RABIO MUSIC 4 EGIT SflAKING BI Writer Guilds Opn Dme to License Material Ijiw SeU Ontright • A» organLed diiv-e Ir. ebUKHii ■ iktadai ln«tf «4 .oulikigliiii. Mle *t ToaterUl wriUntc fleW is j >lwiikr*t«rt^ fey the V#riou« guMs ! ■ ^ th« Authors; T-*agU« o*£ America, • ^he Authort Guild coiittcil sn-* nounc^ • major n^ove ii! llial di- rection MoBday (5)- and tThc 74^^- matistt Guild win lIk«>Xy take jjiinllar kcUon. The Itadlo Wxlten'S „^itUd i* alreadj' wolking on th^t trmcipl«j Mi4 we geyew Writers ^uiid adopted the 8am« stimA months ago. » -, The major balUe ovet' liccnsinK: •versus outiright «ale -will o))Yiousl> ; be. ■waged otx deals iw Rhn 1 iglds. " Virtually alono amon^ tlie mcflia - tiding vxitten material, th& picture liusini^s has operated from tlie first i»i 'the basis of oitL''g1il puv- thaw of all scripts. Only ui ie- pent years, And jii h minimuni «>£ cases,' 'lictosin^ deals have been. -flJWe, Even eacalator deals Lave 'beta infrequent »nd a jcJ-iUvclv ' »^ deveiopment. - TJae few ilxat ;.1urve bsfifi, aiad* hav« mosUj ith i»lve4, the yljEhts to ^lays, altJioU«h . ttere h'av* heeft' a hautlful xm : kookM in the last fiA Those B^gy fmU Male actors ..appearing on tele- vision are slated for a new look all their own. Incensed by the sloppy appear- ance of many actors on tele shows, the Men's Fashion Guild of Amer^ ica is prepared to make available to all actors and commentators • working before the video cameras a complete wardrobe of men's ap- parel aaci: accessories. Service v/ill be offered to tele producers on a loan basis without charge, under the Guild's assumption that it will bfe doing an added service to its members who are advertising on tele. * Idea is to be broached today (Wednesday) at a luncheon meet (Continued on page SI) Union Oil's Knancial Report to Telecast Los Angeles, April 6. Union Oil Co. Will carry a dfrect report on its 1947 annual financial statement to stockholders via tele- vision. Outfit has produced a film, titled "Report For '47," which will be screened on nine different video stations throughout the country Tuesday (13) night, date a£ the company's annual stoCllioMers' meet in Los Angeles. FOR tOHDON PELADM Hollywood, April 6. Jack Benny is set for two v/ae|js at the Pallafiium theatre, LoEtlon, starting July IS. Deal was coiii- pleted -last week by Yal Paraall, managing director ol the Moss Em- pire theatres, currently in the U. S. on a talent foraging expedi- tion. The only talent signed to ap- pear with Benny so far includes Phil Harris. Mary Livingston (Mrs. Benny) will make the trip, and Alice Faye (Mrs. Harris) is also going along, but whether they will appear on the show isnt defi- nite yet. For the past f^w femt, ths (Conthitted on page (SU For Ofikey Siipig of llotfaer s Eyes' Hollywood, April 6. > Array of top show biz names turned out Sunday (4) night to honor Qeocge Jessel on his 50th. birthday and his 40th show biz anniversary, but the pointed barbs ojE the usual Friara "roastmaster" dinner was genevtitty. missing as ' they touted him M' shies. Some 1,000 were present as emcee Jacic Benny, George Bums, Eddie Can- tor, Sam Goldwyn, Bob Hope, Al Joison, Pat O'Brien, Danny Kaye, L. B. Mayer, Lieut. Governor Good- win Knight and Mayor Fletcher Bowron handed out tributes- Benny teed oR: "I'm speaking aire. , «»« or a system 'He w« jwlfentfi^ ag^nst the "mmNi mttftocrlty of censorshin Hfe was 4cud3/' angry at the monst^Mbwi Intolerance of the deciS ll^eudo^patriottamt of *h#. Thomas. Com^^ Somebody had been ejqfloitmg his fnutratfon to persuade him ttuk the Soviet State haS nuHce to offer. ilSIRUSrafEDByFTC Washington, April C. Amnaeownt Ticket Kaaafactuiv ers Assn. and a number of leading theatre and ofhcr amusement tic- kets w^ere cited tod» ^Tnwday) iSy the iTeawfat, Tfade Ciiimni jssinn for operaUnii^^^aK unlvsfia.ewniil^ natifD to iSt prices .lU4>- tabhshments/ audi as batfahousMi, swimndn8[;, peotir, -hone and .ikig .shows, races, fairs;' . candvaila, gamesjuid.theatres."' Among: the manufacture]^ named were: Globe 'KidEet Co.; Allenn Lane Scott, International- ^IRekct Co..- Ateus^implex Titket Co.; EUiott Ticket Co.; Arc us Ticket Co.; Toledo Ticket Co.; Oilltagfaam Printing Co;; jNationSl Xiclmt Co.; ^PiemieivSouth«m Ticket Co.; Bal- timore Ticket Printing and En- velope Co.; American' Ticket Corp. and National Theatre Supply. lAtter two firms were described, as. not members of - any. of the as-*^ sodatimia but "allied -to -have actively cooperated in the colloslve pracHciesJ' CitatiHHL also named. Gooch and Co., N. Y. It says -that the six trade associations maintained- head-' quarters at that address, and that the- , Gooch partnendiip serves as Secretary and industry counsel for all of them. "Pursuant to a. conspiracy," said^ FTC, "the respondents have col* lusiyely engaged:' in the followhig practices: agreement npon identical and unitorm prices, discounts, Sui" chargesi, and extra charges to be applied in the sale- and' distribU" tion of the products. - The respondents are given 20 days to file and answer with FTC. It caaw il a shock to him when I told him that no governm.™* interferes with the liberty of its creative artists as much as tlw wm». mnnist despotism of the KremUn. . . -An author named Kmrtylev wrote a historical novel about Ivan thi. Terrible. The CentnA Committee of the Communist Party crackprt do^n on it because it made the dreadful Tsar "too ordinary and in suffiLctently digniQed." A playwright wrote of tMs sume Ivan and M« play was withdrawn by the Committee because "the hiterpretation^ the Tsar was not sufficiently dignified." Imaghie what would have happened to Shakespeare, if he were a .Russian citizen, and wrote nf « Tsar as h» wrote of .Prince Hal, later the hero of A^court JCostylev haij to grovel. He wrote: "I highly value the critical articles about my novel, Itran the Terrible, because they help me in my wmfc The only thinK I night regret ia that such articles have been perham too favorabteto nw wMln. I mysdf hav« 8lway»l>em of a more mod^ oi^iott of m wMto than my crities.'^.^at vmM. our young fiimd say of an Auerieni tfrnntiimait that faiAniliated a writer like that? ' "Ihe'iCremUn's Kfiiike''tb its musicians is still fresh in our minds They grovelled,' too.. It was not'enbugh. ShosttdcOvlch has had to give W hhi dialr oC music «t the Ifoseqw GgniwrValm^. Khadi«t«rian has had fa.isesii^ as Chaixnuui of the iTaloo. o«. Sofiet eomposenTltofb suiter loss of mcome as a result. " lf» tougitr to he a strug^UnC youngster with talent knocldng at demMrtisni, mm or Left, is not the itttswR^ m it on -the throne . antl It. wQt dictate to the ^ndy, the stildio and the- stage. Creative art maar have to fight -to mwvive hi our system, but it still has tike right tcT fightrw^utd «s long as it has this genips at least has A,chance. net reaC Qnii^ M Clak Ibrb Harts HABE WABNOW SIBICEEN Hollywood, April 6. Mark Warnow, due to conduct the Friars* dinner to George Jessel, is hospitalized at Cedars of Leb- anon following a heart attack. His condition is "fairly good.' He wrote a special "Jessel Can- tata" for the occasion, extolling Jessel as "new Metfausaleh.' It was sung by Wamow's choir. iroie Her?^, Jones (Ick at Casiio, LoBdeii . London, April 6. Allan Jones and Irene Hervey were a positive click on opening at the Casino theatre, Monday (5). They were obliged to do 10 num- bers before'getQng oif stages Other American performers on the bill are Maurice Rocco. sepia singer-pianist, and Harrison and Fisher. Also on show are George Noonan, Keppel & Betty, Bennett & Williams, Newman Twins, the Edwardos, and the Carpenter Girls. WeissmuUer and Others Aboard the QM From Eng. Johnny WeissmuUer, who made a number of p.aT's in Britain, was among a number of showbiz pas- Teddy Hart, brother ' of the late songwriter, Lorenz Sart, and the; Federation of Jewish Philanthro- pies are currently in a Hassle over whether sale of rij^ts to the clef- fer's film biog constitutes in- come or principal; Legal dispute stemmed from, a j^ovlsion hi Lorenz Harfs whidi gives Teddy Hart and wife Dorothy the income on 7Q%i of his estate, with, that portion revertii^ to the VSP. upon their death. Question of income or prihdpali which, has wide show business ap- plication, popped after Metro paid $250,000 for a musical based on the .life and muric of - Lorenz -Hart and his lifetime coUahOrator, Rich- ard Bodgers. Coin is to be split evenly hetwem the Bart estete and Bodgers. Metro's original tttle for the pic, "My Heart Stood StiU," has been switched to "Words and Musict According to Teddy Hart, the! $12Er,000 slice is held to be current income from the estate and there- fore belongs to him. Jewish Fed- eration, however, claims the coin shottl^ibe considered part of the basic estate - with Teddy Hart entitled only to .the interert deriv- ing therefrom. Metro's deal with the Hart estete and Bodgers for the purchase of rights to all songs to be used in the upcoming production provides for the film company to pay the first $60,000 for necessary song clearances. Thereafter Metro and the songwriting team must split song costs^O-50. ' Dart's Bequests Hart's will also bequeathed a series of cash payments including $5,000 to Teddy Hart and $2,500 to his. wife, Dorothy. Other cash be- qUests include $2',300 to Mrs. Mary Campbell, a maid; $2,500 to Sidney Hertz, a cousin; $2,500 each to Dr. Milton Bender and Irving Eisen- named by Hart as executors ud trustees ofhis-estete. Julian T. Abeles, copyrii^ at- torney Metro, Is chuffying the 1 E N m 11 mm Lois- Andrews, former wife of 20th-Fox producer George Jessel, makes her New York cafe bow as a single at the Ruban Bleu next Mon- day (12). Length of engagement isn't definite because of the possi- bility that she may go in the RKO film, "Brothers m the Saddle," which may start shooting around May 1. It's her second cafe appearance m a Hanhatten nitery. She ap- peared briefly in an act at the then Fefe's IVConte Carlo 'in 1941, with her former husband. Prior to her N. Y. tri^, she appeared at Slapsie Maxie's, Hollywood. Miss Andrews has been domg video shows on fhe Coast and ex- pects to resume tele on the Coast in the fall. She's also a coliunnist for Teje-Views, a video mag. sehgers who were scheduled to! man, friends; $1,000 to Irene Gal- arrive in New York late yesterday i lagher (Max Dreyfus' aide at Chap- (Tues.) aboard the Queen Mary. [pelD, a friend; $1,000 each to Mary Others listed were playwright 1 and Linda Bodgers, daughters of Frederick Lonsdale and A. C. W.I Richard Rodgers, and $2,000 each Nightingale, manager of the D'Oyly to Mrs. Emma Kahn, Mrs. Rose Carte Opera Co, Also due in was Eric L. H. Cos- by, British financier and chairman of Bruton Films and Premier Dis- tributors. While in the U. S. he hopes to work out some deals with American pic producers interested in film-making abroad. , Elkan and William Herman, two aunts and an imcle. William H. Kron, Hart's longtime business manager, received a trust fund comprising 30% of Hart's estate with principal to be paid over to Kronfs two daughters upon Ms deaths iKion and- Bodgers are nan For Cantor on Coast Hollywood, April 6 The Beverly HiUs B'nai B'rith women's group will host Eddie Cantor at a testimonial dinner ati the Biltmore Bowl April 14 as the "outstanding humanlterian of the year." It's expected 1,000 will at- tend to pay tribute to Cantor for. his willingness to heed humani- tarian appeals during liis 40 years in show biz. George Jessel is slatea to emcee, topping a list of screen, stege and radio talent , j Speakers and guests will incluoe Mayor Fletcher Bowron, Habbi En- gar Magnin, Dr. Merle Fish, Al Jo'- son. Bob Hope, Tony Martin, Oman Shored Will Rogers, Jr., oMie Burlie, Groucho Marx, Abe Burr rows, Danny Thomas, Dennis and Harry von Zell. Peck Dc-Horsed Hollywood, April 6. Gregory Peck fell off a horse Saturday and broke his lelt itg- He won't work for at least » month, doctors- report.