie.-i. of; ncgptiiillons fpr product which caK tor a douljle feature setup for tlw 1938-39 period. John: Balabun anil Walter Immetman, ; chicflaiiis oC B.,Si K. are back after a nunibsr )t conferences in New York on the jkw year's picture lihe-up, and, accoid- iiig to the work sheets, Ihsre '.is lit- tle liliolihoqd that single bills ill creep back into Chi this year. . Wilh B. & K. continuing twin bil(;i ill tjieir theatres it mdans ddubia fpaluies Ihrpughbut the town, .sidca the small nabos can't compete H.?aiii!it the big theatres unless ttiay meet, the bargain picture policy.' sexei's and. freak pix. Cooper to Lop mt 'Heart' Trio Padded Hollyvyood, Au3. 2. Pauletie Qbddard, Richard Carlson and Minnie bu.pree are having their roles in 'The Young Heart" built up with added material. David p. Selzriick ordered the trip to .woi'k foiir days thi.s week on ■ added scenes to ainplify the picture for its World premiere at Radio City < Music Hall. RCA Net Over $2,000,000 Below ^37; KAO> Divvy Net; profit of Radio Corp. of Amer- ica .and . subsidy dipped more than $2,000.000..^ in . the^ .fi.rft six_.1p01i.ihj5 ending June 30 this year as c6m- pared with the 'first half last year. Net profit first half this year yas $2..S24,756. as against $4,647,385 in 1937. This was equivalent to .066c pifr cornmon share against .2I9c.in first; six nnpnths last year, after pro- vision for preferred dividends.' Profit before ' terest. deprecia- tipn, ampr^ization and :federal in- come taxes was $5i4lQ,451. in the. first six months this year against $7,- 422.907 ih":iike jseriod of 1937. Directors of Keith-Albee-Orpheum declared $1.75 dividend on ■?% pre- ferred stock yeisterday ' (Tuesday) covering '. the, quarter ending Sept. .30,. 1935, paying it out of capital surplus. Divvy is payable Oct. 1 to stock on record siepf. 15. Both B. F. Keith and Keith-Albee- Orphcum. earnings were virtually halved in the first half of the year, ending July 2, as compared with first 26 weeks of '37. B. F. Keith net profit totalled $2.')4.538 in the 26- weeit period ended July 2 as against $513,727 in first six months last year. Profit before provision for deprecia- tion and income taxes was $594,766, as coriipared with $889,887 in like period of 1937. Keith-Albee-Orpheum . net profit was $388,194 against $687,190 ..in similar 26 weeks of 1937. Cbnipany reported profit before provision for depreciation and income taxes to be $882,064, as compared with $1,204,571 last year. K-A^O profit was equal to $0.04 per 7% preferred stock, as cdnripared with $10.69 last year. Keith -Albcc-Orpheum showed net brpflt of $1,013,767 for the 52 weeks ending July 2. or $15;76 per share. I Fbr.both; companies, the 1937 net; prplit failed to include (Provision for | surtax b»i; undistributed proHls. In Lincoln, Neb. Linbpin. Aug. 2. irst effprt tp reduce the seating here will be taken thiS' mpnth by J. H. Cpopci*, of' the .Lincoln Thea- tres Corp„ who.will clo^e two housed, amounting to about 2.000 seats. .Sun, a ■second-r.uhner, goes permanently dark, wliiie the Orpfieuin douses ,USbs'«4'?J' a. ifew. mpntl).s to he;remodi eled. About the tirne' it is to. relight. Copper's lease runs out on the 1,400- seat Liberty, also a second-runner, and it's understood he'll drop it. ' Move' is hoped to take: almost all of ihe subsequent runs out of town; biiilding for belter biz on the. firsts. This may npt be the end of the clos- ings, some other houses being o.o.'ed as white elephants. It will be the first time Lincoln has been, anything but 100% operating in mahy years. 'Town is ■ presently cpnsuih ihg 25 fea- tures weekly in the downtown area. N.Y.P0UCEINQ.T. BANNING ON BINGO ' Bingo and kindred games are quietly, being shuttered' in all cliurehei!, clubs, fraternal organizar ■lions, social ;societies and the like by the New York gendarmes. Un- derstood, to be part of Police Com- missioner Valentino's recently in- augurated campaign against gam- bling. Pre.'aure is on, although ho sweeping order has. turned up thus far,' with chance that church 'or- ganizations may be given some lee- way. In Times Square area, NVA war veterans post was given the nix. Thus ' far. no theatres have been fold to abandon bingo; lucky and kindred so-called chance games. Prosecution.s to date have proved unsUcce.ssful against film houses in New York, . rhilly Dunlin^ as l.t Philadelphia, Aug. 2. Despite : clauses in ;c6nii'yci.'i of ihioe majors prohibitin.:; doul)l(^• featuring ot; their product.' pix con-, linue to be coupled, in' dUal.s. W;u-- n.oi- Bros.. Metro and Paramount ap- pnrciitly look the other wiiy vvl-cii smoli indies use their prpduct a.s p)irt of .T twin bill; • F.nct that Metro prpduct w.ns be- ings! dualled here came out foUbwint; a V.MiiEtv story that the Miniieaiwli.s' oxchanje was thr.catenirig to cut biT the film pf Princess there; bccaU.se W. L. Hamilton, the owner, was dou- ble-featuring it. Minneapiolis cpn- tiact.« do not. specifically prohibit twin bills, as' do those here. Only time- that Philiy 'exchanges .squawk about their product tjeiug .trimmed- is when, a specific ■ coni- plain.l is -made.. Tliis is usuall.v by a competitive exhib. Then the ck- change says 'Naughty, naughty.' and the operator; ceases thb duals for ■ wi;i?lf.--oi 'SO: ..-rfitiCc^al anitUdC bi: •ilu.;' exchanges is 'Were nbt policwnen, Exhibitors aren't supposed tt du.ii our product, but we . have no' wiiy"; of checking unless complaints coina in.' . , . Double-features > are not generiil practice in .Philiy and . ngit ni.my hoiises u.-JC them. ' Lots of exhibH have tried theni and gone back to 'the single show. ;They find ' they make no greater profit on them than on the singles. Much of the film that is being dualed here is cxce.>i.s' which cxhibs have bbught and want to use tip, rather than just let it go by the board. : Whple.'situatipn of the right of ex- hibs. to dual, 'however, has been sub-. Jecl of litigatipn in Federal Court here for more than four years. For- mer Congressman ■ Ben ; Golder, whb.'c family has ;fllm Interestflr, made a test case'of the contract olT Perciman Bros., local e.thibs. iHe charged majors .with restr.iininif trade and v/as upheld by the district and circuit courts in several lopin- ioii.'t. Suit is still, in litigation, how- ever. era jtlDELL MOVES Hollywood; ug. 2. . Ben Jiidell's producing company shitted from the Selznick-Intbrna- tional lot to the studio formerly oc- cupied by Maurice Conn on Sunset blvd. Production starts Aug. 22 on. 'I Want a Divorce.' Adcle Buffin'slon doing final touches on the script, Tint Shorts for WB Hpllywood, Aug. 2. Cinecolor closed a deal with War- ner-.s to . malce pastel films of 13 Il- lustrated Mechanics subject.-:, a' Sia- mese travel picture and a fur fash- ion bricfie. Other, shorts on the Cinecolor program are- Paramounfs 'Unusual Occupations' and three cartoons to be pi'pduced by Cartoons. Ltd, All the Briefles In Hollywood, Aug. 2. Leon Schlcsioger finished the last of his 1937-38 sked of Merry Melodio.i! and Looney Tunes for Warners release- Final p.^ir, "Wholl.v- . Smoke' . and 'Cracked k'c' 'are en route to N->w York. ■ ' 'Raund Mountain HpHinvppd, Aug. . Armand Schaefcrs prbduclion schedule at Republic vvan rcyamoed , to brin-^ the 'Weaver Bros, and Elviry hiltblliy musical to. the top of the list..! Pjetine. still uhliilod, s'.arts next' Monday: <10). j Two bihcr Schacfcr productions, a 'Lone Ranger' ssrijl and 'Command j to Glory.' 'delayed by the stiitt, will ; follow the hillbilly piclurs. ' Canada's. TAba Ottawa, Aug. 2. Effective today throughout all Canada, all forms of slot machines, bingo games, bank nighls, drawings Cor prize.?, housic-housie,: lotteries and games of chance. became illegal Under new provisions of .the Crim-; inal Code of Canada put through at the session ot the Dominion Parlia- ment here last spring, now given of- ficial enactment by announcement 'n the Canada Gazette through brder- ih-councii. Thi.s mcan.<; the immediate end to. the formidable pppo..siti6n to theatres in the form of bingo games which have flourished atternoori and night in many centers under the guise of community welfare. Municipal au- thorities had imposed; heavy li- censes in recent years in. an effort to curb the .<;lot machine wave and the annual fees for siich had been raised to a rhaximum of $.'jOO per machine .in ' varlou.' cities. ; Now the machine owners are. pressing for a rebate of; fees tor the i^^ie."v(3iicd ;iivc months of, the current,.' year but (he civic heads have :maQtc no move in the. matter pjndin.y inslr.uclion.v from ZEIDMAN ON THIRD 8-PIC RELEASING DEAL Hollywood, Aug. 2; Binnic Zeidman, v.p. of: Malcoliri Brown Pictures, Inc., signed an eight-picture releasing deal la.st week- wjlh Majestic for the 1030-39 .sched- ules. First feature, /Prison Tiaiji,' ijnes Into production at 'Talismaa .studio Aug. 1". Zeidrion made another eighl-fea- turc deal with Regent Pictures tint '.vcok, before and is dickering to pro- duce still another pctcl. Mickey's Top Roost Holly wobd, Au;t. 2. Mickey Rooncy cfets top billi/>u in Melro;s: The Hardys Out VfMl' slated to start this week wilh Wil- liam Seitz; directing. Virginia Wuid- ier goes into the cast in place ot Judy . Garland. Script was turned in last v/cpk by William; Ludwig and Kay V-Jii tllimr. CRANE WItBDR'S TINTES Hollywood, Au.-j: 2. Crane Wilbur will direct I'Jc'-ni- color shprt, 'Abraham hUv^6\'i,' Warnor.s. Charles Lintpn is woikitig -m .screenplay. - llic. allorhcy-gener.nrs dcrnrti'iririt. Police ofTicials have been ord.;i'cd t-» piit pn the prc.s'.sure every wl'cii! that: the everyday gambling ^vUl 1''- .■:t;iiiipcd put. VARIETY Weduesduf, August 3, 1938 HARVEST! Gather it in! Love Fiitds Andy Hardy" starts the Parade of Hits! ^^-FAGB'fflhALO— just one of Leo's 'H«»'Sc-tinie K^lpi?'^^^ Below is double spread. Back page blank for your theatre message. Actual size is 13" x 9". Write M-G-M, 1540 B'way, N.Y.C.ifbr free sample or for prices, stating quantity desired. Leo, the roaring lion of Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer, proudly lists current and {orthcoming entertainments. The Biggest Hits, the Greatest Star-Studded Movies since the screen began. The B«tl Piduie in which he h*t erei «p|ie«iet Pilot" in Ihe lomtnce ol i d«re^vll 'round-lhe-worM newsf eel cameraman. Lore in action on land« tea and air. CLARK GABLE • MYRNA LOY .-"TOO HOT TO HANDLE" wi/Jb Walter Pidgeon, Walter Connolly, Leo Cariillo Wanted: A nan (or MomI Handaone, aingte men— pleaae epply! FREDDIE BARTHOLOMEW • JUDY GARLAND in Katherine Brush's "LISTEN DARLING" witb Mary Astor, Walter Pidgeon, Alan Hale ■■. ' ■ • '1937'S BEST ACTOR" in the bold drama ol a beloved piied and a hoy who wai "Born to be Hunq!" SPENCER TRACY • MICKEY ROONEY .«"BOYS' TOWN" .•■ Thrilling muiical drama of the romantic life and loves of Johann SUausc, II the world'a waltx iingf LUISERAINER • FERNAND GRAVET MILIZAKORJUS m'THE GREAT WALTZ" >v/(i Hugh Herbert, Herman Bing, Henry Hull, Lionel Alwill and a cast oi Thousands. Combined Symphonic Orchestra of Hundreds Stars of "Yellow Jack" and "A Star Is Born" in a gay romance of modern Manhattan JANET GAYNOR • ROBERT MONTGOMERY .""THREE LOVES HAS NANCY'^ i7A FRANCHOT TONE, Guy Kibbee, Cora Witherspoon iar of "The Bad Man ol Brimstone" leiurns . with a grand new pal . . . in thrilling, new melodrama I WALLACE BEERY • MICKEY ROONEY /n"STABLEMATES" Compare it only lo thdi glofio<*"Haae Harie" and "Maytime" JEANETTE MacDONALD NELSON EDDY in Victor Herbert's "SWEETHEARTS" Filmed in Technicolor itb Frank Morgan, Mischa Auer, Herman Bing, Ray Bolger,. Reginald Gardiner, Florence Rice. Giant Mtisical Ensemble I .4// new.' Romantic dude tanch adventures with America'* beloved Judge Hardy lajnilyl "OUT WEST WITH THE HARDYS" with LEWIS STONE, MICKEY flOONEY, CECILIA PARKEa FAY HOIDEN * Importantly produced from the eeruational novel by Dr. A. I, Cronin ! Millions read the book t Tens of Millions will' see the picture! "THE CITADEiL'' .»* ROBERT DONAT • ROSALIND RUSSELL Cast oi Thousands ritliant long*run stage romance for glamorous Joan! JOAN CRAWFORD ,r."THE SHINING HOUR" ■ . • ■ Behind the scenes, teveaKng Ihe life and love affairs ol those who dream ol stage caiean LUISE RAINER .""DRAMATIC SCHOOL" Mark Twain's Great American Clasac of a boy and romantic Mississippi river days! "HUCKLEBERRY FINN" //i MICKEY ROONEY and an Impressive Cast of M-G-M Stars '^iny Tim" and "Scrooge" will live againl Charles Dickens' Maaterpiect — dedicated to the heart! ol the world ! LIONEL BARRYMORE in Charles Dickens' "A CHRISTMAS CAROL" ilh a Magnificent Cast Now Being Auditioned and Selected • COMING GREAT PICTURES! WATCH FOR THEMI THEY'LL MAKE ALL OF 1938-lbi39 A HAPPY MOVIE NEW YEAR! Look for importantly line enlertainmenU froin M-G-M all through this winter and spring. Among the big, notable atiuctions to come' ; Spectacular dramafiialion of KENNETH ROBERTS' "NORTHW£STPASSAGE"inTechoicolor,ilarringflOBEHTTAVLOR SPENCER TBACY and WALLACE BEERY . . NORMA SHEARER and CURK GABLE in the celebrated stage hil, "IDIOT SDEUGHT" . .The riotous MARX BROTHERS in "A DAY AT THE CIRCUS" . .The famed "WIZARD OP OZ," in Technicolor, with a star-studded M-G-M cast CLARK GABLE and MYRNA LOY in the thrilU ol "THE GREAT CANADIAN". . ."THE WOMEN " the most daring New York sUge hit in years. . ;and MORE! MOREI MORE*' — ■ ^ ■ -^w - . <..^ tFedncsday, August 3. 1938 PICTURES VARIETY 21 INDIE OPPOSISH TO PAR-SINGER IN MPLS. Minneapolis; Aug. 2. The Param6unt-Sing«r eomblria- ♦ion in .control o£ the downtown flrst-run- situation, excepting the two s^e-seater houses, W. A.^ Steffes' World and Bennle Berger's Time, which have virtually non-conflicting poUcies, faces independent oppOsi- {ion for the first '■ime. , . - Announcement has,bee:i made that Steites' Alvin. 1,500-seater and one of the city's most beautiful show- houses, which has been dark for a number of years, outside of brief sessions with dramatic stock and roadshow pictures, , will reopen in September with a permanent picture policy. ' Where the Alvin will obtain its product is a moot question, but its sponsors seem to have no doubU on that score. As far as is known, the Paramount-Singer combo has all the major product tied up. The World pljys foreign films, arty stuff and sluffs, The Time runs, for the most part, independent releases, .reissues ■ and sluffs. Paramount-Singer are getting the Grand, another downtown house that has been dark for sevferal years, in shape for reopening in September for flrst-run pictures. Thus, in spile of the Minnesota closiiig^and remain- ing dark, there will be one more fllrrt house (but about 1,600 less seats) in operation next, fall and winter, cording, to present plans. Also, despite tlie diepression, legis- lation and suits aimed at producei,-- operation of, theaitres, . Paramount is expected to start construction of an- other hew showhouse in St. Louis \ Park, local adjacent suburb, shortly. _ A |j;rmit for the theatre already has PHIUY UMPTO FEUD GETS ANOTHER HYPO Philadelphia, Aug. 2; More coals were added to the feud betwisen members and execs of United Motion Picture .Theatre Own- ers, here, which has split the organ- ization,, tliis. week with a deal set whereby Affiliated Theatres, Inc., will shortly acquire the Frolic theatre. Frolic, just a short distance from the .. Apollo, owned by Charles Se- gall, chairman of the board of UMPTO. Affiliated, headed by Dave Milgiam, already has under con- struction another house on the. other side of tlte Apollo, which means Se- gall's- theatre will be . caught right in the middle. "Feud between Milgram on one side and . Segall and Lewen Pizofi UMPTO prez. on the other, started when Pizor began construction of the Cheltonv close to, the Walton, which Milgram had recently acquired. Milgram declared .this violated the ethics' of the organiza- tion and was further incensed when, he charged, Pizor attempted to sell him the Chelton site at a tremen- dous proflt. He has a $100,000 libel suit pending against Pizor how as a result of an ad the UiyiPTO prez put in a trade paper. Pizor averted bunging Ihe whole situation out into the open at a gen- eral membership meeting last week by declaring there was no quorum when Milgram got up to speak. Meeting was the first in liine months. Milgram dfemahded a financial re- port un tlie Paramount strike. funds of last; fall. He said he contributed $200. No accounting has been given. Film Reviews NIGHT ALONE (.Continued from page 15) barbed twittings by his wife's sister, who suspects his nocturnal escapade. Leonora Corbett plays this with a more acid touch than the part cre- ated on the stage. Lesley Brook is natural as the wife, and Emlyn Wil- liams alternates easily between smug respectability and hilarity under the spell of drink. Photography and direction ac- ceptable and supporting characters chosen -with. care. If film : version does not quite fulfil promifse sug- gested by the originar play, it is be- cause they very rarely do. Clem. DREIKLANG (GERMAN MADE) ■ UFA production nhd rclednp. Sl.irii T.ll Dugrovcr, P.lul Karlmann. Ki>ir .Moci>iii.s. Features Hclga Mitrold, Walter Wenior. .Karl Gunther, Franz Webor. Ulrecte 1 l)v Hana HInrlch.' Screenplay bv Frledrlch Foster- BurKsnif, based on story by Uctlet .SIcrck, Camera, Werner Kilen; niusle, Kurst Schroder; editor, Paul Ostennayr. At ,S0 St. Garden. N. Y.. week .luly -J:. '3S. Running time, IK), mlns. Cornelia, dintarlnl. . . Albert v. .Mollor.:. Ulrlch.v. .Mollcr .Monlka Schramm. Or. Sittlmrd. , Herickelberg ., Anton...: TInii: i^crbern ' Frlcdrloh Wllhelin .Meier Julius .Scbrainm ; . . . I'rau -Schramm. . .... Coast Racetracks (Continued from page 1) flow of money,' they see their cus- tomers tossing their money into the totes,: and want the State of Cali- fornia to do something^ about it. Theatre operators and exhibitors feel just as. keenly about it, but are rot so outspoken. Meanwhile, they are giving the merchants their moral support and quietly contributing to a movement for a legislative curb on the racing game. _ Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Del Mar provide 117 racing days in So. California. When they are not running, Tanforan and Bay Meadows are busy lip around San Francisco. Hollywood Park's first season was a distinct financial success, and would have been greater if it had been allowed to run as -long as Anita. The take was around }i,m,m, some of which will be spent on improvements and some distributed as a 20% dividend to stockholders. $499,913 DaUy 4,2?l'y average of the tote was $499,913. Track's cut of 8% plus nm* an>ounted to about $1,600,- "w. Rest of the income was derived ;f°"\„5fO,000 admissions at $1.10 and P^'"''*'^ cars at two bits, and 430,000 programs at 15c. stale drew about $650,000, Uncle ^am $175,000 in income taxes, city °„i ^nelewood grabbed $100 a day,, taxes were a flock of olher ^Hollywood Park is controlled by. r„S"^'".^' ^""^ the lisi of stockholders cwt ''^* ^ film Who's Who. Bing hi^ f""^ Pat O'Brien are the two bigjhots at Del Mar. with plenty more picture personalities inserting ownp!. 1 "'^ P'"=- Sahte Anita is owned largely by Frisco capital, but Csi?. k'' president and screen ll^ggics have heavy investments in Th.;.*"' Albsorl, Del Mar year u-uO^'i!' "^ ^ new set-up next &e bf .the racihg t(^ shfff"»i?'\^''*'^*'°"s are under way Crosbv u l^-?"^ program from the at H„n„*'^"' '° the Warners outfit "Plywood Park. SB day! eive the latter track With vL^f """S and put it oaa par ^cnn. 3^ far as duration easfS^'^' " would also add at L m.* -5°°" t° the handle, which LT^^ lhaa Del Mar can ever ex- faoiijr with its lack of hotel Anlc e" ^"'^ distance from Los Kirsch Vice Saperstein As Illinois Allied Prez Chicago, Aug. 2. . .Replacing Aaron Saperstftin,,'jy.l:>o diNt 5kii; -iO. Jack'Kirsch-' Bs -cwcb-- ed president ■ of the Allied Theatre Owners of Illinois. He was officially named to serve for the unexpired portion of the term, which has 10 months to go. Election was by the Allied board of directors, Kirsch has. been an exhibitor in Chicago for rhany years- and always a leading figure in independent thea- tre, organizations. He is at present operator of the 20th Century, Gold and Villa theatres In the nabes. Lou Abramson, who has been sec- retary of the Allied organization here since its inception, continues in that capacity. ' 2 Meets for National Los Angeles, Aug. 2. Operating divisions of National Theatres Corp. are holding two reg- ional conventions' this year instead of the national gathering originally set for Del Monte, Cal., late this month. First se.ssipn, covering Kansas City, Milwaukee and Denver divi- sions, is slated for Kansas City. Aug. 9-10-11. Second powwow, embrac- .ing western divisions, will be held at the Ambassador hotel here Aug. 15- 16-17; Spyros Skouras will preside at both meetings. All WB Shorts In Warner Bros. Vitaphone studios in Brooklyn has wound up final tou(:hes on this season's consignment of shorts, with previews run off last week. Included in the lot were two Floyd Gibbons' subjects, a 'Joe and Asbestos' short and 'Miracles of Sporls.' Present plan is to .shiit down pro- duction until Seplcmber. Remarque Eyes U. S. Paris, July 26. .rich Maria Remarque is consid- ering American citizenship. The author of 'All Quiet on the Western Front" deprived of his Ger- man citizenship, has been residing here. TWO FOR LOWE Hollywood, Aug, 2. Edmund Lowe is slated for two Paramount roles as soon as he fin- ishes a weelvs p.a.' chore in Chicago, opening Aug; 5. Program calls for a featured spot in 'Di.sban-cd" and the Philo Vance role in 'flic Craeic Allen :Muider Case.' Midwest Ops Darkening Big Theatre Signs to Effect Power Savings Chicago, Aug. 2. That theatre operators, particu- larly circuits, are convinced that mammoth perpendiciilar electric signs blazoning th<> name of the the- atre have outlived their usefulness iS' indicated; in . the steadily increas- ing. riumber of theatres which are no longer bothering even to light their big spectaculars at night. Orders are being sent through the Paramount circuit to keep the per- pendiculars dark.. These orders are based on the decision that it is: no longer necessary to blast on the name of the theatres, since, they are deemed to have already become es- tablished firmly in the minds of the ... . . .1.11 CaBOvcr . . I'uiil JIarllnann . . . . Rolt Mocblus . . . .Hel(ra Marotd . . Waller Werner . . . .Karl Guntticr .... Fran!! Weber ..Liu Sclioenborn . . : .Otto Matthles . . Werner PIcdnth . ...Mni'la Seldler (In German, No English Titles) Excellently produced, but some- what overlong film will undoubtedly draw the . local Teutons, although its American appeal is limited; Film deals in; an interesting, way with the. relationship of a widower father and a son- just' past adoles- cence, both enamored of the same woman. Handling of; this theme is done with taste and considerable delicacy. Direction, camerawork and musical background are all praise- worthy. Lil Dagover is the siren who at- tracts the attention of this pair as well as that Of. several other ad- mirers. Paul Hartmann, as. the fa- ther, presents a oicture of a viRor- ous_military tjrpe of pre-wat. Gerr j jMfe^-^t^tob-^tfcv.eiusi^^aa^ youth, performs with intelligence and a convincing quality, Supi>ort- ing cast are all topnotch, especially Helga Marold, who io particularly attractive. Windup of the film has Hartmann shot in a duel by a rejected ad- mirer. Latter has shown a film at a party showing Davt»J.rdicatcd he -would-grar* -the iii J- r* 4^ IT- '1>mii-;Aii.ii^- A -i^::^ ..Yeatrb's' applic ation - far aa:'Ttijuhcr^ RKO's 23d St., 1st Run tion Patrons, of house stated that three girls vacated seats in the rear of house,, where bombing occurred, a short time before the explosion took place. - N. Y. Set Demolished Hollywood-, Aug. 2. Old familiar New York street set on the United Artists back lot; was torn down last week to make rooni for Sam Goldwyn's 'Last Frontier," starring Gary Cooper. Manhattan set was built for Gold- wyn's 'Street Scene' in 1930, and has been used in dozens of pictures. With the ppe:iing of the rebuilt Grand Opera House, N. Y., tomor- row (Thurs.) by. RKO fls a first-run nabe, the circuit is reported, making a deal to drop the ol J Proctor's ,2Srd Street, half a block away, which has been a second-run grind. Old 23rd St. is going tij the former owners of the G.O.H., it is understood, and will be operated independently. RKO is calling its hew house the 23rd St. theatre, which naeans the old Prpctor's' will probably be given an- other name. . New house will scat 1,880 and will pl,-'y firstrrun featui-ea on double bills, changing twice .weekly. New York Theatres, OZONE TOUOHIE Hollywood, Aug. 2. Airline hostess yarn, 'Tough An- gels," by Jerry Wald and Richard M'acaulay, is slated to start at War- ner's, in two weeks. . Cast includes Ann Sheridan. Anita Louise,, Jane- Bryan, John Payne, John Garfield and Ronald Rsagan. 'THANKS' AWAY Hollywood. Aug. 2. With Bob Hope aiid Shirley R^ss in the top spots. 'Thank.s for the Memory' rolled yesterday (Mon.) at Paramount. George .Archainbaud is ' directing. Melville Shauer associate producer. ILoew's STATE 1 tto/tawAT t OVKH! 3r(l IlICi S.M,\SII WKKK! mm imiMtt^ *nt AMAZING DR. CLITTERHOUSE J 25:: PARAMOUNT,""" ■square HEf.U OVER ^oan BRN'NKTX and Randolph SCOTT "THE TEXAPlS" Paramount riclur* In Penoa GENE KRUPA And 'HIi e«ltf : Bta* AL BERNIE Tib At. *Hlli Bt. ROXY AM, 95< TO BRATS I PM. "Alexander's Ragtime Band" —On .th» 3la(*— Naw Siace Sliow aVl'" MUSIC HALL "MOTHER CAREY'S CHICKENS^' ' tptcUcular Stag* Productions 22 VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, August 3, 1938 See Indie Frankensteins (Continued from page ,5) erford has around 100 Iheatres, while Butterfleld has around 85. Paramount has a slight interest in both, but in no way dictates buying or operiation . any more than it does in jiumeroUs other chains in' which it . has stock holdings of less than 50%. Of the approximate' 1,200 ' houses Far owns, operates or in which it has an interest, only those in lower New England, NeW: York state, tlie Chicago area, Illinois and Indiana, the northwest, Miami, aiid a few houses in the south, plus some scat- tered others, aire controlled wholly by the coihpany. If Majors Sell, What Then? One of the questibns that im- mediately arises in the minds of film men, aside from the powerful simon- pure indie circuits, is what' would happen if majors had to sell, out everywhere, thus throwing , into a more powerful position the various, partners or ' affiliates in 'which ma- jors presently are interested through stock or otherwise.; Paramount Is ' in a more crucial position in -thi^ conhectioh, having many partnerships, but should di- vorcement ever come, the theatres of other ' major producers now in competition with theniselyes ahd partners could go to the partners now most dominant in their terri- tories. Most of these partners now decide their own deals,' regardless of any producer interest Should it be-, come necessary to. sell the stock in-, terests. now h^Id, undoubtedly the majors would .^ell to the partners they how have. Among these are the powerful Saenger, InterEtate, Klncey-Wflby, A. il. Blank, Coinerford, Butterfleld, Robb tt Rowley, Malco and J. H. Cooper circuits. These do their .own buying now; subject in'some caisc^ to Ko. producer-distributor .approval, eyen-.more a mistiomer as "uKiieiB' than at pr«sent. The Robb It Rowley, chain of nearly 100 hpuses in' the F&M REOPENING ST. L FOX FORKAGTME' southwest is virtually indie as it is. Par is in partnership with this cir- cuit in a couple spots in Arkansas, while 50% is owned by United Art- ists, though latter leaves: absolute operation to' R. & R. Among distribs, there is. no secret that some ..of the larger indies are tougher to deal with through their. i>ower, controlling film- rental levelis, than the chains of the major com- panies themselves. During the past year, this resulted in numerous cases where indies ia« well as affiliated op- erators with local buying jurisdic' tion held down rentals: on various pictures, notably one that deserved, more; than average, *Sno.w White. " As one veteran theatre operator put it, 'the producerTdistributor has some interest in the indie, the latter has none in him.' While, divorcement might., mean more competition , in some situations or sections, in others it .would in'-: eVitably . mean greater control by those wito are now 100% indie or "Would become that \ty buying- out producer- interests,: such as E. V. Richards,- Kincey-Wilby, A. H. Blank, In other fields, it isn't wholesaler control which alone determines chain strength and buying pbwier. Many large grocery, clothing, drug and other chains; which do not engage in the manufacture of the products they sell, have blanketed the country w.ithin recent years.- lliis point un- doubtedly will be raised by the de- fense 'against' that portion of the gbvemiiient action : seeking divorce- ment of wholesaling from retailing. Principal angle of indies against loaning of talent, directors, stars, etc., is that one exhibitor will help build up a -star for the company whose prbduct he uses, then the talent will be loaned to another producer whose film goes to his- (the exhibitor's) competitor. ' Oh that grouml, it is pointed but, it would appear the ~. wonts- to •have— oompJ^te. cdhtTM of tife mr's ttrdlrKW.i him- self . to the exclusion, under free competition, of his opposition. . St. Louis, Aug. 2. Fanchon & Marcb'f .5,000-seater Fox in mldtown; dark since May 19', will throw off the padlocks, Aug. 19, for 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' (20th). Closing for 13 weeks, cost F. & M. $26,000 in rent. First time the. house, has beeii dark since it opened Jan. 31, 1929. According to present plans, therei will not be a resumption, of the combo pic-stage show policy, in ef- fect before the closing. N. Y. Rivoli Keopenbg With 20th'$ 'Gateway' ' Rivoli, N- y., which closed down early in' June for the surainer, is re- opening sooner than anticipated, with 'Gateway,' obtained from 2P-Fox, to debut Saturday (6). Theatre 'Will, continue tinder Uie^ same policy, with John Wright as managing director of operations, New York Incorp^ Albany. Horrin Prodscilons. Inc., Manhattan; theatrk-nl ent«rprlMa; ' capital, etoclc, tl.OOO; tlOO par vnlue. Dlrectorin: Her- man I. M«lt2ier; Ann Klra, Ruth Hlmch. 651 Firth avenue. New Yorlc (Abraham L. B«rman, same address. flUng' at- torney.) rarnea-Mejrerfi, Tne.» New Toric; deal In muBlcal Instruments, compositions, •tc; capital stock. $20,000; '.$100 par value. Directors : Henry . Parnes. 1002 Ditmns avenue. Brooklyn; ..Edward H. Ueyem. 2700 'Wiilton avenue,' Bronx; Joseph -C. Balog, 72 Wadsworth Terrace. New Tork. FKDtler -lyndlaff . Coip.» New Tork ; motion picture bufllncssr capital stock, 110.000; tlOO ■ par value.' Directors: Arthur G. Spanler, 110 Floyd street; Bessie Shepherd. 21S 7ith street, Br.ook- lyn: Benjamin MllzofT, 91-1 Hoe avenue, brfthx. '- . Btelnway Boiler BIbk, Inc.* Queens; operate Hkatlng rlnUs, amuseroeht enter- prlnos; capital ' stock. SlO.OOO; $100 par value. Directors: Ralph Stone, (flllng attorney). Clara Christian, Herbert Dan- Bett. 3b Broad street. New Tork. CameroD & Rappaport Prodaellons* Inc.. Manhattan; theatrical l>uslne88; capital stock. 100 shares, no par value. Directors: f>olomon A. Knenlgsbcri;, Murray MIntz. David H, Shapiro. 11 W. 42nd street. New York. . (I..nijlB Tancll, same address, flllnc attorney.) . Ca«tlfl Aato Baclnir Corp.* New Tork; f>romote automobile .and motorcyole rac- ni;; capital stock, $4,000; $40 par value. Directors: George Blhovaky, .360 E. 74th street: Augunt Ieola» 607 W; 171st street: Francis, J. Ferguson, 331 E, 45th street. New Yorlc Maarlce Enrui ProdactloBir. Inc., Man- hattan; theatrical enterprises; capital vtock, 200 shares, no par value. Dlrec- torn: Elsie Tymes'on. / Jennie Cardoza, 26 Broadways Sandow Holman.^S Broad- way. New .York. (Pro?.art A "Holmon, 25 Broadway, flllnp atlnrneys.) 8er%-lc« liistrumcnte,. Inc., Manhattan: radio Inatrumehls. oQUlpmcnt. etc.; capital stock, $20,000:. $100 par vhlue. Directors: I, con Alpert (llllnp attorney), Ahraham ^Shapiro, Belle C. DrOpkin, 551 Fifth svonue.. New York. Crncraft, Inc.. Mnnhallan: musical prc^rntatlonH; movlnfc pictures, . etc.; capital stock. 200 Shares, 'no par v.ilue. Directors: Tom. A. Cracraft, 210 W. 54th street; J^uls ^*. Gavrcll nnU Hyitian B"rl»er, 0 E. 4r.th Hirrct, New Yoi-k. Srrvuin Anmsi'ment Co., Inc.. Niagara FnllH: ajtiuflf'moUn r.f nil kinds; capital siorU, 200 HliniCRi no pav vKlne. Dlrec- torj): Theodore U. MIUh. fil5 Third sirool: Juhort C. Malouf, 121 T^rd street. NlaKHrn Falls; Sylvia .Mulouf. ISr, E. Foll,o'» Hlrorl. \orih Tnn;i waiidh. Mills and MIm8 .Maltnif hold 25 shares; Malouf, 60 shares. Wnllj-J. Forih-FlrMt, Inr., Manhattan: ro:!taurant hu.sltir.«i; : viinltnl nlock. 100 ■ sh.ircM: no par vnluV. nirr-^Mor."; WaMy 8chrott. John Srhmit. 2^05 c'ro»*ion ave- nue. Uronx; .Syd Steinberg, 3G \\\ 44th street. Kcw York. Natlon-Wlde Motion Flrtore Company, Inc.. Now York: motion pli-luiR I'UHlhcsH; capital stock. $200: $10 par value. Di- rect or;::, IvVlnij HroHftller, Mux l^onUo- wltz, Robert Kopplc, 60 Uroad Mropt. rt. New York, TIrlcet l«snlnK Mnf^Itlni^ Company (Tlmco),Inc:, Kings; machines .for print- ing, cutting, counting" and reglflterlng tickets of admission, etc. ; .capital stock, 200 shares, no par value. Directors: Saul Hammer (fliing attorney), Jesse R. Bachurach,. Harold Dractaman. 152. W, 42hd street. New York. .Lnre* IncQvporated. New Tork; opera- tion of games x>t skill, sport and amuse- ment; capital stock, 200 shares, no par value. Directors: Sirother H. Walker; 1043 Madison avenue: Russell George Olsen, 400 E. 62nd street; Oliver Ormerod Jenson, 5 Prospect place. New. Tork. J»yfieb« Tlientreo. Inc., Bronx; the- atrical business; capital stock.' 200 shares, no par value;. Directors: Mark Frackman. Herbert A. Kalden. Ruth Mittlemnn, • 61 Chambers street, New York. ... Amerltal Film Importing and Dto- Irlbatlair Coip., .Queens; ic- tiire were the means of securing othier important department store' windows V which aided in heralding the world premiere of 'The Texans.' . For a street ballyhoo the specially constructed advertising wagon' used by the Interstate Circuit to sell their pictures in outlying districts plugged the world premiere of 'The Texans' a week in advance. In the lobby of. the. theatre special art posters were tised.' ■■ A contingent of Hollywood ' stars consisting ' of Randolph Scott, Rayr mond . Hatton, Robert- - Cuinmings; Glenda Farrell and Lucieh Hubbard,, producer of . "The Tei^ans,' attended the premiere, and on the eve of the film's opening, were guests at a formal dinner given by James V. AUred, Governor of Texas. . The Governor , and his guests were pa- raded to the .'theatre escorted by. the Breckenridge'. High iSchool Band of 150 piecies. • Special radio, hookup was ar- ranged with station K ABC from the lobby of the theatre, A spiecial escort was airranged for. the remain- ing, members of tiie'briginal old-time tridl drivers as well as members of the United Daughters of the Confed- eracy, a Texas State organization. Chicago. . Ed McCann achieved a goal when lie snagged a job as film booker with the Paramount exchange. ..^ McCann wsis formerly on : the iisher brigade at the RKO Palace here, but h^ his heart, set on, breaking into the fllin distribution field and kept pounding at the exchange doors. ' Los Angeles. 'W. J; Edwards, Jr., opened a new theatre in Tiijunga. Suburb . has been without a picture house for eight years. ; Martin Kaplan resigned ais man- ager of Warner Bros.' Forum the- atre,, to be replaced by Homer Skil- lion, recently with the : Teriry Mc- Daniel circuit in Pasadena. . Fox-'West' Coast purchased Avalon theatre in Wilmington. Another deal to buy the May wood., theatre failed to jell. Pacific Coast Theatres, Inc, opened the 750-seat LaMar theatre at Man- hattan Beach, sixth link in its indie chain; Fox DeLuxe Theatres, Inc.. bought the Fox theatre building in San Ber- nardino at public sale for $110,000. House, 1,909-seater, dark three years, reoperis about Sept I. . Casino' theatre, formerly the Ver- non, opened last Friday (29) with Albert Galston as manager. . Harry Milstein and Albert Mel- linkoft have acquired site in Gar- dcna (local suburb) and will shortly erect 750-seat theatre at cost of $35,- 000. Ready around Nov. 1. Oklahoma City. . Standard Theatres is conducting a one-month course, for employees who wish to learn more about the theatre business. School is non- compulsory. Walter B. Shuttee, city manager for Standard, L. J. Finske, district manager for WB, Jim Birge, Standard exploitation manager,' and E. A. Patchen, Standard advertising head in Oklahoma City, will conduct classes. New Standard lineup in. managers has Tod Ferguson at the: piaza. Jack Tundell at the Criterion, and Gus Zaflfcs at the Ritz. J. ,L. Groves, operator of theatres in . Sulphur .and Pawnee,, will begin construction of a new suburban Oklahoma City theatre in the north- west part of town. Total outlay is expected to be around $75,000, with opening in about four months. Atlanta. W. T. Murray and Charles Mion sighed new 15-year lease on Rialto theatre,. 1,000-seat indie. Business structure housing theatre is being re- modeled and plans call for new front for house. Hill Enterprises, headed by Robert C. 'Jack' Frost, last week signed 10- year lease on he .•/ community thea- (C^ontinued on page 45) . . ...,.TIieil.v,S«ri»V-., Bob Farrell ' worked up a guaranr teed five weeks of steady biz for the Rivoli (Indie) by using the serial 'Lone Ranger' (Rep) as a- double feature with rev'.val pix. The deal also included a commercial tie-up that gets free radio bally for 'the house. The 30- reels of 'Lone Ranger' are used as five feature-length programs. Local bakery also uses the Lone Ranger story as a standard air pro- gram. ' In . this the theatre gets a steady plug. House has built. up a substantial matinee biz arid held a steady grbss throughout dull weeks in the hot season. Howard Dietz, ad chief, .at the Astor theatre, where the production, with Norma Shearer in the title role wm have its Broadway jjremiere AuB le Seventeen hundred graduate stui dents at Columbia, New York Uni versity and Hunter College attended the exhibit- recently. A survey re. vealed that these teachers represent, ed virtually every state in the couni try, as well as a number of Canadian cities. ... ■ Next Monday (8) a student grouo from N. Y. U. will be conducted through the museum. A majority .of these are out-of-towners, hailing among many other states, from Call, fornia. Florida. Texas and Minneso- ta. Plans are also under way to en> tertain many more college arid high school students in the near future. The collection of properties used during the filming of 'Marie Ahto-' iriette' has been viewed also by j number, of nuns, from schools throughout the metropolitan area; and from a New York training school, where a group, from outside the city, are. studying pedagogy. Exhibit is provihi; a tremendous attraction, with more than 6.000 visit- ors per day since. the opening. It is estimated that well over 200,000 men, women and children will have at- tended the museum by the time the film opens. Cake with a Bing; Oklahoma City. Patron? of the Tower (Standard) theatre were presented with a six-, foot high cake In celebration of its first anniversary last week. Free Ice creimi and popcorn was dished out to the kiddies and a diamond- ring, baked into . the cake, went to - some guest With a hometown newsreel shot of Mayor Frank Martin presenting a proclamation to W. B. Shuttee; Standard general manager, which declared the jubilee in effect. Stand- ard theatres wings out on an August Hit Jubilee iexploiUtidn stunt which it is hoped will SRO part Of the houses during ah otherwise fldppo summer month. • Backed- by co-operative ads, 'spe- cial trailers, -individual hoiise ez< ploitaUen an^: every forin of exploi- 'Kii-^A-^j^^snix^-^ ■»«*».■.?, ;(iitaliied for thi-ce Hollywood, Aug. 2. Music Corporation of. America has sold a radio production idea, 'Band Wagon,' which will run the roster of its name bands. Fitch's Shampoo is the sponsor. •• Beginning Sept. 4 with Guy Lom- baido (picked up from Detroit) the program will include a weekly half hoiir of music plus a dramatic vi- gnette dealing with and built around the maestro of the week. Harold Hackett will produce for MCA in eastern pick-ups and Waller Johnson will be the production, boss for the. western pick-ups. Harold Hackelt went to the Coast last week to set another' major pro- gram to air from Hollywood begin- ning in September: Uhdcr.stood the deal was to be signed late yeslcr- day (Tuesday).' Show will have an array of film names and will involve a heavy budget.: Sponsor will be one of the large food cojiccrns. CBS" Cup E.tcluslve Philadelphia, Aug. 2. Exclusive for the Davis. Cup ton nis matches at the ' Germantown Cricket Club here . Sept, 3, 4 and 5 has been set by Columbia. WCAU will puni . Latter outlet aI..;o arrangin;; much additional .material for local con- suniplinn. Washington-, Aug 2. " . Aggressive campaign to sell the public on the Virtues of the broad- casting industry is being mapped out by the rejuvie.nated National Asso- ciation of Broadcasters as part of a program to disarm critics and eradi- cate bogey of Government owner- ship. Multi-point . plan, .patterned in many respects after the good-will procedure erhployed by the motion picture industry, is being framed for application this fall. Preliminary steps are- being made already, al- though real activity is' still spine months off. Chief; objectives of the effort are to bring about more active coopera- tion between local broadcasters and civic, educational and fraternal groups; to drive, home to listeners the reasons why they should be con- cerned over the multiplying attacks on broadcaiiti.n£ -^^^^j^^ejg to establish harmony between broadcasters and lawyers; and to develop business al- liances with various trade groups. Sadly Neslected Motive behind the campaign, -of course, is economic, arid to a consid- erable extent selfish. But it is the sort of job that numerous elements in the industry have felt in the past was being sadly neglected and prir mariiy responsible for the many as- saults and threats of restrictive legis- lation. , Initial move, in the cultivation of (Continued on page 54) Wanna Fight? Los Angeles, Aug. 2. Tossing their campaign right into the teeth of their arch foes, Florida orange, growers have :taken . spot announcements on KFI to tell Calif ornians how much better ■ their citrus is than the Coast brand. , Big navel and , Valencia men of the state: have not yet asked for rates on Florida stations. Smith of Albany Postal Lines newspaper publishers; Regional vreb of New York state stations on the ashes of old one is prophesied. Harold E. Srhith, direc- tor of two Albany stations, WABY and WOKO, is leading spirit. Will 'i'rr- .■''■ "'■ ■■' Would embrace outlets in Buffalo, Rochester, . Utica, Binghamton, Tlroy. No New York City outlet is set as yet, but it is understood some talking has been done to both WMCA and WINS. Postal Telegraph lines, rather than A. T. & T. equiprnent, will prob- ably be used. Postal facilities have seen use in the past though not ex- tensively, by intra-state regionals. ' Since the Newr .York State net- woi-k, fountain-headed by WINS, folded last year there has been no riigional operating within the Em- pire state. CBS' STATEMENT CONSOUDATED INCOME r^^- — -. ■ Six Months Ended- lulyS, 1937 (26 weeks) Gross, income from sale of facilities, talent and wires .$17,040,184.35: Less: Time discount and agency' commissioiis 5,238,945.88 July 2, 1938 (26 weeks) $18,334,605.42 5,269,913.37 $12,401,238.47 $13,064,692.05 Deduct: Operating expenses. . . .$6,553,539.72 Selling, general and ad- ministrative expenses . . . , $6,855,215.04 2,826,087.68 9,149.584.30 9,675,902.72 Net income for the period before interest, depre-. . elation, Federal income taxes and miscellaneous income .$3,251,054.17 Less: Interest $17,2.52.41 Depreciation ........ .". 248,452.06 . Federal income ■ taxes (including surtax of $75,056:05 for 1937 and $30,545.24 for 1938) .... 530,797.25 $3„'!0C,739.33 $24,830.92 292,722.09 560,210.08 Washington.-. Aug. 2. Complaints that 500 kw operation of WIjW, Cincinnati, liaiidicaps smaller stations in . the North Cen- tral states and Great .Lake. vclnr.nii, inil:c I f >r $2,578,192.01 ; same client, Wh.!:iit;n;i. oul <>i f; :\- - — ■ — — r i cinnati sevuinl yc.'irs .'i;'.!). .Mcv.- |) )- $1;01 i.gram. will oi iuin-ili; ;il VVF'/r,. Phildy dclphia, .startiM'( in .Sc'|)l:'m!>:.'r. Carroll .Carrrdl ' i.- v ic i. liiriM fr'icn .scri;)t I'riii'l on Kr.-iflMi.i; 'c ' Lynn Mc.VIoriu.s .t.-i rn. O'ck r'-"k l),i(:k on .Cll-i.s" A .S:iiii)Orii wii-.'r'i jo!) aricr Utrri: v. in New 'Yurki. FfiinU K. W/iitK, Trcasiircr. 21 VARIETY RADIO Wednesday, August 3, lO^Vs Shut Out of Chicago BasebaH Id 1 General MiUs May Launch Big Revue Chicago, Aug. With Kellogg . having stepped in and snapped up WBBM' for baseball next year, indications are that Gen- eral Milts will lean away from base- ball locally in the future and will concentrate on other programs for its afleirnoon listening audience here during the summer time; 'At first Had considered the possibility of going over to WGN, but that was knocked | in the head whan Old Gold hurriedly renewed for play-by-play next year. While making a spread in other directions General Mills will likely continue with its baseball play-by- play on WIND, Gary, due to click of novelty presentation of baseball there. This period has 'rival' an- riouhcers, one for libme team, other for the visiting nine, with the cross- fire giving the games color and showmanship. ' Contenting themselves with this novelty show on WIND for baseball, General Mills execs are indicating they Will spread on the local ether with a special. 60-minute or 90-min- iite period, during the baseball time. Are figiu'ing on. starting sometime in March, with the slot from around 2:30 to 4 p.m.' cThis will catch the heart of the baseball broadcasts which regularly start at 3 o^clock. Under discussion is a 30-minute variety program and a 30-minute dramatic show. Would use name tal- ent for dynamite appeal, ' plus the performers regularly on the General Mills hour program. 'Big Game Hniif 1st Flop Of Sommer Quizzes; Sour Economics Hollywood, Aug. ; Sustaining players at a ' local studio are having the last laugh on commercial, performers. Sponsor is. paying $7.50 per show • for. minor parts .while studio sustainer checks, of! line- readers at $10 a program, American Fedeiratiori of Radio Artists - promulgated: the ' sus- taining; fee. NON-NETWORK GRACE PERIOD BYAfJW. American Federation of Musicians has agreed to. give the committee Of independent broadcaisters, represent- ing the non-iietwork stations, ' an extra month to get the small stations into, line tor signing pacts with the musical union. Deadline wa.s Monday .( 1 ), but the . AFM cbiisented to post- poning the; sho.wdown till Sept. 1 after a meeting in' New, York this week with a sub-comtnittee fi-pm the ranks of the indies. . In getting the union to extend the period, the broadcasters'^ committee' assured the AFM thai du.ring the added month's graicei enough of the stations, would sign pacts -with their Bob Wilson leaves Maxoii For N. Y. Talent Reppers Robert C. Wilson, Jr., Joined Wilson, Powell St Hayward radio and talent agency yesterday. (Tues-; day). Will handle radio department, He resigns from Maxon; .Inc., to take ne\v job. Prior to that he was with CBS; No relation to Hoy Wil- son,, head bt new outfit. WMCA ACCEPTS LABOR TERM^ ■Washington, Aug. . Recognition Of the -American Guild of, Radio Announcers and Producers on the payroll of WMCA, New .York City; is provided in a peace pact ne- gotiated by the N..tional Labor Re- lation's: Board. Formal order shelving unfair labor charges directed . at the Knicker- bocker Broadcastinig Co. was issued Monday <1) disclosing. management's readiness to talk turkey with the union and take back threi" ' hired, hands allegedly fired discriminator- iiy. Reinstitement with back pay offered as follows: James F. Clem- enger, $216; Richard Biayne, $988, and Anion. Leader; $385. Management promised , to stop try- ing to dissuade its payroUers from .joining the AGRAP. or ariy other union- Will quit interfering .' with rights and privileges guaranteed ern- ■ployees by the Wagner act . -' If requested, the management' will bargain collectively .with the Guild fias the exclusive spoikesmen for ah- nbuhcers and production department help regarding pay, hours of work, and other iaibor conditions. Station is one of the Intercity .web members. K^.^. ^_ ^ ^. . local unions to miake a general agree SVUe jet to. follow it wouM needle up its locals in an effort to speed' negotiations. "There wei-e instances cited of stations and their locals .standing off from each other on terms; both sides agreed to move in jointly to hasten pact sign- ing in these situations. All :he key towns around the country have long been sighed up with their locals. And in getting their ' smaller birethren to hurry it up, the indie broadcasters', commit- tee' oh the matter is poihting out to them the necessity of coming into agreements with th^ir locals to in- sure the continuance of the unre- stricted use ot transcriptions and records.; DOC LEVY OPENS DEALS Eddie Cantor Will Have New Child Smger When Resuni^ for Camels Boxlop-— New Style San Francisco, Aug. 2. One contestant means busi- ness. S & W CbfTee's 'I Want a Divorce' oh NBC Coast red web, asked for strip from can ofcofTee. Serious gent submitted the entire can— unopened. • Same Old Talk, Same Old Pact WLS-NBCRenew Chicago, Aug. 2. • . Series of meeting.s between NVLS and NBC executives indicates' that the PrairieJFarmer station and the network will renew their afTiliation contract which expires' on Oct. 1; There has. been talk from time' to time that ' WLS would pull away entirely from ' NBC and go com- pletely, independent, ■ But at present neither NBC nor the station want to part company, and it's'a cinch that they will ; straighten - out their few difficulties and continue their adilia- tion. Most of the discussion on the new contract has revolved around rates aiVd hours. WLS wants a bigger slice of coin for carrying the net- work shows .a'rid also doesn't want to give the network as. many optional Eddie Cantor resumes Oct. 3. on CBS for Camel with a new child prodigy, a songstress ot the Deanria Durbin calibt'e whom the vet variety act of Holt and Rosedale discovered for the comedian. Jacqiiies R.enard's'. brchestra. stays, as does Waller Wooir King. Bert Gordon, the ,'Mad Russian,' may or may not cbnliniie. Cantor's next. fHin for : 20th-Fox' The People's Choice,' is slated to go into work Sept. 15. Harry tiigend flew east, with the script on which Art Arthur collaborated, so that Cantor and Darr^l Zanuck, \vho got in from a European sojourn on the same boat. Monday evening; may mull it further en route back to the Coast at the end of this. week. Both the 20th-Fox production head and Cantor remained east for the. big 'Alexander's Ragtime Bjind' broad- cast tonight (Wednesday). Film's Radio Theme Idea of The People's Choice' (film), incidentally; will be a radio theme, treating with Mr. Average Man, and what product^ he chooses from the' radio exploitation; Main Objective of Cantor's fast 16 days abroad was to' raise funds for. the AustrOrGerman refugee youth, in order to expedite their settling in friendlier countries. COmmitte.d,.to i $100,000. drive. Cantor ' surprised everybody, and principally- himself, by raising $560,000 in Great Britain for his;- present pet charity. Daniels & Fisher Tbe Probable Denyer Sponsor Of Mnhiai's New Co-Op Bristol-Myers summer replacement show on NBC red for the vacationing. Fred Allen will see a revision of a revision with tonight's (Wed.) broadcast Audience quiz stuff, which has been riding the past four Weeks since Allen vamoosed to Maine, lis getting the toss altogether and ' the program will adhere to comedy-vari- ety formula. With last week's show Stoopnagle (Chase "Taylor) replaced Norman Frescott and . Jane Martin ceasied to be ia performer, with Harry von Zelt doing the m.c.^ing. Stoopnagle will henceforth do comedy, with von. Zeli; continuing and. the singing group. Merry Macs, added, plus a policy of guest performers vyhich begins next Wed. (10), Peter .van Steeden's orch, which did simple background- ing for the quiz .show, labeled 'Big Game Hunt,' will hereafter have more to do. Bristol-Myers balked about the tfuiz show from its start four weeks ago. Tentitive change last week went in with the understanding that it there was.no sponsor-pleasing perk to the program on the single shot, the show would be altered to the form in which it Will now continue, WFBR, BALTIMORE, TO HAVE KADIO CENTRE' Baltimore, Aug, 2. Ground is being broken this week •for Baltimore's 'first radio center. In busines.s sub-center it will in elude in addition to elaborate studio snd business office layout for WFBR a 1,000-sfeat theatre. New hou.se will play subsequent run pix behind downtown deliixers. Proposition promoted by Morris A. Mechanic, owner and operator of the downtown New theatre. Charley Hamp Heard From San Francisco, Aug. 2: Once one of. radio'.s highe.'ft paid performers, ;C'iarle.s Harhp has re lurried to the air after considerable nb.scnce.. Ilt's sponsored of Rimuv (depilatory) over KSFO. Hamp' broadcasts, bcillads and humOr Monday through Thursday at 10:45 from beauty salon of Cily of Pari."!, Frisco department .store, and Sundays from JiSFO studios. Weekends he planes' to Hollywood where' he is profc>.snr of v.'idio at row; Max. Reinliardt Theatrical School. 2 LEGITERS OFFERED Guy Robertson and ilndrey Christie Fchdinr In Badio Package Guy Robertson and Audrey Christie have- worked out a new musical program idea and are dick, ering with an advertising agency for a commercial hookup. Session is aimed as a 30-minute, onee-weekly stanza, with an audience reaction wrinkle. Robertson would be m.c. and Miss Christie featured. Figure on using four guests per show. De cision is expected from the agency tomorrow (Thursday). Miss. (Christie is currently featured in 'I Married An Angel,' at the Shu- bert, N. Y, , Robertson legil plans hiiige on a play that is being, re- written. Stir Cream of Wheat ' Interest in Airing Batten,- Barton, Durstine i (j.sborn agency is trying to warm up to fadio thO most recent addition to its. list Cream of Wheat, ccount was taken from the Chicago offlc . Of J. Walter Thornpson, which recentij got Kel logg's cornflakes fro ■ N:. W. Ayer, Two prOducU arc cp peting break- fast foods. John C. CorneliU.s, BBDO v.p., in charge of . the Minneapolis office, is account exec for Cream of Wheat which is- headqurrtcref' in the Min- nesota city. Willsoit S^ils for N Y. Meredith Willsoh, mu.sical direclor of the NBC western division, .sail.s from London today iVVedneisday) where he has been on a European vacation, coiiimutih? between the Briti.<:h capital and Paris. • Will.son Is ciillin.? his foreign sn- jburh short in order to do some e.\- (rn research in New. York before re- tiirning to Hollywood, where- he re- suriTf.t on this Mclro-Maxweil lioux show iad) j 'Good Nc.vVs.' 7-8:30 p.m: Philadelphia. Aug. 2. Boake Carter, arid Dr. : L,eon Levy, prez of WCAU, his personal man- ager, are confabbing with several possible sponsors for the, commen- tator, but it was said here this 'week that he'd probably be pflt ' the air when , his pact with General Foods expires on . Aug^ 26. Carter's ab- sence from the airlanes for the first time, in eight years is expected to be only temporary. 'Ju.st how long it will, last depends oh how fast the' present dickering goes. General Foods ' failure to renew reported due to inability to get the time it wanted. It has been \yell- known that the firm was never sat- isfled with the 6:30 p.m. spot it had, as this put the show on at 4:30 in a large part of the mountain territory where the product has good sales and distribution. Walter Craig Mounting Show ier Joe E, Brown Late in Augu.st Walter Craig, cur- rently producing fall radio show for Joe E. Brown, will begin conducting a cfintect among Hollywood extras to And boy and girl singers for the (jrogram. Youngsters must be regis- tered ext'.'as and will be ofTercd fea- ture spots with Brown. Auditions will bo wide open to all qualityin,''. Mel Ronson, writer working with (i;raig, has prepared a comic script show which will'keep Brown in run- away-tractor character stuff, Craig left New York for Detroit Monday (1); will be back later in week to prepare for Brown show. Will also use new stooge, Rusty, a mechanical robot. . . . ' IT'S CONTAGIOUS Postcards . .Pour In Vrglnf; TexaM Spieler to'. Enter Politics Houston. Aug. 2, Radio Announcer "Ted Nabors of KTRH . is wondering about , the in- tricacies of Texa.S politics, and ti-y- ihg to estimate the influence ot radio. Commenting over the astounding- race, won by anothev radio an- nouncer, W,. Lee O'Daniel of Fort Worth, who polled oyer 500,000 votes in his race for governor of Texas, in a campaign w'hich he ad- mits he entered primarily to adver- tise his.floiir n.ills, Nabor jokingly ."iaid he would run for mayor of Houston, if he got 50,000 postcards. Hundreds ot postcai'ds. have since been received daily, urging him- to run for mayor. A printing firm called and offared to print his cam- paign cards free, and an advertising iigency asked to print advertising blotters -for him. ■ Only thing, wrong, Nobor sa.vs, is that many of the postcards aie com- ing from. Out of town; from people who would, have no vote. Davidson Taylor Upped ; Now Aide to Program V.P. Davidson Taylor, chief in music department of CBS, h.-^s b^^en upped to assistant to Bill Lewis, network's v.p. in charge of programs. Stepping . in for Taylor is George Zachcry, who has in the past been in charge of seriou- music at Co- lumbia. Sues Jimmy Durante Jimmy Durante is defendant in. a breach of contract suit in N. Y. su- preme court brought by Mort Mil- man; agent,, who wants $4,800 from the comedian for walking out on a radio contract. Milman : claims Dur rante signed him up as his manager and rep on : radio engagements in 1934. Plaintift says he obtained a 24- week, engagement to broadcast dur- ing that year bXit never received hi,<: %. Justice Peter Schmuck has re- •served decis-ion on motion. to di.<;nil.s.s the suit on grounds of lack ot prose-, cution. Milihon, at present, it in Hollywood. Tru Bradley Turns Actor Hollywood. Aug. 2. - Trum.nn radley checked in :'at Metro last ivcek to start his acting corilract. Likely ■ that he'll .supplant Ted Pear.son as iinnoiincc. Oh the Good News !)iK;how when it resumes' in the full.' Ray Paige Off 'Hotel' Raymond Paige, musical . director on "Hollywoort Hotel' for the' past three year.s. will not swing the baton on the Campbell souper when it le- sumcs in the fall. He's now in .New York. . Denver, Aug. 2. store, looks set to become the Den- . ver underwriter of The ShOw of the Weefc,' cp-bperative!. show over Mu- tual, which New York program pro- ducer Ben Rocke and ad agency Red- field- Johnstone lis readying for fall start: No contract has been signed as yet; will be department store'i first air adventure, and will have its local outlet over KFE^L. 'Show/ of the Week' is being pro- duced on a deal with Music C^orp. of America, whereby latter furnishes a different name band weekly and' guest, performers are used. All air- ings are to be. ftom New York. Nor- man Livingston has been touring the hihteriahd for the past two months contacting prospective local cO-op- erative sponsors; it Is understood that at least six have been virtually set against a late September start for the program, but it is known- that no Now York bankroUer for WOR has been pacted as yOt,. BARBASOL SPONSORS GABRIEL HEAHER Erwih-Wasey , agency has pacted Gabriel Heatter to do a commenta- ting series this fall for Barbasol. No lime has been cleared as . yet, but indications are that the progrnni will be spotted over a M'utual hookup. Last season Barbasol tried several difTe'rcnt shows, coming to a late spring halt, with Arthur Godfrey's, song-and-patter thrice weekly over CBS. There is a large likelihood that Godfrey will be back in llie same spot this autumn. Pet Milk Saturdaying Pet Milk has bought the 9:30-10 p.m. Saturday night spot on CBS frf, a series starting, Aug. 1.. Tentative talent lineup as it. stood veslerdBy •Tuesday) embraced Mary Eii."!lman, Bill. Perry, the Serenadcrs and G»s Haenschen's orch. Roland Martini, radio chief ft Gardner agency, is still auditioning, however, and contracts for perform- ers will not be .signed for itnotht-t week, in- all likelihood.. McCoslier to Eilrope Alfred J. McCosker, piez 6' WOR and Mutual. web exec, sails Aug. )l aboard the Conte di Suvoia. Vuciish i.i: the getawiiv. n-.'iiA-t. , Ozzie f or Pepso? Hollywood. Ant!. 2. . Pep.'odent show, bowing in Spp(f-m- ber with Bob Hope .stai-ied, w'" have Ozzie Nelson directing the tnu- sjc, it is undorslobd. Connie Botivtll reported set for the vncsl f.p«\. Torn M'cAvity ot Lord «: 'I'ri^'is^ pr:;duce.s. VARIETY 25 lArK HTLTON Orehestra, SHEILA BABRETT, EDDIE POLO 'variety SI Via^ .. . This waxed variety program, U typicS of the quality^ of shows l^ing «rnimted from Radio Normandie, P'o ■ Luembourg Radio ^ Cite fPftTis) Poste Parislen (Paris) and kindred broadcast centrals, manifests a marked stride in transcripUon commercials in Europe. These shows are aired Sundays for the British audience, meaning they are broad- cast to England from some Con- /^'-Slfthi^lhU HyltonV Tnie Band That Jack Built' was a yery capable musical background for the sum to- tal Eddie Polo, English songwnter- Mhferencier, m.c.'d. Sheila Barrett ■with her impressions was a standout, using Thanks for the Memory* as her thematic to introduce takeoff s on Gracie Fields. Harry Richman, Hargo and BeatHce Lillie (the latter via IDoublerDare .You'). Talent end of it. thus, is big league, biit those Rinso commercials are circa 1926. Station NSG. A 'Miss Gobdthoughf is the spieler on behalf Of Rinso, which is corn-og-the-cob in gobs. ■ Broadcast' is replete with applause, laughter, etc., giving the illusion of live talent, with no mention of being waxed as required by law in U. S; A. TipoA is the offer of free ducats, for thesp shows Xo the Scala, London, where the show ais well as the au- dience's sound effects are. thus re- corded for shipment to the Continen- tal broadcast Centrals.; Abel. British McCarthy N.G. London, July 28. Introduction of a British coun- terpart to Charlie McCarthy— they call him Willie Winkett— definitely - was . not a success. Willie has no persohality,\no publicity, and little to help put over material that . failed to sparkle. Idea was to have hiiii ■ cross-chat with dyril James, by way of stereotyped argument and anecdote. ' B.B.C. is doing this emcee . gag to death; individuals serv- ing only to waste time. . There is, in effect, • minimum en- tertainment in having a fel-, ■low come to the mike to in- troduce a turn and then going into a long, fictitious story al- leged to be related to that turn. It isn't funny— it's wearisome. Unkind to blame it on the U.S.A., where Ldgar Bergen hits a high .average. Henry AldrleV with Le^ Penman, Clyde JEROME KERN SALUTE Hiule Master, series with Frank Black orchestra^ ensemble, Jane Fromaji, Tom Thomas, Felix Knlgbt ; WJZ-NBC, New Tork With Columbia net set for a 60- niinute splurge- for Irving Berlin . and a plug for 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' tonight (Wednesday) NBC brought in special tribute to Jerome Kern , on Monday . (1). Network reached back to 19014 and presented a- concise step-by-step picture of his efforts. Highlight was brief speech- of Kern from Hollywood.. " Broadcast got under steam with the acclaim that 'Jierome Kern never wrote a trite bar of music in his long career.' Jane Fronian led the pro- cession of vocalists with 'Why Was I Born?' from 'Sweet Adeline.' For variation,.. Black's group played •There's a Hill' from 1933 musical; Music in the Air.' '.Tom Thomas, baritone', was en- trusted with 'I Still Like Me,' special song Kern wrote for screen version of 'Show Boat' in 1936. Felix Knight, young tenor, sang two songs from Cat and Fiddle.' Wear. . EBSKINE HAWKINS ORCH. 3» Mins. SnaiaiDlng Snnday, 12:3» p.m. WEAF, New York NBC picks up this Negro aggrega- tion twice weekly and late at night . the Savoy ballroom in Harlem. At that hour they are not likely to hit many alligators with their hot licks being just one of those late events that fill. Should get a little lurther down the clock for results. Crew stacks Up as strictly swingy and loud. Vocalist Jimmy Mitchell oners nothing nev/ in voice, or de- livery as a combo sca'lter-swingster or poor diction. Manage to get plenty or playing into half hour which gives them ample time to demon- strate master Hawkins' trumpet, follows Louis Armstrong style of J^"" taking up final bars and Dlastins. — . EZRA STONE 'Early. Life of Betty Field, Fllli^ore . 1« Mlns. STANDARD BRANDS Thursday, 8 p.m. WEAF-NBC, New Tork U. Wolfer Thompson) ■ This was in the nature of an ex-; perimental repeat date, since Ezr^ Stone and Betty Field guested a couple of months ago on the Vallee program in a sketch from 'What a Life,' Clifford Goldsmith comedy in which they're appearing at the Bilt- more,' N. y. . Stone . plays Henry Aldrich, nryear-bld. world's champ at getting into jams. ; Vallee, troupers last Thursday (28) did a skit about young Henry at home. Piece was scrijpted by Gold- smith, his first, job directly for radio. Ageiicy figures that if idea clicks it may be continued as a regu- larly sponsored comedy serial, ether- ing several times a week.; Skit depicted the Aldrich family arising in the rtiorning, with young Henry , in the bathroom and the others going nuts as he- stays and stays" there. Betty Field played thei sister (age not designated ), Lea: Pen- man was the mother and Clyde Fill- more the father. All typical folksy stuff,'' but unlike other radio serial pieces, minus heart-throb hoke^-^en- tirely comedy. . Situations were realistic .and crammed, with laughs. Easily recog- nizable in ' any household, par- ticularly if there are kids in the family. Most mothers or fathers would -think Goldsmith had been eavesdropping, or else has a. flock of urchins himself. Piece was a dis- tinct click, the only qualification limiting the prospects of Henry Aldrich for continued radio time being the question of whether Gold- smith can continue to turn out the material. Agency plans a few more trial shots on the Vallee show. Sketch was skilfully played, with Stone copping the honors as the brash, goofy and thoroughly likeable juve. Fillmore .scored as the dis- tracted father, while Lea Penman and Betty Field held up their ends, Henry Aldrich character looks like a radio natural. - Hobe, Hurl. ADRIAN O'BRIEN With Ann Lief Songs 3* Mliis., Local COMMUNITY OPTICIANS Mon.-Wed.; 5:15 p.m. WABC, New Y6rk O'Brien was on air for same spon- sor from WNAG. Boston, and also aired from WGY, Schenectady. How- m1 ',?** apparently a stranger to • New York listeners. y Brien's a tenor with a clear 'oice and good diction. Seems to .put everything; he has into each of n s numbers. Selections are shuffled -aiso for varied aopeal. Oh opener •nt,? ""edley of 'Daydreaming- and At Twilight;' then, fol- with -Softly As in the Morh- '"?v^unlight- and 'Wild Irish Rose.' t . accompaniment by Ann J^jei fits into the mood of the tunes wn,.i'f " ^'"fi'es out much better than firmm.»'"^°'''='^=stra or string back- log- • .Commercials arc the usual iJ^f:y'»»"s. Three of 'em cut "?'0 the short airing too heavily. :■ Repeats of Formula on Many Stations and All Through Evening Results in Bad Production S i tu a t i o n-^ Shrinkage in Radio Audi- ence Foreseen TRIVIALITIES By ED GRUNWALD . Manhattan's T u e s d a y evening schedule (26) was a solid double bill composed of nolhihg but the equiva- lent of quickie production. 'Twas a verbal jam session in which the test- your-knowledge alligators threw whacky questions and answers- at each other with the frenzy of jitter^ bugs. -Thess were the net educational and entertainment results: The Romans '.used to bust wedding cakes over the bride's head. Lightning does strike Ivvice in the same place (a terrifiic revelation to a New Yorker who knows the Empire State gets struck by light- ning during practically every sumr mer shower). , If. May Robson lived on Neptune she'd be % yeisr old, while Shirley JOE KANE; TOM SLATER 'Famous First Facts' 3* Mins. SustaihlDg . . Mohday,'9:30 p, m. WOR-Mutual, New York Another and reasonably fresh variation of 'he curreiit roUer-coast- ■ awav enough from the . more tried tracks and has enough originality oh Nearest Mercury. If the sun stopped shining on the other side of the earth, a girl could not be kissed in the moonlight on this side. (Reason: there wouldn't be any moonlight. ) . The name of; Japanese wrestling is 'jiu-jutsu* while Occidental wrestling is called 'catch-ais-catch-'can.' An oyster cannot see. Quiz mania starts at 7:45 p.m. on WOR when Allen Kent imcorks a 'Don't You Believe It' stanza for Lorillard Tobacco. This follows (Continued on page 30) con- 'HENRY FO.ID TRIBUTE' With Benny Kyt« Orch, Theodore J. Worle 30 Mins. Sustaining Friday, 10:30 p.m. WJZ-NBC, New York On the eve of his 75th natal anni, Ford (who is no NBC advertiser) got a blue web pickup of a program WXYZ, Detroit, put together as a salute to him. It was a mild little: jamboree 6t tunes associated with Ford's alleged likes, done in the down-home manner. If . the motor magnate was cupping an ear, it'prob- ably plea!;ed him. Ditto the average folksy tuher-in. Kyte's WXYZ house crew. : aided by some, unidentified warblers, did a nice job on such stuff as 'When You and 1 Were Young, Maggie.' 'Old Spinning Wheel,' 'Boots and Saddles' and as many Stephen Foster airs as would (ill out the show. Windiip was with Ford's favc hymn, 'Gali- lee, Sweet C.nlilee.' Midway, philo.sopher-writer Theo- dore J. Worle spoke ."several minutes in exccllerit vein, making sense. At outset he mentioned he was not ac- quainted with Ford,..^o that obliter- ated any of the 'my good . friend touch. Dealing objectively .yith Ford the Man, Worle's words had wcighl and interest. Nice tn.ste exemplified by the De- troit station throughout. - Bert 'SPY SECRETS' DrBmatizatloDS 3* Mlns. CUMMEB (ENERGINE) Snnday, 5:30 p.' m. . WEAF-NBC, New York (Stacfc-Gpble) Exciting melodrama series cerning international spy adventures looks like a probable winner if it maintains pace set in this first offer- ing. (It's successor to the Energine Newsreel). Competently acted, deftly written and staged. , Pretty inces- sant harping on the word 'Energine.' First sketch of series concerned e.forts of an Allied spy (K-12) to secure maps of mined waters and blot out 'Scourge,' a particularly successful German submarine. Ro- marttic angle is competently devel- ofied through, slight love affair be- tween -K-12 and femme operative, G-4.. Depending as it does on real- istic sound effects. Skit stands up well because latter are - exjjcrtly handled. No credits given the play- ers. Unprofessional lack of gracious- ne.ss typical of many sponsors. • Commercial natter is not partic- ularly overboard in length but far beyond reason in renelition of 'Ener- gine' trade-mark.' This for the well- known morons. . Even the capable announcing of Jack Costello cannot gloss this self-asseirtive style. Wear, •IRVING BERLIN CAVALCADE' With Harold Stokes Orcb., Ediia O'Dell. Curt Dou;lns,. Jess KIrkpat- . rIck and Gunther Decker 45 Mlns. Sustalnin; ' Wednesday; 9:30 p. m. WGN-MBS, Chicago Stirring presentation of the songs that Irving Berlin has written and a nice tribute to ,the nation's bcst- kriown tunesrhith. Session loaded Cantor on B.B«C. . London; July 26. Before he opened his mouth; Eddie Cantor got an. ovation from B.B.C. studio audience on the Saturday Slhg-Sbng pro- gram. He earned it, for, al- though he api^eared to pick his own time and string together an inconsequential .entertainment of '20 minutes'; duration (with- in a 90-minute show), it was alive every second of that pe- riod. ; To British listeners it was definitely something. "There were.:a few stories in . his odd voice, some gentle fibbing of London traffic, a couple '.of hit choruses, request repeat of 'Making the Most of Each Day,* and surprise choice of the Eng- lish 'Lambeth Walk' to take key position .in. his- act. Tp British ears it wouldn't be Cantor if he didn't finish oh' a serious note, and he pleaded earnestly for Care on the Roads '•^ver here they kndw it is a pet , subject of ^lis, because on his last trip he talked it over with the Minister of Transport. It was easy to take, thoiigh, be- cause the act: was balanced and timed as only could be done by an artist who knew his rnike from A-to Z. its own to get an audience, orecedent to it is the' stuff Bob , 'Be lieve It' RiplCy purveys on NBC. Person! who can offer some freak, funny or validly scientific achieve- ment march up to the mike and . let off. WOR staff: mikeman Tom Slater quizzes them... and program re- searcher Joe Kane Dontifically passes on their claims, to being Iflrst.' While it is all rehearsed and rehashed be- forehand, the brbgram production job of Jerry Danzig veneers most of the ' stuff ; so that it appears ex- temporaneous. On the initial inning (1),. lineup of guests was good; . Excellent comedy note was inject-' ed by 14-year-young Eugene Kelly, who caught' 333,000 Jap beetles : in one summer in Rutherford,. N. J., and was rewarded by his local YMCA director by being given 3,830 lollipops. Arthur Xiuiinigan testified he consumed 53 ears of corn to win a midwest munching contest, ^but Kane had' statistics on another fel- low who topped, that figure. A 56- year-oldster proved he was a great- grandrpappy: others were not so good with the exception of the two chief guests. One. Dr. Henry W; Walton, de- signed and flew the first monoplane in 1906; his yarn had. Plenty of in- terest , and dramatic telling, BCst bet orbved to be Anna Jarvis, who founded 'Mother's Day.' Always a difficult nersbn to set a rise , out of. Miss Jarvis came through when she sang her old refrain of bitterness apain'st those who have - rhade the 'D-iV CO grossly commercial. ' While this oronram is not so si«nal it will blanch the cheeks of Other network shows of similar strine. it can hoM its own ,and nerhaos tickle, some interest out of a snonsor as long as the grade of guCSts hoH.s out. Bert. ANNE HIRST With Aunt Jenny Sketch SPRY Thn'rs; ll:4.'i a.m. WABC-CBS, New York with dignity. And, in '.Idition, lots , of free commercial plugging for the i to women "Sprv really was. new Berlin picture and score, 'Alex- j the conversation derarikrolli' g. Nesbitt took the label with him so the petroler fell back on its best selling gas line to tafc the piece. . Only other change n.ade was Jinimy Newill for: Donald Noyis' as solo warbler. . Newill has switched from tenoring to dramatic baritone, possibly the result, of piping off a pinto in the sagebrush fiickerings. NageL perhaps the best commenta- tor in these latitude^, does the oral dramati7.^ations in accomplished man-, ner. While he doesn't punch the highlights i la Nesbitt, he gives the verbiage a glossy spiel that makes for easy listening, HiS flair for the dramatic suffers '}y comparison with his predecessoir, but there, are those who don't like to-be shouted at, and- the Nagel following is. both loyal and legion.' He.'ll do a job providing his material is on a par with that dished up- by the Nesbitt staff, - Broekman goes heavy on stylizing and at times overemphasizes, a faiilt not new to him. He i.s one maestro, however, who caii: make 18 men sound like 40, and his, bizarre ar- rangements are at least a pleasant relief from the run of swingrdinging. He comes closer - to bhnding -sym- Dhony with swing, than, any other baton wielder on the home lanes and gives the program a nea* rhusical lift, Nev/ill handles the soloing with aplomb and shows considerable im- proverhcnt since he changed his voice range. He fits into the pro- gram better than Novis, as the tehbr of the show is along dramatic lines and: his booming voice hews to the Jack Runyon . produces for Lord & Thomas with efficiency and nice pacing. Carlton Kadell handles th^ commercials, sprinkled'judiciously in thin layers. Helm. LANNY ROSS, GLORIA STUART 'The Lady ObJecU' 11 Mins. Sustaining , Friday, 9 p.m. WABC-CBS, New York ■ Guesting on' the variety show CBS' Coast studios have decked out to fill in -the gap left by the summer- ducking 'Hollywood Hotel,' Ross and Ciloria Stiiart did. sbme sequences froin their forthcoming Columbia - celluloider, 'The Lady Objects.' It didn't have much merit as a broad- cast, - Dramatic stuff had for radio a per- vading Sniithfield scent, and nothing the players did could lift it. Piece had to do with. a legal career-woman and a night-club singing hiisbahd who parted, then closed : together after she defended'him. in a murder trial. Radiozation was choppily put together and largely lacked convic- tion. Two momentary lifters were th« songs sung by Ross. While ' they helped mightily from the entertain- ment viewpoint, they technically hart no place in the dramatization aired. Bert. 'PITCAIRN ISLAND APPEAL' 30 Minx. Sustaining Wednesday, 11 JO p,m. WEAF-NBC. New York Alert stunt by NBC unfortunately marred by roceotion conditions. Mr.s. Dorothy Hall, a Long Lsland radio am recently reported that in DX conversations . with -. Pitcairn Island^ she learned that the residents were in need of medical supplies and staples.. It naturally made news, the Lsland' having been the recipient of the publicity It got in book and screen versions of 'Mutiny .on Boun- ty.' NBC then arranged to lug a mike, into Mrs. Hall's home and have her contact Pitcairn so the long-wave listeners could hear. Even though disappointing sluht was a fingcr-ori-the-pulse for. the web. Bej-t. of lity never h;id- llio right, aid from (Goiiliiiued On page 36) 'ABmn'S* London offick. INTERNATIONAI. BADIO Vsklc AddreMi ' ?ABIETT, MNDON TctopboM Temple Bar OMl^SMl FREE COMPETinVE SYSTEM DOOMED IN ARGENTINE; ONLY FEW ESCAPE PURGE 16 Stations in Buenos Aireis Probably Will Be Merged Into One — ^Drastic Control Measures Going TJirough — Still Some Commerciais By FRED MAREY . Buenos Aires, July 27. When, about a week ago, the first news leaked out that the General Post Mastev, Adrian C. Escobar, had asked the President of the Argentine Republic, Dr. Roberto M, Ortiz, for a decree canceling all concession? of the private broadcasting companies, move apparently ca^ne as a big sur- prise, even to those intimately con- nected with the industry. This sur- prise, liowcyer, turned into . anger when word came that Escobar had accused the broadcasters of dam-, aging the 'morals' of the country and destroying the standards of taste by their programs. Now a report has been published which had been quoted by Escobar as reason for his action. Report was prepared by AdoUo T.- Consentino, chief supervisor of the radio-com- - munlcation section of the Argentine GJ>.0. It's dated June 27. Does not itself contain a word which, broad- ca ters feel, justified stcbng language used by postmaster In bis report, dated July 2. Briefly, Consentino made this point;' A wide gap existed between a few excellent programs and the; bullc of the airings, the artistic value of which, be said, was very low.: Furthermore, no cooperation existed between the difterent broadcasting companies, so that often the same c •of'jsA was « a v f rod independ»in.tly- by leveral stations. Also similar pro- grams ran simultaneously, so that the radio audience could hot switch from talks to music and vice versa. Finally competition had forced broadcasters 'to offer cheap and vul- gar entertainment in order to attract the largest possible audience, i.e., the least common denonUhator. This is a complaint which might hold good for brpadc.>sting in most cruntries. Cohsentino's suggestion was that a commiission should be ap- pointed in order to investigate and' make ttie- necessary suggestions foi' normalizing the situation. Based, upon this report, Post- master-General Escobar made an- other report to President- Ortiz on. July 2. After lengthy historical con- siderations, he described what he calls 'the desolating balance' . of the moral situation of Argentine private broadcasts. He speaks of dangers to the 'spiritual health of the people, attacks on the moral and the good taste, and of the urgent necessity to make radio-listening safe for women ail. children.' In accordance with this detnahd, the President signed a decree, dated July 6, nominating that commission, the members of which are: Felipe J. Vazquez, head of the telegraph de- partment; AdolfO'T. Consentino; Dr. Angel B. Rivera, Argentine delegate to the Cairo conference;^Benjamin Cache and Alfredo G. Perez, repre- sentatives ot the private radio sta- tions in an advisory capacity. Com- mission will report to the G.P.O. . Regarding the most important point, the President -took good care to limit the order of examining the concessions of private broadcasters to those stations, the charters of which are not of a. permanent nature. There is one broadcasting company, the Hayes Publishing CO., owned by Radio El Mundp (LRl), 'Which .has secured a permanent charter already a couple of years ago, when it. agreed to build the plant , of the State sta- tion LRA, now operatint a year with a power of 50 kilowatt, ph a non- commercial basis, LRA, by the way, has no studios, but uses those of Radio El Miindo. Presidential . deciree met with mixed reception - from private sta- tions. No disputing that state has a right to investigate into the activi- ties of the private stations, to change the conditions under which they may continue to work, and even to cancel (except, of course,, in the case of LRI) licenses'; Asociacion- de Broadcasters Argen- tines (ABA), the trade organization of the Argentine private broadcasting companies, made no move at all. LRI is not a member as a conse- quence of this station's special situ- ation. Otr-Color Tangoes Managers of the individual sta- tions are rather shy in expressing views; as they are afraid of unfavor- able repercussions in official quar- ters.' Teodoro "Prieto, owner of Radio Prieto (LS2), is quoted as hav- ing recognized that something should be done in order to purify the lyrics of some tangoes. . He hopes, how- ever, due consideration will be given to- the large interests involved and the heavy capital outlay by private individuals. Jaime 'Yankelevlch, owner of Radio Belgrano (LR3): and operator of the 'Primera Cadena Argentina de Broadcastings* network, won't be quoted but friends state, he doesn't feel difTerehtly froni prieto. Tlierie exists a feeling that a gov- ernment-imposed .highbrow policy would help Uruguayan stations with a eorresponding loss for Argentina. 'Situation would be .similar; to that of the British Broadcasting 'Corp. which so far has vainly tried to keep Iiux- embourg and Radio Normandy out of its territory. . ' Against ImportsT In a' later Interview to the local press Escbbar , emphasized that he didn't dream of nationalizing the Argentine broadcasting system, and that the commission would be en-: tirely free to suggest nieasureSi suit- able both for the purpose: of raising ..t'^r standards, of. local air programs and of . safeguarding the commercial, interests 'bf . private stations. ' It seems, however, as if there are cer- tain trends in government quarters to eliminate foreign artists' aiid even foreign records frpni the programs as far' as possible, Ohly outstand- ing attractions, mostly opera singers, should make an exception from the general tule. Other managiers of local stations who prefer,, however, to remain un- quoted, arfe expressing the view that the government is the last one ; to criticize private broadcasting, . as re- cent eventig at the national holiday of July 9 showed the official stations completely unprepared for handling the situation. State station ' IJIA is said (although no confirmation Is available) to have, muffed military parade. Instead sequence of records with military . band music was subbed. Municipal station LSI which tiroadcasts also announcements by 'sponsors, f. t the national and state- owned oil company Yacimientos Petrolifcros Flscales ('YPF), did not Interrupt ita commercial program when -the national anthem was in- toned in the Colon opera house, the BELGRANO EXPANDS Enlarges . Building In B.A,— Harry B«y to ChUe Buenos Aires, July .27. Radio Beligrano (LR3) is getting a face lifting- with local offices and studios enlarged. Front and in- terior of building will be torn out with improvements going ihto old shell on Belgrano, avenue. Addition of three .more ^floors to three-story '.building is contem- plated. In all building will house eight studios, giving. Belgratio largest studio space in S. A. All studios will be on three upper floors with administration offices quar- tered below. ' Harry Roy, British, band leader, having finished his eight-week ses- sion at Belgrano, has moved to Chile and concert tour. He.'s husband of one of white princesses of Sarawak, Borneo. gala performance of which -Aras about to be broadcast by the station. Foar Gronpa Only - Such blunders in the very moment when the private companies are acr cused of lack of . good taste have not strengthened the official cause. Things being as they are, there is however, a good chance that some of the smaller stations will be forced to merge with . larger ones, the final goal being to have only four groups operating: the state station LRA with representative programs and without ' commercial outlay; the municipal .station LSI, almost on the same lines, but preferring lighter programs and -with 'a possible con- cession of broa^'asting only pub- licity for national-owned "fnists. . Furthermore only two 100% com- mercially operated groups and un- der strict state supervision. First would be Radio El Mundo (LRl) which would continue to .work ias be- fore under its permanent concession. The second group would be formed by an amalgamation of all the other 16. stations operating in Buenos Aires. This slrnpUcation performedi a similar regulation for the stations operating in the interior of the coun- try could be easily arranged. It is ,quite obvious that the -whole matter,' after the excitement of .'the first, days, is no longer officially con- sidered as being extremely urgent^ However, the new rules will be en- forced spine time In the A'Sentine Spring (September of Octoher). Tendency of bringing broadcasting under strong government supervi- sion is in any case undeniable. This tendency is welcomed by many, but regretted also by others who still see in free and fair competition- after the example of the V. S. the best way for >' gradual Improvement , of broadcasting levels. French listeners Protest Curtailment Of News on Goyemment Stations Paris, July 25. A recent governmental decree cut- ting down the. amount of time which state statipns devote to news during the morning hours has resulted ih a storm of protest, from listeners and the' radio world in general, promises to evolve into a bitter battle between radio, stations, and the press, .. Decree affects gpvernment stations only. The. Government controls- more than - half of the statipns in the country and gave as reason for the measure a desire to ease the competition from which the morn- ing press suffered at the hands of the radio news broadcasts. I^ecree as published stated: "The Government has decided that news broadcasts given in the morn- ings by state stations will take place according to the following schedule: 'The first period shall be between 6:30 and 6:37 a.m.; the second period between 8:30 and 8:37 a.m.. and the third period between 9:30 and 9:37 a.m.' . ■ Thus the time of the morning news broadcasts is limited to 21 min- utes, whereas before the lengthy morning broadcasts .Were claimed thef publishers to create a serious competition to the sale of morning newspapers. As a guaranty of im- partiality the government named, a committee of well known newspaper editors,, civil servants and person- alities charged with the supervising 6f the news broadcasts. Radio-Liberte^ one of the strong- est associations of radio listeners in the country wh'c'i was organized .aboiit two years ago to protect the interests of radio owners led the kicks. In different communiques is- sued the organization in part had the follo\A:ing to say: 'Jf the directors of the Federation of Newspapers hope that reduction of the news broad- casts and the suppression of the Review ■ of the Press (commentaries) is going to pass like dropping, a letr ter in the box they are mistaken. A veritable concert' of protestation has arisen and the listeners of all opinions have addressed thousands pf letters to us. to condemn this scan- dalous .measure; even a number of newspapers have associated them- selves with the "protests and several rlemocratic organizations have raised their voices against this attack on liberty. And we are only at the be-, ■ginning,' Eiglisli Notes WUori Byden and the Cafe Co- lette orchestra back on B.B.C. pro- grams for three broadcasts after ab- sence of a year touring the high spots. Bill . Tllden demonstrating tennis on television program. third B.B;C. 'Seaside Nights' pro- gram, with Aberdeen as Eiibject,,to be hooked up to NBC and Empire transmitters. Dance bands from 'Queen Mary' and 'Empress bf Britain' being aired by B B C. July 29. Bnnny .Berlgan Orchestra, from Atlantic City, third of American, combination broadcast by B.B.C. in new Saturday night series. ' Beglnald Foort, theatre organist, to quit B.B.C, at $125 a week for planned tour of U.K. nvusic halls at reported $1,250. Lnz series of 92 half-hours from Radip Normandy bet-ween 1:30 and 2:00 p.m., on Suhdays, starta imme- diately. Set by Lintas, Ltd. Pro- grams feature Teddy Joyce orches- tra and guests. S. C. J*luis«n * Sons, makers of Johnson's (efore Joe Weber, national presi- dent of the AFM, A two^y confab there resulted in a. stalemate aiid the St, Louisahs returned here where another' pow wow was held Friday (29) with no progress resulting, Nelttier side will discuss the details of the split and in the meantime the station's music is being supplied by electrical tran- scriptions. STAND. BRANDS CANADIAN SHOW IN OCT. J. Walter Thompson agency will return 'Spotlight Revue' to a spread of 16 Canadian stations in October Program, a variety show originated* in Toronto, plugs all the Standard Brand products. Rupert Caplan will again produce for Thompson, using Canadian talent 'Spotlight' is the shPw which 'Thompson . threw Into shape last spring when the agency decided to cut the Canadian coverage of the Rudy .Vallee program and in place use a show built within the Dominion. Supposition was that such a move would win goodwill from the Canadians. WPEN CONTEMPLATES ARTISTS BUREAU Philadelphia, Aug. 2, WPEN, under new management, anxious to get as many new acts as posisible on the air before fall, when all the stations Ini town begin hunt- ing talent Arthur Simon, Gil Bab- . bitt aiid Tom Smith listening to 40 auditions a week. Have already added seven new actis in three weeks from the auditions, plus three other acts. AH ciiffo now, but station contem- plating an iartists' bureau through which acts will be 'paid off' in out- side jobs. New Luxembourg Show For English Gonunercials , London, . July ii. Luxembourg radio station, airing English comnie'rcial programs, has new program of Improved type. Sponsored by Symington Soups, Quarter hour includes Al Bowl- ly, Marjorie Stedeford, the Three Rhythm Boys and Harry Karr, Ca- nadian clariPnetist to lead the band. Douglas Byng will emcee. With pro- gram using an occasional guest artist Two already signed are Eddie Pea- body and Irene Prador, 'Viennese singer from the 'Nine Sharp' revue at the Little theatre. Show Is being produced by Pat Dixon, formerly of Gaumont-British publicity office, and now with Mather Sc Crdwther. Mantovani and band set for 13 weeks series (E.T.) for Snowflre cosmetics over Luxembourg. Radio Firm Incorporates Albany, N, Y., Aug. 2. Greater New York Broadcasting Cprp, has been chartered to conduct a radio broadcasting business, with principal office in Ne:v York, Di- rectors are: Morris Zlnneman, Sylvia Branoff and Samuel Levy, ■ Capital stock consists of 18,500 shares, 8,500 at $100 par value and 10,00C at no par value. Filing fee, $965. Sanford H, Cohen, attorney.' RAMBE&U'S NEW AIDES Chicago, Aug. 2. Williani Rambeau has added two men to his station rep staff. Locally has hired George O'Leary, formerly with the Ruthrauff & Ryan agency. In New York has bro-Jght In Allen Kerr, who has been in the station rei biz before, ' ~ Tiye Star' Vacatioiis vAfter 7 Years on Air s-iiftw^ Sta^«»»ai;-.iated H&e^isMbst'-. news re-enactment show on the ozone, is taking, a month layoff from its accustomed stand on WMCA, N, Y„ and the Inter-City regional. It's the ilrst time-out for the pro- gram in seven years. Nightly program faded with the windup of a term of sponsorship pro» vided by North American Insurance. No bankroll has been secured as yet against prpgram's return to the air. WTMJ Sets Football For Wise. U., Packers . Milwaukee, Aug.- 2; . Milwaukee Journal's WTMJ hag lined up five programs for its foot- ball coverage this coming season. Will brbadcast University of Wiscon- sin, games on Saturdays and the.' Green Bay Packers pro tussles on Sundays. . . In addition will have Harry Struhldreher, U. of Wisconsin coach, exclusive for thrice weekly 15-min- ute evening spots during the season; the 15-minute period before the Wisconsin games -with Charlie Nevada; the i5-minute slot follow- ing the games tor follow-up com- ment and scores and the 15-minute spot following the Packers games for comment and anecdotes. Mntoal Footballer Aug. 31 Mutual will air the season's first grid giame on Aug, 31 from Soldiers Field, Chicago, Charity tilt will be played at night 9,30 p,m, to mid- night Participants will be a group of College All-Stars, selected via news- paper circulation-building poll, and the Washington, Redskins, pro champs of last season. Game Is an annual. Bob Elson, WGN sports- caster, will be at the Mutual mike, Neal Barrett Laid Up Ft Worth, Aug. 2. Neal Barrett, Hearst chain v.p., and head of KOMA in Oklahoma City is in a Ft Worth hospital suf- fering from streptococcus inflarnma- tion of the throat Barrett is reported improving by physicians but length of his confine- ment remains uncertain. WHN APPOINTS PETB Y After not having had a national sales rep for this past year-and-half, \yHN, Loew-owned New York broadcaster, has taken on Ed 'Pet ry. Station becomes the first and only Manhattan station on the Petry )'•'*• Last irep to handle WHN was E. Katz, •VARIETY'S' LONnOM OFFICK, i St. VMtUm't PI»M, Trafslaw S««ara INTERNATIONAL RADIO Cable Addreu) VABIRTT, LONDON Xel«vlM>ao Taaipl* War OOil-SOtX . . 27 Accidental Disclosure Forces Corp. to Issue Statement — Even Industrial News Over Air Anathema to Publishers — Show : Biz aitd Gbvernment Also Dis- like Implications A WEDGE DENIED London. July 27. Advertising, circles, Government officials and others ar^ wondering whether proposals announced- by British Broadcasting Corp. are the thin end of the wedge towards spon- sored radio in the United Kingdom. Briet statement lately published by corporation declares BBC has beien considering including^, in the inter-: est of British industry as a whole, a short weekly bulletin ot industrial news. Matter, statement adds, has not yet got beyond stdge of pre- liminary inquiry. Announcement was forced from BBC due to accidental, disclosure, of correspondence between its program controller and Ass'n of British rCliBm»ffljis;at.^i>nimerce; -©^^ plans would have been pOrsued". in secret, . precaution made necessary by hostility of press here to BBC. Revelation has already started news- paper rumbles, and commercial or- ganizations like Federation of British Industries aire going into a huddle. Until now, BBC policy, colored by massed antagonism of newspaper interests, has been rigidly to avoid all suggestion of commercial pub- licity in its announcements and pro- grams, though marked side-slipping has occurred in certain departments, notably that catering for light enter- . tainment This, for instance, obvi- ously lent itself to maneuvers of songpluggers, cinema ' producers and so on. Where stage and screen talent has been employed big scale booists for shows or' films have been common. Exceptions apart, though, corpora- tion has. been scrupulous in avoiding charges of plugging in its presenta- tion. Achievements of national inter- est when concerned with great industrial concerns or by prominent individuals identified ;with ' such have been rigorously blue-pencilled. Thus references to important public contracts, new aircraft designs, speed achievements ct al are Carefully sub- edited to prevent favorable mention of the manufacturers who should receive the credit. Any BBC plan to give concessions to commerce and industry are viewed with suspicion as danger- ously revolutionary. Corporation fixedly asserts its intention i.s merely to assist British industrial Interests in a broad way. Nevertheless certain interests on this side prophesy the inevitability of spon- sored radio, hold the new proposal wins them points. Forces massed agninst any trend to\yards advertising over the air are so powerful as to keep processes of erosion to an almost negligible rate ot advance. Allies in the battle to keep such motion in check are the government, show business and the new.spapcrs. Government, because, according to law, it owns the ether and controls' its use; the newspapers because they are jealous , both for :their own nqws service and, more urgently, for their advertising columns. Show bit because 6f what radio did to vaudeville, etc., in the United States. Connection between BBC and Boyernment is very close, as corpo- ^tion operates under, charteri giving •t monopoly access to the air but on stringent, conditions. Loosely the outfit may be .i-cgardcd as a semi- Government .institution, tho.uah it Cafls Egyptian Radio Shoddy , Cairo, July 13. Wall el Gindi, member of the Chamber of Deputies, caused a sen- sation in Parliament with a bitter attack on the Egyptian State Broadcasting service. Parliamentarian said that Egypt, 'in view of its high position in the Islamic world/ should have set a high stand- ard in art. 'Instead,' squawked Gindl, 'the E. S. B. sent out songs of bad taste which drew complaints from all Arab nations. Third-rate Sheiks are engaged to niake Koran recitals because the E. S. B. will liot pay the fees demanded by properly qualified men. In the caise of scien- tific lectures, they are cut so short as to be incomprehensible. Many of the songs , are not fit lor, boys -and girls.' . ' Another member, Fikry Abaza, emphasized the need of !a proper policy', in radio broadcastingi He said that Egyptian broadcasting has a potential audience of 30,000,000 Arabs which should be jeached with better . pTograms. ; Plans: meanwhile are under way here for broadcasting conference of the pan-Arab association in October. Talkfest will 'study' the problem of Palestine Arabs. Delegates from SaUdi-Arabia, Syria,. Iraq and Trans-Jordan hope, to reach compromise with ', Jiews: re Pal- estine, and regard matter of isufficiently wide appeal for broadcast. It will be the first time :in history that Arab conferences will be ' put on the ether. claims a sturdy' independence aiid., in.fact, at times has embarrassed the ruling powers by attempts to express a^ unfettered outlook in program compilation. Even then, authorities •have effective channels of exerting pressure to sway its policy their own way. Television Angle It is' wortb noting, as an incidental issiie^ that retardation of television as a large-scale service to theatres and the like, is held due, not to mechanical . drawbacics, . but to gov- ernmental hostility to what >n some high quarters is regarded as at- tempts to exploit the ether for dom- mcrcia! --epds.- •3'BC ;tself-v»-'-.'i'in of; the VS. is the oro'.;ram wh''-li H'— '".T!iz''s Ihc rnun- Iry in .poorl M"'il ,1'^ w;>ll as ilH hcrop.-;. S":-li t'^'! f-ii'-'-ont 'Great ^.nt. .;-... WP,'r„ Geo. Mnnbll S^ils f;ror,-f'> r.. M.Tr -h;:!! :.s,Til'"l l),Trl: to r/>n-lr)n S'or'-l-v ff) af'cr n sVn-t 0.6. f>r N'.'w Vorlc r-vl-'i. BHC c;:cc was 'ivf'r l."sl sii nipr lilso. M;irKl>:ill i.-; Iho North Ireland re- •iionnl r\:u:rl')r for BBC, stationed in :lip Rclfa.-^l ■ Felix . Crconc, 'New York rep of BBC, sail.s. from. England on Am;;. 10 1 '<) return to his post. Ha.s been in Lnnd in for the pu.'.t '.wp months on biz and vacalicin! Oscar R'JbIn and his Romany Brind , will 'get the privile;ie in the "fall of j being first combination tolevis'.Qd ! from an actual dr.hco salon; wlion : iramrn. D. Johrtaon and W. Albertson, ■ ~ , '. ' ,■ '■ Maine-. Violation of Commlsh resulatluns. should cost WRDO. • Au-justa Us berth on the ether, according to Chief Examiner Daivls (;. Ar/ifSil. Involved In. owneiship' and- operation tancle. station haa been iinrtcr compiete insn«Se:hen.t of Conrad E, Kennlson — whpk manKger In li32 and h.i>. a.isumed all r.'spon.'.ll llitle.i of the station for pusL Ihrce years, withoilt bcneflt Of wrUti-n ftsroements. ■■ wnDO, tiio.. npiillcaht for renewal of IKrense, orlKlnally owned by Henry p: nines. . owner of WCStf, Portland. Me..' and:, WFBA, Manchc5tci-.-N. H. : Commlsh records for 1934 shbw, 9,»% of .WRDO. Inc.. stocl; In possession, of Eastland ' Company; of Portland, however. ; Intore»:a of Rine.i — who has been In poor health — have, been hati- dled bv Ciorge V. Kellcy. Jr., of Augusta. Kellcy. in lOST^after re- peated rciiucsla from the Comml.ih for certlllcd copies of all con- Iracls cnlored Into jilnce 19H— finally sent to the .E.C.C. a copy, of so-cn'.lcd 'ohal contracts' between Tonkee Nctworki Inc., <:ol«nlHl Network and the "Capital Uroadcasilng Co./' and a .report showing that RIncs owned OS'/l of the capital stock of WRDO, Inc. ' , • In apiilylng for a license renewal In February of this.year. It was shown that Eastland Co. owned, all of the outstanding tfapltiil stock a stntomcjnt from the treasurer of thb applicant corporation it> the effect that transmitter was "given to. Kciiniiio.tt-"'ln 1934 .to operate." . Aeconllng' to testimony brought out at.the' hearliig. Kennlson and ; two other Imllvlduals organised the Copltol Brpailcasllrig Co. ■ In . .19.1i;, with the Idea In mind of aequlrlng WRDO sometime In the future. Nevcr was'* going concern. Station should receive the ultimate In punishment. . Chief .Ex-, aminer Arnold told the bommish. (or Its refusal t^o sutiply requested of the applicant. ' Second renewal application. ;on June IS, brought Info to Ihe FiCC, for falling to comply . with Broadcast I>lvlslon regulations and for violation- of Section. 310 of Ihe^Coininunlcatlons Act. ■■ .\ ■■ Applicant was .represented by V^llllom E. Leahy ^nd George Smith. ■ ■' MlcliUmni Daytime smalUe tor Holland ehoiild be tossed because applicant, Kammeraad-Smlth ^roiidcastlng Co.' chbn?;ed Its minil, Kxnmlner Seward told Commlsh. ^Attec continuing the first hear- Inir unl'l June 9, upon request of •ppllcant's counsel. ,(.'ommlsh was n m umm i u i mA t mi mm, ji jm m p !mm»m m . f . i *:i)*»^.^'!''»- - » fUrlhcr— bringing » -motion for dismissal with prejudice from- n.. „ru.»t«.ii..» — - attorney representing an Interested party which was - concurred In . xampa Tribune; George O. ' Svitlon. and' Ashley T.. llawkon for tiio by Conimloh colinsel. Application was for i:o.O Uc.'NVUh 100 -walls, . . .j„lj, ,ppjlpant nn " " " ' " " ■ " ' ' KGKU ' (See separate story.) proximately 67% of ltj operating time to • national networfc with which it Is affiliated; Ralelgli applicant put up the best argnmeiit. It was diclded, as Radio Station WKNC failed to lubrolt evldenw. on available commercial support. Mutual Interference between the Ganltol Broadcasting : Go. transmitter and WSOC. CharKStte, wouia be expected' to within approximately their !.06 millivolt per meter contours but this was declared to be "so alight as. not to h« con.-, alilered." Successful applicant was represented by l^aul D. T. Spoatw, man. with Elmer . -W. PraU aiipearlirig for Radio. Station 'WF^C. OregoDt General SI)rucl^g'^up for K AST, Astoria, okayed by Com-; m'Ish. Extension of . hoiirs of operation from ilayiii: only to. day and nightr upplhg of power fjrom 100 . watt* to 100 watts nights, 260 watts days; erection of a new -anlenna and. other Improyementi were given, the nod. Transmlller also will be permitted to change Its frequency from 1370 to 1200 kc nnd move Its station locaUy. /j. Station has been doing a crertllable Job furnishing '. the only . primary broadcast service In iiirban communities at the lower end -'of the ciolumbia River, Commlsh found. Full time operation would, i perihlt broadcasting of . many local ncllvltles; not ayollable ^or day- time programs and would Increase the listening- audlience. Rates for the daytime will not bo chnnseil. according to- appllca,nt. but a slight raise wlU be made fur night -rates, Lo.uls G. Caldwell, Donald C. Beelar -and James 1.. . Hope appeared on behalf of -ap- plicant ' ' TciiBeaM«: Tennessee scrap ovi-r'. two. appllca'tlon'e .for a 'ne.w transmitter at Johnson GIty. und one at Knoxvllle. was won by. the Johnson City Brb.idcnsting Co. Air applicants were after the same tacliltles— 1200 kc with 100 wntl3 nights. iSO . watts, days. . Knox- vllle Journal nroadcaatlns Co., applying for the Knoxvllle trans- mitter, was turned down because of. a failure to. show that, any-^ thing -"substantially new or different' had been offered In -the, way; of program service. Knoxvllle already receives service from two local' stations— WNO."C and WROt;;- and from WWNC. Aahevllle, - K. C, and WSM. Nashville, decision pointed out. , Johnson City receives- no satisfactory service, although, trade area • tmbraces a population of 260.000.' Commlsh' found. Toss-up was - between Johnson City nrnadca'stliig griup and Richard M.- Casto. , ■ who failed, to s.'itlsfy thb Oonmileh "with respect to how and when he accumulated vho funds which he 'testldcU were on hand, for the construction and operation of the-, station." .Tohneon City Broad- casting Co. Is" a„ parinecshlp between^'W. HAnes Lancaster, of Chattanooga, and r J: W. BIrdwcll, amiiteur. radio operator (first class)- with, conslderaibic 'radio experience. Station will be flnanced by Lancaster, with BIrdwcll supervising Us operation. Lancaster and ' BIrdwcll were represintcd by John B. Brady, Paul D. 1>. Spearman. Alan It." David aiid . Harrison llorton. Jr., -appeared for the Knoxylile grolup. and Casio was represented by ITaul Segdr anl-Cfiorg* S. Smllli. ■ ' TexB»:.6l(Ukliama-ilorMa: Cclebraled '9(0 cases' were disposed of fit one swat; Commliih Issuing denials for, two Texas applicants, one Oklahoma and one Florida, and' tumbling the previous recommends-. , tloiis of .one of its examiners. In every direction. Acrid squabWe over the 840 kc berth Involved: El Paso Broa.dcBsllng Co., Bl ■ rnso/'Tex. ; . KGKL. Sah Angclo. Tex.. World Publishing Co., Tulsa, and Tiie Tribune Co.. iTampo. . .. . , , - El Paso group, headed by Doi-ianco D. Roderick,, president -of the Ei PasoTimes, already has. Ill-en granted permission to «r«c.t - a snioillo' 111 Kl Paao. Commlsh pointed out; and ; this station will .. supply additional primary service' to the City of- El Paso. Believed that programs proposed to be broadcast by, the El Paso Broadcast- ing Co; would not be substanllnlly different from those which Roderick plans to use over ills' 100-wattcr; which was applied for In his own name. . • . : San Aiigelo plea was' turned .down on grounds of Interterence to Mexican stations: Tulsa applicant drew, a . 'not In public lnter*«l ■ condemnation, while Tampa Trlb , group was tolil that three tc- Klonals already supplied Uie area and 'equitable share^ of tiio ' ether alrdody had teen- aSHlgned to the town. (Gralits hod , been re'cbmmended tor.all but KGK-L.) . « « Attorneys liBui-lnB l.i .the . scramble were:. Richard F. Burgee, ' .uy- Ma«Hrt,~Ji mas-H: 'KATvtey Tind-^TIiomas J. O'Hrlon for E l Pwo - iJroadcastIng Co. ; Louis C.-e«Mi.tH •nd-KeerV^VrrB'.**" »*w 100 to 266 watts days, make changes In. equipment. Mebnisk*: Norfolk Dally News, granted ipeclal temporary m thorlty to operate on loeo kc with 1. kw iand limited time. * Mew MeiKo: KOD, Albuquerque, granted special temporary in thorlty (or 30 days to- operate simultaneously with. KBX, Portiind Ore., using directional antenna for. night operatlqn, t< - New YbTh; WVFW, Brooklyn, granted consent' tb transfer ce. ti-ol of corporallpn from Anthony D" Angela a* trustee for Salvtton 'D'Angclo, to Eva I.. P'Angelo. asV, trustee for Salvatore D'Anxelo^ WESC, ' Cornell University, Ithaca, granted extension of speciti experlmenlal authority- to operate lih 960 kc, with 1 kw, from ii|v light , to. sunset at New - Orleans; -WON W, Arthur Faske, Brooklys present license further extended upon a . teniporary basis only ti'r period' ending Sept. 1,. pending determination on appilcatlon tot license renewal; WKBW, Buffalo Broadcasting Corp.,' BuffiiZ granted .autlinrliy to withdraw without prejudice application for operation on 14S0 kc with 60 kw. Ohin; . WLW. CInclpnatI,. granted renewal of Ilceiisf and specui' temporary experlmeiitai authority to operite with. 600 -kw, on ex- press condition that. It la subject' to whatever' action may he takea ..by Commlsh on. pending 'appliciitlon of. -station < for renewal or . ex- tension' , of special experlmenlal authority. '. OklahomH; KOCT. . Oklahom^ City, (iranted renewal of llcenu till Dec. I: KVOO. Tulss. itranted extension of special experinienttl authority to operate 'on .1.1.40 he with 26 kw, using directional- antenna 'sysiom' nights: Oregon: .KE.Y. Por'tlnhd, granted speclifl temporary authority for .30. days.-, to operate 'slmUltaiicouiBly with KOD, - Albuquerque, using ' directional antenna /system, nights. ' . feiiBsyiTanbtV WCHA. B. Brydn Musselman. Allentowir, granted renewal of lliortee tor -the period ending No.v. 1; WSAN, granted r«. newai of license linill Nov. 1. ' Tennessee: WSM, Nash vlile, granted extension of special experi- mental authority In modulate regular broadcaat transmlller wiih facsimile signals during experimental period from 12 'mlUnlght le ■■« ,a.m.,' CST. ' :-■ '." - - ■ ■ . Texas: KRLD. Dalliis.' grunted extension of special experlmenlal ' .authority to operiiio 'simultaneously '.with -'WTIO,!; Harlford.'-O'onn., on. 1040 kc Willi -lO- Itvv; WOAI, Sah Antonio; Commlsh .reconsidered . and', vacated Us a'clloii 'of Aug. . IH, 1937, In dismissing peiltlpiis' of Southland Industries, -.rni-., ■ and. Voice, of (Ireenvllle for .rehearing- rtehled' petillons for rchc.-irlnit died hy Southland InduRtrlcs. liicj 'and' by Voice, of Crccnvllle' and'.dcn'lctl innilon to dismiss lllcd by . Hunt Broadcasiing Assoclallon, NEW APPUCATIONS W. Kendall appeared for Kammeraad- days only Mcn .S. Smith Co. Mlnhesoln: AddlUon of night hours to oiperating time of KATE. Albert Lea. recommended for an okay by Examiner George II. Illll. . Territory at present has no primary nighttime service. Hill pointed out, and programs of local Interest could be uilll7.ed whliih cannot be broi^dcast during the days. Station, owned and -operated by the Albert Lea Broadcasting Company. :'»-ould not change froin Us fre'iuency of 1420 kc. . 'Woa represented by J. Brace Krenier and Herbert M. Bingham. Wisconsin:, Daytime Juice-Jump for WTAQ proposed for granting by Examiner HUL Green Bay transmltler, now operAtlhic with 1 kw nisht and.day, would like tn go to, t kw during daytime hours. Figures Increased coverage would put It oil Jls feel after operating at a let loss of 42,309 last year. TrnnHmltter Is . licensed to WHBT, Inc.. n company owned by the prcmohatatenelan • Fathers — usually known ss the While Fathers— a religious order founded In li:!X Is operated oii a strictly coniiiierclal . Iiadls, however, . Uuke M. Patriclc.. John W. Guldi>r; appeared for' the applicant.'. - MAJOR DECISIONS 'and Arthur. w;. Scharfeld and Philip G. Louche for uivi^ .loce licparate. Story.) Ulaconsln: ' Four Lali22, 2068, 21^0. and .' '2;9li ke with 2 watts, A-3 emission. ' .Kew: York,: National 'itroadcastliig' Co:,. Inc., .New York, exlennloii of authority 10 Iranshilt recorded .-programs to all broadcast >ia- tlons.ln Canada, licensed lo .operate by the. Canadian- Government' which m'ay ..be - heord- consistently In the' U. S... and .extension' of- ' authority to transmit progi'nms to CFCF and CBL and the CdnadlBii .'Broadcasting .Corp. ' Nnr administratrix estate- of John Irucl, to Arde Biilova, 300 shares coinhipn. stock. Rhode' .Island:. .WJAlt. ' l"rovld^iice,- Jump' night power .from 1 .Is 6 kw and make clmnees In directional antenna. Teniieaiiee:' Radiophone Broadcasting Station. WOlPI. Inc., hew relay station: to be operated on 31100, 34000, 37i;00 an kc- with 60 walls; emission A-3 (experimental). I'lali: 'Radio Sci-vlc

rlxed capital stock of 190,000, representing 600 sharei of common stock of »l(i0 par value; Three huhdred shares have been Issued and paid for and orlcanlxatloa has »:s,7St In -the, till, to start construc- tion ot liie )!3.«09 transmitter. Finances of Hedrlck were n6t (nen- lloncd In the decision. No Interference would be expected between the proposed Hiatlon and other transmitters It was found, though WD.NC. Durham. Is located 90 miles, distant while engineering ntamlards recommend 18S miles. Operation of the station requested by Hoilrick, oh 1340 ko with 1 kw days, probably Would result In Interference to the applicant from WS.IS. Winston -Siilcm. however. Horace' L. I.ohnea. Fred W. Allwrisoh and K. 1); Johnson appeared for Piedmont Broadcastlns Corp. llcdrick was rcprcacnicd by Charles price. (2) Local .'service for Raleigh . will be supplied by a new trans- mlller operated -by the Capllo: Broadcasllng Co. Craniing of the application ashcanned the plea of . Radio, Slatlon WF.N-i-. _Kayetie- vllle. for a station on the same frequency of i:iO l:r. iW l-Nt- group askcil daytime operation with 250 watts, wlijle the winner re- quested power of 100 w.itts nights, 550 Av.-ills .duy.«. Capitol Broadcasting Co. showed cash on hand of ,ll.0.4.''.0. Aii- - — ■ - "■ — »- -» - - Value, uf MINOR DECISIONS 91) inlli-s away; . In Rocky, Point. Need for ad.iltlohil service exLils In the a^ea of nalcigh, ii<-rorrt- lim to the (Icclslni^. sihco WPTK. exi.'iHn,; trsnsiinlloi-. -.1i-vo k-s ai>- - AUbnma: WAPI. Alabama Polyttchnic Institute. VnlveraUy . of Alabama, Birmingham, granted extension of apeclsl •xpeTlmental authority to operate unlimited time on 1140 kc. wUh 6 kw, using directional antenna after sunset at Tulsa, Okla. Arknniai: KTHS, Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce. Hot Springs, granted extension of special experimental ' authority to operate on 1060 kc with 16 kw. sliiiullaneous wlih -WBAL. Balti- more,' from 6' a. m. to lor,-»l .siinsel, suspend until ( p.m., and un- limited from then till mldnlglil. . Ccanectlcati WTIC, Hartford, grsnled extension of special eXr perlmental authority to operaie simultaneously wlih KRLD, Dallas, un 1040 |fCt 56 kw. . . _ ■ noridn: WKAT, A. Frank Kaixehtlne. Miami Beach, granted changes In equipment and day power boost from 100 to 250 watts. Illinois: WON. "Chicago, granted exienKlon of special temporary authority to operate a facsimile^ station froin 1 to 0 a.m. Indlann: WGVA, Glenn Van, Auken/ Indianapolis, granted volun- '' tary asslghmcnt of consirucilon porinll ss modified to Indiana . Broadcasting Corp., a newly forhaed Indiana c-orpora.tlon. Iown^ WHO, l)es Moines, granted extension of special authority for transrnlsslor of facsimile signals over the regular broadcast transmitter during the cxperimcnlHl period belweeh 12 midnight and .( a.m., CST, from Auk. 1 to Keli. 1. I.aalslnna:' •KWKH. Shreveport. granted exlension of special ex; perlmental authority 10 operaie on 1100 kc with 10 kw, employin night directional antenna. - ' Slaryland: WBAL. Baltimore, granted extension of special ex- perimental authority to operate on 1060 kc wliii 10 kw. almullaneo'us. with KTHS, Hot Springs, Ark., .from t a.m. to loOBl aiinset at Hot Springs and from local sunset at K'l'll.s to 9 p.m.; BST^ and oper- ate synchronously Vlth W.T-,5, New Ynik, nn'.CO kc -With 2% kw from, 9 p.m.. EST to midnight, employing directional anlenna. MIoneiHita: WC<;0. Columbia JlroiidcasUng Sy.nem. Inc.. Mln- neapoll.s. ^rahU-d renewal of ll'-'nse for the period Aug. 1 lo Feb. I. ' Missouri: wyn.M; 1'/ K. Bwlng. CreiiailK. Jump day power from -Alikbania: ' WJRD. James'- n. Dos^. Jr., Tuscaloosa, change hours - of operHtluh from daytimes 16 unlimited, using 100 wucls nljlilk '256'waits-diiys. :. . . - ^ ■ : ralirorola: KFVd,. I.os Angeles, change time of operation from . limited to unlimited-,. KHSLrKVcV, William Schleld, Harold Smlih- son and Sydney R. Lewis. Iteddlng. consent to transfer, control el Golden Empire Bi-oadcastihg . Co.. licensee of KVCV. Chlco. «nd KHSL., Redding, to Roy McClung-, Horace E. Thomas and Sianler H..; Priilt, Jr. : '. , Delaware; WILM. 'Wilmington. Install vertical radiator sni boost time of operation from sharing with "WAZL, IlHilelon,-. Fs., to unlimited. Horldn; John T. Alsop, Jr., Ocala, new station to be operal on ISOO ke with 106 watts. : iMlatnnn: WWf-, J.oyola T.'niverjilty, New Orleans, change hoirs of operatloh from speclded to unlimited. Mal^e: : W,G,VN. Mary P. Martin, Admlhlstratrlx,.T:stale of (leorge W. Martlh, Portland, Involuntary transfer of cohtrol of Porilsnd Broadcasting Syslein, Inc.- from May P. Martin- to Gannett Pub- ' lishing' Co,', -Inc. MassnrhuMtta:' WHDH. Boston, aiipllcatloh amended to reqeest special experimental ' authority to Install now eduipmont and di- rectional antenha system for night operatloh; h'oost power tfoin 1 te 6 kw and . change time of operation from days to unlimited for a period of (!0 days of the next six monthi* license period; WHAT, John W. Ilalgis, Greenfield, Increase power and. time of operallo" ■ from 260 walls days only to 100 watts nights. 250 walls days. New Jersey: Pillar of Fire. Zarepalh. new International ststlos to be operated 011 e080. 11830 and 17780 kc with 600O watts, A-t e^ilsslpn. Now York: CIsir I.. Farrand. New York, new station to be oper- ated An sperial e'mlss^iin. 143S00 kc with 1 kw. North t'arn|loa: WD.S'i?, Uurlmm Radio Corp., Durham, Innlsll new euulpmeni and verilval . radiator and boost day power from too to 250 wans. Ohio: WllKi'. Cnluinbiis. renewal of license: granlrd temporary license pending hearing; WKH.N. change frefiuency from 570 10 «H kc, boo.it power and liiiio of opeiHllon from 600 wattii spccl.led l« I kw night, uiiilmlii-d. .-Pennsylvania: WIMB. Oreensburgl Install new equlprncnl- sn4 directional antenna (iir nislii use. Jump Juice from 250 ivaiie to 'I .Ww and power fmin da.\'s iu nnltmlted. ^ Sooth ('nrollnn:. Viili-e >i( South Carolina. Spartanburg, ii'"' facsimile broadcHst station to bo operated ou A-J eiiilH.ii" . 201! lis Willi 250 -watts. ' Texas: Kl'.r/.. Port Woilh. change frequencv from 1?T0 to 91* kc, bnnxt powifr fr'ohi 300 waiiM nIgiiiH, 2*0 wattii davs to sno wain. Washlngliin: Slli lni.| J. M'lngo. T^coina : new station' to be -oix"r- Bled 1,11 noo kc wiih iiO.ivatu. u.siug fiill-tinio d.'rci-iloiiiil "H'cnn* - e^.-.ileni. , . . . - Quiz Biz (Continued from page 25) directly on Hie heels of a sports gablest by Sam Baiter who, works for I^hillics cigars. Within a half hour th(5 listener, is violently urged to buy: (1) Phillies cigcirs; (2) 10 cent cigarettes, and (3) pipe smoking tobacco. How about snufl? - Kcht-s don't-you-belieye-it stuff is runs oft icely entiugh, but the pick- ing (>f items- leans heavily on the novelty— i.e„ thin— side. Telling an audience that lightning does hit the same spot twice is like telling 'em that you can shake a box-car with ■ pair of dice. An item about the iyion itbr and Mtirrimac left 'VAiHtrrY's listener confused. It seemed to hinge on such a technicality that' it 'Was a j waste of time trying to get it slraight. From 8 to 8:30 there's n respite. At 8:30 Clifton Fadiman goes on over WJZ with 'Inforniatibn, Please.' .This:urispoiisbred niinibcr is the best of the lot; It has zippy cbinment by Fadjman, and occasional slam-bang verbal fire froni tlic pai:ticipants. Fadimiin (in answer to .participaltt who had iticrilified the. naine of the shah of Persia): Are you: shah of that? ' - AtisiL'cr: I sultanly am. • In prd(sr , to listen to Fadimari, the listener has to skip a ,'My Error Quiz' over WEVD, on at th . sime time. At 9 p.m. MoUe gets its Vox P()p into the groove over WEAF. It was here that the rriomentous fact was brought- out that an oyster can't" see. Which is not to run down the stanza. It's an old one. Us fate is that the copy work is going on at such a rate these da\-s .that everybody is going to suffer. At 9:30 WOR is back in ciui-/. lane with the 'Say It with Words" exarn. This reviewer had just learned the etymology of cornpaiiion and escape whien visitors dropped in and gummed up part oif the listening. .But the interruption broiifcht but this much:! 'Vi'sitors, ' hearing a radio set tuned' to humdrum chatter;, are apt to think it's an , educational, ,exh6'rtaT tion, and therefore , waix into loud- interruptions. They don't : consiiler it sacriiegious, like busting ih on Charlie McCarthy, i At 10 p.m. the listener can. choose between Ripley on WEAF, and 'Can- did Mike Intijryiiiws' on WMCA. Ripley, ha.s an old show with variety attachments on the novelty end. lyMCA has a standard interview. So in three hours iheie' are five shows,, almost . aliKe, not counting two that haye to be skipijed lor rcasons of du ' ' • Wearer-Outer It's unfair to review in this fasliion because the last .sliov- of the lot gets so boring that it is not reviewetl '6n. merit On the olhe. hand, h.ow (:an the .audien(:e itself bt fair, when whammed, oyer the head with hun- dreds ■ of nutty questions lor three hours?. Possible alternatives in the quiz formula are so limited that aft<:r three or four' programs in row, it's 1 easier, to heave , thfe' 'set out ^bf the wiridovn than tb begin to consider suggestions and remedies. Suggestions and remedie.i, how- ever, are thoroughl;' . in order.. For one tiling, the stations allpw'ihg thii verbal brow-beating for'a solid niSht. undoubtedly ha've nbl. considered- what the total audience shripkafi* 1.-;; frbnri cheap production. "(ibnsuJt the e. A;B,) 'Foi: a second . thin?, cheap production is a bad thing 'to teach the sponsor in bad liilfies. J.9', a third - thing, novelty i.-! , i^?^' monotonous than anything el.se.; F'*'' Variety shows iri a row, for instanW.. would lean . toward mtJnotony :. but least the comiedians, musiciaiis, .<;6iind as, though it topk 'em a yeairs to learn their art; In » Q."'.' session the tools are the,Britannits- a dictionary and the World Alni»' I nac. iTedne^day, August 8, 1938 RADIO VARIETY fll Itightto Report What It Sees' Asserted jqr KOt Pit^^ In to Pittsburgh, Aug. 2, Judge F. P. Schdonmaker, of the n 's. District Court, has taken tih- iit advisement the request of Pitts- burgh BasebaU Club, General Mills, gocSny-Vacuum Oil Co. and NBC for a temporary injunction restrain- ing KQV from announcing play-by- Say accounts of Pirate; games at Forbes Field by 'remote , control.' Case was argued' last week. Representing General Mills, At- tomey B: M. Webster said, 'the pub- jic is entitled to propier supervision and proper set-up in broadcasts, and aw notto be deceived by KQV.* He told the court that unless the imauthorized: bootleg broadcasts are stopped, General Mills will be' forced to cancel $1,250,000 in sponsoring contracts with NBC. , Argulng the case for KQV, former Ji^e Elder W. Marshall said; "The question involved here; is. whether a person shall be restrained, from see- ing things while he Is oh his own projperty and not be' permitted, to tell about the things he witnesses, that is a right from which we can- not be deprived.' . Denying charges: that KQVs game Infotniation was obtained by. 'peep- ing 'over the fence,' Marshall said that the station's, observers were sta- tioned at ' vantage points . outside: Forbes Field, Broadcasting ' coiin- pany has leased Such' places, he re lated, and consequently was literally on la. own premises. KQV had no observer, . he asserted, within the park', adding that the station was entirely within its rights by the syS' tem used. .:..Councel for four plaintiffs charged ~ Ibat KQ-V. .'uabctl^'t'y ■ obtaijne^ in- formation for baseball broadcasting in four ways, by •Western Union' sub- scrlbtion, spectators In the park, bootlegging of authori^sed broadcasts at Fbrttes Field and spies on the oiitside.' ' tn return, Marshall, for the sta' tion, insisted ''we have a • right to broadcast news as .long as it does not plagiarize other news agencies. At the beginning of the season, we decided to broadpast without a spon- •or. We held a meeting with officials of the baseball dub and told them we did: not Intend to broadcast, foreign games. And still they comie Into this court with a lie on their lips, saying that we are broadcasting foreign games. 'At home, the KDKA-WWSW broadcasts last continuously for, two hours or more without interruption. In our tabulation of a game, only 12 ninutes are used to inform the pub- lic.what happens.' News Is Asset Judge Schoonmaker was told by Pirates' attorneys that news pub- licity is part of a baseball club's as- sets; that the major leagues have built up this news as a source of revenue as much their own as the games themselves and that they should be granted protection against outsiders such as KQV, who peep in from the outside and report what uiey see. In rebuttal, Marshall for KQV de- Oared that if the Pirates wanted to Keep outsiders from: prying into melr affairs, they should prevent ttem from looking into Forbes Field. « we can observe what transpires ■MUJe, he said, 'and wish to broad- east what we see, that is the hard luck of the Pirates.' Judge Schoonmaker didn't indicate wtten he would hand down a de- cisipn, with case considered every- ^nere a unique one from a legal «anapomt. Expected that final rul- •ng Will set a flock of new precedents m radio, v/ith particular reference " airings of big sporU events. Seattle Sports' Rights Mijj, Seattle, Aug. 2. »t *.«'Sht championship fight .« the Civic sUdium. between Al aostak and Freddie Steele, with the "owned after one minute 4"^ 42 seconds, was not broadcast i^TJesday and there were plenty of questions asked by the listeners, la 'ne contract with Steele, he was to b^f t «2,500 on radio broadcasts eoL ^" Druxman. promoter. ^"W not sell the event to any of eiU?!"' stations, he tightened "=*'erything up. Press wires were not permitted at •e ringside unless the- news boys agreed to hold lip transmission of story until flght was over. Harry Smith, sports ed of San Francisco ha^d a private! circuit in the stadium but was unable to send out detail until the fray was over. At the knockout, ail the scribes hurried, to their phonies with radio press, reps also rushing the flash to their stations. There was no attempt to bootleg the Bght, but there were lots of propositions made to the local stations for ideal setup for- short- waves on adjoining houses. Seattle experienced such a bootleg broad- cast two years ago from an adjoin- ing housetop after attempt to block out binoculars with heavy canvass around the fence. The ' reaction to this broadcast was. not to the ad- vantage of the -station sending it out. DICK RICHARDS' TEAM FINALLY MAKES WJR Do68 a Corrigan Washington, Aug. 2. . Prank played 'unwittingly* on rival chain by Gordon Hitten- rhark, NBC announcer, during his recent vacation in Calif or- nna, is still raising snickers. Feted by^ the Los . Angeles Chambers of Commerce, Hitten- mark was asked to make a speech, leaving out politics and advertising. After making a few~ political observations and telling Chamberites that he. helped sell Cheyrolets in Washington, Hit- tehmark Wound up with a plug for NBC and its two Washing- ton stations, WRC-WMAL.- Considerably 'embarrassed* when he discovered his Ulk had ; been ;broadcast, particularly when he found it had been car-,. Tied- by a local CBS trans- mitter. Detroit, Aug. 2; Grid game airings situation here this fall just about cleared iip, with setting of Detroit Lions pro contests for WJR under spohsorsiiip of Chryslei: Corp.. Placed by . Lee' Ah derson agency. Although' Lions .are owned . by pick Richards, operator of WJR, this season is first time 'WJR has been abile 'to clear time for pro grid broadcasts, .due in part to Father Charles E. Coiighlih's Sunday after- noon broadcasts, which are shipped out by ,WJR. 'This has been reme- died this year by; switch of priest's talks to later hour, avoiding conflict wiCv grid-s-irir^.:.'; ' .... ,. . . .!.,'. , , ' Harry Wismer, "WJR sporteaster, will be at mike for.both home and. away games, with Harry Kipke, erstwhile - U. of Michigan football coach^ ias between-half commenta- tor. Lions games for . past. cQiipla years have been aired oyer WJBK, with Al Nagler ait mike. ; ■WJBK, however,, has signed up airings of . U, of Detroit games, with Automobile Club- of Michigan foot- ing, bill. Nagler will handle play-byr- play , on home games, only ones set to be aired. . Broadcasts of U. of Michigan and Michigan: State ganies still unsettled, but WXYZ Is working put details with Oldsmobile for sponsoring- of Michigan State games from East Lansing over its state web. Olds- mobile backed stuff last fall. WW J, 'which carries U. of M. grid contests, hasn't completed setup for the fall, :but understood station will air ?em regardless of sponsor, as it's done In the past when no backer could meet U's stiff requirements. Ty Tyson wlU mike. WARNOW, PAIGE FACE FUGUE AT STADIUM Radio Salesmed's Guild Organized byGWPEN Hands; Has No Charter Philadelphia, Aug. 2. First unit of Radio Salesmen's Guild has been organized at WPEN here. All six salesmen at the sta- tion ;.are members of the" group, which has made ho ' A. F. of L. '' or CIO affiliation yet.. L who are still spread the morning' board five or six times per week. More feeding, from good affiliated stations with a personality, type of show, peculiar to that station, would help' network, bill of fare and at the same time hold down expenses. TheriB is no doubt but that Mutual is blazing a new way with some clever shows available for cponsor- ship such as Marriage License Ro- mances out of WGN, Fulton Lewis' interesting commentaries from WOL, Washington, the 'Lone Ranger,' and other programs that can be used as sustaining while the. search, for a sponsor . goes on. NBC could well arrange this type of local sponsorship for that dandy Blue network 'Breakfast Club,' which has gone sponsorless. for years and years so far as the network is con- cerned. Same for 'Clvib Matinee,' which has an army of fans on ifcs daily afternoon ride. All in all, I think the Blue should get full credit for waking up, and doin.? something about its past derelictions. Now with a little push on the sales end, there Is no reason why the Blue shouldn't: be up with the rest of the hookups. S. A. CisUr. KTHS. affiliates are the networks. The af- filiates have a common interest with the networks to ■ endeavor to in- crease the usefulness of the Amer- ican system of network broadcast- ing and to protect it in the interests of the public. On the other hand, networks af- filiates have a common interest with each other to see to it that the rela- tionships between the networks on one side . and the affiliates . on the other, are fair and reasonable. The opinion in this preliminary gathering was that IRNA should resume its activities In order to se- lect and focus the views ot^ffiliates on these subjects. Several specific measures were suggested to be pre- sented to the affiliates for con- sideration. These include matters relating to the establishment of a satisfactory common understanding between affiliates and networks as to the manner in which proper rec- ognition can be given to the views of affiliates and their duties and obligations under their licenses. Network operating policies and the burden of copyright will probably be prominent in this list. Un- doubtedly consideration must also be given to possible changes in the radio law and the extent of Cpin- mission regulation of network broad- casting. We are sure it need not be pointed out to you that full discussion and can be productive of distinct ad- vantage and improvement in the status of affiliates, and therefore of network broadcasting, and thus ben- eflt and serve the public inter, est in the local areas. For this rea- son the conclusion' was arrived at by the preliminary group to issue at once a call and invitation for a convention of Independent Radio Netwprks Affliates tp be held at the Stevens Hptel in Chicagp, 'Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 16 and 17 1938, opening at 10 o'clock Chicago time on the morning of Aug. 16; : This will only leave a few weeks fbr the preparation of sUch material as the convention: will wish pre- sented in the hearings, which will probably open before the end nf September. No more important meeting than this has been held of recent years in the industry. It is urged that stations be represented fully, by owners or direct representatives; au- thorized to vote ' bn matters of policy affecting the industry. Please wire your response addressed to WFIL, Philadelphia. We would appreciate any requests or suggestions from in- dividual affiliates or groups regard- ing specific matters tb be included in the agenda of the rneieting. (Signed) Mark F. Ethridge . , — WHAS. S. R. Rosen baum . ; — WFIL. John J. Gillin, Jr. — WOW. John Shcpard. Ill — WNAC. William J. Scripps — WWJ. John A. Kennedy . — WBLK. H. K. Garpe»itcr — WHK, H. C. Wilder — WSYR. I. R. Lounsberry — WGR. Arthur B. Chxirch — KMBC. L. B. Wilson — WCKY. . George W. Norton. Jr. — WAVE. Harry Stone — WSM. Edgar L. Bill — WMBD. Jacfc Hoionrd- — WMC. .-i-iriiov -.---. n il m m,i mMUK>> ' 'OKEY-DOKE' TO USE SCATTERED STATIONS J. Walter Thompson agency's Chi- cago office is readying a spot cam> paign for a late Summer start on be- half of Kraft-Phenix, Product to b* plugged is 'OIcey-Doke,' a cheese- corn. Station breaks will be used in New England States, New York and sev- eral midwestern ?eas, including Iowa and Missouri. Colonial Has 16 Pair of stations .added to Colonial region network in New England. Brings total to 16 broadcasters. Additions are WBRK, PitUfield, Mass., and WHAT, Greenfield, Mass, Latter is a new station breaking into broadcasting. Flanter for Dukoif Adrian Flanter now handling pub- licity as .well as advertising for WOV-WBIL, New York Italian-lan- guage indies. Ed Dukofft the freelance p.a., who did a part-time ballyhoo Job for the stations during last year, has given co-operative action are essential and up the spot. THE SMOOTHIES BABS CHARLIE LITTLE Coinpleting 2nd Year of Starring in TUMS "Vocal Varieties'' WLW and NEC CoasMq-Coast 5^!f" ' Thanks to . WLW A!SD THE H. W. KASTOR & SONS ADVC. CO.^ Abo Starred in the New ''Musical Steeplechase " Show on WLW AND MUTUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM Wednesdays 8:00 P.M. DST Wednesday, August 3, 1938 yARIETY AD VERTISER- AGENCY ALERTNESS TEST If You Need More Than 3 Reference Books, or 5 Telephone Calls to Answer the Following Questions, You Need The VARIETY RADIO DIRECTORY to Cut Down Your Waste Time In the Variety Radio Directory Thousands of Answers Are Stored in One, Handy Place 1. Name five advertisers, spending upwards of $1,000,000 per year, who put the bulk of their campaigns into network radio. 2. Of the following commercial network program types, name the two which made the biggest gains last season (1937-38): variety; popular music; religion; talks; drama; news commen- tators; audience participation; semi-classiccl music. 3. Do sponsors spend more money for network proaranis originating from Hollywood, or for only). 4. If you want to avoid using over-worked words in putting a title on your program, which of the following would you immediately elimi- nate — ^revelry, know, old, march, over, music, revue, look, pets, vesper? 5. How many radio stations are licensed in the United States? 6. How many in Canada? 7. How many (approximately) in Central and South America? 8. Name the three programs, in correct rank* which last season (1937-38) had the highest Co- operative Analysis of Broadcasting average ratings. 9. Of the following five agencies, pick the two which scored first and second place in expen- ditures with the major networks during 1937: N. W. Ayer, Ruthrauff & Ryan, Lord & Thomas, Blackett-Sample-Hummert, J. Walter Thompson. 10. The following were listed by the C.A.B. among the ranking popular network shows last sea- son: Jell-O Program, Starring Jack Benny; Fibber McGee & Molly; Kraft Music Hall; Burns and Allen; Watch the Fun Go By (Al Pearce). Name the script writers who turned out these successful programs. 11. Which of the following three special events pro- grams garnered the largest audience — King Edward Vin Valedictory; Louis-Braddock fight; President Roosevelt's famed Fireside Chat of March 9, 1937? 12. If you were to pick up a dance band program from a hotel or night club, how many micro- phones would you need to get the best results? 13. Which city has more radio stations — New York City or Havana? How many stations in each? 14. Do more women read the radio columns in newspapers than men? Are columns read more avidly than radio logs? 15. Indiana University is a famed participant in the Big Ten football conference. If you wanted to sponsor Indiana's football broadcasts this fall, how much would you have to pay for rights? under whose auspices such notable talent as Rudy Vallee, Bing Crosby and Edgar Bergen goes on the air. Who is the talent buyer for J. Walter Thompson? 17. In what years were the following songs issued: "Sweet Adeline," "Chinatown, My Chinatown," "Melancholy Baby," "Beautiful Ohio," "Moon- light and Roses"? 18. The American Society of Composers, Authbrs and Publishers licenses music to radio stations. What was the ASCAP bill to radio stations dur- ing 1937? On what basis were the stations biUed? 19. Supposing you wanted to buy spot announce- ments on 50,000 watt stations. What is the maximum nimiber of stations you could include in your schedule? 20. Which of the following states has the most radio homes: Arizona, Delaware, Nevada, North Dakota or New Hampshire? 21. If you wanted to broadcast part of a legiti- mate comedy presented on Broadway last season, how many would you have to pick from? 22. If you had a symphony orchestra on your pro- gram whose music sounded too strident or heavy, what would you do — put sound- absorbent material on the studio walls or change the orchestra's seating arrangement? 23. What was Jack Benny's first big network show? What year? What network? 24. How many network programs did General Foods sponsor last season (1937-38)? 25. Who is sales promotion manager of CBS? Mutual? NBC? ANSfWERS ON PAGE 18 Order Your VARIETY RADIO DIRECTORY Now! 31 VARIETY RADIO Wednesday, August 3, 1938 Super-Power and the Small Towns (Continued from page 23) men were told to stress the intense coverage and concentration in par- ticular markets, going forth on the angle that listeners prefer to dial home-town stations, Elges explained. In contrast, salesmen for clear- channel plants emphasize the wide coverage possible through a: single that it was customary to sell po- tential radio advertisers with ar- gument that WLW provided both more effective and cheaper coverage than groups of regional and local transmitters in the '"tiinpa-Ohio-Il- i linois-West Virginia area. Also j transmitter .... , , pointed out that programs could be When Patrick quizzed him about put on the so-called WLW Line and the idea of trying to - unsell agen waxed for subsequent rebroadcast- — ing at the terminus if the 500^ kw transmitter was tied up. . . ■We gave advertisers to understand j 50-50 chance if the . station he rep^ cies and knocking down his own ar;',umonts, the Rambcau solicitor declared any account-seeker has a that WLW covered the same area that could be rer.ched with several other stations and that there would ijtli saving in cost by using WLW,' Elges testified. Comparative Costs Whenever advertisers thought $1,200 (WLW top hour rate) was ex- cessive, Tr.Tnsamerican . spielers broke down the coverage and de- monstrated the large number of markets which could be cultivated with broadcasts from a single trans- mitter, he said. As a sample he explained solicitors would compare resents is doing 'a worthwhile job and left implication that the excess power of WLW blinded time-buyers to the virtues of other outlets in its area. Somewhat hard, though, to try to get an agency to shift from a station you had sold it on by main- taining subsequently that it wasn't able to dp a satisfactory job. Besides giving Commissioners, at- torneys and spectators plenty of en- tertainment, Kennedy also supplied some first-hand experiences in tell- ing of the troubles he has suffered while operating ,WCHS at Charles- ton, WPAR at Parkersburg, and the cost and audience of the Cincy WBLK at Clarksburg. On plant with those of WKRC,. Colum bia's Cincinnati outlet; WENS, Co- lumbus; WIRE, Indianapolis; WOWO, Fort Wayne; WAVE, Louisville; WBIW, Terre Haute; WPSD, Toledo, and WWVA, Wheeling, Could not recall, however, any case where he got an account to shift to WLW from other stations. Obstacles encountered in trying to line up eight clients for V/IRE were pictured by Elges, whose firm now represents the Indianapolis station. Prejudice in favor of WLW could not be overcome when attempting to sell WIRE to North American Accident Insurance Co., ' Gruen Watch, Remingt3n-Rand, Batha- sweet, Axton-Fisher Tobacco, Na- Armstrong Linolcijm^* ' ■ would not listen to • ' ^ht VCgional outlet, he t-ii .le they had been convince; .: v -..^h argu- ments of the sort • ,vas making a year earlier while singing praises of WLW to time-buyers Believers Although often embarrassed by Duke M. Patrick, the WLW attor- ney, Elges stuck to his story on cross-examination and named Mc- Cann-Erickson, Batten, Barton, Dur- stine & Osborn, and Franklin Bruck among those which were firm be- lievers in the Crosley behemoth. Local and regional station sales- cross- examination, however, he was forced into several corners where Patrick drew some admissions, that under- mined his earlier testimony. With signals which can be picked up throughout a large portion of the state, WLW is a serious competitor for West Virginia operators while it is running with 500 kw, Kennedy declared. If the Cincy plant shoijld be cut to 50 kw. life would be rosier for hirn and other managers in the Blue Ridge region. Blanketed Principal grudges which Kennedy bore toward further superpower operation grew out of - threatened cancellation last spring of the Boake program sometime in April. Upon inquiry, he was Informed several stations were to be dropped and the program would be carried on WLW. Similar reasons given to explain his failure to get Lum' \ '. Abner and pgiG business. Trbuble about the Red Top ac- count occurred when Joseph Adver- tising Agency of Cincinati wanted to buy a one-shot program to re- broadcast one of its regular weekly entertainments on WLW, Kennedy said. He protested against playing second fiddle, explaining he felt the tieup would result in luring some of his audience away in the future, and was warned by the agency that if he spurned the offer 'you will probably be closing the door to .any futiire business we may have with WCHS.' After hearing the beer ad- vertising on other West Virginia stations he made subsequent efforts to get the account but was turned down, apparently in pursuance of the threat, he declared. After pointing to these incidents, Kennedy advised the FCC that WLW is 'distincty competitive' with West Virginia stations; Is the only but- state transmitter regularly fighting for the same business, although some sections hear other outside plants. Proftts To demonstrate the social signifi- cance of this competition, Kennedy declared he was constantly trying to expand public service for West Virginia audience but was having hard sledding financially. Lumping the three transmitters, he has made 'little or no' profit since entering the business nearly three years back. Although he encountered hard go- ing, Patrick finally scored some im- portant points while cross-examin- ing Kennedy, who admitted he was unable to compare the amount of f.irtcr program, inability t o sriarei.'=.9.' rPgt't'0" Provid-.d by WLW at 50 i'i.)cicr & -G5mgle fiisin'oS'.-irnd cSffi?**''*? "'-'"3 kw>-«sd rtrr*;!s*S..T^eny uJ lM•1••ltfc^»^.«S*5^.;.-T«rWIrr^ petition for the Red Top Ale account Although he did not blame WLW directly, he frequently voiced the belief that some of these programs would have been aired over his three outlets if WLW did not blank»t the market. Kennedy explained that he hooked up with CBS in February last year because of discovery that 'we'd have to fight with WLW to get each big wGb show carried by NBC. Was o.Tcrcd affiliation pacts by both In describing his plight, Kennedy su.a liL- was sent a cancellation order 'on the Boake Carter (General Foods) short-sighted in not investigating the possible competition from the Crosley outlet before he sank his money in the West Virginia, stations. Red Top case, which has made him see red for months, was placed squarely before Powel Crosley, Jr., Kennedy said, adding he was con- vinced that the WLW owner and mahaagement had nothing to do with the Joseph agency's threats and his failure to receive other busi- ness. Maintained, however, that it is decidedly unfair to allow only one station to use 500 kw.. in a manner which injures other broadcasters struggling to make a living and pro- vide distinctive local service to their public. Whether Kennedy is )iaving hard going financially was an angle which greatly interested the WLW attor- ney. After Kennedy refused to un- veil his reply to the FCC's economic questionnaire, Patrick offered statis- tics taken from license renewal £les and drew confession frorn Kennedy that his gross income has risen ma- terially and he has had some en- couraging profits. West Virginia operator would not concede the cor- rectness of all the figures, however, insisting he was not thoroughly familiar with the accounting methods used at his stations. Uncertain whether the expense figures em- braced such items as depreciation, legal and engineering fees, etc.t or just what was included under pro- gram expenses. Embarrassed. Most effective quizzing put K(»n- nedy into an, embarrassing spot in regard to coinpetition. After bringr ing out fact that complaining broad- caster owns three-sevenths of state's facilities, Patrick got Kennedy to state he believes competition gener- ally is desirable. When Kennedy de- clared he feared local opposition would cut down [his earnings and prevent him from improving service, the WLW attorney then stressed the admission that the Cincinnati plant is the only rival for WCHS-WPAR- WBLK trio. Kennedy maintained he was infuriated by the 'type of competition' illustrated by his Red Top ale experiences, observing that Crosley should not play with , such 'bad boys' as the Joseph agency. Final Commission witness was An- drew D. Ring, assistant chief engi- neer, who merely recited license his- tory and laid basis for presentation of transcriptions of WL'W programs made at the FCC's Grand Island, Neb., monitoring station. Transcriptions were put to use by WLW when Patrick induced Ring to concede they showed only fair day- time reception and very poor night conditions at time. Everi in'an area that is as noise free ns possible and Make i^o^ product l^as fU)fuUci4> as K i.Z in the Denver-Rocky M o u n t a i n Reg i o n laltA K i Z Denver ■1^ I-. V' ■ ' . \( , I M : ,X I Willi y^K'i \\|) :i: OI-IMUINI I' . I I 1 Kl I'K.I M .\ I \ i r. i Mil l\.\ 1 / .\( ,1 N: V CBS Noiwork 560 lie. Commish engineer readily said that both night and day Grand Island experienced interruptions . due to static; that it was impossible to un- derstand what was coming from WLW at times, and that reception on the average home set would have been even worse. Use of directional antennas by WLW and WOR, Newark, which oc- cupies the next higher channel, has cut interference between the spec- trum-mates, Ring testified, but to provide nearly interference-free sec- ondary service for WOR it. would be necessary to prune WLW to 50 kw. Elimination of either WOR or WLW would be the only way the other plant could provide the best possible service between the Coast and Ohio. Shouse Recalled In concluding WLW's case, Patrick quizzed James D. Shouse, v.p. of Crosley Radio Corp., about some of the programs to which FCC Assist- ant General Counsel George B. Por- ter took exception as well as the complaints by Kennedy. The Lum 'n' Abner progranv, which the West Virginian said he could not obtain because of preference for WLW, was cancelled last February, he said. Deal to replace with Boake Cairter, desired by Benton & Bowles because of dif- ficulty in getting desirable time- period for the mid- West on CBS, fell through when Crosley had a chance to sell Paul Sullivan, its own spieler. No knowledge of the Red Top inci- dent until Kennedy wrote Crosley, prompting WLW to tighten up on re- broadcasts of its pommercials arid to remonstrate with the agency for the attitude toward the West Virginian. At the end of his direct testimony, Shouse defended the airing of Koler- bak (hair dye) and an Indianapolis religious program, besides telling how ready WLW was to cooperate with trade group attacking advertis- ing claims by the Chicago Bedding Co. These programs had been hit by Commish counsel in earlier proceed- ings. Wind-up of the WLW renewal ease appears several months off. Three- man committee will file a regular re- port after digesting the voluminous record and 170-odd exhibits; WLW will have a chance to make oral ar- guments in the event the recommen- dation is adverse; and the full Commish then will ponder the mat- ter, before rc,-»ching a final decision. If the experimental authority is withdrawn, court proceedings are certain. 940 DECISIONS SET DOWN POUR NEWSPAPERS Washington, Aug. 2. Four newspapers seeking to muscle in on the 940 kc ribbon were turned down flatly by the Federal Com- munications Commission last week in a decision closing temporarily one of the hardest-fought allocation tiff.s in the past year. Court repercus- sions are probable. Chiefly for fear of possible mo- nopolies, because no need was shown, and on account of prospec- tive interference, the commish knifed Tulsa World, El Paso Times (El Paso Broadcasting Co.), San An- gelo Standard and Times (KGKL), and Tampa Tribune after weeks of lively, argument. Decision was unanimous. Although the newspaper owner- ship angle was not ' mentioned, the past year's animosity toward pub- lishers was reflected in the lengthy opinion, while references were made to prior cases where it was felt pub- lic-interest would not be promoted through giving' one licensee too many outlets. , Local monopoly issue was raised in the case of the El Paso applicant, with the FCC notiiig that Dorrajice D. Roderick, principal owner of the potential broadcasting company and the town paper, already has receivea permission to build a station. Past decisions were cited as grounds for nixing his proposal. Equitable distribution of facilities was an objection raised against, the Tampa Tribime. Also citing a recent opinion, the FCC took the stand that the Florida city, with three rcgion- lets. Although the matter of interfer- ence was brought up in discussion of the Tulsa World's request, the only ground given for denying the. application was a bare statement that public interest would not be served by giving the rag a franchise. In- terference was the chief reason for nixing KGKL's plea for consent to shift over from 1370 to 940, concur- rently boosting wattage. The -lihcr three candidates wanted new 1 kNV plants. DALRYMPLE KILLED Special Attorney for F.CC. Victim of Aato Accident George Thomas, gabber on WCAU, Philly, was rushed from the studios to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy; won't return to v/ork until late in August Washington, Aug. 2. Death of Major Alfred V. Dal- rymple, special at orney who has steered the Federal Communications Commission drive against outlaw radio stations in Texas, resulted last week from serious injuries when Dalrymple was run down by an auto- mobile: .Before joining the Gbmmislv legal staff, he was the last prohibi- tion director. Major Dalrymple, who was a native of Texas, did much field work since joining the F.CC. Handled several important investigations and prosecutions along the Rio Grande. Served in the Navy during the Span- ish-American tiff and was in the Army intelligence during the World War. Burial was in Arlington National Cemetery. Lincoln Dellar, manager of WBT, Charlotte, N. C, and Mrs. IDellar are on a vacation trip to Vera Cruz and Mexico City. ALL YOU NEED IN CENTRAL OHIO V^dneBday, AuguBt 3, 1938 RADIO VAiilETY as ^ Washington Rumbles Firom Wichita FaOs, Potential Volcano Washington, Augi 2. Reopening of furious scrap oWr Tioht to operate new radio facUities at Wichita Falls, Tex, which has b^n attended by repeated polttical irire-tugging arid whispered charges of intrigue, was sought from Fed- jrgl Commuiiicatloris Commission lac t week. On the strength of highly impor- tant new evidence, West Texas Broadcasting :Co., composed of numerous local businessmen and nublisher of two of the town!s papers, petitioned the FCC. to vacate opinion granting rival pica of , the Wichita Broadcasting Co. and to send the op- posing applications back for further jieariBg. Pointed asisertions that the FCC reached- conclusions not supr ported by facts iri tiie irecord were cited as additional reasons .for more proceedings. I/)ng-threatened . accusations of gkuUduggery were hot contained; in the papers, while affidavits said to bear out suspicion that all. cards ; were not on the table were with^ bdd for- later. -use in casie the matter :lg taken before the courts. : Sensational statement that the win-, ning candidate cannot obtain fran- chise to do 'business in Texas was the diief ground for asking . anothei: chance to offer testimony. Bolstering his pleai with certified copies of of- flcial correspondence, Paul . D, P. Spearman, counsel for the losing- can- didate, 'told . the Gommish that Wichita 'Broadcasting Co., being .a Delaware corporation, cannot qualify under the Texas tramp corporation' law.' Letters between Joe' B. Carrii : gan, president- of the winning comr pany, iand the 'Secretary of State's oftlee bore this out. CpTPoratioii owned by. Texas 'resi- dents, organized in another state, and r'r'inf tpiajlyirr ~"'ri- n^- »» probably 'cannot quaiffy'Tdir'i'iAiSi- Bcss permit, M. E. Sandlih, assistant secretary of ' state notified Carrigan. Even If broadcasting itself is Inter^' state commerce, it is unlikely the State authorities would issue the papers needed tb buy or lease land. build studios, and engage help, the petition suggests. IncoDsisicBt On one of ^ the chief grounds for turning down the West Texas crowd, the FCC appears, to : have been trapped. Spearman cited the state-, merit .in' Commish decision that the antenna would constitute a hazard to air navigation and theiii showed via affidavit that the Commerce .Department is prepaired to approve the proposed . site and the 375-foot tower whenever, the FCC ■ requests its opinion. . Inconsistent engineering testi- mony, along ' with oassertedJy, un- justified inferencesi . and unfair /in- nuendoes, mentibried . by Spearman as cause for further testimony; Quoted statements of the winner's engineering witness to show the FCC had ho grounds for ' conclusion that the Wichita outfit would reiider bet- ter service than his owh clients and objected to thinly-hidden implication that the West Texas group is split into discordant factions! MOHAWK CARPET IS BESIEGED BY ADMEN Most of the larger ad: agencies in New York are besieging Mohawk Carpet with .■ proposed programs.. Theory is that the company has signified an intention of - returning to the air in thp autumn.' Last ether excursion for Mohawk was three years ago when firm spon- sored the sive-a-weeker 'Five Star Jones' on NBC. At that time Black- ett-SamplerHummert had thie-: ac- count. Bcnay Venata will have. Jimmy Durante,' Russ Morgan, Leila Roose- velt; who recently returned from an African expedition, and John Steele, asr guest stars on her WOR-Mutual sustainer Sunday Aug. 7. DOGHOUSE CONGESTED WUKCi .Columbns, cited, But No Details Available Washington, Aug. 2. Still ' another - broadcaster . was placed on. the anxious seat last week when the FCC decreed hearings on renewal license application of WHKC; Columbus, O. No explana- tion given. Dog-house congestion' was tempo-' rarily eased at.the sarne- time, how- ever, wlien three stations running on temporary - permits got regular re- newals for -the full term, WSAN - and WCBA; Allentown, Penri.y . arid KQCY, Oklahoma City (which was ordered to defend its existence at a hearing a riionth earlier).- License of WCCO, Minneapolis, also, was re- newed for a six-riionth span. P. J. HENNESSEY HANDLING NBC ASCUENT Washington, Aug. 2. Iriiportant : personnel changes at NBC this week with P. J. Heiineissey, headquarters attorney, and . Bill Coyle, night supervisor f oir WRCt WMAL,- bi:«aking loose. - Adopting novel method for: han- dling; legal , chores before the FCC and -Congress, the web, will retain Hennessey as- its Washington barris- ter with understanding that he : will not accept any retainers f roin clients whose interest might conflict 'with NB6 in future proceedings.' Hennes- sey was sent down from the home office two years ago when l^al wrangling became constant and re- quired an attorney on the scene steadily. •; .— Cf$>>lev^>e%4d^|iif Washingto n. jttt r,r whi'cfi'^rece'AtlJ bougt. conirST^ot WMALj under lease to the web. Will be the link between- the. paper and the studio, supervising promotion and' special' radio activities at the paper. .'Charles. '(Bud) Barry suc- ceeds him as .after-dark boss. Cite WJJO, Chicago, for Hearing; F.C.C. Gives Bnef Explanation In Contrast to Usual Silence CANDIDATE HINTS NEUTRALITY OFFSU)E ' Washington, Aiig, Vague complaint to the Senate Campaign Expenditures .Committee carries the first charge that political neutrality clause of the CommunicaT tiohs Act is being fractured in the 1938 campaign. Without submitting any details, J0I..1 N. Neal, Demo- cratic aspirant to . Vr.i Democratic Senatorial nominatlnr in battle- marked Tennessee, wi-ed Chairman Morris She iparc of Toxas that an unidentified Federal official is . deny- ing access to microphone, whenever he suspects user would spout critic- ally about the Memphii situation (where local Boss Ed Crump is fight- ing Governor (Sordon Browning). 'As the committee, is aware of Fed- eral licensing of radio, this . high- Handed attempt to throttle an impor- tant Channel of free speech during a heated Senatorial campaign in my opinion brings this act under the jurisdiction : of the committee,' Neal telegraphed. Besides failing to give any specific information to the Senate probers, the outraged, office-seeker neglected to call the incideit to the attention of the Federal Communications Com- mission. Search, of the files shows no protest from him which would occasion an inquiry. Katherine Roche Sails Katherine Roche, the. June Baker XWpmaii:s.-progr"»ar' mandie. Gone a month. Washington, Aug. 2. Fate of another, broadcasting sta- tion, WJJD, Chicago, . was jeop- ardized when the Federal Communi- cations (^oi.nmissibn, questioning the. propriety o( certain medical ac- counts, set the renewal license down lor a hearing. Nearly a dozen, opern- tprs in this dbg-house currently. Secrecy policy which . has sur.;- rounded the FCC^'s ;iivestig£ti6h into misconduct charges, was abandoned on this instance. Brief explanation disclosed - preliminary inquiry has been made into the roniluct of the Chicago transmitter anc" indicates the ihanagement disregarded stipula- - tions between undisclosed sponsors ar,0 both the Federal Trade Coriimis- slon and the Food and Drug Admin- istration. - . \ Nervous P»Uentr •. Nervous list remairiei large; .'Thi'ee transmitters placed on a temporary permit basis a month ago got a clean bill of health, WHDF, Calumet, Mich; WKAT, Miam Beach, and WPRA, Puerto Rico. Their places taken by WBIL, N^w York; KMPCi Beverly Hills, and KWJJ, Portland, Ore. '•'' } ;,. • A half dozen who hav« been, jit- tery v/ere kept waitin' for definite- word. Includes -KQU. Honolulu; WAGM, Presque Isle, Me.; WEAU, Eau Claire; Wis.; KGBU,. Ketchikan, Aiaska; WNEW. New York City, and KSUB. Cedar City, UUh. List is. growing longer each month. Last week the Commish failed to take any action oii nearly two -dozen three, two. arirl oa .-ir.ontl tags ex- piring ' at the end o JiOy, besides fi.Yerl.ogklni aga.i.p r^'-'iral ^igfire .pp.-. i'Wfflhig" under undated«»+»Apicirdry- papers. - Jelm U. Bebcr paid the J. Walter Thompson office in Hollywood a fast social call. Eir» B. Eddy, v-p :of EUaii-AIsop- Eddy Radio Recording Corp., N. Y, back from Canadian sales trip. Ex- pects to open an office in Toronto. 50,000 WATTS • PHILADELPHIA t« VARIETY RADIO REVIEWS Wedhesdaj, August 3, 1938 Follow-Up Comment Major Bowes' personal chatter, ■with the ams leaned heavily toward love-life on the last stanza (28); Practically all the candidates got a going-over as to . their marital inten- tions, or past performance record in this department Heart-throb stuff undoubtedly has been injected to pep up the usual queries which in time lose zip, and pegin to sound like a second-class mail questionnaire. Stanza on the whole, however, has «nou3h variety and old sod tie-ins to, keep it well up in the forefront. 'Let's Get ' Toeether,' with Jack Berch on for its second- airing last Tuesday (2S) was a well-produced, variety show with a standard- pat- tern of singing, music and comedy. Berch is agreeable emcee. Program also held Hope Emerson, Lyn Mur- ray chorus. Lew Babian, Ed Eastt Ralph Dumke, Bert Parks and Leith Stevens orchestra. Script by Howard Blake and Fred Kress held comedy which was not hard to take, but which doesn't seem to have hit the right groove' as yet. Included some banter about Berch's 'Bath Tub Singing' School' which- Berch put across well ehou|h, but his strongest points remain his sing- ing and straight performing. Bert Parks; who handled the announcing, does oke jobi but there is not enough distinction between his voice and Berch's. . Hope .Emerson is a strong warbler for radio, but here, too, the patter, was not up to her singing: Comedy, just didii't quite click. Probably will bs improved as program develops. East and Dumke -ribbed Berch and sang one of their ditties; and. Leith Stevens orchestra sounded lush, Ira Ashley directed.' 'Ltvine History,' one of the CBS Adult Education shows, has modifled its format and is now sticking to one subject. Last Wednesday (27) it selected Mad Anthony Wayne's 'Battle of Fallen Timbers.' It was an improvement over the show caught recently dealing . with Shay's Re- bellion, but still can be bettered. Idea is good bu.t dramatization Is ■n'eak, : _Be.st executed part was the "nii»Jiit».7»-'tia,' weakest !:p.ai;ts' ''.th!t^^^*. Dr. harry Carman, an educator who tends to lose his audience. Summing up descriljed American expanstoh as a 'great imperialistic enterprise.- For popgr.n. on the Shay broadcast, • booming artillery Was substituted on this onei be goody-goodies ih the most authentic Horatio .^Iger do or die manner, impression' 'eft being dis- tiiiclly phoney. •People's Platform' over WABC- CBS last Wednesda" (27) was sup- posed to be devoted to labor prob- lems but developed into a general discussion of tli.'? eovcrnment in busi- ■ hess and related subjects; Among the dining discussers were Spencer Miller of the Workers Education Bureau. George Sokolsky, billed as ai labor consultant, Evely ' Brenner, an unemployed teacher on WPA and Tim .O'Rourke, a carpenter and union member. Latter had a genuine, ?hick Irish Lrogue.' Lyman Bryson liandled the. chair.. Sokolsky witli his gli" knowledge and professional training appeared ait n,rst to dominate the discussion and looked for a while as though he. might run off with the argument. O'Rourke, however, got up his flght- ihg Irish and sneaked in a rap at Sokolsky during a warm argument over the '. definition of a capitalist. O'Rourke's final sally was defining Sokolsky as a capitalist because he held 10 jobs. Sokolsky previously tried to show the carpenter was a capitalist because he owned a re- frigerator, but was . stymied when O'Rourke said the .Inance corhpany owned it; he was paying.for it. on the installment plan. A lengthy discussion followed in which . Sokolsky . scorched the- Ad- ministration for spending billions 'to subsidize an election.' Here too; how- ever,, fie was. stymied when asked what he would have done with the millions of unemployed, Sokolsky offering no answer.: ■ : Bryson handled the discussion ably and intelligently preventing it from wandering too faiv Argument was goin< strongly when announcei- cut it off the air. - '4SMins.* (Con tinued f rom pa?e 25 ) . skilled typewriter. Even so for the less choosy it still may be okay; Unimaginative handling is shown by the fact that each time Vine came on he had the same introductory music. There ought to be more than one simple tune for-this purpo.se. His chatter was . interrupted by stooges, telephones, '-ian insurance salesman* a reporter and more of the like, al- most all of whom had some acrid comment on Vine's performance. This formula ' mi^ht of course be funny— but wasn't. Dave Miller who announced; was fair, except for his habit of. fading away, on the last word of song titles, so that it. wasn't always deaf what was coming up. . Kay and Buddy Arnold were satisfactory . in ' their vocal numbers. Marjorie Harris also vocalized acceptably. . • Production sounded thrown to- gether and hurried. It will be on daily, Mondays- through Fridays for a half -hour period over tlve same station from 9:00 to 9:30 p.m. FRANKIE CONNORS With Sam Benavle's orch Sojigs, Mnslo 30 MIns. — Local Sustaining Wed., 10:3u p.m. WJR,.Detrolt Frankie Connors, pit tenor at the Fox theatre, Detroit, for past five years, takes time. off after stage show hours to turn in a neat job on this weekly prograrh, designed by WJR to relieve, pressure of dance bands in late evening: As indicated, sonRS are- of yester- year, with Sam Benavie's station band providing a nifty baclcground. Pete. •Amerleatis at Work,'- a CBS edu- cational . program, investigated gas station employees last Thursday (28). Half the 30 minute program was from New 'Vork, and half from. Washington; D. C. Script by Mar- garet Le Werth is well written, but it always seems as though all- Ameri- cans, whether , sandhogs or gas sta- tion employees, are just nuts about their work. Gas station boys wero made out to Chase Se. Sanborn hour Sunday (31) bolstered by the presence of Fay Bainter in excerpts from 'Dpds'- worth;' She registered solidly as Fran, wife of Dodsworth. Playing opposite Edward Arnold, in the title role, she P'rt- over -the only highW dr.amaUp. scene witir"consimihrtt*'teai*> /- 'a'lts of 'Dodsworth' have been before on the air. ) La Bainter came back to appear opposite Charlie .McCarthy in. farcical takeoff of the original. Good script and comedy job. Fortunate for program that Miss Bainter was appearing because otherwise it went stupidly dull when- ever Edgar Bergen and McCarthy were absent. ' Margaret McCray filled In for Dorothy Lamour when latter was kept away by an opera- tion.. Did two numbers nicely. John Carter was handed fouir hardy vocals on his final appearance, with Nelson Eddy diie in next week. Entire pro- gram is topheavy. on singing but it has be,en that way so long appar- '. ently nobody cares. . Not ." while Bergen holds up the C.A.B. Produc- tion leans heavily on that huiik of lumber, the best alibi, for sloppy 'technique in radio. Gertrude Lawrence guested on the Rudy. Vallee show for Standard Brands last.Thursday night (28) with Douglass Monte;omery in an adapta- tion of. -Shadov' Play/ NaaX Co.ward's orifi-acter. • - Actress gave -^a vivid, electrifying performance, as usual, with Montgomery the properly col- orless foil. Pair 'were, stymied by the adaptation, however. Job was botched, with pieces of dialog seem- ingly selected at random from the original. Instead of the pointed and fairly poignant fantasy penned by Coward, the piece turned out to be a straight romantic interlude, ill-de- fined and: minus a climax. But Miss Lawrence once more demonstrated her uncanny knack of. projecting her personality undimmed over the air. Vallee's playing of a medley of -Tisket a TaskeV and 'Martha' was exceptionally rhythmic. One of the most skilled orchestra jobs he's turned rin riecently. •BEYOND THE BOBIZON' WItb . Marc»l» GlUmore, James Melfhan, Earle Larlmore,' Mark Smlthf'Mary Michael, Bob Stranss, Ruth Yorke, Charle* Webster, . Madeline Pierce e» MIns. Snstainlnr Thnrsday, 9 p.m. WJZ-NBC, New York Second Eugene O'Neill opus in the series of Pulitzer Prize plays be- ing cthered Thursday nights over the NBC blue. 'Beyond the Horizon' was a standout. Much of that was obviously due \o the powerful, deft writing-; of O'Neill original but adaptation and compressing by Ja(ncs Church retained the pungency and lifelike characterizations of the original; It was sturdy ether drama, gripping attention ' and mounting steadily to a stunning climax. Capable cast put over a creditable collective trouping job. Name was Margalo Gillmore,. legiter and oc- casional radio player, as Ruth Atkins. She seemed unsure of her- self at the start, showing a tendency, to rush her lines and overdo the tonal range, but presently hit her stride and clicked thereafter. Emo-; tlonal scene with her husband and the portrayal of disillusionment at the end was stirring. James Meighan contrived to inject life into the part of the husband -and handled the dramatic moments without ranting. Earle Lariinore filled the more diffi- cult role of the brother. . t Mark . Smith was. powerful and persuasive as the stern father, while Mary Michael and Ruth Yorke were effective as the older women. Bob Strauss overdid the age of the uncle and Madeline Pierce was no more ludicrous than .the part, of the. baby. Charles Webster's doctor was only a bit. . James Church's direction main- tained admirable pace. ■ Hohe. CZECHOSLOVAklAN ARMY Transoceanic 15 MIns. Sunday, 1:30 p.m. - WABC-CBS, New York Columbia brought in an across the pond broadcast Sunday (31) after- noon of 15 mins. of Czechoslovakian Army maneuvers from Milovice, im- portant Czech Ariny post 25 miles north of Prague and 50 miles from, the German frontier. ■ Maneuver by maneuver description of sham bat- tle was given by- Willipm Shirer, Columbia Central European rep. - . Beside the make believe ground battle with sounds of machine guns stuttering away and clear pickup- of even chugging of tank motors, re- lay was supposed to have included a mock air raid and anti-aircraft Hre. but few mins. before the broadcast went on a pursuit ship crashed near the mike. Crash curtailed that bit of detail. Shirers' description of man- euvers was mostly drowned, but by hodge-podge of sound of hammering of quick flrers and seven millimeter guns. At the finish he brought the Wife of what was gathered to be a soldier of fortune to the mike. She praised the efficiency of the Army and was followed by a Czech gen- eral. : No apparent reason for the pickup except in the short speech made by '".'.sAtmy leader. Words included a mild plea for peace and asserted his country and U. S. were parallel not J". trenches in the Great . War but also in ideals. -Rebroadcast itself was little foggy at the outset but cleared as time went on until at the finish came in like a local airing. GABBY HARTNETT Interview STANDARD BRANDS Thursday, 8 p.m. WEAF-NBC, New York U. Walter Thompson) Thanks to shrewd scripting and comparatively little mike fright, 'Gabby' Hartnett, . catcher . and new manager of the Chicago Cubs proved a -satisfactory guester last Thursday (28) with Rudy Vallee As vaniif ®"u^''^''"A""y evident on the Vallee shows, the guesU are bene- fited by scripting that brings out their personalities for the listener Interview session was appropri- ml'/t 'ntroduced with the annouiVce- ^i*?i' „„y^"2®iu P'*=*''"e' • Hartnett catching,' and the questions and an- sw-ers were^on.^ Session extracted some comedy from that standard subject, the Brooklyn Dodgers. Good tag line for the stanza. Hobe 'DOG HEROES^^ Transcription 15 Mins. S. CRATCHLY Once Weekly i VB, Sydney Nifty piece of wax for local con- sumption No difficulty in breaking into the homes of all dog-lovers As a weekly shot it should return satis- taction to sponsor and air audience alike. ^ One caught for review told of the American Highway Patrol, a garage stickup, and the loyalty of a dog owned by a young patrol officerT Heid^ attention from start to stop despite .Yankee setting aiid dialogue. As most of the air fans here are nim-gocrs as well, anything from the U.S. is quite easily understandable. Probably this is why so many spon- sors buy American transcriptions for program presentation when . home nesh-blood is unobtainable. Program is carried along at a swift pace, and the commercial used is sharp and to the point. Kick, (ADVERTISEMENT) BAtTIMORE WFBR CARRIES THETORCHFOR "NATIONALLY ADVERTISED BRANDS WEEK " A 15 minute prbgrorn every day, featuring George Van Dorn and his NBC Red, Network orchestral Plus announcements! Plus m e rc h a n d i si n g the programs through oiir tie-up with newspapers i n M a r y I a n d t r a d i n g centers; and in neigh- borhood movie theatres in Baltirhore. But, National Advertisers, you needn't thank us. It's only what we feel due to the national advert isers who have made WFBR their FIRST CHOICE STATION IN BALTIMORE VVe cooperate with you National Advertisers 52 weeks a year> because the station management understands your prob- Iems,think5 your thoughts, speaks your language^ If you have a merchandis- ing problem in Baltimore, let's, talk it over. WFBh ON THE NBC RED NETWORK NnTIONQL REPRESENTRTIVES EDWARD RETRY & CO. fTednesday, August 8, 1938 RADIO VARIETY ST F.CC. Fairness On Re-Hearings To Trial in Sept , Washington, Aug. 2. Special proceedings to settle the ion« controversy about amount of laSude permissable lor the FCC in -MDsidering cases sent back by iudges decreed last week by the Dis- trict of Columbia Court, of Appeals. Partial victory in wrangling to avoid having their applications lammed up with pleas of latc-comers was registered by Paul Heitmeyer, candidate for new station at Chey- enne, and Pottsvjlle BroadcasUng Co., which wants in at the Pennsyl- vania city. ; ■ ^ , ■ Declining to issue the requested, writs of mandamus and prohibition, the coiirt in a per curiam opinion Wednesday (27) ordered: the Polts- viUe case consolidated with the un- usual appeal granted Heitmeyer. Ar- guers will perform when the fall term resumes. In. the significant Ppttsville case- where the FCC wanted to consolidate the argument with two other later Mplicants— the court noted the simi- larity of the., procedural questions raised, and remarked that the FCC has agreed to postpone consideration, of various applications until the pro- cedural mattei- is settled by the judges. S:>arrlnB Both arguments glow out of the court's reversal -of Cbmmish . opinions denying the respective applications. When the Heitmeyer matter was sent back, the. Cpmmish ordered a new. hearing, in company with' other ap- plicants, instead of reviewing the original record and making another decision on the evidence already in the record. Scheduled .handling of the ■ Ppttp-iUej. -a!,~-^r«"n«+ . .usual, since the FCC appeared satis- fied by the testimony and data on hand, but did want to lump the Poltsville . Broadcasting Co. request with those of Schuylkill Broadcasting Co. and -Pottsville News, each of . which entered the picture some tinrie after the first party. Additional sparring in the Potts- ville case has occurred in the .past fortnight . Insisting it is entitled to equal consideration, Schuylkill com- pany opposed the request for court review of the FCC procedure^ and Eliot C. Loyett, representing the irate Pottsville .Broadcasting Co., shot back another tart document declaring thie Schuylkill crowd 'chose to take a chance,' and should be bound by the rules. Alleged 'right' to have its as- pirations considered simultaneously with the Pottsville Broadcasting re- quest is a belated effort of Schuylkill to burden and harrass his clients, Loyett declared. STATUS OF TELEVISION N* RCA Receivers on Market— VIslo Shows U> Resume, However : HCA will hot market television sets this fall to the public. De- velopment of the ear-and-eye gad- gets is continuing in the comjpany's. labs at Camden, N. J. Hold-off of set' sales, which were expected to commence at summer's end, will not retard the television broadcasts with " which NBC and RCA are experimenting. Schedule of five hours weekly starts in 'late August. These broadcasts were yanked early in June at about the time half a dozen department stores in New York City started to peddle tele sets of indie manufacture to' the public. Stores put the sets on their shelves to cash in on the wave of publicity that NBC and RCA got for their experimental . broadcasts. .\ Tom Hutchinson, tele program chief at NBC, and Bob Morris, net- work's development engineer, are currently In .London eyeing the set- up used by BBC; pair expected back within a fortnight. . Earlier this summer D. H; Moiiroe, BBC's tele production manager, ogled what NBC was doing in New York, CBS is . still rather hush-hush on its tele plans, and is still av^'aitihg BGA's; delivery of a transmitter with which the web can begin its experl- mentai broadcasts. RCA vi-as to hav6 delivered the transmitter to Colum- bia' late last spring, but the web held it up when it discovered that- NBC was going to give, its .equip- ment . an . overhauling during the summer. At autumn's start CBS wants to be abreast'its rival iii what- ever late features RCA can add to a sender. Meanwhile CBS is unable to set a starting date for its visual broadcasts from its prepared studios In the Chrysler building, N. Y. NBC'i setup is located in the Empire State. Farm Power Celebrated Little Rock, Ark.,. Aug. 2. KARK went, into the rural sections last week to broadcast inauguration of a new povvrer line owned and op- erated by farmers in the vicinity of Augusta, Ark. . Broadcast was from the home of Ed Tater' . Smith, share- cropper, and approximately 1,000 people attended the ^11-day barbecue and picnic..- . Stations Set Political Policy Compasses by New RC.C. Rules Seattle, Aug. 2. , In reply to a request for. legal comment, on the' recent political rules laid ' down by the' Federal Cohnmunications Commission, the at- torney for a local station . sent the following lettei: which may be il- luminating to the broadcasting trade gcherally: 'Your inquiry of July 20th relative to rule 36a issued July i,' 1938, by the Federal Communications Com- mission touches only one question relative to paragraph 4 of said irule; rdeeni it advisable to; Coyer several other questions which may arise in your interpretation of this rule. 'Paragraph 1 contains a proviso 'that such licensee shall have np power of censorship over the ma- terial broadcast by any such candi- date.' Biy this we must assume that it is the. intention pf the Commis- sibn' to eliminate the ppwer of ceh- sorshi on the part of the . station to any and all matters contained In broadcast addresses .by candidates for olfice which siich candidate has a legal right to utter. It is not the intention - of the Cbminission tp . en- courage the utterance by candidates for olTice Vof libelous or slanderous matter. In view, of the .liability of the licensee in damages, as well as under the criminal statutes of this state in connection w'th libelous and slanderous matter, it- is decisively necessary tliat you require of all candidates for .public ofllce submis- sion in advance to you of a copy of the prop6.sed broadcast statements. If such statement contains libelous or slanderous matter, then it is your duty to Confer with the author of the statement and obtain his agree- . ment ' to the deletion, of such libelous or slanderous matter. . In the event he refuses to comply with this re- quest then you have no right to be- . (Cor'iiiut^d oil pnge 40)^ Again/ a good radio station do more than merely entertain in order to be a good advertising medium must must> in the final analysis, entertain a great m4n3> people ultimately, of course, it must sell merchandisie for its advertisers. Most merchandise is, for better or worse, stilt cnU tftrAVigrli fttnrpg IUIdI if^ft A program on the Nation's Station not only builds Traffic Shows Renewed By Commercial Credit Co. Baltimore, Au^.. 2, "It Happened So Quick,' true to life dramatizations of automobile acci- dents, has been renewed by the Com- mercial Credit Co. over WBAL. Tied in with local safety councils and the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Walter H. Rudy. Programs have beeii plugged to school children and parents, getting some credit for recent 32%. reduction in fatal accidents ini this section. A I5-minute weekly airing series . go on Sunday mornings at nine o'ciock. Houston Covers Hughes Houston, Aug. 2. _Elabcirate coverage of the Howard Hughes visit to his honoe-town Sat^ urday was given by KTRH and fed w CBS. Entire staff of announcers, headed by Harry Grler, program an- nouncer, was oh duty. Grier ^was « the municipal airport, renamed the Howard Hughes Airport in cere- monies taking place immediately alter the arrival of flier. The 10-mile parade from the air- port to the heart of the cHy, through streets hung with bunting and wel- coming banners, was described by ^nouncers staUbned at strategic Wints. It culminated in a reception « the Rice Hotel. »n « " °" the air from 12:30 J* 9 p.m. A portion of the cere- "loniej was carried by KXYZ, on the «'r from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in''w'"*"" <"•"*) Mitchell ascends ° onnouhcership at WJR, De- TOit, afler two years' service at .sin- and sales through consumers but brings to your product strong dealer interest with its consequent preferential display WLW-land dealers XnoM; the selling impact \ r ^^iifr of WLW since 1931> WLW representatives have called on dealers 248,700 times S--- and shown them personally this part of the story of '— the Nation's Station. 38 VARIETY RADIO ncies- sors l^cl^hlon Ic Nelson, Schenectady, appointed to handle iadio prpniolion iov the Rutland. Vt., Slate Fair, the Sandy Cicelt, N. Y, Fail-,, and the Altamont Fair, near Schenectady, N. Y. Daily draniali7.cd annpunco- ments will be broadcast for three weeks over WCiY to plug the Riitr land exposition, running from Sept. 5 through Sept: 10. Dramatized an- nouncements will be used, for the most part, on WGY for the Aliamont show. Aus. 22 through Aiig. 27. For the Sandy Creek affair, Aug. 16 through Aiip. 20,' daily straight an- nouncements will bo aired via WFBL and WSYR, Syracuse, and in addi- tion, a series of dramatized - blurbs on both stations for' three weeks. Pick-ups from the fair grounds will also go over WFBL. and igang, indefinite, through Klinger Advertising Corp, New York ' State Bureau of Milk, five spot aniipupcemcnts weekly for 30 weeJ:s, through J. M. Mathes, Inc. Stance,. Inc.. (Flil), six spot an- nouncements weekly for lour weeks, through McCann-B;rickson, Inc. HEARST AIR COLUMN IN CARBON Inside Stutf-Radio WNEW,\New; York, new business: Clark-Millner Co., Chicago (white rouge, six 15-min. periods weekly on David LOew's 'Souiid Track, direct. Pennsylvania Stale Publicity Com- mission, participation in 'Travel Man' program five times weekly, through 'Walker St Downing, Pittsburgh, Lion Brewery, 28 spot announce- ments for one week beginning July 15, direct, Madison Personal Loan, six 30- min. periods weekly, Zeke Manners »1 Radit Originator . ONK M.\N SHOW TWO;V4»lr£ SAM AND HENRT .M.4STRR OF «;f.bkmomem R.tIA' MO MO' VKI18K CONTEST. -i«,i;»AM E xaL.if jiiijjL, ^ ■• ■^■C OM» i Vl >iW><*.i» ■•m n .. ; Adilrciu: 4311 N.. raallDa St., Chicago Or. Frank B. Robinson (Psychi- ana), through the J/.zard Co., Seattle, is using one quarter-liour transcribed program weekly in KFRC, San Francisco, tlu'pugh Sept. 4. Western Stopper C i (corks and seals), through C.erth-Knollin. is par- ticipating once weekly through Aug. 31 ; in "Bess Bye's morning program on KFRC, San Francisco. Montezuma School for Boys is con- ducting a two- week spot campaign, using two weather torccasts daily on KPO,. San Francisco, and two Sun- day spots on KGO. Place-! direct. Florida Citrus returned to the ozone with a placement this week- in the national spot: field. Campaign rides over 76 stations of one one- min. blurb daily- f,5r four weeks. Riithraufl: & Ryaii placed the bi^. , Last autumn, winte: and spring Citrus was aboard CBS with a morn- ing program ■ featuring Emily Post At yet no plans are afoot for the ■ account to return to a network this ci,ming season. Hearst's New York Journal-Ameri- j can is experimenting with a pro- posed weekly .supplement of radio I iiews to be syndicated. i Several months ago Hearst dropped the Sunday radio page of ■ siufl which was prepared in New 'York and carried in all Hearst papers. Experiments being carried on for the proposed Sunday sectiori- have reached the dummy form stage. word announcemen ;, over five weeks, for tractors, placed by Au- brey, Moore 4: Wallace. Oshkosh B'Gosb, three 15-miniite programs a week for 13 weeks, transcripHons t'Lem and Martha'),, for overalls, placed by RuthraufT it Ryan. P. Lorlllard, two 15-minute pro- grams: a week for 13 weeks, tran- scribed, 'Don't You Believe' It,' for Sensation cigarettes and. Muriel cigars, placed- by Lennen & Mitchell, General Mills, Inc., six two-hour programs Week for, 17 baseball games, covering American Legion junior baseball series played, by Charlotte team, for Wheaties, placed by Knox-Reeves. NBC's sales division la doing S(5me more pointing with pride. Thi.s tirna it has to do with the progress NBC figures it has been making this year in keeping ahead of Colimibiai on gross siles. The contrast is iinpliecl bv- (he statement' that NBC has long got away from sharp fluctuatiotw iit gro.'ts arid has created a pretty substantial basis of . 52- week and ^eruiral- slump-riotwithstanding business. . NBC, points out that it was 31% ahead of CBS in January, .35% 'on the comparison of the first six nionths of this year and 51% in the contrast of Julie, '38, billings. Clairii that Philco Radio it Television Corp. had run out on an a^jcee- meht to employ him "for life' as assistant general manager, is made by Hairy P, Dispecker in a suit filed Friday (29) in Federal Court, N. Y. Plaintiff avers he was hired under contract by Philcd in 1934 and fired la.st May, ^ Claim.s agreement called for a salary of $00 weekly and wants the cor|), to pay < him |^34,832, How he arrives at the amount he claims is not re- vealed in the complaint. CBS jjromotional booklet, 'Vienna, 1938: A. Footnote to Hi.story.' v/hich' originally^had a printiiig of. 9,000, will go to a second edition, unique for a commercial brochure. Additional 2,000 will be divided between Aiherica and England, where the piece was a sensation both as an historical docu- ment and as an example, of- Yankee zip in advertising. Prepared under Vic Ratner. Instead of the European tour which he had laid out for himself early in the summer, Hubbell Robinson, ■ Jr., Ypiing 5t Rubicam radio exec, i.i making it a two weeks' vacation in Bermuda. Trip to Europe was first put oft" when Robinson's father became . very ill and just the deferred .sail- ing date rolled around Robinson was taken down with a severe stoinach ailment. Lever Bros, will resiime plugging Spry and drop Lifebuoy soap within two weeks oh its f-^ot spread over around 100 stations. It's a Ruthrauff & Ryan account. WBT. Charlotte, N. C, new biz: SoDthern Cotton OH Co., with three 100-word and 14 5()-word an- j noimcements a week, Ipi: 26 weeks, I in behalf of Scoco shortening. It is Fitzgerald Advertising Agency. International Harvester Cb„ 14 ■iO Williams . Fur Shop, of Pittsburgh, has taken Walt Framer's 'Lobby Interviews' on. WWSW. for iJ-week period, following show's long sustain- in. record. It's a iO-minute 'man in Ihe street' program and goes out every Monday, Wednesday and Fri- day at 7:45 p.m. Plaoed by Collier- Tyson Agency. ANSVVERS TO ALERTNESS TEST ON PAGE 33 Brother, furriers. It's a 15-minute weekly show with singers Nancy Martin and Jack Sherwood, with Johnny Mitchell at the -organ- and. Bob McKee doing the annoiincing. Observance of one year for Stan iShaw's 'Milkmati's Matinee' on WNEW, N. Y., resulted in. open house at the station 'from 1-7 a.m. this morning (Wednesday). Figured on getting the newspapermen on their fin^l Ian, for the night station served only brandy and cofl'ee on the beverage .side. As it was Earl Harper's WNEW 'baseball appreciation night' in Newark earlier in the evening, press agent I-irry Nixon put in a 24rhour grind. - , Crpsley; Radio and subsidiary companies showed a los.i of $1.!)0A .after all . charges and taxe.s, for the six-month period endiag June 30, as -jom- pared with a profit of $219,316 in similar period last year. . Earnings last year for the first half Vi^ere equivalent to 40c, of capital stock as- against a loss this year. NBC's booklet with th^ matchrsurfaced mugg of a gent in heed of \ Avav^ created some gagging among N. Y. admen last week. Ed Kobak ot Lord fit. Thomas cracked that' it -would take Energinc rather than Molle.to rub bS that beard. ', — T— — — ^ -^».'== . - -— ■ American T-Iome Prodiiots; (General Mills; Lady Ksther; Dr. Mlley I.Aboi'atorieH;. "Wm. ■W'rIgTey, Jr. For others, see the DIP.ECTpRY. Drama and audience partlcl- nallon made the (jreatest galnsi humci'lcally; popular music and audience partici- pation niado tlie Breateat gains. by size of hook-up. Based on Noveml>er. 1937, time sales, tlipre is a alight averagfe difTerence' In favor o( Hollywood. "Music", and "old.'" As of May 1, 193S, lliera w«r« 7J3. .Approximately Si>. Approximately 510. - riinae & Sanborn Pros;ram; Jack Benny; Kraft .Music Hall. BlaoUelt - Samplo -llunim--si l ; Lord & TlioinuH. Bill Jlorrow and Kd Eeloln; Don Qulnn: Cai-roll Carroll ; John Wedbni-y and 'Willie Burns: Monroe Upton and Thomas Iv. Carpenter, Jr. 11. li, 13. 14. I.ouls-Braddoek Two. Havana has 3i> stations; New York Olty baa 23. Women read columns more than men: but women read los.irtK(,'TOKY conlains rcrord.s on 3,o2D artists.) 13. Victor M; P.ntnor: Ttobi^rt _K. Si-hUiid; L'. I". J I. Jantps. 20. 21. 24. Order Your Variety Radio HOLLYWOOD Directory From CHICAGO V A R I E T Y 1708 N. Vine St. SATYR BOOK STORE 1620 N. Vine St. LONDON V A R I E T Y 3 3t, Martin* PI. Tr^Faljar Square V A R I E T Y 54 West Randolph St. RANDOLPH NEWS SHOP 63 W«st Randolph St, BRENTANd'S BOOK STORES NEW YORK CITY PHILADELPHIA WASHINGTON 533 Fifth Ave. 1726 Chestnut St. 1322 F St., N.W, VARIETY RADIO DIRECTORY 154 West 48lh Street. New York Please send...... ;copie« of VARIETY lO DIRECTORY ($5 per copy, postage prapii : $5.10 per. copy in New York City; duty not prepaid in foreign countries). Enclosed find Name - Address- Clt^ •,■■■*>,«,•'••'*••••■■•■'■•••«••*•••(•••*••* St3t6.>-i(i,»ri«»*.., irm Name . . . ................ ... . Albers Bros. Milling renewed 'Good Morning Tdnite' on NBC Pa- ciilc' Coast Red for another 13 weeks starting Oct. 4. Tenor Julian Oliver added to permanent cast of program, bundled by Erwin-W sey. Tanlice Network, Boston, new business:. R. B. Davis, Hoboken, N. J. (Davis Baking Powder); 26 participations in the Gretchen McMullen . program, twice -weekly a.m. to preem Oct. 4 and end Dec, 29. Throu.gh Chas. W. Hoyt Co., N, Y., on WNAC, Boston; WTIC. Hartford. WEAN, Providence; WTAG, Worcester; WICC, Bridge- port-New Haven; WCSH, Portland; WLBZ, Bangor; WFEA,' Manchester; WSAR, Fall River; WNBH, New Bedford; WLLH, Lowell-Lawrence; WRD, AugusU; WHAI, Greenfield. R. N. Delapenha Ic Co., New York City (Hartley's Marmalade), 26 par- ticipations in the Gretchen McMul- len program twice weekly p.m., to start Sept. 6 and end Dec. 1. Gotham, N. Y., WNAC and WEAN, first National Stores, Inc., Somer- ville. Mass. (Chain Stores), 117 15- miniile program.s, three times week- ly j.m. to preem Sept. 27. and end June 24, 1939, through Badger & Brownin.s, Inc;, Boston, on WNAC, WTIC, WEAN, WTAG, and WCSH. tee & Perrins, Inc., N. Y. C. (Worcestershire Sauce), 52 125-word annoimcements, twice weekly p.m., starting Sept. 28 and ending ^a'rch 24, 1939, through Schwimmer & Scott, Inc., Chicago, III., on WNAC, Ward Baiting,. New York City, re- newal 156 one-minute disc plugs, on Musical Roundup, twice daily. Mijn.- Sal.. ending Oct. 8: Sherman K. Ellis & Co.. Inc., N. Y. ., on WNAC and WEAN. Grove Laboratories. St. Louis, Mo. (Grove's Bromb-Quinine), 308 100-. word announcements, twice daily, Mon.-Sun., to start Oct. 1, and end March 4, 19.39, throush Stack-Goble Advertising Agency, Chicago, III., on WNAC. Boston It Maine R. R., Boston CVa- cation Specials), 10 100-wprd plugs, twice weekly a.m., ending August 10, through Doremus & Co., Boston, on WNAC. . Narraganseti Racliig Association, Pawtucket, R. I., 29 100-word an- nounftejTient.s, p.i'n.,.started July 28 to end Sept. 15; Chambers & WisWell. Inc.. Boston, on WNAC, WEAN ai\d i WICC, TIES UP WITH TEACHERS Federal Theatr* itadlb Division, New York City, htf itarted conduct- ing groups of teacheri th'cough its quarters, demonstrating how pro- grams ar* put together. Visitors are given glims of everything from » show being rehearsed under a di- rector's barking to tho p.a, fondly displaying his album oZ tear-sheets. Idea is multifold. Figured that teachers wiU b« Impressed with the work tho division of th« WPA is doing, that, the preceptors will pliig the programs before, their classes, and that they may make use of dra- matic methods of drumming U.S. his- tory into their, chargies' craniums. To help the ma'ams and marsters in this latter, pursuit, copies of scripts dra- matized oyer the ozone dealing with American lore ar* given away to any requesting. Diana Bbnrbon restin,i on Brewster Morgan's ranch up Puget Sound way. Morgan toiling meanwhile on Holly- wood Hotel scripts. Jack Runyon in Denver to help (?arl Stanton launch th« chain stories program for Lord & Thomas. LUCKY STRIKE jjrr PARADE Saturday. ^^^^^ CBS N«tv»o''« FIFTH SER'E* CARL HOFF starting <" Octob«r j^LPEARCK HOTS TWgt. MCA THE O'NEILLS r.'i( 1;;:.; 'scni,>ci .;y !vor>,' So op ■ 99'' -.^^ : Durr LISTEN TWICE DAILY NBC Red Natwor IN . . Network. 12:15 to 12:30 P.M. DST CBS • WABC— 2:15 to 2:30 P.IM. 03T COAiST TO COAST T Mr. CO.WPTON A|IVKRT|.efore luncheon land travel clubs for his Little Brown book, 'Vagabond Voyaging.' Fort Worth— ^Popping ad lib question to chorus cutie almost broke up the Casa Manaha tri-weekly interview show over WBAP last week. 'What would you do if you'd feel a portion of your costume slipping during a dance act?' Chorine Virginia DofTlemeyer snapped: 'Why, I'd just hold up my pants with , one hand and keep right on hoofin'. Oklahoma City— Hauled before Doghouse Court, a WKY stunt program. Continuity Editor George Hammacher set a new legal precedence when he succeeded in forcing the Doghouse, judge to pay him instead of him paying the court, George had been charged by the announcers with having deliberately inserted bohers in copy. With a magnificent display of legal technicalities, Hammacher succeeded in reversing the 5-cent fin* collected on conviction; Washington Lobby Washington, Aug. 2. Not a single reference to the many sensational, revelations at the 1937 disbarment, trial found last week in the FCC decision nixing Richard M. Casio's ambition, to build a new sta- tion at Johnson City, Tenn. Case provoked the investigation culmi- nating in trial of two radio lawyers for unethical conduct. Casto mat- ter was the heart of the case against the attorneys, one of whom was rep- rimanded for substituting documents bearing on the application. Techni- cal barrier— fadt that disclosures ahoiil, incorrect.: testimony did not. port was presented-^blocked Com- ' mish from citing disci-'epancies in testimony as reason for denying the plea. Hif h-|iriced outside talent engaged by CBS for the scheduled FCC monopolychain hearings. Judge John. J. Burns, former counsel for the Securities 8c Exchange Commis- sion will head the web legal battery. Burns. is close associate of Joseph P. Kennedy, former RKO director and now. ambassador to Great Britain. ■ Engagement seen as hint that Colum- bia wants to be set for any attacks on Its stock registration, which has caused tut-tuting in Congress. SoDtherh California Methodists haive cheered fumigation drive of Communication^ Commissioner George Henry Payne. Resolution at recent Los Angeles conference cited the 'blood-curdling stories of mur- der, crime and terror' on the air, which Payne often has denounced. Methodists appealed to churches, dubs, organizations and individuals to, back up Payne's agitation for more suitable kid entertainment' via radio. Switch of two FCC members on the recent decision to allow WRNL (Richmond News Leader outlet) more power provoked speculation. When matter of moving the station (then bearing other call letters) from Petersburg to the state capital Was up Commissioner Eugene O. Sykes was one of those in favor, *ith Commissioner Norman S. Case opposed; Latest split over applica- tion from the same crowd found Sykes dissenting from majority, opin- ion— in which Case concurfed-^stat- Ing more wattage would be In the public interest. Another lawyer mess reported be- jlng cooked up at the FCC. Not as serious, from present indications, as the 1937 citation and trial. Record Jampering is the charge again this time. Tough attitude toward applicants^ especially newcomers to the biz— who take their time about exer- cising privileges extended by con; struction permits is being taken by * CC. Too much racketeering. Hold- ers of long-standing CP's in the fu- ture may be Ordered to, appear be- lore an examiner and explain why jney haven't lifted a finger and need .more time. Several instances where "°'^'du,als have harrassed' existing stations, seeking to be bought out, by '"ing amendments, modifications, and niner documenU which autonfiatically "fag out the time. . . . That's whal we ask Alberta Borke and Associates, an independent research organi- zation j to detcrnune . . the number of radio homes listening to each of the three local network stations in Gncinnati. In fesponse to this request Alberta Burke and Associates' staff of trained research workers conducted a 13,742 complete round- the-clock coincidental survey for seven days, June 2'tth through June 30th. As a result it was found that for the total time surveyed listeners were divided as follows: WSAI-57.i^ STATION A^31J% STATION B-X1.555 '^hUe this survey was necessarily confined to Cincinnati, there is no reason to beUeve that this same relative listener intensity is not cquaUy true throughout our entire primary area. A complete breakdown is now being prepared and is available upon rc<|ucst. WSAI CINCINNATI • National Spot Representaiive NEW YORK IRAN JAM ERICAN CHICAGO HO\LyWPO0 40 VARIETY MUSIC « DANS AP AXIOM Wednesday, August 3, 1938 On the Upbeat Jimmy Baschel current at Pleas- ant Lake, Jackson, Michigan. Al Cox playing aboard the S. S, North American, cruise ship, for^ the duration of the summer, Glen Gray's Casa Lotina band into Palomar, Los Angeles, tomorrow (Wed.), replacing Tommy Dorsey. Al Donahue orchestra, currently at the Rainbow Room, N. Y., has been renewed until latter part of Janu- ary, '38. Zlg and Zaf, cocktailers, open at Jefferson Davis hotel, Montgomery, Ala., Aug. 5 for CRA. Charlie Marglls' new band pre- emed last night (2) on WJZ-NBC. Artie Shaw into Gateway Casliip, Summersport, N. J., Aug. 6 augment- ing regular band of Clem Williams. Bob Bundy how handling Shaw band. Shaw also signed for Harvest Moon Ball, N. Y.i Aug. 31. Nano Rodrigp's Latins play rhumbas, waltzesi . etc., while Shaw handles swing stuff and fox-trot tempos. Tommy Reynolds now at Reade's Casino, Asbury Park, N. J. Suc- ceeded Glenn Miller July 30. Rudy Bnndy to Gypsy Village, Louisville, Ky.. for three weeks July 30. Charles Randall follows Mai Hal- lett at Playland, Rye Beach, N. Y,, Aug. 5. Emery Deotsch now being man- aged by Moe Gale. Exited Rock- well-P'K eefe a month ago. , ^^^'^t^ft^tt^^ft ^^^li.'^,''p*'.i>l^^%>'^Kr>lot this month , include Benny Goodman, Aug. 22, and Smith Bal- lew, Aug. 28. All placed by MCA. IS Best Sheet Music Sellers (Week ending Julv 30, 1938) Miisic, Maestro, Please I.... Berlin •Says My Heart Famous I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart.... .......Mills Cathedral in the Pines ..Berlin . •Lovelight in the Starlight; Paramount A-Tisket, A-Tasket Robbins The Flat Foot Floogee . . ... Robbins Little Lady Make Believe Green Bros When They Played the Polka. . . . ..... . . Olman Oh, Ma-Ma , . . . Robbins I Hadn't Anyone Till You .Shapiro ■•You Leave Me Breathless , ABC tl Married an Angel ...Famous "When Mother Nature Sings Her Lullaby.. .Santly-Jby •Now It Can Be Told., Berlin • Indicates fllmusical song. i Indicates stage production song. The others are pops. Val Garvin, of Pittsburgh, into Half Moon Club, Steubenville, O., for indef stay. Placed by Joe Hiller for CRA. . Jackie Heller opens at Washington- Yurie hotel, Shreveport, La., Aug. 4 for month with options. Placed by MCA. Joe Venuti playing the dance tunes at Villa Venice on the beach neair Los Angeles.. Barney Rapp sta}s a the Nicollet hotel, Minneapolis, until. Aug. 10. Kay Kyser to be. presented with placque tonight (3) by dance stu- dents of Fred Le Quorne school, 1(.3B by pro and amateur terpers. Jimrale' Lonceford at. New Ocean Casino, Virginia Beach, tonight (3). 'Klnfi ot Temp«^ swing band moved into Ray Haller's Seven Seas Gordon and Revel'* Song SensationI MEET THE BEAT OF MY HEART From the M-G-M Picture. "Loye Rnd. Andy Hardy- Gordon and Rever* No. 1 Song on all Hit Sheet.l WHERE IN THE WORLD From the 20th Century-Fox Picture, "Josette A Fresh Idea in Musical Noveltle. ON THE BUMPY ROAD TO LOVl By Al Hoffman, Al lewis and Murray Mencher The First New Style Song in Yeari MY MARGARITA By Maria Grever English lyric by V/olter Hirsch New Gordon and Revel's latest and Greatest Score! I'VE GOT A DATE WITH A DREAM THIS MAY BE THE NIGHT COULD YOU PASS IN LOVE BY A WISHING WELL Lee Mainna moved into the Casino, San Clements, Cat., last Wednesday (27), booked through Labor Day. Anson .Weeks band played a home- town engagement at the Rainbow Gardens, Sacramento, Saturday (30). . Benny MeroB moves into the Los Angeles Orpheum theatre tor a week opening tomorrow (Wed.) Les Hite's sepia bunch, with 'Peg Doris Fisher, daughter of publisher Fred . Fisher, will record with her own orchestra for Brunswick. Uses name Penny Wise and her Wise Guys with crew. Johnny Mcssner has added a Swiss music box to his band's equipment Got okay from NBC to use -box* for background music on announcements on radio time. Shep Fields replaces Frank Trom- bar at the Biltmore Bowl in Los An- geles, Sept. 15, Ben FoUock, Joe Venuti and BiU Aniandt and their bands have been booked into Pasadena Civic Audi- torium for . successive week ends next month, beginning Aug. 5.. Dan Gregory is in at Ocean View, Va., for the rest of the season, oust- ing Dave Ballou and his CBS boys, the ppeners at the resort. Panchito and His La Conga Or- chestra, Inc., New York, has been dissolved, papers being filed with the Secretary of State in Albany. Charlie Agnew at Bill Green's Pittsburgh, had option lifted for ad- ditional two weeks and stays through Aug. 5, with possibility of remain- ing longer. Handled by MCA. Phil Regan is prganiziiig an AU- Star dance band for a series of one- night stands on the Coast and possibly an eastern tour. Tommy Clifford's Swingtette set until Labor Day at Wilmer Vogt's Tavern, Mpuntaihhome, Pa. fVillard Schlillnger's music at Ten- nis Club of the Inn, at Biuck Hill Falls, Pa, Mai Hallett to Stork Club, Provi- dence, R. I., Aug. 26, for one week on a R-O'K exclusive bopking. Ben Bernie plays fpr Beverly Hills Club, Newpprt, Ky., starting Aug. 5. Sam Rubin replaced Lepnard Whitney as second alto saxer with Jimmy- Dprsey band. Hal Berdun band has wpund up an eight-week stand at Atlanta Biltmore hotel, Atlanta. McKinney's Cotton Pickers hold- ing the fort at Clark Lake, Michi- gan, for an indef run. Dorothy Derrick vocalizing with the crew. Set Compass (Continued from page .37 ) come a party tp the crime of libel by cpnsenting to his use of your brpadcast facilities. 'Paragraph 2 of rule 36a defines the wprds *a legally qualified candi- date fpr public office.' Under. Sec- tion 5191, Revised . Statutes of the State pf Washington, this, includes all legiilly qualified candidates fpr the primary elections. If there be any doubt as to whether aii indi- vidual is a legally qualified candi-. date, a certificate covering this ques- tion can be obtained from the coun- ty auditpr. : 'Paragraph 3 of rule 36a is clear in its purport and comprises a fair standard . of a fair treatment of all candidates. A solution of the cau- tion therein contained against giving preference to any candidate fpr pub- lic pfflce wpuld be a circular letter advising all candidates for all of- fices, bpth in the primary and in the general electipns of such rules tipn pf the statipn, see fit tp put into effect, including your rates for sta- tion time. You should notify them in this letter, and adhere strictly to this rule, that allotments of time wiU be made in the order of applications filed with the station. It is to be doubted that any candidate will seek to purchase all of: the available time pn the statipn, but if such should be apparent, then you are required under paragraph 3 to . so allot the time that other legally qualified can- didates for the sarne public office will be in a positipn to cpntract for an equal arhpunt pf time. 'Paragraph 4 requires the keeping pf a recprd pf all requests fpr broad- cast time. The statipn should pro- vide blank application forms, for .use by candidates for. public office which shpuld make prpvisipn for an appli. cation by such candidate for an al- lotment of time under rules and regulations set. forth in the applica- tion. These applications, when re- ceived, should be entered on the special record maintained for this purpose, iippn which shpuld be npted, the disppsitibn pf the applica- tion.' . Tough State . Washington state libel laws wer» written to hold down rough coii» versation of the printed word and ii knowii as one of the most stringent Frpm the present pplitical lineup and the whispers gping the roundj^ there are gping to be several smear spokesmen en the ale In the next cianipaign. SOXGS FROM ROBBINS The Sensation of Th« Centuryl A-TISKET A-TASKET By Ejla Rtzgerald and Al Feldmon America's New Novelty Hitl WHEN THEY PLAYED THE POLKA Words by lou Holier Music by Fabian Andr« The Year's Foremost Production Hitl I MARRIED AN ANGEL By Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodger* From the Musical Comedy, "I Married An Angel" A Rodgers and Hart Melodic Classic SPRING IS HERE From the Musical Comedy, "I Married An Angel" Hits a New High in Swing! LULLABY IN RHYTHM By Benny Goodman, Edgar Sampson, Clarence Profit and Walter Hirsch From the 20th Century-Fox Picture, "little Misj Broadway" HOW CAN I THANK YOU By Walter Bullock and Harold Spina From the New Universal Picture, "That Certain Age" MY OWN YOU'RE AS PRETTY AS A PICTURE By Harold Adqmson and Jimmy McHugh R05BINS MUSIC GORPOkATION «799 SEVENTH AVENUE NEW YORK. fsAneiiBf* August 3. 1938 MUSIC^DANSAPAtlON VARIETY 41 »Pittsbiii%l> Unioii Accord Reached Provide* for Part-Time Employment of Local Bands ^Both Sides Suppresis News from Pittsburgh, Aug. 2. ., on remote band , broadcasts ' „if*ries and hotels here, im- - " m,mth ago by Local 60 of "^.^ uSibn. suddenly was lifted HusKlans ^^'^^"'J^ntise moye. Ru- '^^"lI'r^ agAemehtwere rife over - ■ nothing defl""- to absence fi ier, head of ^ 60, who was vacationing t^'^ldinr'iut :nothihg definite **" u hVleamed due to absence from £5tSMeeder._hea^^^^ at Swtobd leading dance spots haveSd to use local bands three ■ iiTf/iiii of every year, with en- to sotted at^^^^^^^^ SwStlon. Only spot unaffected Twrnm Penn hotel, which will LunuHo use out-of-town outats «Soudy. According to insiders SiUiam Penn was excused on glnds that it employs local rnu- fSans throughout year at its Con- tinental Bar. Original Demand Original demand of union (for h pubUcity was sought) was that ice places employ, Pittsburgh ^.ds half of time. Then mis was reduced to four months, with New, Penn, WiUows, and BiU Green's, leadiiig employers of name bands, willing to go along on this provid- ing WUllam Penn hotel also agreed. Latter, however, flatly refused to ac- cede.. Compromise agreement, it's ber Ueved resulted. ':. ' Both Local 60 and dance spot op- erators were reluctant to discuss lenns ot agreement, simply stating that ban had been lifted. Whether Ihis will affect announced plans of MCA and CRA to take several local binds under their wing couldn't be learned. At least three were under Nosideratfon at lifting of ban but Teagarden Orchestra Early Winter Perhaps Plans of Arthur Michaud, ex- manageir of Tommy Dorsey, to re- place the latter leader with a creW built around Jack Teagarden, trom- bonist with Paul /Whiteman's outfit, have been temporarily styniied. Tea- garden is tied to Wbiteman on con- tract , expiring. .December and Whlterrian- is loath to release him before it runs out. Switch in plans will have Michaud starting to. gather a crew, early in November to have it somewhat in readiness for Teagarden to take over when he fades from the Whiteman picture. GIDDYAPPACE irlginaliy ia move made by 'big book' og organizations to pacify Local 60. Client out-ofrtown bands here ire George Hamilton^ Williaih Penn hotel; Charlie Agnew, Bill Green's; Lou Breese, New Penn; Royal Worth; Lincoln Terrace, and Joaquin Grill, WIDOWS, who will return to air time Immediately. MPIUSV$lj58 CRACKS IOWA JINX Ma^n .City, la., Aug. 2. 5hep Fields bowled over the "name* Jinx at the Surf dance den- nen, at Clear Lake, a jinx which cost Manager Carl Fox mazuma on every name band booking but that of Bud- Rogers early this season. Weather was villain. Fields, at the Surf July 26, brought ^ W a gross of $1,758, nearly SM more than that of Rogers, and we biggest 'name', take since Jan Garber drew $2,000 last summer. 6% Rogers' Click Portland, Ore., Aug. 2. Buddy Rogers and his band did a wba at Jantzen Beach Pavilion lor one week. Rogers* wife, Mary Sckford, flew up from L.A. to Join "iinhere. Jantzen Pavilion, with only a 40c admission, is doing con- »ntU. s'fons trade with name Join Jack Crawford Jarir n . Detroit, :A\ig. 2. ■nen t„ ^^^'ord added two new urult" before endins his .er 'wHp''^"''' at Jefferson Beach M=>; f '^'""•sday (28). r w»I u^'"'*"Sh. pianist, former- fen Anf?*.''"'*'^ Waldman's orch in IHnvJ'*n *°. "^'"y Kay's band f ittt; Miller, formerly «n^tf "Se^oR^tion at fior/,'^n*' in Cleveland. ""'Scmllig^'"''^ bandtoTrl- Stenh 'n ".S.A, l«'"iei''3''^.^nd Paul Mann, J NeSrYnSC^"'"^' ' have arrived f "^"P wUh ,^Jff <«<:>*e'-ing for ■oust. * fllm-asspciated inu.<:lc i*«*hli«s refugees. DEPLORED In Macy's Window Erskine Hawkins and Ben Bernie are betting on forth/- coming Harry Armstrong-Lou Amber's fistic fracas via a tie- up with, Macy's , department store through press agent Al provide funds for only three weeks. Symph addicts Immediately obtained - 4,p00-slgnature petition and presented to council. Roceo Vocco spent, the weekend listening to the music of hoofbeats at Dei Mar track on the Coast. Raise 1143,072 Fond For L. A. 1938 Symph Season . . ' Los; Angeles, Aug. 2. Fund campaign of Southern Cali- fornia Symphony Assh; has raised a total of $143,073. Money will finance 1S38 season of the Los Angeles Philharmonic or- chestra. Ask 3d Arbiter Netwwk niigs, 8 AJH. to 1 AJH. Following is a totalization of the combined plugs of current turiet on WEAF.WJZ.WABC and WOR conimitti for the week from Monday through Sunday (July 2S-31). Tothl represents ac(mmviated performdnca on the two NBC links.CBS and Mutual from i a. m.toia.m. Jh 'Source" column,* denotes film song, tunes, and 'pop' speaks for .itself . (Continued from page 4) agenda for the next general mem- bership meetings New statement of policy providing for executive board meetings' to be opened to general membership once a nionth; states: . There can be no democracy In any organization in which free and or- derly discussion.of any issue is cur-' tailed. It is equally true that there can be no democracy in any organi- zation in which definite policies caii be hurriedly voted without the en- tire organization having' an oppor- tunity to consider and vote upon- such policies. ~ .'Your board has, therefofei' set up rnachinery 'whichy . it hopes, will al- low free and open [ discussion, and still not allow the Guild to . be com- mitted to any policy unless: that shall be the. will of the meml>ershtp at large. 'On the first Monday of each month, your board- will meet at a place to' be later announced — whicli shall be large enough to accommo* '^"l^-.^.Tynsliifrnhla nr u| i pf "pejitlieV livery "member of the. Guild is urged to . attend these meetings, particu- larly thosie working on any Guild committee. At such a time any mem- ber is privileged to' bring up for.dis-. cussion any subject he elects and the board wiU discuss it with him'. After such discussion, the board will decide whether In its opinion the issue should be referred to the mem^ bership. It it does so; decide it will be placed upon the agenda of the next general membership meeting. .'In the event, of an .adverse de cision, the board shall so notify -the member together with the reasons. After such notification, if the mem- ber still feels that the 'question should be brought before the. mem- bership, he shall have the privilege of presenting it personally from ^he floor and the membership -there present shall vote whether the issue should be submitted to the member ship at large. •In order to make these montiily discussion meetings as representative as possible, we propose that all members of the studio committees attend the meetings. In this way ■we TOPPING EVERYTHING! ANOTHER IRVING BERLIN Hit NOW CAN TOLD From the Picture of the CcnUiry 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' A DARRYL ZANUGK 20th Cerilury-Fox Production HARRY LINK, Gen. Prof. Mgr. Title. Novi-: It Can Be Told . Music, Maestro, Please. ... ............ . . I Hadn't Anyone Till You....... You Go to My Head. Says My Heart. When Mother Nature Sings Her Lullaby. I Let ai Song Go Out of My Heart. There's Honey on the' Moon Tonight. . . . . . I Married an Angel........... A-Tisket A-Tasket . . . . . . ............... . . Where in the World;.......;...... I'm Gonna Lock My Heart — . Flat Foot Floogee. I'm' Saving Myself for Ypu. ... . . .. . . Little Lady Make Believe My Walking Stick........... Naturally There's a Faraway Look In Your Eyes. , ; . Spring Is Here. . .... When They Played the Polka. ; I'll Dream Tonight In: a Little Dutch Kindergarten. ........ .-. Lullaby In Rhythm. Alexander's Ragtime Band...... ;'. HI Yo Silver,... ,. Let Me Whisper......................... This Time It's Real You Leave Me Breathless.- Will You Remember Tonight Tomorrow? . Bambina . . , I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams.. . On the Bumpy Road to Love . Beside a Moonlit Stream.::...........;. Meet the Beat of My Heart; .. . . . ."; Why'd Ya Make Me Fall in Love?....... Toy Trumpet. Girl in the Bonnet of Blue So Lovely. .'. . Havin' Myself a Time. '. , . . ... . . Lovellght in the Starlight. . . ... .... ... . . . What Goes on Here? Day Dreaming '. . . . My Margarita. My Best Wlishes.;......; Don't Cross Your Fingers Ride, Tenderfoot, Hide. Silver on the Sage. Don't Be That Way... Colorado Sunset. Toytown Jamboree OhJ^ Ma.:.,.— i^.-.-TTt* ; . . . . .-r-.'T.-r. Moon Looked Down and Laughed Small Fry ...;..;. , Cowboy from Brooklyn . ................. Isn't It Wonderful— Isn't It Swell? ...... Stop Beating Around the Mulberry Bush. There's Rain in My Eye;s.:. .. . . . Don't Let That Moon Get Away. ..... .. Eight Little Notes I'm Glad I Waited for You I've Got a Date with a Dream So Help Me....................... At Your Beck and Call. You Couldn't Be Cuter It's the Dreamer in Me Figaro ........: It's the Little Things That Count There's Bran^ New Picture. Latin Quarter; ; Dipsy .Doodle. Something Tells Me. ... ■ Minuet in Jazz. ....... . ............ Love Walked In. Garden in Granada — Publisher, .Berlin .Berlin. .. . .ABC ......... .Remick . Famous . . '. . . . .Santly-Joy.... .Mills' .Miller .. .Robblns .Robblhs • Feist ......... .Shapiro ...... . Green Bros. . . . . Harms .Olman .'. .Berlin......... .Lincoln • Tenney... .Bobbins . Robblns....... .Witmark ..... .Fox ...... .Bobbins......; .ABC..... .Chappell ..... . Chappell . . . . . -.Spier ......... .Famous ...... .BVC..;.. .Spier......... . Santly-Joy. ., . .Feist.'......... . Famous .Feist ......... .Feist;.... .Circle :. Crawford , .Crawford .. .. . ..Paramount.... ..Paramount ... , . Paramount . . . '. .Remick . . .. . . .; Feist... ,.BVC...... . . Ager-YeJIeh. . . ..Wltmark...... , . Paramount. . . ; , .Robblns ...... ..Gilbert. ...... . ,. Red Star. . ■.•Sha»>0"-..». --.v .. Xalmar-Ruby. ..Famous-. ..Witmark ..Miller ........ ..BVC.........; ...Ager-Yellen. .. . . Sahtly-Jby'. . . , . .Crawford . . . Stasny ..Feist. . . Remick.. ..ABC ......... . .Chappell.....; ..Feist... ..BVC . .Harks ..Witmark ..Remick ...Lincoln ... . ... . .. 'Witmark ..Circle.. ....... Chappell.,.. .. ..Schuster...... Source. * Alexander's Ragtime Band... Pop ......Pop ......Pop , \"' 'Cocoanut Grove. .....iPop ....;..;... ......Pop, " ■ ......Pop ;..... .... ... tl Married an Angel. . . . ... . . " " . , ....Pop . ..; ., ...... «Josettie.... .Pop .Pop ; . . . . . ; . . . .tGrand Terrace Revue. . .- ... ;. ....Pop ......... ............. " .'Alexander's Ragtime Band... Pop ■ ......Pop ........ . . . . . . tl Married an Angel. ......... . Pop .," 'Cowboy from Brooklyn. Pop. .: ... Pop .;.....;... .', — 'Alexander's Ragtime Band ;Pop .: ......Pop ....... .......i' ;. ... .Pop :. *Cocoanut Grove.. .. . ............. Pop .. .. . . . . . . . . .'. .......Pop 'Sing You Sinners..... . , . . . . Pop . . ; . . .....;........ . . . . , . . ..... 'Boo Loo. ...... 'Love Finds Andy Hardy. ...,..;; ..Pop . .;....... ;..;..;.;.. 'Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm... . . . . . .vPop . . . . .. ; ; . ..... ... , . ......Pop >........ ........; 'Tropic Night THer Jungle. Love. ............... . . ... . . 'Give Me a Sailor.. . . ........;.; 'Gold Diggers in Paris. ......Pop .;....,..;..; Pop Pop ; ;............;... ...... • Cowboy from Brooklyn 'The Texans. ; ...... Pop .............. ......Pop .......Pop ; - ....P.pp . ; . Pov . . . . :rr:rr:: rrr'f.:r~r.rrr. . ... .. . .'Sing You Sinners. . 'Cowboy from Brooklyn .... . .Pop '. . . Pop ; ......Pop ,. ...;.. . . ; 'Sing Yo.ii Sinners ....;;Pop ........;.... ,., . .... Pop ..;. ...... 'My Lucky Star... Pop : ..Pop — .'Joy of Living ......Pop ••••.[Pop ... ..|.Pop . Pop .......'Gold Diggers in Paris.. ......Pop .. Pop 'Sally, Irene; Mary. . .;......... 'Goldwyn Follies. ...... Pop T*Ul 72 • . . 67 •■• 60 ... 54 .... 51 4J • • . 46 ' •.. :45 ••. « ... 40 ...40 ... M ■.. 30 ••. J7 ■ ■. 34 ... 32 ... 30 •.. 29 ... 29 ... 29. ... 29 ...27 ...'27: ...28 ... 28 ... 25 24 23 23. s 23 > 22 \; 22 " 22 21 21 21 21 21 20 20 20 10 ]» . 18 18 17 17 17 17 18 16 16 16 H IS It li 14 13 13 13 13 12 12 12 11 11 11 10 10 II U can utilize the studio committee as a iheans of activizing the general membership, establishing a closer contact between the members and the board, and checking up on the views and suggestions of all our meml>ers.' Bargaining Code Ready 'Work on bargaining code of the SWG has . been completed and will be submitted . to the producers as soon as the NLRB certifies the Guild as bargaining representative for the scriveners. Regional director of the NLRB has docketed all pending film cases for immediate hearing at conclusion of the SDG case. Assignment of trial examiners to take up a case as soon as one is completed has been asked by Dr. Nylander. Among those to be taken up first are petitions of the Society of Mo- tion Picture Film Editors, Script Clerks Guild, Society of Motion Pic- ture Art Directors, and Society of Motion Picture Artists and Illus- trators. iNegotiations will be started next week for a hew two-year contract between the Fox-West Coast The- atres and Projectionists Local 150, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Present contract expires Sept. 30. John Bertero, of F-WC legal staff, and Dick Dickson, district manager, will handle pre- liminary negotiations, with R. L. Haywood, business manager of Local. 150, appearing for the lATSE. Gaines to Mpls. Symph Minneapolis, Aug. 2. Arthur J. Gaines has been engaged as business manager of the Minne- apolis Symphony: orchestra, succeed- ing Mrs. Carlyle Scott, who has served in that capacity for the past six years. Gaines was business: manager of the local organization from 1923 to 1930, arid left here to take a similar post in St.' Louis. .. Inside Stuff--Music American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers is sponsorini 'Old Song Week,' beginning Saturday night (30).' Part of the observanc* will be a series of 'Old Sortgs' broadcasts over NBC, CBS and Mutual stations. Sked calls for Al Donohue, Hal Kemp, Kay Kyser, Bill McCune, Sonny Kendis, Guy Lombardo, Henry Busse, Richard Himber. In connection with the observance, Stage mag is making its August number -an .'Old Songs' issue and will feature ah imposing list of nann authors, including Edna Ferber, George M. Cohan (a nciw song Those Lovely. Love Songs'), Gilbert Gabriel, Moss Hart, George S.. Kaufman, Irving Berlin, Franklin P. Adams, Russell Crouse, Deems Taylor, Ed Wynn4 and Marc Connelly. ' . Introduction of name personalities into cartoon strips continues apact with the. latest one being an exploitation stunt arranged by publicitoi Lou Cowan for Bob Crosby. Cowan has. set for plugging of the Crosby orchestra's 'Bob-Cats CIuV Into the 'Harold Teen' cartoon strip, through the Chicago Tribune syndi- cate. It means practically world-wide coverage for the Crosby drchestii Crosby band now iti the Blackhawk cafe; Republic Pictures has bought the screen rights to 'Colorado Sunset' written by Con Conrad and L, Wolfe Gilbert. Tune is published by the lal- ter's music company. ' Republic will use the number in a Gene Autry western as a title sonJ and theme. Autry's currently at the Stanley, Pitts., where he finishes b» p.a. tour this week and scrams coastward to start work on the pic. Coleman's Hoity Dates . Emil Coleman has already booked 35: society affairs for the fall and winter social season. Skedded to supply dansapatioii for Junior League Assembly Dec. 2 and' fiock of deb coming otit parties. Coleman's currently at the Piping Rock cliib, Saratoga Springs, N. Y., and is set to go into the Sert Room of the Waldorf-Astoria. N; Y., in the fall. Willows, Pittsburgh, has taken up option on Joaquin Grill's orch for remainder of sumnrier. First band in spot's history to open season at this roadhouse and stick it out all the way. MCA booking. Peerce in Tiigoletto' Jan Peerce set for tenor lead •Rigoletto' at driftin Park, Washinf ton, D. C, outdoor program FritW night (5). Nathaniel Shilkret conduct orchestra. ^ Harry Engel, of Fanchon. 4 Mate* agentcd. " . ^ WANTED:"" 'i^.'rt- K inonlln » yeur. .M""! - Wliiun ot mnnanrmrnt. .State" P n««, emMricnce. QUBllflfntlonf • Mny expected. IIOX 4(1; VorKU' B» West BumlplKh ' St., < hln»»- ^ IRVING BERLIN, Inc.. 799 Seventh Ave. N. # Tf i cn't' ia a M » » ;than a decade. . Frank: Blandi and a group took it over two years ago, made a little dough last suinmer and rtfinvested it in a tent top this sum- m'er. All over district, 1938 is proving a bad one for outdoor dance spots. Downtown cafes are all knee-deep in red, and only roadhouse making a decent showing is Willows. It's been helped considerably by Blandi's. clos- ing; since two places are close to each other. Summer generally consld-. ered worst a'roiind here since 1930. Added to other woes was Local 60's ban on remote broadcasts, al- ways hailed as. chief source of ad- vertising for oul-of-way spots. Chicago, Aug- 2. Several meetings have been held recently, by Balaban & Katz execu-' tiv^s in an attempt to hit upon a plan for the quick reopening of the Ori- ental. Indications are that the house will 6e opened some time this; month. According to. present . indications house '.will reopen with a.yaudftlm SOPHIE TUCKER IS FETED BY THE BOSS Sophie Tucker, was given a sur- prise party by the inanagement of the Riviera, Jersey's class night spot, upon the contlusion of her appearr ance there last Wednesday (27). When she finished the concluding sliow, slie was asked if she could spare a little time. She explained she was in a hurry to get away to Saratoga but did not leave until 5.30 a.m. A piano made of ice, with lights underncalh was rolled to the floor and 'presented' to Soph. Songstress is now appearing in the Piping Rock club at Saratoga Springs, N. Y. PbUly 21 Club Changes Hands; SOG Suit Pending Philadelphia, Aug. 2; Boo Boo HolT-BilT Beifel's 21 Club here has been taken over by Johnny Murphy. Suit for S50,000 is now pending against'thc spot by New York's 21 Club for alleged pirating ot the moniker. handling Weaver Bros.-EIviry Offered to East Vaude Weaver Bros, and Elviry being offered vaude in . cast by Charles Allen .igenc.v. on a deal with Waller Batclielor, who has .'Jigned the act as its personal rep. Turn is nb\v in nims. . . Being olTercd as a three-act at a j i-opfiried $1,500 per. Formerly, the turn troupcd at the top of a unit which used to get around $5,000 weekly. Act hasn't been active in vaude for several years. An understanding has been reached under a 'gentlemen's agreement' among New YorK theatre operators, from accounts, to limit salaries of talent , on. Broadwaiy and elsewhere should competition between theatres develop to the point, where demands for coin in the face of bidding might go out of bounds and raise the levels far. beyond a reasonable plane, as has occurred' in thie past. While expected that in other keys theatres will be bidding against each for talent this coming season, in New York there is every likelihood the competition for bands and specialty artists will be keener than for many years. Against the Paramount; Roxy, Music Hall and . Loew's , State, now using shows, the Strand is putting in Due to Denial of Local Autonomy By 3 Southern Cities Slated For Occasionail Vaude Wilby-Kincey circuit, soiithern af- filiate of Paraihbunt, will play occa- sional stagp shows in three cities this coming season. W-K will handle bookings direct, through J, H. Harri- son, of the Atlanta office. Burgs due for a resurgence of flesh are' Knpxville and. Chattanooga, both two-day. stands, and Birmingham, a one-dayer. Name shows and units will be. played on percentage; ORIENTAL MAY RESUME ACTS niuch too large for. a straight picture set-up. Opehing attraction may be the Benny Goodman, orch, which, while getting its start in a local hotel, hasn't played a Chi theatre. Also in- dicated is that the price will be re-, diiced somewhat frprri the previous 75c top, probably to S5e or 60c, which will serve to keep the Chicago as the flagship of the circuit on price set- up. Simon Agency Control Passes to Yates With Death of Irving Simon With -the death of Irving Simon, Thursday (28), Charles Yates, who closed his own office less than : a year ago to join the Simon Agericy in New ' .York, becomes sole head of the latter. Yat6s a few months ago bought but the interest Ferde Si- mon's widow held in the office. Obituary of Irving Simon is page 54 of this issue. on the Capitol may also go into a com- bination policy agaiin this fall. There are some reports that the. Palace, which hasn't been doing well with double features, may also return to vaudeville, all operators in New York having in mind the estab- lishment of a stage policy for the N. Y. World's Fair crowds. fhe trend of feeling toward stage shows in other keys is also strong at the pres- ent. Plenty Bands Par and State are now both using a lot of bands, the former on every show. When the Strand opens its policy, it will fashion! it after, the Par and also use orchestras, already having booked Ben Bernie, Ozzie Nelson and Jan Garber. Cap, which covered over its pit with concrete on remodeling the house a year ago, might use bands and spot them on the stage instead of on the pit lift. In addition to the opening .that might be seen for high salary de- mands among bands and name acts should the New York field and others present such, competition, op- erators are not unmindful that spe- cialty entertainers, which are also used at the Music Hall, Rojiy, and. State, Would similarly try to get more coin. The experiences of the past when, in spite of dwindling grosses on top of the '29 cra.'-hv artists were demand- ing and getting excessive salaries, have led to the reported agreement among all operators to establish a ceiling along reasonable lines in Hhc face of present business possibilities. Presumption is that the operators will get tbgClhcr and set what they believe is a proper salary range, either when negotialions open up or in advance, A few yeai's ago, when RKO was still playing vaudeville, and the Gap and Par, togcthGr with the Roxy arid . Hall, were putting on big shows, the Private Affairs Kill ops all got together with a view to . . _ „ _ , setting salary limit!:, but they never . AStOr KOOl CiXtenSIOn carried throUKh on it. Competitive Hotel A.stor, N. Y.', which had bec'n bidding for jiltractions between the mulling the idea ot keeping il,s Root circuits continued at that time de- „pp„ through the (all and .spite- the agreement, winter - season with a name crew on the bandstand, has dropped the thought, completely. Rool normally closes in September. Flock of booked ahead banquets and club dinners which couldn't be evaded forced the ashcahning of plans. ' , Ben Bernie was to have carried oh all winter. He oper,,5 the Broadway Strand's hew bandsLow policy Aug, 26. Pittsburgh, Aug, 2, Pittsbuirgh actors' union. Enter- tainers Federation , of America, tarried down Ralph Whitehead's pro- posal last week that the organized group here join forces with his Americin Federation of Actors. Whitehead ■ came here frorii New York to address EFA: menribership and found a hostile crowd awaiting him. Chief reason for Pittsburgh out- fit's refusal was Whitehead's in- sistence thijt AFA could not im-; mediately grant. full. local autonomy to thfe EFA. He pointed out at great length that the AFA executive board's rules required iall money: paid in as dues to be held arid. ex- pended only by . riational oflicer.s. Meeting stretched into Ave hour,'; of Acrimonious argiirhent, at the end of which majpriiy of EFA's claimed 400 members, with ., vice-president Ted Huber as their chief spokesman, determined they would retain their own ' identity and not be absorbed by, AFA.. They say their prganiz'ar tion is nearly , three years old, that it has a fat treasiiry and will ^ not accede to Whitehead's demands, not even to get an AFL-AFA charter which, he was said' to have offered them, -..:£Ji,Witt^''ii:>sjU\G^ oiilir',-. annoy the :mangenient of Allegheny County's forthcoming Sesqui-Cen^ tennial celebration at South Park were discounted-, speakers for both sides urging harmony tactics, even though Whitehead had previously told newspapermen that the S,esqui would be up fo^ 'discussion' soon. EFA based its objections to Whitehead's proposal on the fact that 'all :the, unions we know of, in- cluding even the hod-carriers, retairt about 40% of the dues in their local territories. If they're smart enough to handle their local affairs, why aren't we?' During a parliculai*ly heated part of the debate, Jean Fole, magician and: business' agent of EFA, shot back to Whitehead a suggestion that 'our group can easily join the CIO.' After the meeting broke up. White-, head said he would later meet with theatrical booking agents here and planned to call another meeting of stage performers. PAR, N. Y, to GUEST NEGRO VAUDE STARS ■Paramount theatre, N, Y., will be turned into a suburb of Harlem, night of Aug. 15, when Chick Webb, then the current band, stages a giiest nicht.- Each succcss vc band leader ge's curtsy from a visiting negro maestro, or soloist, ot, one night, Webb will bring in ; gang to bolster band and Ella Fitzgerald. Tho,se already set are Jimmy Lunceford, Ethel Water.'?, Duke El- lington, Ersk'.e Hawkins, Count Basic, Roy Eldredge, Teddy Hill, Following dictum that all agents must be franchised by the Amer- ican Federation ot Actors/ New York percenters were informed from Maryland that they must take out licenses there if they intend op- erating In the state. Letter to Enterti)i3, Raye & Naldi, Joe E. Lewis, Helen Morgan, Una Wyte with Vincent Pirro orch. Patricia CillmpTe with Enric Madri- guera. In the realm of dinner and night dubs Ben Marden's Riviera is re- ferred to in superlatives. That goes for the new show; that impressed so pleasantly at the premiere Thursday (28) for the headliners are arlists welcome in the class spots of the country. At the Jersey end of the George Washington bridge, the allurmg perch on the Palisades is offering Joe £. Lewis and Helen Morgan as toppers. Even though the Riviera's regular patrons went off to the race meet at Saratoga, the dinner show drew 425, close to average. Another 250 filtered into the splendid, terraced room during the evening. Miss Morgan has a varied routine, adding numbers at the 'second and third shows. First includes some of the songs that won her the distinc- tive popularity that is hers. Glamor- ous girl who will always be re- membered in connection with 'Show- boat' is siiiging through the micro- phone and while ' some prefer her seated' on the piano, there is a fresh- ness to: the current appearance. She opens with 'Please Be Kind,' then the Yiddish melody, 'Joseph, Joseph" but with, a special lyric: 'I Can Dream, Can't I' is next , and it brings her back for 'Make Believe,' the first encore, then of course 'My Bill,' whl h thrills- the customers, as always. In a girlish gown, she curtsies off. Added at the midnight show; was 'You Go to My Head' and 'If It Rains, Who Cares?" At a later appearance she gave 'Gloojmy Sun- day,' known , as the suicide song, banned in Hungary. ' Introduced as the '20th century m.c.'ing, gives out giggles for 25 minutes, the major assignment in a SO-minute bill. It may be huiiiid but Lewis doesn't stall, so when flhaling, he looks like raiit in the face. His gag about a hot day in Albuquerque, one about the- hot ferryboat and an- other about the washroom are for the sophisticates and they appreciate therrL The comic doesn't use stooges, as he does in some places, and he needs none. As for songs, 'Trees' rings the bell best. The crack dance team of Mary Raye and Naldi, after their long engagement at the Rainbow Room, ri. Y., adds much to the show. Miss Raye's daintiness heightiens the acro- batics which feature their routine. Three numbers aren't enough, nor is one encore. First act: is the Robinson Twins. Boy . and girl redheads are being held over from the previous show which featured Sophie Tucker. Athletic . dancing turn is surefire. There are two bands, principal out- fit being Enric Madriguera,, whom Lewis calls the poor man's Tosca- nini' and his boys, . a 'bunch of Brooklyn Ramblers.' The other crew is led by Vincent Pirro, an accordion specialist, Una Wyte. sings effectively with the latter while Patricia Gill- ftiove is the songstress with Madri- guera., ibee. FROLICS •7 Salubnrv Beach Mass., July 2&. , Billy deWolfe, Three White Whirl- winds, Von Hahn & DeNegre, S Danc- ing Line, Virginia Stuart, Karl€ Rhode orch. At Forrest, 'Built for mass production, with. a capacity of 1,200, this summer nitery has evidently hit the right policy for a popular-priced beach resort. Its an attractively decorated casino-type nitery, with dancing, floor show and Al FbrresVs electric organ. Billy deWolfe m.c."s and also blos- soms forth in his own session, ex- tended, by applause to a halt-hour of dancing, acre tophat dancing, as- sorted impersonations and a ques- tionable story about Pluto water. His best bit is a one-man show of typical , performers in a honky pight club. Von Hahn and DeNegre click in a Balinese, grotesque ballet, done under gilt paint aiid changing lights. Whirlwinds provide nice roller skat- ing flash as the deuce, and Virginia Stuart sells plenty as featured tap- per with the line. Three production numbers, tennis, Oriental and rhumba by the competent line give the show an impressive girly glamour. Fox. TELLER HOUSE (CENTRAL CITT, COLO.) Central City, Col., July 24. This spot, seating 310, is operated as part of the Central City Play Festival. Room was built as a long, harrow dining, room in the '80s, but has since been improved by decora- tions, said to have cost $5,000. The stage,, even though extremely small, has been moved from one end to the middle, giving more custorners a break. Crowd of over 400 packed nitery at the opening. . Tamara is the only attraction. She sings more than a dozen songs, with the best being 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,' which she helped popularize iii 'Roberta;' She uses her guitar for a many of the latest dances and steps and then choose partners from the customers as pupils. The awkward- ness of some of . the pupils make for good comedy. Ruby Wright has looks and per- sonality that sell her songs. Russ I Morgan, from the band, ballads and I lands with 'Sweet Romance," 'Happy' Leeds, another member of the or- 1 chestra,'"also warbles, scoring with I 'Alexander's Ragtime Band.' Billy { Smith, still another band vocalist, I sings 'Music Maestro, Please' lustily ', and well, Niles Garron and Edythe Bennett are whirlwind ballroom danbers, one i: of . the best' dance teams to pUy this roorh.. Rapp invites the customers to join the band in singing thei old favorites for a corking closer. The words are thrown on a screen and the patrons let off steam with a vengeance. Rees. Jk Thornton Anecdota • 15 YEARS AGO • (From Vabibtt and Clipper) Lomas troupe of stilt walkers. get- ting their first notice. At the State, N. Y. Still pretty much the same act. .Best thing about the N. Y. Palace was the audience. Mdstly from out of town and pushovers. Tom Smith stopoed the Louis Mann sketch with his fooling aiid had to beg off. Ben Welch also in the running with few knowing he was blind. Clara Morton, back with the farn- ilyj was holding up the turn in a big way.. Had foimd hei"self after a considerable absence and wowed at the Riverside; James Thornton, picturesque vaudevillian who died, last week, was th creator and central figure of innumerable legends. * *ln his later years Thornton never touched liquor but his love of Barley corn all his life was no secret. He first appeared in vaudeville as Jatnes and Boiinie Thornton,, latter his first wife. Appearing as a single, Bonnie fre.7uently accompanied him. for he demanded libation immediately when coming intp this wings . or he would not go on. When he played Hanimerstein's Victoria he generally stopped at the Metropole, hotel management being ordered not to serve him. anything .biit ale.' He outwitted the guardians . by sending for a bellhop, opening the door slightly, making it appear he had visitoris, then ordering 'nine whis- kies for my friends and an ale for myself.' He didn't finish out the date" At the same hotel, when booze was forbidden, him, Thornton Was locked in his room by Willie Hammersteih but again his thirst was slackened He ordered a half pint, directing the bellboy to -bring up .straws which were inserted in the' old fashioned keyhole and "Thornton extracted the booSSe in that way. , One of the stories that "Thornton liked to tell about himself- concerned a date he played at Bethlehem, Pa. Monologist started to guzzle his fa. vorite liquid and decided to leave the bill, the manager protesting say- ing: 'You can't leave the bill flat/ with Thornton shooting back: 'Why not' Jesus walked put on Bethlehem, so why can't I?' Radio had the newspapers wor- ried because too many listeners got sports returns before' the papers could come out. Three acts took pages in Variety to slam Shubert vaudeville. Squar- ing with the Keith office. Theodore Roberts topped the bill at the Los Angeles Oroheum; Went over big in a sketch. Jack Osteri Her numbers are done in English, French and Russian. There's a six-peice orchestra for the dancers. Rose. Minnesota Terrace (HOTEL NICOLLET; MPLS.) Minneapolis, July 29.' Bomey Rapp Orch Priruiess Wahletlta, Arthur Murray Dancers (2), Ruby Wright,' Russ Morgan, 'Happy' Leeds, Billy Smith, Jvtles Garron & Edythe Bennett; This swank nitery, catering to the, town's elite, is pulling heavy trade consistently, despite the summer.- Principally, there's good dance music, and that's what the customers here are most concerned about. Cur- rently, , Barney . Rapp's New En^- landers (14) hold forth and deliver. The Aoor show holds a generous amount of laughs, comedy being pro- vided in Princess Wahletka's for- tune-telling act, the Arthur Murray dance hour and several of the band offerings^ Princess Wahletka's turn is unusual for this sort, of spot, but she gets across with a bang. She's in her third month and still going strong. The Arthur Murray Dancers, a nifty looking couple, demonstrate When in his prime Thornton went , to Atlantic City to straighten out after a prolonged bout. After several days he was in fairly good shape but not completely cleared up, Late Jack Flynh, manager of Young's Old Pier, decided he should go home and asked a friend to' accompany hi to the station, so that the humorist would not dally at some cafe. Getting aboard, Thornton looked about the coach, in which there, was but one other passenger.- In his inimitable rnanner he declaimed: 'Am I expected to travel like an immigrant?' Conductor was requested not to let him get off until the train reached New .Ifork. The old Metropole cafe, formerly at Broadway and .42nd street, fre- quently saw Thornton standing at the mahogany. He often made four- bit touches, borrowing the coin to "buy a new 16ns' foi: his broken spec- . tacles which he exhibited to successive acquaintances, -most of whom came across. One night John Considine, who conducted the establishment, tossed the comic out. Place had three entrances and Thornton soon came back, through the second door, with Considine ordering him to blow again. Few minutes later he went into the' bar through the.. third entrance,, coming face to face with Considine to :whom he said: 'For the love of Mike, do you own all the houses on this block?' hands. Jack's dad, J. J; Rosenthal iri 'Frisco huddling with G. M. An- derson (Broncho Billy) on a cafe, theatre. No dice. Famous Players (Paramount) took over McVickers," Chi. to put the up- start Balaban & Katz into- their proper place. B. & K. house was the Chicago. Mrs. Wallace Reid's dope -picture, 'Human Wreckage,' was doing well on the road, but' it drooped $18,000 in four weeks at the- N. Y. Lyric. Tom Ince sponsored. Reported that Metro had $12,000,- 000 worth of releases for the coming season all tree and clear. Not even bank loans. Los Angeles studio flacks warring against two scandal mags. .Shut Hol- lywood Confessions and reformed Screenland. . The THEATRE of the STARS J . H . L U B I N C E N E R A L M A N A G E R SIDNEY H. PIERMONT BOOKING MANAGER Maude Adams addressed, the Asso- ciated Woinen's Clubs in Buffalo. Told 'em poor films were ruining theatrical taste. Told of ' her own plans to better production. Never got anywhere with them. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers split up $56,- 000, royalties for the second quar- ter. Largest to date. Small bands w.ere out as small time attractions. Had not held up the year before and all ordered out by Loew and others. Eddie Cantor off the Ziegteld 'Fol- lies' for six weeks' vacation. Jimmy Hussey ircplaced. Nine B'way theatres were Under rental for piclurcs.'with others being sought. Malcolm ;'Willi'ams and his wife, Florence Reed, dispossessed of their Portland CMe.) property because Williams insisted on bathing in an adjacent lake. Part of the water system. Johnny O'Connor, who was a crony of Thornton's in the old saloon days, tells the story of the monologist 's intended trip to London where he was . booked. In those times it was the custom for bartenders to. give customers ilb,'' ^imentacy-.^pintnwhea. eoiing. -90.-«.tj!).'''a6;y;v, ''^9jrn!t.Qii„s)^a,rted, dn^^^^^ town from Harlem, -making stops at. various bafs and collecting quite an - assortment of parting bottles. To make way for the stuff he gave away most of the clothes in h'S bag but finally reached the ferry, having booked passage oh a boat that sailed from Hoboken. On board the ferry .he fell asleep, traveling back and forth until the next morning when a deckhand yelled 'all ashore.' Thbi'hton thought he was in England and asked a policeman the location of the Empire theatre. He thought it strange that the copi talked lilce an American but decided to go to the : theatre as directed. He found the Empire, Hoboken, okay, the house formerly playing burlesque, and that is as near as he ever got to blighty. One of the classics by aiid about Thornton emanated from a sanitariurn, where he had been incarcerated for a sobering-up process. On adrnittance; Thornton's upper and lower -plates were taken away f rorn him by Alf-T, ■Wilton, agent-producer. Latter heard nothing from Thornton for three days, then received a . wire, 'Send me my teeth, I'm stairving to death." In later years, Thornton frequented the Palace beach. He had a pen- chaht for passing bitter sarcasms about passcrsby. Once an actor passed for whom Thornton had a particular dislike. The comedian turned to • cornpanion and declared, 'Did you notice his collar? He has enough dan- druff on it to bread a veal cutlet.' - SaraDac Lake By Happy Benway Minsky Ex to Jail 'Greenville, S. C, Aug. 2. Jo Ann Burden, 18,.. said to be a former Minsky line girl, after giving G-men. runaround', was finally nabbed last week and sentenced in Spartanburg, S. C., to a year and a day. ." The - chase began here, after she had Ibeen, put on probation and fled to Atlanta and then kept one jlimp ahead ! .ot sleuths for- oVer four months. She was jailed for auto theft. Doc Schneider's Texans, presented by NBC under tent, direct from WGY, Schenectady, played here to. a sellout for two nights. It was open night for the Will Rogersites. In- cidentally, Schneider's advance man was fined $10 for billing a Saranac Lake show in Lake Placid. Arline Viilone and William Cacase had birthdays. Both doing o.k. Margee Bochm, Dorothy Johnson, Jimrny Vassalotte, Dennl Smith visited Vera Hanlon, who's headed towards good health. The Jack (Universal) Hubers handshaking Martha Gill and James Meehan at the lodge. Gang all re- cently worked together. Mrs. Ted Cook eyeing Minna Morse, who's doing okay. Hubert Carlson, who was at the Will Rogers, booked for Kansas City I with an absolute okay. Rose and Ruth Mac'Tcrnan, Brook- lyn, visiting Fred Eslinger. at the ■Will Rogers. Sister and niece, re- spectively, shot in on a surprise visit. (Write; to those you know In Saranac who are III.) Atwell, Morrison Tour Hollywood, Aug. 1 Roy Atwell and Joe Morrison will p.a. in the east next mcnth. , Atwell follows Indianapolis with Philadelphia: and few York, and Morrison initials lis junket at Wash- ington, D. C; then follows with New York. - FRAKSON DrcNueil by SIDNEY FISHER 75/77, Shaftesbury Avenue PICCAPILLY, LONDON, ENG. MOUNT ROYAL-LONDON MARBLE ARCH, W.I. AI'.XRTMKNT IIOTKI. TKRM."" _ With rnl VATE BATH. nnKAlv.l''AST Onc! Person. ..... .12/6 iier niK'". Two Persons... .;. 21/- ppr nlglH I'lione M.M'FAIIt— HiHO . Miller Gordon— Conlrollcr Best Coffee in EngUtnd QUALITY INN ' Leicester Square LONDON, WEST-END HILDE GARDE NOW FULFILLING ENGAGEMENTS* I N LO N D O N A N D PARIS PrrKMiiil Mer. . ANKA SOSK.NKO AmerloAn Rep.: J,\CK HKRTKrx •' Europena Rep.: IIK.NBV S" ««•':'* W^nesJay, Auguflt $♦ 1938 Vaude—^hite clubs VARIETY 4S ■ (Continued from page 2) on a single bill, they should iSfbe lorced to either play or pay atsT^n^'my opinion, unwise T* ia also i" "■J «^ . ' * J orce the exhibitors to buy airof 1 shorts and news reels .n order ■S s^curt the feature product, and to to continue score gjjo' unwise '*''«!^ms to' me that- the producers diouldrealize the importance- ot.al- f^!rfnB the exhibitors to conduct !Sd should give to the.r branch ™»naeers more leeway in making f&ents, where same are '^^^^^^^^ Sr7 As long as the, companies are ««.rfltin)! so that the branch mana- "PpsCd^salesmen are only rewarded ' Chen they sell pictures at higher prices than previously' sold, they 5re placing their branch managers and salesmen in a position to force, the exhibitor to pay prices which «e but of aU proportion to the busi- nesg that the pictures can' produce. We also believe that in a good many cases, unfair requests are^ be- ing made for preferred playing time, etc taking away from the theatre owner the: right to use his discretion as to when and where to play ? plc- taire'. Xhe producers, themselves, by joaUng public sUtements uncompll- jnentary to other producers, are hurting. the industry in the eyes of the public, and wc cerUihly think this should be discontinued; Whoever has charge of the public reUtions between the producers and tlie public, apparently have hot done a very compireherisive; or effective job, as the public, generally, is get- ting fed up with the producer com- panics, high salaries, consUnt inter' company disagreements,- etc:, all of which seem to lead to the general Impression that the public is being pictures which, when runi do not take in enough :money at the box oiflice' to pay overhead of; the. the- atre. Under the present plan o£ high' prices and percentage pictures there is not enough profit left on ail good pictures to make lip for losses on poor pictures, and producers . seem to be unsympathetic. to adjust film rental after pictures have been, played. Generally speaking, itor the past five years there has been a constant' increase in prices of feature plcr ,tures and shorts to such :a point that it is very difficult for the individual exhibitor to operate the average thcr atre at a proflt. Also generally speaking,, the ex- hibitors believe that the producers should exert more care. in the pro- duction of pictures and. have a better understanding of . what the public wants to see, . and discontinue the production of pictures which obvi- ously have no appeal to the theatrer going public. . The Virginia Association is of the opinion that all of these matters could best lie. handled by a sym- pathetic understanding tietween the producers and exhibitors and hope that this will" be possible without Federal or State legislation. WiilUim F. Crockett, President, MP.t.O. OP VIRGINIA. industry, by its failure to act, does not bring this about. Due to the fact that It is not as densely population as many sections of the 'country, the Tri-States exhib- itors are not under as poor condi- tions as iriany sections of the nation. Howeyerj in recent years, many abuses which, must be . corrected, have increased. The adoption of the Ten Point Program' will go far to- ward the correction of these existing abuses. Y. D, Moore,.' Sec-Treas., MP.T.O. OP ARKAN- S.AS,r MISSISSIPPI AND TEN- NESSEE. phases of the' business, and. be -will- ing.'to 'give and take' in the adjust- ment. . , Personally, I have very little to complain about the treatment re- ceived from those higher up in the industry, and also have little to sug- gest, but a. meeting of the. leaders should be able to accomplish what is desired, and I shall be glad to do what I can do to bring about ah ami- cable adjustment . of the various questions' involved, and trust that siich a conference will, be held sooii; and - that we may have a clear and definite line of procedure, and that Our industry niay continue to grow and improve. - Tony Sudekum, Advocates Self-Beg. Nashville, Tenn- £ditor. Variety: . . ' The proposed trade conference of exhibitors and distributors which you so heartily endorse should bring about a better understanding among all interested in the motion picture industry,' from the producer down to the operi^tor in the local theatre I . believe that there is no wrong that cannot be discussed and reine- died, it those involved will rationally. '^'""••JMSr'ehMae^JiMSwii^'i^^ to the extravagance, wastefulness and lack of consideration given by the producers to their own business. This is a general statement, and. does not apply to any particular company, but rather to the feeling •■of tiie public as we sense it. Morton S. Thalhlmer, President; NEIGHBORHOOD THE- ATRE, INC. Crockett Asks T Reforms . Richmond, Va. Wftor, Vahetv : The exhibitors of.yirginia object itrenuously ! .to some of the trade practices now. in force, among them the followinjg: 1. So many pictures are being pror duced obviously to be used in double bill territories. Virginia is primarily a single bill territory, therefore, the exhibitors pbject to having to play pictures and pay for them even though they are not : suitable to be run in their: theatres: We, therefore, believe that there should be either ail elimination of lower classification ot pictures or a larger cancellation' privilege in the contracts. 2. In many spots in Virginia it is impossible for the exhibitor to pur- chase all the short product and the exhibitors strenuously object to. be- ing forced to buy short product and to pay for it on the weekly payment plan, whether they are able to use , the product or not. 3. The exhibitors object to being forced to buy trailers from pro.- ducers, as many of the exhibitors ^d this an extra cost which' they could save iiiasmuch as they . have contracted for trailer /service from outside manufacturers of traileirs. 4. The exhibitors object to being forced to piurchase newsreels for in n>any cases they are buying more newsreels than they can possibly ise, and are paying for some for Which they absolutely have no use. .■5. They object to payment of score Charges and feel that score charges Should not be charged by any of the producers and should be included in we price bf film. Where pictures are run on. a percentage ba.sis they leel fair percentage should include score charges and that score charges "'^"I^not be a separate charge. . They -object to producers insist- ing on 'preferred playing time.' "They °*"«Ve that the theatre operatoi- snould be sole judge as to when pic- |"fr*s"o»W be playedi and that the "K.istency of 'preferred playing time' »L • P^'oducers is unreasonable *"d unjustifiable. . /• Inasmuch as practically all pic- Glass Holises Huntingloh, W. Va. Editor, Vabiety: Business conditions throughout the State ot West Virginia vaties in the different industrial sections. - A close analysis would indicate that the fall- ing oft in - business is' primarily one of 'economics. A betterment In the amusement business, is anticipated with the in- crease in our pay rolls. There Is much criticism from the public gen-, erally of th? product released within the past few months. This criticism seemingly follows with the trend of the lean and the fat years, of course, the weaker pictures are bad at any time.:' ' Business will be better; pictures will gross more before, rhany months. The public's reaction to pictures could be improved if there was less loose talk. Producers could help ma- terially -if they would refrain frorti stoning glass houses. The public fol- lows the trend ot , thoughts conveyed from every source. • The trade ^rela- tionship between the public and the theiatre in a local way is one of local relationship. S. J, Hyman, President, WEST VIRGINIA MORS. ASSN. tures' Production 1« Points Basis of Self-Rce. McKenzie, 'Tenn. Editor, VjvrietV: Vahiety's endorsement ot the pro posed trade conference of exhibitors and distributors is most gratifying to the .exhibitors of Arkansas, Missis- sippi and Tennessee. As you know, Ed .Kuykendall was formerly president of our Tri-States organization. The exhibitors of this terrijpry have- long, endorsed the 'Teh Point Program' presented by him and his MPTOA associates in 1936. It appears now that this pro- gram will be used as a basis for ne- gotiations in this crisis. We are not interested' because it will vindicate the stand that kuykendall has taken in the face of almost unsurm&untable opposition, but because we believe that adoption Ot them will mean more sound and more friendly rela tions between all three branches of the industry. The exhibitors of this section were strongly . opposed to the Needy bill in the last session of Congress. They feel that; the working out . of cor recticins for trade abuses in the pro- posed confierehce will forestall the danger of passage of similar leglsla tion in the forthcoming session Most of the success of the prbposed conference will depend on the men chosen to participate in it. They must be m^n of broad vision, willing to recognize the interests and rlghl,s of all branches and individuals, They mu.>it enter negotiations with an open mind and realize that fair conces- sions are not a sign of woakncs.-; but something nebessary to insure a last- ing understanding. Federal regulation adnilnislcrcd by persons outside the indu.stry Will prove disastrous to producer, distrib- utbr and e.\hibitor. Unlcs.'; Ihc mo- tion picture industry shows tlecidcd progress along the lines of sclf-rcKU- Shuberts' 1 Y. l^t^^ May Go 2-a-DayVaudeViaO. & J. 'Crazy Show' Partish to Tour Eorope Los Angeles, Aug, 2, Bob Parrish, local Negro baritone, currently touring the Pacific .North- west, 'sails late this month to open a European tour lii London. Singer was takeh in hand by Major BoWes' after his .dcbut 'at the Orpheum here,; TlwatFes^Exchaiiges GEORGE GIYOT SUED FOR 65G BY EX-10%ER George Giyot, now appearing in London, is.a defendant in $65,000 suit for alleged . breach of contract brought .by his former manager, Herman Bernie^ Supreme Court Justice Peter M. Schmuck igranted the comedian: until sept. IS to answer the suit. Cbmplainant states Givot failed to pay him on picture and vaude con- tracts. Winter Garden theatre,. New Yorkj . may go twb-a-^day vaudeville via a deal already set between the Shu- ' lierts and Olseh and Johnson, Shu- berts i. are completing ^ details thi.s week for a 'Crazy Show.Vbuilt around the vaude team. Harry Kaufman, of Shubert office, will, supervise. Standard material of O. & J. \yill be elaborated upon and other acts added. O.i St J;, however, deny reports ' they are ;flnancially in- terested in the production. With' Clifford G. . Fischer set to produce at the. International Casino on Broadway; his plans to open a theatre-cabaret in the Winter Garden , go into the .discard, leaving house available as logical site for O. & J. show to catch the World's Fair crowds. Hirst Shifts Shows In Shuttering Philly Bijou Philadelphia, Aug. /2, Izzy Hirst shuttered his Bijoii Sat- urday (i30) and moved burley to his Tr.oc theatre yesterday '(Mon,). Houses are only, a couple of blocks apart Bijou, will be renovated while It is' closed.. tre, which is .io be built in Druid Hills, swank suBurb near entrance to Emory University campus. House, which will seat 500,. will cost $26,000 and construction is due to start im- mediately, Fairmont. Va. . Eastland, located on opposite , side of the river from Fairmont's present three theatres, opens tonight' <3) un- der the management of John.Urse. Denver. Albert Coppell, who operates the Bideawee, will soon reopen the Sun theatre here as the Mexico. Since his policy, of showing Spanish films has proven successful at the Bide- awee, Coppell plans to show Spanish films at the 440-seater Mekico also. Nathan Salmon, who owns theatres in Santa Fe. is building, a 200-room hotel in Albuquerque, N. M. The structure will cost about $600,000 and has been leased to the Hilton Hotel Co. Art O'Connell; salesman for Uni- versal, is using crutches as the re- sult of a fall down, a flight of stairs in a hotel ih Durango, Colo., in which he'broke his ankle. Neal, Tenor-Songwriter, Held in Wife's Shooting «J >^ - — — ^ tfolt^agWa:- i."'.' Held under $1,500 bond, jE^gar C." Neal, former police censor, who now composes love songs' and is a .hitery tenor, faces examination 'next Tues- day (9) on charges ot assault with intent to kill, grbwing out of alleged shooting ot his third wife, . Esther Szaik, liite club, dancef here, in a fracas at Blue Lantern niter^ last week. Neal, who. quit Detroit police cen- sorship' board last year ' when he wasn't offered head censor's job after Lieut Lester. Potter resigned, is ac- cused ot.attacking his wife, who pro- duces floor shows at the ' Blue Lan- tern, following. a guest appearance on' niteiry's show. Neal, author of more than 200 songs, had been estranged from his wife. Producer Austin Tpiirs Los Angi-les, Aug, 2, Geiie Austin, with Candy and Coco, inoves.into the Tower theatre, Kansas City, Aug. 19, for one week. Currently, Austin is shooting 'Songs and Saddles,' his first venture' as an indie producer. VAUDE HELPS raiLLYPiyiKS Philadcilphla, Aug. 2. . Vaude on Sundays and holidays at PhiUy's. two major outdoor amuse- ment, parks Is accounting for ai large part of the trade, according. ;.to execs. Biz at the parks was brutal until Jtily 4,- when it pickled up and " has held pretty well.' Woodside Park gives a . 40-mlnute show consisting of four free acts. It cannot present dancing or character . makerup acts because of the blue ' laws. . Willow Grove Park, which is outside of the city limits, gives a : flve-act show, with ,15 and 2.'ic 'ifriaTg§*.'*';7iI'i6w "Gi j\4VlAl* wise the deal bet\yeen Fischer and MCA for a; merger of their foreign booking interests is .still in statu quo; Howevei:, both are now on a friendlier basis after strained rela- tions for some time. The International's housing of Fischer's shows puts an end to the. dicker with the Shuberls to convert the Winter Garden, N. Y., in'..) a cabaret-restaurant The new 1. C. deal calls for extensive reconstruc- tion work;' also adding of name t«l- ent later on for the 19d9 Worl-J's Fair crowds in the spring .•ind .sum- mer. Among the potentialities are Maurice Chevalier for" the spring edition. Rene Racover, ropre.senting Pierre Sanclrini-Jacques Charles ' Paris pro- duceris) in New York, denies his pHnclpals v/erc dickering, as they have their own Broadway spot in mind. While a four-sided deal for pro- duction of shows at International Casino, N. Y-, was going on. Louis Brecker, 'director, wired George White to come east to make his offer. White fiew 'in, arriving Friday f29). but was informed that a .deal had 'been set with Fischer, lii.s cxpcji - Baltimore, Aug, 2. With recent vice crusade knoclced into the bucket because of lack ot leigal evidence, local spots, are open- ing up again on the wing. Still holding down promiscuous mixing and soliciting, loop niteries are bringing back peelers and double entendre sohg peddlers,, with - better ' trade reported, Reade's Asbury House Reyerting to Yaudfihn Walter Reade's Paramount; the- . atre on the boardwalk, Asbury Park, N. J., switches from straight . pic- tures to - a pic-yaude policy Satur- day (6). For the past foiir or five years house has been in straight pictures. ' Opening show includes Baker, Henry Youngman, Wells and the Four Fays, Ambassadors, Edna Janis. Belle Billy Eight AFA's Ringling Troubles Holding Up Phila. Merger Philadelphia, Aug. 2. Entrance of United Entertainers Assn., local talent union, into Amer- ican Federation of Actors, is being delayed by:AFA's disagreement with Ringling circus, according to Tom Kelly, UEA prez. He declared everything was set for return of the group into the labor fold it left three years ago, but things were be- ing held lip by absence of ;Ralph Whitehead, AFA. executive secre- tary, on the Ringling situation.. Since an agreement was reached oh local dues, over which the two groups split 'UEA. has been anxious to get bacic. into the parent organ- ization; make adjustments on such ' It is- certainly to bo hoped that the ■ the 1. C. bands per usual, but other- , were paid for the trip. DANCER WINS DECREE Dcs Moines, Aiii;. 2. Frances Northup, 27, a d.-jncrr with' Fanchori & Mnrcii, Joe I't'ni.cT, Eddie Cantor and J. C. Klipisi-ii, won n divorrc hern on July 2fS itnm W.iicl W. Killion, 0;i(;vL'.l;tn(l. I'Moy wr.ie; maii'iftiJ in 1.1.15. .She ch.-rrjjcd cnicl and inlui ucalincnt and failure to pruviclc. 46 VARIETY VARIETT HOUSE RETIEWS Wedoesdaj, August 3» 1938 CASA MANANA, N. Y. Ben Blue, Great Vacopis, Lucille Page, Buster V/est, A. Robins, Meta Carlisle, EUxel Waters, Smith & Dale, Eddie Stanley, Milt Brittpn orch, house orch with. Jerry FriedmaHi Ferde Crofe, Savoy Lindy Hoppers. Billy Rose has corralled a choice lineup for the. fifth edition of his. _ _ _ cabaiet-vaude. It's a calibre show Urgpic^i tunes, above even the 5a''n^„^ay!i°' y^,""*^' Vallee himself . is" more deadpan Included are^ '^?fP'"8. .smgina ai singing his songs in that clown, ^and turnbling alT liberally ^" ^^j.-j^^jB^^e^^^, Works hard seasoned with comedy. J^^spite ex-1 toxi-driver tune 'Where Tor. pected opening night 31) rough. *^2Mf^^5pSMW|»^'^^^ it look^oubtful. cow; There's a slow reaction to Chick Kennedy's mirroring of ZaSu Pitts, Greta Garbo and Hepburn, who have been overdone. Of the vaude acts, the best results are garnered by Ames and Arno with their knockabout dancing. There's plenty of stalling, but the gal's comedy mugging gets ■tlje femrnes. Carol Gould's voice is thin, while Edna Strbns's best dancing is dorie in. a tap routine to Oriental and. STATE, N. Y. Cdrtton Emmy, Broum & Amet, Walter 'Dare' Wahl, Belle Baken Mann, ■ Dupree & Lee; 'Holiday' (Col). line, 'Dance of Demons,' contrlbbed by femme and' three male compan- ion.s, gets over, neatly, in closing coj. Besidte the introduction for adagio act, the house line (16) turns in a swell beach-ball routine for opening setto, arid dfler a standard . tap mid- way. Sam Jack Kaufman, besides m.c.'- lunatic asylum theme is intermit- tently retained. As m.c, Bien Bluc] first appenred, wearing a cap labeled | 'Keeper,' and was careful to. intro- duce all the acts as crazy inmates. He scrapped the cap after the first night, however, and isn't stressing the lunacy idea so' much. Ferde Grofe was touted as direc- tor of the house orchestra for the show, but batoned only his own composition as an overture for the preem. Jerry, freeman directs the show proper, with Milt Prittoii's crew pulverizing the bandstand with its familiar fiddle-smashing, water- heaving : business. Although the act isn't as effective, as on a stage, it gets a howl, as always. Grofe, bowed out altogether after one night ' Besides his m.c. stint Blue injects frequent comedy into the other acts, as well as teaming with others in the show for skits, etc. Returning to live show business recently after a few years in pictures, he apparently has lost none of his hilarious goofery and with the few hon-combustible gags omitted, he should keep them &ughirig almost continuously. After Blue's initial brief appearr ance, the Great Yacopi troupe of teeterboard balancers is on.^ Standard in circuses for years, biit rarely in vaude, the Yaicopis do all the teeter- board stunts done by . other, troupes and add several hair-raisers of their own. Windup stiint is a complete double-up of. the familiar one of the man jumping onto a teeter to back- flip his partner into a chair held on the shoulders of a third. As done by the Yacopis, they're standing . four- high at the finish. Yacopis missed . with several' of their tricks at the round of ribbing from Granlund opeKtlrV'TWPfiiWiitty- J&ift ~W/.A9*'t' •9tr«Kd--4he -Slotc^vrvlwlvMs^.iatft.^^JllS, rehearsal 'on-rt' e, ' (for theiti) . small- stage. Ethel Waters was held for five numbers at the .preem, then had to beg off. Opens with a medley, then scores with her. own number, 'Ain't Nobody's Business.': Next offers her version of 'Frankle , and Johnny' saga for another click and finales •with 'Heat Wave' and "Stormy Weather.' , For the late show, she has added a racy number, also a sock. '• ■', .; Although they, p u 1 1 e d liberal laughs at the preem. Smith and Dale .drew a number of blanks. Besides some trouble in speaking their lines clearly ' enough, they show a tend- ency to rush through their skit with- out apparent timing. For later shows they've added more material. Buster West and Lucille Page each have a long single, then pair for ,a lengthy turn in the opener, but. that routining since has also been altered for subsequent show; Solo bits were cut way . down and the dtio portion compressed. West and Miss Page are both standard single acts as well as paired. Strong, as usual. A. Robins' offers his familiar rou- tine of pulling -an apparently endless array of articles out of his bulging coat ..pockets. He's been in vaude virtually since the middle ages and is always good. In addition to his various brief bits 'with the other acts. Blue does a crackpot challenge session 'With West, appears with his pert partner, Meta Carlisle, in a sketch about dime-a-dance halls, and teams with Miss Carlisle and Eddie Stanley in a burlesque of an old-'fashioned minuet Finale of the bill brings the Savoy Lindy Hoppers in their frantic antics, followed by a lineup of the whole company, dressed in kiddy tngs. Show ran, well over .90 minutes at the opening, but was radically cut after that Hbbe. HIPP, BALTO Baltimore, July 30. N. T. C. with Gliiquila, Caperton and Cofwmbus, Slate Bros., Fay Car- roll,. Rosita & Violeffa, GeraWine Ross, Eleonor Wood, Big' Apple Dancers; La Hart Arabs (V; .'Sky Cidht' CRKO). ' .[ Nils T. Granlund, a steady re- peater here, is back with another reviie built along familiar lines. Has a brace of new acts with the Slate Bros, holding dowh.the come.dy, but this time iising some hew material. Opening: show ran a bit .too long; but ■with pruning- and routining, should be good jentertainment Opening' informally and bringing on the inevitable gals, Granlund introduces Chiquitia, a Cuban, -in a torrid rhumba oh toes, 'with some, of the grinding and bumps 'a bit too strong for family patrdnage. . Con- trasts nicely, however; with tumbling by - Geraldine. Ross, - Amazonian blonde, who socks' and is hard to fol- low with more dancing, by Harriet Caperton and Charles Columbus, ballroomers. . Latter work hard, though, to sell a Mex routine. Slate Bros, pick matters up here with okay gagging, three-way hoof- ing and a travesty on a wrestling match, new and- a ' laugh piilier: Encore, a Southern song medley, al- though familiar, also well received. Vocal by Fay Carroll . next gets a Belle. Baker is. back on Broadway through 'Light tbplinmg and sewing up securely a cavalry' overture, with Frankie Con- good five-act layout 'of standards. | nors, tenor, coming in at close for Nestling down into the next-to- a E9P- tjlZ close niche. Miss Baker at the final flourish opening day (28)..' Miss Baker, tastefully dolled in white or- ganza with flounces, tees off. by ton- siling .. 'Says 'My Heart,' and ' then does one of her Jewish dialectics, 'How Can . You Tell What's Going on B«hind Your Back?' Then 'Music, Maestro, Please! and a long medley of past songs with which she has been associated. Encores , with her old special, 'Atlas Abercrombie,' a satirically smart number, though possibly better -for, a .hitery floor. Mob wouldn't let her lam opening night; , so she fed 'em "Yiddisher Mama' and 'Irish Eyes.' First one is b.k. for the State. Running around a half hour is too long, though singer doesh't falter.. ' Opening are Carlton Emmy with his 13 dogs, a good start to any bill. Wally Brbwn . and Annette Ames deuce with a standard comedy two- act Brown does 'a faltering, be- fuddled monologist and could tighten and refurbish much .of his material. Partner, . a half-pint with dancing ability, needs better costuming and should desist from continuing her very poor imitation of . ZaSu Pitts. Bro'vvn exhibits; just enough hoofing; to suggest he has the stuff. Con- trasting sizes of -the' partners sug- gests rich comedy inaterial, though it's a vein not wholly jnined. ■ . . Walter fDare' Wahl's humorous, smartly routined comedy acrobatics, with unbilled stooge, score. Closing, Manh; , Dupree and- Lee. who have been solid, dependable :flash act for years, with two men- and girl keep- ing abreast of the times. Set now be- ing toted -by the . turn v is excellent. Neva Chrisman pianos for- the act. : Biz good when caught. Bert. LYRIC, INDPLS. ■*nt vl'laWe bathing beauty" parade,.,a bit off the 'cob by now. Makes spot, though, for Rosita and 'Vibletta^ who are .nice appearing, 'with Spanish vocals, sold . to the hilt. Arrange- ment of 'Siboney'- skillfully/handled. More hoofology and, kiibckabout by Miss Ross: a modernistic inter- pretation, of 'Rhapsody in Blue' by Eleanor Woodi and a 'Cavalcade of Dance' by (japerton and Columbus, in 'Which dance styles through the years are ably interpreted. Follow in -order taking the edge, off of the Big Apple Dancers, three pairs of youngsters. Satiated with dancing, the audi ence takes to the; La Hart troupe of seven Arabs, in the usual pyramid building and tumbling. Encore bit with the Slates clowning to good re- turns,' precedes the finale, a reintro- duction of the principals. . With Miss Ross, ' Caperton and Columbus coh- sblidating their contributions into single spots; and the dancing portion of , the revue spaciid but in more showmanly fashion, Granlund's cur-, rent doings would do , better. Biz opening day fair. Burm, ORPHEUM, L. A. CHICAGO, CHI Chicago, July 30. Rudy Vallee orch, Bob Miller, Cliicic Komedi/, Carol Gould, £diia SLTong, Avies Hc Arno: 'Amazing Dr. CtittcWiouse' (WB), For five straight weeks now the house has been, doing, boom trade. And currently nb exception with a combination headed by Rudy Vallee, that will garner coin at, all times. Switch in policy, from low nut shows to names, has been responsible for the upward trend Los Angeles. July 31. Dr. Hoffman, Rex & Betty Powers, The - O'Connors, . Whitey Roberts, George West. Al Lyons orch; 'Wojiuin AgniTist Woniaji' (M-G),' 'Pandmint't Bad Man (Par). Seme good, up-to-the-minute vaude currently, with plenty of nov- elty and oft-color patter; Bill runs heavy to comedy and dancing, with several of the turns back with all new material. Topping is, Dr; Hoffman, last here with straight magic, who, devotes his entire offering to dishing out any kind of alcoholic oi- soft driiik. pur- portedly transformed from ordinary water. It's great audience stiill. as Hoffman passes out the various con- coctions, , and he. puts over his act with exceUent showmanship. Rex and Betty Powers, rollsr- skaters, open, and reveal plcnly 61 skill. Whitey Roberts, in the deuce, is an excellent tapper, showing par- ticularly-well while skippin.t; rope. Also batons well and comedy juggles. His gags, however, are off and have no place in an audience like. this, that is usually made up largely of wonieii and childr«fn. George West presents a . novelty musical tiirh, 'utilizing a clarinet tin whistle, rubber hose ,, and a drum Indianapolis, July 30. owan, Brach-'Dr. ClitterhoxLse' (WB), Pete. Stanley; pitt. Pittsburgh, July 30. Gene Autryy Frankie .Marvin, Btltmorettes, Collins & Peterson,- Troy & Lynne;: 'Tropic Holiday' (Par). This isn't a good show, but .it inakes little difference.. In Gene Autry,. house has a name that's amazing even show business' smart- est, insiders. House hasn't had a draw- like this - since Jack Benny. - TCids in' the -majority and they're cbming in droves.. For them, 'the. current display is -sensational, with, of course, everything Autry does tying up the shbw. Autry's cbrny turn is what they expect -and' what they get He cbiild wiggle his little finger and the rafters would rock. Autry rides, out on his horse. Cham- pion, in frbnt of. a hokey- bapkdrop,' puts the steed through, a few simple tricks , and then pulls out his guitar and gives them a few. western bal-: lads in a nasal voice'that's just in- different First tune is -'Ride, Ten- derfoot Ride,' which- he says was introduced by him on: Eddie Cantor's program, several weeks ago, neglect- ing tb mention that Dick Powell did that in the film, 'Cowboy From Brooklyn' (WB). Late in the act he's inteirupted from the audience by Frankie Mar- vin, Who tosses off. some old jokes. Then, with an unbilled violinist the. three of them finish off with a hill- billy flurry that suggests a third-rate radio progi^m; Just what Autry has is a deep mystery. Other cowboy stars are better-lobking, have better voices and loads inore personality, but he's in. the saddle and cashing In as few western heroes before him, _Jl^e:TdnT^S:t^,nvH<;^ tQnJQ[}^^l},,f Ithough most Of his ,im^ietaonaUoris._aj:ft4y''^l - '^<^^'-' eild,^ sell lor big results. Sorne, of his rbu- .tine Is excellent; some, could be dropped, including ' the Hepburn, Cantor and Charles Laughton im' pressiohs. Aping of Bergen and Mc- : Carthy is outstanding, with the talk also good. 'Mimic's Lament' a song number, serves as, pleasing relief, although Bernie does not have the most ingratiating personality or much of a voice. Alsb that plug for a Hollywood -night club at the open- ing bught to be - discouraged. ' Comedy tieam of Novak and Fay are on about middle in adagio, acro- batic and haiid-to-hand mixups. 'While the antics -are' along familiar lines, it is quite fUnny and well exe- cuted. - ' Up ahead is a shag team, Conklin and Thomas^ which represents good booking with a band, like Krupa's. Yo,uths,do two numbers, both rapid. Krupa carries a singer, Irene Daye, who does, three songs, two pops and an, arrangement of ah old -tune. She., is the weakest part of the show. ■While seemingly getting by here with her swing singing, she is lackt ing in both voice and technique. At one point. Miss Daye leads the band, but why? - Krupa's orchestra ha's five sessions, playing four popular swing numbers and a medley built around three others. He has a good arrangement of 'Blue Rhythm Fantasy,' which lends itself to a specialization on the drums, Kruoa getting in some clever tom-tom effects. Don Baker this week is doing 'Melody Flight Around the World for his organlog-commiinity sing and it adds up to an entertaining session. - Char. APOLLO, N. Y. Claude Hopkins Orch. Beverly White, Lips Hackette. Mills Bros, (5), Four Step Bros., Jean & Morion, Modelinc Belt, Dusty Fletcher, Sandy Bums, George Wiltshire, Chonu) (16), 'Who Killed Gail Preston?* (Col.). While its length, is average, about an hour and halt current setup falls short However; a Xew outstanding turns cover iip to some extent Claud^ Hopkins' orchestra is in the pit as usual, for most of the show. Opener is a rather long Parisian nitery setting, offering a.chance for' a French Can-Can by the line, solo toe tiiriss by Jean and Marion, ana taips by the Four Steps. Latter ^is a quickie,- promising more later. Line changes and returns in, a dawdling tap. Ponies vindicate themselves later, howcvci-, in a welf-^liahtcd' woodland .setting to 'Girl in the Bonnet or Blue.' Brings -on Jean - and Marion again for high kicks. Bit is well .staged with ponies in suriimcry flow- ered outfits. Mills Bros. (5t introdiiee a coupie of new tunes that impress, especially the opening '60 Second.s.' Since tne death of one brother and addition o', father to quartet a guiUrist outside' ' (Continued, on page 55) WednesJayt August 3, 1938 VARIETY 47 Vari ety Bills NEXT WEEK (Aug. 8) THIS WEEK (Aug. 1) M.ifnerars in connection wUh biMS belpW lhdlcate opening day of' NOfnera .hbWi.whstKer full Of •plit week ; ■ Driloreft ' l^on A Eddie'* riioie Davis liou Alitnin Ore RKO CHICAGO : P«Ue«.l Wuhan gylvla: Manon Co (20) PM) Harris Orfi - Radlp HaiDblera Pansy tho' Hor.He AnttH Jakobl KEW VOliK :CIT¥ , 6tat« (S) ' . . : Uick k«nny • oxlord Boy« Eunice « Healey , , ■Birio & Mana Jerry Ceeper : KVANHVir.I.B MaJwttIc (4-?) Ballyhoo Brcva WASHINGTON Capitol (.1) Carl Emmy Co" .jRcIc Powell : .Chester Hale. Co J & J Mc.Kenna .' x:hRrle» Carllle : 2nd WEEK PAR AMOU NT, N E W VO R K libvajt and Fay '::'.PIaced''by .. LEODY * SMITH ^ Paramooiit NEW yOBK CITY . FaramMBt (S). Gene Krupa Ore Al Bernle ■. ■ Uovak^ Faye. Conklln A Thomas CHICACn CbMco.Xft). Rltz Bros Titan 3 Eho rialro Mate <0-ie) . MaJor'.Bowea Co MINNKAtfOtIA Orphenm ' Rurty Villeo Co - Warner PBIUDEI.FHIA ~fiS4ff'5*rt>ifia ■oio- • 3 Peters -Sis - Collins ft PetsrsoD. ZaBu Pitts ClIltHsll:' (29) Frances Lanfiora BchalckeUrltz Ore C ft J PrelBser - Frank Convllle Ct) < Clara & Saiina' RIs FitlSBDROil . Maalej: (5) Oule Nelson Oro Harriet Hllllard Frank' Paris r ft J Habert r I . ■ (20) Collins A Peterson WASHINGTON Karle (K)' a ft n Hityes Bititlfi 'n'hlte aall-nall Kranres T^Jtnittora 6 Antaleks (20) Nelson Co Corlnniv Mora ZaSu Pitta ' Clin Hall ' Jack T/«nnT .Statter 2 Juanlta ft Champa Cabaret Bills NEW YORK CITt . Areri5 1^ .AlhunibriV-KidM NORTHAMPTON New' '•nrllRle .Mrnwne. '.'011«:hA ^ f'oHvha Krencli A Jerome ■ Rums i'ai-r ■MitfonI & .T.-n ■Mnrin I.oron/I K'i'H uk Kft»;(nii Dunrnn nritv J ft A Dey • lieoi'Ke SfditI .It'Ty Stnytlie JSliiine'tlowftrd Armwiirnd. ihu . (■Snratdiia) Emfl Coleiiinn Oi'c Mc.ilrnuo * noniia Vlrjfhiia Vori-Ul Barney .Gallant'* .Alarllyn-Xiaynor ■ .Ualy Xevilli , 'fcrraoe. 3 Pi'of Kamm Dlajine' Parrisfar . Bcrtolottr* Don ;SyIvlo Oro AnKfilo's Rhu'ba Bd I'hlta - Annette Cuerlnlna lloberta Ayelsi-ii itiirs .Giij' SO'* - ' f hnrlca Touchelto .luli-ii- l^nnier ■ ;lohn Elliit Don f^oriez- - .lim Phillipn I Wary Roberts ' llariiia wninrd Ai'IKur Behbn ' Hi(iTy Donnelly ^ Joe: Hovi'ard Spike Harrison Sernie.Grauer Black Cat Peari.BalneR ' Dottle .Rhodes ' Dolores Brown Wailai'o Bros ' Amanda: ilandolnta B. MlUineton Oro : Boulevard TaTern . (Elmhun^t. L. 1.) Dave. Fox Sonny. A S Dall ■'Mile Roland . . 'rheima. Nevlns. Cameron Crosby . . Jata Fredrlcs Ore SnHb'niK;eyT»».":" Alberta P.rynio . Boots & saddles TheVma Debevolse > Ttorralne Faulkner Norman AnlWood Alary Perry ' Caaa Uaaans' Mile Britton Oro . Ethel Waters Snilth ft Dal* Buster West Lucille Pui;e A Robins Great 'Vacopls Ben Blue .. Chateaa Uederaa ' P MacFarlane Oro Consuelo Flowercoo Baas 'ft KIcksoD Rita Renaiid Clareaa'ont la* . Clyde 'LAiee* Oro Cliib CaTaller : Cavaliers Oro Duke Benar.do Rom'o.nu . ' Bvelyn NeebU RHoda Chase Clab IS O Andrews Gr« , Jack Whliei Pat HnrrlDKto'a Ann . Rush Jerrv Blancliard . PranUle Ilyers Willie Groenn Beale St Boys . , Hotel New iarkler' Henry Busso Oro Hiiptie ft. Lamb Kric Walt Roberts A Farley Bobby Duffy Hay Jude.is Hotel Park Central Pawn A Jordon KoBci s i Hotel Pennsylvania VU-Rinla Sims Marry B(rry Kruu'rr . f.One iLvkvy >«i''y Glen Isliind Casino I.arry Clinton Oro 13ea Wain l^lck Tdfiii K'Ishor '& Woodhull Gay Greeunlch Village ■ Cu'slno' . ■ Ray O'llara Oro .loey Capiio Valerie Dumnnt - • BAB BuVnell - Havana- .Uudrtd, Nan'o 'RodrlKn..Orc .Tuunlto-Sanabritt Or Varela ■ Adelinte Vnlcra Pancho & Uoloies Sylylp ft Meiba ' , lllekory House lied Stanley Ore Jaokle. to.' Maire' Hotel. ' AiitbnsBi^dor Arthur Herbert Ore Gabriel Cbeco Monte Pried Hotel Astor. italrKetnpOro' .Dawn Kollnud * Serge Kiasii ' Judy Starr Oxfords ■Roberts A White Park A Clifford. Gloria Frankllh :.' ■ Hotel Belmont- ■-■ Plasa Ernie. Ifolst ' Orc- Geo' Scherban Orb Kohaes:Cuba Oic < Dlosa .Costello Rbnny Manslleld . . Belmont Balladeers. Muriel Byrd Muriel Byrd Hotel Blltinore . Harry Owens Ore Raymond . Andrade >''refid>'."P.t»aVi)iv~ ' • '.-•'♦»«■ >K«)iwh»»>V ' Jjeilanl.Kahookahl. '. Kahalel Mapuana Hotel Bossert (Brooklya) ^111 McCune Ore Hotel Edison Blue Bnrrbn :bro . Don' Alexander. ' Hotel Essex - Honae RIch'd HIrtber Oro Dell ft llamory , : Hotel Got. Clloto|i Eddy Mayehoir Ore Betty. Gals BoUl Halt MooB , Jack Melvfn .Oro ■ Hotel LexlBjiloB Ray Kinney pro Hotel Uacola . ' WIllrHollanqer Ore Hotel HcAlpIn Jeanne D-Arcy J Uessiter O^'O Gon'/ales ft Mcrien' - Hotel bi. Horit* Ralph Gonzales Ore Basil Pomeen Orb Collette & Barry,. -; Yvonne Bouvler. -' Hotel St. Kegls Joe 'Rlnes Ore ■. Don Marlon Oro Hotel Tafi Enoch Light Oro Hotel' Waltkirt- Aslorla Giiy Lbmbardo Ore Mlacha Uurr . iBteraatinnut Cnnliw Sande Wiiiiiiins Ore -Kvelyn Chttudler Guy Owen Bruce Mav^s Dorothy Lewis Simpson isis iVathan Walley Ivan Frank Don Curios Bavsriuu Betty Jimmy Rrnst A 01 In Jaekel ft Xuvier Jimmy Kelly's .roe Cniielio Oro ilary l.anb Suxunna A Clirl.sline .Ibhn lloekwoud Tanya Peg'Ky do la PInnte Carter , ft ^chaul> Reiicu . Ruvei A M.ircea insa BurK Gladys K.nye Lee Losliw. OeOKc'Ha ■.Marsraret GVey Danny MlKtins VauEhn^ Cuiiiiiirt ; kit Kal Clul> Leru.v Il:irvi» 'Jic ■ l.a ■.Marr|Ul^e . ' Rnri.-Mosn t'ul .l3.;iUMuno Douv .,Si>P;iU-'* ' - IvranccM C«tiiit<#liy l.ur'uo Kddle Dn.vl" Ore. ;ju:luph Suviih. Urc l-n -Coniia Carius A nnui'i.n 1,0 Cuti Rnuice . N 1 'nutien^ Ore .I'ol.-l HiM'Sia ilay "JIU'^M- ' - 1« Mirage ' -r rfnrry finrthii. Ore .\liir\"rtn Pate .nuVloii^U A Xnndra .Ii>' i-v KIrl,ln/>il Jvalhaiine Cavalll Helen Walnwright I Cniico Caruso Jr Hon A U Lane liurney 'A Connors Muiiili^o A Belty.. I I ri.? Adrian ■ j Uulnes, Talf A S Utile Old New Vdrk Teddy. Lang Ore ..' I'airieln. March Uvrnlce G'ee ' Irene 'Mau.'^th c.nv RoKerii J:ivU -Laurie MIcKeyMallofy - Mendowkirmlk t.>iur»ti>nhe. DeiiMi'ii Ui-eeii ' .9lonle t'arlo Uila r.enilrd Duval's:/ Nut CInh' - i- Ionry Jerbnie Orb Itulph I.cvnIs' ifblvn Siveinjrd Ulu'nclie.. <.:i-a>m-. ii- Is Moovb ^ - Virginia Grimes Kr.llK'Ois Brouillard Adeiiilde Ralnlgh .Maude CnrroU . nerta Donn Keri Ktliig. Whltleya ; Old Rotiniaolan .Michael Welner Ore ■Ybuily ToWlott . Helen Sliaw >^ .Sammy Mbrrla llosaiie Roy 5^A Ooii Redman Oro . G D Washlngtbn Chocoiateers Aida Ward Maude Russe.U . Anlab' ft ' ■Aland Rutua ft Richard Freddie James Ted Levpis"^ Jr ;( : ' Swing. CInb Roy Mai'lo bra : Freddie Fultpn Pete Oil ftoVd Ruth .Osbora- Tont'Gayo' Cellhda Joe . Van Green rack Huber Luelnda Lang Tavern-na-tireen ■ Hugh la Barrett Ore Vemalllba 'Gloria 'brafton' Panchlto Orbh Val Ernie Oro D' A valos Dancers Village Barn Mitchell Ayfes Ore .Marynn Alorcer Frank Besslnger .Terry White Gus- WIcke Jimmy. Burns Fred . Bishop Wynne Ralfih' ' ' Lou Williams Ebony. 8 Truth Leonoft BatBlHiw .Grin" - Ben Cutler Ore Marlynn A Michael Harlequin : ' VlllaaoTn . (Saratoga) Nell GoIderi Ore Ruth Petty Heat Waves Ann Bronte ■ *. Jerl WIthea . Whirling Top ' Geo Morris Oro. Ramon RIn'go Stephen :Harrl* Marta Cerny . WIvel r Charley' Bowman Or Bob tee. FJOIa Marin* . Grrile 'Mack . ■'■ Nick . Hope : Aniella' Ollmore Patricia Clancy , LOS AHGELES Ball Charlie Lawrencei. BrUz:. Fletcher Beverly Wllabira Colleen Calhoun ' Don Raymond Ore Henry King Ore ' Blllnior* MardonI Dean Janis Rome Vincent Dave Snxon Florence Kerr.lck Rannte Weeks ■ >■ . . Fcanii Ti;ombar'Orc RoKb A Ray Lyi.e Cafa de Pare* Rurh ITfliien •I'ley -r'npptt Bill Priire pro Cafe l.a .Maie Dave ^akKon W.-iliy- Larytin liohu Hartley Wi'py. .^herruk Ore ..xiai'KUerite Pedula tloyer Club Lou Bring Ore Club .Morocco JJni Kerr Ore Coi;baBut 'Grove l.eo, Re!.s"nia'n Ore ■GeorKrS' ft .lalna Euvu.vs of Rhythm iinwailnn ' Paradise Club ■ Pcarles A .Lena- ■ Hnbbv. Tiin'iMi**-. ■Pi-lnreKs Luana ' Dnrvi HnlfH . r-^1oib BUf,h 3 I. H nerta- ■.Sol Houl Oro ^ It Cafe Joe Vlohhfly li'ili' i!obt-:tK Ore La Canga. hron^rtn Dun ley B IJ..' hiHlo Oi t". U.il Hdiviud Ore I 'li.iriJii;.'o ilviiiilia Pd, l.lllle Clob .l.nJis Rbss Valyda Countess ' Sbuya Omar'* Dome Elmer Bob dohnstone Waller Wado " Ross A McDonald' . Ceo -Redman Oro Palomair feryon Weiss 1 .lack KaVanbuffh Tommy- Dbruey Ore Royal Duo Edythe Wright Jack Leonard . Paris Ilia Marguerite A M F Gillette A G Gls P Setznlck's Club Grey ft Beruiti .Mary Farljei:- .Marco A Romoia Max FUller Urc nill liauUin Benny Fields Jan Rublnl Seven Sea* t.lly Gibson San Sbucl Honolulu D.Tneers .<:arbUnH Mudbu- Kay Silver - / Lanl Mclijllre Ore Seventeen Ten. .('lull Nnti- Blakstone Bdiih Davis Darryl Rn(;er'» KrankiR Farrell Olivette irarlm Sonierset HyuM ' Kav St Germaln'b .fa'-k- '.Owens - n III li.HK Harry n.iiiglnnd Topsy's . Ted r.ewlii Ore - Troraderir . Jo.i l.t )• '.L'l'.'i: OaulUe Oi'.c '.Mavlbv la K'ulii Hlu'e (;oitoe X T.novfl S'erov., iliintf liiipx lliillih Ho'ipy lO^i'iy .siniit-c Oi^o • lion .*lr . .Iti'.jiii^e Gv>r fire Hilly ft .1 Xitvtiiu •lliellj* rtiirtt'i' Kuth Dunning Dirk. Webster. ' Dukes A -Duchess Or Ronelean A Seville ' JuUn Xvlhsun Ro.'xi .Ballet Brevobrt Hotel ' . (Crystal Room) Florence .Schubert Charles, Baldwin Jean Lbascli .Sorina Ballard llroadmout .Tune'Marsh Pat PaiKe Gls Golden Gale 3 (iloria Starr Herble Rudolph Ore Cdrnyaii Jane CMlne. r:ili)a Leonard Curl Sell <>ltz Pro • Cliex Pare* Abo Lyman Orb Kthel Shulia Paul Drnpor Paul A Reyes Rose Hlaiie . Iris Wiiyne ' Don Orlando Oro Evaiis Adnrablijs Cltib At Hal Barber Kve Rvonne ' Chct -A .1 .Kinney .Martto Lii'rour,- - Club Alabani riarrlot Norris ■Mary Stone . Mickey Dunne Sadie. ..Moqle r^ee Henderson .Phyllis Brooks Betty Taseolt ..Marjbrie Kljig Enie Burton Bernle Adler . Dave Unells bre . Chalk Robinson Ore ■ Eddie Roth Ore ■ . '. ' Clab. Laarei Eddie Curi-y VerA Ball. Marie Clare Solly Joy Chick. Llphard Ore Ciub Spanish . Plniiy Tracy ftoreiia DeUoer Joe Valentine '. Jbe Nlill Ore Colbslmo* Dorothy Marthyn : jaCk!)ont RbevesA S Dorothy .Wahl ' • .Speck A Spot DeBold 2: ■ Grace Dr,ysda-Ie Franclta Geraldlne A Jo* Bobby panders Prohapli Gls Hollywood t Henri Gehdrbn Ore : Clab Dells* , .Eveiyn Whit* ' Myi;a Taylor 'i .Esquires - ,S?iii- -Jhsai;},. , ^■^^ nxta^. - ... t.'ha'iTtjs^ Isoin Partello Gls : Red Saunders Ore Edgewater Beach Hotel (Marlbe . Roam) (Beach Walk) Baliey isis ' Boniiie ■Baker 4 Nltehawks Male Sextet'. Roger Brngr Harriet Smith ■ Qls Orrin Tucker Oro. Fanioa* Door- Ed Danderii Ore' Esther 'WhUtIng ' Bryari Wolfe ' 4th Club Homer Roberu Elliel 'Brown ■ Verv'a. Ball Marlene Griffith Blllle' Fargo Shbrly Ball .Ore Frabke'* ' ibaaino Al Zlmmy Oretchen .Werner Rita DeVer* Lorelta Owens Teenie McDonald r>ea Roberts Ruth PhTUlps ' Rocke Ellsworth Bob Tlnsley Oro The Gablea- Sunny Glilain. Rev Leon Chess Ore Gay Pare* Welllnslon .Mavy Williams Bock Sis Chlekle Tfaneiy Bcrnli-e Bodel uob Riley Ore Grand Terrisce Catherine Perry Sunny A Sortny :i Sharps A A Flat. Peiirn A Dolpres Connie 'Harris .vtercla Maruiiez Prln'resB Orllla Tr Kiii'l nines Qr.c' - Graenier* - Hotel (Glass Hoiis* Rm) 'Don Pedro Ore KlJta. Harris DaiiH tJaineron . Illckory Inn 4' Top Hats rhe t'Mew: ICorkers' . Ill Hnt Willie Shore Holibria j'Oniiy: .Ml:t Opeia Sestet olcra Dune Winnie Hoveler Gls .-ild .I>sng .Ore : -.Hippodrome Flo Whitman llev, IVanlioo .trelen .Surnnors - lleitin Ir.-v. in ' . 1 ilawallan.v' I-;ai i llOtlijitin Ore - , l.'Alelon .Mirv W Kilp:itrli;l, t'tjeiM'Ke Cay I'.d I Knii ii r;olagninl Or i llntri. I.n .SHiir ' fnliie >'rnnt Hnnm) 1 iiioliKi'd . Rfhreiber j i:iMiuore Itfiys J Dixie FrancPM Liberty Inn ; .''w ni 1 1 fi .T M , .Mifl.pv Winii-rt! ' .\l;t.fio»i Malitiry ■ K li'l Phillips ' .|i;n(ii> (y,Sra\ . .Millie T-IitrViMft i E?.rl Wiley f)ib I l.lfnehouse Lnitiila: Jay Curtez A Dlnnne Jerry (iriniths ; : Jerry Glldden ;^Ora ■ )lcM'nglilln* I3ools Hrae Rev^ .Mdlllo Mnnnnr' DolbrtJS'XJreeii Marge lienor* Ituth ■ Deiin: ttnil Ltlwj'fnee . Jules .\ovii Pro ' .MelfMty .Mill Jacl! MuXsol Oic .Mlunil Club Roza Whitit." Karl hlfliiii' Juo Cb'isitl'y .. ■Lynn IJui^i-lay- Dorothy. JuliiiKon. .Mlllstiiiie . Rl1-.4n:' (.'iiHrlliio Rak .MIciiey Winu-r lloy SwIU Ore .Mliiiiet Clu P'.Tl.ly O'Dny palsy. Linn Jl.Ur'ljo G:i\ in , JJen'liV DilKjitills' Ol l!uy -llalB. ■ Mnrrlimn Hut«l (Uosloii -Oyster ■lluusv) Manfred Cotl hetf : Nutnietess ('life Jo.Ann r,a iliie :.■■' G'eorgia' Kane : .. .Mae di Kill 'riielniH' itiiiyson Eddie. Leon ' DtploniHis. . :Navy Pier . Bill Ke.lbB Orb Florence Beaumont Old Heidelberg Gebrge.!(3unther .Ore- Old ■ Heidelberg Co Palmer llniise (Empire 'Rooiii) -' Veios, A Yoland4 Paneho Ol'C - : 4. Kraddocks . - Mlch'ael r.o>'ing Smith's Mdi-luuet* Don Hnotnn .Grace. Dlltmsn . Abbott Dancers Ed Allen Phlf Dolley Ore'- ■parody; Club : Freddie/Abbott.' Molli*. M'anor- Dollla Dule'iie' .Sara Thehbld Marie' 'I'honias- Freddie- Jahls Orb :pew Wow Club' : ' Jimmy Ames ■lorry-:. Lynn . 4 Rhythm Boys . Carlos A Dores 'Ced Slinon:' Sieve. Slultand Ore Rose; llnwl ' i UTKttei'*'*'^ :• . • ^ ■piii'iiclfti ■LuPiirre . rtUcHle Lee : Soutni'd Hliy'm Gls oiorla ■Puniu.o ' ' Tom- Ferris Sherman- Hotel ' (College iBB) Brandt Sis : Robin Si^ott Ukalllci A VIda Jenna Bud Lewis ■ Mary Jaiie Teb Genevieve Trojah Duke ft Noble Betsy Ailing I»ynn Cluro Dorothy Brlokson Madeline Rayiiinnd Marian Callahan: Russel ft Genevieve .Snowliaito:. Ballet -' F Masters -Ore Silver iClaail . Bert Nolan Kay I..aSkll*-. Ruth , JnlTee - Cortex ft DIonn* Jo'aii' .MarsbKil Ella Evnns - Marlon Boyd ■ Hazel Zaiiis Herd Rlchardiion 3 Tops Johnny McFslI Ore Silver Frolle* •: Roeke Romano EalalnO Kabey Fiiy Waliaco Mildred Davis Art Freeman eo« Club Jos Herbert 'I'rudy lie Rliig Kenee VlHon Marg Faber Gls Marne ■ ' Mona Leslie Jessie IloHella Ann- O'Connor ■" While Sis B ft L Ouok ColleUo ■Peachei* SlraiiK* Dollv Slerllnii Winifred. Seine Sol Lake Ore Tripoli J , Sky Rorket Mar.|oj'la Whitney Diclalurs tMalhews ft Sha 4 KhiKs B 'j'Snks Sbrlalites: 'Sleveas Hiilel (Continental Rmim) Glover' A TtiitMiie ,M Ki-ederlrks Orb Paul, riejjfi n ■ .' ' ' .Sloekude.. Im. Chnrles' l-:e Vttrlir.tf... . .Mury. .Marshiill" . - Krifi'O's Oi'.e f Three iki-iii''es . I .ToliNiiv A K .ijr 'l-'.- Klcd Ki-mI I'liwiT Inn Pr.Tiil. le f//i.4 1 I rtf-/. tlnrt'U llel>..<(. II i llfllv . [ii,llr i.t- • 'Cnt. c. ., . .; 1... ijieli Cli Blcanor Johnson' . Frank Dayla Ore . .Troeade^ Norma Nbel Frltzle Bey Jean A Joan' Doree Roy Ranklp Oro ' Villa ,M<«denie Carlos Molina Bd: Kemp Tr ; '.Margaret Alyers Vlllat Venl(« Boslta Ortega Medesca A .MUhel Itba Irenrs '■ Carlo A curtin .. Cuban Rhuiitla C* ■Loii nbrrinuii ' l.azzoronlH Nino A Villon 3 Orehids Calnah Gyp.sy 4 F.Quarlello Cic PfflLADELPHiA AnCliyrnge. P.-ltrfoia cjlfford lliilh A H AinliroKi 'Jloi'b Wooda Ore , .Arradlit Iiit'l Paul Ridge ;>IUbic Weavers Oro ratrli'la Clifford -Burnett A Barclay 'Johnny Craff pro ' Rellevue-Stratford :-Meycr''-Da;vl3 p.rc. ._ Bonny itlie Bum.'* JCo'llov .'^Is . Jiill Uiillcy l>i)tliu- ..Slclloiiabn- ticrry- Foster lli- H'wobd Models Unlph Driiw'H Peioyd SIcKny Dill Honey. Orb CQlllns A Peterson Ben Fmnklta Hotel i.eo..ZollO Oro '. Cedarwbod Inn (Ualaga, N. J.) Jerry McCra* Oro l^aul Lee' " Reno Costello Dolores O'Nell Alice St John 3 M'ntiiln Ramblers Club IS Dick T'lvomas (^aivadiahs Oro Belle >letmOnt. Connle^ Lambert Club Parakeet .' jrary Hubbard Parii|ue A Ailil'ii Juiirtriy A ^»*.. Jealiiia:.ii!jt»-: Lyi.no Shee.ian Walton Rwit Jeno Dbnalh Ore': Vincent RIZ'/o Ore Paul Neft Ore Janice Williniii* Jimmy Blake Mildred. Reed Ohezze Brn* :Vlolet Love Wonces ■ Bernhardt A: O . Jack Lynch: GJs ) i Weber'* Hot Bias (Camden) Louis Chiilkln -QVe Ivbe Early . -. ■' tSharon Harvey Bigelow ft Gerald Nino: Carmlnb ■ . . Karl & Greiidien Internatlonill. 9 ■JSavarlans Eldoradlana Ilsf Mart Joe; Romano Rudy llruiler Ray Miller Yarktowae Tavera Frank StB.ub Ore AtLAntlC CITT Bath ana Tart Clfb 'Freddie . Bernard .Sophie Tucker ■■ Horace Hustler Painmbo.'* ' ' Renaalt Tasem Camille Do - Monlez Chancy A Fox R.oxyettfis K'Idie Thomas . . .Ion Arthur Ore Gateway Caslna (Somcr* Point) .Terry Livlngslon Or ituUi Brent' Babette* I .souih A Lime { .VIscAclliura ' : Lillian Borne* Vivien Newell. Rarl.' -I.lndHPy G's Eric Currea Oic Muiy Louis* Siie Club Cross ■& Dunn" PalKle OKiii-n Howard Hriiiik* Terry l/swler dale .S'exlet Pellinii ft I'niiillle Vincent Travers UiC Frolics Clii Pranels Repnnlt .Kleane riisti.r '.Marie Si-Iih' f» f Jackie Cbui/er t.trc Club. .MHyralr Lewii> pniilcit Oro Ha'pry .Stevens HlHwart ft l.tc* Olive White Gls »■ Cocoaant Grove ■Rilly T.nssez Orb Mia Miles Co ft). GII A' « Manon ' ■ Shirlev Whlla Ethel Grenler •;i» a~ . '; Congo Pddle Deas Orb ,lt05e:Chapiniin . .C'rawlord' Hoiise Jlrmiiy .Munn .bru Uiocer Waldron >'eiimore Cafe Fob itoy Ore : 'i'eriy .O'Tooie . t'o'eas'le . (.Marbleliead) tt'jn .rullo Ore '" : Fuz 1i Hounds Club , iliv. f) tifWuirti Vti.i i^lMhn .li^ l>f\ W lii;b Vt'ltlrlrviii.ti. BOSTON Hnlel Copley riaiuk (.Meirry-G.lrr; ... .(Itoof liiirderii' '.lar*l:'i'ttm lieci.n; OS ' l-;ihl;i SItliK y ; New Anirrlr'il liiitrl ' ll.. 'I ': vi'i;.-!. ,( ."<.*^vvni-t H'.: -'i.'!. i. If*- . 1 r.'r:iO'.'''-H ll'ii.ii • Coniiriucd on page 52) ^ 48 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, August 3, 1938 NY/HearingsOpeniii Vs. Ed Wynn for M Income Taxes Hearings in • an action of the In- ternal Revenue Department against Ed Wynn starjed in New York early this week. Government claims back income Uxes, with interest, which would come to around $400,000, It's the largest claim'against any stage: actor to date. Specifically, the pres- ent action concerns the comedian's returns for 1932 and 1933. Understood that Wynn, when drawing big money on ridio and in legit, used the incorporation device, frowned upon, by Federal, authori- ties because of the chances, to evade, the payment of tax as stipulated in ' the statutes. Personal corporaitions aren't permitted if it's indicated that such Is the purpose. Law was modified and the taxpayer must , prove the utility of the corporation Liriitt & Dunphee, currently has Paul Duke to Be Magi In New Abbott Musical , Paul . Duke, . magician, has been sighed for George Abbott's forth- coming 'Boys from Syracuse,' trav- esty on Shakespeare's 'Comedy of Errors.' Jimmy Savo afid Teddy Hart set for leads and Bodgers and Hart to do the music. Show , to begin rehearsals Oct.. 1 for late November opening. Bob Goldstein Options Tlan for a Hostess'; May Book Mile. Arnand Bob Goldstein who, vCith O'Brien, In order to gain any advantages in tax rcqyirements GUCK, DINEHART SET TO PRODUCE ON B'WAY . Alan Dinehart and joe Glick will again be associated in a Broadway presentation, latter having gone to Hollywood to confer with the actor- manager on producing Thanks For My Wife,' which was tried put in San Francisco recently. . Dinehart appeared in the play written by Joseph Carole, which is among the summer tryouts regarded as Broad- way possibilities. ' Dinehart, principally in ' pictures for some years, intends coming ett&t and appearing in the pUy, a comedy, He ■ and . Gliik jiresented 'Ap-ple- bassadbr, N. Y., 14 years ago. Play has bben rewritten by Dine- hart. In additioki tb Dinehart, bis wife, Monelle Britoone, will be in the New York cast. Golden, Boy' in London, , has taken an bptioii on another current Lon- don play, 'Plan for a Hostess' with an eye to producing it. in America next fall. Yvorinc Arhaud and Ronald Squire are starred, in this Thomas. Browne, play, wherein Adrianna Allen is also featured. Goldstein's idea - is to briiig Miss Ari)aud, a French actress, to Broadway with the; play. Assurance Legit actor dashed into a bar and grill off Broadway the other night: 'Have you heard the latest?' he panted. 'Burgess Meredith is lost somewhere in' Euroise. He' hasn't been heard ■from since he. arrived there, several weeks, ago.' - 'Aw, that's nuthin' to worry about,' a n s.w e red anothei: thesper. 'He'll turn up in Max- well Anderson's new play.' HP IN BUFFALO SXUSE STAGEHANDS WIN ROW ON MUSICIAN JOBS Syracuse, Aug. 2. 'Threatened stagehand strike which would have closed • the ' Strand thea- tre, how haying a run of roadshows, was averted: at the zero hour Friday Buffalo, Aug. 2. Announcement here . by Blanding Sloan, regional director of Federal 'Theatre Project, that Buffalo .would have a unit was met by critical 'blasts from local theatre, men. Sloan announced that tentative sites in key. cities had already been selected by the Government and that Buffalo was one. whose evidence of strong support bf the FTP was assured. Pnder .the, plan, 70% of the cost is deitrayed by the Government and 30% by the city. Springfield, Mass, Hartford, Raleigh, Charleston, were announced .as already liaving taken initial steps toward FTP theatres. Among those criticizing the proj ect locally were -Dr. Peter C. Cornell, ex-legit manager; Jacob Lavene, president of the Varliety Club; Vin- cent R: , M'acFaul, of Shea-Publix, and DeWey Michaels, independent exhibitor. They stated that Buffalo already has four ^theatres (Erlanger, Court, ' Giayety and Teck) suitable for legit, all of which have stayed dark consistently for years. Rockefellers, Berger In N. Y. Operetta Deal St. Louis, Aug. 2. Deal is on for Hichard Berger to move his operatlcs. from Municipal Opera here to New York as tenant for idling Center theatre during com- ing season.. Center and Rockefellers are said to be anxious to get Berger, who has had botisiderable success here. Would function In conjunction with local shows, with Berger tak- ing liltely talent from here for win- ter sessions and transferring -talent taken on In New York to St Louis for summer shows next year.- Inside Stuff-L^ At Green Gftbles, Pleasure Bay, pii the Shrewsbury side of New Jersey's former' gold coast,, one of the oldest organizations in show business, the Hot Air' Club, gathered Sunday C31) for its annual clambake; It was the club's 39th outing, an eVent which In other years drew such, personalities as Flo Ziegfeld; A. L. Erlanger and Diamond Jim Brady. 'Turnout was the best in years, more than 50 attending. Club is exclusive and guests are never Invited. All the mehnbers are on intimate terms with oi\e another,, with the roster including company managers, press agents and .ddvance men in. legit, several bookers, railway experts, lawyers, treasurers and show biz newspapermen, Most of those In the Hot Air circle- are rather veterans, or apiproach- ing that status, and for that, reason .'contests, which are .ti^ually attendant to clambakes, are out. instead,' the showmen go .in for oratory during the> dinner. Combined ages of those who were on hand approximated 3,o66 years, and that, about measured the afternoon's good fellowship. . ■ As has been his custom, John Campbell acted as libation host oh. his . own, coming to the bay froni his nearby hbnie. .'Long John' was elected president and became m.c. for the afternoon. lie dUcked the issue, whea asked who ' is thinner, -he or vhis brother Robert, secretary of the Actors . Fund, who is also a Hot Aireh The retiring prez, William T. Keo^h, made an excellent address after reminding the members of the club's slogan: 'Eatibus, Drinkibus, Sed Non Bustibus.' Brief remarks, some being witty, came from Fred Zweif el, Eddie Cooke, Jim O'Neil (Equity), Herman Phillips, Victor Leighton, Frank O. Miller, Victor Kiraly, Fred Meek, Bill Wright, Jack Pulaski, Barney Rieger, Campbell. Casad,. Ben Atwell, Sam-Relter, James iD. Barton, Fred. Faber and' Fred.die Goldsmith. .Alien Schnebbe;. head of the Treas- urers Club, : ducked when slated to spout. So did Bill Goldhart, 'Benny Bennett and' Louis Lotito. .. Trip was efficiently handled by Gus. L. Cobb,' the clubmen having a special car from Atlaniic Highlands. Sam Harrison could not attend but he joined his. mates at the Highlands, on board the Sandy Hook, on the xVay: back to Broadway. ON TOLLIES' SHELVED at a conference ' between Harold — j .i..;— -..^-r^coiisiaereQr Crouch, manager, and representa- tives from the American Federation of Labor. Stagehands, in accordance with an agreement,, had threatened strike unless the theatre , complied with de-, ihaiids of the Syracuse Musicians Protective Assn. to place five musi- cians on the payroll. At the deadline,- Crouch, agreed to put five musicians on the salary list. They will not play, there being no room in ' the theatre pit. but will draw weekly paychecks; The agree- ment is retroactive for three weeks. The costs bf the operetta revivals at Jones Beach and Randall's Island, .. N. Y;,. which were withdrawn, after three weeks, by Fortune Gallo and J. J. Shubert, were upped considerably ''-through moves of the inanage- '. ment That particularly goes for the Beach project where the original arrangement with the State Park Commission called for 1,000 free seats. Management insisted oh eliminating cufTos and established a minimum 25c. admission. Commissioner I^obert Moses thereupon .required the at- tractions to pay the wages of all persons employed by the stadliim. To balance that, tables were added and some tickets priced at $1.25 plus tax. In . addition; persons at tables were required to pay 10c. as. a cover, since there was Service on beverages: Park, however, retained all that coin. Claimed, too, that fireworks used on certain nights were made part of the production costs. Aside from salaries, royalties are said to have been the largest items. Rights for 'Showboat' were $1,500 and 'Rose Marie* $1,000. Discounted was a report that Gallo and Shubert obtained a future weather prediction and decided to call off shows in both spots. It rained every night the week following the closings. - Equity requirement would lent Deal between the Shuberts and Harry Bichtnan for 'fall production of the 'Ziegfeld Follies' - lias, been ashcanned. Percentage of investment each was to take, coupled with desire of Rich- man' to have last word on material and. performers : believed, to have been chiller. MIELZINER'S HEAVY SKED Scene Designer Booked for 5 Shows Until Xmas; 4 Musicals OfFstage's Onstage Ezra Stone, lead In 'What a Lite,' at the Biltmore, N. Y., is making a film of the offstage action described in the play. Using players in the company and other players for char- acters referred to in the script - but not included in the cast. Will show the completed pic at a special Sunday evening performance for the 'Abbott acting company.' H'wood Signs Devereaux London, July 27. Jeanne Devereaux, American dancer currently at the Grosvenor House here, has beeri signed for a' Hollywood picture stint. Leaves in a couple of weeks for the U. S. Recently closed at the Bal Tabarin, Paris. Heaviest advance schedule he has ever had is already listed for the 1938-39 Icgit season by Jo Mielziner, Scene designer has five new shows definitely set before. Christmas, with several others tentative after that. Four of the five are musicals, nor- mally involving heavier outlays than straight shows. .. Five productions are the new:.Max Gordon revue, Sherwood Anderson's play about. Abraham .Lincoln, the new Maxwell Anderson-Kurt Weill musical. George Abbott's musical 'Cpmedy of Errors' and the untitled Dwight Deere Wiman tuner by Ar- thur Schwartz and J. P. McEvoy, That work, will take all the desigh' er's time until Christmas. Mielziner and his wife, Jean Mac- Intyre. Icgit player, last week re- turned from a month's European trip. Future Plays 'FIcdeliDg,' by Eleanor Carroll Chilton and Philip Lewi.s, has baen bought by Robert F. Cutler. Pinkpr & Morrison handled the deal. Pro- ducer, who operates the County theatre. Suffern, N. Y.. during the summer, plans a Broadway produc- tion. 'Sweet Summer Breeze,' by How- ard Lesser, has been bnuaht by Arthur Hopkins. Producer is said' to be working on it for fall production;. Will direct It himself. Sale handled by Tom Kane, of Century. 'Hope for. a Harvest,' by Sophie Treadwell, has, also been purchased by, Hopkins. Play is also in the: works for probable fall preem. With the producer staging. Shuberts Sign Debonatrs Shuberts have, picked up the op; tion they held on the services ot the Six' Debonairs sin';e 'You Never Know,' in which the act was cast, closed on . the road past spring. Dancers, go into the Broadway showing of the musical, whose open inj is tentatively set for the Imperial Sept. 1. Current Road Shows Week of Aup. 'Behind Red Lights,' Garden Pier, Atlantic City. 'On Borrowed Time,' Geary, San Francisco. * 'Pins .and Needles,' iltmpre, Los Anseles. ' 'Room Service,' Brighton, Brighton Bc3ch. N. Y. (2). tobacco Road,' Aldcn, Jartiaica N..Y. . Rh latter subsequently BK*%Jir':>44**r-.^iuiipe5;'- r John Peter Toohey, p.a, for 'You Can't Take It With YoUi' at the Booth, N. Y., had for several weeks been planning to grab some stories in the dallies on the strength of the show's forthcoming 700th performance. He dropped the idea last week, however, when he learned that 'Tobacco Road,' at the Forrest, N. Y., will play its 2,0bdth performance just a few days previous. Figures his 700 mark wouldn't even get a nod from the drama eds. , ~ 'You Can't Take It With You* poster in the windpw of Mackey, Inc., ticket brokerage, N. Y., gives Margot Stevenson star billing. Although her part is a minor one* even for an ingenue, she's the only membier of the cast billed on the poster. Sherwood's 'Lincoln' Slated for Rehearsals Robert E, Sherwood's new one. tentatively titled . 'Abe Lincoln in Illinois,' will go into rehearsal right after Labor Day. It will probably be. the first production by the five playwrights' group, although the new Maxwell Anderson- show might precede it Which one will go first may depend on casting. Sherwood retiirned from Europe yesterday (Tues.) He was unable to see Frederick Lonsdale during his stay in London, as the latter was unavailable. Had hoped to huddle with, the British playwright regard- Ing-^e. possible New York produc- tion by Gilbert Miller of a new Lprtsdale play. Elmer Rice Is to direct 'Abe' and Raymond Massey, who'll portray the martyred president, is the only one so far set for the cast. Research department of western division of the Federal Theatre Project, under the supervision of Mrs. Cyrilla P. Lindner, has completed compila- tion, bf the history of the theatre in the west, particularlir- that of Los Angeles, which heretofore. It's pointed out, has been sihgulafly neglected. Volume, 'The Theatre in Los Angeles,' traces legit as far back as 1B57 in Los Angeles area, detailing a religious festival that was staged In that year as. the start of the spoken stage in that section. Sonuner Theatres (NEW PLATS) 'Sea 'Weed,' Little theatre, Mbun- Uin Lakes. N. J. (5). , 'Suzanna and \the Elders,' Country theatre, Westport, Conn. (I). , *A Murder Has Been - Arranged,' Bobthbay. Harbor, Boothbay, Mc. (3). 'Knights of Sony,' Municipal Opera, St. Louis (1). 'Tree of Heaven,* Dutche!!.<; County Players. V.issar College, PoUghkecp- sie; N. Y. (3). 'Rosalind,' Roekridge theatre, Car- mel. N. Y. (5). 'Don't Throw Glxiss Houses.' Tama- rack Playhouse, Lake Pleasant, N. Y. (5). , 'Sincerely. Yours,' Woodstock Play- house. Woodstock, N, Y. (4). 'Love on the EquatoV,' Coach House. theatre. Oconomowoc. Wis. fl), ^thls Mercy We Have Shown,' Thc- atre-in-the-Gardcn, Fish Creek, Wl.<;. M). 'All's Foir,' Wharf theatre, Prov- incetown, Mass. (1). 'Lenrechaun,' Starlight theatre, Pawlin.?, N. Y. (1). 'Play II tor Comedy.' Cragsmoor PlayerSi Cragsmpbr, N. Y. (2 )'. , EflTIciency moves at Radio City this week combined legal, hianagerial, operation and renting departments in one office. There have also been several transfers in effort to tighten up offices which will all be housed in new Associated Press building when it is completed this fall. Report that several people had been dropped was denied by. John Roy, in charge pf amusement facilities in Radio City, exclusive of theatres. • 'There was some , backslapping between John Golden, chairman of the entertainment advisory committee of the- New York 'Wprld's Fair, and John Krimsky, recently named head of the amusement division. Latter thought the manager was congratulating him ' upon the promotion and thanked Golden for his assistance. Manager ^explained, however, that cPngrats were due since Krimskjr is soon to become a father. Fred SwPifel, veteran company manager, will write his legit memoirs, detailing some of his experiences during his 44 years on Broadway. Dur- ing that period he was employed by only five different managers. Rockefeller's $35,000 To Cleve. Little Theatre Cleveland, Aug. 2. Little theatre movement here, which has received strong financial support from John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Who was born in Cleveland, was boosted again by a grant of $35,000 frorh the Rockefeller Foundation for the enlarging of Eldred Theatre. • Project is a part of Western Re- serve .University dramatic course and is tied up with the Play House, a.<; well as the bluebook Eldred Players.' Inhi Wants Taiu Los Angeles, Aug. 2. New Tallulah Bankhead comedy, '1 Am Different,' will play . 10 days in Honolulu if a deal with Consol- idated. Amusement Co. of Honolulu goes through. Piece tries out in San Diego, Aug. 18-20. comes to the L. A. Biltmore Aug. 22 for two weeks, and opens at the Curi'an, Sian Francisco, 'Sept. 5. Deal calls for the ' Hawaiian trip after two weeks in Frisco. WIMAN BACKING SEEN FOR SURRY PLAYERS Fall tour, as tentatively lined up by the Surry. Players, ot Surry. Me., will open in Boston about Oct, 1 .and wind up about Nov. 1 at Con- cord, N. H. While exact dates aren't set; the Idea is to go. as far west as Syracuse and as far north as Port- land, Me. Final decision 'will probably rest vyith Dwijht Deei-e Wiman, who may sponsor two of the Surry produc- tions on Broadway in the fall. Pro- ducer, who last season sponsored the troupe's 'As You Like It' at the Ritz, N. Y., will go to Surry this month to. see their productions of 'Hedda , Gabler' and 'The Good Hope.' For- mer will have Anne Revere in the title part, -while the latter: will have Miss Revere. Katherine Emery, Shepperd Strudwick and Wesley Addy. If Wiman decides against bringing the shows directly . into New York, tliey will be. taken on the New Eng- land toUr. Sam Rosen is the direc- tor. Wednesday. August 3, 1938 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 49 New Equity-League Code on Met Control to Become Effective Sept. 1; Showmen Join Broieer Opposition New 'code of lair practices,' the ticket control system adopted by the League of New York Theatres, with Equity signatory to the document, Ig to become effective Sept. 1. Dur- ing the past week much pro and con discussion arose oyer the code, with ticket men wondering how they will be able to get by i£ the maxi- mum premium ot 75c. on tickets is jtricUy followed. EqiUiy will incorporate Its own ' rigid rules on ticket sales Into the actors' contracts, with an appended stipulation that they do not apply to members of the League. Recently formed Associated Theatre ; Ticket Agencies advised the managers ;tllat. it had outlined a set of rules which it thought would be a satisfactory solution to ticket evils. Agency men were told their proposal had come too late. It was the' intention to call in ticket broker^ before the final draft of the . code was written but Bince, in the paist, similar sessions ' produced 'negligible results, it was decided to go ahead; Several showmen spoke frankly in opposition to the code. League- cUims, however, that only five mem- bers were critical of the control' sys- ~tem, which was drawn up in.: thie ^^BPln hr Brock P emberton.' Whef-er ground that Equity . added toi the plan, is not known. League con- tacted all managers who arie ' not members, explaining it would be to their advantage to join in the light of Equity's own ticket rules. Not one applied' for membership, how- ever. Manafcr Opposlsh Several well known managers are not members of the League, includ- ing John , Golden and. Jed Harris. Lattejr referred to agency practices as scandalous jobbery, yet. when he opened 'Our Town' last; season he's reported to have sought heavy ice^ which was refused by the agencies. Golden said he's in sympathy with ticket control but thinks the Dram- atists Guild should join in its en- forcement. Guild, however, has. been wary of the American Theatre Council, from which it withdrew, :with the latter advocating ticket Control. Actual ATC sponsors are Frank Gillmore and Paul Turner, who were Equity's representatives in the organization. Sam H. Grisman, who operated five theatres on Broadway last sea- Bon, and who is a League member, said he does , hot think the code workable. In his opinion the code may cause higher prices on some tickets in order that brokers might survive. Manager also said the con- trol system might force agencies into Illegitimate methods. Vinton Freed- ley, independent producer, and Nor- man Pincus, who manages the Alvin theatre, also oppose the code. End ot Boys ftoponents of the control system .•gam point out that the end of buys and the retention of 25% of tickete for sale, at the box offices will be of benefit, regardless bf what the other .results may be. Not all the tickets kept for direct sale would get into the hands of diggers, with that per- centage surely not being allotted to brokers. Pfle of the clauses inserted in the code stipulates that the manager be required to report to the League, for fViity, if outside tho league, if he's interested In any ticket agency. That provision is believed to concern the ^nuberts, since Hurry Kaufman, of cu ^ supervisor of sonie ^nubert musical productions. The ■ anuberts, however, are not interested m the agency. To date the other stage unions "*ve not taken cognizance of ^U'ty's ticket control parlicipafion. Howard H. Spellman, member of wew 'Vork's city council, proposes w mtroduce an ordinance making overcharging on tickets a misde- "leanor. The manager, according to Marg. Webster Reailies Book Aboat Her Family Margaret Webster, whose dramati- zation, 'Royal Highness,' will be pro- duced in London in the fall, is ready- ing a book about her family. Prin- cipal characters will be hier mother and father. Dame May Whitty and Ben Webster, legit players. . Actress-director is due to return from England late this month to stage the Maurice Evans production of 'Hamlet.' She w:il not tour with the Alfred Lunt-Lynn Fohtanne re- vival of 'The Sea Gull,' in which she appeared on Broadway last spring. Guild May Bar Miller Showing Priestley s Hay Some doiibt whether Gilbert Mil- ler will actually produce J. B. Piriest- ley's 'I Have Been Here Before' in New York, although it has been an- nounced for the fall. Hitch, is Miller's continued refusal to sign the Dram- atists' Guild basic agreement Priest- ley is a member of the Guild and as such is barred from giving a non- signer production right^ for Broad- way, : Despite the announcement of the production, it's understood no con- tract has been signed by the piro- ducer and the playwright Efforts are being made to get around the impasse, but no word has yet been received from London, where both Miller and Priestley are at present. Dramatists' Guild has written to Priestley, warning him against sign- ing a contract with Miller for Broad- way. , A reply hasn't yet been re- ceived' by the Guild, 'Here Before' was a success in London last season, though it wasn't produced by Miller. There's no Guild ban on its mem- bers dealing with non-sigriers of the basic agreement for London.- produc- tions of. their plays, so Priestley could sign with Miller for produc- tion anywhere but in the U. S. Priestley's last New York play, 'Time and the Coinways,' was done by Crosby Gaige, a signer of the con- tract Miller was involved a few months ago, with a possible new play by Frederick Lonsdale,. Apparently, through a misunderstanding, Lons- dale had permitted Miller to do his 'Once Is Enough'- last spring on Broadway. The Guild declined to punish Lonsdale for that infraction, but immediately called his attention to the rules when a New York pro- duction by Miller of a new Lons- dale play was repoirted. B! LEAGUE DEAL Tieup with Managers on Ticket Control Gives Ac- tors' Assn. Right to Can- cel Pact at Will— Union Inserted Clauses in Code Not Generally Known to Affiliate Membership RIGID REGULATIONS Equity, through its ticket control deal with the managerial League of New York Theatres, has apparently been placed in the position of as- suming, the dictatorship of Broadway legit, partially or otherwise. Odd angle to the tieup Is that Ekiulty holds an ace in the hole and can can- cel the whole proposition at the will of its Council. Stated that the managers are to put forth their best efforts to make ticket control effective. Interpreta- tion- of 'best efforts' is seemingly left up to Equity. That the managers would have . the same privilege hasn't been indicated. Understood that Equity Wrote Blocs Tiff Over Proposed Changes In TMAT Constitutional Meeting; PA s Line Up Autonomy Support known to managers, except the League's board. 'That explains the presence ot regulations which had not appeared in the amended docu- ment In addition. Equity has framed the most rigid regulations for non^league members.and code violators. In gen- eral. Equity , feels 'satisfied and as- sured of the high and salutary pur-, poses of said code and believes that same will tend to improve condi- tions: in the theatrical industry and. more particularly increase employ- ment among its members and en- large the tenure of employment..-, that the present methods of distribu- tion, sale and resale of tickets is un- fair and inadequate and disastrously affects and jeopardizes the employ- ment of its members. . .and adverse- ly affects the welfare of the theatre- going, public' General Obligations Detailed statements have also been made on the obligations of managers who may not join the League on the code. Included are general rules, such, as the requirement that 25% of tickets be on sale at boxoffice, elim- ination of buys, agencies may not (Continued on page 51) A Cool Proposition Suggested by the I^cagiie of New York Theatres that Broad- way boxoffice staffs of theatres with cooling systems follow the lead of film houses, so that prospective patrons of legit shows will be quickly irifdrmed that the houses are so equipped. An example is the telephonist at the Loew's State, N. 'Y., who answers all calls during humid weather like this: 'Good afternoon. This is Loew's State air-conditioned theatre,' Gert Lawrenc€, 'Susan' to Open Road Campaign Ucket code that were not generallyT"'»-^^»^ ^ftw ^-btm. Gertrude Lawrence, trained from New York for San Francisco Mon- day (1). She win play the key stands drotind the country - until early spring.' Likely that she will appear in London in 'Susan' at that time. Star has dated her departtire because' she wishes- to be present whea her. daughter weds in Lon- don. Press stunt has tied up Miss Law- rence with New York's World's Fair and 'Frisco's Golden Gate Exposi- tion. She will bear flowers from Grover Whalen, of New 'York's fair, to the heads of the Golden Gate expo as a gesture of friendship and good luck. There appears to have been some feeling bet\yeeh the east arid Coast fair executives. 'Frisco's- Mayor Rossi has issued a' declaration making Friday (5)' Gertrude Lawrence day in that city. HABDIN6 IN 'CANDIDA' Lns Angeles, Aug. 2. Ann Harding and Homer Curran are talking a Coast production of George Bernard Shaw's 'Candida' this fall, with a Broadway showing if the piece clicks here. A Columnist Plays 10 Best' Contest of Morehouse, N. Y. Sun, Finds, Helen Hayes-* Victoria' Topper Beatrice Lillie to Return To N. Y. for New Musical Beatrice Lillie is due back in America in October for the new Harry . Kaufman (Shuberls) mu- sical, which Rodgers and H.-irt are authoring for the comedienne; .Charles Butterworth is also slated •to vis-a-vis her. Miss Lillie is currently in a Lon- don musical, doubling into the Cafe do Paris. the law, could stamp on tickeU the amount of premium to be charged. It tickets were so marked and it the agencies charged more the seller would be liable to puni.-jhmcnl, should the ordinance be adopted. In a symposium of the 10 top per- formances in legit. Ward Morehouse, drama columnist of the New, York Sun, analyzed the result? of 150 con- tributors. Few who sent in lists were aware that Morehouse's intent was to turn it into a contest It's under- stood the tabulation idea came to him after the lists, which appeared 'daily for about six . months, started to pile up. He c.nlls it a 'little ganie of recol- I lection.! and those requested to sub- ; mil a list were told to recall, the 10 ; bwt players and the shows in v/hich ; they qppcarsd, v-ithout resorting to i research. Result is that many stars iand the sOck plays which brought ' them to the limelight, are not within i Ihie select circle, although some are ■ mentioned • in the accompanying ' analysis. ! Helen Hayes, whose most recent : success was 'Victoria Regina,' heads i the list with 81 votes. . Katharine • Cornell, whose bell-ringer v/as "The Barretts of Wimpole Street,' follows as runner-up with 58. Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne arc third with 52 on the strcncth of 'Reunion in Vienna' and 'Idiot's Delight." " The late Jeanne Eagcls is fourth, principally because of her unforget- table 'Rain.' John. Barrymore drew 43 also, and then first of the old- timers started flgurinK: Maude Adams, 40, CPetcr Pan'); Miniiie Maddern Fi.'ske, 29 f"fess of the D'llr- bervillcs'); David Warfield, 24 ('The Music Master'), and Richard' Mans- field, 22- ('Beau Brummel'). John Gielgud not 26 votes for his soie American appearance in 'Hamlet.' Named a.s close to the leaders arc Nazimova, Ethel Bairymore, Ruth Gordon, Maurice Evans and Pauline Lord, while there were plenty 6f proponents for Georfe'e M. Cohan, Otis Skinner, (jertrudc Lawrence, Emily Stevens, Ina Claire and Lau- rclte Taylor. As a stunt it'seems to have been the best the drama col- umnists have shown in years. Oratorical fireworks were dis- played iit the annual meeting of the Theatrical Managers, Agents and Treasurers Union in New York yes- terday (Tues. ). 'Various groups bat- tled over proposed amendments to the constitution, . with the press agents especially on the firing line. Session . at CUrldge hotel. .wa» siupendcd becaaic of the heat but convene* today (Wed.) at the Ly- ceum theatre. oiUy hall the pro- , posed ehuiKcs were reached. . The New York p. a.'s had joined TMAT in a body with the under- standing that they would have autonomy. The group-joining idea, ultimately extended to the.coihpany managers and treasurers. Union leaders now believe, however, that thsre are groups within TMA"!" that arr inimical to the welfare of the organization. Trend appears to be for a more solidiflec' union. P.a.!s demand their own officers, and treasury, but indications iare they will be unable to record a two- thirds vote nee i -ary to put across their measures. New York bunch, with 61 members, have held outsid^ meetings to map; out their campaign ; and have succeeded in getting the s-ppor' of the Yiddisii downtown ever, there are 150 press agents but-'- side the so-cailel Broadway group, and ;he number of th- former, who will not vote with them, will de- cide the issue Would Exit Axiom Understood, too, that some of the leading N. Y. p. a.'s do not think the '.••'lare the wOrk' axiom is working to their advantage, and would like to take on several shows without being required to engage assistants. It seems correct that : a number of . thes New Yorkers are earning higher salaries at $150. weekl- pier show, • when working, as required by the rules, but the favored p.a.'s are' not getting the high money they received before entering the union because of the requirement an nt assistants. , Members generally have expressed criticism of actions by the present board and when the election comes in October, the chief fight will be over the directors. Membership wants to know what has become of the union's coin since it's stated that TMAT attorney Gustav Gerber has received $9,000 since the first of the year. . Understood that the union was advised by William Collins, . American Federation of Labor or^ ganizer in New York, that a lawyer should hot be in continuous attend- ance at meetings and should not 'be oh the board. Latter, however, elected . Gerber an honorary mem- ber regardless. Iz Agents Cat The pay of. the business agents has been cut to $35 weekly. Why the general membership should vote on such candidates/ Who are detailed to the. metropolis, is another issue. Lodewick Vroom, TMAT prez, re- ceived as high as $150 per week. - Said that he's now getting $'75 be- causc'of economy moves. His salary has been as low as $50. . There are 1,400 members, but the number not in good standing is un- certain, but probably exceeds ; 200. Those who are negligent in paying dues have been nicked ' an extra $2.50. New York press agent (jroup in the Theatrical Managers, Agents and Treasurers Union had notified all members to attend ycslerd/iys 'Tucs.) TMAT meeting so that they would learn how to protect their rights. A war chest h;is been rai.'-ed to aid p.a.'s w.Ikj li.-uc fli?f;iultf;(l in dues, so that Ihty could hurrnw and place llieinsclvcs in li'jod standing. A slocring cominittc-c was forme'l lUirine the di.'jcussion.-, over T.MAT (.■'iii.s!ilulif)h;il ch.ingCi. It con.sisted of Kli:-:o Chisholm, William Fields, .lolin Potor Toohcy, Bernard Simon and Oliver Siiylor. so VARIETY LEGItlMATE Wedaesdaj, August 3, 1938 Strawliat Renews ^uzanna iind the Elders Westport, Conn!, Aug. 1. , <"jmod.v In Ihrcd acta by Lawrence lAtiJf- ner and Arnilna Mmsholl. Directed, by Wiirihlnglon Miner, BettlnBS, Norrls HoHBbioii. At Couniiy ployliouse, \\'eflli>orl, <:onn., \UK. 1, 'SB, RIM Rndford >1i>ilier Patience Kent... fjlator ICniina Tliniouse., {ilsier Klavlllo Ford. >, . . Blsier Mory Lamb Broilier Lemuel. Bro'itier Tom Blaicr llannah Plunfett, aiHitr Oiymiila Herring... iilhier Abigail Adams Blsier Skiznnna Lccda,. ... Slsier Amanda' Chapln. ...Hugh Marlowe .Theresa Helburn ...Lois Hall .. :Gugcnla Rawla , ; , . . .Mnxine Stuart . . ... .Dan Duryea ...Winston O'Keefe Kathryri :Grlll .Helena Hand ^.i.Drlna Hill ...Uta Hagen Phyllis Langncr Vrntlier Sam WlUdconibe. . James E. CorbeU He.' Abnei Owen: . . . Briiilier Charles Owon. Fa. her John Kent. .. .. Hrv'tliei Longhorne- . . .. Brother Mclntonh. . . . .. Bn.lber SiaRord Bniilier nirdaeye. .. . .. . BniLlier Tupper. ...... , ■Hrnihcr Plunkeli. . , . . . Brother Caluuha Hyde. , Joseiili Sweeny , ,Udmond O'Brien . . .Onslow Stevens .Theodore Newton S. Thomas Gomez .Donald lilack . .Harry Irvine .Howard Freemoti , ... Hale Norcrosd . . Alexander Sturm one of the ALIEN EARTH Saratoga Springs, N. Y., July 30, Melodraina in three acts by Ma« Calto. Stugca by Harold Winston; settings by Jiyrjula. presented by. Spa players, in asso- ciutloii with Lee Shubort, at Spa- theatre, b'draivga Springs; Emmy Baudinc. , ■ Ileas Slanrorlh. . . kobert Slanforth. Mr. .Tallent. Larry 'i'nilent. . . . Julie Tnlleni .. yaul 'i'revU<.'hli:lt. . N. X. July 26, 'H3. ... Linda Watklns .. . .Phoobe Foster . . . Unindon Ketera . ..,;..Pcrcy Moore .George Maklnaon ,..r.Jcnn Bellows , . . . .Wlnaton Boss Theresa Helburn, founders arid directors ot the The atre Guild, returned to the stage for the first time in 20 years here to- night (Mon.) in 'Suzanna, and the Elders.' Play was authored by. Law- rence Langner, fellow Guild .director and country neighbor, and his wife, Armina Marshall. , Miss Helburn. has written a play ('Denbigh'), and di- rected many others for the Guild, but this was her Brst stage appearance since the days of th? Washington Square Players, from which was de- veloped the Guild. Her last appear- ance with the Players was in a one- act play wiritten by Xiahgner. Communistic settlement, ; which , flourished in many parts of the U. S. in the middle of the 19th century, has given the.Langners a novel set- •ting for their first folk comedy since The Pursuit of Happiness.' . In that success a Colonial experiment, 'bun- dling,' was attractively recalled. In 'Suzanna' the Westport historians ex- plore such socialist customs as group marriage and eugenics, as they were practiced here 100 years ago. Most of the 19th ceiitury experi-^ ments in Communism had tendencies to be failures, but a few developed Oneida; N. Y. community, where de-tS^J^rmflmTi^ scendants of the founders still make a silver product. . 'Suzttnna' is set in a similar colony^ where group ;marriage exists and the brothers and sisters, operate a suc- wssful trapmill. They follow the leadershifi of a minister, who has been able to withstand the growing indignation of the Victorians against their belief. A young convict Just out ot Jail, impelled by one look at the sister, arid the progress of science, at last shatters the 30-year peace of new harmony. One of the girls falls in love with the liaridsonie new-. comer, biit ref 'uses' to submit to com- munity marriage.' Wealth and greed then invade the colony. : The Larigners jmpairt a native color and charactemiatlon which, added to their evenly documented material, make-; 'Suzanna' an uncom^ monly interesting play. The progress eive ideas they flaunt and the cbntrO' versies such sects arouso, . gave them plenty to work on. Dialojg has snap ant: ii amilslng. Elaborate produc- tion here, with charming costumes taken fron old lithographs, attract attention. Miss .Htlburn plays the leading role with soirit Uta Hagen is steady, and at all times resource- ful as the monogamous heroine. Ed- mond O'Brien is a little heavy as the boy from Yale. Onslow Stevens okay as the leader and Howard Frec man outstanding in p comedy, role. Norris Houghton devised a prac tical, attractive setting, replica of the community hoxises of the times. Doul. This play, containing five murders, could be placed In the mystery drama category, Hdweyor, Max Catto has written a drama of psy- chopathic nature centering about an unus'ial type of heroine. • . Proceeding iri the. more leisurely style of a novislistj he unfolds the tale of & family oh a stock farm near Lincoln, England. The employ- merit of a new maid, Emmy Baudine, inaugurates a series of tragic events thiat carries through three acts and leaves the audience rather mystified at the end of the play. ^ Emmy, a naive little lady of 30, has the neurotic complex of seducing the opposite sex and then murdering them. The author is not clear in stating just how it is done, but the characters' frequent references to the horror of it would lead the audi- ence to believe thoit it was abnormal. Author has used the familiar mood of thunderstorms, man-hunting on the moors, a baying hourid, and mys- terious organ playing at night to set a suspense that holds the. audience to the'end. His -weakness is in not setting forth more clearly some scenes in the play, such as the . clos- ing one when Emmy meets her end. The play will not appeal as an eve- ning of amusement but will prob- ably cause considerable discussion, This, combined with the superb act- ing of Linda Watk ins, should give it a limited run on Broadway. There is nothing in it lor films. Miss Wat- kins takes full advantage of the range offered in the role and gives a performance, that will be long re- mernbered. She is called oii to por- tray simpleness, sex-allure, touches of insanity and plain outright mad- Tsesffr'5t.tUim-..4A(:.*iBiPfc ttr performance is Phoebe Foster. The runs two hours and a half, with a fireat deal of it excess baggage. It's the first full-length try for Miss Frank, who previously had a pne- acter produced at Vasjsar while she was a student there. :^ Plot tells of a widow who, In marrrying a. second time, acquires three children to add to her one. Her first husband was the carefree artist type, distinctly unlike the de- partment ' store owner second hus- band. The marriage is reasonably happy until a playwright comes to the home as guest of one of the step- daughters. He and the step-mother fall in love and elope. , Authors have built the leading feminine character, irito a nice per- sonality only to reverse themselves at the end. Vera Allen does a eapa- bie job with this role and has a par- ticularly pleasing scene with Claude Horton, as the playwright, when they discover their feeling for each other; .Other good performances are turned In by Mabel Paige, a med- dling grandmother; Ben Roberts, as the secbnd spouse, and Robert H. Harris in a society reporter bit; Boiie. Best Dressed WtHuan Stbckbrldge, Mass., July 27. Oomedy In three acta (four icenea), \>y Jock Munro, Slara Katharln* Alexander. Directed by 'William MIlea, aettln'ga by Charles Hnlden, coatumea- by 'Virginia. Volldnd. At Berkabire playhouse, Stock- bridge, Maas., July 25, 'Sit. Kat7. .,;.lierman WnlJman Chains I.ewls Martlii Mubbles, His Assistant.,,. .Norman Ledvltl Mlas Kertoot." ............ .Elulse Keeler Phyllaa. a Hotel Maid. Mory W'lckea Ml', Uresiiani, the Hotel Manager Onge Clarke' ALL FOOL'S NIGHT Somerset, Pa„ July 23. r.'omed]' In three Beta by Orenvllle \er. non. Directed by Waller Derdoyn, aettlnK^ by- Derdeyn ond Simon Gerson. At Polii't Shop theatre, Somerset, Pa., week oC Julv '!), '3S.- Simon Geniiin ....... Lynne Carroll ...C'arr A. Low ' " i.'.;- Tayicr .. Elizabeth Harrower ••• niift Brown ., . ■ nny Co!c((ra arry. Mlnturn :lora Mliilurn... .. Serge.. lalne Mortimer. . , . Jonn llerrick'. ...... .Sylvia LolglUon. . . . Carclton .Mortimer. Jackson N'ungosaer.., Myrtle, HIa WlCe.. Molba Ore'one, '. Kobln Wcatherby. . . Henry UutleJge Mrs. Omar UoUbs. . A Walter, ;....