- it $11 Brit First tharp dUIemiice of oi;>iniofi-t' between- m«Jdwi Uidjies over, ^vvy of thft dollar pool resulting from the p.tv Britisjt films agree- inent came ISsfc yireek. It followed presentation of what the Indies have dubbed the "Balaban Plan." Suggctated by Paramount prctxy Barney Balaban to the conference ' 6f forelgil .depalrtmeni «xecs vrho have be^n meett]|ig almost dally on ^e new pact, plan pitevides that all U. S' income from. British pictures bought outriight by A>»e!rl<^ com- panies be t^wn in^ .fb« dollar pool. , Indies, who have been counting on these outright buys!, of ffi[ms as 4m important' jtaethod tif disposing ' of their frozen British pounds, Im- inedlately 'countered that they'd go gong with Balaban's plan only if wa& agreed that U. S, income 'from puc made in Britain by American companies alsO be tossed into the pool. Since that's an un- thinkable proposition to the ma- iota, the issue is deadloc}c^d. It hasn't been voted on as yet, wWcb Is true of all the matters that have come up so far a|t the Kew Voric huddles. As a matter of Itct, however, the issue isn't seri- .bw ttom the standpoint of stale- ■ mijng the present talks, since, < 'without unanimous agreement, the ; VSalaban Plan" will undoubtedly , lust be miletly dropped. ^«i^av prexy's idea would ItniiPVBtit^ Adding another facet to ihe , A^O^Ut • 5. agreement . as it . nbiiir Stand*, " A« generally inter- preted, ^te PAct provides that only (Ck»ibQued on page 6) Prague, April 6, Despite rising tide of antl-U. S, propaganda, CzechoslovaMan mo< nopoly .censors have lifted release restrictions on BKO's "This Land Is Mlnci" Pro-democratic pic was ordered withdrawn last month after it played one day in two Prague thieatres. Previously, pic ran into similar trouble in Hungary and Poland but was. finally .okayed for release after passing new, "ideology" .test in east- ern European . technicians in charge and in asking for this clause he. is smoothing the way for the limited invasion Wil- ' son is likely' to allow. British Film Producers Assn., . representing 28 companies, operate . a 10% quota of admission for for- eign executives, producers and di- rectors in conJuqcUon with, the Ministry of Labor. Seven foreign ^fUrectors and seven producers will ' (Continued on page 18) fix POINT FOR PHILLY CONVENTION BOOKINGS • Philadelphia, April 6. . Presaging a possible rush on the part of the majors to sew up top bookings in Philadelphia for the forthcoming political conven- tions, 20th-Fox has scheduled both Street With No Name" and "Walls . Of Jericho" to preem there In June. - "Street," which co-stars Mark Stevens and Richard Widmark, opens at the Fox here June 16, five days before the Republican con- .eiave tees ofl". "Walls," starring Cornel Wilde, Linda DarneU and Anne Baxter, opens at the same ™"se June 30, several days before the Demos start their convention; xwo films will also play the board- walk in Atlantic City shortly after iiielr preems, under 20th's assump- non that most of the politicos will HT 5"^ relaxing at A,C. Metro has already scheduled an ?TJ^"?,®,°P^*>ing "State of the ,7o^?" Pl'Uly before the con- fif",*iOns start. Neither of the 20th ^^^r f^^^ a PoUtical theme as does "Union." hibs-AdiiMnCool CM ItlAs Trailer To 1%$ Big Pix . Individual members of the Ad* vertisiftg and Publicity Directors Committee of the Motion Picture' Assn. of America are privately ex- pressing very little enthusiasm for the idea of an all-industry trailer. They announced officially as' a group last week that they bad a plan' for such a promoftton^ stunt luider consideration. LtLck of enthusiasm stems from the feeling of most members of the committee that there are so many problems connected with the making and exhibition of such a trailer that it will never be pro*^ duced or widely exhibited. One- reeler, plugging the pix of all com- panies without studio identifica- tion, was the idea of the Theatre Owners of America. If it's made, it will be in cooperation of the Ad-Pub . group with the TOA. APDC members met Monday (5) to give further consideration to the, trailer idea. .They had be- fore them a response from Tech- nicolor to a query last week on (Continued on page 22) $8,m Boost in iins' Fen!^ Taiie Seen TiaERP, New D.C. Bill Chaplin's 'Vcrdoux' Gets ExhilK Brash With Only 1,000 Dates in 1st Year Charles Chaplin's "Monsieur Verdoux," which went into release almost a year , ago, has achieved the phenomenally low record of less than 1,000 playdates in that time. Rentals have amounted to under $300,000. Didiculty has resulted mainly from inability of United Artists, the distrlbs, to line ■ up circuit bookings for the film. It has played no major chains at all, excjept for a few houses. As a ntatter*of fact, it was on this score that Chaplin urged UA execs recently to bring suit on a dharge that the circuits were con- spiring to keep the film off the screen. Distrib toppers talked down the idea, pointing out the (Continued on page 22) Current staleotate. between. New York theatre circuits and television broadcasters over the right to use regularly-scheduled tele shows for theatre video; may soon be re^ solved. A test suit to that effect is being mapped. Clincher in the situation is the fact that the ad agencies, originally taking their cue from broadcasters and' nixing theatre pickups of their shows, have had a change of at- titude. Agencies now visualize a niuch wider audience for spon- sored shows by making them avail- able to tilieatre -audiences, as well as bqme- viewers. ! Broadcasters, as a Tesult, hav6 become much more amenable to the Ide^ also. Paramount may become the first major theatre operator in the east to utilize theatte tele. «Par video diiief Paul Raibotirn Is reportedly i«Ady to toss the situation into the opeil by transmitting a network snow ,,to the screen of the Para- mount thejatre, K. V., via the Par intermediate film method. System, which involves 'the .filming of tele images pff the' fpSce of a receiving tube, running the film through a rapid developing process and then flasliing it on the screen via regu- lar projectors in a matter of 66 sec- onds, has already been demonstrat- ed , successfully to the trade. This could become the guinea pig for classification of the issues pre- (Contlnued on page 18) Foy Bows Out As E Prod. Topper Hollywood, April 6. Bryan Foy has asked Eagle Lion to relieve him of all general ex- ecutive . duties beginning May 15. Proxy Arthur .Krim takes over as executive production head, with Aubrey Schenck as assistant. Foy is remaining with the company and will produce foiur pix yearly for three years. He retains stock in company and will get a percentage on the pix he produces. They'll be budgeted between $750.000-$800,- 000 each. " " . Walter Wanger has a deal to make the same number of pix yearly for EL. S'wonderhd Anyway Margaret Ann Young, title scru- tinizer for the Johnston office in New York, did a double take When she received 20th-Fox's "That Won- derful Urge." She requested a copy of the script and, after giving it the O.O., put her okay stamp on the label. Nobody yet, however, either at 20th or the Johnston office, seems to be sure of exactly what the "wonderful urge" is, But appar- ently it's legitimatct. JOLSON CALLS OFF DEAL FOR METRO BIOG SEQUEL . Hollywood, April 6. Al Jolson called off his deal for a Metro sequel to the "Jolson Story" (Col). He couldn't have signed anyway before May 28 due to a Columbia obligation. He won't make any pic this summer due to certain commitments, namely sev- eral appearances for the United Jewish Appeal. Comedian is to appear in Denver at a memorial dinner to General Maurice Rose, killed in tile war, at $1,000 a plate. There's a possibility Jolson might ink an- other deal later in the year with Columbia, where Sidney Buchman, exec producer on "Story," has a thorough understanding of Jolson's life, etc. Buchman presumably would also produce the sequel. B.O. Average At New Peak, 50.4c Bat Can't Be Cut Hollywood, April 6.- Cross-section survey of the' na- tion's theatres, conducted by Audi- ence Beseaicb, Inc. (George fGal- lup), shows admission prices boosted again during four months ending in March, . . ,. ' Average adult evening price, in- cluding Federal, state and local taxes is 50.4c. Last November it was 49c.. Survey, covered not only all sections but towns and cities of all sizes, including flrstruns and nabes. • ' Average "price index remained the same in the East only, but boosted in the other three major sections. Greatest boost was in the western states, where average went from 54.4c. to 57.7c. . - Figures for November, 1947, to (Continued on page 22) HARRY COHN'S NEW CQL. DEAL INCLUDES STOCK Special meeting of Columbia Pic- tures stO(^older$ is slatied'for Fri- day. (9) to consider a proposed em-' ployment contract for Harry Cohn, company prez, for a five-year pe- riod beginning March 27 last. Meet will also consider an agree- ment granting Cohn. an option to purchase 75,000 shares of common stock at an initial price of $l6 per share. : ■ s ■ Washington, April 6. American companies are hoping to increase their returns from overseas by a total of about $8,000,* OOO as a result of the European Recovery Plan bill,, okayed last week, and the Smith-Mundt meas- ure, -covering informational serV' ices abroad: ERP provides that up to $15,000,- 000 may be spent the first year to aid -.films, magazines, newspapers, etc, which' have money frozen abroad -by currency restrictions. Smith-MUndt act allots $28,000,000 for informational 'services provided by films, radio and publishers. Both pieces of legislation permit the administrator to determine what share shall g6 to each bf the media, so. itis net-'certain to inrhat extent films will profit. No request for a definite amount for films was made in the ERP bill, but $10,000,- 000 was suggested ' as the sum re- quired to do an acceptable job un- der the Smith-Mundt act. There's little expectation, however, of get- ting that much. Actually, the industry, it's underr Stood, would feel that the Motion (Continued oa.\^page 23) t TALKS ANEW ANENTRKO BUY Loyd Wriglit, Coast attorney representing Jloward Hughes, ar- rived in New York over the week- end to continue negotiations with Floyd Odium in Hughes' efforts to acquire control of RKO. Odium, president of Atlas Corp., which holds controlling, stpck interest in the company, came east last week> Authoritative sources said yes^« terday (Tuesday) that it was "im- possible to appraise" the chances for success of the deal. However, it was indicated that this week should be critical in the negotia- tions and it's likely they'll either succeed or be dropped altogether in the next few days. Hughes remains on the Coast, where he had been taking a per- sonal hand in the talks with Odium during the ■ past 'couple months. Wright is uncertain how long he'U be held in Mew York. National Boxoffice Survey Biz Still Solid in Many Keys— 'Naked/ 'Mama,' 'Sit- ting',' .'Showeiis/ 'Agreement' Pace Field Many' theatres over the country still are profiting by the Easter Week biz * upbeat in current ses- sion, this situation being reflected even where many pictures are holdover. Week will see four cur- rent 'solid coin-getters finish the week with more than $200,000 each to their credit in key cities cov- ered by 'Variety. Setting pace is "Naked City" (U), with "Remember Mama" (RKO) hotly contesting leadership. "Naked," which was a close second last week, really came into its own with many additional playdates. "Mama," big in the few locations played previously, also is benefit- ing from a long line of added dates. Third in the select 200G class is "Sitting Pretty" (20th), which slipped back from top position. "April Showers" (WB) shapes sturdy fourth place winner, with more than 17 playdates. "Gentleman's Agreement" (20th) finished fifth, a drop from third slot of previous week. "Saigon" (Par), a winner many recent weeks, is down to sixth. Same is true of "Daring Daughters" (M-G), in sev- enth spot. Others in Big 10, in order of showing, "are "lincon- quered" (Par), "Miracle of Bells" (RKO) and "Double Life" (U). Top runners-up are "Call Northslde" (20th), ^'Big Clock" (Par) and "Fugitive'' (BKO). ' Shaping up as best of the crop of newcomers are "Fort Apache" (RKO), "All My Sons" (U), "Song of Love" (M-G) and "m. Bland- ings" (SRO) on basis of showings this round. Another newcomer, "Big Clock" looks okay in St. Louis, solid in Buffalo and hefty in Frisco. "Double Life" moved higher via several additional dates predicated on added interest because its star, Ronald Colman, was Oscared.' While "B. F.'s Daughter" (M-G) did well in second N. Y. week, it is making only a modest showing in Cincy. "The Flame" (Rep) is having a big session in Seattle. "Mourning Becomes Eleetra" (RKO), playing near capacity in Detroit, is on mild side in Minneapolis. (Complete Boxoffice Reports on Pages 13-15) Brown Would Exit M-G? Hollywood, April 6. Clarence Brown, Metro director, is reported trying to get out of his contract to the studio. He's been in 'ill health lately, but is dissatisfied with his Metro setup and hasn't made a picture in the last year. Tcadv Murk Registered ' FnDUshed Weekly by TABIETir, Inc. Sid Silverman, President IS* West 46tH St., mw York 19, N. T. Hollywooa 28 esil'Tuooa Street Oliioaso 1 . 360 Htcbiijan Ave. Iionaaii UrCK 8 St. Martin's VU i:rafalgar Sa. - SUBSCRIPTION Annual .tlO Foreign ; . . . . .Ill Single Copies 26 Cents Vol. 170 No. 5 Concert .56 Disk Jockey Reviews . . . . .46 Film Reviews . . . . .... . . . . 10 House Reviews ........ , . 55 Inside Legit ... ......... 58 ; Inside Pictures ■ 18 Inside Radio 31 Inside Television 28 Legitimate . , 56 Literati .... . . . . i . . . . . .... 61 Music 42 New Acts . . . . ... . . . i . . ,54 Night Club Reviews .53 Obituaries ............... 63 Orchestras ......... ... . Pictures 2 Pre-Production News . . . ,11 Radio 24 Radio Reviews i . .30 Records ; , , . , . , . . .42 Frank Scully ...61 Television 28 Unit Reviews 55 Vaudeville SO (Published in Hollywood by Daily variety,. Ltd.) $16 a Tear~-t3D Forelicn In 256 Mum mm w mm idnussion Tes Engagements Proved It ii. Dates Prove If s Yen Mm " I" 'mm This w Or hlmhmdrwhUe repi^odrntim of me of the cm THl PICTHIti you and your audiences have be waiting for! First regulairprice engagemei confirm all the earlier evidence that it s o of tht industry's greats! CilPACllY ifi 14 KEY ClTiiS ill' Canada frc coast to coast every day from op ^^gfvllrcolor spreads in all leading magaxims that helped spread the renovm of ^^Uneonquered" to every comer of the emntry. GROSSED 20% MORI tcl¥anceci=acliiii§s' 10% AHEAP des' ' first t 44 Blue Skies'* played ^RACTICAILY DOUBLED ''Wei "Blue Skies'' openings ,?9 GROSSED 20 m first Id iini 3 a! BETTER an' first 'S days in uses m see And if s ready for YOU right now! 'Agreeineiit,"NikdCiiy; Best Boxofike Pdomeis ii M»dk "Naked City" (U), "Gentleman's^ Agreement" (20th) and "Call Northside" (20th) came down to the finish line in' the March box- office sweepstakes necli;-'a'>neck, ac- cording to report* from VJuamr correspondents in more than 22 key cities. A fresb bunch of piay- dates for "Agreem«)it*^ in final bal£ of month enabled it to make the outstanding showing for the month, prompted, of course, by the Oscars. "Naked City", Which wound: up second, was kept out of the Vlo. 1 slot by the fact that it had too few playdates and that the, bulk of coin it piled up three weeks out of four in March came firmn its sockeroo run at the N. Y. CapitoL 7he Mark Hellinger melodtama. gave enough evid^&ce Iqr its smash trade in some 13 playdates (cov- ered by Variety) to indicate thi» picture would be a favorite to cop top laurels this month, ' Agreement" played to sodc. ter- rific and smash trade in virtually evory theatre booked in Mardt. A^'-.o the picture wair consstenfl^ big week after ' week. It fimv sixth in the Januoty hOxofBoe rac» and seventh in FelHuaty. plainly in- dicating its staying' poweix e though not given enough plajrdateft until March to push up ammig fhe top four- winners, "Northside," which made a re- markable showing in the final two weeks of February, to win aeCMid spot nationally that montl^ tfao frabbed plenty of laDrels in lltedi. he James Stewart starter, whidt was. an easy thirdrplace winner last month, continued registeiifig high grosses even' though on many extended-run and movcovec en- gagements two weeks out of lour during March. Flock of new dates in 'final week la^mostlli IwtlMer attested Its champirashiilr oillfaK'.^ Other WinlKrs - . - Outside of this Big Tlnree ccdit- . getting group, actual mon.ey and ijihowings were widely g^atter«td. "Saigon"'- (Par) edged up into fourth portion. This Alan'Xiadd starrer copped first place in iiie h.o. race one week and third two other sessions. It beat out "I Re- member Mama." (KKO) because tlie latter, fifth-place winner, was just getting "started out. While ringing up great totals in the few places played, it did not have enough ftlaydates' to climb into 'higher rating. Length of "Mama" was be- coming a .real pcoblem to the dis- frib, this hurting its great run at N. Y. Mttide Ball and fordng the film to be .plaared solo ui anoBier city. Sixth 'spot went to "Bldiop^K "W £e" (BKO) wMch was fifth in February and fourth in January. "Double life" (U) finished in seventh ;p]ai;e, with . Bonald Col man's Oscar an added tiaost for this actor's stanihig wdiide. Big opm- iugs, olM^dttsbr stemiriihg fcmii strong bally,. h« money in the Ra«L Fre^^tously, they had stuck to deciding on intncpre- tations at tiie various clauses. While there's a widespread feel- ing that reacliing a formula for the diwy will entail much' knock-^o'wn- and-drft-out battling, top. execs are of the opinion it can all be done very amicably. Fully agreed now is.tiiat every company each quarter will be assigned a.perceitt- age of the pool that correspfrnds with what lOn films earned hii po" tential^ rea^ntaffle fi»ca!iine.jin l^ttg^ land during that period. .AiKde Fem«Ia Divvies .from anywhere in the 'world orii^ally were to follow the Austndian formula,: which pro vided that operating costs were' to cbme out bctfore figuring the spUt That idea has been dropped as con- cerns England, although, as pointed out above, nothing has txixtaOy: been voted on yet. ° It is expected that the huddles will go on lor at least another three or four weeks before all the terms are agreed upon and interpreta- tions sent to England for guidance of Fayette W. AUport, Motion Pic- ture Assn. of America rep, in bis talks <«vitta the Bcitisb. To speed up 'Hie talks here, two subcommittees of the overall committee have been, named. One is handling the mat- ter of allocation of the coin in the pool and the other is concerned with the treataient of aU Aiperican income in Britain. James A. Mnlvey, who helped negotiate the Ijoudon pact, is sit- ting in onidl meetings, since he's aide to give many otf4he«uff opinions on what the oonforees Jhad in mind there. ' Brandt's Apollo, New York art house, took a display ad ha the N, Y. Times Sundaiy (i) to sm a copy o^ a letter oaten" siMy itetit to Disthsguished Films, Inc., describing thitr t«p biz being racked up at the house by Distinguisbed's"Pa»< Kionnett?." Letter, silked by William Brandt for the circuit, de- clared that "You have a great picture and I'm sure everypne will want to see it." Actt>ss the top of the letter, sent on , the circuit's stationery, were the words, "Thattk% Mr. Bnuidt.f ' L»8«8t stockhplder in Distinguished is Hany Brandt ' Fr«eze tidies Fear eJi^ressed 1>y some Indie producers that playing time for their films will be sidetracked in favor of British, product, as a re- sult of the new Ani£[Q-U, S< pact, was discounted this we^'by k- top indie exec. "The agreement, we must rec- ognize, is subject to all sorts of abuses," he explained, "but it is impoaeible to draw up any such «rv ' rangement so tight tiiat loopholea can't be found.. W* were up against « tou|li.jdt«ait(ML, K ki^ ta thein- tewsfr «f fhe wluife Industry, ihde- peHidetits as wtU as nuk|ors, to make a deal that would allow us to get an pessiMe money out of England in addition io ^e guar- anteed $17,000,000. "One of the ways is by receiving an .amount e<]ual to what British: filrns earn in the U. S. This Will undoubtedly put , a temptation in front of companies with affiliated circuits, but there was no method to gel around it. "On the. other hand," he con- tinued, "much -of the fear- is groundless on a practical basis. The good British films have and will take care- of themselves. Just as . a good American film. And no theatre operator, whether an affili- ated circuit or not, is goixtg to play a picture that loses mqttey for him. After all, all the rendttable income of a British film is not kept by the theatre that plays it Xt goes into the pool, so that the best any single company, could profit through reve- nue it generates for English .films is perhaps 12% to 15% of the (Continued on page 18)- British Amus. Tax Killed On All Tickets Up to 20c Lmidon, April 6. Chancellor of Vkm SMieouer Sir Staiford Cripps, In presenting bis 194g^9 budt^ to the House of Commons today (Tues.) said that he was anxious to encourage live entertainment. Thertfore the amusement tax will in the future be exempted on al) seats up to and including a 20e admission bracket. On admissions above SOc, Cripps declared that the government's bite will be halved f6r live thea- tres, concerts, circuses and sports. Theatres serving rural areas with a populaticm of whose ca- pacity is li)i4.t<:d to 200 persons, will have complete tax exemption. RANK ITAimS' ff WOOD ONnSFUWAIHY Philadelphia, April 6. 3. Arthur Rank sounded a warn- ing to Hollywood today that it would have to do better if it ex- pects to retain its leadership in Britain.. Here with his wife and Jock Lawrence, veepee of his U S. org, to speak at the Philadelpiiia Forum, Bank poked Hollywood be- cause it "failed to credit the Amer- ican public with a growth of in- telligence displayed by the recent reaction to good films." "Hollywood will have to make better pictures," Rank declared, "if it wants to retain Its leadership in the number of playdates that it has in Britain." Turning to the difficulties experienced by his Technicolor film, "Black Narcis- sus," from the Catholic Legion of Decency, British filmite said the U. S. Was the only country in which the pic ran into trouble. Both the Vatican and Cardinal Griffin of England approved the film in its original form, he said. While in the neighborhood Of PhiUy, Bank will make an expedi- tion to Bethlehem, Pa., to o.o. a fiour mill owned by J. B. Pitch Co. His wealth stems from flour mills in England. EddiceSwiHis -IiD«rfd Bagman George Bole * ■ Jeny Bresler Frederick Acissim Frank Capra Ralph Cohn Joan Crawford „ Ned Depinct Eddie Douahoe Satin Garfield. Michael Gordon Howard Hughes Peter Lawford Jock Lawrence Jack Leewood Booth McCracken Moyna McGill Yehudi Menuhin Colin Miller Edward Muhl Donald O'C^onnor Ima Phillips J. Arthur Rank Charles M. Reagan ' Phil Reisman Ann Rutherford Carl Schreuer Walter S«sltzer Eddie Traubner Robert Webb Victor Wood Max E. Youngstein Europe to N. Y. Eric L. H. Cosby Jean Dalrymple Frederick Lonsdale A. C. W. NighGngale William Satori Johnny Weissmuller ^ British production situatloii for Hollywood aspirants anxious t* cash in pa iroxen pounds iiji(ijttaMi. lating under the tax ikne^' now signs 01 tmag shape. Develop, ments this week «o fax as Btltahi'i raamped studio spat* indicate thrt Yank filmmakers may find a wf^ open door to the smaller lots iS little chance of help in that dlwc! tlon from J. Arthur Rank who holds Britain's choicest f acilitiefs. Rank, after behig besieged hv* indie producers for studio doais during his current U. S. visit has issued a statement that he's made no commitments to any company except ITniyersal,- rumors to thi contrary notwithistanding. British- er said he wouldn't even consider the matter until he returns to Eng- land and consults 'with his a^ dates'. ■ Chances of his opening the gate to indies^ or majors is now re- garded as practically nil in view of his inabili^ to enlarge his current studio facilities. Rank, last Week, uhlHirdened by telUng the press that he doubts his organization's chances Sf meeting its' 40-ii^t slate this year because of the knotty studio tituation. It now looks as though only 30 can be made dur- ing '48, according to Rank. Trade circles, see the Rank an^- nouncement as disclosing by omis- sion either a shelving or absolute nix on RKO's request for con- tinued ioint production in Eng- land. Britisher, huddled with N, Peter Bathvon, RKO's prexy, while on the Coast to take up the mat- ter. Chances also appear dim for t>avtd O. Selznick, Walter Wanger, Douglas Fairbanks. Jr. and otlier indies who've put the bee on Bank. btt the other hand, three of the largest ttutside studios in England either shut down or launched wholesale dismissals during the week. ^Rieir diffiicnlties will prob- ably hwid American producers a big 0|i^rttttd^ fo grab off com- mitments while the going is rough. National Studios, operated by British Natitmal Films, shuttered after a deal for Maurice Ostrer to take over fell through. It's thought that negotiations collapsed because Warner Bros, rung the curtain on its distribution deal with National. WB is likely to siHmsor its own productions 'with frozen coin be> cause of the tax peace. Lady Yule, Natiwial's bankioller, and LoU Jackson, managing director, had been dickering with Ostrer for some time for the latter to take a temporary lease. At SheppertoU' Studios, Sir Alexander Korda's London Film Production Co. is laying off 225 of its 1,000 employees. Korda's Isle- worth studios vj4]I pink-slip 46 of its 300 woikerit in a taporhig of productitm. The developments con^ firm. Bank's forecast to Vnmx* that American producers would not .find, it too difficult to make deals vAth studios other than his. Universal has two films slated in England, both