-...;. The Princess Delia. Anna : A Bell Boy,.....;.. Winnie Hatch...... The DuchcsSe De Gadabols Nancy Drake. . , . ... .Edmund George , . . ; . . , Heleii Brooka Katharine Alexander . .\Vllllam .Whliehead Judaon Laire ,.\nn - Mason . , , . . .Sbyro Crawley .Janet Fox ...Cdna Edison .Ira Frank .". .Lee .lV)pe' . . Klleii Hall ...Virginia Holden Moving Men: .Robert FItzalmmons, Ttlchnrd Conroy, Archie Leonard, Ollle Wllllama; ALMOST A HERO Peapack,'N; J„ July 23. Comedy In three acts (four scenes), by Wilbur Braun. Directed by Cllft 'Self. Pre- sented by the CJlff Self Players at Audi- torium theatre, Peapack, N. J., July 'M, 38.: Mra. 'Emma' Lambert. Enid Lambert.. ;. . . . . . Slim Wllllama.... Idora Evana. Harold Orr... Madeline Orr, Ivy Trask. . .> Hollo' Jones...; a Zella,. Fiery Thomaa Brent.. Caasldy male portion of the cast provide ari adequate background . for the perr formarices of the worrien, Russ. UNION TOREVER Comedy In three acta (Ave scenes), by Florence Gale. Features Ann Brody. Pre. aenled by Jayne Drennan and John O'Dea Uged by Al Regnll. At the Harbor, the- Irf, Governor's Island, N. T„ July'21, 'StI at 15c, lop. Mra; Fanny Radln. ........Ann Brody Mra. Lensky Dora Radln. Newale Radiii. . , . Papd Itadln Mr. Schnoren...,, Rose .Lensky. Ida Roth. . Sophie... Jake Kubln. .. . Hannah.. Vetta Jennie... ... . . . .. . Moxle.. ;... Abe....; Esther Art;.,... Kanimle Molshu. . . . .' Mory. O'iBrlen . .Mlml Rose ......... .Jayne Drennon 12dwar.4 Robert Kandel rharlea T. Tetley . . . . . Edward O'Hanlon .Florence Hay ....^.....Lucille Scliliha Helen Jenasen ..,....AI Regan . .Kay Parker: ....Marlon Richards Victoria Uakim ,I.arry Page Gene Plumatead ......Bemlce Silver . , ■ , John O'Dea Pete Page Durrnl Nnzlmova ...;.. Helen Meatelle . . .Camllle O Brlen . Eodle Woofl .', .Sinn Frlodland^i* ....... Eadle Wood — .Paul 'I.,ong . . . Maxine Rystrbm .Carol 'Hullngs . ... .D. W. Levering .Julia Cori'o William Wade .. .Olifirles . Bennett 'Almost a Hero' might better hav^ been labeled 'Almost a Play.' Story Is a garbled mixture of stock situa- tions with lots of loose ends dangling at the final .curtain, Big surprise comes when a man-hungry spinster at resort hotel' turns out to be an operative of U. S. Secret Service, Just what brought her to the hotel in the first place is never explained since events leading, up to her cap- ture of a notorious bandit aren't set in motion till long after she has reg' istered as a gitest. > Also there^ a telegram mentioned with an air of mystery early in the piny r on d > '".>aiwiws>'#,W n ' ^s^ t' ime the .'Show's ovci. heroine: still doesn't' know the real monicker of the man she's engaged, to. She. thinks he's a great athlete named 'Speed' Mack, but. actually he's one RoUb Jones,' a timid soul, who hates sports of any kind and 'wins the race on- which play hinges only through being stung by a bee. Plot as a whole fails to make much sense and carries rib convic- tion. Some idea of the humor may be gained from fact that: the hotel in which action takes place has been taeged 'Barge Irin.' Performances are amateurish for the most part It's particularly dis- concerting .the way Orie group of chairacters cornes on just as another i'0 COMKDl' I,EAD I.N II If MY MARYLAND Address LA M BS CLU B, New York For a tryout. 'Unloh Forever' just so much tinsel and foil, make' shift in its implausibilities and ' im' possible in its exaggerated situations, Play is a first by Florence Gale. However, ineffectual staging proves the major stumbling block. Ann Brody is featured as the good- natured Jewish mother who is be- wildered by the present generation. To her it isn't old-fashioned to run a marriage agency for the lonely hearts of her race. And she plays Cupid 'With a stylish stoutness that occasionally draws laughs. Dora, her :Commimistic daughter, believes in free love, until she learns she's going to bear Artie's baby; Newsie, her son, a vague sort of 'col- umnist,' is iri and out with his 'shiksa' 'wife, and papa, the boss of the fam- ily— after mama. : Jayne Drennari and John O'Dea do what they ' can with insignificant roles. GALLIVANTING LADY Bye Beach, N. H., July 29. Comedy in three a^la (tour scenes), .by Tom Prldeaux. Stars Katharine Squire. Directed, by Dorothy M. Crane: setting by John Sollers. Presented by Farragut ' Play- ers at Rye Beach. N. H., July 26, '3S. Gilbert Pratt Lauren Gilbert Eunice Ournscy Berllla Kerr Kathy Whipple Katherlne Sanire Matthew Adoma^ Walter Coy Mr. Fell Roland Hogue Dorla Ann Dovla Barbara Wooddell Smiley Rllcy.; Dnnald Toners Vollceman. George Bolton KNIGHTS Of SONG ' St. Louis, Aug. 1. Mualcal in two acta (14 acenea) by Glen, don Allvlne; baaed on :C5llbert 4 Sullivan presented by Richard Berger. Staged by Zeke Colvan. Settlnga, Raymond Sovey; orcheatro directed by George HIrat; choreog raphy, Theodore Adolphua onfl Al Wlille; Jr. ; coatumea, Brooka Costume Co., from deslgna by BUM Livingston. At Forest Park, St. Xoiils, Aug: 1, '38. Wllllnm Schwenck Gilbert.... Nigel Bruce Arthur Seymour SulllvBn...\Vllllam Wllllama Richard DOyly Carle;. ....Reginald. Buck Mrs. Gilbert. .Muriel Starr Mold Jeanne Oiietavison Mra. Mary Ronalda...... .... ..Natalie Hall Edward ' VII..... Reginald Sheffield Lady Atklna.. ...Marcella. Uhl MIsa Sarah Burna|de.....I.auramafr Pippin Mlas Vera Tracy. . . Jacqueline Jonea MIna Mary Lou SImmona. ....Sidney Buach Her Majesty, Queen 'Victoria., Molly Pearson Archbishop of Canterbury. .Henry Mowbray Price Wllhelm '. .Gillette Malcouronne McManua. John' Adolr Annie. ....Carrie Glen Lord Anacl , Max Showaller George Bernard Shkw., Don Starr Oscar 'Wilde Robert Chlaholm James McNeill Whistler, ,,, .Richard Odiln Ponaonby .Freilerick Persson Union Delegate... ....William Forun DEAR FAMILY stony Creek, Conn., July 25. Comedy In three acta . (four acenea), b'y F.l\\e\ Frank and Andrew Roaeiithal. Staged, by Reginald Laurence, settings by Francis Y. Goonnes, Presented at , Stony Creek tlieoirei Stony Creek, Conn., July . 23. "38. Tony Banks ..Whltner Blssell Berllia.'.; 1 .l^Irnestlne De- Becker Junior SliernWn.'. Otto Shcrnion .\lfrcd Sherman....... Linda Shernion. . . . . . Mrs. Joi^loh Sherman Dickie Mnrg.ih. . . . , Sleven Keiil. Anne 'Sherinun Time.....,, Gadabout. , . .'Kent Adams James O'RCar Ben Roberts . . . . . ,i .. . .Vera Allen Mabel Palce John Lolrd' ....... Claude .Horton ......... Kerry Stunrt ...Jean Kcmptr Robert H. Harris Getting off to a first act that was slower' than the Toonerville Trolley, Stony Creek's second con^ secutive tryout has trouble : in trying to overcome this: difficulty. Result is that the one or two wellrwritten scenes that follow are almost lost iri a deluge of tepid ;wordage. Play One of the best bets tried out so far this year on the New England silo circuit and by far the most likely prospect in three years at this play house. One of those refreshing, fast' moving,' sophisticated comedies that should appeal not only to Broadway, but also to the . visiting hinterlanders seeking nr.ughty-but-nice entertain- rrient to describe when they return to the native soil. Fact that it could be produced on a small niit would help. Piece- deals with the romaritic mix- ups of two couples. One pair- con sists of a phony, four-flushing author and the flutter-brain mistress who keeps him. An inhibited school teacher nas a yen for him and young efficiency expert has a pash for the mistress. The couples almost become reshuffled, but at the end the efflciency lad teams up with the schoolmarm, ' while . the ' deadbeat author and his mistress resume their affair. Minor comedy characters iare a hobo with a British accent, a dog- cart proprietor; and a -college gal for whom the author, makes a moment ary play. The four- principals are well cast and handle theif parts with relish. Katherine Squire delineates the character of the plain scihool teacher with plausible' finesse. She has delicate quality and. subtle charm that should bring her meaty Broad- way roles. Lauren Gilbert, Berilla Kerr and Walter Coy are competent as the author, niistress and hero, rc spectively. Roland Hogue as the hobo gorulnet and Donald Towers as a blustering diner chef are also credible, John Sollers' set is excep- tional. Fox. Strictly a weakeroo without a chance of. going anywhere. 'All Fool's Night' is by Granville Vernon - dramatic editor of . 'Commonweal.' and has the earmarks of a one-acter stretehed over the distance withbUt the necessary substance. In the vein of high, sophisticated comedy, it has neither sparkle nbr originality,, being merely a static, terribly talky couple of hours with some'dull, uninteresting people. Idea has been done to death in the past and there's nothing .here to justify the revival. 'All Fool's Night' concerns an im- petuous young gal who fancies her- self in Ibve with a fellow 18 years her : senior. She insists, however, upon an affair first to . determine wnether they're companionate' and takes the shy, timid fellow to a road- house where he and his divorced wife used to spend so many bappy week-ends; When they Arid the first Mrs, Mortimer there, her exrhiisband wants to scram immediately, but .ttie gal's against it, gets drunk on cham- pagne and falls in love, with the suave waiter, a good-looking Riis'sisn emigre. That reunites the divorced couplei which, it seems, was what they wanted all -lalbni?. ■ Ending is abrupt, but even one mbre pointed would hardly have : helped 'All Fool's Night.' It's pretty amateurish arid save for; a laugh or two has nothing in its favor. Acting is moderately gobd, with Carl A. Low a standout in role of the ro- niantic Russian. Ray Colcord turns in a nice performance as the harried husbsind, . althoiieh part is written badly and Rita Brown is an attrac- tive. '■promising in.i»ienue. Cohen. TOMORROW'S PREAM East Jaffrey, N. H„ July 21, Drama In three acts (live soenesl, by Fllsle SIrota. Prenented by The :Aclor- Aasoclalea, at Wnndbnund. theatre. Butt .raffrcy.^ N. H., July 21, ,'33. Directed ''y -.itatia- BJcrruttTv. .tt CInre Abbot. . . . . . . . Larry ■ Forrester. . . . Paul Oranet Frederick Spafford. Jean Manlo'n .\nnle Mail i - . --Betty -Plercw- ...... Ann Newdlck Russell Curry ....Robert Dumont' .....Walter Kidder . . . .Lornilue Miller . ..Miriam Cameron ...WUIIam Hughe* First professional tryout of Knights of Song,' a biographical mu- sical drama about Gilbert and Sulli- van, and the Victorian era,, proved a so(ik, with 26 of the riiost famous of the team's compositions revived. The musieal runs through a period of 20 years, showing the favoritism shown to Sullivan by Queen Victoria and her neglect of Gilbert, a wise- cracking American. There is, too, Mrs. Ronalds, a wealthy American, who helped them in their rise, with her influence at court The musical Winds up , flnding the pair parted after a quarrel, with Gilbert finally gaining Knighthood, 24 years after his partner bad been rewarded sim- ilarly. The piece, skedded fbr New York next month by Laurence :Schwab and Oscar . Hamme'rstein 2d, was first presented by a Pasadena, Cal,, amateur company last March. The story was, written by Glendon AUvine, story editor and producer in California film studios, who came here to co-operate in staging the play, along with Richard Berger, Schwab and Hammerstein.. Notables iri the cast; who clicked, , and who probably will appear in the Broad- way presentation, are Nigel Bruce, character actor, as Gilbert;: William Williams' as Sullivan; Natalie Hall prima donna, as Mrs. Pierre Lo*il- lard Ronalds; Reginald . Bach, as D'Oyly Carte, the Ziegfeld of the age, . appearing under special permis- sion from Equity. - There are. 12 . newcomers ih the huge cast, the most important being Muriel Starr, Molly Pearson. Robert .'Chisholm and Richard Odlin, all of whom scored. Troupe had only 10 nights of .prep aration. Casting and directing ex- cellent, though' a few rough spots 'wiU be ironed out before TKnights' hits New York,' The turntable stage expedited'handling of the 14 scenes, several of which are outstanding. Sahti . Drawing-room triangle piece is the first dramatic work of Miss Sirota to get a public tryout. Writing is good, revealing a mellow maturity of mind and a keen perception of the subject matter, and the production here is marked by good direction and satis- factory acting, but 'Dream' - is not ready for Brbadwayi- It needs more Eiction, despite a major characters twb attempts at suicide (brie success- ful). V , . Piece deals 'with a pair of artists who. live together but ultimately part' when: it be(:omes evident they will probably not be married. Girl then riiarries a former suitor, but she isn't In love with him and Ibei riiar- riage cracks up when ! the lover returns. Husband tries to end his life, but fails and is nursed by the repentant wife. Wh«;n he realizes the impossibility of the marriage^ permanence, he finally kills himself. Although her lover returns after the funeral, the girl is gloating over her freedom and sends him away. Of the three principals, Russell Curry gets top rating for his suave characterization of the perennial bachelor. Betty Pierce is best in the normal moods,, over-strained in the nwst strenuous emotional scenes, ' Robert Dumont hits the groove vhen he rages as the jealous husband, Miriam Cameron gets the" most out of her part of maid. Balance of the company carry out their assignments commendably. Fritz Eiserimann's direction is ex- cellent and the same goes for ttw main studio set, which makes a small stage seem spacious. Though troup- ing obscurely ih the New Hariipshire woods, the Actor-Associates Tata comparatively high in the -Nevf England strawhat circiiit. Fox. PRINCESS, LTD. Oconoinowoc, Wis., July 24. Farce-comedy In three acta, by Evoreit Glass. Directed by C. Henry Nathan. Pre- sented by the Coach Hoiiae: pinyera at the Coach Uouae. theatre, Oconomowoc. Wla., July 19. '88. Caat: Carl Greyaon, Marguerite SioKea, Seymour Howard, Helena Boy. Charloll*. Harris. Florence Nowcomb, Kay Kennedy. Samuel Zimmerman, Marguerite Huatlng. Joniea Dexter, Emily Goeliat, David «. Yeddeau. Robeit Gumih, Jane Bradley. Narl Dravjen. Play deals with twb college grads who And themselves broke in the big city, so they decide, to crash so- ciety as a Russian prince and h'* valet. After the customary comedy complications and explanations the.v manage to clean up $25,000 on bor- rowed capital and. emerge as a hus- band and his valet, . J Bedause of the small nut required, the play has. some commercial POW' bilities. Script has comparatively (Continued bn page 51). ^edne^ajf Anguet S, 1938 LEGITIMATE GROSSES VARIETY SI Jaee Wyatt, 1931 Unknown, Returns Berkshire Star; Other Strawhats iStockbridge, Mass., Aug. 2, jwie Wyatt, who came to the Berk- iWr* Playhouse as ah unknown In- iSiue In 1931, returns to star this «Mk in 'Stage Door.' Two. members of the original New York producUon, Jiary Wickes and: Janet Fox, are In *"ja»e'R'ch, daughter of Irene Rich, b also in the ca st Cohasset, Mass;, Aug, 2. •It Can't Happen Here,' in revised form, with Sinclair Lewis, the au- thor, niakinig his stage debut as its star, wiU be repeated by the South Shore Players next week. It Opened for a week July 25.. ■Happen' sold out for every per- formance - last week before doors opened for the preem, and only previous 'commitmehts with Blanche. Yurka, who's starring in 'Yes, My Darling Daughter' this week, pre- vented a holdover, St Louis, Aug. 2, Ben Johnson's comedy, 'Volpone,' begins a run tomorrow (Wed. ) at the Civic Theatre's local strawhat The piece wiU.be presented on four con- Eecutive nights. Leading rpies will ie plaVed by. Gordon Sommers,, Jack Weaver, Mary Alice Hart Margaret Mooney, William Miller. ; Ed>yard Oresman, Leo Ledered, Robert Karnes and Al Chotin. : 'Volpone' is the third 'play of the .Civic Theatre's initial season; Methods' of squelching noises made by frogs, crickets and katydids dur- ing performances of the group is one of' the immediate problems confront- ing pordoh Carter, president of the organization. Last week, during a performance of 'Russet Mantle,' the woodland inhabitants, silent while ;,th? eiertric, lights. yi«e aglp\K,,lo.ined ■i^^ ttXSF'Mr-" chorus when;ibs.:iii-' candescents aVbund the theatre were doused. Carter is mulling utiliiing members 6f the theatre company, not engaged in ai current production, to prowl the woods in ar effort to liqui- date the disturbers. Ellssa Landl, Douglass Montgomery and Eddie Nugent Plans. ar« in progress for the Lake Nabnassett Players, of Massachusetts, to take over. CHATTEB ■Evelyn Evers, Ingisnue in 'Wind and the Rain,', which opened at the Millbrook theatre; Millbrook, N; Y., Monday (25), la in from London, where she appeared for two years in 'Sweet Aloes.' Sheila Barrett will be one of the leads in the tryout of James Cain's '7-11' week of Aug, 22 at the Cape Playhouse,. Dennis, Mass, It will be her debut in straight dramatics. . ^ EfBe Alton has bowed out of the Cape Players, Cape May, N. Ji Is set for a date at the 'Milford, Conn., stravirhat and possibly- anoUier at Great Neck, L. L 'Snow Train,' new play by Edward Childs Carpenter, will be tried out by Walter Harlwig; at Ogunquit, Me., the week, of Aug. 29. Myron C. Fagan Is revising .his 'Hollywood Be Thy Namie' and may. bankroll its production on Broadway in the' fall, ,Play was tested several weeks ago at the Cape theatre, Cape May, N. J, . Bob Foulk,-of the George Abbott production staff, directed 'Springtime for Henry^ at Southampton, L; T., this week, MGRS'. LEAGUE CliANGESiATC Strawhat Radio t« Legit Schenectady, N, Y, Marc Williams, cowboy wa'rbler oh WGY, is playing Colonel Blow in this, week's production by .the Mo- hawk Drama Festival of 'A texas Steer,' Williams, in stock before. he • turned to radio, also sings in the comedy set in his native stj^te. Charles D, Coburn, genierai direc- tor of the Festival, and James Kirk- wood are starred in -Steer.' Others featured are Mary Hutchinson, Fred- erica Going;, John Giriggs, Leslie Barrie and. George Taylor. Lawrence Robinson has taken Over the. Harry M. Cooke ' company and. has changed the organization's name to the League Players. Troupe Is located in Flushing, N, Y, Cooke and Charles Jordan remain as asso- ciate directors, with the former also retaining the duties of business man- ager. Company plans to continue as a permanent year-round organization and intends offering two new pro- ductions on Broadway this ' season, will select the. plays fr6m four pieces they Will try out during the late summer and early fall. It's an Equity outfit and consists of about 30 play- «M, including Jordan. George Oliver Taylor, Duncan Baldwin, Dorothy Mallory, Earl Magill, Ann Boley, ^^"la Taylor and Cole McMartin. Offering 'Charley's Aunt' this week and 'Fly Away Home' next week. «-ojnpany is seeking other Equity players. Jessie Royce Landis will play the lead m 'The Millionaires,' by George Bernard Shaw, which will have its American premiere Aug. 15 in West- Port Conn; Will play a second •WMk .at Mt Kisco. . Ina Claire had mentioned for the lead. Harry Wagsteff Gribble will di- rect. Worthington Miner .had been mentioned for that post. . y''"i'ss»ori to . produce the play m heen delayed because of the Playwright's illness. Shaw, since re- covered, recently granted the okay. . Providence. Aug. 2. J The Cumberland Hills Plavers, {"■^•'.IV^re thrown for a $10,000 loss J9r- the- season and and . forced to Rr« , sponge Friday (29): uroup s gross , for last week, with Ma?', only $137. Season opened f and subsequently presented League of New York Theatres will hold a membership meeting next week' when important proposals are listed for consideration. Ih particu- lar, more latitude to the officers and board will be discussed. Under pres- ent procedure, it is necessary that the League obtain the written assent of all mtaager-members before en-' tering into collective iagreerhents. Plan is to make the organization more compact so that It could op- erate without being hamt>ered with objections from a minority. : League agreed to endorse a. two- day convention, of the American Theatre Council, which will be held Septi 13-14, at the Astor. Earlier this summer the huddle was hot con- sidered likely but with the signing of the ticket code, interest In AT'C appears to have been somewhat re- vived, TINS' CUSHIONED ON $7,000, 30 WK.. L A. Los Angeles, Aug. 2. 'Pins and Needles' winds up three and a half profitable weeks at the Biltmore this week (8) and makes way for Coast production of 'On Bor- rowed Time,' moving in Aug. 8. 'Pins' was originally booked for ■week of one and two-nighters through southern California, but cancelled to enable it to remain here for the cur- rent week. Estimate for Lost Week 'Pins and Needles,' Biltmore (R-1,- 656; $2.20) (3d week). Playing eight performances weekly. Did $7,000, ■plenty' okay. WPA 'Milky IVay.' Mason. Comedy de- buts today (2) for customary two weeks; . . 'Rnn, Little Chilian,' Mayan, All- Negro cast sticks until Aug. 14. 'Judgment Day,' Hollywood Play- house. Another, folding set for Aug. 14. 'Prologue to Glory,' Greek theatre. Gets under way tomorrow (3) after Hollywood run. Heat Cools 'Service* In Syracuse, $4,000 . Syrac'j.se, Aug. 2. Following a sweltering week with 'Room Service.' during which box- offlce dwindled to $4,000, the Strand opened last night with the road 'Brother Rat.' Although 'Service' w.ip gi.vCn raves by local critics, it couldn't compete with the tcmpeialure. Arthuir Byron, Jessamine New- combe, Grant -Mills, George Ma- cready, Doris Dalton, Dorothy Ber- nard. A, H. Van Buren, Owen Davis. Jr., Kathryn Givney. Kennan Wynn, John Hammond Dailey, Ben Lack- land, John Drew .Devereaiix,' 'Stop Over,' Lakewood theatre,- Skbwhe- gan. Me. Walter Hampden, Muriel Hutchin- son, Trilby,' Mohawk Drama Fes- tival, Schenectady, N.. Y. Paul Huber, Josephine Evans, Earlie Mitchell, Art Bamett Louis LaMont Dick Stark, Roy Johnson, "The Barker,' Barter theatre, Abing- don, Vai. Cecilia Loftus, Edith Barrett Alan Hewitt Ethel Morrison, Matthew Smith, Esther Mitchell. Jeanne Cas- selle. Edgar Kent, Emmett Rogers, Perry Wilson. Franklin Gray, Hay- den Rorke, Jus Addiss, Tonight ait 8:30.' Newport Casino theatre, New- port R. I. ■ Jean Guild, Miriam Battista. Lau- ren Gilbert George Bolton, Walter Coy, Berilla Kerr, Cecily Breese, 'Yes, My Darling Daughter,' Far- ragut Playhouse, Rye Beach, N. H. Helen Vinson, Dennis Hoey; Oscar Stirling, Carol Dickens, Sam Evans, Ellen Mahar, Legrand Griswold, WiW Ham Leslie,. 'Accent on Youth,' Chapel theatre, Great Neck, N. Y, Alexander Campbell, Ross Hertz, Fraink Lovejoy, Rosalind Madson, Edgar Mason, Fraye Gilbert Elsie MacKie, James Phelan, Earl Mac- Murray, Walter Vaughn, 'The Bishop Misbehaves,' Hampton Playhouse, Bridgehampton, N. Y. Douglass Montgomery, Mary Mi- chael, Margaret Mullins, Farrell Pelley, Clement O'Loghlan, Ralph Cullinan, June Blossom, John Kear- ney. John Maroney, 'The Playboy of the Western World,' Red Barn the- atre, Locuist Valley, N. Y. _ Robert H. Harris, Whitner BIsseU, Julie Bcnell, Ann Garrett, Thelma Schnee, William Mowry, David Alexander, 'Payment Deferred,' Stoney Creek theatre. Stony Greek, Conn. Ann Revere, Robert Allen, Lester Damon, Wesley Addy, Helen Wynn, Katharine Emery, Barbara Dale, 'Hedda Gabler,' Surry theatre, Surry, Me. Frank Lyon, Nancy Duncan, Rob- ert Perry, Grace Carney, Lynn Whit- ney, ,Del Hager, Raymond Green- leaf,-*?;He-Wottc--,->'»ighl Must-PaJl^- Lake Whalom thcatrer -ifitcJ.hi'rgi Ma.eutt llliinctmrd. . Wlllliirn .«atlSiis ■ week; takings pointed toward $5,000, 'I Married an Angel,' Shubert (13th week) (M-1,387; $4.40), Figured to run to the first of the year or longer;: away out in front with $28,000 grosses weekly and sometimes more, 'On Borrowed Time,' Longacre (27th week) (D-1.019; $3.30). Claimed to be climbing again; winter hit had been -.slipping more than expected, . but is nssi figured to continue well into new season; quoted over $8,000. •Our Town,^ Morosco (27th week) (D-961; $3.30). Another winter ar- rival that looks good into the 'liew season; - somewhat affected by heat wave, but very good; $9,000. ' 'Tobacco Road,' Forrest' (243d week) (C-1.107; $1.65); Likely to go well into new season also; business light, ' but long runner gets by; around $4,000. 'What a Life,' Biltmore (17th week) (C-991; $3.30). Laugh show looks . certain of sticking, too; first road show due to start soon; , rated around $7,000 last week. 'Siiadaw aiid ' Snbstance,' Golden; layine ofif two weeks: resumes Mon- day (8), and is due for road ih fall; has played 26 weeks to date. 'Yod Can't Take It With Ton,' Booth (8Cth week) (C-708; $2.75). Long-staying laugh show will extend into next month and then probably toiir; around $6,500. Added 'Plhs and Needles,' Labor Stage (35th week) (R-SOO; $2.75), Union- ists' revue still another survivor slated to extend into next season; bu.sine.ss okay in small theatre; $5,500. estimated,' WPA - 'One-Third of a Nation,' Adelphl (29th week). 'Prelague t« Glery,' Elliott (21st week). 'Haiti,' Lafayette, Daly's (23rd week ). CLEVE., L'VILLE FOLD OPEREHA REVIVALS The Fortune Gallo-J. J. Shubert open-air revivals at Louisville and Cleveland closed last Saturday (30) after playing four weeks at each stand. Deals called for that period, Louisville date profitable, but Cleve-^ land played in the red. Louisville performances were sponsored by the C^oiiricr and Times, I dailies published by Barry Bincham. ' son of Robert .W.. Bint'ham, formerly j U. S, envoy to Grc.it Britain. Fi .-il wtok'.s liro.ss in Loul.sville wn.v r.'iicd .nbout S13,000 for 'Rio Uit;i.' Krrc.'.pilulalion of the. season .t-h'i'.^'-fl a fin.'il prijfit of around .•■"•.;.''i.fli"i. C.-ill.) the Shubcrls wi ic I'.n'Ici ^I'lurJ to be operating un- ciei a v,cckly guarantee. 52 VARlETr UXERATI Wednesday, Aiigust 3, 1 9Si| Warde Suicide Pictures | Suicide of John Warde, who- Jumped Irbm the window of the), Gotham hotel in. Now York iast week, was tough on the photojs cov- erins the assignment Many were bh the job II hours without bsing able to take their:' lenses off the subject and unable (p! get awiay even for food. Associoted Press sent 23 pictures ovsr its Wirephoto service, incliidin';' an ou'.standins' shot' by Harold Tjar- rio. an AP Icnser. His shot, which caushl during his fall, was the' re- sult of careful jplannini:,' Aftei- consuUing with the police, Harris figured it;' y'buld take live seconds for Warde to fall. He esr timated Uie maxinnint- heisht ■ to which his flash, wpiild . reach, fiom across the street and then planned to catch, the- fair at the sixth floor. Discuss3d his idea, w.ith Torly Cam- erano, another AP; photographer on the job. Plan worked so well thiat as Warde fell, Harris caught, him clea: - \y in mid-air. Cnmerano started la'-- !ng his pictures as the body landed iii the street. Other photographer.? on the job were Lou Joln-den, of the AP; Jack Dwoner; W41tei Durkin, who cov- ered the crowd, and Kip Ross, who sat'On top of a taxicab iii the street, with a long :ange lens trained on Warde. ; Charles Haacker, of Acme, caughl Warde's fall just aftisr . he bounced off the, hotel marquee.- Altogethei- some 50 photbgs covered the assign- ment, many getting e.tcellent photo- graphic rcsults'undei' .trying circum- stance.':. Among, bthers who coyered- were Joe Co.sta and Waiter Ilarris, of the Daily Nev.'s. and Sam Schul- nian, of International. Boston Transcript l>ral Boston Transcript .has- solved its financial difficulties, following a series of . confabs with ereditor.f. Asreement calls for payment of full salaries every week, but each em- ployee, will receive two checks, one for 90 '.i of the salar ' for 10'?i. Both are nego^'ao'e, uuv | any employee who wishes to help "the paper in its present- difficulties-^ may give the cheik' for the 10% to a member of the accounting depart- ment; who will hold it- unendorsed. Checks will not be given to the company ■ but held by the account- ing bmployee as'an individual. Thus the cheeks will Jconsriliile a first- lien on ths; property in tlie- event of t(ls- solution. ' - Company "bohcfils a.';, .though it had received- an outi'ighi loan witl)but interest. | AUhpugli there, will be ho fli-ing.'. several e.\ecutives have resigned, notably Jbiui Cibbon.s managin, editor, and Chester Morri.son, actih, city editor. ~Hcnry Claus now heads the editorial departments and Hamil- ton Thornquist returns as acting city editor. Powell M. Cal;of retains: his titles of, president, -manager and bufiness manager. ^ In resisning,' Gibbons stated he left the organization rather than al- low the disinissal of blder employees. vrlpps Sell's Buffalo, Tiroes . j cerebral hernorrhage. He was once Buirald. Time.-!, Sorlpps-Koward- .'!P9rts editor of th« Chicago Ameri- ov/.ned smce -1929, has . been over by George H. Lyon,- editor, and Earl J. Gains, biLsine.-is manager. taken ' (^an and 'was the Arst to disclose the ... . . .. ... jg^l; Founded by. Norman E, Mack and sold tt) Sci'ipps at a price , reported •y and . anplhcr j.ai'ouhd $3,000,000, the papei* reached negotiable, but I its peak in the Itl^O's as a Demo- cratic mouthpiece with sensaiiorial. nevvs angles. In opening, announcement; Lyon and'Gains sai : ,;lf you are a stuffed ■.shirt, yoit probably 'won't find the Times an arniiiiing or syrbpathetic newspaper. We. may not always pleilse, but we will never bore you. And if we ever get too highfalutin'- you will ithbw what to; do about' it.'- Aho.thei- Scripps-Howard sheet, tlis jVews-Bce in Toledo, p., yester day iTuesd.-iy) announced that it would cease publication ieHective that .day .(2). Chicago baseball scandal in His paper will, be continued: Warreii C, Fairbanks, - 60, pub- lisher iof the Indi^napolis Ne;ws, died July 27 in 'Indianapolis. He was the son of Charles ' Warren Fairbanks, year ago on speculation, and the case is typical of many to be found in other plants. Song struck; Mot-, ros as a positive hit, so he called iii seven Par producers to lend ear With, the result that the aiiditioa board's enthusiasm ran even higher than that of Morros. . Piece was pur- chased.oh ji deal under which it re- Vicc-President of the United Slates vei;ted to Garmichael unless screened -..-. -..^.i or printed within a. year. - To date, however, even the seven producers have been unable to And a spot for it in a picture, so Par is now ; moving forward With publish- ing arrangements iii order to sa^-e its investment;' Bovard Quils .PoslTDiSpaiv Oliver Kirby Boyard has res.'gned! as -managing editor of the St. Louis Ppst-Dispateh, powerful. Pulitzer p.m. rag.: Bovard, 65 years old; said an unrccohcrijible differehre of opin- ion on policy, with Joseph Pulitzer, Jr.i owner. loy es; is believed the first time that a representative of the Book '& Magazine Guild, CIO iinion for the book publishing .' ipiz, has- sat ^ in on such- procedure. :€oSrt»V--SW«dfc*i»-ft;>.c'lii^i»«t. French Protest. Ghostlnr . Organized French jpurnalisin, has riaised" Its'. Voice in. protest 'against the practice of newspapers pub-- lishing stories signed by and siip- pbsedly written; by theatre, cinema and ■sports stars. The Bureau, 'of the. Nationial Syndicat of Journal- ists, meeting in Paris, gave the ques- tion ;free plaiy with a great deal of discussion during its last meeting. Althoueih no measures .were voted to combat the action, such measures asi riefusing . to write such articles unless . .they, bore the narhe of the writer...as .well as thje star or cham- pion .who furnished the facts, were among those discussed. .Ghost writing is a common prac- tice in the United States. Tesreaas Sac College 'Humor. , Collegian Press, Inc., publishers of College Humor, and Joe Williams, sports editor of the N. Y. Wov|d- Tele.^ram, were sued Saturday (30> In N. Y. Federal Court by "Jeff Tas- reau, former pitcher for tlie N.' Y. Giants, and his son, Charles Francis Tcsreau, for $150,000 damages for libel. Suit is based on an article written by Williams and published in the mag last October. Tesreau, now piiysical education Instructor at Dartmouth Cbliese. complains, that the article sbhdered both him and his so|i by rehections on their sobriefy. Akron Times-Presa Sifhs American Newspaper Guild has signed a new contract with the Akron Times-Press, Scrippsrlioward unit, covering editorial -.nd adver- tising, workers. Scale for men-with three years' experience is $42.50. Gains credited by the Guild unit include the extension of the .contract to the {id salesmen and the liihltailori, of editprial apprentices— those with; le.ss than three years' experience- to i0% of the experienced staff; Scribner's : Moiilhly Novel Scrlbher'.-j wJll. nin a .short novel every month, beginning in the Sep- tember issue, due put Aug, 2S. Ac- cording to the editors bf the riiag which is np-w published by Harlan Loflan As'snbiates, Inc., the~ object is *to give writers the. space and free- dom needed ilor honest and realistic examination of life in coiitcmpoL'ary America.' First hovel will be .lenms' Weid- man's 'Wlial's In It For MS';.'. Boys Will Be Boys , Black e.ve.; adorning Dan'lon Walk- er. N.Y. Daily Ncv;s columnist, was dish'efd but by Qucntin Reynolds last weeki Pasling occurred outride Billy LaH.iff 's tavern, N.Y., after Reynolds remonstrated with the col- umnist about an item the latter had printed.' When Walker cracked -tlia I apparently Reynolds 'can!t take pub- licity.', the latteV wliammed himi Walker subsequently - bragged that 'how I'm pfTicially a columnist.' Rey- nolds nrially apologized after beih,? urged by Walter Winchcll and Sherman Billingslcy to do so! Terper Into Author Dorothy Yoiing, hiece of Owen D. Young, ha.s withdrawn from the ballroom team of Miamie aivij Young, Her flrst ; novel, 'Diary Without Daleis,' has' been acceplbd l>y Rudolph .Field, who recently pub- lished a book hiy Eli.ssa .Land'i. Publication .bf.the hovel U 4us in i .the fall- Suit ys. Seldcs, Ken Mat George Seldes, Ken ■ mag.^ Kert, Inc., and , Insiders' , World. . were named defendants Monday .(1 ) In a $200,000 plagiarism suit brought by Angelica Balabanofl, author and- so- cialist. : Siiit is a. result of. a chap- ter in Seldes' story,: 'Sawdust Caesar',' which Miss:BalabahofI avers Is taken from her' writings and distorted in such a way, she complains, it made her look ridiculous in .the eyes' of her writing public and friends. She claims that 'the only dealings She eVei- had with Seldes was to fur- nish him with material on. socialism, and otlier topics with which she was familiai-, but did not give the defendr ants the right to republish any of her Works. ' She. says the defendants sent her a check for $100 for having, used the chapter, but that ^he returned the check- to tbem. "Votes Acalnst Gnlld King Features Syndicate em- ployees, .have voted 209 to 253 against naming the American News- paper Giiild their bargaihing agency. Only 544 employees out of aii eligi- ble 635 balloted. Election was con- ducted by the New- Vprfc office of the National Labor Relations Board. Guild dispute with the Monmouth Publishing Co., Long Branch/ N. J., has' been settled. . In accordance with the agreement, the Board has or- dered the company to cease dis- couraging employees frpmi joining the Guild and, to . end other alleged 'unfair traide practices.' " -Company has already complied; with orders to. offer reinstatement' to Harry Carlin, discharged em- ployee, and to pay $1,000 to the Board's regional director In New York for distribution to Carlih, George H. Fannin, Jr., "and George McMillan , for wa.(;es .lost as a result of their discharge. under Theodore Roosevelt WllllaiD A. Baker, 68, for 30 years with. Frank Presbrey advertising agency in New York; died August 1 at his Rahway, N, J. hpitie. Since 1933. Baker had been retired. During his . term with Presbrey he served successively as space-buyer, secre- tary and director. Survived - by widow, ..two daughters and four slsterjs. ... CHAITTER Oswald Garrison "Villard writing his. autobiography. Jaines Farrell's new book,; 'No, Star is Lost,' due out next month. . Maurice Hihduk has bee.i in Prague, getting material for his new book., New picture magazine, Yo^th, is in the works. Aimed at the juve inarkct. . .. pt. Louis Star-'Iimes has renewed its six months' contract with the Americian Newspapi ■ Citiild. Viking" Press, is publishing Roy •Ciiandler's new novel, 'Little Ix)ne Star,' for- Christmas season.. ' Maxwell. Shane -and Milt Gross sold 'Artistic Integrity.' a 'iieries bf Hollywood Sketches, to Esquire. ' T; J. Malbney plaiis to . change his annual collection of pictiires titled U. S. Camera into a quarterly in the fall. . Hugh Ly tie has been appointed As- sociated • Pre.ss correspondent in Honolulu. Succeeds Glark Lee, who comes to, the N. Y. offices. Gene Fowler resting at Long Is-, land Jntil September, when' h^ cruises to the South Seas . to finish his new cow country novel, 'Powder. River.' ■'■■'.'■■ .Joseph y. Connolly, appbinted general : manager of- Hearst- news- paper enterprises last week, was of- fered that post a year ago and turned it.dpwn. , _^ ^ , . ^ Dust BTTHv IftStfl >'r" reeemiiy--i^ought-b^« Warners, will be published in book form by Bpbbs'-Merrill and :serialized in. Liberty. Sam Low, 'bf Whitman. Publishing Co.", Racine, Wis., in Hollywood lin: ihg up new material lor publication of stories used in Walt Disney car- toon shorts. L.' J. Carrel; formerly associated with University Book*. Inc.,- and with McGraw-Hill Book Co., N; "Y., hfis been appointed salesmanager of the University of Oklahbmei. press. ' 'They Learned to Laugh In JRussiia,' by Edward Liidwig, film, director at Universal, v^ill be published this fall in England and Russia.. Sbviet'gov- ern.nent has offered • studio and financial .help to produce the yarn as a picture 'in Moscow. ; So^a Pt three pidtime newspaper' editprs are the authors of books pub- lished this summer. They-.are. Bill White, son at WilUam Allen "White; . Jonathan Danielsj - son of Josephus Daniels, and Robert X. McClure, son of Samuel G. McClura. Herschel V. Jenkins, prez of Sa- vannah: (Ga.) Morning News and Evening Press, has been elected permanent prez of Southern Paper Festival Assn., which plans to make the event' • south-wida' celebration of the growing paper Industry. Af- fair has been an annual event in Sa- vannah, Bills Next Week (Cohtiniied ; from. PfmlMt.rtun Ina \n niikin Ore R'oiiiMlup jImrnl.a..(i.BllKffh«r' ' Kiiyiil Piilma' KsleUlft " Bovllle Don Rliio bro ' Klirratan RMf (.Slifiralou Hiilel) Bob rin'rrt.v Orb P.eEgy Wood South 'i'onuii.v .tack KI.Mlijw .0(0 .loan Pit rl'lgli Totom- I'olir Hallr'ni (.4ahiirnllHl«) Billy; ■V\'ood« . Con» 'Nlrker.i.on-,.Oe Wlirwani' HiillroMn . .Count Kmiivliliii: Or PHTSBUBOH .Aacfiorsve' .' Huglii iTorton Ore BufcoDaileii >r«i'ly Cireiror Ore HHi;tirMn'> - .Ch.irlla -Ajtrnew. bro Hotrl RiKHteVell 3 Andrin.ia . ■.; ,' .i-reit ; I. like Kiley bro .**Hni,ii\y WflUera'- ri-udy RU-a Hotel i9<'itani«f ' Howay B.iuni bra Kr^da- I.u'/lor Hij7,2 AKlpn Hole! Webater Hall Palo Harkneaa -Or,6 Cork Ik- BotiU .lenn Molrsirall- Hotal AVilllam PcBi 4 Urban- Rnof) Geo llamtlton Oro Jill -Xlorle.M (f'oatloantal Bar)' Billy Callxons i Julian (iardiraa J<9lH»vyv4iKis.'4a^TiUn. Norman ... Dlik Barstnw Liberia bivena Cinire H.ay O.la Ansalo Dl Paliiit. Uar M'a .T & ,1U(io. Nyiatid Ray Sliienray ' Al Caull Slierfy. 'T^rie IVIIt'n (;lHb Paul Marlln bra Nira Ruyinond' f.lneoln .Terrar*.. "hoyal -VVorlii Oro rianny Wliiu - TCoHalle. WyniTo - - '.11m Pemnnh Uliuck (,'nllliit . Orrhari* Baron Klllnit Oro BIMy Tales Or« riau Caira Jlmihy Poyinn Or* Adelo.riirlha Billy Cover r'lilqulta . Berl Tayton -R«ir N'hfw, Mm* W '>farlai*o Oro- . . Ray Slyl#ii ■nirTu-.. aisz, 1.1— . T— H*** Newttfn ft. Neivtoji Wlndnalll Phil Cavox^a Oro .Toaoulii Orlll Oro. '.VI -Gre.vno Ctai^a Sla^ CLEVELAND Eat Again (Cohtinued from page 13) Alpliw Tlllaca Barbara Belnioro Pat -Vernon Franola VanofC -. Martin Winesch Otto Thurn Oro 'Annastas* . Eddie F07 Jr Margaret Dauna Adela Ardsley Katlii-yn C'rawfora Nina Varela - Robert Shafer. Georeo Dobbi llal x::onl0 newsprint plant ai Luf- kirt, Texas, as the first unit of a pro- po!!ed chain of' paper mills. Bert E. Collyer, 61. hbr.se race handicapper: and publisher of Coll- .ver'.s Eye. a sports and turf panel', ied July 28 In Oiicago, of ■ fact^ the value of his warning ha.": multipiied a thousand-fold with the passing of the years since it was is- sued. . Morros insists America is a music- loving nation; and holds that the only reason audiences : have turned thumbs, down on the three previous .screen song cycles is because of the ,hapha2zard , manner in Which the music was mixed with the story. ' 'Indu.stry is now on the right track,' he^ declared. He said he be- lieved Paramount had hit the per- fect story-spng combination in Kt(Kt .OTIork Clofe Danny Rogers .Sammy ^ Alorria Bert Heriiiaii Betty Gale Ahit Halhawar BUI Miller Ore OnaraMt Clab Hid White pro . Hotel HolleiHlsa . Avia Kent' ' BAB Anibrosa .Loria -BroR . Bernard & sTleyena Sammy Watklns Or, . Hotel' Slat iar Mort Dohnio Oi-o Jack * Kildl«-s Paul J.onir Batty Day Savon, Qreeley Chee-Cliee'a Org Monaco'a .Cat* brant Wllaon Oro Alice Clark Rot O'Brien'* iHiara (lab Vii.lle ft Mollno .lol'inny Mayduk OrO: Steamer .Seeandbra Tony Capulo Oro' I.eo ft Rlia ; Vernon ft Billy Vanettea Nteaaior noodtlw* f'oley ft Adair t.lllian Slienititn Markell ft Knun .Mickey Kati Oro W'Hl7>a Share U't&f Henry fiannnn Oro Tony. Gr;i'n*la ' • SETBOIT Book-Cadlllaf HAtal (Htiak Caalno) Bolibia brayson Ore Bill . fonway Jimmie Slevenaoa , I.Moior Bar) " railfttriii.in AvIa Kent •Spawn of the North,; soon to be ' "'■''» "H' tT.i.-v previcwbdv : , K^ep 'Em Under Contract While" the studios have 'met with some success in buying the work of frcp-lance Icleffers for use in their productions, he said the prodiicers have come to the conclusion that it is - a hit-and-miss way of handling the situation; and lhat best results are bbtaihiable bnly through having the tunesmiths under. contract; ^ _ Paramount is making arrangement for the publication of a Hbagy Gar- michael number which it bouglU a , C'halft Harry .Colleli Oro Ariiiiinda A .Maria Al I'.usla, fi> ■'. ■ ■ <'armiiie I^IOIovannl E'leiiora Rica ; Cucoanot Talma P)ill Skll'hnnn bro IJiiiiny Nulaii Barlow Uentor ■ Mllrtllv ltfty.M' I'Hir ft AImko ■ ^-:ii)liK I'erexe' KudolliU noiolliy Borllfi , The. Uii.irrl/uniia llrtaU Oaal9..Aviart.'rKi:i OT 1*aiva-|iia . Pa til Neli^hlior Oro ■Krunce* AlrCoy' I 'hn's -.Kenji'pc Krtii NlrliolM . Adorabl.^ .1 , T.*S Al-uUcilM i")'!! Rnllili KiNhi'i Che!- l*ant|>ht'U : Tn-J» .Krtrnn ■Phil Buinoiie.t^ie Walled I.Hho ruala* l.arr.v* .Funk Of*! BmMy" !!•*>'».»»* ■ Woh.tfer (Corklwlj <>rlll> ll'nry Tliola OM • J,»no .r.»K - V\ty,in Kli)tl..i WtsiwaoH «;;Vrili««' Tloran- ll>';.li, O"; 'vkj.i roK' -.Ki;'ie-< .ft .llrtl*'-? . liUiTy C'?U-ii T^eBdayv August 3v X938 cHATtiai ' VARIETY 5S T»v Ydlen in from Hollywood. Kin planed in from the '^'S^ile KurU and family . vacatiori.. ,„f Ke St. Catherme's. mvld Holkes, sceiilc designer, re- .„™^frt»mLondon.last.weeIc. *^narf Gaynor. 20th-Pox pub- ile^bMds lor Maine vacation next ^I^Jwles Harris, of the George Ab- boKtoe^o the AdirondacTts for *'^SS Titus' Airaudio- has taken ovtt COBO. Inc, co-operative book- *°!^Bell ahd Joyce Arling (Mrs. BgU)^mmering on their mevilians, V^e^' Webb. Radio Writers GtuSprez. due back from/^he Coast °jie*Soskowitz, after^ a^ month abroad, says he's going to Saratpga ■ **'cSn^l' Pascal, London fllnrr pro- ducer. In with his new aim, a Leslie :Haward starrer. , . ; \: William T. "hillips, veteran bache- lor secretary of No. 1 Elks eiub, was married last week. v * Joseph Tierney, former b.o. treasr ■ urer, now manager of a Times Sduare hotel caife; - Philip Truex recovering from bronchial pneumonia at his Great Neck. II. I., honie. , Neil Kirk, formerly with RKO booking office,, now with Carlton Hub's booking office, . Marjorie Ford back after four weeks- on tour with the. San Carlo Opera Co.'s 'Mikado,' \ Playwright Edwaid Childs Car- penter is at his New Hartford, Conn., home for the summer. . Maurice Abrams, Metro p.a. for Minneapolis teirritory, in New York with family for a visit. Herb Morgan, Metro shorts shbuter, back in New ■ York from swing through New England. • Maurice Evans due back from Eng- ' laiid end of the month to ready n is uncut 'Hamlet' revival. Alfred Lunt and Lynii Fontann'e, vacasbing in Sweden, due back' in theU. S. early next month. Eddie Bracken, of 'What a Life,'' at the Biltmore, Ni Y., to marry Doro- thea Farley, a model, in. November.. Jack Sklrball, producer of 'Birth negotiated in Paris by producer Erno Gal. Open-air theatrical ,-,^°P*''«t^' 'The Legion- ^WMs * """Sic by Robert Hood ■..Nina Hill, who was married list i?"'5?ay (28) to BiZ, Doll, continued S?„.>"'.*,"h a Jule.s Leventhal com- : |W of 'Having Wonderful Time.' iuh., •*'H'^ned to iVory ton. Conn., .Khatfer, for Milton Stiefel's Ben Blumenihal in town. Dertbrmo^^"'' "=°''t"<=ted for guest •^£',?'"ances next season. . ' leriSi'*. ^°':<^y. Operai's prima: bal- SpuJse'"'*'^"'" ^""'^ '^"^ Siekely now shooting BiSph ^'^Press- at Hunnia. Belt .■°«|?gh directs. tour ?„',?,J'?'ial«y. opc»allc tenor, to '^S?tMontra^"''=' ^ owhJd w picture theatre,, granh """gary's official Teie- Kfaph News Agency, to open in. the VL^tr'--a^^'^^^^ 'Affair: .of WW. Hunyady picture,,, being Antiabella ' considering making . , „ 'Hoted • dii Nprd' for Marcel Cai-he , nual festival, where she's starring . Saiin Eckman vacationing in south ot France. . Eddie Fields returning to the stage as a- single', Eddie . Cantor aiid missus dining with Ambassador Joseph P. Ken- nedy, Harry Foster and Nat Kalcheini off to Blackpool, the Coney Islaiiid of England. Four of Joe Kennedy's children at the- opening :of the London Coliseum International circus. Moriris Goodman, . Republic Pic- tures exec, has brought his missus hei-e.' on her first trip. Fred . Duprez' daughter; June, signed by Alex Kordia . for f emme lead in 'Four Feathers.'. . Philip SlesSor replaee.-- John Ware as' studio publicity manager for War- ner. Bros, at Teddington. Buddy Morris, son of Sam Morris, and 'head of Warner Music Cb„ off to Paris with the missus. Tudor-Oweh, p.a. \ -for General Theatres Corp. for the last seven years, no longer with firm. Maurice CoUeano and Co.: in a C!;arles L. Tucker vaudeville unit, opening • sometime: this month. Ian Hay has adapted a corhedy from the German, 'Her Little Lady- ship,' which starts rehearsals shortly. Verna Swift, wife of George Swift, of the Three Swifts, with, banged knee as result of ' being hit by a bicycle. Peter Burton, grandson of George Foster, is in^ 'he milkbar business. Has 10 spots already; and: opening one in Leicester Square. - Michael' Redgrove will be leading; •man in the Jessie Matthews picture, 'Climbing High,' , which starts shoot- ing shortly at Pinewood. Joe Friedman thought up new title for 'Holiday,' fearing the' tustomers would think it a reissue, and is call- ing it 'Unconventiohial Linda.' ■ British Board >f Film Censors has passed: the - famous -Bernard Shaw phrase, 'not bloody likely,' which is an important -curtain in 'Pygnialipn.' Rehearsals in full swing for new Dodie Sinith comedy; starring Marie Tempest aiid John Glelgud, titled 'Dear Octopus,' due for the Queen's. Elisabeth Bergner, with her pic- ture now being cut, to Malvern an when she returns from America. ,' Bagatelle manager, - hurt in auto aiccident at Grand Canyon; Ariz, Glen . Gregory here : from Buffalo as Grand National branch, manager. Bill : Watmough remaining- to con- tinue handling city, sales. - Clyde Cutter resigning, as Metro head booker to become; associated with Paul Mans in operation of Rob- bins theatre, Robbinsdale,- local sub- urb. Harry. Hlrsch to . launch usual Gayety theatre stock burlesque sea- son laist w>ek in August, with his righthand man', ri rry Katz, directly in charge. Sister of. Joe Behah, Warners' tkioker, seriously injured . when her auto turned over en route, to Roches- ter, Minn., where she planned to visit their father. Confined to Mayo clinic. • . Stroudsburg :ity Jobn Barlbolomew Bettis Quintet at Buck Hill- Banks: Kennedy at Pocono Manor. Guy's Blue .Room has the Shadow-: land Trio. . John. Altrert'5 orchestra at. Penn Hills 'Lodge. Free pictures every Sunday nite at Arlington Lake, • - Tommy Piriteande's Vagabonds at Pocono Alps" Tavern. : Carl ScPtt's orchestra opened the. Sky Terrace: of Pocono Mountain Inn. : Aldan Funsters' Guild presented Dorrance Davis's 'The Shelf,' at Shawnee, . •The Jitney Players' Ohe-nighted 'End of Summer' at the Hauberl theatre, Newfoundland, 'Love-in-a-Mist,' by Amelia Rives and Gilbert Emery, is scheduled by the JBuck HiU Players for Aug, 12. Long Island until after King's and Queen' Renee Saint-Cyi' in from Vichy to take part in -theatrical performances at Elysee P a l a c e -' for English sovereigns. Theatre St, George giving free per- formance . of 'L'Ecurie Watson' ('French Without Tears') in honor of King and Queen visit. Eric Von Stroheim hides' out in a Barbizdh pension, and comi^utes to. Paris to make his films. . Actor-di- rector' is .doing, more acting than megging. : 'V ■'■'.:■ ■ , Monty Banks, the director; Joseph M. Schenck and Darryl Zanuck cleaned up 800,000 francs, or about $8,000 each, in a half hour Pf chemin- de-fer at Le Touqiiet. CieyelaDd By Glenn C. Ken Means, Palace manager, home from Coast safari, George Winters, publicizer, re- covered from appendectomy.- Hose Murphy returning from New York Open Door to Turf Club. Carl Vosburgh, of Cleveland or- chestra, back from La Vallette, N. J., vacation. , . , Karl George, WGAR night man- ager, and Mildred. Bruder, hoste.is, collabing on November wedding pro- gram. J i.- Frederic McConnell reopened his Playhouse for three performances of 'Libel' as theatre partj for lawyers convention, ; . , i i Martha Roye, at Palace last week, offered three weeks in New York but turned it down for vacation in Wis- consin with mother and Dave Rose, her to-be. Sydney I in 'St. Joan' for four performances, husband, W Harker ahO Christine Bariry, July ,18. O'Bryen is Harker's manager. Maurice Schwartz and company of Yiddish players, currently in London foi: two weeks, may stay over longer. "Their intended trip to Palestine being held up due to fracas there. Raymond Massey leaves cast of Idiot's, Delight' Aug. 29 and sails for New York two ^days later to star in Robert Sherwood's new playi 'Abe Lincoln in Illinois,' which Play- wright Theatre, Inc., Is staging; Earl St. John had scarcely ar- ranged to present a revival of 'The Sheik' at the. Carlton .for Paramount, when Charles Woolf announced . he was putting on 'Son of the Sheik* ait the Leicester Square. Stoke Poges has becPme known as the. English Beverly Hills. Films executives Who have: bought estates there include Herbert Wilcox, Tim Whelan, Irving Asher, Steve Pallbs, Mickey Balcon and Harold Hiith. Leslie Abbott, son of John of that ilk, and a former employee of Irving Berlin Music Co;, was married July 9, replete with top hat and all other etceteras. Saul :B6rnstein, who was in town, held Leslie's hand while the anaesthetic was administered. . Hilda- Vaughan, whose husband^ Charles Morgan, will have his 'The Hashing Stream' presented shortly by <3odfrey Tearle, has written one titled 'She Too Was Young' in col- laboration with Laurier Lister. . It's due in the fall and will star Marie Ney and Edmund Gwenn. 'Golden Boy,' at St, James's the- atre, has broken house records pre- viously held by 'Christopher Bean' and 'Pride, and Prejudice.' Libraries kicking themselveis for hot haying made a deal. Present company, with exception of Lillian Emerson, leaves sometime next month and will be replaced by another American cast Hollywood Norman B. Rydge celebrates first year as chief of Greater Union Theatres. Hoyts installing, heating, plants in nabe theatres under Charles Munro. Federal government may hnng in a measure to increase entertainment taxes'. ■ Fay Compton. playing here. Jn 'Tonight at 8:30,' returns to London via U. S. aftier Melbourne try with 'George and Margaret' for WiUiarh- son'-Tait. ' , . . . , , Here Mclntyre. Universal boss, is taking a look at the. New Zealand field. Unit has_ enjoyed_ smash sue Minneapolis By Les:Rce« ' Bill Elson permanently back from Kansas City aiid guiding destinies of his theatre again. Louis Rubenstein, Twin City inde- pendent exhibit^-, stricken with pneumonia and in hospital. , F. Kaiser. United Artists salesman, escaped with slight injuries when his autP was wrecked -in collision. J. ,W. McFarland, National Screen J branch manager, vacationing oFreefiort Theatre trying weekend stage bills. Helen' Keller selling her Forest Hills home. - Al J'ones' temporarily mainagjng Oasis theatre. . 'White Banners' film given Island preview at the. Jackson Heights, Edmund Cody, assistant at Jackson Heights: theatre, hack f:om vacash. - - Helen Vinson in Forest Hills . to play at stadiuih. ' village Little Theatre opened sea- son yesterday (26) at the Lyceum, Queens Village, with The Milky: Way.' . ■ : Harry Gabriel,' manager of Roose- velt theatre, Woodhaven, leaves Sun- diay Ui) for two wcekr. in Con- necticut Thepdor Fireytag, manager of RKO Richmond Hill, leaves Friday (5.) for vacash to Chicago,: John Hines subbing. . Dan Healy, Jack Dempsey, Helen Meany, Russ Morgan at Dawson's Sunday afternoon swing session (17) in Long Beach. James Walsh, Archie MacBain's assistant at Inwobd theatre. Forest Hills, leaveis Monday. (IS) for vacash at Milburn, N. J; . Helen Thompson, of Southampton Playhouse,- presented one-night run of 'Soldadera,' (premiere -Friday '29 ) v;ith her apprentice players. Joseph Ghlione,' manager of the Boulevard theatre, Jackson Heights, left Monday; (1) on vacash. Assistant manager Robert Wariiecke subbing. Opening of new Polk Ave,- theatre, Jackson 'Heights, set for Monday. (15), Thomas Mack, manager of the Palace, Corona, will head the new house. Allan J. Isaacs back at Loe>v's Plaza, Corona, from three weeks in Atlantic City. John Cusack, assistant manager, was in charge during absence. ' QUeerisboro theatre, . Elmhurst, dark a year except for short riin of WPA Gilbert and Sullivan, will re- open Labor Day with a road eom- pany of The Wpmen.' Jules Pincus, manager of Leffer'ts theatre, Richmond Hill, left Satur- day (30) for two weeks' fishing at Toms River, N. J. Assistant Milton Levine iS' taking his place, George E. Kann, manager of Loew's Willard, Woodhaven, left Monday (1 ) -for . lonth's rest at Oak dale, L. .1. Louise Leonard,, assistant, returned from vacash last week: Sudden pbstoohement of 'Three and Two.' premiere last. week. (27) at Hampton Playhouse, Bridgeham'o- ton strawhat, gave, reviewers arid -film talent icouts. long trip in vain J. W. Piper in from Tokyo. . Mervyn Houser on sick leave. '. Leon Schlesinger to Cor'onado. ■ Louis Rantz back from the east. John Payne oh yachting holiday. Don Terry to .tony Creek, Conn. Al Wilson parted with appendix. Robert Reeds to hospital with flu. Seton I. Miller backfrom Yosemite. John M.! Stahl fishing at Enscnada. Ralph Hathaway on Havana vaca- tion. Louis Hyman back from N. Y, biz trip. : Ellen Drew to make eastern p.a, tour. ■ , Leland Hay ward back from Broad- way.- , ; ■ Karl MacDohald in from Mexico City.. Sol Lesser back from Estes Park, Colo. ■■: . V' - Joe Diamond had his appendix ire- movcd. '■', Iryih S. Cobb recovering from leg injury. Spring By: ing in Denver. William Hall back after 26-wcek p.a. tour. : , Ben Holmes to hospital for ob-» , servatipn. • Monte and Helene Samuels to Honolulu. ■ Wilbur Peterson here from Somer- ville, Mass. -Gottfried Reinhardt in hospital for bb.scrvation. Sam Hellman and frau sicsta'd In Mexico. City. Eleanor 'Whitney recovering from lonsilectomy. •Mrs. William Collier, Sr;, home from hospital. William Lundigan to hospital for apoendectomy. Julian Lesser, engajged to Jenniie Mae Kobacker. ' Edith Head to gander Paris Styles for Paramount. Walt Grondona here from Oalvland. Huntinc talent. Nat Finston- threw parly of 100 for Jose Iturbl. Miary Carlisle flirting with Broad- way. stage offer. Bob Hope guesting on ing Crosby's raricho. Luise Rainer passed her exam for \ U. S. citizenship. . Mrs. Mike. Newman underwent_ , EriK Kelson, fi-om Hongkong, visit-' ir)«! Dick Powell. Reoublic ' studio holds its annuail golf jou.!^\. at stale confab in .Srranli'n. Rollcr-.sk.-iftin;* Silver (.'.vrl'Mios, ■v/hn h.TVi! breii nl"yin3 iii'ftnnil here, l(i."'^C(i by Miisir C'lrp. of Amrrira.' \ .St.irl f>f, new fplrn kept Dick Powell from ny;ng here, to see hi.s (lijhtcr, Rilly- .So'j.'o, who made local debut S4 VARIETY Wedoesdaj, August 3, 1938 OBITUARIES JAMES THORNTON . James Thornton, whose 'hand rocked the cradle of vaydeville,' ac- cording to E. F. Albee, died July 27, at his home in Astoria, N. Y. He was 76 and lor the past several years had been ill and paralyzed. As a comedian for 50 years, Thorn- ton saw vaudeville graduate from the music halls and burlesque into the leading entertainment. Before the cycle changed and vaudeville again hit bottom, Thornton had stepped out of the profession. It was not an altogether voluntary; re- tirement, however, Thornton's pre- dilection for liquor having a lot to do with it. About, four years ago he attempted a coineback via radio, but didn't get very far. Born In. Liverpool, England, Thornton emigrated to Boston as a common laborer,: His first , job in show business was ' as a singing waiter in a Hub spot tagged Crow- ley's, where he dished oiit food and drinks and Kis own first compbsition, 'Remember Poor Mother at Home.' From there he went to the Bal Ma- bille on Bleecker street, In New York, and his subsequent song hits included 'My Sweetheart's the Man in the Moon,* 'When You Were Sweet Sixteen,' 'She May. Have Seen Better Days,' -'It Don't Seem Like the Same Old Smile' and 'She Never Saw the Streets of Cairo,' latter a satirical piece ' aimed- at the Little Egypt, of Chicago World's Fair fame. While at the Bal M!abiUe, Thom- iRVEVG SIMON July 28lh, 1938 C Y. ton teamed up with Charles Law- lor, author of The Sidewalks of New York,' and they became a highly popular vaudeville team; . Also while at the Bal MablUe, Thornton met and married Bonnie Cox, l singer. After his split with Lawlor, Thorn- ton and his wife teamed up; Before she died he worked alone as a mo- nologist for years. Subsequently he remarried. His. ^second- wife, Kath- leen' Barry, survives him. Thornton's last professional stage appearance was in Arthur Hammer- stein's 'Sweet Adeline' in 1929. In 1934 he appeared again on the stage as a pierformer on a special bill ar- ranged for., his own benefit at the Forrest theatre, N. Y. Funeral services, under the di rection of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, were held July 30 at St. Malachy's Church, N. Y., with : burial in St. Baymond's Cemetery, the Bronx. Further details on the Thornton's career appear in vaude department. FREDEBICK BOBIE Frederick Robie, who attributed his . success in life to the . :Change wrought in him by a kiss from Lil- lian Russell, died at his. Flushing, N. Y., home oh Wednesday (27).. It was in June, 1893 that Robie, a New England bookkeeper, placed a bet on a winning horse for Miss Rus- sell and the kiss he received in ap- preciation made him decide to give up. his work and follow the turf as • profession. He owned his own stable in Balti- inore and is said to have made nearly $1,000,000 from racing. His opinions on racing were . sought by well- known persons in sporting circles, including' BIng Crosby, Clem Mc- Carthy, Grahtland Rice, Bill Gorum, Dan Parker and Pbstmaster-Cicnerai James A. Farley- He's survived by a daughter and grandson. JOSEPH J. JACOB Joseph J. Jacob, 60, circus and vaudeville acrobat for many years until his reti^-erhent 15 years ago, died last week at his summeir home In Oakland, R. I. He had been one of the highest paid acrobats in the old Adam Fbre- paugh and '■ Barnum . & Bailey cir- cuses and had traveled all .over the world. In London, Jacobs played before Queen Alexandia, King Eijward VII, then Prince . of Wales. He also ap- peared before Franz Joseph I.. He held the world's record for turning 160 back somersaults In suc- cession, on a table about two feet square. J. COLEMAN WHITE J. Coleman White; 35, of Charlotte, N. C, executive of Affiliated Pro- ducers' Film Corp., died last week while on a visit to his father, near Atlanta, .He succumbed in a hospital several hours after being strickisn, A native of Lithonia, Ga., he moved to Atlanta at. an early age, becoming associated \yith various stage, iand screen -companies : there, including RKO . vaude circuit and . Pathie, He went to Charlottee 12 .years ago to become associated with Producers' Film Corp'i In addition to father, he's survived by widow and three brothers. Burial in Atlanta. IRVING SIMON Irving Simon, 58, vaudeville agent, died in Post Graduate Hospital, New York, July 27. Born in. Louisville, Ky., he was the last of the three Simon brothers each of whom was associated with the Simon Agency. John Simon died in 1931 and F^'de two' years later;' ' Survived by a sister now living in Chicago. JACK JUDGE Jack Judge, .'60,: died in Birming- ham, England, July 28. He was the author, of the famed wartime hit song 'It's a Long/ Long Way to TIp- perary.' It was said he wrote the tune as a riesult of a bet on New Year's Day, 1912. in his later years he had been liv- ing at. Birmingham oh a life pension given him by the . publishers of the tuhe he wrote and inade - famous. . HOWABD KEISER Howard Keiser, 62,. treasurer and general manager of tiie Academy of *Ja,fej' • -Wiiladelphis ;--4h««f i Presbyterian Hospital, Philadelphia, July 29. He had been operated on for appendicitis a week before. Keiser had been manager of the Academy since 1929. He 'waa| born in Lebanon, n., and: 'was a graduate of Franklin and Ma'rshall College. . WANDA LVDLOW Wanda Ludlow (Mrs, Fred B. Wright), died in Howell^ Mich., May 5 following a siege of pneumonia. :She ' \was formerly in vaudieville with her own act and prior to that had her own stock company. She also played in 'The Auctioneer' with David 'Warfleld. She retired several years ago. An aunt survives. JOHN BRUCKEB John Brucker, 86, musician and band leader at the St. L:uis 'World's .Fair In 1904, ' died last, week at his home there after an extended illness. Brucker was a member of the St, Louis Local No. 2, American Federa- tion of Musicians. A son survives. WILLIAM JONES William L. Jones, '72, studio elec- trician and father of Grover Jones, author-scenarist, died July 28 in Hol- IN MEhlORY of Our ■ Oenr FrJi-nds THE MINERS i'ttM— Ki>— (;kok«r Mr. and Mrs. BARNEY GERARD lywood, . He had . spent 23 years in pictures, mostly at Paramount; Sur- viving, are his widow and another son, also a studio worker. ROBERT E. BEILLT Robert E, Reilly, 63, owner and operator of the Capitol theatre in Riyerhead, L. I., died there July 31; He had operated the Capitol since he built it 16 years 'ago.. Widow, eight brothers and a sister survive. FRANK S. PERRY Frank S. Perry, 64, former studio technician, died July 27 i'n Holly- wood. He had. lived in California- 50 years. His last film connection -was with Republic. Surviving is his widow. EDWARD FREIL Ed\yard Freil, 60, vaiide and cir- cus .acrobat, died' July 30 in Los Angeles, He was recently a stunt rnan' in pictures. His widow survives. ALEXANDER DUNSMUIR Alexander Dunsntuir, 61, film acr ■tor, died July. . 30 in ' Los Anigel^s from auto crash injuries. A native Scot who fought In three wars, he. \A'a3 given full inilltair honor's at last rites. ROBEBT WIENE Robert Wiene, producer-director, died in Paris two weeks ago aftei^ a short illness, Wiene had been finish- ing his first ■ French picture, 'Ulti- matum' wh^n he was. taken ill. LTDIA STUBTEVANT Lydia SturteVant,'62, died in Oak- land, Calif,, July 26. She was for many .years a member of various opera, compainies in M>lani Chicago and New 'York. ' James A. Knight. ' 72, father of John Forrest (Fuzzy) Knight, .pic- tures, and R. Earl Knight, ihanager of the: Warner Bros, theatres at Fair- mont, W. Va., died July 29 at his home at Faiirmoht, W. Va. Mrs; Evelyn CoSmani 51, wife of H, C, CioffmanV for the last 13 years manager of the Nelson theatre, at Fairmont, W. Va., died July 29. Mother, 84, of Max Shagrin, Hol- lywood agent, andi Joe Shagrin, 'Youngstown,; O., theatre operator, died Jiily 23 in Youngstown. Mr. and Mrs., Herb £lisburg, son, in Chicago, Aug. 1.; Father is pub- licity director for . Essaness circuit, Chi. SeeksFriendsh ips News From the Dailies this department contains rewritten theatrical news items as pub* lished during the week {n the dally papers 6} New York, Chicago San. Francisco, Hollywood and London. Variety talces no credit for these news items; each Has been rewritten from a daily paper. East (Continued from page: 23) local friendships will be':niiade this week- at the Second District meeting; at Syracuse, to be followed by siml lair cooperatiph with members of the Seventh : District who convene ait Omaha Saturday (6). Preisident Neville Miller and Ed. Kirby, han dling public relations and educa. tional , problems, will go from head- quarters to sit in at Syracuse; while ebraska lor the mid-west- 'Ctrnfa J^ Staff people will meet with as many station owners, managers, program directors,, and publicity men as pos. sible and as. a general proposition somebody from headquarters 'Will at. tend each district session. President Miller revealed last week. Besides linking the. menibership and the officers more closely and giving the Washington crews a bet ter uiiderstanding of problems and Ideas of the rankrand-file, the meet ings will afford opportunities to map put a wide-spread campaign to build ^ood-will for the entire Industry. Among topics to be discussed are better relations between Individual stations and the chambers of com' merce, boards of trade. Community Chests, service clubs (Lions, Ro- tarians, etc), and fraternal orders. Local Friends Possibilities along this line are con^ siderable, K broadcasters are diS' posed to pitch in and boost the civic 'efforts of local organizations,, there will be . a natural feeling of appre- ciation. By making friends in the grass-roots, the Industry will have something to fall back on if It ever gets in a -serious political or legis. latiye jam. An unprecedented maneuver to reach the general public already has been, agreed upon. Through exhibits at both the New York and San Fran- cisco world's fairs next year, the broadcasting industry will have a chance to demonstrate its accom pllshmehts to millions of listeners, huge percentage of whom have little if any appreciation of the effort, ex- pense, and ingenuity involved , in public service phases of radio opera- tion 'and do not comprehend the basic significance of repeated refer- ences to 'the American system.' De- tails are unsettled-T-whether to set up actual studios to give a graphic idea of how the wheels go 'round, to lay stress on purely educational dis- plays,- or to have tie-ups with other groups—but NAB is- determined to capitalize on this opportunity. Press Relations Feelers in the diirectlon of a peace pact with the publishers have been sent outj prompted by the spread, of the Pacific Coast cold-shoulder idea as typified by scissoring of all blurbs, pictures, and other propaganda by dailies from Los Angeles to Seattle this spring. With the: newspaper proprietors', already split into two ■factions— those who own or arie linked with stations, and those who areii't interested in cither way-^and the press admitting radio has a place In the field of advertising, mass edu- cation, and entertainment, Neville Miller' will sit . down with James V, Stahlnian, president of the American Newspaper Publishers Association, Camille Lamont, Greenwich Vil- lage, nitery. singer, confesses it was for love of her that John Wardp capped his eleven-hour game of tag with cops with a dive from the 17th fioor of the Hotel Gotham, N. Y. Three crashes in as many races took a toll of three midget jallopy pilots at Roosevelt track last week. One, driver killed, others seriously injured. . Orang-outang escaped from home of its owner and trainer iii Newark, N, J., and turned peaceful resi- dential section upside down. Finally lured.back with bananas. . Supreme Court Justice in Mineola asked to appoint receiver foir Lido Club of Lone Beach. L. Magistrate Overton Harris Inter- rupted West Side, N. Y,, court to request police .to, silence radio of elderly retired -dancer across street, Harris is siame arbiter who pressed anti-noise, charge against motorcycle cop when latter's machine backfired^ in starting. ' . Geraldihe - , Farrar, Met opera singer, writing her autobiogiraphy. It's written around. a $21,000 promis- sory . note given by her mother -to finance her musical training. ' . ■ ' Lamar Springfield, American com-, poser, conductor and flutist, batoned John Powell's Negro Rhapsody at the Pbilharrhohic concert of native American music Monday (31) at' Lewlsohn Stadium, N. Y.- , Monmouth county; N. J, prosiecur tor, T: Raymond .Bazley, . : cracking down on N, J. bingo, game's claiming they aire run . as a business by New YOrk interests. Action follows numerous complaints. Actors emotmg in Collective Film Producers' shorts driveii to street in night clothes when Sheridan House, Newton, N. J., hotel landmark, went up in smoke; . Harvey Nelson, 35-year-old road house operator of Waycross, Ga convicted of first degree murder after jury deliberated 45 mihs. State contended he killed his 12-year-old son fof insurance, Mae Fowler hos- tess, accused with Nelson, drew life sentence. George Herrlck and six employees niibbed In raid on gambling house by town and state cops at Great Necll L, I; '. Games and tables destroyed Two thugs witnessed the bill at the St. George theatre, St. George S, I„ then held up the manager and scrammed with $1,500. Coast Bairbara King, screen actress, filed suit in L. A. for divorce- from Walter Scharf, lyricist and studio musical arranger. . Errol Flynn filed Court action In L. A. for recovery of $10,000 invested in an Alaska gold mining venture. •Georgie Donald Smart, former Metro sOund -technician, pleaded guilty to charges of forging Louis B, Mayer's name to. two short term notes. Sentence;and probation hear- ing set for Aug.. 11 in L., A. - Juliette Dunn, actress^ obtained her second divorce decree from Harrison Holllway, radio exec, in L, A.-. They were reconciled after first divorce- in 1935. Lorraine Dagmar, film actress, In- jured in a motor collision in Holly- wood, settled $10,400 damage^suit by accepting. $800 out of court. Marguerite de Iy a thoroughly feminine woman ?ml a very masculine man. In look ing over the returned script (upon which postage was due), I have finally concluded that the entire play was cut.up into individual lines, placed in the director'is hat, and then passed to the company- with each member, taking pot luck in the grand grab. Of course, the damage is done, but as there • happen to t)e two sides to this particular story,- i can't »"** a nice voice, S? '^"Uf Steps click solidly with tof^.„f'«PP'n8. Quartet ; present j^.appearance in brown tophat "Ss »n.i*^if''=* around with solo ^ and leave 'em asking for ^^'&A k""^",?' "^"stv Fletcher. C c^^^y F«°'^ee Wiltshire, do mn^^^^l turns;, all of the rib- ll« a S'^: MadeUne Belt han- ''"s to help* tunes throughout but y Newsreel, N. Y. the l»«*ins ''nf«,"* ?"« "t the most '«!t caloS?^"'? 'n years this " '«er7tte ''?'in Warde perched N Y ^^^^ the Gotham t (aV v^llf "reeling opt '".•'•ed.' Its audience en opening I'flt'Jirs*;, ri''e'"e was a morbict- and K ^« whole af- snme „r? "jas been- able to IWle th5Ss?25^ of that atmosphere, ■^nged mil'*'' "oolied ;aloft 5t, the - to ffi! J '^as later to l?'"e6tJ,'\^?th after playing a 't.contristed so startlingly. with- the usual headlines that It seems lilte sheer fantasy. The crash scene, in which Warde came tumbling through the gUss marquee, is horrifying. However, it . is just so much, flash and shows little more than the body tiimbling to the, ground, then the immediate covering of the corpse by police.. II is by far the big reel in what otherwise would, have been just an oi-dinary bill. ; Another note of pathos is lentby a New .York woman amateur radio operator who was able to learn that descendants of Fletcher Christian, who sailed the Bounty more than two centuries ago, were without food and medical sup- plies on Pitcairn Island. Retracing by the commentator, with scenes on the island, of the islanders' history and their present modes of susle- hance are interesting. Shirley Temple is precociously winning on her return from a Ber muda vacation while the rest of the bill constitutes, the' usual sports, fashions and Lew Lehrisins. . Helen Wills Moody's return from European tennis triumphs. Howard Hughes being received in Washing ton and Charlie McCarthy, with Ed gar Bergen, are. also on the bill. There have been few newsreels during the pa.st sik months that have failed to include America's Ambas- sador to England. Joseph P. Kennedy. He's ir this one. too, .at a dedication. March of Time features the U. S. Coast Guard. I of" the 'is'TlX- ■ Lennu Stofler, Nfil.'son's Noueletfes, * STIX indeed! ^^ardVi house OTch,- *M« .BUt' (WB). Placing Jo Lombardi's pit band on stage in arched set and working various gals frohi acts into incidental atmosphere gives house an unusually smooth show, though basically it op- erates as straight vaude. Curtains part on blue scrim, which goes up on orchestra as Lenny and Statler open with istandard swift taps. Take bows oh .side as two of Jiianita's Champions, . who have beeri posin' in evening gowns on steps, roll on ..platform for Nel- son's ; Novelettes. Puppet act new. here, catches audience ; fancy with man and woman working dolls in full view of audience, in front of waist high curtain. - Chinese balancing bar, monkey on trapeze and clown with balloon bits build nicely for strong finish. Cori.nna Mura, introduced as top exponent of SpanishrAmerican songs, socks with guitar and soprano via 'Carioca,' 'Caminito' and 'Siboney.' Cliff Hall bounces out next to in- troduce 'Hollywood's NO. 1 glamour girl,' and 'ZaSu Pitts gets, storm of applause at entrance. M'iss Pitts, with nothing but well-rehearsed chatter, leaves show stopped. She takes a sinttle bow and orchestra cuts it off wi'th background music for Juanita's Champions, surefire skating turn. Biz good'. Croicl. TOWER, K. C. Louise . E. Bonney, formerly with the exposition's Committee on Theme for the last two years, heads the recently, created feature news department of the . New York World's Fair. New division will handle magazines, press asshs. and other agencies demanding feature material on the Fair. Perley Boone remains as director of press depart-: ment Fair's publicity - exploitation - pro- motion is more or less hbiised under one ropf at the Flushing meadows site, having recently .moved into a new building near the; Administra- tion. iBuilding. Besides various units in this division, Claude Collins, who is in charge of newsreel contacts, and John' Krimslcy, head of enter- '(a>nn%tUrlitti^«.;ualefi^L^^ ture. Eventually, the press building Will house the fair's post and cus- toms offices, latter - being a pre- requisite due to foreign countires bringing in exihibits and material. Long Island railroad has boosted its fares to the exposition grounds from 2&C to 24c to and from New York as a result of one-half cent per mile increase, granted the railway line. Company is erecting a new station, situated near one of the main gates to the Fair. Besides rapid strides being taken in erection' of the depot the independent sub- way system is going along swiftly on building of a spur from the Queens line to the Fair site. Thiis station will be closest to the amuse- ment sector admission gate and pro- vide direct service from N. Y. and Brooklyn at usual 5c fare. Construction pr-ogram is going ahead>-lairly well now after general strike slowed down building pro- gram for about three weeks, Lincoln, Aug. 2. Hagenbeck-Wallace's 10 days in Nebraska gave them four winning stops and one even break, saw the return of Blacamah, the Italo-Hindu animal hynqtist, ' after a four-day strike for salary, and saw him go out .on strike again. Nearly 30 plasters went on the, , show for salaries. .In Kansas City one day last week the show was thrown into re- ceivership, and the next day the nc- tioh was voided in. the court of ap- peals. Nut on the circus is now down to about $3,400 daily, a show which started the season at $5,500 or better. Cut in the . budget caime by allowing the; disgruntled acts to walk. The backbone of thie performers are nOw the Escalante Family and the Poodles Hanneford riding act. Backlot ban has been placed on Blacaman ever since Des Moines. (4 ) when he refused to go on while the circiis was jammed with a full house, performers all -believing he crimped the show, started the plaster epi-; demic and its attendant bad pub- licity. Blacaman in ' Kearney had the town in a minor uproar when he re- fused to go on again. - At this time he threatened to let all his animals out of their cages it his wages weren't paid up. It is only because his animals are transported in H-W cages that He's traveling along since there's , been nothing he can do about it. 3 SUED FOR THEFT' OF EXPO TERP IDEA Syracuse, Aug. 2. Announcement last week of a rsfetrst^^'**a«i yi>!E ay-c?pwa»t>A)r.- v 'I— ■ \ \ : ~ In the first fiew nights of the new Casa Mahaha ''StrcamllnSa-^'ariBaefiar^ft*.; Great Schnozzola has hung up an expensive and amazing record of havoc, mayhem and disaster. He has broken four music stands, torn the top completely oft a tiny piano and thrown Vincent Lopez and his superb crew Into monetary consternation by chucking the maestro's music and cue-sheets high Into the ozone. As for the attitude .of the boss — Billy Rose — he has resigned himself to It all. One glance at the packed pews of the Casa Manaha these nights, while Durante Is on the premises. Is convincing enough. "I dunno," murmurs. Broadway's bltiy barnum, " — pandemonium pays!" NEW YORK WORLD-TELEGRAM BILLY ROSE HAS BIG SHOW ; Well, the old codgers can stop provoking Billy Rose by mentioning the good old Palace days, because In the new fourth edition of the Strean lined Varieties at the Casa Manana, "Big Game" Billy has brought those good old Palace days back alive. For this Is the best, the fastest and the funniest of the variety bllU . Massah Rose has let loose on the broad stage of his theatre- cabaret;, a mirth- ful and a: fun- ful show, worth anybody's money, he that money spent In the last flank of the topmost gallery or at that coveted ringside. ' Flr^t ,pf all Billy has brought back to us none other than our long-probosclsel . . . -iiaUvaiiaf tt -i&n^^ ua>.Ti»Ul«i4y -.abjI^" - : wo; -^o .«jleplui<>t«!. tfils time to '^lUtter^ap d o story or 8 out a program. Group ..vi!! bampaign as the Motion f^iciure Committee for Americanism 3nd yvili not be affiliated wiHi any particular parlv. Outdoor showmen glumly aver that the days of the circus as an Ameri- can institution are numbered. Radio and pictures are to blame, they claim. ' . 'What good is a tnple-somersaull nowadays to the American kids," one vet outdoor impresario wants to know, 'when, on the radio. Buck Rogers goes clear to the moon? Even though it's all in fancy, the circus is really an extravaganza originally in- tended to stir the juvenile senses. 'And \vhen' Tom Mix or Tim McCoy come along with a Wild West <;how how can that compare with the herds of cattle the youngslers see 6n the screen in any western film for a dime? 'Just to further prove my poinU the Cole Bros.-Clyde Beatty Circus cither extremely old, steeped in the circus tradition, or extremely young, of kindergarten age and intelligence.' Outdoor showmen aver that the tipoff comes from, the few who come to see the circus arrive in town. The, mechanization of the shows, using tractors instead of horses, further tore down the illusion. The big street parades have gradually been diminished because tiafflc regula- tions in any city worth playing for- fcnds tieing up the town that way. As for the small truck shows, there's always been the angle that the irresponsible gyp shows have hurt the worthy, smaller shows. When it comos to wild west stuff showmen have grown to the realiza-, tion that kids today of 10 or 12 do fancy horseback riding at their spcarcan student, and whose talks were excerpts from the Bard, has gradually evolved into the present- style mountebank. But the circus was Anverica's first form of Itinerant entertainment. Through the years, however, the tradition of the big top and pink lemonade has undergone (Continued on page 55) COHAN'S fix AUTOBIOG FOR M-G; PLAY FIRST? Hollywood, Aug. 9. Metro is dickering With George M. Cohan to make a film based on his life, the star appearing as him- self. Cohan is understood to be holding off fur a stage version first, with Metro's backing. In that case a picturization would follow. Jack Curtis is liaisoning. Reported several weeks ago that Metro was seeking Cohan's signature to a two-picture contract for $150.- 000. Star is currently vacationing in England and is set to tour with 'I'd Rather Be Right' in the fall. did its only okny business in Canada. I equestrian clu.s.«ics in a manner lo So did several of the other shows cope with the exhibition stuff. which have since, folded. Why Canada? Because in Quebec, for in Most all circu.sos now on the road, as result, are behind in salaries. The m.oourAHV W1U. AmicuTB succsTioNj pu>u inPATtoNscoHceuiiHO mnivici QjM or Sava ,T|1^«|B OT dbl*. ■ran la d*. ■fn ■famorpnti^ tntrtH WESTERN UNION VKB g/ . S SIGNS HL« W.T- s In r stance, children under 10 aren't per- off.bysmcss is noticeable in all parts mitted into picture thijatrcs. And while they have the radio as much in Canada as in the U. S.. somehow of the country, so it isn't just a re- gional apathy to tlie circus. Of . course, there are certain stupid trade the Dominion young.sters a'"en t as . .^^^gj^j^ ^^^^^ the McCoy and Cole sophisticated as our American kids., ^^ows battling each other in the Chi- So the circus rsmains a good, time- ^^^^^ territory, and neither coming honored institution there, as always: Old or Young Crowds 'Wliat crowds do you sec these days | tion is over 100 years old The talk at llie American circuses? They're i ing clown, wtio used to be a Slialcc- cago territory, out. The circus as an American in.stilii- TW IW Um « U U* 4i '^ecWrad at P • ZA4p -k^ carl; :.:u >'VER MILLKR . :.:Uoic .coRF ov a 74 !5 FiPTM AVii; ;■; EPITALI.'Y ^'RKA EOOKKP AT nbs brok;-;:: . . . . A- J HUCK vvi.:;.: ;-ICH 18 .'ItRICA- i'..o . .'.Of ' aitracj.ic;; ALL AT'..: ;; AR„:-.i:S, PICTURES Wednesday, August 10, 1938 STONG, NEW PRODUCT ON TAP AUGURS MUCH BEHERB-O. MONTHS IN Trade Generally Snaps Out of Its Seasonal Doldrums, Starting Now— Flock of Likely Film Fodder Slated for Early Releasing— Analysis of Pix By EOY CHARTIEB . With August here and major com- panies startinB to roll their new 1938-39 product early, in some cases on key pre-release engagements, the industry is quickly rousing from its May - June - July gloom as grosses show signs that patronage generally is beginning to pick up. . Recalling that in former years, either good or bad economically, some of the high- est grosses of all time have been established in August and Septem- ber, usually warm , month?, operators are sizing up the major product carefully arid, generally, under an. optimistic view, that the turn in busi- ness is at hand. Pictures for the new . season that have already been screened for op- erators and buyers, plus those, based on information and analysis, which shape up encoiiragingly on . paper, lead to the belief that the industry is going to get oil to a good start this month and- in September. Some book- ing schedules. have already been set by iarge key . theatres tentatively through October, notably houses that know what their supply of product will be. Good Fix Can Stand Vp Most heartening development for the 1938-39 grind at this time— sug gesting unmistakjibly that, if the pic tures are there, a Motion Pictures Greatest Year campaign is needless —is what two lead-ofi '38-39 films are proving to the killjoys and pessi- ■iiin- I-- 1" J>u;^;k::iaKbr»rV>L:-j$R?; ru.shed to a ho.spital in BroolMj'n la.st Friday suffering from gallljlad- dcr. ailment. He wna tr.Tn.ifcrrcd to a N. Y, hos- pital .Monday '8). Trad* Hark ReBlaferea FdUNDRD n7 EIMB SILVERMAN robllshed IVeckIr by VABIETE, lac Sid SUverman, Presldtnt tG4 Weal 4Ctb Streat. Nsw Tork City SUBSCRIPTION Annual,,,.,, tti Foralgn. ..... 17 SIngIa Copies., .,,,,,; 11 Cania Vol 131 dJ^riy No. 0. INDEX Advance Production Chart 15 Chatter ; . 53 Concert > 44 43-46 26 15 Years Ago. . .47 14 12 House Reviews. • 18 Inside— Legit , . • 52 Inside — Music . .• , . , ,46 Inside— Pictures 11 Inside — Radio ., . . . . . . . .39 Ihlernalibnal Nc.ws. ...i. • 13 Jack Osterman . ; 2 Legitimate ; . . . .50-.52 iterati . . . ........... 27 Music ^ •43-40. New Acts. .... , . . . ; . .... . 48. News from tlie IJairic . . . . ,'>4 Nile Clubs. .47-18 bbiUiary S4 Ouicloors . ,').') Pictu'-i.'s ■; . . . ; . . Radio .■iO-42 • n.idi'i— Iiilci iia;:')!ial .. . . . 40 Radiij Tt"v|ews . 38 Vaiidevillo . : .47-48 4 VARIETY nCTURES Warners Asb U. & Approval To Refinance M^^^ Worth Of Optional 6% Convertible Bonds Washington, Aug. 9. Federal consent' for first big. film refinancing move in many months was sought froih Securities & Ex- change Commission last week. Un- able to raise cash by public sale,. Warner Bros, asked permit to issue certificates oi deposit tor $29,400,000 worth of optional 6% convertible debentures .due next year. Proposed ■ certificates would be listed on the New York Stock Exr change, providing a market for the maturing notes and bridging the gap which has prevented, the corporation from putting new paper on the counter. Application to the S.E.C. explained WB has been unable, be- cause of depressed business, to secure underwriting of new bonds for general public peddling. Plian already outlined to holders of the 1939 sferies is to swap maturing paper for equal principal amount of new 6% debentures due In 1948. Is- sue would be redeemable from sink- ing fund at WB option, at price of 101 up to March 1, 1941, and 100% to March 1, 1944. Plan calls for an- nual retirement, with 4% oC the total being paid off Dec. 15, 1939, .1940 and 1941; 4% in 1942, 1943, and 1944; and 5% in 1943, 1946 and 1947. Financial statements ' attached to the application showed firm's profits are running a little behind last year but: stili substantial. For iSscal ye^ars ending . In August,' net profit was $11,984,565 in 1935, $14,409,938. in 1936, and $17,783,511 in 1937; net after taxes and all fixedi charges was respectively, $074,158; $3,177,312, and $5,876,182.^, During the 39-week span ended May 28, 1938, the net was $11,- 714,504, with the gravy, after taxes and charges $3,282,765. Balance sheet shows total assets at $175,610,673. Of this amount, ciir- rent and working assets are $27,927,- 788 and fixed assets $134,194,099. Par, Lmw, U 'Tradiaf Insiders in three film corporations were " active in the market during June in their coinpany stocks^ the Securities & Exchange Commission revealed last week, Biggest transactions were by Stan- ton Crisis,' Paraniiotint director, who continued his sporadic operations by unloading all oit his 6% first pre- ferred. Dumped 1,000 shares ih^ three batches, cleaning the port-' folio. ■ ' More - small-lot purchases of Loew's Boston Theatres common by the parent, Loew's, Inc. Added A2 shares over five days, running the string up to 99,605. Daniel M. Sheafler of Philadelphia, director in Universal Corp.i. holding company which controls Universal Pictures, acquired ,200 more voting trust certificates, boosting his- stake to 13,000. Also has a finger In the pie through Standard Capital Co., which pulls the strings on 26,500 certificates and 111,283 warrants. Holdings of newcomers In film corporation posts were unveiled William F. Whitman of New York, recruit Keith-Albee-Oi'pieuni direc- tor, has 25 shares of i% cumulative preferred. Indirect Interest of Cliff Work, new Universal exec, was shown to result from his stake in Universal Corp, which has 228,927 of the. picture company common, 100 of the 8% first preferred and 20,000 of the' second preferred. Reverse Twister Charles E. McCarthy, direc- tor of advertising and publicity for 20th Cent-Fox, oh being in- formed that . audiences at the Roxy, N. Y., where 'Alexander's Hag Time Band' is playihig,- are sitting tlirough the film twice, now is planning a campaign to get customers out of the the- atre. Is thinking about running his ads backward. Sam Fox Sues Metro-Robbins Tofle Qoittiiig Pictores . Hollywood, Aug- 9- " Franchot Tone is quitting Holly- wood for Broadwiay when his' Metro contract expires, Currently wprking in 'Three Loves Has Nancy,' the actor refused to sign . another pact Tone ;left Broadway for the pic- tures five years ago. Recent break with his wife, Joan Crawford, helped to make up his mind^ HAMMONS-GN MERGER SET NOW An order directing appearance of Joseph M. Schenck, Sidney Ri Kent and others, before trial in the $1,500,- 000 conspiracy suit brought by Sam and Harry :Fox, of the Sam Fox Mu- sic Publishing Co., against Loew's, Inc., Metro, Robbins Music Corp.. (a Loew subsi'd). Jack Robbins, 20th Century-Fox ' Corp; and Movietone Music Corp., will be asked next Monday (15);0f N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Lauer. The suit, begun last June, charges the defendants con- spired to deprive the Sam Fox com- pany of a. contract to, handle the pub- lishing and' prorpbtion of all music compositions in 20th-Fox and its sub- sid. Movietone, .during the years 1931-1935. It is claimed by the plaintiffs that the' conspiracy -was hatched to cause 20th tq cancel the agreement in favor of the Robbins company, which in 1935 signed a 20-year contract to h;andle 66 2-3% of the music, and that Movietone was to be dissolved under the Robbins. agreement. The {Plaintiffs want $1,000,000 dam- ages from Loew's, Robbins Corp. and Jack Robbins; and $500,000 from 20th-Fpx and the Movietone - Corp. Also an Injunction to prevent the latter's: dissolution which. It is claimed by the Sam Fo:f company, enjoyed a separate income. undier the original contract, and to prevent the defendants from carrying out: the Robbins contract Besides Schehck and Kent, others sought to be examined by the plain tiffs are: W. C. Michel, executive v.p. of 20th-Fox; Edwin P. Kilroe, its copyright attorney; Darryl Zsnuck, production v.p.;' William Goetz, v.p., and William B. Dover, studio man- ager. Also Movietone, through Kilroe, Unlisted trading privileges on the Boston Stock Exchange were ex- tended to Paramount Pictures com mon by the Sacuritics & Exchange Comrnission Thursday (4). Impor- tant to provide secondary market opinion held in granting request in volvinK move than a dozen stocks. Of 2,453.658 outstanding $1 par shares of Par.imount, 81,605 are in the hands of 2.498 residents of New England (outside of Connecticut where 455 persons own 14,334 shares). Trading volume, is 189,925 shares in period from February 1 1937, to January 31,- 1938. Par Reduces Stock Value Hollywood, Aug. 9, Paramount Pictures, Inc., con- verted 7,172 shares of Its $100-par first .preferred stock into 50,204 shares of common in the past year according to a certificate of stock reduction filed with the State of California, Company also converted Creditors of Grand National, hav- ing consented to a merger with Ed- ucational, E. W.' Hamrrions and Lloyd Wright-co-trustee of GN. have agreed upon the deal under which Hammons gains, control of the GN company; Wright reached N. Y. Friday (5). At- torneys are now preparing the pa- pers for presentation to the court on Wright's return to the Coast. He plaiis leaving the end of the. week.- Meantime, there appears no possibil- ity tlvat ■ the deal now won't go through, the only otep required being approval of the bankruptcy courts in California. Wright is co-trustee with Eddie Alperspn for GN. The. plan calls for the formation of a new company, possibly to be called New Grand National; and its incorporation as a $5,060,o6o com-' pany. . Another corporation will be set up at $1,000,000 capitalization for the purpose of providing financing for production; $4Q0,00C to become available ' immediately for picture^ making. ^ A total of close: to $2,000,000 will be put into the project, with creditors having, the option of tak- ing .cash or' stock in the new com- pany: in satisfaction of claims. Hammons suggested the 'namie of New. Grand National, but may switch to something :else if consid' cred more desirable. He might fol- low Wright to the Coast in a couple weeks or so. . TO CONSULT EXHIBS ON NEW XHARLIE CHAN' Hollywood, Aug. 9, No successor to Warner Olarid in th<- 'Charlie Chan' series will be picked by 20th-Fox execs until ex hibitor reaction on a choice; is studied. Oland died Aug. 6 in Stock' holm, Sweden, after making l7 Chans since 1931. Studio denied that Keye Luke, who p.ayed Oland's son in the series, ■Would be elevated to the part until exhibs have been consulted and : canvass made, of all possibilities. J. Edward Brombcrg.is rated hav in? the best chance a; the new Chan When Warner Oland first fell 111 the studio cast about for a substi tute. and Brpmberg's tests reportedly showed up best. (Additional details on Oland's death in. Obit department; also obit on John G. Blystorie who directed many of the Chans). They'll Fight It Over For Par at Gettysbarg Hollywood, Aug. 9, Paramount finally has decided to produce 'Gettysburg,' $1,000,000 Civil War picture, after months of waver ing. Decision was prompted 'ijy the last reuhipn of the Blue, and Gray veterans on the Pennsylvania battle field. : Clifford bdets has turned in a pre- liminary script on the battle film, which goes into production as soon as Albert Lewin, producer, returns from his vacation in October. . Henry Hathaway will direct One Slant on Divorcement Discu.ssions In 'the trade regarding theatre divorcement and the possibility of this actually eventuating as a result of the threats, in the North Dakota divorcement law, and In the (Government's anti- trust action, have produced interesting factual data and theories re- garding circuit operations as existing today with Regards, to big pic- ture companies. . Greatest success enjoyed by such circuit operations came before they were consolidated in 1926, aver vieterans In the business. Same sources clairh.that theatres never panned out as successfully: under affiliated circuit operation as before or as had been anticipated. They, cite Balabaii St Katz; Stanley and Trehdle as enjoyinj^ a bigger heyday of prosperity before being taken over by Paramount Warner Bros, and Par, respectively. They are Inclined to apply the word 'dbrmant'. to the operations as existing today,. Under their own (theatre) operation, B. C. (Before Consolidation), the box. office take was good, . Now, cither because ^ too mechanized' too unwieldly or too impersonal, the old-timers believe the affiliated circuit operations, are not panning out so well.. . Reason for considering these: phases in relations to what Was pg^. sible. under circuit managenient, without any. supervision or control by a parent picture firm, is that there Is how a chance for return to the old method, of circuit opera^tion, ypluntarily or otherwise. London Producer Chides U. S. F3m Ad Sensationalism on 'Booloo' Pic TROF. BEWARE' IN PLAGIARISM SUIT Suit for $8,500, plus a percentage of the profits from 'Professor Be- ware," v/iU be filed in the U. S. dis- trict court N. Y, in the next few days against Harold: Lloyd and Par- amount by William Jpurdan Rapp and Lowell Bfentano, writers^ Ac- tion will claim the comedian used, their material in his film, after turn- ing dowii the purchase of their script Summons in the case has been served, but the complaint has not yet been filed. Phil Wittenberg is attorney for the plaintiffs. . According to the plaintiffs, they subiriitted a script to Lloyd a couple of years .ago and received a partial payment of $1,500 for it If Lloyd purchased the. script he was to pay theni another $8,500, plus, a percen- tage of the picture's gross, they al- lege^ Instead, he returned the script. : Plaintiffs now: assert Lloyd used their story in 'Professor Beware*, and they are seeking the $8,500 balance, plus the stated percentage. They fig- ure the total will coine to about $75,000. Rapp ts editor of True Story mag. He.and Brentano are also authors of ?Greek to Me,' which is on the Viri- ton Freedley production schedule and for which Cole Porter is to do the mijsic. Brabin Stricken in Paris Paris, Aug. 3. Charles Brabin, director-husband of Theda Bara, was in the American hospital here suffering from 'nerv- ous fatigue,' the result of his re- cent illness in London. He was released this week, but Is still Convalescing at home. More Than $20,000,000 Amus. Tax K.O.'s Hope U.S. WiU Drop 10% Tap 18,480 shares of $10 second preferred into 16,632 shares of common. Common, «tbck, at $1 par, now amounts to 2,465,900 shares, includ- ing 1,348 shares held for retirement. Up to July, 1937, Paramount held 42,851 common shares in its treasury, which were retired and cancelled. Amount of reduction of capital stocky from $29,856,649 to $28,954,649, has been added to the company's surplus. Washington, Aug 9. Indefinite continuance of the pres- ent scale of admissions taxes (l0% on all ducats over 40c) was. fore- shadowed by Treasury Department last week. Congress probably will be asked again this winter to pror long the emergency rates, in view of the anticipated huge deficit in the fiscal year which ends next June 30. Deaf to the wails of exhibitors, revenue experts feel the rniscellane- ous levies imposed in 1932 still can- not be lifted, even though repeal would be a shot in the arm to some lines of busiiiess. Chiefly because machinery is well established and also because industries affected can cal- culate the effect better than they could some new form of levy. As has been the case each year since the lepression, prospects for lightening the load on amusements are decidedly, poor. Repeatedly the Treasury has noted the substantial yield from theatres and other types of entertainment adliering to the be- lief that patronage is not materially curbed and proprietors do not suf. fer. Despite the recent slump in re- ceipts frpm. the 10% admissions' tapi the Government got too "much from this source during the last fiscal year to expect the Treasury would acquiesce, in returing to the old permanent basis of.exempti'rig tickets under $1. Almost equally sure to resist the proposal that starting point be raised to 61c or 76c. Pennies, nickels, and dimes which the Governrneht took from, filrh pa- trons: and other diversionrseekers in the last fiscal year mounted to new high, $20,800,774, on, basis of pre liminary figures. Even" though there \ycre several sickening drops in wicket receipts. 'The aggregate pay ments to the Treasury were $1,300, OOO better than 'the revised estimate given Congress last January and even farther ahead of the 1937 take, which was $19,740,191. Over a four, year period, the yield from the ducat impost has bounced around 33% from: $15,379,397 in 1935. The 1936 toUl was $17,112,175. London, July 28. Editor, Variety: I have read Parampunt's adver- tisement for 'Booloo' on page . 14 of - your Issue of July 20, 1938, with a great deal of Interest and awed surprise. If such' things as. are de- scribed in the text actually take place in the 'very heart of the Malayan .jungle,' I and severial peo- ple I know have unwittingly taken our lives in our hand.s. If we had known about the 'eye foi: in' ;eye' racket, about the 'thousand untamed beasts' and especially about the ■White : Tiger, perhaps we. should . never have ventured forth without machine gun— unless, , of courise, the. 'blood-lusting, beautiful women* had proved quite irresistible. As . for the 'terrible Sakai|— dur- ing the time I spent making 'Five Faces,' a film of Malaya .which is now. showing thiroughout Britain, I found these people to be charming,. inteU ligent .and helpful. They never, un-. derstood what we were doing or what the camera was, but they were willing to humour us in our, to them, stupid actions. Mr. H. D. Noone, the anthropologist who took me up into the jungle,: has made, several trips of many months duration alohe across the remotest mountains and untouched jungle, and, as far as I know, has. never had aiiy difficulty at all, except that diie to the natural shyness of jungle peo- ple. Poison darts they certainly use • —to kill rats: and monkeys for food; and they can probably be as fero- cious In the face of at'-acl: as any other race, .whether civilized or pot Adyertischients of the 'Booloo* type can.^lo- nothing but harm to the cinema industry. I am, personally, an enthusiastic admirer of adven- ture stories on the screen when such . stories are frankly fictitious and dp . not pretend to portray Ectual fads. But no good can be said of films which definitely present disloited facts concerning actual people and places. By all means let us enjoy the activities of Tarzan, of jungle princesses and white goddesses, but let us keep -fact out of it. There must ' be many people to whom this sort of film is ofTcnsivc, and certainly in this country there.is a large potential audience whicK is definitely being kept away from the cinemas by this kind of cheap sen- sationalism. Your headline of the .<;ame issue says: 'Pix Slipping in Stix,' Perhaps there is some connection between the two Items. Aleafandcr Shavi. (Strand Film Co., Ltd.. 37-39 Oxford street London, W.l.) Runyon's Pic Bow Waits Hollywood. Aug, 9. Damon Runyon's debut as a Metro writer has been . postponed until Sep- . tember, due to newspaper comniit- ments in New York. Hearst's ace reporter is assigned to cover the trial of James J. H'"*-i Tammany district leader, in the pol' icy racket case. Nelson Circusing in Pix Hollywood, Aug. 9.^ Bert Nelson Will do his cat act in Spl Lesser's 'Peck s Bad Boy the Circus.* Goes before lenses with his cag* of lions and tigers. Wednesday, Auguet 10» 1938 PICTURES VARIETY PIX BIZ MISSES OUT Postponement ahd probable abandonment of the industry trade conference is a severe blow to exhibitor interests through- out the country. Quite apart from the long delay in the settle- meht of trade problems through the medium of the Govern- ment's ahti-trust suit against major distributors, it is the eeneral belief of exhibitors that self-regulation could do the job better and quicker than court ukase. Frankness of Sidney R. Kent's statement that the reason for postponenient is because of the legal issues which have arisen 'since the filing on Jiily 20 of the anti-trust suit against major companies and 122 individuals is typical of the forthright policy be always has used in dealing with trade matters. : ;pe says, 'Right after Labor Day, and after dounser have 'riven their opinion, it can be said definitely what the position in regard to meetings with exhibitors wiU be, or it ciaih be said whether conditions, because of the pendency of the Govern- ment's suit, make it impossible to meet the exhibitors at all.' Film industry never before has found itself in a situation quite so confusing. Never before have industry leaders found themselves in a. spot quite so etjibarrassing. Arid never before has the trade been so curious to know and understand exactly what President Hoosevelt told the heads of the eight largest film companies at the White House meeting on June 25^ last. In atteiidance at that meeting were AVill H. Hays, Barney ■Balaban (Par), Nate Bluiiiberg (U), Harry Gohn (Col),/ S. R. Kent (20th-Fox), George J. Schaefer. (UA), Nicholas, M. Schenck (LoeWs), Leo Spitz (RKO) ■ and Major Albert Warner (WB). ■ ' Spokesman for the industry stated after the White;; House conference that the ChiH Executive 'received an encouraging picture of production activities and the continued progress in self-regulation of the motion picture industry.' Is it possible that the film executives, \yheh they met with •the President, were uninformed that the Department of Justice already had sent to the Government printing offite tlie carer ^fully drawn arid extensive bill of particulars in the contem plated anti-trust action? : And is it possible that none of the filni executives viras aware of the impending legal strafe? And was there any relation between the White, House meet- ing on June 25 and the announcement of the trade coriference issued on June 28? And did hope beat expectantly that the trade conferences .might swerye the Department of Justice from its. long avowed purpose of cracking down on the major film companies? ■ And; last, are answers to tliese questions anyone's business - except the defendant companies and the 122 individual execu tives and company directors who are defendants? , ; Yes. Thousands of independent theatre operators in the United States are intensely interested iri knowing exractly what is likely to happen to their interests if regulation of trade prac- tices must await the court's decision and the interriiinable ap peal rulings. They would like to know why and how a gesture for cooperative planning is suddenly converted into an in- definite push-off. Upon the outcome of the Government's suit depencls the future structure of the whole motion picture business. Will the Government through the Federal courts, write the ticket for independent exhibitors whose combined investments in theatre properties far exceeds the values of properties owned by the defendant companies ? It begins to look that way. It begins to appear that the major film companies, through refusal earlier to cope with the trade practice problems of the industry during the interval of three years since the end otthe NRA code, have let slip from their grasp the opportunity for sclf-regulatiori. In other . words, major distributors talked about self-regula- tion and did nothing about it. Then, at the last minute, they attempted to set up a plan for conferences, but it was too late. That the plan for self-regulation was still-born may not be attributed to the cnterjprise. foresight and determination of Sidney R. Kent, who assumed an industry duty in undertaking the chairmanship of the distributors'' committee. It was Kent who fought arid won for exhibitors thc conce.ssions tliey ob- taihed iri 1933, and. some of the favorable provisions they won in the NRA code. Self-regulation is dubious. Glutton on Diet Hollywood, Auig; 9. Busier than a one-man band for 18 month's, Richard , Lane is winding up hjs acting con- tract at RKO : and /whittling, down, his seven .business en- terprises to one. In his leisure' moments between' pictures. Lane had flnancial interests in a flrrti making ' chemical farm- ing tanks, a tire rebuilding plant, an auto sales' agency, a Venetian blind tactory and a .30% cut ii) a dentist whom he: staked through college: His lone remaining business activity is, the management of Gentleman Danny :. McShaih, rassler. NW Exchanges See No 111 Effect From U. SSint and N. D. Dei^on; Chi Indies aid Allied Han Suit HICKS, BRmSH, OGLES H'WOOD PROD. SCENE Hollywood, Aug. 9. Ben Hicks, th'catre operator in America and London, before unload ing his, British hoUs.es to Paramount, is - here from Englaridi backed by British capital, to size up the Holly wood situation, with a view to pro duping on international scale.. Hibks will report to his financing associates on whether, to make pic- tures here or concentrate in London, Idea is to .produce for both Amer- ican and foreign release. 'Golliyer' All Set To Travel; Ditto 'Aladdin'; Par/U Feature Cartoons Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger, aftWr a month in New York, haye completed their writing of the songs for .'GuUiver^s Travels.' This is the full-length, cartoon feature which Max Fleischer is producing for Paramount Rainger is already back west and Robin follows. ■ Hollywood, Aug. 9, Color tests are . in progress for Walter Lahtz's $750,000 cartoon, 'Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp, at Uriiversal, Arabian Nights tale , is one of .four cartoons Lantz will pro- duce for U: release. SNIDER MEETING DEAN ON COAST NEXT WEEK Procrastination has won a;sain. Still an Orphan Hollywood/ Aug. 9. . John- Speaks, independent pro- Queer, has postponed but not aban- aoned bis plan to make 'Little Or- phan Annie' for Paramount release. Latest move is to Expand, from one picture into a series. :- Studio has extended the date oi release to permit Speaks to. arrange 'le financing. ' pay-and-Date Hollywood, Aug. 9; Sam Bischb'ff plays a double head- er at Warners Aug. 22, sending two productions before the cameras at the same time. Films are 'Crime Is a Racket,' faa- turing Frankie Bui kc, and 'Unfit to Print,' with Pat ..O'Bs-icn and Joan Blbndcll..: Leon ". Snider,: who has been in New 'York for several weeks after returning from a two-month stay in Kurope, heads for the Coast next week. Partner in the Snider-Dean circuit of Australia plans to . meet George Dean of the firm in Los An gcles. . . ■ Snider stopped for sevferal weeks in N. Y. early thi.j spring before go ing abroad. On this and his subse quent visi.'. he is credited with con tacMng fllm companies and stage show producers and , lining up deals for Snider-Dean. Understood that Dean came to the U. S. to follow through on these propositions, prob- ably doing actual signatO'lng of all deals he approves. , Bette Davis' Mexer Hollywood, Aug., 9. : Bette Davis' next starring role ait Wa;;riers is Carlotta, in. 'Phantom Crown," a yarn of Maximilian's short career as the last royal ruler of Mexico. • Picture is slited to start ;arly in tail, with the script already com pleted by Aeneas McKinzie, Wolf gang Reinhairt and John Houston. BAXTER'S NEXT Hollywood, Aug. 9 Next for Warner Baxter at 20th Fox will be 'King of Khyber Rifles.' typed after 'Bengal Lancer, and Concerns the occupation in In- dia by British troops. Minneapolis, Aug. 9. Locial exchange heads claim that the Cfovernment's anti-trust suit against the eight major distributors and the Federal court decision up- holding the Nbirth Dakota theatre divorcement law's validity haven't had the effect of making independ- ent exhibitors In this territory, out- side the Twin Cities, tougher to do busliiess with and put them in an anti-buying mood. The branch man- agers insist that selling is progress- ing 'most satisfactorily', and that gains are being shown over the cor- responding period a year ago. As far as Minneapolis, and St Paul are concerned, the, inajor exchanges don't start selling ; until later, Some of the more prominent independent exhibitors , in theTwin Cities, how- ever, have intimated they iexpect to buy 'just aboiit as they please,' if not at their own terms, and that they're prepared to 'take up with the Jusr tice Department at Washington any 'unfair* or 'unreasonable' demiands on the distributors' part, • 'Eager to flay' Branch managers declare .that the vast majority of exhibitors are actu- ally eager to buy, especially because they anticipate normal business in the fall and winter. Excepting the first-runs in the largest cities,, busi- ness in, this- territory has held Up better during the current depres- sidii than in other sections ^ of the country, being ofTi on the: average, only 15-20%, the exchange heads In- sist; Attitude of exhibitors gener- ally isn't any different today from what it was before .the distributors were handed their recent body blows by . the Federal court . and govern- rhent At » SlandsUlI Northwest Allied leaders here de- ride the exchanges' claims . regarding felling and assert that 'it's at a standstill.' They say the 'unsettle- ment' is making Independent ' the? atres- "very cautious' and loath to buy . because of the feeling that more advantageous deals can be made later. Northwest Allied Is holding a meeting here this week to decide 'what effect,' if any," recent 'industry developments* should have on mem- bers* buying policies. President yt. A. Steffes is expected to advise the independents to- resist percentage deals, forced buying of shorts, etc., and, if necessary, to, carry out threats to enlist the aid of the Dept. of Justice 'to obtain a square deal.' One fly in the ointment, as far as the business outlook in thi.i territory is concerned, is the abnormally low graiiii prices.' While crops, generally, will be good, prices have dropped so. far that the farm income will be much less than was previously an ticipated. Chicago, Aug. 9. Attorneys for the Allied and in- dependent theatres here are„ready- ing . to .flle suit within the next two weeks in the Federal courts to seek an . injunction restraining filrh dis* . tributing from performing; contracts' on the new season's product if the new contracts contain the present clauses of clearance and protection^ and. fails to eliminate double fea- tures. ■ ' • This decision to file suit follows the futile meetings; that were held here between Allied representatives and Paramount-Balaban & Katz execs. In for B. & K. were Austin Keough. ' Sam Rosenthal, John and Dave . Balaban, Walter Immerman and Morris Leonard. Sitting in as ' attorney for Allied members was Joe ; Rosenberg, of Rosenberg, Stein & ' Rosenberg. Also in the picture is the w: local; Allied chieftain; Jack Kirsch, who . has succeeded the late Aaroi) Saperstein. Meeting resulted in no. compromise whatever, with each side laughing oiff the other's proposal for a basis of get-together. Allied group asked for either, of two changes in present picture setup, in Chicago: .(1) the slicing .of loop; to first week , of gen- eral -release' clearance from present 10 weeks to five weeks, -or (2) the immediate elimination of double- features. B tc K's Six Balaban & Katz execs- couldn't see either one of the^e two proposals. . However, came back, the following day with . an offer to eliminate double features in- all houses in the £ity with the exception of the ' week' of pre- release, which is the run imniediately following the loop showings.' . ' "This counter-proposal was nixed : by the Allied .branch, so that the entiire deal is now a standoff. Allied, group contends that the restriction of doubles to the A houses would give B. & K. practically' a monopoly on twin features, in Chicago. While it is generally admitted la industry and legal circles that ther* is- nothing contrary to equity or law in double features, the attorneys for - Allied insist that doubles are being used by the major theatres in such • way that . the pictures are beln'g milked of most of their boxofficti value in the first few runs of the flicker, with the exhibitors toward the tail end of the releasing pro- cession getting the skimmed milk. In this way the 'Allied attorney hope to tie in- double, features as a key point in their entire argument, and thus attempt to kill off- doubles as an inequitable method of exhibit- ing pictures. M-G StaUs Conrt Tiff By Giving Test Pilot' Script to Collins' Wife As a condition for postponing argu ment oh the motion for a preliminary injunction, Metro has agreed to fur- nish the ■yyidow of James H. Collins with the actual shooting script of Lieut. Frank Read's original, 'Test Pilot.' which victor Lawrence and ■Waldemar Young authored. Mrs, Delores Lacy Collins is suing Metro for $1,000,000, alleging that her late husband's, similarly titled book> 'Test Pilot,' was infringed upon; Her attorney, Harry Weinberger has gone to the Coast in connection with this case. METRO RELEASE, COIN FOR 'GONE' Hollywood, Aug. . 9. Metro is going to finance and re- lease 'Gone With the Wind,' David O. Selznick producing and Clark Gable in the role of .Rhett Butler. Production will start shortly after New Year's Day, with an initial budget of $1,500,000. Pact allows - Selznick to select a' player for: the role of Scarlett O'Hara, either from the Metro stellar, ranks or from the outside. RICHMAN'S 2-IN-l Kollywopri. Au^. 9 Harry Richmah opoii.s a miiiimurh ?lw-o weeks" s!and it the Clover Club ■ here Au2. 2R.' 1 Likely he'll do a picture while on I (he Coast, Irene Castle Confers On Three-Way Stint . , Hollywood, Aug. 9. . Irene Castle McLaughlin is due. here Thui-sday (11) to confer with Pandro Herman on- hei three-way job as writer, technical advisor,; and co;lumc designer for 'The Castles." Play, built around ii ne and 'Ver- nnn Ca.stlt when thoy were Amer- ica's Icadin;; dance team, will co-iitar GinWr- Rogers arid Fred A.stairc. Start is sla'ed for mid-September. Warners Ahoy! Hollywood,, Aug. 9. Fleet of whaling vessels is being rounded up in Seattle for use in the filming of Warners' 'Sea Wolf,' starring Pat O'Brien. Production starts Sept. 1. . Studio is gettine sea-minded, with 'The Sea Wolf,; The Sea Hawk' and The Sea Beast' scheduled for the next few month.s 'Ice' for Schuhzel I Hollywood, Aui;'. 9. i Rt-iiihokl .Scliiiii/er gcus "I'he Ice I Follies' ;;l Metro as his second di- rectorial j >b in America following 'H'cli M;i)i. J'oor Girl.' ! BiA' .rinI: is. iifinji constructed on : the Ijjicit l.it fur a Sspt; 1 stirt, , Ilarry Uaiif i.: pioduccr. « VARIETY PICtliRES Wedneedajr, August 10, 1938 Milton C. Moore, Prez of S.E.MPTO, Details an Indie's Slant on How To Effect Exhib-Distrib Accord By Mikori C. Miobre (President, - Sbatheastcrn Theatre bwiier?' Assn.) Jacksonville,' Fla,, Aug. 5. I greatly appreciate your asking that I express . my personal opinion regarding the Trade Conference pro- posals for the distributors and ex- hibitors in aii effort to arrive, at some workable plan to solve the, maiiy dif- ferences and disturbing elements which have grov.'n on -this great in- dustry during the past years. I want first to thank Variety for its always fair pbjicy of reporting to the industry at large both sides of every controversiial matter, as there are thousands .'6f small Exhibitors located in small towns that do not' belong: to aiiy association and who are unable to under- stand the problems at hand; and, if they are hot given both sides of every question, then they are apt to arrive at the v/rong conclusion. In discussing the various problems to be consideried by a conference be- tween the distributors and the ex- hibitors in an attempt to establish some form of working, out the. inany disturbing elements which have grown on us during the past few years I would like to first say that there are two sides of every question^ and that I will try -to keep that .in mind, at all times. I call to' your attention the various: exhibitor, setups ' in this great industry in order to shovv; that this problem is not at all easy' to solve, due to the many different viewpoints by the exhibitors them- selves. Types of ExUbs In the exhi.bition end we have four major classes of exhibitors — the Af- filiated Circuits, the Non-Affiliated Circuits, the Opposition Independents and the Non-Opposition Independ ents— and each'of these look at the: situation through different eyes, hence a solution, that would suit one would ruin the other. Then we have the problems of the major producers, which are our problems as. well, as theirs. Then there are the inde- pendent or, smaller producers, who have a different - problem than the major producers. First, I will say that the greatest problems we have to go into and try to find a suitable sqlution for can be divided into; block .booking, clear' ance, percentage, preferred playing time, overproduction, forcing . of news and ' short subjects, score charges, withdrawal of announced features, selling without titleis or stars, which make nine . different problems which will have to be worked out before this industry will settle down to normal again I will now take .up the first sub- ject that I mentioned, which is: Block Booking The opposition exhibitors are for block booking, as they are able to tie up product under this method of selling. The non-opposition exhib itors are against it, as they would like to buy and run only the biggest productions released by every pro ducer and not have to bother with the smaller features. I believe that I «m safe in saying that this number of exhibitors are about, equally divided In number In this country. .The diS' tributors are for it, as It is a much cheaper way of selling their product, and they know exactly how rriuch revenue they will have for the year, and, again, they are able to finance their operations much better, as they can borrow on their con tracts.. Then, again, the distributors obtain most of their revenue from the big cities, and they are con^ trolled by the circuits, and the cir :uits prefer block booking. . I will lay that block • booking is not the main problem and can be left alone If a solution for overproduction can be worked out along with the fore Ing of news and short subjects, which t will touch on laiter. - Clearance This problem is very vital, as las caused a lot of trouble between ipposition exhibitors, and during the .VRA days it was one of the. most frc- Iticnt cases to come up. This is due « circuits which control several the- itres in a city charging ■ various prices, holding their independent op- position off till^fter they have fin- ished with each feature or short sub- ject In many instances the circuit has a price range from top to bottom, and the theatres in the' low price class are not always representative houses. The opposition will have a higher price and a much ilner theatre in a much, better location and oper- ate on a much higher plane, and yet he is forced to follow the last :t\m of the circuit. He can never depend on product, due to the fact that he has to change his bookings every time the circuit or opposition change theirs. Then, again, where there are smaller towns within a few miles of a larger circuit-owned town, this exhibitor is faced with the same situation as though he. was in the larger town, as the smaller towns are required to stay behind the larger ones. This situation could be cleared up very easily if theatres could be classed first, second, third run, and so on, based on the class of opieration and the price charged, regardless of who owned them. Set up a reason- able time , between runs and' make each theatre either clear the run or surrender ; their rights: 'if not run within their clearance^ and the next run passed .on to its rightful owner. ThiS: same solution would work out where there are towns close enough to each other to make a decided dif- ference. Percentage This problem presents .various ar- gumients for and. against hoth fromi the exhibitor add the distributor. The distributors maintain that they are entitled to a percentage on their top productions ranging from 35% to: 50% and yet on their poorer class productions the; exhibitors have to take a loss in most instances. There are many more productions released by each producer that are in the low gross, class than are In. the higher class:^and when an exhibitor has to pay out part of his profits on the only ones that will make him anv money and still have to pay a flat price for the ones that fall below house expenses he naturally cannot make this situation jibe. I frankly say that I don't know how a fair, solution can be worked out 'for this problem and can only offer the best thing that I can think of, which is this: : Either play every picture on a percentage from top to bottom with the percentage starting at 15% and ending at 40%, with the releases being placed in their re- spective classes after their key runs have established Uieir earning power. Or if this, plan is not agreeable, then to sell the entire contract at a flat rental. I may add here that the number of days to be run on pei-' centage pictures must be ' according to the gross maintained by each piC' ture, and when it falls below a cor' tain figure the picture will have fin- ished its run and not before.. Also that the days of the week be agreed on between th^ distributor and the exhibitor, as some features do better than others • on certain days of the week.. Preferred Playing Time This problem I have somewhat covered in the paragraph just ahead as this problem only presents itself where percentage pictures are in- volved. I Will only say here that producers oftti'mes state that a pic lure has ^o have a: Saturday and Sunday date and ofttimes the pic ture in question will not gross as much ori a Saturday-Sunday as it would on other days, and yet, the distributor will not agree to open the picture on any . other day thaii that called for in the contract. This is absolutely unfair to the exhibitor as, if he' has to play a' percentage picture, then he would rather play it on the days it would gross the most money in his particular theatre. The contract should be flexible enough for the- branch manager to decide with the exhibitor which days should be involved on each show. Overproduction This problem mainly concerns the producers. The exhibitors are In volved- simply because they are forced to buy the entire product from whatever producer they do business with. If an exhibitor could buy 50% of the product, then he would not care how many pictures each producer releascj^ each year This has come about because; each major company wants to tie up a,*: much playing time as possible, and when one announces 50 pictures then each i the other producers im mediately announces the same, aum- ber. ■ ■ It is a well-known fact that none of the companies produces more than 10 features each year that gross ig money. There are about 10 other features that gross, above expenses, and the balance of about 30 gross ber low theatre expenses. Then it would certainly seem possible that should, each producer cut his production down to 25 features he would be able to devote more time to better pic- tures and save a lot of real: money, in print costs, salaries, distribution and everything that , goes into the making .of minor product. This would have to come about by. an agreement between the producers themselves and they would all bie. much, better off. , Forctaig of News, and. Shorts This problem is easily solved by the producers realizing that an ex-: hiijitor can only run so . much short product If he has a double feature policy he is unable to run as many shorts as a theatre with a single- feature policy. Most theatres can run only one issue of news and' if he buys from Metro, Paramount, Fox, Universal and RKO, :he has a con- stant argument as to whose news he will run that year and if he alter- nates the news with each company he still gets no. place as they don't want to wait two or four years to have one news run in his ' theatre. .This problem can be easily solved by the producers using one newsreel agency and distribute the news through this one agency. Each prO'^ ducer could own equal stock in it regardless of where - the newsreels played or how many issues. Under this saine heading I will mention production of trailers by Metro, Warher, etc., also by National Screen Service and other ; service companies. The exhibitor shoidd be left free to decide what trailer ser- vice he wants to use or let the vari- ous producers , o%(hi and operate' a central trailer service, each owing equal stock, in it, thereby receiving: equal represeritation and profits. Score. Charge This is a question that has caused a lot of talk and many arguments and for which the producers have as yet been, unaible to show any real' reason. Some distributors make a score charge and some don't, or at least if they do it is not shown sepa- rately. This question ean easily be cleared up by the producers show- ing that there is a real reason for it Wlthdra.wal of Annoanced Features This is absolutely unfair and has caused a lot of lawsuits, disputes and ill feeling between exhibitor and dis- tributor. It is a well known problem and needs no discussion except that every distributor should be forced to deliver the product which he prom- ised at the time the contract was sold. The solution to this problem is absolutely within the hands of the distributor. This, is the only business in the world that has any standing what- soever where a certain thing is sold and then withdrawn without any. lia- bility being placed on the!seller, and then offered for re-sale later under different terms, or even the same terms. Each producer ' should be honor-bound, if not by law, to de- liver the product announced at the time the contract was signed. Selling Without TlUe or Stars This practice was started only . a few years back. It was first tried by one distributor and then by the other, till how nearly all of the dis tributors use .it The , only excuse they have for not placing in your contract that you have bought a cer- tain star's picture, a certain author's story or a certain kind of story at a certiin price is that- they, the pro ducers, do not know at the start of the season what will be a money inaklng picture later on, or what star may rise suddenly to public demand later on in the same year, or what book or story may be popular now and unpopular .later on. We remember very clearly just a short time back the standard contract carried a clause that if a star or story was substituted the exhibitor could cancel the picture regardless of price or terms and no other pic- ture could be moved up to take its place. This selling method that is used now absolutely protects -the dis- tributor ort all of his percentage pic- tures as he has. a right to move into percehtagie class every picture that has any signs' pf making mdhey oh its key runs up to the number of per- centage pictures you have bought on that contract This gives the exhibi tor little chance of ever getting a money maker at flat rental. -Every elemertt of chance Is taken out of the release schedule for the distribu- tor and under the present method of selling by a.11 except one producer, the distributor absolutely protects himself when you sign youi: contract For^ Cast(e) System Pails, Aujg. 9. Simone Simon returned to her native Fraince quite unostentatiously after being washed up at 20th-Fox. No hoopla upon her arrival and the 2bth-Fox organization sidestepped the usual whoop-derdo when a visiting celeb goes to Paris. This Is in line with a new attitude towards foreign artists who come to Hollywood on short commitments and, when failing to make the grade, even find themselves, losing caste in their native land. That's why some are -assiduously sidestepping American, bids, tmless assured of a decent break. Charles Boyer and Danielle Darrieiuc are pointed to now as the only ones really enjoying both U. S. and nench dis- tlnctlon, from two' persp land, the 'Continent and Australia, opening next May. Contralto returned from Europe last Thursday (4) with her husband, Frank Chapman. She is signed to appeal: with the Met Opera Co. again this , season. Chapman will wind up his film .commitments this fall and has a nupiber of concert dates dur-: ing the 'winter. Jack Warner Abroad For Theatre Opening Hollywood, Aug. 9. . Jack L. Warner is going to London for the opening of the new-WarnerS: theatre, Oct. 11, on this site of the old Daly's in Leicester Square. New house will make its bow with 'Robin Hood.' Kent Resnmes Yacash Heturning from Rangely, Mc., to meet Darryl Zanuck upon his arrival, ^ and to contact the committee on trade practice reforms which i"" eludes Bill Rodgers,l*ed:Depinet and Abe Montague, S. R; Kent left Fri- day (5) for the upper New Englarid coast He will probably remain in Maine during the rest of August . Zanuck, who was in. Europe .two months,- is already back in ' Holly- wood, having arrived there Monday- ffl). Tyrone Powr, who was in New York, flew west Sunday (7.), stop- ihg off in Chicago for one day. Wednesday, August 10, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY 10 MAJORS CALLED UNFAIR ilREGIORS ID AIR GRIEVIliEUZD Studios Balk at Guild De- mand to Bargain for Three Groups— 21)^Foz Files Lengthy Answer of Denial-— Action Seen as Short Cut If SDG Certified SP BREAKUP? Hollywood, Aug. 9. Charges that 10 major film com- paniies were guilty of unfair labor practices , in rejfuslng to negotiate a working agreement with the Screeti Directors Guild will be aired .before a trial . examiner for the National Ijabor Relations Board here Aug. 22. Simultaneously the examiner will conduct a hearing on the petition of the SDG : asking for certification as bargaining Representative for direc- tors, unit managers Slid assistant .directors. , Dr. towne Nylander, regional di- rector for the NLRB^ ordered the two jca;es consolidated after attorneys' for the companies renewed their refusal to recoignize the Guild unless the, or- ganization' was divided into two sepa-. rate guilds, with directors in one iahd unit riianagers and assistant directors In the other. The .producers contend that the three groups do not constitute an appropriate bargaining unit,: and in- sist that directors are not employees £ithin the meaning of the- Wagner ibbr Act. .They have offered to ne- gotiate separate, agreements with the' directors and unit managers and as- tistaht directors. . Plans for an agreement to stipulate Certain . evidence pertaining - to the film, industry will be discussed this Veek at a conference between Dr. Nylander, William Walsh, senior counsel for the NLRB; Barry Bran- . aen, attorney for the Guild, and rep- resentatives of the 10 companies. Such an- agreement will eliminate the necessity of calling many wit- nesses, as evidence used in the Screen Writers Guild hearing rela- tive to interstate commerce, etc., jcould be offered by stipulation. Companies against which unfair labor practice charges have been filed by the Guild are Metro, Pair- amount, Samuel Goldwyn, Selznick- International, Universal, Walter Wanger, Warners, Columbia, RKO- Kadid, 20th-Fox. Action is seen as a move by the Guild to speed up rec- ognition by the producers. Should the Guild be certified by the NLRB, this legal move would save the Guild 12 months' time, usual procedure be- ing to wait until after certification and refusal to bargain and then start unfair labor practice charges. Pres- ent method is a short cut. Beyond Federal Action 20th-Pox is first film company to file ah answer to the petition of the directors for certification. Answer, prepared by Alfred Wright, general counsel for company, claims direc- tors have individual contracts with studios that cannot be - upset by a congressional act. Salient points in 20th-Fox answer follows: .'Denies that Association, of Motion i-icture Producers, Inc.; Motion Pic- ture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc., or Pat Casey, employ w employs, or have or has any au- wonty or right whatsoeveir to em- P'oy any employee for or to act or render services of any kind or nature whatsoever ■ in the employment of .any person or. persons by 20th-Fox 'iim Corp. 'Denies that the aUeged question concerning representation described jn said amended petition is a ques- wpn affecting commerce within the .meaning of said National Labor Re- lations Act, or otherwise, affecting in- terstate commerce; denies that the national Labor Relations Board has any . jurisdiction or authority to in- . vestigati the controversy alleged by In ^I"^"^*^ petition to exist, or to mvestlgate any controversy between motion picture directors, assistant motion picture directors, imit man« agers and 20th-Fox Film Corp., or to certify the name or names of any reptesentative or representatives designated or selected by motion pic- ture directors, or assistant motion picture directors or unit managers, or all of them, either under said Na- tional Labor Relations Act or other- wise. 'That the production of motion pic- tures by 20th-Fox Film Corp. does not affect trade, traffic, commerce, transportation or communication among the several states of the Unit- ed States. . 'Denies that the average approxi- mate number of employes employed by said 20th-Fox Film Corp. is 5,000, but alleges on the contrary that the average number of said employees does not exceed 3,000; denies that the number of such employees who are either motion picture directors, assistant motion picture directors or unit managers is 55, but alleges, oh the contrary, that the number of such employees-is approximately 65. 'Not Appropriate Bargainer' 'Denies that motion picture direc- tors, assistant motion picture direc- tors and unit managers comprise a bargaining unit which, is appropriate for collective bargaining under the provisions of the National Labor Re- lations Act 'Denies that Screen Dlrectoris Guild, Inc., is a representative of inotion picture directoirs, assistant motion picture directors and unit managers for collective bargaining within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act, or that said Screen Directors Guild, Inc., is en- titled- to. represent employes de- scribed in said amended petition, ,or entitled to be certified as such rep- resentative; denies that motion pic- ture directors, assistant motion pic- ture directors or unit managers are employes within the meaning or In- tent of said National Labor Relations Act 'Denies that any question has arisen between said Screen Directors Guild, Inc., and 26th-Fox Film Corp. under the said National Labor Relations Act, or that any question has arisen between, said Screen Directors Guild, Inc., and '20th-Fox Film Corp. as to which the National Labor Relations Board, has any jurisdiction whatso- ever. 'That the National Labor Relations- Board has no jurisdiction over the alleged controversy set forth in said amended petition, or over any con- troversy ..between 20th-Fox Film Corp. and the individuals who are designated in said amended petition as motion picture directors, assistant motion picture directors and unit managers, for the reason that, said persons are not employees within the . meaning of the National Labor Relations Act. 'That said Screen Directors Guild, Inc., is not a unit entitled to rep- resent any employes of 20th-Fox Film Corp., or entitled to be cer- tified as the representative of any such employes, for the reason that the individuals who compose and are members of said organization, and each of them, are not employes within the meaning or intent of the National Labor Relations Act and most of said individuals are not and were not at the time of the filing of the original petition or the amended petition herein and never -were em- ployes of said 20th-Fox Film Corp. wherein and whereby the terms and conditions affecting and governing tile work of said respective motion picture directors are prescribed and set forth. Charge Purposes Void . 'That said National Labor Rela- tions Act is unconstitutional and void insofar as it purports to authorize the said National Labor Relations Board, or any representative tliereof, to require ZOlli-Fox Film Corp. to bargain collectively with such of its motion picture directors as have exe- cuted and entered into written con- tracts, and in so far as it purports to entitle said National Labor Relations Board, or any representative desig- nated by it, or any other person^ or agent, to decide what unit is appro- priate for purposes of collective bar- gaining, or for the purpose of in- vestigating any question concerning persons whose relations to said 20th- Fox Film Corp. are governed and controlled by written contracts be- (Continued on page 21)- NLRB 0.K.8 SWG Washington, Aug. 9. Screen Writers' Guild was designated today (Tuesday) as exclusive bargaining agency for scribblers at 13 Hollywood stu- dios. National Labor Relations' Board ratified results of June balloting,' throwing out petitions for right to represent ■ idea- concocters at four other plants, . Based upon results .of the June 28 election, the Board dubbed the Guild as mouth- piece for all plot doctors at Metro, Selznick,. Goldwyn, . Re- public, Columbia, Paramount, RKO, Universal, 20th-Fox, War- ners, Roach, Monogram and Darmour, wliere clear- major- ites were registered. Ashcanned ' requests for permit to front for writers working at Grand Na- tional, Trem Carr, Major and Schulberg shops. Petition for investigation of situation at Wanger studio also was dis- missed, in acordance with the principle that where tliere is only one eligible voter the Board cannot certify. a medium. No voters at the four plants' where the Guild was ■ frozen out Refusal of the studios to give lists of employees drew a slap which indicates the protests against thie outcome of the elecr tion will be shelved. Board said Dr. Towne J. Nylander, re- gional director at Los Angeles, bad asked for names of eligibles but employees would not coop- erate. In view of these condi-, tions, 'they are .clearly not in a position to object to the pro- cedure which was followed,' law < interpreters sarcasmed. ; Also, they failed to exercise right to have checkers at the polls, so the objections are without merit and do not deserve further con- sideration. Academy Reorgs; Sustaining Radio Show Q?er CBS Hollywood, Aug. 9. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will go strictly sustain- ing in the fall with a fuu hoiirTadio show. Decision .was reached at a re- organization meeting last night (Mon- day) to steer clear of sponsors in order to maintain freedom of expres- sion and avoid any overlording by a bankroller. Columbia Broadcasting is favored for the free show as Academy mem- bers feel that NBC carries most of the gosslpers'who assail the film biz. RKO UP IN THE AIR OVER 'BALLOON' FILM Hollywood, Aug. 9. RKO is pressuring Pandro Her- man to get 'Balloon Busters' under way pronto to casli in on the interest in air doings. Studio has owned the Liberty iriag serial for five years, and Cliff Held has had the script ready for most release pirograms since that tinie. ; . Berman personally supervises the production. RKO handed Lee Marcus a new three-year contract with supervision over 34 pictures for the 1938-39 pro- grami He has been with the studio five years, starting as a shorts pro- ducer. • ' Company also lifted options on Robert Sisk, producer, and Lou Lan- ders, director^ for one .year. Lombard, Powell Will Gamble with Selznick Hollywood, Aug. 9. First thesps to gamble on profits under the new Myi-on Selznick plan are Carole Lombard and Wil- liam Powell. Pair will co-star in the second picture to be made by the Ernst Lubitsch Productions, Inc., with Lubitsch as director. Stiooting will start immediately after completion of The Shop Around the Corner,' ip which .I?olly Haas is starring, Quite a Batde Wages in Cal. Around Biofs loan'; Air lA M DISCORDANT NOTES Helfetz-Goldwyn Can't Coincide on Film Shopting . Hollywood, Aug, 9. Jascha Heifetz^ has declined the offer of SaiTiuel Goldwyn to call off his annual concert tour for which consideration the producer would re- imburse the violinist with the money he would 'have earned. Heifetz told: Goldwyn the concert field has been his bread and butted for a quarter of a century and he's, not giving it up, evsn for one season to accommo- date Gold wyn's shooting schedule on 'The Great Music Festival.' Producer made, the offer when it became ap- parent the picture won't be 'ready for start: by Sepc. 1. Contract calls for Oct 15 finish, for which period Heifetz receives $123,000, Heifetz has been under pontract to Goldwyn for mort than a year, with scripting started ' by Fannie Hurst, later taken over by I. A. R; Wylie and now delegated t-) Robert Riskin. Goldwyn is awaiting Heifetz's reply tu overture for postponement to March ' 1, for which the virtuoso would receive a bonus'. Heifetz has a play-or-pay contract with Gojd^ wyn. Helen Vinson Brings Her $33,000 Suit Vs. Toplitzky Into N. Y. Helen 'Vinson, stage and picture star, has filed suit in N. V. supreme court to recover $33,000 which she claims she paid the N. Y. LIfe In- surance Co., through Bernard Top- litzky, Los Angeles and Hollywood business agent for picture stars who are too busy to handle their own financial . dealings. . Miss Vinson, wife of Fred Perry, the tennis, ace, claims Toplitzky, representing him- self ias an authorized agent for the insurance' '^omjjany, induced. Miss Vinson to invest a total of $55,000 in annuities with the N. 'Y. Life through him and Frank N. Nathan, the ac- kno-wledged representative of the company on the (ioast . The company refunded $22,000 to Miss Vinson, but denies responsibil- ity for the remaining $33,000, claim- ing the sum was never paid to I for policies. The company also denies ever having done business with Top- litzky; that.he wa. not its agent and, if anything, he acted as a broker for the actress. . Miss Vinson recently got a judg- ment in Los Angele; courts for $25,- 000 against Toplitzky but has only received $5,000 of this amount thus far. Through her N. Y. attorney, Leon Leighton, she now wants the courts to hold the insurance com- pany Habile for the unsatisfied amount which she paid for the an- nuities. .justice Ferdinand Pecora has re- served decision on the company's motion to d ism is, the action and also on the request of Leiyhton that the company, through its officials, be or- dered .to appear foi examination be- fore trial to determine the exact re- lation.ship between Toplitzky and the company. 'Leighton's motion is based on the fact that Toplitzky was able to obtain the policies for Miss Vinson either through Nathan or directly without puttinij up the cash before delivery, a rule the company insists upon. Garbo's Russky and -Curie' Hollywood, Aiig. 9. Greta Garbo reports at Metro Nov. 1 to make two . pictures next year, SwedLsh actre.ss passed most of her year's ab.scnce. from the screen in her native land. First film is a Russ tale, 'Love Is Not so Simple,' from an original by Melchior Lengyel, followed . by 'Madame Curie,* bioged by the I scientist 's daughter. ' Sacramento, Calif., Aug, 9. County grand. jury, which. tomor- row (Wed.) resumes its investigation of alleged legislative corruption^ is expected to delve further into the $100,000 \yhich William Bioff testi- fied he received as a loan in June, 1937. The jury also is expected to . resume its inquiry , into legal fees paid by thei International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees -while the Assembly's capital-labor com- mittee was investigating charges ol racketeering by the lA. Bioff, former Coast head of the lATSE and personal representative ol George E. Browne, lA president, ad- mitted to. the jury that he deposited $100,000 in a Hollywood bank -on June 25, 1937. He said the money was a loaii and that it was, placed to thie joint credit of himself and wife. Bioff testified the money was with- drawn in a few days and placed In 9 safe'- deposit box in the same banlc. ' He was not .questioned as to. where he secured the loan and whether any .security had been posted. Testimony of Bioli brought out In the open reports that a labor leader had deposited. $100,000 shortly after . settlement of last summer's studio strike; Federal agents and dfficen of the Internal Revenue Department h^ve been in Hollywood for. weeks . checking these reports. The agents are known to have gone over the books of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, Inc., and to hav« questioned Pat Casey, producers' labor contact, and executives of sev- eral! major studios. • C P. Cregan, auditor for the lA, refused to testify when called befor* the grand jiiry, and admitted that a $5,000 check previously offered in. evidence had been taken by him and placed in a safe. After conferring with attorneys, Cregan returned to the jury room and agreed to answer any questions. Prawn for Legal Fee He testified the $5,000 check was . drawn in favor of William Neblett as a legal fee. . He said, he was ordered by Harland Holmden, IA Interna- tional vice-president, to write the check. He testified it was In pay- ment for legal services. Neblett, who had previously threatened to 'blow un' the investi- gation, finally was called ais a wit- ness; He admitted receipt of th< check, but refused to go into detaili of his employment clairning that tc do so would. violate the confidence ol a client He also contended th« Sacramento County Jury had no au- thorlty to investigate . and 'Going to Be Rich* (20th), dual, and vaude. Looks . like mild . $6,000. as little In sight to attract 'em. Last week, second run program. Fantaces (Pan) (2,812: 30-40-55)— •Little Tough Guy' (U) arid 'I'm from City* (RKO), dual. Dead End Kids helping this bill to $6,800. Last week, 'Wonderful Time* (RKO) and •Wives Under Suspicion' (U), wilted after first few days and finished with $6,500, precluding possibility of ex- pected holdover. Paramount (Par) (3,595; 30r40-55) —'Professor Beware* (Par) and stage show (2d. week). Aided by three previews, second stanza should bring okay $10,500, following fair $15,000 on initial week. KKO (2,872; 30-40-55)— 'Tough Guy' (U) and 'I'm from City* scals' (20th) and 'One Wild Night* (20th). so-so $3,300. Fox (Indie) (5,000; 30-40-65)— 'Letter of Introduction* (U) with Tony Martin's revue oh stage. House gettmg biggest play since last spring; wow $33,000 in sight Combo may hold tor second stanza; Last week, 'Miss Broadway* (20th) and stage show, clipped off nice $23,500. ' : Madison (United Detroit) (2,000; 30-40-50)— 'Went dark Thursday (4) till September after unsuccessful try at reissues and occasional first-runs. Finished up with disappointing $2,500 on 'Blockade' (UA). Michigan (United Detroit) (4,0()0; 30-40-65)— 'Crowd Roars' (M-G) and 'Sky Giant* (RKO), dual. .Taylor opus perks house to good $10,000. Last week, so-so $7,000 for 'Wonder- fur Time- (RKO) and 'Woman Against Woman* (M-G). Palms - State (United Detroit) (3,000; 30-40-50)— 'Woman Against Woman' (M-G ) (2a run ) plus 'Night Spot' (RKO), dual. Former flicker moved here from Michigan; paced foi- $4,500, fairish. Last week 'Boor loo' (Par) and 'Professor Beware* (Par) (2d run), $4,500, fair. First Rods on Broadway ' (Stibject to Change) . Week of Anr. H Astor — 'Marie Antoinette' (MG) (16). (Reviewed In Vaiietv, Juli/ 20)\ Capitol— 'Crowd Roars* (MG) (2dwk). Criterion— 'Army Girl' (Rep). '(Reviewed in Vauctt, July 20) Globe— 'Modern Times* (UA) (reissue) ' (13). Mosie Ball— 'Fotir's a Crowd' (WB). ' Paramount— 'Give Me a Sailor' (Par) (10). ., (Reviewed in Vauetv, Julv 27) Blalto-^'Smashlrig the Rackets' (RKO) (8). • (Reviewed in CiJrrent VAmtrv) RIvoil — 'Gateway- (20th). . ( Reviewed in Current Vabibtv) Roxy — 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' (20th) (2d wk). Strand — 'Racket Busters' (WB) (10). , Week of Aiig. 18 Astor — 'Marie Antoinette' (MG) (16). Capitol — 'Woman Against Woman' (MG). (Reviewed in VaweiV, June 22) Criterion— 'Army Girl' (Rep) (2dwk). Music Hall— "Four's a Crowd' (WB). .. Paramount— 'Sing, You Sin- ners' (Par) (17). Rlalto — .'Dark Sands' (Rec- ord) (15). Rlvoll — 'Little Tough Guy' (U). Boxy — ^Alexander's Ragtime Band' (20th) (3d wk). ; Strand — 'Racket Busters' (WB). Ucal Boy^ Phil Harris, Whanuiimg % BiH' To Record 16G iB Indpls. Indianapolis, Aug. 9. True version of the home-town boy making good is being enacted here thiis week, with Phil Harris. and his orchestra in the leading role and pacing towards a new all-time house record at the vaudfilm Lyric to sur- pass the present mark held by Eddy Duchin. Born a few miles from here, Hairris is making his first stag^ appearancie in his home state and is really drawing, the prqud natives. Nick Lucas, in support, is : credited with. helping . in a measure: at the turnstiles, while 'My Bill' on the screen is scarcely mentioned in tids or billing. Runrier-up honors Iri the first-run sector being earned by 'The Texans' and 'Bulldog Driimmond in Africa* a the Circle. 'Algiers' arid 'City Streets' doing mildly at Loew's. Estlmaies for This Week Apollo (Kat;-DolIe) (1,100; 25-30- 40)— 'Tough Guy' (W and 'Ladies in Distress' (Rep). Cast of former pic, mainly , the Dead End kids, being accented, but response Is lacking at $2,500, slow. Last week, 'Give Mil- lion* (20th), finished at $4,000, fairly good. Circle (Katz-Dolle) (2,800; 25-30- 40)— !Texans' (Par) and 'Bulldog Drummond* (Par). Extra effort spent on 'Texan's' campaign. Results are M Biz Keeps Pace with Heat; 'Roars Pittsburgh, Aug. 9. Receat gains here continuing, with biz for the most part showing a defi- nite improvement despite heat and generally ragged conditions. Penn seems to have hit groove again with 'Crowd Rphrs,' with indications that it will hold UP well enough to get a second .\yeek at Warner, duplicating last session's 'Love Finds Andy Hardy.' Combo, of Ozzle Nelson-Harriet Hilllard' and 'Professor Beware' at Stanley a trifle disappointing, . but should wind ud satisfactorily, while 'Little Tough Guy* is a strong sur- prise entry at Alvin. 'We're Going to Be Rich'-'Army Girl' twinner at Fulton way off, being only real weakie in town currently. Estiriiates for This Week Alvin (Harris) (1,800; 25-35-50)— 'Touch Guy'. (U). House selling the Dead Ends kids exclusively and pro- ducing results. Picture received mixed notices: looks a shade better than $7,000, okay. Last week, 'Miss Broadway' (20th), in eight days, $.7,- 500. nice. ■ FuUon ' (Shea-Hyde) (1,750; 25^40) — Going Be Rich* (20th) and 'Army Girl* (Rep). Well-liked dual, but not getting anywhere. Management originally planned to single 'Rich,' and admits now it would Jnave been a better idea, since there's still a certain stigma connected with double- feature product. Looks like $3,200 in the doghouse. Last week, 'Limber- lost' (Mono) -and 'Gangs of N. Y.' (Rep), $3,400, poor. Penn (Loew's-UA) (3,300; 25-35-50) —'Crowd Roars' (M-G ). He-man roles for Robert Taylor look to be doing the trick. This one knocking off brisk gross, bettering 'Yank at ■Oxford' some inonths ago. Shooting for $16,500, and film may move to Warner for second stanza. Last week 'Andy Hardy' (M-G) finished remarkably strong, doing better than $17,000. . SUnley (WB) (3,600; .25«40-60)— 'Professor Beware' es unit, is giving the Denver a swell gross. Also doing well is Orpheum's double bill of 'Port of Seven Seas* and 'Love Finds Andy Hardy," but won't be held sec- ond week due to booking of Ted Lewis band. Estimates for This Week Aladdin. (Fox) (1,400; 25-40)— "Miss Broadway' (20th). after a week at the Denver. Fair $3,000 and moves to Rialto. Last week, . 'Cowboy' (WB), only fair $2,500, but even so was taken to Rlalto for third week because of shortage of films. Broadway (Fox) (1,100; 25-40)— /Carey's Chickens" (RKO) and 'Sky Giant' (RKO), both after a week at the Orpheum. Fair $2,000. Last week, 'Lord Jeff' (M-G) and 'Fast Company* (M^G), fair $2,000. , Denham. (Cockrill) (1,750; 25-35- 22li;:;^°.?-^°''' 'P^'')- Not so hot at $5^200. Last week, 'Tropic Holiday' (Par), dipped to $5,200 in second week. Denver (Fox) (2.525; 25-35-50)— 'Give Million* (20th) and Major Bowes* unit Good $13,500. Last •week, 'Miss Broadway' .(20th) and stage show, $10,000. good. Orpheum (RKO) (2.600; 25-55-40) «'^!^f"/,,^?.^^' "^-^^ and 'Andy Hardy* (M-G). Bie $11,500 for this .Si'-^s^'V Y'^^^- 'Carey's Chickens' (RKO) and 'Sky Giant' (RKO). good enough at $8,500 to mPve pv.er tp Broadway.; Paramount (Fpx) (2:200: 25-40 )— Limberlost' (Monp) and 'Miss Thpr- oughbrcd' (WB). Nice $4,500. Last week, 'Born* (FN) andv 'My Bill' (FN), fair S3.500. ' Blallo (Fox) (878: 25-40)— 'Cow- boy' (WB). after a week at each Denver, and Aladdin, and 'Going Be Rich* (20th). Good $2,000, Last week 'White Banners' (WB). after a week at each the Denver and Aladdin, and 'Trip to Patis* (20th), good $2,000. Philadelphia, Aug. 0 Slightly cooler weather this week, followinff lonR drawD out heat wave! reacting favorably .at the b.o.; Linel up of stronger pix also aiding Philly figures, whid). whUe far from really strong, are a welcome respite from the rock-bottom slides they've been bittine during the past month. Leadinie the parade with a really nice showing is "n»e Crowd Roars' at the Fox. garnering very neat $16^00. Robert Taylor's only rival is Charlie McCarthy in 'I-etter of In- troduction' at the Boyd, turnihfi in $13i00. ■ Weakies are 'The Texans' at the Stanley and 'Booloo' at the Stanton. Earle continues to show nifty gross with 'Professor Beware' and Zasii Pitts and Lpriis Prima' on stage. Estimates for This Week Boyd (WB) (2,350: 37-57-68-75) — 'Introduction* .(U). Drawing $13,200, not strong, but nice considering turn- out of recent weeks. Last week. 'Ca^-ey's- Chickens' (RKO) in mush at $9,100. Earle (WB) (2,758; 25-37-42-57-68) —'Professor Beware' (Par) and Zasu Pitts and Louis Prima on stage. Al- ways dependable for a man-size take, house continues this week with neat $20,000. Even better last session with $21,200 for 'Going To Be Rich' (20th) and:Frances Langford and Schnickel- fritz band on stage. F«« (WB) (2.4i53; 37-57-68-75) 'Crowd Roars' (MG). Got no love taps from the crix, but holding up nevertheless with dandy $16,200. Last week, second 'Clitterhouse' (WB). fair $9,600. ' Karlton (WB) (1,066; 37-42-57-68) —'Miss Broadway' (Mth) (2d run). Temple doirig miich better on her second showing than when deluxed. Clicking with oke $3,900. Last week, reissue of 'Monte Cristo' (UA), fair- • ish $3,700, KelUi's XWB) (1,870; 37-42-57-68)— •Clitterhouse' (WB) (2d run). Not remarkable, but okay at $4,100. Last week, 'Cowboy' (WB) , (2d . run), viraak $3,400. Stanley (WB) (2,916; 37-57-68-75) "Texans' (Par). Apparently .the horse- opry lovers are not patrons of de- luxers. this 'One failing miserably at $8,800. Drubbinc by crix no help, either. Last week, 'Miss Broadway' (20th), poor $8,400. Stanton (WB) (1,457; 26-42-57) — 'Booloo' (Par). Not sufficient lovers of wild life to do much for this. N.s.h. at $4,000. Laist week, 'Saint, New York (RKO), good $5,400. TEMPLE SMASH $13,000 IN OMAHA; TAYLOR HOT Omaha, Aug. 9. Paced by Shirley Temple, town is due to finish the week with the best seven-day take ever recorded here in summertime. Orpheum, with 'Little Miss Broadway.' is almost cer- tain to get $13,000, which wovild ti the house record set by 'Old Chi- cago." "Crovird Roars' Is getting $9,000 at the Omaha, even better than 'Test Pilot,' which was the best draw tills year. Other hpuses are dping averr age or above due to mild weather and fairish to good product. Estimates for This Week Brandels (RKO-Singer) (1,250: 10-. 25-35-40)— 'My Bill' (WB) and 'Con- demned Woriien* (Col). Satisfactory at $4,200. Last week, 'Sky Giant* CRKO) and 'Man's Castle' (Col), gPPd $5,300, with much credit due tp reissue. • Avenne-Dnndee-MlliUry (Gold- berg) (950-650r810; 10-25) ^ 'Three Comrades' (M-G) and 'Cocoanut Grove' (Par), first half of week, with tripler, 'Women Like That' (WB). Kid Comes Back^ (WB) and 'Saint New York' (RKO). last half.. Good $2,300. Last week. 'Robin Hood' (WB) split with dual 'Hold That ^^JK. '- play, ens' (RKO) plus Major Bowes' 'Col- legiate , Rcvuo.' Good combo and go;ng to town in rousin.;; style, with $14,000 in sight. Last week, "Sky Giant' (RKO) and N. T, G, stage iinit, just fair at $9,700. Keith's (Schanbcrger) (2,4C0; 15- 25-35-40-55) — 'Letter Introduction' fTucs,) , opcn.s tonight fTucs,). Last week, .second of 'Texans' (Par), not Estimates for This Week Century (Locw"S-U-A) (3,000; 15- 25-35-40-,55— 'Algiers' (UA). Chalk- i ing up pleasing $0,000, with most o( I trade coming at night. Last week, ! second of 'Andy Hardy" (M-G), ' .solid SG,800 after bell-ringing $10,000 , in first romp, ;: Hippodrome (RappaportV (2,205; 1 15-25.-35-40-55-G6) - 'Carey's Cliiek- I $5,300, ! ■ New (Mechanic) (l.Md; 15-25-35- 55) — 'Gateway' (20th), SlugKi.sh $3,500 at most, La.st week, second of 'Miss Broadway' (20th), continued daytime draw to $3,800 after . sati.s- factory opening session to $5,600, Stanley fWB) (3,2,50: 15-25-.35-1()- 55)— 'Clittorhou.se' (WB). , Miilntaiii-, ing a pace to, substantial $9,5()0. Ljk-i (•.(,'(), week, 'Professor Beware' (Par) -'.nv faltered badly to pciorish $,'5,100. or better, while the Capitol is doing well with 'Crowd Roars at a pace of around. $30,000. Both the Par and Strand last night (Tues,) ended holdover sessions. 'The second for 'Texans' and the Gene Krupa. orchestra was $28,000, good profit,, after a strong first week ot $40,000, At the Strand one of the best money-getters that house has had in moons, 'Dr.- Clitterhouse,* wound up its third ,heat at close to $15,000, after first and: second weeks: of close to $40,000 and $25,000, respec- tively. 'Racket Busters' opens here this morning (Wed,), while the Par brings in 'Give Me a Sailor' and, the Chick Webb band. This show is -in for just one week, with a switch in bookings schcdulins; 'Sing, You Sin- ners,' and Phil Spitalny orch, for Wednesday (17), 'Spawn of the North" being set buck, due to revisions in picture. -Most discouraging business this Week is being experienced by the second-run State, with 'Tropic Holi- day,' ahd'tlie Kivoli. which reopened Satui'dny ((i) with 'Gatewa.v.' Latter will be s':iort of $10,000, poor, while the State looks no belter than $13,000. Vaude show there includes Nick Kenny, -Jerry Cooper, .Prances Faye and tcairf of; Barto, and Mann;: 'Smashing the . Rackets,' a, title which may be confused n bit with 'Racket Busters,' opened at the Rialto Monday (0) and started out good, .doing $1,875 on the day. It succeeded 'The Chaser,' which was poor at $5,- 600. .Globe yesterday (Tues. ) brought in 'Keep Smiling' for four days, thus;: getting back to a Saturday opening ( 13 ) with revival -of . Ghaplin'.s 'Mod- ern Times,' House got only $4,300 on six days, mildish, with 'Ilighwaiy Pa- trol.' next Tuesday (10) Metro starts ■Marie AiitOinettc' at the Aslor on a twice-daily $2 run. . ^, Eslimates.-for 'This Week , Capitol (4,520; 25-35-55-85-$l,25)— 'Crowd Roars'. (M-G). This one is, doing nicely, looking around $30,000 oh the first week and holds' over. Last week, second for 'Andy Hardy' (M-Cy, around $15,000, okay. Criterion (1,662; 25-40-55 ).-'Boo- LbO' (Par) (2d-flnal week). This didn't deserve being -held, only about $4,000. First seven days was slightly over $6,000, weak. Globe (1,274; 25-40-55)— 'Keep Smiling' (20th). Opened here yes- ' terday (Tues.), biit in for only four days, 'Modern Times' (UA). (re- issue) being scheduled for Saturday (13). 'Highway Patrol' (Col) re- mained six days,,getting only $4,300, mild. : Palace (1,700; 25-35-55)— 'Having Wonderful Time' (RKO) (2d run) and 'Passport Husband' (20th) (1st run), dualed. Possibilities are lean for better than $7,500 with this pair. In ahead, 'White Banners' (WB) and 'Going to Be Rich' (20th), both 2d ruii, coiiplcd, got around S9.000. oka.y. Paramount (3,664; 25-35-55-05-99) — Give Me Sailor' (Par) and'Ghick , Webb orch opened, here this morn- ing (Wed,). Second Week, of 'Tex- ans' (Par) and Gene Krupa, end- ing lost night (Tues.). was $28,000, nice profit. First seven days want to $40,000, excellent. Radio City Music Hall (5,980; 40- 60-84-B9-$l,65) — 'M o t he r X'arey's Chickens' (RKO) and .stage show. Getting by at $65,000, or hit better, iii spite of stiff competition frOm Roxy. Last week, third;for 'Aluiei-s' (UA), was $68,000. very good, 'Four's a Crowd' (WB) opens tomorrow morning (Thurs.). Rialto (750: 25-40-,')5)— 'Smnshing Rackets' (RKO). Opened Monday (8), getting off slronfily. Last week, 'The Chaser' (M-G) didn't do well, getting only $5,600. Riyoll (2,092: 25-n5-75-n5)-: 'Gate- way' (20th),- Reopened house S;itur* day (6). No dice, less than SIO.OOO. HoU.sc had becin closed since the end of May. Roxv f 5,8.10: 25-40-55-75)- 'Rag- time Band' (20lh) and ,sla;;e .show. Operiiiur every morning oxrot Sun- da.v at 8 or !) a.m. and pilin'; 'em in daily, jO,st about the comDlotii raoac- itv -of hou.so i.s .scored on ch.'ilir'O to hit $80,000 first week. bi.'"!cst i^o'lc-r the prnssnt low-scale 'nolicy 'if l-.;t .six yc.nr.s. All-time riltiMid.-incf ioc- ord in history of hoii.sc v/;js <■'' .S t- urrlay (G). 34.149 npool;'. )>-'•': x out on a .swell camppiiin for ttv 1) o., amon'( olhcr thih;".- iri'^ln'l-n-' i-- -i- sive b'llli'iarflin'i in (he 'Si.-'l. week. 'I.illio Mi.'is \',v"-r\^:-v' " ■■ '^ on its h^iifi'i'-'-i'. f'.-ii s:*;) .'jfio. ' ' '-. Slraml THT; a.'i-.'irj.Vi i '; ' ■ ripslpr.s' 'WRi .- : h--^- I I'Worl. I. Til'-. ih-<':t i'i.>:il i v: ■nr. f"lil|'-'i-)rii>:-'' ' ".Vf. I <■': ■ . to .'5irinri(l. r-i-nl. -''H'".- -,•■(-, ■•- or .<;2r, hfl(l,:-Mc| (i-.l r,r n-.''v $40- stHir i^.A^iO- :ir->-'i'<'-i:i > ' ■■'■i-'c ■ M- li('-n>' (('.-r P ••!rl i-tjpi) iin.-l <-■•-'». H-ii. -. .i-i^c l,''M!v v.-Cf'' < ■ |.-t I. •' T,-i..l <■• -'■ '•■ 'i- i.'i - ij'it iiiuUlid $20,.')bO; good. VARIETY Wednesday, August 10, 1938 mnnmresare Specif f^m^cmlmfiim 0.6^ 8i Sit* 'too* o'^ ^ ^es^°^' 54 St. '4u^st3fJ938 VeJ.nesJay^ August lOj 1938 PICTURE GROSSES VARIETY 11 Inside Stuff-Pictures Walt Disney's 250 animators will have a permanent exhibit of oil, water Jq- charcoal and pen an^ ink portraits and landscapes ih the new tudio which goes into construction Oct. 1. Fiist buildings, to get under wdv will house the artists and technicians working on feature-length pic- tlies Idea is to turn out a.seven-reeler every year. Next to be housed ill be the shorties, with the administrative dp&rtment last. , ^Disney's entire studio staif, except a few administrative workers, get a two weeks' vacation beginning Aug. 20., Ghost walks while the studio is idle. _____ •Charlie McCarthy' is helping to ease the unemployment situation through deal with tbe Majestic Radio 4c Television Co, which has already added ibOO workers to its payroll. Company is making a six-by-flve-in'ch " r tiibe super-hetrodyne 'Charlie McCarthy' radio set bearing the .dumrriy's image in color. Execs predict a 500,000 sale within three months. Uni- versal has a deal with the radio outfit to hand out more than 1,000 sets in connection with a wrlte-a-letter campaign exploiting Edgar Bergen and hU wooden paitoer In 'letter of InUoduction.' In August, 1918, L M. Golden, now a San Francisco superior , court judge, founded Northern California's first exhibs .group; - Market St. Theatre Owners Association. Exactly 20 years later, on Aug. 9, Independent The- atre Owners of Northern California and San Francisco Tlieatre Owners Chamber of Commerce marked the -anniversary With a joint luncheon and tour of inspection on Treasure Island, site of the 1939 Exposition^ Golden . the chief speaker. Major "studio iilmost melted the wires with profuse apologies to one- of its producers after nixing a deal he made for a director to pilot a Wg- budget picture. Producer threatened, to walk off the lot but was appeased by a two-page wire from a top eastern executive. Explanation was that the choice of director "caused so inuch friction: among home-office execs that it had to be called off i Hot Weather and picture shortage: don't deter Emil. Uman, who found a •way to beat the combo in his Regina theatrie, Beverly Hills, without the aid of a gimmick. . Turnihff his house into a chamber, of horrors,^ he booked 'Dracula,' 'Frankenstein* and 'Son of King . Korig,' three; hours of goose- flesh drama. Police had to be Called to handle the crowds. Umah is hunting more horror films. . From legs to aiigelfood is the latest exploit of the Paramount p.a.'s in their campaign to build Martha Raye into a home girl. Five hundred cakes, ■made by a- Los' Angeles baker," were air-mailed to 5pft exliitbitors, each with a Card sighed by Miss Raye: 'This is a; samjple d£ the cake I baked in 'Give Me a Sailor.' when I Won a beautiful legs contest by mistake.' Dialogs for 'Snow 'White and the Seven Dwarfs' in -Dutch, Porttiguese and Italian have been completed abroad, according to word from :Stuart Buchanan, now in Europe handling foreign ' versions. Swedish, German . and Polish' dialogs are underi-way, with Danish, Czechoslpvakian and Arabic to come, French arid, Spanish dubbing was done in, the Hollywood studio. '• 'Vacation time for ordinary kids means added' work for screen moppets. Studios': are crowded with youngsters and their mothers as producers speed.up to complete pictures before the opening of the school year, Sept. .9. 'After that time the moppets must spend three; hours a day; in class- rooms. During vacation' their working hours are. doubled. Viirtually the same sort of a campaign as lined up for 'Alexander's Rag- time- Band' is planned by 2bth-Fox when 'Suez' is released. Not known whether budget Will reach $100,000 ' flgiire set ' up for 'Band,' but same elaboirate' bally has been outlined. Annabella, Tyrone Power and Loretta Young are starred in 'Suez.' ' With a six-day shooting sked, Sally Rand's picture, 'Murder on Sunset Boulevard,' has four flhahcial backers, each, of, whom insists, on being the producer. Bankroll boys are Eugene Frenke, Sam Coslow, Arthur Sheet man and George Hirlimari, While the foui' producers are arguing with each other, the director goes on directing as he thinks best. Delisting of the securities of International Cinema, Inc., Hollywood inde pendent producer, ; will be aired by the Securities & Exchange Commis sion. ' Public hearing on application to strike listing of' the $1 par common olt the Los Angeles Stock Exchange will be conducted before an exam iner at L. A. on Aug. 30. Charles H. Findley, formerly in exploitation division of 'March of Time' reel, has gone to Europe to represent Psthe newsreel. He will exploit the reel and hielp Americanize the European edition. Pathe expects to have a new contact rhan irt Washington b'y Sept. 1 in order, to build up the commercial end of biz. More than 200 wreckers havie started work demolishing old sets at .the United Artists studio, built at a cost of $385,000. included in the wreck- age are some of the best known sets irt Hollywood, dating back to David Wark Griffith. Six and one-half acres are being cleared to build new sets for Samuel GoldWyn's The Last Frontier.' Contrary to general belief,, all Metro execs have, not taken advantage of , the profit-sharing contracts proffered last January. Bernard Hyman has steadfastly refused to sign a pact calling for a cut in the earnings Of Loew's, Inc., along with a weekly salary. He can't see anything but straight wages. RKO wants a new title for the story of Irene and 'Vernon Castle, skeded as the next Fred AstairerGinger. Rogers picture. Original tag, 'Castles in the Air." is owned by another studio. Mrs. Irene Castle McLaughlin, who wrote the tale, will be techhi'cal aidviser when shooting begins; next fall Concessionaires going Into the exposition are being asked to purchase New 'York World's Fair bonds. This permits concessionaire people to have a say in the fair proceedings. -In contrast,- Great Lakes Exposition did not allow concessionaires to have their bonds. Lincoln ClCysings No Help; 'Crime School' Good $3,300 Lincoln/Aug. 9, ■ Dual 'Crime School* and 'Fools for Scandal' walking off with things here this week at the Lincoln. Stuart is , finding 'Tropical Holiday' little better than average. House is having a tough time and is beginning to look- longingly at the stronger bookiiigs coming up this fall. Closing of. two houses last week hasn't meant miich extra coin for the other spots thus far. Estimates (or This Week Liberty ..(Cooper) (1,200: 10-15)— 'Law Conimands' (Cres) and 'Double Danger* (RKO), split . With 'Mr. Chump' (WB) and ^Bar 20 Justice' (Par). All right, $d00. Last week^ 'Pehrod' (WB) and 'Fight; for Lady' (RKO), fair, $800. Lincoln (Cooper) (1,600; 10-25-3S) — 'Cirime School' (WB) and 'Fools for Scandal' (WB). Will do fancy $3,30(). Last week, 'RascaU' (20th) and 'Four Men' (20th); okay $3,000. Siuart (Cooper) (1,900; 10-25-40)— 'Tropic Holiday' (Par). Won't sur^ .mount average $3,200. Last week, '.Cowboy' (WB), slumped to $3,200. , Temp. Down, r?ille B.O. Up; 'Roars' Loud 6G; T^exans, $4,500 Louisville, Aug. 9, Rain and generally cooler weath- er coupled with canceled sbftball gaines and outdoor affairs, all help ing to boost grosses to around; mid- season levels. Pic houses are. also getting a break now that ^summer opera is over. - 'Crowd Roars' 'is pulling Robert .Taylor fans' lb Locw's State. How- ever, it Will be a close race for top money between all flrst-riins as 'Texans' is doing well at the Rialto', 'Dr. Clitterhouse at the Mary Ander- son, is building by i>otent word-of- rrioiith, -and a bang-up double bill, 'Mother Carey's Chickens' and 'I'm from the City;' at the Strarid, is pointing to a highly siatisfactory take. '. Estlmatcr for This Week Brown (Loew's '- Fourth- Ave.) (1.000; 15-30-40)— 'Andy Hardy' (M-G) and 'Fast Coinpany' (M-G). Still romping along for nice re- turns, this being third downtown we6k for the pair;' Should account for $1,700, following last week's okay $2,100. Kchtnckr (SwitoW) (900; 15-20)— 'Treasure Island' (M-G) and 'Cocoa- nut Grove' (Par), dual.' Set to tarry for full seven-day stanza and will get okay $1,800. last week. ''Vivar cious Lady* (RKO) and' 'Rascals' (20th). double. -split with 'Sinners in Paradise' (U). . and 'Lady in the Morgue'. (U), twins, satisfactory $2,100. Loew's State (Loew's) (3,100; 15 S0-40)-^'erOwd Roars' (M-G) and 'Slander' (UA), dual. Getting strong Dlay on strength of Robert Taylor following. Will wind up nicely in the profit column at $6.000. Last week, 'Algiers' (UA) and 'City Streets' (Col), dual, well oh okay side at $6,300. Mary Anderson (LibsonV (1;000 15-30-40) — 'Clitterhouse' (WB) Word-iof-mouth building this one in swell style, and anticipations are for fine $5,000 and holdover. Last week 'Mv Bill' (WB). n.s.h.. $2,800. Ohio (Settos) (900; 15) — 'Sing About' (WB) and 'Emile Zola* (WB). dual, solit with 'Love oh Air* (WB) and 'Sweetheart of Navy* (WB). twin. Medium $1,100. Last week, 'Artists and Models' (Par) and 'Cer- tain Woman' (WB).: dual, split -with 'Riding on Air' (RKO) and 'Marry the Girl' (WB). dual, okay $3,100. Rialto (Fourth Ave.) (3.000: 15-30- 40)— 'Texans' (Par) and 'Bulldog Drummond' (Par), dual: Not terrific in face of opposish at other first-, runs,' but cooler weather will push returns to okay $4,500. Last week, 'Professor Beware' ^ (Par) and 'Des- perate Adventure' (Rep), dual, paced town for okav $6,500. Strand (Fourth Ave.) (1.400: 15-30 40)— 'Carey's Chickens' (RKO) and 'I'm from City' (RKO). diial. Former pic. homey type, has strohij pull with patrons of thii house. Joe Penner pic also better than his former efforts iand heloing to build nice b.o.. trade. Paced for okay $3,600. Last week. 'Army Girl' (Reo) and 'Prison Break (U). dual. $2,900, mild. A $220,000 print bill will coyer the 100,000,000 circulars being distributed in the Greater Filni Season 'drive. Some 600,000, constituting a freight car ioad. will "go to each exchange for distribution. These in turn are to oe. circularized as part of the film essay contest. AValter Wanger's 'Algiers' is a remake of tlie French. 'Pepe le ttoko,' the iple Charles Boyer plays in English and which Jean Ga.bin created in *f.ench. Another current release, . 'I'll Give a Million' (20lh-Foxi is a Mtnake of an Italian film, 'The Millionaire.' .L^'^'ufe companies are cooperating with the New Yink World's Fair in ootaming model exhibits of film stars. ; They will be used as part of the ^irl Scouts' exhibit at the expo.'sition. Home offices of film companies are supplying stills and other details. Louis Bromfleld's The Rains Came' went for. $55,000 to 20lh-Fox, a1- ■"""Rj' spirited bidding didn't start until the book had been out about three months, It's now some six months old. , 'CROWD ROARS' BIG $9,000 IN SEATTLE Seialtle, Aug. 9. Fourth week for ' irth of Baby' continues to steady draw. 'Crowd Roars' is big at $9,000. 'Profes.snr Bewarp' mnve.'; to Blue Mouse, 'Littlp Miss Broadway' to Music : Bcix and 'Dr. Clitterhouse* is good enoiigh to hold second week ait Orpheum. Extended runs are, partly, due on merit and; partly to paucity of ace attractions this .summer. Estimates for ThiH Week Bliie Mouse ' (Hamrick-Evergrecnl '850; 32-37-42)— 'Professor Beware' (Par) and 'Prison Farm'. fPar), Moved over from fair run at Para- Vaflee, Croons To.' and Mpls. mount: -looking to reach, fair $2,100 here.. Last week, 'Cowboy' (WB)'and 'Accidents' (WB), dual, 2d week, $2,200, mild. Coliseum (Hamrick . Evergreen) (1,900; 21-32)— '3 Comrades' (M-G) and 'Battle of Broadway'. (20th). dual. Headed for okay $3,100. Last week, 'Kidnapped' (20th) and 'Judge Hardy' (M-G ), good $3,20(). Colonial (Sterling) (8(10; 10-21)- Loved an Actress' (GN). and 'Boggs Steps Out* (GN), dual, 5plit with 'Lone Ranger' (Rep), five episodes, and 'G-Men* (Col). Indicate fair $1,700. Last week, 'Prisoners* (Rep) and 'Sergeant Murphy* (WB), duial. split with 'Lone Wolf (Col) and 'Lone Ranger' (Rep), five epsi $2,100, nice. : Fifth Avenue' (Hamrick - Ever- green) (2,366; 32-37-42) — 'Crowd Roars* (M-G) and 'My Bill* (FN). Catch/ combo expected to get great $9,000. Last week, 'Miss Broadway* (20th) and 'Sky Giant* (RKO), dual, fair .$5;800. Liberty (J-vH) (1,800; 21-32-42)— 'Birth of Baby' (Ind) .(4th week). Getting nice $3,600. Last week, same fllnn, 3rd week, okay $4,100. - Mnsle Box (Hamrick-Evergreen) (850; 32-37-42) — 'Miss Broadway' (20th) and 'Sky Giant' (RKO), dual, moved from Fifth. Getting $2,700. good. Last week, 'Always Goodbye' (20th) and 'Passport Husbands' (20th), dual, $2,000, slow. Orpheum (Hamrick-Evergreen) (2,600; 32-37-42 )— 'Clitterhouse' (FNJ and' 'Young Fugitives'- (U). Second week for 'Clitterhouse' but first for 'Fugitives,*- Indicate nice $4,000. Last, week, 'Clitterhouse* (FN) and 'Sinners in Paradise' (U), dual, great $7,300. . Palomar (Sterling) (1,350; 10-27- 37)— 'Distress' (Rep) and 'Nurse* (U), plus vaiide. Paced- nicely at $4,000. Last week, 'Born* (WB) solo with Major Bovi/es* ams, $6,000; big. Paramount ' (Hamrick-Evergreen ) (3.049; 32-37-42)— 'Texans* (Par) arid 'Chaser* (M-G), dual. Looks like good $5,500. Last Week, 'Professor Beware* (Par) and 'Prison Farm* (Par), dual, only fair $4,300. Boosevelt (Sterling) (800; 21i32) — 'Cocoariut Grove* (Par) arid 'Over Wall* (WB), . dual. Expect okay $2,400, Last week. 'Farewell to Arms^ (Par) and 'Vivacious Lady' (RKO), dual, $2,000,, good. Lidded Sdratogq (Continued from page 1) recoup on the season for the money has gone elsewhere, Understood that a goodly number of regulars have abandoned the Spa for Newport, having been denied their favorite night sport-^gambling;, Such mpnied people are attending the comparatively -nearby Narra- gansett traclc. Sales of yearlings, one of the highlights' of the Sara- toga meeting', have' been away under norni^l with the amounts paid re- garded as comparatively puny. Sophie Tucker never did open at Piping Rock, having 'cancelled out' at the request of the management because of the gariibling ban. Song- stress, turned about arid went to Atlantic City despite her love of equine thoroughbreds. Jiqnriiy Du rante had a bid for - Riley's 'but there again the resort could not stand the lap and the schnoz tore up his ticket.' Claimed that a battle between county oflicials accounts for the lid being clamped on. The ban ex tends to Glens Falls and Lake George. 'Visitors from Saratoga who go up for weekends are told it's useless to unpack and many among the sporting element return to New York instead, including some connected with the bookies. The usually wide-open Chicago club , is still an open-door joint, but that is about all. Bettors may place wa,?ers on races af other tracks but the; place is .bare of all : devices and only the be.ttirig windows remain. _ The 'Hollywood visitors who made the Spa their annual August re- treat have .started to vanrip. Al Jol- I son hiis called it off after two weeks, 'i.but said he was homesick for his J wife and child, Harry Cohn, who ! stales he was in Saratoga primarily for the baths, with the track sec- ondary, i.s also planning to- start I west this week. Durante . retii.rned j-lO New York and is also going back Minneapblisr Aug. ?. Loop showhouses are finally get- ting their . teeth into that elusivi morsel, prosperity. It's the 'first bia,: bite they've had for a long time arid: it tastes mighty good. • Rudy. Valiee, in person, with the , first stage show to hit the. loop in several months, has revitalized the liox office picture, for the present at least. Valiee has been packing 'em iri at the Orpheum and/ instead of hurting the' opposition, seems to b€ lielpirig it. The strength of the oppo- sition, of course; has much to do with the fact that it's thriving, 'The Crowd Roars,' .'Cowboy from Brooklyn' and 'Rage of Paris all clicking in swell style,- Latter, did so .well its first week at the Orpheum it has moved to the Woi'ld for an extended first- run. Estimates for This Week Aster; (Par-Siriger) (900; 15-25)— 'I'm From City' (RKOX arid 'Prison Break' (U), dual first-runs, split With Blonde Cheat' (RKO) and 'Bar 20, Justice* (Par),: dual first-runs. Climbing' towbrd pretty good $1,300. ' Last week 'Devil's Party' (U)' a'nd 'Crime Ring* (RKO), dual first ;runs, split with. 'Reforhiatory' (Col) ana 'Panamint's Bad Man' (20th),- $1,500,' good. Century (Par-Singer) (1,600; 25-35- 40 )— 'Cowboy' ( WB ). Dick Powell box office poison here and Pris'cilla Lane means less than nothirig as draw, but; this one. pulling pretty well, despite lack: of name magnets . because of eri'tertainment Qualities. Stretching toward pretty nice $5,000. Last week 'Always Goodbye' (20th). $4,-800, fairly good. ■ Orphedm (Par-Siriger)' (2,890; 35- ' 40-60)— 'Fast Company? (MrG) and Riidy 'Vallec's stage show. 'Valiee powerful b. o. here and public hun- gry for stage fare. Swell entertain- ment; elisor down the line and trade, being helped by. customers' raves. Engagement, howeverj is limited to. five days. :.' Tremendous $20,000 irii prospect. Last' week 'Rage of Paris'' (U), big $8,000 in eight days. . State: (Par-Singer) (2,300; 25-35-40) —'Crowd Roars' (M-G). Compli- ments galore for this brie, and it's helping box office plenty. Looks like best grosser of ariy recent Robert Taylor film. Headed tor good $6,500. Last week 'Texans' (Par), • $5,000, fair. Time (Bcrger) (290;, 15-25)— 'West- ern Front' (U) (reissue). Old-timer, showing some life: ' Prett.y good $800 - indicated. Last wieek 'Divorce . ot Lady X'. (UA) (2d run), $600, Ught Uptown (Par) (1,200: 25-35)— 'Hol- iday' (Col) split virith 'Josette' (20th). First riabe showings looks like good $3,000. Last week 'Three Comrades' (M-G> split with 'Three Blind Mice* (20th), $2,500, fair. World (Steffes) (350: 25-35-40-55) — 'Rage of Paris' (U) (2d week). Moved here from Orpheum for ex- :tended first run and continuing at profitable pace. Will get carnage trade that, might have passed it up at Orpheurii. Good $2,000 indicated. 'CROWD' SMASH $15,(1 IN PROV: Providence, Aug. 9. Robert Taylor is going big with, local fans in "The Crowd R:oars' and giving Loew's plenty to roar about. Tremendous $15,000 is in sight. 'Majestic, with 'Arriazing Dr. Clitter- house,* is next in, line, for swell biz. Lack of outstanding film tare is , knocking Strarid for a loop. Fay*s, with town's only vaude. is expected to reopen week before Labor Day. EsUmatcs for This Week State (Locw) (3,200; 25-35-50)— 'Crowd • Roars' tM-G) ahd 'Invisible Enemy* (Rep). Sky-high biz, this dual racing to roaring $15,000. Last week, , 'Algiers' (UA) and 'Every- body's Doing It* (RKO), slowed down to $10,000, okay. Majestic (Fay) (2,300; 25-35-50)— 'Clitterhouse' (WB)- and 'Men Such Fools' (WB). Stepning along nicely for standout $11,000. La.st w:s while I way in the fall for rehearsals ot working' in H.-tl Roach'-.s .'There Goes I Dwighl Dccrc Wiman's musical, ' My Hoari," .ind requested a rest be- I "rurri to the Left-."' ; f.orc s'.arlmg the new job. 12 VARIETY FILM RETIEWS Wednesdiayii August 10, 1939 GATEWAY EnR«l Arlcon BInnIo Wnl- 20lh-Fox relonss of. Samuel G. productlun. Stiira Dpn Ameulio, SVhdniiJ tenlurcs Giosory Idiiorr, BarncD, Gllbsit nolanil; naymona burn, Johii Ciirnvillhe. Dlrecu'il by AKwu ■\Verkei-. Sorceniilny by Lomnr TroUI. frpm mory by Wiilier Kflnch; ccllior. .I.mics 11. Morlcy; oiimcrn, Bilwnnl CronJaRnr. At mvoll. N \\. Meek- Aug. U, 'as. UliiinlliB tlnie, T3 mlns. ^ nick..... <'alhiTlno rrlTice . Mlchai'I >1rK. Stniins 'i'ony Wr. AU-Null...: ]lr». McNutl. .... Jlonry Dr. WelliimlPi- ...... t;u((rs cowboy in a trite comedy yarn; strictly for dualers.- •The Chaser' (M-G).' Passable programmer; lacks marquee strength; ;but a good dualer, 'Highway Patrol' (Col). Good enough to top duals. Robert .Paige, featured with Jacqueline Wells, is the film's big booster. 'Vltc Chomp' (WB)v Amus- ing "light comedy for the duals. 'Diesperate Adventarc' (Rep). Light, romantic comedy that win get by oh both duals and in lesser -single bill houses. , ainashamedV (Cine). Uncom-; mercial nudist film, made fairly ■well, however. Smashing thie Rackets RKO release of B. P.' FIncman produc- tion. , .Features Chester ,Morrla, Frances Mercer, Bruce Cabot. Rita Johnson, Don- ald, Douglas; Ben Welden, Ed Pawley. Di- rected by Lew . Landers, .Story, Forrest Davis; adaptation^ Lionel Houser; editor. Harry- Marker; , photography, . Nicholas Musuraca. At Rtalto, N. Y., Aug. 8, '38, ftunnlnir time, 68 mins, Jim Conway....- Susan Lane.....; Steve Lawrence.'. Letty Lane...... Spaulding Whitey Clark;... Chin Martin..... Mftc ..-.;,.., .Judge Wend...... Greer....;....... Peggy....... Kills,;... Flo. ,.. Leonard Maxie , .;Chester Morris . . . . ; .Frances ■ Mercer ;.. Bruce Cnbot ....... ;Rlta' Johnson .... .Donald ' Douglss iBen Welden ,Ed , Pawley , .Walter Miller . . . . Frank M. Thomns ........ .George Irving . . . ;'. .Kay Sutton ...Theodore Von Eltz .....Edith Craig .George Lloyd ;..Faul Fix .This is boiler-plate melodrama, thinly disguised, as to Thomas E. Dewey heroics, in which' a fearless prosecutor who looks mOre' like a sodajerker figures.! prominently but not impressively. - 'Smashing the Rackets' will need more than . a .'Greatest Motion Pictures Year' caiiri' paign to get by. Only, for the duals as thie second feature, except wherie two 'B's' are used. ~ The Forrest- Davis original refers to his recent Satevepost serial oii I^wey's career. In all respects, the picture is regu- lation, . library stuff, ineluding_ the acting, though. Chester Morris, Tran- ces Mercer. Bruce Cabot, Rita John- son and others cannot possibly sur- mount the unpromising parts haiided them. B. P. Finemarir- the producer, seemingly didn't give much thought to anything but a titie-^whlch isn't bad— and a plot that tries to. mirror the story of Dewey. Morris plays the daring- assistant d.a., who becomes a specl!il prosecu- tor and through cvinnmg, as -well as considerable luck, -manages to wipe out various rackets pestering a nameless city. He no- more fits the part than Shirley Temple would, and plays liis way through the common- place story and dialog in a wooden, matter-of-fact manner. At the bei- ginning he is :a G-man. while in the end, after smashing a few gimmicks, he goes into private law practice and, for the fade, embraces his girl by lying down on the floor of his office, getting cute. That finish sug- gests the inspiration that has gone into the making of this one. Gangster characters of an accepted type .figure, along with tactics that are timeworn and terribly dated. Bruce Cabot plays a leader of rack- ets; while henchmen who do all right include Ben Welden, often seen in Dictures of this type, Ed Pawley and Geo'ree Lloyd. Two girls are Fran- ces Mercer and Rita Johnson, play- ing sisters. Neither contribute much. Direction of Lew Landers is any- thing but brilliant The district at- torney's office, as set un in this in- stance, looks too much like a bank- er's suite; Char. JlorKan.-. . ; Annabel .- Joorralno Krueger; Kay - Pullon. , Directed by Ren Hol'nfcs. Screenplay by 7<;icliolaH T. Barrows, nnbert .SI. Clair' and Johii Grey from original story liy . Hon ' Holhics: musical' director. Roy Wchb; manlagc. Vernon L, Wnlkcr: editor. Ted rhoesnian: cimera, Frank Rcilman; W)np.,by Hal Hnynor. At'Albce. Brooklyn, du.al. Aug. S, ':i.S. nuhnlnj; lime. il.'» mln.<{, " ' , '. Jno Pi'nn'er , ..'. Richard Lane V.Lorraine Krueger Paul Guilfoyle Kay Ruiton ....;.... .Kathryn Sheldon . . ....... , ..Elhiin LnlOlaW ....Lafnyett«> McKe'e' Kdihund Cobb ;;Clydo Kinney Pole. Ollle...,.., Rople Willie Marlone. . . Grandma-. . Jelf....... Rlxby...,; Red O'jlch Joe Penner has a certain .amount of infectious, hiimor in pictures, but he isn't given /a 'fair shake in Tih Dorothy Mason... Dr. Proscott .... 'Floppy' Phil... Calhoun Mrs. Olson Lars .Simon Kelly..,. Joe Harvey. Mr. Beaumont, . .,.Ann Morrlas Lewis Stone ....'..... .Vat Pendleton ......... .Henry O'Neill Ruth Gillette John Qualen .Robert Emmett Keane ....Tack Mulhall Irving Bacon Pierre Watkin Satisfactory programmer. Has fairly good plot, workmanlike script, capable direction and lUcid acting though weak at marquee rating. Okay for the duals. Maybe they intended a double meaning with the title. For, 'The Chaser' of the stoi-y is hot only the town's champ Johnny Lawyer-on- the-Spot-of-anrAccident, but he goes on, the make in a hurry, -when a smoothie, gal crosses his path., 'The femme happens to be a plant by the traction company to get the goOds on the lawyer, who's costing it so rriuch coiri in damage suits. The in- evitable happens, with the legal trickster and the gal taking a tumble for each other and ending in the expected clinch. . - Although it's a stereotype formula, .several slight twists give it interest Prime, one is that, instead Qf trying to turn Out, a preachment' against ambulance-chasing lawyers, the pic-- ture stresses, the story element, with some attention to character, a num- ber of guileful ;icgaT ' twists and a welcome absence of phony , preten- sion. As far as the cast is concerned, chief interest is the , girl, Ann Mor- riss, , a newcomer.' According to Metro dope, her Only previou.s thesfi experience was: with little theatre outfits. Whether or hot -that's the McCoy, the gal is a looker, with comely chassis and enough dramatic A Diespef ate Adventure Republlo release , of John H\ Auer n.l^ ductlon. Stars Hamon Novurro- fiTan^Ifr Marian Marsh, .Morgaret TolNchet. Ei^II Blore, Andrew Tombes. Tom lluilVorro,-.! Directed by John ,H. Auer. Story i '*: Kraly, . M Coates Webster: adaniau""' Barry Trlvers: etlllor. Murray .spi, ben- camera, Jack Marta. Revlowe.1 in Pi„i~' tlon Room .V..y., Aug. J, '.18, Vunnin; lime, 03 mIns. "nnjng Raman .N'ovarro ...... .Marian .Marsh , Margaret raiiiphet ,..._.....Eri(- niore ...Andrew rombes . Tom Hutherroi^d .;.,...Maui-l<-e c.'iss ...... Krno Vorf-bes ......Clirt Aaznrrb .nmfe .Sedan • Gloria Ricii .,.t.0ls Collier Ahdie. .\nn, .'. . ; Betty..,,. Trump., Carrlngton; Gerald,.... Dornay. , Marcel; .Maurice ; , . Tipo..,.;. Pt«fect of Police, . MIml Angela, , . , fill! Small. Jane Mason Betty Martin;... Jim Belden 13d Mason. , Sheriff;..;. Mr. Sprague Mr. Keeper...... Pop Theatre Manager "Mr; Chump' will serve as a re>. lief for dualers featuring a nieller or .'smart' ■ fare: on the uppeir shelf. Very light in texture, names and all else.; it is just that Which will put it across with: the mob who like their humor on a . platter and not dressed up in any fancy garb. Has the homey 'Hardy fiuch. but stresses the, clown side of small town family group. A little fantastic— but fiin! Warner Bros, have a good comedy bet in the affable and capable John- nie Davis; ex-trumpeter with Fred Waring's band. A little less than fall guy. Davis frequently goes out of character histrionics to dish out some good scat singing plus a red hot horn, Lola Lane, Penny Singleton, as the heart interest and Chester Clute, the Milquetoast hubby of Miss Lane, fur- nish goof supbort. Donald Briggs, semi-heavy, also fits well in light- weight, lightheari'd canvas. Davis plays small towri bOy who never works, nreferring his horn and mythical millions he makes in the market T-on paper. .Ushered out of Miss : Singleton's home where she byes with, sister (Mi.ss Lane) and Clute, he ties himself to a band where he delivers solidly with 'As Long as You Live' via horn and voice in local roadhouse. Gets in cpuple of other sessions while playing town ne'er-do-well also; Bank cashier Cl-tc and his su- oerior start using Da vi.' system with the bank's coin and run themselves into the red. Davis .saves them by buying the bank with the coin he makes, on the additional $50,000 they ifted to give him to play with as a last resOrt Examiners show up and exit as a trio playing in the jail band. ■Screwy ending lends finishing touch to an unbelievable, though amusing fable.- Peppy -movement situations and dialog are abl.y han- dled by all. though nearly ' all is transparent and anticipated, which Is a boost for director and ca'^t - ' -'- • Hurl. TITLE CHANGES . . Hollywood. Aug. 9. Monogram . switched from 'The Last Frontier' to 'Mexicali Kid * ■The Phantom Trail* changed to Stranger from Arizona* by Coronet. New: title for Morioeram's 'Circus Coihes to Town' is 'Under the Big Top.' 20th-Fox shifted from 'WOodeh Anchors' to 'Submarine Patrol.* Latiest tag for Columbia's 'Wings of Doom' is 'Flight to Fame.' Desperate Adventure,' which isn't SO- desperate, nor very exciting, is Ramon Novarro's second for Rei public, his maiden effort having heen •Sheik Steps Out' The former Metro ster; whose sitiging voice has an. parently been shelved by. Republic • is only fairly well equipped in his latest endea'vor. Story is boilerplate but though wanting in dialog and' l)lot treatment, it has a certain amount of charm, some novelty and considerable good comedy relief In the 'A* group for Republic it #111 be able to, pass muster singly in the lesseir first funsi but generally its fate will be the twin bills. . Picture introduces Margaret TalH- chet to the screen. She's favored on a romantic switch toward the end. leaving Marian Marsh secondary Miss Tallichet, i former typist is claimed, to have; been brought for- ward by Carole Lombard and signed by Selznick-Ihteriiational as Careen' CHara ih 'Gone with the Wind.' She comes from Dallas and is an at< tractive, partlyrsubdued type, who screens well and- has a pleasing, : though not forceful, personality. Her chances for roles like this one ap' pear good. Miss Tallichet stands out in rather bold relief in the Navarro' starrer since Miss Marsh is no knockout in any direction, sometimes photographing poorly. This two girls play sisters, the one setting her cap for Novarro, the other, a tempera-^ mental snob, generally resisting his suit Thus, for the finish, the switch on the romantic ledger.' Star's per- formance even all the way. Novarro is cast as a temperamental Parisian painter, "who goes to- un- reasonable lengths to retrieve a painting, ivhich, planted in an exhibit by well-wishing friends, has' brought him fame. It isn't likely that any paifiter, such as played by. Novarro,, would find this unwelcoine. The painting represents his dream girl and along comes -Miss Marsh, ^yho's■ it to' every detail. A switch in canvases involves- the romance - and, aboard , a - boat for America, forms the basis for most of the action, love scenes and comedy. Strongest punch is delivered by , the laughs, , Eric Blore and Andrew Tombes, who get them in rather generously. This element helps greatly in making 'Adventure' pass- ably entertaining. Both Blore and Tombes are excellent, but one sequeilce, a' telephone conversation between Blore and a policeman, falls far short Lessers In the cast, who are satis^ factory, include Tom Rutherford, Maurice Cass, Erno Verebes, brought from Europe by Republic; Michael Kent and Cliil Nazarro. Verebes does hot have sufficient opportunity to show actually what he has for pictures on this side, but he's okay in what he does. Chor. UNASHAMED (WITH SONG) Cine-Grand production and- releape. Di- rected by Allen Stuart. Story. Caiit. P. C. Prescott-RIchardson;, screenplay. Wllllsni Lively; camera; Rosslynn J. Coiva; song, Richard B. Gump and Howard .'Sprague. Reviewed In Projection Room, .N. Y.. Aug. 0, 38. Running time. 70 mIns. Hae Lane.. ; .!...Rne KIdd Robert Lawlon J . . , noUrrt Stanley Lucille P«lP«rer Emily Todd Job. W. Glrard, .. .Krnnces Grey ,Joa'n Charles Barbara Pound Emma. Dr. Malvln.,.. Mnlzle Ro!ie. Mose . Jo,-in Charles Woody McGllllcuddy Himself Dad .McGllllcuddy ....llna-s Lynn Like preceding nudies, whether of idealistic or sensational conception, 'Unashamed' is uncommercial as far as general market is concerned. Passed by the National Board of Re- view it can't hope for similar re- ception from local censors, blue- noses and independently acting bluer coats. However, it's not badly done for an obviously inexpensive indie which tries to coihbine a 'message with epidermis.' Clothes-less celluloid isre.'enls couDle Of, Variances from the norm besides the burley tinge. Heroine kills herself for finale and producers: cash in oh ventriloquial vein \Vith ■ ,de-nuded dummy antl partner (Ross' Lynn) tor mild comic relief. Latter parades en dishabille rather than fig-leafed. Interpolation of .special song, 'Back to Nature,' with mildly, amusing though somewhat 'intellec- tual' lyrics also lifts it above peek- a-boO category- and demonstrates some production effort. ^ , Although acting throughout is of low order, director's assignment mO-st not be underestimated. He hhdvery little to work with, casting priricipals of 'story' as best he could. Jo.sepn W. Girard; vet character man, Js only staiidard performer in -We grouD. Lead girls imores.-? ' as race mixtures with unUsUal facial char- (Continiied'on page 27) TARIKTT'S* LOFOMN OmCK, gt. MttrUrn'M Pl«c«, Tntalgm Bqaay^ INXERNATIONAI. NEWS Cable AdilriiM I VARIETY. LONUOM Trirplione Tanpl* Bar OMl-BMt 13 Influx of Second-Run Houses Slaps London Firsts for $250,000 Weeidy Liohdon, Aug; Shortage of big pictures for the 'West End is no longer the major 'headache of theatre owners. A much bigger one is the iiiflux of second, run houses. With the Tiyoli having gone over to sicond- runs, the West En.d . now has seven such houses. These; at a conservative estimate, dent inajor houses to the tune of $70,000 each week. This, coupled with .the early releases at some'.of the bigger thea- tres in London and the environs, nick the West End for oyer $250,000 ^weekly. ■ ' Customers, instead of rushing to the West End to see fllmS for. $2 top, wait a few weeks when they can see a, double featurie . for half that amount. The position has become so, aciite that such major companies as Paramount and: United Artists are seriously considering disposing of one house each, both companies hav- ing had two houses in the West End for several years. At the annual meeting of General Olieatres Corp. last week, Mark Os- trer, chairman and managing direc- tor, deplored the fact that there were too many, picture houses in the West End, and people : were not: coming ■ from the suburbs, as. heretofore. 'Ihuigeroas' 3d Par Pk Baimed m Jsu^ To Natives' Ubor Row : 'Dangerous to Know' is the third . Paramount picture to be banned in Jamaica (British "West indies) dur^ ing the last lew weeks by govern- ment censors. Reason apparently: is because of continued labor troubles in that country. The censors feared that connection with gangster theme liiight Incite natives. Tip-Off Girls' and 'Wells Firgo* also were barred, seemingly for. the aame reason. No specific excuse given by officials, however. CAFE CURFEW EASE URGED FOR QUEBEC Montreal, Aug. 9.^ Talk here arid in Quebec of amend- ing the 2 p, m. night club curfew, following, an aopeal to Premier DUr plessis from the chairman of the Montreal Metropolitan Commission, has. evidently gone, the way . of all other similar , rep-.'esentLtions of nitery reform in ths province. While night clubs cannot be forced to close at 2 a. m. under the present law, the licenses granted night clubs are controlled by the Quebec Liquor .Cbmmissiph, and are issued with the Understanding, that night club own- ers will not violate the 2 o'clock regulation. QLC may cancel a club- license at any time fo- any cause. Hulbert-Courtneidge Musical in November London, Aug. Lee Ephraim's musical, starring Jack Hulbert and Cicely Courtneidge, .opens at the Palace in November. . Meantime, Metro's 'Marie Antoin- .ette' has pre-release there early next month. London CaHing Vorhaus .-Hollywood, Aug. 9. Bernard . Vorhaus, -who' finished 10th Avenue Kid' at Republic, has been ordered to London by Paul Sositin to direct a picture under a contract made last year. Commitment calls for his appear- . ante in England before Oct. 22. Metro's Foreign Legalist ^Joseph Rosthal, formerly of Blinken & losthal, has joined Metro to handle, legal work in the foreign acpartment. Rosthal relieves David Blum of the Jegal tasks he handled as Secretary or the foreign- department. Blum contmues his other executive duties.. Metro's Foreign Drive Departing from its usual method of procedure, Metro this year will inaugurate a series of sales drives in various foreign nations,, excepting the continetit It is 'the first timejthat this has been done in years. /Officials are credited with believ- ing that Metro's product this year offers a fine chance to plug pictures in the foreign territories..-: Each coiinti-y will select individual dates for the intensive sales drives, such being ;known' as Arthur Lbew Months, in honor of Metro's foreign department chief. Sydney, July 22, importation of the Covent Garden Ballet, set for Qct 1 in Melbourne, is the first legitimate show being lined up under the new Williamson- Tait alignment. Other showis will include 'I MarHed ^ an Angel' . and 'The Women,' The ballet -Nyill be' one of the largest touring troupes in this sec- tion of tlie wbrld. Victor Dandre is director. Currently, .'Rose Marie' is being revived by W-T in Melbourne: Ye- hudi Mcnuhin and' Richard. Crooks are set for another tour next year. . Ernest Rolls is in the U. S. for bookings now while George Dean is due in America next month for the same purpose. ■ New Sydney fdms ' Sydney, j;uly 22. Bunch of new films here to builfi up current b.o. slump. 'Marco Polo' (UA) expecteid to do okay. 'Divorce' of Lady X' (UA) may find some suc- cess when word-mouth gets around, with same applying to. 'Everybody Sing* (M-G). Nothing can stop 'Snow White' (RKO) as it goes on and on. 'Broken Melody' (BEF) folds, with 'Jezebel' (WB) replacing. Latter regarded as hard to 'sell, but may take some femme biz. 'Rose of Tralee' (BEF) quits,, with 'I See Ice' (BEF) coming in. 'Test Pilot' (M-G) is still zooming, Metro' is also doing a repeat with 'Yank at Oxford.' 'Stolen Heaven' (Par) not strong enough and folded in favor of 'Her Jungle Love' (Par). '45 Fathers' (20th) bows in favor of 'Kate Plus Ten' (GBD). 'Mr. Moto's Gamble' (20th), 'Quick Money' (RKO) and 'Love Is a Headache' (M-G) did fair. Melbourne, July 22. Biz going ahead. Some nice at- tractions now in play should return managements satisfactory b.o. 'Clois- tered' (BEF), is pulling the curious. 'Nothing sacred" (UA) looks a click, and 'Parneir, (M-G) may catch the femmcs. 'Stella IJallas' (UA) is still okay and 'Double Wedding'' (M-G) should have no trouble. Others on the. marquees include, The Great Garrick', (WB), 'Stolen Heaven' (Par), 'Something to Sing About' (Action) and 'Stahd-in'- (UA). Auckland. N. Z., July 22: Pictures in Auckland, Duncdin, Wellington and Christchurch include 'Mad About Music' (U), 'Tom Saw- yer' (UA). 'Firefly' (M-G), : 'Marco Polo- (UA), 'Old Chicago' (20th), 'Hawaii Calls' (RKO), 'Big Broad- cast' (Par). 'Stage Door" (RKO), 'London By Night' (M-G), ,'GoIdwyn Follies' (UA), 'I See Ice' (BEF). Levy Reps Ottersojn Paris, Aug. 1, Max ime Levy is rcpreseriting .John E. Ottcr.son hci;e in scouting French films suitable for American import. Ottcr.soni former Erpi and Para- mount president, has been back and forth of J.nte with an eye to bring- ing French pictures into the world market, out of New 'Vork. Coflumbia to Sign For British Quota Supply London, Aug. 2, ■ Columbia' is about to sign on the; dotted line for its supply of quota pictiiires. for first year under the new Act. Product will be made by Alex-, ander Korda .at benham, but deal has not quite jelled, though expected- to do so rhost any .day. Films will be B type; though of sufficient Ubor cost value to rank for two quota tickets apiece. This way Col hopes to get out on the year with only ,four- pictures, which would, when reckoned double under two-fbr-one prpyisions of the Act, give adequate footage to offset against its American pi;ogram. Deal has been worked by Joe Friedrnaii in' conjunction with J-. A. McConvillej foreign . chief, recently in this territory. ?3,700,000 PROFIT FOR ASSOCIATED BRITISH PIX Aussie Joint Distrib Deal Assures Outlet for Indie Fu-ms in America London, July 29. ■ Associated Britisti Picture Corp. report shows : a net profit of oyer $3,700,000 for the year ending March 31, After increasing the reserve fund by $400,000, a final dividend of l0% was voted, making a, total of 20% for the year, less tax. . Twenty pictures Wei-e made by the company . at Elstree the past year, as against 16 in the previous year, General Theatres Corp. held its annual meeting July 28, . -with . Mark Ostrer, chairman, and msinaging dir rector, reporting the corporation Hiad made a profit of over $1,600,000, which was .within $40,000 of the Irec- ord reached the. previous year.. The directors recommended a final div- idend of 6% on the participating or- dinary shares, making 15%. for the 12 months, same as last' year. A substantial surn was also added to the general reserve. Glasgow Preem Au^. 27 For Waller-Howes Sbow London, Aug. 2. ; Jack Waller-Bobby Howes. 'mu- sical, adaptation from Waiter Hack- ett's play,' 'Wicked Earl,' is to be titled 'Bobby Get Your dun,' with cast comprising; /Howes, Diana Churchill, Gertrude Niesen, Bertha Belmore, Wylie ,' itsbn, Dayid Burns and the Four Frahki, who accepted this engagement in preference to the Folies Bergerc,- Paris, revue. Show, being produced by William MoUison, opens at the v Alhambra, (rlasgow, Aug. 27, for three weeks and one night, then comes to Lon- don, either at His Majesty's or Adel- phi theatre^ Sept. £5. Associated Theatre Properties, controllinig both these houses, has invested in the musical with Waller. Burger to S. A. Sam .Burger, Metro foreign de- partment executive, left last week for South America on an. extended inspection tour. He is flying from Florida to Puerto Rico. He will be absent from N. Y. sev- eral months. 'Returnsf,' London, Folds London, Aug. 9. 'Happy Returns.' C. B. Cochran's revue, closed Aug. 6. Producer frankly admitting his show was a failure. Hutciiinson's S. A. Hop -. W.' J". Hutchinson left on a lour ot Central arid South America and South Africa last veek which will finish his first . complete swing around the globe. The SOth-Fo-x for- eign sales chief -Will make an inten- sive study of the South African sit^ uation Where there" is a new . dis- tributirig office- and where theatre building by the company is being considered. Hutcl.inson only recently got back from Eiirope, whore he attended sales confabs in England, and France. Previous to that he had been on a swing to Australian territbry.. Dan Michalove,' v/ho will make a first-hand report to, Sidney R. Kent on. the Aussie;situation, is set topsail from the Coast for Sydney on Aug. 17. Probably Will make recommenT dations regarding Hoyts circuit and future relations with ■ the film com- pany. For N.S. Wales In lACHMAN'S FBENCHIES Paris, Aug. 9. ■ Harry Lachman. who has sailed for New York, has signatured a term producer - directpr contract , with Andre Daven; First French film will Ijc made with Jean Cabin. \ Current London Plays (ivilJi Dates When Ovoned) 'Frfnr-h Without Yt'.'irs.- f'rilr-rion — Nov', r,. "Mi. , 'Ctf/trKU onil Mril't'.'irf^t.' tVvn'lli:imH-l''-fl^. .■>. -.n. '•i;i.lii>i-i n ivif(<.' r:i/.i...-\w t.;. ',Mr-_iina .My tiirl.- \'uloii.i I'.it.n.;. ij.-c. '.Vili.'- ."JhiirH.' r.MlI<—.T;i II. .SC. •.•;<;. vrii'^ ininriii.' f'iiiii...ii-t.-. •:ts. •|.l:..f.-< UriliKlil.'- .Mii.ll'. -.VUrrh -PA 'riilstui r*'n;' I'I.ivtt',ii;o— .April II. ■wii.i: fills.' riiiii i->!<-.\|.iii. ■:is. -|l.iirnn.n Itl'lK**.* Mt"in.I--i\|iril. '_'7, ':: '-'I'lie 'hijirtct I'l.iy.' ■l)\tUo ttl' Vt.rti'..,— '' Morldli)* ..NT;irnlhc.' fxi'-Itf.'.'Jv-.M.ny 20. '.^I>i-iiil; .Mrit'tlii;:.' .\iiili;t.v/(;i(li^i — M;ii- -i.of.l Wife.' ,Milw.v(li-.Iun» in. ***(im'»flli-l;l,»f.' I l.t> 11^-11 1:rM —.luiii. )tl. ■■''if'l'l''n H'i.v.' >t. .nin.':'.-Juni- -J). 'M:ii-ilziu: r':i>:i'--'>— .IiiIt; 0, - . 'l{r.sie exhibitors would like to see laws similar to those in New Zealand operating here. These call for the 25% right of re- jection, no blQck-booking and strict regulation of thettre construction. In N.Z.„ the laws are kept under strict governmental - control. Too. clastic in this state, exhibitors claim. GABY MORLAY TO PLAY B'WAY BEFORE CANADA Pi-ior to appearoncos in Canada, Gaby Morlay will head a Parisian dramatic troupe, which will pl.ny a limited engagement in New York in late autumn, under J. A. Gauvin. Canadian showman. A repertory of Henry Bernstein and Sacha (iuilry plays will be piesenlcd. i Following the Broadway d;itc. French oiillit will play Boston, Mont- real arid Toronto. London Okays Waller Londdn, Aug. 9; Newcomers to the Palladium 'BJ. Fats Waller, Chester Frederick.*:. Gloria Lnnc . and Lowe, Hilc 'and St.iiiley. all clicked. I Waller was .forced to cncoic and ' make a speech before gcHing olT : stage. Auckland, N. Z., July 22; •Cooperative deal consummated here whereby New Zealand theatre, Jv C. Williamson Picture. Corpi., the- Fullers and Puller-Hayward interests: will serve as distributors here for Brit- ish lilinpire Films holds interest for American indcpcndcrit companief.. because it virtually assures them oi an otillet in New Zealand, ■ v.-ell as . in Australia. Gordon Ellis, BEF chicr, came in recently froQ-i Australia to cinch the transaction - with Jack Mason, major . exhibitor and executive in New Zealand film field;. Under terms, tht Australian branch ot BEF-continuej buying for New Zealand, with prod- uct to be approved by the Mason t'vit- fit. Meanis that Republic, Monogram, iind Grand Notional and other indies should encounter little trouble ' finding a .payable outlet here. This is, of cdiirse, in addition to the cov- . erage' already secured in Australia through BEF. Also goes for the British on distribution. Understood that another group in Aussie was eager to deal with Re- public, but: a phone conversation from New Zealand to New York by BEF clinched the deal for the latter. Republic co:UInues as before only now it is assured a New Zealand- but- let plus additibnally good coverage in Australian territory. - BEF is the only major distributor giving indie, producers-distributors full coverage throughout Australiisia. Formerly interested only in' British ■ pictures but pact niadc some- time back with: Republic, and Monogram, revealed good market not only over Greater Union circuit but in neigh- borhood .'and -subscquents as well. Capt . Harold Auten's recent visit here from N. - Y. is regarded as one reason why Republic cbritinucd. its ' tieup. BEF also handles Associated Talking Pictures, Ciriesbund and other indies, and now indicated that, prospect . of a profit-, for bright; Unusual angle is that distribution of BEF product will be handled here, by major exhibitor ihtere.sts, among the very few times, this happened: Inside is that the deal was. made to give; additional protection to both sides. New Zealand tieup makes 'it easier for everybody eonnectcd with the deal. Actually, BEF- is a unit in Greater Union groijp, -. and entire thing looks like smart move oh part of Norman B. Rydge, chairman of GUT. PAR LINES UP 14 FILMS FOR ITALY IN 1938-39 Paramount thus far has- lined up 14 features which it will send to Italy during 1938-39, though later the total may be raised to 20. This was revealed In connection with the visit here of Americo Aboaf, manager for Par in lUly. About 20 features were sent to Italy last season; in 1930-37, 14. All must be dubbed, and besides varioiis taxes and restric- tions, part ot the coin must be frozen in that coijntry for the time, being. Aboaf, while in New York, waxed enthu.slastie about Italy's native production proclivities. Claimed producing was not done with gov- ernment co: Tokyo Bans 'Angels' Tokyo, July 22. Although 'IIcH's Angels' was re- leased heie .sevei-al yearns ago ariil grossed heavily, it's known that the home ministry is considering plac- ing it on the banned list, if revived at this, time. Understood that Trench' and an unnamed Grand National picture- will meet the same fate, because of treatment of war thcrric. Rea Signs Banks f< iii.l'jn.. Aug. . Alec Roa 'nas siMiicd Lp.-^Iiu Banks. ■ as pcrmancni .stjt- lil ihe- Apollo. Banks to sUir; liciv. i/ontract after ho appears in 'CI'KKibyc. .Mr.- Chips' t(>r O'Brycn, Linnil fc-Duiifue. BALANCE BACK TO INDIA arlo.s Biilancf, Paramoiirifs m.tn- n;;(:r In IikI'i;!. .mils for Europe today f,Wcdnc.-;flay) on his way back 1,0 hit hfiMie post. He 1ki.<; been here about four weeks - conferring with homeoffice officlal-sV 14 VARIETY PICTURES Wcdnesdajr, August 10, 1938 FILM BOOKING CHART {For mformaiion of theatre and film Exchange bookers, Variety presents a corrvplete, chart of J^^^^^^ companies for the current quarterly period. Date^f the reviews as given in Variety end the running time of pnr^ts are included.) (R) REISSUES COP ritlGHT. 1938. BY VARIETT. INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WEEK . OF RELEASE 5/20/38 6/27/38 6/3/38 6/10/38 rRODUCER TALENT PIRECTOB SIX SHooTiN' Sheriff . SWiSS MISS ' NUMBERED WOMEN COCOANUT GROVE BLIND ALIBI RASCALS THE DEVIL'S PARTY MYSTERY HOUSE M, YELLOW JACK HUNTED MiSN. DESERT PATROL KIDNAPPED CRIME SCHOOL - fit A. Alexander Hal Roach E. B. Derr Geo. Arthur Cliff Beid John Stone Ed Grainger Bryan, Fby . Jack Cummings Harold Hurley A. W. Hackel K. MacGowan ■ Bryan Fpy ■ GN Western Kea May"*'* . MGM Comedy S.Laurel-O.Hardy Mono Drama S. Blane-L. Hughes Par Musical • MacMurray-IL Hllliard RKO Meller R. DIx-W. Bourne ZOtb Musical J; Wlthers-R.- Hudson U Drama V. McLaglen-B. Roberts WB Drama II. Bofart-G. Pas* Harry Fraser John G. Blystone Carl Brown Al JanteU , Lew Landers H.B.Humb'rstone Ray McCarey Lew Seller MGM Drama R. Montgomery-V. Bruce Geo. Seitz Par Meller . L. Nolan-M. Carlisle Louis . King Rep Western Bob Sleele-W. Meldon ' Sam Newfleld 20th RomTDr W. Baxter-F. BarUidlomew Al Werker WB Drama . H. Bogart-Gale Pace ; Lew Seller THREE ON A WEEKEND GB GB Rom-Dr THREE COMRADES H. Manckiewicz , MGM Rom-Dr A FAKEWELL TO ARMS (R) F. Borzage Par ,DraiTia SIGN OF THE CROSS (R) . C. B. deMille Par Drama SAINT IN NEW YORK , Wm. Sistrom RKO Meller JOSETTE Gene Markey ' 20th Musical WIVES UNDER SUSPICIOr/ ' . Et" Grainger U . Dratiia LITTLE MISS THOROUGHBRED . Bryan Foy. WB Com-Dr M. L6ckwood-J. Lodge-B. Bay B. Taylor-Tone-'M. Snllavan G.Cboper-H.. Hayes . M^rch-Cblbert-Lau?hton L. Hayward-K. Snttoii S. Simon-b. Amech'c-B. Lahr W. Wllllam-O. Patrick ' J. Chapman-: J;. Lltel Carol Reed Frank Borzage F. vBorzage C. B.. deMille Ben Holmes Allan Dwan . Jas. Whale John Farrow HELD FOR RANSOM THE TOY WIFE YOU AND ML KING KONG (R) BIDERS OF BLACK HILLS LADIES IN DISTRESS ONE WILD NIGHT GOLDDIGGERS IN PARIS GN GN Meller Merian C. Cooper MGM Drama Fritz Lang Par Rom-Dr M; C. Cooper RKO ■". Spec Wm. Berke Rep Western Harrv Grey Rep ■ V Meller John Stone 20th Meller Sarh Bischofl. WB Musical a. WIthers-B. Mehaffey-J. Mulhall L. Ra'ner-M. Jovglas-R. Yoang S.: Sidney-G. Ra(t-H. Carey. "F. . Wray-B. Caboi-Cooper. 3 Mesanlteers A. Skipwbrth-P. Moran ' J. Laiig-L.' Talhot-S; Tolcr Ri Vallee-B. Lane Clarence Bricker Richard Thorpe . Fritz Lang Schoedsack George Sherman Gus Meins Eugene Forde Ray Enright TIME MINS. ;WHEN REVIEWED BY VARIETY 83 'r 65 5/11 5/18. 5/25 5/25 5/25 _6/l 5/25 5/18 5/25 5/4 ■ ' 76 100 90 124 71 70 65 69 93 , 90 96 55 66 63 100 6/15 . 5/25 12/3/1932 12/6/1932 ' 5/25 6/1 6/8 6/15 7V20 6/8 6/8 3/7/1933 6/22 6/15 5/11 5/25 . 6/17/38 6/24/38 HOLIDAY CRIME OVER LONDON WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN PRISON FARM BLONDE CHEAT THBEE BLIND MICE BLOCKADE OUTLAW EXPRESS WHEN WERE YOtT BORN Everett Riskin GB EdWi Ghodorov Par Wm. Sistrbni Ray Grifflth . Walter Wangcr TJrem Carr Bryan Foy Col GB MGM Par RKO 20th UA U WB HIGHWAY PATROL , LORD; JEFF : ROMANCE OF LIMBERLOST BAB 20 JUSTICE BOBDEB GtMAN MB. MOTO TAKES CHANCE YOUNG FUGITIVES WHITE BANNEBS yr. MacDohald . Fraiik Davis ' Mono Harry Sherman Bert Gilroy So' Wurtzel Barivey SariBcky Henry Blanke Col MGM Mono Par BKO 20 th U WB Drama Mystery Rom-Dr. Meller Rom-Com Rom-Dr Draitia Western Drama Meller Rohfi-Dr Rom-Dr Weistern Western ■ Mystery Meller Dr , K.Hepburn-C/ Grant M. Grahame-P. Cavanaugh V. BruccrH. Marshall . S. Ross-L. Nolan-J. C. Nalsh' J. Fontaihe-D. de Marney ; L. YoungrJ. McCrea ' 'H. Fonda-M. CarroU. Bnb :Baker-C. Callego C. Rains- J. Cooper . • George Cukor Alf. Zeisler ' R: Sinclair Louis King 36s. Santley Wm. Seller Wm. Dieterlc Geo. Waggner Wm. McGann J. Wells-R. Paige Bartholomew-Sondcrgaard J. Parker-E. Linden W. Boyd-G. Hayes George O^Brlen P'. Lorre-^ Hudson D. Kent-R. Wilcox C. Rains- J. Cooper :;.C. Coleman, Jr. Sam Wood Wm. Nigh Les Selahder . David- Howard Norman Foster John Rollins Ed. Goulding 93 84 60 69 56 78 80 7» 61 57 67 SO 5/18 11/11/30 6/22 7/20 6/8 6/8 7/20. . 6/15 8/10 6/22 7/?0 7/20 6/15 ■7/20 5/25. 7/1/38 CITY STREETS EVERGREEN (R) ^ HAVING WONDERFUL TIMlf ARMY GIRL ALWAYS GOODBYE SOUTH BIDING DANGER ON THE AIB RAGE OF PARIS MEN ARE SUCH FOOLS . W. MacDonald Col Meller Carrlllb-E. Bellows-H. J. Eddy Al Rogel V. Saville GB Musical , J. Matthews-B; Mackay Victor Saville P.S. Berman BKO Comedy G. Bogers-D. Fairbanks, Jr. Al Sahtell . Sol Siegel Rep Rom-Dr M.Evans-P.Foster Arm'd Schaefer R4y Grifflth 20th Rom-Dr B. iSlanwyek-H. Marshall Sid Lanfleld Alex Kordst UA Drama . B. RlchBrdson.:E. Best VicSayiUe Irving Starr V Mystery D. Woods-A. Grey Otis Garrett B. G. DeSylva U Com-Rorh D. Darrleax-D: Fairbanks, Jr. Henry Koster David Lewis WB Rbm-Com . Ww Morris-P. Lane Busby Berkeley 68 82 ' 70 90 75 84 65 80 7/27 1/15/35 - 6/15 7/20 6/29 7/27 7/20 6/15 6/22 7/8/38 FAST COMPANY F. Stephani MGM Rom-Com. MAN'S COUNTRY Mono Mono Western CRIME RING . Clift Reid BKO Mystery LITTLE WOMEN (B) K. MacGowan BKO Rom-Dr DUBANOO VALLEY BAIDEBS A. W. Hackel Bcp Western PANAMINT'S BAD MAN ' Sol Lesser 20tta Western - MY BILL . ■ .■ Bryan Foy WB Drama M.. D6nglas-F. Blee .. Jack Randall A'. Lane-F. Mereeir Hepbum-J. Behnett-F. Dee- Bob Steele-L. SUhlcy S. Ballew-N. Beery K. t!ranels-J. Lltcl Eddie. Buzzel Robert Hill Les Goodwins Geo. Cukor Sam Newfleld : Ray Taylor John Farrow 75 53 70 117 60 6/29 8/3 7/27 . 11/21/33 8/10 6/15 7/15/38 7/22/38 7/29/38 8/5/38 8/12/38 8/19/38 PIONEER TRAIL SHOPWOBN ANGEL rBIDE Of THE WEST GOLD MINE IN SKY PASSPOBT HUSBAND ' TBISON UBEAK BSFOBMATOBY LOVE FINDS ANDY Hi ABDT TBOPIC HOLIDAY BOO-LOO SKY GIANT IXL GIVE A MILLION ALGIERS LITTLE TOUGH GUY PENROD'S DOUBLE TROUBLE Col Col Western J. L. Manckiewicz MGM Rom-Dr Harry Sherman Par Western C. E. Ford Bep Western Sol Wurtzel 20th Com-Dr Trem Carr U . . Meller . Col Col Drama Hal Roach MOM Com-Dr A. Hornblow. . Jr. Par Musical C. E. Elliott Par Adv-Dr Robert Sisk BKO Meller K.MacGowan 20th ' Drama Walter Wanger UA Rom-Mel Ken Goldsmith V Drama Bryan Foy WB -Com-Dr SOUTH Ok' ABIZONA STBANGE BO ABDEBS THE CHASES PROFESSOR BEWARE HEROES OF THE HILLS MOTHER CAREY'S CHICKENS LITTLE MISS BROADWAY .AMAZING DR. CLITTERHOUSE Col Geo. B. Mason Frank David Harold Lloyd Wm. Berke P. S. Berman D. Hempstead Anatole LItvak A. Hitchcock Col GB MGM Par Rep RKO 20th WB Western Mystery Com-Dr Comedy Western Drama- Hom-Com Drama Rom-Dr J. Lndcn-J. Barkley M. Sallavan- J. Stewart BlU Boyd G. Antry-S. Bornettei P. Mbore-S. Erwin . G. Farriell-B. McLane J. HblUC. Wynters M. Rooney-J. Garland b. Lamoar-Borns-Raye Tapley-S. Asmara-A. Lane Dlx>C. Morrls-J. Fontaine W. Baxter-M. Weaver Bbyer-S. Gurle-H. Lanuirr Dead End Kids Maach Twins' - . THE LADY VANISHES A. Hitchcock GB THE CROWD ROARS Sam Zimbalist MGM Rom-Dr I BAREFOOT BOY . E. 3. Derr Mono Drama J, BULLDOG DBUMMOND IN AFBICA Harold Hurley Par Mystery J, COME ON, LEATHERNECKS Herman Schlom Rep Sports MAN FROM MUSIC MOUNTAIN Chas. E. Ford Rep Outdoor I'M FROM THE CITY Wii Sistrom BKO Comedy GATEWAY Samuel G. Engel 20th Drama LETTER OF INTRODUCTION John Stahl U Rom-Dr MR. CHUMP Bryan Foy WB Com-Rom C. Starrett-I. Meredith . T. Walls-R. Saint Cyr D. O'Keefe-A, Merrls-L. Stone H; Lloyd-P. Welch . Three Mes^oiteers R. Keeler-A. Shirley S. Temple-G. Morphy-Dorante - E . G. Rbblnsoh-C. Trevor Jos. Levering H. C. Potter Les Selander Joe Kane Jas. Tinting Arthur Lubin; Lew D. Collins Geo. Seitz Theodore Reed C. E. Elliott Lew Landers Walter Lang John Cromwell Herold Youiig . Lew" Seller THE GLADIATOR RICH MAN, POOB GIBL THE TEXANS PAINTED DBSEBT KEEP SMILING THE MISSING GUEST BACKET BUSTERS David L. Loew Edw; Chodorov Lucien Hubbard Bert Gilroy ^ol Wiirtzel B. Sarecky Sam T'schoff Col MGM Par RKO 20th U WB CONVICTED MARIE. ANTOINETTE GIVE ME A SAILOR SMASHING THE RACKETS A ROMANTIC ROGUE ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND THAT CERTAIN AGE BLOCK-HEADS Comedy Com-Dr Outdoor Western • Com-Rom: Mystery Meller Col H. Stromberg Jeff Lazarus B. p. Fineman John H. Auer H. J. Brown. J. Pasternnk Hal Roach, 8'S6 '38 9/2/38 I AM THE LAW TOO HOT TO HANDLE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN SPAWN OF THE NORTH BREAKING THE ICE TENTH AVENUE KID SPEED TO BURN THE YOUNG IN HEART WOMEN OOIIRAGEOUS BOT M EETS GIRL THE LADY'OBJECTS BOY'S TOWN STARLIGHT OVER TEXAS SING. YOD SINNERS CAREFREE ■ MT LUCKY STAB MAN WITH 100 FACES FOUR'S A CBOWD Everett Riskin L. Weihgartcn ^ Wm. T. Lackey Al Lewin • Sol Le.sser Harry Grey Jerry Hoffman D. O. Selznick Ben Glazer S am B ischoff Wm. P.erlbei'g John Considine . Ed Finney Wesley Rugglts Pandro Berman Harry J. Brown A; Hitchcock . David Lewis Cbl MGM Par RKO Rep 20tli U /MGM_ Coi MGM Mono Par RKO Rep 20tH UA. WB ^ WB _ Col MG Mono Par RKO 20th GB WB Meller Drama Comedy Meller' Rom-Dr Musical Musical Comedy M. Lockwood-P. Lnkas B. TaylorrM. O'Sullivan Moran-M. M. Jones-R. Morgan Howard-H; Angel-H. B; Warner B. Cromwell-M. Hunt G. Aotry-S. Bnriiette J. Penner-L; Krneger D. Ameche-A. Whelan-RatoS A. Leeds-A. Meiijou-Bergcn Johnnle-Lola Lane ' J. E. Brown- J. Travis ' R. Young-R. H'ussey J. Bennctt-R. Scott G. O'Brlen-L. Johnson J. Witfceis-G. Stuart P. Kelly-C. Moore-Lundigan ■H. Bogart-Glbrla Dickson Sam Nelson George Mason E. L. Marin Elliott Nugent Geo, Sherman Rowland V. Lee Irving Cummings ■ Anatole Litvak A. Hitchcock R.Thorpe Karl Brown Louis King Jas. Cruze Joe Kane Ben Holmes Al Werker John Stahl . Wm. Cleinens M, T D. R. Hayward-C. Quiglcy' N. Shcarer-T. Power RayerB. Hopc-B. Grable~ C. Morrls-F. Mercer R. Novarro-M. Marsh Power-A. Fayie-Ameche Durbin-J. Cobper-I. Rich Laurel and Hardy Ed Sedgwick R. Schunzel Jas. Hogan David Howard Herbert I. Leeds John Rollins Lloyd Bacon Meller E. G. Robinson-W. Barrle CpmTDr Gablc-Loy-Carrlllb Rom-Dr A. Nagel-J. LaRue Outdoor ' . Raft-H. Fonda-Lamour Musical B.'Breen-C. Ruggles Meller B. CabAt-B. Roberts Sports M. Whalen-L. Barl Rom-Dr 3. GaynorrD. Fairbanks, Jr. Com-Dr Priscllla-Rosemiiry-Lane - Comedy Cagney-O'Brlen-M. Wilson Com-Rom G. Stuart-L. Ross Drama S. Tracy-M. Rbohey-Hiill Western' Tex RItter-C. LaRonx Com-Rom B. Crosby-F. MacMnrray Musical . F. Astalre-G. Rogers Mus-Rom ' IIcnic-R.' Greene-Romero Drama L. Palmer-T. Walls. Com-Rom R. Bassell-E. Flynn Leon -Barsha W. S. Van Dyke Elliott Nugent Lew Landers John H. Auer Henry King Edw. Lxidwig John Blystone Al Hall Jack Conway Karl Brown Henry Hathaway Edward Clinc B'nard Vorhaus Otto Brower • Richard Wallace Michael Curtiz Lloyd Bacon Erie C. Kenton N; Taurog Al Herman Wesley Ruggles Mark Sandrich Roy Del Ruth A. Hitchcock . Michael Curtiz 85 M 74 _72_ 61 90 77 6« 80 70 95 85 65 7/13 7/6 7/27 7/20 6/29 7/13 7/6 8/3 7/20 -7/13 •6/2S 7/27 . 75 90 55 82 70, 87 8/10 7/13 8/3 7/27 7/6 6/22 54 71 73 10« 60 8/3 8/10 8/10 «/3 8/10 70 8/3 7/13 7/27 8/10 6/1 95 ^ednesdaft August 10, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY IS New Product (Continued from page 2) Christie; lyhich did the Advahce Production Chart er, 'Anna $110,400. „ . - dperators are generally of oDinibn that the period from, Aug. 15 to Thanksgiving is the best of the whole year. September and Feb- ruary are usually the two best months ot the year, coming close oh performance but with September possibly having a slight edge ordi- narily. Product, of course, is al- ways a factor. The month of Sep; tember Is always strong because of Labor Day, the Jewish holidays, re- turn of kids and grownups frorh camp, country, etc., while February has the advantage of the Washing- ton and Lincoln birthday holidays. December doesn't compare in spite of Xmas, because pre-shopping ahead is always bad, while January usual- ly suffers a marked letdown after NeW Year's week. Thus, in taking stock, showmen are avidly awaiting for new product and the month of September, with August hopes mean- time high. Stabilization Hoped For Grosses started building substan- tially during the late summer oiE 1936, with a more marked upward swing through all of '37, the: drop coining in October. On the basis of product; the spending program of the Government and other factors, 'operators are looking for a fall sea- ' soil that will niore definitely sta- bili2e business. • Holdover possibili- ties of the new pictures are being studied in anticipation that there will be sufficient strength among leading releases to obviate the ne- cessity of 'B' fillers, ' In addition to pre-releases, such as.'Warners' 'Boy Meets Girl' which goes on release the - last of this month, and 'Four's a Crowd,' set for release tentatively. Labor Day> 'Racket Busters' is being made avail- able next week. Although it is . roadshowing 'Marie- Antoinette' on the Coast and in New York, starting Aug.' 16, Metro isi^ placing this pic- ture on general release early, Aug. 19, for all other parts of the country. It is also making 'Too Hot to Handle' and 'Boy's 'Town* (both '38-'39 pic- tures) available this month, followed ■ September by 'Great Waltz,' among others. . Paramount is making 'Spavyn of the North' available, last week this ,' month,: followed by 'Sing You Sin- ners,' 'If ' I were King' and ; 'Men With Wings,* among others on which the buyer analysis is high. RKO is breaking through' Labor Day week with 'Carefree,' new Astaire-Rogers musical, followed by: 'Room Service' and 'Affairs of Annabel,' also dur- ■ Ing September. 'Gunga Din,' one of the biggest on the RKO program, comes shorely afterward.' Starting •38-'39 with a smash in 'Ragtime Band,' which 20th-Fox is giving its customers starting Aug. 19, company pushes through; Labor Day with Sonja Henie's next, 'My Lucky Star,* making it a probable double-barreled leadoff ^t an early date. 'Hold That Co-Ed,* 'Submarine Patrol' and 'Straight, Place and Show'. latter with Ritz Bros., top this start off in later weeks. 'Suez' and 'Annabella' will - be made available toward the end of October. Already out with 'Algiers.' beat- ing all others on the gun for '38- '39. United Artists this month (August) gives the field 'Young in Heart* and There Goes My Heart.' with 'Made For Each Other,' 'Drums' and 'The Lady and the Cowboy' all set for September release. . Universals 'Letter of Introduc- tion.' rated a smash for the new season by consensus of . buyers, is neing made available this month, while another from < this studio on Which the theatres are depending, wni be 'That Certain Age,' Deahna Durbin starrer, set for release Sept. The biggest expected from Co- lumbia at an early date is 'You Can't Take It With You,' which has been completed and is set for release Aug. Although Warners' September re- lease dates are tentative, one of note looked for from the company that month is 'Valley of the Giants' in technicolor. 'Garden of the Moon' may be availabie Ocl. l. NABY A GAL . , Hollywood, Aug 9. . Dawn Patrol' went before the cameras last Saturday (6) at War- ners with an all-male cast topped Errol Flynh, Basil Rathbone, Melville Cooper, Barry Fitzgerald, "?vid Niven and Donald Crisp. Eflmund Goulding is directinj;. . ' , . Holtyuiood,. Au0. 9., j wood lots as o/ Aug. ,3^ with 64 in cUltinff .proceiss.: Currcritiv 61 pictures sWifed /or release during the 1938-39 season arc . Still needed' to complete • current season coniTnitjnejits ore 64, compare foplnjif the cameras' or in the cutting 'TOOTlis ouiaiting j>ret)iew., Total o/ ing u>«f^ 476 deliwered against total ojf 581 promtsed. 38, o drop o/ six. from the last tuio-weeK period, are shooting on HoUv- ' . ' Columbia Now Balance to Nnmber Namber Now. In Be Placed Stortei in •f ,Piz ' Com- Shoot- Cattinf. Before Prepara^ promised pletcd ' Ing ; Booms Cameras lion 4« 31 2 S ■ ■ ■ 2 4 n 13 •' 4 3 4 • • 1 64 48 4 ■ 9. . . ■ 5 '■9. Features , ., , . Westerns . . . . David. Loew.. Total . , Pictures no^y in the cutting rooms or awaiting |>revlews are: 'PHANTOM GOLD,' formerly titled 'doLb BltSH DAYS,* prodiiced by Larry Darmour; directed by Joseph Levering;. briginal screen play by Nate Gatzert; photographed by James S. Brown. Jr, Cast: Jack Luden. Beth Marion, Barry Downing. Charles Whittaker, Hal Taliaferro, Jack Ingram, Tex . Palmer, Bus Barton, Art Davis, Marian Sais. Lafe McKee, Tuffy (canine), 'SOUTH OP ARIZONA,* formerly titled 'SINGING GUNS,' produced by Harry Decker for Irving Briskin unit;, directed by Sam Nelson; original screen play, by Bennett Cohen: photographed by Benjamin Kline. Cast: Charles Starriett, Iris Meredith. Bob Nolan, Pat Brady. Dick Curtis. The- Sons of the Pioneers,. Eddie Cobb, Art Mix, John Tyrrell. Robert Fiske. 'PIONEER TRAIL,* formerly titled 'VALLEY OF VIOLENCE,' produced by Larry Larmbur; directed by Joseph Levering;, original screen play by Nate Gatzert; photographed by James S. Brown, Jr. Cast: Jack Luden, Joan Barclay, Dick Botiilier, 'Tuffy' (canine). Slim Whittaker, Marin Sais,' Hal Taliaferro, Leon Beaunion. ^YOU CANT TAKE IT WITH YOij* (for 1938-39' release), produced and directed by Frank Capra:. original play by George S, Kaufman and Moss Hart; screen play by Robert RIskin; photographed by Joseph Walker. Cast: . Jean Arthur, James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore,- Edward Arnold, Mischa Auer, Spring Byingtoh, Ann Miller, Dub 'Taylor, Clarence H. Wil- son. Mary Forbes,. Donald Meek, Samuel S. Hinds, Halliwell Hobbes, Eddie Anderson, Lillian Yarbpi. ;THE LADY OBJECTS,' formerly titled 'LADY LAWYER,' produced by William Perlbcrg; directed by Earl Kenton; screen play by Gladys Leh- man and Charles Kehyoh;: photographed by Alan Selglen Cast: Lanny Ross, Gloria Stuart. Joan Marsh, Roy Benson, Robert Paige, Arthur Loft, Pierre Watkin, Robert Flske. 'FLIGHT TO FAME,^ formerly titled 'WINCiS OF DOOM,* produced by Ralph C(riin for. the Irving Briskin unit; directed by C, C. Coleman, Jr.; original screen play by Michael Simmons; photographed by Lucien Bal- lard. . Cast: Jacqueline Wells, Charles'- Farrell, Alexander Dorsey, Fred- erick Burton, Eddie Earle, Addison Richards, Charles D. Brown, Hugh Sothern. ■ THE STRANGER FROM ARIZONA,* formerly titled 'PHANTOM TRAIL' (tentative title), Coronet Pictures production for Columbia; asso^ ciate producer, Moiiroe Shaff; directed, by Elmer Cliftoli; original screen play by Monroe Shaff; photographed by Eddie Linden. Cast: Buck Jones, Dorothy Fay Southworth, Roy Barcroft, Bob Terry, Hank Worden, Hank Mann, Horace Murphy, Ralph Peters, Dot Farley. Joe Girard, Walter Mer- rill, Lon Reibe. 'JUVENILE COlIRr (for 1938-39 release), produced by Irving BrUkin: associate producer, Ralph Cohn;. directed by D. Ross Lederman; original story by Robert E. Kent and .Henry Taylor; photographed by Benjamiin Kline. Cast: .Paul Kelly, Rita Hayworth, Frankie Darro, David Gorcey, Hally Chester, Don La.Tourre, Dick.Selzer, Allan Ramsey, johnny Tyrrell, Dick Curtis, Lee Shunvway, Joe D. Stephani. 'I Am THE law,' formerly titled 'OUTSIDE THE LAW,* produced by Everett Riskiii; directed by Alexander Hall; original screen play by Jo Swerling; photographed: by Henry Freulich. Cast:' Edward G.. Robinson, Wendy Barrie, Barbara O'Neil,. John- Beal, Arthur Loft, Douglas Woods, Charles Halton,. Emery Parnell, Gene Morgan, Robert Middlemass, Byron Fougler, Anthony Hughes, Walter Smaliey, Scott Colton, Gay lord Pendle- ton, Marshall Grant, Nick Lukats. CoinmbU PIx Now In Production 'GIRLS' SCHOOL,' formerly titled 'FINISHING SCHOOL,* produced by SaVn Marx^ directed' by John Brahm; original and screen play by Tess Schlesinger; photographed by Franz Planer. Cast: Anne Shirley,' Nan Grey, Ralph Bellamy, Margaret; Tallichet, Doris Kenyon. Noah Beery, Jr., Cecil (Junningham, Franklin Pangborn. Marjcirie Ford, 'Marjorie Dean, Marjorie Reynolds, Dorothy Moore, Joan Tree. 'NOT FOR GLORY* (for 1938-39 release), produced by Larry Darmour; directed by Lewis D. Collins; original screen play .by Gordon Rigby; photo- israphcd . by James Brown, Jr. Cast: Jack Holt,^ Beverly Roberts. Noah Beery. Jr., John QUalen, -Helen Jerome Eddy, Arthur Aylsworth, (jharles Middleton, Barbara Pepper'j Harry . 'Woods. Vic Potel, Claire Du Brey. 'HOMICIDE BUREAU' (for. 1938-39 release); associate producer, Jacic Fier; directed by C- C. Coleman,' Jr.; no writing credits released as yet; photographed-' by Lucien Ballard. Cast: Bruce Cabot, Rita Hayworth, Robert Paige, Marc Lawrence,- Ed Fethcrston, Richard Fiske. Jane Morgan. 'WEST OF iSANTA FE' (for ld3B-39 release); executive producer. Irving Briskin; directed by Sam Nelson; screen play by Bennett Cohen; photo- graphed by Allen Siegler. Cast: Charles Starrctt. Iris Meredith. Sons of the Pionecrsi Bob Nolan, Hank Bell, Buck Connor, Dick Curtis, Hal Talia- ferro. Eddie Gobb. Guard, Dorothy Fay; Jack Ingram, Frank LaRue;! Slim Whittaker, Keit Duncan. . ; - : •MURDER OiH SUNSET' BOULEVARD,' George Hirllman production; l>roduced by Sarh Coslow; directed by Louis Gasnier; screen, play by Arthur Hoerl and- Paul Franklin, fr.om original story by Harold .Joyce; photographed by Mack Stengler. Cast: Sally Rand, Esther Muir, Vince Barnett, Katherine 'Sugar' Kane. Reed Hadley, Dennis Moore, Lona Andre, Henry- King and his orchestra, George Dbuglas, Paul Sutton, Frank O'Con- nor, Harry Brodell. Grand National Features Westerns Total , Number Number ot PIz Com- . Promised pletcd . 43 18 2! « 65 24 Now Balance to . Now in Replaced Stories In Shoot- Cluttlnir Before Prepara- in( Booms Cameras tion e 2 24 5 0 3 18 2 0 5 36 " Metro Featnres . . Hal Roach ^ Total . .. - Number Number of PIx Com-' Promised pleled 48 .38 3 ^: -2 - 51 4* Now Balance to Now . ■ In Be Placed Stories la Shoioit-- Cutting Before , Prepara- Ing Rooms Cameras ' tlon 5 ., ■ 4 -' 4 ■■• ■■■ r 0 1 0 4 5 5 4 11 ictures nb.w in cutting rooms or awaiting previews are: 'ROLLIN' PLAINS,' .produced by Ed Finney; directed by Al Herman; original screen 'play by Edmund Kelso; photographed by. Francis. Corbey. (bast: Tex Hitter, Harriet Bennett, Snub Pollard, Hobart Bbsworth,. Ernie Adams. Charles: King, Lynton Brent, Hprace Murphy, Karl Hackctt, Ed Cassidy. • THE UTAH TRAIL,* firbdiiced by Edward Finney; directed by Al Her- man; screen play by Edmond Kelso, from original story-by Lindslcy Par- sons and Edmond Kelso: photographed by Francis Corbey, Cast: Tex Hitter, Horace Murphy. Snub Pollard, Adele Pearce, Karl Hackett, Charles King, Edward- Cassidy, David O'Brien, Dub Osborne, Lyriton Brent, Rudy Sooter. 'SHAD0'Ws 6vEB> CHINA,' Fine Arts production for Grand National release; produced and directed by Charles Lamont; briginal .screen play, by: Joseph Hoffman; photographed by Arthur Martirielli. Cast: James 'Dunn, Linda Gray, Robert Barrat. Ralph Morgan, Edward Woods, Paul Sutton. Edward Mordant. Edward Keanc, Billy. Bcvans, William Haadc, Richard! Loo, Victor Young. UNTITLED Fine Arts production for Grand National rclca.'sc: produced by Maurice Conn; directed by Sam Newfield: screen play by Frances; Guihah; photographed by Jack Grccnhalgh. Cast: George Houston, Beth Marion, Al St. John, AJdon Chase, Dave O'Brien, Waller Bryon, Kit Pictures now in the cutting rooms or awaiting previews are; 'BLOCKHEADS,* formerly titled 'MEET THE MISSUS,' produced by Hal Hoach; associate producer, Hal Roach. Jr.; directed by John Blystone; tentative \yriting credits, original sloi-y by ■ Arnold Belgrad and Charles Rogers; screen play by Felix; Adler. James Parrott and Harry Landon; photographed by "Art Lloyd. Cast: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Patrici Ellis. Billy Gilbert. 'TOO HOT TO HANDLE' (for 1938-39 season), produced by Lawrence .Weingarten; directed by -Jack Conway; briginal story by Lawrence Stall- ■ ings; screen play by Stallings and Leonard Hammbnd; photographed by Hal-Rosson. Cast: Clark Gable. Myrna Loy. Walter Pidfteon; Leo Carrillo, Walter Connolly, Marjorie Main, Betty Hbss Clarke.- Peter Lynn, Aileen . Pringle,- Patsy- O'Connor, Virginia Weidler, Johnny Hines, Henry Kohler, Willie Fung, Lily Mul. THE GREAT WALTZ* (for 1938-39 season), produced by Bernard Hyman; directed by. Julien Duvivier; no writing credits released 'as yet; photographed by. Joseph Ruttenberg. Cast: Luise Rainer, Fernand Gravely Miliza Korjus, Hugh Herbert, Lionel Atwill. : Minna Gombcll, George Houston, Herman Blng, Bert Roachi Christian Rub. 'RICH MAN; POOR GIRL,' formerly titled 'IT'S NOW OR NEVER,' produced by Edward Chodorov; directed by Reinhold Schunzel; nb writing' credits released as yet; , photographed by Hay June. Cast: Robert Young, . Ruth Huss^y, Guy Kibbee, liCw Ayres, Lana Turner, Rita Johnson. . 'THREE LOVES HAS NANCY; produced by' Norman Krasna; directed by Richard Thorpe; no writing credits released as yet; photographed by William Daiiiels. Cast: Robert Montgomery, Janet Gaynor, Franchot Tbne, Cora^Witherspoon,- Reginald Owen, Claire' Dodd, Guy. Kibbee, Fay Holdcn. ■■..- ■ ":- Metro PIx Now in Production ., ■ 'BOYS TOWN,* produced by John Considine, Jr.; directed, by Norman Taurog: original screen play by John Meehan;. photographed by Sid Wag- ner. Cast: Spencer Tracy, Mickey Hboney, Andy and Jimmie Cane', Bob Watson, Frankie Thomas, Jackie Mbrrow, - Henry Hull, Gene Reynolds, Sidney Miller, Jimmy Butler, Donald Barry. ' 'Sweethearts* (in 'Technicolor for 193B-39 season),'produced by Hunt Stromberg; directed bjr W. S. Van Dyke; screen play, by Alan Campbell and Dorothy Parker; photographed by Oliver Marsh. Cast: Jeanette Mac- Donald, Nelson Eddy. Mischa Auer. Fraiik Morgan. - Ray Bolger. Herman Bine. Minna Gombel, Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, Raymond - Walburn, Lucille Watson, Florence Rice. Reginald Gardiner.. Allyn Joslyn. Fay Hblden, Olin Hpwland, . Terry Kilburn. Betty -Jaynes, Douglas McPhail. ' 'STABLEMATES/ produced by Harry. Rapf; directed by Sam Wood; nb writing credits released as yet; photographed by John Seitz. Cast; Wallace: Beery, Mickey Rooney, Arthur Hohl, Minor Watson, Cliff Nazarro. - 'LISTEN, DARLING,* produced by .lack Cummlngs; diirected by Edward Marin; < original story by Katharine Brush. Cast: Freddie Bartholomew, Judy Garland, Mary Astbr,: Walter Pidgeon, Scotty Beckett, Gene' Lock- hart, Alan Hale, Barnett Parker. ♦VACATION FROM LOVE,' produced by John Considine; directed by George Fitzmaurice; nb writing credits released: as yet; photographed, by George Flosey, Cast: Dennis O'Kccfe. Florence Rice, Roger Converse, Kenneth Stevens, James Blain, Andrew Tombes, Arthur Loft, Frank Mor- gan. Features ....... Westerns ...... Monogram Namber Number Now of pis Com- Shoot- Promisei pleted Ing 26 26 0 16 15 « Now Balance to In Be Placed Stories la Cutting Before ' Prepara- BbMDS Cameras t\op 2 • . 2 10 2 Totol . 42 41 0 3 • 4 Pictures in the 'cutting room: 'BAREFOOT BOY' (for 1938-39 season), produced by E. B. Derr; directed by Karl Brown; screen play by John T. Neville; photographed by Gilbert War'rehton. Cast: Jackie Moran. Marcia Mae Jones; piaire Windsor. Ralph Morgan, Marilyn Knowlden,: Matty Fain, Frank Puglia, Edward Pawleyi John Morris, Bradley Metcalfe, George Cleveland.. •UNDER THE BIG TOP,' formerly titled THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN* (for 1938-39 season), produced by W. T. Lackey; directed by Karl Brbwn; original screen play by Marion Orth; photographed by .Gilbert Warrcntoii. Cast: Anne Nagel, Marjorie' Main, -Jack La Rue, Herbert Hawlinson, Betty Compson, George Cleveland. •MEXICALI KID,' produced by Robert Tansey; directed by Wallace Fox; original screen play . by ' Robsrt Erhmett; photographed by Bert Longenecker. Cast:; Jack Randall. Elcanbre Stewart, Wesley Barry, Baroii William von Brincken, Ed Cassidy, BUd Osborne, trnie Adams, Glenn Strange, Lafe McKee. Paramount studio Harry Sherman.... Emanuel Cohen.,, B. P. Schulberg. . Number Number of. PIx . Com- Promised 39 7 3 pletcd 38 7 3 . Now Shoot- ing Now Balance to in Be Placed Stories In Cutting Before Prepara- Rooms Cameras Hon . 8 0 2 0 0 0 Total , 5T .r,6 JO 0 • Pictures now in cutting rooms or .-i wail ing previews arc: 'MEN WITH WINGS' (in Technicol-ir- for lfi.1«-3!) .tpn.'^onl, r>i-..(liic0fl nr directed by William Wellman; sci'<'i;n play by Ubbcrt Car."ion; : pholo- graphed by W. Howard '^'reejie. Cast: Frerl iVIaeMuir;iy. H;i.v .Millaiifl. Louise Campbe'.. Andy Devine! E(lr;ai- Kennedy. Waller Abel, Porter llyll.. Gene Reynolds, ;(iheryl Walker,' Billy CJook, Dfirolhy Tonnant,.J'nmc.^ Hurkf. Virginia Weidler; Harvey Stephens, Helen Dickson, Lillijin; Wcsl, Grai-e Coodall. Kitty Kelly. Lyhne OviTmnii. Don;ild O'Cotinor, ilots-fPau: •(CotUiiiiied (in liar;i; lU) : 16 VARIETY V^mtY HOUSE REVIEWS Wednesday, August 10, 1938 MUSIC HALL, N. Y. Flotence Rogge's Ballet, M. H. Symph, Hilda. Eckler, Chduiicey Morehouse, Glee Club, Rockettes, Bcotrice Joyce, 'The Starlings The Hartmans ■ (2) ; 'Mother Carey's Chickens' (RKO), reviewed in Variety July 27. . Leonidofnsm at' its best is manifest this week at the; Music Hall. Stage show makes handsome and elTectlvc use of the bic ' theatre's production resources'. In 'Jflidnifiht Blues' the merger of choreography and bizarre lightins creates a sttiaicko climax to a totality that moves steadily for- ward with a happy : absence of any of those stage waits that occasionally slows down the Hall's pace to an amble: : Florence Rogge's ballet girls cavort in fantastic gyrations to occupy the curtain position u'siially accorded the customarily more flashy Rockettes. Here the subdued group tosses ofi' all flounces, airy-fairyitig, rolls, grimaces and leaps^ and undulates like so many scductresses in a satur- nalia a la, BeMille, Hilda Ecklcr is. the leading lenper on a .shiny-bot- tomed circular platform, set down in the pillared ruins of ai Druid temple (if it isn't Druid; sue us!). As they get hot the artiflces of the. switch- oard highlight multi-colored cos- tuming and the whole squirming mas^ of exhuberant femme fath'les. With the platform revolving and the theme building to a crescendo, the net result, is a smashing spectacle of dynamic showmanship. To which the propisr comment is: 'Dravo!' 'Tempo'; is the tag attached to the whole stage show. ■ It begins with Chauncey Morehouse perched, high above a giaiit tirhpani, taut as an African toni-torii, ^nd. used for the weirdly emotional tingle, that .ac- centuated .drum rhythm creates. Radio has used the - incessant ca- dences of- the drum' for excellent dramatic results, as per John'Car- lile's recent. Columbia workshop ex-, periment Morehouse is : a super- artist in a : strange, esoteric profes- sion and a musical novelty of the kind that is so typical of, and appro- priate to, the Music Hall. Hts .'scene-setting leads naturally Into . the Rockettes' . molten-hot rhumba, a routine that's a marvel of conception, to say nothing of Its ex-' eciition. . Compact mass maneuvers of the girls carrying oh while, for all practical purposes each member, performs what amounts; in difflculty and skill, to a solo,' brings the first item of the show to a thundering smackeiroo. Makin Three Bluejackets, Slim & Sldm, Dolores Brown, Joyce Breazelle, Mason-La Rue-Vigdl, Thre e Chocotateers, Chorus (18); 'Main Event' (Col). ; Slim and Slam (New AcU), billed as the originators of 'Flat loot Floogee,' which they wrote, are big draw lor the new stage show. They' are spotted ' additionally to their, initial appearances in the show's hit ensemble dance number,, which further enhances their chances. New bill, typical Harlem show, - also offers, varied talent but some are badly 'spotted; , : Better than average opening, with western cowboy- nidtif hung . oh chorus. Line includes six chorus boys in addition ; to dark-skinned gals. Most elaborate show, starter here in weeks. Dolbreis Brown, favorite here, sings two. tunes then bpws off. Bluejackets, three snappy male tapsters, indicate more polish than when previously .viewed. Gypsy ensemble offers excuse for Joyce Breazelle, petite looker,- -to click with speedy, acrobatic ; dance. Miss Breazelle^ wiris further pliaud-. its leading , the pit collegiate shag ensemble to Tutti-Pruttl' swinging of Slim-Slaiii;' Mason,' La Rue and. Vigal really mop up with the old duel for senorit& burley gag. i Slim and Slam (New Acts) click with- their playing .and. swingy warbling. Pair are smart enough to set themselves in 'solidly with two preliminary tunes before starting the iheviteble 'Floogee* Wild re- .sponse here to 'Flogee' forces encore, which builds into the trim' 'Tutti Fruttl' shag. Al Cooper's Savoy Sultans, billed as -jump rhythm' band, feature an energetically clever dtummer-lead- er; a hard-working' bass violinist and an excellent pianist. Their four selections are about two too many for presentation without . a . vocal, break, Soe.cialties by different mu- sicians also seem dwarfed because only nine in band. , Outfit needs more .finished, routine for stage ap- pearances.. •, Three CHocolateers are Surprising- ly smooth in a theatre auditorium, considering their long nitery work. Rated originators of 'Peckin,' stressed in act, three versatile col ored boys, have the most finished clown act on bill. Their comedy gyrations and acrobatics go big but work at disadvantage in having to follow over-lengthy stage band ses- sion; Biz fair Friday night (S) . Wear. DENVERi DENVER LYRIC, INDPLS. Denver, Aug. 1. Major Bowes unit,:with Four Bros, of SiJjing, Mildred Mae, Albert Hall, Jacques Cokey, Pearl Robbins, Dave Barry, Six Philharmonics, . Paul Winchcll & Terry, Doris Meicshlan, Ben Steen, Top Hotters .(2), Jean Rose; 'I'd Give a Million/ LOEWS STATE, N. Y. Nick Kemy, Jerry Cooper, Barto & Mann, Frances Faye, Oxford Boys (3), Robert Willia«iis : &. fled Dust, Eunice Heulj;, Ruby Zwerling house orch; 'Tropic Holiday' ^(.Par). This week it's rad,io columnist' Nick Kenny. Next week, just to break up the rbutine/it will be Nils T. GranUmd heading the show. The week following, it may be another newsman, ' It's getting so that near- ly, anybody owning a. portable type writer and a police card is a con- didate for a Loew's State 'm.c. job. Kenny by this time is pretty much of - a stage -vet- as Ed Sullivan and LoUis '.Sobol, but still no possi- bility' for a best-acting, award. Here he confines himself to just brief in- troductions of each act, rest- of . the time parking himself at one of the tables iri: the hitery set; Later, he stands alongside Jerry Cooper .'New Acts) as the .latter delivers excerpts from .sbrhe . of Kenny's songs, in- cluding 'Love Letters in the Sand,'. 'There's a Gold Mine in the Sky,' etc. Cooper -doesn't need vocal or physical support, but it's at least giving Kenny something to do. ■■. Rest of the show is audience- proof, though very, heavy on the vocals. Starts slowly with -Eunice Healy's ballet, chief arid only punch of which is . the twiirling, but socks in the second slot via.; the Oxford Boys (3) vocal acrobatics. . Their forte is the imitation of w.k. bands' opening signatures, the adenoidal copy of trumpets and -steel guitars being very strong. For the, trurnp-. ets, ..the boys cup their hands, over their mouths; for. the steelrguitar effects, one pulls on his nose. SAiidi-" ence , wbiildn't let 'em off and the trio encored at this catching .with 'Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party,' which affords opportunity, for' well- done imitations of the Disney car- toofi'. characters.' ; Boys are young and clean-cut and are likely bets for top-class' niteries. Off New .York's 52d street Mont- martre, ^where she was a fave a couple of years ago,' Frances Faye fits, into the third frame. Though- it's, more vocals on fop of the Ox- ford Boys, : the hefty . shouter fits; the jitterbug's fancy and. also.is forced- into encores. She bangs the guts out of the State's grand for, setC-ac- cothpaniment to a flock: of swing tunes, heating up-, the audience plenty. For marquee pull, . plus Kenny, ttie sho.w holds ; baritone Cooper: Lat-. ter is Just off a year's incumbency oh the Hollywood Hotel air show and is pleasing enough ' vocally. Holding him back ; from the solid stage' dick class, however, are his extremely ; studied gestures while singing, and an old-fashioned, crudely done dramatic interlude with a sweetheart over a telephone.' He should -loosen up considerably on the' stage, too, while he has the looks to go with his voice for ro- mantic interest. Up ahead of Cooper, Miss Healy delivers V a ballet tap, none too strong except again for the twirls, and Red . Dust, 'the double-jointed dbg; paced by. personable Robert Williams, give out. with the- first laughs in the layout. Comedy bur- den, however,, falls, on Barto and Mann, who next-to-close Kenny's sign-off speech. , The ., long-and- shbrt team are sticking to their old cornedy-dancing routines;. George Mann, in femme togs, but seems to be stressing more on the sug- gestiVehess. That may be the in- fluence of their niter.'v work, but, regardless : of the prolonged rough stuff, the State crowd gave them hefty laxigh and 'applause response the first day. Biz was only fair opening 'day (Thurs.). Temp, evidently had iUs effect on the four showgirls the State hired for atmosphere effect in the nitery .setting. They showed about as much animation as Stepin Indianapolis, Aug. T.- Phil Harris orch, Nick Lttco-s, Ben Bert, Sinclair Sisters. Rutli Robin; 'My Bill' (WB). Rounded into the neatest 60-min- ute show to come to -town for some time, Phil Harris presents a well- balanced assortment of acts atid mu- sic. Harris is from nearby Lintoh and playing his first stage .dale hci c in 17 years. Band gets. Its chance to perform smoothly at open and close of bill; fading off with orchestral offerin.!; )f ' 'Hindustan,' ' followed : by Ruth Sobiri. who does well by ''Voa Go to My Head,' 'Music, Maestro, Plca.se' and -'How's About It?,' last duoed -Jean. Rose, who m.c.'s, is not only an eyfeful, but keeps the show mov- ing swiftly with her happy manner and pleasing smile. Leaving it to the nets ,-to do the entertaining, all .she does is boss the rbuhdup' and direct the orchestra. The. Four Bros, of Swing, colored, with guitars of assorted sizes, neatly harmonize, in swing style. One also taps. Hefty Mildred Mae sings and dances to get over. Albert Hall is a human piccolo, and Jacques Gbkey skillfully taps ori a small ^pedestal two feet high to register. Ben Steen, colored,, puts plenty of melody into; his baritbne, which also ranges to deep bass. Gets over with 'Old Man River' and 'Lazy Bones.' Pearl Robbins taps neatly on her toes. Dave Barry impersonates, leaving little to-be desired. The Six Philharmonics linake a lot of noise Willi their inclody with the six har nnonica.s of various sizes. ' Paul Winchcll and, hi.s Terry do; well on a vcnlriloQuist job. ■ Doris Meicshliiii, a chufiky young- ster, nimbly rope-taps. . The Top Halters (2X roller skaters, have one stunt that gels over. While whirling femnic holds onto male by clinching Fetchit. Scho. HIPP, BALTO Ba I /.iniorc,,Au(T. 7. Major Boiues Collebiafe Revue v\lh Euddv Page, Eddie Davis, Hero Taubler. Diarine ' Gunner, Eddit Elder, Phylis Dare, Harvey Meoms, Bobbw & Dotty Edwards, The 3 Chords. Pleasant Crump, Monarchs of Mimicrti (2), Shnf7 Dancer.t, (6'J 'Motlier Cnrci/'s :ciiicfccns' fRKO; traptions, okay, bu. on a little too long. Makes igood spot however, for Bobby and Dotty Edwards, hoofers, who utilize pair of tiny steps for strong' finish. The 3" Chords give vocal imitations of instrument com- binations in owing, and tie matters up tightly fbr a begoff. ■ ■ Discovery : of the week, Interpo- lated in current doings by^^mana- gerial request, is Pleasaiit Crump, dusky hoofer, with good comedy and selling ability. Audience; goes for his stuff, which earns a '-pleasing truckin' encore. Monarchs of Mim- icrv, two lads in impression of radio and film stars,, are fair, but stuff is: a bit drawn out; and dated by now. Two-way takeoff of Crosby and Cantor, a novel touch and a saving grace. , Six Collegiate Shag Daiicers, announced as wihnc of Madison Square Garden . contest -. Close in rousing style; fl|unn. ROXY, N. Y. Vivian Fay, JRolf Holbein, ,Gae Foster Girls, Paul Ash house orch; 'A leionder's Raotitne Bond' (20th- Foi), remetUcd in VA(iiETV June I. . with Harris, At close, orchestra of- fers a novelty tune built around Iw old vets, playing ''Yankee Doodle' and , „ 'Dixie' in straight tempo, then work- ! her feet around his waist. ' Both theii ing up to swing. Harris sings 'No-|li^ht ci.r;areLs,' she holding both body,' 'That's What I Like About the. ci.^aroi and :.ialch in mouth, and Soulh' and joins Mi.ss Robin on : scratching latter on floor while 'Thanks for a Lovely. Evening.' whirllhg. Sinclair Sisters do two rhythm t;i'p | Crowd good , at last show Fri- numbers, the flrst a unison specialty day (5).- Rose; ' 'Collegiate Revue' is the best Bowes unit here in moons. Running a full hour, it's replete with youth, speed and fairish talent Combo gOt off to sellout opening. :^ Layout has house orchestra on sta.ge, with Buddy Page batoning and m.c.'ing breezily throughout Show IS off rather 's'jpgishly, with Eddie Davis in a mediocre hoof and Herb Taubler playing ' a ' harmonica, strumming a guitar 'and whacking a bull fiddle with his exposed toes all .It the same limb. Gets goinq; 'how- ever, vyith Diahne Gunner ple.i.sing vocally with 'I Double Dare You' and .'Jo.seph. Joseph.' Eddie Elder, in. a whistling bit precedes Page, who gives out with strenuous piano thumping of 'Body and Soul' to good returns. Phylis D.-ire follows in her familiar aero on -roller .skate.s, a strong inter- lude. Harvey Mearns, in the follow- ing slot gives but with a musical novelly on variety of vibrating con- Fanchon & Marco, plus 20th-Fox, which approves the . budgets here, can be forgiven this week for the iskimpy, < 20-minute stage show ; that: accompanies the extensive 'Alex- ;ander's- Ragtime Band.' It. carries only two acts, both ' individuals, ■Vivian Fay and Rolf Hoibein,- neither , of . whom is costly, plus the permianent Gae Foster line. •The abbreviated; preSentatiori ,pro-i vides a terrific kick just in the Fos- ter girls, who do a cavalcade of their outstanding dance ' routines. The idea is in line with- the film, a cavalcade of , Irving Berlin hit tunes. ,, ',- ■ Not iii a long time has there bebri such a big receis^tion here as ■ ac-- corded the Fosters Friday night. (IS), when caught, in their difficult but skilfully executed : routine stunts on unicycles, bicycleS, roller skates, big ;balls, : etc. Albeit one of the girls- had difflculty maintaining her' balance and, her position in the routine, the 'closing nurnber on the balls brought tremendous applause. The Foster, line has developed amazingly ' during the past few years,-' The girls open with Miss -Fay, a dancer, . who was in The Great Waltz," legit musical, and with the Marxes in 'Day at'the Races' (M-G); Setting provided for the ; opening number Is .modern, and rich, - creat- ing an a'ttiractive picture.' . Miss Fay does - a toe rhumba 'that's flashy, topped by another number : featur- ing pirouettes. She : clicks. - Holbein: follows. ' He was: at the French Casino, N. Y. nitiery, last summer with, his mysterious black- board, , and gets over nicely here; The novelty aet, decidedly European In flavor, is a little too Ibhg,. run- ning about 11 minutes. Holbein seemingly paints ;objects - on a blackboard: which- comes to life, 'with manner of achieving - this through manipulation -adroitly con- cealed; . As a novelty, Ed Thbrgersen, sports commentator for Fox-Movie- tone News, unseen, announces the Opening of the stage show and Miss Fay on fllm. Business -terriflc opening day (Fri.), with lioiise by 10 p.m. hav- ing sold tickets to 27.960 people, passing the one-day all-time high. 27,661. established by 'Cockeyed World' in 1929. Char, STATE-LAKE, CHI , , Chicaoo, Ausr. 7. Edmund Lowe, Billy Blake. Terry Tracy, Duval. Radcliff & R6gers: 'Blind Alibi' (RKO). Here is a show that goes along at a bang-up pace uiitil the headliner kills the pace. It's a show that breaks practically all the- rules of variety booking, but nevertheless is sutncient " entertainment for this audience, at least until Edmund Lowe (New Acts) comes on; Lowe's personal is the corny type He has a. mangled collection of gags built around the interview -formula arid while he's personable enough hurts himself by a hopeless routine. He shouldn't even attempt additional dates until he has secured' an act From the empty - seats at the last show here Friday (5) it's, indicated that Lowe is dbubtful boxofflce. -After the line, flnishes its initial routine Billy Blake -trumpets the theme songs o.f Busse, Tommy Dbr- sey.and McCoy, plus an impression of Armstrong. All hokey showman- ship. -but nevertheless, it's sold well to this family mob. Terry Tracy is a young singer who reminds of Judy Garland and Martha Raye. She. has extraordinarily pow- erful pipes arid can wallop through oil a song. Backed by good arrange- ment.s,'. she's a cinch for, nearly any house. However, she's, weaker On straight pop.; Standard, is Duval, who never misses with his 'rhapsody in silk,' sleight of hand. Working exclusively with colored' cloths, he has- built a solid variety turn that's playable anywhere. For the comedy Radcliff and Rogers, colored piano and sing- ing act are strong winners, register- ing, too, with comedy crossflre. Gold. ; RKO 23P ST., N. Y. ' (NEW) Old Grand Opera House, ■which struggled 'With vaudeville long after other: Manhattan vaude; landmarks had abandoned their stage- policy, last 'week blossomed as a straight film houie, under RKO control. It's now called the RKO 23d St, borrowing the. fag from another . house; which the circuit has' since dropped. New house is on, 8th Ave- nue and 23d. ' About 75% of the old stage space has been eliminated to give more comfortable seating ca-^ > pacity', precluding anything but lim- ited personal appearances and bands. Enough space has been alowed. how- ever,; so that the stage could be al- , te'red: for flesh shows. Interior of the^old house, has been completely done ' over. , job taking close to; six months. New RKO op- eration offers the last word in seat- ing equipment auditorium lighting, \vhich allows maximutri- light while pictures are on screen, and latest in; RCA sound system. -Grand lobby has been finished off- so that it re- serribles' Radio City Music Hall, though an a modified scale. It has subdued carpeting," modern-, ized chandeliers and , a giant mirror that extends , to lobby's ceiling. Old . wide stairway Of the Grand is main- tained .though made more modern. Pastel shades are used irt ;decora- tioris, ■with aquamarine, beige., green and buff coloring : employed. Fix- tures; were' supervised by Chirles Horstman, of RKO central staff.' He also was responsible fbr. acoustics;. Thomas Lamb, designed the whble interior. ;; \ ,; Seating, representing, art outlay of about $18,000, provides entirely up- holstered seats, with especially fancy , Ones in the extra-charge -mezzanine, only place where smoking: is perrinit- ted. : Theatre how has : no balcony, only the' mezzanine. .In this section latest downlights aire employed in ceiling. Three new units provide air-con- ditioning although two generally are sufficient for: hottest days. This sys- tem even extends to the projection booth. ■ Pleriieum chambers under seats in auditorium provide further, ventilation. . Theatre has 1,800 seats, 400 'in the mei^nlne; Scale. 20-55c. .Jerome BaJcer, formerly at, Proc- tbr^ theatre, Mt Vernon, N.- Y., and Albee. Cincinnati; is house manager, with Fred Corfdon, assistant and treasurer. Wear. - FOX, DETROIT Detroit, Aug. 7. ' Tonu Mortin orch, Lola Jensen, Line (16) Beau Lee, .Homer Rhode% Ben ■ Dova, Florence Ma'jor tiiith Ponsy, the- Horse, Sam ,; Jocfc Kdaf- - man house orch; 'Letter of Intro- duction' (U). Tbny Martin's initial - venture - info vaude is wbwish on the boards as well as at the boxOfflce. Balladist is giving the Fox wickets one of its biggest whirls, which; is something in this: hard-hit motor burg. To get 'em Into the house . and: keep - em happy, Martin does so strictly on his -merits. His warbling before the : niike, particularly his song cavalcade, outranks radio ef- forts because of his strong person- ality. Ditto on his in.c.'irig land bat- oning. Martin is carrying a 1.2-pie'ce rtiu- . slcal aggregatiori; ■ predominantly brass, and. an eyeful songstress- ter- per. Lola Jensen. House has sur- rounded him with a nice assortment of acts.and tossed in its 16-gal line for a couple of spiffy numbers. Show runs through 45 snappy min-- utes and is bothered only by slight drag by band on a few occasions. . Which is easily remedied by nifty set and effects. ' Besides Miss Jensen, who capably sings 'A-Tisket A-Tasket,' aided by the line, band also includes a couple of specialists who get over nicely; namely Beau Lee, who contribs zany- tunes, and Homer Rhodes, on the steel guitar. . Supporting ipenu ;comprises Ben Dova, rubber-legged comedian, with a 'riotous pantomime, turn; Florence Majoi: and 'Pansy, the Horse,' who continue to get over nicely despits several previous appearances here. ■ Sam. -Jack Kaufman's pit crew overture -'Castilian Capers.' with house line contribirig a colorful rou- tine. Biz beaucoup at early evening show Friday (5). Peie. CAPITOL, WASH. WashinofOn, Aug. 7. Carlton Enimi/'s.Doffs, Joe t Jane McKenn-d, Charles Carlile, Jack Powell,. Chester Hale Girls (24), Phil Lainpkin house orch; 'GafcitdV* (20110., Chester Girls (24), called the Tex- as Comets here, in sock preci.'-ion numbers, with, plenty, of trick light- ing, and effects, give house corisid- erable fiash this week. Rest of tul- ent is run through -as straight vaude, with introductions from pit by hout m.-iestro Phil Lampkin. Orpheus' overture starts showi curtains opening on Cornets in smart Phosphorescent glove: joutine. Carl- ton Emmy takes over next wilH tableful of dogs in infOrm;il. suic- - (Continiicd on. page 26) ^edaesda^t AugU8t 10, 1938 nCTURES VARIETY IT Campaigns Start in U. S. and Canada On Tictures-Besf Entertainm Harold B. Franklin was appointed husinfess manager of the 'greatest en- lertainmentv campaign Monday (8) by George J. Schaeter, chalrihah of executive committee. He formerly was president of RKO Theatres! In his experience with Paramount, BKO and Fox West Coast theatres, he had executive charge of several •greater picture'' seasons, , Begins new job at once.. . _ ■ Louis Berg, former publicity man- ager for Gaumont-Brltish, and, A. L. Selig, veteran picture advertising- Dulili'city man, have heen added to Paul GulicJc's staff In headquarters at 1540 Broadway, N. Y. Chicago, Aug. 9. While there may be plenty ot in- ternal biclterings and squabbles in the industry, the motion - picture! business is showing a concerted ifront In the battle" for increased patronage. . This was demonstrated at the meetr Ing held at the Stevens, hotel here; on Friday (5) when exhibitors of four states met under the chairman- ship of Ed Silverman- of Kssahess to discuss plans for participation in the motion picture expioitiation drive. Grad Sears of Warner Bros, was, the leading, speaker and he met with a response of whole-hearted coopera- tion from all groups of exhibitors, both independent aiid aiTlliated. Among the spontaneous expressions of full coopeiration in the campaign: Were those made, by . Ascher Levy, Van Nomikps, Jiile^ Rubens, Johnny Joiies, Jack Kirsch, Morrie Leonard. Exhibitors firom the four states of niinois, Indiana, Wisconsin . and Michigan assembled at Silverman's call and on the meeting floor pledged. . more, than $10,000 towards the fund. While no special figure .yi^as set as a quota, it is generally established that Uie drive is seeking a contribution of 10c. per seat from the theatres. ' :Ed. Silverman for, Essaness cbn- .tributed $3,000'for the circuit, Johnny Jones pledged $1,000 for Jones, Llii- ick & Schaefer, Mort , Goldberg sig- natured for $500 for the GCS circuit. No Radio Co-Op Philadelphia, Aug. 9. - The film industry will spend $600,000 in daily newspapers. Movie industry will request radio sitattons to cooperate. WDAS will definitely not co- operate, except at card rates.' P. J. Stanton. General Manager, WDAS, Philadelphia. A Real Battle Hollywood, Aug. : 9. .Heather Angel plays opposite John Howard in Paramount's 'Scot- land Yard vs. Bulldog Orummond,' slated to start next Monday (IS) . .'Miss Angel played the femme lead : in 'Bulldog Drummond in Africa.' paign t'o head off Government in- vestieatlon; which most.- of. them would like to see pushed to the limit H'wood Understatement Hollywood, Aug. 9. '500.000,000 People Can't Be Wrong* If the pITicial name of the short to be exhibited in connection with' the •Motion Pictures Are Your Best En terUinmenf campaign. Frank Whit beck, selected as producer, is draft- ing an all-star cast of actors, writers and directors. Canada's Patseh Ottawa,' Aug. 9. Independent exhlbs and chain managers of the Ottawa district, numbering 25, gathered in the Chateau Laurier today for the second conference to be held in Canada to make arrangements for the film in- dustry's grand drive opening Sept. 1 with a quiz contest continuing un- til Oct. 31 and the special advertise Ing campaign remaining in effect un- tU Dec. 31. Two special speakers representing the Canadian committee for the co operative campaign gave rousing speeches,, these being N. A. Taylor, president of the Motion Picture Sec- tion of the Toronto Board of Trade, and Gordon Lightstone, Ontario branch manager of Regal Films, Toronto. Taylor is the chairman of we ^Canadian drive and recently at tended a conference of U. S. trade boosters in New York directed by G. J. Schaefer. Canadian indies are pledging 10c. per seat toward the cost of the four months' drive in the Dominion with *amous Players-Canadian Corp., rep resentmg the chain interests, con iributmg a larger amount. Canadian ^im distributors ar* also tossing. sub ^^■^"31. donations into the common Suspicious PhUly Philadelphia, Aug. 9. .Meeting has been called here to jnorrow to opSn local campaign in drt 51.000,000- industry publicity 'Exhlbs received invitations 'ill Signed by Lewen Pizor, tr. rv° Motion Picture Thea- jre, Owners, and Ted Schlanger, zone manager of Warner circuit. . i,„*''y.^l'Hle interest being shown oy exhlbs here in the„drive, especial- JL.^'"^*^ they have been informed jnat they will be asked to contribute thi' * seat to keep it going. Most of }^°°^ askance on the .whole ,"1 ng because it's spoiisorcd- by the producers. They think the money is oe used for an advertising cam- Ei^M-Dubbed Frencli Talkers Loom as New Competish to H'wi S. W. Gets Under Way Oklahoma City, Aug. 9. At a meeting of Oklahoma theatre exhibs at the Biltmore hotel last Thursday (4) the 'Movies Are , Your Best Entertainment' . exploitation movement pulled into full swing in the state with approximately $2,000 pledged on the' spot. Other exhibitors will be signed up by film salesmen battling for $200 in prizes donated by R. E. Griffith, exec of the Griffith Amus. Co. to the three salesrhen bringing the greatest number of ex- hibs in on the plan. . Meeting was called by Morris Lpewenstein, president of the Oklar- hbma . theatre owners association; L. C. Griffith, of Griffith Amus, and Ralph Talbot, ' operator of Tulsa's four downtown first riin houses. All of .the state's independent cir- cuits came into the plan along with most of the independent exhibitors who attended the meeting. R. B. Griffith, who heads the Griffith Ih- terests: in Texas, gave assuirance that the state's Griffith houses would also line up. , ' Ralph : Talbot pointed, but to the gathering that ice companies, tire companies, coal dealers and auto dealers had all at one time or an- other cooperated in similar move- ments to help that particular branch of business at large, and that theaitre . men may expect the sam6 good re- sults from a similar movement He pointed out that during the rPcent 'used car week' more than 200,000 used cars were nioved off the nation's lots. m BEEFING ABOUT EXTRA CHORES Complaints are being y voiced out of earshot • of higher :. executives against the extra work that pub- licists, advertising men, exploiteers, etc., are being . forced to do on the canipaign . for ■ - 'Motion Pictures* Greatest Year/ for which around $1,000,000 is being spent. In many cases, the men asked to throw: In their time on the work .are being forced to do ition weekends or nights in order to also take care of their regular duties. So far Paul Gullck coordinator of the campaign and committees, , has . put on an assisting staff of a half dozen, plus secretaries but many others in the various major companies are also being . asked to jump in on. heavy assignments. It*s causing ':plenty of squawks, especial ly with $1,000,000 budgeted on the four months' job. Donahue ti . Coe/ which handles Metro and United Artists' accounts, was favored as the agency on the advertising, but others for majors, under an understanding, are to par ticipate. BAYNES' SETBACK $30,000 AtUchment Voided In Me- ridian Suit Warrant of attachment tying up $30,000 in cash belonging to Meridian Pictures Corp., now In possession of Columbia Distributing Corp., and which is claimed Ijy George. McLeod, Baynes, as his 10% bit on the in- come in United Staites and Canada on Meridian's picture, 'Thunder in the City,' was vacated by N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Pecora Friday (5). Baynes is suing Meridian on a con- tract under which he was to handle the distribution of the picture on a 10%; basis. Plaintiff claims the pic- ture grossed over $300,000. PommeF^s Two Pics Not Yet Set, Defers Sailing Erich Pommer, English producer- distributor who had planned to sail home: today (Wednesday ), has de- layed 'his departure until Aug. 17. Partial reason for postponing sailing was thkt Pommer wanted to get defi- nitely set on the U. S. distribution of his two Charles Laughton features, 'Vessels of Wrath' and 'St Martin's Lane.' ' Pommer presently Is negotiating with United Artists, and several other companies. Ldiew's $1 Divvy Makes $3.50 Paid Out So Far • Loew's, Inc., lifted its dividend payitient on the common as compared with the *.w6 previous quarters by voting $1 cash dividend on these shares, last w .ek. Company had paid 50c. both in June and March quar' ters, while the total paid :in Decem- ber last was $1.50. New $1 divvy is payable Aiig. 25 tfli stock on record June 15. Makes total distribution on Loew's common $3.50 ior company's, fiscal year to date. IiOew*s paid $8.50 for the pre' vibus full fiscal year on the coih- mon, Only one more dividend has yet to be . acted on in the current fiscal year, for company. TAX ON SLEEP Lee Tracy's $161 Tap for Tips on Morpheus 'Algiers' Fancy LA Rental Los Angeles, Aug. 9. ' 'Algiers* at the Four Star earned $6,500 in rental for United Artists on' its first four weeks, with the pos- sibility of $10,000 by the end of the sixth week of run. If latter figure reached it will top rentals of Fox-West Coast deluxers in recent months. Ken Maynard's Gentral American Tour Being Set Martin Wagner of the William Morris office' left New Yorlc Aug. 6 lor Havana. He will arrange for lours of Cuba, Mexico, Jamaica, etc., fo : Ken Maynard, film and circus, cowboy. Wagner will al.so be on the hunt for new and novelt, acts for impor- tation to the U. S., or for booking in England, where there's, a great de- Tliand. Hollywood; Aug. 9. Buck Jone.'! cancelled out oh Coro- net Pictures with two westerns to go through Columbia release and will start a six weeks' p. a. tour in Sep- tember, arranged by Led Morrison. Jones broke with Coronet, claiming the studio didn't live up to its eon- tract. Shooting ■was to have started to- morrow (Wednesday ) oh 'South of the Rio Grande.' , Washington, Aug. 9. Film temperamentals cannot; write down their income taxes because they like to snooze in the morning, Late sleeping habits of Lee Tracy were not treated syrnpa thetically by the Internal Revenue Bureau this week when it came to reviewing the actor's income re turn. Government insisted deduc tion of $161 paid in tips to studio employees to let him snuggle under the sheets extra late, is illegal. Pay ments of this kind are 'purely per sonal,' not legitimate 'business ex- penses.' Jayne Wants Refund Los Angeles. Aug. : 9. Jayne Regan's demand for the re turn of $367.50 by, the Monter-Gray agency was denied reinstatement l>y the State Labor Commission for lack of ^jurisdiction. Commission ruled that cases involving man- agerial pacts must be settled in the courts. Miss Regan asked the return of commissions and the cancellation of her contract on the grounds tha Monter-Gray induced her to sigh < deal by misrepresentation. No Hoss Thief, Sez Rep Los Angeles, Aug. 9. . Republic denies stealing Buck j.ones' horse's name. Silver, in an .nn.swei" to; the cowboy actor's $250,000 suit in Federal Court over the serial, "The Lone Ranger.' Studio claims the steed's name canie from an air serial broadcast from Detroit several years ago, Pioneer Cfiffhanger, Pearl White, Dies in Paris, at Age of 49 Pearl White, who probably did more than any other one person to popularize the serial! or chapter play type of picture, died in Paris Aug. . 4, of a liver complaint which had sent her to , the American hos- pital there three weeks previously. She had been in retirement since 1923. She was bom in Green Ridge, Mo,, March . 4, 1697, according to her father, which would put her age, at 41, /but according, to her own .state ment she was 49, She went With an 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' troupe when she was only six, playing Little Eva, and later joined a circus as a bare back rider. "Then she 'went into stock and in .1913 obtained an en. gagement in the pictures; The .fol lowing :year she startled picture- igoers . with - her success - in 'Th^ Perils of Pauline,' a series of two- reel episodes in which, at the end of eaich part, she was left hanging from a cliff, tied in a burning build- ing, or had just fallen from the deck of an ocean liner. -The following week she was rescued frorni her perilous situation and ; went on to face new dangers. For a. time she did the stunt work herself, but her producers, the (American) Pathe company, refused to permit her to endanger , the continuance ot the serial by , iassumihg such ' risks. Thereafter her chief double was an agile young woman known only as 'Patsy.' In the more difficult stunts she was substituted for by male acrobats. So far as is recalled,. only one of her doubles sustained 'serious injury; an acrobat who had his skull fractured while passing; under the New York elevated structure. 'Pauline' was. an insta^itaneous hit, and probably the first to inspire a songwrite;r. Thus, 'Poor ■ Pauline,' the first 'theme' song, enjoyed an enormous sale. 'Pauline' was promptly followed by a host of similar plays in which she and other women stars appeared but she easily held her lead and was never headed until she tired of the monotony of cliffhanging in 1923 and went to France. For a time she secluded ' herself in a French con, vent for recuperation,, but soon went to Paris, where she made various theatrical appearances, always with success.. She maintained a small racing stable which was fairly sue cessful in France and England and for a time operated a gaming casino at Biarritz. She owned a town house in Paris arid a chalet at Rambouillet She managed her finances so well that she amassed a fortune estimated at $2,000,000,' and did not have to worry about the future. She was twice married, first to Vi'ctbr Sutherland and later to Major Wally McCutcheon, both of whom she divorced. Burial was in Paris, Beginning of new competition in English - speiiklng countries for American distributors is foreseien in New York as result of the recent in- flux of especially strong French pro- ductions that have been dubbed intoi English and shipped to England and elsewhere in the British Empire for showing. , It is tough competition be- cause the features can be jlaiid down in England cheaper than iriany first- run U. S. productions: These: Frerich- made (dubbed in English) pictures promise to make It particularly tough for sch-cailed Class B features seifit to Great Britain. Where former' American or Brit- ish stage or screen hits have' been remade ;ih French and then: dubbed in this manner, the exhib in England rates, the b.o. of these films above a reissue though obviously constitut- ing much of the same appeal. It is with such former old-time vehicles that best results have, been obtained by French producers. Recent example was the way a French company made a new \ vision of The Cheat,' and then dubbed it into English for showing to British exhibitors. : Rights to the film were purchased from Paramount, and ap- parently 'covered all dialog rights. Under.itood that tiii, is to be the first of a series of Frencrt pictures to be dubbed' into English, Paramount fiirst made 'The Cheat' w th Fanny Ward atid *inii p'ortuced another :, silent . version with Pola Negri. ; Later it was made In'.b a talking picture with TallUlah Baiik* head as star. M^jpr companies may . discouragi the practice by watching in' the fu- ture about selling rights to old. ve- hicles. PAR DROPS DUALS AT RIVIERA, ST. PAUL Minneapolis, Aug. 9.: The Paramount circuit has discon- tinued double-featuring in its down- town Riviera, St. Paul, and the dual bill policy now is being used In only, one loop house. In each of the Twin . Cities'l the Aster here: and Tower, St. Paul. Northwest Allied States, inde- pendent exhibitors' organization, has been trying to induce the Paramount chain to drop the dual bills In one of its two' St. Paul twin feature house's, the same as was do*^ Sere. But John • J. Friedl, ParariiOi cir- ' cult general manager, indicates that the move doesn't represent a pulling In of horns in deference to Twin City Independent exhibitors' wishes. The reason 'Why the double features were! discontinued at the Riviera, he do-, Clares, is "because the policy has been 'a sad disappointment' there. At the Aster here and Tower, St. Paul, however, results have been 'satisfactory,* according to Frlcdl. Although double features are go- ing into their second month at the Princess, big local- independent neighborhood nouse, the policy hasn't spread yet and other inde- pendents. Northwest Allied mem- bers, insist they will not follow suit with twin bills. At the same time, the Princess is determined to con- tinue, with the policy in the fa,ce of the 'soreness' that it has engendered among most of the other indies and despite^ the antagonism on some of the branch managers' part, according to W. L. Hamilton, its owner; Par's Televish Contract WB Tours 4 'Daughters' Paramount Pictures is the first major film company to ko into im- portant television research for the future. Comoany signed a contract yester- day (Monday) with the Allen , I(> DuMoht Inborotory. for a tor of years. William Morris ofTicc aijcn'cd the deal. ' Pnsoii Remake Hollywood, Aui?. 9. 'Up the nivci-;' piijion slory which introduced Spciic-r Traoy to tho Hollywood, Aug, 9; ■Title quartet in Warners' 'Four Daughters' are, slated for four pcr- ] Sonal appearances this month in, .conjunction with' the pre-release ' •"•'••rceii oIkMI yens :ii;o, will bo l u- showing of (the picture'. | nimi.'d by Sol. M. Wui-t/.ol. 20th-f'ojc Priscilla Lane will .p.a. in New ^ rxf>('iiliv(; prodiinM, lliis fall. York, Gale Page in Los Angeles.' h... I London Films.... Total i. Nnmber Number oii.Pix Com- Promised pleted 5 6 6 4 5 3 8 5 1 • , 6, 6 si 24 Now Balance to , Now . in Be Placed Stories In Shoot- Cattins Before Prepara- Ins Booms Cameras tlon 1 .3 "■ 0 2 • 4 0 5 • 1 • • • 1 1 "7 15 ' flctures in the cutting room or awaiting pteviews are: ■ THE TbDNG IN HEABT,' produced by David O. Selznick; directed by Richard Wallace; screen play by .Paul Osborne and Charles Bennett from' novel by I.A.R. Wylie, The Gay Banditti'; photographed by Leon Shamroy. Cast Janet Gaynor, Douglas Fairbanks. Jr., Paulette Goddard, Roland Young, Billle Burke, Richard Carlson, Minnie. Dupree, Margaret Early, Charles Halton; Lya Lys, Eily Malyon, Heniy Stephenson,, Tom Ricketts. THEBE GOES- MT HEABT* (for 1938-39 season); produced by Hal BoBch; associate producer,' Milton H. Breh; directed by Norman McLeod; original screen play by Eddie Moran and Jack Jevne; photographed by Norbert Brodine. Cast: Fredric March, Virginia Bruce, Patsy Kelly, Alan , Mowbray, Nancy Carroll, Claude Gillingwater, Arthur Lake, Adia Kuznit- xofl, Mary Field, Pat Gleason, Greta Grandstedt, Moroni Dlseh, Kenneth Harlan, Eugene Pallette, Etienne Girardo^ Irvine Pichel, William Davidson. United Artists PIx Now In Production 'LADT AND THE COWBOY' (for 1938-39 season), produced by Sainuel Goldwyn; directed by H. C; Potter; screen play by Sam Behrman from an original by Leo McCarey and Frank R. Adams; photographed by Gregg Toland. Cast: Gary (Sooper, Merle Oberon, David Niven. Thomas Mitchell, Walter Brennan, Patsy Kelly, Mabel Todd, Fuzzy Knight Uniyersal Now Balance to . Number Nnmber Now in Be Placed Stories in of Fix Com- Shoot- Cutting Before Prepara- Promised pleted ing Booms Cameras tlon Total ............ 5« 43 4 4 4 !• Pictures In the cutting rpoms or awaiting previews: 'FLAiwiNG FRONTIEBS' (serial) (for 1938-39 season), produced by Henry MacRae; directed by Ray Taylor and Alan James; screen play by wyndham Gittens. George H. Plymton, Basil Dickey and Paul Perez, from Peter B. Kyne's The Tie That Binds'; photographed by Jerry Ash. Cast: Johnny Mack Brown, Eleanor Hansen, Charles Middleton, Eddy Waller, James Blaine, Horace Murphy, Roy Barcroft, Ralph Bowman, John Ruther- ford, Ed Cassidy, William Royle, Charles King, Karl Hackett, , Charles Stevens, Chief Thunder Cloud, Ralph Bowman, Michael Slade, Jim Farley, Jim Corey, Pat O'Brien. Bob Woodward, George Plues, Jack Saunders. Frank Straubringer. .. •BED BABRY' (serial) (for 1938-39 season), produced by ^arney Sarecky; directed by Ford Beebe and Alan James; screen play by Ford Beebe, Norman Hall, Ray Trampe; photographed by Jerry Ash. Cast: Larry (Buster) Crabbe. Frances Robinson, Edna Sedgwick. /BOAD TO BENO' (for 1938-39 season), produced by E. Grainger; directed by S. Sylvan Simon; screen play by Roy Chanslor and Adele Comandini, from novel by I. A, R. Wylie; photbgra.phed, by George Robin- soit Xast: Randolph Scott, Hope Hampton, Helen Broderick, Glenda Far- rel.. Alan Marshall, David Oliver, Lita Chevret, 'FBESHMAN YEAR' (for 1938-39 season), produced . by George Bllson; olrected by Frank McDonald; original story by F. Maury Grossman and £nQmas Ahca'rn; screen play by Charles Grayson; photographed by Elwood Cast: Dixie Dunbar, Ernest Truex. Raymond Parker, Constance. Bredell Moore, William Lundigan, Tommy Wonder, istaniey Hoiiiss. . Universal Fix Now In Production •THAT CERTAIN; AGE/ produced by Joe Pasternak; directed by Edward i^Udwig; original story by F. Hugh Herbert; screen play by Bruce Manning, ^narles Brackett and Billy Wilder; photographed by Joe Valentme. b^ast: Deanna Durbin, Jackie Cooper, Irene Rich, John, Holliday, Melvyn , "ouglas, Jackie Searle, J.uanita Quigley, Addison Richards. . TOUTH TAiSES A FLING' (for 1938-39 season), produced by Joe Past- ernak; directed by Archie Mayo; original by Phil Epstein: screen play by '*vles Connolly; photographed by Rudolph Mate. Cast; Joel McCrea, Andrea Leeds, Dorothea Kent; Frank Jenks. Granville Bates; Oscar O'Shea, George Offerman, Jr., Frank ScuUy, Eddie August, Isabel Jeans. THE COMET,', produced by Max H. Golden; directed by Otis Garrett; screen play by Betty Laidlaw and Robert Lively: photographed by Stanley Cortez. Cast: William Gargan* Joy Hodges, Andy Devine, Ruth Donnelly, Florence Roberts; UNTITLED Bob Baker western (for 1938-39 release), produced by Trem Carr; directed by George Waggner; ; screen play, by Joseph West; photo- graphed by Gus- Peterson. Cast: Bob Baker, Hal Taliaferro, Marjbrie Reynolds, Forest Taylor, Glenn Strange, Jack Rockwell. ' Warners Total ... Number Number of Fix Com- promised pleted ' 60 56 Now Shoot- ing 9 Now Balance to In Be Placed Stories In Cutting Before Prepara- Booms Cameras tlon 9 ;0 .18 Pictures In the cutting rooms or awaiting previews are: •SECBETS OF AN ACTRESS,^ formerly titled 'WOMAN HABIT,' for- merly titled 'LOVELY LADY,' produced by David Lewis; directed by Wil- liam- Keighley; original screen .play by Rowland Leigh, Milton Krims and Julius. Epstein; photographed by Sid Hickox. Cast: Kay Francis, George Brent, Ian Hunter, (Jioria Dickson, .Isabel Jeaiis, Dennie Moore; Gloria Blondell. Rbsella Towne,' John -Ridgeley. Penny. Singleton, Larry Willlanis, SeUner Jackson, Herbert Ra'wlinson, Emmet . Vogan, James B. Carson, Grace Hayle, Marion Alden, Paule'tte Evan^,' Eddie Graham, Stuart Holme's,' Jack Goodrich, Arthur Hotiseman', Jack Mower, Olaf Hytten, John^Harron. 'BACKET BUSTEBS,' produced by Sam Bischoff; directed by .Lloyd Ba-^ con; screen play by Warren Duff and Robert Rossen; original story by Rob- ert Rossen and Leonardo Bercovici; photographed by Arthur Edeson, Cast:' George Brent, Cloria. Dickson, Humphrey Bogart, Allen Jenkins, Oscar O'Shea, Robert Sjtrange, Jack Mower, Cliff Seium, Vera Lewis, Penny Singleton, Walter Abel, Joseph Downing. THE SISTEBS,' produced by David tiewls; directed by Ahatole Lltvak: no writing credits released yet for adaptation of novel by- Myron Brinig; photographed, .by Tony Gaudio. Cast: Bette Davis, Anita .Louise,. Jane Bryan, Errol Flynn, Harry Travers, Beulah Bohdi, Henry Davenport. 'DEVIL'S ISLAND,' formerly titled 'BETUBN OF DB. X/ produced by Bryan Foy; directed by William Clemens; no writing credits released as yet; photographed by George Barnes. Cast; Boris Karloff, Leonard Mudie, Frank Reicher, James Stephens, Pedro De Cordoba, Nat Carr, Toiti Wilson, Sidney Bracy, Stuart Holmes, Dino Corradb, John Harmbn. 'GIBLS ON PBOBATION,' produced by Bryan Foy; directed by Williani McGann; original screen play by Crane Wilbur; photographed, by Arthur Todd. Cast: Jane Bryati, Sheila. Bromley, Susan Hay ward,. Ronald. Reagan, Anthony Averill, James NolaUi Larry 'Williams, Arthur Hoy t, Elizabeth Risdoh,~Esther Dale, Sig Rumanm 'HOT HEIBESS,' formerly titled 'HEAD OVEB HEELS,' produced by Sam Bischoff;' directed by Ray 'Enright; no writing credits released yet; photographed by Charles'Rbsher. Cast: -Dick Powell, Olivia De Havilland, Allen Jenkins, Charles Winninger, Isable Jeans,.Bonita Granville, Melville Cooper, Patric Kno.wles, Peiiny Singleton. •yALLEY OF THE GIANTS' (in Technicolor), produced by Lou Edel- ihan; directed by William Keighley; screen play, by Seton I. Miller';, from novel by Peter B. Kyne; photographed by Sol Polito; AUan.'Davey in charge of Technicolor. Cast: Wayne Morris,- Cla'irie Trevor. Charles Blckford, Jack LaRUe, John Litel, Frank McHugh. Donald Crisp, .Russell Simpson, Dick Purcell, William Haade. Cy Kendall, Nat Carr, Wade Boteler. Helen Mac- Kella'r, .Sol GroSs, Don Turner, Tom. Wilson,: Cliff Sauni, William Pawley, Frederick Burton, Pierre ^Watkins, Herbert Rawlinson, Trevor Bardette, Paul Panzer, Jack Mower, George Chandler, Frank Dafien, Don Barclay, Spencer Charters, Ben Hendricks. , 'UNLAWFUL,' produced by Bryan Foy; directed by Lew Seller: screen ?lay by George Bricker; photographed by Sid Hickox. Cast: Kay Francis, ames . Stephenson, Humphrey. Bojgart, John Eldredge, Jessie Btisleigh, Harles Foy, Joe Develinj Jenny' Singleton. • , 'BROADWAY MUSKETEERS,' formerly titled THREE GIRLS ON BROADWAY.Vproduced by Bryan Foy; directed by John Farrell; no writer credits released as yet; photographed by Williarn O'Connell. Cast: Marga- ret Lindsay, Marie Wilson, Ann Sheridan, Ian. Hunter, Richard Bond, Janet Kay Chapman, Anthony Averillj Larry Williams, Nat Carr, Gordon Hart, Myra Marsh, Dudley Dickerson^ William Gould, John Hiestahd, Ralph Sah- ford. Wen Niles, Hal Craig. Warners Fix Nbw In Production •BROTHER RAT,' produced by Robert Lord; directed by William Keigh- ley; screen play by Jerry Wald and Richard Macaulay from the play by John Monks, Jr, and Fred Finkelhoffe; photographed by Ernie Hallor, Cast: Wayne Morris, Priscilla Lane, Jane Wyman, Johnny 'Scats' Davis, Henry O'Neill, Ronald Reagan, Jessie Busley, Louise Beavers, William Tracey, Edward Albert, Gordon Oliver. .'ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES,' produced by Sam Bischoff; directed by Michael Gurtiz; original story by Roland Brown; photographed by Sol Polito. Cast: James Cagney, Pat (5'Brien, Ann Sheridan, Humphrey Bb- gart, Billy Halop, Bobby Jordan, Leo Gorcey.. Bernard Punsley, Gabriel Dell. Huntz Hall. • 'WINGS OF THE NAVY,' produced by Lou Edolman; directed by Lloyd Bacon; no writing credits released as yet; photographed by Arthur Edeson. Ciast: George Brent, Olivia de Havilland, John Payne, Frank McHugh. John Ridgeley, Henry O'Neill, John Litel, Regis Toomey, Donald Briggs, Max Hoffman, Jr.; John Gallaudet. 'BLACKWELLS ISLAND,' produced by Bryan Foy; directed, by William McGann; original screen play by Crane Wilbur and Dave Marcus; photo- graphed by Sid Hickox. Cast: John Garileld, Rosemary Lane, Morgan Conway, Peggy Shannon, Dick Purcell, Lottie Williams, Stanley Field.s, Charley Foy, Norman Willis, Granville Bates, Raymond Barley, Jimmy O'Gatty. Wade Boteler; William Davidson, Walter Young. 'HEART OF THE NORTH' (in Technicolor), produced by Bryan Foy; directed by Lewis Seller; screen clay by Robert Rossen, Vincent Sherman and Lee Katz frojm novel by William Byron Mowery; photographed by L. William. G'Cpnnell. Cast: Dick Foran,. Margaret Lindslcy, Gloria Dick- sort, Janet Chapman,. Patrlc Knowles, Allen Jenkins, James Stephenson, Alec Harford, Russell Simpson, - Gordon Hart, Pedro de Cordoba, Jack Mower. John Harroh, Anthony Averill, J. Crawthers. 'CURTAIN CALL,', produced by Bryan Foy; directed by John Farrow; screen, play by Mark Hell inger froni macazine story by Faith Baldwin; photographed by .James Wong Howe. Cast: Kay Francis, Ian Hunter. Janet Chapman. Melville Cooper, Donald Crisp, John Lite), Ian Keith. TORCHY GETS HER MAN,' formerly titled 'TORCHY FINDS OUT,' produced by Bryan Foy:. directed by William Beaudihc; no writing credits released -as yet; photographed by Arthur Todd. Cast; Glenda Farrell^ Bar4bn MacLane. Tom Kennedy, Willard Robin.son. George Gould. ■ 'GOING PLACES,', produced by Barney Glazer; directed by Rav En- right; no Writing credits relea.sed as yet; nholographed by Arthur Todd! Cast: Dick Powell, Anita Louise, Allen Jenkins, Walter Catlett, Minna Gombell. Thursto'ii Hall, Hal Huber. •'DAWN PATROL,' produced by Robert Lord; directed by .Edmund 1 Goulding: no writing credits released as yet; Cast; Errol Flynh~. Melville | Cooper, Basil Rathbone, Rodin Rathbone, David Niven, Barry Fitzgerald,; James Stephenson, Michael Brooke, Stuart Hall, Norton Lowater. ■ ' law and in violation of the fiilli! amendment of the constitution of the United States, That the duties of motion picture director and assistant iirectors and unit managers are i diverse and of such a different and distinct - nature that .no unit consisting of motibn picture directors, , together with as- sistant motion, picture directors and Unit managers; is an appropriate unit for collective bargaining, either within the meaning and intent of the National Labor Relations Act oie otherwise.' , ' J. P. McGpwan has -been named executive secretary of the Screen Directors Guild to .succeed . Herrick . Herxick, who -resigned because' of ill health. McGovi^an ha^ been a director for 28 years. . ; Early SP Fpid .Seen Resignatiori of James Kevin Mc- Guinhess, founder-member of Screen Playwrights, Inc., With announce- ment -that he intended to. apply for membership in Screen Writers Guild, is expected to lead to' an early fold of SP. John Lee, Mahin, SP prexy, and other tops have been trying to hold the organization together, bUt many members are "expected to fol- low McGuinness. McGuinriess sent the following, let- ter of resignation tb MahIn: *tly Dear. John; , . 'I resign herefrom Screen Play- wrights, -Inc. My. . resignatipn to take effect immediately. - . 'Thus, I am back With my own peov pic— some of whom I cordially dis- like,' but I feel better foir it. I hope they do. 'In, all sincerity, - , . ■■ ■■ 'James Kevin McGuinness.' : .McGulhncss explairied that hei had talked 'the situation over Avith Dud- ley Nichols, president of the SWG} before the latter started, east on, va- cation, and that he had tried tp bring the Playwrights around to his "way of thinking but had been outvoted on ,a prpppsal to join the SP in a body. He declared the members of both organizations are writers and, that they shbuld get. together. McGuinness said He had promised! to be with the Guild if they did cer- tain things and' that, these had. been, done. He said there was no need 'ta keep 'thumbing your hpse' at , the sitiiatibn, and that the twp, groups 'should merge Intp, one^ The SP has been swamped recent- ; ly Vitb requests tp arbitrate tilts be- tween writers over , screen play credits. This confusion resulted: from refusal of the Academy of Mo- tion Picture Arts & Sciences to en- tertain complaints from writers and delay by the NLRB iii certifying the SWG as bargaining representative. Settlie Screen Credits Tiff between Virginia Van Upp and Jack Mbffit over screen credit for Paramount's 'You and Me' was dcr.. cided in favor of 'Van Upp. In an- other Paramount production, 'Escape from Yesterday,' committee decided that Mbffit and Ferdinand were en- titled to joint credit for screen play and original story. ' SP committee also ruled/that Jphn Mcchah and Dore Schary were en- titled to joint screen play credit for Metro's 'Bpystbwn.' Ktore than 50 members of the SWG attended 'first session of Guild ex- ecutive board thrown open tP rank and file membeirship. Similar meetings will be held ence each montii. At these huddles members are permitted to submit recom- tnendations to the bpai'd, and if the :board deems them sufficiently im- portant they ore placed on the agenda for ' the next general mem- bership meeting. If .the recom- mendations are turned down the member still has the privilege of presenting them personally from the floor at the next general session. Maurice Rapf has been appointed chairman- of the Guild bulletin com- mittee. Financial report was read show- ing the Guild has repaid more than $2,000 to the Authors Leayue of America^ Artists Managers Expand Plans for expansion of Artists Managers Guild have been disclosed with annpuncbmciit that five agen-. eies have been" invited to affJliale. - Those to whom invitations have l;een sent are Music Corp. of America, Leo Morri.son, Stanley Bdrgerman. Nat Goldstone and H. N. .Swanson. Mike I.evec, prexy oMhc AMG, ."iaid pl.ins for a constructive lci;islative pro- gr.nm will be mapped out.at a meeting to be called fiisl of next month. Local '4'? of. Mu.sicians Union has been ordered out of the Open Door, Vine .<;trcct- nilcry. Management was roportod 10 days in arrears on pay- off. VARIETY Wednesday, August 10, 1938 ^edntsdtij, August 10, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY 2S Gov't Suit's Effect on Stocks . The Government's anti-trust civil action against major :companie5 reacted against amusement shares last month, and although the stocks have had about two weeks In which to recuperate, many sUU are selling below the price quoted before the suit was filed. Check this week reveals .that 12 representative amusement stocks had depre- ciated $24,464,500 in value since July 19, day before the action was formally filed. While eight issues were selling below ijuoted price last July 19, lour actually were higher. Bulk of picture issues sold doiwn sharply for two days or more after the suit was filed but later ccime. back. Since then, however, , they have failed to maintain their old vigor. Biggest loss of 12 issues was sustained by . Loew's which was down -' 6%' points at . 4978 this week. This represents a depreciation of . •10;593,375 in the value of Loew common stock. Other. rimall off-the-stem grind LaSalle. Essaness circuit has been a con- stantly growing power and force in Chicago exhibition, with Silverman, Stern and - Spiegel upsetting . all precedent and . working against heavy odds to build a new cii'cuit. JafFe's S.O.S. Pittsburgh, Aug. 9. Night Sam Jaffe opened as Shylock in Penn State ' College production- of 'Merchant of Venice,' cast of RKO flicker, 'Ciunga Dili,' in, which he, plays title role, wired him as follows . f^om^ Hbllywbdd: 'Settle for 18c and hurry back. - W |)l:iy opiJiLsilo .Aliro K.t c I 'll 'Diincf ^Ic:.'! mill ro'"'-.'-- , 'liif \i) sliirt (•..•iilv iir'.vt month with ''ivc-.ViVV ll:iliifr dii-P'rlid','. 'I'wch' iotli is .nlso iryiiig to borrovlf .M.vi-ii;i , r.ii.v t') r'l-slcir -with Warner H.-i.\-.l-i in -Mo Married His Wife.' VARIETY W«dneBda7« August 10, 1938 They had to spray Leo's tonsils this week. So much good news to ROAR about, he sttained his sound track.. For instance: Continued amazing box-office perform- ance of "Love Finds Andy Hardy" with 2nd week hold-overs mounting. Followed by sock-o-penings qf Bob Taylor in "The Crowd Roars." And the announcement of -' Marie Antoinette " at popular prices ! / ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ TRADE-SHOWS! Ask your M-G-M Branch where the near- est Trade Show of "Marie Antoinette" will be held. Call your wife and enjoy it with her. Until you sit before this enthrall- ing picture you cannot fully realize what's in store for you and your patrons. An eyeful, a heart-full, a theatre-full! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ " BARNUM GIVES UP V\ M-G-M showmanship. More than 200,000 persons have already visited the Marie Antoinette Museumi in the Astor Theatre. Summer visitors to Broadway send postcards back home. Feature stories in newspapers and magazines everywhere. Broadcasts from the lobby with visitors interviewed. Entire theatre converted into a museum, seats covered with terraced plat- forrhs' covered with royal purple plush to display exciting properties from the pic- ture. Real antiques, historical items from the dramatic period . The Premiere o f the picture is Tu6S- day, August 16. New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco are the only advanced price, twice- daily engage- ments. Speaking of M-G-M show- manship: thanks for your vote of confidence which gave M-G-M four out of five awards in the A. M. P. A. exhibitor survey on promotion determined by leading showmen through- out America. n AT POPULAR PRICES! As its sincere contribution and gesture of enthusiastic cooperation with the united industry drive ("Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment") M-G-M has can-' celled elaborate road-show plans for this glorious and truly road-show picture in, order to bring it directly, to the public at popular prices- .as.the first of the great en-/ tertainments of- the new season. Preceded by the longest advance publicity 'campaign any picture ever received, plus a nationwide billboard campaign with thousands of boards in 1200 cities, plus color-ads in all fan magazines, plus the; fame of three advanced price engagerhents in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, plus large-scale newspaper advertising ... ."Marie Antoinette" is on the way to fame and (your) fortune! Sweetheart of the Day'* NORMA DEAR YOUR FANS ARE WAITING! The most beloved, the most admired personality dn the screen comes to her mil- lions of loyal followers in a role so thrill- ing, so touching, so beautiful that it must truly remain first and forever in their memories as the greatest they have ever witnessed. Many lines will be written in praise of her, but the greatest line will be at your box-officei^ ★ ★ ★ ★ * HOLDING THE HARDYS Two weeks for Mickey Rooney and his women. "Love Finds Andy Hiardy" ex- tended engagements at Capitol, N. Y., Baltimore, Houston.Wilmington, Atlanta, Harrisburg, Indianapolis, New Orleans, St. Louis, Toledo, Boston (State & Orpheum day and date), Wiashington, Cleveland, Hartford, New Haven, Pitts- burgh, Worcester and still they come ! ABOVE: Interior of Museum from Stage. RIGHT: From morning to midnight crowds wait patiently to enter. Bold 24'Sheet "Nationwide ! WATCH M-G-M! Leo's list of releases for August, Septern- ber and October made public last week brought roars of approval from showmen . "Love Finds Andy Hardy" followed by "Crowd Roars" started the ball rolling. "Rich Man, Poor Girl" with Bob Young, Lew Ayres, Ruth Hussey and a cast of new faces is an Augusfrbright spot together with Laurel-Hardy's funny feature "Block-: Heads." August 26th ushers in "Marie Atitoinette" as first of the impressive Fall Season Big Ones. Closely followed by Clark Gable-Myrna Loy in "Too Hot To Handle" {still in pro- duction, it's terrific!) Next comes the great heart drama, Spencer Tracy-Mickey Rooney in "Boys Town." "The Great Waltz" with Luise Rainer, Fernand Gravet and Miliza Korjus is some- thing to look forward to. "Stablemates" gives you Wally Beery and Mickey Rooney. "Listen Darling" brings Freddie Bartholo- mew, Judy Garland', Mary Astor, Walter Pidgeon: j/Three Loves Has Nancy" de- lights with Janet Gaynor, Robert Mont- gomery, Franchot Tone. Lots of other M-Q-M money-makers in between and then the October-topper: Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy in the Technicolor triumph "Sweethearts." That's what you'll call ieach and every one of those August, September, October re- leases. Yes, we repeat "SWEETHEARTS" t(|^e(]iicsdoy, August 10, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY 25 Film Business ' Woes (Continued from page 1 ) through interview and observation, "iactly what seems to be the pre- vaiUng public and trade attitude to- wards films, he is more than likely 10 classify the problems encountered into two general groups. All that he Tiaa heard and seen rather naturally ?aU under tHe dual headings of (1 ) the film business and the public, and (2) the; film business and its own trade policies and management. There Is inuch to be said on esich iublect. Not too much, perhaps; be- cause the American motion picture industry, through three, , decades of skilled invention ■, and popular ap- peal; has become part of the texture Sf American life, manners and thought. The Influence of kaleido- scopic shadows and hidden Idud speaker has made deep impress on the citizenry. Newsreel reporting brings to the screen with express speed a visualization of current events from all quarters of, the globe. Commentators illustrate their dis- ions with forceful pictorial back- grounds. , •The best in cohtertporary and classic fiction is unreeled in dramatic lomi In the. nation's 18,818 theatres there are 11,470,899 seats of more or less comfort for the customers. The statistics are impressive and prob- ably quite accurate because they are supplied by the U. S, Department of Commerce and given official, authen- ticity in the Government's, recent anti-trust bill of complaint againsit major fllrii ; companies. A Bir Btislness ; Picture business is big business. Its ramiflcatiohs. extend.to the coun- try's habitable outposts. . Its :fiction .maaufacturitig base is. centered with- in a small geographical area in Hol- lywood and environs. Its newsreei cameras are as widely: scattered as ■ mankind's activity. Its banking and . distribution headquarters are in New ; York, and major independent fllni exchanges dot the ihap in some 30 odd cities; American films are dom-. ■ Inant entertainment ih . foreign coun- tries, agencies that, introduce do- mestic manufactures.. Nearly 300,000 persons are em- ployed in 'various capacities- -from studio messengers , to theatre ushers. Only a tew mechanized industries, such as automobiles, electrical manu- facturing and commimicat.tons,^ ex- ceed films in numbers of actively employed workers. It is a form of diyertisement which developed from an idea. It is ah industry which has grown to, substantial financial im- portance. It is a form of art expres- sion- which, more literally reproduces life and action than the printed word,' the radio or the stage. / With such abundance of attributes for service and good will,, it is dif- ficult to understand why films, in recent years, bave riot jnaintained and Improved' their position before the public' The medium, itself, has reached a high standard of mechan- ical perfection. Brief visits to scores of theatres,, widely scattered, reveal- good phptograiphlc projection and clear sound reproduction. The best in physical presentation by the big- gest first-run theatres is duplicated In the smallest of small-town houses. And yet, there is currently a pro- nounced public apathy towards the Industry and its average output of product. Bl( Bits Get Extraordliwry B.6. Conversely, the big hit pictures, individually, are. winning unusual, at- tendance and boxoffice returns. Ifs the run-of-the-mill films which have lost the quality to attract The weak- ness lies largely In the . refusal of Jioilywood to Uckle courageously the contemporary American scene. Life W >t. is .viewed too ' frequently nrough inverted binoculars of Hot- Vwood writers creates, films which are clever inventions and literary noKum. Audiences are now smart- ened to the bafe of tricks. They aiso are eager, for the honest, down Ini"'*" which, is well written ■na .capably acted. Twenty-flve .yMrs ot feature films have taught •audiences what . s real and what is t^e bunk. Because films are a form of en- wriamment for the masses, it is natural that the industry should re- Ijeci in all angles of its operations '^e psychological and economic ■ of its customers. Notwith- «anding a rising stock market, which na^ cheered the easterner these past ,,,,,'"°nths, business conditions gen- ially across the country have not responded to the enthusiastic opti- ""sm which has sent up stocks sev- ^ ^ai points this summer. A linfjer- "8 repression, therefore, may have much to do with the diminishing the- atre attendance, On the other hand, the industry itself is responsible for much loss of patronage. Theatre ihanagenient, affiliated . and , independent, is hot fighting for business'With the type of showmanship aggressiveness that was chairacteristic of exhibition in the days when the picture business was expanding. Large film companies, with rnillions invested in pictures, are content too soon, in the seasoned judgment of mahy observers, .to de- clare they have misjudged, the pub- lic taste and, as a result,, leave the all important function of sustained advertising and exploitation to the exhibitor, who is working with rou- tine lobby and newspaper displays, the general quality of which 'las not improved in a score of years. ^ The Exhib Is In » Spot The exhibitor's hands, .however willing, are tied down by limited appropriation. He lacks a liberal and consistent encouragement ■ di- rectly from the , producer-distribui tor. Scores of films lahnually are sent broadcast into distribution with- out a word of commendation from the producer. Idea prevails that by some . hpkus-pocus the theatre op- erator will do a job. which . the pro- ducer-distf ibutbr is too . busy or too short-sighted to do. Result: ."rhe drive for business is slackened, half- hearted and futile. Frantic to build up his business, the exhibitor pleads for ideas.; Usually he is sent a.pnie- sheet and' a set of stijis, C.O.D; : In itiahy vast cornpetitive areas double billing of features has length- ened, the ohe-time show, consisting of a single feature, news, travel reel .and, cartoon, into a sitting marathon of four hours. The film theatre, one time the sole place for popular-priced entertainment for the whole family, is losing child trade .(through sheer fatigue) . and the support of youth (through boredom), .'Vast audiences ot discriminating theatregoers who formerly attended films which pos- sessed unusual and original qualities in photography or theme are staying away, unwilling to make ah evening's pleasure a contest of concentration through 20 reels of films. Public Fed Up Concurrently, the repeated law- suits and public bickerings over in- dustry trade practices have not en- deared, the films to the public. In the absence of any agency within the industry whose purpose is to eticour. age public favor and support, the public has been willing to believe the worst. The sustained' pjress reports this past winter and spring from Washington dver the issues of block, booking, raised by the Neely bill de. bate, were aggressively negative in public reaction, Picture, business too long has been on the defensive. And the lotteries, giveaways, bank nites and cash .award games are giv. ing many picture theatres an atmos- phere of cheapness. In themselves these 'games may be quite harmless, but in the manner of their presenta- tion few- :. exhibitors display any showmanship or attempt to mix the elepnent of chance with the spice of entertainment. The craze for lotteries 1$ passing (aided by a few court de- cisions and. merchants' protests) and the inevitable attendance reaction is on the downside. Film NRA code authority fought games of. chance in theatres and declared them . unfair trade practices, prejudicial to the best interests of the industry. From the day the. NRA faded not a single industry voice has raised against a practice which has brought more censure and ill-will from better citi- zen groups than any other exhibition policy. Only showmanship and con- sistent advertising of best available product will Win back steady patron- age, alienated by gambling garhe.<;. In view of the widespread interest among exhibitors in. the prop6sed trade practice conferences to be held in New '5fork this autumn, announce- ment by S. R. Kent, chairiri?m of the distributor committee, that gov- ernment's aiiti-lrust suit may create a situation demanding indefinite post- ponement of the meetings, will be received with disappointment' by theatre owners. . . Urgency for readjustment of .sonde practice;, it only in the cause of im- proved business relations, has been recognized for more than two years. The anti-trust suit creates an impasse In self-rcgalation.!. Too long delayed, distributors have missed their chance to adopt MPTOA's lb-point program, ably, presented by. Ed Kuykendall. Nathan Yamins and Abram F. Myer.0:in receipts turned up missing in the- atre safe. 800 GTJNGA DDTNEI^ Hollywood, .Aug. 9. RKO's troupe of "265, no'W filming exteriors for 'Gunga Din' near.Lohe Pine, returns to the studio- Satur- day (13) for two weeks of . indoor shooting. Cpmpany, increased to 800, vvlll then -go back to Lone Pine fpi: the final battle scenes. STUDIO CONTRACTS Hollywood, Aug. 9. Leonardp BercovicI inked writer pact at 20th-Fox. ' 20th-Fox renewed S, J. Duncan's writer contract. - Metro lifted Gene Reynolds' player option. - 20th-Fox picked up Robert Kel-r lard's actor option. . Edmund T. Hansen re-signed as 20th-F6x. sound department head. ; Edward Crohjager, cameraman, re pacted by 20th-Fox. Metro lifted player option on Ann Morriss. -Warners ' picked up Sol Polito's cameraman option. Ralph Byrd's actor option hoisted by Republic. Metro signed Robert Arthur to writer pact. Metro lifted writer options on Hugo Butler and Waldo Salt. David Gorcey inked player con- tract ait Universal. Warners signed Geraldine Fitz- gerald to 'player pact.' Binnie- Barnes signed to player ticket at. 20th-Fox. , 20t.h-Fox lifted Herbert Spencer's composer option. Paramount renewed Judith Bar- rett's player conti"act. . V/^rners signed Eddie Albert to a player pact. ' Lew Ayres inked actor pact at Metro. Romano Roman! signed as Metro vocal coach, oiani.st and composer. Otto Brewer's director option lift- ed by 20th-Fox. Metro hande t Don Castle a player contract. STORY BUYS Hollywood. Au«. 9. Universal purchased 'Big Town ' Czar,' original by Ed Sullivan. I 'Metro bought 'Death on the Tabic' : by Frederick' Guy. Beauchamp and Michael- Roland Pertwee. .: Cornelius Recce and Arndt Ciusti sold their story, "Strange Faces," to ' Universal. 1 W.nrners acquired 'Life Is .Clear," original by .Maurice Rapf and Harold Eiichanan. 20th-Fox purchased 'Samson and the Ladies.' an original by Hild.i Stone and Betty' Reinhardt. Prop Scarer Hollywood, Aug. 9.' " 'Angels With Dirty .Faces' at Warners has an eiectric chair ,6n the 'set, but : hot in the pic- ture. Hot -seat is used for its effect on. the players; in Jimmy Cagney's death scene, ; Execution chambers are t^boo : under the Will Hays regula- tions. . NEW GAGS SUB FORBANKO, NOW TABU St. Louis, Aug. 9. Withj banknite definitely in the doghouse, in'die .operators' in . the metrppblitah area have dug up two new ones that are clicking. . 'Crazy Auctions* and 'bopey Nights' have replaced banko and are hypoing b.o returns that have been ' extremely, aniteinic ' recently. , The 'Crazy Auctiori' gag; involves the theatre; management putting the bee oh neighborhood merchants for groceries, wearing apparel,' etc., to. be auctioned during an intermisfsion between the two, screen features. The' merchant's return is. cuffp ad- vertising of his product The follow- ing exarnple ot what happened ih the Congress, a St Louis Amus. Co. nabe last week, , is typical of the gag. The auctioneer sold a pair, of ladies' red garters and a loaf of bread for 5c; a watermelon for a dime; -a sum-, mer bonnet for- 50c but made a re- fund of 15c and tdssed in a couple of ducats to clinch the deal. "The highlight of this piarticular sale was when a male customer pur- chased; a dress, woirn by the ah- nouncer'^ aide, for .$2 and received a 90c rebate to take care of pressing fees.- At the Wellston the 'Dopey Night' prpgram also was. held between the showing of the: dual program. A typical stunt began when the 'auc tioneer offered a prize, , wheedled from merchants,' to the first boy who reached: the stage minus his shirt The shirt miust be shed while the contestant is en/route froni his seat. Another stunt calls for. recitations with the m.c. grimacing into the cpn- testaht's face to disconcert him. 'War bling of pop songs, also are part of the 'Dopey Night' stunt and yoiing 'uns who hope . to . cop a bag of flour, a basket of groceries, polo, shirt or a few bucks are deserting outdoor swimming pools and other al fresco entertainments on these nights. : New gags are expected to railroad out of existence the merchandise giveaways, which have been preva- lent in local houses for many years, ^ Orilclal Frown Four theatres in Alton, 111., across the Mississippi from, here, were not! fled last week that criminal prose cutioh. would result if the manage- mcns continued the banknite policy that has been in vogue for several years although the Illinois stato su preme court a year ago. declared this b.o. stimulant was Illegal.- ' Two managers were hotifled by Mayor John Struif, a third by the chief of police and the fourth by the cop on the beat. Dr. 'W. W. Billings, cprOncp of Madison County, who is eliminating all forms of gambling from hiis domain declared that the Hyde Park Club, gambling casino in Venice, . III., handbook.'!, lotto games had all been shuttered and would remain dark during hi,s term, which expires in 1940. It is reported .that many of the gambling enterprises are moving , into Belleville, III., in St. Clair County. Philadelphia, Aug. 9. With advance Of the buying sea- son, talk is fast growing here pf ai repetitien pf last year's strike against Parampunti -but . with Columbia the butt for exhib resentrhent this time. Blowup against - tactics of the change .appearis imminent unless there is considerable reversal of at- titude. . ' Exhibs maint&in that Columbia year after year has - made' promises - in its. -worksheet which it has made ho ; endeavor to keep. They com- plain of ppor film quality, prices and ' high percentages, and are demand- ing adjustments. Fuse was lighted for an explosion about three months ago, but exhibs' were calmed by highly conciliatory attitude of Harry Weiner, local Cpl. manager. -Further water was doUsed on the TNT by Abe Montague, who called Lewcn Pizor and other execs of the indie organization to New Yprk for a confab. They came back and reported all was well, which quieted things. ' ^ , 'United . Motion Picture Theatre' Owners, local body, which ran last year's boycott, has beeh badly split! , by internal strife during the past few' months. Exhibs are now com- plaining that Columbia is taking ad- vantage of this to reneg on its promr ises of three : months ago. : Under* cover move is how. on 'foot by. sev- eral prominent indies to reorganize UMPTO and heal the breach. If this is successful, Columbia will un- doubtedly have a battle on its hands. aED LIGHT TIP Hollywood, Aug. 9: Paramounl's 'Illegal Traffic' is be- fore the ciimcra.s. J. Carrol Naish, Mary' Carlisle, Robert Pre.ston and Judith Barrett head- the player roster. Louis Kini; i.i directirn! and Wil- liam' Thoin,is a-ssociate producer. Televish Bootlmien Seen as Keymen by British tabor Head -London, July .26. How seriously labor vieWs ineur-^ sion of television into the theatre ' was revealed by President Robert FInhigan at annual c.onvensh of Na- tional Association of Theatre and Kinema En>ployes, when he stated the union had already proceeded with groundwork of training scheme to educate projectionists ih tech- nique of the new medium. . Under new : regime, he said, the boothmeh would: be in happy posi- tion of becoming keymch and, just as at introduction of sound, opera- tors with' adequate technical knowl- edge were able to command big dough, same position' must inevit- ably arise when vislo comes to the motion picture houses, to the benefit of projectionists who saw their, op- portunity and contrnenced prepaira- tipn right away. . Prexy also .'endorsed Oscar Deutseh's recent prophecy that 300 theatres .would shortly be equipped with visip apparatus. ADVICE TO THE MAILS p. 6. Dept. Edict to Handle Pie Cans With Care. Washington, Aug. 9. Complaints that Uncle' Sam's mail . carriers have been treating motion picture films in;a haphazard mian- her have been filed with the U; S; post office department, it was re- vealed, last Thursday (4). Warning to all postal emplpyees te handle films gently in the future was issued by the department's of- ficial weekly , bulletin. .Postmasters and carriers mu.st see that metiil cases cpntaining' the fil'ms must not be -ailpwed to 'drop from :platforms, trucks, or mail cars,' pfflcials de- creed, adding that ;. ... they must be treated as hand pieces and not thrown or Icsscd in any manner at any time." 'PASSAGE' LOCATED . Hollywood, Aug; 9. ;W. S. . Van Dyke, Metro director, trains out tomoirow CWcd.) tor Mc- Call, "Idaho, to take charge: of the (ilminx of tlio Technicolor prodlic- (ioh, 'iN'orlhivc.st l'aK.SU«c.'. ■ With him will' HO "Tim McCoy, .ad- viser on livjian Scenes, and tw<> caii)c'ran)<.Mi,- Hay Rc'nnahan and Leii Smith. K|5eiiccr Tracy . joins . the ijpupi." .IN s jiin a.s he 'finishes his role i:i 'lloy< "t'oivn," about Aug. 15. 26 VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, August 10, 1938 Variety House Reviews CAPITOL, WASH. (Continued form page 16) fire stuntinR. Joe and Jane McKen- na bounce on next for knockabout slapstick, which suffers through hit- ting below town's well-known taste. Comets back for elaborate flower- spray number, with Hawaiian motif and spectacular formations. Then it's Charles Carlile, who sings 'Faraway Look in Your. Eye,' .The Corrifians,' Irish traditional, used because of. Corrigan popularity, and a medley of 'You Go to My Head,' 'Says My. Heart' and 'Cathedral in the Pines.' At show caught, he encored 'Irish Eyes' and 'I Married an. Angel.' Third bow gives Carlile chance to introduce Jack Powell, blackface drummer, scoring usQal smash. Com- ets wind up show with excellent precision flash, getting multiple ef- fects with' vari-colored . lights and pierette costumes, Biz fair. Craig. STANLEY, PITT Ptftsburflh, Aug. 7. Ozzie Nelson's orch with Harriet Hilltard & Evelyn Pbe, Fritz & Jean Hubert, fronk Paris' Marionettes, Dave Btoudy house orch; 'Professor Beware' (Par). iSrlsk niid-summer pace house has been setting last few weeks woii't halt with Ozzie Nelson-Harriet Hil- liard combo. It's Nelson's third visit in as many seasons to the Stanley and, with the missus along, a pretty good guarantee for a profltable ses- sion. Only the second time for Miss Hilliard, however, since she wasn't working Nelson's last time around. Since that, time she's had another film, 'Cocoanut Grove' (Par), under her belt to help the draw along. Show shapes up among the better Stanley offerings, with Nelson's band turning in a flrst-rate job despite what . looks like a reluctance on outfit's part to dig up new music material. . More than half of its stuff, chiefly novelty numbers, has been done here by them on previous visits, but Nelson has such a pleasant, ami- able manner that he can get away with it. While his 'Kid in the Three- Cornered Pants,' 'Love Bug Will' Get You* and 'I've Got Those Maestro Blues' haven't aged exactly, Nelson, as a name leader, really should keep more abreast of the times. Musically, the band istill defles classification. Has no definite style, picking its way easily among all types of tunes .and covering up any shortcomings, with youthful enthu- siasm arid nonchalance. In this re- spect boys get their cu'e . from Nel- son, for he's a matter-of-fact maes- tro, who goes in for relaxation and little fireworks. After the recent flood of swingeroos, he's a relief, too. hitting the groove only once, and then at the finish with a swing-out on 'Martha.' Miss Hillidrd's a big help', as usual. Sweet intimate style gets over with room to spare, and she y^orks well in a couple .of duets -with Nelson. Does three numbers, 'Says My Heart,' which she introduced in 'Grove,' 'Kid in Three-Cbrnered Pants,' with Nelson, which: she cracks is from her most successful production (referring to the Nel- son's two-year-old), and 'Music, Maestro, Please,' her topper. Over big. and could stick longer. Nelson's also carrying another vo- calist, Evelyn Poe, a youngster he picked up on the Coast. She's a sex- appealing brunet with plenty . on the ball; has a million-dollar frame, nice gipes and gives out with 'Rock My lues Away,' That Man's Here Again' and Anally 'Love Bug.' which leads into Nelson's novelty solo ar- rangement of the Pinky Tomlin tune. Gal's ; numbers further reveal Nel- son's need for a more up-to-date repertory. Supporting acts excellent; Frank Paris' Marionettes are easy toppers. Paris has a swell collection of pup- pets, lifelike duplicates of Zorina, Dopey, Josephine Baker and Sonja Henie, which he strings through a series of typical routines in crack fashion. Best of 'em are Dopey and Miss Henie, showing lots of imagina- tion. Fritz and Jean Hubert still doing their acirobatic drunk routine, and while it's eased up a bit in late years, still good. Longevity of turn, in fact, is matched only by Huberts' amazing endurance. Dave Broudy's house crew back In pit for regular overture. Biz big, . Cohen. TOWER, K. C. Kansas City, Aug. 7, Heller & Riley, Toni Lane, Lattell & LacUiire, Knight Sisters (2), Ger matne ^ Wtljen, Line (12), Judy Conrad, house orch; 'Sky Giants' (RKO). . Combination of considerable com' edy, dancing, singing arid acrobatics is pleasing. Bill expanded to 45 min- utes this week, allowing for an espe ° cially well done production number by house line (12). . LeadofTs, Germain and Wiljen, ro- mantic singers, head a bridal routine by the line. Wiljen cops the edge with his .baritoning, while develop- ment of a little more volume from his partner would make them well matched. They're local, fromi the night spots. Second are the Knight Sisters (2) with some appealing acrobatics. Girls are lookers, havie their routine down pat and top their good taste in costumes and style by making their act short and snappy. Audience would gladly have more. Lattell and Laclaire, using 'any thing for a laugh,' are in some more acrobatics, though on' the comedy side. Their stiifT is funny enough and they don'^ conflict with the Knights. A couple of off-color gags hurt, though. Toni Lane solo torches and ^virids up a routine including oldtime, modern swing and novelty songs. Her voice is not particularly I ' ' III' New York Theatres uew^ssmr tU«OW*T 4 4Hh irillt Mow Flaylnc Starts Tlmra. 'SHOPWOBK AHGEL' .N.T.O. In pf won 'TBOFIC HOLIDAY' ■ad Bta«e Show ROBERT TAYLOR The Crowd Roars' , An M.G.M. rictaro mKET BUSTERS" - STARRixa HUMPHREY BOGART GEORGE BRENT STRAND— 25c to 1 P.M. Uoont Open B:3/l A.M. PARAM0UNT»?^k1fE MARTHA RASE BOB HOPE '^CIVE ME A SAILOR" Paranount Flctun CHICK WEBB and his Orchestra TELUk' FITZGERALD Tlh A*. * ftOth St. ROXY ALL 9S« TO SEATS 1 PM. HELD. OVER "Alexander's Ragtime Band" — On ths SttK*— Mew Staco Show SASr"* MUSIC HALL 'TOUR'S A CROWD" .Sjsectaeular Stag* Prbductlent distinctive, although her stage pres- ence helps. Headlining are Heller and Rlley, whose riiain' stock is comedy, but whose act also reveals some ace war- bling by Miss Heller in a sky-high soprano. Best song and comedy team here in weeks. Closing number is - a Dutch clog, in costume, by the line to a couple of pop songs. Turnout good opening, day. Quirt. Embassy Newsreel, N. Y. Ncwsreels were rather tame arid routine when the Embassy unveiled its new assortment at week's open- ing (4). Corrigan had been ex- hausted abroad and had not yet re- turned for his N. Y. welcome, Hughes was old news, and there hadn't been anyone else jumping off a 17th floor perch. .None of. the reels coats Itself with any distinction. Movietorie has Helen Claire spiel a routine coverage of a Coney Isliand beaut contest, and Ade- laide Hawley purrs about a fur dis- play. Log jam in a. Wyoming river has interest, but shots , on the N. Y. World's Fair buildings taking form, Corrigan's crate being packed for shipment home, .Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthaii, Jr., in France and Darryl Zanuck disem- barking after European trip, aren't much. Lew Lehr covers a man who plays bridge and mows a lawn simul- taneously, via new invention, plus a marriage ceremony performed on. a scenic railway^ which aren't very funny. However, the subjects don t offer much. Metro does fine job showing how New Yorkers cool off during the heat wave; cover the town, from the smart eastside penthouses to Coney. Another good one. is Metro's cover- age of Kuda Bux, Hindu fakir, strut- ting across, live coals, in addition to blindfold tricks. Fire- walking looks a failure; not half so impressive . as when , the reels first caught him at the antic three years ago before group of scientists from Oxford. One of Paramountls sound trackers errs when he mentions the Morro Castle in the harbor at San Juan, Puerto Rico, in' covering a beached four-masted , schooner. Morro CasUe is in Havana harbor. Same reel comes up with a neat idea in having Sue Read describe latest styles for gals going to dude ranches.. Far and away frorii the funniest bit on the bill is interviewing the 82-year- oldester in Washington, who became a pop for the 26th time. Pathe has Clem McCarthy at the National A. A. U. swim meet in Louisville, and another good bit in covering Sinclair Lewis' legit debut Howard Hughes is followed by Uni- versal, which clips his welcome in Chicago and Houston; Movietone muggs' the flyer in Los Angeles. Sports are light. Ed Thorgerson describes a French marathon bike race and a blind English golfer; U lenses a rassling .bout, but they are very old now. Metro catches the Hearst outboard regatta on the Coast Toto ori clips reveals Movietone has 13, Metro, 4; Par., 8; U., 8, and Pathe, 9. Bert. EXPLOITATION : : b, u»* w. Sargent ] EARLE, PHILLY Philadelphia. Aug. 7. ZaSu Pitts with Cliff Hall, Louis Prima orch, Peters Sisters (3), Col- lins & Petersen, Troy & Lynne.Lou Schrader house orch; 'Professor Be- ware' (Par). Earle taking another slug at the heat wave this week with a power- ful, varied stage combo designed to collar all types of audience. There's ZaSu Pitts. for the evening trade and Louis Prima's band for the maniacs who fill the matinees. Biz big. Miss Pitts is spotted immediately before the Prima band finales. She works with Cliff Hall, who employs same long-winded explanation gag that used to get laughs on the Baron Munchausen air show when he was the subject for Jack Pearl's 'Vas you dere, Sharlie?' Bit more effec- tive via radio. Miss Pitts shows much of the same personality she exhibs on the scre'en. Has some fair- ly good lines, which do plenty more than just keep her out there, and tosses her mitts around in the usual fashion. Also ^ood is her 'imper- sonation , of an impersonator giving an impersonation of ZaSu Pitts.' Strictly from an entertainment angle, howevei-, the flnger-flutterer's val- ue lies considerably more in her moniker; Prima's crew is one of the wild- est swing outfits ever seen on the Earle boards. Playing in the diffi- cult last spot ususally marked everywhere by half the audience leaving to avoid the rush, it's amaz- ing to see Prima hold young and old alike. Apparently arises from every bit of his wild, frenzied self that foes into each note. All six men, in fact, give and give, achiev- ing swing with real smoothness. Prima's swell trumpeting, of course, is largely responsible, plus Meyer Weinberg's licorice stick tooting. Band doe.s 'Ti-Pi-Tin.' 'A-Ti.sket A-Tasket,' 'Butcher Boy' and closes with 'St. Louis Blues' Work In some good biz on the latter by -hav- ing a contc-st between swing and smoothie On the trumpet. Marty Col- lins, of m.c. team of Collins and Peterson, toots the old-fashioned way, and good, too. Band's comic vocal of all likewise strong. Collins and Peterson. , who've In- troed shows at the Earle several 'Algiers' in I'ville Louisville. There has been a dearth of ex' ploitation during the past few weeks in this town, but situation changed when Manager Geo. Hunt Jr., of Loew's State, found he had some- thing he could sink his t$eth. into, when he booked 'Algiers.' One gag which attracted plenty of downtown - attention, . and nearly blocked traffic, was an Algerian checker game, played by two. men in Liricoln Park, ori the main stem. Lads were decked out in flowing Al- gerian robes, and studiously played their game with large blocks as 'men,' lettered with name of the pic, They ..were seated . under a large ban- ner, which read, 'I am sure to. win when I go to see 'Algiers' at Loew's State.' Another was an Algerian costume contest in which patrons were in- vited to appear on- the theatre stage in any costume with an Algerian motif. Prizes of $10 and $S were awarded, and the stunt copped some extra newspaper space, and plenty of word-of -mouth comment. Probably the most inexpensive gag was the old invisible tropical sh bowl in a downtown florist's shop. Some of 'Em So Here and there- some exhibitor turns up who still believes in. adver- tising and exploitation. He does more than go through the motions, and he reapsliis reward.. F.. A. Rohrs, branch sales manager for United Artists in Washington, D. C„ offers a campaign on 'Tom Sawyer' in rebuttal of the statement that exhibitors are not on the job any more. It was put over by Benj. T. Pitts, of the Pitts theatre. Fredericksburg, Va.. a town of about 7,000 population. 'Torii Sawy«r' has almost ceased to be news, but the fact that there are still small town men who will get out and hustle , is something else again. Mr. Pitts went at it from all angles, big town style, and he made some money. Local paper ran a contest base^ on famous trial scenes, to hook in with that on the picture, arid also helped pick a boy for the local Tom Saw- yer. Kid was made mayor for a day and was given a Idng-distance chat with Tomriiy Kelly, out in Holly- wood. Conversation was played up. Paper also gave two columns of art and story a week in advance and again two days before the opening. Five county newspapers were also tied in through advertising and free space. Three co-op ads were .engi- neered, including one with the El- kins Flower Co., which contributed 3,000 small bouquets in return for a card on each, and took space to tell about it Bouquets were distributed by two kids, who first called the re- cipients on the phone to tell about the picture and announce the coming gift The Dick Mimeograph Co. loaned a machine on which five kids got out a special newspaper, edited by them- selves; This was worked in the lobby the Saturday before the opening. Because the town is a shopping center, the old parking tag was re- vived the Saturday afternoon before the showing, and a lOcal store gave prizes for a last-line contest the lim- erick being printed on a special her- ald inserted in packages. Bookmark- ers were put out through the'public library; 750 special heralds were got- ten out and 3,000 imprinted napkins were given restaurants and lunch counters. Old-fashioned slates were used in place of window cards, let- tered in colored crayons, and 5.000 stickers were used on packages, tele- phone poles and elsewhere. "Three window tie-ups were effect- ed, and the library made a display of the 12 'Tom Sawyer' charts show- ing how the picture was made. There was plenty of lobby work and six kids were perambulated with back sjgns, all dressed as Tom. That's what one small-towner did— showing it can still be done. East and West _ . , , San Francisco. Gertrude Lawrence, playing her Susan and God' at Curran theatre here, buried the hatchet between New York and San Francisco fairs by planting a rose bush on Treasure Island in special good will ceremony Aug. 5. . NBC transcontinental blue broad- cast proceedings at site of Golden Gate International Exposition, in which Miss Lawrence, as represen- tative of New York expo, was greeted by Governor Frank F. Mer- riam of California. times during the past year, for- tunately return with . almost entirely new patter., although the business is the same. They're much better than before and do nice job. .Peters Sisters another nifty act. f nree hefty colored girls much bet- ter personaling than in Eddie Can- tors All Baba." They warble 'Cry Baby.^Cry,' 'Cotton' and 'Swing Is Best on the pops, in^ addition to chirping, they show a load of oompah and also terp. Beg off with a screaming version of Posin.' Curtain-upper is Troy and Lynne, light-footed dance team. Work in swell precision. Mimic of kids doing college swing best. Herb Hot, but Enstling Spartanburg^ S. C. Despite general belief that hot weather in lowland cities is the wron| time for such exploitation Carolina went to town with mer- chandise tie-ups on 'Rage of Paris ' With inercury oozing up close to 100 every, day, other houses had left the field clear' with result that firms selling everything from undies to tires and batteries were sewed up for elaborate window displays. Tall Card- board cutouts of Danielle Darrieux featured displays and the whole works were tied in with house's standard hot weather air-conditioned plugs, resulting in nice increase, even on matinees.^ Staged Wedding Norfolk. A real wedding, with all the trim- mings, was used as build up arid first night bait at the Granby the- atre August .1, for the film, 'I'll Give a Million.' Radio plugs were used to tell the public about the special event Full and double - page advertisements were used as the. Granby battled the ' mid-summer attendance slump. Played on Pride ■ Portland, Ore. Parker's UA took advantage of the local aiithor angle to make a Holly.: wood opening out of 'Love ' Find^ Andy Hardy.' MGM bought the orig- inal ' yarn from Vivien Bretherton. Ted . Gamble seize4 on this anglai to get an eight-column build-up in the local press. Bally eost didn't run above normal, but the local author interest rated a lot of free exploita- tion. Treasnre Trove ^ Akron. ' A feminine Valentino fan who still carries the torch for the one-time movie-idol 12 years after his death was found by Henry Sommers. Pal- ace mana'ger. In connection with the reissue of The Son: of the Sheik.