of which will be made dur&g the . twelvemonth pe> riod beginning in July, accord* hig to Banl^s statement Willianl Goetz, Vn production' chief, will to Britain this summer to complete plans with the Bank organizatiad. American and British stars will be used in the two films. N. Y. to L. A. Walter Barry Pam Blumenthal Mrs^ George Brown Jeanne Cagney Sammy Cahn Dennis Day Nat C. Goldstone Joseph H. Hazen David Holtzmann Deborah Kerr Milton S. Kussell Joe Maliaram Mack Millar Baron Polan J. Robert Bubin N. Y. to Europe Laurence Evans Margalo Gilmore Radie Harris Theresa Hclbum Louis Kanturek William B. Levy Andre Mertens Lew Parker Frederick L. D. Strengholt Rebecca West Jerry Whyte 'VS. 50% PK Hwty Banks to INstrib 5 M-Fox Pix in Italy, Also Bidsering UA " I'dAner actoi>dlrector Monty Banks is goiiig into film difitribu- Hoh in his native Italy. He has made « deal during the past few v^eeks to' handle five 20th-Fox Alms there; including "Captain from Castile," jsiittd now has a pj^opoBi- ' .tion pe^dittH before United Artists' producers.' e«ehi case, Banks is ; iuar«|itik«dngr payment . for Hie . .product in dollars in the U. S. Banks' offer was laid before the producers' reps at UA last Friday ; (2) by exec v.p. and foreign chief . Arthur W. Kelly. Also presented ■ .company's recent trend' toward shuttering its own branches abroad and making franchise agreements ytith local distrlbs. . Banks' deal with 20th entails outright safe of the rights on the films: to hiih. As with the UA • product, his plan: is to give it to a Mitive distribution outfit for han- dling, as he has i^o setup of his own. Actually, his role is more or less that of a middleman.. UA negotiatlona do not call for outright puiidiase, but- would give danks a lleenslu^ arrangement for 411 the company's forthcomtag .product. Peal is highly unusual for. dollar-hungry Italy in the ■ utringent guarantees Banks is .oSarfisK 1^ assure payment in this ^ promised to put |50,000 in ewrow as a warranty against the .monthly payment* he would be . committed to make, Any time the dollars are no|; foi^thcomhig in New York, UA Is entitled to withdravs^ the due amount.fro;a,tht fund and cu^ off further iSxnoista mm Banks has agath built the escioW kitty to ' , Banks would receive 45% of the gross as his distribution fee. This . is higher than now being paid U A's present franchiseholder, but is con- • (Continued on page 18) KeDy Hits the Road to Dublin 00 UA Plan To Produce in Ireland Arthur W, Kelly, United Artists sexec v.p., heads for London arid Dublin next Wednesday (14) to con- tinue negotiations for United Art- ists production ill Ireland. Plan, which Kelly partially worked out in a previous trip a few months «go, calls for the making of seven ; plx a year for five years. ' ^ Group of DubAn financiers, who have never before been in pictures, te supposed to provide most of the financing and also to erect and .equip a studio to the Irish capital. Deal appears particularly attrac- tive now to UA, since the Hew Brit- im tax agreement will give it coin frozen in the United Kingdom to toss into the financing. Likewise, the shortage of studio space in Eng- land for todies would make the hew DuWto setup very desirable. J. he local group is supposed to be able to provide buUdtog materials and equipment despitt; the pres- ent shortage and government re- .strictions in England. „UA board last week authorized Itelly's trip. Aiding him in London and Dublin to get the deal together has been Montague Miarks, British film man. Kanturek 0£F to Prague ■i.^ouia Kanturek, supervisor for tne Motion Picture Export Assn. m Czechoslovakia and eastern Eu- rope, returned to Prague yester- day (Tues.) aboard the Nieuw Am- sterdam. He had been to the U. S. ™r the past five weeks. New York Kanturek huddled with MPEA veepee and general manager Irving Maas re- garding a possible renewal of the .^ai^^ll expired film agreement With the C:och Film Monopoly. W«?^° to ■ ■o.iivJ \\ith the CFM's tooal rep, Alois Fiaia, Russefl's hdie love' Hollywood, April 6. Rosalind BusseU's next starrer for her .own indie outfit, Indepen- dent Artists, wiU be "Madly in Love," comedy by Dudley Nichols, who will also direct. Plctui'e starts in December, with Frederick Brisson producing. Meanwhile, Miss Buss'ell has a commitment at Columbia. MPEAQabDntdi Operatbn Sept 1 Motion Picture Export A/ssnj is reportedly getting set to fold Its operation to Holland as of Sept. 1. After that date, each of the ntoe U. S. companies that comprise the MPEA will distribute independent- ly in the N]etherlands or make di- rect dealt with local distributorjs there. ■ ■ ^ ' ' Holland is the first country out of which the MPEA will pull. As- sociation was organized immediate'' ly following the war to service 13 countries, about half of them be- hand the Iron Curtain. It's frankly a monopoly and in Holland was en- gaged in combating the native Bioscoop 'Bond monopoly. Official decision on withdrawing from the Netherlands will he made by the MPEA directorate about mid-May. As thtogs now stand, however,, there appears to be little doubt about the result, since two companies have reportedly stated .they "have no liitentioa of conttou- ing with the brganizalion la Hol- land when the agreement covering that country expires Sept. 1. Reason for desire of s.ome com- panies to withdraw hinges on the fact that MPEA playing time and potential proceeds are being cut into by non-members. Thus Eagle Lion and a- number of U. S. indie producers have been making hay on their own. That's also true^ of course, of England's J.' Arthur Rank. As a result, certain of the U. S. dlstribs feel they can oper- (Continued on page 23) BELLER JOINS MPAA AS AIDE TO WAUER Larry Seller, of United Artists* homeofflce flackery, will join the Motion Picture Assn. of America shortly as aide to Tom Waller, New York press chief. Waller was Heller's boss when former was publicity topper for UA, prior to movtog to the MPAA last fall. New addition' to the MPAA staff is a step to hypo public relations activities of the Association. Wash- ington Staff, headed by Kenneth Clark, has already been enlarged as result of a recent appropriation by the MPAA board to step up the dual job of creating Improved pub- lic relations, as well as heading off bad publicity fo^ HoUywbod that's unjust or results from lack of knowledge. " , Beller makes the move April 19, following completion of the New York campaign for the opening of "Arch of Triumph" at the Globe, April 20. Resultant reshuffle at UA will move Caswell Adams from his present post as special 'events di- rector to Seller's job as metropoli- tan newspaper contact. Lew Ba- rasch goes from trade press rep into Adams spot and Phil Cowan, of the sales promotion department, gets Baraseh's former duties. CiNSSEEMIQ BE LEIOl IT Quiet buytog strike led by some of the top circuits to the country is now spreading as result of the heaviest flock, of 50% jrental pix betog simultaneously grooved through exchanges to the history of the todustry. The battle lines formed last year over the rash of advanced-admisMon films, are re- aligning themselves currently with the usual exhibs-vs.-distrib Jbarrage expected to short order. What's likely to bring it on is a shift in the majors' policy which has re- sulted In brackettog as 50%ers all pix- previously penbiled to as road- -show possibilities. At the present moment, exhibs say, there ta>e at ' least ntoe top films oh which fKe majors aire ask- ing 60% rental from the first dol- lar. Present crop consists of "Naked City" (U); "Unconqiiered" -quota system or restrictions on the importation of foreign pix, and the Entertato- ment Board. Miguel Machinondi' arena, of San Miguel Studios, and Angel Luis Mentasti and Cesar Guerrico of Sono Film, represented the producers. In return for. these loans, pro- ducers must undeetake ito turn out a specified number of fUll-length pix, and the com will be extended only to studios which already have over two pix to their credit and are securely established and to sound working order. Simultaneous with announce- ment of this loan system, the gov- ernment stated that it would en- force the decree obligmg exhibitors to show .:a mtoimum number of full-length Argentine pix each year.^ Additionally it is knoAvn to the in- dustry that Steps will be taken to end the supposed monopoly of ex- hibition circuits allegedly enjoyed by Hollywood distribs in^^Argenttoai ' A condition of these loans, of course; will be that the government has a say (through ratertamment czar Martinez Paiva, who is also a playwright) on what sort of story material should be used in maktog pix. t Filing of two more exhih anti- . trust actions In the past week to- cluding a heavy treble-damager for $2,436,000 -brings the total of new actions slapped against distribs ( Since the . first of the year to , $7,356,000. In all, there are now 46 actions waittog trial with the I big sum of $56,000,000 depending on- the outcome. Of that' number, biggest action is still the suit of William Goldman fa Philadelphia, which asks $8,400,000 to triple balm. Past three months has seen two actions disposed of, suit of Bor- danaro Bros, to Buffalo which re- sulted to a verdict of $85,000 for the plaifitiffs, and the Raymond J. Syufy suit in San Francisco which was settled for $60,000, Another action, to Dallas, was tossed out but is cumntly on appeal'.^ Aetn^hr« ' seven actions brought since ImSi starte4 its run repre- sents a fairly , slow quarter, legal- Ites note. Most exhibs^ it'a thought, are biding their time until the U. S. Supreme Court renders a decision in the Government's mata suit. In the past, two trials, that to Buffalo and- Dallas, courtroom was jammed wifii eschlbs who carefully followed, all. {]te testimony and copiously took notes. It's felt to be the signal for what's tp qome. Big action was brought this week by I. B. Adelman, owner .of Del- man . theatre, Houston, - Tex. He ■fiV.'Jd "in Delaware ; federal - court namtog the eight majors, Inter- state circuit and Texas Consoli- (Conttoued on page 18) More WB Cartoons Hollywood, April 6. Total of 34 cartoons will be turned out by Warners this year, a gain of eight over last year's program. Of these, 26 will be in Technicolor and eight in Cinecolor. There will be 12 "Bugs Bunnies" in the lineup, compared with eight i to 1947. I Levin's 'The Illegals' Seeks National Distrib "The Illegals," six-reeler docu- mentary produced overseas which dramatizes story of Jewish im- migration from Europe to Pales- tine, is being readied for release in the middle of May. Sponsors of the film, Americans For Haganah, are currently dickering with major companies for national distribution. Meyer Levin, producer of the Palestinian film, "My Father's House," . completed work on "Ille- gals" recently after being held up in Europe by. various governments. After reaching Palestine, Levin and his assistants were arrested by the British and then deported. . Keough's Par Stock Gift Washington, April 6. Austin C: Keough, Paramount veepee and general counsel, has gifted 1,000 shares of Paramount common. As a result, Keough's ■'oldir" ■ vi^ down to 500 shares. K"c:- only recently sold a block of 500 sliares. GAMBLrS COAST HOP TO HUDDLE NIKE NAIFY Ted" Gamble, prexy of the Thea- tre Owners of America, planed to *is home town, Portland, Ore., Fri- day (2) for a two-week stopover before he returns again to New York. While in the- west. Gamble will meet with, Mike ^aify on his propbsal to buy a half -interest in United California "Corp. for $6,- 730,000. He plans to visit Naif y in San Francisco. Naify has reportedly balked on the deal because of a de- sire to turn the 115-thoatre circuit over intact to his sons. Gamble will also inspect his own chain .of houses located in Oregon. 