* Mrs. Edna Compianion, 28, and a §ood looker, brought out her scrapr ook crammed with Valentino pic- tures and clippings for plenty ot newspaper space. Theatres-Eicbanges Los Angele.ulp paper, tive. At the time of- his leaving the but it probably will be welcomed by N. Y. Daily News (at which .time the rejuvenated Valentino faiis. as Ed Sullivan, moved .west to assume adding to the very scant bibliography the Hollywood coverage), Skolsky on the dead actor, was virtually set at $500 a week with j Mists Livingstone writes interest- the .Des Moines Tribune syndicate ingly and . speaks with authority, until Hearst (Jack Lalt, the Mirror's making a product worthy of a better editor) topped :Wlth $600 weekly. [ setting, but somehow the impression is created that this volume may be Japan Censtfrs Bnsy I intended to pave the way fQr. the re; Fearing that peace propaganda issu^ of The Eagle,' also Owned by itiay penetrate the ■ minds of an .Artcihema, which controls v'S6n.' If otherwise y/ar - minded people, it is, it's, great. road paying. If it isn't, Tokyo customs censors of books it's a readable book for those inter and mags . are working overtime to ested, and may make some new con- see that only 'Simon-pure literature | yeris. gets by the barrier. Censor ax fell Not Quite Bight William Morro^y Co. says Variety errs slightly in announcing that U. S. Camera will be made into a quarr teirly. under editorship of J. Ma- loney. Latter will, edit a semi- technical . quarterly photographic magazine to be known as the U. S. Camera Magazine. U. S. Camera will remain ah an- nual and make, its bow around Nov. 1 as U. is. Camera, 1939. Film Reviews on. Jtiiie issue, bf Current History, but' may be released later to subr scribers,. with offensive portions re- moved'. June issue of Coronet -is also be- ing closely scrutinized . and. ' is al- . Sells Tampa Daliyi Station : W. D. McKay sold his ' Tampa (Fla,) Daily . Times and Radio Sta tion WDAB to David E. Smiley, and R'alph' Nicholson. I^atter have had afternoon sheet under lease for past most certain to be banned entirely five years with option to purchase because ,of an article ' in it written h Sale includes all assets of Tampa by- Dr. J^mes A. Scheirer, : who re- Publishing Co., in existence more cently aroused the ire : of the Japa- I than 40 years hese government as the . result of his. book, 'Japan Defies the World.' I Rochester News Bows Evidently censors ' are reading Rochester Evening News, .locally every word of every book and mag bankrolled daily, has.made its bciw which reach Japan, because . De- after, a year of preparation^ start- cember 27 issue of Time took ex- ing with niore than 30,0(K) home de actly six months to reach subscrib-. livery. . Venture, is claimed to be an ers,. being released June' 26. Under- answer to' public demand for liberal stood that Varietx always gets the ^aper uncontrolled by Frank E, green light pronto because nblwdy . Gannett interests, ; which own the in. the censor office can make but other two Roch. dailies and . radio the lingo. I station WHEC, News is accepting liquor and nite. spot advertising, Sabatinl's Tax Rap I which Ganhiett papers, nix. Rafael Sabatini,. author of 'CapUin SUff is largely made up of for- Blood,' 'Scaramouche' and other ""er Hearst's Journal employees, let • books which have made hit pictures, ^^en the daily folded a year lost oh appeal last week in the Fed- ^go- . Gannett then bought the eral Circuit Court of Appeals, from "}f'=havcal equipment. Frank ^ the decision of the Tax Board of ?hane is , publisher; David E. Kess Appeals holding him in default of I e<^''°'': L. Angle, city $21,017; plus penalties of $3,727, on income taxes for the years 1921-1928 i „ j—;^. inclusive, Sabatini. claimed he had | '^'^*"^*' not been notified that any action was pending against him by tax board editor; Edward . 'Kreckman, sports; Helen . Ovlatt, society; Dorothy Pitt Ball Team Vps CIrc, snii tii,* ir» i. J 1. 1.' I • Spurt of Pittsburgh . Pirates into on^n^ii^^*l51!l'^ S leadership Of NationaULeague, with opportunity tb defend the action .He claimed that Frederick Francis, wha committed suicide in 1935, had handled his tax. affairs and had ih Smoky City sniffing Its first pen- nant since 1927, has sent circulation morning Post-Gazette soaring, I with Paul Block sheet hitting con- :u H was all paid up sjstently highest daily marks it's Wth the Government., In denying ^eld in years. Pirates' surge is held ms appeal the circuit court remanded entirely responsible, with circula- the case back to the tax board for tion going up several thousand " determine what rights he has. every day team wins. By same in the matter as relating to the ac- token, figures fall off when dub tions of Francis who is alleged to loses^ Post-Gazette gets main ben- haye. forged signatures of Govern- eftt from Pirates' cliinb since, two ment officials; in letters and receipts afternoons, Press and Sun-Tele, received by. Sabatini for supposed manage to get box-scores in only payment of his taxes. their last edition. Zooming circulation cbntipues In Reese vice Bovard .spite of . recent economical piirge by Ben H. Reese, city editor of' the P-C, which saw elimination of sev St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has been eral Ipng-standing features and gen flamed by Joseph Pulitzer, Jr., to eral . tightening up in spate gener- sjicceed managing editor 01i\''er ally. Latest move to slash ex- Kirby Boyardi ■. fpenses was shearing in half of group Appoihtment^ becomes effective insurance ; fbv' >eniployecs, which upon . Bovard's retirement Satur- paper has had for years, day (13). - ] - — r- Collyer's Column Continues Denver Post Signs Guild Pact. I Despite the recent .death of Bert Denver Newspaper Guild signed, a S. Collyer, his coVumn of turf 'Com contract with the Denver P«st pro- merit and Selections' will be con yiding for a 40-hour week of five tinqed. Bruce Morrison will, write, oays, minimum salary of $22.50, two the dope, but without a byline for Weeks vacation with pay, sick leave, the present. Collyer himself had overtime arid severance pay of one not actually been handling the job Week's salary for each year of erfi- tor some time before! he died. . Ployment to. a maximum bt 20 weeks. Only . one -subscribing paper has . Employees of three 'years or mOre dropped, the service since CoUycrs experience must receive at least $40, death. .Outfit clajms a' total cir- ' W'ih each person free to bargain for I ciJlation. of 19,000,000, Lllerall Obits This Week T. Frank Joyce, 48, former news executive; of the Associated Press and prominent management engi- neer,: died at hiis Cambridge, Mass:, home, July . 30. From office boy- he cliinbed' to ah executive position, with- the New England Bureau of the Associated . Press, leaving the bureau in 1923 to beco'rrie sales man- ager for the Eastern Division of the Yellow Cab and Coach Go, ' In 1925 he became vice prexy of the Bbstcn & Maine Railroad iri'<:harge Of pubr lie relatipns. ■ In .1932 he took, up duties as vice prez and general man- ager of the Eastera ■ Advertising Company. He left latter in 1937 to become 'a management engineer and public relations counsel. - Robert . .E. Dunn, vet ' reporter on Detroit Times, drowned Aug; 1 in Lake Huron, near Detroit, . Forrrier- ly worked on Detroit News. . Jamei H. Higglhs,.78, former, pub lisher and treasurer of The Herald; Boston, died . July . .31 at Central Valley, New York.- He.wap one of New England's nibst prominent news papermen, retiring from active work in 1921. Joseph . Ward ', Lewis, ^2, former city clerk of' Pittsfield, Mass.'; and once owner and'^ditor bf the Pitts-' field journal, died at his home tnere July 3i. Was city editor bf the Middletown, \Conn., Herald, for one year, . Bernard :Talliner, 70, brother-in- law and associate bf Adolph' Ochs, died in Atlantic City Aug. 5 after a long illness. (Jrlginally a lawyer arid real estatel man, Talimer became associated Avith Ochs when the lat- ter took over the old Philadelphia Times.' When Ochs later . purchased the Phiiadelpihla Ledger arid inerged it with .the Times, Talimer became, secretary-treasurer;. ' He later . was connected with Midweek Pictorial and Current History. - Mrs. Ulllan Ayer Biitihger, 71, publisher of the weekly newspaper Old Colony Memorial, , died at Plynj-' outh, Mass., Aug, '5. Took over the publishing of the: newspaper when her' husband, 'Frederick W. Bittinger, died in 1921. Surviyed by .Ave chil- dren..' Robert A; Gbshorrii il, ace Pittsr burgh reporter for the last 40 years, died in.- that city July 7- after, an ill- ness of several weeks.' Gpshorn was on the staff of; the Post-Gazette at the time of his death, entering news- paper work in Pittsburgh in 1890, first, with the Dispatch, for which he covered Spahish-American war, and then the bid Post and Its current successor, the Post-Gazette.; : Sur- vived by widbw.and two brothers, Lawrence ,R. Goshorn, former city treasurer and now publishier b( . a Sierra Madre- (Cal.) newspaper, and Harry R., of . Philadelphia. Chatter Lyle Saxon summering at his old honie in New Orleans. Hendrik Willem van Loon due to sail to U. S. Sept. 20 from Sweden. ■Helen Jerome dramatizing Robert Hichen's iiOok; 'Tlie Paradine Case.' b. D. Beauchamp .sold his: story^ 'The Shortest Way Home,' to Col- lier's. Harold Ober to the Coast to huddle for a couple of weeks with his writer clients there. Pauline Gale starts a daily col- umn on Hollywood for- American Press Assn. Sept, 1. Llewelyn Powys, very seriou.sly 111: in England, is staying with his broth- er, John Cowper Powys.. Hardy and Cora Sleeholm, authors of 'James I Of England,* have bought a farm at Salt Point, N. Y. John Sa.nte's new novel, 'Wait Un- til Spring, Bambini,' will be pub- lished this fall by Stackpolc's Sons. . Bob Feemstcr has . been made ad manager of the Wall Street Journal. Been with the financial sheet for five years. ■ Leonard Lyons, N. Y. Post'.s Broad- way columnist, sailing, froin Paris today (10) following a European qiiiokie. Cjiristophcr LaFarge's narrative; poem, 'Each .10 the Other,' will be published in November by Coward- McCann. : M; W^ Fodor has returned to Cen- tral Europe ; as correspondent ^for the Chicago Daily News and the Manchester Guardian. Richard English sold two short stories, "Ding Dong' aiid the 'Lady UNASHAMED (Continued from page 12) acteristics.. Lenser also had. a job keeping the camera within bounds. Result is testament to acrobatics of both cast and mugger. Only backs and uppers profusely displayed until heroine's mountain-top exit when caihera gets as familiar as a doctor, following and. preceding girl's ascent to crest of the crag. Rae Kidd,, as secretary, to a young male hypochondriac, gets her do'tcor to suggest that the -.boy' get back to; nature at a canip she. attends. .Un- suspectingly he goes here arid finds his steno :ih the altogether, after which they rbmp. Complication is arrival of a tired-pf-it-all heiress who gets in by mistake and. vamps the-hypo away from his first interest. After seeking, shelter in the woods during an evening storrit, boy really meets girl while. his ex-heart looks ori.from concealed spot and decides to take the cliff leap. '■ Woodland io- RETURN TO LIFE ■ CarrlMnnl.roleftflO ijf Ki-onllcr l''jhn.H i,r,.«i' Inllun. DlrcctoJ .l,.v. Ili'ii.vy t'^irili'r: iiih-ii- llve cninnieillury. In l':ni^H.>*ti, " 'l»y L).ivlil Witirf; .MfiiiK:^ .liy Siuinlsh r^'ftlKoV.', In Knit-. I. 'tii'l; ^Mrnci-it, .Ijifgui'.*, ly*.|n:ir". '.\l t'liineo, .\. v.. \v;'ek Auff. 'A. '.us. Kuiinint; Utiif, 45 II, 111!.. ■ ■■ ' Assorted- newsrcel and Spani.sh loyalist gbvcrrimeht. pictures strung together rather loosely, but helijed by the . fairly iritolli.ijGnt running, commoiit bf David Wolff. : It is sUp- iJosed to -be Ihc "story behind the heafilines of loyalist Spnin today, but the film's weakness lias Ih the fact that it must depend largely on the narrator's work to hold- attention. Scenes arc not uinisual enough to help the single vpicc running through :45 minutes of fbotago. A little more care in film oditirig and rearratiKement bf sequences-: inight ha.ye aided. ; Picture ; is a preachment fur Spain, tabs Franco an ; invader, berates, the Fascists and blames the lEotne-Berlin axis- for all . It iefers 10 taKe vne ciitt leap. -^wooaianq in- Spain's prcserit-day woes. It timacy IS sure to pet the aite^al- to hospital . supplies being si though it's a lone, night-time shot. After the initial cold plunge of glomming a couple of groups iri their birthday suits, -film progresses lin- exeitingly. Developments overcome ■orieinal keyhole interest an.gle. ' Olympic Fields in Elsiriore. Calif.. were.utHized to. background film for camp iife. sports, dining and kindred shots: thrown . in with, logical so- quferice around 'imported peelers.' SoUnd work passes' muster but not so the dialog which,-- for most oart. is : right - off the.; cob., particularly in. that first quarter before: scene shifts to Garden of Eden, stuff. Only: mes- sage or moral gleaned- is: Don't take your bo.v friend to a ;nudlst camo-^ you might lose him. HUrl. Leopard' to Collier's, and 'Strictly; birty-Neck' . to Cbsmopolitan. ' . Roger Vercel's Tides of Mont St.- Miehel' is selection- of the Book-of- •the-Mohth - Club for ; September. Ran- dom .House will - publish the trade edition; . Hayter Preston's 'Th'cy Gave Us. a Country,' written frOm material sup- .piied. by.; Dr. .EdUard : Benes, presi- dent of Czechoslovakia, will be pub- lished by Knopf. Dot BaskerviU ^ cubbing as a rer porter on the Washington, D. C Times. Her pop, Bill/ is publishci- of the - Baltiriiore News-Post. Both sheets are Hearst-owned. Douglas . CTIurchill, - N. Y. Time&: Hollywood, ■ correspondent, sold- a story to the Satevepiost just as the Red Book hit the stands with the first of his 'Picture of the Month,' .series.- ■ ..;-. '' Andre Cide's 'Afterthoughts on the U. S. S. R,' will be 'published in September by Dial Press. Author will attempt to justify his stand in his p r e V i 0 u s 'Back from the U. S. S. R.' Herbert Agar, political columnist for the Louisville . Courier-Journal, has written, a book on th'e Demo- cratic party, 'Pursuit of Happiness,'; \to be published in. . Octobier by Houghton Mifflin. - Allied Medical Publications, Inc. has been chartered to- print medical publications, with principal' plaice of business in New York. Directors are Louis I. Bro-wn, Harry Goldsmith and Frances Schanzer. .'Walter Winchell commutes to his new Westchester, N. Y., farm regu larly. Current week's Satevepost piece by J. P. McEvoy reviews the columnist, coming close on the Time riiag piece, which Frank Nor- ris, co-managing editOr, did for the latter. Walter Davenport, Collier's polit-; ico, ^xpcrt and quondam managing editor of the weekly, aissisted Jimmy Roosevelt in the rebuttal piece which Collier's runs soon to Alva Johnston's Satevepprt diatribe. Collier's is. pro- New Deal; the purtis .piag isn't. National News Assn., Inc., has been chartered by the : Secretary of. State in Albany to conduct a pUbrLshirig and printing business, with principal office in. New York. Directors arc Bertha Brenr.er, Sylvia Leibowilz, and Sylvia Donenfcld. Capital slock is $100,000, $50 par value. Roger -Fay/celt; secretary-treas- urer Of Fa'wcett publication.s, last week won the' Marshall' marathon, feature event of: the l8lh annual T. Clarence Marshall trapshooting tpurnamcnt at 'Yoklyri. Del. Already holder of the U. S. rialiorial amateur title, :Fawcctt cracked 497 ot 000 targets to win sent by American -people, arid goes to some- lenliths illustrating liow the wounded are cared for.-. Several cloiseups of wounded and -operations pei'formed in the field •"■ Hold show qucstioiutble taste, though stressing, horrors of war. . Too few actual battle scenes, although all are mognificeritly photOgro^jhcd. . : -Production may serve .in certain arty spots,; especially where the ex- hibitor .is; certain of the anti-^Fascist . leanings bf his- audiences. Wear. PANAMINT'S BAD MAN 2()th C«n(ury-Fax . relcniie of Sol I.«(imr praducllon. Htara amlth Ilnllew. Fonturea Kvelyn ' Daw. - Nbnh Uceryi Sr.', - Stanley FIclda, Ulrscted by Hhv .Tnylor. t>'i-i-gen- ptiiy. Uuci Ward- and . Churlea. Arthur . I'owtll froni uhlRlnol story l>y Kdmond ^- KcIho and. LlndHlcy PiiraonH;. camiira, A.llcn Q. . ThompRon-; ' ctlUor.' -Albert Jordan. ' At . Liberty, Ulncoln, • dual.- lluiinliig . time, (111 InlnH. KImbull. .... . . .... ... .Smilh . Dnllcvr -Joi^n... ; ; . . .Mvclyn Daw CoriTian... .:. ........... i ^ .N,i:ili : lft;ery; 'sr.' lllDck Jack.. .Stanley Fields Oniven . Harry AVaoda Carl . A'dr.ni.s. ; .Pal O'rirlcn Nicola.. .Armand. •Curly' .Wright History of, the Sriiith Ballew sad- dle. sagas has-been anything but pop- ular with exhibs or b. o.i and 'Pana- mint's Bad Man' wori't correct the ' Ibw standing. Neither does it shake the. musical, angle,- which always : tends to slow. the. westerns. : There's only, one song, 'I've Got Some. Ridiii' to Do,' but it figures very much. Romantic assist to Ballew; is Eve- lyn Daw, who .first cracked , films in the- last. GN. starrer, for Jaines Cag- : ney, 'Something to Sing About' Her - .unimpressijveness at that time car- - ries. over into this pic, her siri'girig not of the type to catch attention. : Stpry is riot bad., Ballew, a U. S.. depUty^; is sent to stop a series- of ., stage coach holdups being perpe- trated by Noah iBeery's gang. Beery plays respectable, but is suspected ' by Ballew. Stanley Fields, a Texas outlaw strayed; from his territory, is jailed arid impersonated by Ballew, who falls in with Beery's gang easily; Fields,, visually a legit heavy, is a comedy outlaw,, who isventually finds. he has been working with the government forces all the time, much to. his embarrassment. - In fact, the , picture would be plenty flat if it weren't for bits by Fields and Beery. Bom. On the Great White Trail (WITH SONGS) firnnd' Kalluhtil rolcaao' of ' Al ITermnn lirttductlon, ' .Stnra .Tainea .VewlII and Tcri-y Walker. DIreotod by Al Ilernia,n. Kcn-en- pjay. CharlcH Lokua nnd,.rn.stiiib K. I'ohiiul friim orlKlnal »tory by Laurie York KrBklne; <-ainera, Ira Moi-Kan: editor. Iluko (;nlH- flton": j9luHle' and lyrlra. ,J,ew Porter, llitb T.-iylor, Jletly t.alillaw ami Itobfrt l.lvrlv. Al Kiva, Lllleoln, duill. Illinnln;; tliae, .'8 .'iiinH. Ili-nfrew. Kay I.nrldli -. . . . Andr, w l.arldn. , I)of ■ I lowp. Iit.<-i/l I ii''-'l "V'T from the A rlas.finco- . . ,,',',n lion .Oiifllos for thi.s . qnickit* work. ..^^"-V Thi.s flocsn't heln,h.or. In fuct, be- playing tennis, and nouri.shing anew I pic opus. catch the kid eyes. ;BttTn.' it VARIETY Wednesday, August 10, 1938 ''ALEXANDER'S SHATTERS ATTENDANCj IN UNPRECEDEN THE GREATEST BOXOFFICE SUCCESS EVER ll ^cdpefld ay. August 10. 1938 .VARIETY 29 lAGTIME BAND" ALL-TI RECORDS ^ED ROXY RUN! BIGGEST OPENING DAY . . . topping "'Cock Eyed World/^ former world's record-holder, by more tKon 2,300 people! BIGGEST SINGLE DAY . . . 34,149 people [am fheotre in greatest boxoffice stampede since theatre was built 11^ years.ago! BIGGEST OPENING WEEK-END^.. 90,393 pack house to continuous over-capacity establishing ^ new, all-time high! BfGGEST MONDAY • • • played to 25,970 people! Compare this with opening day records shown at left. M4D Af PRESS TIME TUESDAY . . . Running well ahead of Monday and indications are week's business more than double usual big week! ■^ODUGED... ADVERTISE IT ACCORDINGLY! M VARIETY RADIO 'PRE-TESTING' OF AIR SHOWS SET FOR CHAUTAUQUA, N. Y., EXPERIMENT Miller-Franklin/ Prospective Holder of World's Fair Concession to Make Surveys of Crowds, in Pre- liminary Surveys ♦r I Miller-Frankli . & Co., consulting research organization which is ex- pected ' to have the cot^cession to make industrial- and advertising surveys among- the : rfiillions . who attend next year's New York World's Fair, are about to makp. a series of preliminary explorations, in. the field of radio program 'pre-tsst- ing.' With the cooperation of bne of- the major brbadcasting organizations, a number of radio programs will be processed through the crowds at- tending the final five days of the mu- sical-literary season - at; Chautauqua, N. Y;, beginning Aug:, 23. On a basis of the findings, and exjjerience, a^ system of ; statistical controls and weights is expected to emerge. Transcriptions Variety of radio programs will be exposed , -to audience reaction via transcription, it's understood. . . It's presumed that some hit-flop contrasts may be attempted and various clues run down to get a .slant on what makes for populariiy .and -why. Whole tentative plan ls pioneering work well off the beaten path. Ch'au- Smart Dummies One of the methods con- templated for '. Industrial -and advertising fact-finding - sur- veys to be made at the 1939 ' New York. : World's Fair . ' Volves the use of puppets manipulated by Bufanno, stage puppeteer.. Sugar-coated entertainment approach to iquestions will be worked out; with the puppets helping . people in 'flllihg put questionnaires, etc. tauqua patrons will know' in advance that they will be invited to vote, but licit for what, or for whom. Miller-Franklin set-up functions under the title 'Produceris. and Con- sumers Forum' and will also prer test radio prograins at state fairs in Massachusetts and New Jersey this fall. At the Worldls Fair itself, the organization will have sorhe 15 rest halls equipped to canvass public likes and dislikes through various tech- niques; They predict they can extract some 70,000.000 to 80,000,000 answers to questions business men want them to ask. This covers 25 weeks of the exposition. In addition to the radio companies, Miller-Franklin has approached the film industry to see if latter would like to put the bee on the public as to what and who is popular. WILLIAM POWELL SET vie Tonn; Draws Baton on Holly Hotel; Jean Sablon Also lii Hollywood, Aug, 9. Nod for the music spot on HoUy- (vood Hotel, resuming Sept.. 9, went to Victor Young last week after Ward Whieldck, ■ agency head, (tudied several other candidates, in- iluding Lud Gluskin and Harry Sos- aik. Raymond Paige batoned the loup show for the past three yiears. Format of the program has defi- nitely taken. shape after considerable mulling by Wheelpck, Producer Brew.ster Morgan and Diana Bour- ion, Coast production, chief for the igency. Only scripter on the new program ivill be John MnClain, film scenarist. Dramatic spot 'vill, he confined to stage plays, with the agency buying completed scripts in the open mar- ket. Both old and new legiters will be oerformed. William Powell has been signed io m.c. the show for three years, in 39- week stanzas. Joins the program after the sixth broadcast, with some other picture! name filling in mean- while. Vocalists will ;,3 Frances Lang- ford, only holdover f rciir. last season, and Jean Sablon, French tenor. Ed Davl« Out of Kastor Chicago, Aug. 9. Ed . Davis has resigned from the kastor agency here where he wais handling new business. Going back to the coiPTee b.ean biz. Scotch Telegram Lauder Ha' Strathavcn, Scotland, Aug.! 5. ' Editor, Variety: .'I am. 68 years young, not 78 years old. 'Since you credit me with the 10 additional years yoii maiy send me Variety for K) years. . or. what you- say the cuffo,' Horry /Lauder. (By carrier pigeon, via William • Morris, Jr., who vir- tually has tiie knighted Scot comedian set .on a radio com- merbial 'in America next fall). ADMEN ADOPT BRITISH WEEKEND Those . weekends the ad agency, execs around New Yoric are taking from their desks -(.and, ' incidentally, duties) are rivaling in length the fabulous British weekend. Last summer found all the agencies keep- ing only thie charwomen and watch- men on hand Saturdays. . But . this summer the boys have, taken to eas- ing but at liinchtiihe Fridays and not getting' back till 1, p.m. on Mondays; Then, too; ' it'^s usually hotter on Monclays in .New York than It had been in, say. East Greenwich on the lawn or lounging ' in a ytiwl off Larchmoht, so the lads beat it at 3 p.m. Nice work if you can, or can't, get it. Work accoiTlpIlshed by the agen- cies hasn't exactly touched stagger- ing, proportions ihis summer. June's end marked work's end for rather a raft of the scout-masters, as well as the brass hats. Of course, all these lengthy weelf- end 'conferences' (a much more re- fined word than 'loafing') have' not made life any rosier for such folk as station reps and talent peddlers and others. Station reps used to do a lot of agency calling on Fridays, then spend Saturdays dictating let- ters to stations telling them what vast, amounts of biz they were pry- ing loose-^but had • nof yet com- pletely pried. Now the reps can dictate ' longer letters since they have both Fri- days' and Satiirdays^nd more alibis to construct. And the talent sellers have more time to explain to their meal-tickets why it'll have to be hamburgers for a while; longer be- fore the diet, goes filet mighon. - J. Walter Thompson will follow Edgar Bergen around with a mike wherever he vacations late this month'. Sears-Roebuck Show Expands to 27 Stations Chicago, Aug. 9. Sears-Roebuck show , 'Grandma Travels' will expand to some 27 sta- tions by Sept; 1. Spotted five - a - week through Blackett - Sample - Hummert agency here, show has been in nprthwest territory, and will be spread down through Texas and southwest a' Ethel Hawes, Ben Levin Experiment with Novel Merchandising Centre Cleveland, Aug. 9. Ethel Hawes and Ben Levin, billed on the air Ethel and Ben, have taken a three-months' leave of abr seince from WGAR to operate a mer- chandising cinter which will feature a : glass-enclosed broadcast, studio. Pair have rehted a remodeled build- ing and tagged the enterprise Mer- chandise Exposition, Inc. . Layout includes a dining rooni for customers and the Club Womenis Foriim. Visible broadcasts, will be staged during luncheon and tea, all sponsored ' 1>y. manutabturers of household products or goods oh dis- play. Prpposed program, will consist of talks by. Ethel and Ben on house- hold, hiiits, news, books, poetry, beauty treatment and fashions; .also interviews with celebs and guest speakers, with Henry . Pildner's or- chestra, recruited frpm WGAR; fur- nishing the musical interludes. . Prpject is expected to unfold Oct! 1. Molle Auditions Sanderson-Crumit Stack-Goble agency , auditioned a 30-minute quiz program for Molle last Friday ^ (5), with the account as yet : not answering yea : or nay ' on the layout. Proposed show has Frank Crumit and Julia Sanderson captaining teams of men and women contestants chosen from studio au- dience, -with Ben Grauer as m.c. Would be ;a return to the ozone for Miss Sanderson (Mrs. (jrumit) whoj laid off the air last season with her husband doing a single for Coca-Cola. Molle's most recent program was the Wally .Butterwbrth-Parks John- son vox pop, which faded froni NBC earlier in the summer .and which gets, a new bankroll in Peiui To- bacco;^ RUthraufF & Ryan account, starting Oct. 1, also over NBC. Rubinoff's Stfa Operation Detroit, Aug. 9. Dave Rubinoflf, who underwent his Afth operation in three months last week, appears to - have passed the crisis in his long illness which began ■May, 6 with an appendectomy, after which peritonitis et in. MacConhick on Own. Chicago, Aug. 9. After seven years with C^olumbia- WBBM announcer Franklyn Mac- Cormack has gone free-lance. On WBBM was an especial click with his 'Petic Melodies' readings. Radio Baseball for N. Y. Nears; Loriliard Enters Sports Field Lorillard Co., one Of the tobacco big four, has entered the lists as a heavy national spender for play-by- play baseball broadcasts. It proposes to, compete with General Mills and Kellogg for the rights to any and all big and minor league games, for the 1939 sdaspn. : One thing that this tobacco combine won't do is split the sponsorship of the game-calling sponsorships, as has happened in the case of General Mills and various oil cofnpanies. As a preliminary step towards its hew air policy Lorillard last week underwrote the airing of the remaining games- of the Sacra- mento club for the 1938 season over KFBK. Feeling current in agency circles is that the New York teams will ease off their opposition to broadcasting by next season. The Yankee are ex- pected to jpin the Brooklyn Dodgers In making their games available to sponsorship,' while strong pressure is being exerted on Horace C. Stone- ham, owner of the Giants, to agree to a broadcast alliance. Jake Riippert, head of the Yankees, is reported ready to yield to mike oflers provid- ing Stoneham calls oft their pact: against broadcasting and will, also, adhiit a gamecasting crew to the Yankee stadium. Rupperi is credited with putting a price of $100,000 on the season's rights to the Yankee game just to discourage the approachers but it is understood that a couple commer- cials have already advised that they are prepared to take him up on' the proposition. The home games figure 77, which would bring the - cost of each game to arpund $1,300, a price considered . to be quite- reasonable among agency., men. The Affiliates and ASCAP Philadelphia, Aug, 9. Editor, VARirrv: I havelust read your editorial 'Changing the Tune.' In my opinion you are perfectly correct in your analysis of the situation as it exists today. A considerable amount of the dirticulty between the broadcasters and ASCAP was the result. of the manner in which the negotiations were handled several years ago. Many in- detiendently owned sUtions are of a firm belief that they were jock- eyed into an arrangement which was not equitable. Personally, l.^o not feel the NAB is the instrument to successfully negotiate a renewal of the' ASCAP contract for independent sUtions. In my opinion the IRNA could do a very much better job of negotiating a satisfactory contract, if the members of this group are willing to consider the problem from a national rather than a local.selfish viewpoint- Mud throwing from 'any direction will not result in any, construc- tive plan satistactoiyjto ASCAP and the stations. .1 also agree with you that those radio stations who are appealing to their respective sitate legislatures .are pursuing an unwise course. Jf the copyright law is to be changed, it will only come after a long series of hearings and in the end it is questionable; whether the independent broad- casters will benefit materially. I: believe the sensible' approach for this matter is for the indepen- dent stations to agree on a platform, -appoint- representatives to act as a negotiating- cornmittee with ASCAP, and finally to conclude an equitable agreement for air concerned. Dpnflld Wlthi/comb, General Manager, WFIL. TexsuH) Not Changing 22 Have Wig-Wagged Account; SPEAkER BVIKHEAO'S YEN lallulah's' Dad Always Wanted To Be An Actol" Birmingham, Aug. 9. Speaker W. B. Bankhead, whose early ambition was to be an actor instead of. a politician, helps station WAPI, -Birmingham, celebrate its 16th anniversary. ' He recites his favorite passage frpm 'Jim Bledsoe- by John Hay in a special program given at' the Alabama theatre Wed. (10) to be picked up by CBS. Tal- lulah Bankhead, . the actress, intro- duces her father on the program. WAPI is haying ■ whole week of special programs for its anniversary. M. R-.. Runyon, vicerpresident of CBS, in the city. SCREEN GUILD DEAL IS COLD Hollywood, Aug. 9. Benton 8c Bowles agenby. deal for Screen Actors Guild radio show yes- terday became enmeshed In a hope- less impasse and indications were that negotiations are at an end as far as B & B is concerned. Music Corp, representing SAG in the discussions, is expected to option the show to an- other agency. Harold Hackett, radio head of MCA, planed back to New York, which partly confirmed the report that the deal with B & B is mackerel- cold. Several other agencies are re- ported interested in the program, from which Motion Picture Relief Fund would receive $10,000 weekly for 39 weeks. RADIO REGATTA A Bit of an Oversight Is Corrected lor Ghl's Greater Glory Chicago, Aug, 9. Due to- the fact that radio as an indu.stry had been overlooked in the present 'Greater Chicago' exploita- tlon and publicity campaign, it has been decided to convert the coming water show pn Lake Michigan into a mammpth 'Radio Regatta.' While the program' still calls for water^ spectacle, racing, iyachting, etc, the theme of the regatta will .be based on Chicago as a key town .u- '■^l'" industry. Cooperation for this./Rcgatta' is being obtained irom radio set manufacturers, nct- cies etc'**'""'' ^^^'''"^''''''S- ad agen- Xfeprge Dpnpghue of the Chicago Park Dis net, chairman of this pro- gram, called a general meeting of newspaper men, radio chieftains and manufacturers at luncheon on Fri- day (5) tp discuss the set-up for the •radio regatta,' ^ Texas Co. will decide within the coming week on the network show it will- underwrite' this. fall. It is reported-that the number of adver- tising-agencies which have gone after the account during the past several months have amounted to 22, while the number of shows au- ditioned pr presented pn paper fig- ures close to 40. ' Despite the heavy scramble for the Texaco business, the indications at the Texaco headquarters Monday (8) were , that there would be no change . in agencies. Account has heen with the present agency repre- sentation fpr; seven years, with the latter passing thrpugh two firm name changes and mergers - in that time. From Hanff-Metzger it became Bu- chanan & -Co. on Aug. 1 the latter merged with the L.- D. Werlheimer Co. . Texaco proposes to make it an hour's program and the choice of time left to the account on the NBC red and CBS are the spots opposite Fred Allen Wednesday night and , the Lux theatre Monday night Oil refiner's current leaning is' toward the Lux opposition. G. W. HILL IN GESTURE TO KAYKYSER Rather unusual for radio is the new termer George Washington Hill, head of American Tpbaccp (Lucky Strike) gave tp Kay. Kyser, his maestro pn the L. S. show. Hill voluntarily upped Kyser's income. Tobacco tycoon . summoned his ■Musikal Kpllege' maestro last week and unostentatiously stated that he (Hill) was getting more than, he originally bargained for, hence he d tear up the present pact, increase It, and option him for thice more years on top of it. New deal exceeds $1,200,000 for the entire period; Hal Hackett, radio head of Music Corp. :of America, intermediaryed in it, ^ Kysfer's management. Girl Tours Baseball Spots for Gen'l Mills , Atlanta, Aug. Helen Delweiler, femme raow spieler, paused in Atlanta SatUroay (6) and gave Joe Hill, WAGA base- ball announcer, a lift In aouw^ header between Atlanta CracK*" and New Orleans Pelicans. . Girl is making swing around townj where General Mills are sponsonns broadcasts of games'. She intierview"" rival managers befpre gaine. ^ed^^eadajt August 10, 1938 RADIO VARIETY 31 CA.B. Adopts Showman Classification Of Air Pr(^ams as Set by Variety' Recent comprehensive report (cov- irlne October to April data) issued by the .Cooperative Analysis of Broadcasting for the first time makes compuUtlons oh program types from the showman's viewpoint Thait is, programs are classified as music, inmai etc., in accordance with their predominant content (which is the Lay a showman Judges them). CA..B. method was adopted from method employed in the Variety Radio Di- laeiOBV whose breakdowns were earefuUy scanned by the C.A;Bi Adoption by the C.A.B. of the chowman viewpoint marks the first time that any of radio's major fact- finding bodies (including network ''statistical departments) has broken away from the old; sterile method of splitting programs into so . many categories that any easy handling' of the data was impossible. Networks hot only, have a thousand and one breakdowns, but additionally' they change the names of categories so often that the data is well-night un- manageable. ' CA.B. now has 11 evening and 11 daytline categories. The post-sUn- down group includes: Vorietv. Comedv. Drama. Serial Drama. Audience Participation. Semi-CIossical' iVfusic. Classical Music. Popular ■ Music, Band Music.: CommentatoTs and Tolfcs. Popular Singers. DayUmQ f roup includes: Droma-Serial Drarna. Semi-CIas$ical .Music. Hymns. Popular Music- Children's ProflraTns. Variety., Band-Music. Classical Music. Weujs" ond Commehlators. Talks. Familiar Miisic. Network .system ir many cases, in- volves breaking shows down into so- and-so many minutes of music, so.^ and-so many, m.'nutes of comedy, etc., and then distributing these time seg- ments into categories. Neither NBG. or CBS has ever devised a system that would suit the competitor net- work, with the result that compari- sons produced little more than utter confusion. CA.B, says of its method that 'every effort has been made to avoid a purely statistical concept of a program and to visualize it rather from the producer's standpoint' LOGAL STATIONS BaDard & Ballard, Active as Sponsor, To Apply for Radio Station Present Desperation for New Programs Draws Re- newed Attention to the Place of the Local Station in Germinating Produc- tion Patterns •VARIETY'S' FILE Dissemination of information on radio programs and ideas has always been radio's weak spot. Paradox- ically 'VAKicrr finds it weaker today than "ever— -at a time when the quiz mania shows every sign of burning itself to a crisp without leaving a good replacement idea in Its embers. It's got to the point where agency execs, having pulled their hair thin; in desperation call lip the C.A.B., 'VARiert and one 'another to find out if they've stumbled on some good local shows. . Local shows, it begins to appear, are radio's life-blood. Amateur hour got started locally. So did the quiz ((Continued on page 36) They Inspired Idea . stations which to date have sent, in program dcta for the register of local programs to be filed and maintained . by 'VAniCTT are: WC:CO, Minneapolis-St. Paul; WCJR-WKBW, Buffalo; KSFO. San Francisco; WNE'W, New York City; KSL, oalr Lake City; WSYR, Syracuse; KPYL. Salt Lake City; WMCA, New Vork City; WOR, New York City; KLZ, Denver; KF.NT-WMT- KSO, Iowa Network; WHK- WCLE. Cleveland; WFAA. Dal- las; KOIN, Portland: WCKY, Cincinnati; WKRG, Cincinnati; WGAR, Glev.'.and/ Quality and diversity of ,, these listings pr.' pted the establishment of the file in permanent form. Any other station, wishing to do so,, may now. send in ma- terial. But note: Material should not be sent to 'Varhttt :/Ithont flrat. obtaining the necessary blanks and format for ':he proper wrlUng-up of the ' data. Material not complying with the format Is useless. Louisville, Aug. 9. Public Service Brpadcasling Co. of Louisville, comprising Fred Borries, Thruston B. Morton, and John P, Decker, was grantcQ a charter of in- corporation at Frankfort, Ky., last week. Officers of the proposed sta- tion are all officials of Ballard tc Ballard, flour millers, and intend to apply for a license to operate a 100- watt station in Louisville, Licensed tor capital of $25,000. Ballard & Ballard has used radio quite extensively in the past, hav- ing sponsored the Ballard Chefs and Jug Band over WHAS for years, and made a.prajtice of sending the col- ored quartette and band on a p.a. tour of several Southern states; play- ing the tow.ns where thie flour manu- facturers had a distributor. Company recently' sijned Ed Mc- (jonnell for a show in behalf of Bal- lard biscuits, which will ride; out of Cincinnati in the late morning hour each Thur'iday anc. Saturday for 15 minutes, ' Deal was. worked out by Frank Ferrin. radio production chief- tain of the Henri, Hurst & McDon- ald asencyi Jlmmle FIdler will do a P & r peater for tho Coast so that he. can h=t the east earlier. FREE PROGRAM REGISTRY of Local Productions Suitable for National Sponsorship -^A New Variety Service i-SCOPE OF LOCAL D ATA-^ Broadcasters ! Register those local sta- tion progrcons suitable for nati|onal sponsorship with the New York office of 154 West 46th Street Write for sample form to fill out— NO CHARGE, BUT YOU MUST USE 'VARIETY'S' OWN FILE FORM. 1. Title of program. 2. Age of program. 3. Past sponsorship, if any. 4. Record of programs in terms of: (a) mcdl returns; (b) contests; (c) tele- phone calls; (d) any other measure- ment. DESCRIBE FULLY. 5. Time of day program was oired. 6. Size of cast needed (state ininimum- maximvun). 7. Production cost (exclusive of time cost). 8. Describe idea of program completely, but tersely. 9. State merchandising possibilities, tie-ins, etc. 10. Suggest type of sponsor for - whom such show would be suitable. 11. Are sample scripts or recordings available? WARNINGS: a. Do not send in qhy shows too new to have a performance record. b. Do not make misstatements unless you . warit to take the rap when the agency finds you out. c. Do not send in information unless it is complete. d. Do not send in any programs over which there is a controversy with another station, or a controversy of any kind. Advertisers! A file of local radio sta- tion programs is in proc- ess of creation and Yrill hereafter be kept up to date at the New York offices of 154 West 46th Street Full data, uniformly as- sembled, with price quo- tations, records as to age, history and hat j-o of the programs. 32 VARIETY RADIO Wednesday, August 10, I939 TURNING CURIOUS, TALENT BIZ NEWCOMER WHY ACTORS CANT CRASH One^Man Investigation of: How Wpuld-Be Dramatic People Strike Out When Auditioned by Agencies — All too Versatile— Punish Hearers with Shake- speare and Ibsen— Draniatic Schools BUh — ^- — - ■ + — ■—— — . Every week hundreds ol hours are wasted at networks, stations and advertising agencies by earliest young seekers after auditions for speaking parts on air shows. This waste occurs chiefly . because audi- tioiiers: 1. Don't spend enough time get- ting the proper audition material. 2. Don't use the right kind of ma- terial. 3. "Try to demonstrate too much versatility. 4. Lack sincerity in their reading of lines. 5. Waste tirne: with extraneous ex- planations of what they are doing, e. Try to do all kinds of dialects when they can't do even one well. , 7. Don't know how .to handle com- mercials. That's what a former network exec discovered when, , as ' a new- comer to the .talent repping biz, he became impressed . wlUi the over- whelming iutility . of most auditions and most- efforts, particularly of in- dividuals, to get on. the casting lists of program-builders. Ben Pratt, ex of NBC, now with Harris i Steele, is the gent who has been devoting himself to 'some open field explora- tion .of this phase- of the many-sided' production picture. Pratt quotes sOnie casting direc- tors and prpduction people as aur . thority for his findings. Says John E. McMillih of .Compton: . The many people- who come in for auditions fail to realize, oiir need for people who. can read comrherciats: well.- .Somehow they, feel either. it Is no trick to reed a commercial or that reading commercials is not worthy of ;, their talents. If they were smart they would concentrate, because if they get .their foot in the door by commercials there is no reason why they cahif ot later get regular places on some of our casts. Frankly, however, most of our shows are. fully cast 'when we buy them, ■nd "we seldom have to look for players except possibly for bit parts.' Practical Hints Florence ,Sperle, casting director of the same organi^tion, put the case in rules for dramatic people that are summarized as iollows: 1. Do not try to ddi too much. Do rot think you can cover every- thing in dramatics even If you have been told so. 2. Time the: audition to last ap- proximately four minutes, but have extra material iavailable, 3. Use better judgment in the se- lection of the material and try to pick out readinga that are suitable (or broadcasting. : Do not use heavy readings unless you have a natural iptitude for them, Forget affecta- tion. 4. Let us know how you talk in casual conversation. Remember, we ire interested in naturalness and limplicity. 5. Give us only your best charac- terizations. 6. Do hot give dialect uhless you ire extr.emely good in thisi field. 7. Do not dramatize too heavily ind if you are young do 'not try for )Id parts, because such. Interpreta- '.ions seldoni ring true. Bob Welsh and Mrs. Florence Ryder of 'Yoimg & Rubicam find people from dramatic schools seem continually . bent on over-acting, rhey seem to tliink affectation is a substitute for. conversation. Given a commercial to read they read . it In such a Way that disbelief is im- merliate. K. W. SchuUinger, director of Lord & Thomas, found that most candidates try to spread themselves all oyer the histrionic map. Few have any conception of what good dialect is and yet nearly all come. in with claims that they can do every- thing. Generally speaking they would be better off by taking four minutes and doing one good charac- terization, than trying to do eight characterizations 'in eight minutes. Hershell vyilliaiins, of Ruthrauff & Ryan, thinks: 'If they had any imagination they could work up some material of their, own, "which would be just as effective as some Fred Baer Peeved As Man in Same Biz Subbed by Vitalis Fred Baer, operator of the Ghost Writers' Bureau, has threatened some sort of action againsi. Bristol-Myers as outgrowth of tonight's (Wednes- day) installment of Vitalis' 'For Men Only' oh the NBC-red (WEAF). Pedlar & Ryan, the agency involved, expressed itself as puzzled by all the pother since, according to its version, Baei- had agreeably withdrawn from' the booking after they couldn't get together on the material. What the agency interpreted as significant was that the parting was okay with Baer until the agency brought in Samuel Michelson, of the Ghost Writers' Ser- vice, as the substitute for the spot. Baer and Michelson have been bitter business .rivals for some time. Baer didn't want to go on with the assignment when the agency sought to.haye him set the scene for a prod- uct plug in his script, "rhe ghoster, held that the twist wpuld be' con- strued as an endorsement for Vitalis. P it R then cancelled the appear- 'ance, citing the provision in the firm booking, which states that the itiate- rial. to be used on, the broadcast is subject to mutual agreernent , VVhat the agency wanted Baeri to say was that a successful speaker required; in addition to a good script; was a good general appearance. Lat- ter was to be taken as the cue for the' announcer to come in with: a statement that good appearance in- cludes smart grooming of the hair, and for the right and iinart hair- comb VitaUs is the very thing. Reisnian Returning . Likely that contract will be signed later this week for Leo Reisman's prch to work for Lucky Strike on a 'Hit Parade' , series this falK Reisman is; current at the Cocoa- nut Grove, iiOs Angeles, ahd will run out the summer there. Return to New York will be Sept. 5. of . the readings we hear. For in- stance, they could give a thirty-sec- ond monolog of a mother talking to the doctor about her child's illness. Or the cohversiation of a girl who has just flirted with. a. man on a biis. Many of the people who come in for auditions are intelligent, but they do not demonstrate their intelligence. Only about one out of ten . come in with a well organized audition pro- duction.' Frank W- Lander, casting director of B.B.D.iO . thinks it's not neces- sary to set the scenes in such detail and wishes actors would leave Mr. Shakespeare in his grave. Also Ibsen. Far Awiay Up Close . 'Washington, Aug. 9. Although he rode a good part of the . time in the special car, Clyde Hunt, WJSV engineer, didn't get a peek at the Presi- dent en -famine during the re-, cent cross-country jaunt Work kept the technician, who went along to supervise the public address system as well as' the CBS pick-upsj so- busy he couldn't gander despite the apparently unusual oppor- . tunity to see F.D.R. at close range. Whenever the Chief Exec was -. speaking from the back platform, ' Hunt was hanging over the knobs and indicators - of the apparatus installed in the -dining compartment of the . iprivate car. CALL RCA ADS IN AT GOVT DEMAND W;ashingtbn, A.ug. 9. Adveirtisihg reform is promised by RCA Manufacturing Co. under threat of .Federal ptmlshment. Misleading representations in the sale of radios will ;be discontinued, according- to stipulation with the Federal Trade Commission this week. , pamden producers agreed to stop using certain advertising matter' fea- turing a purported hargain price which suggests the set can be bought at that sum, when this' is not a fact. Government sleuths foiind that cer- tain advertised receivers were not purchasable at retail for-the adver- tised amount and that buyer bad to take added, equipment at extra cost to get the benefit of the special op- portunity. Ads did not : make this dear, FTC charges. Stipulation pro- vides -that, featured price must . be hitched to suitable explanation that the combined or total cost is consid- erably higher. U. S. RUBBER MAY TRY RADIO AGAIN U. S. Rilbber Is in the market for a network program. New York of- fice of Campbell-Ewald has the ac- count. Wanted is something other than a dramatic, show or novelty idea. Last web spread sponsored by U.> S. Rub- ber was the Ben Bernie program on CBS, which wound up early this summer. Hal Bardick's night editor contract on NBC Pacific Coas' Red extended through September by Cardinet Candy through Tomaschke-Elliott agency. New Oiicago^ Scale $18 Per Man Per 15 Mihs. Disc to Ba Recorded Within 90 Mins, N.A.B/S K. G. MEETING Glliin Flaci Bareftn of Capyrlgbts^ Miller, KIrby Attend Kansas City, Aug. 9. Gathering of the lOih district con tlngent of the National Association of Broadcasters in Kansas City last, weekend developed Into a rejuveha tion session for the association's bu- reau' of copyrights. John J; Gillin, Jr., of WOW, Omaha, who presided, gave it as his opinion' that the bu- reau was far from dead, and .15 new members later subscribed to the IfAB adjunct. Meeting had about 50' -in attend ance. NAB-Prez Neville Miller came oh with^ Phil Loucks, counsel,' and Ed Kirby, public relations director, Miller goes On to Wichita, to speak at the regional meeting there. No Coin but Lots of Fresh Air WD AS Heeds Mothers' Squawks That Cuffo Juves Not Getting Their Oxygen Philadelphia, Aug. 9. Lengths a station will go to keep performers (cuffb) happy: and pro- grams on the air during the summer was demonstrated at WDAS this week. Pat . Stanton, g.m., announced Sunday -morriing kids' show wtll be broadcast from, the roof of the build- ing. Mothers were complaining that their moppets were missing fi-esh air and sunshine while .going through lengthy rehearsals and broadcasts in the studio and the number of par- ticipants was gradually decreasing. So Stanton, had llne<; ihstalled and a piano trundled up to the roof. Show will continue from the hot- spot as long as the weather and sun- burn lotion hpldsout. I : Meanwhile WIP will ,rei>cat In the fall the, classes It ran last season for would-be radio dramatic artists. Last year's course of 16 weeks was attended by about 40 students select- ed from 300 amateur theatre groups in Philly, Plans this season are tor a smaller and more select group. There' will be probably only about 20 students in a 12- week session, according to Marx Loeb, prpduction ' manager, who is in charge. 'This wiir elimi- nate extra baggage for whom the station could find no spot. . Kids, when, they finish the school' provide source of cuffo talent. In addition to WIP staff assigned to lecture, station -.vill hful. in, guest speakers from 'agencies. Wichita, Aug. 9. ' Plans are under way to organize America's radio facilities to such an extent that at least the N.A.B.'s en- tire membership of 400 stations might snap into aictipn- upon almost a moment's notice in times of emergency, Neville Miller, president of N.A.b;, said at a Rotary Club luncheon, held here Monday. Herb HoUister, manager of KANS, is Twelfth district director. ' Eiitir'e talk was broadcast over KANS. Attending conference sessions 'were Ed Kirby, Phil Loucks, Gene O'Fal- lon, of KFEL, Denver. kirby .and Loucks went: to "Tulsa for dedication ceremonies .marking start of fiiil-time, operations for KVOO. Others in attendance . were: Ellis Atteberry, KCKN, Kansas City, Kas.; Owen W. Batch, KCKN; N. E. Vance, Jr., arid Merle H. Tucker, KSAL, Salina; Karl Troegglen, WlBW, To- peka; E. E. Ruehlen, KVEB, Great Bend; K. W , Pyle and R. K. Linds- ley, KFBI, Abilene; Jack Whitney, KADA, Ada, Okla.; Phil McKnight. and Jack Todd, KANS. 'Backstage Wife' To Hit English Audience In Blackett Invasion 'Backstage Wife,' dramatic serial, is being recorded: In England for ethering beginning early in October from Luxemburg. Is the first of the Blackett-Sample-Hummert is h o w s being readied' for British listeners. Several musical offerings planned to be produced next. . Frank and Anne Hummert re- turned to the U. S. about three weeks ago after setting up a London office for the agency. Quintal on Mutual Vadsco Sales Co., for Quintax cold tablets, starts sponsoring 'Court of Human. Relations' over eight Mutual stations oh Oct. 9. Account recently went to Lawrence Gumbinher agency. WOH, WGN, WCAE, WSAI and WSYR'- will carry the show live WNAC, WTIC and WCSH will pick up and wax the programs for later broadcasting. WtP'S MARATHON SPONSOR .Idams Clothes Buys 112-Hour Block Each Week Philadelphia, Aug. 9: Radio marathon was set this' week with purchase of a i2-hour block a week by Adams Clothes on WIP Show, which starts Sept. 19, will run two hours a night, six nights a week. It will con.'iist entirely of pop re- cording with an emcee. Termer is for 13 weeks with usual renev/al op- tion. , Three hour nightly .show w.is tried by a drug chain an WPEN several montlLs !<23. but fizzled after a couple of weeks. Started out with quantities of live talent and remotes, de- generated, to discs and then faded. Frisked at Door Chicago, Aug. 9. Practically a convention of the Pelry company here last week. \ Ed Pelry, the roving New Yorker, and Joe Spadea, the Detroit button- holer, in for confabs with'- Ed Voy- now, the local Simon Legree. Chicago, Aug. i, New rates for musicians on com. merclal discs £o Into effect as of Sept. 15, according to scale set up bv the: American Federation of Mu sidans. New scale, calls for, $18 pe, man for a 15-minute recording to b« made In 90 minutes, and $24 for a 30-minute platter to be made within 180 minutes. Oyertiihe on both cate. gories calls for $6 for every addi. tlorial 15 minutes. Audition record- ings call for $9 per man. . New scale replaces former set-up which was a flat $30 for three hours and $50 for six hours of work. . 'While the new rates go into ef- feet on Sept. 15, they are being set merely for a three-month period as a trial arid it is possible that the scale will be changed at the end of that period. . OUT RADIO COLUMNS Detroit, Aug. 9. Through pact signed late last week, all three Detroit dailies yesterday (8) dropped radi. columns, notes . and chattel- from daily and .Sunday editions. Will run bnly program list- ings hereafter, and that in agate. Decision, didn't come- as complete surprise, since the News (WWJ) re- cently slashed radio pages from two . to one on Sundays and less than page daily; arid Times (Hearst) and Free Press likewise cut ozone stuff in half.' Earlier slash, coming on heels of similar action by several other sheets throughout cpuntry, had been ex- pected tp be extent of pruning, but newspaper advertising continued to slump in past six months,, with re- sult three sheets have been grad- ually slashing editorial content and stacking ads plenty. Papers have been moaning past six months abdut hefty . dirop in their ad revenue, while networks' biz continued upward. Extent of damage to sheets' circu- lation won't be known for some time, although further loss In ad revenue may ensue, if several plans, materialize for strictly radio iheets, brewing here for some time now. Radio stations undecided on rileas- mg program skeds to such sheets or already-established handouts, still hoping that dailies wUl reconsider action when biz picks up this fall. : News apparently Is sacrificing the most in its deal with Free Press and Times, since it operates Station WWJ which carries many promotional programs for the News and now will not have benefit of free publicity on the News radio pages. Howeveri it's expected sheet will carry, in other columns, stories about special WWJ stunts baUyiiig the News. Although activities not entirely set, it's likely sheets' radio eds will remain on papers' payrolls in other capacities. Thus, it appears Pat Dennis, who's also real esUte ed.for the Times, will ccr.flne self to that b,ranch, while Eddie Guest, wh* handled a Sunday column for the Free Press, is expected to continue on sheet's repprtorial' staff. Herschell Hart,, who had a wide following as daily columnist for News, has chance to go back to editorial side, from whence hs came ten years ago. WEST MEETS EAST BY AUDITION WAX Hollywood, Aug. 9. Four- waxed auditions have been shipped east fiom here for agency inspection. J. Walter Thompson has a Larry Crosby original, 'Do You Want. -to Be a Writer,' making the rounds. Al Rosen. says Ovaltine is interested in his 'Roadway to Hollywood,' and Rube W6U is hoping for a petrol backing. Benton & .Bowles' entry is a halt-hour show' wiih Joe E. Brown and Harry Sosnik's orchestra. Showmanship an Orphan at CBS Economy Inspiration Saves $150 a Week by Cutting Out Arrangements— Singers Strictly Time-Killers mS' latest economy stroke in the ^niriK program division calls for '^^j the vocalists .to a single arrangement . a week; With rsusUining singers now allowed Sal arrangements a .week £'e m^e *°"l'' effect a savings of a week. There are Ave pop fLers on the network's New York Sll with the highest weekly ^tee figuring $65. 'Tendency to treat its vocalists as „ many time fillers and to deprive Slograms of any special shoxy- J^«nly attenUon becomes more pro- at Columbia as the summer ■neU advances, Musicians budget us been sliced to the point where a number of the singers must content Uiemselves with an organ accompani- ment or else, even though the vocal- ist's style doesn't jell with that in- shument Latest saueeze gives Ihese singers the: alternative of using stiick arrangements or accepting the favors of payola music publ ish ers. On .Uie Other Hand ■ Columbia Broadcasting is discou- nging the deglamorizing practice of instructing audiences at studio broad- casts. Annoyinjg business of telling audiences to applaud and make back- ground for show is being discarded irith chain letting shows rest: on merits, Only specific demand by sponsors doe$.station permit the signal system ot signs to start applause and desig- nate silence is wanted. Audiences are permitted to spend themselves till applause dissipates Itself. Old system Is still maintained at NBC, liBtter clings to- instruction theory in studio shows. Beatrice Creamery Waxes Chicago, Aug. 9. Beatrice Creamery goes on. air this fall with a 30-minute weekly pro- gram through the Lord & Thomas agency here. Set-uF calls for a. west- ern- drama with music. Will start on spot, with record- ings made at the RCA Victor stu- dios here. RAYMOND scon TO JOIN CBS HOUSEMEN Raymond gcott and his six-man combination moves into Columbia as a sustaining setup at the end of next week. Network's New York novelty band, consisting of 10 men, has befen given its notice, effective a ^yeek from tomorrow (Thursday). Scott, nee Harry Warnow and a brother, of Mark Warnow, will make the fourth house leader in CBS' local studios. Besides ihe two Warnows the sustaining batonists aire Leith Stevens and Hay Block. Omega Oil Stirring .■\ Omega Oil Is scouring around for a network program. Account is handled by Husband & Thomas agency. For the last several seasons Omega hasn't been very active' on the air. In past It bought, in the national spot field.. This Summer Finds More Than Average : Influx of SmalUTime Radio talent Yearning for a Chance on the Big Time LONG SHOT New York's radio ro\y. is currently being over-run with the largest crop .of hinterland hopefuls to descend on Big Burg Broadcasting for jobs with- in memory. Lads iand lassies come' ■on from the small-town stations each summer during their . vacations and spear for bigger fish in the bigger pond. This year they must all of them have taken their vacations dur- ing the first two stanzas of August. Estimate of the number is difficult to arrive at, but there - must . be around 300 on hand, according to in- dications. Their facets of talent are split into three divisions, dramatic, vocal and announcing. They visit the networks, the larger agencies and the more obvious of the producing units, such as Phil Lord and Blackett-Sanriple-Humthert's: Air. Features; Inc. They come with case histories of their pasts and clearing theii: throats for the auditions. ; It is a. rare hopeful who' gets through a gate and lands a job, Theiy haven't time enough to persevere through a series of visits until they can bag the boss of an outfit in' a relenting mood and get a hearing. Dramatic talent gets the shortest Moady Bible Institutes 11 Stations Tops Lutherans' 55 on Mutual shake, up against a camel -thrbugh- the-n'eedle's-eye odds are they all and it's almost- as tough for the singers. Announcers from the sticks land most frequently; indie stations around New York have found many okay announcers from among those in froni the sticks job hunting dur-' ing their 'vacations. •Til is season the p'redbmihant num- ber of out-of-towners making the rounds come from Ohio, it seems, and for reasons scholarship i.'; investigat- ing. The midwest ln\rarlably sends in the largest number. The south for some reason never sends many. Probably fear iSouthern accent is a handicap; As far as possible auditions are concerned^ they are just as tough to get now as in the past few years. It isn't hard for a vocalist to get a listening at NBC Artists Service, a bit mbre difflcul* at CBS, and al- most impossible anywhere else save at some of the indie broadcasters! But auditions in themselves are meaningless. And even landing at one of the indies,- a -warbler must- start out sustaining and that's at no coin. ■ ; Announcers arefn't sought at the webs, and actors don't seem to: be sought anywhere. Flo Freeman in 'Alias* Florence Freeman is now playing the part of Rose Lane in .Blackett- Sample-Hummert's 'Alias Jimmy Valentliie' serial for Dr. Lyons tooth- powder. Replaces Elizabeth Day, who will do other B-S-H shows. . Moody Bible Institute of- Chicago is going on network radio for the first time this autuinn with a half-hour Sunday afternoon program over-Mu-- tual.; Buying' up all the MBS sta- tions save WOR and WGN. These have policies of refusing cbmmerc'ial religious broadcasts; Moodyites have a Chicago small- watter. Now York outlet, In place of WOR, will be WHN. Start is scheduled for Sept. 27. Precise type of program has not yet been decided. Moody will give MBS the biggest number of stations looped: up. for n commercial program it has ever had; hookup will embrace 72 broadcasters.. Biggest hookup on Mutual in past has been the Lutheran League Sun- day program, which will return, in the autumn after a summer layoff. Show last season rode SS stations. DETROIT TO SEATTLE MOVE FOR PATTY JEAN Detroit, Aug. 9. Patty Jean, who's been conducting health programs hereabouts for past two years, will leave for Seattle soon to join the staff at KIRO there, Aug. 25. ■ Conducted programs over CKLW here for past nine months, and pre- viously handled similar shbws over WMBC here. Snnny. Jim, piano and songs, has been placed on KYW, Philly, 10 min- utes daily by William Esty for George Washington Tobacco. ORDER YOUR VARIETY RADIO DIRECTORY-/rom HOLLYWOOD V A Rj E T Y 1708 N. Vine St. SATYR BOOK STORE 1620 N. Vine St. LONDON V A R I E T Y 8 St. Martina PI. Trafalgar Square CHICAGO V A R IE T Y 64 Watt Randolph Si, RANDOLPH NEWS vSHOP 63 West Randolph St. BRENTANO'S BOOK STORES NEW YORK CITY 686 Fifth Ave. PHILADELPHIA 1726 Chestnut St. WASHINGTON 1322 F St, N.W. VARIETY RADIO DIRECTpRY 154 West 46th Street, New York Please send./; les of VARIETY RADIO DIRECTORY ($5 per copy, ; $S.10 per copy in New York City; duty not prepai ign countries). Enclosed find . . Name Address ........ City 34 VARIETY RADIO Wednesdaj, August 10, 1938 PetriDo Union Mouthpiece For CBS Employees in Chi; Others to Follow? Chicago, Aug. 9. With announcers sound effects men and production men of Colum- bia Broadcasting System within the jurisdiction of the Chicago Federa- tion of Musicians, the^ announcers, souiid effects ani-) production men at other studios may fall to James C. Petrillo. also. PctriUo .)btalned tor the Columbia boys a 20% Increas* above the exist- ing scale, plus a further 10% raise commencing with the third year of the three-year agreement However, PetriUb so far has re- frained from, organizing the men ;in other studios, stating that the Co- lumbia men were organized strictly to prevent' them froni being taken over by a union - which Petrillo claims is ClO-controUed. Don Prlndle renewed as Joe Penr nerls gag writer. Werner Back to WXYZ; Now Has 2 Conductors Detroit, Aug^ 9. Eduard Werner, director of Michi- gan theatre symph, rejoins musical staff at WXYZ this week and wUl conduct three half-hdur concert pro- grams weekly over King-Trendle station and its Michigan w.b. IjCU station about three- years ago to de- vote full time to theatre. . Expected Werner will also baton theatre band when, and if, theatre resumes vaude, . with switch of broadcast time to avoid conflict with overtures. Werner's .return to WXYZ doesn't affect Benny Kytc, who sticks as musical director of station. BBD&O in CleTeland Batten, Barton, Surstine It Osboin agency will open a branch offlc* - In Cleveland In October. Clarence Davis, vp. wlto the arm, will take charge. ' New regional will give BBDO of- fices in Kew York, Chicago, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and Boston. Ruth Doerr Joins WCAV PhUadelphia, Aug. 9. Ruth Doerr, singer, set with WCAU and will be heard in a series of pro- grams with Robert Golden and his house band. For the seventli^^ successive month of 1938, NBC net- work husmess increased over 1937 to all-time highs. In July the NBC Red Network advertising volume ran 74^ ahead of its closest competitor. But even more interesting and important to you . . • inter and Summer, advertisers affirm their recognition ol NBC as the world's greatest broadcasting system. ]VBG carries eight of the ten highest rated shows. Sponsors know that the aiudience main- tained by NBC throughout the Summer guarantees a flying start for Fall programs. say It • • • X IS Greatest Brc^adGasting System A SERVICE OF THE RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA No Libel h Ligal Brief Vs. O'Keefe Suit brought by Walter O'Keefe comedian, for $100,000 libel against Maxwell Hawkins, radio script writer, and the latter's agent. Not- man C. White, \yas dismissed Friday (5) by N. Y. oupreme court Justice McGoldrick, . Action was an out. growth of . the unsuccessful suit brought by Hawkins and White against OTCeefe,; Hesse. & McCaffery agents, and RKO, for alleged plaglar. ism of' the script, 'Rolling Stones,' which Hawkins claims he wrote for the. defendants and which O'Keefe is alleged to have peddled to RKO for the iJictures, without Hawkins" okay. ~ O'Keefe sued on the grounds that the allegations made by Hawkins and White in the original action were libelous, Hesse and McCaffery also sued on the same grounds for $50,000, Latter action was also dismissed, the court holding that ihe allegations in the ^complaint were mrterial to the Hawkins-White suit and could not be held libelous. Encore ''Aldrich* Character On the Rudy Vallee Hour Ezra stone will do his third guest shot on the Vallee show tomorrow night (Thursday) in- another Henry Aldrich sketch. This one will be. tabbed '.Henry Aldrich at the Dinner Table' and will .include the same cast of Be'.ty Field as sister, Leah Penman as mother , and Clyde Fill- more as father. Piece is by Cliflord Goldsmith, whose legit comedy, 'What A Life' at the Biltmore, 1 '. Y, also has Henry Aldrich as leading character. 'Dinner ■ Table' was . originally , scheduled fbr Aug. -25, but on only three days' noti'^ was moved two weeks ahead when another piece' for the program fell through. Janet Cohen,, of Brandt & Brandt, handles Goldsmith. Unveil KSFO'S New Face San F.-ancisco, Aug. 9. Hour-long transcontinental dedica- tory broadcast marked opening of new Columbia-KSFO studios atop Palace hotel Friday (12) at 7 p.m. Op.ening was postponed a day to allow presence of a plane-load of Hollywood notables on the broadcast, including Lud Gluskin, Tito Guizar, Jo Stafford's Pied Pipers and the Sineone Singers. KSFO band, headed by Jack Meakin, provided' background. Show also included Frisco's first radio preview of 'a new Hollywood ' film, title of which was Tcept secret until air. time. Other special pro- grams included dancecast from 11 to 12 hiidnight. In which Paul Penf darvis Palace hotel orchestra waJ greeted by special numbers piped In from all other Columbia bands up and down the coast, and regular Art of Conversation broadcast which originated here under Tom Brene- man. Jim Turner Promoted Nashville, Aug. 9. Jim Turner has been made director of WSIX. Replaces Reggie Martin, nowmariager of WJNO, West i'alm Beach, Fla. TiU his promotion. Turner had been bossing soecial events and newscasting on WSIX. ALL YOU NEED IN CEhfTRAL OHIO tg^eeday. August 10. 1938 RADIO VARIETY 3» Henry jaffe of N. Y. Single Gladiator St, Lo>us, Aug. '9. Cjbbers In St Louis radio stations A«,6le M actors and singers, accord- Tt to testimony given last week by In the AFRA hearing be- ?*SS Examlner J. J. Fitipatrlck ^fSjwJffl in Federal buUdIng ?J «JfSr New York, counsel and Sifof AFRA. started the baU jXfihisday (4) by testifying local branch was chartered r^nec 29 and opened negotiaUons Sfm^ptoyers last March. AFRA S« the posi'lon that it, represents Sf^aiipeak, sing or actj,efpre^the 'JTireelance workers while the man- .S.ts contend the duties of. gab- hers are different from other work- Zi and have raised the question whether they shoi>ld be Included ih a separate bargaining unit Jafle questioned bj John R.Green, counseHor KSD, said that contracts with the principal radio nets did not IndudC' announcers, covering only actors and singers on s- stalning.pro- mms. He testified, however, that gibbers had been included in the bargaining unit ' contracts with several Independent stations. '^Deler W Airai- . ■ " jafle also saldi t:iat news com- mentators should belong to AFRA, but that he expected no trouble with ^ ClO-affillated American ^Jews- paper Guild on .that point ■ In the - mat of a jurisdictio-'.a'. dispute with the AFM Jaile said AFRA would give way to the tooters In 'borderline cases.'-', . Don PhlUIps, gabber at , KMOX, local outlet of CBS web, .and presi- dent of the St Louis branch of AFRA; followed Jtffe to the stand and corroborated the statement -that gabbers double as singers and actors. He testified the :duties of the three types of performers are .interchange- able, that announcer sometinies act before the mike, actors sing and liiigers take dramatic parts. R W. Chubb, counsel for KMOX, sought'to show on cross-examination that acting was a very small part and incidental - to announcers' principal duties by reading a part of a script for a children's program and asking Phillips, ' 'Is that dramatics?' 'Not the way you read it,' was Phillips' comeback. Chubb asked Phillips to give his performance of the part, but Examiner Fltzpatri ;k nixed the benefit performance' with , the dec- laration that This may be very amusing to the spectators, but it Is adding nothing in detprmining the Issues.' , " 1 the two-day session. Interrupted Saturday C6) to permit' station man- agers to attend a regional . meeting of the NAB .n Kansas City, other witnesses who substantiated JafTe's contentions ; were Al||en Anthony, chief staff gabber for KWK; Miss Adelaide Tarrant, freelance actress and warbler; Alexander. Buchan, former WEW gabber; Dave Ward, former KSD gabber,, and Miss Coyita Bu.ich. KSK songbird. Jafle is fighting: the battle of AFRA single-handed while a large array of legal talent represent KMOX. KSD, KWK and WEW. the local stations involved; The union's petition Involving employes Of : WIL was dismissed Friday <5). when JafTe said members Of .AFRA had been disiiiissed. AFRA claims a merhber- shlp of 131 In St Louis, KMOX- top- ping the list with 58. the membership including 11 gabbers. 2 staff actors, 1,6 staff warblers and: 29 freelance singers and actors. . Hearing was resumeid Monday (8) with Jaffe callihg more witnesses. CHEVROLET WAXERS OFF THE AIR AUG. 31 Chevrolet will . not renew Its waxed 'Musicaf Moments' . series, when the thrice-weekly iSrminute discs expire nationally on Aug, 31. At present 'Moments' is. spread over 365 stations. . It Is unlikely that the account will be on the air at all this fall. Double* Jointed St Louis, Aiig. 9. Henry Jafte called himself as expert witness at the AFRA hearings. It was his first ex- , perience on. receiving end, and ' he Was cross-exain'ined for\ five' ' hours by the 10 opposing at- ^ torneys. ■ . He frequently made objec- tions to their questions. Didn't object 'to any of. his own ques- tions to himself, however.. JALLOPY- ERA RA1MOS57I ON FARMS Philadelphia, Aug. . 9. Survey of 200,000 farrn families just completed for Phllco showed that with highest percentage of radio ownership of any group In the coun- try yet Philco figures farms to. be the biggest single market for new sets. Radios are owned by 93,7% of the group, which is the more prosperous agricultural classification, as' the sur- vey was Jiniited to those families having electrified, farms. Less than 6.4% didn't own a radio. Why set manufacturers consider this a' good market however, is fact that only ,12:1% of the radios . were less than a year old.. Sets which were one or two years bid amounted to 31%; three, four and five years old, 25.1%;; and over six years old. 31.8%, largest single! grouping. More^ than half, of all radios owned, 56.9% were over three years old.. Turns Off-the-Line ■ . Chicago. Aug. 9. ■ . Kastor agency has contracted with the RCA Victor studios here ior ofl- the-line recordings of - the Tums '■vocal Varieties' show storting Aug. 25.; .■'..■:' Show will be spotted arojnd coun-. try to auenient the -NBC pluggings. Six Salesmen, Who Formed 'Union/ as Outsiders; Simon Sees Umpzation Nipped in Bud Philadelphia, Aug. 9. Six salesmen at WPEN.- who- three weeks ago formed the first unit of the Radio Salesmen's Guild of Amer- ica, an .unaffiliated unloii,- were forced to resign last Friday. Leaves, the station completely stripped of salesmen. Each of the solicitors, all of whom worked oh straight commish, . wais 'bought' out' by the 'management After bargaining confabs with the Guild's, attorney, which came to naught, each of the, men was called- into the office .of Manager Arthur Simon. and given his walking papers. ■They weren't 'fired.' Station fixed an arbitrary / sum as : to what the value of e;ach man's continuing com- mission would anjount to. This was ail figured oiit done .iip in legal lan- guage, put in a blue-back.ed lawyer's folder, marked 'Release' on the but-: side and lianded to the men. 'They could eithei: accept or not Biit If they didn't,' they were informed, the stotlon would ' no Ibnger accept their accounts. Simon explained to each man hpvy sorry, he. was. about the whole thing. He took pains to tell each that he liked him' very much, but that he was' only working on orders from. N«!W York. . WPEN was recently pur- chased by A'rde Bulova. Simon said , each man could de- clare himself ' an 'agency' and /the station would then accept accounts on the regular 15% commission basis; However,, it wbuld take no accounts in this manner, which were already on the books, eliminating as possi- bilities all those accounts which the salesmen now have. . 'Great Service' No plans are being made to replace the time solicitors, Simon said. He is counting , oh WPEN's sister .station, Wbv, in New York, to feed riew biz. and to' handle the. renewals of the local stuff himself. He declared that he t>elieves he has 'done a great serv- . ice to the radio industry by break- ing up Uiis first attempt at uhjoniza- : tipn by salesmen.' . Weli-known Philly iabor attorney, Saul Waldbaumi . had several meet- ings with'Simpn Which were also at- : tended by the six union' members as : observers^ Demands were presented for job security, a preferred, shop and. increases in ■ com.mish. Men" asked for 20% on new direct biz and. 15% on agency biz. Management ofTered 15 and 7V4%. which wias refused. ■ Those aflFecfed arc Leonard Pell.' chairman of the u it;" George Lasker,- who served as. g. m. at the station' for several months after 'it changed ownership; Al , Fisher. Charles Bor- relli. Fred Solton. and Henry Potter. Soiton is continuing to bring his ac- counts to the station as an 'agency.' LABORDISCS OFFSET BOSSES' onto ; American. Federation of Labor now has ' tlO stations around the cburitry carrying gratiis prp-imioh dramatiza- tlbns discs. Two New York, stations ph the list are WEVb and WNYC. This otfsets 'the Nat'l Manufacturers Assn. and so forth. Transcriptipns are sent, to the sta- tions once monthly, with the "broad- casters On- the list taking the free ser- vice as a help to their programming. Discs are prepareid' in Washington, D. C.. by : Chester M. Wright labor editor arid writer. ' ^ ' 1 50,000 WATTS • PHILADELPHIA 86 VARIETY RADIO Wednesday, August 10, 1939 Spchronous Operation Doomed At WBBM-WBZA-WBIWBAL-WM WLLH-Type Satellites Uncertain Washington, Aug. 9. Death knell to synchronization experiments by stations in the regular broadcast band is expected to be sounded when the FCC pro- mulgates new allocation policies in- volved in the pending revised rules governing operation of broadcast stations. Grovving engineering opinion that synchronous use of limited facili- ties, while technically feasible, is not economically or socially wise seems to have been substantiated by the expert testimony collected at the recent long rules hearing and bolstered indirectly by data pre- sented at the WLW, Cincinnati, 500 kw proceedings. Result indubitably will be revocation of experimental permits when the spectrum is re- distributed in accordance with the new allocation theory and the shifts required by the North American Radio Agreement take place. Value of synchronization was not debated directly at any of the gab- fests of the past two months but the views advanced about the way the limited number of frequencies should be exploited provide am- munition for opponents of dual op- eration. For some months there has been feeling among both industry end FCC engineers and some Com- missioners, ns well, that this sort ef operation should be terminated. New Frequencies Strong ; arguments against more synchronization. And as an al- ternative, the engineers have the opportunity to play with this- idea In the high frequencies, just being opened up for regular use. In bands over 30,000 kc, there is more room for dual broadcasting, par- ticularly since many of the waves are not suited for covering a wide area. One technical expert of widely- recognized ability considers that synchronous operation of two regu- lar plants with substantial power is a brake on progress, by limiting the number of stations which can be spotted in ah area. Except in rare cases where some city is wholly lacking in signals is it felt there is little justification for hitching^'mbre than one transmitter. F'r'instance Hypothetical case . illustrates the objections, although it is not based on exact standards of good engi- neering practice, either those now being followed or those proposed for future observance. Nor does it take into account varying factors, which would be different if other frequencies were used. In the case of two stations with 5 kw operating on 1000 kc, for instance, there must be wide separation if they are not to prevent assignment of other transmitters to nearby frequencies in adjacent territory. Under the technical limitations to minimize in- terference, next side channels, 990 and 1010, would not be. available for stations within a radius of several hundred miles; 980 and 1020 would be open to plants closer to the 5 kw outlets but still separated by a con- siderable distance; same is true, al- though to lesser degree, in case of 070 and 1030 kc. Thus if the two synchronized out- lets were closer than the distance re- quired between a 1000 and 1010 or 990 kc station, use; of the latter tvro channels would be. prohibited over a considerable area. And so on down the line.- Spacing to' permit operation oh adjacent frequencies in the area between the synchro- nized plants would be a difficult engineering and allocation chore, Otherwise a clash of signals would greatly limit service and irritate liisteners. This means that synchronous op- eration, in most cases, must involve widely-separated plants. In find- ing ways to exploit this technical possibility many practical problems would be encountered. 6h the other hand, if the plants are so close their signals overlap, listeners would be getting an unnecessary duplica- tion of program service, at the same time being deprived of possible ad- ditional choice of entertainment. Spotting the synchronized stations over wide areas to provide the in- evitable mileage separation is not in accordance with the desire to render the maximum local service. Listen ers to one of the dual outlets would not be particularly interested in purely local happenings hundreds of miles distant; residents of the pri- mary service areas of the two hitched plants very likely would be in dif- ferent states, having no special rea- son to hear political, sports and Studio Phobia St. Paul, Aug. 9. , KSTP was almost stumped last week when a speaker on a civic program phoned in and asked: 'Do you have big studios or little ones?' Upon being assured that the station had several sizes but that ordinarily only the smallr est is used for a single speaker, the fellow moaned: 'Oh, that will never do. I must have the largest — and- I'm not even sure of that. You see, I have claustrophobia,' Station solved the dilemma by hitching up a pack trans- mitter and putting the inter- view on outdoors. news programs directed to audience of the other transmitter. Double narness Fairs Prospect that dualization will dis- appear affects specifically six plants, WBAL, Baltimore; WJZ, New York; WBZ, Boston; WBZA, Springfield, Mass.; WBBM, Chicago, and KFAB, Lincoln, Neb. For considerable time this half-dozen has been split up, into three teams on as many frequencies; WBAL, with 2% kw, and WJZ, with 50, dualing on 860 after 9 p.m.; WBZ, with 50, and WBZA, with 1, on 990; and WBBM, with ,50, and KFAB, with 10, on 770. Likely abandonment of this type of synchronization does not mean that in the regular band there will be no cases where more than one station uses the same frequency and carries identical signals. . Current experiment with satellite or booster plants would not be affected. Only one instance of this at present, WLLH, Lowell, Mass., which oper- ates on 1370 kc with 100-250 watts and is echoed by a 10 to 100 watt station at Lawrence. KlDff of Satellites Whether the booster iriethod ever will come into general use is prob- lematical. Cost is an important fac- tor. But in the high frequencies, where tlie waves have characteris- tics that limit service to small re- gions, it is possible that broadcasters might spot one transmitter with con- siderable power in the center of a metropolitan area and ring it with' low-wattage resounders to duplicate the service for suburbs, Particularly in the event some geographical or scientific phenomenon — hills, ore bodies, etc. — prevent the parent plant from reaching all of the potential audience. In some cases, this identir cal technique could be used by new Class IV stations, but economic bar- riers make it doubtful if there will be many instances of such operation. Make 4f Mil OK I .\ 1 1 1 1,\| \ !■! HI I--I ll.\( . < 1 1 Kl I'KI M .\ I \ I l\ I I I II K.\ I / ,\l,l N( ^ . I:u CBS Nciv/ork 5S0 Kc. Morris Novik Must Answer Council Charge WNYC Carried Conununisi m INCUBATOR (Continued from page 31) sessions, court reporters, news broad- casts, etc. But the station reps have proved a futile means of corhmuni- cation between station and adver- tisers as regards anything beyond checks, coverage maps, and other standardized paraphernalia. When a good local show is discovered, somebody invariably stumbled into it by accident. To plug this — extremely lament- able — gap, Variett will hereafter .collect, on a regular schedule, in- formation on local shows. This serv- ice, naturally rendered gratis, -will follow somewhat the same lines as" laid down for years in Variett's Protected Material Department. Junk Edited Out It should most emphatically be pointed out that this collection wilL steer away, insofar as possible, from nut ideas, brainstorms and despera- tion measures uncorked by local pro- gram departments which have fallen into the idea-less rut and are trying to extricate themselves with high- powered junk. Raidib already has had enough desperation measures to last a century. What th'e collectiofi will attempt to do is the following: (1) Provide a ready reference for programs which have proved them- selves to be audience-pullers. An audience-puller need not necessarily incorporate world-shaking depart- ures from existing norms, just as the categorical gap between Jack Benny and some local . counterpart is, on paper, not very great. Difference, however, is that one pulls an audi- ence and the other doesn't. (2) Provide standardized informa- tion. That is, all material will be collected in such a fashion that self- back-patting, puffing, and other as- sorted attempts at free advertising will be eliminated insofar as pos- sible. To achieve this end, the info will be collected on standardized questionnaires. (3) Provide complete information. This includes: Age Of program; past sponsorship, il any; program's past performance record in terms of .mail pull, phone calls, contests, etc.; time of broadcast; size of cast needed; price of talent; description of pro- gram contents; survey o'f merchan- dising possibilities; availability of sample scripts or recordings. From time to time Varictt will print samples of the information col- lected. This info may be clipped and filed. However, because all the inaterial collected could not possibly be printed for reasons of length, the re- mainder will be stored in a filing system at Variety's New York office, where it may be viewed on reqiiest by sponsors and advertising agencies. This filing system will be cross-in- dexed so that any program can be found under its market, originating station, as well as under the pro- gram type into which its fits (such as variety, hill-billy, etc.). Detailed announcements of the completion of this filing system will be printed soon. Meantime, it is to be noted that requests by mail for transcripts of the file cannot pos- sibly be taken care of. Personal visit to the Variety office is the best and only feasible method of getting a gander at its contents. Data Already In Preliminary data received so far evidences some good, down-to-earth programming by various stations. Many of the programs have a long run behind them — always a good facet for judging calibre. Others have a pretty decent irecord as to contests, mail pull, and phone calls. A sample of how the material wili look in print, and in the files, is herewith appended (this sample was not chosen for any reason other than sampling purposes): Program title: "KSL Players." Originating Station: KSL, Salt Lake City, Utah. Age of program: Seven years continuously. Past sponsors: Holsum Bakers, Logan Knitting Mills, MarrO-Oil Shampoo, Popularity record: Players stanza holds all-time KSL mail return rec- ord with 47,000 replies to gift offer; telephone calls are adjudged con- sistent; station considers the program its No. 1 production. Size of cast needed: No less than seven; variable. Price (exclusive of time costs): $135 per program. Length and time of Morris Novlk, director of N.«, York City's municipally owned non-commercial broadcaster WNYP has been called to appear todiJ (Wed.) before a special commi'tte* of the City Council to answer charges that the station aired com munistic propaganda. Allegation has been leveled by Councilman Charles E. Keegan, who cites, broadcast of last February as the specific occasion upon which he bases his complaint. Program under flre was a travel talk put on under the auspices of the National Travel Club. Program was conducted by Samuel Cuff, and the guest speaker was George Brandt, travel . writer. Broadcast dealt with travel in Russia. National Travel Club is chartered in New York State as a non-com. mercial enterprise; has 40,000 mem. bers and publisher Robert McBride is the prez. For some years the club has been furnishing gratis scripts to any station wishing to air them. At current time the club claims to have 234 broadcasters around the country on its list. No Injunction in Jewish 'Court' Plea Vs.™ Jewish Court of Arbitration, Iric, an organization which seeks to settle domestic and business .disputes, was denied a temporary injunction against the Jewish Radio Service, Inc., by Justice Frank McGoldriclt in the State supreme court Monday (8). Heads of the arbitration setup sought to have WLTH, Brooklyn, stopped from using the arbitration idea and title in a weekly program aired over the outlet The 'WLTH show describes itself as a 'Jewish Court for Peace and Justice.' In his decision Justice McGoldridc stated that: the reUef asked by the JCA was very broad and that the main question involved \ya3 the ex- tent to which the use of the Hebrew word for 'Peace' in both namei causes confusioin. Under the circum. stances, the court held, the issue could only be determined after i trial. Motion for the temporary .in- junction was denied with the under- standing that the defendants agreed to go to trial in October. Foster Brooks' Child Dead Louisville, Aug, 9. A fractured skull suffered in a 15- foot fall to a concrete sidewalk while on a visit here caused the death ot 19-months old Dianne Brooks, daugh- ter of Foster Brooks, former WHAS announcer, Tuesday (2). Accident occurred at the home of the child's grandparents. Brooks had brought his family from St. Louis, where he had been on the announcing stall o! KWK. During the 1937 Ohio Valley flood, Brooks distinguished himself along with others for his work in the air. ing of relief messages and aiding the evacuation of refugees from .Ui« flooded areas. Salisbury's WSTP Charlotte, N. C, Aug, 9. Salisbury's new radio station hal been given the call letters WSTi;. Motto: 'We Serve the Piedmont,' Station is to operate on 1500 kilo- cycles, 100 watts days, unlimitel time. Officers and stockholders ol the corporation are Bryce P. BearOi W. S. Overton, Jr., J. Carson Brant* ley, C. F. Raney, J. P. Mattox, J. F- Hurley, Walter Carter, Stable LiWV Gregory Peeler and M. M. Murphy. program: 30 minutes; usually P'** sented between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. Program content; Original radm plays somewhat a la First NightW' Plays generally follow a lighter veia though heavy stuff has been us» with okay results. Availability « samples: Any number of comply scripts available; also sample . record- ings. Merchandising: Low cos sampling via gift offers feasible; casi available for p.a.'s. • TiidiiesJay. August 10. 1938 RADIO VARIETY 87 SANDWICHLEE PLANT BETWEEN NBC AND CBS Hollywood, Aug. 9. o^nect of Don Lee-Mutual net- ^riTffiing NBC and CBS along ri«t boulevard between Vine and streets loomed last week when Aain began negotiations for a plant on the site betwee^ other rto Property is now under lease to Cin Long, who will erect a combo Xiy-eatery. Mutual idea is to X torces with Long on the struc- Le. with the I^ng enterprise occu- BTlne the ground floor and Don Lee Selemalrider of the four or ftve- jtory edlflee- . Move from the present quarters downtown, ending a tenancy of 11 years, is Imperatlve^^ Mort Lawrence Uppedl Philadelphia, Aug. 0. Mi,rt Lawrence, relief gabber at WCAUi has. been named assistant production manager to replace Robert Gill, whose resignation takes eflect In the early fall. Lawrence has been wHh the station for five years, most of that time emceeing Drug Trade Products hillbilly shows. Harry. Mcllvaine, forrner program direrfor and chief announcer at VfTNJ, Trenton, has been added to tlw WCAU gab staff. Before join- ing: WTNJ, Mcllvaine appeared in drainatle sketches and musical shows on WCAU. He replaces Calvin Jack- wn, who .resigned. WQXR Sales Mgr. Tours Trorman S. McGee, sales head of staUon WQXR, N. Y., high fidelity outlet, left town Monday night (B) . for« glad-handing jaunt through the west and Pacific slope. " ■He will be gone three weeks ex- plaining station's 'quality music' pro- grams and familiarizing western agencies and advertisers with sta- tion's work. TED ALLEN AT W6NY Old Timer In Kadio Btz — Last with ' ' J. J. Devlne Newburgh, N. Y., Aug. 9. T. F. . (Ted) Allen' has joined WGNY as commercial chief. Peter Goelet is director at the station. Allen was recently with J. J. De- vine, station rep firm. Before that served with NBC sales from 1928 to 1936. i^iliinan to Blackett Chicago, Aug. 9. Pullman' account has been ac- quired by Blackett-Sample-Hum- mert agency. Formerly with Charles Daniel Frey agency here. No plians set for Pullman under B-S-H guidance,' though there , is a possibility that the agiency will at- tempt .some -radio for the sleeping car organization. Marvin Harms goes on the Dreft account at B-S-H, replacing E. K. Bannevart. Hmnor Takes Over Albany, Aug. 9. Horace L. ' Hevienor, for many years manager of the De Rouville Agency, Albany, owned by the late George S. De HouVille, is now oper- ating it under the name of Hevenbr Advertising Agency. -Incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000. . Marjorie McMullen, formerly of WGY, continues in the radio depart- ment. Radioites' Legit Try Two NBC warblers, soprano Helen Henry and baritone Glenn Darwin, were . this week auditioned for parts in 'Knickerbocker holiday,' Maxwell Anderson play with music. Show is scheduled for a late September open- ing on Broadway. - '^'ancy Martin t« NBC, Chi Pittsburgh, Aug. 9. ■ Nancy Martin, singer with WCAE for last five years, leaves this week to join NBC in Chicago. Has been, on several local comrriercial pro- grams, principally 'Romance Back- stage,' which she has been' doing for two years, and 'Night at the Inn.' League, Rogers Form Team As Tractor Firm Sponsoi^ Memphis, Aug. 9, Archie League and Eyrie Rogers started a twice-weekly quarter-hour series today (Tues. ) for Allis- Chalmers (tractors). Doing rustic characters labeled 'Sewanee Eyerie and Happy Pappy.' Both performers were formerly in vaude, but during last several years have worked as singles in Memphis radio. First time they've bceii teamed. Pro Tern on CBS CBS is creeping through this month of August with what is likely thel smallest commercial JPriday night schedule' in the' network's hi.story From 6. p. m. onward there is being carried only a quarter-hoUr of bought time — Boake Carter for 'Huskies.' ' And that show fades on Aug. 26. Next riionth, however, will see the fall biz bouncing back into Friday night,, which was al\yays strong on CBS in the past. Campana starts on Sept. 2; Instant Postum follows (5), and then successively Campbell Soup's 'Hollywood Hotel' (9),' and Listerine and Chesterfield .(30). Hearst Office Goes On San Francisco, Aug. 9. Intematibnal Riadio Sales, San Francisco branch, previously , an- nouriced as folding, is continuing op- erations, with John Livingston suc- ceeding J. Leslie Fox as Pacific Coast manager, ;. Livingston was formerly Los An- geles manaiger for same organization and . £(an Francisco sales manager of Hearst Radio. Pittsburgh Pirates Win Injunction Against KQV Eavesdroppings; Lack of Sponsorship Inunateriar ittsburgh: Aug. 9. lii ;a decision handed down late yesterday afternoon. Federal Judge F. P. Schoohmakc granted the Pittsburgh Pirates, Socony-'Vacuum, General Mills and NBC a prelimi- nary injunction restraining station KQV from broadcasting descrip- tions of the Pirates' home baseball games. Pittsbuirgh baseball cliib had. joined with the three other plaintiffs several weeks ago in a bill of equity seeking $10D;000 damages and re- straint of bootleg accounts of the contests. Among other things, Judge Schoonmalcer said: 'The Pittsburgh . A.theltic Co. ...ac-. quired and maintained a baseball park. , .and has a right to capitalize oh the news value of its games by selling exclusive rights to com- panies and advertising media. Thi.'i right KQV interferes with while usinjg different broadcasting facilities for giving out identical news ob- tained by its paid observers at points outside Forbes Field for the purpose of . securing information that it can- not otherwise acqui re.' Opinion.held that KQV was guilty of unfair competition and that its act constituted a violation of the plaintiffs' property rights.. Judge Schoonmaker added: 'The Pittsburgh Athletic Co., by reason of its creation of the game, its control of the park and its restriction of the dissemina- tion of liews therefrom, ha.s a prop- erty right in such hews, and the right to control the use thereof for a rea- sonable time following the games.' KQV admitted that it secured its information for the broadcasts from paid observers stationed at vantage points outside Forbes. Field on premises leased by the station. Ob- servers were so located that they could see the games over the park's enclosures. Attorneys for the station claimed the right .to broadcast what it witnessed 'as long as it does. not. plagiarize other news agencies.' In his flndintis, Judge Schoonmaker quoted opinions on cases involving the Twentieth Century Sporting Club against Trans-Radio Press Ser- . vice re the Louis-Farr fight; INS suit against AP; Waring vs. WDAS; Irv- ing Berlin vs.- Daigle, and others. He then added: Good Will AuRle 'The defendant contends, it Is not unfairly . competing with any of the plaintiffs because it obtains no com- pensation from a sponsor or other- wise, from baseball broadcasts. It concedes, however, that KQV seeks, by its broadcasts of news of base- ball games, to cultivate the good will of th«! public for its radio station, 'The fact that no revenue is obtained directly from the broadcast is not controlling, as these broadcasts are undoubtedly designed to aid in ob- taining advertising business.' In his conclusion, Judge Schoon- maker stated that the doctrine of un- fair competition is. not . recognized under the English (bommon Law and therefore his decision could not be construed as an authority. Suit involved only the broadcasts of the Pirates' home games, which would presumably leave KQV free to air accourits of contests off Pi- rates' soil. Generally admitted here that only KQ'V's practice prompted Pirates to permit broadcasts of home games' from Forbes Field since' man- agement for years; had been dead set against that practice. Option on this was taken up by Socpny- Vacuum and General Mills immediately, with KDKA and WWSW both carrying play-by-play descriptions by Rosey Rowswcll except on Sijnday and holiday games. Lilian Okiin. formerly with WOR, N: Y.; has teamed up with Mar- jorie Norton in a publicity combine. Starts 17* year as trMst powerful station —day and night ^in all Alabama WAPI, Birminghaiii, is the onZy station that covers all Ala- bama, day and night. It is the only Alabama station ivith a complete schedule of Columbia Network shows (plus asteady pageant of brilliant local originations) . And WAPI is the only station in the .stateihat serves the farmer as well as the worker ...with farm programs that rural audiences want to hear. For sixteen pioneering years, WAPI has been the "Voice of Alabama."' Today, with its new, vastly improved facilities, it becomes more than ever— Alabama's voice tor all the state . . . and the adverti.scrs' least expensive voice to all the state! Rep res vescoled J y R A D I 0 S A L E S A DIVISION OFTlIE OO[.i;.\II((A ItHOADCASlING SYS'IK.M. NKW VOKK, CHICAGO, DETROIT. MILWAUKEE, BIK.MINGHAM, I,OS ANGtM.ES, SAN FJ S8 VARIETY RADIO REVIEWS Wednesday, August 10, ^93^ Sheffield Uses WGY Program To Woo Favor of Critical Dairymen FoHow-Up Comment Schenectady, Aug. 9. Various trade phases of milk pro- duction arid distribution,' coupled with information and advice to .dairymen, are covered on new N. W. Ayer program' over WGY, which is counter-propaganda. Opening shot aimed -at consumers as well as farm- ers. Second -salvo, however, was slanted exclusively for agriculturists. It is likely that during future broad- casts the dcalersVside of the thoriiy pr.oblem will be carefully presented, Sheffield' Farms Co. Is one of the big distributors recently criticized, via radio and other media, . by . a group of upstate dairymen. Program, while timely, seems to, be patterned after General Glectric's popular evening 'Farm Forum' over WGY. Presence of Emersoh Mark- ham, pilot : of latter, as reporter, question man and emcee makes the f>arallel more noticeable. Markham s neutral on the milk question, very controversial in .these parts, so far as his G. K chores as rural broadcast- ing director are concerned. /Here, however, he's, identified with one side of a fiercely partisan Mntra- industry dispute. Wisdom of that is for others to decide. Question will naturally suggest itself to persons familiar with ' oropagaiida in: the higher levels of finesse. Brbadcasts start with an angle, of Interest to ■ farmers: reports by Sheffield' agents of crop conditions in various counties and sections of the state, with a spill over, into New Jersey arid Pennsylvania. Markham read these. . Then Duryea talks for five minuties 'to dali'ymen of the . Northeast! Following this is a question and answer period, long a. standby of GE's Farm Forum. Duryea knows . his subject, but could deliver with more verve. Like many farm talkeris, he lacks a Grade A voice and is inclined to : be draggy. Quizzing is productive of sound advice, but. is without the tangy dry humor and the hominess which Ed Mitchell, GE's farm ad- viser, injects into a similar feature. Markham's miking is good but stylized. No advertising except tab- bing of Sheffield name. A band record makes a so-so themer. Jaco. DANNT DEE 'Cllpolnf Barean' ' IS Mins. Siistatnlng Satnrday, 8:30 a. m. WEAF-NBC, New York NBC's legal lights did some cra- nium cudgeling, it is reported, be- fore giving this show, produced by WTAM, Cleveland, the nod to feed the network. Idea is that Dee, la- QENE and GLENN Fatter^ Songs ' IS MIns. SiisUlning Dally, 8:15 a. m. WEAF-NBC, New York Way-back-wheners are on NBC's eastern loop after doing a Greeley from WTAM, Cleveland, to Des Moines to .Los Angeles in the past several broadcast seasons. Always one of the particularly raidoesque of the early air clickeroos,. the team. today, as before, exemplifies a gentle idiom of spoofing, light' music-mak- ing arid rambling, semi-plotted inter- play of boobish characters, Jake and Lena, which Gena Cariroll creates while Glenn Rowell pianos and warbles. • , Gene and Glenn have a knack for ingratiating themselves with . the multitude. An analysis of the meth- ods they ehiploy is difficult because under-playinc and not-seeriiing-to- try is an integral part of an ultra- simple appeal. They pitch for a wid^ base. At their peak they were terrific grossers when makirig tha- atre bookings around the middle west • - Heard now at 8:15 a. m., the pair offer a matinal foolishment that makes much capitol of Jake's superb talent for avoiding work. Lena is a bit of. a pies-and-cakes gal.- . Their mythical ' uncorisummated courtship, has been going on lo these : many semesters to the non-comprehension of mere outsiders and the intimate delight of the fariiily circles. As an accompaniment to the morn- ing cornflakes for work-bound and school-bound charges of momsy, this quarter-hour is still in the groove. i ■ ■ Land. boring under the label of 'Dr. Clip- per,' solicits listeners to send in clip- pings of oddities they see in news- print. All that are accepted and read off (with credits) net the mailer a buck each. When caught ,(30) the items were pretty . watery, vague and time- wasteful. Even children have tired of the one about a dog digging around a fresh fertilized lawn for a bone, and the train that arrived at its destination 18 years late. Other items were of. similar kidney, save the opening shot about the Hagers- towri, Md., man who hiccoughs at the sight of a razor. Apparently Dee . Is having his troublefs getting clippings of the sort sought. He did backbonds on his patter to stretch through the quar- ter-hour. And the organ which whisked him on and off took up too much time on both ends for_ ideal prograniming touch. Bob Burns, suinmer keeper of the Kraft Music Hall in Bing Crosby's absence, stressed comedy most of the way "Thursday (4). Presence of Walter Huston was hefty assistance, with the veteran stagfe-scrcen thes- plan catching the comedy tempo. .Clowning betweeri Burns and Hus- ton, with some help from Ken Car- benter, was snicker- laden. This ex- tended to Joseph Bentonelli, Met tenor, after his initial song, and Og- den Nash, humorous poet. . Preserice of Joan arid Mary Brodel, young singing sisters from vaude and pictures, varied trend and proved a nice break for pair. Half of their time was a build-up for girls when their work In 'Men, with Wings' was explained. Two did r thumbnail ^kit with Huston which' gave younger sister, presumably . Mary, chance to warble. Voice registered nicely'. John Scott Trotter orchestra, Paul Taylor chorus and Foursome, all .standbys, , furnish usual trim ; back- grounding. Lanny Grey and his 'Rhythm School of the Air,' on WJZ-N^C Thursday nights, not only have moved; up- their . time but have speeded up program's tempo. Grey has a new partner, Judy Marshall, only recently out of high ischool, the new vocal combo of 'Judy and Lanny' being satisfactory. Don Richards, Mary McHugh, Sing-Sirig sisters and Jimmy Rich are old standbys on program. All sing while Rich, youthful vet organ- ist at WNEW, N. Y., works overtime providing or^ah music background. Also doubles in nursery . crime (rhyme) detector conceit. .The 15- minute broadcast now on at 6:30 p. m. Little more '.care in production would still help because most ingre- dients are present. Bryan Field, turf editor of the New York Times and mlker for CBS on important races at tracks in New York, Maryland, Florida arid Calir, fornia, does not enjoy his air assign- ment. Field made this plain during an interviiBW with Leo BoUey, Tydol sportscaster over WGY, an' NBC affilUte. Although he has been call- ing races' since 1931-^rlginally for. WdR, later for Mutual, and now for Columbia— Field said he derived lit- tle satisfaction from the job,. The reason: listeners make no comment if the broadcaster turns In a good performanca, but they flood him with complaints if he happens to be 'off' in describing an event. Similarly, dialers express no aopreciation if the- mikeman gives them winning tips, a thine he cannot do consist- ently; TRANSRADIO NEWS Radio's Number-One News. Service Now Available on Southern New England's Number-One Radio Station Available Sept. I • Transradio News on WTIC 15-MINUTE PERIODS DAILY: 8 A.M., 1 P.M., 6 P.M.. 11 P.M. Rates and Further Information Will Be Supplied on Request 50.000 WATTS WTIC HARTFORD CONN. The Travelers Broadcasting Service Corporation Member NBC Red Network and Yankee Network i>iiul 'tV, Morenry, Ofneriil Sfiinncor ' ,liimo« F. CInni'y,' llunlnrss. MnniiBcr Rpprc'iwn(atIy«H: WtcA 5: Oiiiipiiny, New York, Dctrult, CIiIchko, Snn FrunrlsCo Heard ever NBC Sunday (7) was initial broadcast from Finland in connection with 1940 Olympics since games shifted there from Japan. One of those 'Welcome America, . We Want You to Come to Our Games', affairs. Came through remarkably dear from Helsinafors, Finnish .capital, via RCA facilities. Greatest interest was attached to speech made by Paavo Nurmi, the runner, because he and his record are well known to U.S. sports fol- lowers. He spoke In Finnish, necessi- tating full translation by the an- nouncer. Announcer worked overtime be- cause air speakers employed native tongue of Finland except (Consul Ernst Kroglus, Finnish rep of Inter- national Olympic coriimtttee. Jean Sablon is doing too much Frenchy : stuff on his usually good Sunday afternoon quarter hours; also he's becoming a shade too saccha- rine. But chiefly it's somewhat extra-heavy on the studious- in- irratiatioh. plus somewhat superla- tive discourses on his romances with a gal in . Santa Barbara, another in his native Paree. etc. Merle Aide- man is a Eoo-l assist with his zingy dansanation and .announcer Ben (surname uncaii^ht) foils deftly Announcer Ben, incidentally, also sums it all up best by observing 'I wish I knew what you were singing 1 about,' meaning the French lyrics, I , i 'PORT OF MISSING HITS' l' With Robert Eriiiriet Dolen, Glenn Darwlni Joe Lilly Chorus, Gene I Hamilton I 30 Mins. ; Thursday 8.30 p.m. i WJZ-NBC, New York I Another angle on audience particl- 1 pation. Program, airs melodies, written by ace writers, that were i figured to have the stuff to i-each pop { appeal biit for some reason never 'reached that status, Invites listen- iers who have a secret passion for an ' obscure melody to request an airing I As presented airing is pleasurable and is aided by bright dialog. It ! could however, widen, the idea of , comparing brairichllds of various ' authors as It did with the two Vin- 1 cent Youmans tunes on show . cau.^ht (28). Offered 'I Know Tliat ; You Know' as a- Youmans success, ithen his. forgotten 'Through the ' Years' done in excellent .voice by Glenn Darwin, baritone. Major por- tion of a diverting 30 minutes was well • handled by. a studio crew batonned by Robert Emmet Dolen .Toe ' Lilly chorus's piping of 'Bidin My Time* from 'Girl Crazy' was 1 outstanding. FOtJB COBNEBS THEATRE 'Aant Jeruby on U|* WarpMli* PUy 30 Mins. Sustainlnlr Taesd«y, 8 p. m. WABC-CBS, New Tork Columbia, as part of . ^ts new Farmer-Calling, brings in hayseed drama via the Four Corners Thea- tre. Presenting a 30-mlnute vehicle every Tuesday night Each script is one which has received numerous f)resentations in the crossroad ham- ets over the past several' genera- tions. Judging by 'Aunt Jerushy,' the fourth of this series, the essence and effect may just as well be left in the barns. 'Aunt Jerushy' in its Intent is a comedy. But on the air, partly due to the fact that the quaint rural characterizatioris are lost visually, there are few laughs,' no drama— in fact, hardly anything at all. It sounds blah for. urbanites and not sufficiently well, done fo the rural listeners— that' is, if - the wisedrup farmers will turie in on something as old-fashioned as this: . Due to the strained effort of the cast to achieve that cornfield twang, the dialog isn't'any too clear. : Great and numerous stress on the pronun- ciation of - 'constable' as 'constabu-u- ule' is a tip-o. . . For . commercial purposes this doesn't even seem to fit a chicken- coop manufacturer. Scho.' ANNOUNCERS CIVIL SERVICE QUIZ With Ted Cott 60 Mins. — Local Sastalning . Friday, 8 p^. WNYC, New York Idea of the. municipally owned, non-corhriiercial station in quizzing persons who want Civil Service jobs with scripts of passed exams is a good one iri view of the number of listeners who are interested in the tests; There Was even added inter- est in the program last Friday (5) when five persons were quizzed with the exam used last year in weeding out applicants for the jobs as station announcers at WNYC. 'Show was much' too long, and should have been compressed to half the length it was given. Five par- ticipants were good and evinced in the main quite some ability. That they were roundly a group of per- sons with no knowledge of the trade was evidenced frdm the manner they tripped when trying to define such terms as script, continuity, sustain- ing show, tag line, tie-in announce- ment, ad lib, dead spot Contestants had to take pronuncia- tion tests and had a whirl at batting out blurbs. These' were harmlessly nonrcommercial; copy exhorted at- tendance, at the free amusements the city offers. Trio of horiorary Judges on hand, CBS announcer Keri Roberts, NBC mikeman Dan Russell, and Brooklyn Eagle air columnist Jo Ranson. Ted Cott had rather a harassing Job of dealing out the tests. Copy should have boned down most of the questions to a length that could be handled with more facility. Bert, 'DESIGN IN MUSIC With Walter Kelsey, Jane Coaslns Orchestra, Slnctair 30 Mins. Snslatnlnr Satnrday, 9 p. m. WEAF-NBC, New Tork Makes a pleasant summer fill- In for a Saturday night It's an all- string ensemble directed by Walter Kelsey, with the repertoire composed of operetta excerpts, Negro spirituals, standard Americana and current pop tunes. Jane Couslns's coloratura soprano provies okay as long as it doesn't have to hold on to an upper register, while the male quartet passes inuster in in- terpreting the older Negro rhythms. There's the usuil Victor Herbert finale. Odec. 'I'HEAK AMERICA SINGING* Presented by AliaUIr Cooka BBC, London Curiosity about this series Is great deal of the American di^ material here used by Alistair CooS has never been heard by the AmeJ? can public, either over the radio elsewhere. Recordings forming basii ' of programs were loaned by ffi Lomax, curator of Library of Cnn gress in Washington, and are thSl made non-commercially by hiihwu with a view of keeping track of folk' music existing in all parU of UniiM States, from spirituals "to hillbillies ^ Dramatic value is. given to k broadcasts by Cooke's build-un which gives U.K. listeners an insisft into essentially American character istics, and in a large part helps them \<) appreciate, problems the U S hw to face, but which have no counter part this side of the water. Speakl; ranks here as one who knows hS joh. and by sympathetic presentation of his discs, which he uses to illus. Irate specific (acets: of American so. ciety, puts^over good gripping. enter, tatnment that is eagerly awaited each week. ■ Series has now run to five broad, casts and has put spotlight oil- America -as a melting pot, with its merging of communiti-s from man? lands, a development which brou.ght with it traditional melodies of the Old World, though in new set- tings; cowDunchcrs and the outlook they express in their songs of the saddle; the Negro problem, with its characteristic musical expression- arid th€ pioneers in their prairie schooners. Cooke does riot rely on farniliar tunes, a whole parcel of his broadcasts being taken up with local- ized songs, with, in the case of the Negro, the type of sporitaneous ex- pression which in Lori:iax's discs'is recorded for the first time. This is excellent radio stuff, with fresh appeal. At a guess, Alistair Cooke Cvuld do. worse than take it back to America and broadcast the identical programs to U.S. listeners. 'THE INVISIBLE MAN' With Geoffrey Keen, Andrea Troo. bridge, Clifford Bean, Fraak Thornton-Bassett, Howard Marloa- Crawford, Eliot Makeliam, Charlct Barrett, George Bellamy, Robert Mawdcsley, Philip Connlnghaa ' and V. C; Cllnton-Baddcle'y BBC, London There wasn't much to this as a playlet As a yarn, it ranks .with Gilbert K. Chesterton's best and, properly read, could have made far better "'entertainment than this phoriey dramatic version; Some things BBC does well; others It does badly; this was one of the others. Program organizers appear scared of reading as entertainmerit yet It is radio of all things that has abun. dantly proved how excellent it is to sit arid listen to novels, short stories, classical literature and other forini of print well ' put over by an ac- complished reader. Some of BBCt work in this direction has tieea brilliant. Instead, some brain inside the or- ganization has conceived a notion of dramatizing short stories, with the result they come out artificial and devoid of. the excellence inherent in the original writing. Of all people, G. K. Chesterton was appealing as i writer; his plot values are gobd, ttio, but it was his own fine technique above all that put the stamp of fame ' on his work. By chopping up the narrative, ■ part being read by Clinton Baddeley, part presented In' dialog with actors assuming the characters in the tale, it became just a mediocre yarn, more especially ^as it appeared under-rehearsed. No member of the cast rated favorable TTiRntlon. ■ ' ■■ •MAMA BLOOM'S BROOD' Transcription 15 Mins. DE WITTS Tu-Th,- 9 p. m. 2 UW, Sydney This American waxcr with family appeal clicked on premiere. Re- leased by Fidelity Radio and han- dled by 2 UW for De Witts, disks should find plenty of home listeners on twice-weekly schedule. As enacted, 'M.B.B.' offers enter- tainment; of a different variety to that heard over the commercials in a long spell. May take a little time for folks to get used to the chatter as used by main femme, but there's little else, to stop waxer from secur- ing coverage for its sponsor. ■ Rick. AL BARBIE Mellydrammer Moinenis IS Mins.— Local Sustaining Thurs., 8:30 p.m. WNEW, New York Old melodrama with all its high- pitched dramatics, curses, ancient language, villains and dire plottings. Its played straight or it seems so, over the air. Offer of 25 pair of ducats, with Randalls Isle and Hipp operas, plugged. , Al Barrie, credit with scripting, producing, acting and singing, does creditably in latter two categories. Vocalizing hints some promise. Wear. COUNT MOST Rcdna, SuiikatchetvaB 1,000 watti, foil tlm«, baalc CBi) Soakatchcwan'i I,eailln( Statloa uiEED e GOfflPiiny Htm (MS* • tiu*Mt\ ttnttr'UMMumtmtl ON THB NBC RED NETWrOfSi MPTIONnL REPBESEMTRTIVE5 EDWRRD RETRY & CO tf^nesday, AwguBt 10, 1938 RADia VARIETY iSTiETIlllIlt Months of Delay Foreaeen in (Jiving Broadcasters Any Tangible Hints of What Is Permissible Under Lea- Wheeler Act Stiffening . Tenns of 'Misleading Ad- Tertising' NO BEACONS Washington, Aug, 9. Long -wait predicted for crystalli- zaUon or the new Federal Trade Cominission understanding of the lea-Wheeler Act stiflfening igovein- ment control of misleading advertis- ing. Broadcasters apparently will bave to find out by experience what is permissible and what the. Federal cop7 readers consider extravagant Md deceptive. FTC will continue along prfsehl line in administering the new stat- ute.' That means no regulations or formal caution in advance which would give the radio industt'y some- thing to steer by. Instead, the Com- . mlsh will rule on individual cases, maliiDg it a perpetual guessing game when it comes to deciding it some ■ particular blurb might draw a repri- mand. : Broadcasting industry is not in danger of being severely punished by TIC, because of the waiiver clauses is the act. but naturally cannot for- get the possibility that the Commu- nications Cpminission will decide to spank managers who allow their mikes to be used by drug, medicine, and cosmetic makers with little sense of social conscience. It will be imperative for station execs to keep a. much closer eye on the FTC's hand- outs about stipulations in the future and to ogle commercial pults more interisiyely than in the past. Lack of Do's, Don't's Although the government combers will be disposed to give verybody a chance to get acquainted with the new statute, the obligation on broadr casters is disturbing, even if the law says cooperating managers are not liable to fines or. jail terms. Absence of formal interpretation, lack of a list of do's and dbn't's, and virtual' certainty that the blue-penciling will be a sort of ex post facto proceeding will make it tough for the industry, regardless of how anxious it is to see that listeners, are not duped. Procedure under the new law will be the same as: broadcasters are ac- customed to. As has' been the cise since 1933, when radio advertising first came under the PTC squint, the special board will scan published blurbs, labels, pamphlets atid radio copy; in the event something- looks bad, opportunity will be offered to reform voluntarily; when resistance is met, the Commish will crack down with a formal complaint,, preliminary to an official cease-and-desist order. The act says that stations are not to be held responsible unless they re- fuse to. play ball by • telling who placed the account or prepared the script, • ' . , . Overwhelmed with run-of-mine chores, the special board has been slow about jumping any advertiser under the Lea-'Wheeler ■ vei-biage. May be several months before the censors get around to reading the docunrients or listehiiig to some' air- waved build-up which horrifies their sense of decency. In such circuni- stances commercial managers' will be KGY, Olympia, on Block Seattle, Aug, 9. Deal is reported to te under way for J. E. McCaw, geh. mgr. of KELA, Centralia, , to buy KGY, Olympia, Sale figure quoted is $25,000.- Archie Taft, v.p. of KOL, Seattle, is the principal owner of KGY, which operates. at 500 watts on 1440 kc. Inside Stuff-Ra£o GOODPRESSFOR FARNSY VISIO Los Angeles, Aug. 9. Coast editors and publishers got their first look af television as is today, and got a southern Califor- nian hot 'n' bothered over it pronto. Live talent was used in the demon- stration, in which 44i-lirie images were transmitted from one room to another on a . screen 9 by 12 inches. George . Everson, sec. of Farnsworth Co. . of Frisco, said the results would have been identical at SO. miles were facilities, availablie. Images were clearly defined' ;and the tone was flawless: Background was a grayish blue. Only one camera '. was usbd, precluding' an unbroken continuity. Those who . had . witnessed visio demohstrattions in the east claim . the local brand was good, and' other en- thusiasts compared the. screening and sound with motion picture projec- tion. It >yas far and away the topper of anything along those lines pre- viously attemt>ted put here. forced; to keep .fingers crossed for a long time, with some FTC watchers estimating five years will elapse be- fore everything about the act is fully understood and reiliable precedents are established. Life is getting to be just a series- of accidents to the two purveyors of musical background on the 'Jane Arden' script show, wfiich airs oh 'WJZ, N. Y, for Ward Baking, Fortnight ago Giertrude Schneider, cellist oh, program, failed to shew for. Monday morning broadcast because she was recovering from efTects of having been pulled from the surf in near-drowned condition at Jones Beach. Missed program last Monday (8) because her train was wrecked returning from weelcehd in Vermont; Christinie Caton, organist on the. program, is bandaged for bruises and cuts on left elbow and back. Her escort late .last Thursday (4) night shoved her into a doorway on a Jackson Heights; street when gunmen .sprayed the lane with bullets after holding up a g'-ocery store. O, C, Cash of Tulsa, third assistant temporary vice-chairman and grand exalted keeper of the minor keys in the gag organization. Society, for the Preservation , and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in- America, has received a telegram from the W. M. C, C. of Hollywood, Cal., which asks that organizati'oh be allowed to join the S. P. etc. : Telegram came from Herb Polesie, head of the Westwood Marching and Chowder Club and revealed that the society, made up. of such sterling singers as Bing Crosby, Pat O'Brien, . Fred MacMurray, Wesley Ruggles, Ken Murray, Shirley Ross, William Frawley and others, had voted unani- mously to merge the W. M. C. C. with the S. P. E B. S. Q. S, A. .Noel Coward number sung by Gladys. Swarthout on last iSunday's (7) Magic Key program was set on .the show by the composer himself. Con- tralto and her husband, Fraiik Chapman, saw Coward at the Riviera dur- ing their recent European vacation. When he was told of the Magic key date he. asked Miss Swarthout to sing the song, which he said is his favor- itei of all his own compositions. When she agreed he set the arrangements by cable with RCA execs. Piece is called 'Where. Are the Songs We Sung?' and is from Coward's legit musicali .'Opierette,' which recently closed in London. Recording made from the broadcast was sent to Coward, as 'payment' Talse rumOr of the finding of the wreckage of the Pan-American trans- Pacific Clipper kept both NBC Red and Blue networks on the air an hour and 25 mins. overtime Saturday (6) liight ■ Both webs stuck around until 2:25 a.m. relaying bulletins as fast as they came in, meanwhile filling in \yith live dance rhusic from Chicago. Net- works-were also trying' to arrange a pickup from the Japanese stearhcr which had apparently radioed finding the wreckage, when word came through it was all a mistake. ' Jack Howard, prez of Scripps-Howard Radio, Inc., flatly denies that his outfit made a bid or intends to make a'bid to buy WMCA,.N,Y. Rumors to that effect have .been circulating alOng -radio row. ' ' WKRC CINCINNATI. . "50% morer Local Cincinnati advertisers prefer radio station WKRC. It sells 50^ more time to local advertisers than both other local network slations combined. COLUMBIA'S STATION FOR CINCINNATI 550 KILOCYCLES 40 TABIBTrr lOMIMN OFFICE, ■ 8t, Martin'* PIbm, Trafaltar Hqpaf* . INTERNATIONAL RADIO 9ahU AUrcMI TABIETT, LONDON jTelaphaaa Tanpla Bar SMl>50tx Macquarie Radio Network Formed In Australia; Has Transcription Angles Sydney, July 20. Macquarie Broadcasting Network li new title for the various stations under the control of Sir Hugh Deni- ■on, mogul of Associated News- Bapers. Executives include R, E. enison, Stanley Crick, Fred Daniell, bon Service, and N. L. Shaw. Unit ■as 13 commercials. Company is also a stockholder in Australian and New Zealand The- atres (Williamson-Tait). Crick, formerly 20th-F6x boss here, is a managing director of W-T. Means that this outfit will now l>ecome in- terested in the radio field as well as legit. Dr. Power is the representa- tive in. U. S; Transcription biz, formerly han- dled by 2 GB, Ltd., and Broadcast- ing Services, has been taken over by new lineup. Transcription pro- duction will come under the per- sonal supervision of Fred Daniell, who recently returned from U. S. visit American transcriptions are being handled by American Tran- scription Agency through Clive Ogilvy. This particular unit draws on 18 U. S. waxers for rhaterial to program Australian field. Reported that an inteirest has been bought in . Broadcast Enteiprises, Ltd., London, and that Oswald An- derson, previously with 2 UW; Syd- ney, is acting as the agent in that spot. Understood that a bid will now be made to sell Australian transcriptions abroad. ' LOWNEY'S BUYS CKACS MOST ROSSY SHOW Montreal, Aug. 9. Gala Humoristique et Musical, most elaborate of the CKAC sustain- ers, has been bought for Lowney's Chocolates by A. McKim advertising agency. CKAC program department will continue to produce the show under agency supervision. Scheduled to go on Fridays, 8 to > p.m. period, starting Sept 16. ARTISTS M.^NAGEMENT AMERICAN PREMIERE OF JULIAN F U H S Noted Continental Modern Conductor Oh WJZ-NBC Blua Net- work Friday, Aug. 12, 10-10:30 P.M, EDST n ^.A5»si. \ w.v.c, \ In England Ernest Lpdcstaffe, after trip to study U. S. radio, restarts at B.B.C. with 'Sing Song* pro^ara Aug. 13. Hal Kemp playing from the Hotel Astor roof in New York City, and Sammy Kaye from Atlantic City con- tributing to .B,B!C. Saturday nite series, 'America Dances,' on hook- up with C.B.S. Harold Cox quit picture produc- tion to join BBC Television gang, supporting Philip Dorte on outside broadcast department Billy Milton wrote the; music for television show, 'Order to View,' in which he also liad lead. Canadian Comic Earns $300 Weekly, A New Local Higb Montreal, Aug. 9. Gratien Gelinas (Firidolin), leading French language comiCi has been signed for Bilack Horse Ale at $300 weekly, niew high for a radio enter- tainer in Canada. New show star- ring Gelinas, scheduled to begin next month, will be produced by the Ru- pert Caplan office under Bill Har- wood's direction. Gelinas was built up by the CKAC itroductipn department, and studio tried to retain him for last year's- sponsor, N. G. Valiiquette, furniture store. Valiquette felt unable to meet the $300 iagiire offered by the brew- ery, and in the shuffle - production was switched to the Caplan office.' Gelinas has reserved right to de- termine scripting and talent to be used in the new production, and that Maurice Meerte and orchestra as well as Lionel Daunais, vocalist will go along with the comic. Air-Conditioned Studio Last Word in Vienna Vienna, July 26. New radio 'station (Reichsscnder) on AfSentinierstrasze is nearlng completion. New radio building is first here; to ' be equipped with air conditioning, something unknown as yet to Austrlans. Experts from Germany here work- ing on plans to install television. SEE POLITICS INGADDRAULT CASE Montreal, Aug. 9. Maurice Gaudrault, prominent local attorney, has been appointed manager of station CBF, the Cana- dian Broadcasting Corp. SO,600- watter here, ' succeeding John C. Stadler. Stadler has been lipped as assistant to . Dr. A. Frigon, assistant general manager of the CBC. Gaudrault was formerly a law partner of C. A. Bertrand, Member of Parliament, who sat in as a mem- ber of the Parliamentary Commis- sion which recently conducted an Investigation of the CBC setup. ^Tkppolntment is considered by some as political, and with the oft-re- peated declaration that the CBC would not bow to political pressure or permit the national radio network to . be used a^ political football, Gaudrault's entry into radio as di- rector of the government's 50,000- watter, here, may very likely result in political recriminations. Broadcasters here in any event are Inclined to view Gaudrault as politi- cal appointeie. EMPHASIZING VISIO AT LONDON EXHIB KRAFT, FEEN-A-MINT RENEW ON NORMANDY London, Aug. 3. Sunday half hour on Radio Nor- mandy has been booked for a further 52 weeks by the Kraft Cheese Co. Time is currently being used to ad- vertise - Miracle Whip. Air time booking and program are handled by the radio department of J. Walter Thompson Co. An extension of the Feen-a-Mint contract on Radio Normandy for a further 52 weeks has also been set with the International Broadcasting Co. by Erwin Wasey. Extension covers a Sunday morning quarter hour, in which George Formby is regularly featured. Same advertiser also broadcasts from Normandy on Wednesday afternoons. Clinton Johnson and wife, origi- nators of KJR Seattle serial 'Lars and. Lena,' in San Francisco stalking sponsor. 3" JAUE \'/EST Presented by Ivory Soap ■ 99"'''ioo°/o pure MCTEN DAILY NBC Red Network, 12:15 to 12:30 P.M. DST CBS • WABC— 2:15 to 2:30 P.M. DST IN COAST TO COAST I>lr. COMPTON AUVKRTlSiNO AC.KKCY MGT., ED WOLF— RKO BLDG,, NEW YORK CITY London^ July 26. Radio manufacturers are out to force the pace' of television, and at annual Olyihpia exhibition, Aug. 24 to Sept, 3, spotlight will de- liberately be shifted from radio to visio. Whereas in former ' years, with cooperation of British Broad- casting Corp., radio has been boosted by special programs relayed from the exhibition buildings, this year such support is to be scrapped and instead BBC will concentrate on taking picture broadcasts from there. ' Corp., therefore. Is seemingly like- wise kicking against attempts to hold back television, as during the show five to Six hours of programs will be televized daily instead of routine two hours. Officially confirmed Is story re- ported way back that BBC would open second television station in Birmingham, serving English mid- lands. Now stated that special co- axial cable running north from Lon- don is in full working . order that far, and further sections are being laid as far north as Manchester., Idea is to serve entire U. K. with one program from London. Lonis Morrlsette, publicity director for Station CKAC, Montreal, back at his desk from two-week honey- moon. Canadian Notes CJCA, Edmonton, Canada, Is giv- ing free time to 'Ducks Unlimited. Organization is an American-Cana- dian movement to preserve wild game in breeding , grounds around this area of Canada. M, V. Chesaut, manager of CKCK, Reglnai' and Fred Scanlon, manager of CJRM, Regina, off to annual meet- ing of Western Association of Broad- casters In Banff . Springs Hotel, Banff, Alta., Aug. 8 and 9, Kay Gogan leaves CKCK, Regina, Sask., Sept. 1 to be married. Her place as editor of Women's. Maga- zine of the Air will be taken by Mar- jorie buff. J. Walter Thompson, through All- Canada Radio Facilities, has placed True or False series of platters for Williams Shay ing Ci-eam Co. with CKCK, Regina, Sask,, commencing Sept IS for 16 weeks. Jndge Rutherford From London Offered Yankee Air Stations on SepL 11 Judge Rutherford's Watchtbwer Society is this week contacting 200 stations coast to coast to line up as much coverage as possible ; for a special one-hour live spiel on Sept 11. Date is a Sunday, and time Is 2 p.m. Broadcast will be rattier unmual in that Rutherford will speak from Albert Hall, jLK>ndoh. Telephone wires will be.iised to hop ,the talk across the Atlantic. Acorn Advertising agency is buy- ing the tiine for Rutherford, and dealing in the main with station reps, buying where possible the eijtire lineup handled by each rep. How- ever, around half of the stations in the country have bans against car- rying Rutherford; . .One-hour live spiel is an annual with the Judge, whose mouthings are regularly purveyed to listeners via discs. Last September he talked over over a hookup of around .75 stations from a convention of ttie Watchtower Society held at Colum- bus, O. ENGUSH SALUTE NEW SCOTS TRAIN ■ London, July 31. AH BBC regional transmitters will cooperate on all-over U. K. hookup for program dramatizing London Midland and Scottish Rail- way's crack 'Coronation Scot' train. Each region will contribute items re- lating to express's passage through its owii territory,, and material will be mixed in Manchester to. go out through Regional and National sta- tions on successive days, Aug. 17 and 18. . Idea was worked up by D. G. Bridson, who will trace train's daily itinerary through each region— Lon- don, Midlands, North and Scotland— with local producers working on each section. Scenes on the railroad, recordings on footplate, in the coaches and alongside the track will be used, and interviews with per-, sbnnel. .Music composed by Norman Fulton will be played by BBC Northern orchestra. Whole program will be recorded for Children's Hour program Aug; 18.' , - Montreal, Aug. 9. Final figures compiled by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. for the fiscal year just ended show the sale of radio licenses in Canada at 1 104 207 an i increase of 65.707 licenses over the previous year. Canadian manu'fac- ' turers estimate the number of radio seU in use at more than 1 500 000 ' pointing to the probability that thousands of sets are in use for which i licenses have not been applied for. | Biggest increase in number of radio licenses is shown by the Province ' of Quebec, which accounts for 14.6% of the total increase. Only province where a decrease in licenses is noted is Saskatchewan, probably due to the disastrous drought which reduced the wheat crop there last year to practically nothing. i LICENSES, 1937 3,282 . 40,938 27,253 PROVINCE Price Edward Island Nova Scotia New Brunswick Quebec '.'.'.'.'.'.[...... 2io',m Onta^o 424,126 Manitoba 69,861 Saskatchewan 68,193 Alberta ■72;458 British Columbia 91,978 Yukon and Northwest Territories 300 1938 4,198 43.321 29,956 268,650 445,867 73,099 62,636 75.843 100,251 386 CANADA WEB NOW HAS 45 STATIONS Montreal, Aug g Canadian Broadcasting Corp " now reckons 45 basic stations on ii. trans-Canada network. Possibiliue? that there will be a total of 54 sta tions affiliated with CBC before next year. I Last year there were only 37 stations figured on the CBC basic network. . , Understood that new additions to the .network resulted -from the greater- use of American programs which have been taken over by the CBC from privately owned stations the American commercials attract- ing independent stations for reve- nue and the sustainers for potential radio listening interest. With CBC shortly scheduled to expand its facilities still further through use of international . ex- change programs, bringing Euro- pean as well as American programs over the network, it is believed here that more privately owiied stations will, find it convenient to hook up with the CBC. Emulates O'Daniel Longview, Texas, Aug. 9. Success of Lee O'Daniel's use of a hillbilly band in the Texas guberna- torial primary recently has led to imitations of the stunt. Jerry Sadler, candidate for state railroad ' commissioner, has com- menced using siniilar: musical outfit on KFRO here as well as during bis npn-brpadcast rallies. * ★ inr PARADE Saturday. « f-M-^"*^ ' FIFTH 8ERI" CMH- HOfT 'Radi-> Originator ONK M,\N snow TWO VOICE S.Mlt ASJ> IIKNKT MASTER OF CEItK.MONIKS RAIN NO MO' VKR.SE CONTEST VARIETY HOUR .CO.M.MUNITX SING Adilrpsn! 43SI N. Paallna St., riilrn»« BLUE THURS. 6:30 P.M; EDST ^.^ne Bd»T> August 10, 1938 VARIETY 5(f,Jungton Lawyer* In- crtMiBgly DUposed to Chtllenge F.C.C. on Its Procedural Tendencies— FaQure to Give Details Hurts ^ HUSH-HUSH Washington, Aug; 9. Hush-hush manner, with which llie FCC handles program cpm- lints and the legal right of the julatory agency to rule on .the. propriety of programs are becoming important issues which threaten to array the Industry, via its legal riioutbpieces, against the Government in court proceedings. Growiog resentment since the track-down drive got under way last (inter has reached the point where tbe Conununications Bar Associa- liOD is toying with the: idea of mak- at a direct demand that the FCC put all the cards on the table, cease tiding tacts in a manner which gives innocent parties a black eye, and lay down some yardsticks by ihich the business can escape con- sult fear of harassment reeling that the FCC .I3 decidedly DDlair and employing improper tac- lies came to a head last week when In stations-rCited to defend them- ttlves at hearing on renewal , license applications— openly challenged the Cutting Down Philadelphia; Aug. 9. Everyone, even her boss,, has been telling . Mrs. Margaret 'Mike' Schaefer, production director at WFIL, that she works too hard. So she's cutting, down. Last year she wrote and produced a serial called 'Just We Two." This year she's doing one' tabbed .'Just Me.' right of the Commish to deny per- mits because of certain advertising matter which went but over their antennas. Put in the dog-house a month ago, WMBC, Detroit, and WMIN, St. Paul, through attorneys Phil Loucks and Arthur Scharfeld, agreed to participate in helarings un- der protest because the Commish assertedly is. proceeding without benefit of statutory authority. Has the Power? , Legal fraternity is split on the question of whether the Communica- tions A;t gives the FCC power to investigate particular progranis in reaching conclusion on the public interest proposition, but virtually all lawyers are becoming furious over the veil which' the Commish throws around program complaints. . . Evidence of this- deep-seated feel- ing was shown, when Scharfeld, on behalf of WMINT, demanded the Com- mish provide, particulars about .the way in which the law was fractured when : 'Prosperity Night' program was aired last spring. Over a period of . more ^ than four months, iieither proprietors of the trans- mitter nor the legal spokesmen have been able to get ' detailed informa' tion. ' Pointing to the need of making thorough preparations for the forth-, coming hearing, Scharfeld requested the FCC to furnish 'a record of all communications received by the Coinihission relating to. the pending ' application for renewal of Station WMI'N's license and. specifically showing the name and address of the person makirig the statement and the substance of such statement.' . Columbus Injury Another squawk about the unfair methods of the FCC is based on the misleading type of public anribunce- ments when stations are handed' temporary licenses. Because of the secrecy thrown around irivestiga- tions, it has been impossible on numerous occasions to find out the reasons why a regular renewal was withheld. Most recent example of injury worked by -the vague state- ments in weekly summaries of Com- mish action is the case of .WHKC, Columbus. Report of meeting July . 27 showed the FCC ordered a hear- ing station's irehewal plea and issued a temporary permit, but no reason was given. Looked as though this was another of the stations cited for some law violation. Real facts are that the hearing is occasioned ..by proposed frequency shifts, with WHKC currently using 640 wanting to swap berths with WKBN, Youngs- townj which is On 570. Several other broadcasters have beeii wotinded in the same fashion during the past few months,, althouigh as a result of repieated yelps Chair- rrian Frank R. McNinch has partially lifted the secrecy lid in recent weeks. Basis of the loudest complaints is that the Commish frequently will not let licensees know for some time what sin they have committed. In one recent, instance, three weeks after a formal ahno.unceinent that a station wpuld be required to present, evidence at a hearing on its renewal plea neither the owner nor the legal front had been able to find out exact reasons behind the action. .Consider- able delay in learning the facts is the general rule. Not Obeying Own Bnles . ^This situation is brought, squarely before the Commission by Schar- feld's letter in the WMIN case. Only tip which the station received was a letter dated April 29 stating attention McNinch's Health Washington, Aug. 9. Showing marks of long pe- riod flat on his back, Chairman Frank R. McNinch visited his FCC office for a few hours last week and then departed for a seashore vacation to replenish his strength. . . Expects to be back at the desk regularly about the mid- dle of the month, but probably .will have to tal*•»»*****»**♦♦♦»»♦»»»♦♦»♦♦ F. C. C's WASHINGTON DOCKET ; » t ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦♦♦<♦<♦>»»*> > <♦♦♦ « ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ » ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦» ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ » ■ » ♦ ♦ ■ ♦♦♦»<♦ ♦ » ♦ * » * » ♦ * ♦ ♦ * The Old Time Ideas Are Good Enuff for Ds' Montreal, Aug. 9. . Alert station and independent pro- ducers are meeting strong resistanbe trying to sell and promote Arnericah show : methods . for radio programs here. Local sponsors are inclined to stick, to the. old backwoods methods, relyiiig on ' dated ga3.s been advertising Us programs via the. :hnnU-blll . route. .SIK hews- broadcasts a day. ' itow- evei^thrce provided by .Yankee and Colonial Networks and others obtained by staff members who act as legmen, ' No objectlonal Interference expected, though night operation would slightly Increase dirflcultlcs of several outside ^ trans- mitters, . '.'Applicant was represented by. Horace L, Lohnes, B. : D. Johnston and r, .\V, .AIMerison. • District uf* Columbia: Dirfcrence of opinion .between U. S. Broadcasting Co.i of AVarhlngton, and Commlsh - attorneys over filing date of an petition to withdraw application for n smallle .oh 1310 kc resulted' In recommendation for dlsinlss.'xl with prejudice by Examiner ilelvln H. Dalberg. Outnt'B attorney stated that petition had been filed with, the Com- mlsh on April 30, but Commlsh counsel maintained that It^ was Alay 2, too late for. a non-projudlclal action. Paul .'D. 'P. Spearman., and Alan 11. David appeared - nppll.cant, . Oeorglu: Juice-Jump for WHBU Columbus, and switch from the 1200 kc to the 1^30 Jcc frequency received the hod from Examiner 'Dalberg. Cha>ige in power' from .100 . watts knights, 250.. watts days, to .l lav -all times, -'would .benefit ' station without causing objt^cflonnble Interference -to other transmitters, Dalberg found.' Outfit -Is .operated by a.fallier-. und-son' coritormlon— rColumbua broadcasting Co,, .-Inc., w.lth'- J. "W, WoO.druff.' Sr., President-treasurer, owning- .SO^ 'bt the 'Mtiick, and- J, W„ 'Woodruff, ' Jr,.. 40%. An addillohal 1,0% hns*^ been applied for by Woodrtiff. Sr. Applicants nre nnanclally. quRlined to make ch.-ingeajo the tune of $17. COO, examiner decided, with WoodrUrr, Jr.— holder, of a large slug of stock -In Coca-Cola — ready 'to furnish us much ns 4;5O,O0O'-ta . lIie.'Cori>ornllon, Woodruffs hisb are interested in two other stations, \vlth. Woodruff, Sr,, ov;nlng aov, and Wnndruff,' .>r,. .10r» of WGPC. Albany^ and (ho latter iiardclpalinfi In the management of WATL, Atlaiit,i, In which lie has no financial Interest, '- Applicants, who .ilflO 'sought pernilDsion. to use a.' dli-ec- tlonal unteitn.-i sy^^ien,) nights and a . non^dlrcctlonnl .. antenna. svstem • days— were represented by Joha M. Mttlepage, Thomas P, LUtlepage, Jr., and William. A, Porter. , Idali6: ^reen light for a new station at Wallace was Indicated in the favorable report handed In by hxamlner John P. Brainhall on the application of Chester .Howarth and Clarence Berger for 1420 kc with 100 watts, nights, 2S0 watts days. Mining community receives nn . promary service whatever, Bramhall pointed out, and can tune In only on distant stations. Applicants— copartners-rare well qualified financially to handle a :new transmitter and Berger already Is licensee of KOCl at Coeur d'Alene and has been In .various Phases of the biz oinoo 1923. He would supervise the new transmitter, , ■ Rates for the proposed -station have, been set at 320 an hour. 112 a' half hoyr and 17.20 a quarter hour, with eub- stantlal reductions for. quantity advertising, Some .63 mer- . chants of Wallame and Kellogg already have' put It- In writ- ing that, they are Interested In .(islng the station'* facilities and a - monthly Income of .12,000. Is expected at the termina- tion of one year's operation. .. ' .- Station, -tvhich Is planning on carrying Mutual Broadcast- ing System programs might liinU KtiBM; i.a Grande, Ore,, to Its 2,6 millivolt per meter contour, nights, and be limited In return to Us own 2,9 mllUvqll per meter contour. This, however, not deemed serious enough for a turn-down: Clarence C- Dill and James W. Oum appeared for op- pllcants. Illinois: Ambitions of the owners of WTAD. ()ulncy, to extend operation to unlimited from daytimes only kindly received by Examiner Bramhall, Considerable mIx-up of Interference with and to other transmitters, wav.ed Aside by Bramhall, ' WLBT,, Stevens : Point, Wise, would, limited, ap- plicaVvt to Its 6.3. mllllvblt per meter contour and WTAD -wtruld Umit thets. Only a fraction of the. potential, advertisers In the community have been approached, however, and a. ' large portion of these 'have draw'n up, tentative contracts. Prob- able that /anticipated advertising revenues- can be substan^ tlally Increased, Seward declared. Since merchants have com- plained that trade which woul.d normally go' to them Is being attracted to surrounding dtles served, by other stations. Some' 16- stockholders have subscribed and. paid for $10,000 but of . $26,000 worth of stock which the corporation Is author- ized to Issue. , In addition, - S. B, Warren, corporation prez, - has^offe'rcd to advance- fCi-'OOO tO' the. brgahlzatloh' lf -necessary,. Technical equipment costing $6,874 may be bought on cash terms,, ailthough probability .la that a $1,200 down-payment .'.will be. made. and thu. balance paid off In 18. monthly Install- . liients .of $300, Station proposes rates of $25 per -hour; $16 per half-hour; $10 for 16 minutes, -and .$6 for live minutes. Spot -announcements would be set for $l.tO for' 26 words and $3, for. loo Words, . with discounts allowed for quantity adver.- tls'lng of t)l| types. ' Record showed need for primary service In 'Emporia ' and vicinity, Seward declared, and plenty of civic programs were proposed,. .Applicant, hope's to present approximately 66%. live , talent programs,- - Only question Of Interference rests .-with pending application for. a new station at Topeka, which would. use the same frer quency— 1370 kc—and Would bother the applicant transniltter to Its nhprbximate- 3,1' millivolt per, meter. .contour,. While To- peka station would .receive Interference-'' to within Us , 2,6 millivolt per meter contour.- ■ '. • Horace L. Lohnes. E, D. . Johnston knd F, W. Albertson represented Emporia Broadcasting Co, - M'ashlngton: Shaky evidence, ias -to' financial and technical qualifications, of the applicant drew frowns from: Bxamlner Bramhall on the plea of. R; C^ Atwood, of Belllngham, tor a-statlon at Port Angeles. Applicant's only contact with the -.Port Angeles area — outside -of -periodic .visits on. social . and- ' political . matters* — was established last year when Atwood began I'iankerlng for a- station. ' In. additlon.-'Atwood'a Income Is mostly derived from a $2, OOfS salary as treasurer of What-' , -com County — an elective ofHce . which he Is. considering re- signing — and: Income of approximately $900 annually froiii rental of a business building In Belllngham, Applicant's statement' that :hls. father would help out with a' .loan.and that -he could obtain $1,000 from a bank not considered suf- ficient evidence, that he could swlng conatructlan and opera- tion of' proposed $8,200 station. Other flaws In the application -Were Atwood's proposal to manage the transmitter, - although he Is .without broadcast experience; posilivs assurance of a $200. a month revenue from merchants In the area to balance against Sstlmated monthly, costs of $1,300; and steep local rates of $63,48 per half-hour, $31.63 for quarter-hour and $18,77 for recordings, which aplillcant expects to charge. Nearly 76% of the pro- rams Would be wax, Bramhall .pointed out-, , Atwood.: who asked for operation on ISOO kc with. 100 watts niglils. ZiO' watts days, retained Frank Stollenwerck as legal reiiresehtatlve SET FOR HEARING Illlhbis; WTMV, East St. Louis, boost night power from' too to 259 .watts, t ' ■ Indiana: WIRE, Indianapolis, make changes In direc- tional etntenna system for night use-, 'boost nlgltt Juice- from :l to 6 Jperatlon from simultaneous day ; with KOU. Albuquerque. N. Mex„ share KOB nights, to un limltea lUne. simultaneously with WOWOi Kort Wayne Ind Pennsylvania:. WltAW, Reading, Jump power from li)0 io 200 watts. Install new equipment. WTKL,- Fuulkrod Radio Engineering Co,, Philadelphia, change frequency from 1210 kc to .1500 kc. Increase time of operation from sharing one- Ihlrcr with WTKL and one-third with WHAT (WTEL and WHAT not permitted to operate at any time WCAM, Camden Is operating) to unlimited. PueHo Bleo: Knrique Abarca Santellz, Snr. .Tuan< lieW sta- tlon to he operated on 680 kc with' 1 kw, using directional ' antenna system. South Carolina: JTSamuel Brody. auihlcr, new stallon to be, operated on; 1310 ku wrllh 2}0 watts days,: NEW APPUCATIONS S>w York: W8X<~F, Anirohdack Broadcasliiig Co , Ino AUrtMj'.' invr.Mso power fro(h'6 to 15 walls uiid make ciianiies In equipment. renlixylyanla: WSXPF. Farnsworlli'TetevlsIon Inenrporaled or Pennsylvania, ."Snrlngnold, clltt'nge rreriuenry band-to CllOOu- IJOCiO kc lo.coiuorni w(th Commlsh Order No. 13, Defeated Candidates Have to Prote Charges Of Station Throttfai Washington, Aug, 9 Requests , for details will be sent John R. Neal, losing candidate in the Tennessee Democratic. priTnafi« laist week, who charged that un Identified Federal payroller tried ti dose Memphis radio stations toir° dlvlduals who might criticize «» political bosses. Lacking flrst-hand into, membeh of the Federal CommunicaUdM Commission said; the complaint to the Senate Campaign Expenditut« Committee probably will be (lb.: cussed this' week, and indicated Neal will be iasked for concrete proof ol his charges. Unless specific facts ate supplied, the squawk unquestibhably wiU be shelved.- In his telegram to the Senate body Neal gave no hint whether the ai. leged conspiracy to gag candidates was successful, nor did he suggest that any station executives or em- ployees were at fault. Circumstances remain a mystery, with the yelping politico' failing 1^' direct any com- plaint to' the Commish. - Senate committee decided the matter, was not within its jurisdic- tion, 'which, is expenditures and pat- ronage, and referred the Neal w|re to the. FCC for' whatever action the regulators desire to take. Evidence that, despite vagueness of the law and pitfalls lii. the politi- cal neutrality ^ section,- brbadcasten 'are doling a smart tight-rope walking act .Wks -seen in statement Fridar (5) :of Thomas J. -Slowie, secretary, that Commish so 'far ,has heard no yelps about unfairness, censorship ,6r partiality on the part of any stationi In' view of heat generated in several campaigns, this was regarded as con- vincing evidence the industry is do- ing its utinost.tp obey the injunction against taking sides. I Washington tobby j Washington,. Aug. 9. OverlukiillBr , and modernizing o( the radio provisions (Title ill) ol ' the 1034 . Communications Act ex-' pected -On all sides.' .Result of pro- longed bickering over; policies and . efforts to .find', uniform yardsticks, which spotlighted, shortcomings and vagiie or conflicting clauses ol tbt statiite. Much analysis of, the; legal', phraseology golhg on. with attention concentrated on the indefinite policy declaration afTectlrig sales anil leasei. As result of this year's to-dd oyer political broadcasting, FCC may sug- gest amiendment to the statute! spe- cifically exempting stations '.from lia- - bility for slanderous statements bx candidates or else allovving limited rig|ht . to blue-pencil spielenf speeches. Rumors of a crack-down, on sta- tions airing results and . payoffs 0' horse races have no foundation, al- though the FCC looks , askance at broadcasters -who do too much gee- gee publicizing. But managers who have been amiss in keeping the 00™" mish apprised of contracts affecting ■ control over their facilities will be Woodsheded. As typified by report from Chief Examiner Dave Arnold recommending denial of license re- newal , plea from .WRDO, Augusta, Me,, not merely for technicail viola- tion of Section 310B, but for negU- gence .in filing the necessary reports and statements: Precedent-esUblishtng d e c i s i on which will indicate the way the FCC feels about station leases is dW shortly. . .After weeks of wrangllni most of the members Have tentative- ly agreed oh the text of ah opinion in the case of .KSFO, San Francisco, which CBS wants to rent for a loni period. In view of the Congressional clamor about license trafficking, i"*" dustry observers are waiting wit* great interest for the opinion w this matter. Will supply a badly-, needed interpretation of the statute- Ifnllkely. this' FCC's c*"'!!; monopoly probe will reach the puti* ,lic hearing stage utitil mid October. Slowness with which licensees l|»v' replied to questionnaires, shoriag' of , personnel which has . been inten- sified by, vacation absences, . an" scope of the j()b of digesting "I* have upset original plan to begin Ukihg testimony early in September. bon Rebbins, San Francisco ^'^ manager of McClatchy radio .?tation= ■for 21 months, resigns Sept. 1. ffeJncsday, August 10. 1938 MUSIC DAHSAPATION ViiRtETY 43 Parisian Music ^(^ Radio Finds Imports Favored , and .with of undertaken pri- ! Cana- sta- rniusic pies of orches- French i-Cana- : and where taken ! and ^ . it have to Montreal, Aug. 9, Tendency towards continental, wbiclaliy Frenih,' music in radio WoadcasUng here being antici- !i'ed by Ca:i8dian broadcasters, result , that popularlzatipn ygrislan. music Is being •an eiteiislve ocale both by vately owned stations and the C jljh Broadcasting Corpbratioh. In response to a request from linn GKAC over 500 Parisian rr.. Sishers have submitted ^copies Let music, together with orch 2aU6ns, for use in building language shows in Caiiada. Program surveys Indicate a grow- . ihe preference among French-( dian listeners for ■ European, especially French, music, American music has until now ant, swon'i. """^ place. ' With exception of dance music _ the malor American name bands, is reported here that listeners h= been showing signs of response ■ blher national types of music. Jean Marie Beaudet. now in Europe for the Canadian Broadcasting Corpora- tion, is also conducting a survey to dtlermlne availability of French linislc for use in Canada. ItilY MRSEY BOTE NEW YORKER Tommy Dorsey orchestra is booked lor the Terrace Room of the Hotel New Yorket. N. V., opening early In October.' peal wais set ' by Music Corp.,of America through ' Rockwell- OVeefe in New York oh a split cbmniisslon basis. R-O'K has an ex- clusive booking deal, with Hits. Dorsey Is currently on the Coast itcoyering from a diphtheria attack which laid him low short time after last week's Raleigh-KooV broadcast: Oiitflt is' tentatively scheduled to kaye Hollywood Saturday (13) and start workiiig its way .east , via a' ceriea of ohe-nlghters:. Illness cost Dorsey 10 or 12 days of single night dates on the Coast ' Hollywood, Aug. 9. Tommy Oorsey was quarantined in Us hotel- rpbm for 10 days with diphiii^ria ..throat, not serious but WKW^ to prevent his appearance in public Series of one-rilght stands along the Coast had to be cancelled, while t substitute band leadier took over his Wednesday liight broadcasts. ASCAP Takes Tacoma Case to Sopreme Court Tacoma, Aug. 9. American Soislety of Composers, «M Publisliers last week permission to appeal its in- .luncUon action against Washington I*** «"*orities to the U.S. Supreme inn: ^^ special federal tribunal Mmposed of three judges had held want was without jurisdiction over TJf^i^^o^''^^ on the ground that *o^AP had failed to prove that the S u . amounted to d^ntr^: V on the question of juris- d'cUon.that the American Society " takmg Its appeal. had sought to have the "MJington State officials enjoined irom enforcing a legislative measure- a^ociatiohs of . com- ^A^^ ^^ ^^ their copyrighls «bvLfi*i* ^^P.'''''- The law had "oviously been aimed at ASCAP. Swwk St. Regis, N. Y.. bT*^ Colored Orchestra bas iL„''?^',"«*=°n'er Negro band, swank St p°-*'l ^*''' ^ at the. Playfd "r ''.'"^ a Negro combo has area. nl"y '"Se scale inn in this Carlton hn? , °» P'^^^'^ ^^e Ritz- o»e wli?°tel Boston, last year for Sherrv', „ r,^ °^ years ago mixed w", ark avenue tried a •^nd With '^"i.'l.t'-white njakeshift *ith indiflerent success. Sept. 28 on a 30- «hat ih? l?"al contract. Possible "lilt to'av J"". Ink Spots, cocktail <^«'«0Uda^f t**"^ hy booker. "™"aated Radio Artists. BUSY LARRY CLINTON Theatres, Hotel Lincoln, Deb Parties, Par Short Booked Ahead Larry Clinton's orchestra with Bea Wain and Dick Todd close at Glen Island Casino, N. Y., Sept 8, to open in picture iiOuses starting in Philly and Pittsburgh. Rockwell-O'Keefe booking. Will, Osborne succeeds Clinton.at the roadhpuse. After four week:, on tour, Clinton Is set for two months at the Hotel Lincoln, N. Y., Oct. 6, and then somie deb parties. He's making a Para- mount short for Lou Diamond and, for the first, time, original tunes by Hpagy Carmichael and RobinTRain- ger wiU.be part of the score. MOVE TO STOP BOOTLEG COPIES . Music Publishers Protective As- sociation has asked . Its members to cp-operate with, it In suppressing the. complirhentary orchestrations sales racket by printing or stamp- ing a warning on such publications. A circular letter on the subject. Is- sued by Walter G. Douglas, MPPA chairman; last week, also suggested that the warning; notice be printed aiwve the title on professional copies, Notice as phrased, in Douglas* letter was. as ■ follows: 'Warning— The sale of this copy is an infringe- ment of copyrlgRt, which jhakes the seller and purchaser guilty of a misdemeanor and - upon . conviction .liable to punishment by imprison- ment and flne, or both, under the copyright law.* tietter stated that the MPPA will, prosecute anyone it finds- ofTerlng professional material for 'sale, providing this warning no-- tice. is contained in the copies in- volved. Despite the -strict limitations placed by publishers on the circula- tion of free orchestrations, the pracetice of selling these publica- tions at' a third their counter value: has developed into; a sierious evil. Several such peddlers have - been arrested ia recent months, Under, the copyright law the copy- right owner has the exclusive right to sell his' works as well as print them, ' so that any ' one - caught trafficking in such publications without authority can be. prosecuted in the federal courts. Heidt^s High Grosses Horace Heidi's orch did banner biz on- three one-niters in Pennsylvania last week in July. Drew 2.633 at Ferhbrook Park. Wilkes-Barre, for a gross of $2,557.30, breaking Kay" Kyser's record. ' Topped Benny Goodman's record at Dorney Park, Allentown, drawing 2.327 and grossing $2,323.75. In Car- roilton drew 2,621 for $2,976. At latter, spot .record is still held by Kyser's biz last Easter Monday. Ad- mish for all the dates was $1.10. SEEK COMMON GROUND FOR PUBS-SPA Npw effort is being made to take the . difference between publishers and writers over a revised uniform standard contract' out of litigation. A. M. Wattenberg, counsel for; the Warner Bros, publishing interests, will within the next few days sub mit to the Songwriters Protective Association; through its counsel John Schulmah. an agreement which he figures will solve most of of the SPA's demands. . Wattenberg's drailt is the result of a series of meetings recently through which the contending factions have sought to find a meeting ground Basis for the agreement was worked out during these- informal discus slohs, which were attended by Wat-; tenberg; S. J. Buzzell, counsel for MiUs Music, Inc.';. iSchuIman; . Walter G. Douglas, chairman of the Music Publishers Protective Association, and Harry Fox, the MPPA's gen. mgr. ; SPA failed several weeks ago In its initial - legal attack on the pub- lishers' right to administer mechani- cal rigbts when Supreme Court , Justice Ferdinand Pecora dismissed the writer organization's complaint against Mills Music, Inc. While the decision questioned the validity of the , bylaws under which the SPA seeks to administer tiiese same rights, the court allowed for the submission of an amended com- plaint. Shilkret's N. Y. Visit Nathaniel Shilkret is in New York for a stay after three years in Hol- lywood as musical director for RKO. Currently recording for Victor, and is winding up a Gershwinaha series. ' Conductor is also on the look for a radio spot this fall. Music Notes Screen Music, Inc., is -doing the scoring for 'Renfrew of the Royal Mounted' at Grand National. -Johnny iWercer and Harry Warren clefled 'You Must Have Been a Won- derful Baby' and 'There's a Sunny Side ' to Every. Situation' for 'Hot Heiress' at Warners. Jeritza, Morros, Heifetz Boost H' wood Concerts Hollywood, Aug. 9. Sjnmphonies under the stars in Holly\yood - Bowl Is drawing tre- mendous, crpwds this , year, , At- tendahce^or ihe first thiree weeks of, the :32-c6ncert Slimmer series Is 45,000 ahead Of laist year's similar period. Overflow -crowd '.of 25.000 was attracted, by Maria - Jeritza. Music of the Cinema, with Boris Morros conducting, bagged another 15.000. Jascha Heifetz pulled 20,000. Boxes for, the series, tilted frorn $75 to $100 this season, were grabbed early. Four Marathon Dance Gallops For Randall s Island Start Aug. 24; Seeks Air Sponsor (for Charity) LOUIS BERNSTEIN SAILS Acted as Feiid-Se'.tler While o Eureipean. BIc-Pleasure T'lp Louis Bernstein', the music pub- lisher, who has been abroad the past two months on his annual business- pleasure trip, sails for home today CWednesday) from Paris, having been driven back to the French capi- tal by the heat oh the Riviera. Beirn- stein and iiis wife hkd gone to Cannes for a brief rest before, sailinig, but found it too hot there. Among other things; the music pub had reconciled Dr. Hugh Williams (nee Wilhelm Groscz, refugee Ger-. man composer) arid Jimmy Kennedy, his collaborator! with Peter -Mauriee. Writers and Maurice had been tiffing, and they weren't writing as pro- li&cally. Since Shapiro-Bernstein has the American rights to the Maurice cata- log that reflected on the U. S. firm; Bernstein also- effected quite a few deals for foreign songs ; diiring his London-Paris sojourn.-: SAM SERWER HEARtVlCTlM 42 . Sam Serwer, 42, sales and adver- tising manager of the pop division of the Warner Bros.; publishing group, dropped dead of a heart aittack early yesterday morning' (Tuesday) . Death occurred' in a drug 'store in the Times Square district while Serwservice Sept. 3-5. Southland Cafe, Boston, gets outfit next, opening Sept. 21, for four weeks with options. Latter spot crew gels a Mutual wire. 'Bill Bardo orchestra opens a four- day stay at the OrpYieum theatre, Memphis, Aug. 12', then nops to Fort Worth for a date at Lakcwood Ca- sino,- opening Aug. 18. Lotte Lehmann to Guest For Crosby, Magfic Key Lotte Lehmann, arriving today (Wed.) from Europe on the Cham- plain for her first summer visit to this country, has been signed to guest on the Bing Crosby program, in addi- tion to bookings set for Magic Key,' among other air programs. Exact dates aren't set. She will fill concert engagements Aug. 16, Colorado Springs; Aug. 20, Santa Barbara; Aug. 30, Milwaukee, and Sept. 3. Hol- lywood Bowl. Opens her regular fall tour Oct. 13 at Wellesley, Mass. Miss Lehmann will again appear with the Met Opera this winter, and is booked for another lengthy concert tour of Australia next spring. . So- prano also expects to correct final proofs of her autobiog, 'Midway in My Song,' her second book. She also plans to take out her first citizenship papers here. She arrived with her four stepchildren. E SMASH NOVELTY HIT mm THE MULBERRY RUSH reschne; CONN, hii;. 1619 BROADWAY ^EW YORK ./''\^. /^ IRVING BERLIN, Inc., 799 Seventh Ave N. Y. tfpAieBday, August 10, 1938 VAUDE— KITE GtUBS VARIETY 47 [gdio Ban Off , but Pitt Urban Roof Fidds Anybowr Roadhouse Kz Up Pittsburgh, Aug. 9. Tilting of remote broadcast ban by i^ M altered WiUiam Perm hotel'B ^unced Intention of dropping S altogether. but couldn't^save !"t's summer room, the Urban Roof. ZL folding. Once class , place of J'JJ^ BWOf had been doing poorly all *^M^nd hotel closed it last week. Sirs to Grill, where supper S^Ul be '"'Id for remainder During winter, same thing hap- J^"t waiiam Penn. Italian Ter- Kd been remodeled at :cost^of ^n«r $50,000, but flopped badly jTtwMlionth try. with dancing ^1 witched, at that t m^ to Gnll S Previously Grill had been K low-priced room,, featuring Bawian troupes and low-priced "nsuted it was the heat that got nrbi Roof. UteraUy, it isn't , a roof, belM only on 17th floor of , hotel, wUdi rises four stories . higher than tiiat Spot has ho cooling system and hcent siege of warm weather put teoD the skids., -i. ■ Xrtde generally at roadhpuse sodts. however, picked up somewhat lit week lollowihg lifting of radio tan. Band broadcasts was con- gdaed best advertising source and iiiijiess fell off considerably during month Musicians union invoked the .talbooi', lartiB, Pitt Stanley Settle Com TO, M (kMHfaianDeallsOff . Pittsburgh, Aug. 9. .Salary differences, which threat- eied to eliminate engagerhent for 'a irtiile, have finally been, settled be- Imcn Tony Martin' and ^Stanley the- 8tK,and radib-fllin player will bring hitljand to WB de luxer Labor Day ndc, opening Sept 2. - Originally idiedulcid for middle of this month, but date was set. back when they couldn't get together on dough. Stanley's deal for Benny Gpodnvan ipiiarently. has fallen through, since I»lt*r has been booked for , a one- tighter at Kenhywood Park Aug. 22, with agreement that he won't play anywhere else in this territory for «Way. period. WB de luxer is lined up solid, with unds up to time Martin plays here, with Ozzie Nelsoh-Hsirriet Hilii.^td. turrent, to be followed on successive weeks by Jan Savitt-Three Stooges; Phn Harris, and then Bunny Berigan, Btter with Maxine Siillivari, Texas Casa May Go On l«UI)6rIjay;17GlstWlt f~, Fort Worth, Aug. 8. Casa Manana here likely will be Mnlinued through Labor Day if PJ^t good business continues, ac- wnihjg to Uw Wasserman, execu- «ve director of Music Corp of Ameri^ "'•St week, 23.000 saw wow, with gross receipts of $17,900. tax, Wasserman said, aorton Downey, first booked .for a!/rf??'' H P'^ected to be set' for 'MMItional two weeks, jawevllie acts and four prodiic- *S„Tl?tr<" 52 girls will - be ^«ed Friday (12) for second twd- Vs iS^^f"' °" which Jan Gar- nT» "i3'*''^««Pla':es Wayne King. ArJo Ames , bnd 5^cpmedy dance team; Sunny Wrs! ^"'^ the Olympics. fbf has left for Hollywood »«ce IjL?"1? personal appear- n- . '"'^earthy now set for Aug. Gouraud Turns Pro Powers r«.T''"^.'^^^P^'^' Aug. 9: '': '"^ met^rn ^''^ runs night "tlie Wafw'^ to show ■^ficdS^^""^ an indefinite «ler.dln„fl"»'"e Sept. 22. A vet iteu J' speaker, this will be as pro ihr l"''^°w''whej",^''" headline thb ] . Goutaud opens Hildegarde's ht'l Dates . Hildegarde, who arrived Monday (8) in New York frPm London, will go back next April for an extensive stay in England and the continent. May do two pictures for Gaumont-. British and has a.number of niteiy dates already set, among them the Barclay,; London, where she recently closed a month's stay.' Singer opened last night .CTues- day) at the Mounds Club, Cleveland, and ' will 'stick ttiere. through Sept. 8, then returns to open the following night (9 ) at the Savoy Plaza, N. Y. While in England she inade her first feature pic, 'Music Hath Chirms,' for Gaunfiont, . ' NEARHARMONY AHERTIFF American Federation of . Actors hasn't yet entirely- ironed out its differences ' with the Entertainers Federation of America (Pittsburgh Uhioii) and: the United Entertaiheirs Associatioii .(Philadelphia; group). However, AFA reports that , an iagreement has been' reached with UNA in Philly for that body to come into .the AFA fold within; a month. A mass meeting ' will be held In Philadelphia Sept. '25 at Musician's Hall, at which tin^e final details of the UNA'S absorption will be ironed out UNA; , will have separate autonorhy as far as local problems and wage scales go. Local salaries, etc.. will bie. handled from the New York end. So far, the;San Francisco office, of AFA is only one with absolute separate autonomy. Pittsburgh and Philly moves, are part of executive secretary Ralph Whitehead's plan for reorganization all branch .off ices and attempted al}sorption of small outside unions. First attempt met withi temporary stymiie in Pitt last Week, when EFA refused to part with its present .coin and demaiided self rule. Whitehead held another meet with EFA Sunday (7) in People's Alliance Hall, Pitts- burgh, but no result yet. Files Charges with NLBB AFA filed its official charges with the National Labor Relations Board against the Ringling B'ros.-Barnum & Bailey circus Saturday (6). It how claims active, support of the Brptherhopd of Railway Tirainmen and the International Alliance ef Bill Posters for working agreement to assist each other in case of trouble and furthering boycott of. R. B.- B. & B. circus. Answering Fred L. Shaw, of Geyer, Cornell V Newell, advertising agency in Detroit^ which seeks to form a Save the Circus . Campaign, the AFA states that it is in full accord with move as long as it is on ah 'American basis.' Philadelphia, Aug. 9. Refusal of Pittsburgh local enter- tainers' union to jump into the AFA because of the demand tiiat it turn over its treasury to the parent or- ganization had its counterpart here, but has now been straightened but: - Ralph Whitehead, prez of AFA, af- ter lengthy, confabs with Tom Kelly, Bi:^ agent of. United Entertainers As- sbci'ation, has agreed to give the TJEA local jurisdictional autonomy. In' other words, it will also keep in- tact all the money it now has in its treasury. Future collections, how- ever will- go into the central AF\ treasury. ' .Another concession allowed by Whitehead is two paid officers, a biz agent and -ecretary. •15 YEARS AGO < (From Vawett ond Clipper) N. Y. Palace had a nine act show with dancing in eight of 'em. Cliff Edwards and Lou Clayton' back on Keith time after deserting to Shu- bert. Others were Four Mortons, Adelaide and Hughes and Bita Gbuld. Bradfprd Ropes was a sup- port in one of the acts. Jesse Block was teamed with Francine. Dunlop at the Riverside, . Vincent, Lppez at the .Brightoh and offering ■ a novelty : in an automatic piano playing, the opening and close of a number while he handled the middle section. Made the recording himself. Light business at the Brighton,. ■N. Y., a Coney Island house; blamed on the radio'; First time : the alibi had been used. Girl at the American roof did a Spanish dance using only the right foot. Left stayed placed in one stage spot. Allegheny Sesqui in Pitt Wfll Use 1000 Vau^^ Nitery, Legit Specialties L. & L's New Lineup New edition of Leon; & - Eddie's (N. Y.) summer revue policy last: night (9) holds Texas Tommy - and his ■ three ' wild mustangs, Vernon Rathbun's Revels, Dorothy Jeffcrs, The 'Whirling Woods, Ann O'Coh- npr; Carrneh and the' Wally Wanger, sextet. -Holdovers are Iris Adrian, Helen Wainwright and her Olympic Div- ing ; Girls, Eddie Davis and Lou Martin's orchestra. ■ George Damerel and Myrtle Vail at. the Majestic, Chi. Had, not thought up Myrt and; Marge for f^dio yet Headliiie and makinjg good In the spot Three acts at the Chicago Palace had to speech off . at the Sunday show; Karyl Norman, Sylvia Clarke and Martha .Prybr. , Exhibs were demainding shorter and better . pictures and no ; block booking. Monroe Centennial and Motion Picture Exposition in Los Angeles a $120,000 bust' Bankruptcy, papers cited $30,000 assets, but doubtful. Trade was buzzing with the report that Famous Players was planning to sell the Putnam building to a separate company, ^ which would erect a theatre for Par. Wiseacres pointed out it could not be done— but, it was. Planned to send out five com- panies of 'The Fool' for road tours. Each company had a minister to lec- ture to societies, spotted by advance men who traveled four weeks ahead. Cissie Loftus planning to do a comeback on the; Keith time. Just finished iip another comeback. Death of President Harding closed all theatres in Washington for three days. Other towns closed the day of the funeral. Nine British bands were playing jazz, following Paul Whiteman's London success. Pahtages breaking the jump be- tween Seattle and Vancouver with a week a Victoria. Acts played on sharing terms, with usually little to share. Jane Cowl , doing , a sensational business put west Had a $32,000 week in Los and a $22,000 advance sale in 'Frisco. Playing 'Juliet.* French Village Idea Slated for Ihtl Casino The French Village idea, which Clifford C. Fischer proposed for the Iceland, New York, will, be pne of the novelty features of the upstairs roPm when Fischer opens at the In- ternational Casino, The Casino proper will house the revue from Fischer's -.ondon Casino, coming over Sept. 25, bu. the main outer lounge will be a supplementary fea- ture, tricked up into the Mont- martre idea. Henry Lartigue. general manager for Fischer,^ will come over next month to run the show. Eddie Lewis may also make the trip, although he's tied up as Fischer's personal rcn in. other London productions. The International this week, on the last lap of its 'Ice Follies.' dropped the location and minimum charges.. A. C. CONTINUES TO HIKE AFTER Atlantic City, Aug. 9. The past weekend saw business here at its best foi: the; season, with the heat in the big cities driving many to the resort. Every- lorm of entertainment biz is lo.oking up| after a slow season start 'Algiers* (UA). at the Apollo, is doing the big film biz. The Ice Follies, at the Auditorium, with a two-ho.ur revile, is 20% ahead of last year., although it's a repeat with new routines. ; I^idget. Automobile" Races at the Airport are finding 'the going tough.' and failed to run last Satur- day night (6). There's going to be a battle bf bands down here the latter part; of the month with Riidy Vallee and Benny Goodman at Steel Pier, and Mai Hallet and Paul Whiteman at Hamid's. Tex Cooper. 82, said to be brie of Buffalo Biirs original cow- boys, holds the record for the oldest m.c. in town. He's at the Dude Ranch Show. Miss Babette put on a new show at her .blub, but held over South and Lane : and Lillian . Barnes. . Shirley Herman, who has.beeh making radio appearances, as Mrs. Schleppernian, has been booked at the Club Nomad. Cross and: Dunn return to the 500 Club this Friday (12); Sophie Tucker clicked so well at the Bath arid Turf that the manage- ment is trying tb arrange a return date. Red Norvo and Mildred Bailey have closed at Hamid's Pier. ; Pittsburgh, Aug. 9. ', Vaude, cafe and legit talent; ' Pittsburgh . will get its biggest break locally in years next month during Allegheny County Sesqui-Centen'nial celebration, which opens at .South • Park Sept. 2 and runs, for several weeks. . Figured that nearly 1,000 , performers will be used and spbn- ■ sors inte;nd to book home-tpwn talent almost' exclusively. ;.Feat.ures will be a mamrnpth Aqua-Ballet, to be staged in South Park's big outdoor pool, and three- act war' drama written by Judge j M. A. Musinanno, who , cb-authored Paul Muni's coal-mine picture, 'Black' FUry.' In. addition, there will be 'musical and circus acts on the-. Midway, together with number Of cafe shbws. Some talk of Shuberts and Fortune Gallo putting on an abbreviated session of outdoor operas at South Park during the celebration, , but that's not been set yet. Figured this may; fall through, however, due to lateness of the Sesqui, with leading, talent hardly available .at that time. Vande Sopplementing Semi-Gershwin Concert At Randall's Island Stad PHILLY NITERY SHIFTS Philadelphia, Aug. 9. Ubangi Club here will shift from its Harlem rriotif in the fall to one of the village barn type. Monilcer will be changed when hi-de-ho is re- placed by livc-'stock; • . Coidred show will bo tisken by the wife of Harvey Lockmah, owner of ; the Ubarifii. to the Cocbanut Grove, i which will also get a new tag. ' Sam Shannon's Unit NITERY AGENT, WILLIE WEBER, IN DOPE JAM William S. Weber. New York vaude and nitery booker, was arrested in Philadelphia Aug. 7 by Federal agents, charged with being connected with, a narcotic ring. He is being held in N. Y. pending further inves- tigation of the: charges. He was sitting at a table at the Little Rathskeller, in Philly, watch- ing a couple of acts when nabbed by the G-men. Latter allege he is one of several big shots Ih a dope ring. It was stated that he had been associated with Waxey Gprdoii in various hotel ventures, and was al- legedly concerned in pinch of a N. Y. inn seviral years ago when the hotel was controlled , by 'torpedoes' and used as headquarters for the 'stuff.' Gordon is now serving a 10-year term in the Federal pen.' Weber has operated as an indie agei.it: and booker around N.. Y. for many years; He was also associated with the Music Corp. of America in several deals, nlthou;h not working for it. He acted as contact, turn- ing over some accounts to MCA, while it reciprocated by booking .some of his acts at their locations. Ferde Grofe's orch., Connie. Bos-, well. Eddie Garr, Bob Howard, Six Continentals, Margo Waldron and six or seven other acts will take part in a semi-Gershwin niemorial concert at Randall's island stadium tonight (Wed.). : Two-hour show will be split. Groftt will direct an all-Gershwin concert, followed by the varioUs acts. Margo Waldron, ballet dancer, will twirl, to 'Rhapsody in Blue.' Nazarro, Jr., Quits As Actor to Run School Pittsburgh, Aug. 9. Nat. Nazarrb, Jr., is retiring frbm active' stage work to open a dancing academy in downtown Pittsburgh some time this fall. Nazarro, son of the agent, got his start in the early twenties with the ShUberts in their Winter Garden shows, and later headlined in flock of units for Loew's and Publix.. His. last engagement here was as m.c. at Nixon cafe, wheire he closed few weeks ago. Rex, St. L. Nite Glub, Loses License Appeal St Louis. Aug. 9. Geofge Blbcicburger. Jr.. owner of the Rex. downtown nitery. last week suffered a flock oit legal reverses when Judge Eugene C. Sartorious upheld Excise Commissioner Law- rence McDaniel, who recently re- voked BIbckburger's liquor license. Judge also dismissed a temporary re- straining order which has been in effect since April. Blockburger ran afoul of McDan- lel's purge of niteries last spring, when his license was revoked be- cause he was alleged to have con- ducted a disprderly e.stablishment sold liquor after- hours and didn't have the interipr visible from the street. Some Cook Sam Shannon is . prbdiicirig n vaude unit, a.s yet untitled. Slated j for late .September, opening. Break- ! in will likely be in Philadelphia, j Two acts already set are Busier : Wcst-Lucillc Page and .'the Radio : Aces. Three other standard turns | will be added and a lino of 16 girls.. Arcadia and Embassy, Philly, in Liquor Jams | Philadelphia, Aug, o. , | Arcadia International restaiirani j and the Embassy Club, local nUcries, have been cited by the Slate Liquor eonti ol Board for allcjjcd violation ' of the liquor law.-;. Hearing bn' the ■ question of .^revocation of licen.wes • will be -held Aug. 19. Charge Is sell- ' ing after legal hcurs. j Violation is alleged to h.iye taken place last January.' Detroit, Aug. 9.. , State rum board has given EI Dorado nitery .60 day.s in- which lo dispose of its licen.se, as aftei math of a . beating /sustained by Fmnk X. Martel. prez bf Wayne Coimty & Dt- Iroit Fedcralibn of Labor, in ihc .v|> vt. The attack, admini.slcrod by Mrs. iWyrlie Garri.son. chief cook i't the niicry, tiiok place while .Vfn tel w;i;> a gue.st of thu fiitfiKhtfr.s ;i:..srK;ial]')n at the club, nni\ hncy :y foUf\':\t\i \u::t week, .when .M,'.-:. (i;ii-ri.;on invaficrt. Martel','.. -olficp, wrnckf-d fi'trnilure and tried anai.n to b?;at .jp .■vl;irtf-l. .She tiaijru'd 1:0 v.-;j.s U-.viiii; 1-) iicL 1,I>V * SMITH, New York . FO.STKItS' AOKN'C'V, T.aBapn Splitting the Theatres (Continued from page 3) Fox theatre, Philadelphia, will re- turn to pics-band policy Sept. 2. Changes over from straight pictures, policy for couple of years, since stage shows exited. Mai Hallett's orch is the first at- traction set, via Rockwell-O'Keefe. Saranac Lake By Happy . Benway The Len Grottes are boating oii upper Saranac Lake. Gertrude Broderick, Johnnie's sis- ter, trying to get a tan near Lake MacKenzie. , Robert Dye, Charlotte, N. C, ex- showman, here at Lake Colby. '■■ A. B. Anderson, Pohtiac theatre manager, to Salvin Rock for swim- ming. Eddie Sullivan here for swimming. He's in Providence theatre biz. Tornmy Abbott, who saw 15 years of this up here and tried Pine Biish, N. Yi, ozoning for a few months, is back for a checkup. Major Finley, old-time minstrel- man, who ozpned at the Will Rogers, left for Buffalo, where he will pro- duce amateur minstrel shows for a local firm there. Made the comeback in one year. Lillian Kohler, formerly with thie publicity department of Universal Pictures, a new arrival at the Will Rogers. . Carlene Knight successfully oper- ated on by Dr., Wariner Woodruff. Capt. Paul Gilgar, who did this, trick in two months, has left for home. David Bines, Paramount producer, here making arrangements with Eddie Vogt for the coming big show that he will bring to the Will Rogers. Lake Placid Players invited the Will Rogerites to- attend their matinee. Wite to those In Saranac and elsewhere who are ill. there Is plenty of discussion oh eventualities. Schenck-Spltx ■(2)That in the alignment where Loew's controls Metro. one setup has been talked about. Most widely dis- cussed one on Loew is that Nick Schenck is talking a deal with Leo SplU of RKQ. This one runs about as follows: RKO would give its film company (RKO Radio Pictures) and contracts to Metro in exchange for the Loew ' theatres, with the probability of SplU being president of any such Loew-HKO theatre combo. Loew has 103 theatres which make $3,000,000 to $4,000,000 net annually as against around $11,000,000 netted by the film company itself. RKO has 96 theatres which earn $2,500,- 000 to $3,000,000 per year. Naturally, there would be some sort of new UnKncial arrangement, with a new deal in stock. This talked about, new circuit would .be given about 200 of the finest houses in America, with trc- rhendous seatio; capacity and enor- riious buying power; At present, with both circuits fighting each other for control in New York, where the vast bulk of both circuits' theatres are located. Loew always is bidding against RKO. Combined circuit would have comparatively smooth sailing and probably would be able to double the present combined profit. Thought of a trust is dispelled with the. comment that such could not be since it would be an inde- pendent circuit in every regard. - Size of .such circuit is small compared with Paramount's Interest or hold- ings in some 1,100, theatres. Freeman Over Par (3) That the Paramount situation probably would see Y. Frank Free- main being made president of all theatres, giving up his office and directorship with- Par should the theatres bo divorced. This , Ex- pectancy is based on the riatuiral' course of procedure since it would be logical for Freeman to head any independent theatre group it Para- mount divorces its theatres from the picturie corporation, because he is the theatre head now. Understood that, no matter what the interest in a theatre circuit oper- ation might be, that interest would be- sheared off to make it a separate theatre entity. Of course. Par would not be supposed 19 have a hand in the theatre circuit or circuits setup, nor would any, other film company, if the divorcement alignment Is car- ried out for afflliates or subsids. There couid be no Interlocking di- rectorates, but there Is no way of stopping individual people from be- ing or becoming stockholders. No collusion in this, respect could be thought of because of the severe pen- alty involved, ■ Rough estimate of Paramount's theatre holdings Is $75,000,000 to $100,000,000. Par's Partners Belief is that any divorcement of theatres from the film company op- erations would take in the Walsh cir- cuit, Lucas 8e Jenkins, Sparks, Wilby- Kincey, Saenger circuit, , 66 houses run by Interstate, B. is K. Great States and Tri-State-Blank circuit. People like Barney Balaban, Stanton Griffls and,. Austin Keough would have to decide whether to remain on directorates of the film company or go with theatres. (4) That the Poll circuit, controlled by Loew and N. L. Nathanson. of Canada, in all probability would be turned over 100% to Nathanson, who probably for money, bonds and stock would buy out Loew's interests. Na- thanson, a naturalized Canadian and probably the second or third riche^ man In Canada, is one of the few men in the business able to swin? such a big financial deal. Idea back of this Is said to be that Nathaiisoi not being a resident of the U could not be legislated but of contro'i and out of business. ' WB the Lone Wolf.. Through all these talks and discUs. sibns, Warner Bros, is keeping out of everything and playing strictly the lone wolf in any thought, of dividinj up theatre holdings. Company wm not sit in with anybody because of its attitude following the said St Louis experience. And where Loew Par and RKO might talk things over' 20th-Fox, too, is figuring on working oiit a separate deall should It have to cut itself loose from an interest in National Theatres. Following is the list of top theatre exetutives whose names have been spcken of or discussed as future the- atre executives to top Independent chains made of former affiliated op. erations, ■ when and if this is done: Leo Spitz is favored to head any Loew-RKO combo, with such assist, ants as Joseph Vogel, Joe! Plunkett Charles C. Moskowitz, Marvin Schenck, L. K. Sidney.. Executives for any indie - chain emerging from Paramount-Publix count on Y. Frank Freeman as president, with such operators as J. J. Fitzgibbons, John Balaban, Izzy Rappaport,'Mar. tin Mullin, A. H. Blank, M. A. Light, man, Ralph Branton, Harold B, Franklin, Emil Stern and Si Fabian as aides. For Warner Bf-os. names mentioned for an Independent opera, tion include A.lbert H. Warner, aj head, with Joseph Bcrnhard, Harry Kalmlne, Frank Phelps, Nat Wolf and James Coston as operators, This is the way discussions size up currently. Clip this story, put it in your hat and see just how they come out in the late fall of 193S. ADBinOIf SINGING WAliEBS Auditions for waiter^ Is thel latest, being tried by a third-rate Brooklyn (N; Y.) nitery. Standing rule is that all singing waiters— only entertainment \j> place —must first audition for boss before getUng job. Pays $2 nightly, of which the booker gets SOc. AT LIBERTY- Dutch-American citizen ac- quaintad with internatlonai show business !n every phaso. Speaki English, French, Gie'rman, Dutch, Flemish fluently. Spent 5 year* in Paris theatrical booking ox- change. Would like to return to Europe as rspresentativa for pictures, radio or booking office. BOX 707 Variety, New York MOUNT ROYAL-LONDON MARBLE ARCH, W.I. Ar.4RTMENT HOTEL TKRM8 With PRIVATE BATH. BREAKF.^ST One Person .12/6 per night Two Persons .Zl/- per night riione M.4YFAIR— AOie illller Gordon— Controller Best Coffee in Englarid QUALITY INN icester Square LONDON, WEST-END FOUND ! — A New Sensational Singing Trio FIRST MEW YORK APPEARANCE WAYNE SISTERS OPENING TODAY (August I6th) PARAMOUNT THEATRE KxclMlvc l'er«on«l M|(1, HKN U. uysKT^ 007 Fltth Avenuo. New Yoi* ILDE GARDE I'rriioniil .Slur. . '. AXNv\ SUMKNKO Amerloan Bep.: .I.\CK BKRTEI.I. * Ki.rop«B„ B.p.: HKNHV .SIIEBK* t^eJBe 8day. August 10, 1938 VAI(JETY 49 Bills NEXT WEEK (Aug. iS) THIS WEEK (Aug. 8) RKO - CHICAGO . Palace (It) jack GwyDiie Co Cappy BHrra Ar Llahati Sylvia Manon,Co l|,J<««lo^ (U) 8taBKT CWdj Weblb Ore Bla Fiuceralii; aack A Chuekiea. Ckarlotoen IfcloUiws.' :. CHICAAO CblcaKO (!!!) Ci^BdoB Droa . .nan CummlnKa AVencea . Arlftocrala WINONA State (12-13) Major Bowea Co nnuDBi-. , , ^ Pkrtlsh Bertelbttr* Don Sylvl<> Ore ' Ancejo'e Rhu'bo n<1 rhlia. Annette Gucrlaino Hobefta Welifch. . lilire Gay Wi ' OharloR Touchetto. John ranter ■ John Eliot, Don Cortez Jim piiiiii|)s Mary Roberts H«rold Wlllard Arthur Beban Harry DoiiDelly Joe Howard- Spike . Barrlsoii BernI* ' Graue.r: Biach ;Ca( Pearl Balaes Dottle Rhodes .Dolores Brown ' Wallace Bros Amanda Randolph B MllllqrtoD : Orb Boolevard Tavern (lilinliarat, L), Dave FoM : Sonny & S Dall >Ille Roland ' Tlielma Nevlna Caiheroii' Crosby Jan Fredrlcs Ore . Cute Afriqae Sniib MOBley Ore Alberta Prymo Boots &. Saddles Thelma Debevolse I..prralne . Faulkner NnrmaYi Aatwond Mary Perry Cana Manana . Mlit Brlttori dro Ethel Waters SmltU ft Dale Buster .West ' ' Hotel EdlMB S'""* Ba"on Oro poo Alexander Hetel Essea ITaase Hotel 0 LEooy & SMITH Lucille Page A Robins Great 'Tacopls Ben Blue Chateaa sioderna p MacParlane Ore .Consueio FloWertbo Bass & RIcksoD- Rlta Renaud . Clareniont Jna. - Clyio Lticaa dro Club Cavalier Cavaliers Ore Duke Rehardo Romona -. Evelyn : N'eabit Rhoda: Chase Club IB - Q- Androws-Oro ' Jack White. Pat HnrrlhEton- Ann Rusli Jerry Blanchard -FrankTe Hycra Willie Grogan Bcals St Boys Club Cnnrlia Los Onucho Ore Ulinltrl ft Vlrgll .MIeuel Vlclno Co Trlnl Plaza El Cblco .. Don Alberto Ore > Asuncion Grnnudos Joylta ft Mnravllla Dorltn ft Valero^ Francisco ' Rnmoa . Famons p'4Kir ' ' Count .Basle- Ore Jerry Krugcr Shavo Sherman Jerl WIthee James Rushing* Giirbo Francis Hayes Oro Baron Glydenkrone' Mickey .Fcolcfy Marrollo .Wellington Elaine ft Henry Patricia Rellly , Glen Isliind Casino Larry Clinton Oro Uea Wain Dick Tiidd Fisher & Woodhull Gay Greeowicli Village Casino Ray O'liara Oro Joey Cappo Valcrlo Dumont : B ft B Burnell HavRnarMadrld Sano RodriKo Oro . Junnlid Sennbria Or Varela Adelfate Vnlera rancho & Dolores Sylvio ft Wolba ' HIrkory Hoose joe Maraala, Ore-.. Hotel Ambnssndar Arthur irorbert Ore riabrlcl Corco Monte Fried llotel Aster Hal Kemp Ore Dawn Rollnnd- Serge Plash Judy Starr - Oxfords Ornne S ■ llnbertH ~& White- Park ft Clifford Gloria Franklin Uotcl lielmbnt- Plnt* Rrnlo Hoist Ore (ieo Schpi'bnn Ore Erhops Cuba Ore Dlosn Coslello - - Ronny JlJinsHcM ; DchiKint lialladccrs Muriel Byrd Al Uriel riyid : ifotel niltmnre ilnrry Owens Ore nityinohil A.ndrado -. Fretldy Tavnrpfl' . Alvin Kalcolhnl r.ellani Kahiinkuhl Kalinla. Miiiiunna H<Jlfl{' Vnu-/,ens,Orc ; Pola niirgia Hay OMvgr I.e,.^llrnRe Ilnrry Ilorton Ore. Maryfih U.ile Itudoliili ft.' .V.mdra Jerry Klrlil.Tifl . ' ICndiai'ino. Cavalll holnre's. TIsdalo 3 . .Uon-i Eddie's Edille b.ivis - I.ou .\lff"iin Ore Melon Wnlnwrlghl Ti-xirs T'fiiiiniy ' ,. Pfiroihy Jeflers Whirling Woods. I Wally Wanger 4 Ann O'Connor- -Carmen Rarthbun's Revels' Iris Adrian Uttle Old New York Teddy LAng Ore Patricia March Bernjce 'Gee Irene Mauseth Gay Rogers Jaek Laurie Mickey Mallory . Ueadowbrook (Saratoga) Lulu iSateS Helen Sba w : Barbara Doane Bennett - Green ; .Monte Carlo , Rita. Rehard^ Duval Sis - Julian Altnian. ,■-.■.'■"• Nat Clab . Henry Jerome Ore Ralph Lewis Helen. "Shepard Blanche -Graym 'Iris -.Moore . Virginia Grimes . Francois Brdulllkcd Adelaide Raleigh . Maufle Carroll- Berta Dnnh Ken Kling > WhlUoys - Old .Roomknlan. -Michael Welner' Ore Yourly YfturloS. - Helen ^hnw . ■ Sammy .Morris KoKalle Itoy Sadie Banks . Ethel Bennett Ada' Lublna' Bonnie -iDe. Camped Onyi Club . . Stufr iSniith Orb . Prank Free ba Paradise - Phil' Napolfton Orb . Jafkle Gatele; Vera Fern Winter Sis Alan- Carney .' Marge Ellis Plaoe Elegaat* W Palmer Oro Bill Farrell Ernest Frartz Vlnceiit Decbsta ' Rex Oavitte-. .' : Plantatfoa Clab jigsaw Jncksbn Luc'kee Sis. Louis Williams Skeets Tolliver Ore -,. -<|u««a Mary,- Jerri: White MurJelDawn^ Ruth Waring .. Audrey Carroll Radio Fraolut Club Frank . -Besslnger .Terry White : , Ous: Wlelie Jimmy .Burns Fred , .Bishop .' Wynne Ralph. . Lou Williams . Ebony 8- Truth .Leonoff. . Balnbow Orlll Bon- Cutler Ore ' Marlynn ft Ulcbael Harlequin '. . Raluhuw. Room Al Dohahae Ore ' '- Eddie LeBa'ron :Oro : Paiila Kelly Dorothy Fox Boh Bromley Co -' Marshall 3 . . Blley'a Lake Hoase (Saratoga) Al. Jaliiis. Ore Ann GreenWay Vornons Jean Ln'ndes Paul Gordon ' .Riviera . B Madriguera Ore Vincent Plrro Ore Patricia Glllmore Una. Wyto ^ Joe E. L«wls .-Robinson 2 Bddle Garr Helen Morgan Prelsner Sis \ Boll' Neller Raye ft Naldl ; Bom FentoB FWnsa (Deal. N. FJoIa Marine Rrnle Mhck . . Nick Hope ' Amelia GUmore', Patricia Clancy - LOS ANGELES Biill Oharllfl Lawrcnc* Briiz Fletcher' tieverly \VllHhlr« Lou Sallee Oro . Blltmor« Mardonl Deun .Jnnia Konio Vlnceiit Davo Suxnn 5 .MnxcllOH .Flortnce Fcrrlck Rannle W^cks Frank Tromb:ir Ore .Rosp ^ Roy .L'yte . ■ Caf« Lr MaM Sly r us Hon KiKht Ore Stftn Myem Ore Clover Club Lou Drlnff Oro Club MoroccQ Jim K^rr Ore Cocounut GroTa Loo Relnmnn Oro noorgrn 4t ^nlna Envoys of Bhyilira 'llawalinn ParadjKe Club Searlcfl & Lena liuUby Riiinus' I'rlnccHB Luaiia Uaryl Harpa ■' Kay Kaliitnl EOflie bush 3 Lanenn . It Cur« .Too MoHliay n»ib .Scarles Ulll Kobei-i.f Ore - La Con^tt ' Rronson Pud Icy E l^uranjJo-Orc Hal IlHwarU Ore Cblnolio ■ Humba LUtle Club Jane Jo'ncfl ,RuHe Valyda ODiur'fl pome Elrnor , Waller Wade Dinie . Elliott. Rosfl A McDonald ; Geo lltidman Oro raloinur: Gardner & Kane 4. Collegliites Sonny Dunham Kenny Sargent Peewee Hart Glen Gray pro rarU Ido Marcuurite A M , P. SeUrilcb'a Club Grey '& Hergln Marco -ft: -Romola Billy LanUln Yolft Gjiin Hill Brady Ma-st FIdler Oro ' - Seven Stan Candy' Ca'ndldo Ore Johnny Chlc6 Joe Frlrtco RIU If6frman Seventeen Ten Clab Nan niakBtone ' Darryl Rogers Marjorle Raymond • Fra^nkle Farrell Olivette Carbo Someniet llpQiie Ann Marlyn 3 HI HatH llaro' Rlngland ' Dubby EnniB LoiTfilne Oorard Maxine ^Vlnjf) Jnc'^uclln (;ii*»rry Mai-ffaret Waldcn . Oloria Itn'ndall Lobna Rloo Gil I)n(.'an.alf) Pat O'Shfsa .loy WiniamH Loiioro Thome Tronidero Joflt"'!) Cuhf^'ii Dd -Maiy .Martin Georgia.. Tappn Uoh Grant Oro ■ V llui:o Rcfilaurnrit RHlnnay Ennln Ore Collciffn Culhoiin CHICAGO Gloria Starr Herble Rudolph pre CaraTan Jane Cllne' Edna Leonard Carl .'Scholtz- Oro Chei Paree Abe Lyman' Oro Bthet Shiitta Paul Draper Paul & Eva Reyes Owen Reeley Rose Blane Don Orlando Oro Evans Adorablbs CInb Al Hal Barber Eve -Evonne ' diet ft' J Kinney ' Marge LaToar tlab Alabam Harriet Norria ' D de Haughton Honore ft. Gladys Saflle'Moore - Lee-HenderMn. Phyllis' Brooks . . Betty .Tascbtt ■ Marjorle Kliig ' Eflle -Burton. Bernle Adier Dave' Unells- Orb' Chalk Robinson Ore Eddie Rotb Ore .Club Spablnh PliiUy , Trsry- ' lA>retta DeUoer 4 Dobs Opal Ai'iilr . KJtty Swui'iyon Frances' Sills Jerry Wayne Joe Nllll Oi-o ColoHlmos- Dor'olhy Marlhyn Jackson.' Reeves ft- S Dorothy Wahl Speck ft Spot DeBold 2 .Gra-ce' Drysdale Ftanclta ■ Geraldlne 'ft Joe Bobby Danders . •Bob Hyoitt Pronaph Gts Hollywood - 6 Henri Gendron Ore . Clnb nellaa Evelyn White Myra Taylor . James Crawford -3 L>u<;hy Bucks Sam Thsard - : Sam -Robinson Charles Isom Partello GiB Red Saunders Ore .Uafch'N '' Ralph Cook: Roy Edigewater Beach Hotel . ' (Marine. Room) (Hcaeh Walk) ' Bailey -Sis . Bonnie Baker '4 Nit'ehawks Male Si>xtet Roger Bragg Harriet, Smith. GIs DiHniiirrk, Hotel (Wiiltiiil: Kiiimi) ' .luius Diiko Ore Hi'iiy c.roy filrtrlu l-Viy« (Ini-liiiul .V: 'Krii«-|i-y Cu.nHOlo. -.Mulh:i- Kliii-kliiiwk nob r-rnjtl-y Ore .M:i<:[fin .M.-iiin - Jim Ityi-iTTH T.'Omn Ctit.pur :. JiK'k flauIke'Orc ..Maclnvia llnlz ■' Blue -tJooNe. . 3 ',T.(»nnniM - . ■ Hilly Jt J Sever; Hr.li Mull liiikf.-M AL l)uf;hi.'.'-M Or Itoso Uall'jt - ftrevnort llot,el .' (Cryslul llobm)- Pl*»ron>o Scji iilifrt . (,'hu,rl<-s Italdwih Jean l.on-^rh ■ Nor''mA U.'illnrd — - . . Ilrnndmont ' June -.MavHh .' ■ I'at Paliffl GIs Golden Gate 3 Evelyn- Pelser ' Orrln. Tucker Ore : ITamiwii DoOr- Ed' Danders Ore Esther Whining Bryan Wolfe ; «h Clob Homer Roberts VIvlenne Hall Virginia . O'Brien Mickey Winters Billle Fargo Shorty Ball Ore. . Fraoke'a Casino Oretchen. W.erner Dn've' T.'tnneri. ■ Gladys Zimmerman Millleent UeWltf Gay Knlght- Ghet ft J Kenny Ruth Phllilps ' Rocke Ellsworth 'Bob TInsley Ore The tJables Sunny Glllnm Rev Leon Chess Ore Gnr I'ureo Wellington Mary Williams Virginia Dawn Carol Abbott. Marge .Ignore Chlckle Hnnely Bernlce Bodel Bob Riley Oro . tirand Terrace Ca.therlne Perry Sonny ft Sonny 3 Sharps^ ft A Flat Peil'ro ft. Dolores Connie Harris Mercia Marques LoRny Harris J..eonard Reed GIs Earl 'Hlnes-Orc tiracmere .llotel (Olawi Honse Bin) Don Pedro Ore. Else Harris Dana Cameron -Hickory Inn 4 Top .Hate The New Torkers . Ill Hut Willie Shore Kobcrta Jonay' .Met Opera Sextet Olga Done Winnie Hoveler GIs Sid: Lang Ore IpiKidrome Flo Whitman Rev I'erry- .Marks' Ore. ■'nt Casey Ann Bo.len Jluy UuiiJo ivanliOe Helen .Sumnera . >lcl>*n Ir.wln^ Ifawallahs Eurl Ilollinun Ore I.'Alglim Mary W KHpiilrl-.;k 0<;(irKo liny Ilil Etini.o Bolugnini Or- , nc(el.:i.n riiille ' (Rlue -Front RiM)nt) Illfili.ird Rchrelbcr Hllimbro l)(iys Dixie l'^l-.-inr:oH . - I.lherty Inn .'sunny ,.Mii<-k . ToniTny O'.Vf.jiI .Irt.h^r .li^irdail l'(»IIy 'Vnir Karl Wiley Ore lilnieliouse AdfliLl.le Kirk.iff li'lly: Ai',Jii.v>in .lov ft AVdOf-t'ti Jerry Glidden Oi-'- . . -' Mcl4iUgllllns- Mollle .Mannor Knid Phlllli'H - Merita Rvan Babe' P.i'yne Billy .Marsh Jules .Sovit Ore Melody Mill jack Russel Ore . > Miami Club BerJi White Earl Rickard Joe Csssidy Lynn llnrela'y Dorolhy John'sod_i^ Millstone Sam Hans . .Manners ^ Marlene Diirothy .Cosier. ' Roy. Swift- Oro Ulaaet Club Sally O'liay. Patsy Linn- Margo' Gavin Benny Uuggalls-Oi Ray Halg ' MocTlson Hotel (lloBton Oyster Hoase) Matifred Coll heir . NantcleMfl Cafe ' Jo 'A nil I'.il . Miie . 4- Musketeers l.ydia Hiirrls F.rank KaMondl .Mary Ann .Cieln Mae dl Pill - ' Navy. -I'ler mil Kclbs Ore Plorcnou Ll(>iiu:tiont -. old Ut-idi-lli<>rg George Guhuicr Ore Ol.l Uol.l.(ll)iTK Co Geo lli!ssbeti,-cr Ens Piilnier. linusn: - dCmplre. Itii'om) Veloz ft Vidnnda Panthii Ore ^ ' Ki-addoi'hs . Michael- I.oring fsnilth's. .Mnrionets. Don Hooion Grntse Dlttmaii .-Abbott 'DaneerS . Ed Allen Phil Dolley Ore ; Paroily Clob Freddie Abbott :Mollle .Manor -. Dollle Dolene Sara Thebold Marie. /I'liomas' - Preddle Ja'his pre row 'Wo" ClOb Gene Eiherald Jlihmy Reed' Helen 'ft M King . Vlllflino & Lfirna . Dorothy' Peterson Kenny Wright Tod Simon Stove Siutiand' Ore Rose Itowi. Paulcfte LaPlerro SouinI'd Rhy'in GIs Gloria. .Panloo Tom 'Ferrjo '. Shermun Ilolel (College Job) Brahdt :Slil ' ' Uobin Scott ' Uksllla ft Vlda Jenna Bud LewlB Mary Jnnu Tee .. Genevieve Trojan . Duko ft Noble - Betsy Ailing Lynn Glare . Doroth y Erickso'n Mbdelin'e Raymond Marian Callahan ' Russel ft Genevieve Snowd.iko I-tsllot F. Masters Ore '■ Silver Cloud Bert Nolo n 'Kay LaSalle Ruth JofTee Cortex ft Dlanne. Joan . M'arshall Ella Evans .Marlon Boyd H:ixel Zulus .Nor'd Richardson 3 Tops Johnny McFall Ore ' Silver Frolics Rocke Ronihnb.' Eulalne Rabey Pay Wallace .Mildred Davis Art Freeman 606 Club Joe Herbert Tnidy de Rlng^ Renee Villon' Alnrg Fa-ber GIs Mai-ne Jessie Rosella Ann O'Connor White Sis H ft L Cook. Colleiia Peache.H Strange Dolly. Siorling : .Sol Lake Oro Tripoli 3 Sky Rocket .Marjorle Whitney Dictators - .Muihe^-s ft Shaw 4 Kings U Tanks Saclaiiles- .St«>venn Hotel' (Cuntliivnliil Itnnm) Glover ft Iti\ff S}iitnri-d, Tower. Inn f-'miikle liovie " In'-'/. v:«)n«-ir ' Ilfli-'nf JnXnh .Liolly D'rllcfiO The Guardsmen Lytell ,Gls Kleanor Johnson Frank Davis Ore - TrocAdero Norma- Noel FriLxle Bey Joan ft Joan Doree -, Roy Rankin Ore Villa Moderne Carlos .Molina Bd Ksmli Tr ; Margaret Myers : VIlia Veiilce C' i C Lambortln. HoWy SIS Noll ft Niiinn . Felldn ft Tama ' Ann Lewis Linda Marsh- . . ■ Michel & Modesca Lou Hoffman Renee Jay . . (,'arlos ft Carlla P'trouser Dave Freeman Ore ]>laha MOore .. Peggy Wagner Utile RathNbeller - -Jack Griffln Orb Al Schenk Jen h -Jordan Romnin-^ -Manning KathUcn Mayo . Johnny &. George Mnyfalr Farms Kalhryn Rand Monroe James Keljy. .Mickey. Alpert - Get»rge ClUTbrd .Manny LaPorie Ore . I*eac»ck (•Hrdenn '■. Sylvan Herman Or< . Stamp'e Cafe Miller ft Millhrd Margie Taylor Pal I'erry 'Bobby liurke Andre ft l-'rane'ls Jaek ft Johnny Jack .HuieiilnsoQ Irving' llrnslow Or«- Sliver Lake Idd (Clenienton) Mickey Famlliint Llllane 'ft Mario Lynn Hlorling .' Ooorge ft A Heed Jerry - Sailobury nulklb's ItathHkcllel 4 -Debulanlos K'.tHso Duhcors OliUiulta ft Barnes. Selma HolLinsn PoKKy Morley Vloia Klalss Ore Frank Pohll . 1333 i;ocnst >Iil'.£t Lane Alli.vrlu Hasteel l.lnila Hay Dotty Winters- Willie Thayer Prances >I.enbx . ■ K?y Callahan Kablna O'Reilly Bubbles Shelby . Swing KIpg Ore tt Clob Tommy Monroe - Helen: Heath Doir .Uerria -Ana Rush . - Marie Dane- Jeanne Sheer -Lynho Sheehan ' v WaHtiB Root Jeno boiiath'Oro "' Vincent RUzo Ore Paul Noff Ore Janice Williams .. Jimmy Blalie Mildred Reed Gliezze' Bros. VIolot 'Love Wences Ross McLean Paul .Rbslnl Crawford ft Caski-y'. Gil Lamb -Bernhardt ft O Jaek Lynch Gla U Weber's Jlef- Bra* . (Camden) Louis Chalkln Ore - Ijoe ;Barly Sharon' Harvey: BIgelow ft Gerald- . NInb Ca'rmino Karl ft Gretchen Interhational l - 'Bavarians Eldbradlana Use Hart 'Joe Romano '.. - Hudy Bruder Ray .Miller Billy Branch Co Torklovne Tavern Frank' Staub Ore ' ATLANTIC CITT Hath and Tart Clob Freddie Bernard < Sophie Tucker Horu'co Hustler .S'< Lillian Karnes Vivien Newell Earl Lindsay GIs Erie Cnrrea Ore Mary. Loulso 500 Cliib Cross ft buna: Paisle Ogden Howard Mrooka Terry Lawleir ■ Gale Sextet poltino ft CamlDe Vincent Trayera Or* Frolics Club Franclif Renault Joy King Lupllle J#oRoy Kstelle Thomas Neal Lang Franof's Rotfcrls -Lain ft .latme Joy Howard Jackie Cooper Oro Nomiid Club Shirley Herman ; l.'ola Monioya Lea Porrlns Sally Kellh I.ce -Mnfiel Ondra .Marge Kelly I'hilKaye Frank Ullts BOSTON .. iiyfuir L^.w'l8 , Bonlck Oro Harry Stevens Stewart, ft Iajo fJllvo White GIs t .Corojinut Grove- nilly T.OHscz.Orc Mia Mllos Co (4) r;il ft B Mhsbn .S'hiriey While Kthel Greiiier fj|» 9 ■■ ' : Congo Eddie Deas Ore' . .IliiHs 'Chapman . Crawford House .Ilrhiiiy Munn Oro ' i;ls " . : - Ginger Waldron, Fcnmore Cufe n^.h Iloy Ore Terry O'Toolo P«>'rMS'lo - .. (.MurhJi'llcMld) Dun Juljo Ore l-'oi ft ifonnils ('lull :(ll0Hl - ((tnlhc.il .Sallv l,;.\!:li.r I'fotir" Clltb ' . (.''%ullHljury) f<;irl lio'litlA Oio , JllMy di Woiro V'.n .lliili^r iJ.fJJ (Contlnurtl .1 Wlilln Whlrlwlnda .Virginia Stewart 8 Froli'koltea , Hotel, (.'oiiley' Pliixa' (,Merry-(>n-Roun.«c It'dsiid -.Mirzl Orozler Zlia Hotel Iniiierlul Clllf jarvl.s Ore llofi-l Kllx-rarllon ' 'Jo' Ic .M.if .•Jji.-n-'i (,*(trd-:ba . h'iiHy (.'hirh llolt'l .<-'l iri:.-' •rb-.-fi NV. lis on pa«c 55) so VARIETY LEGITIMATE GROSSES Wednesday, August 10, 1933 Nine Shows Continue on Broadway Despite Inclement Weather's Hard Slap at B.O.; With Broadway hit by the heat and humidity, it has been a. battle for show business to keep operating, even along conservative- summer lines. During July there were but four days free of rain, and early August's inclemency was alleviated for the first time yesterday (9), de- spite adverse weather reports. Surprising feature is that nine shows have survived, last weekend again being bare of closings. An- other deluge came Monday (8) eve- ning, demoralizing the boxoflfices again. But the storm may vamp in the 'finale of the heat wave. Shows for the new season are starting to ' reheai-se, one a musical, •Sing Out the News,' probably being the first Broadway entrant, due at the Music Box week of Sept. 12. Same week is slated to get a revival -of 'Lightnin', now playing in sum- mer hideaways. Next Week, the first slated straight play, 'Once Upon a Night,' goes into rehearsal, being due at the Morosco in mid-Septeniber when 'Our Town' moves to the Booth. Latter will be vacated by 'You Can't Take It with You,' due to, tour. Reports from try outs of new plays In.the sticks fail to disclose much material: as Broadway possibilities, as usual.. Among the stock presenta- tions in the. rural theatres, 'Yes, My Darling Daughter,' appears to be the most in demand. Currently, the comedy^- is being played by six sum- mer stock outfits. Estimates for Last Week 'Bachelor Born,' Lyceum (29th week) (C-957; $3,30). May go to road sometime next month, although no new show is announced to re- place; heat hjart last week; around $4,000. -'I Married an Angel,' Shubert' (14th week) (M-1,387; $4.40). Sum- mer topper only offering with heavy ticket demand; weather had some effect but approximated excellent $27,000. 'On Borrowed ' Ttme,' Longacre (28th week) (Drl,019; $3.30). Eased off with ^eld last week but still rated with new season holdover pos- sibilities: quoted over $6,000i •Our Town/. Morosco (28th week) (D-961; $3.30). Best money-getter among straight plays; also affected but rated around $8,500; fairly good profit at that mark. 'Shadow and Substance,' Golden (27th week) (D-789; $3.30). After laying off two weeks resumed Mon- day (8) and may stay through Oc- tober; Imported , drama among sea- son's standouts. Tobacco Bead,' Forrest (244th •week) (C-1,107; $1.65). Longest- stayer getting by with some summer weeks showing a profit; last week's takings approximated $4,000.. 'What a life,' Biltmore (18th week) (C-991; $3.30). Laugh sbow claimed to be making some money right alohe: business moderate, bi}t that applies to most survivoirs; rated over $6,000. ;You Can't Take It With Ton,' Booth (87th week) (C-708; $2.75). Set for road next month- with route of one niehters arranged; around $6,000 mark: 'Our Town* slated to move ^from Morosco; 'Once Upon a Night' due in latter spot. Added 'Pins and Needles,' Labor Stage (36th week) (R-500; $2.75). May move to larger hoiise; business con- tinues satisfactory, with last week's takings approaching $6,000 mark. WPA 'One-Third of a Nation,' Adelphl (30th -week). 'Prologne to Glory,' Elliott (22d week). •Haiti,' Lafayette, Daly's (24th week). B'way LegH Totals Estimated total grosses last week.:....;..... $67,501 (Bdsed on 8 shotDs) Total grdsses^me: week last year....... '$91,200 (Based on 9 shows) Future Plays •Red Bumble Bee,' by Robert L. Craig, has been acquired by Matthew Allen, who plans a production in San Francisco and Los. Aiigeles. with a possible -Biroadway presentation to follow. Allen has been, associated with Henry Duftyi Coast producer. •Bee* was formerly held by Samuel Schwartz, i •Gallivanting Lady,' by Tom Prid- eaux, has been bought by Ned Way- burn, who held an option on the comedy through Pinker &; Morris- son. Play was tried out recently . by the Farragut players, Rye Beach, N. H. Wayburn is currently vacation- Jng in New Hampshire, but plans to return to New York next month and will put 'Lady' Into Immediate . pro- duction. Ahrin Ousts Freedley From Office; See Row On Imperial Booking Vinton Freedley, legit producer, v/ill move his offices from the Alvin, N.Y., which he has occupied for 11 years, save for one season, when he was abroad. He was told to vacate by Norman. Pincus, house manager, who said that Freedley had occupied the ^offices on a month-to-month basis. There appears to have' been animus in back of the . ouster. ..Freedley has chosen the Imperial to housie his forthcoming musical version of fClear .All Wires.'. . Im- perial is Shubert-operated and un- derstood the firm has an interest in the Freedley show- • Piiicus is said to have anticipated getting first choice to book the show.' Stated that Pincus had already booked 'The Boys from- Syracuse,^ George Abbott's musical version of Shakespeare's 'A Comedy of Errors,' for the . Imperial, so that his action rather mystified Freedley. The Alvin was built, by Pincus & Gpldstone, who were also the build- ers of the ImperlaL First tenants were Freedley and his former part- ner, Alex A. Aarons, musical show, makers, who later took title to the theatre. When the team put on a couple of shows that did not click, the house reverted to the original owners, and.the producing duo Split TINS' HITS J6,500, L A. FINIS; im MOVES IN Los Angeles, Aug. 9. . Following a profitable iour-week run in San Francisco, '.On Borrowed Time,' Coast production, featurmg ■Victor Moore, moved into the. Bilt- more last night (8) for two weeks. Scaled at $2 top for nights and $1 mats. 'Pins and Needles' vacated Bilt- more Saturday (6):after three and a half weeks to very profitable biz. Estimate for Last Week •Pins and Needles,' Biltmore, (Rr 1,656; $2.20) (fourth-final week). De- spite extreme heat, night trade held strong on final week with bulk of biz over the window. At little better than $6,500, plenty profitable. • WPA 'Judgment Day,' Hollywood Play- house. Elmer Rice's indictment of dictatorship runs for another -two •Bnp, LIUIe c£illaii,' Mayan. All- Negro c^st of 150. Goes into third stanza. . ' •The Milky Way.' Mason. Farce by Lynn Root and Harry Clork, in for customary two weeks. •Prologue to Glory,' Greek theatre. Continuing its run after downtown and Hollywood engagements; 'GINGERBREAD' PALATABLE DAUGHTER' SETS HARK AT ELlTCHWITH $6,600 Denver, Aug. 9. With five, sellouts, beginning with Wednesday matinee, 'Yes, My Dar- ling Daughter' broke the Elltch house record for the past three years. Elitch will close two weeks earlier: than scheduled, lacking suitable, ma- terial. 'Parneir is current with 'Once Is Enough' closing next week. Estimate for Last Week •res, My Darling Danghter' Elltch- (1,573: $1.10). A record-breaker at $6,600. WPA- The Milky Way' Baker Federal (460; 40). Doing nicely ia spite of heat. St. Louis, Aug. 9. The' Giiigerbread Man,' musical> making its first appearance in -the Municipal Theatre. Assn.'s al fresco playhouse. Forest Park, started a week's engagement last night (Mon.) to a swell house, a large perceh- tagie of which were children, that grossed approximately $4,000. ;. Raymond Sovey constructed two elaborate sets, a street in Santa Claus land, and the dividing line be- tween King Sugar Plum and King Bunn, that equaled any :previouS ef-. forts of currenttseason here; Joe Dorris, dancing comedian, in role of Gingerbread Man, made his local debut a successful one. Others who clicked ; are Mary Hopple, con- tralto; Melissa Mason, comedienne; Joseph Macauley, Anna Mary Dickey, Frederick Persson, Detmar Poppen, Jack Sheehah, Bobby Vernon , and Jessie Draper, newcomers- this year, in dance specialties. : Fifty local youngsters' were rounded up for singing and dancing routines.. Although local crlx raved and the advertising budget was upped con- siderably, 'Knights of . Song, . musical on Gilbert and Sullivan, disappoint- ed with approximately $33,000 for a week's rim that ended Sunday (17). Out-of-to'wh observers opined that the piece was a ' bit over the bead of most of the natives, who liberally patr6nize such shows as •Roberta,' 'Rosalie,' etc. ♦Rat» OK $6,000, S'cuse . Syracuse, Aug. 9. ^Half-price tickets packed the RKO Strand last week for 'Brother Rat,' starring Leon Janney, for a neat $6,000. Tw6-for-one being tried again with 'Behind Red Lights,' which opened last night. MCA Condders Expansion to Legit Prod; Would Start With Musicals Fay Templeton moving to San Francisco from F'ittsburgh to live with relatives. Music. Corp. of America is consid- ering expanding its activities to in- clude legit production oh a perma- nent basis. Would probably Start with musicals, siiice MCA has the acts and producer Georgie Hale. This is MCA 's first attempt at legit pro- duction. Lack of production tech- nicians is the major drawback/ J. C. Stein and brother, W. H. Stein have been mulling the idea for some time. They recently formed a legit casting department in the New York office for outside booking of legit talent. Takeover of the Ft. Worth, Tex., ' Casa Manaria was MCA's first venture in . production on its own and was Used as a gauge. Success since recent Manana open- ing is regarded as prompting further action in that direction. MCA figures opening half dozen new branch offices through U, S. and , Canada; Outfit has been growing steadily, originally starting as band booking office. Then added acts, girl lines, etc. - Hotels, expos and niteries, with ice shows, followed. Nlteries are considered in expansion plan of future. ■. Summer Theatres (NEW PLAYS) •Milan In May,' Rockridge theatre, Carmel, N. Y. (8). *Dear Family,' ' Surry Players, Surry, M'e. (8). •Anybody's Game,' Hampton Play- house, Bridgehamptoh, N. Y. (9). •Listen, My Children,' Red Barn. Locust Valley, N. Y. (8). •Music at Evening,'- Ridgeway the- atre, White Plains, N. Y. (8). •Suzanna and the Elders,' West- chester Playhouse, Mt. Kisco, N. Y. (8). ; . •Two by Two,' Skaneateles the- atre, Skaneateles, N. Y. (8); 'Urania,' Boothbay theatre. Booth- bay, Me. (10). •Palin . Beach,' Manhattan Players, Saybrook, Conin. (9). 'Prospect ■ Avenne,' Coachhouse theatre, Oconomowoc, Wise, (9). ■ •We Die Exquisitely,' Wharf the- atre, Proviricetown, Mass; (8). • The Two Mrs. Carrolb,' Southamp- ton Playhouse, Southampton, N. , Y. (10). •Unbarred Highway,' Blue Ridge College, Windsor, Md. (12). Berbhire Bani U$(Ss Lectures, Ai To Renve Springfiekl Mass„ Li^ Promotion stunt to pull business from the surrounding towns is being worked "this season by the Berkshire theatre, Stockbridge, Mass., strawhat Calls for weekly free lectures and radio talks by guest sUrs in Spring- field, Mass. Idea was to revive legit interest in Springfield, once a strong stock town, and to tap theplaygoing public there to make the 53-mile trip, to. Stockbridge, Series of five free lectures had originally been offered but has since been extended to seven and are still going. 'WMAS also carries the pro- gram. Speakers include Donald Cook, William Miles; director of the theatre; Florence; Reed, Ann Mason, Katharine Alexander, Jane Wyatt, Violet Hemihg and occasionally members of the resident company. Edith Barrett is next • Avoid ipluggihg the theatre too di- rectly. When Jane Wyatt spoke those unable to gain, admittance refused to leave until a second lecture had been given. Music store In Springfield, acting as special ticket office for the play- house, did $246 biz in the threie days following Florence Reed's talk.' Last week, during Jane Wyatt's Stock- bridge ■ appearance in 'Stage Door,' more than 400 made the trip from Springfield. Stunt is being handled by Miles and Harold J. Kennedy, p.a. for the theatre. •Pocahontas ■ Preferred,' new com- edy by Harry N. Blair and -N. Brew- ster Morse, ; will be tried out next week at, the Rockridge theatre, Car- mel, N. Y., with Robert Champlain staging. Marie Kenny will star, with ~.iames Truex, Ruth . Altman, Maynard Holmes, George Fine and Lucille Lane in the cast. Under- stood if the play shapes up. Miss Kenny figures ' on doing it on Broad- ■way' in the fall, with her own b.r, Blair is a. film p.a., Morse a writer for RKO. Lawrence Liangner and Armina Marshall will rewrite their 'Suzanna and the Elders,' which, was preemed last week at their Westport, Conn., strawhat, and is playing this week at Mt. Kisco; N. Y. . Worthington Miner will exten- sively revise "The Inner Light,' his adaptation from the Hungarian of Hugo Csergo, which has been tried out at Westport and Mt. ; Kisco.The Theatre Guild, which held an option on the play, will probably not take it up; 'Bomance Extended' •Roipance Extended,' a new play by Taylor Holmes and . Norman Clark, will be tried out Sept. 12 at Steve Cochran's summer- theatre, Olney, Md. Clark is:drama editor of the Baltimore News. Holmes will rejoin the cast of 'I'd Rather Be Right,' due to start tour- ing next month, when George M. Cohan returns from abroad to resume as its star. Stockbridge, Mass., Aug. 9. •Best Dressed Woman in the World,' comedy by Jock Munro, stage manager of the Berkshire Playhouse, Stockbridge, and. given a tryout by the company two weeks ago, has been purchased by Forrest Haring, associated in the past with D wight Deere Wiman. Munro is author of other, plays, but 'Best Dressed Woman' Is the first to reach produc- tion. Katherine Alexander handled the lead at Stockbridge. ■ 'Stage Door,' featuring Jane Wyatt, Who came to Stockbridge in 1931 to play ingenue role, attracted capacity business last week. The gross was best since William Miles became, mainagihg director of the Playhouse. Revised schedule for remainder of the season: 'Susan and God,' fea- turing Violet Heming,. this week- 'French Without Tears,' minus guest players (one such production is staged annually), week of Aug 15- 'Pride and Prejudice,' with Edith Barrett, week of Aug. 22; The Road to Rome,' with Jane Cowl, week of Aug. 29. Saratoga Springs, Aug. 9. The Spa Players have added a Sunday night and dropped the Mon- day evening performance. First Sabbath show was staged Sunday (7), 'Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary," with Laurette Taylor, rounding but its week; Management wanted 'Alien Earth,' Lee Shubert's tryout of the previous ; week, given Tuesday through Sunday, but the actors de- murred, and it rah Monday to •Saturday. Double pay for the f™. union stage hands. Eloise Sheldon, find of the AmPtL can Theatre Council last wlntl, made her local debut in 'Ma^' Mary,' and attracted attention whk her characterization of Sheiir Society girls and tittle Theatre ow formers, of the area are doing hfti and helping with the chores at tS Spa theatre. The regular companj payroll carries 23 names. ' Schenectady, N. v., Aug 9 James Kirkwopd, who came to tSi Mohawk Drama Festival to costo with Charles D. Goburn in 'A Tew Steer,' will remain to appear ^ •yghtnih',' featuring Fred Stone, m 'High Tor.' featurhig Coburn. Thb is his third season, at this Festivsl buj. the first in which he will haw played more than a week.. Walter Hiampden is this weeh guest star, playing, for the first time m his career, 'Svengali,' in Georee Du Maurier's Trilby.' The Manned Sisters introduce a formal ballet of .20 as part, of the production. Ceclll» Loftns at Newpojrt ^ Newport, Aiig. 9, The Actor-Managers, Inc., will pre. sent Cecilia Lbftus in her 'Impres- sions and Impersonations'- SundaV night (14); . . . Miss Loftus, now appearing in "To. night at 8:30,' the current production at the Casino theatre, concludes her engagement in Newport with the special performance. . Chatham, Mass., Aug. 9. - Victoria Sc'.irager will have the lead in 'Yes My -Darling Daughter,' at Mohoiiioy theatre, opening hm Aug. Id. Gerald Sykes' play, 'Cowboys and Indians,' will be Jried out Aug. 17. Planned to close the season with Paul Hervey Fox's 'The Bigger They Come,' another new piece. CHATTER The second offering of the Lake George Players will be three oiie« act plays to be . presented in St James Parish House, Thursday (11), Friday (12), and Saturday (13). 'Anybody's Game,'which opened last night (9) at the Hampton Play- house, . Bridgehampton, N. Y;, is H> titled version of "Three and - Tmi,' which .had been , called off suddenly tor doctoring on July 26. ; Beth Merrill, star . under the lah David Belasco, will play the lead in 'Susan and God,' Nantucket, R. 1, Aug. 18. ■ . Dwight Deere Winian last weeit flew to Bar Harbor to o.o.- the Suny Players, Surry, Me. He may banlf' roll their fall tour and Broadway stand. 'The Ivory Tower,' comedy .ly Mathild and Theddore Ferro, will be tried out Aug. 19-21 at the Tamarads Playhouse, Lake Pleasant, N, T. Walter Beck Will play the lead, Hay, •handled by Audrey Wood, of the Llebling- Wood office, is not the piece of the same title formerly held by Sidney Harmon. Week, of Aug. 15, Director Frank McCoy will present Madge Evans in 'Stage Door' at the Maplewood Thea- tre, Maplewood, N. J. Weisgal's $44,408 Bankruptcy Dates Back to Reinlianit Meyer W. Weisgal, the director of the Palestine Exhibit at the N. J. World's Fair and formerly cbnnectM with the Max Reinhardt spectacle "The Eternal Road,* filed a petitioa in bankruptcy in N. Y. Federal court Friday (5) placing his liabilities « $44,408 and listing, no assets; CHa among his debts are monies loanw in connection with the 'Eternal Boad and 'Romance of the People' ductions and put on by the Productions, Inc. According to B|» schedule of debts, Weisgal is pa™ responsible ^f or loans to the V^*^^ tion corporation, rriade by Frank '* Behrend, of the Hotel Cornmodow under a contract made in Janu*^' 1936, for $10,000. Reinhardt and M.W.W. corp. are also named as debtors in this transaction. WeisPJ also takes part resporisibility extent of $1,089 of a loan made." Milton Blackstone to the prod"'V,,V company. Others named ter transactions are Saul Abrali>^ Dan Van Schacht and E. W. LoveJW' ip^dnesday. Auguet 10. 193S LEGITIMATE VARIETY 51 B'WAY Ip^ Declines Riibig in ^^^^^ Where Dannish Actress Was Fn-ed story from the Coast concerning a i^tpUy due on Broadway m the Vn ZneeTDS a Danish actress who *iffSe been fired a£ter being H-«^tf^tay in 'I Am Different,' SffwlU stai- Tallulah Bankhead. !**^ Is Else Skoubo. whose hus- SJi to Christian Ditlev Reventlow, !Tto be a kin 6i the nobleman ^ of Barbara Hutton. Eaulty was asked to intercede but «Mme. Skoubo is not a membcr.^no Irfkm wlU be taken. Actress and her : Snd are reported to have be«n •bouTto embark lor Copenhagen vben Joseph M. Gaites. who is pre- sehtlng the play with Lee Shuber^ prevailed upon her to rernain and Diay a secondary lead. After three ajflfs* rehearsals, Gaites told her that she woul'l "°* . Mme. Skoubo, who is said to have nlayed in Scandinavia, claims that Jflnaining on the Coast had involved a heavy financial loss. Her luggage liad been aboard the liner and since ^he was allegedly induced to stay within W minutes of sailing, ship- ping people refused a refund on the passage, which cost $800, on the liounds that the time between can- cellation and;sailing did not provide ettough opportunity to resell the reservation. Given a buildup, Mme. Skoubo Is reported to have called off tl7,000 in Scandinavian dates for the playi' Ume. Skoubo speaks English so TrtU, that she attracted the attention of Gaites and Miss Bankhead, who is said to have complimented her when tbe Danish actress read her. (Mme. 'SlK)ubo'4) part Understood that Gaites sought a modified ruti of the play conbact if and when the play racbed Broadway, which would call Jor him tp exercise the option within four weeks after the play's opening. However, instead, he is ^id to have placed a minimum of three months, not the run of the play. Manager . isd the. husband of the plaiyer claitn they pUuined for the future, which ipcludcd the Danish girl's - appear- ance In . special matinees during; the nm of 1 Am DiPerenf in New York, Mme. Skoubo to play the lead in re- vivals which broiight her note abroad. For such appearances she .mis reported to get a guarantee and If 1 Am Different' clicked, 2% of the gross over )8,000. It appears, howeveir, thai she came to the U5. under a visitor's visa, and having no quota number, may not be able to legally sustain the claims she mentions against Gaites. That she would have been permitted to «ppear under Equity rules also ap- pears doubtful, as she had no quota J™J*r and therefore was not quali- I «d to become an alien member. Tin ^ Different' was written by "II Hatvany and adapted by Zoe ^^^^ repre- « J'" Broadway, for some sea- sjns. Word from the Coast is that .MISS Bankhead was 'thrilled' by the wceuenceof the banish girl's speak- voice. Claimed that Gaites gave °«r only verbal notice but Equity "?JJ«d It had ho standing .to inter- for a Tioh-member. Probation- ll« Say '""^ "^"^^ engagements is Literal Equation A. H. Woods has had consid- erable difBculty casting the three lead roles for his forth- coming production of a play by J. H. Harris, due in Noveniber on Biroadway. Reported that the players, must be ' 'excep- tional' for the portrayals. Title Is -The Unusual Three.' EASE PLOTTING CHARGES VS. 3 SID FOR 125,000 W THEFT' OF HAITI' jWinjam DuBois, Jr.; Maurice Clark d«en7.T,^- were named a^ufL"*" ^^eek in a plagiarism Martin B. Jones who claim Play *^«deral Theatre Project Pubfch,^ • ^hefted from an un- PlS^i""? """"^^ tome by the S i"."''- Suit is .for $25,000 "lade 4i? °" accounting of profits on -the play. IheriUiS." '"junction to stop fur- fenUv °' 'Haiti,' cur- L s^etln- Lafayette, N. Y. An- ^i ileny ^^e defendants '^ '"«s'sto?v 1,°"^ P"* °' *he plain- hS. that 'Haiti' is based ■ln ttS".! 'act which has been • ^ public domain for years.' Charges of subversion within the five arts projects in WPA's New York area, now under Congressional in- vestigation, is said hot. actually to include the Federal: relief theatre, except In isolated instances. Radi-. calism within the , project has beeh alleged; a number of times, but never :substantiated. , H^Uie Flanagan, national director of WPA's theatre, who, as drama in- structor at .Vassar college, had been regarded as. being 'pink,' has denied more than price that reds influenced activities of the relief stage. - Miss Flanagan has hot been the authorized source recently for state- ments emahating from the Federal Theatre Project In the metropolis. Most of the stateirients have come from Paiil Edwards, administrator for the five arts units. He has or- dered all who are ahxious to testify before the probing comihittee to be ready, on call, to leave for Washing- ton, to aid the investigators- with 'any information. "The theatre end was not specifical- ly mentioned when, subversive meth- ods were alleged to exist in the arts projects. Committee is reported to have been informed that the writers' unit is mostly involved, but Edwards denied that last wee:k. Equity's WPA committe«' has said that radicalism had not been charged by its members. ST. L AL FRESCO SEEKS 200G IN IMPROVEMENTS St. Louis, Aug.' 9. Plans are being clrawn to apply for a $200,000 grant from the Public Works Administration to. help defray the approximately $200,000 cost of improving the municipal theatre in Forest Park. Proposed reconstruc- tion of pergolas, etc, of the al fresco theatre, whose completion was planned before the start of the cur- rent season, were ditched when bids ran far above the previously esti- mated $100,000 cost. Baxter L. Browni president of the Board of Public Service, said a ten- tative plan, beint worked out by the city and execs of the Municipal Theatre Assn. , calls for the latter to furhish funds, lo cover cost of con- struction, to the city, which then would apply to PWA for 45% ol the project's expenses. The unexpended portion of the money turned over to the city by the assn. would be re- turned to the latter upon the com- pletion of the work. Should PWA make the grant the work probably will be. started this year. 5 Shows for Det. . Detroit, Aug. 9. Although opening play aiid date hasn't been set. as yet, Cass theatre, town's lone legiter, has booked George M. Cohan's 'I'd Hathcr Be Right'; the LunU' 'Amphitryon- 38' and 'Sea Gull'; 'Sii.san and God,' with Gertrude Lawrence, and 'Of Men' and Mice' for, the coming season, m THE FALL See $106,000 Outside Money for Five Playwright-Pro- ducers — ^ Hollywood Still Hands-Off— Possibility of $1,000,000 Combo of Biz- men LONGER SEASON Albs With the first gleanings of new season plans comes word that new backers'outside of show business will be oh the Broadway scene this fall. Howev^er, there's no indication that Hollywood will change its hands off attitiide, on legit support ; First definite ^info that some shows will be bankrolled from outside the ranks comes with the activities of five name playwrights — Maxwell An- derson, Robert . . Sherwood,' Elmer Rjc'e, S.-.N. Behrmari and Sidney Ho^iiard. ^- Agreed thr.t each puts $10,000 . in the pot to finance' the start. . As much rhore is' to be in- vested by others, not known to have been -in oh shows, previously. ■'■ Group bases its productioa budget on a $100,000 b.ri but it is estimated that its first two shows will not re- quii'e that much expenditure. The authors, however, intend operating with a surplus. Rice is the only one who heretofore has produced on his own. Among those said to haye bought pieces are Howard S. Cull- man, vice-president of the Port Au- thority of New York, who was re- ceive!: of the '. Roxy theatre,: N, . Y., and John Wharton, an attorney,, who has several showmen as clients, notably the' name drainatists. ATC Pabllelty Publicity favorable to show busi- ness is expected again to accom- pany the American Theatre Council two-day convention , in New York; Sept 13-14. When it was indicated that there ' would be no convention this ' year, there were show people who vigorously protested, among them being .William A. Brady; This year's parley, around the start of the N; Y. World's Fair season of. 1938-39, is figure^ to attract as much atten- tion and it may be a magnet for outside investors. Last year, a banker in the Times' Square district attehdeid all- sessions and saw possibilities for Investment not from, the bank with Which he is connected, but froih a coterie that he proposed forming. The 1937-38 sea- son got started so slowly that the idea went on the shelf, .lliis autumn, (Continued on page 52) Expansion of TMAT Held Too Rapi^^ Slowmg Its Progress and Clouding Future; Plan Group Semi- Autonomy An Angel's Tailor Backstage attendant from the . Shubei-t theatre, N. Y,, was seen recently carrying the ce- . lestial wings -worn by Vera Zoriria in 'I Married an Angel.' . 'Just taking 'em to the clean- ers,' he explained to startled passersby. TMAT PICKETS 2 B'WAY HOUSES OVERRULE Theatrical Managers, Agents and 'Treasurers' union started picketing two Broadway theatres, the Astor and Loew's State, Monday (8). While 'Marie Antoinette' (M-G) does not open at the Astor until next Tuesday (16), the union figures to hit the ad- vance sale. The State is being pick- eted , because Metro, also owned by Loew's, is' producer of , 'Antoinette.' , TMAT states that Metro refused it recognition. Union claims jurisdic- tion oyer the staff of 'Aritoinette' be- cause it is a road show, admission to which must conform to legit shows, reserved , tickets being used rather than the strip ticket system of regu- lation theatres. Union cohtericis, therefore, that only boxoffice staffs, press agents and company managers, who are mem- bers of the TMAT, should be en- gaged. John Beat to Play Lead In 'Soliloquy' on Coast Los Angeles, Aug; 9. John Beal, currently in Para- mount's 'Arkansas Traveler,' gets the male lead in the Victor Victor legit play, 'Soliloquy,' to be produced locally by Horner Curran, John Cam- eron and N. H. RappapOrt Latter two are new to legit producing. Play tries out in San- Francisco late next i.ionth. Eugeh Schulz-Breiden, due in from Switzerland Aug. .20, will direct. Bond' for $3,000 to cover salary guarantees and transportation has been filed with Equity, Fresh Coin Needed by TMAT, AFRA As Organization Drives Dent Funds Cost of organizing the newer actor unions and others in show business has exceeded original estimates with the result that at least two group^ have sought fresh money to bankroll continued organizational drives. They are the American Federation of Radio Artists and the Theatrical Managers, Agents' and Treasurers union. Both are said to have ex- pended $35,000, or more, in the past year, TMAT's board met last Friday (5) to discti.ss a solution after it was made known that funds were too slim to Jceep on the organization work. Early , aid was received, amounting to a $2,500' loan, from 30 members, TMAT doc;; not have the backing of affiliate unjtin,s; AFRA ha.s. Last year, when Equity decided to turn, over jurisrlietion of radio, to the new 1 affiliate of the Associated Actors and 1 Arti.stcs of Amci',;a, it was realized th.nt AFRA woiitcl require fin.mcing. '■. At the time, Equiiy guaranteed to ' advance. $12,500 or more to the radio , union, with the Screen Actors Guild lending the same support. Additional money was needed, and at Equity's last Council meeting an- other $5,000 loan was okayed to AFRA, SAG is believed to have fol- lowed suit. Also reported that the American Guild of Musical Artists also figured in supporting the radio union, AGMA, also i . a new affiliate of the Four A's, but in good condi- tion financicilly. . Starting from scratch, AFRA ha.s fluctuated between 3,000' and 4,000 members. The ultimate aim is 10.- 000, Radio union, in recently secur- ing; a basic aKreniiei.t with the Na- tional Broadcnstin,; C j„ took its most important step forward since its j formation. For .so new a gioup to ; secure recognition fiom tl- > air chain i i> such, a comp.-iratively .short time had been regarded skeptically. TMAT w.is formed about nine , .vcars ar.'o. but wa.s dorrfian' until hist . .year. Since .then the mcmb?r.ship | ha.s risen from .300 to 1,100, How- ! over, it ha.s not AFn.\'s fertile ficlrl An entii'e new draft of the revised constitution of the Theatrical Mana- gers, Agents and Treasurers uriion is being written as the result of the second day of the extended annual meeting last week. On the first day there was so -mlich difference qf opinion that the future of TMAT was clouded. Wednesday (3), there were a couple ot near 'fistic cncouitters, then order prevailed and a commit- tee was named to devise the new~ proposed constitution. Group is to report back not later than Auj. 24; Difficulties facing TMAT appear to have aVisen through too rapid ex- pansion. When disputes simmered, dowq, more logical' heads pointed out that any organization which grew from 400 to MOO" (stated to be the current membership) within one year was bound to find that the mechanism on , the original setiip^ would be , unworkable. That particu- larly applies to TMAT . because of jta varied groups. There were indica* tions that the divergence of interiesta, would make' harmony among the' mernbership virtually irhpossible but a solution of the problem is being worked out. Each group, according to the plan, would have autonomy up to, a, cer> tain point. Idea of merging all Into a uniform , membership has been' dropped as impractical because of the variance in the wages- or salaries,: which members in each group have .set as minimums, established in the basic agreement with the managers. There was considerable ado about the approjpriation of the^^irpup's funds; taken in largely through ini- tiations, but there was no hint that it had been u.sed improperly^ Around $36,000 was expended during the past year, its most active since TMAT was formed. Considerable coin was used for organization, including re- cruiting of Califorriia racetrack ticket sellers and picture house man- agers. Economy Wave Wave of economy, including low- ered stipends of the entire staff, has been decided upon, at least for the summer. With, the new season, and more consistent payments of dues, (Continued on page 52) N. Y.'s Radio Station Offered, Gratis, To B'way Legit Mgr?. One of the most friendly gestures made Broadway by New York city authorities came Tuesday (9) when License Commi.ssioncr Paul Mo.ss offered the use of the municip.il radio station WNVC to the League of New York Theatres. He was ac- companied by Morris Novick, ntian- ager of the station, and. .so en- thusiastic were the managers over the prop.-isal that the visitors to yes- terday's Lca.'^ue meeting were given a vote of thanks. Plan is to u,se WNYC for one hour each Sunday afternoon for excerpts from plays, either current or com- ing, broadca.stin« to be gratis. Com- mi.<;.sioncr Mo.ss- said that Mayor LaGuardia was wholeheartedly for the idea, not only with the impul.se to .lid the theatre but for the cultural value. to the citjzenry. Rehearsals Planned For Connelly Comedy M;jrc Connolly '.s pullir,;; the fi'i.-il louchts on ii c'lrncf.'y, ;is yd ,un- litlcd. which hi pl-'os t-'> :>,'■) rc- hcar.siil next ino.nvh uii'Icr 'i. v ov/a rl-rection. . , Thrf:c .i;)jcr pii-.-,- iue a!,''j . t.'itiy'.'lv '.ri till- (' ."fv!ly li.-'i fny lii'o-. 'li]t.'lirMi ill >i-,'i' .n. ();)l,on Hns l: - ri It CP nn oj.Iy 'ir.o. h'rj;i:vcr, ;in',! i;i .-iny ('.-■c ('-lii-.'-y.v-.'j 'A lU) his own fir-!. 52 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wedneaday, August IQ, 1933 Strawhat Reviews ROSALIND Garmei, N. V., Aug. 5. I-lglit opera In n t>roIo6 anis Iwo arts bv Florence Wlckhiiin, tnnii iin aJapiailon ot Sliokcspeaie'e 'As Vou Mke It: by Curils Cuo!:sc>: proBonieU by iho KenJor Pro- dubtlonii. Inc. Dlroctca by W. Uay Cor no; eiacnl by Olrarlc!) Sinclair. At "ockrldge theatre, CarmiBl. N. Y.. AuB. 6, FrcJerlck...,: ..Quy StsnillnB, Jr, The nmlshcd Duko , .■. NVells Clary Jflc-iiuea CurllB CookHCy - , Kay W.. Keyi« William Kurtz Robert Joficuti i..-.Roy Cropper , ;.J. P. Corr i^crrill Alcxanilor Clarence M. Maclenn ......Dorothy noker .... , .Pucell Diamond .TsMna . Allen LcUeaii Charles Oliver .. Orlando Attain . . . Pcnnla Corln . ; . notinlind Cslla ... Audrey '. ". ". '. '. . . . . . '. . '. . . ' ' . . • Uoroti'y Sh jrlej Of all the efforts made to , change Shakespeare, only three, all gramj operas, 'Othello,' 'FalsUff' and 'Romeo et ■ Juliet' .have attained sufficient success to merit occasional revival. - However, the public seems to prefer its Shakespeare straight. Yet, despite this handicap the Florence Wickham opus desaryes a more extensive, production and with la little patching will find its way -to Broadway. • Of course, it is not devoid of minor detects, the opening, overture heed- ing more, pep^ among other faults. However, as a whole, the opera is tunefur and sprightly. Miss Wick- hanr) was formerly with the Met and Is said to be the first woman to com- pose the music and write the, lyrics for an opera; - The cast is excellent. "As Rosalind, ' it is Miss Baker's, debut in opera, her work heretofore being confined to . church ^nd concert work. She has a good , voice and excellent stage personiality. Given in the outdoor, theatric, the natural sylvan, setting benefits the presentation, which, is one of the . mpst pretentious strawhat shows ever given in this, sector. There's a ' chorus of 32 and an orchestra of 30. Audience of l,5(i(>,. reduced opening night by a threat of rain, received the offering with enthusiasm: : Those present at the preem in- . cliided Geraldine . Farrar, Lee and J. J. Shubert, Mrs. Eleanor Roose- velt,. Mrs. . James Roosevelt and Governor and Mrs. Herbert H. Lehman,, CTawford, THE MAD HATTERS Mountain Lakes, N. J., Aug. 5. ' Comedy In three acts by Virginia i'erdue; presented by the Bandbox VJayem, iitaged by Sydney Wade Belt. Setting, Whiting Thornton. At. the Little Theatre, Moun- tain Lakes, N. J., Aug. 5, a, Angela Hatter.. .............. .Joan Copen Mrs, Pell, Housekeei>er.. .Eleanor Mitchell Max Goisteln. .George Baehr Anthony Hatter, '. ....... .Whiting Thornton Ronald Hntter,..;.. F. Moore Xvons Octnvla Hatter...... Lucille Brophy Margie Allen. ..Adele Bloom Bill ..Herbert Monsky Frances ..Adele Sidney Mitchell... .............George C. Williams With a self-iexplanatory' title , de- rived- from 'Alice in Wonderland,' . this immature comedy falls into the ■ category of Three Cornered Moon,' 'You Can't Take It with You,' etc. But falls far short The Hatters are a zany family, consisting of a . stage-struck daugh- ter .and a couple of sons. A benevo- lent friend is forced to straighten them out ' financially on occasion. Into this mad household the author injects f lirther confusion in the forms of a. Francis Smiih, a real estate nian, who - wants to buy their house, and a Frances Smith, whose social connections are considered capital, by the Hatters. The mistaken identity theme serves as a motive for the Hatters' antics. Director Sydney Wade Bell has done a creditable ^ob with a script that might be . whipped into a fair amateur olTeriiig. Eleanor Mitchell as the slavey, who, dra.^s herself through the wild ; household, and Whiting Thornton j as. the bewildered son, are b^st. Joan Capen, as the stage-struck daughter, Adele Sidney, the frightened society friend, ' do what thay- can. The light-rheaded mother calls for; a more seasoned actress than Lucille Brophy. Listen, My Children Locust Valley, N. Y., Aug. 8. C6inet Hotel Porter...,. Sol Luiincr Here is good material for. a B pic ture. With good rewriting, .it might do belter. Story concerns the career «f Waldo, personable and young, who earns a livelihood by peddling hbck- 'I'op jewelry as RomanofI heirlooms,. or operating a minor mail. fraudi Play opens with Waldo (Philip Ober) and Lionel (John Maroney) planning to .tal Bride's had taken over the Bascom chain of hotel ticket stands, some years ago, but operated it' as a sepa« rate entity. McBride's has a capital stock ot $110,000, $100 par. Bascom's is capi- talized at $1,000, with shareis at $10 par. Directors of the latter are John S. McBride, William M. Louden and William M. McBride, Five other* are named as owning one share each. Sam Bernard's Wiilow Inherits Property of fii Dudley, Gray,; Whelps & Cray, Niagara Falls attorneys have com- municated with the widow of San Bernard on clearing the title of real estate in the upstate city, which sh« inherited; from her late brother. Francis. P. Reairden, professionally known as Dan McAvoy. She's no» the wife of Sam Williams; formtf .actor, but how a stock, broker. Mr* Williams has been ill with a nervous disorder for some time. Williams »P-. peared in vaudeville with his flfS' wife, the late Kate Elinore. Attorneys also have queried wherealDputs of Bernard's nephe«i Davey 'Jones, also known as San Bernard,' Jr. Current Road Shows Week of Aug; 8 . ; ,.. 'Brother Eat,* Brighton, Bri«nW» Beach, N. Y. (9). 'On Borrowed Time,' Bilimore, Angeles. cm •Pins and Needles,' Gcaiy, Frahciisco. ' 'Room Service,' Aldeti, Jamaic* N, Y. . 'Susan and lod' (Gertrude Lau- rence), Gurran; San Francisco. ■ 'Yes, My Darlln? Daujhter, oat den Pier, Atlantic City. Wednes day, August lOy 1938 CHATTER VARIETY 53 John Monk. Jr.. and Fred FinUel- fcnffe to Bermuda. "Samlno Gigll due from Italy infot next month. , norothy Peterson to return to «Sdw«r In a play.. . ^oi Chappell ,due back from oSSd6»n «~"P'**' '^*^'''-« ^ Sidney Spier, nitery p.a.. off to aoeCid for a week's respite. storman G. Weinberg, indie dis-- trib^tt ^« two- week trip of the ''t^if Whitney back to New York ^ieariy a week at Saratoga Kalmerison. Warner western alM boss, on iwo-week tour of tranches. ,' . . . . Bhert (Slim) Severance Is p a, for ihe Sunrise Drive-in theatre. Valley Stieani.'I^ I. nr Leo Michel, recuperating in GrosUiger's G. C, due back m his office next week. Glenn Anders to the Goast for 'I Xm DlfferenC which is starring ■ xalluiah Bahkhead. Ttoiflc heat shuttered film home offices and other busineisses several afternoons l!-st -.veek, ■ Mrs Florence Marslon, eastern tep of the Screen Actors Guild, Biotoring to the Coast Henry Franker, of WOR's artist biireau, b^ ck from one- week vacash of Connecticut . motoring. . Peggy Scheuerman, of the Authors tealue of America, to Lake George, ■ nTy, for several weeks. , Kmest Lawford, recuperating from his recent illness, due back from London early next month. ■ Dave Jonas, formerly with Lyons t Lyons agency, has joined Bill Miller at Artists Syndicate. ■ John Murt. display man for War- ner. Bros. ; theatre department in Philadelphia, vacationing in N, Y. Arthur Brown now hosting at the Storki thiis ; permitting • . 'ot>eratoc Stiermaii Billingsley a little relief. - Plenty of London , and Paris folk d^erriiig their usual :fall visits until next spring to coincide with the ftlr. ' Julian T. Abeles. theatrical attor- ney, due back Aug. .15 irdni' a- month's Coast visit for business and pleasure. • Bob Weitman took ' the . missus to Ferndale, N. Y., Friday (5) for recuperation after ah operation in Major Frederick L. Herron, for- eign department head at the Hays office, on' a - vacation tour through 'the easti ' Bob Vogel, in Metro's foreign die- partment on the Coast, returns to Hollywood this week after honie of- fice confabs, Alfred Harding, editor of the Ac- tors Equity mag, toj the northwest for « month's vacati^ and to bring back his family. Jose Ferrer being considered for the Maxwell Anderson-Kurt Weill • auslcal and for a new Guthrie Mc- ■ Cllntic production. Albert Deane. Paramount's foreign Mvertlsing-publicity bos.s, off for a restate Fire Island. Gets his real vacation late this fall. • John Henry Lewis, Henry Arm- Sffong and Joe Louis added to guest hst for Chick Webb's date at the Paramdunt theatre Aug. 15. ^^Because the other bonifaces like Nicky Blair, the Paradise Has become we hangout when the nitery man- .a«ers want to step out a bit P^^'ty Monday night at Motel Astor for Norman Elson, who's raking the leajj. Joe Lee, 20th-Fox ewbange manager, acted as m.c. ilh^Jhr^^^^^'- general manager of "?i"'SUge, has gone to the Inter- national Ladies Garment Workers W«li!*2r in Stroudsburg. Pa. to c?"J*1'^' «x-pro, transferred £ n^i'A'**,'' Reformatory, Mich., to . wP'i"!ft^in that institution, has gwn Pitched back to the Michigan "•atf Prison in Jackson. NorJSJr.rf-"' passengers on the S: S. aei? of fi, ^'^"ving last week with had oro J"* Duncan tragedy SatSi^t^i"! versions of the affair ^b^^.f't,^ '••le news reports. Wth^SJ^^"^^*""- long associated fe's Gest in the past and agMiev i'll^*"^ "^'n advertising for^tJ^'w-^" JPe^ial exploitation sewnd i??.«' .^r"vJng)' Berlin has her tSt a.fiP, '°" ^.'^P*'' story in the ciir- her btt-iT «" Mackay does it all on Mrs ir«in» eochewlng the rtart ri>K«"'""f in London to BWn.mi„**,'"!l"e in Jack Waller's •frM> D Also has an offer turt i?Wu°^''e Wiman to re- A,.?'='°^J?'' fo"" new J. P. Mc- M?rt^h"^^''Wiirtz.show. lInS|?w"' Leonard and Gladys play 'llyW(^ ifL"?"-^ running in • to on^'.,'? giving his eastern pals '«SoMS?^^.^i*h ''is very bright 'njS&!'"^"er. If his Blalform "nch. ■ ^ "campaign libretto, he's a ' '"^infer^.^""^''"' w''" operates or P» "OO (a 'bot- b^^nrt ' n^V^^i* Anglais. Em- ' ""J Cafe de Paris (with Marlus . Poulson). is due in New York shortly on a .talent-scouting visit ■ . : S.'N. Behnirian due to wind up his Hollywood scripting stint in about three weeks, Thei. will return east Will, orobably not havef a script com- pleted for production by the Five Playwrights until next spring or summer, i Major Frederick Herron, in charge of Hays foreign department; David Palfreyman, assistant to Will Hays- Arthur S, Dickinson; head of the conservation division, and ; Joel Swensen, assistant to Kenneth Clark In public relations department; all away this week on vacations.^ The Darryl Zanucks returned with three dogs, one for . each of their thre«i chlldrefii and two nurses, but left . (1 dachshund' behind in . Paris, which: had been flown from Berlin. Mrs. Zanuck thought the pooch wouldn't .weather, the . crossing so Mrs. Ben Miggins, w'*e of the 20th- Fox manager in Trance; inherited it, Westport, Conn. By. Humphrey Dpulens James Melton home. Edna Ferber's new home nearly ready, Maria - Serrholtno commuting to New York. Philip Dunning and Gabriel Hess at . Saratoga. ' Flora Zabelle here. Ditto Chiar- Ibtte Greenwood, Mrs, Thomas ' Mclghan spending first summer here. , ' . Ethel Barrymore to Vermont to visit Alex WooUcott, Lily Pons due! back Sept l^froni South American tour. Working, press gave lalrge party for Eugenie JLebntovich,. Mrs. Carl Schlaet (ex^MrS, John Held, Jr,). back from Mexico,. Grantland Rices visiting ■ West- brook- Peglers. at New Canaan, Conn. . Roy Larsen will inake his - new 120'-acre farm here hiis winter home. •Peggy' French, • with parents, Mr., and Mrs. Ward French, at Longshore Club, Norrisi Houghton back , to town to do , sets for 'Dame . Natiiire' for The- atre Guild, . Ann Greenway ' back' from Sara- toga, . Summering with Mrs, Mark Luescher ^here. Katharine . Hepburn in to see 'Su- zaniia and' the Elders,' which- she was offered for Broadway, ■ Rex .Smith commuting to. NewS- Week while wife (JjIssie Royce.Lan- dis). rehearses *The Millionairess;', Alexander 'Sandy' Sturm, sbti of J'ustin Sturm, , sculptor, and . all- Americah :end (Yale, '21) made stage debut in 'Suzanna and the Elders,' By H»l Cohen Suzanne Bole, home . again after dance tovir. Bunny Rang off for Louisville to join Ray Herbeck's orchestra, . WB' closing ^Schenley theatire, Oak- land, for two Sweeks to renovate.. Helen . Donnelly, back in town again after' a show-seeing on Broad- way, ' Rae Russell off for New York to enroll at Chester Hale school of ballet . Austin Internate's .son in from Tri-State College, Angola, Ind., for a visit. May Beegle off for -Tanglewood, N, H., . for the . Berkshire Music Festival, The Kap Monabans have left for Cape May, N, J., on their annual vacation. . , Lew Mercur on talent hunt pre- paratory to reopening Harlem. Casino next month, , Chet Adams and Sue Elliott both of Playhouse's backstage crew, will marry Sept. 2, Dave Ru.binoff'."! aged mother, just informed of his illness, rushed to his Detroit bedside, ■. . The John Harrises have taken a home, near Atlantic City for re- mainder of the summer. , Jihimy Rudge- replacing Sammy Walters with Luke Riley's orchestra,- latter joining Marty Schramm outfit. Lou, Mi Her," asst manager of the- State, Wilkinsburg,' Pa., convalescing at Cumberland, Md., from operation.: Curtis Rudolf winds up with Pasadena, Gal., Community Play- house, last of xnonth and returns to teaching post at Duquesne U., Stroudsburg By John, Barlholpincw Aldo Nadi at Buck Hill. Night baseball cut Tuesdays.' Stroud theatre reopened Monr day : (8). . - Douglas McCaulay concerted at Oriawa Lodge. Bruce Hall's band at Harrison Park, Blake.slee. ■Vocalist. Dorothy LiscUe incapaci- tated by a fall, Jimmy Applecate'.s orchestra at Clvde's. Buck Hill Fdrks. Jan Kruoa is at the Hammond console at, the Pchh-Sfroud hotel. Tommy , Cullen's swinjj.sters will remaiin until aftf L-'ibpr Day at the Glen wood hotel. • ■ £)onna Dae, of Fred warinu'Ti Peiin-sylvanians, apoeaied with the Aldan Funsters Guild in 'Fly Away Home' at Shawnee summer theatre. London Jack McKeon in London. Octavus Roy Cohen, visiting Lon- don, Dave Bermaln ifather of seven- pound girl, . ... Cyril GUmdur new press agent for the PaUadium, • . Elisabeth Bergner now a natural- ized British subject , J, H. Parker replaces Cecil Packer 111 'Lot's Wife' at ,the Aldwych. ^.'Little Stranger* closed at the Roy- alty July 23, after 12 performances: June Clyde off to south of France ,to join husband, Thornton Frecland. . Robert Jorgensen off to 'Denmark and Sweden for his' annual vaca- tion, Paul Murray lining up a vaude- ville act of English films' stars dou- bles.. . _:Leslie Howard to do la picture at ■Pinewopd studios in association with Charles Woolf. Harry Ham. Lbndoifi repiresenta-' ti.ve' of . Myron Selznick, expected here riext month, - .The hew Leslie Hensoh musical, due at the Gaiety Aug, 31, is flnallj titled 'Running Riot' . 'Pygmalioii' has be^ selected for special, showing at the' Intiirnational Exhibition, Venice, Aug, 27; ■' Tommy Trinder to' be resident' compere at the Paradise dub during the fall, starting next month, Hdllywood Doubles, originally booked into the Palladium for four weeks, just stayed a fortnight: Billy Stewart, manager of Clifford C, Fischer's London Casino, turned dowii 'offer to manage Warners' new theifitre, . Wallace Parnell due back here next month from Australia after live yeirs vaudeville producing : for Frank Neal, Henry Sherek staging "The Petri fled Forest': here in the fall, and hop- ing to get Bette Davis and Leslie Howard fdr the leads. ' Jack'Buchanan has leased the Riv erside Film studios.: which were' piir chas'eid by Leslie Hiscot some > time ago, to make pictures there. . Harry Roy due back from South America Aug. 15 to resume vaude- ville dates for . General Theatres Corp. till the end of the year. Harry Foster and . Nat Kalcheim have booked the Dolinoffs and Raya Sisters foi: America for eight weeks, with team opening next Feb. 2. Roy Rich, new manager of London Hippodrome, married Pamela Tith- eradge, niece of MadgeTitheradge,' at Holborn register office, July 28. Cieneral Films ^ Distributors, the Charles WooU outfit testing Fred Formby, brother of George Formby, at Piriewood studios, for film debut Sir Oswald. Stoll is considering -putting vaudeville into the London Coliseum, which is giving General Theatres Corp. an unexpected head-, ache, ■ .'- ' "Young In Heart.' latest of Selz- nick pictures, expected here end of August, and will have its West End premier^ at the .Odeon early next month, ■ . .• Walter Futter hahdlijig 'Advien- tures of Chico' for European release, with Arthur Dent dickering for Eng- lish rights for Associated British Pic- ture Corp. William Pepper, for years mian- agef of the Regent a theatre in John Maxwell circuit, will be. manager cif new Warner house when it dpens Oct, 11 with 'Robin Hood,' - Sonnie Hale returning to screen, after tht-ee years in 'The Gaunt Stranger,' adapted from an Edgar Wallace thriller. Picture is being shot at Ealinrr by Michael Balcdh. . Martinus Poulsen, head of Cafe de Paris, dickering with Chiirles L. Tucker to bring over Tiho Ro.ssi at $2,000 per week for two weeks with ootions. , Opening date would be Sept 19, preseiit'convalescing from illness due to overwork at county playhouse, , John C, Ring, Jf„ of , Chamber of Commerce, and Paul Biesnian, man- ager of Municipal Theatre Assn, and Amei'ican theatre, Chicago, lining up talent for civic fiesta, to fdllow Veiled Prophet parade and ball in Octol>er; Another midget motor race track has been opened in the:' metropolitan area. New one is located at Cah'okia, HI,, across the Mississippi from here. It will compete with one operated by Earl Reflow .at the Walsh Memorial Stadium,. iSt Louis. Long Island Hollywood Sl Loiiis By Sam X. Hurst Jimmy Harris, p.a, . Loew's, vaca- tioning, , . B, B, Reingold, 20th-Fox exec, back .from biz trip through the state. Father of Maurice Davis; .manage!- of the William Rogers theatre, a nabc, died. . Zeke. CblVan, stage- manager of the muny theati'.e, hiis lost 15 pounds this surnmer. George Hirst, musical cTirector, has lost 20.- Bill Rice, traffic manager of thie Sheesley Midway show.s. h.ls rcr covered from a 10-week illness, and will be at the Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, Aug. 20-27. Richard Berber plans to .start re- hearsals of 'Once Opon a Nij^ht,' skedded for a- Wilmingtoh, Del., opening Sept. 8. upon, completion of inuny opera .sca.son. John P. Shea, former film theatre ope'r.itor, and Will L. Lindhbrst magician,, fell by the .\v;i.vsrde in Missouri's primary election. Both sought Democratic hominalion as state representative. City! fathers ai-e olTering to -buy Douglas Corriganls- New - Yoi-k-lo- Belfast plane with pennies donated by children. Plan is to put shi|): In; Jefferson Memorial, where Lind- [ bcr.gh's trophies are housed. Motor trip to Mexico City will be made at conclusion of Civic Theatre, Inc., strawhat organiz,"tioh, season by prez Gordon- Carte-. He is at>. Little theatre group organizing in Woodhaven. ' Park Department spdhsoring 'con- test of hillbilly acts, -Paul kelly doing personals at Lido theatre. Long Beach', : Auto drive-in- theatre opens to- night (10) at Valley Stream. Ben Selviii of Kew Gardens has his Muzak (wired music), in many local: nitecies, : Bernarr. Ma'cfaddcn has anchored • his new all-metal monoplane at Roosevelt field, Joseph Landesman, manager of Fisk theatre, Woodside,. has deai. ori to buy Art .theatre^ Detroit Fred Perry is nursing a bite on his left hand suffered, while rescuing his- pup, -Jock MacVihson,. during dog fight, - . . Josef and. Rosina Lheyinne, of . Kew.Gardehs, celebrating 40th anni- versary as pianists and. man -and wife. ; Sigmund Strauss will manage Palace theatre, Corona, when it re-, opens Aug, 18 after being dark six 'weeks, Louise Leoiiard. ' asst nianiigcr of Loew's Willard. Woodhaven. goes to the Astdr. N, Y^, Sunday. (U) as treasurer for run of Metro's .'Marie Antoinette.' Granada theatre, '.Corona, will re- open Sept t . Robert Wamecke, now asst to Joseph Ghlione, of Boulevard, theatre, Jackson Heights,' 'Will manage, George Stdyes .has been trans- ferred from - the Masp'eth theatre- tP manage the Rainbow^ Williamsburg, Joseph Sirkin, former manager ; of Oasis theatre, now at the Maspeth permanently; : Manny . Solomon,, manager , df Crbssbay . theatre, 'Woodhaven, left Monday (8) for week's vacash in Adirondacks, Assistant Milton Rosr enthal returned Monday (1) after 10 days in Canada.. Dave Friedlander. who celebrated, his :28th year with Loew's on June IS. and now manages Woodside: thea- tre, leaves Aug. 22 for two-week ci*ui'se. : Jimmy Finnan, assistant will handle former's duties. S. M. Kain, who hais been subbing, at Drake theatre, Rego Park, will return to manage his own hduse at Hawthorne, : N. J,,. Aug, 20. Haw- thorne will redpen Sept 1, Charles -Becker, Drekef manager, due in Aug, 21 from vacation. Sydney . Frank Neil, Tivoli, on British booking toiir. Par may .bring in stage presenta- tions to Capitol, Melbourne^ Bert Watts, hnanager of the Lyce- um, had appendix operation, : Ruth Draper to ret)eat in Sydney prior to continuing world tour, Snatchers copped $500 from one of Hdyts' Melbourne nabe spots. Fullers will produce 'Snow White' as Xmas panto in Melbourne this year, : Jim Collin.s, manager of Ihc Em- bassy, joining Williamson-Tait as producer. . Paul Jacklin. program director for South African Broadcasting' Commis- sion, here on honeymoon trip. Stuart F. Doyle on the lookout for overseas artists to play here for his Famous Artists and Production Agency, George Dean readying for his trip .abroaid .for Willinm.soh-Tait Ernest Rolls currently in. U. S, looking for suitable acts for. next spring, Lawrence Tibbett signed for addi- tional 26 .concerts by :William.son- Tait Singer will use planes to en- able him td makc. the concert .spots. Once a month thfe Greater Union Theatre boys are given lime off to pl.iy golf. On last ouling Norman Rydge, GUT chief, won .second prize; Billy Rayes and wife, Leila Steppe, returning to U. S. following' vaude tour for Tlvofi arid Greater Union. Also made- a picture for Cinesound. Mike Lustig,. film critic of the Svd- ncy_Mail, has been made a member oX Film Guild. ; Flr.st time such an honor has been passed to an Ameri- can-born ."(ubject. Fullers contemplfilint' crcclihg ice rink, in Auckland, New Zealand. .«;it.c has already been .secured, with Sir Ben Fuller expected to handle af- fairs personally if deal noes through Outdoor biz is expected to go to a new high next sumrricr in Sydney and Melbourne with Luna Park -ven"- lurc.<:. Understood that Tom Eslick who handled the White City In thi.s territory many years ago, will tnake a bid on outdoor trade shortly in Brisbane. Jo Allison to Honolulu. Larry Kent in Frisco on biz. . Jerry Wald stricken with llu. ' Lcs Goodwlnt. to the Sierras, Dick Arlen fishing off Mexico. Pat Wilder in from New York. Olympe.Bradna floored, by heat: Henry C. Danlell. broke an arm. Frank'Tuttle to Colorado ranch, . Bob Vogel back, from Broadway. David Todd in from Chicago jaijnt . W. Ray Johnston here f oi* confabs.: Joe Penner back- from Manhattan. John Auer had another bii:thday. Lionel Houser- on : 12-week, holi- day. . ': Max Factor celebrated 61st birth- , day.-: ., Anne Jamison back from concert tour. -Nan Grey . and (^iharles Mai-tin en- gaged. - Phil Berle recovering from match burns. Samuel Kaylin back to work after- illness. Louis Hyman returned from Man- hattan. .. Margaret Sullavan back from east- ern trip, Neola Fox in San Bernardino hospital. Roy Obringer back frdm .Alaska holiday. J, D, Kendis back frdni, eastern biz trip. Fay Holden to Carmel, N, Y.. for armonth. Pandro . Berman had minor operation, Sigrid Gurie to hospital for ob- servation, , Greer Carson from operation,' Lenore Ulric planed in from Broadway: ' ^Martha Raye oh midwestern per- sonal tour, ■ Morris Ebenstein here from N, 'V. for confabs, Florence ■ Buttner underwent ap- pendectomy, Henry Pinciis "to New York; on biz and pleasure;' ~- Warner studio club to picnic Augi 13 at Catalina, IrV'ng Reis and Meta Arenson .honeymoohint!, Fraiijk VascUe's name changed ta Frflnkie Burke, Edward C. .Claypoole here for v.icash 'and biz, " Edward Chamie babk to his lyrics after operation, .:'. Ronald Colman' criiislng on hi yacht 'Dragoon/ : Harold Lloyd and Joe Rcddy home: from Broadway. ; :' Arthur MacArthur hack from Canadian vacash. Raymond Griffith' ' landed . 212- pound swordflsh. : ' Constantin Bakalelhikoff conduct- ing at San Diego. - . Olga BerkdR vacationing . at Sil- verado Hot Spring.s. .. Lou Ostrow tossed Chinatown din- ner for eaistem pals. Ted Richmond back aftei- three weeks, in Manhattan. Baldwin . :Bereerson in hospital with stomach trouble. ' E^ra Goodman ir. fi'om N: Y. to interview fllnri biggies. Robert Z. Leonard recuperating from sunburn pdlsonlng, Bruce Hager, Kentucky publisher, giving studios a onceover; Jack Lait and family homeward bound after vacation: here.' Gail Patrick moved into a dressing room on star row at Paramount : George- O^Brien - building new ranch house in Malibu mountains,- Prof, Benficld Pres.sey here froiirf Dartmouth to study picture making, Ed LOwry organizing Comedians Club, to make the country laugh con- scious. Boris . Morros now a music lec- turer at University' of Southern California. New president of the Pacific Coast Ice Hocke- League is Ben Frank, former managing director of the Am- ba.sf ador hotel. Al Vaughan', former publicity head for Samuel' Goldwvri, ioiried Frank Seltzer's staff' at Hal Roach .studio. ,Tohn Miles replaced Vaughan at Goldwyn'.s. By Les Rees Warners has-^incrca-scd Ofticc staff; Genevieve Dohova'n, oX Golumlila office staff, -visiting in' South Dakota. Bertha N.iuer,: Metro: branch man- agrr'.s .secretary, back from vacation, Dorothy Roy, Paramount book- InK department secretary-, to- wed Ward Christianson, Time theatre booth operator: , Maury Abrams, local Metro ex- nlditcer, back with family from New York nlcasuic trin. John. Rccd, Paramount circuit Twin Citv houso niaiiafjpr, .iiivt has had h.'.s first novel I'locrplcri by L:p- plnrolt. ■ Marry. Kir.scli dickering for AVI.t T^c.'in.nrd nucal .•■•lar for opiwiini,' oC his Gayc'ty .Stfick buri'sq^ic .•-:':-ason la'p; this mouth. ■ Euijcne Ormaiidy, former Mirinc- dpoll.s .Symph.'irty coiifJii' lor. . nov^: serving in that c;ip,'i'-lty fr.K Phila- ; dclohla'orchcstra, a visitor. Journal spon.sdrina prize conlcVt for PanLtiouiit circuit to clioo.se a n( W n.ime for Grand theatre, which, reopens as first-run film house next month. S4 VARiETY Wednesdaijr, August l6, 1938 OBI TU ARIES 1 WARNER OLAND Warner Oland, 57, 'Charlie Chan* of films, died Aug. 6, In Stockholm, Sweden, of bronchial pneumonia. He •was stricken while preparing to sail for America to start work in the 18th picture of the 'Chan' series on the 20th-Fox lot. He had been in ill health since last spring when he. sailed quietly aboard a freighter for Italy, hoping to re-, gain his strength during a summer, in Europe. Born in Sweden, Gland came to America when he was 13, made hjs stage, debut with a Sarah Bernhardt company, played a. season with , Naziriiova and lost his savings pro- ducing his own plays at the Hudson theatre. New York.. His start in the Alms was in •Jewels of the Madonna' with Theda Bara for William Fox in 1909. Most of his picture career was spent with Fox : and later with 20th-Fox. International note came to him' in the ■ Charlie Chan series, which he began in 1931 and played exclusively until his death. 'Charlie Chan in Monte Carlo' was his 17th and last.: :n IavIok Hemorr ot My Dear WIf« MAUDE RYAN (AiiButt 15, 1935) GHAS. INNESS .WM. T. RVAN ,(Bpother) He Wias getting ready for "Charlie Chan in Honolulu' - when the end came. > Qland left extensive land, holdings. Including a farm, in Massachusetts and 1,000 acres oh an island off Mazatlani Mexico. His wife,, the former Edith Shearn, filed a separate maintenance suit against him last year. A reconciliation: was being effected. JOHN G. BLTSTONE John G. Blystone, 45, film direc- tor for past . 17 years, died suddenly Aug. 6 of a heart attack in his Bev- erly Hills home. He died the same day Warner ;01ahd, whom ..he di- rected in the. early 'Charlie , Chan' pictures,, expired, in' Sweden, A native of Wisconsin, he went to Hollywood after iseing diplomaed at the University of Wisconsin, and broke into Aims as property man in 1916. After a brief ' apprenticeship ts a director he was given his own tieg and during his career directed »uch stars as Will Rogers, Clara Bow, . Richard Barthelmess, Miriam Hopkins and' Jiane Withers. In 17 years as director he turned out 67 pictures. When stiricken he was prei- paring 'Captain Midnight' at Roach itudio, where he recently , n^ade Swiss Miss' and 'Blockheads,' with Laurel and Hatdy. He leaves a . wife, two 'daughters Und a brother, Jasper, who is an as- listant director. Services and' burial ki Burbank, Calif , Aug. 9. JAMES N. McGBATH, JR. James N. McGrath, Jr., 63, stage manager of the Syria Mosque, Pittsr burgh, and for many years at the Alvln theatre there in a similar ca pacity during its legit heyday, died »t his home in that city Aug. 4 after B month's illness. While s(t the Alvin, he met and be came intimate friends with such celC' brated old-time stars as Fay Temple- ton, DeWolf Hopper and Harry l Father of Sam Wiesenthal, with Metro on the Coast, died ' suddenly Aug. 7 at his home in Nevir York. 2 N. Y. Burley Houses Renewed for 3 Months New permits for the Republic and Eltinge burley stands, only two spots currently operating in New York, 'were finally, issued Monday (8) after a week's delay. Originally scheduled for relicensing Aug. 1. New okays are for the usual three months. Delay was attributed to mis- behavior on the part of both houses, but especially the Reipublic. Permits werel issued: only after operators of the spots agreed to abide strictly by the rules of John; Masterson's Com- mittee, censorship outfit set up to control strips, etc. Patricia Ryan at NBC Patricia Ryan, has quit as vocalist with Bill Bardo's orch and returned to New York. Band is currently play- ing an engageinent at Lake Charles,' La. Warbler has re-hooked with NBC for a sustaining series. Was on the network before joining Bardo late last spring. MARRIAGES Dorothy L. Sherrill to Barton dof- fey, in Hollywood.' Aug. 6. Bride was Deanna Durbin's stand-in; he's a studio technician. Pamela Tltheradge to Roy Rich, iti London> July 28. He's new man- ager of the Lonc^ohHi'ppodrome. Dee Weston to Nate Pumpian in Chicagtfi Aug., 4. He's time and space buyer for Henri, Hurst & McDonald agency, Chi. . Azadia Newman to Scott Colton; In Phoenix, Aug. 3. He's, a , stage and screen player. lone VanDenplas to Silvio Caran- chini, in Schenectady, Aug. 6.. Bride is in WGY,: Schenectady; press dept.; he's m WGY control depi Mary Elizabeth Bradley to Louis McGarity In Covington, Ky., Aug. 3. He's a trombonist in Ben Bernie's band. News From the Dailies This department contotns rewritten, fheotrlcol netus items ds pub. Itshed duriflfj the weefc fn the doily papers q] New York, Chicago Son Francisco, Hollywood and London. Variety take* no credit for these news items; each has been retorttten from a daily paper. East Babe Ruth quit the coaching line at Ebbetts Field Friday to hustle to a Manhattan hospital to give his daughter a pint of his blood. Helen ^ Hays and Charles Mac- Arthur announce their Intention of adopting a baby boy. They have a home-made daughter, but want a son..' Late Martin Johnson left: a gross estate of $175,984. His widow is residuary legatee;. I^bn Leonldbff to assist in staging the charity bandfests at Randalls Island; James Ryland, for 46 years at the N. Y. Empire theatre, In the N. Y, hospital with a heart ailment. Be- ported to be improving under treat- ment, . Liner Queen Mary takes new west- bound record— three days, 21 hours and 46 minutes. : Beats the Nor- mandie by more than an hour. Elsa Maxwell selected by the for- mer Barbara .Hutton to do an au- thentic biography. ' , Charlotte Grieehwood lasted just one Inhlng In a Softball game at New Canaan, Conn., last Sunday, j>layed by teams captained by Gene Tunney and Lowell Thomas. William Allen White took over in spite of protests Uiat he was a Republican. Score was 10-9 In favor of the Tunney aggregation, recruited from the staff of the Connecticut Nutmeg. :: Vinton Ffeedley to hold an.audlr tlon for dancers at the Winter Gar- den this (Wed.) afternoon. For the Gaxton-Moore productions ■ . Louis Miller, Aaron Gold and Al- bert E. Koohtz winners In the' Gold- man band music miemory contest held In Central Park last week. First two were 100%; with Koontz falling, to 96%. Lotte Lehman, arriving Iii the U.S., announces she will take out citizen- ship papers. Sore ' on Austria be- cause of the' anschluss. Posters for Vassar production of "Trise of Heaven' mysteriously de- faced. Finally discovered the yokels thought it was an advertisement for Father Devine's new Heaven. Police campaigning against hews- paiker-sitting. oii the .Coney Island beach. Clairh it makes too much lit- ter. First man jailed last week when he could not pay $5. . Reich to employ Punch . and Judy shows to spread propaganda. , . George M. Cohan selling off con- tents of his storage warehouse. Some of the stuff dates back to 1909. Treasury Department 'tentatively' sells the old Federal building at the lower end of City Hall park to New York for one buck. It will cost the city. S63,0OO to raze the structure, built In 1870. Eddie Cantor guest of honor at a luncheon last Wednesdy for his work on behalf of the Jewish child victims of the Nazi. Bitterly . denounced Henry Ford for accepting a decora- tion from Hitler. Ethel Merrnan made an honorary member of the Brotherhood of Rail- road Trainmen. ' Last week she swung a lantern In Grand Centrai to oblige a jhotographer, and started the 20th Century. Shirley Temple hurt In Boston Thursday when a chauffeur shut a car door on her . fingers while she was visiting the Navy Yard, Previ- ously been ill from a cold. Several members of the original stage cast of 'Mother Carey's Chick- ens, including Edith Taliaferro Jameson, attended the screening of the picture at the Music Hall last week. Helen Vinson In N, Y. supreme court last week to compel the N. Y Life Insurance Co. to legitimatize annuity contracts taken out through Bernard Toplitzky, who represented himself as its agent. Decision ' re- served pending additional action by both sitfes. Walk Oh club of 'Our Town* bit Slayers to do 'First Lady' at the nipn Church Friday; matinee. _ Tyrone Power narrowly escaped injury at the .. Riviera . club fast Thursday. Amateur candid camera fiend took his photog and the-fiash bulb exploded in his face. Only slight cuts. City mulling the purchase of the Brighton Beach water front for 575,000. Would include 18 acres of shore line and 173 acres of sub- merged property. Would permit the extension of the boardwalk. . Gene Tunney quits The Distilled Spirits Institute. Says it's more protective than corrective, so not what he hooked up for. Berkshire music festival at Lenox Mass., , opeiied. last week to an audi- ence of 6.000. New music shed at Tanglewood dedicated! Bennington (Vt.) dance fete opened last Thursday with Eleanor King, Louise Kloeppfer and Marion Van Tuyl staging the first program. Packed house in spite of oppressive heat. New York had its first shark scare of the season Friday.. Off Huguenot Beach, Staten Island. Special guards at the Polo Grounds withdrew their pickets last weeV Union gets a settlement through MIscha Eiman drew more than 10,000' persons to the Lewisohn stadium last Friday. wisonn Col. Jacob Ruppert, beer and base. baU tycoon, was 71 last Friday; Doug Corrlgan started up B'w«v for City Hall last Friday ^nd^oi there. But he ■wasn't at the wheel Ada Leonard, strlpteaser who de. fled doctors and refused to be od. erated on for. appendicitis saying she didn't want to be scarred, expects to be back doffing her duds in Seo^ tember.\ . : . - Park Commissioner Moses expects to. construct 58 miles o^ bicycle high- ways in- New York. ^'Traffic signals between 42d street and 47th street, on Broadway failed during Monday hlght's rainstorm and congested traffic for an hour. Stalled cars helped confusion. Coast Vera Steadman, former film ac- tress, filed suit for divorce in L. A against, Martin Padway, Barbara Stanwyck and Frank Fay settled their financial difficulties out of court In L. A. Three s'uits, hang, ing fire since their divorce In' 1933^ were dismissed. ' Elino ' : Lincoln, former Tarzan,' ordered by L. A. court to pay $15 a- month' pending trial 6t his wife's divorce suit. ' John McCormIck, Hollywood agent, answering Zita Johann's divorce suit in L; A, .^vers they were never legally married. Charles G.. Rosher, cameraman, absolved of $4,650 judginent for alleged non-support of his daughter, Joan Marsh, screen . actress. L. A. court ruled Miss Marsh earns enough oh her own. Layne Britton. studio makeup mani charged . with . being an ac-.' complice of George Donald Smart In the alleged forging of Louis B. Mayer's name, was freed by L, A court. His father promised to turn over' his film earnings when he became of. age, Jackie Coogan testified in a deposition in his accounting suit against, his mother and step-father, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur L, Bernstein, in : L. A. Motion for. a jury trial made by "The Kid' has been denied. Constance Bennett was sued in L A. for $9,000 by Paul Sunday, who claims he lent that much ' to ' the . actress to finance a cosmetic firm,; Lloyd Delijridge 'won $4,500 dam- age suit in :L. A. against Cole Broth- ers-Clyde Beatty, circus. He was Injured by an elephant. . Jack' Oakie is charged, with being ' 'jealous, quarrelsome and abusive* in 9 divorce complaint 'filed In L. A. by his wife, the former Venita Varden. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs; Ruskin B. iStone, son, : in 'Toledo, July 30. Father is on WSPD, Toledo, sales staff. Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Jones, son; In Hollywood, July i. Father is in still departrnent at Universal. . Mr. and Mrs.' Ted McGee, daugh- ter, in Hollywood, Aug. 6; father Is Coast rep .for Picture Play mag. Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Schnarr, daughter, in Wichita, July 21. Par- ents are with Tom Mix's circus. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Speers, daugh- " ter, in Hollywood, Aug. 3. Father is Paramount publicist. -Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Riiggles, Son,^ in Hollywood, Aug. 3. Mother is sec- retary of Motion Picture Hair Stylist! Guild. Mr. and Mrs. Frankle Van, daugh- ter, in Hollywood, Aiig. 2, Father Is stand-in at Warners. .Mr. and Mrs. Alex McDonald, son, in Schenectady; Father is salM promotion representative of WCi? Schenectady. Mr. and Mrs. Max Herschmahn, son, in Brooklyn, Aug. 11. Father is. special representative for National ' Screen Service. Mr. and Mrs., Charles Fisher, son, in Pittsburgh, Aug. 4. Father is sax player with KDKA staff band. Mr. and Mrs. Morton Downey, son, in New York Aug. 13. Father is singer, rhother former Barbara Bennett.' Their fifth child. To Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Baker i" Norfolk, Va., July 26; a daughter. Father an announcer at WTAB. Norfolk. Mr. and Mrs. Moses Shapiro,' son, in New York, Aug. 4. Mother, . Lillian Lang, is office director iot the Songwriters Protective Assn. August 10, 1938 OUTDOORS VARIETY 5S MUSIC AT EVENING YContlnued front page- 52) uicou"* Otto Von Stock, the S5^-'&'^2^s «e Hell. bpt;h a*d Nikisch. She travels W iteSr with a lover who proves ao^ - more romant c than her SwhUe. Nlklsch .has ""^ttii crisis and become a na- i^^„t Bat his, heart js. atill "^f'pJS^ Goaded Into action by SS.mmt he finally catches up er After a neat first scene; 'Two by Two,' given a try out here tonight .(Mon.) comes, a cropper with a wobbly second scene, and then struggles hopelessly thereafter, to pull itself out of .the mire.. ■ Piece is . a bedroom farce, too intimate for the barn theatre crowd, though, its hiP"'a''. Incidental S Is provided by a piano, hurdy- and accordion.. ' (onititS'J *^""''. °P"a singer, a S^Tli* songwriter and a play- Jdth^.iJni?" *^.*'^"PP«« in Milan, "«thwr ultimate climfe to affluence. '^^ particularly distinguished. ■ Crawford. TREE OF HEAVEN h ..■^°"8hkeepsie, Aug. 4. {■""m itiSj Du'ehMs County 1 1- aJJ* a;"?^^" PoUBhkoci>..le ■ .Wolfe Barzpir Joan Sobuttii Doris FIICBclnian ..Geoffrey Urttcro tiein-Bo Uoih ...M.-irlon Ha:i«« Wlllliim Hnw-ley ■ " f Sf'rii^k'r-'-"-'.".'."; r' voiwvtr ■ ..i.-ii ifjn na:iHi 1^ *orttw"' Wminm Hnw-le. nJJ Worker' •«"dil;ir,l LiKhi PT* WortJ • Fj-o.lerlo Sl.:Loy St Xoo., ■ • ; • ■ - JiUl.in J. .Sudol .T^'btJIIllini','''"''^'''' Fiirtc.iOue-Uurke ?»y 15wk« William Huwley f>i Decker ' • ■ • • J=«-'< 'Walters r»S'l'ollM ■••••••■■••••••■Eriyln KinR foljcemo,;; -...'reuorlc -.nn-ov • • - Julian J, Rudol Cieorno tipclvin »WtSn rl'iJ''^?, 25-ycar-old fJlsHfe 'as In it he pre- S^ 'nUius^m with youth. '^PtovoM°"'"="*^'"'''"«t° Sf "yinl I °^ charades. Action .^yinbotism and al- ?S^S is s h A °" the waterfront. ll\?«'.ory strike.- r.i nthiv. tel.'? toe: Sfft buslntcVi^-J"" retain s ^ »PPer u^r,^''".^* to purchase J""' 'A P"^""* '° patter. Mort Of Pi^ys Ginsberg typi- S^fs. ne consists .'^f "^^MorVh^ of heaven . is an- lii Gin.t*'','""'"'' which Ginsberg's junkyard. - ; Crawford. Old Fitaliloned 'Cnfe I.lNa .Marvolle ; ' Slury T.ou >larrls l-'riVhres K!ie:i .I'emberton Inn ' Art Rubin Ore lioiindiiii Jlmhyie .Gallafrhef Koynl ralms Eatcllla Seville - Don .'Rico Ore .-Slieralon Rmf (Sheraton Hotel) Bob Hardy Oro Pecey Wood. South ' Slior«. Farmn 'ronimy' Carr- Oro Steuben's (Vienna Koom) Jack Flalter Oro Joan. Parrlsh . Totrm Pole Balir'ni ' (Auboradale) Billy . Woods Tremont Plaza Gene Nickerson .Or .IVIgwam Ballroom Count. FranchinI Or CX£V£LAND ' ' AlDliM Vlllaiio ' Edith & H Horsey Patricia .Mhi t Krahuc) Ksy CIcin Pii-ki HV'innn Pirchner Otto 'rhurn Oro . ; AquaaiaKa Eddie . Foy Jr MatKaret Daunt Adeie Ardaley Kathryn- Crawford Nina' Varela .. - Robert Sharer GenrKe Dohlia Hnl OOnklln George Dill Fred Hillebrand Dotinsr.Poppen Wesley B'endt^r Earl .McUonald lloots McKcniia - ' Avalon Dorothy Henry Toan t'boi>e Chateau. Club, . Marly T,cwis Ore (3r«y Pis • Irene KHsplcr J^nhny UoKerH L«on. I:eVcrdie Creole Gardens.. « Bits (if Rhythm Ray .Miles .Mltzi .Mitchell .lolihson A GriUer Roscfie .SI nuns ' Slicrdlna Walker Or KlRht <>'<'ln<iGiov,iniil Elnnnre Rica .CiicoilOut PalinS Pilll Skillinsh Ore . .lliilMiy '.Nairn) -. l''raiik 'I'rary llarlnvv -Ifrnter l)U(l()y ]td. f.a'rdriik Ell Charles FnrrcH; ■ liolel StHtIrr (Terruce K4Httn) l-'i-ank OitRrn '^Ji'i* -.\i-iliiir .Mur'iny. I '»( 'Jeflerbon Ueiicli Jack 'Crawford Ore l>i,vie Dald .St. -in ley *Kleck Woodle Kesslcr.', . Nurtlnvood lun ftay Carlin Ore. .Monty. Wysong. Terese Rurlnlpli : -- norot hy. Berlin The. Guardsmen; usls .Oayis .^'rist'crats Or I'owatnn^ Paul Kelffhlior Ore Kraiics .McCoy .3 (.M'-hlds ! .\durableB 8 Suks l.f.^ A-re main kid attraction at yI^^'s department store. New S^*''"^^^*"' o'hers around the ^■",7 *h.ch will go show biz dur- ^ ine_ forthcoming Xmas holiday's, monrt ar'-aneed by Ray- wmm.. ^^'l^o controls the wmmetcal rights. Gimbel replica atrirJr outstanding as a the- liles^ P'"?d"<:t'on. with lightine, cosliK„\"'J"*'*'' figures, etc., and ■wtSbput $15,000. *mt*».Uh * ^""eer Village like H^- . P'P'"" '"ache caves, life- j^aeptctions of events in radio and serial, etc. Will include an ^ guide throush museum arid elT A? ■°l ^'"^^ for-" of eiins, "nportum; ^'""^^^ ^■KhUl^^ }"^ scaled according to per u-yets. selling at about S.lOO «Uge K u ° represent a *«scue «f "oldup, runaway horse ■freset V ^air Store, Chicigo. (r^f>''^'^^' and Kaufman's, 'Continued on page 25) JESSE OWENS, VALET, STILL STAGE-STRUCK Cleveland, Aug. 16. Olympic champ Jesse Owens' luck as a theatrical attraction and busi- ness man isn't so. good. Negro Clevelandite was banking on a Hollywood contract, which was offered to hinr after the Olympics. Later he organized a darice band •which (lidn't go over so hot. Fol- lowed it by barnstorming with a basketball team, but this also petered out. Nitery owner here them used him as a frontrman, but as a greeter he still was a better draw on the cinder tracks. Early this summer he pulled political strings to get a berth as a city playground director, but- job blew up after fix was exposed by newspapers. Finally he got a WPA job, and now he's opening ' a dry- cleaning shop unde.' his own name. Owens, however, is . still looking toward Hollywood. HUGHES' AIR PIC ON AMELIA EARHART Hollywood, Aug. 16. Six feature pictures produced by Howard Hughes and getting a heavy reissue plsy in the past three years will be withdrawn from circulation. Hughes IS opposed to exhibitors capitalizing on his recent world- girdlirig night, which he believes is the underlying reaiion for the recent run on his productions. Films aflecled arc 'Hell's Angels,' 'Scarface,' 'Sky Devils," 'Cock o" the Air,' 'Front Page', and 'Age for Love." Hughes is planning return to pic- lures as a produciDr of an air epic to cost around $1,500,000. Likely he'll reVease through United Artists which handl(:d distribution or his films before hi; stalked out f Holly- wood si.'; years ago. Understood story will be ba.seci on the career of Amelia Eartiart.' who perished near Midway Island on her round-thc-woiid lliqht. Katharine Hepburn will have the lead lolc. Corrlgaii's RKO Pic RKO closed a deal yesterday after- noon. (Tues.) v/ith DoU.!;las Coirigan for the filming of his life story and the flight he made— 'by inislakc'— to Ireland. Under the deal Corrifian will aid the studio in tlic framing of the story as well as in the pro- duciiori of the picture, Production 'will start as soon as the story can be put into shape. Cor- rigan's price not disclosed. IQUIIIST GUIDES No Ship Hotels for N. Y. Fair; 7Sc Gate Faces Criticism; An Out on Gambling? Hollywood Stars and Execs I r k'e d by Locust - Like Swarms, of- Backwoods Gapers — It's OK Racket for the Boys with the M e g a p h o h e s , but Otherwise an Awful Bother to the Colony CURIOUS BLURBING Hollywood, Aug. 10. It is news when a flock of film stars complain about -too much pub- licity. Not that the boys and girls of the picture coloriy object to the space they get in newspapers and mags— they never get enough of that. Their current high dudgeon is ocf a- sioried by the activities of motion picture guides. These riibberneck scouts who in- fest Hollywood, particularly Sunset boulevard, make a living by steering yokels around to the homes of pic- ture personalities. They are free lance pilots, not connected with any of the studios, but full of inside in- formation about the private life of evi!ry star, true or not. Multiply the visiting yokel by thousands and you have somethirig akin to a plague of locusts. The fe- male of thei species is even more devastating. Between them they vio- late -the privacy of male, and femme stars .alike. Situation has become so oppressive that the Screeri Actors Guild is tak- ing it ijp in a serious way. They want something done to guide the activities of the guides and to pro- tect the privacy of the pic player's home. There is another angle, however, for which the actors theriiselves are to blame. Hollywood is full of bit players, hungry for publicity but un- able to hire flacks!' So the ham slips the guide a modest stipend for a bit of wildcat blurbing. As the earful Ot yokels pulls up in front of a pala- tial hacienda, the guide .hands them an earful: Air Castles . 'The palatial mansion on the left is . the homo of Hubert Thistlcboltbm, j the celebrated character actor, etc., , etc.. etc-.' j Meanwhile Uibert is living in aj furnished room over o Chinese laun- j dry, safe from molestation except for: the landlord, while the owner of the I nacienda wonders why hi;; front, lawn i>i being used as a location for a mob scone. While the SAG Is mulling it over.: more and more Hollywood star.', arc | ■building homes f:ir in the hills where' I ihcy can roosi in peace with tlie hoot ' owls. '' MISS SLEEPER'S HATS GET 5TH AVE. BALLY Window display of hats and cos- tume jewelry, designed by Martha Sleeper, film and legit player, will be shown by Saks Fifth Avenue store, N. Y., shortly after • Labor. Day. It will be the first commer- cial hat-designing venture for. Miss Sleeper. Hats and jewelry are ex- pected' to start a new fashion trend. They are described as 'rather ex- treme.' Miss Sleeper ha& been designing jewelry for some years and has had her own business for about, a year, with a factory in New England and display rooms with O. Lisrier, nov- elty jeweler. She has tiesigned her o\yn hats for some time, but did not got into it commercially until she conceived the new style idea. Saks will give four or six Windows to the display, U. S. FINALLY ENTERS INT'L DRAMA ORG Possibility of ships tying, up to New Yorl; piers as hotels during the forthcoming World's Fair is pooh- poohet] by the N. Y. Hotel As.socia- tion. Idea has been kicking around but the associiiUon claims to have full support of the mayor on nixing any such propositions. . Idea would be for coastwise and ocean liners to run regular fair cruises over certain number of days. Visitors would return to ships in- stead of taking to inns and res-, taurants. Mayor nixed regular commercial parties, etc., aboard visiting liners, when they started fad and is set against any simulation of idea, par- ticularly during the fair. Ships ply- ing, the Bermuda waters have been pulling such a stunt recently but have been stopped vial legislation on complaint of taxpayers' and holcLs. Increasing criticism has started to roll in on New York- World's Fair. olTicials over the 75c. admission price . currently decided on for the first year of the exposition. This has come mairily from, vets in the ex- position and big fair business. They say it may work but are extremely dubious, pointing to the fact that 50c. has been the previous high World's Fair admittance fee at suc- cessful shows. At one time, the N. Y. fair was reported corisidering $1 gate fee but storm of squawks quickly erased thoughts of such a high ad- mission. Most recent big two-ytiar exposition wa.s the one at : Chicago where the 50c. admission proved popular. ■ There were signs on all sides this Week that the New. York exposition was adjusting its personnel, and placing experienced people in the fair's key spots. One of the most, pertinent moves was bringing in Capt. Jack Riltiy by Grover Whalcn (Continued on page 25) LilOe-Butterworth Musical Based On Ripley's Oddities For the first time in the It years' existence of the Societe Univer- selle du Theatre, America will be- come a member of this international theatre group which embraces the artists, directors, musicians, drama- tists and scenic designers concerned in theatre play productions. Coin- cident with this expression of U. S. accord with this French-founded ar- tistic body is a move to hold tht; 12th world congress of the Societe Uniyerselle du Theatre in New York next summer, to coincide with the World's Fair. : It was at last month's private se.ssions in London ot the Societe that Eugene O'Neill oflicially no- tified Firmin Geniier, first president and iounder of the orgariization. Musical which Harry Kaufman is that he would see to it that America '•"ing for the Shuberls this .season beicomds the 28th nation to have its may -be built around a .series of Rob- dramatic artisans join. j '^■"t L. Ripley's 'Believe It Or Not* Although founded in France, it i •'^'fetches. Nothing is definitely set, embraces most of the ariislic wealth Ripley, has had several confcr- of Europe. It was the French dram- enccs With Kaufman, and Richiu d atists' idea to .move the 12th- in-' R''t'!!ors and Lorenlz Hart, win ternalional congress to New Yoilt. would do the score, since, during the Paris Exposition According to the pl.'iri llic ['inv.-, of two years a.c;o, the French which would star Bcuti-icc LillK- ,i, id capital learned how advantageous it j Charles Bultci wurth. uoul'l n-" a was to concentrate such concl:u'cS| number of tlic ;;;ii;.icc( ■ :'m(1 to coincide with any sort of n ; 'U'amntizo them .siiincvhal ai'.n;: iJiC' World's Fair. Already 746 world lines Ripley folinw.-- oh l-is i-^id.-i ;)ro- Kroups arc committed to mcetini; in' gram.s. Out "t liis r:(>•;.- i.i m,.\ (,r atrc i.'i a oua.si-ofiicial or.'jciiizatii.in j .subjcet.s .•^niic! I , ■ ■ ;i i-..>' j:i',M. in almost every one of the 27 mem- . It would do Ilic- !ir>' u i;::,' .i ' ber-nations. For instance, at- last , malori.-il in ]"-.-'i. month's confab in London, lindei-i' In ..-i-l^liti m I , !■,■ o,>ci- iv,.-i'!(! the patronage of tlip. Brilisli Or.-nn.i. i :.-rU- : . .,1k-;'- tvr' Wh;-:ii.-!- League, the Duke of Kciil- pi'c.-,jdod. I'.iii'c-y ' v.:f; --i' : (■ lyn-t iy in vali-: VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, Aujgost 17,. 1933 RADIO SALES PROMOTION OPINION SEES FILMS' CONTEST AS TEMPORARY HYPO Doubt Value of Contests, Such, and Believe, oh , 'JESSE JAMES' MARKS Basis of Radio Experience, Numbers of Peeved Losers Usually Cancels Out Many of Benefit;^ By BOB LANDRY Radio, is curiously watching fi-oiri the sidelines ihc. present campaign of the motion picture industry to at- tract increased patronage at the box offices. In general, the sales promo- tion experts of radio express sur- prise that the campaign is being launched on a nation-wide scale- without first pre-testing on -a local basis to arrive at proper standards before proceeding; also that a 'con^ test' is used. So great was the curiosity of an executive of one of the networks that 10 days ago he sent a memorandum to the advertising director of oive of the film companies (New York), asking to be Invited to discuss the matter purely as ain interested out- sider with a professional zest in ways anld means. Variott gets the, force of both cur Now It Can Be ToM y JACK OSTEBMAN 50,10F20TH'S'395KED The title of Irving Berlin's new ; so^.g schedule. ' Having completed several '38-'39 pictures early this summer before parryl F. Zanuck went to Europe, 20th-Fox starts rolling next week on 'Jesse James,' which will mark the half-way mark on the new sea- Other News of bterest to Films Japs easing U. . S. ban .'. Par's foreign sales meets No NBC formal 'premiere' Holly wood. Benchleyis Old Gold radio show ... ....... "Texaco's HollywotKi' show. . . . . , . . . . . . i ; ... .....Page 25 .....'rPage 25 .....Page 37 Page 38 Page 38 Radio reviews on .Edgar Bergen, Joe E. Lewis, 'Garefree'.. . .Page hit song iri 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' brings to mind now it can be told tiiat: Eddie Garr was a bellhop at the Ambassador hotel, Atlantic City, while Jack Waldron hopped bells in Syracuse; . _ Short Billy Rose' was an expert at shorthand while Fannie - Brice was sn expert in buclesque till Ziegfeld «aw her. Sophie Tucker waited on table In her hotne town, Hartford, and. now the Prince of Wales waits on her. Took many months for Abe Ly With. this picture, the cohipany will complete the .. first half .'of the sea- son's releasing schedule through to Jan. 1. The '38-'39 leadoff is 'Alex- ander's Ragtime Band,', which goes oh general release Aug. 19. Jed Harris-Orson Welles' N. Y. Indie Sn IM^ Outfit Wants &H)dniahf^ a 1 J,, t ». ... man to resist answering anyone who fflwi*^ ?"i • yelled taxi because he drove a Chi- cago yellow before ■ l^e drove dancers crazy With his rhythm. Ray Boligei^ ■ wasn.'t allowed to .speak a line in 'A, Night in Paris' and opened the show with one dance. Lucile (Joan Crawford) LeSeur was in the chorus with us in 'Art- ists and Models' and Jack ' Oakie was in the , merry-merry in 'Merry Merry' at the Vanderbilt. the contest over, and second, the criticism from radio circles of con- tests, as an advertising method. In radio. Where maiiy premiums, give- aways, and , so on, have long been familiar, there is a tendency among some of the advocates of other ap- proaches to regard the boxtop, the cash lure and similar stunts as old- fashioned. ■ ■ ' '■' Radio , opinion oh the film drive in- cludes the following points: A contest Is the inspiration of an : The director, Archie Mayo, was a advertiser who can't think of any shirt salesman during the time the other reason for somebody to buy of Columbia Pictures. Harry his product. | Cqhn, was selling 10c. Wonder rec- When people .can't think of any- | Henry Waterson. thing basic enough, -and interesting J Sydney Landfleld pla;i'ed hot "enough, to say" ahbiit' their' produd't, piiiTTo fc«"' Anna- Chandler they figure they solve the problem fore he made hot pictures for cold by paying peopleto payspme.atttn- Sonja Heinle. tion to them. Before Walter Winchell became What happens? house detective for incubators he One person, Ave people, 50 people was a hoofer- (and not a good one) get prizes. And everybody else who ] until he met Glenn Condon and entered the contest thinks he has flatted on the Vaudeville News, been gypped. Now it can be told that yours Obviously, everybody thinks his truly started at the snaippy age of answer really deserved the prize— or ! IS in a show called 'Oh! Boy!', two else he wouldn't haye sent It in. . { small parts were played by Justine Net result: The cmtest has made ' Johnstone and Marlon Davies, a five, 10, 50 friends— and . has made i smaller • one was . played by us (as thousands of enemies. Nobody, after I a bell-boy with four lines) and all. Is going to like you very much I Comslock, Elliot & Gest paid us 50 when you dangle, bait In front of I s'uxs a week, which, inclderitally. them and then don't come through! That's, why contests should only be used when' an advertiser desperately needs a quick hypodermic for his sales curve. i.sn't a bad salary today! Garment Center Sata In Dave's Blue Room the other That's why they shoul4 be u.sed. night, which was breaking itself in ' for a furnace, Billy Gibson told us only when the product is a speciflc piece of ' iperchahdise— never, never, never for an institutional' drive. They should be used, only when the goal is a temporary, increase in sales. Because :that's the only thing a contest ever delivers: a temporary increase in sales; anr illusion that business Is getting better— and a lot of ill-will. Camel cigarettes had the first of the following tale about, the dumb chorus, girl who lived with a beauti- ful closk and suit model. In face, the girl was top pretty to get Into 'Pins and Needles.' However, this snappy dame had a habit of giving her telephone nuriiber to all the boys, whether they asked for it or not. One day the model became ill and asked the chorine to sub for i lier. She okayed it, left for the the 'big' contests— with a $25,000 first I * „ , j . prize when that was news! It didn't ^ , l>.0"se and started paradmg 1- .u._ ...x...- the various frocks. One ensemble do them any goq^ either. By every count, a contest is bad medicine for an 'institutional' job. It only 'freezes' what people, think about the sponsor at the moment of the contest. It doesn't help people improve their attitude toward the product in- j volved. Thouehts While Thinking All that the film contest will do j We remember once when drum- will be to get people to crystallize, : mer.-^Fidler ,or SuUi-^ van?: GN'Edocational Merger Set; Alperson, Wright Go Back to Hollywood Hollywood, Aiig. 16. : Receipts from Grand National branch' operations- through July totalled $91,294, according to a state- ment filed in Federal Court. Exr pepses aggregated $39,604. Cash receipts for the 28 day period In July amounted to $105,820 with balance at $67,111 after disburse- ments. Unpaid liabilities of that-date were $62,120. • L. A. 16 N Y. Joan Abbott. Eddie Albert. Fred Astaire. Eric Blore. Betsy Bogart. Richard Bonelli. J. W. Brown. James Cagney. W. E.- Calloway. Nancy Carroll. Ramos Cobian. Dr. Saul C. Colin. Eftth Craig. Johnny Davis. D. C. Dobte. Leo Edwards. ' Ed.. Fishman. L. Wolfe Gilbert. Edith Head. John Hilliard. Mann Holiner. Victor Hyde. Jose Iturbi. 'Biick Jont'S. John Joseph. Carole Landis. Priscilla Lane. Wayne Morris. Ken Murray, lola Murray. Gabriel Pascal. Mary Pickford. J. W. Piper. Dick Purcell. Tom Revere. Mr. and Mrs. Jinimy Ri(z. Loren Ryder. Kathryn Scola. Norma Shearer. Louis Silvers. Louis Sobol. Eddie Stevenson. : Frankiy;i Warner. •Tphnny Williariii-. Herbert Yates. Deal Is in^the works for Jed HarfU to direct a picture . starring ' Orsoii Welles. . Paiir have been proposi. lioned by Edward Blatt's American Pictures Corp., but nothing has b^n signed. ' Outfit has a bankroll of 'more than $750,000.' Production would be. in the east. Herman: Shuih- lin and Oscar Scrlin are associate producers with the firm,, while Blatt will also personally produce films it ' het has tinie. Negotiations are under way for major release. . Outfit lias bought the film 'rights' to Dorothy Baker's 'Young Maa With a ■ Horn.' the . saga of Bix Beid- ! erbecke, and is understood dickering with Benny Goosman to play tiia lead. Sidney Howard has been overtiired to do the' adaptation, but - he is currently on ■ an : assignment : for . Sam Goldwyn and has some legit plans with the Playwrights Produo, ing Co. when that , is finished! Amerr lean also is negotiating for .several : other stories. Deal for an original ' by _Gertrude Berg. .CB-ise^ of , ,the;.. .Goldbergs') .isj^eiieved cold. . — — • Some question of when Harris or Welles could do the film stint, if this deal goes through.: Former is currently readying a legit . produc- tion of his own, ah untitled antl. Nazi play. He previously ahhounetd plans for ' six productions this sea- son. Besides. . hik- ^current : strawhat activities, Welles is 'adapting and producing .'Five Kings' for: the Mer- cury . theatre. In assbciatioh witb thi , 'Theatre Giiild. He also , is set to put on several other, productions ibr .. the Mercury. OfTERSON'S FRENCHIES INTO BRANDT HOUSES Deal for the: showing, of foreign films in the Brandt thieatres in Neve York has been set by John E. Ot- terson, British distrib. Idea, is to import Frehoh pictures ' in a deal with, a small company operated by Marc Lauer in Paris.- Latter .is • distributor and exporter and he hai the old Braiinerger-Richebe studios at Billancourt, near Paris. Otterson-Brandt deal is the first of its kind set by an established'out- fit with adequatz capital and, lease. Freeman Back in N. Y. .Y. Frank Freeman; V.p. pver Para- mount; (heatre oiieratipns, returiied to New :Vork yesterday (Tues.) froih^ his .summer horhe .hfiar ] Asheville, N. C;, where, he has spent the ' past two weeks. Various bperaitors and partners are expected in\shortly to discuss. fall plans', prpdiict, etc. Several sav*.; ■Freeman just before he went awiiy, • including Bob :Wllby who sailed for . Europe and isn't back yet.' ■ R; . J, O-'bonhell is in New Yor again to .discuss current opeVali"*. matters, picture deals and the li!-'«- N. Y. to L. A. Ameri'co Aboaf, - . Edward L. Alpersoh. Don Ameche. David Blankenhorn. ; Madeleine Carroll. Dave.Cihaseh.; Hal Fimberp, L. Wolfe Gilhert. . Louella 6. Parsons.. ' ' Jane' Rich;; Harry Ritz. . . Lee" Shubert. . Mrs. Sidney Skplsky. Meredith. Willsoh. Lloyd Wright, yedae sd 1938 PktURES VARIETY t ilBS-DISTRIBS Buyer* Baity at Terms, ..' VWbich are the Same as * iUf t Year— bistribs l^ot ; Forcing the Issue Until ; CMiditions : Pick Up, and ;^>edted to Be Easier BartwiBig Then 350/0 TOPS; UA'S 40% The hope of exhibitors and buyers, • HnaU as well.as large, that terms sought by the cUstrlbutprs on. the jg3g^ . product >iU be' brought down lii niost casts, is held "respon- sible itor continued slowness in sell- ing. JEspecially, in instances where .- thMtres or chains have carryover T deals, many of which were written ■last year for two ye:.rs or more ahead, the tendency to sit back and Mit before ^signii»g . lip is most pro- nounced, ; . Buyers are talcing their time prln- ' cipaliy because the companies ate '. a;kinjg| the same' deais as last year • ot highir percentages, plus splits. ■ " Excepting United Arfsts, which. is asking fpr.'higher terms this, year in .: . pHHI Hnn ♦« tpiitt not demanded, Jpst. — waton,.: th e . uiaj orfr .as».-braclc«ting Ujeir top pictures at 35%. .Twentieth- Fox and Metro, in view. of how their ' . KM} program analyzes, are consid- $7,000,000 Buy Los Angeleis, Aug. 16. J. J. Sullivan, F-WC film buyer, told delegates that film deals for Fox-\Vest Coast and its subsids . will total around $7,(KIO,O0p, with only.a few buys ttmaining to be consummated. «red' reasohable in demands, while wme . other companies, based oh . what- they delivered last season, ■iren't UA, whose '38-39 schedule of film lopks.gbod on paper ii the opinion ol buyers* is aslting a high of 40%, .lopping all competitors, but if re- ducing, top bracltet pictures to 35% will want a split ov • certain, agreed gross flgiires, it, jidn't asl< iany splits at all from tlie chains last season, Jliough" some indie deals may have been written that way. , _^There will lie no flat rental con- twcti with UA for the coming sea- wn. under present p'.ans, except, for . ihe Laurel and Hardy comedies, which are to be four reels in length. These wUI be Sold flat to everyone, « 13 understood, Vp a Bit Over '37-38 paramount. Metre and 20th -Fox «e aokmg just a little more for '38- «. while Warnsr .Bros, is seeking oMi.:on the same basis as for the season icw ending. RKO, ««ording, to inlormatioii ^ so far, is Iki ^V,'"^ the same terms as for , »e '3f.j8 semester. RKO leads oft «_einew. season, follpwinv this week's ■P'wuct anhpjnccn^cnt of 54 pic- S 'AITair-r of Annabel.' .^heduling It- for Sept. 9; 'RoPm tan!t* 'f for Septv SO, while si^I**' ,^new Astaire-Rogers mu- V^^vji'^'been set back to October. S ,?^:*'>'«^^''' •"etter •J.', ■ '^''t company look to . the -latest; minute in - . . ^^flntlnued on page «) DEAL THE DEALER IN Wherever in the world capitalisin is the pre- vailing method 9/ economic organization the cardinal principle of merchandising is to first reach and first sell the dealer. For the dealer; is not alone the distributor's best customer hut he is also, which is vitally important, the dis- tributor's ally in theVfurther and final task of selling the ultimate constimer, the public. It is to: the dealer, whether he has One lone store or a whole chain of stores, that a nia:jor amount of management thought and corpora- tion advertising funds is directed in almost all lines of business. Consider the furioiis rivalry for dealer attention and good will of iStandard brands. General Foods, etc. Whcaties and Huskies, Jello and Royal Gelatine and all the rest are sold by master merchandisers who are constantly preoccupied with what the dealer thinks of the product, to what lengths of cooperation the dealer will go for the dis- tributor becaiise' of faith ■ , aiid enthusiasm for, the goods being sold. exploitation campaign to push a picture over the topi Even; while the show w.Orld has its head in . a sling, this bang-up reminder that smaslves and splashes pay should have a healthy influence, Mechanics of block booking or prearrahgcd percentage deals arc hot aiid never can be a substitute for continuoiis, unremitting, ham- mering advertisiiig. Enthusiasm on the part of the exhibitor is not a lessened need, but an increased one, when the distributor books his. pictures on sharing terms, And has any bet- ter hiethod than advertising -in trade papers ever been discovered in this, or any other trade, for reaching and influencing amd stirring into actidh the all-important dealer? It iiiust be a secret if there's' a better w^y. FILM CHECKING TEST SUIT IN The dealer is the man at the point-of-sale. Pic occupies a position of commalndihg impor- tance in all trades. If he displays; goods, in his windows or protiiinently pn his shelves, i{ he talks them up, suggests them and pushes them— and thinks about them;^the sales curve goes up. If he adopts a tepid attitude (because he lias not been sold properly and adequately) the sales curve goes down. ...Basic; nieTil of^p^^ .Mot jii . anybody's inventory!! A good prodtict backed by good advertising goes after maximums. Lesser degrees of intrinsic merit combined with lesser measures and quality of advertis- ing will get proportionately tapered resiitts. Biit always advertising jpays out and its ab- sence or substantial curtailment tends not to be a bookkeeper's victory over overhead but a merchandiser's retreat from that self-confi- dence and self-eiithusiasni which is the start- ing point of air salesmanship. If distributors of motion pictures don't think their product worth advertising do they imagine this inert attititde will not be echoed, consciously and unconsciously, by the dealers? The exhibitor shares with dealers everywhere a human susceptibility to cither enthusiasm or ;defcatism. It is for distribiitors, and dis- tributors alone, to bring back the old time zing- incss of point-of-sale showmanshipi The ddr nothingism of the last year or two has resulted in pep-paralyzing examples of under-selling. By their advertising the distributors evaluate their own product. 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' currently is a swell case of adding a punchy advertising and Even, radio advertising which' is; commonly siipposed to be aimed at the public direct is actually devoted in great measure to influ- encing dealers. Popularity of Major Bowes' program, for example, makes an . itnportant man of the Chrysler dealei- in Podunk. That fact is more important to Walter P. Chrysler as a distributor of automobiles than all ; clse. Practically every gasoline advertiser, such as^ Tejcaco, Gulf, Esso, Atlantic, is on the air pri- marily because the gas stations (dealei-s) are thereby impressed. -, Technical or expensive iteiris'(furnaces, ra- diators, piston rings, chemicals.) are advertised ..pvi'-r! the rajio: altnost.eh.t»Mly-t3r:e«feance dis^^^ tributor prestige with dealers. In some cases 'advcrtisfers, as Carborundum of Niagara Faljs, sell almost nothing direct to. the public. Yet they; believe in a forni of advertising tha relatively expensive, definitely showmanly and socky. They use advertising that in itself commands attention and docs not tab their product with an apology. Fleischmann|s yeast had one program for the consumers,, another for the baking tradci Sealtest, ai device for dairymen^ was extensive- ly, radio advertised. Again the dealer^stood out as an important part of the audiene«r Ra- dio's whole; story is studded .with case his- tories that prove how in all lines -of btisiness, foods, drug's, utilities; even steel a.nd heavy products, the dealer is recognized and re- spected as first iii importance. Minneapolis, -Aug: : The question of whether theatre checking constitutes detective work will l>e decided by a jury in munic-' ipal court here Oct. 5; Chairged by Sidney Volk, owner of the NilC: theatre, neighborhood house, with, operating a detective, agency without a license.. Ross Federal Checkers in municipal court demanded the jury trial. The coinpany has blind-checked Yol'.s theatre and other houses. Vplk's prosecution was at the. behest of Northwest Allied States iir a: light against percentage pictures ahd Checking of every nature. ■Whether or not they stop chock-, ing,- the independents are eager to put the Ross .company out of busi- ness in this territory because, they 'charge, it has disclosed grosses , to exchanges generally in an effort to induce increased selling bf films, on percentage, , ,. ARBITER SOUGHT FOR AGENT-TALENT TIFFS . .Los Angeles, Aug, 16. Refusal, by ; ^t^. . L(|b or ConmiiS'' sion to arbitrate Jayne Regan's coni- plaint against the Monter-.Gray agency may result in the: removal of all theatrical ;agenby . disputes from the jurisdiction of the labor body. Gordon W. Levby, ' attorney ' for Miss Regan, plans to Introduce a biil in the state legislature setting up an administrative body to act as guide in all arguments between agencies and their clieitts. Only in trades where near-monopolies exist is there any disposition to regard advertising as superfluous. Show biz is not now and never will be free of a constant need to go after busi- ness, and to recharge the batteries. of its sales- niaiiship. Deal the dealer in. Wobber Still Favors The Idea of Returning To Frisco This Winter When the S. R. Kent sales drive at 20th-Fox is over late in Decem- ber Herman Wobber may return permanently to Sah Francisco, giv- ing up the distribution reins which Kent urged him to tal:e on ; John D. Clark's death. If and when eventu- ating, a permanent successor Ip Clark as generar sales manager would be appointed; Bill Sussman, who came over to .20th from Par with Clark, and was .iattcr's. right-hand man for years, more lately as eastern divi- sion manager, is likely to get the post. " Wobber accepted the 20th-Fpx as- signment kl Kent's request as a pinch-hitting proposition and_ espe- cially in viisw of the Kent sales push. In the past he has been very active in various drives, one in Par having been the Wobber drive. . SAM ENGEL OUT OF 20TH-FOX CO. Hollywood, Aug. 16. Sam Engel has ended an eight-year association with Darryl Zaniick, re- signing as associate producer at 20th-Fox. He was in the story departrhent at Warners with Zanuck and joined hi.s chief on the moveover to iZOth. When the latter merged with Fox he be- came an a.ssociate producer of B pic- tures. Before leaving ho completed 'Gateway' and was readying the next Sonja Hcnie film. ' Zanuck'.s first major move .since returning from Europe was to re- arrange the prpduction sked at 20th-Fox. setting back three start- ing dates and adding three pictures to .the docket. 'Kentucky' was deferred from Aug. 15 to Sept. 6; 'iVlr. Average Man.' from AuJ. 27 to Sept. 25, and 'Je.sse Jarhes' "from Aug. 18 to. 22. Added starters are 'little Miss Princess,' • 'Tailspih' an 1 'Falling (J's 39-Week Report Due Soon; But Final Quarter Looks Best Report for fir.st three-quarters of Universal Pictures Co. fls.bal year,, which is expected out in the. next two or three weeks, probably' will .show an improvement in company. inVome but nothing like what is, ex- ■pected jn the final quarter. Next report probably will cover only up to the -last of July arid consequently will not benefit from the. income ob- tained on. 'Rage of Paris.' This pic-, lure did not get the hulk of its heavy playing time until the middle of July and only a few accounts showed revenue for U until August, Final quarter of the year not only wiir include take from 'Rage' but al.so* rentals, from both 'LOller of IntroductiPn' and. 'Little Tough Guy.' Trad* Mnrk itoitlslered' FOtrNDED i)T 6T,ME SILVERMAN I'uKlliiliErt Wnekly bj VAKIKTV, toe. S.ld Sllvorman, Rreiildent IE4 West 4Gth Stroet. Now Tork CHy 6ui;!.st'nii"rioN ■ AnnuAl. , . . . . tl Foreign,,.,,, 17 SIngIs Copies. . , , , ......... .It Cenia Vol. 131 1^ ^gfi," No. 10 DAVE BERNSTEIN BACK David Bern.stein, treasurer of Loew'.?, Inc., returned .to N. Y. frorn Europe. Monday (l.'i^r^ He was abroad about a. month. INDEX Bills ........... 56 Chatter 61 Pansapatibn- .49-51 Exploitation 34 15 Years Ago. .' 52 Film. Booking Chart. ..... 27 Film Reviews. . . . . , . . .22-23 Hou.se Reviews. .54-55 Inside— I,egit -58 Jiisidc— Music ............ 51 Inside— Pictures ..... 11 Inside— Radio 42" International News . .. ..... 25 Jack Osterman 2 Legitimate , ; . .57-00 Literati ., 34 Music ................... ,40-51 New Ads .', . 55. News from Ihe.Duilie.'i. . . . 02 Nile CUibs n2-5,1 Obituary C2 Ouldpors . , . ' . ■ 03 Pictures . 2-:)5 Radio 7. ;iiC-48 Radio- -Iiilf.'rn:/(i'jnal ...... 41 . Radio, Hevic'w.s . •. ......... . 4C R.idio Showman.'ihi ...... 44 Vaudeville .iZ-33 VARtBTY PICTURES Wednesday, August 17, 1939 OF SAUCIOUS AD COMPLAINTS CAUSES HAYSITES TO DOUBLE-CHECK Census of Lurid Marquee Billing— Some Weird Phraseology-^And Weirder Coupling of Sex Pic Titles— 100% Indie Productions Complaints from all sections, df the U. S. ' against salacious advertising have been coming -into tlie. Hays of- fice in recent months. Though Hay sians have been studyitig the , situ- ation, there is little thiat the Motion Picture producers & Distributors as; sociation can do, save by indirection, because the bulk of So-called sex or ntbrally objectionable films t^re not shown in affiliated theatres corning under the Hays advertising code. Following a survey of data collect- ed over a period of nearly two years, Hays office found that 98% Of all features produced in this coiiritry for' exhibition have the seal of approyal' from the Joe Breen productioii code administration. The remaining 2%, representing films -rejected by the: Hays office PCA; or , not submitted, cause, about! 60% of the criticism heaped on the Hays organization. The MPPDA not only is interest- ed because of direct complaint reg- istered against certain pictures and objectionable ad matter carried in daily newspapers on them, but be- cause the ayeraeie individual blames; the Hays office for its being shown and the advertising on samie. Der spite the fact that the Hays office has no direct supervision or control • over films not paissed by. the PCA or showing in affiliated rhember. houses. It gets blamed for the rum- pus stirred up by these few screen subjects. This is partly due to the fact that reference to : the Hays of- fice is taken by the public to. mean the entire film business. There have been instances Where one of the so-called salacious or "bootleg pictures has been played on the same program with . a film .either passed by the Hays PCA, or the product of a member company is ad- vertised In the same ad' Advertlsln'f Very Crode , Advertising ; On so-called bootleg pictures, as a rule, is much worse than the films themselves. There are- 28 pictures currently: on an un- official' list of bootleg productions compiled by interested Haysites. It Is the blatant or obnoxious type >of advertising on these films that atr tracts attention to them in various spots. 'Love Life of a Gorilla' offered perhaps the iriost glaring example of bad taste in advertising matter col- lected by Haysiahs. This, applies to the ad matter, carried in a Washing- ton, D. C, daily when it played at the Belasco, with the advei'tising listing the theatre as oppbsite the White House. Sample of choice tid- bits include, 'daring, strange wothen' and wild' beasts; unheard Of tales of ape worshipers; what happens to women they kidnap; entertainment for the whole family.' Ads on 'Narcotic' show.ed a man giving a girl a shot in the arm. "That presumably was to - leave no doubt in minds of newspaper readers as ^o type of film production they were going to see, 'Assassin. of ■youth' employed advertising with boosts from police officials when it was shown in the east. Copy in- clude the phrases, 'Inhaling desire' and 'exhaling lust.' When same film played at the Wysor-Grand at Mun- cie, Ind., the copy read, 'Can you violate the laws, of chastity and not know it.?' Some Ad Samples National theatre, Detroit, wh'ch was using films, with its burlesque stage .show, billed the French 'Club, de Femmes,' as '200 Girls and One Man.' When 'The La.sh* played at a Ken- tucky theatre, the wording included 'strange romance among strange peo- ple.' 'Unleashed passions' and 'weird orgips' were pet ad phrases employed on 'Marihuanria.' When 'Unashamed' played the RoxIg. Sacranlento, Calif., it was Lloyd Staying at Par Hollywood, Aug. IB. Frank Lloyd is looking for a story for his next Paramount production, silencing iriimors that he con- templated checking out of the studio. Producer is leaving for a .Euro- pean vacation in October and inay make one picture In England. billed .ds 'world, premiere,' with nude cut emphasized. 'Boys and girls going, to town' and 'Morals goiie wilt, the wind* were descriptive phr;:sc3 . employed . on 'Assassin . of Youth' v/heh it played tlie Illinois, Otl .wa, III. Probably d new high in suggestive newspaper cuts was used by a Los .Angeles house on 'Children of Loneli- nesSi' with* ad matter reading, 'Capa- ble of love but incapable of marriage —the third sex.' Certain exhibitors using 'hese films are credited with having ati. odcj, sense of humor when t'.iey dualod certain su^bjects. At BT^ck- well,-Okla., ,'.n exhib put Body and Soul' and 'Exposing the Nudist Racket' on vhe.sanir bilL 'Love Life of a Gorilla' was dualed With 'Maid's Night Out' at Cambridge, O. In j Pcnnsy town, , 'UnBorn, Infants' and 'Race Suicide' were teamed on a double bill. History of 'Motherhood' film,, which sought to cash in on the pub- licity and atter.tipn directed towards 'Birth of a Baby;' made in oCientific manner . with an admitted : purpose, is one of shifting titles. -From 'Motherhood' it became 'A Baby Is Born.' 'When enjoined, the w title read 'A Child Is Born.' When this, title was halted, it was tabbed 'Birth,' and it also has beeii known as 'Child- birth' and 'Miracle of Life.'- . Recently compiled - list , of films which are not supposed to go into affiliated theatres also includes 'The. Naked Truth' (also knovrn as 'The Lash'), 'Uncivilized,' 'Ecstasy,' 'Cru- sade Against Rackets,* 'W^jah,' 'Race Suicide,' 'Damaged Live$,' 'Slaves in Bondage,' 'Sex Matiiac,'- 'Lucrezia Borgia,' 'Forbidden,* 'Pace . That Kills,' 'Tomorrow's Children,' 'Sins of Love,* 'Sex Madness,' . 'Sins of Pas- sion,' 'Smashing the Vice Trust,' 'Un- born' and 'Rbad to'Ruin.* RKO' S BIG HNS ROLLIOHNALE Hollywood, Aug. 16. ' With 54 feature^ and 199 shorts on the '38-39 program, RKO has more big budgetecs ir the shooting or, editing stages than at any previous time in the studio's history. Among the ;COstly features, 'Room Service' is in the cutting room, 'The Mad Miss Manton' has only a few days to go, and 'Gunga Din' is , film- in:; final battle scenes at Lone Pine. Ginger Rogers is slated for four heavy . allotment pictures, two with Fred Astaire and t'vo. solo. Other b.o. names on thr program are Claudelte Colbert, V ctor McLaglen, Irene Dunne, Charles Boyer, George O'Brien, Ann Siiirley and Bobby Breen. RKO will also release 'Sixty Glorious Years,' now being made in Technicolor by 'lerbert Wilcox in England. . On the shorts program are sched- uled 18 Walt Disneys, 13 March of Time subjects, two Dionnc one-reel- ers, 24 two-reel comedies, 104 news- reels, 13 Sporloscopes, four Sheila Barretts, 13 Nuatlas musicals and nine one-reel. 'Reelisms.' SWARTHOUt'S SALARY Jes* Ain't Apjpreciated Hollywood, Aug. 16. While Uedy LaMarr is sky- rocketing at Metro, the director who discovered her, Gustav Ma'chaly^ languishes on the \ same lot, without an assignment in more than a year. oNE-THiRDPic's COST (JA Dnimbeatiiig Drums' to Refute . ; Hollywood, Aug; 16. Gladys Swarthout returns to Para- mount late in September to : wash up her' terni contract with 'Amblish,' a B pirpduction. Picture is ' budgeted at $200,000, while star's salary is $60,000. Warbler is pulling out of pictures a', tfie completion of her. contract, to devote her time to opera and con- cert tours. A (One) Grand Option Hollywood, Aug. 16. Over ■ objections of home office execs, Pairamount took up Louise Campbell's option. New Yorkers didn't like the coin hike on renewal which gives' player $1,000 weekly. Studio liked her work in 'Men With Wings ' Capria's If-And-AVheh Hollywood, Aiig. 16. 'A Gentleman from Montana,' the Lew Foster story ieceiitly bought by Columbia, is tentatively slated as the next Frank Capra production. De- pendis On whether ,thlis yarn or .'Choplrt* is in shape when. Capra is reaidy to start, around Sept. 15. Columbia Is mulling the idea of spotting Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur in 'Montana.' United Artists, s doing some extra fancy drumbeating in; behalf of Alexander Korda's 'Drums,| which was previewed Monday night (14) at the Hollywood 'N. Y,, anff which is slated' for two weeks commencing Sept. 22 at Radio City Music Hail. One major objective is to disprove any alleged' British captiousness that English . ix don'i go far the American market. It's been pointed put by certaiii London fliihites that- no - English film since 'Bluebeard's 8th Wife' got anywhere to speak of at the U. S. bo^pfflcei and Herbert Wilcox cried that - his 'Queen Vic- toria.*" barely got its. print • cost back. For this reason, among sthcrs of frank : commercialism, Lynn ' Farnol is sending out eig;.t special road ex- ploiteers; lias an ultra ad campaign lined' up; has elaborate ' weltfomiijg plans for Sabu; the, boy hero of the film, who ari-lves Sept. .12' on the Normandie, etc. lurse To Prime Studes for Film Careers Prep Zorina's Starrer Hollywood, Aug. 16. Richard Connell ' is writing ap original story to star Zorina under the Goldwyri banner. Goldwyn, who has the actress un- der contract, tried to buy the Broad- way play, 'I Married an Arigel,' in which she is starring;, but Metro had it .sewed up. Sally Haines Joining Hubby Hollywood, Aug; 16. . ' Sally Haines sails ' from New York Aug. 24 to join her husband, Bert Wheeler, in London. Wheeler is doing personals in England and is set for one picture with Gaumont-Britlsh. . Hollywood, Aug. 16. Unless the more conservative mem- bers of its board of triistees, suddenly clamp dov/n on the ambitious plans of jrexy Ernest Martin Hopkins, Dartmouth College will be turning put -film production moguls faster than grade C quickies., Already of- fering young America a course in the rudiments of screen writing, the institution is preparing for its second step in the development of the Irving Thalberg : Memorial Course, the teaching of the. basic principles ' of picture making in its entirety. ' bream of Dr. Hopkins is tp sonie day. install a completely equipped motion; picture plant on the college campus. Hatcher of the idea and the man who sold, it to Dr. Hopkins is Walter 'Wanger,. Hollywood pro- ducer and Dartmouth alumnus. Prof. Benfield Pressey, head of Dartmouth's department of ;EngliBh, of which the Thalberg Memorial course is an important part, is now in Hollywood, ready to devote six months to an intensive study of whait makes the studio wheels go round. Pressey, a practical fellow who stands out in contrast to his fellow educators in that he is unwilling to adivance .theories on how to improve celluloid entertainment, is. determined to learn the silversheet business from tiie ground up. He intends to de- vote his stay in Hollywood to sitting in with . and watching every move b£ the picture creatoirs from the con- ception, of a -.story idea through to the final cutting. One of the. Boys Because of h is enthusiasm for the cinema and his eagerness to listen rather than to teach. Prof. Pressey has found the film factory gates thrown open to hifn, with production biggies competing with one another in their efforts to aid him in his re- search. Having made a complete in- spection of the major plants; chatting with lot laborers, delving into the workings of 'prop' siiops, process laboratories, art. departments and on down the line, he is momentarily sit-, ting in with Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell while they administer the final poli.shing to the screen play for 'Trade Winds,' which ,Tay Gar- nett- will produce and direct for Wanger. During the fillning of the oflerintj, he will share a seat with Garnelt, then join Otho -Lovering, Wangcr'a , editorial assistant, rj the latter supervises its pruning. Initial move toward the creating of the Thalberg Memorial Course, was made 16 months ago, when -Dr. Hopkins came to the Coast to visit Wanger. Actual start, of the under- taking was signalled last September when/ after 155 students had en- rolled, Wanger went east to deliver the inaugural address. Under Prof. Pressey's direction, the college has amassed ■ valuable li- brary of scenarios, treatments, stjU photographs and general motion picture material for the course', which is now listed in Dartmouth's :liberal arts department. Upon Pres- sey's return to the schodl in Feb- ruary a full; six hours a week is to be devoted to it by all students en- rolled in the class. Lining Up Soap Boxers During the last semester, Jecturers for the course, in addition to Wanger, included. Au.stin F. Keough, Para- mount; Jacob Wilk; Warners, and Lovering. Hollywood's top writers, directors,, producers and technical bureau heads are now being lined up to travel to Dartmouth and ad- dress "the studes. ^yhile several other colleges and universities have maintained experi- mental courses in the art of the tiiea- tre for several years, some of them establishing notable theatre work- shops and post-graduate work in theatrical production and direction, Dartmouth's course in screenwriting is one of the first adopted as regular curricular study. 'If the study of motion picture making by an academic educator is novel,: it will not be novel long,' says Prof.. Pressey of his Hollywood stay. 'The words and images that make and change the public mind create the future in Which today's students may live, and for which the educator must prepare. Since motion pictures project words and images upon the public . mind with unmatched force, the educator must learn all he can about them. 'though nobody can teach anybody elsc how to write, the yoiing Writer craves advice and judgment frorh his elders. But he must have confidence in the knowledge and authority of his critic. I hope to gather in Hoiiy- wood the knowledge and authority which I can lend my students at Dqrtmoulh, so many of whom are fascinated by motioii pictures and feel a strong urge to help make them in the. future.' FORTUNE MAG^ MORRIS AGCY. : Next week, the Septernber issue of Fortune mag appears with the sl6ry on the business career of the William Morris agency. It's a cavalcade of the Morris office's 40 years in busi. ness. Fortune mag, which treats with biir business and tycoons, treats thejvil. liam Moirris agency in the safne veiii although it's a departure for ttie $r monthly In analyzing the business of a theatrical booking office. Fortune singled out ' the Morris agency as the oldest, biggest and most representative international theatrical agenc.v. Steffes Urges Exhibs To Ignore tlhorch's Campaign Vs. Any Pic Minrieapplis, Aug; 16- Northwest Allied States' members were advised by their president, W., A. SteflPes, to refuse to sign an agreement de'manded by a joint com- mittee, of Catholic Laynienls Organi- •zatlons here, fighting the showing of 'Blockade,* . to exhibit ' only pictures which it approves.. StefTes declared that nb group, regardless of its re- ligious or other ' affiliations, should be permitted to censor motion pic- ture entertaiinment in the;territory. ■We shouldn't allow any body or persons tp. dictate to us how to run pur business,* he declared at a spe- cial meeting^ 'And I don't think we waiit pur business to get into the hands of those who have no invest- mcntlfi"it.'; — : As far as 'Blockade' is concerned, StefTes said, it was up to membera individually as to. Whether they wish to run it, Persphally, he declared, he'd . taboo it. Showing pf 'Slockade' also is being combated iii St. Paul and elsewhere throughout the ter- ritory. MADELEINE CARROLL'S UNCERTAIN PLANS Madeleine Carroll, whose contract with Walter Wanger is washed up, will, decide next week on renewing it, signing with another studio or freelancing in . the future. Actress arrived Monday (15) frpm a Euro- pean holiday during wh^ch she suc- cessfully appealed to French author!' ties to permit the .showing of 'Block- ade.' She leaves torfiorrow (Thurs- day) for the Coast. Miss Carroll was vacationing on the Mediterranean and had not in- tended to return to the U. S. until fall, but was reminded by J. Walter Thompson agency of a contract signed last spring to guest on ..the Chase & Sanborn ' program next week. Since arriving in New York she has been offered some other radio dates. She has a deal pending to do one picture for Paramount, but will de- cide finally on that when she reaches the Coast. Actress also hopes to do a Broadway play, but has no im- mediate plans. She. appeared on the , London stage before going into films. There is ho chance. Miss Carroll says, of her doing any picture? or legit in England because of the ta% situation. Schary's Marx Chore Hollywood, Aug.' 1«- Dore Schary has been added to the Metro writing staff. First assignment places him with Mervyh LeRoy's unit to . script 'V^Y at the Circus' for the Marx Bros. Nancy Carroll's Play Nancy Carroll, who has/j>'s' finished 'There Goes My Heart' lot Hal Rocich, arrived in New 'i'orK Saturday (13) to prepare for in« trybut of a new play at Cohasset. _ Mass. It's James R. ' Cain's '7-"' said to be based on the '21' Club. . She will ■ appear for two weeks opposite Peter Arno in the n'^J' piece coritrolled by Richard AUl'iC) and Richard Myers. Wedpesd ay. August 17. 1938 PICTURES VARIETY S N.Y. Move for Freedom of the Press hto Pix-Radio-Legit Voted Down Move in the New York state cpn- rtituUohal convention, now In prog- S Albany, to extend the freedom rforess to the sUge. motion pic- 2 ,« and radio was snowed . under Jfdeiegates, who voted 62-28 against tte priiposal , to bring it trom the committee .dtf'"'?."' ^u^^m" v ' iSrschberg. of Newburgh, N moved that the proposal to bnng Sctures. radio and the sUge Ainder L same freedom as enjoyed, by the oress be taken from the committee which shelved it several weeks ago. The Orange County district attor- ney described this present film cen- sorship -as 'an un-American attempt to throtUe ideas.' He : contended that tliere have .been no instances in \vbich anybiody, child, man or woman, were injured by indecency ■ on the screen. ■ cdnisiderable opposition was made by Clarence E. Runals, another Re- publican delegate, . who claimed 'Protestants, Catholics and Jews have joined in a crusade to bring economic pressure, on producers of • pictures inimical to interests of the people.' Reaction In New York was >• that there was small chance of any pro- posal enlarging freedom of. the screen because it might in time di- rectly result in the state censor body hieing eliminated. , State ceinsoring always has been regarded in the in- dusti^ as a too valuable source of .^^Utical-patMnagfr-to- have. a-Aghting- ■,chiBice-<)£ l)eing abolished, both po- litical, parties viewing the state cen- scisbip board as something to be preserved for the party in power. Kenneth Roberts' SQl Cnt If He Can Do His Fibn Writing in Maine Kenneth Roberts, whose 'North- west. Passage' is being readied for production by Metro, has nixed an offer from a major' company (not M-G) to go to Hollywood to do. an originaL . He suggested doing it at his Kennebunk Beach (Me.) home lor half the amount, but the- studio turned it down. Contrary to general custom, the studios have not Ijeen given advance proofs of Roberts' new novel, 'The March to Quebec,' but will have to jralt until its publication Sept. 9 by Doubleday-Doran. Writer is . al- J]6ady/«Bt work on a new novel, OUver Wiswell,' which is said to Mve a controversial theme. He has .corapleted 32 chapters and expects tHe work to run about 70 chapters. HEIFETZ FIDDLES WHU.E GOLDWYN PREPS YARN . Hollywood, Aug. 16. Samuel Goldwyn and Jascha Meiiete settled their ditferences by ssteemg on a new picture which wm rot interfere with the. violinist's wncert tour. «,h!f' »^ is going on with his tour wniie Marguerite Roberts writes the thr?, "'"^ -'The Daring Age,' tft .K- selected to introduce him for ♦I*"*""- Qr'einal plan called Th/rl'' musician's appearance in iOe Great Music Festival.' Par BaSsJiax, Takes ierTry at 'Hotel' Pawn,^ . Hollywood, Aug. 16. can ^niPerial.' for the Ameri- llalian " of Isa Miranda, T" "='"e<>n actress. years a,„ '■^j! '"''^"•''^^ *° P'^y t'l^'^e k severiv ■ 'lad been rev/ritten lavan Later : Margaret Sul- hut shTk ';'8"e<^ for the top spot, ...^'^SSlvir Private Checkers Irving Berlin, Inc. office Is a block awaiy from the Rpxy, New York, anc. several times during t'.ie day the songwriter- author of 'Alexander's Ragtime ^and! has been noticed check- ing the theatr:. ' When Berlin's down at his Atlantic City summer home, his ' music publishing' partner, Saul BoTnsteih, dots the clocking. Bierlin's deal with 20th-Tox is a percentage of the gross. ^ ing an original story for the duo, . . jndlLitjtfts^ver-iheJiompany-wilL jis.Music.CoJ BREAD ■ BUnER STUDIOS Hollywood, Aug. 16. Paramount is' mulling the bread- and-butter idea, with Charles Rug-, gles and Mary Boland co-starring in a family series. Peter Milne is writ-! go ahead ^yith n string of sequels. Par is the only, major studio not represented in this field. It had that idea in mind when it signed Fibber McGee and Molly, last winter, but the deal was cancelled by Molly's illness. ,~ Metro is launching a new' series based on the career of a young, doc- tor, firom the 'Dr. Kildare' tales writ- ten by Max Brand. Lew Ayres will play the title role iri the first of the series, 'Young Dr. Kildare.' 'The Higgins .Farriily,' nee 'Every- thing Happens to Us,' recently com- pleted at Republic; may be built up into a serial featuring the Glea- son family, James Gleason; under contract, as a , producer, director, writer and actor, shares top honors with Lucille, and Russell Gleason. He has written dialog for special footage to trail the picture in order to sound out audiences on the serial idea. Bryan Foy starts production on 'Torchy in Chinatown' tomorrow (Wed.) without a letup after the completion of Torchy Gets Her Man.' Idea is to keep the same cast working before they break up for outside commitments. Same lead roles are played by Glenda Far- rel. Barton MacLane .and Tom Ken- nedy. Bryan Foy sends 'The Password to Larkspur Lane' into production at Warners this week, with Bonita Granville in the Nancy Drew role. It will be the llrst of rew series directed by Wiiliam Clemens. Berlin's 'Alexander' Touch , ing Off a New Cycle— - Every Studio Mulling Quick Ac|ion on Show Biz Names-^— Cohan, Hammer- stein, Gershwin, et Al. Divorcement legislation Grow^ Apace; Local Interests Manifest Little Sympathy to the Chains FILMUSICAL ANGLES Pace of 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' (20th) at the boxofCice has al- most every picture company caval- cade-minded: It's bringing up anew the idea of show biz cycles, and, reviving talk about pictures treating with Gersh- win, Cohan, Oscar Hammerstein, et al. Major deterrent is the knowl- edge that the public has temporarily chilled on niusicals, and to risk these cavalcades, sans tunes, is something else again. Click of 'Alexander may brln6\on a. cycle of pictures built' around, or using the title of pop times whose popularity has persisted through the years and which also lend them- selves to dramatic ' treatment. Bids for this type of use has already been rhade in the cast of 'My: Melancholy. Baby' by three producers. Joe Mbr^ owner. 'Melancholy' first became a hit In 1914 and underwent two major sheet revivals, namely, 1919 and 1927. It was Gene Austin's disc version of the song that was responsible for the Utter resurge qf copy interest. Mor- ris obtained the assignment of copy- right on 'Melancholy' from Theron C. Bennett in 1924. Hollywood, Aug. 16. Irving Berlin's next for 20th-Fox, 'Bowery Nightingale,' will be sans any old songs. Berlin insisted on a 100% new and original score, as a switch away from 'Alex.' U.S. CAVALCADE' PIC FOR '39 FAIR up; LeadtoMcCrea Hollywood, Aug. 16. Joel McCrea is (jccil B. DeMille's choice for the star role iii 'Union Pacific," tentatively scheduled to start . at Paramount Oct. 15. Femme lead is still to be selected. . Jack Cunningham, Jeanie Mac- Phersbn and Walter D.c Leon are working, on the screen play. Bob Burns. Akim TamirolT and Evelyn Keyes arc in supporting roles. • Food Vs. Fame American film executives,, visiting Paris, have all been hit markedly by the attitude of Jean Gabiri, ranking film star in France, who might be Hol- lywood timber. When ap- proached he's always diji tcr- csted. . First,,he points to sad. fate of Simone Simon, Germaine Aus- sey and other Continental im- ports. But above all he points to his favorite restaurant, down in the Paris market district, and exclaims, 'And can they give me this kind of food in Amer- ica!' • FILMITES DENY TENDENCIES Hollywood, Aug. 16. Charges that certain members of the film colony are aiding com-: muhism, levelled from "Washington this week, has brought a denial from Motion Picture Artists Committee' that raised coin for Spanish Loyalists Sunday night (14), They raised the money by staging 'Sticks and Stones' which took in :$2i000, in a house scaled at $5, with ^ ah overflow crowd of 300. Money is to be used foir pur- chase of hospital, supplies. Shovv' was a series of blackouts and sketches highly tinged with political significance and derogatory to dic- tators. Among those taking part ■were Milton Berle, Bert Lahr, Johnny Green, Gale Sondergaard, Jerry Co- lonna, Dixie Dunbar, Johnny Downs, John.Garfleld, Jack Smart and Ray Mayer. Work has started on ICalvacade of America,' the $1,200,000 feature pro- duction, which is the picture indus- try's contribution to the New York World's Fair. Actually the feature film will cost less than $200,000, it is estimated, but if made by one company and without the coopera- tion of all firms in the industry it could not be turned out for less than $1,200,000, picture exccutivefs aver. - All major film companies are col- laborating in the making of the pro- duction with the Hays office co- operating on script and many details. Any actual new filming will be done on the Coast. Much of it will con- sist of scnncs from historical feature: turned out in the past, representing a procession of American history from the landing o£ the Pilgrims to the present day. Ttie theme will be carried alon^ by superinipo.sed story, much the j same as was done in 20th-Fo>;'s 'Cav- j alcade,' with naiTation added. ., _ , r-v X' _Ji Film busincs.s cohsidc!-."