1st of 125-200G Indies Tees Off for FC Release Gregory - Cook - Griffiths Films, new indie production outfit, has set "Strange Case of Malcolm Craig," a whodunit, to tee off its program of low-budgeters. Group, tocor- porated last week in New York, will use the General Service Stu- dio lot in Hollywood and release through Film Classics. Outfit, accordtog to board chair- man John Gregory, is set now for three films and plans eventually to turn out 12 a year. All will be budgeted at $135,000 to $200,000. Execs of the company, to addition to Gregory, todude Ken Cook, prez; Robert E. Griffiilis, veepee, and Dick Brown, technical musical director. ■ All have bad previous experience with various Hollywood studios. Van^Sehenck Fdm Next for ftddstone, MiHtin.as Gns Van Nat Goldstone who, with Tony Martin, as his star and production associate, is currently get* tig "Cas- bah"' into national release, will next do a filmusical based on the careers of Van & Schenck, yester- year vaudeville greats. «. Jerry Horwin and Doris Gilbert (daughter of songsmith L. Wolfe Gilbert) are doing a screenplay treatment. Production will start in July. Martin will personate' Gus 'Van, and a comparable name will be cast as the late Joe Schenck. \an will act "as technical advisor and will play a role in the film', presenting a fi]:$t4ime.to'a filmu- sical where the dUfbiec^ of a biopic will appear in a picture about him- sell but will not play himself. (In a, very once-over-lightly, Al Jolson played himself in a long- shot in "Jolson Story"). Goldstone, Hollywood agent turned indie producer,' has been east on "Casb^," which Universal is releasing. It opens Thursday (8) at the RKO Bcston, with Mar- tin, who flew to the Hub from Miami Beach, where he just closed at the Beachcomber nitery, doing a one-day personal. Martin also did a charity pitch , for a Catholic orphanage to Boston over the weekend, with Maick Millar han- dling the buildup. Similar stunt will tee off "Casbah" in Chicago at the Oriental, this time linked to a midnight one-nighter at $10 top on behalf of the Heart Fund, a la "Naked City" hookup when it preemed at the Capitol on Broad- way. Martin, thereafter, plays two weeks of personals with his film in the same house. I WB Slate Reelected Warners' board of directors meeting, held at the home aSlmp last week, reelected all current of- ficers including Harry M. Warner, prez; Albert Warner, Jack L. Warner, Herman Starr, Stanleigh P. Friedman, Samuel Schneider, Herbert Freston, Ben Kalmenson, Harry M. Kalmine,. Mort Blumen- stock and Robert W. Perkins, all veepees. Albert Warner continues as treasurer; Perkins as secretary and general counsel, and Samuel Car>' sle as controller. Paramouot's New Watchword Is ThatCMK In every time zont — Eastern, Cetitml, Mountain, Pacific-rit wiU strike soon with spectacular bo^-oflice precision. Already its breath-takfi)^ sil^N»if8t has brought breath-taking results in its first 2 datesJ FIRST fBBR DAYS DREW BEST HBH HOLiaAy BBSIHESS IN PAST YEAR AT THE MCHIBMI. BETRflff! FIRST THREE BAYS' 25fl% OF STRBHG "BEAR RBTH" GROSS^ AT SAN FRANCISCO'S ST. FRANCIS i . 'J. CHARLES MILMND LAUGHTON Maureen O 'Sullivan • George Macready Rita Johnson • Els Richard Maibaum - Blrt et«4 by JOHN FARROW letttcB Iliiy by Joiia&iiH I^titn«r « Bat c4 on Ike 10 FIIJHI REVIEWS JWA Kohlmar ha* given tii* v«t»im stpx-y "A" values in pm^ ductiott dress. The .outstanling special photographic effects bv Fwd Sersen. Music score te^ David Rafcs ln to excell ent. Brog. Hepujllg t^i^ ot Jo» Kane JwoOuctloM aireot«a te .K*n«. Stsr» WiH(Sm BHiott: Andy Devlh,!, Biffi m, BflariBUM, ■ 8c«enplay. Seralfi Adam* Clements Hjptey, l.a«a upon Iatt«r>t S nal Btor« oRrtiwa WllJIam Braatord; «§. Itor, nicli»i;d li. Van jsngerj mu»Ia« ^i.- Wctois Morton Bejtt; .onsts. Aaron aonv juilM, Nathan Soott, Qulrlno P, MenUoxa y Cortes, JhcK SlUtott, Previewed in M April S, ' , . . . t , „ , .Julian Blvero Horatlga P. Qaaaoway.,..., marie Bodnlna Kllsruel Angle Qomei! One of Iteitublic's typical west.- ems, "Old Los Angelas" is an over* long oatunei! with a story that could have been tol4 In a breezy - 60 m&tutes Instead «f dragging out to almost an hour and a half. Film ' shapes up as only fair- entertaln>> - ment with average grosses in sight - from the action spots. Overworked are the musical se- quences. Two or three vocals are okay in any hoss opera, l>ut the $dnK$ are -rejktliwd entiirely. too «ften Iti this entry. 'As.a result' the plot postpones the more pr less obvious finale. Some neat iKijlssiHv Ing could .speed up the yam. Cast is composed of standard Bepublic players most of lirhom ar* duplicating the same rolea they've' held down in other outdoor 'gal> loperk for the same studio. 'Wil- liam Elliott again portrays .a Sir Galahad-like wanior, tiandy with his dukes and *ix-guu8, 'who mackes • a feahK>m<» nemesds for renegades : to face. Heavy ic John Carroll, troddipg- familiar ground, having thesped similar stiiitt previously. \ On the romantic side, Catherine - McLeod and Bstelita Rodrigua supply the heart lliteKest, - Tloimef poses as a feinger in Joseph Schlld* kraut's cafe, but It later develop* she's actually a government under- cover gal. Both handle their line«. satisfactorily aS well as vocaIin;prDducer Joe Kane helps the film with some better than average production values and his ducCction tends to give the pic a fresh twist, in some histances. William Beiiflfovd lensed in good fashion, Sllewt Ceaiiltet TJnlted Artlata- nleiiae »{ I.ewlil J. Kadi- nili cwilllam Boyd) jproducUon, Stara WH» )lnm Boyd ; teaturM Andy Clyde, Rand BrooItB. • Directed by Oeorse Arohalnbuud, Original Ncreenplay, Chai^sa. Belden ; baaed on chai^aclere created by Clarence K, Mulr ford: cmiipra, •Mafk-Btengler; edifnr, VtiA Wi BorBi r. Trndosliown N. T. ; April S. 'W. Hunnlnfr time, «» MINB,' \ Hopalong Caesldy,, William Boyd California Carleon ^ . .Andy .Olydf r.ucky Jerkins.... ........ '...Hand Brooka Rene Rlohardo....'.. Virginia Eolmont Doc Richards. ........Barle HodKlna Speed Blaney i . .'JTamea jHarrlwtn Banda"!! ................... .Focbea Hurrar Olerk i ........ John SnHor Yardman Herbert Bnwilnson First Rancher... Richard Alexander Second Rnnoher,...,.. Don Haggertf Latest in the string of Hopalong Cassidy films, "Silent Conflict," is a formula westerner strictly for the juve and action trade. The title isn't too apt since this pic is somewhat short on conflict and a little long on talk. There's not a single fisticuff encounter and only two shots are fired, probably an all- time low for a modem horse opera. However, there's enough hardjrid- ing over the purple sage to keep the kids bouncing in their seats. Plot is also on the unusual side with a hypnotist playing the key heavy role. One of Hopalong s cowhands falls under his sway ana delivers to him a bag of coin thai belong's to a cattlemen's combine. After a couple of false turns u» tracking down the culprits, Hopa- long finally catches up with tne Svengali and turns him politely over to the law, Barely a brush (Continued on page 20) |i4MM«N^MIldfllg . fioll3hWH!«,Aip)cfl8. ; Metro relewe of Sidney Franklin prodde* tlon (in ■juwottatioti With Gottfried Reln- haidt). SUra Clirk G»W», Lana Turner, Anno Baxter, John iXofllakj featiirea Ray tolllns. aiadya Cooper,- Cameron MItohell. Circcted by Mervyn I.*Boy. floreenplay. Foul Osbwn; adaptation, Jan liuotig; oMg- Iniil etory, Sidney Klnsiiley; ijamera, Jiar- oUl Roffflou", niuBlc, Bronislan Kapcr; editor, John Dfunning, Tradeohown March 31, W. itunnlnB time, llS JHIN8. , , _ ... lUyssea DelbV Johnnon .Clark JQable tt: Jana "Snapshot" JJcCall. .tana Turner Penny Johnson t ^Hl''* Dr. Robert Sunday ,...John HOflW l.t. Col. Aveiy Silver ggt Monltevlok* Cameron Mitchell igt. MoKeen „...Mari!haU Thompson Mibs Stoker I.urcne Xottle Fa, ".> ..!?:. . , :.:.. ::.:. .. . . Jesale Grayson fin) r;., ,,,..J. Louis Johnson Surse juatne nr WifO»a.-- Kloisc Hardt "Homecoming" is the picture Clark Gable fans have been wait- ing for, A showJnanly drama out of the top production drawer, film has its sights oil solid grosses ra all situations. Teaming of Holly- wood's biggest s. a. n^mes. Gable and Lana Turner, !»' a story that will appeal strongly to the femmes, gves '.'H!oinecsrvisioMr Jn association . with GoUfried "Seinhardt and Mervyn LeRoy's expert direction, have f iven the film realistic values, opnotch technical credits go to Harold Bosson^s photography, the musical score by Bronislau Kaper, art diitection,' special elfects, . '' "Hvmeeomfiur" m -novel by Ethel ■Vance; cimisra, Hmest Haller; music. Max B! iner; editor, Ow«n JIarHsi Sradeohown MMvch 31, '48, Rubnins Ume, 104 JtflNS. fu!:in Oriev«.,,., .Bette DavtS esuy Miirkham,.,, '».,,,.... "..Janls Paige tJlii'k Novak.......... .^.'.......Jamea Davis Still y Grant........... Jobn Iloyt Sill. • Castle Florence Bat6» Sir. <'astlo..i. ......Walter Baldwin Jtr. Moran. , > ■ . . .Ransom Sherman "Winter Meeting"' fails to meas- ure up as one of Bette Davis' bet- ter iientures into tietesfy drama. Her name on the marquee will aid some., but it's a tediously talky dr.-ima, slowly paced, and rarely etir^ sympathy for the principal cl' racters. • ' ' ' lere's a modest amount of a^ ;ar to femme audiences to help carry story along, but on the whole, plot and character motiva- tion do not hold together strongly. Dialog is on the trite side. Henry Blanke's production Supervision misses on pulling the story to> Sether entertainment-wise and Bretalgne Windust's direction isnt able to do much with material. Miss Davis appears as a spin- tterisfa'girl of ittealth with a tragic homelife background. She- meets a returning war hero who also has a fixation.. Th^y.fall in love, and, with>niucfa dltdog, 'talk out their .respective mental troubles.' Pinale has them parting, the hero to- be- come a priest and the girl 'to re- turn to her family. Miss loivis plays the role skillfully and. that 4t. doesn't come alive is the fault of the essentially -thin character. James Davis, the war hero, tries hard but.'INtls to register' xttongly: Janis Paige gets some Ufe into lief tol^ as an «m»rons secretary, to John' Hoyt, XiMtet's - ^leganli rich man character has -the false-- ness of most of the roles. Florence Bates, Walter Baldwin and Han- som Sherman complete the small cast. Technically, film is iip to the usual high ' Wameirs Standards. Ernest- UaUer's' lensing, the art tUnsctioh and eetl&agfi, score and othftr contrihattonx lending gloss to the prodttctiion. ' * Bmg, RKO release ot (Bert Granel) Dure Scbary production. Stats Merle Oberon, Robert Ryan, Charles Korvln, Paul Lokas. Di- rected by Jacques Toumeur. Screenplay, Harold Medtord frum"«tory by Curt Slo $50,000 bet, Charles Barton gives it all ace directorial guidance to wring every situation of its humor, and it's his handling .that counts meas- ureably in making "Noose" . sturdy, stuff for the comedy market. Backing the talents of A&C is a sharp suppoi-ting clist, Leon Er- rol, as a rich eccentric' who never loses a bet, fits naturally into the antics and earns a strong credit. Joseph CaUeia is good as a gam- bler. Cathy Downs perks her role as the girl who gets the $50,000 by mistake and becomes involved in the plotting. Mike Mainurki and Jack Overman are Calleia's hench- men. Barton's production supervision places proper value on physical backing. Photography by Charles Van Enger is good, as are other technical contributions. Editing has held film to a tight 77 minutes. Brog. •«iiiitt«i;> - ' VStmi^ ImIh-' tttnM jfh'itliw |r4#MQn(w' < [the latel JoTo from )Lon< don, Deo. S«, IMl. K* be- . stow«d all laurels on Robert NewtoMt starred in the film, S|i.plarlng that "berfi is a film, ever were was one, that is . ''best Indicative of one player's superlative TBmx^mws'' His name, . Jolo ' opined, ' "should he displayed abbve th» title of th» pieturlzed version of A. J. Cronln*s'hest seller," ' ViuaKTsr ' critic;'* esthnnte dramatizes the pisculiar vicis- situdes of stardom. Para- ' . mount, , after holding the film on its shelf for six years, sud- denly decided to release it be- cause of the present enhanced boxoffice pull of James Mason and Deborah Kerr, who play supporting roles. (Newton, It's ' V reported, threatened legal re- course if his name failed .to receive top billing with Mason and Miss Kerr.) Jolo, back in '41, thought that "there Is little in the story that is not already stale for present day audiences, «nd the plot travels along sterieotyped lines to an- Obvious conclusion." Regard-", less, he said "it would be siife to predict top success both' here and in the States" be- cause it was "so artistically produced, photographed and acted." Miss Kerr as leadi^ lady : is judged "charming and sin- cere" while Mason's -perfor- mance in "the Juvenile lead of Doctor Renwick" is "xestmin^ edly played." Par's versioni for delayed n- . . lease is tlutt Mason and Miss Kerr's names now mean mont. HoUywood, April 1. / 20tta-Fox release ot Fred Kohlmar vrodifil!- tlon. Stars Victor ' Mature, Coleen Gray: teaturea Glenn I^ngan, AeglnaM Gardiner, Albert Dekker; Directed by Brace Humber- atone. Screenplay, Ctaarlea G. Booth; added dialog, , Winston Hlllcr; suggested by st<3,ry by 'David Garlh; 'camera, llanV Jackabn; music; David Rakaln: - editor, Bobtrt Slmp- aon,i Traaesbowia; April 1, '.,..... . .Albert Dekker Bird i.....,...!.... Fred Clark Peaceful JpnkB..,.«i.,...'..Ciiarle«i Kemper General Blicltw.»)l. .',.> Sehjsrt Warwick Judge .,,.',.,.