! it a worthy ! Beth Brown s Dramatized I contribution from the industry and XT^.,-xl Crv.i/rW* Wir TI'wAfkrl i far superior t6 any, sort of exhibit Novel Sought by , 11 >>00a ,,^^j ^..^^ framed Mr two rea- Beth Brown ha: finally completed ; son.s: One i.", that if will be the best, the dranializalion of her novel. I typically American historicaT feature 'Riv^erside Urivi?.' Ha.s had offers i turned out .since il^ wU' contain all f -oni 20lh-Fox, Columbia and Kc- ' great moments in the nati-in's history public for tlno script, but she wants '(taken from prcvirjus producli-ins): t: see a slasjc prodi.cti-jn first. | and. .sccondlv. becau.sc it i.s bound r>lay is in^tiirec acts, cov ring the , to focus public attention on the ac- thrce phases of inc story, with the , comnlishments of the niclure indus- TMAT ASKS SHEARER NOT TO CROSS PICKETS Theatrical Managers, Agents and Treasurers' union which has been picketing the Astor, N. Y., because house is not staffed with union meinbers, telegraphed Norma Shearer, asking her not to cross the picket line at the premiere of 'Marie Antoinette' last night (Tuesday). TMAT said she was the only filha star in New York. Union rates 'Marie' as a roadshow but it will be generally relea.sed Aug. 26. TMAT states it has the moral sup- port of the. Screen Actors' Guild on the grounds that both bodies are American Federation of Labor affili- ates. Hollywood, Aug. 16. Metro has dropped plans to road- show 'Marie Antoinette' and is send- ing it but at popular prices as an early rclea.se for the l'938-39 scaion. Following the North Dakota court's sustaining the constitution- ality of the theatre divorcement law in that state, it is understood that similar divorcement legisljition Is in the making in South Dakota, Minne- sota, Ohio, Pen. sylvania and Massa- chusetts. Independent exhibitor or- ganizations are back o£ them in all these states and are reported muUiiig siniilar actions in others. •The divorcement legislation should not be. contused with the U. S. Gov- ernment suit, in, which the breaking up of alliliatcd circuits is among things stressed. One is a matter of Icsislation,' while the latter is a law- suit in ciyil, courts. There seems to be little question but that theatire divorcement idea is gaining momentum, aside from the boost given it by the Dakota de- cision. This is attributed to the growing hostile attitude of business towards affiliated .qperations. Never extremely popular' -with business, firms in smaller, communities, some" firrps recently have indicated that they are hopeful that theatre di- vorcement may be extended so that new theatre circuits will cut them- selves loose from lines of trade other than what is held essential to ■ film , h ouse-i pera tlon,^— — — . There have bean-- plenty-Hof-com-- plaints from business men in these smaller cities and big towns over ex- hibitors (often linked to affiliated operation) entei-in.g into active com-, oetish with merchants. They say that installation of a candy counter, generally operated by the. house ushers, has been extended so much that ice cream and sodas now are being disp3nsed. They are hoping , that these cinema spots don't start soda fountain lunches and selling hot dogs. Then, too, newspaper publishers arc unhappy over the use of blatant screen advertising. They know that affiliated circuit houses are actually getting paid for this so much per film per show and they consider It toiigh competition when there is only so much coin available for. advcrtis- ina in smaller, comnhunities. Whether true or hot, neWspaperj? and business men blame - alTiliated circuits linked up with major com- panies for these practices. Which possibly accounts for their failure to .sympathize with major theatre oper- atives. Thev see in the thcat.-e di- vorcement legislation a chance to force theatres to attend strictly to the picture business and when neces- sary to force them to let out con- cessions. REP EARMARKS 750G FOR SAM HOUSTON EPIC Tarkington Tale to Bow In Peter Holdcn at RKO Hollywood, Aui,'. 16. .Scvcn-year-old Peter lloldcn. j, now appearing in 'Borrowed Timc'i on Broad way, , will get Hollywood, Aug. 10. On the shelf for a year. Republic's 'Wagons Westward,' based on the life of Sam Houston, goes into , pro- duction Oct. 1 with a $750,000 budget, highest in the studio's his- tory. . 'Wagons will be followed by two other high budgeters, 'Two Years Before the Mast' and 'Doctors Don't telK' . Republic's hillbilly musical, 'Down in Arkansaw,' wont into production today (Tues.) with June iStorcy bor- rowed from 20th-Fox to share the romantic spot with Ralph Byrd. Pinky-Tomlin and the Weaver Bros, and Elviry head the ca.st. Okay Acad Revamp Plan Id II .!:.',- re H',': . ; (•. .'-I'l load doing Hcl=:.". Hayes-'Victoria ■ tiy. both as to entertainment imd in. Rcgina' stunt of g.-adually aging. ! highlighting historical events. a heavy i Motion- I'if: buildup When he reports to RKO ; appi ovc-J l;y .'..'j ; at Hie close of the pla.v's run in try at a nice'.iM. N. Y. ' . . 1 X .".V .setup fi. I'andro Bcrman has bought Booth .i.-lufjiioii'i.', pr.ivi Tarltin'!ton's 'Little Orvic' as npw .-itul (•lii.'')i>;i!'';n . ; \u ;. 1';. '. .. . -iict.-. V. • ;.'](; ii, I'. r— i :. •\ 1 I -..••:'!.••:•.?:, pa iKi:i.-:!)ilHy m moppc't's .sprin^jboai'd in films. ,■ ju iiiiic .-Id'! c iri;r'ivi':'>;;il :i'.i!)jects. VARIETY PICTURES We of official represientative for collective bargain- ing of the writers employed in mp- tion picture 'studios. Notice of certification was received last week by the three parties con- cerned-T^WG, the 13 studjos at which the writers., .voiced.; their preference for- the-Guild,>end the^office'.ci '■•Dr.' Towne Nylander, head of the local National. Labor . Relations Board. Producers may either recognize SWG or file their exceptions with the board. In case the producers refuse, SWG may report the refusal to NLRB, which will investigate the facts. If the evidence . warrants, the board will command the producers to negotiate with the Guild. In the event op. further refusal, twO courses are open. NLRB may take the case before the U. S-. Circuit Court of Appeals, pr-the producers may go to the same court aiid question the right of Ihe board to authorize any collective bargaining negotiations with SWG. No matter what the result may be, it is held certain that the matter will be carried to the U. S. ' Siipreme Court for final adjudication. Executive; board of Guild last, week accepted the application for membership of James K. McGuin- ness. ; Writer was one of the organ- izers of Screen Playwrights when the SAG split up into two factions al>out two 'years ago. He recently resigned his SP membership . with the announcement that he was going back to the Guild. MOSTLY B'WAY PLAYERS IN ORIOB'S WPA FILM Mobbing Up on 'Gunga' _ Hollywood, Aug. 16. ^ Battle scencL in RKO's 'Gunga Dm next week will require 400 more extras at Lone Pine, raising the toUl of cast and crew to more than 750 Original camp site was :buiit to hous-. 400. New army of extras will be housed in auto camps, hotels and private homes, Temperature in that ■sector runs from the late nineties to 'KITCHEN' EOLIS AT WB Hollywood Aug. 16. Lew Seller directs Warners 'Hell's Kitchen,' slated to go before the cameras this week. Cast is topped by Humphrey Bo- gart. Gale Page and the Dead, End Kids. Harold Orlob, who is independent- ly producing 'One Third of a Na- tion,' the WPA play, for Para- mount release, will start actual shoot- ing at the Eastern Service studios, Astoria, early in September on re- turn of Sylvia Sidney from Europe. She is due in Sept. 5. Meantime, Orlob started testing Broadway talent Monday (15), giv^ ing tests to Sinione Pettijean, Barry Sullivan, William Post, Cyrilla Dorne, Myron McCormick, Clyde Fillmore, Charles Maxwell, Elizabeth Russell and Williarifi Roehick. Most all . of the talent to be used in the picture will be drawn from Broad- way. Bartholomew's Point In $39,600 Suit by Selznick Hollywood; Aug.. 16. . Superior Judge Robert Kenny has. ruled that an agent is not a necessity in the life of a young actor, in elimi- nating Freddie Bartholomew as a party to the siiit filed by the Myroii Selznick Agency. Perccntiry is lawing for $39jG00 in fee. U. S. Research for H wood Washington, Aug. le Invaluable aid to the motion picture industry is being given by the Historic American Building Survey, the Department of the Interior disclosed last week. Begun in 1933, under Government auspices, the survey is receiv- ing an increasing number of requests from film producers for data on authentic historical buildings, which it produces from files cpntalninc a list cf 4,753 houses and public buildings, 1.6,893 drawings, 18 636 photographs and 6,751 pages of written data. ' ' New Orleans sets for "The Buccaneer' .and 'Jezebel' were recreated through the services of the survey, according to the Interior Depart- ment report while dope oh typical structures such as covered bridges, wayside taverns, missions' and churches of the southwest havebeen^ particular demand by the studios. Funds for the survey are provided from State WPA projects throughout the country and cooperation is given by the American Institute' of Architects, the Federal Government and the states. Survey representatives have been stationed ih 70 districts of the American Institute, where they serve without psiy, except on special occasions whore their assistance is required to supervise' projects The Na1;ionaI Park Service, private schools, universities and archU tectural groups aid in the work of assembling data and manpower Is provided by WPA and eCC architectural foremen. Film Studios and Unions Extend Tkeff Labor Pact Until Eastman's {3.05 Per Share Earnmgs For First 24 Weeks in '38 Although there, was a big dip in per common share earnings in the .first 24 weeks this year, Eastm.an Kodak still showed $3^05: per .com- mon share in- less than half a year. In the iiiltial 24-week period last year. Eastman had $5.01 a share. June quarter for the. company was especially disappointing, net profit dropping to $374,635 or nearly half what it was in the,.secon.d..qu9cler. of; 1937. Co.mp.iny showed bet profit of $7,051,673 for the first 24 weeks or more than $4,000,000 less than the $11,375,066 reported for the same period last year. Hefty decline was largely attribu- ted to hieber operating costs and additiohal taxes' because net sales for this period were only $4,141,266 below comparable period a year ago. Earnings of Madison Square Gar- den Corp. were more than :$100,000 greater for the year ended last May as '■ compared . with previous fiscal year. Report issued last, week showed that 'net profit was $454,789 for the fiscal 12 months ending in May as against $348,274 In the pre- ceding company year; The earn- ings amounted to- ,$1.62 on capital stock in the past fiscal year as compared with $1.21 per share In the, preceding 12-month period, NEWSREELERS' NEW DEAL SET THIS WK. Long delayed conferences on a new wage-hour contract for newsreel cameramen have been set to get un- der way this week, with Pat Casey, Charliie Downs and several reps both from Local 659 and newsreel com- panies representing respective de- mands. Old contract was perfected shortly after the NRA was declared hull and void but the impetus of this industry arrangement helped the union pho- tographers to obtain a basically fair pact. Matter of freelance camera- men, insurance for iehsmen and bet- ter understanding oh apprentice pho- tographers are scheduled for con- sideration in forthcoming parleys; '38 'S Great Train Robbery Hollywood, Aug. 16. Henry King, 20thTFox director, and his 'Jesse James' troupe train but Thursday (18) to sUrt shooting on location at Pineville, Mo. Latest, additions to the cast sup- porting. Tyrone Power are Brian Dohlevy, Donald Meek, Jane Dar- well, Lon Chariey, Jr:, Harold Good- win, Charles Tannen and Ernest Whitman.. That Was Yiears Af o Hollywood, Aug. 16. Jackie Coog.nn is dickering for a part in 'Tom Sawyer, Detective," rolling this week at Paramount. years ago he starred ih 'Tom Saw- yer.' The same arrangement as called for under last year's . contract be- tween the studios and unions sig- natory to the flveryear basic agreti ment, will be continued through until next April, with no outside unionis to be brought in under the five-year termers. Each year under this agreement, the producers through their labo? contact, Pat Casey, and representa- tives of the five big unions get t(H gether to set terms for the ensuing year. . This spring, however, confer- ences were delayed, the same, terras meantime continuing! On getting . together, producers finally dennanded a l.Q% decrease for .this yeiir,. ; while... union.s.coiintetei_. .wifh_demaDd fo.v. a j.%.in'":«aM, — — On Monday (15), with, the various representatives of the five- interna- tional unions and Casey all in New York at the same time, a conference was held at which the agreement was reached to let everything ride as is until next spring, this represent- ing ' a compromise; Unions rep- resented were the International Al- liance of Theatrical Stage . Em- ployees, the American Federation of ' Musicians, the Carpenters, Teamstew and Electricians. No consideration was given to the inclusion of any other unions under the basic agreement, Including the Laboratory Workers who waiit t« get in. Last year the various unions ob- tained an increase and believed In some quarters that they were just as willing to- stall this year's con- ferences, with the producers in the thought that early spring and sum- hiier conditions may have meant » determined effort to get decreases. RAFT SNUBS WES; PAR STOPS PAYCHECK Hollywood, Aug. 16. For refusing to play the male lead in 'St Louis Blues,' George Raft was dropped from the Paramount payroll by order of Adolph Zukor. Suspen- sion is indeiinite. Lloyd Nolan gets the role. Zukor declared the actor turned down the part after approving it, at the same time suggesting that the studio lift his option, which is not due until Dec. 12. Raft said he hw not been handed the script until a week ago and did not okay it. ' Picture was slated to start Aug. > but was held up ' by Dorothy I*- mour's operation. Delayed start wa' due last Thursday (11) with Raoul Walsh shooting around Miss LaAour. •Man Mountain' Dean Will Forget About Ga. Politics Noreross, Ga.; Aug- 16. . "Man Mountain' Dean, heavyweignj grappler and screen actor, . w" eschew politics- for ring and .flu" work, he decided after returning f his home here after completing bis work in Metro's 'CJladiatois.' . Rassler, ,wbose real name is FranK S. Lcavitt, has quit race for repre- sentative in Georgia General Asse"!^' bly from Gwinnett county. CitinJ ■fact that his political foes had oe* come 'personal' in their rcniarKS about him, Dean said: ■ U I st£y in politics. 1 11 stua some- body sure.' tPcJnesday. August 17. 1938 PICTURES VARIETY T jC. C. Independent Itemizeii 'jevtn Major Ills in Dis- tribs* Relations with the Small Theatre Owner URGES CO-OP By E. El. Webber, Jr. Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 10. Editor, Vabieiy:; . The exhibitor in this city has not artanized to such an extent that he to been able through the press and various affiliations to have a cl?ar understanding of the producer-dis- tributor relationship. He is, how- ever vitally aware of his own short- comings in the methods of operation of his theatre or theatres. ^ I enclose a copy of a speech made by me a few weeks ago before the ladependent Theatre Owners of Kansas City and you have iny per- mission to use what parts of it may be ol interest to you. . I am young . iii the business, with my father operating two suburban theatre in Kansas City. Thus far I must admit I can see very little in ■ the future for the average hoiise. I camot say how long .1 will be in tliis business. It is an interiesting, _J?slBatiniiMiis.50u.t-when oyer^. h«ad is ^0 high, film rentals high, ttc,, etc., there is nothing left for the exhibitor, » I should' like very much to meet with' men who are experienced in production and distribution and work out! some program that would t)^efit our.'situatibn. E. E. Webber, Jr., President, Independent Theatre (Owners of K. G. Fish Story Hollywood, Aug. 16. - The M'arx Bros, had two out- of-town callers on their RKO set last Friday in Father Shea .and . Johnny Dundee, latter the former lightweight champ. . Chico invited the cleric to the iflghts, and dinner. Harpb chose .Dundee. , Chico called home and . .learned they were having roast beef, for dinner. When Harpo said they were haiving fish the brothers swapped guests for the night. F.&M. REOPENS FOX. ST. LOUIS. WITH 'ALEX' Webber's Address' These few remarks I have to make .ire prompted by the pitiful - state in which ! find the show business to- day, I have heard complaints from every exhibitor in this city about the conditions existing within bur association and within the exhibi- tiott branch of this great industry. I have heard no complaints from the distributors or - producers; Only when a, bill is placed before the United States Senate have I seen any hysterical action taken by the distributor. Nevier have I seen any action taken by the exhibitor. This in . Itself indicates one of the two parties involved is satisfied with ex- isting policies if they can- be called fch, in the suburban theatres of Kansas City. V The complaints are numerous: 1 Wgh film rentals. 2. Double f ea-. 'ires* 3. Low admissions. 4. The WMkly payment plian of the dis- ki L*'" Zoning arrangements, *nlch at one time was a problem of Vital importance, but has now been placed in the moth-eaten flies of this fssociation. 6. Giveaiways. 7. Fall- , .*6rtainly can say our business i»j . with numerous diseases ]»a is extremely ill. We should be ™ing for.a 'Doctor in the house,^ ",;."^ Mo^f"* ""tals. I believe coBm."'^*'' ^*'°"1<1 receive a rental .w-amet^urate with what he placed do ^il'if '"'^"t in the picture. K'^l'fe he deserves a share oi ^tKm I • * producer iilvestS ,« his jZ * Pi<=t"re he should- base ^^^^} "P°" expectancy ot thrT?*'''® profit from the sale «>e Picture alone. . 1 do not be- many short subjects as possible regardless of their merit as to entertainment The theatres are not operated for educational purposes and we cannot force people to come in to our thea-r tres for an education. We are com- pelled to get themi by advertiseinent of the . best entertainrhent that they are anxious to see, in place of some- thing that. has. developed from : a brainstorm- in sorhe secluded place. These same cpmpanies produce a number of features and demand that thoy 1)0 played with an extended playing time with preferred play- uales and under thc^e conditions they make more shorts than can be used with the features that they make. Another great damage that we are receiving in this section is the con- certed effprt of the film salesman and managers to prpmpte opposition in any tPwn regardless of size, provided their product cannot be sold in this' situation. There is no town that can use all of the product from all of the producers in one year, and under this condition it is absolutely neces- sary to leave some product out. In my opinion the producers should not permit their salesmen and hnanagers to encourage and promote theatres in any town. Over-Productlon There are being produced today more features than can possibly: be used by the theatres. The producers, rnanufacture these pictures that will not draw and are expensive to the operation of our theatres, regardle.ss pf the admission asked. The pro- ducers also bargain . with the pro- ducers of foreign product and iforCe it on the exhibitors. If the producers are required to pay certain parties for the permission of operating their product in their country, it is hot the place of the United States ex- hibitor to foot the bill by payinf for a picture that is 99 times ou'. of 100 bad. This takes up our play'" ing time and ii very unhealthy loi the boxoffice. . With all of the companic.s askini for and dcmaricling cxtentlcd playini time with picfcrrcrt dates and addi tional percentage Icriti.s on all pio tiircs, there i;> very little jjossibilitj for an exhibitor l— 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' '(3d wk); . Strand — 'Racket Busters' (WB)(2dwk), Week of Anf . 25 Astor ■ — 'Marie Antoinette' (MG) (2d wk). . Capitol —' 'Rich Man, Poor Girl' (MCJ). Criterion '— 'Bulldog Drum- ' morid in Africa* (Par) (26). Mnsic Hall — ^ou Can*t Take It With You* (Col). , Paramoant — 'Sing, You Sin- ners* (Par) (2d wk). Bialto . — 'Woman - Against Woman* (MG) (23). (Reviewed in VAUErv, June 22) Blvoir — 'Little Tough Guy' (U) (2d wk). Boxy — 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' (20th) (4th wk). ' Strand — 'Boy Meets Girl' (WB) (26). VaiideeArihy^r HighMGinKX; kanisas City. Aug. 16. 'Army Girl*, plus vaude take the lead this week, mainly . because of name attractions on the stage. In the 'other hoiises it*s only mediocre bills, and biz is responding accord- ingly. * , Uptown has a first-run , in Jane Withers' new .opus, 'Keeo Smiling,* although only for a six-day run. House usually plays a follow-up week on feature shown week previ- ous at Tower. Some outside competition from the Tom Mix circus in a two-day stand here over the weekend. Tent show, sponsored by Democratic club, got about 20,000 trtal attendance. EsUmates for This Week Midland (Loew's) (3,573; 10-25-40) —'Tough Guy' (U) and 'Chaser' (M-G) doubled. Headed toward $8,500, over average, but not in keep- ing with past 'ew weeks here. Last week, 'Crowd Roars' (M-G) and 'Diamond ..Row* (UA), $14,000, topped expectations and closest approach to high figure set by 'Test Pilot' Newman (Par) (1.900; 10-25-40)— 'Booloo' vPar) and 'Men Such Fools' (WB), dual. , Team I'reaks streak of single features here for. past six weeks. Some' well-directed exploita- tion helping and looks to get $7,300. good. Last week. 'Professor Beware' (Par), $7,000, okay. _,Towet-.(Fox.)-(2,20d;.-10-26-35-55)— -Army Girl^CReb) and vaude headed by Mildred Bailey anc? Red Norvo. Stage folk reaison' for heavy draw, but film well received; $14,000, very good. I,ast week. 'Sky Giants' (RKO) and vaude, $8,300, fair. Uptown (Fox) (1.200; 10-25-40)— 'Keep Smiling' (20th). Opened Sat- lirday (13) and film will get six-day play. Withers hasn't been here in some time and drawing juves. Short run may hit $3,:00'. okay. Last week, 'Miss Broadwa'* (20th), eight days, makinf, sixteen days conti.iuous play between this house and Tower, light $3,000. Frances Mercer Belents Hollywoodj Aug. 16. France."! Mercer returned to the •Anhabelie' cast at RKO after balk- ing on the assignment Studio was considering suspension when the actress did an about-face New Pix N.G., but Frisco H.O,s OK; 'Gateway Faff 9G, Joe E $7, Seas' (M-G), hbth after a week at theOrpheum. Big $4,500. Will hold. Last week, 'Carey's Chickens (RKO) and 'Sky Giant' (RKO), both after a week at the Broadway, fair $2,000. Denham (Cockrill) (1,750; 25-35-40) 'Professor Beware' (Par). Fine $7,500 in nine days. Last week, 'Boo- loo' (Par), fair $5,200. ■ Denver (Fox) (2,525; 25-35-50)— 'Algiers' (UA). Fair $7,500, but move to Aladdin, regardless. Last week, 'Give Million* (20th) and Major Bowes' unit nice $11,500. Orphenm (RKO) (2,600; 23-35-40): —'I'm from City' (RKO) and Ted Lewis' band on stage. Very big $13,- 000. Last week,^Andy Hardy* (M-G) and 'Seven Seas,' (M-G), very nice at $11 500 - '' ParaiBOiiBt (Fox) (2,200; 25-40)— Tough Guy' (U) and 'Morgue' (U). Big $5,000, and moving to Rlalto. Last -week, 'Llihberlost': (Mono) and 'Miss Thoroughbred* (WB) above av- erage at $4,500. Bialto (Fox) (878; 25-40)— 'Miss Broadway' (20th), after a week at each the Denver and, Aladdin, and 'Main Event' (Col); Good $2,000 in sight Last week, 'Cowboy* (WB), after a week at each the Denver and Aladdin, and *Going Be Rich* (20th). good $2,000, 'ALEX' TERRinC PHILLY LEWIS' ORCH BPS 'QTY' TO BIG \% IN DENVER Denver. Aijg. 16. 'I'm from the City* is being given, a big boost by the Ted Lewis orch, hence leading town. 'Andy Hardy* and 'Port of Seven Seas* are big at the Broadway and staying second week at this spot, making it three weeks altogether downtown. Estimate for This Week Aladdin (Fox) (1,400; 25-40)— •Gateway* (20th). N.s.g. $2,000. Last week, 'Miss Broadway* (20th), after a week at the Denver, was only fair at $3,000, but was moved to the Rial- to. regardless. . Broadway (Fox) (1,100; 25-40)— .'Andy Hardy* (M-G ) and 'Seven Det. Looks to Auto Tome, but B. 0,s 'OK $24000 . Detroit, Aug. 16. General tone of biz continues to improve, bitt nothing to write home about as yet,: Auto plants calling workers back in droves, preparatory to work on 1939 models, but it'll take^ sOrhe time before this is felt. Fox, with 'Gateway' and Happy Felton,: minus his band, on stage, fig- ures to come out nicely with, return of Tony Martin for four days, this week. Latter led house to wow take last week, but couldn't get out of three one-nighlevs, so he tcjbined stage show as single yesterday (Mon.),for remainder of week. EsUmates for This Week Adams (Balaban) (1.700; '30-40)— 'Letter' (U) (2d nln) plus 'Pas.sport "Hu.sband' (20thX dual. Former opus moved here from Fox: paced for $3.- 700, nice. Last week, 'Miss Broad- way' (20th) (2d run) .and 'Highway Patrol' (Col ). fair S3.500. Fox (Indie) (5.000: 30-40-65) Felton, minus his band, topping vaude with aid of Tony Martin for last four days. Being hypoed to nice $24,000 by return of Tony Martin yesterday (15) . for remainder of week. Warbler, and his band led 'Letter of Introduction' (U) to wOw $34,500 last week, best house has seen since last spring, . but couldn't stick for full second stanza because of three . onernighters . previously skedded. . Michigan (United Detroit) (4,000; 30-40-65)— 'Andy Hardy' (M-G) plus ■Cowboy of Brooklyn' 000. Warfleld (F-WC) (2,f.80: 35-55-75) —'Gateway* (20th) and 'Blockheads' (M-G). Lack of new product on the street will help take reach . $9,000.- fair. Last week, 'Miss . BrQadvay" (20th) and 'Men Such Fools' (WB), $11,200, okay but below average for. Shirley Temple picture: (hitdoor Comiietish No Crimp for Indpls. 6. 0.; 'Gateway'-Vande 10^ Indianapolis, Aug. 16- Despite extra hot weather and plenty of outdoor competition, in- cluding a weekend aviation circus, the downtown flrst-runs are main- taining the gains inade during the past couple of weeks. 'Gateway' .and Ted Fio-Rito's orch at the vaudfllm Lyric doing sturdy business, while 'Crowd Roars' and 'Extortion' at Loew's are also setting a fast pace at the iurnstiles. 'Letter of Introduction' and -Dev il's Party are garnering nice coin at the Only laggard ; is 'Mother Carey's Chickens'^ at the smaller Apollo, though it is making a better showing than recent pics at this spot. EsUmates for This Week- Apollo (Katz-Doile) (l.)OO: M-SO' 40) — 'Carey's Chickens' (RKO). Lukewarm at $3,000. Last ^wMt 'Tough Guy' (U.) . and 'Ladies, Distress' (Rep), $2,300, dull. „^ ^ Circle (Kate-DoUe) (2.800; 25-3»; 40:)^'Letter< (U) and 'Devil's Panj (U). On the profit side at S6.5W. Last week, 'Texans' (Par) and BuU' dog Drumniond' (Par), okay $5.™y- Loew's (Loew's) (2.400; 25-30-40) —'Crowd . ROars* (M-G) and . Ex- tortion* (Col). Former given strong build-up and results are very gow at $8,500. Last week, Algiers (V5;{ and ^City Streets* (Col), lighlweigni 55.200. „„ Lyric (Olson) (2,000: 25-30-40) •Gateway' (20th) and Ted Fio-BiW' band on stages Latter given edge billing.- but Die is helping: "rako.^J^l touch. $10,500. plenty heaIth^^ ,W5J week, 'My Bill' (WB) and r"" Harris and orch whammed to alltime house record due to 'yVjl Final figure, $16.400. . beat Ef oy . .Duchih's mark by $700 W^anesJ gyt August 17, 1938 nCXURE GROJiSES VARIETY 'Ala WhammoeOinC^^ Texans' Rides to High $13,000, Taylor Hefty 166, Hardy' StiU OK Chicago, Aug. I8i ' Balaban & Katz flagship. Chicago, . ^11 the magnet for coin in this currently -with 'Alexander's ttVft ' Band.' Picture looks set to SSSr years in the house. ^ '^c Is-grlndln? oUt on a^basis of ireS1h5ws daTly.^ with the stage SJtonhance sliced to mln mum run- SS? toe. Got ^ a great weather SiSfk over the week end, besides fugging. -Alex; is set in S for two weekff, and there is a Sllltjr that the. picture _wm es- Si a new mark by holding oyer ,o?Tthird week, which will Se the S«t time any picture Jias played a ttSi onions in the Chicago. Another top pic Is 'Letter of Intro- duction.* which had. a bang-up stay in the Palace last week, and is hold- Ss currently to fine blz.-^.Excellent ia& around town on the flicker, and build-up is steady^ Opening Saturday (13) were ■Crowd Boars,' United Artists, and Texans,' Roosevelt. Both got away at a good pace, with the former indi- cating a top gross, 'Andy Hardy' moved Into the Apollo following a wallopliig fortnight in the United Artfats. . . Estimates for This Week AmUo (B&K) 0,200; 35-55-65-75) w'Andy Hardy' (M-G). In here fol- lowing strong two weeks.at UA and heading for good $5,000. Last week, ■aitteirnoiise' (WB), finished . second week In loop to neat $5,300. Chlcaro (B&K) (4,000; 35-55-75)— ^Alexander' (20th) and stage show. Zooming, gross up to mighty $55,000. Grinding 'em on a seven-shbws-dally sdiedule, In for. two weeks and may stay three. Last week, Rltz Bros, on the stage and 'Gateway' (20th:), sen- saUonal $53,300. Garriok (B&K) (900: 35-55-65-75)— ■Racket Busters' . (WB ) . I.(2d:_ Jidc) ■Tuniliig-in good" S4.500 currently fol- lowing excellent $6,300 last week. . rUaee (RKO). (2,500; 35-55-65-75) —letter' . (U) and vaude (2d wk). Coming through again to hi^ly sat- isfying $16,000 currently, after doing nifty $21,600 last week. RMsevelt (B&K) (1,500; 35-55-65- RjT-Texans' (Par). Opened Satur- day (13) and big-tlnie' western is garnering shekels, boosting gross' to healthy $13,000. Last week. 'Broad- way' (20th). Anished second session to mild $6,800. ■ " Stote-Lake (Jones) (2,700; 25-35- »^)-'Delinquent Parente' (Judell) and vaude.' Adults only, although this u rated as a family house. Doing good trade at around $12,000. Last *Mt^ 'Blind Alibi' (RKO), meek ArUsts (B&K-UA) (1,700; M-55.W.-75) — 'Crowd Roars' (M-G ). pP'^'d.Saturday (13) and getting swer $16,000. Last week, 'Andy S^oCd '^^on^"^ ^'^^'''" g "Hardy,' $10,000, Very Big In Seattle ; 'Gateway' N.s.g; •Ann. u . Seattle, Aug. 16. ownT^M IS coming into his J^^l'c*''"''^^ '°PPi"e 'Crowd Sfx l*! week with 'Crowd' rr^Bi?.^'"f J^O"se for extended Sbirtv 'If*?. "J Baby' finally out at B,«^K M**/ f""'' olte weeks, that again, and means plenty theatre opposition. Estioutes for This Week m* ' dual: Expect ^yi-ar^- .n^?!t week. /Comrades- 'Mmi in?" in^ast . week, 'ComraA _ RMO, ISlSl ^"^"'way' (20th). dual, ?8r''%air'*l^}"!f? <'""'; 10-21)- W ...""^> ..and 'Genci-al 'Lone 'Devil Key City Grosses Estimated Total icrou This Week. . ; .... .$1^73,sn (Based on 23 ctftea, 145 theo- *jes^cWe/Iy /irst runi.includinff Total Gross Same Week Last Tear. . . . ...... .»1,552>W (Based on 23 cities, 155 theotres) mount Anticipated only $2,100, poor m six days. Last week, 'Miss Broad- way' (20th) and 'Sky Giant' (RKO). dual, eight days, $2,S0O. fair. ■ ^ \ Orpheom (Hamrick - Everereen) (2,600; 32-37-42) - 'Gateway' (20th and Jim from City (RKO), dual. Only poor $3,800 In sight. Last week, second, 'Clltterhouse^ (FN) and Young Fugitives' (U), dual, $4,100, good, Palomar (Sterling) (1,350; lOi-27- 37)— 'Penrod' (WB) and 'Chase Yourself (RKO), dual, and vaude. Good enough at $4,200. Last week. 'Distress' (Rep) arid 'Nurse Brook- lyn' (U), and vaude, $4,000, good. Paramount (Hamrlck-Evergreen) (3,049; 32-37-42)— 'Carey's Chickens' (RKO) and 'Bulldog Drummond' (Par), dual. Very poor $3,100. I^st week, 'Texans' (Par) and 'Chaser' (M-G), dual, good $6,000 in eight days. Roosevelt (Sterling) (800; 21-32)— 'Robin Hood' (FN). Expect $2,800, good. Last week, Cocoahut Grove' (Par) and 'Over the Wall' (WB), dual, $1,900, mild. . H.O^, High Temp. Nick MoDt'l; Temple Fair 5G _ ■ Montreal, Aug. "iG. Four holdovers, leaving only two flrst-ruo houses with new bills, is about the low ebb of thei summer locally. Palace and Capitol will cop all the cream, which at best won't bfe so good. Heat still hitting biz. : Estimates for This Week , ^Patace (CT) (2,700; 50)— 'Always Goodbye* (20th). This looks like $5,500, fair enough. Last week, 'Lady X' (Brit), so-iso $4,000. ^ Capitol . (CT) (2,700; -50)-^Miss Broadway' (20th) and 'Trip to Paris' (20th). Fair $5,000. Last , week,. 'Clitterhouse' (WB) and 'Chump' (WB), nice $5,500. - Princess (CT) (2,300; 50)— 'Andy Hardy' (M-G) and 'Mr. Moto' (20th) (2d week). Will do well ienough at $4,000, after last week's good $5,000, Orpheum (Ind) (1,100; 50) — •Algiers' (UA) (2d weelk). Very nice $4,000 last week will run into $3,000 currently, good. Cinema de Paris (France-Film) (600; 50)— 'Legions d'Honneur' (3d week).. Will be satisfied with $1,000 after fair $1,200 last week. St. Denis (France-Film) (2.300: 34) — 'J'Accus^' and 'Les (^bnquetes de Cesar' (2d week). So-so $2,500 afteir fair: $3,000 last week. 'AlexS6cko$75;0002d^M B'w!^ &osses Good; 'Sailor'-Web^^ OrcIi;Nifty$4l)m Ung' ((5^" J ".""^^ and 'Gei 'mS%' (wn\'^^«P5-> '.Devil ♦^lOd 'gJrt r- Anticipated ArtrSs- f?•M^^"i '*veek, 'Loved an ^Wlit with''"!^ 'Pr.^Bpggs' (GN). • Fepi flrti"'.rJ'??^ Ranuer' (Rep) »l-800.oice ^^ ^-Men' ^C.°l), dual, S^tO a ,„'?*'nrick - Ever- Rardy! Yil^S:, 32-37-42) - 'Andy '"•O), duSf'^/ «.nd 'Rich Man' S« ereatsiri nnn "^r'"''''' and hendinff (M n?""- ^^^^ week. 'Cr;.wd $3,400. . is": 32:37.4,1 '^^am^ick-Evcl•.,■!^een) ^""W (M?rrTf'"»"s' (Par) and ^•w-G). Moved from Para- New Pitt Highs PitUburgh, Aug. 18, There's nothing in town but the heat and 'Alexander's . Ragtime Band,: With both of , them heading for new Tilghs. Oft to a sizzling start far ahead, of anjrthing the Al- vln has ever screened, 'Alexander' Is headed for record $20,000. This would be big money for the 4,0()0- seat Stanley or Loew's. big Pehn. Everything else in town flat oh Its back. The 'Texans* at Penn is in for a dismal session, Combo Stan- ley was hard hit by the last-mln-. ute illness of Jan Savltt, band maestro, who was rushed to the Columbia hospital in Wilkinsburg night before opening (Thurs.) with a streptococcus infection of- the throat. House Is In the doldrums. The Three Stooges, usdally dyna- mite In this spot, have been unable to make much headway .against the crippled stage bill and weather. 'Sky Giant' 'and 'Little Miss Thoroughbred,' twlnner at Warner, making a comparatively fair show- ing, but Fulton is way off. with 'Wives. Under Suspicion' and 'Devil's Party.' - Estimates for This Week AIvIb (Harris) (1,800; 25-35-50)— 'Alexander' (20th). Substantial cam- pnign bringing maximum results in spite- of heat. Heading for at least $20,000. a new record for house. tvk'eek, 'Tough Guy' (U), $7.dO0. air Fulton (Shea-Hyde) (1,750: 25-40) Wives Under Suspicion' (U). and 'Devil's Party' (U) (2d wk.).- In. the doghouse at $3,000. Last week. 'Be Rich' (20th) and 'Army Girl' (Rep). $3,200. poor. . iPenn (Loew's-UA) (3,200; 25-35- 50)^'/rexans' (Par). Severe pan- ning from critics and heat proving too much for this. Heading for sad SDiOOO. if that. Last week. 'Crowd Roars' (M-G). excellent $15;000. Stanley (WB) (3,600; 25-40-60)^ 'Blockade' (UA). Three Stooges and Jan Savitt band on stage. Three members of band' injured- in auto accident, and maestro Jan Savitt in hospital with throat Infection, hurt- ing what mlKht otherwise have been passable week; Picture and show well liked bv critics, but poor $15.- 000 at best. Last week, .'Professor Beware'- iPar) and Ozzie Nel.son oi-cli and Harriet iHilliard on- stage. di.sappointin« at S17,00D. Warner (WB) (2.000: 25-40)— 'Sky Giant' (RKO) and 'Miss Thorouuh- brod' (WB). -Holding to fair aver- age nn streogth' of air ballyhoo, co- ihcidinc Douslas Corrigan exploits and exnliiitatinn on new moppet. J.-inet Chapmari; $4;000, fair. Last weak, 'Andy Haidv' (M-G), on move over from Pcnn, $7:000, great, 'Alex,' Taylor,|39,^ B^HubtXcks ■ . Boston, Aug. •Alexander's Ragtime Band' is toot' ing the hit b.o. tune this week, but 'Crowd Roars' Is running It a close second. .'Racket Busters.' on a dual bill. is. also hot. and 'Letter of Ih- troductlon' won a holdover. ' With other lines of biz. bemoaning the depressed trading- due -to vaca- tions; -the ' fiTih- starrd j '"STrc ■"lallyihg the biggest figures In months; . Estimates for This Week Fenway (M&P) (1,332: 25-35-40-, 55) — 'Racket Busters' (WB) and 'ChumpV (WB), dual. Getting impor- tont coin, around $8,000. Last week, 'Professor Beware' (Par) and 'Bull- dog Drummond' (Par), double, .sagged to $4,500; Keith Memorial (RKO) (2,907: 25- 35t40-55) — 'Letter' (U) (2d week) and 'Crime Ring' (RKO), dual. 'Let- ter' held over with new co-feature, will hit around $11,500. okay. Last week, with 'Golne to Be Rich' (.20th), pic got dandy $18,000. . Metropolitan (M&P) (4,267: 25-35 40-55)— 'Alexander* (20th) and 'Keep ■Smiling' (20th), dual. Flirting with smash $32,000. Co-feature crimped rapid turnover- during weekend peaks, preventing, bigger takes. Opening days' $5,500 represents half the gross of Some recent sad weeks. Last week, 'Texans' (Par) and 'Pen- rod' (WB). double, seedy SU,500. Orpheum (Lbew) (2.900: 25-35r40- 55)— 'Crowd Roars' (M-G) and 'City Streets' (Col), dual. Socko $22,000. Would have done more without co- feature. Last week, holdover of 'Andy Hardy'. (M-G) and 'Storm In Teacup' (UA), dual, okay $13,000. Paramount (M&P) (1,797):; 25-35- 40-55 )-^'Racket Busters' (WB) and 'Chump' (WB). dual. Big $11,000 indicated. Last week. 'Professor Be-f ware' (Par) and 'Bulldog Drum- mond' (Par), double, nooi- $6,500. ■ Seollay (M&P) (2,538: 25-35-40-50) — Miss Broadway' (20th) and 'Give Million' (20th), dual. Fair $6,000. Last week. 'Cowboy' (WB) and 'My BiU" (WB). double. $5-400. s.o-s6. State (Loew) (3.600: 25-35-40-55)— 'Crowd Roars' (M-G) and 'City Streets' (Col), dual. Very big $17,- 500. or better. Last week, holdover of 'Andy Hardy' (M-G) and 'Storm in Teacup' (UA), dual, $9,000, okay. Broadway Grosses Estimated Total Gross This Week . . , .$277,S0t (Based on 11 theatres) Total Gross Same Week Xsst Year. . . . ....... .$321;300 (Based on 14 theatres) 'Alexander's Ragtime Band,' in its second week at the Roxy and con- tinuing iat a smash pace^ isn't drip- ping the town dry, however. Several houses are. meeting the competition surprisingly well, other factors also being considered, including the new heiat wave, a generally poor week- end, vacations, etc. Two theatres, boaSting the most surprising resulte are the Paramount' and State; Former went to a big $40,000 on ■ the . week ending ' la.st night (Tues.) with "Give Me a Sailor' arid the : Chick Webb band, while the State looks to nu'dse $22,000. or surpass that with 'Shop- worn Angel' and. the N. T. Granlund revue. This wiU be the beist business for the State since late spring. Prob- ably hardest hit by the Roxy but do- ing satisfactorily is. the Music Hall where 'Four's a Crowd' is expected to finish at. $75,000. - The Strand Is another house that isn't killed off by the strength of 'Band.' Although Arthur Mayer took sonie of the .edge off 'Racket Bust- ers,' current at the Strand, by play- ing 'Smashing the Rackets' ahead of it, 'Racket Busters' cnine close to $20,000 on the first seven .days endV Ing last night (Tues.) and is being held over. Mayer's little Rialto kept 'Smashing Rackets' for eight days and topped ?10,000 with It, best here; in some. time. ■'-Capitol,; -(Triterion, Rlvolr- - and GlfSbe- arc; sl-the; bottorh of "the heap, the combination of competition from the Roxy, Par, Music Hall, State and Strand being too mucli this week. !Alexan(ier' soaieel,. to $87,500 last week, its first, upsetting earliest calculations on a pace which was uncommonly stout, bringing, business on the sixth day that was close to that of the opening day. The terrific galt'continues to be maintained, with chances fair for $75,000 or b"etter on the holdover (2d) week. House played to over 192,000 people on the first week, while on Saturday (13), Its ninth day, the attendance was 31,790, again beating the best day 'Cockeyed ■World' had, ' Its opening . day, also a Saturday. 'Alex' Is one of the rare exceptions to the rule where such a steady near-to-capacity pace Is main tained, . . However, the Paramount on Mon day (15) also sprung a surprise by nearly equalling Its opening day's take of last Wednesday (10). Par ran a large ad Saturday (13) instead of usual directory space and more than doubled . business that day, while Monday night (15) house put on a jarh, session that Increased the play. It could easily have held over its show but prior arrangements had been made and/a last-minute' switch was not considered desirable. As result. Par today (Wed.) opdns 'Sing You Sinhers,' with Phil Spitalny and ZaSu Pitts in person. Criterion was given a full-page ad on 'Army Girl' in the N, Y. World- Telegram Saturday (13). donated by Republic, but it did no noticeable good, picture looking no better than $6,500 tops. Riv todays opens 'Little Tough (juy,' while Cap tomorrow (Thurs.) brings In 'Rich Man. Poor Girl.' Cap finishes tonight on second week with 'Crowd Roars' at about $13,000, rrilld but okay as house is now operated. Globe looks about Cleve. Factones Reopen, B.O^ Perk; 'Alex' Great Tough Guy' Fair 9^G Cleveland, Aug. 16, After, a month of blues, during which grosses were 25% below normal due to terrific heat, and closed factories, leopenings of latter are slowly pushing biz up to more satisfactory levels. 'Alexanders Ra«lime Band' Is. seven l;ipi ahoiid of every other attraction. EstlmsUcs for This Week Allen iIJKO) (3.000: :)0-35-.')5 )— ,'Letter.' (U). M'oveover from Hipp getting g'Jod S5.000. La.Sl week, 'CliltoVhou.se' (WB)', ncal $4..i00. '■' Circle iMiii-moislcin) (1.000; ISr.^'i) — 'Bonr (WB) and -PcnrorC (WB). doubled. House rtlurn.-i with dualed first-runs. Look.s like average $2,300. Last week, 'Passport Husband' t20th) and 'Mr. Moto' (20th), fair $2,100. Hipp (Warners) (3.700; 1.5-40-55)— 'Alexander' (20th); Capacity .houses, great $14,000.- Last week. 'Letter' (U),- wilted by heat to $9,000. Palace fRKO J (.3.200: 30-35-40-55) —'Tough Guy' (WB). Too much op- position, fair $9,500. h:\^\. week, 'Gateway' (20th), $7,700. poor. . '. State (Ldcjw'sj (3.4.50: ,30-40-,55)— 'Algiers'- (UA). Heavil.y touted and well liked for fine S11..500. Last week. 'Crowd Roar.s' (M-G), ; was parade leader. $ir)..500. Stillnian (Loew's). .(1,972; .'50-10-l")5) I — 'Crowd Roars' (M-G). Froin St;il<> ; after strong (irst week, h(;iKlcd for ; swell , .$8,500- . hcl-c. La.st week. I 'Woinn'ii — Airaimit^ Woman' (M-Ci). ' I satisfactory $(j,0OO. , $5,000 with 'Modern Times,' Chapli ,reissue, 'a little better than of late. Last night (Tues. V Metro reopei.ied the Astor on -a. twice-daily run at $2 top with 'Marie Antriinel'ie.' . Estimates for This Week Astor (1.012; .55-$1.10-$1.65-S2'.2O)- 'Marie Antoinette' (M-G). Openc* here last night (Tues.). on S2 rond- " .show engagement. House dark sinci spring. Capitol (4,500; .25-35-55-85-S1.25) 'Crowd. Roads" (M-G) '(2d-final week). Went to close to $30,000 last' week (1st) and ori. holdovcir will be aboat $13,000. considerable of a di'oo, . but good profit ' on the two weeks* ' run., 'Rich Man. Poor Girl' (M-G) opens tomorrow (Thurs:); Criterion (1.062: 25-40-.55)— 'Army Girl' (Rep). No better than $C.500, if that: just fair. Last week, second for 'Booloo' (Par), short of $4,000, poor. Globe fl.274: 25-40-55).— 'Modern Times' (UA) Xi-ciSKue). Chaplincr not arousing miich excitement, but a liltlc' over recent, averages, about $5,000. , In ahead. 'Keen Smiling' f20th) couldn't gel to $2,000 on four davs-ra dud. ; •. Piilace (.1.700; 25-35-ri5)— 'I'll Giye Million' - (20th ) and 'Ciowboy from Brooklyn' (WB), both 2d run, dunlcd. Indications point to no more th?n ^ $8,000, riot so good. Last wisek'sah-e •was grossed: bv 'Having Wonderful Time' (RKO) (2d run) and 'Pas.snort Hu.sband* (20th) (1st run), douhledi Pari>mount (3,664: 25-35-55-85r99 )— 'Sing You Sinners' (Par) and,' in nit, Phil Spitalny orchestr.i. plus ZrSu Pitts, opens this innrriing. (Wed.). 'Give Me a Sailor' (Par) and Chick Webb orchestra, latter heavy morn- ing and matinee dra-wing card. : sur- prised by going to fancy' $40,000 on week ending l.i.st night (Tues.).: In ahead, 'Texas' (Par). arid (lenn KruOa on second week got . $28,000, nica profit. naaibVCltv. Musk . JlaJQ' IC^iiiQi: idZ. 60-84--99r-$t.C5)— "Four's' a"' Growtf (WB) and stage, .show, (jonsidering the.corripetition nearby at the Roxy and elsewhere., doing nertectlv sati.s- factory : .nt S75.000. 'Mother Carey's Chickens' (RKO) pulled only $67,000. la.s't week but enou-'h for house to show some profit. 'Four Dau'Thters' (WB) opens tomori:nw (Thurs.), Rialto (750: 25-40-35U :'j;;::-k .t-ands' (Record). Opened here yesterday: morning (Tues.) and started a bit better than . average. In ahead, ^Smashing Rackets' (RKO) got slightly, over $10,000 on eight days, excellent. Rivoli (2.092: 25-55-75-85-90)— 'Lit- tle.Tough Guy' (U), Opens here this morning (Wed.). . House had two toutfh weeks with 'Gateway' (20th), under $10,000 on the first week, while the second dipned to under $3.000. ' Roxy (5,830; 25-40-55-75)— 'Alexan- der' (20th) and stage .show (2d week). Maintaining a terrific pace, may. top $75,000 this week ,(2d), and holds over. The initial seven days packed 'em in all the distance, v/ith last days nearly matching open- ing, for result that went over exneC- lations of everyone. $07,500, highest under policy of six years Strand (2.707; 25-55-75) — 'Racket Bu.stcrs' (WB) (2d week). Enters second stanza today (Wed.) after coming near to , $20,000 on the first seven days, good. In ahead, 'Dr. Clitterhouse' (WB) on .its third week got $15,000, nice prdfit. House starts Its' bandshow policy with Ben Bernic next Friday (20). Slate (3,4.50: 35-55-75)— 'Shopworn Angel' (M-G) (2d run) and N. T. G. revue, plus Slate Bros. Business away liP this week, looking a prob- able $22,000, good. 'Holiday' (Col) and a vaude bill la.st week got only around $14,000, very di.sappoinling. TOUGf GUY' ON DUAL SOCK $9,50a IN PROV. Providclice. Aug. 10. Smash reception for 'The Crt'iv/d Roars' at Loew's merited holdover for Second week. Majestic is heading for another gala week with. 'Little Tou(!h Guy,' and .Strand, too. is nerking up with 'Profe.s.sor Beware' after long sojourn In- the cellar. Carlton i.s reopening with, holdover, mcs from Loew's :und Majestic Aug. • Esllmales for' This Wcnk Slate (LOow), (3'>rif); ZS^.'i.l-.'jd ■ . Crowd Roar.s'' (M-G) ;iMd •Jiiv:>; li''> Enemv' (Rod) i2f| 'wf-i-k ). A'ui' I .'^10,000 is t',i).s r .r liolflnvcr, ."•:-!!. T.,!isl week. .s.-l;no ijir. kJi'ji-':- ;it $i.5.ooo; Male.vlir ([■'••vi ('_> 'Mlfi: :i:'.:!.-- "I'li .- 'Tou"h Girv' 'i;.. .-rr-i tv.,-) II.. . band' (•.>(li,lii. i-!!-- • v.i';fi I • t week, 'fl'li,iTli,- .'.Vfl. ■—'\ -V.i-r.- Siich ¥!<•■'.< iV/f!). ";-.•! S^Don. , Slrantl iIm'!,,-i i-i.-Vr): .!.', .:;."i--">() i - ■I>i-«f/.-'^-i'i )if,-';,. •• 'I',!-. r-Kl P- K' - i-r W I l':i.f 1 I.'nl; -r,;;. ■'• i.'l -ll',' liV llic ho','-^i-!.: ■)'■.'• V- iH ..--rifiti. I -! t •Ai-,.;;, -■I''-i.;i>n '".nil"' .'i'lir) anil 'fJnrj|>io' (I'-ir I. ..;;.)■., :^.").0(J0. 10 VARIETY Wednesday, August 17, 1938 three yeaurs . . . is a long time- i— a long time to be in jcdl, for instance —a long time to sustain the highest quality of periormoiice in I any line of endeavor SPYROS SKOURAS —in renewing for three years subscriptions to Variety for all theatreis operated by National Theatres Amusement Co., Inc., of which he is president, _ _ — -aqfcnawl<^ job in better ^howmonshi}) which Voriety is doing, i-^uorantees to his company's managers a dependable source of information from all fields of show business, — quickens the channel of producer-distributor advertising to the men who exhibit films, ^ —fortifies the organization with ammunition to combat compe- tition. three years . . is a long time- —to renew subscriptions for ony publication there must be good reasons —and there are: — because Variety does the best job year in, year out, in the trade paper field — because a jshowman, without Variety, is a showman without knowledge of his business. tTcdnesda yr August 17, 1938 PICTURE CROisSES VARIETY 11 cmbloyes ln the rear of the Paramount building, N. V., can always tell' im the Paramount theatre has a hit picture or stageshow without watch- ftf tiie crowds- out front or even inquiring about the figures. They just {"L^utthe windows and keep their eyes on the roofs of the 44th SUeet nd Nora Bayes theatres. If the film isn't a heavy draw there's no sign ot life oh the rooftops, mit when the crowds are swarming in around front there are certain to be a few Wds climbing over the adjoining roofs. Youngsters, whp are Sdleved to come from the neighborhood of 10th avenue, clamber from 'an Ue» oft 44th street, up fire escapes, balconies and ledges, across the roofs, rtJSi across to the Paramount theatre fireescapes and, despite all that l^Sier Bob Weitman can do to prevent it, manage to. sneak in the exits jj^tlme to time. It's a sure b.o. barometer. Paining Hearon, director of the Association of School Film Libraries, nreanlzatlpn which will handle ail types of visual education films for Bdhools and for the industry, is sending but letters to 400 schools, colleges educational systems seeking their membership in the organization. Stace virtually all. of the 400 to whom the notes will be addressed pre- ^ousiy had expressed interest and sympathy with a fllrh library setup, no dlftlculty Is expected In getting most of them as members. . , School Film Libraries, Inc.. which now has offices in the Time-Life bulldliK. N. Y., was made possible through a healthy grant from the Geh- eral Wucatloii Board, a Rockefeller foundation, and the cooperation of jh(Be Interested in fllnas for the classroom. Fulton in Pittsburgh recently announced, it would close for a few weeks mill bou^ ^^"^^^'^'"''"'''te a. Iittle product, but dropped: plan when 20th'i9 'Alwayi Goodbye' developed into a ' h.o, and Johii Goring, 'manager, wa^ toM by Universal he could have 'Letter of Introduction' Aug. ll That was the tiine be had intended to darken. However, at last niinute, U refused to deliver the flicker on that date because the Pittsburgh exchange didn't . {eiigh idea of putting it in. against- 'Alexander's Ragtime Bah^' at the . Alvin only couple of doors away. As result, Fulton won't get It until 27th. House jenulning open now anyyay, filling in with couple of twin bills. ' No admission price rise is in the oiling this fall although exhibitors gen< tially look for considerable upping in box office returns along' with gen- eral revlyal in business nationally. Some see traces of thjs iiptrend in at- ; tendUKie already, and with the. first product on the 1938-39 schedule expect buibtess to show a more marked pickup oVer the next 45 days. While tiiere might be a natural tendency to boost admish scalies in some loMlitittf under such conditions, few operators believe it wise in view of ictual experience last fall. There was no admittance -tilt in the fall months (tf 19S7i before the business repjession- had a chance to really set in. - Uembers of the N^Y. daily press, syndicates and press associations will ^ taken to Blowing Rock, N. C, this weekend as guests of Paramount, for I novel premiere of the company's 'Spawn of the North,' on Ang.- 20. ' Par eipects to have 250 residents of Carolina bapkwoods ' who will swear to (Sidavits that they never have seen . a motion picture and will be viewing their Initial screen production in 'Spawn.' Par staged a similar stunt at Saratoga this past Saturday (13), With 'Sing Ton Sinners' as the bait. " One" oFtHe'largest adsTever lalien "by" one' of the Tmalier 'companies was I full-page spread in the N.Y. World-Telegraiti, Saturday (13) on 'Army GlrV current at the Criterion, N.Y. Republic, producer of the picture, cotlrely paid for it Same ad .was not -spotted. any where else. . Herbert Yates, president of Repub, is a close personal friend of M. H. AylesWorth, publisher of the W.-T. Belaban & Katz worried about the Ritz Bros.' $15,000 stage booking .. twIOta the opening. But when the : three zanies bp^ened big, B&K lost no time advising the trade and daily presis accordingly. For the first time, innouncements went but under Lou Lipstone's. name. Booking head wired tbepren that house was forced into 42 shows oh the week to outstanding audience reaction. Nelson Eddy had an 80-picce Maririe band as accompiahiment when'he Mng 'On Parade' during the filming of a recording room; sequence for Metro's 'Sweethearts.' Instead of. merely going through the motions of recording the song, the actor actually made the record. It will be used u ballyhoo for the picture. Big Hollywood names are scarce at Bing Crosby's Del 'Mar track, .al- though the pari-mutuel handle is about 50% ahead of last year's. Stars, producers and directors who swarmed there last season jare giving it the •hsent treatment. Track officials figure the studio- folks are still .suffer- ing from their financial setbacks at Inglewood. Anna May Wong was an audience ot one at an operation in a Holly- wood hospital. Patient, under ether, did not know he was putting on an act for a film player.: Paramount took stills of the operation, to be used W a plug for 'King of Chinatown,' in which Miss Wong plays the role of a Chinese wonian surgeon^ ^WlUlam C. de Mille Productions. Inc.. inactive for several years, has nled notice of dissolution at the Los Angeles county clerk's office and went o« of existence. Firm was incorporalcd in 1923 with de . Mille holding pracUcally all the shares. Alexander Korda's 'Drums' (UA) which previewed to an invitation •iMllendeat the Hollywood, N. Y.; Monday (15)* was reviewed, from Lon- in Vabieiv in the April 20 issue under its original British title, 'The Drum,* ''aking a hunch from Aimee Semple McPherson, Paramount's p.a.'s are teadying a campaign of pulpit exploitation for 'Men With Wings.'. That WM ttie title of a sermon at Angelus Temple, with the pulpit adorned with •"tolature airplanes. Alexander's , Ragtime Band' (20th) should gross $2,500,000 domestic and another $1,500,000 abroad, according to conservative home-office esti- 5"*«9. 'In Old Chicajgb' looics Uke $2,250,000 domestic gross for that 20th- *ox film. B. Nicks IJncoIn; Tloars^ Healthy ?3,60a , p incoln, Aug. 16. th.'SS** "e spotty right now, •oSie^A'"8 helping is the fact UnSiS^?l'';°-,P"'t"''^s are ploying. tS?*i?.» state league boll club is in «• nudst of a brilliant winning . jJJMrthe^ Softball season is hitting hei. .?S fjretch with a nip and tuck of^. " seems as though the rest some dn^SI!*^ spenders are putting TaSSi„""'eh away with the state fair approaching. JoSdiBln'f heading for 3ttit'v''"tl'e Stuart, but outside b.o.s are quite blah. Most managers now are sitting back and waiting for. state fair trade and. uni- versity opening. I^limatcs for This Week Liberty (Cooper) (1.200; 10-15)— 'Western Trail' (Ches) and 'South Riding' (Col). Not so hot, $800. Last week, !Law Commands' (Cres) and 'Double Danger' (RKO), split with 'Mr. Chunip'^ (WB) and 'Bar 20 Justice' (Par), satisfactory $1,000. Lincoln (Cooper) (1,600; 10-25-35) —'Kidnapped' (20th) and 'Battle Of Broadway' (20th). Mediunfi $2,800. Last week, 'Crime School' (WB) and 'Fools Sctndal' (WB) romped home with very nice $3,300. Stuart (Cooper) (1,900; 10-25-40) —'Crowd Roars' (M-G). This week's money maker. . Should wring out healthy $3,600. Last week. Tropic Holiday' (Par) under $3,000, n.g. Guildihg the Mob Hollywood, Aug; 16 Possibility of. too many spec- tators caused Samuel Gpldwyn to- abandon the idea of filming scenes for. The Lady and the Cowboy' at the Gilmore Sta- dium rbdeo, ..Screen Actors Guild demanded that he hire an extra for every customer shown in the background. Producer is mulling an offer from : the Lewistown Roundup in idaho, beyond the. 300-mile limit from Hollywood and out ' of the zone requiring extras. . $. Has Smash Res, Light Biz; Wy OK 9G. letter Fair $io,(i IN imtiE T.. Louisville, Aug. 16. Its 'Letter of Introduction' at the Rialto, out in front by several lengths, with 'Gateway' at the Strand the only other n3w. iiic to really woo patrons. Rest mpderate; H.b.'s at all other downtown houses Will fetch fair to mlddlinc re^ turns. 'Andy Hardy' at the BroWn surprising everybody by ratine a fourth downtown week. Unusual also for Loew's State to ret.ilh a'pic for a. second, stanza, but .'Crowd Roars' wound up a holsv seven, days to good figures, while 'Di:. Clitter- house^' at the Mary Anderson, aided by word-of-mouth. is getting nice re- turns. EsMnutes far This Week ' Brown (Loew's - ' Fourth . Ave. ) (1.000; 15-30-40)— 'Andy Hardy' (M G) .and 'Fast Company' (M-G) (4th week). Surprising everybody with fine . showing and should wind up fourth downtown -week with sizeable $1,600. Last week, $2,100, better than "most-h'oldbversr~ "^~^ ' — Kentncky (Switow) (900; 15-20 >^ 'Josette' (20th) and 'Holiday' (Col), dual, split with 'Miss Thoroughbred* (WB) and 'Start Cheering' (Col). Trade .at this subsequent-run con- sistent and -varies little from week to week. Currently pacing, ior okay $1,700. Last week. Treasure Island' (M.-G) (reissue) arid ICocoahut -Groue!vXEaci,-.^ual,-AnJce-*lv800.— — - Loew's State (Loew's) (3.100: 15- 30-40)— "Crowd Roars' (M-G) (2d week)'. H.o. looks, to hold up fairly, well, after highly satisfactory first week, Biz at no time was terrific, but everything considered,' the Rob- ert Taylor, opus potent enough. Cur- rently getting fair $4,500. following initial stanza's okay $7,000. - Mary Anderson (Libson) (1.000; 15-30-40) — 'Clilterhouse' (WB). While b.o. . take not amazing, word- of-mouth helping - to build second week's biz. Into okay proportions, probably $3,500, fair enough consid- ering first week's hefty $5i000. Ohio (Settos) (900; 15) — 'Perfect Specimen' (WB) and 'All Baba' (20th). dual, split with 'Wine. Wom- en' (WB) and 'Night Key' (U), twin. Average . $1,200. Last week, 'Sine About' (WB) and 'Emlle Zola* (WB), dual, split with 'Love Air' (WB) and 'Sweetheart Navy' (WB), twin, me- dium $1,100. Rialto (Fourth Ave.) (3,000; 15-30- 40)— 'Letter' (U) and 'Missing Guest' (U), dual. 'Letter'- received raves from cricks and patrons are keeping the wicket humming.' Should hit around $10,000, cicantic. Last week, 'Texahs' (Par) and 'Bulldog Drum- mond' (Par), dual, had potent on- posish from other houses and weather no help. Wound up with weak $4,500. Strand (Fourth Ave.) (3,000:^15- 30-40)— 'Gateway' (20th) and 'Keep Smiling' (20th). dual. B.b. ' punch lacking. Will do well to hit $3,300, fair. Last week, 'Carey's Chickens' (RKO) and 'I'm From City' (RKO), dual; okay $3,600. Krapa-'Company' IIG; mars' OK $9,500 .Baltimore, Aug. 16. . Business holding fairish pace hcire, I with grosses a bit under take 6f re- j cent Weeks, but higher than usiiai I sumrnertime. average. 'Letter of In- troduction,' entering second week, at Keith's tonight (Tues.), is maintalnr irig a steady play. H.o. session of 'Clitterhouse' at; Stanley , is getting bulk of its trade .after dark.'. :Estimales for This Week Cenliiry (Loew's-UA) (3,000; 15-25- 35-40-55 ).-^"Crowd Roars'. (M-G). At- tracting some interest and fair $9,500. Last week, 'Algiers' (UA), faltered to mild $7j800. Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2,205; 15-25-35-40-55-86) — 'Fast Company' (M-G) and Gene Krupa orch. Get- ting pleasing $11,000. Last week, 'Carey's Chickens' (RKO) and Major Bowes' 'Collegiate Revue/ good $13,- 600, Keith's (Schanberger) (2,460; 15- 25-35-40-55)— 'Letter' (U) (2d wk). Rounds out first week at sijpper show tonight .Tues;) to nice $6,100. Hold ihfi good pace. New (Mechanic) (1,558; 15-25-35 55)— 'Keep Smiling' (20th). -Unex- citing at possible $3,000. Last week, 'Gateway' (20th), fell down to bare $2 700 -' ' " 'Stanley (WB) (3,250; 15-25-35-40. 55)— 'Clitterhouse' (WB) (2d wk). Relying on nocturnal, play for nice $5,500 aftier okay opening session to $8,900. •CHICKS' DONT SCRATCH IN Buffalo, Aug. 18. 'Loye Finds Andy Hardy' has de- veloped into the summer's wonder, picture. Held over'fbr a third week at Hipp, it is still doing the best compariative iiuslness in town. Takings elsewhere have leveled off again, although hbt bad considering the hbat wave. Estimates for This Week Bncralo (Shea) (3,500; 30-35-50)— •Carey's Chickens' (RKO). Sub- average: for probably just , ovei' $10,000. Last week, 'Crowd Roars' (M-G). neat $12,700. Cehlnry (Shea) (3.000; 25-35) — 'Office Hours' (M-G) (reissue) and 'Chaser' (M-G). Maybe $5,500, good. Last week, 'From City' (RKO) and 'Hunted Men' (Par), okay $5,000. Great Lakes (Shea) (3,000; 30-50) —'Crowd Roars' (M-G) (2d wk). Fair h.o. biz .at $6,000. Last week, 'Texans' (Par), $6,100, n.g. Hipp (Shea). (2,100; 25^0)— 'Andy Hardy' (M-G) (3d wk). Bowling along for $7,500,' fine. Last week, second, swell $9,000. Lafayette (Ind.) (3,300; 25-35) — 'Making Headlines' (Col) and 'City Streets' (Col). Perhaps fair $5,000. Last week, 'Under Suspicion' (U) and 'Lady in Morgue' (U), blah $4,300, Minneapolis, Aug: IC. After brief fillip, provided b.v Rud.r ■Vallee, who shot' tue Orphoum gross up ip nearly $20,000.. for his five-day. engagement last week, b.o.'s have settled back again to lessen le'vel.i Picture line-up is the 'strongest ir weeks, butn o offering will hit flv* figures, and .sum total 6C -takingi will be unimpressive. . Critics and customers are'ravlni about 'Love Finds Andy Hardy' and 'Letter of Introduction,' while 'Crowd Roars' goes into its second week anrt . 'Rage of Paris' into its third. Bui biz still is inadequate and diiiup' pointing; Extreme heat over the week-end was a box-office depressor. EsUmates for ThU Week Aster (Par-Singer) (900; 15-25— 'Going Be . Rich' (20th) and 'Men Such Fools' (WB), dual first-runs, split with IPenrod's' (FN) and 'Gun Law' (RKO), dual first-runs. Mild Sl',000 indicated. Last week. . 'I'm From City' (RKO) and 'Prison Break' (U), dual first-runs, split with 'Blonde Cheat' (RKO) and 'Bar 20 Justice" XPar), $1,500, good. Century (Par-Sin?cr) (llGOO; 25-35- 40)— 'Crowd Roars' (M-G) (2d week). Moved here from Stntc for extended flrsl-rim. Lots ot nice things tossed, its way, but •.•cturns leave plenty to be desire.-.!. Fair $4,500 mdicated. Last .week, 'Cow- boy' (WB), $4,000, mild. Orpheum (Par-Singer) (2.300; 25- 35-40) — 'Letter' (U). Bouquets handed . this one, but only fair $?i,000 will be tops for eight days. . Last week, 'Fast Company' (M-G) and Rudy Vallee on stage, smash $20,000 in five days. Stale (Par-Singer) (2;300; 25-35- 40 )^^ATidy - Hardy' -(MTGr^~~Ha"3~ critics and customers raving and was plugged to fare-the-well. Yet no box-office rush; $9,0OO in prospect, . good, but far less^ than attraction merlta. Last week, 'Crowd Roars* (M-G), good $7,000. . Time (Berger) (290; 15-25)— 'All Quiet' (U) (reissue) 2d week). Has shown . surprising —tox-offlce.. ; life.... 'Loo}r3.1ike 'air.$fiaa atLec..eoud.^0a.x. first week. Uptown (Par) (1,200; 25-35)— 'Tropic Holiday' (Par) split with 'White Banners' (WB), first nab« showings. Good $3,000 in sights Last week, 'Holiday' (Col), split with 'Josette' (20th), $2,600, fair.. Warl4 (Steffes) (290; 25-35-40-55) —'Rage of Paris' (U) (3d week). Two weeks here after big first weeik at Orpheum and still at jirofitable dip. Headed for ' nice $l,'70O. Last week, $1,800, good. Wash. Heat So Bad, TTiey're Hissing Weather Bureau Reel; Taylor Nice 17G Wash.ington, Aug. 16. Hottest spell: of the season, so bad they're booing a newsreel of the weather forecaster, is driving 'em into the sticks this week, but enough are patronizing b,o.'s to keep three of the six main stem spots safely in the black. 'The Crowd Roars' looks to lead the town, with - critics and word of mouth uppirig 'Dr. Clitter- house' to a close second. • Crix also went to town on 'We're Going to Be Rich,' , but Mack of mar- quee names, plus playing only, spot on main drag not air cooled, licked it, and it comCs out today (Tues.). Estimates for This Week Capitol (Loew) (3,424; 25-35-40-66) —'Rich Mart' '(M-G) and vaude. No- name- vaude leaves it up to Robert Young: will get' only fair $15,000. Last . week, '(Gateway' (2pth) and vaude, weak $14,500. Columbia: (Loew ) (1 ,583; 25-40)— 'Ctoing Be Rich' (20th); NO-name draw plus no alr-(:ooling offset crit- ics' raves, and it comes out today (16) after five days at sibkly $1,800. Last week, 'Miss Broadway' (20lh) (2d rurt), oke $3,400. Earle (WB) 2,244; 25-35-40-66)— 'Clitterhouse' (WB) and vaude. Word of mouth on. pic and Schnickclfritz band revue should build to good $16.- 500. Last week, 'Professor Beware' (Par)., dropped sharply, and credit for most of fair $15,000 goes to Frances Langford-Jon Hall p.a. Keith's (RKO) (1,830; 35-55)— 'Letter' (U) •(2d wk). Holdlng.to- ward nice $8,000. Last week, same pic rode in on sock bally to big- $15,000. . . Bet (WB) (1,853; 25-40)— 'Boolob' (Par). This sort of pic usually takes at this.spoti and heading for fair $3,- 800. Last week, 'Happened One Night' (Col), (revival), good $4,700. , Palace (Loew) (2,363; 35-55)— 'Crowd Roars' (M-G). Leading town with probable nice $17,000. Last week, 'Andy Hardy' (M-G) (2d wk), built to big $11,000. Smash $17,500 Cincinnati, Aug. 16. . jfic trade on the upbeat for third consecutive week. Current tug was bolstered in first half by combined annual ..conventions of the national and . state organizations of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, which drew 25,000 visitors. Public feature of the conclaves was a three-hour parade Sunday (14) afternoon that jammed the downtown section and filled chilled theatres at the flni.sh. Champ draw this week is 'Love Finds Andy Hai-dy,' at the Albee. It is registering Cincy's biggest gross for the past three months. Palace is racking ud. an okay figure on 'Algiers.' Other fresh release, 'Rich Man, Poor Girls,' at Keith's, Is on the poor side. Estimates for This Week Albee (RKO) (3,300; 35-42)— 'Andy Ha.rdy' (M-G). Wham $17,500. Last week, 'Crowd Roars' (M-G), big $16,000. Capliol (RKO) (2,000; 35-42)— 'Crowd Roars' (M-G), (2d run). Fair $4,500. Last week, 'Mi.ss Broadway' (20th) (2d run), poor $3.O()0. Family (RKO) (1.000: 15-25)— 'Sudden Bill Dorn' (U), 'Blind Alibi' (RKO). 'Hunted Men' (Par), .sepa- rate. Normal $2,000, .Last weak, 'G-Man' (RKO), 'HeU's Aneels' (Ind) (reissue), 'Crime Ring' (RKO), singly, $2,000. . Grand (RKO) (1.200: 2.5-40)^ 'Cowboy' (WB) (2d ■ run). Poor $2,100. Last week. 'Cl'tlerhou.se' (WB) (3d run), ptior 82.100. Keith's (Libson) d/m):. .15-42)— 'Rich Man' (M-G). rf.i.g. S.l.fiOO. La.st week. 'Keep' Smiling' (20lh), poor $3,000. Lyric (RKO) (1.4n0: ,'!'5-42 )— 'Pror fcs.sor Beware', (P.-ir) (2d run). Poor $3,200, La.-it w<:fk. "Army Girl* (Ren), brocii'> S2,.')00. Palace (RKO) r2;800: 35-42)— •'Algicr.s' (U). Okay $11,500. , La.st week. 'rrofc.s,';or Beware' (Par), fair $10,000i It VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, Aujgust 17, 1938 Film Industry Tieing In All Loose Ends in 'Best Entertainment' Drive; Exhibs Losmg Their Skepticism Approximately 100 circuit chiefs of bdtht affiliated and independent them that everybody would share from . the . certain beneflts. Except chains in Greater New York huddle ring for a few uniroportaht blowoffs tomorrow (Thursday) morning; at 11 o'clock to outline cooperative effort on the Motion Pictures' ,'Greatest Year Campaign, Stress will.be laid on the part to be played lay sub- sequent-run houses in insuring max- imum community action. Session will be in an air-cooled room at the Hotel Astor. After general meeting, indie cir- cuit heads confab under direction of Theatre Promotion committee, will lay. plans for community organiza- tion. Tentative plan is for Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, '. Queens, Long Island, Westchester arid' Richmond; as well as nearby New Jersey ter-: ritpry . tb be apportioned to smaller community ' committee^. Special publicity committee also Is con- templated. These committees will consist of managers,: publicity men, district manaeer.<; and others vitally concerned with theatre operations. Joseph Seider, with Harry Brandt and Irving' Dollinger, as cq-chair- men, heads, Greater New York- com- mittee. Max Cohen is secretary; Leon Rosenblatt, secretary; arid Leo Abrams, chairman of ' distriba' com- mittee.' Committee ^members in- clude Jack Bo wen, Laurence Bolog- -nino, Arthur Rapf,' J.; M. Hlrsh- >lond,' David M.'.Levy, Lee New- berry, : Robert Wolf; Samuel Rinzler, EdwEird Bell, Harry Randell, Ru- dolph. Sanders, David Snapper, Samuel Strausberg and others. Pictures' greatest year committee reported that -the Milwaukee Sentinel, Aug. 2, donated a page on -the .^industry-drive -:while' the N^i- Yv W«riaiTelegrami: Aug. -15r— took- cognizance of campaign editorially. Both were cited, as indications of what can be accomplished through support of the public pres.s, Albany, N. Y-, Aug. 14. Motion Pictures' Greatest Year, Inc., has been chartered by the Secre- tary of State at Albany to conduct a gerieral advertising business. Direc- tors are; Robert S.; Benjamin,, 307 East 44th street; Sidney Freidberg, 235 West .^eth street; S.eym6u.r M •iPeyser, i2526 Davidson avenue. New York,, and Phillips & Nizer, 1501 Broadway, filing attorneys., concerning 'unfair pr.otection de- manded' and received by the Para- mount circuit* and doubts, expressed 'about 'anything good being done, for the independents,' everything was harmonious, arid the meeting went off as peacefully as a Quaker prayer gatheiring. , , Greatest surprise was occasioned by Bennie Berger,: one of the terri- tory's leading ' independent circuit operators. Before the. meetingi in a statement to the trade press, he had declared . he woluldnlt . attend the New : York prelimlna^ conference to which he had been Invited or eyposlti6n tp the indus- try's united advertising canipaign vanished at a meeting called by President W. A. Steffes pf Northwest Allied and -attended, by members of the trade generally. Following ati explanation by Andy Smith, mem- ber of the national committee, of the purpose, aims and details of the campaign, antagonism that had been in evidence just prior tD the con- ference was almost entirely dissi- pated. Northwest Allied members in attendance fell in line enthusi- astically, joining up on the spot. Expected flrcworks failed to ma- terialize. Steffes, who had refused to accept the district chairmanship un- til he. 'knew niore about the cam-: paign,' lost no time in putting his stamp of approval on the drive. Taking the floor after Sipith, StefTcs declared he considered it 'an- honor and privilege' to take the reins, praised' the undertaking in fulsome terms and pledged his wholehearted support and cooperation. Moreover, . Steffes asserted em- phatically 'no theatre owner can af- ford not to participate.' He wound up by whipping the few' doMbting Thomases that still remained, into line. And - the meeting was not ad- journed uritil Steffes had prac- tically everybody present signed up to agreennents to contribute 10c per scat to the canxpaign fund. With the district's sbare. set at between $5,000 and- $6,000, approxirnately $4,000 was pledged. Many of the Independents here had failed to see. how they'd bancfit sufficiently frpm the campargn . tp warrant .any 'cpntributipnsi.V They felt it was another producers"dodge' —a: red herring ' drawn acrcss the trail by their f pes.' The only gain, they, believed, would accrue to the affiliated first-run houses. But what they heard apparently ' Convinced Harry' Bpdkih, pf- Hnited Artists. An- exhib' cpnitnittee tp. driim up interest among operators who have been frigid to the idea was also named; It pledged 10c. a seat to :the campaign includes Luke Gring, Bill Rovner, and Leo Posel. Exhibs who attended the meeting :represented about- 90- houses.. , AU chest. Many other exhibs who have since learned they must pledge lOc a seat, too, to get the contest book- lets have signified their intention of doing so. Mpst .pf them feel that si nce WB and the ieading:'if\dies are .inTHe cpnlesl, IHerr" hpuses" will be at a disadvantage if theiy are npt They Ippk pn the cpntest' like , any pther cash giveaway.. . Phtlly's ^chlsnt Philadelphia, .Aug. 16. The industry's $l,O0d,O0O explpita- tipn campaign get off to . a disappoint- ing start at a mass meeting last wee'k attended by fewer than 15 exhibs. And, as was expected,, it turned into a. battle between warring factions of :United Motion. Picture Theatre Own- ers,- exhib prganizatipn here. .:. Aside from a distinct lack of in- terest,^, which is now picking up, however, cause of tbe small turnout was this spilt in UMPTO. Notices of the . meeting were sent out Pn UMPTO stationery, and it was held in the office building of Lewen Pizor, UMPTO prez. This gave rriany ex- hibs the idea that the drive is being sponsored by UMPTO instead of being an independent action -and they refused to come to the ineeting. Lar^e number of exhibs here have declared they will have nothing tP do with UMPTO or anything it is con- nected with as long as present execs dominate it. Reason for lack of support: of the meeting was brought up by Milton Rosasner, an exhib, on the iloor. Pizor cienied it, which brought about battle No. 1. 'After tlie matter was explained, however, to Ted Schlang- er, Warner chieftain here, who is co-chairman with Pizor of the local drive, it was agreed .that UMPTO stationery will no longer be used in the drive. Rogasncr's explanation followed a talk by Schlangor laying it into the indies for.not coming to the meeting. - Second battle was between Pizor and Mo Wax, exhib and editor of the -liidependent Film Bulletin. Wax agreed with Rogasner and added some thoughts of his own on UMPTO execs. He and Pizor almost came tp blows and had tP be separated by other members. Pizor's attorney threatened Wax with a libel suit a month ago for a statement in Wax's paper. , .When the meeting flrially got down to the actual business, a s'.eering committee for the local dHvc was named. It will consist of Pizor; Ben Amsterdam and Leonard 1Schlesiri.;er, ciiief of WB habci!. Pizor and Am- sterdam are members pf the national :cemmittee top. Exchanges will be' represented on the- steering committee by Sam Gross, of 20th Century-Fox, and Prize Contest Details Details and rules of ;. 'Movie Quiz' contest, which is to be a part of Mo tion Pictures^ Greatest Year cani paign, were announced Monday (15) by the contest' Committee headed by Charles McCarthy and '■ Bob GiHbam All essentials are outlined in a . 32- page illustrated booklet supplied to exhibitors at cost. First prize in quiz contest is $50,00p< and second, $25,000. There also are two . $10,000. prizes,' five of $5,000 each and five of $2,000 each. Included are 5,390 prizes ..ranging from $1,000 to $10 apiece.' Contestants cannot be ?ny persons ' employ ed in. the. motion picture industry, and there are' other restrictions tP . eliminate thPse whd might have undue advantage ' in- the cphtest. Otherwise it is open tP any body in the U. S. and Canada. The 94 pictures in the 'Movie Quiz' contest start with releases from July 29. Denver Gets Bolllngr Denver, Aug. 16. The film industry advertising cam paign will be one of the principal subjects discussed at the convention of the Theatre Owners and. Mana- gers of the Rocky Mountain Region when they meet Aug. 24, at the Cos- mopolitan hotel here, with A. P, Archer, president, in the chair. The advertising campaigri is Ipoked on' with favor by many exhibitors Pf the region and favorable action is ex- pected. \ beparlins from the usual custom there will be no registration fee, and a largo attendance is expected. The second day of th converition Will be dcvPt-sd to the Rocky Mountain Screen Club picnic to be held at Evergreen, Colo., 40 miles froiii. Den- ver. Theatres Inspired the Drive 'Motipn Pictures Are. Ypur Best Entertainment' drive Was inspired by the exhibitor side ef the trade, sbmething which few in the busi- ness realize.- The necessity' fpr a liatlpn-'wlde campaign tp bblster tiie b.p. and to attract additicnal Incpme was cpnceived. by exhibitprs. At a meeting which was called by prpihinent exhibitprs and to which other branches pf the trade had been Invited, Gebrge J. Schaefer, United Artists' distribiitipn chief, was asked to tak^ charge^ That's hPw the thing gpt started. / The wpric had to get under way quickly, as there were only arpund - six weeks tP go before the start of. the new releasing seaspri, Fanfare Previews Mean Little; Philly Exhibs Find Out a Better Way to Dig 'Exploitation Angles 'Screen Test Previews/ New Outfit, By Metro and Par Screen "Test Previews, recently started cprnpany virhiCh wpuld as- sist [ in getting screen tests before principal film company- talent heads, according to .repprted intention, h^s' been warned by both Metro and Paramount npt tp link their cpm-: panics in any. advortisirig for clients. Talent offlcials of the^se: companies told representatives of Screen Teist Previews that they would IPpk at. their screen tests the saine as thPse pf any 'perspn and that anybpdy was free to submit such tests. Biit ttiey would not permit the company names to be tied up iii any way v/ith the training school. When' S. T. Previews tpld. picture pfHcials that: they planned tP sup- plant test departinerits -of big com- panies, one' talent pfflcial infprmed them'^'fHey 'hevei: had' any'lesr de- partment .but usually assembled a fiill crew whenever tests were to be 5 rnade. . Screen Test Previews, according to story told other indusr try officials, Avould only pick out folks who showed talent, without making any guarantees 'but .simply providing a test and ' ultimately building iip a file of tested capable people from which .picture com- panies could draw oh for: talent. Several talent execs ppinted' eut that when pnly five tP 10 make the gra.de in screen productions out of 5,000 tested, and. '.they were not im- pressed with the new enterprise un- less it was stressed that the school only could guarantee 'a worthwhile test. WB'S H.O. SCREENINGS FOR DISTRICT MGRS. •Warner Bros, brought in all. its district managers Monday (15) for screening pf . new '38-39 product, prints of which have arrived in the east, plus a luncheon at headquar- ters. . The company showed the rhen 'Four Daughters,' 'Valley of the Giants' and 'Garden of the Moon.' Home office executives participat- ing in cpnfabs with the district men included Grad Sears, Carl Leserman, Roy Haines, Ben Kalmenson and Mprt Bliimenstock. In addition to pictures screened, leading forlii- cPming '38-3.9 film was discussed' from the sales angle. Okay Ohio Tax Colurhbus, Aug. 9. Ohio House of Representatives has approved the tax extender bill, an- ticipated to produce . $7,200,000 in poor relief frorii excise taxes. This includes the 3% admissions tax, . which was extended Un-bugh 1041. Regina. Sask., Aug. 16. Saskatchewan exhibs solidly be hind the campaign. At a maeting here in Hotel Saskatchewan they formed a committee headed by P. W. i*Iahon,' with W. Novak, secre- tary, to direct activities here. About 40 exhibitors; sales managers of the Winnipeg film houses, and visitors were present. Plans were outlined by J. J. Fitz- gibbpns, g.m. and vice-prcz Famous Players, Canada;' .HaskelV Masters, g.m. United Artists, and Leo M. De- vancy, g.m. RKO-Radio, here from Toronto, at a luncheon meeting. - Spartanburg, S.C- Aug. 16. State tcx on theatre tickets netted $156,310 during past fiscal year, end- ing June 30. Has been bitterly fought' for sev- eral years. Crime Takes a Holiday Hollywood,: Aug.. 16. Martin Mooney. is scripting a scries of Nick Carter yarns for Surety Pro- ductions, slated to hit the cameras at Grand Natipnal abput Sept. 1. Surety pbtaincd rights tp the old detective tales through a tieup with' Street & Smithy, publishers. - Philadelphia, Aug. 16 With the $1,000,000 film drive getting under way tp put new life in the film industry, and cries that ex- ' hibitprs' must do mpre explpitation oh run-of-the-mine films, there has been a move tpward mpre trade screenings by exchanges. Distributprs are finally getting wise tp the big fanfare screenings which usually take place in the mprning in spme big midtown the-" atres. - They have learned that this type. Pf . exhibition means 'nothing towards getting exhibs to see ' ploitatipn angles' or giving the pic dates. Most exhibs don't come be-' cause it is too much trouble; they give the nicely engraved invitations to friends or n^embers of the 'fam- ily. And the rest of the crowd is usually made up of exchange em- ployees and their friends.. So the. whole thing amounts to npthing mpre than a big free show, plus whatever publicity can be gained by getting a few crix out. , , Present move is, away from , this. ;tipe...-.5C,re.eningv .. Trsnd. ,is. :"to .hold- more and more pf them , in projec- tipn rppms pf the exchanges them- selves 'with small, ' informal groups of exhibs present. In this way, with only 10 or 15 men present, exhibs can .concentrate on ' explpitation angles that will suit their particu- lar ■ :situatien.. Furthermore, . they once in a while pick out a sleeper this way and sometimes are led to give a date pr preferred date to a pic that they might skip If they hadn't seen. It is always mpre sat-- isfactpry: tp see the picture than read reviews and thumb through a press bppk. And even the laziest exhib can be ;cpnvinced to come in to a screening if it's right on the film rial to and there's not too. much to-dp abput it. An example the new-style screening was given by RKO Mon- day (15) en . 'Smashing the. Rack- ets.' Telegrams were sent to about 10 meri^ and half a dozen more were collared on the street! Net result, iErom comment afterward, turned out to be advantageous to bolh exhib and exchange. RKO DUMPS LINCOLN, CLEVE.; EASES OTHER 3 Cleveland. Aug. 16. Chain of RKO's houses is being cut down to three theatres A/ilh the dumping of the Lincoln, nabe second- runner, on expiration of its lease. Lincoln with 950 ' seats is passing Sept. 1 to Paul Gusanovic, .vho has signed lO^ycar ' lease. Latter also owns four other, nsbes but no down!- town outlet since closing of his Cameo. Sales leave RKO with the de- luxer Palace, the Allen, which is used for moVebvers and Class B!s, and the suburban Keith's 105th for second runs. NeverthclesSi it eases circuit's problem of product distri- bution which was tough at times when Palace couldn't got. enough gppd A prpduct fpr itself. Guild Dickering With Par on Wage-Hr. Pact Discussipns stlU are pri between the Newspaper Guild and Para- mount newsreel relative to. a wage and hpur contract fpr-editorial work- ers at the Par news home ofdce )» N. Y. Understanding is that the Guild seeking to establish a scale equiva- lent tp what other ncwsrccis cur- rently ure paying editorial workers. FROM RKO RADIO With the Astaire- Rogers-Berlin "Carefree" set for release on Labor Day . . . with "Gunga Dm" and "Room Service", two of the biggest shows to be released by any company this Fall, in the cutting room . . . with other important shows shooting and being moved into pro- duction as this announcement goes to press, rko- radio Lays Its Show News on the Line. We have more box-office stars and more fine properties than ever before. Impressive as our program looks today, it will be augmented by box-office names and properties, and strengthened month by month, as alert showmanship in our studio, with Pandro S. Herman in charge of production, seizes every show opportunity. 54 FEATURES FOR 1938-39 14 VARIETY / Wednesday, August 17, 1938 m m SI GARY GRANT . . VICTOR McLAGLEN , DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS Jr. IN KIPLING'S PANORAMIC DRAMA OF FIGHTING MEN IN LOVE wrtfr ' JOAN FONTAINE • SAM JAFFE • EDUARDO CIANNELU ^^^^ and cast of thousandsl ctcucuC Produced and Directed by GEOKut bltVcNd IS Serean ptmyby Ben Haeht and Chariot IkcArthur: loaf, ire and Frod Guiof. , Mi > * IRENE DUNNE CHARLES BUYER IN 11 LOVE MAKH \ \ THE HRir lEO McCAREY Production iTedncsdaj, August 17, 1938 VARIETY VARIETY Wednesday, August 17, 1938 '0 iii ' r Si;* Vcduesday, August 17, 1938 VARIETY Thrower won»e»*? ***»*w?n courses .o - Bust* in ^."1 ea»c9(te ^1 III mi W I RKO SIGNS PETER HOLDEN 7-YEAR-OLD ^ SENSATION OF N.Y. THEA WTRE SEASON WILL APPEAPWi'lCTURE WITH BOB BURNS When he starred in "On Borrowed Time" every New York critic raved /ifce this! "Peter Holden is, in ourbook, the greatest juvenile actor of our time. His Is acting to stir the adniiratiOB of his elders in the craft" Robert Coleman, N.Y. Dolly MIrrot S 3 I I 4^ ^ urtlY, T ick I-'*"""'" i>y 9 H ■ P IS Wednesday, August 17, 1938 VARIETY 19 pE FIRST WJ NEIK IfRdS! JOE PEHNER W4 "MR. DOODLE KICKS OFF" mi mm ■ memo mi ■ iiiir ciiitiii For release at the height et the football season I ;;«IP^ site 4fo«s; anfc by G BERLIN ' r^n II tit f ni 'MOm QUIZ («250000.00) CONTEST 22 VARIETY FILM RiSVIEWS WedneSilay, August j 7, ; 1 938 FOUR'S A CROWD Warner Tiroa. production ond reli"ii»c. Pcaturc8 Errol Flynn, Olivia <1o H.ivllliinil. nonnllnd nuxnrll, Palrle Knowlen. DIn'iloil l>y Mlchncl ciirllz. Adnpicd by Cnnfy Hol)- Infion. Sid Hnrzls froirt fitory by Wnllnco Sulllvnn: cnmi-iii, Brnio Hallcr. At llnllii City .Musli> Hull. S, Y.. wocK.Aug. 11, MS, Runnlnt; MnH\ .01 in.lnit, Dob T^nftfnrd. ...... i r^rrl nininRwell. . . . Jenii (Tbrlsty Pniienton nufhley.. Johi P. DIlllnKwoll, Jenhlnfi BlHRhnm- . . '. Pn>stnn nnrboF Amy Butler Plen-c.; Younc. Buckley'B S(rcrt»X«ry . . .Errnl Klynn .Ollvin dr' IliiviUiiiid . . . .no.wlln.l llui^i-11 . . , . . Pnlrlc KnowlfB ..,.\Viilior CiiniiolJy , HuBti Hfrborl .... . .Molvlllo <'onpo\vmnn... Bcttina Mnwmnn. Three NelKon». : . . violet :. ... BruluH. . Froiiy CanllnK nlrcctor. ...'.Claudia Coleronn . . .Paula Rao WriKht .ThenVMelvoa ..Blta Mrn.mlcl .(-armenclta Johnson ,. . . .Vary- McCarthy ....... Hal' K. Dawiion: •Keep Smiling' is a kid's picture .vith an adult punch; It's one' of Jane Withers' best efforts to date, and, though reminiscent of 'A Star Is Born in plot arid carry-through, .it's natural entertainment. Word-ot- mouth will help it, and there's no reason why it can't . singie^bill in . plenty of spots. . . For the. trade, however, it has one drawback.' Another expose of Holly- wood drunkenness, on top of "Star !.<; Born,' this. Withers starrer- doesii'l help the picture business reclaim a lily-while ,rcp at a^tlme when it l^^i.ch "of"! "yen 'fS^ work.""when A new and interesting Bing Crosby emerges in 'Sing You Sinners,' a likable ne'er-do-well who believies that the secret of success lies in tak- ipig gambles. He is less the: crooner, and, for added relief of tiring Crosby fans, if any, less of a delight for fluttering maidenly hearts. Instead, he's something 'of a pain in the neck to a forgiving mother and two brothers. Crosby and a small but good cast combine with an excellent story and good . direction for surieflre box office. Original stoiy by Claude Binyon is. homespun, down to earth and as natural. as eggs for breakfast everi if it calls for Crosby to put up a big fist tight against great odds .-, in the flnal reel. This is the only part of Blnyon's story — or Wesley Ruggles' direcUon^that seems a little far- fetched. The fight sequence occurs in a stable immediately after a big race and involves Crosby,' Mac- Murray and two othiers. Everyone, is conveniently out of slight or earshot of the terrible flsticuffing and the two brothers (Crosby and- Macr Murray), with a little aid from their mother. Anally vanquish their race fixing foes. MacMurray looks like he mieht be able to handle the man he battles, but Crosby doesn't How- ever, it is a good fljht and the libe;rtics taken may be overlooked. Ruggles produced as well as di- rected, :with Binyon, as usual, his author. They've proved an ex- ceptionally good team in the past and . in this . Crosby-MacMurray starrer both ends have held up. One of the beauties of the finished job is .lhat the tempo is even all the way,, with . no spurts or letdowns during anv part of the 88 minutes. Wholesomeness pervades the^ en tire story, direction and perform ancei-T; with the plot and situations developing considerable charm. In a couple spots, scenes, are somewhat touching, including the departure of the harassed no-job Crosby for the big city and, after he has sent for the family,' his shame over not having the makings of success he repre- sented. Action centers aroiind a small- town family, the Beebes. Latter con- sists of a mother who seems fondest of the laziest member of her brood (Crosby), his older brother. Mac- Murray, and the youngest of the fock. the O'Connor kid. who regarvN Cro.'iby as an idol. Crosby has a . yen for trading . and' swapping biit not 'Four's a Crowd* ( WB >. Goofy click comedy that moves along to a whirlwind laugh finish. ■Keep Smiling' (201h). One of Jane VVithers' . best efforts to date. 'Sing Too Sinners' (Par). Hit pictuire which -brings, out a new and refreshing iSing Crosby. Good songs. 'Four DaVghiers' r. Class A production, more expensive winning each time on the trade, .\iint Etta. Ann Tyen'ip. . . . . . Then T.e>np....;. Khy r.emp.'. ISmmn Tx-mp;... Krne.ft . . Felix n.Hix Ken Crou'loy . ... .Mickey -Ronlerv. . . .\tr8. Rldgeiietd-. . . .^Clrtude Rains ^(a'y Rnbaon . . . 1'rlwllla ' l.nhe Trfiln Tjine . . Itoflcninry l.nhi Calc .I'age ...... r>lck (■'nrno .....Jeffrey f-ynn . .Frank Mclluu'h ....John Onrfleld . . . Vera T.o.wIh Jake. . ; Tom .Dugan, ^im. . : '.....'....!..,..'.. Ed, He A ruff Earl -. . .Donald Kerr Score one for Warners on this gen- tle drama from Fannie Hurst's novel, 'iSister 'Act.' It's a beguiling film aljnt, the cuirent Hollywood trend of folksy family stories. Certain to do healthy biz, particularly in the nabes. Most ' mportsnl, though, it rtveals Johii Garfield as an interest- In-' Djctureprc'jpcct Formerly Jules Gdrfleld, of Broad- Valley of the Giants ' (COLOR) Warnera release of Lcii Edelman pr04luo- llon. Feniurea Wayne Morris, Claire Trevor, Frank McHugh. Alan Hale, Donald Criap, Charlea BIcKford. .lack LnRiie and JohnMiel. Directed by William Krighley. .Screenplay by Seton I; Miller and Mkhnel Feanlcr; from atory by Peter B. .Kyne; cnmcrn. Sol Pollto. Previewed In Projec- tlon Room. .N'. Y;, Aug. 15. -38. Running time. 7,1 mins. Bill Cardigan Lee Roberta ■Fingers' McCarthy... 'Ox' Smith Andy Stone. Howard Fallon i. Ed Morrell..... Hendricks ; . . . Creel 'Pats McKenzIe .Sheriff Graber, ...Wayne Morris ....Claire Trevor . .Frank McHugh , , Alan Hale Donald Crisp ■ Charles DIckford ..;..Jdck LaRue' Johti Lit*! Dick Purcell El 'Brendel , .Russell SImpaon .Cy Kendall <3r«er Harry Cording Jo« Lorlmer. . , Wade' Boteler Mrs. I.orlmer Helen MacKellar Hewitt ..: ....Addison Richards Peter B. Kyne's sturdy story of the California redwoods, and the strug- gle hetween lumber interests for control over the great forests, emerges again (the third time in 20 years) as an important boxofflce at- traction. Newest remake is directed by William Kelghley for Warners, arid Wayne Morris plays the role of William Cardigan, originally por- trayed by Wallace Reid for Para- mount In 1919. It's In Technicolor. 'Valley of the Wants' Is a yarn which contains nearly all the prpven surefire elements «f ■ the successful outdoor picture. It possesses entic- ing and inspiring visual appeal. Few spots in America are as impressive, seenically, as the gorgeous redwood forests which extend over the north- ern portion of California. Kelghley has captured in color much of the rugged charm of the section. Characters of the novel are from familiar patterns, until it is remem- bered that the Kyne story was one of the film - pioneers of its type. There is the local boy fighting des- perately against the eastern capital- ists who. through trickery, are -driv- ing off from the land the early set- tlers whose claiiris are faulty.; There is the girl who runs the gambling house, a tough huzzy with a heart of gold, who passes along to the hero iriiportant information of opposition moves.. And there also are the west- ern types, hard hitting, hard drink^ ing men of the woods, who risk llfie and limb In a fight against op- pression. Setpn I. M'lller and Michael Fes- sier have fashioned a . tightly knit melodrama from the Kyne novel Most spectacular feature in their screenplay is the dynamiting of a dam; an exciting and obviously dan- gerous piece of vvork. Destruction of a railway trestle also .has its breathless moments. Claire Trevor plays Opposite Mor- ris and handles a routine role with some distiriction. Stance of the cast is good. Frank McHugh appears iri a comedy : part, arid character bits are dorie by Alan Hale, Donald Crisp and Charles Bickford. Jack'LaRue and El Brendel also appear. Film should: do well in sections where out-of-door pictures are the favorites. fUn. ' RICH MANi POOR GIRL Moti-o releaaa of Edward , Chodurov nm duel Ion. - Features Robert Young Ayres. Ruth Husoey, Lrtna Turner i;u„ Klhbve, .SnrdK Puddeii. Directed by' nJin hold Schunzol,: Screenplay by Johepii T Field and Jerome Chodorov; from ni.iu •While ;^C»llarH,' by Bdlth Ellla, nd, '.'i from Ed«aj- Franklln'a aiory; camcri,, luJ Juno. Reviewed In Projection -Rnnm' .*.•!¥• . "unnlni! Ume, 70 mini.' ' llill Harrlann... Robert Young Lew Ayres Ruth Ilii.isey Lana Turner Rita Johnson , .Don Castle ;.guy Klliboa Sarah Padilen Henry Thayer •Joan Thayer.,.,;...., Helen ' \ . .Sally Harrison Frank .. . , . ..:, . , , p.a Mu Tom Grogun .Gordon Jones .Selmo Virginia Grey .Mrs. Gusaler. juarle niake 'Rich Man, Poor Girl.' whether isartlcularly intended or not Is an- other in that group of homey comedy-dramas that Metro has been coming up with of late. It Is a trifle lightweight in marquee strength, but should build through word-of-mouth. Production concerns the tribula- tions encountered by a young, suc- cessful business maii when he strives to, marry his secretary, oldest daugh- ter in a large, poor family; Whole plot hinges on the girl's desire to have her rich suitor make sure that he;s willing to -wed after becoming thoroughly acquainted with her tribe. Plot isn't new, yet the faith- ful character studies and deft direc- torial toucheis : in this make it re- freshingly new. Robert 'Young is the well-to-do business man who seeks to wed his poor secretary. ■ One of the best per- formances he's done In riiany pic- tures.- He even mariages^to surmount a couple of those exaggerated Holly woodish sequences. Lew Ayres, who Indicated new possibilities virith^ his work In 'Holiday,' seems to defi- nitely have arrived for these differ- ent type roles " as a belligerent booster, for the middleclass. Not the usual sleek hero, Ayres Is standout as a forlorn, expostulatirig youth. Ruth .Hussey, as the : secretary, does enough in this picture to indi- cate that she :will. be seien often. A looker, she also is an . adroit little actress, Lana Turner, cast as the yourigiest sister, also appears a promising youngster Give's a viva- cious ; portrayal of the jitterbug feninie. - Guy Kibbee s^and Sarah- Padden, as the parents, present skill- ful character portrayals. Rita John- son, as Ypurig'S' sister; Gordon Jones and Don Ciistle loom best in the support- Relnhold Schunzel has directed with pace' and -brlginallty. -Seldom overlooks a bet to stress either a comedy or dramatic point. Edward Chodnrov has given the film taste- ful and worthwhile production. Ray June's photography is up to the high technical standard of the picture. Weor.. THE SHOW GOES ON ' (ENGLISH MADE) Gaumont-nrltlsh release of Herbert Wil- cox production. Stara Tulllo CarmlnatI, liCSlle BanksT Anna Neagle.. Dlrecte, Farkas, has con- trived to weave In'soriie good dialog, while Wilcox, wl.>-. produced and di- rected,, Is evident with his craftsman- ship. However, oace lags badly at times. It's the story of Mac (Banks), who . loves Pat: (Miss Neagle), who In turn cares for: Tdni (CarmlnatI), who, one might believe, is just occupied with his art. For the sake of scripting . convenience, however, he finally de- cides he loves Pat CarmlnatI, as the gay Continental lover, has a tendency to overact. Crux of the story hinges on whether Mac will wreak vengeance "ipon his rival from aloft There'.s the Dossibillty of Mac letting Ton! fall to his death instead - of catching him. But he does catch ' hinl. He just couldn't allow Pat to suffer. It's all too, too dramatic. And reminiscent of the German-madei silent 'Variety. Banks, is occasionally excellent with his affected Scottish brPgue; but also at times tails to :play his role . with proper restraint . Of the trio. Miss Neaglie alone- measures up 'O past successes, although it's a distinct change from her 'Victoria.' \(rctlnesdayi August 17, 1938 FILM REVIEWS VARIETY 23 Gardesn of the Moon (WITH SONGS) m.«i.r Dros. relCRSO of I-ou Edelman ^u?l"n. ronl"«» P"' O'lTrlon. John E*"*.". Sihrgarot LlnOauy, Job Venutl. ff?nni'e DiivlB, Jerry Colonna, Jimmy Fld- jo7ry mm ana nicharU Mnrauloy; piayi jy' ,>„|i(oii).johea and llnrton B'rowno; ""^i Marry Warren. Al Uubin and VSLnv Morccr; 6amem. Tony Gaudlo. Pro- ;?S ln^°o c<;tlon noon., N. Y.. Aug. 5i "Is- nunning tliiio, 00 mlns. ;I Join Qu nn. .Don- vm<|cnto.....v.... Slappy Harris MaurK'O Kn, Lornay... ,• Jiiiry Stanton Bick mitun., Maharajah of SInd..,. ' DuScan McGllllcuddy. Trtnt . • • ■ • • ' ■■■ •,• ' • ■ * ^ Jimmy r\<}\er..... .Pat O'nrlcn Margarot' Llmlsuy ......John Payrio ..'.Johnnie Davla ..Mclvlllo Cooper , , . . .Isabel Jocinfl .Mabel ToMd ....Dick Puiccll .Peniiy Slnglelon .... . .. .Gurt Hols . .Rmnvllle Bates BJward McWade ..Larry Willlama JInimV ridlor jj^'V^nuil .ndHli.' Saving Cat.. Backstage scenes Involving the management and artists who appear In floor show • enterteinment of a e\as3 hotel restatirant furnish the backgrounds for .'Garden . of; the Moon' Locale IS sufficient reason ior a parade of musical numbers, some good and some just so-so. Novelty of the sfetting and the sjjeed of its terpslhg and music will push the picture into important first-runs. ' where it should do well. . it's a long cry from the musical comedy and operatic back-stage musical to the night- club. ■ But the characters are interesting; there is a good feud between the' manager and the orchestra leader, and some first class singing and band playing. Jimmy Fidler, raldio commentator, plays One of the leading roles in the pictui:e, his first appearance in a feature.. As he attempts nothing more difBcult than . to play himself at the microphone, and a few ieasy. scenes •with Pat O'Brien, Fldler gets by. O'Brien is the impresario who runs -the dining and' dantilng establish- inent .He pushes everyone around ■ and is rather pleased with himself as 'a showman. . When he tricks a new- comer, John' Payne, into a fill-in .en- gagement, the battle is on' between the twOi- .Looks like a lot of lost motion arid much ado about nothing very important. Audience is pulling against O'Brien and for the good- looking John Pay rie. There's a bit of -heart interest around Margaret Lind< say, press a?ent for the 'spot ■Payne sings several 'Warren Dubih-Mercer numbers, Including •Leve ls Where You Find It,' 'The Lady on the Two-Cent Stamp' arid ' 'Garden of the Moon.* Specialties are done by Ray Mayer, Jerry Colonna and Joe venutl. Johnnie Davis blows a trumpet and has a part through the film. - Bushy Berkeley directs with ah eye on the pace. Film is well ohoto graphed by Tony Gaudio. FHn, RACKET BUSTERS Warner Bros, release- of Cosmopolitan production. - Features Humphrey Bogart C»rge Brent, Gloria Dickson. Walter Abel, Allen Jenkins, Penny Slnglotbh. Directed gr Lloyd Bacon. Story and adaptation. Hooert Rossen and Leonardo Uercovlcl: editor, James Gibbon; photography, Arthur KdCTOn. At Strand, N. T..- week Aug. 10. '38. .Running tlnie, OS ihln., Martin Dtuny Jordan. , . . Nora Jordan .... 'Horse' Wilson.. AlllMii Governor "'adys .... . Cr»ne.. Pop ........ . - (:liarlle Smrtli... Mrs, Smith Jo. tiua Kimball they are a bit overdrawn in line with custom. . - . . r - Romantic •. interest ' is developed along lines that are none too brilliant, two truck drivers figuring in the love gcenes, one iparried, the other not. In .both instances, audience interest -j^nd. sympathy is sought through making their . lives as. miserabli; as 'possible. In addition, Gloria Dickson, inarried to 'George Brent, is sickly and finally has a baby under conditions which 'even call for Brent to pull some grand larceny . to take, cai-e .of things. - It isn't the best role that Miss Dickson could wish for and Brent, a; stubborn truck driver who, at first holding out against racketeers, flrially gives in to them., earns no particular la'jrels for himself. Among other things. Brent is uncon-vincihg, "as are others who too reluctantly hold out in aiding the special isrosecutor in his -cleanup of the trucking and food rackets, With the raicket seemingly vun by ;Bogart . and a couple aides, with no politicians or .bther^ apparently in- volved, in the end the .little gang meets in a hand-to-hand encounter with truckmen and. commission mer- chants for the cleanup. It. reminds of the little bands In westerns which, when easily vanquished, leave every- thing so peaceful it hurts, A court scene provides the finish in 'Racket Busters.' Abel does a particularly good job as the soecial prosecutor. Bogar.f . is also well up to his task, as a 'self>^ satisfied, conflderit racket leader. Brent, and Miss. Dickson are. paired for romantic .interest ori the one hand: AUcfn Jbnkins and Penny Singleton on the: other. Jenkins gets a couple of . higgles, but ttie comedy relief is negligible. Lloyd Bacon's : direction, too, is along paths triedrand-t'rye, conventional Char. FRIPE OF THE WEST ' iParamoun't Tcle.ise of Harry- Sherman. pro- duction. .' Features William Boyd,' George Hayes, Russell Haydcn. Charlotte Field. DIrc.-ttd by liesley Selnnder. Screenplay by .Nate Watt. . based on Clhronce E. . Mulford original In Hbpalong Chssldy series: camera, Russeir Ha'rland. At Strand, nkiyn, dual, Aug. U, '38. Running tlnle,.sn mlns. Hopalone Oiissldy. WIn. y Holllilny. . T.ucky Jenkins ■Mary,. Sheriff....... Dick , Caldwell.. ....William Boyd . .. .Geprge Hayes. , . .Russell Hnyden ...Charlotte Field , ...Earl HodRlns ....V. .Billy King ...Kenneth Heirlan MIS DOS AMORES "■('My Two Loves') (WITH MUSIC) Paramount releate of nuiiios Coblnn pro- duction. .'JlRrs Tito t;ul!-.nr. Directed by Nick Grinile. .Scrceiipliiy liv Mmim l<:il.s based on court records and other oata in connection with the trucking racket m New York City. Whether "ot It follows that investigation ana cleanup to the letter doesn't matter since an excuse for exploita- »wn is provided for. Thomas E. iwweys jname isn't mentioned in ffy yay but Walter Abel, who plays inj ^«?''less N. y. prosecutor looks ana acts a good deal like Dewey. V"?"" office , potentialities rate jair to good, depending on how 'I^.P''*"''* Is sold and what in!fi aroused in the Dewey angle. Some exhibitors may be v!f*7 enough to mention the New i^i.Tj''-. ^''s name. Dewey never .wouid^ give , his permission for its iJS- however. Operations whose jS-I .l^*^ ,!,*'^P?ely support gangster as' Satevepost articles on TslTiA career. Is 'Smashing the rackets,' produced by RKO. Out SJ.ie'ease^ at the same time; the lUr«w®* gangster items are w!X cause -some confusion. van so convincing, with a th»\4f • eangster clique ilguring, lnv«t^?'.?'^"=s much.to the laborious tod . of a special prosecutor acting -i^^empts to -punch up the •«'on With a lot;of terrorism that is tea,"/»r.fetched. The most absCird «aiure of much of the action is that Si "ever figures, with everything eatai. ^™ producer's racketeering JSJu'pR happening in ooen daylieht toi«K'^PP''rent Interference, The ^^^'i are the accepted types; "ea by Humphrey Bogert,\ and This: new Hopalortg Cassldy out- door inelodrama is a fall tonic, even for those who have^ noted continued improvement in this series, based on Clarence E, Mulford dramas. 'Pride of the West' is better written,-^ better directed arid better acted than a niia' jority of • its . predecessors. Picture will bolster the duals, arid easily rates solo , spotting in. houses which lean towards' westerns. Yarn starts out with the not tin familiar ;stage.; coach robbery, and then plunges into a labyrinth of plot ting and . counter-plotting. Unlike rnost such tales, the stolen bank coin is discovered at the outset; but Hopia- -long. slyly contrives to^ stamp- the money bags and corral the rohber -gang fedhanded. Story has one of those 'get the higher-up crook' an- gles, that is plausibly- woi-ked but. . Bulk of picture, was photographed around Mount - Whitney and surr rounding ranges, and. is colorful. Film boasts several' terrific, fist and rough- and-tumble battles, the usual gun- fight finish arid; a climax so slick it seems out of '>place in a western thriller. William Boyd, again as Hopalong Cassidyv has a meaty role. Gives him plenty to do, yet affords his support a chance to .shine. George Hayes, old-timer of westerns', is cast again as Windy Halliday, and plenty okay for comedy. Russell Hayden and Billy King, moppet, also deliver ca- pably. Charlotte Field, only principal femme,.is a looker and . at the same time capable. Looks like Par had snagged a real possibility here. Earl Hodgiris, as the sheriff, arid Kerineth Harlan, former silent star, niake a slick official andi leader of robber gang, respectively; . , Photography is outstanding, arid dialog is crisp and natural. Wear. QUEER CARGO (BRITISH MADE) London, Aug. 6. . Associated Brlllilh picture Production and release. Stars John -1,0 Jgo; features Judy Kellv. nii^cted by Harold Schuster. Screen play. Patrick KIrwan and Walter Suniimers, ■ from- piny;' by -Noel T-angley: camera, Otio KanlurcK. At the Piccadilly, London. Running, time, ' 01- mlns. " ■ — ■ John Lodgo ....Keneth Kent .I.,ouls .Rcrell ......Judy Kelly .Hcrtha Itelmorc ...yvyllo Watson . .Geolfrey Toonc .....Jerry -Vorno- Frank Petllngell -.Frank Cochrane . (Tn SpanisM. Made exclusively for the Latin- American market, Pararriount 'has an apparent ' moneyTmaker in fMis Dos Amores* ('My Two Loves'> for such accounts: Tito Guizar shows' up at his best as a gay warbler and player, while he is supported by a coriipetcnt Spanish-speaking' cast. Story has ah equitable mixttire of romance, melo-: dramatic action and music. Yam depicts the. struggle of a poor riiedical student (Guizar) to battle the obstinate father of his choice and win laiire.ls arid money for himself. There's the surbrise rise to fame in a Los Angeles Latinesque cabaret, a fistic struggle with a jealous rival for the featured femme dancer, and a fatal shooting. Young singer is rail- roa.ded almost to his doom before his name is finally cleared. A couple of the romantic sceries and others in the ;cafe remind of the pre-Hays production code author- ity, but are so intelligently handled as to suffice for outside of the Ameri- can riiarket. Excellent tastie shown in severail instances where the. pro-^ ducer or , director easily could have gone bvierboard. . Guizar has; the looks and siirprls- ingly developed acting' technique, to be convincing as the aspiring lover. He .also is crtfdited with .providing niusie for. the. picture, In this depart- ment he has employed fine judgment, nearly every one of - several songs or musical-numbers fitting into the plot; Blanca . de . Gastejon, . sprightly blonde, possessies the youth needed for the other angle of the film's ro- mance; Carolina Segrera, as' the. cab- aret daincer, who also falls in love with Guizar, is a happy" addition. Romualdo Tirado, as the medico's Imbibing father; Carlos Villarias, the obstinate parent of- the . girl; little Evelyn del Rio, as the dahcer's child, head a capable supporting cast. - Adequate production is iri evidence, especially in the cabaret sequence and scenes requiring orchestral black- grourtd; Photography clearicut Nick Grinde's direction is topflight Wear. loose with a dog as a. range compan- ion, as they do Luderi, may be good juve stuff, but it's a comedy routine where, they knosv bolter. Luden has been in films since 1925, although admittedly not too promi- nently. Lines written for him make him slightly dopey in the eyes and cars of the aildience, whicl^ will have troiiblie conceiving ot an open space scariipercr , who has romantic dreams and talk's hloud in (lowing langiiage. Incidentally, he's from the family farrious for the cough drops.. .This, story is about the operiing of a strip of land for: homestcadiiiK, one man referring to his (avciriio location as a treasure spot, which leads outlaws to smell in gold.. So, the rush -for location, finds outlaws' bent on looting the. so-cellqd treas- ure area.- Finish. .finds the outlaws twice crushed— the treasure found to be only irich soil and water in^plenty, and jail yawning for their previous- escapades.. Liiden. is shown as. a versatile per- son. He plays in a . rahgelarid har- mony group, sings a little, and even hauls oiit a chapped and spurred dummy arid doos; a rouline a la Ed- ,ear Bergen, sains the comedy. Be- sides, he manipulates the dog in a series of tricks. - Harry Woods, in league with Slim Whitaker and Bud Osbournc, runs races with himself tryini; to ^figure uip despicable things; to do, moil of ♦hem aimed at the lady ot the piece, Eleanor Stewart; her father (Lata McKee) arid her. brother (Buzz Bar ton). Fate of this pic lies with the mats and the kids, the oldsters probably backing away. Barri. Man from Miisic Mbuntaiii (WiTH SONGS) Republic. ri(*lui-9.'» rel<'a.sc oC <"b*irK*s 1^.. Fiird pi-i-iiluulldn. Slar-i lli-ne, ;\lilry: f.-a-- turex iinlloy --"IturncH^'. tJinvicil I y Jci. Kano. .Screenplay, Ht-lly liurUriJu*' "»J l.uci Ward; .iirlglnni -Miu-'y; IEi*rii:i Mf- t'onvlllc: eaniero, .'.lack .Min-ia;- cillntr. l.f-K.- tiT tl)rlelio','k; -siingK. . I'L-ii-i- Tlittnrlii, .liu-k - l.a\\'rciu;i\ ■ ICdtlio' t^ihC'rkii.i.e. - Sinlley llur- ncnc, (lone Aulry. Joliivny - Mu j-\ In an, I l-'i-cil UtiH". Rovlowotl In I'roji'.-tbin llninn. .N v.. Aug. 11, '33.. Runnhv iImu<. fij . mlnw:n'il Cllciso .-. . . . AlliiM'l Terry . . Kranlile Marvin- Karl l>« Ire . . LIuyd Ih^r.'iliiiin ... . . . I.lllivin . Drew - .. ...M Tuylnr .Joo Vrlcuyen lleni' .Vi-ii:;-. IliOvn, l'aI H,v , , Si-aiitiin Ilriiilv, . .; . . . |!.,H-.ll-i - Hill. Aliliatt., nu.lily. : . r,;ii-ry .Mardn... . .. . Ilarinitn; . .- . . .Mr.i. Clirlx.. Hank....... Pete. l'4illy -Jvnklns iiD.l. Iter I'lowlioys Captain Harley VIbart Ilenson ;..*... Ann Warren Henrletla O'ravei-.'* .-. Rev. James Trnvors. Lieut.. Slockcn ..... Slops - Dan Ho Tang Picture of the shipping industry in- China seas is rather well done. Good cast helps make for a smooth per- formance. - It's the story of ari English cap.- tain of a Chinese freighter carrying cargo and a -srtiall consignment of priceless pearls; Which . he's smugr gllng on behalf of the. ship's owner. The plot proceeds along to what looks '■like surefire situations and progression for a popular fllrii. - It has practically all. . the ingredients for general appeal here. It . might get by in America on the duals. Dangerous Medicine (BBiTISH MADE) . „ ' • London, Aug, 5. Warner . Bros, production and release. Stars Elizabeth Allan,- . Cyril nituhard.- Di- rected by Arthur Woods. Screen play and dialog, Paul Ganzelln, Conhery . C'huppell, from a-8lury by Edinohd Deland; camera, Baiill Emniolt. At the Piccadilly, London. Running time, Vi iinlns, Victoria Alnswell Noel -penwood . . .. Totals Mahnering .. Allstair Hoard .,;.. Ur. Macomb'cr Judge ; Sir. FraSicIs ......; Me. George .'. .-. . .-. . Superintendent i-'ox ..Elizabeth Allan Cyril ititchard . ^. . . . .I'..dniond Urooh Anthony UolleS . ,Qulnton McPliersOn ....Aubrey Mallalleu ..Basil Ulll . . . Frederick Burtwell . ; .- Allan .Jeayes A highly improbable,, but not alto- gether impossible; plot. 'Well directed and photographed and competently acted by tried and true players. Rea- sonably definite of sitccesstul popu- lar booking here, and on a par with some of the second-rate American features. Wealthy elderly gentleman wants to marry his young secretary 'and makes a will leaving , the bulk of his fortune to her. Story opens with the girl ori trial for his murder. On the way frorri the court the car in which she and the police are travcl- iriR has an accident; she has concus- sion and a splinter of glass enters her heart. Young doctor makes medical history by removing the' splinter, but when the girl recovers she still thinks she must be tried for the mur- der, -and .has no ' recollection of the case having gone against her. Incensed that his brilliant opera- tion has only brought his patient back, to life for her to be hanged, the surgeon smuggles her out of the hbs-^ pital. They go through- the' usual hide and seek chasing by the police, the real' riiurderer is -Unmasked ana. the couple get spliced. There are. comedy sequences, but little has been sacrificed to -the -story's developfhent. " Jolo. ROLLING CARAVANS 'Columbia -prnducUon and release. Fi:a-' turps. .Jack Luileii, Kleanor .Stewart,- Hurry Woods, Tluzz IJa'rton. ■ Diretilcd 'by Jo.seph I,everlnK. Screon'play, N'at 'Gatzerl; cam- era. James S. Ilrown; editor. - Ij.vlghi t;a id- well. At Klva, Lincoln, dual. Itunnliig lime, .15 mlns. Ilreezy A lire Daltoh Kankln. . . .liin .TtftfjtH. . CroUL'hcr. John Lu'len Kleatiar .S'''wiirl ...I Harry Woods . . . .Lnfo MrlCee . . ...li-uzz 1;:iri'(in , .Slim AVI.Hakur ;,Hud Osbourno Columbia's attempt to Introduce another western name in Jack Luden hasn't been much of a showing thus far, although . studio .Kas reached deeply into the bag of tricks to- catch the Wd trade. Turning a cowboy 3ix Shobtin' Sheriff Grand National release of Max and -Ar- thur. Alexander .production.' Stars- -Ken. May-- nurd. JJ'eatures. Marjory. Reynold.*?. Directed by. Harry Pra»?r.. Screenplay; .Wcsto.n Ed- wards;- .camera. Wllllhni • Hyer:' ' cilllor, Charles Henkel. At Klva, Llhcolri, dunl,- -Runnlng time, ,1D mlns. Trigger. Molly.,... '/eko... :.. fhuck. : . . . Kid....... Toild. ..... Purniah. . . nig Hoy. . Kendall... Kid Hnlman. . r Bart Ken Moynnrd , . Marjory Reynolds T'.afe MoKee ,-. . . . . .Walter Long , -..Rob Teri*y ;....n.'»rfy Harvey .-Tom fiOndon . ... Ick Alex.-indor .-Warner Richmond ; .Hen Corbett ; . . . ; .-, .Earl -Dwyer . . . .Roger Wllllums . 'Six Shootin' Sheriff' is a long way 'from beirig an outstanding, western, but It's far above the (Quality in story and entertainment of the recent Ken Maynard series. His bronc escapades haven't been good for many a moon, but 'Sheriff' is a. step back in the right direction; . . ' Maynard shows the effect of -real life good living, being the lu.gger of about 30 pounds rhore than he can comfortably .conceal. Slows him up a bit, and may have something to do with his horse Tarzari growing thin- ner from pic to pic. His adventure here concerns being . framed into a jail term as a bank robber,, coming back to find the men who planted him, on the rock pile, and settling the differences on the side of the law when the time coiries. Dolling up the scenery is Marjory Reynolds, with a light job and enough stuff to do It okay. Bad boys are led by Walter Long, and. include Warrier Richmond (in for a look and a groan). Earl Dwyer (for a couple of frames), and Roger-Williams; Dick Alexander mixes it up with Maynard in. a. fight — more than 400 'pounds of struggling, wheezing meat. A better Maynard film, it may have trouble showing it because of the past record. Holds average biz possibili- ties in the western hoi^se's. Bam. Republic Pictures ■ has turned out its most ■ ambititjiis Gene Autry starrer iri 'Man frorii Music Mbuh- talri.' Songs and music, of the home- . spun variety, so typical of past Autry boss, oprysj, once more occupy a promirient spot, biit coupled witti one of Republic'^ better, stories, it has a better chance at the boxofTice. In the provinces, it may even go as a single. - vAutry seems to, have' acquired a greater polish, although, essentially, . he's the , same . simple cowhaiid thai he has been playing. Coupled with the antithetical, effervescent. Smiley Burnette. he makes the picture par- ticularly ri.sht for the kids. Good directing . by Joe Kane and a bettor than average vari.'Vtion of the old gold strike slory also are among : the big factors in the film's b.o. pos- sibilities. The story cbnctirns the usiral unsciipulousness of a . group of ^ real estate developers,' whose: land, held -to ■ be valueless, ultimately booms with the discovery of: the yel- low metal. ,' .- Autry and Burnette (!et in eno'iigh singing to be entertaining.' :They. don't overdo it Iri this one as."in past pictures. And there's more fisticuffs and generally more action.-, Polly Jenkins and hir. Plowboys are among the more entertaining fear tures witii their instrurherital stuff. She plays bells eftectively. also a. squeeze box.- It's all obviouslv' vaude but It breaks 'up the film well. . Autry and. Burnette sing six sbnes,. of which. 'Love. Burning Love.' by Autry. Johnny Marvin and Fred Rose. is. fairly tiinefiil. ■ Carol Hughes . handles a minor role, as the romantic, interest, efr fectivelv,, while' others who; do' well . are Sally Payne, Ivan Miller. Lew Kelly and the youngster, Albert Terry. ' Mujeres Que Trabajan CWorklnj; Women') (ABGENTINE MADE) . Buenos Aires, Aug. .9; Lumlton production- and releuso. 'Features' Mecha OrUz, 'Flto Liislardo, NlnrMarsholl. Peplta Serrador.: Alicia Darrle. Ulrictcd by Manuel . Jlomera. - < Story and . screenplay, Roqiern; cdmc'ro; Alfredo, Traverso. , At .Clnn Tealro Monumental, Buenos. Aires. Running time, 87 mlns. Ana Marlii. Mecha OrtU Lorenzo .-. ;. .Tito Lusiardo Catlla . . . Nlnl Marshall - Luisa Peplla Scrrjidor Clara Alicia Ilarrle C^nrlos ..'. Fernando llorcl ' Elvira .-..Shbina Olmus .Saiita . . .Allta Roman Marta ..Marv Parots Dolores ..Hilda .lii AdilreRq: V A III RTT. LONDON Tflcpliuns T«Di|ile. .ihir OOll-DOIt 25 S NITERIES SHUT IN CLEANUP OF PARIS Paris, Aug. 8. Cleanup of Paris night life haunts bv the police has resulted in five boites being padlocked and numerous arrests, including 10 well-known swindlers and ishakedown artists. Spots closed worked in cahoots ith unregistered guides, who worked the boulevards for pickings among tourists and provincial Frenchmen. Guides got rakeoft when they took customers to the spots where ex- cessive prices: were "charged. None of them well known and lit- tle frequented by insiders, the spots operated in Montfnartre and Mpnt- pamasse. They are the La Feria, La •Maisonnette Russe, Roy Rene, Les Caludines and Manhattan. Much of trade also brought in by gals, who picked up customers while cruising in cars, Unknowing foreigners us- ually paid. U. S. Distribs Told N. Z. Win Fight For Exhibs' Protection Auckland, N. Z., Aug.l. Representatives of several U. S. distribution companies paid a visit . here, purportedly regarding govern- ment control, but left without ad- mitting any marked success. Under- stood here that local exhibitors went before the government officials be- fore they arrived and told, their side of the story first. ' At any rate, the visiting U. S. dis- tributor reps, including Clay Hake, 20th-Fox; Bernie Freeman, Metro, and Here Mclntyre, Universal, were told in no uncertain terms that the New Zealand government was fully prepare to protect, home exhibitors ' from any outside opposition or inter- ference, Indicated that co-operation was the safest policy to pursue. Now, it is impossible in this state for a second-release theatre to shift to first-release policy, or vice-versa, •without first obtaining permission from the government Move is said, to be one to protect exhibitors, who may not buy a certain distributor's product, from having the distrib sup- Ply pictures to opposition exhibitors. Gdvemment here will not permit outside capital being brought into the territory for the develop- ment of opposition circuits. Neither will it permit block-booking, and continues to stick to 25% right of rejecting foreign (U. S.) pictures. 2 NEW LONDON PLAYS QUIT AFTERSHORT RUNS „ London, Aug. 16. B Train South,' presented by Msil Dean and J. B. PriesUy at the Martin's last Thursday (11), is a Hopelessly outmoded Bolshevik melo- It was badly treated by the pr^ Flora Robson aippeared in the «vC. Hutchinson play. L ^* Mc Yesterday,' old-fashioned Mnumental hooey, closed at the |omedy Saturday (13) after only lour nights. Was regarded as un-: "Kely from first CorreDt London Plays CWifh Dates When Opened) ^^'Xhout Tenrs.' Crllcrlon-Nov. . •S«^anH' v;""-' Gloho-.Vov. M. -37. IG. It""" Gin,' VIcloiltl l'al:ico-Di>c. ■Pol "I 2"'^;''J- Apolln-Miirrh US. '39. •Bao... n'l , •^"■""^ws-Api ll 13. '.18. f^i-ring Jioeting,' Ambaskidnr-.May 31. "fi'ldpn i?""'. ''nyniiirkct-.Ium- 1«. •WmJ."''};' SI- Jtmos-.Jun... 21. 'Shi ,,' "'""-Jmi.v n. . le, "» »"a Tfouns,' Wynahi.ni'a-.^ui;. X'i^o Plebr, Lit L'p.' Hlp|.oility that he'll go into film production. LONDON CAFES' ACUTE NAME SHORTAGE London, Aug. 1.' . Shortage of nitery narncs' in Lon- don is a bugaboo here, especially for those cafes that; rely on single names instead of flash shows. Giro's club, due to reopen next month, may iiave to delay premiere due to failure to sign opening star. Negotiations are pendinjg for the Ritz Bros; Cafe de Paris is in same difficulty, ■ but may overcome it by bringing , back' Beatrice Lillie, who has just played five weeks there. This would' create a precedent, for never has a London cafe yet re- opened its doors with a name with which it finished the season. Mar- tinus Ppulsen is also trying t6' get the Yacht Club Boys back again. At the Cafe dc Paris it was origi- nally intended to have Low Stone band. Contract called for the sea- son, with optional notice of four weeks on both sides. Poulsen. then found he could get Billy Bisselt'and he tried to get Stone to cancel his contract which English maestro re- fused to do. Result is Stone steps in with a four-week notice ticket with Bissett replacing for tlic rest of the season. Albright's Java Post Sydney Albright was named man- ager in Batavia, Java, for United Artists last week by Arthur W. Kelly, foreign chief. He takes place vacated by P. T. Lee, who resigned because of ill health. Albright had been serving tem- porarily in Manila while Charles C. Core was on his vacation. *Lone Ranger' Santa (Continued from page 1 ) Pittsburgh are among 28 stores al- ready signed. Contracts were also sighed last week between Spector and Joe Con- nolly, Hearst exec, far a Lone Ranger comic strip. Series will start Sept. I'l via King Features Syndicate, servicing all Hearst papers and other Indies, all totalling 100. Will be a full page in colors for Sunday sheet- and regular strip for the dailies, .itarting Sept. 12. Ed Krc.s.sy is artist on strip. On Sept. 12 'Lone Ran^jer' pro- gram will have been ppdfllecl to ."iO more indie stitions on trah.scription basis. Programs aired over WXYZ. Detroit, to Mutual chain, will be peddled by NBC on the plalters for local spoh.sors. Additional .stations will brini; total usinK ."ihow in any f'lrrn up to 100, new list principally in the; soiith. Di.scs also b.ein^j heard in Canada and Australia now. •Intention of Republic Pictures to make a: .second 'f^one Itaritjer' fea- ture picUiro ha.s been abaud'jncd. accordiiiu to Uaymond Spector. Kilrn v.'ili be made as a serial a la Hi'- fir'.t picluie. Summary of conditions in Japan, South America, Central America, Cuba and Italy is expected by Par- amoiint home office offlcials in the next week or 10 days because of the: arrival of sales bosses from most of these countries. Americo Aboaf, Par^s managing director in Italy, al- ready is in N. Y. and has been in several huddles. He goes to the Coast Saturday (20) before leaving tor home late this month. J. W. Piper, company's chief in Japan,' came to New York this week after visiting the Coast. His conver- sations with John W. Hicks, Jr., for- eign department head, hold more than customary interest because American distributing companies hope to loosen the product and money, jam in this u.sually highly profitable market Slant on .any changes in South America, especially as to possible in- roads' made, by German, Italian and other foreign producers, will be ob- tained fi-om John L. Day; Jr., general manager of Paramount distributing . in Continental South America. Day came in yesterday (Tues.) via Paris, visiting .Europe instead of coming to; N. Y. direct A. L. Pratbhett, nianager in charge for Par distribution in Central Amer- ica; S. E. Pierpoint general managei in same country, with headquarters in Panama City, and Jasper D. Rapo- port manager -in Cuba, are due in New York Sunday (21). Bette Davis, Winner la '37, Again to Compete In Venice IntTExinlNsh .Rome, Aug. 0. Hollywood entries at the Inter- national Film Exhibish in Venice thus summer will; include the follow- ing: 'Jezebel' (WB), \/hose star, Bette Davis, won' prize as best acti-ess at last year's Venice show; Par's full- length color pie, 'Popeye, the Sailor, R'.f.pt-s Alibaba's 40 Th:-)ves'- 'Pris- oner of Zehda' (UA). 'Goldwyh Follies' (UA), 'Tom Sawyer' (UA) and Metro's 'Test Pilot' and 'Mari Antoinette.* The British will take part with London Film's 'Drurris' directed by Alexander Korda; Gabrill Pascal Film's 'Pygmalion,', starring Leslie Howard, and the Jack Buchanan . production, 'Break the New.s.' Italians , are entering ' Blasetti's ■Fieramosca Ettore,' ba.sed on the life of Verdi, directed by Gallone. and the aviation picture, 'Lucian Scrra, Pilot' directed by Ales.sandrini. While the French and German entries to the exhibish have not yet been announced here, publicity cam- paigns to .secure th" best po.ssible entries to represent the French and German industries were started in both countries weeks ago.. Swcdeti is entering 'Worrian's Face,' along with some .shorts; Hun- gary, 'Noszthy Junior.' baricd oh a novel by Kalman, and 'Rezi Pentek,' based on Reszo 'Torek's novel. • Rowland's Spanishers Production work, starts next week on 'La FasCinadora' ('Glam )ur Girl"), first Spanish lan'(U£.«e fealurj in the .series William Rowl-ihd i.-; mailing for RKO relea.se in Lalin-A.iif rican countries: I'.rodiietioii. v.ill be; .-il the Eastern Service ..Shi'lin;. A~!oi:ja. Jorge Lmvis and ()v'.':-^:\ h'jve Iho lead role.-;; IJ'i il-i I>. vjI Kl- U.s and .Mirr'iiii (Iju r.-l-i ;-i kiip- prirt. R'lbcrl .'v '"''y <'i'' 'i'l ! and John Pierre to .'ij r' "ii.-"- ;ind act as" Iccliiiie.'il .':'lcj ■]', ^'i]-t Mi'ii-; cnde h;i'. coMio'-.-f l Hie .•fn'-;-; v.-liicl) Jack .Sb:ll:icl .-.•. i'l : ,n 'lilm.- - r:M'l-"':i'.n ■ :i-i!-.ly'-!,-.:!-!..-/l by. rtKo Ali.-h .ri ;•': -.i ••. ' i:-iii)h I'c'-y. / 'i! I ■• ■.'I -r:! .Mi: r and v.'li'i ■.-.' II j.nl.l ', .UiMv;.f 1- hr; .S-)ulh .'\i ."I I'.'.'T' i'"-i'I;';t. i,< ;(l.-;o one b;i'-l'<'r. fil.iii:; •.villi Vcverai oth;'i's. ' VARIETY WeiSnesday, August 17, 1938 A stage smash in 235 cities! Prize- winning 2 -year ran on Broadway! JAMES PAT CAGNE O'BRIEN (rl^ »i.h MARIE WILSON RALPH BELLAMY • FRANK McHUGH • DICK FORAN Directed by LLOYD BACON Screen Play by Bella and Samuel Spewack • A WARNER BROS, ficturs Vediiesday, August 17, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY 27 [Tor \n1'''^^i theatre aiid fXm exchange bookers, Variety presents o com-piete chart qj featiire releases of all th^ American distributing jOTjiporiies jFor the current quarterly-period. , Date; 6/ the revieios as giren in Variety and the running time of prints are included.) ■ (R)', BEISSOES ■ . __„.-.:_; _ -lull, L COPTKIGIIT, 1938. BY VABiIeTY, I.\C. ALL BIQHTS RESERVED TITLE rROOUCER , DISTRIB. 6/27/38 YELLOW JACK HUNTED MEN DESERT OATBOL KIDNAPPED CRIME SCHOOL Jack Cummings MGM Drama R. Montjomery-V. Bruce Geo. Seitz Harold Hurley Par MeUer L, NoM-M. Carlisle Louis King A; W, Hackel Rep Western Bab Steele- W. Mcldoii Sam Ncwfield K. MacGowan ZOth ■ Rom-Dr W. B*xter-r. Bartholomew Al Werkcr Bryan Foy . WB . Drama H. Bogart-Gale Paee .. Lew Seiler n/3/38 THREE ON A WEEKEND gB THREE COMRADES M. Manckiewlcz A FArtEWELL TO ARMS (R) F. BoTiftB SIGN OF; THE CROSS (B) c. B, deMille SAINT 'N N«W YORK Wm. Sistrom JOSETTE Gene Marke'v WIVES UNDER SUSPICION ' Kc" Graincer LITTLE MISS THOROUGHBRED Bryan Foy GB Rom-Dr M. Lockwoo4-J. Lodee-B. Ray Carol. Reed MGM Rom-Dr R. Taylor-Tone-M. Sullavan Frank Borzagc ' Par Drama G. Coeper-H. Hayes F. Boi'zaee Par Drama , F. Mareh-Colbert-Laughton C. B. dcMille RKO Meller L. Hayward-K. Sutton . Ben Holmes Ztth Musical S. Slmon-D. AmecherB. Lahr Allan Dwan U Drama W. Willlam-Q. Patrick Jas. Whale WB . Cpm-pr J..Chapnian-J, LItel , John Farrow 6/10/38 HELD FOR RANSOM THE TOY WIFE TOU AND ML KING KONG (R) RIDERS OF BLACK HILLS LADIES IN DISTREiSS ONB WILD NIGHT GOLPDIGOERS IN PARIS GN. :.GN Meller Nierian C. Cooper MGM Drama Fritz Lang Par Rom-Dr M. C. Cooper RKO : Spec Wm. Berke Rep Western Harry Grey Rep Meller John Stone 2Mh Meller Sam Bischoft WB Musical G. Withers-B. Mehaffey-J. Mulhall L. Raln^r-M. Jouslas-R. YountT' S. Sidney-G. Baft-H. Carey F.-Wray-B. Cabot-Cobper 3 Mesquitcers A. Skipworth-p; Morati J. Langrt,., Talbot-S. Toler R. Vailee-R, Lane Clarence Brlcker Richard Thorpe Fritz Lang Schoedsa'ck Cteorge Sherman Gus Meihs Eugene Forde Ray SririBht 6/17/38 HOLIDA.: CRIME OVER LONDON WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN PRISON FARM BLONDE CHEAT THREE BUND MICE BLOCKADE OUTLAW BXPRKSS . WHEN ^EXE TOU BORN Everett Riskin C«I Drama: K. Uepburn-C. Grant GB : GB Mystery M. Grabarae-P. Cavanaugh ildw. Chodbrov MGM Rom-Dr V. Briice-H. Marshall Par Par Meller S. Ross-L. Nolan-X C. Nalsh Wm: Sistrom RKO RomrCom J. FbntaJne-,D; de Marney Ray GrifAUl 20th Rom-Dr L. Youne-J. McCrea Walter Wanger UA Drama H. Fonda-M. CarreU Trem. Carr U : Western Bob Baker-C. Calleeo Bryan Foy . WB Drama C. RhIdst J. Cooper George Cukor Alt. Zeisler . R. Sinclair Louis King Jos. Santley Wm. Seiter Wm. Dieterle Geo. Waggner Wm. McGann 6/24/38: HIGHWAT PATROL LORD JEFF ROMANCE OP LIHBBRLOST BAR 2* JUSTICE, BOBDBR G>MAN MR. HOTO TAKES CHANCE TOUNG FUGITIVES WHITE BANNERS W. MacDonald Col Meller J. WeUs-R. Paige ' C.C Coleman, Jr. Frank Davis MGM Rom-Dr F. Barthblbmew-SoBdergaard Sam Wood Mono MOBO Rom-Dr J. Parker-B. Linden^ Wm. Nigh Harry Sherman Par Western W. Boyd-G. Hayes Les Selander B<>rt.Gilroy RKO Western - . George O'Brien . David Howard So' Wurtzel 2Mh Mystery P. Lorre-^ Hudson Norman Foster Barney Sarecky U Meller D. Kent-R. WUcox John Rollins Htnry Blanke . WB . Dr' C. Rains- J. Cooper Ed. Goiilding . WHEM TIME REVIEWED MINS. BY VAHIETY 93 90 5/25 5/18 5' 5/ 76.' 100 90 124 71 70 68. 65 .6-15 ■5/25 12/3/l'J32 12/G/1932 ■ 5/25 C/1 , C/8 ■ 6/15 59 93 90 96 SS 66 63 100 93 84 «0 69 75 85 56 65 56 78 80 78 SI 57 •T M 7/20 6/8 . 6/8 3/7/1933 8/22 6/15 . 5/11 ' 5/25 5/18 ll/U/36' 6/22 7/20 6/8. 6/8 7/20 6/15_ ' B/lF 6/22 . :7/20 7/20! 6/15 7/20 •. 5/25 7/1/38 , CITF STRSETS BVERGBEBN (R) HAVING WONDERFUL TIME ARMY GIRL ALWAYS GOODBYE SOUTH RIDING DANGER ON THE AIR RAGE OF PARIS MEN, ARE SUCH FOOLS Vr. MacDonald Col Meller Carrllli»-E;, BeII6w$-H. J. Eddy Al Rogel 68 7/27 V. Seville GB Musical J. Malthews-B. ,Mackay Victor Saville 82 1/15/35 P. S. Berman RKO Comedy G. Rogers-D. Fairbanks, Jr. Al Santell 7* 6/15 Sol Siegel Rep Rom-Dr, M.Evans-P.Foster Arm'd Schaefer 90 7/20. Ray Griffith 20tli Rom-Dr B. Stanwyck-H. Marshall Sid Lanfield 75 6/29 Alex Korda UA Drama R. Richardson-E. Best Vic SaVille 84 7/27 Irving Starr U Mystery D, Woods-A. Grey Otis Garrett 6$ 7/20 B. G. DeSylva V Com-Rom D. Darrleux-D. Fairbanks Jr. Henry Koster 80 6/15 David Lewis W B Rbm-Com W. Morrls-P. Lane Biteby Berkeley 69 6/22 7/8/38 FAST COMPANY F. .Stephani MGM Rom-Com. - M. Donglas-F.' Rice Eddie Buzzel 75 6/29 MAN'S COUNTRY Mono Mono . - Western Jack Randail Robert Hill 63 8/3 . CRIME RING Cliff Reid RKO Mystery A. Lane-F. Mercer Les Goodwins 71 7/27 • LITTLE WOMEN (R) K. MacGowan RKO Rorh-Dr . Hepburn- J. BennettrF. Dee ' Geo. Cukor 117 11/21/33 DURANGO VALLEY RAIDERS A. W. Hackel . Rep Western Bob Stcele-L. Stanley Sam Newfleld PANAMINT'S BAD MAN Sol Lesser 2Mfe Western S. Balleiv-N.. Beery Ray: Taylor . 6»' 8/ia MY BILL . Bryan Foy WB Drama K. Francis-J. Utel John Farrow. 6t 6/15 7/16/38 PIONEER TRAIL. Col Col Western J. Lnden-J. Barkley . Jos. Levering SHOPWORN ANGEL J. li.' Manckiewlcz MGM Rom-Dr M. Sullavan- J. Stewart H. C. Potter 85 7/13 PRIDE OF THE WEST Harry Sheirman Par Western BUI Boyd Les Selander 55 8/17 GOLD MINE IN SKY C. E. Ford Bep Western G. Autry^S. Bumette Joe Kane 60 7/6 PASSPORT HUSBAND Sol Wurtzel 20th Com-Dr P.- Moore-S. Erwln Jas. Tinling 74 7/27 PRISON BREAK Trem Carr U Meller . G. Farrell-B. McLane Arthur Lubih . 72 7/20 7/22/38 BSFORMATOBY LOVE FINDS ANDY HABDY TROPIC HOLIDAY BOO-LOd SKY GIANT . I'LL GIVE A MILLION ALGIERS LITTLE TOUGH GUY PENROD'S DOUBLE TROUBLE Col Col Drama J. Holt-C^ Wynters Lew D. Collins Hal Roach MGM Com-Dr M. Rooney-J. GarUnd Geo. Seitz A. Hornblow, Jr: Par Musical D. Laraour-Burns-Baye Theodore .iieed C. E. Elliott Par Adv-Dr C. Ta.pley-S. Asmara-A. Lane C E. Elliott Robert Sisk RKO Meller R. DlxrC. Morris-J. Fontaine Lew Landers K. MacGowan 29tb . Drama W. Baxter-M. Weaver : Walter Lang Walter Wanger UA RomrMel C. Boyer-S. Garle-H. Lamairr John Cromwell Ken Goldsmith V Drama. Dead End Kids Herold Young Bryan Foy ■ WB Com-Dr ■ Mauch Twins \ . : Lew Seilef 7/29/38 8/6/38 SOUTH Ok' ARIZONA -Col Col Western STRANGE BOARDERS Geo. B. Mason ■ GB Mystery THE CHASER Frank David MGM- Com-Dr PROFESSOR BEWARE Harold Lloyd Par Comedy HEROES OF THE HILLS Wm. Berke Rep Western MOTHER CAREY'S CHICKENS ' P. S. Berman RKO .Drama LITTLE MISS BROADWAY D. Hempstead 2»th Rom-Com AMAZING DR. CLITTERHOUSE Anatole Litva k WB Drama C. SUrrett-I. Meredith T. WaHs-R. Saint Cyr 6. O'Keefe-A. Morris-L. Stone : H.Lloyd-P.Welch ' Three Mesqulteers ' R. Keeler- A. Shirley S. Temple-G. Murphy-Durante E. G. RobinsonTC Trevor Sam Nelson George Mason E. L. Marin Elliott Nugent Geo. Sherman Rowland V. Lee Irving Cummings Anatole Litvak THE LADY VANISHES THE QROWD ROARS BAREFOOT BOY BULLDOG DRUNMOND IN AFRICA COME ON, LEATHERNECKS MAN FROM MUSIC MOUNTAIN PALS OF THE SADDLE I'M FROM THE CITY ■ ' QATEWAY LETTER OF INTRODUCTION MR. CHUMP THE GLADIATOR A.Hitchcock • GB Rom-Dr M. L6ckwbod-P. Liikas A.Hitchcock Sam Zimbalist MGM Rom-Dr R. Taylor-M. O'Snllivan R. Thorpe .E..3. Derr Mono Drama J. MOran-M. M. Johes-R. Morgan Karl Brown Harold Hurley Par Mystery J. Howard-H. Angel-H. B; Warner Louis King Herman Schlom Rep Sports R; Cromwell-M. Hunt Jas. Cruze Cbas. Ford Rep Outdoor G. Autry-S. Burhette Joe Kane Wm. Berke Rep Western 3 Mesqulteers . Geo. Sherman Wm Sistrom RKO Comedy J. Pehtier-L. Krueger .. Ben Holmes Samuel G. Engcl 2tth Drama D. Ameche-A. Whelan-RatoS A! Werker ■ John Stahl U Rom-Dr A. Leeds-A. Menjou-Bergen John Stahl Bryan Foy WB Com-Rom . JohnnlerLola Lane'. Wm. Clemens 61 90 77 60 80 70 9S 85 65 6/29 7/13 7/6 8/3 .7/20 7/13 6/26 7/27 7$ 90 S5 82 70 87 8/10 7/13 8/3 '7/27 7/6 0/22 87 60 54 71 73 100 60 8/3 8/17 8/10 8/10 8/3 8/10 8/12/38 RICH MAN. POOR GIRL THE TEXANS PAINTED DESERT KEEP. SMILING THE MISSING GUEST RACKET BUSTERS David L. Loew Co! Comedy J. E. Brown-J. Travis Edw. Chodorov MGM Com-Dr B.' Young-R. Hussey ■ Lucien Hubbard Par Outdoor J. Bennett-R. Scott Bert Gilroy RKO Western G. O'Brlen-L. Johnson Sol Wurtzel 20th Com-Rom J. Witheis-G. Stuart B. Sarecky U Mystery "P. Kelly-C. Moore-Lundlgan Sam rischofi WB . Meller . H. Bogart^Glorla Dickson Ed Sedgwick R. Schunzet Jas. Hogan David Howard Herbert I: Leeds John Rollins Lloyd Bacon CONVICTED BLOCK-HEADS GIVE ME A SAILOR SMASHING THE RACKETS A ROMANTIC ROGUE ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND THAT CERTAIN AGE Col Col Meller R. Hayward-C. Quigley Leon Barsha Hal Roach MGM Comedy ; Laurel and Hardy John Blystone Jeff Lazarus Par Comedy M. Raye-B. Hope-B. Grable Elliott Nugent B. P, Fineman RKO Meller C. Morrls-F. Mercer Lew Landers John H. Auer Rep RomTDr R. Noyarro-M. Marsh John H. Aucr H. J. Brown 20lh Musical T. Power-A. Faye-Ameche Henry King J. Pasternak __V_ Musical D. Durbln-J. Cooper-I. Rich Edw. Ludwig 8/2/38 MARIE ANTOINETTE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN SPAWN OF THE NORTH " BREAKING THE ICE TENTH AVENUE KID ' SPEED TO BURN THE YOUNG IN HfiART WOMEN COURAGEOUS BOY MEETS GIRL H. Stromberg Wm. T. Lackey Al Lewin Sol Lesser Harry Grey Jerr.y Hoffman D. 6. Selznick Ben Glazer Sam Bischoff MGM Mono Par RKO Rep 20th ,UA. WB WB Drama N. 5hearer-T. Power ■ Rom-Dr , . A. Nagel-J. LaRue Outdoor Gr. Rafi-It. Fonda-Lamour Musical B. Breen-C. Ruggles Meller B. Cabot-B. Roberts Sports M. Wlialen-L. Bari Rorh-Dr J. Gaynor-D. Fairbanks, Jr. Com-Dr Priscllla-Rosemary-Lane Comcdj- Cagney-O'Brlen-M. Wilson :»/8/38 PHANTOM GOtD I AM THE LAW TOO HOT TO HANDLE BOY'S TOWN STARLIGHT OVER TEXAS SING, YOU SINNERS CAREFREE MY LUCKY STAR MAN WITH 100 FACES FOUR'S A CROWD Col Everett Riskin L. Weingarten John Considine Ed Finney Wesley Ruggles Pandro Berman Harry J. Brown A, Hitchcock David Lewis W. S. Van Dyke Karl Brown . Henry H.ilha.way Edward Cline B'nard Vorhaus . Otto Brower Richard Wallace Michael Curtiz Lloyd Bacon Col Col : MGM MGM Mono Par RKO 20th GB WB Western ■ . Meller Com-Dr Drama Western ComrRom Musical MUs-Rom Drama Com-Rom J. Luden-B. Marlon E. G. Robinson- W. Barrle Gable-Loy-Carrlllo S. Tracy-M. Rooney-IIull Tex Bitter-C. LaRoux B. Crosby^F. MacMurray F. Astalre-G. Rogers Ilehie-R. Greene-Romero L. Palmer-T. Walls R. Russell-E. Flynn Joe Levering Al Hall Jack Conway N. Taurog Al Herman Wesley Ruggles Mark Sandrich ■ Roy Del Ruth A. Hitchcock Michael Curtiz 70 70 90 SO 65 05 8/17 8/3 8/17 8/17 160 7/27 8/10. C/1 ; "7713" /I7 THE LADY OBJECTS STABLEMAT£S MEXiCALI KID IN OLD MEXICO AFFAIRS OF ANNABEL SAFETY IN NUMBERS SECRETS OF AN ACTRESS ■ Wm. Perlberg Harry Rapt Robt. Tamsey Harry Sherman Lou Lusfy John Stone David Lewis Col MGM Mono. Par RKO :20th WB Com-Rom Com-Dr Western Western Comedy Comedy Rom-Dr G. Stuart-L. Ross W. Beery-M. Rooney J. Randall-W. Barry W.' Bbyd-G. ilayes J. Oakle-L. RaH J. Proiity-S. BylhgtOQ K. Francis-G. Brent . Erie C. Kenton ■ Sam Wood Wallace Fox Ed w.D.Vcn lu rin i Ben StolofT Mai St, Clajr Wm, Keighlcy 28 VARIETY Wednesday, August 17, 1938 —while "The Crowd Roars" and "Love Finds Andy Hqrdy" continue to blast the heat with happy hold-overs, look what's coming ! LMY YS EAD! J Detect '°J°tvd^^^^ it' "4* ueatt Dtatna Astot Bice, ^ M-G-M THE FRIENDLY COMi¥;.NY Vedoesday, August 17, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY 29 Resor Booms Commercial Films As Big Adv. Trend; Exhibs Won Over? Hollywood, Aug, 16. Boom days, are ahead for com- mercial film production in Holly- wood last week forecast Stanley Besbi^, president of J. Walter Thompson agency, one of the more important trail blazers in the newr est advertising trend, on his arrival here to draw contracts with studios and producers on industrial flick- ers Accompanying Resor was Fred Fidler, recently 4nstallied as JWTs headman on commercial films. Fidler backed iip Resor's en- thusiasm over the rosy outlook for sponsored celluloid with figures sketching its program. Of the 14.- 000 theatres in this country wired lor sound more than half are throwing commercials on their screens; Fjdler said, adding that the exhibitor antipathy toward this streamlined throwback to merchan- dising slides is fast being dissipated. Fidler approximated that $15,000,- 000 was spent for the sales ribbon last year and the next compilation will show a healthy spiurt. When Resor was asked the newest trend in advertising, he said. That's it- commercial films.' Resor, hid a good word to say about radio, too. Of the firm's . biz volume, he said, radio's share has increased up to 15% in the past five y^ars. , Tl)e Coast will progressively enhance its importance as a radio production center, he believes, and the outlook is' for more-JWT shows originating here come fall. After resting up on his ranch in .Wyoming,. Resor returns to New York. .Own Foursome Hollywoou, Aug. 18. Lionel AtwiU, in show busi- ness 34 years, signed, an ainbi- tious contract with 20th-Fox. . It calls for wv k as an actor, writer, director .- nd producer. T BY Rockefellers Fmance Sdfl Another Gronp to Visual EdocatioB PRODUCT DEALS Repablle, Gaamont Columbia's New Selllnr Deals for- Republic product' for 1938-39 have been closed with both Great States and the Essaness cir- cuits in the Chicago area. J. R. Grainger went out personally to ne- gotiate the contracts. Great States takes the product for 72 theatres in Illinois and Indiana, while Es- saness, operating only jn Chicago, will play the pictures in 30 houses. Jules Rubens: represented Great States, while Edward Silverman and Emil Stern 'signed for Essaness. Republic has closed several im- portant foreign distributing deals, in- cluding with Capt Harold Auten for handling of the Rep product by Brit- ish Empire Films, Ltd., the next three years in Australia and New Zealand, this deal assuring outlet for the aim in 60 theatres of the Greater Union circuit in Australia and 160 houses in New Zealand^ Another deal of major import is J'ith Minerva. Films for exclusive distribution of Rep product in Bel- gium and colonies for thiS^ season and n«xt (1939-40), while a third is with Monopol Films. A. G. for Switzer- land lor two seasons, both deals cov- ering features, westerns and serialis. Closing a domestic' deal, setting the Rep pictures with the Affiliated «'rcuit in Pennsylvania and Atlantic ^'ty, James R. Grainger, sales head, "ft Monday night (15) for Glovcrs- v"le. N. Y., to complete details on a contract with the Schine circuit, one the largest indie chains in the east Nat Lefton, Clevelapd fran- cnise hold(!r, and Jack Bcrkowitz, ■aullalo franchise head, are with ^ramger in GloversvUIe on this deal. Circuit deal , having been sign.i- tured with Warner Bros; thaatre Chain, Gaumont-British presently is lining up individual setups iii vari- « J ';!"'tories. Those for Cleveland ana Cincinnati territories have been set by Arthur Grisenblatt, Gaumont eastern manager, who also nego- flr \ ■ the master deal. He left the "Tst of the week for Albany and will swing through his district to fix [ne other spots on the Warner Bros. . .Columbia has closed, with the "■""^"^ord chain in Pennsylvania '"".New York state, setting 1938-39 P™auct into 78 houses of this chain. L,"!^ Astor, circuit sales executive, neaaed the Col. battery .in the nego- RnK ^vhilc John Nolan and Jui.-i '^oocits represented Comerfoi'd. Visual education received an ad- ditional boost this week when , a non-profit educational' organization, known as the American Film Cen- ter was formed with Rockefeller Foundation . supplying original grant to carry the proposition through to late next winter. This corporation or society, the recently, formed School Film Libraries (designed to set educational subjects in class- rooms for producers) and the Pro- gressive Education Association con- stitute three units now pushing visual education in the U. S. . Film Center's chief spokesman, Donald Slessinger, a member of the association's board, presently is di- rector of education at New 'York World!s Fair. He is a forrner Yale law professor and ; dean, in Social Science at Chicago U. . The Center is to promote use ot motion, pictures as a medium of education, serving as connecting link between scientific, . educational, documentary, industrial and other organizations with film ideas. In this capacity if will help frame pro- ductions, contact suitable producing and distributing units and offer its reseiarch facilities to producers . of film for entertainment.. One of its acknowledged, purposes will be bridging of the gap between edu- cators arid producers. Members of the American Film Center board, with present , head- quarters in Time building. Radio (5ity, include Dr. Alice V. Keliher,. chairman of human relations com- mission. Progressive Education As- sbciation: Fanning Hearon,, director of the Association of School Film Libraries. Inc.; Mr. Slesinger; Ken- neth D. Widdemar, N. Y. City health department's comrhittee on neigh- borhood health development; Dr. Luther Gulick, director of Regents Inquiry into character and cost of public . education. New York state, and professor ot municipal science at Columbia U. JOSEPH EAST FOR U H. 0. BIZ 3-4 WEEKS Jdhn Joseph,, advertising-public- ity director for Universal, came into New York first of this week for conferences with his staff in the east and for meetings with home of- fice officials. He probably will re- main three or four weeks and sit in while Lou Pollock, eastern pub- licity head,' takes his vacation. Joseph said that he will continue his office on the Coast with bulk of ad-publicity sta'ff located there. Davil Liplon continues as his right hand man in charge of publicity generally. Going with the Wind Hollywood, Aug. 16. Warners named Aug. 24 as the starting date for 'Women in . the Wind,' final picture for Kay Francis under her scvcn-ycar contract. Miss Francis' fiance. Erick Barne- kow, will be her Icchnical advisor in the avialiou scenes. Northwest Exhibitors Proph- esy Shift to the Neigh- borhood Theatres^ inView of Parking Headaches — - Only De 'Luxers with Own Parking Lots Can Offset Public Antipathy Using Newsreels as Trailers For SEE SCALE CHANGES Minneapolis, Aug. 16. Some of the leading independents here are anticipating that It will be only a matter of time be- fore the big' and small downtown houses, afTiliated and ' otherwise, abandon first-runs and go to' a dime, 15 or . 20c. top, with neighborhood situations taking the first-runs. This new angle may sound far fetched, but unless present theatre business trends change soon there is sure to be a shakeup of the entire setup, independent circles believe. Except in the case of outstanding pictures or big name stage attrac- tions, grosses downtown generally' are below par, it's pointed out. The opposition, from the lower-scaled neighborhood and suburban house* is proving increasingly hurtful. These uptown situations are not suffering so severely from the present depres- sion as the loop houses, according to the trade. . One big factor is the parking ad- vantages of the neighborhood houses. Downtown the parking problem is serious. Parking service costs al- most as much as the theatre ticket. On the other hand, most of the de luxe neighborhood houses have large parking lots adjacent . where they provide free parking service. Under a revised setup; de luxe loop houses could play stage shows plus second-run pictures, it's pointed out. CUT-RATING IN ST. L EXPLAINED GOING LIKE SIXTY Hollyvvood.Aus. 16- ixty workmen are building .sets for 'Made for Each Other," co-.star- ring Carole Lombard and James Stewart iit Se|:!nlt»-liiteriiational, Joiui CioituvcU will direct. St. Louis, Aug. 16. Indie operators in the metropolitan district demanded and received an explanation from Fred Wehrenberg, owner of a chain of nabcs and presi- dent of the MPTOA of Eastern Mis- souri and Southern Illinois, between a letter sent them on June 30 urging a discontinuance of price-cutting and the recent action of the Savoy, a Ferguson, Mo., house in which Wehrenberg is interested, which has gone in for the same thing. , In his letter Wehrenberg pointed out that during the summer , biz slump it was unwise for exhibitors to cut prices as this procedure would benefit no one as competitor.'; would follow suit arid all would lose. The letter also urged exhibitors to make their houses more attractive to cus- tomers instead of engaging in cut- throat tactics. ' Some ihdic operators followed Wehrenbergs sugSMlion.s. But' when others kicked over the traces the Savoy," Ih adjacent St. Louis County, began the distribution, through merchants, of coupons that are good for a 10c. reduction in the purchase price of an adult ducat to the hbuse. The coupons arc given with purcha.scs in the various stores in the county and even hamburger joihts are well stocked with them. Ju.'itifyin.!' the action at the Savoy, Wehrenberg said he still is of the opinion that price-slashing i.s an ill wind that blows ho good, but thiil his i.dvice has iieen disre;;aiclcd and he has .iust adopted sell'-picsciva- tion methods. He pointed out that the Normandy and Univer.sity City theatres in St. Loui.-, County and thi Dakota and Yale, .S-jiilh St. Louii nabes. have put; into effect a I5c. lop ott Tliursday and Fridays and in Ferguson, whore the Savoy is Oh, Mr. Towntend Hollywood, Aug. 16. Extras over;3S are not wanted in the studios. Check-up for past 90 days shows that prac- tically . every call received by Central Casting specified that players must be \inder that age. Thousands of extras, includ- ing former - name players, are , middle-aged. Par's Big locatioii' CaUs Around N. Y. C; a Shortage Paramount may do virtually all its New Xdrk film scenes on location in future, instead of doing them in- doors in the Coast studios as for- merly. Matter is undecided at the moment, but depends on the results of tiie recent fllminig of 'Say It in French' sMnes in New York, as well as how the budgeting compares. To make the jbackground shots of several New York, hotels, street scenes and bits in Central .Park, the new Menry Hudson Parkway and the Lincoln Tunnel, the .company brought director Andrew L; Stone, assistant Arthur Jacobspn and caih- era and technical crews. from the Coast.. About SOO extras, technical employees and grips were hired in New York. That took the place of building replicas of the buildings and locations in the studios, it was the largest scale feature filming job Par has ever doiie in the east. - Shooting , took several weeks , and Stone has returned . to the Coast. Jacobson remained in New York to work on a similar location job. with director Wesley Ruggles:. An angle of the job was the fact that the com- pany had some difficulty finding enough of the types sought among the extra ranks in New York. Es- timated more than 100 actors em- ployed , were not Screen Actors Guild members arid had to join that organization. Figured if . Par and other studios do regular, location work at this end the Guild member- ship in the east will be greatly ex- panded. U. S -MADE PIX SET ON TRANSATLANTIC SHIP Washington. Aug. 16. Passengers on Atlantic luxury liners, unless they duck it, will be subjected to Federal pix propaganda, Federal Housing Administration an- nouncement indicated. New FHA film, 'Today We Build,' to be shown on several ships (first i; Normandie) under deal arranged by Modern Film Corp. of New York. Flick is first Government-produced celluloid dealing with large scale rental housing projects. nitH FOR KEIGHLET Hollywood, Aug. 16. With the completion of 'Brother Rat,' William Keighley turned in his fourth directorial job for Warners this year. Director is studying three scripts and will decide on his fifth produt- ! lion this week. Growing tendency of newsreels to ballyhoo their distributing, company stars, executives and feature prod- uct is developing several of the reels' into virtual house organs foi:- the major companies. So certain news- reel editors aver, on the q.t., and blame home office domination for the condition. Such so-called dom- ination di4 lot exist in past years when newsreels had more or less separate setups and were allowed to carry on operations without so much h.o. interference. Recent check over a period of little inore than a month revealed that the five newsreels . went out of their way to plug stars, either be- cause tpp executives indicated they . wanted it or 'because home office or newsreel officials felt highup execs coiild be salved by inserting clips in the reels boosting satellites or forthcoming releases. ■ Big catch in the present tendency is that the publicity blurbs are. not clicking with' exhibitors but are actually harming the pr^tige of newsreels. Some newsreels claim they are forced into the praistice be- cause several other strong opposi- tion reels do it Simply, explain away the obvious plugs by saying others are doing the same thing. Entire thing reverts back to whether newsreels are to be. re- served for news or for variegated publicity gags ' concocted- by the Coast or honie office (or by editors themselves). Veteran reel editors in some respects compare the policy to. that practiced Sonne years ago by a few chain newspapeirs who always glorified what the editor had to say or was doing in a pronilnent manner. To some in the trade, the presence of publicity in newsreels. about stars, officers and product, indicates a : rather decided swing towards making . newsreels subsidiary to the feature picture setup. They cite in- stances where commentators, and even one newsreel cameraman, have, employed the reels as a stepping .stone to fame in shorts, features or in the radio field. LORENTZ'S NEXT FarthcomlnK V. S. Film To Treat With Uumau Next Pare Lorentz pie will deal wi^h human beings, rather than with such intimate objects as "The Plougfi* and The River.' Piece will not be a 'Boy Meets pirl' type of thing, how- ever, but will be another docu- mentary. That's as much as the producer knows about his next film. What its theme and subject matter will be depends on which Government agency next requires h|m to produce a picture. That, in turn, depends on which one receives the money for such an undertaking; Matter bf the coordinating bureau for Government films, already pro'^ posed to be set up' under Lorentz, awraits Congressional action, which carinpt come before the next session^ Meantime, Lorentz is shuttling back and forth between New. York and Washington and keeping an eye on the distribution of 'Plough' and 'River.' 1 located, the town is placai-dcd . with I posters telling of the reduced admis- I sion prices at the' Normandy. : Explaining the situation, at the I Savoy, Wehrenberg said the price is ; still 25c. for adults but that mer- ■ chant.'i are permitted to buy trade ; coupons by (jiving a $1 merchandise ' (lift for every 20 coupons. In this way the theatre gels lie. from the inorchanl.s and 15e. from custnnior.s. wh(j u.se thie coupon.s; Wehi'enbci r; ' said the . coupons arc good only oii , . the niyhls when the University Cil.v i 'and Normandy h'juscs cit tho ad'ni.- | ' sion price. Congo Pic Ready Armand Denis-Leila Rposevcll's Belgian Congo feature, 'Dark Rap- ture," was finished by Denis last week. Film record of highlgihl.'; on 42,000-milo trek through the Congo is being sftt foi- release by Universal in two v,ci;ks. LADY m DEMAND ffolly wood,: Aug. lf>. C)lyii;(ii; I{r;ii1(ia (Jets the fcmme l(':id ill I'ara/ii'igiu's forlhcoinii'? ■I''ollf)v. till! Sun,' V/ith ing Crosby .iiiil iJ'il) Hope. Thipn jolxs now a wait Miss Bradr.a oi.. tlic Par lot. Other two are In 'S;i\ 1' in Ficiich' and 'Air Raid.* VARIETY Wednesday, August 17, 1938 O "q ^ .fi 2 So5"^ * --■8 a. ^ I— s D 3 » 0( o. ^ c a S 2 S 4> hi fi ro 5. 2 « -0 2 ^ .5 g g ? A s n H 0) H» » c H ;q l^ednesdaj, August 17, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY 31 306 inlresh Move to Oust Empire Boothmen from N.Y.; Picket 8 in Bldyn Long stymied in trying to bust Empire operators from the, few booths they still control, Local 306, Moving Picture Machine Operators of New York, enlistied the aid of musicians and stagehands in a fresh drive which started with intensive picketing Monday, (15) against eight A. H. Schwartz (Century circuit) houses in Brooklyn. Hie goal of 306 is 100% unionizatioii of Greater ■ New Yoirkrto the total exclusion of Empire with which numerous efforts for a merger proved to no avaih Schwartz's eight houses pounced on Monday (15) by the triple- barreled union : offensive are the Oceania, Avalon, Kingsway, Mayfair, Midwood, Vogue, Bliss and Merrick, all In Brooklyn. . They have for years employed Empire operators at allegedly lower scales than would be necessary if ,306 were installed. There are additional theatres, though not many now, which stiir use the Emp boothmen. Among these are nine more ■ Schwartz theatres ■ which are to .be added to the picketing list this wee!: in what is characterized as 306's last stand agaiiist.. the opposition Empire union. Emp has confined itself most- ly to Brooklyn in late years, wiUi an understanding at one time . resulting iii 306 and Erhp continuing their operations without trouble. How- ever, after Allied, a miich . stronger ops union,' was taken in by 306, the latter went to .work on Empire and sought an absorption but Without success. : In the latest attack, 306 has ob- tained the cooperation of Local 802 (musicians) and Local No. 4, Brook lyn stagehands. EXHIBS QUIZ COPS ON WHY PIN6ALLS ARE OK Philadelphia, Aug! 16. Exhibs, . whose . bingo and banko games havie been nixed by the law as games of chance,, are questioning city ofiScials on their apparent ap- proval of pihball, slot-machine and other .catch-penny games in ' drug stores,: tap. rooms and amusement parkjs throughout the city. ' Film inen claim their games were no more games of chance than these and that the ban is discriminatory. Safecrackers' Missout ' Mechanlcville, N. Y , Aug. 16. .Burglars visited the State, North Main street house, Friday night (12) but departed empty handed because they were unable to crack the, office safe. There was only a small amount of money in it. . Police stated that they believed the burglars to be beginners; they succeeded only in knocking bIT the safe's combination. Atlanta, Aug. 16. Cascade (nabe) theatre's office safe is made of stern stuff. Sti-ong- box last week resisted elToiis of cracksmen for third time, when yeggs were balked after iamming combination. First attempt to loot safe took place in December, second three months ago. There was about $150 in box, e. Hi Stokes, assistant man- ager, ,stated. He said he believed yeggmen hid in house after closing hour. Tricky 'Topper' ^ Hollywood, Aug. 16. Complicated trick shots lor 'Top- Takes a Trip,' s.Urling (24^ at we Hal Roach studio, will require a. .separate eight-rhan crew of spe.- cial ^technicians in addition to the regular camera outfit. Sequel to the original 'Topper' have twice, as many ma- terializations. 'PASSAGE' WAITS Hollywood, Aug. 16. • Date for the start of shooting on raetros 'Northwest Passage' was f °^'Poned to Aug. 23. Troupe was u u ifor Idaho locations last week but director W. S. Van Dyke was busy pickup shots for Sweethearts;' . ^inter wUi have Robert Taylor, ihil'^*'' Traicy and Wallace Beery in '"e top roles. The Climax Philadelphia, Aug. .16, Life of a.'busyman: " Lewen Pizor, prez of United . Motion Picture Theatre Own- ers, next Friday night will open the Ace theatre, which he re- cently acquired and rebuilt. The following Friday night he'll, open the Tiogai,; also re- cently acquired and rebuilt. The third Friday night he'll open his nev/ Chelten theatre. . And the ' following Friday night he'll get married. ams ChainNowK Less Than a Year .. Philadelphia, Aug. 16. Affiliated Theatre .Circuit, Inc., 'headed by Dave MUgi'am, jumped io 16 houses last week with acquisition of .the Frolic. Organized less than a year ago. Affiliated is now the largest indie - chain .in the territory. . Circuit <>will take over operation of the Frolic Sept 1; It will reopen the Walton;. Ciermantowni Aug.: 24, ind light lip its hew. Adelphl on Sept 16. Adelphi is. being erected' at a cost of $80,000 .to retaliate aigainst Charles Segall, chairman of the board of: .United Motion Picture Theatre Own- ers,, whois putting up a house near Milgram's Wklton. Affiliated opened its Rialto last week after, it was closed for exten- sive alterations. Joy, Houston, b Second Barrage; Dynamite Now Houston, Aug. 16, Four sticks .of dynamite with a partially burned fuse attached were foUnd by firemen Thursday night (11) on - the roof of the Joy, sniall downtown picture house, sec- ond run. It was in the same theatre that a stench bomb, was thrown burning several patrons, about six weeks ago. Percy Wade, manager, said,- he knew of no reason why the dynamite was placed on the roof or why any- one would wish to daihage the thea- tre. Investigating police said it was im- possible to take fingerprints from the dynamite or the tape which bound the sticks together. Police blame labor trouble. The theatre employs CIO men while the other theatres deal with AFL union men. H. M. Brooks' N(Hniiiation Albany, Aug. 16. Harry M. Brooks, operator of Proctor's, Troy, N. Y., prez of the Troy Operators' Union for the past 21 years, and the present secretary- treasurer of State Association was nominated American Laboi: candi- date for Congressman from the 29th. district.. He' was .a Third District Republi- can Assemblyrhan in 1926. Woods, Chi, Again First Run When It Becomes S&SFlag ship Chicago, Aug. 16. With the takeover of the Woods, which has been a subsequent run spot under the Jones, Linick & Schaefer banner, Essaness is consid- ering returning the house to a first- run theatre as it was. when operated by RKO. Essaness threesome, Eddie Silver- man, Emil Sterh and Sidney iSpiegel, have had their eye out for ; a loop flagship for some time. Their , cir- cuit, numbers .30 theatres. Only the relatively small seating capacity (1,200 seats) militates against the Woods as an initial spot for flickers, but Essaness believes that this deficiency can be made up in the prestige which, would, accrue to the circuit, and result in increased Analysis of Oklahoma s 400 Houses Shows Them to Be Virtually Indie The Millennium . , Seattle, Aug. 16. Owner of local sign - shop, specializing in theatre lobbies, believes he's witnessed the ap- proach of the millennium. Indie operator advised him that his program was changing the following day.. Sign man stated that the shop was too busy to turn out a lobby, so theatre , man postponed opening . for a coupla days until signs could be remedied. trade for string. all the theatres in the MONO SALES CLIMB; TO PRODUCE ABROAD . Hollywood, Aug. 1,6. Monogram's sa'es thus : far this year are up 38% over the corre- sponding figures for 1937, in spite of a b.o. decline throughout the country, according to president W, Ray John- stone; With over 6,000 outlets' in U. S., Monogram plans to enter the produc- tion field in England. Cost of four productions'in London.will be shared by Pathe, the company's British re- leasing outfit. Details will be an- nounced at the next board meeting, Sept. 29. U Reshuffles Trio Hollywood, Aug. 16. Another shuflfle at Universal puts Joy Hedges back in 'Service De Luxe'; Dorothea Kent in 'Adam's Evening,' and Nan Grey back in 'The Storm.' Reason for triple re-shift is that Miss Kent, who was to have gone into 'Storm,' will not be able to finish 'Youth Takes a Fling" in time. Miss Cirey was to have replaced Miss Hodges in 'De Luxe.- idiot' Still Off ,' Hollywood, Aug. 16. Opening gun on Metro's Clark Gable-Norma Shearci slaner, 'Id.iot's Delight," has been postponed another month, making it 60 days late. Gable is still working in 'Tbo Hot to I'iaiidle," after ^vhich he will take a two-week vacatioii provided in his contract. Leonard's Starte.r Hollywood, Aug. 16. First chore by. Robert Z. Leonard under his new .irodiiccr-director pact with Metro is an untitled yarn of stage folks, starting Saturday (20). Jeannette MacDonald is in the top role. Story is by Leonard and Charles Lcdcrer. Mooney's Film Buying Combine tor Cleve. Indies • , Cleveland, Aug. 16. ; Milt A. Mooney, former branch manager of Paramount has organized Co-operative Theatres of Ohio, with idea of getting small indies better terms on film product and other ac- cessories. Combine so far includes 13 Cleveland houses, while 20 , down- state theatre;; also have signed con- tracts permitting hini to do their '38- '39 buying. Local nabes in new chain include the Avalon, Beach Cliff, Corlett, Ezella, Garfield, Jen- nings, LaSalle, Lorain-Fulton, Ly- ceum, Madison, New Victory, Parma and Regent. Song of the Sagebrush Hollywood, Aug. 16. Jack Vance, recently with Mal- colm Browne Productions, joined George H. Callaghan- of Sovereign Pictures to produce six westerns. Series is called 'The Singing Biickaroo.s.' featuring Ralph Wil- liams, Ray Thompson and Zcke Clements. WB Encoring Trio Hollywood, Aug. ic; Gombinatioh of Jimmy Carney. Pat O'Brien and Marie Wilson will be used again in. Warnois 'Boy' Meets Sally,' a picturb along, th'? lines, of 'Boy Meets Girl." Mark ■ Hellinger and Earl Baldwin wrote the story. John Payne and Priscilla Lane will have the romantic leads and Lloyd Bacon will direct. Coast Chiefs For Operations Parley Los Ahgele.';, Second regional convention of op- crating chiefs of far wcstiern sub- sidiaries of National Theatres, .Inc., comprising the Fox West Coast, Evergreen and Principal Theatres operations along the.' Pacific ; Coast, got under way here yesterday (15) to continue for three days. Spyros Skouras, head of National Theatres, and Charles P. Skouras,' prexy of Fox West Coast Theatres, are presid- ing,; with around 75 field and home office execs participating. Regional follows a similar confab held last week in Kansas City for the midwestern and Rocky Mountain operations of . . Skbiiras Bros.,' and takes the place of a proposed ~na-t tional convention previously ^sched- uled- for Del Monte. Meeting, is to discuss film product bought for the 1938-39 season and general theatre operating problems. Circuits' par' ticipation in the 'Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment' 'cam- paign will also be mapped out dur- ing the three-day parley. Here from New York with Spy- ros Skouras are Harry Cox, treas-. urer of National Theatres: attorney William Powers,. J. J. Sullivan, chief filin buyer. for Fox-West Coast, and John Haeley, sec to Spyros Skouras. Repre.senting .Evergreen Theatres of the Ptcific Northwest are Frank Newman, John Hamrick, Al Finkle- stein, Al Rosenberg, Frank Christie and A. M. Ahlskog, treasurer of the subsid. Northern California division of F-WC is headed by Arch M- Bowles, and includes district managers Dick Spier, Harry Siepel and Nick Tur-, ner; chief booker Charles Thall; Phil Phillips, in charge of advertising- publicity, and Elmer Hanks, North- ern California realty and mainte- nance chief. Southern California is represented by all district managers, head book-, er Larry Kent, all home office bookers, and one theatre manager from each district, in addition to home office execs. Oklahoma City, Aug. 10. Oklahoma's 400 theatres will b» left practically Untouched by th6 Government's divorcement ' bill it carried through , in its present form. Only a few of the state's 130 chain operated houses are connected with the production or distribution end, with the remaining -270 .coming in as full-riedged. independen . ' Griflith Amus; Co., with its sub- sidiaries, coritrOls the largest single block in the state and has no con- nections, other than booking, with any of the exchanges or producing companies. Standard Theatres, which controls all of the Oklahoma City downtown first-run houses except T. B. Noble, Jr.'s, State, is a Cooper-Warner tie- up and presumably : would be afr fccted by the divorcement bill. Com- pany,, however, -was not named in ■the indictment. Robb it Rowley, most of whoso houses , are in Texas with a few in southern and central Oklahoma, is- understood to have a United Artists money tie "and would probably be- forced to sever this connection. Southwes.tern (I.sley & 'Moran\ with approxiniatoly 30 houses in Oklahoma City, talsa .iiiul snialler toViThs, is another purely exhib chai with central headquarteis in Tulsa.' An additional oftice maintained by Squthw'csterh in the Oklahoma City film row. , Ralph Talbot has .Tiil-sa's llrst-run business fairly well under control with four downtown spots. In ad- dition Talbot has the Akdar Temple, ■which is equipped lor film slibwing. and for special product or road shows and has the largest seating capacity in Tulsa. Talbot has no exchange or. production connections. State also lias several inclcpendent operators with from -two' to fivei. houses but none of them ^ could be considered in the chain cla.ss. Kids Go Floy-Floy Hollywood, AUf!. 10. Beri Judell picked 'The Rbvolt of Youth' as the next Pro^'ressive pro- duction following 'I Want a Divorce,' Picture starts early in October with Phil 'Rosen as pilot. CRATES FLY AGAIN Holiyv/ood, Au«. IB. Two dozen ancient Nieupovts and Fokkers are being reconditioned for war • sequences in Warners 'Dawn Patrol.' 'Pielure moves to outdoor locations this week. Time Not A'wjastin' Hollywood, Au,^. id. Triem Carr is" rushing production on his series of Bob Baker .wc.':terns for Universal. 'Twins of the West' was turned in la-st v.-eek. a, .sccohd funtillcd) is now under way and a third is ready for the gun. Filming is being clone on Iwati- n at Chatsworth; THE TOUR BEGINS Hollywood, And. abcl Takes a Tour' got iiiulc-r w;iy, yesterday ( with Jack O.Tkic a starred. Lew Landers diiectin« Others In ■ the cast iiro F'ianccs ! Mercer. Ruth Donnelly. Alice VVhite. ; Ed G;ii-g!in iind Lew Kelly. MANAGER PINCHED ON BANKO, TORD NIGHT Lynchburg , Aug. 16. Elmore D. Heins, v. p. and gen- eral mahagei: of National Theatre Corp., Roanoke, Va., has been book- ed on lottery charge to test his right to hold 'bank nighf and 'Ford night' in American, Roanoke, Park .and Rialto theatres. Hearing set for Au- , gust 25 by Police Judge Harris Birchfleld. R. Lee Carney, attorney, presented a petition signed by citi- zens protesting against alleged lot-- Icry, . Freak Ohio Tornado Wrecks Cinema, Circus Cleveland, Aug. IC. Freak storm disrupted a circus and partly wrecked a nabe theatre la.st week. Lightning struck the 45- foot brick chimney of the Commo- dore, East Side hoiise, scattering bricks which went through ceiling ol" auditorium. Several hundred cus- tomers were panicked but nobody hurt. Same Wind blew down tent of Newton's Savage Africa Circus in nearby WiMoughby. Fact it hap- pened an hour after last show pre- vented further damages, although Waltei- L. Main, fnrrtier owner, and the only one in tent, suffered shock. Sues on Oral Pact .ris An«oIo?, Au!». 10. Geoi-Kc Klein David.son is .suing Tvilcon Productions, Inc., for Si 5,807, cliiiming the indie outfit broke ■ 6i;;il contract. D;ividsori dcclorod ho w;is hired as Mondnvl -It ItKC ' '"Cation scout, a.wistJint cIii'cctDr und nd L icillc B.-.II CO- „fi^., j.o,„p,<;iin;; one pic-turo. . MICKEY '.S STDELINER Holl.vwoorl, Aim. ~ " '~ . K;iy K;in;f;;i n^^,'.; (ivc-yox-. office become acquainted with most of the to wn's urchins. She remembers when', each one en- ters the theatre, then slips info the auditorium when time is up ' and whispers to 'em that thieir parents want *m. If the juves get tough an usher slips 'em the bounceroo. Youngsters don't ' seem to mind it and their '■ parents are grateful to have- their kids home at night. , Incidentally, it jacks up the theatre's gro? considerably. Theatres-Exchanges Spokane. H. p, McBride, operator of Gra- nada theatre, recovering after opera- tion, for acute appendicitis;. Providence. Kenneth Ilockwell, formerly assist: ant manager of the RKO Albee, will take over the. riianagerial iP>ost with the spot's scheduled reopening Aug, 18. " :■' ,,,.■; ■■ Lynchburj;, Charlottesville has its fourth de luxe theatre., WiU be managed by Dominion Theatres, Inc., also oper- ating this other three houses. Lebanon^ Va., coal, mining town, has its fir?t film house, the Lebanon J. C. Horhey is manager. ' ■ . . . Los Angeles; . Martin Kaplin moved in as man- ager of the.Fox.Belriioht theatre, re- placing Ed Smith, resigned. ' Danny Martin, .brmer distributor in Seattle, joined Monogram's: Lbs Angeles exchange as salesman. President, theatre, only ^ straight neWsreel hbuse west of New York, opened last Wednesday -(10), inaugu- gating new policy of Downtown The atres, Inc. House grinds daily frorri 10 a. m. to 11 p.'m. at straight two- bits admish. Fox-'West Coast Theatres obtained new 20ryear lease on Wigwam thea- tre, 800-seater. in Reno, operated by Mike Naify. .. . . Chic Sturdivant took . over the Carpenteria ' theatre, Carpenteria, Cal;, from 'William GUnn, Lit^riiti Out !■ ill* Ope« For some time it was figured by Insiders that certain, people of. the Hearst s^rts staft in New. York were 'in' on fights promoted by Mike Jacohs. Latter admitted Jt to Harry Grayson, NBA news service! sports editor, V/ho 'wrote, the yarn for the N. Y. World-Telegram Sat- urday (13), carrying a banner line about those involved having partici- pated in 'boxing swag.' Having signed up with, Madison Square Garden for five years to stage box- ing shows there, aS during the past season, Jacobs is quoted saying he is through with the 'Hearst Athletlp Club.' Damon Runyon, Bill Farnsworth and Eddie Frayne are stated to have been partners of Jacobs In his Twen- tieth Century Sporting Club, which has staged the main boxing shows for the past two years. Grayson wrote that there was a quai-rel when Jacobs kept the trio waiting for their cut on the Louis-Schmel- ing fight The scribes became in- terested in fight proriiiotion When they started handling the split for Mrs. Hearst's Free Milk Fund for babies. Fund \yas out last year and Jacobs n'xed. a suggestion that It agairi participate In the fall, when another major .light may be staged. It Is alleged that Jacobs paid Ruriyon $25,000 as 'good will' for his 25% of the Twentieth. Farnsworth, foriher- sports editor of - the Aiitierr lean, left that, sheet when It was merged with the Journal (except the ^Sunday " edition) and '. ^became president of Twentieth. He is still Interested, and so Is Frayrie,- ac- cording tb Grayson. Frayne is sports editor- of the journal, and Suriday . American.- Conceding ;that the Hearst 'Writers helped him chase the Garden out of . boxing, Ja'cbbs now feels that by favoring sports writers of . one daily might get him Info hot water with others, ' Runyon is no longer., writing sports, cbntributing a general col-, umh daily to Hearst's N^ Y. Mirrbr. rte joins the Metro film writing corps in a. month br so. the .papers were operated jbihuw in many departments. ihdicaUolu in N. Y. are that the Herald & Xxamlner will go tablSd during the fall, Chicago also has an afternoon tab, the.' 'Tiriies. Reports that the N.; Y. Journal. Ameirican would hierge with . the Mirror in New York are erroneous. Hearst papers in N.. Y. will rciriain as is,, so far as known.. , Oaiernua . Goes .Xiterali Jack Ostermari?s 'Cafe Souse, ciety' piece Is in Nbrman Anthony's October Issue of 'Mr.' Next month he intends writing about the col- umnists, as the rtiag announces, and Osterman remarks that after that he expects to leave town: Louisa: Wilson on N. Y, Payroll Newest in the many public rela- tions positions in New York Slate service is that of .a secretary to the Board of Parole, at an annual salary of $4,000. The appointee is Louisa 'Wilson,' who, as a cub reporter 11 years ago on the bid New York World, worked under night -city editor, Joseph Canavari, now chair- - man of the- State Board of Parole. Canavan, :Who came to Albany as secretary to, the then, Lieut : Gov. Herl)er,t H; Lehman, later served as secretary to Governor Lehman and thciri received an appointment from him to. the parole board at $12i00b a year. Fish for Friends Seattle. 'Spawn of North' (Par) is a natural for this locale, as Seattle gateways the Alaskan hinterland. So HamricKTEvergreen have landed this one for 'wb'rld's premiere' opening this week (16). And the press department is going, to tbwn. One unusual exploit gag Is STUDIO CONTRACTS Hollywood, Aug. 16. 'Warners renewed Warren Duff's writer contract. Jane Hail inked new writer pact at Metro." Reginald Le Borg si nod director contract at Universal. Metro renewed Cyril Hume's writer ticket RKO lifted its bptibn on Edward Stevenson, fashion designer. Ben :Marksoh iniced writer deal at Gblumbia. STORY BUYS Hollywood, Aug. IG. Metro purchased Brobk 'Williams' tale, 'Eai-l of Chicago.' Columbia bought 'Old Mrs, Leon- ard arid the Machine Gun,' mag story by George Bradshaw and Price Day. ' TIOYD JOHNSTON'S JAM -' Atlanta, Aug. 16. '. ~ Fulton county'- grand jury last week had before it a bill charging Floyd Johnston, 30, forriier sound technician in a Hollywo.bd studio, with murder- of his father; B. ' O. Johnston, 64, Atlanta furniture mer- chant. . ' " Younger Johnston, after pUitiping five bullets into body of his father as latter stood in, doorway of his store, claimed self-defense. He! :was associt^ted with'^ his father: in radio and , sound-equipment '. departments of store. Philadelphia. Byrd, 'West Philadelphia, sold by Albert M. Gireenfield,- representing Northern Trust Co,- trustees for bondholders, 'to Byrd Theatre: Co. The properly was . bought in by , the bondholders' prbtective corhmittee on the former first mortgage bond of $150,000 I and then resold. In, .the present transactibn the bondholders are taking a new first mbrtgage of $100,000.. House, which seats 1,800, has been closed since April 30, and will reopen after Laboir Day, follow- ing alterations. It is about 10 years bid. Kansas City. E. C. Rhoden, district manager, an- nounced last week that Fox-Midwest will open its new EsqUire theatre Aug. IB. House' is the old Downtown thoroughly renovated, and will oper- ate as an outlet for company's ace films. Opening attraction will be 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' and set for exterided run, three to five weeks. Joe Redmond, house man-r •ager,, operating under direction of Sianley Chambers who also governs Tower arid Uptown. Anbthfir feature of house policy will be the ESquire Hour patterned after similar house in Chi. Single bills strictly, the rule hero. Clarence' LUdlbWj house manager at Newman, leaves his work here to enter dentistry iri Boston. He'll be followed by House Manager Sprague who held out at the Mainstrcet until its recent, closing. Paul Reinke now in tlie manager's chair at the Fox- Brookside theatre. Buffalo: Universal exchange man- ager, Pete. Daria, to district manageir of , Kansas City, St Louis, Des Mblnes arid Omaha, Headquarters will be in Kansas City. He is succeeded in Buffalo by John J. Scully. \ Marian Sqnire's Book - Marian Squire, Variety - alumna, whQ .has beeri antholbgying what she calls 'the culinary preferences of a number of distinguished male citizens of the world,' has finally assembled them into: an aittracti ve book, titled 'The, Stag At'Ease' (Cax- ton; - $2) , just published. Appro- priately enough it tees off with F. Di Roosevelt's favbrite recipe, 'Eggs President,' and then alphabetically gives billing to a galaxy of notables that start with George ' Abbott Achmed Abdullah and George Ade, and end with .Whitemari, Winchell, Yawitz and H. K. Zimmerman. In all, more than lOO names, chiefly literati, plus all the other arts, ■ have been: assembled by the astute Miss Squire for her masculine cook book. 'Where culiriary bashfulnesS has overcome some of the contribs, Mi^s Squire has wisely eriibellished the sketchy recipes, or prescribed pref erences with highly eritertaining addenda. It's a book that makes tbr as good reading as eating. Inci- dentally, its an exceptionally at, tractive publication, frorti the pro duction viewpoint. Denver. Cocoanut Grove at Alamosa, Colo., dance . spot, is being made back into a theatre, and when ready will re- place the. old Palm, to be closed. Everett Cole, has bought the building. Will be orie Of the-Gibi'altar Enter- prises theatres. ' , Norfolk, Va. . .Bob Etchberger . is assistant man- ager at Loew's State here,' Hearst's Chicago Shakcup. Several changes in the Hearst lirie-up in Chicago have been or- dered by Joseph V. Connolly. Mer- rill (Babe) Meigs returns as pub lisher qt the Evening Americari, and Harry Koehler comes in as pub- lisher of the morning' Herald & Ex- aminer. Leaving Hearst, in Chi- cago' is Emanuel Levi, who came up -from Louisville and has been publisher of both papers, Meigs recently was v,p. of the Hearst magazines in Chicago, while Koehler has 'been Chi manager of Hearst , International ad service; Harry Reillinger, who had: been witl> Hearst in Chicago , :fbr rinore than. 20 ■ years, resigned as city editor, of the American and viras re- placed by Ray Knolts; editorial writer. Rcitlinger's ouster had nothing to do with the general Hearst shakCrUp in Chicago, and it Is understood that he will be in- duced to remain with the Hearst newspaper set-up elsewhere.. With the return of Meigs to the Amer- ican; 'Walter Parker coines tack to head the circulation department. ■ Under the new set-up, the Ariier lean .' and the ; Herald i Examiner teturn. tp their former . status of completely indie and unrelated pa pers, with separate staffs for news, -circulatibn; promotion, advertising etc. Under Levi's sole pubUshmg, Crcditora Take iCoTjcl, Friede CbvicI, Friede, inc., publishers, has been taken over by its creditors, ac- cording to announcement from the Viking Press. Latter also stated that Pascal .Covicl has: joined Viking in an editorial and executive capacity. He brings John Steinbeck, 'author, along - with him. CbvicI, Fi'iede Was founded in 1928, Stern Slashes Phlily Staff 'Wholesale staff .-firings 'at the . New York Post , recently were followed by 'a siiriilar niove last week on the' Post's sisterrsheet the Philadelphia; Record. Twelve employees in the editorial departriient were let out iri one swoop, with at least four more . skedded to go. Dismissals were for ecoriomy. As in New York, the Philly Guild has named a cbmmlttee to take^ up. the ^firings with, the management. The guillotine cracked down just one riibnth after expiration of the 90-day, -no-firing -clause in: the Rec- ord's Guild contract, which became effective April 8. Unit several months , ago took a strike vote on whethet' to force the management into givirig It a clause in the cbri- tract guaranteeing no dismissals for - ecbnomy.' Strike vote lost ,87-82. ' Lait Free for Ontslde Wrltin; For the first time in 18 years. Jack Lait^ editor of the N. Y. Mir- ror, is free to write for 'bther pub- lications and stories by him are due to appear shortly in, the magazines. When he delivered a . double truck yarn -weekly for the Sunday edition of the Chicago Tribune; and aft- erwards, when he joined the Heariit outfit his contract called for ex- clusive services. Lait is no longer' connected with Hearst's king Features syndicate. His new contract which runs for three years, is for the Mirror only, which does not syndicate fiction. Editor will no longer contribute, stories to the Sunday Mirror maga-^ zine nor the Saturday afternoon Journal-American sectiori. LITERATI, OBITS THIS WEEK Frederick Boyd Stevenson, 19, lecturer, publicist^ and Sunday editor - and staff - member of the Birboklyn Daily Eagle for 27 years until hi.i retirement in 1930> died Aug-. 4 at ■ his' homo in Brooklyn. While with the Eagle , he also , wrote a coUimn. 'Top of the:News:' He is survived by his daughter, Mrs; Fay. Stevenson Mandcl, on the Eagle staff. CHATTER Dick Pollard replaced Allan Brown as head of the Hollywood office for Life. Wa.rd Green, v.p. and general manager of- King Features, fell and injured his back. Is recuperating at home iri N. Y. , Jack Goodman and Alan Green : collabing on a series of six arti- cles for Cosmppolitan, using tlve pc" • jiame of Jack Allen. . M. L. Annenberg, , publisher of the Philly inquirer and several racing forms, reported negotiating for PW';" chase of a Cincinnati dally. ' ' Joe Cunningham, who crealea Rufus McGoofus for Philadelphia (Continued on page 62) VedneBday, August 17, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY 3S More Indie Wcbbcr'i Address (Continued from page 7) iieve that a producer or, distributor hould receive from us an additional wrceiitage of the gross. If he feels ♦hat a picture can be sold on a per- «ntage basis he cerUinly has a right Vask this price but we do not have *°r''doubt that exorbitant film rent- als would be a complaint if vie. v/ere grating under a single feature noUcy today. It is suicide for us to ijav two so-called A features be- muse first, it is likely that both are hifih allocations, thus causing the cost ^ our program to go up and either cutting down our net or resulting in a state of indecision as to whether we have lost $5 or made $5. It is also likely that one of the features by itself would have drawn a suf- ficient number of people itself to show a profit And it is also likely that at some time this additional pic- ture would have helped bolster a week in which we had no particu- larly outstanding attraction. . There is another possibility, that we keep large numbers of people from at- tending the theatre for sometime because their taste for entertainment has been satisfied in one night. In other words, we wear them but by a thr^-hour show and turn them away with the idea in mind; not to come back for a week or ten days. However, the double feature may have created a habit in the public to see more shows. This remains '•V) be seen. , We are accusomed to think at the eiiii Of a buying season, 'Well, I Bbilght this company's - product at an average of $10, $12 or; $20 as it may be, and this seems to be a reasonable figure.' It may be from the producer's standpoint and it may be from yours, yet the eternal hoWl of high film rental still rings in bur ears.' Could it bie that with the . double feature policy our' program ' costs have doubled in the past five years? Could we operate proflt- . ably.today at our present film rental basis If we operated under the sin- . gle feature policy? . Could we or could we not? Business judgment during times ef depression^ and' recession, tells us to cut program costs, Cut service '] costs, operating costs, advertising costs. Yet we still double two A pictures, yet we still spend large 'sums on delivery service, yet we face an increase of 5% in operators' ' salaries next . month with a com- plete disinterest. Either this busi- ness Is damn good or is so far gone ; no one cares about their invest- ments. What the devil is wrong? Low Admissions Before we examine this problem let us examine the motion picture . business, what it does, how it op- ;.«ates, what it furnishes its patrons,, the demand for its goods, its supply of merchandise, and what it asks for . Its product. liis business is one . of entertain- ,: ment alone— by exhibiting stories. Into It may creep education, social . principles, moral principles, politics, etc., but so far we have been able to amuse and interest large groups ,.«f people without, emphasizing any ; one of these. A picture may base .Its story upon the life of a law- ■ br^er, another upon the life of a scientist, another upon industry and ; ">™t. In other words, the actions and thoughts, reactions and emo- tions of individuals which we have experienced ourselves or wish we could experience. The demand for something to in- |««t the eye, the ear and the mind jnihout creating fatigue will always ^ How It is presented is the most important factor in maintain- ^g the demand and I think -we can »y the modem motion picture is lar superior to those of 10 years ago. .But we cannot say the ex- nmitor function has kept pace with ,„„ producer function in present- "B uie motion picture as such to me American people. In °f good merchandise > Pictures is a question of debate. „,,"?*^<"'ity of producers try to Tna ntain standards of entertainment . wnich will attract people, amuse, hLL /u^"" has been consumed , «ve the audience with the feeling as lvk l'?^"'^ and appreciation. We, the i^'rl°"' help them in creai? '° better pictures by B e ?? I "demand for two or three ftam 'i.r pictures on' the same pro- Uri^* "use the audience to be and bored by the strain of sit- lnp%~'*"'"e and seeing and react- raJa, *^ery situation from G-men WoSs .v,^""/ °'hcr .__'as, the demand can be con- Williams' Peeves (Coiitinued from page 7) What we need is a policy that will permit the exhibitor to make some money and at the same time be fair with the producers. There is a cer- tain major company which last year did not ask for more than 35% ol the gross receipts from any picture and I have reliable infoi-'mation that they were at the top from a financial standpoint, at the close of their busi- ness^ year, They did not require 35% on very many pictures and sold quite a number without any per- centage whatever. When a producer perrnits the exhibitor to make money he is in a good frame of mind and will work harder to produce more money for air concerned. . R. X. Williams, Jr. OWNER-MANAGER, LYRId THEATRE. (Member of MPTO of Ark., Miss, and Tenn.) N. Y. Theatre Op Broke Loudys Amus Corp., picture thea- tre operator at 2521 Broadway, N. Y., through its president, Louis Gecirge,. filed a voluntary petition in bank- ruptcy .Thursday (12), ; listing debts of $53,130. The petition listed as ani asset the transfer . of property liqui- dated at $12,239 to the Beacon Hotel Corp. Among creditors named -Was RKO- Radib Pictures Corp,, .for $1,312. Other items included small amounts to picture trade . corporations for services. DIAMOND'S SHOBT aUEST In quest for independent-produced shorts material for release through his company, Lou Diamond, shorts- music head of Paramount, leaves for Hollywood Aug. 29 ' to look over available film in this line. He will^ave the indie-made shorts screened for him at the Par studio. trolled by us and in that control lies the secret of successtiil showman- ship throughout the entire United States. The Public For this service, to the public-^and it is a service, for nbvvhere can. we find such entertainment except in literature — we ask certain- prices. I do not see where the commodity price is controlled by the ; demand of the public. It is evidently con- trolled by us and look what we have, 10c, 15c, bargain nights, give- aways, bank nights, etc., etc. "The history of the theatre is a respect- able one. Millions of people attend- the theatre each week. Why? ; To be presented a dish? If so, that the- atre is not performing the function of the theatre. To engage in games of chance? This should belong only to the gambling room'. The motion picture is manufac- tured, distributed and exhibited. Hight-cost, of production which should Indicate quality of merchan- dise is not absorbed by the public by an increase in price but, by us through an increase in film rental- It. is reasonable to say that a pic- ture which coJt $1,000,000 deserves a high film rental. But we find bur- selves today exhibiting pictures that cost this and we play them . at a low film rental because the picture is not a box office attraction and be- cause the producer realizes this. Again we find ourselves playing many a picture which should not have cost over $300,000 to . produce for a guarantee and percentage. Certainly this is paradoxical in any business but this one. It is for this lack of a base for price fixing that we cannot establish a set figure. But certainly theire is no need, except in certain areas and communities, for us to play, such ridiculously low admission prices. The inde- pendent exhibitor and the circuit operaloi: should see that by keeping his program cost down, and hiking his admission price, he would be following a good busiricss principle. Can we not see that our position would be improved if we decided to go to a single feature policy and raise our admissions? ' Yes, I be- lieve we can. What holds us back? Now that the new buying season is under way let us call for concerted action. List us not- buy every com- pany's product, anticipating double and triple features the remainder of the year. Let us right now discuss what we cah do to throw this evil out of the show business. % Advertising Complaint comes from Holly- wood that exhibitors, partic- ular the chain operators, are deliberately soft-pedalling their advertising; on first-run pix, where the producers' percent- age is high, and spending money : to exploit the s.ubse- quents, where the exhibs get a fatter cut. Producers cite instances- 'where the second-run ballyhoo is spread thicker than on the first, runs which, they claim, are often mere trailers for the subsequents. . . Y. DAILY AD NO B.O. HELP One of the largest ads ever taken by one of the smaller companies was a full-page spread in the N. Y. World-Telegram, Saturday (13) on "Army Girl," current. at the Criterion; N. Y. Republic, producer of the pic- ture, entirely paid for it. Same ad was not spotted anywhere else. Herbert Yates, president of Repub, is a close personal friend of M. H. Aylesworth, publisher of the W.-T.. The full-page spread cost Repiib around $1,800, yet it made no notice- able impression at the b.o, of the Crit. House will do no more than $6,500 on the week, mild. Picture opened; Thursday to $1,000, in ad- vance of the big ad and got only ibout $1,200 on Saturday, $1,100 on Sunday, with drop on Monday to around $800. ' Managers along Broadway, commenting on the splurgeV again reminded that big ads on pictures that don't deserve them still don't foor the public. UD'S ITTH HOUSE In Grosse Point Sector-^Will Cost Around $300,000 ' . Detroit, Aug. .16.; With reemployment in local auto, plants looking -up nicely, preparar tory to 1939 cars, United Detroit Theatres - will soon initiate the first major theatre building project here since 1937. Plans are being- drawn for a new 2,0d0-seat house just in- side suburban Grosse. Pdinte, to cost around $300,000, Spot; which will raise UD's chain to .17 houses, will be a second-runner as companion house to Fisher and Riviera the-^ atres in other sections of town. New theatre will - be built hear proposed site, for a 'Will Rogers Memorial theatre, a- private enter- prise which . failed to materialize year or so ago. Fate of. UD's 1,800-seat Cinderella, old house bought several months ago and located within a half . mile of new spot, is unreported, but ex- pected house will be turned into a department store, possibly for Sears, Roebuck. WB's Suit Over Stills Vitagraph, Inc., filed suit yester- day (Tuesday) in N. Y. federal court against the Behrend Motion Picture Supply House, Inc., claiming the plagiarism of 34 stills of various War- ner Bros, pictures. Plaintiff wants $250 -and an injunction against each still alleged to have been issued' by the Behrend concern. Judge Robert P. Patterson issued an order of seizure of the pictures in the possession of the defendant, pending the outcome of a trial. DATING UP AUTRY Hollywood, Aug. 16. Ralph .Staub directs the new Gene Autry picture rolling tomorrow (Wednesday) at Republic. Film is first of the Autrys pro- duced by. Harry Grey on his new as- signment. Wolf Heads Cleve. Variety Cleveland, Aug. 16, . Nat Wolf, zone manager ol War- ners here, was elected pi'ez -of Voricty Cilub Tent No. 6 la.st week, succeeding Dave . Miller of Univcr- .sal who resigned , due to pressure of business. Wolf has been club's af>-i.'-''tant chief barker since last November. , '38-39 Selling Still Slow (Continued frorn page 3) spite of the observation that U A product looks very good. In some cases theatres are picking up hew. '38-39 pictures as they be- come available, subject Ic negotia- tions on deals at'er-th^y have been played. Neither distributor nor Ihe- atrcE like to commit themselves on terms in such instances,, however, anr' E lot of operators' ire not pick- ing up "Algiers' right rway on a bLsis that will c,>ll for a deal later. Both sides iie afraid to set prece- dents that night be dangerous ■through any definite agreements or commitments •••here new '38-39 prod- uct is being taken, on the ground that equitable deals will be worked out. The distribs v/On'l let everyone pick up, new pictu -.s before they have become part of a complete sea- son's deal, this being especially true in situations where competition of a comparable character between the- atres exists. Various carryover deals, large chains having many of these, is ehablinig more ihan the customary stalling since product supply with one, two. or more, companies is thus assured under such car-'y overs, mak- ing it less: necessary for steps to be taken nOw for assurance. of film. that they can afford to lay ofl' any ne'gotiatlng with the exchanges, on, the as.sumption that they will be able ! to makevjbetter deals should there b^ any -ndication of victory j'n the com- ing suit. Exhibs are . endeavoring lo have . the courts, in some way, straighten out the double features situation.. Should doubles be eliminaled it would naturally mean an entirely difTerent setup in product purchases on the part of ' the theatres. Ex- hibs are afraid to load up with a , flock of pictures, on the basis of the. current double bills policy, and then discover later that the town is go- ing back to singles. Exhibitor leaders are constantly pounding home to the rest ot the exhibs to hold off product purchases as long as possible, feeling that the tirhe to win any conccssiohs on eiear- ahce of doubles is right now, before the contracts for new product are signatured. . For these reasons the selling sea- son is indicated to reach its peak around mid-September this year, in- stead of mid-July, as is usually the case. Midwest Ditto .-Chicago, Aug. 16. Slowest getaway in years; for the buying and selling season in this ter- ritory, with both exhibitors and dis- tributors indicating absolutely . no hurry to get started on new sea.soh's work-sheets. In Chicago the situa- tion is coiisiderably aggravated by the impending suit of indie exhib- itors aigainst Balaban fit Kalz and the major distribs. Allied attorneys, Rojienberg, Stein & Rosenberg, , having practically completed their, bill, of complaint which will be presented to the fed- eral courts hiere as soon as Joe Rosenberg returns from his vacation. During his absence, Aaron Stein, of the, law firm, is sitting on the case and ,has held several meetings with leading indie exhibitors on the cur- rent B. & K, wrangle. With this case hot the exhibs feel In the Northwest Minneapolis, Aug. 16. There apparently will be no def- inite buying policy set down by Northwest, Allied for the territory's independent exhibitors, outside Of those of the Twin Cities. The or- ganization, at Its meeting here, failed to take , up the question of 'what ef- fect, if -any, recent industry develop- ments, including the divorcement decision and anti-trust suit, should have on buying policies for the new season.' As far as the Twin Cities' indepen- dents are concerned, they are stand- ing pat, it's clairned, in their de- termination to buy no pictures whatsoever on perceiitage and to in- sist on rental reductions. As far as can be learned, no exhibitor has re- ported 'unreasonable' . distributor de- mands to: the Dept. of Justice, as. has been threatened by sonie of the Northwest Allied leaders who have indicated that they expect to buy now, pretty rnuch on their own terms. New York Theatres HELD OVER! 2id SMASH WEEK Si.irr.ng HUMPHREY BOGART , GEORGE BRENT C 'jM-cowriMt/ njt«« i9< p ■. Bn. AUO. MMi — Orut*r Nm Smmh P*Mc* ON SCMCCM — "BOV MIITS OIIILf StMTlii( MMIS CMMCT A PAT O'BIIIIN IN PKMSOM — aiM' BKMNIC "TtM OM MaMlra» AND ALt TMI LADS Loew's STATE" ■ tOAOWAV t 4Slti llillT. Tlllll-d., .*iie. IH 'tiW^nrn I 'ALGIERS' , ^Shopworn; Angel' and I GEO. HALL N.T.G. Revue nnil: OrrlicHtm PARAMOUNTs''"" BINO CROSBV FRKU 7 HllcMVItKAT "SING YOU SINNERS" ['arimounC Plctura ■sui;a,kk phIl spitalny ANR MH AM<-«IKI, 0RCHK8TKA ZA,Sli riTT.S Tlh A>- *tOtb Ht. ROXY Ai.r, 25< TO SEATS - I P.H. ST. JOHN UNLOADS Hollywood, Aug, 16. Floyd St. John iasl week sold a block of his Republic exchrngc hold- in g.s to S. D. Wcisbaum and Francis A. Bateman, mana,gers o: the Son Franci.sco-and Los Angclci office^. St, John roccnlly rtnt-v/Cfl his franchi.se for the company's pr'ithi'.-i for five years. IIEr.U OVER "Alexander's Ragtime Band" New Stiiffe 8lin\v ' StartH Tliurif., Auk. 1H "Eich Man, Poor Girl" with UOHKHT vo(;n<; HOIiKUT TAVIOK^ "Xlie Croufr itfiiirH" lit) '.iiirt S/VVMUSIC HALL "FOUR DAUGHTERS" Spictacular Stag* Productiohi 36 VARiETY RADIO Wednesdaj, August 17, ]93g Local Program Registry Set Up at %iety for Admen Shows Few Orchestral Programs Preliminary insight culled from listings ot programs, available tor sponsorship sent into Variety indi- cate that - audience participation, both day and evening; is numerically the. strongest local category. But there are amazingly few newcomers to this class. 'Popular music' looks healthiest in that respiect Average age of all audience partici- pation stanzas received so far is:'96.5 weeks daytime, and 122 weeks eve-, ning. This makes a veteran of the 'audience - broadcasting - tp-the-audi- ence' biz, and may indicate that the current batch of programs is ready for a fade. . Category itself will probably not falter, but the contents coiuld easily change radically. Al- ready amateur hours and vox pop stuff— once the most prominent citi-. zens of participation land— are defi- nitely dying oi- dead in favor of games and semi-whacky entertain- ment. Latter, however, are being waltzed to death, and may wilt for that reason. Although a complete picture can- not be focussed from the current size of the sample, it would appear from what data is on hand at the Variety office In l*ew York that audience-participation :shpws are hot particularly cheaper than other stanzas. They draw lots of mail and contest eiusto, it!s true. But by the same token, it; looks as if pop mtisic — especially transcribed swing— can equal anything both In price and in tie-ins for listener reaction. A pre- liminary estimate would .thus- put pop miisic on the upbeat CRiis contention is echoed In breakdowns on network commercials in the Variety Radio Oireciory where pop music is accredited with a tremen- dous increase in station hours per week.) Although virtually all of the ma- terial received so far comes from web stations in bigger burgs,, it is surprising that the union pact with the American Federation of Mu- sicians has not. resulted In more house orchestra shows. Wide Open Impression gleaned is that the pro- duction field, both web and local, is wide open for new developments. This is, of course, an impression not reducible ait the. moment to statis- tics, ; but in the realm of judgment However, the panorama now sizes up like this: . Novelty shows of the past few years (audience participation,, etc) have put a iatrong emphasis on radio's natural forte: personal inti-. macy with the listener. And, sec- ond; they have uncovered ' a new field for merchandising, tie-ins, and ballyhoo. While the- intimacy un- veiled by novelty is pretty much iii the ham class, it nonetheless is a step in a positive direction, and the step,- divorced from its current maltreated setriip, might be highly useful. For instance, if carried over it the pop musical domain, it could add plenty new life to that department Or. any other. It. stands to reason that some adroitness is ne<;essary here, just as anywhere else, ahc| that pure boilerplate alone won't do. the trick. yVFIL NURSING QUAKER WEB More Psiltieal Bli in SlfM So Will Try Commercials, Too Philadelphia, Aug..l6. Quaker network, of 16 Pennsy sta- tions keyed by WFIL, win become an active ojierating unit oh Sept. 1, when permanent phone lines are thrown ' into use. Web has hereto- fore been lised exclusively for po- litical broadcasts, lines being set up only as heeded. . Decision to make a permanent hook-up put of the aggregation was reached at a confab Saturday be- tween Sam Rosenbaum, prez of WFIL; Don Withycomb, g.m;, and Roger W. Clipp, biz manager ' and co-ordinator of the net. With the coming gubernatorial and senatorial elections, it was felt that there would be enough political broadcast- ing to make the perihanent lines profitable aside from whatever spot commercial biz is picked up: WFIL will provide two to three hours daily as sustaining service on the net. It will be set up similar. to Mutual with member stations ab- sorbing line costs and agency com- mish. AVFIL will provide biz fpr the .\yeb, taking, out Commish for. itself. LUCKIES' AUDITION Ken Doian-JInmr iSaphier Offer Hill ElaberaU Itaad-Cholr Ken Dolan and Jimmy Saphier are still working on a program proposition for Lucky Strike. Agents have offered a SO-piece orchestra batoned by Raympnd Paige and an elaborate mixed choir Euid it's now a question of getting an outstanding Hollywood name, to head up the ' whole ' thing before submitting an audition: to George Washinigton Hill. ED WOLF SELLS THIRD RADIO SERIAL Albert D. Lasker, Jr.,' of Lord 8c Thomas signed Tuesday (16) with Ed .Wolf for a new daytime serial, 'Her Honor, Nancy James.' Klieenex will sponsor over CBS five a week starting Oct 1. Deal was consummated after agency and client Considered upwards to ICND submitted scripts. 'Accounts has been, oft siir oyer a year. Last bank- rolled 'Story of Mary Marlin.' New hopk-up of 40 stations is larger than previously, r Basil Loughirane formerly with Lord & Thomas in dhicago will come east to direct the serial for Wolf Associates. David Victor and Her^ bert Little, Jr., are the authors. ' Deal puts Wolf . out front as specialists in daytime serials. They also produce '.The O'Neills' and 'Hilltop House' both ranking serials. WMCA RAISES ITS RATES Also Asking $1M an Hear fer Use of Its Main Stndlo WMCA, New Yprk, has raised its evening rates frpm $550 tP- $650 an hpur, effective Oct. i. Daytime hpur will go from $275 to $325. . Station is offering the use of its main studio, seating '300 persons, on a basis of $1001 an hour. New rate card eliminates :the frequency disr count on spot announcemenU, on the theory that the. station, feels that it shpiildn't encpurage a volume use of this type of business. An Invitation to Radio Sponsors To Consuit Variety Program File MDVERTISERS seeking programs are referred to the LOCAL PRODUCTION REGISTRY now established at the New York office* of 'Variety.' This data is cross-indexed by Station, Market and Type of Program. It includes Full History, Cost, and Other Pertinent Information. MNY responsible person may consult this file during business hours daily at 1 54 West 46th Street This Service Is Entirely Free— For the Convenience of Radio Stations and Prospective Buyers Deal with Ifariety' Directly For tlie record and in answer to. inquiries. Variety does not recognize, and will not recognize, so-called 'trade paper counselors' established, or establishing themselves, in New York City. This publication has its own network of local reporters In towns where there are no Varietv representatives, direct communication between the several offices of Variety and local radio stations is now, as always in, the past, welcomed, Stations need no intermediary, to deal with Variety. Nor would Variety need its present large staff if it accepted mimeographed handouts. There is no magic involved. Deal directly. All news is welcome and judged . solely on its news value. News controlled by or clearing throiigh 'trade paper couii- >iA-o' -whatever tha;t's supposed to mean-^is not for Variety. iselors' n.i Jennings Leaves WLW Will Establish in New Yoric Advertising Agency with Crbsley Account GOLD MEDAL TESTING Wmi CAROLINE ELLIS Des Moines, Aug. 16. . 'Caroline's Golden Store/ original dramatic serial sponsored by Gen- eral Mills for Gold Medal Kitchen- Tested flour, will air oh WHO Mon- days through Fridays starting Aug. 15, with Mrs. Caroline Ellis coming here froin Kansas City tor the show. Includes following WHO talent: CUfI Carl, Sarabeth Barger, Maxine Gibson, Bill Kilmer, Twen Ander- son, Shari Morning and Jack Smith. Fran Heyser will . direct the shows. Specific Samples Herewith are some specimens of data in new Vabuty program-serv- ice file. WKBW, BUFFALO . Title— 'Amateur Sports.' Afe^ix weeks. Fast sponsor— Chocolate drink. Pbpnlarlty record— Bottle cap Vot- ing drew 115,000 tops, Siie e( cast — Qne. Talent eost^5p weekly. ProKram time^5:45-6 p.m, daily. _ • Nature Commentator covers junior, amateur and school sports. Samples— Script ,or record, WGAB, CLEVELAND Title— 'Round and Round Society.' Age— Three years. Past sponsors — Participation at various times. Popularity record- Two giveaway announcements brought 2,800 letters. Size ot cast— One. Talent Cost— $90 five times weekly. Program time— 11-11:15 a.m. daily. Nature — Swing music (recorded) with announcer affecting Southern dialect ih in-between announce- ments; fan stuff. Samples— Script or record. KBNT-KSO, DES MOINES Title— 'Tall Corn Time.' Age— Three years. Past sponsors— Chicago mail order house, Des Moines Incubator Co., Henry Field Seed Co., Nu-Lac Yeas- ton, and Sargent Field. Popolarlty record — Coupon en- titling farmer to 25c. discount on bag of Sargent feed produced 2,112 requeslsr-free pencil giveaway^ for name of dealer drew 200 letters per day for six weeks. Size of east— 25. Talent cost— $125 per program. Program time — 10:15-10:45 a.m, Saturdays. Nitlnre — Rural stuff produced against smalltown background— state hill-billy contest winners featured. Sample's — Script or record. WKY, OKLAHOMA CITY Title — 'Uncle Ben's Funnv Paper Hour,' Age-7-Nine years. Past sponsors— Long array of spon- sors, from food products to insurance companie.^. Popularity record — One mail brought in 3,000 box tops for one sponsor — station's biggest contest mail puller. Size of east^Maximiim of six. Talent cost— $25 per broadcast. Program Urae— 8 to 9 a.m., im- days. Nature'-^ Comic sections ot local paper re-enacted; variety fare. Samples <— Records available; scripts not used. Bob Jennings has resigned as v.p. in charge o( sales and programs of . WLW, Cincinnati, to go into the ad- vertising agency business. Jen- nings, who is son-in-law to Powel Crosley, Jr., has had the move under consideration for several months and he is breaking away from the station before he has actually con- summated the other tieup which will be a New York agency arid in which -he will have a portion of the stock. He was also v.p. of the Cros- ley Radio Corp. Jeiining's ;}resent plans' call for leaving WLW -Sept. 1 but the chances are he. will leave as soon as the agency deal is closed. It U believed that Jennings . will take the Crosley . advertising . account along with him. This : business last ' year figured over $1,000,000. Jennings came into the WLW told/ five years ago and in time developed quite a reputation as a youngster in the trade as a sales and pro- graming expert. ' PHIL SPITALNY RESUMES FOR 6EN.ELEC. Phil Spitalny and his 'Hour ot Charm' all-femme orthestra return to the radio for General Electric on NBC-red hookup— same as before- only this time the G. E. under- writers will specifically exploit the lamp business, Heretofore, Spitalny's femme jazzists did their kilocycle stuff oa behalf of General ElecUic'i institutional ballyhoo. Behind the decision of G.E. to again resume on the air was a four- ply tussle for General ElecUics business among Young & Rubicam, B. B. D. & O.; Foster & Davies and the Maxon agency.- Latter, hereto^ fore handling G. E. institutional ad- vertising, will also control the Spitalny's lamp-on-radio show. , Spitalny again takes to the air in October with a half-hour shot. Band opens today (Wednesday ) at the Broadway Paramount, and is slated for a series of other picture hou.'ie bookings before resuming on the radio. HEILMANN ON ROAD Vox Popping In Various Mtthlgan Network Member Towns Detroit, Aug. 16. Harry Heilmann, sportcastcr at WXYZ, is taking his 'Fan on the Street' daily program (Pfielier Brewing) on a swing around Michi- gan. Accompanied by John Slae'C' spieler. Personal appearances major cities are being worked on, days when Detroit Tigeirs are o" road, since Heilmann handles the play-by-play accounts for . KellogI and White Star over WXYZ and Michigan web. With Tigers out oi town, Heilmann reconstructs contests over WXYZ affiliate, in particular town where he's appearing, and stun is shipjjcd out to pther'stiitions. lyednesd ay, August 17, 1938 RADIO VARIETY 37 STICKY -ICKY OtONNBC OPENING NBC's '^"y" Hollywood de- huts around Sept. 15 sans-of all »hin«s--a formal •opening.' NBC execs Hed that the premiere lestivitles Usually result In a clambake ^and^ in- ffSid lor the week preceding and dwln'g the actual: 'premiere^ all the Sght talent the NBC kilo- cJ^es will ad lib something- to the • effect, 'Wiell, we were supposed to. narticlpate in Ihe gala opening; but Suce theire isn't going to be any, this will have to do,*- ■ _ Idea is that sort of myerse kiddinR, vUl more skillfully and deftly call public. attention to the event. Deep Porple' Can't Be Opposish to 'Blue Velvet' Fob Warns NBC on Tag ' K .NBC wants to put a musical show opposite Mark Warnow's ?Blue Velvet Music' on CBS Wednesday nl^ts and include a color in the title it will have to use a hue other than puiple. Bobbins Music Corp. has advised NBC's production ' depart- ment that , it will have to refrain from adopting the time, 'Deep; Piirr pl(i' for the proposed opposition stanza. : ■ , 'Deep Purple,! which is part of the: Kobbihs catalog, has . been Doris Hhodeis', themer on CBS for some time. Robbins explained to NBC that the -singer had been given the exclusive air use of the song as a themer. OVERTURE TO 1938-1939 This may seem a rather late date to tedis- cover or reaffirm that radio is creating a hew kind; of show business. But as the. outlines of the development become increasingly sharp with each passing season it's, worth iriter- mittent, attempts to get a long-range focus on the basic . nature of broadcast advcrtising^as regards its entertainment function. It begins to appear that the chief spiritual difference between radio and the; rest of tlie entertainment world is expressed most tlearly in radio's religiouslyrintense faith in research as a guide to, and substitute for, the personal judgnient of showmen, which judgment is the bedrock of show biz proper. In radio, for vari- ous reasons and for better or worse, there is widespread disrespect for almost anybody's opinion,, as such. WALKER^AIR BID Bal Hennen's Talc Powder Sponsor- ship Falls Through Hennen & Co. has practically de- cided on a nijght time show and is negotiating for network faicilities through the M, H. Kiesewetter agency before signaturing any talent contracts, Account . had been considering James J. Walker as a news com- mentator and NBC's 'Information Please' quiz with, Clifton Fadiinan. but both arie now out. Campbell Cereal Goes To Kastor Agency, Chi Chicago, Aug. 16. Campbell cereal, Minneapolis, ac- Munt goes to H. W. Kastor agency, >wcago, in switchover from Ruth- raull & Ryan, who dropped it when "ley took over Quaker' Oats. Un- a«ided -whether Campbell will con- unue with 'Jack Westaway Under we Sea' .series which it sponsored 'ast season. .Wi R. Watson, account executive, wans to go into huddle with Camp- »eu outflt next week to inap cam- paign which will include radio, newspapers and mags. O'Keefe the Piay Wright .u^'^**'' O'Keefe has a Brondway Uiored ' which hes au- niSt?" "las turned down thrni in ordcF to see fall production early this if possible. %M Love Back on Air Mab^i t .*''^'iadelphia, AUg. IC of Phiii ^°^^' former woman's ed a r nol/ '^ews, returns to the r next week after a three-year lay- show tI*;?,'^''^ a IS-minutc daily. *JL« ^^^N. With participating '*eek. Show will be tion'o sach month in sta- w^?*^-seat auditorium. *omen', ""^^ * pioneer , in Jeam .i .proeramSi . having ; aired ago from WJZ and WCAU. This disrespect for opinion liiay arise partly froni the obvious fact that top often in; the early , dia^-s ; of broadcasting personal opinion was the \yorst possible source of authority and was responsible for innumerable fumbles and stumbles/ Personal opinion still is the conclusive factor oh ' occasion, but again,- too often, it is the personal opinion of some barri- caded autocrat high, in tire corporation hierarchy who lacks the opeh-mindedness or the flair which characterizes the judgment of showincn and who brings to an entertairiment decision purely eccentric qtiirks of prejudice. Most of all the advertising agencies are the wejl-spririgs of the all-pervading productipn skepticism, fear and pussyfootism. They are the original authors; of hemming and hawing on a. maghifjcent scale. They feint, inark time, sidestep/ stall for a cue from the sponsor. They cannot, in the main, either think or func- tion as showmen bcciause they arc thinking and functipning primarily as the herdsmen of that 15%. All of which .n.ay prove in the end that the sponsor, if radio js to be a. permanent part :pf his ihanagement policy, inust step in and assume the. ultimate production rcsppnsi- bilit.v. Historicallyi tlic networks first shed the prp- ductibn responsibility. By doing a consistently Lad job and not much caring that they did. The agencies inherited the task of selection and prodiiction of entertainment. Partly to get in on the fees, partly because network production bungling jeopardized radio time billings. . Agencies criticized the networks (and justly) for the sameness, the uninspired and sloppy attitude of their programs. Now, with, time, the sponsors criticize the agencies (and with much justice) for the sameness, the stalcncss reflected in their cflorts. It is pretty clear that few agency production executives are trusted beyond incidental de- tails. and very few advertising agencies enjoy carte .blanche'. Fact is most of 'cm can't be trusted. And they aren't. Their whole sub- servient ob.sequious relationship to the c|ient is utterly incompatible iii most cases witli showmanship of the traditional kind.. ITiincc the de velopiucnt because of im pcrati ve need to get shows produced, to keep tlic. nicclianism \v6rking, of ii new kind of s^iownianship— tlie sliownianship of committee decisions; of cnd- Ics.s conferences, oi delicate alignniciits. Under a system of endless checks and coun- ter-checks, the individual al.ways deferring to the group, some of the hazards .of iVully . per- sonal judgment may be eliminated. It inay be the only system praclical in radio at the rin)- ment— a momenf that appears to be tran.^i- tional until the day when the sponsors actively run the show., With the production costs .ijo- ihg up air the time, this appear-; to be a not l">) fanciful ppssibility. . Present sysfcni suflpcatc. ., . .sh'nv-. nian.sliip. It' is responsible lor .Uic ridiculous carbon-copying thait invariably marks, every new season. There, is incredible buck-passing up and down the line in radio production. Cpm- jposite confusion ancl groUp .db-nQthingisii,i cain only be brPken thrpiigh, in the fihal analysis, . by a lion 's roar from the sppnsor h im self : . He and he.albne must in the end call the tune and hire the pipers. Meanwhile mention of the name Townsend & Townsend affects advertising agencies like a razo.r scratching a piece of glass on the bias. This much-di.'scitssed. much-detipunced twp- trofher firm has functioned in certain quarters for. the past year or l)etter as experts-in-charge- of-the-experts of advertising. Taking the ad- vertising agencies as experts in the first in- stance. AfiFiliates Call to Arnis In- sists on Pacific Motiva- tions as 83 Broadcasters Gather , in Chicago WEBS WATCH As yet the Townsend & Townsend influence has.been little felt in radio. But the brothers are reported to declare that their mysterious '27 points' b'y \V'hich they decide the effective- ness of printed copy can- be , extended' to apply to radio copy. Entertainmerit, however, is apparently not claimed to fall within the ken of their, formula. • Townsend & Townsend, in the final essence, appeal to clients and foster doubts of agencies. If agencies were cPurts martial thiit would be an offense for liqiiidation by a firing squad. But the real nerve twinge of the Townseiid development reposes in the implications that they, the agencies, know -their stuff so super- ficially or practice their craft so carelessly that an outsider can step up, run an eye and a finger oyer a given bit of advertising 'and .say, 'Sonny, this violates points 5, 8, 11, 14 and 23.' Fury of agencies tp%yard the Town.scnd & Townsend threat, toward tlie whole phenome- nbn of an out.side- challenge to agency pre- rogatives^ agency claimed preeminenee iii technique and craftsmanship is of course not hard tp understand. Any business,, aiiy group of business men, would be annoyed to the point of apoplexy by such scathing bclittle- hient of their place and importance in the world. Passing any discussion of the merits or flaws, authentic or spurious values, of what Townsend & Townsend are peddling at least it's evident they have been successful in con- vincing enough clients to have stirred an an- tipathy among agencies that speaks for itself, They have put their thumbs on sensitive areas of inflammation. Which comes back to tlie sponsor. If he cares how the dou.gh is spent. -.In radio the openings for .siK-nding arc like tlic holes in swi.ss cheese; Happily, for the agencies, radio's abihty to get'into ttii parlors of the multitude is as yet more important a.s a first fact jf broadcast advcrtisiiig than the. questio.ii of prbduction finesse. Otherwise there would be more drastic penalties for program ineptitude. Agency sclf-complaceney, so notable in three or four orffahizations that arc intoxicated with .sonic recent successes • (conveniently forget- ting flops, ■also' recent) may meantime be re- garded as fhluons ;|)Oseiir stuff, if sincere, and old-fashioned blufiing, if iiof. Radio without a doubt has been, the greatest [irovocative force of the past decade in draw- ing attention to advertising agencies. In those inlinitely delicate setups, tlie caste sysleni at the top. Avhc'Tc showman.-ihip ought to l)c but i.sn't, acts Ip kec]) rlown the showmanship of those lesser personages wlio frequently have a real flair. ' (ictting;;in idea or carrying out a .^-llowmanly propo'i.'d is beset with so iii any tender tootsies anfl carecrisins that llic b(jy-i get the. idea iii .the end that 'brighlnes.s' ' • a monopoly of the caste. By HAL HALPEBIN Chicago,; Aug. 16. Called together by Mark Ethridge, of WHAS, Louisville, and Sam Rosch- baum, of WFIL, Philadelphia, a con- vohtioii of independent network, af- filiates., is in session here today (Tuesday) and tomorrow, at the Hotel Stevens. It is being watched by the broadcast trade for some more- con- clusive indication of the nature , pf the movement and the attitude it proposes to - take toward networks, the pending govcrnmerit investiga- tion of radio, negotiations'. With ASCAP, and other actual or possible issues.: . ' Meetings are behind closed, doors' and with .some obvioiis elTort on the part of all concerned to. play down and coyer, up.;. Network execs have professed no anxiety, but this may be less than- an.' exact rendition of their private thoughts. . Although chain execs not allowed In meetings Bill Hedges and Keith Hi.!!gins 6f . NBC are registered in hotel, as well as TIerb Alierhcrg of (:;BS and Tcd Slreibert and Fred Weber of Mutual. In the abseike of candor as to %yhat the broadcasters want or are ' driving at the observer'.^ impression is of a bunch of poker players wait- ing for a chance to discard. That the .->iTiliates hope to gain assurances of one sort or another from the net-; works is the .general guess. Ethridne, who: called the meetin,? of the affili- ates during the hottest week in Au-! (ju.st led the aopeal for the IRNA to germinate within NAB; There wss a general hint that; the networks had skillfully diverted the more aggres- sive broadcasters by private propa- ganda. However, • the whole mys-' terious affair tended to excite curi- osiiy. There is a registration of 83, con- sidiered large' for the .season and con- .sidering- the ambiguous nature of a rebellion that insists it isn't one. Delegates paid $5 to register. A first decision of the /jalhering Tuesday was that the IRNA shou'd be reorganized but as a branch of the National A.ssbciatipn of .Brocd- . casters so as to present a united front to outsiders. Sam Rosenbaum. is president, Elhridgc, vice-president, and L. B. Wilson, treasurer of the new IRNA. Meanwhile a seven-mrn committee, is' at work to .steer the rrovcnnent U, numbers Bill Scripn.s, WWJ, Detroit: Ed Crancy, .KGIH^ Butte; Arthur Church, KMBC, Kan- sas City; John Shepard. WNAC, .Bos- ton: Ed Craig. WSM, Nashville: Il:e Lounsberry, WGR,. Buffalo; John Kennedy, West Virginia regional. Following i.s. list of registrations to date at Slovens hotel: J. H. Brcnhsn, WJAS; G2orge L. Young, WDGY; H. K. Ei-cnnan, WJAS; C. Robert Thonip:;oi), WCOL; Edgar H. Twam- I Icy,. WEEN; Kenneth. B. Johnsl^an. I VVeOL; Geo. n. ilahn, kSOO; Clar- • fence Laich, WEOA; Lulhcr E. Hill, KSO;, Walter Haase, WDRC; C. M. Everson, V/HkC; Walter Evrn.s, WOWO; Martin L: Leidi, WEOA; Joe P. Wilklns. KFBB; Wm. W. Behrman. WBOW; Robert T. Con- vey, kWK;Dwi,(,'ht S..nccd, W.SGN; S. E, Adcock, WUOL; W. C. .Sv.-.-irl- ley, WOWO; Hi'cli.iid ' II. Ma:ion; WPTF; W.ilter .1. Damm, WT.MJ; ' Earl J, Glade. K.SL; KfKviii W. Ci-.-ji,', WSM; J. Leonard IU-in;cli, WMFO; Hu^h P. I'owi-ll. KGGt'": Arihiii- U; Churcii. KMHCi .;;iriios D. .SlunioC, V/LVJ; Mi>-H N. G. Ma.son, WIHE; Gene Piilliym, WITtE; Tod Mat- thtw,-. WN.VX; J'. A. Loyct, WI-IO; Donald Wilhycoiiib. WFIL; G.- W. Norton, WAVE: J. O. Maland, WHO; Clarence T. llagman, WTCK; • 30 VARIETY RADIO Wcclnosda^t August 17, 1938 J. Walter Thompson Agency Calls Off Kellogg s BasebaD Contest — ' — ■ ■ • " - ^ ■ - • " • . American Home IVoducts Eschewing Pacific Until Stock Setup Reorganized ■ ' ■ ■ - ■ — — — Chicago, Aug.- IC. After two weeks of its scheduled nine-week All - American Baseball Poll, the Kellogg company suddenly called off, the contest. Sent two- week cancellation notices through last week, which nieans that the con- test will fold after four weeks. Spotted through the local J. Wal- ter Thompson agency the contest was oh some 50 stations around the country on a flve-a-week five-min- ute set-up. ' Contest wasn't proyihg but satis- factorily for the . cereal firm, and in addition, was extremely cumbersome to handle. General Mills als6 hail many players under exclusiyes. No attempt to chisel by the com- pany in putting through its cancel- ations, merely utilizing the regu- lation fortnight call-off. clause in the contract. Nine-week schedule had been fig- ured on the . basis of one week for each position oh the mythical all- star baseball team. SET SANDMEN FOR HOLLYWOOD PROGRAMS Hollywood, Aug. 16. It was. band setting time on fall radio shows last week. Ben Pollack again lined up with Joe Pennerj^Ted Fio Ritp is reunited with Jack Haley on his Continental Baking prdgi'am, and Lou Bring will do the! batoning for Walnut Growers Ass'n show. ; Still unset is the music master: oh Bob Hope's new Pepsodent airer. If Tom McAvity of Lord & Thomas, who produces, can wean Judy Gar- land away from Metro one night k week he'll toss the nod to Skinnay Ennis. or .an eastern band undeir con- sideration, tf vocal spot goes, to Connie BosweU then Ozzie Nelson swings the stick. All depends on how. much coiti goes to the warbler. Glen Gray and the Casa Lomans, doing a dance stand here, inaugurate today (Tues.y a new.'iinustc. entry on the Mutual network dubbed 'Auto- graph Album.' It has a . contest angle with cash prizes to speed up the build. Ed McConnell in Cincy ■ Cincinnati, Aug; 16. : Smiling Ed McConnell returns to Cincy next month, after ah abtence of four years, to originate four weekly • 15-ihinute shows for .two sponsors on WLW for. NBC feeds. Beginning Sept! 17, the. veteran radio philosopher-singer will do a series of programs for Ballard & Ballard, Louisville, Ky., blurbing Oven-Ready biscuits. Airings will be on Satur- days at 10 a.m. EST, with a repeat for NBC's western stations. Startipg Sept. 27v he vrill resume for the Acme White Lead & Color Works with 'Tuesday and Thursday airings at IQ: 30 a.m. EST. Both accounts are handled by Henri, Hurst & McDonald, Inc., Chi- cago. McConnell was auditioned at WLW Friday (12) for the: Ballard & Bal- lard stanza. Sitting in .were Fred Bo'rries, Thurston Morton and John- ny Witherspoon, execs, and 30 of the sponsor's salesmen, who followed up with a two-hour hypo session in Crosley's B studio. Also present were W. B. Henri and Frank W. F.errin of the agency. Warnow-Paige Rained Out Concert scheduled for Lewisohn stadium last Wednesday night in which Mark Warnbw and Raymond Paige were to guest conduct the N. Y. Philharmonic ' orcheistra has been postponed until next season. Warnow was-to have led the long liair in ai trio of swingy pops includ- ing 'Sing SoiTiething Simple,' swing, fugue, scored by Raymond Scott/ Warnow's brother. Concert was killed, oft by a heavy rainstorm'. Spieler Turns Cowboy Missoula, Mont, Aug. 16. Verne Sawyer, chief and special events . announcer for KGVO ; here, has. resigned and will retire to a re- cently acquired ranch in Flathead Valley. Al Davis will handle Stiwyer's spe- cial events details in the future. Quarantine Philadelphia, Aug. 16. Program department at WDAS is drawing lip a petition to present to State Aigricultural ...Departhient.' inspectors who ex- amine incoming bare for Japa- nese beetles. It asks that they also examine ."for hill-billies. Can be recognized- by guitar on shoulder . 6nd mail-order cowboy , suits. WMCA3 FORUM ALAIU-BROW Station WMGA, N. Y., joins the local parade of stations stxiying for greater percentage of serious pro- grams, especially heftier music, this week. Starts with a semi-intellec- tual forum on Aug. 22, rest to 'follow shortly thereafter. Serious music angle has passed the consideration stage and is now in the: hands of the program department. Likely that it will mean couple of hours daily in the afternoohs. Want to istart off modestly in getaway from Broadway taint Forum will bie a la Town Hall's itiint on NBC but will include tele- phoned questions, etc., from listen- ers as well as studio audiencC: Mau- rice Dreicer will conduct forum starting Aiig. 22 at 10:45 until 11:15 p.m. for regular Monday broadcast. Initial session will concern whether or not Civilian Conservation Corps should, be militarized. PoUy RdWles, Back From U, Into Pitt Air Serial Pittsburgh, Aug. 16. Polly Bowles, who graduated from Carnegie Tech drama school two years ago and was signed - for pix by U, where .she remained through two options, is home again for keeps and turning to the radib here. Gal has lust been contracted by WCAE for lead in script' series .callied 'iPierre the Trapper,' which has Ijeen taken by Jerome Wolk and Brother Fur Co. for once-weekly shot ih place of sponsors* regular 'Romance Backstage' program. Miss Rowles went to New Ybrk last season when U failed to renew her contract, and for several months played Calpurnia in Mercury the- atre production of -Julius Caesar.' Her engagement to a local boy was recently announced and she expects to settle down here after her. mar- riage, abandoning all theatre am- bitions. 'Pierre, the Trapper', penned by Bob. McKee, annoancer at WCAE, who's also in the cast along with. Marx Hartman, Bob Donley and Marquis Patterson. Latbering Fels-Naptha Young is Subicam is trying to got Fels Naptha to retuirn this fall as a network advertiser. Agency has recommended a: day- time quarter-hour show five times a week. Web Stations BallyiiooOwn AsMsOnt befroit, Aug., 16. With deletion of. radio comments and columns from local dailies, Der trbit stations aire developing a pro- gram-plugging system of their own, especially the network outlets which were most adversely affected by sheets' decish. . ;. Although WJBK : and WMBC, in- dies, have always aired previews of their programs several times daily since they got little attention in newspapers anyway, town's big four — WJR, WWJ, WXYZ and CKLW-;- have how gone one better. In addi- tion to spbt buildups for programs, they've instituted short preview pro- grams and 'columns of the air.' 'WXYZ is using 15-tOi-20 word an- nouncemehts several times daily, and also brief preview shots at 7:30 and li p.m. daily. WJR, in addition to spots, tills week is starting a 'Radio Folks Column' daily with Neal Tomy at the mike, giving ' dope on ether talent and shows. Similar stunts are being employed by CKLW and WWJ, the latter continuing not only to plug its owh; shows but also, fea- tures of its parent, the Detroit News. WHEC GROUP HANDLES ALL STATION SHOWS Rochester, N. Y., Aui 16. WHEC organizes a hew planning division to handle programs; follow,-, ing departure of former Program Manager Morden.Buck to seek an as- sistant director's Job ih Hollywood. New setup has Ken Sparnon, music director, taking charge 'of schedulbs, auditions and rehearsals;. Harry Le- Brun, chief announcer, directing public and special events; Char- lotte Edwards> continuity director and women's affairs; Ken French, dramatic production. All problems clear' through General Manager Guhnar Wiig's office at weekly plan- ning meetinjjs. Staff contest also launched for program ideas. Any program . used three times as a sustainer wins sug- gester $5, commercial feature $10. ahd stunt idea with commercial value wins $5. Wiig, Sparnon and Lcmoine C. Wheeler, commercial manager, form board of judges. Baruch Ticks OB 10th Andre Baruch, NBC announcer, will celebrate his 10th year in radio Aug. 20. Spieler has arranged for a party marking the occasion at Glen Island casino, New Rochelle, N. Y. WCAU's Cute Stunt Philadelphia, Aug. 16. ' With baseball spielers all over the country searching for new , angles to perk up . broadcasts, Bill jDyer, who airs Phillies, games on WCAU, has hit on one that's clicking. He selects a kid from the stands and leU him announce an inning or half an inriing. Some of them flzz, of course, but rnany turn out pretty fair. Listeners like it in small quan- tities because kids get so ex- cited. ■ ' COAST PRESS ATTACKS AIR Los Angeles, Aug. 16. Coast dailies are launching an- other onslaught on radio in an at- tempt to win back some of their, ad- vertisers. ■ Western division of American Newspaper .Publishers Ass'n last week hired H. C. Bem- sten, who ' formerly operated his own agency, in Los Angeles, to\act as advertising counsellor for the Coast sheets, to impress former big. lineage spenders with the advan- tage of the printed word over the spoken etcetera and . -point , out the error of their ways in tossing such chunks of coin to jadlo. If campaign fails to bring the de- sired results it is ' understood that, the sheets will either drop the log or. slap a tariff on the agate listing. 53 TRANSClUPtlON MAKE^ LICENSED American Federation of Musicians has issued 53 licenses to date to mak- ers of electrical transcriptions. An- other half dozen such have applicar tions pending. All applications are first refeirred to the local union to determine the applicant's financial, responsibility. No licenses, it was stated at AFM headquarters Monday (15), will be issued to any one not already in business. GUERNSEY SELLS WLBZ Meanwhile Must Choose' Between Shepard and Columbia Bangor, Me., Aug. 16. If the Federal Communications Commission approves; the sale of WLBZ, Bangor, Henry P. Rines, Portland hotel and station operator, win own the only two regional out- lets in Maine. Rines last week, closed for the takeover of WLBZ froin Thompson L. Guernsey at a price of $180*000. Rines" Portland station- is WCSH. It is reported that by the time Rines' right to his purchase has been cleared by the FCC, WLBZ will have lost its affiliation with CBS unless it bows meanwhile io Columbia's ulti- rnatum that the station drop its con- nection: with John Shepard's Yankee and .Colonial networks. CBS has given WLBZ until Sept. 15 to make a decision. Under the present arrangement CBS must clear its program to WLBZ through the wire maintained to that point by Shepard and the station. Columbia, wants to run in its Own line and avoid any use of Shep- ard's facilities. ' Julian Bentley Injured Chicago, Aug. 16. Julian Bentley, news editor and press chief for. WLS here, was seri- ously injured in ah auto accident near .Menominee, Mich;, last week. He suffered multiple fractures of skull and jaw. ■ Mrs. . Bentley escaped serious in- jury. They were returning from vacash in North Woods when their carovertMrned. Dr. pidlen Van Ackers, Paris rep for CBS, transcribing his experience in Hollywood for airjng abroad. American Home . Products .Will keep all but two of its script shows off NBC's Pacific red and mountain links this falL Reason given for the decision Is that the holding . corpora- tion wahts to keep its merchandising .expenses down in those areas untU it has rieorganized its stock setup.. Programs staying :6n in the western regions are 'Easy Aces' (Anacin) and 'Jilr. Keen' (JBlSoDol), while the threesome not slated to resume ' the fall bonsists of 'Just Plain' Bill' (Kolynos), :Mrs. Wiggs' (Aero White & Flydead) and 'John's Other Wife' : (Louis Philiippe lipstick). Latter script trio had been committed to go back on the '.western trails with the dropping of daylight savings. The two CBS shows, 'Our Gal Sunday' and the 'Romance Of Helen Trent,' which are supported by the • sarhe merchandising combine, will retain their . westcoast and Rock Mountain hookups. Hollywood, Aug. 16. Robert Benchley comedy show, originally framed for .' Texaco by v Martin Gosch Of CBS, has been taken by Old Gold for an early No- vember start . over ' Colurnbia net- work. Mann. Holinerj who closed the deal' for Ijennen & Mitchell, said ' the new ciggie entry didn't neces- sarily mean that George McCall, now gossiping for OG, would be re- placed. McCall. is optioned through October. Program, tees off in the .east and goes to the Coast after 13 weeks!.; Understood that Gosch, who cooked up the audition,, will produce. Mu« sical'settip on half hoiir show marks time until . budget is appropriated. Pi Lorillard recently renewed its 'Don't You Believe It' program on ■ Don Lee network for'Sensation cigs. New NBC Frisco Talent San Francisco, Aug. 16. 'Modern southern choir, 26-voice negro chorus, Rosie and her guitar. Conzue la Gonzales, Mexican soprano and philosopher Coleman Cox, are latest additions to NBC locar artist staff.- Choristers, direbted by Elmer Keatpn, debuted on NBC recently as guests on the Albero Bros. Milling, company 'Good Morning Tonite' mu- sical and last week began appear- ance on network sustainers. Rosie was formerly sponsored on the local Blue outlet. KGO, by the Eopa Company (reniedies). She gets two NBC-Red network sustainers weekly beginning today. Mi.ss Gon- zales, formerly at the Waldorf- Astoria in New York. CITY NEWS WILLING Invites Radio to Buy Election Flashes This Autumn City News. Associatbn, which serv- ices the New York newspapers, has advised the networks and local sta- : tioris by circular lettei-s that it will entertain any bids for primaries and. elections coverage this fall,. Nothing was said about price. Lobal prii'naries will be held Sept. 20 and the elec- tions Nov. 8. CBS was the lone taker of th« se'rvice at the last election. Alderman a Maestro , . Hollywood, Aug. 16. , After several years as organ and. Piano accompanist for vocalists at National Broadcasting studio, Myrl Aldbrman has been rewarded with a baton, He'll conduct a f lill orches- tra on Jean Sablon's period i^nd the chain's 'America Dances.' He shares the studio load with Frank Hodek, who conducts staff crew. > Alexander Biddle, ig^year-old scion of wealthy Philly family, who started couple months ago at WFIL as an apprentice gabber for free, has been transferred to the press depart- ment, Texaco Program Set Buchanan Agency Closing Deal-^ — Bill Bacher to Di- rect from Hollywood Texaco figures on closing for its Hollywood all-name show by Fri- diay (19). Proposed Max Reihhardt setup will have :Bill Bacher produc- ing and will be billed as 'Texaco's. Star theatre. Show will' be spotted o^ CBS, Wednesday hights, 9:30 to 10; with the first half opposite the second half . of the. Fred AUen- Bristbl.-Myers stanza. Gas distrib has picked Oct 5 as the starling date. ■While .the Texaco show will be handled through Buchanan & Co., it has not been' decided who -will be assigned from the agency staff to stay, with the program on the west Coast Louis A. Witten has. been the agency's rep on Texaco show for the past seven years. Reported, price of $20,000 for the hew 'Texaco program is in line with the oil refiner's voiced ambition to get - the biggest thing available' for broadcasting or not go on the air at all. New York Pro Pigskin Tags Aircasts at $25,000 New York Giants /Football .Team, profeissional,, wants $25,000 for the •broadcast rights to Its gridiron meets the coming fall. Penn To- bacco, a Ruthrauff & Ryan account is reported interested, • , ' D.odge Metropolitan dealers under- wrote the -series last season, with WOR the outlet GVooming Ginny Sims ■ . Ginny. Sims, of Kay ICyser's crew at the Hotel Pennsylvania, N. Y„ is to be groomed on her own, with an eye to a Broadway, stage career, ' Her - maestro-boss, realizes that she's hit her peaik with the band and has interested William Morris, jr., in the professional advancement of the songstress, although Kyser him- self, is an MCA band. ' BENCHLEY STARTS IN NOV. FOR OLD GOLD ^dnesday, August 17, 1938 RADIO VARIETY 39 deg Sports Program Seattle, Aug. 16. wnval Brougham, sports editor of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Jnt fanciful recently during the Steele-Hostak fight here. Kidded mo 'booUegging', of sporU events as follows: 'This is the only broad- S of the Steele-Hostak battle, friends. They're in the ring now and Spre'8 the bell. Wait until T get my glasses adjusted, and I'll give ma the big fight blow-for-blow. Okay, here we go— wait a minuted comethlrig's' wrong. Somebody's on the floor. Something's happened Thev're raising somebody's liand. Somebody , off now. Good evening, friends.' (Hostaic flattened Steele in two minutes of the first heat.) Wfll, I'm signing UNION, ST. LOUIS STATIONS DECLARE Labor Board Hearings Develop Philosophy of Mis- SDuri City on Spielers— No 'Intimidation' by Merle Jones, Examihei^ Decides Announcers Wage Scale Fixed; Seniors, SPrJuni^ $110 Monthly American Federation of Radio AjUsts has concluded its announcer i^ement with NBC and the whole cSnlract covering all performers on sustaining programs has gone into effect Both pacts became operative last Sunday (14). Announcers at CBS are not included, being covered by their own outfit, the American Giiild of Radio Announcers and Producers,, but otherwise the agree- ments cill for a complete AFRA shop. - ■ According to the new agreement with NBC, announcers may. be em- ployed in the ratio of at least four seniors io one junior. Seniors are, defined as those . with commercial ac- counts or those permitted cpm- nierciak juniors become' seniors ■■ when they get commercials, but may. not be submitted for . two years. However, they may take . cpniihercial 'shows, if specifically asked for by iponsora Basic sustaining pay for senior announcers is $250 a month. Juniors, start at $110 and are raised on a sliding scale over two years to $175. However, they may be raised faster. It Is specified that (except under . existing.' contracts) no announcers nay be offered , to sponsors without extra pay. , Agriiment! calls for a 40-hour, fiverday week, with two weeks vacation after a yiear. Announcers working legal holidays may have an- other day off to compensate.': Spe- cial provision is made for computing tbffle taken on special events outside this studio. The pay and vacation stipulations are retroactive - as - of July 1. Deal alsio has an arbitration dius$ similar to that of the singer ind actor contract. There are 2iS senior and siit junior announcers at NBC affected by the deaL PALM 01 1 YE OPPOSES LUX MONDAYS Palmolive Soap has elected to go opposiUon to the Lux Radio Theatre on CBS Monday nights. It will be we Eddie Duchin orchestra, . for Pjtaolive, with the NBC-red (WEAF) the link and the time, 9:30 »;10. p.m. Starting date for the .R^oUverDuchin alliance is Sept.. 4. Palmolive and Lux are the top contenders In the toilet soap Held. Benton & Bowles is the agency on the Palmolive accounts Vadsco's 23 Outlets Vadsco Sales Corp. is set for 23 rations,, some of them Mutual and jome to be filled by ofE-the-line re- wrdings. Broadcasts start Oct. 7 via the Gumbinner agency. Using ^ourt of Human Relations' as pro eram. . Plugs Quinlax Cold Tablets. Belen Lclghton Retagged , J.. ■ Philadelphia, Aug; 16. wnrn "? Leighton, who reviews •W^J!" s activities in . her daily hMk!^ the News' show on WIP, .■^ peen renewed for another year. Producfe Co. P'^"='''^lP'^'» ^"'^y s^l^-i ^""^^ .landed the vocal ■ Shou/ • ^'>'^er McGee and Molly, arsi i,**''^^'" to Hollywood after 'J weeks of new series in Chl- TIME SLOWS DEAL joe E. Brown R«mp for Post Toasties Needs Right Spot for Kids Because of the lack of good .NBC- red or Columbia time General Foods is hesitating about putting on Joe EV Brown for Post Toasties this fall. Latter product is on the Benton & Bowles list. Agency has, been maneuvering around for a choice kid period on eitljer network but the prospects, so far don't look bright. 38 Bid, 2 Survive In Race for Acct. Of Savings Banks It will be three or four weeks be- fore the special publicity, committee of the Savings Banks Association of New York State will decide whether it wants, to go on the air or what advertising agency , is to handle- the job. List of 38 agencies bidding for the business has been .reduced to two. Preliminary details of the proposed co-operative campaign are being cleared through Lyon, Sturgis & Co., New York p.a. i firm, Da?ega Copy Rapped Washington, Aug. 18. Davega City Radio, Inc., New York, needs to. sapolio advertising copy, FTC charged in complaint al Icging unfair competitibri in sale of sets. Davega copy causes belief re- reseivers fere being sold at big dj.s; counts without piirchase of any other article, FTC squawlts, but ac tually suckers' must spend" $3.95 to $5 for antenna to obtain sets at low prices. Copy displays cut prices of sets In big type, and catch in deal, required purchase of supplementary equip- ment, in much smaller . type, often in part of ad far removed from price and description of sets, complaint charges. Davega has usual 20 days to answer squawk. KDKA Spieler to NBC Pittsburgh, Au^ 16. Winner of a competitive audition staged recently at Radio City, (Jlenn Riggs, senior announcer at KDKA. here, shifts to New- York this week to join NBC announcing staff. Riggs is one of the pioneers in radio here having joined KDKA in. 1929. . As a result, Bill Sutherland mpves into top spot among KOKA spielers and Dick Hogue comes on frOm NBC announcers* school to fill vacancy made by Riggs* departure. SMAETIES' BUILDUP Henry Frankel has set the Srhar ties for a sustaining build-up on WOR,. Now York. Heard Tuesday Thursday at 6.45 p.m. ' Made up of Frinim Sisters, and Franit Raye. Harold Cooke does the arrangements. John Conrnd Joins VVIjW Cincinnati, Aug. 16. John Conrad joined Crosley's WLW and WSAI atntr last wcplc to work with Herb Flaig on spocia! events. Conrad was' public relations direc- tor of KWK, St. Louis, for past five years. St. Louis, Aug: 16. During, the last session of the seveh-.day hearing before Trial Ex- aminer J. J. Fit?patrick . of NLRB during which AFRA sought to show that gabbers of four local radio star tipns, KSD, KWK, WEW aiid KMOX, should be included . with actors and warblers and free lance performers' in a wage bargaining unit, the quesr tion of Whether Merle S. Jones, gen-, eral rhanager of KMOX had violated the Wagner Labor Act by talking to Witnesses, before and after they had testified at, the hearing proved to be a flash in . the pan although it en- livened the proceedings. When questioned by Alan Perl, at- torney for NLRB, concerning this, in- cident Jones said the best record could be established by recalling each witness KMOX employied and asking them specifically if he . had not definitely told; them that' any conversation he had with them must not influence their testimony and further that he told them that whichever . Way they -testified ,it would have ho bearing oh. their status- as employes. This statement satisfied Perl - that , there had been no violation of the Wagner Act and the incident was closed. Hearing ended shortly afterwards in the Federal Building Friday (12) when- the stations submitted docu- mentary evidence, consisting of the number of all classes of radio work- ers employed by the. involved sta- tions during; the six. months period starting Feb. 1. This information was . requested by Perl. Approxi- mately 25 witnesses were' summoned by both sides and many of thiem were recalled to the "stand several tiines for further examination. Perl expects NLRD to hand down a de- cision in about 60 days. Versatile Spielers Last witness called by Henry Jaffe, sole counsel for AFRA,- was Frank Cooley who- testified he was a former actor employed by KSD as a gabber for six months. He cited instances in which he said gabbers had been called on to sing or take part in a dramatic sketch. Cooleiy further tes- tified he had been paid as ah actor when he appeared .in ' two KSD sketches. Cpbley said he knew KSD had agreed .to bargain with AFRA if a separate unit was -set up for gabbers. In the' period between March 1 and June 1 of this year Cooley testified 23 KSD employes, including five gabbers, - were niem- bcrs of the union while 16 others, in- cluding two gabbers and five corh- mentators were hOh-members. Examiner Fitzpatrick denied mo- tions of counsels for the stations that the AFRA petition be dismissed on the grounds that AFRA ' failed to show there was sufficient evidence to prove the union was an appropriate one, that there was sufficient evi- dence to show the union was au- thorized to represent announcers, singers and actors and free lance performers and failed to show that free lance workers were employes of the stations. Chester G. Renier, program direc- tor at KMOX, first witness in be- half of the stations which contend announcers should : be . placed in a separate unit, testified that only rarely do gabbers at KMOX act there and it was their duty ,to sell the public and the duly of actors to entertain over the air. Renier . tes- tified a good gabber is riot always a good actor. He said that five of the nine gabbers at KMOX had ex- pressed a desire for a union but were unanimous in their opinion that a separate unit should be estab- lished for them. Renier advanced the opinion that there should be six separate units of radio perforiiicr.s because each group had problems of a dirterent nature. I Merle Jones, general manager; ! Harry 'Pappy' Cheshire, , hillbill.v m.c; Arthur Casey, production man- ager, and France Laux, chief gabber, allot" KMOX followed Renier. Jones asserted that the station had no ob- jection to collective bargaining with ■ AFRA if there was a separate unit /for gabbors'and the unit reprcscnied a majority of performers. . He also i chipha.<;ized the fact that the duties 'of fiubbors and s;n«crs and act6r.<;. wcic entirely different. Jones yls'j it£st;rted that gabbers were regular start employes and that they, have a much greater interest lii the station than ehtertainers. The gabbers, Jones said, have" a greater- continuity of employment and if two bargain- ing . units were established there would be no conflicting interest be- tween gabbers and singers arid acr tors. He : further asserted that if only. . one bargaining unit, were created the gabbers will be con- .trolied by the entertainers. Jones concluded with the .staterhent that annou;ncing was' the most important broadeasting work at KMOX as only about 25% of the time at this- sta- tion is . devoted to local 'live' pro- grams. He said about 50% of the station's time Is given to net pro- gratns originating outside of St. Loiiis and the rest of the time, ex- cept for transcribed programs, is used in sports, news, drama, civic, religioiis and -educational . pirbgrams of which 2%% is dramai requiring local dramatic talent. . Cantor No Actor? '. Eddie Cantor's status as an actor was in dispute When Mrs. ' Claire: Marie HarrisohV cpntihuity super- visor, at KWK, testified that come- dians Who perform fo:' themselves are not actors. ' She' was asked, "Then, in your opinion Eddie Cantor (national president of .AFRA ) is hot ah actor?' Her 'No* wowed the crowded court room.. Mrs. Harrison supported the contention of the stations that an nouncers are very seldom called on to act . in dramatic skits. She said KWK had a rigid , rule prohibiting announcers acting. Larry Neville, KMOX continuity writei*, testified control -of the union should 'not, be In the hands of those *invading the field for pin money or fpi* pleasure.' Marvin E. Mueller, gabber at ^MOX, testified that while the technique of; gabbers and actors' is closely related he personally pre- ferred a separate unit for the. former, He said he didn*t think there was a possibility of free lance artists gain- ing; contrpl pf the unipn thrpugh su< peripr numbers. . Stuart . M. Chambers, assistant manager at KSD, testified there' was no interchangeability in the func- tions- of gabbers and singers and ac- tors and, in his opiniph, there exists a- 'very definite line pf demarcation KSD filed a motion when the hear- ing started in which it cited four NLRB; coses' in ^which it was found that salaried employes should not be included, .with hourly paid workers in the same bargaining unit. In -the same motion the station also ques- tioned to what extent free lance ar- tists could be regarded as employes, The motion stated that 75 artists worked for an average of three and a half hours in a three-months' pe riod. Average Wages First mention, of wages during the hearing arose when Jones was re- called to the stand. He said the average pay of gabbers was consid erably higher than that pf free larice and staff singers and actprs, the gabbers getting from $40 to $60 per ~weck minimum while staff , actors re coive from $10 to $25 and staff war biers from $15 to $50. . Free larice singers and actors^ Jones said, were paid on a performance basis, the pay ranging , from a minimum of $2.50 to $25 per appearance. ' Ray Dady, studio slipervisor of KWK, testified .that few free larice performers in St.. Louis receive a.*> much as $50 per month and that one man whom he regarded as the most popular actor in the- burg , 'averaged about $85 a month in good season.s. Al S. Foster, general manager of WEW, testified that the responsibili- ties of gabbers in smaller stations, such as WEW, were much greater than those in the larger ones arid should, thercfprc, maintain a sepa- rate unit. Fpster pojnted out that i the AFM permits its member.s to ; take dramatic parts and. there has been ,no trouble with AFM on that ■ scoi-o. Foster got the second laugh !,()f the hcaririgs when he as.sertcd 'that W-E'W didn't need free lance - actors as it had Jack Nordcr who i takes 27- different parts in. WEW Lshow.v. Bill Durbiri, a staff gabber ' at WEW, . sub.stantialed the giealcr • part of Fo.ster's testimony, i In gcnerol the stations ,sou;,'ht tn show 'thai the functions and i/ilCi- ests of gabbers differ greatly from those, of singers and actors and free lance, entertainers. There was no charge of unfair labor practices in- volved ih; the hearing. Thrpugh the trial Jeff e and defending cpiinsel realizing that the issue in cen- troyersy Is- pne that may artect the entire broadcasting field devoted niuch time to details, etc. Immediately after the hearing ended Jaffe boarded a rattler fpr New York asserting that thei mid- west heat was too much for him. Examiner Fitxpatrick departed for Washington to make his report to NLRB. ST. LOUIS FOR ACTORS UNION CONVENTION St Louis, Aug. 16. Don Phillips, president pf the. St. . Lpuiis, Chapter of AFRA, has re- ceived word from Emily 'Holt exec- utive secretary in New York that tha first annual convention of AFRA will be held here starting Nov. 14. Phillips is not certain how long the confab, will last but expects the sessions to run at least three days. He has asked Miss Holt if Eddie Cantpr, president, Lawrence Tibbett, Grace M'oore, Lily P'ons, Jack Benny and other celebs in the organization may be expected to attend. On the basis of a national mem- bership of approximately 6.000 and the by-laws fixing one delegate to each 25 members Phillips , believes between 1,500 and 2,000 members .will be on hand for the conveitibn. Phillips is: awaiting wprd from na- tional headquarters as to whether national. officers will assist the local execs in arranging details of the con- fab. SALESMEN'S UNION' LOOKS FORGOTTEN Philadelphia, Aug. 16. Plan to take their, case to the Na- tional Labor Relations Board has been dropped by the six salesmen at WPEN who were-flred two weeks ago fpr organizing a union. . Inas- much as several have already ob- tained, other jobs and all accepted checks jn full payment for what wis diie pn recurring cpmmissipns, there is little inclination to pu-sh the sta- tion on violation of the Wagner aict. Outlet continues to be operated without salesmen , at: all, although Arthur Simon, manager, indicated several might be added later on. Simon,' in the meantime, is handling all renewal biz himself. Some of the ex -solicitors have declared them- selves agencies and arc bringing the station contracts at the regular agency commish. CARLTON BRICKERT IN But He Was Oat for ; a Time as Chicago AFRA Prcxy Chicago, Aug. 16. After sending out announcement that .Carlton Brickcrt resigned as president of local chapter American Federation of Radio Artists as of yesterday ;fl5), - AFRA ofllces then claimed that the announcement 'was in error' and Brickert would remain in office and complete his first one year term or until the board of di- rectors meet Sept. 28. Brickert gave as his reason for leaving, in letter addressed to 6f;0 AFRA members locally, stress of per.sonal business, which included a. crowded network .schedule- as actor and announcer. However, it hux boen i-urnorcd for some lime th;il iiil<.T-f)in(:e- di.s.scM- tipn, would u)'in:;ity (.-.■i.-y .4;i:;e;;,. Willi Mwljoff.- in T'.x.'i : .ind Iov.t., tP vi.sii hr., .iji'J :\U.. VVii; , Oil's foiks. 40 VARIETY RADIO Wednesday, August 17, 1938 Stations Wa^ Jobs May Involve Them As Infringers of Dwyer Patent Frank Dwyer. pioneer In record- ing research, has retained Joseph V. McKee, former Ne\y Yo^k'; mayor, to bring action against; those re- cording equipment manufacturers, studios and stations whicK fail to obtain from -him licenses for the lateral methpd^ of cutting trah' scriptipns. Dwyer has through litigation established . his patent rights to any stencilling which pro- vides for moire, than 3 . minutes of playing time and 10 inches of space. Ruling exempts phonograph records but applies toMtransccip- tions. Licenses have already been ob- tained from Dwyer by ERPI, RCA and Decca and Dwyer's counsel Is. now directing his attention to. the makers of station cutting equip- ment sucb as Presto and Fairchild. Stations ' with recording equipment have been advised that . unless the required licenses are obtained they will be treated as inf ringers and that sponsors involved in the. disc jobs will be co-hamed as defcndsints. ALL BANKS ON AIR Macon's Four BeposUorles. All Vse Radio Advertising . Macon, Ga., Aug. 16. Radio station WMAZ has lined up the local banks 100%.- Fp.ilr banks each use a variety of spots on the ether. First National . is using daily an- nouncements ; for its third year. Luther Williams' Son, private bank, uses services tor three to six months. City Bank & Trust started last month presenting a little-kriown fact about Macon on four spots each week. Now Citizens .& Southern has signed tor two-time sijgnals a day the end of the month. Radio Stations to Fight Increased Customs Daty On Imported Platters Regina, Sask., Aug. 16; Western Broadcasters. Association has decided to; submit a brief to the Ontario government opposing the duty increase on transcriptions which is scheduled to go into effect next month. Among those who voted in favor of making the. protest, during the recent annual meeting of the WBA in Banff, AUa., was M. .V. Chestnut, maniiger of CKCK, Regina. Belief was expressed at the con- vention that the increased impost, would particularly hit the small inr dependents. Wrong Cue , London; Aug, 1. Meredith Willson, NBC ma«3< . tro ■ in Hollywood, on a- visit here, couldn't flgiire out thfr BritisH Goyemment's cue^. sheets, . after getting a hinge at the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. As the King's finest paraded . 6ft, they did so to the strains of •(1) an American- march by Sousa, and (2), it was titled, of all things, 'Liberty Bell,' which is more or less symbolic of America's : rebellion against the- BritUh. BL ACKPOOL REMOTE RATES HIGH GERMAN PROGRAMS XEQ, MEXICO POUCY Mexico City, Aug. 16. XEQ, a new 50,000-watter, will start operations late this month Radio Americana is the outfit be- hind the project. Station will specialize In the re- broadcasting of European programs, mostly German. London, Aug. 9.. How to get year's best.' radio variety bill for nothing has been solved by BBC, which is talcing lis- teners for a mike tour of Blackpool, famous northeast coast resort, where all the toprahk shows playing in. aii entertainment-mad town will be visited iii turn. Program is part of summer series of bigrscale broad- casts from, the seaside, and, although not first mike tour of Blackpool, will be easily the niost thorough ever attempted. Popular names to be heard in- clude Reginald Dixon, Stanley Hol- lo way, George Lacy, Elisabeth Welch, Maxine Stone, Anton Dqlih, Jack Hylton's band, Tessie O'Shea, Robert Naylor, Frank Rahdle, Ber- tini and his band, Sandy Powell; Norman Evans, Douglas Wakefield, Nat GonelUi Philip Martell orches- tra, Harry Kbrris, Benny Rok,. Jan Hurst orchestra, and Norman New- man band. To U. K. listeners, a bill of such magnitude represents, a dozen regu- lar variety shows rolled into one. Oboler Script on BBC London, Aug. 5 BBC , has takan Arch Oboler's Money, Money, Money,' for perform- ance In early September, and will spot it around 10:45 p.m. as first of series of 30-min. chillers -under gen eral title of 'Lights Out.' Norman Shelley and Charles Farrell reported in line for the leads; . It. isn't Gayhpr's ex-partner, inci- dentally, but si purely local Farrell, who's pretty familiar with BBC's mikes; Oboler la an American writer. script RICH m OF BBC DRAMA London, Augi 5. Foretaste of BBC program sched- ule for the fall suggests deliberate move to fill' put with drainmer, and on the tab are - above 100 piays of all sorts for ether presentation. , It's to be featurl' shows as. to half of them, with full-length straight numbers and short plays equally dividing tlie. rest, latter lists, taking in serials, ol which three will be done in response to success pf recent. 'Count of Monte Cristo' oh-iand-bn version; Another shot at evergreen 'Caval- cade' (about the third) is on the schedule, others to highlight .pro grarn, including Fiecker's ^'Hassan'— they've done that before, tod — "Thie Wind land the Rain,' and Barrie's 'Mary Rose.' .Nova-Pilbeam is ticked off for title role in last listed. Se rials' will, include Hugo's 'Les Mis- erables' and Tenence de Marney will star. Ray Lewis Heads Frisco Office of Wax Company San Francisco, Aug,,16. Recently organized National Tran- scription Recording Co. has opened offices here with Ray Lewis as gen- eral manager. Lewis was formerly account exec at KFRC for two years and previously: with other bay area stations, "rranscribcd versions of 'I Want a Divorce,' drama, sponsored by S. & W. Fine Foods, Inc., over the coast NBC-Red web, and other commercials are being offered by the new firm. Radio tinie placemeivt and produc- tipn will be handled by an njency to be formed for that purpose, it is planned. Montreal,. Aug. 16. With independent time selling vir- tually eliminated by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, produc- tion of radio shows by well-known advertising agencies and independent ad men is beginning to increase throughout C-jnada. ,' Agencies are Sam Hagperty of CJGX, Yorkton, awiikcning to. l'he fact that something Sask., has left to join CJRM, Re- must be done to fill in the gap left by gi.na, with the departure froin the , the tirhc salesmen who previously engineering staff of ; that station of j submitted production ideas. Claude Lynch, press operator, who Canadi:in Advertising Agency has has joined Trans. Canada Airlines as retained . Lucien Pariscau, former radio operator. . ' newspaperman, to: head a radio pro- Jewell Sets Up at WWJ Detrpit, Aug. 16. James Jewell's first act since- be- coming WWJ's program and pro- duction chief is formation of chil- dren's theatre of the air, a similar organization of which, he started several years ago as groundwork for talent at WXYZ. New juve stock conipany, tagged Jewell Play-House, will comijrise kids from 5 to 15 years, old,' and will present weekly visual show in WWjy radio theatre here. Will be chosen in private auditions and required to undergo three months of specialized training un- der JeWell to qualify. Group ex- pects to include singers, dancers, in-' strumehtalists, actors, comedians, trios, dance line and junior chorus of 20 voices. Richard B. Haynes, chief engineer of KMAC, San Antonio, operated on in Nix hospital, recuperating fromi operation. NEW RADIO BUILDING PROJECTED BY BBC London, Aug. 5. In a matter of weeks,, builders will start work which will more than double the size of British Broadcast- ing Corp. headquarters at Portland place. V Schedule is to have whole extensions ready in two years from nOw, giving greatly increased admin- istrative, studio^ and engineering dc- partinents. , Extension is designed as office block above first fioor level, with control suite on eighth and restau- rant on ninth; with a light court oc- cupying entire centre of the struc- ture. Below ground level studio ac- commodation will include general purposes studio (80 ft. by 54 ft. by 30 ft. high), three dramatic studios; an effects' studio and a group of re- hearsal ro.bms. ' As: planned, extension will, be slightly . larger than the existing Broadcasting House, and architec-. tural treatment, which has had ap-. proval of - Royal Fine Arts Commis- sion, -v^-ill continue and amplify that of existing Portland place facade, old and new portions of building forming a complete archi-^ tectural entity. ' ' First to . be done is pulling down present buildings on site, which, to- gether with clearance work, will mean several months, and it is in- tended complete structure shall be ready for occupation before close of 1940. G:ladys Greenburg Smith, whp has been Des Moines merchandising pro- hrotion manager for KSO-kRNT, has gone to Fort Collins, Colo., where her husband has established a law practice. Annoimcers' Style Sheet /' Cleveland, Aug. 16. Peeved because of a couple of boners, John Patt, manager , of WGAR, Cleveland, jacked up his announcing steff by issuing a bul- letin with the following 'Don'ts:' Barking announcers -.should cut down on the vocal steam and talk softer and with better enunciation. Don't handle a, commercial like a t>aseball game -or a prizefight; advertisers may resent sloppy handling. ., -. ' Make program plugs more persuasive; aggressive tone not only hurts product inentione'd bu' also-bums up llsteriers. Voice with a smile or jpersonality, although hokumish, sells more goods than a flat, matter-bf-fact voice. Watch yoUr grammar more closely. Grammatical boners reflect' badly bn the station's and advertiser's intelligence. CKACs Radio Program Week Waits in Vain for Response from CBS, Goes Ahead on Own Starting Sept. 11 -— — '— • — ' ' ■■- FRED S. HART RESIGNS Out of KGiWB, Honolnla — Living In OalltomU : San Francisco, Aug. 16. Resignation of, Fred S.' Hart, as general, manager of the Honolulu Idroadcasting Company, Ltd., which operates KGMB, Honolulu, aiid KHBC, Hiloi, becomes effective Sept, 1. Hart, former -owner bf the:.com- pany, is at Salinas, Cal., devoting himself to extensive real estate and raiichihg inteirests : which he shares with , Mrs. Hart No announcement has been made of his plans for fU' ture radio br other activities. Hart was at one time the owner and op- erator of KQW, San Jose, Cal„ which he sold to Julius .Brunton: & Sons before going to jfipnolulu sev- eral years ago. New . local, offices of the Honolulu Broadcasting- Co. are in charge of L. p. West. John Blair & Co. is rep resenting the . island ' stations in Washington, Oregon and California Japs' Cheap Sets Open Way for Better Quafity Receivers, Says Philco Philadelphia, Aug. 16. ' Japs, in their undeclared war on China, are creating new markets for American radios,; Walter D. Barker, Far Eastern sales ■ manager for Philco, said here during a visit this week. Instead ' of driving American and European goods put through sale of Ipw-priced sets, as the Japs hoped, they are creating new sales. Japs, are copying American radios, Barker said, and selling a five-tube set for as. little as $5. These radios are bought by natives who never before owned a set, but who In this way get accustotned to radio enter- tainment. And, when the cheaply- built receiver becomes a total loss in a. couple pf months, the Chinese turn to the American product. Turns Boy Connsellor Philadelphia,. Aug. 16. John. Burt- Langley, formerly in circulation department of Philly Ledger, handling carrier boys,- has started weekly series on WPEN titled Boy-Counsellor of the Air.' Crinie Prevention and Playground associatioiis have given official nod to the show. . Agencies, Brokers Eliminated, Go In For Air Production . Montreal, Aug - 16. Plans for promotion of a Radio Program Week are being completed here by Phil Lalonde, director of station CkAC, with-a twd-hbur open air show scheduled . to ' inaugurate week of Sept . 11 in Lafontaine Park before a probable audience of 250,000. Originally submitted to the Co- lumbia Broadcasting System, pro- posal was to link all major American and Canadian networks and stat- tibns in ' a., gigantic interhatiphal ' radio .ballyhoo with as many of the ; important commercial programs as could be lined up to begin during the week of Sept. 11. With no r^ sponse from CBS. to date, station CKAC has decided to! go it alone, locally. An enormous stage will be used for the open air show, with special lighting effects and a P. A. system. ' First broadcast opening Radio Week officially will be from CKAC Sun- day, Sept. 11, from 8 to- 9 pm. It is understood that a special - edition, tabloid form, to be printed by La Presse carrying photogi;aphs of the crowds and the performers will be sent to agencies and spon- sors throughout the U.S.A. and Canada. CKAC: is lining lip as many first line shows as possible fpr the week. Ford, Lux, Lowney's Chocolates, 'Young Si Rubicam accounts, and others being scheduled for Radio Week. 10 Can. Outlets Will Be Hit By duction department. Agency will audition talent and operate its own recording studios, for sample only.. Vickers it Benson are . planning tb enlarge radio production department shortly, it is understood, while Emery Phaneuf, well-known Frencli- Ganadian attorney, has started Indus- trial Broadcasting, a radio production agency. In Toronto reports aie that advertising agencies and forhier tirne salesmen are also rushing into radio" production. - Among the most prominent adver- tising tiien here tp go into radio pro- duction is Charles Holmes, well known; in French-CIanadian news- paper advertising circles. . Holmes was one of the first adver- tising men in/ Canada to advise clients against the literal translation of English copy into French by Parisian purists in Ontario. Holmes battled, successfully tor copy to - be i-AlVantir.»eSsr"*'lu' Hot ni)4l-S04-i , Felix Green Back from England Large Increase in Exchange Programs Between Two English-Speaking Couniriies . >■■ — ' .. . . ' — ^ — I — — - BriUsh BroadcasUng Corp, will i: .hnut 100 programs from the U. flS next three months, about the customary number. wiU also be an increase in Si number of English programs wd In the U. S., although not Sfflriy as many as pumped the other «T Felix Green, North. American rm for B. B. C, returned Monday «5) on the Normandie after two nonths in England setting the deals, Among the shows to be pumped from America to England will be a new series of Raymond Gram Swing nrograms Saturdays, six talks on Bfwdway by Alistair Cook, some lieht instrumental Shows by NBC and a continuation of the U. S. dance band series. Few of the pro- grams will be heard in America. Green's London visit was one of his regular, business trips, he makes ■ couple of times a year. He has no further plans to go again for some time, but expects, to go to the countn' late this week for a short test Swedish Sets Data Washington, Aug. 16. One out of every five persons in Sweden now has a broadcast >e- ceiver, the Commerce Department reports. Radio licenses now out- standing in nation number 1,150,781, o( 184.1 per 1,000 inhabitants. Rest of country better market than city of Stockholm, report indicates, as in capital ratio is 247.2 receivers per 1,000 population. Jean Clement, French, Imported to Quebec Montreal, Aug. 16. .Tean Clement, French singer, is scheduled to come back to Canada this fall,' under contract to Grothe Tobacco for 26 weeks over a network of French-Canadian stations. Clement will plug Grad cigarettes. Under optibn for 26 weeks, vocalist will probably be held over. Grother Tobacco Co. will sponsor 'Laurentian Mountaineers' ,. over CHRC and a . French-Canadian net- work of five stations, beginning in Octolier, for a period of 26 weeks, half-hour weekly. ■ Exact: date has not yet been ar- ranged. Sells Patois Programs Quebec, Aug. 16. J. A. Hardy, on CHRC sales staff, has left for Toronto, Montreal, Wind- sor, Detroit and Chicago, contacting advertisers on behalf of French-lan- guage radio production ideas. Visio at $1.50 Weekly London, Aug. 16. •. Television will go on commercial exhibit for sale at the Olympia Radio Exposition here. Sets will be offered at S150, pay- able at $1.50 per weekly installments. Looks Like BBC Will Make Drastic Attempt to Make Seventh Day More Enter- taininis THEATRE SLANT ■ London, Aug. 5. Putting all its eggs in one basket is gag to be worked by British Broadcasting Corp. for a star-stud- ded Sunday program which is likely to start lively controversy before it ever gets to tlie mike. Broad aim is to give whole day over to . tip- top material, but many items planned . go well beyond normal bounds Of Sunday presentation, with light and carefree material getting a good showing in contrast- to sober items. Corp. will stir the mixture well and call.it 'Masterpiece Sunday.' How theatres will react to pro- jjdsal to include musical comedy or farce, with topliners, played before a studio audience, is one problem corp. hasn't apparently considered, for licensing lawf sit heavily on legit houses, preventing use of light en- tertainment oh - Sundays. Yet BBC, it. seems, can get away with it. and means to go the whole hog with plans for filing in bthet spots on same day with the theatre organ, a series of free and easj Orchestra items and a variety bill — except that latter will be carefully weeded. Day's full schedule will include re- ligious ser\'ices with, star preachers; Meredith Wilson, of NBC. never did euest-coriduct BBC Vfritfy Oi- chestra. He was taken sick in Paris and had to call it off. International Exchange Of Radio Directors Considered Possibility of Present Inquiries .Montreal, Aug, 16, Radio production inrien from, all parts of the Biritish Empire and eventually the' United States wjll be ofTercd opportunities to study Cana- dian broadcasting methods should plans go through for the extension of the current arrangement for post- ■ graduate training of Canadian pro- ducers at the BBC studios, London. ' Understanding is that talks are now under way for arranging ex- change of producers with other parts of the British Empire, 'n addition to England, with the possibility that American , radio field will next be ap- proached. Exchange facilities iare now in ef- fect only between Great Britain and Canada. Matter is bein^ taken up with Australia. ' While "no informa- tion is available concerning possible invitations to French. German and Italian broadcasting officials to come ovet to Canada, it is bclieycd that during, his European sojourn Rooney Pclletier, CBC program director in Montreal, will follow six rnpiilhs ob- servation at BBC with, two months in French, Italian and possibly Gerr man broadcasting circles. Reported here that, in exchange for CBC program director Pelletier, the BBC is sending over Lance Sieve- king, BBC producer. Benny. Goodman is penciled in for Aug; 20 date on current BBC Satur- day nite series Oi relays from U.S. Of , American dance combinations. Sammy Kaye gets' Atig. 13. Billy Caryll , and Hilda Mundy to risume 'Mr. and Mrs: Neemo' scries of broadcasts iti September; did three shows for BBC, but will retiirn to air six more comedy >ten-.3. BBC, Symph Orchestra concert; a Shakespeiare or classic, straight play; star opera br.)adcast; organ test- of heavy and light stuff; topical talk by a big public name and a survey of European events; first Sunday Chil- dren's Hour; and Our bid pal the Spelling' Bee. ■ All Broadcasting House depart-, ments are working on plans at this time,, and it will be close on Christ- mas before ■ Show hits the , linike Aside from controversy likely to! start , by inclusion of free material; practicability of throwing all the good stuff into a singls day will be •questioned by many, and BBC may have to face criticism that, if they can do it one day, they should do it always. M. H. Allen serving up to British listeners specimens of current American humor i'l program titled 'The Hell with It,', which will be his third such, effort. OR D E R YOUR VARIETY RADIO DIRECTORY-/rom HOLLYWOOD V A R I E T Y 1708 N. Vine St. SATYR BOOK STORE 1620 N. Vine St. LONDON V A H I E T Y 8 St. Martini Pi. Trafalgar Square CHICAGO V A R I ET Y 54 West Randolph St. RANDOLPH NEWS SHOP 63 West Randolph St. BRENTANO'S BOOK STORES NEW YORK CITT 686 Fifth Ave. PHILADELPHIA 1726 Chestnut St. WASHINGTON 1322 F St- N.W. VABIETY RADIO DIRECTORY 154 West 46th Street, New York Please send. .... .. .copies of VARIETY RADIO DIRECTORY ($S.pcr copy, postage prepai ; |5.10 per copy in New York City; diity not prepa! in foreign countries). Enclosed find $ Name Address , City ...... irm Name — 42 VARIETY RADIO Wednesday, August: 17, 1939 If Various States Forced Trademark Registry, Would Cost Colgate 144G Albany N. Y., Aug. 16, Cost**of compulsory state trade-! nark registratiori would have to come out of money set aside by co;n- panies for advertising in newspapers, magazines and radio, according to statements made by several speak- ers at the hearing held in the Capi- tol before a special committee of the National Association of Secre- taries of State. Industry and trade associations were unanimous in op- position to any plan for mandatory state registration. This subject was considered and apparently thumbed down at the annual convention in June of the Association of Secreta- ries of State, only to be rievived on a discussion-study basis. George McMillen, secretary of the Association of National Advertisers, with a membership of 44,000, was one of the men bringing up the point about the effect of state registration on advertising moneys, In a brief filed with the committee, McMillen mentioned all media. Like the other opponents, McMillen argued that state registration would add to the tax burden of business and would give no further protection to trade- mark holders than that already fur- nished by federal and common law. C. E. Johnston, speaking for Colgate- Pal'molive-Peet, estimated that it would cost that company at least $144,000 to register its 300 trade- marks in 4B states, on a $10 mini- mum filing fee.. Fritz Van Breson, described as an International expert on trademarks and representative at the hearing of the Merchants Association of New York and the Queens Chamber of Commerce, expressed the opinion that state Invasion of the federal field on trademark registration would cause difficulties in radio and other fields. Among the big radio advertisers represented at the hearing were; Sterling Products, by David Rasch; Carborundum Company of Niagara Falls, by G. E. Soley; Corn Refining Products, by, D. F. HofTman; Agfa Corporation, of Binghamton, by Philip Hopkins. Trade groupis in- cluded: National Manufacturers As- sociation, U. S. Trade Mark Associa- tion, Retail Toilet Goods Association, Proprietary Association of New York, Association of Manufacturers of Soao and Glycerine products. Agencies-Sponsors Atlantic Reflhln; broadcasts of Ohio State University home games will be carried by WBNS, Colum- bus, this season. Possibility of Ohio network of several stations. No announcer named. Tube City Brewing Co. of McKces- port. Pa., has taken two quarter- hour periods on WWSW, Pittsburgh, weekly for next 13 weeks. Goes on every Wednesday and Friday eve- ning, with latter shot consisting of transcribed Italian melodies an- nounced in that tongue. Wednesday shot v/ill be 'Musical Memories,' disced old-time song hits announced by Kieran Balfe, station's publicity manager. Italian announcing will be done by Anthony Ortale. Ac- count placed direct. Quarter-hour participation oh Woman's Magazine of the Air over NBC Coast Red group has been taken by Union Oil on behalf of win- dow cleaner and fly spray. Deal, effective Sept. 8-December 1, ar- ranged by Lord and Thomas, Holly- wood. 'Little Orphan Annie' renewal effective Sept. 26, on 12 M'utual-Don Lee California . outlets. Blackett- Sample-Hummert (Ovaltine). Paul Jones cigarets, a Philip Mor- ris Co. output, has taken to news; casts and sports reviews for its test campaign. Already on the cig's pay- roll are KMOX, St. Louis, KMBC, Kansas City, KNX, Los Angeles, and the Don Lee stations in northern California. It's all news on the westcoast, with Kiiox Manning on KNX and John B. Hughes over Don Lee, while the sportscasters are France Loux on KMOX and Jack SUrr, KMBC. General Baking has bought Lone Ranger program, SO-ijiinute Mutual feature over WOL, Washington, be- ginning Sept. 26. Wheatena has bought WOL's 4:45 to 5 spot begin- ning Monday (15). ' Mutuai's 'Shadow' (5:30-8) has been sold over WOL to Delaware-Lackawanna. Vermont Maid Syrop (Penick 8c Ford) will run a minute announce- ment campaign, starting in October, among New England, southeastern Radio City's Chimes NBC is broadcasting its of- ficial chjimes through Radio City on the hour. Sound emanates from a loudspeaker behind the clock on the 50th street side of the International building. This loudspeaker is hooked up to an automatic set of chimes in the network's control room. Three sets of clocks control the time-ringing device.; One clock turns on the loudspeaker, another sets off the chimes and a third turns off the operation late at'hight and on again in the early morning. Day (11) the. stimt was introduced the International' building's own clock went awry and ran five hours behind. Network has plans for install- ing a like set of chirhe-lifoad- casting devices in Chicago, . Cleveland, Hollywood and San Francisco. Inside Stuff-Radio and Coast stations. J. Thompson is the agency. Walter . Gordon Baking is buying news re- ports. Has okayed five, quarter- hours a week (7:15 to 7:30 a.m.) on WBBM, Chicago. L. Grief & Bros. (Chatham Home Spun Suits) has put William Winter, WBT, Charlotte, news commentator, on the payroll for 13 weeks, with the schedule calling for three quarter-hours a week. Schwimmer & Scott agency, Chi- cago, last week split with the Morris B. Sachs clothing stores, with the account moving over to the Wade agency. ,S. & S. office had the account for around three years and put over amateur program on WENR for the client. Southern Beer Co. sponsoring WGH, Newport News iFriday night party (one hour). KDKA is first under line among Pitt stations with announcement of football games it will broadcast next fall under Atlantic Refining Co. sponsorship. Starts Oct 1 with Maryland and Penn . State from State College, Pa., and schedule for remainder of. series follows: Oct, 8, Bucknell at Penn State; Oct, 15, Holy Cross at Carnegie Tech in Pitts- burgh; Oct. 22, Tech at Notre Dame; Oct, 29, Syracuse at Penn State; Nov. 5, Lafayette at Penn State; Nov. 12, Carnegie Tech and Duquesne in Pittsburgh; Nov. 19, Harvard at Yale, and Nov. 24, Cornell at Penh.' .... ■ ..1 ^4 KGLO, Mason City, la,, has published for trade distribution the result of a door-to-door poll it underwrote to determine family buying habits in north Iowa, The quizzer got around to 1,691 families, and found out what, they preferred in such brands as flour, coffee, cereal, laundry soan toilet soap, washing powder, baking powder, dentifrices, shaving soan automobiles and automatic refrigerators. " Among the coffees radio advertised brands rated 1, 3, 6, 9 and 10th place Radio-plugged laundry soaps drew 1, 2 and 6th place, while washing pow'i ders and flakes figured 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10th, and toilet soaps got 1 2 3" 4, 6, 7 and 8th rating. In the latter instance Palmolive ran slightly ahead of Lux, The air-allied dentifrices had all but the 10th spo.t and it was pretty much the same, for the cold cereals. ^ Tommy Cowan,, dean of WNYC, N. Y., announcers, was johnny-on-the. spot Sunday afternoon (15) when the crazed cop-hater started blasting away with a pair of sliotguns at New York City Police memorial services oh the Mall in Central Park, N. Y. Announcer had just finished descrip. tion of the most impressive part of the ceremonies when the first shot rang out.- Cowan stayed on the air, dijcking bullets meanwhile, to give an eye. witness description of the short exchange, which ended with the death of Charles SanflUipi, ex-taxi driver. Recording was ^ade of the broadcast at the studio and rebroadcast at 6:45 p. m. on the station's regular newscast First facsimile machine for the transmission of written communications has been installed by Western Union Telegraph in the New York offices of the Transamerican Broadcasting & Television Corp. Apparatus takes the- place of the teletype, permitting, the sending and receiving an exact copy of the original matter. Messages are put on cylinders with photoelectric cells scanning on the sending end and reproducing on the receiving end. New KSFO studios in the Palace Hotel, San Francisco, were officially dedicated Friday (12) with a series of special broadcasts, highlighted by a special presentation of 'Hollywood Showcase' from the Palace's. Rose Room over a transcontinental Columbia Broadcasting Systeni network, and a supper dance to which several hundred guests wiere invited by general manager Philip G. Lasky and sales manager Henry Jackson. Various stores in New York are handling Fred Warinjg's invention, a motor-driven daiquiri cocktail shaker. Used experimentally in several highlight spots around New York, the bandman's gadget has been meet- ing with exceptionally favorable results. Now it's being marketed for home consumption. Larry Nixon, of WNEW, New York, dickering on the sale of radio tran- scription rights to his travel book, 'Vagabond Voyaging.' Meanwhile the book hit number two in the Los Angeles best seller list last week which stirred motion picture interest although book is outside the charmed circle in the eastern best seller statistics. Julian Street of NBC has just stepped into the 10-years club at the net- work. Present assignment is stirring up of interest in radio as a theme for editorial attention from the magazines. John Lagemah has a similar roving assignment at CBS. Confidential Biz Telegram Flashed Among KSFO s Congrats Marathon Richmond Squabble Goes On as WRTD Says WRNC Decision Was 'Capricioos' Washington, Aug. 16. Dubbing FCC decision 'arbitrary and capricious' FCC in granting juice jump to WRNL, Richmond, Va., same town's Times Dispatch Radio Corp., licensee of WRTD, today (16) took appeal from commish decision to U. S. Court of Appeals for Dis- trict of Columbia. Court proceed- ing, brought by Eliot C. Lovett, WRNL counsel, smoked out possible intention of WMBG, Richmond 500- watter, to seek FCC rehearing in case. George O. Sutton, WMBG counsel, says will appeal if commish denies rehearing plea. First ground of Lovett-WRTD ap- peal is that FCC action is invalid be- cause it resulted from affirmative vote of only three of seven members of commission. Lovett 'asserts four were present at commish session at which action taken, but only three a minority— voted affirmatively. Decision attacked in Times-Dis- patch squawk is that of July 19, let- ting WRNL boost power from 500 to 1,000 watts and operate unlimited, time instead of daytime only. Court petition asserts there is no need for increased service, particularly at night, and 'the contrary finding of the commission is arbitrary and capricious.' Background is that commish is leery of appeals to courts on plaints of unfair treatment because of re- current demands of Congressional investigation. Several commission- ers have been leaning over back- wards in recent proceedings to pre- vent even ghost of chance for bias charges. Aylen to Vancouver Ottawa, Aug. 16. Peter Aylen, CBL station manager, goes to Station CBR, Vancouver, re- placing J. R, Radford, who goes to Toronto. Changes effective Oct. 1. San Francisco, Aug, 16, Flashed across an illuminated translux box before the eyes of sev- eral hundred guests, including rival station execs, at dedicatory festivi- ties at the opening of KSFO's new studios Friday night (12), a con- fidential reply fr>om Jack Joy, of KHJ, Los Angeles, to manager Phil Lasky 's offer of the post of KSFO musical director was made public before Lasky even knew Joy's an- swer had been received. Wire from Joy was buried among scores of congratulatory messages which were being run through the special device in the Palace Hotel's Rose Room, arid was read just a few minutes after announcement had been made that Jack Meakin is leaving the KSFO staff for New York. Joy's telegram to Lasky re- vealed that he will come to San Fran- cisco, this week to discuss Laslty's offer. Meakin' has been signed for a new NBC show for Nestle's prod-, ucts. Quick search >yas made through remaining telegrams to make cer- tain no more' messages of a con- fidential nature were around. Los Angeles, Aug. 16. New setup in production depart- ment at KHJ and the Don Lee net was occasioned last week with the departure of Jack Joy, program di- rector, and Ted Bliss, production manager. Van Newkirk, special events head for the station, moves into Joy's berth and Charles Penman tomes here from WJR, Detroit, to be pro- duction head. Detroit, Aug. 16. Charles Penman, director of the 'Mummers' at WJR for past eight years, who goes to Don Lee ^yest coast web as production director, once was M'ae West's leading man (legit). He's seconi' WJR official to join Don Lee in past year. Lew Weiss resigning his post here to be- come general manager of west coast chain. Burns and Allen will drop off fo' a personal in Kansas City en route to New York, WedpesJay, 'August 17, 1938 VARIETY 43 "SUPERB" Nov York Daily Nnvs "ELECTRIC" New York Times "GRATIFYING* New York Journal "VERY SWELL INDEED" New York Post "STIMULATING" New York World- Telegrain ' \ "DOWNRIGHT TERRIFIC" Hammond (Ind.) Times "TOPS" Akron (Ohio) Press "CONSUMMATE" Memphis(Tenn.) Press-Scimitar "VIVID" Stockton f Cut. ) Record "NEW HIGH" Cleveland Plain Dealer "PERFECT" Springfield (A/ass.) Union "SUPER-TALENTED" Knexville (Tenn.J Sentifiet Singular First Person At the invitation, and on the facilities of CBS, Orson Welles and his Mercury Theater play for the nation. And the reigning First Person of Broadway has scored an i?istantaneous hit! In the new CBS program called "First Person Singular" America has found its newest radio favorite. Each w eek Orson Welles adapts, directs, and acts one of the great "first person" stories of literature. Old and new, from "The Tale of Two Cities" to "The Thirty-Nine Steps", these classics are taken out, brushed off, and broadcast in all their original excitement and newness. \x!% great radiol But tbe Mercury Theater of the Air is only one of eight Columbii Network dramatic programs heard each week. The Columbia Playbill has the widest possible variety of dramatic fare, for, beside first tersom SINGULAR, on Mondays, from 9 -10 p. m., it includes the experimental COLUMBIA WORKSHOP (Saturdays, 7:30-8 p. m.), the four coRNtm THEATER (Tuesdays, 8-8:30 p. m.), men against death, an epic of •cience (Thursdays, 8-8:30 p. m.), Americans at work (Thursdays, .10:30-11 p.. m.), the BLFFALo I'LAYERS of "stock" fame (Fridays, 3-3:30 p. m.), and, more for the children, let's pretend (Tuesday* ■nd Thursdays, 5:30-6. p. m.). Here is radio's most theater. G O L U M B I A B R O AD C A ST I N G S Y S T E M // orld^s Largest Radio Network 44 VARIETY RADIO Wednesday, August 17, 1935 IS brabbing Upportumty Plus midng m By BILL SCHUDT, Jr. (.CcneTal Manager, CBS.-V/KRC, Cincinnati) Showmanship is such an elusive quality that its deflnition varies with the person defining it; i( is so aUr Embracing that, some who sfeak.ot it leave out certain phases and in- clude terms that others would not think of.. Therefore, showmanship essentially Is a personality iot be a financial flop. Opera enthusiasts pleaded for weeks, and failed, and finally opera . officials announced that the schedule would not be under- taken. At thait time, altho -gh the series was to be broadcast by a rival network whicj Is represented in Cincinnati by three other stations; WKRC, a Columbia station, stepped forward with an offer to extend its. fucilities for programs to ask for donations from the public. Not only di'l WKRC .«rer its facilities; it offered its talent, t.nd opera offlcials rescinded their decision to abandon the season. The generosity of WKRC stimulated a, like generosity in a' local store; and a: few hours later the islpre's officials announced they woul, pledge' the amount needed. Thus the prcppsed broadcast was canceled and in its stead summer opera officials appeared ' .with the same talent on a 'Thank you, Cincin- nati' program. . The action of WKRC brought forth comments of praise. .Local papers called it ? new high in chiv- alry, and the v.-hole city was aware: of pur ifriepdly interest in Cincin- nati's cultural progress, even .when advancing that progress, meant boostinig our rivals.. Here's , what- Paul Kennedy, r^dio editor of the Cincinnati: Po.^t, said abotit the pro- posed broadcast: 'Station WhRC does the chival-. rous thing Saturday night at 8:30, when it broadcasts a half-hour bene- fit show for the Sumnier, Opera Fund. Perhaps this doesn't make mr.ch of an impression on . the- aver- age observer, but jr radio when a Columbia staii >n bea'- the drum fpr an enterprise - which will be broad- cast over. NBC. that's hew in radip." 'That is an instance of showman- ship of the higher kind. The. situa- tion . presented an opportunity for the . station to be bigger than any- body expected it to be, and WKRC was not lax enough to let tlie oppor- tunity pass. . . Cinderella Grabbed Recently, a woman living in a small Kentucky town,, a hundred miles from i^incinnali, wrote to Mrs. Ruth Lyons, WKRC wpmari's news comTnentator. Her letter was writ- ten ph stationery not ' cheap and not expensive and her handwriting pro: claimed fingers chat had done the work of a middle-class housewife, with few luxuries and h«ir language was .very earnest 'Mrs. Lyons,' she said, 'I'm writing you for help. ■ I want to. kno\. some' things that r think yPi. can 'tell me. ■ 'AH my life' I've loved -ppera and good music. I've seen pictures with bits ol several operas, and I've listened oh the radio to every good music program on the air. My neighbors think I'm crazy. -They say opera is for: rich people who have plenty Pf time, and money and nothing else to do but wear fine clothes. But I don't agree with them and I've decided to- go see. 'Traviata* Nice Work, If— : Philadelphia, Aug. 16. . Guy around h'er^ whb: thinks he is losing most by .Boake Car-, ter leaving the ?iir on August 26 is- Charley Tindel, WCAU panelman, who handled the broadcasts from Carter's home. Along with his jpb he took a swim every night in the Car- ter, pool between regular and repeat airings. STATION SHOWMANSHIP (AUention'GeUers, Tie-Vpsy Ideas) next Thursday night But I want to know something.' And her thought ^yas the : same that any woman, princess or pauper, would have had in the same circum- stance. 'What kind of clothes do the women wear? And how much do the tickets cost" . If yoii'll tell me these things, and how pepple act at the opera^ I'm going to slip off and say that I'm going to visit my aunt in Cincinnati. But instead of visiting n-.y aunt I'll go to the oper.. ' WKRC recognized .another oppor- tunity immediately. The \yoman was calleid on the phone anr*. asked to be a giiest of the station for the opera and dinner the night she h^d choseri to attend. Slie accepted the invitation, and after' much persua- sion and many promises, she agreed to let the WKRC publicity depart- -ment release a story tp the papers. . the result was" a heart-war'mlQg story of the Cynthiana Cinderella- whose drab life in a Kentucky town among the hills had been brightened by radio and a' friendly station. She was pictured with: Mrs. Lyons as guests at the opera and during an interview on .the woman's program. Sprinkled With Stunts In our schedule of events, wcf al- ways try to include a few stunts at regular intervals, and the more un- usual the stunts, the. better we like them. Diiring a series of broadcasts from Cincinnati's most exclusive country club some time ago, a group of graduates of a very select, but extinct, day school for boys was. be- ing entertained by a knife-throwing, whip-lashing Indian chief arid his wife., WKRC was on the. grounds to broadcast, and Bill Ware; the.! sta- tion's sports announcer, was handling the microphone. A Texan with as much, nerve as sense, it tpok but a suggestion for Bill, to stand against the wall the Indian was using and let the ' old Chief throw knives at him 'til he was red in the face while; Bill 'described it on the air. The Indian couldn't believe it;, he kept shaking his head and saying that he had been throwing knives for 25 The 4 STAR LINK... LISTENERS LISTENERS with LISTENERS with Power Power^ and Ready to Buy RETAILERS with Advertised Goods in Stock and Definitely "Sold" on the Radio Cooperation . Retailers are the important link in a, radio advertising campaign . . . And in Detroit and Michigan markets, they knoiv hy experience that WXYZ and the Michigan Radio Net- xvork can and do bring customers who BUY MicHisANi^ft Network wx'ifi KEY STATION DETROIT MICHIGAN The Paul H Raymer Co., Rep-restntaiii/t years and Bill was the first one be- side his wife he had ever thrown'at :The .stunt was a hair-raising, spine- tickling broadcast and many people doubted what they had heard. . But a^ain the local papers referred to the broadcast as. a 'new high in some- thing or other.' On the same show. Ware let the Indian. Chief cut cigarettes out of his mouth with a 20-foot lash. . ThPse shows are illustrative of my conception of stunt and hovel broad- casts. They have their place in radio just as the cornic page has, its place in newspapers. What I have said so far might In- dicate that I believe shoWmanship consists of the unusual. Nothing could be further from the truth; the unusual' is merely the added touch, the icing on the cake, or, as I said last year 'the pants oh a lamb chop:' With that logic in mind, WKRC strives to make its schedule so elas- tic that its appeal will reach the ma- jority of.the people th:e majority of the: time. For those who love good music, there is ah ample .portion for them in the netwprk symphonies and: transcribed intervals; the hews hun- gry have their appetite satisfied with five daily headline periods, and so with sports fans. Women who want the latest tested recities have' an out- standing authority. Director of tlie Cincinnati' Doniestic Arts Guild. > bring thein the newest in culinery achievements; . news ' and comments about women have their spots set aside', during , which an experienced commehtatbr tells what is happening tp women all over the world, riay Up Greaps To the limit of its ability, WKRC makes, an effort to serve the public within the bounds :of well-dcflncd usefulness. In winning its loyal fDl- lowlng, the statipn has made use of the human weakness for .flattery. When the ' Cathplics have a fla^-rais- Ing cei'emony :at a local hospital, WKRC is there to broadcast the ceremonies to other Catholics; when 265 Jewish children put on a pro- gram of excellent singing for theii- school PTA, WKRC asks that the prpgranri be repeated and broadcast so that the Jewish community as a whole may enjoy what . some cf its members are .doing, when the Fra- ternal Order of Eagles, or the 'Va- riety Clubs Pf America, or the Amer- ican Legion, holds its convention, WKRC is glad to broadcaist its activi- ties, realizing the pride a man feels in the particular, organization to, which he belongs, Over, the course o.' time, with many organizations seeing the eftci-t: the station :s mak- ing to help them, WKRC is bound to win friends and thereby influence pepple. Not only in major things, but in the minor details, does WKRC at- tempt to serve. Thus when some group Isthaving a picnic for a charit- able purpose, publicity is given the picnic through station announce-, ments and on regiilarly established programs, Thij attitude is further exemplified by a station employee assisting on the public address sys- tem at a recent gathering of a. proxi- mately thirty tl.ousand people. The persons in charge were very busy and when the offer of a trained an- nouncer's assistance was made, they accepted it with deepest appreciation. The frequent and hearty mention of the station's call letters made by the offlcials pf the function, which hap- pened to be the recent Soap Box Derby, was ample payment for ths thoughtfulhess of the offer. : In defining showmanship, then, the most likely place to put one's finger would be . upon personality. A sta- tion's reputation depends in exact measure upon the willingness of its management to serve the community whose gopdwill it courts. To make the public feel that the station is a vital forcie and a ready help in case help is needed is the prime requisite for goodwill; to make the operation of the station coincide with the pub- lic's taste is the flrst ingrcdisnt for building an audience; and holding the audience is showmanship. : As elusive as personality, and as desirable; as necessary as breath and ■iust as intangible; that is showman- ship. EXPAOT) 'NAVY' SEEIAL Chicago, Aug; 16. 'Don Winslow of the Navy' goes on secondary network this wieek in addition to special five station hook- up on NBC sponsored by Kellogg's! Broadcast due for further expan- sion in September when five more stations will be added. Fisherman Programs KDAL, Duluth-Superior °{{di^., making a strong play for the flsiiir man-tourist, now that the early son bad weather has given waVtn typical northwoods temperatures anH is pulling in the outsiders. ^ One stint; J^beled 'North Shore Trayelpgue,' ..has a mythical couple in their .family buggy, with moto; sound effects and car, radio inusip serving as background to chatter which retails the beauties of the Duluth vacation area. Resort owneM along the North Shore iire bM? rolling this stanza, and it's slated to ride the airwaves until the crisDv temperatures set in^ , ■ " Another current KDAL program conceived by Sam Levitan, is 'How're 'They Bitin',' ^ quarter-hour thrice-weekly chat by Roy Teller ' veteran Minnesota angler and guide' It hits the ether at 8:45 p:m., Mon.^ days, Wednesdays arid Fridays, and with Teller . also doing a daily column for one of the local rags it's got beaucoup pull with: the fishing bugs. Levitan -got the newspaper to carry a daily KDAL credit line atop Teller's colunin, in return for which KDAL announceirs - spot plugs for Teller's newspaper yarns, Local Grocer Anitle . St. Louis. Five baskets filled ■with groceries are awarde^d weekly by WEW for the bast slogans on "Why I Patronize My Independent Grocer,' and the 'something for nothiriR' bait is flood- intf the : station's executive offices with mail from the metropolitan area and distant points. It's a new stunt on the station's 'Grocery Basket on the Air' program, \yhich hits the' ether every Saturday a; m. just be- fore housewives begin marketing for Sunday fodder. ■ Program quotes nrices'ot groceries and vegctalSlcs. plugs brands han- dled by independents and where they may be purchased. A.s a build- UD for independents the prizes are distributed b.v the (grocer nearest the winners. The independent grocers in St; Louis .area are giving the pro- gram, currcritly.a sustainer,:th(S o.o. with an idea of bnnkrolling it over a ' long period. . They held their Ausust meetinc in the 1.200-scat auditorium at WEW as guests of the statiop. KYW>s Trick Folder , Philadelphia. Trick promotional piece on its new studios was sent out by KYW last week to . 2.000. advertisei's throughout the country, exclusive of Philly agen- cies. Piece is in the form of a train ticket about four inches wide and l yard long. Listed down it, between perforations, are the various studios and rooms of the new building, which is pictured in a cut-away view at the top. . Idea is that there's ticket to the studio and by readin.:; down the clever folder one gets full knowledge of all advantages of the KYW build- ing. Baseball Quiz Filching Little Rock, Ark. New Tuesday evening KARK pro-, gram 'Memory Baseball,' sponsored by Lorec'o Dealers, presents two teams of five or more players taken from local cliibs. who go to 'bal^. alternately and are 'pitched questions. Each question has a valua- tion of one or more '..ases and entire., scoring is' done just as in baseball, with exception that unanswered questions are tallied as outs instead of strikes. Winning team is awarded $15. Monthly Program Jury Missoula, Montana. . On first Monday evening of eacn month, KGVO, program director Jimmy Barber meets a group pi la localites who act as a 'program lujry. At a round-table discussion, visitor* tell what and why they dislike or like shows on the station. Sug- gestions and criticisms are weighea and acted upon by the station staiti Different group of Missoulans. are brought together for each conference. Henry Patrick, former warbler with Gene Kardos band, doing night- ly trick on WIP, Philly (7). Accom- panied by . Eric Wilkison, accordion- ist in show tagged 'Romantic Troubaclor.' ONTHB NBC RED NETtlVPRK NRTIONQL REPRESEMTPTIVES EDWfiRD RETRY & CO tf^8J*y> August 17. 1938 RADIO VARiETY 45 WOR, atosas cl«rine committee of the; Independent Radio Network Affiliates, ri!*^n network monopoly. As a result of NBC's action Colum- bia saw that Its own station relations, department was represented at the Chicago scene. ' : Hlotoal Turned Down So Now Refuses to^(^ Mutual Network won't broadcast the Weech that Neville Miller, paid; prei of the l^atibnal Association of Brosdcasters, is slated- to deliver at PMbody College for Teachers, Nash- vill*, this Friday (19), because it would be. duplicating, a broadcast that had first been offered to NBC. Utter web is taking the -talk over lis blue (WJZ) link. Event will liiark Miller's air'debut tince becoming the 14AB, pilot. He's to talk on 'Radio iii National L,ife.'. At the tlitie Miller was introduced to network execs Mutual suggested that ^Miller go on the nir ; with a tpeeeh about hlis- new job and, that . all the yrebs carry it. Proposal was (umed. down.^ Request that it pick up the Peabpdy spiel was made ,di- ' wet to Mutual L K. Sidney back In Hollywood to get Metro's Good Newser in shape for the. resumption. ' COUGHLIN MAY POSTPONE Can't 'Get; Desired Clearance Dpe to Sunday Professional Fbotball . .Detroit, Aug. 16. ■ ■ Switch of this fall's Detroit Lions pro grid game airings to WJR, : - erated by Dick Richards who also owns Lions, has .^yrought a lot of trouble for Father , Charles E. Cpughlin's proposed. 30-week ' Sun- day afternoon broadcasts, skedded to start in October over 70-station indie hookup with WJR as. originating point.;- . Since grid airings, under. Chrysler Gorp.'s banner, will hit the 3-tp-5 p.m. . bracket . Sundays,.. October through Noveniber, ■ it's beien neces- sary to 'find another time, for priest's usual 4:30-td-5 p.m.. series. . At first- planned to spot Coughlin's talks at 5 p.m., but' understood several . out- IV ts of proposed web. couldn^t find WMCA's^palM^ Four Aiphabsts, co"---ed, now on V'M(:A, Tiiw York. .Up from WTAR in. Virginia, ,iers t.hey were known as lh! Norfolk Jazz Quarjet At WMCA they join fellow- Vir- gihiahs, 'Blinkin', Winkin' and Nod. Dispute on Coverage I ^ Of Hockey, All-YiUl h Canada, Is Settled Regiha, Sask.,- Aug. 16. Experience of fans re; last winter's, hockey . broadcasts by . Onadian Broadcasting Corp. wSS thie thing which caused .Western Rugby Foot- ball Union to turn down $1 ,30O offer for football broadcasting rights by CBC this fall and take network Uned lip by James Richardson 4 Sons, It- has been revealed here. CBC, during hockey series;- broad- cast only last pjeriod of games in' most cases and, in at least one case, did noi even give home crowd, fans a; chanCe .to hear game- from their own station. Thiis selling point en- abled C:JRC, Winnipeg; CJRM. Re- gina; CFCN, Calgary, and CFRN, Edmonton, to grab off sole broadcast rights for: football series, which opens Sept 2. , Only, burn repiprted .so far Is from Regina' , Roughriders football club, whose representative voted for CBC; toi get iC. Argument .still hot- be- tween reps of local stations in mat- ter, CKCK, the CBC basic outlet, claiming a '9 to 12 station network was offered with $1,300, while the accepted : net only has four stations. time, and second problem -was that games might ruii longer than antici- pated and thereby guin up , jariest's talks. ';■..'■■.'■'.■, .'.Now being considered is proposal to postpone opening of Cbughlin se- ries, until early December, when grid contests will' be out of the way. This idea probably would entail pifuning of scheduled 30- week, series to about 25 weeks, since it's unlikely priest would extend talks . beyond Easter of next year. In Dixie, Where He s 'Love' They Advertise, to Not Soothing, .Philadelphia, . Aug.. 16. . Swing music before noon was nixed this week by Harold . Davis, . program director at: WDAS. Davis, said an investi- gation has shown: that' women listening to swing while doing their housework during sum- . mer mornings . were made warmer. This:, frays their nerves, he declared, and makes them irritable. As -i result, there is. a bad reaction to the station's programs, which hurts , advertisers. • AH morning shows in t.be future will feature smokith mu- sic and semi-classical stuff. MOSTEST OF BESTEST IS WFBR AMBISH Baltimore, Aug.. 16^ New Radio Center, now under construction he.re, will .house a 1,000- seat. film theatre in' addition to ex- ecutive offices and studios of WFBR. Theatre will be operated as a subse- quent run house by: Morris A. Me- chanic, .prompter of entire project,; who owns and 'operates the down- town New. WFBR will bccupy the' entire sec- ond floor of the new building, utiliz- ing 18,000 square feet for studios and pfSces. Layout and 'specifications have been, planned by W. A. Clarke, NBC .rhaihager of technical service, and "Will be constructed under the supervision of: O. B. Hanson, : chief engineer and v.p. of NBC. Estimated cost of studip: construction',' $100,000. .Five studioSi four with .individual control booths, and a master control room will make up the broadcasting layout Main studio, planned to ac- . Campbell: Arnoux, gen'eral man- ager of WTAR,. Norfolk, Va.,.has put. into effect a rather be 'than seem' policy on the blurb copy announcers at the station . wh6 are . called upon to spiel. Applies io the personal eii- . dorsenient type of ipots. ■ Mikemen at WTAR how Cnler into an agreement with an advertiser on : the. use of T copy, and are riot called upon by the . station it^cif ib per'-,, sonally i'aye about a product unless they are willing to. New policy- of , Arnoux is .not, to force aii arihouncer to put his personality behind an en- dorsement save by his O'tvn vulition, Beer , and bread blurbs, which widely use the type of ' p<;rsonalized plugging 'by the - p'luggei's in the South, brought about the new ruling. Arnoux's theory is that .the policy will do away with 'some hypocrisy;, believes that, it ,is unfair to hayie an announcer who, say, dislikes a' brand of beer, to have to .' give a , testimonial for It as a part of his job. -., Ai-noux wa\i In New Vork last week on a brief biz trip, during which he pried loose some national spot placements for his broadcaster. commodate audience of 200. Rest of set-up calls for artists' lounge, of- iHces , for executives; sales depart- ment, program manager, musical di- rector, production men, writer.s,' en- gineers and announcers. .. Entrance will be via street floor level where a show \yihd6w and corridors will pro- vide display space for advertisers' products arid promotion. • - Hope' Baroll, WFBR executive vice . president supervising new layout rated most - ambitious sUidio set-up south of New York. WFBR is mem- ber of NBC Red network. John Nicholson east for discussions -with General Foods execs, for whom he is radio, rep in Hollywood. 1. 2. Listeners 3. Eqm 4. uence 50,000 WATTS . PHILADELPHIA 4« VARIETY RADIO Wednesday, August 17, 1935 Elliott Roosevelt Readying Texas Web; Stays with Hearst Organization E. M. Storer, comptroller o( Hearst Radio, Inc., who returned this week from a week's - stay in Texas, said yesterday . (Tuesday) that it had. bci^n agreed that Roose- velt was to continue as president ol this corporation. Storer said that the matter of turning WACO and KNOW over to Roosevelt for operation as part of Texas Network was still in process of -negotiation. Under Roosevelt's contract with Hearst the former gets $25,000 a year and has to devote, but 50% of his. time to the management of the Hearst radio properties. Texas Network,, as compiled by Roosevelt, would start operations as fi regional entity and Mutual af- filiate Sept. 15. it consists of the following 23 outlets WACO, KNOW, KXYZ, Houston; KTAT* and KFJZ, Fort Worth; WRR, Dallas; KRBC, Abilene; KGNC. Amarillo; KRIC, Beaumont; KBST, Big Springs; KRIS, Corpus Christl; KAND, Cor- sicana; KLUF, Galveston; KFRO, Long view; KFYO, Lubbock; KPLT, Paris; KGEL, San Angelo; KABC, San Antonio; KRRV, Sherman; KTEM, Temple; KCMC, Texarkana; KGKB, Tyler, and KRGB, Weslaco. ' Roosevelt has already ' discussed with Columbia, the possibility of re- leasing WACO and KNOW from their current affiliation agreement with CBS. aiid the indications' are that no objections will be made to such release. Roosevelt went over the. plans of his proposed regional network in a talk at Fort Worth sey- erSl weeks ago with Fred Weber, Mutual gen. mgr. ■ Roosevelt's feel- er to CBS was made at about the same time. Hearst Texas stations have been put on the market, for a sale en bloc with the rest of the Hearst radio holdings an4 the only thing, stand- ing in /the way of Roosevelt's 'Car- rying out his intended network is the willingness of the Hearst prop- erties' administrations to dispose of WACO and KNOW separately. Fort Worth, Aug. 18. Elliott Roosevelt has, been granted a charter by the State of Texas for the Texas State Network, Inc. Fort Worth Broadcasting Co., incorporated. Partners listed are Harry A. Hutchin- son and Raymond E. Buck. Firm will operate 23 Texas stations As Commentator In addition to wanting to ally himself with Muti-.al as a re- gional network operator, Elliott Roosevelt would like to get a national advertiser : to under- write, him as a news com- mentator. He has made nimself avail- able for a bid in that field through the Mutua' sales staff. tied in with Mutual with key stations at WRR, Dallas, and KGKO or KTA'T, Fort Worth. Other istations under present plans would be at Weslaco, Corpus Christi, San Antonio^ Austin, Houston, Galveston, Beaumont, Temple, Waco, Amarillo, Corsicana, Tyler, Longview, Paris, Sherman, Abilene, San Angelo, Big Spring, Midland and Lubbock, with Wichita Falls coming in later. . KGKL, San Angelo, and KRLH, Midland, are at present in the' West Texas Broadcasting System under management of J. Bert Mitchell, Jr. KNEL, Brady,' is also listed among the West Texas, group but is not in- cluded in the Roosevelt chain. Unincorporated Texas Quality Net- work includes WFAA, Dallas, KBAP, Fort Worth (time sharers),, and WOAI, Sah Antonio. Under the working agreement of this group each station acts as' sales agent for the others. Only other state net- works in ■, the Southwest are the 'Oklahoma Network and Arizona Network. Oklahoma Network, which include.' key station KTOK in Okla- homa City, WBBZ, Ponca City, KCRC, Enid, KBIX, MuskOgee. KGFF, Shawnee, KADA, Ada, and KVSO, Ardmore, is serviced by MBS with KTOK also airing NBC Blue programs. Oklahoma Network has t>een in operation since April 1, 1937. More Drama for WPEN Philadelphia, Aug. 16. ' WPEN, formerly almost exclusive- ly lingual, now going in heavy foir drama. It's the only station in town with two dramiatic groups giving regular weekly shows. WPEN play- ers, headed by Ann Russo, pii three times a week, in addition to appear- ances at local little theatres. New KGFW Staff Set Lincoln, Aug. 16.. KGFW, Kearney, haid about 2,000 persons making an inspection, tour of its studios before the station opened for. business (8). Personnel includes William Baker, mgr.; Emma . Baker, program direcr tor; Ray Harrison, B. Bone, and J. Kahn, announcers, and Walter Ely, engineer. Seeks to Force Sale of KEEN, Seattle bdie Seattle, Aug. 16. Howard J. Ryan,, agency head, who recently obtained a .$12,5CliO judgment against KVL, Inc.,' op- erator of KEEl^?, has asked the Su- perior court to appoint a receiver for the station. Hearing of the pe- tition comes up Friday (19). Ryan sued for breach of contract, alleg- ing that the present owners of KEEN refused to go through with a deal to turn over the outlet to him, after he had paid several install- ments oh the purchase price. Agency man also seeks to have the owners restrained ; from disposing of the station to any one else. Arthur C. Dailey, president and manager of KVL, ■ Inc., claims that the proposition was dropped when the Federal Communications Com- mission advised that a consumma- tion would not be in accord with the commission's rules in such cases of contemplated transfer. Dailey is filing an . appeal frctm the $12,500 judgment. Ben FIsk ? in Seattle Seattle, . Aug. 16. Ben S. Fisher, radio lawyer of Washington, D. C, spending several days here. . He's attorney for the two NBC stations KOMO and KJR. Erva Giles, of WFIL ohtrp depart- ment, returned this week from vacash at her home In Ellsworth, Me. While there attended a barn dance given by Phillips Lord. Was surprised to find fiddler had given way to swing , band and Turkey in the Straw' to 'Flat Foot Floogee.' A NEW HIGH IN ADVENTURE WITH THE MAKINGS FOR RADIO'S SENSATION PROGRAM-SUCCESS OF THE 1938-39 SEASON! Radio Reviews jrOE E. LEWIS Comedy 8 Kins. STANDARD BRANDS Thnrs,, 8 p.m. WEAF-NBC, New York fj. . Waiter Thompson) Standard in vaude and niteries for years, Joe Lewis missed by a mile in tbis radio onershptter on Rudy Vallee's variety program. It was an- other instance of a performer not taking into consideration that there's a vast difference between material for a face-torfacc performance and one in which the audience is inr visible. And in Lewis' case, his gags also missed fire with the studio mob. Lewis stuck to -the material he uses on the nitery floors— rintimate, topicar ^ags that are okay for the wisenheiihers, but strictly nix for the vast majority who never see the inside of a cabaret. Radio demands broader, comedy, especially from a personality unknown to air audi- ences. Lewis failed to supply this. Closest he carhe was with a special, screwy lyric anent Douglas Corri- gan's wronft-way flight. . He prob- ably would have fared better had he dispensed more .of his special songs; on the surface, his 'Sam, You Made- de Pents Too Long' would seem closer for radio comedy.. "This is not the first instance that a surefire live-audience performer has flopned on his first important air shot, and it serves as another warn- ing to the Lewises, et al.. to insure themselves on the material side. Scho. Foliow-llp Comment RCA's 'Magic Key* broadcast last Sunday (14) was an ear-satisfler be- cause it leaned heavily towards Vic- tor Herbert niusic and included tasteful tunes by Sarhmy. Kaye's band. Kaye's organization, which lent the'modern touch with its pecu- liar tempo, cohtr ')uted 'When Twi- light Comes.' en=iy-goin,j rhythm, and 'Don't Cross Your Fingers,' tyoical swingster tune done in modified style. ■ . Selections from 'Sweethearts.' Vic- tor Herl>ert operetta, for . which Harry B. Smith wrote the Ivrics, sent the program rollin/; smoothly as NBC house b\. ch deftly manipu- lated. Again as the windup for the orchestra, 'Autumn Frolics' from 'Woodland Fancy,' suite found the Herbert music foregrounded. And Susanne Fisher, Met. soprano, and Clifford Menz, kept pace with the Herbert influe ice with their diiet, 'Do You Know?' from his 'Madcap Duchess.' Pair, made an excellent vocal combo with f-is and also sing- ing of scene from 'Bartered Bride.' Sara Allgood and Whitfdrd Kane, back by request, clicked solidly 'with comedy characterizations in a 'Mr. and Mrs. Whelan' skit. Commercials were bright. TUNE IN WOR-WGN Don Lee-MBS SaturdaY, August 20 12:45 to 1 P.M. EDST Just , back from a four-year' cruise around the world in their 43-foot boat, "The Hurricane," Ray KauR- man and Gerry Mcfterd face the microphone In their Initial broad- cast-Interview at 12.45 p.m., ISDST, Saturday, Aug. 20. The broadcast originates at KSO, Dea Moines, and will be carried coost-to-coast by Mutual. In the weird travels of these; two Iowa boys, Truth again outstrang- ei's Fiction. Theirs is the i93S Mc- Coy in adventure— adventure iii the Marquesas,. Tahiti, Syd:iey, New Guinea, Thursday Islands, Ball, Singapore, Ceylon, Zanzibar, Tan- ganyika, Durban, Capetown, St. lielena. Whipped In the tall-end of a typhoon— fighting fog oft the .rooky East African coast — wrecked on a reef In shark-Infested Coral Sea — playing tag with a family of whales — these are only a typical few among 1iundr < M « ♦ ♦ M il M l I > M I ■ > or M l I I MM > M M > M > it | i « , , m F. C. C's WASHINGTON DOCKET I : ] ^4|M I H » I t t f ********* ' ■•tit I I I ■ Washington. Aug. I'd. «i.h iHot week continued Augunt heltfho policy, with •^"■"^ Mven meinbera ducking capltnl torrlillly. JlesuU: n« rnnjor decision and no other action ot iRrent Im- Onl/ """ .(hough Hired help exiinilnerii cnniplmed ton re- pJh*""'''*'""^ opade work- for later conalUerullon by (ODHllSb' MAJOR DECISIONS niiifMBla* Anna A-tklnson, executrix of ealnle' of F. W. \.??nMB^(deconiied AprU'3, 1937). orlslnal Ucenfi.,e ot KIIUU, i> i«vnvllle, daytime only 26p-watter on , UIO kllocycleii. i .n FCC tiieMing' tor voluntary asdlgnmenl ut license to I ii« P Scrlppsi Sania Ana newsimpor pulilliiher. who Hilmiis ■Ut worth of 11,623.000 Vnluoof Btntldn put at $33,000, ■■ • 5 if newapapers. Walsonvllle Register ond Evcnine P.ija- rJnlan, tl\d In with radio deal., at $103,000. Siiiitlilnlne examiner's rpporl, conimlsh noted that KHi:B 111 be operated Independently of nowspmwr enterprises. (;om- '.rclal rates of. 126 an hour ijatlonut and $20 an hour (nr Scil advertlslne to .be continued, subject to dlscounia on wntlnued contract baele. Clarence C. Dill, Jamei W. Qum appciiccd for appllcanl* >t M l >M M M M M I M ♦ M II M M M M I M ♦ MINOR DECISIONS AUaka; KGXW. Karl, Hansen's station nt I'dit Alf.\;iiiclir •iven'apeclal temporary authority to u.xe 2i;i() kc. riCMUi-iicy {, addition to ISOS hc. band already In use., KATTi Wobdley Airways, AnchoraRe. Alnsk.n. Riven Ihree jiJJ^I,,' extension of license. from- AuKUKt IS. jfalae: WAOM. owned by Aroostook Broadcast Injc Corp., VrMOUe' lele, allowed temporary authority to operate eve- Blan, Aujuat 10,- 12, 19 and 23 and September J. 9 and 11 to broadcast political spaochea In . Miilne rnmpalRn. which •dds with September.. Instead of- November, election.-' Hl^lgaBi NIfrht juice Jump from one (h nve kllnwairn'ni- lowed WWJ, BvenlnB News Associallhn. Dclrnlt. for perlud .between Aug. 27 and Sopt. 26, In order to overcome Inter- ference. . e New MoxIfOi Another election . nuthorlsindon. KGFr.. Inc.. ' Ronrell. given. temporary authority ta.O)>(>r.ile »lniullii.nci>U!t|.v with KICA, another ■mnllle at Clovls, M., to brundca.it eledlon. returns night of Auk. 23.. ' Kew Tork; Mali bites ' dOK - a'a New .Di^at romnilsh .alnps town plea of W2XG13, Press Wireless. Inc.. lllcksvlllc. fcir temporary- authority to rebroadcust dcdieniion of new Thou-, wnd Island International Brldpe at Ivy l.ra. . Ontario. «t . which' President lloosevelt is scheduled to speak froin IMS .to.S P.ih., EST. Aug. is; WBEN, Buffalo, given extension of liti spcf^fal exnerlmeniaV license from Sept. 1 .to- March 1 for operHllun of 'fiicsimlle station with 1000 watts -between 1 'and ii n:m.. North Dakota; KOVC, . .Valley City smutlle. renewaJ to Jan. 1. Soilh Carolina t .WSPA, Sparlanhurif. Riven aiiihorHy to eperale night of A»ir; 30 to broiulcnut ■ Dvnim i'sllc piiiiisiy itlurns.and night of Sept. 13 to broadcast run-oft elei^i Ion. EXAMINERS' REPORTS Arl«wa: Chief .Examiner' Davis G.Wrnold of FCC i econi- inenda letting KTAR Broadcnstlni; Co.. operators of lOOO-wait .|iatIon at Pho'erilx, -acnulrOsall outstanding .stock and control o( KVOA, Tucson 1000-watter, from Arliona Broadcasting Co.; of whlch>all outstanding stork Is' owned by AllH>r.t-Steii- ffid' ft Co., . operators -.of depai'tnient. grocery and llnuor iloree. ~lron works, machine ' shop'- and a tile company In' TucaoD. Sale price to be t33.000. Move would make aii- ellitr newspaper controlled radio outlet, as majnrliy of KTAR stock la owned by Arizona Publishing Co., publisher! ' ef morning 'and afternoon papers In riinenlH. v ' . Paiil M.' Segal and Harry P. Warner., appeared for ap-- VUcants. ' ' " Colorado: Exathlher Qeorge H. Hill recommended slap- ping down of Mountain Top Trans Radio Corp. In plea for new Denver smalHe oh 1310 kilocycles. Angeling Mountain Top was Meyer Neusteter, Denver merchant, showing assels of 11,931,636: Applicant stressed need for Im al sdverilsing . and .program outlet, but . sample program revealed, plans to <;, located there, and held ntf*isJtatloi\ wiuld not <orth Cnrollna: Eantern Carolina Tlroadcaailng Co.. Golds- Joro. to got permit for new loO-watlcr ' operating on )3T0 allocycles If commlsh adopla recomniendelii'n of E.inmlni-r Jona P. Bramliall, who found need fur uddltloniil service in Wayne County, of which Goldsboro Is seal, aiiet that graniiiik' M license would not Jam other stations obJci iionahi.v. I'revs aookup Is Talbot Patrick, vlcc-iVroslilent of npplii^nnt ror- JoratloD, owner of 30 shares of slock and ready to put up J».W more. Patrick la publisher ot dally and weekly sheet la Ooldsboro. . Arthur W. Schnrfeld. riililp G. I-oucks and .loscph F. /i: were attorneys for applicant. »'"'W>'lvanln: WHP, irarrlaburg. opprov.-.il by Bxqmiopr •lyier Berry for Juice Jump froiii f.H" walls nitflits, 1000 wi.iis °,',f* '0 1000 watts nl^ta nnd SOOO watts nigtiiH. Outti-t rniut use directional antenna nights. WMP Is on 1<:10 he. I. Ji. "*P<"'' 'a another bow to press-conlrolled t innsniit tei k 'i' " 1.218 shares of WHl" stork Olitataii.'ting are ownrd .J>r The Telegraph' Press - Inc.. publisher of dally newspaper uro_$30. $65 and $100, respectively, and $18, $30 and $00 days. co?nri'for''a,ud'fc"«m.''- J"""'"' Fred W. Albertson h„^i?!lJ„,V"'""?,"; ,V' ■''P''""'-' noox "III. rocommonded Dalbeig for cominlsh approval of !. iri?V,," *!1ly.»malllo to opoiate with 100 watts power Sdvlt?? "Ilo^y'' • ""■ll>e- Applicant Is banker who ligures local ainertlsers w 11 support, outlet, and examiner agfeed, finding need for local program service In area. Elmer W. Pratt appeared for upplltant. . fr?.'," P«»P'te eacrnni(«nto area, wan new low frequency- relay. broadcaHt siullon oh 1C46. ;'09p. 2190, 2S30 kc. band, 100 watts power.. DIeirlct %t Colnmbla: X^awrence J.. Heller. WaAhfngton. neeks new afatlon on 1310 kc. .nlrlpe, 100 waltVi nlR-lit and . 230. watta day power; unlimited lime. (TIiIh \n bund now u^ed by WOLt In Federal Cjty, WOL, having been eiven uu- iboiity to change fretiiiency.) MkryluDd: WBAL, Baltimore, wani.a JUIce Jott from 30.000 waLU to supcr-power &O.OOO wntlA. AImo aHUa dropplni^ ttmn- Hharlriff arrangement with WTIC, Jiariford, Conn., . In fnvor unlimited' time, and authority to Inntall new equipment and move tranamlttcr from Pik'esvllle to near IlelHtcrtown, Md. MDRHHchuHttH: WHDII. MathesQn Jtadlo . Co., Ilpeton, WRnts authority for Julco Jump from 1 tn. ( Kllowntff), Jnitnll new e(|ulpmcnt^ ai\d untiiniltid ln.sicad of daytime only operation! MIelilirnD: WIBM, Jnckflon, wantn fipprov.i) of new equip- ment and antenna ityaiem and innvluK of Hi^udloA. »w Jersey: WPO, Allnnllc ,Oiy mimlclpnl ouilpt, ii«>**kp voluntary aHylgnment of liccnwe fiom City to 'Qreuiur Nuw York Broadcn»tlnK Corp. New York: WI'G, Grcaier .New York nroadrastlriK Corp. u':int» unlimited, InHtcad of 8|)0('ineU hour.s, operation ; . re- nioval of atudlo-from Atlantic City Convontiun' h.ill to 132 \Vej*t 43rd Htreet, and tran«mUter from Airport. Atlaniio fiiy, 111 Kearny, N. J. Seckn authority to InHlal) new (lanHmilter Mne now uAed by WU|T., N. Y. C, and new anlennH.).' (He> (iuei WBIL and WOV, Inieinulional Ijinndcn.sllnf; Corp., N. Y. C.) » WOKO,' Inc., , Albany* wants Riithorlty to rhanpe efi.ulpment and- boost, power from 1 tn l.'i watta un WMfii.i, Mobile: North Ciirollnn: WGT.M, \Vil-son. wants power Jump from- 100 to SCO watts, ribbon chanRC from 1310 to 1240 kilocycles, and equipment changes. Texus: GeorRC Roy Clongh. O.nlve.^'nn.. sppkM vftlimlnry na- slRnment of construction perinit from hlpiso^f to KLUF. BruadcuKtLnf; Co., Jric. COUNT MOST CKCK _ Reglnit, . Biutkatchewun i.OOO .watti, fnll time, basic CHC Bnaknlchtwan'M . Leading Stutlun pEDExofliPiinyl \mtstimtmgs\ . GOODWm JOINS AGENCY Houston, Aug. 16. • John Paul Goodwin, producer-an- nbuncei- for KPRC for the past three year.s, has been appointed account executive and member of the radio' pioduction . sUff o£ Ritchle-Colby- Thompson & Co:, advertising agency. Before cbming to Houston he was commercial manager of radio sta- tion KWKH in Shreveport and pro- gram director for KTBS. Before that he was radio director for the Booth-Pelham Advertising Agency in. Louisiana. ■ Howard Dorsey, former announcer for WMi3I>. Peoria. 111.,, ha.? joined the staff of KPRC to replace Good- win. BILL SCHUDT REVISES SPIELERS AT WKRC Al Jolson and Edward. G. Robin- son will have their air turn.'; pro- grammed as. 'Lever rolhcrs Hour' this season. ■ Cincinnati, ug. 16. Back al his desk last week, after a month's vacation in the. East, Wil- liam A; Schutit, Jr„ general mana- ger of WKRC sat in on. .some of the auditions of 90 applicanis for joljs as announcers. Trials v/erc cciJOcled by Ruth Lyons, pro;4r=ni ti:io;:tor, and L*c Bland, produ;:l!o^v iviui.:.;:;er. Miker.': cn.ijawd arc .If.loi f i./::o)d.s. news,- formerly oC WC'.vV, local; Ro.ss • .Mulhpllaiid, To:::.o:ly of WHKC, Cohimi);!.';, 0.\ SIput, formerly wii:i V.'ilAS. I.o\i:- icis Petlay and Paul Carlisle. . , Washmgton Lawyers Stalling On Briefs Until Caldwell Files His Washington, Aug. 16. FCC put kibosh on 'you first, dear Alphonse' act of waltzing Washing- ton radio counsel Saturday (13) by extending to Sept. 1 time for flling all briefs on rules hearings, pre- viously ordered subrhitted by Mon- day (15). Cornmish previously had allowed Louis Caldwell, counsel for WON aiid clear channel group, rep- resenting one battling, faction in in- volved proceedings, time extension to file his brief, because of illness. Rest of . boys shadow-boxed thern- selves into no briefs until they got gander at Caldwell's^ expected to be a learned treatise on broadcasting, for angles. Situation got : so. bad by weekend; that commlsh issued order extencling time for filing by all, throttling ready: made, charges in some quarters of favoritism for big boys. : Only counsel pulling a Griiiley and firing when ready without : waiting for other radio-legal Impresarios was Ben S. Flsheh He wrote, and filed, birlefs for WCAU, WMBI- WCBD, KFEQ and WPTF. stressing points raised by him for these out- lets in month-long hearings in Jutie. Fight is over questions of allow- ing clear channel stations jtii'ce jump from SO to 500 kilowatts, favored by the . air giants and opposed , by the reglohals, who want their baclcs scratche<] . to extent of power, boost fronv 1,000 to 5,000 watts nights, with locals less bitterly opposing super- power and having.own Angers in pie by wanting, night power jumped from 100 to 250 watts nights. Social and monopolistic issues raised : their heads in . hearings — whether nation is better off with' many less: powerful stations or a few giants— with arguments raging on both sides as to effect on advertis- ing revenues, whatever happens. Chicago's Side Fisher, in 'brlisiE, asked full lime bpciration and; preference on 1080 kc! ribbon; for WMBI-WCBD, Chi- cago. Withptit advocating breaking down clear channels, Fisher argues if 1080 kc. stripe is made I-B chan- nel, his two outlets ■ should be given full time preference,' and also that 770 kc ribbon should be made I-B chahiiel; occupied simultaneously by WBBM, Chi., and KFAB, , Lincoln, Neb., now occupying this, freqtiency. Not equitable, Fisher claims, to give WBBM. Chicago, full rights to 770 kc. stripe,, which would'^'give Chi Ave full time, clear channel outlets and restricting WCBD and WMBI to joint daytime only operation. Pref- erence needed .by KFAB, Lincoln, in .order, to give priii^ary service to large territory not covered by other outlet Karl Wyler, KTSM, El Paso, man- ager, on annual pilgrimage to east- ern markets. AMERICA HEARSUS "MAXICH \% said about the yultie of voluntary circulation io an advertiser. Yet everyone secmj to overlook the fact that e-very radio audience is voluntary. No oho tunes to a given station except of his own- free will, nor Stays tuned unless what he hears pleoHes him. The mop above Is uhJi.spuluLle proof that many thou- sands, outside of WSM'.s primary sphere of influence', not only listen hut are enough impressed by what they hear to write a I « tier. Why .shoiild this bet'' ^ Simply l)ccausc WS.NI olTor.s a .service or an entcrtainracnt which thc.ve itetjple want, oncl cannot find elsewhere. They tune to W.S.M ljccHU.se of a definite broiadcasting character which tixpcricnce lios taiight ihem to be trust- worthy. They represent n tl'rml^ndous voliiniary ciircula- tion built by tlic sliitiilc expedient of thinking in terms of wliut they wont rmd no*' Afiiy we .show you how toticli (lie purchasing power of lliis cit'ciilation < (in slimiiliiiti Hie .sole of your prpducli* 48 VARIETY RADIO Wednesdayt August 17, 193g Background Buzz WEST Vicki Vola, actress on the NBC San Francisco staff, leaves this week (16) for a fling at New York legit and radio, stopping en route in Chi- cago, and to visit her family in Denver. Edna Fischer, staff pianist with T^BC in San Francisco, debuted last week as an organist in a Red' web sustainer,. tabbed "Rhythmic Recol- lections.' Phil Lasky, manager of KSFO, Co- lumbia's San Francisco outlet, left Saturday (13 for a vacash. in the Feather River country, Cal. Gurdon Mooser, chief accountant at KYA. ■ San Francisco, recovering from a recent appendectomy. Carlos W. Huntington is the new 'director of public relations in charge of special event broadcasts at KYA, San Francisco. Also conducting the •House Not for Sale' programs on the Hearst station. J. Clarence Myers of KYA. San Francisco, trained Saturday (13) for Seattle, thence to Alaska by boat. Engineer F; J. Christian vacashlng on a northern California ranch, while Paul Williams, also of the technical staff, picked thie southern part of the state. Van Fleming, producer of the S&W •I Want a Divorce' dramas over the Coast NBC-Red web from San Fran- cisco and: other network shows, flew to Mexico last week-end for a three .weeks' vacash. Don Lee network (L. A.) made Jaime del Valle television program director, upping him from wax de- partment Lewis Allen Weiss bundled his family into the limousine and made for the. Canadian Rockies. Stanley Resor, prexy of J. Walter Thompson, convoyed around Holly- wood by Danny Danker, coast radio topper. Mann Holiner digging In for the new season after- a long stay back east. , ■ ,. • William Watters forgetting his radio worries on the beach at Wai- kiki. . Bill Bacher back from New York, but declining to disclose his fall plans.. William Powell draws, the name spot on the Silver theatre opener Oct. 2. Lou Bolton and Jimmy Freedman looking after radio for the Crawford- Winslow-Curtis agency. Alice Brady shipped east on wax by Dolan and Dpane. Ruth Bernard , directing traffic again for Don Lee web after five tnonths on sidelines from auto in- juries. Willet Brown moving into his Santa Aiiita rancho, . ' Brewster Morgan headed, his sta- tion wagon north for ai 10-day rest before taking up the reins on Holly- wood Hotel. Jack Runyon back from Denver and off to New York. .\. Tom. McAvity trying to peddle his golf clubs after shooting a 'miserable' 74. . KRSC, Seattle, is airing Joe Her- nandez,. Hearst's Pacific Coast turf expert, in nightly broadcasts during the current racing season at Long- acres. KGW-KEX, Portland, Ore., has perfected its portable short wave transmitter, which can be moved without connecting lines to any point of program origin. Short wave is picked up by the station' and re- broadcast. It was first used aboard a steamship which made the original passage through the locks at Bonne vllle Dam. Jim Murphy, manager KIT, Yak ima, has carried license No. 1 ' for his. :auto for several years but he gave .it, up in 1938 to the postmaster at Yakima who said he wanted it for his machine while traveling in the east as especially identifying; his home town. Jim Peterson, KVI, Seattle-Ta coma, announcer, spent a . three rhonths' leave cruising to east coast via Panama canal;' driving back over- land in a new car and a brand new wife, former 'Vera Harris of Kansas City, where the ceremony was per- formed, ■ . C, W. Myers, of KOIN, Portland, Ore., chesty about growing number of programs originating for CBS. Airings of Thomas Conrad Sawyer on KNX-Columbia Pacific network Wednesday, are. being prepared in book form. Josephine Avis, traffic manager at KYA, San Francisco, and Willard Hinkley, local: business man, an- nounced their engagement last week. Robert, LeMond, KYA, San Fran- cisco, producing manager, back at work following a honeymoon trip throughout California. His bride is the former Helen Taylor. Harry Doyle, formerly with KGU, Honolulu, . now doing sports and studio spieling at KGGC, San Fran- cisco. - ~ ; Nick Sklaroff, now with KGGC, San Francisco, to produce programs of Russian and other foreign music. Two-year-old story-telling pro- gram called "Night Watchman" sponsored by banking house has been moved from evenings on KEX to Sunday noon on KGW. Portland. This program, .modest in character, has brought steadily increased biz to its Savingis and Loan sponsoi* after being launched as an experiment two years ago. Changing the weekly feature to a new hour was planned as a move to penetrate a new audi- ence field; Program is a . product of MacWilkins & (^ole Agency. Dick Ellers, KPO-KGO chief an- nouncer, followed the San Francisco Seals through 15 ball games in three cities for his vacash. Don Gould of Ross Federal Rer search, survey organization, has been shifted to Minneapolis as branch, manager. H. A. Stebbins has. succeeded the late Louis Honig as chief Erwin- Wasey agency office, San Francisco. Fred S. Crawshaw . new with Fletcher Udall agency. D. D. Duir, Los Angeles advertis- ing chief of Associated Oil, has sub- mitted resignation. Malcolm Dewees handling adver- tising for new Monterey Peninsula Association which has set $25,000 to move state capital from Sacramento to Monterey and to attract tourists. 1 By jaij;e '.-VESn Presented by Ivory Soap 99" !oo° o purs IISTEM TWICE DAILY bl^lEI'V NBC Red Netwbrk. CBS . WABC— IN 12:15 to 12:30 P.M. DST 2:15 to 2:30 P.M. DST COAST TO COAST I)lr. CO.MITON AKVKRTISINO AHEXCT MGT.. ED WOLF— RKO BLDG.. NEW YORK CITY SOUTH Herbie Koch, WHAS, Louisville, staff organist, is back playing organ in his synagogue. L*w Kent, of WMAZ, Macon, staff, will honeymoon in Washington after his marriage , to Ruth Conradi of Manchester, Ga., on Sept. 3. William S^ Hedges, New York and Niles Trammell, Chicago, vice- presidents of NBC passed through studios of WKY last Wednesday (10) with Hedge later leaving by plane for New York and Trammell pulling out for Dallas. Ken Wright, WKY, Oklahoma City, organist, making recordings in New York while on Ea.stern vacation trip. John Straitron, KOMA, Oklahoma City, back from Texas trip. Charles Blossom, KOMA announcer, visiting in Ardmore. California airplane vacation trips for Ruth Byers, secretary to Neal Barrett, KOMA, Oklahoma City, manager, and Sybil Horton, recep- tionist. Merchandising director Paul Biien- ning, and sports announcer Ted An- drews, of . KTOK, Oklahoma . City, working with Hal James of Procter & Gamble in arranging Ivory Soap exploitation during current baseball series. P & G cosponsoring city ball games with Wheaties. Way man Ramsey, KOMA, Okla- homa City, program director, vaca- tioning in Arkansas. Ramsey for- merly was a mike-man in the razor- back state. KVSO, Ardmore, Okla., hew sing- ng cowboy; W. M. Tutt, is the real thing. Trains horses' for a local fancier in his spare time; fides to station on one of his boss' mounts. Goon Brothers, Cleibert and Selbert Dalton, no longer are har- monica players for WKY, OklahomB City. Eddie Gallaber, KTUL, Tulsa, sportscaster will leave for WCCO, Minneapolis. Lee George, of Spring- field, Mo., will take over the assign- ""NOvaline Payne, late of Al Kave- leins orch and the Payne Sisters, has joined KOCY, Oklahoma City, vocal- ist staff. _ . , ^ J • WPTF, Raleigh, N. C, originated a broadcast to a state network hookup last week of a devotional service re- moted from the state, penitentiary. Oyer 80 prison camps throughout the Carolinas tuned in. _ Ernie Smith has left WBIG, Greensboro, N.'C, and taken over post of program director at WCSC, Charleston, S. C. , . ■ Edgar T. Bell, WKY, Oklahoma City, general , manager, back at old stand after three weeks on the. Coast Hal Scher, former WKY publicity department head, with NBC dramatic department on the Coast Bob Eastman, formerly with KVOO, Tulsa, has joined the staff of WKY, Oklahoma City, as a news- caster. ; • Neal Barrett KOMA, Oklahoma Ciitjr, general manager and Hearst chain v. p., back on job after week's illness in Fort Worth hospital. Ken Wright, WKY, Oklahoma City, organist back from New York and Philadelphia. . Three members; of the staff of WBT, Charlotte, N. C, are aviators: Reginald Allen, announcer; Gil Murray, salesman, and Dick Whit- man, controlmah. MIDWEST Gernert Case. 'Old Kentucky Mountaineer,' at WJBK. Detroit, back on air despite a broken arm, but with an. assistant playing his guitar while he warbles. ' Luther L. Hill, general manager of KSO-KRNT, vacationed at White Fish lake, Minnesota. . Craig Law- rence, commercial manager,- is still at Escanaba. Mich. ■ ' J. O. Maland, manager Oi* WHO, has iust returned from a vacation at Port Arthur and. Minneapolis. Hale Bondurant commercial man- ager, is back from the Rockies and Dick Anderson, producer, and dra- matic director, vacationed in Cali- fornia and visited his old friend, 'Dutch' Reagan, former WHO an- nouncer, now in pictures. Several improvements completed at WHKC, Columbus, transmitter. Include construction of concrete floor, concrete well, grading and landscaping and in.^tallatioh of motor-driven water pump and plumbing facilities. Work was done by engineering staff.. When KDAL, Duluth, illrst-year baseball broadcaster lor ' General Mills and B. F. Goodrich, received letters from managers ol Duluth and Superior ball clubs attributing broken attendance records to airings of games, station sent out litho mail pieces and photostats of letters as house promotion. Clicked so favor- ably that Knox Reeves Advertising, agency handling baseball for Gen- eral Mills, sent copies to all, ball- casters, patting KDAL on the back for ambish and accomplishment. ■ John Tlinea has succeeded. Ster- lin' Harkins as program director at KWK, St Louis. Harkins goes to Chicago. Josephine Halpin, commentator of 'One Woman's Opinion,' a daily KMOX, St. liouis, program spon- sored by the St Louis Dairy Co;, is visiting headquarters of National Dairy Assn. in-New York along with Jim Daugherty, an agency head. Mark T. Martin, Jr., has been ap- pointed publicity director of WEW, St Louis, by Al-S; Foster, general manager. Martin formerly was a leg man on the Star-Times, an afternoon fag here. Bob Sampson, f o r n. e r 1 y with KMOX, now sales promotion man- ager at KWK, St. Louis. Another tri-wcekly commercial program has been found for Bstf. Barrett, _ 13-year-old „songbird. rZ cently discovered by Talent -DieMt Bert Igou. KWK. St Louis. New faces at WEW, St. Loni.. Herb McCready, formerly . vrfS; KMOX, replaces Alex Buihan IS chief sports gabber and Margaret Temple, King, formerly of KFRtr Columbia, Mo., as special women'i commentator. Richard Sharp, formerly wim Wesley Nash Advertising Co hi. joined KMOX, St. Louis, conti'nuitJ staff. Succeeds Richard Scheidker resigned. . ' Lorraine Grimm, songbird at KMOX, St Louis, and Ray Sweeney coritinuity writer for same station! have wed. ^ EAST New additions to anhouriclng stalT of WCPO, Cincinnati, local ScripDsl Howard Station, are Bill Verher, for. merly with WRC, Washington and WAP, Birmingham; Bob Gels, lately with WKRC here, and Karl Neilsseii formerly with WSAZ, Portsmouth Ohio, Ray Wilson acting as WLW, Cin. cinnati, program director while Owen 'Vinson is vacationing. . William A. 'Schudt, Jr. general manager WKRC, Cincinnati, re- turned from month's vacation in east with wife. Wm. J. Williamson sales manager ■who sat in for Schudt hopped to Canada for fortnight holi- day. New weekly sustalnef on WKRC titled 'It Did Happen Here' dramatizes historical events in celebration ol Northwest Territory sesquicentennial anniversary. Script by Jan. Pfandt director of Federal Radio Theatre in Cihcy. Jeanne Baxter succeeds Nancy Martin as . vocalist with Airliners, staff band at WCAE. Pittsburgh, Miss Martin moving to Chicago to join NBC artists' staff there. LUCKY StBiKE Saturday. ^OP----'^^'^' FIFTH SERie* CIVRLHOFf and Starting in OctobT . RadH Originator ONE MAN SHOW TWO VOICK 9.\M .Wn IIENBI MASTER OF CERKMOMK? BAIN NO BIO' VKRSE (:ONTi>SI VARIRTV HOV.K COSIMVNITY SINO Aaarem: 4331 N. PaDllDa St.. ChleafO BABS CHARLIE LinLE Completing 2iid Year of Starring in TUMS ''Vocal Varieties" WLWandlSBCCoast-to-Coust J^^Tpm-Ist"' Thanks to WLW AND THE H. W. KASTOR & SONS ADVG. CO. Also Starred in the New ' 'Musical Steeplechase '\ Show on WLW AND MUTUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM Wednesdays 8:00 P.M. DST Wednesday, August 17, 1938 Mn7SICi*DANSAPATI0N VARIETY 49 Iromes of the Music Biz Revival value lent ihe 26.s6ngs in Irving Berlin's smash fllmusical, •Alexander's Ragtime Band,' points up the business done by Irving Berlin, Inc., rhe past couple, of years. The songwriter-prez of the firm bearing his name emphasizes that thie Walt Disney score, 'Snov^ White,' selling over 800,000 copies, outsold his No. 1 picture score— the Top Hat' songST-100%. "That Astaire-Rogers musical could move only a little over 400,000 copies off the shelves. A glorified hillbilly, song, 'Gold Wine iii the Slty-' has gone over 400,000 copies, this being the tune that set oft Nick and Charles Keniiy as hit songsmiths. And the current 'Alex' score is reviving not only - performance interest in the Berlin oldies, but is aglually selling plenty of old music. Buy Leaders' Self-Composed Themers For the ASCAP Plug Credits Alone Some of the publishers are paying substantial advances to band leaders wjd singers on the networks for the publication and other rights to the self-composed theme songs which these performers are usiiig. Pubs are primarily interested in the per- formance credits that will accrue; to them frorh these tunes, in the Amer- ican Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. * They have little hope of the songs meaning anything In the way of sheet sellers. ■ If the batonist is the writer oi; the melody; there's every assurance it Will be vised twice oa every pro- gram.- . Average advance paid these performers - for the themers is $250. Consolidated Declares Bestor Diicks Trial, Stalls CRA Bookmgs ; Answering orders to Justice Tim- otiiy' J. Leary's decision of July 30 in Don Bestor .vs. Consolidated Radio Artists suit were filed Aug. 12 by both parties. Supreme Court re- fused injunction sought by Bestor aiid recommended immediate trial of 'disputed facts' as presented by both sides. In reply order CRA re- quests immediate trial as originally requested in its briefs, while plain- tiff in action is still seeking injunc- tion or ' pbstponemcnt of trial - until October wheii regular court sessions start instead - of battle before a ref- eree against time. Court held, in its decision on mer- its that matter should be taken up immediately. However, it was added, that if the defendants would not agree to such trial he (Bestor) should post sufHcient surety bond to cover any possible losses by the defendant on possible bookings. In that case he could have gotten his injunction against future book- ings. Bestor sought relief from CRA flianagementrbooking connection. CRA claims that-' Bestor is how dodging trial which they have weh corned and are ready and willing to see through. In answer to.Bestor's first claim that he was out of town and unable to attend, Harry Derman, CRA attorney, states that Bestor is not worlcing at present . and hence should be available for suit he started himself. Also that ho (Bes- tor) should sustain burden, having brought charges. CRA also claims that_they are already losing dates on Bestor because of red tape he is slinging around, in forwarding all jyircs and communications to his al- iprneys first and causing unneces- sary delay and eventual losses. They Will hold him re.<;p6nsible for srnia .sheet music wholesalers are lo.sing a heavy mhsumcr Sept. 1 when S. H. Kress & Co.' eliminates sheet, music coiintors from all .stores. Reason ascribed by Krciw mot!uls is their intention not to handle any product' relailin:,' in excess of 25c. Pop sheet music, currently priced at .'i.'ic. and 40e., js onc-i-^f the first, commodities lo be eliminated. Heavy demand in the sheet fi-;ld in recent months has bO(,n for Ihc several old time tunes lhat have been revived. This bri;:l< lr;\do started Willi Ihc revival of 'f/jcl) fv/mond' and, currently, the rloniaiKl is strong for 'A-'I'iskcl. A-'faskcl,' one of the old nursery rhymr-s, v.hich has taken the country by storrn. Coming ahead .str;)!i,'r is another nursery tnnn, '.Slop Ucilin;; Around ' the Mulberry Bn.sh,' for si'hich h(;av>y demand is o.vpocU/tl diiring the remainder of August and throughput September. I .Kdilic C'hcrkase is doing three , .<-onKs' for Gc-ne Autry in 'Pony Boy* i at llepublicv ■ 50 VARIETY MUSIC* WedDeedaj^ Aaguet 17, 1 9319 15 Best Sheet Musk Sdlers iWeek eniing Aug. 13> 1938) Music, Maestro, Please A-Tlsket A-Tasket •Says My Heart ............................... Cathedral iii the Pines. . . . When They Played the Polka , I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart *Now It Can Be Told. ... . . . . . . . . . . . ♦I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams. I Hadn't Anyone TUl You. ••Little I^dy Make Believe , . . . ... . I'm Gonna Lock My Heart . . tl Married an Angel . . There's Honey on the Moon Tonight. Vou Go to My Head . •Lovellght in the Starlight. * Indicates fllmwical song. ^ Indicates stage production song. The others are popis. ..Berlin . .Bobbins , .Famous , . Berlin . . . Robbins . .Mills . .Berlin . Santly . . ABC , ;01man ' . . Shapiro , . Robbins ..Miller . . Remick ; . Paramount Disc Reviews By Abel Green 'Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Shea n,' as sung by Mr. Crosby and Mr. Mercer, ' is the highlight ^raxing of. the week, Decca, i960, as BIng Crosby and: Johnhy. Mercer vocalize the letter's special lyrics discoursing on swing. It's coupled with 'SmaU Fry,* Hoagy; Carmichael's sequel to his mem- orable 'Lazy . Bo.ies,' and part of Crosby's forthcoming 'Sing Yoii . Sin- ners' (Par) fllmusical score. Vktor Tonng't Small Fryers, as the band is quaintly billed, does the .accomp to both and :nanifests anew the Crosby-Decoa showmanship on wax which has made both best-sellers. John S«ott Trotter accomps Crosby on Decca 1934 in 'Don't Let That ' Moon. Get Away' aiid 'Laugh and Call It Love,' ar.othe*' couplet out of 'Sinners'; and still another excerpt is 'Pocketful jf iJreams' (Decca 1933), also with Trotter, iilthough the companion piece, 'A Blues Serenade,' has Matty Malaeek doing the baton- Ins. . ." ■ Vocaliori has fortified Tony Martin with a good, dance, combo in Mannie- Klein's Swingra^Hu as, as he gives .out 'Song of Old Hawaii' and 'My Sweetlieart.' both in the grass-skirt vein, on No. 4254. However, for straight foxtrot ' illadeering, Jerry Joyce accomps on Vac: 4255 with two 'My Lucky Star* selections (Gor- den and R<^vel), titled 'By a Wishing Weir and "This May Be My Nieht.' Another Pim-radio warbler, Buddy Clark, does his st'iff vocalV well on Voc. 4191, culling two Rodgers and Hsrt tunes out of 'I Married an Annel*— the title song— and 'Spring ts Here.' . AH bands nowadays strive for style.' They ealize' that, some trick s necessary to command attention, ind the theory is correct Further- nore, most often It works out well. Music iof -Yesterday and . Today Styled In. the Blue Barron Way' is imoosing enough on Bluebird 7709. and perhaps it's the weight of the Iiandle that defeat's ttie purpose. Bar- ron really has. a eood combo at the Hotel Edison (V. Y.). and while he's lerhops handlci.poed by the 'singing, atlcs' corinstish. he- also has a bright .dea in blending ths modern terps with some yesteryear excerpt He manifests , it .with 'Garden of the Moon' and 'Bambina.' 'Bnss Carlyle does the vocals. . ' Not so good is sepia Maxine Sulli- van's version of '.Spring Is Here,' allegedly done in vocadance style, but actually almost of dirge-like tempo. Ihtendtd possibly as a lazy fox, in keeping witn the. lyrical lassi- tude of. the tune, it's too lethargic, on 'Victor 25894. Revival of ah old Crosby tune, 'Old' Oxroad' out of 'GoUege Humor,' isn't brisker. Claade ThornJiiU's orchestra accomps) and he,, being her mentor, arranger and manager, undoubtedly also did the orchestrations. In ."prightller. mood' are Miss Sullivan's 'St Louis Blues' and 'L'Amour, Toujours' on Vic 25895. Dick: Todd vocadances 'So Help Me' and' .'Far' Away. Look in Your Eye' in moire than adequate manner on Victor 26004, baritonirg with full orchestra accomp. . Todd is r-ith Larry Clinton's corpis, of entertainers at Glen Island Casino: N. Y., and his two- part version of. 'Thanks foi: . the Memory' still remcihs one oi the best waxines of that unusual ballad. Back to 'Married an Angel' aiiain, this tim* under, aep.is of the three Andriews Sisters, with their unusual scat Intricacies. Couoling is 'Land of Sky Blue Waters' (Gadman ). like- wise in the ultra 52d street idiom: Decca 1912. Turnpike Biz Good Lincoln, Aug. 16. Fletcher Henderson, at the "Turn- pike Casino, grossed $750. There was Ao advance sale on this band, a straight $1.50 per couple at the door. Noble Sissle, another colored outfit followed right in (13). Next white boy is Dick Jergens (17), Manager R. H. Pauley laying off for- the rest of the month start- ing in September for the fall and winter season. Biz through the summer has been good. Network %s, S AJ(. to 1 AIL Foflotoing is a totalization of the combined plugs of current tunes on WEAF, wJz, WABC and WOR comjmtei Tofol rej»fMcnt« Viwcuroulated per/onnoijct, In 'Source' column, * denotes fllm song,:^ Jej« )or the week from Monday through Sunday Uug. t-U) OH the two NBC links, CBS and tSMtual from S a. m. tola. t tpngs, and 'pop" speaks for itself. Title, Pabltsher. A-Tisket A-Tasket .. .Bobbins .......... Now It Can Be Told. ...... , . ..Berlin You Go to My Head. , .Remick ... ......... I'm Gonna. Lock My Heart. . .Shapiro I Hadn't Anyone Till You. .............. ABC There's Honey on the Moon Tonight. ...... Miller I've Got a Pocketfull of Dreams. ... ...... Santly-Joy . When Mother Nature Sings Her Lullaby. .Santly-Joy ..,..:... 1 Let a Song Go Out of My Heart. ........Mills ........ -Music, Maestro. Please: .. — ....... ..... Berlin. . . .. ... .. . . . I 'Married an Angel h ., .Bobbins Wherein the World ............. :i Feist What (3oes: on Here, in My Heart .Paramount Alexander's tlagtime Band:. . . . ABC;. >. . . Flat Foot Floogee. . . . . . . : . . : Gxeen Bros. . . ...... Stop Bieating Around the Mulberry Bush^.BVC Says My Heart: . . . . . . . : • ... :Famous . . : . . Tu-Li Tulip Time. . . . . . - ■ ■ • . Chanoell Lullaby in Rhythm. ... ... . .Robbins ... . . My Walking Stick . . , . i . Berlin Don't Cross Your Fingers Ager-Yellcn . . . ; . So Help Me. .... ... . . . . Remick :. . . : I've Been Saving Myself for You : Harms . .: Meet the Beat: of My Heart. . . . Feist .. ... . ,. . . .; . . . . Beside a Moonlit Stream Famous .. . . ; When They Played the Polka. ......... . Bobbins Naturally .;. .. . ..Lincoln I've Got a Date .with a Dream ...... Feist ............. . Will You Remember Tonight; Tomorrow? ..BVC Little Lady Make Believe; . , i . . : . . . GIman . . . . . . Toy Trumpet. : .: ... .Circle I'll Dream Tonight. . . . .. . . . Witmark You Leave Me Breathless .Famous ,...:......: Spring Is Here. .;. Robbins Isn't ft Wonderful, isn't It Swell.... Miller . On ;the Bumpy Road to liove. ,. , . ..Feist,.. Garden of the Moon.,.........,.; ...Harms .............. Bambina ; . . : ..;... . .',.; .■. ...... . . . ... . . ;. Spier Thiere's a Faraway Look in Your Eyes. . . , Tenney Let Me Whisper. Teacher's Pet. . . : . ... . Small Fry. . , ; . .... ...:.. Love Is. Where You Find It.... In a . Little Dutch Kindergarten. Havin' Myself a Time. . . Don't Be That Way.. .. . .;. '. Silver Oh the Sage............... There's Rain in My Eyes. My Best Wishes. Daydreaming . . . . .>............ It I Loved You More: . . ; Gandy Dancer. .; . . .. ; . , ;.. . Girl in the Bonnet of Blue. ., i ..... . My Margarita. ..... . . . . . There's a Brand New Picture. .. : . . Don't Let That Moon Get Away When Twilight Comes. . . . . . . . So Lovely. .;;....:....:..;....; Hi Yo Silver...... Wheii the Circus Came to Town. . . Why'ya Make Me Fall in Love? Rosie the Redslcitt . ,...:.:.... i . ; ... , This tinie it's Real ...........;,.'.,.;, Cowboy from Brooklyn...;. Toytbwn ■ Jamboree ......;..;.;..... One More Dream. . Moon Looks Down and Laughs.... Ride. Tenderfoot Ride.;. Figaro Lovelight In the Starlight. .. . ... . . . Little Kiss at Twilight. ... You Couldn't Be Cuter Think It Over. .;;....;..;;......;.; If, It Rains. Who Cares?. Eipht Little Notes. Colorado Sunset: Let's Break the Good News. ...... ..^ Love of M-v. Life. I Haven't Changed a Thing. .. .; . . . Chaopell : . . . ; , ....Marks , . . . .Famous ....... , .... Harms ... ..; . ....Fox ., .:. ..-..Paramount .. . . Robbins .. . . . , . . . . Paramount '.. . , ... .Aeer-Yellen . . ;..;BVC , . ... .Remick ...... ... . . Words-Music . ABC , , . . . Cra'wf ord .... .... .Feist , . ...Witmark . .. . . ..; Santly-Joy .. . .....Shapiro ...... . . . .Crawford . .Chapoell .. . .....Shapiro ...... .....Feist ......... .. . . . Stasny . ....Soier ....;... Witmark Red Star .... . . . . . Chappell ;Kalmac-Ruby. . . . Witmark .; . . . ......BVC ........ Paramount . . . Paraitiounl .. . . . . Chaopell .. . . , . . : . .Mario Morris . ...... Crawford . . . ; .....Gilbert ...... . . . . . Davis .....ABC .....Mills ......... Senrce. ,•. .Pop . . . •Alexander's Ragtime Band. . . ...Pop .... — ..:Pop .; — ............;. ...Pop ^..Pop .. . . . 'Smg You Sinners. ........... . . .Pop . . . . ; ;; . ...Pop .. .Pop .• ■ ■ •• . • . . . tl Marriei- An AngeK... , . . . 'Josette ... 'Give Me a Sailor. . . . . 'Alexander's Ragtime Band. . . . . . ,Pop^ .;.-.; ..;......... . . , Pop ; . . ;......... ..:...;.. — . . . ■'Cocoanut Grove. ;.. ...Pop — .;,..: — — •• ...Pop ■ . . . ♦Alexander's Ragtime Band. . , ...Pop ..:... . ..Pop . . .: . . . ..;.... •• • •, ...tOrand Tferrace Revue.;...;.. ... 'Love Finds Andy Hardy...... . ...'Booloo '.: .. • .'• ... ......... ■ ...Pop • ••. .•• ...Pop . . . 'My Lucky Star. ...... . . . . . . . .;.Pop . . . .' • • • ■-• • •.• ...Pop . .' 'Rebecca of SuhnybTook Farm. . . . 'Cowboy from Brooklyn. . .: . 'Cocoanut . Grove. ... . . . . tl Married An Angel . . . Pop ; . ;. . . . • • • • • r • : ...Pop ... 'Garden of the. Moon. . ;.Pop ... . ... ........;.. ... Pop .-. . . . .. ..Pop ;• •• ...pop . . . . 'Sing You Sinners. ... 'Garden of the Moon . — . . . Pop • ■ — . . . 'Tropic Night. ; . . Pop • . ... . . . . 'The Texans. .,• ...Pop : . . ..Pop . • . . 'Golddiggers in Paris; . . ...Pop . .........:..: ...Pop . . . Pop • • ... ■■■ . . . Pop ; ; . ..... . . . . . . . . ■ I . ■ • • ■ • . . .Pop . . . 'Sing You Sinners — Pod • • . . . PoiJ .......;..:.. :..Pop •-• Pop ;: ...Pop ;.••: ...Pop ...Pop ..; ...'Cowboy from Brooklyn....;. — Pop . . . ...Pop .:.. . . .. Pop . . .. ; . . i . . 'Cowboy from Brooklyn . ... Pop . . ;. . ........ . . . ..:...'..... . . . . "H6r Jungle Love. . , . . 'Give Me a. Sailor. ........::.. . . . , 'Joy of Living. ...Pop . , . . . . Pop ,;......; — >. . .:;pop ....;.; . .. ;Pop — ; Pop ....Pop ....Pop Gra«« Tout. ••• 68. ... 64 • ..59 • . .. 56 • ■ . 44 •■. 40 ... 40 ••. .39 ... il ... 36 ... 34 . ... •34 ••■ B ... 33 ... 33 .... 30 ... 30 ... 29' ... 29 ... 29 ... 28 ;.. 28 ... 28 ... 27 ... 26 ..; 25 ...25 ... 24 ... 24 ;.. 24 ... 23 ... 23. ... 22 ;;. 22 . ... 21 ... 21 ... 21 .;. 21 ...21 ... 20 ... 20 ... 20 ... .19 . .. 19 .;. -19 , .. .17 .... 16 . . . 16 ... 16 ... 15 ... 15 ... 15 ... 15 ... 15 . .. 14 14 , 14 ... 14 ... 14 ...14 ... 13 . .. 13 ... 13 ... 13 . . -. 13 ... 12 ... 12 ..: 12 ... 12 ..'. 12 ... 12 ..; 11 ...11 ... 11 ... 11 . ; . 11 . .-. 10. ; . . 10 ... 10 Clareniee Fahrnian Qrch, staff band at WIP, Philly, playing, for the summer at Admiral hotel, Cape May, N. J. PAUL WHITEMAN ANNOUNCES THE COMPLETION OF HIS ALL-AMERICAN BAND "Somefhing Excitihgly New in Sound" One Hundred Instrumenis Dedicated io Aniierica's Youth (Initially Announced in VARIETY— June 2, 1937) Augmented by THE CHORUS OF THE STATES "THE NATION SINGSV TITLE RIGHTS FULLY PROTECTED Jan Savitf s Jinx Philadelphia, Aug. 16. Jan Savitt'.s crew, house band at KYW here, ran into a tbush luck engagement at the Stanley, Pitts- burgh, this week. It is its first the- atre date outside of Philly. Troubles started oh the way up j when one of the cars got in an ac- j cident Bill Smith, the. manager, in- jured his leg and vyas unable to con- I tinue. Bon Bon, vocalist, and Jerry ; Taps, dancer, are both Working un- ! der bandages. I Second tough break came a few I hours before the band was to open :.last Friday. Batoneer Savitt was 1 stricken with a streptococcjc infcc- | tiori of the throat and was forced : into a Pittsburgh hospital. George • Watson, ai-rangei',, is loading the : band. ; ' Art Kasseil orch moycs thi.s wcck from the KcnnywoOd, Piltsburgh, tb ; the Lake Worth Gaisino, Ft. Worth. ■ Stays there five weelcs, llicii back to I New York. Lincoln Bailrooni Does Nicely With Non-Npes Lincoln,. Aug. 16- King's Ballroom, Lincoln,, is hav- ing a banner summer this year. de- spite. the fact 'name' bands few at spot i^at Towics, Johnnie Cox, Dave Haun and' George Shucy have been the best bets. Meantime, King is also making money on his ballroom at Norfolk, which opened this year completely remodeled. Doc La wson ' grossed over $500 earlier this month at Nor- folk. CORKY O'KEEFE EAST . Hollywood, Aug. 16. F. C. O'Keefe heads east Friday (19) after passing two weeks here setting band dates for Rock well- O'Kecfe's clients. . Fletcher Henderson set orama club, Schenectady Sept. 21. for P.il- v:N. .Y.. publishes these tvwo big hits YOtt (SO TO MY HEAD SO HELP ME Wednesday, August 17. 1938 MUSIC-DANSAPATIdN VARIETY 51 Profit by Tobani Example falter Douglas, chairman of the Music Publishers Protective Asso- ciation, has urged the members to take immediately all necessary legal precautions in reinforcing the renewal rights to works which were written for hire. It is his; suggestion that the f)ubs follow out the lines of procedure indicated in the recent Tobani case decision and have the composers of such works or their heirs' signature , as- signment of these rights to the publisher and thereby avoid any opening for. litigation. Douglas' proposal is that the publishers :go through their bid cata- logs and pick out such employee-for-hire numbers that they want to preserve under the copyright law and through payment of a con- sideration make doubly sure that there will be no legal dispute when' the renewal periods become due. In the Tobani case a U. S; circuit court held that the composer's heirs were hot entitled to the copyright renewal of works created while under hire to Carl Fischer but refused to order that the renewals obtained by the heirs be as- signed to the publisher. This latter action puts the works in ques- tion in the public domain. Inside Stuff-Music : Synchronization fees collected on 'American Patrol' are being held up by the Music Publishers Protective Association pending the settlement of a dispute over the money between the Joe Morris Music Co. and Carl Fischer, Inc. Latter, publishing firm bases its claim on the fact that pic- tures involved used the Fischer band arrangement of -Patrol,' while Mor- ris contends that he owns the composition's copyright completely and that the only right ever conveyed Fischer concerned the printing and selling of orchestra and band copies. Morris granted Ffschei: the band and orchestra right 20 years ago. If Fischer had taken put any copyrights on.the number, he has. done so with- out proper authority, states Morris. Juliian T. Abeles has-been retained by Morris to collect the. $1,000 now held by the MPPA and to recover any amounts paid in the past to Fischer on the same score. A stunt which Mikie Nidorf of Rockwell-O'Kcefe originated for Larry Clinton's, orchestra at Glen Island Casino, N. Y., looks to pay dividends for Uie Victor recording band when it hits the one-nighters^ It's, a plan of 'saluting', the iesser towns, such as Johnstown, Pa.; Akron, O., and kindred lesser burgs, which are good dance centers, none the less. Result is that after adhering to' the requests of this or that locale, the youngsters are charged up, and when the band next plays that stand it's assured of extraordinary interest. It's a sort of radio trailer^ in short, for the one-riighters. Full hour anniversary broadcast of Bix Beiderbecke recordings last Mon- day night (8) by Martin Block, director of WNEW's Make Believe Ball- room airings, brought such a deluge of requests for more of the ace trumpeter's waxirigs that they were repeated Saturday morning (13). WHAS, L'YILLE, SINGS PROMOTE AMPHI NEEDS Louisville, Aug. 16. WHAS, the Courier-Journal and Times station, is promoting musical events to utilize , the Iroquois Am- phitheatre, erected early this year, and which recently housed a four- week season of summer operettas, presented by Fortune Gallo in asso- ciation with the Shiiberts. First event was a folk-song and hymn- singing festival, under the direction of Homer Rodeheaver, former Billy Sunday song leader. Some 500 voices from local choirs participated, and proceeds were to go toward buying necessary equipment for the amphi- theatre. First two scheduled sings were rained out, which leaves two more Thursday nights for the mass warbling. Sunday nights are taken care of by the Louisville C'vic .Orchestra, with local vocal and instrumental soloists. Admish is lS-25c., and pro- ceeds over expenses are to go to musicians. In addition to. the vocal and instrumental concerts, WHAS is promoting a radio jubilee for Aug. 27, using station talent and Bobby Hutsell's orchestra. 26 Okla. City Concerts Oklahoma City, Aug. 16. Because of excellent attendance at the Oklahorha federal symphony's summer programs, 26 programs fOr the comiiig winter will be scheduled. A new attendance record of 6,000 was set for a one-night concert last week. DON MARIO EXONERATED Was Cha^KCd With Contract Disre- lard— Union Accepts Him ■ Breath of contract charges filed with the National Executi%'e Board of the American Fed. of IViusicians against Don Mario, orchestra leader and singer, have been dismissed and Mario returned to good standing. Charges were preferred by Dolph Duerr, another orchestra pilot who 'sought $942.66 damages. ; Duerr originally included Paul Wimbish, now with the Paul Whiteman office but at that time booking bands on his own, and Ed Burt in the accusa- tion. Difficulties grew out of a date booked for Mario by Wimbish at the. Showboat, Pittsburgh last year. Mario claimed he wanted to get away from leading to devote all his time to perfecting invention of an attachment for coin record ma- chines and had left his own outfit at the Embassy Club, Atlanta at the stavt of a 14-week date. Said that although aware tliat he was without a crew Wimbish went ahead and booked him for four weeks with op- tions at the Showboat . Duerr was playing in Cleveland at the time, and his crew was brought into Pittsburgh for Mario to baton. Following a rehearsal Mario refused to lead the outfit and explained the situation to the Show- boat manager. Club, folded for the summer four days later, Duerr then filed his charges . and demand for damages. ■ Mario is currently gathering a new outfit and will book through CRA. RAISED TARIFF SL0WSSWINGB.0 - Manhattan Beach, N. Y., sumniier stand for name crews, upped its adnlish .prices at the start of Benny Goodman's stay there last week, but lack of interest in Goodman swing at $1.10 forced tariff's return to nor- mal 55c. Goodman opened Aug. 7. Set to supply dansapation for evening hops as well as afternoon .jive. First night with admish boosted crew drew 150 payees. Rest of week, at SSc, was near sellout. Honeymoon on a Roof Mr. and Mrs. Jack Shirraj other- wise Judy Starr, are honeymooning atop the Hotel Astor roof. New York, with Hal Kemp's orchestra during their current engagement. Miss Starr is featured singer with the band and Shirra plays string bass. Couple were quietly married last week at City Hall, and are planning their honeymoon when layoffs per- mit. Music Nates Dr. Richard. Hageman, composer, from Holland, completed score for Paramount's 'If I Were King,' first music he has written for the films. EInar Nilson, conductor, signed by Max Reinhardt for 'Faust' at Pil- grimage theatre, L. A. Paul Marquard wrote a .special ar- rangement of Oscar Strauss music for added scenes in Metro's 'The Great Waltz.' Max Steiner writing an original score for Warners "Angels with Dirty Faces.' Jack SchoII and Moe Jerome wrote 'Song of the Mounted Police", for Warners 'Heart of the North.' W. Frank K. Marling and Gerard C'^fbonaro tiiincd in, title song an l score for "Men with Wiiigs' at Para- mount. Martin Coiiroy, L. A. songwriter, cle/Ied a new aviation ditty, 'It's a Cori-igan.' Dr. Arthur Guttmann finished con- ducting 'The Great Waltz' at .Metro arid is working out the musical dc- ,tail for 'Ice Follies.' . Gene Johnson is opening a co-op rmisic.publishing outfit in Hollywood Sept. 1. On the Howard Woods to Tybee Beach, .Savannah, Ga., July 13, until Sept: 5, when season closes, Follows George/Hall. Blue Barron and Jan Savitt to make transcriptions series lor NBC. Paul Kapp set Gray Gordon opens Waco P.ivilion. Syracuse, Ind., Aug, 22.. One nilcs from Enna Jettick Park, Aubiirii, N. Y., where he closed this week. Fletcher Henderson plays Gray- stone ballroom, Detroit,- Sept. 4 and 5 for CRA. The Cosmopolitan, strollers, into the Cavaliers Inn, La Crosse, Wis., Aug. 10. Jan Savitt starts playing Charlie Shribman's New England circuit Aug. 30. Billy Tates into El Tivoli club, Dallas, Tex., Aug. 10. Bob dayman's band, with Ruby RiibinofI (Mrs. dayman), daughter of Dave Rubinoli, as vocalist into Joe Becker's Lincoln Terrace, Pitts- burgh, for indef stay; Succeeds Royal Worth and will have a KDKA-NBC •wire. Hod Williams at the New Ocean Casino, Virginia Beach, during August' Wallace Reid, Jr., and . his new orchestra opened a 10-week stand- at Murphy's in Phoenix, Ariz. Frank Trambaner orchestra set for one-night stand tour of Pacific Coast when they check out of L. A. Biltmore hotel Sept. 14. Al Jarvis' orchestra replaced Joe Venuti's crew at the Villa in Venice, Cal. I.3wrence Welk fades from current stand at Chippewa, Lake Park, Chip- pewa Lake, C, to an ihdef stay at Greyhuund club, Louisville, opening Aug. 19. : Band will have nightly air- ings from the Greyhound via Upbeat WHAS. Outfit makes its third visit this year to the Hotel William Penn, Pittsburgh, Oct. 3, where orch will have a Mutual wire. 0. Tommy Dorsey released front quarantine in Hollywood after beini. bedded for 10 days with diphtheria throat ■ Frenchy GraiTolier has terminated booking arrangement with Frederieli Bro.s. office, Cleveland. Biz will b« handled by J. D. Tcege nbw froni permanent address in .Galcsburg, IIL Ina Ray Hutlon, vacationing ii Saratoga Springs, N. Y., will retui t to theatres and one-niteis in Septem- ber for CRA. Carl Deacon Moore closes Lnk< Breeze Pier, Buckeye Lake, O., Aug 28, tor one-niter tour. Strollers, Charlotte Miller, Lamj Light Inn, Evansville, III., Aug. I'D, Versatilians, St Nicholas hotel, Dec- atur, 111., 27 and Mark Talent EyCr- green;, club, Chicago, 20. Erskine Hawkliis to one-niter belt for CRA, starting Sept 15. Exitj Savoy ballroom, N. Y/ Red Norvo aiid Mildred Bailey into Pennsylvania hotel, N. Y., Aug. 22. Kay Kyser returns on Oct. 4 to reopen the Pennsy's grillroom. . Ben Bernie theatres it at Earle, Washington, Sept 16; Earle, Philiy, 23 and Stanley, Pittsburgh, 30 for MCA. Lang Thompson to Bon Air club, Chicago, Sept 16, after closing at New Terrace club, Virginia Beach, Va. Lee Shelly is rehearsing a new band to reopen the Hollywood Casino (formerly ' Hollywood Res- taurant), N. Y., Sept 15. . He re- cently turned his old outfit over to Frank Dailey at the MeadOwbrook C. C, Turnpike, N. J. Leon MoJIca renewed at El Patio ballroom, San Francisco, for CRA. IRVING BERLIN^S L ATEST RKO's sensational musical production "CAREFREE," starrina FRED ASTAIRE and GINGER ROGERS. With four hits: I USED TO BE COLOR BLIND THE NIGHT IS FILLED WITH MUSIC CHANGTPARTNERS THE YAM (The new dance novelty created by Fred Astaire and Irving Berlin) NOW IT CAN BE TOLD MY WALKING STICK Two Irving Berlin hits from New York's record-breaking icture, "ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND" A Darryl Zanucl< 20tii Century- Fox Production HARRY LINK, Gen. Prof. Mgr. ^ J „j Revel's Latest and Greatest Scor.1 Gordon and K«vei • •- THIS MAY BE THE MI6HT COULD YOU PASS IM LOVE BY A WISHIHG WELL r.omth. 20th C.ntury-Fox Picture, "My Lucky Star MEET THE BEH OF HY HEART e th. M-G-M Picture, From the "> ■ l,. "Love Findi Andy Hardy Gordon and Revel's Terrir.c Succ.s.l WHERE IH THE WORLD From the 20th Century-Fo. Picture, -Josett. ;,F,esh .dca in Muoic=l Novelti ^ ni THE BUHPY ROAD TO LOVE ON THt „„„„ Mencher By Al Hoffman, Al Lewis a /„lroJ«c".fe' rwo iVew Hiul rror. the New Onive^al, Picture. "Youth Takes a FhPO FOR THE FIRST TIME HEIGH-HO, THE MERRY-0 ,„.y McHugh and Harold Adamscn S2 VARIETY VAUDE— NITE CLUBS Wednesdaj, August 17, 1938 Pitt Sees Better Sept. Biz After Brutal Summer in Nitenes; Penn Shutters Grill Pittsburgh, Aug. 16. Downtown night-club belt se«s skies ahead next month after most depressing summer season here in years. Boys are already counting on the Pittsburgh Pirates making the World Series, with town plenty baseball mad at prospect of first National ' League pennant in 11 years, and cafe owners are laying elaborate plaiis to cash in. Even if the Pirates ' fail to come through, however, coming Sesqui-Centehhial celebration of Allegheny County's founding, which wiUextend through September, is expected to bring town big influx of put-of-towners. Nitery owners have been weep- ing ori each other's shoulders and need plenty biz September, they say. to pull them out of the red experienced during the warm weather. Roadhouses have been do- ing fair, although not up to recent years, but trade in the downtown sector has been brutal. Floor shows haye been cut to the bone, in some cases being elimi nated ' entirely, and every spot without exception has cut in every department Working- hours of mu- (Cohtinued on page 62) FLANNAGAN AND ALLEN Dressed by - SIDNEY FISHER 75/77, iMiafteibury Avenue PICCADILLY. LONDON, ENG. MOUNT ROYAL-LONDON MARBLE ARCH, W.I., APABTMENT HOTEL TERMS With PRIVATE BATH; BREAKFAST One Person. . ; . . . .12/6 per nlght Two PerRons. . .'. . per nleht; rtiMW MATFAIBl— SMa - . Miller Gordon— CoDtroller ' Bett Coffee in England QUALITY INN Leleeater Square LONDON, WEST-END Lewis Back to Chi Chicago, Aug. 16. Joe Lewis, who has been on both coasts siiice leaving Chicago, is due back in town for a date in. the near northside Hi-Hat. Opens Tuesday (23) for a four- week minimum stay. Russo, After 50 Yrs. in Chi Pits, Quitting Aug. 25 Chicago, Aug. 16. . Danny . Russo conducts his own swan song from the pit ol the Pal- ace theatre Aug. 25, Shy only a few months which would round out a full two-score years since he first wielded a baton at the old Palace, and for 10 years previously at other local Orpheum houses, Russo has played for nearly every act that has ever trod, the vaude boards for Keith-Albee-Orpheum. Entire theatre staff and current stage performers, headed by Al Tra- han, gave him a testimonial banquet last night (Mon.). City officials, newspapermen and other celebrities attended the feed, which was held in basement of the Palace. Russo will go to his ranch home in North Hollywood, Cal., for temporary retirement. Charles 3tein will preside over Palace pit crew temporarily. Miss. Boats' $10,000 Race ; St. Louis, Aug. 16. Pic and radio' companies are watching negotiations between Com- modore Edwin C. Koenig, owner of the Steamboat St. Louis,' and. the Sacramento, Cal., Chamber of Com- merce for a steamboat race on the Mississippi from St. Louis to New Orleanis for a side bet of $10,000. Several years ago Koenig bought the Erastus. Wells, the City of St. Louis harbor boat that originally cost $75,- 000, for $4,500, built a new steel hull and converted it into ai passenger and freight packet plying bet\yeen here and the Louisiana metropolis. . The news of the spieed made by the St Louis, and Koenig's prominence in ' inland marine circles brought forth a challenge- from the Sacra- mento C. ol C, that the Delta King or Delta Queen, both operating near the California burg, would beat the local boat in a river i;ace. A con- test of this sort would revive the famous race between the Robert E. Lee and Natchez many years ago and furnish pic and radio companies with gobs of material. » 15 YEARS AGO • (Trom Vktan *hd Clipper; Two years after the murder of William Desmond Taylor, Mary Miles Minter announced she had been en- gaged to him; . Apparently intended to offset adverse publicity, but it did not help her to a comeback. Charlie Wilson P. A.'ing Chicago, Aug. 16. Charlie Wilson, ether comic regu- larly on WGN,' is out on some vaude dates around the midwest. Working with Jimmy ■• Crier's prch, which is on tour in this terri- tory. - Andre Setsre is scpring 'Touch- down,' Army', at Paramount, with .Irvin Talbot conducting. TheJHEATRE of the STARS The ORICINAL "DANCE CAVALCADE" Originated and Executed, hy Caperton and Columbus Is Fully Protvvted hy Copyright HARRIETTE CHARLES CAPERTON and COLUMBUS NOW AT LOEWS STATE, N. Y. (Week August 1 1th) idni^Dawn N. Y. Showboat Folds Suddenly Bobby Sanford's midntght-to-dawn showboat, which debuted Aug. 5, folded suddenly last week after cast- ing off on only six sails up the Hud- son. Curtain was drawn following the Wednesday night (10) sail. Tub was equipped for gambling of a sort as a sideline to admish tariff. On an enclosed top deck, a billiard table provided a spot for .galloping dominoes. Boat got. in only one dice get-together, however, before it folded. Backed by Meyer Davis, orchestra leader, boat had a heavy nut. Be- side operation costs, floor show car ried two orchestras and 26 principals and chorus girls. All performers were paid. -Bad .weather, trouble with boats, etc., plus lack of interest, were reasons given for the tub's exit. Schedule called for two sailings nightly, first showing off at 12:30 a.m. and second at 3:30 a.m. CLUB BOOKERS ORG. IN CHI S, S. Leviathan orch back at the Palace and jamming 'em in. Morton Downey tenored with the outfit. ■ Emma Carus and J. Walter Leo- pold hogged it at the Brooklyn Or- pheum. Both were home- town folk. Kmcma,. Los Angeles, to go two shows a day after renovation. Two other houses had the same policy, AH went back .to grind. Picture studios in Los slammed a ban on all visitors. Will Hays blamed by thie Chamber of Commerce, which yisioned tourists detouring to other spots. Lionel Atwill in 'The White Faced Fool' was heading at the. Palace, Chi. Audience liked the turn in spite .of Its class. Denver managers CQt salaries 25%, but unions had not yet accepted. Tabulation showed that .135 fea- ture pictures were , lined up for. the new season to cost $75,000,000. There were seven in the $1,000,000 class. There were 25 costing between that and $500,000 and 100 costing slightly less. Some. 800 releases were sched- uled in all. Declared to be far too many for the market to absorb. Keith office did not officially bar mammy songs for coming season, but intimated that it would not help the bookings any. to follow the old line. Getting too much alike.. Keith circuit planned to use Geritian 100-mark: notes as throwaways for Breitbart, strong man. He had used the same stunt in Berlin. Interstate Circuit paid Mme. Petro- va top salary, but she did two acts, a single and a sketch. Four-week booking. Edison lamp works, on the Jersey meadows, used a regular vaudeville act to entertain its employees during the lunch hour. Each act booked for four days and to do 15-18 minutes. Keith office giving first call to comedy acts. Felt that bjg names and small performance were detri- ments. Comedians could pull them in. Looked like a good season for legit musicals. About a dozen being readied. N. Y. STRAND'S FIRST BANDSHOW ALL SET Opening vaude show at the re. policied Warner Bros. Strand on Broadway, will feature Ben Ber'nie's band, with Lila Deane, singer; Nor- man Harris and Sylvia Shore, com- edy dancers; Betty Bruce, tapster" and Art Frank, impersonator. ' House closes next Wednesday and Thursday (24-25) for redecorating and rehearsals of initial sho\y 'Bov Meets Girl' (WB) will adorn screeii In addition to having signed Ben Bernie, Jan Garber and Ozzie Nelson. New York Strand has a deal on with Horace Heidt's orchestra and has set Harriett Hilliard as- a specialty act to come in with Nelson. Although Heidt was also talking to the- Paramount people for a date on Broadway, understood' he has made a verbal commitment to War- ners to go into the Strand. King's Jesters into the Commodore club, Detroit, Sept. 17. Joseph Sudy follows them at the Sir Francis Drake hotel, San Francisco, Sept 15. Chicago, Aug. 16. Booking offices, particularly those handling club dates, have organised locally under the tag of Entertain- ment Managers Assn. of Chicago. Of- ficers selected for the initial term are David O'Malley, president George Konchar, v.p., and Lyman Goss as secretary-trca.sui-er. George Hillman and James Thompson are in as trustees on the governing board. Organization marks an efTort to straighten out many of the situations and tactics which have been causing plenty of headaches for both agents and acts in the club business. Club field has been the particular target for chiselers the past few sea- sons, with acts complaining bitterly about the coffce-and-cake payofls in spots known to be paying pretty good coin to the bookers. In . addi- tion, there has been- a wave of cut- throating' among the bookers them- selves, with the bookers underbid- ding each other on dates and then making up for the low bids by forc- ing reduced salaries oh the acts. Vaude Unit Troupe In Canada Rail Wreck Chicago, Aug. 16. , Members of the Eriiie Y.oiuig 'In- ternationale Follies' troupe, now playing fair dates, were shaken up and some of them were injured in a train tangle near Winnipeg last week. Young suffered a. head ciit. Among others who .were bruised and slight- ly injured were Tony Nuzzo, Billie Garland, Sam , Slcflen and Tominy Gleason. PhiUy Nitery Biz So Bad/New Taxi Strike Can't Hurt Very Much Philadelphia, Aug. 16. Taxi strike, which began here yes- terday (Mon.), has put no notice- able crimp in nitery biz as yet. As one hotchery operator put it, biz is so bad already, there's nothing could make it any worse. Lack of transportation, however, if it continues until next weekend, is figured to depress theatre takes, as it has done in the past. JOHN STEEL BANKRUPT, USTS $40,070 DEBTS John Steel is broke. Tenor, who earned as much as $3,500 weekly in Ziegfeld shows, has filed a petition in bankruptcy in New York, listing lia- bilities at $40,070 and assets of $350. Steel , recently played four weeks at Billy Rose's Casa Manana on Broadway. Among the debts he listed was one for $6,000 back in- come taxes and a claim for $30,000 filed against him by Bradford Mills, of the Barbizon Plaza hotel, N. Y., .charging breach of cpntract. GLORIA GRAFTON ARROWHEAD INN SARATOGA NOW "Gloria Grafton's version of 'This Time It's Real' at Versailles is grand." —Walter Winchel. • "Miss Grafton sells a song well, looks ditto, works with a mike but doesn't hug it, and is effective on a cafe floor." —Abel, Variety. • "Gloria (Gloriiaus) Graf- ton's version of 'Week End Of a Private Secretary' is as good as a trip to Havana . . . if the radio scouts don't grab this gal they ought to have their heads exam- ined." —Danton Walker, N, Y. Daily News. • "Gloria Grafton is clos- ing at the Mounds Sunday; If you haven't seen her you'd better hurry because she's the most exciting thing that's happened to Cleveland this year." — Winsor French, Cleveland Press. Generally Held Over as al Versailles, New York and Mounds, Cleveland CONTACT JACK BERTELL GLORIA GRAFTON ILDE GARDE .liisl Itclufiied Fniiii n Triumiihunt Toiir or Kurope iinil N'litv ,\|ittriirliiic nt tlm : MOUNDS CLUB, CLEVELAND, OHIO , Vrnwnal M«r.. ANNA SOSF.NKO _ AMfrl.wn Rtn.! JACK HRRTKI.I. • Kureiwnn B»i>.: HKNRV .SHKBKK VfeJnesJay. August 17, 1938 yAUDE--NITE CLUBS VARIETY 59 dckof Casa, with Edgar Bergen, Inspires Ft Worth Investors to For Return of Their Investments Fort Worth, Aug. 16. Entire Casa Manana was sold out, 4000 seats, for the Edgar Bergen- •Charley McCarthy* personal Aug. 13, same day the sale opened. Sec- ■ond performance same night also told out and more than $10,000 in bank for the two nights, •This year's edition has been so ■ successful that business irieri who , backed the show are optimistic about getting back all they subscribed for the Enterprise. $50,000. J. C. Stein, president of MCA, pro- ducer of the varieties, is accompany.^ Ing Bergen here to inspect the out- door theatre-restaurant. MCA. is us- ing the Casa as a gauge to expansion in the outdoor field. W. H. Steiii, v.p. of MCA, returned to New York after checking results. Second' edition of; this year's show , opened Friday (12) with Jan Garbei- and Morton Downey, held ■ over, fea- tured. Dances, acts and costumes top first editioti, which ' rari two weeks.. Show pleases customers better than Casa of 1937, even though not quite ' so spectacular. It makes up in talent what it lacks in that respect ■ Other acts are Hal. Silver, , wire act, recently with Cole Bros.;- Pare and Yates, cpmedians; .Ames and Amo, comedy' dancers;" Sunny O'Day, tap dancer; Patricia. Norman, singer; Jacit Gregory and Co., hoop, rollers, aiid.the Olympics, skating act. Silver was tops. ' Business siecond week wias $20,000 - griDss, minus tax, 20% ^boye first week. Lew Wasserihan, execlitive di- rector for MCA,, announced. Show ■will ^n through Labor Day. Man- agement dickering with .W. C.Fields, Judy Garland and Frances Lan'gford for personals. Forth Worth, Aug. 16. The wideiy-hernlded rivalry of Forth Worth arid Dallas is in the spotlight again. It received national attention during the Centennial year and again last year. Now Dallas newspaper writers are casting an ap- praising eye at Forth Worth's amuse- ments this summer and wondering why Dallas has not continued to- offer such attractions. Fort Worth's Casa Manana is at- tracting many Dallas folk nightly and this city • has two other dine and dance spots, the Casino and the Showboat, both on Lake Worth, which are magneU to hundreds of Visitors from down the Trinity River. Fort . Worth nighthawks point to me fact- that recently Wayne King, Ted Weems and Isham Jones were Playmg the same week at spots here. HoBywood Rest, When It Reopens, WUl Have Ranway for Bar Lure Hollywood Restaurant, N. Y., cur- rently undergoing a refurbishing in preparation for World Fair biz, will «ecupy two floors arid have two en- hances on Broadway arid Seventh avenue. Street level will be oc- .cupied by a. large circular bar for quickie, elbow binding, but a run- way around the bar and in the . 5!,^' ."^ ^vill be a parade ground rar lookers from the show upsUirs, «s a lure. Proposed plan is similar to layout advanced by Billy Rose for his ^or^liet Palace, which he is plan- nrng for Times Square this fall. Hollywood's main dining room ri rl ! l^'"^ 0" the style of the siL? .""i '"lernational Casino.- Tables anT °" tiers graduating away and upward , from . the dance floor. ^ PETERS SISTERS SAIL Si^ji '^rossman has set the Peters air^i^ European date via an . 5"^angeinent with Harry Lowe, Lon- don agent. a.^'",'}^^^ harmony trio sailed Frl- ■revul - A London to go into the 22. 1 ^"'^'lors Away, V opening Aug. Pa,, ^yrn will also double into' the "'aoium, opening same Francis Renault taken For a Ride; $228 Loss Atlantic City,. Aug. 16. Francis Renault, eritertainer. at the Frolics Cafe, was taken for a ride early Sunday morning (14) by two vnen arid a womari, who pulled a gun on him: and relieved him of $228 and also, demanded his costume jew- elry, which they^ insisted was reul. Trio were patrons of the nitery who had offered to' take hini 'home when the cafe closed ait 6 a.m. The men were later apprehended by -Atlantic City police, who are holding them on warrants issued by Magistrate C. B. Driscoll. In addi- tion to the holdup charge the men are also accused of theft of an au- tomobile. Iitenes Spot with iMer Philadelphia, Aug. 16.: Hearing by the State Liquor Con- trol Board of. the Arcadia-Interha- tiorial, ace Philip nitery, for- selling booze after, hours,: was turned .into a circus yesterday when Proprietor Art Padiila brought counter charges of agents stealing hi.s menus. . Arcadia hearing was on evidence obtained last January jiist produced now. Harry G. Tarririgtbn, exariiirier for the board, took the case ijnder advisement. No decision ' will be given for about 10 days. Usual punishment is a small fine, although the Arcadia's license could be re- voked. Arcadia is onl/ one of hundreds of spots here which are suddenly be- ing calleii to task for oflerises . six months old.' The Embassy wjU have a hearing to.day on similar charges arid 50 other cafes are already on the sked.. Many others f.will face a serious test on. Sept. 2, the deadline for filing of applications and pay- ment of $650 fees for 1939 licenses. . NAT KALCHEIM BACK FROM SCOUT ABROAD Nat Kalcheim,. of Willianri Morris office, arrived : back in New York Monday (15) from seyen-week Eu- ropean talent scouting and booking trip. Dick Henry, of same office, sails today (Wed.) to peddle Yarik acts on Morris roster over there arid work on negotiations Kalcheim started. During stay in London arid Paris, Kalcheim viewed variety ' sliows, cafes, etc., and has about two dozen acts lined up for immediate work here. While there he peddled the Michon . Bros., Chilton and Thomas, Marion Belief and English Bros, for dates abroad, and sent Rolf Hol- bein to U. S. from London. He also has deals for- Lou Holtz and Al Nor- man on the fire oyer there. Ed Sullivan in Chi Chicago, Aug. 16. Ed Sullivan is coming into the Chicasto, here, Sept. 19. Hollywood columnist for the N. Y. News is playing this house for the first , time, although he has played RKO Palace here. Rained-Out Yaude Show On Again Tonight (Wed.) Two-hour variety show at Ran- dall's Island stadium, N. Y., sched- uled for last Wednesday (10) night, but cancelled because of rain,' goes ori tonight (Wed.). Ferde Grofe's orch, Connie Bos- well, Eddie Garr, Bob Howard & the Six Continentals arid other acts are set for the outdoor stage. Grofe will direct his crew in an all-Gershwin concert, ^ TED LEWIS ORCH TOHEADN.Y. CASASHOW Casa Manana will cont.-nue with its present ' vaude-band policy until stunt wears thin and will not change back to the former girley revue shows, states Charlie. Freeriian, . head of Billy Rose's new booking depart- ment. Operating officially for first time Monday (15), Freeman set Ted .Lewis' band and Robert J. Wildhack, sneezing comedian, : as iriltial attrac- tions for new show opening Aug. 28. Dance band as' relief to Xjewis' crew and other names to bolster the next bill are being sought. Current show still hai two weeks to go on announced holdover. Freeman was dickering for NBC's 'Information Please,' quiz prograrii, featuring Clifton Fadiman, Franklin P. Adams end John Kiernan, news- papermen, but any deal was nixed by John Royal of NBC, who wants to save th^m for a- possible commer- cial.. Would not have included the broadcast session, but would be a regular act with Casa Manana cus- tomers shooting questions at the brain boys, a la the radio show. Hollywood, Aug. 16. Bob Hope turned down a bid to head Billy Rose's Casa Manana show- in New York for four weeks starting Aug. 28. Refusal due to film and radio commitments. ; ?ealin'-lhe-Peach' With Bare Tootsies Comin' Up from Dixie Broadway will see a neyi' 'pealiri'- the-peach' dance, which was . born at Pawley's Island Inn, S. C, ac- credited cradle of the big apple, little, peach, etc. Bob Christenberry; Astor hotel v.p. and g.m., ori 'a quick Dixie swing with George D. Lott- man, his special press relations, saw the riew dance being done by young folks in evening dress arid bare feet, and is bringing therii up to N. Y. for a Broadway debut this Friday (19) atop the Astor Roof with Hal Kemp's orchestra. A dozen of the S. C. boys and girls are beirig brought north, plus two chaperones, for the fortnight's en- gagement at the hostelry. Rogers' Injunction Exits Herbert from the Int'l Saratoga Given 36 Hours Respite And the Boys Pronto Started Taking Advantage; Lid's Tighter n Ever Reopening Pelham Heath After Being Dark 5 Years Old Pelham Heath Inn on Pelham Rood, . Bronx, N, Y., will reopen Oct. 1 after being shuttered, for about five years. Operators- are urideclded on whether there will be a floor show policy. Cost about $15,000 to re- build once famous spot. Frank Galassi's band, with vocal- ist Harriett Brent, will open. Sta- tion 'WOR, N: Y., will pick up music three times weekly for broadcast EFA Deal Cold, Pitt on Own . Minimizing the threat of a stiff front from the Entertainers' Fiedera- tion of America, Pittsburgh vaude and cafe artists' union, the American Federation of Actors has launched its own organizing drive in that area.- AFA sought at first to absorb the EFA, but demands for separate . au- tonomy stymied. Ralph Whitehead, executive secre- tary of the AFA> ciairiis that at no time, did he demand the -treasury of the EFA before taking them into, the AFA. This was stated as one of the . complaints , of EFA; ' against aligning. However, he does nbt want to give them iseparate autonomy and demands that all monies collected in name of the AFA be turned over to the- national office. Money collected on EFA name could have been re- funded on pro rata basis to EFA members^ however, for use as dues and initiation into the AFA. White- head dairies the coopeiration of the Central Labor Council of Pitt, AFL affiliate. APA will also hold a closed irieet- ing Aug. 23 in the Actors' Church, New York, for vote on proposed new vaude and club acts' , wage , scales, Howard Wheeler, pfez of the! Enter- tainment Managers Assn., will speak. EMA has applied as a body for AFA licensing. COLONIAL, DAHON, SET FOR VAUDFILM POLICY Ed Sullivan comes east to m.c. Ihc Harvest Moori balls conducted by the News in N. Y. While east, John Chapman, of the staff, will cover Hollywood for the Ne*s. PARSONS DELAYS SHOW Kay Parson."! defcr.i'p.d the debut of the third edition of her Showboat revue froni its orlgirially scheduled ^opening last night (Tucs.) until Fri- day (19). , Lillius Cairns. . Ruby Barlh and Norman and Mil-Uy 'A-;!! hcldcver. : Injunction by Harry Rogers, man- ager, and producer of ice shows, to restrain Frenchy Herbert, skating comedian, from ap'pcaring in the current . Internatipriai Casino, N. Y-. shpw. was granted in New York Fri- day '(12). Herbert bowed out of the show the following day, Rogers clairried he had Herbert tied up for six monlhs, comriiencing July 20, 1938, to appear in his St. Moritz ice carriiyal. Stated also that six weeks of bookings, opening with Asbury, Park Moriday (13), would have to be cancelled if Herbert did not appear. Attorney David' Wblper i represented Rogers. Cincinnati, Aug. 16. A. M. Frudenfeld, assistant direc- tor of RKO houses in southern Ohio, with headqiiarters here, has set the RKO Colonial, Dayton,. to open with vaudfllms Sept. 2 at 40c. top. First week's show of six acts is to be headlined by Oswald. Nick Lucas will be the second week's headlincr. Bookings by Warren Jones of Chi- cago. Cincy's RKO Shubert, which re- lights Friday (19) with straight pics for a starter, will probably add stage shows when cool weather sets in, as was the case last season. L. A. Seeks Federal Aid For $35,000,000 Center Los Angeles, Aug. 16. City Counfil has approved the proposed S6,50O,o6o Cultural Art Center, to be erected as part of Ihc $35,000,000 Civic Center plaVi, ! (ipuncilmah John W. Baumfiarlrier : and City Engineer Lloyd Aldrich arc / in Washington lo promote $16,000,000 I ill. Federal funds. I Tobin to Call Badminton Plays in London Vaude Joe Tobin, former announcer on stations WOR and WMCA, sailed .f6r London last week, to open at the Palladium, Sept. 24. Also due for Briti'-sh Broadcasting guest announc- ing stints. Tobin has been .sol for two monlhs at the house, calling points, etc., iri badminton matches between Ken Davidson arid Hugh Fogi^. Davidson was formerly here working with Thelma Kingsley, wonian champ. By JACK PULASKI Saratoga. Aug. 16. The iid on gambling was removed Vast Thursday (11) but after 36 hours' of unlimited plunging it was clamped, down tighter than ever. The . hopes of merchants and other ■ natives of capturing at least some measure of the August harvest that has always accompanied the; race rifieet at this color riii wataring place thereby went glimrrieririg. ' Politics, largely figures in the isr cbiiraging situation here, with young dl.stritt attorney Alfred Simons in the saddle, He is said to have given the nod that started the wheels spirning, but there were other spe- cific orders, which were disre- garded,, and which resulted John Law becoming peevrd and stepping in again. (Naming resorts which formerly were vvide open in the town itself ■ were told to close down at 7 p.m., with all. such activities 'shifting to Lake Saratoga which meant the area of dinner and night clubs, which all have casirios for those who like to take a Chance. Instead, however, a couple of clubs ran full blast Thursday night and :that spilled the apple cart, so the regulars ex- plain. Over the weeltend there, were, roving, dice games in supposed hide- aways and pl.nyers could enter after a quick- dpuble-o by lookouts. Most of the sporty visitors, however, ap- peared to duck such spots, leery bi a pinch Or ■ figuring on being crossed. Herbert Bayard Swope, head, of New York's Racing Comriiission, stated that the Saratoga meeting is (Continued ori page 62) K.C.JIIB1LESTA SHOW ALL SET Kansas City, Aug. 16. LirieuR for town'; Sept. Jubilesta to be held in riew city auditorium i.s completed with signing of Jimmy Grier's orch, Connie Bos well, Joe Cook and Nick Lucas for the open* ing two-day show. Bill will also see Rudy Vallee and his unit. Tommy : Dorscy's band. Uncle. Ezra, Hoosier Hot Shots, Billy House and the Laff Liners, Burris and Allen, besides the water ballet and Tinjr Town shows. With expectations of visiting Are-' men and extra emphasis on enter> tainment during run of Jubilesta, Sept. 17-25, theatre men are concen- trating on some heavy-film and stage attractions for their qwn protection. Fox Tower has booked Benny Good- man for its stage attraction week of Jubile.sta. Week will give K.C. its biggest line-up of film and stage attractions in years. A. C. NITERIES EXPECT HYPO WITH CURFEW NIX BALLANTINE SWITCHES Chicago, Aug. 16. Lucille Ballantine (and Pierce), . Atlantic City, Aug. 16. Re.<;ort night life is going iritb the home stretch for a hangup finish La- bor Day weekend, when- most of the places will be gcing 24 hours steady in ,T final cleanup, and they need it. City comitii.ssiori, this week, follow- ing conferences ' between political bigwigs and Atlantic City Liccn.sed Beverage A.ssn., decided that the Sunday morning closing law was- too drastic and decided to cancel it However, It still mu.st have the SLala Alcoholic (jommi.s:>ioncr's appr.ovi'l. Winstead's Minstrels Finds Woe in Dixie Sp;iii,-inlnir;,'. S. C, Aug: 16. Win-^^c;l(|■s iMiri.>;lroI;Slio\y hil tout'h g')in;{ in it-' -stop here on. ixie tour; who .recently turned agent, has. loft ! On opr'iiin« ni«ht; scvci al rov/s of the Central Booking office to go with ;:cals toll.-ipvLd, hurling 400 patrora Consolidated ..Radio ArlisLs, | lo' giounf.1 aiid rcsiillinK in several Will head new cafe dcparlmerit in.iuric. L')CaI law rii'in next morn- out of Chicago office. • ' ing attached the show. 54 VARIETY VARIETY HOUSE REVIEWS Wednesday, August 17, 1938 Poor Product Threatens Success Of N. Y. State s Ist Drive-In Theatre By DICK GILBEjRT Valley istream, N. Y:, Aur. 14. New York State's first open-air automobile drive-in theatre opened near here Wednesday (10). Headed for an initial week gro.ss of about $3,100, first night take, was around $700 for the 700 carloads of cus- tomers, who passed the turnstiles in spite of heavy , rain. More than 200 motorbuggies were , turned away for the second show. Capacity is 500 cars. ■ • . Buiii on a 12-acre plot, formerly site of Curtis airport Sunrise Drtve- .In Theatre consists 6t a giant scrri:n, 60 feet wide by 48 fest nigh, a pro- jection booth 250 feet .way, and be- tween the two & series' of semi-circu- lar ramps, which, elevate the front and depress the rear of each car as it swings but of one^ot the 30-foot aisles to face the screen. Customers ' re- main in their cars. Smoking Is per' mltted. tiie ramp arraagement makes' It possible for .all .uto patrons- to have' unobstructed views of the screen, which is elevated about 30 feet above ground level. Incoming end outgoing patrons don't' block the view of - those who are parked. All cars enter from the left of the screen and depart toward the right, guided V by a ecrps of 20 ushers, some on bicycles, who. use flashlights to sij(nal th~ course. ' Policy- is two shows nightly, the flrst one at dusk, rain or shine, with three changes weekly. Single fea- tures and shorts comprise the bill, and herein is the greatest threat to success of Sunrise .Drive-In. Prod- uct is weak and fourth or fifth run, which will pall on the family tcade unles.'- overcome, . Howeve the dark Intimacy and privacy make for a pet- ter's paradjse at 35c a pers6n (no charge for cars). Program for first week is- 'Start Cheering' (Col) with Jlnrniy Durante and Walter Connolly^ Silly Sym- phony in technicolor, Andy (jlyde comedy and sports short for Wed.- Thurs. (10-11); 'The Saint in New York' (RKO), with Louis Hayward; Edgar Kennedy comedv. sports short and newsreel for Fri.-Sat (1,2-13 >• 'She Married ah Artist' with .John Boles and Lull Deste; Mickey Mouse cartoon, Charlie Chase comedy and news.for Sun.-Tucs. (14-16). Two operators handle prbiectioh. which is up instead of down, and requires special pedestals for the machines and 200 amperes of current compared with about 15 amperes in average house, due to the long out- door' throw of ligh . Incidentally,, Durante's schnozzle is about six feet long on the gi'vnt. screen, which will give an Idea of the size of the figures; however, the effect is okay. Sound is handled by six custom- built directional speakers located atop screen houiln?. a steel-framed structure 80 feet high by 110 feet wide, which 'so houses the offices and electrical switchboards for light- ing the grounds. When it rains- sound is directed through the tops of cars. Sunrise Drlve-In Is owned 'and managed by Michael M. Rothstein, of Boston, who rot the idea after visit- ing the four drive-in theatres located in Boston, Providence, Lowell and Lynn, Mass. There are five other outdoor motor theatres in the coun- try. In Burbaiik and Westwood, Cal.' Detroit, Cleveland and Union, N. J. There was one at Camden, N. J., for a while, bu,t It folded when it couldn't get satisfactory films. ■ This is Roth.-jtcin's first venture In show biz. He leased the land from the Chnnins, v/ho bull* the equip- ment The layout cost $60,000. He's countmg on a season from April 15 to Dec. 1. The drive-In outdoor theatre Idea Js patented by R. M. Hoilinsjsliead, vice-president of a firm that makes an auto cleaner, and W. W. Smith, operator of paK.Iiie lots. Patent is based on the rtncle of vision: ITiey all cut in on a ro.valtv basis. First-Umers will do well to take along coats and mosquito salve for protection. aided, as it frequently does, by toss ing in a marquee name on- its own. Band, opens show with 'Alexaiid dcr's Ragtime Band,' Nels^on tossing in a plug for the picture of the same name. Then goes into 'Old Cray Bonnet' Jumps into swing on this, with plenty of neat variations and ends with a hot vocal by Nelson Cihirping by maestro okay despite his nasal tang. At show caught however, he lapsed into a sour puss every so often. . Nelson first brings on Evelyn Poe, tiny thrash and quite a looker. Lets out with fair pipes and lots of what it takes.. Mugging plenty, she sings 'Rljythm Man,' 'Moon Is Here Again' and 'Love Bug.' Arrangement on later n;s.h. . . ' Frank Paris' marionettes follow, He flrst brings'.on Zorina, the baller- ina, then Dopey of the Seven Dwarfs, Sonia Henie and finally a clown that trudrs. Marionettes' arc stiff and iin< graceful and hot very lifelike. Dopey arid the clown, however, are good for laughs. ' Band comes -in next- with an orig- inal number, a good novelty, -with Nelson vocal ihg the trials and tfifau lations in a band leader's life. Pre scnts, too, some good comedy by members of the band. Fritz and Jean Hubert; drunks, go throueh much slapsttick pantomime, but 'it's all too slow and not too funny. !pair both work in tails and there's some surprise at the finish when one is revealed as a femme, Fritz's unprofessional clowning with Nelson in the encore detracts. ' Miss Hilliard really is the strong- point She has a pleasing voice, good personality and is plenty at- tractive. Onens in a duo with leader- hubby on 'Remeinber Me,' then goes into 'Says My Heart' which she in troed; 'Kid in the .Three-Cornered Pants,' which is given a nice touch by her. announcement that it was written for hers and Nelson's baby son,' and 'Music. Maestro, Please.' Orch finales with 'Mattha.' the opera, played in swing,, and good. Herb. STATE, N. Y. JVits T. • CronluTid, Eileen. Wenzcl, Geratdtne Ross, Caperfort & Colum' bus, Violeta ers. Lacks showmanship and little touches that would put it over. Secbnd prod number, 'SInbad the Sailor,' is Harlemese, Mediocre spe- cialty songs by Astwood and- dancing are about all it has, Carlos and Carmencita, Ace Har- ris' band, with Abner Gibson. Miller Bros, and Ford, all reviewed under New Acts, complement the tidy, if somewhat lighter-than-tisual bill. Arthur Sinipkins, Negro tenor, , ap- pears in , one prod number without getting over but vindicates himself later in a series before the; staged band. Voice is fine but he drops register too frequently, Can hit 'em high and low with equal effect. Hurl ORPHEUM, DENVER STATE-LAKE, CHI Chicago, Aug. 14. Volene DeLys, Kemper & Nichols, Grate Drysdale, Everett Sanderson, Tom Lane, Samuel Bros., with Edith Fleming & Kathertne Harris, House Line; 'Delintiuent Parents' (Indie). Having always acted on the -'as- sumption theit this house is a family spot the management comes through with a surprising upset currently with, a pinkie restricting the audi- ence to adults only due to the flhn, 'Delinquent Parents,' made inde- pendently. However, indications point to strong trade. The dnly worry is: what about next week? Will the family trade* which is being turned away from the house this week be back at thie box office at that time? - In line with the adults-bnly ses- sion,,, the stage is presenting 'She's From Paris,' which is topped oft by a nudic,' Valerie DeLys, who doesn't do, miich, merely waltzing around while highlighting herself with a couple of flashers in her hands. Chorus, augmented currently, tosses off a couple of flne routines, espe- cially a Frenchy opener. Everett Sanderson starts the variety turns spinning with his .strong musical novelty act winding up his routine by playing three saxophones simul- taneously. Charley Kemper and Ken Nichols hold up the comedy, working in two spots. They have excellent material and pace themselves well. Pleasant puppet turn is the Grace Drysdale act Has played niteries around here for some time and proves equally effective on a variety stage. For the finish gives the audi- ence a peek backstage, showing how she manipulates the; marionettes. Ton! Lane torches with plenty of verve and vivacity. Dance act Sam- uel Bros, with Edith Fleming and Katherine Harris, does too much stalling and unfunny clowning. Pre- cision taps best. Cold APOLLO, N. Y* .Denver, Aug. 14. Ted Leu>ts orcK with Loretta Ldne, Charles 'Snowball' Whittier^ Bee Williams, Theo- Trot/ & Ray Royce, Varsity Co-«di (6); 'I'm from the City' (RKO). Swan & Lee, Paul Robinson & Co., Carlos & Carmencita, Connie Joyce Arthur Simpfcins, Norman Astwood, Miller Bros. ,& Ford, Ace Harris orch with Abner Gibson; 'Ladu in the Morgue'. (U). . Usually a house of laughs, Apollo IS shy this week. Tries hard; though, but succeeds in only one spot thanks to standard material of Swan and I^e (New Acts) . Althotigh running 85 mins, which IS too long, show lacks much of the zoom and some of the production effort usual here. Takeoff on current airplane rage IS basis of the first production num- ber, featuring Swan and Lee. In- cludes song parodies, with custom- ary blue, tint, and ditties oh each stop-off while In Iflighf plus chorus dancing, in tune to varied national- istic music. Dialog: is corny, with m.c. Norman Astwood doing the wel- coming.: mayor. Connie Joyce,- ca- pable/acrobatic dahcer, is in for a brief session and gets off a techni- cally good routine that's wasted be- Ted Lewis' orchestra Is the cur- rent headliner and dishes up a click- ing fast show, pared by its show- manly leader, who also m.c' Lewis opens show with medicine man, routine and is followed by Loretta Lahe's novelty tap as Varsity Coreds (6) sing and Lewis plays sax. Charieis 'Snowball' Whittler. col- ored lad, with an infectious smile and fast feet, dances solo and also with Bee WiUlams^ colored miss, in a novelty. swing tap. Lewis, as usual, draws applause with 'When My Baby Smiles at Me.' Whittler has loud costume— pink trouse-s with pint hat replica of one Lewis: wears; and yellow jacket Negro hoofer directs orchestra as it plays Tiger Rag.' Theo Troy does controlled kicks with -ease.-- Lewis is sti-ong singing Tm the Leader of the Band' aa it imitates small-town brass outfit Ray Royce affects ia drunk as he tumbles, head- spins,_ etc. Doesn't look the part though. Lewis_and Whittler put oh the 'My Shadow' act with the latter the shadow, dressed lih . the maestro, and imitating him. Band goes into ? 'i^ session, then on a musical trip to Spain in 'Peanut Vendor' as Lewis throws peanuts, in the shells, to audi- ence, with youngsters swarming front rows to grab them. Through asking girls and boys to spell simple words, Lewis / s two of each sex bh stage. . Gives them miniature spelling bee— a word each— then allows audi- ence to decide winner of $1 bill. Business good at second show Sat ,jirday (13). ^ Rose. TOWER, K. C Kansas City, Aug. 14. ^Ji^^'^ii^ 5*''*" ^'^^ J'ed Norwo orch, The Wonchalants Y3), Phillips *rSS'{iirt^epf "-""^ ^'"'=' In contrast to its policy of the past few weeks, the Tower offers a bill Piiiw currently. Mildred Bailey headlines with hubby Red ifPJOl?^ Norvo is only in these parts, with Hrt m^%^hi!^'' ^'^'^^^ Supporting bill is above the ordi- nary and weU balanced. Show runs i?KPl *e^ Usual card here, but stilf holds under 50 minutes and wisely so. It has pace and zip. Opening is fuU, :the baton waver n.lu J blasUng out with a spe- TfirJ^ ■/?.'" '^Is xylophone. Terry Allen, the band's vocalist, also gets his innmg here. In Its later ef- forts the band: reveals its best work in fast renditions of 'Flat Foot Floo gee' and 'After You're Gone,' lean mg toward, the brass. The town has seen better bands but this one is iai from run-of-the-miU. w i"iPT J??,**!- "^^0 present a i^Lf,"'^^^ College razmataz, are F.ijlK ff** and weU-Umed in the latest Jitter steps. okP* house Jine, called the Ador- ames, then do a swingy number They're off then till clwing wheri they work out an illustration of a song with the headliner. ■ Acrobatics by the Nonchalants trio include^ an unusual comedy dialog. Most of the comedy Is shown in their closing stunt and toward which the patter builds throughout the act. Its^clever acrobatics mixed with good showmanship; Miss Bailey then comes on for a quartet of^ vocals, including a nov- elty introduction, a pop, 'A Secre- tary s Week-End' and an encore. Her vocaling is catchy and her registry good with the bpentiig night crowd. Biz good. . Quin. PARAMOUNT, N. Y. Chick Webb Orch, Ella yit-aemu Chuck & Chuckles. The CharS (4), Ltndy Hoppers (4), Don. Bake? Wayne Sisters: 'Give Me a Saihls (PaT)._reviewed in Vabiety July %_ This is certainly the golden era for bands and dansapation. Under ex. isting vogue, every band of any iml poitance has it- own .style, every maestro is a personality, and, what's unusual about It alii every band's in. dividuals enjoy a vogue that is akin to the sycophantic worship of a Hollywood star. For the youngsters, the solid senders, the killer-dillers and the out-of- this- world iniDro. visers have a followina for which no disciple of the Dixieland or Bix s'yle had ever dreamed^ There have been few Negro bands on Broadway in this No. 1 band show auditorium. The current in. cumbent. Chick Webb, makes the fourth, coming after Calloway, Arm- strong and Ellington.; BiUed as the king of swing,' with an appropriate crown and sceptre, latter a pair of drumsticks, adorning the rostrum setting, Webb well earns his blgtime distinction via audience acclaim in the hinterland and on this stage The latter circumstance first came about during fhe al fresco jam sessions 'Tommy Dorsey staged recently at the Par during his three - weeks at the house. -On one. evening Webb's ' drumstick prowess well-nigh tore the screen down. .This week— on Saturday-^Webb staged a jam ses- sion stunt all his own, at the extra midnight show. Webb's current week's presentation 7;;J.'«? 8 single week ■ engagement— is 100% Harlem, and all of it cllcky It's all so consistently effective that it almost verges on being embar- rassed with riches, causing the show to run overboard; Ella Fitzgerald, whose 'A-Tisket A-Tasket' ^cca waxing teed off that nursery dlt^ into swlngo immortal, ity, comes on in the next-to-shut after the others milk the ofays* palms dry, and tallies a neat score on her own. Chuck and Chuckles, with their peckin', crosstalk,^ hokuin and general comedy, wham 'cm, The Charioteers, novelty auartet, with special pianist would have had to start paying rent on the hall if they hadn t finally begged off at show caught Radio quartet which spe- cializes in Negro spirituals on the kUocycles, wisely eschews that and gives out with such earthy foLde-roI as 'Ride, Red, Ride.' 'Flat Foot Flooeee,* 'Swing for Sale.' 'Swing Is m My Soul' and 'Old Man Mose.' The somewhat taller boy, he of the prop falsetto, is a comedy highlight on his owm The boys just essay a snatch bf the Eddy Duchih arrange- ment In 'Old Man Mose Kicked the' Bucket,' but^ the .jitterbugs reVd in their recognltibn; of the now widely discussed Brunswick version. , ' ; , "The LIndy , Hoppers, dance jiall prize combihatibn of two teams, round out the sbecialties. The four- ; some now 'routines' ' and everything is done in accepted professional man-^ ner. Basically, the show Is Webb's. The kingpin drummer remains seated at his traps and gives out with the rhythms in his best Savoy ballroom manner, while another boy does the Drop batoneerlng. Band Is a solid Jackson, cbmbination of 14. including six brasses, four reeds, piano, bass, guitar and drum.s. Webb is the maestro whom all the other ofay maestros used to Watch and emulate after hours, on their excursions, into Harlem's Savoy ballroom. Webb has a drum-solo Style all his own, and he merchandizes it solidly, show- manly', and well; A dandy sub-feature, a much bet- ter trailer for next week than the theatre's present stunt of vocal- heralding what's coming, is Phil Spitalny's Par short It's properly spotted to highlight the maestro's all- glrt band next week, in person, plus ZaSu Pitts and^Sing You Sinners' (Par), a switch away from 'Spawn of the North' (Par), which has been set back. Current feature, 'Give Me a Sailor" (Par). The audible trailer is an in-person announcement about the Par's big shows to conie, and the fact that this nouse Is the 'originator' on Broadway of the two-for-one shows. This has reference, of course, to the forth- coming band shows at the N. Y. Strand. There's talk ' anew, too, anent the N. Y. Capitol likewise essaying presentations, again: Organolog by Don Baker is cap- tioned August Hit Parade;, with the ^ual .slides, and a departure in the Wayne Sisters (3) doing Interlude vocals. Latter not particularly im- pressive. Biz good opening night and the usual jitterbug hoopla in the aisles at the mat sessions. Abel. 2 Acts Set Abroad Juanlta and Her Champions, roller skaters, and Al Gordbn's Dogs are scheduled for fall dates in London and oh the Cbntinent Juanita act will play SIX months in Ehgland and Germany, opening at the Palladium, Sept; 12. Gordon's Dogs opien for Clifford C. Fischer Sept. 24. Charles Yates agented. Vedncstltty, August 17, 1938 VARlEtY HOUSE iREYIEWS VARIETY STEEL PIER, A. C. Atlantic City, Aug. 14. ifrank EWHtt's Minstrels. Ben Yost tuicers Frances Anns, Jimmy Jones i/tth Eddie McKnight. Ruth &. Abbott & CosteUo. Vic Hyde. steel Pier is this week presenting T onntKer combination minstrel-vaude- SiUe revue -in its Music Hall with jyinces Arms as the : star. Frank rmbtt's minstrels form, the back- ed for the menu which is fast , fnd Rood for plenty.pf lauehs. ■ While Miss Arms takes the laurels th her usual exceHeht form, with a new act containinR clever comedy, Sie Ben Yost: sinRers^- earner the Snfilng honors. Their best js. a bit ^mblnlhR Stephen /Foster ^and 'Or mSi River.' A solo. 'GUrl m the Bonnet of Blue,' clicks. , ^how opens m full, in.cludmg Jim- mv Jones' orchestra, with Eddie Mc- Knlfiht at the drums. Ruth 'Barnes opens with a pleasant routine, •fol- lowed by a couple of minstrel skits. The Yost sinRers then present Miss ^H?er turn consists of two numbers, one in which she combines lUlian, Irish and Jewish dialoR, which has 'em In the aisles. Her second is 'Let Them Ramble, Let Them Roam,' a sort of warninR to married women. ' Abbott and CosteUo out on their baseball skit, which, -while a repeat, still is a winner. Vic Hyde's one- man band' plays the theme somrs of all the biR bands. , especially hi.t- tlDR the riRht note in an imitation of Clyde McCoy's "SuRar Blues.' Mc- Coy's recent broadcast from here • was fresh in the minds of the audi- ence and it Rave Hyde a big. hand when caijRht. A sepia cuartet burns up .the boards., with show finale hav- Ine Yost sinRers doine a number in the dark,' followed by full stage ■ again. LYRIG, INDPLS. . Indianapolis, ' Aug. 14. Ted Fio-Rito Orch, Muzzy Mar- celinb, Tommy Trent, Anita. Jakobi, James Evans, Three Debutantes; •Gateioay' (20th). ' First stage date in some time for Ted Flo-Rito's band, but it manages to turn in a pleasing performance. Music, leans more to sweet' than to iwlbg, with three violins and three! i^xes allowed to submerge the group's three brasses and four 'rhythm men; Fio'-Rito's own stint in- cludes a session at the piano and one at the vibraphone. Band's vocalists include. Miizzy Harcelino and the Three Debutantes, , who are used to good advantage in a neat arrangement of 'Alexander's Ragtime Band.' Their other singing Is also Incidental :in 'Josephine,' - 'Stardust' and other standard num- bers. Nick Cochrane, trumpeter, contributes solid comedy , with three neclal songs near the show's end. An abbreviated version of Ravel's •Bolero' is used by the band as the flnal number to an- okay curtain. .■■ Among the three. acts add^d by Muse Is. James Evans, foot-juggler, who. scores heavily with plenty of lioyelty and comedy. . Evans' works on his back, on pedestal, iii front of band. Opens juggling three ' large sil- ver halls, then a full-sized bed and flnally a large silver object that iMKs hke a Maltese, cross. Two com- edy, figures disclosed under covers 01 bed get laughs and Colored spots shining on silver cross win applause for Its beauty.. . jTommy Trent is back again with ""jnodernized Punch and Judy act. with a new laugh when he uses a skunk gag; Anita Jakobi does two whirlwind tap and acrobatic num- Bers to good returns. Show ran 50 ""jutes at .fifth show Sunday (14) ana standees were in evidence. Kilew ' HIPP, BALTO „ Baltimore, Aug. 14. niST'*. Krupo Orch, Rollv & Verna rl.rir/'.^''*''^ Ptiye, 3 Sophisticates >eo Watson; 'Fost Company' (M-G) -^^^ and jitterbugs are on ™na in goodly numbers to greet o!fi* .orchestra and they're sneering^ loudly from opening to nnal curtain. . Krupa's newly formed outflt has jn it .what it takes to sat- .wiy here, wisely interpolating two SOCK, specialties for those who look S besides jive. Thanks JJ.M'X and Verna Pickert. boy and girijtilt dancers, and the 3:Sophisti- Rnil' ul^^y femme knockabouts, ininufes " "ashy, entertaining 40 _ Utilizing 14 pieces, heavy on bras?. S?,>„spottmg: himself on elevated Sr"^™. '^vithin the rhythm section, W pi«i^'=-*.P''".-'''"8'y in addition shn^ with his sti-eriuous. :wi?Ml?"'y stint at the hides. Opens w h P°"l^^ That Way.' following smnVH "15^'ey. nicely Contrasted and fS sin -"^ .'^"W"- seliing good spot shL»?"y Verna Pickert. whose Me,Breathless,' All pleasingly sold. . fhe 3 : Sophisticates wang out a solid smash : in an encore somewhat S?,'*"* ■J??'' broad for family trade; Blue Rhythm FanUsy,' with entire aggregation, whacking tomtoms, is flashy, sock interlude, preceding Leo Wa^pn, dusky scat, singer and jive doubletalker, whose. 'Midnight Ride of Paul Revere' and jam chorus on the trombone, goes, over ' strongly with the cats.. Finale, an eflfective scream niimr ber by the band, shows off all sec- tions and earns strong curtain. With tightening, Krupa ought to have a strong attraction.. Sax section needs work. ; • . • ■ ■■ ■ ., BuTin. MILLION DOLLAR PIER (ATtANTICCITy) * befoff' °" ^''^ high sticks requires trI^''^,Br>!5h Stomp' by the orchos- bnlth^i '^rupa manipulating the f^l'^'fy' holds the rousing banH'o 1 ■'"''"Cs" on Irene Dayo, Tl*» "''^y^OMlist. Give.-;. out with and Jv,! ■""'5 Go Out of My Hcarf. Wffi v^ '."l>"'aWe 'If I Could Be •"1 rou. Encores with 'You Leave Atlantic Cify. Aiffl. 14. , Gae Foster Girls, Roy Davis, Phyl- hs^ Dare; Eddy Elder, Bobbi/ & Dotty Edwards, ■ Pleasant Cfunip, Three Chords, Shag Chaihpions. ,. The Hippodrome of Hamid's Mil- i>on Dollar- Pier jg svvimming in tal- ent this week, with the presentation including Major Bowes' new Jam- boree of 1938 and the Gae Foster Roxyettes. The combined bill works m nicely, with the Foster girls weav- inR in and out of the acts, which are kept together by Roy Davis, as m.c; .: Show: opens with a SWiss number by the girls, followed ■ by PhyUis Dare,, whose acrobatics are done on roller skates. TaxihR even as a plaiii dance, these acres are performed with amazinR Rrace by Miss Dare.; Eddy Elder, winner on the Atlantic City Bowes' proRram a : few weeks ago, . is .warmly welcomed with his whistlinR. Bobby and Dotty Edwards start slowly in what looks like jiist an- other dancing school act but finish with a miniature staircase daiice that is solid. Apropos of the season, the Roxyettes perform a beach ball num- ber- with varied colored, inflated beach balls that^ is ah excellent ex- hibition Of precision dancing. -Davis fqllows.with some fine imitations. ■ ■ Biggest click of the show is Pleas- ant Crump; in a colored busboy get- up, who taps in typical dark v style,, finishing up' with a Boardwalk strut during which he imitates a Board- walk chairrpusher. . The' Three Chords are their own swing ' band, without musical instruments, imir tating every instrument in the band. Program comes to a smash finish with the National Shag Dancing Champions,, reoerit: winners in Madi- son Square Garden. They have a fast and furious 10 .nlnutes, to be later joined' by the Roxyettes and the rest of the cast, for a swing finale. One of the. best all-round shows present- ed at the resort this summer. Hamid's Pier is presentinR Mai Hair lett, Eddy Morgan and Cuba Rhumba Queens in its ballroom. New Acts ANN O'CONNOR Strlp-Tease Travesty a MIns. Leon & Eddie's, N. Y. Ann O'Connor is new to the east, having come on recently from Chi- cago, : She has a novelty comedy rou- tine which burlesques a strip-lease, but never gets down to the strip ex- pected. One of the surprises is a modern finish in^ a. light biit-acccpt- .nble, costume. Okay for theatres. Miss O'Connor opens as- a hoyden in bulgy, old-fashioned clothes, high button shoes, and. the likes. Her opening carries out, tlie point that if she s going to get anywhere .she must strip, which she goes about clumsily and shyly along bucolic lines, getting laughs as she flnally gets down to undies like mamma .wore : when a girl. She goes into a: modern routine for a surprise finish, doing a little dance. Char. earle; wash. , 'Washinflton, Aug. 14. Gibson & Co.i Harry Stockwell, Schnickelffitz Band (6), Casa, Daley Stuart Morgan Dancers, Jo Lombar- di's house orcli; ' 'Dr. Clitterhouse' (WB). Snappy and swift little' revue has been whipped up from a varied ar- ray . of acts ' that balance neatly^ this Week. Stage is set as outdoor carnir val with Jo Lombardi's pit band on side under canopy. Opens with en- tire cast on in masks for fanfare. Harry Stockwell starts goings by in- troducing Gibson and Co.,- knife thrower. Climax, of gal spinning on circular board while partner heaves knives through paper hoop to' outline her. . Wallops. Stockwell, who m.c.'s smoothly, without gags, warbles 'Please Don't Be That Way,' cowboy medley and finishes with 'One Song,' which establishes him a bit late as, the voice of Prince Charming in 'Snow White' (RKO). Stobkwell introduces the Schnickelfritz band , (6) . which rolls on its own platform and gadgets to tear through 'Latin Quarter,' 'Colonel Corn,' Turkey in the Straw,' 'She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain' and 'Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight." Smart musicianiship, plus spontane- ous clowrting and completely dizzy instrumentation, puts 'eni' oVeir with a bang. Cass Daley Is in a toUgh spot In following the Schnicks but she gives till it hurts and halfway through her. burlesque sinking 'n' dancing she wins her point. Returns for .finale, which has Stuart Morgan adagio crew in fast routine that's sock. Biz good. Crnig. Sands Coming North Hal Sands, producer at the Ca- sino dc Urea. Rio dc Janeiro, re- turns to N. Y. for . three months around the end of September. Sands is currently lining up acts for new show, which opens around; mid-Scptcmber, through hi.s N. Y.^ ofli'cc. Formerly headquortcring here , and going to S. couple of time.":; yearly; Sands rever.>;ed and moved, to S. A,' on permanent basis and. visiting U. S. I MitLER BEOS, and FORD (3) Sanclnir 12 Mihs. ApbUo, N. r. Fast stepping, colored trio, formerly known as Miller Bros. One boy is very sunburned, . while the brothers almost look white. 'Trio open together and work at top speed in assorted hoof .routines dressed in tails. Dark boy is left .alone fOr a solo on a box,; which in- cludes some fancy tapping On his toes while executing turns. 'Trio then goes .into challenge hoofery, of fast but trite routining. Finale; and topper Is new kind of challehRinR via a. raised; -one-foot wide table. Bo'ys deliver solidly with skating,' slidinR, etc.,.- interminRled with fast twists and turns. Seems more dahRerous than it actually is, but a' Rood showmanly stunt. Hurl. ; RATHBiJN'S REVELS (5) Musical, Dancing ' ; M MIns; Leon & Eddie's, N. Y. ; Flashy .instrumental ;act, specials IzinR in saxes; that is topped' off by some clever dancing. Suits well for floors, picture, or vaude houses. . Three women' and' two men,- all of whom , play- the sax, make up the company, A part of the troupe may have been the former Rathbun Trio. Routine includes 'ensemble sax num- bers; two. solos ori the sax. one of 'Nola,' done exceptionally well; ■ a challenge buck ! session , with. Pete KinR^ -and. -the Lovejby Sisters; a single on toes * along moderr^istic lines, 'and the act's own arran''ement of 'St. Louis Blues.' Char. CARLOS AND CARiMENCITA Adasloists Five MliiB. Apollo, N. T. ; None too. good-looking fling team, -which, however, compensates in its work. Clothes of the old school but tossing of the new. or, at least, dif- ferent; - . Work to dervish music, with man in iflowing cape and gal in 'veil and briefies. 'Veil is; dropped for rather strenuous, routine of giirl resting on nape of partner's neck for otherwise iihsupported' spin.. Rest is familiar, though done a little differently. Liveliness and agility of pair cOver up bad, costuming and n'.s.g. appear- ance, particularly of male. ■ Hurl. SWAN AND LEE Comedy Apollo, N. T, Negro pair, who add blackface, have worked burley as well as vaude, and mix neatly in production num- ber where their ace-in-hole can fit. Otherwise in need of. mor^ material if Seeking wider range; Here they work first in a produc- tion number, with a comedy song built around world-girdling fliers- landing back in Harlem. - Lyric to improvised 'Bubbling Over' are sliphtly blue, as is house custom here, and not too clever. Attempted com- edy dancing, etc,, of twaiii demon- strates thieir limitations.' . Get across with their fiamiliar mis- taken identity bit in a police court hear end of show. Ifnrl. WOODT AND BETTT Roller Skaters: 3 JWlns. Leon & Eddie's, N. T. - Fast and flashy roller-skating duo Vvhich features spinning - carrying ftunts. A heel-hold oh a short trapeze around the neck of -the male half, and another whirl, in which the girl lights a match' held in her teeth as she scrancs the floor, are the standout tricks. Both skaters are .youthful. Char. BAR 0U SOLEIL (OEAUVILLE) . Deauville, Aug. 1. Lyda Sue, Harm Feist & Ray- monde, Anita Lou Proska, Ruth, Drena, 4 Wilkys, Jeanne Devereaux, Jean Alfaro, Tzipine orchs. Here's an idea that's a natural for such tropical climes as southern California and Florida. 'Bar du Soleil' means: Sun Bar. The weather is ho problen* here at this north-coast French resort, ; and it's an attrac- tive, way to lure the sun-worshippers away from the beach into spending a few dollars for drinks, etc. ' -.The Bar du - Soleil iS a regular Sunday noontime gala affair. ' While it's sorncwhat. of an outlandish hour to start drinking, the 'consomma- tions' are : 30 francs ' (90c) straight, whether It's orange juice-'Or an aperitif. Pierre Sandrini and Pierre Dii- bQut, who run the Bal: Tabarin in Paris, the No. 1 money click' among the Montmartre nlteries, inducted the first ^ala of the Deauville season by bringing in some of their talent early one recent Sunday - morning. Lyda Sue, Harry Feist and Ray- monde, Anita XiOu Proska; Ruth, Dreha, ' the' 4 . Wilkys and Jeanne Devereaux. comprise the talent. Plus Jean Alfaro, toe .'regular Tabarin maestro, plus Tzipine's orchestras.' : The idea of sitting on the enclosed pavilion, at tables, in informal attire, for. a midday' aperitif, and seeing' a miniature show; is a bit on the Hol- lywood side. < Which really makes it a natural for sbiiie spot near Santa Monica or Malibu.^ There- are rubber-neckers, of course, on the cuff, but the sit-down- ers at the tables, with the obligatory 90c drinks, more, than offset the gawkers. - Abel. THE TERRACE (BIERKELET CABTERET HOTEL) Asbury PdrJe, Auff. J3. . Jack Arnold Press Orch CJO)j Rose Marie, Harry Rose, Sunny Dale & Frank Conville, Ann Pritchard and Jack Lord. The Terrace, an experiment two seasons ago, has become a fixture oh the beachfront here. It's the . only exclusively outdoor nitery along the North Jersey coast.. Joe Jordan and Leo. Cohen -are booking Broadway talent over weekr ends, with three 'floor shows nightly. Terrace dance floor and 400 tables are enclosed by. : evergreens, but deadheads catch show by draping themselves over esplanade leading from the hotel'.: Spot has: only one drawback as far as, the man?£-!ment is concerned; When' sudden showers break, din'ets and drinkers usually rush .for shelter without waiting for the check. In- clement weather chases entertain- ment .to the Crystal Room ■ ■ ■ Rose Marie, '. formerly Baby Rose Marie of NBC, topped toe bill here Saturday (13). Her .repertoire- in- cludes clever Introductory number corhbinlng her. several air themes virhen a juvenile, plus a dash of the latest swing ofTermgs and a revival of many old pops. Her metamorphosis from child en- tertainer to young woman has taken notoing from her voice, and added greatly, to her poise before the niike; Harry Rose m:C.'s skillfully, coh- tributing vocal comedy between acts. His parody on 'Pagliacci' is a high spot. Ann Pritchard and jack Lord pro- vide a pleasant contrast to their fin- ished ballroom dahcinig, while Frank Conville, with statuesque Sunny Dale playing straight, is a winner with his irhpersonations of Charlie Chaplin and a Minsky strip teaser. Eslelle Taylor will be the next headliner here, coming Saturday jack Arnold Press' orchestra has been here since last winter. Man- a'gement transferred him from the Crystal' to the Terrace, where his 10-piece combo plays for dancing and the show. Hill. laughs, with Miss Adrian; a saucy takeoff on 'Rain.' - Dayis-os including toe Schnitzelbank : community sing, 'Maestro Hugo'., and 'Donkey ' Sere- nade' among carryovers, new stints being 'Beauty for Madanie,' which is swell; 'You Can't Fool a Hotel ' Clerk,' also good, and a radio inter- lude, plus a touch; of 'Faust.' ■ ' Texas Tommy and hiS little horse arc additions to the new Show. In addition to Miss. Adrian, holdovers are Joe ; Kirk, smart m.c. and the Helen Wainwright Diving Girls, The hqrse act is something, different, for floors but then agaih this spot is'fry- 'ing to Rive nitery patronage somc- thinc off the beaten path. New show is billed as ' Leon &; Eddie Circus 'Vodyil-Revue.' Tommy's turn fits. well into ; this atmosphere;- although most of the' rest aren't so circuscv.- Horse: turn was 'tormerly at the: Rainbow Room, N. :Y„ with tricks, calculating, etc, all very clever. Tommy has his car and" trailer for horse parked outside the place tor effective bally- hoo.. ■; Wood and Betty, whirlwind roller skaters; Wally Wander's Sextet, fasi girt dancers; Rathbun's. Revels, quih-: tet of sax players and dancers (mixed); Carmen, south Seas terp- ing specialist, . and Ann O'Connor, doing a. travesty on a strip tease,, very good, are all ..fresh entries and covered under New Acts. ' Policy, of $1 ' admission, with ho Obligation to buy anything,, and diri- ner at $1.50 niinimuni, with no cover at: any time, continiies.: .Place nOw ' OpehS'.at 4 p.m. It fOrmerl,v. was open for lunch but cut that oiit this ' suminer^ Char. . Singing Cop Held For Firing cin Hoofing Wife Detroit, Aug, 16. . Edgar C. Neai; former police cen- sor, nitery singer, and : songwriter, was ordered. held for irial last wieek- on charges of assault with intent to kill, grpwing out of n fracas with his wife. Esther De Roy, nitery hoofer. His bond was raised from $x,500;to $2,500. Mrs.- Neal earlier h:.d filed divorce papers and then appeared against the nite.:club t^nbr. She claimed he used a gun to try to force a recon- ciliation and flred t'Vo Shots at her while Sh.e wais appearing at the Blue Lantern here. WALLY WANGER'S SEXTET Dancing 3 MIns. Leon & Eddie's, N. T. Six girls, all lookers and youn;;. in dance routines of a moderri char- .acter,, but including ',>;ome hip-wig- filinc and rumba-in?. Act wnrk.s fast r three noupics. - ClKir. LEON & EDDIE'S, N Y. Eddie Davis, Iris Adrfon, Joe Kirk, Texas. Tommy, Wally Wanger Sex- tet, .Wood & Betty, Rathbun's Rev- els, Helen Wainujriodt's Diving Girls, Ann O'Connor. Lou Mariin Orch. Freddie Goodman, brother of j Benny, aired his .nowly-organizcri ! swint; crew over WIP. all l.i.il week ' durinij, engagement at Hunt's Osclri Pier, Wild wood, N; j. i The indefatigable Eddie Davis heads a new show with Iris Adrian that's the. tops. It's fast, varied and- embraces a good deal of very live! talent, being much better than' tbc) past two, thoiigh, they too. wore ; good. Much is crowded into the! IpO-minuto Show, soriie I'of the oelsl doing only two and tKron miniite."!. j As -usual, Davis, workinR a long stretch alone, topped by a skit with ' Miss Adrian, provides the big punch.' He was on 50 miniilcs Thursday il l i- night.: when caught, doing s'jmc carryover numbers a.s wnll as ii'-w' ones, including a fresh sketch, Pill oi" Saranac Lake By Happy Behway The: William Morris estate has do- nated the $10,000 Day Nursery to the city. Building will be razed and site turned into the William Morris Me- morial Park. 'This was suggested in this column two years ago: and also to the city Board of Trustees,, Ger'aldirte' Farrar here. Ford Raymond, who ozoned here 15 years as an N.V.A.-ite, now in Los Angeles; Tommy Vicks summers in Roch- ester, N. H., and winters in Florida. He's formerly a seven, year ozoner from here, " Joe Parker, of Paramount,, who did his bit up here and left for his New Jersey, home a year ago, reports that he's well. Harry and Charlie Barrett, jug- . glers, who were in vaudeville for over 50 years, have been fighting this thing for nearly 20 years. They would like, to hear from old acquaintances at ."502 Broadway, . Snranac Lake, N. Y. / These Win Rogcrites had recent birthdays:. Irving Wilbur, Alfred DeLorraine and Margaret Newell.. All holding up well. Betty Heiller Irom the Chicago Warner offic^; is 'a 'new ai-rival at the Will Rogers. Just tired. Charles Gaftney and the Charles Christs, from N; Y:, ogling Isabclle Rook, who's doing extra well after a siege. Harold (Warner Bros) Rodner and Louis (Randforce Corp.) Frisch are looking: over the Wjll Rogers and patting the final, o.k. on new fixture.?. . Miiry Clark, Al Larguc. Hcloii Beckett, all from Flu.'--hin.<;. N. - Y., mitling Ro.'-e Clark at the Will Rogers, -tt lio i:,. im thc \inciii;l. Knic . Eon«;.i iz, wli,) recently ar- rived from CVi!i,-n;., w;ll wed Dr. :nuflol|)h Miii-):s sh'-rtly. . Jack' Aflrm;?. Monti-(;;il fj:)(iker. here f.yoinii .'UHi'' I.'.'iimaM w];.r bedside her li;i lA'iii(J, Otli) riuibo, here at the Krk;iii(ii;i' Cotta«f.'. tVrilu to those in Saranac who are ill. ' : 56 VARIETY Wednesdiijt August 17, 1933 Vari Bills NEXT WEEK (Aug. 22) THIS WEEK (Aug. 15) Numerals In connection with bill* li«roiw lndl9ate opening day et ahovy, whether full or. split week RKO KKW VORK CITY MmIc HiiU (11) Brimming 9teln RolMrt Sveede Corps de BRilet . Erno Ra(>ea. Syinph ' CHICAGO Patace (19) . Robbing .Fam Lorraine St RoRah Texas J tievrls Co BUI I Robinson Qreat Gretanos Loew NEW VOBK cm' Stnte (IB) Van Cello 3 Chooolateers Del Casino Rosco Ates Georite Hsll Ore Dolly. Dawn - coi.rMni'S Broad (ie> . Msjor Bowes Co EVANSVII.I.K M«J«s4l^ Ore Louis De Pron , iSnsu PIUS CHICAGO ChkasO' (ie> CondOH Bi-oa' . Wencoa - ' Don Curnmln'ca Afls'tocrats , . SI'RINGKlEI.n PuraniiHiBt (IS) St Morlti Ice Fol Warner PHILADELPHIA Enrle (IS) Tony Mnriln Ore Larry Blnke (1!) 0/.z\e Nelxon Ore Harriet Hllllurd ^ Frank Paris F & J Hubert PITTSIirKue Foster G la I'aiil Ash Ore INDIANAPOLld Lyric (ID) Oswald Sc B Stant'n Leavltt & Tiuckw'd Campbell Co Jans Lyhtdn. Titan 3-. (ln^ Tod Flo-nitn Oro. James Evans Tommy Trent Anita JakobI London Week of August 15 Domlolori Billy Cotton Bd Gnwvennr llnase NIeol ft Martin Bob Dupnnt . Claude Lc"»?er CAMDKN TI>WN Onumont ' S Aberdonlans Carr & Pruf Nell McKriy CLAPIIAM GninMn Bfivoy Jr Bd Terry's Juves EAST HAM Granada Sybil Stanford Cla 4 White Flnahes .. GRRENWICII . Granada Sybil Ktnnford Gla 4 WhIteVPIasbes BAMMERflMITH Granada Arnnut .-Bros ' Harris 2 Loretta ISMXtJTON' Blue Jlall 3 Abordniiiaiia Geo -Bet I on LEVTOSSTONB Kliilto T.ce Donn HIntonI Bros Joo Hnstlnirs kii<:ky Plunti. Brian .MIohle SMKPirHits Piivlllun Arnant Bros. Itayo Fls & DoiinolT TOOTISti Gmnndn Savoy Jr. Bd Terry's Juves WAt.TIIAM^TOW OraDniln. Lee Donn ■ ' Hlnlnnl: Bros Joe Hastinirs' WOOLWIC Granurtn Thelitilna . Freddie Dosh Jonos & Thomas- ProTincial Week of Angust 15 AHKKDKEN Tlvull Talbot O'FttrrcIl Howard . Itngers Drake & Frnsor Ching Wu Co M & L Cii rsnn COVBNXKY New lilt>|MHtroma. Buster Slihver Maurice' Colienno Bower .4 itulbprt'rd Cavnn O'('6hnor ?am Ilnyne Stnnley King. Mnrhil & Andy KDIMM'HGII Royiil Jack Badelirre Vera McLei(ri ; H.'^rold T.>ayne Hhorni.-tn I''l>tlior G1.1 4 Sniltli UiiiK . IS'o' iiU'n n r.urnot Keller & Clare )*i-alova ^ Jules . I Snndler Sla ' GLASGOW Pavllloa SnIkelilDs J'hni'u r Xavnrre.' Los Cottrlllos. Dawn Davi.s Slhnford * MrN Dudley 'Mlll^,-v^^^■ Coiirncls riKooiis' 3 Graces ICerns ^'Ciipon . . LIVKItl'GOL ' , Shnkraiieiiiv Howiu'd ft Kliiif Joe rcin'g Itey Golf us' . l-Ifll ."i'Rtpa Sylvesi'r & Ke|i|i \vs Renara'. Co ; JiiOKTtlASIPTON Ni*w. . -" Moreton & Kaye Tex JlcLeod Bobert Aljya'r 4'Smnrt Uls Jackie Leon & KIkl ■ ~ Cabaret Bills NEW YOBX CITT ' Arrola Inn (Arxla. N, J.) Jerry Carr Ore Chlqiilta Venezla Kay Blaire . George Scottl 'Walter Cole: Jerry Smyths Blaine Howard Banej Gnllnat's .Marilyn Gnynor ' Mary Neville Terrace 3 Prof Ks'mm .Dianne. Parrlsb Bertolottra ;Do.n Sylvio Ore .' Ahjrelo'a Rhu'ba Bd Chita Annette Guerlnlna Roberta Welsch Bili's Cair M> . i Charles Touchetta John Panter' Johi^ Eliot Don Cortex .. Jim Phillips Mary Roberts Harold Wlllnrd . Ai'thu'r. Be'ban ' Harry .Donnelly Joe 'Howard . Spike. Harrison Berrile Gr'auer ' . ; ' Blacit Cat Pearl Balnea Dottle Rhodes Benny ik Jimmy ' Dolores 'BrowD • - Walls.ce Bros Amanda . Randolph B ;.MIlllogton Oro : RbaicTard TnTeni (Elirihumt. : L. L) Dave Pox ' Sonny & S Dall Mile Rola)>d Thelmn Nevins Cameron ' Crosby Jau ' Fredrlcs' Oro ' Cafe Afrlqoe Snub. Mosley Orb ' Alberta Pryine- - Boots &' Saddles Thelma Debevolse Lorraine Faulkner Mary . Perry ' ^ Culiu Mannna Milt Britton Oro Ethel Waters Smith & Dale Buster West' Lucille Pago A' Robins Great Yacopis Bell Bltie Cliateaa Mbderoa P MftcFarlone Ore Consuelo ..Flnwerlon Bosa ft RIckson. - Rita Renaud ClaremonI Ina Clyde Lucas Oro Club CaTHlIei Cavaliers Ore Duke Renardo Romona . Evelyn" Nesbit Rhodu Chase Club 18 G Andrews "Ore Jaok White Pdl Harrington Ann '.Rush - Jerry Blanchafd Frankle' Ryera Willie Grognn Boale St Roys Charlie Francis ' Club Guuciio Lioa Gaucho: Ore l>lmltrl & Virgil Miguel VIcIno Co TrInI Ttaza Corse's V'lncpnt Piidula Ore Ernest Kramer Ore El Chico Ron. Alberto Ore • Asuncion Granudos Joyita & Maruvllla Dorlia Sr Valorb -t'^runclscn Rnniua i'nronus Dimr Count Rasie Oro Helen Humes .Jerry Kruger Jerl WUIiee James. Uuahing Curb* ■'"rancis flayea Ore Baron Glydenkron* Mickey Feeley Marcelle Wellington I'llulne 1^ Henry Patricia nellly Clea Island Casino Larry Clinton Oro: Boa Wain l>ick Toolorca . Sylvlo li .Mclba ■ illrkory lliiiise Joe .Mar»nlti Ore ' Unit!) AmIiusMidor Arthur Herbert Ore (inbrlel Cocco . Moiiie. Fried ' lioli-l Astor Hal Kemn Oyc IXilivn lioll'iiid Serge Flash Judy Starr Oxfords ' Crane t Roberta '& Whit* Park & Clifford Gloria Franklin 4 Vespers Balel ' Belmeat- '.'Plaxa; .' '. Brnls Hoist, Ore Geo Seherban Oro Echoes Cuba Ore DIosa Costellb Rotiny Mnnsfleld Belmoot Bslladeers -IkluTfel Byrd- Muriel Byrd Rote! Bllimmra Harry Owens Ore ' Raymood Andrada Freddy. Tavares. AlvlD Ka;ieolanr ' ' LeilanI' Kahookahl .Kahala ' Mapuana Hotel Bonacrt (BrbeklTB) Will McCune" Ore Hotel Edison Blue Barron Ore . Don Alexander . Hotel -Essex. Hpnse Rl'ch'd HImber Oro I>ell ft Haraory Hotal Got. Clinton' Eddy MayehoCt Ore Betty pals . Hotel. Hnir Mooa (Breuklyn) Jack Meivlii Ore notei Lexlngtoo. R ay K I ri n ey ! dro .. Hotel Uaeoln ' will Hollander Ore' Hotel klcAIpln Jeanne D'Arcy- J Mesaner Ore. Gonzales: ft Mcneii Iloial Kiw Inrksr Henry Dusse Oro Baptle ft Lamb Erie Wait . ' Roberta ft Farley Bobby Duffy May Judels Hotel Park Central Fawn & JordOD Rogers 4 Uolel . PennaylTanIa Virginia Sims Harry Babbitt Sully Mason Lymao Qandaa Ish Kablbble Kay Kyser Oro Betel Piccadilly Adrian Rolllnl t . Bolel Plerte Harold' Nagerl Oro Hotel Sayoy-Plaxa Emlla Petti Oro Mill! Monti Betel liheltea. ilasmv. Vliieent Ore Bote! St. Georse (Broeklyo) Murray OrlscnII Ore Helen Travers Doe R B Lee 1-R'd Jackson Willie Grogaa Julio Satch ft Satchel Botel St. Morltx Ralph Qonxaiea Ore Basil . Ftimeeo Oro' Colletta ft Barry Yvonne Bouvler Botel St. Regis Joe Bines Ore Don Marlon Oro Hotel taft. Enoch Light Ore Hi>tel WnMarN Astoria Guy Lombardo. Ore illdcha i^orr ' Hotel White. Frances Comatnck CliRord Kewdalil laterautlonal Casino Sande Williams Ore Evelyn Chandler Guy Owen Uruce Mnpes Dorothy Lewis Simpson Sis, Nathan Walley Von Gassner ft V Adelo. Inge" . Ivua Frank Don, Corlois Bavarian. Uetty Jimmy i'>nst ft Otto Jacket ft Xavlor jlminy Kelly's Jos' Caiiello" Oro . Mary; Lane Suzanne ft Christine John . Hoekwood Gloria Marali Tanya Peggy do. la . Plants Carter ft Schuub Itence .lluvel ft Marcca , Inga Borg Gladys l'*aye Lee Leslie Georgetio Alargaiet Grev Danny Hlgglns Voughn Comfort .Kit kut'Club Leroy - Harris Ore |j) Marquise Rnrl Siosa " ." Cal Bateinan Doug Speaks Frances Coniiolly Ijirue Krt'dle Davlsi Ore JtisepU Sniilb Ore Ln Cunga iiiarlos ft Ramon' . Le Coq Roiige Nick Veytena Oro Tola Borgia . Uay Oliver Le Mirage Harry llorton Oro M'uryon - Dale Riidolph ft Xnndra Jerry KIrkland Katharine Cavalll Duloreu TIsdale 3 ' . Leon .« Eddie's Eddie Davis Luu Mii'rtih Ore Helen Walhwrlght 'Texas Tommy - Dorothy Joffers Whirling Woods Wally Wanger S Anh"0'Cfbnnor ■ Carmeii Rarthbun's Re.vels Iris Adrlai) Uttle Uld New Voirk Teddy Lang Ore Patricia Mnrcti Bernlee Gee Irene Mauseth Qay Rogers Jack Laurie Mickey Malloiry Monte Carlo Rita Benaud Arena' A Martinez' Oasibn N'lit Clbb Henry -Jerome Oro Ralph Lewis , Helen Sbepard' Blanche .Gray'm' - Iris. :M6bre Virginia Grfnies Francois Brouillard Adelaide RalelgU ' Maude Cnrrbll Berta Dunn Ken Kling ' Whitleys Old Ruatnanlnn 'Michael Weiner Ore Yourly : TnurloR Helen Shaw Sammy Morris iloHaile Roy Sadie Banks' . Ethel Bennett Ada'. Lubina . , . Bonnie De' Camps , Onyx Club Stuff Sn^lth Oro Frank Froeba •' . Purndtse - ' Phil Napolcon'.''Oro Jackie Gateley Vera, Fern Win ter Sis Alan Carney Marge Bills; Place Elegante W. Palnier Oro Bill Farrell' .Erneat Franz Vincent: DeOoste Rex Gavitte' . Plantation Club, Jigsaw Jackson Lijckce :Sls Louis .,\V|lllama Skeeta ;,To|llver pre tineen SiHry ; Jerri White ' Muriel Dawn Ruth Waring Audrey Carroll ' , Radio Franks' Club Frank Besslnger ' Jerry White Ous Wicke Jimmy Biirna Fred Bishop Wyime Ralph J.nu Wlllinma Ebony S Truth Leonbrr Ralabnir Grill Ben Culler ! Ore Marlynn. ft Michael Dal Vernon . ■ Bulnbour Room Al Donahue Ore' Eddie I.ellnron Ore Paula Kelly ■ John Hoysrndt Jack Cole Co lUvlera E Madriguera Ore Vincent Pirro Oro Ifatrlcia Olllmbre Una Wyte : Belle Baker Eddie Garc Prelsser Sla Raye ft Naldl.. Rosa Pentoa Farnia < (D«al. N. J.) Charles Baum Ore ' . Rnsslaa Art -Tastia bntako Ore Anna Kuuznettbva Mara Slnda Voella • Alex Boishakoff :E1i Spirark ' Zafhar Martlnnff ' Rasalaa Krelehina Nlcholaa .Matthey Or Michel Miction Nad la ;Soi(,oluskaya Maruoia 'Sava SItbeon (Cnravneff Ntork Club Sonny Kendis Ore'. Jose Lopez Oro Snrlslde . ;. (Long llrurfii L. I.) Don Redman Ore ' 0 D Wusklngtoo Chocolliteera .' AJda Ward Maude Russell Anise, ft .Aiahd"' Rufus ft Richard Freddie Jam'es Ted Lewis Jr- - ■ Bning.Club : Ray Alarlo Oro . Freddie Fulton Pete Clifford Ruth Osborn TonI Cay.e- Celinda Joe Van Green Jack Huber Luclnda'Lahg Tnvern-on-ttreen' Huglilo Barrett Ore VerKiillles \-- Marjorle: Gainsw'rth Panclilto. Orcii Val Ernie Ore p'Avalna Dancers: .Village Bam Mitchell Ayrea brio Ma'rynn Mercer ' Thebd're ft Deneslia Walter Donahue JJuddy Kennedy Flying Whirios Ellens Whirling Top Geo Slorris Ore . Trent Patterson Rainon RIngo Stephen Harris WIvel Charley Bowman Or' Bob Lee FJbIa Marine Ernie Mack Nick Hope Amelia Gllinors Patricia Ciaiicy ' . LOS ANGELES Bull Charlie Lawrenc'e'- Brii'z Fletcher .Beverly :n'llHlilre Howard Jerrard ' "Viola Vaughn Blllmore MaVdonI Dean Janis 5 Maxellos Rannie Weeks Frank Trnmbnr.Orc Rose ft Bay Lyte Cnte La .Maze ^lyrus Uen Light Ore Marguerite Padula Clover Club Stan,, Myers Club Morocco Jim": Kerr Ore Corounut Urnre Lieo Heisman Ore Georges ft Jslna Envoya of Rhythm llnirallun. ParadlHe Club Scarlea ft Lena Bobby Uamo's Princess Luana Daryi ,'Harpa ' . Kay Kalaini ' Eddie Uuah 3 Luiiena . II Cafe -Joe .Moshay Bob, Searios :Ulli Roberta' Ore ■ La Conga; , Rronstin Dudley ' ,E Durando Ore Hal Howard Oro 'Mtinulto Rumba Bd . Utile Ciub Jane JnnpR Tiny Merldlih Paul Kendall ' Chas Thorpe Omar's Dome l>qrolhy iRnberla Geo- Kc({muii Ore Palomar Sopny Dunham Kenny, iiargent Peewee Hart E Pope & Forlune' HudSoii Mel'/ger Gla Bobbe Joyce Paris Inii Margiieriie ft M, Dominic Columbo Thora Matthlson Ken Ilen'ryson Lillian tilbsnii Valeska Po>vell Werner ft llardlr Frank ; Sorlina Ore ,P Selznick'a Club Grey ft Bergin Marco ft Romola .Max Fidler ore nilly Lankiu Yola Gain Bill, Brady . BeTen '.^fns ' ,Candy Ore Johnny Chico. Joe Frisco Bill Ilonman . Somerset Hoa'se ' Ann Mnrlvn 3 HI Hais Uarry RIngiand Topsy'K Lorraine Gerard . Maxine .WIngo Jacquelln Cherry Margaret Walden Gloria Randall I.eona Rice Gil:DaKenals Pat O'Shca Joy Williams Lenore Tho'me . Armnndn ft 'LIta . Barrett ft Wright Sterling Vouiig Ore Tro<^adrra Jose's Cuban Bd llary Martin Georgia Tapi>R Bob Grant tjrc V Ihigo Kestiiurant fJklnnay Ennls Ore Colleen Cnthouii CHICAGO lilsmiirck Hole! (Walnut Hvurn) .rules Duke Ore Arlene O'Day Betty Cloy Gloria. Faye t'OPIand 4i Fraivlpy Co,niioln Melba lllueklintvk tjob Crosby Ore - .Marian .Mnnh .Ihn (6 .1 llyrnca ' l.onia . roaner .rut-k ' Ciiulkp ' Ore ■Maclovla lluiz llliir tionne 3 T.«o.orii>na ilura' Moore .t Itpvpl Clark. |>e'i>nlH Hilly S J .''■evprln Mignoiic. liob Mall liukcs .t nuchp.ss bl Rose Uallpt llrevnorl. 'Ili>tel (Cr^slnl Knum) l''i«ir.phcp .sctiHberi Oliarlps llaldwin Jean l.nascb' , Norina Itallnrd • ltriia'iiimy < >*.. ' Jtinc Jrirdaii f.>lly Tiirr nopk'.>Vaw Clab Gene Emerald . Jimrhy Reed - - Helen ft il King Vlllano ft Lurna -Dbrbth'y Pclersoa .- Kenny Wright , Ted Simon Steve Stutland Orb Rose Howl Pbulette LaPlerre Southl'd Rhy'm Uls Gloria Panico Tom Ferris Sherman Hotel . (College Inn) - Brandt Sis Robin Scott Uksllla ft Vlda . Jenna- - Bud Lewis Mary Jane Too Genevieve ' Trojan - Duke ft Noble Betsy Ailing Lynn' Claro Dorothy Erickson Madeline Raymond Marian Callahan Russel & Genevieve Snowhake Hanoi F Masters Oro. Sliver Cloud Bert Nolan P ft P Mathews Hazel Kennedy Terry Terrell Joan Marshall Ella Evans Marian'- Boyd Hazel Zalus : Nord Bicliardsoa. 3 Tops Johnny McFall Ore Silver prulles Rocke Romano Ealalne Rabey Fay Wallace. Mildred Davis Art Freeman eo« Club Billy Carr Trudy de Ring Renee Vlllun .Marg Fabor Gls .Murne Jessie Rosella White Sla B ft L Cook Colletle Peaches Strongs Dolly Sterling Sol Lake Ore T'rlpoli J . Sky Rovket. .Marjorle Whitney Dictators Mathews ft Shaw 4 Kings B. -Tanks Soeialites . Strvena 'Hotel • (Cunt|npnlul-.Rdi>m): Glover ft x«Mae M Fredericks Orb Paul Regan StiH-kaile Inn ilerbie Shrlner Dolly Moss Ethel Brown Sasl-() trv Dorhflpid Dpone Pago Naclia KuMiei'lne Cornell June WpMi Edlili Principle ' Verne .Wilson Oro - Swlnghinil Joe .riilni.Mc.n Map J'>lKc„ Alma SmIUi 2 ltll>lllrii Pals lals l'«licr.'«n Ti'.l !~nillli lillly ft (.•ti.-irlps •llmmld NiKijio Ore Thniiiiison's id dull liay ItcyniililH l!at!,-y. 'I'liomaf naiM-iug U'lniaiis-, Micky Dunn J(.>an- Daivn Irene, Porioils .Mary Marshall Frisco's Ore Three Drncea Johnny ft D Dodds Fred: Reed > Tower Ian Frankle Dovie- Inee Gonen .: - ./ Ilelehe Dunn ' Dolly Dollene The Qaardsmea . Lytell Ola Eleanor Johnson Frank Davla Ore Troearirro Norma Noel Fritzle Bey ' Jean & Joan Doree Roy Rankin Oro yilta Modems Carlos Molina Bi Kemp Tr ° Morgaret Myers Villa Vealce Sofly'^sfs" ">'■""« Noll ft. Nolan Folldo ft Tuina Ann Lewis Linda ,Mnr.Hh Michel ft Medesea Lou Hoffman * Renee Jay Carlos ft Cnrlta F Quartello Ore 7'lg Zag Dolly Moss .Hazel Talbert SUnny Bouche Larry Lux Oic PHILADELPHIA AochomBe- Ivy Colo. Lew Fink Mnnyoii ft Mlghbn Herb Woods Oro ArcadU IntT Ivy Colo Lew Fink Manyon ft' MIgnon Johnny GraV Oro BeUevae-Stral ford Meyer Davis Oro ' Bellay the Bam'e Keller -Sis' Dottle Mallohaon Gerry Foater 16 H'wood Models Helens Wynpe Danny While Deloyd McKay . . Bill Honey : Ore - Bea. Eraaklln .Hotel Leo ;Zoilo Ore ; . Clob IS '' Dick Thomas Canadians Ore Coiinie Lambert; Gmbiiistiy , VIrglntn Renault Bert Cleinoux Blue Drake Joan, Randall Barbara Johnston Ann KIrwIn - , Pedro Blonco Ore ; Evergreen Cuslne Pat Shqviln Dal'row Sis Sandino ft Falrchlld Helcne .Miller Beth Challla' Joe -Mllikopf- Oro Nathn-ml Bros - Judy Lane. Illldebraiid's Billy Kurtz ' Paula Nlcki Galluccl Delia Belnioiii Stei>pe ft Carlos Dolly Vaughna Billy Brill . . Bobby Lee :Orc , . ilotel .VIelnhIa (Roof) Job Fraselto. Ofo' Jackie Beekman La Conga Gls Rene de Jarnette Don Angelina . (Jro Herb's 1113 Club . Kay Scott Peggy Deane Kay Bangor ; Anita Chandler Dotty Strouser Dave Freeman Oro Diana Moore- ; Peggy Wagner , Llille Biilliskcllcr , Jiick: Griffin Oro Cllllord ft -Jacke Gay Dixson Princess Do Ree- Valdao ft Tevelle Johnny 'ft George Hayfair Faraoa Kathryn Rand ^.Monroe James Kelly Mickey Alpert George Cildord Manny LaPorto Ore ParrlHh Cafe BillyAVililams S?,?,'," ■A"e»ander Wmiantoy McGee Little Ann , " PeeWee- Gillett Shorty Scott Jlinmy Shitre Pro , Peartwk (inrdeas ' Sylvan Herman Ore Stamp's Cafe - Miller ft Mlilard Pat ; Perry Shavo' sitermah " Johnny Welsh Doris Tiiompsbn Andre ft if-rancls Jack ft- Johnny .Jack HiitehlHsba Irving Braslow Ore ' ake u, (CIcmenton) Mickey Fainllant Or De Carlos ft c. ■ Jean Kirk: - Jci-ry; Salisbury Dntkla's Hathskellei Natalie ft Marie Helen Wilson X'ieo Valentine Betty Mann Viola Klaiss Oro Frank Ponil ISS3 Lecast .Mllz'l Lane Alberta Hasteel Linda Rav Dotty Winters Willie ThaJer Frances Lenox Kay Cnllah.nn Stibinn O'Jlellly Bubbles Sbelby Swing King Oro «I ,Chib ; Tonimy . Moriros ' ' Helen Heath Doll Morris . Ann. Rush Marie Daub Jeanne ' Sheer : -Lynne Sheehnii ' n'nitnn Root Jeno Donntit Ore - Vincent IXtr.za Ore Paul Ncff Ore ■ Janice Williams Jimmy Ulake Mildred UcPd Chezzo Bros Violet Love Weitcos. ' Ross McLpsn Paul Rosini rrawfont ft C.iskey Gil . Lamb Bernhardt ft a ; Jack. Lynch Gls 14 iVebrr'n llof. Ilrali (Cnnideb) , fjoufa Chalkin Ore Lee Early Shai*on ^arvey Nino Cannliio Karl ft Gretchen Ihternatloniil a Bavarians Eldoradlans Use Hart .Toe Romano Rudy BruJer Ray Miller Billy Brandt Co ; Yorktowne Tayera Frank Staiib Oro ATLANTIC CITY Habettes South A Lane MacArthura Lillian Barnes Joey Dean Earl Lindsay Ols Brie Correa Oro Mary Louise SOO Club Roberts Broa- Bea Saxon Nicholas Bros Patsle Ogdcn Howarpe Carman Clyde Thompson. Or 'Nomad Club Shirley Herman Kola Monto>u Lea PprriMS. Sally Kclih Lee Mnrtel Ondra Marge Kelly Phil Kaye Frank RItts Ore -Palnnibo'A' Renault Tatera Camille De .Monies Chancy ft Fox Roxyettes Eddie Thbmiia Jon Arthur Ore Lee. Lament . Paradise Kaloah ' - Princess O'Reba Co Charlie Johnson Or BOSTON Cliib Mio'falr Lewis Donlck Ore Fo'eos'le '(.1luri>|ebi'Md) Don. J,ullo Ore Fox A' Hounds Club (Boston) Juson Tobias Ore . Fox A: IIouimN .Club, , «|ulnr.vi Sa,llv LsM.'irr Frolics tiiub (.Sillsburi I - Karl Robclp ore Willy -clivWolie Von Malm PpN 3 WbliP WhlrM inllS \'iri:niia . sicuai-t S FroliUottoj. Ili>li-I <-oi>lc.v I'Irtza , (.llerryrtio-ltiiunll) Jl'iiimy AvaloDO pro Hold ,Kis'i'V "^ (Frcncli 4'iih1iio> DuMMp M:ir: Harry Stevens Stewart ft Lea Pilye White Gls 8 Coeniinui Grove Billy I.OSHPZ Ore'.' Mia Miles Co (-1) (ill ft U .Mason Shirley WhliB Ethel Grenler - Ols a Cuiirn . Rddle Dpas'Orc Ituso Choiiinan Cmwriird Iliiiise .llmniy Munn Ore tjls tilnger Walrtron Fcnmore CiiiTe Iti.li liny Ore Terry O'TiPole tyednfestlay^ August 17, 1938 LEGITIMAtE VARIETY 57 Moss Asks Equity to Exemption ows The Sunday legit quesUon, in some phases, at least is expected to crop up in connection with the use for play presentation of New York's municipally owned WNYC through U^nse Commissioner Paul Moss, with the okay of Mayor LaGuardla. linjYC has offered to exploit Broad- way shows eacti Sunday aftiernoon, without cost to producers. The form of such programs is yet to be de- termined but the question of Equity's assent must be settled before show busiMSs goes oh the air. : Under Equity's Sunday rulies actors may work such days if paid double. Association also demands an extra eighth of one week's pay for any radio appearance if the program is part of the show, whether it be . broadcast from a studio or goes dir rectly- from' the . stage. If the WNYC broadcasts are to be ■ made, actors would not be . paid. However, it's up to Equity to make the concession. Moss and the man- 'ager of .the municipal station ap- peared before the Council yesterday (16) to explain the idea , and request that in exception on radio and Sun- disy. pay be . made. It was, not indicated whether Equity was hot for the plan. Equity feels there may be objections from members on the grounds that they might be denied the riight to accept paid radio jobs on Sunday afternoons for the -gratis programs. Further stated that the authors would have to assent to such radio activity, lest playwrights figure that they would miss extra coin from commercial stations for excerpts of their plays. The author, apparently, was not considered by Moss, but it appears that assent of the Dramatists Guild . would be a requisite before the .WNYC programs -could start, due approximately early in November. Managers Favor Idea Managers are favorable to the Moss idea but are figuring oh ar-r riving at a program setup different from that suggested. Moss and the .station are for a one-hour broadcast, which showmen say is too long. Plan was to broadcast scenes of current Plfys but few managers would, per- niit so extended an airing of their shows. Reconsideration resulted in proposing the broadcast of one scene, program to. be filled out with other material anent Broadway. Inter- views and stunts, which would call for a few people of each cast, might Bll the bill, with the time not exceed- uig 30 minutes. ,. ^"ewlly conceded, however, that ™ idea is a fortunate break for the »wge and unless Equity kicks over applecart by insisting on the fnctity of its membership, so far « legit is concerned, the WNYC plan eannot but help develop interest ™»Png listeners. Equity members "«y work in radio, or any other acuvity on Sundays, except legit, wthput the double pay impost so «ar as New York is concerned. No one connected with Equity has "er explained why NeW York is not • f ^*";day town for legit, though ,,,ffy *yPe of amusement, in- 01 th c are okayed by the laws Stebbins Considers 'Susanna' for B'way Rowland Slcbbins is considering a a„'S*?*3y, production of 'Susanna and A Elders,' Lawrence Langner testeT^IP',"? '>"hall play recently ^led m Westport, Conn. Producer S?i?iV,?°"' ^"'^ " deal pehd- „"'» with the authors. wr^u*"*°°'' "J«al depends on re- ""8, which aiithors are doing. Indexed Rogues Only pi:6duclng office in New York with a 'rogue's gallery', of players is Eddie Dowling's. It's the idea of Jiilia Dorn, the pro- ducer's secretary. She keeps a card index of all players, with a picture: and complete record of their work;. In the belief that the interest indicates they're being consid- . ered for jobs, legiters have been swarming into the Dow- ling office daily. In '38-39 Season Guthrie McClintiCTKatharine Cor- nell office will do at least five plays this season, with a possibility of a sixth, Miss Cornell will play in three, with McClintic staging all. First production, to .go into re- hearsal tomorrow (Thurs.), is 'Leg- end,' by Elizabeth B. Ginty. For- merly titled 'American Saga,' it deals with Jesse James. Dean Jagger will have the leading part, and others, in the cast are Lillian Gish, Mildred Natwick and Jose Ferrer. Settings will be designed by John Koenig. Second McClintic production • will be 'Mamba's Daughter,' Negro drama, with music, by Dorothy and DuBose Heyward. Ethel Waters will be starred, her first heavy dramatic role. It goes into production in No- vember. Both 'Legend' and 'Daugh- ter' sales were; negotiated by the Liebling-Wood agency. First on Miss CorneU's list i.s Clemence Dane's 'Herod and Mari- anne,' which begins rehearsals Sept 19. Florence Reed and Fritz Kort- ner wiir be in the cast and Harry Korner will design the sets. Play will have a limited Broadway run following an out-of-town tuneup. Then will come the George Davis iadaptation, 'Frenesie,.' Miss Cornell's third play hasn't definitely been de- cided on. The possible sixth play on the list is just that— 'possible,' nothing more. Angle of the McClintic-Cornell plans is that Horner and Koenig are the only scene designers contracted so far. For the last several seasons McClintic and Cornell productions have been designed by Jo Mielziner, Another point about the list is that not a single play is the work of a current name dramatist; It had been thought likely that with Maxwell Anderson now associated . with the Playwrights Producing Co., Mc- Clintic might have trouble finding enough scripts to keep his staff oc- cupied. Present production schedule is the heaviest the. office has had in years. Aldrich to Produce Jacques Devat Play 'Lorelei,' reported slated for pro- duction by the Shuberts, Eddie Dowl- ing and Brock Pernbcrton at dif- ferent times, will go into production immediately under aegis of -Richard Aldrich. Sir Cedric Hardwicke, who owns the rights, will direct. Play was written by. Jacques Deval, ^au- thor of 'Tovavich.' . Aldrich and Dennis King, latter how appearing in 'I Married An Angel,' are, putting up the coin for controversial drama with a Knsi theme. Rose Stradhcr, Viennese star, who just returned fioni the Coast, will have the ■ femme lead. Producers are sleeking male lead. flflOKILt lEOFOlim Weakened Cohditioh Among Problems Facing Group Pending Changes in Con- stitution and Officer Se- lections—Bond Would As- sure Support from Affil- iate Unions NO FEELERS YET Theatrical ' Managers, Agents and Treasurers, tinion, while awaiting the redraft of its constitution and the selection of officers, and its board. Jn the fall, is facing' other problems. In particular, TMAT is in need of affiliate support. That- was thought to have been clinched -last year when the . International Alliance of The- atrical Stage Employees was expect-, ed to take in TMAT. But something went awry and the deal was never consummated. TMAT is believed to be consider- ing the possibility of tieing up with the Associated Actors and Artistes of America, a white collar pirganization, as are its affiliates. No feelei's ap- pear to have been thrown out as yet and the. question . whether; the Four A's charter is elastic enough to take in such a group as TMAT is yet to'be ruled on. Four A's could apply to the Amer- ican Federation of Labor for an ex- pansion of its jurisdiction, just as lATSE sought and received the okay to Organize ticket-sellers, takers and ushers in picture houses. Alliance of TMAT and, the Four A's would have the support o:' the groups already in. Equity, for- instance, has the indi- cated support of the Soreen Actors Guild, American Federation of Radio Artists,. American Guild of Musical Artists, American Federation of Actors and others. Wonid Clear AFA Bow If TMA'T does join the Four A's, one of its other contests would be quickly ' cleared up. . AFA claims jurisdiction over circus ticket-sellers. Vaude union clainns all departments under the big top, it's understood, in- (Continued on page 58) Equity Decides on Pay Concessions For Outdoor Shows Exited by Bad Weather After Pondering '38 Toll Lobbying? Two well knowii Broadway press agents, who : are not so hot, about the 'share the work' principle of TMAT, heard that' the union was in the red for $3,000. They agreed that if it could be . done they'd bviy the outfit Asked what they would then do with the union, cracked: ' 'Sell it at auction in a Broad- way hotel lobby.' Mt Anr Dates )sttoB.O. Although the legit, play 'What a Life' has received three , buildups via Ezra Stone-Betty F'ield guest dates'on the Rudy yalleef program, there has been no -noticeable re- sponse at the ' boxoffice. Clifford Goldsmith comedy has been playing at the BiUmpre, N.Y., since last spring and has maintained a pace be- tween, about $6,000 and $7,500, de- pending on the weather and other general conditions. George Abbott office hais not been able to observe even a slight boost in grosses as a result of the three air plugs. After last Thursday night's (11) broadcast, for instance, the re- ceipts at 'Life' were up slightly Fri- day night (12) over the preceding Friday (5), but so were grosses at other . Broadway houses, supposedly on the strength of the cooler weather. Similarly there was no ap- parent effect from another Vallee date several weeks previous. Some Reasons Several angles are seen iii the fail- ure of the air dates to boost the play's b.o. One is that only the initial guest appearance was an ac- , (Continued on page 58)' Musician Union-Manager Dispute On Ikatre Jobs Nears Settlement Broadway managers, after several huddles with the stagehands and musicians unions, are reported hav- ing made some progress with the lat- ter. However, deckhands union, lead- ers are still attempting to void sea- sonal employment. Wage scales are not involv^ed in either instance and as far as the musicians are concerned the difference is virtually theoretical. During the past season,, local 802, which had no term contract with the League of New York Theatres, de- clared that every theatre with a capacity of 1,000 must have 16 men in the orchestra pit for musicals. While houses of such size are not frequently tenanted by musicals, the managers feel anyway that the regu- lation was too severe, particularly if an intimate musical was obtain- able. It was figured that a< dozen the- atres, a big percentage of the avail- able houses, would come under the 10-man rule. Managers sought to raise the limit to 1,200 .cats and Ihcc has been a counter-proposal to make the deadline 1.100 under \|.-Hich the 16 man requircrhent v.'ould noi apply. At a meeting last Week j between union officials • and the League's labor committee, it w.ns in- dicated that the musicians would compromise. Before the , season starts, therefore, the rule will likely be changed and the 16-man mini- mum will apply to theatres of a capacity closer to 1,200 mark. Incidental, to Flay Another issue, concerning mechan- ical music, generally emanating backstage with discs, was cleared up. Rule was that when any music was so supplied for a straight play, the theatre was required to: put on four musicians, whether they be used in the pit or not, regulation pay to be required regardless. It was agreed that mechanical music was okay if incidental to the play, and no mu- sicians will be required for houses which, do not regularly have orchcsr Iras for intermission music. An example of the' four-man re- quirement upping the operating nut was that of 'Many Mansions' last sea- .son. A mechanical organ in the pit was played by a specialist but the union insisted on four men being c,h the payroll: The quartet sat in the back of the orchestra during every performance nnd the'cost to the pro- ducer-was $425 weekly. That is higher than the scale but during the time 'Mansions' played, the Bill- i more the. excess was paid, it bein^; ■ I a penalized theatre, .<.incc it didn't : i use a pit bunch seasonally. I . It is virtually certain that Equity will establi-sh new pay regulation! for outdoor show revivals, such ai those stiiged . at Jones Beach, R^n-' dalls Island, N. Y., St Louis and other spots. Latter is' the onlj project still operating, others haVini b6en withdrawn for one reason oi another. .Probable real reasons fo'i curtailment in the metropolitan arei were, weather handicaps. After consideration of the rairi thir summer, Equity's Council appears t< ' be in full agreement that concessiom be made when performances ar< forced 6ff,by'rain. Probably ther< will be similar provision in the event of cold weather. When, thi Gallo- Shubert operettas went off the play^ ers affected petitioned the Council for concessions. At the time an assn'. committe« was ready to propose that in the event of postponement; on account of rain, one-third salaries were to be paid'. The stipulation was that the. shows resume and play kt least three weeks thereafter. Concession, however, was .hot actually rnade, as the managers had called the season off prior to complaining, J; J, Shu- bert writing a tirade against Equity and later blaming the season's col- lapse on the other stage unions as well. Latter have had a"Srariable pay scale in ;he event of inclement weather. ' Among the replacement attractions at the Beach and Island are Alfredo Salmaggi's operas during , weekends. Out of the first six performances scheduled only two were played, the others being rained out In the im- presario's ads last week was a top line: r-iading: 'It ain't gonna' rain no , more.' Past ^yeekcnd was clear and sunny. Salmaggi, formerly on - the Met board, has been conducting pop opera at the Hippodrome, N. Y., wcekcrids during the season. He's no. known to have had conflicts with . the unions. LEGIT BOOM-TO-BE DRAWS FILM GANDE Film cornpanies In the east are clearing their, decks in anlleipation of the booming legit season on Broadway this year and next The World's Fair rnakes 1938t39 and the '39-40 seasons loom exceptionally bullish for the play impresarios. Hollywood realizes that much good should comie out of , it, either In the forrh of plays or players, and the Broadway scene will get a' very in- tensive ogle accordingly.. . Sinclair Lewis-'Here' Repeat Big Mass. Biz Cohasset, Mass., Aug! 18. Over-capacity' biz for Sinclair Lewis' personal appearance in 'It Can't Happen HereV necessitated running an extra matinee last week by the South Shore Players, under Alexander Dean. This was the; second week . of the production,, which also sold but every perform- ance during its initial stanza, wctk of July 25. Robert Shayne replaced Donald Cook, previously o.-j.Timittcd to play opposite Cornelia Otis ,Sleal for latter spot; to be used for col- ored-cast shows, is iri negotiation. The Ritz was" used before by the WPA for its 'living newspaper,' and it's contended there should . be no criticism of that rental for the new season, since, there was no mana- gerial cornplaint when tiie house was used then. The RltZi Elliott and Daly's j have teen operated by the Shuberts,' who opposed a petition sent WPA on the St. James matter. While the Shu- berts .originally, regarded:. WPA shows as possible Broadway opposi- tion, they have. been, more active in renting theatres to the relief people, doubtless because they have . more houses than other shoiwmeii. Some spots, however, are being operated under, arrangements With the mortgagors. . ' 6n^ . iS the 49th Street, which was first mentioned as being leased again by WPA. - Deal mentioned either that house or the Ritz but it's reported that the Shiu- berts had turned the former back to the bank. It's a limited capacity the- atrCi less advantageous than the Ritz, which is directly opposite - the Loiig- acre, also on the Shubert string. Currently, WPA has tw;o shows operating, 'One Third of a Nation' (Adelphi) and 'Haiti' .(Daly's). 'Pro- logue to Glory,' which was at the Elliott, Is laying off. and will prob- ably relight at the Ritz. Elliott is due to get i new play,. The Big Blow,' tentatively dated tor SepL 9. Impresario Southampton, Pa., Aug. 16. , Two Fillies Farm , Players, strawhatters here, are in ex"; istence because a local summer resident couldn't . afford to fix his barn. Wiien he bought the, ..ifarrii early this spring, ~C. Law- rence Cushinore, PhiUdelphia attorney, couldn't spare any more coin to repair the barn. His notice in the. local paper, however, offering the place, free .to sunimei: thespers, was soon answered. Two weeks later the barn was cleaned up and re- paired. Cushmore isii't a member of the outfit, but he wanders in . and out and takes a keen in- terest in what's going oh. He Has a standing Annie Oakley at the wicket. Strawhat LA GUARDIA EXEMPTS LABOR STAGE UCENSING Philadelphia, Aug. 16. Federal Theatre. Project haying difficulty obtaining' a midtowii house for the coming season. It's now cast- ing 'One-Third of B: Nation' for pre- sentation when the . tiouse is pb-: taihed. Likely spot for which the FTP has been angling is . the Shubert, which has had Max Wilner's hurley for the past several seasons. Seek 4A 's Aid (Continued from page 57) eluding the razorbacks, over whom there was the quarrel with the Ringiing, Barnum & . Bailey circus, resulting in the tour being abruptly abandoned some weeks ago. It's not believed that any other group in the Four A's is supporting AFA in its. circus aspirations, and officers in\at least some of those unions are known to be distinctly opposed to common labor being in an actor uhion- (AFA). Early last season it looked like there would be a tieup with lATSE by TMAT. Howtver, the. deal cooled. Getting the support of the teamsters union, IMAT steamed up the managers with implied threats that the teamsters would , not haul productions and baggage. That was accompanied by picketing of certain houses. , A basic agreement was finally signatured but that did not mean tliat all. the troubles of the fast-developing TMAT were over. . Dispnte on Pie Mgrs. There's, too, the other jurisdic- tional dispute with lATSE over pic- ture house managers: and assista}its. TMAT' claims a clear right to the front of the hoiise, taking in man- agers, treasurers and press agents connected with all placies; "of en- tertainment . TMAT . has fprmed a picture house managers group, or chapter within the union, . although the AFL Instructed its organizers to cease activity iii that field until the argument with lATSE is cleared up. After several weeks' delay; Mayor La ' Guardia sighed an ordinance ex- empting Labor Stage, Inc.,: spotted in the former Priiicess theatre, Ne w : Yoric, from being requiried to take out a ■' license. Mayor's attitude previously did not indicate he would okay the measiire favoring the In- ternatipnal Ladies Garment Wprk- ers Unipn, which sponsors the ven- ture and its click show, 'Pins and Needles,' • which' Is acted by amateuir's from the Union. Fact that it's: a non-profit imit probajjly figured in the mayor's decision; AccPmpanying the signaturing, however, the mayor warned Labor Stage that it woiUd have to comply with the fire laws since a number of violatipns had been ' reported against the group's building. Ruling declaries group will not have to pay $500 annually for' the license but is not exempt from^ any other regula- tions. . ' • Reifly hmles Delegates To 2d Legit Conyention : Invitations to tiie second conven- tion of the legitimate theatre have been sent out by James F. Reilly, executive of the League 'of New Yoric .Theatres, who is acting head of the administrative committee .of the American Theatre Council. There will be three sessions of delegates during the two-day meet Sept. 13- 14 al the Hotel Astor. N. Y: Luncheons on both days will start the sessions, a supper to mark the end of the convention. Cost to delegates Will be $7.50, with addi tional supper reservations $5 each. 'Li/e 'Broadcasts (Continued from page 57) tual excerpt from 'What a Life.' Following two merely : utilized the character of Henry Aldrich,. the cen- tral figure of the legit show. How- ever, in both the latter broadcasts it was pointedly announced over the air that the youngster is the cause celebre of 'Life,' More important phase, though, is that the Vallee broadcasts, while they have had np immediate effect, are figured likely to exert a steady pull over a period of months, since presumably most of the listeners are scattered through the country and Will only be able to see the show when and if they visit New York. Nevertheless, radio has always been credited with having an imme- diate listener response and such a major program as the Vallee series is supposed to have a huge follow- ing. But in the case of 'What a Life' the effect' has been absolutely in- visible. Laurette Taylor, Day Tuttle, Ons- low Stevens,' 'Caitdida,' Westchester Playhouse, -Mt^ Kisco, N^ Y. Eadie Wood, Duke Levering, 'Love Is No Heaven,' Auditoriuin, Peapack, i N. J, ■ , ! . Mabel Taliaferro, Leila Frost, Alan Hewitt. Robert Perry, Jeanne Cas- sclle, Ethel Morrison, Edgar Kent, Emmett Bogers, Valentine Vernon, Hayden Rorke, James Hannen, Bar- bara Dirks, Elizabeth Iieon,.;Jus Ad- diss, 'Grandpa,'; Newport Casino the- atre, Newport, R. I.- Peggy Converse, Basil Burwell, Lolyd Bridges, Sophia Stavchuk, Bernice SulUvai., 'October Comedy,' Weiston Playhouse, Weston, Vt. : Teddy Jones, Isobel hose. Will Henry, Phyllis ooyc'e, Harley Aldin, Russell Conway, Christopher Wil- son, 'Spooks,' Starlight theatre. Pawling, N. Y. 'Fred Stone, James Kirkwood, Cii.r- tis Cooksey, William Post,. Jr., Fair^ fax Burgher, John 'Griggs, Lyster Chambers, Mary Hutchinson Fred- erica Going, Ann Masoh, Donna Earl, 'Lightnin',' Mohawk Drama Festival, Schenectady, N. Y. Sally Rahcl, Richard Hale, Theo- dore Newton, Mildrei Diinnock, Dor- othy Francis; Emma Wilcox, William David, -John Clarke, S. Thomas Gomez, Dan Duryea, William Snow, Riain,' ^Westchester Pliayhouse, Mt. Kisco. N. Y. Nadine Nash, Kay Wilt, Jeanne Thomas, Ruth Morrison, Betty Miller, Robert Whitehead, Robert Dryden, David Evans, 'Stage Door,' Barter theatre, Abingdon; Va. Roland . Hogue, Miriam Battista, Donald Towers; Walter. Coy, George Boltpn, Lizbeth Webster; ,. Maralee Smitli, Virginia Block; James Foster, Aldrich Bowler, Jean Guild, Stuart Frazier; Don Glenn, Albert Kindt, Lewis Peri:inw. Ruth Flanders, "The Hoiisemaster,' Farragut Playiiouse, Rye Beach, N. H. Harry . Ellerbe, Betty Ftirness, 'Her Cardboard Lover,' Washington Irving theatre, No. Tarrytowh, N. Y. Eddie Philips, Vera Allen, Nedda Harrigan, Helen Flint, Haila Stod- dard, 'A Woinan's a Fool— To Be Clever,' Chapel theatre. Great Neck, N. Y. Katherine Emery, Virginia Keller, Erford Gage, Fr^nk Downing, Anne Revere, Lester' Damon, Wesley Addy, Helen Wynn, Jabez Gray, "The Distaff Side,' Siirry Players, Surpy, Me...' Marie Kenny, Riith Altman, James Truex, ^Lucille Lane, Maynard Holmes, George Fine, 'Pocahontas Preferred,' Rockridge theatre, Car- mel, N. Y. Florence McGee, Staats Cotsworth, Margaret Barker, 'I)orothy: Mathews, Grace Coppin, Rhys Williams, Edwin Landrethi Lucierine Hakim, . "The Two Mrs. Carrolis,' Southainpton Playhouse, Southampton, L, I. . Henry Hull, Jr, Frank Lovejoy, Lynn JPhlUips, Elsie McKie, Edgar Mason, Walter 'Vaughn, Alexander Campbell, 'Anybody's Game," Hamp- ton theatre, Bridgehampton, N. Y. Sidney. Fox, .N y d i a Westman, Ainsworth Arnold, Phil : Truex, Lawrence' Grattan, Jacqueline Salter, Samuel H. Evans, Charles . Maxwell, William Leshe 2d, 'Coquette,' Chapel theatre. Great Neck, N. Y. . Henry Hull, Jr;, Lynn Phillips, Alexander Campbell, Fraye Gilbert, Charles Philhour, Walter Vaughn, Elsie MacKie, Frank Lovejoy,- Edgar Mason, 'Anybody's -Game,' Hampton Playhouse, Bridgehampton,: N. Y. . Philip Ober, Hugh Cameron, John Maroney, Margaret Curtis, Harold Grau, Richard Clark, Florenz Ames, Robert Lindsey, Sidney Lumet, Ann Brody. Jean Casto, DaVid Orrick, Baruch . Lumet Frank Harvey, Jeremy Bowman, 'Listen, My Chil- dren,' Red Barn theatre, Locust Valley, N. Y; Maral.vn Fink. William Fenton Cope, Robert Gottschall, Eleanor Naylor Caughron, Arthur Davison, OrvlUe Sherman, Jackson Wooley, Jean MacLachlan, Warwick Gilmore, Joe A. Callaway, William Robertson, Margaret Peters, Marquette theatre, .Marquette, Mich. (Resident). Dorothy ' Mathews, Muriel Kirk- land. Staats ' Cotsworth. 'Springtime for Henry,' Southampton Playhouse, Southampton. L. I. Karen.- Morley, Otto Hulett. June Walker, Mary Brian, Philip Huston, ■Muriel Williams.. Ann Baxter, Robert Wallsten, Louis Veda Quince, 'Susan and God,* Capis Playhouse, Dennis, Mass. Ethel Barrymore, Roy Davis, Madeline Clive, Alice John, Donald Beddoe. Patricia Calvert, Harold Mc- Gee, Mary Robbins Richardson, The Constant Wife;' Spa theatre, Saratoga Sp.-ings. . . Dbrothv Mackaill, James Rennle, 'Rhyme Without Reason,' Wharf the- atre, Provincetown, Mass. Elizabeth Love, Alan Hewitt, Joanna Roos. Cornel Wilde, Hayden Rorke, Matthew Smith, Emmett Rogers. AugUste Aramini, Barbara Dirks. 'French Without Tears,' Newr port Casino theatre, Newoort, R; I. Jean Muir. Hunter Gardner, Muriel Star, Oscar Stirling, Ellen Mahar, 'Bill of Divorcement,' Chapel theatre. Great Neck. N. Y. Jeanette Chinley, Derek Fairman. Kenneth Treseder Cecile Wulff. 'Springtime tat. Henry.' Red Barn theatre, Locust Valley, N. Y. Inside Stu^-IM Equity contends that the ticket code, designed to curb gypping oh tickets oh Broadway shows, should prolong the length of engagements and there- fore would be of material benefit to its actor-members. Therefore, Equity leaders hailed the slghaturlng of the '.code of fair practices' drawn up i)y the League of Nevv York Thieatres, a step that is dependent on a basic agreement between the League and Equity. V Ticket brokers argiie that the lengthening of engagements by such means is entirely prpblernatical because the 'play's the thing,' They say that tt;end of the government's spending program. is to increase employment and declare' that the ticket code will take away the jobs of 200 ticket clerks. Already, ticicet brokers have started to' retrench. . Some have already arranged to move off the Main Stem into office buildings, where the rent ' is mucii less. Stated tiiat the cost of maintaining stores on Broadway: is too high, because the amount of trade from transients has been dropping seasonally; Most 00511/ rental is ' that of " McBride's in the Paramount building. Agency has occupied street-view offices pn three levels since the theatre and 'building was completed,; Also has quarters in another, part of 'the structure. Understood, that' originally McBride's paid $75,000 annually but that the rent now is jf39,000, /Reported that McBride's would vacate if a way to cancel the lease is fouiid. Those known to be moving from street level quarters: to office buildings are Newman's and the Arrow ag[ency. Another reason for going into office buildings is that ticket men caK operate under less scrutiny. ; It's not secret that a goodly percentage- of agency "sales are made by telephone. . As yet, copies of, the ticket code have not been sent the brokers and until then tliey - will not huddle on what course to pursue. That's, the probable reason why the independent agencies, who organized the Asso- ciated Theatre Ticket Agencies, have made no move since the managers and Equity signd ; up oh. the Code. • . Lebiang's ! and Postal- have moyed. ihtp' the 'nextTdpor Longacre. building; pn Broadway; - 'The Fitzgerald building; which had- housed Leblang's, will be razed and a picture theatre may evenuate. Said, too, that Kress, a dime store, 'Will open upon the site. Alterations, to the interior of the Vanderbilt theatre, N, Y., .are designed to open up a much wider sphere for bookings than formerly. Principal change will be to increase the depth of the stage from 19 to more than 30 feet That will be ..accomplished by moving' the proscenium arch forward and eliminating two rows frorS . the orchestra. Boxes will be eliminated, conforming to most legiteris. Decrease of about: 50 seats will be more than made up for by attracting types of productions which require more stage space. When alterations are completed the Vanderbilt will' seat '750, 450 on the first floor. Settings have been especially designed. HoUse has beeii dark for weeks during the pastse.veral seasons because of . its scant stage. While straight plays were spotted there mostly, the theatre was formerly one of the most popular theatres for intimate inusicals, such as the lohg- running 'Irene;' At, that time, the house was operated by Lyle D. An- drews.' Vanderbilt was bought from the Dry Dock Savings Bank, N. Y , which, too, was taken over by foreclosure, by Martin Jones and his associate, 0. M; Olmstead. .They remain the owners and financial arrangements with? the bank are said to have been completed last week. Deal called for raising $25,000, of which $17,000 will be expended in the alternations. John Gplden's revival of 'Lightnin* will stai:t readying for Broadway around Aug. 22, almost 20 years to a day after: the Broadway preem of the original production. It will, open Sept 15 at the Cort, N. Y, None of the original cast will be in the revival, only person set being Fred Stone in the star part created by the late Frank Bacon, Written by Bacon and Winchell Smith, 'Lightnin' was produced by Smith and Gplden and tried out at the National, Washington, the week of Jan. -28; 1918, It was then taken off until the following Aug. 26, when it opened at the Gaiety, N. Y. Subsequently ran for 1,291 performance* and then went on the road. Bacon died during the .tour. Golden had planned to open the revival Aug. 26, the exact anniver- sary of the priginal debut, but forgot and booked the show for several weeks of strawhat dates. When he realized the summer bookings would prevent the Broadway opening Aug. 26, he sought to cancel the week at the Mohawk Drama Festival, Schenectady, N. Y., but Charles Coburn, director of the Festival, couldnit line Up a satisfactory substitute, so wouldn't agree. At the time it closed, 'Lightnin* held the record for length of Broadway run, but has since been passed by 'Abie's Irish Rose' (2,532 performances) and 'Tobacco Road' (played 2,000th time last week). Separation proceedings filed last week by Frieda Mierse against Ed Wynn surprised the star completely, but those close to him were aware that the couple were incompatible despite their long association prior to marriage. Miss Mierse was one of the Ziegfeld beauts. She and Wynn first met when he starred in 'Simple Simon,' at the Ziegfeld theatre, N.-.Y, and she was a showgirl. She also appeared in Wynh's musical, 'The Laugh Parade.' ' Government's claim against Wynn on income Ux is pending before the bpard of tex appeals.; Federal auditors and the comedian's accountants are working pn his .financial records and it's understood a settlement will be sought 'Which wpuld obviate hearing before the board. Bill Fields has switched from the: Gilbert Miller office, where he was general press agent and joined, up with the Playwrights' Producing Co. understood that Fields, who was in advance of 'Victoria Regina' last sea- son for Miller, was given a contract for 40 weeks. SUted that he was re- leased from an 'agreement' by the manager but it's denied there ever was such a contract. Lucy Mitchell, who was connected with the IWiller outfit for some years, .i*'*'^ with the Playwrights. William Schneider, who agepted Tovarich,' produced by Miller, is assUtant to Fields in the new berth. Legiters at the Westpprt, Conn., , theatre are still chuckling at a femme casting agent s crack at the preem of 'Dame Nature;' Young Peter Miner, son of the director, Worthington Miner, and moppet lead of the show, drew praise for his performance In the first two acts. However, he suddenly 4ried up for. a moment in the third act, and during the agonizing pause as the youngster foUght to recall hU lines; the femme percenter was . heard to remark to. her companion: 'Ah, what timing that boy has.' S'ciise's Strand Fold Threatened by Skid Syracuse,. Aug. 16. Rumors that the roadshow policy at the Strand would terminate shortly were quickened last week by the bad skid of 'Behind Red Lights.' Given a big buildup on a risque h6tie,.'Lights' wa: off to a good start Critics, though, panned the produc- tion pretty badly. - Instead of tiie closing notice which, had been expected, however, mart- ager Harold Crouch brought in 'Mulatto' for this week. Vedncsday, August 17, 1938 lawrence-'Susan' Advance in ILEGITIMATE GROSSES 59 to$30,000 ner; 'Pins' 12G Sah Francisco, Aug. 16. ■ M*w legit season got off to a good jl!t here last week, when 'Susan *^nSd "Ph?s and Needles' and the iSpvSlimky Way' all opened on the 2Se nlSt Monday (8). at the Cur- S? (Aary and Alcazar theatres, re- "JjyVeiy. to capacity houses. •P^trucle Lawrence, 'Suwn star, x,^MS)perated with the flacks, as rSing her first appearance in San SSico. 'Pins' is set for a healthy fSln this strong union town. Estimates for Last Week •Pliis and : Needles.' Geary (1,500; «M) (1st week). First night a com- SlSc seUout, with subsequent per- fcmances playing to almost capacity. ma. biz from the carriage and white wlar trade. Gallery jnd balcony lold out every nicht to the labor ele- ment First week; $12,000. ; ^fsian «•<> God,' Curran (1,771; t275) (1st Aveek). Gertrude Law- Jeiice is starting her road tour of 'Susan and God' from Sari Francisco, a tour which will finally take the company to London. . In the cast is Nancy Coleman, formerly on the staff of NBC here. Miiss Coleman . has the part of • the daughter, which Nancy Kelly, now with 20th Century, played in New York. Advance sale 01130,000 for first two weks is un- usually bijj. First, week's take of, msxa right up rieaiP the top. Play scued lower than 'Victoria Regina,' which accounts for 'Regina' topping "Susan' at the Curran. ■WPA HUky Way.' Alcazar (1.269; $1.10) (1st week). Federal Theatre Project going in for revivals of late with con- siderable success! 'Milky Way', sched- . tiled!for two weeks, then to the WPA IbeatrCi Oaklartd. mWRAYWILLREM^ ATSPAFORHIGLEYPLAY Saratoga Springs, Aiig. 16. - Fay Wray, film player,: who had the lead in the Spa ' Players' 'Night of Jan. 16,' will remain to appear in Philp Higley's new piece, 'To- inorrow's Sunday,' with . which the louyi strawhatter. is: scheduled to close its first season the week of Aug. 23. : 'This will give her five weefts' work on the summer circuit, Miss Wray previously having done '(Sebrge and Margaret' at Cohasset, Uass, 'Night of January 16' at Great Neck, N. Y., and 'Petrified Forest' at Cohasset Ethey Barrymore, in a revival of The Constant Wife,' is this week's attraction at the Spa. Downes' 2,500 Theatre at N. Y. Fair John Krlmsky and Olin Downes wUl be in charge of a 2,500 seat-the- venture at the New York World's Fair when it opens next year. Outstanding class productions •« planned. Enterprise probably will occupy WTof Krimsky's time during fair. "«ently is . director of enterUin- ment tor the exposition. Engagements ^S'Kl. Ciaire. Carmel White. Ed- S?. Nicander, Sheldon Leonard, Wilson, pilie Burgoyne, 'Kiss "e-Boys Goodbye.' oeth Merrill, Ruth March, Law- rence ^Fletcher, Jerome Zerbe, An- Stafford, Glbbs Penrose, Mar- filSrV John Norton, 'Susan and wd, Nantucket Playhouse, Siascon- »tj:^slno, Nantucket, Mass. ' JWarcy Westcott. Muriel Angclus, Syracuse.' Ja^. nnl"'"^^"' Connie Nickerson. lul Irving Morrow. Wil- r?T^S"''''fK,^"'"a Rogers, Nor- SlXT^Kf''' Brownell. Miriam Bnirt?«^^''n^«"'"v Lascoe. Marshall J»mi.*"?' ^'P^i Bell, Hope Lahdin; fl* M Sybil Keating. Butter- WiL^n^V?.?;'' Mitzi Miller, Stasia t08rt^^'„ ^"ift a Life' (complete 'oaa company). . L. A. Opens with Talu T.ii . . ^'^^ Angeles, Aug. 16. fer«. V'''' Bankhead. in' 'I Am Dif- of 1010 0°.''®"'' the local legit season dav Biltmore riext Mon- Gert ' ^ limited engagement. 'SnV, Lawrence follows with a'^an and Goci,' now at the Currnn, Di" '""'^'sco, .Play preems in San Aug. 19 for two days. th»^,°°'"'"''wed Time,' currently at seat,r» l'""'"*^' ^^'"f's "P the summer "'^pn Saturday (20). Rev. Goes Pug Prizefight manager in the re- vival of 'The Milky Way' at the Ridgefleld, Conn., strawhat this •week is being played by the pastor of the local Congrega-. tionai church, the Rev. Hugh Shields. It is his professional stage debut. While at divinity school, Shields was active in amateur dramatics arid was giveii a vaudeville offer. G.O.P. Blasts HP As a Vehicle For Red Patronage Washington; Aug. 16. -Newest GOP attack on the NeW Deal is that, the Federal Theatre Pro- ject is a 'patronage vehicle: for Com- riiunists,' arid threat is made of Con- gressiorial probe; by Dies commit- tee, now sitting here irivestigating "un-Americari arid subversive activi- ties. Lawmakers will be tied up at .least all this week, however, listen- ing to charges of red influence in labor groups rather than theatres. J. Pariiell Thomas, New Jersey Re- publican! . member of investigating group, in statement sent out by GOP national headquarters, charged pro- ject has become .'communist unit which is producing plays .designed to poison minds of others against Ainerican system of gpvernriient.' Mentioned' no names, but said . he will demand resignation of directors on the project;. Asserts unemployed actors of ability are unable' to get jobs on project unless they first join Workers' Alliance, whichi he clairiis, is a hidden patronage agency. Thomas further ctiarge's ' subject matter of virtually all plays pre- sented thus far is 'sheer propaganda,' either for communism or the New Deal. Horrible exariiple cited . by Thoriias— again no name— is of chsm- bermaid in New York hotel, said to be member of Communist Party,;who was given a leading role in a. IFed- eral play without having had any stage experience whatever. George Kondolf, director of thei WPA 'Theatre Project in New 'York, deriied charges that plays presented either encouraged subversiveness or favored radicals and communists. He pointed, but that his contentions are supported by reviewers, whom, he claimed, did not mention such al- legations in their notices. As for individuals not beirig pro- fessionals and therefore without the right to be on the relief theatris rolls, Kondolf said that, no names had been meritioned and he could not check upi without such specific informa- tion. That particularly referred to a thrust that a chambermaid in a N. Y. hotel, said to be a Communist, who was given a leading role in a play without having had any stage experience. Sommer Theatres Tiarneir Average $5,200 At EIiteh; 'EnoughVPinals ,j. ' Deriveri Aug. ,16. Parnell'did averags, with one sell- out; Wednes'.lay matinee, at the Elitch. theatre last week. ' 'Once Is Enough' current. Season closes Sat- urday night (19), .'Estimate for i^st Week 'Parnell,' Elitcl. (1,573; $1.10). Average $5,200. .-.WPA •Milky Way,' Mker Federal ' (463; 40c). Second and final week. Re- opens Aug. 24 with. 'Criminal at Large.' ■ . ~ Cooifflg Systems Aid B way Shows To Escape Record Heat; New Fall Plays May Postpone Until Letup TIME' TUCKS AWAY 1, 1ST WK., L. A. ■ . • Los Angeles, Aug. 16. .'On Borrowed Time,' Coast pro- duction starring Victor Moore/ winds up two profitable, weeks at the Bilt- more Saturday (20), foUbwing a suc- csssful engagement at the Geary, San Francisco, and takes to the road. Coming in Mo"h day (22) is Gertrude Lawrence in her New York .hit, 'Susan and God.' EsUmate for, Last Week 'On Borrowed Time,' Biltriibre (C- 1.656; $2.20) (1st wfeek). Geared for the summer trade, this comedy cliCKed for pirofitablei $6,000. Should hold firm on closing week. ■ .• WPA • V " 'Judgment Day,' Hollywood Play- house. Now in final perforrriances. 'Professot MamlOck/ social drama dealing with Jewish oppression in Nazi Germany, .debuts Tuesday (23) for five days only. 'Having Wonderful Time,' Mayan. Gets under way Friday 19). .'.The Alar/n Clock,' Mason. Opens customary tv/6 weeks' run today. (Tues.). replacing 'Milky Way.' ■'Sun Rises in the West,* Greek- the- atre. Produced by southwest unit of Federal Theatre. Opens tomorrow, (Wed.). Doug Giliiiore Ails, Quits 'Susan' Tour; Seymouir In Douglas Gilmore has left the cast of 'Susan arid God' in San Francisco and is confined to a hospital there. Recurrence of an old illness. John Seymour, uriderstudy, has taken over the part and will play it indefinitely. Fntore Plays Thirty Days Hath September,' a farce by Irving Gaumont and Jack Sobell, is . to debut riext month, sponsored by Kirby Grant Inc. Title was copyrighted more than a year ago, and although it conflicts with another offering no change is con- templated^ 'Bright Shingles.' by Richard Mai- baum, has been acguired by Harry Oshrin for production sometime in December. Anthony Brown will direct. Ruth M'orris negotiated the deal. 'Ladles Day,' a comedy, about base- ball, by Bob Considine and Beirtrani Robinson, will be. done by Harry Kaufman Jn the fall. Corisidirie is sports columnist on the New York Daily Mirror. 'Generals Need Beds,' comedy about Colonial America, by S. L. Meltzer, is being readied for fall production by Cheryl Crawford: Harry Horner may do the sets. Producer is also working on another play by the same author. B'way Legit Totals Estimated total grosses . last week . ........... . $72,909 (Based on 9 shotok) Total grosses same week last year . . . . $91,(00 (Based on. 9 shows) TO BIG $4,100 AT ST. L. OPENING St. Louis; Aug. 16. ■Ziegfeld's 'Show Boat,' -hieh- drew 20i.3O5 to 28 perfprmances^in muriicl- pal theatre's al fresco playhouse in 1930 and. 1934;. returned for its third two- week engagement last night. (Mon.) House grossed approx'riiatc- ly $4,100,' the patrons filling all seats desjsite threats' of rain. A sock ad- vance sale' threatens previous marks. Tv/o members of original 'Boat' cast. 'Norma Tei'ris," as Magnolia, .ind Margaret Carlisle as Jiilie; returned for more triumph.s; Others in simport- ing roles, who clicked, .are Ron.nld Graham. Georee Rasely. Helen Ray- morid. 'Vicki Cummln,'i 'Amphi- tryon 38.' stairirifi Alfriid Lunt imfl Lynn Fonlanne, to be alternatetl with their production of Chekhov's 'The Sea Gull'; Eva La Gallienrie in Eddie Dowling's production, 'Madame Capet.' ■.'■■ '■■■ ■■ Ethel. Barrymore will be here in .'White Oaks,' the Group Theatre will present 'Golden Boy' and there will be 'Mice .'and. Men,' 'Our Town' and a rieturn engagement Of 'The Women.' (ithers possible for Philly, but not. definitely committed, are Katharine Cornell in 'Herod and Miriamne; Tallulah Bankhead and John .Emery in -I Am DifTercnt,' a new comedy by Lili. Hatvany arid Zoe Akins, to be. presented by Lee Shubert; Helen Hayc; in 'Merchant of Venice'; Gulhrio McClintic'.s presentation Of E. B. Ginty's 'Legend'; ' Maurice Evans in 'Hamlet'; a new play by Paul Vincent Carroll; 'Clear All Wires,' new Vinton Frcodloy mu- .sical; John GoldUn's roviv;il ol 'Lighinin',' with ■ Fieri Stone, iind a new' mu.sical by H-Ti-t atid K;uifni;in, with .'score by Irving 'Berlin. • MinneUi to Do Revue . Without the Shuberts Vincente- Minne'lli is readying a major revue for fall production. He will do. the show on hi.s' own, entirely indepiendent of the Shuberts, with whom he has been associated ih the past . Piece' is untitled and Miiinelli Is dickering for composers to do the score. He will direct and design the production himself; Minnelii pro- duced "The Show Is On" for- the Shuberts and designed the produc- tion of 'At Home Abroad' for them. Canton Vetoes New Aud ■ Canton, Aug. IC. Defeat of a bond i.s.suc at the re- cent primary election sh.TllCrecl Can- ton's drive for a new PWA S500,000 municip.il audiUii aim. Fudoral aid had been approval but vo'cr.s turned down the bond i.-'uc. wliich v.-ouM have taken c.iic ■■f .;.';e city's share of Oic co.st. TfnI.'iI i vc pl:iTi<; fl for ;i st'^ind- ard .>:i.;i,-'('. otiii.iDhciil and .-in-iple drcssiii),' nxy.ui for a (oinijiiiiy of 100. It wuu\f\ ;i..^'ii.(.(l ('.'i/!li,ri's. rc- lucn u lf.';;j(,:ii;ili' sli'iv,* ■^larld, in addition to providing facililio.s. foi convcrilioiis. cxln'Dilioii'J an'i\:p<:Tt5 60 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, August 1 7, 1938 Walter Hanipden-Trilby Road Tour Schenectady. Aug.. 16. Walter Hampden; in 'Trilby,' at- tracted the best business of the sea- son last week: to the Mohawk Drama Festival on tfnion College campus. The gross was the nearest to the Festival's 1937 record breaker, 'The Farmer Takes a Wife.' Oh six per- lormances— one of them forced in- doors by , iniclemerit weather-^and with a seating ;capacity of 1,300, at. $1 and $1.50, the gate was around $4,750. Presence of Producer Mur- ray Phillips and a represient^itive from the Williant Morris ageiicy led to the report that a .road tour of 'Trilby,' with Hampden starred, was under consideration.. It was the first time in his! long career that Hamp- den ' had played Svengali and he drew good notices. Star will .do a scene from the Du Maurier dpiis on Rudy Vallce's air show this week. 'While in Sche- nectady, his election as .trustee of the Mohawk Drama Festival was an- nounced. Sir Cedric Hardwicke, star of 'Shadow iahd Substance/ and head of the Malvern Festival in England,- made three, appearances here Sunday (14) in connection with the Fes-, tival. He broadcast over -WGY with Uniori's prez, Dixon Ryan Fox, Hampden and .general director Charles Coburh in the early after- noon; took part in the regular con- cert in Memorial Chapel at 5 p.m., and lectured at night with James Reid Parker, ■ of The New Yorker; •nd music are by Thomas Grant Springer and Spmuel Medoff. Book was written" by Evans and Springer. Western Pennsylvania's only straw- hat. Paint Shop theatre, Somerset, Pa;, ends six-week season next week with Benn W, Levy's 'Ijevil Passes.'. Leading role will be played by John McQuade, former- star, of Pittsburgh Playhouse, who had a role this year in 'I'd Rather Be Right' He'll go on . tour with the George M. Cohan show. Current production at Paiiit Shop is 'Love in a Mist,' former Broad>vay play,. . Paint Shop, has abandoned . tryouts for tried successes, Only new script tested here this, year was Grenville Vernon's 'All Fools Night.' new policy having been launched when Bruce Hewitt and E. Reeves Cochran; founders of theatre, pulled put and group of Somerset citizens took over. Advance Notice Actress recently stepped into a.strawhat role on quick notice. After the performance producer was asked' what he thought of her. 'Well, I'm; not. sure, she ' di>esn't know the part yet; but after she- knows the lines I. think she'll be def.niteiy lousy.' Strawhat Reviews St. Louis, Aug, 16. , Mary Chamberlain will play the lead in Noel Coward's .-farce, 'Pri- vate Lives,' at the.' Civic Theatre, local strawhat organization. The piece, last of the Civic 'Theatre's in- itial season, will be presented four nights, starting tomorrow (Wed.). Miss Chamberlain, a native ot. Le- banon, 111., near here, was visiting her parents when she volunteered her services to Gordon Carter, presi- dent of the Civic Theatre, who. also will direct. Those in support are Frances Buss, Lomax Study and Lucky Lockett, The Civic Theatre, a co-operative body of Little Theatre players, is planning to operate on a larger scale next year. Ivoryton, Conn., Aug. 16. Irving Stiefel pulled a novelty doubling stunt in connection with recent ' playing of 'Warrior's Husr band' here. As business manager of the outfit, Stiefel handled, the. box- office prior to curtain time. . Then he ducked backstage, shifted from his Palin Beach suit to a leopard skin and walked- on as- Hercules. One of Top Strawhats One of the top grosses of the suin- mer In the sticks is credited to Cor- nelia Otis Skinner, who played the feminine lead in 'Romance' at the Playhouse, Ogunquit, Me. Her bit for the engagement was reported to be $1,000, something of a record for country show shops. She will asain shew In 'Romance' at Maple wood, N. J., week of Sept. 19, with Donald Cook playing op- posite, which he did in Maine. Tryouts of straight plays in coun- try theatres during tlie summer are frequent but -Ipok-see performances of musicals are exceptional, only outfit making such presentations be- ing the St. Louis Municipal Opera Co., which puts on one or two new musicals each season. However; a tryout of a musical, 'Sunset Trail,' will be made by Greek Evans at his Theatre-In-The-'Wodds, near Nor- walk, Comi., Aug. 2iS. •Trail' is an operetta,, described as a musical nielodrama, dealing with a trail drive of cowhaiids. ; Lyrics 'Everywhere 1 Roam,' folk play about the American farmer, will . be tested the first week in September at the Barter theatre, Abingdon, Va. Authored by Arnold Sund- gaard, whose play about syphilis,. 'Spirocheti' was done last , winter by the Federal Theatre ;in Chicago. Sundgaard / is also collabbing - with Dr. 0- C. Wenger on a -book >boUt syphilis. Harpers will publish. His 'What'U I iay to , Her Now' has just been brought out , by Story Mag. Audrey ' Wood, of ; the Liebling- Wood agency, handles Sutidgaa'rd. 'Flight,' by W. Ray Cozine. will be tried out next week at the Roek-^ ridge theatre, Carmeli N. Y. Katha- rine Warren, Jsimes Triiexi Sara Floyd and William Balfour will, be in the cast. Cozihe is managing director of Kendor Productions, Inc., film oiit- flt. Oul-Of-Towii PORTRAIT OF A LADY Los Angeles, Aug; 12. Comedy drahm In -tlu-ec actH Uy Robert BucKner. Staged by Harry : Hayden. At nitsS'Haydcn theatre, Los Anvelcs. Aug.' tl. 3S. . Gaat: .Harry Hayden. tela Dlliia, Kdna May Jones, Virginia Dyer, Kenneth Nolan, Uob Edwards; . Eleanor ' Gates, . WIncon Reynolds. Lucy von Ledermon, Yolanda Donlan, George Hahilln. . Just a -bad paint job that is fated for quick oblivion. Subject is- trite, actors are just plain bad and there's no meat in the script. Author Robert Biickner tried to make something of a lush playboy, who hid' ottt among the'Arlzona cacti to give the slip to demon rum, and Is regeneriated by a Dure' daughter of the old- west. When he brings her east to meet the folks of the hbss.v- set before making her his'n, the old routine is dragged in.' East just don't care to meet West. All the old stage cliches are bled for drama arid laughs but it's no go. Edna May Jones,, as a pert husband tracker-downer. Is the only, tyro who sho>ys polish and some promise. The others, . aside, from . the vets. Harnr Hayden and' Lela Bllsis, must be nursing a grud9- lle and Sewell Stokes; presented by Ed- ward. Stirling and the English Plnyern. At the Theatre de I'Oeuvrc. Pal-Is, Franco. JjotA Alfred- Douglas Jnmes ininor' T..OUIS' DIJon .V. .'..;. .Tb Melcholr Oscar Wlldo .' Edward Stirling Euat.ice. John Stobart Frank Harris... i ..Arthur Biime Charlie Parker .Hugh Grant .lusllre 'Wills E. Stud .sir Kdn-ard Clarke......... G. Burtnel R. H. Carson;..; ...Toin Sutterby Solicitor .General... ...Arthur Tcnnlel Porter...: ;Jean Roul Walter ; . . . . .Oeorges Butler .......Alan >\'ade • Banned in England, 'Oscar Wilde,', as.- presented here, makes no attempt at condemning or condoning the reason for which the English play- wright wais imprisoned. But it does show in a virile, satisfactory man- ner four episodes from the author's life tbmake this play good arty en- tertainment. Tragic though it, was, whether brie thinks Wilde was right Or not, the presentation of his life, from the time he became famous as an author and notorious for homosexuality, un- til his drunken demise in Paris after his two years in prison, is drama- tized forcefully. It presents well the dowrifall of a brilliant mind because of its beliefs concerning physical pleasures. In the episodes' presented, Wilde moves from the ease of his position and In defiance of society, through his associations with Lord Alfred Douglas and the suit he first brought against Douglas's father, Queens- bury, until in turn turn, he is tried himself and imprisoned. Outstanding through it all Is the forceful ■ demoristratlon of -the love and adoration, one man can have for another. Wilde is forcefully shown with . his brilliant . mind, his love of young men, which the law considered distasteful, and his final degeneration into the drunk who was still abje to -drool magnificent outpourings of his concepts but lacked the power to correlate them. . Dialog throughout is cbnslstently good; and .conviricirigti with' sufficient comedy touches to relievis the fag- ed.Vi . James Milner, as Do-jglas/ falls shprtr lb Melchoir. as a iTrerich admirer of Wilde, shows inexperi- ence, but. John Stobart perfectly por- traiys a figure In Wilde's world with all of the nuances necessary. .Ar- thur Burne takes care of the Frank Harris role, a friend and an admirer of Wilde's literary works, only with stifflciency, while Hugh Grant, as a stable lad, and one of Wilde's 'friends,': does well. Court scenes- are convincing enough but better lighting would help more. Hugo. ENDOWED TO THE ARTS Santa Barbara. Aug. 16. Dr. Irving Wills, head of the Lb- bero Theatre Foundation, turned over the Lobcro theatre. and its site to Santa Barbara county, to be perr' pctuated as a home of drama, music arid dance. THE MILLIONAIRESS Westport, Conn;, Aug. 13. Comedy In three nets (4 scenes) by George Bornurd ' Shaw. , PresciiteU by' Kawrenre .I.ungner and Arrhlna Marshall. Stars -Jevsle Royce Landls. Staged by Hnrry WsKS.ir Gribble. Sottlnj;s, Kare-^lephnnek. At tlie Cuunti^y Playhouse, Wciatport, Cdnn.i Auit. 13., '.18; »2.75 lop. Julius Sagamore. , . .Datry Thomson Epithania .<. Jessie Koyce Landls Alaslalr.. .; ..... ; ,. Wilton Gralt Patricia Smith ,. ..Phlllppa Bcvans Adrian Dlenderbland ...Ralph Sunipter Doctor. .- ; , .Oiislow Sibveiis Man. .Harry Irvine Woman. . . .-Lillian Brnnnard Toiige M'iBagcr. . . Hugh Marlowe .Shaw wrbte this comedy several years ago on - a , ship ' returning to England from New Zealand for thef Festival at Malvern. This Is its Ariierlcan preem. Lawrence Lang- ner arid Theresa Helburn are trying It out here for the Theatre Guild, which wants it for New York. It doesn't look particularly likely fbr Broadway. As a portrait -of a she boss, who dominates everyone about her, mar- ries whom .anu when she likes and thrives in her itinerary; the play has drive from excellent Shaw cbmedy. and several degrees of authenticity. Play Is propelled by a fixation heroine called Epithania .who uses her wealth to . gain her ends, yet doesn't sperid it, and who turns hasty decisions into . profit, disad- vantages to- victory. She throws off her prizefighter-husband for an Egyptian doctor, and' when the lat- ter requires her to gb out on her own for six months, she gets work ' a sweatshop and owns it ere a bargained for provides subjcct-mai ter for.rcst of the script. ■ • Authors have delivered some amusing lines and devised an ocm sional ingeriious situation, but whnil thmg needs polishlrig and sharper :Henry^Hull,; Jr, and Lynn Phillins extract the more obvibus values from Everett and ?ona roles. Alexander Campbell does ono/ of better aetinr jobs as big, jovial Jake Klljie. Robert Porter. Stanley Miller. Byron Shores FrankXovejoy, Charles Philhbur and Robert- Foulk . acquit tHetnselv« creditably as White Sox, while S McKle Is okay as Mrs. Quinn man agjr of the tourist home. Paul" PALM BEACH Saybrook, Conn.. Aue 14 Comedy Id threo acts by N; c. Hunter !.„/i Philip Dunning. . Directed by Carter I!|„"J1 Presented by Manhattan Players In- Sa,-: hiook.. Conn.. . Aug; 11. '38. ' »">• - Dfi?)!?""^ ^""on-Knnbury. , .... .T:,iiih Terry •••••••• ••■■■•^ Ollv-er Sutton- ........ Carter liiakS ni!?^-vMi:;;:::::::::;:::::iM£- Jl-Jf-fr. Plun'^ct -.i.r;u.v' Ju^SSa,; Vordla Mr. Forrest. . Mrs. nice.... Mr. Temple. . Ucachcombor. .Paul Theodore ...... Rllol Duncan ...Adele Ij\nilirora Carl Nelnon ^ . • Mitchell Kowai . if Hollywood isn't tired of prodtic- Ing the 'Merrily We Live" type of comedy by the time this tryout can be whipped into shape, there might . - _ ouu.uwiis 11 cic « be a chance- for 'Palm Beach.' Play week Is. out ' She waits - bn. the contains an Alice Brady-Billle Burke tables In a. run-down inn and. soon flutter-brained type of mother, and has the place on a. paylr:e basis, action is about the multitudinous Eppy, it seemsi is just irresistible to goings-on of a zany family ' success. Brilliant nerforma'nce by Jessie Royce Landls In lead irole gives the olay added. -vitality and co'or. Miss Landls has both force and', looks for the part and the imaglnatibn to de- velop an ariiazir.g but completely oersuaslve despot. . In act two she kayos a suitor who attacks her father's membry. : Fists or iiharm or cunning, Eppy. always comes oiit ahead. Miss Landls* performance is stanii- out. but Wilton Graff,. Ralph Sump- ter and Onslow Stevens, as her three mates, are excellent. Graff is espe- cially amusing, arid Barry Thomson is stellar as Eppy's resourceful solicitor. There's a gobd fit by the veteran Lillian Bernard Tonge as a sweatshoo worker. - Gobd direction by Harrv WapstafE Gribble, who did 'Slmbleton of the Unexpected Isles' for the Guild. Doul. ANYBODY'S GAME Bridgehampton,-N. V., Aug. 12. Farce In three acta by Arthur PIcrson and Dr. Francis L. Golden. Staged bv. Edgar Mason. Settings, Peter 'Wolf and . Ed nox- tcr. At Hampton Playhouse, Brldgehnmp- ton. N. Y., Aug. 11. '38. 'William Thome .......Henry Huli; Jr. . .Lynn Phillips . 'Walter -'\'nughn' ....... ...Rdgar Mason .Kraye Gilbert ..Alexander Campbell ...Emma Louise Suss .......Earl McMurray nellbov, Everett Miller., 7Mna Johnson. . Creamy Jones. . nuck Schaffner. Yancl..... Jake Kline Woman with Parcels. Wallls.,...' Slack KIsscll.-. Andy Paulson Dave Morgan......... Chick Parson Lefly Morrison....,,, Slugger Delanoy..... Mrs. Arleiie Quinn... -naqxbnilna Blair Bootblack. . . Mr. Brodlne .-.Robert Porter ....Stanley Miller Byron Shores . . .Frank I.oveJoy .Charles Phllhour Robert Foulk Elsie McKle Polly Deers -.Edward H-vlnnd . .Maurice Morris Police Guardji. .Peter Wolf, ■William King Edward Deckerl, Walter Rutyna - Moderately funny in Its present shape. 'Anybody's Game* may mean something to Broadway, and ulti- mately ^tp pictures, if It's given a thorough going over. Summer pro- duction IS hardly fair to this type of play, since farces depend so riiuch on smooth ensemble work and perfect timing, neither of'which c&n be achieved under average strawhat conditions. 'Game*^ has been given an energetic performance by Hamn- ton Playhouse group, but with little attention to niceties of pace, comic biisiness or reallsrii In staging. Story^ concerns Everett Miller, young lad who has invented a fire extinguisher. In order to raise coiri for putting It on- the market, he visits an^ old friend of his father, Jake Kline. Jake turns out to be a fisht promoter with a huge bankroll staked on putcPme of the World Se- nes betweerr Chicago Giants and New York White Sox. If White Sox win, as Kline is confident they will mt Pfoji^ses to Rive Everett $2,500 Then Everett can manufacture his own product and also marry little Zona Johnson. .• At .this point It's learned that six members of White Sox team have been quarantined in an Ohio tourist Huisband Oliver Sutton-Hanburv (Carter Blake), wealthy broker win. teriii? In Palni Beach, takes a cleans ing from Wall Street, but pins hopes for a survival, pn a dizzy scheme for building an airport, ori platforms, over the water. The son of an old qame of Hanbury's wife bobs up from Alaska for a visit. Boy, John May- nard (Tadeus Kowai), has written a book on Eskimo sex life.- and Han-. Dury s^ younger daughter, Sybil (Dor- othy Maris), helps to popularize it. OWer daughter; Diana (Lee Arlen), makes a play for the lad when she notes, his success, but Sybil engineers a sale of his book to a picture firm, and John finally selects her for his bride to accompany him to Holh'- wood to help produce the film. Numerous; side' issues. ; such as a chanty darice scone, fisticuffs be- tween the. butler and a son of the household, and acceptance of Han- bury s airport scheme by the WPA because F. D. R. has said 'it's so danjried nutty It might ; work,' offer comedy possibilities. Play is handled by Milton Stiefel'si ivorytpn, Conri., apprentice . group, the Manhattan Players arid tyros to make it mildly entertaining despite lack , of polish.. Charlotte Patlky, Miss, Maris, Miss .Arlen, Kowal, Michael : Pober and Paul Theodore are among cast's best bets. Bone. BRIGHT REBEL Guilford, Conn., Aug. 15. Tragedy in three acta (7 scenes) by Slan- ley-ioung. Pi-ctented by Chapel Playhouse. Stacied by Wllllnm Kllculleii. Sellings, Gullelmn Daves. At Gullfoi-d, Cclhn,. weeli Aug. 13. "39. Fletcher Harrington. . Penchey Mrs. Uyron.. Tom Moore Robert VIvloo • l.'nincls .^wann , Judllh Klllolt Joan Sudloiv ""c .KIcliai-d Aherno John Cam Hobliouse n.. .Noel WarwIcK Scropo navies '......lames Lawry l.mer home In Ma..:e. ■ffldney Justin, of Paramounfs le- , g^statt on the Coast, in town for a trlef visit ' ■ £th Beri, ex-danc«r, now raises p61o ponies on her, husband's Cali- '^^^^^^^mgal back from Provihce- toSS* Mass.* and wriUng a fuU- '*'^f^'pfayers dickering for the ijff Street theatre; . They were at Siy's last season;- ^oe Fisher, exhibitor and theatre owner In Singapore, dropped in be- fore saUing foi: home. Gilbert Gabriel left for the Coast tart Friday (12) to script 'Unpos- for Paramount. Jar Packard operating a hotel and cafeln Atlantin City, which he calls the 'House of Packard.' . Sidney R. Kent back to Maine on Monday <1 5). where hie will remain unUl after Labor Day. John Root and Margaret Mullen (Mrs. Root), traveling in England, due back about Aug. 22. ^ „ S N. Behrihan expects to wind- up , his current Coast stint this week, then return to Broadway. Celia Campbell; of Rockwell- OTteefe publicity department, back; Irom Bucks County, Pa. . Buffet; canine in late 'Of Mice, and Men," died . this week. Aged dog was jet of Olive Stanton, ingenue. Harry Keller, p.a. for the William Morris office, is doubling as ballyer foir the American Kennel Club. ' Arthur Loew, head of Metro's foreign department, visited Saratoga latter part of last week for a brief ■ rest ■■ Stewart Chaney, in London . design- Ini settings for a" revival of "The Elvals' . there, due bac'v in mid-Gc- tober. . Hairy Horner is doing the sets for the new Jed Harris show, as well as Katharine Cornell's 'Herod and Ma- rlamne.' Marc Blitzstein is at the William Morris's, Saranac Lake, working on' his new two-act musical, .'No for an Answer.' Metro studio biz delaying Julian T, Abeles' retiirn from' Hollywood.- He's copyright counsel to both Ml-G : and 20th-Fox. . Rblll (Roxi) Friedland back ,to 'Atlantic City for a month or so. Expects to go to Hollywood in . early winter. - Lull'Deste leaves Hollywood today . (Wed.) for Bro.tdway and confer- ences with the Shuberts for lead role in 'Close Quarters.' Ward Greene, whose 'Honey* is ' Main going the rounds after being held by Max Gordon, is writing a new one, 'Nine to Five.' -Frank Clark, sole survivor of the Four Clark, Bros., old-time trapeze jcl, Is^confined to the Massachusetts State hospital, Tewksbury. ■Myer Kanin vt-riting a new eomedy-drama. His and H.irry Ingram's 'We the wjHoughbys' is no longer held by John Golden. Vinton Freedley's offices forced Mit of the Alvin theatre: He's mov- ing tato Florenz Ziegfeld's old of- ,«« in Loew's Ziecfeld theatre. Arthur S. Dickinson, head of the Moservation department at the Hays MBce, returns next week after a va- caHon m the South, his former home. Lapiniere, Metro's 'publicity- K'y«™sing chief in Europe, is plan- Mg «rls return Aug. ?4. He has gwn In N. Y. about three weeks on iiii? ^alen, 20th-Fox foreign pub- iffi"*^ *ief, due back Sept 1 after "out four weeks in Hollywood, wMre he went for studio ^ confabs .•Ma rest . •The Willard Alexanders (MCA) Si»5f ^'Sf^ first room com- Siii* Recently married, they're "^apartment and household shop- ^Sylvla Regan, of the Mercury i?**}!;! management has completed dil."'**^P!ay. 'Every Day But Fri- new one already at work on a B.^SI'-^'".*'^^*- operated on for ap- gSMhijis in Holland, is due in today go^ Europe and is scheduled to .(fclyV «°»ywood tomorrow fii?Hl"* 'S doing the costume.-; BfLtl Evans 'Hnmlet.' GlISL'^^*'^*'^r'«"'s '^t'ss the Boys TE5?ye and for Eva LeGallienne in "S??me Capet.' MmBlXi"" •'i'l'i's J- Ep.stein have S»^in?^ .Jfevisioris, -on their 'Lot ^^"^^ the Guild formerly »tt the Co'"asT'°"' '^^'^^''^ scripting Christenberrvs motel (Svl«„£^ Saul H. Dom.ctein.': Mmw^L" who operates the gone L „"f,'"R school in Jamaica, "e.tp Hollywood to confer with home office in Holly jvood. May ex- pand.lnto Brooklyn; ' Al Margblies has a name for pic- tures about India and the Far East such as 'Drums.' In.contrast to the American made westerns, he calU Drums' aiv eastern. Following a week at the Chicaj'o, Chi, two of the;Ritz brothers, Jimmy and Al, are east for the races at Saratoga^ while Harry Hltz has re- turned to Hollywood. ' _ Betty_ Field is set for one of the leads in _^Prlmrose Path' when George Abbott puts the play into Pfo;c- vclt theatre; ■ Woodhavpn, reti'irns Monday (22-) after 10 da.vs in Con-, necticiit ' Arthur McCarthy, asst. rhanagcr of Paiiibow theatre, Williamsburg, subbing. - Abe Kaplan,, formerly at Loew s Valencia, : J.imaica, now at the Williird,, Woodhaven, as assisunt to George E. Kann, manager, who re- turns Monday .(29) from annual mbnth at Oakdale, L; I. Theodor Freytag. nianager of the RKO Richmond Hill, due In from Chicago vacation Friday (19). John Heinz, . temporarily out as : manager bf Alden theatre, Jamaica, during summer policy of rodd shows, ' has been subbing, with aid of Vincent Hayes, his assistant SL Lonis By Sam X. .Hursl Mary .Chamberlain, Broadway player, returns to New York Sept. I: Paul Belsman, manager bf Munici- pal Theatre. Assn., meets F. W. A. Vesper, chairman of the assn's rep- ertory committee, in New York Oct. 3, to discuss plays for. next, season. Jim Harris,, p.a. at -Loew's, back from vacation: Edward Richardson, •reasurer, starting on one. Local theatre -owners, film ex- change heads, etc., wiU'pow wow soon on a campaign to publicize films., -Donald. Foster, manager of Cape Girardeau; Mo., . Chaml>er of Com- merce, in charge of seat sale cam- paign of St- Louis Symph.. Successor 'tb: Arthur Gaines, general manager, who' resigned several weeks ago, will be named next month. - . Mjke Cullen, who has replaced W. A. Finney as diviison manager of Loew's midwest' theatres, in town for several days', huddle With Harold W., 'Chick' Evans, manager of Loew's.. Leo Maginn. barrister, has bought intb .the Grand Opera Playhouse, Inc.. which plans to: present legit at pop prices next fall. He'll also p.a. ' Theodore Adolphus,. ballet master, a nd Al White, " Jr, ; dance: d irector ' of Municipal .Theatre Assn., will remain in. town foiir weeks at conclusion of al frescc season to operate tlieir own dance school ' Bill Stein, Music Corp; bf America exec, in town to take in 'Gingerbreod Man.'.. . . William Zaiken. p.a. for Mimicipnl Theatre Assn. and Symphony: Society, plannin.g to open his own publicity, agency here.' Delegates to: the International Ty- pogrnphical Union convention were permitted by. execs of Mun Theatre Assn. to watch rehearsal of 'Show - Boat' after they had seen 'Gingerr bread Man' In al fresco playhouse: Alfred Haenel, who appeared on Major Bowes' 'East St Louis* pro- gram, received 13,190 of the 10,116 votes, cast by natives during the pro-, gram. He does imitations. By L«s Rees John Gilgosh, of National Screen, off to Maine. . Moe. Levy, 20th-Pox district man- ager, visiting Oniaha exchange. Father-^iii-law/ of Bennie Berger; independent circuit operator, died. Aug..26.set for opening of Harry Hirsch's Gaycty stock burlesque: sea- son. .; . .'Marie Antoinette* (M-G). penciled intb Century fbr early Sept. at pop prices.. Harold Kaplan, State manager; va- cationing in northern Minnesota woods. Metro held invitation screening of 'Marie. Antoinette' (M-G) at Granada theatre. G'. A. Malafronte,. Universal hbme office playdate department- represent- ative, in town. Jerry Weisfeldt of Warner Bros;, spending couple of Weeks in Milwau- kee and Chicago. Fred Finnegan, Universal office manager, en route to Cbnover Lake, Wis., tb fish and rest Eddie Lewis and Cedric Adams arranged outing for 2,500 orphans, with. Barney Rapp orchestra , provid- ing music. . State theatre ballyhboed 'Love Finds Andy Hardy* (M-G) with sound truck, first time hbusc has used this device. ■ Strondsburg By John J. Bartholomew Hotiywobd Jack Whiting back. Bud; Lollier in Frisco: Allen Jenkins to Chicago. Gene Austin to Kansas City Bert Allenberg to Honolulu. -. Ed Fishman .driving back ca.st. Lee Shubert in from New. York. . Harry Wallin , on- tWb-\yeek: ' . ' John Halliday clippered to Hawaii. Paul Buchanan back fronn Eurppe.- Henrir Elm'an here from Chicago. Bijou Fernandez vacationing here. Gustave Schirmer^hcre from Bo.s- ton. Ralph Raihger back, from Bro.nd- ^ay..' Sam Hellman back from- Mexico City, Arnold Konote may come east soon. . 'Dorothy Larnour: home froi pital. Warners;, let Dick Foron's Option drop. TOm Kennedy broke a ri in auto crash. Ronald. Colman In from yacht cruise. ' Wi'.ma Francis back to stage after illness. Betty Mitchell In hOspiital for op-' eratipn. ■' Archie Twitchell awarded: a pilot's license. Buck Jones on two-month vacash in cast V . Frank Perrett vacationing in High Sierras. . . Fredrlc March holidaying in High Sierras. . > W. Ray -Johnston in town tor studio huddles., ' ~ - Margaret SuUavan bought a house ;on wheels. , Tyrone Power planed from Broadway. Marger.v Ford« hbs been laid up v,:;ih a cold. Frank McCarthy to, Boston as legit press agent.: Joyce Coles here to join hasband,: Jack Kelly. Ed Robb and Harold Rowley here froni. Texas. . Dick Eltelson in from New Jersey, vacationing. . , ' William Gargan :risadying tor tri tb England. ■ Tony BriglUiia won musicians' golf tournament .: Marie Wilson and Nick Grinde will wed Oct. 21. . Tala Bireil recovering frbm aip- pendectom.v. Ray Whitley on p.a. tour of hill- bill'y country. Carrie Jacobs Bond celebrated her 76th::blrthdayi Myer Beck' off on his annual vaca- tion this. week. Reg - Marshall joined Rockwell- O'Keefe outfit Ceotpe L. Bagnair back trbm Ca- nadian holiday. . : . Hugh' Arthur, from Minneapolis, ogling fllmerles. DblOres Del Rio visiting'her father ; in Mexico City. . Pandro Berman recovered from sipiis ope'-aflo-- -Flora Finch celebrated- her ' 50lh year as a player. Ethel Halpcrln.and Jean Prignano back to Chicagb. : Greer (Larson recovering from maior operation. George V. Denny here from N. Y. gahderinc studios. Marta Down.i has left the hospital after an bperatiop. Margaret Lindsay hosting, her parents fro.m lowa. , 'Tex:.Rittier guesting at rodeos i Colorado and Texas. Kenneth Thomson motor touring northern California. William Desmond recuperating in Pasadena sanitarium. : Helen and Gummo Marx have, opened their new. house. Rudolph .de Saxe joined David O. Sel7nick*s- research .staff. Will Hays tos.?ed a luncheon for his ranch guest. A. D. Lasker. M. Resid Anamur, here from Turkey, gandering studios. - Porter . Hall changed his mind about playine on Broadway. N^ncy Kelly ho.sting her . father. Jack Kelly, from NiRw York. Mary Louise. Walllser here from San Antonio to Interview celebs. VWalter and Mrs. Annenbcri! In town after Honolulu hone.vmoon.- Free pictures eVe.-y Thur-vday night at Ertglo s Pine Grove. . Pocono Manor Inn celebrated 3G(h an.-iiver.'jary Monday (IS). Chuck Wagori Pete'.-; Klondike Mountain Hambler.s r-itcrtain -tt Har- rison Park. Blakcslce. Tommy Pintean-Je's Vagabonds and Bob: Smith's Cadets nllcrnale at Po- cono Alp.<; Tavern. Hcnryvillo. Fre.'l Waring's oer.sonaling at the Pocono Mountains hofscsh'ow ball to b" held at Buckwood Inn Friday nii'ht (19) for hbsoittil charity. The Aldan Fun.sie's Guild prcscni- pf.' Donna Dae, Jos'.'ph Doyle, Jr.. Virginia Clark. Marviri Long .and Poter R.'.ilcy in Roi CoopcV :Mcgrui;'.s 'Tea for. Three' al Siiawnec :summcr ihcalre. The' En.'.emble Art Trio. Inchidinc Guy Marriner, Willi.-'.m Schmidt and Aloxi-nclcr. Zenker, of. Uic Philadel- phia Ori;'ic,'-tra, is r'csontint! a series nf 24 cnncerls at The Inn, Buck Ilill Falls, P.-i.', unvlcr the au .- -cos fit tlic Buck inil Mu.<-ic Club. - New Havfcn By Harold M. Bone Nate Rubin to Washington, D. C. Lew Sehaefcr on an auto ^vacation, Dave Eldridge ogling strawhat tryouts; ' BiMy Elder, Bijou manar; lioning. ■ .Sani ilorwarth gettin.? .sr:t for 'rc.-k to Saratoga. ' C'jllci!2 mulling one ni.yht (Sat. ) v;iik1c. T;ilk of a ).ilo Slarl fur the .Sliu-' borls' Iff.'il yx-ny.on: John lIo.';.. Yorfc, Chicogo, San Francisco,. Hotli/iuood and London. ^ Variety talces no credit for these news items; each has been rewritten from a daily paper.. East Mayor LaGuardia exempts Labor Stage from usual $500 fee, but will insist on all fire aiid building laws being complied with. Chautauqua opens its music festl val to 13,000 people, largest crowd since the President attended in '35. N. Y. Joint Council of Office and Professional Workers offers $50 for the best one-act. play aibout white collar workers. Similar prize for a 'mobile' play, which can be preschl- ed before trade unions. lit con;] unc- tibn ; with New ' Theatre .League. Closes Nov, 15.. Sir Cedric Hardwicks addressed the Mohawk Drama Festival Sunday. (14). Public Use of Art Committee dcr clines to . monkey with the IRT star lions. In its work of beautifying the city against next year's fair. Says they're too dirty.: Peter . Holden back in 'Our Toiyn' after- three weeks' vacash.;- : N. Y. tells political candidates they are liable to fines ' or imprisonment if they tack their cards to public utility poles. . Cramps: their style, Lenbre.'Ulric su. V in White Plains for $6,700, which Louis Martin claims is due him for buttline from '32 to '37. She won a request for a bill of partlciilersi claiming he was never regularly employed, ' American Music . Hall production this fall will probably be The Girl from • WyominR,' western meUer. John Van Antwerp wrote . it. Museum of Science.' Rockefeller Center, to get tlie Belgian Wonder clock. ..Can give tides at all> princi- pal ports, astronomical data and time in principal cities. One hand on its 93 dials revolves in less than a sec- ohd. Slowest hand requires 26,000 years to make a complete revolution.- Lee Shubert going to California to see .Tallulah Bankhead in *I Am Different'. German plahie' flight demonstrates present impracticability of passenger traffic. Extra fuel needed for west- ern trip makes commercial trans- port impractlcaL Hal Kemp, orch leader, announces he slufled. the Mrs. in a Chicago euburb two. weeks ago. * Annual lifeboat race tor crews from steamship cos. set. for. Sept 10. Gene Fowlsr telling his friends he is going to the Fiji Islands to be alone. Five men were indicted by the N. Y. grand jury for the theft of $50,000 worth of moving ^picture Alms. Taken from the Star Safety Filin, Inc., it is alleged. Hebrew Actors' Union planning a national chain of theatres. The Douglas. Park, Chi., the' first acqui- sition. New gag of numbers salesmen ts to write names and numbers oh a wall. Cannot be charged with handling tickets. Brazil instructs picture censors to delete Columbia and Grand Nat pic- tures said to contain anti-coffee propaganda. Pictures not named, Concert at the Lewisohn stadium last Friday included three new works by members of the Phil- harmonic-Symphony. Briino Labate, Theo. Cella and Arkady Dubensky, First two batoned their bwp scores. Arline Judge, in Saratoga to watch the . nags, recovering from a slight case of ptomaine poisoning. Lee Shubert said to be consider Ing a series of tryouts at the Copley theatre, Boston. More definite than strawhats. Reich bans current Issue of Read- er's Digest Doesn't tell why. American Society of ' Teachers of Dancing in session in N. Y. all this week. ' Pic business contributes $60,556 to the Greater N. Y. Fund. Of this sum $38,000 was contributed by the pro ducers; the rest by their employes, Am. Conservatory of Music, Drama end Dance lists Margaret Anglin Philip Barry. Arthur Hopkins, Gertrude Lawrence, Winifred Leni- han and Edward Sheldon as con Eultants. plans to : reopen. Was closed last year under the gambling act. Owners think 'purchased options' will beat the ban. Liner Queen Mary made it evens up by- annexing the eastbound rec- ord, too, Normandie due for a sprint. Phjla^. Storage Battery Co. wants to m6ve> the Philco plaiit unless strikers pipe do\yn. Heat wave . renewal, plus' clear weather Sat., Sun, brought joy. to beach resorts. Ifearly a million at Coney Sunday/ OUver H P. Garrett's 'Waltz in Goose Step' Will probably , see pro- duction this fall, Local Myron Selz- nick office . fronting, . biit says a prominent : produceir will finance. Nazitheme, Bretaigne Wihdust. to stage 'Great Lady' for Dwlght Deere Wiman. . . Equity classes Kaufman-Hart show as a spectacle. ' Gives an extra weclc of rehearsal. James William, top French ex- hibition parachutist killed Sunday at Lohs-Le-Saulnier, France, when he dropped 3,000 feet Ripcord of his chute failed to work. Stbckbiridge (Mass, ), music festival at Tanglewood, with Boston Symp. orch, closed Sunday (14) . with more than 6,000 present. Total attendance was. 38,000 at five performances. Daniel Frohman announcc'S 57th annual benefit for. Actors* Fund will take place Jan. 22, '39. Starting plans already. Maniac, shot Into the crowd at the §olice memorial services in the. Mall unday, injuring five, WNYC. broad- casting the .event carried, sound of: shots over the air and gave Police Headquarters its first imimation of trouble. Orangeburg (IT. J.) dbg track Louise Stanley, screen actress, was granted a divorce in L. A. from Den- nis O'Keefe, film player. . Clifford Robertson, former casting director, was held for trial in L. A. on three charges of grand - theft brought by two physicians and a dentist Dewey .Wrigley, studio camera- man, was siied for divorce in L. A. Wife asks $400 a month for herself and two .children. Joseph Roliert Bren, screen writer, divorced In - L. A., and . ordered to pay $7,800 alimony at $50 a week.- ^ally Rand obtained a continu- ance until Oct 4 in her trial on bat tery charge brought by two candid camera shooters after a scrap in . a L. A. theatre. < Vera Steadman^ former film ac- tress, won a divorce from .Martin Padway'in L. A. Separate malhtenance suil^ brought by Martha Pryo'^ 'actress, against Ben Bard, stage producer, was set- tled out of court in L. A. Gebrges lievenant, - stage and screen actor, filed suit for divorce in L. A,, charging cruelty. -Mary D. Cook.^ ballet dancer, filed a cross complaint in the divorce suit filed bv ElUha Cook. Jr., in L. A. She asks $100 a week alimony: ' Fortuinlb. Bonanova, opera director, won a judgment of $1,012' from George Blumenthal, stage producer, by default in L. A. ' He chargied breach of contract . . Damage suit for $26,926. against Lupino Lane, London comedian, was non-suited in L. A. court Oda Ba- roda, tenant, claimed she broke a leg because of a defective - stairway in Lane's house. Aside from a few small bequests, Warner Oland left his estate to his estranged widow, Mrs. Edith Shearn Oland, how on her way to Stockholm for the actor's funeral. Will, filed in Los Angeles, disposed of an estate 'in excess of $10,0Q0.* .loan Manners, film actress, filed suit in L. A. against John Langan. dialog director, asking a divorce and custody of their chUd. Gloria Stuart, filni actress, and Ar- thur Grant Sheekman, screen writer, married in Mexico four years ago, went through another wedding cere- mony Sunday (14) in Salinas, Cat Recent court ruling cast doubt oh the validity of Mexican marriages. Saratoga's Respite Le Roy and Lew Brice; From New York, Barney Balaban, Bob Gill- ham, Ned Depinet and Eddie Mc- Avoy. . At the clubs it was necessary to reduce the nut and drop the name entertainers. At Arrowhead, where George Xiamaze Is boss of the table, Val Ernie's orchestra has replaced Emile Coleman, with Gloria Graf- ton having the warbling assign- ment and Harrison and Fisher' the dance features. At Piping Rock, which was to have: had Sophie Tucker, the songstress^ is Adelaide Moffett' a blond beaut from Bos- ton, who was at the Hotel Ambas- sador, New York, for a time. Gomez and .Winona , Lre present, while the band is '.Ted Eddy's. Latter replaced Vincent Lopez who was lopped off. because the casino is shut Bands- man is still. around trying to collect on his Contract. Peter Higgins is the topper at Riley's Lake House, with Sailly Gay, Jean Landes, Wal- ter Donohue and The Vernons, also on the bill. Al jahns has the band. .' Seasonally, ' after the race meet, the Great Union and United Statis, rambling old hotels on the main street do a fold, the Uiilon will remain bpen "for a time. It being the headquarters ot the New York State Republlciii huddle. Hotel ex- pects to recoup some of the slack trade blamed' on the no-gambling edict, 1,000 reservations having been made. Figured that each politician attending will spend at least $5 per day for the 10-day stretch and that the hotel's take will easily reach $50,000, Reported, that prosecutor Simon recently went to ManhatUn to con- fer with New York's fiery district attorney Thomas E, Dewey. That visit may explain the situation here, also the conilng meeting of the Re- publicans. .. OBIT U ARIES SIR LANDON BONALD Sir Landon Ronald, 65, Bfitlsh pianist -conductor, . qonnposer, critic and teaciier, died in London Aug. 14 after a long illness. He made his debut as solo pianist in the pantomime ■ 'L'Enfant Pro- digue' and attracted the attention of Sir Augustus Harris, who madis him piano, maestro and conductor at Coveht Garden, a ' pbsitipn he re- tained until he came to- America as 'accompanist and conductor for Nellie Meiba. On his return he was con- ductor of the Albert Mall Sunday concerts and of the New Symphony orchestra, the London Philharmonic, and in Manchester,! Birmingham and Llyerppbl. . From 1910 , until last year he was principal of the Lon- don Guildhall school of music. Dur- ing the reigns of Queen Victoria and Edward VII, he was frequently the accompanist at State concerts and had been guest , conductor of many European orchestras,, notably In 1908-'09. He was knighted by George V in 1922. He had conducted; several mu- sical publications and -\yas the author of some 300 songs. Pitt mt^iy Biz (Continued from page 52), (Continued from page 53) about holding its. own with last year, although not up to expecta t.ipns. He added that all other tracks on .the metropolitain string had run 25% ahead of last season. Comment had nothing to do with the bookies but principally a:pplied to : attend ahce. . Sorne weekdays cards have been sllmly attended, onei of the low marks being registered with a cbunt around 4,200 bn the turnstiles. On the same day, however, the Pinker tbns claimed there were 6,500 at the track. Few Names The Hollywood and pictiire bunch Is certainly , under other seasons, when- the show crowd from both coasts -were' wont to giather here. Louis. B, Mayer was here for a, few days,, then departed aftier buying a yearling .colt for $14i000. Hari^y M. Warner, also here, is a partner in the deal. Others from Hollywood included : Frank OrsattI and Wil- liahi K.:Howard who wei-e in- a box Saturday (13) with Johnnie Walker. Harry Cohn was stiU on the' scene as' was' Doris Wirner sicians have. been, shortened In economy measures; waiters and bar- tenders and ciggie gals have been laid off, but even so red ink has continued. Peon Minos Danelos After two weeks' trial, William Penn has Shut its Grill and for first time in years,' hotel is without danc- ing. Rerhbves , from downtown night life what has always been considered Pittsburgh's ace spot and one of Music Corp. of America's biggest music accounts in the hin- te.rlahds.: ' , ': . Fortnight ago. Urban Roof, Wil- liam Penn's summer rp,om, folded and management moved George Hamilton's band dowh.stairs to Grill in hope of making a go of it under less expensive set-up. Failed: to work out however, and while biz picked up ai little, it wasn't enough to justify continuation, according to hotel execs, and . Hamilton received his noticei. While nobody wbuld admit it generally believed here that terms of Local 60's recent agreement ■with hitery owners hastened William Penn's closing. In return for lift- ing of remote broadcast ban, mu- jiicians union insisted all local clubs use Pittsburgh bands at: least three months out of every year, a clause to which William Penn management steadfastly refused to agree. Gerry O'Neill, manager of WIl Ham Penn, refused! to say whether Grill or Italian Terrace would open for dancing In the fall. Only mu sic at hotel now Is by . Billy Cati gone trio, local outfit in Continental Bar. HALLETT THOMfSON Hallett Thompson,' 67, also known as Frank Hallett Thompson, legiti- mate actor of the past died in his apartment in New- York,' Aug. , 13. His death resulted from self-in- flicted cuts of wrist arteries. His widow, from whom he : was es- tranged, found him when he failed to -keep an appbintment. with her and she went to his apartment ' to investigate. - ' - He had appeared In .numerous ^its in : the past and supported many stars, among them Richard "Mansr field. He was at one time married to Joisephine Foy, who's now living on the Coast. Interment Iii Glbuces ter, Mass., his home town. DAVID J. SELZNICK David J. Selznick, a pioneer film showman and brother of the late Lewis J. Selznick, died in Pittsburgh Aug, 9 after a loiig illness. He had been managing Monogram's Pitts- burgh exchange. Mark Goldman succeeds him in the position. No other changes contemplated. At one time Australian representative for the, Selznick ehtierprises, in .latter years he had been in theatre opera- tion mostly. He was an uncle of Myron and David O. Selznick. : , In addition to his widow, a daugh- ter, Mrs. Joseph Hart, and a grand- child survive. THOMAS A. HObVEB Thomas A. Hoover, owner of Elm- wood park, one of Oklahoma City's oldest amusement resorts, died, at the Hubbard Hospital Aug. 10 from a complication : of illnesses. Hoovei: came to Oklahoma. He opened the city's first dance hall; Later he opened Elmwood Park, at which spot he has . stead- BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. ;Stan Widney, son. In Des Moines, Aug. 4.' Father Is pro ducer-announcer at 'WHO, Des Moines. Mr. and Mrs. Walt Framer, daugh ter,, in Pittsburgh, Aug. 8, Mother is Nan Grayson, 'Cinema Lady' oh WWSW, Pitt.; father Is with same station. Mr.: and Mrs, Eric Osbortie, son: in Los Angeles, Aug. 12. Father is ^ Paramount draftsman. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Brickner, daugh ter,: in Hollywood, Aug. 12. Father is Metro editor. Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Harris, son, In Hpllywobd; Aug. 12. Father is radio vocalist Mr, and Mrs. Sidney A. Franklin, daughter, in Newark, Aug. ,10. Father is mai ager of Little theatre, Newark. Mr. and Mis.\ Melvyn Douglas; deughter, Aug. 14,'PasEdena. Father is film actor; moth.er is Helen "ja- hagan, stage actress. MARRIAGES Judy Starr to JacI: Shirra, in New York, Aug. :;. Bride is featured songstress and he's strlnj bass player with Hal Kemp's orchestra. ; Lynn Bailey to Dr. Michael M. Gurdin, in LaJolla, Cal., Aug. 7. Bride Is a Paramount player. Flora Stein to Jack tt. Steinberg in Youngstown Aug. 7. He's associated with his father, Henry Steinberg, in Ohio theatre operation. Margaret , Elizabeth Phllippi to Richard Blayden In Los Angeles, Aug. 10. He's a . unit manager at Paramount. Thelma Eckman to Russell Mc- Cord in Los Angeles, Aug. 9, He's a film editor at Warners. Dorothy Felin to Giiff Bergere, film stunt man, Aug. 13 In Las Vegas. Templcton Fox to Bob Welch in New. York, Aug. 15. He's producer of Kate Smith's radio shows. . Sylvia Sidney to Luther Adler in London, Aug. 12. Bride Is a film and legit player; he's a le^Iter. fastly refused to sell beer and closed each night promptly at 12:3Q, JEAN MAHAVIER MORSE Mrs.' Jean Mahav'ier Morse a* known in theatrical circles as member of the Mahavier Sisters dance- team which toured the coun try's vaudeville circuits for more than 10 years, died at a hospital in Houston, Aug. 10, after a month's iU. ness.: - . She is survived by her sister and former dance partner, Mrs. Bert Sloan; her father, five brothers and two daughters. ' MBS. ELIZABETH GEST Mrs, Elizabeth : Gest 74, mother' of Morris Gest died suddenly in Berlin, Aug. 9. She was apparently in good health six weeks ago when she was visited by her son. Other survivors are three other sons, including Simeon, who was associated with Morris in his the- atrical productions, and two dauEh- ters. . GEORGE A. 'TAEFFNEB <3eorge A. Taeflner, 64, com- poser, pianist and conductor, died Aug. lO at the home of a brother In Philadelphia. Taeflner led orchestra which pre- ceded Meyer . Davie in playing at socialite .parties. ; He also conducted Fricke's Dancing Academy in Phlla-i, delphia 'at the turn of the century. ' JEAN BICHABb Jean Richard, 85, died In Jort Lee, N; j;, Aug. 13. After a long career in N Y. hotel kitchens, he opened his own Villa Richard, on the Palisades, which he subsequently leased to Ben Marden, who rnade It the first Riviera. When the place burnej down, MarJen re- built on' another site. . ABCH BOBEBtS Arch Roberts, 54, died recently after a long illness, which forced him off the vaude stage.- He had been a baritone sir{,er with revues. Burial at Litchfield, 111. The widow, Bonnie Rossley, .ahd twp children survive. ALLEN PETERSON Allen Peterson, 60, who operated the Palace theatre, Salem, N. J, died suddenly of heart disease at hii home Aiig. 15. He had run the Salem house for more than 25 years.. BEN HENDBICKS, Jr. Ben Hendricks, Jr., 44, film actor, died Aug. 15 in the Veterans hos- pital, Los Angeles. His fatlier wai well known in vaudie. Leaves a widow, son and mother, JOHN LEEZEB John. Leezer, 65, fbrmer motion picture cameraman, died Aug. 8 in Visti, Cal. His widow survives. Literati (Continued frpm page 3-1) 'Dark Bapture,' new song adapted by Benny Goodman and Edgar Sampson from, original jungle dance rhythm, heard in picture of same name. Is being published by Breg-^ man, Vocco & Conn. Lyrics by Manny Kurtt ' Ledger Syndicate years ago, . has been handed a player contract by Warner Bros. John Erskine has completed a hew. novel; 'The Start of the Road,' deal- ing with Walt Whitman. It is his longest work to date. Stokes will publish In October. Allen' Saunders, former dramatic editor of the defiinct Toledo News- Bee, cpntinuihg as continuity writer tor 'Big Chief Wahoo;' comic strip syndicated in 127 niewspapers. St. Louis Post-Dispatch staff pre- sented Oliver K, Bovard with il- luminated parchment scroll and set of encylopedia upon his retirement, as the daily's nrianaging editor. Philly Evening Bulletin, which recently raised its price from two to three, cents, hit a new ci rculation low for years on July 9 when sales sank to 407,342. Last year's av- erage was 512,321. Paul Y. Anderson, who was fired from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch after a quarter of a century with the paper, and. most hotably as its Wash- ington correspondent, piays tribute tO; 'The Greatest Managing Editor' iit : the current New Republic to O. K. B., the legendary Oliver K. Bovardj m.e, of the Post-Dispatch. Latter re- signed because of 'difrerenccs' with the Pulitzers; eontroling the rag. #cJneBdtty, AuguBt 17. 1938 OUTDOORS VARIETY 63 Bills^ J^ext Week (Continued 5lt,l Ordrl«r H,*«l '«««''•' cilir •I*"*" -Clark . IcV AbWtt Oro - Hatcl Win*'''!''"**' Jwkqwa nennrd Oi Blliel Sidney . rjio Clark* Ord fiorothy Deerlns ■ JhM Wella , : OM fa»lilon«» Cafe IIM Marvelle from page M) >Urr I^Bl*''''!* Frances Rb«a raaibectM lu Art Robin Ord ' Bmiadap jimmla GalUfher v. ' Boral Talma' Batallta (Icvllla Don Rlc« Oro . , BbenUdn - , (Bbaniton Hotel) ' Bdti Hardy Ord Painty Wood .. go'ath Sliore FHrnia Tommy Carr Ore ' Steuben'* (VIeniw Room) jack Fisher Oro Joan Parrlsli Toteni Pole lluHr'm -■' (Auburndnle) . ; ; Billy Wooda- ■; . Tremnnt riaxn Gone Nlckeradn Oi. . WlKwaiii Bnllroum Count Franch|nl Or CLEVEIANP Alplae villa »e Edith * 5 "'"'y Patricia Marr KrtliMl Kay ClViTFIck . nernian PIcchneT oft. Tburn Oro AiaaBtage sidle '■oJ' Uinaret Diium . Mtftrn Crawford KlnaVarela- Bobert Shafjr Ceorm; pooba Hal Conklln ■ ceorf* Dill Krtd Hlllebrand - Detmar Popuen W««ley Bender Kert JlcDonald BooU UcKenna ' -'ATaloa Dorotby Henry Joan Cooper Solly & V Garrison Aon Uason nelly Drew Terry O'Dare Pete Zummo Ore I'edar Uardeoa ~ Jlir.iny WaUklno Or ] ilanlBca PrlDce * Duke . Bromnetd & Or'l'y . . Loula Deppe. jUbafeaa. Clpb . llarty T^ewlB Ore Oray RIa IreDe-Keaaler . . Daony . Rogera Leon LeVerdle Craele Garden* t'Blta of' nbythm - Ray miea llltti Mitchell Joliaaon & Grider . RoKoe Blmma Bbtrdlna Walker Or H|ht O'clock Club Samniy Morria. Bert Herman Betty' Gale Ann Hiithnway, Bill Miller Ore : Voamet Club Bd White Oro ■; Hotel Fenway, Hall Jliiiiny Joy Ore Hotel llollenden. Avia Kent. R & B Ambroae LoTla Broa PrltlkJn 4- Maaon Snmitfy Wntklna Or . Hotel sutler Mort Dennia Ore jacii * Eddlc'a Paul Long Belly Day Snxbn Orcelcy Chee-Chee'a Oro LyndlibrKt Cuijntry Club ■ Gene Erwin Oro Aidnttcb's Cafe Grant Wilson Oro Alice Clark Rev - O'Brlen'a SUon Club Valle & Mollno > Martin WlllcBCh Johnny HaVduk Ore Soiitliern Tnvem Toroniy Hopton Ore Steamer Seeundliee Tony Caputo Ore Leo £ KIta Vernon & Billy Vaneltea 8lea'mer Ooodtim* Anne Bradley .Vanettes Coley & Adair Markell Sl Faun Mickey Kata Uro :WUIy> Shore U'rden Henry Sanson Oro Tony Qranata ' OETSOII Beek-Cadlllao Hotel (Beek CaalM) Bebkle Orayaon Ore Bill Conway Jlnifflle Stevenaoa (Meter Bar) CalKornlana AvIa Kent Chalet Harry Collett Oro Annanda & Maria Al Ceda Co Carmine DIGIovannl Elenor* Rica .:Cec*aaat Palata PMI SWllman Oro Jimmy Nolan rraok Tracy ■ Barlow Benter Buddy Rosa Cm * Mase btanley & Kapliin ' Cocoanuttero IZ £a!e Horkneiis Ore Ceri 4 Hotdo Marshall 'j;',",';"" Penn ««« Hu,nHi„„ Ore llorlej . Catlzonc a , "alUiB GBrdcBa , 'Jinny Chick Ore nuih/RiJiJi , I'enn l'^;.?"'""" Ore -Mien tnfe I Claire .Ray Gin Angolo Dl Paloia Uuy 90'* Chet Cln.'k Joe Klein Jim Buchnnon Boogy-Woogy Berber-Shop 4 l>etlt» Club Paul .Xiartin ore Nlta Rayntoiul .. Lincoln Terrnre Royal Worih Ore Danny White RdeallA- Wynne.' Jim Penmifn Chuck. Collins -Orcllurds . Baron Klllott Ore IMnes J & B KIchai'ds Oro Helen O'Connell riau Cure Jimmy Peyton Ore A'lele Curtlsa Dlliy Cover ChlquKa Bert Luyton 'Re.y Show lleut Al. Marlsco Ore Hay Stylos Arli'lalOe La' Marr. Oetty Beegle Newton '& Newton.. Wludmlll Phil CavexiiU Ore U'lllowe ■ Joanuin Grill Ore Al Gr(!vro niiilre Sis More Air Thrilb Gleyeland, Aug. 16. Henders()n Brothers are building new grandsUrids with 80,000 seats, abput 10,000 more than last year, for their "38 national air races b«ing held at Clevelantl; Airport over the Labor Day weekend. Clifford W. Henderson, managing director, also speeding and hooking up several events as an answer to some carpers who kicked about the lack ot thrills ih the '37 versibh. Al- though "aviators, in turn ; are com- plaining about , the added hazards, one.2b0-rriile race is being stretched to 300. MET OPERA TO REVIVE 'ORPHEUS' AHER 15 YRS The .Metropolitan Opera will this season revive the ; Gluck opera, 'Orpheus and Eufidice," which- has been .out of ihe repertory for about 15 years. No date has be4n set for the' Opening, but it will probably be early iii the winter. Dr. Herbert Graf is due back from Rome at the end of the' month ti begin prepa- rations for it., Sets for the produc- tion, have been .designed by . Harry H(0% aditlts. And that at $3.85, ' So they must, come because they like it> The same holds true for other popula- tion centers. . They come in droves and . their excitement, . as they enter; is not phoney, but reaU- Millions, stiil enjoy and coirte to the circus and ypu can look at our, books for proof of this. Can, or would, the Ringlings tie up the' millions "ihey have in a. sink- ing business? .- Of -icourse, they .wouldn't. Maybe not next season; but the one sifter you'll: see again big circtis - business Yoii: have to sell and give - a :shoW for the money, something - you can't say the flickers do all the time.. We've got the goods and. we are .doiiig pur utmost to sell it and, I am glad to. say, we are fairly successful. Even , with the shortage, of money that affects the country we are making a littje. - . Cardtiet Witjon. Realty Joins Rofabms Chicago, Aug. 16. With, the Cole Bros.-Clyde Beatty show 'back in Rochester (Ind.) win- ter quarters, five cars ahd Clyde Beatty have gone east to r join the Rbbbins Bros, show, the junior Jess Adkins and Zack Terrell circus. Beatty and additional show join- ing Robbins this week in Bluefteld (W. 'Va.). Robbins -circus has been grossing nicely in the southeast an'd the show will continue ih that ter-' ritory where Beatty is a particular box-ofllce favorite. Change Winter Quarters Charlotte, N. G.. Aug. 16. Charlie Spark.s, former owner of the Sparks circus, which wa.<> sold to the' Ringling-owncd American Circus Corp., may bring is bownie Brothers circiis to Nor^h Carolina about the middle of Septeniber. When he was operating Sparks cir- cus Mr. Sparks made Salisbui;y, N. C, his winter home for a. num- ber, of year.s, being housed at ' the old fair grounds. . His plans for . the fall have just been disclosed in cor^ resporidence with a Salisbury Iricnd. WORLD BROS. Mansfield, d., Aug. 14. . Struggling along through the mid- west. World Bros.' Circus, One of the few of the smaller motorized, outfits of the current season likely, to s'ur-: vive,' played to spotty business on its hasty trek through Ohio, making only four stOps^ Oiitflt is headed for the Southwest crop cpuhtry, where it expects to get coin, after several weeks of discouraging patronage In the east.. Show; according to: execu- tives, all of whom are oijtdoor show- men of lon.g exoerience, has had but a' few profitable stands .since it launched the current tour early in the .spring; buti desoite - inclement Weather dnd poor business, its spon- sors are determined to carry on until the season's end. Its 'nut' pared to a minimum, show h.is bperi able.'thus far to withstand what is said by showmen to be the. most disastrous circus year in many decades.. Personnel,, however, has been loyal and, accordini to rep'ot'ltii around the show, not a pavday has been missed. Ohio gave the show little , or no business, with Indiana and Illinois, which will be played in <;hort. order, expected to be no bet- ter. The show, piloted by the- veteran .Timmie Hei^ron. is movine fast, mak- ine not less than' 50 miles , a day, with only a few trucks. Program is better than offered by- majority of the rnud shows- this season, most of the feature- acts having been on since the start. Too is 100 round with three 30's. with capacity -arnund 2,000. Out- fit has dispensed With a menagerie; a, few . cages and a bull -being ex- hibited in the annex, , which also makes a creditable showing. Many .stands which have been widners fOr. the show in former seasons are proving bloomer.?, it . was sairl. George L. Mvers, veteran of many circuses. ' including the Old Miller Bros. 101 Wild West., is handling the equestrian duties With the show and the- program, while well balanced, lacks variety. Many of the ijerf Prm- crs aopear as many as three and four times dnrine the BO-iriinute per-, formance. 'Wardrobe is a bit tackyi but passable and ..the performance apparently pleases most of the audi- enre. .- ■ Prpgjram; l,.'rourhiment .<;tock and performers . once around. 2, Intro- duction of Oklahoma Inac. feature cowboy trickster of the after con- cert. 3, Ponv drill, center ring, pre- sented' by Charles Pond. 4; , Frank SatirO, peirch: Swede Johnson's com- fAy. horse: Rmma Saccb. perch, 5, Margie McCrea, contortion: Taiia- maraka . Jao ' troupe., foot jiigelers: Joe- Frankliri; oomedv. Bucking, mule. 7, Barth and Meir, ladder;' Es- : peranza. Spanish' trouoe., traps; Mar- gie MeCrea, ladder.'' 6, First concert announcement. 9. Emma. Sacco. web; clo.wh ch'air.^ 10, Tanamaraka troupe; barrel. .si>in; , Bartha'.^ oercb: Frank Satiro,.: balancing. ll.'BCanaqe. Miss McCrea, clown. 12, Franklin's per- forming dogs- lii center ring. 13, Senior Murno, on the tight wire. . 14, Second concert announcement 15. Emma Sacco, iron jaw. 16, Solo ele-: phant, presented b.v: Capt. Sells in center ring, a good routine for A .small bull. 17, Clown walkaround. 18. The Barths and Meir, teeterboard, with excellent finish. 19, Clowns finale. 20. Five trained lions in steel arena back of -center ring, presented by Capt. Sells, one of few of the smaller shows venturing, an act of this kind, with biz so terribly off. Concert runs about 20 miiiutes. fea- tures Inac. and a grouo of : cowboys arifl cowgirls. Chester Gretorv has charge of the kid show, which features Henrv .Smith's coloreH minstrels and band; Don Tavlor; Punch and- Lecturer; Carmacitta. sword ladder, .nnd kooch. .Sam Moretta. ahd Rodcer Boyd . are in oharce of outside ticket boxes! Executive staff includes all old- timers, with Rio Winkcl said to be one of the heaviest of the Investors in this year!s venture. Andy Kelly is an associate? and is .said to he 1n flnanciallv. KoVomo Andrews Is do- ini the flxin". Elmer .Tones! another veteran.- Has the bricade. and Ch.Trley Donoyhue is in char-"' of the ticket waeon and auditor. Prize candy ca? work'ntf , slron", takinc no nearl.v a half hour; with better than fair re- sults at mo.ist stanHs. Banners .•>iso helping show rerriain oh the road; . Mack. ' H-W WOULD VOID RECEIVERSHIP ON SALARIES CIRCUS ROUTES week of Aapusl 22 Robbiiis MiililliVliorn. K.V.. 2i; Mill l,i nV '.'2. fur- Mii; 2<: BIlzabcllirDiiii, (;i:i."i!iiw. Ji:: H'lWUnji .(lrf.*'n. . ^7 ;,- .N'u^liVill*', Tonii;., i'j. Baroes-Sells-Fjoto OrnitiiH. .svii..- 21; «'Mliiinwi*. Iw.. : K(-i,:.i;k. • 1; )l.:inll.:il. ,\l'... M. 1.nii. t'l rhai ily. - C^o^:!L• K. flarnirl iindrr .cunlrnct for r'rpii.v'iiiKl. jior I'olly .'^iins. Kr.iii'l- .Hiiii'; .(liTti'.ifi, nii'l Jddii H. . ;irl'.-. Ill'', priivuting Ifi-show p'|,. • v;ilh li : iiumbf;r of rirlc!'. 64 VARtETY I>ear Henry Hathaway; Barrett W/llougmby San Carlos, Californm July 27 1938 Paramount'o ^ accident i ha.r.,^ fPlendfafbr'"' SVi^^''* ""e^ yoS^h"'"" ''^^i-'h does no**' For forgot P^?""^ »e theyTelr°/.1f^^ the pre.- to see *PP®ned to I l>usiness on +h * i?® stores t^e'lis^trfS'^VK^^^ - we1?e' ^1?"^. --'rrone^'tasTl^^^^* The little sLi ^^^y «ay it fs *l>out the%? S^^'^S I wanted tn RADIO SCREEN STAGE PRICE l»uhll!ih«d- Werikly M U4 West ACfh Straet, N«w TorU. N T.. by Variety. Ina Annual subacrlptinn, IS SIneU cnp)e», IS cciiiji. Kniereil aa aecond-clasi mttrer December 2S, 19011, at the Post orrice at New 7nrk, N Y., uniler the act o( March >, Uit. Cni'TKUiliT. IHSB. BT VAHIKIY. INC. AIL RKillTS KRSKKVKD. Vol.131 No. 11 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24. 1938 56 PAGES BOXOmCES ON THE UPBEAT Legit Boom Bringing Back Inactive Producers to Broadway Broadway Is speeding up legit pro- duction;! expecting a boom 1938-39 season that should top last year's schedule. Managers who- have been Inactive in past seasons are back in the running. Others who have pro- ductions on their 'must' schedules are looking for additional scripts. In- dicated, too, that more than the usual Bfflo'unt of outside money , is being attracted to Broadway in anticipa- tion that the New York World's Fair boom show business. • September and October are set to get at least 17 new shows, with the ultimate total possibly approaching tbe late inrush figures of former sea- sonal starts. Last September seven shows arrived and by . the end of October there had been 14 new diows in all. Late in the starting month, one hit had been scored, The Star WagOti,' and in October another came along, 'Susan and God,' along with only two moderate cliclcs. It was not until Novemljer that the sea- ion got into stride, that month seeing the arrival of the season's top mu- sical, 'I'd Rather Be Right.' • Labor Day this year will come and go without any debuts, the llrst listed being 'You Never Know' (Shuberts), at the Winter Garden, Sept. 12. Next li^t may see 'Once Upon a Night (Continued on page 22) NBC TO SCREEN-TEST OWN FOR STUDIO SALE Hollywood, Aug. 23. National Broadcasting Co.'s art- ists service is planning a depart- ment to screen test its clients for sale to picture studios. Would be similar to waxing its people for agencies and sponsors. Plant on Melrose avenue, , soon to be vacated for the new structure at Sunset and Vine, would be util- ized for the testing, ll Dace Orders Legh, Films Quit Handshake For the Fascist Salute f Rome, Aug. 13. When players greet each other on the Italian stage or screen, they will do so hereafter by giving each other tte fascist salute. Handshaking has been abolished by order of the Min- istry of Popular Culture. .At the same time, 'thou,' which the Fascist party has taken up of late, is Jrtade compulsory in films and legit, la place of 'you.' While the Minis- expecU this regulation to go into elect immediately, films now in the leaking need not. be changed to suit the new ruling, with 'thou' not being «oligatory for films until October. Then it will be the prescribed form «r Italian-made films as well as for foreign ones dubbed in Italian. Final fascist touch decreed by the Ministry for the Arts is new regu- lation requiring all orchestra con- auctors at the outdoor operas and wncerts of the summer season to wear the uniform of the Fascist party at their performances. JAI-AIAI'S S. A. TOUCH Management of the Hippodrome, "■ X. will lend a little s.a, touch to "eir^jai-alai games which start on Hipp suge in September, .specially selected Cuban and Mexi- «n chiquiUs, with emphasis on looks 5?|ner, than ushering ability, ave hired to add extra heat to the 'Wrid Latin sport Gert Lawrence Plans Memorial To Edwm Booth San Francisco, Aug. 23. As a tribute to Edwin Booth; who once played the title role in 'Hamlet' in a theatre in Angels Camp, a his- toric mining town in California, Ger- trude Lawrence plans to restore the theatre in which the performance was given. The owners of the land on which the theatre once stood have offered it ,to her gratuitously. The star is now making negotiations for a strip of land leading from the main street to the theatre, which stood, until fue destroyed it 10 years ago, on the top of a small hill. Miss Lawrence has three plans to obtain $25,000, ' which will be re- quired to rebuild and equip the structure with duplicates of the original features. The first would be by private sub- scription, the second al all-star bene fit with the cooperation of the Play ers' Club, which Booth founded in New York and subsidized, and the third through a . series of special matinees of her starrer, 'Susan and God,' during the remainder of its tour. Producer John Golden would be the first contributor to the sub scription fund should the plan go through. If the plan materializes, Miss Lawrence will. return here for the redcdication of the theatre, after her .London engagement in 'Susan' ne.-it April. Glorifying the Groan-Box E.\celsior Accordion Co., subsid of Wurlitzer, will underwrite publica- tion and eurto distribution of a book to popularize use of the wind-box among swing and jazz bands. Wind- jammer has been too long as.socialed with gyp.sy and continental en- sembles, figure manufacturers. Tito aiid Swingctte, five-piece combo of three groaners, a bas.'- and guitar will be heavily featured throughout tome on 'Hints on Swing for the Accordion,' 'IILEIC T OFF BIG PIX BIZ Outlook, Unlike Last Au- gust, Much Brighter — Last Year It Bogged Down After OK Start — This Year the New, Sea- son's Later and B.O. Long- livity Extended Where Win the New Talent Come From? Again a Show Biz Headache EX GOV. HOFFMAN TO NEWSCAST ON COMM'L PRODUCT LINEUPS Paced by 'Alexander's .Ragtime Band' (20th- Fox), early season ptie- releases of the major film companies are lifting the nation's boxoffices to the usual seasonal upward treiid. Although receipts have not reached the high returns'of August, 1937,. re- ports from important key first runs indicate to industry observers that the potentialities for good autumn business are in evidence. Anxiety is being .replaced by a healthy op- timism that the rising curve in pub- lic attendance may continue for some weeks. Showmen are not unmindful of the events of a year ago when a record- breaking August was followed b. a severe drop at the toxoffice in suc- ceeding months. In that respect the film industry followed the general business trend of the country iii^til late fall found the entertainment field in the grip of repression. Miisled by early returns, most o.', the major companies found themselves in the (Continued on page 19) KiUERDILLERS ON PARK AVE. Emil Coleman and Benny Good- man will officiate in the Sert and the Empire rooms, of the Hotel Waldorf- Astoria, New York, this fall, making It a departure for the snooty Waldorf so far as swing bands are concerned. Coleman shifts to Park avenue from the Hotel St. Regis, where he had been a fixture for some seasons. The St. Regis, loo, i.s going in for departures, including a colored swing band. Billy Hicks, in the grill room (Maisonette Russe). vice Cornelius Cgdolbari's usual tzigane combo. Up- .slairs. in the Iridium Room, a new pianisl-conduclor, C h a r 1 ^'s Baum. who premiered af the helm of his own combo at the Essex House last winter, will do the honors, in Cole- man's place. The St. Regis will al.so add a little more elaborateness to it.-- fioor show, via a miniature ice frolic, a la the Hotel New Yorkcr'.s type of .shbw.s: Heretofoie. the Iridium was cor.tcnt with lhc;Colcman band prin- cipally, and one other specialty. Ex-Governor Harold G. Hoffman, of New Jersey, is being readied for a radio berth on station WOR, New- ark-New York, He'll go on as a commentator and political analyzer. Contracts are to be signed by local N. J. wine company within th-: fortnight. Hoffman is already coh:- mitted to the station. Roosevelt-MBS Hookup Inspires Much Curiousity Chicago, Aug. 23. Since amalgamation of Elliott Roosevelt's Texas State Network with Mutual Broadcasting System, execs of Mutual have been besieged with ticklish questions by rnagazine.s, listeners and newspapers. All queries hinge on possible political ramifications or reforms because o£ this connection. Wonderment, is being expressed a.s' to whether or not MBS would be- come unofficial mouthpiece for or possible favorite megaphone of President Roosevelt. Conjuring up political significance, busybodics want info on possible change in at- titude of the anti-New Deal Chicago Tribune, which owns station WGN, a main cog of Mutual. Minor execs and employees are referring all wires, calls, ncws- (Gontinued on page 27) Whence new talent for . pictures, legitimate and radio will come in the next few years is currently develop- ing into a problem in show busl« ness. It is becoming increasingly dif- ficult to get proper talent in all three classes of the amusement world, but radio and the legit stage probably won't feel the rub. for sevcrar years to come. With the screen it is a pressing, vital matter. So much so that major film company reps are considering regular training school for neo- phytes, starting alrnost immediately. Several companies will watch the legit season this year closely and iC it fails to show more signs of re- viving than displayed in recent sea- sons will resort to an intensive school setup. ■ While films, radio and legit in the past had been accustomed to depend- ing on vaudeville, stock and bur- lesque for new material, these three sources of supply today , are virtually obliterated. There is scattered vaude- (Contlnued on page 22) St. Louis Station Ready As Wrong-Way Corrigan Is Nearly Wrong Again St. Louis, Aug. 23. On a hunch that Douglas Corrigan would do the wrong thing Monday (22) when he visited St. Louis, Gene Kemper, p.a., arid Allan Anthony, chief gabber of KWK, made a hook- up at the Parks Air College, south of East St. Louis, and waited for things to happen. About 20 minutes before Corrigan was skedded to land at the St. Louis municlpiil airport to start a parade through the city, his plane appeared at Parks' field.' Corrigan circled the field several limes almost landed, discovered he was at the wrong place, and sped (Continued on page 38) Phil Spitalny> Alt Girl Singing Orcliestra *The Hour of Charm^ NOW Paramount New York Held Over For Second Week VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, August, 24, 19,18 WASHINGTON'S RED-BATTING PROBES REGARDED M A ONE« a^^ Dies Committee JEven Rings In Shirley Temple— It's a Gsig, but Fix Heatedly Deny Communistic As- persions— ^WP A Plays Scored Washington, Aug. 23. . High or low in Red-baiting or something or other was reached here: yesterdiy (22), when a witness" be- fore special (Dies) House Committee probing uhrAmencan activities, said Shirley Temple is one of a hal£- dozeii big names in pix aiding Cbiti- munists; 'Unwittingly,' said James B. Matthews, former Communist organ- izer, about everybody in Hollywood except Mickey Mouse, Charley Mc- Cartijy and Snow. White has been signed up for sake of names in some Communist front organization. Six stars were fingered by Mat- thews as saving loaned names .'un- wittingly' to Reds for propaganda purposes.' Miss Temple, Ciark Gable, Robert Taylor and James. Caghey sent greetings to Paris newspaper, Ce Soir, own6d outright by Reds, while Bette Davis and Miriam Hop- kins, have let names be used by League of ' Wornen Shippers, which- hais a Red hookup, witness charged. 'No one is going to claim that:any of these persons .In particular is a Communist,' said Matthews, 'but their names have definite propaganda value which; the party is quick ' to exploit' More substantial in . past week's de- velopments before latest- one-ring Congressional circus- were charges, that Federal Theatre projects in New York (WPA operated) favor uhr skilled members of Workers' Alliance (allegedly a Communist outflit) over unemplpyed professionals who won't sign up with WA. Sex- reared its head' in .hearings, as cquawkers told : of New York City parties where Negroes -danced with white girls, and of a rehearsal where & Negro tried to date a white girl player. Wallace R. S.tark, late employee of the New York Theatre Project, said the present workers on . the Project are afraid to testify fof fear of losing jobS; Others testified, however, in' eluding Leo Dawson, charging Proj ect produces Communistic plays and distributes Communistic literature. Said he yelped and, was disciplined. Other witnesses bore out the Re- publican waU made 10 days ago ^that Workers' AlUance is being used ' In New York, at least, as an 'employ ment agency' for theatre projects to the detriment of professionals., who might' be used. Hollywood Protests Earlier charges of financial sup • port given Communist party by big boys in Hollywood brought heated I ■Workers' Alliance members. Mrs. Hallie Flannagan, national .director of the Project, was uiiwiliing to in- terfere with New York' activities. Hazel Huffman, secretary of Com- mittee on Relief Status, of Profes- sional Theatre Employees of New York Federal Theatre Project, charge^d Mrs. . Flannagan- with using: position to 'further Communist .causes.' Said official Is co-author of a project play knocking the American form of governments Most .' definite . .Charges concern 'Sing for Your .Supper' ^ompan.v, where all non-members , of the Workers' Alliance were dropped and. members retained, or new players, members pt WA, hired in place of nonrmembers dropped. Week of activity found committee jumping from V Theatre Project to Hairy' Bridges' CIO-Red status; from New York to Hollywood and back. (General attitude here is that probe is good one-ring circus, but flash ia pani except that it -may succeed, in smoking out facts as to whether qiisflifled unemployed play- ers in New 'York are being dis- criminated against in Project cast- ing, unless - they join. Workers' Al- liance, . JUNE'S 10% TAX mm BEHIND YEAR AGO Coiumnisf on Yacash By JACK OSTERMAN We tried to get some guests . to write this pillar or pillow but found all the columnists were either away or at Loew's State. We decided we wanted to go up to 73d street to see- our mother for a couple of weeks, bags were packed, tickets bought but seems we couldn't, get away from 46th street, . So while the spirit iis away the body remains at the Underwood;- Suppose we could take a vacation, wiiere would we go?- .The mouii-' tains? Of course not — we've seen condensed ver^siohs of 'Rio: Rita' and 'Whoopee,' we've heard all the m.c.s' introductions and, besides, the noodle soup is better, in Lindy's and you can get lead sheets of: the latest songs for a chaser. Atlantic City? Not while there's, a swimming pool in the Park Cen- tral which we don't go to either. And. as far as. the Steel Pier is con- cerned; which, personally we think is made of wood,- it's too much- exer- cise to. walk its length. Bermuda- no! We can't ride a bycycle and if you want to stroll d?wn the board- walk, what's wrong with Sixth Ave- nue? And so we settled to spend our vacation, which now has been going on for a year, in the office where the .typewriters beat like thurider on the road to what-you- say, arid you're only a stone's throw from the Luxor baths. 'Who could, ask for anything more?'— except Ethel Merman, who sang it. : Other News of Interest to Films British Film Bank to finance, pix... Setting PommerrLaughtoh pix in Australia.......... U. S-'s eight films at Venice exposition i... ....... ■Good News' and 'Hollywood Hotel' all set for new season.. No rush by radio for Coast names. ....... Virginia Verrill joins Jack Haley iradio show.. Survej^ of television abroad. .-. :. i Radio reviews: Laurence Tibbett, Elisabeth Bergner Metro-Robbins after Villa Morefs music catalog Par-WB mixup over 'Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride' W. A. Brady's brmg-back-the-road plqn. . . . . Bankhead's 'I Am Different'. ................ ■Page 11 .Page U ■Page 11 ■Page, 25 Page 25 ..Page 25 .Page 33 ■ Page 38 ■ Page 39. ..Page 39 ..Page 47 .Page 48 GNs $71^7 Cash and $7i004 In liabilities; Edoc. Merger Up for OK OK WITH COWDIN Quickie Survey Satisfies V'a Bead That All's Well Washington, Aug. 23. ' For the fourth consecutive month Federal revenues from 10% tax, on admissions fell behind the 1937 bite in last month, Treasury Department figures show today. : Federal grab in July, reflecting June b.p. biz, was $1,618,813, a . drop of $14,275 from same month last.year, and comparing with: $1,5,08,487 take in July, .1936,- With exception of June haul, wiiich wa.s- $229,000 better' than . May, re- ceipts have been falling eaph month since March. For first seven months of this year Federal bite totals $10,- 965,572, , compared with $11,153,100 last year. denials, including telegram from W i CHAS. ROGERS AFTER S. Van Dyke, Metro director, who is president of the Academy ot Mo tion Picture: Arts and Science?, and v.p. of Screen Directors' Guild. "Von Dyke called Committee Investigator Edward F. Sullivan 'a very common liar' lor his charge that the pix in- dustry is a 'hotbed of Communism. CROSBY AND OTHERS Hollywood, Aug. 23, Cltarles R. Rogers is dickering ith Bing Crosby to make his an _.,.,„,. „ ,. . ,1 "I'^l 'outside' picture allowed under Charles Walton N J. di rector of Ciosby's Paramount contract. Theatre Proi^t. testified WPA Pro- Meanwhile Rogers is trying to ductlon^Board Chief .George Kon- round up a group of stars to on- dolf told him he could not dean up! able him to get a United Artists ro- Frojects 'cesspool of un-American- 1 leasing agreement ism' because his hands were tied I ■. - ' ■ by 'an unseen force in Washing- ton,' intimation being it was hi?h WPA official. Mixing? Walton told of attending party, largely attended by; Theatre Proj- ect and .Workers' Alliance members, at which white girls danced with colored men. Sally Saunders, Vi- enna-born member of the cast of 'Sing for Your , Supper," in New York, tcstifled a tiegro youth tried to date her at a : rehearsal, and that others in production, including pro- ducer Harold Hecht. deprecated the incident. She applied for and gut a transfer. Francis Verdt, New Yoric play- wright and actor, said he had been demoted from director to actor be- cause of opposition to Workers' Al- liance. Last year he investigitted 30% payroll slash in Projects' casts for Actors' Equity, he isaid, and found 175 professionals dropped, while 15(); players, "who had no right to be' on the Project' were retained, together , with another. 100 whose stage' qualifications he, called 'very dubious.' Project attempted to quash report. Verdi charged, - because a large ntimber of amateurs retained were SAILINGS Sept. 19 (New Zealand to San Francisco),. Lawrence Tibbett (.Mon terey). ■ Sept. 3 (New York to Genoa), Nor- man Krasna (Contie di Savoia). Aug. 27- (Bermuda to New; York ), Carl Fischer, Mary Mason (Monarch of Bermuda): Aug. 24 (New York to London), Gabriel Pascal, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Hammerstein, 2d, Mrs. Milton BioW ((^ueeh Mary); Aug. 24 . (New York to London), Diamond Bros"., Mr, and Mrs. Tpin Mix (Paris). Aug. 23 (Paris to New York), N. L. Nathanspn (Empress of Britain). Aug. 23 (New York to Hamburg), Florencisi Wickham (Bremen ). Aug. 20 (New, York to London), Phil Reisman, Irving Maas, Mr. and Mrs. Ericii Pommer (He de France). Aug. 20 (New York to London), hiita Croft, Mrs. Dudley Nichols (Gebrgic). Aug. 20 (Bermuda Cruise), R. K-. Hawkinsoh (Cariiithia). Aug. 19 (Los Angeles to Honolulu), Mr. and Mrs. George N. Blatchf ocd (Lurilne). Now It' Can Be Told Ysecond editioTil , Now it can be told that Paul Whiteman-once played violin for- the late Art Hickman, who was. the first in San Francisco .to take an orches- tration and make a special arrange- ment of same... Joe (magnate) Schenck was a drug clerk in Olieff's drugstore, No. 9 Bowery where he, saved up enough aspirins to sbothe his competitors today. . .Willie How- ard, who just sent us a postal of a banana tree in Honolulu whicii he mistboic for salami, started as: water boy at Proctor's. 125th, -n^hile Frank (Bring ''Em Back Alive) Buck was a Milwaukee bellboy prior to his, mar- riage, years ago, to one of our fore- most critics on Chicago Daily News Amy Leslie. .. One' of our leading lyricists was in btirlesque tor coffee and cake before this mugg, .who was too busy at the Winter Garden at the time, introduced him to Bobliy Crawford. . .Mack (3ordon (and Revel) is the guy, and Earl (through these portals) Carroll was a program boy at Nixon's Pittsburgh. Hollywood, Aug. 23. After three days at the studio con- fering with Cliff Work, Matty Fox and Wtilton Feld on production mat- ters, J. (jheever Cowdin, returned east Monday (22). He flew in Fri- day. ... , Said he is highly pleased with, the situation -at Universal and that the company has plenty of coin on hand; with current releases doing nice biz. 2 Thoughts While Strolling It the Marie Antoinette hotel were whitewashed as much as the picture is, it would look like a brand new hotel, but Norma Shearer looks more beautiful than ever... Jack Robbins heard a guy say, to his gal, 'I want to see the Shirley Temple picture.* The girl asked, 'Who's in it?'... The Ambers-Armstrong fight proved that Armstrong, the fighter, can be dCr pended on more than Armstrong, the racing form., .Is Alexander Korda's 'Drums,' Berlin's picture taking a cut?. Normanly Playing Out Hjs String at UniTersal Hollywood, Aug. 23. James- P. Normanly, -former Uni- versal comptroller, is back on the lot working put a contract which has two years to run. A member of the old diaries E. Rogers regime, Normanly returned from a vaca- tion three months ago to find his job gone. Three months of dickering failed to provide a satisfactory settlement of the contract. Now he is doing assigned tasks in the accounting de- partment. Pic Lobbyist Cleared Sacramento, Aug.. 23. Charges of perjury against Arthur H. Samish were dismissed in police court through lack of evidence, Samish had been accused of giv- ing false testimony to the grand jury in connection with lobbying for motion picture agients.' VS. CONDOR PICTURES :Two groups, totaling 105 stock- holders of .CJondor Pictures, Inc., new- in process of rieorganizing in Cali- fornia undier 77B of the -Federal bankruptcy act, filed suits in N. Y. federal coiirt last -week against the corporation, its officers and directors and 35 others./ It. is claimed by the pliaintiffs that 'misleading statements concerning Condor's financial condi- tion were filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission and resulted in losses to the stockholders. The first suit was begun by a group of 92 on Thursday (18). This was fol- lowed Friday by a second action,' based on the same complaint by a batch of .13 stockholders. Both actions are directed against George A. Hirliman, former presi- dent of Condor; .Its officers, and di- t-ectors and '25 other individuals. The 92 seek to recover $491300 dam- ages, while the other 13 want $12,900 which they claim they lost through the acts of the defendants. Hollywood,. Aug. 23. - Under its commitment to Grand National to produce 18 features and eight westerns Fine Arts receives . 25,000 .'shares of, common stock, in the merged GN-Educational company. ■ Deal comes up in Federal court Aiig. 27 for approval. Upon completed de- livery of its rictures. Fine Arts also gets an option to buy 100,000 addi- tional shiares. . Along with the .petition for the merger's okay, GN is submitting its: financial condition, listing a consoli- dated cash balance, as of Jliiy 30, at $71,487 and liabilities at $74,004. Educationals purchase of GN assets calls for Educ to buy back, for cashi - 'at two-thirds par value, any part or. . all of the $300,000 preferred stock in the New , Grand National, issued to GN trustees at the time ol purchase, i The new corporation also turns over to GN trustees $50,000 in cash; 219.- 563 shares common; and warrants to buy additional l(f0,782 shares sion—T-Relinquishing the Duds D. W. GRIFFITH WOULD PRESERVE OLD SETS Although promising-conditions and the outlook for the future may re- sult in more than the usual activity in building or promoting of theatres : lor leasing through' local or other outside interests, the producer-dis- tributors with chains are making no deals for any expansion. While: sit- ting tight in view of the recent anti- trust action' and chain divorcement, the major' chains, however, are go- ing through on all building, leasing or lease renewing plans laid prior, to filing of the U. S. suit. Not many theatres for any of the major chains are under construction or planned under priol: deals at the moment but as old leases go out in spots, it is possible that some houses, presently Operated or sublet may be dropped. This will depend partly on the present agitation by the Gov- ernment and on chain divcircement, but also partly and more importantly In most instances on the value of re- newing leases of theatires concerned. In a chain like Paramount^ which is twice as. large as any other, most of the less desirable theatres were washed out during bankruptcy and- reorganization, with new leases on others, at better terms, written at that time and since then. Qnletng en PaoUnjr The renewal of poolinjg arrange- ments is least likely of all, the ten- dency for more than six months hav- ing been to -either not renew pools or break them up. This tendency ■was born out, of fear that Govern- meHit dislike of -pools might react against the industry if too favored by the big producer-distributor chain Interests. The Warner. RKO, Loew and Fox- West Coast (National) chains have added a few houses to their chains during the past year, but Paramount leads all in expansion, either through wholly - owned, partly -owned or lease-controlled theatres. Several theatres on which deals were 'made a year ago or before the anti-trust suit was filed,' opened for Par during July and this month. These include the new Comerford at Wilk«s-Barre, Pa., a 2,040-seat house, which opened Thursday (18). Par has an Indirect interest in the Comerford circuit. Others swinging open for ?ar and dates are the Victory, Savannah, in the Lucas-Jenkins partnershipj July 29; the Clarion, Clarion; Iowa, in the A. H. Blank group, July 28; the Up- town, Bath, Me., part of Par's New England Theatres, Inc., Aug. 8; and and the University, Charlottesville, ■Va.-, operated for Par by Hunter Perry, Aug. 11. RKO on Aug. 11 opened the RKO 23rd street, N. Y., which is the rebuilt Grand Opera House. EIGHT DEPART RKO WHEN PACTS RUN OUT Hollywood, Aug. 23. New list of contract players at RKO discloses eight unsigned at Ihe end of present commitments. Joe Pcnner'has no contract a.fter: 'Mr Doodle Kicks Off.' ' Marx Bros, are off the lot after 'Room Service,* a one-picture deal. Others are Rich- ard Dix, although dickering for a new contract, Bill Franey, Richard l.ane and Rita Oehman. Signed for one-picture deals are Charles Beyer. Lee Bowman, Bob Burns, Claudette Colbert, Miriam Hopkins aiid Irene Dunne. James Ellison has three films to make and Ruby. Keeler a two-picture contract. CAN'T ESCAPE IT Dot LamoDr Gets Sarong Draping For Next Pic Hollywood, Aug. 23. Dorothy Lamour. teams up again vrith her sarong ahd Jon Hall in an- other South Sea Island film to be. produced by Samuel Goldwyn from a tale by Norman Hall and Charles Noi-dhoif, authors of 'The Hurricane.' Goldwyn' draws Miss . Lamour in return for Joel McCrae,' loaned to Paramount star of Cecil B, De- Uille's 'Union Pacifie.' Ordinary Ain't Enuf Hollywood, Aug. 23. Promiscuous wearing of the ■ yachting commodore's double- anchor skimmer has the yacht owners hereabouts all riled up. Worst offenders are the studio mob, which occasionally goes : for a sail. Ordinary salts are allo-wed one anchor biit if tvro enhances the ' importance . then two it must be, no less. SLOUGH imOOQ MOPPET RACKET Hollywood, Aug. 23. In a raid on the offices of Na- tional Talent Pictures Corpi. by the L, A. bunco squad, I. C. Overdoriff, head of the school, Myrtle Over- dorff, his wife, and Edward Rose, secretary, were arrested on charges of false advertising and petty theft , , Warrant were sworn by Deputy CWy Attorney Bert McDonald on complaint of LeRoy Prinz, who de- clared his name and that of Carl Laenimle and others had been used to advertise the school. Other com- plaints had assertedly been received from various parts of the country. McDonald . estimated - last year's take at $100,C60-$125.000. Idea was to hold dance contests in the sticks, with the schools getting .$125 for the idance 'franchises* and the win- ners coming to Hollywood at. their own expense . under promise of breaking into the films. Petty theft charge resulted . from complaints of parents that they had been nicked for costumes, tests, les- sons and other items while preparing for screen careers. Police declared the school had no connection with major studios. Warrant Is oiit for W. A. Garra- bant, front man in the sticks, charged with luring more than 200 moppets and their parents to Holly- wood. Oklahoma City, Aug. 23. Status of the A. B. Momand anti- trust suit for $6,500,000 damages, naming a score of producers, distrib- utors and exhibitors remains in doubt after a preliminary hearing before Federal Judge A. P. Murrah Aug; 19 in which the strike out mo- tion of Regal Theatres was allowed, with all other quash motions de- ferred until Aug. 30. - Acting quick- ly. Judge Murrah accepted little ar- gument from either . plaintiff or de- fense lawyers but displayed a more than average interest in the case by iasking attorneys of both factions for outlines of their proposed argu- ments to be given him. immediately, together ■with all citations relative to the case, all of which he will study and take under advisement until the Aug. 30 hearing. First four motions, were those of Paramount, Warner Bros., 'Vitaphone Corp., and First' National, the latter two WB subsids. Without exception, the four quash motions claimed the firm does no business in Oklahoma and has nO' office or agents in the state. These motions were all de- ferred until Aug. 30 hearing at which time positive proof must be intro- duced that the companies are ac- tively engaged in business in Okla- homa, if the disrnlssal motions are to be overruled. Immediately following this action New York, Aug. 18. Editor, 'Variety; 1 thought you might be Interested in the following wire which I jiist received from D. W. Griffith from his home in La Grange, ky.: I have heard that Samuel Goldwyn is tearing down all the , old Pickford and Fairbanks: sets bn the United Artists lot dating back to 'The Thief of Bagdad,* : in order to replace them with sets for his. next Gary Cooper picture. The Last Frontier.' Samuel Goldwyn is a great mov- ing picture jproducer and un-. doubtedly The Last Frontier' will be another big hit for him, but those old sets which will be torn down and sold as scrap are part of the history of Hollywood and I believe they should be ■ ■ preserved! - There is nothing personal in this, but I think your 'fine mu- -' se.um, which has done so much' to perpetuate the meagre tradi- tions of the American motion' picture,, should request Mr, Goldwyn to turn these old sets over to your museum as part of a < pernianent collection so you will' at least receive some of the more tangible memories of ah important day in the evolution of the film industry. Regards, , D. W; Griffith. I think .Mr, Griffith's stand is well taken and I have for^yarded a copy of 'this telegram to Saihuel Goldwyn in the hope that the Film Library may. have his cooperation, John E. Abbott,; Director, Museum of Modern Art Film Library; SFAN SHAW'S RADIO EXPOSE^AR SHORT Stan Shaw, who conducts the 'Milkman's Matinee' program over WNEW, New York,: last week made his first film, a, one-reeler,- for Para- mount Deals with, his niethbds of broadcasting and the kind of people who listen. Paramount is also mak- ing a one-reeler with . Orrin Tucker's orchestra at the Edgewater Beach hotel, Chicago, Same studio is to film a second, 'Find What's Wrong,' short of pic- ture boners.' 'Rube Goldberg's Travel Gab,' in which the cartoon- ist debuts as an actor and travelog spieler, is slated for release in Oc- tober. United Artists withdrew its motion to quash and a few minutes latei: the Regal Theatres' quash iriotion was allowed. -A motion of RKO Radio to dismiss. RKO Distributing Corp, as a defendant in view of the fact. RKO Radio has takien over all assets of the former company was granted, but RKO's own dismissal motion was overruled. Educational Films' motion to quash was overruled. Motion to dismiss of Consolidated Amus.. Co. of Dela-<' ware was granted but the plaintiff was allowed piermission to amend and secure service on the Consoli- dated Amus. Co. of Oklahoma (Mo- mand suit had named wrong firm). A motion to dismiss Pathe Ex- change Inc., on the grounds the firm was no longer in business, was over- ruled, the court ruling that the Pathe suit stood despite the fact the company no loi\ger existed. At the hearing next Tuesday final disposition of all strike-out motions will be rnade. Following that date Momand must prove that any de- fendants who do not gain dismissal by quash motions conspired to mon- opolize product in. such' a manner as to hinder its independent distri- bution. ■ The remaining defendants will be forced to prove that their business was conducted in such a way that anti-trust laws were not violated by letter or in effect Can't Kid Us Hollywo*)d, Aug, 23. New York's big names can't take it when it comes to kid- ding on thei screen, In the iBroadway legit production of 'Room Service' 20 personalities were caricatured,, but 15 of them refused to! be spoofed in. RKO's film version. The only celebs who allowed their names to be used - were ■ Sonja • Henie, Jimmie Fidler, Nazimova, Ginger Rogers and Gregory Ratoff, BERLIN STALLS milNGALE' Irving Berlin is islated to visit Hollywood for a huddle with Darryl Zanuck in the next two or three weeks. Prime purposie is not to rush into 'Bowery Nightingale' this win- ter^ Berlin's idea being to work on it leisurely, as he' did with 'Alex- ander's . Ragtime Band,' which was over a year in the mulling. UnUke 'Alex,' 'Bowery Night- ingale' will have ho old songSi Ber- lin emphasizing that a 100% new set of tunes is good showmanship, es- pecially, in view of other studios rushing kindred themes into work. . ; Lai^ldoo's Comebadc In Fiims; Hardy's New Pard Vice Stan Laurel Hollywood, Aug. 23. .Harry Langdon signed -a four-i»ic- ture deal to replace Stan Laurel: as a team-mate of Oliver Hardy at the Hal , Roach studio. Laurel was dropped from the contract list for failure to report far retakes .on 'Blockheads.' Once a star, Laiigdon has not been before the camera in more than four years. New deal calls for full-length comedies instead of the four-reelers planned for Laurel and Hardy. First will be 'Zenobia's Infidelity,' based on a novel by H. C. Bunher. WOBBER'S SWING OF 20TH-FOX EXCHANGES Herman Wobber, sales chieftain for 20th Century-Fox, now in Holly- wood, starts from there on his: swing of the company's film exchanges which should br'ing'him east by Sept,' l5. Wobber, under five-year con- tract to 20th, although long com- mitted his native San Francisco, is moving east now that he must con- fine himself a good deal to the New York h. o, of the company. Wobbers also want to place their adopted nine-year-old daughter in an eastern school by mid-September. After getting through with an in- dustry 'best entertainment' confab in Hollywood, plus the National Theatres (Fox- West Coast) pow- wows in Los Angelesi Wobber starts his eastern trek. LeRoy Teeing Off At M-G with Rainer Pic Hollywood, Aug. 23. 'Dramatic School," starring Liiise Rainer, will be Mervyn LeRoy's first Metro production instead of 'The Wizard of Oz,' as originally sched- uled. Picture rolls next week, ith 'Wiz- ard' slated to follow. Tone May Stick Around In Hollywood After All Hollywood, Aii^. 23. Franchot Tone may not desert Hollywood after all. He's reported talking a new deal with Metro on expiration of his con- tract in November. Arlen, Silvers' Personals Richard Arlen and Sid Silvers are heing submitted in the east by Charlie Allen for personal appear- ances, , Pair are now on the Coast and will come east as soon as Allen lines up couple of dates. Individual acts. N. Y. FAIR'S BIG FILM BALLYHOO Three major feature productions, involving or featuring the New York World's Fair, presently ^re pen.ding; Initial, plans have been submitted, to exposition ofiicials. One would tie ' produced in color. Besides these, features, two shortsi one to be done in color, are being planned on the 1939 fair. There are about 20 pictures of different types being made, about or featuring the N, Y, exposition in some way. These not only are be- ing produced by industrial firms but include ' foreign natiotis and several states, including New Hampshire, : Maine, Pennsylvania and . Arkansas. 'Cavalcade of America' Indication that there might be some dispute just what title would ,be: used on 'Cavalcade of America,* epic feature which the film industry is making for the New York Wor!d!s- Fair, loomed this week. Spbkesitian for the Federal Government in N. Y. said that the working title is "These United States,' and that the object of the- film was to show strides made in educating the. people of U. S. during last ISO years. However, "Cavalcade* title prob- ably will be final one, since it is fa- vored by the motion picture industry which is turning out the production. Film will be presented to the Gov- ernment for screen in the Federal Bldg, at the fair. Will be shown continuously in auditorium seating 450. Film business still regards the $1.- 200,000 epic as its contribution to. the .New York exposition, although it is, officially presented to the'U. S. gov- ernment ■for exhibition in 1939. Feature picture giving a dramatic outline on the history of motion pic- tures will be made by the Film Li- braiy of the Museum- of Modern Art and set for general release, accord- ing to John Hay Whitney, president John Abbott, who directs the Film Library, went to the Coast this week seeking cooperation of major studios. - Production is first made by any such educational-cultural institution for nationwide release. ' Film will show developments of picture indus- try froni beginning to piresent. ' The Museum's. Film Library has collected 800 significant pictures from every, part of the world for use in colleges, rnuseums and for study groups. . Abbott was sent to Hollywood un- der sponsorship of Museum trustees, who , include Nelson A. Rockefeller, ■ treasurer; Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, William S. Paley, A, Conger Good- year, president; Edsel B. Ford and Edward M. M. 'Warburg, Advisory committee of Film Li- brary consists of Will Hay.<;, chair- man; Stanton Griffls, Jules E, Brula- tour, Sidney R. Kent, Dr, Erwin Pa- nofsky of Princeton; J, Robert Rubin and David H. Stevens, director of the Rockefeller Foundation. Hollywood; Aug. 23. Marshall Neilan and Budd Schul- berg are readying 'Cavalcade of Hol- lywood,' a picture dealing with the histoi-y of Hollywood from a busi- ness and social standpoint Neilan recently spent six weeks in New York on research work. -' Railroads' Spec Eastern railroads will take a header into show biz next spring with a 'production' at the N. Y. World's Fair. It will be a pageant, 'Railroads on Parade,' depicting the history of transportation and will have a cast of about 200, with six elaborate settings, 20 or 30 real trains, SO horses, wagons, revolving stages, etc. Show will be sponsored . by the Eastern Presidents' Conference, representing 27 lines including the N. Y. Central, which is in charge of the production, and the Pennsyl- vania, New Haven, Reading and Baltimore & Ohio, Opus will be staged in an outdoor amphitheatre seating 4,000. Scale will be 50c for reserved seats and 25c general ad- mission. Sets and costumes were designed by Horner, theatrical' scenic designer, and are already being built. About 1,000 costumes will be used. Entire production will cost $300,000. Among the effects on the 200-foot stage will be reproductions of town's, bridges, tunnels, etc. Locomotives will.be of various vintages. Many of the actors will speak lines. • Court Denies Strike-Out Notions In Momand Suit; At Bat Aug. 30 ^ednesdaf, August 24,; 193S PICTURES VARIETY S Nothing interior, ^^^^ i Washington, Aug, 23. Department of Justice disclaiins any political intent in allowing continuance from Aug; 16 to Nov. 1 in time lor filing answers in the inotion picture Industry's anti-trust suit, noting that matter is so 'complicated and Important* postponement was imperative. Fact is, however, \yitH new filing date, issues will! not be joined in time for trial much before; December, and after the November Con- ferMsionai elections. Earliest date trial could be brought with Nov. 1 filing is Novl 4, but this is most unlikely. Election Day is Nov. 8: Court will not know officially, under present continuance scheme, whether Industry Is willing to concede some of Government charges by consent decrees. At issue are points involving divorcing of exr hibition and production; bah on pooling or loaning 6f playersi and other Hollywood workers. Films and Radio to Plug the City Cleveland, Aug. 23. Irked because other cities under Cleveland's 1.000,000 population fig- ure are copping more national pub- licity than it - is, the town's civic backers are adopting all ihe known tricks of theatrical showmanship in a 1838-39 drive to put it pn the map. Coinrnittee made up of 1,000 busir hess leaders; is putting the bee not only on radio stations but film com- panies to plug the country's sixth largest city as an industrial . center. Heaviest pressure being laid on newsreel companies covering: na- tional air races held here over Labor Day- \ycekend. Before ■ okaying carnera space, CHR Henderson, manr aging director,, is trying'to get lens- ers to take aeriial shots of downtown secfioii as well as the races. , Chamber of Commerce also PUII7 Ing strings with Hollywood studios using air-race scenes in future fea- tures, asking them to name Cleve- land as locale of stories. Last plug of this order was in "Test Pilot,' but It wasn't very complimentary. Roy Rogers No. I Soes ic for 150G; Claims Name Steal Hollywood, Aug. 23. Charging his name is being capi- talized by Republic on another, Roy • Rogers, veteran vaude actor, sued studio for $150,000 and seeks restrain- ing order to prevent the further use of his name. . Republic's Roy Rogers, center of the controversy, Js really Leonard Slye, according to, the complaint, and later appeared in westerns as Dick Weston. Plaintiff Rogers has played bits in pictures occasionally, Parites AH Over the Maip On Business and Vacash ^ Present legal matters not inter- fering and with Louis Phillips, his chi^ aide, back from Mexico, Austin C. Kepugh, v.p, and chief counsel of Paramount, left Saturday (20) for several weeks' rest. Irving, Cohn, attached to the Par legal department, also got away. Phillips, who was en route to Mexico when the anti- trust suit and the North Dakota de- leat broke, got baclt di-ring the past ■^eak. Another Par attorney, Arthur Israel, returned also fronii Cincin- nat;, where he 'conferred on renewal lliere'^ ^^^^'^ ^""^ excliange: With Stanton L. Griffis having left ahead of him for Europe, another ex.ccutive, Paul iiaiboume, head W the statisliral department and nnanclal adviser to l.arney Balaban, sailed Wednesday (17) for the other Side. . Y. Frank, Freeman, who was due Dacl'.last week from Asheville. N. C, ?o,a"'^'' eturr un^il Monday '^^V; Paul Phillips, of hib dopaii- mcnt and in charge oif theatre rbal estate, is . in Cape Girardeau, Mo., on' "IS first vacation in years. It's his' non.i town. ■ Dorante's Protege ■ Jimmy Durante.' has pulled an Eddie Cantor aind ■ is bankrolling Tommy Shearin, an .east side New York kid, through singing school for possible future, Duriante has kid un- der contract. Juve was discovered singing in a saloon for nickels. PK EXCHANGES AVERT EXHIB WAR IN MO. St. Louis, Aug. 23, A threatened war between the Lead Belt Amus. Co., controlled by Mrs. John Karsch, and a chain of houses .owned by R. W. Corblh, Des- loge, Mo., has been averted and a move of Corbin to combine his houses with the powerful Frisina Amus. Co. of Springfield, 111., which operates in southern Illinois, Mis- isouri and Iowa, has been ditched, : The trouble .started when Lead Belt announced it would invade Des- loge by erecting a 500-seater to com- pete with Corbin's New Grand, 340- seater. When' Corbin heard of the proposed invasion he announced he would combine with the Frisina in- terests and move into a competitive basis with the Lead BeU Co. in Bonne Terre, Farmington and Flat River, Mp., and would build a new $35,000 house in Farmington, also in Missouri. The peace pact was sighed when Lead Belt Co. took over Corbin's house in Dcsloge for an unannounced consideration. Managers of local ex- changes were credited, with arrang- ing the peace negotiations by point- ing out that such a war would be disastrous to both interests. 'Aid Spam ' Group Ties In With 'Blockade'Pic . Ottawa, Aug. 23. An unauthorized tie-in with ■ the presentation of 'Blockade' (UA) in theatres of Ontario by the 'Youth Committee to Aid Spain' is causing some concern to both theatre man- agers and Cjovernmcnt officials. First the Knights of Coliihibus fried to block the showing of film as propa- ganda and now this organization has seized upon it as a means to add fuel to the fire. As they leave a perrormance, patrons ere invitee by distributed heralds to make a, contribution on the spot to i.elp the, Spanish. people 'because of the rhurder and suffering brought , upon the woir.en and chil- dren of Spain, by the planes and bombs of Hitlei and Mussolini,' With the theme of the picture fresh in their minds, the paople road. 'Yoii can helo to save the growing genera- tion of Spain.' CI1EIITE8 II FIELD OM FflR LiyERS Paramount, Loew's, RKO, WB and 20th-Fpx, :witli Theatre AflFiliations, May Have to Go Beyond that, Because of the Divorce- nient Agitation — North Dakota Appeal Must Be Disposed oiF Firsit TRIAL IN '39-^MAYBE Win, lose or draw, mc^jor film com- panies face the prospect of a bill for legal services of not less than $1,500,000 in defending the U. S. Gov- ernment's anti-trust suit filed ih the Southern District of New' York. Federal court has granted a rou- tine motion by film companies to ex-, tend to Nov. 1 the date for filing answers to the Department of Justice complaint which na.ued the eight major distributois and 122 individual executives and company /directors. Preparation of lat-. required by at- torneys is being organized under a committee of cours-.l. E>;tensive of- fice quarters on '.he 22d floor of 28 West 44th street are being outfitted for legal staff and examiners who are working in the interests of tlie de- fendants. Headquarters are adjacent to offices of the Motion Picture Pro- ducers and Distributors of America^ Inc. (Hays office). Cost of legal defense will fall about equally on all of the major com- panies inasmuch a.> , the anti-trust charges are aimed against all of them. Some additional points will be cpve'red necessarily by the five majprs. Paramount, Loew's, RKO, Warners and 20th Century-Fox, .which are named also as theatre- owning concerns. Some of the defendant companies already have retained 'outside coun- sel. Two of the larger cbnceriis, Loew's and Vitagraph (Warners) have not gone outside the legal staff pf their ov h companies for assist- ance. Included in the legal talent array which is assembling for the indus- try's; greatest lawsuit are O'Brien, Driscoll Sc Raftery, . representing United Artists; Schwartz. & Froelich, Columbia; Simpson, Thatcher & Bartlett, Paramount; Dwight, Harris, Koegei & Caskey, 20th-Fox; Dono- van, Leisure, Newton & Lumbard, RKO and Irving Trust Co., trustee; Chadbpurne, Hunt, Jaekel & Brown, Universal. Loew's, Inc., and Vita- graph are . represeniec' at all pre- liminary discussions by J. Robert Rubin and Robert . W Perkins, re- spectively. No one conversant with the multi- plicity of details encountered in de- fending an action as sweeping in its allegations as the Govbrnmcnt's suit would make any prediction as to the time when the issuei finally will tie heard in court. It has not yet been decided by counsel for thi: defendant companies whet.ier they will act throughout the proceedings under a program of joint defense, Or whether one or more of the concerns will put in individual defense. Closest guess is that the case vvill not get to trial before the aut'jmn of 1939.. First, That N. D.' Appeal With the industry Defendants per- mitted until Nov. 1 tp answer the Governmental charges and allcga- tion.s, make n.otionj or take other action, no matter vl -'I'v is the exact date, or whether further legal ram- ifications hold up aciua< start, there seems little chance that tfie Federal suit will get much airii:g before the U. S.. Supreme Court hands down its decision in the North Dakota theatre divorcement law. Normally that, should be decided bv the highest tribiin.ii this fall This is taken - to mean in the trade that the con.sti- tulionality if the N. D. theatre di- vorcement law. on '.•vhich hintature3 will be made at a studio in Union City, N. J, Milton J. Schwarzwald, who turns out musical shorts, ill make two .series this fall, one for RKO and one for Universal. Warner Bros.' enlarged its Brook- lyn short feature studio about a year aco ostensibly for, shorts alone. HOw- ever,, tho.se who have viewed the two new stages iand like number of older stages, together'.wilh elaborate enuipment.. claim that facilities are ' adequate for feature pictures if the occasion should rise. Paramount is set to do a consider- able number of band .shorts In the east. In recent years Warner Bro.s. has dominated lhi.s particular branch of shorts producing. . Charles . Beahan and Edward Hiieh.sch have fini.shed the, .script on 'Gofl's V.inkee.' fo'. a feature ba.sed on the life .if Charles G.iodyear. inr vcnior nf rubber, and pinn to pr.o- diTR at. E v't^Ti n"xl monlh, Beahan will .sc;'k W.'H!r-r Huston for the lead. ' Triillvwood. Alia. 2.1 VV'^Uipro K Hfuvanl. imw in New, ■"(•m-Ic. is rli'-kriiini' to produce 'PraiiUin.' nil nri"innl wrn. at' the Param' 'nt i'iii''i'>s on T.'ip" Island. (Coiiliniird on paije 10) 6 VARIETT PICTURES Wednesday, AugiiBt 24, 1938 FULL-LENGTH FILM VISIO MAY BE STEADY DIET IN ENGLAND Depends oh Reaction to Broadcast of -Studeiit of Prague/ Continental Film — Picture Distribs' Agreement Bans English-Made Pix London, Aug. 16, Sunday night (14) television broad- cast by the British' Broadcasting Corp of a qpmplete teaturle length Continental fllm; 'Student of Prague,* is likely to be ai wedge tor . regular airings of pictures by B.B.C., This will give picture folk a bad state of jitters, being one of the menaces they feared when, television started as regular service. It's hot the first time B. B. C. has ethered a film, but it was the first serious attempt to gauge reaction of viewers to this kind of entertain- ment Reception of program is be- ing carefully analyzed at Alexandra Palace, and If favorable more fre- quent use will foe made of films to 'supplement programs. The broadcasts include newsreels and cartoons, but aside froin a western, aired as a gag a year ago, B. B: C. has . not previ- ously dared to transmit features. If regular place is found in visio for films, B.B.C. will concentrate oh Continental and specialized pictures, played In original language versions with English , subtitles. Radio con- cern has no alternative.:- While it might voluntarily agree only to play picts which, do not. get general cir- culation in U.K., it couldn't get the ordinary releases even if it wanted to, owing to bah imposed 'by dis- tributors oh this, side ' as result of strong requests from exhibs. Cinematograph Exhibitors' - Ass'n even attempted to prevent newsreels being released for' visio. Distribs' ' Affreeracht Agreement between. C.EA. and Kineraatbgraph' Renters' Society oh .this issue does not include distribu- tors of sub-standard (16 mm.) films, though feature material available in this size is mostly such as has Ipngi ago exhausted its theatre possibili- ties. In any event, B!B.C. television cameras are not at present equipped for playing the sub-standard strips. Present Alexatidra Palace- equip- ment consists of one film sound head only, coupled, direct to a television camera; Flaying of 'Student of Prague' was accordingly split Into two sections. . Picture folk meanwhile are on their toes, ready to jump i.h if regu- lar picture policy looks likely to be adopted for visio. They contend radioed pix in the home must iad- versdy affect theatres, and that new moves to popularize television' by drastically cutting set prices would constitute a genuine menace to the b.o. To extend : its picture activity, B.B.C. has purchased a complete mobile film unit, comprising camera and recording equipment on a sound truck similar to those \jsed by news- reels. Function of outfit, however, will not be production of pictures to compete with theatres, but to shoot background and exterior ma terial for matchinjg with interiors for visio drama programs. B.B.C. has been building a library of background shots over ' a long period, but only with makeshift gear and without any sound. .Latter ele- ment has been mixed In from re^ cordings and effects done in the studio. Can't Be Had , Hollywood, Aug: 23. Samuel Goldwyn has dis- covered a shortage of Filipino femmes in California. He needs several hundred for The Last Frontier,' but so far the search has been a colossal bust 2 Upstate New York Theatre Properties Are Ordered Under Hammer . Rochester, N. Y., Aug. 23. Auction sales of two theatre prop- erties here have been ordered by Supreme Court justicefs. Directing judgment iagainst the Rochester- Riviera Corp,, owner of' the: Riviera, Scbine .house, . Justice .John Van Voorhis set $120,000 - as the minimuni price at which the realty , is to be sold, clear of all liens. Referee's re- port showed $215,000 principal and $93,463 interest is owing the plaintiff, Fulton County National Bank .& Trust Co. of Gloversville, as trustee for holders of certificates secured by. a mortgage prigihally for $250,000. Rochester-Riviera (jorp.. is headed by John A. May of Gloversville,. compr- troller 61 the Schine Theatrical Co. Date of sale . Is yet to be set Sale of the former Victoria theatre property was ordered by Justice Wil- liam F. Lynn at the courthouse Sept 14. Action was brought by the East ^ide Savings Bank against the Audi- torium Theatre Co., Frederick' W. Colt president Realty consists of two stores ; and a parking station. Referee's .re^rt showed $319,416 owing to the bank, including $10,416 interest on a $300,000 mortgage exe- cuted in 1925. AuditoriumTheatre Co. became owner of the premises in 1930. when it foreclosed on a second mortgage against Samiiei Tandler and others. JOE SCHENCK DUMPS 19^00 SHARES OF 20TH Washington, Aug. 23, Joseph M. Schenck unloaded 19,200 shares -of 20th Century-Fox Film common stock during June, report to SEC disclosed last week. Transac- tion left his holdings, June 30, at 149,443 shares. Largest block disposed of by Schenck was on June- 29; on other days between June 24 and June. 30 he disposed of blocks ranging from 400 to 2,200 shares. AGENT SUES RTTZ BROS. FOR $150,000 The Ritz Bros,, otherwise Harry, Al am' Jimmy Joachiin, are named de- fendants in a, N; Y. supreme court suit for. $150,000, for breach of con- tract filed yesterday (Tuesday), by Arthur Silber, agent He claims the brothers ran out on an agreement made two years ago under which he was to handle .all picture con- tracts on the Coast No complain' is filed, but, accord-, ihg to attorneys for the plaintiff, tlie defendants l.ave been served with summonses in the action. A motion will be m de today (Wednes- day) by the plaintiff to have the brothers appear, in court for exami- nation before trial. ; The Ritz Bros.' present ageint Is Lou Irwin. SAG'S DRIVE ON CHICOMMIPK Chicago, Aug. 23. With fall production season get- ting Under way in industrial and edu^ cational film production field here- abouts, Leo Curley, Screen Actors' Guild rep, is in town signing up the open-shop studios. Burton Holmes lab, which was a holdout early this year, has signed up, and Chicago Film Lab, major holdout is readying production oh series, of commercial shorts next week. Curley . waiting for shooting to get under way before he will force the issue. This leaves Atlass as only other unsignatured but. studio has not announced any immediate production plans. ' Curley has notified both Atlass and Chi Film that any production will be stopped until SAG agree- ments are signed. Jam Handy, and Wilding of Detroit, were among first to sign. With Wilding now using the old Essanay studios on the north side, Curley expects to wind .up bis activities here, within a short time. Nearly 95%, of eligible performers have .been signed or are members of American Federation of Actors or Equity, giving Chi a good standing in this respect Film production hereabouts is limited almost exclu- sively to industrial and commercial features, running from one-jreelers to full-length features! 'Women' for Shearer Hollywood, Aug.. 23. 'The Women' is the next Norma Shearer starrer tentatively picked by Metro to follow 'Idiot's Delight' Third picture on Miss Shearer's schedule is 'Pride and Prejudice.' It's Either a Ruby Shower or Taffy Pull for Studios' Pointer-Outers (The findings of NBC-RCA's re- searcher in foreign television are de- tailed in this Issue on page 33, FEMME MUSTANGER Dot Page Will Do Series of Eight in Saddle Hollywood, Aug. 23. ' Dorothy Page gets the featured spot in a series of eight fcmme 'mu- sical westerns to be produced by Coronado Pictures for Grand- Na- tional release. First of the series, 'Fury's iri tiie Saddle,' gets under way , Aug. 29, with George Hirliman producing. Ann Gillis becomes a bareback rider in 'Peck's Bad Boy With the Circus' at Principal Productions. Moppet Is teamed again with Tommy Kelly, who plays the title role. Both are on loan from Selznick-,' International. Picture rolled today CTuesday) with Eddie CUne directing. Hollywood, Aug. 23. Nonchalantly tiie Maharajah of Whaddayacallit plucked a ring from his finger and handed it to the studio guide. Merely a casual token to. show that His Highness was pleased at the wonders he had seen in the pic- ture plant — far stranger than any- thing he had ever gandered back home in India. The rubberneck pilot took the token to a jeweler and dis-: covered it was a pigeon-blood ruby, worth $1,200. Life is like that among the studio monitors. They never can. tell how the day's work will pan out. Some- times they come up with handsful of wealth and sometimes with nothing but aching bunions. Like newspaper reporters, they meet a lot of interest- ing. people^Hindu potentates and Iowa farmers, European diiilomats and Kansas' schoolma'ams; all man- ner of folks who come to the Coast for an eyeful of picture making. In- only one studio— 20th-Fox— is tipping banned. Darryl Zaniick's idea is that guests are entitled to everything gratis, including guidance. In the other film foundries it is like a fishing expedition, with the angler wondering whether he has hooked a goldfish or a crab. Evfeh the experienced guide often goes wrong' in his estimate of the po- tential generosity of his gainderer. One day the head of a great auto- mobile company went ogling around the lot accompanied by a dragoman who did not expect any baksheesh and acted' accordingly. He was al- most knocked for a long count when the mogul rewarded him with a motor car; Presently another motor rnagnate', head of a bigger company, cante to gander. The guide, scenting a limousine; or at least a sedan in the offing, used all the tact eclat and aplomb at his command. At the end of the ogliiig tour the magnate came across with a.box of taffy. The studio guide's motto is 'You never can tell.' How About Albany? Hollywood, Aug.- 23. Paramount signed Eddie An- derson, who answers to the name of Rochester ' on Jack Benny'i Jello alrshow, but stu- ; dlo won't, bill him by his nom- de^alr. Benny wants the mon- icker exclusive for his radio' turn, ' He'll work with his radio boss in Thanks For the Mem- ory.* N. Y. Ldew Execs To Be Exammed After Labor Day by Ellis Although attorney Emil K. , Ellis has returned from the Coast and is ready to take testimony of addi- tional ofltcers end directors of Loe\y's, Inc., no additional question-r ing in the stockholders' suit against Loew's will be taken until, after Labor Day. This will include testi- mony of Nicholas Mi Schenck, J. Robert Rubin, David Bernstein and others. Attorney Ellis, who rep- resents the plaintiffs, agreed to the delay because counsel for the de- fendants is away on vacation. Justice Thomas F. Nopnan last week denied the effort of an addi- tional stockholder to . intervene in the consolidated action Indicating that this, closes the bars to further activity along these lines. The judge said he would follow the course set by Judge Peter Schmuck ; twP weeks previously when another stockholder attempted to intervene, court then ruling that present coun- sel, attorney Ellis, was fully com- petent to represent the stockholders in their suit against officers and di- rectors of Loew's over the amount of coin, paid them in salaries and bonus. Ellis recently returned from the Coast with 1,000 pages of testimony of company officials stationed there. FRANKLIN WINS SPURS AS PRODUCER AT METRO Hollywood, Aug. 23. Sidney Franklin, Metro director, was handed a new contract as prp- ducer and assigned to .'The Yearling' and 'Madame Curie.' Victor Fleming directs 'Yearling,' Marjorie Rawling's tale of the Flor- ida backwoods. Greta Garbo stars in 'Curie.' Bamett, Rabin Team In 12 Pix for Standard Hollywood, Aug. 23. ■Vlnce Barnett> and Benny Rubin signed' as a comic team for 12 pic- tures to be produced by Standard on the Crrand National lot. Six of the films were ori inally intended for George Jessel, whose deal was washed up by mutual con- sent. Other six will be a family series. Par's Trench' Brings Up. Extra Problem in N. Y. As result of demands froni mem- bers, the Screen Actors' Guild may close, its books to new extras in the east Matter wiir.be considered at the final meeting of the eastern ad- visory council, due early next month. Member complaints were raised a couple of weeks ago when Para- mount filmed some crowd scenes and background shots in New 'York for 'Say It in French.' Although a couple' of hundred extras were used, some regular SAG members claimed they were not hired, but that new members were taken in. Explained at the Guild office that regular mein- bers not hired did not appear for employment until all jobs had been filled. However, the matter will be taken up by the advisory council. Eastern rolls of the Guild at pres- ent contain about 800 names. Be- tween 25 and 30 new members were taken In during the filming of "Say If Even if the rolls were closed to further registration, however. Actors' Equity members would still be eli- gible to work as extras under the existing working agreement between the two groups. Al.sp thought likely that under the existing intercliange- abllity rule all members of affiliated groups in the Associated Actors and Artistes of American could also work. PAR'S FOREIGN TELEVISION RESEARCH Paramount's Interest In television via.a contract with DuMont' Labora- tories of New Jersey, announced early this mooth, was followed last week by the dispatching of Paul Raibourn to Europe to study, at first- hand, latest deyelppihents in sight* sound broadcasting In France, Eng.- land and Germany. It Is expected that he will size up the practical side of television and possibly offer recommendations as to possible ap- plication to Par's theatre and film interests. Transaction whereby Paramount takes an interest in the DuMont television activities is the initial out-and-out move by any picture company along, those lines. Under- stood that Par put about $50,000 into the proposition for first year re- search and would be a partner with puMohf in any television discoveries - or developments. • Presently Du- Mont makes cathode ray tubes as do six other firms In U. S. Tlius far, DuMont is not an. RCA licensee and' has no transmitting station. Another Newsreel Beef is Against Those Free Fashion Ads Philadelphia, Aug, 23. Practice of the newsreels in using up footage by plugging their execs, pix and: stars, reported.' last week, has -been frequently noticed by ex- hibs here but Is the cause of no squawks. Exhibs all agree that - de- ' spite the fact that these clips are out and out plugs, they're all of people and things the average ' cus- torner is interested in and, there- fore, have as much place as any- thing also in the reels. If there is any source of exhlb' complaint concerning newsreels giv- ing away pltigs it is in the fashion clips, in these there are frequently credits to magazines, which exhibs don't like, and, what is worse, to hat and dress designers, like Lily Dache and Hattie Carnegie. In as much as the products of these de- signers are sold In only Pne or two stores here, a plug on the screen is practically • direct ad for those stores. Exhibs think it unfair to otlier merchants and object to the cuffo bally at their expense. Marcpiee-Hypoing Moto and Hopalong Hollywood, Aug. 23. Sol M. Wurtzel is building up the Mr. Moto series at 20th-Fox by cast- ing more important names to sup- port Peter Lorre. Players signed for 'Mr. Moto Takes a 'Vacation* include Lionel Atwill, Joseph Schildkraut and Virginia Field. Meanwhile Wurtzel is taking plenty of time to pick a successor to Warner Oland in the Charlie Chan role. Harry Sherman's new policy for the HPpalong Cassidy series calls for name players in addition to the three regular pirincipals — William Boy d, r George Hayes. and Russell Hayden. Evelyn Venable takes the femme lead in The Frontiersman,' which went on location today (Tues.) at Keen CartHv with a company of 147. Tassage' Snowed Out Hollywood. Aug. 23, Metro has postponed production of 'Northwest Pas^ge' until next spring, due to early snows iri the mountains near McCall, Idaho, chief location site. Early frost deprived 2,000 men of six weeks work. Robert Taylor and Wallace Beery, slated for top spots in 'Passage,' were shifted to 'Stand Up and Fight' Jill Martin Goes Rep. Jill Martin, American ingenue, who, arrived from a Budapest vaca- tion last week, rushed to the Coast by plane where she takes up » term contract with Republic Pic- tures. ■ Harry Engel, of Fanchon ft Marco, set Wednesday, August 24, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY 7 "Best Entertainment' Drive Brings for Quicker Clearance From Indies, If Contest Is to Benefit • l>eslrie to get as much new and (jtrongcr product earlier in the Movie Quiz contest, a highlight of the great est picture year campaign^ is being employed as a leveraige by inde. ; pendent exhibitors in the Greater Uew Ypric area to force better clear- ance on films in question; Such a proposition has been voiced at sev' eral meetings in the past week and probably will continue to be aired for some time. . Whether justified or not, certain indie exhibitors would strive to force usual 3b-day clearance to a 15-day period. They have' indicated, that such is essential if they are to se- cure the 'greatest ye!^^• top product in time to cash in on early interest, both In the .drive and more spe- clflcally in the quiz campaign. Some eyen have Intimated that there will be no united front unless they get .'Wholehear tedly back of the 'campaign, and are using this, either directly or indirectly, as an excuse to push up clearance. Campaign spokesmen contend that even with the worst clearance,, say three months, an exhibitor wpiild . start getting the August releases in . the. quiz contest in November. They also claim that in November and De- cember, last two months of contest, , such an exhib probably could play vast majority of films listed in con- test because this theatre would be a dualer and have two or three changes . weekly or oftcner. One indie circuit operator in New York City, however, voiced his at- titude at the Astor hotel session last week by saying, 'I for one don't Intend to sit around and watch this ' drive bring business into my com- petitors' boxoffice while I pout on the sidelines.' He indicated the drive would bring biz and that he wanted hl9 ciircuit to share in it. Motion Pictures' • Greatest Year movie, quiz contest, with $250,060 in prizes, got into full swing last week as contest booklets and. trailers went out to exhibitors throughout U. S. Predicated on the idea that it is a contest of skill and mental ialertness, the quiz and matter connected, with It has been approved by U. S. Postal authorities. This is an essential, . if theatres were to, cash in on it via newspaper advertising, plugging cer- tain contest . films. Anticipate Many Ties Understood that the 50-word essay portion of the contest is what made possible the mail officials' okay. Al- ready anticipated that there will be approximately 100,000 ties, or that many coniostants who guess cor- rectly the answers to 30 questions about as many quiz contest feature films. This means that the essay must be employed In settling ties and determining actual winners. Fair- ness also carried out by rules in. offering duplicate awards in case of further ties. Old Gold's contest had some 40,000 ties, and the letters are deemed the fairest tie-breaker. Contest, pictures will be released and shown on the theatre screen be- tween July 29-Dec, 31. Booklets on the quiz are free at theatres par- ticipating but exhibitors pay cost fee to obtain same, figuring that the average con- .xesUnt would have to pay the av- erage admission of 25c. to see each Of 30 pictures out of 94 or more fea- 'Ure flinij included in quiz, it is Climated that every contestant must pay at least $7.50 for film enterUin- "Ijent in order to share in prize coin; inis amount may be trimmed when wo contest films are displayed on we same program, an unlikely con- wngency excepting in subsequent nualers obtaining first pictures in «ovember. Only other way, without J=euig flinis^ would be via news- paper ads or so-called tipster services. quiz booklet warns against wster sheets or 'services,' which PA » ^^PPl'ed'. answers in previous contests. Claim that a method has been found for, detecting tipster op- erations and use of them will dis- qualify. To simplify the industry's drive. New York City's 850/ film houses haye been organizec into 45 groups. Leaders of these groups who r.re on ^he theatre committee met at- the office of Oscar A. Doob, at Loew's, yesterday (Tues.). These were George Lambertj Harry Davey, (Randforce); Herman Starr, Notis Komlnos,. John Baker (Skpuras); Larry Greib, Harr;-. Mandel,- Harry Weiss, Maurice Harris, Louis Gold-, berg, Solly. Schwartz, Ed Sniderman, Herb Jennings (RKO); .Eddie Dow- deh, Al Simon, Harold MoMahan,. Charles Burns, John Judge, Jerry DeRose, . Seymour Mayer, Arthur Herschmiann (Loew's). So. Calif's Solid Support Los Angeles, Aug. 15. Circuit and indie theatre operators of southern California are united sol- idly behind the 'Best Entertainment' drive, and following a joint meeting here last Week formulated plans for active participation in the campaign that has for, Its . sole purpose the re- juvenation of the picture box offices throughout the land. For the first time in the history of the industry locally, producer reps, top distrib- utors, and both affiliated and unaffil- iated exhibitors have joined forces to fight a common enemy — reduced grosses. Herman Wobber, general sales manager f or. ' 20th-Fox, and W. F. Rodgers, Metro's sales chief, mem- bers of the industry's national com- inittee, aS: well as Spyros Skouras, on from New York for a regional cbn- ventibn of National Theatres-Fox West Coast Theatres, were impor- tant factors in securing the 100% co- operation pledge from . Independents of this territory' with the F-WC and Warner Bros, circuits. Local committee, which will draft the campaign, to meet local condi- tions, is made up of Charles P. Skou- ras, president of Fox-'West Coast Theatres; Lou Halper, western super- visor for Warner Bros. Theatres; Rodney Pantages, Abe Gore, Harry Nace and others. Galston Riles 'Em Up Organization meeting for southern California developed into a spirited affair, particularly ' when the more than 100 in. attendance misinterpret- ed a statement of Albert Galston, president of the Independent Theatre Owners of Southern California and Arizona, when he announced that he would immediately summon the ITO executive board to secure an expres- sion of opinion as to the association's participation. Several other indies hurled blasts at Galston, but learned later during the ' meeting that, as prexy of the indie: organization, he had no power to express an opinion other than his own personally. How- ever, to set, at rest any ideas that he might not be wholeheartedly in favor of the campaign, the ITO prexy did a Billy Sunday and called for indies to hit the sawdust trail and sign pledge cards of their financial cov operation. Every independent lii the room signed the pledges, insuring the campaign a solid; backing in this territory. , Details of the 'Motion Pictiires Are Your Greatest -Amusement' campaign were outlined by Wobber and am- plified by Rodgers, as well as Gabe Yorke, who will have direct charge of contacts in this area. Frank Wliit- beck, Metro studio advertising chief and head of the studio committee that is producing a. two-reel trailer to boost the Greater Film Season, re- vealed details of this picture which, he said, was solely, intended to make prospective patrons picturc-con- < scious. { Following the meeting Spyro.'; Skouras, Wobber and Roclgers trained | out for San Francisco, where the fol- > lowing day they conducted a similar j (Continued on page 24) FUST ic?i fon no HilONY Sounds Plea to End Indus- try's Civil W— 'Alexander' (20th) and March of Time. Run on a' single policy, with extra added . show mornings, this Is biggest thing this towii has seen in years. No doubt that house record will, fall, as terrific $16,000 looms, ' Second week assured. Last week, ^Letter' (U) and 'Missing Guest' (U), dual, tapered olT to $9,000. but Dlenty good. Strand (Fourth Ave.) (l.SOO; 15- 30^) — 'Letter' (U) and 'Missing Guest' (U). : Headed for Ught $2.0usf! record , for pix at pop scale. S23.000. Will ; hold indef. Last week dark. I B'way Brisk- '4 Daughters' $90,( Crosby-Spitahiy 47G, 'Alex 65G 3d, 'Algiers $27,51 Broadway Grosses Estimated Total Gross ThU Week .......... $284,300 (Based on II theatres) Total Gross Same Week Last YMT $322,600 (Based on 14 theatres) •ALEX' PARADES DETROIT TO BANNER 40G Detroit, Aug. 23. 'Alexander's Ragtime Band,'^ at the Fox with stage show, is town's toast and house hitting best stride in ages, plenty strong for at least another week. Town's crop . of /first-runners Will increase to. five this Thursday (25) with reopening of United Artists for 'Marie Ahtionette.' Spot has been closed for past two months, oc- casioned by brutal biz. . ; Estimates For ' This Week Adams (Balaban) (1,700; 30-40)^ 'Sailing Along' (GB) plus 'Wives Under Suspicion' (UA). About $3,- 300, so-so. Last week better $3,700 tor 'Letter' (U) (2d run) plus 'Pass- port Husband' (20th). Fox (Indie) (5,000; 30-40-65)— 'Alexander's' , (20th) with Happy Felton, minus band,, again topping stage show. Smash $40,000, biggest hoUse has seen in ages. Last session slightly over $20,000, okay, for. 'Gate- way' (20th) and Happy Felton head ing vaude, with Tony Martin appear ing' last four days as single, after presenting his own revue week pre^ viously. Michigan (UD) (4,000; 30-40-65)— 'Clitterhouse' (WB) plus 'Shopworn Angel' (M-G), dual. So-so $7,000 coming, up. Last stanza around $7,- 500, okay, for 'Andy Hardy' (M-G) plus 'Cowboy from Brooklyn' CWB). Palms-State: (UD) (3,000; 30-40-50) —'Andy Hardy' (M-G) (2d rUn) plus 'Racket Busters' (WB), dual. For- mer flicker moved here after session at Michigan; paced for $5,200, okay. 'Crowd Roars^ (M-G) (2d run) and 'Pride of West' (Par) grabbed around $5,000 last stanza. United Artlsta (UD) (2,000; 30-40 65 )-^'Marie Antoinette' (M-G), sUrt- ing Thursday (25), reopens after two-month layoff. Shuttering Carr Unit Hollywood. Aus. 23. . Trem Carr's producing unit'nt Uni- : vcrsal shuts down for several weeks at the completion of his third Bob Baker western, now in its final stages. I Carr has three more Bakers which will be rushed througli as, soon as the ,st6rie.<; are ready. They wind up his deal with Universal. ' 'Alex' Record $19,000, 'Hard/ SweU $10,000, Top Omaba Compedsh Omaha, Aug. 23. Despite triple load of outdoor com- petition, local film houses are headed toward sensational grosses that are certain to smash the previous . all- time August high set two weeks ago. A $19,000 take on 'Alexander's Rag- time Band' will be $4,500 above the Orpheum house record set by 'In Old Chicago.' 'Love Comes to Andy Hardy' looks liks great $10,000 at the Ornaha. Mickey Rooney is very hot in this town since his sojourn here last month for the filming of 'Boys Town.' Film comnetish includes- Sat. and Sun. of Ritigling circus, six-day stand of 'Soaring High,' a Barnes show which opened last night, and the Iowa Centennial Expo, which onennd acri.ss the river in Council Bluffs Thursday (18). Estimates for This Week Brahdels (Singer-RKO) (1,250: 10- 25-35-40)— 'Carey's Chickens' (RKO) and 'King Konu' (RKO) (reissue). Under par. S3.900. La.st week, 'Clit- terhouse' (WB) and 'Western Stars' (Rep), good $5,200. Avenue - Dundee - Military (Gold- berg) O.-iO-eijO-SlO; 10-25) — 'Blind Mice' (20lh) and 'Wonderful Time" (RKO) first half of week. Tripler, 'Joscltc' (20th), 'Dangerous to Know' 'Par) and 'Par,idise' (U), last half, Filiri.sh. $2,200. Last week, twb days oach nf 'Golddigger.s' (WB) paired with 'Pohitcntiary'- (Col) and "Toy Wife' 'M-G) bracketed with 'Open Faces' (Gol). Last Three Days. 'Ra.^-. cals' (20th). 'Island in Sky' (20lh) and 'Gangs New York" (Rep), $1,900, n.K. Omaha (Blank) (2.700: 10-25-40)— 'Andy Hardy", (M-G) and 'Men .Such Fools' fWB). S,«'(;ll $10,000. Last \VC(.'1<. 'Texans' (Par) and 'Young; Fu'ti ivfs' (U ). n..>:.h.. .^0.000. - .| Orplifum (Bl:ink) (3,000: 10-2.-1-10) — 'Alcxrindcr' (20lh) and 'I'a.ssport 'Four Daughters' is Broadway's acclaimed leader. This Music Hall picture should do $90,000 at least, and is a cinch holdover. It has been terrifically hot,, but the better pictures are doing great busi- ness. The poor films are not doing so well and the only alibi they offer is competition. , 'Marie Antoinette,' only $2 fllni on the Main Stem, is s.r.b., matinee and evenings, which means around $15,200. 'Sing You Sinners' Is socko at the Paramount; with Phil Spitalny and his all-girl band besides Zasu Pitts, on the stage. The picture and combo show will do $47,000. 'Algiers' at the State, plus vaude, is' about the best midsummer biz so far, a nice $27,500. 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' heads for $65,000, on its. third weelc.' The picture is good for at least five weeks, if not six. all told. On this single Roxy. engagement, the film has played to more , than 450,000 cus- tomers. Its first two weeks rolled tip $165,000, a six-year , record figure:. ,. This, cavalcade of amuserr.ent Is drawing heavy afternoon businesf. Oh Friday (26) Ben Bcrnic debuts the now stagehand policy at the Strand. This makes foui" stagcshow houses on the street. The (Capitol may join later. Business is weak at the Cap. with 'Rich Man. Poor Girl' only $9,000. 'Little Tough Guy' should do a, nice $12,400 at the Hivoli. The Strand's 'Racket Busters' is tapering off : to a fair $13,500, on its last and third stanza. , Estimates for This Week Astor (1,012: 55-$1.10-S1.65-$2.20)— ;Marie Antoinette' (M-G ) (2nd wecfk). Opened strong and going s.r.o., ieasy $15^00. Only roadshow film on the Main Stem, fully satisfy- ing. ■ Capitol (4,520; 25-35-5S-83-$1.25)— 'Rich Man. Poor Girl' (M-G). Around $9,000.' no good. Last Week 'Crowd Roars' (M-G) much better, alniost $15,000 on its second lap. Criterion (1,662; 25-40-55 )— 'Army Girl' (Rep) (2nd week). Holding up strongly, $4,400. .First week $6,- 600, O. K., good. Globe (1,274; 25-40-55)^'Convicted' (Col ). Fair $5,000. Last week's re- vival of Chaplin's 'Modern Times' (tlA) was a shady $4,500. Palace {1.700; 25-35-55)— 'Dr. Clit- terhouse' (WB) (2d run) and 'I'm From the City' (RKO). Combo Robinson and Joe .Penner , pictures wetk, only $5,000. , Last week,' 'I'll Give a Million' (20th) (2d run) and 'Cowboy from B-klyn' (WB) (2d run), just over the mark, with $5,200. Paramount (3.664; 25-35-55-85-09) —'Sing You Sinners' (Par) and Phil Spitalny orchestra, plus Zasu Pitts :(2d weekX Begins second stanza today (Wed.). First week a socko $47,000. Looks good for three weeks. Ra:dlo City Music Hall (5,980; 40- 60-84-99-$1.65) 'Four Daughters' (WB) and stage .show. Leading the street with $90,000. Getting terrific word-of-mouth and holding over. Last week, 'Four's a Crowd' (WB), pretty good at $70,000. RIalto (730; 25-40-55) — 'Woman Against Woman' (M-G). , Opened Monday.. Last week 'Dark Sands' (Fut), British-made, n.s.h. at $5,200. Blvoll (2,092; 25-55-75-85-90) — 'Little Tough Guy' (U). Doing a nice biz at $12,500. 'Gateway' (20th) was dismal last week, not over $5,000. Boxy (5,830; 25-40-55-75)— 'Alex- ander's (20th) ami stage show (3rd week). Terrific $05,000. Picture is good for at least five weeks, and Is- breaking al] kinds of records. Last week . $77,000, after a tremendous S87.00(/. Orst' stanza. Doing a consist- ently strong matinee trade. Strand (2.767; 25-5j-75) — 'Boy Meets Girl' (WB). Opens here Fri- day (20) with new stagehand policy, starling with Ben Bernie, his' band and several acts. 'Rackiit Busters' (WB) (3rd week) taners off to nice S13,.'i00, after okay $17,000' week pre." vious. State (3,450: 35-55-7.'5)— 'Algiers' (UA) and vaude. At $27,500 it's just about the best midsummer week this house has had. Last week 'Shop- worn Angel' (M-G I plus N.T.C. re- vue, fair $22,000. Hu.sband' (20lh). Record $19,000 in sight. Last week, '(..ettcr' (U) and Penrod' (WB), (;xcellC'nt $11.(100, Town (Goldberg I (L.-^O; 10-20-25) — 'G-Man.' (ItKO)' and "Lady in Moi'guc' (I,'), both first-runs, wilh Joscltc' 120111) first half. 'Air Devils' (U). first-run. u'illi two second-runs. Blind Mi. Floyd Odium, of AtUs Corp., is said to be interested in the project. Howard is negotiating with a top- flight name for the lead in the pic- ture, which he will direct himself. Armettai's N. T. Shorts Henry Ar'metta is Idue in New York ■ this Saturday (27) to make two shorts foi: Warner Bros, in WB Brooklyn studios. First will- go be- fore cameras Sept. 20, second on Oct. 19. He will also do personal appear- ances in the . east for Fahchon' & Marco. Rialto theatre, Flint, Mich., Sept. 3-5, and Wyandotte theatre, Wyandotte, Mich., Sept. 9-U, have already been set. Booking office has also just re- ceived okay to peddle Stuart Er- win for p.a.'s and is- working on same. 'Spawn,* Plus Barryinore*s VA., Big $12,000, Seattle Seattle, Aug. 23. Premiere showing of 'Spawn of the North' Is week's highlight, with John and Elaine Barrymore and Lyrine Overman in personals opening day (Friday). Plenty of bally, with Cliff Lewis and Jack Daily up from ad- vertising department of Paramount Ctudios to help. 'Alexander's Ragt:me Band,' at the Fifth Avenue, is hitting a terrific pace, beating 'Spawn,' $14,000 against $12,000. Estimates for This Week Blue Moose (Hamrlck-Evergreen ) (850; 32-37-42)— 'Crowd Roars' (M-G) and 'My Bill* (FN) (3d week). An- ticipates good $2,500. Last week, same films, $3,700. big. Coliseum (Hamrick • Evergreen) (1,900; 21-32)— 'Toy Wife' (M-G) and 'Hold Kiss* (M-G), Expect okay $3,000. Last week. 'Josette' (20th) and 'Yellow Jack' (M-G), $3,200, good. Colonial (Sterlings (800: 10-21)— 'Romance in Dark' (Par) and "Inter- national Settlement' (20th), split with 'Room 18' (WB) and final five episodes, 'Lone Ranger' (Rep). Prov- ing genuine ptillefr: good $2,200. Last week, 'Glory Trail' (Ind) and 'Gen- eral Ling* (GB), dual, split with •Lone Ranger' (Rep) and 'Dare Devil Drivers' (WB), $2,300, big. Fifth Avenue (Hamrick-Evergreen) (2.366; 32-37-42')— 'Alexander' (20th). Heading for great $14,000. Last week, 'Andy Hardy' (M-G) and 'Rich Man' (M-G). great $10,500. Liberty fJ-vH) (1.800: 21-32-42)- •Oladiator' (Col) ?nd 'Chico' (Mono), Expects lair $4,000. Last week, 'He- !'S H. O S OK, BUT 'GATEWAV UGHT12G Boston, Aug. 23. 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' and 'Crowd Roars' both .holding oyer after, smash opening . weeks. Biz is quiet otherwise, 'Gateway,' on dual bill. Is tanie. , : . Estimates (or This Week Fenway (M&P) . (1,332; 25-35.40- 55)— "Texans' (Par) and 'Penrod' (WB), dual, 2d run. Tepid $5,000. Last week, 'Racket Busters' (WB) and 'Chump' (WB), : double, very good $7,800. Keith Memorial (RKO) (2,907; 25 35-40-55) — 'Gateway' (20th) and 'Army Girl' (Rep), dual. Light draw, around $12,000. Last week, second of 'Letter' (U) and 'Crime RiiiU' (RKO), dual, swerved down to $9,700. iwetropoUtan (M&P) (4,267; 25-35- 40r55)— 'Alexander' (20th) and 'Keep Smiling' (20th) (2d wk). Continu- ing hefty pace towards very good $22,000. First week big $33,800. drphenm (Lbew) (2,900; 25-35-40- 55)— 'Crowd Roars' (M-G) and 'City Streets' (Col) (2d wk). Aiming at okay $14,000. First week smash $22,000. Faramonnt (M&P) (1,'797; 25-35- 40-55)— 'Texans' (Par) and 'Penrod' (WB), dual, 2d run. Soft $7,000. Last week, 'Racket Busters' (WB) and •Chump' (WB), socko $11,000. Scollay (M&P) (2,538; 25-35-40-50) — 'Clitterhouse' (WB) and 'Profes- sor Beware' (Par), dual. Pallid $5,000 indicated. Last week, 'Miss Broadway' (20th) and 'Give Million' (20th), dual, 2d run, okay $6,200. State (Loew) (3,600; 25-35-40-55)— 'Crowd Roars' (M-G) and 'City Streets' (Col) (2d wk). Around $11,000, good. First week very big $17,000. 'ALEXMERRIFIC $8,500 IN K. C/S NEW ESQUIRE Kansas City; Aug. 23. Opening of Fox Midwest's new Esciuire next to the Tower in the loop brings ah entirely new policy into the first-run situation. House is an 800-seater with deluxe appoint-' ments and will operate with a small reserved section and' scaled down from 55c, the only house in town with such a fee as h regular price. Main seating section will go for 40c and mats for two-bits. 'A' pictures for extended runs is the set. policy. 'Alexander's Ragtime Band', was as- signed the opening chore and looks^ for at least three weeks at its present pace. . Tower doing okay on the strength of its stage show, but no complaints on the film. Gene Austin has been here often enough to call some patrons by their first names; no rec- ords being bung up, but biz well in thu black. Films bettering average in all houses, though not by startling mar- gins. ' EsUmates for This Week Esquire (Fox) (801; 15-25-40-55)— 'Alexander' (20th). Chosen for the premier of this new deluxer. Seven shows a day playing to extreme ca- pacity; looks to total $8,500 for the week, phenomenal for a house of this size.. Reserved seat section (160' seats at S5c) sold out days in ad- vance. Midland (LOew's) (3,573; 10-25-40) —'Rich Man' (M-G) and 'Blockheads' (M-G). Satisfactory at $8,000, slight- ly bettering average. Last week, 'Tough Guy* (U) and 'Chaser' (M-G), $9,000, okay. Newman (Par) (1,900; 10-25-40)— •Racket Busters' (WB); Resuming single-featiire policy here. Some timely publicity has aided this one; $8,000, good. Last week, 'Booloo' (Par) and 'Men Su h Fools' (WB), topped expectations at $7,300. Tower (Fox) (2,200; 10-25-40)-- •Cairey's Chickens' (RKO) and Gene Austin heading stage bill. . In the groove for summer trade. Headed for $12,000, very good at 40c top. Last week, 'Army Girl* (Rep) and stage show led by Mildred Bailey and Red Norvo, rang up neat $14,000 at 55c top. Uptown (Fox) (1.200: 10-25-40)— 'Carey's Chicken.>' (RKO). Day and date with Tower. Aiming at $3,100, and quite acceptable. Last week, 'Keen Smiling' (20th), got only six d&vs' play, but registered well with $3,000 for short run. formatbry* , (Col) . and 'Highway Patrol* (Col), $4,300, good. Musio Box (Hamnck-Evergreen) (850; 32-37-42)— 'Andy Hardy' (M-G) and 'Rich Man' (M-G) (2d week). Moved from Fifth Avenue; paced for strong $4,300. Last week. 'Texans' (Par) and 'Chaser' (M-G), $2,000, n.g. Orpheura (Harririck - Evergreen) (2.600; 32-37-42) — 'Raclcet Busters' (WB) and 'Going to Be Rich' (20th). Anticipate only mild $4,200, Last week, 'Getaway* (20th) and 'Jim from City' (RKO). $3,600. slow. Palomar (Sterline) (1.350; 10-27' 37)— Army Girl' (Rep) and vaude. Indicate only so-.so $3,500. Last week, 'Penrod* (WB) and 'Chase Yourself (RKO) and. vaude, $4,400, good. Paramount . lamrick - Evergreen) (3.049; 32-37-42)— 'Spawn of North* (Par). Personals, ooening day (Fri- day), by John .ihd Elaine Barrymore ard Lynhe Overman. Headed for smash $12,000. last week, 'Carey's Chickens' (RKO) and 'Bulldog Drummond* (Par). $3,000. Door. , Roosevelt, (Sterlini;'/ (800: 21-32)- 'Crime School' (WB) and 'Golddie- Ters' . CWfl). Antioinate fair $2,000. T.,aRt week, 'Robin Hood* (FN), solo, $2,500, big. ^Alex; Wow $3(M)0ft^ Helps W^^^^ N.W. Selling OK 'Atex' Socko $10,000 As AlMoDtlB.O^ Sport Montreal, Aug. 23; Still hot, but biz is picking up. Palace, with 'Alexander's Ragtime Band;* is running into old-time fig- ures and may gross very good $10,000. Balance will be better than aver- age. EsUmates for This Week Palace (CT) (2,700; 60)— 'Alexan- der' (20th). In the money and should gross very good $10,000. Last week, 'Always Goodbye* (20th), $6,000, good enough., Capitol (CT) (2,700; 50) 'Give Mil- lion' 20th) and 'Passport Husband* (20th). Good $6,500 indicated. Last week, 'Trip to Paris' (20th) and 'Miss Broadway*^ (20th), fair $5;000. Princess (CT) (2,300; 50) 'Cowboy! (WB) and 'My Bill' (WB). Getting good biz, pacing for $5,000. Last week, 'Andy Hardy* (M-G) and 'Mr. Moto* (20th), nice $4,500. Orphenm (Ind) (1,100; 50) — 'Al- giers' (UA) (3d week). Should get good $3,000 after last week's $3,500. Cinema de Paris (France-Film) (600; 50) — 'Nuit de Feu* (2d week). House is doing much better; $1,500 currently after picking up same last week. SU Denis (France-Film) (2,300; 34)— 'Les Fines de Rhone* and 'La Plus Belle Fille du Monde.' Likely $5,500, very good. Last week, 'J'Ac- euse* and 'Les Conquetes de Cesar,* good $5,000. Harman-Ising Reorg Hollywood, Aug; 23. Refinancing of Harinan-Islng, car- toon producer^, is in negotiation with Harry Wurtzel coming forth with the necessary coin. Outfit for sonie time has been under 77B. Wurtzel goes to New, York this week' to arrange a releasing deal. Used to distrib via Metro. Tailspin' Takes Off Hollywood, Aug. 23. Harry Joe Brown puts 'Tailspin' iiito work, this week ii 20th-Fox. Follows with the Eddie Cantor pic- '.ure, 'The Average. Man.' Other films on the Bro\yn program are 'Loye Interest,' starring Sonja Henie; 'The Rains Came' and an- other Irving Berlin feature. (Gontlhued from page 7) uct deal just closed with the Schine circuit, which also operates in eastr em Ohio, Contract calls for the Rep '38-39 product for 100 of the Schine houses, most of them iii New York state. James R. Grainger went up tb 'Gloversville, N.: Y., to set the deal, with George Lynch handling the negotiations for the Schine Bros. Claiming that sales for Monogram Pictures currently are running 50% ahead : of last season, George • W. Weeks, sales chief, . announced this, week that deals had been made for 100% representation with Llghtman circuit, Memphis; Kihcey - Wilby chain arid the Harris circuit Com- pany's 'Roriian of the Limberlost' has been set to open on RKO circuit in New York starting Aug. 30. PROV. IS ROUGH FOR 'sailor; N.G.$li500 . . Providence, Aug. 23. 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' is heading the Majestic: for biggest biz in eight years. : Ruth Hussey, local gal, helping to sell 'Rich Man, Poor ijrirl' at Loew's. Albee, which closed May 25; re- opened Thursday (18) with 'Having Wonderful Time.* Strand only fair with 'Give Me a Sailor.' ' EsUmates tor This Week Albee (RKO) (2,200: 25-35-50)— 'Wonderful Tiihe* (RKO) and 'Fast Company' (M-G). Seashore too. big a lure for this one. Fair $7,000 at most. Last week dark. State (Loew) (3,200; 25-35-50)— 'Rich Man' (M-G) and 'Fast Com- pany' (M-G). Curiosity concerning Ruth Hussey's ability dragging in home-town fans. Heading for $10,000: okay. Last week, 'Crowd Roars* (M-G) and 'Invisible Enemy* (Rep) (2d wk), slipped badly for poor $7,400. MaJesUe (Fay) (2,300: 25-35-50)— 'Alexander* (20th). Riding crest of wave for bell-ringing $15,000. Last' week, 'Tough Guy* (U) and "Pass- port Husband' (20th), nice $9,500. Strand (Indie) (2.200; 25-35-50)— 'Give Me Sailor' (Par) and 'Show Goes On* (Rep). .Dragging for iso-so. $6,500: Last week, 'Professor Be- ware* (Par) and 'Pride of West' (Par), swell $7,500. TOUGH GUY' AT $12,000, 'ALEX' 20G, BIG IN BUFF Buffalo, Aug. 23. 'Alexander' at the Buffalo and •Tough Guy* at the Lafayette are demonstrating that the local public is still very much in the market for the kind of pictures it likes. ' Both features are heading for the strong- est grosses since spring, with hold- overs assured in each case. Estimates for This. Week Boffalo (Shea) (3,500; 30-55-50)— 'Alexander' (20th).. Hitting on all cylinders for probably over $20,000, daiidy. Last week 'Mother Carey' (RKO), under estimates for poor $9,500. Century (Shea) (3,000; 25-35)— 'Racket Busters' (WB) and 'Speed to Burn' (20th). Holding even at about $5;500. Last week 'After Office Hours' (MG) and 'Chaser' (HG), fair S5.400. Great takes (Shea) (3,000: 30-50) —'Give Me Sailor' (Par). No dice, airound $5,000. Last week 'Crowd Roars' (MG) (2d week), holdover okay, $6,200. Hipp (Shea) (2,100; 25-40)— 'Gate- way' (20th). Not showing much, possibly slightly over $6,000. Last week 'Andy Hardy' (3rd week), very fine for final stanza, $7,600. Lafayette (Ind.) (3,300: 25-35)— 'Tough Guy* (U) anc'. 'Midnight In- truder' (U). Great business, may go to excellent $12,000, Last week 'Making Headlines' (Col) and . 'City Streets' (Col), climbed to good $6,000. M-G Grooming O'Xeefe Hollywood, Aug, 23, Series of action pictures to build Dennis O'Keefe to stardom is under way at Metro under supervision of Harry Rapf. Edward Sedgwick is workinis .on the yarn. O'Keefe iJ! currently working in "Vacation From Love,' San Francisco, Aug. 23. 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' is the big noise in town this week. Play, ing in Maiiket Street's Fox, this film had a ready-made audience even be- fore it hit here, where the action of the story takes place. When the b.o.. opened first day, there was a line of customers two blocks long waiting to get in. First day's takq of $5,000 set the pace for terrific biz; Although most of the other houses suffer by the , ■ competish, the Or- pheum, nearest first-run emporium to the Fox, got quite a bit: of .the overflow. House is offering one of its best ' pictures in months, 'Letter of Introduction.' Estimates tor ' This Week Fox (F-WC) (5,000; 35-55-75) — 'Alexander* (20th). One of the few pictures to be single-billed . at this house. First week's take will hit $36,000, a record under the new regime. ■ Picture good for at least . four weeks on Market Street. Last week, 'Racket Busters' (WB) and 'Rich Man* (M-G), okay $14,500. Golden Gate (RKO) (2,850; 35-55) -'Carey's Chickens' (RKO) and vaude. Will have to be satisfied with $14,500, fair.' Last week, 'Crime Ring' (RKO) and vaude, $13,500. Orpheam (F&M) (2,440; 35-55) — 'Letter* (U). Will build via word- ofrmouth, Orpheum also picking up ' overflow from neighboring Fox.' Hopeful of $9,500 good. Last week, 'Gladiator' (Col) and 'Prison Break* (U), poor $5,300. paramount (F-WC) (2,740: 35-55- 75) — 'Racket Busters' (WB) and 'Rich Man*. (M-G) (2d wk). Moved over from Fox, where biz was just so-sb. Fair $7,000. 'Marie Antoin- ' ette' originally scheduled for road« showing at Geary, opens at Para- mount instead at pop prices tomor- row (Wed.). Last week (2d), 'Crowd Roars' (M-G) aind 'Adventures of Chico' (Mono), $7,500. St. Francis (F-WC) (1,470; 35-55- 75)— 'Andy Hardy' (M-G) and 'Army Girl' (Rep) (3d wk). Mickey Rooney opus did surprisingly well here last week, Third and final stanza headed for healthy $5,506. Last week (2d), gireat $8,000. United Artists (Cohen) (1,200; 35. 55-65) — 'Algiers' (UA) (5th wk). Holding up okay and will . stay on another week or so. Fifth stint ex- pected to hit around $5,000. Last week (4th), $6,500, very good. Warfleld (P-WC) (2,680; 35-55-75) —'Give Me Sailor* (Par) and 'Bull- dog Drummond* (Par). House will have another off week with this pair. Picture .driew mixed notices. Ter- rible $7,000 anticipated. Last week; 'Gatfeway* (20th) and 'Blockhead? (M-G), a headache at $8,300, 'Snow Wlnte' in Ninth Sydney Week, 7 to Go Sydney, Aug. 4. m a fairly dull market, 'Snow White* (RKO) is tops on ninth week. Picturie Is due to stay 16 weeks for. Hoyts. 'Vivacious Lady' (RKO) opened okay and may make th« grade, but it's doubUul whether •Wives Under Suspicion' (U) will take out any smash coin. 'I See Ice' (BEF) is biiilding under clever exploitation and 'Let George Do It' (BEF) is socko oh second week. 'Her Jungle Love' (Par) is so-so, but 'Divorce of Lady X' (UA) and 'Jezebel* (WB) warming up nicely on femme pull. 'Three Comrades* (M-CJ) came ,in for a try and should experience little - difficulty in staying following raves by the critics. 'Kate Plus Ten' (G-B) and 'Sailing Along' (G-B) will soon make way for two more Britishers. 'Under Suspicion' (Col) and . 'Battle of Broadway' (20th) doing average. Melbourne, Aug. 4. Solid lineup- of Yankees on tap currently and biz is brightening.- Doubtful yet whether 'Old Chicago' (20th) will amount to much despite exploitation. 'Wife, Doctor, Nurse' (20th) okay and 'Rosalie' .(M'-(3) ap- pears set for run. 'Big CHy' (M-G), building but will not be absolute wiz. 'Stolen Heaven' (Par) may ap- peal to the femmes, likewise 'Wise Girl* (RKO). 'Under Red; Robe' looks cinch for Annabella fans, and should give 20th-Fox nice return. •Cloistered' (BEF) still very solid and sticking. Auckland, N. Z.. Aug. 4. Big marquees for Yankees in Auckland, Wellington, (jhristchurcU and Duriedin with 'Firefiv' (M-G), 'Bluebeard's Eighth Wife' (Par), 'Joy of Living' (RKO), 'Yank at Oxford' (M-G), 'Happy Landing' (20th), 'Stolen Heaven* (Par), ^Barone.s.': and Butler' (20th) and 'Test Pilot' (M-C). •TAMETX'r UNDOK OFTICE, g IM. Martin'* Flace, Trafslcar Bquara INTERNATIONAL FILM NEWS Cable Addreui: VARim, LONDON - Telrplione Tampla Bar MII-SMS II U. S. Enters 8 Films in Venice Exhib To Set Pace Among 17 Other Nations Rome, Aug. 12. Eighteen countries have entered the Sixth International Film Ex- hibition at Venice this summer. Of these, the United States is entering the greatest number of pictures. Biggest American drawing card is expected to be RKO's 'Snow White.' Metro is showing 'Marie Antoinette' and Test Pilot"; United Artists is entering 'Priso-ier of Zenda,' 'Gold- wyh Follies' and Tor . Sawyer'; War- ner Bros., whose Bette Davis won the prize as best actress at last year's show, is trying with another Davis picture, 'Jezebel.* The U. S. goverh- Toent documenUry film, 'The River,' is awaited with curiositv. France, which last year wailked off with the Mussolini cup, the most coveted prize o( the Venice compe- tish, is entering the following: 'Check to the iQueen,' directed by Jean Dre- ville,' starring Francoise Rosay; and Conrad Veidt; 'Rarhuntscho,' directed by Rene Barbihs, starring Francoise Rosay, Louis Jbuvet, Michelin Ozeray, and'Line Npro; 'De^.th of the Swaii,' directed by Jeaa Benoit Levis and lHarie Epstein, starring Yvette Chau- yiere and Mia Glavenska, and 'Abuse of Confidence,' directed by- Henry Decoin, starring Danielle Darrieux ind Chatles Vanel. Germany's most spectacular entry ill be the Leni Riefensthal docu- mentary film of the. Olympic Games, which has beeii two years in the ipaking. The Germans are also en- tering . 'Home,' based oh the play, 'Heimat,' by Sudermann; 'On Parole,' "Model Husband,' 'Nomads' and •Youth.' British Entries England is showing Alexander Korda's 'The Drumrher,' which stars Raymond Massey and Valerie Hobr 000 Anglo Deal, Italy Distrib Lined Up By CoL 'S McConville Deal for distribution of pictures in , Italy; and tentative lineup of three quota features in England at a total outlay of about $1,000,000 were an- nounced by Joseph A. McConville, Columbia Pictures' foreign manager, on his return from an European trip last Wednesday (17). It was the first visit of the Columbia chief to Con- tinental branches since he was named to the foreign post. In Rome he made arrangements for Consorzio Cinematagrafico to handle pictures in Italy on a long- term pact. _McConville visited England, Irish Free Stale, Fi ance, Belgium, Czecho- slovakia, Scandinavia and Poland. 20 OF REICH'S 140 FIX TO BE MADE IN VIENNA Vienna, Aug. 12. Twenty of the . planned 140 film Production.s for 1939 in the German Reich will be shot In Vienna, mainly in the Tobis Sascha studios. Tobis studios will have new ""^^^ •'3"' comprising JS,000 square feet with facilities to snoot several pictures at the same "me, a new synchronization hall and a new restaurant and living house. «s . expected part will be finished this year. H IS FOR HORRIFIC New Classlflcatlon Bant Those Un- der .16 From .Films Sa Sp.eclflsd Liondon, Aug. 15. London County Council's certifl- cates were originally U (Universal) and A (Adqlt). With the latter, childrefn under 16 were not admitted unless accompanied by a grown-up. Recently they have added H cer- tificates, to ■ represent horrific, to which no one under 16, whether ac- companied or hot, is admitted, The horrific embargo how 'applies to the nurherous film revivals, which include: "The Vampire,' 'King Kong,' 'Night on the Lonely Mountain,' Tell Tale Heart,' 'Frankenstein,' 'Hands of Qrlac," . 'Devil Doll," 'Invisible ,Man,' 'Jekyll and Hyde,' 'Ninth Guest,' 'Dracula's Daughter,'. 'Murders in Rue Morgue,' 'Vampire Bat,' Son of Kong,' 'Werewolf of London,' 'House df :Doom,' 'Marit of the Vampire,' •Man Who Changed His Mind,', 'Me- dium,' 'Raven,' 'Bride of Franken- stein,' 'Walking. Dead,' 'Ghoul' and 'Wax Museum.' Pommer-Laughton Picture Deal For The Anzac Market Sydney, Aug. 4. Understood that ~ deal is nearing completion whereby Atlas, distrib unit run .by Dick Shafto, will handle Mayflower product, including the latest Charles Laughton-Erich Pom- mer films, 'St. Martin's Lane' and 'Vessels: of Wrath,' Learned that guarantees to Mayilo>yer will be the highest yet offered on British dis- tribution in this spot. Believed, too, that Atlas will dis- tribute all of the Maxwell product, halting Maxwiell and British Empire Flms contract renewal. Understood that guarantees offered Maxwell by BEF were not acceptable. Shafto was formerly connected with . BEF sales, quitting for quick trip to New York' where he hooked with a minor producer to distribute product locally. Gordon Williams is the Maxwell representative here, and whatever dckl is proposed will no doubt go through him from this end. TOKYO REMAINS MUM ON FOREIGN BAN LIFT Doyle's Distrib Setup Sydney, Aug. 4. .btuart F. Doyle has finished ar^ "ngemcnls to set up a distribution , 9rm known as Inspiration Film.';. . "aps opening offices -in four: other "'"'es besides Sydney, di^*?. ^'Pmahn, formerly wIth.BiiUah "'Wibgtioh here, will be in charge. , Tokyo, Aug, 4, Finance Ministry continues silent on lifting the import ban on foreign pictures, together with a definite ar- rangement on the foreign coin now stymied here. Plenty of rumors but nothing tangible thus far, though a defihitei.answer has been promised the American Mo.ion Picture Assn, There's talk about the possibility of American distribi'tion representa- tives getting out of Japan, Also that if such is done, distribution would be done through Japnncse outfits. How- ever, hope continues tha'. means can be established to l. l iii soine Ameri- ca \ pictures. Police here are tightening up on all forms of amusement ?nd-those in the business expect thing.i to become even more drastic if warfare with China continue.-. Btacles overcome in^'the sheer physi- cal task of filming stamp the j ob as something of an achievement . - In the matter of detailing a fiction yarn to fit the rugged Alaskan can- vas,- Hathaway finds it necessary to relate a rather trite melodramatic yarn Of love, hate, revenge and . ex- Iiiafion. He has the assistance of a arge company of players, .headed by George Raft,' Heiiry Fonda, Dorothy Ijamour, Aklm- TamirofT, Johii Barrymore, Lynne Overman and Louise Piatt. Jules Furthman - is author of the screenplay which Is based on a story by Barrett 'Wil- loughby. ■ The plot. In brief, recounts the bat- tles between licensed fishermen ftni pirates who steal the catch from the traps which ' are set for .salmon . at spawning time. Baft and Fonda, boy- hood friends, are .members of oppos- ing factions, the former having fallen in with Russian thieves. In a fierce night encounter in the open bay, Fonda shoots his friend. Latter lives long toough, however* to atone for his transgressions. Audiences should not be too captious about the in- credibilities of the plot Merit of the film is in the persua- sive and authentic photographic rec- ord of Alaskan life and customs. Highly Interesting views of Indian ritual are shown as a new spawning season 'begins. Birth of icebergs when giant glaciers toiich the sea are inspiring aiid frightening in the, grandeur of the impact Players; with distinct character as- signments fare better by the screen- script than the principals. Akim Tamiroff is a truly menacing pirate with a . black heart and no regard for law and order.. Barrymore, is an amusing small town editor and Over- man makes a cynical role standout by his gruff humor. 'Soawh of the North' Is deserving of the favorable comment which its production features will stimulnte. Flin, and actiially refofnicd in a reform school, of all places. Of course* the unredeemable flaw in "Little Tough Guy' is that it's merely a rubber stamp of 'Grime School,'- which was in turn more or less ol a rubber stamp of ''Dead End,' At least iall thiec have the same brawling principals -and :identical at-, mosphere and mood.', ; Even so, 'Little Tough G\iy' suf-; fers frorn loo:e construction. Jl the yarn were aimed as a justification of I reform schools amd their methods, the preliminary portio.i of the piece is painfully attenuated. , If the idea was sirnply to offer a rousing melo- drama the weak-kneed eliding is antl-cliinactic. In any case, the best parts; of the picture are the hell- raiiing of the six terrorists^and those aire now an 3ld story. As the principals of the opus, the kids are themselves— which is to Say they're forthright hard-hitting and effective. Helen Parrish underplays the big sister fairly convincingly, while Robert Wilcox Is a handsome enough juvenile ,'.nd Marjorie Main contributes her familiar acid mother characterization. ' Hobe. CONVICTED Columbia production and reloasis. . Fea- ture* Charles Quigley end Rita Hay worth. Directed by Leon Bataha. Screenplay by Edgar Edworda, from original by Cornell Woolrlch;. camera. George Meehan; flim editor,. William Austin.; At Globe, N. Y., week Aug. iO, '30, dual. Running time, aU inlna. Uurna Jerry Wheelir Milton Mliltis .. Kane ...... .i Mary Allen. ........ Cobble-Pusa Coley.. Verger .. ....... Chlbk 'Wheeler .. Ruby Rose. ^. . . . .'■ ■ Rocco- . • . .' ^ . . . • Pal Aggie ; Frankle District Attorney... ...Charles Quigley ....Rita Hay worth . . . . Ma ro Lawrence ....George McKay . Uoreen 'MacGregor Bill Irving ...Eddie Likughton . i . Edgnrd Edwards ......Phyllis Clare .......Bob Rideout ... Ichael. Heppell , . . . .Noel Cusack .Grant MacDonald Don Douglas Dick Curtis, as leader of the cattle rustlers, has one of his tjyjical prairie outlaw roles. Edmund Cobb. Edward LeSaint and Jack Rockwell head the support ■ ^ , , Bob Nolan^s original music is tune- ful but not plainly Identified. Benjamin Kline handled the camera, displaying especial skill in: closeups. Weor,, Minor B plctur* for lower deck duals, where It'll need a hefty riin- nlng mate. Little to recommend it- trite theme and treatment, quickie production and' only, so-so perform- ance. Has no marquee draw and will get no word-6f -mouth; Only thing in its favor is the running time, 50 minttte»^uick fit for double-billing. Story deals with a nitery hoofer, a detective who convicts her brother of murder and. then is convinced the. laid is innocent He and the gal then get the goods on a gang leader and nitery operator; All strictly stereo- typed stuff and as full of holes as. a commutation ticket It's over quickly, though, so the pain Is barely notice- able, ■ Charles Quigley and Rita Hayr worth, as the gumshoe and the gal, are a standard team in. Columbia's minor leaguers. Both get by the modest requirements all right She might be a looker with more care in makeup, lighting and photographing. Marc Lawrence Is the lecherous gangster. As . both writer of . the screenplay .. and player bf the' con- victed brother, Edgar Edwards has to take a double rap. Hobe. WEST OF CHEYENNE (WITH SONGS) Columbia production and releast. Stars Charles Starrett; features Iris Meredith and Sons of Floneen. Directed by.^ Sam Nelson. Original screenplay by Ed Earl Repp: songs, Bob Nolan; musical director, Morris Stoloff; camera, Benjamin Kline. Ai Central. N. Y.,, week Aug. 19, '38, dual- Running time, 51 mlns. Brad Duckner. .Charles Slarrett Jean Wayne.. Iris Meredith Dob ...'. Bob Nolan Pat ..Pot Brady Link Murdock Dick Curtis J. B. Wayne .Edward LeSalnt Dlrkln Edmund Cobb Cinch Art Mix Shorty .- ;. -Ernie Adam*i Sheriff '. Jock Rockwell Trigger ..John Tyrrell And Sons of the Pioneers nlng time, «S rnlhs. Jimmy Valerie Baronl..' ............. Max Maxwell...... Hy Colonel Butler Commander Felton. Dick "Taylor. Coach Welles Nick .............. Captain Nlles Slats .............. LITTLE TOUGH GUY Universal release of Keii Goldsmith pro- duction. Features Dllly llalop and 'Dead End' Kids. Directed .by-. Harold IToung. Screenplay by QUson Drown and Orenda 'Wolsbei-ir. from original' story- by IJrenda- Vclsbcrg: camera. Elwno;l "Dredcll; film editor, Philip Cahn. At' Rlvoll, N:' Y.. week Aug. 17. *3S. Running time. A.1 mins. Johnny Roylan....- Kay -Boylan. . Paul Wilson. . . , . . MrA. Ooylan. . . . : . PlB String Ape Sniper. Dopey. Cyril Ocrrard Rita Oclle — ...Dllly Hnlop . . . .Helen Pnrrlsh .-. ,Itol)ert Wllcoz . . .Marjoric Main Hnntz Hall . ..;.C!ahrlel Dell .llernard Punstey DrivUl Oorccy . . . . Ilally Chester . JiirklQ f^eatt . . . Peggy Stewart This one Is -merely a rehash of •Dead End' and 'Crime School,' again featuring the youiig toitchies known as the 'Dead End' kids, It's a weakie for single-billing and' its 83 minutes' running time is of embar'rassinj; length for the duals. Word-of-mputh will be negligible. Story Is standard gutter mcller stuff aboiit the .youngster of the slums who's embittered by his dad's murder conviction, and; who, despite his older sister's care, gets In with a mob of juvenile lawrbreakers. In this case the lads finally are pinched Miniature Reviews 'Spawn of tiie Nortli' (Par). Spectacular melodrama of Alaskan .fishing. Raft, Fonda and Dorothy Lamoiur starired. V'MUIe Toafb Guy' (U). The 'Dead^vEnii' kid? again—same kind o'f yarn. Only sb-so. •Convicted' (Col). .Trifling whodunit for lower billing in the duals; ho nam^ strength. •West of Cheyenne' iCol).; Another in. Charles Starrett 'western group, with 'Sons of, Pioneers' bolstering. < 'Come . On, Leathernecks' (lUp). A quiarterback from Annapolis leaTus that he- cares more for the Service than the professional gridiron./ Dual.- . •Dark Sands' (Record), Wll- coxori, Wallace Ford, Paul Robeson in a. weakie about a white man's friendship for a Negro. after accidentally running Into Wal- lace Ford, sings his way into the leadership of a desert tribe. When WUcoxon finally catches up with him, the sight of Robeson's wife and baby compels the white man to give up his aim. And the story rings down on Wileoxoh going off in frus- tration and Robeson singing; Ford handles^^ the .-. comedy end okay, iand Wilcoxon is a bit British in tone and manner for the 'Anerican Army, but nevertheless carries him- self commendably. Camera work is not altogether entrancing, but good enough. . . Princess' Kouka is the only femme In the' film. RbmanticBlly tied in "with Robeson, she is n.s.h. Shan,' Come On, Leathernecks Republlo 'Pictures' release of Hermun Schlom production. Features Richard Cromwell and Marsha Hunt. Directed . by James Cruze. Screenplay, Sidney Salkow, Dorrell and Stuart McQownn, from :orlgl- nal story by Salkow:- camera, Ernest Mil- ler; editor, Edward. Mann. Reviewed Jn Projection Room. N. T., Aug, 18, "38. Bun- .... icbard Cromwell ...... . . .Marsha Hunt ... .'.Leon Ames Edward ' Brophy . . . .Bruce- MacFarlane .....Robert Warwick ....Howard Hickman ....James Bush -Walter Miller ......Anthony Warde ..Ralph Dunn .....Harry Strang Another In the group of westerns In which Charles Starrett plays a big he-man and Iris Meredith is the sweet young thing opposite. Chief difference from others Is that 'West of Cheyenne' Is dotted with music and trim warbling of 'Sons of the Pioneers,' radio singing . crefw. The old tale about cattle rustlers fighfinc the invasion of a. brave and hones; cowboy outfit is confined - to 51 minutes screen time. Film is, dual fodder, and may satisfy some oats opera addicts. Singing by the versatile Sons ot Pioneers Is the best portion of the picture, but- overdone. Film opens with nearly four minutes of rambling melody by the' five boys. Another tune is yanked In by its' forelock at the dinner table. Still a third is slyly introduced . by having the sheriff say, 'Well let's havie some music bovs.' Tune about 'the old prairie schooner' easily is tops. A fairly interesting plot has been woven by Ed Earl Repp though his dialog is decidedly weak, neither fitting the occasion nor helping the action. Part of this story fabrication over familiar ground is lost through stilted acting. Direction by Sam Nelson is hit 'n' miss. Charles Starrett, ex-Dartmouth football star, is husky enough to make a formidable cowboy hero. He is one of the principals in two terrific fist fights and acquits him.'ielf satisfactorily; biit he doesn't- Impress as an , actor. Iris Meredith makes a pretty heroine and seems to typify the outdoor tybe wanted for such films'. Pat Brady, one ot. 'Pioneers,' gets most of the comedy lines and manages to muddle through them/ 'Come oh, Leathernecks.' despite little prbductional expenditure,, is one of Republic's better duals. Capa- ble direction by James Cruze, coupled with excellent casting, helps it. along considerably. There's nothing new to the story. Essentially, it's about a qtiarterback- ing hero from Annapolis who's en<. tlced by . professional offers upon graduation. Richard Cromwell, who's credible as the signal-caller, lis torn between the gridiron and the Serv- ice, mainly because his father is a leatherneck officer, with aspirations of seeing his son in a uniform. There's Marsha Hunt with whom Cromwell is featured, for romance: Eddie Brophy, as the pro football manager, who pursues Cromwell to the Phillipines to pursuade him to join, his team; Robert Warwick, as Cromwell's father, and Bruce Mac- Farlane, new to pictures but more prominent in Broadway legit,- as the leatherneck looey, who's more or less of a friendly foe. 'There's a. fair sub-plot dealing with the smuggling of arms into the Far East presumably to one of the warring nations, a violation of the Neiitrality Act Wheii Cromwell Is ultimately the means of ' snagging contraband shipments, he decides that he cares more for the Stars and Stripes than toting a pigskin. . DARK SANDS (WITH SONGS) (BRITISH MADE) Record release of Waller Futter produc- tion. Stars Henry Wilcoxon, 'Wallace Kurd; features I'nul Itobeson, Princess Kouka. Directed by Thornton Freelahd: Adapted by Robert N. Lee and Peter Rurle, from original by Walter Futter; scenario, George- Burrnud; camcrii, John W.' W. Boyle. At nialto, N. Y.. week Aug.. 10, MH, Running time, UO mIns.' Captain Mack.. ....Henry w;ilcoxon Mike Clancy -.. .Wallace Ford 'Jericho' Jackson... ...Paul Robeson 'Gnra -. Prlncesfl Kouka Hassan ; .John Laurl Major Barnes James Carew Private Face .....Lawrence Drown Sergeant Gamey.' Rufus -Fennell Tag : Ike Hatch Colonel Lake... Frank Cram A'gouba. Frank. 