>.,; , t .George Cleveland Al .thanks Roy Roberts General I.eed»,'..., .'WlUard Robertson .j.ppl*by .• .Grift . Barnett Svans., .Frank Orth Pops.;,...- J. Farrell Maciyonaia Artego . , , , , . . .-.Charles Stevens tjttfe Dog f.Jax Sllyerheela ti«verett:. £tencbman . .'Robert: Adler ProtesBOr., Harry -Seyinomr Clerk. . .". .Marry Carter * . 1 Haurltz Hugo Defense CouniMi)„«„...... {Howard Mealey Prosecutor. (..,,,.«.......•... Harlnn Brlgga .Tuty Foteman,,..-. '..,.,,.81 Jenke CSurt Clerks. V «Sny 'sVllkerson Stranger , . . . ,-,Bobert William* Judite Advocate '....James Flavin "Fury at Furnace Cree^" has a hold action air 'that pointo it for favorable reception in most situa- tions. It's a western feature with all the story ingrtdlents that please, and is told at a fast pace and' with sturdy tnmping. .Rugged outdoor .«»!«nti^«h«atttlfiiliy photo- graphed, hftckgrounds {he actional movemeni; and Mnds act i^roduc- tion valtt». Sight appeal Is strong. Cast^ with' few exceptions, romps tlur0U|h . assignments most ably under Bnic* tuimbcrstone's robust direction." Victor Mature sits easily in the hero's saddle and pleases mightily with Ms interpre- tation of the outdoor character. It's a forOttijght perfommnce that adds credence to the melodramatic doings. Coleen .Or«y is « pert and pretty heroine -with hot too much to do, Plot is based on white man's skulduggery tl^at leads to an In- dian massacre at old Fort Furnace Creek, where a cavalry troop is wiped out. The general who gave the order for re-routing reinforce- ments, is eourtmartialed and his estranged son. Mature, sets out to clear his father's record. Sage- brash detective work is interest- ingly handled by .aetor and de- nouncement fastens the blame on western silver tycoon Albert Dek- ker, who had connived the dastardly deed so he could gain possession of a rich mine. Reginald Gardiner is good as a weak army officer used by Dekker for the skulduggery. Dekker is a menacing villain, as are his henchmen, Fred Clark, Roy Rob- erts and Charles Stevens. Glenn Langan is just adequate as Mature's stuffy brother. Sturdy comedy relief is supplied by Charles Kemper, making a light, bright spot in the heaving doings. 11 U.$. 16H DISTRIB HERE TO SW Salesmd Ad To|ipers of U and E Ti^ jLoiilHi to Preview Rank Prodnct Aft*r 18 months of operaUons,* jiagto' liion liu worked Us way up ' tn narity with Universal on the fflpooving J. Arthur Ranfc'a British to the two companies. An- nouncement last we6k of the divi- .i„„ of Rank's product for the coming year, gives EL «n even^ break on up coming Anglo films. lQHdsl«& hy Hut British magnate •nswered a domplaint which EL had pressed that it was getting the liSeirior product while U was cop- ing the best moneymakers. With the decision now out of the way, It's understood that ^oth com- nanles will dispatch top ad-pun and sales execs to England during the present month to scan the films slotted for their companies. It's expected tha* William J. HeiAe- jnan, BL's distribution veepee, and Jjajp Voungsteitt, ad-pub veepee, i«dU make the crossing for their company. Maurice Bergman, U's eastern ad-pub topper, and Wii- llsm A. iScuUy, wdes veepee, or one M fals chief aides will also head for England. - Crntinued on page 22) Skirbail-Manning Set Colbert Pic for June 14 Hollywood, April 6. Jack Skirball and Bruce Klan-: ning will start "The Soft Touch," Claudette Colbert starrer, June 14. Manning will screenplay after iiis Current Columbia assignmentv from' a Joseph Fields-Fred Korner origi- nal. ■ No release is set. It'll be made under the banner of Crest Produc- tions, in whieb Skirball and Man- ning are partnered with Charles Wendling. U'S TOP ECHEON BACK TO THE ROME-OFFICE Universal's homeofflces, almost devoid of top officers for the past, few weeks, are filling rapidly dur- ing the current stanza as company execs converge on New York. J. Cheever Cowdin, U's board chair- man, has already returned to his desk from the Coast while Nate J. Blumberg, company prexy, is en- route east over the coming week- end.' William A. Scully, distribution veepee, treks north this week from a Florida ' vacation. His second-in- command, A. J. CKeefe, lias just returned from . a vacation in Las Vegas. John Joseph, U's ad-pub chief, will also head for New York this week, Joseph will take over for Mau- rice Bergman, eastern ad-pub head, who's currently in a N. Y. hospital. Bergman suffered a sudden attack last Thursday (1). He's reported rapidly improving and will prob- ably convalesce in Bermuda. Briefs From tbe Lots Moskowitz's PAL Post Charles C. Moskowitz, veepee and^ treasurer of Metro, has ac- cepted chairmanship of tlie motion picture division of the New York ftono'^*'' ^tbletie League drive for J'HW.OOO to carry on its work with underprivileged children. Mosko- witz, at a PAL luncheon tendered ^oinmissioner Arthur W. WaUander «st Thursday (1) by the Independ- ent Theatre Owners Assn., an- nounced that Metro would furnish mus a one-reeler for the cam- paign and donate $2,500. ,„P*er top donations pledged Were RKO, $1,500; Skouras the-,-.. wes, $1,500; Brandt circuit, $1,000; l.ket ^eiumj- fiircuit, $1,000, and 20th- i Home . was formerly assistant *1,000, I foreign sales head for Monogram. Dave Horne Joins FC Gearing for overseas operations. Film Classics sales chief B. G. Kranze has appointed David Horne as foreign sales manager of tKe company. FC recently formed two subsidiaries, Film Classics Interna- tional and Film Classics of the the- 1 Americas, to cover the world mar- Hollywood, April 6. Edward BaraeN started tds 10th year at Metro and his 15th picture as a comedy director on "Neptune's Daughter," with Eslhe^ WilUams in the title role . . Robert Emmett Dolan checked in at Universal- International to write and direct the music for "Mr. Peabody and the. Mermaid". . .DeWitt Bodeen will screenplay "What Every Young Bride Should Know," which Robert Golden will produce for SRO... Bill Thomas will direct the Pine- Thomas production,, "Special Agent," a tale of Southern Pacific Railroad , detectives ... "Rampage" became "The Courage of Gallant Bess" at Eagle Lion . .Gene Wes- son, of the Wesson Brothers nitery team, drew a comic role in "My Dream is Yours" at Warners. Joan Caulfield, John Payne and Dan Duryea to play the top roles in "Larceny" at Universal-Inter- national. Job is Miss Caulfield's first since she ankled the Para- mount lot. William Fereira will lead an RKO troupe to England in June to film "The Captain Was a Lady," in association With J. Arthur Bank . . . Hng^h McCollum, shorts producer at Columbia, started his 1948-49 program with a • "Three Stooges" comedy, directed by Ed. Bernds . . . iVIarilyn Malone, cover girl, starts lier film caree}' with a role in "Ladies of the Chorus" at Colum- Danny Dare, producer, and Nor- nuu DfcLeod, director, wound, up "Isn't It Romantic" for Paramount seven days under, schedule and $100,000 under budget. . Dr. Mik- los Rozsa signed a new deal with Metro as composer and nuisical di- rector. . .Pete Smith completed bis 1948 shorts program at Metro with "You Can't Win." . . .Lewis Stone celebrates his 48th year in show business with the start of his role in "Sun in the Morning" at Metro . . . Fred Zinnemann returns to Metro to direct "Act of Violence," to be produced by William H. Wright. Otea San JaaB, on loanout from Paramount, draws the second femme lead in the Senja Henic starrer, "Tlie Countess of Monte Cristo," at Universal-International . . Republic bought "The Ghost of Gunsight Pass," written by Nor- man S. Hall, as a starrer for Wil- liam Elliott . . . William Witney will direct "Nighttime in Nevada" at Republic... Signing of Lee Bow- man completed the casting for "My Dream Is Yours," which Michael Cnrtiz is making at Warners. Harry Essex is adapting the Dr. I Norman Nygaard book. "Twelve I Against tlie Underworld," for film- ing by Eagle Lion . 20th-Fox "That Wonderful Urge" troupe re- turned to the home lot after 10 days of shooting in Sun Valley. While reports are recinrent of other newsreel companies follow- ing the lead of Fox Movietonews Into a television venture, terrific ilut involved in a video invasion and the resultant high tarifl' which a sponsor must burden are block- ing major's efforts so far. Pared to the core, a newsreel outfit can't begin to operate even on a limited Scale for less than $8,000 weekly, ifs understood. Execs pushing negotiations say that nO' matter how big the sponsor is, tliere's liesitaHon and. plenty of bacdpoig away when the price is quoted. ' One of the reels, anxious to close a 'deal, has prepared a cost slieet which shows increased costs in ^ch a venture would amount to ^,000 weekly. Its toppers figure xawstock charges alone would be Mked by $2,500 wec^. Shooting a total footage currently for two issues weekly varjring from 20,000- 30,000 feet, entry into tele on a five-issues-per-week basis would mean a minimum of two-and-one- balf times the' footage, it's esti- mated. Salary nut for cameramen, edi- tors and other technicians go sky- high in the preliminaiy cost esti- mates. While a reel tslioots. 35-40 . subjects weekly to meet flie 12-16 subjects used in semi-weekly is- sues, fiiat number must be raised to at least 70 subjects for the five- per-week rate. Movietonews, sole guinea, pig in the industry, illus- trates the point, it's sud, since that outfit is now turning out 00 more subjects over the 40 which it made before its tieup with Camels ciga- rets. Just Breaking Evien Movietonews, reportedly, 'is just about brealcing even if not losing a bit, at tbe present time, on its deal, with Camels. Because the unit has methodically avoided beating its. theatre reels to the - punch, it's been compelled to shoot tremen- dous footage to feed the NBC net sufficient-celluloid. While -the outr- fit was overstaffed before it made its tele deal, it has taken' on addi- tional help to meet the upped de- mands. Camels, also, is . paying heavjly for the tieup. On a breakdown, ciggie outfit shells out $7,500 week- ly for use of the reel; $1,500 for air time; and $2,000 for commer- cials which accompanir the reel. That's the crux of the difficulty since other sponsors are loath to take on such a burden. Nonetheless, film biggies who are sold on video think 20th-Fox made a smart move in jumping into the picture early. Television isn't big enough rigid^ now to take care of all the newsreels, it's ar- gued, since, with NBC nailed down, (Continued on. page 2Z) bia Duncan Richardson, five- i Peter Hobbes shifted from Broad- vear-old high diver, was signed for , wa.v (or a role in "Kiss the Blood a non-swimming role in "My Dream , on My Hands" at UnivCrsal-Inter- Is Yours" at Warners. I national. . U ConTerging fts tde And Newsreel. Ikfls. InlHQriiiEyetoTy With Universal via Its subsid, United Worid Films, making strong gestures for a fuUscale invasion of the television field, company is movin g both its newsreel tmit and UWF's video department to ex-* panded quarters in the new RKO- Pathe BIdg., 106th street and Paiii avenue. At the same time, it's understood that U would like to close for at least one of the RKO sound stages in tbe new h.q, for production of pix dnied at tele only. ■ ■ Juxtaposition of newsreels and video in the new building and plans for their close operations henceforth is understood to carry out the belief of U's toppers that the big future for reels lies in tele-* vision tieups. Expanded lab facili- ties would afford the newsreel out- fit the elbow-room required onca the reel swings into tele operations. UWF is currently dickering with CBS and a number of potentid sponsors for the leasing of its reel for tele, NBC and several other parties Interested in film production for television are also bidding for RKO stage space. * ^ IS CENTURY-FOX A ' - i i A M i^J i [- ~, r 1" 1 r ! h /4 i ^ * ith each fitst-mn jpktere ojpcnmg wc become more coniyinccd that a fito "with tht 20th Cetttujy-Fox tradcmarlc is almost a guaraEtce of the luacst that Hollywood caa ofe in tht way of motion picture cntertaiijyfticnt. Alter viewing th« Technicolor treat, *'Scudda-Hool Scudda-Hay!* - at the Roxy yestcrdayj it Suddenly became apparent that, ^ like Brigidaire in its field, 2Qth Century-Fox lias become foremost in the production of motion picturei. Well cite the following late releases as an example: "The Razor's Idge," 'Torcver Amber,** ''Gentleman's Agreement/* "Miracle on 34th Street,** "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now,'' "Mother Wore Tights,*' "The Foxes of Harrow," "Captain From Casdle/* ''Daisy Kcnyon/* *'Call Northside 777/' and others of lesser note yet equally well produced. "Scudda-Hop! Scudda-Hay!", has been produced in the same iawless manner as its illustrious predecessor, "Home in Indiana," and again reunites Lon McCallister and fune Haver, with the peerless Walter Brejtinan thrown in for good mmure," Rf PRINTED FROM THE TAOOMA NEWe-TRIBUNE And for ^mUy Jm0 attractions, we mil yom attention to 'FURY AT FUH CREEK,' 'siniNG PREiiy; ihe iron curtain; 'escape' w 'Green grass of wyoming'i • mm it > Xechnicoior ■A < *• •% 'J w loose' Haigs High wii HendersoM In ClUf ' Chicsgo, April «. ■ Fat take of "Fort Apache" plus flia imll-oi! other new Alms has Ssoed by ratt of pfess breaks fol- lo^ng veterajis' benefit and per- sonals by Shirley Temple and iJohn Agar, it looks headed for a terrific ks.OOO. "Song of Love," at Mon- loe, appears good for a great $20,- *'^"Noose Hangs Bigb" with SMtcb Stenderson band, at State-Lake, is eading for big $42,000. "Torment" at st»e-seater world should reap Stout 15,000. "Saigon" at the Chi- cago will do $40,000, "Cass Timerlane" at the Woods continues to lead holdovers, in fourth week being fine $26,000. "This Time For Keeps," with Nellie liUtcher and Tito Guizar heading Stage bill ^ould do neat $42,000 in second frame at Oriental. Estimates for This Week , Apollo (B&K) (1,400; $1.23)— "Gentleman's Agreement" (20th) .(21st wk). Good $12,000. I^ast week, $12,500. Chicago (B&K) (3,900; 98)— "Saigon" (Par). Moderate $40,000. tM week, "Sierra Madre" (WB) ea wk). $31,000, «rand (RKO) (1,500; 98)— "Tar- zanand Mermaids" (RKO) (2d wk). ^ert $510,000. Last week, $25,000. M«!nroe (Indie) (1,000; 98)— "Song of Love" (M-G). May reach fine $?0,000. Last week, "Good nevfi'M-G) (4th wk). $6,000. • Oriental (Essaness) (3,400r »B)-*- "This Time Keeps" I1MN8) 'V^J^ Nellie Lutcto and Tito Ota stage (2d wfc). Neat *^l)iOii«St week, $59,000. Palace (BKO) (2,500; 98)— "FiStt Apache" (RKO). Sensationid 1*3,- «000. Last week, "Jassy" (C), thin $18,000. Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500; 9«h^ "Robin Hood" (WB) (reissue). S»«k $24,000. Last week, "Fightlng'|»th" (WB) (reissue) (2d wk), $16,000. ' 'State-Lake (B&K) (2,700; "Noose Hangs High" (EL) with Skitch Henderson orch on stage. Great $42,000. Last week, "Adven- tures Casanova" (EL) wltti p.a. o£ Katherine Grayson and Johnnie Johnston, $38,000. Utdied Artists (PB&K) (1,700; 98) "Smugglers" (SOU) (2d sskK .Lean $15,000. Last week, oke $17,500. • Woods (Essaness) (1,073; 88)— "Cass Timb*a?lane" (M-«) iith Wk). Handsome $26,000. Ijast wet^ $30, ooo. World (Indie) (587; 77) — "Tor- ment" (Indie). Stout $S,000. Last week, "Sho« Shine" (Indie) (8th wk), $3,000. Med' Wraps Up Buff. At Wow 22iG, tlock' Laudl?6/Showers'16G Buffalo, April 6, "Naked City" is the big smash here this week. "Big Clock" and April Showers" also are in the chips. • Estimates for This Week , BMffialo (Shea) (3,500; 40-70) — April Showers" (WB) and "Murder m Reverse" (Indie). Real spring tonic at $16,000 or near. Last week, Scudda Hoo" (20th) and "Let's Live Again" (20th), $15,500. Great Lakes (Shea) (3,400; 40-70) ■ — - Big Clock" (Par) and "Campus Honeymoon" (Rep). SoUd at $17.- 000 or near. Last week. "Robin Hood" (WB) (reissue), $18,500. ..J?fPP, ,i ir^^l^^^'^er Mama" (RKO) inpV7*J'o 5?*^ t» $11,000 after socko $18,500 opener. Estimated !fota! Gvms^ c This We*. ....... .$82tt»0»§- (Based on 24 theatres) Last Year ?797,800 (Based, on. 18 theatres) Frov. Remembers lama' Wham 2IG Providence, April 6. Biz is on the upswing at most spots, with RKO Albee's "I Re- member ^Mama" leading the list. Also hep are Majestic's "Gentle- man's Agreement" and Strand's second week of "Saigon." ~- Estimatcs for This Week Albee (RKO) (2,200; 44-63)— "Re- member Mama" (ftKO). Extra at- traction in person of Dr. I. Q. Mon- day (5) helped push to solid $21,- 000. Last week, "Bambi". (RKO) (reissue), good $14,000. Carlton (Fay) (1,400; 44-65)— "Sifting Pretty" (20th) and "Half Past Midnight" (20th) {3d down- town wk). Mce jPf,500. Last .week, "Th^ ■mtm^" fRep) and "Pre- tettdei^' mom), $!5,S00, " 3p*y»»: may) ami; '**-e5)— Wiggs, Maggie In Society" (Mono) and vaude on stage. Trim $7,000. weiric, "Di-iltwood" (Rep) and ■'rauidet $7^00. Itajeitttc (Fay) (2.200; 44.65)— "Gentleman's Agreement" (20th). Snappy '$17,000. Last week, "Sit- ting Pretty" (SOth) and "Bfalf Past Midnight" {2Dfli) (2d wk), soEd #lfi,0OO» «t«i»* (Loew) (8,200; 44-65)— "Taimn'*, Secret Treasure" (M-G) and' "Taiaan's Y. Adventure" (M-G) (reissues), feir f 17,500. Last week, "Alias a Gentleman" (JO^G) and "10th Ave.. Angrfl" (M-G), $17,000. ■ . ■ Strand (Silwrman) (2,200: 44-65) — "Saigon!' fiPar) and "Caged Fury" (Pur) (2d "Wk). Started Sunday (4). First, week was sturdy ^1S,000. l4ist Tiwiefc "Si»a of Bam" (Col) and "Glamour GSrl" (Col) (2d wk), $7,S0D, Oscars ip ^Aireemeiif Smash $23tQ(M), St. Louis f ■ St. Loisis, April S. ' Botsl^ng the Academy Awsard wiriner, "GentJemaii's Agreement" within a week after the screen opus of 1947 was chosm is^feftected by ttfe socK to&s bdbag' piled .up at Mah&ssMm "A Bnnble Life" slso ■is .gettinK a'.great play. ;Rain .on several days last week crimped trade that started in high gear at the big cinemas. - ■ Bstiwatcs'lor TMs Week- Ambassaftw (F&M) (§,000; SO-75) — ^"Gentleman's Agreement" (20th). Sock $23,000, Last week, "Relent- less" (Col) and "Half Past Mid- night" (20th) solid $19,000. Fox (F&M) (5,000; 50-75)— "Big Clock" (Par) and "Speed to Spare" (Par). Okay $18,000. Last week, "April Showers" (WB) and "BiU and Coo" (Rep), $20,000 in 9 days. Loew's (Loew) (3.172; 50-75)— "Double Life" (U) and "Tenth.Ave. Angel" (M-G). Big $21,000. Last week, "3 Daring Daughters" (M-G) and "Woman from Tangier" (Col) $23,000. Missouri (FM) (3,500; 50-75)— "Bishop's Wife" ( R K 0 ) and "Scudda Hoo" (20th) (m.o.) (3d wk). Trim $9,500 after $15,000 second stanza? ^fpheum (Loew) (2,000; 50-75)— "Daring Daughters" (M-G) and "Woman from Tangier" (Col). Oke $9,500. Last week, "Tarzan'.s Secret Treasure" (M-G) and "Tarzan's N. Y. Adventure" (M-G) $10,000. St. Louis (F&M) (4,000; 50-75)— "Unconetuered" (Par) (2d wk). Neat $8,000 met fine* $10,000 initial session* Shub'ert (Ind) (1,500; 40-60)— "Woman in Night" (FC) and "Last Redmen" (Col) (reissues). Strong $13,000, Last week, "Rains Came" (20th) and "Wedding Ni^" (FC)- (reissues), $5,000. Only I lew intries But B way Boff; . US Bros.-raeh Gnre ISaigoii utt, $95,(1, '(MIp Dim Focus W2G 'BBLLS' sm imfflG ON PHT EG., $14,000 Pittsburgh, April 6, There's not a single new picture in town this week. Leaders ai'e "Naked City" at Harris and "Mira- cle of Bells" at Warner, both in second weeK and running neck- and-neck. Reissue of Loretta Young's Oscar film "Farmer's Daughter" at Senator, is paying off nicely. Estimates for This Week Fulton (Shea) (1,700; 44-76)— "Scudda Hoo" (20th) (2d wk). Got a reprieve when biz picked up. Near $6,500. Last week, $8,000, not too hot. Harris (Harris) (2,200; 44-76)— "Naked City" (U) (2 wk). Plenty of stuff left at near $14,000, and may hold again. Last week, sizz- ling $19,500. Peim (Loew's-UA) (3,300; 44-76) — "Unconquered" (Par). At pop scale after a five-week run last fall squeezed this dry; level $14,000 isn't bad. Last week, "Tarzan's Secret Treasure" (M-G) and "Tar- zan's N.Y. Adventure" (M-G) (re- issues), $12,000 in 6 days. Senator (Harris) (1,750; 44-76)— "Farmer's Daughter" (RKO) and "Spiral Staircase" (RKO) (reis- sues). Fancy $4,500. Last week, "Gentleman's Agreement" (20th) (2 wk), solid $5,500 hi 6 days. Stanley (WB) (3,800; 44-76)— "April Showers" (WB) (2d wk). HoldUig only 5 days so house can get back to regular Thursday open- ing. Oke $8,000. Last week, fairly good $16,500. Warner (WB) (2,000; 44-76)— "Miracle of Bells" (RKO) (2d wk). Good campaign paying oif here, okay $14,000 on top of big $17,000 last week. Holds again. 'Daughters' Lush SliOikUvie Louisville, April $. ' Bti^ssss continues "on slow side hMo;' tSfiidwal approach of spring weather is not helping, and open- ing of Drive-ins will pull some of the trade ordinarily going to the iBrstruns. "Three Daring Daugh- ters" at State and "Scudda-Iloo" at the Rialto will be the leaders. "Ideal Husband" at Strand is okay. lEstlmates for This Week • Brown (Fourth Avenue) (1,200; 45-65) — "Call Horthside" (20th) and "Campus Honeymoon" ' (Rep) (m.o.). Healthy $4,500. Last week, "Knew Susie" (RKO) and "Slippy McGee" (Rep) (m.o.), $4,000. Kentucky (Switow) (1,200; 30-40) —"Sierra Madre" (WB) and "Love Trouble" (Col). Fairly g«od $3^00. Last week, "Senator Indiscreet" (U) and "Relentless" (Col) $3,000. Mary Anderson (People's) (1,100; 45-65)— "April Showers" (WB) (2d wk). Staying around for okay $7,500 after initial week's sturdy $9,000.. National (Standard) (2,400; 45- 65) — "Woman's 'Vengeance" (U) and "Pirates Monterey" (U) (2d wk). Marking time for new product to arrive, mild $4,500. Last week, modest $6,000. Rialto (FA) (3,400; 45-65)— "Scudda Hoo" (20th) and "Chal- lenge" (20th). Fairish $12,000. Last week, "Call Northside" (20th) and "Campus Honeymoon" (Rep), about same. State (Loew's) (3,000; 45-65)— "3 Daring Daughters" (M-G) and "Return of Whistler" (Col). Neat $14,000. Last week, "Tarzan Secret Treasure" (M-G) and "Tarzan N. Y. Adventure" (M-G) (reissues), strong $17,000. Strand (FA) (1,000; 45-65)— "Ideal Husband" (20th) and "Let's Live Agahi" (20th). Nice $6,000. Last week. "Bill and Coo" (Rep) and "Inside Story" (Ksp), $5,000. Estiixmtes Are Net Film gross estimates, as re- ported herewith from the vari- ous key cities, are net, i.e., without the 20% tax. Distribu- tors share on net take, when playing percentage, hence the estimated figures are net in- come. The parenthetic admission prices; however, as indicated, include the U. S. amusement tax. week after Con- Broadway flrstrun theatres in current session are soaring to the highest levels in several weeks, assisted by the usual Easter week upbeat and favorable weather most of stanza. Only two new pictures were launched in thte past seve.i days. Paramount, with "Saigon" and stageshow headed by Mills Bros., Buddy Rich band and Dean Mur- phy, will hit big $95,000 in first week ended last CTues.) night. This is especially flaae In view of unldnd crix appraisals. "Close-Bp" is -doing only passably good Sl WOi) on first ' week at the Globe, TjUt goes through until April 18. . . Biggest grosser continues to be "Remember Mama," bMng ^ven fine assist by "Glory of SEaster" pageant onstage, at Musk Hall. Fourth week Bk^ will hit smash $142,000 or better, which insure a fifth stanza. Second week of "April Showers," "With Claude Thomhill band and MoEey Amster- dam is dipping to $44,000 at Strand. '^Sitting Pretty" still is so big at $115,000 on fourth week in Roxy tliat it holds a fifth session. An- other stage-film house going great guns is Capitol, where fifth week of "Naked City" and stagebill topped' by Tex Beneke band will land a socko $108,000, better than many first weelcs at house. Strong second weeks also are be- ing racked up by "Mr. Blandings," with $43,000, at Astor; "All My Sons," with $38,000, at Criterion; "The Search" with $26,000, at Vic- toria, and "B. F.'s Daughter," with $22,000, at State. Estimates for This Week Ambassador (Siritzky) (1,200; 70- $1.50) — "Volpone" (Indie) (15th Wk). Doing okay $'7,500 in ending tomorrow (Thurs.), fancy $8,500 'for -Wtfi' round, tinning. Art (Rugoff-Becker) (570; 95- $1.10)— "Farrebique" (Sh-itzky) (7th. wk). Sixth frame ended last Sunday (4) was nice $4,300, not far behind fifth week's $4,500. Stays on. Astor (City Inv.) (1,300; 80-$1.80) —"Mr. Blandings" (SRO) (2d wk). Second round ending today (Wed.) looks to hold firm at $43,O00 after very big $51,000 opener. Continues. Bijon (City Inv.) (650; 85-$1.50) —"Mr. Orchid" (Lopert) (2d wk). Second session ending next Friday (9) is down to $5,000. First was fine $7,400, over hopes. Stays on. ,Cwiiol (Ijoew's (4,820; 70-$2.20) — "Naked City" (U) plus Tex Beneke orch, Jerry Lewis & Dean Martin topping stageshow (5th wk). Current frame ending today (Wed.) slipping a bit after great Easter week uptake but still great at $108,- 000 or near; fourth week was $117,- 500. Slate Bros, replace L^wis & Martin tomorrow (Thurs.), latter having previous dates. Criterion (Loew's) (1,700; 60- $1.25)— "All My Sons" (U) (2d wk). Initial holdover session ending next Friday (9) .Still big at $38,000 or near; first was great $4^000. Stays on. Elysee (Siritzky) (750; 85-$1.50) — "Fanny" (Siritzky) (8th wk). Current round ending today (Wed.) looks nice $4,400 after $5,000 for seventh. Holds through nbitfa week. Globe (Brandt) (1,S00; 7041-20) —"Close-Up" (EL). In first week ending next Friday (0) looks to hit passably good $17,500. Second week of "Adventures Casanova" (EL) was off to $10,000. "Arch of