'Cockrane rCcorge Barraud Ezplorers 4 Frederick Coopei I. Henry Aubln- "This picture has' some nice desert travel stuff and Paul Robeson, Negro baritone, sings well, although the new songs given , him are not so keen. But It's hot a ftlrn to rate unusuial interest. Soinetimes the plot is incoherent and, all-told, it's a plain and peculiar story of the friendship, of a white army officer for his Negro corporal; It turns into a manhunt which is -not particulary vigorous nor convincing. Okay only for the duals. Robeson, a medical student, goes to war and while a corporal accident- ally kills his sergeant, for which he is later court-martialed. Wilcoxon, as a captain, assumes responsibility for Robeson's good behavior and re- turn .to orison. But Robeson runs off and. Wilcoxon is disgraced, Wil- coxon then starts out to vindicate himself by tracking down. Robeson. The Negro corporal by this time, Fteturn of Carol Dcane '.. (BRITISH MADE) London, Aug, 16. .'Warner Bros. First National Teddlrtgton Production and release. Slrirs- Bebe Dan- iels. Directed by Arthur Woods. Soreen play and dialog, John Meehan, Jr., Tommy Phlppn; camera, Basil Emmntt. At the Phoenix, London, Running time. 77 mIns. Carol Deane .... .' Hebe Daniels Mark Poyntnn ...Arlhuf Margetsor- Lady Rrennlng . .Zenn Dare Anne Dempster . ......... . . .Ohlll Bouchler T.ord Robert Brennlng Michael Drake Frnhcla Scntt-Vnughn. . . ; Wyndham Goldle Ixird David Brennlng ..Peter Coke Diana ..Lesley Brook Nicky David Burns 'Carol Deane' is a very creditable piece pf work for Warner Bros. 'Ted- dingtoh studios, despite its appro- priation limits. Hiis one is. the type that the layman likes to see.; Story is designed to lie a harrow- ing -case of suffering, finishing up with mother love sacrifice. It's old stuff but presented well, ' and - should be b.o. in England with a chance .for the States if 15 minutes were scis- -fiored.'-.-- It's.about a beautiful model who has made a mediocre artist famous. She has been living with him, but falls in love with a young peer, mar- ries . him, bears his - son, . theii loses him in the war. Her . former lover tries deisperately .to -win her back and tricks her into visiting his studio. He pulls a gun and is shot in the scuffle' and she ge;s IS years. Determined her son shall ' be brought up in ignorance bt her tiagedy, she refuses an . allowance from Ker husband's estate, goes to America and- teams up with a cos- mopoliten gambler. She ' makes a reluctont return to London, finds her partner, ishares in a new. gambling' house there,, which tiirhs out to be her old home, and, of course, enr counters her boy. She saves him from being fleeced, s^es he's recon- ciled to his young 'fiancee, and so on to . the usual fadeout. : Dialog is pointed, photography of a. high order, direction in experi- enced hantis, and the cast competent; all contributing.to felicitous results for a feature with no pretensions for topnoteh honors. ' Jolo; ALTITUDE 3;200 (FRENCH MADE) - Paris, Aug. 5. Lee Dlfltrlbuteurs' Francain-. release of Transcontlnien.tal Film production. Stars Jean-Louis Barmult. Directed by Jean- Benolt Levy. From original play of the same nome by Luclen Luchaire*, music, Maurice Jaubert; camera-, Armand Thlraud and Loulr Nee. At the Madeleine, Paris. Running tliine, M mIns. Cast: Jean-tjouls Rarrnult; Ledoux,- Blanchette Brunoy. Odette Joyeux, Jacque- line Pacaud, Jacqueline Porel, Maurice Ba- quet, Charles Dnret, Bernard Bller, SInval, Dlna VIerny, Tony Jacquot, Dolly Mol- lloger, Fablen Lorls. (In French) A good study of adolescent minds, 'Altitude 3,200' marks up another one for French production. Unusualness of the subject and the profoundness with which it is han- dled makes the film sure, of . cutting its place in France. Story Is woven around a small group of young men who are disappointed with what they believe are the complexities of a de- ceiving age. Collected and led by Jean-Louis Barrault they go into seclusion high in the moiintains and carve a 'republic;' where brotherly understanding, so amiss in the world, can abound. Barrault ih the beginning, parades the streets to advertise a clothing store. He collects an office worker, a taxi driver, the son of a rich man, a- painter and others with as diver- gently differing backgrounds, for the mountain retreat Seclusion, however, is soon in- vaded by a group of young girls, who take refuge with them for a night but decide, upon , hearing the ideal- istic plans of the boys, to remain and help theni work out . their 'perfect understanding.' Jealousies and mis- trusts com«! to light ih a short time. The hardships bring out the best in sorne and the' wor.it in others, The entire plan is finally abandoned, and they all agree to return to the 'un- kind' world,, wiser by their experi- ment. Barrault, typifying expertly that type of individual, who can live for an ideal, carries the pic. Outstand- ing newcomer, and there are a num- ber of thiem, is Maurice Baquet who is set for some good comedy roles. He lags at times in this one. Diolly MoUinger Shows well. Photography, for the most part Is good, with some excellent mountain shots. Dialog rings true with a good balance between comic and serious. Hugo. LET GEORGE DO IT (ADSTBALIAN MADE) Sydney; Aug. i; ' British - Empire Fllma release or cine, sound production. . Stars George Wallace- ' features Lett/ Crnydon, Joe Vain aim Kelld-way, George Lloyd and Owen .Miinrn Directed by Ken G, Hall. Adaried from, Hal H. .Cfirleton's original story by Ocgres Wallni^e Mid Frank Harvey; camera, Geort* Heath ;. music, Hamilton Webber and Mau. rice Gllman. At .Cajplto], Sydney. Ilunnlni time,- 75 nilns. ■ ' - * ' Home brew hokum for the imso- phistlcated spots, ' Picture is a cinch to.clean lip on general release ih the nabes, Useless for U. S , but may- secure bookings In England, where this type, of stuff is said to be in favor. . Ken G. Hall, one of the most versa- tile directors here, proved this with •Tall Timbers' and 'Broken Melody.' He again comes through in this one. Although only young in years, George Wallace is . an experienced vaud0 trouper through long associa- tion ^*rith the Fullers; ailso carries picture experience on link- with the late F. W. Thring. He plays the hokum element for all it's worth, is laughable, and likable, and in the home field spells b.o, . Cast is made up mostly of vaiidie performers of vast experience over this way, the majority being recruits f rdm 'the old Fuller days. Letty Cray- don does splendidly in a low comedy role, with mainly flllins. . Story is nixy; likewise the straight dialog and acting. Picture depends for success upoii its hbkum by Wal- lace. Slips a little in the middle after a bright opening, . but picks up towards, close, and finishes on a gale of laughs. Camera aces, with ; sets by ~ Eric 'Thompson, adequate. Rich. Megredtem Egy Asszony t (Tve Defended » Woman') (HUNOAIUAN MADE) . Blidapest Aug. 3. . - Elite .release- of . Hamsti . production.. - Screenplay, Janes Bokay. Directed by Ak'OB Rathonyl. At the Forum. Uudapett. Maca....U. .MnrlH LauF Peter Bory. '..Antal Pager Kazmer Bakes. Bela MlhalylTy lalvan 'Voros,, . . . I.aJos Bcrar Judith Maria Mezty Mrs. Bory , Marlska Vlavary OUy , ; . . A go ta . Don* t Bezeo AndOr AJtay (In Hungariany Screen version is no improvement on ' ah agreeable novel arid amusing play. There's little originality about the confirmed bachelor', .:who's com- pelled -to marry, against his will, a woman whom he defends against her husband's bhitallty. He has never seen them before, but can't help pro- testing when the Husband gets rough' with Maca. There's a duel and then the Inference is that he's Maca's, lover. When there's a divorce, gos-. sip, plus Maca's own subtle coquetry, drives him- into marrying . her, but with , the stipulation that they be divorced shortly after. However, he finishes up by liking it and : begs Maca to kieep him on. Maria Lazar, charming on the stage, is too mature looking In close- ups. Antal Pager seems bored by his part Modem Interior sets' are poor. Nevertheless, - this belongs to the better class Of homemade pic- tures and was well received despite heat wave opening. Jacob). STUDIO CONTRACTS Hollywood, Aug. 23. Paramount lifted Louise Camp- bell's player option. Spanky McFarland's actor ticket lifted by Metro. Elaine Ryan inked -writer pact at Metro. . Republic picked up Tommy Ryan's actor option. George. Sherman's di/ector contract renewed by Republic. Warners signed Maxie Rosenbloom as- an actor. . Paramount took up Jean Fenwick s playier option. Hal Roach signed Harry Langdon to- a four-picture deal. Warners contracted Franki Thomas as a player. . Coronado Films signed Edgcomb Pihchon to Write six westerns. . RKO picked up John Twists writer option. 20th-Fox signed Hal Hudson as a writer. TITLE CHANGES Hollywood, Aug. 23. "No Way Out' at Metro, w i 1 1 be re- leased as "They're Alwpys Caiight. •I Stend Accused' is the latest Ug for Republic's 'Key Witness.' 'The Man on the Island' al Metro became 'The Man on the -Rook.' Release title for 'Hell Bent for Headlines' at Republic will be 'The Night Hawk.' STORY BUYS Hollywood Aug. 2.1. Colonial purchased Richard wormr ser's mag story, 'Melody Morgan. . , RKO bought Booth Tarkinfiton f 'Little Orvie.' , Universal. acquired Jonathan LfV'* mer's mag serial, 'Red Gardenias. Patricia Harper sold original.. mance on the Range,' to Republic. RKO acquired the third story W Charles Hoffman's series, 'Annabeiia I and the Press Agent' Wednesdaj, August 24, 1938 PIGTUItES VARIETY IS FILM BOOKING CHART (For infornuitton of theatre and film exchange bookers, Variety, presents a complete chart of feature releases of all the American distHbuting eompames^forjnewrrent quarterly period. Date of the reviews as given in Varietv ond the running time of prints are included.) (B) BEiaSDES COPyiUCHT/ 1938. BY -VABlETt. INC. ALL BIGHTS KESERVEU WEEK OF BELEASE riTLE rBODVCEB TALENT OIBECTUB 6/3/38 THBEE ON A WEEKEND THBEE COMRADES A FAHEW^LL TO ABHS (R) • SIGN OF THE CROSS (R) SAINT IN NEW YORK JOSETXE WIVES UNDEB SUSPICION MTTLE MISS THOBODGHitRED 6/10/38 HELD FOR BANSOM THE TOY WIFE rOU AND ML KING KONG (B) BlDEBS OF BLACK HILLS LADIES IN DISTRESS ONB WILD NIGHT . GOLDDIGGEBS IN PARIS , GB • .GB Rom-Dr M. Lockwood-J. Lodge-B. Bay H. Manckiewicz MGM .R6m-Dr B. Taylor-Tone-M. Sullavan .F-Borzage Par Drama G.Cooper-H.Hayes C-B- deMille ;Par Drama F. March-Colbert-Laughtdn Wm. Sistrom BKO MeUer L. Hayward-K. Sutton aene_Markey 20tii Musical S. Slmon-D. AmecheTB. Labr Er Grainger U Drama W. Wllliam-G. Patrick Bryan Foy WB Com-Dr J. Ch»pman-J. Litel Carol Reed Fi'ank Borzage F. ^otzage G. B. deMille - Ben Holmes Allan' Dwan Jas. Whale John Farrow 6/17/38 HOLIDA^ CRIME OVER LONDON WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN PRISON FARM BLONDE CHEAT THREE BLIND MICE BLOCKADE OUTLAW EXPBESS WHEN 'VEBE TO« BORN :GN . GN Meller Aieriah C. Cooper MGM Drama Fritz Lang Par Rom-Dr M.C.Cooper BKO Spec Wm; Berke Rep Weslern Harrv Grey Bep Meller John Stone 29tli Meller Sam Bischolf WB Musical G. Withers-B. Mehaffey-J. Miilhall L. Ralner-M. Jonilas-B. YOuiic S. SIdney-b. Ralt-H. Carey Wray-B, Cabot-Cooper 3 Mesqiiiteers A. Skipworth-P. Moran J. Lans-L. Talbot-S. Toler. B. .Vallee-B. Lane Everett Riskin GB JJrlw. Chodorov , Par Wm. Sistrom Ray Gritflth Walter Wanger Trem Carr Bryan Foy Clarence Bricker Richard Thorpe Fritz Lang ^chocdsack rSeorge: Sherman Gus Meins Eugene Forde Ray Ehright Col Drama K. Hepborh-C Grant George Cukor GB Mystery M. Grahame-P, Cavanancb Alf. Zeisler MGM Rom-Dr V. Briice-H. Marshall R. Sinclair Par Meller ' S. itoss-L. 'Nolan-J C. Nalsh Louis King BKO Rom-Com J. Fontalne-D. de Mafney Jos. Santley 2(Mh Rom-Dr L. Youh^-J. McCrea. Wm. Scitcr .UA . Drama H.Fonda-M.Carroll Wm. Dieterle . V . Western. Bob Bakcr-C. Cailego Geo. Waggner WB Drama ' C. Rains- J. Cooper . Wm. McGann TIME MINS. WHEN BEVIEWED BY VARIETY 76 100 90 124 71 70 68 __65_ S9 93 90 96 5S 66 63 100 6/15 5/25 12/3/1932. 12/6/1932 5/25 . 6/1 6/8 ■ 6/15 7/20 ■ 6/8 6/8 3/7/1933 6/22 6/15 5/11 5/25 93 84 60 69 75 8S 56 65 5/18 11/11/36 6/22 7/20 6/8 6/8 7/20. 6/15 6/24/38 HIGHWAY PATBOL, LORD JEFF ROMANCE OF LIMBEBLOST BAB 20 JUSTICE BOBDEB G-MAN HB. MOTO TAKES CHANCE YOUNG FUGITIVES WHITE BANNERS .7/1/38 W. MacDonald Frank Davis . Mono Harry Sherman Bprt Gilroy. . So'Wurtzel Barney. Sarecky Htnry Blanke Col MGM Mono Par RKO 20Ui : U WB CITY STBEETS EVEBGBEEN (B) HAVING WONOEBFUL TIME ABMY GIBL , ALWAYS GOODBYE SOUTH RIDING , DANGEB ON THE AIR BAGS OF PABIS MEN ABE SU.CH FOOLS W. MacDonald V. Saville P. S. Herman Sol Siegel Ray Griffith ' Alex Korda IrvlnS Starr B. G. DeSylva David Lewis Col OB BKO R«P . UA u V WB Meller Rom-Dr Rom-Dr Western Western Mystery Meller Dr Meller Musical Comedy Rom-Dr Rom-Dr Drama ■Mystery Com-Rom Rom-Com J. Wells-B. Palee BaTthnlomew-Sondergaard J. Parker-E. Linden W. Boyd-G. Hayes Georee. O'Brien: P. L6rre-H. Hudson D. Kenl-K. Wilcox \ C. Balns-J. .Cooper -.C. Coleman. Jr. Sam Wood' Wm. Nigh Lc! Selahder David Howard Norman Fo.ster John Rollinis ■ Ed. Cbulding Carrlllo-E. Bellows-H. J.Xddy J. Matlhews-B. Mackay ' G. Ro(ers-D. Fairbanks, Jr. M, Evans-P. Foster . B. Stanwyck-n. Marshall B. Biohardson-E. Best- D. Woods- A; Grey D, Darrleox-D. Fairbanks^ Jr. ■ W. Morrls-P. Ijine : ' 7/8/38. FAST COMPANY MAN'S COUNTBY CBIME BING LITTLE WOMEN (B) DUBANGO VALLEY RAIDEBS PANAHINT'S BAD HAN MY BILL Al Rogel Victor Saville Al SantcU Am 'd Schaefer Sid Lanfleld Vic Saville Otis Garrett Henry Koster Busby Berkeley 7/1.5/38 : PIONEEB TBAIL SHOPWORN ANGEL rBIDE OF THE WEST . GOLD MINE IN SKY r ASSFOBT HUSBAND PBISON UBEAK Col .Col Western J.. L. Manckiewicz MGM Rom-Dr Harry Sherman Par Western ; C, E: Ford Rep Western SoV'Wurtzel 20th Com-Dr Trem Carr - U Meller J. Lnden-J. Barkley M. Sullavan- J. Stewarl Bill B»yd G. Antry-S. Bnmette P. Moore-S. Erwin G. Farrell'-B..HcLane 7/22/38 7/29/38 BEFOBMATOBY LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY TROPIC HOLIDAY ' BOO-LOO SKY GIANT FLL GIVE A MILLION ALGIEBS LITTLE TOUGH GUY PENROD'S DOUBLE TBOUBLE Col . Hal Roach A. Hornblow. Jr. C. E. Elliott Robert Sisk K. MacGowan Walter Wanger Ken Goldsmith Bryan Foy J. Holt-C. Wynters , Col Drama MGM Com-Dr M, Booney-J. Garland Par. . Musical D. Lamour-Biirns-Baye _PBr Adv-Dr C. Tapley-S. Asmara- A. Lane BKO Meller B. DIx-C. Morrls-J. Fontaine 20th Drama W. Baxt«r-M. Weaver UA Rom-Mel C. Boyer-S. Gnrie-H. Lamarr U, ,X>rama Dead End Kids WB Com-Dr Manch Twins Western C. Starrelt-L Meredith Mystery T. Walls-B. Saint Cyr Com-Dr D. O'Keefe-A. Merrls-L. Stone Comedy H. Lloyd-P.Welch Western Three Mesqniteers ^ Drama R- Keeler-A. Shirley •tom-Com S. Teinple.-G. Murphy-Dnrante Drama E. G .. Kpb lnson-C. Trevor Jos. Levering H. C. Potter Les Sclandcr Joe Kane Jas. Tinling Arthur Lubin Lew D. Collins Geo. Seitz Theodore Reed C.- E. Elliott Lew Landers Walter Lang John Cromwell Herold Young Lew Seiler S6 78 80 70 61 57 67 90 8/10 6/22 7/20 7/20 6/15 7/20. 5/25 69 82 ■ 70- 90 75 84 «5 80 69 F. Stephani MGM Rom-Com.' M. Doailas-F. Rice Eddie Biizzel.- ' 7.<( Mono Mod* Western Jack Randall . : Robert Hill 53 ClifT Reid BKO Mystery A. Lane-F. Mercer Les Goodwins 70 K. MacGowan BKO Rom-Dr Hepburn-J. Bennett-F. Dee Geo. Cukor' 117 A. W. Hackel Be^ Western Bob Steele-L. Stanley Sam Newfleld Sol Lesser 20th Western S. Ballew-N. Beery Ray Taylor 60 Bryan Foy WB . Drama K^ Franels-J. Litel- John Farrow 60 '7/27 1/15/35 6/15 7/20 (.-6/29 "7/27 7/20, 6/15 6/22 8S 55 60 74 72 6/29 8/3 :•• 7/2T 11/21/38 8/10 6/15 7/13 8/17 7/6 7/27 7/20 61 90 77 60 80 70 9S 85 65 6/29 '7/13 7/6. 8/3 7/20 7/13 6/26 8/24 7/27 SOUTH Ob' ABIZONA Col Col STBANGE BOABDEBS Geo. B. Mason GB THE CHASEB Frank David MGM . PBOFESSOB BEWABE Harold Lloyd Par HEBOES OF tHE HILLS Wm. Berke Bep MOTHEB CABBY'S CHICKENS P. S. Berman RKO LITTLE MISS BBOADWAY D. Hempstead 20th AMAZING DB. CLITTERHOUSE Anatdle Litvak , WB 8/6/38 THE LADY VANISHES A. Hitchcock GB Rom-Dr THE QBOWD BOABS Sam Zimbalist MGM Rom-Dr BABEFOOT BOY E. 3. Derr Mono Drama BULLDOG DBUMMOND IN AFBICA Harold Hurley Par Mystery COME ON, LEATHEBNECKS Herman Schlom Rep Sports ' MAN FBOM MUSIC MOUNTAIN Chas. E. Ford Bep Outdoor PALS OF THE SADDLE Wm. Berke Rep We.stern 'I'M FBOM THE CITY Wm Sistrom. BKO Comedy GATEWAY Samuel G. Ehgel 20th DramiC LETTEB OF INTBODOCTION John Stahl U Rom-Dr MB. CHUMP Bryan Foy WB Com-Rom 8/12/38 8/19/38 THE GLADIATOR BICH MAN, POOR GIRL THE TEXANS PAINTED DESERT KEEP SMILING THE MISSING GUEST B ACKET BUSTEB S; CONVICTED David L. Loew Edw. Chodorov Lucien Hubbard Bert Gilfoy iSol Wurtzel B. Sarecky Sam rischoff Col MGM Par RKO 20th U WB . Comedy Com-Dr Outdoor Western Com-Rom Mystery Meller M. Lockwood-P. Lukas' B. TaylorrM. o:Su]llvan 3. Moran-M, M. Jones-B. Morgan J. Howard-H. Anffel-H. B. Warner ' B. Cromwcll-M. Hunt G. Aatry-S. Bornelte 3 Mesqultcers J. Penner-L, Kraerer . Amecbe-A. Wtaelan-Batoff Lecds-A, HenJon-BerKen Johnnle-Lola Lane • J; E, Brown-J. Travis Sam Nelson George Mason . E. L. Marin Elliott Nugent Geo. Sherman Rowland V. I:iee Irving Cummihgs /Anatole Litvak D. A. R. YounfrR. Hnssey J. Bennett-B. Scott G; 0*Brien-L. -Johnson J. WItheis-C. Stnart Kelly-C. Moore-Lundiran 8/26/38 BLOCK-HEADS GIVE ME A SAILOB SMASHING THE BACKETS A BOM ANTIC BOGUE ALE XANDEB'S BAGTIME BAND . MABIE ANTOINETTE Col Hal Roach , JeR Lazarus B. P. Finerrian John K Auer H. J. Brown CIBCUS COMES TO TOWN SPAWN OF THE NOBTU BBEAKING THE ICE TENTH AVENUE KID SPEED TO BURN FOUB DAUGHTEBS BOY MEETS GIBL H. Stromberg Wm. T. Lackey Al Lewin Sol Lesser Harry Grey Jerry Hoffman Ben Glazer Sam BischolT H. Bbgart-Gloria Dickson Col Meller B. Hayward-C. Qaicley MGM Comedy Laurel and Hardy Par Comedy M. Baye-B. Hope-B. Grable BKO Meller C. Morrts-F. Mercer Rep Rom-Dr R. N«varro-M. Marsh 20th Musical T. Power-A. Faye-Ameche N. Sbearer-T. Power A. Hitchcock R. Thorpe . Karl Brown Louis King Jas. Cruze Joe Kane Geo. Shermaii Ben Holmes Al Werktir John Stahl Wm. Cleme ns "Ed Sedgwick" R. Schunzcl Jas. Hogan David Howard Herbert I. Leeds John .Rollins Lloyd Bacon MGM Mono Par RKO Rep 20th WB WB 9/2/38 9/9/38 PHANTOM GOLD I AM THE LAW STABLIGHT OVER TEXAS SING, YOU SINNERS CAREFREE MY LUCKY STAR MAN WITH 100 FACES FOUR'S A CROWD THREE LOVES HAS NANCY THE HIGGINS FAMILY BILLY THE KID RETURNS ROAD TO RENO 9/16/38 THE LADY OBJECTS BOY'S TOWN MEXICALI KID IN OLD MEXICO AFFAIKS OF ANNABEL SAFETY IN NUMBEBS SECBETS OF AN ACTRESS FRESHMAN YEAR C OLOItADO TRAIL JUVENILE COUBT : . TOO HOT TO HANDLE SONS OF THE LEGION THE RENEGADE RANGER HOLD THAT CO-ED THEBE GOES MY HE.ART YOliTH TAKES FLING BLACK bANDlT VALLEY OF GIANTS Col Everett Riskin Ed Finney •Wesley Ruggles Pandi'O Berman Harry J. BroWn A. Hitchcock David Lewis Norman Krasna Sol C. Siegel ' Cha.s. Ford Ed G ra [n ger Wm. Perlberg John Cohsidine Riobt. Tnmsey Harry Sherman Lou Liisty John Stone D.-ivid T.ewis Geo. Bilson ;_C0l Col L. Weinfiarten Par Bert Gilroy . D. Hemp.stcad Hal Roach Joe Pasternak Trem Carr Lou Edelhian' Col C9I Mono Par RKO 20th GB WB MGM Bep Bep- U Col MGM Mono Par RKO 20(h WB u Col_ .' Col MGM Par RKO 20th UA U U WB Drama Rom-Dr Outifoor Musical Meller Sports Com-Dr Comed y Western Meller Western Com-Rom Musical Mus-Rom Drama Com-Jlom Rom-Dr Comedy ■Western _ Corni-Dr_ Com-Rom . Drama Western Western Comedy Comedy Rom-Dr Cftmody Wc.stci'n_ Drama Com-Dr Rom-Dr Wcstr-ni Rrtm-C.im Rom-Cim Com-Dr Western Outdoor Leon Barsha John Blystone Elliott Nugent Lew Landers John H. Auer Henry King A. Nagel-J. LaBue . Raft-H. Fonda-Lamour B. Breen-C. Buggies B. Cabot-B. Roberts M. Whalen-L. Barl PrJsclllarRoseniary-Lane Cagney-O'Brlen-M. Wilson J. Luden-B. Marion E. G. Bobinson-W. Barrle Tex Bitter-C. LaBoux B. Cro.sby-F. MacMurray' F. Aslalre-G. Sogers Ilenie-R. Greene-Romero L. Palmer-T. Walls R. Russell-E. Flynn Montgomery-Gaynor-Tone J. Glcason-L. Gleason R. Rogers-S. Burnette R. Scott tH. Hampton G. Sldari-L. Ross" S. Tracy-M. Rooney-HuU J. Randall-W. Barry VI: BoydrG. Haves ; J. Oakle-L. Ball J. Prouty-S. Rylnglon K. Frnncls-G. Brent . Dunbar-E. Truex-Lundlgan C. Starrctt-I. Meredllh__ i'. Kelly-it.~ Hay wortb-Darro "~ Gable-Loy-Carrillo . O'Gbnnor-B. Lee-B,'. Conk G. O'nricn-R. Ilay.worth J. Rarrvmore-'G. Murphy F. March-V. Bruce J. McCrea-A. Leeds Rob Baker '. Morris-C. Trevor W. S. Van Dyke Karl Brown Henry Hathaway Edward Cline B'nard 'Vorhaus Otto Brower Michael Curtiz Lloyd Bacon Joe Levering Al Hall Al Herman. •.Vesley RugKlcs Mark Sandrich Roy Del Ruth A. Hitchcock Mich.nel Curtiz R. Thorpe Cu.s Meins Joe Kane __S. Sylvan Simony Eric C 'kenlo'n N. TauroK Wallace Fox Edw.D:Vchturinl Ben Stoloff . Mai .St. Clair Wm. Kciijhiey Franl< McDonald ; Sam Nel.son D: R. I;ed(;rman Jack Conw.-iiy Ja.1. Milt*':Mi'lll Nil! m. /.. Mcr.eod Aicliip Ma.vo f!eo. W.mi.'n'T Wm. K'.'iKhlc.v 75: 90 65 82 70 87 8/10 7/13. 8/3 7/27 7/6 6/22 »7 54 71 73 100 60 "70 ■ 70 90 59 65 6S 65 8/3 8/17 8/ld 8/10 8/3 • 8/10 8/17 8/3 8/17 8/17 SO 55 80 68 105 8/24 7/27 8/10 6/1 160 110 56 60 90 7/13 8/24 6/8 8/17 8/17 8/ 8/17. U VARIETY PICTURES WedDesdaiTt August 24, 1938 B'WAY PICTURE HOUSE MANAGERS OGLE TMAT Advance Production Chart A number of circuit and Times Square plqture house managers huddled Monday (22) night to look into ways and means qt forwarding the drive to bring cinema attaclies imder the Theatrical Managers. Agents and Treasurers union. TMAT headquarters denied that the confab was expressly for picture house managers but that it was a regular routine session of the legit division of the organization. Impression with N.. Y. film house managers is that any organizing by | TMAT will be confined exclusively to managerial pbsts, with: lATSE ap- parently having jurisdiction oyer ticket sellers, doormen and ushers. ■ Scheduled session of TMAT com- mittee of the whole, looking into by- laws, will not be held tonisht (Wednesday) because! report is not ready. Probably wiU be finished early In September. Picketing of the Astor theatre, on Broadway, and Loew's State build- ing, housing Loew's, Inc., and Metro-Goldwyn, probably will be re- sumed tomorrow ;(Thursday) by the Theatrical Managers, Agent.<'omised pleted In; 49. 31 1 . 22 13 1 2 , 2 • Now. Balance to . In Be Placed Stories In Cutting Before . Prepare-. RoDihs Caioeras : tion 5 1 4 4 3 4 0 • 1 DBOPPING THE 0 Hollywood, Aug. 23. Margaret SuUayan instead of Maureen O'SuUivan gets the fcmnm lead opposite Robert Montgomery in Metro's 'Shining Hour.' Frank Borzage will direct. British Film Bank (Continued itrom page 11). building the Queen Mary. That there may be more; than rumor in this is seen by the fact such a setup was visualized' by the original Moyne Commission, when, it submitted its report on which the present quota act is founded. In that report was foreseen the difficulty producers might have in touching coin, and recommendations was, therefore thrown out that a sponsored film bank might meet the bill. Some of the big insurance companies are uii derstood to be lending an car to the idea. Whether, too,, recent visit of Dr A. H. Gianninl may have cauised in any way such new development is also among current liiies of specula- tion. With Bank of Anierica chief reported interested in^ possible loans to British prodgcers, there might he; It Is thought, certain governmental anxiety as to whether or not aim of the Films Act was to bolster local production with .; American capital. Rather than that. It Is argued, United Kingdom admittedly is eager to di- rect a iiourishlng industry to\yards serving national prestige. ' .Total 64 46 2 9 4 9. Pictures how in the buttirig rooins or awaiting previews are: 'PH.INTOM GOLD,' formerly titled 'GOLD RUSH DATS,' produced by Larry Darmour; directed by Joseph Levering; original screen play by Nate Galzcrt;. photographed by James S. Brown. Jr. Cast: Jack Luden, Beth Marion, Barry Downing, Charles Whittakcr, Hal Taliaferro, Jaick Ihgrhin, "Tex Palmer, Bus Barton, Art Davis, Marian Saiis, Lafe . McKce. . Tufty (canine). ; , . . ■'. 'SOUTH OF ARIZONA,' formerly titled 'SINGING GUNS,' prbduced by Harry Decker for Irving Briskin unit; directed by Sam Nelson; original screen play by Bennett Cohen: photographed by Benjamin Kline. Cast; Charles Starrett Iris Meredith. Bob Nolan. Pat Brady, Dick Curtis. Thei Sons of the Pioneers, .Eddie Cobb. Art Mix, John Tyrriell, Robert. Fiske. ■ 'PIONEER TRAIL,' formerly titled 'VALLEY OF VIOLENCE,' piroduced by Larry Larmoiir; directed by Joseph Levering; original screen play by Nate Gatzert; photographed by James S.. Brown, jr. Cast: Jack Luden, Joan Barclay, Dick Botillier, 'Tuiffy' (canine). Slim Whittakcr, Marin Sais. Hal Taliaferro, Leon Beaiimon.; TOU CANT TAKE IT WITH TOU' (for 1938-39 release), produced and directed by Frank-Capra; original play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart; "screen play , by Robert Riskih; photographed by Joseph Walker. Cast: Jean. Arthur, James Stewart, Lionel .Barrymore, Edward Arnold, Mischa Auer, Spring Byington, Ann Miller, Dub Taylor, Clarence H. Wil- son. Mary Forbes, Donald Meek, Samuel S. Hinds, Halliwell Hobbes, Eddie Anderson, Lillian Yarbo. ' , 'THE LADT OBJECTS,' formerly titled 'LADY LAWYER,' produced by William Perlbisrg; directed by E^rl Kenton; screen play by Gladys Leh- man and Charles Kenyon; photographed by Alan Seigler. Cast: Lanny Ross, Gloria Stuart, Joan- Marsh, Roy Benson, Robert Pai ,. Arthur Loft, Pierre Watkin, Robert Fiske.' : ^ 'FLIGHT TO FAME,* formerly titled 'WINGS OF DOOM.' produced by Ralph ;Cohn for the Irving Briskin unit; directed by C. C. Coleman, Jr.; orieiiial . screen play by Michael Simmons; photographed by Lucien Bal- lard.- Cast; Jacqueline /Wells, Chairles Farrell, Alexander Dorsey, Fredr erick Burton,- Eddie Earle, Addison Richards, Charles D. Birown, Hugh Sothern. - "THE STRANGER FROM ARIZONA,' formerly titled- 'PHANTOM TRAIL,' Coronet Pictures ^production for dblumbia; associate producer, Monroe Shail; directed by. Elmer Clifton; original . screen play by Monroe ShafT; photographed by Elddie Linden. Cast: Buck Jones, Dorothy Fay SouthwoEth, Roy Barcrbft, Bob Terry, Hank Worden, Hank. Mann, Horace Murphy, Ralph Peters, Dot Farley, Joe Girard, Walter Merrill, Lon Reibe. 'JUVENILE COURT* (for: 1938-39 release), produced by Irving Briskin; associate producer, Ralph Cohn; directed by D. Ross Lederrhan; original, story , by Robert E. Keiit and Henry Taylor; photographed by Benjamin Kline;. Cast: Paiil Kelhr, Rita' Hay worth, Firankie Dairro, David Gorcey, Hally Chester, Don La "rourre, Dick Selzer, Allan Ramsey, Johnny Tyrrell, Dick Curtis, tiCe Shumway,. Joe D. Stephani. 'GIRLS' SCHOOL,' formerly titled 'FINISHING SCHOOL,' produced: by Sam Marx; directed by John Brahm; - original and screen play by Tess Schlesinger; photographed by Franz Planer. , Cast: . Anne Shirley. Nan Grey; Ralph Bellamy, Margaret Tallichet, Doris Kenyon, Noah , Beery, Jr., Cecil. Cunningham, Franklin Pangborn, Marjorie Ford, Marjorie Dean, Marjorie Reynolds, Dorothy Moore, Joan Tree. 'NOT FOR GLORY* (for 1638-39 release), produced by Larry Darmour; directed by Lewis D. Collins; original screen play by Gordon Rigby; photo- fraphed by. James Brown, Jr. Cast: Jack Holt, Beverly Roberts, Noah leery, Jr, John Qualen, Helen Jerome Eddy, Arthur Aylsworth, Charles Middleton, Barbara Pepper, Harry Woods, Vic Potel, Claire Du Brey. 'HOMTCIDE BUREAU' (for 1938-39 release); associate producer. Jack Fier; directed by C. C. Coleman, Jr.; no writing credits, released as yet; photographed by Lucien Ballard. Cast: Bruce Cabot, Rita Hayworth, Rbbertfaige, Marc Lawrence. Ed Fetherston,. Richard Fiske, Jane Morgan/ IVEST OF THE SANTA FE' (for 1938-39 release)' executive producer, Irving Briskin; directed by Sam. Nelson; screen play by Beniiett Cohen; photographed by Allen Siegler. Cast: Charles Starrett, Iris Meredith, Sons of the Pioneers, Bob Nolan, Hank Bell, Buck Connor, Dick Curtis, Hal Taliaferro, Eddie Cobb. . Colambla Fix Naw' In Production 'THOROUGHBREDS,' produced by Ralph Cohn for the Irving Brislcin iinit; directed by D. Ross Ledermah; screen play -by Michael Simmons; photographed by Henry Freulich. Cast: Edith Fellows. Cliff Edwards, Jacqueline Wells. Richard Fiske, Robert Paige, Helen Brown, Virginia Howell, Charles Waldron. 'EARLY ARIZONA* (for 1938-39), produced by Larry Darmour;. directed by Joseph Levering; original screen play by Nate Getzert; photographed by James S. Brown, Jr. Cast: Gordon Elliott, Dorothy Gulliver, Harry Wood.s, Franklin Farnum, Frank Ellis, Art Davis, Charles King, Edward Cassidy, Jack Ingram, Charles Whittakcr, Bud Osburne, Lester Dore, Symoha Boniface, Buzz Barton, Tom London, Dick Durrell, Oscar Gahan, Jess Cavan, Margaret Fealy, Frank Ball, Arthur Millette, Kit Guard, Florence Dudley, Cy Shindell, Clyde Burns. Grand National Feature!) WCKtcrns Number Number . of Pix Com- Pronllsed pleted . 43 IS '22 6 Now -Balance to Now in - Be Placed Stories In Shoot- CuttlnK Before Prepara- Ine Rooms Cameras tlon 1 2 23 5 0 3 12 2 Total . 6S Z4 1 5 35 7 Pictures now in cutting rccms.or awaiting previews are: 'ROLLIN' PLAINS,' produced by Ed FJnney; directed by Al Herman; original screen play by Edmund Kel.so; photographed by Francis Corbey. Cast: Tex Ritter, Harriet Bennett, Snub Pollard,- Hobart Bbsworth, Erme Adams, Charles King, , Lynton Brent, Horace Murphy. Karl Hackelt, Ed Ca!!.u'^5'*j'?™..)^l?*°^\.V^7*'=''"'«=<>lo'"-^°'' 1938-39 season), oroduced and alllx^A We»man; screen play by Robert Carson; photo- graphed by W. Howard freene. Cast: Fred MacMurray, Ray Milland, Wednesday, August 24, 1938 PICTURE^ VARIEtr IS Louise Campbe ^ Andy^vine, Edgar Kennedy, Walter Abel, Porter HalL SSSTReyholds. Gheryl Walker, Billy Cook, Dorothy Tennant, Barnes Burke, VlSnia Weldler, Harvey Stephens,' Helen Dickson, Lillian West, Grace Oo^alL Kitty Kell3^ Lynne Oyerman, Donald O'Connor. pilo^Paul iJa^ Tex Bankin. Frank Clarke,; p^^^^ Rinaldi, Robbie RobinsOn, Frank Tomick, Hefb^ White, Jerry _Philhps, Ace Brunguiner, Jerry Andrews, Howard Batt, Ray XIrawford. Dick Randall Bob Blair. Cubby Gordon. Jim Barwick, Walter Quinton, Stanley Hicks, Jonathan Hale. Joe Whitehead, St W^t. Frank Mills* Art Rowlands, Ralph McCullough, David Newell, fharles Hamilton, Eddie Dunn, Ronnie Rondell, Edward Earle, John T. Murray. Dell Henderson.^ Claire Du Brey, Willy Morris, Billy Bletcher. Svd Saylor. Lu Miller, Gary Gwen, Bobby Traccy, James Burtis, Paul Krueger. Al HilL George Chandler, Lee Phelps. •THiE MISTERIOUS BIDEB' (for 1938-39 season), produced by Harry Sherman; directed by Leslie Selander; screen play by Maurice Gerhaghty from story by Zane: Grey; photographed by Russell Harlan. Cast: Douglas Dumbrille, Sidney Toleri yTeldon Heyburn, Charlotte Fields, Monte Blue; Bob Kortman, Mabel Colcord, Stanley Andrews, Robert Fiske, Glenn. Strange, Leo McMahon. Ed Brady, Dick Alexander, Earl Dwire, Jack Rockwell. Ben Corbet, Charles Murphy. •TOUCHDOWN, iBMY' (for 1938-39 season), produced by the Harold Hurley unit; directed by Kurt Neumann; original story and screen play by Lloyd Gorrigan and Erwin Gelsey; photographed by Victor Milner. Cast: John Howard. Robert Cummings, Mary Carlisle, Owen Davis, Jr.. Benny Baker; lUinor Watson, Raymond HattOn, William Frawley. Hamilton Mc- Fadden, Grant Withers, Chester Clute,. Sarah Edwards. Paul Evertori, Charles A. Hughes, Lyle Morraine, Robert Norton, John Hart, William J. Moore, William Orr, Charles Stafford. Bob Fischer. Lambert Rogers. Louis Durst, Phillip Warren, Peter Potter, Gloria Williams, Ruth Rogers, Cheryl Walker, Manon Weldon. 'ABTIfTS AND MODELS ABBOAP' (for 1938-39 season),, produced by. Arthur Hornblow; directed by Mitchell Leisen; screen play- by Howard Lindsay, Russel Grouse and Ken Englund; original story by Howard Lind- say and Russel Grouse; based on idea by J. P. McEvoy; photographed by Ted Tetzlaff. Cast: Jack Benny, Joan Bennett, Mary Boland, Yacht Club Boys, Punkins Parker, Sheila Dai-cy,; Yvonne Duval. Gwen Kenyon; Joyce • Mathews, Dolores Casey, Marie DeForrest, Charles Grapewin, Joyce Comp- ton, G. P.- Huntley; Fritz Feld. Jules Raucourt, Adrienne D'Ambricourt, Andre Cheroh, Phyllis Kennedy, Louis' Mercier, Loiiis Van den Ecker, Charles de Ravenner . Joseph Romahtinl, Georges Kerebel, Robert De Cduedie, -Gemaro .C.urci, Marie Burton. Paula De Cardo, Carol Parker, Linda Yale, Evelyn . Keyes. Laurie Lane, Noirah. Gale. Helalne Moler, Jean Perry, Constant Franke, Paul Creitionesi, Eugbne Beday. George Davis, Paco Moreno, Jacques Vanalre, Eugene Borden. Fred Cavens, Manuel Paris, Alexander Meliesh, Jean De Briac, Fred Malatesta, David Petier Mir, ■ Georges . de Gombert. , Ferdinand. Scbumanri-Heink, :, Kenneth Gibsoii. Joseph de Beauvoler's, Martial de Serrand. ' IF 1 WERE KINO' (for 1938-39 seasonii, produced by Frank Lloyd; directed by Frank Lloyd; based on a: story by Justin Huntly McCarthy; photographed by Theodor Sparkuhl. ^ Cast: Ro.nald Colmah, Frances Dee, Basil Rathbone, Ellen Drew. Alma Lloyd, Colin Tapley, C. Vi France, Stanley Ridges, William. Haade, May Beatty. Adrian Morris. Francis Mc- Donald, Walter Kingsford.: Henry Wilco'xon. Ralph Forbes. William Merrill. McCormabk, Riiss. Powell, Sidney Toler. John Miljan. Heather Thatcher^ Winter Hall, James Aubrey, Stanley King,. Alec. Craig, Ethel. Clayton, Gloria Williams, Ann Evers. Jean Fenwicke, Norah Gale. Montagu Love, .William Famum, Lester MatheWs. Brandon Hurst, Ian Maclaren, Paul Harvey, Lionel Belmore, Paula de Cardo, Jane Dewey, David Clyde, Clive Morgan, Guy Bellis, Claude King, Evan Thomas, Paul Newland, Marie Biirtdn/ Carol Parker, Ruth Rogers, Louise Seidel, Janei Simmons,: Cheryl Walker,.Dorothy White. 'PABIS HONETMOON' (for 1938-39 season), produced by Harlan Thonip- son; directed by Frank Tuttle; screen play by Frank Butler and Don Hart- man; based on a story by Angela Sherwood; photographed by Karl Struss. Cast: Bing Crosby, Franciska Gaal', Akim Tainirofl. Ben' Blue, Edward Everett Hbrton, Shirley Ross, Rafaela Ottiano, Keith Kenneth, George Gay, Norah Gale, Laurie Lane, Louise Seidel, Paula de Cardo, Evelyn Keyes, Harriette Haddon, Maria Doray, Louise Seidel, 'Judy King, Jainet Waldo, Cheryl Walker, Marion Weldon, Dorothy White. 'KING OF ALCATBAZ' (for 1938-39 jseason), produced by front office; directed by Robert Florey;, original story and screen play by Irving Reis; photographed, by. Harry Fischbeck. Cast: Gail Patrick, Lloyd Nolan, J. Carrol Naish, Robert Preston, Virginia Dabney, Nora, Cecil, Harry Carey, Porter Hall, Richard Denning, Dorothy Howe, Anthony iQuinh, John Hart, Philip Warren, Harry Worth, Tom TyieT, Giistav von Seyffertitz, Eddie Marr,'Paul Fix, John Harmon, Jack Knoche, Dick Rich; Emory Parhell. • 'SONS OF THE LEGION^ (for 1938-39 season), produced by. froiit office; directed v!by James Hogan; original and screen, play by Lillie Hayward, Lewis Foster and Robert F. McGowan; photographed, by Charles Schoen- baum; Cast: David O'Connor, Billy Lee, Billy, Cook, Evelyn Keyes, Elizar 'beth, Patterson, fTim Holt, Lynne Overman,: William Frawley, Richard Tucker. Johnnie Molrris, George Billings; Wally Albright, Sammy McKiih, Benny Bartlett, ' Edward Pawley. Lucille Ward, Arthur Singer, Walter Titley, Tom Dugan. David Holt; .Charley Peck, Sonny Boy Williams, Jatnes T. Mack, Carl Harbaugh, Ronnie Paige, Keith MacKehzie. 'CAMPUS CONFESSIONSV (for 1938-39 season), produced by front office; directed by George. Archainbaud; original and screen play by Lloyd Corrigan and Erwin Gelsey; photographed by Henry Sharpe. Cast: 'Hank' LUisetti, Betty Grable, Eleanore Whitney. . William. Henry, John Arledge. Fritz Feld, Roy Gordon, Thurston Hall, Richard Denning. Matty Kemp, Bill Carey. Billy Wilkerson. Pat West, Russell Wade, Jack Murphy, Howard Pine, Louis Tarleton. Madge Collins. Dick Clayton, Maxine Leslie, Pat Wing. Alex Pollard; Neil Fitzgerald, Nora Gale. Lane Chandler. Sumner Getchell, Dick Elliott, Mary Gordon, Mary Koirniah, Ruth Rogers. Cheryl Walker, Edgar Norton. Si Jenks, Gennaro Curci, John Hart; Edward Van Sloan, Dick Winslow, Ray Brown, John Heistand. 'SUNSET TBAIt,' formerly titled 'SILVER TRAIL pATROL' (for 1938- 39 season), 'produced by Harry Sherman; directed by Les Selander; screen • play by Noriinan ! Houston, from story by Clarence E. Mulford; photo- graphed by Russel Harlan. Cast: William Boyd. George Hayes. Russell Hayden, Charlotte Wynters, Jane Clayton. Robert Fiske, Catharine Shel- don, Maurice Cass. Anthony Nace. Kenneth Harlan. Alphonse , Ethier, Glenn Strange, Jack Rockwell, TOm London, Claudia Smith. Paramount Fix Now In Production 'ZAZA' (for 1938-39 season), produced by Albert Lewin; directed by George Cukor; screen play by Zoe Akitis; from play by Pierre Berton and Charles Simon; photographed by Charles Lang. Cast: Claudette Colbert, Herbert Marshall, Bert Lahr, Helen Wcstley. Constance Collier, Genivieve Tobin, Rex O'Malley, Rex Evans, Walter Catlett, Robert C. Fischer, Ernest Cossart, John Sutton, Michael Brooke. Phillip Warren, Alexander Leftwich, Janet Waldo. Fredrika Brown, Dorothy Dayton, Harriett Haddon. Helaine Moler. Dorothy White, Duncan Renaldo, Hala Linda, Tom Ricketts. THE ARKANSAS TBAVELEB' (for 1938-39 season), produced by George Arthur; directed by Alfred Sahtell; no writing credits released as yet; photographed by Leo Tover. Cast: Bob Burns, Fay Bainter, Jean Parker, John Beal, Lyle Talbot. Irvin S. Cobb; Dickie Moore, Ralph Rcmley, Hal- lene Hill, Walter Sodcrling, Bernard Suss, A, S. Byron. 'ESCAPE FROM YESTERDAY' (for 1938-39 season); produced by Jcft Lazarus: directed by Alfred E. Green; original story and screen' play, by Ferdinand Royher and John C. MolTilt; photographed by WiU'a'" Mellor. Cast: Akim Tam.'roff, Frances Farmer. Lfeif Erikson. Lynne Overman. Vladamir Sokoloff, Wade Crosby, Dewey Robinson, William Newell, John Bliefer. Alex Woloshin, James Flaviii. 'ILLEGAL TRAFFIC (for 1938-39 release), general manager office pro- duction; directed by Loiiis King: no writing credits released as. yet; photo- graphed by Henry Sharpe. Cast: J. Carroll Naish. Mary Carli-sle. Robert ■Preston. Judith Barrett. Richard Sfanlcy, Richard Denning, John Hart, Philip Warren, Dorothy Howe, Sheila Daicy, Dolores Casey. 'KING OF CHINATOWN' (for 1938-39 release), general manager office production; diriected by Kurt Neumann; no writing credits released as. yet. Cast: Anna May Wong, Lloyd Nolan, Robert Cummings,. Philip Ahn, Anthony Quinn. . THANKS FOB THE MEMOBY' (for 1938-39 rele.ise): executive _ pro- ducer, Harold Hurley; associate. Met Shaucr; directed by George Archain- oaud; from play by Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich; photographed gy Karl Struss. Cast: Bob Hope. Shirley Ros.s. Charlie. Butterworth,. Otto pUgcr, Hedda Hopper, Roscoc Karns. Laura Hope Qruws, Elizabeth Pat- 'erson, Patricia Wilder. Eddie Anderson. Jack Norton, Edward Gargan. . ..'iST. tOUIS BLUES- (lor 1938-39 reiease); 'produced by JefE^ Lazarus: direcled by Raoul Wal.wc! Ac J J . ;„.,„ ^ , . . , Inony Asquith and Leslie Howard, TALS OF THE SADDLE,' produced by William Berke; directed by starrini? HoWnrd Wentiio Hiiior George Sherman; screen play by Betty Burbridge and Stanley Roberts; an^ starring Howard, Wencllc HUler photographed by Reg Lanning. Cast: John Wayne, Ray Corrigan, Max i "^f^' ,,. Terhune, Doreen McKay, Yakima Canutt. Art Dillard, Edwin Gaftney. I I'^Iys entries are: 'Ciu.-jcppo Verdi,' 'BILLY THE KID: RETURNS,' produced and directed by Joe Kane; no Produced by Historic Films Society, writing credits released as yet;' photographed by Ernest Miller. Cast; Roy directed by :Carmine Gallonc, and Rogers,' Smiley Burnette, Lynn Roberts, Wade Butler, Morgan Wallace, featurihg Fosco Giachetti, Gaby Mor. TA-TA TO U Hollywood, Aug; 23. With two months to go on her ponlract, Barbara Reed obtained hbr release and checked out of Univer- sal.' ■ Last appearance was in 'Crime pt Dr. Hallet' about four months ago. (Continued from page 11) Fred Kohler, Sr., Jack Kirk, Jim Corey,' Art Dillard, George La tz, Frank Yrigoyen, N. E. Hendrix, Fred Burns, Betty:Roadmah, Dan White CUrley Hoag, Rooty Soutcr, Ascar Gaharj. Bud McClure; , ■ 'OVERLAND STAGE RAIDERS' (for 1938-39), produced by William Berke; directed by George Sherman; screen play by Luci Ward; photo- | '.J'X;:„„ v-in., r-,,.,.,.: pii„, rono,,! graphed by William Nobles. Cast: John Wayi5e, Ray Corrigan, Max Ter- ■i'''':':'"^ ^ervi, Elissa Ceganl, hune, Louise Brooks, Frank La Rue. Charles Whittaker, Duke R. Lee, ! Mario Ferrari and Lamberlo Picasso, Edwin Gaffney, Jr, Aiithony Mar^h, George Plums, George SherwOod. •'"id 'Liisiano Serra Pilota,' produced Republic Fix, Now in Production ' 'DOWN IN ARKANisAW,'. produced by Armand Schaefer; directed by Nick Grinde; original and screen' play by Dorrell and Stuart McGowan; photOgraphed_'by Ernie ; Miller. ^ Cast: ' Weaver Brothers, Elviry. Ralph lay, Maria. Cebotari, Beniaminq Oigll and Camiilo Pilotto; 'Ettbre Fiera- mosca' produced by Nembtf Film, di- rected by. Alessaridro: Blasetti and by .Aquila Films and supervised by Viltorio Mussolini, d: cctcd by Gof- fredo Ale.ssandrini and starring AmedcO Nn7zari. Mario Ferrari and Byrd, June Storey, ' Pinkie Tomlin, Guinn Williams, Berton Churchill, I Gormana Paolieri. Galli Sisters. 20th Century-Fox studio Sol Lesser. . Number Number Now of PIx. Com-; Shbot- Proml.sed. pleted in; 5? . 52 r> 5 S 0 I Outside of American and European ; <>n tries; the llim.;tOry by Karl Tunbcrg and Don Ettlinger; photographed by John.Mescall. Ga.st: Soiija Hcnie, Richard Greene, Ce,sar Ronicro. , , . Buddy Ebsen; George Barbicr, Bariictt. Parker, the Brewster Twins. ItaV- '"'t cl.iiinrd il n.id .■:o much, picssr mond Scbll and Quintet, Joan Davis, Patricia Wilder, Elisha Cook, Jr.. l>r')ii ^ht on it oy lllm producers, th Arthur Treacher, Charles Tanneti, Kay .Griffith, Robert Kellard, Robfrl ihf V?'Hii?e Exhibish had l><>«n i" Lowry, Cyril Rin;;, Cully Richards; skaters— J^ck /Kearney, Bob Christie. • n-rating from an artistic show (Continued on page 22) . I a: roiiimercial fair. number of films proportionate to tli.e niinihcr it procJiiicd 'hiring the year. Ilorctoforo, a cbminidce had b.fcrt fiilriislcd with .srlectinf; the picturo.< VARIETY Wednesday, August 24, 1938 CRY A LITTLE..SiaH A LiniE. THRILL ALinLE.LAUGHALOT] THE NEW BOBBY BREEN SHOW HAS THAT SURE- FIRE BOX-OFFICE SPARK! The glowing heart drama of a swell kid with a sold filled with song . . . and of kindly people who fill your heart with gladness . . . Bringing you a great marquee cast, and present- ing for the first time a SENSATIONAL NEW STAR ON SKATES -a five- year- old girl who'll steal your heart and win your applause . . . BOX-OFFICE BIGNESS ALL THE WAY! tTednesdaj* August 24, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY 17 CLOSED SHOP FOR WRITERS Night Baseball and Softball Vogue Making Itself Felt in the Rockies Salt Lake City, Aug. 23. Baseball, played under glareless mazda bulbs, is a growing vogue, and the b.o. is destined to take a beating when and If the fad becomes nation-wide. Night baseball has hypoed turnstile receipts of the largest major league parks. In the hinterland, soft ball played after sundown has increased the popular- ity of the sport into unbelievable proportions. Big league moguls for years have solidly been opposed to playing, after nightfall, of a game which for almost . a century has been America's most popular outdoor afternoon sport But now they've changed their minds. . After-dark contests In and around ibis city have convinced several pro- moters of the feasibility of organiz- ing a six-club outfit composed of Utah and Idaho cities. '■ Night Softball undoubtedly has been a flnancial boon. At a special benefit game Aug. 1 around 4,000 paid 25c each to watch the 60-minute contest Theatres here have felt the popu- larity of night baseball and, since the Utah supreme court has legalized every form of 'bank night,' opera- tors are enticing back patrons under the marquee with gifts ranging from new autos to hundreds of dollars in cash, SWEET SAGEBRUSH Schwartz Houses In Middle of Boothmen Union War in B'kip stench and tear gas bombs ex- ploded in 12 Brooklyn and one Queens film theatre Saturday (20) night called attention to the dispute between Empire State operators' union and Local 306 of the Motion Picture Operators union, an Ameri- can Federation of Labor aftiliate. Weekend bombings recalled the fact that similar stench bombs were ex- ploded about a year ago in Manhat- tan houses, mostly operated by the Brandt chain, when Local 306 was seeking to place its operators in booths in that circuits Local 306, Local No. 802 and Local No. 4 (of lATSE stage-hands organization) began picketing eight theatres of the Century (A. H. Schwartz) circuit in Brooklyn on Aug. 15. The bombs were exploded In 12 Century houses the following Saturday. Picketing at nine addi- tional Century theatres will be started this week by Local 306 with presumably the other two unions joining in. All picture houses in the Ave bor- oughs have been completely union- ized excepting those operated by Century. Intention of Local 306 and the other two locals is to get the Century houses under contract. Empire, which is not A.F.L. or ClO-aftiliated, was chartered by New York state. In the meantime^ patrolmen and detectives guarded film houses in Brooklyn and the police were seek- ing a clue to the bombings. Five persons were burned by the bomb exploded in the Farragut- theatre on •flatbush avenue near Farragut road. Edward Byrne, assistant to A. H. ochwartz, president of Century, Waimed the chain had experienced no union trouble but that he was •"re that those doing the picketing were responsible for the bombings. However, he expressed confidence jn the ability of the police to locate wose actually responsible. Denver, Aug. 23. A film explosion and fire in the ,o'*"val projection booth, causing *»» damage, was extinguished by the operator Jacob Sachs, before the rf* "department arrived. With -250 theatre, no one was injured, ^ the show was delayed only 10 Romance Will Roam Range In Rep's Rogers Giddyapper Hollywood, Aug. 23. ' Republic is putting sex appeal into its sagebrush films, billing Roy Rogers and Lynn Roberts as the 'Sweethearts of the West.' First co-starrer is 'Colorado Sun- set,' bought with Gene Autry in mind. Clharles E. Ford will produce the picture, due to start Sept 15, Fewer Closings In Philly Zone This Summer Philadelphia, Aug. 23. Surprise is being expressed by trade leaders here at the small num- ber of house closings this summef in view of the universally depressed b.o.s. Although there have been a few more shutterings than last sea- son, there haven't been more than a dozen in the whole territory be- cause of slipping grosses. Five years ago there were as many as 40 sum- mer padlockings. Present trend to keep open dur- ing the hot wave attributed partly to wide use of air-conditioning and partly to lack of money by prospecr tive customers for summers at sea- shore and mountains. In lieu of closing, quite a few upstate houses have reduced screenings to two or three days a week this summer. DU PONT INCOME UPS PATHE INTO NET GAIN Although showing a loss of $27,982 from operations, Pathe Films Corp. reported net profit for the six months ending June 30 to be $51,678; Bulk of this was accounted for in the amount of $70,112 which came from dividends from Du Pont Film Mfg. Co., in which Pathe holds 35% interest Miscellaneous income was placed at $9,332 and other interest and discount earned, $1,376. Film developing, printing sales and net film rental income totalled $483,974 in the first half period cov- ered by the report. Pathe reported that Du Pont Film had a net profit of $639,000 in the first three months this year as compared with $725,000 in corresponding period of 1937. Only $153,000 were undistributed this year and not shown in the re- port. Sandrich at Par After Nine Years with RKO Hollywood, Aug. 23. Mark Sandrich, freelancing after nine years as a director at RKO, moved Into Paramount to ready 'Man About Town,' due to hit the cameras in November with Jack Benny star- ring. Sandrich recently finished the cut- ting job on 'Carefree,' his last pic- ture at RKO. ALL SGRIBS IN ONE ORG. LOOAAS Every Indication Points Now to Unionization of Any and All Types of Author —Film, Play, Radio, Book, Television, Etc. — Even the Literary Agents PhiUy Is One Spot Where Lingual Or Racial Pictures Prove Big B. 0. A.L.A. THE DADDY Boland's English Pic Hollywood, Aug. 23. Mary Bolarid makes a picture in England for 20thTFox when she fin- ishes her impending Paramount chore, co-starring with Charles Rug- glcs in a film still untitled. She has a three-picture deal with Par. By HOBE MORRISON Inclusion of all writers in a single organization looms in the not-far- distant future. The prospect is not the result of any single factor, but rather is indicated . by a long series of minor, but significant develop ments. Although the idea of a so called 'closed shop' for writers has been expressed and minimized in the past, it is evident that such a con- dition now appears much more likely than ever before. In fact the prospect has grown considerably in the last year. Broadway authors work in the fol lowing fields: fiction and non-flction books and magazines, the theatre, films, radio, newspapers and, loom- ing on the horizon, television. In every one of those fields marked progress toward organization has been made by writers during the last year, most notably in the field of film authorship. If and when any single group can organize the entire writing field, it is probable that the Authors League of America will be the . one to do it. With its affiliates, the Authors Guild (magazine and book writers). Dramatists Guild (legit playwrights). Screen Writers- Guild (film scenar- ists) and Radio Writers Guild (radio scripters), it includes an overwhelm- ing majority of the name authors in virtually every field it touches. The single missing link in the Authors League coverage is the newspaper field, which is the domain of the American Newspaper Guild, a CIO affiliate. Although there is no working agreement between the Newspaper Guild and the Authors League (the latter not being af- filiated with any other union or organization), the two have a sym- pathetic tie. When the question of organizing newspapermen first arose, the Authors League decided the field was outside its domain, so the News- paper Guild was formed, with Authors League cooperation and, to a certain extent, its sponsorship. The two groups have continued to cooperate and, when Newspaper Guild members enter the fields covered by the Authors League, they generally align themselves with the latter organization. Hollywood and Radio Significant straws in the recent literary wind have included the vic- tory of the Screen Writers Guild in its tussle with the Screen Play- wrights, the formation and rapid growth of the Radio Writers Guild, several meetings of literary agents in New York (which may presage vital developments in that, field), and the numerous cases of important writers coming into the organization. There are numerous other small, but potent facts. Through its recognition by the National Labor Relations Board as bargaining agency for all film writers, the Screen Writers Guild seems about to emerge as the sole organization for picture scenarists. The Screen Playwrights, defeated by the SWG, has apparently abandoned the idea of carrying on the scrap and will probably merge with its former rival. Although the SWG last summer was granted complete autonomy by the Authors League, it remains an afTiliate:. • All its mem- bers are members of the Authors League and there is a close tie be- 1 tween the two groups. j In the radio domain, the Radio Writers Guild is conceded to have ] (Continued on page 19; Oh, Just a Tank . Hollywood, Aug. 23. Colossal water tank, weighing 220,000 pounds, is in use on the United Artists lot for 'The Lady and the Cowboy.' It's a Goldwyn production. Films and Good Will Stressed By Bernhard Need for . theatre men to develop the good will of the community in which their house is situated was stressed by Joseph Bernhard, gen- eral manager of Warner Bros, thea tres and v.p. of Warner Bros. Pic- tures, in his talk before the third annual Warner Philadelphia Mana- gers' meeting in Philadelphia last week. Bernhard said that personal in genuity among managers in exploit- ing a feature and not an increase in the advertising budget was needed to get the most out of each picture, He went to some lengths to explain the industry's 'greatest picture year' drive and said that Warner enter- prises were wholeheartedly behind the plan, Gradwell Sears, Warner general sales manager, . stressed the product Warner Bros, has for the coming season. Another speaker was Leon- ard Schlesinger, recently elevated from zone managership in Philadel phia to executive assistant to Bern hard. Harry Goldlierg, WB theatres ad-publicity director, and Ted Schlanger, head of Philadelphia the- atre operations, also spoke at the sessions. Newark, Aug. 23, Manner in which motion pictures benefit other industries was the main point by Joseph Bernhard, general manager of. Warner Bros, theatres, in a talk before WB theatre men in annual session here last week. He described films as being an unseen, unhonored and unacknowledged spokesman for American business. Trade follows the films, he explained, in citing the way pictures sold goods for many industries, established new styles and encouraged new bOying habits. Bernhard was of the opinion that pictures made these tremendous boosts for business despite the fact that 'we do not tolerate direct ad vcrtising of commodities on our screens.' He said, 'We have refused millions of dollars of contracts for advertising for commercial reeU be- cause we believe the screen should be confined to entertainment.' Philadelphia, Aug. 23. Warner Bros, house managers in this territory were told at annual meeting that the company is opti- mistic about biz thi.s coming fall and winter, 'but not so optimistic that we are going to let ourselves be carried away or run into any heavy expenses.' 'If business improves, we'll be ready to take full advantage of it,' Joe Bernhard: g. m. of the War- ner circuit declared. 'And if it doesn't, we'll be prepared to get everything possible out of the pres- ent situation.' COLE FOE LIEUT.^GOV. Denver, Ajg. 16. Everett Cole, theatre owner of Alamosa, Colo., has been designated a candidate for the nomination ot lieutenant governor in the Re- publican primaries. Cole has been mayor of Alamosa for four yc.Trs. . Philadelphia, Aug. 23, With recent shortage of product here and punko biz, increasingly large group of houses finding heavy sugar in lingual pix. Films are al- most invariably good profit-makers. Only objection is that houses can't get enough of 'em to live on con- tinuously. Trick in getting coin , out of them, of course, is in keeping them in the right houses. Most widely used Unguals in Philly ' and surest of consistently heavy liade are the Yiddish mellers. About 10 hou.ses, including two owned by Warners, play all available. Russian product, distributed by Amkino, is practically interchangeable with the Jewish. ■ Italian shows are next most popu- lar. Three South Philly houses use them as often as possible. The Dante, recently built by Martin Ellis, was put up only with the guarantee It would get all first-run Italian stuff. Gets a pic about every two oi: three weeks and plays it usually thre« days. Polish pix go in the northwest sec- tion of the city, while French films get a play all along the snooty Main Line. Latter has colleges and exclu- sive schools from one end to the other and the rah-rah kids attend the shows to exhib their knowledge of linguistics. German films are shown during the winter at Mercantile Hall on a tieup with North German Lloyd, which has a salesman spiel during an intermission on the pleasures ot • trip back home. Irish films were also shoAvn last season at Mercantile Hall by Pat Stanton, g.m. of WDAS, who got good crowds at two-bits a head by plugging the shows on his daily Irish program. Small indies who get late runs on regular features are, of course, best meat for the Unguals, but Warners, which gets first nabe' runs, has also been using them with considerable success. Dialog in practically all films is in native tongue, with English subtitles. Distribution is almost universally from New York, only distribs oc- casionally handling them here being John Colder and Max Romm. Gen- erally sold at. 25% or less. Negro pix also do big, Several houses in South Philly play all they can get and a few others handle them occasionally. First-run on the.se will often cost as high as 50% and is considered worth the price. WB Denies Booth Tarkington Owns Any Tenrod' Rights Booth Tarkington, originator of the Pcnrod stories, has not owned the right to the Penrod title since 1922,. .nccording to the answer filed yesterday (Tuesday) in N.Y. federal court by Warner Bros, to the suit brought by the author ba.sed on the picture, 'Penrod and His 'Twin Brother." Tarkington claims Warners exploited his name in advertising the picture despite the fact that he had no hand in the writing of it, nor did he consent to the use of the name Penrod in its title. He wants an ac- counting, profits and an injunction. Warners claim Tarkington di.s- posed of his rights to the Penrod name to Marshall Neilan, former pro- ducer, in 1919; and that the latter sub.soquently a.<:signed his riKhts to Warners in 1931. Since then. War- ners a.s.serl. thoy have inadc 12 pic-' turcs involving Ihc name ot Penrod with Tarkington's consent. Schlessing^er to Take leap T'hiladelrjhia. Aug. 23. Leonard Scliles;>inKur, former Philly zi>ne m.'in.ijjor for Warner Bro.s., who was rucontly upped to n.s.sistnnt to prcz Joe Bornhaid, is enga;;ed lo Ro.se Coylc, 'Miss Amer- ica' in IS.'iG. Wcdfliri;; due .shortly. 18 VARIETY This is one of the giant half-page ads used in advance of last week's opening at Radio City. mi H have seen *F6iir Daughters* It was a ^vUege to see it It's aU that a motion picture ought to lie!'' Dave Chatkin, Monarch Theatres have seen *Four Daughters' and it is a reall^ wonderful picture. If it^s a sample of the new season's product* >Warn^IB|6^i look forward to a great year. It*s ahout the most livable pic- ture I've ever seen, with those new playj^s^ fitting so perfectly into the parts that they really are thib characters they play Jack Partington, Fanchon and Marco I have seen *Four Daughters' Here is a splendid piece of entertainment--one that women will undoubtedly go for in the biggest kind of -way and men, too. It's an example of perfect casting. Sam Dembow, Fanchon and Marco have seen Tour Daugh* ters' and it is an exquisite production/' George SkourqSf Skouras Theatres **I have seen Tour Daughters* It*js a truly great production. " : JL^on Netter Paramount **I have seen. 'Four Daughters' and 1 say it is one of, the finest pictures ever produced. A great cast and a great production. Bob O* Donnelly. Inter state Circuit '•I have seen Tour Daughters' It is entertainment par excel- lence. RKO gives it 5 bells. John O'Connor RKO Wdriier Bros., Producers %e Jnesday, August^i, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY 19 Boxoffices on the Upbeat (Continued from page 1) oosltloW ot heavy production com- Sltments which' had to be liquidated li^a dropping market, . Suph is not ihe case thiis autumn. There is added encouragement In the fact that distributors this year have dropped back to iSept 1 as the date for listing of the new season's oroduci Heretofore most, of the flrriis, with the notable exception of Metro, held to Aug. 1, as the season's starting date. Coming .months will show Strortger releases than during the same period a year ago. Of eqiial importance is evidence of manufacturing resumption In indus- tries that have disposed of inven- tories during the past spring and jummer, ^ The Berlin, musical has started Its career with smashing receipts. Its success is not sectional. Bpxoffice takes are being registered in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia,: Chicago, Pittsburg, Boston and Cleveland, with other first run spots in 'Room Siervice.' jack Oaltie in 'Af- fairs of Annabella" is stimulating farce. Goldwyn Delayed Walter' Wanger's 'Algiers' starts the United Artists' schedule with highly . satisfactory returnsi The .Young in Jleart' is finished at Selz- nick International, but for the first time in some years Samuel Goldwyn is ' delayied •. with : his early seasbn's pictures. Year ago Goldwyn was in the lists, with 'Dead Knd' and 'Stella DalW, while StI had two, popular /pictures in: 'The Prispnei: .of Zenda' and 'Tom Sawyer.' ■; There is a confident air at- Uni- .versal's distributing headquarters. 'The Rage of .Paris,' initial: ftplly- wood starring vehicle, with Danielle Darrieux,' heis been followed up by 'Letter of Introduction.' Newest De- anna Durbih film, 'That Certain Age' is set for early release, balancing the same' star's last fall vehicle, '100 Men and a Giirl.'- Columbia is preparing a sendoff of One of the most heartening boxpflice signs in the past week or so has been the fact that the downtown loop theatres are getting the patronage, at . the expense- .of ; the nabes. That's all right, considering the price differential in scales, and indicates to theatre executives that the public wants the choicer films quick and is willing to pay the upped Ijrices,- rather than wait around until they rieach the nabes. lA recent weeks the masterrhinding theati'e showmen -were won- - dering that ipaybe the nabes v'ere getting most .of the biz, and the downtown de luxers .sufltering because the public didn't want to be bothered parking, wants to save the difference in price, etc. , , The current crop of strong -prpduct is shifting the dope completely - around 'again. following rapidly as the general re- lease gets underway. ' .Product .Llneupi Twentieth Century-Fox has a for- .midable. lineup for the coming weeks. .Sonja Henie's newest pic- ture, 'JJy Lucky Star' is completed and ready . for -September release. Studio war ship to exchanges:, soon -prints also on 'Straight, Place and Show,' starring the Ritz Bros.; 'Suez,' starring Loretta Young and Tyrone Power, . and 'Submarine Patrol,' a John Ford production, with a' strong cast . ■ Warners are swinging into the nev/ season with 'i'pur Daughters,' a sub- stantial winner -which is, on the heels ot the saine company's 'White Bari- .ners,' The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse' and 'Racket Busters,' .timely in view of the front-page 'numbers game' trial In New York; Set for early .release also are 'Boy Meets Girl,' ith james Cagney and-Pat O'Brien; Tour's a Crowd' and /Valley of the Giants,* in technicolor. ■ Year ago .Warners led oft their season with •Life of Emile Zola,' 'San Quentin,' 'Varsity Show' and 'That Certain Woman.' , Although theire is" division of -criti- cal comment oh 'Marie Antoinette,' first roadshow engagements of the film in Los Angeles and New York indicate a generous attendance when the historical ijicture is set for gen- . eral - theatre "release at popular • prices. Metro sales force has been elated over the returns from /'Love Finds Andy Hardy' and The Crowd Roars,' latest Robert Taylor- pictured both of which have been Httting well at the box-office. For next month Metro has Too Hot to Handle,' co- starring Clark Gable and Myrna Loy, to be followed soPn after by 'The Gi;eat Waltz,' one of the costlier films of the fall season. Par and RKO Parampunl leads itS: new releases with 'Sing You . Sinners,' a strong Bihg Crosby feature.. 'The Texans' is , a good action western, now in fli'st ^ns; Other bigger films from Para- jnount, - set for early release, are. Spawn of the North,' with George Raft and Henry Fonda; 'Men With Wings,' elaborate aviation feature; Artists and Models Abroad,' : with Jack Benny, Joan Bennett, Mary Bo- land atid formidable names from .radio , and musical comedy, and Frank Lloyd's 'If I Were King,' star- ring Ronald Colman. Year ago Para- mount led oft its season .with 'Easy .living.' 'Artists and Models,' 'Souls .Sea' and 'High, Wide and Hand some.' Creatlj^ strengthened over a year JBo is RKO-Radio, Which closed oft ?ne 1927-38 season with 'Having wonderful .Time' aiid. 'Mother . Wey's ; Chickens,' Early release' Wes ace announced' for the: new 'fed Astaire-Ginger; Rogers nimusi- Garefree,' and the Mai-x Bros. Frank Capra's first production in two years, 'You Can't Take It With You,' froni' the George S: ,K4ufmari-Moss Hart play, . . - CongressiPnal elections are npt likely to . iaffect the boxoffices this fall to the degree of forrrier years, theatre men predict. Most of the po litical battling is centering around primaries Which will be out of , the way hy the middle of Septernber. Most midwestern primaries were held during tl»e early weeks of Au- gust. Ad Matter a Keynote Minneapplis, Aug. 23. The unOsually strorig product now being released and inipending has theatre owhers in the territory worked up to a . high key of .en- thusiasm and working harder on ex' ploitation than at any time in recent years, according to Joe Podolofl. 2dth-Fox branch manager here. PodolofT says demand for ad. mat- ter is so great .that it has been neces sary for Bill Classeni his ad salies' manager,, to be on the' road most of the time during recent weeks and the company is getting the -biggest ad accessory business in its history. , In two days last week, he says, more ad matter was' sold than eyer before in any previous seven-day period Every exhib seems to have new pep, according to Podoloff. Circuit houses in the territory's key spots also are going the limit in advertising and exploitation for the first time in many months and' busi- ness looks to -be perking up Con siderabiy all . along the line. Columbus' Hypo Columbus, O.. Aug. 23, Local amusement m'eh looking to Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention here thb week 'r-hd next week's Ohio State Fair to provide boxoffice hypos after a pretty briital summer. Opinion is divided on just .how much extra biz the state fair brings showmen, in spite of several hun- dred tlipOsand visitors drawn to Columbus for the agricultural ex hiblt. Ameche in 'KentuGky* Hollywood. Aug. 23. Don Ameche, .just back from Eu rope, minus his ippendix, is -set to co-star with Loretta Young in 'Ken tucky at 2pth-Fox: TeciiViicbior. picture is slated to roll Sept. G. PIDGEON'S CROONING Hollywood, Aug. Walter pidjjcon. ciirfenlly in stu dip's .'Listen Darling,' signed a hew contract pci'milting Metro to use him in singing spots other than musicals. Pidgeon broke into the show busi- ness as a baritone with Elsie Janis. Closed Shop (Continued trbm page 17) things virtually , sewed up in; NcW York,. -where the majority of ranking scri^ters are centered.. If ; also has members in other key cities where radio writing assumes - major pro- portions, including Chicago and the Coast. While there has been .tumor from tirne to time' of the American Federation of Radio Artists attempt- ing to coyer /the radio writing field, it; is believed most such -cases in- volve men who are both performers and writers. With" its background and-faciUties for dealing with copy- right, author -contracts and similar specialized writer problems,! the Ra- dip Writers Guild, with its Authors; League setup, it's manifestly better.-' eqiiipi>ed to. deal. with the situation. The RWG is alreiidy conSiidBring the problems of ' net\^ork and agency writers in New York and: is layinig plans for dealing With the. situation in the fall. - I^iltcrary Agents liie recent .meetings of literary agents' in New York are a tiny factor in the whole authorship situation, but they, may, have vast results. 'The sessions are believe'd to have been' riather informal, and considerable mystery exists - as to what actually took place. Howeyer, it is under- stood .the' agents mfej as; individuals rather than as representatives of their firms. Believed they agreed to try to. find out what the Authors 'Guild may want them to do, then set a follow-up meejtlng.to take place in- September. Ide.a of a tieup .with the legit play: agents is said to have been discussed, 'that ih itself would be . a . significant fact,: since; play agents have generally -been required by the 'Pramatists .Guild to sigh its minimum basic agrieement. Most important of the Authors' Leaguie methods of extending its coverage of the various fields is its Setup : of affiliated groups. With the Dramatists Guild having virtually a closed ■ shop in tht U. S, legit fleldj any. novelist, screen' or radio Writer, who has a play produced on Broad- way, must come; into the Authors League and'through that into which- ever affiliate group which cover his work. How It Works Out In that way Louis Bromfleld. and Ernest. Hemingway have -become mentbers pf ! the Dranriatists Guild and, through that, of the Authors Guild. Jn the case of Hemingway, he had never been a membe.r of the Authors Guild, Pearl S. Buclc. and Margaret Ayer Barnes, already Au' thors Guild merhbers, how also be- long . to the Dramatists Guild; Ken- neth 'Webb, Bayard Veiller and Knowles Entrikin, already Drama- tists Guild /nembers, have joined the Radio Writers Guild; lEIaine Sterne Carrington and Lilian Lauferty ('Beatrice Fairfax') have gone from the Authors Guild tp the Radio Writers Guild. Countless number of . Dramatists Guild, and Screen Writers Guild members are identi- cal. This affiliate angle may have seen more far-reaching reslilfs, if cer- tain proposals, are carried out. Such ideas, first suggested several years ago, were, dropped when the film studios stepped oh the previous Screen Writers Guild. They ;may be revivid how. that the present Guild has emerged victorious, however, In general, the system might be worked out so that SWG members' would not work' on originals written by non-Authors League writers and all Authors League members wOiild sell their works to Hollywood with the proviso that the adaptation must be . done by an SWG member. If that policy were extended to radio, etc., it -would tend ultiiinately to force all writers into the Authors League ranks, regardless of what field they work in, or whether there is an Authors League guild shop in effect ' in that domain or. not. Of course, in the case of the Screen Writers Guild, it is po.ssiblc that the organization may obtain a guild shop agreement from the studios in the fairly near future. Most DifricuK Field f The most difTicult field for the Authors League to organize, of course, , Is the book and magazine writing field. I'liere arc many rea- sons, for this, but chief arhbng them are the facts thai the field' is .so j diverse, .widc.spread and intan.ijibie. I Many fiction \vriters dp only one j book, or. at least only one imporlanl book. Al.sp, insteati of .being ccn- I tered in one or two placci. they are Inside Stuff-Pictures Theylre still talking in. London film circles of Httrry Brand's trick on Bob G61dstein,-:the latter a radib agent and producer. Brand wont over in advance Pf Darryi Zaniick to set press arrangemcrits for- the 20tli-Fox production chief on a gala function, .The 20th-Fox studio p.a. discovered '; that the dinner coat he'd brought along was OK if you're going slumming,, but white tie and tails were obligatory for anything frpm a dinner up. Oh sudden hptice, Goldstein staled he'd lehd Brand his set of tailis. - Lat- ter discovered, - pf course, that; they were tight, had 'em hastily ripped open and extended, , and then casually returned, them to the radio man withput: explanatipn. When Goldstein next required their use for this premiere of 'Gb}den Boy,' which he's presenting in London Oh association), he found -the formal attire' considerably oversize, but filially recalled his loan to the American film. p;a. The fbreword that now goes ..on pictures as . a protective- measure,, 'the : events and characters in this phbtopiay are ficlitibus . . . any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, , is purely coincidental,' creates, a curious impression \(rhen lised for such a' picture as 'Marie Antoinette.* All of the cast naines in that are npt fictitious, : nor are the characters .which depicted. ' Ni^lsance- suits formerly caused company -attorheys to get tb- gether for a^ee'ih,ent on. incliisipn of the fbotnote now. .used by all pro- ducers. ■ ' , ; - Television engineering course was added to the curriculum; at RCA InstU tutes, a member Of the Radio Corp. of America family, for this fall simply because the school- wished to have stiidehts take , advantage of its olready- ayailable facilities arid eqUipnient. Numerous radio .schools have bi^en' offering; television coiirses and RCA Institutes set up Its' school, first terrh : of which opens Sept. 6, is play- ing them on the same, night of the week for three weeks in a row. He established it as r'Har^ly Family Night." Getting additional business thereby.. Also OUT Hardy congratulatiotis.^ ★ * ir ★ * Patrons like Shorts. There ^Kave ljeen several surveys lately proving that the public is more "short-conscious '! than ever but you'll be a lot more convinced by a personal survey in your own lobby. M-G-M's inteiligent, exploitable and en- tertaining subjects continue to lead their field. For instance currently : Pete Smith's "Follow The Arrow'J^and "The Story of Dr. Carver." And we guarantee you'll get plenty of comment 6n the human-interest, informative and inspir- ing, "The City of Little Men. ' ' ★ * ★ ★ ★ EXTRA! As we leap to, press ! "MARIE ANTOINETTE" in its first POPULAR PRICE opening breaks every record in long history of Sheboygan Thea- tre, Sheboygan, Wis. A proved sensation at $2 in the big cities of Los. Angeles and N, Y., M-G-M set "Marie Antoinettie's" first pop price test in a small town, with results that foreshadow broken records everywhere I "Today *s white'hdired boy** ASTOR THEATRE HAS A NEW n SENSATION! The fained home of great M-G-M road-, shows is noisy with ticket-buyers again.. Standees at every petformance of "Marie Antoinette" since its opening. Advance sale biggest of any Astor pic- ture in the past ten years^ Plenty of excitement on Broadway that will be duplicated on your Broadway! * * * ★ ★ THEY'RE SAYING NIGETHINGS ABOUT YOU, LEO! The anriouncement of the release of "Marie . Antoinette' ' a t popular prices, entailing cancellation of road-shows, has met with widespread industry approval. To help the industry put its best foot forward at the commencement of the united screen drive this F^ll M-G-M delivers a production which raises the stock of all companies. A patron of the Astor Theatre writing to the Manage- ment reflects what this move means : "For some time there has been a lot of talk that Hollywood was failing us, that they were no longer capable of turning out great films. Can these critics still staiid by that statement after 'Marie Antoinette'?" And celebrated showman Charles P. Skouras writes to Loew's President, Nicholas M. Schenck: "Metrp- Goldwyn-Mayer in this picture gives a starved entertainment world the great- est of its many achievements. I predict 'Marie Antoinette' will go on to be the box-office hit of the year and the Acad- emy Award Winner." 1^ \ » DAILY "OmdRow>'C«to lijMalOkklMBa KaijUmdy'tlr BonI f«r BaOilo "Bi«*4wm7''T«k(« 113,900 M Owla CrowdRoare' Pittsburgh's Hit. $15,700 'HZrowdRoan" Hite |1S,00« leveland 'Crowd Roars' Kansas City's 814.600 Lead "Crowd Rotn** U Additional hold-oyers of "The Crowd Roars'*at Detroit, Louisville.Providence, Rochester, : SyraGuse. Houston, Phila- delphia, Cincinnati^ Hartford, Slew Haven, Worcester, Cleveland, New York (Capitol) and more as we go to press, $2 WORDS! The New York press sat enthralled be- fore the wonders of "Marie Antoinette" and gave out as follows: '"Marie Antoinette' superb. One of the year's treats."— William Boehnel, World- Telegram ; " Most sumptuous spectacle of the year. " — Howard Barnes, Herald- Tribune; ''Deserves one of the top places on list of pictures to be seen."— Eilieen Creelman, Sun; "Norma Shearer's fans hail her triumphant return with rousing cheers."— Bland Johaneson, Mirror; "Royal reception. Stirring prodiiction." —Kate Cameron, News; "Stirring ac- tion. Impressiye achievement."— Rose Pelswick, JourhiarAmerican; "Major event. One of the biggest spectacles ever filtned."— Leo Mishkin, Telegraph., THE EDITORIAL WHEE! Nobody had to call Leo's attention to that widely discussed editorial in Jay Emanuel Publications last week. In case you missed it, we reprint it here in part: "Praising Metro sales policy is not a new departure for this department. It is there- fore time to commend Metro for con- tinuance of that fair selling policy which exhibitors have been so quick to recog- nize. Let the Metro spirit of fairness be best exemplified by a letter received by exhibitors. (The letter concerns designa- tion of pictures in uncompleted percent- age brackets). Metro could have filled the higher brackets but it isn't doing business that way. It feels treating ex- hibitors fairly pays bigger dividends. And other companies' sales departments wonder why exhibitors shout so loudly in praise of the cohorts of Leo. It wais never more apparent— fair play brings greater returns always." Thanks Mr. Editor. M-G-M likes to think of its boys in the field working with exhibitors toward a common goal, success for all. Three little words that sum it up: THE FRIENDLY COMPANY. Wednesday, August 24, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY it Zanuck Pans Fix Schism (Goritinued from page 7) .hould be^ approached, whether the Snunittees actually had authority to Negotiate a working pact, and whether the producers were ready to, recognize the directors, unit man- iiers and Assistant directors as prop- erly constituted as a bargaining unit li one group. Postpone' Board Hearing The Capra committee made It olaln that before actually entering ihto negotiations pertaining to a working agreement, the situation would have to be laid before, a full meeting of the board of directors of ♦he SDG. Parley, however, reached the stage where the directors agreed to postpone their hearing before the National Labor Relations Board, gcheduled to have started yeste;rday. Hearing was to have been before William R. Ringer, NLRB trial ex- aminer, on petitions of the SDG ask- ing for certification as bargaining representative for the directors, unit nahagers and assistant directors, and charging 10 major film com- panies with unfair labor practice in refusing to negotiate with: the Guild. Hearing was set back until Monday (29). Probability how is that a deal will be inade between the Producers and the SDG,. that the unfair labor prac- tice charge will be dropped, and the petition for certification withi drawn from the NLRB. Deal may call for separate agreements for the • directors and unit managers, with the undlsrstandlng that the SDG will act for all groups. Resumption of negotiations and, postponement of the NLiRB hear- ' ing was okayed by the directors last liight , (Monday), following Verbal reports by Capra, Van Dyke and Hawks; Raported committee was continued to retain contact with the producers and continue its nego- tiations. ■ Contact with the Screen Writers Guild will be established as quickly as some tentative agreement is reached . with the . directors. The first move probably will be to try to engineer a merger of the Screen Playwrights, Inc. with the SWG. This probably will not. be difficult, as John Lee Mahin, . prexy of the V SP, has indicated the Playwrights would afliliate if the Guild acciepts ~them as a body.. Dudley Nichols, president of the SW(3, has already invited the SP members to come into the fold. Nichols checked out over the weekend for a vacation in Ha- waii, but Charles Brackett, Guild vice-president, is also' in favor of taking, in the SP members. James Kevin McCluinness, found- er-member of the SP, has already withdrawn to affiliate with the Guild. His lead was quickly followed . by Gene Towne and Grahame Baker, Olive Branch Waves The SWG, however, is certain to refuse to take over the existing con- tract between the producers and the SP unless many radical revisions are. Biade. Each side is prepared to give and take, so an agreement is not far away once the two get together. The SWG is In an eyen more Commanding position than the direc- tors. The Guild has already been certified by the NLRB as bargaining representative for the scriveners and Is now awaiting a reply from the producers to open negotiations. Guild letter asking . producers to negotiate a working pact follows: 'You are hereby formally notified that the Screen Writers Guild, Inc. represents the great majority of the screen writers employed by your or- ganization. In this connection your attention is directed to the certiflca- wm of representatives made by the National Labor Relations Board on the 8th day of August, 1938, in the matter of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 'By virtue of and pursuant to the power vested in the National Labor Relations Board by section 9 (c) of we National , Labor Relations Act. w Stat. 449 and pursuant to article . .3. section 8 and 9 of National Labor Relations Boaird rules and regular uons. series 1, as amended. _ « is hereby certified that the screen Writers Guild, Inc., has been selected by a majority of persons employed as screen writers by 'name of each major company in- serted), exclusive of executives, producers, associate producers, di- rectors, supervisors, story editors, scenario writers, and other persons naving executive or supervisory powers, and exclusive of lyricist, Mmposers and readers, as their rep- resentative for the purpose of collec- jive bargaining; and that pursuant w section 9 (a) of the act. Screen Writers Guild, Inc., is the exclusive representative, in the cases of each company, of all such persons for the purpose of collective bargaining. •Therefore, in accordance with and pursuant to the provisions of the National Labor Relations Act. 48 stat. 449, you are hereby respectfully re- quested to bargain collectively with the Screen Writers Guild, as exclu- sive representative of an the screen writers employed by your organiza- tion. 'Wei should appreciate an imme- diate acceptance of this offer, ■ 'Very truly yours. Screen WtUbts Guild. Inc. Charles Brackett, acting pres. Sheridan Gifaney, acting secy.' Trill Delay Gglld Action Leonard Janofsky, counsel for the SWG, indicated that unless an af- firmative: reply was ' received within a reasonable time, charges of unfair labor practice would be filed against ■the studios and they would be cited before the NLRB for refusing to bar- gain. Move by the producers to bring peace within the rankis, hbw- eyer,'. is certain to cause a^ delay in any aggressive moves, by the Guild. ' Situation was discussed last night at general mass meeting of the SWG called to approve a working agree mfent to be submitted to producers when negotiations open. Pact -was drafted by a committee headed by Ralph Block. Proposed pact would prohibit stu- dios from switching scriveners from one story to another before the first was completed;, wo.uld provide that changes in script . coiild be made only with the writer; present, and would leave awarding of screen credits to the Guild itself. Bargaining code approved by SWG for presentation to producers is highlighted by the following clauses: does not establish minimum pay for writers; provides credits be awarded only for screenplay and original; no meinber to sign contract beyond three-year limit; proposed agree- ment to run for one year; all dis- putes to be settled by arbitration. Committee to negotiate, with studios comprises Lillian Heilman, Tristram Tupper,' Anthony yeiller,. Charles Brackett, Sheridan' Gibney and Donald Ogden Stewart, The .National Labor Relations Board has set Tuesday OO) as date for hearing the petition of the Sor dety of Motion Picture Artists & Illustrators for an election to select a bargaining representative. Sept 8 was fixed as date to hear petition of the Society of Motion Picture Art Directors for a similar election. Both these cases are not expected to . ac- tually go to' a hearing if the prp'^ ducers are successful in negotiating amicable agreements with the direc- tors, and the writers. The Screen Actors Guild board of directors has appointed a comihittee of nine to rccieive nominations for the general election of officers scheduled for Sept 16. Emma Dunn, Maude Eburne, Robert ! Gleckler, Walter Kingsford, Henry O'Neill and Charles Trowbridge were selected from the rank and file- membership. Board members on the nominating committee are Pedro De Cordoba, chairman, Lucille Gleason and Boris Karloff. Nominations close Sept. 1. A presi- dent, three vice presidents, a treasur- er, assistant treasurer, secretary and assistant secretary and 11 new board members must be elected. Montgomery Not Candidate Robert Montgomery, who has served as president for three years, has announced that he will not stand for reelection. James Cagncy, vice president dislikes to preside at a meeting, and is . certain to turn thumbs down on any Suggestion that he move up. Joan Crawford is. sec- ond v.p., but is said to share the feeling of the general membership that a man should be selected as president. Chester Morris., third v.p.. has a large following in the Senipr Guild and may be the nominee to receive the administration support. He would make a strong candidate if he' de- cides to permit his name to be placed in nomination. The SAG has abandoned plans to purchase new quarters or .erect its own building. The Guild has se- cured additional space in its pres- ent building and the board of direc- tors does not believe the time is ripe to build. The plan may be revived' next year. Kenneth Thomson, executive sec- retary of the SAG, is expected back at his desk this week. He was otr dered to take a rest because of over- work. ' ■ • . Dr. "Towne Nylander, regional dl- Fpy Rushes Through Tinter Record Fast ■ Hollywood, Aug. 23. Bryan Foy set a hew mark for Technicolor filming when he turned in Warners' 'Heart of the North' in 35 days, the sarne shooting schedule that would, have been required for a black and white. . Speed was attained by thorough advance preparation of script, light- ing -and camera arrangements. Time might have been further reduced but for fog on location hear Big Bear, MAUKtCE SCHWARTZ'S YIDDISHJFM PLANS Groiip headed by Maurice Schwartz, M. H.. Hoffman, former Hollywood producer, and Harry En- gel, of Faiichon & Marco, are laying groundwork for production of three 'Yiddish films in the East Schwartz, due back from Palestine Sept. 5, would start 'Brothers Ashkehazi,' first on the list. Palestine is last stop , on Schwartz's toUr,- With play, of same title, having played, in Lon don and Paris, Initial production would be In Yiddish but it's possible that it would .also be done In English at later date. It's only one of . pro- posed three which has a general appeal theme. Other two, 'Yoshe' Kalb' and "Three Cities,' are strictly Yiddish. Latter will open Schwartz's U. S. legit run at ' Jewish Art the- atre,- New York, Oct n. He re- cently' signed a new five-year lease on the house. . vM. H. Hoffman, former Tiffany Productions v.p, in New . York .awaiting the arrival of Schwartz, will produce. $l,$a0,00O Bill (Continued from page 5) fate of similar legislation proposed for five or six other states, will be settled before the various compahjies really swing into action on the Fed' eral suit NPiie admits just what will be done regarding the theatre divorcement angle of the Government suit al- though many company representa- ti . es are incliued to regard it as the ^^ors': or most threatening portion of the action. With this situation pre- vailingi they will look to thel judg- rhent of the U. S. higK court as a guide for policy to be pursued in this portion of the suit. While most spokesmen are non- committal, the feeling persists that there will be a sweeping realignment of theatre circuits over the course of the next 18 months.' Just how sweeping, of course, depends oh what the Supreme Court rules regarding, major affiliate theatre operations. But .with' this theatre divorcement angle stressed in the Federal suit, the industry is beginning, to look on di- vorcement as a double threat against affiliate circuits. If major companies win out on the North Dakota law, they still have' to face the same issue in the CJovernment suit Attitude of some company officials is that if there seems little likeli- hood of retaining affiliated circuits in the long run, it jnight be smart to break up the chains into independent units while the time is more oppor- tune and without being forced. N; D. Decree Entered Minneapolis, Aug. 23. L. B. Schwartz, of counsel for the defense in the Paramount, et al.. suit to invalidate the North. Dakota the- atre divorcement law. entered the federal court decree holding the rneasure constitutional. The decree was entered on Aiig. 18 and the plaintiffs will have 30 days from that date to appeal to the IT. S. supreme- court which they W'H do as quickly, as possible, they have made known. Stipulations contained in the de- cree provide that the temporary in- junction prohibiting the law's en- forcement and permitting the Para- mount circuit to retain possession of its North Dakota theatres shall con- tinue in effect for 30 days and, if the appeal is taken, to be continued un- til such a time as the U. S. supreme court hands down its dccision^lhe (inal word. Elimination of Giveaways in Fox-WC Houses Ordered by Skouras; Rodgers Proposes No Classification of M-G Pix On the Dog Pare Lorcntz figures he's learned of a new use for his Resettlement Administration filth, "The River.' Found that a new nabe house, the NeWton, in Washington, : D. C., was. using the pic for its opening bill, ' to test its projection arid sound equipment Figured in case of mishap' the replacement charges on the fllni would be hegligible.-slnce it is distributed free by the government through Paramount release. 'River' never did as well In . regular first-runs in Washing- ton as it did 'in other cities. Figured the reason was that Lorentz gave it several weeks of pre-release showing at small indie house. DANA HEADING U'S MIDWEST DIV. IN K. C. Kansas City. Aug. 23, W. J.- Helnemah, western sales manager, here last Week announced that divisional headquarters for Universal Film Exchanges will be set up in Kansas City effective im- mediately. Peter Dana, .formerly. BuiTalb branch nianager, comes here as divisional .chief. flelneman. tripped out from New .York and held a confab with branch managers Jere Spandau, Roy Palm- quist, Joe Garrison' and Hoy Miller, of the Des Moines, Omaha, St, Louis and Kansas City exchanges respec- tively, whose offices will be Included in the new. midwestern district. ' Following the annpuncement M. J. Wally, of U's real es!tate department, and ,0. C. Binder, of the branch op- eration section, came on from the .east. The setup calls for some re- modelling of U's. present Offices, and the work is expected to be completed within 30-60 days. Marcui Backing Theatres in Ft Wayne Fort Wayne. Aug. 23. Competition will again be In evi- dence here riext. month ; when. M. Marcus, Veteran operator here, takes over the Paramount, now -operated by Quimby Theatres,- Inc. ; Marcus was associated witli Quimby firm for 15 years, until spllt-up last year. Quimby announced giving iip its lease on the house Aug. 15, and Mar- cus' deal was expected to be closed late this week. He will also take over Capitol and. Crelghton theatres, two small double-feature houses, in deal. Palace, Fort Wayne, set to reopen Aug. . 27 after extensive remodeling. A former vaudeville house, the Pal- ace will stick to first, runs with oc- casional stage offerings. Operated by Quimby. MacDonald Bankrupt Los Angeles, Aug. 23. Philip MacDbnaid. writer, filed a bankruptcy petition, listing liabili- ties of $45,579, and assets of $2,157, including eight horses valued' at $200. Federal, state and county taxes make up $12,284 of the liabilities. Petition Will be heard Aug. 25. Los Angeles. Aug. 23. Fox-West Coast Theatres has started elimination of rackets over its entire circuit, with testing ground being George Bowser's San Diego district where the ban against auto, iherchahdlse or cash gi've-aways is already in .effect Other districts will follow just as quickly as plans can be mapped but, with circuit execs determined to stamp but the lihshowmanship angles as rapidly as - possible. This decision was one of the re- sults of last week's western regional convention of National Theatres-Fox West (ioast Theatres, held here at the Ambassador hotel. ' Spyros and Charles Skouras presided oyer the. ' three days' sessions that brought up- wards of 100 New York and Los ■ Anseles home office execs, western division district and house managers, ^ bookers and other employees . to- gether for a geiieral powwow coverr. ing forthcoming jproduct and opera- '; tlon problems. : De'tails of a new National 'Theatres Drive, carrying $10,(W0 in bonus awards, . was announced at the coh- vehtlon, tb be participated in by the Fox-West Coast's southern and northern California division, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Rocky 'Moiintain and Evergreen circuits. A recommendation that exhibitors . of the.' natibn make up a $250,000 purse, to be awarded to the major producer making the greatest Im- prbvement to product during the 1938-39: season, was advanced by Frank L. Newman, president of Evergreen Theatres, a F-WC Pacific Northwest subsidiary, but no definite action was taken. . ^ Bodgers and .Wobber In attendance at the convention were W. F. Rodgers and Herman Wobber, general sales chiefs, re- spectively, of Metro and 20th-Fox, who spoke at length on their . com- panies' production plans for the hew season. Rodgers created a . stir among the . conventlohers when he announced that his company is. will- ing to eliminate designations of pic-, tures It a satisfactory plan Cani be worked out Metro, he said, has no objection to designating pictures in different classifications in individual territories .if ' such designation will react to the benefit of both exhibs and the. distributor in those areas.. Rodgers stressed the point that Metro desired, abo'vrc all things, to be fair to exhibitors. Charles P. Skouras, prexy of Fox- West Coast Theatres, presented figures at the closing session of the confab to show that Pacific coast operations of Skouras Bros.,' com- prising the Fox-West Coast, Ever- green and other subsidiary com- paniesv accounted for . 80% of the profits accruing to National The- atres, Inc., parent holding company. This showing was made by 189 far- western theatres out of a total- bf 457 combined National Theatres circuit operations. Skouras voiced the prediction, that the ensuing four months would, be the most profitable from the stand- point of grosses and profits in the history of the F-WG circuit rector of the NLRB, checked out this week for vacation that will keep him away from the office until Sept C. Maurice Howard, chief field ex- aminer for the NLRB, will be in charge of film cases until the direc- tor relurnsi Boyer — with Mirrors Hollywood, Aug. 23. Final picture for Charles Boyer under his cornniltmeht to Waller Wahger is "The Illusionist,' slated for a late fall start Gene Towne and Graham Baker will do the -screen play when they return to the Wanger payroll Sept. 6. MARKS HEIl SPOT Holly wood, Aug. 23. Sally Eilcrs gets the title role in 'Miss X' at RKb as soon as she finishes work in 'Miracle .Racket,' in which . she co-stars with Anne Shirley, Robert Sisk v.'ill produce 'Mi.'is X' from an original .screen play : by George Brickcr and Lionel Hiiu.scr. Akron's Ban Akron, O., Aug. 23. More stringent regulation, of bingo and keno in the city in the wake of bitter protests by independent thea- tre owners against alleged wide-open keno , operation has. been promised IhiT group by Mayor Lee D. Schroy. After a conference with Robert Mehchcs, president of the Akron In- dependent Theatre Owners' Assn., the mayor ordered law department officials to study .the Cleveland sys'r tcm of regulaiiig keno. Munches said that the U. S. Postal Department has rilled that bingo and keno are loltcrics, arc! barred in- formation concerning them from the mails. The independent thealr,e owners, he said, arc to meet shortly to cli.scu.fs mis-m."; of halting keno, whicli ha.i cut sci-iou.;ly into theatre attendance. Iri oliier ci tic;, he point- erl oi.it, thh.-ifro owner? havfi forced city officials to halt kehp game activities. 22 VARIETY PICTURES / WedneBclaj, August 24, 1938 Adrance Production Chart (Continued from page 15) JImmv SUk Bob Ridceway. James Caesar, Cliflf Oddsbn, Jake Kelly. Ray JohlTson Tomm? Nellon. Lar?y Jackson. Victor Pullman, Irv.ng Greeg, Borman Pabst 'SUEZ- (for 1938-39 season), produced by Gene .Markey; directed by Al^n Dwan° sc wn piarby Julien Josephson, and Phillip Dunne; original b^^m D "ncin; phow/raphed by Peverell Marley Cast: LoretU Young. TvTone Power Annabella, Henry Stephenson. Thomas. Beck, Sidney BlacK- mer J E° wfrd Biomberk. Joseph Schildkraut. Sig Rumann, Leoii Ames. Rafaela Olliano, Maurice Moscovich. Nigel Bruce. 'WHILE NEW »OBK SLEEPS' (fot 1938-39 season), produced by <;nl M Wurlzc" directed by H. Bruce Humberstone; no writing credits Jrieased aT yet; photographed by Edward Cronjager Cast: Michael Whnlen Chick Chandler, Jean Rogers. Joan Woodbury, June Gale Marc SlJrlncei William Demarest, Edward Gargan, Minor Watson, Harold Huber, Cliff Clark. ♦HOLD THAt CO-ED' (for 1938-39 season), produced by David Hempr stead- directed by George Marshall; no writing credite rel^d yet; no Sgraphy assignmenu Cast; Marjorie Weaver, Geor^t Murphy. John. ISro-tnoJe, Joan Davis. Jack Haley. Ruth Terry. Johnny Downs. Paul Hurst, Billy Benedict, Donald Meek, Paul McVey. •SHABPSHOOTERS' (irst Camera Daredevils series) (for 1938-39 sea- son) pr^uwd by Sol M. Wurtzel; directed J^'^'^^^'^lj,^'' J^l^. to Itotert mils and Helen Logan; photographed by Barney McGiU. Cart: BrianDonlevy, Wally V«rnon, Lynn BarT. C. Henry Gordon, Douglas Dumbrille, Sidney Blackmer. «FIVE OF A KIND* (for 1938-39 season), iasfioclate producer, Kenneth Maceowan: directed by Herbert I. Leeds; ori^al screen play by Lon B.^s!Sn and John Patrick; photographed by Daniel B. Clark. Cast: Dwwie QiSntuplets, Jean Hersholt, Claire Trevor; Inez Courtney. Gewr Romero, Slim Suramerville, John Qualen, Henry Wilcpxon. John Russell, Jane Dar- well, Joan Valerie. •JUST AROCND THE CORNEE' (for 1938-39 season), produced by David Hempstead; directed by Irving Cummings; ^screen play by J. P. BfcEvoy and Ethel Hill; original story by^ Kenneth Earle an(l Howard Smith; songs by Walter Bullock and Harold Spina; photognmhed by ArJ^ur Miller east: Shirley Temple, Joan Davis, Bill Robjnson.^<5harles Earrell. Bert liahr George Barbieri Franklin Pangborn, Benme Bartlett. Amanda Duff. Mth-Fox Fix Now in Produotioii er- ton) at the Henry Miller. 'Bright Rebel' is also a September possibility, Others are Thirty Days Has Sep- tember,'^ '7-11,' 'Lives of a Woman,' 'So Far So Ctood,' 'Lorelei,' 'Love Is Blonde' and 'Blackbirds.' WPA's The Big Blow' also is listed for early September. 'VIetorU* Retorns October will start with a return of 'Victoria < Regina,' with Helen Hayes (Gilbert Miller), at the Martin Beck (3); The Fabulous Invalid' (Sam H. Harris) unfolds at - the Broadhurst Oct. 6; 'Knickerbocker Holiday' (Playwrights Producing Co.) at the Biarrymore' (10); The Clood' (N. C. and I. Pincus) at the Windsor (12); 'Hamlet' (Maurice Evans-Kath- erine Locke) opening . on- the same evening at the St. James, and Oct. I7 is set for 'Abe Lincoln iii Illinois' (Playwrights Producing Co. ). November promises ' at least two more musicals. The Boys From Syra- cuse,' (George Abbott) at the Alvin and the vntitled "Clear AH Wires' (Vinton Freedley) due into the Im- periaL 'American Landscape,' an- other of the Playwirights shows, is among the November possibilities: New Talent Worry (Continued from page 1) ville. Burley offers few new . faces and seldom fresh talent that will screen properly. Legitimate stage ha$ been able to get along with new faces developed in small dramatic groups, colleges, etc, while radio has dra\yn on all fields for people. But with pictures it has been a matter of depending on the legitimate stage, a few that can be picked up from . radio, and ncw- WB's Incubator Idea Warner Bros, plans opening its own rehearsal halls for polishing of new acts. First time that a hooking office has taken such a step and is in line with the opening of the vaude- band policy at the New York Strahd.on Broadway. Bookers will hot :confine themselves to established turns. Want to develop and give op- portunity to new. acts of which there have been very few of late, because of no hreak-in time. Would also afford op- portunity of altering nitery acts to suit theatres. Latter field has not been so devoid of new acts. comers uncovered in schools and small dramatic groups. The WPA and its Federal Theatre enterprises have : been a negligible source of supply because, majority of actors either are old timetrs or untrained youngsters. The way the radio field has been going in the past six months also has been no source of encourage- ment to . talent Booners. There . have been so many stunt shows, audience- participation programs, and game or contest broadcasts that acting talent has been shoved into' the back- ground. Talent boys, too, say that often a suitable voice does not work but when the person is photo- graphed. If the legit stage continues to slurhp and radio does not do. more in developing actors, the talent Co- lumbuses of the film companies see talent schools as the only source of new material. ' . ■■ . MALE SECRETARY — Aeeus- tomed to high pressure work--. for biisy executive. Cah accept responsibility. Five years' ex- perience motion pictures, news- papery publicity. Rapid, ac- curate stenographer. College graduate. Age 26. Free to travel, locate east, west. BOX 27, VARIETY, Nev» York. Vednesday, August 24, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY 23 atkms Albany. •L.°.M S««* f""- Vqrki deal . "JSiT motion plcturea, recorilln»», . Soltal BtocK, 100 shares, no pap "'pftectore: O. U Gimiand, 9 jUbaity; J. D. Colby,. JOS SJ!lih .ue«t. Troy: U C. Qoebel, ShUr- park; Bast Groenbuah, (Plynn L. I3?e" j6 I""* lrtrM^ N. T. C. llllnr **]uJ*W»f Town of wSnia: amuaement enterprleea:. capital Xifcis 000; 1100 par value. Directors: Nftupert and Chrlatino McCariUy. ?m^iter W. Wilcox, fliing attorney. Hi iTrn etreotV Oneida. . nrf^andtair •■«•» Vernon; •kSItrlcal «>iuiln««»; capital^ »tocIc, KJmS- noo par value. Directors: ifriS Rogers and Charlee H. Rojfeta, S7 JSSJiil avenue, Mti Vernon; Slden ,T. SS^V SB* avenue. Blyrta, Ohlo^ ""-itl Bfocb* Ammwiiitat Corp., Man- k«iuB^ theatrical enterprises; capital 11.000; 110 par value. Directors: SJSixiln Shlff .(flllnn attorney), and n!aia Shift, 030 Bushwlck avenue; Isl- 5Sf^ AMlrod,. 200 Sackman street, B'gjl'^jicliemloia Plsiyer^ Inc., New Tnrt^ theatrical productions. etc.; rtpllal stock. «0.00D; IS par valuo.^ Di- ne tan- ' C. C. Cfimpbell. Muriel R. Smpbell, 40 Mornlngjlde;_^avenae. New Tork; Perry Watlclne. 868 Elsmere place. ^xSJ'AmHsenient /Con>.,: Ings; moving ■Dlcture business; capital stock. »«.000; ilt» par value. Directors: James M. i vMttr 9838 Vanderveer street. Queens Aaron Koroltzer, 2949 W. 30th JtVeStf Edith Horowlti, 1702 W. Sixth street. Brooklyn. MuoM Path, Inc., Manhattan; tUe- atrleal' and amusement enterprises; esiilUl stock. 200 shares, no par value. DInctors: Edward E. Cohen. Mary M. Nicosia, Eileen MoUoy, 630 Fifth avenue. New'-Tork. - (S. R. . Flelsher, same ad- dress. Ming attorney.) Ilelwol Amusement Co«v.i Kings: the- atrical business; capital stock, tl.OOO: 110 par value. Directors: nenjamin BUS (Aling attorney). 830 Bushwick avenue; Benjamin J. Slnkolf and Sam J. Dorbras. - 1112 PeKalb avenue, Brooklyn. . . .. i. • , ., MaUlprlses, Inc., . Manhattan : . radio broadcasting, etc; capital stock, 100 ■bares., no par valUe. '. Directors: . Eliza- beth Wood', Ma'rJOrle Soper. Anne Elchel.. 630 Fifth avenue, New York. . ■ BO Boae's KzpoHKInil SpectaolM. Inc.. New York; theatrical business; capital ' stock, 200 shares, no par value. Direc- tors: Frederick Grlffln .1272 First avo- BUe; M.: Farrell. 261 V. 9Cth street. New Tore; B. Ariierlln. 312 Schenectady ave- nue,. Brooklyn. (Hays, St. John, Abram-. ■on & Schulman. flllng attorneys.) 'londoB- Theatre, Inc., -Manhattan; . the- atrical enterprises; capital stock, 32.100; 110 par' value. Directors: Charles Segal (filing attorney), Myron J. Olnntz. Beh- lamln Davidson, 21 E. 40(h . street. New Tork. . ' Verllcr Theatn Corp,,. Queens; the- atrical and; . amusement - enterprises; .capital ' stock, 130,000; tlOO .'pnr ' value. Dlraotors: Louis i Berniitein. ' Harold D. Schneider, Nathan Greenl>erg, 2 Lafay- ette street. New York. (Znmzok & BIs- aofL'same address^ flllng attorney.) Baffalo . Meitorscoot Co.. Inc.,- Biiltalo; deal In motor scoots, motorcycles, ma- chines and conduct . nmupement ehter- prlaas; capital stock. 200 sheresV no par .Taloe. Directors: Herman Kentenblatt (Bling attorney). J.T.M.A.. Frnnklln Bauare; ICathleen McCarthy.. 126 Garson avenue.' Rochester; Ann Tabor. 134 Oenesee street. Avon. . ' Mailaephone, Inc., New Tork: manu- facture and deal In radio apparatus, etc; capital stock, 200 shares, no pnr Talus. Directors: Mark Frackmah and Herbert A. Kaldcn. 61 Cliambef's street: Richard Sllbersteln, 16 W. 8l8t street, New Tork. . _C«srad Intematlnnal Films', Ltd., New York; . deal" In fllrhs, motion pictures, etc.; capita' stock, 400 shares, 200 com- ' nion, no par value,, and '200 preferred. 1100 par value. Directors: Edward V. Conrad. Hotel Pennsylvania: Ceodrey gilbert, 10 W. 3.1rd .street. New York; 'Btrblllal O. Worth, Jr., 62 N. Arlington avenue. East Orange. N. j: P^talB or Youth SliowH, Inc., Mnn- .hattan; theatrical and amunement en- terprises; capital stock, $20,000; 320 par valne. Directors: Alfred E. AmHicr and Miriam V. H. Amslor. 119-31 lOCth stre«t. Bt. Albans: B. Harrison Noilen (Hllng attoniey). 79 Madison avenue. Now York; Bright Shingles. Inc., Manhattan; the- atrical and amusement eniemrljies: canltal stock. 220 shares— 120 preferred. • too par. value, and 100 common, no par TS!?'- "Irectors: Hnrry H. Oahvin "L^'ofcy). and Nathan Stisglltr.. ;:5L°''oadway; Lillian Pappos. 622 - W. "'Ih street. New York. ..Cibaa Vllllage, Inc., Manhattan: the- airical enterprises; capital stock. 1.100 •hares: 1.000 at 3100 par value. iO» at no par value. Directors: Chas H. Dash (nllng attorney). Hnrrv'R.. Dash. F. Ben- "niln Kaufman, 401 Droadwav. New York. Amusement Corp., Kings: tha- •51?.'" business; eapitnl stock. lIO.OOOj yoo par value. Directors: Samuel H. Jemian, 16 Court street. Brooklyn; ^nie Peterson. 891 numont avenue; ATline Korhin, 200 ,W. 90lh street. New i. ; . Harry Pinnus. 16 Court street, Brooklyn, niing attorney.) ■ »; M. Mnslo Siiops, ln<-„ New York; iniuical instruments, musleni cnmposi- "ons, etc.; capital' stock, 320.000: . 3100 SfJt l'."*.-, D'rootors: Abraham S. Rud- SJ"'- Madle Harris (flllng attorney), Sol ■ Beaver street. N. T. C. .iJK?frl?' '""tlnoa. Inc., Manhattan: the- atrical business; capital stock. 200 shares. SJhi 'Value.' Directors: , T,. K. S?.i '"ling attorney). Max Schlem. York 42nd street. New T.^S?'.H." *""' Tomorrow, Inc., New ' li(i»;«""?''''"»l huBlness; eapitnl slock. {r.Jlii' par value. Dlrcoinrs: BhTS ? Herman A. Kaplan, wnnle Roaaksky, 26 W. 43d street, New ^'rwloctlona. Inc.. Maniiftt- llSnnn "ll'"' business; capital alork: Jlo;;iP'i. H"' P""" ^■"'u*'- Dir ahnre.i. no par Barn: Directors: Ethel llorul. Ann R.L 1, ^l"'"* Feder. 500 Fifth nvenue. tr^l. Jork. (Moos,, Nathnn. Imbrey &• «?.•'""»«••« * T^iwls. Inc., Henipslead'. .MopS^hParatOB of all kinds; eanllal Iom"' »harej<. no: pur value, TVlrer- tl6r Camera Coirp., New YorJt; camora.s. etc.; capital stock. 200 shares.' no pur value. Directors: NikoU .Miller. Manfred Llebenau, Lester Harron. 730 Firth avenue. New York. (Ralph Copland, flllng attorney, 39 Broadway, an additional stlbscrlber.) • . Cosinocratt, Inc.,- Manhattan: cartoons, pictures, etc.; capital stock. 200 shares, no par value. Directors: Reno 11. Slr- rlnle. Aiine D. Slrrinle, 44 Seaman street: Stanley S. S. McNIcl. 405 W. 23th street, New York. .Jesskel Corp., New York; theatrical business; capital stock. 200. shares, no par value. Directors: Martin J; Desmonl (flllng attorney). Bertram L. Roberta, Harold Gr.eehblait, 1601 Broadway, Now York. Nyzos Corp., Manhattan; theatrical business;, capital stock. $1,000; $1 par value. Directors: Wm. H. Crawford, H. Henry Ramm. Albert E. Flizpalrlck, .41 Broad Street. New York. SIrango As It Seems Oddities, Inc., New York: amusement enterprises; capital stock, 2.200 shares^— 1:000 pre- ferred at $100 par value; 1.200 common, no par value. Directors:. Gilbert P. Brush. Monroe P. Bloch. F. Kates.: 27 ■\Vllllam. street. New York. (Brush & BJoch. same address, flllng attorneys.) Jumes I.. Clnrk Industrlitl Exhibits. Inc.. 'Bronx; design, build, ana deal In exhibits and displays; capital stock, 200 shares, no par value. Directors: .Jas. L. Clark. Sally Clark, 350 Central Park ■West, New York; Murray Ropert, 2 Sherwood terrace, Yonkora.. F. R, & F. Amusement Cofp., Man- hattan: theatrical business; capital stock, 200 shares, no pur value. Direc- tors:' Ruth Weinberg. Eva Schloaberg, Puuilno Piserchla. 220 Fifth nvenue. New York. (Morris Wolf, siune address, niing attorney.) . „ , Snilth-Ulclerlch Corp.. New York; mo; lion pietufe machinery, etc.; capital Slock, 3150,000: $10 par value. Direc- tors: Jus. B. Hiiches. C. Trumiin liioin- son, Francis I>. Walls, 2 Jtocinr street. New York. (Couilcrt Bros., same ad- dress. Illing nttornoya.) Towiihnil Home Theatre Corp., Tlomer ; theatrical business copital stork, 200 shares, nd pnr value. Directors; An- drew: Cseh. Kslelle rseh, IJroton: Zercne Jlrlskin. ma E. Genesee street, byra- '"i^iitlDu-New 'Yurk, Inc., Mnnhattan; Iheairlcal business: capllal stock, $5^,- 000; $100 par value. Directors: ^yll- llam Flnley. 1408 B: 63rd street; Jos. A. Keenan. 1602. Albany avenue; DoUK'as It McDonald. 3106 Ave. D. Brooklyn. Nl). .M .Thenlr* Corp;. Buffalo; motion picture theatres, etc.; capital slock, .00 .iliarcs. -no par value. Directors: Dewey Michnil.-. l-hyllls Michaels. 82 Dana road: Lewis. ikMiberg. »'<'"""' nue. Uuffalo.,' * » f_* AtiKoelnted Orcliestras'iit America, Inc., Ne\v York: bu.ilnes.1. of supplying orchcs- iruH and l.-.mls; capital .sio.-Jk, 210 sijare., rio uar VHlue. nirectors: Pauline (,olO- C?rK. Wlllurd I. Zurker (flllng aHon.«y). "vrdlnand Wolf,- Sil ritth. avenue. New ^'Mn'tlim IMcturcB- Oreulest Year. Inc. Mai". .Ill u,: general sdv-j-rilsing business DlnTtors: S'-Vmour M. J', yser. 25.8 I);n-ldson nvenue; Sidney I- n-l Ibe.rK. -35 \V 76th street; Robt. .S. Heiijainln. J07 R. 44th street. 'New Voi-k. . ■ v,.rU- Syndicate IMctnres. Inc.. Ne« V .rk. motion picture hus>ne»-; capital s^^^^^^^^^ •>o(i «hare». nil par value. iiirctiora. M:?.IelW..e S. Wlilte. 1270 SIMl. .^venue .s-ew V.H k: f i.HSi-..il Cre-n ..- •(!. J; j;'^- Clellnnd street. lii'"nx; ">"V") Vse 4Cth street. Itr.ii.m.vn. <'■, »""„,*■ SlM-ers. dis fifth nvenue. Mling , al- '"'(ilnimll llliiis li.UH-r... Kic.. New V.,rk: „„, ion plilures of .ill kin.l.H; en .it 1 Mi.rk $10;ii00; $1"') P'lr value, IHr-'- 101 Ilrna.lwiiy; Bilwiinl .1. ; IlillliK in. J... K: 21lU street; Anlhony \ulenll. .4"t llroiitlivav. SVw York. . . _ Siwnr.-r Tli.'H»re<.. Inc., I>nrl: 'he.^^ler. tlicalririil bus.nc.-'.i; i.'.n>H-(l stock, HO,- A Doubt Philadelphia, Aug; 23. Henry Cahan, manager of the New Saviiia here, went to niueh trouble to erect a lobby display for 'Over the Wall.' With the co-operation of the police de- partment he bbtaineii handcuffs, revolvers, machine gutis, hand grenades and sawed-q'S shot- guns, set up as evidence that crime doiesn't pay. Two days before the film . started,, however,; the display was miritis a sawed-oft shotgun; : It set Cahan back $50. Now he's hot so sure about crime not. pay-' ing. Advance PradUction Chart 000: $100 par value. Directors: Herbert Rogowsky (flllng attorney), 138, No, >Iain street: Jacob: llogowiiky, 126 No; Regent street. Port Chester: Samuel Rogowsky, 8 Norton street. Rye; Amnaenient Center, Ibc.V Troy; the- atrical' business; capllal slock.' $10,000; $100 par value. Directors: Samuel J. Fein and Cella Fein. 44 Harris avenue. Albany: Abraham Fein. 676 Cleveland airect. Brooklyn. . CALIFORNIA Sacramento. ■ Sooth Pnsndena I.lttio Thrntre; no capital ~. stock Directors: Agnes E. Tyson. Clyde Itohrburh, Charles Bender. Earl Uob.er. Ralph Sherman., Xrnnt I.ubllar.h. I'riHlactlnaa. ' Inc. : capital stock. 100.000 shares, no sub- scriptions. Dlrecmra! .Ernst Lubitsch. Myron Selznick, Vivian Lubitsch, Nut Deverlch. Nat I.eviBe I>nMluctl«ns, Inc.; . capital • stock, 20.000 shares, no . subscriptions. Directors:-.- Nat Levlne. Albert E; Levoy, J. S. .KesslnrJ ..':■. Studio City Theatres, 1441.; capllal stock, $5,000, no . subscriptions. . Direc. tors: .jr. M. Young, J. Leslie Swoi.e, Frank - A. Grant. Nylo Hnslo Co., Inc.; capllal slock, $76,004, no : subscrlpiinns. Directors Arthur' Shilkrel, Mnurlce Levy, Jr. Adolph. H. Levy. Certlflcate of amended, cony chantclng name of llobby Crawford, lae., COunty of Los Angeles, to Cmwfard-M'lnslow- Cartis Agenry, IJternry (:orp. of America; capital stock. .600 . shares, :no subscriptions. 1^1- rectors: David A. Badar, Jules. Llber- mah, Margaret Mennen: Jrwlah Commanlty Press, Inc.:. capital stock, 400 preferred shares at $50: 1,000 common shares.' no - par. , Directors; A. H. Wittenberg. 1. B. Benjamin. Leon L. Lewis. Max H. Lewis.- Julian ,M. Sieroty, M. .B. Silberberg,. C. Goldman. BelUnee ndnrm, Inr.; capital stock, 100 shares, no suhsci^lptlnns. . Directors: Marvin I. Manuel; Frances Fegelman, Nells K. Dlllen. ' Miitlonnl Talent Pictures Corp.; capital slock,' 2.300 shares; - no ' .subscriptions. Directors: I. 0. Overdorffj Ik>retta Geary, Edward William Rose. Uiiltnl Kndlo Frwliirllnns, Inc.; capital stock; 260 shares, no subserlntions: Di- rectors: M. L. Sweet, Reed B. Calllster, 1. Aj srecher Coronado Films, Inc.; motion- picture producing; capital stock, 1,000 shares, no gar. Directors: - Boy N; Wolff. Arthur ireitusB, Perry P. Burch, Kurt W. .Werckbnthien.' . - Theatre ladnslrles Corp.; theatre and cafe, operation; capital stock. $25,000. Directors: Roy A. .Sf:harff, Oha'rloa - J; Lane, Helen S. .M. Nelson; . Max RrlnliBnlt Workshop; capital stock, . 20.000 shares, no ^ub.sc'riptions. Directors: ' Max Heinhardt, A.. Ronald Button. B. R Butts. I,ehr-(ion.i. Di- rectors:. Arthur Alexander. Alfred Stern. Gene Austin. Tnlted Ratlin rrodactlons, Inp;, rnillo advertising and nctorst agent; canit.-il. stock, 2IiO : shares, no par volue. ' Direc- tors: B. J, Summorhsys. Claude M. .Sweeten. Edtrar V. H:iley. Elwooil J. Rohlh.ion. M. I* Sweet; Reed K. Cnllister. I. A. Rteeher. Fnurterntli-WllNtiira Corp.; theatre operation; capital stock. I.OOO shari-s. par $1. Directors: Albert Hanson. C. ■ A. . Cahaller.o, Ruth . Hanson. . Blernt BroadcQStlnv Co.; raillo hroad- rasilng; rnniinl stock.' T.OO slu.res;' no T>ar value.. .DIreetorw; .E,' ■ T). . Harrison, Hn.ner B, Root.;. E.nmn .G, Ito-Tcrs,' long Itenxh Ire Hkatihg Corp.: ska ling, riiik) : capital stock,. 4.riftO— $10 preferred, and 6,000. $r.eomnton'SI»ores! Direetnrs: Dr. .Nevall Roliert MePoy. Paul Harris,' Hii.;h irarlestnn Hawkins:' > IKillywnml Motloo I'Irture Inslllnte: no ea-iilthl stoek. TJireciorH:' Frniik. r;j|. herl. -Leo , Corey. .William .Herbert, Chnrles KIml erlln, , noli^rt Xorlon: . . New ,Sereon .K.ires. Inc.: ear.Hal .Mtork. 100 shares, no sul.srriitlioiVM. Director's: John C. K, rurnlvale. Jjidic r. S.'ti;ifp'r.', G, neniiev Rvnn; ' ■ 'I Orslnl. Studios. Inc.: seh'ool of niu>il'>: j eapitnl stork. S.riOO.s'Iutre... no. par . vnluo. ! Direeton*': Mrs Lottie. If. Snow, Dulie (Continued from page 22) Charley Foy, Norman Willis, Granville Bates, Raymond Barley; Jimiriy O'Gatty, Wade Boteler, William Davidson, Walter Young. THE SISTERS,' produced by David Lewis; directed by Anatole Litvak; no writing credits released yet for adaptation of novel by Myron Brinlg; ' photographed by Tony 'Gaudio. Cast: Bette Davis, Anita- Louise, Jane' Bryan, Errol Flynn, Harry Travers, Beulah Bondl, Henry Davenport. 'DEVIL'S Island,' formerly titled 'RETWBN OF DR. X,' prodUCCii by Bryan Foy; directed by William Clemens; no writing credits released as yet; [ihutographed by George Barnes. Cast: Boris Karloff, Leonarirnetnrs: f;i.nrffe A. lllrlliiiaii. .<:im DIeke, Ray Ilcrman, Miller's Silver Jubilee Now Orleahs, Aug, 23. 'A theatre management that boasts of ' serving .three generations of Orlc:anians as ,a family playhouse on Wednesday ^(17) observed its silver jubilee, when Jack Miller and: stalf marked the pa.ssage of ;25 year.s since they took over at the Lafayette thea- tre. Only one-reelers were shown for a long lime after Miller began operations Aug. 17, 1913. He was one of three pioneers in the business in Nov/ Orleans. The other two h.'tve since died. The present building w;is coii- , i uctcd 40 years ago by E. Perrin a.s the Shi,ibert. and fi/iures larKe in the Cily'.s . Ihcatrichl hi.sN'arly Arizonj..'' fiil-il of a si-rics o) hi.sloric;il acliori plftiircvs f-.r Colum- bia roli;;ts.C'. w;.s pill rnlo productiol b.v liuiiy Daiii.oiii lii.st week. ■'. J(i.-.'epl). I.evcrinii is dircclihj; frbn ,'iH original . .sc'iccii play by Nat«- 24 VARIETY PICTURES Veitaesday, August 24, 1938 EXPLOITATION ^ Epes W. Sargem Blowing It Up Harmonica clubs are not new in picture exploitation, but generally these\are arranged with some local compa'ny. Leon J. Bamberger, of RKO-Radio sales promotion, carries the idea to a definite conclusion with a Bobby Broen Harmonica Club of which the charter members are the exhibs on Bamberger's mailing list. Each has received a membership card and ia iregular sized harniqnica. Latter is neatly boxed and . botli box and the harmonica itself are im- printed 'Bobby Breen Harrhonica' the name being stamped on the name filate and not nierely a pasted label, t maKes ■ a decidedly impressive showing and while specifically to ad- vertise 'Breaking the Ice,' should be a permanent advertisement. If the harmonicas may be. had in quantities (at a price), : it would, be a. good stimt to frame up an harmonica band. Bamberger also comes out with ia very effective booklet for Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers .in 'Care- free' with a neat cutout cover and plenty of good copy. Good Idea, But — Minneapolis. As an exoloitation stunt for. 'Thin Ice,' starring Sonja . Henie, the skater, Sol Torador, owner of the- Garden theatrie, Twin- .City nabe house, put his ushers, oh roller skates. ■ Ushers, hawever, took so many tumbles and- made so . much noise that Torador was finally forced to call the whole thing oil. Nixed the Salmon . Seattle. Hamrick-Evergreen publicity dept. went to town for 'Spawn of North' (Par) current at Paramount, with personals of the. Barry mores and Overman. Official greetings by mayor and other . prominents at depot, hotel reception, >Totem pole decorations oh streets, hear theatre, radio remote; from depot and thea- tre lobby, and ' Cliff .L«wis and Jack Daily up from Par adv. dept. to help Vic Gauntlett publicizing, added to glamour of world's premiere. One ga? was presentation of 50 pound salmon to Overman when^ train pulled Into town. Grace Bailey, 'Miss Alaska' In parka and suitable northern garb among depot greeters, lending atmosphere^ Stunt 'of sending Ice-packed king salmon to ISO film prominents de- leted at last moment, when figured smart-crack opening too inviting: Exhibs might ask later on for other product coming packed In Ice to avoid gamey smell. Plenty of Shirleys Oklahoma City. KTOK-Mldwest theatre's . 'Shirley Temple Audition Contest' drew 250 entrants, with tots ranging in age from 6-12 years. Moppets, were auditioned at . KTOK with SIX winners aired on a 15-min. program and listeners votinn best two. each of whom leceived a Shir- ley Temple wardrobe from a. local, store and spot on matinee program of 'Little Miss Broadway' at the Mid- west. Telephone Co. Booms Constituting a major, plug for War- ner Bros.' production,. 'Four Daugh- ters,' the American Telephone and Telegraph Company is . sending oUt thousands of booklets to their sales- men and representatives throughout the country stressing the . use of the telephone In the motion picture in- dustry. The booklet presents. Grad Sears; general sales manager, and Ted Schlanger, .zone manager for War- ner Bros.;^ theatres In Philadelphia, discussing the film by means of private wire connections between the Philadelphia office and the home office in New YOrk. The booklet will be distributed throughout country, eventually reaching subscribers and acting as ballyhoo for the film. loew's .Quest With newspapers in a dozen cities carrying the stunt, Loew's search for some of the s<.ippOsed 'rnilliohs of non-moviegoers', is work- ig but as was hoped by publicity director Oscar A. -Doob. So far the pic editors have' run a . series of stories askinjr letters from those v/Ho seldom or never go to the shows. They have been unable to unearth many oersons who will admit they don't like thiem. This counteracts, as was intended, the stories that 50,000,- 000 Americans do'n't go to the movies.' . Paul HOchull, pic editor of Hous- ton, Press, writes after several days' 'search': 'It is this column's conclu- sion that practically all South Texans go' to pictures. So far, few have written to tell why they stay away from the box office. -On the other haiid, vhey have un- burdened! their: souls, as to why they , go.' Editor Ken Gor-nin, of the New Orleans Tribune, found one woman who says she has not been to a motion picture in eight years — 'be-; cause they're so bad!' How does she know they're bad, if she doesn't go?' queries (jormin. Similar results are being reported from Washington, Cleveland; Atlanta, Toledo, Louisville, Long Island, Bosr ton and other points where Loew's theatres; put on the campaign. Hideaway Freem .'Spawn of the North' was especial- ly shown in Ule tiny village of Blow- ing Rock, N. C, Aug. 20., and, ac- cording to Par.-'mount executives, was more productive from a national publicity point of view than the ex- travagant two-a-day premieres . on Broadway. New York representatives of news agencies covering 3.000 daily news- papers in the United States, includ-. ing. city editors of news and photo desks, and feature writers, were aboard the train which left Manhat- tan Friday night and was scheduled to. return Monday.. News Interest centered chiefly in the fact that over lOO hillbillies were seeing their first -motion picture. This was attested to in affidavits which townsmen -ecured prior to the screening in the 250.-scat house, the Carolina theatre. . Mutual Broadcasting System ar< ran,eed for a coast-to-cOast broadcast of the reaction of various hillbilly guests of the theatre to things on the screen they had never seen, sUcK as seals and salmon. Plenty of Piarking Space To Insure B.O. Patronage Indianapolis, Aug. 23. Carl Niesse,; operator of the de luxe 900-seat Vogue, nabe, is tak- ing nO chances on losing ticket sales because of lack of parking space near his theatre. He recently signed a 15-year lease, on five lots adjoining the house, which iri addition to the lots now in operation, provide park- ing space for l,iOO cars. This makes a total of one: car for eVery seat, with 200 cars left over, but Niesse has this figured out, too. He says that if business continues to .be as good as it' has been,- he will enlarge' the theatre. Quicker Clearance confab of hibitors. UaMng '£m Boar New Orleans. There has been a dearth of ex- ploitation stunts here for the past two weeks, but Manager Rodney D. ToUps of Loew's State swurijg into action the past week and cornered quite a bit of space in the press as well as put over a nifty window: tie- up in one of the largest department stores in connection with tbe show- In.', of 'The Crowd Roars.' Toups invited a group of former boxers, referees, managers, trainers, prominent sportsmen and others to see .the fiicker, including Pete Her- man, former bantamweight cham- Bion of the world; Joe Mandot. Pal foran, and host of others. Their comments on the picture landed prominently on the sports page of the Item aiid the Tribune, morning tab. . Window, tie-up featured series of pictures On prominent fights of past and present, boxing gloves used in fights of other days and other ma- terial loaned 'by local sportsmen as well as sporting goods stores. Latter also featured windov displays of boxing equipment in which were In- terspersed stills from picture. leacliing Fat-a-Fat Denver. Figuring to tie in with the various appreciation courses given in schools and colleges, Harry Huffman, city manager for Fox, ' is running a Mo- tion- Picture Appreciation Month in their 11 city houses. Figures >with that title It has a start over similar months under dif- ferent names by >ther theatres. Talks are being made by Huffman and others in the city oreanization be- fore women's clubs. Huffman hopes by this plan to build business for the fall and -winter months. Blew Vp Second Run Spokane. Ernie Ross, manager, and Bill Bigelow, assistant. Liberty, promoted an archery tournament during" sec- ond run of 'Robin Hood.' Event got big play on local sport cages with theatre getting credits.. Trophies were prom ted for winner.?.- P.cture was booked for four days and ran eight Metro's Pascal Pic Gabriel Pascal, British producer, has made a deal with Metro for the latter to release his London-made film production of G. B. - Shaw's 'Pygmalion.' Picture stars Leslie Howard: and Wendy Hiller, Former has an interest in the film. Pascal is slated tO sail for England today (Wednesday ). ' He ha? other Shaw plays on tap for filming. HETBOITES ON MOVE Hollywood, Aug. 23. Metro executives, producers and scribes moved, in to the new ad ministration building, making more room for the makeup, accounting and casting departments. Fliacks are quartered in the old ad ministration offices at the main en- trance. (Continued from page 7) northern California ex- N. W. Endorses Seattle, Aug. 23. Around 200 itidie theatre men and execs of the N.. W. district met at New Washington hotel this week and endorsed the 'million dollar cam- paign', and, contest.. They voted this assessment, with exception of sub- sequent houses where clearance dates are too late to click. . These houses :aiso endorsed the idea and hoped plans would be worked out, so they could benefit, too. John Danz, regional chairman, pre- sided at the meeting aiid explained the proposal. Pledges of support and enthusiaism. shown indicate this one is rated to 'make 1938. a red-letter and niot a red-ink year' as Danz told those as- sembled. Canadian Fep-Up St. John, N; B., Aug. 23. A tour of Canada from Vancouver, B; C., to Halifax, N. S., to introduce the picture industry's $l,000,OOQ camr paign in behalf of economic im- provement, and $250,000 prize offer for theatre patrons, , was made by three distributing ^executives in 10 .days. Chiefly by airplane.. The final $top of the transcontinehtai tour was at Halifax,' where about 40 exhibit- ors and film exchange men assem- bled for a. conference for Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island; The previous day, the second last conference of the coast to coast trip was at St John, N. B., where about 40 exhibitors and exchange men par- ticipated. St John is the distribu- tion base for New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island . ^lid Newfoundland. Starting from Toronto, J. J; Fitz- gibbons, general manager of . Para- mount diistribution aiid theatre chain, Haskell M; MasterSi sales manager for United Artists, and Leo M. De- vaney, general manager of RICO, all for Canada, and with bases at To- ronto, flew to Vancouver, , for the second conference, with following meetings at Calgary,. Alberta; Regina, Saskatchewan; Winnepeg, Manitoba; Montreal, St John, and Halifax. Ac- companying the flying triO from Montreal east was Paul Nathanson; of Toronto, , president of the Empire- Universal, and son of N. L. Nathan- spn, of Toronto, president of the Canadian FP. ' Lightning and wind storms sent the air travelers to terra flrma thrice during the tour. 'TOPPER'S' TEIFFER Hollywood, Aug. 23. Shooting on .'Topper Takes a Trip' started yesterday (Mon.) at the Hal Roach studio with Norrhah McLeod directing; Picture features Constance Ben- nett, Roland Young, Billy Burke and Alan Mowbray, AtlanU Makes It Official Atlanta, AUg. 23. Delegation of 11 theatre rnanagers and reps of distributors called on Mayor William B. Hartsfield Friday (19) and hizzoner obliged them by heeding their, behest to issue proC' lamation setting aside Sept 1 as day for inaugurating observance of film industry's 'motion pictureis' greatest year' campaign. E. E. Whitaker, distric ' manager for Lucas & Jenkins, Inc., headed dele- gation and outlined plans to mayor, at same time receiving permit for gala street parade, which will be high spot of local celebration. Pa- rade will include number of floats and hundreds of uniformed theatre employees, plus bands ind color. Mayor Hartsfield had his little joke ,before . . signing proclamation, de manding hundred passes before he'd affix his sig to paper.' Proclamation reads, in part: 'I do bfticially urge the citizens of Atlanta to participate inV fullest measure in this fall celebration and presentation of the splendid pictures which ..have been prepaied, by the motion picture sudios in their avowed purpose of demonstrating that mo lion pictures arc your. best entertain- ment.' Theatres-Exchanges • Kansas City. RKO . will reopen the long dark Orpheum here Sept. 2; straight films. House capacity totals around 1,400, and renovations are now .underway. Bob Haley cOmes here from New Orleans to manage the house and will have Howard Thudiun as as- sistant Opening of the Orpheum will bring:total of first-run houses to six, since Fox-Midwest, opened its new Esquire last week; Midland (Loew's), Newman (Par) and Tower and Up- town (both Fox) make Up first-run situations. Salt Lake City. Intermountain Theatre, Inc., oper- ators of six houses here, Friday (20) opened its seventh, the Mario, in Sugarhouse, thriving suburb.. There are two other theatres in locality. Mario, purchased by the chain several months ago, was remodeled and refurnished at a cost of $5,000. It's a SOO-seater and will be managed by Cyril Condon, formerly at the Roxy, Logan, U. Philadelphia. Exploitation prizes were awarded by Warner Brothers during the- past week to three managers here. Domi-: nic Luccente, of .he Alhambra, won $150 for his work on 'Swing Your Lady.' while Gerson Shalita, of the Bromley, and William Lafferty, Lib- erty, each got $25 for 'Love . and Hisses' exploitation. Iz Schwartz, manager of the Frolic, has switched to the rival Apollo. Two houises figure -prominently in the battle which has split the Philly indie exhib organization. United Mo- tion Picture Theatre Owners,, into two camps. The Apollo- belongs to Charley Segall, chairman of UMPTO's board, -who, with Lewen Pizor. - UMPTO prez, is erecting a house in Germantown to compete with the Walton, owned by Affiliated Theatres. Affiliated recently purr- chased the. Frolic, which is. about a block away from Seeall's Apollo, to needle. Segall. For the same reason Affiliated is building another house about a block on the other side of the Apollo, effectively hemming it in and whittling down. its product sup- ply. Apollo for the past iseveral years has been managed by Segall's son. Kansas City. Robert Haley, former manager Liberty, New Orleans, assigned to manage the reopened Orpheum here. Following closing of Mamstreet Or- pheum, which has "been dark for years, has been completely rehabili- tated. WiU house first run RKO product , Although RKO and Orpheum cir? cuit own the Maihstreet building, ground lease was too expensive for profitable operation, and there ap- pears slight chance for deluxer, which has alternated straight film and vaudfilm policy to reopen for a long. time. No successor for Haley at Liberty announced. . Los Angeles. Hollywood "Theatres (Frank- A. Grant J. Leslie Swope and John W. Yoimg) bought Studio City theatre from Ben N. Berinstein and Pacific States Theatres for around $125,000. Gore Bros, buying remaining hold- ings of Pacific Stales Theatres and now have sole management of the El Ray and Lido in L. A., the San Clemente in San Clemente, the Strand in Redondo Beach and the La-Mar^ Manhattan Beach. Newark. Little theatre, downtown arty, closed since June 19 for. extensive alterations unshutters Sept. 15. House has new air conditioning sys- tem, improved accoustics, new glass front etc. „, , . Alliance, O. Cleveland neighborhood theatre operating interests have obtained 25- year, lease on site here in vicinity of Mount Union college and will erect a 1,300-seat picture house, at cost of $90,000, C. G. Deckman, spokesman for group, announced. For several years Tri-Theatres, • Inc., operating the Columbia, Morrison and Strand, controlled the local situation. Will be the first new theatre construction here in more than a decade. second run films; also will use Yiddish, Ukranian' and Polish re- leases. Lincoln. Cairo theatre, Cairo, Neb., suffered slight damage when .fire resulted from a short in the cooling system motor last week. Theatre was cleared instantly without injury. Managers Cady and Braun reopened the house the same evening, admitting the public free. Ralph.. Blank, Fretnont district manager of the Central States Thea- tre Corp., returned to headquarters after a two weeks' visit at Holly, wood, where he was formerly em> ployed. Blank's journey was of a twofold nature, visiting his mother, and straightening out business. His wife returned from Indianapolis two days later .after a week's visit William Mack, manager .of Fre- mont and Empress, Fremont Neb, off for two weeks' visit in Holly, wood. Seattle. Leo Hartley, formerly mgr. • of Coliseum and Blue Mouse, is new manager of State, Sterling's bur- lesque house. Hartley succeeds Allen Smith, resigned. Norfolk, Va. Leo Greenwood, veteran manager of houses in Norfolk, Newport News and Portsmouth, Va., has resigned his post at' the Gates in the latter. Succeeded by R. A. Ballahce. New marqUee, front carpets and seats will transform the Byrd, Nor- folk. Contract has been let for work, which is expected to total about $5,000. Oklahoma City. Todd Ferguson, Standard Theatres house manager, announced resigna- tion to become district exploitation manager for.' Metro with ■ head- quarters in Memphis. Ferguson had been in Oklahoma City theatres for nine years and before joining Standard had sierved as publicity and' adveirtising inanager for Midwest Enterprises and had worked in a similar position for Warners. Philadelphia; Lou Black, inanager of Warners' Aldine, Wilmington, has been named to manage the circuit's new 2i000- seater,' the Warner, nOw being erect- ed in Wilmington. Lane theatre, new Warner house now being built here, will open Oct. -31. Grange theatre, two-year-old War- ner house, which has been closed: during the summer while its seating capacity was increased from 500 to 1,000, will reopen Sept 2. Walton theatre, owned by Dav* - Milgram's Affiliated Theatre circuit reopens Friday night (26) after al- teratlons. Lewen PIzor's Tioga theatre set for ' relighting Friday (26) after being closed for repairs. -Fays theatre will reopen with films and flesh units about the mid- dle of nekt rnonth after the usual summer layoff. „ „ . Los Angeles. Hollywood gets its own exclusive newsreel theatre Oct. 1. Walter Klein is reconstructing a store build- ing on Hollywood blvd. into a 360- seat house. I. Pavlo, who recently built the Allena, is drafting plans for another, a 750-seater. to play Subsequent runs. Rubidoux Theatre Corp. starts building $160,000 l.OOO-seat picture house in Riverside, Cal., within two weeks. Company was formed by Roy Hunt , and Fox- West Coast with a capitalization of $80,000. ,. ', New York. Roosevelt theatre, E, Houston street and Second avenue, ■ New York, leased tor five years by Morton Minsky for foreign picture policy HoU.se formerly played Yiddish legit and later became, a picture stand but has been closed recently. Theatre is a l.OOO-seater. Minsky has an agree- ment with Amkino to show Russian Con. Fibn Tops B J. League Motion ' Picture . Baseball League concluded Its season last wee':: With Consolidated Film Industries topping the six other nines. Championship, however, will be decided by a series of playoffs in which Metro, by virtue of beating Columbia last we?k .2-1, won the right to face RKO, and in the other semirfihal game National Broadcasting squares off against Con-* solidated Film. Final standings were: ■Won CFI 10 NBC 8 RKO .......;..;..... 7 Skouras 6 M-G ............. .... 4 Columbia ........... 3 Int Projectors. 3 Lost 2 4 5 6 7 8 8 H'wood Phoney Nabbed Spokane, Aug. 23. John Harrirtgton, 53, Long Beach, Calif., was arrested here when, pos- ing as a representative of Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer, he atte'ipted to hire a woman as wardrobe inistress for a picture he said was to be filmed at Grand Coulee dam. Placed under $1,000 bond pending trial. An Indian was. given a suspended sentence in police court for drunken- ness after he testified he was an' extra for 'Northwest . Passage' . on location at McCall, Idaho, and would lose his job if he failed to show up. WHAT'S THE HURRY? Hollywood, Aug. 23. 'Hen Bent for Headlines' got the gun at Republic with Herman SchlonJ producing and Sidney Salkow M pilot June Travis shares top honors w''" Robert Armstrong. iTednesJay, August 24, 1938 RADIO VARIETY 25 No Rush for Coast Names Expected rush to sponsorship of half-hour dramatic programs with Hollywood namea has failed to materiali2e, l^st spring there were Indications that commercials would take advantage of the click re- sults oi the Edward G. Robinson-'Big Town* combination by acquir- ing shows based on the same policy, but with the opening of the new bhtadcast season but ai few weeks away not a single stanza of this type has been sold. AH three major newcomers, Texaco-Max Reinhardt, Old Gold- Robert Benchley. and 'Quaker Oats-Tommy Riggs, are variety shows. With ad agency, execs, agreeing at the time that the Robinson-'Big Town' formula could stand lots of duplication, the names with definite script serlaU that were beiiig oiTered around in April and May' in-' eluded Walter Huston ('Mr. Tutf ), Marlene Dietrich ('Mate Hari'), Richard Dix. ('Wagon Wheels'), and Edward Arnold (a crime de- tecting idea). Later addition was Charles BO|yer in ah adaptation of ,'Arsene Lupin.' R&Rs Producer Assignments Only Larson Not Set (or Fall, but He'll Probably Handle Quaker Oats Show Ruthrauff & Ryan has worked out its hew schedule of program pro- ducer assignments for the fall. Only one not set is G. Bennett Larson, but indications are thf»t he : will be brought On from Holly woiod to handle ■ the Quaker Oats-Tommy Riggs show. Larson had the Al Jolsdn-Lifebuoy . stanza last season. R it R producers and their pro- grams this fall are as follows: Clark Andrews: 'Big . Towh' (Rinso)i CBS. Everard Meade: AI Jolson. CBS. Herschel WillianVs: 'Big Sister' (Rlnso). CBS. Nate Tufts: Vox Pop (Penn To- bacco). NBG. John Loveton: . 'Aunt Jenny's Stories' (Spry) CBS, 'Good Will Hour : (Macfadden). MutuaL ' George Nobbs: 'The Shadow' (Blue Coal), John Gordon will continue, as an •Id to Major Bowes; Chris Christoph will supervise the daytime shows, while Pete Barnum will act as con- ■ tact between the New York and Hollywood offices. DODGE MAY SET SPOT CAMPAIGN With Chrysler set to preview its new auto models the end of this month, there is a possibility of a spot campaign on Dodge coming out of Ruthrauff & Ryan the early part of September. Meanwhile, the agen- cy's spot activities will be confined to the Spiy, Ironizcd Yeast and Blue Coal accounts. With Spry (Lever Bros.) it will be a case of continuing on, the 75 sUtions tliat have been used for this product's oncrminute announcement campaign, while five-minute tran- scriptions will again be used in those states not covered by Mutual's re- lease of 'Good Will Court' (Macfad- aen) as well as Canada. . Disc . versions of 'The Shadow' (Blue Coal ) will supplement the Mu- tual hookup.. WCAU Drafts Another Spieler from Stix Philadelphia, Aug. 23. ■WCAU. which last year ih- augurated a 'farm system' for pros- pective gabbers, this week reaped another staff announcer from the W^4m"' Wally Sheldon, a S-u , ' AUentown, who replaces ^ob Knox. .'^^fT system,' similar to .that Jf; big-leagUe baseball, was Girted by Stan Lee Broza, program ui'tt^ ' '° season likely spielers witnout sufficient . experience to Walte WCAU's grade. Broza has on f|!^^"i.ent: with various small sta- "wis to employ the youngsters until f«a Aug. 231 New Castle County Work- house now has a radio In every room. County has just installed 400 hotel-type instruments with earphones instead of loud- speakers. Prisoners have a choice of foiir programs. All sets owned by . individual prisoners have been ordered re- moved. They made too much of a babble and disturbed out- siders. NETS ON HUNT FOR SERIES SPONSOR Al Goodman Back For Lucky Strike Al Goodman returns to Lucky Strike's Hit Parade on CBS Sept. 7. He succeeds Carl Hoff. DUNVILLEVICE ROBT. JENNINGS Both NBC and Columbia's sales departments' last week started giving thought to landing a sponsor for the forthcoming World Series. No ap-. proach will be made to Judge K. M.. Landls about a price for the com- mercial rights, it was said at CBS' sales department Monday (22) , until there has be«n at least a nibble from some advertiser. Last year the World Series ' ob-. talned ho sponsor and was: thrown open on a sustaining, basis to NBC, Columbia - and Mutual. Ford did the underwriting of the prior two series. ' . Cincinnati, Aug. 23. Robert E. Dunville, who has been gen. sales mgr. of WSAI since last December, is now sales head of WLW as well as the smaller-watter. He succeeds Robert G. Jennings, who resigned last week. Jennings will join an advertising agency in Chicago Sepi 0. He has not disclosed- which one it will be, although' two, Stack-Goble and H. W. Kastor & Sons, haVe been named in. speculation.' ■ . Jennings said that it was not Ruthrauit Frisco, RepM San Francisco, Aug. 23. Sale of KYA for $150,000 to Fred S Hart, former owner of the Hono- hilu Broadcasting Co. and of KQW, San Jose, Cal., is reported here. KVA, owned by Hearst Radio, Inc., glnce Its purchase from NBG several years ago; may h&ve Ia D, West, lo- ial representative of the Honolulu firm, as profffan* bonflrmation of the KYA. sale, is being Withheld pending approval of the Federal Communications Com- .jnissipn. ilart orily recently announced his resignation as general manager of the Honolulu Broadcasting Co., whicl» becomes effective Sept. 1. He .has been at Salinas, CaU looking after real estate and ranching in- terests. |35e,M0 BIdl for KOHO Oklahoma City, Aug. 23. Group of independent Oklahoma oil men, represented by Harrison Smith, city investment broker, are reported to be negotiating for pur- chase of KOMA i»rice to oe paid Hearst Radio, Inc., is set at airbiind $340,000. Neal Barrett, KOMA man- ager and Hearst chain v.p., could npt confirm the report. In the misahtime, Barrett has thrown in with the new Elliott Roosevelt Texas chain as executive yice-presideht. He will transfer his residence to Fort Worth Sept 1, but will retain his position With Hearst, an assistant handling KOMA. ,^ Roosevelt and MBS (Continued from page 1) papers, etc., to big shots rather than leave themselves out on a liml). Probable that Elliott Roosevelt, radio exec and son of the President, will turn m.c. to handle dedicatory salute' to new alignment of his Texas State Network with Mutual Broad- casting System.. Show comes . off Sept 15. aiid will run for six hours with' all regional branches of Mu- tual participating. Marks day of merger 'and . Mutual's fourth birth day as well. ; . Starting at 8 p.m., chain will offer the Don Lee Coast , as originator. From 8:30 until 9:30, KTAT and KFJZ, Ft. Worth, wiir carry with talent rung in from nearby. Casa Manana, At 9:30 WOR, N. Y., will carry the load for an hour offering Morton Gould, Alfred Waltenstein Jane Froman and possibly William Gaxton. WGN, Chicago, will take up at 10:30 for half hour with Henry Weber, orchestra while WLW, Cincinnati, salutes with Jo- sef Cherniavsky from 11:30 until midnight From then until 2 a.mi assorted dance music will flU. Fred Weber, prez of Mutual, will be sole speaker oh the hookup with exception of Roosevelt and an- nouncements. AFRA DEAL UPS NBC, MBS FRISCO PAYROLLS San Francisco, Aug, 23. Payroll of the local NBC studios for artists and readers has been upped approximately $500 ■ weekly as a result of the American Federa- tion of Radio Artists' pact with the .web, which went into effect last v-eek. AFRA contract with the Mutual Broadcasting System has also in- creased the payroll of KFRC, local Mutual outlet. Deal between KSFO, Columbia outlet, with the local AFRA chapter is sti^' under discus- sion, with no action expected until the return of manager Philip G.- LasHy of KSFO from his vacash next week. KSFO comes under the indie sta- tion cUssiftcatipn until its sale to Co- lumbia is okayed by the Federal Communications Commission. In spite of its indie status, AFRA will .'>.0' permit members to participate in ..auditions without payrr,en; of a fee comparable to the $7.50 required of ^oC. Otherwise, iL i! felt, KSFO Will have an unfair advantage over .^PP and KGO. NBC outlefsi and KFRC. Roosevelt Quitting? Report: persists in New York broadcast circles that Elliott Roosevelt is determined to re-, isign from Hearst's radio in- -terests by Oct. 1 so that he will be free to devote.' all ;his time to his Texas network. Latter setup will be affiliated with Mutual, E. M. Stper, comptroller for Hearst Radio, Inc., of which Roosevelt is president, declared last week that operations of the ' Texas network would have no effect , upon Roosevelt's con- tinuation with the Hearst con- nection. Stoer is. currently in Ft Worth conferring with Roose- velt B^H to Conduct Radio Tests for Penny Stores Blackett - Sample - Hummert, inc., contemplates doing some radio test- ing for the J. C. Penny Stares. Agency recently acquired the chain account WIl MUSICIANS IN AGREEMENT Mack Agcy. Buys Entire Time Of WCAM, Cainden; Unprecedented Catering to Suryey, WDAS, PliiUy, Switches Sports to Night Hrs. Philadelphia, Aug^ 23. . Sports programs on WDAS will: be confined strictly to evening hours hereafter, Pat Stanton, g.m., declared this week.. He said that a survey showed mosft'Spprts fans worked dur- ing the day and were' unable to lis- ten to afternoon shows,, so the outlet will try to cater to them in the future. In; their off hours, Co-incident , with Stanton's decree I>anse McGurley, sports ed of the Daily News, gave -up his spot on WPEN to resume on WDAS. He was On WDAS for three, igrears until he recently switched to WPEN; With McCurley goes sole rights to airing of boxing and wrestling sho>vs at the Arena, Philly's most important sports center, thrpugh his close personal relationship with the pi:oinoters. ' In .addition to the. Arena - shows, whlcli WDAS will start airing at pnce, station will carry night foot- ball, ice hockey and other after-dark winter sports. McCurley '.will do blow-by-blow or play-by-play,, with Buzz Davis, sports gabber, and Stan- ton aiding. As a- build-up. for its evening sports shpw, WDAS IS planning a roller- skating carnival for listeners. It is planning to take over one- of the local rinks for an entire week, inviting listeiiers from a different section of the city each night Pay Up, Mrs. Down Philadelphia, Aiig. 23. Pay increases and cut in hours for all engineers was included in .con- tract drawn up with WDAS Friday (19) by Broadcast Division of the American Communications Associa- tion, CIO. Termer, which runs until Nov. 1, 1939, grants new rhinirhums, including a $37 .sUrting wage in place of the old $30 initial fee. Hours were .cut from 48 to 44, with five panelmen each guaranteed four hours overtime a week at time and a halt. ■ Sam Sabaroff, WCAV engineer and ACA prez, and Saul Waldbaum, at- torney, signed for the union, whild Alex Dannenbaum, Sr., prez, and Pat Stanton, g.m., lepped the sta- tion. Confabs began this week for con- tracts with WPG. Atlantic City, and WHAT, Philly part-time' 100 waiter. Bartering Via Radio Radio exchange mart was started on WNEW, N. Y., yesterday (Tues.), when John Jaeger debuted his 'White Elephant' program. It's scheduled for two rides a week, Tuesday and Thursday, at 4:45 to 5 p.m. Gag is have listeners use the time as a clearing hPuse for junk they can't use, swapping 'em for articles valueless to others. Michael to WLW . Cincinnati, Aug. 23. Raymond Michael,- formerly with WMMN, Fairmount, W. Va., joined j the WLW-WSAI annoimcin!! s'.afT yesterday (Monday). Marv Ann Vn.sa.s, singer, who uUi> . was with WMMN. i- a new member of Hufih Cross' Radio Fils on WLW and WSAI. St Louis, Aug. 23.. WIL, St. Louis, and the, local musicians union last week got .to- gether on a settlement of their differences and the station became a party to the employment plan negotiated between the American Federation of Musicians and the committee representing the cpiintry non-network affiliated/ outlets. . Controversy between WIL and the St Louis local,; involving the em- ployment of. a turntable man,- had been - dragging on for months when a. strike was called four- weeks ago. - Conditions of the agreement are the same as those . accepted by the other : indie stations .coming .within the AFM 'employment, plan. CLEVL MIC STATION TO FEED 149 SCHOOLS Cleveland, Aug. .23. . WBOE, a ..new - short--waver for Cleveland public schools and .:« rad- ical experiment in this field, starts operating Sept. 26, when fall semes- ter . is ■ started. - J. D. . Woodward, who fought for a program- .of streatn- lined^^^gcation via; radio for two years, iP^ally having three broad- casting studios installed on sixth floor, of board of education building. Special receivers have been built in 118 elementary and 31 junior and senior schools. By piping thrpugh a p.a. system, each . receiver will handle 30 classrooms. . Schedule of programs worked out fpr elerhentary schools consists not only of subjects for adolescent stu- dents, but also for parents* and teachers' groups. Adiilt lectures to. be fed into school auditoriums, along with concerts and talks by outsiders. Annual Ediicl Confab Set for Lexington, Ky. Louisville, Aug.. 23. Annual confab .of the National Assn.' of Educational Broadcasters will be held Sept 5-6 at the Univer- sity of Kentucky, Lexington. Asso- ciation is c6mposed of directors of educational radio service in colleges and universities throughout the country. Approximately SO mem- bers are expected to attend the meeting. Carl Menzer, director of radio at the University of' Iowa, is president of the organization. Pinex for Early Birds Pinex has been signed to sponsor N. Y. WOR's earliest commercial (6:30. a.m.) program starting Oct 3. It's a repeat on last year, but will be preceded by a new high in early bird broadcasting by five-minute news program starting at 6:25 a.ra; WOR Switched -to extra five min- utes to get drop on WEAF and WJZ, NBC stations, which went to 6:30 this summer to beat WOR's 6:40 start WOR will . push back time with each change of competing stations. MOPPET LANDS Philad.elphia. Aug. . 23. Lynn White. 10, who had been on Uncle WIP kids' show for several years, was given a program of her own at WIP this week. She'll bo; heard . for a quarter-hour every Thijrsdoy. morning, chirping pop tunes. Kid's a junior at Southern High School. Radio Singer's Concerts Philadelphia. Aug. 23. Catherine Smith, warbler on WIP, .leaves the outlet Labor Day for a concert tour through New York and Connecticut, She returns Oct; 15. - SHe was the lead soprano iA Far) Carroll's 'Fioretta." Get That Plug St Louis, Aug. 23. Jim Alt who iconducts the 'Grandstand Managers' program for / KMOK immediately . after the ball games at Sportsman's Park here, ician iiito a very glib person last week. Fan was up: to every . angle .of the. game,- - and . took ° up all of Alt's' pro- gram. At the' conclusion, Alt a.sked his subject his name. 'Oh! I forgot to mention it. I'm Jerry Burn's, the new sportscaster at KXOK, the hew Star-Times, station that is being readied for opening about Sept 20;^ Tough Tests For Short Wave in Cleveland Also Hard on Announcers , (jlev'eland, Aug. 23. Portable short-wave outfits are -be- ing, given tough tests by WHK in two sports events from a unique angle. Richardson yacht trbphy races, which have never been aired, will give station a chance to try out 'a broadcast with lO-watt set. on a sailboat for the first time this week. Guy Wallace, Frances Pettay and Neil. Collins, studio's . best sailors, were recruited to handle a preview of event from a racing R-bbat. on the first day. On the third day trio win shift their portable to . one of the official's yachts. Since biggest problem is how to keep the set from getting wet, they are- strapping it to the mast and . praying it won't storm. ■WHK is also forcing seven of its announcers to take lessons at a flying school in preparation for Labor Day's national air races at Cleveland airport Through tie-up with United Airlines, radiomen will be tossed into a transport plane Aug. 29 with Capt Jack Knight, as' commander. Ship will fly over the Thompson trophy course of 300 miles, allowing an- nouncers to get the lay of the land, and descriptive data. Knight . will give lectures on technical terms and phases of speed races, all of which will be aired by short-waver for a preview. Advance training idea came from. John Vorpe, program di- rector, who wants, announcers to avoid worn-out adjectives and hack- neyed approaches in describing air races. Philadelphia, Aug. 23, WCAM, Camden, N. J., in an en- tirely unprecedented deal, has sold all of its time for the next 10 years to a single advertising agency. Outlet is municipally owned. Deal, which involves $200,000, was actually consummated in May. . It. had been previously reported as a lease agreement . "That it wasn't a lease, but actually, a deal for sale of time, was corroborated last night (Monday) by Aaron Heine, Camden attorney, who is one of the execs of the ad agency which made' the pur- chase. Time will be resold. Agency , is the Mack Radio Sales Company. It- was recently formed by L. M. Maxwell, ad exec, who is directing head of the enterprise; Heine, and Sydney Kaplan, another Camden attorney. They have con- tracted for 1,300 hours a year of lime on. the station, for which tiiey are to pay $20,000 a year in monthly installments. :WCAM operates 20 hours a 'weeli or 1,508 hours a year, The Mack agency holds first option on the re- maining 200 hours a year for whick it . has not contracted. This .tim< may be sold by the city ' if Mad doesn't take up its option, biit inas miich as therie is no other sales forct these hours are contemplated as sus taining time. Outlet airing at 5()0 watts on 1,28 kilocycle^, shares time with WTN4 Trenton, and WCAP, Asbury Park. City of Camden, as its part of th deal, agrees to keep the station I perfect operating order and to sup ply all technical help and other pei sonnel needed for maintenanct Frederick S. Caperoon will continti as station, manager, while Bob Horn formerly publicity man, become program direetor. Caperoon is sole ly, a city employe, while Horn's sal ary is . shared' by the city and Mach Baldwin Co-Ordinating 3 WFIL Departments Philadelphia, Aug. 23. WFIL is co-ordinating production, program and sales departments by addition to the staff of E; Palmer Baldwin in newly-created post of program co-ordineitor. . Baldwin comes from Niagara Falls, where he .was an associate in the ad- vertising agency pif Baldwin, Urqu- hart Co. For five years prior to that he was with the Addison Vars agency in Buffalo. KNX Sounds Off Hollywood, Aug, 23. Columbia's hew SO-kilowatt trans- mitter in nearby Torrance flashes its KNX call letters Sept. 16 for the first time. Special half hour show from: the site will be aired along the Coast. . Three engineers, John Morris, H. F. Hicks and J. It. O'Reilly, are be- ing-transferred here from the cast. KIRO SETS BAIT FOR POUTICOS Seattle, Aug. 23. Station KIRO (CBS) steps out ahead of the pack, here with somi smart bait for .the pbliticos by send- ing each of those filing for office, county; state and national, letteri telling them station will donate out- right time for their campaigns. To some, without a penny to spend, it was manna from heaven, while others, in the money, instruct- ed managers, to put the Station on the list for time-buying. Loren B. Stone, assistant to Tub- by' Quilliam, gen. mgr. of the sta- tion, signed the letter. Siagle Vice Chance On lone Ranger' Detroit, Aug. 23. John- Slagle , replaces Al Chance as commercial spieler oh 'Lone Ranger^ airings over Mutual and Don Lee. Chance, chief announcer at WXYZ for past few years, goes to WBBM,. Chicago. KELLOGG CONTINUES .Qaseball Contest As Is, Although Spot Spiels Cancelled. Friendly Gesture Atlanta, Aug. 23, WSB, SQulh's oldest broadca-sling station, last week took time out. for friendly beau' geste in ' honor of WAPi, Birmingham, which was cele- brating its own 16th anniversary. 1 WSB Was 16 years old March 15, this year. 1 Local mill sidetracked its . nightly I halfrhour promotional 'Welcomr i South, Brother'' prtj«i-iiin lo extend | etherized salute to WAPI. I ' Chicago, Aug, 23., -Even though it has cancelled the spot announcement campaign, con- n .;ted,with the slunt. Kclloag i.s con- tinuing its baseball popularity con- tcs; for the nine weeks originally scheduled. J. VV.-.itcr Thomp.son, agency on the account, explain.? a twd-week ca.'icoilal on clau.se had been inserted in all the spot con- tracts with the 'tlc.i ol calling 'iff this campaign if the hypoinjj of the cOn- . t6sl pi-ove'l U'lnoc'-'isary AOThcy al.io p-ml.'; out that.lhe- fli.sc .sp'ittir.i! .^1 i)H .sl:i lions oh a "ve- M-v.-e('k! aniountbrt to only 1% of ''lO i-nliio biitli;>'t for the 'All- A;i ''i-ic.'in ;iscii:il; I'oo;.' / VARIETY Wednesday, August 24, 1938 29 "^^S, PAflAJfODNT Rrn. - .JACK DAILEY 3.10* to Bi)ir«» ^°*NS BELIEVE "s . SttO^ ^^^^ so VARIETY RADIO Wcdnestlay, August 24, 1938 Agencies-Sponsors yiM, Schenectady new biz: Air condltfonine 'Tnliiine Corp^. Youngstown, 13 quarter-hours of NBC Thesaurus music, Suodays. through National: Classified Adver- tising Service, Youngstown. Kellogg Cora Flakes, 5 mih. transcriptions of baseball interviews, three evenings weekly, until Sept. 18, through Blackett-Satnple-Hum- mert, Chicago. P. LorlUatd C* (cigarettes), 'Don't You Believe It,' two -evenings week- ly, 15 minutes, A\ig. 3-Oct. 28, Len- nen & Mitchell, New York. General Mills, 15 mini transcrip- tions of Those Hbppy Gilmans,':flve rnornings weekly,' one year, through Blackett-SaihpleTHuniinert General Baking Co, participation In WGY Household Chats, once weekly, until Oct 5, through BBD&O. Firestone Tire * Bobber Co, 'Voice of the Farm,' quarter-hbUrs at noon Saturdays and Sunday?, Aug. 20 to Nov. 13, through: Sweenej' & James, Cleveland. N. T. Stirte Bareaa of Milk Fabllcity, 1 inih. annoiuicements, thrice weekly, until Au£. 26, through J. M. Mathes, Inc., New York. New York State Fair, 1 min. an- nouncements, six days weekly, until Aug. 26, J. M. Mathes. Albany. Diesel InsUtnte, 1 min.^ announcements, to Sept. 27, through DeRouville, Albany. . John ' E. CWhi (Mayonnaise and salad spreads), participations in Market Basket, four times' weekly, to Oct. 8j through Chambers St Vfis- well, Boston; Mass., D., L. & W. Coal, 30 min. tran- scriptions of The Shadow,' Sunday afternoons, from Oct; 2 to March 26, 1939, through RuthraUfE & Ryan. Albany Bnslness College, an- nouncements, to Sept 20, through Leighton It Nelson, Schenectady. Ballway Express .Co., 1 min. an- nouncements; to Aug. 22,; through The Caples Co., New York. Cpslatc Personal Loan, participa- tions in Market Basket once weekly, to Aug. 30, through De Rouville. KYW, Phllly, new business: Philadelphia Dairy Prodncts Co., Inc., airing temperature and weather reports three times dally. Com- mercial plugs Dolly Madison and Aristocrate Ice Crieam. Placed through Scheck Agency, Newark. .Keystone Aiitomebile Cloh'' of Philly will start 15-minute sports shovv on Thursdays, beginning Oct. 6. Barnes & Aaron agency, Philly, handling, Philly Rapid Transit Co. using one-minute Spots during August Placed by Barnes & Aaron. John N. Dunham agency,' Chicago,, has placed one-niinute spots for Williamson Candy Co, Mondays through Fridays, beginning Aug. 15. NoMe Bakery, Norfolk, Va., taking 13 weeks of' E; T. seirial, 'Johnhy Lawrence.' Over WTAR. ' WCAE, Plttsbargh, new biz: Pittsburgh Brewing Cov newscast 10 'minuter five times weekly for 26 weeks beginning Sept IS. . I^laced direct Dr. P. PhiUlps Co, daily particiiia- tlon in 'Polly, Entertains' for two months. PUced ■direct Brent ' Cleaners, .Ine, five-times weekly participation in Morning. Ex- press for one yeir. Placed direct, Baar Bros; Baking Co, disc an- hbuncemients. twice dally six times a week for three months, v Placed direct . Gardner^ Narscry Co, renewal of five-minute' morning shots daily for 13 weeks: Placed ditect Wilson Co, spot announcements twice daily six times; a week to Aug. 7, 1939. Florida Citrus. Comnilsslpn, daily station break seven , days weekly for one month. Kay Preparations Co, a New York cosmetic firm, is form-letter proposi- tioning small radio Stations around the Miuntry on directly peddling its lotions. Instead of being paid fot the the broadcast time, Kay is adc- ing the stations to take a percentage cut on sales.- Neither a new nor novel proposition, but one which has some interest. Letter sUtes in part 'Here is our proposition: We wiU pay you (the station) 5c. on every 10c. trial size Crooning Janitor Philadelphia, Aug. 23, John Baldwin was busy pol- ishing up the mike' as part of his regular janitorial duties at KYW last week. And as he polished, he sang. Meantime, Jim Begley, program director, had gone into the control room and switched on the mike, just' by chance.. So Baldwin this . week starts a ISrtninute show : of his own. Still hanging oh to his janitor ' job, though. bottle you receive. ; . 20% on every $1' size bottle. . .20% on all orders and reorders received direct' Kay is. apparently leaving it up to stations to \ blurb the stuff in what- ever, way they care to... In .the soli- citation, however, stations are . sent proofs of ads the firm has carried lii the two- New York tabloids. Mir- ror and News: Duart Sales Co., Ltd. (face cream), through . Howard Williams, has in- auigtirated a . twice- weekly, series ' of transcribed ; variety shows over KFRC, San. Fraincisco; Contract for 13 .weeks. H. C. Capweli Co. (departinent store) of Oakland^ :Ca.> through Tomaschke-Elliott, is spotting a series of announcements over a stxrweek period on KFRC, Sah Francisco. Seima Products Co. (Ri-Muv) of Los - Angeles, thtough Raymond , R. Morgan, is. sponsoring Charles . W, Hamp, songs and : piano, in five pro- grams a week for 13 weeks over KSFQ, San Francisco. Hamp has been malcing personal appearances at local beauty salons to ballyhoo the series. Florida Citrus Association (citrus fruits), through Ruthrauft & Ryan, New York, is using daily announce- ments for si;it wieeks on KSFO, San Francisco. S. A, Sherer, : Co. (auto- loans), through Smith & Bull, Los Angeles, signed with- KFRC, San Francisco, for six daytime arid three night an- nouncements daily for one year, starting Sept 1. Industrial Training Corp., through James R. Lunke & Associates, Chi- cago, has placed: its flve-mihute transcriptions, *The Camera Speaks,' on KFRC, San Francisco, four morn- ings weekly through June 16, 1939. Philip Morrta & Co. (Paul Jones cigarettes), through the Blow Co., New York, Is sponsoring John B. Hughes in 'News and Views' twice weekly on KFRC, San Francisco, and KIEM, Eureka, KQW, San Jose, and KDON, Monterey, Cal. CommenUry Is aired from KFRC at 7:15 p.m. Mondays and Fridays. Contract through Jan. 27, 1939. Chalybeate Co. (antiseptic), through Rufus Rhoades & Co., is plugging iU wares in '44 broadcasts over KFRC, San Francisco, .through Nov. 25. Pro- gram is 'Oyer the teacups,' presented by Alma LaMarr. Peter Paul, Ihc' (MoUndis candy and Ten Crown gum), will sponsor Bob Garred in a daily fiye-minute commentary, 'Oddities in the Nisws,' beginning Aug. 29 on KSFO, San Francisco. Account is- handled by Emii Brisacher & Staff. ■ Soli-oil Manufacturing Co, (cleans- er), through Hillman-Shane, will be- gin a Thursday quarter-hour pro- gram on KSFO, San Francisco, Sept. 8, conducted by Fletcher Wiley of the Housewives Protective League, Los Angeles. , Firestone Tire ft Bnbber Co., through Sweeney & James, is placing a transcribed program, 'Voice of the Farm,Von KPO, San Francisco, twice weekly Aug- 16 through Dec. 10. Pebeco, is reairtying a test for its: new product in St Loiiis for the fall. Lennen & Mitchell is the agency. Sensation cigarets . (Lorillard) has rene>ved for the 'Don't You Believe It' stanza on Don Lee and the Mc- Clatchy stations, , effective Aug. 16. . Gearllfe-. has taken series of daily spots for six-week period over WIND, Chicago, through SchwimmeE '& Scott agency. Bowcy's,, Inc., (Dari-Rich) has taken. Terry and the Pirates' for first three days , of week for 31 weeks, effective Oct. 10, over WON. Airranged by Stack-GOble a.?ency. Bdyal Baking Co, of Raleigh, N. C,, has purchased series of 117 riecorded programs of 'Adventures of Ace WiUiams.' Will start airing . Sept. 5 over WPTF. Sponsor also pur- chased Observer's club feature to be tised withi commercials of 'Aca Willianis' program starting Sept. 12. P. liOrlilard Co. (Old Gold) will sponsor exclusively Chi Blackhawks pro hockey home ganies over WON. Station has broadcast hockey games for past six years, but this is first time Uiey"^ have 'been sponsored. Bob Elsoh will .narrate. ' John Morrell * Co, Chicago, has bought 'Bob Becker' for 13 Sundays, effective Sept 11, over WGN. Ar^ ranged :by Henri-Hurst & McDonald agency, Chicago. . Feltman. ft Curine Shoe Stores, Chicago, is buying recorded music from . WMAQ, with NoVman Ro'ss. handling commentaries, and com- mercials. Has ok'ay^ Mondays through Saturdays' from Aug. 29 until Sept- 24, .and then iswitches frohn. Monday . through Thursdays and Saturdays and -Sundays. Ac- count handled by McJunkin agency, (Chicago. • 'Music As Yon Desire . It' has been renewed by ' RQA- Victor ■, through Nov.- 4, over WMAQ, .Chicago. : Rudolph Warlitier Co. - has signed' for a Wednesday, Friday and Sun- day 15-minute musical . (lerlod , over WMAQ, Chicago. Cominnnity Motors; Chicago, a. 30-minute Sunday, miisicnl £ion Oct 2 over WMAQ. RCA-Victor has renewed for 13. weeks ' . early morning 'Musical Klock' show on KYW, Philly. Hour program . written and '■ ptpduced by Tom Stone, formerly Of 'WMGA, and gabbed ' by LeRoy Miller. N. W. Ayer agency starting a fall campaign Sept 13 for Lightoller, lighting fixture and lamp inanufacr turlng eoncern^ in magazines and New York pipers.. . Mae Parker, commentator, has; been renewed by Sylvan Seal Milk for 13 weeks on WCAU, Phill.v. He ■ has been on for 13 weeks. Placed by Al Paul Lafton agency, where Parjcer is an account exec. Bill Dyer; baseball spieler, inked to ;do nightly sports talk for Georce Washington Tobacco, on WCAU, Philly. QRDEit YOUR VARIETY RADIO PI RECTORY- from HOLLYWOOD V A R I E T Y 1708 N. Vine St. SATYR BOOK STORE 1620 N. Vine St. LONDON VARIETY 8 St. Martins PI. Trafalgar Square CHICAGO V A R I E T Y 64! West Randolph St. RANDOLPH NEWS SHOP 63 West Randolph St. BRENTANO'S BOOK STORES NEW YORK CITY PHILADELPHIA WASHINGTON 686 Fifth Ave. 1726 Chestnut St. 1325 ,F St, N.W; VARIETY RADIO DIRECTORY 154 West 46th Street, New York Please send, .......copies of VARIETY RADIO DIRECTORY ($5 per copy, postage prepaid ; $5.10 per copy in New York City j duty npt prepaid in foreign countries). - Enclosed find $'. Name Address , • City ;. . ; State Firm Name . •• Wednesday* August 24, 1938 RADIO VARIETY 31 Radio Shidies NBC s Own Radio News tack of Publicity Outlets in Frisco Prompts Self- Plugging Programs - — ^ — - • ■ — — — ■ ■ --■ San Francisco, Aug. 23. iffith radio columns still, missing from local dallies, NBC's two outlets h«e begin airing daily quarter-hour r^rams of radio newt this week. Bed station, KPO, sUrted its horn- tooting yesterday (Monday) with a Sogram labeled 'On the Air' and ^eJuled at 12:30 p.m., six days wteltly. Similar series will be booked i ea KGO, Blue outlet, as soon as a aeslrable six-day-a-week spot can be picked. Both broadcasts will be inlked by Ira Bluet NBC commenta- tor, who will prepare his vpy with the' assistance qt the KGO-KPO press (tail. . ^ ^ Extensive . distribution of display frames of station personalities and news In a variety of sizes is being jmUertaken by Milton Samuel. NBC publicity head who last week ar- nnged with --ed J. Meyberg Co., RCA distributors, to place KPO and ■KGO frames in 300 stores between Bakersfleld, Cal., and the bregon- ' California border. Displays are also being circulated among department ind radio stores in San Francisco, Oakland and other bay district cities. Pemand for the displays is heavy, ^ut costs are being kept at. a mini- inuiD, the KPO-KGO praisers doing their own art work in most cases. : 'Only other local station to go in for such displays is KSFO, CBS out- lei but oh a smaller scale thus far. JobBson Qnits WSAY For WOKO-WABY, Albany Roche^ster, Aug. 23. Kenneth Johnson, commercial .manager of . WSAY since organiza- tion two years ago, quits to become Bdes manager for WOKO and WABV, Albany. *^ Generar Manager Gordon BroWn tikes over the WSAY commiercial r pott and promotes Mbrt Nusbaum, program .manager; to sales manager. ^Announcer Bob Webster becomes -.pioduction manager; Nusbaum .will ^continue some' of his program spots. Aoother Bounces Radio Bridgeport, Conn., Aug. 23. Stamford Advocate is the latest : dally in Fairaeld county to drop its radio column. Leonard S. Massell, editor, will devote time to other dirties. South Norwalk Sentinel pulled radio pillar some months ago. Gross' Law Serial Philadelphia, Aug. 23. Joseph Gross, Philly attorney and radio speaker, is airing a hew series on WFIL tabbed 'The Human Side of the Law.' With 30 years of court- Kk)m practice behind him, he'll dis- cusa actual cases and interpret them. Gross shot to radio prominence during the Hauptmann trial, when M was on three times daily to de- scribe proceedings. Want More Music Philadelphia, Aug. 23. WPEN was forced by flood of Phone calls and letters to return afternoon recorded band session to two and one-half hours after drop- ping it to one and one-half hours for wree weeks. Show is run by Sandy yuyer and tabbed *920 Club.' Station several nionths ago tried »te.repersing discs with live talent. »-ucked strong for a short time, but requests poured in for return to "•raightwax. HBC INKS BEAUT St. Louis, Aug. 23. Tommy Birch, beauty contest *lmier of Kiissouri, Kansas and Arkansas in 1934, and who entered «dlo as a blues singer at KWK Wre, has inked a five-year contract NBC in Chicago. _°?veral weeks ago Miss Birch JiObed for Annette King on the "reakfast Club and Club Matinee programs. She clicked and was «naered the contract after four days. * and her Happy Val- jey Cowboys, from vaudc, now do- ii "'Shtly stint at WIP, Philly. .^bbl Weber, of station steft, Norman, Okla., Aug. 23. In answer to demand for training in the radio field, evidenced by the participation of 400 students last year in the activities of WNAD Uni- versity of Oklahoma broadcasting station, 13 new radio courses will be offered this fall. Studies Included will be radio act- ing, script writing,, program produc- tion, advertising, news technique, program arrangement, station man- agement, legal aspects of radio broadcasting, engineering phases and the psychology of radio speech. Ac- cording to H. H. Leake, production manager of the non-commercial uni- versity station, more than 500 grad- uates, of the university' are engaged in some phase of professional radio. Plenty Busy Now New Orleans, Aug. 23. Ray McNamara, WWL organ- ist, broke his arm Aug. 17, but it .did not keep him from go- ing to work. After spending a day in the hospital, he shov/ed up at the studio ready to per- form his chores. McNamara, now with only one hand and two feet, broad- casts three quarter-hour pro- grams daily oyer the station. Atlantic to Air VillanoTa Grid Games, Phs 6 Others Philadelphia, Aug. 23. Atlantic Refining will again b.r. all Villanova home football games on KYW this year. But inasmuch as there are only four Villanova contests, six outsiders will be aired by Atlantic on the outlet . They include four Cornell games. Georgia Tech-Notre Dame . and Yale-DartmOuth. Quota Confabs On Between Philly Stations and AFM; Nix WPEN Plea Philadelpha, Aug. 23. Request by WPEN to American Federation of Musicians for a cut in thei quota it was assigned iEor music was' turned down last week. Under terms of the national agreement with AFM, all unaffiliated' stations aVe re- quired to spend 5',4% of their gross, with a $15,000 exemption allowed. This brings WPEN's quota, to about $30,000, or $10,000 less than It was spending for music last year. Con- fabs between the stations and ex- ecs of the Musicians' Local will con- tinue this week. Negotiations have practically been completed' at WDAS, which was able to win a reduction from the AFM. It will be required to spend $7.0(5i5>, also considerably less, than last year. Musicians are demanding, in return for the exemption, a five-and-one- half-week period' off in the summer. Conferences are also under way on contract for WIP, which is re- quired to spend $17,000 for music. DilBculty there is in stations' de- mands for an extension of the cur- few time. It wants to keep the mu- sicians until 1 a.m. instead of ailow- itig them to leave at 6 p.m., as at present. Inasmuch as station is spend- ing less than other stations of its size in town, union has nixed the plea. Confabs with WIBG, Philly. arid WCAM, Camden, will start next week. Each will be required to spend only about $500 a year, which will give them orchestras for half an hour twice a month.- Another 13 for 'Name?' i~; ■ ■ , ' • Philip Morris, cigaret has renewed for the 'What's My Name?' quiz on: Mutual, effective Sept 19, for an- ' other .13. weeks, through the Blow agency. Makes total of 39 weeks. / DOTS on n mnp distributors? • dealers? • warehoused? • markets? l o a radio advertiser they generally represent radio stations. Every radio advertiser would like to have more '*d6ts" on his radio station map . , . but the limitations of his appropriation often restrict him. If your program does not necessarily require Broadway and Hollywood big name talent, we believe you will find that/by using the talent and production facilities of WLW, you can add more stations . . . dots on your map without sacrificing caliber or quality. If you haven't definitely decided on your program for fall, may we show you the savings in talent and production ' afforded by using a "listener tested" ptogrzm produced by WLW -THE NATION'S STATION CINCINNATI 32 TARIETT'S' LONDON OFFICE, • St. Martin'* Flacs, Trafaliar Sqoara INTERNATIONAL RADIO Cable Aildreaat TARIfTCT, LONDON Tcleplioiia Templa ttiir ao*i-Mtl 3d Annnal CBC Program Conference Sets Cultural Uplift for Canada Toronto, Aug. 23. 'More radio time devoted to com- ment oh current affairs, extension of symphony orchestra broadcasts, and the presentation of the musical and cultural backgrounds of various ex- patriated groups whose members are in the process of becoming 'Cana- dianized,' are three items that were set during the third annual national program conference of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. With Gladstone Murray as chair- man, conference included regional directors from coast to coast, pro- gram supervisors, and directors of Inter-departments at Toronto head- quarters. Straight inside organiza- tion discussion included the submis- sion of ideas by regional directors and suggested changes. These have not yet been analyzed. Program schedules for the forth- coming fall season were constructed in skeleton during the conference. Important listings include a more ex- tended symphony series and 'Ven- tures in Citizenship,' which will originate in Winnipeg and deal with the more savory odors emanating from the Prairies' melting-pot. In order to give full expression to con- flicting points of view on matters of national and international impor- tance, CBC will continue to sponsor a Sunday night 'National Forum' series on current Canadian affairs, in addition to the weekly presenta- tion of an international roundtable discussion on world affairs. This will be an extension of the 'Whither Democracy?' series of last season. Among thp.se attending the con- ference were Major Gladstone Mur- ray, g.m.; Dr. Augustin Frigon, asst. to the g.m.; E. L. Bushnell, general program supervisor; George Taggart, asst. to Bushnell. Regional directors were; Frank Willis, Halifax, for the Maritimes; Rooney Pelletier, Mon- treal, for Quebec; Peter Aylen, To- ronto, for Ontario and the Great Lakes region; Dick ClaringbuU, Win- nipeg, for the Prairies; J. R. Radford, Vancouver, for west of the Rockies. Noman Cordon Set Hesse Sc McCaffrey have booked Norman Cordon, Met op baritone, for the Lucky Strike stanza on CBS Sept. 3. Also Colonel Stoopnagle for the RCA matinee on NBC Sunday (28). It will be Stoopnagle'a second stand in this spot within four weeks. Psychic Regina, Sask., Aug. 23. Don 'Duckling' Dawson is in the doghouse around CKCK currenty. • He made the prize announce- ment of the year when broad- casting the horse races: 'And here, ladies and gentlemen, are the results of the next race.' Canadian Expo's Spots Toronto, Aug. 23. Using a combination of transcribed dramalets and spot news daily hap- penings, Canadian National Ex- liibition is using 10 five-minute spots, evening time, over WGAR, Cleve- land; WHAM, Rochester, and WGR, Buffalo. Teed off last night (Mon.). Placed through Cockflcld-Brown Agency, Toronto. AUSSIE TABUS PIX AIRCASTS Free Shows WiD Draw More, Hurt More in Canada Montreal, Aug. 23. French-language radio shows again figure to cut into picture house grosses to an even greater extent than last year. With applications for admission growing rapidly, station CKAC figures to produce 15 studio shows this year, with calls for 15,000 free tickets weekly. Estimates for last year show 500.000 attended French-language radio shows in Montreal, with thou- sands of requests refused due to lack of space. Additional studio space be- ing arranged for now will allow for an attendance of 750,000 this year. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. is also expanding its studios, with pos- sibilities that more audience shows will be produced this year. 63 HRS, IN 6 WKS. Biggest time buy in short period for CJRM, Regina, was signatured last week by reps of Rev. Oscar Lowry, evangelist disciple of Moody Bible School. Calls for evangelistic campaign by radio Aug. 28-Sept. 25 and includes 63 hours in six-week period, morn- ings and evenings. Alan Keith to do series of six broadcasts for British Broadcasting Corp. under title of 'International Gala.' Sydney, Aug. 11. Understood that Australian Broad- casting Commission will not air any more pic previews. Majority of air- ings were featuied on Sabbath and became fairly popular with the fans. However, distribs burned up when their product didn't secure repre- sentation, and, Anally, the A.B.C. de- cided to cut the pic stuff altogether. Has also been hinted that some ex- hibs were not keen about pics go- ing on the air prior to regular thea- tre premiere, figuring it's said, tnat some airings were decidedly harm- ful to the b. o. Beaudet May Become CBC's Music Director Montreal, Aug. 23. A change in the musical setup of Canadian Broadcasting Corp. is re- ported under consideration and may be effective before long. Musical ac- tivities are currently directed re- gionally. Understanding is that a general musical director to govern production for the whole of Canada is to be appointed. Leading possibility for the posi- tion is Jean Marie Beaudet, musical director for CBC in the province of Quebec. He is now in Europe clos- ing deals for exchange programs with foreign governments. Extending Quiz in Can. Montreal, Aug. 23. J. Walter Thompson agency is placing 'True or False' transcriptions on eight more stations, mostly in western Canada. | Live show was formerly piped in directly to CFCF by Mutual. Will now be fed to CFCF through NBC Blue. i„ the homes of the Denver- Rocky Mountain Region and Be Ao- ^ ^ ^ ;;ivr™KLZ« DENVER .^u.a.ed ^'":f'';:;::„,„,vcTK=K,.As-r.'- With your program on Swing for Igloos Ottawa, Aug. 23. Even the Eskimos and the In- dians of Northern Canada can't get away from it, namely radio. Dominion Department of Mines and. Resources, Ottawa, has es- tablished a station, operating on shortwave at a fixed frequency of 4,324 kilocycles, at the gov- ment reindeer station near the MacKenzie River Delta in the Arctic Circfe. Equipment will get its power from a windmill charger. Not only will the natives be able to obtain regular programs but the unit is intended as a means of communication. Espe- cially during the annual periods of break-up and freeze-up, when travel by land or air over extended distance is not pos- sible in the Northwest Terri- tories. BBC Experiments With Ultra-short Waves For Greater Sound Accuracy London, Aug. 16. Due to exceptional reproduction obtainable that way, B.B.C. is keen to adopt ultra-short waves for permanent broadcasting, especially of serious music items and programs on which soiind accuracy is vital. Start has been made by putting symphony concerts on sound band of television transmissions, and re- sults have been so outstanding it is thought system should be used more regularly. Idea was first adopted as con- venience for visio fans, so that in between picture broadcasts they could tune in on big classical music programs, which were being sent over normal B.B.C. radio wave- lengths. Example was six Tos- canini concerts earlier this year, and now sections of B.B.C. regular series of pop 'Promenade Concerts,' con- ducted by Sir Henry J. Wood, are being plugged into the short wave band between eight and nine each night. \ / Snag to unlimited extension of proposal is international agreement among all radio organizations which restricts short waves to television. Same ether band, however, is al- lotted to radio ams, who might be driven completely off the air if regular broadcasting overlapped too frequently. For previous experi- ments, B.B.C. has easily obtained permission to try short waves, but there would be opposition if B.B.C. wanted regular use of them. Aussie Gah Sydney, Aug. 13. Dr. Malcolm Sargent has arrived to conduct a series of orchestra concerts for the Australian Broadcasting Commission. Understood that all commercial units are pressing government to ex- tend licenses from one year to five years. Officials are mulling the prop- osition. One of the most popular weekly features handled by 2UW, Sydney, covers wrestling from a local stadium with Yankee grapplers. Cyril Angles and Johnny Wheeler handle the mike stuff. Stix stations are going in for more wax buying from local concerns handling Yankee transcriptions. Find it cheaper to run wax than to engage live talent. RCA's Toehold Montreal, Aug. 23. RCA is cutting into the radio equipment field in Canada, formerly dominated completely by Canadian manufacturers. Hookup of Canadian Broadcasting Corp. with NBC has provided an op-jning wedge .for sale of station equipment to CBC and other radio stations by RCA-Victor of Canada. While the bulk of servicing of ra- dio stations is still held by Canadian manufacturers, RCA is reported to have made considerable headway in the past year. Harry Conn will dish up the gags for Jack Haley on his new Wonder Bread series. BULL MARKET INSASKArWAN Regina, Sask., Aug. 23 With harvesting in fjill swing and prospects for first heavy crop jn eight years, advertisers are fighting for time on Saskatchewan stations Programs aimed at farmers are par- ticularly sought, with calls mainly for 'homey' stuff. Lack of time available is proving biggest problem. Market hasn't been so bullish in years, despite rust, grasshoppers, hail and low wheat price. BBC ami CBC Work Out Personnel Interchange London, Aug. 16, Lance Sieveking, ace . producer at B.B.C, is to takt a spell of six months duty with Canadian Broad- casting Company starting in October. BBC and CBC have worked out plan whereby personnel may be in- terchanged. More Discs Montreal, Aug. 23. 'Light Up and Listen Club' pro- gram, series of transcriptions made at NBC studios in N. Y. by Ameri- can radio performers, sponsored in Canada by the Imperial Tobacco Co., has taken so strongly that an addi- tional 25 transcriptions are being lined up. Vic George has been in N. Y. lining up talent for the pro- ductions. Program is to be con- tinued indefinitely over a network of 37 selected stations. Walter Rummel, American pianist, appearing in Promenade Concert se- ries for first time since 1923. Dennis Van Thai elected to or- ganize orchestra for television trans- missions from Radiolympia, BBC Television orch. being on vacation. How the Mountles always get their man will be basis of dramatic program Howard Rose is to air on home and Empire programs Sept. 9. NEW GA. STATION Jackson, Miss., Aug. 23. Crew of workmen are busy erect- ing a 175-foot antenna to be used by the Standard Life Insurance Co.'s new station here, WSLI. Studios of the station, which will broadcast on a frequency of 1,420 kilocycles, using a power of 250 watts in the daytime and 100 watts at night, will be situated in the Standard' Life building. HOCKEY, 'NEWS' SET Regina, Sask., Aug. 23. Imperial Oil's hockey broadcasts are due to hit Canadian network about Nov. 1. according to advance bookings. They'll run full hour every Saturday night for 19 weeks. CBC will also put out Maxwell House show, 'Good News of 1938,' from Hollywood, starting Sept. 29. Paul Rickenbacher back in produc- tion harness to handle Chase & San- born show while Cal Kuhl loafs. COUNT MOST WEED E comppny KMMMstitnnnsx Htm v»MM • tM/eMO\ »tnon-umHUMii*» I TARIETT'S' lONDON OFFICB, g fit. Martln'i Flace, Trafalfor Square INTERNATIONAL RADIO Cnhle Aildrcnn; VARIKTT, LONDON Tdi'plionu Temple Iliir (H)41-304:t 33 PROGRESSES ABROAD TELEVISH SETS AT $150, NEW LOW London, Aug. 16. Flnt fruit ot intensive drive by ndio manufacturers to popularize visio is appearance of a cheap tele- vision receiver, priced $150. Limitation of first cheap set is its Bicture size, now very little above half that of . present standard tele leceivers. Actual dimension is seven and one half inches by six inches, slightly bigger than a picture post- card. Whole installation, though in- corporating same internal gear as standard equipments, is of a more homey size, being about half that of an average console model radio. Same manufacturer is also offer- ing superior type with all-wave re- ception at $225, also below price of cheapest standard visio receivers. National Broadcasting Co.-Radio Corp. of America resumed its series of experimental television broadcasts yesterday (Tuesday) and will con- tinue for the next four weeks. Schedule calls for televized pro- grams lasting 60 minutes every Tuesday and Friday. Since these television programs were halted a couple of months ago, engineering staffs of the two com- panies have made progress- in im- proving the television image, it is reported. Image is no larger but more satisfactory to watch. SiapIetoDs, who clicked at the Dor- chester hotel, are to televise for BBC. Open at Palladium Aug. 29. Canada Unit Sales Up In June, but Behind '37 Washington, Aug. 23: Radio sales by U. S.. makers to dealers in Canada during June num- bered. 10,385 units valued at ^763,812, compared with only 6,374 units val- ued at $494,638 in May, Commerce Department attache reported. . Total sales for first half this year, however, set at $4,350,433, under cor- responding period of 1937, when total was $5,273,658. DAN-SYLVIA' TO AIR FOR FLOUR IN CANADA Toronto, Aug. 23. Canadian rights to 'Dan and Sylvia,' family serial, have been bought by M'aple Leaf Milling Co. Transcriptions total 78 episodes, with schedule, commencing Sept. 12, call- ing for three a week, mid-morning time, over 21 Canadian stations for the plugging of Maple Leaf Flour and Monarch Flour. Promotion and merchandising by Cockfield-Brown, Toronto. Line-up Includes CFCY, Charlotte- town; CHNS, Halifax; CJCB, Sydney; CFNB, Fredericton; CHSJ, St. John; CFRC, Kingston; CBO, Ottawa; CKSO, Sudbury; CFRB, Toronto; CKLW, Windsor; CFAR. Flin Flon; CKY, Winnipeg; CKCK, Regina; CFQC, Saskatoon; CFAC, Calgary; CJOC, Lethbridge; CJCA. Edmonton; CFGP, Grande Prairie; CKOV. Kelowna; CJAT, Trail; CBR, Van- couver. Sydney Vivian and Harry Howard celebrate their radio 'coming of age' in BBC ''Sing Song' program Aug. 27, when they do their 21st broad- cast FRANCE, GEiUNY Hutchinson, NBC-RCA Pro- gram Director, Says Euro- pean Progress Is Ahead of U. S. Television Ex- periments — Fee System Makes It Possible 4 TO 6 CAMERAS Returning to U. S. last week after six weeks in Europe, T. H. Hutchin- son, television program director for NBC-Radio Corp. of America, ex- pressed frank amazement at strides already taken in television by both France and Germany. Although such progress acknowledgedly ' is possible at present time only in countries having a fee per radio set system, nevertheless, the RCA-NBC program official confessed that both Germany and France had gone ahead farther than he even dreamed. Hutchinson, who was sent by his company to see what was being done in television, especially along program lines, in England, France, Germany and Holland, indicated that European nations had to locate a vast source of coin supply to carry on television tests, or experiment with any degree of success. Germany, England and France have a system whereby the owner of each raidio (Continued on page 35) Imp. Tobacco Shelving 'Canada 1938' Program I Montreal, Aug. 23. Reported here that the 'Canada 1938* program has been definitely shelved by the Imperial Tobacco Co. and that no major radio product'ion will be on the .air this fall under the tobacco sponsor. Understanding is that a new Imperial Tobacco produc- tion will be lined up for winter and spring placing. Plans at present are for a different type of production, although a large orchestra will still be used. Will also have a new tag. 2 MORE CBC EXECS GEHING EDUCATION Toronto, Aug. 23. In accordance with new policy. of Canadian Broadcasting Corp, two im- portant staff transfers, effective October. 1, will see Peter Aylen, sta- tion manager of CBL, Toronto, and J. R. Radford, manager of CBR, Vancouver, switching posts on that date. Idea is to broaden CBC execs on national outlook. Mont'l's Barn Dance Montreal, Aug. 23. 'Red Devils,' hill-billy musical sustainer on CKAC for the past four months, has been booked into ah eastend dancehall by the station. Program will be broadcast from the hall. Public is charged admission to dance. CKAC plans to send the show out as a unit to tour the provinces. IN AUSSIE ADDS 2 STATIONS Sydney, Aiig. 11. Commonwealth Broadcasting Net- work, Albert-Doyle combo, increased its chiiin to 22 by taking in stations in Perth, western Australia, and Ho- bart, Tasmania. Ace station is 2UW, Sydney. Understood following hud- dles, that other stations will be added from time to tirhe. Frank Marden is managing the chain under Frank Albert, music publisher, and Stuart Doyle, formerly boss of Greater Union Theatres. Albert-Doyle also control Fidelity Radio, a unit distributing mostly American transcriptions. Has been hinted that try may be made with own productions in the near future with home talent and an imported producer. But for thie time being waxers from the U. S. are main source of revenue. Laurie Nunn is in charge of Fidelity. Mex Biz Peak in '37 Mexico City, Aug. 23. Radio business was at its best in Mexico last year, when $2,500,000 of apparatus was imported, 85% from the United States and the rest from Germany, Holland and BDl.;;iiim. This trade represented a 65 per- cent increase over that of 1936. BBC to broadcast John dos Passos* 'The Garbage Man' in October or November. KING GEORGE IS IN WASHINGTON, TOO THERE are nearly three-quarters of a mil- lion people in Metropolitan Washington. And Washington has the greatest average pur- chasing poiver of any city in the world. But that's only part of the WJSV market. The other Vi is outside the city— farmers and work- ers, business and professional men . . . buyers of things to eat and wear and use in such thriving towns as King George, Virginia . . . in the busy centers of fourteen counties of three states and the District of Columbia. Either of the major Washington network sta- tions covers the city (two-thirds of the market). Only WJSV covers all the market. WJSV pro- vides 67% MORE coverage in the outside area of the Washington market than the next rank- ins Washington station ! All Washington is a top-flight market now. And WJSV provides the only one-station coverage of all the rich Wa,shington market. WJSV.cooo WATTS • WASHINGTON, D. C. • A CIJS STATION Oicnedand operated by the Columbia Broadcaslin(^ System. Represented by Radio Sales: .\cw York, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Birmingham, Los Aiif^elcs and San Francisco 84 VARIETY RADIO Wednesday, August 24, 1938 STATION SHOWMANSHIP (AttcrUion-GetterSt Tie-Vp$, tdeoM) Helptnf MnslcUiU' St. Louis. WIL has donated an hour to the- Musicians' Post No. 394 to assist in the campaign to raise tunds to send the national championship American Legion band, sponsored by the post, to Los Angeles for the annual con- vention. The St. Louis outfit won the title in New York last year and in Cleveland in 1936. Several stars at the local Muncipial Theatre Assn, also helped the cau^e by appearing on the- same program, which was broadcast from WEW's 1,200-seat auditorium. Plugglns iStatlon's Talent ~ St. Louis. As a means of encouraging dialers In its immediate vicinity to give the 0.0. to its talent staff, WTMY, East St. Louis, staged a river jaunt on the S. S. President Ballyed for a solid week, idea attracted 1,000 customers, who paid 7Sc each. Stations' talent furnished the entertainment features on the trip, and the steamboat's l^g- ular orch, directed by Tommy Riggs, provided the 'musical program. In promoting the show, station plugged' event with spot announce- ments, special programs, newspaper ads and personal salesmanship for a week in advance. WOW's Query In SUx , Omaha. VfOW has just published the re- sults of its latest listening ^survey under the caption of 'Farmers Aren't Hicks.' There were 2,801 personal interviews, with the program prefer- ence breakdown in the Nebraska area giving WOW a rating of 36.8% for night-time and 49.1% for dayr time. The combined preference figured 53.7%. Enclosed in the pro- inotional piece was 'flash' sheet tell- ing of the record crops that Nebraska will have this year. Jumping the Sun St. Louis. Although the unofficial training of the vairsjty football squads at St Louis and Washington universities here does not begin for another 30' days. Herb McCready, sports an- nouncer at WEW, has alreday lined up a program iof interviews wifl» Jimniy . Conzelman. and Cecil E. Muellerleile, coaches of the teams. That Personal Tonch Seattle. KOMO-KJR have inaugurated a new 30-minute sustaining series titled 'Presenting Totem Broadcasters.' Shjws are designed to acquaint the listeners with the personalities be- hind. thcf radio scenes, various depart- ments being introduced over the air with explaniation of duties and : the part played by 'each. Supporting the show is 13-piece orchestra imder di- rection of Lloyd Solberg. F. C. C's WASHINGTON DOCKET : ♦ « > t > I « > > < < M n « « M < M « M ♦ M 1 1 1 1 1 M ■ M M I n I » * ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ t ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ > > m « i > m m »»: ; Washington, Aug. 23, Routine matters were only iruit of commish labors during the past week, with members expected to return and get into production after summer doldrums in next , 10 days or fortnight. Highlight was granting of new temporary extension of license to KFOX, Long Beach, Cal., one of outlets kept on anxious seat with temporary permit previously. Other sta- tions holding temporaries left on hot seat, al- though commish renewed flock of licenses for regular period. MAJOR DE(M)NS New Jeriicr: NBC at Bound Brook given conatructinn per- mit for new Internatloniil broadcast slatlon on 17.780 stripe with SS.OOO watte power. License coverlne CP latued at game time, which li unusual, althouRh not unprecedented, Elvlng proof of administration's private desire to get K'ant functioning. New 'Vorki. Board of Education. City of New Tork, granted construction permit. for new non-conimerclal educational plant In Brooklyn, to operate on 41,100 kc, with COO watts power. WHN's Colonm Service New 'Y'ork. Weekly. Twisting the Dial' column of general radio fan news and gos- sip,- fed to outlying weekly papers by Al Simon of WHN. N.Y., wiU be resumed Sept 1. Was dropped for summer. Gag is a station promdtion stunt .which includes mention of other stations and radio personalities, besides plugs for WHN. Is issued in mat form for use by around 75 pa-, vers in Connecticut,- New Jersey and New 'York. WWJ ANNOUNCES The Appointment: of JAMES JEWELL as Manager of Programs and Production Mr. Jewell's productions, "The Lone Ranger," "TTie Green Hornet" and the "Children's Theater of the Air," heard over another Detroit station, are well known to radio listeners. Mr. Jewell joined the WWJ staff August 1. UlUlJ Owned and Operated by The Detroit News ReprctcntiJ Nationally by The George P. Holiingbery Company New York: Chicjgo: Detroit: Kansas City Sail FrinCisco: Atlanta MINOR DECISIONS California: KMJ, McClatchy nrdadcnatlnff Co., Treano, Klveri extentilon from Sept. 1, 1933. to Mnrch 1. 1939. of npeclal experimental authority to operate' aa facHlmlle sla- tlon with 1,000 watts. Can transmit facsimile between mid- night and .6 a.m.; PST, In period covered. KFOX, Lonff Beach, operating on three months temporary ticket since May IS, given fuither 30-day exiohiiion, also temporary. ... GeorirU: WATX. E. . C. and S. F. Sapp. Waycross, given extension of prenent llcenee on temporary bHSia pendltig further hearing and decision, but in no ciise beyond, Dec. 1, .1938. •- • . MasMchDMtUt .WMBX, Northern Corp., Boston, donled petition for bill of particulars in application of WLAC. Nash- ville,. Tenn., to boost power from 6,000 to GU.OOO watts. ^yLAC case .Bcheduled for hearing Oct. 251 . . N6vr Yorkt W8XCF, Adirondack Broadcasting Co., Albany, given authority \o boost .'power of experimental relay broad- cast station from 6 to 1& watts and make equipment changes. W2XPQ, . National Broadcasting . Co.. New York City, granted, extension of special temporary aucnority to operate :hlglk frequency broadcast outlet on SS.^C megacycles, from Aug. 22 to Sept. 20, pending, dennlte arrangements to t)e made' on ultra high frequency bands, ' 'WBNT,'Roy Lu Albertson, Buffalo., given .extension of^spe- clat temporary authority to operate from 6:30 to 10 a.m. and from -2 to 3 p.m.. EST, period Aug.. 21 to S'c(>t. S. to broad- cast. news arid musical programs,, provided WSVS, Buffalo, remains silent. North Dakotar KDLR, Devils Lake, granted construction permit modification to make changes In authorized equip- ment and .delay commencement date 30 days.-. ' PennvylvaaUt WKOK, Sunbury Broadcasting Co., Sunbury.* given special temporary authority to operate Bimultnnoously .with WBAX, Wllkes-Darre, .on Tuesday. 'Thursday and Sat- , urday nights during monl)\ of September, up-to-and Includ- - Ing time of proposed political broHdcasts. Time prior to polltlcda* patter . may be used for sustaining, but no com- rtiercial, programs. .- TenneftH«e'i WRBC. Inc., . Memphis, granted extension to Sept. 16 of special temporary authority to operate with 5,000 watts power to overcome interference caused by CMQ, . Havana. Teias: KPDN, R. C. Holies. Pampn. given temporary au- thority for evening operation Aug. 15-I!7 for political broad- casts. KFRO» Voice of Longvlew, given similar authority for period Aug. 16-31. : KNBT. ' Palestine Broadcasting Asxn., Palestine, .given tempo'rary authority operate ntght of Aug. 27 only to broad- cast election returns.^ 'Vlrglnlat "WTAR, Norfolk, gr.intod renewal of license from Sept , 1 to March 1, 1939. Same goes . for auxiliary Irans- jnltter. WMhIhgton'; KRKO, Everett: Everett Broadcasting Co., Inc.,. and Cascade. Broadcasting. Co.. both of Everett,- granted continuance . of hearings in three esses for at least 30. days from Sept, 7. EXAMINERS' REPORTS ArlioDB:. Examiner R. H. Hyde urges grnntliiR ii( pleai ot KOY, Salt River "Valley ' Brondcasting Co., Phociilx, fur fre- .quency; change from 1390 to S90 kc stripe. AiiplicunI, entire capital stock of which. is owned by nurrldec D. Duller, who Is interested In the Fralrle Farmer Mhga'zlne and In Wl.Si, Chicago, maintained plant can give better s'crvlcc, partlnu- larly nights, on 6.60 kc ribbon,' and examiner nsrecd,. finding no objectionable Interference' would >e»uU to KTSA, S.^in Antonio, Tex.: KOAC, Corvallls. Ore.; KFYR, Dlamiirck, N. D., and KSD, St. Louis, now on 560 kc band. Philip G. Loucks and Arthur W. Scliarreld for applicant. :> Colorado: Over squawks of other Denver stations, Ex- aminer . Melvln H. Delberg urges ganting of appllc.itlon of F. W. Meyer for new smallle at ' Denver. UBing 100 watts nights, 260 watts days on 1310 kc stripe^ be grnnted, dhdlne 'definite need' for proposed loc..i.l- service. Applicant at present Is manager of KLZ, Denver, h.as been In radio biz 13 years, ' and has assct.s o.f $94,'Cl6. largely acquired through selling. In 1036. one-tliird Interest In KLZ, ■for which he received' one-third of iselling price of $200,000. Pl^ns. to spend . $16,320 for new smnllle'H equipment If com- mish approves examiner's recommendation. Propo.scs bsHlc' hourly rate ot ISO nights and fSO days and i3 nights for inin, spot and t2 days. KLK, KVOD and ICFEI. rates, onercd In evidence, found substantially higher, which was one of points for examiner recommending' they be given some com- petition. KLZ, applicant testified, unable to take care of all local requests because of Columlila chain cnmmltmonts. Depositions by Denver advertisers that r.'ttos of other sta- tions were too high' for' them also factor; I'resldcnt .of. KVOD, Intervening, testified station lost $2,432 :January to April of this year. KLZ had biz. Increane first three .months ov'er.'lnst year, loss In chain and national biz, but gain In local biz for April, other . testimony showed. George O, Sutton and Arthur H. Schrocder. appeared fo. applicant. Ueorgla: Examliier George H, Hill recommenda granlin. permissions for voluntary assignment of license of WaTV 'W'aycross smallle, on 1100 kc sirliie. from B. P. Sann lii S. F. Sapp . to Jack Williams, owner of WaycrOBs Jour'n.i Herald, dally. >VllllamB would pay )20;600 for station iCEt In cash and. 116,000 six months from data of commish an. pro'VBl. Inventory shows ynlue equipment leas than llO Ooo Laugh of proceeding la . profit and. loss statement Oct ' It' 1«36-Aug. 1, ■ 18J7. shoiylnB net Income »16.76, Uesplii no compensation given Sapps. ' John B. Brady appeared tor both assignor and assignee ' Mkhlnan: Examiner Dalbjrg recommended approval at voluntary assignment of: AVJIM. Lansing, smallle on 1210 ke from Harold F. Orosa to WJIM, Inc., of which Gross Is president and treasurer and sole stockholder. Pui'puHe Is to ' segregate radio blx fronri personal arralrs and limit Gross* liability by transferring It to corporation, capltnll-«d at 160,000, with atatlon'a net worth at $S6.000, but examiner held that sale. of stock of llcenaeo at price In excess of actual physical value of station .Is not assertion' of any ' ownership of a frequency, and thus Is beyond FCC purview. Arthur 'W. Bcharfeld and Philip G. Lniicks for appllrnnt MlBnesola: Application, tor renewal of license of W9XAT George W. Toung, Minneapolis recommended by Examiner Hyde tor denial beca-use no evidence offered In support of IL Outlet Is television broadcast station, unlimited time,- on 42,000,. 66,000, change frequency /rom 1200 to 1310 lie, make , changes in eqtilpmeiit'and antenna, change power from 100 -watts all time to 260 walla days, and duck present arrnnge- *ment of sharing time with WJBC. Bloomlngton. contingent on application of WBOW, Terre Haute, Ind., for frequency change. . Vermont: Lloyd E. Squler and William G. Rickcr. doing business as Radio Station WDBV, Waterbury, ask ln%'oUintary assignment of license from Charles B. Adams, admlni.strntor of Harry C. Whilehlll estate and executor of Mary M. Whlte- hlll estate and executor of Mary M. Wbltehlll estate, to R.IVAU NOXZEMA TO AHACK BEARDS VIA RADIO Noxzema has decided , to go on the air this fall, preferably a half-hour show. Ruthraiiff & Ryan, agency on the account, is looking over the field and has already started talking for a show that is now on a hookup for another . account. Understood that the article's use for a brushiess shave will be stressed ill plug. WAPI, Birm., Full-Time Birmingham, Aug. 23. WAPI. here, went on a full-time basis, coincident with the celebra- tion of its ieth birthday. Makes air three Birmingham sta- tions now operating on full time vvith network connections. MUST HAVE QUIZ WPEN, Phllly, Is Forced to Reinstate Queries for Kids ' Philadelphia, Aug. 23. Popularity of quiz shows was dem- onstrated here last week at WPEN, when station discohtlnued one and had to put it back after a flock of protests. Show, without the quiz an- gle, has been on for seven years, con- ducted by program director Tom Smith, under the tag, 'World Court of Children.'; It's for kids. About three months ago Smith added the ask-me-another stuff, \yln- niiig kid to be m.c. of one program. All went smoothly, but when con- test was oyer, squawks went up. Lis- Iciiers didn t want to go back to the original show; they wanted more ci'onium-crockers. 5000^IPOO<}1!^ ALL YOU NEED IN I CENTRAL OHIO Wednesday, August 24, 1938 RADIO VARIETY 35 Visio Progress Abroad (Continued from page 33) ;«t pays a fixed amount iiipnthly, or JJedily. to the government ' In Germany, he found television aonroaching a pictorially perfect staie even with sets using Image tuiKs' 20 to 26-inches in diameter.- This was possible because of enorm- ous research done to develop a tube capable of withstanding the ter- yiflc pressure. Hutchinson said visitors in the room housing this giant tube apparently felt safe from any danger of its exploding. Projection tubes developed in the country produced an Irtage oh a 12- by.l4 foot screen comparable to that used in small theatres. While this, is not perfect, it gives a satisfactory Impression, comparable to 16-lnilli- meter projection, after on ih^^creen about 60 seconds because of "action in televlzed picture. All televized programs he saw in Germany were in black arid white. This has been made possible because Gei-man in- dustry has spent millions working out a system with flpurescent ma- terials. Hutchinson said that there were 10 to 12 difTerehi types of tube models on display when he was there. France on Par With Belch Although France has just stand- ardized its television system^ it is rui^iing neck and neck'' with Ger-' many's as far as perfection in tele- vized. pictures is concerned. Hutchin- son found an independent company most actively engaged in developing sight-and-sound broadcasting and operating through an interchange of patents with EMI System (through RCA patents') and Telefunken, Ger- man patentees. Scene taken out- doors while a heavy rain was In progress amazed Hutchinson in the fidelity of both sound and dull light reproduction. Best screen image was about 9 by 12 feet in size, being comparable to 16-mm. film projec- tion. 'This indie firm hopes to expand to such an extent that it will be able to sell out to the government. France possesses a fine transmitter, With an EMI camiera in use, but needs to improve studio facilities, according to Hutchinson. .Practicsilly all of Hutchinson's time in England was devoted to work being done on programs be- cause of advanced development on this phase in Great JSritain. Four cameras were employed at one studio to fade in and out on diiTerent icenes. He witnessed a 100-minute presentation of 'Julius Caesar* done in modern dress. 2 Hours Dally Programs are broadcast two hours daily excepting .Saturday, when televized broadcasts run three hours, and on Sundays, when they operate one and one-half hours. In Germany, he found that under • new setup, six cameras would - be used in the television studios. Country employs the standard 441- line system. Germany expects to have three transmitters operating this fall, one in Berlin, another in Leipzig and a third in another key city. These will be hooked up by wsxlal cable. Much of the money Collected from radio set fees is being put Into television in that country, he found, because of the great po- lentlalties for, Federal propaganda. France has a program out of Paris for two and one-half hours daily now. programs being part studio shows *nd partially made up of films. Only independent commercial company interested in television In Holland is the Phillips Co., also ac "ve in radio. Although the firm . admittedly would like to do some- thing with television, it sees no pos- sible way of making money with it jow. As a consequence, all the Phillips Co. has done is to place Mght-sound broadcast outfits on trucks and send them around to Muntry fairs. It uses only small, but "'gmy efficient tubes and makes no KFETR effort to maintain program service. Only way television in . U. S. will i a paying proposition, he in- timated, will be via some sort of a Government grant, or fee system, not unlike that in vogue in Europe. BBC's Second Stage London, Aug. 16. With BBC speeding up on tele- vision and due to have a second stage in operation at Alexandra Palace by early October, rate of progress , is still not fast enough for those Visio fans; who want everything at once, Certainly BBC is working to a steady expansion plan, but without any clearly designed course, preferring to take Its line from insistence of imme- diate demands and from recommen- dation of . the governmental Tele- vision Advisory Committee. . : Latter body appears to be contfent to wait proof of public demand without an- ticipating it, and another fact seem- ingly is government anxiety to fully test potentialities of the London ser- vice before extending transmissions to the sticks. Current vislo extensions Include : ?j*THE WBC REP NETWORK HPTIONQL REPRESENTBTIVCS iPWRRD RETRY & CO. OFFERS RADIO STUDIO FOR AFRA CONVENTION St Louis, Aug. 23. . Al S. Foster, general manager of WEW, has tendered the use of the station's 1,200 seat auditorium, the largest of : any radio station in . the burg, to AFRA for its use during the first national convention to be held here starting Nov. 14. In' his prof- fer to Don Phillljps, president of the St. Louis chapter, Foster said delegates to the convention might use the auditorium either as a con- vention hall, headquarters, or for any other purpose. 'Phillips accepted the invitation with the reservation that the Ar- rangements Committee may decide to hold its meetings at one of the downtown hotels. He is awaiting word from . national headquarters in New 'Voijk. opening up the second stage at A.P.; elaborating a cable network through- out London for picking up outside events; provision of a second mobile unit for same purpose; and purchase of a sound iruck for obtaining film material for background and mixing. Paine Warns Pubs ASCAP Will Not Clear Unfiled Songs for Broadcasting American Society of Cbmposers, Authors & Publishers will not clear any musical work for broadcasting unless a complete record of the com- position has been filed w.ith the per- formance rights combine by the. publisher involved. John G. Paine, ASCAP geri. mgr., advised the pub- lislie'r membership along these lines last week by circular letter. Paine explained that it was nec- essary for the Society to take this stand in order to protect station li- censees from ainy possibility of an infringement suit Publishers have made It a practice of giving per- formers ' permission to broadcast a work that they : (the publishers) In- tended publishing, but without filing data on the number with ASCAP. Since this habit has increased to major proportions, Paine figured that there was eVery chance of run- ning into a serious legal shag. Most broadcasters 'fCheck with the Society when their program departmcnls are faced with a new musical num- ber arid once ASCAP okays its use that organization faces all responsi- bilities in case of a suit" Paine pointed out in his letter' that the personnel at ASCAP have in the past tried . to co-operate in clearing such unll.stcd Works, but the mount- ing frequency of the requests has made it impossible for the organiz.n- tion to continue isafely along this line. Ryan Tries for Record F. B. (Barry) Ryan, Jr., who had his appendix removed last Tuesday (16), , is expected back at his desk at Ruthrauff Si Ryan in N. Y. liext week. It'll be a record recupera- tion, if he makes It Operation was performed in the Orange Memorial hospital, East Orange, N. J. 3D4.7 mORE During ihe week of August 14, WSAI actuaUy camed 304.7yo iriore halional and local spot quarter hour units than the OTHER TWO LOCAL NETWORK STATIONS COM- BINED! We believe this is significant becauise it indicates that local and national ad- vertisers, when unrestricted by network affiliations, have developed a tremendous preference for WSAI. WSAI continues its lead. Of the local and national spot quarter hour units carried oii the thiree local netv^ork stations in the past four inonths: IN MAY . . . WSAI earned 57.8% mbre thom station A and 136.8% more than station B IN JUNE . . . WSAI carried 106.2% more than station A 661.5% more than station B and 62.2% more than stations A and B combined IN JULY . . . WSAI carried 320.0% more than station A 281.8% more than station B and 100.0% more than stations A and B combined AUGUST. . .WSAI carried 962.4% more than station A 553.8% more than station B and • 304.7% MORE THAN STATIONS A AND B COMBINED All the above tabulations are the result of one checked week in each month. , The ques- tion may be raised that WSAl's wide margin is gained only because of the Wheaties and Socony Vacuum baseball games. Again for the purpose of clarifying this situation, here are the figures writh baseball games exdluded ... WSAI carried 362.5% more local arid national ispot quarter hour units than station A, 184.6% more than station B and 76.1% more than stations A and B COMBINED! WSAI CINCINNATI NATIONAL SPOT REPRESENTATIVE TRANS AMERICAN NEW YORK CHICAGO • HOLLYWOOD 36 VARIETY RADIO Wednesday, August 24, 1933 Background Buzz EAST Nola Luxford, Coast radio pro- ducer and former fashions technician for films, airrived in N. Y; last Friday (19). Tod Swain; recently with United Press, back at station WNEW, N. Y., on gab brigade. Covering Jimmy Hines' trial.. 'Singing Lady' dropped from Kel- logg sponsorship on NBC-WEAF- Aug. 11. Kellogg's 'Don Winslow of the Navy' moved into 5:30 p.m. daily (except Sat. and Sun.), spot formerly occupied by 'Lady.' l.atter goes on sustaining basis when she returns from vacash next month. Rita Lorenz, torchy chirper, inked by WPEN, Philly, for two 15-minute spots a week. Works with duet, con- sisting of Rose Gross, organ, and Tommy Smith, piano. ; ■ Stanley Moderski, sports gabber, and Dick Shipp, panelman, at WPEN, Philly, resting in Wildwopd, Pa. WATR, Waterbury, Conn., feeding 10 'hours, total of 43 shows, weekly to Connecticut Broadcasting System affiliates, WELL New Haven, and WNBC, New Britain. 'Stories' in Song,' with Fred Wade, Bernard MuUins and Harold Kolb, * * LUOPfSTBlKE ^0 P" ^ tat HOTS llgt. MCA resumed at WTIC, Hartford, for Malleable Iron Fittings Co. Luther Roland and wife, Hope Decatur, heads of drama department at Skidmore college, authoring and starring on WICC, HBrtford, in 'The Career of Gwen Baker," serial based on summer theatres. J. G. Gude, station relations de- partment executive with CBS, back from Martha's Vineyard. Elsie Carol, director of the 'Wom- en's Ciub of the Air on WCAU, Philly, resumes daily airings this week after extended vacation, in the west; . Softball team at WCAU, Philly, co-captained by Alan Scott, com- mentator, and Bill Dyer, baseball spieler, heads for Reading Friday (26) to meet the Carpenter Steel Co. aggregation. Both teams un- defeated. George Thomas, gabber oh WCAU, Philly, returns to mike this week after four-week rest due to . emer- gency appendix operation, He was stricken at the studio. Dorothy Rosenberg, one of Three Sophisticated Ladies on WCAE, Pittsburgh, and Phillip Latterm married Sunday (21 ) . Grand Slam Revue is title of new half hour variety program which KDKA. . Pittsburgh, will feed to NBC-Blue every Thursday after- noon. Announced Ed Schaughency in charge as m.c. and will also siiper- vise casting, scripting and produc- tion. Ches Slater, barrelhouse pianist, added to talent sUfT at WPEN. Philly. Buddy Nugent and Harriet Versaci, chirpers, also new to outlet's 'Eve- ning Varieties.* Robert F. Shield, Pittsburgh boy and recent graduate of Ohio State school of journalism, has been added to announcing! staff at KDKA, He takes over the vacancy made when Bill Beal was elevated to continuity department, replacing Robert Sau- dek, who goes to New York as as- sistant to A. E; Nelson, sales chief for the NBC Blue network. Ralph della Selva has moved his 'Connecticut Hall of Fame,' celeb guest show, from WBRY, New Haven, to Wnc, Hartford. Doris Peck, songstress, back at WNBC, New Britain, Conn., after re- covering from auto accident hurts. Ethel Shepard has been set. for a 15-minute series over WHN, New York, Tuesdays through Fridays, with Irving Aaronson's . orch. She was formerly on the Broadway Mel^ ody Hour over the same station.' Hal Chase, Jr., has left station THE O'NEILLS' 3y .lAiJt '.'''/EST :;')v- .^-^ i'-.v.?5':' P-:^?i iL^\:; ■ r.::o I-,:;,'-'.;;,-! t Presenfcd by Ivory Soap ■ 99' CO ' : p urp LISTEN TWICE DAILY U9IEI^ NBC Red Network, 12:15 IN.. CBS • WABC— to 12:30 P.M. DST 2:15 to 2:30 P.M. DST COAST TO COAST r WOR, New York, to join sales staff of E. V. Brinckerhoff & Co,, tran- scriptioneers.' Pat Rossi, formerly vocalist with Phil Napoleon's band, given Tuesday and Thursday a, m. sustaining shots on station WMCA, N. Y. Fern Scull is accomp organist. . Va>'ner Poulsen is writing and act- ing as N. Y. sales, agent for George Miller Productions of Detroit Miller is former vaudevillian. Joe Tucker, sports announcer at WWSW, Pittsburgh, has just been named a deputy boxing commis- sioner for the state of Pennsylvania. John Finke, solo pianist and ac- companist at WGY since 1931, has left the station -to freelance in New York. Ralph Kanna, formerly of WELI, New Haven, Conn,, and Elliott Cove, formerly of WMBO, A^uburn, N. Y., are new additions to the announcing staff at WOKO-WABY, Albany. WEST _I>lr. COHPION ADVEBTISING AGENCT MGT.. ED WOLF— RKO BLDC NEW YORK CITY Martin B. Kiebert, radio inspector of FCC in Seattle, left last week for Washington, where he has been ad- vanced to the broadcasting division there. Tom Symons. owner of KXL, Port- land, and KFPY, Spokane, spent some time in Seattle browsing airqund. Vic Hurley, continuity head of KOMO-KJR, Seattle, is having his fourth book published, titled 'Jungle Patrol.' Bob Ackerly, publicity man for KOMO-KJR, Seattle, goes to Holly- wood, Sept. 1. Jack ' Runyon resting up In the high Sierras for the grind to come. . Felix Mills doing double- duty i for Silver Theatre opus. He composes original scores and conducts. Virginia Verrill landed the vocal snot on Jack Haley's Wonder Bread show. Bud Ernst moved up as production chief at KM-TR (Hollywood). Gogo. Delys and Frank -Hodek's orch doing a new quarter-hour turn, 'Who Sang It?' on Coast NBC link. . "Tom . Revere ducked east . after checking upon Benton &' Bowles Coast originations this fall. Howard Smart east toi shake up some interest in revival of his New- lyweds, an old Coast fave. Syd Dixon, NBC's mighty nimrod, bagged two bucks, one weighing 225 pounds dressed, Eddie Cantor had to take a rest from his European vacation. John Conte will handle commer- cials for Burns and Allen when they tee off for Chesterfield. Jimmy Saphier. making his head- quarters in L. A. for a few months. . Kenneth Tinkham, KMTR (Holly- wood) manager, petitioned court for a washup of his debts. Dorothy Lamour asked labor com- mission to arbitrate her ' difficulties with NBC artists service. Danny Danker finally got away on his vacation, delayed since June be- cause of steady influx of agency big- gies from the- east. Don E. Gilman. vlce-prexy in charge of NBC's Western Division, spent several days in San Francisco last week on biz, with his executive assistant Lew Frost due there this week from Hollywood. Manager Wilbur Eickelberg of KFRC, San Francisco, planed east last week for confabs with Mutual execs in New York and Chicago. Will be gone several weeks. Lloyd Yoder, manager of KGO- KPO, San Francisco, moves his residence today to Belvedere, where he and Mrs. 'Yoder have purchased a home. Lucile Kirtley, soprano, is subbing for Betty Kelly on NBC's 'Woman's Magazine of the Air' shows from San Francisco while Miss Kelly vacashes. Hal Burdick, author of 'Dr. Kate' serial sponsored by Sperry Flour Co, Inside Stuff-Radio (Continued from page 26) announcing stipulation with Norlene Corp., Los Angeles, to stop usiM this ballyhoo for Its product called 'Tay-Ban.' Respondent also agrees to stop claiming product will reduce fat without diet or exercise, or that it will add beauty to body,, skin or eyes. Telegraph companies got only crumbs from broadcasters' . table during 1937, according to analysis of financial reports compiled by the Fedet4 Communications Commission. In contrast to the sixrfigure income of the telephone trust from charges on land-lines. Western Union, took iti mere $15,596 through leasing wires to link transmitters and Postal, like the rest of the small carriers, got nothing. Because radio editors in Frisco are now almost as scarce as the dodo bird. Bill MacBird, of the Pasadena Independent, was treated to a royal reception by local flacks when he arrived there last week for a week's vacash after a nine-year absence from the city. Radio p.a.s, to whom en. tertaining newspaper scribes is becoming a novelty, really went to town on MacBird. Lou Little, Columbia U's football coach, is being offered to sponsors this fall in a program package with a $500 tag on it. Offered along with Little is John T. Casey, who handles him for the ozone and works with him on it, plus a weekly guest with a football background. Last season Little did eight weeks on Mutual for American Chicle. Jack Berch Get-Together on Columbia was cut last night (Tues.) from a half hour variety show to 15 mins. of songs and pop tunes to allow spotting of a Speech by James A. Fay, former chief deputy in New York division of U S! Internal Revenue Dept. Fay answered accusations made by Representative John O'Connor against President Roosevelt. Roland Bradley, former eastern radio announcer and director,, shipped as: a deckhand on an oil tanker bound for Saii Luis Obispo, Cal. Ffom the latter point headed lor Seattle where he is to join the University of Wash, ington faculty in the music department. over NBC's Coast Red, web from San Francisco, is seeking a voice double for Vicki , Vola, who went east last week. Barbara Beebe, 14-year-old canary, debuted on an NBC-Red airer from San Francisco recently and is now being hailed as a 'find.' Raymond Marlowe, tenor; Dorothy Allen, pop warbler, and Tana, Spanish singer and guitarist, are newest- voices oh NBC progirams from San Francisco. . MIDWEST Harris Owen has been named mu- sical director -t KARK, Little Rock. Jerry Hoekstra, director of Public Affairs Dept. KMOX, St.. LoUis, grabbed Bill Robertson, who had a hand in building ship flown across Atlantic by 'Wrong Way' Corrigan, for an air interview and followed up with two programs at airport when Corrigan reached here to be lauded by natives. KMOX, St. Louis, has started a new children's program, with Joe Karnes, singer and pianist, as "The Music Man,' and Elmira Roessler, of dramatic staff, as the. Tell Me a Story Lady.' Program, a 15-min. sustainer, hits air on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a. m. and Saturday at 11 a. m. Executives Club of St Louis had Arthur. Casey, production manager, KMOX, St. Louis, as guest speaker; Station WGVA, Indianapolis, has altered iU call letters to WIBC, and taken on C.'A. McLaughlin, formerly of WHK-WCLE, Cleveland, as gan- eral sales manager. New studios will will be formally opened during Sep- tember. Ross Mulholland, John Reynolds and Don Paevey added as gabbers to station WKRC, Cincinnati, Columbia affiliate. Mrs. Olivia Kelsey doing weekly broadcasts on 'kindness to animals' on both WHKC and WOSU.- Colum- bus. . Evelyn Porter, of the WLW-WSAI executive office, Cincinnati, has an- nounced her engagement to a non- pro. Wedding date not yet set Ed. Lasker to Coast Edward L»sker, radio head . of Lord & Thomas, leaves Monday (29) for. a six weeks stay in Hollywood. This period will take in the debut of the Pepsodent show starring Bob Hope. Sklhnay Ennis has been set as the show's maestro, with Connie Bos- well under negotiation for the chief vocal assignment There will also be guest artists. ssmm VAdlt Originator ONE MAN SHOW TTTO VOICE SAM' AND HENBT MASTEB OF CEREMONIKS,^ BAIN KO MO' VERSE CONTEST VARIETY HOBR. COMMUNITY SINO AddreMi 4331 N. PaoUos St., Chlctfo THE SMOOTHIES BABS . CHARLIE . UHLE Beginning 3rd Year of Starring in TUMS ''Vocal Varieties" WLW and ISBC Coast-to-Coast T^i^^^r"" Thanks to WLW AND THE H. W. KASTOR & SONS ADVG. CO. Starling New E. T. Series for TUMS August 25 Also Starred in the New ''Musical Steeplechase'' Show on WLW AND MUTUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM Wednesdays 8:00 P.M. DST yedneaJay, August 24, 1938 RADIO VARIETY 87 M Adds Up to Minus Several while watting around in the anteroom of an adfertlsing agency last week, got to discussing the ihegotiating' tech- Soue of John U. Reber, v.p, in charge of radio for J. Walter Thomp- gon and in time agreed that he used the same approach in all deal- inM, Reber prides himself on being a close buyer, and the only time v^leels hurt is when somebody siiggesU that a cerUih act could have been bought lor less. According to the agdnts, Reber's, te^chnique for haggling resolves Itself down to the following three points: 1. The performer, or the act, is either (a) lousy or (b) not so hot. i The performer, or act, doesn't mean- anything and will never get any place In radio, 3 Offers half of what has been the performer's regiilai: salary, or the price quoted by the agent. From that point on its question of who packs the greater bargaining gjjmiria, the agent or Reber. In one recent instance, iin agent asked for $750 and was told before he went in to see Reber that he would be offered $450; Before long, this agent found hirnself vigorously arguing.ior the $450 that he.knew Reber was going to quote him. VLW FOLLOWS CBS ON HERBS Cipclnnati, Aug, 23. Is shutting down on all lax- ative and medicinal accounts. New poUcy, as voiced by James Shouse, the itatiori's general mgr., calls for the unloading of all such commer^ cials as their present contracts ex- pire. . Sbouse sUted that WLW's attitude toward medicinkls would be as strict as that set forth in the CBS policy on advertising. JIAN SHAW SECOVERS Philadelphia, Aug. 23. Jean Shaw, singer with Bob Gdl- den's band, hoUse crew at WC AU, back, after week layoff due to throat Infection. Stricken;.while working at .'the President hotel, Atlantic City. , ' Me Wimbrow, who was forced .by a throat condition to give up. his cbitp sessions on' WCAU, Philly, and VLW, Cihcinhati, Is rele of adaptation. Hampden made his in- terpretation of Svengali sound alive and full-bodied, while Miss' Hutchlnr son did well by the part of the, tone-, deaf maiden, who' is mesmerized by' him into ai famous diva. George Meadow fllled in nicely as Decco, Svengali's man FHday. Fairly entertaining was the pro- gram's afterpiece, which posed as a travesty on the scene performed by: Hampden and his two aids. John Creadon was credited with writing the afterpiece, while Tom Howard, ZaSu Pitts and George Sheldon did the best they knew how by the lines. Odec. CHARLES MARGLIS ORCH. 30 MIns. Suslalniiig. Tuesday, '8 p.m., EDST WJZ, New York Trumpet virtuoso for Paul White- man and on several big commercials, Charles MargUs Is branching oui with his own band. As per an- nouncements on the flrst broadcast, Aug. 16, this hew orchestra . hit a medium between sweet and swing with accent on brass. It's the brasslness— though logical, considering Marglls' forte— that hit back at what otherwise was excellent music. . There was a natural blasting when the accent was on the wind instruments and 30 minutes of such was a little to much for listeners' ears. As for arrangements, the Marglls portfolio oh the first 'cast was tops. Opened with 'A-Tisket A-Tasket' and Included, among others, 'Night Is Filled With Music' and a sweet-swing rendition of the semi-classical *Hu- moresque.* Each number afforded Marglls opportunity to get in his trumpet licks, always excellent but In the complete brass orchestration of 'Park Ave. Fantasy' he really went to town. Anoears off this initial shot that Marglis Is stressing a little too much on the unusual In music rather than on the dansapatlon qualities. It's the latter that pays off most. Mari?lis' 'accent on brass' combo henceforth will have Arnold Ben- nett, WNEW baritone, added. ; . ■ Scho. HERTH SWING TRIO IS MIns. Sustaining Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m., EDST WEAP, New York One of the zippiest bits of its kind on the air— much too good for so early in the day. Plenty potent enoiich for an early evenlniz spot. Outfit consists of Milton Herth with an electric, organ, plus piano and traps.- Stuff is not only swingy and plenty tuneful, but has an indefinable but persistent trace of humor. Carrying out the humor idea are the announcements, which are sock stuff on their own. On session cauallle, Alexandre Flset, Francois Jobin, Mme. Alleyn For- tier, Mme. Rene Mathieu, M. Ratte, M. Marfer Dramatic Serial 30 MIns. Participating Monday, 9:30 p,m. CHRC, <)iiebec Serial dealing with French-Can- adiah village life, centering round a typicar country store, has been oh the air for approxiitiately four years, with current indications for contin- uation for an indefinite period.: Pro- gram has two or - three sponsors whose names- are . woven into the script, commercials being limited to a mere mention of toe product plugged^^ • Dramatic serials have proven par- ticularly successful with French- Canadian listeners, with this country store production rated among the most popular in this part of the province. Characterizations include the usual village cut-up, the gossipy widow, the village stalwart and an appropriate lineup of typical French- Canadian .villagers. Episode caught dealt with a bank robbery, ending on a note of uncertainty when Ma- thurin's cousin is suspected. Considering the limited field to which the. performers are confined, the small group of stock players are adequate, and at times impress with their faithful characterizations. SATURDAY NIGHTERS With Jim Davidson'tf-' Symphonelies, Jimmy Campbell, Ella Shields, Glee Cliib, Alice Smith eO/Mins. Saturdays; 9- p.m. Sustainlhir 2 FC, Sydney New type of rhythm show pre- sented by the Atistralian Broadcast- ing Commission, Has Jimmy. Camp^ bell in as m.c. It's nice radio, fare from arty: angle, but Campbell brought nothing new in m.c. style. His voice smacks of both sides of the Atlantic; ■ hardly American ' and hardly British. (He's the former London miisic publisher, who -has been in the U. S. extensively,, and which may account for the hybird inflection.) Ella Shields, vaude star, was' the guest on the opening program. Did one number, 'Show Me the Way to Go Home,' Campbell's , own com- position and a fave of yesteryear. Jim Davidson hns been the tops in dance band leaders over here for many moons and knows his radio. Current combo leaves nothin?. to be desired. Alice Smith is rated ' as about the best temme crooner in tliese parts. Capably produced, but definitely lacking in comedv value, the show, nevertheless, should gel good listener response. Follow-Up Comment Elvira Riot, despite that superla- tive billing about having - been the toast of Mexico City, chirps her .Latin tempoed tunes in fetching style from the Coast via an NBC- WJZ hookup 7:30 p,m, Thursdays, Senorlta Ribs also breaks it up with U. S. pops, and the combination, al- ternating with a zingy rhumba-tango combo, makes for a. brisk quarter hour. 'Port of Missing Hits' is another illustration of the manner in which the radio interests . are employing music, ■ presumably on . the theory that if they're paying $5,000,000 a year for turtes, they may.' as well make the most of it It principally groves, however, that music is the ackbone of radio and that the kilo- cycles can well 'produce' its musical resource's anC. achieve all sorts of re- sults.. 'Port of Missing Hits' is batoned by Robert Emmett Dolan, . who, used to be Bobby Dolan when he' was miisicking for Wiiilter O'Keefe at the old Barney Gallant's in Greenwich 'Village and points west . Idea of the show is novel and a Switch on just cavalcading tin pah alley. It takes hits ■ by Kern, Arlen, Schwartz, .et al:, and .then contrasts them with also-ran tunes by the self- same composers. Thus, a bit out of 'Cat and the Fiddle* by Jerome Kern is compared to anbthier excerpt from the same operetta, which nevei: got any place. Ditto Harold Arlen's .and finally Arthur Schwartz, whb. just tb give it the switch, Illustrated hbw a light . ditty frbm a Cochran musical was resurrected from the: port of missing: hits, and made into a :U. S. click after being jiist so-so in Lon- don. ,'Carol Wyman, Neila Goodette^ et al., assist Dolan - vocally ih chirp- ing the tunes, and altogether it's a fetching half hour. It'll get no spon- sors frothing at the checkbooks after it but it's different from the usual tinpaniana. Charlie Althoff, whose hick- flddler. turn kept him up In . vaude marquee lights for years, made ^ a handsome contribution tb 'Let's Get Together,' CBS sustainer,, last Tues- day night (16). Althoff's comedy lines, in high treble came over hicely and the routine on the strings was enjoyably reminiscent of the old. vaude days. ' Effect bf Althoff's act could have been better if he had had a more adept straight than Jack Be. eh, for whoni Columbia has am- bitions of developing; into another AT Pearce. Same program had a cou- ple other comics, Hope Emerson and Lou: Babian. Miss Emerson's tele- phone monolog was consistently diverting, while Babiah's material proved a troublesome damper to a personality that has yet: to prove it- self for radio. Herbert Agar, editorialist of the Louisville (Ky.) Courier- Journal,, in a 10-minute talk Aug. 22 over :the NBC blue as part Of a symposium on 'Basic Principles of Democracy' at the Veterans of Foreign WarS con- vention in Columbus, O., painted the American press, or at least a large part of it| in colors far from brilliant. He castigated the press for its 'trivial mindedness,' its 'abuSeT of fascism and pommuhism without at- tempting to understand either system; for 'running away from the facts,' for using 'nursery talk,' for attempting to give the impression that the solution of our. present day economic problems hinges on the Democratic versus the Republican party. Agar declared that editors were treating the possible decline of western civilization as though it were a circulation stunt Horace Heidt's Brigadiers on the Sunday Aleiiiite program over WEAF-NBC Sunday (21) demon- strated how a novel idea could be developed into a 30-minute broad- cast/Built entirely around the '10 best selling songs of all time,' idea represented plenty of . intensivie re- search as well as elaborate orches- trations, tb build up older numbers to. present-day radio temjDo. Band played the all-time big song seller, 'Till We Meet Again,* -credited with selling 6.500,000 copies. Heidt listed 'Ti-Pi-TIn' as latest best pop seller, with 300,000 copies sold, Conr trasted this with the ninth top all- time- tune, which sold 1,500,000 copies. Clifton Fadlman guested last Sun- day (21) as m.c. on the Magic Key program, Also did a solo bit and teamed with Franklin P. Adams in a comedy sketch. His m.c. stint was better than average for the show, since his subtle comedy manner and material gave the proceedings an en- livening boost Solo job was in seri- ous vein. Introduced as a literary critic, he replied that, he wasn't anv- thing as impressive as that, merelv hook reviewer for the New. Yorker, Then went on to talk , about book re- viewing and rradin?. Worked into a fairly longhand enthralling discourse about how and why the jiive years •ive the only rea'.lv enjovable ones for rcadini!. Confab with Adams wasn't up to that Trouble was that HENBT' ABMSTBONG-LOV. AM- BERS FIGHT Clem McCarthy, Bill St«ra RCA VICTOR Wednesday night (11) WJZrNBC, New York (Lord & Thoma*) Clem McCarthy turned in -a vague and confusing job in : call- ing 'em from : the ringside of this lightweight championship bout at Madison Square Garden. Radio erratum such' as these make . It better for next niorning's newspajier circulation. Listeners have to buy a paper to find out what really hap- pened and also to treat themselves to a few mbments of perplexity by comparing the sportwriters' accounts with McCarthy's description. McCarthy showed a strong sym- pathy for Ambei-s, the uhderdog in the betting and the losing champ, from the start This angle brought itself sharply to the notice of Eddie Meade, Armstrong's manager, who the following day protested to: NBC. Network, : in ; order to prove that McCarthy hadn't been laying it on too thick for Ambers during the .broadcast, . arranged to hav6 Meade listen to a record takeoff of McCarthy's, chore. The McCarthy version of the sec- bnd : drbp by Ambers to the canvas diffeired sharply with the spbrt- writers' report bf the same incident. The latter desciribed it . as a knock- down, for which Ambers took a count of eight McCarthy informed the listeners that Ambers had just sig-^ naled his corner that it was mdrely a footslip. What pbinted up the lack of clarity and precision in McCarthy's description ' was his frequent use of the name Joe Louis when he meant Armstrong. In due time, the listener got the impression that Ambers had two cbntenders and; not one. On radio row they're cracking that RCA has a double purpose: in under- writing these - fight broadcasts virith McCarthy. 'The .less obvious motive Involves the hope that successive disappointments will transmute ; it- Self into hearty rooting for the com- mercial introduction of television. Odec. JOB TO BE DONE With Peter Maddeii, Howard Marion Crawford, David Miller, Alistalr Cooke, B,B.C. Orchestra Based on Columbia : Workshop pro- duction, 'Ecoe Homo.' . by Wllliara Rodsbn . Special Music by Rernard Hermann 29 MIns. B.B.C., London Pare Lorentz's experimental effort is Jan incisive documentary of - indus- trial ..America, -'and careful produc- tion at B.B.C. made a gripping pro- gram, whose moral and : appeal was only marred by too great insistence on modem tricks of symbolical mu- sic and. ear-jarring discords. Script build-up la grand and subject mat- ter boldly tackled, so that show comes out a provocative Iteini which may stir sympathetic British ears as well as those of the Americans at whom it was originally hurled.: . U. S. it appears (to the English) IS not afraid to face the realities of Its system, nor to radiate contro- versial matter which is both com- pellingly - contrived and emotionally convincing. It is to credit of B.B,C. maybe that, knowinjj it would never be permitted to handle such explos- ive matter on its own account— such are the shackles the Government im- poses on British riadlo— it can dare to trap the shadow, if nbt the substance bf the sbcial problems that are as real in the^u: K. as those which America suffers iinder. This vivid document lost nothing in translation. Obvious care was used by Lau- rence Gilliam in keeping B;B.C. ver- s'o.n^clbse to Columbia's original, and Alistair Cooke collaborated in insur- ing realism in American types which came to the listener as vbices SL'- ' *iu"l^1.* ^"^ "ot the comic phoneys that have to pass so often ".^"^f .American citizens.: Spe- cially significant was the sincere in- tensity of the enunciation— Peter Madden, Howard Marion, Crawford and David Miller particularly giv- ing honest characterization to a var- ied, bunch of, workmen bn the move. i'rogram had more punch thah lill^^ Sdnday night swift. ''•'ythm and tempo wire ELISABETH BEBGNER •St. Joan' Dramatle 38 MIns. B. B.C.,: London By a broadcast, from Its Midland studio in Birmingham, B.B.Cj" to give listeners a brief taste of neS Slays in the rcpisrtoiy of this year'5 lalvern Festival, organized annn ally to honor George Bernard Slaw .New plays staged^ are certain for West End presentation during new season, so radio owners got a Icim! of trailer; they alsO got a fragment Elisabeth Bergner in Shaw's .s. Jban,' which, Pn the other hand u less likely to be seen outside of Ma verne. • In general idea, program was good; Insofar as broadcast was built up round the Bergner episode though, show was a flop. Boosted m the ex-German star's first broadcart in five years, it brbught her to the mike for fln ephemeral appearanc^ of only three minutes, and in the quiet opening scene of Shaw's plav —when it had been said she wduld play_ the powerful inquisition- scen^ Maybe she chose the lesser scene because it was her first entrance that got her the most praise from the critics. As mike technique, Miss Bergner's part, what there was of it was ef- fective, suggesting she would do well with radio. But the interpretatioa of the G.B.S. heroine, as far as could be ascertained, was coiholfetely oil key, presenting a cheeky gamin where Joan was ih truth a fo^th^ right peasant girl with implicit faith in her vislbnary destiny. Also though conimahdine reasonable flu-' ency in the vernacularj Bergner showed fine disregard for the lines as Shaw wrote them,- and it didn't improve his burnished dialog to have' it manhandled by an: actress who concentrated on its broad meaning and not Its: precision accuracy. Of other, pliay's aired ih part thefe appeared grand promise in the latest by James Bridie. - Entitled The Last Trump,' this is a dryly comic yarn of a wealthy businessman who gets ah earful from a famous physician and then retires to the Scottish, country- side: torbe told by a crazy American astronomer the. world is to' end 24 Hours later. Cecil Trouncer's mike ' version: of the specialist, was rich and rare, and Frank Pettingell madB the victim an excellent contrast 'Coronation Time at Mrs. Beam's' appeared a vacuous continuation ot C. K. Munro's earlier play about a rooming house and its inmates, held / up only but a. studied characteriza- - tion from Jean Cadell and a few laughs. The excerpt ifrOm Lord Dunsany's 'Alexander'; seemed one of those fanciful imitations of the Greek tragedies. CESARE SODERO, Jr. Violinist ■ RCA ,SifS^i^' ^ EDST WJZ, New York -^ Eleven-year-old son bf the radio a guest shot oh the Magic Key show. After a gehtly- humorous intro by Clifton Fadiman, nXiii'^ \?ssed^off two fairly difficult fiddle jobs as his father handled the accompaniment First, selection was rather long and consequently not so absorbing a^s the n^J^f '*" ''"* the biggest . name concert fiddlers, young Sodero isonly of limited radio appeal, despite Hi's Kobe. the boys were trying too hard to bo t".""y- Talk was about swing music, with Fadiman and Adams getting off Ouns, deinonstrating their vocalizing limitations and exchanging barbed insults, ' TODOR MAZ ARdi^F Tenor RCA Sunday, 2 p.m., EDST WJZ,: New York : Bally'hboed as the newest operatic flnd of Europe, Todor Mazaroff wai short-waved from Holland last Sun- day (21) fbr a guest shot on. the Magic Key program. Bulgarian tenor has a potent set of pipes and can wrap them airound a compbsitibn, but the bit was marred by the usual in- terference over the Atlantic' Static made anything more than most casual criticism impbsslble. Hobe. Will Hudson Disbands Orch for Forced Rest Will Hudsbn has tempbrarily dis- banded his orch and leased a cottage at Lake Geerge, N. Y., where he will rest until October. Move was made on. doctor's orders. Maestro-com- poser will, however, continue to turn out tunes while recouping. Formerly known as Hudson-De- lange orchestra, with Eddie Delange as co-leader, crew had been intact for the last four years, and only two mein have been replaced since it was brganized in 1932. When the split between the leaders came this spring, Hudsbn took bver the outflt and Delange org;anized a new one- It's currently swinging at the Show Bar, Forest Hills, L. I. Cbrrigan (Continued from page 1) across the Mississippi to the propef field. Kemper and Anthony scooped the rest of the local stations, as well_ as the daily rags, oh the 'near mistake. It cost , the sUtion $40 tb set up w portable broadcasting equipment, make telephonic , connections, etc. Air Show Exclusive „ Seattle, Aug. KVl aired exclusively" the Paci(j« Northwest air show. Special au- thority was granted by FCC to use plane as originating point for ae- scriDtlon of the air race, bic ev_ent Qi the day. via short-waver KNEG, bl- twccn Tacoma and . Seattle. J4"" Peterson described event direct lit"" plane flying with racers, ' VediKeaJayv Auguet 24, 1938 MUSIC ^ DAMSAP AXIOM VARIETY 39 Fisher Vs. Douglas Fred Fisher, who is both writer and publisher, last week challenged the advice given by Walter G. Douglas, chairman of the Music Pub- Ushers Protective Association, about members checlting up to see whether they had the proper renewal assignments from writers who come within the employe for hire provisions of the copyright law. yUher held that Douglas went but of line by citing the Tobani vs. (Carl) Fisher decisibn as the motive for his aciion. Fisher reminded Douglas that the Tobani case involved arrange- ments of public domain, works arid not original compositions, and that there, is a big legal difference between an arranger who works for a regular salary and a writer who accepts a weekly advance or draw- ing account from a publisher.. Fisher claims that quite a number of, the major publishers are basing their alleged conflscatiori of renewal rights on such drawing accounts', and not what is meant by employe- for-hire in the copyright law. If the pubs owned these originiil copy- rights, why, asks Fisheir, have they for years paid royalties to the jsme writers on these works? . Fisher cites his own controversy, with S.hapiro, Bernstein & Co. over ■ the renewal rights to 'Gome, Josephine, in My Flying Machine' as a ease in {ioint. If S-B, as it claims, obtained the tune while he was an employe, why did it, he wants to know, make subsequent royalty settlements with him. Ofay Bands, Out-fleatillg^ Swii^sters, Cutting In on 'Em at B.O. Bookers and managers of Negro ttands are becoming increasingly worried about evaporating time. In- iteming lack of theatre dates— once their most important item — plus slow eliffllnation of road stands and dance dates has further militated against .them. But the biggest slap came with the advent of white bands going Into torrid. Negro music— -long, ig- nored. Result finds, white bands out-, heating the originators of swing, and letting preference. Some , of the bookers are easing eiit of the picture, although not sac- riflcing what is left. Irving Mills, once specializing almost wholly in Negro talent, is swinging to whites. Hills is tapering oR on the former tngle and acquiring ofay talent for Us rejuvenated booking office.; Joe Gluer, manager of Louis Armstrong, •nd important in Negro field, has; ilso stated that he will graduate to other things shortiy. Music Corp. of America has virtually ignored ■ Negro band department, and : has confined itself to outside booking of only a couple of bands, notably Count Basie. Pennsylvania, country's prime omebody Tell Me . These Things,' • slogan that Fred Allen has fre- quently used on his Ipana-Sal "epatica program (NBC). Shapiro °as notined B-V-C that if the latter wrsists in putting out the number jj^re win be immediate resorting to we.courts for an injunction. s>tiapiro-Bernstein claims that it *astte first to register the tiUe with w Music Publishers Protective As- woiation, publish the tune and get it The S-B version was writ- «n by Terry Shand and Jerry Eaton, r» I B-V-C song was turned BrL V, Walter.. Donaldson. Latter J^^holds that it has as much right "J^Wie title as Shalpiro-Bernistein, !™" Wat there is no logical or legal why It should yield its rights. Same Philly Scale Philadelphia, Aug. 23, New price list was Issued this week by Musicians Local for - night club and hotel engagements. There were no changes whatsoever from last sea- ison, only demands being for. a few improvements in working conditions. Top. card price remains at $59 for six hours a night in Class A spots, with $5 a week reduction for 25- wieek contracts. Lopez s Revised National Anthem On Conunl Basis Vincent Lopez's revised version of the 'Star Spangled Bather' will . be published by Exclusive Publications with Lopez's, royalties ' going to the Warm Springs (Ga.) Paralysis Foun- datioil and the American Legion. Latter org has alresidy indorsed the altered, anthem. Song will come up for 'official' recognition in Washington next Con- gressional session when Rep. Eman- uel Celler (N. Y.) will bring it be- fore the body. Was attempted dur- ing last gabfest, but, lost in the melee. Melody remains unchanged, but Iiopez has altered several bars of the song in order to make its range possible to average voice. Santly-Jdy-Select INssoIres 3 Corps. Santly^Joy-Select, Inc., last, week went through the legal forinality of dissolving ■ three of its former cor- porations, Saiitly Bros.-Joy, Inc., Se- lect Music Publications, Inc., and the holding company for the latter two, Drury Lane Enterprises, Inc. No- tices of dissolution were sent to the secret«rsey plays Corn Palace, S'".' ^- °- Sept 26 to : Oct ""^in* husk festival . Aathony Candelorl orch, house J?^ at WFiL, Phllly. inked into l^t'Pal Pier. Cape May, until ^17, when it is due back at the i Dlnh,^*"** '»an^. a'ter com ^ ™g_month's stay at Chippewa Uwri Ittii Lake. Detroit '"y GraysfOnrs orch, playing last week Greyhound Dorsey Better, Orch Set For String of Bookings Completely recovered from throat ailment. Tommy Dorsey leads' his crew into a week of one-niters Fri- day (26), opening at Colqina, Michi- gan, oh that date; and winding lip in Louisville, Ky;, Aug. 31. Band comes into New. York, Sept. 4, for Magic Key airing and hops to Binghamton, N. Y.,- for a one-niter same ^night. ■ Crew goes ' into- the Paramount, N. Y., Sept 28, and the Hotel New Yorker, N. Y., Oct 12. Bernie Will Tee Off InlTCasino's Name Orch Policy; Starts Sept. 25 MCA-READE TIFF Woody Herman renewed at Edge- water.' Gulf hotel. Gulf port,' Miss., until Sept; 5. . Patricia Nornub joins the- Jan Garber band when" latter opens at Blackhawk, Chicago; Nov. 10. ■ Rambna's crew at Lakeside Park, Denwel-, Aug. 23 to Sept 11. Glenn Miller into Ocean Pier, Wildwood, N. J., Aug. 27 to Sept 2 after closing at Million Dollar Pierj Atlantic City, N. J. Segar Ellis bookied for Adolphus hotel, Dallas, Tex., Aug. 26 to Sept 22. Mitchell Ayres stays at Village Barn, N. Y., until Jan. 1, '39. Claude Hopkins being readied, for a . one-nite' tqiir of (Canada . by R-O'K. First time in that territory for negro band and infrequently one- nited by any other U. S. crews. . Gall Reese replacing Janice Todd as vocalist with Will Osborne's band. Joins crew at Eastwood Gardens^ Detroit Aug. 26. lAfry Clinton plays Earle theatre, Philadelphia, week of Septl 9. Then (Continued on page 52) . After That Pitt Date, Savitt Is Taking 21-I)ay Ciiiise to Recuperate Philadelphia, Aug.. 23. Jan Savitt," whose orch, staff band at KYW, played a jinx date at the Stanley.; Pittsburgh, last week, is leaving Friday night (26) on a 21- day cruise to Venezuela .to re- cuperate. . Savitt . was taken to a: Pittsburgh hospital . with a strep- tococic infection- of -the throat on the day. the Stanley engagement opened. On the day before, , one of the. cars in which the band was travel- ing ,fo -Pittsburgh overturned at CarroUtown, Pa; . Bill Smith, • Ttian- ager, . is still in bed at his Philly home: with - a broken leg, while Dorsey Andersoh. . . tpoter, had sev- eral teeth kijpcked: out and has been unable, to play. . Band continued with' , its dates, with Bon Bon, chirper, and Jerry Taps, , hoofer,, working in. bandages. Johnny Watson,, arranger, 'batoned. Several New Ehgland:dates skedded before orch. returns to .KYW. Sept. 1 have been cancelled, however. GILLESPIE BECOMES B. A. ROLFE'S PERSONAL MGR. Pullout by Sammy Kaye . Orchestra Cause of RIfl - Music : Cc>-?. of America is in a steam-heaited situation; with Walter Reade interests because of cancella- tion of Sammy Kaye ■. at Reade's Ca- sino,- Asbury Park, N.J. Band -was skedded to :eo in Sept. 3 on a gentlenvan's agreement between Hajry Moss, of MCA, and Reade. Ballroom had advertised Kayo's date and was preparing further exploita- tion when informed that Kaye could hot make it MCA is now trying to placate with a sub. HEIDT TOPS SPITALNY RECORD IN DETROIT . Jimmie' G'Uespie . returns ■ to the band and : orchestra field this week is manager, and .promotion exec for. B. A. Rblfe. Gillespie 'formerly handled Paul Whiteman, their as- sociation lasting for period of seven years. • . Gillespie's, asspciiation . -with Rolfe; is: on ^ terin contract basis with a percentage figuring in the transac- tion. : NIta Bradley, femme . chirper formerly with. Artie Shaw and Rudy Vallee prchs, has been inked to a pact with Clem Williams, socialite swingster. Horace Heidt orchestra topped the record draw of Phil Spitalny's- all- gill crew at Westwood- Gardens in Detroit second , night of its , three- week date there.! Heidt dr^w ,5.9(j0 admissions into the park,; beating Spitalny's mairk of .4,400. " Band exited Monday (21) arid goes into the Lyric theatre, Indiariapblis,. Fri- day (26), playing four one-niters sin between. Heidt orch has- done consistently good biz.on its oheTniter and the- atre tour. Outfit ashcanned records at Wilkes-Bai-re, Allehtow.h and Car- tolltown, .Pa. Fernbrook Park, WilkesrBarre, was Wobbling in deep . carmine until Heidt- came in. ' Another oiitfit that- proved a sleep- er and boon to ballroom operators was George Hall, "currently at State, N. Y.' Crew did above ordinary biz in nearly every spot it went into- on a tour , just completed. Draw is credited to its' practically unbroken seven-year stretch at the Taft hotel grill, N. Y., with a wire most of that time.. . The one major .aeterrent which Clidord C. Fischer still . ascribes to the . financial di iculties which en- countered the original French Ca- sino on Broadway— that of name bands— will be oltset when Fischer .moves his Continental revues into the International Casino, N. Y. Ben Bernie will tee off the name bands, and the idea will be perpetuated,, with, the belief that dansapation must be a major lure, as weU. as the floor. shows. Date is around Sept. 25. The French Casino ilcked for three years,. v>a its succession of Gal- lic. revues, but as soon, as the novelty wore off, tlie major hoofery appeal— or, rather, the lack of it— asserted it- self, and negatively, for b.o.. Robert K. C:hrjstenl)erry, managing director of the International Casino, as well, as the Hotel Astor, directly across Times Square, originally Wanted Bernie to remain all. winter on the hotel's roof, when the Astor first mulie.d the, thought that the grill ' might -be closed for the winter and the heated roof kept optn'. How- ' ever, the plan has been , dropped and - Bernie moves into the other Chris- tent)erry spot via Music (^prp. of - 'America booking;. ; Bernie opens Friday. (26) at the Broadway Strand, inducting that Warner house into the bandshow pol- icy. Scat Powers Orch Mills Artists will form a band around Scat Powell, singer, for in- troduction around Oct' 1. ' Newcomer leader, -said to be part Indian, formerly 'worked with Willie Farmer's band in Radio City Prome- nade, N. Y. . .ABC . . Tenney ^ . . . , , . Harms .. . Robbins . . . . . . Stainy ...... . . Berlin. . ... ABC . . Famous . . . , .. Witmark...., . . Famous .. ., . . . . Red Star . . , . . Robbins . . . . .Mills . . ... . . Miller . . .. . .Famous .... . . Chappcll .. . . . . Words-Musio . . Santly-Joy . . .Feisl ......... . . Lincoln .. . . Harms .. . ABC .. . . Mills .. .. Fox ; . Fclst . . . Miller .': . . . . . Robbins . . . . Olman . . Feist .. i .Famous .. • ■ Pop ;.....,....'... . :Pdp ,. .. 'Garden of the Moon....... . . 'H Married an Arigel. : . . Pop . . : . . . . . 'Alexander's Ragtime Band. . ;. Pop .. .■ . . '.Sine' You Sinners. ......... . . •Cowboy from Brooklyn . . . . .. »BooIoo . . Pop . . . Pop i. . . : ; : . . . . ;pop ..■ . . Pno '. . ♦Cocoanut Gi-ove . ;Pob ,; : ..Pop . . 'Sine You Sinners. . . 'My Lucky . Star. . . Pop : , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..♦Grand Terrace Revue;.....; . . "Alexander's Ragtime Band-. . . Pop .... . . . . . . . Pop .... ........ ..Pop ; . . Pop . . . . -. . '. . . . '. . Married an Ansel- . . Pop . . . ; .... . '. : . . . . ..'Love Finds Aridy Hardy.... i V 'Cbcoariut Grove. . ...... 39 36 36 30 30 29 26 25 22 21 20 19 19 18 18 18 17 17 17 16 16 le 15, 15 ' 14 , 14 I 14 I 13 i 13 : i:i I l.T 13 12 12 It II 11 11 n II 10 10 10 10 10. 10 'Love in Swingtime' Going 7ween Covers At 50c for Jitterbugs 'Love In Swlngtime,' lately, a King Features Syndicate serial by Tommy Dorsey and George D'. Lottman, will be published by Exclusive Publica- tions (music pubs) in book form with several ,. embellishments. Will be ready around Set>t.l. Newspaper piece will.be bound in. soft covers, for 50c. Will include about 130 pictures with Edy the Wright, i)or« sey- vocalist, adorning paper wrapper, A- 'History of Swing,' plus a glossary of about . 600 swing terins and biogs of 10. top band leaders, will be in- cluded in' first boot form literary' attempt aimed at jitterbugs. Network Hugs, 5^ . ■ ' ■ i . ■ ' FgUowing is a totalization of the combined plugs of current tunes on WEAF, WJZ, WABC and WOR computed for the week from Monday through •Sunday (Aug. 15-21). Total represents acciirtmldled peTSoTtnances on the two- NBC links, CBS arid: Mutual from h p. m. to 1 a. m. In,' Source' column, • denotes film song^, \ legit tunes, and 'pop' speaks ior itself.' ■ Grand Title. Publisher. Source. Total. A-Tisket A-Taiiket ....Robbins .....Pop What Goes on Here in My Heart. ........ Paramount ..'Give Me- a Sailor I'm Gonna Lock My Heart...;..... ...Shapiro ...Pop Will You Remember Tonight, Tomorrow? ..BVC .. . ; Pop You Go to My Head .. . Remick Pop When Mother Nature Sings Her Lullaby . Santly-Joy Pop Now It Can Be Told.........'... ...Berlin ..'Alexander's flagtime Band..... Stop Beating Around the Mulberry Bush. .BVC ........Pop I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams. Santly-Joy 'Smg You Sinners. Lullaby in Rhythm. Robbins .•••Pop Where in the World: . . Fcist_ •Josette . . So Jlelp Me. Remick Pop ■. Music. Maestro. Please; ............... ■■■ ■ Berlm .^op Colorado Sunset. ..Gilbert Pop Bambina . . ... • .:. • Spier Pop ........... Flat Foot Floogee. ; Green Bros ....... . . .... .Pop When Twilight Cpnies. Shapiro^.. ..... ..... ./Pop Don't Cro.ss Your Fingers. Ager-Yellcn . . . Pop I Hadn't Anyone Till You. ; — Thei-e's a Faraway Look in Your Eyes. Garden of the Moon. • I Married an Artgel Rosie the Redskin. My Walking Stick . . ^ Love ot My Life. .... • Small Fry. ..:•:..... ...•••. — I'll Dream Tdhifiht .......... Beside a Moonlit Stream. . . . , •;• • Toytown Jamboree.'. When They Played the Polka:.......... 1 Let a Song Go Out of My. Heart. ... . There's Honey on the Moon. Tonight — You Leave Me Breathless. . • tu-Li Tulip ,Time . • • • If I Loved You More. . v • • • • • Don't Let That Moon Get Away...... I've Got a Date with a Dream Naturally .. .......... ..........•,- .•••••• I've Been Saving Myself for You....... Alexander's Ragtime Band. .......... I Haven't Changed a Thing ... . . . . • • • In a Little. Dutch Kindergarten. On the Bumpy Road to Love. . • ... . . • • • ■Isn't It Wonderful, Isn't It Swell. • • Spring Is Here . • • • • Little Lady Mf wtirt' " •' ' ■'• Feist" ^ .:.•••... .••Lovi Finds Aridy Hardy .........:.. . 10 .•summer MMt the ?!!!'.V;V;;V.^V.V.V.Fimous Vi . . ; ....V'Cocoariut Grove. lOi of Negr. NAME ORCHS PLAYING FOR BLIND MltSICIANS First of the four concerts fOr the benefit of blind musicians goes, on tonight (Wed.) in Randajl's Island stadium, N. Y. Initial.bill will likely, have Hal Kenip,' Al Donahue, Joe Marsala, :Ben Bernie, Russ Morgan, Larry. Clinton, Ben Cutler,: Guy Lombardo and George Olsen orches- tras, among others. pITicials have made extra arrange- ments for:. police protection against jitterbug enthusiasm. Cops . will be lined up at exits from the grand- stand to the infield to prevent a re- currence of events tt WNEW's swing outing in May. Kids then left seats and swarmed onto the field to shag and Lindy on the grass. O'Keefe, Rockwell Back F. C. O'Keefe returned from (he Coast Monday (22) to- Rockwell- O'Keefe office in N. Y. Was gone alrout three weeks visiting Casa Lbma band. Tommy Rockwell; part- ner, returned fronri Houston, Tex;, Friday (19).: ptTice had been minus its three execs, including Mike Nidorf, for about a week .straight. Latter is in Texas arranging opening of new branch in Dallas. Blanche : Cohen, ■ O'Kcefe's .secretary, also returned to work this week after bcini{ out sev- eral wi^ks with broken, pelvis. Lunceford's Hiarlem B.O. Jimrhy Liincef platihcd oh a. new show to go in with Buddy Rogers' orchestra,; which returns Sept 15. With ice show, headed by Brandt Sisters, ' building steadily, Shcrninn hotel has decided to hold it over rather thin 'ejcperiment with uncer- tain talent Congress hotel- has. anr nounced no plans tor reopening its Casmo. Ralph Hitz ' crowd hasn't been able to find right kind of talent for spot, and may bring back Nils T. Granlund (N.'T.G.), who was in room early this year. Continental room at the' Stevens, which has been shopping for a strong dance team to fit atmosphere of loom, has twice renewed Glover arid: LaMae. . , The LaSaiUe hotel, which has . nothing new in sight, is also shopping for the same kind of act. Palmer house, too,, is holding over its current show longer: than cu$toihary. This new Colony club . is - set tbi rcr open with Nick Dean, from the Yacht clubi in charge. Only 'Dwight Fiske set, . with Dean hustling around for supplementary talent. Bill Robinson, Calloway, Sullivan for Cotton Club New Cotton Club show on Broad- \yay is being readied for its annual premiei-ej Sept. 20. This seasori. Bill Robinson and Cab Calloway will, again topiinc, augmented by Maxine Sullivan.. J. Fred Coots and Benny Davis are fashiotiing the ditties and, per usual, Mills Music publishing, Meantime a second edition of the Cotton Ciub revue, transferred to the Surfside, Long Branch, continues iihtil Sept.; 8. Oscani Heads AlKYank Sbow at tondoii Nitery Paul Oscard, after several years in XJ; S., will', return to Europe as di- rector of . an all-American show at Grpsvenor House, London,. for Music Corp. of America. He's due in NeW York today (Wed.) from the Coast. French director, formerly . with Balaban & Katz circuit, was given assignment following good result of his handling Casa Manana show. Ft: Worth, Tex., for MCA. It was MCA's first production on its own. New London show goes over In about six weeks. ST. LOUIS SOLON ISSUES CHECK ON NITERY NAMES SCALA, BERLIN. SETS MANY U.S.ACTS London, Aug. 15; Harry Foster has booked a big vaudeville .aggregation of Aiperican acts at' the •Scalai Berlin', for da tober and November. These are Buster Shaver with Olive and George, Dave and Doro- thy Fitzgibbon, Will and Gladys Ahern, Cardini, Gene Sheldon-Lp- retta Fischer and Ed Ford-Whltey Eddie Deusbergt the Scala producer, is building a vaudeville unit arpiind the acts, which .will be a sort of 'Crazy' show, on the style of that St. Louis, Aug. 23. Excise Commissioner Lawrence McDaniel has issued an edict that no nitery in this burg r . ay use the tags of national elebs or political parties, i at . the London Palladium. Several now operating within this T Following this show will be Henry scope must change their names or j ngn-j ^^^^ and Eddie Peabody, he will refuse to renew licenses. The - ' ■ • . ■ commissioner said the purpose of the brder was to avoid public injury to ' «■ i , T__l T any pierson or party. l lnODSterS iTTlDg lO Of the three nlteries that fall un- I " der McDan.iel's ban, one is known' as | the Roosevelt Club and' the others bear Democratic tag '. TMAT'S Nitery Campaign; Wants Bistro Ballyers Theatrical Managers, Agents and Treasurers union has called, a meet- ing of nitery press agents for to- morrow night (Thursday). Union is anxious to organize the bistro bally- ers, of wlvch there are about 25 of standing in New York. Union already has some of the nit- ery p.a.s in its group through boys doubling as legit publicists. How- ever, wants to form a separate chap- ter of new group and has issued Invitations to cream of the flcld. Muscle in on Barkeeps Richman May Open Cafe In Delmonico Hotel, N. Y. Delmonico's hotel. New York, which has never gone in for nanje nitery talent, may becorhe the home of Harry, Ric'hman's new Cafe. A November opening is planned by the Wolf Bros., who have an interest in the hotel, and plan rebuilding a large grillroom ifpr Richman. Rock- well-O'Keefe would book the bands, which might be either Joe Rines or Enric Madrigucra. Adelaide Moifctt is a possibility as vocalist ' Richman was flirting for the House of Morgan, but Sherman Billingisleyi of the Stork Club, is pgling that spot for a class suppci .room. Richman for Chi's Chez Chicago. Aug. 2.1. Harry Richman heads new bill at the Che? Pare« Sept 14. Planes in from Los Angeles where he closes at Clover club Sept. 10. Oxford Boys will be on supporting bill. Abe Lyman band will hold over. TATUM'S CHI SPOT Chicago, Aug. 23: Art Tatum, blind colored pianist, opens at the Three Deuces tomorrow (Thursday). . Recently worked at Famous Door, N. v. 52hd istreet, 3\»'ingcry. Detroit, Aug. 23. Accusing gangsters of trying to muscle in,' Detroit bartenders union last week told the state r.um board it ^vas planning . to close its Bar tenders Club, where dispensers can catch a quick one. until 2 a.m. after serving others. Rum.board had called club on- car- pet foIlp\ying several complaints about after-curfew drinks and admiS' sion of . other than bartenders to. club, Williarh H. (J'Rourke, business man- ager for the bartenders, is said to have tpld Commissioner Hale G Knight that several prohibition era figures w.cre trying to take over the club: knight ruled that J inasmuch as state supi-cme court is testing rights of club, he'll refer the cprhplaihts to the full state rum commish. Fivoli's Good Biz Sydney, Aug. 4, New vaude-revue unit in for Tivoli looks like major biz over' a good spell. Acts include Kirby and Duval Reiss and Dunn, Moro and.Yacpnelli Bankoft and Capnori, MariOra, Bud and Buddies, Jimae, 'Two Rasslos, Jim CJerald, Cecil; Scott and Coral Mercer. Melbourne, Aug. 4, Vaudc-revue okay for Tivoli with Bouhding Robenis, Elmer Cleve, Clifford and Marion, Tolefson, fidward Sisters; Jerry Lawton, Chris Gill, Pe.tch and Deauville, Charles Norman and St Clair and O'Day^ More Pitts Dates ZaSu Pitts personals at the Stan ley, Pittsburgh, the week of Sept. 9, and follows that with a week' at the Hippodrome, Cleveland. ick Kra^ keur, of the; Louis Shurr office, agcnting. Filmite Is currently at the Parar mount, N. Y. Downey, Langford, Breien Sign for Mich. State Fair ■ Detroit, Aug. .23. . Morton Downey, Frances Langford and Bobby Breen. have been signed for Michigan State Fair's $100,C00 all-star shows in. the CoUseum, open- ing Saturday (27) and continuing through Sept 11. Morton Downey, will sing with . Benny . Goodman's band; Miss Sangford with Giiy Lom- bardP'^ aggregation, and Breen with Buddy Rogers' band. . Other names include Rudy .Vallee's orchestra, which opens .setup this week; Kay Kyser's band, and Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. • 15 YEARS AGO « (From Vaiiieit and Clipper) Sarah Padden offered a: l.alf hour sketch in six- sceries at the Fifth Ave- nue, N. Y. Had a company of,, six. Got over,, but not regarded as a wiii- ner. Charles E. Blaney, who was mak- ing pictures, advertised for two 100- foot yachts, an airplane and a sea- plane. Willing to pay all cashr as they were t6 be destroyed' in his forthcoming pictures. Keller Sisters and Lynch' In their first three act. Playing the 234 St., N. Y. Over nicely- All old acts at the Palace, N. Y., but the out-pf-tpwners rounded but an audience., Yvette Ru'gel made such .. hit.bpening a mat she was sent from front aitter intermission to next to closing. Stella Mayhew heaided 'at the.Slatb. Had dropped some poundage and that helped, 'three special songs .and a inonologue. Gar Wood announced he was building a speed boat , in which he hoped to. cross . the : Atlantic in 48 hours: Just a dream. Three acts at the Chicago Palace all used - the same bit of comedy business, but, they all got laughs, so what! Emile Boreo at the St..te-Lake, Chi, and wowing with his Wooden Soldier bit Paramount announced a new sales system. Pictures would be played in the producer's own key spots and rentals based on tho b.o. in those spots. Didn't \york f ut so well; Trouble oyer 'Covered: Wagon' rOad showings. Some exhibs held Contracts and road showings eliihi- nated in those towns. Hays organization to replace the old Motion Picture Producers', Assn. in Los Angeles. Fred Beetson put in to :cut down the 'frightful over head' in production. Thomas (i. Pat ten did the pioneer work. Shapiro-Bernstein battling Educa tional over latter's right to, use 'Yes We Have No T»anana-' as a film title. liqi'ity and Four A^s elected Frank Gillmbre delegate to the A. F. Of L. convention: Entitled tp two, but too poor to send more than one. Heath Important as Stn^t Man Tom Heath's death revives the stories that he and James Mclntyre did not speak for a period generally set as 25 years. The same story has been circulated, about all teams together for. an extended period, but while the two men may have had quarrels, generally over McIn- tyre's convivial habits, these difleirences were short-lived and of minor importance.. The team got along singularly well together for Heath was never jealous, of his partner. He: knew he was the per.; feet feeder for Mclntyre, but never seemed to feel resentment that his work contributed importantly to the success of the team without giving him an equal share of .the credit In this he was unusual. Heath Knew that.he was just as important to the act as the mem- ber who collected most of the laughs. He knew that without his aid Mclntyre would have been lost, and as long as the team was suc- cessful, he did not seem to care where the credit went. When they retired he bought property close to the spot where Mclntyre had located; .and they frequently saw each other until the infirmities of advancing age rendered both less capable of moving about. The friendship continued until dissolved by death, Jim Mclntyre died a year agOi VA. BEACH MAYOR, AIDE FREED IN GAMBLING ROW Virginia B^ach, Va., Aug. 23. Demanding ah immediate trial', Mayor Roy Smith and Chief of Police R L. Clanan were acquitted of 'aiding and abetting in gambling,' before Justice E. V. Gresham here last night (.22). Trial had originally been skedded for Sept. 12. The warrants were' sworn out yes- teirday (Mon.) by. H. P. Etheridge, manager of the Dunes, : night club, as retaliation for a raid by the police the previous night Reported that his charges :were based upon his feeling that some of the gambling paraphernalia taken in raids else- where oh the beach were turned back to their owners. Etheridge was fined ?5CiO and sentenced to a year In Jail on the gambling indictment He posted $1,000 bond pending appieal. NTG's Smorgasbordery WfthR:E. Daley Mahagihg Richard E. Daley, formerly with Billy Rose's Casa Manana, . N; Y., has been engageid to general manage Nils T. Granliihd's new Swedish nitery. Midnight Sun. Opens latter part of September. Daley was replaced at Casa' by Charles Borden when he took sick Oyer a month ago and forced to go away fpr a rest Saranac Lake By Happy Benway Al Lewis an^ "jlax Gordon joined the : Producing- Managers' Assrt. About to produce 'The Nervous Wreck,' their first full-length play. Loew theatres sending acts oyer a 16-woek route - • ii.lacts. Only one split week: Musicians' locals 31 j and 802 in a battle.. Managers decided; to deal only with 802. Mrs. Wllllain Morris to the Big Town for a couple of days to get away from the cool weather here. Vincent Jacobi, biz manager' of the International Alliance of 'Theatri- cal Stage. Employees,', visiting Joe McCarthy who recently mastered a nerve operation, Latter is. now doing ofcay. Katherine Brody, N. Y. writer. Is a newcomer at the Will Rogers. Al Lorraine, to be operated on by Dr. Woodruff. Wendell Brooks and Margaret Bruso < Will Rogers) are now Mr. and Mrs: Will Rogers patients were invited to the Trudeaii sanitarium concert given by the Lake Placid ensemble of the Boston Symphony. Dorothy Cruse, Brian Tracy and Harry Davey, all ex-Will Rogersites, vacationing here, at the same time taking the annual checkup. All re- ceived glad tidings, Tommy (lATSE) Abbott to Sun Mount Vet hospital. Jerry Slutzky, of the.N. Y. Uni- versal Pictures office ogled Martha Gill, James Meehan and Marion Kokler, who are on the mend. Harry (Loew's) Beuttel looking over James. Secley, another Loew product, who's getting "by. Mrs. William Schumacher at the Will Rogers from Lancaster, O., to see her husband, who's progressing. Kenneth Lihdlof celebrated an- other mile stone at the Will Rogers: Mr. and Mrs. John Theriault bed- siding John Louden at the Rogers. Bert Ford, ex-NVA-ite, now cruising around Bermudti and likes it Visitors at the Will Rogers were the Martin McGraths, N. Y.; the Howard Dunbars, Worcester, Mass.; the J. M. Stahl's, Washington,. D. C; G. Hoffman, Orange, N, J.; H, Schrader, N. Y.-; Mike Seefchak, N.; Y.; James Kenny, Philadelphia; William Hearley, Wilmington, and Pete Clark, Montreal. This column warns against blue letters to. the curers. (Write to those who are 111.) BOOKER LOSES WAGE SUIT IN TEST CASE Philadelphia, Aug. 23. ' Lee Vincentj ot Vincent & Fields booking office* was : assessed $34.50 by Magistrate Elias Myers last week for allegedly breaking the contract ' of Betsy Bain, a terper he had" signed to play the- Club 15. Vincent was . forced to pay the girl a week's salaiy, $27, and court costs, $7.50, whenl'the job he con- tracted to get' for her failed to ma- terialise: This was the first prose- cution of this type under the new agent law which went into effect last September, : Vincent ■ originally agreed to , sup- ply the Club 15 with another hoofer. When she couIdnH' appear, he caUed John Magee, operator of the spot, to mform. him that he .was sending Miss Bain instead. Magee said he had recently played the latter and didn't want her again so soon. In- stead, got another terper, Le« Vaugham JIM BARTON TO DOUBLE FROM KOAD' TO ROSE . Jannes Barton, Patricia Ellis, Al Trahan, Cardini, Tip, Tap and Toe have been added to new show for Casa Manana, N. Y. Ted Lewis' band' and Robert Wildach, monolo- gist, were set last week. New show opens Sunday (28), and marks return of Barton tp vaude- ville after several years as star of 'Tobacco Road,' on Broadway the ■ past five years. Barton will double from the legit piece. SaOy Clark to Reopen N. Y. Plaza Cafe Sept 7 John Roosevelt's sister-in-lawv Sally Clark, currently singing and dancing at the Hotel Ritz-Carlton. Boston, reopens the fioor divertisse- ment at the Hotel Plaza's Persian Room in New York Sept 7. Jack Marshall's band will be with her, .as a sort - of pre-season premiere, the big whoop-de-do to occur Sept 27' when Eddy Duchin returns to the Plaza with .The Hartmans as comedy dancing features. Duchin has been away from the Plaza for a. year. Pancho officiating all last seasbn. Miss dark solos' in Boston as « songstresis, and alsp does a dance bit with Maurice, of Maurice and Cor- doba. Latter team also conies >«•<• the Persian Room with her, for the N. Y. date, but can't hold over when The Hartmans debut Gambling Tabu Hurts Little Rock's Niteries Little iFlock, Aug. 23. Nitery ops are ;acinj the winier season with considerablv; trepidatjon in view of the current campa'B" against gambling prior to the No- vember: elections. ■ , Patronage has leen decided y meagre at practically all resorts witn thf sole exception of the Fair PafR Casino, whose take has been considerably by tieupr v/ith lo«' station KLRA. Wednesday. August 24, 1938 VAUDiB^NltE CLUBS VARIETY 43 les Minneapolis, Aug. 23. >temenaous gross chalked up by «S» Vallee at the Orpheum here SSflOO for five days) has sent Joha '•^^L paramount circuit general -.mff- scurrying after more flesh, i^f; biggest names obtainable. fJJjTto bag as many outstanding attractions as possible, Frledl fflet it be known the sky's the ZitT Major BowesV International Sj comes Into Orpheum next S Horace Heidt the week of ^ 9 arid Benny Goodman for ^ days starting SepL^aO , ^iedl has been after Goodman for . W time and It took herculean !ff«is and a wcord stipend to cinch atal flsally, Goodman haying re- tetea several previous offers with a St interested' explanation. It will jjf the swing maestro's flrst north- -Kt appearance. Negotiations also are under way to bxini Tommy Dorsey to the Or- rbeuiri. Indications are that during Ike fall and winter there wiU be an ailertge of at least two stage show a moDth.'.' , , It looks like a big season ahead for' all' types flesh In Minneapolis. Leo Murray, manager of thfe Lyceum, • ]jgit,: claims 15 roadsJ'ows already detalfely booked. Harry Hirsch's Gayety opens its 'deenth season Friday (26) with a flst including Roy Cummings. . Philadelphia, Aug. 23. • Vaude set to. start .at six .Warner houses ' here i within the next , two weeks. Only six-day-a-tweeker is. the downtown Fox, which op^ns with Mai Hallet's band Sept. 2. Connie Boswell inked in the fpllowihg week lod Iria Ray Hutton band on Sept, 30. Rest blank. ' Other five houses will Jiave vaude wly oil Fridays and Saturdays. .They '■ ire the Frankford and Alhambra, which inaugurate flesh:. Sept .2, and Uk Allegheny, Oxford and Kent, vbich start Sept 9. AU will use 10- : piece house bands. nilLLY GROUP TO VOTE M AFA TIE NEXT MONTH Philadelphia, Aug. 23. Despite failure in Pittsburgh of Kgotiations for the American Fcd- tration of Actors In th(> local en- tertainers' union, Philadelphia plans (or .AFA consolidation are still re^ JaMed as favorable. Ralph White- liead,', AFA prez, has made com- promise settleniient with Torn Kelly; biz. manager of Philly United En- tertainers Assn., on local autonomy. Vote on the consolidation' will be taken among entire UEA member- ship next month. . Wd Cafe Biz^ B^^^ ^ Casmo Show to N, Y. _ London, Aug. 12. Business has been' so bad in Lon- don spots that even the London J^fslno has been feeling the draught ^"•rcnt show was intended to close «Pl 8, but management suddenly «e?ided to shutter Aug. 20. Ik?*? o'' the present , cast go with . 'je.diow to the International Casino, "•. x, with Renita Krenier and lll^gory and Raymond only ones ..laying behind, due to previous i:om- ?™nents, Arnaut Bros, will be in *e New York show. 1% Band Personals - Philadelphia, Aug. 23. tliio . set for the Earle, Philadel- S t Phil Harris Friday K.i. * y Clinton Sept. 0, Kay h7,V. «Pt' 16, Ben Bernlei Sept Sm? l?"" ^^''b Oct 7, and Horace. «ejdt Oct 30. Haiti's'' t'^e Fox, Philly, are Mai S^L 30 ^ ^"^ Hutton Al TraKan to London , •Iiiw"*''^" 8°*^ tc London middle CtZL month for four weeks at the ^fior House. set by William H. Stein, of ^« Corp. of America. Herman Stein, 3'/^ Yrs. In London, Returns to N. Y. Herman Stein returned last week to the Music Corp. of America home office in New York after three and a half years in the London office. After trips tp Chicago , and Los Aiigeles, he returns to New York. WiU be in the U. S. about six months for general lookaround, William Gpodheart Jr., also goes to Chicago today (Wed.) to huddle with Jules C. Stein. Latter is com- ing on from the Coast for the confab, then hops to Ft "Worth to look over the show at' the Casa Manaha there. Gpodheart is due back in New Y)rk at the end of the week. 70,000 PAY 65G IN 3 WEEKS AT TEXAS CASA Fort Worth, Aiig. 22. Casia .Manana here. In its first three ■iveeks, grossed $65,000, less tax, play- ing to 70,000, Lew Wasserman, exec- utive director of Music Corp. of America, has announced. Show will close Saturday (27), running : tWo days longer than the original, four- week contract. Dir.ectors . had con- sidered extefnding run through Lab'or Day, but desirable band and other talent was not available. Backers talking of opening show, early in July .next year for nine-week sea^n. Last week, 21,000 paid $17,000 to see revue in open-air theatre: Wasr serrnan expects final week to draw 40,000, with $30,000 gross, due partly to two personal apiiearances . of Ed Bergen and Charlie 'McCarthy to- night (Tues.) Michigan State Fair, opening Sat- urday (27), also has booked. Bergen, along with Benny Goodman, : Kay Kyser and number of vaudeville acts for the 16 days there. Other bands to be set. Jan Garber, and Morton Downey to continue as Casa headliners until its close. GOURFAIN BANKRUPT; OWES $12,650;HAS 1250 Harry A. Gourfain, erstwhile pro- ducer of Fanchon & Mariio stage units, filed .a petition in bankruptcy last week in Brooklyn, listing debts of $12,650 and assets of $250, includ- ing an- auto, Among the principal creditors are Premier Scenic Studio, $1,800; Mahieu Costume Co., $1,800; Acme Scenic Studio, $700; William Morris Agericy, $800 commissions; Dazians, Inc., $2b(), and Brooks Costume Co., $200. Personal loans unpaid include Harry Levine. - of the Paramount Booking Office, $500, and Dave Franklin, $200. Unestininled and not included in the liist of debts, except $500 due Hardeen and Co., are rnoney for the services of acts, incUidirig Heller and Riley, Vera Stern, Don Donnelly. Tex Hamlllon, "and Tom, Dick, and Harry. Tribute to BerHn Second vaudeville bill to be pre- sented at Randall's' Island, N. Y., stadium Friday (26) by H^rry Young .will be an Irving Berlin concert. First, l.nst Wednesday (17>, was dedicated to George. Gershwin. ' Lineup will IncluOc Paul As'K, who will conduct a 25-piece crew; Hcnhy Youngman and The Dudleys, colored quartet. Bowes' Ams Go Yippee Major' Bowes office- is putting out a new unit, 'Rhythm Rodeo.' specially designed to play the cow and hill billy country. Bows at the Rialto,. Flint Mich., Sept 10. Precaution Philadelphia, Aug. 23. . Press of autograph hounds was so great yesterday (Mon.) at the Earie theatre that radio ^ appearances by Tony . Martin, skedded for rest of the week, had to , be called off. Warner maiiagement cancelled the air ■ interviews rather tiian take a . chance on another occurrence likie yesterday's when mob, mostly femmes, ripped half of Martin's clothes off in the rush for his signature; ■ Airings Tiad been- set on WPEN, WGAU, WDAS and WIP. Theatrical Unions Act as Corporate Lawyers— Squawks Theatrical unions practicing law as corporations is a complaint soon to be aired- by local, theatrical at- torneys. Barristers have been taken oyer the coals for acting as agents and. managers for theatrical clients, so they have decided to spread the heat around some as a retaliatory nneasure. Practice of unipiis retain- ,ing attorneys to act for members, and in sorne cases collecting, fees, is unlawful since they are incorporated. Attorneys themselves are subject to disbarihent for thus conducting theniselyes on unethical ' practice basis. Beefers claim to have proof that attorneys act for members, as well as the pirganization as a whole. 2-WK. PROVISIONAL CUT FACES INTL'S ICE SHOW Notice for ice ihpw at the Inter- national Casino, New York, has been hung lip for Sept 1, but show can stay on for two more weeks if Music Corp. of America is successful in getting director and, cast to take a salary cut. Nut. must come : down about 25% if caper-cutters want to remaiti extra fortnight' befpre re- hearsals .start for Clifford . C. Fischer's coritinental revue, due in from London. Cast, •mainly ■ from Canada, will vacash around mid-September for one week, Originally, they were to get three-week rest If new setup is airranged, they will return to begin rehearsals Oct. 1 for proposed road tour. Evelyii Chandler, star .of I. C. shpw, has been offered, costarring spot with' Bess Earhart of the Ice Follies, currently at the Auditotium, Atlantic City. Latter show goes to the Coast from A. C- to make film for Harry Rapif. After picture, show will be revised for fall and winter tour. Alice KavanV Ciaini Vs. Bameis-Cacruthers Detroit Cafes Envision Biz Increase With Pickup in Auto Plants Gene Austin's Personals With Indie Western Pic Kansas City, Aug. 23. Gene Austin,- songster appearing at the Tower here this week, is hc,;)ding back to Hollywood, breaking the jump with a couple of dates in Den- ver and another spot or, two in the far west In Hollywood Austin will organize a roadshow corrvpany which will appear with his new picture. 'Songs arid Saddles,' independently produced and to be roadshown iri several spots. Austin heads the rpad company, which will also include Lynne Burk- ley, Joan Brooks and Ted Claire of the film cast. Comany goes out in mid-September, and will likely start through the south for about 10 weeks. Film marks Austin's first featured role, and, hjs advent iiitb the musical western field. QI GAMING BUT SARATOGA IS VERY GUI Chicago, Aug. 23. Alice Kavan, dancer, is latest to plan suit against the Barnes-Car- ruthers booking office, Chicago, for alleged contract violation. Accord- ing to her clairh, which is being han- dled by Ben H. Eriich, Miss Kavan clainis that the Barnes office issued an eight- week play-or-pay contract early in March for the 1938. fair sea- son. Shortly before re! carsals were to start the Barnes office advised the dancer that they found il neces- sary to switch prodjction plans and attempted to cancel -"or contract. Not accepting the. cancellation, Miss Kavan was then, ofTercd a coniiacl for next year. Not accepting tlii.s, Barnes office next offered to keep her if she would accept an approxi- mate 30';c cut Contract called for Miss Kavan to report twp /ecks prior to show opening; and when call came for Aug. 1 she was forcco to cancel bal- ar.cc of ehzaqcmcnt at Mcadpwbrpok country club and a contract at the Chez Parcc. Saratoga iSprings, N. Y„ Aiig; 23, ■ This town of sparkling waters, August glamor and fabulous horse talk is in its fifth and final week of race meeting with the gaming lid ostensibly still clarnped. It is clear- ly indicated, however, that the wheels are spinning and the dice rolling, but without 'ice.' (Yes, they use that term here, too.) Bepause - gambling is' supposedly out, iriany , natives are facing finan- cial: reverses for the first time in memory. Some of the eating spots with bars on the Spa's Broadway claim they have benefited and that patrons re- niairi longer to quaff liquor. But it is certain that all other wet spots are 4()% . behind last sunrimer ))e- cause of the ban. . At nearby Glens Falls, In another county, it's stated the resorts are 50% off. - Saratoga will enact an ordinance in- the fall tp check on punks who are attracted by the races and bookies. Any man with a record must register, within 24 hours of ar- rival or stand chance oif a $500 fine or 90 days in jail, or both. Sarhe law exists in Miami. Ordinance will be introduced at the, suggestion of Joseph Dbherty, director of public safety. " Control of the gaming places Is .said to be under James Leary, at- torney and political power. ' Election this fall promises to be plenty hot what will the: average person burn- ing. over the lid. There are more bookmakers oper- ating here than ever before; 71 in grandstand and 29 in clubhpuse :fbr total of 100. As usual, bookies :arc squawking, but must admit they have cleaned up so much that they are ahead on season. IELA MOORE TO RIO Leia Moore .sails for Rio de Janeiro Saturday (12) to open her. 'Dance of the Lovers' 'act at the Hotel Copacabana immediately upon arrival. Gets. in from Kan.sas City morning she .sails. : Wiliiam Morris agency set the eight-week guarantee deal. VIRGINIANS SUE LYMAN FOR CONTRACT BREACH The yirsinians (8), through Bruce Rogers, member, of the octet and as- signee of the act have filed suit again.st Abe Lyman Enterprises, Inc., in New YPrk City, for breach of con- tract. Act charges it was booked for a .five- week vaude tour with Lyman's orchestra last . May, but was can- celed before opening. Asking around Sl,90a damages, which reprcscnis the diflercnce between the amount they earned elsewhere and what they woii Id ' have gotten frorh the v'aude dates. I. Robert Brodcr is the, Vir- ginians' counsel. Act opens Monday '29) in Phila- delphia in Max Gordon's mu.'iical, 'Sing Out the News.' Detroit, Aug. 23.. ■Nitery operators, what few Pf' 'em are left aft^r the most .dismal sum- mer in years, envision, decided up- turn, in . biz by Oct 1. That is it auto plant.s continue to recall work- ers as they've been doing last cou- ple of weeks. While auto-work pickup won't af- fect the downtown belt directly, since t.nctory boys prefer the beer garden around the corner, it'll eventually mean more in the jeans of white-collar workers 'and coh- scquently in nitery tills. With perk in' autip biz, it'll also'rnean spurt in hotel patronage from out-of-town, in turn bolstering hotel nocturnal spots. Only one of the town's ma- jor hostelries, Webster Hall, has conducted floor, shows through sum- , iner, with Book-Cadillac and Statler, having only dinner music. Both of latter are expected to resume full floor shows by the' middle of next month in their Casino and Terrace Hopm, respectively. Ditto on sev- eral spots which .shuttered, during hot months, not only to avoid heat but due to brutal takes. - Roadhouses and outdoor dance spots have been doing fairly' well most of the, summer, although ma- jority of d^nce spot biz has been oc- ' casioned by spasmodic band attrac- tions. Salt Lake City, Aug. 23. With, less than two weeks before local and suburban .summer resorts fold, it appears ' certain that Salt Lake City will be almost nitery-less. Despite rumors that a group of Salt Lake business men intend forni- Ing a, private nitery, owners of the proposed site, 10 miles from here, expressed . ignorance of any deals being set Winter Gardens, for several years a pop spot, will not rebpeii as pre- viously planned. Hotiel Utah's Em- pire Room will open shortly. So far, it's the only nitery that's ready to open. In 1932 there were five niter- Ics here. Beer - and - pretzelry joints have opened in wholesale lots, with Utest count set at 125 here. Automatic dancerjes, at a nickel a jlg^ sans cou- verts, aiid 10c beer account for the mushroom growth of beer halls for ecoriomical terpers. : Freddie's Personal Providence, Aug. 23. Freddie Bartholomew is .scheduled to personal at Locw's State week' of Sept 15. WAHL, PETERS SISTERS CLICK IN LONDON VAUDE London, Aug. 23. Walter 'Dare' Wahl', newcomer to the Palladium, is meeting with con- stant laughter and applause here, •Others on show, also faring well are Capella and Beatrice, ballroom dancers, ari , excellent turn marred by unsuitable lighting, and the Three Peter.s Sisters, Negro harmo- nizers, who are doubling from Chel- seia. Chrysis de la CJrange, Coiitl- nental aerial gymnast is attractive but Has an unoriginal act Wheeler Asks 4-City Group for Bookers Philadelphia, Aug. 23. Howard E. Wheeler, prez of En- tertainment Managers Assn., New York, has contacted Florence Bernard, prez of local EMA, on pos- sibility of getting agents' organiza- tions in N. Y., Philadelphia, Bo.ston and, Pittsburgh into one co-opera- tive association; Mrs. Bernard said she looked on the idea with favor and has invited Wheeler and the N. Y. EMA exec board to Philly for a confab Sept 18, following a party which the Philly EMA is to.ssing for acts and mu.sicians, Triboro, N. Y., Rcsjumes Triboro, N. Y., hurley resume Sept. •) ' under oli& J^jjjmiffc- mcht of Ed Ftowl.Tnrl nnd Harry Palmer ;iflt'r sumrncr layoff. Dave Ro.sen, house manatjcT, nl.'.o back. Hoii.iO will offer Izzy Hirst wheel shows .'iiijjmcntcd by. house show girl;;. Tbciic'll be two afternoon, .shows and one night' show. NO' fliin.s. 4» VARIETY VAUDE— NITE CLUBS Weduesdaj^ August 24, 1939 Nitery Reviews SAVOY-PLAZA, N. Y. Willi Monti\. EmiI.e Pefti Orch (6). Milli Monti is the French-Italian chanteiise who first came to atten- tion at the Rainbow Room, N. :Y„ then got a Hollywood shortrtermer, of which nothing came, and a spell at \he Hotel St. Regis' Maisonette Russe last winter. She's now back in America in the Gafe Lounge of the Savoy -Plaza. A31 of which indicates that MUe., or, more strictly. . Sig- nora, Monti is a class cafe enter- tainer,: and certainly can continue to be so, judying by her consistent performance. Somcho •/, MLss Monti lacks the ovSr-thc-tcp spark, «ven unto ap- p-oxlmating' the Liicienne Boyer E le, because that French diseuse possesses an Intangible something fiat's, a combination of vivid per- sonality and a consistenly happy .se- lection of songs. ' Not that ' Miss llonti isn't a looker — she's a person- able redhead, who bespeaks of cinematic potentialities, despite her initial :talse start in Hollywood. So maybe it's . the songs which, too, vrhile fair enough, don't quite come off to sum up into a bofi impres- sion. Opener ' is a French tune; then, 'Don't Go Away, Monsieur,' a cute flirtation number: an Italian chanson and' 'Celina Couldn't Siay No,' a saucier ditty. She carries her own accompanist Given something^ more distinctive. Miss. Monti will yet wham 'em. Here she's a fetching . eight-minutie interlude, doing two frolics, at 12:30 and 1:15 a.m. In bietween, Emile Petti, long a. dansapation fixture here with his snappy sextet, gives out the smart hobfery music in' smart fashion. For the summer, the minimum 1; down to $1.50; usually it's $2 a head. Biz stlU. good; room aircooled, HUdegarde is underlined to follow. Abel. COLLEGE INN (HOTEL SnEBMAUT, CHICAGO) CWcogo, Aug. 19. Brandt Sister* (2), Duke & Noble, Robin Scott, Russell & Genevieve, Veda & Vk3ella, Jenna, Bud Lewis, Marian Fmncis. Carl Marx, Brandt's Snoxoflake Ballet, franfcie Master orch. For years a Chicago standby, the Collegie Inn hit the dumps, for a spell and with the exception of the Buddy Rogers appearance,- has been »n in. and outer. Early in May ffi'ank Bering, managing director, booked the Brandt Sisters (New Acts) for their fiirst American cafe appearance, surrounding them with a complete ice show. Idea clicked in its first four weeks and has since been held over three times. After opening session, Dr. Brandt, father of the girls, took over .production. Current edition Is built along Con- tinental lines with ample produc- tion and' novelty.' Bill consists mainly of ballrooni type of skating. Peculiarly . enough the Inn has been rejuvenated with the same policy first introduced here 20 years ago, when Chariot brought ice skat- ing to Chicago. Inn. has a number of physical handicaps, mainly low ceiling, which hurts perspective, too many pillars and improper lighting. Yet show makes , an interesting picture, and when once underway moves along well. Frankle Masters, whose or- chestra is a fave in town, m.c.'s hiceiy, as well as dishing out right kind of dansapation. -But the Brundt youngsters with their versx- tility and superb artistry on the ice, are Uie ones ".'hn keep the show moving. On. for three appearances in . each show, Swiss skaters give plenty. Duke and Noble, who close Mie shoiVi provide the only comedy on trie bill and their knockabout is hilarious. Marian Francis, vocal- i.st. booked with Masters, knocks out a few ballads. Jenna and Robin Scott do well, latter going In more for whirlwinds. Bud Lewis is a bar- rel jumper, whose main feat is a triple spin. To teams, - Riissel and Genevieve ?nd Uksella and Veda display con- trasts in duos, the latter among the better class of ballroom icers. Ice- ballet, trained , by Dr. Brandt, is on four time.s, opening show with interesting parade. In fourth spot, the ti:oupe brings out the Brandts for their first appearance, in a Robin Hood skit. Solos later ia the gill with a Time Marches On idea, go- ing from early minuet to- latest swing, very effective, Final num- ber is a peppy military' routine as background for the Brandts in their dangerous fencing duel. Well and lavishly costumed throughout. Masters due to exit Sept. 15 with Buddy Rogers in for repeat. Ice show, holding up well and building hot surhmer session.s, may remain. : Carl Marx, the clown, has been at the spot for over- a year. He works between acts, a la circus. • Hal. Vogue room (HOTEL HOLLENDEN, CLEVE.) Cleveland, Aug. 18. Sammy Wailcins Orch, Loyanne & Renord, Sara Ann McCabe, Francis Abelte, Prififcin & Mason. At a time when all of the burg's hotels and niteries are lihiping along with curtailed revues that draw few customers, the small but impress- ive Vogue Room is still booming. Not only is it getting the best enter- tainment hereabouts, but it's also getting a heavy play at the dinner Show, which is something these months. Reason for this is that the Hotel HoUenden is headquarters for ma- jority of summer conventions. Be- sides being hangout of political na- bobs, track promoters and money- boys, it manages to hold a good clasS' trade. Current edition, staged by Dick Marsh, has Francis Abella's wonder garrot, John Tio, as a novelty. It's een heard over Ripley's and Rudy Vallee's hours but sounds more ef- fective from an intimate nitery floor where ringsiders can be convinced it isn't a ventriloquistic trick. Tio has vocabulary, of 75. words, giving right answer in a clear, metallic voice at right time. Terse vocal takeofTs on Bing Crosby, Durante and 'NonrStop* Corrigan wind up with parrot doing acrobatic act on perch. Most decorative item is Sara Ann McCabe, darkhaired looker, who has Jtraitied semioperatic pipes. Hits some high, notes like a coloratura, but sticks to popular stuff. Swings three numbers, including 'Says . My Heart,' and does them 'tops, Loyanne and Renard back for sec ond visit this season with some rapid Are, fancy terping that gives the re- TheJHEATRE of the STARS vue a lot of push. StroUlhg team of Pritikin and Mason cover up inter- ludes' via ah okay act of guitar and vocal work. Sammy Watkins' orches- tra still going over big despite Ave months' stay. Pwllen. ghez les nudistes (PARIS) Poris, AuB. 13: Editli Dox, Jean Claud; Choppv. Hdvey Trio, Six Haveu Girls, 18 Mannequins, Armand de Haro orch. Although certainly not In the upper reaches, a lot of credit is due to Felix Rosan for this production, It'strikingly shows what can be done with a small budget in oderiiig something to those with limited cash. Unfolded in the— setting of the former Joe Zelh's, where 1,000 franc notes did the- rounds like 10- franc pieces do now, Chez Les Nudistes this trip presents an almost complete gal show with sufficient talent and nudity to make it interest- ing. Show,, which lasts more than an hour, is repeated nightly, with the second being scrambled so it's not a direct reproduction of the first. Top liners are Edith Dax, young French singer, who takes a turn at most everything, and Jean Claud, who holds down, the male lead, but lacks the punch of the gal. However, he fits in more or less with the remainder. Featured is Choppy, whose living caricatures^ have been seen in . the French Casino, New York, arid the Havey Trio, a Belgian two-man-one-woman dance act ' that makes a couple of individual appear- ances to add some variety but not a great deal of talent Woman is the outstander. Armand de Haro's or- chestra (6), turns out fair jazz, tango and rhumba dance music, besides playing for the show. ■ ■While originality is pretty scarce and the routines by the line of girls (all French) are just ordinary, scenes with the entire cast of some 25 giils are interesting for this kind of spot It's one of the best of this type of French show to be 'seen in Paris. Demonstrates, too, what can be done' with none-too-experienced talent. . Opener sees Miss Dax and Claud offering a song, followed by some mass smging by the entire cast after the girls parade in costumes to rep- resent film and stage stars." Most of the scenes which follow depend on plenty of flesh to put them over. Egyptian harems have their place, flower girls with baskets parade under chipper littlt hats to display considerable nudity, full Spanish skirts twirl to reveal bare legs wiule ruffles on blouses make detdurs to make interesting dis- closures. Long slit sleeves in color- ful hues constitute most of the costumes for a Chinese scene. Colonial topless dresses are worn in a slow waltz. One of best scenes In the show is a soldiers march, with mannequins parading to the drum majoring of Miss Dax. Costumes employ :ed and gold, blue and gold and white and fold to lend plenty of color while Miss Dax invokes plenty of pep in her ^directing. Choppy's caricatures on the nude backs of four girls bring some laughs and applause. Revue is in 16 scenes, produced and ^directed by Felix Rosan. Music Is by Lew Pollack, Leo Blanc, Barthomieu, Louis Reguri, Michel Can Jimmy Kennedy, Rosan, Christian Faure and Jean Mag Lyrics by Rosan and Henri Lemar- chand. , Hupo. STORK CLUB, N. Y. Sonny Kendis and JoSe Lopez Orchs, Arthur Brouin. There's little new about the Stork Club excepting the periodic changes in decor, which Sherman BUlings- ley deems necessary as a matter of good business. But for the record chiefly as concerns the energetic Sonny Kendis at the ivories and in maestroing his own band, the latter shapes up as one of the hardest- working and most effective dansa- pators extant. Showcased in one of New York's three topflight boites, Kendis has been wise in losing none of his enthusiasm when whipping out those medleys. And while the Stork by no means attracts the jit- terbugs and. the ickies,- it's this ef- fervescence which invariably stops trafflc on the dancefloor every so often when Kendis gets into a snappy dance set The Stork, of course, continues to be among the foremost money- makers in its field, by now a N Y mstitutipn, and run by the astute BiUingsley on a fine standard of quality and service. Like the Morocco, N. Y., the cus- tomers make their own fun, and. nothing but the two bands are nec- essary to insure the tempo of the evening. Jose Lopez, no relation to the Joe Lopez at the door, who's custodian of the tape, alternates with Kendis, for the Latin terps. One other new addition, a worthy asset is Arthur Brown, formerly of musical comedyi who's the . host, a sort of m.c, who conferenciers the customers, not the show. But, then. I the customers are the show in a spot like the Stork. Abel ' NEW ACTS HONET FAMILY (6) DanclDf AcrobsUes an Mins, Earle,.Phlll/. Act was old standard in Its origl- .nal form, strictly an acrobatic troupe. Now making first appearance since revisions, in which terping has been added to the whoop-and-toss stuff. New material has strengthened it considerably, although it still needis plenty of. work on it particularly in timing. Consists of three boys and three girls, in evening clothes, all fair lookers. Open with ;a tap routine by the gang, inteTsp«rsed with mass back flips. Whole gang then leaves, except for two males.and a femme, who do more tapping arid back somersaults. Get in a few tricky back flips with a full twist, good. Next bit pf gal .flat on her' back jumping rdpe .swung by the other two femmes, also v.g. . Hoofing is entirely forgotten from then on, and aero stuff gets really strong. Garig does shoulder-to- shoulder passing with a midair somersault executed as they go from one person to another. Principal difficulty seems to be lack of split-second timing l>etweeri tricks. There's always a momentary delay and too many people on the stage doing nothing. Herb. BRANDT SISTEBS (2) Ice Skaters Coilece Inn, Chloage Swiss ice skaters who came to this country, six months ago for the St Paul ice carnival can a'.id should re- main for a long time. Girls are. gen- uine artists, and exceptionally well trained. In their Kith week at the College Inn, girls haive changed all their numbers four times, doing 'at least five routines each stanza. On show caught, demonstrated versatility . In: rhumbas. tangos, rhyth:n, toe ballet trick skating and expert precision work. Have ample and expensive wardrobing. Fencing number in front of the ice ballet (routined by the girl's father. Dr. Brandt) . shows result of years of training. It's dangerous, but highly effective. Another number, "Lights and Shadows,' would be ideal for a pro- duction show. Their minuet into latest swing rhythm, to 'Alexander's Ragtime Band,' shows these foreign- ers have caught the American tempos, Girl also displays good sense of showmanship, in improvis- ing dances to any request tune by patrons. With Hollywood on lookout for new talent here's a good bet that merits a film test Hal, OSWALD, EBNIE STANTON & CO. : (2) Comedy 1< Mins. Lyric, Ind'p'lls Contrast of rapid-fire feeder, Ernie Stanton, to slow answers of Oswald, ^ood for plenty of laughs. Material is new and clean, opening with several minutes of patter, then Oswald goes into a medley of accordion tunes with okay fingering of the buttons. Stanton returns to give imitation of jew's-harp and parrot Two femmes form the 'com- pany'^part of the act Flo Holt walks ?? ^'.'"j,* ^^^y buggy for orie gag. Ida Lind assists Stanton and Oswald on ^a riddle gag, then goes into a rhythm tap to accompaniment of Oswalds accordion and Stanton's harmoriica. Oswald stays In his familiar radio dumb-guy character and has the audience with him all the way. In absence of Ken Murray, iiis usual riadio vis-a-vis, Ernie (Val and) Stanton, straights. Kiley. TWO ZEPHYKS Novelty 12 Mlns4 Faii Apollo, N. Y. Colored pair have been around for some time but not listed in the flies. Act IS nicely worked out and is okay for theatres and possibly lower case niteries. Open with a couple of fast tramp- band numbers. One beats a drum setup of tin washtubs for a bass, and a couple of smaller ones for traps. Partner slaps a washboard. Duo get plenty of Thythm out of the crazy setup. Follow with a lengthy crap game ^ m . pantomime and slow motion. Have the slow stuff down pat cleverest part being knuckle throwing when the game winds up in an argurnent Exit when it goes further, both rolling over from gun and razor activities. (CARMEN Dancing 2 Mins. Leon & Eddie's, N. Y. _ Dancing single specializes in South Seas terping. Carman calls her num- ber, consumins but two minutes, the 'Dance of the Islands.' Char THBEE CHOCOLATEERS CMnedy, Dancing 7. Mins,; One State, New York Negro trio are not exactly off th. griddle as newcomers, having diJSJ niteries and Apollo, N. .Y. (HaK'? but not listed in VARiny flies p?,*' what they have played in hard work If nothing else. However, likelv S: be a little confusing for other lh« cognoscenti. SUcks as a. good%S runger, bv u iecond : Bressed in ragamuffin tails th.„ open with speedy cartwheeling soft shoeing and assorted hoof, ad iTbbin'' a la Harlem. Usual one guy taWii; backhand slaps on turnsT etc fJ! comedy, further enhanced by" i, macing air around and accompany" ing guttural utterances, for emphas£ Sorso opening is followed bv a peckm' session that Is a college edn caUon in the stunt. Billed as orieina' tors of same, .and will live up to label with nearly every conceivable position taken to demonstrate S» neck-nodding. While possessSJ plenty ot comedy, freak ^positionf and wild gyraUons, it's chiefly crarJ shenanagins. Hurl. DEL CASINO Sanga 12 Mins.; One SUIe, New York _ CBS romantic baritone is some- thing of a local mike vet and demon, strates it to a degree. Thrown in as a No. 3 act he more than holds down his job by holding up the rest of the show with^a very, pleasant sounding. If not hefty pipe department that calls for several encores, and finally a l)eg6ff. Stays just long enough. Too apologetic attitude should be dropped since singer more than compensates for his time. It's sweet boy stuff, a little on the corny side and easily omitted on strength of performance. Rather small in stature he's a good looking boy with appeal- ing vocal suture. Expert knowledee of riiike Sl>ets. Pops leadoff, followed by a bow to an Irving Berlin revival, 'How oisep Is the Ocean?' Exit tune, 'Sorrento,' sung in Italian, puts him over solidly with all, particularly femme auditors who clamor for more. Hurl.. STANLEY BROS, (2) DanelBg UMlBs. Apollo. N. Y. Not outstanding but the pair exhaust themselves in eccentric, aero and tumbling' routines that force appreciation. Click well hi the second slot here. , Brothers open with an eccentric soft-shoe which develops into an aero turn. Follow with .varioui tumbling tricks Including half and full flips, Drunk bit which also bollj down to acrobatics by one of the. pair is plenty funny. WILLIE and EUGENE HOWARD "Hollywood Hotel" Revue TOCRINd . Fuller Circuit, Australia Per. AddroH WM. MORRIS AGENCY NEW YORK GREGORY, and RAYMOND Dr«a»d by SIDNEY FISHER 76/77, Shaftotbury Avtnuo PICCADILLY. LONDON, ENO. JACK and JUNE BLAIR Oh Toor Folier CIrcnIt, AuntinU* with "Hollywood Hotel" Revue_ Best Coffee in England QUALITY INN Leicester Square LONDON, WEST-END HILDE eARpE 3uHt nFtiirnril From n Trlumphnnt Tour of Eurnne iinil Sow A|i|>riirlnR nt the MOUNDS CLUB, CLEVELAND, OHIO WiJnesday, Auguet 24t 1938 VARIETY HOUSE REVIEWS VAklETY 45 jiySIC HALL, N. Y. v-w Weed*. Rubinstein, ^ "SecUve use again is made or the H!ShPrtra^ which this weiek fea- E^'g^B^ertuPe to 'William Tell.' Sj^ncluslon of the number, during *'2iA dmid effects and new , filter S^&e S used, the pit crew slides "^♦Se stage and lakes its aloft M for the scene that opens ;the PSlS"' song' arid , 'Serenade/ j;«,^i*!*e^tudent Prince,' open, with JSSrtWwae leading the Hall's Glee gS5 1*^ inn .setting that's fit- Si as well as Impressive, though SSpie." 'Zigeunerweisen,' a mixed 2!,«b in gypsy dances, colorfully gf«St^° iSen^recedes two violin 25b bffema Rubinstein. Her num- a Ument and a dance, are both SSf olayed, albeit just a shade, too SSi Wof the men Valya Valen- ttaSr, steps out ;or a featured spot totte folk dancing session but out- Sd"of being flashy offers little, r With the orchestra coming into Bore full view upstage, ^behind a SdiaiBg set piece, which has a bal- ^ opening for the musicians, the Ste rart of the presentation Is 3«n a unique background. The iMtettes close the works in a dress Snde number, backed by the Glee fiub, oiie of the best and most diffi- cult routinea this finest of lines has done. The routine is albng drill Una with a goosestep included, the precision being all the harder to at-: filn because of the great speed de- mtD&td. - For the direct finish, the Glee Club, ih uniform, go Jown the pit platform out of sight. : Clwir. APOLLO, N. Y. ■Hot tips' Paige Orch, StTearaXxhe SWiLveme Rich, Stontev Bros; (2). T»o Zephyrs. Arthur' Simpkins. Dtuty Fletcher & Sandy Bums, with Gcorpe Wiltshire. Line; Harperettes, Ste Ubanoi Boys; 'Marriage forbid' M(Glt). ___ Current setupi as usiial at this bouse, is too long. This is, one spot where films are incidental to the itage show., with most of the pew- hdders in for flesh only. To lengthen the show, houise usually stretches production numbers. Comedy and novelty turns, however, claim most the lineup. . "Hot Lips' Paige's orchestra (Band . Bevlews) in the pit for the show ..ind shifts to full stage for its own turn and . goes over big. Crew re- ptaced Ovie Alston's, at the Planta- tion, Ni. Y., when Alston went into the Roseland dancehall, N. Y., but hu since exited thiftt spot. Band is owned by. Joe' Glazer, who 'has it Ntfor buildup a la Louie Armstrong. Uountaiii resort setting baclcs the ring dance number, bringing on Harperettes line apd the Six Ubangl boys for! a routine apparently mfamiliar to some of the former. Paves the way tor a bit by the conir Mr trio and Streamlined Sue, who's •ctually beefy. : Two Stanley Bros. (New Acts) work bard and click heavily. Lu- aUe Rich, tap and interpretative Jjncer, satisfies in her initial tap nini, but seems out of place in a mt bit For the latter, full stage odraped in black, with the gal in Morwlated costume and three of ubangl boys garbed in ebony. Mne and neatly don^ but not for ttls house. „ Paige orchestra follows and backs ™* Two Zephyrs (New Acta). Pair Mve an unusual turn that's a win- »«• Sandy Burns and Dusty "TOher, straighted bv George Wilt- pull comedy line.ut the effort to jitterbug the usually , placid State audience Is unavailing. . Conventional . ice breaker Is Van Cello, foot balancer and juggler, never exciting but enjoyable. Jiiggles bar- rels on his hoofs while on his back among other stunte. "Three Choco- lateers, Negro dancers (New Acta) , while enlivening, show with speed and few laughs, do not mean niuch here with their Harlemese routines. In third rung Del (Tasino (New Acts) holds up show for a couple of minutes. At show caught he had to excuse self for CBS broadcast More than does his bit to sustain bill. Rosco Ates. ex-vauder but now a film comic, is still doing his same stuttering bit and seml-serioiis fid- dling, with girl for stooge; Material is all -pretty .obvious and could do -with some -starching. Pert cutie also sings a special comedy song, 'I Need a Lot of Men.' Violin session should be fully burlesked with tease /of couple of bars of several tunes eliminated. However, does more than many of his Coast cohorts,, who rest on their names. On dinner show Thursday (18). Ates- hosted Rudy Vallee, who cinched the act that night Vallee. in summer street clothes, rendered a dramattic, semi-po"etical rendition of Jack Ostorman's 'MThere To?" with piaho background that was a clicker. Dramatic bit depicting life and trials of a Tiew York hackie. was penned by actor-writer for a Vallee airing and scored by Elliott Jacbby, Done to dim spotlight it requires talent and versatility of a Vallee. ■ Closing, Hall's band and Dolly Dawn miss out in trying to get house to -beat it out with them to 'Beat It Out.' When caught audience appre- ciated Hall's medley of 'Music, Maes- tro,' 'I. Let a Song,^ 'Save My Love,' etc., but failed to catch spark singer threw to them to community beat with her on the wai*bling. It was a tough finish for Miss Dawn. The vo- calist does nearly every number band plays,, seemingly wearing out her welcome. Comicking of band mem- ber ih 'Butcher Boy' and a takeoff on West Virginia hill romance fal- ters. Miss DaWn. however, still has a good voice, while band is still up there musically. But a personal peek fi-om but front by pair might be a good idea. Band manages to get in a couple on ita own, trying another swing shot with 'Flat Foot Floogee. Still clings to the each-boy-teke-a- few-notes-and-bows school of mu- sicking, which also is overdone^ in this case. Hurl. Embassy Ncwsreel, N. Y. nS*k??''**v^'t family . is in the here this week. The P:-esi- iSi}? in Georgia urging the «feat of u. S. Senator George • " wj^L" f °- oenaior ueorge; his fjf!„*el<:pmes the World Youth Con- •fldMrcS^ Vassar College, -and Mr. ttelf 1. Roosevelt return from Bo,^,jloneymoon It's neither more df nJ. ■ the customary quota , iC'f^veUiana. but it's okay. Of hffry and interesting, with 3 clash iJ°"tars Tammany John O'Connor. backed, by Republicans, too, jJ?«oaliis defense against the Presi- ^« criticism of him (Par ). From PALACE. CHICAGO Chicago, Atig. 20. Bill: Robinson, Gretonas, Texas Jim Leujis ond Couibolrs (6), Lbr- raine & Rognan. Robins Foniily; 'Jtfother Carey's Chickens (RKO). It's all Biill Robinson this ses.sion and all to the mustard. The tap artist is drawing them in despite the moderate screen and stage support. On for more than 20 minutes, Rob- inson doesn't disappoint in the fourth spot He puts on: a show that in- cludes new stories, songs, and taps as only he can do them. ■ On the supporting bill Robins Family, two men and a girl, starts off slowly, but finish. with whirlwind, tumbling that's plenty okay. Texas Jim Lewis and his' five cowboy.s, singing instrumentalists. saU^ly m the deucer with standard sonss. Lor- rain, and Rofinan miss with- chot.cr. but score when ,'irl turns -on some neat contortions and the duo do a travesty op a ballroom team. Great Gretonas f.nd if diflTcuIt to follow Robin.son Until they (jo^ nlo their fbur-hich on the wire. Clo.sc to nice piqudits. xoer. iPARAMOUNt, N* Y. . Phil Spilalny Orch with : Afoxine, Three Little Words, Euelyn, Ginger Harmon,-' . ZaSv. Pitts iDith Cli/T CSharlic') Holl, Louis DaProii; 'Sing You Sinners' (Par), reviewed m Variety Aug. 17. Phil Spitalny's Hour *of Charm, all-girl orchestra, is also 60 minutes of socko. Just to make sure that everything pitches to a rlpsnbrtins, hey-hey finale, the No. 1 maestro of all-femrne bands has fortified the sum with a new gal. a Scranton, Pa., firecracker. Ginger Harmon, who . scats, swing-sings and jitter- bugs her Way to the hit of the bill. This - miniature roadshow Is a unique aggregation . bn several counte.' Discounting the femme nov- elty, they're also crack musicians who leave ho doubt in shbrt order, so it's more or less' cinch sailing henceforth. Spitalny makes sure of the progression through a canny, highly showmahized se- quencing : for variety, mood and tempo. . He hss a large; troupe with him on stage, plus Maxine, a vocalizing looker, who comes from the wings. There are four brasses, : four reeds, a string octet, harpist, two pianos, xylo, oass. a snappy drummer— 27 in all discov- ered in full, view, , counting the femme trib, , guitarist and Miss Harmon, who site calmly by. until 'Spitalny takes off ! hei: wraps. '■ Hiehlighta . are Maxine's 'Man I Love -'Can't Help Loving Tliat. Man o' Mine' medley; Evelyn, with her socko violining-^alon and Venu- tjesque — and who, if Spitalny's spiel is ' the mccoy. iS: the orchestral sparkplug of the entire band since she's credited for the arrangements, Theise are highlights In thernselves. The Three Little Words— Frances; Connie arid Fern— wham 'erh with 'Shortenin' Bread'; the band's Toy Trumpet' and 'Htingarian . Rhap- sody' .are later, standouts; Evelyn, with a.' string sextet gives but with 'Music. Maestro,' and then Miss tHarmon . follows with her devastat- ing 52d street style. 'Old Man Mose,'' 'Do Anything for : Ybu' and ^Swing for Sale' force Spitalliy to beg off in her behalf, promising 'A- Tisket A-Tasket' as barter, which turns out to be a jitterbug mara- thon. The sundry 'versions there- of, such as the British. Steoin Fetchit >nd Russian-rYiddish take- off,, aren't, necessary, however, and. if anything, prove a discordant in- terlude. In between, .Louis DaPrbn. in tails, taps to. an individual scbre. His footology is- deft sure and. ultra. There's a isuggestion. of the Draner in some of' it, but it's chiefly Da- Proh. ZaSu Pitta, with Cliff CVas You Dere Sharlie?') Hall straightlng. splita the -marquee, with the. fe.mme jazzers, arid manages fairly well. By and large . she's just another Hollywood personal, but Hall's ex- pert fblling, plus a little dusting, off of the man-and-woman sidewalk routine,: safely gete turn . over the hurdles. Act sounds as if Hall put it together out of the files, but there's enough newness and novelty to satiiify. Miss Pitta' special song. 'Hands,'- self-satirizing those .waving hooks, which gbt her public atten- tion through the years, takes her off nicely; 'Sing Ybu Sinners* (Par), the besf CIrosby film, to date, which, in cbrnbinatron with the socko stage show, augurs a healthy three and probably four weeks here. Biz big opening day. Abel. runs into another act Liafry Blake; since both do impersonations. Lee's, however, are entirely humorous, while Blake is more serious. Lee starts out in curls and hair-ribbon showing what happens When a little girl gels in front of the mike. Gbod mimicry of some w.k. femme' chirp-, ers. . Next is copy of Henry Ar- metta warbling ; 'I Can't Give You Anything But Love,' followed by Ted Lewis, fair. . Amo."!, of Amo.s 'n' Andy, n.s.h, with W. C. Fields okay for the fihale. Honey Family (New Acts) next, three fellows and three gals in terps and acrobatics. Lookers start off with a tap, then break into somersaults and backflips, wbrking up to some very tricky shoulder to shoulder jumps with a' somersault in mid-air between. Good, although often a bit slow between stunts. Blake fbllows with his imper- sonations. Gives them a trick, new twist which helps to differentiate him from other mimes, by working into each carbon gradually. Ex plains at the beginning that he Svill show' how each person he imitates got that way. • Starts with Lionel Barrymore, showing use of ' hands and body, then various slight infec- tions bf voice, until, before the audi- ence actually realizes it, he's do irig a pretty, good Barrymore. Fol- lows with John Barrymbre, Charles Laughton. a Swede, Scotchman, Irishman, candy hawker and ends with courtroom scene ih which vari ous film stars, play part.s and Garbo is.'the witness, • Very effective. En tire act gbod. . .Martin, winds up the bill with 'Stardust' and then 'Aloha.' as Lola Jensen stands behind him and shakes In standard Hawaiian style for nice fihale. - ' Herb EARLE. PHILLY Philadelphia, Aug. 20. Tony Martin Orch, Lola Jensen, Beau Lee, Honey Family (16). Larry Blake, Lou Schroder house orch; 'Rich Jtfan, Poor Girl' (M-G). Earle back in form this week, both at the wicketa and on . the boards, with a click combo, led by Tony : Martin, that's, especially big. with the femme trade. Ran about ■55 minutes, little shorter than usual, when caught but okay,, as everything seemed to come in about the right dose. Martin's 15-piece swing crew Is only so-so,, riot all it might be on novelty for stage ' setup, as orchestra has * primarily been a dance band. Nevertheless ade- quate, as it actually, only provides backing , for Martin, who goes . over. Makes good appearance with hand- some pniz and nice build. Brings, ahs at once from schoolgirls Who load 'front of house. Second strong point of cbtirse, are his pipes, with which he gete 'em. by going through choruses of tunes he has sung through his career in pictures. Satisfies, too. as m.c, bringing acts on in straightforward manner. Carries with his unit Lola Jensen, warbler, a cule blonde with plenty of what it takes. , Starta off to full advantage with 'A-Tiskct A-Tasket' coes into 'Rock and Roll' and then into tap torn. Encores with more hoofing, which is too lorig. Addi- tional chirping would be better, as she has a good voice while her «!im-fiinKing is only ordinary. One of her principal needs, to put her in the A-1 category, is a good cou- touricr, . Followine bit'bv Beau Lee. drum- mer vith the band. Is lilso good, but Randairs Island, N. Y. Ferde-: Gro/e , Orch, Eddie Gnrr,; Ames Sisters fS), Six Contiiifntals, The GHezzis (2), Ruth l-ong. Bob Hoti-ard, White ard. & Margaret Wise,- Lyons Ttoins, Wilbur Hall, Borline Kino, Tiny Meeker & Elizabeth Orr.' Mil- bourtie /Christopher, Helen Forest, Lee Everett, High Smith Quintet, Phil Lampkin house orch; 'Woman Agoinst 'Woman' YM-G>. 'Going Native,' sixth edition of annual all-local revue, which ' has become institution ' in the . Capital and ' both prestige-builder and money-maker for house, is best of lot and first which.: can stand up as .professional stuff. Cast of 65 was rounded up iri three all-night try-- Outa, arid rehearsed for only 12 days. Gerie Ford, who has staged all six of the shows, moved in from WHN,. New York, to handle this one. with Chester Hale supervising the tRrpBlv .chore. As before, elaborate sets and costumes - amply cover any 'ama- turish traces and shbv/ is keyed to surprisingly swift tempo. . Talent, either held over from last year. Or recruited from local radio and night club field, is experienced, only trouble . being that some had not adapted themselves fully to 3,000- seat house at show .caught. Opens with pit. maestro Phil Lamjfikin doing fancy intrbduction -between fanfares and curtain upping on 21 -gal line in 'New Deal In Rhythm,' with lyrics by Ford. Travellers close as- Margaret Wise steps out of line to be joined by Edward, frorn wings, for standard tap." Lee Everett, local NBC morn- ing chatterer, out next In battered tophat and tails to start m.c.'ing with Bert Williams Impersonation. Style and delivery is sock but gag- less script' drags. Lyons Twiris, IS-year-old blondes, follew. with siriooth tap-while-'play- ing-saxes bit Travellers then open on Wilbur Hall, whose talk is stilted but who clicks with whip- crackirig and spinning of 7S-foot rope. Earline King, slender young soprano, then does 'Vienna Dreams^ and- 'In Spring,' latter leading into elaborate production number. Seven gals in blue start it with ballet bit. seven more move in for Gay Nine- ties hoofing, Tiny Meeker and Eliza- beth Orr take, over for -old fash- ioned burlesque, six couples appear for nut bustle - routine and panta- looned line picks it up again for acrobatic challenge can-can with entire enseriible on stage. Travellers shut again for Mil- bourne Christopher's ..magic, rope and paper-cutting, which . click along with smooth chatter. Helen Forrest local night dub warbler, geta sock hand with 'I Let a Song Go Out bf My Heart' and 'A-Tiskct A-Tasket.' High Smith Quintet lo- cal colored swing crew, stops show cbld, with 'Mama, I Want to Make Rhythm' and 'Flat Foot Floogee.' Finale localizes goings-on clev- erly by repeating two-^minute 'Sleeprng Beauty' ballet five times, tying each in With style bf a local newspaper, starting with minuet for Evening Star and finishing with shag for Daily New.'. Entire cast on stage for colorful finale. Biz good. Craig, Hahdall's Island and Jones Beach outdoor stadiums have both been used for operettas in the past few summer.<; and this season both have had swing concerts. . However, this is the first attempt tp present a vaude bill in either spot Prbmbter Hari-y Young, who . scheduled the . show for Aug. 10, only to have it rained out. again ran into tough weather but went ahead iiriyway to drbp a wad. Just for one night Wednesday (17). ' . Besides keeping an eye open for storm clouds, there are so many dis- tractions' in an outdoor ai-ena that it's difficult to center attention on the stage if the acta aren't sock. Also pew-hblders have to contend With the distance .from': stands .to Stage. Latter can be both a hindrance and a help to performers. For this as, well as for operettas, the stage, which is riiobile, is moved from the open end of the hbrseshoe tb Within , 150 feet of the closed part leaving 13; sections of. pews open for the audience: Including about 100 tables placed on the running track in front : of the stands, approximate seating capacity is 8,200, Show drew about 3,500. . .Eddie Garr, m.c. wasn't the whole - show in numbers but came dose to : it in effect. His in.sane stuff suc- ceeded; in injecting life and laughs into an otherwise dull evening. Con- nie Boswell, advertised ' to -.appear, bowed out with larvn.citiE. Her spot was taken by Dar'bar.i Parks, arir other singer. Girl was a quickie, having, cbme as' a spectator but was ..sjpotted iri the stands and pressed irito service. , Ames Sister!!, tao-aero cjulntet, fol- lowed Ferde Grofc's curtairi raising. 'Strike Up the Band' and, wbi-e just so-so. Taps bf lhe girls were barely audible due to; poor rriike distribur tiori. Subsequent aero routine was . also slbppy but might have been due to insecure footing. Six Continen- tals also failed to. click. Harmonizers did three numbers, only one ; of which, 'Still of the Night.' impressed fiavorably. Others were 'Swingi ' in the Corn' and 'Hi Yo. Silver.' The Ghezzis (2), strong-irian bal- ancing act ..were well liked-. Pair's difficult turn was capped by their big apple: on hands, which was' plenty comical. Ruth Long contrib- uted excellent taps arid was better heard than the. previous terp act. However, her routine Is suspiciously akin to one Eleanor Powell used in orie of her pictiires. ; :Garr'3 mimicking and. drunk im- personations, were high spots. Most of his gags were off the cob but they went over. ,- Couple of adllbbed fast ones helped. Dtstariee frorii stage to stands helned sustain the Imoersona- tlons of Rlchman. Chevalier. Ned Sparks, Penner, Durante and; W. C. Fields. Tipsy bit near the finale was good enough to double up his audi- erice. Guy knocked himself out as a drunk lost In hotel cDrridors. Instead of following, the advertised parade of Gershwiri tunes, Grofe did only one. Preferred (o sandwich •Rhapsody In Blue' between two of his own compositions. 'On the Trail' and "Mardl Gras' were the ones he selected, rieither as popular as many of the late corhposer's wbrks. "- Split by an Intermission, second section was hardly under way when rain threatened. Few left mo.st pre-: ferring to risk a drenching to listen to Bob Howard tickle . the ivories. Got tb the swingsters iri the crowd with 'Flat Foot Floogee.' Satirical -ballroom team of 'White and Man- ning drew laughs and were followed by Miss Parks. Gal ha.") a nice voice' and appearance. Piped 'Peanuta' in Spanish while handling maracas. Paul Robinson boys <9), harmonica outfit wrote, finis without clicking. TOWER, K. C, Kansas City, Auo. 23. Gene Austin's- Musical Clotons, Lela Moore, Dixon Bros., Dolly Ar- den. House Line, Judy Conrad house orch;. 'Mother Carey's Chickens' (RKO). USHER TO M. C. Philadelphia, Aug. 23.. Buddy Nugent, who ushered at the Boyd theatre until given a-chcincc to chirp at the Earle recently, h.l.s ' ."jtratn the l.-itcst in Ira'Iint woo ;in(^ been signed to m.c. at VauKhah ! .■"•h'cvc.'! a This Fox vaude outlet continues its trend toward bigger names for the coining seasori with Gene Aus- tia carrying the headlines this week. Austin is an old acquaintance with Kansas City audiences,; having ap- peared here at least a half dozen times within the last few years: his last Was in thi.s house a year ago. . The supporting ' show disolay.s .some good, talent and is held lb " shortest tiriie in recent months, whole outlay take.:tumc, slic •A-:'.i,.'i.^ it up with .1 KW YO«K CITK Slate. (iS)- Carr Broit & 9 Bob Broniley Itaye &' Naliir Joe Laurie Jr Don RedmAn ' Ore' EVANHVII.TJE MsJtlitIc (M) - BtardUiit Rev riTTSUVROlf Staaler Bunny BerrlKan Or Andrews Sis . Praiih Co'nvMIe R &• n Ambrose- WASHINOTON Capitol («•) Van Cello Sylvia & Clem.ence 3teve Bvana . Georse Hall Dolly Dawn : BON AIR COUNTRY CLUB CHICAGO PAUL EI.rHIA KMrle (Sfl> . Pliil Harris Ore Peppino.A ranillle ' Ross Wyse .Jr' (19) Tony Martin Ore I Tony Martin Ore Honey Fam. Don .Cummlnss - (1») Ozxie Nelson Ore Harriet Hlllinrd .Frank . Paris .'kV& J Hubert NEW YORK CITY Roiy (SI) ■Vivian Faye RolCe Holbclh c:ae. Fos.lcr Gla P.'iul ' Ash Ore . INDIANAPOT.IS. l-jrrlc (SO) Horace Hoidt Ore (IS) Oswald & Stanton Titan S . Leavitt & L'ockw'd ■ Jans. & I«yntoh .Campbell. Co Ching Wu Co il & L Carson. : Aritine Uok'ette K Dral«al. .X. J.) : (TiinirVes: Baum Ore . I" Stork ClDb '-; i Snnny Kendls' Ore; J6!'6n ' Redman Ore - U WashlnBloii . (.'hocolateera Alda Ward Claude. Russell Anise & Aland - . Rutus & Richard Freddie Jamea Ted Lewis Jr NEW TOBK CITY Week of August 22 Bonilnton IlnirlK S «• Lorcd.i 3 Swifts CAMDKN TOWN 'Onniiinnt 4 Smart CIs Jackie Beryl Orde CI.VI'II.XM -nrriis Don'mi . Sis ■ . EniNlil'RGU Royul . Jack Rddelifre Vera JfcLcftri Harold Dayne Sherma'n. Fisiicr Gis 4 Stnlth Bros Norman ft rurnol Neller ft. Clara . Pratovn A Jules 3 Sandler Sia - ■ GI.AHGOW . VavllloD . Brit Film nniibles Talhot O'Fnrrell Howard Rn|;era : Lea Golfds ' - Areola Inn (Arnilu, N. J.) Jerry Carr Ore Cliliiuita Venerea , Rilth, Warren Kny Blaire OeorKo Scbtti Walter Cole . Jerry Smythe BertoloHI's. Don Syivio Ore :' Angelo's Rhu'ba Bd Chita Jli^ Dion Letty K'embie Annette Gueriaine Roberta Welsch IU> Gay M's Cliat-les Touchette Jolin-Panter John Bliot. Don Oortei Jini Phillips Mary Roberts Harold Willard , ArtliurBelian ' Hiirry:' Donnelly Joe Howard ' . Spike. Harrison Bernle Gratier' -Bbalrvard Tnvera (Klipliurat, I- I.) Helen Wehrla Aiitoine & DuBarry Patsy King. ' . - Lucille Rich ; Dave Fox . Tholma Nevlns . . Cameron . .Crosby ''. Jan FrcdrlL's - Oro . - Cafe Afriqae ' Snub .Mosley "Orb Alberta Pryme Bots & Saddles . . Thclma Debevolse Lorraine Faulkner Mary Perry '■ ■ Caiia Manaaa Milt Britton bro Ethel Wiitera Smith & Dale Buaier West Lucille Paga A Robins Great -. Tacopla Beii Dlyie . . - iCIarcmbnt . lata Clydb Lucas Oro Club Gnocha Los Oaucho Ore Diniltri & Vlritll MlRuel VIcIno Co TrInI, Plaza Curso'a. . Vincent Padulo Ore Ernest Kramer Ore £1 Cilice .■ Don Alberto bro Asuncion Grahados Joylt & . Mnravllla Dorlta .& Valero Francisco -Itninos FnmnUa Door. Count Basic Ore Helen Humes ' Jerry Kruffcr Jerl Withce James Rualiinfr Glen Islnml C'HHlno Larry Cilhlbn Oro Hon Wain Dick Tndd Fisher &. Woodhull Gay lliivnnn-Miidrld Nnno Itodrigo. Ore .lunniiu Sutiabria Or Vnrela Adelliitc Vnlera riineho Dolores liylvio & Melba Hickory ilouse Joo Marsala Ore llulcl' Atnlmssadot Arthur llerber'l Ore Gabriel .Cocco ^(onto- FriocI llutcl Astnr Hal Kemp Ore Dawn Kiilland Ser.'te FlnHh ■ Judy Starr- (lixfordi* Crane 2 Roberts A- White Park « flirt.ird Gloria Kraitktin , i Wapcrs Hotel -IMtnOnt- Pluza Ernie Jloisl Ore (leo Sillierban Ore Echoes Cuba Ore Dlona Maiisllnhl ■ lleliKont Halliidccrs JIurlel llyrd Hotel Hir«mrt (ItnMJklxii)^ .Will iieCuna Ore IIoIpI Kdimm . Blub Barron Ore D.un Alexiinder lintel Kssi'x House RIeh'd' Hlii^ber -Ore Dell & Hainory lintel Got. Clliifon Eddy MnyehoR Ore Hetty Gale Hotel iiiiir AiooB ' (llru^lyn) Jac1( Melvin Ore Eddie Harris Hotel I.exlnKl<>n . Ray Kiniley Ore '■ Hotel Unrein- Will'Hoilahder Ore Hotel MeAlpla James 'D'Arcy'- J Me.Hsner - Ore (Sbnxales & Hcnen Hotel K«w .Yorker . Henry Busse.. Ore ' - Baptle & Lamb Eric Walt ■ Roberta ft Farley Bobby DulTy . . May Judels ' Hotel Park - Ceatral Fawii ft Jordan Rogers. 4. Hotel PenaiiylTAiila' Red Norvo brc Mildred Bailey ' Betel Piccadilly' Adrian Rolllnl 3 ~ ilOtel Pierre Harold Nagel.Orc Hotel -Saivoy-Plaaa Bmlle Petti Ore Milll.MbntI Hotel Slielliiii Jlihmy Vincent Ore Hotel SI. Gmrjce (Broeklyn) Murray Drlscoll' Ore Hotel St. Mbrlia Balptai Gonxales O-c Basil. Foine.cn Ore Collette &\ Barry YvoJihe Bouvler Hotel St. Be'cls: Joe Jtlnea Ore Don Martbn Orb Hotel Taft Enoch : Light Ore' Hotel Waldorl- Aatorln. Geo Olsen Ore Mlaeha Borr Ore . Hotel While Prances rbmatock Cllttprd ■ Newdahl lalentiatloaal Caiiina Sande 'Williams Ore Evelyn Chandler - Guy Owen Bruce .Mupes , Dorothy. Lewis Simpson Sis Nathaii Walley Von GHssner & V Adele Ingii I.a; ^larqnlse . Bari .Moss . Cal' Bateinan- Dour Speaks Frances Connolly , j^rue Rddle Davis Ore Joseph SinlLh .Ore Xe Ceq Rouire . Nick Vouzehs Ore Pola Borgja ' Ray Oliver I>OB ft Kddle'S' Jay C Fllppen Lina Basdueiie Eddie Davis . Lou Martin Ore Helen Walnwrlght Texas- Tommy - Dorothy Jeffc's WhirllnR Woods Wally Wnnger C ■ Ann O'Connor I'ftrmeh Iris Adrian . Monte Carlo Rlla Rennnd Arenn- & Mili'tlnez Gaston Onyx Cliih Sluir Smith Ore Frank Froeba . l*arttillse Phil Napoleon Ore Jackie Gnteley (-l)arles Carror Vera- Kern . Winter. Sis Alan' Carney . Marge Kills Place Kleganle W Palmer Ore Ulil Farrcli .Krnesl ■l-'raiijc- Vlncent De't 'usla - Rex (JuvHle Plantiitlon Cliih JIgSHW Jn<'Uson Luckee Sis -iHiUis WlUla'ins SkCelS Ttiliiver Orp - tlUeen >lury Ann Willie .Vtiricr Dawn -Rulh Waring : Audre'y Ciirriiii; pick Xtogers ■ Riiillo Fninkii' Club .Frank HcNsiiiger Jerry Wlilte- . Ous Wieke JImtny Burns Fred Blslinp. •Wynne Rnlpli LoU Williams Kbony 'S ' Tl*uth ■ LooriofT /RalnlMiw Grill Ben Cutler Ore Marlynh & MIehaCi Dnl v.ernori . . - Rnliibow' Room A I Dbntthtift Ore ' Eddie J.eliaron Ore I'aula. Kelly - ' Swing Clab Ray Mario Oro Freddie Fulton Pete ClIITord . Ruth Osborn Tohl Caya' Cellnda . : Joe Van Green ■ Jack Huber. . Luclnda- Lung , ; Tavern-on-tlreea , Hiighie Barrett Ore , VrnM|illles '.Marjprie Galnsw'rth Psnehltb Ore Val Ernie. Ore D'Avfiios Dancers ' , Whirling Top ■ ; Geo -Morris bro. Trent Pat'teraon Itamon R'lngo Stephen Harris WIvel Charley. Bowman Or Bob .Ijce ' FJola Marine ' Ernie -Mack Nick Hope Amelia Gilmbre- Patricia Clancy LOS ANGELiElS Ball Charlie Lawrence ' liruz Fletcher . Ileyerly Wllahlre Howard -Jerrard . Viola Vaughn Lou Sallee Ore .■Blltmore'' Mardoiil ' Alli e King G Maxellos Dave Saxon Rahnle Weeks. Frank Tromhar Ore Ronia 'Vincent. R0S0.& Ray Lyta : Cafe De Paree The Seven Parisiitns Pat Manners Paul McLean Charlie. Ameht Oro Cafe La .Naxe.v Myrus Jlen. Llght Oro - Magic Hands Clover CIttb Stan Myers Ore ~ . Club Mbroeco Jim Kerr Ore; ' Cbconnut Grove r.eo.-Reisman bro Georges & Jnlnft IShyoys bt Rhythm Hawaiian ' ParadlBe ' Clab Searles & Lena -Bobby Ramos . Princess Luana ' Kay Kaltilnl Eddie Buah.3 Andy -lone Ore ' it Cafe .rtte Moahay )tub Searles BUI Roberts Oro .'' I« Coaga Bronson Dudley K Durando Ore Hal Howard Oro ' Chiqulto Rumba Bd Little Club Jane 'Jones ' Tiny Merldlth Paul Kendall Chas Thorpe Onar'a Donne Dorothy Roberts Geo Redman Ore Walter Wiids Elmer McDonald &.Rasa Palomar Sonny. Duiiham.. " ' ' Kenny Sargent .Peewee Hart. Gearharta Charles ft.An'y . Hudson Met^Kbr Gls Glen Gray pre • Paris Inn Marguerite jc M Dbmlnic. Columbo Thora Matttalson Ken Henrysbn . Lillian Gibson , Valbsk'a Powell' Werner & Hardy .Frank'Sprtiha Ore ' ' P Seltnlck's Club Grey & Bergln. ' Marco £ Romola- Max Fidler bre Billy Lnnkin .Volar Gain -'Dill Brady Seven Seoe. Candy bandldo Johnny. Ch'Ico Joo Frisco " ' BIIIHofrhian ' Bomeraet.- House Harry .'Rlhglahd ' 3 Hi: Hats Ann ^laryln Topsy." . Lorraine Gerard Maxiiie Wlngo- Jaequelln .Cherry Margaret Walden Gloria Randall Leona .Rice Gil Dagenais Pat O'Shea^ . Joy Williams .Lenore Thome Arnianda- ft Lita ' Barrett. & Wright Sterling - Young .' Ore Troeadero Jose's .Cuban Bd Glen Pape ■' Maressa . Bert Frohman ' . :Uob Grant Ore y Hogo Meslaaraat Skinnay Ennis Ore Colleen Ciilhoun CHICAOO - Bismarck Hotel (tValpqt Boom) Jules Duke Oi:c Arlene O'Day ■ » Betty Grey . Gloria Faye liarland ft Frawley t.'onsolo .ft Melba ' Blackliawk Bob Crosby. Ore . Marian Mann'' Jim ft J Byrnea l.oina .(ioo'per . ' . ..iai-k Gaulke Oro .Ntayloyla Ruiz . Blue Goose :3 'Tioose' Scrc.ws' .larie 'ImCs . Rii.inh Hovey Hurry Singer Oro Klin Alt Jinnny Dorsay Moure ft Revel Kitilly Van I.oseo Haul Gorrltz Clark. Dennis |)ul{es ft Ducllesa Or noio Ballet llreviinrt Hu'tel' (Cryslnl Kouni) rinrenco Scliubcrt .' Cliarles Baldwin .lea'n Lonsch .\i>rina Ballard itroudinoht' .June Marsh A Adnrabies Sid Rogers Suzanne Keesler lltid.dle T.aCardo (Ittti-ia Starr Marble Rudolph Ore 'Cnravun' Mddic Gorman .Uurk'if Romano - l-'runcine Johnson ISelty lllil |.:irna l.eonard I'arl Schollz Orb Cliex Puree .vbe l.'yninn. bro Kiliel ..Sluiila ' I'aul Draper -I'a'ul ft . I::va Reyes tlyveh Sceley Ito.'^e niane .Don Orl'ando Orb . Kvans Adorables Club Al llal Onrber I'.'irnela- l-'HI Deeea Helen Spenco; Kny Stanley Uhylhin Klng.4 Club Alatinm Harriet Norris l> de'. HaugUton -ironorc ft GludS's " .Saitle Moore .. i AiiibiiKsadora Phyllis Urooks .Vlarjorie King BHie Burton Bernle. AtUer l>ave Unells ' Ore Chalk Robinson Ore Kddia Roth Ore Club Bpunlitli , 'Pinky - Tracy Loretta DeUoer 4 Debs ' Opiil Adair Kitty SwVii'oa Frances Sills Jerry Wayne Joe NIttI Ore Colony Club Dwight' Flake' Jose Manzahares .Or Hugo dcPauls Ore CptoHlmns Dorothy Marthyn Jackson. Reeves ft S Dorothy Wahl ' Speck ft Spot DeBold . 2 Grace Drysdaje Francltn ' Gernldlne ft Joe Bobby Danders Bob Hynit Pronaiih GIs Hoiiyyvfiod 6 Henri Gendron Ore- , Club l>i;lliia Evelyn White Myra Taylor John (JMcnr liliythm Willie Bunny 3 Lu'-Uy Ducks Sam Thenriitch*s Ralph Cook Rev nittmnn Dancci's Roberta PecKy >loore 'Helen Dove Mort Lund Ore lEdgr.tvuler lleach .Hotel . . (AInr'liie .Rno Italley Sjs ' U(mnic llakcr A NItehawks Milte Sevtel UOKer Bragg Harriet Smllli Don Pedrn Ore Blsa Harris Dana Cameron ■ .HleWory iBB 4 Top liata The New Yorkers HI Hat ; Joe Lewla Terry La iVlor Pal-Mar GIs .Teanne Walker Sid Lang Oru ."■ lllppodroro.e Flo Whitman Rot Jerry' Jlarka" Oro Pat Casey Ann Bolen Ray Quidii Ivanlibe Helen SiiinnoVs Helen Irwin 4 Kawallans Earl Hoffman Oro JL'Algleo Sfary . W KHpatrlek George' Bay Bd . '. Ennio Bojognlnl Or Hotel La Siilie (Bloe -Front Raeai)' Richard Schreiber Blltmore Spy's . Dixie Frances Liberty Inp - Sunny Mark Tommy O'.Veal; Jane Jbrdau- Polly . Tai'r Bock Sis Earl' Wiley: Oro . . lilmeiioase. ' ,2 .Sophisticates ^ (■ladys -Zliiinierinan .. Dana ' Cnm'eron . . Jerry Gljddeh Oroi .McMughllhs Enid Phillips - Deone Page Joan Baylor Sammy Bai-ry Ray Dean Billy Marsh Jiilcs.. Novlt; Ore ... ' Melody .Mill ' Jack. Bussel Oro . UlamlClob Beza -White Ban Rlckard Joe Cassldy Lynn Barclay Dorothy Johnson. Illatnne Mickey Winters Chariene Haker Ann Howard . 4 Monteforte Sis Charlie Patrick . Bdna Rellly VIrg M'Glnnis Roy Swift Ore Minuet Club . Mtirgo Gavin Billy Ferbcr Sunny Glllan) Gale Lawrence Jack Morton pro Mrirrlmn Hotel: (Boeton Oyster . llsBse). Manfred Gpllhelf Nnmeleaii cafe Mitzie Rae 'I Smith's Marionets Don .'Honton Grace DIttnian Abbott Dancers Ed Allen Phil Dolley pro Purody Club Freddie Abbott .Moille Manor Dollle Dolene SKra Thebold •Mario Thomas ' Freddie Janis Orb I'nw ; Wun Club Gene Emerald Mathewa ft Chall D ft a.Hogers Warren ft Phyllis Jerry Frost . Kenny Wright Ted Simon . Stave Slutlan& pro Rose Bowl . Pauiette LdPlerre .Southl'd Rhy'm als Gloria Panlcp Tom Ferris Sherman Hotel (College laa) Brandt Sis - Kobin Scott Uksllla. ft Vlda Jenna • ' , Uud Lewis. Mary Jane Yeo Genevieve Trojan Duke, ft Noble Betsy Ailing L*nn Clare, Dorothy Erlckson Madeline Raymond Russel ft Qenevleve :jnn\Tllake Ballet F Masters Oro Silver Cload :. Bert. Nolan Harry Ferris I.aRue. Parker Georglne Raey Drake ft Marsha Tiielma Graccn Marian Doyd'' Hazel Zaius Nord Richardson . 3 Tops . Johnny McFall Orc Silver rrdllcs lone O'Donneli 3 Kings of Swing . Kalalne Rabey Fay Wallace Art Freeman'.' 6M Club Billy barr . Trudy de 'Ring Renee. Villon ' Marg Faber GIs Jessie Rosella White Sis B ft L Cook Collette ' Peachea Strange- Dolly Sterling Sol Lake .Oro Tripoli ,3 ' Skr Rocket '. MarJorle Whitney ' Dictators Mathewa & Shaw, 4 Kings B Tanks Socialites : - Stevens Hotel (Continental Room) Glover ft La.Mao !M Fredfrlciis Orb Paul Rogan ' Stockade Ina Herble Shrlner Dolly MosS' Ethel .'Brown Sasl-Q Irv Pornileid Na,tp:sha June. -West Edith Principle Verne Wilson Ore . Swlaglnad Joe. Johnson Mse DlggF Alma. Smith 2 Rhythm. Pals Pals. Patterson Ted Smith Blily.ft c:harles Jlnniiltt. Noone Pre. ThoiiipsOB'a 18 Clab Ray Reynolds Patsy Tlioinaa Dancing Romans Micky .Dunn: Joan . Dawn Irene Fortess Mary. Marshall . . Frisco's Pre .. Three Deoces Johnny ft B Dpdds Fred Reed ' Tower laa Frankie' Dpvle 'Inez Goneh Kurtls: Marionets June. Brooks Jane. Jordan Bobby Shreder. Noel. & Jean Lytell CIs . RIeartor Johnson Frank Davis Oro- Troeadero ■Norma Noel Friizie'Hey Jean & Joan D'ore* Roy Rankin Oto Villa Rlodeme Carlos Molina Bd. Kemp "Tr Margaret .Myers ' Villa Venice r. ft a Lambcrlln Holly Sis l.azzeronis Noli ft Ntilan l''elldo ft Tama Ann Lewis Mnda Marsh Michel ft M<;desca Lou Hoffman Kenee Jay,' •Carlos ft Cnrita F 'Qunrtollo Ore 7.lg Zrtg Sunny Roueha Lai-ry Liijf Ore PHILADELPHIA -. Ant'linrage. Kleanor iioweis Dolphin M.irle ft C'ansino Ucrb.WooiU Oi'c Areadlu liit'l 'Eleanor liiiwers' Dolphin Alurlu ft Ca'rsioo Johnny CralT Ore. Hellevue-SI ml fnrd Meyer Davis 'pre Benny the Hum's Keller Sis Delnyd ^IcKav Dill Honey pre Ben Frnnlilln Hotel Leo 'Zoiio. Ore Club 13 Dicli Thomas . ('nnadinns C)re Connie Lambert Kihlinssy VlrKlnls Renault Rert Clenioux MarJorle Drumm'nd liai^bnra Jnhn^ilon Ann 'Kirwin .Pedro Ulunco.Orc - Rvcrgreen Caslnti Pat Shbvlin Heleiie Miller Uefh Challis Joe Mlllkopt Oro lllidebrnnd's: ':i Mariiiia :i*auia NlcKI Galluccl llellii Jieiiiiniii Bobby Leo ore '. Hotel Adelphla- (KlM>f) ■loe Fro set to . Ore ■. Jackie Iteekman I. a C'onita GIs Don Angelina Ore llerb'a' 1412 Club Kay Bangor Dotty Strousor Helen Heath Lucille P.eneo •loe Hayes brc Peggy, Wagner. Little KathNkellet Jack C.riinn Oro Gay Dlxabn Itpscoe Alls Hetty Lewis Joan VIclceri) BUd ft Eleanor Cole Johnny & George Mnyfalr Parma - Kalhrya Rand : ' Monroe' : ' James Kelly Mlekey Alport George Cllltbrd Uanny LaPorts Pro Fanlsb Cafe Billy Trilllama ' Booth Alexander Wllllarony McGea Little Ann PeeWee Ollletb Shorty Scott Jimmy Shore Orp. . Peacock GarUeas Sylvan Herman brc Stamp's Cafii Pat Perry Shavo Sherman Jphnny.'Wclah 3 Aristocrats . Brunell ft Borton Kay Scott Jack Hutel^lnspn Irving Braalow Ore ' iBIIier' Ijike Ina - , tClementon). .Uleicey FamiJant Or De Carlos ft O . 3 • Noblemen .' Sharon Harvey Datkln's Rath'Hkeller Elaine ft Jane Tony Bradley Clbo Valentine ' Betty Manii Viola KlalsB.Ors Frank Ppntl. ISSS Lovast . . Linda Ray Helena Hart . Dalores Merrill .. . KfRRy Dpwen Gludya ;('rane Ann . Collins Dave Uyion Bubbles Shelby Swing- King Ore 21 CInb' .Tommy Monro* Doli Morris Marie Dane Jeanne Sheer Lynne Slieelian' Ruth Marlln Marty Landls Ore Wnllba Rmi . .Teno . Ponath Ore Vincent Rlzzo Ore Paul Ncff Oro • Jlininy Blake • Mildred Reed Violet Love Ross Mel.e'iiQ Paul ■ Jtoalni . rrawfor.d.& Ciskey ,G11 Lamb ■ . ' Jack Lynch CIs H Weber's Hot Braa (Canridea) ■ ■ [•ouis-Chaiklri Oro Mno Carmliib Fred Hug Valley ft Lee. Internatiohai ] Bavarians .KIdoradiana Use Hart Joe RoniahA . Rudy Bruder Ray Miller torklbwne Taren Prank' Staiib Pro ATLASnC GITT Bnbettes ..' South & Lone MacArthurs ' Lillian Barnes Joey Dean Earl Lindsay Ols .Eric Correa Pro - Mary Louise ■ Babette Bath * Tart Clnb Eddy Bradd Pre Helen Morgan ... . Freddy .Bernard . Temple ft Jareii ' .. Barbara Parks Ruth Daye Horace Hustler ' Clies Paree ; Jack Rich ' Margie Smith'. Alblcr Dean Victor Hugo ;■ .600 Club Roberts' . Bros ' ■ Bea Saxon- ' Diypns Patslo Pgdon Howard Hrooks'. Gale- Sextet Vlneent Travors O.rc . Frolics Club Francis Jtenault Joy King Bernard ft Rich Estelle Thu'ihns Neal Lang Frances Roberts Elaine Foaier Art Wiilkor pre . Gateway. Ciislao (Sorners Point) .Len MayCaIr Ore - Kitty Brooks Kelo Bros Mildred Kay'e . Helllg'a Etzi Covatp Ore Pastlne ft Marilyn Bill Anderson Mark. Lane pick Smith Hotel riietsea- Joe Follman Ore ■Hotel Trayaiore . (I'atlo del Sol) .wrll) r.ou Ciai'ko Ore Huh ft E Wayne Kiiy KiiKllsh Kdlth Helln Old Fashioned I'sfs l:isa iMarvelie Alary Lou Harris Frances Jlh'ea I'emberlon Ina Art Rubiii Oro Seville Don Rico Ore Sheraton Robr (SlierMtun Hotel) Bob Hardy Oro Peggy W ood Soulii Shore Fa"" Tommy C.irr Oi^ Tremont l'|s» Cone Nickcrson Or tVlgivnin ilallropm Count 1' raTk-hliil Of Benny Goodman in K. C. In Opposish to Jim Dorsey Benny GiobdmSn p}-'ys th(! Fox the- atre, K?nsas City, thf wecK of Sept- . 23,. on a booking , by Music Corp. oi Ainerica. He plays it opposish. to Jimmy Dorsey, Who'll be at the K. C. 3uw- esta at the same time. Again Ca»s-Owen-Top»y Casi, Owe'r. aniJ Topsy. af*'^^ ' "V! joiirn on the Coast, reopen in vaud* . Friday (26) at the Palace. Chicago- Mary Owen iff back in tbd trio.. la« year billed as Cass, Mack and Tops' • Max TIshmsin agentihg. tgpJnesJay, August 24. 1938 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 47 I Y. Manager Groi^ Strengthened By Constitutional Changes in Meet te-eue of New York Theatres, J^xi of producers ^and theatre ^ors in the legit . field, is ex- !^ to be more compact and more SSincUy representative of show busi- °es than heretofore when its new ^tutlon and Lty-laws become ef- fecUve this *eek. \ Under the changed constitution, the directors will have considerable leeway in acting for the whole, prln- cioally in the signaturing of collec- tiwaireements. Up to now it was jjjessary to secuic the signatures of Vji members individually, a proced- ure that was cumbersome and too oBeD ineffective. It has beea charged that the Ijogae was merely - skeleton, with, lie heads. not responsible for the ac- tions of the members. For that rea- (oa when the flght over the Drama- tists Guild contract was settled two jtars ago, the authors insisted that ach manager sign andividually. The' ame sltuatioa occurred when, the League and the Tiieatrical Managers, iijents and Treasurers union entered Into a basic agreement on the recent ticket control code. At a recent meeting, when the re- vised League constitution was tip for idbptlon,. there' were squawks, said lo have emanated mostly from the hser° managers, to the effect that the Board would be given too much [omn ' Froni this discussion came the decision to modify, the proposed tbanges. , Given Greater Power Under, the changed constitution, Ihi Board will have the power to eter into deitls for the League but nust get the okay from a special Mmmittee yet to be formedi Com- Bittee is figured to be a check on the board and «rUl be a . Ionb' step to- rads facilitating the functions of tbe League. Original changes had beea sent members, but the modified (Continued on page 50) Shberts to Open Cki Season SepL 12 With Lawrenco in 'Susan' Chicago, Aug. 23. Town still legitless, save for lone redeial Theatre opus, 'Sower,' which lot away well at the Blackstone and -J 8 due to stay until 'The Mikado' opens next month. However, a fairly good season ap- P«« ahead with a number of strong aojw lined up. Shuberts open with wtrude Lawrence and New York ^ in 'Susan and God' for four ,7f*s«' the Harris, Sept. 12, with ul^'^.^""*' and Frances Farmer a Golden Boy' to follow. . shows definitely set, but for •"ich theatre and dates are still ^ include <0n Borrowed Time,' SnM '""i Men,' 'Shadow and rjfwnce,' 'Our Town,' George Ab- W Marg. Webster «ckinN.Y^rmnJet' ^^'^"s arrived Monday in New York from London to M Dl^^u'l-lenglh 'Hamlet' re- ^ Margaret Webster, who will ^oduction y^terday (Tues.). ihoHj,"^? eoes into rehearsal W M.I . Day for an operi- Qu^^'.y 'n October, hasn't °^ out-of-town tryoul RuneVvifJ ^"led, depending to •xiokiBo^ ^vhether a desirable lUieeaJ^*^^" obtained i.r one of the St "^^y <='*'os. Show will use S.Y n when it comes into !«5 in'^- ^'a Pfolkss is designing the ^tuii«- 4u '^v'th Hclenc Pons ^""™8 the latter. U. S. *fed' Probe The Government's probe into legit's . (Federal Theatre Proj- ect) allegedly subversive activ- ity is part of the Dies Commit- tee investigation. Details as re- gards the FTP, Hollywood and other' Communistic charges on page 2. 'Sing for Your Supper,' the play mentioned in the Wash- ington priJbes, formerly called 'Let's Be Candid,', is labeled a 'satirical revue' and is sched- uled .to :open at the - Adelphi, N. Y., in October. Songs iare mostly by Ned Lehac, Char- lotte Kent, Nancy Hamilton, Lee lyainer. Jack Murray and Allen Boretz. Sketches are by John La Touche, Allen Boretz, Jack Murray, Emanuel Eisen- ber'g and Charles Sherman. Harold Hecht and Robert Gordon are staging, with set- tings, by Sam Leve. Choreogr ' raphy, Anna Sokolow aiid. Ned McGiirn, with ballet music by Alex North. Cast of 100,. both colored and white. It's beea in preparation for sonle time. Hardwkke Maps On an Inti Scale With two productions listed , and a third ' in the fire. Sir ,Cedric Hard- wicke plans to become ''an actor- manager on an international scale, with permanent offices in New York and London. He would spend most of his time in England, but hopes both to act and produce in the U. S. Currently starring in 'Shadow aiid Substance,' at the John Golden, N. Y., Hardwicke will tour with the show, but is skedded to sail for Lon- don early next June, where he will; present 'Shadow,' possibly on his own, but probably in association with some other manager. . By that time he expects the Lord Chamberlain to have okayed his other item, Jacques Deval's 'Lorelei,' which he may also do solo or with another manager.- Deal ii. on for him to present 'Lorelei' on Broadway in association with Richard Aldrich ".id Dennis King. Third play being considered by Hardwicke would probably be for production in London. He would likily do it in Ne* vbrk later. Actor has no film plans, but .would possibly do a picture from time to time if it could fit into lis legit activities. Tf his actor-manager ideas on -an international scale jell, Hardwicke would be the first to carry out such a scheme in years. Gilbert Miller, who produces extensively in both London and New York, operates similarly, but he's in the managerial end alone. Producers Scramble for Tryouts Due to Press of New York Preems— Showmen in. Deals for Concessions -— Complica- tions Arise in Last Sea- son's Successes, IJiaits Taking to Provinces Brady Proposes Touring Revivals To Rebuild the Road; Urges Names AndNation-Wide Subscription Plan SLOW START HURTS Legit bookings in the eastern key- cities . are experiencing its greatest jam in years. ; Jleason; is the heavy list of Broadway preems for Sep- tember-October, plus the fact that nearly all .managers want . to break in their shows out of town. Situation M already so bad several showmen are reported to have made deals for booking concessions, out; of town. Booking tieup in the; eastern try- out cities .is usual at this, time of year, at least to some extent Fact that this season is particularly slow in getting, under way has intensified the condition to ari unprecedented degree, however. Result Is that some shows will have to open cold on Broadway, while "Others may be forced to take only one-week break ins, split their out-of-town trials be- tween two or more stands or else be tested in one of the less desirable cities. Two preferred spots are Bos- ton and Philadelphia, with Balti- more,. Washington and Pittsburgh al- ternatives. , Complicating the situation are the Broadway successes going on the rpad.or companies of Broadway stay- ers. Among the shows going out are 'I'd Rather Be Right,' 'Shadow and Substance,* 'Amphitryon' and 'The Sea Gull,' 'Susan and God' (al- ready on the Coast and working eastward in reverse of the usiial route), while 'Our Town' and 'On Borrowed. Time' may hit the road later in the fall. Second company of 'What a Life' opens in Boston early next month, while 'You Can't Take It With You' will also tour. Latter show will not play the key towns, however. New productions which will get out-of-town tests are 'The Boys From Syracuse,' 'Sing Out the. News,' 'Fab- ulous Invalid,' 'Knickerbocker Holi- day,' 'Madam ' Capet,' 'The White Steed,' 'Here Gome the Clowns' and possibly the Maiirice Evans' 'Ham- let' Ainong road tryout possibili- ties are 'Once Upon a Night,* 'Leg- end,' 'kiss the Boys Goodgye,' 'Thirty Days Hath September,' 'Lives of a 'Woman,' 'So Far So Good,' 'Lo- relei,' 'Love Is Blonde,' 'Blackbirds,' 'The Good,' 'Abe Lincoln in Illinois' and 'American Landscape.' Some: other coming Broadway openers are unlikely to warm up on the road because of previous straw- hat testing. They include 'Dame; Nature,' 'Lightnin', 'Too Much John son,' 'Bright Rebel" and '7-11.' KirklandVS Plays Jack Kirkland has three original plays in, preparation, each within a month of completion. He expects to. decide shortly which one he will finish for production during, the present season. Playwright is in New York fir a few days from his Springtown, , Pa., farm helping ready , road com- } panics of 'Tobacco Road,' which he ■ adapted from Ersl;iiic Caldwell's; novel. Nita Croft Sails For Lead in 'Operette' Tour Nita (iroft, English musical comedy soprano, sailed from New York last Saturday (20) for Lendon, where she's Cinder contract to Tom Arnold. She expects to go into 'Operette' as replacciT:ent for Peggy Wood for part of the show's lour, since latter is ex- pected to step out after a few weeks in the provinces, Mi.ss Croft will again take part in Arnold's Christ- mas pantomimes this season. She's also interested in doing the Vivicnnc Siegel part in the London produc- tion of "I Married an An;jcl.' This was Miss Croft' first visit to the U. S., being here, 10 weeks. Also conferred with the Shuberts about a musical, but nothing caine of it. Plans to return next spring and may do a legit show then. Eticore St. Louis, Aug. 23. . Joseph Macaulay, the sheriff in. 'Show Boat,* current at the municipal al fresco theatre in Forest Park, played his role twice one night last week; once for the paying customers and again for four plainclothes cops who stopped him . because he fitted the description of a sus- pect wanted on a felony charge. Macaulay, aifter the regular performance, had left his hotel, near the theatre to get some food, when the light suit he wore attracted the cops. They nixed his attempts to Identify himhelf and it was only after, he had. enacted his role as sheriff, which the cops had seen, front thie top of the theatre hill, was he permitted to continue on his way. Dowling Wants Concesh on Road Tour of ^dow' 'Shadow and Substance,' currently in its 29th week at the John Golden, N. Y., is due to go on tour early in October. Plan Is to take it all the way to the Coast, including hot only the key cities, but many of the whistle stpps. Tour must wind up the .first week in jut.e, as Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Its star, has to sail for London at that time. Likelihood is that the Paul Vincent Carroll drama will go out as a Thea- tre Guild . siibscription play. Guild is reported dickering for it, but pro- ducer Eddie Dowling is understood holding out for out-of-town booking concessions. Deal involves the other forthcoming Dowling productions,, 'Madam Capet; F'hilip Barry's 'Here Come the Clowns' and the new Car- roll play. The Whit; Steed.' Pro- ducer wants to give them all out-of- town breakins, but is having trouble getting bookings in nearby keys. Gliild holds reservations for out-of-- town dates and, if a deal can be ar- ranged the Guild may get 'Shadow.' The drama played Pittsburgh, Washington and 'Philadelphia last spring before the New York opening, so those towns .will probably be skipped in the coming tour. Show will probably open in .Boston, play a week in Baltimore and then move westward. No long stays arc planned, Ihe longest being fou.- weeks in Chi- cago. Dowling's first production of the sea.son will be 'Capets,'.' which will go into rehearsal sp.orlly after Labor Day, with Eva LaGallicnnc in the lead, as Marie Antoinette. -'Clowns' and 'Steed' will follo-v within a few weeks. All three plays arc likely to preem within six wcek.s, according to present plans. Florence Wickham Sails For Dresden 'Rosalind' Floience W'ckham, compo.scr of l.'ic score for "Rosalinvj,' which was tried out at the Rockridge- theatre, Carmcl, N. Y.-, several weeks, ago, sailed last night iTucs). to supervi.se the October production of her oper- elta !;: Dre.sden. Shi .Si'.ys the work will be produced on B.oadway when sh< rctuins in November. 'no.ialind' is an adaplalion of Shakespeare's 'As You Like It.' Proposal for a group of producers to send out touring revivals with name players as a means of rebuild- ing the road has been advanced by Williarn A. Brady. Showman offered to do two or ithree of the productions himself, provided other managers would agree to put on the rest.. Brady's idea is that'if 15 such re- vivals, were sent- out, added to the 15-odd shows that normally tour every season, it would make a list of about 30. ranking roadshows with leading stars in representative plays. . Under such a setup, he believes a subscription system could be organ- ized throughout the country, instead of just a few -key cities, as the Theatre Guild is organized at. present Plan was suggested by Brady at last week's American Theatre Coun- cil administrative committee meeting in New York. It w'as favorably re- ceived by the majority Of those present and will be further con- sidered at two more session this week. Reported that . several other producers tentatively agreed to; co- operate. Brady's theory is that although good new scripts are scarce and difricult to .Ind, there are numerous old plays . that can be profitably revived if given adequate produc- tions -and toured with ranking play> ers. He points to the hefty businesi done last season by his production oi The Circle,' with Grace George anrf Tallulah Bankhead, and the 'Doll'i House' revival, with Ruth Gordon Also cites ^Catharine Cornell's .oun in recent seasons with 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Saint Joan' as well as tht John Gielgud and Leslie Howard productions of 'Hamlet' ■ Producer also calls attention to tha tremendous subscription growth in St. Louis, entirely credited to the activities of the Playgoers of St, Louis, a subscription organization that guaranteed, audiences for worth- while touring shows. A similar idea worked in Buffalo. 'The same plan could be carried out in any other town, Brady claims. However, audi- ences must be assured of good plays and satisfactory productions with known players before they can be (Continued on page 50) Marc Connefly Denies Theft of Player k N. Y. Suit for $10,000 "The Man from Cairo' was a flop before it really, got started and was doomed to quick oblivion, accord- ing to the answer filed in New York by Marc Connelly and Beta Blau, producers of "Two Bouquets,' to the $10,000 conspiracy suit brought against them by Mike Todd and Leon Productions, Inc. Justice Kenneth O'Brien, on Saturday (21), declined the plaintifTs' request t« strike out portions of the reply. Todd and the Leon Corp., whlife produced 'Cairo' last May, allege In the complaint that Connelly and Blau, acting for Two Bouquets, Inc., through, misrepresentations induced . Viola Rbache, one of the 'Cairo' leads, to breach her contract for 'Bouquets,' with the result that 'Cairo* had to clo.se after the per- formance of May 21. In their answer, the defendants say Miss Roache informed them that she had. signed a 'standard ininirnum contract' and not a nin-of-lhc-play contract with the 'Cairo' produceis; that the ca.st was Vorkinj; on half .salary and all v/ere v/orking wcck- to-weck. Un(.cr. these conditions, •nnd after reading the rcviewi^, Miss Koache feared she would shortly be out of a job, ,il'.s .slated Connolly then xavc her. a r'-'irt in 'Bouquct.s' after .she had itivcn two weeks' no- tice. Helen Chandler, the slar,' had al.su given notice. 43 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesday, August 24, 1938 Strawhat Reviews Rhyme Without Reason Provincetown, Mass^ Aug. 22. Comeily In three QotH by EUraiinU Nnrlh Rnd JamoH Gow. Presented by Nell MeF'ee SKInrer .'StaKCil by E. Stnnley Pratt, ."iet- tliiK. Kny Tnllni.in. At the Wharf thentre, I'rovlncetowiV. M;.4(i.. week Au«. 2-- 'atl. Theresn Coleman. V .Barbrira Roliblna HniiJfdixl r.ntlmer. ......... .'. . Jiimeii! Rrnnle 5trH, Crowtlcr. .......... .Colette HuinnHrlea H'lrnre i RnJuh MorehouKe Liiiira S^thrllng .I'aulft nauerxmlth Iiavld Bauman Charles Oulllfui Hollywood .scenarists James Gow. and Edmund North have turned out a fairly . prorhisins light comedjf' in •Rhyme Without Reason.' First two acts . spin along neatly,: but third is' pretty static and needs considerable fixing to Iteejj it bounciiiig. Thei-e's a slight suggestion of 'Pc-rsonal Ad- Searance,' but without the rowdy ilarity of that piece, 'Rhyme' mov- in-! in more. subtle circles. . That doesn't mean, however, the play misses out on laiighs. .Opening sections pack plenty of theini, and if last one wns more expertly turned, chances for Broadway would be brighter. Fixing should be easy, i since slight plot holds up, but dialog doesn't. .Lines up to this 'point are) crisp and ' aniusing, and then play ; ends on 'n hurried, unevennfiss. Deals with a glamour gal from the films oat'ten'ied closely after Gladys George's character in 'Appearance.' who drops in oh a' Maine summer shack, wIVere a couple of collabora- tors are kn'ocking out a new play, Male mcr'iber of the. team was an old flame of hers back in Greenwich Vil- lage, and : she's slipped away from Hollywood and her husbands a big producer, for a little fun- with the fellow. Bit surprised to find that he has a good-looking female writing partner, but that' doesn't stop her. Femme playwright, however, colls the star's husband' 01) pretext of clos-. ing a deal for their Hollywood, ser- vices, and up he, comes next jnorhing to find his frau has spent the night with the ex-boy friend. . He's willing to forget and forglye, because he loves the: dame, but she starts acting all over the place,' comes up with a big scene about quitting pictures and going back to. the thea- tre, and it looks as if poor Brad is going to be the goat: . Doc^'t realize that his coUabaratoi: Is in love with bim and. when she quits flat, two weeks of wood-nymphing with the. glamour gal gets htm down, and he's willing to yell 'tinclei Her husband takes her back, and the playwrights resume their professional career with romance on the side this . time. . 'Rhyme' iisn't entirely a Hollywood satire, but'the label fits. . Lots of in- side laiighs for those in the profes- sion, but they're by no means an ex- clusive aiidience for the . Gow-North script Play has a general appeal, and when fixed, properly cast and run off at an Abbott tempo should stand more than .^just - an outside chance. . • ■ , Despite . uncertainty of opening night performance, it got across here and was well received. In leading role, Paula Bauersmith, last-minute substitution for Dorothy MackaiU,. is aljttle too heavy for Laura Starling's off-hand phoniness. ' But she comes through with couple of good scenes.- James . Rennie, is first rate as the muddled playwright, and Barbara Bobbins turns in a. slick job as his collaborator, easily outreaching her acting Accomplices. Charles- Collins is a trifle insecure in a character, role, with Ralph Morehouse turning in a grand bit as a toothless barnyard cracker-barrel. . GoUette Humphrey is not far behind as the straight- laced, sniffing housekeeper. E. Stanley Pratt's direction all right, considering brief time for strawhat preparation, but piece would acquire considerable more pungency at a saltier pace. Cohen. oyer l^uickly and; not 'ioo effectively. !Rest of the play is an intelligent but uneventful portrait of the- develop- ment of their combined gifts. Lamb's devotion to his . sister, is a well- known legend in the libraries and his. constancy is the play's chief note, Brenda Dahlen emphasizes Mary's doom in the first act and .robs the frenzied climax of. sorne of its hor- ror. In later scenes, she. gives a more successful characterization- of the pitiful woman. Myron McCorr mack is likewise uneven as Charles and looks too fit lor the weary, harassed clerk of the first, act ' - Joe Souther lightens the play's mood wih his absent-minded George Dyer!and Meirvin Williams, .as-Sam- uel Taylor Coleridge; Edward Frainz, as William Wordsworth, and Alice McDermott, as a party-giver of the period, help considerably. Sets CO(>d. Doul, THE LEPRECHAyN Pawling, N. Y., Aug. lO. . Comedy-^lr'uma In three .acta - and three aoeiicit by Jrtmea Henry- B^nrd; produced Hnd directed by Mnryverne Jones at Star- V.kUl tlrcatrc. Pawling. N. T.,. Aug. 10, '38. Bminet Hurkc- v .Bruce Adama BrIdKet O'CavnnauAh ....... .Llda' Kane N'ellR May .leobel Rose .Shcllln...... .Marjorle - Peterson .Spade Contello., .'. . ....... .... Walter Drane nert Morgan Hill..;. William Cragin Stuart... Robert Anderson P^mbrol: . . ..' .' ..William Banks Gowah ..Barry Sullivan Pollcehian Joseph Mclnerney CHARLES AND MARY White Plains, N. Y., Aug. 22. Tragedy by Jonn Temple; produced' by Marie f^ulao BIklns and Edwurd :Mnsscy; staged by Ma^.ney, FeatufCH Myron MiiCor*' miok. SetllnK.i. RleRnor Fnrrlnglon. ,\t RIdgewny thentre. White Plains, N. 1'., be- gUinlng Aug. 22, '38, Mary I.nmb...... ...;.,nrcndn Dnhlen Chiu-loii I.dmb I.Myron .McCornVlck Mr. I.amb. , . ,.ltosx Mattlie\v Mi-». I.anib. . .. . ., Mcll Hnri lcon Becky. .Sdmonia Nonley Jnne. jin Miller. Jiibn t,;iml>. . . . . ,. ..T.imcs Todd Vllllnm (!nerl.. Chnmplnln; At the Rock- ridge .theatre, Carmel. N. Y.. Aug. 22, 'SS.. I Crash NVIIIIhm Balfour Hub Allen... Itobcrt Chnmplnln Due Willie.... .Clark Chcaney Alllwin Carter Katharine Warren Jd.hnny Drnko. .;. James Truex Sfary Murphy. -. . . .-. .Sara Floyd Uobble..;;'. Roy Branlon 'Flight' is a spotty play which uses too much useless, profanity. It's rerniniscent of 'Hell Freezes Over,' which played for a short run on - Broadway a couple of years ago. It's about a plane, with a woman in the crew, which crashed in Africa, stranding its occupants. Their trials are detailed ineffectively, Katherine' Warren is excellent in the first: act but faltiers thereafter. Two scts. are usied. . Here Is a play that might get by on Broadway and, with some rewrit- ing,: in pictures.' ■ . Jeff Foster (Ian Keith) is a retired, albeit still personable, actor, who has settled down to a- prosaic life of play- writing with his wiife jn their Ber- muda iiome. The other members of the household are their 24-year-old adopted son, Eddie (Edwin Phillips), and -Major (William Andrews); a Negro handyman, who was formerly Jeff 's valet Nina Suffleva (Halla Stoddard), a hot -blonde -with a thick Russian ac- cent and a yen for stage fame, goes to work on the ex-actor, biit after spending the night with her on the beach, Jeff, bedraggled, forlorn and slightly rheumatic next morning, concludes thai he would be bettei- off acting his age and he and Christine patch up their differences. Conclu- sion is abrupt and tame, Donald Foster: and Edith Meiser are good as a producer and his wife. Authoress Dorothy Bennett is also a film scenarist, Gilb.' UTOPIA LIMITED Matunuck, R. L; Aug. 18, Comic opera In two acts by W. S. Oll- b'ert and Arthur Sulllvaii; preaented by The Vanguard Theatre, Inc. Staged by Elinor Wele. Music directed by Cyril Owen. Set- tlhgs. Joseph H. Hell, Jr. At the Theatre- by-the-Sea, Matunuck. R. I., week oC Aug, 16, '38. King Paramount Robert DeLany Scaphio .;,,.. ,uden Oovetness .Elizabeth Valentine Polyluko .....;.;;. . . .... .Fnneeaca Rotoll' T%vln3 . . . ; Charlotte Cooper, . Shirley Cooper Butler . . . . . . . ; , . . . , . . ... , , Cheater Miller Servant '.,.., .- . ; . . . ...... .'Herscliel Mayall. -Zoe Akins has fashioned a play for Tallulah Bahkhead's talents that looks like a winner; A woman's dish tci the last drop of the curtain, it will ply- a 'heavy matinee trade and also' take care of. itself nlcdy after dark. The subject matter of sex relations, delicately handled and woven into the . dialog with deft innuendo and implication,. . precludes its . transfer to - the screen unless : tho'roughly scrubbed behind the ears; Even then' it would have to slip past the Hays office monitors while a parade' was going by. La: Bankhead was never., more Bankhead, She- romps through the piece with consiimniate abandon and with that pert toss of her head tops her character with a sparkling per- formance. . She has a- firm- grip on her difficult delineation as the au- thoress who writes about sex ior the good sisters -who buy her tome so they can hold their men. John Em- ery makes capital of the English bounder who loves 'em and- leaves 'em, . He gives the. part a fine, ras- cally trimming' and nits from one at- fair to another with the insduciance of his set The : femmes out front will go'ga-ga over his philanderings and easy philosophies on life and love,-. Play takes a fast lift when a mis-^ tress about to be tossed over lets Emery, have a ballet in the shoulder. Distraught dame, hounded by jeal- ousy, believe; he's on the make for- La Bankhead, whom he had never seen, yet had applauded her views on sex ' relations, 'When Bankhead calls at his hunting lodge to return the other gal's jeweled gifts they swap philosophies and he adds an- other conijuest Bankhead is so en- amored of the fast-working Emery that she. asks her: husband (Glenn Anders) for a divorce so she can go double harness with Emery. -Anders stalls her off, hoping that Emery, will give her the kiss-oS as he had done the others, ^ It is Miss Bankhead's obsession that jealousy will never enter her life,'since she believes she. has what ;it takes to hold him. But she doesn't know her paramour, who gives a. fast rush to a guest in the household. Through a mislaid letter Bankhead learns of . his infidelity. Scene . in the. second act. gives, the star a chancie to parade her emotions,; and how she certainly does wraps up the dames out front. It's a gripping bit and Miss Bankhead takes it in hi-t though hurt because her own^ theories have backed up on w After alU she had let it be kho*™* 'I am different Why be jealoS^?^ can hold my man.' . * To replenish her bankrbll and vn too proud to ask her husband lot "•^^J"??*^ funds, since the afla^: v^th tonery had been in the opej Miss Bankhead then advises ^ lovelorn in a newspapet column uoA hag a caller in one of her fans. OU sister^ prpcee^ to tell her that^ has lived with a man for 30 yem and Was still jealous of htm. Tha? brings Miss Bankhead to her senses and she realizes maybe she isn't such a pash flower after all. That they'ra all cheaters and any way^ what's the use. Final curtain finds Miss Bank- head sipping coffee with Emery dropping the punch line, 'I'm evai jealous of the coffee you're drink, ing.''': Emery ahd Mlsis Bankhead domi- nate the play, with 'flne support hr Anders, Fritzi Scheff and Hala Lindi Miss Scheff carries the lighter inter- ludes with poise and good effect The stage vet ol a dozen operettas gets around like 9 soubrette, aiid was accorded a solo, ciirtaih call, at the preem.The mob out front, mostly dowagers and . flrst: citizens cif the ^ bordertown, gaVe her a wanrt re- ception, second only to Miss. Bank* head. Another femme appeal will be the gowns especially fashioned by 'War- ners' Orry Kelly for the star. Her changes were the subject of ' much lobby chatter during - intermish, Thomas Mitchell's staging is skillfuL- Sets by Kay Nielsen are in^ taste and well contrived. . Play, • broken in here; stays: for •four performances and thence to Los Angeles and San Frahcisco for brief runs - before heading for Broadway, First night acclaim augurs for it a healthy status oin the new season's playbills in Gotham, Helni. WHIRLPOOL Hollyw()od, Aug.- 16. Drama In three acts (three scenes) by Art' thur Harrison Miller: presented by Eds Edson Theatre -Workshop. Staged by Eda . BdaoD. At the Edson Theatre Workshop, Hollywood, Aug. 11,' 'SS. Cast: Edward Halle. George W. Selk, Pat Preanell. Mlbhael Amee, Donna la Rocea, Linn Mayberry. Deane Stevens; Muriel MacMlllan, C. Otto NeUan. Vivien Baker, ' Jcanette Wolfe, Bob Richard, Barthol Penrce, Wllllnm Kent, Barbiira Hodaetl, Ann RIckl, Pat.Vallely, This is as creditaible a production as has been done in some time by • little theatre outfit. Under capable tutelage of Eda Edson, tyros romp through their paces with professional vigor. - ^ Play deals with group of smart* set country clubbers, fantastically tossed into the shadowland between, life and . death. Well worked out with strong : lighting effects and background music, particularly In the second act, . play is one that would even tax talents of profes- sionals, ' With considerable tighten* ing of the talky 'first act and other slight revisions, piece could well serve as an interesting pro vehicle. tempt - a production :of this nature, the' cast does remarkably well: Rob- ert DeLany, who replaced Arthur Geary as King Paramount two days before the opening, did a commend- able job though forced to use script Geary is said to have been taken 111. Noteworthy performances were also given by Gordon Alderman and Janies H. Parke, as Scaphio and Phantis; Dorothy McLaughlin and Helen, Marcy, the younger princesses; Burton G. Shevelove, as the Utopian vicechamberlain; Margaret Moore, as Lady Sophy; Harriet Eden, as Prin- cess Zara, and Luigl Vellucci, as Capt Fitzbattleaxe. Bizarre sets are well done by Jo- seph H. Heil, Jr. George Faxon and Harriot Eaton ably accompany the production at two pianos. Effective costumes designed and executed by Helen Marcy and Dorothy Neur mann, Afiirce. Cowi>pys and Indians , Chatham, Mass., Aug. 20. Farce In three acts: (3 scenexj by Gerald Sykes: . presented by Mary- B. WInslow. Staged by RoRcr Bolrrie; Settings. Ml.ss WInslow. At Monomoy theatre, Chatham, Mass., Aug. .20. I'^KKY 1 Emily beans Mrs. Vaslr...... ..Nancy Klmlierly rllrnln \asli.. Melvyn Hunt ;MlH.s G ituth Shen-lll narney IhruK : Frank LIdbcIiII!! I'/'lcb :,. .Iloger Dclrne: -^n"'.™ • i .' .Victoria SchraKcr •Dr. Shannon Borllcy. .... .Herbert Ijiuglilln Dollvar' Bartley . . ....... ..Cameron Mitchell Jerkins. • Auian Fliapatrick I.I. l-flomiii Kalph. Allen Iiepartincnt ot the Interior.. Dnvid Stevenson Ji"''- • ■ • ■ • -• -- Chsrloe nuKgan '. ..: ..ISarrle Wanlesa Screwy version of the Milquetoast who revolts against his; domineering wife and the slave-driving boss. He dons the Indian costume of an an- cestor tells off his wife, and rants arciund Manhattan penthouses with a tomahawk. . As a commercial prospect it's hopeless. Standout, in the bit role ot a minister, is Barrie Wanless. Also commendable are Melvyn Hunt M the mouse who becomes a man; 'Vic- toria Schrager; as the Russian in an Oriental miood . for love, and Ruth ' Sherrill as a gum-chewing stenog. Fox. Come Blow Your Horn Oconomowoc, Wis., Aug. 20. Farce In three acts (4 scenes) by Dorothy Day Wendell and Walter Zlvl. Presented by Thoda Cocroft. Staged bv J. R«»s«ll Lane. .Settings. Orvllle ■ K. Larson. At Coach House theatre, Oconomowoc, WU., Aug, 20, '38. Mamie Kay Kennedy I-evlne... ..nlllle Bath Hlldred ...Jane Bradley Windy Jackson Carl Grejsoa Stnnley. J. Potts .._ , „ .CarlfTafs Walter Bludgc. Jack Meyer Gimp. . . .-. .- .:. .Edward James . Mrs. Bludge Frances Kennedy Olpa i. .Mnrgucrlle Hustinf rolllkorr. .Sevniour Howanl Beggle .'. nobert Oumm Mr. Vaiiderdoom. . . . . , . . . . Jafiies Dexter Mn Samson... .....James nusMl More than moderately funny, and with some professional doctoring, a little sapolio and just a little pruning, 'Come Blow 'ifour Horn' may ^mean something for Broadway. - Show s rel- atively inexpeinsive to produce, being a one-setter with cast calling for easy types;. Has enough fresh situations to. ultimately interest Hollywood, since satire on radio ad agencies, as yet hasn't been overdone in fllms. Story; by Dorothy; Day Wendell, drama ed of the Chicago American and Walter .Zivi, associated for some time with radio ad agencies, is.y°'5 conceived and based uoon eviae"" first-hand knowledge oif the business. Concerns hypo account executive,. Windy Jackson' (Carl Greyson), wno falls for a girl, unaware she's daugn- ter of a major prospective account. Quits agency , to go with competitor when asked to use girl to land a^. count. Former bosses have ^nim shanghaied, arid attempt to steal ni| program prospectus. Tiickery a"". (Conlinued on page 50) Wednesday, August 24, 1938 LEGITIMATE GROSSES VARIETY 49 Epty Skeptical About Free B way Show jyrings Due to No-Pay Catcb Skepticism by Equity as to the feasibility" of New York License jj„nBiissioner Paul Moss' plan to air Broadway shows, gratis on Sunday gfternoona is proving the big block to Ibe application of the proposal, «tilcb also has the backing of Mayor r»Guardia Moss appeared before 4he Council last week to explain that M y.'s municipally owned WNYC could be used , without chiarge and the broadcasts would stimulate jntiest in the theatre. Council finally agreed that the lat- ter night be so, but pointed out that actors are too frequently asked to without pay, such as perform- Vices for the Stage , Relief Fund iriiile stagehands and musicians are nii the scale. Declared that players iiie adopting the stand; that unless other stage unionists forego pay they ^ seek, If not demand, remunera- tion for all types of appearances. Proposal to broadcast portions of plays over WNYC each Sunday at 5 p, in. for orie hour is also sybject to managerial opinion as to how the pro- grams are to be framed. One show- man doubted that authors wbuld per- mit so much of their scripts , to be tent over the air, since it might tend to impair the commercial radio Value of, the work. From Equity's end, it mt thought that the Sunday stunt might keep actors from accepting .ndio jobs in other stations. Among .. the suggestions is one Vbich asks, . if the broadcasts be .(jreed on, for the hour to be divided with excerpts, or scenes, from two different shows. Name people to sfoli about the theatre is another idea, such appearances to break up the routine of play broadcasting. Stated that as WNYC is non-com- mercial, its time elastic and pro- grama need not necessarily end at the (xact. specified time, Another plan is for a half-hour program, but Moss favors the longer period, A committee ] is to be formed, mem- ben to represent the managers. Equity, Dramatists Guild, stagehands and musicians, to draw up a plaii 'to be presented to the boards of groups they will represent CORELU ASKS SPECIAL RULING ON BENEFIT TAX Alan Corelll, executive secretary, of the New York Theatre Authority, tehimed to New York from Wash- tagton, D. C., late last week, where he sought special dispensation from the governmient tax bureau for TA's benefit percentages. Although TA is tax exempit as a charitable organization, clarification Jl present rule is required to collect from benefits. Law is that in benefit performances • all moneys accrued ffliBt remain intact for organization sponsoring. Any distribution of per- tentages mUst have an okay. When recalcitrant group in California re- tUMd to diwy or those grounds, Co- TOli visited internal revenue depart- «»«nt for clarification. Situation had "ever before arisen. Sfcaw Cycle Gels Heavy Play from Pasadenans Pasadena, Aug. 23. -.Midsummer Drama Festival at the "sadena Community Playhouse "osed with more than 23,000 cUs- going through the turnstiles J'™* seven weeks of George Ber- Shaw's plays. -Heartbreak Mouse was the most popular. the regular season 'Pride «q Prejudice' topped attendance, /ne Amazing Dr. Crittenhouse' was «?end, and The Old Maid' third. *mehts of Song' had the longest ]™> three weeks. Playhouse opens rich • Sept. 26, with Tova- Engageiiients ^'herine Locke, Mady Christians, ^o'J^P';d_ Kane, _.Henry_ Edwards, Graham, Sidney Smith, Au- K.^" JJiincan, Alexander Scourly, ^J?"lds Evans, 'Hamlet.' WgeSd Mildred •Once' Finales Elitch Season with $6,100 Denver, Aug. 23, Closing week of the Elitch theatre drew second best gross of the year. _Ye8 My Darling Daughter' did $6,000 two weeks ago to top any- thmg this year, but 'Once Is Enough,' winding up the season, had three sellouts, with rest of Week good. "Old Maid,' during the July 4 week, rang up poorest boxoffice gross— $4,500. Most of the cast left for New York Sunday (21). In the cast were Rose Hobart and Kent Smith in the leads; Leona Powers, Katherine Meskil, Kathleen Fitz, Helen Bonfils, Fred- eric Tozere, Charles Dingle, Richard Kendrlck, Walter Greaza, Walter Baldwin and Bradford Hatton. Others were added locally during the season, George Somnes finished his third year as director. Estfinale for Last . Week 'Once k Enoagh' Elitch (1,535; $1.10). Next to best week of 10- week season, $6,100. 2 NEW LONDON PUYS BOW IN; London, Aug. 23, 'She Too Was Young;' Victorian domestic drama, opened at Wynd ham's theatre ias^ Tuesday (IS). Play is well writteii, admirably acted arid produced, but is outmodedly novelet tish in theme. Unlikely for general appeaL Laurier Lister and Hilda Vaughan (Mrs. Charles Morgan ) coUabbed . on . authoring. Murray MacDonald directed for Howard Wyndham-Bronson Albery and H. M, Tennent, Ltd. The Fleet's Lit Up,' combo of pantomime and musical, by G.uy Bolton, Fred Thompson and Bert Lee, with lyrics and music by Vivian Dllis. opened at the Hippodrome Wednesday (17). Featuring Stanley Liipino, show is replete with vulgar innuendos. Has a large production and cast that will appeal to the same audiences that patronize the Pal- ladium ■ 'Crazy Showsi' Libraries have $150,000 in contracts for 23 weeks. errer, Mildred Natwick, Futore Plays Wight Mnsfc' adaptation by Ar- thur Wilmurt from the French dra- ma by Andre Obey, is planned as his second production - of the season by Jerome Mayer. 'Easy Lies the Head,' musical by Aubrey Wisberg, is labeled a Broad- way possibility by Continental Pro- ductions. 'Bingside Seat,' by Philip Dunning and Leonard Ide, will soon start re- hearsals under the aegis of Rufus Phillips. Had a st'rawhat tryout at Woodstock Playhouse, N. Y., July 14. 'Walts in Gooscstcp,' by' Oliver H. ^Pj__{JarreU, is bemg readied for fall ^»oductioh after formation of Kayjac Productions, which will back the play. Possibility that it may go into the Fulton theatre. 'Great Scenes from Great Plays' is the tentative title of two alternat- ing bills composed of climactic scenes from stage successes of the last quarter century, which Philip Dunning will present late in Novem- ber. A commentator yet to be se-. lected will introduce each excerpt and discuss its derivation. Scenes to be done are from 'Within the; Law,' 'Rain,' 'Broadway,' 'Once in a Life- time,' 'The Last Mile; 'Strictly Dis- honorable,' The Adding Machine' and 'Anna Christie,' among others. Swing to the Left,' a musical with book by J. P. McEvoy and Arthur Schwartz, lyrics, by Dorpthy Fields, is on Dwight Deere Winian's sched- ule, due to follow his production of 'Great Lady,' 'Dame Nature,' Patricia Collinge's adaptation of Andre Birabeau's com- edy, goes into reheai-sal next Mon- day (29) for an opening Sept. 26. It wili be the Theatre Guild's .first pro- duction of its 21st season. Worlhihg- ton Miner will direct and thfe cast will include Jessie Royce Landi.?, Montgomery Clitt,. Lois Hall and pb.ssibly Onslow Stevens. Piay was tried out early; this sum- | mer in Westport, Conn., and Mt. | Ki.MO, N, Y. Broadway theatre isn't | set. Smnmef Theatres ■ (NEW PLATS) 'Sun Metal,' Woodstock Playhouse,- y^oodstock, N. Y. (25). 'Soubrctie,' OgUnquit Playhouse, Ogunquit, Me. (22). '7-11/ South Shore Players, Co- hasset, Mass. (22); 'Bhyme Without Season,' Wharf theatre, Provincetbwn, Mass. (22), . 'The • Nulineg Tree,' Slillington Hall, Gloucester, Mass. (22). 'Glory of tooth,' Bass Rocks thea- tre,- Gloucester, Mass. (22)^ 'Charles and "Mary,' Ridgeway theatre. White Plains, N. Y. (22), 'A Woman's a Fool to Be Clever,' Chapel theatre. Great Neck, N. Y. (22). .'Tomorrow's Sunday,' Spa theatre, Saratoga Springs (23). .'What Price Romance,' Garrick Players,' Kennebunkport, Me. (23). 'Sunset Trail,' Theatre-in-the- Woods, Nbrwalk, Conn, (26). . 'Welcome AngeV Essex Players, Essex-on-Lake-'Champltiin, N. Y. (26). 'Plum Hollow,' Band Box Players, Mt. Lakes, N. J. (26). 'Be Made His Bed,' Sarobia County theatre, Eddington, Pa. (26). ^The Bigger They Come,' Monomoy theatre, Chatham, Mass. (25). 'Flight,' Rockridge theatre, Carihel, N, Y. (22), '\,i>rl'n W.lfi«.' r,u,iti^—Sr,v M. M7. it" am) ,\ly (JId.' Vlr.-.i/iU I'niatc - :i7, .Vino .-,-lr— .Turf 10. ''''•jn'-tt)i-t:ni\' M.T'rn,'irI:'.f — .luri" 19. •ii,.|.|,.,i ]v,y,' Si .j;rm<-. -.luni- 11. ''M:., i.' ZIt ■• |. ...Iiilv r ■ ■ ■.Til" ■ r:>.»|-i r,!t I-;.,' H:i.|.,: !i.,.ir,f-:\uK; 50 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wcdnesdayi August 21, 1939 Brooks Atkinson's pan in the New York Times last week of the tryout Of George Bernard Shaw's 'The Millionairess'' at Westport, Conn., had ah immediately , adverse, effect oh business, in several cases patrons frankly giving the notice as. the reason for cancelling their tickets, However, the week's gross for. 'Millionairess' wa^ profitable, Atkinson indicated he hact read the play before attending the preem. Whether or not the panning was responsible, the Theatre Guild does not figure on bringing 'Millionairess' to Broadway. Stated that the Guild never held an option on the play and does not contemplate buying it. Generally agreed, however, that a favorable reception at lyestport might have led th? G*ild to do the piece tor its regular Broadway subscription season. Guild has given a number of Sh^w plays their world or U.^ S ■preems. ' ■ ' In regard to Atkiason's review of the Westport tryout, it was the second strawhat he has covered this summer. The other was Sinclair Le\yis' sUge debut in the latter's 'It Can't Happen Here,' at Cphasset, Mass, ITsually, however, the Times does not formally review strawhat theatres. It frequently covers them with the wired news story th* morning after tbc preem. Such pieces, are ^generally, filed by the p.a, for the show, . Paul N. Turner will remain v/ith Equity as its chief counsel, it was indicated last week in New York, when he was presented a desk set by the assn. upon his 25th year in the post Last season when there was Internal dissension, Turner was Under fire, with his annual fee said to have beien $12,500, held to have been excessive.. Attorney thereupion offered to withdraw as he was then busy with the affairs of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America. No request for his resignation was made, however, and . Turner voluntarily established a new basis of . remuneration, putting it at $7,500, which includes salary to Rebeccd Browhstein, an associate, who's active in Equity's legal depart-; ment, along with Mildred Both, recently admitted to the bar. Turner is also counsel for the Four As. , Salary is not specified for that post . At the recent annual meeting past president. Frank Gillmore was given a watch by the union. He's executive head of the Four A's. Anna Jill Johnstone, assistant to David Ffolkes, v/Yio's designing the sets and costumes'for the MaiirlCe Evans revival of 'Hainlet,' helped: design two other i>roductions of the: same play.. First was at Columbia University seasons ago and the second was when she was assistant to Stewart Chaney, who did the production for Leslie Howard two seasons ago. Miss John- stone's cOstumes for the ColiinibiiEt 'Hamlet' were based on ones used by Ffolkes for ahr Evans' revivail . of 'Richard JI' in Londoa some years ago. However, she did not know Ffolkes at that time. . . Raymond Johnson, who understudied Evans in England, played Hamlet In the Columbia production^ He will be in Helen Hayes' revival of 'Mer- chant of Venice,' diie' on Broadway in the late fall. George Kuehn, who will play in Evians' forthcoming 'Hamlet,' was the king i^ the Columbia production. PUncan Draper, iinknown to show business, attempted suicide, in New York recently, slashing his wrist after telephoning his wife in Rockville Center, Li I, and a brother in- California. . Both responded ;with calls to Manhattan police and a 'radio car crieW: found Diraper bleeding in a bathtub. He had left- a note to. Alfred de Liagre, Jr., which read: 'Do you mind if I die?' and signed It "The Irish Thrush.' ^ That led to a report that Draper had back during the convention is being Worked on by Paul Turner, V'arreii Munsell, Pemberton- and L«ngner. Income Problem Main problem facing the ATC is a regular income. Question of. financ- ing the organization has been raised several times in the past, but never solved. Flan Js to consider the mat: ter at the coming conyehtion. : Besides, the necessary administra' tive expenses, a permanent office and staff would, probably haye tO be maintained. ' Also thought likely that the present system of depending oh voluntary work would not pan out in the long run. . First convention of the organiza- tion, held in the spring of 1937, was financed by contributions, but. in-, come from the parley ultimately paid its ' .way. Proposals /have been made from time to time that the va rious theatrical gro.ups participating in the Council might share its ex' pense, but so far no, practical plan has been; advanced; Some ;questlori remains whether the Dramatists GUild or the musi- cians union will be represented at the coming . convention. Matter' will be submitted to~ the Dramatists Guild board of directors. Guild last year attended the convention On the understanding that speakers would not refer to the 'decline 'of the The- atre.' Nearly all Who addressed the convention subsequently based their speeches on that very topic; Guild later declined to have anything to do with the Council activities. Dra- matists' idea was. that it was 'bad advertising psychology' to call at- tention to the Theatre as a dying institution. In the case of the musicians union, it has been stated that the oirganiza- tion would send delegates to the con- vention only if a copy of the agenda is sent to the group by the Council and . approved by the union board. So far, the TMAT has not been form- ally invited to participate in the con- vention. It's/expected to receive a bid, however, ahd will undoubtedly aiccept Press agent members of TMAT have been asked to serve gratis' as publicists for thi? affair. Strawhat Reviews Come Blow Your Horn (Continued from page 49) 'touting Revivals (Continued from page 47) expected to sign for subscription seasons. The Guild is reported to have offered to extend its subscription list to coroperating managers in cities where such audiences . are already organized. Figured that newspapers and a few interested influential per- sons in. the other towns would or- ganize similar audiences. Brady li.sts such road stars as Jane Cowl, Ina Claire, Walter Hampden. Helen Hayes, etc., as necessary for the success of the scheme. . He claims the theatre has the best chance in 25 years to build new audiences, fhe main requirement for carrying out the proposal is initia- tive, he says; He, points to the example jet by the film businiess, Which, when grosses tumble, co- operates in a $1,000,000 'Motion Pic- tures Are Your Best Entertainment' drive. He explains that legit doesn't need any such amount of coin and that in the case of the theatre, it can get unlimited, publicity because its activities are always news. ingenuity employed to eventually land the account is subject-matter for balance of script ■ Authors have created some highly amusing lines, and devised well- spaced and ingenuous situations. Jack Meyer, though suffering from severe laryngitis, delivered good pOr-. trayal of a oludgering agency exec at preem. Grayson and Carl Cass, are best bets for stage and screen. Frances Kennedy, old-time, vaude villian, is convincing as spendthrift Wife, and her daughter, Key Kenne- dy,. ; evidences an inheritance for trouping. ; Additional training should develop Jane Bradley, a looker. Rest of cast adequate. J. Richard Lane, head Of Univ,..of Wisconsin drama'-depbrtment, direct- ed capably.; Loop. SIXTH AVENUE Litchfield, Conn., Aug: 20. Comedy-drhmn In three nctfl (Ave ncefiefl) by Ifaurle C. Brynn, Presented by Chnrlea O. Cnrey'e LltchHeM Theatre. Staged by Randolph Carter. . Settlni^. Johi; Mylrae. At the Playhouse, LItchneld; Cohh., Aug. 17-21. -38 .lohnnyWhlte...,. Petey.... ....... Pau. WIlllamB Nick............... Tough Quy. .... ... Ruth .Marsh ; . nilly White..... Gucy DurKin Mary Fischer H. B. Currier . wight H. Mnrfleld .Robert Miner . . . . . .'Jeanne Mnlnne' ....... .John Malcolm 'Sixth Avenue,' in its tryout form, demonstrates that it's too anemic to- stand a commercial test, although it is purportedly slated for Broadway this fall. Story concerns: hard-boiled. Wom- an-hating Billy White, operator of an employment agency on Sixth avenue, who. resists all attempts to modernize his old-fashioned money-making agency with women employees and a switchboard because a woman Would have to run it When a gal, repre- senting the telephone company, tries to ' Karl nichnrcis • ....Charles Alden Uljllll Theoi a bad guy at heart, p^omi e" '''^ turn ;the money he has switirt' wins'the girl after George ha^i'"'' put via the liquor Toute.^e^ S ing Eddie escapes in George's clothi' Mary follows, him, and ih. j''^ break In in time to pinch Geor.l'S^ the theft he never committed ?^'?.' curtain, and. it's up the wrong ^f'^ in view. of what has gone befire" ^' Production is commendable sldermg poor facilities; acting oy Roberts, in the lead, is exSeC and ably ;supportiE:d by comoeteS cast with better-than-adequate b!? formances by Miss Wilber, Conmi Washburne, Stanley Gorham colm McCUllough and Root, ' ^ Mai. DOUBLE FEATURE Provlh'cetown, Mass., Aue la Comedy by Joseph Julian and Maiw! Weinberg. Directed by E. Stanley ftlj? Setting*, Ray Tallman.'^ At WhaTtlS: Proylncetown, Moss., Aug. i.l. 'SJ). Rvelyn Dora.. . . . . . . ,'. , Mamie Miss McBl-lde. T.ucllle... Onldetelti.,.. ,., TIeup >,,,. Grant. Bert Siiltkln.. ....... Slesslnger.'. . ... namarti... . . . ., Office Boy Rergel. Harvey Bird..; .Pete. Larry, . Messenger Boy Mitch.......... Operator....... Film Critics.,. .Vlrelnla D„„ Helen Plckii, ..Mary Hovn ... .Madeline Mitcw , ... .M.irjorle DmIki .......Robert FInktl ...Howard I.ederbm . . . . . . . .LoRol Optnl .NeirSIcFee Sklnnt; ....Kenneth Dartleu .Ralph Mortbonn Lionel Ina Dill IlowiR ......Charles ColllM .Milton Parton .....William ChillN^ ^Valler Rkutr Donald F. RotJt , .Thomas Leonard' ....Wallace Uwdtr .f Errol Pierce ■ I Morgnret Stoddirt . { Jedn Taylor I Bruce Cook ( .S'orvcll Mullaly . Apparently a couple of guys got fed up on the picture business from the exhibition angle and decided to unload their beef through' 'Double Feature,' preemed here tonight (Mon); Result is a lot of shopfalk, way over the heads of the laymaii, and suitable fodder only for a thea- tre manager's outing. Practically devoid of plot 'Feature' revolves ai:6und a foreign film cutter. Who saves the day by malclog a smash hit out of the sweepings on the cutting room floor, NeU McFee -Skinner clicks as a hkh pressure salesman,', and Charia Collins has, good grasp of Sergei, the Russian cutter. . Mary Ho wies, as .an ambitious switchboard gal, is a staiidv out and Helen Pickens is okay as the exchange manager's troubled wife. Lionel Ince registers as the salesman for .British Lamont, with monodt and accent Fox. Pocahontas Prefenried Carmel, N. Y., Aug. 17, Comedy In throe acta (4 scenes) by HanT N. Blair and Brewster Morse. PresnlM by Kendor Pro'ductlohs. Inc. Staged br W. Ray Cozlne arid Robert Cliamplaln. At Rockridge theatre, Carmel, N: V., Au|. 19, Clark Cbisner ..Elaine Ellis .James Tni« . . .Jacqueline Gieem Sterling Mace Qerl KlajM ...........Burl tfiiiiii x\vno.,,^ .Sara F1oi4 Nowatchl Tom CarlyH THelma Carl.. ..Virginia Belllr Rolph Hawkon Robert Champlala.' Chauffeur.. ■. ..Deane RalM .Marlon Scott. , Morlo Kenner Hafanl. . . Wllllonii Baltoor Zane Mentzcr Eric Fr»n»« ' Soaring ISagle. , . . White Fawn Jose Imperlo..... Myrha Allison.... Russ Leads nabs Leads. Bart Crawford. .'. MIml Rons. . As 'Pocahontas Preferred' was pre- sented at its premiere its possibilities are vague. There's a chance, how- ever, that with adept refurbishing and with an excellent cast it roignt gain some commercial success. The theme is fair, but at present It's practically a one-character snow, the balance of the cast merely stoog' ing for Marie Kenney,. ■who recites most of the script The piece, be- comes, at times, a monotonous mono- ^erei's some humor in the plete. Miss Kenney, plays a wealthy widow, who traces her ance.stry back to Jonn Smith ahd Pocahontas, The. In(''*° blood makes her a rover, and sue flits to Santa Fe, N.^ M., near the pet- rified forest News of . heir coming causes her potential hosts to bedew and conduct themselves as Indians in order to cater to her known weaK- ness— her pride in her Injun blooo. This forms the basis for the fun. , Miss Kenney, who. Incidentally, u president of Kendor Productions Inc., which produced the P«t if competent. Virginia Reilly) Twn, Carlyle and Burl Ives are good, lo"; in bits. Action all takes place on one interior set. ■ . Graui/oro,, 'Sticks' Repeats in L i Hollywood, Aug. 23. 'Sticks and. Stones,' political revW of blackouts and. sketches, will w repeated, at the Music Box Aug. i'- If attendance warrants, show mw move to another house for a run. 'Sticks' drew an overflow crowd ai its first staging. Coin.^oes to lU"" for purchase of hospital suppli*' *" Spanish LoyalUt';. ' tf^esday, Augu6l 24. 1938 tEGltiMAtE^CONCERTS VARIETY 51 iitd Stone-'L^htnin' Gross $7^500 For New Mohawk Festival Record Schenectady, Aug. 23. s«d Stone i?.Si[8htnin"not^only ^Jdl record at the Mohawk KSrF«*^val with a gross of SSSo for five performances but is gCrtd tb have set a.new^strawhat JSf^ that number of shows at a ■ JS top. Receipts were ^between • So Md $1,400 higher than the Vf^M'i best previous take with T^es a Wife.' last sum. ZTsfone^ top mark in 'Lightnin' JS'fipen $6,500 in a week at a sum- S^^house on Cape Cod. where; ^ormances >yere given at a ' "aSiSte wereused herje nightly, J^si more than !400 on Friday "?f^ Saturday (20). Normal . i^eiSIs about 1,350. The business Am* with 'Lightnin' was considered Tie more remarkable in view that Wednesday (17) night heavy rains ' ftaiSlaround Schenectady. Stone's Ofli birthday par^ on the stage ' ifttr Friday's performance was an ■ atta draw. He gave a show that untU 12:30 a.m. Veteran did a lew steps,, a throwback to hi^ musi- cal comedy days, and made a curtain oeech. Also told stories each night JTtbe delight of the audiences. It ■ WM Stone's first outdoor engagement. L(dle Barrie. who has been a Indent member of the Mohawk Dnma Festival company, left to tain the Capfe Playhouse group at Dennis, Mass. Herbert Corthell, an- other Festival regular this season, ' has departed to open rehearsals in Boston for the Maxwell Anderson- Kurt Weill opus. 'Knickerbocker Milayi' slated for Broadway late aeit month, with Walter Huston jtaired. Mrs. Corthell had -been 'serving as hostess at the Festival tnd Institute of the Theatre on Union College campus. ' Anita Houston and Nat Burns have been added to the Festival ' company for the current production d "High Tor,' featuring Charles ■ . (^burn, and :closing the Festiyal's Icwrth season. Saratoga Springs. Aug: 23, . Ethel Barrymore drew such heavy boslness to the Spa theatre in llhc Constant Wife.' with the Spa Play- en, that the management took the . tmptecedented step of adding a Saturday, matinee, a counterattrac' tlon to racing's biggest day. Aft ' eraoon performance is $1.50 top; nights,. $2^0. Miss, Barrymore, who had never played Saratoga before, '«lM pulled strongly from- Albany ' tnd the nearby cities. Big; business, for 'Constant Wife' diared interest . with^ the surprise aiaouheement that Sinclair Lewis ■ would this week play opposite Fay Wiay In There's Always Juliet,' Phild Hlgley's new opus, Tomor- ■ tow's Sunday,' had been scheduled for the closer; management gave so direct explanation for the switch. J«wls, who is reported to have said he would plaj in 'Juliet' for a lark, later withdrew. better season Is planned for 1939, Carter has »witched h?; plans for a Mexican vacat(oh and will make a trip to New York to line up talent for next seasoo; Carter and SommCrs expect to in- crease thie seating capacity of the al fresco playhouse on the Sebago Country Club grounds next year. Stony Creek, Conn., Aug. 23, Mercury Theatre's production: of "Top Much 'Johnson' has been held over for a. second week here. Orson Welles has been supervising thie play here aihd will stick around to whip the piece into $hape for its New York opening. As played herft for Us first week, 'Johnson' was minus several features to be incorporated iii the finished product. Musical scoring to occupy about' one-third of the play, and a film 'sequence, now in ..preparation were, omitted here, leaving the . pro duction still very much in the ex- perimental stage. ' Despite: flaws, biisiness has been tops. House, scheduled to close with 'J^ohnson,' will carry on another week vi^ith Vera Allen and Ian Keith in 'A Woman's a Fool— to Be Clever,' set for Aug. 29, : Rochester, N. Y., Aug. . 23, Rochester Theatre, directed by Leonard Altobell^ gets two-week en' gagement at Green Lake Beach, hear Buffalo, replacihg Keeler StUdlb Players, of. Buffalo. Rochester "outfit plays Tilly of Bloomsbury' first week and either Brother Rat' or TTou Can't Take It With You' second. 'alestine Symjphony to Play at N. Y Fair Tel Aviv, Aug. 4. The 1938-9 season of the Palestine Symphony will see the . following conductors at helm: Pierre Monteux, Eugeh Szenkar. Issay Dobrowen, Malcolm Sargent, George Szell. Bronislaw Huberman, Emanuel Feuermann. violin-cellist; Magda Taliafero, pianist, and Ida Haendel, 14ryear-old violinist, are the soloists. Announced that the orchestra will tour the United States and give a series of concerts at the Jlew York World's Fair. Gloucester, Mass., Aug. 23. Strawhat drama in a hou^e-party ■atmosphere, at $3.30 per, is the latest tanovatibn. Stillington Hall Theatre is nothing more or less than a large music room in the mansion of Mr, and Mrs. Leslie Buswell in this ttsort-flshing . town. Music room s^ts about ^!50 and opened yesterday JMon) with tryout of 'Nutrheg Tree,' by Buswell. who's also fea •wed in the cast. There_ is some talk about opening •ther similar swahky estate-straw- Mts in New Kngla'nd next summer Where socialites can comfortably ™nf e with show people, but only . "^wte- plan at present is to' nm "oe Buswell enterprise one week this '*ar as an experiment. Admission fee is highest of any «™mer theatres in this territory, womnUcally restricting patronage w carriage and yachting trade. ■ utamatization of the novel 'The fl^'efi Tree.' by its author. Mar: S-^.' Sharp, and Antoinette Perry, ffjifethis week at Stillington Hall ■ ^tre here, is the only one being ^ out by the group this' season J^^^ ^nder auspices of Brock Pcm Jt^a planned to reopen the theatre "wt year for full season. St Louis, Aug. 23. - — acason of thi tU^'^r "x^*! strawhat organization first season of the Civic Thea cwJ'^'ilOMl strawhi pjwa Saturday . (20) in the black, ^Mon Carter, president, and Gor Ct, ^"I'ners, business manager, ."■announced ;hat a bigger and Cornelia Otis Skinner will star in revival of 'Candida' at the Red Barn theatre. Locust Valley, N. Y., week of. Aiig. 29,; Derek Fairman, Kenneth Treseder, Louis Hector and jeanette Chihley will be in the cast James FUrnesq is directing, and .Lawrence Goldwasser has designed the setting. CHATTEB Keene (N. H.) Theatre, under Freeman Hammond, is trying out The prize Novel,' by George Mit- chell, Aug. 24-29. Only tryout at this strawhat this sejson. Maxwell Weinberg, p!a. of Balti- more's Little theatre (film arty), is co-author of "Double Feature,* tried oiit at Wharf theatre, .Provincetowni Mass., last week. 0[bseph Julian radio player, is the other half, (Reviewed In current issue.) ' Helen Brooks, a member of the Berkshire Playhouse, Stockbridge, Mass.,: for the last four summers, will appear with Fred Stone in Lightnin' for the Broadway revival next month. Miss Brooks wiU play the role she handled in the Play house, production of the comedy, with Stone as guest star, last month. Lewis Martin, with the Berkshire Playhouse troupe for several sea^ sons, has been signed by the Play Wrights' Producing Co. to play John Speed, Lincoln's closest friend, in Robert E. Sherwood's 'Lincoln in Illinois,' slated for Broadway this fall. Martin will remain at Stock bridge for next week's closer, "The Road to Rome," starring Jane Cowl. Frank McCToy and O. O. Wee are presenting the Broadway Guild at the Maplewood theatre, Maplewood, N. J., in Ten Minute Alibi,' week of Aug. 29, with Tom Powers, Ethel Britton, Oswald Yorke, Reynolds Denniston Franklin Fox and Walter Gilbert. ^, . Ridgeway theatre, White Plam.s, N. Y., will close its season next week (29) with the revival of 'Silas, the Chort Boy,' Frank H. Bernard's old meller. Kate Warriner will head the '^Connecticut Players, have called it a soasoij after eight weeks at Plym outh Playhouse, Milford, Conn. Ai announced musical tryout, 'Mad But Merry,' failed to materialize, as die" the stand of Zita Johann In 'Blog raphy.' Final figures were red. Theatre-in - the - Dale, Marbledale, Conn., has. practically set the tryout of 'Broken Threads' for Aug. 31. Play Mordkin Ballet Preps 5 New Works, Signs Pat Bowman for Big &ason Frisco Opera Co., AGMA m Accord; One Group Out Contract covering -recbgnition, minimum pay, working, conditions, et al., has been negotiated by the American Guild of ' Musical Artists and the San Francisco Opera Co. Pact , was signed Monday (22) by Leo^ Fischer, exec-secretary of AGMA, and was slated for. sighaturi^ ing yesterday (Tues.) by the gen- eral manager of the company. Deal covers principals, chorus, ballet^ solo dancers, stage managers, ch'oreograpihers and stage directors, etc. Former contract had applied merely to principals. With the sign- ing of that' contract, all ranking opera companies in the U. S. have signed pacts< with the AGMA, ex- cept the Chicago Civic Opera Co. Drive will be made by AGMA to negotiate a deal with that outfit next Contract with the Guild was signed Monday night (22) by For- tune Gallp, applying to his principals, chorus, nad ballet, as well as the various other miscellaneous artist classifications. Alfredo . Salmaggi signed several weeks ago. Deal with the latter grants hiin an exception for the Hippodrome Opera-Co. cov- ering the. chorus, for which he has an. existing contract with the. Grand Opera Choral- Alliance. However, the contract with AGMA extends to the choi-users when the pact with G.OCA expires Jan. 2. SHYERMINE PLAYS TO 30,000 IN FOUR DAYS ■ Norwalk, Conn., Aug, 23. ' Silvermine . music festival clo.sed here Sunday night (21) after playing to; nearly .30,000 in. four days. Spon- sored by Silvermine Guild of Artists, .without ■ undervvriting, receipts for six perf6rmance.s met the budget of $26,000. Four performances by the New York Philharmonic, two cham- ber, cphcei't's by the Roth Quartet; public rehearsals, lectures, a' Sunday morning devotional service and ex- hibitions of paintings and sculpture attracted many to the art colony on the -banks of the Silvermine river. Eugene Ormandy conducted the opening and closing performances of the. Philharmonic and Jose Iturbi and, Quinto Maganini one . each, Iturbi .played . George- Gershwin;s 'Rhapsody in Blue' Friday (19) night. Festival originated in 1937 with a single performance by the N. Y. Philharmonic. ; Among those present at the fes- tival were Mary Pickford, Charlotte Greenwood, Peggy Conklin, Jessie Roycitt Landis, Allen Kearns, Flora Zabelle, Mrs. Thomas' Meighan, Law- rence Langner, Mrs. Morris Gest Alexander Smallens, James Melton, Fan Bourke, Adele Klacr and Burk Symon. Strawhat BooloDgs Nancy Carroll, Sheila Barrett Robert Shayne Barry Sullivan, Car- roll Ashburn. Thelma Schnee, Rus- sell Carter, Calvin Thomas. William Cragin, BrucC Fernald, Joseph Mc- Inerney, '7-11,' South Shore Players, Cohasset. Mass. LeOna Brande, Betty Amiard, Herbert Zimmerman, Grace Frazer, Alec Barnum, Jack yon Stein, Wil- liam Nelson, Marvin Klemes; Ro- berta • Sumner, Jean Burgess, Char- lotte Lord, -Ruth Clarson, Charles Keenan, Frances Foiist, . Paul . A. Foley, 'Spring . Dance,' Priscilla Beach theatre, Plymouth, Mass. Phyllis Joyce, June Havoc, Don- ald Cameron, Will Henry, Isobel Rose; Teddy Jones, 'Yes, My Darl- ing Daughter,' Starlight theatre. Pawling, N. Y. Derek JFairman, Kenneth Treseder, Jeannette Chinley, Virginia Camp- bell, Cecile Wulfr, Bernie Zanville, Henry Mowbray, Louis Rusell, Rich- ard Jones, Norman Stuart Frank Harvey, Robert Lindsey, John Ma- roney, Jeremy Bowman, Richard El- lington, Joy Hathaway, John Willy, Sol Launer, 'Much Ado About Nothing,' Red Barn theatre, Locust Valley, N. Y. . ; . . Dorothy Mackaill. Barbara Rob- bins. James Henhie, Charles Collins, 'Rhyme 'Without Reason,' Wharf theatrCi Provincetown, Mass. Harry Shannon, Loro Baxter, Teddy Hart, Bran-oh Peters, Gor- don Nelson. Allsop Reese, Philip Bourneiif, Frances Fahren, Owen Martin, Horace Cooper, C. G. Smith, Michael , Dimitroff, 'Room Service; County theatre, SufTern, N. Y. Berilla Kerr, Stuart Frazier, Don Glenn. Waller Coy. Florence Barrett Donald Towers. Roland Hogue. El- len Riley, 'Night of January 16lh,' -Farragut Playhouse, Rye Beach, ^Margaret Swope, Fredrik Law- rence, Erik Walz. Louis Lament Paul Yost. Mamie Bacon, William Mac- Ilwineri, Arthur Bdrnelt, 'Idiot's De- light," Barter theatre.- Abingdon, Va. Strel.sa Lane. Herbert Ncwcomb, koren ■Edwiirds. Loui.^e Messing, theatre, was originhlly started for Clinton Conn presentation, but fell through . .staj/e Door,' Litchfield when lead is said to have proved too ; . Lichfield. Conn, heavy for Richard Bennett ' I Ina Claire Albert Tarbell's troupe at John Williams. Viola the ' Keats. Ros-.ilind '-an, Leslie Au.stin. Leslie Rfrrie, Lionel Incc.. Eu«enc dperai in £ngli^h, and on wheels, is being bankrolled by 'Mrs. Harold Lehman, member of Wall Street banking clan and sister-in-law of New York's Gov. Herbert H, Leh- man. Would get the gun the last week of September, with, brand new sets and costumes, and ■ touring at popular pirices in schools, auditori- lims, etc., on a coast-to-coast itiner- ary. Strictly educational. Initial effort will be a streamlined' version;, of Gounod's 'Faust' Idea is to put more McCoy acting Into the operas and less of traditional heft, etc. Leon Leonidoff's staff at Radio City Music Hall is - supervising the first production. Latter will be fol- lowed by regular repertoire of stand- ard operas, in Americanized versions. ' Vladimir Shavitz will conduct, Marco Montedoro is doing the cos- tuming and Bradford Mills is arrang- ing tours and other business matters. Felix Brentanp will stage manage. Idea germinated from Dorivan' Festival, held at Litchfield, Conn., this summer. Mordkin Ballet is mapping the most, ambitious season in its history. Is readying. five new .full-length bal- lets and has drastically revised its personnel. Season will open Oct 10 ih Bangor, Me. Troupe wlL* then tour Canada . and the niidwcst, return to New York ■ in mid-November and then go on the road again.. ■ Three new 'jallets to Dc preemed during the preliminary tour are: 'Tre- pak,' "Voices of Spring' and 'Swan Lake.* 'Trepak' has a score by Alex- andre Tchcrepnine, with choreog- raphy by Mikhail K.ordkin and sets and costumes by Sergei Soudekiiie. It'-, described as a modern Russian ballet, with much : of the dancing barefoot ■ Voices of Spring' has a score by Johana Strauss, with choreography by Mordkin- and scenery and cos- tumes by Lee Simonsr-n. It's • Viennese fantasy. '.^ van Lake' has a ■ score by Tschaikovsky , choreography by Mordkin arid sets and costumes by Simonson. Ballets to be preemed after the first of the year are an entirely new version of Tschaikovsky 's complete 'Sleeping Beauty' and 'Coney Island,' with score by an unannounced com- posei , Last-named ballet is now. in preparation. One of the premiere ballerinas of tr Mordkin outfit this season will be . Patricia Bowman, her first engage- ment with a regular ballet company. There will also be four hew leading dancers - from Leohtde Massine's Monte Carlo troupe, induiling Nina Stroganova, Vladimir Dokbudovsky, Kari Karnakovsky and Tania Dokou- dovska. Stroganova, was in the (Tinted States with the Mordkin group last season, but none of the other three ha<- beer. In the U. S, before. Rumored there may be legal repercussions as. a result of the four dancers leaving the Monte Carlo or- ganization. Mordkin jutftt Is the largest U.. S. bullet organization tnd tht- only one tc carry its rmi orchestra. It carries 60 dancers. Besides the new ballet* it . will keep the four full-length balr leU- of foriner seasons. ST LOUIS WINS PUBLIC CONCERTS AFTER 5 YRS . . St Loui.i, Aug: 23. Public band concerts, which this city has been denied .for the' past five years because of lack of money, have been revived by the local American Legion band. A five-week program of two concerts a week is under way. The 31 tooters in the outfit, decked in legion uniforms, have attracted from 1,000 to 3,000 at the opening concerts. Mayor Bernard F. Dickmah said the concerts are in the nature of an experiment to. determine whether the natives will go for them. If the idea clicks he will attempt to fi- nance public park concerts next year. MELTON BOOKED FOR 52 CONCERTS, OPERA DATES James Melton is feooked for 52 concerts this season,; besides the full 12-week season with the Cincinnati opera next summer, and several other operatic dates during the win- ter. A European concert tour is be- ing arranged for him for next spring and early summer. Tenbr's tour opens Sept 1 in To- ronto and winds up In February, and covers the United States and Can- ada. Next summer he'll do 'Faust' and 'La^ Traviata' in the Hollywood Bowl. At loledo last week Melton set the attendance record for the out- door amphitheatre, pulling 3,871 to a performance of 'Madame Butterfly.' It was the first time the spot had ever sold but. Crowd included more than 300 standees. Gross was $3,649.80 (excluding tax), at $2.50 top. 'Travi- ata', the following night drew 3,244 fo'r $2,735.37. ^.v-.- - -J Y iLes c Birrie, l^ionci incc.. liUKcne Chapel theatre. G^"' "eck, ^. i . , Jj^^ Wa'ker. Philip Huston, will close the season with a wo .^^^^ huIcU. Mur'il Willi;im.i.=. el directed by Leonard Sillmon.;; Katharine WaiTpiV Jimes Trucx. Mnnfl.iv (29). Lucy MoUroc. Saia Floyd. Wil'.i.im Oalfour 'Flight, Starts Monday (29). Lucy Monroe. Sm-a . . , „ v of >adi6 and opera, heads the cast. ; Rockridge theatre, jC;.rmcl, N. Y. Bak Join.s Stephens Faculty on Vienna Exit St. Loui.'!, Aug. 23. Adolph iBak, in,.>liKible .to teach^ in the state-operated Vienna Conserv.T- iory, since Germany ab.sorb'ed that country, will join the violin loachinu start at .Slephcn.s College, Coliimbi.T, Mo. Bak returned to this coiinlry sincC; as a citizen of the UiiilccV States, he was ho lonijcr able to hold a po.silion wilh- the Con.Korvaloiy.- 1 He was formerly first violini.'it with the Boston .Symphony and.liiler Ixv came acting concert master of the .N'cw York rhilharmonic. After a record-breaking tour of Australia and New Zealand, Law- renccTibbett will open his fall con- cert season in Los Angeles Oct '4, He lands in San Francisco Oct. 3 and will plane to L. A. Will do be- tween 50 and 60 concerts this sea- -son, plus 10 weeks at . the Met Opera and an additional three weeks with, the company on tour. Also, cn.tjage- mcnls v/ilh the Chicago Opera and ] radio dates. I ■ DurinK his Au.stralian tour Tibbelt broke all existing boxortice records. : Scheduled for eight appearances in Sydney, he did 15. Total dates in ' Australia were 44. He went to New ■ Zealand last week with appi-o.\i-' mately 10 appearances • planned there. He sails for the U. .S. ."Sept 19: Columbia Concerts niirc.-iii. Which •handles the singer, h.-js a couple of i-(;tMil;ir radio, commercials i(i the ./li e, biit, it nil depends on whcthf'r .some- thing can be y.-oikcd in with, his lourinu cli.lcs.. .Several film oilers liiive b.i?(.-n made for the barito/ie In the l;i':t couple of si'.'i.'ions, but his . 'olnl ho-ihiii.'iK h;ivc made him un- iiblc |o aci-(-pt them. 52 VARIETY LITERATI Wcdaesdaft Augusi 24, I938 Orlscon'B N. V. Go-By Charles P. DriscpH's New York Day by Day letter— successor to O, O. Mclntyre's column— is now in some 300 papers, and neither Driscoll nor McNaiight syndicate care . much either way if they land a N, Y. daily. They discount the 'prestige' value of a column, about New York being published;, in a Manhattan rag, theo- rizing that, if anything, it should be better sans any N, Y, outlet. Toledo Times is the latest of five papers to reinstate Driscoll after dropping the column for one reason or another, probably economy.. Pub- lic demand caused town& lilce Buf- falo, Providence and Hartford to also reinstate Driscoll's N..Y. letter aftei* omitting it tor a spell. Incidentally, -Driscoll's blog on Mc- Intyre has just been issued by Grey- stone (.$2,50) , an amplification of the serial first published in. Cosmopolitan mag early this year. Thth. fiction and hon-rflction. - History of. Dial Press goes way back. At one time the flr.m was a; leader in the book biz. Got' its name from its-: affiliated inag, The Dial, now extinct. . - . For a' time qpncem was under the control of . Lincoln MacVeagh, -who coupled, his name with that of the Dial Press as the imprint for the company's' bopkj. Concern .began passing out whei. MacVeagh accepted post of . American ambassador', to Greece, which post he. still holdis, ■ .' New femme Mags New mag for fcmmes, The Amerl-' fcan Lady, out thiis week, with an- other, Mrs., now on the presses and due to get on the newsstands shortly. The Anierican Lady ii being pub- lished by Mary t. Grbnich, with Grace P. Caldwell editing. Mrs. will be a femme counterpart of Mr., pub- lished by Dell, and will also be edited by Norman. Anthony. Mrs, intended to be rather spright- ly stuff, like Mr. for men, Repabllah Salomon iBIog. Symon Gould, pioneer arty filrn exhibitor, now in the book biz, would like to do his bit iowards the cre- ation of Jewish good-will with a re- publication of Charles Edward Rus- sell's biog, 'Haym Salomon and the American Revplvition.' Volume , was the very last issued by the old Hearst bppk-publishing affiliate, CpsmpppU- tan Book iCprp.'. Gpuld feels the biog of the 'financial genius' of the American Revolution' would help ce- ment better relations between Jew and Gentile In America, Gould has some additional matter on Salpmoni which he would, add to the volume for repul>lication. Sell- ing pl(.n for the book would be a tworfor-one Idea, whereby for a cer- tain price one cppy gpes tp the pur- chaser and anpther is dpnated tP the purchaser's -favprite library. . Thus hpped tp. spread the Salbrripn . bipg far and wide. ' Geprge Jessel, .when recently with Warners, had ' begun a film biog- of the Revolutioii'bi;y flguire, reputedly fpr Paul; Muni, and the studip is jsaid tP Ije still committed to the project The screen bipg wpiild not be from the Russell booki but from other spurces. Fall republi jatlpn pf the bpbk be- ing readied- by Gpuld for the Ameri- can Library Service. Gilbert's Vaode Treatise Douglas Gilbert, feature writer for N. Y. World-Telegram and that paper's one-time drama critic,' is writing a history of vaudeville. Bppk will be. br-ougivt out by Whittlesey Ho-jse of McGrawrHill Co., to whom Gilbert is undei- cortract to produce the script by 1939 for Immediate pub- lication. Gilbert opines that despite . the hurrah about its return, vaude will never come back in the intimate form that oldtimers knew It at the Palace, Colonial and Hammerstein's Victoria, N. Y„ and that, a record of those days is a necessary chapter, in the , history of the theatre,. Gilbert piitit up tp his agent, Curtis Bro.wn, who spld the idea to : Hugh Kelly; Whittlesey House editor. Scope of the booK will be fairly complete, ranging from the Volks Gardens Bowery days of Pastor 'to the takeover by RKO and the de- cline; of the. Palace- to a grind. Every phase of .varietj. will- be touched .Pn .—humor, sets, litigation, bookers, rnanagers, circuits;' trade papers, commentators; White Hats revolt, ' Pobs Eye Paper-Bounds Grpwing popularity Pf paper- bound books, selling from 25 to 50c is prompting many of the regulation book publishers to. scan the- field with no little interest. ' Hillman-Curl is already sold on the idea, and >yill get put one mys- tery stpry a month under the gen- eral title of "Mystery Book of the Month,' selling, for 25c. Initialer will bei a reprint from the regular Hill- man-Curl list, but succeeding hovels in the series will' be . originals^. - Like- Modern Age, Penguin, and other of the paper-bound books,, the Hillman-Curls will go on newsstands as well as ih bookstores. N. T. Fair Gnide Book Municipal Guide Books, Inc., has been organized by V Frank Foster, ■formerly proniotibn manager- for WINS, New York, and international Sales Division of Hearst Radio; New conceirn will publish a guide to New York City, 'Your Key to the City of New York,' and aimed at the World's Fair influx. Initial printing will be 100,000 copies. Books on Health, Beanty New book-publishing house is be. ing organized by Ralph Raymond, to be known as Glenhville Publishers, and will' get out .a numbier of vol- umes on health and beauty.. Ray- mond has- his first book already set, 'Biefore and After,' by Dr. James SlPtter, - to appear shortly before Christmas. .It's Raympnd's idea that, spme pf the wpi-ld's fpremost- beauty experts are in Hollywood, and he's nego tiatin.iT with a number of film capital notables for books on various as- pects of beauty to be publishe'l by Glennville. Everyday Goes Non-Flctton As sooii as permanent quarters can be acquired naw Ever, day Publish- ing Corp, will bisgin functioning with a list of non-fiction. barried gag came over,; -The question was, 'What well known author; who won the Nobel . Prize, has -turned actor?' Answer: 'Dorothy Thompspn's husband!" All You Need An ad directing attentiph on a 'Hpme Screen 'Test' cpntest sponsored jplntly by Warner Brps. and Plctuire Play Maga- zine infbrms that all the Hplly- WPPd aspirant needs is 'a face -and a hiP vie camera.' That , makes everybody eli- gible fpr at least half of the stipulatipns. (Ala.) JpurnaL He went from Mont- gpinery tP Atlanta, where he becaine night editor of t)ie Constitution in 1928, which, post he held until ill health forced his retirement in 1936. Burial was ih Montgomery, Aug. 19. Widow, !spn -Juid datighter sur- vive. J, E. Worthlngton, 62; publisher of Lake Wales (Fla,) ' Highlander since 1920, died - Aug 19 at his home in Lake Wales; Prpminent in political cli:cles In South Florida, Woirthington went to the Alligator state from Michigan 'in 1911 and* had been city editor and managing -editor bf "rampa Times for 10 years. CHATTEB. Erskine; Caldwell a.photpgraphy -hpund. Maurice Hindus dping a new bPPk in Prague. .Petjr- Wynne uses typewriters for ballast pn his yacht : Charles. Cjpke, of the New Yorkei:, will have a .novel out sppn. Jphh Anderson's . 'The American Tlieatre* ready for pul)licatiPn.. Joseph W> Llppincbtt sailed to look in oh his authoirs abroad. Peter Winslow, socialite; rhade so- c'ety j.editor of the Clevelan.-) -l'res«, - Kenneth C- .Kaiif man temporarily ; sitting in as editpr fpr BPbb's-Mer- rill. ■' . ■ ■ ' Macy-Massiuis issuing this -week, 'Are We Mpvie Made?', by Raympnd Moley. V . Joseph Eccleslne quit his radio job- to devote, all his time to scribbling fiction. Winston Bores wrote a dpzen shprt stories on a tramp steamer trip— one a week.. Autobipg of Lotte Lehman, -Mid- way in My Song,' will appear arouhd Sept. 19. Edwin Lansford to the .Coast tp stay. Hplds it mpre conducive .to literary effort Dodge publishing Stephen Watts' book on modern film production, 'Be- hind the Screen.' ' Thomas Archer, music editor of the Montreal Gazette, doing a book on Richard Strauss. Cass Canfleld, the Harper head, bacic' from a checkup' of his firm's scribblers abroad. Harry Barnard dramatizing his bipg of John Peter Altgeld, one-time governor of niihols. George Phlscus has anothei' chap- ter to go on his new novel, and then hits fpr New Orleans. . The new npvel which Frederic Prokosch is how dping is said tP be partly autpbipgraphicaL Turf & Tanbark, the mag, moving to Rockefeller Center. Time and Life also at the Center. Six successful Federal 1'healre plays have been Issued in two vol- umes by Random House. John K. Winkler, who once did a biog on Hearst, now fashioning one around Frank Woolworth. Biog of Geraldine Farrar will ap- pear late in October, under the title of 'Such Sweet Compulsion.' After years as a book salesman for Holt, Eugene P. /Healy has written a npvel himself. His firm is publish- ing. -, Russell Doubleday took; time off from his publishing duties to turn out a bopk pn photography, 'PhotPg- raphy Is Fun.' . Herman. G, Weinberg is at Prov- incetown. Mass,, knocking out a tome on what he terms a 'moral his- tpry pf the mbvles.'' Ed Cpchrane, of Hearst'i Amor- lean, Chi, sports desk, has been prpmoted tp spprts editpr for all Ht-arst dailies in Chicago. Alfred Mclntyre back from Eng- land with the American pijbllshing. rights to the aUtobiog of Augustus J hn.- for Little; Brown, which he heads. Tom de Vane, former editor, ot Screen Book, has resigned to return to Hollywood, and William Hartley of the Fawcett slatt assumes his duties, Helen Cunningham leaves Dell to become editor of Romantic Story, another Fay/cett mag. Post left va- cant, by resignation ot Mary Lou ■Butler. Vivian McGahee, former society editor of the Kannapolis (N, C.) Daily-Independent, has been w, . editor-in-chief of the SvS"'' (Fla;) Herald. . ^"^Vvio^ Gustav 'Weise Vetlag, of Ben- has purchased German publ^f L"* rights to -Marshal. Ney : A DuaS'l by Lcgette Blythe, Pf the ChS (N. C;) Observer. "= ^"Mlotte Crpsby Gaige, &;most . as welt knpwn a gourmet aj he is a ihn producer, has edited a booklet is^ son to . Taste.' Tells extensively^) the use of spices in food. Tom McKnight, publisher of »(,. Mooresfllle (N. C.) News-Leader i! launching a new newspaper, the 'Tri ■ City News; tP serve HuntersviUt Cprnelius and Davidsbn, N. C -Freeman Dana Put witll a" booir - utilizing: the New Yprk WoWd's Pa^ of 1939 as a background. Calls it 'Murder at the New York World'. Fair.', It'll get November pubUM. tipn. Esther HairiiltPn, feature writer of the YpungstPwn (O.) Vindicator k authpr Pf a series of articles runiiij nightly in, that paper, titled The Rise and Fall of the Wanier Brothers.' .Current History magazine will be printed by Noice Printing Co,, Co. lumbus, O., firrh, under two-yeaj contract, signed with publishers," Cur. rent History, Inc. Begins with Sep. temiber issue. , ' Plans are under way to extend the scope pf the AuthPrs InternaUonal Publishing Gp., but Archer Leslie Hood and his associatjes won't reveal the extent pf their enlarged program until, all details are completed. Rev. . K. van Bensselaer Gibson, Yonkers, N. Y.; clergyman, has writ- ten an original film story, 'to the Shadow of the Taj,' which .is pub. lished under the imprint of K, 11 Gibson, with the authorship ascribed to Van Gibson; ' Morton Gill Clark, author of 'Cap. ' tains Outrageous,' sets sail for lO-da; cruise on his yacht; Chinook, . Uiii week with Henry N. Whitney, Whitney, incidentally, is hero of hi:; yarn about his globei-cl'rcling cruise in the yacht. Now book^ readers are to be made ■ aware that Karl - Marx once . wrote fbr the forerunner ..bf - the , preseiit- day New York Herald Tribiine, In- ternatipnal Publishers intend. to col.- lect the. Marx pieces for the news- paper into a single volume; , , Booth Tarkingtbn. has been elected . tb the Kennebunkpbrt (Me.) chapter' of kappa Beta Phi. : Other menibai., are Kenneth Rolierts, Ben Ames Williams, - Maj. A. Hamilton Gibbs, Cbl, W. N. Campbell, Robert Choate, Stephen H. P. Pell, Tyler Dennett and Karl E. Mosser. On the Upbeat (Continued from page 41) one-nites before preeming- at~ Lincoln hotel, N. Y., Oct 6. - Einery bentsch holding mass audi* tions for a vocalist with crew. Ditto Richard Himber. Grant Wood and his Woodmen exit Maryland Club ^Gardens, Washinj- ton, D; C, Sept 3. Jimmy Lnnceford opens at South, land Cafe, Boston, Sept 21. On Mutual- WOR three times weekly. Johnny Haiiser continues at Co- pake Cbuntry Club, Lake Copake, N. Y. Just- finished writing ne* tune, 'A-Lass, A-Lack, A-Day," iU> Lupin Fein. Anson Weeks and band open-at the Cocoanut Grove, Los Angel» Sept. 6, . virith Morton . Downe/ vocalizing. Don Redman and his band aM holding a series bf swing conceru at Surfside, Lpng -Beach, Saturtay nights. Dan Gregory's orch takes overjt Ocean View, Va;, until closing X-aooiv Day, replacing Al Katz and his K."' lens. Jerry Sullivan and Collegians play the season put at the New Casino, Virginia Beach. Blue Steele steps out witli a netf crew for a fall session at the l.™ Westbrook, Little Rock, Ark, Clarence Fuhrnian and his orchi Clarence runrmaii . : -.lav Staff band at WIP, Philly. set to P'" at the -Davis Cup Dances to J^"^, at the Germantpwn Cricket PhiUy, Sept 3 and 5, Georpe Hall, and his '''f'j;.;'!!,^ Dolly Dawn, set at the New casii Virginia Beach, for Aiig. 25. . \ WednesJ ay. August 24. CHATTER VARIETY 53 Broadway jacobson is p.a.'ing 'Bright "^In Brown.; or WHN publicity ^'^SneiS. back Irom vacash. ^'Sssman celebrated 20th wed- j^^aSrsary last Wednesday J A.;neirone is the p.a. lor sec- ,^*Vnv?ntiSn'of the^egitimate ""^^^I'lia hane came in for pre- SfoJ 'FoSr Daughters; her cur- ^«rrv Horner, scene-designer to marry Betty Pfaelzer. of ftUadelphia, Sept. 2Z. . ■ Bevans will design the cos- ^.^or-Knickiirbbcker Holiday Pons will execute them. Kittv Kelly, PaMmbuhteer, may vlSi legit this fall . productions. eii?toe. vacationing in Saratoga. Leo Spitz* Hal Home and a flock nf^ltes 'flsh-weekended^Jt Lew tiilde?" shack in the Thousand Islands. . , . • The Oscar Hammerstems ; 2d to -"L today, he to look ior new S^Mrs. Milton Blow accompany- ^»nrv Jaffe, attorney for Th^ imMiSn Guili : of Musical Art sts.; : dBdded to^plane to the Coast this . Jean Xenauer, manager of Film- JrOieatre, on a quickie vacation Siparatory to opening his house Srfrnej't month. Mae Zipperma'n and Michael 2tola,. oi ttie ^ghth Street Playhouse, a Sm arty, leave this week to take the Cinema, a Detroit arty. ■ Morris Goodm V.p.,of Republic Plcb in charge of foreign sales, is die Sept. t in New York from. Lon- don after a two months trip abroad. Metro readying tests of Josephine Hose, nine-year-old moppet .who meciallzes in dramatics. Pete Macic >'hahdling the deal for kid per- ''Svid Palfreyman, of the Hays office in New York, back, at his desk liter two-week rest ;■ ' northern Maine, Vlnce Hart, f roni same of- Jee, back from Deal, N. J., rest.; "■George-. Garrett leaves ■ today (Wed.) as advance nian for 'White- oaks.'' Tour opens in Boston; then goes to Halifax: Jumps back atid forth across the border five times. > Dr. and Mrs. Herbert Kalmus, of Technicolor, have gone to their Cape Cod home for ai month's rest On their return, will remain about a week in New York, then go to Coast.. Reml Mattel has been cast for the dancing, lead in the New York Fed- : eral Theatre's 'Sing for Your Sup- Mr." Was formerl • in the Univ. of Pennsylvania's Mask and Wig club ' fhows. ' Winifred Boyard, of Forest Hills, ' ni^t Cliib singer, was rushed to. the. hospital Monday (22 li when infection' qjiread in her left thigh, ' which was crushed several months ago in a' fall .while .horseback riding. . So\ Immerman, son of Connie lin^ merman, partner in the Cotton Cliib, .N. Y., has ihade his -staff artist, Rob- ert Holley, a partner. Theatrical art Inn, formerly doing song covers, ex- clusively, now going in for book cov- ers also. Benny Leonard, whose restiaurant on upper Broadway suddenly closed wme months ago, will open. a sim- ilar one nearer Tithes Square. Rea- son for the closing is said to have «en due td a dispute between the loiiner world's lightweight cham- Vlpn and his partner. St. Louis By Sain X. Hurst Zeke Colvan, .stage manager of the Miuicipal theatre, has finished "gnth year here and is on way back Mst for vacation. ^James E. Darst. manager of $7,000,- iw municipal auditorium, on 20-day wcatlon with his wife, a columnist on- Globe-Democrat, ^ary Piclcfbrd besieged by auto- ppn hunters when she changed gains enroute to Sullivan, 111., , to '"'J? ner husband, Buddy Rogers. »,fv*. Nelson, manager of several Si'.^?Hf* Amusement Co. nabcs. re- wtited to have joined the local office w^lumbia Pictures Corp. as sales- m^^tv P'"^" stopped here long gwueh to watch rehearsal of 'Show vxJi .3nd then continued to JJew cjj^^'n his auto. Toured from the l»J™''^j*''®3*'"e execs have hot de- S'Si"'^-,5*'*'ether annual bonus of S'n^. Yu'' P^'^- to natives in ™imwd bd ^^'"y weather ^';^'^'*ar, of Fanchori & ftovSd^ '^yVu*'''"S .staff, has been shin of tiT °A assistant manager deluxer"'^^'"'' ^"'"^ Oieall'i*'" jZalken. p.a. for muny J?f«tre and St. Louis Symphony So- Deminvf? ^"^5* columnist on Globe- «f Katw'i "'"J; during vacation lS*l"e'r'"e Darst Wtl h^^'^-''!'^*'**'"' P-a. ^rom Cincin- «Dera V.?, - °'' '•ope on municipal oTiBf,- 1 metropolis mulling Idea Bientihi'"''"'^ al fresco entertain- Sf,J,"ere^ next year. York Tk" '^l™"ier.stein back New ird t»^. ""^ will work with Rich- ""fier and Laurence Schwab. He . spent several months working With Berger at al fresco muny thea- tre jn Forest Park. \.: .E. Hpldernegs. treasurer of Mun cipal Theatre Assn. arid pres. of Playgoers of St. Louis. Inc., will address the AmericanTheatre Coun- cil in New York on Sept. ia-I4, on Civic Co-operation In The, Theatre/ Harold 'Chick' Evens,, manager, and Jiihmy Harris, p.a., . at Loew's, promoted a full page co-op ad in the Star-'Times, a p.m. rag, and also a cake five feet in diameter in observ- ance of the theatre's 14th anniver- sary. Long Isla nd Harold Collins named manager of Palace theatre; Corona. League Players Club, strawhatters of Flushing, now have Weekly half- hour oh WWRL. Frankie Booth i& the only femme m.c, in Queens. .'Now. at. Lincoln club. Cypress Hills. Elissa Landi to talk on 'The Audi- ence's Role in the Theatre,' at Gar- den City Country club;' Theodor Freyug, manager of RKO Richmond Hill theatre,, returned Fri^ day (19) from two weeks in (Chicago. New 600-seater Polk Avenue thea- tre, opened Wednesday (17) in Jack- son Heights. Thomas Mack manag- ing. .. Manny . Sblorriaii,. manager of Crossbay theatre, Woodhaven, back from vacash. Milton- Rosenthal subbed.' Jimmy Pisapia, ex-assistar^t manr ager of Roxy theatrei now in charge of the Earie, Jackson Heights, leaves Monday ,(29), for l&days in Maine, Cieorge .Kann, manager of Loew's Willard, Woodhaven, due in from vacation Tuesday (SO). M^ean- while; house ; is being redecorated under assistant Abe Kaplan. :. Murray Scharr, ass:s:ant manager of the Pitkin theatre, Brooklyn, goes into the. State as aide to Al Rosen. Eddie Burke, assistant at the State, promoted to manai^ership' at Melba theatre,' Brooklyn., : Both regular cashiers of Colony theatre, Jackson Heights, invalided. Nettie Liebeiirman' recovering from appendectomy . in a Brooklyn hos- pital and Shirley Green convalescing at home from recent operation in Long Island City hospital ■ Alden theatre, Jamaica, returns to RKO management and straight film policy Sunday. (28) with' John: Heinz managing and Barney Feingold as- sisting. House has been playing road shows for past six! weeks. 'Brother Rat,' current attraction,, ends' flesh season Saturday (28). Chio^o Pat Casey in stopover on way to Coast Harry Greben, agent, touring Wis- consin lakes. . '. . Nat. .Karson,. Radio. City scene designer, a; visitor. Booking boys holding annual golf toiirney.today (24). Jack Pollock back after 10 months on road ahead of Bowes ams. . Paul Lowe, formerly, with CBS, now associated with a photo service company.. - Margaret Shannon, headliner in radio's 'Grimm's Daughter,' in hosp for observation. Dorothy' Day, Hearst, drama ed, putting on h^w opus at Oconomowoc. stra what' theatre. R. J. Barrett local rep of station WOR, N. Y.. operated on for mastoids yesterday (Tuesday). Miles Ingalls and Glen Schmidt in town seeking acts for the latter's Beverly, Hills Country Club. John McGee, regional Federal Theatre director for 13 states, hied to , Wisconsin Dells for fishing and rustication. , Bill Collins, former head of Hen- rici's, awarded $200,000 by courts af- ter local realty investment house misused funds intrusted in its care. Joe Pluiikett, in town for past sev- eral days, has set 'Moonlight Sonata,' the Paderewski Polish film, into' the World Playhouse to open early No-, vember. Back to N. Y. now. Eddie Burke, announcer for WCFL, will handle mike at Douglas Corrir gan banquet Burke also picked to m.c; Mayor -Kelly's new' Century committee's 'Swing Festival' a,t the SUtdium. Honolulu By 'Mabel Thomas Claire Trevor and husband Clark Andrews left for Canada. Wife bf John Halliday io Second Man' lead at U of Hawaii. The Harvey Helms (he's writer for the pair) came along; loo. Joe and Mrs, Penncr with Dr. ahct Mrs.' Pincus at the Royal for two weeks. ' , Antonio Moreno had "ve weeks here but. left to make pictures in Mexico City. . ^. , _ ' ,. Tune detective Signnind Spaeth touring the Islands and writing Hawaiian mOslc. . , Neno Cannello, daughter of mu- sical director at Hal Roachs; at . Moana. for month. : . . George Buriis and , Giacie Allen with their children at the Roy.il for three weeks. Ditto the 0. M. Sam- uels of New. (Drleans. London Jack La Rue apartment hunting. Ben Thau off to Carlsbad for water cure.. Archie Parriell on couple of weeks holiday. Sybil Vane to stage vaudeville comeback. Jack Waller's brother, died at 58. non-pro, Lee Ephraim about again after serious iUriess. Sir L'sihdon Ronald, composer and conductor, seriously ill. P'egfey Weidon; wife of Ben Wel- don, in from Hollywood.. Ruth Taub. vacationing at Jiian Les Pins, South of France. Bill Tilden has written a. playi 'Net Profits,' about professional tennis. Henry Sherek at Southampton to meet the: Lee Tracys iti from N. Y. Ben Gdetz off ; to the south of France after completing 'The Cita- del,'.-.. Lucie Mannheim .to do a full sea son of Ibsen's plays in the West End. Warner Bros. London, did- not take up the options on any of their di rectors. Paramount and 20th Century- Fox said to be after Betty Warren for Hollywood. 'Paprika,' the Eric Maschwitz mu sical, to open at His Majesty's middle of next month. , Erich Pommer longdistance phon ing his - partnei , Charles Laughtbn, nightly ..♦ om America. Palladium . 'Crazy' show definitely opening Sept 26, after fortnight try out at. Hippodrome, Brighton. : Emile Boreo sailing for Apstralia Aiig.. 27 for ' a .10-week ' vaudeville .season, ^with Soiith Africa to follow, . Arren and Broderick due here for return dates ior General Theatres Corp. opening at the Palladium Sept.' 12.. ■ Eddie Cantor has extended invita- tion to Max Miller to go to America to 'personal on the Cantor air pro gram. After 18 months of marriage, Gina Malo has. intimated to Harry Foster to look around for suitable vehicle for her. Bert 'Wheeler, booked by the Geh eral Theatres Corp. for four weeks, may head his own vaudeville unit in England. ■ Victor Schertzinger, directing "The Mikado' for Charles Woolf at Pine- wpod studios, is week iii front , of schedule.. Ernie 'Westmore, bi:other of Percy Westihore, - has' formed . wig-making company with Guy Pierce, of Lon- don Films. Stella Adler directing . the new cbinpany of .'Golden Boy,' which re- places the originals at St. .James's theatre' sept; 22, - Lawrence Jones, projectionist at Loew's State, N. Y., paid surprise visit to Stanley Parry, Metro's local chief projectionist ■ Gaston Palmer has offers from three different agents to open at the Palmer House, Chicago, next month for six. weeks at $600 per. .Ed Ryan to join the cast Of 'Golden Boy,' . with Robert Leonard, who played Perlmutter in the original 1914 'Potash and Perlmutter' in Lon- don, .. ■'. ■ -. , . '- - Stone arid Lee, due . back here early next- ihoiith from their African and Australian tour, will go into the Foster-Florence ' Desmond - vaudeville uniti Sir Oswald Stoll to make clear- ance of London Coliseuin staff, some of them- who have been with him for years,, including Col. Stanley Bell, stage director. Reg Davis, once of vaudeville team of Dale arid Clifford, but now in the gown business, is new lessee. Of Bel- harifi Hippodrome, which becomes a vaudeville house next month. . Earl Bailey, local head -man of Music Corp. of America,' wants Ross and Stone for his new Grosvenor House show, but team anxious to get back to Hollywood after year's work here. Gainsborough Films next will be film adaptation by. Val Guest of Emery Borriett's novel, 'A Girl :Must Live,' with • Lilli Palmer, Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave, Renee Houston and Vic Oliver.' Keneth Kent used to spell his Christian name with two n's, but was left a legacy on condition he changed his name. He. consulted counsel and was told he cquld comply with the terms by deleting an n. Nancy Price is staging 'Thou Shalt Not,'- an English adaptation of Zola's Therese Raquin,' tonight (24), . in which she's .starring at the Play- house, and .Cathleen Nesbitt and Morris, Harvey have other major roles. George / Formby. popular Lan- cashire film comedian, "lias been granted a riding license. under Pony. Turf Club rules, arid will got back in, the saddle next month when hur dliiig season opens, a jockey Tishman returns there, as there will be more work'for them over here. Corinne Luchaire flew, to Paris fol- lowing corinpletibn of 'Prison With- oiit Bars' to fulfil contract with French flrm. She had to refuse sev- eral offers, including one from Lee Shubert, who wanted her for Broad- way stage version of 'Prison With- out Bars,' ; Ralph Richardson was to be lead in 'Goodbye, Mr. Chips,' the James Hilton play, which O'Bryeri, Linnet & Dunfee are producirig next month, but cannot get out of his film com- mitments. Ixislie Banks replaces, with'Diana Wynyard in, femme lead. Show goes to the Shaftesbury. . Atlantic City By Rolli Friedland Bee Saxon and Yurmi Stern chair- ridirig. Louis Bernstie'n down the weekend, Jimmy Ritz and his bride at the 500 Club. Paul Small and Estelle Taylor round-trip it on Sunday. The Nicky Blairs going in for sea- food in a- big way at Hackney's. Jackie Beek'man buying' a cute little plant for, a' cute little yo,ungster. The Harry Kalmines back to Pitts- burgh after spending eight weeks here. Lou Irwin giving Eva Siilly a swell contribution for Sophie Tucker's Playground tor poor kiddies. ■ Al Lacky taking on all comers for backgammon. From sunrise to sun- set he plays on and on, with no time out for luiich. Helen Morgan's lily-white skin _ delightfiil contrast to all the dark- skined 'damsels patronizing the Bath and Turf Club. - Charlie Moskowitz phoning Marvin Schenck in New York to teir him hbw' cool it was here, and what a swell tan he'd- gotten; Now that the Al Rogerses have their New York penthouse completed' they've deserted it for two weeks of Atlantic City's sand and ocean. Billy Rose and Eleanor Holrii. on the Ritz' beach, she not even, wading in the ocean, mUch to the disappoint- ment of all the kiddies who Owanted to watch her swim. ' Ted arid Adah Lewis, on their way to New York from the Coast, stopped off here for a few days, and much to everyone's surprise, the generally nervous Ted relaxed for hours in one spot on the beach and liked it, Strondsburg By - John Bartholomew Claude Hay's Columbians at Say- lor's Lake, . Poconb Mountains horise show dre^w big crowd. Bad biz forced several maestros to cut down personnel. Amateur night Tuesdays at Craig's Meadows Hotel and Fridiays at Yar- rick's Hof Brau. Banks: Kennedy, offering his latest composition, "Lonely Little Cloud,' at POcono Manor Inn- Fred Waring, I>onDa Dae, and the Three, Fellas appeared at the , horse show ball at Buckwood Inn., Skytop Club's 'Skyrackets' was presented Aug.. 19-20. Directed by Dorothy Waldo Phillips, featuring Irving Berlin songs from 'Carefree' (RKO). Local Chamber, of ■ Commerce burned at Ham Fisher's Joe Palooka comic strip depicting Delaware Water Gap view blocked by sign boards. Contrary, to fact. Janet Adams directed the Biick Hill-PJayers in 'Love-ln-a-Miist.' Sea- son's final production will be the Kaufman - Connelly 'Begear on Horseback.' directed by - Cornelia Stabler Gillam, with dances super- vi.sed by Margaret and Edward Chalif, Kansas City By John W. Quinn Chick Ellison, KMBC publicity chief, back from vacation, allowing his asiiistant Bill (jraham, to be on his way. , Harris Wolf berg and, Claude, Mor- ri.s, of , Metro, hosts to' the trade at prerelease of, 'Marie Antoinette' at Vogue theatre last week. Fox theatres in and around town being handled by the a.ssi'.stant man- agers while the head men convene at Hotel President tor three days. Lincoln. , Dickey. Jiibilcsta hiKh mogul, back from Chicago where he completed bookings for. the nine-day Sbptcmbcr show in the city andi- :torium. Hollywood Ike, Libson holidaying here. Roy Disney to High Sierras, Tony DeMarco in the hospital. Irving Fein in from Broadway, H. W. Kastor vacationing here. Frank Loesser out of the hospital. Paulette Goddard; back from Reno, Vivian Tobiri vacationing in Idaho. Dailey Paskman in from Broad- way.- , ■ , Joel McCrea buying cattle in Ari-' zona. ■ , Johnny Davis going on eastern p.a. tour.' J., Chcever Cowdi'n in froni New York. Meredith Willson: back , from Eu- rope. Sascha Piatov. in' from Falls. . . Eugene Pallette in from Oregon ranch: ' . Jimmy Saphier here, from - New York. . Sig Marcus to hospital for obser- vation. Wayne Morris- holidaying in Min- nesota. L. Wolfe Gilbert back from Man- hattan. . M'artha' Raye starts Sept 1. George Giroux , to hospital for operation. Shark took nip at Warren Wil- liam's paw,.: ' Sammy White to Denvei: on per- sonal tour. ' Will H. Hays motoring in norlKel California. : hbme-towhrng bought ahbther '. Joan . Davis Minneapolis. Spencer Tracy, 'power boat. : Leohaird Cummlngs to hospital for appendectomy, . ; ; : Charlie Einfeld to Del : Morite for two weeks. Helene and Monte Samuels baclc from: Honolulu, . Richard Tucker in Veterans Hos- pital at Sawtelle. Wblfe -Kaufman checked in as a Universal writer. Waldemar Young, recovering from minor operation. Randy Rawlins* new nom de film Ib Monte Rawlins,: William Anthony McGuire recov- ered from Illness.. Kathleen and Charles Norrii garideriiig studibs. William Powell goes; into hospital Sept 1 for surgery. : Rosella Tbwne and James Lathrop due to wed Sept 25. Willianri .' Cameron Menzies back from Manhattan biz. William Morris, Jr., soaking' upi sunshine at La Jblla.' Sir Earle Page here from Aus- tralia to eye. studios. . Russell Birdwell guest speaker at Los Angeles Ad Club. Paridro -Berman Ijack at work after minor operation. James; Cagney passing Vacation - on Martha's Vineyard farm. Republic personnel tossed a din- ner for Herbert J. Yates. Harry M. Warner back from Sara- toga, with a herd of horses. Wallace Ford back from Lbs Gatos after conferring with John Stein- beck.: Roscoe Karns working in his 312th picture. Thanks For the Memory,' at Paramount Youngsters beat bldsters, 28—0, in baseball at the annual Filrt Fathers and Sons -picnic. Harry Puck, last with Harlan Thompson's unit at Par, has the Alex Kempner agency. Richard Thorpe handed an out- board motor by cast and crew of 'Three Loves Has Nancy.' ' ■ Georjje Blatchford, treasurer of Fbx Wisconsin theatres, off to Hono- lulu with Mrs. Blatchford after a week's o;o, here. Return to Mil- waukee Sept. 27-. Charlie McCarthy gets an abademic degree' at Edgar Bergen's alma mater, Northwestern-. University, Aug. ,27. Degree is M.I.. meaning Master of Innuendo, Sydney By Eric Gorrlck „.... „..^.. Jj'''' Goldhauer, United Artists He used to bc''''^''"""al chief, scheduled in • from I his Detroit office for huddle on As snon as J.nck . Hulbert returns fo'^thco'n'ne relea.se bf 'Drums' in from Hollywood, the Lee Ephraim territory. musical, in which Hulberf and his Roy Miller, local Universal bos."!, wife, Cecily Courlneidge, are to be ; unofficial host to mana^'crs from starred, goes into rehearsal; Noel Omaha, St. Louis, and Des Moines Gay has written the music, with .show going into the. Palace. / Irving Tishman has lined up 25 weeks for Buster Shaver and Olive and Geoige through the Fo.ster. agency with the latter telling him offices following divi-jibrial meeting last week. 'Rage of Pari.s' (U) booked by Orcalcr Union. . Stuart F. Doyle reported dicker- mg for reissue distribution of ■Re- turn of the Sheik.' The Eriiprcss has clo.scd down for rnmodeling arid will reopen as the Victory for Greater Union. Charles M'unro, Hoyts, on three weeks' tour of chain, covering Mel- bourne. Adelaide and Perth. Bill.v .Co.slello has \>Qcn set for riin over Greater Union chain, novoring Brisbane. Aflflaitlc and Ta.smariia commencing .Sept. 23. . . Bernie Freeman, Metro bo.'t.s. on lookscc covering interests in wc.^lerh Australia. Freeman rccenlly com- ploled a New Zealand tour. - Bix Imprpvin;; va.illy in the sl!x and nabi;s throut'hnut the Antip.i not to submit act in America when irig of long dark (DrphcUm Walter Branon; RKO district man- • now that the infantile nar.ilysis ban iiger, here from Chi to confer with | has boon .comolcloly lifted, exchange nrianngcr Tommy Thbmp- f Hovis bringing in Warnpr.s* 'Robin .son on setting bf fCarefrci;' for reopen ' -,: Hood' for acc run over entire chain. 'Corillnued. on. page 54) S4 VARIETY Wednesdaj, August 24, 1939 OBITUARIES THOMAS K. HEATH Thomas K. Heath, 85. died Aug. 18 of a heart attack at his home in Se^- tauket, L. I. For more than 50 years the team of Mclntyre and Heath had been the foremost team of blackface comedians, and the 'Ham Tree," 'The Georgia Minstrels' and the 'Chickens' acts were familiar to practically every theatregoer in America, 'The Hani Tree' was elaborated into a -play in which they starred under, the management of Klaw & £rlanger, but they soon quit musical comedy to return to the more congenial at- mosphere of vaudeville,: ' They were. seen in other acts, no- tably . 'The . Man from' Montana,', .an .old minstrel sketch, but they found it almost impossible to get away from the old favorites, and iflnally gave up the effort. They varied and inter- changed . the three acts, and one never was certain just what the turn would be like on any engagement, but any part ef the three was re- ceived with acclaim. In the 'Chick- ens' act Mclntyre ' played a wench, but Heath was always the same as feeder,, whatever direction the act might take. ' His death occurred just a year fol- lowing that of his partner, and, be- cause of his ill health, he had never been told of Mclntyre's dea^ HEBMANN J. WEISS Hermann J. Weiss, 56,. veteran member of the Houston Symphony Orchestra, died suddenly (Aug. 19) at the wheel of his car at Schulen- burg, when en route homie from San Antonio where, he had attended the funeral of his mother. Weiss was one of the few members of the Sym- phony who had stuck . to the orches- tra, through its ups and downs since its first concert on June 21, 1913. He played the tympani He also played in the old Majestic theatre orchestra under the late liloyd.Finlay, whose orchestra was a favorite with. vaudeviUians from coast to coast , Born in Germany, hie was brought to America at the age of six. He had lived in Houston for the past 25 years. Survived by wife, daughter, three brothers and .sister. STEFHEN DALT Stephen Daly, 53, booker and house manager for the Detroit Fed- eral Theatre, Detroit, died in a De- Uoit hospital Aug. 19 from a com- plication of diseases. He had - been ill less than a month. In earlier days JJaly had been ah actoi^ in stock companies andfwas for several seasons with the Shii- berts in 'June'.Moon' and other pror ductions. He also had been with Ztegfeld Follies. Later managed the Keith's Temple ■ theatre, Detroit, in addition to handling the boxoflice. He had been with the Detroit FTP ever since its inception in 1936. Survived by two sons and a daugh- ter. Interment in Detroit WILLIAM M. SAUVAGE William M. Sauvage, 71, theatrical operator for 50 years and former Mayor of Altoh, 111 , died last week from pneumonia In Alton. His career began when at the age of 13 he became an usher in the old .Root Opera House in Alton. In 1890 at the age of 23 he became treasurer and manager of the Temple and con- tinued that post' for 40 years except during a two-year period when he traveled as manager for Herbert L. Flint, hypnotist A son, daughter and two grand- children survive. ADOLPH LEWISOHN Adolph Lewisohn, 80, investment broker and philanthropist donor of Lewisohn stadium. New York, died at his summer home in Saranac Lake, N. Y., Aug. 17. His deith came just when the last of the seasohal concerts at the sta- dium he donated was concluded. During a closing speech Willem van Hoogstraten, conductor of the or- chestra, unaware of the death; paid tribute to the stadiurn donor. G. GBATTON. CASSIDT G. Gratton Cassidy, .30; brother of Claudia Cassidy, drama critic, Chi- cago Journal of Commerce, died in Chicago, Aug. 20, from Injuries sus- tained when he- fell through a trap- door at the Erlanger theatre recent- ly. He was rehearsing for hiis first professional legit .appearance. : Funeral arrangements will be an- nounced with burial at Shawnee, III. GEORGE W. ANSPAKE George Washingto^i Anspake, 81, legit actor of the. nineteenth centuryi died last week. Annouhceriient of his death wa^ made by the Actors' Fund of America, which did not state wheti and wherie'he died. ^ H6 began his career on this stage of the old Bowery theatre, and; later had parts with Robert Edeson and under the management of William A. Brady. BOB MACK Bob Mack, 42, vaude agent and brother of Pete Mack, New York agent and after-dinner ribber, died Aug. 17 in Chicago. He had been ill for several years.' -. In N. ' Y., the: deceased had once been; associated with his brothier in the Pat Casey agency. Later he went to Chicago, where he joined Jimmy BurchiU. A son, 9, aiid his widow survive. Burial in Chicago. WALTEB B. MCDONALD Walter B. McDonald, 41, of Deca tur, Ga.; Atlanta suburb, died last week at his home af ter a year's ill ness. He was shipper for Atlanta United Artists exchange, with which he had been connected since 1920. He was member of Four Buddies Quartet, heard often over Atlanta's radio stations and in churches. Widow, son, father and sister sur- vive. Burial was in Atlanta Friday (19), EMMA COLLIGAN , Mrs. Emma Wymari Chase Colli- gan, who had appeared in .support of Maurice Barrymore, Mrs. Patrick Campbell and. Mrs. Leslie Carter^ among others, died Aug. IS at her home in Biddeford, Me; : , . She was the wife of Walter , E. Colligan; who survives. Her' first husband, Harry Chase, an actor, died years ago. FAT WEST ; Mrs. J. J. Jaffln, 34, a former Tol- lies' -girl, known under the name of Fay West died Aug. 16 in New York. She was the wife of J. J. Jaffln, a dentist. Survived by her mother, Lillian Fitzgerald, vaude comedienne. CLAUDIA COLEMAN CHaudia Coleman, 49, stage and screen actress, died , Aiig. 17, ; in Hollywood. A headliner ill the old vaudeville days, she had been work ing in pictures for the past five years. Two brothers survive. EABLG F. SHEBMAN Barle F. Sherman, 39, member of the . Australian Eanes, vaudeville troupe, died Aug. 16 at his home in Utica, N. Y., of heart clisease. His widow, parents, and a sister, Kath- ryr. Sherman, all of Utica, survive, MABVIN LOBACK Marvin Lpbac>, 42, stage and screen comedian, died Aug. 18 in Hollywood. MARRIAGES Evelyn Fawcett to John Pavlis in Cedar Rapids, la., Aug. 6. He's on WMT sales staflE in Cedar Rapids. Jessie Semple to Sidney Andorn in Bratenahl, O., Aug. 13. Bride is a dancing tea.h?-i-; he's WOAR. Cleveland, commentator. Mayo Methot to Humphrey Bogart Aug. 20, in Los Angeles. Both in pictures. Sarah Drennah to Ralph Deans in Atlanta, Aug, 17. Bride is secretary to Lambdin Kay, general manager of WSB, Atlanta. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. George W. Pickard, daughter in Toledo/ Aug. 22. Father is announcer with Toledo's station WSPD. . Mr. and Mrs. Sherlock Evans, son, in Massillon, O., Aug, 8. Father is magician, for years associated with his father in circuses. Mr. and Mrs. Barry Shipman, daughter, in Hollywood, Aug._ 15. Father is in charge of serial writers at Republic, Mr. and Mrs, Phil Berle. son, In Hollywood, Aug . 17. lathe."- is an agent; she's former Mona Barry, actress (not to be confused with Mbna Barrie). . Mr. and Mrs. Ruby Cohen, daugh- ter, in Brooklyn, Aug. 12. Father is projectionist at Crossbay theatre, Woodhaven, L. I. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gillham, son. New York, Aug. 2. He is advertis- ing and publicity director of Para- ARMSTRONG WINNER; RADIO mONG AGAIN By JACK PULASKI Henry Armstrong copped the lightweight boding crtwn in Madi- son Square .Garden, . N. Y., last JWednesday ,(17) from Lou Ambers, it being the third championship win for thp colored wonder in less than a year. From the broadcast, which drew a general panning, it seemed like Ambers - was robbed. Latter was not battered as much as Barney Ross, but there was no doubt among ringsiders as to the result ' Always boring in and . jamming Ambers against the ropes time after time. Hank kept punching with both hands, as is his style. In the fifth round; just before the bell, Arnbers was tilted to the canvas. Some fans thought he : tripped over his own feet ' In -the next session a well timed one-two sent the up-stater down for a count of six and there was none to question that knock- down. Aiain, later in the match, a right sent the former champ all the way across, the ring, then the coast wonder started to fade. ' From the 12th to the 15th and final round it was evident that there would be no kayo and the bettors, who layed six to five on that out- come, sensed they had dropped their coin. Odds on Armstrong winning were three to one and that was an accurate gauge of the contesUnU' chances. The customers took as bad a beat- ing as the men in the ring. For one thing the excitement attendant such, a furiously fought battle could not be glommed nonchalantly. Then there was the heat, : Garden boasts about its cooling system, which either didn't work or is not effective when a capacity crowd is preiiht NBC broadcast the 'fight with Clem. ; McCarthy telling what he doesn't know about boxing to the fans on the air. ; The racing an- nouncer has pulled boners at title fight shows, but this time he went to town on the wrong horse. McCarthy alluded to Armstrong as being Joe Loiils, some kind of a kink making him think of the heavyweight champ. This happened dozens of times. Also, at times, he had. Arm- strong socking Louis, which would be quite a triick. From McCarthy's running account the air audience figured that Am- bers was winning by four lengths. Only .substantiation -was. the count of a judge, who saw it Lou's way by a : one-round margin. Another man close to the battle who thought Ambers won was . his ' manager. Referee and the other judge made it Armstrong, while some of the fight experts gave the little colored terror' as many as 10 rounds out-ot the 15. Dan Parker, of the Mirror, called it a draw. . Lou was given much the bigger hand when they were introduced aind he was cheered after the de- cision was made and when he left the . ring. Armstrong was booed with a vengeance; . but such fight crowd reactions are not strange and it was probable that the fans felt sorry for the underdog, Henry was a tired fellow when it was over and said he needed a long rest He was out to win by a kayo and was dis- appointed, it being known that plenty of Hollywood boxing bugs had bet he'd do it. Anyhow, he is the first fighter to hold the feather- weight lightweight and welter- weight titles at the same time. Pay of the match, the ticket sale started slo\yly and for that reason Mike Jacobs manipulated the scale. Ringside tickets were top at $16.50, with some lowered to $11.50. He then cut the rear lower floor sec- tions to $5.75. Latter price went for the 22d row and those ' further back, while the last of the $16.50 lo- cations ended with the ■ 21st row. Fight had been rained out of the Polo Grounds the week before, when sparse . attendance was on hand. That It was wiser to move the show indoors was proven by the fact that the Garden did not fully sell out Cbmplimentaries varied, some calling for the payment of $1, such ducats calling for center sec- tions, while Oaklies requiring . the payment of $3 called for side sections. Payment on the comps included tax, federal and state, also a 'service charge' of $2.70. News From the Dailies This department contains rewritten theatrical news items as pub lish?d during the week in the daili papers ol New York, Chicooo Son Froncfsco, Hollywood and London: Variety takes no credit for these news items; each has been rewritten Irom a daily paper. East Autopsy on the body of the late Fay West.Jaffin, ex-Follies showgirl, has been ordered by Chief Medical Examiner Gonzales of New York. Wini Shaw replaced scheduled BeUe Baker in new show at Ben Mardeh's Riviera, Fort Lee, N; J. Latter: out' with laryngitis. Orangeburg, N. Y., dog racetrack reopened last - week minus betting. County offlclals on hand to See that •option^ system; which traick opera-, tors claim is legal, was not used. . - N. Y. police smashed 707 slot ma- chines, valued at $58,000, gathered in raids since 1934. Mary Pickford arrived In' New York to establish permanent resi- dence aiid start cosmetic firm. . Rockefellers to erect a nine-story office building near Radio City. It won't he part of R. C„ howeveri Ben. Cutler, orchestra leader, fell asleep at the wheel of his car and wound up- in the East River at 6Sth street New York, Car left a trail of uprooted trees, smashed concrete benches and an uprooted iron fence in its wake. Cutler was treated for a gash over his eye. . Cops searching for the chemist who concocted tear bombs which were loosed- Saturday iri 12 Brooklyn theatres. Bombs were similar to one used for saiiie purpose in .1937. Vera Curtis, 26, was Instantly killed Sunday night In coUisbn be- tween a motor boat and a canoe on Deal Lake, Asbury Park, N. J. Ac- cldient happened 50 feet offshore. Girl's companion was unhurt. Don- old Poppa, 16, of Asbury, was held on a charge of manslaughter. Death of Clark .Twelvetrees, who died two weeks ago of a fractured skull was classed as murder follow- ing an investigation. Police arrested a suspect and .charged him with causing the mjuries resultint- ? Twelvetrees' death, * Coast . Dorothy Granger, film player anH her husband, George Lollier. 'fllSd suit for damages totaling $93 000 iS Los Angejes against a highwajTton. tracting firm for injuries surtaxed m ail auto accident , Lupe Velez was granted a dlvoriw from Johnny Weissmuller in L T She charged cruelty. - . "•.7 Jack Roberts, film player wiOu drew his $250,000 .suit against Dk^ tor Busby Berkeley. Charge -wsi alienation of the affections of HoS erts' wife, Carol Landis, screen player. "-.'s™ Frank D. Dewar. film editor, was sued for divorce in L. A, by Zelnu Dewar._ who asks custody of theS three daughters. " Mrs. Alice Bradbury was granted ■ divorce from Bob Steele, western player, in - L. A.- Granted $7,500 aU. mony and $1,000 counsel fees. Mrs. Linda McNulty was awarded a divorce from Stephen McNultv cameraman, in L. A. ' Carole Shannon, screen player ob. tained a divorce in L.'- A. from Law. ■ rence W. Beckman. ^ Guy Buccola. musician, filed suit for divorce in L. A. iaga Inst Dorothy Crocker, Broadway dancer. Zita Johann, stage and screen actress, granted a divorce in L. A from John McCornilck, agent ^ Mrs. Charlotte Nickolaus won ■ divorce .and $15 weekly alimony from John M. Nickolaus, Jr' cameraman, ^ .."Sis ?*l'' screen player, sued for $1,735 in L. A. by Louis A. Flelsh- mann, dramatic coach, who claims the actor failed to pay him for lessons. . mount. Their second child, both boys. Mr. and Mrs, Guy Wallace, son. Aug. 12, In Cleveland.. Father is announcer on WHK; mother former Berhle Dennis, singer., Mr. and : Mrs. Lefferts .McClelland, triplets, two girls and a Ijoy, In New York, Aug. 22. Father is Pathe News sound einglneer. Sydney (Continued from page 53) Picture will be giveii big exploita- tion as a leadup to Sydney opening. . Alec Kellaway, brother of Cecil Kellaway, whofs now in U. S^ leaves for Hollywood' film try shortly. Has been with Cinesound for diiite a spell. . 'Wihterset* will be produced here by a little theatre group under the direction of Doris Fritton. Another due. for showing in -The Seagull,' under Berly Bryant Big new neon signs have been erected outside the State by Greater Union: Western. Electric's Micro- phonic will also be placed in ad- ditional theatres over this chain, in- cluding the Hobart Adelaide and Melbourne. More than 2,000 orphans have been ^^»'f**/i^X^^°y** *° View 'Snow White (RKO) on various weekday JJ^.v- ,?®S^?J?y' ""^ny Sisters of the Catholic Faith were given a viewing of the film through the courtesy of Charles Munro. Elizabeth Browne (Mrs. Ross- Webster), who's with the radio de- partment of George Patterson. Ltd., and handling the Palmolive Vanity Fair air show, intends to try he'r luck abroad shortly. First stop will be England after which will come a try into U S. radio. ■ had Minneapolis By L'es Bees Fiddlers' theatrical club spaghetti and vino party. . Jimmy Berchell, vaudevillian, has joined Grand National's. sales staff. Fred Finnegan. Universal branch manager, hibernating at Twin Lakes, Walter Weber, of United Artists honeymooning in northern Minne- sota. ' . Metro held invitation screening of Mane Antionette' at Granada theatre, Harry Skirboll back in town for few days to supervise 'Birth. of Baby' distribution, Warner Bros, club entertain.d exhibitors at broadcast of Arm- strong-Ambers fight: Jack Neary up from Dubuque,- la as acting _Orpheum manager durine Bill Sears' vacation. Avis Darrow, 20, of Duluth winner of Miss Minnesota contest' will, represent state at Atlantic City' ^ W, A, Steffes? Alvin theatre may house troupe of WPA players, in- stead of Alms, in the fall and winter Iflariry Sherman and George Adams collaborating on new theatre money game, Tip Top Toe, which already has gone into two Paramount circuit houses here. . 'Pins and Needles,' one of 15 book- ings already booked, will open road- show season at Leo Murray's Lyceum ih earlv October. , Joe Behan, Warner Bros, booker, resting in northern Minnesota woods, ^.Lep Aved remodeling Empress theatre, nabe house, Ray Wylie, United Artists sales- nian, flew to New York for funeral of his mother,, who passed away tWo' months after his father. > Harry Hirsch; burlesque im- . presario, will be in charge of Tony Stecher's wrestling office for next five; months while latter takes Bronko Nagurski . to Hawaii and Australia. Party tossed for Stecher and Nagurski prior to departure. By Hal Cohen Art Farrar hosted a big party on his 28th birthday. . Joe Feldmans' youngest lad, Wally, down with the chicken pox. Joe Sala on job again at the Nixon cafe after visit to his native Cuba. Bunny Droun has organized his own band for the Italian Gardens. Sid Dickler again slated to handle publicity for Lew Mercur's Harlem Casino. Dinty Moore has given up his theatre in W. Va. Joining WB sales force here. Thelma Schnee, Tech drama . graduate, will be with Mercury theatre next season. Herman Middleman will have • partner and a new front man in new. band he's organizing. The Bob Clarks— he's with Far exchange and Duke Clark's son- expect the stork this winter. ^Carnegie Tech drama head, H. A. Boettcher, vacationing with Fred Burleigh and Alexander Dean at Cohasset, Mass. ' Cleveland By Glenn C. Pollen Steamer Goodtime running sole vaude bills here. Nat Holt of RKO, seeing Mon- treal and Quebec. , _ Al Gregg p.a.ing for new Cam Park outdoor theatre. , . . Frederic McConiiell getting Play- house, ready' for opening, ,^ George Young rounding, up casis for Roxy^s first- burlesker Sept. 2.. Only, legit hereabouts is 'Ivory oui no aiiractions aeiiniie J"- . Pirchner's . Alpine Village oiuy downtown nitery doing any biz aw ing heat spell. Frank Throbp, of Columbus, ne* Palace assistant manager; succeeas Harry Wareham; tf>Aiesday. Auguet 24« 1938 OUtDOORS^FORUM VARIETY 55 MAT THEY THINK Ple» for Arties San D>«igo. ^w^JeSed sitting bh the side- ,I'^d watchihg thebatUe of the Snr ag^iinct aU comers, as re- f^^la VARIETY, but we wish Sody would" do something, about !r cinema crisis. we-that- is, several hundred San ,*,ans-want an opportunity to see SfthosT famous : Imported and 50- iiS Irty productions we ■ read S in VABiViV, see advertised in S papers and which . are never ^ nearer than Los Angeles. •phore are about 23 theatres around j^Tut at least 10 belong to one JSnlzation, three or four .to an- !to and the, balance don't count, mtere is no, place for anyone to ^it anything aside from routine product What this town needs is some .lliuisUc investor who will throw »rae seate into a vacant store for a lownut auditorium which can be used lor interesting booltings. .There's n-en a Cinema Club here but no oBemi CI Jb even promoted free tine on the air, on- of its members brim a station staffer who has since gone to Europe, and built quite a jjjjling list One prombter nwde a hall-bearted attenip fo capiUlize on Ihisi brought in five films but lack of any place but an inconvenient schodl auditorium ior screening soon txedthat., Qught to be interesting here for tonepne who . likes to dabble in oddities of flliiiland without expect- in* to get rich overnight. Karl Wvlli*. In Be: Seclete. VniverscIIe New York. Iditor,,VAHiErY: I read' with interest your article ta the Aug. 17 issue on the' Societe nnly^rselle du Theatre. I am very glad to say that Eugene OVeill has accepted the invitation d 11 Jules Romaihs. io be the. Hon- otai; President of the, American Station ol. the Societe Universelle dii Theatre. 'The Committee for, Or- ganiiation of this American Section 1$, composed of Jane Cowl, Blanche Yurka, Marc Connelly, Mrs. Edith }, It Isaacs, Barrett H. Clark, Rbsa- ownd Gilder, Dr. AUardjrce Nicpll, Urs. Hallie Flanagaii, George M'id- dleton,.Lee Simonson, Orson Welles, lid myself. Frank Gillmore has been Invited to ' become a member pt this committee and has shown his viUinghess and ir.terest in working with the committee. I tlilnk this information should be published to- inform your readers as to. the present state of affairs in the formation of the American Section «I thls Societjr. - George Freedtev, . Executive Secretary, American Section, Societe Universelle du "Theatre. Endorseinent Johnstown, Pa. Mitor, Vawety; .Had a 51-year-old woman in the wiUywood tonight who had never Wore been in a theatre or had seen • motion picture. Her name is Mrs. «Kella Novak. Theatre is located )" Cambria City, foreign section of Joi|Mtown, and most of citizens work utte mines or the steel mill. .Jll'^'s daughter caught show on 'Pening night (17)-the picture was «Mals.' Jane Withers starrer, and TO so elated over goofy comedy sit- lauons she insisted on her ma tak- "« * glimpse. Had a hard' tiine lur- claims daugiitef, but the weakened. Agreed "Jfrwrd that 'motion pictures are J^w best entertainment'— so help ^ Harry E. Finiey. Manager, Hollywood Theatre. Dnbblnr for Valentino EiiiiA. . New. York. tory'^'^n'* ^° y°»' Pase JboulTIU- ' '" Which you wrote iho Boran imperso.iating ^ voice of Rudolph Valentino in mai i^f"' screen revivals, it or^r^ i*^* to Itnow that in JccuMf 1 """Plicate. Valentino's voice luieartki went ti the trouble of love^"'"? a record of the screen 'or an A°'"^*- v-hich he recoirded itel i ^"""ican Pl.onograph Co; in never officially released, sintin. heard Valentino . lwhS*4 Hands I Love', in a ma, .'*■">'•• However, the 'feeble' ttcJrtu been due to the -joor <""ng process of that period Arthur Boroti. Vox Pop Record New York. - Editor, Variety; . In last week's issue of Variety, in the story , concerning the Julia San- derson and Fran* Crurt.it audition for MoUe, it was stated that Vox Pop with Johnson and Butter.wprth hi.< faded frorh NBC ea.ly in the sun.mer. Such is not the caise. There has never been a break 01 interrup- tion in the weekly broadcasts of the Vox Pop program since it first start- ef> nearly seven years ago on a Huuston, Texas, sta'..c: The program is now in its fourth year on the NBC 1 ed network as a continuous year round weekly fea- ture. Next Tuesday night, Aug, 16, will be the 303d consecutive weekly broadcast of Vox Pop. Fred Coll, For Vox Pop. Meyer Davis No Angel Newport, R. I, Editor, VARiETYi Just to keep the records straight, I am not .the backer and had ho financial interest whatsoever in Bobby Sanlord's Midnight-to-Dawn Show Boat which closed last Weeic. Meyer Davis. House Reviews TOWER, K. C ^~Tj£ontinued from page- 45) Bros., who do their acrobatics in a semircomic vein. "Their biggest asset is their acrobatic ' skill, which is good enough to stand on its. own without the paintomlme. Dolly Ar- deri is on for a' short burst of acro- batic, contortions. She's extra nim- ble and flhishes with a flashy one-' legged cartwheel. ; , Austin then takes center stage; . at the piano with his musical stooges as accompanists. He- solos several currently ppp songs, gives his! aides their, innings and winds; up- with, some old favorites which carry his earmark. . The line ■ works into the closing number and lends a fitting, background to the Texan's romantic warbling. : . Biz good opening day. Quin. hippodrome; a. g. (HAMlb'S MILLION bOLLAli PIER) Atlantic City, Au0. 21. Walter Cassel, Novak Ic'Fay, Stames 4 Anavan, Mark Ballero, Gae Foster Girls; 'Rose of the Rio Crrt was Tirst introduced ut C}hatt:iiiooga, I Tenn,,. the: minnic golf links had been a gold mine for many opeialors. Over in Brooklyn., a course, that rest $6,200 crossed $7,(100 the first committee on gambljng. Hainilton told, bow he himself had rolled dice last week !in a gaming room oh Mack- inac Island, millionaires' playgrpurtd. He cited other spots, and revealed that three bills on gambling would be up for considenition of the 1939 legislature,' two ; calling for legalizi hg of handboc^^ ; slot machines and dther' games of chance, while the^ third will be pfTered as an altierna- tive, nnaking gambling a feloiiy. week. . After that it was mo.-;ll> vel- JAPANESE FAIR MAY BE TEACE JUBILEE' Seattle, Aug; 23. Advices just received here by Ed- ward J. Fisher, booker, : . is that Japian's world^s fail' set for 1940 may go on, even though Olympic games have been cancelled. - II war troubles clear during 1938, fair is set to pro- ceed, without change, as buildings can be' erected and Jther plans per- fected during 1939, in time for open- ing. Otherwise the big fair is ex- pected to surely be held duriiig 1941, as a combination . iCair and 'peace Jubilee.' Fisher was instructed to go ahead with negptiiations for .a three-ring circus concession and also the Es- kimo and Indian villages, as driginal- ly planned.. $450,000 N. 0. Park . - New Orleans, Aug. 23. A $450,000 amusement park will be built shortly on the lakefront here to provide the city with the largest and finest recreational spot in its. history. The new park will be built by the city but leased to private interests. WPA help will be. sought for part of the project The site will be at Milneburg, a recreational spot of another' day. Record Crowd Expected For State Fair In Indpls. Indianapolis, Aug. 23. State Fair, set for Sept 3-9, is ex- pected to draw record, crowd this year as indicated by advance sale of 175,000 tickets at half price. Last year, Only 150,0(10 were sold in ad- vance, Regular price of admission g;i(o is 50c. vet. During 192!) $50,O0Q in prizes was awarded at a hationnl txiinnie golf tournament held at,Fiii!'yland Park, Lookout Mountaiiil Chattii- nooga, the horne course of the ini? ventor of the game, Garnelt Carter, In., the iucceeding: nine, months $12,6bO,dOO worth of. minia.iure links were. sold and biiilt from coast-to- coast. ■ ,' , AU one n^ded to get rich quick in the sumrner months of 1929-1930 was an empty lot in the right location aind a few thousand cash for- the one- third down payment ,6n-a piitch-and- piitt.. layout No e.xperience and practically no ability was needed to play the game and the turnstiles clicked late int'; the night Most of the cities pf 250,000 popu- lation or . more had frpm 50 ,to 100 mlnnie courses and approximately: SO ' theatres tore up their scats to install the new fad. At Buffalo five floors of thte Fisher building were cpnverted into.3G-hole coutses. In M'anhattan, a sign over the clock of a. 42nd street bank warned employees that they'd be flred If caught playing the game dur- ing working hours. Officials of One town built, themselves a ^ pi-ivatie course in the basement of city hall, using jail-labor. : Although Tom Thuinis golf was rapped by m a n y . golfers, who- claimed it .threv> theni off their gantes, it was popularized ^'y four pros who formed the Miniature Golf ' Courses df Ainerica: Drake DeLanpy of Montclair, R J.; Alan Holmes of Center ville,' Md.; John Ledbetter . ol Michigan City, Ind.; and Mack Stamp of New Orleans. The, boys were caught in the middle . in late 1930 between hun- dreds of Tom 'Thumb imitators and the rapid folding of only partly paid- for .cpur.ses which they had built Today there are. -only 20 minnie cour.scs in the country; 15 of thcrn arc Tom Thumbs. , Meanwhile^ the boys have, mar- keted an electrical nine-hole Tom Thumb putting n.achine and the Tom Thumb international bridge board!. The two new golf links will be constructed at Brooklyn and Valley Stream. yes, there was rejoicing hei J to- day at, the favorite recreatiph spot of many of Long Island's shov/iolk, but there's no need for theatre managers to become alarnicrl— yet It is doubtful if there ever will be a return to those days when picture houses wailed that miniature Kolt had robbed them , of 40';i of their i patrons. $135,000 Ohio Fair Prizes Colurnbus, O., Aug, 23. More than $135,000 has been set aside for prizes at the 88th annual Ohio .state' fair here Aug. 27- Sept. 2. Earl Hanefeld, director of agri- culture, estimated that approxi- mately 11,000 of the 40.000 I'x- hibitor.'i would receive : award.'! in junior and senior divisions. CIRCUS ROUTES AVeek or Aofust 29 Barnes-SellR-Floto .Ti-/f' r'-,ii . I'in'-; Mo., 'Il; K:iii>iii i . 'i"o|jf,-ka. I\-u'n^., J-; (Joii'...i.J. Big Fight Idea To Hypo Frisco Fair Sah Francisco, Auy. 2.1.. Plans for a heavyweight champlon- I ."hip fight next April on Trehsiire I.^- j land,, site of the 193!) Ooldi.-n Gate I International . Expo.sition, will lict ! under way following the arriv:il of promoter Mike Jacob.? wilhin the week. Director If;] rri.s Conhi'ck of, the expo will (liscii-s tlio crjn,s-truclion of,, an $fiO,000 alhlctic .s'.adinm with Jacobs-. With sii : 'over bi'iilrl,' frorn 40,000 to SO.OOO soa!s c.in- be m.ifle available iri '.lin Trco.':urc Isljin'! .its- 56 VARIETY Wednesday, August 24, 1931 MORE THAN 100 OPENINGS THIS WEEK AND NEXT! . . . Sunnner-starved first runs foiling over each other for dates! ...Word spreading everymhere that this is the biggest show the "Top Hat" con^ tion ever made! . . . WHAT A BREAl( YOU -IF YOU SAVE ENOUCiH TIME TO GET ALL THE MONEY lltEO AND GINGER'S RETURN MEANS TO YOU ! RALPH BELLAMY -Gl- Mil Jre^ptili R K O RADIO k PANDRO S. BERMAN PRODUCTION • Directed b| MARK SANDMGH . scrNi by mm stMt » &»« phim .st«i t u»fMm If Oi««f McMttNiiarWMi RADIO SCREEN STAGE PRICE En!'ir«d''l."«?SjM ?f"' ^''■"';,'^?S'nJ'"''^ k"-^" '"<=• Annual subscription. IS SIncl. copies. Ts cent,, tnlered aa aecoDd-clasa nalter December 22. 1906. ai the Post Office at New Vork. N. v., unrter the act ot Maich i, llt79. • COI'Y«l«illT: IttM. B¥ VAKIEYY. INC. ALL RltilltS KF.SIiKVKD. Vy. 131 No. 12 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1938 64 PAGES niM BIZ W ILL B ATTLE U. S. " - — — — ■■ ^ ■— 4— ■ — - — : — : ' — ■ • ■ .. World s Jitters and Jitterbug Music Have Some Significance to Showmeu lore Strawhats but Fewer Winter Lids; (hdy 12 of 1^ • Precedeht-setting year among the puture impresarios augurs little lor Broadvray and meant almost nothing financially to barns themselves. Number of houses hit . an all time bigh (180) as did number of actors employed .(Equity count of 1,000) and niimber of stan^.. under Equity supervision. Amount of plays trleu out was an- other - bairometer-buster, but com- paratively, those talcen or rating In- terest for commercial production hit MW low ebb. Of the 140rodd tried from coast to coast, only 12 are set or have a nod. The Theatre Guild is plunging deepest with three. Last year IB were favored out of 75 bu- colic productions. Similarly, talent (couts found little of promise. Business was generally off and in many cases downright bad. Few ex- pect, to make any money, of course. However, wtiat looked like a promis- ing season flascoed' for most into brief runs in the red and deeper hues for those which stuck it put Actual employment of actors, semi- pro and otherwise,' was nearer MOO, since. Equity records only 17 spots as compared to its 55 ol. last season. Cold'w^ather at first, tlieii.rain and finally excessive heat left Its mark all over the .ledgers from unusual early opening of sea- wn to April. Looks to run late •I50, possibly into September or Oc- tober in some spo ts. : Unusual lunr.ber of tryouts made Wslble by fact that producers were *liuy last season, and held up pro- isrflon, not wanting to. splurge un- W.^Mlng shows on tioards ot some •™{- Evidence is that many plays ; ." .(Continued on page 58) nooGiE' VS. tisket; AND SKY-PILOT LOSES Greenville, S. C., Aug. 30. ^Happy Goodman's 'Pines,' local JMahouse, employs all -gal swing ."MO, which plays in open bandstand rj" night to the delight of local J,',"*™ues- But last week they had Plenty competish. 'A roaming evangelist set up a ; wund-truck near the 'sin den' and •4 rent the air with A-TIsliet A-Tasket,' brimstone and ^nation. Goodman turned his "und on to the hilt and the battle good and evil was on. mi u held out until Good- Rto . '^'^ ''^"'^ ^^^^^ '^'^^ Bi,j .^' then turned off his sound slipped away. Theme Song Fort Worth, Aug. 30. Bill .McCumber, inmate and singing announcer of '30 Minutes Behind the Walls,' which WBAP, produces weekly at Texas State Prison, was told he sounded like Vallee. 'Well, if I sound like Rudy Vallee, I'm going to open the next broadcast with 'My Time Is Your Time' and dedicate it to the State of Texas.' AR PLEDGE TO KEEP CIRCUS ALIVE IN U S. Atlantic City, Aug. 30. William Greeii, president of the American Federation of Labor, last week pledged his support to a com- mittee representing the Circus Fans Assn. of America, in the. latter's drive to maintain the circus. j; A. Wagner, general manager of the Des Moines Union Railway, .and Karl Kae Knecht, cartoonist and di- rector of the Evansville, Ind., Coiirier, were the CFA conimittee. Knecht is also Variety mugg in Evansville. The CFA's . national chairman, Melvin Hildrethi was linr able to be present, having sailed for Europe. Green expressed a desire to main- tain the circus after the reps had told him ot the stumbling blocks the circus had been forced to hurdle during the past year, namely, labor trouble and inclement weather, which had forced many circuses to close. Committee was a result of the 13th annual convention of the CFA in Madison, Wis.; earlier in the month. Green suggested to the committee, too, that it meet with Ralph White- head, executive secretary of the American Federation of Actors, who is organizing the circus folk, except- ing musicians and billposters, into the As.eaceful set- tlement Tip is that the New York legal battery . wants to attempt an armistice oh at least some of the points in the D. J.'e petition. The conferences are hot deflniiely skedded, although the Justice peo- ple expect to receive film visitors shortly. A. . host . of .continenting executives are due to return from their overseas vacations soon. Not much, can happen, as Washington sees it, until thie gang, gets back to the home . offices and the lawyers can consult with the company heads.' How far the Government may be willing to retreat in order .to dodge the expense , of a long trial remains anybody's jguess. Shortage of Cash, in comparison with the. amount which would; be required for a trial of all issues, is a potent reason, though; why the p. J. can be ex- pected to .offer some concessions. . TheFederal atto^ieys are extremely unlikely, it is indicateid, to back down on the biggest points— the di- vorcement of studios and theatres, and the banning of talent-swapping —but may be in a' mood to accept reasonable propositions on other angles. Such as the forcing shorts, block booking, and clearance phases. Sideline watchers w<)uld not be surprised if the Government quickly agreed to write into a consent decree some of the old NRA. code clauses. Notably, a' more efficient, speedier, and cheaper system of airbiti'ati.ng clearance and zoning complaints, a prohibition against overbuying, or a promise to desist from discrimina- tory tactics. - This would be in line with the general Government tend- ency to • give the film business all possible breaks, as was sho\yn clearly when the . D. took the equity, father than, criminal, course In try- ing to clean up what officials con- cider an unhealthy situation. No direct representations have been made, but the Feds see gleams of hope in the rumblings from New York. Particularly the initial Will Hays statement and the search for a voluntary trade practice, formula provide encouragement Attitude of the industry people, from the D. J. viewpoint, is 'conciliatory.' At this end, the Federal people are deter- mined to gain their major objectives, even if it means a lot of effort and expense, but the new open-door pol- icy affords the industry a chance to •ubmit a proposition. First move, bowevei-, is up to the industry. SAILINGS Sopt. 14 (Los Angeles to Sydney) Ernest . C. Rolls, Susan J<-ickson, Dorothy Zimmer, bebby Dare, Doris Parker (Mariposa). Sept 3 (New York to Genoa) AmericQ Abpaf (Rex). Sept 3 (Bermuda Cruise) Beatrice Berke (Corinthia). Aug. 31 (New York to London) Eric Blore (Aquitania). Aug. 31 (New York to London) Henri Casadesus, June Lang, Mr. and Mrs, George Rigaud, Kenneth G. Robinson (Norrriandie). Aug. 25 (Los Angeles to Honblulii) Ben N. Bernstein (Matsonia). Wertheimer Noyd Up As Prod. Exec at 20-Fox Hollywood, Aug. 30. Liew Wertheimer, assistant to Jo- seph M. Schenck for' more than a year, moves up to an associate pro ducership in Sol M. Wuiteel's unit at 20th-Fojc. Wertheimer preparied for the job by sitting in on story conferences for months. B'way Newsred By JACK OSTERMAN Pix To Battle U. S. HEAT SLOWS PROD. Hollywood, Aug. 30. 'The extreme heat of the past few days is slowing production, especial- ly location troupes. Warners' They Made Me a Criminal' crew at Indio is oniy working a few hours daily to hide out frorn the :blazlng sun. Tem- perature there is well over the 100 mark. ' \ Mercury xlimb«d to 120 under can- vas at Calabasas, where Sol Lesser- is making 'Peck's Bad Boy at the Cir- cus.' Iron tent-stakes had to be handled with heavy '. burlap sacks, because of the extreme heat' , Rubin an M-(i Producer Hollywood, Aug. 30. J. Walter Rubin was upped to the post of producer ait. Metro; First job is to assist Mervyn LeRoy in the pro duction of 'Stand Up and Fight' First solo as'sighment as a pi:oducer will be 'Yellow Grass,' a western, starrinR Wallace Beery and Dennis O'Keefe. Matty Fox at H. 6. Hollywood; Aug. 30. Matty Fox is due back at Univer- sal next week after passing 10 days at the home office conferring on i>ro- ductlon matters. (jompany vice prez also looking over Broadway plays. ARRIVALS Ralph Hltz, Carl Laemmle, Sol Hurbk, Agnes Doyle, George Jessel, Gerald Henri Schnltzer, C^rmaine Schriltzer, Lew Gensler, Bob (Gold- stein, Douglas Fairbanks, Danny Winkler, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Mor- ris, Harry Warren, Jack Ross, June Baker,'. Margaret Case, Max Fisher, John Stember, Mrs. 'David Sarnoff, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Faulkner, Mabel Thomas, Louis Jackson, Will Hay Jr. • N. Y. to L. A. L. F. Alstock. Henry Jaffe. Carl Laemmle. Priscilla Lane. Mr. and. Mrs; Frank Orsatti. Herbert T; Silverberg. Behjaniin deCasseres, we ' mean the good old Evening Journal Ben, in his March of Events column ex plains why. the eyes of Europe- are on South America, noting that Venezuela has coffee and asphalt, Colombia, coffee;. Brazil, coffee with a dash of timber and cattle, etc. In other words, to bur way of thinking, looks like Germany,' Russia- : and Italy have their eyes set on a helluva cup of coffee while all we would like is a piece of pie. Personally we. have our ieyes on Philly . . .. for its out-of-town openings. • Baltimore . . i for' Its out-of-town closings. Washington''. . . for Kaufman and Hart plots.. : Boston • . for its beans (with pie) for breakfast ' ' " San Francisco ... for its Golden Gate that they have been trying for years to open for Tom Mooney. Hollywood . . . for its suburb Xos Angeles. Beverly Hills . . . for Edgar Allen Woolf's spaghetti. New Jersey . . . for Hague and Hague.' ■: Detroit ... for Fisher bodies. Ford bodies and Joe Louis' body. Chicago ■ .: . . for inspiring "Gone With the Wind,' 45th street. New York . . . for its resemblance to what 42nd street used to look like. And Toledo . . . for protecting guys that took it on the lam, and the birthplace of this Writer who took it on the lam from. 'Toledo, It Happened Last Week Events march on . . . the Strand theatre brought back the flesh in a big way (no reflection on your weight, Bernie) when the lights flashed on. and the ole maestro gave the packed house an added thrill to Broadway. AcVoss the street Ted Lewis had;Jio trouble in asking "Is Everybody Happy at the Casa Manana?" We think the most versa- tile actor we have— also baseball manager, restaurant owner and: prop, of the homeliest trailer in town— is James Barton (doubling from legit to Casa). Barton says Tobacco Road' is how on a year ■ to year notice.. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Dempsey (Hannah Williams) gave a birthday party to their two-year-old daughter, Barbara, at Jack's Broadway - spot after a reception at their home. They entertained 15 kids and it was a ciite affair even though we kept looking under the table for Gus Ed- wards, only to And Georgle Price. Hannah was a grand hostess, Demp- sey took the check and Barbara's four-year-old sister, Joan, double- crossed her pop by giving him the hot foot. Bregman, Vocco & Conn had a grand opening of thelj; new music publishing offices. Best crack of the party was made when we asked Mrs. Walter Donaldson what time she expected Walter to show up. She answered, 'Post time!' Ttaoairbts While Thlnklnc Wonder if Fannie Hurst was in- spired by Eddie Cantor when she wrote, 'Four Daughters.'- ; . . After seeing some of those witnesses on the Hines trial we'll lay 8-1 Lew Leslie has a piece of the thinjg. . . . Glad to see Al Siegal'S back on the street and looking so well; . . . Read where a hundred years ago the most cynical diplomat of modern times dies; the name. Tally rand . . .so that's where you got it, Sally! . . . Wonder if the argument keeps up you'll read: 'WPA Presents the Shubert Production of,' etc. Other News of hlerest ta^F^ Aussie Vs. U. S. Monopoly. . . .Page IS Mex expropriation of U S. istrib held unlikely Page 15 Nevir act reviews of Patricia Ellis, Robt Wildhack .......Page 27 Charles Boyer may Woodbury on air. .;..... ... . ; page 42 Screen Actors Guild show, goes begging. , w . . .Page 42 Bei t Lytell's 'Lone Wolf on radio , ; . . . . Page 43 Ben Bernie set commercially !page 44 Joe E. Brown's radio show,..,.. pgge 44 Vaudeville this year. . . . ... .Page 53 Ann Harding's, play . , i. . ; , , , , , . . . .page 59 (Continued fron) page 1) pany attorneys and operating heads are agreeing Mpon. There is una nimlty to the program of aggressive defence against the Government's suit. Any temporizing over the is- sues, it is believed in inner industry circles, will lead to an , uncertain future, and only postpone the day of reckoning with increased and more -complicated involvements. Word has spread through the trade during the past few days that there is likelihobd of early conference with Asst U. S. Attorney-General Thur- jnan Arnold, head of the trust-bust- ing division of the Department of Justice, for a discussion of basic principles leading to a consient decree and settlement of the anti-tmst suit by negotiation.. Such report Is vehemently denied, and the basis for the rumor is said to be a perfunctory request from the Department of Jus- tice for a stipulation by the parties in the action that any further theatre acquisitions by the. major companies will be deferred pending hearing of the suit in the Federal Court. : Further, such a stipulation in no manner would prejudice the de- fendants in the major proceedings. Question whether the film companies will grant the Arnold request is un- determined. ' Col. William J. (Bill) Donovan, special counsel for RKO. and Irving conscionable' renUl but any sween. ing consent decree would forhw them to charge such rental, meanin. of . :>vhich^ they are highly doubUuf Understanding in the trade is thai various companies would like to bpI a clariflcaUon of the anti-trust law! as applicable to the film busine^ Will Hays, speaking for the industn! at the outset of the suit, stated that the film business would welcome clarification of the law (anti-trust statutes). . No quesUon of this law Is settled by a consent decree; rather it »ets up .a pact whereby the defendants agree to certain things. Generally the history of other anti-trust actioTu shows that consent decrees have resulted when tbe defendianu felt that the pUlnUff (the Government) had adequate evidence to press every detail of charges and, often, when public sentiment was against them; . Mnit Trcsh It Out It now looks as though the defend- ant companies are satisfied they must go into court with a plan or proposal that will completely satisfy the Federal Government New Gov- ernment philosophy, as viewed in the business, is that of being opposed to anything looking like it is mo- ■ nopolistic, and advocating decentral- ization into smaller units. Latter phase might insist on split- In Re: Consenf^^I^ Although . a consent decree does not loom as a. possibility in the Government's anti-trust suit against major companies and affiliates survey shows that consent decrees have become increasingly important in enforcing anti-trust laWs in recent years in the U; S. .Though only 23 consent or uncontested decrees were Entered prior to the end of 1917, there were 57 such decrees entered In the 10-vear period from 1918 to 1928. In many such cases, defendant parties involved partly agreed to consent decrees because they did not want to appear antagonistic to the Government Same idea, doubtlessly, will be incorporated in the defense by picture companies although counter-prbpbsals to be in- cluded In a plan covering all points probably will be offered by the defendants in the industry suit Consent decree was entered In 1020 in the U. S. action against the nations five leading packing companies, joining them with 80 other corporations and 50 individuals. This actibn soughtto put an ehd to the monopiply described, and to deprive defendants of instrumental!, ties by whichjhey were perfecting their attempts to monopolize. In this suit the Federal Government sought a comprehensive injunction and also the diverture of instrumentalities described . Effort to have the decree voided by one of the defendant companies' subsequently; was unsuccessful. Trust Co., would head the defense. Donovan^ former candidate for Gov- ernor of. New York and assistant attorney-general undier President Herbert Hoover, ' is admittedly thoroughly conversant with, anti-trust litigation and methods of Govern ment procedure. Dispatch emanating frbni Washing ton apparently was predicted on the purported letter sent out by U. Si Assistant Attorney.^General Arnold suggesting to defendants that sbme arrangement be made whereby the situation, as to theatres, be kept status quo by Loew's, RKO, Para- mount, Warner Bros, and 20th-Fox. This seemingly was designed to halt any expansion of circuits. Not learned whether any similar steps would be taken to halt ex pansion of independents. Major companies several weeks ago indi- cated they had no intention of add- ing to theatre holdings. In contrast, independents are . credited with seizing on the Federal suit as excuse or cloak under which they might build more theatres. Reason given by defendant spokes- men for not agreeing to consent decree at this time is the belief that tbey would be forced to admit guilt on all counts contained In the Gov- ernment's complaint and throw themselves on the mercy of the court. It was indicated that just now there was no way of felling what specifically, any consent decree would cover out of the Govern- ment's .sweeping brief. Black Bookint' Angles One of the points a sweeping con- sent decree would include is the matter of selling . pictures. Some legalists, believe any such decree would force defendants to halt block booking although there would be no such stipulation against independent distribution companies ' including state-righters. Most distributors in- sist that the abandonment of fair block booking: is economically un- sound at the present time. Consent decree- also Would bring defendants under the article in the suit covering 'unconscionable film rentals.' Distributors admit, they' dp not know what makes up an .'un- ting lip of -'theatre subsidiary com- panies or, at least cutting them away from parent producing-dis-' . tributing coinpanies. In such casty the Government might permit pro^ ductlon^lstribution companies three years in which to dispose of hold- ings. This procedure has been per- mitted in other anti-trust actions. ' It now seems certain that many phases of the Government suit will be contested. These Include present methods of ;clearance; booking of product, and retention of usual com- petitive methods which are preva- lent in other trades. Defendants are expected to show that majors com- pete for product the same as inde- pendents. Question of theatre divorcement doubtlessly will ' hinge oh what is done by the U. S. Supreme Court on the North Dakota law which is going to the highest tribunal on appeal. L. A. to N. Y. Americo Aboaf. Earle C. Anthony. Leo Arnaud. S. N. Behrman. James- Benton. Jules E. Brulatour. Ward Byron. Johnnie Davis. Frances Dee. Leif EriUson. Frances Farmer. Leo Fischer. Ezra Goodman. Alan Hale. . Hope Hampton. Walter Huston. Mrhe.' Lotte Lehmaa Ered Lightner. Pare Lorentz. Joel McCrea, George .McManiis. Herbert Moulton. J. Carroll Naish. Harold. Ober. Arthur E. Orloff.- Louise Piatt Esther Ralston. George StoU. .Don Terry; George West; Jake Wilk. Weanesday, August 31, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY ■9 % S. QpiMses Theatre Expansion Washington, Aug. 30. Maintenance of the status quo In the theatre ownership field, has . been suggested pointedly to the five major film companies named in the Governinent's iantl-trust suit With hints that steps will be taken id apply heat if the executives do not cooperate.- . ■ While waiting for the assailed units to assemble for negotiations about a consent decree, the Justice Department this week was re- vealed authorftatiyely to be seeking promises that Loew's, Warners, Paramount, BKO and 20th-Fox will not acquire more houses over an indefinite period while the plea for permanent injunction is hanging ' fire. No direct response to ,the feeler, which went out from Prof, i lhurmah Arnold, assistant U. S. attorney. general, a week after the petition was filed. ■ Under a desire to duck the cost and eff6rt of a prolonged trial, the ' Justice Department is giving the majors a chance to play ball and sljnpUfy the proceeding, but at the same time it was evident to watch- ers that the Governrhent men will get tough unless the industry agrees to lielp out. Consequently, the month-old; proposition about theatre 'ownership may become a cause celebre in' its own right. 7. Thought was that negotiations will be simplified: and econornic injury averted if the five cohcerns will sign a stipulation not to ex- paiid their realty holdings, until the trial is over or a consent decree ■ promulgated. . Since the Government is dead set upon forcing .di- vorcement between production and' exhibition, this point assumes major significance, ' How strongly the D. J. feels .was intimated un- pfliciaUy'by persons with close connections who remarked this week they would liot be surprised if the Government requests a pireliminary and temporary Injunction covering this phase of the case in the eventa voluntary Bgreement cannot . be reached. The department's desire was made known . to Gabriel L, Hess, Hays . organization counsel, at the end of July, shortly after the papers were docketed. TRIliE BLASTS Independents Reported Tak- ing Advantage of.. U. S. Suit aind Rushing Into New Theatre Construction —Then Find Film Product Unavailable 125 Big and Small Indies to Have Their Anti-B&K Suit Ready by Tues. Selznick-UA Look All Set But Not Sealed RESULT: MORE SUITS Court Approves Sale of GN Assets To Educ'I; Captious Creditor Scored Hollywood, Aug. 30. Sale 'of assets of Grand Natiohal Films, Inc., and its subsidiary, Grand National Studios, .Inc., to Educational Pictures, Inc., was approved here Saturday (27) by Federal.Judge Wil- liam P. Janies. ' Only one ' dissenting voice to plan was raised, that of Jules Goldstone, creditor in the amount of $17,500; who contested court's okay on ground proposed merger' of GN and Educational as- sets into a hew corporation was un- feasible and. offered no guarantee that creditors would get best settle- .nient possible of their claims. Goldstone asserted that approxi- mate $275,000 working capital of Ne^ Grand National Films, Inc., was InsuHicient to carry the concern in face ot heavy obligations. He also pointed out that it was reasonable to assume high salaries for top execu- tives would .be general, in face of the ♦l.OOiD weekly salary to be paid Ed- ward L. Alperson as vice-president of the board of directors and general manager of distribution. Goldstone contented that with the under- capitalization and high obligations. New GN would be in no better posi- tion to assume payment to creditors than the existing corporation. ■ Judge James sharply reprimanded Goldstone, taking attitude that any further delay to settlement of GN's financial affairs would likely result In the court ordering liquidation, on grounds that present creditors must be protected and any continuance ot GN in 77b would only add more ereditors to the detriment of those now having claims. He also gave Warning that he was going to okay jne matter, later officially signatm-- Ing order, but allowed Goldstone to flnish out his arguments. Sketch FinancUI Condition .Only two witnesses were called to 'he stand, Loyd Wright, co-trustee of ON with Edward L. Alperson, aiid William J. Neary, assistant-treasurer ?f company. Neary outlined finan- cial condition ' of GN, both before it went into reorganization under 77b *na after the trustees were ap- pointed to handle its affairs. In ex- Pwinrng profits and loss from opera- tions from March 30, 1936, to April •> 1937, Neary stated company topped $036,201 during that period, and between April of 1937 and February, 1938, wheh trustees took J-er. loss o£ $787,607 was sustained, from February to August this year, ws under trustees' operation was ^■"y $57,466, according to Nenvy. "mallness of this figure is explained y heavy curtailment of operation, j'JP^f'ses In exchanges, home od'ice "d studio, manpower being triniint'd (Continued on page 38) Hays Wests TO Sept 9 Hollywood, Aug. 30, Will Hays Is sticking around until Sept. 9 before hiking east to' remain until his next Coast trip in Decem- ber.. . He returned . yesterday (Monday) from Hearst's Wyntoon ranch, where he passed 10 days with A< D. Lasker. LIONEL KEENE 'TOBUILDHIS OWN CHAIN Memphis, Aug. 30. Lionel Keene, for many years Loew's district manager, resigned to organize his own circuit in the south. Has taken over Georgia thea- tre, Atlanta, a house in Macon and Is now dickering for the Orphcum, Memphis and one in Louisville. Ed Finney, formeily Loew's di- vision; manager in Columbu.s, Ohio, has taken over the southern district. Mike C.uMcn has succeeded Finney in Columbus. Booking for Memphis Chicago, Aug. 30. Chalmers CuUlfi, operating the Orpheum, Memphis, is in town lin- ing, up talent for fall season. Cullln reports that house may pass over to Lionel Keone circuit. If so, Ciillins will- devote time to his new 700- seat house for colored ■ auds now. under consti;uction in Memphis. He also has another colored theatre about ready for construction. While, in Chi, he has lined, up Mills Bros., Horace Heidi's orches- tra, Duke Ellington among others for the Orpheum. U. S. Sleuths' Return Squint at Fok-W.C. Los Angeles. Aug.. 30. Federal probers, seeking possible anti-trust' law violations in the pic- ture business, moved back into the Fbx-Wcst Coast otnccs yesterday (Mon.V for another squint at the bookin,? records. Invb.sliijc-itors, headed, by Jame.s Findlcy, rinishcd their scrutiny of Warners exchange last week. Reported efforts of independent ex- hibitors, encouraged by the govern- ment's abti-truet siiit, to expand via hew theatre building and enlarge- ment of present, circuits, |is develop- ing a peculiar situation in the in- dustry. Haphazard expansion, with- out regar'd to possibilities on product, has been one of big problems the trade has had to contend with in recent years, and it is this expansion .which has brought numerous anti- trust suits by exhibs for alleged grievances. Some of these squawks doubtlessly found their way into the subject-matter of the government's civil action. ' Numerous cases continue, from ag- grieved independent exhibitors, over inability to get the strong, product they desire. Many squawks are from the indies who recently entered the field as theatre operators. Problem stems from the^fact that many of these new houses are not built by exhibitors but by local capi- talists or realtors, who lease them to anybody who thinks he. knOws h.o\y to piJerate a theatre. It is this setup which is back of nvahy complaints over clearance and inability to get suitable product. It is the evil, aver industry veterans, Which produces .litigation in the trade and sometimes reaches e'ars in Washington that an injustice is beln^ done to the inde- pendent. Finds Out Too: Late . There have been instances of prop- erty owners deciding to build a thea- tre as the easy way to make a go of it. He sets an architect to work and has $100,000 to $200;000 tied up in the deal before he discovers he can't get suitable product. Then, when the strong pictures he sought are not forthcoming, he seeks a law firm and tries to learn why he can't. The law firm decides its client is being abused and shortly the distributors face a damage suit, generally an anti-trust litagation, for triple damages. Recent instance occurred in a city on the Atlantic seaboard In a situa- tion already boasting tour nelgFibor- hood houses. Promoter and construc- tion man, who had been .successful in putting up filling sallons and then leasing them to oil companies, de- cided to blossom out in the theatre biz. Even before the building was well under way friends, sugge.sted it might be feasible to line up product. Instead, he finished the building, and then learned from distributors he could get all the pictures he required but he would receive them fifth run. Now, indications are that he will either hire an attorney or go to the Department of Justice for relief. Pioneers in the theatre bu."iine.ss contend that the experience iii\N. Y.J and other large cities ha.s .shown that j newcomers, no matter how preten- tious the house, must take their place In line on the matter of product, all ' being based on grading of already available houses. As one vet exhib- itor remarked: 'Anybody can build a theatre, but it's darned tough to make one pay. You gotta have two things: first, a show 1 pictures with, draw], and, secondly, management.' David O. Selzr»lck and Jock Whit- ney are In no hurry to negotiate a new allrprpgram releasing arrange- ment. From expressions by the Selznick-Whitney side they will most likely consider hooking ■ up with United Artists, following the expira- tion of the present arrangement be- tween the firms. That Metro deal with iSelznick on 'Gone With the . Wind' is solely on that picture, and the fact that Metro hot only partners in the cost of the production, but, additionally, lends such a naine as Clark Gable to Selz- nlck for the picture, had niuch to do with the making, of the Metro-Selz hick deal. LEVINE'S 8-10 M-G HLMS AT 20QGEACH Hollywood, Aug. 30. Nat Levine is back at Metro at the head of his own production unit. He'll make .8-10 pictures, each costing around $200,000,. for the current season. ' For the time being Levine main- tains quarters at Selznick-Interna- tional to prepare the initial group pictures he'll make. He will have own production and writer battery. It's likely his agreement with M-G will permit him to make pictures on the Selznick lot, to - enable him to whittle down overhead and get both quality and quantity into films. Levine voluntarily left Metro six months ago after readying two istqries f6r productiori and last week was induced by AI Lichtman to re- turn to the fold. Joe ScKenck Returns Sept. 12; Trade Awaits His Opinion on Suit Joe Schenck is due back from his .European holiday Sept. 12 and heads to the Coast with Joe Moskowitz, his New York rep in the .20th-Fox homtf office, shortly thereaftier. Schcnck's opinion on any 'con.sent decree' talk anent the Government's suit is being awaited by the picture Industry. He was the one who first huddled with President Roosfevelt: a session thereafter with F. b. R. in- cluding the heads of the eight rhajor picture companies. Chicago, Aug. 30. . Final editing of rewriting of the bill of complaints on the part of the Allied exhibitors in Chicago against' the present releasing and clearance : system locally is now 'under way, and the bill Is scheduled to be. offi- cially filed in the Federal courts here on next Tuesday (6). Plaintiffs number around 125, run- ning frorn the s.Tiallest indie exhib member of Allied to such a large circuit as Essaness, which . operates 29 theatres both, in the loop and - neighborhoods. It will be one big suit, with the 125 exhibs all named as plaintiffs. Named as defendiants in: the pending bill are Balaban St Katz circuit,- the eight major dis- tributors, several associated com- panies and many individual heads of the defendant organizations. Restraint, .Etc. Suit \viil l>e based on the standard charges of restraint of trade and re-' sultant monopoly due to the alleged control of pictures by the circuit Suit will particularly, seek the read- justment Of the clearance, systenn in the nabes in an endeavor to get pic- tures into the smaller indie theatres in quicker time than at present. Indie exhibs are squawking that-'B. St K. has the clearance system ar- ranged In such a manner that the pictures are milked of most of their box office power by the time they reach the Rrst week of general re- lease houses at 23c, which, include most of the indie theatres. Indies also want double features eliminated, but admit that they have r • legal yelp agalnsi the- twin bills. However, they insist that double fea- tures, when coupled with the present releasing setup, work to the disad- vantage of the small theatres in the subsequent release spots. Indies and B. & K. held a short meeting on the doubles situation, but came to no conclusion. B. Se K. of- fered eliminate doubles in all hdu.ses with the exception of the A- week of prc-relea.se if all the other' the.itres quit twin bills alsoi But the indie exhibs refused these conditions on the basis that such an arrange- ment would give B. '-. K. the monop- oly on double bills. Raft Cools His Heels Hollyv/ood, Aug. 30. George Raft, wh ■> recently- walked out on 'St. Louis Dues.' rcpoi tcd at the Paramount ■ studio and was placed under suspension for six weeks. By that time the studio firiurcs to have a suitable story for him. Trddo Mark ' Rcj;later'cd rouNDrn TJY k'ime silvtrman I'ulillHhrtI W'ei'kly bj V.\KIKTV. Inr. SIO 5^11 verm.') n. I*rcvi'lcnl 154 Wo.fl 4Clli .Slrtcl,;Ncw VorW ril> SUn.SClllHTION Annunl 9G Foreign .SJniiln Copies .15 Ccnif Vol. 131 i-J^^s^' No. 12 .1 Despite all of these experiences there always is somebody v/ith a yen to learn the theatre operating bu.si- ncs.s. This does not prevent the flood , of complainls directed against dis-| trlblrtors. . ' Wurizel Into Hospital Hollywood, Aug. 30. ^ Sui Wui tzel v.'as ru:ihcd to the • | hospital Saturday (27> from the ; projoction room at 20th-Kijx, while ; viewing ru.shcs: J , He's under observation . i avoid an Operation. Il INDEX Bills :......... 57 Chatter 01 bansapation 50-.')2 Exploitation '. 40 15 Years Ago. ; 54 Film Reviews ....... 10 Forum ' 63 House Reviews. .... ... . . .20-27 Inside— Mu.sic .10 Inside— Pictures ..... . . . . . 22 Inside— Piadio 49 International NevAs ...... I.t Jack Osteiman .......... 2 Le^'ilimatc .')8-(i0 Literati Music 10:52 New Acts 27 News from the Diiilics .. . M NIte (:iub.s ! 03-16 Obllurji-y 62 Outdoors .;. 63 Pictures 2-41 Il;iflio ... .,42-49 Itii'flio IiiKTriiilioiijiI ..... 48 Hiuljo l,'"Vi('V.'s . , . . . , 4Y ViUKlov-illir .S;!-56 VARIETY PICTURES Vedneeaay. August PRESS WANTS TO KNOW WHY PK DIDNT START ITS GOOD WILL BALLY SOONER Nation's Papers Call It Lion-and-Laihb Act— Wonder About ^Washing Dirty Linen in Public'— Ex- ploitation Expert Reviews Campaign's Aspects By Monroe Greenthal After a quick visit through , the editorial ofnces of several of the country's leading newspapers, the most unusiial factor that hits the in quiring showman Is the amazement expressed by the motion pictui'e critics at the harmony now prevalent in tile fllni. industry. Small newspa- pers and large ones alike are com- menting on the fact that exhibitors and distributors have joined hands in a. common cause, and you had the lion and the lamb lying down,; to-: gether to malic this 'motion pictures' greatest year.' - As one press spokesman said, That's what you boys should have been doing for years instead of 'washing your dirty linen in pub- lic.' As a result of this feeling on the part , of the men and women who tontrol the columns of , America's newspapers, the motion picture in- dusitry is bound to receive more fa- vorable publicity between Sept 1 and Dec.^ 31 Uian it has ehjoyed in the last five years combined. Several newspapers that publish a oBe-page amiisement section have agreed to enlarge this section three days a. week to two pages devote to motion picture news and advertis- ing. Even, though the. first of the in- dustry's, pressbooks have barely reached our major key cities, al- teady independent newspapers have been bombarding us iwith. requests for full pagie mats; for specially written feature stories; for unusual art .on the 94 'Movie Quiz' pictures, efc.; feeling that the Movie Quiz eon- test itself has a rieader Interest which they cannot, afford to ignore. Contests in America are not. new. For purposes of record, jingle ad- vertising was started in the United States in 1876 by Sajpolio : Soap.' In 1892 Procter tt Gamble (Ivory Soap ) sponsored a rhyme contest. . In Oc^ tober, 1930, the' first contest ' was heard oyer the air and given radio approval^ But' it is the consensus of opinion that here, is one' conteist that is easy to enter and that hais the greatest appeal to .tiie mob. There's hb.difficult crossword puzzle to solve, the questions and answers ere simple and involve merely the showing of the pictures. Already in its iSrst week the comr mittee has received orders for more than 13,000,000 booklets; already free editorials have started to appear in publications all over the country with the uniformity of praise that has given the motion picture indus- try more solidarity than it ever ,pos- ees.sed. Several newspapers started a search for the supposed millions in America who have never seen a mo- tion picture. They could not find them because they discovered that instead of there being millions who have never been to a motion picture theatre, the true and correct answer would probably be a handful of ec Gentries in far-distant corners of this country. Even to discover this hand ful of non film-goers has proven a Gargantuan task which, so fai-, has ended in failure wherever this stunt was attempted. . 1 i With today's date (Aug. 31) adver- tisements will start appearing in the first of the 2,000 papers that will carry copy all over the country. The Cootesi The exhibitor is not afraid of the start of the contest. He knows this vast amount ol advertising is bound to awaken a great amount of inter- est and get the contest away to a flying start. He is not afraid of the finish of the contest, kno\yine that in December, when he advertises in the paper that the- contest is about to close, there is bound to be a last- minute rush. What the exhibitor seems to be Worried ' about is- how he can continue to keep public in- terest hot during the months of Oc- tober and November— the center portion of the contest. In other words, you must keep heating ' and re-heating the pulse of the public so when the first flush of excitement wears oft, hew stunts, new publicity, hew ideas have to be ' devised to carry over tliese two crucial months. Only good pictures and big screen entertalmrient can be the backbone upon which the exhibitor may hang bis hat. Oldttme showmanship, circus ballyhoo, etc., finds its proper place through the medium of street pa- rades; opening of the ^Greater Movie: Season' by the mayor of the locality; and the enlistment of the aid of other industries. It's No Banko The exhibitor has an important task during these crucial months to be isure- 'Motion Pictures' Greatest Year' is emphasized in connection with every phase of the operation of his. theatre. He should handle it in a proud and powerful fashion, rather than in an apologetic way. . Where he uses the slogan- of the drive in connection with direct mail, or on a lobby piece, or as a portion of the illustration of a newspaper ad, he should .not just stick it in A comer but display it boldly and let the population of his town know that he is prQud to be a motion picture ex- hibitor, proud he can present good entertainment to his public and of the fact that, his is a Movie Quiz theati«. If you pr^nt the Movie Quiz con- test to' your public . as something im- portant, something to be heralded, your audiences will react according- ly/ But - it . you present the Movie Quiz contest as a sort of glorified bank night and mention it as you would a raffle, then you .are pre- senting 'Motion Pictures' Greatest Year', to the public in the wrong fashion. Any showman who realizes he must stay in business 52' weeks a year should know in handling the Movie Quiz Contest he is utilizing raw material that he can weld into a powerful medium with ticket-sell ing possibilities. It is his duty to plan his ' campaign carefully, step by .step, so that from the time his first trailer announcement breaks on his screen to the very last . day of the contest, Dec. 31, he will be Creating good-will for his theatre, good- will that he can . cash in on for many months to come. A General Hyp* to All Bli . There has long been an accepted axiom that 'trade follows the movies:' In many department stores there have been thousands of dollars of merchandise moved from their shelves due to the fact that some film . stac appearing on the. screen wore a costume which the store re- produced and was dble to sell easier tlian a staple article. Cooperative pages are being lined lip in city after city by enterprising press agents and theatre maliagers who know that when good pictures are playing downtown women shop- pers are attracted to theatres. These same women, shoppers are customers of the theatres and the beehive of activity in many cases emanates from or circulates around the activity at the motion picture houses. The greatest advertising medium of the . world— an advertising medium that reaches 80.000,000 people weekly in the United Slates and Canada alone— is the exhibitor's motion- pic- ture screen. For years he has guard- ed his screen jealously. Now he can put his screen to work for him sell- ing admissions to his own theatre. Some 18,000 theatres throughout the United States will probably be actively participating in 'Motion Pictures' Greatest. Year.' Six trailers and several short sub- jects are in most cases completed or in final stages of production and will be available during the entire period of the campaign. In several theatres where some of the trailers have al- ready been put to work on the screen, the ushers, the management, everybody connected with the thea- tre have been bombarded with re- quests as to how they can enter the contest, as to when the booklets would be available, and some were even bold enough to inquire, 'If you are not playing some of the itlovie Quiz pictures, where can ! see them, at what theatre'? The subsequent-run theatre is just as excited as the first-run because of the fact that the contest has been so arranged that only pictures having a national release dato prior to Oct 31 are eligible in this, ^contest This gives the siibsequent-run exhibitor two full months in which to have the picture-going public catch films in his theatre tliat they may have missed in the bigger first-run do\yn- town houses. Furtliermorc, it gives him an added bi-eak: by starting the contest on Sept 1, and by making pictures eligible that .Were released between Aug, 1 and Sept 1, the sub- sequent-run house also gets the. bene- fit of any releases that may- have completed their first riin duriiig the month of August. Motion: pictures are a great level- ler. The man . who is out of work, he who has a quarter, can see the same picture as a millionaire : who could afford: to pay . $1.65 for a pic- ture. He can see the same picture in a subsequent run theatre . as ' some- one else can see in Radio City Music Hall, for example. He can get .la mental Release from Ms worries, and his troubles when he enters the mo- tion picture ; theatre for several hours of restful enjoyment The industry'is Institutional news- paper ads stress this very point that 'Motion Pictures Are Your Best En- tertainment' These ads do it in a sensible, straightforward manner that is sincere and convincing. Circuit heads and independent exr hibitors. who have been caiight up in this whirlpool of enthusiasm have stated over and over again that this first industry campaign is a 'test child.' They feel that with exhibitor co-operation . all oyer the . cotmtry motion picture attendance will be in- creased by many millions; that box office prosperity will be spread around so evenly that this campaign is destined for sure success^ so much so that they advocate a campaign of this type be a regular annual fea- ture for years to come. No Letdown When commercial products enter into a contest there is always the danger that after the contest is over there might be a letdown. That is possibly true with comiiiercial prod- ucts because the contest is only for one particular product; this product having many commercial : competi- tors in, lower or higher price range, of better or poorer quality. A motion picture contest has one big advantage: eyery film company in the business is participating. It is not one competitor trying to out- distance his rivals. . It is a combined industry that is bettering itself, in-, creasing the number- of habitual weekly and daily filnigoers; an in- dustry that is putting itself in a more favorable light, for through the me- dium of its own screens, it can weld public: opinion more easily. If predictions of success from every walk and corner of life, from exhibitors, newspapermen, distribu- tors, radio commentators and every- one who has been informed of the industry's campaign mean anything, 'Motion Picture's Greatest Year,' in- stead ,of being a prediction, will be- come a fact. The First Blow Hollywood, Aug. 30 First scene for 'Gone With the Wind' wais shot last. Friday (26) in cl local hospital. ; It shows the actual birth of a baby, and will be used in the sequence in which Scarlett O'Hara's child is. Iwrn, U AFTER BING ENAMEfUSH Holywood, Aug. 30. Universal Is dickering with Bing Crosby for one picture on the 1936' 39 pvogram.. Deal calls: for. the crooner, to help finance the film and share in its profits. Proposed hookup is in line, with Universal's quest of big names. Among tlie stars tied up for one or more commitments are Constencie Bennett Edgar .. Bergen, Jackie Cooper, Adolphe Menjbu, George Murphy and Irene Dunne.: Recent swap: with Metro gave U the services of Robert Montgomery, Jaines 'Stewart and Robert Young f or one picture. Margaret Sullavah owes the studio oiie picture under the settlement of her old contract. taeamik and U Most Be ExanyBed Before Trial in $650,000 Soft Carl Laemmle, former head of Uni- versal' Pictures Corp., and its officers and. directors inust submit -to ex- amination before trial in thii $650,000 breach of contract sUit . brought against Universal, et al., by John D/ Tippett Inc., dealers in raw film stock. Supreme Court Justice Ken- neth O'Brien so ruled last week. Atr torneys for Universal have been i)at- tling. to avoid an examination since May when Justice -Samuel. I, Rosen- man issued a similar order, from which an appeal had been taken. Be- sides the appearance of the officials, the court order directs the corpora- tion to produce its books and records relating to the Tippett Contract The suit claims that Universal, through a conspiracy hatched by Laemmle and officials Of Consoli- dated Film Laboratories, had in- duced Universal to breach a five-, year, contract entered into with the Tibbett firm in j'une, 1932, under which Universal agreed to purchase one half of raw film stock from Tip- pett.. This -business was'latei turned oyer to Consolidated. Justice O'Brien has not set a date when the prelim examination is. to take place or decided whether it will be done through a commission on the Coast or in Now York. Carl Laemnnle arrived Monday on the Normandie from a European vacation. He heads to the Coast pronto. When he sailed, the veteran film man said he would scout plays and players. Nothing special came of it although he'll crystallize his findings when returning to Hollywood. FRENCH SIGN PONS^MOORE Parisi Aug, 20 Lily Pons, who has never made • flhn in France, has tentatively brom ised to make 'Manon Lescaut' for E. J. Aufricht early next year Sei up calls for Jose Luccionl, of thi Opera, to play the. part of Grieu» while Marcel Achard is scheduled to adapt ™ Concurrently with this, Grace Moore is scheduled to make tiie film adaptation of Gusteve Charpeuiw". 'Louise,' with Georges Thill and Andre Peiuet in^ the other top roles Roland Dorgeles is adapting and Abel Gance is directing. Giovanni ManurUa, of the Milan Scala, will play in 'Facade' opposite Dito Parlo in November, Director is not yet set but Jean Max, Al- cover, Pierre Juvenet and Maurice Remy have already; been signed for the cast The Authors' league Wifl Take a Bow On Gdiiwyn's 'Cowboy' Hollywood, Aug. 30. A pretty penny was 1? id out by Samuel Goldwyii for scenarists on bis 'Lady and Cowboy.' Those who worked on script reads like HoUy. wood's who's who, and includes S.N, Sehrman, Anita Loos, John Emerson, Sonya Levien, Dorothy Parker, Alio Campbell, Lillian Hellman and How- ard Estabrook. Each has had a whack at the tieat. niont over the past year. Robert Riskin, production aide to Goldwyn, is how doing a mopup on the screen^ play, with picture in its tiiird month of production and over the $l,000,000 budget Leo McCZarey and Frank R. Adami are also on the yarn's credits as au- thoring the original. PAR MUSICAL SHORTS TO HAVE OWN SCORES Hollywood, Aug, 30. Musical brieflies. with original scores, something new in picture^ are slated for. early fall productioa under a plan arranged by Lou Dia- mond, chiet of Paramount's short production department. First of the melodious shorties is 'The Birth of Song,' introducing four new ditties by Par's top cleffers: One is by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger, the others by Frederick Hollander and Ralph Freed, Hoagy: Carmichael and Frank Loesscr, and Burton Lane and Ralph Freed, Patriotic Group Pans HollywiDdd ' and Easy Divorces Philadelphia, Aug. 30. Hollywood, through its aid 'to the Anti-Nazi 'jcague,: was accused of aiding Communisni in the United States in a resolution passed by the Patriotic Order, Sons of America at its 73d annual convention in Read- ing, Pa., last Thursday. Another res- olution demanded that 'actors and motion picture workers set a finer example in their private lives.' Threat of a boycott against certain stars and writers was contained in the resolution denouncing the A.nti- Nazi League, which was said to be sponsored by Eddie Cantor and Paul Muni, who 'by doing so are raising funds to assist a Communist program in America and aid red agitators to run rampant through the country.'. Other sponsors of the organization named In the resolution ' are: Her- bert Biberman, Florence Eldridge, Oscar Hammerstein, Rupert Hughes, Sylvia Sidney, Gloria Stuart, Lewis Milestone, Dorothy Parker, Ernst Lubitsch, Dudley Nichols, Viola Brothers Shore, Frank Tuttle, Wal- ter Wanger, Franchot Tone, Joan Crawford, Luise Rainer and Gale Sondergaard. Other resolution declared, 'Mar- riage is a sacred trust, except in Hol- lywood and among . people of the screen. The constent publicity of divorce after divorce among, the peopile of the motion picture indus- try has become a national disgrace and uiiless checked will tend t j de- moralize the rising generations and cause a lack of respect for the lacred sacrament of matrimony.' Convention closed with a resolu- tion asking a national investigation of un-American activities. Berlin Appeals Tax Bite; Huddles Zanuck West Washington, Aug. 30. Review of the wrangle between Irving Berlin and International Rev- enue Bureau was sought from the Board of Tax Appeals last week. Berlin wants the umpires to weigh the Treasury's assessment for $11,- 092, which he allegedly owes on his 1935 earnings. Hollywood. Aug. 30. Irving Berlin's original 'Bowery Nightingale,' bought by 20th-Fox, has been assigned to Gene Markcy to produce. Berlin flew: in Monday from New York for huddles with Darryl Zan- uck. He doesn't want to tackle this until next spring. But Mustn't Mention Him Hollywood. Aug. 30. Howard Hughes has changed li" mind about withdrawing from dis- tribution the six feature fllmf, 'Hells Angels,' 'Scarfacc,' 'Sky Devils,' 'Age for Love,' 'Cock of the Air' and Front Page.' _ Pictures will be distributed wiU» the understanding that Hughes' name, is not to be used in advertising. Titles are being altered to rfeatl 'At- lantic Pictures presents' instead ol 'Howard Hughe.^ presents.' Rupert Hughes treats with |h* Cosmopolite of the Month f* October Cosmo, said individual being his 33-year-old nephew, Howaro Hughes. Wednesday, August 31, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY Eihibs IVotest Par s Radio Ducats Los Angeles, Aug. 30. Strong protest was lodged by the Independent Theatre Owners of Southern California against Paramount's radio tieup with the Fitch company for a series of Sunday evening broadcasts^ starting Sept. 3, over the NBG network. Indies contend that the hookup, with a weekly giveaway of 1,000 free admissions to theatres where Par pictures are being shoWh, will tend to keep prospective theatre patrons at home. . Contention is that many .thousands of potential theatregoers will stay away from the film houses on Sunday nights in the hope of winning one of the 1,000 passes. , Philly Exhibs Indifferent Philadelphia, Aug. 30. Exhibs here took no cognizance, official or otherwise, of the Para- mount tieup with the Fitch Co. on a radio series in which 1,000 free admissions will be passed but weekly. Inasmuch as they may sub- tract from their; film rental a full admish for each person admitted, exhibs didn't see that they had a kick coming, as did the Independeht Theatre Owners of Southern California. As for the ITO argument that the show will keep people at home listening to the radio instead.of going to' the theatres, one exhib here summed it up, 'What's the difference? 'If they don't stay home to listen to the Fitch program, they stay home to listen to something^ else. At least we get an admission out of it this way.' ' Would Bar H wood Studio Visitors And Radio Slurs to Preserve Fix B. 0. Denver, Aug. 30, Excluding visitors from Hollywood ■ ;;aiid . other picture studios, was de- Tmanded by meinbers of the . Rocky Mountain Theatre Owners and Man- agers in their annual .convention here. Exhibitors declared such visits remove much of the glaniour ;from stars and injures the boxoffice. The .members insist that, such ban be especially enforced on radio and other commentators who owe much of their success to ridiculing stars aivd who seem to thrive on scandal— ' real or fancied— of the film colony. Copies of this resoliitlon. are to be sent to all advertisers who sponsor any program over the air that might ' tall In this category. ' -. Other resolutions were against the' entrance of church and educational .' Institutions into the exhibition field . for revenue. Use ot films for visual ' education was okayed. The members ] also, asked that exchange ihanagers ' be given greater latitude in dealing : With exhibitors', especially in the making of contracts and adjusting flifierences. The association, voted to partici- fate to the fullest extent in the 'greater nipvie season' advertising campaign. Exhibitors in the Denver area feel this is the biggest effort . ever devised to aid films at the ; proper spot— the boxoffice. Presi- dent A. P. Archer and Rick Ricket- son in short talks urged those jpresent . to > all in their power to make the campaign a success. J Secretary Emmett Thurmon ^ya^ned exhibitors to keep an eye oh the - legislators. He warned that with ; legislatures in all the slates in the . Denver area meeting this winter ; Ihere will be numerous laws affcct- . Ing the theatre, and. that most of them will deal with taxation, t. J. Finske, general manager of ■ the Cooper theatres, told of his ex- periences in using films for visual education. In Greeley, Colo., instead Of antagonizing school and college authorities, his company worked With thein, arranging for pupils to see certain films, oh passes furnished . the theatres. At the end of the tnonth every pass used was cashed by the school board a^ well as the state college for 10c each. Tlirough this tieup both groups were kept . out of the exhibition field. At the close of the one-day con- , .Mention the following were elected officers: Chas. R. Gilmcur, president; A- P. Archer, Mickey Gross and B. P. McCormick, vice presidents: A. G. Edwards, secretary, and E. P. "f'egs, treasurer. It's In the Air at WB Hollywood; Aug. 30. William Gargan plays opposite Kay . Francis in 'Women in the Wind,' rolling today (Tuesday) at Warners, with John Farrow direct- ing.' 'Women* is the final starrer for Miss Francis at Warners, and the third air • picture in production. Others before the lenses are 'Wings of the Navy' and 'Dawn Patrol.' 8 WORKING AT PAR-irSilK WORK Hollywood, Aug. 30. With The Arkansas Traveler' In the cutting room. Paramount started two more pictures, bringing the total number, in work to eight. New pro- ductions are 'Say . It in French' and 'Disbarred;' .Others before the lenses are.'Zaza,' 'Escape from Yesterday,' 'St. Louis Blues,' 'Illegal Traffic,' 'Thanks for the Memory' and 'Scotland Yard vs. Bulldog DrUmmond.' Production reaches its 1938 peak at Universal this week, with six pic- tures rolling, three in the top budget class. 'Service de Luxe," one of the high budgeters, started today (Tues.). 'The Storm' went into production last week and 'That Certain Age' is in the final stages. Three less costly pictures in pro- duction are 'The Last Express,' 'Swing That Cheer' and the Joe E. Brown starrer, 'Flirting With Fate.' Nancy Turner to N. Y. Baltimore, Aug. 30. 'Nancy Turner, femme stylist and. jommentator o£ WFBR here, has ojen signed for similar stint by ^MCA, N. Y. Janet Parker succeeds -her here, Oakie Off RKO Lot, Need 'Annabel' Lead National Ass'n of Broad- casters in Unsubtle Warn- ing Over the Sizable Press Campaign to Lure Film Patronage •PAST CO-OPERATION' Washington, Aug. 30. Veiled threat to shut off free aC' cess to the microphone was handed the film industry today (Tuesday) by the National Association of Broadcasters; Unsubtle warning was conveyed in a letter to Howard Dietz, ot Metro, heading the film industry's " 'greater- movie season' promotion cominittee. Threat y/as in reply to the an- nouncement that the pi-pdiicers will intensify theii: newspaper campaign to lure film patronage. ■ Although de nying the desire to divert the ap proprlation from the press, Ed Kirby, NAB's director of public re- lations, strongly implied that cuffo airings will , end . . unless pictures change their attitude- toward radio. Failure of distributors to appre- ciate radio's effectiveness in arousing public . interest . was ■ stressed by Kirby. He added that the studios have been more alert, than broad casters to the possibilities of exploit- ing hejv features. Pointed .to the ef- fort to~ obtain plugs for stars, stories and iongs . over stations as evidence that Hellywoodites recognize the ether as an effective way of attract- ing box-office customers. . 'In the light of past co-operalion, the statement of your committee is most disappointing,' Kirby told the Metro exec. . Plain notice that broad- casters will not continue offering their facilities gratis is given by the statement that the broadcastiiig groiip 'feels it is time for a com plete review, of the situation' and. al- iready is conducting, a survey of 'co- operative connections between the two industries,' Results of the study will provide the foundation for 'sounder iand more equitable relationship which will in- sure at least, that the privilege it (radio) has extended Will not be abused or ignored,' the spokesman cautioned. RepsMustangers Being Offered For Radio Show Hpllywood, Aug. 30. With Jack Oakie checking off the RKO lot at the completion, ot his current role, the studio is seeking a replacement to co-star with Lucille Ball in the Annabel series. Oakie is currently working in 'An- nabel Takes a Tour.- Next of the series, 'Annabel and Her Press Agent,' gets the fiun about Sept. 10. CARKOLL IN 'SOCIETY' Hollywood. Aug. 30. Madeleine Carroll joins Fred Mc- Mui-rny and Shirley Ro.ss to hcad lho cast in Paramount's 'Cafe Society." due to roll Oct.- 3. Edward H, "Griffith will direct from a screenplay by Virginia Van Upp. Hollywood, Aug. 30. Republic studio has tossed its 10- gallon skimmer into the radio ring with a half hour show comprising the lot's sagebrush talent, with which it abounds: Package is being offered around for sponsorship at around S7,5b0 a week. Top coin will go, to Gene' Aufry. Program, being framed by Eev Barnett, of studio: publicity depart- ment, will be aimed at devotees of the great outdoors. Studio's films are tied in tor plugging in the dramatic epi.sode.s. . Waddies chant- ing prairie ditties will dominate the show, althou,L!h the entire, roster of the plant will, be available, 'These include Jarhes Gleason. Ali.son Skip- worth, Gloria Rich and Lynn Rob- erts. Aiding, Aulry will be Roy Rogers. Ralph Byrd. Robert Living- ston and Max Terhuno. Owen Crump swincjs over from KFWB to produce. Hrrbcrt . 'V.Ttc.';, studio head, has okayed the air deiil. with in.struclions to strike a bargain whereby the company would "break even' and take its compensation in the publicity accruin;; to Iho Iradc- mark and .he piglurcb it dectiralcs. Par s 1,000 Free Ducats Weekly, On Radio Tieup with Ad Sponsor, Doped to Hypo Biz; Exhibs No Like Van DykeV 'Stand Up' Hollywood, Aug. 30. W. S. Van Dyke gets the pilot's job on 'Stand Up and Fight," a yarn of pioneering days, due to start next week, with Robert Taylor and Wal- lace Beery in the top roles. Most of the shooting will .be done in Northern California. Originally slated for black and white, the pic- ture will probably be made in Tech- nicolor. ffWOOD FUN: A NAZI-NUDIST RIB Hollywood, Aug. 30. Latest rib oh film folk is to invite them to:a Nazi meeting in the valley. The chump is told it's dangerous for outsiders to attend, but it's all fixed. Also to take along' a couple of gats as trouble may be brewing. When the sucker arrives at the desig- nated spot he .. gets' a mysterious phone number to call. This done, he rhakes' trabks for the designated place and feels elated when the pass- word he received, over the phone gets, him past the guard. Once inside the gates he finds himself in a nudist colony where quite a few picture people pass their Siindays sunning and playing bridge. Membership tap is $5 a year. Rogi ers' Cayalcade Film Idea; Based On Life of Gns Edwards Hollywood, Aug, 30. . First of the cavalcades to follow on the heels of 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' is Charles R. Rogers' proposed film with Gus Edwards as the central character in The Star Maker.' It's to be indei>endently ,produced by Rogers, who's after Bihg Crosby to play the role of the songwriter-tal- ent discoverer. Songs to be . used include 'School Days,' 'Sunbbnnet Sue,' 'In My Merry Oldsmpbile' and 'By the Light of the Silvery Moon.' Edwards, who will collaborate with ,writers on the pic- ture, discovered Eddie Cantor, George Jessel, the .Duncan sisters, W»ae Murray, Lila Lee, Walter Win- schell, Georgie Price, and others; ill will figure in the screen script. NBC Wants Conunish Ruled Out in Lamou/s Pact Tiff Los Ahgele.s, Aug. 30. ' Charging that Labor Commission has no jurisdiction in the contract controversy between Dorothy La- mour and National Broadca.sting Artists Bureau, latter through its at- torney,. Frederick Leuschner, has filed a motion of dismi.ssol. Picture and radio actress alleges NBC failed to repre.sent her properly and socks to have the contract ter- minated. Hearing is .■;et for, Sept. 7. Big Shot's Fall Hollywood. Au«. 30. Making ii.sc of the publicity sur- rounding the trial Ot James J. Hines in New York, Warners will produce 'The nigger ^Thcy Are.' .Scripl is being ru.shod )>y Hank . Donahue for- mer N. Y. reporler; Cast is headed by JIufnphrtvv o- gart, ■.George Brent and W.jIic: .'vbcl. Taking the attitude that radio pro- grams go on the air regardless, with other reasons also advanced in behalf of the showmanship value'of Its plan. Paramount goes on the Fitch (sham- pop) Sunday night NBC program Sept. 4, with proffer of 1,000 passes weekly as bait for listeners. "The passes will be good to theatres play- ing Paramount product at any time during the six months' duration of the broadcasts. Paramount's own theatres and those ot its varied part-. nership are tied ' into the stunt. Answering complaints of theatre: associations or operators who see in the free pass plan an eyen greater incentive to keep people in their homes Sunday nights to listen to the Fitch program. Par takes the posi- tion that this will be more than coun- teracted by the interest stirred in its product, by the value of the plug- king of talent and songs on that hour, and by the likelihood that each sin- gle pass issued will bring additional payees to the theatres.. Each pass will be good for one ad> mission during the six months' period starting Sept. 4. • This will mean 1,000 individual pass admissions weekly, good any day of the week, and the fact they are issued singly. Par believes, will mean that . most winners will steer at least one addi> ' tional person to the theatre with them. : 'Not unexpected are complaints from theatres not playing the Par. product since the Par custonrier under the plan, stands to benefit, from his opposition in every situation in the country where the pictures are bpught. Par regards its tieup with Fitch, as a ticket-selling idea, in a direct as jvcU as ah indirect nvahncr', with, its accounts staiiding to lose nothing and gain. much. Passes are to be awarded foi: the best letters written on listener's fa- vorite bands, a feature of the' Fitch program itself. The plug tp Pair, side from, the bait value of the free ducats, will come toward the end of the Fitch air show, when special copy, prepared, by Par; is broadcast. Outside of the copy and the passes Par has nothing else to do with the program. Its only expen.se involves the pro- motion work, records on the passes and the payment of the passes, since under the arrangement Par will pay for the 1,000 Annie Oakleys weekly. Theatre to which issued will bear np expense at all. Every pass honored will bo re- deemed by Par at the regular admi.?- sion price prevailing at theatres where used for the performance at- tended. It is figured that this cost to Par will run around $500 weekly. AH the theatres getting these pas.scs will do is to turn them into the Par- amount exchange with which -it does - business. The exchange will deduct the total amount of the passes hon- ored from the film.. rental of the pic- ture on which they were used.. Par is, circularizing all its accounts, ask- ing latter to return a self-addressed postcard to the h.o. agreeing, to the arranHcmenls of the plan. A record of the pii.sscs and business will be kept to determine in what spots the most good is being accompli.shed. Each Sunday program will be de- voted to national air-publicizing of a . Par picture, limed with date of ic- Icase. 'Spawn of the Noi-lli" will be concerned in the inili;il bro.nden.st Sunday niKht i'4j. Tdt, F'itch pro- gram wiW al.so bn utilized foi- the 'jn- ti'oductioh und pI'j'^yiriK of nui.'ic from far pir.lurr,, Iho lie-up of Ihe (llm.c— ip;iny ;ifr-ii(liiiL' a more direct and Kati.sfactory mcfliurii for su<:h ))lin;(!rri;,'. Th(: .shampno company in on the air al 7:.'i'i (). m. Sunday nights. EDST, .(-:■ )I 'ilation.s. An additional 10 ;.; -iv-. arc to be added later. VARIETY PICTURE GROSSES Wednesday, Aagust>31, 1938 Taylor Punches Out $27,000 to Top L A j mm on Broadway WWi'RoarVAngerna 'Sailor' 16y2G. 'Alex 13G m Mov«, 'Marie' Nears End Los Armeies, Aug. 30. First, runs are more than holding their own, despite tail-«nd August dog days, and bulk of the houses will turn, in pro&table weeks, get- ting then in shii>shape for Greater Movie; Season,: which gets under way in next few days, 'Crowd Roars' is town's top grosser, with profitable $27,000, due in- the day-date Loew's State and Grauman's Chinese. 'Alexander's Ragtime Band,' on move-over to United Artists and Wilshire for Continued, first-run, after two big weeks', each at the State-ChUiese. should add another $13,300 to the $76,000 garnered iii that period. .Warner day-daters have their first Metro picture, 'Shopworn Angel,' playing .to. satisfactory grosses, while holdover of 'Letter of Introduction' at the HKO and Pan? tages should bring another profit- making week. 'Algiers' continues to hit a good clip at the Four Star, while 'Marie Antoinette,' town's "^nly twora-day attraction, is how ia final 10 days, folding Labor Day. Estimates for Tbfai Week Csrthy Circle (Fox) (1,518; 55-83- $I.10-$1.6i5) — 'Marie . Antoinette' (MG) (8th week). Now in final week, . folding (5) after 8V6 weeks of fair returns. Seventh stanza brought proflUble $5,700. Ciiinesa (Grauman-F-WC) (2,024; 30-40-55-75)— 'Crowd Roars' (MG) and 'Keep Smiling' (20th). dual. Fair trade for this Robert Taylor he-man pic„ with prabable $11,000 the an- swer. Last week 'Alexander' on holdover stanza, very good $15,200. Downtown (WB) (1.800: 30-40-55- 65)— 'Shopworn Angel' (MG) and '10th Avenue Kid' (Rep), dual. Prod- uct shortage forced Warners to; go into the outside market for current week's dual product here and at the day-date ; Hollywood. Should hit satisfactory $8,800 on the week. Last week 'Racket Busters' (WB) and 'Hijgglns Family' (Rep), very good $10,500. Four SUr (F-WC-UA) (900; 40-55) —'Algiers' (UA) (7th week). Con- tinues to play to neat brbfit, and will not come off for another two weeks at least Should hit $2,800 on cur- rent stanza after very smart $3,400. on sixth week. Hollyweod (WB) (2.756: 30-40-55- 65)— 'Shopworn Ahgel' (MG) and: 'lOtb Avenue Kid' (Rep), dual. Looks headed for satisfactory $8,000. Last week, 'Racket Busters' (WB) and 'Higeihs Family' (Rep), excellent $8,800. Orpheura (Bdwy.) (2,280; 25-30-35- 40)— 'Booloo* (Par) and 'Chaser';, (MG). dua; and vaudeville. Special exploitation helping for okay $8,000. Last w^ek 'Painted Desert' (RKO) and 'Men Are Such Fools' (WB), just fpir $7,200. PanUges (Pan) (2.812; 30-40-55)— 'Letter of Introduction' (U) (2nd week): and. 'Gladiator' (Col),' dual. Holding for strong second week and should wind up with satisfactory $6,500. First week close to $12,000,. plenty okay, Fanraount (Par) (3,595; 30-40-55) —'Give Me Sailor' (Par) and stage show. Wound up nine-day. booking (29) with fair $16,500. 'Spawn of North' (Par) debuts (30). RKO (2.872; 30-40-55)— 'Letter' (U) (2d week) and 'Gladiator' (Col), dusl. Second stanza holding strong and will wind up with $6,700, okay, after garnering neat $10,000 on first seven days. State (Loew-Fox) (2.414; 30-40-55- 75)— 'Crowd Roars' (MG) and 'Keep Smilini!' (20th), dual. Looks like big $16,000 on the stanza. Last week; second of 'Alexander' (20th)^ excellent $16,000. United Artists (F-WC) (2,100; 30- 40-55) — 'Alexander' (20th). On moveover for continued flrst-run downtown after two weeks at the SUte should hit hie $5,300. Last week, 'Gatewpv* (20th) and 'Mr. Mnto' (20th). fair $2,600. WlUtair^ (F-WC) (2.206; 30-40-55- 65)— 'Alexander' (20th). Set new house record for opening day, and will wind up current stanza with bi and 'Chaser' (M-G), dual, responded li.^htly with mild $4,700. -week run at Shubert, is creating the liveliest b.o, music currently, with a take almost equal to that of the Albee's 'Spawn of the 'North' and Ihe Palace's 'Boy Meets Girl,' fresh releases, com' bined. On its first seven days, 'Alex' set an alMime ShubeH record for grind pix biz. Other first-runs this week, 'Racket Busters' at Keith's, . and 'Blockheads' at the Lyric, are mildees. . Trade in the main at major .houses, however^ is beaucoup for summer's fadeout Estimates tor This Week Albeo (RKO) (3,300; 35-42)— 'Spawn of North' (Par). Slow $9,500. Last week, 'Letter' (U), fair $10,500, Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 35-42)— 'Letter' (U) (2d week). Fair $4,5O0. Last week, 'Andy Hardy' (M-G) (2d run), great $7,000. Family (RKO) (1,000; 15-25)— 'Highway Patrol' (Col), 'Missing Guest' (U), 'I'm from the City' (RKO), separate. Normal $2,000. Same last week with 'Prison Break' (U), 'Gold Mine in Sky' (Rep), 'Mr. Chump' (WB), singly. Grand (RKO) (1,200; 25-40)— 'Andy Hardy' (M-.G) (3d week). Excellent $3,500. Last week, 'Crowd Roars' (M-G) (3d run), fair $2,500. Keith's (Libson) (1^500; 35-42)— 'Racket Busters' (WB). Mild $4,000. Last week, 'Cairey's Chickens' (RKO), blah $3,500. Lyric (RKO) (1,400; 35-42)— 'Blockheads' (M-G). Fair $4;000. Last week, 'Algiers' .(U) (2d run), eight days, so-so $4,000. Palace (RKO) (2,600; 35-42)— 'Boy Meets Girl' (WB). Sad $7,500. Last week, 'Texans' (Par), six days, terrible $6,000. Shabert (RKO) (2,150; 35-40-55)— 'Alexander' (20th) (2d week). Socko $16,000.' Last week, season's opener, a house record for pix grind, $23,000; burg's biggest since 'Snow White.' Will hold for five-week run. W H O. in Mont'l StiU Strong at $9,000 Montreal, Aug. 30. Alexander's Ragtime Band' put Main street back m the coin. With more cash in one week than has been seen in a fortnight for the past six months. Got $12,000 first week and probable $9,000 on repeat currently. Proves good pix not affected by summer doldrums. Other houses at summer average.. Estimates for This Week Palace (CT) (2,700; 50)— 'Alex- ander' (20th) (2d week). At least $9,000, good, after big $12,000 last week. ^Capitol (CT) (2,700; 50)— 'Texans' (Par) and 'You Born?' (Par). Better than average at $6,000. Lost week, 'I'll Give Million* (20th) and 'Pass- port Husband' (20th), fair $5,000. ^.^ Princess (CT) (2,300; 34)— 'Fast Company' , (M"-G) and 'BatUe of f/S?^*'^^ ^20th). Pacing for good $5,000. Last week, ■ 'Cowboy' (WB) apd„' 'My Bill' (WB), middling at Orpheam (Ind) (l,t00; 50)— 'To y'ctor' jlBrit) and 'Fighting Navy' (Brit). This program may get $3,000. good. Last week, third repeat of Algiers (UA), good enough at >»£J""?i*^ (France-Film) (600; 50)— 'Prison sans Barreaux ' House improving every week and should gross good $2,000. with $1,500 on last week's repeat of 'Nuit de Feu/ St Denis (France-Film) (2,300:34) — 'Passeurs d'hommes' and 'Balt- hazar.' Looks like good $5,500. Last week, also good at $5,000 on 'Les Filles de Rhone' and 'La Plus' Belle du Monde.' San Francisco, Aug. 30. Double bills have beeii given Vh. go-bye this week by five of thl tw! rums on Market street Stre^tuTrt individual attractions and thelengS of the various productions are ttS reasons for 'Marie Antoinette' beb?! Letter of Introduction' at Iha Orplieu in; 'Alexander's RagtimS Band' at the Fox, and 'AlS v/hlch IS nearing the end of iu mJi at Abe United Artists, Golden g5? which uses vaude. has Bobby Breen on the stage in connection with tte world Preem of 'Breaking the Ice^ his latest picture for Sol Lesser Only doul)le-bills in town are 'Boy Meets Girl.' coupled with 'Boolw' for fair succeed at the Warfleld, and 'Love Finds Andy Hardy,' whieS with 'Army Girl,' is wuiding strong four- week's run at St Frlnda Estimates for This Week _ Fox (F-WC) (5,000; 35-55-75)— 'Alexander <20th) (2nd wk). After a record-breaking take of $34,500 on Its initial stanza, 'Alex' is set to grab staggering $20,000 on its hold, over, ■ ■ ■ Golden Gale (RKO) (2,850; 35-55) ^'Breaking Ice' (RKO), with Bobby Breen headlining, vaude on stage. Breen hasn't l>een any too forte at the b.o. here, but. his p.a; in connection with the world preem of his latest screen vehicle helping boost hiz to excellent $17,000: Last week, 'Carey's Chickens' (RKO) and vaude, $14,700. good. • Orpheura (F&M) (2,440; 35-55)— 'Letter* (U) (2nd wk). New opus from Universal is holding up re- markably well. Second stanza looks healthy at $6,000. Last week, same ' pic, great $9,500. Paramount (F-WC) (2,740 : 35-55- 75)— 'Marie Antoinette' (M-G). Al- though some of the notices from the crix.were lukewarm, the new Norma Shearer- costumer should garner healthy $19,500 on its initial stanza. Last week (2nd), 'Busting the Rack- ets' (WB) and 'Rich Man' (M-G) (2nd wk.). Closed to fair enbuili $7,500. - St Francis (F-WC) (1,470; 35-55^ 75)--' Andy Hardy' (M-G) and 'Army Girl* (Rep) (4th wk). Mickey Roohey b. o. pull in 'Andy Hardy* continues to amaze the l>oys on the street Fourth week looks great at $4,500. Third stanza, geared surpris- ingly big $5,200. United Artists (Cohen) (1,200; 35- 55-65)— 'Algiers* (UA) (8th wk). Strength of sixth week, which gives indication of $5,800, warrants hold- ing picture another: week or two. Last week (5th), Very satisfactory $7,000. Warfleld (F-WC) (2,680; 35-55-7J) —'Boy Meets Girl' and 'Booloo' (Par). Will give the Warfleld a bet- ter than averue week, and certainly a big improvement over the preced- ing stanza, at $14,000. Last week, 'Give Me Sailor' (Par) and 'Bulldog Drummond' (Par) poor $7,500. SHEARER SOCK $13,300 IN DENVER AND HOLDS Denver, Aug. 30. 'Marie Antoinette' Is playing to daily standouts at the Orpheum, as is 'The Texans* at Denham, both holding over. 'Alexander's Ragtime Band* is plenty hot at Aladdin and moves on to Paramount. Estimates for This Week Atoddin (Fox) (1,400; 25-40)— 'Alexander' (20th). After a week at the Denver still strong at $5,800. Moves to Paramount for third week. Last week, 'Algiers* (UA), fair $2,- 500 after a week at the Denver. Broadway (Fox) (1,100; 25-40)— 'Crowd Roars* 1938 PICTURE GROSSES VARIETY 'Antomette Big $21,000 in Chi; 'Carefree' Plus Vaude Nifty $26,000, 'Boy-Girl' IIG, Fix Strong, Biz Goo Chicago, Aug. 30. Siring boxoffice lineup jn town -Itb new fare at three first run SSes; Weal weather also helping, SJi^wn easily tops pre-Labor Day ol last year, when _ August ^7 month of large receipts but Mwhere's near current sessions. . 'Alexander' continues to zoom .tanroh its third week, first for MTpicture at this house, looking ' Sfbw Second week came within ' Cooo "of terrific first stanza with Swh IMS . shows. ■ Will move to '■ mailer extended run houses after oinent (third) stanza. •Marie Antoinette' opened with iooj queues in front of the- United ArHsts. Only length of feature (runs fuU three hours) will hold down noss.^ Yet there's a smash $21,000 irt fie offing. 'Crowd Roars' moved to . Carrick to make room for 'Marie'' ' after two. swell sessions. ■Carefree* came into the Palace and tupported by excellent stage fare sure to holdover second week, if not kiiiger. ' Ttaans' fell off sadly at Roosevelt iDd scrammed to make robrh for loj Meets Girl' which is doing nicely. . ' State-Lake also looks for coin with triple threat bill including locally produced— Daily Times sponsored amateur fllrn. btlmatcs for This Week AhU« (B&K) <1.200: 3S-55-6S-7S) -'Andy Hardy' XM-G) (5th week). Stuck a fifth week with gross vary-, ing little from previous session; K,4lld last week and won't go under t5/)00 currently. CUekce (B&K) (4,000); 35-55-75)— 'Alexander' (20th) and stage show ita week). . Momentum carrying it aling to huge $37,000. Just missed on second week after first week's $59,000. Is first picture to stay htte -three weeks. Scirams Friday to make room for Benny Goodman and bolts good. to remain' in loop (2nd nia) for another four or five weeks. ■ Garrtck (B&K) (2,500; 35-55-65-75) —"Crowd Roars' (M-GX (3rd loop week). Heading for big $6,000 after .»ck 13-day stay at United ArtisU. letter" (RKO) ended third loop ^tek last Friday to ihoderate $3,700. • • hl»«e (RKO) (2,500; 35-55-65-75) rCarefree' (RKO) and vaude. docketing to $26,000 and likely to Mldover. 'Mother Carey' (RKO) Jf* Bill Robinson on stage hit fl9,500, big, last week. «?*?^*'* (B&k) (lisOO; 35-55-65- •")-Boy Meets Girr (WB). Opened 'May, but. built, over weekend and should grab $11,000 or more above jverage. Last week ' 'Texans' (Par) .leil off sadly, dropping to $7,500 for wst half of 13-day sUy. L lA'f}*'*'"''' (Jones) (2,700; 35-35- f J5-«)-'Reformatory' (Col), 'It Hap- pened In Chicago' (Yates) and stage Locally produced amateur production on screen helping to swell KToss. Widely publicized by. Daily limes which sponsored it, and bene- "■"ig from 'Holy wood preiniere.' mple bill will do $12,500 or better. week 'Prison Farm (Par) and "a«e show, so-so $9,500. 6!!.wl'*1.*'*'s*s (B&K) (1,500; 35-55- »:'5)- Marie Antoinette' (M-G ). f«?. Mrriage trade and iShearer if^who are not averse to waiting in uae through' long three-hour pro- ffi"" 'or seats. 'Will reach mighty «1.W)0. exceptional. Last week, J-ywd Roars' (MG), $14,000. on sec- ""l lap; o.k. looks Up; letterVG)od $4,300 Lincoln, Aug. 30. '"^ around, although mvtJrJ^ inoney's corning from is a •^i^ •^<'"s« l>ave felt a .»« undertone since mid-Au- thrc?"" . "lost showmen feel with iust f^''' college opening bette" ^"^^ corner, the bi o. will Stjfrt'*'' °f Introduction,' at the it'riC. 8°">8 swell from the start. Bon.. town's leader. Lincoln has .'O.dual splits. , .^^""nates for This Week 'oS?, ^GooperX 1.200; 10-15)- mi^^iiPJ^^' .ahd 'Ona Wild (20th), split with 'Bulldog Key City Grosses Estimated Totar Gross This Week . : . $1,533,400 (Based on 24 cities, 152 fhear trcs, chiefly llrst runs, including N. Y.) , , Total Gross Same Week Last Year . . . ; . . . ,$1,511,200 (Based on 22 cities, 155 theatres) Drummond' (Par) and .'Speed to Burn' (20th).. All right, $90O. Last week, 'Man's Country' (Mono) and 'Missing Guest' (Indie), split with 'Prison Farm' (Par) and 'Painted Desert' (RKO), sloW $800. Lincoln (Cooper ) (1,600; l()-25-35) — College Swing' (Par) and 'Dan- gerous to Know' (Par) split with 'I'd Give Million' (20th) and 'Passport Husband' (20th). First dual split in; some time will iriake a better week at around $3,400.. Last week,. 'Seven Seas' ■ (MG) and 'Fast Goirtpany' (MG), luke-warm $2,700. Stuart (Cooper) (1,900; 10-25-40) -'Letter' (U). Off for spifTy $4,300, or better. Horse racing season has opened and the sporty crowd is here. Last week, 'Andy Hardy' . (M-G), very fancy- $4,400. SHEARERTERRIF $25,000 IN PITT Pittsburgh, Aug. 30. Premature yankings of bookings at two downtown houses this week are proof that two money pictures are about, as much as the public ex- chequer can stand under present conditions. With the terrific draught set up by the opening of 'Marie Anr toinette' . at Loew's Penn, and the prievailihg long-run power of 'Alex- ander' at the Alvin, both the Fulton and Warner found it necessary to yatik theii: new attractions after a few days trial. Despite considerable optimism, and a steady if slow rise in steel opera- tions to 40% of capacity this week, actual unemployment in this area is now at ia new high. One out of every four persons in the county is on relief. But there's a bull market at Loew's for 'Antoinette' and it should ring the bell for a resounding $25,000, best here in months. Stanley.'with 'Mother Carey's Chickens' and Bunny Beri- gan's orch and . Andrews Sisters on stage, is feeling the slug and will drift in with a languid $14,000, de- spite critical approbation of screen and stage combo. Estimates for This Week AlvIn (Harris) (1,800; 25-35-50)— 'Alexander' (20th) (4th wk). Going into a fourth lap without a breather after a third at $12,800. That's ter- rific at this site. L.ast week, second, $15,700, great.. Fulton (Shea-Hyde) (1,750; 25-40)— 'Prison Break' (U) and 'Young Fugi- tives' (U). Shoved in for four days after three-day briefie run of 'Gate- way' .(20th). Week may stagger to $2,500, brutal. 'Letter' (U) opens today (Wed.), Penn (Loew's-UA) (3,200; 25-35- 50)— 'Marie Antoinette' (M-G). Na- tives are bulging the walls to boost the take to smash $25i000 in eight- .days. Best here in months following sma-sh newspaper campaign and rave reviews. Moves to Warner for con- tinued run Friday (2). Last week, 'Boy Meets Girl' (WB), $9,500, weak. Stanley (WB) (3,600; 25.-40-60) — 'Carey's Chickens' (RKO) with Bunny Berigah aiid orch. and An- drews Sisters on stage. Combo well liked, but night biz off and only $14,000 in evidence, poor. Last week, 'Racket Busters' (WB) and Phil Har- ris' baud on stage, slid off to puny $15,500. ■ Warner (WB) (2,000: 25-40)— 'Blind Alibi' (RKO) and 'Blonde Cheat' (RKO). Rushed iii after three days of 'I'm from City' (RKO) and .'Crime Ring' (U), but' no help. Droopy $3,000 indicated, Last week, 'Fast Company' (M-G) and 'Penrod' (WB), $4,000, fair. IPl. SMIIPTRIIDIM Exhibitors, II I» Argue j, Dis- sipate So Much Enekrgy in Trying to Outimart the Film Exchange^ There's Little Time or Enthusiasm Left for the Basic De- ficiency, That of Good, Old f ashioned Showman- ship IT HURTS ALL Minneapolis, Aug. 30, Local independent leaders, such as President W. A. Steffes of North- west Allied, say thatone of. the. seri- ous' things wrong with the film busi- ness today is that exhibitors, first of all, have to be good 'traders' instead of showmen. ' They have to be more concerned about 'buying right' rath- er than of selling the pictures to the public in a big way, the indies com- plain. Much of the exhibitors' time, un der present conditions, is speiit wor-. rying about the price of film, wheth- er they are getting 'gypped' or not, whether .their competitors are get- ting better deals than they and in 'fighting' to . obtain adjustments of contracts, -the independents point out It's time and effort that should be spent in. exploiting attractions— that could be spent to much bet- ter advantage In trying to bring the public into their theatres, accord- ing to the many exhibitor 'leaders. Most of the independents cannot afford to employ even a house man- ager, let alone a press agerit. to per-' form their showmanship for them, the leaders point out. They have to dp- everything themselves, except operate the booth machines and sell and take tickets (and many 'double in brass,' too, on the selling or tak- ing tickets end). Under' such circum- starices, the buying of film imposes top heavy a burden on them — takes a disprppprtionate ainpunt of their energy and effort— taxes their menr tal and physical facilities too heay-' ily. It's different with the chains, of course. 'Independent exhibitors are degen- erating into chiselers 'and forgetting sho>vmanship, or letting.it go. by the boards, in their efforts to hold their own .with, or: best (a rare occur- rence): film salesmen iand branch rrianagers,' says Bennie Berger, im- portant circuit operator and former Northwest Allied president. 'The business has developed into a game of wits between the independent ex- hibitor, on the. one hanc' and the dis- tributor, on the other and showman- ship is going by the boards. And the distributor is to blame for this sad and unfortunate condition.' Berger contend! that percentage deals— as well as ' unreasonable rental demands — a distributor pot- icy of getting from every exhibitor all the traffic will bear — are largely responsible for the disappearatice of showmanship and the exhibitors' fail- ure to exploit pictures tp the full- est. The ■ exhibitor is loath tp put ir. much exploitation effort or spend any considerable sum in advertising percentage pictures — his biggest at- tractions and the ones most worthy of extra plugging. 'He's afraid to. dp too much bi;si- ness \yith. these pictures,' declares Bc.ger. 'The reason is not only that the' more he does the more he has to hand over to the distributor, biit, more important, the justifiable fear that the distributors will use the grosses on the outstanding percent- age pictures as a, basis (or other per- centage and: flat deals. As a result, the biggest and best pictures aren't gelling anywhere nearly the utmost it. box office possibilities. We're all money out, clear down the line. 'It's high time for the industry to Avake up and Jirpinatii trade abuses so that everybody engaged in it can pull together for the benefit of pro- ducers' and exhibitors alike.* Holdovers Dominate Okay Bway; *Boy-Bernie Nice $35,000, law' 23G, Joe L lOG, 'Alex,' Bing, M.H. Strong Broadway Grosses This Week . $293,700 (Based on 12 theatres) (Based on U theatres) Total Gross Same Week Last year /..... . $365,200 (.Based on 13 theatres) The last week pf August, with Labor Day week anxiously looked to, finds Broadway with numerous holdovers but in generally good shape. New shows are headed by 'Boy Meets Girl' and stage entertain- ment at the Strand, which' after al two-day shutdown was converted tp a pit-pictures pplicy Friday (26). The Strand win dp; $35,000 or bet- ter, a lot of cpin, but hpt a big prpflt in view of the h-avy advance advertising Campaigti and the cost of the pit show. Advance and opening ad spread- totals ardund $12,000, while the ' in-person talent runs arpund $10,000. Nprmal straight film pve'rhead of house has been vary- ing up and down from $13,000, de- pending on advertising, front, etc. Consensus along Broadway is . that the pit policy,: a cross between, the stage shows pf ■ the Parampunt ''and State, is a click, but that 'Bpy Meets Girl' wasn't, strpng eripugh tP carry it tp an opening sock week. Strand isn't hurting the Paramount one iota, but seemingly is knocking the State galley-west. Playing 'Tlie Texahs' se'cpnd run and, pn stage, Don Redman's orchestra, plus . Joe Laurie, Jr., and team of Raye and Naldi, the State- opened pporly, and will finish the same way at about $12,500,, much red. , Against the $35;000 of better for the Strand and th: State's blah biz, the Pararhount on it^ second week of 'Sing Yoii Sinners' and Phil Spi- talny, plus ZaSu Pitts, ending last ni-ht (TueS.) was $38,000. This Is a powerful holdover week, , being only $7,000 under the initial (open- ing) welek's' $45,000. Par embarks on a third week today (Wed.), while the Strand goes into a second week with 'Boy Meets Girl' and Berhie Friday (2). : Two muscular holdovers are the redoubtable 'Alexander ' in its fourth week at the Roxyi and .the honest little box office performer, 'Four Daughters,' which tonight (Wed,) ends, its second (final) week at the Music Hell. 'Alex' is tearing along for a fourth week's $52,000, and will hpld anpther, being the first picture in the histpry pf the Rpxy to go five. Only six have been, able to cover fpur. Thrpugh Sunday ' (28) the Roxy had played to 569,000 people and taken in $247,163. 'Alex' will call it a day after five weeks due to booking commitments and congestion of product. Four Daughters' Is maintaining fine second week strength at the Hall for a possible $80,000. House brings in 'You Can't Take It With You' to- rnorrow (Thurs.) for the Labor Day push. Meeting the stage show competi- tion from. the Strand better than the State, the Capitol will hit $23,000 or over, not big but satisfactory, with I Am the Law.' Taking the . profit arid running. Cap brings in "Three Loves Has Nancy' tomorrow, rather than hold the Robinspn starrer. Rialto tried but a new opening day for 'Block-Heads' bringing it in, Saturday (27) and should do about $8,000, all right, on the week. Criterion is weak with 'Bulldog Drummond in Africa.' about $6.00(), but 'Gladiator,' nesting at the Globe, will be excellent at $10,000 and holds Over. Second (final) week of 'Little Tough Guy' at the Rivoli, ending last night (Tucs.) was S7.000.. mild, after a first ^yeek's $12,500.. 'Letter Of Introduction,' on which the Riv is spending a lot, opens this morning (Wed.). Laying aside the first four days of "Marie Antoinette,' during which passes are taken care of.and schcdr uling the weeks- from Monday through Siinday, the first week of; this 52 attraction at the Astor end-' iriK Aug. 28 was within dollars of Sl.'),200, virtual capacity. Estimates for This Week Astor (1,012; 55-$l 10-$l-.05-$2.20)— 'Anloiiiette' -(M-G) f2d week). First week ending Sunday night (28) within inches of $15,200, excellent Good run indicated. Capitol (4,520; 25-35-55-85-$1.25)— I Atii the Law' (Col); Competitipn keen pn Brbadway but n6 kicks at $23,000 or bit better. Last week. Rich Man; Poor Girl' (M-G) a dud at only around $9,000. .Criterion (1.602; 25-40-55)— 'Bull- dog Drummond' (Par). No, steam be- hind this one; chugging hard to beat mild $C,000. Lnst week, 'Army Girl' (Ilop), under $5,000,. poor. Globe (1,274; 25-40-53)— 'Gladiator* (Col). Joe E. Brown comedy one of his best and should do very good $10,000 and. hold. In ahead, 'Con^ victed' (Col), under $5,000, n.s.g. Palace (1,700; 25-35-55)-^'Galeway' (20th) and •Mother Carey's Chickens' (RKO), both 2d run, dualed. Com- bination bespeaks no belter than $7,000,. light Last . week ,• 'Clitter- house' (WB) (2d run) and 'I'tn from City' (RKO) (1st run), $6,000. Paramount (3,064; 25-35-55-85-99) --'Sing, You Sinners' (Par) and Phil Spitalny, plus 'ZaSu Pitts, in person .(3d-flnal week). Starts oh last lap today (Wed.), after second week's potent $38,000 and first seven days* $45,000, also big. • Radio City Mnsle Hall (5,980: 40- 60-84-99-$1.65) — 'Four Daughters* (WB) and stage show (2d-finai week).; On holding, very good at likely $80,000, compared to strong initial week's grab of $90.00(). 'You Can't Take It with You' (Col) opens tomorrow (Thurs.). Kialto (750; 25-40-55) — 'Block- Heads' (M-G). Opened Saturday (27) and off well, probably $8,000 or shade better. 'Woman Against Woman* (M-G) went five days, under $5,000. Blvoll (2,092; 25-55-75-85-90) — ■Letter of Introduction' (U). Opens here> today (Wed ). Second (final) Week of 'Little Tough Guy' (U) was only $7,000, pale. First week, $12,500. okay. Roxy (5,836; 25-40-55-75)^' Alex- ander (20th) and stage show (4th week). Remarkable staying qualities means $52,000 or over this week (4th), enablitig picture plenty of margin to essay a fifth session, first time in history of house any picture will have gpne mpre than fPUr. The third week was $63,700, splendid. ^ Strand (2,767; 25-55-75 ) — 'Boy. Meets Girl* (WB) and. In person, Ben Bernie orchestra (1st week). Nut high opening week, including $12,()00 2' advertising, but promising at $35 000 or better for fair profit.. Entire show holds. House was closed F?idSy\26) "^^^^ t° opening fp!^?w,i^'"''=v 35-55-75) - 'Texans* (Par) (2d run) and, on stage, Don Redman orchestra, Jpe Laurie, Jr and Raye and Naldi. Ifs hprrprs $12,500, hunks pf carmen. Last week. mfo'oTfiJiY^^ '""^ -"'^-' m; $7,000, BEHER THAN OK IN OKLA. CITY . , Oklahoma City, Aug. 30. Towns oxhibs showing, more op- timism with .gro.?scs on upgrade for past two weeks. 'Alexander' set for town s top at the Midwest. Eslimate.i for This Week . Criterion (Stan.) (1,300; 10-25-40) ''l^e*^ (WB). Should do 50,000, above average. Last week, "^'■''y' ^^■. plenty good at $u,OUO. , Liberty (Stan.) (1,200; 10-20-25)— Mr Moto' (20th) with 'Keep Smil- ing (20th ). foiir days, and Pcnrod's Double Trouble' (WB) with 'My.s- lery House' (FN), three days. Will got around $2,600, slightly over house average. Last week 'Booloo' (Par) with 'Fast Company' (MG), four days, and 'Yoiirig Fugitives' (U), with Chaser' (M-G), three daysi not .so hot at $2,100. Midwest (Stan.) (1.500; 10-25-40)— 'Alexander' (20th). Should do $7,000 for cr.irif orjack week. Last week 'Tcxan.s' (Par) $5,400. nice. State (Noblc) (1,100: . 10-2(1-2.';)- 'Call of Yukon' (Ucni ,-ind 'Life Bc- Cins With Love' (Rf-p). Will, do $2,000. below par. La.st week 'Gladia- tor' (Colo iind 'nom;mce On the Run* (nop),'Kood at $2,800. Towor (Stan.) (1.100; 10-25-35)— 'Andy K.irdy' 'M-G). FoUow.s one week run ;it Criterion and .should come in for house average of $2..';00. Last v,eek 'My Bill' (FN) fell off at $2,100. / VARIETY PICTURE GROSSES Wednesday^ August 31, 1933 Temp. Chill Helps Philly Nabes, But Not Deluxers; 'Algiers Clicking $16,000 Philadelphia, Aug. 30. ' Cool, pleasant weather reacting fa- vorably On nabe grosses in past few weeks, but failing to give any ap- preciable boost to midtown houses. While figures in the de luxers are generally better than they were earlier in the summer, only a couple spots with strong product are show- ing any real -life. Top o' the heap continues to be 'Alexander's Ragtime Band,' now fn its third stanza at the Stanley and doing better than $17,500. Good for one more lap. Next is the Aldine, ■which opened with "Algiers' last Wednesday (24) after usual summer shuttering. Clicking with $16,000 and getting an unusually lucky break in the weather, as house is only down- towner not equipped with air-condi- tioning. Estimates for This Week Aldine (WB) (1.303; 42-57-68-75)— 'Algiers' (UA). Week's cool weather heaven-sent for this house, 'which opened last Wednesday (24) after summer shutdown. Only de luxer in town without air-conditioning; V. g. at $16,000. B«yd (WB) (2,350; 37-57-63-75)— Tour's Crowd' (WB). Not up to usual standard, but oke $13,500. Last wfeek; 'Gateway' (20th), $i0,()00. EBTle (WB) (2.758; 25-37-42-57-68) —'Keep Smiling' (20th) and Phil Harris and his orch on stage. Lack of support for Harris' name, not par- ticularly strong here, causing house to slip somewhat this sesh, although still on profit side at about $18,500. Last week, 'Rich Man' (M-G) and Tony Martin on boards, nice $20,500. Fojc (WB) (2,423; 37-57-158-75 )— 'Spawn of North' (Par). Fish flick surprisingly oke at more than $13,-. 000. Last week, 'Boy Meets Girl' (WB), weak $12,500. Karlton (WB) (1,066; 37-42-57-88) — 'Swiss Miss' (M-G). Figured by WB execs too weak to start oft any- where else, policy of continued run Karlton was shifted this week to take this on its preem lap here. Sub- stantiating pre-judgment with n. s. h. $3,000. Last week, 'Letter' (U) (2d run), fair $3,500. Keith's (WB) (1,870; 37-42-57-68)— •Boy Meets Girl' (WB) (2d run). Not quite UD to par with $3,500. t,ast week, 'Crowd Roars' (MG) (2d run), $3,500. Stanley (WB) (2,916; 37-57-68-75) —'Alexander' (20th) (3d week). On expected skid, but still doing swell $17,500. Last week, second in town, clicked oflE very nifty $20,000. In for one more session before it is pushed out by 'Carefree' (RKO) on Sept. 8. Stanton (WB) (1,457; 26-42-57)— •Reformatory' (Col). Looks like house may be at last reacting to conr stant string of prison mellers. N. s. g. this turn at hardly better tiiu„ $4,000. Last week. 'Racket Busters' (WB), so-so $5,000 in eight days. AUTO BOOM UPS DEL m mm $16,000 Detroit, Aug. 30. Autumn film biz here is looking up with a vengeance, following eight months of generally brutal grosses. Film row's returning optimism is predicated on .two undeniable fac- tors: recall of thousands of auto workers, as preparations get under way on 1939 model cars, plus box office activity at United Artists and Fox past two weeks. Both bouses are playing the first of new season's releases, 'Marie An- toinette' (M-G) at UA and 'Alex- ander's Ragtime Band' (20th) at the Fox, with both spots bidding fair to surpass anything in past three or four years. 'Ragtime,' now in second whopper stanza at the Fox, exceeded all fig- ures of the past four years, in the matter of attendance, during its first session. Even topping the smash appearance of 'Goose' Goslin, following 1935 World's Series when Tiger outfielder drove in winning run to give town its first world- base- ball title in history. Flicker's second stanza is likewise running well ahead of the usual h. o. pace, 'Antoinette' reopened United De- troit's United Artists last Thursday (25), following two months of dark- ness, and played to biggest first-day crowds since 'Modern 'Times' (UA) four yeai:s ago. Weekend saw sim- ilar activity, despite draught of Michigan State Fair's all-star attrac- tions, and house looks to terrif take (or first stanza. Holdover certain.- From the automotive angle, town's prospects are equally bright. Motor moguls, readily given to hang crepe first eight months of this year, have changed their tune and freely pre- dict increase of 25-40% -ale of 1939 model cars, which'Il be thrown on the market considerably earlier this fall, probably by Oct 1-15. In past announcement date's been around a month, later. If predictions eventuate; and many In the auto trade believe they're con- servative, it'll mean, plenty of work for everybody hereabout who've, been on relief past many months. Film boys will get their share of cash, which figures to be plenty. Shortly after Labor Day figures to see reopening of UD's other shut first-runner, the Madison: Also re- sumption of stage shows at the Michigan, which has been dual pol- icy since June. Estimates for This Week Adams (Balaban) (1.700: 30-40)— 'Little Tough Guy' (U) plus 'Lim- berlost' (Mono), dual. Looks for around $4,000, okay. House pulled 'Sailing Along' (GB) and 'Wives Un- der Suspicion' (UA) last week after only five days, combo getting brutal $1,500. Fox (Indie) (5,000; 30-40-65)— 'Alexander' (20th) ■ (2d week) plus Happy. Felton topping vaude (3d week). Still clicking oft smartly at nearly $30,000, following terrif $42,- 500 last week. Michitran (United Detroit) (4.000; 30-40-65)— 'Spawn of North' (Par) plus 'Give Me Sailor' (Par), dual. Lifting house's take to about $9,200, pretty good in view of thhigs. Last stanza so-so $7,000 for 'Clitterhouse' (WB) and 'Shopworn Angel' (M-G). Palms-State (UD) (3,000:30-40-50) —'Clitterhouse' (WB) (2d run) plus 'Army Girl' (Rep), dual. Robinson opus moved here from Michigan; paced for $5,000, fairish. Last week better $5^00 for 'Andy Hardy' (M-G) (2d run) and 'Racket Busters' (WB). Vnitcd ArtisU (UD) (2.000: 30-40- 55)— 'Marie Antoinette' . (M-G). Looks like smash $16,000 for this house, which reopened laist week after two months of darkness. Flicker good for at least thres weeks, maybe more. SPEED'-HEIDT RECORD 17G ININDPLS. Indianapolis, Aug. 30. Horace Heidt orch, with 'Speed to Burn,' is heading for 25-year house record at vaudfllm Lyric, with other theatres feeling the competish. (Circle and Loew's running about even, with former house in second week of 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' and latter dualling, 'I Am the Law' and 'Blockheads.' Apollo barely in the black with 'Give Me a Sailor.' Estimates for This Week Apollo (Katz-DoUe) (1,100; 25-30- 40)— 'Give Me Sailor* (Par). Just so-so at $3,200. Last week, 'Letter' (U) and Devil's Party' (U), in second week moved from Circle, fair at $3,200. Circle (Katz-DoUe) (2,800; 25-30- 40)— 'Alexander' (20th) (2d week). Holding up nicely at $7,000. Last week, pic exceeded expectations to turn in socko $14,500, best week of year for house. Loew's (Loew's) (2,400; 25-30-40) —'I Am Law' (Col) and 'Blockheads' (M-G). Mediocre $6,800. Last week, 'Rich Man' (M-G) and 'Chaser' (M-G), sickly $4,300, worst in weeks. Lyric (Olson) (2,000; 25-30-40)— 'Speed to Burn' (20th) and Horace Heidt orch. Answer to showman's prayer with terrific $17,000, setting an all-time high. Last week, 'Gate- way' (20th) and vaude, under aver- age at $7,500. W So-So, {10,000 in Prov., Xhkks' ROOO Providence, Aug. 30. 'Alexander's Ragtime. Band' still big biz getter 'here in second week. Gave Majestic biggest gross in years in first week with zpwie $15,000. Loew's State looking forward to only fair $10,000 with 'I Am the Law.' Estimates (oir This Week Albee (RKO) (2,200; 25-35-50)— 'Carey's Chickens' (RKO) and 'Sky Giant' (RKO). May get good $7,000. Last week, 'Wonderful Time' (RKO) and 'Fast Company' (M-G), $7,000. State (Loew) (3,200; 25-35-50)— '1 Am Law' (Col) and 'Blockheads' (M-G). Only fair $10,000. Last week, 'Rich Man' (M-G) and 'Fast Company' (M-G), fair $10,000. Majestic (Fay) (2,300; 25-35-50)— 'Alexander' (20th) (2d week). Biz very strong for holdover and sure bet for $9,000, swell. Last week, same pic, record $15,000. 'Strand (Indie) (2,200; 25-35-50) — 'Texans' (Par) and 'Main Event' (Col). Stepping along to $6,000, fair. Last week, 'Give. Me Sailor* (Par) arid 'Show Gees On* (Rep), so-so $5,500. SAILOR'S' K. e. SOLO FAIR 7G Kansas City, Aug. 30. Mild is the tempo on theatre row, with the Esquire turning in the most outstanding results. This house opened last week as Fox-Widwest's bid for the de luxe trade, with 'Alex- ander' as the draw. House continues right on into second week with but only a few dollars difference daily from first weex. Rufe Davis is helping the Tower»to a sturdy figure, and this house leads the rest of the pack. Films at the Midland and Newman are in the average groove. . It's the calm before the storm, as all houses break out with top notch attractions for the Labor Day week- end and the opening of the new fall show season. RKO opens the Orpheum Friday (3). Estimates for This Week Esqoire (Fox-Midwest) (820; 15- 25-40-55) — 'Alexander' (20th) (2d week). Imitating the pace set last week, when it opened this little de luxer for Fox, $8,800 current week, which, following on the $9,500 of last week, points to a third week's run. Midland Loew's) (3,573; 10-25-40) — 'I Am Luv' (Col) and 'Gladiator' (Col), doubled. Going along to aver- age $7,800. Last week, 'Rich Man' (M-G) and 'Blockheads' (M-G), twin-billed, average, too, at $7,800. Newman (Par) (1,900; 10-25-40)— 'Give Me Sailor' (Par). Takes the helm single-featured. Bringing fair $7,000 into port Last week, 'Racket Busters' (WB), solo, started well but tamed down to average $7,000. Tower (Fox-Midwest) (2,200; 10- 25-40) — 'Devil's Party' (U) and vaude headed by Rufe Davis. Bill cut to six days to' allow for pre- holiday opening with Jan Garber. Short week will see around $9,500, satisfactory though under mark of past couple of shows here. Last week, 'Carey's Chickens' (RKO) and Gene Austin heading stage bill, $12,000, handsome. Uptown (Fox-Midwest) (1,200; 10- 25-40)— 'Texans' (Par). Actually a third week, as film stood two weeks in its initial downtown showing at Newman. Biz good on this one, likely $3,300. Last week, 'Carey's Chickens' (RKO), day-and-date with Tower, off-key at $2,700. 'Marie's' Pepping Up Geve. With Great $18,500; '4's Crowd' Good 12G Cleveland, Aug. 30. Fall ice being broken by 'Marie Antoinette,' which is roaring away to highest summer gross for Loew's State and adding impetus to new season. First 13 showings ^ycre ca- pacity houses, something not seen hereabouts since last winter. Next best money-maker is 'Four's a Crowd,' going on all cylinders at Hipp. Estimates for This Week Allen (RKO) (3,000; 30-35-55) — 'Alexander' (20th). Third week after shift from Hipp, but making sweet music at $8,500. Last week, 'Keep Smiling' (20th), amiable $3,500 on split-week. Alhambra (Printz) (1,200; 20-30-35) —'Crime Ring' (RKO) and 'Main Event' (Col). Pair of okay action melleri down house's alley; neat $2,200 for four days. Last week, 'Highway Patrol' (Col) and 'Come On Leathernecks,' dualed, okay $2,100. Hipp (Warners) (3.700; 15-40-55)— 'Four's a Crowd,' (WB). Smart, fast comedy shooting for $12,000, good. Last week, 'Alexander' (20th), on h.o., held up through heat for ex- cellent $11,200. Palace (RKO) (3,200: 30-35-40-55) — 'Racket Busters' (WB). Not a record-buster, but enough excite- ment to reach good $10,400. Last week, 'Carey's Chickens' (RKO), $9,500, satisfactory. State (Loew's) (3,450; 30-40-55)— 'Marie Antoinette' (M-G). Nothing to approach it, with standees over weekend and everybody boosting it to a fare-thee-well. All the ear- marks of a great $18,500. Last week, 'Texans' (Par), $10,000, fair. StIIIman (Loew's) (1,972); 30-40- 55)—' Rich Man' (M-G). Simple yet bright farce drawine family trade, $4,500. Last week, '.Fast Company' (M-G) went to nice $5,500. Mpk Yens nesh, Won -Bowes Good for Big $12,000; 'Alex' 8G 2ii Spotty Baltimore Biz; Ice'-Vaade HH (18,000 Baltimore, Aug. 30. Spotty doifigs here, with leaders extra bullish and laggers trailing along dolefully. Hipp, ballyhooing its seventh anniversary of combo policy under Izzy Rappapoft, and coupling an extra heavy vaude line- up headed by Frances Langford and Red Skelton to 'Breaking Ice' pack- ing them in with bango $18,000 in sight. Second week of 'Alexander' also getting continued extra strong play at New, with profit making $8,500 in- dicated. Estimates for This Week Cestnry (Loew's-UA) (3,000; 15- 25-35-40-55)— 'Woman' (M-G). Slug- gish at $5;S00. Last week, 'Rich Man' (M-G), n.g. $5,300. Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2,205; 15-25-35-40-55) — 'Breaking Ice' (RKO) and vaude. Anniversary stage show headed by p.a. of Frances Langford and Red Skelton. Leading town with biggest take in weeks, $18,000. Last week, 'Army Girl' (Rep) and Sammy Kaye orch, very mild $8,800. Keith's (Schanberger) (2,460; 15- 25-35-40-55)— 'Give Me Sailor' (Par). Opened yesterday (Mon.) after three weeks of 'Letter' (U). Latter got satisfying grand total of $13,300 for run. New (Mechanic) (1,558; 15-25-35- 55)— 'Alexander' (20th) (2d wk). Holding up in boom style with profitable $8,500 indicated afte;r rec- ord opening session of $10,700. Third Stanley (WB) (3,250; 15-25-35-40- 55) — '.Racket Busters' (WB), Get- ting extra heavy support from Hearst-owned NewsrPost and some mild trade to possible $6,000. Last week,. 'My Biir (WB), n.g. $4,300. BOYER, $32,000, 'CAREFREE' 25G, IN BOSTON . Boston, Aug. 30. Banner week for film managers, with 'Algiers' socking a big Ully at the Loew houses; 'Carefree' is stand- ing 'em at Keith Memorial; and 'Alexander' holding a surprisingly hot pace in its third week at the Met Estimates for This Week Fenway (M&P) (1,332; 25-35-40- 55)— 'Give Me Sailor' (Par) and 'Speed to. Burn' (20th), dual. N.s.h. at $5,000. Last week, 'Texans' (Par) and 'Pen rod' (WB), double, second run. $5,000. Keith Memorial (RKO) (2,907; 25- 35-40-55) — 'Carefree' (RKO) and 'Smashing Rackets' (RKO), dual. Dandy $25,000. Last week, 'Gatewav' (20th) and 'Army Girl' (Rep), dual, poor $11,000. Metropolitan (M&P) (4,367; 25-35- 40t55)— 'Alexander' (20th) and 'Keep Smiling' (20th). dual (3d wk). Hold- ing steady gait to about $22,000. Second week very good $24,700. Orpheum (Loew) (2,900; 25-35-40- 55)— 'Algiers' (UA) and 'Rich Man' (M-G), dual. Good $18,000 indicated. Last week, 'Crowd Roars' (M-G) and 'City Streets' (Col), double, second week, dandy $15,000. Paramount (M&P) (1,797; 25-35- 40-55)— 'Give Me Sailor' (Par) and 'Speed to ".urn" (2Qth), dual. Tame $7,000. Last week, Texans' (Par) and 'Penrod' (WB), double, second run, medium $7,300. Scollay (M&P) (2,538: 25-35-40-50) —'Texans* (Par) and 'Penrod (WB), double, third un. Fair $6,000. Last week, 'Clitterhouse' (WB) and 'Piro- fessor Beware,' dual, second run, pale $5,300. State (Loew) (3,600; 25-35-40-55)— 'Algiers' (UA) and 'Rich Man' (M^G), double. Gord $14,000 indi- cated. Last week, 'Crowd Roars' (W-G) and 'City Streets' (Col), dual, second week, very good $12,000. 'BO DAVIS MIFFED Par Pays $107 For Technical Labor, Sacs For SOG tos Angeles, Aug. 30. Jeff Davis, self-styled 'King of Hoboes,' filed suit in superior court for $50,000 against Paramount, claiming his work as technical ad- visor on hobo scenes in 'The Ar- kansas Traveler' is worth that much. Davis declares he was paid only $107 for his work and refused $47 foir overtime. . Minneapolis, Aug. 30' Proximity to month's end brinein* somewhat of a boxoffice letdown but grosses still are . far above th^ depression par, as result of the strong product With 'Alexander- holding over at the Stat6 for a sec ond week and "Little Tough Guv"' failing to keep the Century prom, inently on the boxoffice map the Orpheum, thanks to a stage <;how Major Bowes' International Revue' plus a new picture, 'I'll Give a Mill 'lion,' is leading the pack by a wide margin and will finish with flying colors. After a sensational initial canto 'Alexander' continues to maintain a highly profitable gait, althounh well under that of the first seven days 'Letter of Introduction,' in its third downtown week, is keeping the World well in the black. Estimates for This Week. Aster (Par-Singer) (900; 15-25)-:. 'Saint in New York'. (RKO) and 'Mr, Chump' (WB), dual first-runs, split with 'Danger on Air' (U) and 'High- way Patrol' (Col), also dual first- runs. Looks like satisfactory $1,400. Last week, 'Bulldog Drummond' (Par) and 'Passport Husband' (20th), dual first-runs, split with 'Ci\y Streets.' (Col) and 'Pride of West' (Par), also dual first-runs, $1,600, good. Century (Par-Singer) (1,600; 25- 35-40)— 'Little Tough Guy' (U) Mixed opinions regarding this one not helping boxoffice; lucky to stretch to mild $3,500. Last week. 'Andv Hardy' (M-G <2d week). $5,500. good after splendid $10,000 first week at State. Orpheum (Par-Singer) (2.800; 35. 40-55)— 'I'll Give- Million' (20th) and Bowes' International Revue oh stage.. Public seems eager for stage enter- tainment and stage show is pulling them in. It's the. first Bowes unit here in a number of months and the boxoffice is l>enefiting accordingly; heading toward big $12,000. Last week, 'Clitterhouse' (FN), $6,000, good. State (Par-Singer) f2,300; 25-35- 40)— 'Alexander' (20th) (2d week) plus Princess Wabletka, seeress, as an added attraction on the holdover. The best film boxoffice tonic in many a moon. Enjoyed such a tremendous first week that they had to hold it over here instead of following usual procedure and moving it over to Century for extended first-run. Fine $8,000 indicated on top of stupendous $15,000 first week. Time (Berger) (290; 15-25)— 'Star Is Born* (UA) (reissue). House do- ing nicely with reissues that have played downtown once or more often at lower scales. Satisfactory $700 in prospect. l,ast week, 'Treas- ure Island' (M-G) (reissue), $800, nice. Uptown (Par) (1,200: 25-35)— -Miss Broadway' (20th). First neighbor- hood showing, en route to good S3.000. La.st week, "Wonderful Time' (RKO) split with "Shopworn Angel* (M-G). $2,800. okeh. World (Steflfes) <290 : 25-35-40-55) —'Letter of Introduction' (U) (3d week). Continues to build and should top its first week (second downtown) at this house); good $1,600 indicated. Last week, $1,500, good after $5,500 first week at Or- pheum. 'RICH MAN'-VAUDE AMS HYPO BUFFALO, $20,000 Buffali, Aug. 30. Two hold-overs and Bowes unit are showing their heels to box office depression here this week. "Alexander,' switched to the Lakes for second week, is still strong. Ams at Buffalo are again demonstrating continued popularity of this type of show here, while holdover of 'Tougll Guy' at Lafayette looks to, garner first-class figure. Estimates for This Week Buffalo (Shea) (3,500; 30-35-50 'Rich Man' (M-G) and Bowes unit Zooming to top brackets, which may mean S20,000. Last week 'Alexan- der' (20th), terrific $23,000. Century (Shea) (3,000: 25-35)-; 'Army Girl' (Rco) and 'Mr. Molo (20th). Showing slight increase m pace over preceding stanza. Perhaps S6.000. Last week 'Racket Buster? (WB) and 'Speed to Burn' (20tn.). fair $5,100. • . Great Lakes (Shea) (3,000: 30-50) —'Alexander' (20th) (2d wk). Ex- cellent h.o. business, with maica- tions pointing to great $12,000. _Las' week 'Give Me a Sailor' NIM>!I OITICK, S St. IfartiB'* riac*, Tnitalcsr O^nun INTERNATIONAL NEWS Cnbie A15,b00. this resulted in the Authors Assn. apposing the West End managers' ruUng: about cheaper :i»ice3, with playwrights declining to accept siich t daiue in their contracts, claiming macigers have no riglit to tell the lutbors what to do with their brain children after the managers have . finished with them. BltAZlLEYES2U.S.C0S. . Rio de Jaiheiro, Aug. 18. Stern' editorials in newspapers here,' directed against two A'merlcah prwlucing outfits for alleged anti- coffee propaganda, followed reptorts. that the Department of National Propaganda had asked that flira cen- sors .be on the alert for pictures pntduced. by Columbia Pictures and First National. Pictures not named but are supposed to be productions In which 'Miss Iced-Coffee' festival in -New York was kidded. . Bp^zll is spending considerably on coffee propaganda: Whether any action on banning, the . films, or cracking down on the. two . com- panies, for showing the pictures in question will be taken, remains un- decided. American distributors here wlU not comment on the incident though hopeful that it is a' misunder- standing on tlie part of government oiBcials. Mex Commish Named To Settle Labor Snags Mexico Gity,' Aug. 30. . Row between picture producers Mil exhibitors for supremacy of two Workers' unions, which boycotted a wuple of productions and promised w send the industry to the bow- wows, has been settled with inter- vention of the Confederation of Mexican workers. laboritcs are to be directed by a national commish with facilities for nandling most any work difficulty. Upiniere Back to Paris I-apiniere, European publicity ctuef for Metro, received his first American citizenship papers before «^mg today (\Vcdnesday) for He has been in N. Y. for the last 'Ur weeks i ofificfe ofricials, lour weeks conferring with liom U*8 Mex Dislrib Spanish productions made in Mox- Mu'ii u"^ Ijy Fernando de Fucritcs w'H be distributed outside ot Mex- co by Universal. Deal was mndc «« week by J. H. Scidelman. for- *'Sn chief of U. MOLIEK QUITS DANE THEATRE . Copenhagen, Aug. 20. Andreas MoUer, director of the ^Bh national theatre for years, '^.''ss'gned for a post , with the ^nptry of education. «e had. for- •nwiy been with the latter. tifJJ* ""^w director is Hegermann i .""crone, department head, in the •nistry of education. Cobian to Do Spanish Pic For 20th on Return to U.S. . iRamos Cobian, who produced 'My Two Loves,' Spanish language fea- ture lor Paramount distribution, is expected back from Puerto Rico early next month after inspecting his large circuit of theatres in that country. He heads the United Thea- tres circuit, reputedly the biggest chain ther-e. . Cobian will head . for the Coast shortly after returning to the U. S; to begin production on his initial Spanish lahguager for 20th-Fox.- 2S YANKEE ACTS BOOKED FOR ENGLAND London, Aug. 22: Charles L. Tucker's recent trip to Ameirica has resulted in lineup of 25 Yank acts for England. Those already signatured,; with others to follow, are Winter Sisters, . opening Palladium Sept. 9, with General The- atres Corp. tour to follow; 'Olive White, at the Trocadero restaurant, and then into Tucker's vaudeville unit for 25-week run;. Bob Bromley, Trocadero, Sept. 19, then Berkeley, and Savoy hotels, with 16 weeks for GTC; Paul Draper at the Coliseum, in October, doubling into the Cafe.de Paris; Carr Bros, and Betty op— N'mv d;i. '.it,- '.XIo and My (.Ili-l.* ■ \'irt" ■■.i>l. ' ■ -I.ofs Wife.' .Jilrtn>ch-.lunp 10. ■(-om**(h,-nh(*.' ( In.'. in;ii*Kc(— .hiiif- Ifl. ■ •Ci l.lcii I!".*'.' .Si. J^iliii'."-.!!!"!- -I. '.\l.iillz.i ■ l':ilfic"-,lul> fi '.";|n. 'P'tt Wus Viiunc.,- Wyiiilliiipn s- .\UK '"■•nic r-IOOl's Lit .ri'.' HI|l;'lJ■l^.lnl;-.^M«. l '•Uist •Lj:iln .Sii .' ::i.M:illl"'.s. .\0». U, MEX 10,000-SEAT AUD Mexico City, Au;;.:!0. Pliin.s have been completed by the j federal and municipal governments | for construction of an auditorium i seating 10,000. with acou.stic shell i similar to that of the Hollywood; Bowl, in Chapultepcc park, largest-, ljubiic phiyground here, for the open air pre.sentation of operas, balle(.<;, ' folk dancc.s, concerts and pa.'^eant.^. Construction is scheduled to start, in October. Mexico City. Aui;. 30. Fernando de Fuentos. Mexican pic- ture director, and hi.s wife wore stricken simultaneously with appen- dicitis at their home here. An ambulance rushed both to a hospital where Ihcy were. o|)(;ratcd on at. the .same time on adjoinint; tables. They arf; now nut (if HunjJ'jr. Bentham Gets Pole Rep ■Jcjscf Kryd, Polish agent, has beCn named' Warsaw rep of M, S, Ben- lh;ini, New York aKCiit. Fryd'.s job will be to .scout Pol.vka lalonl and .scripts for films and Ici-il. He has ali-L-ady subiniltcd ■ r. Mw- rek,' a play. studios. United is rclcusinK outlet for Pa.- vilioii. Ltd., .IlkO di.strihulors in the two CDuntrif.'.s. Pratchett Sails to C. A. A. I.. Piafclielt, PairimoimtJs divi- sion miinuticr for C'.'iilral Ariiurica, who ha.i b':en in New York for honic- officc confab.'^, .sail.s ii'ixt Saturday <,'{) fo) his ho/iK! district. .John .Vnlliiin, I'aj'.s manager In Ar;;'.'iitina, is (Iik; in Y, cither ,'3i'l)l. I.i «i 1,(;. Ilc'.s due to .sail friim iiucuo:; irca this week. VARIETY Wednesday, August 31, 1938 Motion Pictures Are ★ General Committee GEORGE J. SCHAEFER Chcdnnaii NEIL AGNEW JOHN BALABAN JOSEPH BERNHARD GEORGE E. BROWNE JOHN DANZ J. J. FlTZGroBONS y. FRANK FBEEMAN. SR. R. E. GRIFFITH M. B. HORwrrz M. A. LIGHTMAN CHARLES MOSKOWITZ JOHN J. O'CONNOR ROBERT J. ODONNELL H. M. RICHEY GRADWELL L. SEARS JOSEPH M. ^EIDER EDWIN SlLVEIttfAN SPYROS SEOURAS HERMAN WOBBER NATHAN YAMINS FRANK C. WALKER Treosurer HAROLD B. FRANKLIN Business Mcmager PAUL GXnJCK Campaign Co-ordinotor JAMES CLARK Physical Distribution AGNES MENGEL Chainnon Purchasing Conunittee * Gooperation of theatre Men Is Advance Guarantee of Success F o r t h e I n d us t r y D r i v e As. Chairman of "Motion Pictures' Greatest Year Drive," I feel that it is appropriate not to let another day go by. before offering the thanks of the entire industry to the theatre, men of America arid Canada- for their marvelous, vtf:hole- hearted co-operation in planning and getting under way the biggest concerted undertaking that the motion picture business, in all its , branches, has ever participated in. The independent theatre owners, the circuit operators and exhibitors in the smallest situations have already earned— and -hereby receive— the grateful appreciation bf the General Committee Which is now in a position to foresee positively the sweeping success , which , we all hoped for from the first conception of thie idea behind the Drive. In all my years in picture business I hove never known anything like the enthusiasm, the hard Work 'and the prompt financial support with which the theatre men of the country rallied qs one to did the Drive cuid what it stands for. . To liiy way of thinking, one of its most remarkable aspects is' the . fact that all this has been accomplished in the incredibly short period of thirty^, days , . . which in itself shows what can.be achieved when concentrated force is put: behind industry activity. Theatre owners have been and always will be the baqkbone of our busi^- ness and there can be no serious or lasting crisis in an industry, which can so speedily and effectively throw its resources and energies behind a plan for mutual hislp. "Motion Pictures' Greatest Year" is an enterprise not only important to the film industry but is q move which the whole structure of American business must watch with a vigorous interest. .. I believe that when the Drive is over, the . actual box-office benefits will be so marked and the goodwill built, so wide- spread that the entire business world will see in it a new record for co^ operation in any industry. It is the theatre men alone who have made this possible. For on them rests the duty of putting the Drive over. And thus far, no work has been too hard no demands too great. The Genercd Committee looks forward to the. next four months with utmost confidence, knowing that the hardest task . . . that of building dnd sustaining public interest . is in the capable hands of the theatre operator. We hove tried to give him every help. The producers hove expedited their finest product for early release. We hove launched cdi energetic publicity dnd advertising campaign to the public. We hove given the theatre opercrtor, we believe, sound exploitation facilities in the pressbook which has already been mailed countrywide. We are confident that he will keep his own efforts at maximum acceleration up to the day the Movie Ouiz Contest closes. We expect that box-office business will very definitely be on a noticeable upbeat long before the contest's closing date. The year 1939 Will begin with the keenest public interest our industry has ever enjoyed. Because of the drive; motion pictures will indeed be more vitcd to the overage man than at any other time. And the thanks of everyone whose lives touch motion pictures ... from the studio personnel who makes them, to the public who sees them . . . will be grateful to those who have really made the Drive a success . . . the theatre owners of Americo. George J, National Headquarters Moti< 1540 BROADWATi tTednesday, August 31, 1938 VARIETY Contact Your Regional Chairman for Authentic I ni or mat io n * CITY REGIONAL CHAIRMAN Albany SI FABIAN. Palace Theatre Albany, N. Y. Atlanta W. K. JENKINS, 512 Walton Bldg. Atlanta, Ga. Boston .......... ..MAX LEVENSON, 294 Washington St. Boston, Ma^s. . Buffalo VINCENT McFAVL, 646 Main St. Buffalo, N. Y. - Charlotto H. F. KINCEY, 154 Walton St., N. W. Atlanta, Ga. Chicago EDWIN SILVERMAN, 549 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, III. Cincinnati ....... . MAURICE WHITE, Keith Theatre Bldg. Cincinnati, Ohio Cleveland MOE HORWITZ, 2108 Payne Ave. Cleveland, Ohio - Pallas R.E. GRIFFITH, Tower Petroleum Bldg. Dallas, Texas .RICK RICKETON, 1631 Glenarm St. Denver, Colo. Des Moines RALPH BRANTON, Capitol Theatre Bldg. Des Moines,; Iowa Detroit .... ...H. M. RICHEY, 1001 Fox Theatre Bldg. Detroit, Mich. Jacksonville ;B. B. GARNER, Box 1M1 Lakeland, Fla. Kansas City, ...... ELMER RHODEN, Fox Midwest Theatre Agency Corp. Kansas City, Mo. Los Angeles ....... CHARLES P. SItOURAS, Fox West Coast Theaices \ Los Angeles, Calif. Looisvlile .. . . S. J. SWITOW, Kentucky Theatre Bldg. Louisville, Ky. Memphis M. A. LIGHTMAN, 138 So. Main St Memphis, Tenn. - Milwaukee H. J. FITZGERALD, Fox Midwest Theatres Milwaukee, Wise. Minneapolis W. A. STEFFES, World Theatre Bldg. Minneapblis, Minn. Nashville ....TONY SUDEKUM, Crescent Amusement Co. Nashville, Tenn; New Haven JACK FISHMAN, 134 Meadow SU New Haven,, Conn. New Orleans N. L. CARTER, Tudor theatre Bldg. New Orleans, La. New York .... JOSEPH M. SEIDER, 1501 Broadway New York City Oklahoma City R. E. GRIFFITH, Tower Petroleum Bldg, Dallas, Texas Umaha RALPH BRANTON, Capitol Theatre Bldg. Des Moines, Iowa PhlladelphU LEWEN PIZOR, Philadelphia Savings Fuiid Bldg. Philadelphia, Pa. PilUburgh ........JOHN HARRIS, 711 Clark Bldg. Pittsburgh, Pa. Pbrtland^ TED GAMBLE, Broadway Theatre Portland, Ore. St. Lonis FRED WEHRENBERG, 2735 Cherokee St. St. Louis, Mo. Salt Lake City HARRY DAVID, Intermountain Theatre Circuit Salt Lake City, . Utah San Francisco . R. A. McNEIL, MORGAN WALSH, San Francisco, Calif. Seattle JOHN DANZ, 206 Palomar Bldg. Seattle, Wash. Springfleld, Mass.. NATE S. GOLDSTEIN, Broadway Theatre Bldg. SprlngHeid, Mass. Washington, D. C...R. SMELTZER, 901 North Jersey Ave., N. W. Washington, D. C. Canada .,J. J. FITZGIBBONS, Toronto, Canada ACCESSORY EXCHANGE Columbia Pictures Exchange 1050 Broadway 20th Century-Fox Exchange 197 Walton St., N. W. 20th Ceutury-Fox Exchange ■ 105 Broadway 20th Century-Fox Exchange 290 Franklin St. . RKO Radio Pictures Exchange )!15 W. Fourth St. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Exchange 1327 So. Wabash Ave. Paramount Pictures Exchange ' 1214 Central Parkway Melro-Goldwyn-Mayer Exchange 2346 Payne Ave. . 20th Century-Fox Exchange 1801 Wood St. United Artists Exchange 2065 Broadway Columbia Pictures Exchange 1003 High St. RKO Radio Pictures Exchange 2310 Cass Ave. Paramount Pictures Exchange 110 N. Lee St. Warner Bros. Pictures Exchange 1701 Wyandotte St. Paramount Pictures Exchange 1613 W. 20th iSt. 20th Century-Fox Exchange 326 N. Illinois St, Indlanapolls.Ind. ; Warner Bros. Pictures Exchange 384 S. Second St. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Exchange 736 W. SUte St 20th Century-Fox Exchange '1015 Currle Ave., North Warner Bros. Picture Exchange 384 S. Second St, Memphis, Tenn. Universal Film Exchange, Inc. 125 Meadow St Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer iExchango 150 S. Liberty St Paramount Pictures Exchange 331-337 W. 44th St Warner Bros. Pictures Exchange - 630 W. Grand Ave. United Artists Exchange 1508 Davenport ^t. RKO Radio Pictures Exchange 302-10 N. 13th St Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Exchange .1631 Boulevard of the Allies RKO Radio Pictures Exchange 915 N. W. 19th Ave. . Universal Film Exchange, 3320 Olive St United Artists Exchange 214 E. First South St Warner Bros. Pictures Exchange 215 Golden Gate Ave.. Warner Eros. Pictures Exchange 2403 Second Ave. 20th Cenlury-Foix Exchange 105 Broadway, Boston, Mass, RKO Radio Pictures Exchange 203 Eye St., N. W. Farambuht Pictures Exchange Hi Bond St EXEC UTIVE PROMOTION COMMITTEE HOWARD DETZ ROBERT GULHAM CHARLES McCarthy GENERAL PUBLICITY COMMITTEE MORRIS BERGMAN LYNN FARNOL MONROE GREENTHAL LOUIS LIPTON BARRETT McCORMACK LOUIS POLLACK myiNGRUBINE EXPLOITATION COMMITTEE OSCAR DOOB JOHN DO WD HARRY GOLDBERG NEWSREEL COMMirTEE MICHAEL CLOFFINE THEODORE MEADE ALBERT ;. RICHARDS TRUMAN TALLEY FRED ULLMAN. JR. HOLLYWOOD STAFF FRANK WHITBECK, Chairman. Trailer Committee GABEYORKE HOWARD BENEDICT GREGORY DICKSON CHARLES LEONARD DAVID LIPTON FREDERICK MARSHALL HERBERT MOULTON TROYORR BILL PIERCE JOE REDDY PAUL SNEU HOWARD STRICKLING ROBERT TAPLINGER JACK GROSS THORNTON SARGENT BEN WALLERSTEDf Special Campaign Trailers Distributed by NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE, INC. Throughout U. S* A. ASSOCIATED SCREEN NEWS MONTREAL. CANADA. Canadian Distributor ★ a Pictures Greatest Year, Inc. New YORK CITY 18 VARIETY FILM REVIEWS Wednesday, August 31, 1938 CAREFREE (WITH SONGS) : RKO-Rnillo r«lc(iHe of Pnhilro S. n^rman pit>Uuctfon. Siars Fred' Aatnire An^l Ginger RoKCrs: teaturea - Ralph Uellnmy,' Luells Gear. Jack Carson, Clarence' Kolb. Frankr lln runKborn. UlrecteO by Mark SnnJrIch. 3onf[a by IrvlnB Derlln. Screenplay, BrneM Painnn and Allan Scott: atnry and atlapia> tton, Du.lley .SIchola «n,| Hasnr Wllh Ilellamy Luella Oear ...lack Cataon CIni-cnco Kolb .'Franklin . r.ancbora . . .Walter KInKSford .....J. '.Kay Sutton Robert 11. Mllcheir and tils St. DoyB - Drendan'8 Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, reunited in 'Carefree,' with an Irving Berlin set of four good songs, and under the sartie surefire auupices aS heretofore, delve into psychoanalysis for their screenscript. The result may inspire some to wo=der if the psyching shouldn't have started, in the studio. It's a disappointing story and the stars alone may save it Word-of-mbuth will be poor. Paradoxically, some of the com- ponent highlights are. ultra, . but in toto it doesn't mesh and leaves the auditor bewildered at this neo- Mackscnnett plot, with Astaire hyp- notizing his co-star; Miss Rogers walking to the altar, obsessed with the hypnotic suggestion that Astaire is a cad and Ralph Bellamy ^ nobleman, etc. Still, in the dream sequence, as re-, suit of a sedative administeired by Dr. Astaire, the team does one of its " best double numbers ('Color Blind' is the tune),, wherein a slow-motion camera truly points up the poetry of their! terpsichorean motion. The idea was done once before by the elder Fairbanks in a' dream chase sequence, but the ; slow motion,, for terp. effect, has been surprisingly neglected until now. '. It's a socko production nicety. Astaire's very.! first specialty, a goU-ball daiice, give£ it a faist gait, but pretty soon .the story (for which six. plead guilty, no less, on the credits) asserts its handicaps. Astdircfv as part of a flirtation routine, gives out in swingorhighland fling via moiith-organ, thence into a dash, of 52d street hoot-mon, and the topper is that rhythmic routine, driving off a flock of golf balls from the green. Miss Roger,"!, while under hypnotic Influence, reminds of some of the' in- hibitions that Paramount's *I( I Had a Million' so brightly presented. Here she shatters plate-glass win- dows, baits policemen, and even broadcasts that her sponsor (she's a radio songstress) puts out the poor est product. "The Yam" is part of a country club background; The Night, is Filled With: Music' and 'Change Partners* along with 'I Used To Be. Color Blirid' are worked into the plot's progres- sion, more or less plausibly, although the hypnotic premise makes the plot one of those things. 'The. Yam' as a dance creation is just another terp number and won't happen. Hermes Pan's dance staging is chiefljr Astaire and Rogers; there are no big dance numbers. Astaire's own subconscious mind, speaking to hirn— via a mirror se- quence—and much, to do about psychoses and inhibitions creates a doubt if they'll savvy it in the sticks. Luella Gear's intended dry comedy relief never comes off. Jack Carson impresses only oh his rangey per sonality which, with better script for- tiflcation, may carry him along. Clarence Kolb almost does a svelte trish Justice as the judge and the rest ire bits. No comedy to speak oft, Franklin Pangborn's usual nance is Iragged in by the S.chiaparelli and Robert B. Mitchell and his St. Brendan's Boys (a Coast choir, which ^ has done film and radio chores of ^ late) must be on . the cutting room ■ floor. Presumably intended for the W . altar sequen(^es, and only heard in f background, scoring. Astaire looks good and deports himself UD to standard, as does Miss Rogers. Her frontal effect, however, Is .handicapped by some unkind camera angles.. Or it may have been that the tiredness she evidences in some sequences couldn't be camou flaged. Running time of. 83 minutes makes this their shortest film,- and yet it's thin despite the curtailed footage. Abel, I AM THE LA>y Columbia rcleanc of Gvere'.t RlHkIn pro, duction. Slur.4. Kdwnrd G: UdlilnRon; fca- turen nnrltura O'.N'cU. Wcnd'y Itnrrle. John Ben I, Otto Kruv'cr. Olrei-tcd i,y 'Alexander Hall Story. Frc,l AIHiorT; wci-cpn piny. J. Swer'InK: cnmcrn. Henry Freiillfhi i'dltor Viola, Lowi-c'nce. At C'aiiltol. .\\ Y;. week Auk '2\ '.I.**.' nunitlDi; llm,^. mlns. John Mnd>-ay. Jerry F.imlHiiy. . . . Paul Fcrifunon. . . . Frankle nnllnu... Buiicne FertruHon. Tom .Rn-'iH.' ....... Kddle Glr.-ird Berry Mnaa Kitclii-ll. . . . . Insi^otor nieuMo . r^ander J. W. nudcr Mrs. Duder ...... . Bdwar'l G. Ilolilnnoi ...llilrb.-ir.n, cV.Vell . Jiihil IVu .. . . . . Won ly ri:ii rl . ,■ (Ht'i KrltKci- Arthur I.ert Mldilleinrtwi Ivan Miller .......Charles llnltnn ....Ixiulfl Jean Heydl : . Fny Helm It's a slam-bang, rip-roaring meller that has all the elements of previous pictures inspired by District Attor- ney Thomas E. Dewey's career, plus a whole library of violence and hbke of its own. As a story, it's complete- ly iinplausible and frequently, ab-. surd, but - as fllm entertainment it has explosive action, searing . pace, , excitement and comedy. Although it would make Dewey hold his head, it will probably cause most spec- tators to cling to their seats. Apparently the title, 'I Am the Law, has : nothing to do with the liottirious statement attributed to Mayor Frank; Hague of Jersey City. Looks like the rtudio has siniply takeii a juicy phrase and pasted it on . a rock-'em-ahd-sock-'em thriller with more eye. to the b.o. than logic. Anyway, it makes a pungent title and should exert its share of draw. From the look of things, Fred- AUhoflf's original story must have been ,3 typically lurid pulp mag yarn. It's- still lurid enough, but seems to have been cbmpressed. and Riven force by Jo Swerling's twp- flsted adaptation. Alexander Hall's direction also lends drive and po- tency to. the yarn, both in pace and in the broad performances of the leading players. 1 Am the Law' is anything but subtle; it leaves noth- ing to. the imagination and it'll make intellectuals groan, but it's the kind of combustible hoke Hollywood does best.: . . ,. ,' . Story deals with a dynamic little law professor who is drafted as spe^ cial prosecutor to smash rackets. Although he is threatened, evaded, betrayed and thwarted on every hand, he succeeds in rounding up the mobsters and getting the goods oh them. Like the other current film treatments of the Dewey theme, it's simply the bid crime picture over again, this time with the prose- cutor angle instead of the 'public enemy' or G-men theme. Probably no picture out of Holly- wood in recent memory, has con- tained so many frankly impossible situations and plot twists. In that way 'I: Am the Ljiw' is something like 'Seven Keys to Baldpate' was to thrillers of its type^the , subject stretched to the. absolute liihit— that is, to absurdity: Certainly 'I. Am the Law' goes far beyond belief. And it's so hbkey that the opening night (25:) aiidience kt the Capitol, N. Y., actually applauded the hero and hissedN'the villain during the early seauences. But before long the spectators became infused with excitement and: in the latter se- quences there was the sort of re- action heard at Saturday matinees iri the nabe houses when the cowboy hero smacks down the cattle rustlers. As the small but tough prosecutor Edward. G. Robinson, hites off great chunks of scenery, rants,' snorts and muggs Iik« a tentshow barnstormer. When he dances the big apple with the gang moll irt a night club or out- slugs the hoodlums, not even a kin- dergardner would believe it. But it's also: a rousing shb\v. ■ The other performances are shrewdly" gauged foi: dramatic- con- trast, if, not for imgicar characteriza- tion. Barbara O'Neil is the quietly and dutifully helpful wife.. John Beal's generally capable perform ance is marred by hysteria in his emotional scenes. Wendy Barrie olays the pane gal with agreeable coolness; Otto Kruger's effective un- derolaying makes the part 6f the behind-the-scenes racket chief stand out, and Marc Lawrence contributes his familiar tight-lipped killer. Others are. standard. Hpbe, Miniature Reviews •Carefree* (RKO). Astalre- Rogers reunited. Perhaps their poorest musical.' '. •I An Um Law* (Gbl): Meller about a crusading special prose- ' tutor, saturated, with hoke. but vigorous Robinsbn starrer. 'Boy .Meets Girl- (WB) Gag- ney-b'Brien starreu in a fUn- fest. from the Hollywood satlrl- . cal play of the same name'. •Bloek-Head*' (MrG). Short- winded cornedy, the last for Ldurel and Hardy as a team. •Barefoot Boy' (Mono). Pleas- . ing minor saga of iliyehile ad- . venture andi heart-t h r b b s ; strong dualter. ■ 'The Gladiator' (Col ). Amon^ best Joe E. Brown comedies, •Meet the Girls' (20th). Light- weight comedy fbr the duals. 'Bulldog Drummond in Af- rica' (Par), Heather Angel and John .Howard in pretty good sequel to Drummond series. 'Bollln' Plains' (ON). Feeble oats opera with Tex Hitter siiig-. ing again as cbwboy hero; thin even, on dualers. BOY MEETS GIRL (WITH SONG) Warner RroF. prottuctlon' and release, .Star» Ji>mc.lnv by name: camera. Sol Poliln; eiUiiir. William . Kolmcs; .sonfrfl. M K. .Icronu' iind ..l:ick Scholl. At Strand ^^. v.. week Aug. 28. "38. Running time Sli minx. Robert l.n\v JnmeR Cocney J. G. Itcnsoir: ........Pat 0*nrlcn Susie Marie Wilson C. Clllult Friday ...Itnlph nollnmy Roancttl Irflrry Toms lto. . doesn't quite cprhe out. but the (act remains that the picture version of this comedy (^las.<;ic is a little more than adequate. Its box-offire will be satisfactory, but pot socko. . ■ T-'oUvwo'd -ibbiri'; it.'tclf. .>n ccUu loid. sf>i'"'^s like a darihs thing and. tb" ^V^"■^o^^ have - done it. it is. Director Lloyd Pacbn. in fact has iut-Soew!"i''ed the dramatists in 'imnln" Iho mn.-icap scenarists, as nnnpov .rpH O'Brien nerson?te them. That the vi«:iial hokum is broad- such ns that bi^arrp den of rrea- ♦i«'e sfrivd'^'i'?. 'vith thoRp oiitland-. •sh n-'<'"" Yir. putor^i.TticlIv retiord- or another, ranging frorh Breen to Bacon— ^with the Warners and the Spewacks somewhere in between—, the pulling of some of the punches has' made for a rather perky evolu- tion* . : But there's enough dandy fun to satisfy, and sonie of its quite deadly. So much so that' the picture biz in- sider must look mentally askance at- the spectacle of a Hollywood prod-, uct'sb raucously and ribaldly ribbing itself — particularly in these parloiis- b.o. times when.'mahy argue, Hollyr wood should be wooing public favor rather than add fuel by scorning It- self. However, It's really not quite as serious as all that. It's , a sidelight on a madcap creative business, per- haps as true; in some other indus- tries. Cagney eclipses the somewhat more practical O'Brien in the buf- foonery, but thstt's a script handicap since the latter is be-plotted by the spectre of a spendthrift wife, and a practical yen- to keep earning those 1,500 tears a week, whereas Cagney is devil-may-care; and scriptually quite eager to xetire to his Vermont hideaway, live on $12 a; week, and write -that great .book he has in his system. Marie Wilson, newcbmer, rates the mbst attention, trade and public, in her assignment as Susie, who has been given ben'eflt of clergy (biga- mously, but b. of c„ nonetheless, unr der Haysian mandate) in her role as the manrimy of Happy. The latter is the wonder-child who resurrects a has-been mustang star into big b.o. again. With fan mags attesting to Happy's winsbmehess and a clbseup of Varibtt— ^front. page, nb less — for authority on the b.o.. receipts in sundry keys, Marie Wilson finally feets her . life-long yen of igolng through high schobl while her off- spring is busy working in the stu- dios, thus insuring her schooling. ; Ralph Bellamy, sub-featured,., is adequately distrait as the studio ex- ecutive whose cross in life is the fact that he's the only film producer with a college degree, hence 'they despise me.' Dick Foran- does an all-right job as the dumb-cluck oats- opry star; Bruce Lester l}espeaks of considerable promise, cast opposite Susie, in a British juvenile role,, and the rest are adequate; but nothing more. Frank McHugh's version of Rossetti, the agent, has been made less despicable than in the olay; and while Hnrry Seymour and Bert Han- Ion, as the songwriters, try to dash off 'symphbnies like Beethoven' in 15 minutes, they'-e 'ost in the shuffle along with Dennie Moore, as the sec, and Ronald Reagan, as the radio announcer, who, however, makes his brief opportunitv register. The baby Happy, is Paul Clark, a winsome in- fant. The song content is negligible merely as plot incidental. Director Bacon's tempo, in toto, Is gooil, althbugh, due to cinematic exigencies, the prominence accorded the boy-girl romance — originally merely a . satirical premise — some- what befuddles the sum total. Thus, scripters Law. and Benson, . as Cag- ne.v-0'Brien do 'em.- must give way arid become somewhat eclipsed' when the celluloid . boy-meets-eirl . saga asserts it.self for obvious reasons. V was- undoubtedly an iinwilling com- prrviinise, but necessary. The Inu.sh : total, of course, offsets any captiousncss. It's a b.o. comedy Abel. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. It is a credit to- none of these three, nor to the Wajgonload of writers who pbt- boiled the gags and story. The script- ers Include Harry Langdon, who is teaming with Hardy following Mat- ter's split with Laurel. The com- bination of Laurel and Hardy has been biillt over the years from twb- reel to feature box office Jaugh names of fair power, but, 'Block- Heads' is ah awful lietdowri for them. Its audience value is negligible.' . The picture is bne of those shorties the exhibitors have been complain- ing abbut, but although it riins 58 minutes, it's stUI a lot of taffy Stiretched to the breaking point Many two-reelers have been more justified in trying to bluff their way to feature length than this hodge- ■ iodge of old-fashioiied slapstick and ■loke. : , ' ■ Sbmething less than the germ of an idea forms the basis— or the ex- cuse—for the antics through which the Laurel-Hardy team and a vest- Mcket of supporting, players are put 3y. Roach anii the. routine direction of the late John G. Blystone. Even a pouting water hose, turned full force on a paralyzed Hardy, was stirred from peaceful rest bn the mu- seum counters. The shotgun whose flre seems to'knock down fleeing t"r- 'gets through fear xather than ballis- tic effect is also relied upon, prob- ably because the writers in this ct.se couldn't be relied upbn, judging from' what they-.wrbte. However, the Ave scenariositiiths didn't have much tb do in the way of dialog for Laurel and Hardy;: they seldom have much to say oh the screen. Not only lacking briginality as to situation . and gags, the -writers also prove even more' wanting when it comes to the little dialog used. The best laughs revolve arour.d the early war-buddy scenes, the sequence in which Hairdy years later mistakes Laurel for a maimed, one-legged vic- tim of the war. the . demolition of an automobile iind the mystifying way Laurel has his pipesmoke, lights matches, etc. None of this rib-crack- in however. ■ Laugh-fishing tactics of both Laii- rel and Hardy remain Ithe same, with the script and direction pointed for dumbness on the part bf Laurel- and much commingled hopelessness and disgust on the part of his partner. Hardy is married this time to- Minna Gombell. a tough, .vvife tb handle. She's not' much here but it may not be her fault same going for the pretty Patricia Ellis, a big gaiiie hunter's wife,, and Billy Gilbert the jealous hubby. James Finlayson has a minor part. Clwir. BAREFOOT BOY Monogram r«leajie of t3. B; Derr pro- duction. Featuron .Taokte Moran. Mnroin^ Mne Jones,. C)alr« \Vlnc1iior. RHlph ' Mor- gan. Directed hy Karl Brown. Smry and acreenplny, Joliti . T. 'Neville; camera, Gilbert Warreriton: editor, Finn IMbHck, Reviewed In Projef.tlon nnnnt. N. T., Aui;. 20. '38. minnlnv time, 0 mina. . . .... ..Tack!« Monln . ; . &lur<:iu Map Junes . .-, . . .Clnli e Windsor .Raliih Morgan . . .(;hna.' O. Hrown • . >iolen Markellar Br.ndley MetcalC .b'rnnk f'UKlla ....... ...Mnlty Kain . Mnt-llyn . Kiiowjdcn THE GLADIATOR (WITB SONG) Columbia reltue At DavlJ Lo«w prn- ductlbn. . Stan Joe B. Brown; featurn Man Mountain Denn, June .Tmvlii. Dickie .Muore, I.,ucron .Llttlefleld, Robert Kent. Di- rected by £dwaM S^dRWIck, AHHOclate uro- duoer. Edward Gross. From novel by PnlUn Wy)le; iirreenplay, Charlie Metaon and Ar- thur flheekmnn: aonR, Walter .SnmurlK, Ctinrles . Newman: camera, Qcorge '.Sch|ii>l> clbrmnn. .\t Globe, N. Y,. 'dual, week- Au^. 1!7, 'lis. Running time. 70 nilns. , Huito Klpp.". . . . ; .Jo«. E.. Drown Man Mnunlnin Dean... Man Moiihialil Denn Trlfl Bennett. . nobby. ...... . . . . . PVofeaBOr I>anncr.. Tom .Dixon.'; Mrs. Danner.-. . . . . Coach Boliblna . . . ; Conch Ktetabn. , .. flpecd Burna Dr. Delta y .June Tmylu Dickie Moor» .Luclen Llttleneid Robert Kent ......Ethel Wales , ..Donald DouKloa ....... r,ee Plielim . JEddle K«n« ...Wright Kramer One of the merriest stories which Joe E. Brown has done. Full of ac- tion. It's goofy, but a lot of: fun, and it win help any bill' on which it's inr eluded. There's a comedy wrestling bout between Brown and Man Moun- tain Deah that's rollickingly funny,: and a - football ' sequence almost as good. Wherever Brown is esteemed the picture will bowlv them. As a secondary feature it cdn't fail. Picture is a series of gag sittiatlons, but these are so deftly developed that their lineage or the fact that they smack familiar . is quite forgotten. Director EWgar Sedgwick has done a fine job. The ..one song in the pic- ture is of the college time type, sung in ensemble. Brown again is a college aspirant, who is forced out of a children's hos- pital to make room for ^the son of a benefactor. He . accidentally wins a $1,500 cash giveaway at a. picture house, and this enables him to ma- triculate at Webster; Story that fol- lows is a combination of farhiliar fbotb^U comedy plus a dash of Frankenstein;; Brown -becomes the football hero. , June: Travis is the romance interest. Brown employs most of his tricks, including an Impersonation bit,, and Lucien Littlefleld is the hazy prof, a good -combo. . Shan. THE LADY VANISHES (BBrhsH MADE) Lohdori, Aug. 20.. . Metro release of Gaumbnt-llrltlHli liiilnn- borough production. Stars MhrKitret I. While; camera. Jack Cox. At the Oambrldte, .r»hdon. Running time, IKt hilns. Billy Whlttaker...'. Plge BInlne. Valerie - Hale....... John Hnle , Calvin Whlttaker.. Martha Whlttaker. Kenneth Hale Hank. ........ ...... Dlake. : Julia Blaine....... . . „ Ben OInlne. '. Henry Roqucmore Pop Roger Ornv Sheriff. ; BKile Hoilsliis Jeff Blaine Johnnie MorrI Iris: Henderson. . . Gilbert... Dr., Harti Miss 'Froy... Mr. Todhunter. . . •Mrs." Todhunter. Barone.oppo SIcnora Doppo.... The Nun Mme. Kummer..; Ttlnnche , ... Julie .MoTKnret f^ockwood .-.Michael ItedKi-iivs ........ .Paul l,uk>'is .Dame M:iy Whilly ....... ;Cecll I'lirkpp . . . /. .'Lln'lcn. Travt-i-s ' ... .. . . ..Miiry flare . . . .Niiuiltnn Wayne ..,...UuPll nailfiird ....... .Emile Iforeo ...... .Philip I>nv«T X.elma .Van Diss ....Catharine T.acfy- ...Josephine Wllsun Google M'ltheni '..Snlly Slewtirt Columbia's eritry in the current rash of yarns about crusading spe- cial orosscutors, 'I Am the Law' is Ihir cI'-'i'i^v.-v-l.Tck of the Reminelohs, /irttially a film to end all such Alms. 'etc. But otherwise, for one: reason BLOCK-HEADS M^'tro-OiiIilyvyn-.Mnyf'r rcloiiso* of H; RiirM-h prtMlui'llon. ■ Slurs Sl;»n Lnin-el ;ind Oliver IhM-illy. nirm-liit by John G. llly- sl'-ine. Story ond i(tl:i|)l;il Inn, fh.'i'rios Uok.- ers. KelLx Adior. J:iincs Parrt)!!. Hurry I,lln^■dllll niid Arni,ld Hclci'nlv edllnf. lUrl Jordon: caiiteni. .-\rt l.lnyd. At Itlnltn. \.. v.. week .\ui;. '38. Itunnrng ilnic, M inlMM'. Stjin l.oui-cl. Oliver llarily ;.. Mra. Gllberl...: Mrs. Miirdy Illlly niihori ;.. .Mrs. Finn . . ; . . . . ........Himself HIms.-'ir .. :Pnirl<'la Kills .Minna .Goml>cll .,1-llmaelf l.-inics Flnlny^on 'Block-Heads' is Hal Roach's swan song as ii producer ' for Metro and, in all probability, the last. picture for Monogram has turned out a mod erately engrossing . fllm in this ad- venture juve yarn. It's hardly strong enough fbr single-billing, but is plenty hefty enough for the duals; might even rate upper spot Light on name draw, but cast is ca- pable. Story is in* and out, direction is generally skilled, but we^k in soots. Picture builds to a satisfying climax, but fadeout is overhoked. Inspired by Whittler's poem, 'Bare- foot Boy,' is a minor saga of an' urban ybuh.gster, his suoer-.<;erious romance, flghts and rivalry with a blase newcomer. Jackie Moran is the wholesome, inarticulate lad from the - country. His puppy-pash is Marilyn Knowlden and .the up-and- at-'em tomboy, who finsUy. muscles in on his affections, .is Marcia Mae Jones. Bradley Metcalf ' is the spoiled and hated newcomer, who's ultimately redeemed by the rural atmosphere and young. Moran. Charles D. Brown is the gruff, understanding and kind- ly father of the barefobt boy, while. Helen MacKellar is the fussy, pro- tective mbther. Much bf the story involves the interloping youngstet's oarehts,, Ralph Mbrgan and Clair*! Windsor. He's newly released from pi-ison after serving a term for a bond robber.v, :of whicn he was innocent. She's the cold wife, who doesn't be- lieve iri him. Plot works up to a climax as the youngsters test each others' courage by invading a 'haunted' house, where they stumble on the missing bonds, which would dear the wrongly-im- orisoned .mnn. In a rou2h-atid-tum- ■ble finish the rival kids hold off the culprits until help arrives. Best se- atiences of the picture are those dealing with the kids, their serio- comic scuffles, chasesi scraps and lieart-thorbs. • Youne Moran Is father appealing, while Marcia Mae Jones is standout as hi,:ftVt-IIO ,.......( Mairlcs WIN"" Uyron K. Koultt r .......... I'Hill Mivnr .,; Waller SuiHlc linlph noon ....... .Julhm l'elni»./.l i;llly Wajiie: Bruce Cabot emerges from sinif.lei' . roles of his most recent screen piist, ,(Continued on page 40) ■ 2f VARIETY / Wedaesdaj, August 31, 1938 (Meaning appearing September 16th — for national release! ) (Meaning *^Road to Reno" is yours September 23rd —and "Service De Luxe" October 14th!) ^v4"/'"^>^ "^^^ ^^^y^B warn, mm WW JBMV^^^^^ ^V' ^^^1 V^'"'y'^ ' 'S^«5^^Hi -■\r¥ivr-/?i?T^Tn';TDiiTr'i?'; ^ RUCGLES BRODERICK Produced by EDMUND GRAINGER Mischa Joy AUER ' itOPGES , , Directed by ROWLAND V LEE RANDOLPH" SCOTT in And then ~ Sepi^mher 23rd ! ben droit m^mm, otta OaAs Rflnc/« lay newspaper advertising space to be spent with- in the next two .weeks is the initial promotion blast of the industry's •Motion Pictures Are Your Greatest Ehtertainmeht' eampaiCD. First copy in the coast to coast barrage will be released today. • Within the short period of five weeks, plans, for the drive for new season's business have been con- ceived, perfected and put into op- eration by the jcneral eonunittee, of which George J. Schaefer is chairman, and the executive promo- tion committee, "onsisting of How- ard Dletz, Robert M. Gillham and Charles E. McCarthy. , More than 100 showmen, in addition, have par- ticipated actively in the preparatory work, leading up to the exploitation kick-off.' Industry's co-ordinated exploita- tion push will continue until Dec. 31, the date set for termination of the national movie quiz contest, for which $250,000 has been appropri- . ated in prize money. Budget for the entire campaign is set at $1>000,- 000, of vriiich 9500,000 is pledged by national distributors. $250,000 by af- filiated theatre circuits, and $250,- 000 by independent theatre op- erators. Coihplete financial under- writing is assured. Pledges from Independent : theatres, based on a pro rata tax of 10c per seat have reached $230,000, aieeordliig to infor- mation from national headquarters, 1540 Broadway, New York. Balance is anticipated within the next few days. Mutual congratulations and a genr eral air of griatification upon the success of , the campaign, at least in its inaugural stages, has been su- perceded- along Broadway by. the conviction that the exploitation bang - is reviving showmanship within the film trade in a . manner that guarantees substantial box- office results during the .next few months. Orders have been placed by theatre operators for 20,000,000 copies of the movie .quiz handl>ooks, already at a premium, in the $5 dis- tribution centers. - Preference for orders Is being given to theatres which have pledged OmiwUi sup- port to the campaign. Supporting accessories, including one-sheets, streamers and publicity material are being reordered to replenish the past week's demand. ' S4 Films In Drive National feature releases for the three months of Atigust, S^tember and October comprise ttic list of films which are entered in .thd quiz contest Newspaper display ads will carry the full list of 94 pictures, of which 70 (the August and Septem ber releases) are mentioned by name in the first disidays. It is the intention of the committee to Include the October pictures in sub^ sequent advertisements, scheduled for insertion later in the fall. Individual distributor representa- tion by nurhber of pictures, in the list of 94, are as follows: Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount and 20th-Fox, 14 each; Warners, 13; ^kSKO-Radio, 12; Universal, 16; Co- ^■lumbia, .8; United Artists, 5, and Br Monogram- 4. W Hays Systen «f ApporttoBBcnt Apportionment of the total of $500,000 among national distributors Is being designated by. George Borthwick, treasurer of the Motion Ticture Producers .& Distributors of America, Inc. (Hays office) who is figuring individual assessments pur- suant to the confidential tables of national income under which as- sociation dues are derived. The same procedure Is being followed In the case of the affiliated circuits of Loew's, Paramount, RKO-Radio, Warners and .20th-Fox. Specific amounts to be paid by each dis- tributor and circuit Is being kept confidential by Borthwick and Frank C. Walker, treasurer of the campaign. First of the newspaper display ■ds will break today (Wed.) in the N. y. Sun and World-Telegram; the Boston Herald and Christian Science play copy, largest of which is 600 lines. Cost of advertising accessories to theatres is generally lower than the stanidard industry prices. Schaefer explains the cuts hy the fact that de^rs are passing . up profit to' stimulate their use. Film ex- dianges are ha^Hiinp the material as a voluntary contribution to the drive. S«. CaUfsrois Set hos Angeles, Aug. 30. . Industry is sJl set locally to in- augurate the Greater Movie Season drive Sept 1, as part of the nation- wide campaign to drive home the message that 'Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment' Southern California, regional com- mittee, headei by Charles P. ^ouras, prexy of Fox-West Coast theatres, has been meeting almost daily; for past 10 days, mapping out a comprehensive campaign by which it is hoped to spur theatre attend- itince in this area. Support of Los Angeles as well' as out-of-town dailies has been promised the com-; mittee; numerous tieups' have al- ready been made, ^ihd Scuthem Cali- fornia and Arizona will hit tiie ball 100% when iite drive formally gets under way day after tomorrow. HW Pledge Minneapolis, Aug. 30. Success of the 'Better Entertain- ment' campaign in this territory Is assured, W. A. Steffes, district dwir- man, believes. Exhibitors already have pledged $6,000, although the total assessment for the territory, has been set at only $5,000. Few ex- hibitors are refusing to participate, Steffes reports, Steffes has a.raqged . with Gov. Benson' and the', mayors of various cities throughout th . state to issue proclamations calling the public's at- tention to the 'Greater Movie Sea- son.* Premature Plug? E)di)bitors in many parts ef . the country have been pestered for the last week or 10 days by patrons asking for details about the Movie Quiz contest Beasoo is that the contest was plugged in many localities by theatres . using the contest trailer on the screen. But the quiz contest booklets, outlining all details and rules, vi-ere not in ttie hands of exhibitors for distribution. Booliiets were scbedolcd for initial handout to' patrons to- morrow (Sept 1). MOREACTION, LESS GAB, H EDICT HoUywood, Aug. 30. More action and less dialog is the job set for 33 staff writers at War- ners this week, revising scripts al- ready prepared for M heavy budget pictures. Move is in line with the policy an- nounced at the ^ring sales conven- tion. Distributors contend that ac- tion in pictures is more profitable than talk. MLirS NEW SEUJNG SLOW Philadelphia, Aug. 30. Selling for the 1938-39 season con- tinues slow here, although it has picked up slightly in the past few we^. Despite constant reminders from United Motion Pictiue Thea- tre Owners, exbib org, to go easy on buying,, tardiness this year seems merely a natural state rather ' than Sie result of any concerted action, as in past seasons. Government's suit against this ma- jor producers has , served somewhat to slow things up. Some exhibs are of . the opinion ttiat when the heat really goes on, they may profit from much better film prices. In any competitive spot, however, where an exhib stands a chance of losing his product, he has generally bought already. Yfos Fnak Joyce dd in Aitfo trice Hollywood, Aug. 30. Frank Joyce, 19, film cutter at 20th-Fox, was killed in Los Angeles Aug. 27 when run down by an auto driven by Arthur Beckhart, Santa Barbara stage producer. Girl com- panion of Joyce's; also' died from her injuries. Beckhart was not held by police. Joyce was son of the late Frank Joyce, partner with Myron Selznick in the latter's agencjr. and nephew of Aik« Joyce, foriner film star, now wife of Clarence Brown, Metro di- rector. Mother and sister of Fanny Bribe were seriously injured in Los Anigeles Aiig. 28. iwfaen their car collided with another. Mother has a fractured akuU and sister internal in- juries. Both are expected to recover. Directors of 20th-Fox are sched- uled to act on dividends for both conunon and' preferred shares at a meeting tomorrow (Thursday).. Hie $1.50 annual rate on the preferred stock doubtless^ will be maintained while another 50c. quarterly divvy on tiie common is regarded likely. Company already has paid $1 on common shares thus .far this year, and third quarter declaration . of usual 50c. would bring total to $1,50 ■this year. Earnings are reported to justify such a payment Columbia Pictures last week closed with the Interstate and Texas Con- solidated circuit of Texas and New Mexico for its 51 theatres. Pact closed by J. B; Underwood, Colum- bia's Dallas manager, ; and Bob O'Donnell, representing the <.hain. Deal was closed yesterday (Tues^) uhder which Ixxew's takes 50% of th' 1938-39 Republic product for its metropolitah N, Y. circuit of around eo; theatres. Last season the' one- half went to RKO. , J. R. Grainger and Morris Epstein represented Rep in the negotiations; C. C' Moskowitz ani^ Ckfne Picker the Loew circuit 'DwUe-Featwe Me/ Saj^ L^'s IiiWkBHeWiiite«i(iol»9^ By Joe Laurie, Jr. Coolacres, Cal„ Aug. 30. Dear Joe': — So glad to get your letter telling us that. you finally landed a week in vaudeville at Loew's iStale. Even in tfarec cord monte ttiey let the sudier win once in a while. When A<^ hia aw l ttiat you sot a week she said 'Stber vaudeville is coming back or goiog back.' Of course you know she wpa klwboBe eyes couldnt stand the sun. Ghosts of the old Bartfaioldi Iod would ,ke runitiag up and down the asiles with old VMORrs in their bands. I see where the Strand opened iip with flesh t of aOicr jdMies are talking about opening up. Wdl, n^rbe vaudeville is canii« back. Aggie sea. mt is. H must be Unimbing its way* . . . but you Inew Aflgle . . . Ae dout even believe the. light goes Out in tlie ice bex wtao you doae ttie door. I havoit written to you I summer becauae the iguy flMt named this town Coolaczes had a sense of hmnor. If 8 be«u so hot here all the type- < writer keys have melted tog«lfa». Ag^'s had « month's vacation. She spent it in 4be boatoffiee and had 'a niee qniet ttnc. "We Just opened the theatre every day so Ifae toOt wotdtet nisL Om' cooling sy^ian worked so good tb^t two customers are suing us (or causing them pneumonia; but we got the o^ier (our custoBiers to ptYive that the tempetntuie was okay. If the other lawyer asks ttiem if they were wearing heavy underwear at the time, we will lose the case. A£gie is looking fine and you wouldn't know the kid. He's grown like a rumor in a small town. The kid is a bom diowman; he has a language aO his own. Instead of calling me Daddy he calls me 'Indie* and he caUa Aggie Tickets' instead of Mama. He says 'in the red,' 'bad feature' and ^percentage' very , plain. When he wante to go to sleep he says 'double-r feature me;' He's a great kM and we sure are proud of him. Badancs the rUm Drive As for myself, Pm all hopped up about what these producers are going to do No doubt you've read in the papers about ttis Greatest Picture Year they're promoting; they're going to spend a miUion bucks m adver- tising and prizes. In other words they're gonna give away didies only m a different way and on a large scale. It's all to get the public to go and seie ^ picture shows. Well Fm ^ad to see them waking up and doing something about it It's good showinanship to make a splurge of advertising at the beginning of the season and let the folks know that you are in business. Why me and Aggie uSed to have new letterheads every fall and send them out to all the imanagere and iKiokers. We did in a srtuill way what these binjs are doing in a big way: Of course if we had their dough we wouldn t need letterheads; we wouldn't even need ari act . . But I'm for it and Fm going to paint the front of the house and oil up my seats and try and get the smeU of the horse operas out of the place. ^nna go in 'for more advertising and exploiUtion You gotta .wake thesTyiAels up. I think Fye been too easy on them last year Air 1 m ^^ng for is good product and according to the advance stuff it looks **I^ where 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' is packing 'em in all oyer the cou^. WeU. I l>ope they don't wait until the band gets down to piano iSShSins before th^ send it to me. That Berlin is a swelljuy and de- lenr^abreak: he has a great future before him, Aggie and 'ntro- S toe^ ib Bird's I^e. Indiana. I st.n got the letter of thnnks that Max Winslow sent us. ^ ^ ^ Well, that's about all from this end for" now. Give our best to the_gang back there and tell 'em we wish 'em all a prosperous season, net SEZ Your Pali Lefty. P.S.— Doc Joe Lee sez, 'Influence is what you think you. have until you try to use it* A^taire Heads West After N. Y. Vacash Monitor; the Washington Star, and some 50 other newspapers in small- "'s N<^w York vacation over, Fred er cities. Full strength of the cam- Astaire heads back to the Coast and paign starts tomorrow, and con- 1 RKO 'or h's next assignment Studio tinues in all cities on the; schedule Is still, working on the 'Vernon Castle ovet- the next 10 days. No coi>v story for him. will be run on Saturday or Sunday This is Astairc's last under his old issues of newspapers. Opening ads BKO deal; he has a new term calling consist of U different pieces of dis-'fo.r an increase. Hex Prez Plays Host ToWB Hollywood, Aug. 30, Seeking material for 'Juarez,' a Warners delegation consisting! of Hal B. WaUis. Paul Muni, Heiiry Blanke and William Dieterle has gone to Mexico City to be hosted by President (Cardenas for a week/ 'Juarez,' based on- the careers of Maximilian.and Carlbtta, is a heavy budgeter. RKO romise Irving Trust Co., trustee of RKO has. filed in N. Y. federal court ap plication for permission to compro- mise RKO-Orpheum Corp.'s claim against RKO, athountitig to around $1,600,000 for $50,000. RKO, in tum^ cancels certain claims against its subsidiary, RKO-Orpheum. "The , niattier serves to reduce RKO's Indebtedness, and is one of those bookkeeping items relating to inter-company afTalrs. CerdeB-Oeneis ii H Y MAeat Par Sol Gordon and Tom Clemens, heads the Beaumont Amusement Co., partners with Paramount in south- western theatres,- are in New York on fall plans, film deals, etc. They also brought an accountant along with them. In Memphis . to discuss a product deal with M. A. Lightman for the Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas territory, Neil F. Agnew returned to New York Monday (29). LA.V4^00-SeatOJL Hollywood, Aug. 30. An opera house and art institute costing $liS00,0(M is to be erected at Wilshire and Vermont in Los Angeles. Federal funds and private capital will finance. . Theatre to seat 4,200. Juiie Lang's Englidi Pic June Lang is going to England to make a picture for SOth-Fox. She sails today CWed.), accompanied . by her mother, following her arrival from the Coast tiiis morning. Under contract to 20th, she re- cently finished a part in 'Meet the Girls' , for that company. YiSiOSYSHMS HI3MSP0rS London, Aug. 19. Waiting for negotiations with BBCJ to jell, (Saumont-British has now big-scpeen projection television in- stallations in three of its West End theatres. First equipped was Tatler news theatre in Charing Ooss road, second was the renovated Tivoli, and third is Marble Arch Pavilion. Whether or not systems will bf put into other . GB key houses in West End and uptown spots is der pendent' on plan being ironed, out to permit theatres to publicly pre- sent BBC' visio programs, either news events, or studio material. METRO'S BEFATZKY Hollywood, Aug. 30. . Dr. . Ralph Benalzky, European composer, has checked in at Metro to start on a writing contract He has to his credit 'White Horse Inn' and several light operas. GOLDWYN^ im OLD FmSTAiOSATW Hollywood, Aug. Samuel Goldwyn is groomiiig a new kid discovery, Earleyne Schools, from Virginia. She's 15 and is to get an extensive pre-ftim training. Weekly salary starts at $275 and hits peak at $3,000 if all options lifted. Lhvak's Darrieux Chore Hollywood, Aug. 30. -Anatole Litvak is set at Universal on a one-picture deal. Will direct 'Rio.' Danielle Dar- rieux's next ' stairrer. RADIO'S BIGGEST SHOWS ARE YOURS DURING THE m xir MOVIE QUIZ CONTEST m V!7 PERIOD t4 VARIETY HiliBBiiii^^^B WeJaesdaj, August 31, 1938 WITH 1 -T ■4' Uo^'.'li^' iiLL , ingly hasn't overlooked any show- manship values. . Combo , includes five brasses, five reeds, two pianos and the usual accoutrement. Of the sub-acts, Betty Briice does rhumba taps - In bltierspangled Eleariorpowellesque slacks. She clicks on the rostrum, as she has in niteries. Bernie engages in: a little by-play wherein he mildly ribs the Ed Sullivan /penchant for having ' 'discovered'' everybody thli side of Santa Barbara, and the top- per. Of course, is that. Miss Briice admits that the N. Y. NeWs' columnr ist. columbused her. "The -columnar foi-de-rol is inevitable, in view of the Bernie-Wlnchell publicity.' "The ole maestro makes his own cracks .about the Mirror's scrivener, -which register for nice returns. Art Frarik's standard A.K playboy is a standout and his satire on pres- ent-day pop song lyrics makes, fojr some nice chatter in between the eccentric hoofology. Norman Harris and Sylvia Shore, last at the Riviera, are iri the pres- ent-day cycle of hokumlzing the ballroom teams, such as The Hart- irians. Pierce and Harris, et 91. They're an engaging pair, although some of the satirical mannerisms are strongly Hertriiariesque. Sara Arin McCabe is a looker who swingsings the operatlcs. Gets over nicely if not socko. 'Says My Heart is her opener: thence the swingoed coloratura. The 8 Ladies in Blue are chiefly a stage wait dressing the left side of the rostrum and joining in a couple of chpral bits once with Miss Mc(i;nbe and again with Bernie s ex-CBS singing usher, Gibson, who discloses a nice baritone. Bernie's band routine, iri between, Is as effective as his veteran show- manship would suggest. He mixes 'em up nicel.v. gags the announce- ments effectively,, ner usual;, gives out with an prudite bulldub and then delivers, 'Flat Foot Floogee' and the like. His small talk isn't out of the trunk., and his nostalgic ballyhoo for the vaudeville that was fetches a hearty and sincere sailvb th.it au»- gurs anew a rekindled public in- terest in flesh. True, these manifes- tations have bsen evidenced from time to time 'Of late, without much eventuating, but maybe these rum- blings will materialize in something concrete after a while. Bcrme urges them .to make the Strand their hancont; h?ve vour mall sent here.' he adds; and the screen tran.?r is even more Invitatlonnl to the li'* terbuRs by- sloganing 'dance In aisles,' as oart of the heroUi for 07'ie Nelson.; next Incoming ojno. FrOm the Warners' viewpoint, tne public, which had been voicing opinions . that WB sends its best^ pic- tures to the Music Hall, shouldre- vprt bick to the Strarid's boxoffice. with the handshoWs as lure, ana .brovldinR. of coiirsp. that the P^"' "ct maintains p "fair, fverarc. Par has certainly made it b.o. lor two solid, years with the same policy. Aoeu Wednesday, August 31* 1938 VARIETY HOUSE REYIEWS VARIETY 27 RanaalFi Wand, N. Y, jbMii roumgman. The WMrUu, gStf Veimtn, Shoffften, MorioR MiiMl vmude bfll preseated here ^_!^ «etui> oper «i* nrat Here re-r SS? Wtac ttte butialcr was paced; cHcfctatonly ^s|x^ :C^ttDwup was «eQ-rounded and 2>a^niiiBii« ▼frtt'aBy *"»•» start ^mS^ Kenny Younennan, mx, tbe tuk of (El Itaat panl- SS^ the i«* totned .to by.BdiEe ^^^Xtte fifst show. Bwi 'em in a^etaat Iwsbter w»h. his: gags S!^ sarewT antics; • ^owTdiscoidaRt. i»o«e at the outset - wtte semfinft ot the pickup cresm, S^ncd by a substitute leader until .^^A^ arrived. Latter was rushed Smt from the Hoxy theatre, where iTuads the house orchestra. OutSt giroved ak it went alona howevw. id at the close did » metQey of . well rtceived Berlin tunes. Gamut of Bertto penndngs, from tte earliest to the wrtet's current Sis. was impreasrie^r &i SSSinentals. who were ads© on the last bin. weBe spJIt h(k ths^on eadi 23e of the stagey lacms mikes. Sex- M sane title lines and jBatche» of Srio^tom each favorite, then raith- Sed- in the center to Btoaa har- S^e 'Now It Can Be Toli' and ite tfUe time from 'Alexander's .Rag- ^ Band.' WeU done: Bit capped the evening's doiiigs. Ash opened the second half of the two-hour show wBh Itussian Lullaby.*^ Crowd >couldnt «et enough of the warbling of Benay venuta and Jerry cooper, spotted in. the first, and sec- M»d halves, respectively. Each forced to beg off; Miss Venuta did two cur-- tent pops and. encored with one she sang in 'Anything Goes'— 'Blow. Gabriel. Blow/ Cooper repeated the tunes he did at Loew's State, N. y., a few weeks ago and encored- an un- prosive 'Stardust* ^ Whirlos' rollerrskating, act opened the show. Two girls and. boy ispun and trick-skated to rbild. applause. Girl's roUerbearinjed tap was just so-so. Foiir Dudleys, colored ~har- monizers, swung, out in nice style end were followed by Martin' and 'Davis, strong-man act Okay but stunts, followed too closely those of the Ghezzis, who- were here on the last card. '' , . . Shaggus closed, the first half of ' tte show, hysterically eisging: each other to greater efforts. Interest in the- hop as a stage nbvelty has petered out so the turn didn't mean much. Acsck high-kicker. Marion Daniels, who's beeii at the Music Hall and Astor Roof. N. Y.. this season again proved her class. Gal . mdus her flips and leg! work look ridiculously simple. Satirical ball- nnmaloeists. Jine. DuBy & Lewis, were good for a few laughs.. Smooth V<^dng coDd>ination. Yeutt8inan.'s m.c'ing and nonsense throughout was okay. ComediM coold, hbowever. dig up a few new gags. But the crowd liked 'em. APOLLO, N. Y. Zephyr, John Mason, iLa Rue, A-Vigal, Larenza. Robertott, Jimmie Barns, Haztl Diaz, Luti Rtmell Orch (14) , urith Somtv Woods. Red Allen,. George Washington, McCain 4 Jltws, Six Cotton Club Boys, House Lfne (12): 'One Wild JViffht' (20»h>, Harlem's Apollo, stronghold for colored vau'de, is swinging with Ijiiis Russell's orchestra this week in a show that's marked with coa- Biderable variety. However, the sum total doesn't measure up to more recent shows at this house. Russ^'s orch, occupying i band stand in the dosing . notdi. with a background of skyscrapers, is plenty .swingy in spotST-but only in spots.. It lacks the proper specialties that would jput it over. There's Russell, toothily personable; Red AUeh. who blows a mean trumuet but whose warbling falters on 'Body "and Soul'; George Washington, who . jitters wough 'Swinging at the Cats' Ball' and Sonny. Woods the- big clicker, Jno knocked off four tunes, includ- -™g an encore, to rouse the payees to their only real enthusiasn-i at the Mte show Friday night (2C); Out- Jioe of Woods, there's little enouKh to the specialists, ialthough Russell's hand is good enough for this sljot. Scattered attendance at show caught applauded sparingly. Russell's band J8 obviously just a breather between the belter • known bands to coine with the opening o£ the fall season hext week. - ShoW is considerably long and Jays the cob aplenty. There's Hfad Diaz, a hefty.' Westian gal, who fails to excite in a couple of spots, particularly one in which she Wttodies 'Please Be Kind' in duo With Lorenza Roberson. -whose bari- y^ng, too, isn't pai-ticulaily en- 5?"^ in the suggestive- ■ number. However. Roberson effectively does » iew on his own. 'Chi ,' 'Brother Can You Snare a Dime* and 'Little I*dy Make" Believe.' ^McCain and Ross, two llalit- JUnned- adagoists. sift throucth their lj3 doubles matches showing same fast net plaiy as the Australians beat the Gerroahs in the. Da-vis Clip matches (Foir) and Don Budge and Gene Mako winning at Newport (Par). Budge is also shown beating Sidney Wood (Pathe). Universal has what might have been a handout clip if it had been skill- fully handled. Subject is a' match between the champion U. S. and British blind gtd^fers. Instead of showing various closeups of the men hitting (fiffetebt shots, they, merely offer a single look at one of the men whacking a long iron, shot and folT low it with him putting, out They eveii neglect to say what scores the contestants had. Other sports subjects include Helen Wills Moody (Fox); a nihe- .yeiar-old; boy swimming the Niagara river, wi>ich doesn't lock nearly as remarkable as the commentator tries to make it sound (Fox); moppets boxing (Fox); getting footbaU equip* ment ready for the new season (U); auction sale of yearlings at Sara- toga (Par); War Admiral winning the Whitney stakes at the Spa (Pathe); a surf swim race in Cali- focnia (Par): several amazinpr bil- liard shots (Par); the national out- board championship races at Red Bank, If. J. (Pathe); a mechanical pitcher for baseball batting practice (Par) and Hank Greenberg socking a hornet; against the Athletics (Par ). Doug Corrigan. receptions in. Chi- cago (U) and Memphis (Fox) are .shown and the hewsreel fans, must by this time be as tired of the sub- ject as the flyer undoubtedly is. Two siibjects of potent international in- terest are . Admiral Balbo's visit to Germany, on which Paramount has done a bettei--than-average job, and Lord Runciman's conferences with President Benes in Prague (Pathe). Other fairly engros-sing clips m- clude the half-flnished Grand Coulee dam (Pathe), a sheep drive m the mountainous northwest (Par), the largest U. S. merchant marine ship under construction (Par), Howard Hughes landing at Floyd Bennett Airport N. Y., after a cross-country flight (Par), shots, of war games^ with a jack rabbit scampering for the tall timber. (U). 'Seeing Eye dogs in training (U), auto speed tests at Bonneville, Utah (U), designs to handle traffic of the. future by Nor- man Bel-Geddes (Pathe). Comedy is supplied by two Lew Lehr clips, one about a lazy fisher- man being a pip, and a Paramount bit on monkey antics at the St. Louis zoo (Par), here are also the cu^ tomary array of freaks, oddities and plain ho-hums in the news, to_^say nothing of tlie inevitable fashion bits. ^"O^: MUSIC HALL, A. C. (STEEL FIER) Atlantic City, Aug. 28. Ben Yost Singers (7), Ed Kaplan & Poul MohT, Bobbw Bernard. Ab- bott & Costello, Kaplan & Mohr, Tlic GHe.Tzis (2). Ben Blue, Three Ghocotateers. The usic Hall, with its min.strel- vaudcville' combo, starring Ben Blue, packed them in over the weekend. Guy Lbmbairdo in the dancehall may have had iU-, effect oh the. crowd alsol Show is Blue's. althou.Vi he has a lot of good .surrounding talent. JdG LATJBIE JB, 19 BHns.; One. lioew's State, New York It's common, talk around Broadway that to be a head- liner at Loew's. State one must be a columnist. So Joe Laurie Jr. heard about it and left his typewriter ^or a week's en- gagement as in. c. at the State thisv week. This yaungster is .withoot daubt the best actor of ' all the columnists. (Jack (^ter- man is in the night-clulx class.) i^uis Sobol.- Black Hellinger. Nick Kenny, Ted Friend, Ed Sutli-vasi Harry Hirshfield and even Hey wood Broun may all be b^ter columnists, but Laurie is the only one etigibte for a paid-up card: in Equity. For a cplUiiihist. the kid works easy— not. like he is try- ing tomake a deadline. He is confldeatial . and . homey.. He talks - politics, relations, vaca- tion. Hollywood, show business —and talks about them all re- freshingly and entertainingly. Above ,aJI. his material, is as clean and fresh as rain. How this youngster can. remerhber those gags is Yemarkable. His timing is grand, especially con- sidering he has been pounding a typewriter for a lonj*. time and hasn't been near a stage door' He is different than the other columnist-actors in that he doesn't use guest stars.. -He did want to use guestrcolumnists, but those newspaper guys are not as foolish as actors: l,aurie brings his Aunt Emma on tor a sock finish. She is Emma Francis who, at the age of 65, can show up the preseint day youngsters when she, goes to town with her ' acrobatic waltz clog. She sews! 'iem up tight and lets Joe take eight bows. This Laurie kid is a sure. bet for Hollywood, the Broadway stage and- even the World's Faw; He may not be the. recr ocd-buster 'that Sullivan' is, but on the show< caught at Loew's State, the Strand across" the stzeelt wa^t packed. When Lau- rie's attention was called to this he said. 'What's the difference; the idea is io pack the theatres. Doe* it matter if it isn't the one you happen to be playing at?' 'We neeid; more ideas like Joe's for show- business. Joe Laurie, it. has. nothing to worry about now. He can throw his typewriter away (which- he should have done years ago). Ifs personalities like his' that will bring vaudcr ville back, if it's ever coming back. His act is good for the big 6r small time; it all der pends which will come . back first Laurie is a lesson to col- umniists and actors. He proves that the cohitanist should learn how to act and that the actors should learn how to write (and read). The exchange 'would help the newspaper business, and the stage. Jolau (Known. as Joe Laurie^ Jr.) NEW ACTS FRANCES ASMS Came4y. Chaiactcr SoiiKs 2* Mini.; One .Patauoe. Chioteo ' . (Character delineator, who has. ai- mo.<;t become an. institution around here. is. back, this time at the Palace instead of the Orient^ with a new sock act Mi.ss Arms is one of the few singles today who does character songs, and pays money for new mate- rial.. Her author. Jack YeJlen. has covered Miss Arms and hiinself with credit Song. nuirJ)crs riin- gamut ofJrish, Italian and Yiddish. She's a combi- nation bf Lillian Shaw, Nellie Nich- oi.s and Fauiie Brice. Comedienne can , sing and talk equally well. Her ti Ing, sense of pomedy and handling of audiences prove .her an able showman. At show caught. Miss Arms did 20 mil tcs. split up between three num- bers and talk. She is superbly gowned in a black net di-e.ss which offsets her blonde looks witli dii;nity and aplomb. llaL (12) 'PEAUN' THE PEACH' Hotel Astor RmI, N. Y, ■ Add this to 19M's dance phenomc- ,.„„ ... ,„. na. along with bii; npplc. little peach, j |,cv sini;ini; is making^ PATBICIA ELUS With Al Slcgel Sln-tac 14 HlBS. Casa Maaana, N.- Y. .Patricia Ellis.' blonde beaut from Warner Bros, films where she's been a featured player for past few years, is the latest to come under Al Sieecl's rhythmic direction. He has given her his usual sock .arran.Qements, but Miss Ellis' voice is a little too thin for such robust twists of the pops. However, for a ■ film pci.sonality without mtich previous staRC-sin;;ing, experience she's plenty. pas:>ablc as a marquee name. Where , her voice mis.ses . out, ' her looks and chassis make uo. Plenty lovely and alluring at this catching in a glqve-flt' evenins gown of gold satin. Later she switches into black, but without icing the s,a. iJelivcr.s four numbers, but only passaljly.. She is a sharp contrast to others whum Sicgel's arrangements and coaching shot to the top, namely Ethel Merman', Lillian Shade and the memorable Bee Palmer. In oiie tuiie, 'You Appeal to Me,'- Miss Ellis adds plenty to. the temp, via a thifih- iTiudinij delivery;' Sugigestive, but okay a.s y hypo for .the impression Show opens with Ben Yost Sing- ers, in mmstrel getup. An liidiilted girl does an acrobatic dance novelty to Hindu music. Bobby .Bernard goes over with a song, 'At Your Beck and Call.' Ab- bott and Costello grab off a few laughs with a magic skit. Yost Singers, as guardsmen, are thein in a medley of operetta numbers. For a real laugh getter, although it has been tried before plenty, is the haunted house skit by Kaplan, Mbhr and Abbott. The Ghezzis. two acrobats, are above" average. Their big apple upside down is best Blue then comes on and gets over some fast patter before going into some of his hit comedy dances. These include the Russian number, a dancehall skit and a minuet he did in Par's 'College Holiday.' He is helped' in the latter by an un- billed couple, taking the Burns atid Allen parts. It gets over big. The finale has' the Three Choco- lateers,' dancers, later assisted by the entiire cast, in a peckinV routine. It's an all-around good bill, al- though a bit too long in spots. PALACE, AKRON Akron, O:, Atiff. 2«. Bunny Berigiin Orch. The Three Stooges, Ruth & Bidv Ambrose, Dick Wharton, Rulh Caylor; 'Sky Giant' iRKO): About as pretentious, a bill as has been ottered at Akfon's only flesh house. Biz good, A welcome relief from the bverdont double-feature films, which: the house ha.s. been offering most of the summer. Every bit as entertaining on the stage as when appearing on the screen. The Three Stooges, who gained prominence with' the late Ted Healy, run through a.s.sault and bat- tery madness to keep the audience roaring. There's.a .straight man. but the corhlcs make very little u.se .of hi . Some of their v isccracks ai^e a.Iittle -shady, though. Bunny Berigan's .swinr; combo Is not so hot as a novelty band for the stage; A bit corny' at times, ihc band the .shag, swin.i;olO({y, the jeep dance Lambeth Walk, etc. Now it's 'Pealin the Peach;' cradled in Pawley's Is- ' land, S. C, from wheiice came the big apple.. Managing director Robert K. Chi is- tcnberry of the Hotel . Astor, oh a Dixie sojourn a couple of weeks ago, ran into this;dance', done in bare feet, and . .figured it Would be a stunt, to bring the terpers north: They're holding forth at the- AstorVRoof, and, starting this week, double into the International Casino, of which Christenberry is also a directing head. Call it what you will, it's another version of the big apiile, and, as sui±, a good sight dance. Unlike the sharpie getiips on the bigrapplers, - the kids are in calicoes and overalls: Some nights the customers get hot peel off their shoeis and stockings, come out on the floor, and accept the C^blina ypuhesters'. invitation to join 'em inpealm' the peach; Maybe that has another audience, value. Basically it's good tor' a snappy 5-7 minute interlude. . It's a cheapie, and that's something else, too. ' Abel, V ic;;el is slri;;tl.v for the pi accomp. Attempts no solos,- but; again, he. rarely does. ROBERT WILDHACK Novelty 8 MIns. Casa Manama, N. Y. ."Known chiefly for. a few shorts he made oh . the Coast and a Metro film, the -first 'Broadway. Melody,' Robert Wil(;lhack comes in here after a lengthy illness. Apparently , he for- got, his spiel during the latter and had to read it at the .Casa Manana's opening show. This didn't help the pfofessoi on snoring (and sneezing). At this, spot, Wildhack is cohflning himself to the profesiohal explana- tions and imitations of Sleep-noises, leaving out the sneezes entirely, the same routine as in "Melody." Inas- much as the snoring didn't go over so well, perhaps i switch to his other forte would be in order. . Wildhack's is a shqrt comedy specialty, but a slower-upper for this show. ■ Scho. THSEE PLAYBOYS (Eddie Mills, Bob Starr; Comedy, Soncs .8 Miiu. Leon As Eddie's, New. York The Three Playboys— Eddie Mills; Bob Starr and Roy Tracy-r^are a new combo. Their energetic style of hoke siitging and ^eneral clowning. even if some of their 'mannerisms don't fur- ther suggest it, would bring inevi- table recollections of Clayton, Jack- son ' and Durante. However, they're not a copy act in the strict sense, although the SchnQzzola influence is pe'rccptible. They're a nice-looking trio and work fast and hard for their funtest, with the sum total resulting in ah effective cafe, floor; interlude. What their future portefbds depends chiefly on their ihaividualities, which will have to be developed, and it must be done so.away.frbm the Clayton-Jack- son-Durante idiom. They have a bright coll tion of. comedy numbers, and- their hbkurn byplay is effective. They click here — ^and Leon Se- Eddie's is no Kalama- zoo hideaway, which is something. Abel, CAROb PAIGB Soars 6 Minis. Leon & Eddie's, New York Carol. Paige is heralded as a Par- amount starlet She did a torch song bit in a recent Par. picture, 'You and. Me.' . She's a nice-liobking brunet, of fine cafe floor address; but with a slightly overdramatic style, of songaloging. It's okay stuff with tunes such as 'Night and- Day,' but^he does too much in the same: idiom and should be changed. for better pacing. Her finale,, 'Joseph, Joseph,', is an inept selectibn for her. She's best with the tbrchers. Abel. offers its tunes principally in the torrid teinpos with plenty of ;brass. Berigan is out front all the time and- gives the customers, consideirable hot trumpet He shares the. spotlight with an unprogrammed drummer, whose antics keep things, lively. Ruth Gaylor and Dick Wharton, do well with ,tlte vocalizing. Diance team of Ruth . and Billy Ambrose has jitterbug pep and ball- room grace. Their contrast between: the old-time and piresent-day dance steps is outstanding. Wardrobe ex- cellent. Mack. CAPITOL, WASH. Washington, Aug. 28. Van . Cello, Sylvia & Clernence, Steve Evaris,' George HaXl Of oh vnth Doily Damn, Phil Lampkin house orch with Leto Davey; Jimmy Tay- lor, Ralph Fox; 'The Texans.' (Par), Straight vau(Je this week with no attempt to make it anything else; George Hall's orchestra suppliefs bbth'the body and the flash to carry the bill. Opens with .southern med- ley, overture in which ' Phil Liimp- kin's pit band, with vocalist Lew Davey ,trumpeter Jimmy Taylor and drummer Ralph Fox featured; gets biggest applause in. weeks.. Curtains .split on 'Van Cello's smooth foot-junKling with barrels, di,stinctly beyond standard, to big respon.se. Goes into Sylvia and Clemence. in knockabout-Iaicrpbatics,' which are spoiled by -what- Cap audiences consider bad taste. Picks up again with Steve Evans' celebrity impersonations, slightly sickening re- alistic drunk, swell Mussolini bit aiid sock Lon Chaney encore. Hall orchestra opens \vilh 'Alex- ander's Ragtime Band' and scores with niedley of 'popular hits we In- I troduccd,' featurinj! '1 Mai'ripd An ^ Angel' and 'Music,. Maestro, Plea.se.' I Dollv . Da'wri, band Warbler, makes I ;em nice 'I Canit Give You Anything But Love,' *A-Tisket A-Tasket' . and uses boys from band in nut special- ties during 'Butcher Boy.': Band: closes strongly with 'Bugle Call Rag' and Miss^ Dawn is' back for. earned bow with Hall'. Biz fair. Craig. TOWER, K. C. Kansas City. Aug. 30. Ruje Davis, Joe Jackson, Jr., Vir- ginia Barrie, Peuyy Taylor Trio, House Line, Judy Conrad house, orch; 'The Devil's Party (.U). Rufe 'Davis is brought in this week to uphold the level of names used here past few weeks. It's his third showing in Kansas City in two years. He origiii&tcd his present' vaude act in this house two years ago. Bill is formula as to routing over the customary 40 minutes. The ■bouse Line becomes the bouncing Adorables this week with' an inllatcd rubbcrball number opening. Joe Jackson, Jr.; brings- on his' pantomime and his trick bicycle to register solidly in. 10 minutes. Said to be his pappy's former rou- tine. It was well received and gives the bill a somewhat different flavor. Jackson, the original, is cur- rently in Engiarid. In the deuce is Virginia B.^rri' , billed as the Hollywood .soni,'stress, who torches the .Tike in three nu-'n- bers and regi.stcrs lixhtly. Peggy Taylor trio bcgin.s in conventional ballroom dancing attire, but gravi- tates to bui'loscjuiiitf the routine with some added acrobatics and slapstick, all in pantomime. Turp neod.s pac- iiiv, and zest. avi.s closes with hi.s strin;{ of ani- mal barnyard imitiitions. To(;k Iv.- curtain.s to satisfy custoincr.s ripen- ing night and he provides thp nio.st .satisfaction on the bill.- Show is slu.'igish compared to those of recent weeks, but bi'/. more than par opening day. Quix. 2S VARIETY Wednesday, August 31, 1938 How SOON THIS PREDICTION HAS COME TRUEr * {The statement below introduced the 20th Century' Fox product announcement for the First Quarter of 1938-39! We urge you to read it again!) hrough the murk of doubt which has hung over this industry, we now see the dawn of a new season. The circulation of vast government funds, stronger business activity, greater optimism — all these general conditions indicate that the next three months, August, September and October, will be the most important period in the history of the motion picture theatre. Never before has it been so imperative that your theatre display the strongest possible attractions. This is the tide which "taken at its flood leads on to fortune." Since early last spring Twentieth Century -Fox has been preparing for this hour. At that time our studio launched a program of the greatest productions this company has ever undertaken. Practically all of the pictures which Twentieth Century -Fox will release in the first quarter have already been completed. Thus our accounts are in a position to benefit immediately from a continuous flow of great attractions. You owe it to yourself to compare these pictures — H^ee^ for week — with the pictures of all other producers. ■ ISV ■«' *«lf°i> ^-^i^i? vS'^ l^*"* »•»» _ •BO* * "•SrSe"* mepi *",'r' •»»» 'TiunS e w ?5to«»!'. \ On^r.Jt •''5 Wednesday* August 31, 1938 VARIETY 29 » 1 '«iEnooMc|r»9«^ OFF Bie PIK BIZ' "^^ Outlook, Unlik. Urt An. K ■«». Much Bri.hter-A", p'T" • iS^'-'f d"^!'* »v'ov if* oo* * ^,tl 1-^ id .Uld>'" «» » 4* »*• Vol "^^Vl 11^^*' l^oIC « ^t**^ 4 ftt?** •ha « 1 1" cr»V> AJ* MTttcfl h»» oc- tV»x'^ ■«««!;.,o>- 34-5 1-1»>\ Mm .•x«* ,o>X 3W .Cto« |,tO I.iin Willi- 4»r» ,7vvie ,.«0 •12, csvS r^-ryr,:*" sfS'^jd^^' iS'^^ bit vol .we T'>:.nWd\-j«i*s>v« id l"' Bfci^j lid ^"*.'•;.B<■'»M, lot "vu **«*»';n*°\,'o'i'd«.\v«"js. ii»-5rox'pr„vv j|f>**^" .an*' * 0''..m » ?1nU 1? - -. if« "V HI* ,i.t v.ci<>* T.cond^. te?' ,"NX'K »» XOI xj*"' ioo. wxx«3 WO' M> 1 '%leXX X»lXl SX«»*t* y,X.ct. * .'^ -A Xl>« •,i.f?"vt»' xx>« .1 y*e** 'oX*.. ,cXv><^ r lid' »x. - x.''L*r»xi??'.- 4t« , , ^000. XP' or"" ..icy'"' 1 5* nil" ,6(Xr. jond. X.'J>. 'O, '►■"iix"' vjfd \»lX> »''/. -.-r 'i'S"'^""\oi*o".' ,iwx>i^ ^^^<^ ''Z IS 80 VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday^ August 31, 1938 N. Y, Operators Union Inducts Clocking System to Prove That a Chain Hurts the B.O. Clocking theatres, with a view to determining what damage piclceting is doing, much the same as done for other reasons by distributoTs when pictures are on percentage, Local 306, Moving Picture Machine Operators of N. Y. is clai ing that their figures show the A. Schwartz (Century Circuit) houses which it'seeks to in- vade, are suffering severe drops .in grosses. The clocking ot representa- tives places attendance at below 100 persons in some of the more im- portant houses several nights. Obtaining the. aid of Local 802, American Federation of Musicians, and Local 4, Brooklyn stagehands, the 306 operators arie making what is promised to be a final offensive for the complete control' of metro- politan New York booths. The cam- paign presupposes a deal with Em- pire State Operators, now in.Schwartz and other houses, since that N, Y. state-chartered union has contracts with the theatres In which its men work. Thus, 306 is proceeding with the picketing, aided, and 'abetted by the .musiciaiis and stagehands, re-, gardless of th& existence of contracts which an, employer is expected to ■r^ect By clocking , the nine .Century houses in Brooklyn, now feeling, the brunt of picketing. Local 306 hope^ to prove to Schwartz, as well as to Empire, that a deal is advisable : to correct an. odd situation which de- veloped in the days of tiie deposed Sam Kaplan when both Empire and Allied' Operators undersold the A.FX. 306 union in order to get into booths. Stenchihg which followed the picketing of Schwartz houses a week ago has hot been pinned on' anyone. An additional nine Century theaitres are on the list for. picketing as the drive intensifies ' against Schwartz. Members of both the musicians and Brooklyn stagehands' unions are being used oa the picket lines with 306 ops' for the first, time. The usual schedule is two men a day and four at night,, with occ ibnal surprise mass picketing. While Empire men are also being used in other independent houses, including the Springer & Cocalis chain, understanding is that no op- position to. a deal or an absorption of Empire by 306 is looked for ex- cept from Schwartz. The picketing of the letter's houses at this moment would suggest an effort to break down such resistance .from the Cen? tury Circuit owner, one of the most influential indies in the east. Less Than Peanuts Hollywood, Aug. 30. ilm scribes are being warned against certain indie producers who are trying to get writers' ideas for poppy seed (smaller than peanuts). Procedure is this: if the writer submits an idea the producer .likes, he is put on a $25 weekly salary to develop treatment, and is usu- ally fired at the end of. one week. His yarn is then turned over to a' regular staff scenarist to polish. . One of the scribes, recently approached oh a poppy seed deal by a small agent, is spread- ing the bad news. BING'S LONDON BANG ■sinners' and Crosby Hailed— iFlrst Time Favorably There London, Aug. 30. Bing Crosby productions, which have been more or less acknowl- edged to be wea:cies at the foreign box office, are due for a pleasant surprise judgihg from the critical reaction here to the" warbler's latest, 'Sing You Sinneis' (Par). Appar- ently, it's the first time that critics have acknowledged that Crosby is an actor, one reviewer describing latest screen . appearance as 'Bing Crosby springs a surprise.' Critics in London papers, who for- merly panned him, praised his efforts and took bows.for 'discovering that he's an actor. One tabbed his work in 'Sinners' as 'Bing ithout his baop-a-dbop.' JOHN FORD ON LOAN TO DIREa WANGER PIC PINTO TOSSES ASTOR, DELAY WORRIES METRO Hollywood, Aug. 30. Injuries to Mary Astor, thrown from a horse; caused suspension of production on Metro's 'Listen, Darling' until Sept. S. Studio Is worried because the picture has .a September release date;, . . Director Edwin L. Marin has shot all possible scenes around Miss Astor. Holiywopd, Aug. 30. John Ford, out on loan from 20th- Fox, pilots Walter Wanger's 'Stage Coach' as soon as he has finished the cutting jdb on 'Submarine Patrol' at the Westwopd studio. Deal with Wanger prevents Ford from directing the next Eddie Cantor starrer, "The Average Man,' at 20th-Fox. Metro Packs Delight' For Fear of OffendiBg Hollywood, Aug. 30. Next starrer for Norma Shearer will be "The Women,' a Hunt Strom- berg production at Metro. .'Idiot's Delight,' In preparation for weeks, has been shelved indefinitely, owing to war angles that might of- fend fascist governments. PAR'S USUAL $1.50 AND 15c ON 1ST AND 2D PFD. Paramount maintained its usual dividend rate on both classes of pre f erred stock Monday. (29), when di rectors made 'quarterly declarations on first and second preference issues. Voted usual $1.50 on the former and 15c on the. second preferred. Both divvys are payable Oct. 1 to stockholders on record Sept 16. Desert Song' of Hammers Hollywood, Aug. 30. Warners is going - into the conr structibn .business . in a big way for th^. production of 'Desert Song,' which gets the starting signal late next inonth. Among the building projects, will be five acres of structures to repre. sent the . port of Casablanca . on the north African coast, and 15 miles of plank road in the. Arizona desert Dick Foran Offered To Vande as Maestro ick Foran, sagebrush film trouba dor, is'^ being offered to eastern vaude as a leader- vocalist of a swing crew. Foran is currently .rehearsing his outfit on the Coast, and- will start east as soon as dates are lined up, Nat Goldstone and Charles Morrison booking through Bill iller, pair's New York rep. Sonja's Moppet Rival Hollywood, Aug. 30, Irene Dare, 6, skating moppet was signed by Sol Lesser to start in a series of picturesi first of which will be 'The Silver Skates,' based on th? bid Hans Brihker le. Play will be filmed by Principal for United Artists release, Norman .Taurog directs. Inside Stuff-^Pictiires Unauthorized showings of pictures on . S. Coast Guard vessels have' been definitely squelched because of prompt action of distributors in re- ix»rting the practice to the Copyright Protection Bureau. This resulted in a blanket order by the Coast Guard Commandant designed to check the practice in all its units. «, , . . Matter was brought to light when commanding officers of certain coast guard ships called to film exchanges to book product and rejected several suggested films because they claimed that they had been previously shown. In several instances these prints had been supplied by local exhibitors. Capt L. C. Covell, replying for the commandant, sent out a general, order in which he quoted from the lettier of Gabriel Hess, in behalf of the dis. ti-ibutors. Order reads: 'Commanding officers of units where motion pictures are exhibited will, in case of programs obtained from the ^^avy Motion Picture Exchange, comply strictly with the provisions of the Bureau of Navigation pamphlet . . When programs are obtained from other sources, care shall be taken that the exhibition thereof at the unit involved is properly licensed in writing by an authorized distributing agency, and that the terms of the license^are fully complied with;' This cooperation with distributors is similar to the general order issued several years ago by the adjutant general of the War Department, again at the request of the Copyright Protection Bureau, to all commanding generals in the nine corps areas having jurisdiction over C.C.C. camps in order to halt unauthorized showings by traveling exhibitors who visited various camps. . , j ^ ^ Itinerant exhibitors, some of whom juggle playdates because traveling from town to town and sometimes hold back prints, always have been a source of trouble for the Copyright Bureau in past years; Warners is bearing down on its series of patriotic Technicolor shorts, arranging nationwide tie-ups through the Afmerican Legion, schools and patriotic and civic groups. Gordon Hollingshead, producer, won the Academy award with 'The Man Without a Country' last year, and ia making four more historical films this year: 'Lincoln in the White House,' Teddy Roosevelt and His Rough Riders,' 'Remember the Alamo' and American Cavalcade.' Studio is stressing the Ameirican angle as opposed to Europiean dictatorships. Five of WB's new historical shorts will be shown Thursday (1) before 1,000 delegates to the convention of the American Council of Education^ Program consists of 'Romance of Robert Burns,' 'Song of the 'Nation,' 'Man Without a Count ,' 'Romance of Louisiiana' and 'Give Me Liberty,' all in color. American Film Center, latest non-profit educational film organi tion made possible through aid from the Rockefeller Foundation, is understood to have been established jprimarily to better the quality of all educational and scientific picture subjects but also will include non-theatrical 'films ot all kinds. Group of experta in the educational field will make up the re- search advisory committee which will advise potential film makers. Small fee niay be included for research advice but it is in no way a rhoney- making proj t Odessco Productions, Inc., has been chartered to conduct a business in motion pictures, etc., with, principal office i Manhattan, and with G. B. Odium, 1501 Broadway, and Stanley A. Odium, 51 Ingram street, Forest Hills, Ii. I., among the directors. Bernard Steele, 1501 Broadway, is the third director. None of them is listed as owners of stock. The subscribers; each holding one share, are Charles F. Mclsaac, 'Walter K. Walker and James P. Murtaugh, 120 Broadway, N. Y. That is the address of the filing attorneys, Simpson, Tliacher St Bartlett Capital is $200,000, $1 par value. [Floyd Odliuh is backing William K. Howard in. indie production in. the east] Nancy Kefly's CHmb Hollywood, Aug.. 30. Nancy Kelly co-stars with Alice Faye in Tailspin,' femme flying pic- lure slated to start Sept 12 at 20th- Fox with Roy Del Ruth directing. Role will be Miss Kelly's third since leaving Broadway. She started in 'Submarine Patrol' and currently playing opposite Tyrone Power in 'Jesse James.' Lowell Thomas Soloing For Fox; Off U's Series Because of previous commitments, Lowell Thomas, who - nairrates for Fox Movietone newsreel, abandons- his stint as commentator on Univer-. sal's 'Going Places" shorts in order to do commenting job on 20th-Fox's 'Magic Carpet of Movietone' series. Spot Thomas vacates on 'Going Places' will be filled by Graham McNamee, who does newsreel nar- rating job for Universal newsreel. Thomas gets top billing for his commentation on the ' agic Carpet' shorts. tranger than Fiction' shorts nar- ration will be handled entirely by Alois Havrilla, formerly star nar- rator for Pathe newsreel. This is also a U series: Metro Megger Returns To Film Childhood Locash Rochester, N. Y., Aug. 30, Metro . Director Richard Rosson is causing a stir in Geheseo, Genesee Valley village near here, by return ing toi the old^ home town to shoot atmosphere scenes for 'The Great Waltz.' Rosspn^lived in Geneseo for a time when a" boy. ith him are cameramen Sid Wagner and George Bourne to get shots of a covered bridge, rolling hills, picturesque sky and shepherds in ' the fields. A, nuinber - of the Geneseo younger .set are being used in the filming. WB BOLLS FAIR Hollywood, Aug. 30. 'Unfit, to Print,' a newspaper yarn, and 'Password to Larkspur Lane,' first of the Nancy Drew series, rolled yesterday (Mon.) at Warners. Joan Blondell and Pat O'Brien head the cast in 'Unfit* with James Flood directing. Bonita Granville is tops in 'Password,' William McGann piloti And Then the Battle Hollywood, Aug. 30, 'Glinga Din' troupe, on location for seven weeks at Lone Pine, returns to the RKO studio Saturday (3) for three weeks of interiors before film- ing the battle scenes in the hills. George Stevens, producer, figures the war shots will take two. weeks more. SHOBTAOE OF comes? Hollywood, Aug. 30. Twentieth-Cent' iry-Fbx is looking for a featured comic to fill the role originally written for Robert Coote in 'Mr. Moto Takes a 'Vacation,' start- ing this week. Cbote is busy in RKO's 'CSunga Din.' Holly.vvood is getting a big laugh out of the six stars named by the. Dies Congressional Committee as 'Reds,' with iShirley Temple heading the list Signatures of the players, including Clark Gable, Robert Taylor, James Cagney, Miriam Hopkins and Bette Davis, ini addition to Miss 'Temple, had been sent by the h-o. publicity departmenta attached to congratulatory cables to Ce Soir, Paris daily, on its anniversary last .March. Even iPaula Walling, Hollywood correspondent for Ce Soir, did not know about it She insists Ce Soir, fiar from , being Red, is owned by a. group of Pari bankers supporting the French government. A survey of the conditions facing writers who desire to turn their at- tention to writing for the screen has been completed by Frances Taylor Patterson, who has just returned from Hollywood, where she interviewed producers and writers on the lota of the major conrpanies. Mrs. Patterson is in charge; of motion -picture work at Columbia University and the sur- vey is intended for the use of the studenta in the course which is to be held on Monday evenings during the academic year beginning Oct 2. Two Is a Lull Here Hollywood,' Aug. 30. Temporary lull in production showed only two pictures, 'Down on the Farm' and 'A Very Practical Joke,' at work on the' 20th-Fox lot last week. 'Jesse James' is being filmed at Pineville, Mo. Prodiiction ^icks up this week, with two slated to go and nine more set to start in the next/three weeks. AUied's Milw. Meeting Milwaukee, Aug. 30. Allied Theatre Owners opened a two-day meeting today (Tuesday), which will be climaxed with a banquet (Wed.). After the banquet, guests will pre- view Kprda's 'Drums' (UA). Boris Kaplan, head of Paramount's eastern talent department, con- tinues to receive applications from folks who think they have a chance on the screen as a . result of series by King Features on motion picture talent and building of .new folks for pictures. Many of- them address Kaplan as 'dean of Star University,' because he was so tabbed in the series of stories that began breaking in newspapers eight or nine months ago. Gratitude for old kindnesses, resulted in the - assignment of Mary Jo Desmond to a featured role in 'Annabel Takes a Tour' at RKO. Lou Landers, director, remembered the time when he was a second assistant pilot and William Desmond, her father, was an outstanding star. Desmond is in a Pasadena sanitarium. His daughter had been with a little theatre group for three years. Film company press agents are mulling the possibilities of Hollywood; N. J., particularly in explbiting picture stars when they arfe east Officially the post office covering this spot in Jersey is listed as West End, but it is best known as Hollywood-West End, being a part of Long Branch, utgers Neilsen unearthed the idea. KNOCHE QtJiTS U Hollywood) Aug. 30. Bob Knoche, . superintendent of construction at the Universal stu- dio for years, turned in his resigna- tion. He was succeeded by Al Richards, formerly with Warners. STORY BUYS Hollywood, Aug. RKQ . . purchased 'No Law in Shadow Valley,' by W. C. Tuttle. and 'Stage Stops at Piny on Gulch,' by Bernard McGonville. Hans Rameau sold ah original on the life- of Jenny' Lind to Universal; Deanna Durbin starrer. •Pygmalion,' CJabriel Pascal's British-made production of George Bernard iShaw's play, cost $675,000. It is the. first of Shaw's works to be made into a full length feature. Metro will distrib in America but picture will not be put on MG's regular dbmestic release slate. It will be road- showed in the U. S. and (janada. Most colossal list of autographs ever compiled will be awarded by Warners as a prize in a nation-wide contest in connection with the 'Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment' campaign. Before the prize is awarded signatures of all stars. and featured players will be enlarged for use on 24-sheets. Lucille Watson, Selznick player, is understood to be under consideration for at least three stage plays this season on Broadway. Richard Alclrich wants her for 'Marriage Royal'; George Abbott for 'February Hill,' S. K' Lauren for 'Many Happy Returns;' J. Carrol Naish, Paramount player, arrived in New York yesterday (Tuesday) to sit in on the Hines trial in state supreme court Idea pur- portedly is to study gangster types since he hias beien playing such roleJ in films lately. Annoyed by the rattle of casters on the pavement, Paramouht shushed two miles of studio stireets surrounding the outdoor sets.. New pavement is made of soundproof asphalt, covering 50,000 square feet. PICTURES VARIETY 31 MPTOA Wants AO SW Exhibitor Bodies to det-Together in Oct Oklahoma City, Aug. 30. Morris Loewensteln, MPTOA na- tional secretary, is angling for state meetings of representatives and members of the Oklahoma, Texas, fUssouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Ten- gessee and Ijouisiana exhib organi- latlons for a southwestern get- together to be held in Oklahoma City"~during the annual "MPTOA convention scheduled for Oklahortia •City in October. Frank Cassil, prexy of tbfe Missouri exbibs asso- ciation and operator of the Rialto in St Joseph, has written approval of the plan and promises full cooperar tion from his association. Bob O'Donnell of Interstate chain of theatres is also being contacted on possibility of holding the cir- cuit's managers' meeting here at the same time as the WPTOA conven- tion. Interstate'sf annual, confab at Galveston has. not been held this yeai. Montreal tdorisDi Down, Fix as Well As Niteries Hnrt Montreal, Aug. 30. With the end of the summer- in sight, this city is counting up. the payofT on the U. S. tourists and is .discussing: ways and means of get- ting better results. The estimate is that Montreal is -down a couple of millions on expected take this sea- son and while poor roads, tolls on bridges and competition from On- tario has something to do with it, the major reason is clainied to be lack Of proper catering to. tourists when they reach here. Although cabarets and niteries pay $1,000 li- cense for the year, they are rigidly restricted to 2 a.m. closing, after which the town is dark except for bootleg joints. This is a considerable source; of grumbling by Americans vcomiiig here, and another reason is the law. banning minors under IS from attending picture theatres, even if accompanied by parents. Tourists are quite unaccustomed to this and caiinot understand why they should be barred. It hurts both tourist trade and pix grosses at a time when they are badly needed. Weather has been above average heat this slimmer, which accounts also for pic grosses being below pre- vious years at this time. MOMAND SUIT BOUND OVER UNTIL SEPT. 29 Oklahoma City, Aug. 30. Momand suit defendants' motions are being held over until Sept. 29, before which time depositions will be taken in New York from the fol- lowing men; Neil S. Agnew, Para- . mount general sales manager; Austin Keough, Paramount; Harold S. Bare- ford,, assistant secretary and counsel ^ Warner rothers, and Grad Sears, "B general sales manager. . Federal Judge A. P. Murrah will rule Sept. 29 on all questions of jurisdiction involved. Hearing sched- uled for today (30) but deferred Jintil Sept. 29; includes 20th-Fox, First National; Vitaphohe, Para- mount, WB, and Griffith. Sum now involved is approximately $6,500,000. io'S Voice Centipede Tested for Chan Roles Hollywood, Aug. 30. Charles Lung, radio's 'man of 1,000 Voices,' was given a screen test by ™l Wurteel at 20 -Fox as a pos- Jible successor to Warner Oland in ""e Charlie Chan series. Lung's test and more than a dozeri others will be sent to New York for Inspcclion by the sales department fore Wurtzel makes his choice. Lake AVarner Hollywood, Aug. Warners is constructing Its own 15,000,000 - gallon lake on the Calabasas ranch, complete with river,; canal and ' waterfall, as a permanent set. First picture to use it will be emphis Belle.' F W.C. WOOS SO CALIF. INDIES' COOPERATION Hollywood, Aug. 30. Initiative has been taken by Charles Skouras, Fox- West Coast head, to effect harmony in ranks of Southern. California exhibitors by advocating discussions of ' problems by a board comprising three indie operators and as many F-WC reps. Move took indies by surprise, but plan is roundly approved. Skouras said all his cards would be placed on table and clrciiit ha: no ulterior motive in seeking to iroh^out exhib grievances, « Robert Poole,, general manager of the independent Theatre Owners, said his membei's should cast off sus- picion and give . full support to Skouras' plan. He added, 'Skouras is only proposing '.} do openly what has been done secretly.' After the meeting, attended by op- erators, of 71 indie houses, Skouras took them all out to, lunch. Mead of Universal Newsreel Sent To Hosp. by Auto Spin Tom Mead, managing director of Universal newsreel, suffered a broken left leg, cuts of the face, a lacerated left hand and several body bruises when struck by an, automo- bile at 42nd street and Second ave- nue, New York, yesterday (Tuesday) morning. He was on his Avay to ll's offices in the RCA building and was about to board a surface car when hit by an auto which was obscured from vision by two taxis. Mead was knocked several feet into the air. He was taken to the Ruptured arid Crippled hospital where his leg will be in a east for about six' weeks. George Doran, his assistant, will act during his absence. WB'S STOCK CONVERSION NOW AT HALFWAY MARK Warner Bros, campaign to get holders of present 6% bonds to con-, vert their old liens, due this fall, into the new issue of obligations .was ncaririg the halfway mark, according to latest New York stock exchange flgures.' Last totals showed only $18,159,500 worth of old bonds remained to be converted with $11,240,500 worth of certificates of deposits for new liens listed. This represents an addition of $118,500 worth of certificates for the new bonds. Amow Aides Selznick Hollywood, Aug. 30. .Maxwell Arnow, former talent head at Warners, has joined Sclz- nick-International as a production aide to David O.. Selznick. He's assigned to 'Gone ith the Wind.' Cagney, Crawford Choice of Guild at V.P:s— May Deinaiid More Agent Ac- tivity for Clienta-r-Juniort Act Upr— Painters File De- mands for Shorter Week, Increased Pay KuykendaD Stresses Need For Reawakening Interest m Films; Wehrenberg Scores Anti^Pix Blasts IB CREDIT TIFF Hollywood, Aug. 30, Ralph Morgan will be named president of the Screen Actors Guild at general election of officers Sept .18. New 'prexy will succeed Robert Montgomery, who declined to run for reelection after holding post for nearly four years. James Cagney and Joan Crawford have been nominated for first and second vice presidents, respectively, and are practically certain of re- election. Edward Arnold is the ad- ministration nominee for third v.p, Paul Harvey is slated for recording, secretary, and Port Hall, treasurer. The following members have been nominated for election to 'the board of directors for three-year terms: Edward Arnold, Beulah Bondi, Ralph Byrd, Meiwyn Douglas, Portei: Hall, Paul Harvey, Hugh Herbert, How- ard Hickmaii, Peter Lorre, Edwin Stanley and Gloria Stuart. Nominations, which are ^equivalent to election, were made by commit- tee composed of Pedro de Cordoba, Lucille Gleasoni Boris Karloff, Emma Dunn, Maude Eburne, Robert Gleckler) Walter . Kingsford, Henry O'Neill and Charles 'Trowbridge. While any 50 paid-up senior mem- bers can make norninations up to Sept. 1, it is generally conceded the regular slate will go over. Guild has announced ing rules to govern elections: 'Any 50 or more paid-up senior mem'bers may place in nomination any paid-up senior member by filing such nomination in writing at the Guild office on or befpre Sept. 1.. Such nomination must indicate the position for which the' member is nominated. It should be remembered that no member can hold office un- less he or she is also elected to or is an incumbent on the board. 'Nominations are to be placed on the ballot in alphabetical order, with no distinction made as to the source of the nomination. 'Ballots will be mailed to senior paid-up members after Sept. 1. Bal- lots- must be brought to the meeting where they will be collected by a teller and proxy committee. Any paidup senior member may appoint any other' senior paidup member as a proxy. , Proxy blanks will be mailed with ballots.' Go After Affcnts At general meeting Sept 18. Guild members also will consider an amendment to the by-laws covering contracts of actors with agents. Lat- ter is being changed to afford bet- ter protection for player, with guar- antee that agent must actually And work for his client. Guild tops and board of directors are now trying to devise some scheme to curb activities of junior members who are threatening to get out of line. One plan under consid- eration calls for abolition of the Junior Council of 33 members and election of 11 junior members to the board of directors. Latest move by junior division is a campaign to oust several paid tops in the SAG. Members arc. cir- culating petitions asking board of directors to revi.se the by-laws to provide for election of all Guild em- ployes. Latter are now employed at the will and pleasure of the board of directors. Resolution call- ing for this change will be, intro- duced at the next meeting of the Junior Council Sept. .6; If proposed change is approved by the membership and board of direc- tors. Kenneth Thomson. SAG oxccu- livc sccrelaiy; Aubicy Bl.iir. iid of (Continued on page 63) Lost Dialect Hollywood, Aug. In Paducah, Ky., a hotel, street and a bridge are named after Irvin s; Cobb, the town's No. 1 native son.. In Hollywood, where Cobb is playing In Tiie Young in Heart,' a Selznick-International lan- guage coach is teaching him a Dixie brogue. IBEW-IATSE N. Y. JURISDICTION HEADACHES An effort to further decrease the scope of the ' International Brother- hood of Electrical Workers, Local No. 3,, in the New York theatres, is indicated by opening parleys in connection with renewal of the ex- piring Labor' Day contracts with Local. No. 1, N. Y. stagehands, which at a meeting Monday .(29) sought to draw a fine line on jurisdiction. At the meeting with Broadway theatre lahpr representatives. No. 1 in- dicated ' that it felt the el tricians were in, control up to the time a theatre was completed, but that after- that, with the selling of the first ticket, everything electrically should belong to the stagehands.. This and other -changes in, work- ing conditions is expected to high- light this year's negotiations, with a meeting scheduled for this aft- ernoon CWed.)i in all likehhobd to bring' out furttier demands in this connection. Wage scale for the ensuing one or two years has not yet been broached. In all probability there will be settlement On conditions prior to discussion of salary ranges for big as well as smaller houses. At initial get-together Monday (29), the theatre side was repre- sented by Major Leslie E. Thomp- son, for RKO and the Music Hall; Bob Weitman. for Paramount; Mar- vin Schenck, for Loew's, and Frank Phelps, for Warner Bros. 100,000,000 Feet Must Be Cut For H'wood Cavalcade Hollywood, Aug. 30. Hollywood's most colossal job, that of sorting 100,000,000 feet of film for a feature-length picture glorifying the industry, began Monday (29) by the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences, in collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art Film Li- brary. Walter Wanger, as chairman of the producers committee on the document, supervises the editing with John Abott, the Library'.s di- rector. Frank Capra will have charge of cutting. The cavalcade backtracks 43 years when Edi.son made The Kis.s' with ^Way Irwin and John C. Rice. Geo. McCaU Set as U s Hollywood Spieler Hollywood. Aug. 30. Universal has signed George Mc- Call, radio gosslper, as narrator on its new.sreel. He sfnrl.'i as soon a.? loc.'il suhjcct.-i are lined up. lie lil.^o edit.', hi.-, clip, which will deal with HollywdiiH. St. Louis, Aug. 30. Ed Kuykendall, national' president Of- MPTOA, was present last week when members of the MPTOA of Easteirn Missouri and Southern Il- linois and representatives pC film exchanges launched a drive to make this territory 100% for the ' oti Pictures Are Your Best Entertain- ment' campaign now under way na- tionally. Approximately 173 heard Kuykendall outline the various -an- gles! including the $1,000^000 budget and prize contests that will be em- ployed to again make the nation pic- turerminded. Kuykendall said he felt that the campaign was the first great idea that has come Into the industry in recent years iand urifed full hearted support because he believes that the great mass of people were gradually drifting away from film theatres. Kuykendall said that an outstanding screen opus will attract large num- bers of patrons but the average pro-, grams did not bring the customers out 'Something had to be done to bring the public back,' Kuykendall continued, liils is a most oppor- tune time for the, industry to get to- gether to cooperate for the general good of all. And, for once, everyone in. the business is cooperating 100% and this is the best: assurance that the results that will be obtained will be for the good of all.' Admitting there, were many abuses in the film Industry Kuyken- dall made reference to the Govern- ment's recent suit against producing companies, affiliates, individuals, etc., by stating that the abuses can be worked out without Government intervention. He .pointed out {that the federal suit is not a criminal one. Fred Wehrenberg, president of the local MPTOA, said that the poor biz experienced in recent months was not entirely due to the seasonal slump but unfair propaganda against the industry, appearing in a number of publications. Besides Wehren- berg, members of the executive com* mittee of this MPTOA here in charge of the campaign are Harold W. ('Chick') Evens, manager of Loew's; Clarence Kalmann, owner of a North St Louis chain of nabes; Clarence Hill, manager of Columbia Pictures exchange; Harry C . Arthur, Jr., v.p. and general manager of Fanchon & Marco!s interests here, and Ben B. Reingold, manager of 2()th-Fox ex- change. A publicity coinmittee composed of Evens, chairman; James E. Har- ris, p.a. at Loew's; Les Kaufman and M. L. Ples!!ner of F&M, was appoint-, ed to Conduct'the local campaign and aid exhibitors throughout the juris- diction of the MPTOA of Eastern Mis.souri and Southern Illinois. N. Y. EDUCATORS STILL OPPOSE 'BIRTH' FILM Albany. Auj;. State Education Department today (Tuesday) filed an answer to the ap- plication of Sam Citrpni film distrib- utor, and the American Committee on Maternal Welfare in the 'Bii lh of a Baby' picture case, which is ai-KU- able in .supreme courti Troy. .Sspt Ifi. The department asks dis i.v.sal of (Jitron'.s appeal, claiminR th;il i'lc- couchemcnt is not nm] .should not be a .subject of tnterlainmcnt, It deseriljcs the film ;is merlical and havin;; o'lucaUonal vnliie. but the birth .S'-;:nc is IiuIocoitI for cxr hibitirm on .sci'ccn.s to dicnce. 1'hr; d(;|';'i'l'noiit the IcKalily oC the .-.npir-mc!. coiiil ino- ceedin;;s. cinltniii;! . t!ial Ihf.'v •■■/c-re not insliluli'fJ v/ilbiii tlic four months' peripti pjoscril)Cfl by the Civil Practice Act. Dcclar;-s that the Malcrnal Coininiltec has r.o sl.iiv|iiii; in the ca.sc. not bein;; an 'a|)|ili':aiil. (Enroll i.< the only appli- '•niil rc('oL|jii'/.pd. SEATTLE, WASHINGTON "SPAWN OF THE NORTH" does best week's business in the last six months at the Paramount. Breaks three-year house opening day record. Held over for second week. PORTLAND, MAINE "SPAWN OF THE NORTH" did a tremendous week's business in three days. NEW LONDON, CONN. 1 ■ NEW BEDFO "SPAWN OF THE NORTH" "SPAWN OF business terrific .-, . within did week's few dollars of house three days. record. action treni6< ^einesHay, August 31, 1938 VARIETY IE NORTH" dien ice re- OMAHA, NEBRASKA (At the Omaha Theatre, "SPAWN OF THE NORTH" opens to smash business ^turning in best opening day*s gross of entire year, beating "Wells Fargo/' WHEELING, WEST VA. At the Rex Theatre, "SPAWN OF THE NORTH" opened to biggest day*s business in whole year, topping "Buccaneer," "Bluebeard." LITTLE ROCK, ARK Pulaski Theatre, "SPAWN OF THE NORTH" outgross- ing such big money- makers as "Buccaneer," "Souls At Sea," "Artists and Models." VARIETY LITERATI Wednesday, August 31, I93J Hearst Chi Baf M»y .T»b Reports' . again rife concernine Hearst's Chicago Herald and Ex- aminer going tab. Morning sheet re- cently was divorced from business ofTice merger, with Evening Ameri- can, Joseph V. Connbily, new presi/Jeht of Hearst newspa|jers, is in Chi cur- rently. One of his first moves was to bring Harry Reid back as city editor on the Her-Ex. Chi Tribune, anticipating the Her- Ex going tab, has already printed wagon signs announcing the Trib as the 'only morning newspaper in Chi- cago.' If the Her-Ex goes tab, it is expected that the Sunday edition will remain standard sized. Stern Asks Oalld Parley Following 25 'economy' firings in the past twb weeks, J. David Stetn, publisher of the Philadelphia Record, last week formally notified the Guild that he wished to :reopeh negotia- tions on the clause in the contract prohibiting wage cuts. An emergency meeting of. the Guild unit was immediately called on Friday (26) and a committee named to flght both the wage cuts and further flrings. A previously- named cdmrnittiee, to protest dismis- sals already made, has had oiie meet- ing with Stern so far, but obtained no satisfaction . other than that he 'miscalculated' the increase - in in- come that could be expected when the price of the paper w,as tilted from two to three coits this' spring. Unit at the emergency meeting recommended that the Guild's gen- eral meint>ershlp raise a $8,000 war chest to prevent fiirther cannings or wage' slashes. "There was consider- able private discussion of strike pos-. sibilities, but ^no formal mention on the floor. Detroit Ctoss Weekly S«M Goodwill and name of the Detroit Saturday Night, 30-year-old '.class weekl/> which ~ went - bankrupt last May 23, brought $625 at public auc- tion last 'week - in Detroit David, Risenari, the buyer, IdnH indicate whether he would continue 'use of th;. sheet's name. Furniture and fixtures of the paper's offices, appraised at $1,421, were sold in parcels for $1,364. New FmsIbiU* Ubrary New project of Alexander J. Hammerslough, who heads the book- publishing houses of Geo^gic Press and Paisley Press, is the Facsimile Library to' make available those books out of print for which there may be a renewed demand. Publishers generally reluctant to place an out-of-print book .on the presses again upon an occasIona^caU for the volume; as even a mini- mum ' press . run is unprofitable^ Hammerslough's idea,, however! is to reproduce, such books by a pho- tographic process in editions of. 500. Book thus reissued would sell at the former published price, Mec essary, however, for advance sub scriptions of two-thirds of such an edition before a book will be re- Issued. tcred and the business moved to the Little & lyes quarters. Regular, business of the publishing company is being continued from there, ex- cept that' contemplated new books on' the^flrm's list are being withheld for the* time being. ,. In. charge of Cbvicl, Friede, at least until the organization's future is definitely decided upon, is Meyer Bell, Pascal Covici went out short- ly after the firm got into difticulties and connected with Viking Press, taking with him John Steinbeck, the ace scribbler on his list, Donald Fri e quit the company some time ago. Deane's Past Albert Dcane, head of foreign ad- vertising-publicity for Paramount, has been made a member of the boaid of governors for the House Magazine Institute of America. This institute Is organized for the purpose of setting up better house organs or . publications in the business world. In Merobriain Last week's issue of the Con- necticut Nutmeg carried an article, 'Birds Land— Aviators Alight,' by Frank Hawks, Mag .was out the day the flyer was killed in a plane crash in up- state New York, In the article Hawks stated that he hoped to give up flying and become a writer. Piece was written by the aviator at the spliciution of George T. Bye, litarery agent and a co- editor of the mag, whose sum- mer home is near that of Hawks, at Redding, Conn. Soreea ' Guide on Coast With Carl Schroeder appointed editor-in-chief; Screj.» Guide wiU be edited in the Coast offices, making it the only, fan publi.iatipr actually readied for. printing in Hollywood. For thi-ee years Schroeder has been western editjr of Annenberg Publications' Screen Guide, Click, Waltan Syndicate and Philadelphia Inquirer's roto section. Herb Breg- steln will be his ex iciitive assistant Boehester News Ads Up After withholding advertising from the newly - established Rochester (N. y.) Evening News for nix weeks, downtown theatre managers have reached an agreement effective Sept. 1, which includes plenty of promo- tion on. the sheet's theatre pages. ' Managers hope to . use this as a wedge to brighten the ' amusement pages of the other dalUes, holding they are too cut and dried and' not responsive' to efforts to whet reader interest B'klyM Protestant Paper Stock sale has begun for a new secular newspaper, the Protestant Post, to be published out of Brook- lyn in the interest of the Protestant church. Hoped to make the news- paper a pretentious affair, and an impressive editorial board is being lined up. Frank R. Heinze has 'quit the edi- torial staff of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle to assume the editorship of the hew newspaper. Vlrdbne's Fine Arts Pubs Back from an extended stay on the Coast, Paul C. 'Virdone is be- coming a book publisher in New York under the name of Fam Pub- lishers, which is specializing in books oh fine arts. No fiction, but will issue books on painting, music, poetry and the like, including an annual. Fine Arts Manual, record- ing the works and biogs of Ainer- Ican brush-wielders. Editorial, board of Fam Publish- ers will be headed jointly by Lcia Atkins and Catherine 'Virdone. Covici. Friede Fatnre Weighed Future of Covici, Friede,. New ■York, will be definitely decided upon within the next two weeks. Very little likelihood that Little & Ives,' the N. Y. book printers, who control the book publishing; com- pany's assets, will continue bper*- Bting the publishing firm, as' the printing house wants no part of the publishing biz if it can help it. Best possibility is that the Covici, Friede assets will be sold to another pub- lishing concern. Offices of Covici, riede are shut- J. H. Smyth'tf Takeover Ninety-four-year-pld mag, "The Living Age, has been acquired by J. H. Smyth,, who has formed the J. H. iSmyth Publishing Co., N. Y., to continue its publicattoh. Pub- ilshing offices have t>een moved to midtown from the Park Row quar- ters occupied by the periodical tor years. Intention of the new .publisher, who will also edit is to expand the scope of The Living Age. J. H. Smyth is not to be confused with another publisher, J. Henry Smythe. Prof. Phelps Agala Picks 'Em Citing chilly reception accorded books by recognized authors last, year. Dr. 'William Lyon Phelps' Sun- day night (28) rendered his annual opinion of the year's outstanding books at Pointe Aux Barques, Mich. Dr. Phelps, professor emeritus of English liteirature at Yale,, described Mary Ellen Chase's.'Dawn in Lyoii- essie' as the 'finest American hovel of the year,' but pointed but that not a single book, in England or Amer- ica, dominated the field' as- 'Gone With the Wind' did in 1936 and 'An- thony Adverse' in 1933. Dr.: Phelps, \yho gives the annual review for benefit of Hubbard Me- morial Hospital, founded by his brother-in-law, termed the following as leaders . among the 'books I en- joyed most during the year': Gen- eral literature, J. M. Barrie's The Green Hat' and 'Autobiography of W. 'B. Yeats'; nbvels, 'Dawn in Lyohesse,' Robert Nathan's 'Barley Fields' and Marjorie Rawlings' The Yearlings'; poetry, Leonard Bacon's 'BuUinger Bound' and M, M, Whit- ing's 'Into Another Spring.* Teachlnr 'Em Mow Latest publication of the Amateur (Cinema League is 'Featuring the Family,* by Jaines W. Moore,' head of the continuity department. One of the series designed to' teach the amateur camera addicts how to shoot and get away from the hackneyed. Booklet contains four' suggestive scripts and two treatments, all in- tended to wean the beginners away from trite cinematography. Intended for Ibague ntcmbcrs Only. It's help- ful and intelligent. Annenberg's Phllly Reversion Report.s prevalent in Philadelphia that M. L, Annenberg, ' publisher of the Inquirer, will revert to- selling the paper for 2c. He had an- agree- ment with 'other sheets on tilting to 3c.. inaugurated last spring, Anncnberg's new policy indicated a general circulation war in Philly. NEW PERIODICALS Harlan Logan, whose Harlan Lo gan Associates recently acquired the | mag Scribner's, from, the book-' publishing company of Uie same name, is reputedly at work on a new mag. Associated with Logan in the new undertaking are Thomfis Diehl and William Devitelis. Enter- prise will be a Separate entity under the. name of the D. & L. Publishing Co.- New project being kept under wraps by Logan for the time being, but he admits • 'a new magazine might result.' Although many of the pulp mag publishers are holding new mag projects in al>eyance until the fall, Ace Magazines and its affiliate. Maga- zine Publishers, bringing out three new publications now; Trio are Variety Novels, All Novels and Eerie Ii^sterles, all under the editorship ot Harry, Widher.-. Ace Magazine publishers has a number of other new periodicals, in the making, to appear soon. Growing interest, in astrology, nu- merology, palmistry,' graphology and mysticism in general resulting in an ever-increasing number of new mags on the subject Latest is True Mys- tic Science, gotten out by the Conti- nental News, Inc., of Minneapolis. A monthly, the new periodical will cover the. entire field of mysticism. R. T. Maitland Scott editing. 'Teddy Epsteini who . publishes a string of publications, also contem- plating a mag on astrology. Plans for this oiie not completely formu- lated as yet Lex Publications is a new mag publishing firm which has acquired five periodicals as the nucleus of a chain of pulp and slick-paper inagis. They are: Movie Humor, High Heel Stories, Silk Stocking Stories, Psychology and Psychology Digest- Acquisition of the quintet In- volves no editorial changes. There's marked activity Ih the juve' publishing field, besides the plans of the Curtis Publishing Co. to get out a new mag. Jack and Jill. Parents' Magazine issuing a bne- shot called Best Stories for Boys and Girls. Reprint and pocket-sized. If response warrants, it w>ll go into regular publication, using either re- prints, new "pieces, or both. Child Life has taken on a new editor, Wilma ;k. McFarland, and the periodical will be stepped up to meet the growing, competition in the field. Fickleness of the mag-reading public has caused publishers of Bal- lyhoo to turn if into a quarterly. Initial appearance of the mag was tremendously received, a magazine debut repeated since only by Life, Sponsors, unprepared for such a re- ception, could hardly fill the de- mand. But demand soon enough began to taper off, and circulation has re- putedly continued to fall ever since. Now, as a quarterly. Ballyhoo occu- pies a very modest spot. Latest addition to the ever-grow- ing number ot mag publishing houses is Hillman Periodicals, which starts off with Crime Detective as the fiirst of a string of new periodicals, which will include a confession story mag and a film fan publication. Editing Crime Detective, and slated to serve as editor-in-chief for the group of periodicals contemplat- ed by the new firm, is Lionel White. He formerly edited Triiei for Faw- cett, and prior to that he guided Real Detective and Others. President of Hillman Periodicals is Alexander Hillman, also a member of the book-publishing firm of Hill- man-Curl. Harold Bross, of the Van Recs Press, the book printers, is secretary. And ho.w it's a mag for butlers, called the Butlers Magazine, and in- tended as a chatter and n^ws ex- change for the real-life Arthur Treachers from Park avenue to Sunr set boulevard. Ihevitaible, of course, that the initial, issue carry on its coyer a photo of Arthur Treacher, tops in biitlers, even if he' only screen-acts at it, Butlers Magazin itbrs, Ciiarles Moody, Henry Brooks, Joseph Backhouse, Albert Carter and Sidney Godden. Moody and Brooks also in on the publishing end. Five understood to be experU on ev«ry angle, of buttling: Oddly enough publication bitices are in the Bronx, where they only , know butler as the name of a grocery chain. Initial issue of Nlghtt Life, monthly mag devoted to New York cafes, will; abpear this week, Wiljiam H. Jones publishes with-AHred B: Stenzel edit- ing. Georee Macy's Clubbliig George Macy is by way of becom- ing a specialist in book clubs. Or- ganizing a third, the Nonesuch Fel- lowship, and will sell those volumes produced by the Nonesuch Press. Two other book clubs operated by Macy are the Llinited Editions. Club and the Heritage Book Club. LITERA'n OBITS THIS WEEK. George W. Galdilk, 52, and his son, Michael, 15, were drowried Aug. 20, when their boat capsized in a sud- den squall several miles off Highland Park, 111. Father, a former Olympic diving champion, was columnist for Chi- cago Journal- of Cominerce. Frederick Mitchell Miinroe, 80, founder of 'Town and Country, wjiich he published for years, died Aug. 29 in . Hempstead, L, I. Surviving are three children and six grandchildren, Carter Warner Wormeley, 62, for- mer newspaper man and at the time of his death director of publicity and advertising for the SUte of Virginia, died at his home in Richmond, Aug. (24) after ah illness of several weeics. Last rites ivere in Richmond. Wormeley started newspaper work with the Richmond Journal and went from there to the Richmond News- Leader. He entered the service . of the state during the term of Gov- ernor Ei liee .Trinkle, as director of publicity. He was made pbet laureate by act of the General Assembly. One of his poems is on bronze at Natural Bridge, show place of Virgi ia, CHATTEB . Zona Gale is 64, Virginia Lovenbw to winter In Italy. Warner Bellwood shopping for a trailer. Irvin S. Cobb is finishing his book, 'Mostly About Me.' Elizabeth Corbett likes New York as a summer resort. Dick Williams, selling sports stuff regularly tb Liberty. Donald Henderson Clarke has a new novel coming but in the fall. Albert Maltz.will lecture on play- wrlghting at New York University. Hermann Hagedom completing his biog of Edwin Arlington Robinson. Ben.Lucien Burman doing a series on the Mississippi for the Satevepost Frederic F. Van de Water elected second constable of his home town. Virginia Griggs uses a dictaphone because she can't learn to use a type- writer, Carlton Smith's yarn on swing music to appear in November issue of Esquire. Charles M. Brown sold Kis story. The Entangling Web,' to Cosmo- politan. E. B, White, of the New Yorker, going over to Harper's to do a column. The Merle Armitage book about George Gershwin is down for Oc- tober publication, Bennett Cerf (Random House) to London on biz right after Labor Day. To be gone a month. Elliott Beach Macrae, one ot the execs of Dutton, will wed Marjorie Knight the authoress. Theodore McLarnin, back from Paris, says all the scribblers are now living in Carmel, N. Y. After all. these years as a non-fic- tion scribbler, Clarence Dirks has sold his first short' story. . D; D. Beauchamp sold his story. 'Gcarjammer,' to Collier's and 'Point of View' to American mag. Margaret Hill McCarter^ Kansas author, is critically ill in a Topeka hospital from heart ailment Jacob Handelsman is entering the book publishing field via the Veritas Publishing Corp., New York. Bums Mantle has written a book, •Contemporary American Play- wrights." Dodd, Mead will publish. Ted LeBerthon, Hollywood col- umnist for. the L.A. Evening ' News, switched back to his old job, cover- ing night court. Title of For Men Only has been shortened to For Men, Publishers have a suspicion that women read the mag anyway, Stephen Slesinger closed a deal to serialize Bi(ck Jones' life in the Big Little Book series for Whilni ub- lishlng company. Jitterbugs musicians when the kids frankly in vite them to 'tea pad' parties, on the road. While the reefer, habit is"said to have stemmed from the Harlem musicians and the super 'ride' men in the swing bands, the manner in which the jitterbugs have assim- ilated things is the problem. From that comes the thought that maybe this growing craze of swing- plbgy, which shows no sign of abate, ment portends some freak phenom- enon in contemporaneous Americana. Maybe it means nothing more than an advanced jazzique. percolating into the advanced syncopation stand- ards of the land. But the hookup between , the kids' peculiar actions on the road, while the dance bands have been filling the onernighter commitments, is somethipg else, again. In line with this trend of thought, Arthur Murray, whq should kno\v his dance styles, observes (1) that- dansapation styles and war talk seem to have some sort of an affin- ity; and: (2), war talk, has usually made for more and more freak com- munity dancing.- Murray, who is a foremost dancing . master,, harks back to 1912-14, the period just before the World War, when' more new freak dance steps were boriii Then, top, the .Paul Jones' and 'shine' type of community dancing held forth. 'Today, it runs the gamut from big apple to Lam- beth Walk; from the jeep dance to pealin' the peach. rbngs Riot- Chicago, Aug. 30. Jitterbugs had their day when the largest crowd in . swing Jiistory packed Soldier's Field last week (23), More than 200,000 ickeys got out bi: control of the ushers and nearly 1,000 pbiiciEmen. Four name bands - and nearly 1 amateur swihg- wielders took part in the jamboree put on by Chicago's new Century Committee and sponsored by the Ub Chi Times. Swingfest got under way as Jimmy Dorsey and his band wafted the jamboree's theme song 'Flat Foot Floogee.' By the second chonw, the crowd stampeded and swarmed 'Ver Soldier's field, making it almost im- possible for Abe Lyman's orch, with Ethel Shutta, Earl 'Father' Hines* and Bob Roberts' bands to follow. , Only Bill Robinson was able to rer store any semblanc^ of order; but as soon as he left sporadic fist-fights were in order. At one a.m. it was all over, and officials who had put on the Show niiittered 'Neyer again. Times scored a victory over the Tribune when the swing-session Jam- boree at the Stadium drew over 200,000, or nearly twice as many a^ the Trib's musical festival a week ago. Of course, the Trib charged admish, whereas jamboree, put. on by eiiicago New (ientury committee, was gratis; Trib had spent a fortune in space and money to put over the Festival, whereas the Times went lor only a few columns of editorial space, and developed the jamboree into the biggest promotional stunt ot its kind in the city's history. Day following the affair, Trib panned the show. WON, Tribune affiliate, refused to broadcast the swing-fest although it was strictly of a civic nature. WMAQ attempted to broadcast the show, but only man- aged to get Abe Lyman on the air. Amateur swing band contest, which the Chicago Greater Century Committee was to have held in Sol- dier's Field last week, will be heia Thursday (1) behind locked, doors in the Navy Pier instead. No <)ne, other, than actual members of .the « bands, will be permitted , to enter. This precauUon follows the tre- mendous crush which mobbed Sol- dier's Field last week in the open-air and made it impossible for any sem- blance of a contest to be held. Be- sides ruining some $4,000 worth ot turf the 100,000 jam of people over- ran the field and wrecked about »^,- 000 worth of the amateurs mstfu- ments, N. T. Harvest oon Sellout New York Daily News' annual promotion stunt, the Harvest Moon, was a sellout a couple aay^^X^t tickets went on sale. The dancefest tonight (Wednesday) at Madison sq. Garden plays to 20,000 peoP>?. tickets can't be had at a Premium- Ed Sullivan, the News' HollywotHj columnist came in f om to m. c. He'll also appear , with jn^ winners at Loew's State. N. C""' mencing tomorrow (Thursday)- Wednesday, A^gust 31, 1938 PICTURES VARIETY 35 LOOPS THEATRE-PIX MDOJP jyorm bnfies Force Abolition Of $1 a Card Keno in Sector Akron; on independent theatre own- trs ind the operators* union today fjlt ey w*"* the crest ot victory after Summit County Sheriff Walter O'Neil abandoned hi's 'home jule' policy on gambling and Or- dered a purge of all gambling— keno, bingo, slot , machines and punchbdards. For the last three weeks the the^ atre owners' associatibn, cornprlsed of neighborhood houses in Akron, and the film operators* un.ion, have been hammering away at Mayor Lee D Schroy and Sheriff O'Neil In an effort to have a ban placed on keno and bingo on the iground that they have injured attendance at theatres. ■ Tills has been the worst, summer season in 20 years for Akron theatres because of the fact that 25,000 }men and women in Akron and Summit county have been playing bingo and kenb,^ Robert Menches, president of the association and manager of the Liberty, declared today. The big downtown first run theatres and the neighborhood theatres have suffered alike,' he added. Sheriff O'Neil's action has fore- (talled, tempoirarily at least, a move- ment to distribute recall petitions for the removal of the . sheriff. Mayor Schroy and County. Prosecutor Alva J, Hussell.. '.Henches revealed that the thriee .officials had been given an iilti- 'inatum 10 days ago that action would be taken unjiess keno . and bingo games were stopped. He said that he hoped Mayor. Schroy would give the sheriff cooperation in the gam- bling purge. In addition to Akron there are two othei: cities in the county, Barberton with a population of 25,000 and Cuyahoga Falls with 22,000. Menches said he would call on the :mayor and shojy him the, first of a series of screen trailers all independ- ent theatres planned to exhibit. The trailers condemn, the mayor for per- mitting gambling to 'run rampant* without interference and call for the support of theatre patrons, through letters and personal calls to the mayor, sheriff and prosecutor urg- ing that the, law be enforced. 'As an alternative, the association planned to foster a move, for recall of officials who continued to ignore the law,' said Menches. 'This would be a drastic step, but fully justified under the circumstances.' Three large groups have been of- fering keno and a wide variety oif gambling, all three outside the city of Akron. One 'keno spot was in suburban Cuyahoga Falls. Mayor Schroy several days ago declined to act against keno games where prizes, other than cash, are JWMded to winners, holding them to le harmless entertainment. State tax office spokesman here oeclared the Z% amusement tax col- lected from operation of keno and ♦is?" county amounts to about JWW a month. 'Clamping dow/n the Jia on keno,' he said, 'will affect our leiurns temporarily, but eventually we.state will lose nothing because *e will make up the difference in f"«ased returns from the theatres added" centers,' he nn^J '''"60 spots vary their fees, niaif. ^ '=3'^<1 for $1 on the good 11 41. °* week, two cards for ♦1 the other nights. inro Out, Bankb O.K. _ Minneapolis, Aug. 30. ^ne state attorney general has ven an opinion that bingo, used 1} """>ber of theatres and night "UBS throughout the. state, is a lot- 2: '" violation of the state law. h.t u ; supreme court, however, held Bank Night legal. AOeep-dyed mystery in the indu.?- loon how some of the lower are u, e'"md houses tm.iv • W'*hi seating capacities as »™aJl as 300, to have cash gift nights ^'ong with their double feautres at oune admission. The Stockholm, • capacity of 340, gives tws? Anyway, It's a Plug Hollywood, Aug. 30. LeRoy Prinz, dance director at Paramount, is organizing a studio post of the American Legion and one for Sons of the Legion, Seniors and juniors are due to march in the parade at the Legionnaire convention here to ballyhoo the picture, 'Sons of the Legion.' Theatre Mag Wonld Settle $50,000 Suit Vs. 20th-Fox for IG illiaih C. Gross, ais assignee .for the creditors of the defunct Theatre Magazine Co., has - requested N. V. Supreme Court Justice Church for permission to settle a $50,000 in- fringement suit against 20th Gehtury- Fox Corp.,. for $1,000. The action was based on the- use of the maga- zine's cover design in a scene of the picture,' 'George White's Scan- dals, of 1935.' .A suit based. on the same complaint by F. Faye Kaplan, assignee for the artist of the design in the Federal Court, was filed sev- eral months agoi The court decided Mi Kaplan had no claim to .ownership of Uie design. It ruled that the design had been used without Theatre Mag com- pany's consent, and on this ruling the creditors of- the magazine filed the $50,000 suit GURIE GOES BURMESE TO KORDA ON LOANOUT Samuel Gbldwyn is loaning Sigrid Gurie to. Alexander Korda to play opposite Sabu in 'Burmese Silver,' adapted from the novel of Edward Thompson by Sir Robert Vansittart, chief diplomatic advisor to. his ma- jesty's government. Iss Gurie will sail for London as soon as Sabu con- cludes his trip in this country,' where he will arrive Sept. 12, and will .re^ main until 'after the American pre- miere of his latest Korda picture, 'Drums,' at Radio City Music Hall Sept. 29. In 'Burmese Silver' Miss Gurie will follow in' vein of her screen debut opposite Gary Cooper in 'Marco Polo.' $5 three nights a week in addition to presenting two features and three short subjects for lOc, probably the ultimate in entertainment bargains. Practically all of these dime double-feature 'shooting galleries' have deep-well cooling and ventilat- ing plants. Cinematic Alger Story Pine Bluff, Ark., Aug. 30. Carl Tucker, a local, youth came to the box office of the Alamo here Tuesday (23) and put down a dime for a ticket and, on being told the admission was 25c left, but later re- turned with another dime. A by- stander loaned him the other nickel. He went inside and a few minutes later won $100. Legal Test on Bank Lynchburg, Aug. 30. Judge Harris S. Birchfleld of Roanoke has taken under advisement the test case to determine the legal- ity of 'bank nights' and 'Ford nights' at the National Theatre Corp.'s houses. T. Warren Messick, one of the at- torneys defending Elmore D. Hcins, v,p, and manager of the corporation, threw a wrench into State's case when he insisted Comonwealth wit- nesses be instructed of their consti- tutional rights. As a consequence some of the witnesses declined to testify. Both sides cited ca,<;es In other slates to uphold their clai m. IN MIDDLE Big Chain Wrangling with Distributors on Where to Spot the Choicer Film Product — Orientars Clos- ing Keynotes the Jazzed- Up Theatre Situation REALTY ANGLES Chicago, Aug. 30. , Loop theatre. and picture situaition is in the worst mixup in history and; at present: is on the edge of an ex- plosion, that would completely change the theatrical maip of the downtown section. Balabaii & Katz is engaged in a series of wrangles with several of the top distributors over ptodiict and the distribs are threatening competitive action un- less B. as K. ill agree to rms more suitable to the exchanges' likes. Much of the difficulty, follows the closing of the Oriental, which has made the releasing situation, in the loop so tight that niany of the top pictures are being forced into houses and runs which, the distributors, claim, are unfair to the flicker. Example ot such a situation is the case of 'Four Oaiighters' (WB), which is a present source, of heated bickering between Warner. Bros, and B. & K. Circuit wants to play the picture in the Roosevelt but the disr trib is yelpiiig that the hoiise (1,500 seats) is much too small for a flicker which is figured for cream coin: Disi trib is asking for the ChicagOj but B. & K! is nixing the flicker for its flagship. Two firms are now in a huddle and trying to arrive at some agreement on the mixup which has become a rather frequent occurrence in the loop of late. Roosevelt has become a headache to B. & K., being too small for the big pictures, and too big for the sloughs. Has resjlted in so much tiffing that B. & K. is ready and willing to fold the Roosevelt entire-, ly. Has been negotiating several propositions which would dispose of the properly completely and elimi- nate it firom the theatrical map. Marshall Field Estate B. & K. has been asking $1,500,000 for the State street property on the agreement that ' the spot would be utilized for anything but film exhi- bition. On this basis it has had a series of confabs with the Marshall Field Estates, which is extensively interested in Chicago land, especially In the loop. It is understood that B. & K. has been interested in work- ing out a deal wherebj^ Marshall Field Estates woul I take over the Roosevelt and turn over the Slaite- Lake building and theatre fee to the circuit in exchange. Howevei:, this is extremely unlikely since one of the iEstales! prime principles is not to dispose of any loop land that it owns. Naturally, one of the 3. & K. clauses in the deal would be that Ihe Roosevelt be transformed into a mercantile establishment of some kind. Another item which is causing considerable underground comment in. the bu.siness is the invasion of the loop by Essaness, which is a tenant in many B. & k! houses out in the various nciRhborhood.":. Of particular interest to the film bi;. locally is the indication that E.ssanes.'i !,<; not go- ing to be conten with continuing th3 downtown Woods, which it has taken over from' Jones, Linick & Schaefcr, as a sub.scqucnt run spot. Essaness is con.siderino shoving the house into first-run flickers: at least occasionally, if it is impo.ssible to ob- tain sufficient fresh product, to op- erate the hou.se oh a firsi-run policy. 1 canwhilc, the- Oriental is a hot- bet' of rumors and' underground ac- tivity, with .sevcrti) operators I throughout the country haviiig come Courtney, E State Atty, in Big Drive Vs. Chi's 6,000 Air-Conditioned Handbook Shops; An Aid to Film B.O4 Not the Type Hollywood, Aug. 30. With the studios producing a lot of . outdoor pictures. Regis Toomey went into training on the beach and developed his biceps and a coat of tan, hoping to get a he-niian role. Called to Metro for a featured part he \yas turned down because he looked too healthy. Studio wanted an actor who looked like an. invalid.' Prospi erity Comes To Pineville, Mo., As 'Jesse James' Starts St. Louis, Aug.' 30. A touch of realism was added to Pineville, Mo., an Ozark . mountain community ' of 422, where 'Jc.«e James* is being filmed by ioth Cen- tury-Fox, when three genuine .ban- dits robbed a conibo grocery store and tavern near the burg last week and escaped. The Ozark area is agog over the work of preparing Pine ville for the major scenes as 400 truckloads .of dirt covered the paved Main street, and false fronts and wooden sidewalks were built to bring back the locale of. 70 years ago. The fly in the Ointment is that most of the stars will live in Noal, Mo., 10 miles away during the film- ing. Tyrone Power, cast as Jesse James, and Henry Fonda, as Jesse's brother, Frank, are- living in the only aircoiiditioned room in the county at Noel. Half of Pineville's population will be used as extras if they allow their beards to grow to' the luxuri- ance demanded by thcx director. Biz is booming, in the area and one cafe owner claims a 400% increase since the film folk moved into the coni- munity. HENIE BACK SEPT. 8, TO SET HER ICE SHOW Sonja Henie, who has been vaca- tioning in Europe, Is due. back in New York Sept 8, coming in from Oslo, Norway,' where she has been most recently. Her picture, 'My Lucky Star,' completed before she left Hollywood, follows 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' into the Roxy, N. Y., the middle of September. Miss Henie will discuss plans tor her ice show tour this winter while in New York. This probably ■will start early in 1939 after she has completed another starrer for 20th- Fox. WB's Lane and Lynn Hollywood, Aug. Warnei's is building up Priscilla I,ane and Jeffrey Lynn as a new romantic team because of their work in 'Four Daughters.' Their next, 'The Great Li ,' is getting additional treatment to fatten their roles. Chicago, Aug. 30. Locil .film theatres are benefiting from an unexpected windfall and from an unexpected direction. For unwittingly helping to up, grosses, State's Attorney Thomas E. Court- ney should be presented with a spe- .cial plaque in the 'Pictures Are Your Best Entertainirent' drive. It all came about when Courtney decided that 6,000 handbooks operat- ing in Chicago were too much. So he armed his squads with axes and started out methodically to demol- ish them once and for all. He spared no one, completely blanketing the city just as fast as the boys could get to them. Hundreds of the handbooks, rep- resenting investment from $15,000 tO: $50,000, are ir-conditioned, have latest type, theatre seats, and even provide free lunch. When It is realized that sorne of the joints sloughed play to ai. 1,000 admissions daily, and a conservative estimate al- lows 200 patrons to a parlay parlor, that's, plenty of patrons, daily from whom local cinenfias and other the- atrical attractions derived no , rev- enue. The jitte.rbboic fans seem to be the only ones around with leisure time, and money. After , five hours doping the ponies, hone ever seem to have ambition left to visit a thea- tre— €ven if they hit the daily double. But the local pendulum has swung the other way. As long: as Court- ney's flat-foot floy floys chop chop along, local clhemas have found trade on the upbeat. Matinees.' par- ticularly in the loop, where 346 hand- books were reported operating with- in an eight-block radius of 'he the- atrical sector, reported an 8% in- crease in afternoon biz. In the na , where women .accounted for 60% of the bookieis' clientele, a very sharp increase in attendance is reported. For the first time, in a lon<; while queues are to be seen in front of the United Artists, Palace and other loop houses.. Jitterbook operators are nervous- ly marking time. They've tried mov- ing Upstairs' or next door. They've tried ireplacing with cheap equip- ment; but Courtney's lads keep re- sharpening their axes. Film tills will continue to benefit accordingly. 6 FHJH COMPANIES PROTEST LA. TAX TAP to town to try to work out .some kind of deal with the owners of the prop- etry; despite the fact that the house is still a.ssumed to b-; under B, & K. leasehold. B. & K. has a man in the hou,se continuously and from lime to time holds mceli 's on the po.ssi- bilily of reopening the house. How- ever, while B. & K. is ponderipfi both policy md product for the u,se, the owners ar reported con- siderably het up over the fact lh;il the hou.se is dark and have held' .SO' cral .sessions, with B. & K. to to get Ihc theatre open as •:<:"! po.s',siblc. New Orleans, Auu. Protest .pn behalf of six film ex- changes here a.(;ainst valuation of $50,000 each for assessment purposes of . films on hand in possession of the exchanges was made before the Orleans parish board of equaliza- tion here Friday (26). Asse.ssor James E. Comiskcy de- clared that the films were estimated to produce $2,500 a Week. Louis L. Rosen, attorney for the exchances, declared that in some cases the film was not owned by the com- panies maintaining the exchan;W»LL APPEAR I ,HE GREATEST WASS. UEDIUM IN AWER'CA ^^^^t:^. ^^^^^ AND A CAST •"RECTEO BY ZO FROM A ST, " ^ t E ^ J P^^^^ * ( illlll^ ,000 '38 VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, August 31, 1938 Perelmans, PhjUy Indies, F3e Elaborate Arguments Why Dualing Ban by Distilbs Shodd Be Kayoed GN Approved (Continued from page 3) Washington, Aug. 30. -Confirmation of the Pennsylvania Federal court ruling that film , dis- tributors' ban ainst double-featur- ing violates the anti-trust laws is' sought in a brief of two Philadelphia exhibitors to tiie U. S. Supreme Court. Taking issue with six majors, Harry and Louis Perelman, Philadel- phia theatre operators, are flghting the requested review of the decision that contract blauses are incompati- ble with the Sherman and. Clayton acts. Declare the refusal to license films to houses with, dual poUcy is an improper burden on interstate commerce, whether by concerted or individual action. After complaining that major dis- tribs gave the court a one-sided slant, Perelmans point to numerous opinions to the effect that good in- tentions do not exempt individuals from penalties imposed under the anti-trust statutes. Even if .double- featuring is considered undesirable by large numbers of people and or- ganizations, such animosity is lio de- fense agai t law Violations, brief says. Exhibitors, must enter contracts for product, and if unable .fe; obtain films without ' promise hot to -dual, they are deprived bn a. soiirce of supply, Perelmans note. Refusal of distribs to dieliver reels* except in accordance with such pledges, dis- rupts the entire business arrange- ments of theatre msuiagers. WB Angle In; Pennsy Anti-dual c»iise is particularly op- pressive in Pennsy because of the preferential treatment given Warner Bros, hotises in, Phillyi the court was told. Because of the 'protection' angle, majors^ features have lost novelty and drawing power by the time they are rel sed, to subsequent- run, independent houses. Addi- tional attraction must be provided in order to lure patronage; As a rcr suit of the majors' ban; indie exhlbs have no recourse except, to get B pictures from Independents, which brings an additional curse, since the big flrnis will not allow their prod- uct to be shown on same, bill. Apparently the motive' of the majors is' to forestall evils which have not resulted and to obtain benefits which lead to ^maihtehance of higher rentals, the brief con- jectures. And some Of the majors which will not tolerate dueling in Pennsylvania themselves follow doube-features policy in their af- filiated houses' elsewhere. Noble motives and desire to maintain bene- fits for their output are not a re- spectable defense against asserted violations of Sherman and Clayton acts, in the mind of the Perelmans, who added, in reminder to the high- est court, that 'the lilces or dislikes of any number of persons to the ex. hibition of double features and the maintcnanc.e of defendants' price for their products furnish no valid rea- son why the plain mandate of the Sherman and Clayton acts should absolve the defctidants from the penalties attendant upon their vio- lation.' The evidence in the Pennsylvania trial amply supports finding that anti-dual clause is result of a plot by the majors! the brief says. Answers the majors' contentibn that length of time over which the prohibition was adopted disproves idea of joint ac- tion or conspiracy. 'Assent and' tacit understanding to work to . a common purpose. Is plainly shown' by quotations from" Ed Kuykendall, Louis B. Mayer -and others, the; Philly operators insist. Fact: that phraseology, is not identical likewise does not undermine complaints, be- cause the concurrence in common purpose still is noticeable. Clauses in each company's contract are just as effective as if they enter a gen- eral treaty. 'Coercive' Charee 'It is obvious that the restriction against double featuring on one pro- gram with its attendant penalties is coercive because independent ex- hibitors must contract with; the de- fendants to stay in business profit- ably and cannot contract with any of them If double features are re- sorted to,' Perelmans summarize. 'Furthermore, the restriction denies to the exhibitor a free and untram- meled market because of the inevit-j able concert of 'action' between the I defendants, since if ^n exhibitor i Makes Crime Pay Hollywood, Aug. 30. Crime pays Doii Brodie, who played only bit parts for years until he was called for the first of the Crime Club pictures at Universal. Since then he has been, in every one of the series, fiive, with a father palrt each time. PAR TO BUILD HIOOD HOUSE Holly wood, Aug. 30. Paramount is reported ready to build a deluxe theatre in Hollywood. Only major film company without a first-run; outlet here,, It has been forced for a number of years to de- pend on the Paraimount theatre,- in downtown Los Angeles, now oper- ated by Fanchon &; Marco in assO' elation with Par. Studio feels it ould have an even break with etro; 20th-Fox, Warners and . other majors which have Hollywood outlets for top .product. Smal Ayoids Congestkn plIy\yood, Aug. 30. Edward S^all moved, from United Artists to General Service studio to launch. two pictures at the. same time next month. By that time the UA lot w.ill be crowded, with Samual Qoldwyn and Walter Wahger units going full blast Small's impending films are ' ihg of the Turf,' starring Adolphe en- jou, and 'iSoUth of Pago Pago,' co- starring Jon Hall and Sigrid Gurie. Elisburg Has Woods, Chi Chicago, Aug. 30. Essaness officially takes over the downtown Woods theatre from Jones, Linick & Schaefer on 'Fri- day (2). Herb Elisburg, publicity and ad-, vertising director for the circuit Will alsoi officiate as bverseer of the circiiit's sole theatre holding in the loop. DEANNA, AGENT SPLIT Hollywood, Aug. 30. Deanna Durbiri and Jack Sherrill, her agent canceled their contract by mutual agreement James Durbin, her father and guardian, is handling, her business affairs temporarily. tends to use a feature film of one defendant, this defendant will refuse to deliver if a feature film of an other defendant is intended to be used concurrently, and the second defendant could not deliver the second feature film by reason of the same restriction, if to be used con- jointly with the first feature film. ■Hence, the sure and certain ef- fect of this common restriction in defendants' contracts not only is to unduly obstruct but also to stop the free flow of inters te commerce in defendants' feature films. Even should the exhibitor iiltempt to use a feature film ' of an independent producer, his market is, still tram- hneled, because then: he must sur- render his right to defendants' fea- ture films without which he cannot stay, in business profitably. Hence, his only alternative is to refuse to deal with the independent producer because of the coercion of the. de- fendants. ' This enforced refusal is plainly an unlawful rest int on in- terstate commerce.' Suit which the Supreme Court has been acted, to review is a civil; not a cri inal proceeding, and Has no direct relationship to the big Fed- eral anti-trust;suit which aims at stamping out certai' booking methods. Government is not a party to the case, in . which .Vita- graph, ■ RKO, ' Paramount Metro, 20thTFpx and United Artists havie been ittttacked. to the minimum 'in an attempt to bring company oiit of its muddle. , Nfekry, under questioning, placed value of 58 pictures now in release and their accessories at $496,006, as of inventory at time of bankruptcy filing last February. This figure, Neary stated, does hot include any anticipated returns from distribu- tion of the films. Of the 58 pictures, 30 are iaims acquired by GN for re- lease, with 28 produced by com- pany. Value of GN's flied assets were Placed at $151,412 by Neary i including studi and exchanges equipiiient etc. Unpaid liabilities of the ,trusr tees total. $125,676 but this amount is reduced to approximately half due to amount of cash on hand for re- tirement of the obligations. Wright followed Neary on tlie stand, sketching bTiefly his legal background and familiarity with motion ' picture affairs as proof of his ability to recothmend the sale of GN assets to Educational for the fonhation ot ,a newr. corporation. , Wright stressed the point that the New Grand National would, operate primarily ias a distributing com- pany, with setup of 29 exchanges to handle product, turned out by inr dividiial producers, who Will con- tract ,to maJce , enough - pictures to assure full time operation of the exchanges. Wright blamed fall of GN, primarily organized as a diS' tribuiing concern, on- its entry into thie production field and felt cbnv fldent that same mistake would not be repeats 'Only Heiie of Life' Wright declared that Educational's proposal was Uie only offer of that had been made for purchase of Grand National . ' that: would give company 'any hope of new life.' He stated that in case the court failed to' give its approval 16 ttie deal, only recourse left would ' be liquidation, with undoubted loss to both stock- holders and' 'creditors,: as GN.. with its present lack of pictures to keep its exchanges- alive, could not keep going much longer. Wright also saiid, as another rea- son for court's approval, that he had been assured, three claims, to- taling $411,000, against GN would be .withdrawn as. soon as oBlcial nod was given to sale. Claims are Edu- cational's $168,000; Alperson's $160,- 000, and Edward J. Peskay's $83,000. At beginning of the hearing a telegram from E.- W. Hammons, bead of Educational, was read into the record as part of the terms of sale. Wire, which followed Educa- tional stockholders meeting in New 'York Friday (26), gave Ediic's pledge of $150,000 of par value pre- ferred stock and $150,000 par value of common stock - in the new cor- poration, as' security for perform- ance of Educ's obligation to pur- chase back the ..$360,000 worth of new preferred stock to be issueo by' GN trustees at two-thirds par value any time within the year. Pledge gives Educational unqualified vot-. ing rights of stock until such time; as security runs out. Sale was' okayed by two-thirds of GN's creditors, among them Jules Brulatour, First International, Bank of America arid International Cin- ema. Trustees will now draw up plaii for payment of GN creditors to present to the court with proposed plan expected to call for settlement at about 56 2-3c on the dollar. ,. Alperson is expected to withdraw from his post as co-trustee with Wright to devote himself to pres- sure of new duties with New Grand National, with Wright remai ing as sole trustee until claims are finally washed up. New Newsreelers Wage Pact Ready; Clause Opposes Multiple Coverage Scouting Up Biz Hollywood, ^ug. 3iO. Nearly 500 . Boy , Scouts made their film debut in Universal's That Certain Age,' in which Deanna Durbin sings 'Be a Good Scout.' Screen Actors Guild furnished 22. The rest were re warded with a meal on the set. In return for their acting the studio makes a donation to the Boy Scout -movement COAST-TOCOAST ARTY CIRCUIT Extension, of a group of ar,ty or; foreign language ttieatres into the east this week, looihed with the ar- rival of Henry- Pincus in Cleveland to look around and .advise of suit- ability of iother houses .in the region eastward. Pincus is in Cleveland to open the City theatre. Circuit is op- erating under the ternporary title of International Cinema circuit Herbert: Rpesner is head of opera-; tions, Esqiiire, Hollywood; Grand Inter- national, Los Angeles; Clay Interna- tional, San Francisco; Mont-Lake,: Seattle; and City, Cleveland, now are in this group; An ojperatibn in Portland is being mulled. Circuit dfflcials also, are reported to 'have their eyes on spdts in Chicago, De- troit Kansas City, Pittsburgh and New York;. Group , 'Will. hold off en- tering N. Y. until set . on other sppts. Cleveiland, Aug. 30. . Fire in projection booth of City last Friday .(26) t caused by worn- out tangled reels of 'Mayerling,' suited in damages iamounting to $450. . Also forced cancellation, of three performances, until two burnt reels and equipment were replaced. Zolton : Gombos, manager,' shifting City into foreign pix policy Sept. 1 with ' oonlight Sonata' as season's opener. No Russian product being bought. W. ¥a. Exhibs' Schism Fairmont W. Va., Aug. 30. Richard O. Marks, -manager of the Orpheum, Clarksburg, has called a meeting of dissatisfied;. theatre mana- gers of West Virginia at Wheeling for Sept 12, when an effort will be made' to break away from the West Virginia Theatre Owners Associa- tion, 'The old groutj, of which Sol man, of Huntington, is the leader, will ineet at White Sulphur Springs, Sept. 5-6. Freddie Bartholomew Opens in Prov. Sept, 15 Hollywood, Aug, 30. ;Fr^die Bartholomew's personal appearance tour opens at Loew's, Providence, R. I., Sept. 15, moving to Loew's, N. Y., Sept. 22; Earle, Philadelphia, Sept 30; Stanley. Pitts- burgh, Oct. 7, and Fox, Deti-oit, Oct. Youngster is currently work! In Metro's 'Listen, Darling.' Although it now seems doubtful if Pat Casey wiU be ready to nego. tiate a new newsreel photographers' wage-hour piact for 30-45 days, ten- tative form of the new agreement already has been submitted to five newsreel heads for perusal and con- slderstion. Old two-year agreement ran out July 1 and the new contract doubtlessly wai be made retroactive to Sept 1. In the meantime, the reels are expected to follow along with the preserit contract. 'While basically, the of the International Photographers' union, a member of lATSE, remain the same, initial demands are con- siderably higher and more drastic than under the old agreement. As had been expected, one of the principal points included in hew union proposal covers, injury to cameramen. This asks full payi'dop. tor's fees ; and Hospital charges to be paid for by tiie empiloyer if the union lensman was on company busi- ness. Also a stipulation that every cameraman have $10,000 insurance'' against accident, disability or death, same to be paid by the newsreel firm. Present, plea of union, is for a $125 tninimum week for regular ' photog- rapbers as against $100, now in force. It seieks $50 per day; for cameramen working . on a 'day basis as against $35 - It also provides $175 for -a 40- hour work week when the camera- man is . not permanently employed. Cant Double tip New pact also seeks in so many wbrds to prevent cameramen from covering a, story for more than one newsreel, excepting when all. are present when yarn breaks and single coverage by general agreement is requisite. It also goes ; into definite wording as toiwhat constitutes stand- by work and how it sball be paid by the newsreels. There also is a proviso calling for additional money on airplane -flights, double the usual amount being sought when the photographer has to fly when usual commercial planes are grounded or conditions are, rated bad. Instead of the -40-hour week being applicable to an B-week , pe- riod, new agreerhent would set tip a two-week period and fixing 80 cumulative hours in this period. This portion probably will receive considerable attention and interpire- tation by both sides. New pact proi posals are the same as presently in vogue as to work day lasting eight hours and agreeing on a . 4p-hour work week. There are hew ramifications pertaining to time spent in travel and types of it 'With newsr ler cam- eramen seeking compensation in sev- eral instances^ Beebes Back for More Whyte's $7,500 Commish Arthur G. Whyte, one-time booker for Keith office, has brought suit against the Emigrant Industrial Sav- ings bank fpr $7,500, amount claimed due him for services in helping in the sale of the -Victory theatre. Bay- side, L. I., for the bank. Suit now in the supreme court Duchess county, N. Y., may be shitted to New York county if the efforts of Emigrant attorneys are successful. Willard S. McKay repre-, sents Whyte in the action. BLOSE GOES HOUE Hollywood, Aug. 30. ric lore, British comedian, sails horneward tomorrow (Wed.). He will make a picture for ar- ners In London. Union Talks Begin Canton, O., Aug. 30. Picture o rators employed in the three first run houses here, Loew's, Palace and Ohio, have started ne- gotiations for a new wage scale agreement to supplant, a three-year contract which expires Sept. 1. Not revealed whether operators win seek an- increase, or agr to continuance of the present scale. TITLE CHANCES Hollywood, Aug. 30. Release title for 20th-Fox's 'By the Dawn's Early Light' is The Girl From Brooklyn.' 'Sea Gulls of Salt Lake' became 'Miracle of Salt Lake' at Metro. 'La Sascinadoi-a' (All-Spanish) to 'Cara o Cruz' for RKO release via William Rowland production at Eastern Service Studios. N. Y. 'Juarez' is release title for 'The Phantom Ci'own* at Warners. Hollywood, Aug. 30. Sequel to 'Sing, You Sinners' is slated for early production at Para- mount with the same Bccbe family, consisting of Bing Crosby. Fred Mac- Murray, Donald O'Connor, Ellen brew and Elizabeth rattersoii. in tlie cast Idea foi a secbnd film came from the Par distributing dcpt Wesley Ruggles, who directed 'Sin- ners,' is set to pilot the follow-up,, with Claude Binyon scri ting again. No Go, They Walk Hollywood, Aug- 30- Disagreeing with associate pro- ducer John Stone over script changes, Frances Hyland and Albert Ray obtained their release from 20th-Fbx. Miss Hyland had been on the lot four years and Ray about ■■ a year. They were doing 'Salomy ' Jane, slated as a starrer for Jane Withers. Euro's BOMANCER Hollywood, Aug. 30. John King gets the romantic lead in 'A Very Practical Joke,' third of the Roving Reporters scries at 20th- Fox.- Sol Wurfeel production also fea- tures Michael Whalen and Chick Chandler. 'Nation' Starts Sept. 6 Production on 'One-Third of a Na- tion,' the WPA play, gets under w?y Sept .6 at Eastern Service studio, Astoria, with Sylvia Sidney set m the lead. This is tlie feature whicn Harold Orlo will produce lo^ Triple-A Productions. Paramount will release. tTedncsdoy. August 31, 1938 VARIETY you'll CLIR When you play AAARIE NTOI NEHE Starting off at a terrific clip! "Sweet Marie^^ is your new sweetie! D E T R O I T— Zooms far beyond "Test Pilot;' "Great Ziegfeld," "Maytime'* I \ and all the box-office darlings ! THIS BIG ASTon .'•Reserve. „ Won," •Ci A $2 SMASHl A POP PRICE SENSATION! Extra! As we go to press I Detroit is first Hold-Oven Watch for morel PITTSBURGH— Way ahead of terrific "Test Pilot/* "Good Earth," "Waytime," "Saratoga/' "Great Ziegfeld; - etc. DENVER— Clipping bigger coupons than "San Francisco," "Great Ziegfeld," and other Biggies. CHICAGO— Imagine! It beats "Rosalie's" great Christmas biz! HOUSTON — Hot on the heels of torrid "San Francisco" and in Houston's hottest August. ATLANTA-^Good-bye to that "Great Ziegfeld" record! SAN FRANCISCO — Good-bye to that "Good Earth" record! Just a few early engagements in HOT ALJQUST, hut breaking records any* how. Watch it QROWl 40 VARIETY PICTURES Wednesday, August 31, 1938 EXPLOITATION By Epes W. Sargent Warners Click Ads Prior to the opening ot 'Four Daughters' at the Radio City Music Hall, Warners ran a 1,200-line ad- vertisement in the N. Y. papers, headed 'I Have Seen 'Four . Daugh- ters,' and signed by Jack Warner. This was followed after the opening by a second, of similar size, carrying the top line 'You Have Seen 'Four Daughters.' The ads were spaced a week apart and attracted consider- able comment, not only for the text but because of the unusually attrac- tive typography. Purely from that angle it attracted comment in Print- ers- Ink, Editor and Publisher, Ad- vertising Age, not to mention the N. Y. Times, which alluded to the first ad in reviewing the screening at the M. H. Both ads were notable for modesty and economy of word- age as well as the typography. The first advertisement is credited with having very materially contributed to the quick take-off of the picture and Its sustained gross in its hold- over. , , Now Warners plans to spend be- tween $80,000 and $90,000 on a cam- paign in 33 key cities, using only the first of the two ads. This will run in the evening papers the day before the premiere at the local house, and in the morning papers the day of the opening. The company will assume the entire cost and not require the local theatre to co-op. It is a highly practical contribu- tion to the current national cam- paign, though not regarded as a part of the 'better movies' season. It sells, a picture simply, forcefully and di- rectly that will sell other W.B. prod- uct It is not just an advertisement for 'Daughters,' though it is a power- ful one. It Us the general idea that W.Bi is importantly among those present when it comes to the current season's product This is not the first time W.B. has done a big job of selling with typog- raphy instead of through cuts, as wit- ness "Midsummer Night's Dream.' Mort Blumenstock and his cohorts seem to have something on the ball ■when it comes to type faces, but it is to be questioned whether even the 'Dream' ads ever did a better job of direct selling, chiefly because the copy here is more direct and force- ful. It's an achievement. Loew-Foli's Cakefest New Haven. Loew-Poli's gesture to the ' eater show season' was a 'cut yourself a piece of L-P cake,' with nice-size edibles mailed to the press, etc. Tieup is for the Loew-Poll New England theatres. ' lex' Steals St. Louis St. Louis. Getting the Midtown Business Cliib, organization of 350 merchants in the vicinity of Fanchon & Marco's 5,000-seater Fox, steamed up for a reopening, after 13 weeks of dark- ness, was the subtle suggestion of Les Kaufman, p.a. This was a prelude to a sock campaign for 'Alexander s Ragtime Band' (20th), the opening picture. The Business Club not only resoluted for the reopening, but also saw that every daily rag carried ex- tra yarns on its action. , When this was accomplished, Kauf- man obtained two full-page co-op ads from the business folk for 'Alex- ander,' with the picture breaking all records during a one-week stand. For the first time in years F&M went to town with 24's, using 125 of 'em all over the burg. A preview of the pic was held for every nitery entertainer in town, and each was given a piano copy of the songs used in the pic. The Star-Times, p.m. rag, used a pre- view review of the screen opus, a very unusual procedure, two weeks in advance of opening. After buying several spot announcements over KMOX, Kaufman obtained a flock more gratis. Every music store in town yielded window space for Irv- ing Berlin hits; 3,000 magazine news- stands were decorated with tack cards,, and the RCA-Victor mailing list was used for sending special notices of the pic at no cost to the theatre. The Melbourne hotel, neiar the the- atre, permitted Kaufman to imprint its menu cards with 'Alexander' copy and also shove special notices under the glass tops of dressing bureaus in each of the 4 rooms. After its one week stand at the Fox, 'Alexander' moved over to the Missouri for a fur- ther rua munity unveiling 'Sing, You Sinners at a Saturday midnight show two weeks ago. Incidentally, last week was a big one here on advertising and publicity for Irving Berlin. He received bill- Film Reviettis iifs1n°^Ca^efree^,'Lnd.had'Lop"^^^ TENTH AyENUE KID (Continued ftom page 18) luring in 'Alexander's Ragtime Band,' playing the Community the first half. Covered It Up As a letter of introduction to Sabu, the Korda East Indian boy star, who arrives Sept. 12, United Artists has issued in book form the story of Sabii, somewhat similar to that re- cently sent out to editors in mimeo- graphed form, with a. striking cover and illustrated with a full page cut on every right-hand page. Printed by the Oxford University Press and carrying the price tag of one dollar.. To many persons the pictures alone will be worth the price. The text, done by Frances Flah- erty, is entirely different from the mimeo copy. Theatres-Exchanges Kalamazoo, Mich. Uptown, 2,000-seater, first new house here in- a good many years, preemed last Wednesday (24). The- atre is owned by Kalamazoo Michi- gan Theatre Co'p., of which P. C. Schram is president. Butterfleld Michigan circuit opened its new Uptown theatre here last week. Hamilton, O. Oxford, new 1,000-seat house in nearby Oxford, college town of 1,800 population, is scheduled for opening In mid-September. Being built for J. S. Jossey, of Cleveland. and plays sleuth in 'Tenth Avenue Kid,' a mediocre tale of adolescent reform, with 12-year-old Tommy Ryaii as the subject for the social forces. It's just another dualer. Young Tommy Ryan shows up ex- tremely well. There's Beverly Rob- erts, too; more recently of Warner Bros., who romances a newspaper, beat and finally Cabot all incidental. Actually, it's all Ryan. The youngster lends a plaintive singing voice when his cinematically tough personality reverts from type, and it's all to the good. Voice is on the Bobby Breen style. Cabot is a tough dick, Jim 'Silk' Loomis. who came by the nickname through his smooth sartorial man- ner. But the kid. who even bids fair to eclipse his old rhan as a crimi- nal when lie gets out of .short pants, is the thorn in his side. Moppet had seen Cabot kill his father, when the snoop tracked pop to a room after he had been in on a bank-robbing job, with resultant animosity. After that it's all about Cabot's at- tempt to get the youngster to reveal the hidden cache. Ultimately the two become pals after a hectic gun battle, among others, in which Cabot is always the No. 1 man. Horace MacMahon, a pug-pal, of Cabot's in the picture, plays a dumb role. Cabot is okay and so is Miss Roberts, hut It's just a case of little Tommy Ryan dwarfing them. Direction by Bernard Vorhaus is good in most spots. Bulldog H-G and Par's Trailers Metro-Goldwyn has started a traveling marionette auto truck across the country baUyhooihg 'Marie Antoinette' and Paramount has coun- tered with a mule traveling bally on 'Arkansas Traveler." Mule is starting from the Ccast well in advance of Bob Burns new starrer so that maximum number of cities may be contacted before film is generally released. erlin's Doable Portion Saratoga Springs, N. Y. William E. Benton's Congress had an advertised world premiere of the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers picture, 'Carefree,' at midnight Wednesday. It was the second w.p. during the racing season, Walter Reade's Com- Los Angeles. New Gentry theatre opens Sept. 3, House was biult, jointly by Fox -West Coast and Lola Adams Gentry. F-WC will operate. Fox-West Coast is dickering for 10-year lease on Garden theatre, Burlingame, Cal., closed for several years. Albert A. Galstbn is remodeling a store building on Whittier blvd. into 650-seat theatre at cost of $28,000. House will be ready for opening Oct. 15. Dnunmond Africa in New York Theatres PARAMOUNTs"'^' IIRLD OVKB BINO CROSDY FRED MacMURKAX "SING YOU SrNNERS" rnranwunt Plr(ur« ISQUABE PHIL SPITALNY AND HIS AM.-GIRI. ORCUIiaTRA ZASV riTTS Vlh At. * »Otb H(. ROXY ALL 25< ''O BKATS I I'M. HELD OVKR "Alexander's Ragtime Band" —On th* auc*— Neir Stnirs Show airMUSie hall "YOU CMT TAKE IT WITH YOU" Sptetacular 8ta0« Production! UOOltS OPEN U:30 A.M. Oklahoma City. Ritz, Muskogee, undergoing repairs with $15,000 going out for new seats and complete redecorations inside and out. Roy Creason's new 400-seater at Eufala will open around Oct. 1. Creason operates the Palace there at present. L. E. Brevirer completely modern- izing his Royal, Pauls Valley, with new decorations, new carpets, modern glass front arid remodeled marquee. Brewer recently com-, pleted installation of a Siroco air conditioning system at his Folly, same town. M. R. Parks, Tonkawa theatre operator, will open his second house in Disney, Okla around- Sept. 5. House is equipped with Simplex sound and Walker SS screen, and is a 400-seat job. Following managerial changes an- nounced by Griffith Amus. Co.: Taylor Joyce from assistant manager at Stillwater, Okla., to city manager at Hugo, Okla.; Frank Aydelotte, from city manager of Drumri^ht, Okla., to manager of Cleburne, Tex.: Gayle Varnell from Hugo to Drum right, Okla.: (3eorge Limerick from Cleburne, Tex., to Enid, Okla., as city manager, and Carl Benefield. from city manager at Enid to same position at Pampa, 'Tex. A, G. Smith, after 12 ;y'ears as manager of the local National Thea tre Supply branch, will shift into the firm's sales staff. Smith was formerly maintenance manager for Glenn Dickinson theatres in Missouri and for Fox theatres in Kansas and Missouri. ruraniount release of Harold Hurley pro- (liicllon. Features John Howard, Heather .tne'l. . DIrecteil by L.oul8 Kins. Dnsed on stoncx by H. C. McN'elle: screenplay. Qnr- neil Weston: cnmen. Dill Mellor. At Cri- terion. N. v., week Aug. 25, '33. Runnlns time. SS'mlns. Capl. Hufili Drummond John Howard Phyllis Claverlnf Heather Angel Colonel Klelson H. B Warner KIchard Lnne J. Carrot Nalah AlRle Longworth Reynold Doiiny I'cnny B. E. Cllve Denne Fordlne Apthony Qulnn M.tjor Urey Mathenr D4tultnn McTurk Nell FltzRerald naron Nevsky Michael Brooke Waller ; . . .Jonn Do DrKc IFoiel . Paul Porcasl Dr.- Ste von Brlncken Acrls Ttollo Dl( Sergeant £van Thoman Constable Jenkins Forrester Harvey Tailor Qemid Rof;cr8 Phillips 7.eonord Carey Extra Late Feature NORMA TVRONK SHEARER POW ER MARIE ANTOINETTE sr. o. M. Hit Dall] 2:30. ll:IS. UMnbililAIR-COOLRD .■ililiw Sit.: am. 3. n, VM. Ualt. SOr. Is tl. Et-ei. Mc. 10 %i. SaL k Sun. Mais.. Hit. >ll. ROBIMSOy In "I AM THE LAW" starts Thuraduy . Jnnet Ouynnr - Rolwrt Mojit- Soinery - Jfranclwt Tone la "8 Loves Has Nancy" wteumm. >M iiran iLoew's STATE' 1 . ssbaowAf a siiii mm ^ Starts Thnrs. Now Playlnc 'AI^IEBS' Qie. HaH A Or«h. 'The Texans' Dm Badinan > aad OKhmtra Joe Iiaurlo, Jr. Rochester. N. Y. Gerald Fowler, manager of Geneva theatre, Geneva Schine house, trans ferred to Lockport in charge of Palace, Rialto and Hi-Art, succeed ing Francis M. Gere, who goes to Norwich. Fowler stai-ted as a pro- jectionist 11 years ago at the Regent Geneva. An engaging adventure film in which Bulldog Drummond, his butler and a pal, with their usual non- chalance, interfere with a Scotland Yard spy case, only to show the Yard how to really handle matters. The picture is thin from the romantic side, but the cast is capable and the action fairly fast and diverting. Therefore, as a secondary supporting film, it should prove okay. Customers are going to blink at that sequence in the African lion pit where the villains have the inspec- tor strapped to a pillar, ready for de- vouring, and he is saved in the nick of time by Drummond and his pals. Everything begins to happen on the eve of Drummond's wedding to the beautiful Phyllis Clavering, who is also somewhat addicted to sleuthing. She has gone to the inspector's house to fetch him and finds a couple of strangers there instead. She sneaks behind the brush to see the strangers carry out an unconscious inspector. Then she gets Drummond and every- body is off on an adventure that winds up in an African domicile. There are no exteriors of any worthwhile mention. Overnight, by plane, party is in Africa, and the villains, discovering they are being trailed, put a time bomb on Drum- mond's airship. Heather Angel is a nice, flim-sy por tion of romantic appeal, but never gets the opportunity to really demon strate what she could do. John How ard, J. Carrol Naish, Reginald Denny and E. E. Clive perform admirably, without reducing the importance or the excellence of the performance as the inspector by H. B. Warner. All of which means that the direction is smart. Shan. the b.o. window. Although it is peo pled with familiar western charac- ters, film looks like it was tossed to- gether between takes on some other feature. Production, scripting, direct- ing and part of acting smack of the quickie school, and net result meas- ures up to that description. Ritter's claim to cinematic fame is that he appeared and warbled on several network radio shows. While he has a fairish voice, some vehicle that can make more plausible use of his singing plus clever direction seems necessary to put the lad across on the screen. He doesn't look much like a cowboy and his stature also stacks up against him. In this latest picture he has neither the opportuni- ties nor strong cast to get over with western fans. At this hou.se, where the audience never overlooks a cow- boy bet, his cavortings weren't given a tumble. Production is the oldie about catle- men struggling for water rights, the wrong man accused of murder and justice finally triumphant as Ritter concocts a phoney death and ghost scene to break down the real killer. Tex Ritter has a handsome white horse. White Flash, which he rides on the slightest provocation. Plenty of . horse hoofs throughout. Gun fight between the cattlemen and sheep owners staged on a big scale, but badly. Tpx Ritter. as a Texas ranger, is given center spot, but seldom evinces interest except when he sings. 'Two routine tunes plugged, aided by some strumming and mugging by the Bev- erly Hillbillies. Hobart Bosworth as the cattle owner unjustly arrested provides strongest acting support Edward Cassidy is loud and inefTec- tual as sheriff. Harriet Bennet. her- oine, is hopelessly weak. Support ncludes such old standbys as Charles King, Karl Hackett .arid Ernest Adams. Snub Pollard, vet of slap- stick comedy, and Horace Murphy are cast to provide humor. Not much chance for either. Dialog is shoddy. No cameraman credited. Maybe there was a reason. Wear. MEET THE GIRLS 20lh Century-Fox release of Howard J. Green production. Features June Lan^, Lynn Barl, Robert Allen, Ituth Donnelly, Gene Locktiart.- Wally Vi^rnon. Erik Rhodca. Directed by Eugene Fonle. Story and :)creenplay. Moreuerlle'- Roberts: cam- era. K.lward Snyder: editor. Fn'd Allen; ni(i:ilral direction, Samuel Kaylin. At Al- bec. Drtiuklyh, Aug. 2T, '3S. dual, llunning time. ItU inlnu. Judy IJ.nvlB June I.nng Terry Wll.son I.yiin Barl Cli.-irlO!* Tui'ker llobort Allen Dal.'sy Watson .Itulll Donnelly Homer Wntsnii.,.. Gene Ixickliart MaurW*c I.eoii l-:rlk ' Uhudes I)elbci-t Jones.. Wally Vernon Tiny L'oiisltintlne Itoinnnolt Flelcher Jack Norton Mr. Itr.-idy EinnicU ^'OKan Collins I'nul McVey Captain Iliirlan Urlses New York. Irving Ludwig has resigned as treasurer and assistant to John Wright, managing director of the Rivoli, N. Y.. to assume operation of the 8th St Playhouse tor RucolT & Brecker. Ludwig was at the Riv- oli many years. No successor yet appointed at the Riv. B. F. (Dinty ) Moore, who has been In charge of the N. Y. and Brook- lyn Strand theatres for Warners, was hasted at a farewell party last week by Warner Bros, associates. Moore goes to Oklahoma City where he becomes . general manager for Standard, Theatres Corp. Zep Ep- stin will serve as acting manager of the Strand. ROLLIN' PLAINS (WITH SONGS) C.tnni N'atlunul rcle.nse of Kdward Fin ney pruductlun. .Star* Tnx Kilter; features lliibart llnsn-orth. Snub I'ollnrd and Hnr riet nennel. Directed by Al Herjniwi. Seieenplay by I.lnd:-2T, double 1)111. nunnlne time, fll min.s. Tc» Lawrence Tex nilter Annnliis Horace Murphy I'ee Wee .snuh Pollard lluth Morviy Harriet nennpt Giwiiel Moody Hnhart Hosworth S^herlff Tnmlln Eilwanl Oasaldy Dan narrow Knrl Harkclt TrlKKer Gnrsan (-linrlcs Klnn Cain Moody Krnest Adamn tiope Lyntnn Creiit Hauk Tiinili ;....Hnnk Cirnonter Sfluhit Hank Wonleii Weevil .^URle Gnmnis Telegraph Clerk Osc«r Gauhiin and the .vecly Hillbillies 'RoHin' Plains.' newest Tex Ritter opus of the wide-open spaces, won roll many silver , cartwheels through Nothing much to this. Just one of those sub-B items for double billing with a strong mate. Doesn't offer any visible selling angles, won't get any word-of-ri-)uth and has no mar- quee rating. 'Meet the Oirls' is aimed as a comedy-thriller, but the studio ob- viously didn't bother to point the sights very carefully. Story con- cerns a couple - of femme hoofers stranded in Honolulu, who fail to get off a San F;-anciscj boat until after it leaves port. Their slapstick voya.?e across the Pacific involves a fabulous diamond, a jewel crook, a blackmailing gigolo, a hypochon- driac, a v/ralhful ship's captain, a crap-shooting sailor and a perennial souse. As the adventur-chased gals, June Lang is authentically lame-brained and Lynn Bari is properbf aggres- sive and resou. :eful. Erik Bhodes Is •'-'-b-'Me'i with another of his no- spikka-da-English carts. Ruth Don- nelly does what she can with the flibbertigibbet wife and Gene Lock- hart is extraordinarly credible as the imai;inative invalid. Production and direction meet reauiremenfs. tiobe. STUDIO CONTRACTS Hollywood. Aug. 30. _ Paramount lifted Ruth Rogers player option. , Universal renewed SUnley Hughes actor ticket. • , t •• 20th-Fox extended Thomas K. Lit- tle's contract as prop department chief. Phyllis Brooks reinstated attcr suspension by 20th-Fo::. , , . Metro renewed Rand Biooics player pact. RKO signed Janet Demp.ioy, mop- Universal signed Julio Aieilo. sink- ing moppet to a three-month op- tional contract. TWentieth-Fox lifted Doms den's player option. , Nick Castle's dance dirccto:- pact renewed by 20th-Fr.x. RKO renewed contracts of KJy Sutton and June Woodworth, sIOck ^'c^a^rson Kanin's actor option lifled by RKO. . , Warner signed Sig Her/.ig to • new writing pact „ „ Twentieth-Fix picked up Griffith's player option. Wednesday, August 31, 1938 41 MOVIES ^eiAe Me^^ ARE YOUR PROFIT PICTURES 42 VARIETY RADIO Wednesiday, August 31, 1938 1ST STATE VS. ASCAP ROW BEFORE U. S. SUP. C'T AS FLi APPEALS INJUNCTION State Claims Federal Court Judges 'Abused' Dis cretipn— Constitutionality of Fla. Statute Not Di rectly Involved Some Fun Washington^ Aug. 30. First of the rows between broad- casters and copyright owners over series of state acts designed to crush the American Society of Composers^ . Authors & Publishers' control of *" protected tunes was carried to the U. S. Supreme Court last week. In effort to wriggle out of an injunc- tion, Florida legal officials have gone to the highest tribunal with asser- tion that restrainer by Federal is- trict Court for Northern District, of Florida is invalid and that state law regulating licensing of copyrighted songs does not trespass on Federal •domain. Speciflcallyi the state au- thorities ask the Supreme Court to vacate a decree of the lower bench and order dismissal of the injunction suit of Gene'Buck and ASCAP. While constitutionality of the Florida statute, similar to those adopted in several states during re- cent years under prodding from the radio industry, is not direcUy In- volved, the proceeding is Vexpected to show, whether such regulation ol intra-state. transactions is legal. Case is based, however, on technicalities of procedure, with the court asked to rule whether anybody except the Florida attorney general can be en- joined from enforcing the act. Jiicl(es"Abnse' Charge that the speelal three- judge Federal Court at Pensacola 'abused' its discretion is liiade in the documents filed on behalf of the Florida officials. Failure to make findings ol fact or reach conclusions -r of law showing necessity for nullify- ing action of state legislature is brought before the highest bench for ruling. Briefs also charge the lower judges erred in aiding an alleged price-fixing coinbination and by not recognizing the Florida copyright statute as a valid ° exercise of state police powers. Originally Buck and ASCAP sued for an ' Injunctloni against Cary D. Landis, late attorney general, to pre- vent enforcement of the law. ' In 'memorandum opinion. Federal court granted temporary 'stopper. After Landis died in May, other officers of the state sought dismissal of the in' junction, claiming it was directed against Landis as an individual, while ASCAP asked permission to amend the complaint to include George Couper Gibbs, tiandis's successor in office. Both positions were denied and the adverse ruling oh the first is the present excuse for getting slants of the Supreme Court By indirection, the motion now be lore the highest court raises the question whether Federal judges have jurisdiction in a tiff over such a law and whether the state act con- Pflicts with any provisions of the Fed- eral Constitution. The brief notes that ttie injunction proce ing did not involve the vali ity of any copy- right or raise infringement issue. The documents emphasize that Florida merely seeks to control re- lations within the state between the copyright pool and music users, Gross receipts of ASCAP from, all Florida licensees in 1936 totalled $59,306, it is remarked, while 307 broadcasters, theatres, restaurants, hotels, and otheir enterprises are forced to sign the contract ASCAP is identified as an unincorporated combination of owners of copy rights organized for the sole object of fixing prices for performing privileges. With Steve Fuld, of Radio Sales, Inc., author of the idea, the associates of Pete Schlpss in the McCann-Erickson agency last week staged a novel type of charivari, aboard the ship whibh was taking Schloss and is bride to a Bermuda honey- moon. The gang plastered the decks with posters telling about . Schloss being wanted for kid- , napping and offering '$9.99 re- ward for information' leading to his arrest Legend underneath Schloss* photo related that he had jim- mied a window and made off with the pride of Manchester, Mass. It described him as fiat- chested, flat-footed- and . flat- headed. Schlciss' associates, who stuck up about 200 posters as. the ship line's cops chased. them, from deck to deck, were Thomas Losee, account, exec on, Axton- Fischer Tobacco, Lawrence Hanson and Frank Conrad, with- whom Schlpss does the agency's time buying. Kate Smith's Autobiog Kate Smith's, first literary attempt will be oh the bookstands about Oct 12, Book is an autobiography of her climb to stardom, containing adr Vice to beginners; Mail requests for :advice became so heavy, the singer decided to put it all into a book rather than answer Individually^. Tagged 'Living in a Great Big Way,' book will be published by Reynal-Hitchcock and will contain, among other things, an expose of the fake song- publishing racket. GUEST NAMES AT $18 PER sonnel of the Executive Committee s increased to 15 arid now in- cludes the officers and Maurice differ, KMOX; Richard Pavey, KSD; Wayne Short KSD; Richard E. Fischer, KWK; Syl . inkin, WEW, and Roger, Bacon, freie lance^ all gabbers; Harry Cool, KMOX; CoyiU Bunch, KWK, and Norman Paule, freelance, all warblers, and Elmira M. Roessler, KMOX, and Adelaide Tarrant freelance,' actresses, Of- ficers are ~ Don Phillips, KMOX gabber, president; Alleii C. .Anthony, KWk gabber, vice-president; Nellie Booth, freelance actress, secretary, and pave Ward, freelance gabber, treasurer. St Louis Chapter has opened permanent quartei^ In the Mart building; NBCCHIU^ON GRATIS PIPINGS Advertising agencies, .which want to pipe announcer auditions to out- of-town clients must now pay NBC for the use of the facilities. In pre- vious seasons, it was NBC's policy to treat such services as a courtesy to the customer. One agency which last week tried to arrange for an audition of this sort was informed that there would be a special charge of $96 for the wire, with 10% added to, cover the network's bookkeeping, etc. Agency nixed the idea and instead had the contending announcers inscribe their voices on an instantaneous disc. The recording cost $4. $1300,000 Show Goes Begging possibilities of selling the Screen Actors Guild shpw lor the initial 13- weeks of the coming conimercial broadcast season have become practically hopeless, because the hour's spot Which would justify the talent expenditure Involved is not available on either the NBC red (WEAF) or Columbia. Music Corp. of America, which is agenting the show, is quoting $25,000 a week, which on a 52-week basis would mean a budget of $1,300,000. for talent alone. The program has been presented to five agencies, and in almost eacli instance it was pointed out that the tiriie situation makes the recom- mendatiori of an investment of such proportions to a sponsor ahy> thing but encouraging. The ihoney derived from tiie series was to go into the Guild's relief fund. Gen. MiUs Takes KFWBV 'Grouch Clob' for Coast Hollywood, Aug. 30. General Mills bought KFWB's 'Grouch Club' .for a Coast ride on both Columbia Pacific and Califor- nia radio system networks. Tees off second week in September. Cereal outfit will plug new break- fast package,- Cbrn Kiks. Program, goes trans-continental oyer CBS if sponsoi- iis still enthused after first 13 broadcasts. String 61 name band leaders are doing a series of guest shots for Benay Venuta on the singer's "full hour sustainer on WOR, N; Y., Suii- day afternoons at 4. High-priced batbrieers are drawing $18 each for their stints, which amount to a couple of solos. Dough represents the minimum fee for leaders, under AiF.M. regulations, if they play their instruments: If they don't play, date could be on the cufi. Which is what it really amounts to— a gesture, to Miss Venuta. Guesters arie all instrumental spe- cialists. Vincent Lopez, Bunny Berl- gan, Russ Morgan, Emil Coleman, et al., are committed or have already guested. FisheO Gomi^ VHaSs On FootbaH; Pottiiig Mogg Prognostkator on Spot Dick Flshell, football prognosti- cator emeritus ol Variety, will do the same stiint on a SO-station com- mercial hookup lor Vitalis oh NBC- Red' commencing Sept 27. The vitalis Tor en Only' sliow shifts Oct 4 from its present Wednesday slot into a Tuesday groove, so that Fishell will have to pick next Sat- urday's winners five days in advance. That's the sarne time he did the forecasting lor Variety. The sports broadcaster continuies his present af- filiations with WMCA, The football masterminding for this rag will be essayed by a staff member tills year, who figures to go out on the limb— but far. BEL GO 'S $7,172,648 FROM RADIO IN '37 Washington, Aug. 30. Fat tribute paid to the Bell Tele- phone Co. by broadcasters was re- vealed last week in , a report to the FCC, 'showing total wire line chairges to transmitters for the 1937 calendar year pf $7,172,648. Exacting juiciest fees from the. mid-Atlantic fegioh, Bell system collected all but $42,332 Ot a total of $'7,214,980 paid out by stations for their phone services. Re- mainder went to othejr carriers. In reporting to the Commish, en- tire group of carriers showed collec- tions in the' mid-Atlantic district amounting to $6,159,494. Pacific Coast broadcasters were dunned the second largest amount $328,587, .rep- resenting only a fraction of the huge eastern take. Lion's share in all cases went to. Bell. Other regions were listed as fol- lows: New England, $63,708; Great Lakes, $219,109; Chesapeake, $58,572; Southeastern,'$114,312; Nortii Central, $94,871; South Central, $135,279, and Mountain, $41,048. J0HNS0N-BU1TERW0RTH MAKE WAY FOR 'SEXES' OK Solo Barsainlng St. Louis, Aug. 30. A move for individual groups, gabbers, warblers and actors in the St. Louis Chapter of AFRA to negotiate upon their individual problems was adopted last week by 85 members of the organization at a meeting held at the Melbourne hotel here. Motion .also stipulated that while the respective discussions shall be attended by the individual eroiip.<:, each group may be supple- mented by any member of the two other gj'pups. No steps will be made to settle (\ny dilferences that may exist between AFRA' and the - sta- tions here until the NLRB in Wash- ington passes ' .upon the subjects threshed out at the recent meeting here. At I week, the per- Again Nix Rocky Mt Games for Broadcasting Salt Lake City, Aug. 30. ■Rocky Mountain Football Confer- ence for the fourth consecutive year nixed idea of- airing gridders. KDYLj^ local NBC affiliate, however, plans to air via remotes scrimmage sessions from the University of Utah stadium. R.M.C. embraces 12 col- leges on Utah; Colorado,^- Wyoming and Montana. Stations in Salt Lake have been approached by several agencies for air sliows built around collegians at pigskin parties, but it is likely that this idea will also be tabooed by the conference. Interviews of coaches^ players and visiting performers are o,k, Socialite's Pic Gossip Philadelphia, Aug. 30. New weekly film gossip show by Susan Porter starts on WHAT to- morrow liight (Wed,) . Femme .is sociialite and this is her radio break-in. Parks Johnson and Wally Butter worth have voluntarily agreed to re- tire from the last two shows of their contract with MoUe Shaving Crearh in order to permit 'Battle of Sexes' to get under way Sept. 30 over WEAF- NBC. Consequently they, will wind up their Vox Pop broadcasts for Molle, Sept 13. With Frank Crumit and Julia San- derson taking' over their old spot, the Vox Pop boys will enter into a lit- tle friendly log rolling to help both programs, Johnson-Butterworth will interview Crumit and Sanderson on their final Molle show, while Parks Johnson and, Wally Butter-worth will be guests on the new Molle program, 'Battle of Sexes' oh Sept, 27. New Vox Pop show, with the same Johnson-Butterworth team, starts Oct 1 via WEAF-NBC for Penn To- bacco Co. (Kentucky Club Smoking Tobacco). Tune Formala Stencilled For Coast Bakers' Show Hollywood, Aug. 30. March of Time'js pattern for drama- tizing' current news events will have a counterpart in a new twice-weekly program to be sponsored by Lang- endorl bakeries over Don Lee's Coast network. Takes off Sept 6 and will be aired on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Uhdier Carroll O'Meara's produc- tion for Young & Rubicam, Franklin Bingman will narrate from script by Don Clark. Stock players will be used, for the dramatics. Noxzema MuUs 'Qoiz' Bankrolling of 'Professor Quiz' is being considered by Noxzema, Ruth- rauff & Ryan has' submitted this pro- gram along with a couple of others to the client. 'Quiz' has been dropped by Nash- kelvinatpr, effective Sept. 24, after a run, of almost two years. Account has no immediate radio plans. CBS controls the program's title. Page Vice Lehman at CBS George Lehman resigned as act- ing supervisor of all three Columbia Broadcasting playhouses in New York on Monday (28). Jack Page replaced him temporarily. No. 2 playhouse job, formerly held by Page, will be held, open for a while, until Stanley McAllister, in charge of construction arid, main- tenence, names successor to Page. 'Family Man' on NBC St Louis, Aug. 30. Woody Klose, assistant general manager and program director at WTMV, has signed a 13-week con tract on the NBC red to continue his program, "The Faimily Man,' which he scripted and broadcast for the East St Louis staition. Program will be aired five days a week start- ing Sept. 5. Dick Liebert organist has been assigned to. furnisli the music re- quired for the program. G.O.P. APPOINTS RADIO HEAD IN CONN. Mrs. Stowe Asks Divorce Chicago, Aug. 30, rs, Velma Stowe asks for a di- vorce in suit filed in Superior Court Chicago,, against Arthur' Willard Stowe, charging extreme and i peated cruelty. Stowe is author and producer of radio plays. Hartfordi Aug. For the rst time in Connecticut a major political party will have a radio director. He is David H. Hal- pern .and he heads all Republican radio activities for the fall camr paigh. Hdlpern is on a leave of ab- sence from WBRY, Waterbury, where, he is stiidio director. All radio activities of the state Republican party will "be handled, through. th» office of the F. W^ Pirelle Agency, Hartford. Plans for the future are still in the works^ Plainned to start the radio cam? paign on the eve of the Republican state convention . in the Shubert theatre in New Haven, Sept, 15, Time will ;be taken on all Connec- ticut stations broadcasting at night- with all state stations utilized dur- ing the campaign. State Democratic Party has Bp> pointed the , F, E. Baker Agency, Hartfoird, to 'assist in its radio cam- paign. WL mil CUTS RATES 11% , iladelphia, Aug. 30. WFIL ciit its rates up to 17% for afternoon. tirhe this week, co-incident With issuance, ol a new simplified rate card, effective Sept. 1. Don Withycomb, g.m„ said the price slash was ft 'purposeful effort to en- courage increased volume in keeping with', the downward trend of indus- trial prices.' He declared the step was taken despite the fact the sta- tion is 7%% ahead ol last year on contract placements. Added volume is expected to compensate in the grPss for the cut in scale. Top evening time on the station remains the same at $200 for a hall hour. Time from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. has been sliced from $120 per hall hour to $1 New rate card is a revelation in simplicity. It is printed In the dou- ble-spread inside of a small card. Classifications are broken down into day, night, Sundays and strips, and all prices are contained in 11 lines of type. CHARLES BOYER MAY AIR FOR WOODBURY Charleis Boyer may step into the Woodbury Soap spot oh the NBC- blue (WJZ) Sunday 'nights starting Oct 2. If the deal is okayed, it will be for an initial period of 13 weeks. 'Tyrone Power was starred in the dramatic series last season. Famous Artists handles Boyer, while Lenneii fit Mitchell has the Woodbury ac- count Mutual's Lutheran Program Back to Net Mutual Broadcasting's biggest show, the :Lutheran Hour, returns to the net Oct 23 for SS weeks. Reli- gious program was on last season and takes: 59 stations of Mutual net, originating from KFUO, St. Louis. Program goes on 1-1:30 p. m. Sun? days and repeats St 4:30 to 5 p, ra-t witti Dr. Walter A. iviaier speaking. It's sponsored by tfie. Lutheran Lay^ men's League, Agented by Kelly, Stuhlman and Zahrndl agency. ^edaes Jay, August 31, 1938 RADIO VARIETY 49 NBCs jybottt-Face QMpite the scarcity of unsold periods on the NBC red (WEAT) iiilkind the network's recent reorganizational sales maneuvers to jSriop business on the blue (WJZ) trail, NBC lest week contracted ZTl three-station hookup on the red with Nestle's chocolate and ^ (Lamont CorUss tc Co.). It's the 8.30 to 9 niche Wednesday The Mutual Network was the unsuccessful competi r for the jjjjUe business. ^nut fives this three-station sale a particularly curious angle is its Agip contrast with the policy NBC announced for the red network i-j, 5, namely', that hl^t-tlme accounts on the red would be re- Jriied to take a minimum of 50 stations. «ulte by Accidenf is the program's tag and the series will start Oct S. Script show will deal with the strange quirks that have sky- ig^eted certain persons to success, or caused them to drop suddenly {rom fame into the llinbo of forgotten, men. Jack Meakin, who used t, be CBS' musical director in San Francisco, heads up the cast. jN Basics and William Gonzales did the scripting for Music Corp. of taaakt, which sold the series. nie stations in the hookup are WEAF, N; Y.; ia, and WMAQ, Chicago. Cecil, Warwick Sc Legler is Nix on Hight Recordinc* An- other Move by Station to Make ItMlf No. 1 Indie- Waxed Daytime Commier- cialt Will Al>o Go Off, If Comnritments Permit N.W. Station Owner Charged With Bias in Hot Political Campaign; FCC Prober Reported in District fflif s Farm Campaign Starts Rolling; Umng Up Programs to Start Oct 1 incinnati, Aug. 30. . Ntw director of WLW's new agri- niliiinl department, John F. Mer- Tifcld, started Monday (29) to round IP larin organizations' and consult lith extension services in the niid- itsi for co-operation in a series of fun service programs to be inaugu- uM Oct 1. Broadcasts will be Hiked with the Crosley super's Top t' die Morning', stanza, 6 to 8:15 a.m. iiil;, except Sunday. Itorifleld was graduated from ton State College in' 1932 with a Icftte in agricultural economics and Mtr -worked with farmers' orgahi- atlons as a representative of Swift t Cd;, and also of Sears Roebuck & Coi His radio chores for WLW will km to do with the eradication of ksKts .-and blijghts, particularly in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Itst Virginia, and. discussion of bul- Mias from the U. S. Department of lltlciflturc. R» its second season, the Voice of k Farai series of broadcasts, by EwNtt Mtchell has been resumed • WLW. Programs, heard Satur- iij) at 1:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 rn,' feature interviews with promi- MBt farmers, agricultural leaders ^ authorities on topics dealing ^ general farming and stock rais- ■S. Vocal and instrumental music li btaided with the chatter. 0U« Fair's Covcrace Columbus, Aug. 30. With WLW joining local . stations w daily broadcasts, Ohio State Fair MwA got greatest radio coverage b history. Cincinnati station came to lot regular Saturday night broad- ^ of Henfro Valley Barn Dance •'"''Pe, which played a one-nighter « the Fairgrounds' Coliseum on opening day (20). Record W>* NBC and Radio Corporation engineers, has delayed inauguration of tour to date. Bulk, of inspection tour will be on a new floor heretofore closed to the public. There will be 10 guides in charge of directing visitors over the 'tour, with two week intensive training course completed for the staff. Besides Showing intricate work- ings of systehi and behind scenes ma- terial, public paying the fee (prob- ably 7Sc) will be allowed to take part in a sample television broad- cast. After the RCA-NBC building opens at the N. V. World's Fair next spring, sorhe sort of arrangement . is contemplated whereby televized tests on the tour may be viewed in the television exhibit on the expositiba grounds, and vice versa. R. G. JENNINGS JOINS KASTOR IN CHICAGO Chicago, Aug. 30. Robert G. Jennings, who recently resigned as v.-p. in charge of sales and programming at WL'W, Cincin- nati, has joined the H. W. Kastor & Sons . advertising agency. He will worlt out of the Chicago office, concerning himself with new business and radio. Jennings stated that 'he has no intention . of soliciting the Crosley Radio Corp. account, wiiich stays as is with the Douglass Allen & Leland Davis-^agency. Strictly Brass . Cincinnati, Aug^ 30. A. new quarter-hour musical show on WLW, featuring all-brass instru- mentation, was auditioned on the air Thursday (25) night. Oi:ch is batoned by Phil Davis, troiiribonist. in cost by an AFRA contract are thbse using groups of singers^ it' is claimed. As regards lim'^ntion of rehearsal time, AFRA explains it will not seek inercial shows Which may be upjped any 'unreasonalile' changes. Ribbing the Opposition Buffalo. Aug 30 WBNY Is making use of its daily display ads in the Timps for in stitutional buildups and sly digs at the opposition. Sample of «hl latter; ' fStation WBNY has a definite ^an upbh programs of the type in which some young woman who knows nothing about household prob. lems endeavoris to solve all of - theih for some housewife who suc^ cessfully. has learned , how to' be a good mother and a good cook without going to a juvenile cli ic or a cooking school. We never broadcast recipes over WBNY because we know from our own sur- veys that the average housewife, will not listen to them.' Althouigh household- adviser is standard with most stations, thrust was believed to have been directed particularly at 'The Hostess' of WEBR, a 100-watter as is WBNY, Mary Barrett (Hostess) asserts all her recipes are tested and tasted before airing. • The WBNY ads are offered in the Times in exchange for spot ads of Times features on the air. WGR-WKBW here have had a similar tieup with the paper for severer years. Discs Sapplementing Ward's NBC Hookup Ward Baking will supplement its daily a.m. hookup on the NBC-blue (WJZ) for Jaiic Arden with .waxed versions of the script show on WJAX, JacksohviUe, Fla.; WCSH, Portland; Me.; WGN, Schenectady; WKBN, Ybungstown, and WFAM, South Bend. Use of WKBNi a CBS affiliate, has been okayed by NBC for the reason , that .the network It- self has no release in that town. Program* goes network Sept. .26, but.the.discs won't start until Oct 10. Platters will run iwo weeks be- fore the network release. No Local Frown On 3d tacoma Oodet Bot Seattle Objects Tacoma. Aug. 30. Striking- angle about the current scramble for the right to erect a third Tacoma station is that nobody locally has raised any objection to the idea. It isn't a question of whether the town heeds another out- let, but who is going to get the license. Only frown at the third station proposition came from an outsider, .KEEN, Seattle, which, through its counsel, Crawford E. White, last week advised a deposi- tion-taker that it didn't think that this area required another 100- watter. The depositions will be for- warded to the Federal Communica- tions Commission. Community leaders, including Mayor John C. Seigle,. have okayed the campaign for a third station. Among the most diligent candidates for the license is Mike Mungo, one- time mana(;ing editor ot the Tacoma Ledger. Mungo told Earl C. Clifford, who is taking the depositions for the FCC, that he will present around 50 witnesses to support his plea. Local stations KMC and KVl were represented at the two hear- ings held so tar on the issue, but there hasn't been a peep out of either. KSO-KRNT Shakeops Pnt Edmond Lmehan In Program Di?. Post Des oines, Aug. KSO-KRNT have had shakeups in personnel. Edmund Linehan has been named program director for the two stations, replacinf^ Ranny Daly, iiinehan was formerly in continuity and is creator o'f the 'Zero Hour' dramas. Dick Teela has been named assistant program director, in addition to his duties as traffic man- ager for the stations.. Dave Nowinson, publicity director and continuity writer, has moved to the -writing staff of KFI-KECA, Los Angeles, while Mary Little, radio editor of the Des Moines Register & Tribune, assumes the publicity job in addition to her editorial work. Wayne Welch, formerly in the commercial department of KSO- KRNT, has been made sales pro- motion director for the Iowa net- work, replacing Gladys Greenburg. BERNIE SIGNS 3-YEAR PACT FOR SMOKE SHOW Ben Bernie starts oii a CBS .cpast- to-coast show, on a three-year deal, for Half 'n' Half tbbacco, American Tobacco Co. siibsid, via Young Sc Rubicam, opening Oct. 2. It win be an augmented bandshow, with the maestro m.c.'ing, plus Lew Lehr, for comedy, singers, et al. Time is 5:30-6 p.m. from the east. MCA Acquires Rights To N. Y. Hockey Games Broadcast rights to home games of the N. Y. American and Rangers hockey teams has been contracted for by Music Corp. of America. No guarantees • involved- in agenting privilege, which was okayed by the Madison Square Garden Corp. First time that hockey rights have been taken for general peddling in the east. Stunt has been worked in the west and in Canada. WMCA, N. Y„ formerly picked lip games, for sports broadcasts NBCs 'Great Plays' Tee Off Again in Oct Chicago, Aug. 30. Second season of 'Great Plays' will be launched by NBC Oct. 18, with a carefully planned prograrii of co- operation and listening audience. Series, comprising a panorama of the early Greek tragedies to latest Broadway hi , wiU be accompanied by a 'manual for teachers outlining the play and, its period and also list- ing supplementary reading' matter for students. National Parents-Teachers Con- gress, heads of university drama de- partments, 70 State teachers colleges and the National Thespian Society, with 375 active chapters, have signi- fied intention of hearing the broad- casts. American Library Assn. is furnishing material pertaining to the plays to 30,000 libraries on its list. Barton at Air Races Hollywood, Aug. 30; Ken Barton, news reporter for Richfield oil outfit, has been called tb Cleveland to announce the national air races, His. colleague oh the Richfield broadcast, John Wald, will carry on alone for two weeks. CHISELING AGCY. RAIDS AT PEAK INPHIUY Phila'.elphia, Aug. 30. Not a new plague here, but one which has now reached its highest peak and is giving local outlets plenty of headache, is tactics of small agencies iri rai ing unattached accounts. These so-called 'advertising agen- cies,* which in some cases consist ol one man with desk space, listen in for he^w local advertisers, particu- larly on smaller stations which do heavy spot announcement ■ biz. So soon as they hear ;a new one, they rush around' and offer him their services. Selling hi is not- too dif- ficult, for it is a simple matter to convince hi that it will cost him ho more to do business through ttiem than it will direct Further- more, they promise, he will have the service of an expert copywriter and a staff to check to ihake sure that hi: announcement or program goes on when scheduled and as ordered. Once this is accomplished the sta- tion- gets a letter from the 'agency' advising it ' to bill them instead ot the client direct. To the -station it actually makes no difference, wheth- er the advertiser wbrks through aa agent or not, except 'for two things. In the first place, while the credit of the advertiser i.iay- be A-1, *li* agents' isn't. Stations object, too, on the iscore-that many of the 'agencies' know nothing about radio copy or prograinming. As a result- they pro- vide a client with a copy or a show tiiat has .no chance of bringing him increased business. He naturally thinks it is the station's fault that no one is listening and liecomes dis- gusted with radio advertising. JOE L BROWN SHOW ON CBS FOR TOASHES Hollywood, Aug. 30. After considerable difficulty m finding desirable network time, Ben- ton it Bowles decided to take' its chances with Columbia for the Joe E. Brown half-hour comedy show for Post Toasties. Program will be aimed at youngsters and takes of| Oct. 1 or 8, but the time spot is stiU being studied. Brown will have as comedy con- feds Gill and Demling. Harry Sosnik has the music assignment, with Margaret McCrae chirping tM vocdlSi Don Cope, Coast production, head for B & B, produced the audition show and ,will take it over for the series. Ifoice of Experience' Back on Special Net 'Voice of Experience' returns <« WOR, New York, and specially cre- ated network on Labor Day wr Lydia Pinkham. Replaces Stella Unger, who filled spot over summer. Coast to coast net was coristruciea by Mutual for the account, a»P°"=" Mutual discloi z any connection with Pinkham as a client. opdruff, gen, rnsr- of the has Georgia Broadcasting System, n- named Sears Sc Ayer as tlic sciuf national sales rep. mtA»t»^7* 31, 1938 A PAGE FROM THE HOBBY LOBBY they fes*"^ i<^^m The attitude of thes. ^ \ -^^^^^ Among them. Dint^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^S Cook, New York W. The attitude of these New York columnists is reflected across the nation. Among them, Dinty Doyle, of the NeW York Journal- American; Ahon Cookr New York World-Telegram; Nick Kenny, New York Daily Mirror; Ben Gross, New York Daily News, whose reactions we have taken the liberty of reprinting. Our thanks ^'^ e^nrAn nrirl ovonr nn«>. nnH tn (^on Ami - Poi th^ ocnortu Tork Journal-American; Alton nny. New York Daily Mirror; reactions, we have taken the liberty of reprinting. Our thanks to each aiid every one, and to General Foods for giving us the opportunity of taking over the Jello program for the. summer — and to YoUng & Bubicam, whose splendid co-operation is deeply appre- ciated. In the accepted nation-wide surveys Hobby Lobby is tenth among all half hour programs. 46 VARIETY RADIO REVIEWS Wednesday, August 31, I938 DORIS RHODES IS Ml . SDsUlniDg Thursday, 8.39 p;oi. WABC-CBS, New York Encouraged by the attention that Doris Hhodes has been getting from ladio columnists around the country, CBS has posed her opposite the Rudy Vallee-Fleischmann show on the NBC red trating all its production efforts on what it chooses to call comedy'shows. Miss Rhodes has been a standard singing single in vaiide and niteries for the past' few years. Odec. ADVANCE SPORTS FORVM Interviews- ^ 3* Mlns. Aug, 26, 19 p. CBS, New York One-shot, miilti-clty roundup of sports personalities of this nature, as an advance' tie-in for the network's future regular sports shows, has its come-on value. This one resembled an effort for flash effect and was okay. Some advance preparations on. the part of some of the celebs, however, would be better, whenever that is possible. Boston, Saratoga' and Omaha^ were among the cities heard from, and the celebs included stars from golf, ten- nis, polo and racing, such as John Goodman, Mrs. Julia A. Page, Don Budge, Gehe Mako. Alice Marble, Cant. Ross, George H. Bull. CBS' four regular sDorts commenr tators, led by Ted Husing, out of Boston, , were on the receiving end of ihe interviews. Crew included Harry Nash, Brvan Fields and Bob Trout. Indicated CBS wasn't stinting in this advance sp.mple of its regular sports shows. A worthy meiho"l of impressing sin- cerity of purpose. There was line trouble on the Omaha end, but it got coupled in somehow at the finish, anyway, and as luck would have it, the Saratoga end flashed a scoop on the sale of the Milky Way stable, before the ra.?s mi'»,ht have had the info. That helped. Shan. LOS CUIMBANCHEROS Moslc, SlBflnr IS Mlns. Sastalning Sunday, UAS pjn, EDST. WOR, New Tork Sprightly Spanish tempo orchestra, which probably would sho'W to better advantage if there was not so much indiscriminate spotting of Don Alex- ander, featured balladist. Choice of band selections, including 'Twilight,' set to modernized tempo; 'La Guizar,' and 'My Margarita,' excellent for this type of Latin-American musical unit. Arrangements and pace fit snugly into radio groove. Strong points of combo, are handir capped by manner in ' which soloist Alexander works. His initial song, something about the hills and tabbed a Mexican folksong, brought him on as a troubador with guitar. Fitted satisfactorily into what .had preceded, though a bit slow. Alexander re- turned with 'Sunrise* song. ' Singer not only was tardy in getting to mike, but his otherwise pleasant voice muffed the number with tedious handli Wear. TITO AND HIS SWINOTET Instrumental IS Mlns. Snstalnlnr Thurs., .6 p. m. WE/ir-NBC, New Tork The sustaining loute that NBC handed this combination cisime after recognition had been accorded It through guest appearances with the Rudy Vallee-Fleischmann and Paul Whiteman-Chesterfield sessions. "They have also done three stands oh CBS' Saturday night swing period. It's the first group that has been able to turn but ear-tickling swing from linking three accordions 'with a guitar and bass. As devised for NBC. the program makes a swell novelty. The Thurs- day (25) show stressed such swing- able standards as 'Caravan,' 'Diiiah' and 'I Got Rhythm.' Odec. EMMALINE AND EAST With Betsy White, Vernon Delhart Songs IS Mlns. — ^Loeal Snstalnlnir 8:4S a.in., Tuesdays and Thursdays . , WGT, Schenectady Vernon Delhart, conriposer of *The Prisoner's Song' and other ballads, teams with Betsy White, ex-vaude villian, in this blackface musical sketch. It is set in a comrhercial hotel in the deep south. Miss; White, the script writer, plays a cook and Delhart a handyman. Turn a bit off the beaten track— for WGY at least- is done with professional smoothness, although the sock is not terrific. Dialog is mainly filler, cueing into songs. On the vocals the diio registers strongly. They, warble alohe' and to- gether, both in . pleasing fashion, voices are ear-easy and delivery is sure. Noticeable is the freshness for radio of many numbers, which in- clude spirituals. Script does not ex- plain however, how the piano— hap- Den."! to be in a hotel kitchpn and available to the 'help.' Jaco. TOWN TALK With Don Cordray, Gene Morran, Mary Lou FMter Qnis . 3t Mlra. Snstalnlnr Friday, 9:4S p.m., EDST WMCA, New York This is another quiz show, written and directed by Greta Baker. A spelling, definition' and grammar contest, it's rather weak in compari'- son to other broadcasts of its type. Problems when caught appeared too simple to hold much listener in- terest, and those- contestants unable to answer most of 'erii were appar- ently plenty illiterate. Show is unsponsored right how, but handing out Funk &. Wagnall's dictionaries to the winners. It's a cheap plug for the publishing firm. First query for the five contestants concerned the spelling of two words with the same pronunciations in a sentence, each having a different meaning. Words 'new', and 'gnu' fig- ured, in one query, but one lad spelled the latter as 'gnough.' Second portion: of the show concerned word meanings, then sentence construction and proniinciation. Gene Morgan and Mary Lou Foster were in a thin sketch that cues into the word- meanings, the questions hinging on their dialog.. It was very slow. Don CofSray, station announcer, is asking the queries, while Miss Baker judges. .She might gather to- gether more difficult and iitteresting conundrums. ' Scho. OLYMPICS OF THE AIR Jaek Starr Sports Qui! 3* Mlns. Sat, 9 p. m. Snstainlnc KMBC, Kansas City Special events man Jack Starr, of the KMBC staff, has taken the 'Prof. Quiz'' idea into the world of sport information. Program includes such features as prizes tor contestants and for those submitting questions, most of which are jpromoted locally' at present In line with most functions of the sport world; this quiz is carried on with considerable informality. Ques- tions treat of the sport world at large, topics of interest both locally and nationally, in- season and out. Before suitable for a sponsor, . how- ever, program needs more ritualiz- ipg and more consideration of the material us _ This one, for instance. Involved a couple of slang: expressions, mean- ings of which are not exactly the same in every section of the country. This might leave correct answer open to controversy, which would react unfavorably with certain re- gional groups of listeners. Thus, when it goes commercial, program might better stick to strictly na- tional, stuff and leave out the local angles. , Idea is executed snappily and with a little more attention to material Will make flrst-rate entertainment. Quin. . . .An Amazing Amount of Data. 99 IS WHAT The ftssociation €f National Advertisers IN THEIR BOOK BULLETIN OF AUGUST 16th SAID ABOUT VARIETY RADIO DIRECTORY 1938-39 EDITION $5 per copy, postage prepaid VARIETY RADIO DIRECTORY 154 WEST 46th ST., NEW YORK Milkman's MaUnee; all night jive session on WNEW, N. Y.,' m.c.'d by Stan Shaw, is easing itself oiit of the appeal it had for sleepless jitter- bugs and becoming more of a spiel session nightly. Owl watch is gen- erally credited with hypoing WNEW. Shaw transcribes about one tune every five mins, what with announc- ing the names and requests of lis- teners. Commercial spiels, cut in heavily on the time, with Shaw knciking: himself out describing all the different products. When caught (Thurs, 2 a.m.) he left himself breathless telling of a trip to the brewery of a beer advertiser and labelling the output 'marveloiis' and 'magnificent.' Told late dialers they 'never have and never will :taste anything like it.'. Instead of keep- ing .'em awake, , Shaw will, find him- self putting the listeners to sleep. Horn Sc Hardart's Sunday morn- ing kid show remains among the best of the juvenile revues, , if not the tops. This is due to a canny. showmanshlD under expert m.c.'lng by their, conferehcier, plus a basic idea weekly. One time it's. a caval-.' cade of tin pan alley; another it's a picnic; another .a Sunday at ; the beach, etc., with the tunes according- ly selected and the pacing showman- ly and effective. It's not just a slap- happy medley of kid specialties, but a carefully primed revue, so that the' full hour never palls. 'There's good comedy amidst the song, taps, accordion and. .sax spe- cialties; A kidlet, Adele Roy, is something of a starlet on her own, 'Polcy,' a tough kid, straighted by 'Poicy,' a tough kid; straightenied by the adult m.c, who, - incidentally, is a Gibraltar on his own with the show. The W.C. Fields-type come- dian works , in and out of the pror ceedings and withal it rhakes for. novelty and good pacing. Leon Goldstein, New York's WMCA publicity head, is subbing on that station's James J. Hines trial newscasts while Harry Hershfleld , is on vacash. Goldstein is more on. the straight reportorial side than Hersh- fleld, though he put on the dramatics in the Anal few r^inutes when caught. The ' indicated partisanship of HershAeld towards the defense was noit quite sO noticeable in Goldstein's broadcast Monday evening (29), but it was there, nevertheless, especially in his flaying of witness George Weinberg as a sordid character. Inas- much as Weinberg went off the stand last Friday (26), there was no reason for his. inclusion in a news broadcast three days later. Monday's testimony held , enough i itself to keep Ciold- stein going. Beemning to look now as though it's WMCA's policy and not the an- nouncers' to rip apart the state's case, or play down the credibility of District Attorney Dewey's- witnesses. Partisanship in ■ a politico-criminal trial of this type is not exactly healthy for any station, and WMCA appears to be sticking its neck out. HARLAN EUGENE READ Nowa Commentator IS Mlns. ROGERS FEET CO. Mod., Fri, 9 pjn. WOR, Aew York f^Marachalk & Pratt) This world traveler, who has been heard on the air before, has beenn^ in? a swell job substituting fon^J* br?el Heater, ,;vhile latter^is aw» for a rest. Lacking the ■ bombS of some narrators, or the iiinS tempo of others, Harlan Read bada up ^hls Imparti.-.l Interpretation ^ world happenmgs with a steady >,acS which seldom permlfj interest' to drag. , ...In Many respects he giyS .virtual feature treatment of fteS that have previously been pa^ over by other news chatterers Down-to-earth manner of soeaV ing is varied by oddities; such isliS 'who -said what' portion of radio stint. Looks as though networks are missing a bet if he's permitted to stay off the airwaves. Sales natter is brief and intelligently scrioted. ^ Wear. JAY FRANKLIN "The State of Uie Nation' Talk IS Mlns. Snstalnlnir Tues., FrI., IMS p. m. WJZ-NBC, New York Jay Franklin, Washington column- ist for the David Stern papers, Is doing a provocative and incisive piece of reporting , iti ' his current .iarnt across the country. As far as radio is concerned, his only handi- cap is that he has but two quarter- hours a week in which to cram his gleanings. - His observations are astute and penetrating, revealing a mind tltat is sciisitivj on cross-cur- rents of upinion. . Last Friday night (26) Franklin broadcast from Bismarck. N. D., and cdmbihed a keen -ense of description with a clear filtering of local condl. tions and the. mixed wants of the fdrmlng citizenry: Among his pun- gent remarks was that , this part of the west has bten wasted and man- handled and the people there know it: also that the state was in a very, bad way ' economically and that the paramount problem facing it was what to. do with the surplus farm D0r»n1n»ir>ri, Oii^»' 5 WW-' '^nC ih, Shov^man WOW OMAHA. NEBRASKA 590 KC 5,000 Watte On the NBC Red Net JoLd J. Cllllo. Jolin Blnlr Co., eprewnlntl»«S Owned and Op«ro»fd l.y »>• men ot . the World Xlfo InBurenc* HocMy. SERVING 3,000.000 FRENCHMEN SINCE 1922 ..'i-eiiises CKAC Moi:.t:- - CANADA'S BUSIEST STATION' I'll II 'l.(.lll\l(\ s.„ 11,, I,, I,,,,,.. I.-. \.u:.'l'-- tTednesday, August 31, 193g RADIO VARIETY 47 -GUN DIVORCE IFflLIIITES WILL FIGURE IN PROBE NBC Will Be Hardest it AmoBff Nets If FCC Mo. nopoly Investigation Forces Divorcement of Affiliates — ^Hinges on Defi- nitioB of What Consti- tutes Overlapping Cover- Ot de*P concern to NBC in con- nection with the forthcoming mo- nopoly investigation by the Federal Conununications Commission is the part that the question of overlapping coverage will play. While CBS will tie laced with defending the same situation, NBC has a tougher nut to crack, since it controls, or . is affili- ated with, a far greater number of bigb-powered stations. - . One- sideline speculation is that, unless NBC presents a redoubtable ease, it may be forced to eliminate a substantial number of afflliates from its liit Feeling within NBC is that the problem is far too complex for the entertainment of any such possi- bility, Before the FCC can even sug- gest any drastic moves in that direc- tion', it must first determine what constitutes overlapping coverage. It Is this definition of overlapping cov- erage that will prove the crux of the whole problem. FCC'r Problem As industry observers figure il, the FCC will have to decide, whether overlapping coverage is to be meas- ured by (1) its own standards of signal strength, a strictly technical yardstick, or (2) by a station's zone of influence, deriving primarily from the consistent popularity of its pro- iram?. ; Like NBC, the Joint Committee of Radio Research has amassed evi- dence showing that farflung commu- riities have got into the habit of tun- ing In on the high-powered stations ■ for their network entertainment, even though closer-to-hand outlets Iransmit 'he same programs. It is the overall high quality of a station's schedule that garners the faithful audience, apparently and riot the in- termittently popular network show. This theory has nriade itself par- ticularly noticeable among polls taken of rural set-owners. Latter nave becoine addicts of the long dis- tance clear-channel outlets, and this tendency reveals itself strongly when such outlets interlard their fare with an occasional program directed pri- marily at the hinterland element. ' A pertinent angle that the FCC hearings may bring to the surface is that many a local station became a "jember of the NBC or CBS list as the result of political nudging exert- ™ ny an important senator or con- gressman in Washington. Lee Grant Steps Into WMCA's Top Musical Spot Lee Grant has been appointed mu- sical director of station WMCA, N. Y., by president Donald Flamm. He started with station as staff violinist nine years ago, and gradu- ated up the line, handling his owii shows, etc, until being named boss. Foster Undergoes Op - Hartford, Aug. 30. Cedric Foster, station manager of WTHT, was operated on for a jaw infecUon at the Hartford hospiUl Tuesday (23). Forced to cancel his Mutual program, 'Day You Were Born," Saturday (27). Recuperating at his summer home at Watch Hill. R. I., he returns to his duties this week;. RICHHELD OIL STILL UP IN AIR ON RADIO Richftel'.V Oil's radio activities for the fall are still hanging fire. Board of directors has yet to approve a budget for this phase of advertising. Sherman K. Ellis, Inc., is the agency. In past seasons the account has confined itself to transcribed kid shows. 'Bangef Bides in Balto Baltimore, Aug. 30. 'Lone Ranger,' participating com- mercial sponsored by Mutual, will get a local tie-in via WBAL for 7 Up drink, beginning Sept. 26. Set-up, thrice weekly airing, calls for one of biggest local radio ex- penditures in moons. CBS Gets Rid of Fades on Coast As New Transmitter Goes to Work Hollywood, Aug. 30. Columbia's new 50,000-watt trans- mit r for KNX in nearby Torrance was put in operation last week on regular schedule and engineers are elated over the results. Fade area to the south, which long had been a thorn in the side of CBS, is now getting a clear, strong signal, accord- ing to CBS technicians. San Diego reports KNX programs ing through with 10 times the i of its former reception. Old antenna at Sherman Oaks will . either be sold or dismantled. Engineers declare that lustier signal to the south has not aflected other areas. John Wlrria> who resigned from the production staff of Pedlar tc Ryan agency to devote himself to writing, has sold his first short story, 'Murder on the Upbeat,' to Collier's. Barrett, WOR Chi Chief, Seriously lil After Op. Chicago, Aug. 30. ■iinJ' ^^"''■■eU, Jr., chief of the local "OR office, is seriously ill at Mich- 'ei Reese hospital. Had been operated on and took a i, **** worse. Today (Tuesday ) "octors are considering blood trans- ■Wions to strengthen him SSlNB NBC RED NETWORK NflTlOHQL REPRESENTBTIVES L^^flRD RETRY & CO. A r*AN tTRIKEI— CtiUf m«M tmi Hi* l«it Mlm yMrl. HAIHV SUnON, Jl.— TIM ■«■< hw y< WXYZ's Dramatic Script Writers RUSSfU NEFP-f«r TOM DOUOAUr-WXVZ'* Uflft wrtNr wi^ ■wHiaitl 4W« I Octob«' Radi-> Orlsinatpr ONK M.*N SHOW _ TWO VOICE 8ASI AXIJ "V^J*' RAIN NO MO- VKKSK rO>Tt»» VARIKTY liql K Addreut 4351 N. Panllni. St.. Cl.lc»*« Wednesday, August 31, 1938 RADIO VARIETY ,49 Inside Stuff-Radio NCA Sets 4 Bands On Fall Radio Shows WHN, New York, will co-broadcast the Old Gold show with WABG when that series starts on CBS Nov. 20. This will give WHN two cig BFOgrams broadcast locally by networks. Other is Lucky Strike's Kay Kvser session (NBC),, which clears Wednesday nights at the same 'time S^er the red key WEAR Last season WHN had the Packard and the Maxwell House Coffee shows on a like basis. Lord & Thomas, agency on the Lucky account, explained that it added WHN beicause it had heard that reception of the program via WEAF was not so forte in certain parU of Manhattan, Brooklyn and New Jersey. KSL, 50,000-watt Columbia affiliate in. Salt Lake City, Saturday (27) basked in ether spotlight for i.ts comprehensive coverage of .the Captain George E. T. Eyston auto speed lace, in which the Englishman, established a new world's speed mark of 345.49 m.p.h: Station employed facilities of its portable transmitter, KNEF, 250-watter at Bonneville Salt Flats, site of the race against time. Three gabbers, Wally Sandack, Richard Evans and Glenn Shaw, described the race from various spots, Stint ran for an hour , over CBS network. Harry Kerr, J. Walter Thompson's head radi in the east, left last Thursday (25) for his annual round of newspaper contacting in behalf of the Lux Radio Theatre. For the first time he won't visit i)etroit, due to the shutdown on radio chattier recently imposed by all the local dailies. Kerr expects to be back in New York Sept. 12. His tour will cover all key points in the east and mi im as far west as inneapolis, Robot gain-rider was installed by WFIL, Philly, last week. Chief en- gineer Frank y. Becker, after preliminary survey, estimated 38% increase in signal at some outlying points. Limiting amplifier is also acting to eliminate oyermodulation and distortion, he said. Auxiliary transmitter was also completed at the outlet last week. So designed that switch on the engineer's control desk shifts station from one transmitter to the other .with no less of air time. Though it has already moved into its new quarters on 46th street, be tween Sixth and Seventh avenues, WEVD, N. Y., won't hold its dedicatory exercises until the miiddle of October, when it expects to get an okay on the purchase of W^'AB, Birooklyn, froni the Federal Communications Com mission. N. Y. Daily Forward, Yiddish daily, put up the $85,000 for^ the WFAB buy, and the $100,000 necessary to equip, furnish and decorate the new studios. Hollywood, Aug. 30. Four bands were set last week by Music Corp. of America on fall radio shows. Lud Gluskin returns to Al Jolson's Lifebuoy program; Skinnay Ennis lords it over the music section on Bob Hope's new Pepsodent entry, and Ben Bernie will have his crew on the Half-and-Half broadcast. Carl Hoff is due here Sept. 1 for the Al Pearce Grape Nuts tee off. For the fourth year in succession, Carter's Little Liver Pills renewed Sunday afternoon time on Radio Normandy. For the first time in nine years of broadcasting, the character of Mrs. Bloom in the Goldbergs' family serial' oh WEAF-NBC will sjieak on to- morrow's (Thurs.) airing. Pairt will be taken by one of the other actors on the prograrn. Character is the neighbor to whom Mrs. Goldberg, played by Gertrude . Berg, always calls across the -court, but does a monologue on the conversation. Annual (jold Cup regatta in Detroit Sept. 3-5 will be aired over WWJ and WBXWJ and piped late in the afternopn Labor DSy to NBC Red. Four WWJ spielers, ill Mishler, Bob Stanton, Frankiyn Ferguson and 'Bob Tillmanns, will describe big race from four different vantage points. ' Iso will be contact with two irescue boats at either end of the course. Poll of Italian retail food stores made by General Mills in Ne^y York, in connection with its Wheaties show on WOV, disclosed' that one out of every two stores visited had a radio in it. DOUBLEHEADERS CRIMP STATIONS' SCHEDULES Philadelphia, Aug. 3D. Six double-headers, in a row played by the Athletics last week — unprecedented in local baseball history — threw stations which air the games' way oft schedules. They are: WFIL and WIP, Philly; WHP, Harrisburg; WEEU, Reading; WSAN, "Ailentown; WEST, Easton; WDEL, Wilmington; WGAL, Lancaster; WORK, York, and WPG* Atlantic City. WIP pumps to the out-of-town outlets. All of the games started at 1:15 pjn. Two of them ran past 6:30 and one past 7. Required considerable juggling of commercials and the cancelling of some, which will have to be rebated. WFIL was forced off by commitments at 6 each night. Byrum Saam was the marathon gabber oij the WIP hook-up, while Stan Lomax was on WFIL. Wheatena on ll Muti Stations Via WFIL, Philly Philadelphia, Aug. 30. New show for Wheatena, skedded to start Sept. 16, will originate in Philly and be pumped by WFIL to 11 tions on the Mutual web. Quar r-hour stint will employ Fred Bush, vet performer who originated WLS Barn Dance, his son iand •Tinkle Toy Band.'- 'Although the program will be aired in different parts of the coun try at different times, WFIL will pump only once, outlets making discs of it for later use. Fair Exclusive Providence, Aug: 30. WPRO has cornered exclusive rights to broadcasting privileges at the Rhode Island State Fair, which opens tomorrow.. (Wednesday) and continues to Labor Day. ' Daily stunts are planned. ALL YOU NEED IN CENTRAL OHIO WGAR, CLEVL, STARTS CHI SALES CAMPAIGN Chicago, Aug. 30. WGAR, Cleveland, has invaded the Chi market with an intensive selling campaign, marked by a luncheon for local agencies and ad vertisers last week. Eugene Carr, assistant manager of WGAR, pre- sided. Luncheon drew a strong turnout, with 40 representative time buyers and executives from agencies in at tendance. Bowen, Spot Pioneer, SeDs Out His Lone Remaining WIBX, Utica Scott Howe Bowen; one-time dominant figure in the station rep- resentation field, has .<;oId WIBX. Utica, his sole station holding, to a partnership consisting ' of J. Curtis Willson and Emile. J. Cough, for- merly operating v, p. of Hearst Ra- dio, Inc. Pending approval of the deal by the Federal Communications Commission, Willson will, as.sociatc himself with Bowen in the opera- tion of the station. Willson was on Cough's sales .stii at Hearst, and prior to thiit he was New York man- iigcr of John Blair & Co. WIBX is on 1,200 k.c. and operates at 250 waits diiys. and 100 watts niMhts. It is Minted with Colum- bia. Kenneth Johnson, formerly of WSAY, Rochester, has become .sales manaficr of WOKO, Albany. WTIC/Hartford, Drops Yankee for Transradio Hartford, Aug. 30. New Transradio news setup for WTIC goes into effect Thiirsday <1), with four bioadcasls skedded daily. Dropping Yankee News at the time, station will have its own news bureau uiitler the direction of irans- radio. Tcmpoi Jii y crew of .two will operate bureau until permanent local staff appointments are made some- time in October. Station 'VTIIT h.ns taken up the Ynnkec News option. uRmciUin« its local news broa(lca.';;s with AP news, v^hich it secures 'occ.iu.sc it i.s owned by the Haitford Times, AP member. Bob Steel wi h.indic a.m. ncv.'s- casts for WTIC and Harry Clark llio p.m. assiJinmont.s. Geor«e Bowe and Bruce Kern will alternate the Sun- day morning and evening shift JH£M€W TATE NETWORK On September 15 the Texas State Net* work, with key stations in Dallas and Fort Wonh, will inaugurate service to 23 stations located in 22 major cities, furnishing 17 hours per day of live talent over Class A AT&T lines. This new network makes possible, for the first time, complete covcirage of the rich and responsive Texas market. High calibre programs produced in oiir Texas studios, augmented by the best (he nation affords through affilia- tion with the Mutual Broadcasting System, will enhance the high decree of local preference already enjoyed by the affiliated stations of the Texas Stacf; Network. For complete, effective and econom- ical cover^e of the prosperous Texas market, use the Texas State Network ...the largest ^nd most complete ional net!ivork in America ! WRITE, Wl 23 STATIONS I For Complete Coverage of * The Prosperous Texas Market ' I \ Affiliation j Mutual Broadcasting System i * Class A Lines ^Very flexible Network * ^ Bxceptional Production Facilities Affiliated Stafions KFJ2 twl KTAT. FeH .Worth WRR. 0«llai Km. Heuiton KA6C, Sftn Arifenio KGNC, Amarillo KFYO. tubbocl KBST. Big Spting KGKL. itn Anqolo KIteC. AbHtn* KPLT, Ptm KRRV, Sherman-D«nl KCMC. Tturlan* KFRO.Le>i9>; K6KR.Tyltr KAND, CoftiC4K« V/ACO, Wico KTEM. Ttinpl* KNOW.AMlin KRIC, Bttumont KLUF. Gil>n<«>< KRIS, Corpm Chrlill KRGV.WmIico (Rio G'tnd* VtlUy) Texas Sfafe Network, Inc. GENERAL OFFICES; Detroit, Chi ELLIOTT ROOSEVELT. Pre»; NEAL BARRETT, Eiecu^lve Vice- 19 Weil Lancajler. FORT WORTH icej in New YorV. KFJZ or KTAT, rt Worth, and WRR. Daildt 50 VARIETY MUSIC -0AN8APATI6M Weilhefldflj, August 31, 19,18 On the Upbeat Illy Mo*ct and his band started east for a series of one-nighters. Larry Clinton and Artie Shaw and their orchs are working their way westward for hotel and nitery en- gagements on the Coast. Giis Arnbeim and his new band being booked for a string of one -night stands in California. Archie Lovcland and his band, now in I8th month at Olympic hotel, Seattle, again signed up for coming season and possible record for this spot. niter at Milwaulcee's odernistic ballroom Sept. 4. Returns to Chicago late in October. Jobnny Lefwllch's orch, with Kay Keever, vocalist, booked into Edge- wood Inn, East Greenbush, Y. band theatre tour hits Stanley, Pitts- burgh; Lyric, Indianapolis; River- side, Milwaukee, and Loew's State, N. v., starting Sept. 9. Mai Hallett and Claude Hopkins play for Westchester Parkway Police at County Center, White Plains, Sept. 21, lor R-O'K. Sammy Kaye, Xavier Cugat and Oz2ie Nelson-Harriet Milliard are be- ing considered for the opening of the winter policy at the Arcadia Inter- national Restaurant, Philly. Kay Kyser into Earle, Philadelphia. Sept. 16, . and SUnley, Pittsburgh, Sept. 23.' Into Pennsylvania hotel, N. y., Oct. 4. Mike RIlay musics for Palisades Park, Englewood, N. J., Sept. lO-U, GlcDB Miller, after ' Wlldwood, N. J., this week, one-nights it and may get the State ballroom, Boston, via Charlie Shribman this fall. State was Art Shaw's jump-ofT spot. John ScoU Trotter and band signed for Pasadena, Cal., Community dances, Sept. 17. Ben Pollock .and orch touring Texas. Byron Wolfe's orch waxed 10 numbers for Decca's Old Time Al- bum. Bcnalc Meraff and his Musical Madmen held over for an extra week at Topsy's in L.A. Glen Gray and the Casa Loma band open Sept 16 for three weeks at LOs Angeles County Fair.. Exits Palomar, Los Angeles, Sept 13, to make room for Kenny Baker. Ted Weems will succeed li-tter Sept. 21. Ted Weems goes into the Palomar, L.A., Sept. 20. Charles Strong's crew into the Queens Terrace, Lbn!Ea oaos GARDEN '/rf.MOON 9^ PAT OBRIEN JOHN PAYNE MARGARET LINDSAY ^"^^ JIMNIEriDLER '5 ri'i GARDEN OF THE MOON LOVE IS WHERE YOU FIND IT THE GIRL FRIEND J WHIRLING DERVISH CONFIDENTIALLY THE LADY ON THE TWO CENT STAMP HAKMb I-: = l':50 SIXTH AVENUE = ivEW YORK CII'V o MACK GOLDMAH Pu: i/lqi 15 Best Sheet Music Sellers .(Week endinp Aua. 27, 1938) A-Tisket A-Tasket , .....Robbins Music, Maestro, Please ; '.....'Berlin •Now It Can Be Told Berlin When Mother Nature Sings Her Lullaby...; Santly-Joy •Alexander's Ragtime Band .' ABC You Go to My Head Remick Tm Gonna Lock My Heart Shapiro •I've Gbt a Pocketful of Dreams Santly-Joy •Says My Heart Famous Little Lady Make Believe .Olman Cathedral m the Pmes Berlin •What Goes on Here in My Heart. Paramount There's a Faraway Look in Your Eyes Tenney I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart Mills •Small Fry ....Famous • Indicates fllmusical song. t Indicates stoffe production song. The- others are- pops. bside Stoff-Musk Controversy over the rights to the title, 'Why Doesn't Somebody Tell Me These Things?', has been settled, with Bregman, Vocco & Conn agree- ing to let Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. use it exclusively. Latter firm claimed that it registered the title first with the Music Publishers' Protective Assn., and threatened to bring a restraining action against B-V-G if it went through with its intention to put out its own version of the Fred Allen slogan. B-y-C's song was written by Walter Donaldson, while the S-B tune was co-authored by Jimmy Eaton and Terry Shand. Hearing of the plagiarism suit brought by Murray B. Tannenbaiim against Shapiro, Bernstein' & Co., on the tune, 'So- any Memories,' is slated to be held in the Federal Court, N. Y., Sept 20. Tahnenbaum chargeis that the latter number had much in common with a song, 'Mem- ories of You,' which he submitted some time before the publication of 'So Many Memorl .' Wreckage left in the wake of an automobile driven by Ben Cutler, or- chestra leader at the . Rainbow Room, N. Y:, was the subject of a clash between Park Commissioner Moses and Magistrate Michael A. Ford last week when Cutler was brought before the court to answer charges of dangerous driving. Car wound up in the East river after ripping through an iron park railing, two trees and a couple of concrete benches. Cutler claimed he fell asleep at the wheel. Park Dept billed Cutler for $241 to repair the damage and. Commissioner Moses dropped Magistrate Ford a note saying that he would be notified it the bill had been paid and if not the Dept expected the magistrate to see that Justice took its course. Magistrate disqualified himself from hearing evidence on the case and berated Commissioner Moses for suggesting he use the dangerous driving charge as a threat to force restitution to the city. Arthur Schwartz, whose 'Virginia' score was published by Robbins, Is committed to that publisher, whereas Dorothy. Fields, his collaborator on a new Dwight Deere Wiman musical, favors Max Dreyfus (Chappell). Wiman's current 'I Married An Angel' is also published by Robbins, but that's due to a previous comrnitment for the film rights to Metro. Latter firm, of course, controls Robbins. Incidentally a commentary on how production music sells — or doesn't — may be seen from the title song of 'Angel' going 40,000 copies, and 'Sprin Is Here,' ballad excerpt, only 10,000 copies. Mills Music has' been notified by attorneys of Douglas Corrigan that they no likee his photo on front cover of 'Gone Again Corrigan.' Tune was recently published by Exclusive, Mills subsid. Mills bought a picture of flyer from International News and planted it on sheet Lawyers want it. removed — or else, but take no objection to song title. Just state that they are not commercializing on name, or pic- tures, of pilot. AFM Gets 'Music Box' Title Dispote Between Messner, Hamihon Orks Argument over priority on the tltta 'Music Box' orchestra between John- ney Messner's band, playing at the McAlpin hotel. New York, and the George Hamilton band, at William Penn hotel, Pittsburgh, has been brought to the attention of Fred W. Birnbach, national secretary of the American Federation of Musicians, in Newark. Hamilton preferred charges again.st Messner, clai ing he Introduced 'Music Box Music' in Chi- cago early in 1937, employing an im- ported music box. He is seeking to halt Messner from using his music box. Mesner has made formal reply, de- nying any violation. He contends in his answer that the use of a music box as an instrument does not belong to anyone exclusively, any more than a piano or saxophone. Cited that music box effects in dance arrange- ments have been known since the in- ception of dance music. Stock ar- rangements of a decade ago incorpo- rated such effects, he claims. Howard Woods quits Tybee Beach, Savannah. Ga., to play Raleigh, N. C, Auto Show, Sept 6-8. Then goes to Manhasset Bay Yacht Club, Manhasset, L, I., N. Y. Back to Beach Al Donahue orch returns to Man- hatUn Beach, N. Y., Sept 17-18 for a post-season repeat. Marks the first time' a name outfit has been booked for a return oiice the curtain v^as drawn on the season, which nor- mally ends Labor Day weekend. Beach will use obscure crews from then until cold weather folds every- thing, Donahue closed there Saturday <27) afternoon. Kay Kyser orchestra, currently on Up, exits onday (5). ★ PEELIN' \ THE PEACH The Dance Introduced at file Astor Hotel, New 1'orfc ABC MUSIC CORP. 7IMI Sevrnlh Arriiur. Nrw Viirk Ir'lt.V.NK IIEXMOS, Prof. .MfcT. OLD SONG SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR PROGRAMS JIMMY McHUCH'S Im in the Mood for Lot e ROBBING MUSIC CORP. Wednesday, August 31, 1938 MUSIC-DANSAPATIdK VARIETY SI King Ross. Arraiiger. Beats MPPA to Ifisc Licensiiig; 2c Royalty for Sample Wax In face ot the eflfprts of the me- chanical license bureau of the Music Publishers Protective Association to bring the distribution of non home- ijsed records uiider control, several publishers, it was disclosed last veek, have Issued regular 2c royalty licenses to an outfit turning out discs created solely for dance mu- sicians. The series are labelled 'AcoiTipo Records,' while the enter- prise is the idea of King Ross; an arranger. Ross, in explaining his project to the MPPA, declared that it was his intention to sell these recorded hot arrangements of standiard pop tunes to the leaders and members of small dance combinations. The discs, gtressing Ross! method of weaving in th^ hot breaks, are to retail, he said, for 35c. The sample record that he submitted to the MPPA, with the v(ew to having ' that organization clear whatever licenses . he required cf its members, was based on the melody of 'Japanese Sandman.' MPPA Barn-Up ,MPPA executives expressed dis- appoihtmerit at the fact that Ross had already obtained some licenses which treated his specialized . prod- uct the same as phonograph records made for home use. These execs felt that the publishers had ihad-' vertently obstructed the MPPA's at- ' tempt to control the commerciar use .of phonograph records through ea- forcehient^of the copyright owner's' exclusive right to making special arrangements of his work. If this exclusive right of arrangement is to be made the basis for collecting a special fee "for records played in coin-operated machines, the same Idea of special licensing must' obtain for any disc not made for 'home use. Ross' enterprise is regarded by MPPA execs, as' substitution of recorded arrangements for printed arrangements and ais . opening a field ivbich has broad possibilities, naiinely, making the small orchestra "hep to the latest - trend in swing mannerisms by the disc route. The sentiment in the MPPA is that, be- cause, of the untoward effect this trend may have on the sale of pointed arrangements^ the publish- ing trade should not .be content with the ^ usual 2c royalty fee. The sug- gestion is that these instructional' records be placed in the same fee dass as transcriptions; to wit, a .25c .royalty for pop compositions and 80c for restricted production numbers. STRETCH 1-NlTE TOUR THIS YR. /• One-riite dance field will be ex- tended into October this year. Ad- vance bookings around New York band offices indicate that flock of promoters will spread the season' out .in an effort to catch up with panicky first half and only moderate second portion. Season usually fiinales oh Iiabpr Day. ^ I September looms as a pretty • ig Item on books of major bookers, with ■Music Corp. of America leading the field; It wi.ll have Guy Lombardo, Hal Kemp, tommy Dorsey, Phil Har- ns, George Hall, Biinriy Berigan, Tommy Tucker* Sammy Kay* and Dick Barrie , floating through New England; Pennsy, New Jersey and New York. Majority are moving in from slimmer locations to winter Quarters around New York, hence We in line for remaining one-niteris. Majority of bookers expect the i|sual one-week slump following La- bor Day weekend, when vacationists *nd weekenders are on the home- ward, trek. Consolidated Radio Artists and nopkwell-O'Keefe are also getting Queries on late-season bookings: «rmer lists Carl Moore, Mike Riley Johnny Hamp as joinl-ig the stay-overs, R-O'K is not yet t on such bookings. 'Alex' Cficks Again 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' last week skyrocketed to hit proportions as a sheet-seller,. 24 years after its original copyright in 1914. What makes the counter revival of this tune particularly interesting is that its .ranking on the best seller list is not far behind the. lead song in Irv- ing Berlin's score for the 20th-Fox filmusical of the same name. 'Now It Can be Told" is No. 3 on the sheet music best sellers and 'Alexander' No. 5. • The revised stock ai-rangement of 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' is also selling in huge quantities. 'Alexander' is not the first tune to have staged a si ilar sheet sales comeback. Some hiave sold more on revival than when ori inally pub- lished, these comebacks include 'My Melancholy Baby;' 'Shine on, Harvest Moon,' 'Will You Remember?', 'Let Me Call You Sweetheart,' 'Rio RiU,' 'Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life' arid 'In- dian Love Call.' PHILLY UNION BACKS DOWN ON REMOTES Editions Paul Beuscher, French pubhsher, has sold the American »na Great firitain rights of 'In the Afms .of a Sailor' to Shapiro, Bern- «'eih&Co. Philadelp^hia, Aug. 30,. Widespread opposition here from nitery 'Owners as well as musicians themselves may cause musicians local to. back down from its proposal of last week to emulate other cities .and charge full commercial fee for each .man employed on a remote air- ing fed to a. net. Word that: the union was considering such a ruling was allowed to get around to night clubs and radio stations as a trial balloon. As a result of the im- mediate unfavorable reaction, A. A; Tomei, prez of the Local, indicated that the idea may be- dropped. Union planned to demand $9 per man for each half-hour broadcast, full commercial rate. .That would practically -automatically mean the end of all remotes out of Philly. It would apply to local as well as traveling bands. Strictly local broad- casts would not be affected. Proposal drew a hot letter from Art Padula to Tomei. Operator, of the Arcadia-International, which operates on a name-band, policy throughout the winter, Padula would be principally affected by, the ruling. Padula gets a good price on. bands because he is able to guarantee two network periods nightly. He had already made commitments on this premise when informed of the new proposal by the musicians and was caught between the devil and the deep. ASCAP SETS FEE SKED FOR N. Y. WORLD'S FAIR New York district office of the American Society of Composers, Au- thors & Publishers has drawn Up a preliminary set of fees for the New York World's Fair, but there will be no move to talk to the fair authori- ties about performing licenses until November. Scale will be based on seasonal operations, the type of con- cession, seating capacity and whether entertainment is included. ' ASCAP .divisional office, headed by Fred Erdmann, is figuring on work- ing through the Woild's Fair Corp.. leaving it to that organization to fur- nish the Society with information about the exposition's general music policy arid the music plans 6£ the various concessions and exhibits." New N. Y._Hotel Nibblmg Latest of New York inns- going for bands is the hew. Hampshire House, on Central Park South.. Not known yet just what policy will be, but it's po.ssiblc that some sort 61 floor show may also go i ART HICKMAN'S lOOG ESTATE TO MOTHER Sah Francisco, Aug, 30. , Estate of the late Art Hickman, amounting to more than $100,000, was turned over to his 83-year-old mother, Mrs. Lucihda Hickman, fol- lowing the signing of the final de- cree of distribution' here last week.. . Tunes written by Hickman mdre than a decade ago still yield royal- ties to the estate of Hickman, who was one of the pioneer jazz orches- tra leaders. Chanette Sues MiUs Mnsic for $76,150 On Contract Breach S-B Suit Vs. Famous on 'Come Josephine Song Will Provide Important Test Case for Music Mills Music, Inc., has been named defendant in a breach of ' contract suit in N. Y. supreme . court by Ed Chanette, composer and. arranger, it was learned' Saturday (27)' when Justice tiloyd. Church signed ah or- der directing. Jack Mills, president, to appear , for examination before trial Sept 6; Chaiiette is suing, for a total of $76,150 split up in five causes of action in his complaint. Plaintiff elairns that last Septem- ber the Mills outfit; through Jack Mills, entered an agreement to pub- lish and.mechanize his compositions, w:hich were to be put in book form under the title |Musi.c festival Book' for immediate release. He was to receive t\f/d' cents royalty on each copy and 33 i/3% of the mechanical rights.. Mills, he claims, failed to carry out tHe agreement and the book was never published. Chanette figures the breach was worth $24,000 and sues for this sum on that one item. fie. makes similar demands for the music house's failure to go: through with other agreements, in- volving a book Of compositions titled .'Educational Series ' Book No; 1' and another called 'Selectlonal Solos.' These were to have been re- leased last January. Chanette says Mills ran .out on a promise to publish a series of com- positions and band arrangements which were to be called 'Town Cleff Rehearsal Band.' He wants Mills to pay- him $750 for this. As a sep- arate request, Chanette wants the music firm to pay him $3,400 for the trouble he was put to as a result of the contract. Mills has denied the claimis, or that any definite contract or agreement was ever made with Chanette. Hall's New Band George .Hall, currently on tour for Music Corp. of America, will preem a new band in the fall. Has a scout already rehearsing sonie 'new members and hunting up more. BATTLE OF SWING Teddy Hill-Edgar Hayes Wegro swing battle combo will get under way Sept. 1. Travels in one btjs. Bands were teamed by Music Corp.. of America and played one break-in date in New Jersey, but especially designed for colored dances and the- atres in the south. Heat's Off Hollywood, Aug.'30. .'Air-conditioned music makes its debut in Paramounl's 'If. I Were King.' Sound engineers discovered that a 55-degree constant rela- tive humidity is best for record- ing; Hurnidity control machine has been set up on the stage where the scoring is being aone. NON.NET PLUGS PUZZLES PU BS ; ASCAP TIP? Number of indie publishers are puzzled by the heaivy plug play that several of the-major firms have been giving the non-NBC and Columbiia stations in New York during the past two weeks, they are wondering whether this scramble is due to a tip-off that the bookkeeping depart- ment of the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers is using the pliig compilations oh these, outlets as part of the basis for de- termining performance credits in the next royalty, pay.off. If there's been a tipoff, these indie puhs think that the practice is unethical and should be investigated by the members of the ASCAP board. The. stations referred to are WOR, WMCA, WHN and WNEW. As a rule,' the daily recaps of plugs on these outlets .figure between one and three. During the past two weeks, the nightly checks on the same s'l- tions have shown many tabulations. Of 4's, 5's and 6's, the puzzled publishers doubt whether the sudden surge of plug activities on the four indie stations can , be attributed to just cor incidence. Shaw's Dei. Repeat ; Artie Shaw is booked for a return date at the Eastwood Gardens, De- troit, in less than a month. Will close spot for summer. Marks first time that a band has played a repeat at Gardens spot dur- ing the same season. Shaw goes in Sept 8-11. He exited last Atig. 18 after playing six days. Eddie Cherkese anon- ahue and a few of the -various small- er aggregations used durinjg change of outfits. CUnton Cllckf Larry Clinton wasn't the first crew onstage, but his outfit was the first to put life into the stands. Crew was playing hookey from Glen Island Ca- sino, so had to be oh and off early. While not jam stiiff, Clinton's ar- rangement of Debussy's 'My Reveri ,' with Bea Wain doing the vocals, was well liked. Joe Miarsala, the only crew to reaUy swing 'em high in the accepted ear-bending style, has changed his crew in the last six months— a step downward. Marsala lost his crack skin-beater, Buddy Rich, to Bunny Berigan :ind has added a femme guitarist String twanger slows up the outfit and, while-she has a fine set of pipes, is not a swing singer. As it is now, Marsala carries the whole outfit with 2d Benefit Second of the blind, musir cian benefits tomorrow night (Thurs.) will be an all-colored aflair, drawing a dozen or so of the Harlem jive crews. Bands promised . include Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Don Redmond, 'Hot Lips' Paige, Ers- kine Hawkins, Ovie Alston, Teddy Hill, Roy Eldridge, Willie Bryant, Louis Russell, Andy Kirk, John Kerby and Louis Russell. Network Plugs, 5 PJM. to 1 AJH. Followina is a totalization of the combined plugs of current tunes on WEAF, WJZ, WABC and WOR computed for the week frmn Monday through . Sunday Uug. 2J-28). Total represents accumulated performances on the two NBC links, CBS and Mutual from 5 p. tn. to I a. m. In 'Source' column, • denotes film song. Elegit tunes, and 'pop' speaks for itself. 1 Grand IHtf, _ Publisher. ^ Sonree. Total. his clarinet in the hot sessions. How- ever, that was enough to send the stands to' another world. George Olsen orchestra and the Richard Himber crews didn't appeal niuch to the crowd. Both ' bands used Lombardo arrangements. Himr ber started his time with imitations of various name crews, with the leader wearing facial masks of batoneers. Both crews" from Radi ity showed. Ben Cutler, from the. Grill, and. Al Donahue from the Rainbow Room. Cutler excited comment anent his recent ducking in the East River when he was introduced. His crew was handicapped by bad selec- tions. Donahue's outfit was one of the best liked oh the x>rogram. Leader and Paula Kelly, his vocalist, gave a demonstration of the new Lambeth Walk while the crew wais popping the tuije. Idea was show- manly and opportune in view of the interest current in the iEnglish dance craze. Mob wanted ihore.~. Nano Rodrigo's rhumba -aggrega- tion from the Havana-Madrid got a quick brushoft from m.c. M'artih Block after two numbers. Willie Fanner outfit got the same treat- ment, neither band exciting a stir in the stands. Tito's Swingtette, Deacon Brown trio of blind musicians, and the Julian Bros., using an electric guitar, filled in during shifting of bands. 5: A-Tisket A-Tasket... Robbins — Pop What Goes on Here in My Heart Paramount 'Give Me a Sailor I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams Santly-Joy 'Sing You ,Sinners. ...... Now It Can Be Told ..Berlin 'Alexander's Ragti You Go to My Head Remick Pop I'm Gonna Lock My Heart ..Shapiro Pop - Garden of the Moon Harms 'Garden of the Stop Beating Around the ..BVC... ••£°P • Hambina •• ;Spier Pop So Help Me Rcmick Pop I've Got a Date with a Dream... Feist 'My Lucky Star Small Fry '• Famous 'Sing You Sinneirs. . . . . . , 1 Hadn't Anyone Till You ABC Pop Beside a Moonlit Stream Famous .'Booloo : Colorado Sunset Gilbert .Pop Change Partners S?.""''" ,- • 'Carefree • •••••••• I'll Dream Tonight Witmark 'Cowboy from Brooklyn. Flat Foot Floogee Green Bros....; ..Pop When Mother Nature Sings Santly-Joy .- Pop Don't Cross Your Fingers. Aeer-Yellen ,. .Pop Lullaby in Rhythm Robbihs Pop The Yam • Berlin •Carefree Harms 'Garden of the i Miller ...... Pop Santly-Joy ..'Sing You Si Berlin Pop , CHappell tYou Never Know , , . Feist *Love Finds Andy Hardy. .. . Poo Pop HE 60T A DWE WITH A DREAM THIS MW BE THE MI6HT W LO YOU PASS IH L0« BY A WSHIHfi WELL Gordon and R.v..'. Son, S.n..tl.M HEET THE BEAT OF MY HEART From th. M-G-M Picturo. -Love Find. Andy Hardy Gordon and R.v.l's T.rrlfic Suec.l WHERE IH THE WORLD resh Idea ical AM THE BUMPY ROAD TO LOYE I Hoffman, Al I„lrod..ci«g Two IVe« H". i From the New Universal ieture, , "Youth Take* a F'i FOR THE FIRST TIME HEIBH-HO. THE MERRY-O iAmyMcHugh and Harold, Adamson Love Is Where You Find It There's Honey on the Moon Tonicht Don't Let That Moon Get Away.. Music. Maestro, Please You Never Know Meet the Beat of My Heart In a Little Dutch Kindergar Fox .... Toytown Jamboree. — Red Star ... I Married an Angel. Robbins tl. Married An Angel,. There's a Faraway Look in Your . . . Tenney Pop , At Long Last Love Chappell. , tYou Never ......... Isn't It Wonderful— Isn't It Swell Miller . . Pop 1 Let a Song Go Out of y Heart Mills .....Pop . .. .. ................. My Walking Stick . Berlin 'Alexander's Ragtime Band. Lambeth Walk... .....Mills • foP •/ - ■• I Used to Be Color Bli , Berlin. ....'Carefree Eight LitUe Notes Cravirf ord Pop I Haven't Changed a Thine... Mills.. Pop Alexander's Ragtime Band...... ABC .♦Alexanders Ragti If I Loved You More Words- ' ..Pno . ■ .• Where In the World. .Feist ; . 'Josette 42 37 30 29 28 27 24 23 22 22 20 19 IB 17 17 16 16 16 16 15 15 14 14 14 ,13 13 12 12 12 12 12 12 11 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 INsc Unioii Agrees To New Philly Deal Philadelphia, Aug. 30. Reps of union workers and execs of RC A- Victor aigreed last Thursday to renewal of the contract between the company and United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers, Local 103, which expires Oct 1. Several changes were made, including' vaca- tions with pay and provision for the union to. act as sole « bargaining agency. Philco's 13,000 employees are still striking. Attempts at conciliation by the Mayor and State officials, when the company threatened to move its huge plant from the city, failed to bring results. Agreement negotiated was nixed at a mass meeting of ttie workers and the deadlock is virtually back to where it starter. Music Notes Lincoln Masic Corp. is publishing the score of the U. of Pennsylvania's latest Mask and Wig show, 'All Around the Town." Clay Boland and Bickley Reichner are the writers. Mills Music, Inc., is releasing the score of The Road to Reno,' Uni- versal production, by Jimmy Mc- Hugh and Harold Adamson. Harry Link has authored a 'Peelin' the Peach' tune to tie in ' with the South Carolina dance troupe cur- rently at the Astor hotel, N. Y. Kenny Gardner introduced a new song of his own, 'You're the Girl,' at the Paramount theatre in L. A. Phil Bontelje wrote )> . marching song, 'Hail to Palomar,' i the Palo- mar School, Perris, Cal. KAYE VS. WHTTEMAN; OPPOSITION BILLING Richmondi Aug. -30. Spirited competition developed last week between management of the Westwood Supper Club and Tantilla Cliib, local niteries. During p: 'formance of Sammy Kaye, booked at Tantilla, customers were informed everyone present would receive ducats to return for a free session two nights hence. While this was ■ muni^cent gesture, it seemed hardly possible that the management didn't know that Paul Whitemah was play- ing the Westwood on that date. In: retaliation, Westwood . manager arranged for placard; to be displayed or. all trolley cars, and taxis in Rich- mond bearing the letend, This car takles you to Westwood.' 6,000 LEHERSI CLEM and His ORCHESTRA TO THE GATEWAY CASINO SOMERS POINT, N. J. Exclusive Management. CHARLES SHRIBMAN OFFICES RKO Building. New York Little Buildi Press Representative: JOHNNY COOMBE Band Secretary: BOB GREENWOOD ^JTedncsday, August 31, 1938 VAUDE-NITE CLUBS^ VARIETY 53 Chicago Agent Group Pushes Fight i^ainst Booting Evils; Asks AFA Aid icago, Aug. 30. imum wage agreements light t unlicensed iagents, and legis- lation to corriect existing statuteis is being considered by Entertainment Managers Assn. 6£ Chi. New group meeting at weekly luncheons is now putting on an intensive membershijp drive to which JTll Chi ill be vited 'to jpi As soon as grbiip is larg^ enough to warrant concerted action, commitr tees will be appointed. EMA wants the State of Illinois to distinguish between, private and theatrical em- ployment agencies. Under existing regulations an agent operating under, ah Illinois license is ' liable for any salaries due an act. Under civil law. they are considered stribtly as repre- sentatives, bokers';. liability is not included in agent claims. Other major business , concerns mihlmum wage agreements',, primari- ly' In the club and cafe field. EMA plans confab' with AFA, wanting to work with Actors'' union. To date. New York License Com- missioner Paul Mpiss claims to have licensed 160 bookers and agents since his drive started, in May. Figure compares favorably with 83 who had licenses in February, 1934. He also claims to have application of 25 more, which will be cleared within JO days, after usual routines of finger prints, etb. In all; Moss hopes to have about 300 by Sept. 15 when he says his drive will end. Those still outside at that time to be pinched. Names of agents and bookers around New York were printed in VAaiETy Feb. 2, 1934. However, Moss would not divulge the names of present lineup, stating that he will <|o so when the agent-sweeping has been completed. In this he hopes to be ajded by the American Federation of Actors' drive to franchise agents. With AFA's list of franchised agents handy. Moss sees spedier method of contacting prospective licensed agents. B'WAY RHUMBA SPOTS TO BE UP THIS SEASON Broadway will b^ kheerdeep in Miquiri joints this season. Frank MartJn, from El Toreador in Span- ish Harlem, moves downtown to re- open the Yumuri, its Original tag, "ter a short-lived career as El Bongo, Former Harlem Uproar House be- wmes the Cubanola. a $l-a-throw spot. Havana-Madrid continues as is. Also La Conga, which now has Con- nie Immerman co-partner with his son-in-iaw, Bobby Martyn: They Bought out Miguel Roldan and .Oscar Koche, who'll open an eastside Cuban spot. Street Held in $15,000 Bay on Pliilly Gambling ^ . Philadelphia, Aug; 30. . Benny Street,, operator of the 1214 ^lub, nitery here, was held in $15,000 'ast Thursday (25) after being by the special October ^rand Jury investigating vice. Jjireets bail was highest of any of we indicted 136 who have surrcn. uered to date. rift'.""'' '^"■■y charged Street, whose "gnt name, is Stretsky, with being «"ive m two gambling houses. There "'as no mention of his club, whose name was taken from the site's nd- ■^ess, and which is now closed for "je summer It will probably not re- Pen, It's reported here, as Jimmy >P'aKe, former chirper at the spot, is °'So under i ictmcnt, and the ii- ^*nse Is in his name. Blake is now working at Jack Lynch's Walton *toof here, iyiotorcyclist's Death Cancels Jubilesta Act Kansas City, Aug. 30. anagement received notice heire last vi'eek of the cancellation of the. Cimse and Co. act which was to ''ap- pear in the town's Jubilesta Sept. 19 and .20., Liicia Dunkel, 23-year-old motor- cycle performer of the troupe, was killed while the act was in Casper, Wyo., recently. Wort" received here is that the act is off the boards and the Ave members of . the troupe are returning to Europe. TOOTERSROWIN MONTREAL ON PAY SLASH Consolidated Theatres Corp. has run intO; dlfliculties with the Ameri- can Federation of Musicians, Local 406, about the^ reopening of, Loew's theatre here this fall. Musicians last year had an agreement whereby 12 men were employed at a weekly salary of $43 for 23 performances weekly.' Consolidated Is now offer- ing to employ eight men at a weekly rate of $33, which the union won't accept. Loew'S' was. formerly oper- ated from Toronto by Mansfield Theatre Corp., part of the Famous Players Canadian chain. Consolidated Theatres, headed by Arthur Hirsch, has a pooling ar- rangement ir\ Montreal with. F-P Canadian and Loew's . has been turned over, for operation under Hirsch's' supervision. It the usual combination of stage and picture shows is to be retained for Loew's this year. Consolidated will be obliged to use musicians. House has been dark all summer with .2 musicians and leader, Eddie Sanborn, drawing salary while not working, as per contract. Buddy Clark to Tour With Cgnton's Orch Buddy Clark will most likely tour with Larry Clinton's orchestra when he opens Sept. 8 at the Earle, Phila- delphia. Clark is definitely set fox a . N. Y. Paramount dale in October, but may commence p.a.'ing sooner. This Is due to Dick Todd, now vocalizing with Clinton' at Glen Island Casino, N. Y., having other radio commitments. Bea Wain, an- other songstress with the band, will tour, however. Clinton Is set for th^ Hotel Lin- coln, N. Y., this fall, but there's a chance MCA, on a deal with Roek- vell O'keefe, will shift him into the International Casmb, N Y., althoiigh Ben Bernie seems set there now. However, the latter t $3,500 salary is the major financial hurdle, and may account for the switch-about. It has yet to be worked oxit, how- ever. Forkins Sets Robinson Chicago, Aug. 30. Marly Forkins, former Chicago valide a.!!ent, is in front New York selling Bill Robinson's vaudorunit to.ur. Robinson ojDcnod the four-act vaiidc-unit in Davenport, la., Friday (26). Paying for act-s himself,, he's playing vaudfilm hou.'ics on a str ight percentage. OPSHESITftNT ON STAGE PLANS Upward Trend of Picture Grosses Stymies Need of Live Attractions as B.O. Hypoh^Rising Labor Costs Also Figure Importantly SAME TIME AS Major circuit vaudeville, especially as it pertains to RKO, is ori a fence so far as plans for the fall are con- cerned. Definitely stage-show.minded a month ago, when picture product and theatre grosses were at. a . par- ticularly low ebb, the opierators now appear hesitant to plunge into live entertainment as grosses take the usual seasonal upswing; Two important factors will decide within the next, two or three weeks vaude's future in the coming year. One, naturally will be' picture qual- ity. Several new picture releases thus far have 'tended to allay theatre operators* fears for the com- ing season. Terrific success of these films naturally stymies, at least teni- pbrarily, the plans for stage shows as b.b. hypo. Some managers now hope they can still go on with strict- ly films in the former vaude spots. Factor No.. 2, and., of equal ini- portance to the film question, con- cerns Jiabor. Costs for the latter are. showing, an upward trend in several towns. "The outcome of curre|nt ne- gotiations with the unions, musi.cians and stagehands will have great bearr^ ing on the arnount of stage show time available in the fall. Same Time as '37. Circuit vaude in the 1938-39 sea- son, however, will have at least as miich playing time as it did a year ago, RKO, for one, will undoubted- ly reopen' all the houses which played stage shows last season. Towns concerned are Cleveland, Boston^ Cincinnati, Columbus, Albany, Scht- nectady and. Troy... Plans are neither completely set nor definite for Cleveland and Bos- ton, but the circuit expects to reopen vaude in both cities by Oct. 1. Same goes for the Shubert, Cincinnati, and three upstate New York spots, fuU-' weeker Albany and the Troy and Schenectady splits. Columbus, Ohio, will play spot-booked shows; Day- ton is already playing shows of this type. RKO's Golden Gate, San Fran- cisco, and the Palace, Chicago, are now playing vaude. In total, RKO will have at least eight weeks of stage time when the leaves, begin to fall. RKO is now reported con- templating>a 5c. admish drop for the Palace, N. Y., in its fight against vaude competish and i its try to bag the bargain trade. Loew's is making no plans for ex- pansion of its stage time. Currently, (Continued on. page 55) $llf Fee Stands as Biggest Hurdle ForTMATinSignmgm Press Agents; 'Multiple System' Hit Andrews Sisters Set for Considerable acrTmony cropped lip at the 'organization' meeting of N. Y. Par with Gray Orch the Theatrical anagers. Agents A^j^^,,.^ c!oi«„ ti\ — „• »u_'and Treasurers union and the New Andrews Sisters (.3) repeat a» the .^^^^ .^j,^ club , press agents at last Paramount, New York., in the tall. Thursday's (25) meeting in New Trio, is set to work with Glen Gray's York., When Hal Olver, organizer Casa Loma orchfestra, opening the for the union, first presented his first or second week in October. , catise, the p.a.'s were cordial, but after more details were aired the Swingsters opened for a stanza at the Staiileyi Pittsburgh, last week (2G) following a vacash in inncsota. They go into the Steel Pier, Atlantic City, this week. ROGERS VETOES CHI CAFE DUE TO AIR CURB Chicago, Aug' 30- Buddy Rogers has refused to open at the College Inn, although contract was signatured, unless he is guaran- teed nitely broadcasts. Airings were cut • out during ' Rogers' last: engage- ment at the Sherman hotel, when all Chicago hotels agreed to discontinue remotes rather than pay $100 service tap' a week. Frankle Masters' orchestra, which was to have scrammed Sept. 15,' will hold. over. It's unlikely any change will be made before Oct; 5. Other class spots in. town are also finding it difficult to get name or- chestras for the winter season. Ap- pears as if entire question of remote broadcasts will be reopened. Cafe Musician Held In R400 N.O. Theft nltery publici.sls decided to adjourn until last night (30) for further mulling. There are about 25 to Z6 cafe p.a.'s which, in a city as large as New York, the press agents feel isn't enough to make miich difleirehce either way. Furthermore, if and when they joined TMAT, their vote, as a unit would count as a single ballot. The biggest hurdle, however,' is that $116 fee for joining. When Harry Sobol, who handles. 10 niteries, wanted to know what that covered, Olver said it was '$0 for initiation, $10 due, and $100 to a 'general fund.' Sobol, who . is the brother of the N> Y. Journal Amer- ican's columnist, Louis Sobol, made a crack about that being 'ice' and further couldn't see a $100 assess- ment to any 'general fund' - at join- ing, diver observed that by Oc- tober-it may be fixed at $30() and .cven.$500i P.a.'s who attended included' Sobol, ' George D. Lpttman, Bob Reud, Ed Seay, Harry Davies,. Karl Bernstein) Leonard MacBain, Jack Diamond, Carl .Erbe, Jay Faggen,': Dorothy Ross, Dorothy Kay, Sidney Spier, Ed Dukoft, Ed Wiener, Joie Russell, Jack Tiernian and Irving Sussman. They have one to. ten spots, some of them. Sobol and Lottman handle the most. Frbrn which stemmed the p.a.'s. squawk on the 'multiple system.' Olver explained that with legit shows, a general press head, like C. P. Grenekeir (Shuberts), for ex- ample, had to employ a separate ap- prentice p.a. per show. Similary, for every joint a nltery Boswell han- dled, he would have to employ a .special p.a. Olver stres.sed. that minimum scales per nitery, wage scale for apprentice, etc., were strictly up to them, but that otherwise, he added, 'I can see that you people know nothing about unions.' . This came about when Sobol wanted to know what the union New Orleans, Aug. 30. Arrested on suspicion of being a fugitive from Detroit, Robert Pres- ton, 27, night club rhusician, con- fessed Thursday (25) to a $2,400 rob- bery committed here in 1934, pbllce I consufutlon and bylaws' were, ~si reported. He ik said to have con- fessed robbing Claire Lohr when she arid another girl visited his apart- ment. Preston disappeared shortly afterward. He returned to the city recently and began to work In various night clubs. Police arre.sted him on a tip and booked him with grand larceny. Acts Play Rose s Casa at Cut Wages Due to Frequent Scouting of Nitery (Continued on page 62) PHILLY CAFES CITED IN VIOLATION OF CURFEW Billy Rose's Casa Manana, In ful- filling vaude's crying need .for a Broadway show-case, is reaping commensurate relurns in salary breaks. Thealre-rabarel is gelling names cheaper thai any .dthjr house In the country because of Its accessi- bility to the iT.osl -important theatre and nllery bookers, plus the picture company scouts. Where the Palace, when In two-a- day vaude, got clipped becau.sc of high salary demands, .the Casa Is buying names for what consilliiles peanuts in comparison with their [regular stage salari , No figure." are ] available from Ro.>;e's office, but It's known that Ted Lcwi.s' orchestra Ing for only half and less than their salary demands from .other .spots. The fact that they only play two shows a night has something to do with this, but the most important factor In getting 'cm to take. the sal- ary cuts is the show-ca.sc idea. Show-ca.se premise worked with Bert Wheeler whcr. the film player was at the Casa Manana early this summer. Off hi;, showing in the cabaret, Wheeler snagged a route In 'England. Joe Smith and Charles Dale (Avon Cornedy Four) wore en- gaged for several film shorts after being caught at the Casa. Barton is doubling from the Joeter Lester lead in 'Tobacco Road' to the Philadelphia, Aug. 30. Benny the Bum's was cited yester- day by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board fOr selling liquor after hours. Hearing date to show cause why its license should not be revoked ■. was set • for Sept. 6 Philadelphia. Also named as violators of the closing hour provisions wiere Max Beaman's nitery, sometimes known as the Latimer Club; the Cocoanut Grove, now closed, and about 15 other minor spots. All will have hearings In the next few weeks. The Embassy and Arcadia Inter- national, at a hearing this morning, were given 15-day su.'ipchflcd .sen- tences on the same charge. As al- I ternative, they were allowed to pay |S10 a day for each day of the sen- ; tcnce. Sheila Barrett Booked For CIcve., Boston Cafes Shciln Barrett opens three weeks at the Mounds (Tlub. Icveland. Sept. 0. then goes to the Mayfal Club, Bo.' ton. .She's making her strai ; James Barton, Patricia Ellis and Al | Casa. It's his first variety 'dale. since ' malic debut this week i i Siegel. in the current' show, whlch.l taking the 'Road' role about four of James Cai '• '7-11,' I opened Sunday night (23)j work- i years ago. | Ma.ss. 54 VARIETY VAUDE— NITE CLUBS Wednesday, August 31, 1938 MARY RAYE »m NALDI LOEWS STATE NEW YORK Coloratura Stoingstress ON THE OPENING BILL With BEN BERNIE STRAND. NEW YORK THE VETERAN PLAYBOY ART FRANK DOING HIS STUFF ON THE OPENING BILL AT THE STRAND. NEW YORK, ith BEN BERNIE ON THE OPENING BILL AT STRAND. NEW YORK DANCI ION ALL HER OWN LOUIS DaPRON HELD OVER. PARAMOUNT, NEW YORK "LOUIS DaPRON, a corking |".'. . LOUIS DaPRON In tails, hoofer . . . remarkably grace- taps to an Individual score. His ful youth . . plus pleasant footology Is deft, sure and ultra, kisser." There's a suggestion of the I Draper In Eome of It, Irut It's "Walter Wlnchell, chiefly DaPron.'l Abel. June 23, 193T. I Varieiv Issue August 24th, 1938. EnmcE mm BALLET-TAPPING IN SWING WEEK SEPTEMBER 1ST RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL NEW YORK BOB BROMLEY "PUPPET PERSONALITIES" JUST COMPLETED SIX WEEKS RAINBOW ROOM, NEW YORK Now playing STATE. NEW YORK Opening FOX, PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 2nd, TROCADERO, LONDON, Sept. 19th KNGAGIfiMENTS OF THE AnOVK ARTISTS CUKKENTLY AI>I>£.%BINO ■ OX BHOAHWAY AKH.VXCKU MV MILES JACK Bands, Vaude Booked to Turkey Day at Par, N. Y. Band and stage . bookings have been set for the Paramount until Thnaksgiving . Day, according to Robert M. Weitman, managing ditec- I tor for tbe Paramount theatre. New York. 'Spawn ot the North (Par') follows 'Sing, You Sinners' into the Par with Eddy Duchin's band set to come in after Phil Spitalny's All-Girl orchestra, current; Other bands include Larry Clinton, Mark Warnow. Glen Gray, Tommy Dorsey and Blue Barron. Added stage atti-actions will be Original Hollywood Stooges (Howard, Fine and Howard), Raymond Scott Quin- tet, Buddy Clark, Connie Boswell and the Andrews Sisters. INGALLS and DAVIES MILTON BERGER, Associate ixth Avenue, New York City — Phone Circle 6-7 i^tery Reviews Leon & Eddie's, N. Y. New Coast Niteries Hollywood, Aug. 30. Marcus Daly opens a new dine- and-dancery in Beverly Hills as soon as the building is reconditioned. Casa Manana opens Sept' 14 in Culver City, on the site of the old Cotton Club. New nitery is operated by Mel Walters, formerly with the Century and Casanova clubs in Los Angeles. • 15 YEARS AGO i (From Vabiett and Clipper) Equity decisioti gave Ann Penning- ton to John Murray Anderson. She had a Ziegfeld contract, which was nullified. Audiences at 'Artists and Models' about 90% stag. Rawness of the show helped pack the house. Girls bare to the waist at times. New then. Programs of Nance O'Neill's 'White Villa' at Frisco failed io announce that the curtain would drop momen- tarily during the last act to indicate a time Iaps«. Most of the audience went home too soon. Show at the Palace, N. Y., so long the last act was omitted . Tuesday night, and still well past 11, May. Wirth and her family one of the stop- pers, with Phil on the comedy end. Hope Eden and Frescott, formerly a mind-reading act, offered a sketch at the Riverside built around . the former turn. Sketch held interest and bolstered the mind-reading por tion. Polly Moran at the Fifth Avenue, N. y. Used a short film to empha- size her picture work, but got over on her own clowning rather than her reputation. American Roof, N. was devel- oping a tougher audience than the Colonial gallery in its most blatant days. Nothing seemed to be done about it, though it hurt the show. Massey & Miller, Texat Tommvi Wolly Wanger's Sextet, Helen Wainwright'a Olvmpic Divina Girls (4), 3 Playboys (Eddie MHla, Bob Starr & R&y .fraiy), Carmen, Carol Paige, Ann O'Connor, Col. - Jay C. Flippen; Lou Martin's Ore. With co-bbss. Eddie' Davis vaca- tioning, Leon Enken, the other half, of fhe management-ownership, has assembled a strong variety team which, as a cafe floor entertain- ment per se, is sockb. But what is more noteworthy is the bargain value offered for the $1.50 table d'hote trade. The food, of better than average nitery quality, is a cut from a former $2 and $2.25 price, and thus it behboves the bonifaces to do mass turnover, br else. Seem-' ingly they're achieving the biz. be- cause L&E have a big nut and must move plenty of table d'hotes and drinks to offset the bas^c cost. . This 52d street institution, for it is that now, has been through the same cycle that faced many' an- other spot and forced some of them into 7Tb, or worse, L & E have dodged that through canny manage- ment to public's spending limita- tions, with result that they're in good shape now, and look forward to that 1939-40 World's Fair bonan- za. Col. Jay C. Flippen, on a sab- batical from his gonging on WHN's amateur hour, m.c.s. expertly and tees oft the eight-act bill with Mas- sey and MiUer, youthful tapsters, who are a fresh touch right off the bat. Texas Tommy and his Wonder Horse, plus a No. 2 midget stallion, are recalled for an encore. As a floor show novelty act. was as clicky a year ago in the class Rainbow Rbon^ as it is on 52nd':treet Wally Wanger's Sextet, feinine troupe, break-it up, but mean little else, Helen Wain- wright and her Olympic Diving Girls are holdovers with their tank novelty, performed in the back room of- what was formerly known as Leon & Eddie's Paris-in-the- Spring room. The permanent tank is. properly spotlighted for the former Olympic swimmer's specialty with her assisting qiiartet. A flash and a novelty in a cafe. The Three Play Boys (New Acts) are quite Clayton, Jackson and Duranteish, and bespeak of promise. Carmen is a good-looking seml- Coocher, and a nice interlude. Carol Paige, heralded as a Paramount starlet, is an- overly energetic song stress (New Acts) but registers. Ann O'Connor does a comedy striptease and thence Col. Flippeni who introduces a colored lad who. skate-dancers atop, a miniature table- top. Heralded as one of his WHN amateur flnds. In between, a mixed colored trio pianologs, and perhaps it's a sign of improving times that their table-money take seemed to be on the upbeat on the night caught. Lou Martin's dansapators give out In okay mannier. Abel. 500 CLUB (ATLANTIC CITY) Atlantic City, -Aug. 26. Gale Sextet, Roberts. Bros. (3), DiVons, Patsy Ogden, Howard Brooks, Bea Saxon, Vincent Trac- ers Orch. Fritz! Ridgway, picture actress, making her first personal appearance at the Palace, Chi. Had a good idea but not so well done. Same scene was played straight tempo, in slow motion and at top speed. Theatre Owners Distributing Corp. given a big sendoff. To start in October with 30 exchanges. Just an- other of those things. Exhibitors cold to Paramount's idea of pre-release tryout of Aims. Regarded it as an excuse for the pro- ducer chain. Sam Goldwyn booked his 'Potash & Perlmutter' into the N. Y. Strand. Producer took 50% of the gross over $45,000. If staying a third week split was on over $20,000. Lpew circuit considering produc- tion of flash acts, Outside material was scarce and producers shy. Immigration Dept. requiring bonds guaranteeing that imported midgets would be repatriated. Stars of Yesterday, old timers act, went bust Vets could not agree as to who was the star. All felt entitled to top spot. Legit stagehands in N. Y. talked strike on Labor Day unless their de- mands were met before then. Vaude situation looked better. Phil Barr has an outstanding nitery in the 500 Club, giving the vacation mob a tapping show. While the $3 minimum may be a bit steep, it rates okay for the quick season in which the town must crack the nut. Room seats around 300; with a spacious dance floor'. Barr doesn't short change on the show. Howard Prooks m.c.'s and is the chief clown; He has plenty of finesse, announcing the turns well and on. his own gets solid comedy from his self-rapping routine and his sleight-of-hand work. While the prestidigitation hag be^n knocked around a bit Brooks' makes it en tertaining by his running patter. Gales are three men and three girls in a colorful dance flash, open- ing straight and winding up the show with a gay '90s burlesque, which pleases the customers. Rob- erts Bros, wallop on their trip warbling, getting their best results from jamsession stuff. Boys could play, anywhere. The DiVons are a good-looking dance team which de- pends much on its appearance to get over. But they are giving an over- dose of susie-q and shag. Built for straight ballroom numbers and would do well to restrict the bulk of their turn, anyway, to waltzes and tango. Patsie Ogden has personality and yams her rapid-fire hoofing num- bers down the mob's throats and ' makes 'em like it -/.'.so sings. .Has a flair for comedy which could be developed Into a strong sales point Bea Saxon, on. her own -now stands out on atrility and sliowman- ship. Her vocal arrangements are excellent and she has fine pipes and a nifty appearance. Bangs home and has to speech away. RAINBOW ROOM, N. Y. Pdula Ketlv with Al DoTuihite Orcb, John ' Hoysradt, Jack Cole wizii Anna Austin & Florence Less- ing, Ruth Nigley u)ith Eddie LeBaron Orch, Dr. Sidney Ross. John Hoysradt just back from a London engagement, seems to have been influenced a shade , too much by foreign politics. His satires when he first debuted into the Rainbow Room were basically American, with the proper dash of foreign flavor to evidence his alertness to world problems. But the present crop is overboard on Far Eastern and mid- European headaches, with result it's not as popularly appealing. On the other hand, another H. returner. Jack Cole, in his Balihese dances, aided by Anna Austin and Florence Lessiii^, has reverted to Americanisms with true Dixie im- pressions in terp tempo. Done to ■Swini? Low, Sweet Chariot' it's a marked contrast to the first two Fair Eastern dances, although these two have an- American dance-music background. The routine-^encore 'Georgia Revival Meeting' dahce is their best . Hoysradt, Yale alumnus, who came: to attention at the American Music Hall (Chez Firehouse), N. Y, in "The Fireman's Flame' last year, and is a click in class nitery rooms, de- spite thn present tepidness of his routine, 7 certainly possesses the talent and elasticity to please 'em generally. Present sequence merely suffers in comparison to his former cycle. For example, other than the take- offs on Japanese, Soviet arid Chinese diplomats, with FDR for the topper. It's not socko. Costumes are OK, however. The number dealing with the Britisher, American and German vacationist viewing the Jungtrau, and their reactions, is a shade brighter. The satire on a BBC broadcaster, contrasted to the pantr ing Clem McCarth'y technique, like- wise is not sufficiently punchy. Al Donahue's orchestra Continues with Its smooth dansapation. Paula Kelly is a new vocalist with him. Eddie LeBaron, who continues to conduct his tango-rhumba orchestra in the manner of a ballroom dancer, niakes for one of the best rostrum £resentations among dance bands, atin or otherwise. Since the front is so important among ^dansapation maestros today, It's' no small asset, to LeBaron. Ruth Nigey vocalizes with his orchestra. Dr. Sidney Ross, table-working magtco, likewise con- tinues. Abel. ANDERSON and ALLEN Dressed by SIDNEY FISHER 75/77, Shafteibury Avenue PICCADILLY, LOND ON, ENG. JACK and JUNE BLAIR On Tour Fuller Circuit, A"'' ' »lmw. Wrlld ase. helKlil, w»l»"'' experience.' Send 'photo. Address nOX !6, VABIKTV 154 We«t 40tli Sir , New Jeanne Eagles' salary in 'Rain' upped from $600 to $1,000 a week: She was earning it FEDERICO and RANKIN Are siailing September 3rd on the "Conte di Savoia" for an extended engagement in Italy, France, Germany and England. ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS To FEDERICO and RANKIN SEVESO— PROVINCE MILANO Vednesday* August 31, 1938 VAUDE— NITE CLUBS VARIETY 5S Vaude On Fence (Continued from page 53) the circuit has the State on Broad- way and the Capitol, Washington, n C. iPlus these two fUU-weekers, TAew's is also cobooking the Stan- ley Pittsburgh, with Warners. This Is a part of the pooling deal between Loew's Penn and the Stanley in that town. Only probable addition to Loew's stage time is the Capitol on Broad- way, once the circuit's ace presen- tation house. Loew's operators are studying the. effect WB's Strand, which inaugurated band shows (Ben Bernie) Friday (26), has on the Cap's gross. Latter house is now hemmed In by strong stege show conripeti- tion, namely the nearby Roxy and the Strand, at a lower scale than for the cap's straight-picture policy. It's figured generally within Loew's that the latter will have to resume flesh at the Cap, but possibly hot before late in winter and just prior to the influx of New York World's , Fair visitors. Par Same as "37 < Paramount, with, the possible ex- ceptions of the Metropolitan, Boston, and Oriental, Chicago, will also have last year's total vaiide time this coming season while Boston and Chicago are uncertainties. Policy of the Oriental hinges on current ne- gotiations between Balaban Sc Katz (Par partner) and owner of the theatre, for k new lease. Met, also sUbsid-operated, may swing back to presentations \yhcn RKQ resumes vaude in the Hiib. Besides the Paramount, N. Y., the circuit now has regular shows at the Chicago, Chicago, and Michigan, Detroit. Plus these, it's setting spot- booked attractions for Kansas City, Omaha, Buffalo, Minneapolis, Spring- field, Mass., and New Haven. Also booking . occasional shows through Illinois and Iowa in conjunction with Louis Lipstone, B&K booker in Chicago. Warners is 'another circuit that will have the '37 houses on its vaude books again this fall. FuU-weekers herie are the Strand, New York; Earle theatres in- Washington and Philadelphia and Fox, Philadelphia (opening Sept. 2). In addition, circuit resumes four one and two- day stands early in September, niese are the Queen, Wil in^ton, Del.; one-day spot opening Sept. 10; Capitol, Lancaster, Pa.j one-day, opening Sept. 24; Astor, Reading, pa, .two-day, opening Sept. 9,. and the Strand, York, Pa., two-day, open- iiig Sept. 23. Flock of PhUly nabe houses, plus Camden, N. J., all one, two and three-day houses, also will play WB vaude in the fall. Totalled up, the majors will have at least 21 weeks of stage time be- tween them, next season, par for the •37 course. Individually, the vaude time will be divided thus: RKO,- eight weeks; Warners, seven; Loew's, three, and Paramount, three. . These, of course, are based on regular-play- ing time and do not include the spot- booked, occasional stage show houses of each circuit. Indies' Claims As usual, the indie bookers in New York are claiming pretty nearly everything in sight for the coming season. It doesn't matter that spmc of them are claiming eacli other's houses; that's an old custom. Indie playing time, as in- the past, Will again be just as uncertain as the bookers' statements. In the majority, they will be spot-booked houses and indefinite one week to the other. Most of it will be shooting gallery time, with the budgets and salaries trimmed to the bone. Unit production will be a rarity this coming season, from all indi- cations. The producers, almost all of whom took it on the chin last year; are steering cicar now. Chief trouble la.st season 'was the insistence of theatre operators that units play on strictly percentage arrangements, with the result that the shows, few of which had any marqiiee strength, either were lucky to break even or else went into the red. Producers now claim they'll put shows together, only if getting definite guarantees. If anything, trend this coming season will be towards band units, which, due to the one setting, de- mand little production. Th.catvcs also lean towards these shows, for the reason that the orchestras, be- cause of radio, have so much salca- bility for the public. In some of the spot-booked houses, the band shows also obviate the. necessity for pit orchestras, and this is figured im- portantly by the operators. Time ,in (he Rockies Los Angeles, Aug. 30. Vaudeville gets four weeks of con- secutive playing time in the Rocky Mountain area* through Paul Savoy, head of the Coast-to-Coast. agency. Time consists of two f ulUweek stands in Salt Lake Clity and Denver and two weeks of one, two and three- nighters through Colorado, Wyoining, Idaho and Utah; Among the units booked so far are the (ireat Lester show, the Gene Austin combo and the Jan Rubini outfit. Hartford's Hartford, Aug. 30. j Stage shows return to Hartford/ Thursday (1 ) when Harriett Hilliard 1 and Ozzie Nelson's orchestra open j the fall season ait the State. The' theatre, 4,200 - seater, indie - owned I and operated, is expected to run a policy of name bands and personals of screen and radio stars. Along with 90-minute stage shows and two films, the State is playing up its dancing on the stage. After the liine o'clock show each night, when name bands are there,. the pub- lic is invited to dance on the stage for a half hour. The bands will be on a movable platform, which will be swung into the wings to make more room for the dancers. Diplomacy When Ben Bernie arrived from a road dance tour to open at the Broadway Strand, he told one of his* boys to check his trunks to the the- atre.. Latter picked up a trucking firm and that was that until Bernie got a visit from a burly expressman. 'I'm from the expriessmen's union,* ■ he told the maestro, 'and we've fined you . $50 for using a non-union van.' fiernie argued that he's no hiember of any truckmen's union and couldn't see how he could be assessed $50. But to show his good faith he finally settled it for $10. Frederico-Rankin to Sail For European Dance Tour Frederico and Rankiti, dance team, shoves off Sept. 3 on the Conte di. Savoiia for Europe. Pair are set for dates in Italy, France, Germany and England. N O. CAFE OPS VISION UPTURN IN THE FALL New Orleans. Aug. 30. After one of the most dismal sum- mers in years, nitery operators en- vision a decided upturn in business by Oct. 1 here. Operators see sil- ver lining in large number of con- ventions, bpching of racing season at Fair Grounds and in . heavy winter tourist trade. Thing that hurt most spots all summer was lack of air cooling. Silver Slipper has been' renamed El . Toro Club, and is under new management. Leon Prime's Swing Club fplded some time ago and ;its furnislfings. sold Saturday at. auction by sheriff. Johnny Marchese will re- open Absinthe House shortly after extensive alterations. Cleveland Cafes, Theatres Fearful Of More Heat, Hold Off Fall Preems Cleveland, Aug. 30. Despite indications of better au- tumn business, niteries, as well as theatres, are so afraid of a hot, dull September that they are postponing fall openings as late as possible. RKO Palace has Za : Pitts set for. Sept 9 but won't start regular vaude until late in the month. Legit Hanna, according to jjresent schedule, won't get going until early October, figur- ing' that suburban-minded localites won't leave their lake cottages until cold weather arrives. Althijugh Statler Hotel has been spotting moderate - priced, small bands in its dining room, its Terrace Room isn't putting in floor shows and name orchestras before Sept 22. Dick Barrie's outfit is in line for the sendoff,- but management still is vague about what type of acts to try this year. After holding Manny Landers' band nearly three years, a record here, the Cleveland. Hotel is shaking up its swank Little Cafe Sept. 12 by bring- ing in Gene Erwin's. Only hotel that has steadily kept floor revues going all through the dog-days is the Hol- lenden, which catches the best con- vention trade. Regarding its plush Vogue Room as good advertisement, it jumped the gun by penciling Sammy Walsh as in.c, Harry Stock- well, Prince Charming of RKO's 'Snow White'; Loyanne and Renard, dance tea ' Pritikin and. Mason, singers, and Gene Beecher's orches- tra for first current autumnal show. As for the other, smaller dance- ahd-dineries, whey are limping along to- another month with low-priced music arid skeleton units. Frank Mo- naco is doing ove.- his Cafe Monaco for a Sept 18 reopening. Both Helen O'Brien and rival Jack Hecht are bidding for the dark Irish Village, in heart of theatrical section, but rental terms so tar are considered, too high. Very doubtful if Lotus Gardens, which bankrupted Chaii-Ue Tend, will try a Chinese policy again. 'For rent as office space' signs spell its demise. Chick Webb to Repeat At N.Y. Par; IG Boost Chick Webb goes back' into the N. Y; Paramount sometime in Janu- ary, with a $1,000 salary increase over engagement early this month. Band got a bonus on exit from first 'date, which netted $4,250. Now rates as lop colored band in Par's lobby poll with 5,660 votes. IIBUSE TO H' WOOD CAFE Frank Libuse, comic, booked for two weeks, with options at the Beverly Hills Co;untry Club, Holly- wood. Starts Sept 2. Al Grossman handled from New York. CoO*f .gd. S6 VARIETY VAUDE— NITE CLUBS Wednesday* August 31, 1938 Loew s Cenbsry, Balto, Resumes Muacal Presentatnns pth Union Cooperation; 1st of Possible Spread Baltimore, Aug. 29. , With the cooperation of the local Musical Union, Loew> Century, here ivill inaugurate a neW.stageshow pol- icy beginning Sept. 9. Formerly a combo house, but since: last year maintaining a straight film policy, Century will present a 20-miniute 'Musical Divertissement,' along with films. Plani calls for employment of a minimum of 20 musicians for jazz sessions and 40 for symphonic 'rendi- tion. Scale has been set at $35 per man with maximum time for pres- entation 22 minutes, four'time dajly and thrice on Sunday. As outlined by Joseph R. Vogel, head of Loew's theatre department, setup will differ from the a.k. pro- duction overtures, in that the time allotted to performance will be varied by interpolation of solo vo- calists, choirsi ballet solos and en- sembles, with changing name giltefst conductors. Gene Ford; of I,oew production department, will be brought in to supervise presentation, and lighting. Don Albert^ formerly' of the Capitol, will handle baton for the blowofE Friday (9). Experiment has already attracted considerable interest among exhibi- tors and musical circles. Theatre has been tied to a 10-week trial period and hopes to hypo b.o. returns. Some balking by nusicians at scale set, but general consensus favors attempt in effort to create more work. Under- stood Loew's • will ^iread idea to other houses in chain should experi- ment prove favorable. 7 Fined After Raid Oit Resort Cafe Near Det. Ambroses Quit Berigan Unit for Phil Harris Band i ■Youngstown, O., Ruth and Billy Ambrose, dance team, wtio have been appearing, with the stage unit topped by the Three Stooges and Bunny Berigan's t>ahd, left after the . engagement at the Palace here Thursday (24) to loin Phi; Harris's band unit, opening Fri- day at the Sta»Jey, Pittsburgh. Pair will remain with that unit foe two midwest theatre dates and then will ^o into the Biltmbre Bowl, Los Angeles, for the winter. Team re- cently completed several weeks in Chicago night clubs. Detro;t, Aug, 30. Fines ranging from $50 to $100 each wer? imposed on three' oper- ators and four employees of the Ra- mona Cliib on Little Traverse Bay, Michigan resort section, following a state police gambling raid on the club last week. ., Five persons arrested during a similar raid' on the Club Maiiitou, cafe nearby, will appear in Petoskey, Mich., court netxt month. Underselling' of FTP Acts in PhlDy Starts hobe Iqr 3 Conuni Groups Ford's Loew Divtelon Washington, Aiig. 30. Gene Ford, former production chief for WHN, Loew's New York station, also has been named . super-' vising producer for. the eastern Loew division. ith that also comes the announcement that the Century, Loew's ace straight picture spot in Baltimore, will go in for experi- mental combination policy. Ford, who produced, occasional shows for the Capitol* Loew's ash- ington vauder, while house manager from 1935-37, will book the stage musical divertissements for Balto's Century and work" with New 'York office on shows for Capitol, .Wash. Plans also call r occasional rout- ing of flesh shows through Richmond, Norfolk and other Loew houses in division. Balto idea Involves alternate use of 40-piece symphonic orchestra and minimum 6f .20-piece swing unit, dC' pending upon type of presentation developed for the week. Shows will run approximately half hour, with ballets, choruses and specialties. Ex- pected that house nut, including or- chestra and cast.s, will be upped ap- proximately $5,000 per week. Prices will remain at 25c. to 55c. See Hamid Out Of UMm Pier in A. C. Atlantic City, Aug. 30. Indications are that George Hamid wiU be out of the Million Dollar Pier next year, and that it 'will be taken Over and operated by. Sam Gumpertz. Gumpertz and realtor Albert M, Greenfield are understood to have piit up some $50,000 to help swing th ^ 'Pier deal this year. However, business has not been up to expectations, with expenses run- ning considerably higher than had been originally figured. Reported that fresh cbin was raised from a couple of money men from Aliens town. . Situation is particularly interest- ing to local showmen who ate asking what will' happen to Hamid as far as independent talent booking is con- cerned, since Hamid, in taking over the Million Dollar Pier,, practically sliced his long-standing relations with the Steel Pie:r« on which he. had booked circus acts for years. C C Fischer Spots His Roadshow Into Lond. Casino; Sails SepL 15 London, Aug. 30. London Casino is closing here Sept .8, as originally intended, and did not shutter Aug. 20, although a drop in business at ftrst indicted that Because of the physical Impossi- bility of staging a new show here in time for sailing by Sept. 24, date of the ' last boat enabling Clifford C. Fischer to. be . in New York in time to stage the International Casino's new show, he is taking his current British roadshow into the Casino here on Sept 14! This is the shbw that has played in th': English provr inces to good biz. Fischer will open a new show at Jie London Casino around Dec.. 25, according to pres- ent plans, when he gets l>ack from New York. Fischer's show for International Casiiio, New York, sails from hbre Sept. 10. He plans shoving off from London, now that he has a hew re- viie set for London Oa^iino, on Sept 15. Fischer is taking virtually his entire troupe, excepting three, to New York, and augrr.enting ith other specialties. Tex Howard Plans lOOG Nitery Near Spokane Spokane; Aug. .30. t.Tex Howai^d, orchestra leader; plans one of the niost lavish country clubs in the Piaciflc , northwest He's negotiating for the purchase of 1^160- acre Glen Tana estate, on Little Spo- kane river, 10 miles from here. Howard said he will spend $100,000 on project equipping it for summer and winter sports and clubhouse. Howard would organize own orches- tra and also bring in nanie bands occasionally. Howard's orchestra was playing in $25,000 Ambasador club when nitery was destroyed' by Are two years ago. Bert FitzgiUboD IGEed m Coast Aoto Acci^t San Francisco, Aug. 30. Bert Fitzgibbon, one . of the first nut comics in vaudeville, was i - stantly killed Sunday (28) near Atherton, Cal., when struck by. a car. while he was crossing a highway. A daughter, Frances FitzbibtMh, is believed living in Council BluSs. la., but the whereabouts of his brother, Lou, is unknown. PhiUy, N. Y. EMA Chiefs Meet Sept 18 on Nafl Org. Philadelphia, Aug. 30. Howard E. Wheeler, Jr., prez of Entertainment Managers Assn. of ^Tew York, will confab here Sept. 18 with Florence Bernard, prez of local EMA, and other otflwers, to lay plans for formation of a national EMA. Wheeler will be accompanied by Frederick. Watson, exec secretary of tt.i New York group. O^J tRAZY SHOW AT $2 TOP, 2-A.DAY, IN N. Y. The Shuberts' Olseii and Johnson 'crazy show* tjrpe of vaudeville at the 46th Street, New York, will be two-a-day and probably $2 top un- less the present show, shapes up into something novel to warrant a smart play, when the scale v;ill tie upped to and the Ambassa(^or becomes the site. While the screwball keynote will be maintained, t'ae variety wHl be more rtvuesque than old-school, tvp-a-day vaudej' hence the uncer- tainty as to house an '. scale at the moment. Right now Sept. 20 and the 46th Street look to be the date and the theatre. Barto and Mann, Hal Sherman, Crane Sisters, The Chariot rs, a Mexican sextet, of 'jumpers' — the Mex version of the shag— and some 15 acts in all will comprise the show. It will include a line of 32 gjrls. TheJHEATRE of the STARS Saranac Lake By Happy Bcnway Carlccn (Will Rogers) Knight Is one year older. His health is im proving. Seymour rill, forrherly of the Beverly theatre, New York, is a new arrival at the Rogers lodge. Arnold Farkas, Gladys Pebbler and Jean Price off to Broadway for' a vacash. Eddie McDonald, from the Ruby theatre, Brooklyn, and Theodore Graf, of N. Y., are new in ozoners at the ill Rogers. . A, credit to this Actors Colony is Conway Washburn, who ozoned here and penciled a play, 'AH Through the Night' It was recently produced at the summer theatre, Marbledale Conn. These names,- ozonlng here, are former vauders: Harry (juggling) Barretts, Russ (Dumonts Minstrel) Kelly, Dick Moore, Margaret (bur- lesque) Newell, Eddie 'Vogt CVogt and Hurst), Jack Iklwards, Ben Schaiffer, Jimmy ^ Marshall and- Charlie Barrett. . Visitors at the Will. Rogers: ary Hanlon miffing Vera Hanlon; r. and Mrs. Buddy Lee hello'ing Bea- trice Lee; Matty (Metro) Dohohue, Bob Marks and Dorothy Rolfe eyeing James Seeley; Harold Brcgeiizer eye- ing Buddy Emmet; Mickey Cockron motoring from Newburgh, N. Y., for a bellb, and E. G. Dodds, who's ask- ing ivhat does the evening need. (Write to those who are Hi.) Bert Fitzgibbon, who came out of New. England in an act known as the Fitzgibbon-McCoy Trio, rode the crest , of the vaudeville wave for years as a next-to-closing comedian. He started to pass out of the picture, however, a few years before vaiide's actual decline! . 'When the .original trip split up, Fitzgibbon employed liis xyloishone- player brother, Lou, as a stooge-in- the-box. Besides his zany . work, in- troduction of stooges was also one of Fitzgibbon's contributions to vaude. While never an actual head- liner he became weU known on the Keith and Orpheum circuits. He was one of - the seven original founders of the NVA. Fitzgibbon's escapades were well known. :On one occasion a few years ago Fitzgibbon was accidentally, shot in the leg while walking in Times Square's 'Dream Street' (47th). He was so numb he didn't even feel or notice the wound till several days later! Five years ago he was in an aiito accident which hospitalized him in New York. He recently tried to stage a come- back via a series of radio appear- ances, on . NBC's 'Woman's Magazine of the Air,' after being released from several months in a hospital. John Royal, NBC v.p., paved the way for the radio break, but nothing came of it. Fitzgibbon's age is estimated by N. Y. intimates as around 62. His wife, Frances Klppler, died in. 1920. I'hii'adelphia, Aug. 30. Investigations were started by three separate groups here yesterday (Mbnday) of charges that the Federal Theatre Project is enccoaching on conimercial ;• tecTi ry by offering large vaude limits and dance orches- tras for club dates at rldiculovsly low prices. , ' . Several bookers have complai to prez A. A. Tomel, prez of the sloiaiis' Union local, that they have been offered a 12-piece dance ba^d and a vaiide troupe of 14 people for lower pay than required' ^ust for the orchestra. Alleged representative of the FTP, who has been peddling the unit to various, agents, offered them the whole works for $100; and indi- cated he would take less if necessary. Price includes a 75-minute show and a .band to play for three hours of dancing. ' f^ormal complant was made to Tomei by the Entertainnnent Manr agers Assn., agent organization here, Tomei has started an iminediate i - vestiaation and will take the matter to WPA headquar rs in Washington, he said. Tom Kelly, business man- ager of the United Entertainers Assn., local, actors' union, , also re- ceived a complaint from the EMA, and started a ' probe . on his own. EMA declares it has plenty of evi- dence that the show had. been off^r at $100, as well as evidence that it has played dates for even less than that , Cause of the EMA's cornplaint Is said to have been fear of the agents to whom thie show was offered that they would become involved In either a battle with the musicians' union or would get in the middle of a scandal should the shows prove un- authorized. Any agent taking the show for $100, it was said, could make another $100 on it for himself and still undersell anyone in town. A similar attempt to sell units was tried by the FTP about two years ago, the agents said. Upon com- plaints Loren J. Howard, who was local head of the project then, prom- ised ;that it wouldn't happen agai Howard has since been displaced. TRAHAN TO lOHSON Al Trahan, currently In the new Casa.'Manana (N. Y.) show, opens at the Grosvenor House, London, Sept 29. Accompanying him will be his new prima donna 'straight* woman, San- dra Lynde, who has replaced Yukon* Cameron, the ex-Mrs. Trahan. Sophie Tucker Will Open Walton, Philly, Season Philadelphia, Aug. 30. Jack Lynch's Walton Roof is pre- paring for fall opening Sept 22 with Sophie Tucker in top spot Powers Couraud, WCAU 'Night Owl,' sponsored by strike-ridden Yellow Cab Co., wil take his first shot at m.c.'i in the same en- gagement WILUE and EUGENE HOWARD "Hollywood Hotel" Revue TODHING Fuller Circuit, Australia r«r. AddrcM WM. MORRIS AGENCY NEW YORK "^at Coffee in England QUALITY INN Leicester Square LONDON, WEST-END BRANDT SISTERS nOIIMVij FIXKST SKATIXti XKA.M Headlining ICE REVUE College Inn JIKI.D OYRR lOTII WKKK— .SIIRRMAN IIOTKI,, CIIICACO '.Miinaffenient: ICE SHOW PRODUCTIONS 2310,. 160 N. Michigan AvenUe. DEAr 7146 . Dr. Arlliur Branilt. Producer Iliintlil Strlnmnn, HILDEG ARDE rturn«d From ii Trlumpliunt Tonr of Eiiruite and Hint- ApiMaiinc at the- MOUNDS CLUB, CLEVELAND, OHIO I>rwM>nl Mrtr., A"NNA SOSENKO Awerlcnn Rrp.t JACK HKRrKIX • Knropcan Rrp.: BENRY SHKRKK I^edneadiy, August 31, 1938 VARIETY 57 Vfiri ety B ills NEXT WEEK (Sept. 5) THIS WEEK (Aug. 29) in connection with bills below indicate opening day of - . atiow, whether full or spjit week •Mile M«« a> Paul Haahon Co. Eanlce Heal^JT Jan . Pwrce VloI» Phllo Cprp» Erno Rap«e Syigriph CHICAtiO ' . Paloce < .'Oxforii Boya Cam, Gweh & L' Cli'aney & Fux ■Sylvter & Nephews Trix yia Urldneffa . - . Exlilbitlon Ifitll ton. I'hllK'rm'lu Or J/IVKRPOOU SlutkeapeRre toew ■gga I Ircna In Silk piTTsnvmiH . ,8taoley (2) Tony Martin Ore Brllt' Wood Sylvia '& Clemence WASHINGTON Capitol (2) , Harriet Hocto^ Co Joe Morrlaon Johnny Burke 1,0. Harle. Tr Paramooiit DEW YORK CITY '^raiwwwat (81> Phil Spltaliiy Drc IxMle PePron Zasu Pitta CHICAOO Chkaae . ■ nny Goodman Or IaJor .Dowe8 Co MEW YOKK CITY JWrand ; Cheater Morris Rufe Da via ... Ethel Merman Pahsy the Horae l.Satniiela A Hayea ■Phll-Harrla Ore Pep^lno ft C«.mllle. KoBs Wyse Jr Fox (t> Mai Hnllctt dro Darlo .& Diane Bob Bromley PITTSIIL'R'GH ' Stanley (M) Bonny Bcrrlsan Or Andrews Sis , .Frank, Convllle .R B Ambrope WAMIINtiTON y»ti« (2) : Phil Ha>:rla One . Peppinn: & Camllle AVencea (86) Tony Mnriln Ore ■Al Berhlo Ho'ney; EAm ■■ HEW YOBK CITY Bomy <2> Vivian Faye Rolfe ^olbelh Oae Foster GIs Paul Ash Ore . .(.ATtANTIO CITY , Hariild's Pleir~(2) FIB D'Orsay Harry Roa« . ^BmKh, Rogerii & B 4. Skaters Gae Foster GIs Barney Rapp Ore Steel Pier (7-8) Cuy Lombardo ' Drc (4-6) Rudy Vnllee- Co -Abbott ft Costcllo CHICAVO State Lake , (2> . ;8aul Grnuman Co Banflelrts Ro^roe. Ates Co J NIcK- liiicas . ' - "V/ytHiY ti Rae-" . Stnlfoml (27) Parker Broa Mlnp Toy Jaiis I. In ton Rev Bobby pl.ncua Co Llbon(\tl-.,3 V I»AVTON . Colunliil' (26) ■Taiiien Bvnns Ada Bro^vri'. Verii'n nuthl>urn Co OHw'nld Gret.onns . INItiANArOIsiS Ijyrle <2«) Major Bowea Co , KANAA8 CITY Kox Tott'er (1) Jan ■ Gnrber ..Ore Mn.WAUKF.tC Blveralile (26) Oland ft St'antoA Tltnn 3 - >tnnl)el<1S' Barton & .^lone Bob Kliie' WINNirEaaamoat I'uluee JVhlte;^ Frances Comslock Cllltord Newdahl iBtematioani Caslho iSande ■Williams 'Ore Evi'0,ita Rex Liavliie IMiintatInn Club Jigsaw Jackson LucUce Sis • Louis -Wllilams SKects Tnlllvi r. Ore llucrn .Mary Ann Wblln .Muriel i'Hivn Ilutir WHvIng Aildrey Carrciil Dick lloKCrn Radio Franks' Clob Frank -l>('»,ilngcr Jcrbj" Wliii.e Gus Wii'ke Jimmy Uurns Fred niwhop WJ-nne Ralph Lou Williams Ebony 8 Truth faudb Russpil Anise ft Aland Rurus- ft Richard Freddie .'Jiiiui's Ted iiewls .Ir Swing Club Jiay. .Mario Ore. Frr-ddlf). l*^uiion r'.'to Clifford nulli :<)aborn Toni Gaye rcl.indH .loe Van rsrccn Jack Huber Lucln'da Lung Tuverii -on-Green Uu'g'hI.e, Barrett Ore .Vcnuillleii Marjorle G'airtsw'i'th :i^ahclilto Ore Val 'Krhle Ore D: A valos -'Dancers Whirling. tni> Geo ..Morris' Ore Trent- Patterson Ramon itingb Stephen Harrlii Wlvel Charley' Bowman Or Bob Lee FJola Marine Brnle Mack' -Nick Hope Amelia Cilmork Patricia Clancy ANGELES Hull Charlie Lawrence- Bruz Fletcher Iteyrrly Wllsli'l Howard Jerrdrd Viola Vaughn' Lou Sallee Ore II re Mai-dohl Alice King 5 Ma'xellos Dave $axon Rannle Weeks : Prjihk Tromliar Ore* Romai Vincent / Rose ft Kay Lyte' . Cafe be'.Parce The S^ven Farialans I'at Manners Paul. McLea'n Charlie Ament Ore Cafe . Lit .Slazo ' Myrus . Heii Light Ore Magic Hands Cloveir.Cibb Stqn .Myers Ore , i'liib Morocco - Jim Kerr Ore .-Cocoanut Grov.O'. Leo' Reisman Oro »eorgcs ft Jalna Envoys .'ot Rhythm '. -'Hnwiilian' Pondtse Clab Searlei ft Lena Bobby Ramos Princess Luana. Kay Kalalol Eddie Bosh 3 . Andy lone Ore ' It Cafe Joe M.oshny Bob Se'arles ' ' Bill Roberts Oro Ij» CoDga Bronson 'Dudley B Durando Ore.. Hal - Howard Ore chiiiuitb- Itiimba Bd, Little Club .Tane Jones Tiny Merldlth Paiil Kendall- Chas Thorpe dmar''B Dome Dorothy Roberts Geo Redman ,Orc Waller Wade '- Blmor McDonald on Slorgan Dot & Jerry ICdna I.conitrd- . carl Sclioltz Oi-o Cliez Paree Abo Lymnn Ore Bthcl Shutta I'aul -Dr.'fpcr i'aul & Eva Reyes ijHt-n .'^cli-y 'rtiife illxnb IJiin Orlando Ore Bvana. AdnrabWiS Club Al rtsci Darb'i-r Slilrlcy Lui ky Alice Logim .Mftric ClKlre, Bll'-'cn Gr<-cn . ilhythm KlnKS Club Aliili Harriet Nnrfis Kav I.a.«nile . Honor* ft' Glndyi' Sadie Moore 4 AmbaRsadors PliyiUs Brooks Marjbrle King Effle ..Burtoi\ Bernle A'dler Dave Unells .Ore Chalk Robinson Ore Eddie Roth Ore Club SiiaplHb Plniiy Tracy .Loiretta DeDoer Eve -oh Nola .Cooper • Kny Marshall llnKilon Ens Joe Valentine Joe NIttI Ore .C'olony CInb Dwight Pl.ske. Jose Manzanures Or .Hugo d.el'auls Oro ColONlmos Dorothy 'Mortiiyn Jackson, Recvts ft S Dorothy Wahl Specif & Spot DeUold 2 Grace Drysdale FrHnclta Gcriildlne ft Joe B'ibb.v Danders Bob Hyiitt J'ronaph Gl« Jlollyvvood G... 'Henri' Gcndron. Ore Club Ocliiin ' Byciyn.WhIte .Myra Taylor John iJscar nhyihin W'llile lUinn.v ,1 I.U'-ty nuckfl Sam Tlicard Sam Kol>i.nfon ■(■'hai-icH Iflom -purtcilfi (lis Rod Suuhand#-rs Ore Terry (.('Tonle llci<.ii' IiuWnyiiti -Iji'r'nle I'lrifUH BryuH Wolfe 4th' Club. i Ilnincr nAliert."! ' ■Doily, MoB.i Adelaide . Klrl^oft . I'oily, Perry Shni'ty Ball Ore tVanke's CHiiIno Crctclien -Werner Dave Tannon --. Mbrre ft Lido VIr Diivall Nana, Uiifh Phillips Kocko Bllsworth Bob. TIniiiey Ore Tile Uiibles Leon ..Chess .Pro Gny I'nreo Wellington Mary Willlatn'a Virginia Dawn Carol Abbott Mnrg'e' Lendfe Chlekie l-Innely Heiniife Bodol Uob Riley Pre Unintl Terrace Catiieriho Perry Sunny ft Sonny " Sharps ft' A- Plat, Pedro ft-'Doloros Connie Harris ' M'oreia .Marqiiez' l.olloy Harris Iieonn'rd Reed: GIs Earl nines Ore ; -Graemrre. Hotel (tiUar HnOHe Rm) Don i'edro Ore Blsa Harris. 'Dana t^amc'ro.h Hickory, Inn 4 Top ' Hats The New' Yorkers 111 Hitt Joe Lewis. Torry-. I^wlor Pal-Mar GIs ean'ne Walker Sid Lang Oro IlllipwlrOme Flo- Whitman :Re» Jier'fy Marks Oi'e Sherone Nyra I/bti Dee Adrian, Muriel. Joseph Genevieve Vat 'ivanli Helen '.Sumiieirs .Helen' Irwin 4 Hawallnns Earl Honhiun Ore U'Alglon Mary . W Kllpatrtck George Bay- Bd. ' Bhnio Bolognlnl Or 'Hote! Ia Saile hHllps Deone Page Sammy Barry Natasha SiaH Carter Jtiles Novit Ore iiletndy Mill Jack Riissel' Pro Ulami (Jlub Beza White' Earl Rickard - Joe. Cansidy Lynn Barclay Doro.tlvy. Jbhnsoo.- .Mlilatone Bill. Tripp Va; Dare ' Siinny Mack Anne Howard 4 Montetorte Sis Charlie Patrick Edna Rellly Vlrg H'Olnnls Roy Swift Ore UlnOot Club .Margo Gavin- BIMy Ferber Sunny Gillam Gale I^w'rcnce Jack Morton Ore MoiTlfion Hotel- '(Huston Oystet House) Manlred Gat|:helt Nutnelesa Cafe MKzle ,Rae ' Joan LaMae .lerry Llnd Ona Mae Ed T.con 4 Musltcteers Lydin Harris Pranlc Ra.Mondl Mae dl Flit .Navy Pier Bill Kolbs Ore Florence Beaumont OIA Heidelberg Old Heidelberg Co Horr Louie ft W ' Derby Hradt Ore Geo. Gunther Ore -Palmer Hflosio. (Empire Room) Vclo.z ft. Yotanda Panchrt Ore -i.ar-'rii.nconl Novcilu iil'OH s Ith's Mnrloneta Don,- llnolon -Grace Dittmnn Abbott Dancers. Bd Allen ' Phli Doiley Ore 'Parody Club Preddlo Abbott .Mollis Manor Do'lilo . t)o'Ici)(i .Sara Thebold Marie ' Thomas reddle Janis Ore- I'm* W«iw, Club Gene -Bineraid Mathews ft ' Ohali _) ft G Hogcnt Wiitren ft-PliylMs "erry Frost Kenny Vvrlgiii' Te'd -Slnio ' Steve Siiiiland Ore iiftse llowl Paulcllo lail'icrro ('■lorla I'linlco Tom , Ferris lirrman' lliitrl (College Inn) nrandi SIH llohln .S.'oti , CItsllla .ft Vlda Jennu ' Dud l.ewls M ary. Jano Teo Gt;nevlttvo Triijii Duke ft Noble Beisy Allliig Lynn Clare Dorothy Krlckson Maiiclino Raymond Rh»>cI ft Gchoviovo Snowllake • Ballet F Masters Ore ' liver Cloud Bert N'lilan Nlia LnTour Joe ft Joan. Curtis ft Clare Ruth XicAlllstcr Thelma Oraccn Marian lloyd' Ila-/.ei Znlus NOHI lllch rdson 3 "Toiifl Johiihy .Mri'^oH Ore silver rrbllrs lono' 0'i>onncli 3' Kings (>r Hwin Eaiftino llabcy Pay Wallace Art Freeinan , tHW Club. Billy Carr 'I'rudy de Ring Ilenee Villon Marg Feber GIs Jcn'sie' Roftella White SIB ■■ B ft L Cook Collette Peaches strange Dolly. Sterling 661 LaUe Ore Tripoli 3 Sky Rocket . Marjorie .Whitney DIetatora Mathews ft Shaw 4 Kings . B Tanks Boclalltas , Bleven* Hotel (Contlhentnl RnomI Don Julian^ ft M Lois HarVer Jackie Keller Ore St ert ijfnrge Cllltord Ma'uny. l.aPa'rto pre J'arrlsir .Cafe llllly Wlliianis Itiior-h 'AleKHodc.r \viM(amny McGoo l>ill le A an l-eutkhi'a RathHhellM Tony Bradley KlhgSiS; Sandra I.ydell " Uetty Niaah Viiiia IvIalHH OrO' . Frank I'onll ' 1.12.') liOCDxt Lliiila Kay Hclr-lta Hart Dolores Mei-riil Peggy, ilowcll (jiadys ''rane-,.. Da Co Lnyioil iiu'lihluH' Shelby Swing King Ore-;-. 2J, Club Tbinin'y .Miinro Doll MorriK ^lai'io iXiiui Jeaiiiis- Sheer t.vnne !5hp<*hon Rulh .Miii'tin Marty l.aadis pro Wiilloii Kuul .feni'i- D.oaath Ore Vint-onl Klzz'o Pro i'.aul .Neff Ore .IliiMuy illiiite Jlllidrol Heed Viitli'l . laiye Itiiits Mci,.'an Paul bslnl ('rHwfi>nl ft CaskCy Gil l.airib .lack; i*yn''lt - Wp .r'a Hal ilrii ' 'iCanHlrnl . I.OUIS Chalkin Ore ' Nino f^araiiuo Karl ft C.retchen - I'litcrnntlonai 8- '-' -Uavaj'lons BIdurndlanS Use' Hart Joo Romano Kudy Ilruder Hay .Miil6r Y'srhtmrne Tave Prank Rtn^b Ore ATLANTIC QTY nabctte* South ft i.ans. .MncArthurs LIUIan. Ilarne'l Jftey .Dean Earl' Lindsay GIs ■Eric Correu' .Ore.. Mary*. Lou Uabette MM Club 'Roberts Bros ^ Hea xon ■■DiVons Patsie.Pgden Howard Brooks, VlndenV Travors Ore Proll Francis Renault Joy King. ' ; Bernard ft Klen EHtelie Thomas .- Frani'es RoliSrta Joy Hoivard Ruth Donald . Peggy. Donovan Caaa Grande Ore Gaten-ay . CaiHno (Snmem Patoi) I,,cri Mayfair Ore Kilty . Brooks " Kelo. nro'fl Mildred Kayo , HelUg's BUI Covato'Orc Pasllne ft Marilyn Bill. 'Anderson Mark L.-ine Dlek Smith t'arinen ' Berhlo Pcrella. liutr'l OliclMa Jpe Follnian Orc- Nomnd Club' Shirley Herman Kola Montnya -Ifea I'errins Siilly Keith Ondra Marge' Kelly Phil Kaye ' . Prank RItts Oro- ipiaiadtae Charley Jbhnsoh Or Princess Orella CO Kaloah PLasli ft Madeline . .PaluielMi'* ReBBOIt . Taven Watsnn SIS .' Bobbie Tremaine . It'malna ft Muhninc Lee ,-Bartell Stuff & Stuffing Bd'dle Thomas • Jon - Arthur Ore Tiireh Club Prenchy Martin Peter Randall Betty Benson DETSDIT Uook-.Cadlllae llolel .. (itook Caslbo) ; Bobble, Grayson Ore Bill' Conway Jlmmle Stevenson. .(.llotor'B'arV (^llrornlans Lawrence LaPrlse Eaiitwooa Ga ens Will- Oliborne Janice 'iTedd GruyHtuBs (iitrdens Ray. Gorrell': Ore ' Peggy McColl Hotel Statier CFerrace Boum) Frank Ciigoh Oro, Jeffemoa Ueiieb Coylo' Mac'kaya Ore Anno Moore Ai .Nalli . Oc> le Clnzzl tiiivnod Inn Ray Carl in Ore - Monty Wysbhg . Lallayetle ft I^V The GuardHmoh Plantatlnn Cinh Cecil iAit Ore, Dot Boilers Lllhia Hill . .Juno Hari'ls Dewey Brown Tandeiayo .ft. Lopea. Peirataa Paul Neighbor Pre B.A V. Gilbert Frances McCoy Bennett' Dancera Adorsbles .1 Bake r^B Arauette Oro Rnlpli Flnher Gtaet Cdrripbell, Tjoi-^o Famia Phil BurDons Oro Walled Ijiks Casino. Larry Punk Ore Buddy Haye^ Webster Halt (Cocktail Grill) Henry 'Thols Oro Gene Cox Brwin Kloc Knye WestWood Gardens Ted' Pio Rllo Oro 3 Debulaniea NLck Cochrane .Muzzy .Murcuiilno PITTSBUBGH PHILADELPHIA Aochorags BIcanOr Bowers Duiphin .M/it'ie ft r-jinslao Herb Woods Ore Arcadia Int'I Eleanor Bower* Dolphin ' .Marie ft CarHino , Jbhiioy , Crair Orc. : Heiieciie-Stratford . .Meyer Davis. nof the' nam'*. .Marty Manln KriyallsiH .Marge 'l"e!l.ruiri'm'nd itarliara Jo^lhston Ann Klrwin Pe'lro Blanco Pre Evergreen' CuHinu Pal Shevlin . lielene .Miller Ileih ClialllH Joe Milihopf Pro lllldcbrnnd's l>r« . Honf-y. .. ItiiMiille Aut:i(,n. Irii;riilram PaiilH .Vlilkl Giiilui-rl liillH ll"lriil,iit. Uobliy Leo . Oro ilulrl Adeliiliin (Itoar) Joe 'Fraseito Oro .Ia';kl6 -Hc'*-k.h-i'XrM La .Conga Cis Don Angelina' Ore Herb's 14(2 Club Kay . Bangor Ancliomcv Ilughle Morton Ore Ualconudes Marty Gr.e'gor P'rb Hill Green**. Jl. I'ny Joy Ore' K'e'n Ntfaly ..liotel Roosevelt 2 Andrlnis Crest Luke rtlloy Orc 'i't'udy Kleo Hotel Btthenley He.wtly Hauin Uro- l-'ro'la Lazier liuxz Aston' llolel Wchnler Hnll Ijalo.'IlurknQHS -Oro ' Ciirk ft . Ilflttle ' Jean' Mursliail llulel WllliiiW Pebn (Grill) Geo- aihiitun Ore Bd Morlr-y '-. (C< tliienlul Our) Billy Canzone 3 Ititllan Sinith Split Mnrk Lcddy and' Ed Smith hav dissolved their Now York vriii liKtn/;y parthcrslii after facing .sotiatcd It yeaf.s.: , ' Leddy will remain .at the old ofTicis, while Smith opens his own efiency oh the Gbast-< Lattier is already: in, .Hollywood. 58 VARIETY LEGITIMATE GROSSES Wednesday, August 31, 1938 Bway tip as Cool Weather Holds, Several Shows to Close or Move; %iger $271)0 Again, Town $a5(W^ As expected, Broadway looked up last week as the cooler weather con- tinued. Friday night (26) and both Saturday performances (27) were better than for weeks. Particularly the Saturday matinees werie espe- cially hefty. Boosts were registered all along the line; Increases ranged from about $1 to more than $1,000. Ex- pectations are that the current week will show another rise, provided the weather continues favorable. Show- men anticipate the general upward trend after Labor Day, when vaca- tioners once more return to town' and the new season's entries begin to arrive. Estimates (or Last 'Bachelor Born,' Lyceum (32d week) (C-957; $3.30). Took a boost and registiered about $4,700: now fig- ured likely to sticit well into Sep- tember. .... •I arrled an Ancel,' Shubert (17th week) (M-1,367; $4.40). Smash musical again showed the way, with takings of $27,900; thought certain to last well into new season. 'On Borrowed Time,' Longacre. (31st week) (D-li019; $3.30). SlighUy up over the week before; $8,400, to close Sept. 24 after 34 weeks and go on tour. . , ^ 'Onr Town,' Moroscb (31st week) (D-961: $3.30). Thornton Wilder play spurted : approximately $1,000 for a. total; of $8,500. on the week. Shaidow and Snbstance,* Golden. (30th week) (D-789: $3.30). Up more than $1,000 and $7,100 register ; moves soon to this Plymouth, while the 'Lightnin' revival comes into the Golden. 'Tobacco Bead,' Forrest (247th week) (C-1,107; $1.65). Long-stayer climbed a bit, too; $4,500. Tmat a Life,' Biltmore (21st week ) (C-991 ; $3.30). Somewhat bet- ter than the week before, but still figured to improve after this week; 'Yon Cant Take It WIUi Ton,' Booth <90th week) (C-708; $2.75). Holdover laugh click still profiting; up $300 to $6,500 last week; slated, to move to the Imperial next Mon- day (5): house will ^et the new Guild show, 'Dame Nature.' ' Added 'Pins and Needles.' Labor Stage (39th week) (R-500; $2.75). Unioners revue up; $5,900. - WPA 'One-third of a Nation.' Adelphi (33rd week). ' . ^ _ ^ 'FroloKiie to Glory.' Laying oft af- ter playing 22 weeks;: due to reopen at the Ritz. 'HilU,' Daly's (27th week). Sydney Busch Signed For Schwab Production SL Louis, Aug. 30, Sydney Busch, member of Little Theatre and Civic Theatre groups here, who was scouted several weeks ago by Laurence Schwab while she was playing in 'Russet Mantle' in the Civic Theatre's al fresco, playhouse here, was signed last week to appear in 'Once Upon a Night,' now in re- hearsal for an opening in Wilming- ton, Del.i on Sept. 9 and New York Sept. 15. Miss Busch, who also had a small I role in 'Knights of Song' at the mu ' nicipal theatre in Forest Park during the current season, will be one of three women in Schwab's new. com edy production. She also will under' study the leading femme role. She played lead roles in 'Excursion' and 'Celestial Holiday' at the local Little Theatre last winter. B'way Legit Totals Estimated tola! grosses last week $79,500 (Based oti nine shouis) Total grosses same week last year $99,500 (Based on vine shows) Summer Theatres (NEW IPLATS) BANKHEAD'S 1ST LA. WK. HITS $11,000 Los Angeles, Aug. 30. Considerable rewriting of 'I Am DiAerent,' following its ' three-day tryout in San Diego, has materially helped , the new Tallulah Bankjiead comedy drama, now in its second week at .the' Biltmore with one more to go. Matinee trade has been parr ticularly . heavy and night- biz Is at- tracting the dyed-in-the-.wool Bank- head following, which in these parts is plentiful.. Federal Theatre' Project is opening Having Wonderful Time' at the Hollywood Playhouse (2) and re- taining the all-Negro cast play, 'Run, Little ChlUun,' at the Mayan. EsUmat« for Last Week 1 Am DIlTereht,' Biltmore ( 656; $2.75) (1st week). Critics were not too encouraging but .Bankhead's personal popularity helped to pile up better than $11,000 on first stanza; with a fair advance for current week. WPA 'Havlnr Wonderfal Tlme.'/HoUy- wbod Playhouse. Arthur Kober com- edy < opening . Friday (2) under di- rection of Ralph Freiid. 'Sim, Little Chilian.' Mayan. Joint production of FTP and Music Projects. Midwest Legiter Razed Duqupin, III., Aug. 30. Majestic theatre, for 32 years home of road shows, was razed during the past week.. House had been fre- quently used as- jump-breaker for shows going from St Louis to Louis- ville. Played nearly every major road show for years. 'Tumble weed,' Keen theatre, keene, N. H. (2). 'Mirror for Children,' Country the- atre, Wcstpo'rt, Conn. (29). 'Snow Train,' Ogiinquit Playhouse, bgunquit. Me. (29). 'American Invasion,' Young thea- tre, Centerville, Mass. (29). 'bark, et Night,; Hampton Play- house, ridgehampton, L. .I„ N. Y.. (30). averick Rbnndupi' averick theatre, oodstock, N. Y. (1 ). 'Friday at Four,' Whiarf theatre, Proyincetown, Mass. (29). 'Wutherln; Heights,' Litchfield the- atre, Litchefleld, Conn. (31), 'Cognac,' Newport New- port, R. I. (30). 'A Woman's a Fool— To Be Clever,' Stony Creek theatre, Stony Creek,. Conn. (29). The Headless Horseman,' John Drew Memorial theatre, East Hamp- ton, N. Y. (2). Broken Threads,' Theatre-in-the- Dale, Marbledale, Conn. (31). 'Tons .of Money,' Garrick Players, Kennebunkport, Me. (30). 'Everywhere I Boam,' Barter the- atre, Abingdon, Va. (1), Jail for Sale,' Band Box theatre, Suflield, Conn. (31). Time Plays iihe DeTll,' Chapel Playhouse, Guilford, Conn. (20). Wape Moore Awarded Split 'Dnukard' Verdict Los Angeles, ayiie. Moore, stage producer,- though ordered by the court here to change the title of "The Drunk- ard,' was permitted to stage the play, which has been in public do- main for years. Moore was sued by Gait Bell, who. has been showing the ancient Bar- num play in Hollywood for past six years. Court ruled that. BeU had a prior right to the title Ip this town but that .Moore, could produce it under another name. Few Stratvhats ((Continued from page l) Legit for Buffalo Buffalo, Aug. 30. Prerniere performance of 'Split the Wind,' E. B. Ginty's drama, forrner- ly entitled 'Legend,' \,ill relight the Erianger Sept. 14 fot four days.' Drama' deals with life of Jesse James, and is being presented by- Guthrie McC^Iihtic. Cast comprises Dorothy Gish. and Dean Jagger in top yoles, supported b> Russell Col- lins, ildred Natwick and Jose Fer- rar. » TJation' for Det FTP which were held before the summer season opened have been dropped since. Reports are lliat more werie dropped than were picked up. Some may be taken up later with a title change, but on the whole the tryout session was just a tryout with little result, Annexed table Indicates the most likely Broadway prospects. W Hits $21,000, Tins' $9B In Frisco; Both H. O.MIIore Wk Road Legit Totals Estimated total jgrossies last week $41^809 (Based on three shotus) Total grosses sajme. week last year . $34,000 (Based on three shows) B'WAY MULLED FOR ST. L( Detroit, Aug. 30. Detroit Federal Theatre Project will present 'One Thin" of a Nation' as its i itial fall production, starting Oct. 15. Because of the approximately 180 speaking parts in Arthur Arent's play, every member of Detroit project, plus several from out-ojE- town projects, will have part in pro- duction.. 'Nation' is currently in its thirty- fourth week at the Adelphi,- N, Y., for the FTP. St. Louis, Aug. A New -York stock coinpany, with visiting Broadway names and oc- casional road shows, in 11 ited en- gagements, is the setup filially adopted by the backers of the Grand Opera here, skedded to open a pop price legit season about Oct. 3. Tentative plans call for ..a 27-week season. The American is St Louis's only, other legi The repertory sked already, calls for the appearance of Blanche Yurka in 'Yes, My Darling Daughte^r'; Eugenie Leontovich in Tovarlch'; Bert Ly tell in 'Dr. Clitterhouse,' and Lucille Watson in 'Post Road.' Other plays: "The Women/ "Three Men. on a Horse,' 'Boy Meets Girl' and 'Bachelor Born.' All but 'Dr. Glitter-; house' and 'Bachelor Bom' have been shown at , the American.- , Mrs. . Sam Friedman, whose estate at Anchorage, near ijouisviUe, Ky., is the gathering place of celebs -who attend the Kentucky Derby, has interested herself in the Playhouse and is serving as volunteer contact agent oh the Coast. ' She is endeavor- ing to persuade stars of the stage, screen and- radio, who have made personals at the theatre, formerly the Grand Opera House, to conie here as guest artists. In. a letter to Everett Taylor and George J. Fittge, St. iiouis managers of the: house. Cecil B. DeMille recalls that he and E. H. Sotherh appeared in the thea- tre in 'If I Were King' 36 years ago. ■ The. Playhouse has been incorpo- rated with $75,000 and the stock- holders are Joseph Oppenheimer, of New York, .who's booking; Taylor, who formerly was associiited -vyith Oppenheimer in the management of the Garrick (burlesque) theatre here; Fittge, who's a former assistant prosecuting attorney of St. Louis; Frank A. Mackenzie, manager of the Rutherford estate, which own the. theatre property; Oscar C. Detering and Leo A. Maginn. The Grand Opera House, erected in 1851, has entertained some of the foremost stars of the stage but has been dark for several years after atterhpts to utilize it for burlesque and vaudfllms failed. San Francisco, Aug. 3(). Strength of 'Susan and God' at the Curran and 'Pins and Needles' at the' Geary causes both houses to hold the productions two weeks more. Open- ing of Tallulah Bankhead in her new play, 'I Am Different,' has been post- poned at the Curirah until Sept. 12. The Zpe Akins' play will be followed •two weeks, later with Ann Harding in George Bernard Shaw's 'Candida.' 'Alien £iorh,' the Federal Theatre Project play at. the Alcazar, opened a .two-week engagement at the O'Far^ rell street house last week. Estimates (or Last Week 'Pins and Needles,' Geary (1,550; $2.20) .(3d wk). Holding up very well. Got healthy $9,800; 'Susan and God,' Curran (1,771; $2.75) (3d wk). Stories have been appearing In the paper that there is a possibility Gertrude Lawrence will appear in a screen version of 'Susan arid God,' following its world tour. Biz teached big $21,000. Miss Lawrence continues to . grab plenty of inches in the dailies. WPA 'AIIe» Corn,' Alcazar (1,269; $1;10) (1st wk). After a series of comedies; the FTP brought: forth this former Katharine- Cornell .starring vehicle. Publicity about red activities in the FTP widely ballyhooed in the dailies. Biz at the Alcazar, however, con- tinues about the same as in the past. Ducat Brokers Air Code Beefs at League Sesh Conference on the new theatre ticket code was held yesterday (Tuesday) by the League of New York "Theatres and representatives of the. brokers. Session was decided on by the Leagije after reports of broker dissatisfaction with the code,, which was adopted recently. James F. Reilly, executive-secre- tary of the League, invited repre- isentatives of McBride's, Sulliyan kay. Postal and a group of inde- pendents to . attend the confab. Several other indies asked and were permitted to attend. Purpose of thie meeting was said by Reilly to be the submission to the brokers of the actual code. Agency men had previously seen only tran- scripts of the agreement or reportt of v/hat it . contains. It had beeii re^ ported that their chief complaint was the stipulation that 5c, from every sale must, go to a 'policing' furid to enforce the code. BRONSON OUT OF FTP Chicago, Aug; 30. Earl. ronson. Federal Theatre vaude supervisor here for past two years, has been let. out. A former actor (Bronson tt Renee), it was said he couldn't get along with performers. Jack Boyle has been named by John McGee as his successor. Current Road Shows Week of Ang. 1 Am Different' (Tallulah Bank- head ), Biltmore, Los Angeles. 'PI and Needl ,' Geary, Sah Francisco. 'Sing Ont ila- deiphia. 'Sosan .and God' (Gertrude Law- rence) Curran, San- Francisco.' 'What A Life,' Wilbur, Boston (30). 'Yba Cm'i Take It 1 You,' Brighton, Brighton Beac Y. 12 Strawhats Get B way Nod Plays tested in the strawhats this summer and announced for Broad- way presentation are listed, below, with the producers holding them: 'Knights of Song' .Hammerstein & Schwab 'Death Is My Lover'.,.. .Montgomery Ford 'Best Dressed Woman in the World.' ...Forrest C. Hairding 'Gallivanting Lady.' '. Ned Wayburn 'Marriage Royal''. ^ ^ Aldrich & Myers '7-11' Aldrich & Myers 'The Nutmeg Tree' Brock Pemberton •A Woman's a Fool— To Be Clever' .^John Wildberg 'Bright Rebel' ,^ ..." illiam KilcuUen 'Dame Nature' — ., Theatre Guild 'Mirror for Children' , ....Theatre Guild 'Ringside Seat' ...Rufus Phillips.. Among those evoking interest but still not set are 'Fool's Hill* (The- atre Guild), 'Susanna and the Elders' (possibly Rowland Stebbins or Dwight Deere Wiman). *I Can't Help It' (Shuberts) as well as 'Let's Never Change,' 'Uncle Harry,' 'Michael rops In,' 'Latitude of Love' and ' token Threads.' Not included in the above is Jacques Deval's 'Soubriette,' ich has been acquired by Paramount for picture adaptatioa ♦Letty' Starts New FTP Road Setup on Sept. 14 Chicago, Aug. 30. I 'Leaning On Letty,' first roadshow to go out under new midwest Federal Theatre setup, opens in Peoria, 111, Sept. .l"4. . John McGee, regional di rector. Is setting dates covering nearly all of the 13 states under his'jurisdictlon^ 'Letty' will travel with a cast of 14, playing mostly under local auS' pices. Shows in Rehearsal 'Come Across' — Tuerk-William A. .'Dame Nature'— ^Kiss the Boys rock Pemberton. ' k n 1 c kerboeker . Holiday'— laywrights Producing Co. 'Lightnin'— John Golden. 'Spilt the Wind' ('Legend') — Guthrie McCIintic. •Once Upon a Night'— Lau- rence Schwab. 'What a Life' (No. pany) —George . Abbott. 'You Never Know'— Shubierts. Future Plays 'Waits In Goose Step,' melodrama, by Oliver H. P. Garrett, will com- mence rehearsal first week in Oc- tober. James Dale is the lead in the Julien St. Charles Chauqueneau pfo- duction, which Arthur Hopkins wiU direct. 'Death Is My Lover,' new play tried but at the Red Barn theatre, Locust Valley, N. Y„ last month, will have' an early Broadway, production, if plans of Montgomery Ford, its producer, materialize. 'Oscar Wilde,' Paris success by Leslie and SewcU Stokes, is skedded to 'preem Oct. 11 under the auspices of Norman Marshall. I{obert Mor- ley, of the English cast, arrives with Marishall Sept. 5 to start rehearisals. 'Beyond These Things,' play about mental telepathy, by Leslie Floyd and .Gertrude Ogdcn, has been ac- 'qiiired by Hal Shelton, who prom- ises a late September opening. ^Come Across,' comedy, whose pro- duction will be handled by'. William A. Brady, in association with George Bushar and John Tuerk, is under- stood to be the likely season's bell- wether when it opens at the Playr house, N. Y., the week of Sept. .12. Play, already in rehearsal, is by Guy Beauchamp and Michael Pertwee, 'Rocket to the Moon,' romiancc by Clifford Odets, has been placed oh the Group Theatre's schedule for late Novembar product! , with Morris Carnovsky set for the leading role. 'Gentle People,' another Group Theatre acquisition, will preem shortly after 'Rocket' gets under way. Irwin Shaw wrote this comedy with a Coney Island locale and tentative plans cast Franchbt Tone as one of the principals. EQUITY MEETS SEPT; Actors Equity Assn.'s first quar- terly meeting of the new season will be held Sept 23, at the Astor hotel, N. Y. Among the matters certain to be considered is the association's agree- ment with the League of N. Y. The- atres, . signed several weeks ago. Wednesday, Auffliel 31, 1938 LEGITIMATE VARIETY 59 ller to Present On Fway De^ Opposition By ih'amatists GaU; Warn Anthor 'Despite opposition by the Drama- tists Guild, Gilbert Miller will pre- tent J. B. Pritettey's 'I Have Been Here Before' on Broadway this falL I^iicer has announced he will open the drama Oct 13 at a theatre yet to be selected. Wiffrid Lawson, who was in the show in London,, will do it here. It had previously been reported that Priestley intended to present the play in New York him- self. Miller's production of the show on ' Broadway puts the Dramatists Guild in a spot . Group cannot act against the producer, since he's not a sig- natory of the minimum basic, agree- ment Only action it can take would be against Priestley, who's a Guild member. When Miller . first an- nounced 'Here Before,' the Guild Immediately . communicated with Priestley and reminded iiim of its stand against Miller, who has. never sighed the minimum basi ment It's not known whether the Eng- lish playwright had already signed, with Miller for the American; pro-, duction' rights when the Guild wrote him. 'Here Before' was produced in London by Priestley, in. association with a professional manager. Pos- sibility is thait the U. S. rights were sold to a third person, who in turn sold them to Miller. Also is a chance that Miller financed the London showing. However, if Priestley dealt with Miller after being warned by the Guild, his action constitutes an outright defl of that organization. In that case it is almost certain that the Guild will expel him. Special meet- ing will be held next week to deal with the case. Hesitant at Priestley Ouster Guild would naturally be reluctant to dust Priestley, . since that would bar him from dealing with any Broadway manager who had signed the basic minimum agreement. That, in effect, would react in. Miller's fa- vor it would virtually give him an exclusive call on Priestley's plays in the U. S. The Guild was placed in exactly the sarnie spot last spring when Miller produced 'Once Is Enough,' by Frederick Lonsdale, an- ; other niember. In that case the Guild withheld action as Lonsdale explained he had signed with Miller through a misunderstanding. Situation is particularly embarras- sing to the Guild since it highlights a glaring weakness in the minimum basic agreement Hole in the pact is that it offers an advantage to Eng- lish playwrights in the American niarket English members of the ^Dramatists Guild are prevented from accepting any terms less favorable than those specified in the basic agreement Non-members may make their own terms and thereby have a trading advantage. Under the basic agreement, any signatory manager may produce one English play a year. He may do as many other plays of other languages as he wishes, but they must be adapted by Dramatist Guild mem- bers. Pointed but however, that a signatory manager might do as many English plays as he wanted in a year by simply forming a new corpora- tion to produce each one. Miller's Foreign Advantage It's hard to see what the. Guild can do to plug that loophole in the agreement until it runs out in Febru- ary, 1941. What is particularly irri- tating to the Guild Is that as things now work put Miller has an advan- tage over the- signatory managers in acquiring foreign plays, since he can deal with anyone and make any terms he is able. One thing that has prevented the flooding of the American market by foreign plays is the fact that for the last couple of seasons there has been a dearth of worthwhile plays In Eu rope. If the percentage of .suitable Play.s had been higher the Guild would have been in a much tighter spot lonjj ago. Considered certain that Priestley's 'erms with Milled for th« Broadway production are hot as favorable as he might have obtained from a signa- tory manager. He may be getting the regular rate of royalties, the same as specified under the basic agreement but it's thought improb- able that he's getting a BO-40 split on the possible film sale. Indication of that is seen in Miller's insistence that he cannot produce profitably in New York under the basic agree- ment If he hasn't obtained better terms from Priestley than those set by the basic agreement there would be little point in his refusal to sign- the Guild .pact Previously pointed out that sighing the basic agreement wouldn't hinder Millier from doing as many English plays as he wanted, merely .by forming separate corpora- tions.. MOHAWK STARS SET FOR '39 BY COBURN Schenectady, Aug. 30. General ' Director Charles Coburn, of the Mohawk Drama Festival, has announced the engagement of four guest stars and the names of two of the seven plays for the fifth season next year. Walter Hampden, who drew well this year In Trilby,' wUl return to do Mephistopheles in a new version of Gothe's ' 'Faust.' Frances Starr, seen here during 1937 and 1938, will come back to star either in Rose of the Bancho' or 'She Stoops to Conquer.' Jean Muir, featured this summer , in Shakespeare's ' uch Ado About Nothing,' will appear in another of the Bard's works, 'Mid. summer Night's Dream.' With Miss Miiir, as Helena, will be Coburn, as Bottom, and, Mary Hutchinson, a reg- ular member of the Festival troupe, as Puck. A ballet staged by the Mar- mein. 'Sisters will be a part of Dream.' Cornelia Otis Skinner will be brought here in a piece not yet selected. At least one niodern play will be among the others staged. Maiden Bridge, N. Y., Aug. 30, The Nell Gwyn theatre, here, closed its ninth season last week, bill for final week being 'Goodbye Again.' Strawhatter is an adjunct of the Bishop-Lee Dramatic School, Boston. Numbered several society debs on its roster this year, William Wright leading man of the theatre and a member of the com pany for seven summers, is reported leaving for Hollywood to fill a con tract with Columbia Pictures. Austral! ircuits Book American, .English Plays, Canmsr for $1,000,^ Ex- penditure — Also Film- Radio Tieups SIGN 170 ARTISTS Iblik Flanagan Plans Natl Theatre With Federal Bacldng If WPA^^^^ Would Not Clash with Commercials Schenectady, Aug- 30. Hugh Norton, of Albany, junior member of the Mohawk Drama Fes tival cast, will play the, old man Zeb, in John Golden's Broadway pro duction of 'Lightnin',' with Fred Stone, as hp did in the play's recent Festival presentation. Norton is a former broadcaster over WGY, Albany. Muriel Hutch- inson and John Griggs are other Fes- tival troupers engaged by Golden for the revival. Maplewood, N. J., Aug. 29. Frank' McCoy and O. O. Wee are presenting Douglass Montgomery in •Night Must Fair at the Maplewood theatre, Maplewood, N. J., for one week beginning Monday night '5), with Ethel Wilson, .King Caldcr. Ethel Britton and Helen Vert Nat Burns, who played original N. Y; i-ole ot Judge in 'High Tor' with MOhaWk Drama Festival Co. last week, had playod part 48 times al- ready this summer, Ijegit productions to fill IS solid months' playing time are being booked in New York, London and Hollywood for presentation in Aus- tralia and New Zealand beginning this fell. Ernest C. Rolls, managing director .of Australia-New Zealand Theatres, Ltd., is currently in New York winding up the deals. Ex- pected the contracts will include more than a 'score of U. S. and Eng- lish, shows and call for an expendi- ture of more than $1,000,000. Presentations are to play in Aus- tralia and New Zealand houses opr erated by J.. C. Williamson Theatres, Ltd.; and the J. & N.^Tait Concert Management which are controlled by ANZT. Deals also involve film and radio angles, as ANZT also has a tieup with' the Australian broad- casting industry. National Films and newspapers there. Wherever possi- blie, Rolls is signing artists who can not only play in several legit shows, but might also appear in pictures when and il National works out a production schedule to fit in with the legit plans. Same artists would also do radio work. Shows so far bought, or optioned, by Rolls include *I' Married an An- gel,' "The Women.' 'On Borrowed Time' and, frorn London, 'Me and My Girl' (in which the Lambeth Walk was introduced), 'Robert's Wife,' the Russian Bollet from Covent Garden (its first engagement out of England), 'Crest of the Wave,' •Tulip Time,' 'I Killed the Count' 'Switzerland' (ice revue), two com- bihed Clifford C. Fischer shows from the London Casino, 'Nine Sharp,' "The Fleet's Lit Up* (London Hippodrome musical), as well as the Folies Bergere show from Paris. Rolls is also dickering for a num- ber of other U. S. successes of this and previous seasons. He's trying to, get Sir Cedric Hardwicke to go to Australia with the whole 'Shadow and Substance' company, which ends its tour on the Coast next summer, and is dickering with Pauline Lord to take oyer a company to toiir in repertory. In addition, he's trying to sign a number of concert artists for tour, possibly including Grace Moore and Grisha Goluboff, 16-year- old violinist ExpecU to Si;n 170 Rolls expects to sign about 170 ar- tists in New York, London and on the Coast. Among those already set are Susan Jackson, Dorothy Zimmer. Debby Dare and Doris Packer for "The Women'; Bernice Claire. Maryon Dale and George Dobbs for the Vivienne Siegel, Audrey Chris- tic and Charles Walters parts, re- spectively, in 'Angel'; Linn Basquettc and Henry Mollinson. Besides the artists he sisns in the U. S. and Eng- land, he will recruit the balance of his troupes from among Australian players. Directors, production talent, etc., signed include.Macklin Megley, who will be assistant to Rolls on mu sicals; Rowland T. Edward.s, assistant on straight shows: Horace Sheldon musical director of the t.ondon Pai- ladlum, and Dan Ecley, film dance director. Huddles on Bookings George Dean, co-managing direC: tor of ANZT, and Ken Asprey.' chairman, will, arrive Sept. ,5 on tho Coast from Australia and will hud- dle with Rolls. They will then hop to New York to wind up any deals still hanging fire and oo.ssibly make other legit buys. ANZT plans to carry on its booking of legit show.? here and in London as a permaneni policy to keep its houses Ughtcd. Rolls will make trips to the U. S, and Kn.m.ind for talent and produc- tions about twice a year. Cast of 'The omen' 11 Sept Well, How About It? Roberta Becker, of the Rob- inson Smith oSice, is still try- ing to. figure an answer for' a question tossed at her last week by a young legiter. Lad strolled into the office and inquired if there was anything for .him in the Maurice Evans 'Hamlet* re- vival. On being told that 'Hamlet' was' all cast the thesper dead- planned back with, 'How about the other parts?' 4 BlAY SHOWS SLATED FOR CHIGAGd Chicago, Aug. 30. Legit showing signs of life. Al- though no new shows will open up for Labor Day, Harris, Selwyn, Blackstone and possibly Cirand will unshutter shortly with last season's Broaidway clicks. ' 'Golden Boy,' with Luther Adler and Frances Farmer, comes into the Harri.^ Sept 12, with. Gertrude Lawrence in 'Susan and God' to follow Oct Itt . 'On Bor- rowed Time,' with Dudley Digges, Frank Conroy and Peter Holden, will open iat the Selwyn Sept 26. Some' talk about reviving 'Blossom Time' for the Grand.. Will depend greatly on playdate for Td Rather Be Right,' which is scheduled for house. Blackstone reverts to pro- fessional theatre, when Federal The- atres relinquish control Sept 10. Sam Grisman takes oyer on the ISth, but has. not announced what hell open there. 'Power,' FTP propa- ganda piece, will remain until the 10th. FTP relighted Great Northern yes- terday (29) with a children's play, 'Little Black Sambo' with a colored cast. 'Mikado,' also FTP colored unit, opens there Sept. 25. Federal Theatre is scouting for another house. Said to be dickering with Sam Gerson of the local Shu- bert office, but doubtful if a house will be available during winter sea- son. Possible that FTP may take over nabe house, several in town being available and suitable for legit Chicago, Aug. Survival of the Federal Theatre as a national subsidy even after the demise of the Works Project Admin- istration is the plan of HaUie Flana- gan, national director of the Fedetal Theatre. Convinced that there Is a real de- sire and need for; a national theittre in order to give live entertainment tc those who would otherwise be deprived of such entertainment Miss Flanagan is looking ahead to' a setup, which , would provide legit and vaudeville shows to federal em- ployees, such as the Army aiid Navy, with the shows routed on a regular schedule into the Arnny camps and naval stations. Stated for Parks Shows would .'also be routed , into the parks under Federal lurisdiction. These shows would be for the gen- eral public, and would be booked primarily on a summer-time basis so as not to compete with the regii- lar commercial theatres. They would figure on a basis similar to the strawhat theatres which- are spread throughout the east, but which are pretty rare ' in the midwest, south and west National theatre would bei in a position to do shows- which would not ordinarily receive a hearing In the commercial theatre, and also provide, an opportunity for a hear- ing of new writers, performers and technicians. ore Flexibility While the national theatre Nvould hcve all the elements which make up similar organizations in other countries/ it would differ in that it would be built with sufficient flexi- bility to permit thel general run of the population to see these shows, not only in the key cities, but in the distant corners. Feeling is that the FTP has done so miich. good in reviving a liking for legit entertainment among Ihie general public and has brought legit to such large- groups- of people who had not previously been able to see a legit show, that the general good oV. the entire project should be pre-, served by the establishment of a na- tional theatre under federal subsidy, even after the immediate need for th; WPA project may have disap- peared. km Harding, CaTanaugh To Play m S. F. Tandida' San Francisco, Aug. 30. Ann Harding and Paul Cavanaugh will appear in a Homer Gurran pro- duction of 'Candida,' by George Bernard Shaw, at the Curran here, Sept. 26. Shaw's 'Candida' was last pre- sented here by Katharine Cornell, several years ago. Play i.s .set for two weeks. 14 from Lo.s Angeles for Australia with Rolls. 'Angel' troupe will fol- I low Oct; 12, The Clifford G;. Fischer (shows will sail from London in February, possibly with eight show- girls from there and a similar num- t>er picked up in New York. The ice revue will leave in M.ny, when Rolls expects to have his ice plant ready in Sydney and his local skat- ers trained sufTicienily to join the I n.imcs. Goluboff will leave in Feb- ruary and it is . h'oped Mi.ss Moore win go out in April. The ballot from - Covent Garden, London, is alreadv i on its way. having sailed Aug. 19. i Us tour will open Sept. 29 in Mel- bourne. Lanny Ross to Play In Tever' at Ognnqnit Lanny Ro.ss will appear at the Ogunquit Playhouse the, week be- ginning .Sept 5 in 'Petticoat Fever.' Supporting Ross will be Irene Ted- roe. Damian ©"Flynn; John Williams, 'William Swetland and Tony Bickley. Goban En Route Home London, Aug. 30. George M. Cohan is due in New York this week, having sailed from' here on Aug. 20. Joe Schenckj chairman ot 20th- Fox, and Raymond Massey are .scheduled to sail for America to- morrow (Wednesday). Matt Allen's Play Los Angelo.s, Aug. 30. Miitt Allen, formerly .n.ssociated wilh Henry Duffy, is returning to lc«it with a ntw comedy, 'The Red Bumblchcc,' by Robert L. Craig, tn open in October. Play (Icnls wilh Lola ontcz and Jdnriiiin .Muiici;i,..liistoric:illy promi- nent chiiraclcrs of early California, Allen plans to take the piece east after tryouts in Los Angeles and San rancisco. 60 VARIETY LEGITIMATE Wednesi f^ay, August 31, 1938 SOUBRETTE Ogunquit, e., Aug. Comedy In three ncl« (0 iKCnes) by Jacqued Deval; prcscniod by. AViiItor llurt^ uig. Sturs K\BO Ai'kkI' lieuiiigs, Johnniies Lareeh, At UKunqult I'layhouKC: J'J.'JU top, Eric H.' CurrlnElun. FrtincolBe ,., Joris ' \Vllbur Mnsuuber.'.., Dr. I'ercy Goovh Laura CurrlnKton.... Phyllis CurrlnRton.-, . Deborah Maiiauber. '.. Aurlol Massubori , . . . £lra. ' Schlcsslnger. . , . , . .Duiuild Cook ,.,KIhc ArKnl . ,AVIIlliiin Swetlnnd . ...DiimInn OTlyhii , . . .Hortiec Slntliilr .Iri ne Tedroc ,. Dorin Doy .... alHy Atherloii l.clln Kr I Helen ..SilliiBer With both the pliay and Else Arr gal, the star, showing for the. first time to American audiences, the oc- casion is about tops, from all angles. Broadway needs b play like Sou- brette' and a hew, charming -per- sonality like Miss Argal. Unfpr- , tunately, the books do. not indicate ain imminient playdate . on the Stem. Jacques Deval is working , on the fllih adaptation for Paramount, which will have Olympe Bradna in the lead role. Miss Argal ( . Deval) enchants with her delineation of the beaute- ous, generous, ingenious French girl,, who comes into an American home secretly as bride . of the son and poses as a maid until the family for- tune has' been' veered off the rocks. 'Soubrette* has a romantic undertone similar to /Tdvarich.' which Deval also wrott and it's this quality, plus the star's ace Interpretation- of the central character that makes It thor- oughly siistaining aiid refreshing. jlole of - Francoise is rich, as are the sitiiatibns framing it: clandestine .boudoir meetings between maid and her hii.ld Cook)*- rescue «f the head of the house from sui- cide; pleading, with her mistress to let her stay on without pay when the family . treasury sags, and • Frapr coise's salvation of the spoiled daughter, .who considers degradation Bs.ai way out of the poverty threat Much third-act humor centers about the revelation that the maid .is. blessed eventing, and the perplexity of her employers over her happiness. By the time the son. openly claims her as his bride the Carrlngtoii fam- ily, is again on easy street, with the bossy butler faced with the new duty of serving his former staff xneniber breakfast in bed. Walter Hartwig casted excellently with the. entire company apnarently inspired by . the play and the star they so capably support Cook is in the groove all the way; Irene Ted- roc is a standout in the substantial role of his mother, and William Swetlarid clicks as the officious but- ler. . „ Doris Day is convincing, as the snooty daughter; Horace Sinclair has a bit part as a doctor, . but makes; the most of it; Leila Ernst is too effusive at times iii her characterization of the fluffy blonde to whom the Car-: rington son is engaged, off and on. Johannes Larsen did a good setting on the lush duplex living room. Foi. THE PRIZE NOVEL Keehe, N. H., Aug- Fui-cc In three nets by Oeorso .Vlltehell; pressnied nnd directed by Freemnn lliiin- ihond. SettinK. .M. S, Sampson. At Keene Sumnicr Theatre; Kccno, N; II., Aug.. 20, vfrginla. Nell McCoy I>nul. ..... Hubert I-ntnl)ert I'utnani Thornton Olbbs. .. .Kenneth IlisUoe Oeorge Elloi ,Oibb». : ..Oitiierlno Dill Charles r.imb GIbbs Don Farrar Martha Wllmerdlng Olbbs ; Harriet E. .MacOlbbon Elizabeth Bdrrctt Gibbs. , . . Uarburu Parker um ; . ; ; Barry. Mrihpol lof.. ; Gcorgo Pearson Daniel Webster ibbs. Chester A. Frdailtele I'ctor Ma.twell ..Hubert lidwnnl Long .Max ^ehwartj.. Irving Hayniond Friedman- Wally Sparks... .Freeman llammona Kenedy .John Ferguson Patterned after 'RoyaJ Family,' this daffy farce Involves a household of writers. Income source is the weekly paycheck of the non-writing daughter, Elizabeth Barrett Gibbs, who works in an office as secretifiry. The father,' a passe .essayist; the mother, a household hint radio gusher; a son, who" dabbles in mur- der mysteries; a daughter, vvho writes sexy trash, and a second son. who . rouses . the rabble at Union Square, all live . on the hope of win- ning a $10;dOO prize in' a novel-writ- ihis contest ' .. ' . • One of their servants cops the prize, and at the final ciirtain the Gibbs iamily is still frantically marking time as it rushes into re- spective cubicles to work oh another contest to find all the typewriters have been appropriated- for non- payment Overloaded with a superfluity of lines, the production here is played at. a too-hasty pace. Players running in. and out of rooms all night, vault- ing balustrades, shooting guns. Perch- ing on fireplace mantels, and the al- most constant ringing of bells, be- The Archetype of tits Profession AFTER APPEARING NINE MONTHS AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM. FIVE WEEKS SAVOY HOTEL, LONDON-CIRO^S-EMBASSY- INCLUDING AMONTH IN SWEDEN AND TWO WEEKS IN PARIS Back to America in June AND SAILING AGAIN SEPTEMBER 17 FOR A RETURN TOUR TO EUROPE NOW APPEARING BILLY ROSE'S CASA MANANA NEW YORK Direction— WM. MORRIS AGZNCY ft come confusing.. Essentially, its b burlesque of a farce. Harriet E. MacGibbon registers as the silly mother. Freeman Hammond does well as the blase newspaper- man, and Nell McCoy and Robert Lambert arie okay in minor servant rojes. Don Ferrar and Irving Fried- man rush their lines so that they are unintelligible- at times. . A redj white and blue set is color- ful, but more suggestive of a kitchen than the living room it s aimed to "^^^Nbvel'*' formula may be okay but rendition is far: below Broadway Par. ^<"=- Mirror for Children estport Conn., Aug. 29. Drama by Merrill Jlogers: presented by Luvvienee l.angner and Arrnlna Marshall. Kealures Katharine Alexander, Omlnv/ .uievens. Staged by Harry AVngstaff Orlbble. . Sottlng.H, Karcl Stepanek. At the Counlry l^l.iyhousc Play Oul-of-Town SING OUT THE NEWS Philadelphia, . Aug. 29. Reviia In two acts, presontcd by Max Gordon Ih osaoclotlon wlfh George S. Kauf- man and Moss Hart. ■ -Conceived and di- rected by Charles Friedman; lyrics and music by Harold J.' ' Rome; settings, Jo Mielziner; dances, Save Gould; costumes, John Hambleton. At Forrest theatre, Aug. •A. '38. ■ ' ' Cast: Uiram flliermnn, rhillp Loeb, Will eer, Charles 'Lawrence, ' Joey Faye. Mi- chael Loring, Chrlstlnn. LInd. . Leslie Mtomy, Ginger' Manners. Mary Jane Walsh, Ilex Ingram, Dorothy Fox. The Virginians, Lewis and Van, Burton Tierce and Dal«y Ilernler, Jean Karnsworih. . . . Kleanof Sprague... . Mattle. .. nrrlet Farnsworlh. Madeleine Laiiison.. Greg.ory Farnswo.rl '■'rnncesca' Howard.-. 1)111 Hannaford Tom Sprague Inia Ann Kaye ......... Elspcth. Eric . . . .Georgettb Harvey .Katharine Alexander .... Clementine Tbrell .Onslow Stevens ......Dorothy Patten . , William ' DavJd Wilton Graft A tryout for the Theatre Guild, whose theme ot havoc wrought by rhalicious gossip recalls. The Chil- dren's Hour,' except. this time it's the adults of a .small community -who babble harmfully about, a youngster and . ruin the 15-year-old innocent's, life. ■ Wholesome daughter of two subur- ban artists spends a . night in a fish- ing shack with a friend of her par- ents and worthless observer brings the story, back to town. Country- club set pounces upon the informa- tion and parents hurt the girl when they refuse to believe her explana- tion. A physician -verifies her:innb- cence, but the girl is crushed by the manner in which she has been vie-, timized, and tries to shoot herself.. Play has been written in one key and the moving climaxes must be credited to Harry Wagstatt Cribble's direction and the actors. Story is scarcely a pleasant one, .concentrat- ing too doggedly oh the prodiicts of idle mischief. Katharine Alexandier and Onslow Stevens are the parents and Virginia Ann Kaye their unfortunate off- spring. All three, are. good. 'Wilton Graff impresses as the man accused. Gribble appeared for the stricken William Daziz the last minute and scored heavily in comedy role. Kart Stephanek's settings are ssii.-'actory. Time Plays the Devil ilford. Conn., Aug. 29. Comedy-drama In three acts (four scenes) by Larry . Johns, and Frances- Works; pre- sented by Johns at Chapel Playhouse, Gull- ford, Conn.. Aug. 20, '38). ' ' . Allen Haiyes... i Noel Warwick Mark Reynolds.,... ,, John Balmcr Marlon Reynolds .Olive Warren Dick Bradshaw... James Lawry Peter Glad .... ; Larry Mohns Rhoda Glad Joan Sudlow Barbara. Kent.. ..i... .Alice Cheney Oolong... Don Begenau In Time Plays the Devil,' Its fragile writing and casting fail to compensate for an excellent setting, mountain lodge suminer home. There's nothing here for Broadway or pictures. . •Anonymously Yours' had be«n originally scheduled, but late switc'h brought- in 'Devil.' Plot concerns wealthy novelist, Bradshaw (James Lawry), who writes a group of friends to spend a month at his summer, home. Gets the idea of putting them all in his next book and - is making progress along that line when a femme guest discovers what's going on. There's a lot of criss-cross romance indulged in by various married members of the company and when- guests learn that their host has it all down in black and white they stage a riot. Bradshaw's erstwhile mistress oops into the scene, jumbles things uo nicely arid ends by rekindling their love for each other. Additional angles include reconciliations be. tweeh .rnisunderstobd mates and the disillusionment of a youngster, who has gone- romantic on Bradshaw' mistress. Lawry, Noel Warwick and Olive Warren do what they can unavail- irilly. Staging; uncredited, is medio ere. Bone. SNOW TRAIN Ogiinquit Me.. Aug. 29. Melodrama by Hdward Clillds Cnrpenter lirescnled by Walter Hartwlg. -.vtaBCd by r-lni-twic .Settings. .Inbanncs Larsen; ocutinuit. >rc., Aug. 2a. '3.s. Tina Ca ati Dor:illie Burge.i; M.-iKgie. ; ; .Irene Tcdroe •le:in Gi-arey Doric Day Snm IfileiiciKk ..Donald C"Ok .leromc Unduer ...Cnrl Uontun Iteld .Mis.. .Vewbrry.. ...VlrRinla l.arncd .N'cllle lladger....;,.^ Irlnn Alexander r.ulgl 'r.wii .: .Richard Rauber Charlie Shaw.. William Swetlan N'Irk .Sullivan , .Danilnn O'Flynn Peter Clayburn ...Tony Bickley 'Snow Train,' a comedy meller by Edward Childs Carpenter, can steam right i to Broadway, after a little repair, and stay there for a good part- of the winter. Opening scene could be trimmed down to a brief prolog and the climax could stand (Continued on page:63) First reaction of . most of the. first- nighters who . flocked . in staunch numbers to see Max (Gordon's new revue open Philadelphials 1938-39 iegit season at the Forrest theatre was. one of astonishment at the. show's open, espouisal of the New Deal, 'Sing Out the News,' followup ef- fort by Charles Friedman and Har- old J. Rome, who leaped ; into the spotlight with 'Pins and Needles;' is far more lavish in production fea- tures than 'Pliis' and contains enough caustic wit and timely satire of cur- rent events , to make it a candidate for early-season musical comedy honors. But there were many at the premiere who expressed wonder that the show's barbs were not more evenly divided. As an Administra- tion vote-catcher the new revue hasn't missed a trick. : As lined up now. Act I contains most of the evening's cream. In a show of this kind, which leans so heavily on the inhuendos, sly humor and subtle inf fences of its lyrics, even th^ best of them begin to pall beftjre the end. And some of the author's second-act lyrical lampoon- ing does have a sophomoric flavor. After an introductory number; neatly delivered by Hiram Sherman, expressing aims^and ideas of, the re- vue, the GOP takes its first slap of the evening in a sketch— ^'I Married a Republican' — in which an angel de-- scends on a meeting of the Repiibli- can National Committee and decides that he's , in favor of everything the New Deal stands for. From then oh it's a New Deal show with only a few exceptions. If in some numbets —for example, 'Man of the Year,' magnificently sung and played by the large colored contingent— some niay profess to find subtlie sarcasm in its pralsie of F.D.R., you can set it down In black and white that the majority, of. most audiences won't take it that way. . Mayor La Guardia comes in for at- tention in one of the. best! lyrical skits of the show, 'Up Fiorello!' which; although it has its digs, won't cause the slightest offense and pre- sents Phil Loeb in a first-rate im- personation of the mayor. Politics is deserted for the time being.in 'Gone, -with the Revolution," a film travesty that would have landr ed better here had 'Marie Antoinette' (M-G) been seen, ort local screens.. With, actual names used, this sketch Tings the bell repeatedly with effec- tive satire when directtor W. ,S. Van Dyke, Norniia Shearer and the entire Metro lot are thrown into a panic on finding, half-way through the filming of the historic special, that a revolu- tion busts in on the romance. A highlight of this number is the per- formance of Sherman, playing Rob- ert Morley's role of Louis X'VI. After these three numbers, first act stumbles a trifle, but there is stuff to be extracted from 'Peace and the Diplomat' effective dance rou- tines in which the Gciddess of Peace is kicked around by various embat- tled nations. Politics comes back into the pic- ture with a bang ■ in the first-act finale, 'Congressional Minstrels,' in which the refusal of the country's two law-passing bodies to pass presi- dential bills, is ribbed. Will Geer, ably flanked by Loeb and Sherman, is outstanding here. Act II. is much more tepid. The Tell e Pretty Maiden' takeoff, which opens and ishows how present- day chorines are politically and so- ciologically-minded, doesn't quite jell. Loeb does an amusing satire oh cowboy ditties but it suffers as a fol- lowup of 'West on West End Ave- nue.' Show's most pretentious dance bal- let (with song) follows. Called 'My Heart Is Unemployed,' it should click when oruned a little. Lampooning of capitalists lolling on Palm Beach sands is mildly amusing but far too long. Colored section of cast clicks again solidly with another street- scene affair, 'One of These Days.' pleasantly sung by Mary jane Wakk • and Michael Lorihg, and 'Plaza }3 Hath September.' , Edward Matthews, ms Oat t"" News.' „ ««i»''' Stanley Becker, 'Arc Bo.ys People- Helen Craig. 'Soliloquy. • Alan BunSe, Vicki Cummings, 'Once Upon a Night' Barbara Robbins, 'Clear All Wires.' . „„„ Joe Allen. Benay Vcnuta, »«' Marlowe. 'Kiss the Boys.Gooduye.^ Paul Duke, Geoi"e Cliuich.- K"" ert -Lawrence, The Boys fi'om W'" cuse.' ^ . upien Mrs. Priestley Morr-son, jHel.^, Brooks, Walter Hutchinson, Franklvn _Fox, James Bush/ Henry Richards.; Biiford Arm.. tage. John Griggs, William Ph'">R=" Wednesday* August 31, 1938 CHAttER VARIETY 61 Broadway ton Bernard, Hollywood agent, i^on radio deals. AMirsle and Lorain Price expect ihSTiftond baby any day now. T D. Kemp, jr., ^ Paramount for Southern theatres, in ffijn last week. ■ Iiaii Corelli distributed 50 pounds of ft* St at Firt Island to Main Stem pals last weeK. ' Harold Smith. Hays' nap in^ Paris. jiTback in October. First Uip to S^U S- ^ Ur*. Florence Marstoh, eastern rep rf tte Screen Actors Guild, due to Sotor east early n October. Carl Fisher and Mary Mason, back Bermuda holiday, closed their ^^Mtport, Conn, summer home. Joe Laurie. Jr., vet vaudevilllah, Blflvs his first cabaret date at West (N. J.) Casino this weekend. Carl Krueger is leaving United Artists. Had been handling exploi- tation under Monroe Grecnthal. Julian T. Abeles en route back east from Frisco by motor. The- gtrical attorney arrives this week. Vincent Youmans, compose'r; after Us periodic sojourn in Denver, mak- ing the Broadway rounds oii busi- row (Thursday), He'll be in mana- gerial charge. Vaude policy click at Casa Manana has prompted Billy Rose to abandm girl-show idea this winter. His new Frontier Palace, a No. 2 Broadway spot, may have an elaborate revue. Rose meantime commuting between the C,asa and the Fair Grounds, where he has the aquacade for next year. Plenty of post-mortems on Sara- toga, with the: nags crossing up the big bettors. The boys have been reviving the old Nick the Greek axiom as a soother: It's fun to gamble-^and win; but it's fun to gamble/ Most; of 'em lost Some of the show biz setbacks run into tele- phone numbers. ' Flock of showfolk back from abroad oil the Normahdie oh Mon- day; Lew Gensler. . George Jessel. Ralph Hitz. Carl Laemmle, Douglas Fairbanks. Sr, Bob Goldstein, Danny Winkler. Gensler staying east for another week; then back to the Coast Had. been vacationing abroad for three months. ; Gene Fowler is Working on one of his 'significant' poems and, says the author, he'll probably never be able to, get into Germany thereafter. Fowler, wife and eldest boy. Gene, Jr., go to Fiji Islands in October oh work-pleasure. The boy is learning the picture biz" as a cutter at 20th- Fox studio in Hollywood. Broadway moved to Philadelphia HoBday liight for the preem of Max Goidon's new musical., 'Sing Out the. News.' jjea Whalen, foreign publicity manager for 20th-Fox. has returned fmB moiith's business trip and vaca- tion on the. Coast Songwriter's' Guild will hold a ])eoieflt around - mid-November, cele- brating its second anniversary, bMded by Gerald Griffin. Tommy Doraeyrs. ' M^yearrOld dau^tn*, Patricia, is currently re- covering iat Doctor's hospital. New Tork, from minor operation. 'Victibla records over a public ad- dress system Will be installed in the Abe Minsky-L H. Herk reopened Gaiety theatre as a stage unit. Ibrry Novak, Warner's supervisor for Argentina, .Chile and Uruaguay, expected in this week from Buenos Alre^ where he headquarters. Lou (Rlnzler &> Frisch (Rand- forte circuit) feted with a birthday party at the Tavern oii Monday. It was bis- 50th. Sam Rinzled hosted: Tommy Rockwell back to Houston Monday (29) to attend funeral of his inotber-tn-law,' Edna Masterson. Jiist . 'got In last week froni Texas biz trip. The Archie Mayos off last, night on the St{)tendam for five' weeks'' vaca- tion abroiBd. May be longer if Sam Coldwyn doesn't summon him back. Len Gaynoi: returned to his desk as publicity-exploitation counsel at SOth-Fox' this' week after more than two weeks up in the woods on his vacation. Harry Cohn back to the' Coast fol- lowing the Music Hall preem of 'You Can't T^ke It With You' (Col ). The Columbia prez has been vacationing in Saratoga. . Harry Weinstein', Abe Lyman's manager, owns Sur Tan, the nag brought into testimony of Jimmy. Bines trial as formerly belonging to Dutch Schultz. Joe Moskbwitz and Joe Pincus weekending over Labor Day by tak- ing the Queen to Bermuda on Fri- day, back in New York on Tuesday. Just going for the ride. . Flora Gordon, former sec to. Joe Schenck while he was head of UA, is now private sec to Maurice Silver- stone, chairman of ' the executive committee of United Artists, Max Beck, unemployed actor, filed Voluntary petition in bankruptcy in. federal court Saturday (27). Liabil- ities at $1,464, no assets. Creditors include department stores and rents. Lew Lehr is somewhere in Gcr- Jtiany, vacationing, and they've been having difTiciilty getting the Fox Movietone comedian on the trans- atlantic phone for a new radio con- tract Walter Donaldson s.iys one of the Masons he's writing pop times cast IS that the food is better. There's no great to-do about flying a steak 3,000 jailes to Hollywood; here it's around the corner. Ben Bogeaus, who s.-»iled for Italy Jast week on a talent and script hunt for M. S. Bentham agency, will be gone from New York about three months. He'll also scout the rest of the Continent. Lou Pollock, eastern publicity manager for Universal, started on his vacation this week. John Joseph, ad-p\iblicity chief for com- pany, who is in town from Holly- wood, will fill in part of time he's here. Basil Durant-Inc., who used to be a ballroom dancer before he went mto custom tailoring at. 16 East 52d, Med involunUry bankruptcy; $71,311 m debts.' $36,317 a.s.sets, of which jjjmost $20,000 comprises outstanding Roberta Allen substituting for "leanne D'Arcy, femme warbler with ijohnny Messner's band, at the ]^^pin hotel. iss D'Arcy, who's J*^'' ill. is sufficiently recovered to ■Ifie, part in NBC broadcasts by Mno. however. ..a Jay Kaufman, who was perhaps pioneer Broadway columnist JJJen on the old N. Y. Globe, but ?*etive of late,, due to illness, re- 1??"? to activity with the opiening of jai-alal at the Hippodrome tomor Long kland losi ight' via LOew's Willard, Woodhaven. get- ting a face-lifting. Byron Schward, assistant manager at Forest Hills theatre, back from vacash. Fred Stone back at his Forest Hills home for ^ Broadway run of 'Lightnih'/ . Bemarr Macfadden.'flew in Sun- day (21) from his health farm in Dansville, N. Y; Mitzi Hajos (Mrs: Bold Marshall) and Jose Ruben have moved - to Forest Hills Inn. Nate Simons, manager of the Merrick theatre, Jamaica, back from vacash to Great lAkes. .. Russ Morgan and Jack White staged benefit for junior cops at Dawson's, Long Beacn, Sunday ( )^ Pickrup ' in. blz^ ended plans of Joseph Plsapia, manager of Earle theatre, Jaickson Heights, to leave Monday' (29) for lO-day vacation. Harvey Ever will manage Astoria theatre when it reopens Friday (2) after being dark eight .weeks. ill Hamilton will return as assistant Harry Carroll out of the Music Boir. 'Valley Stream hitery. Jay Oppcn- heimer has taken' ovier completely from former . sOngwriting partner. Heavy turnout for. George Seuffert, Jr., band concert, in Forest Park, Kew Gardens Sunday (28), with Del Staigers and Leona Smith cornet soloists. Dave Friedlander, manager, of Loew's Woodside, Woodside, at family reunion- in Utica. Assistant James Finnan in charge, aided by Bill Hamilton, of 86th Street theatre. John Endres back at Jackson thea- tre, Jackson Heights, as manager. Came in from Merrick theatre, Jamaica, to replace Nicholas Kerry, transferred to Park Plaza. Man hattan. Atlantic City By Ralll Fricdiand Rocco Vocco at the 500 Club. Rose Stradner and Al-.Goetz, visit- ing the night spots. Gus 'van passing up all the gam- bling spots in town. Flossie Osbeck voted the most be'nutiful figure on the. beach. Dolly Weisberg runs away with the season's backgammon honors, The Herman Gluckmans hiding down here for a weekend vocation. Vince Travers expects to open at the International Casino in early fall. Tess Garden (Aunt Jemima) out to lose: 100 pounds. So far she has shelved 20. Johnny Storrs down to see the 'Ice Follies.' 'Tis said hie'll do a pic- ture with them. Benny Davis relaxing a bit from his songWriting work, for the ncW Cotton Club. show. Morty Levine of the local Warner office looking rested and happy .since his wife's return to good health. Fift D'Orsay very quiet (?) at the Bath and Turf Club. Irene Bordoni as attractive and as entertaining as onder why Yvette Rugel and her daughter didn't show up at the 500 Club when, they both proinised. to sing on Ted Lewis' night. Everyone plenty disappointed. Murry (N. Y. Mirror) LCwm peep- ing about for m.n'terial for his coir umn. Ditto Hal (Pitt. Post-Gazette) Cohen, while the wife, Stephanie Diamond, rel.-ixed on the beach. All Atlantic City in a hubbub over Ju(ige Frey's arrival next week. Even those be.nch clams that have annoyed us all summer have prom- ised io hide their heads when the juHj ot Vixs- band to a Famous Woman.' Turner Lay ton recuperating in south of France following auto smash and three months in hospital. King Vidor and the missus off to the south of France after Vidor. com- pleted The- Citadel' for Metro. Waltei- Mycroft. director of pro- (juctions for Associated British, .will holiday when studios at Elstree slow down. ' Tom: land,' tralia, in March. L^ Ephraim doing new play based on Dekorbra'4 book, "The Lady In Pink,' which is also due to be done; in New York.: Nikko, of Gtiee and Nikko, cur- rently in Clifford C. Fischer's Lon- don Casino showi has poisoned arm,, due to mosquito bite. Norman Collins: rewriting .'Cap- tein's Lamp* to suitOsiiar Honiolka. Latter celebrated his 37th birthday ih' Switzerland Aiig. 12. Herbert Wilcox and Alex Korda willing'' to join syndicate for produc- tion of 'Whait Makes You Think: So?' by Sir Robert Vansittart 0*Bryen, Linnet te Dunfee looking for suitable vehicle' in' which to star Stella Adler, who's over to :direct new company of 'Golden Boy.! . Dorothy Dickson to appear in her first Shakespearean role, Katherine to Ivor Novello's Henry 'V.'iat forth- coming Drury Lane production.^ Se^n O'Casey has written two one- act- comedies, 'Pound on- Demand'- and 'End of Beginning.' The latter to be broadcast in the. autumn. Rose Holt secretary: to Henry Sherek for 12 years, wedded tO Ber- nard Soenceley, of Reeves & . Lam- port office. Shell' continue with Sherek. Rita Ray, who played at the Prince of Wales two years ago as solo dancer, will be leading lady in next show there, which is being prciduced next month. Lew Jackson, who used to operate small string of picture theatres, has formed new film company, Anglo- American Film Corp., with offices, in Screein House. - George: Jessel; who's here, has a cduple of plays which . he . wQUld like to do in the West End. But that's a typical Jessel yen. He's since re- turned, to Broiadway. The Lord Mayor of Dublin enter- tained Buster Shaver, Olive and (Jeorge and Mrs. Irving Tishman while team played a week at the Theatre Royal, Dublin. A. B. Marcus vaudeville unit, it was learned here, after playing 16 weeks in Johannesburg, -will tour Af- rica for 12 . more weeks, then to In- dia middle of October. African Theatres sending over English pantomime, 'Aladdin,' for Christmas, lieaded by Lucan and Mc Shane. Lassiter Bros.. Elsie Prince and Michael and Arnova. . Kenelh'Kent will nlay lead in As sociated British Pictures' -.filming of old war-time melodrama. 'Luck of the Navy.' Morris Gest brouKht it to New York years ago-^and was sorry. London Films rereciording and editing staff are working vigorously on 'Prison Without Bars' to get the film throuirh for a West End and I New York showing early next I month. Al Burnett to be resident comnere lat the Grand hotel. Margate. Man aijement tried introducing vaudeville there for one nicht and it proved so succe.<;sful that it will be a perma- nent feature Dr. Alexander Marton, head of bigficst playbroking company on the Continent dead in Budapest. Sur- vived by his son. George Marton. and his tl.-\u'.,'hter. Baroness Hatvany-Mar- ton. Who will carry on the biisine....- ajor Henry W. Kiel, prez of the i».sn.. in recog- nition of 20 .years' continuous cm-^ ployment with the organization at group's annual picnic. Sydney By Erie Gerrick Dan Carroll .'again headi Film Board.of Trade here. Gi^ater Union will rebuild Ade- laide house shortly as chain add. Fullers making breparations for the arrivail of the' Howard revue in New Zealand. Outdoor men are shaking the mothballs out of their stock as the warm weather approaches. Billy Maloney. manager of the Mayfair, Sydney, sells original short y.irns to the local mags as a sideline. Cinesound. has imfioorcd .-Dad and Dave Come to Town.' Now ready- ing. 'Mr. Chctworth Hits Out' with Ccciil KcUaWay. Ken Hall will di- rect. Cast for revival, 'HeUc of New York.' under illiams'on-Tait.. will include. Geort'e Hancock, Diann Du Cane. Leslie Holland, Amy Rochcllc, M.irjn/ic Gordon, -Don Nichol,. Cha'-lcs Zoli. Fred Blackman- wilt produce. There are many stix exhibs who would like to introduce a lOwer ad- mission charae as a means to bring biz. .Some ftt'ure on 12c. However, within. New South Wales, and else- where, it is not possible to charge le.ss than 2.'jc, bccnu.se of an a"rec-: mcnt between exhibs and distribs. Chicago Alex Yokel Icgit plans! Joe Sherman's broken gam on the mend, although he's still laid un. Mort Singer again New. York bound. After .short sojourn, he'll plane to the Coast. Ed .T.. Clamagc, prominent first- nighlcr, ha.s been named .state com- mander of the Amcri<:an Legion. Ruth Hiint,' local radio .^onu.'stre.ss, is new DUche.ss with . Duke's and Duchess orchestra at Bon Air, Country Club. Kayo Brinkrr, leaving WGN- Mulual, where she h.n-? been featured on 'Curtain Time' and 'Manhattan Mother.' to take up permanent- lo.sir drnre in Ntw Yorlc. Willi.;im Bififf, a.ssist.int to presi- . dont (}p(>rnc Browne of the inter- national Alliance- of Theatrical .Stage Employees, wa.s in Chicago last week corifcrrini; on wiige scale for opera- tors and stagehands. 6S VARTETY Wednesday, August 31, 193^ OBITUARIES MAT YOHE May Yohe, a colorful actress of the 90's, whose unconventional , ex- ploits held the attention of two con- tinents, died in a Boston suburb Aug. 28 of heart disease. Daughter of a Gernian Ironworker, she was . born in Bethlehem, Pa,, April 6, 1869. Possessed of an in- souciant personality and a decided iaair for the theatre, she rose at an early age to' gain the plaudits of audiences throughout America and abroad. Shortly after making her operatic debut, at Philadelphia's Temple theatre, Miss Yohe ap- peared- in 'The Crystal . Prinice,' an extravaganza, at the Chicago Opera Ifouse in I 7. The :eccentrlc Miss Yohe, oblivious of the time->yorn code of performers that 'the show must go on,'- eloped to New York with a married man. However, a JEAN HATHAWAY Jean Hathaway, 62, earliest star of serial pictures and mother of Henry' Hathaway, director, died Aug. 23 In Los Angeles. Thirty years ago Mrs. Hathaway and her husband, Rhody, starred in the screen's first cllffKang- er series, produced by Alan Dwan's old American Film Co. at La M^sai Cal.' Previous to that they had ap- peared in one-reelers with her son, Heriry, then a boy of 10. Besides her husband son, Mrs. Hathaway is survived by two daugh- ters. EVELYN STEVENS Evelyn Gerber . Gerard, who retired from picture and mu- sical comedy work 19 years- ago,, died in New York, Aug. 28. She had been ill for a week. She appeared in early motion pictures under the IN MEMORIAM Mareus Loew September 5th, 1927 series of wires from the distraught management reconciled her to her obligations. Miss Yohe was marrietd three times.. Lord Francis Hope, wealthy English peer, wa^ he^ first husband. However, the .famous Hope diamond; owned' by the baronet, proved, to be an insufficient lUre in preventing her. elop«inent with a Captain Bradley Strong in 1901, seven years after' her second marriage. . Captain Strong was divorc In. 1910, and tour years later she niarried Captain John A. Smuts, a distant relative of the Boer war general, with whom she lived until her death. WHITFOBD DBAKE Whitford Drake, 69,, president of Electrical Research Products, Inc., and pioneer in th6 commercial per- fection of talking pictures; died Aug. In Commcmorallon of M7 DcloTeil Friend aad Theatrical Mentor PAUL ARMISTRONG Who rasMd Away Au(. SO, It IS BEN J. PUZZA direction of D. W. riffith and oh the stage for William Fox. She is survived by h^r husbisind, Louis Gerard, White Plains, N. Y., real estate broker, two brothers and two. sisters. CALEB HATCH Caleb Hatch, 86, an actor since boyhood, died Aug. 25 in a Portland, Me.> hospital A native of .PortI|md, he was for years a' performer in stock companies, under the name bi Harry Fielding. Married for 64 years he and' his wife following his -stage retirement, resided with theii: daughter, rs. Pauline Fielding Stephens, of Peak Isliand, Me. Mrs, Stephens' and.' the widow survive. 24 at his summer home in Chatham, Mass. Drake had a long and varied in- dustrial career before joining Erpi at its inception in 1927. Educated at Harvard, the U. S. Naval Academy and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Drake served in the Navy for 17 years resigning as a commander. He was born in Waltham, Mass. Survivors are his widow, a son, Rockwell; a daughter, Mary Helen, two brothers and two sisters. Funeral services were held Aug. 26 in New York. ntVIN CLOUS Irvin Clous, .53, Dutch coniic, ' dieid suddenly Aug. 28 in a Readi , Pa. hospital, three days after admission for a chronic ailment. Clous, who was single, . was ' secretary of the Berks Engineering Co., a Reading machinery corporation. As. : the 'German senator,' in partnership with Ray Snow in vaudeville, the two traveled all-over the country in the early part of the present century. MAUDE AMBER Maud6 Amber, 66, a native of Brookfleld, O., died Aug. 24 at her home in San Francisco after a month's illnes. For more than 40 years she had been in vaudeville. During the golden area in Frisco, Miss Amber shared, popularity with such old-timers as Kolb and Dill, Barney Bernard and Winflield Blake. She made her pro dcbiit in Kansas City at 13. In 1902 she married Winfield Blake. Together they toured the. world, in- cluding Ave years in the British Isles. Blake arid Miss Amber returned to the United States in 1913 and toured the vaudeville circuits. Blake died in 1933. Services and burial in Frisco, EMANUEL .WARD Emanuel Ward, 60, died Aug, 27 in a New York hospital as the result oX Injuries he had j-eceived several weeks earlier. Member of the N. Y. Federal Theatre Project property staff, he suffered a head injury while moving some furniture iErom one the- atre to. another, causing a clot on the brain, which ultimately reisulted in his death. He had been a legit property man for over 40 years, having been with many Gilbert ahd Sullivan operettas. Surviving is his widow. MAX FACTOR Max Factor, ,61, pioneer motion picture makeup, expert, died at his home in Beverly Hills, Aug. 30. He had been ill three .months with a kidney and liver ailment. Born in Russia^ he came to the U. S. iu 1904. In the early days of films he became a makeup and wig expert and built up a huge cosmetic business, catering principally to the- atricals. —. — — EVELYN GEBABD Evelyn G. Gerard, a burlesque per- former for years, died Aug. 28. of a complication of diseases in a New York hospital. Funeral services were held in his retirement 10 years ago; died last week in a St. Louis hospital of . a gall bladder inflammation. Survived by a son, who lives iii New York, and a daughter in Cin< cinhati, GLEN DAUGHERTY Glen Daugherty, forj^ears wi the Monroe County Agricialtural Society, in recent years, secretary of the group, died Aug. 22 at his home in Wopdsfleld, O., aft^r a brief illness. He had servied as head of several departments of the fair. Services and burial in. Woodsfleld. ISMAELE VOLTOLINI Ismaele Voltolini, 49,: Italian tenor known to American opera audiences, died in Milan, Italy, Aug. . 29; He made . his American . debut in New York in 1928 with the San Carlo Grand Opera Co. FBANK JOYCE . rank J'oyce, 19, film cutter at 20th-Fox in Hollywood, was killed Aug. 27 in Los Angeles, when struck by an automobile. Girl accompany- ing Joyce also was lied. . Details in the picture section. G. GBATTAN CASSIDY G. Cirattan Cassidy, 31, singer, died Aug. 20 in Chicago of injuries suf feared on June 5 when he fell through a trapdoor on the stage of the Er- langer theatre there. BERT FITZtiraBON Bert Fitzgibbon, 62, former vaude .ville '.headliner, was killed . in an aiito accident near Athertbn, Cal., Aug. 28. Details in vaudeville sec- tion. GEdiBGE WIGGINS George Wiggins, 48, former chief operator , of the Los Anjgeles theatre, died there Aug; .19. Surviving are his widow and two children. pUier of Erwin Gold,, general maiiager of Jiandforce Amus. Corp., operator of picture houses on Long Island, died in Brooklyn Aug.. 26 of heart disease. John Capra; 3-^year-old son of Frank Cdpra, Coluinbia Pictures di rectpr, died in Los Angeles Aug. 23 following a tonsilectomy. Father, 70, of George Schneider, head of- etro's music research de- partment, died Aug. 26 in Los An- geles. Father, 63, of Abe Cohen, company manager for Shuberis, died in Brook- lyn Aug. '23, after a short illness. Charles B. DiUingham Aug. 30, 1934 "Gone, but not forgotten'.' Whi ins, N. Y., yesterday (29). Surviving are her .widower, Louis, two brothers and two sisters. BENJAMIN MARX (Mark Bennett) Benjamin Marx, 66, former vaude- ville comedian, professionally Mark Bennett, and cousin of the Marx Bros., died last week in New York. Until recently he had lived in Hewlett, L. I. Surviving are his widow, daughter, t\yo sons, two brothers, and four sisters. MIKHAIL KHARITON . Mikhail Khariton, ' 45, Russian pianist, died Aug. 23, at anhattan Beach, Cal., after a long illness. He had been in America 12 years, ap- pearing in vaudeville arid pictures. Prior to his illness he was employed by Hal Roach, Surviving is his wi RICHARD SPAMER Richard Spamer, B2, mysic and dramatic critic for the . St, Louis Globe-Democrat for years prior to NUery P.A. Row (Continued from page 53) the pledge card called for swearing allegiance to them. Olver said that these couldn't be disclosed until one became a member of the union, Sotx>l countering that he couldn't see why the p.a.'s should commit themselves to anything without first reading said constitution and by- laws. The question of wage scale for the Broadway spots, the class East Side boites, the roadhouses, hotels, and the. like, could readily be worked out by the p,a,'s. But, they argue, the good p.a.'s get a good price for their services, and they see no neces- sity for unionization. It's no secret that p.a.'s with hotel accounts do all right by themselves on cuffing their rent, even meals, plus office space in a corner :0f the hotel's general executive floor, etc, TMAT union requisite would be for a Social Security card for all employees, so that a p.a. handling a half dozen joints, for example, would have to go on the- Social Se- curity routine six times. Tlie p.a.'s know from practical experience that most of the places do seasonal busi- ness and Would be disinclined to bother with SS or anything of the sbrt. While the nitery p.a.s balked at the tabu on their handling of legit shows, a few, such as Davies, Mrs. Ross, Spier and Reud, are not for- fended from handling cafes as well as legits, since they already joined •TMAT when they publicized shows last year. Thus, the group split into two factions, pro-Sobol and pro-Sid- ney Spier, the latter heading the TMAT sympathizers. The recalcitrants balked at Spier chairmaning the nitery p.a. body, since he is obviously sold on TMAT benefits. Sobol's 'supporters argue they must first be convinced, and he, with Lottman anil Fageen. threat- ened to walk out on several occa- sions during th.e sessions. News From the Dailies This department confai rewritten theatrical news iteijia as pub. Ushed during the week in the daily papers of New York, Chicago San Francisco, Hollywood and London, VARffitY tafces no credit / ' these news items; each has been reiitritten from a daily paper. East Seventeenth link In the chain of New York theatres owned, operated or controlled by the Shuberts was forged when Lee Shubert, in behalf of his Select Theatres Corp., took a year's'lease on the Mansfield the- atre/ • Eugene Goossens, conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony, off to London to condiict five operas ' at Covent Garden, first of which is skedded Oct 5. Returns late in the fall to fulfill engagement as' guest conduc- tor of the Boston Syiiiph late in No- vember. ■ Annual siimmer concerts given at Lewisohn Stadium, H. Y„ by the New York Philharmonic will con- tinue to be subsidized by the Lew- isohn family. Sam A. Lewisohn, only son of the late philanthropist, has been named an honorary chair- man of the Stadium concerts. -Also revealed that he donated $10,000 to reduce this year's deficit Films attacking . the Christian moral order are - still strictly tabu, the Legion of Decency reminds the industry in a statement given Out by the Most Rev. John T. McNicholas, Roman, Catholic Archbishop of Cin-. cinnatl and 'chairman of the Epis- copal committee on pictures. Coupled, with the FederalTheatre Project's announcement of its pro- gram for th^ forthcoming season was a statement from N. Y. director George Kondolf denying vehemently charges of the Dies Committee that, the project was being used as an in- strument of Red propaganda. Actors' Fund of ^Ameirlca ishares three-tenths of Pearl White's resid- uary estate. , Balance of $500,000 estate willed to relative;. Mayor La Gtiardia's efforts to side- track. N< Y-'s Council investigation of charges that Morris Novik, direc- toir of the city's WNYC, used the sta- tion's time for dissemination .of 're;d prbpagahda, were nullified by court decision ruling that such a resolu- tion need not have the mayoral okay., Lodewick Vroom, president of the Theatrical Managers, Agents and Treasurers union, expressed the hope that in another year every, boxofficie employee would be a union man. Lewisohn Stadium, N. Y., is ready to sign with TMAT,. he revealed, and union is negotiati ith the N. Y. World's Fair. Beer, quaffing from kegs is out at Jones Beach, and other N. Y. state parks, according to an edict -by A. E. Howland, State Park Commission engineer, who s^id continual :abuse of' the privilege 'caused sudh a ban. •Prologue to Glory,' a WPA hit of last season, will be road shown fol- lowing an agreement .between Lee Shubert and the Federal Theatre. Expenses and take are to be . spUt and plans call for a possible tour of 'Oiie Third of a Nation' and 'Haiti,' as welL Patrons of the New York World's Fair, using the city's Independent subway spur to the grounds, will pay a 10c. fare, it became known when bids were invited for dime turnstiles at the fair terminus. Government plans a film dramatiz- ing unemployment. Partially ap- proved by several Federal agencies, Pare Lorentz. maker of 'The River' and "The Plow That Broke the Plains.' has been assigned to investi- gate the value of such a documen- tary picture, C;ar of Morton Downey tabbed- the I3,000,000th vehicle to cross N. Y.'s Henry Hudson bridge spanning the Harlem river. Presented with a free 50-itrip booklet by the Parkway Au- thority, Directors of the Ringlmg Circus Enterprises intormed^ by John Ring- ling North at a meeting in St; Louis that the Al G. Barnes-Sells-Floto had emerged from the red in the last six weeks. Will continue tour over route abandoned by Ringling Bros.i.Barnum & Bailey circus. Announceinent from Dwight Deere Wiman reveals Metro has bought film rights to 'Babes in Arms,' his last-season '-musical success, for an undisclosed sum. Norma Shearer under treatment for a minor ailment in a N. Y. hos- pital over' the weekend. Registered under secretary's name to avoid publicity, Mrs, Phil Baker recovering from ah appendectomy at Lenox Hill Hos- pital, New York, Ton and a half of elephant nose- dived into a concrete moat 20 feet deep alongside its pen in .Prospect Park Zoo, Brooklyn. Took a DSC derrick 90 mins. to haul her out,- Daily reporters gaggingly termed it a love triangle, with her mate jeal- ously nudging her into the fall while she was gazing at an Indian tusker in the next pen. Charles ■ Mogull of the Bronx. N. Y., pleaded not guilty Monday (29) in General Sessions Court, N. Y„ to stealing . $50,000 worth of raw film . from 5tar Safety Films, Inc. Four others pleaded guilty and will be sentenced Oct. 6. Coast Probate of John G. Blystone's wilL filed in Los Angeles^ showed film di. rector left 60% of the estate to hl« widow, the rest to his two daueh. ters. . Legacy was 'in excess of ifn. 000,' ' ' Replying to a $7,500 suit by the H. Pearson Baldey agency for com- missions, Ann Miller, film player declared the contract was cancelled because the agency failied to obtain acceptable work within a four- month period. Answer -was 'fllni by Miss Miller's mother, Mrs. J A Collier, In L. A. =>■•'• a. Marion Collins; screen player, won a divorce and $1,000 settlement from Ernest J. Englebert in L. A. Yvonne Bowman, film player, filed suit for $29,375 in L. A. against a riding academy, claiming she was thrown and Injured by a horse owned by the academy. Hollywood Turf Club distributes its' first dividend Sept 1, amounting to $450,000, or $20 a share. Payments go to stockholders of record Aug. 25. Annual pilgrimage to tomb of Ru. dolph Valentino in Hollywood Ceme- tery brought out more ^lan siqo mourners and sightseers. Suit against Joe Penner, demanding $10,000 damages for a dog bite," was settled out of court in L; A. Jean Barry, fllni actress, settled her $50,000 heart balm suit against William Hamilton,' director, out of court In L. A. - ■ Lien of $10,244 was filed against the estate of Jean. Harlow by col- lector, of internal revenue in L. A. Additibhal income taxes are de- manded for 1935-36. Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan escaped serious . injury when . three cans of test films .exploded in'a car they ■were driving to Hollywood irom The Lady and the Cowljoy' location near 'Triumfo. Cal.. Rren- nan- was slightly burned. Edward Blondell, Jr., screen tech- nician and brother of Joan Blondell, was divorced in Li. . A. Eddie Cantor is having a concert tour bboked for a German refugee found while, he was abroad recently. She is Ruth Hilda Somer. 16. whose piano playing in the ship's, concert attracted his attention. Mrs. (Jeorgia McNutt, first wife of William Slavens McNutt who died last January, was awarded his en- tire estate when L; A. court rul his second . marriage illeeal. Estate consists of $7,700 life insurance, a home and a yacht Irvin S. Cobb won $3,750 suit brought agpinst him in L. A., by Arthur J. Stein, assignee for the nuhlishlps firm of Ray Long and R. P. Smith. Plaintiff demanded 25% of thie $15,000 Cobb received, for the film rights to his 'Judge Priest stories. MARRIAGES Jessie Heims to Dr.. Jesse P. Sichel- man in New York, Aug. 28. He's son of Jack Sichelman, of 20th Century- Fox. Beulah Terry to John Bannerman, In Los Angeles, Aug. 23. He's head booker for Cabart Theatres. .Elizabeth 'Wicker to George Moore in. Atlanta. Bride is home counsellor for WAGA, Atlanta, and he's mem- ber of same station's commercial staff. June Knight to Arthur Cameron in Beverly Hills, Aug. 27. Bride is stage and film player and dancer; he's in ttie oil business. Grace Ruthenberg to td Harvey in Louisville Aug.' 27. Bride is •with th- New York office of Selznick In- ternational; he's on the sales staT of the Hearst Radio, Inc. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. George Lloyd, d;.ushter, In Glendale, Pal., Aug. 23. Father is a film player. Mr. and Mrs, Paul M-ntz, son, Hollywood, Aug. 22. Father Is an aviator and stunt man in pictures. ^ Mr. and Mrs. Perry Botkin, son, i Hollywood; Aug. 24. Father is radi musician. Mr. and Mrs. NoeV Langle.Vi daugh- ter, in, Hollywood, Aug. 24, Father is writer at Metro.. Mr. and Mrs, Lou Bring, son. In Hollywood, Aug, 24. Father is or- chestra leader. Mr, and Mrs. Jack Gherlok, daugh- ter, Aug. 28, in Los Angeles. Father heads Metro's short department. Mr. and Mrs. Lew Schreiber, daughter, Aug, 29, in Los Angel^. Father is casting director at 20th- Fox. WedBe8di>7t Aogust 31, 193« FaRUMM>UT] VARIETY 6Si WHAT THEY THINK AI Donahue on 'Unnbcth Walk' " New York. Eiitor, Vahiety; Speaking about the 'Lambeth Walk' in your issue of Aug. 24, you say that the cbnsensiM has It scbcd* uled for a hasty demise. I have had the pleasure of playing th« tune in what is termed a class spot and also for the masses. Both divisions have diq>layed en- thusiasm that Is at once encouraging nod slightly senaationaL At the Rainbow Room where I am stationed with my orchertra, the patrons have taken to lt like duck to water, not to coin a . phrase. To re- port that they clamor for the song, abd a demonstration to the routine is to put it mildly. If we so chose, we wHild Shelve every other feature oX the. band and concentrate oh the "walk" without a squawk from any- one, including the management. Truth to tell, the Big Apple gained much less' momentum when we first featured it at the Room. As lor the 'masses,' we played the song last Sunday at Manhattan Beach where we were booked for the; week ot Aug. 21. Strictly to make talk I offered to teach the step to anyone Who: wished to come up after the show. Well, every - day slnce^ hundreds of people haved climbed up on the big bandstand, waiting' their turn to be taught. At first, Paula Kelly, our vocalist, asislsted me in the demonstrations. Iliat Hvas bicsy for the first day. .Now,. I have l)een obliged to. enlist'the services of every member in the band. 'At the Randall's Island Benefit for the Blind (24) I took, time out in the big .rush to explain the 'dance. It - was difTicult to see the entire audi- ence because of the floodlights, but any corner of the stadium that my eye caught presented members of the audience attempting the step. That; I feel, is enthusiasnni that spells a long and happy life for the 'Wailk.' Of course, the step is rather new, but just wait until those jitterbug get a real hold oh it and start im- provising as they did with the Big Apple. I can assure you that when they start 'shining' and lend original touches that typify America on the dance fioor, the 'Lambeth Walk' will win in a walk and make, the Big Ap- ple look like a dead potato. At Domihue. Sweet Vi. Swinf— Coleman New York; Editor, Vari y; ' For years I have been featuring music of the' mellow variety: Swing is very popular, I admit, but. it is- something alien to my .own' style, ot music. ' It is my personal belief that the 'sweet' type of music will long outlast the swing type. When all is said and done, music lovers enjoy hearing the melody of a . song. They don't fancy it when it is distorted or over-arrangedi Swing music, in my opinion, is a novelty, and, as such, will have a limited vogue, like Empress . Eugenie hats, ; jigsaw puzzles,, inah-jpng and mannish bobs. True, there will al- waysvbe representatives of this type of music, bu^Mhey will not be very numerous. Waltzes are becoming more popu- lar, but it is the Viennese type of waltz, which' has a faster tempo than our own waltz. Thus dancers are showing a tendency to sway rather than swing. Emit Coleman. Ralph Morgan Heads SAG (Continued from page. 31) the Junior Branch; Murray Kinnell, assistant treasurer, and all Guild studio chieckers will have to stand for election in order to retain their jobs. Checkers who would .be af- fected: are Nate Edwards, John Ber- ger, Robert Ellsworth, Antrim Short, Charles Drubin and Jack Cheatham. Circulation of petitions followed resignation of nine ' members of Junior Council because of di&er- ences over policy in. management of Guild. Two of these, Warren Dear-. Ixirn and iEddie Davis, later withr drew their resignations. Patricia Patrick, Paul Cook, Harry B. Staf- ford, Allen Watson and Roy Brent were elected to ill! five of the va- cancies. No action has yet been taken on resignations of Mel For- rester and Neil Hart. In submitting his resignation, For- rester made following announcement to Guild members: •You .are entitled to a frank ex- planation of my resignation from the Junior. Council of the Screen Actors' Giiild, after my active participation in the affairs of the Guild for many years, as your regularly elected rep- resentative. I want the many hun- dreds of fellow members .who put their faith in my integrity and hope their interests will be safeguarded, to know that since the day they' re- turned me to the Junior Council by a generous vote that I have always had their interests at heart, and un- ceasingly worked to fulfill my pliedge to them. 'In the face of insurmountable ob- stacles I have labored on, but I feel now that the' time has, come when you should know the real condi- tions, arid the reason further prog- ,f«s for the benefit of Junior mem- ••ers \s impossible, Your demo- eratically elected members of the so-called Junior Council are pow- erles. cafes to be operated by the Brass Rail, and 66 other stands. Holland Village was pacted by distributors for Heineken breweries of - Holland., Arrangements have been made with the Hotel Astor, through Roi>ert J. Chi-istenberry, for supervision: and management of the Dutch bar and restaurant. Concession projects for which contracts have been signed, but some of which remain to be ap- proved by the Fair Corporation, in- clude Enchanted Forest, American Indian Village, Flash Gordon, Pen- guin Island, Living Magazine. Cover, Science ' vs. Crime,. Old China Village, Monte Carlo cabaret Frank Buck jungle show. Serpentine, Magic House, Live Monster show. Boomerang, South Seas, Fire and Flame, and a long list of rides, speed cars and istunt racing stunts. Grover A, Whalen has announced that.. the fair itself is spending $1,000,000 in the creation of free en- tertainment. One of several free spectacles will be that produced in the Lagoon of Nations in the exhibit area. Another group will be pn Fountain Lake, in part of the amusement area. Hamid Sets N. C. Fair AFA Presses On for Carney Pacts h Midwest as AFL Votes Support H-Fs Coak Dates Los Angeles, Aug. .30. Hagenbeck-Wa'Uace; circus, making its first Coast trip In years, opens here Sept 2 for 10 days, six in Los Angeles and tour in Hollywood, Show is skeded to play Glendale, Long Beach, Santa Monica and San Diego before heading east- through Ari THREAT FIZZLES St Ix>Uis; Aug. .30, Threat to boycott the AI G. Barnes ahd .Sells-Floto combined circus here 1 t week because it's incltiding abts, members of.thd staff and equipment of the union-troubled Ilingllng Bros.' Barnum Sc Bailey citcus in its cur- rent, setup has fizzled. Several, days before the circus hit the bUrg'Jack B. Mills announced diat local representatives of the American Federation of Labor, Com' mittee for .industrial Organi tion and '. railroad labor organizations would picket the circus, grounds; Local labor leaders, however, were not interested in Mills' plans and there Was no. union interference while tiie circus made its four-day stand, end- ing Sunday (2S). Reported biz has Improved during past tliree weeks in the circus's midwest tour. Three local stations— KMOX, KSD and , WEW— gave plenty of time gratis. Jerry Hoekstra, of KMOX public affairs department had the circus staff'' at th . station for four ISrmln. interviews;. Frank Eschen. and Clair . Callihan, of KSP; made two IS-niiln: transcriptlions on the grounds, and Al S. Foster, of WEW, followed suit: Straivhat Reviews (Continued , from page 60) CharloUe, N. C. Aug. 30, An entertainment setup for ■ the North Cnrolina Slate Fajr, to Include a grandstand proflrarh produced by, George Hamid and a return engage- ment of Lucky Teter's Hell Drivers, ha.s been booked by Dr, J. S, Dorton, of Shelby, m.inaf;er of the fair, to be held Oct. 11-15. .^Dr, Dorton has .he cooperntion of j the' Jphnny J; Jones' Exposition, which will occupy the midway. some, compressing, but otherwise this fast-moving, plausible piece is' thor- oughly sustaining. Two gold-digging New York mod- els get too entangled with a stick- up mob and scram to a Connecticut inn to let things cool off. The goril- las cho'ose to hideout in the same rustic joint. After a jewel, robbery, figuring a snow-train getaway is per- fect A N. Y. homicide lieutenant sniffs their trail and also drops in, disguised as a skiing nut. After the mob size him up right arid tie him up, waiting for a blizzard to subside for another getaway, LuiRl. (Richard Rauber) gets pashy for -Tina (Dor- atbe Burgess), one of the models. But the slow-talking, faster-thinking young inn-owner (Donald Cook) spills the beans all around, gumming the gangster's plans and helping hand them over to the detective. Amid air the excitement Tina has had guitk romantic chats with the inn-keeper and Jean (Doris Day), her girl-friend model, has fallen for the cop. Cook, handles his ru,'!tic role with a flourish: Miss Day clicks consist- ently as the blonde nifty; William Swetland is standout as the leering, ever-suspicious brains of the mob; Carl . Benton Reid registers as an elderly character around the inn; Miss Burgess Is satisfactory; Tony BIckley good as a gehtlcmnnly cop, and Damian O'Flynn shows flashes of capable trouping.as the third mobster. Rauber handles his hot- headed gunman role. well. Carpen- ter's dialog is consistently right. Di- rection of Walter Hartwig exncllcnt. and a bow goes to Johannes Larsun for a swell tavern set. Fnx. Chicago,. Aug. 30, Aftei* being tied up best part of the summer with circuses, American Federation of Actors, throiigh Its ex- ecutive secretary, Ralph Whitehead, is pushing its drive pacting carnivals. Whitehead and his western repre- sentative, Guy. Magley, have held several meetings with carney own- ers. American Federation of Labor, the parent body, is said to have prpmiged 100% support 'I'his was shown to a marked degree .several A eeks ago, when the AFL Wisconsin Central Labor body barred the non- bargai ing Barries-Sells-Floto and Ringling shows from' ncine arid Janesville. On strength of this support ile- head and Magley sent a letter to about SO leading carnivals. Including Royal Ariierican, Johnny Jones, Beckman & Gerety, Hennies Bros., Rubin & Cherry Craft, World of Mirth, Fairly t Little anjJ; the Honest Cop Sheesley shows; Gist of letter is that unless a defi- nite date is set by carnival owners AJ'A woiiH appeal to state fair boards, chambers of' commerce, fra- ternal organizations and general auspices. Whiteh^d tlppornted Paul Sanders to take charge, of organizing carni- vals. Sanders Is setting up head- quarters In the Chicago offices of the AFA. Detroit, . Aug, 30. 'American Federation of Actors, thrpu.«h Ralph Whitehead, is re- polrted preparing ah appeal to Gov* ernor Murphy ^and Mictiigon State Fair officials to ban Hshnies Bros. Carnival from future appearance at the. fair. Carney was said' to. have refused permission to. allow an AFA organizer to contact its employees. Hennies, however, denied this and said it was prepared to join tiie Union, except that it couldn't come to terms. ' -AFA also mulling appealing to acts, like Edgar Bergen^ to refuse to play the Detroit date if the carney is allowed on the grounds^ May also call on orchestras and uhlOn electri- cians to strike. In sympathy if White-, head decides: to use Hennies as t..'|,! fucki'il Mrs. I'.i('l<"l( . . ,'....... il>y:'wf-\] (iml. I>lr*'Ct<:0 1»y l''r'''il- ,M:iry SJirirfrtl. Si-t- Al .>n ll.'ill, .Mriry ..^nrw'cnt V|i,le( li.'W.n . ....Kay lilMjc 'cil'li'iiidt Wv^fi^'kl I.y.ll:, I'llMir ,,.IIllir N:.lih ... .I.f',f«llo liii-^rt**!! Vnlltrtny Il'fi* I'lth''! .M'ii/i}*iii TinV'sIfili ,.Mriil> llNi'. [:r,ir IK'lHl.a It'.J.i'i . , . I.I of a former best-selling novel will make It a logical contender for Broadway, arid a couple 'f 'iefty names might swing it inta '•le hit groove. .However, further coridcnsn- lion might annoy playgoers who have rend the book and anticipate a three- dimensional portrayal of every char- acter and situation they relished. In any ca.se. it's essentially a woman's show, but in rewriting it could be twisted enough to add more potential male Inlercst. Peppered with all .sorts of juicy characters, it's the .sort of comedy that offers a number of players op- portunities for field days. In this strawhat version, which runs .about 30 minutes overtime, most of the.se parts are pl.nived to the hlU, satisfy- ing a relaxed, somewhat naive car- riage trade audience: In some in- stances, though, they would appear overdone to the the.ntre-wise. and this^ is partly the fault of the author. Mary Sarfent romps in full cry as a frothy, r.-ithcr destitute aoircis who revf'l.s in playing lightly with men. Violet Bcs.son, tool as her faithful maid and' balance-wheel, ,scores all the way. Leslie Buswell a,s the so- phisticated Sir William, who .sees the be.st points in Julia,. handles his chai - nctcr with increasing as.surance as the evening wears on, Anthohy Ras.s, Ethel orrl.son, Lilian True,sdh)e and Madeline Barr lil.so acquit them.selycs along with Lydia Fuller. dauKhtcr of the former Ma.ss. governor. Whether or nol 'Nulmcji' blossoms forth commercially, its tryoul'i.s aus- picibu.'ii.7imor theatre. Lcslio u.sv.'fll hay fillcfl out a music room v/inu