Triumph" (UA) due in with gala preem April 19 for "Crusade For Children" benefit. Golden (Siritzky) (769; 85-$1.50) —"Lost One" (Col) (2d wk). First week ending Sunday (4) hit solid $12,000 and looks set for run. Previous week theatre housed Maurice Chevalier concert. Little Carnegie (Indie) (460; 95- $1.20)— "Jenny Lamour" (Vog) (5th wk). Current stanza ending next Friday (9) probably will reach solid $8,000 after great $9,000 for fourth. Holds again. Mayfair (Brandt) (1,736; 70- $1.50) — "Gentleman's Agreement" (20th) (22d wk). Still in real profit at $26,000 in 21st week ended last Monday (5) night; 20th was $29,- 000. Continuing. Palace (RKO) (1,700; 60-$1.20) — "Tarzan and Mermaids" (RKO) (2d wk). Second round ending next Suflday (11) is off sharply to $16,- 000; first was strong $30,000, up- beat stemming from number of ■ kids out of school.. Reissue of Farmer's Daughter^' (RKO) opens Saturday (10) to cash in on Loretta Young's Oscar. Paramount (Par) (3,664; 55- $1.50)— "Saigon" (Par) with Mills Bros., Buddy Rich orch, Colstons, Dean Murphy heading stagebill (2d wk). First week ending last (Tues.) night soared to big $95,000, with strong aH-round bill helping put this over. In ahead, "Road to Bio" (Par) with Louis Prima orch (6th wW. soUd $62,000. mx&i Avenue (V) (583; $1.20- $1.50}— "MUl on Floss" (Indie) (re- issue) {2d wk). This is f o o 1 i n g everybody, 'Staying up bigh on ini- tial holdover session at terrific $8,000; first was smash $10^00. -KafflO iCtty Wllttio It»tt '(Rocke- feliears) (S^45; 7042*40)— "Jttemem- im Mama" CBSK©J arid stageshow vMi "Glory of Hast^J?" jmgeant (4th wk). Off some ixota. jrevious week but still big at $142,000; third was great $155,000, best of run. Stays a fifth round and likeljr^^ longer. anialto (Mayer) (594; 35-$1.20)— > "Smugglers" (EL) (2d wk). In sec- ioind week ending next Friday (9) dipping sharply to $8,500 while first was solid $12,000. Holds again. Kivoli (UAT-Par) (2,092; 60- $1.25)— "Miracle of Bells" (RKO) (4th wk). Third round ended last Monday (5) night was much better comparatively than second week, ^Ith $29,000; second was very good $28,000. Stays on. "Letter From Unknown Woman" (U) is . due in Roxy (20th) (5,886; 80-$1.50)— "Sitting Pretty" (20th) and stage- bill headed by Al Bemie, Betty Bruce, Salici Puppets (5th-fijial wk). Fourth week ended last (Tues.) night with smash $115,000, winning fifth stanza for film. ArS Mooney orch, which headed stage- show first four weelcs is out for fifth round because of prior com- mitments. Third frame was $109,- 000 but below expectancy. "Scudda Hoo" (20th) and stageshow topped by Ed Wynn opens April 14. State (Loew's) (3.450; 43-$1.10)— "B. F.'s Daughter" (M-G) (3d wk). Second week ended last (Tues.) night was strong $22,000 after big $32,000 for opener. Being held third session with "Duel in Sua" (SRO) (2d run) and "Here Comes Trouble" (UA) opening April 14. Strand (WB) (2,756; 75-$1.50)— "April Showers" (WB) with Oaude Thomhill orch, Morey Amsterdam topping stageshow (2d wk). Sec- ond frame ending tomorrow (Thurs.) looks okay at $44,000 after fancy $56,000 initial week. Holds again. Sutton (Rugoff-Becker) (561; 70- $1.25)— "The Pearl" (RKO) (8th wk). Seventh stanza ended last Monday (5) night was nice $5,400 after $5,600 in sixth. Stays on indef. Victoria (City Inv.) (720; 70- $1.50)— "The Search" (M-G) • (3d wk). Second session ended last (Tues.) night was solid $26,000 after stout $29,000 first week. Continues. Warner (WB) (1,499; 90-$1.50)— "Winter Meeting" (WB). Opens to- day (Wed.). Fourth week of "Rob- in "Hood" (WB) (reissue) was okay $12,000, after big $16,000 third. Winter Garden (UA) (1,313; 60- $1.20)— "Man of EvR** (UA) (2d wk,). Current frame ending today (Wed.) disappoints at very thin $7,000, after $10,000 opener. "Are You With It?" (U) preems April 14 with all-star show headed by Don- ald O'Connor, to aid launching of Treasury's Security Loan drive. 'Danglters/ 236, Crowds 'Mama,' 26Ci, m Frkco San Francisco, April 6. Excellent bally along with ths use of localite Kathryn Forbes, who authored "Mama's Bank Account,'* is pushing "Remember Mama" into standout position boxoffice-wiso this week. Her book is basis for this film. Continued rain seems to be helping trade. "Three Daring Daughters" and "Big Clock" also shape well. Estimates for This Week Golden Gate (RKO) (2,844; 60- 85) — "Remember Mama" (RKw. (Continued on page 20) 'MY HAT'S IN RING FbR 1HE BEST MUSICAL OF 1948 I Who's got die pictures? M-G-M's got the pictures! As Hollywood Reporter puts it: ''Everything is on the upswing at Culver City." If s electrifying to watch. Look at them! "STATE OF THE UNION", "HOMECOMING", "THE PIRATE", "SUMMER HOLIDAY", "EASTER PARADE", to mention just a few, and witt every new Trade Show another Big M-G-M attraction joins the Hit Parade. You said it Mister: "M-G-M GREAT IN '48". picrrimE caiossKS 1* Heidtllps'Savage'SockmmHub; , BMton. April, «. fy second «iN)lr Ml^.^. Ifemorlal. at Stole Mid Qnpfteum. Horace' with "lUaade Sf(v«£«" looks ajt t1>« BKO inad:fhiB week's iap item. "SitOoif lto?t^" stUl is 1^ at Par»i«!«imt'.*»d ■Vmmy, liifb -"April Shtmcn" ikhm at IJie Ilei . m dtiipe* inar Holy Week let-down. Aater -^IJOD; «-S0>-^ «n|i^jitinf Itifwimiec 4!3ecU»" (i^O)^ (2d l»«tlt m flioor With f 12,0(» after M« fULOOO iit IMMm (BKO) (3,200; SO^l.lO)^ •WtiMvak}. Samge" (EL) jibis Horace tfdMt Mwli^MtiMSs, oa stage. BrMd- eui sold Mt for $12,000 with week hlttiiiC wow $36,000. 3Lwt Week, "PiBhJUMUe" (lioao) fins John C«l- IbHituid'' (Mtii) Md •'Qnm «Br Oaocer*' (EL) (Sd wk), Okly M,«00 aiter $0,500 in fiat. ir«mnr .) (2d tdc). StN«9Mlt iteni la towii after ttree 'week*, bice $9,000 after «MMW» dndie) (700; 4iOHM»-. ^t'sauty and Beast" (btdie) (24 *:;;!); nice $2,000 after $4,000f Jdntl -UtoMMtal (RICO) (3,000; 40-90)— *r Hcmember Mama" (RKO) ' (2d «i3(},. IMItei' than first session 'at IS^IjOMJltter strong $24,500 opener. HeHf ulitan (M-P) (4,367; 40-80) -^tUfOL Showers" (WB) and "In- iddeSlMry" (Indie). Only average at $8tj000. Last week, "Uncon- quered',' (Par), $22,000 at pop scale. Oii^eiun (Loew) (3,000; 40-80)— "Nalted City" XOT. and "yataulous Joe" (Col). Yeiy, cood $2»,000. Last week, "Relentless" (Col) isiad, "Cmiey" (Indie), $24,000. . taramoimt (M-P> (1,700; 40-80) —"Sitting Pretty" .(20th) and '^ocks New Orleans" (Mono) (Bi.o.) (2d wk). StiU potent at «17,000 after $24,000 for first stanza State (Loew) .&JSO0; 40-iBO)— "Naked City" CO) and "Fabulous Joo" (Col). Fine $13,0OO: laak week, "Relentless" (Col) and "(hur- ley" (Indie), $11,000. fcg'. Pretty $11,000, In Port.; W $10,500 Pbttland, Ore., April 6. Real coin this week goes to Parker's United Artists with "Three Daring Daughtere." "Sit- ting Pretty" at Orpheum and •'Black Bart" at Broadway are also doing well. "Gentleman's Agree- ment" at Paramount is top hold- over. Estimates for This Week Broadivay (Parker) (1,832; 50-85) --"Blaok BaH" (U) and "The Flame" (Rep). Great $10,500. Last week, "Sierra Madi-e" (WB) and Campus Honeymoon" (Rep) (2d y/k), excellent $8,400. ^ Mayfair (Parker) (1,500; 50-85)— Bill and Coo" (Rep) and "Inside Wory" (Rep). So-so $3,500. Last week, "Black Friday" (Indie) (re- issue) and "Black Cat" (Indie) (re- issue), $4,600. " Music Box (H-E) (1,000; 50-85)— „9<™,*daHoo" (20th) and "Girl TisaV (WB) (2d wk) (5 days) (m.o.). S°60o"* *830.- .t3aa tfeek.,fine , Oriental (H-E> (2,000; 50-85)— (Gentleman's Agreement" (20th) (^d wk) (5 days), day-date with wt';™??"**^ *3.000. Last week, tag $8,000. (H-E) (1.750; 50-85)— ri,!n"^ Pfctty" (20th) and ."The .Challenge" (20th). SoUd $11,000 or nsgi. Last week, "Prince of tCol) aSl "I Love Trou- ble (Col), so-so $7,200. (H-E) (3,400; 50- 85) hri ^^^'^'^ Agreement" (20th) gi«^> « days), also Oriental. $15!400 ^ ..pa!?i'jS»» (H-E) (1,200: 50-85)- "r^^l^^ Daughter" (RKO) and Cr (RKO). Both Js^^ (20 ,) Bernadette" 20 Miracle 34th Street" TT w P''^"''^)' mild $1,800. 85)~!"'?h,.^''"l^ (Parker) (895; 50- ^ llw-ee Daring Daughters" Estimated Total CtiMS This Week .$3.006,!M» ' (Based on 21 cities, 207 . theatres, chiefly first rvm, *»• . ■eluding jr. Y.) ' Total Grass Same Week Last Year .$3,1S».000 (l^cd 'sn 22 cities; 205 (heo- Apii tiNiic. M PJiiladelphia, April A Most Philly deltDcns are hold- over this session, with only two new films bowing in.'They are 'TChe Fugitive," fine at Aldine, and *'Ain:iI Showent/' having a brisk wiedk at Masttawm. '•Miracle of Bellg," «tont at -Kurle, and "Naked CSiy/ idm fan<^> «t«f»aid^, are paieuig Jhe '. AkfiM (1,9(13; SIMNHu->'Fagttive" (»KO>. Xin« $15,000. or near. Last wtftk, ''SenatM* Jbodiaenwt" (U) (3d wk), 1»lk $10,000. . AmMia (SfbS). <700: SOM) "Oaa iit Sim" (SBO) (2d Jtun): IfOd $«,000 in S days. LattWedr; ^*Ca»c Timhefilane'' (M43) (2d xtm), vtarit $j,m. - ' ■ . man (WB) <3^9i0; :50-«4)-^'^»gn «C Ibnr '«%!) (2d. rdift); Modest md' Outstrips m InSeatde, Hot $15,000; 'Daughters: fiarOiglSG Seattle, April 6. Biz, is sliding off with holdovers, moveovers and reissue I'eaUy hurtiQg overall total currently; Even "Gentleman's Agreement," at Fifth Ave. in third frame, is down shandy. "Naked City" at Orpheum and "3 Daring Daugh- ters" at Liberty are ace newcom- ers and both sock.' . Estimates for This Week Blue Mouse (H-E) (800; 45-80)— "Corsican Brothers" (EL) and "South of Pago Pago" (EL) (re- issues). Mild $3,000. Last week, "Susie" (IVKO) and "Wild Horse Mesa" (RKO) (2d wk), $2,900 in 6 days. " Fifth Avenue (H-E) (2,349; 45-80) —"Gentleman's Agreement" (20th) (3d wk). Good $7,500 or near in 6 days after dandy $10,800 last Liberty (J&VH) (1,650; 45-80)— "3 Daring Daughters" (M-G). Sock $13,000. Last week, "Sign of.Ram" (Col) (2d wk), nice $6,800. Music Box (H-E) (850-45-80)— "April Showers" (WB) and "Rail- roaded" (EL) (m.o.). Modest $4,- 000. Last week, "Scudda" (20th) and "Adventuress" (EL) (3d wk), $3,700. Mnsio HaU (H-E) (2,200; 45-80)— "Alias; a Gentleman^' (M-G) . and "High Tide" (M-G) (2d wk). Fair $5,500 after oke $8,800 last week. Orpheum (H-E) (2,600; ,45-80)— "Naked City" (U) and. '"t^aged Fury" (Par). Great $15,000 or over. Last week, "April Showers" (WB) and "Railroaded" (EL), nice $9,000, Palmar (SterUng) (1,350; 45-80) — ^"Thc Flame" (Rep) and "Slippy McGee" (Rep). Big $7,000. Last week, "Elephant Boy" (FC) aqd "Trail Vigilantes" (FC) (reissues), $5,100. Paramount (H-E) (3,039; 45-80)— "Sitting Pretty" (20th) and "Whis- pering Ciiy" (EL) (2d wk). SoUd $9,000 hi 6 days. Last week, nice $12,300. Koosevelt (Sterling) (800; 45-80) —"Double Life" (U). Fair $4,000. Last week, "Woman's Vengeance" (U), okay $4,700. (M-G). Sock $13,500 or near. Last week, "Henry Eighth" (Indie) (re- issue), .$3,600. Guild (Parker) (427; 50-85)— "Sierra Madre" (WB) and "Campus Honeymoon" (Ren) (m.o.). Good $2,000. Last weeE, "Double Life" (U) (m.o.), $1,500. meant' Does Well By Omaha JipOO Oniaha^ April 6. "1 RementhcdT Mam** got off slowly at the Bmideis bnt looks to land strong week's biz, and Iffobahle hoUtover; Only oQier firstrun ix 'tMfsant f«r at Para" mount whcsne dqiiiiS gjapA 1x»illl^ BranddN (SKO) (1.9SQ: 16^65)-^ •^emembetr MnttiC*^ — "Unconquered'S (Par) (2d wk). Okay $10^W). First weiek, smash $14,000; / State MGiddbexg) (965; 16-65)— "Cass Timbeatef'! (M-G) and "Hat BoK M$«t^"MSG)L'(2d wk). <3ood $4,800 aaoii:j«99lds-ior tiiird week. Last-i**ii^~iiiMr: - ~ . Omaha XXEltU^) (2,100; 16^) —"GentlenuHi's Agreement" (20th). i (Hj.o.) and "Aliaa Mr. Twilight" (Col) (1st xm). iSSee $9,500. Last week, "Smtfimf' . (m.0.)'«iid "Thunder momA»W' (9S01« $10,000. EC'slaltoBent Sit l|pa' JG irashtngtoii. ApcU 8. .Maui atdn 1^ is woidng along at a icomfortalile «IIj» in view of fact that three apota are. iunadling holdoveacs. Town has. been full nf tourists which has helped. Sweetest luttKOttice music is bi^g made bsr 'ft Bedtembex' Mama" and '*(3!eii1ile- nunTs AgreenMwt," latter in second frame: . ^'Bdtetttleiw'* i& packing them in at sWail-seatcr Metropoli- tan. . ,■■ .. • " ■ • ' ■ Estimates for This VfetSt ■ Cai^tol (Loew's) (2.434; 44-80)— "3 Daring Daughters" (M-G) plus vande (2d wkJ. Fine $23,000 after sock $30,000 opener. CrihiaaiMB (Loew's) ajZSS; Mr70) —"Bride Goes Wfld" (KMS) ^to.). Fancy $11,000. Last i(«ek»."Tii3am'» Secret Treasure" (M-G) (reissue), real treasure at $8,000. Keith's (RKO). (1,939; 44r80)— "Remember Mama" (RKO). Excel- lent $19,000 in first full week. Last week, "Mama" (BKO) four days and last three days of "Senator Indiscreet" (U). solid $16,000. Metropolitan (WB) Jl,193;.44-m) —"Relentless" (Col). Mce $14,000 in eight days. Last week, "Bill and Coo" (Rep) and "California Skies" (Rep) (topped off after only $5,500 in 6 days. Palace (Loew's) (2.370; 44-74)— "GenUeman's Agi-eement" (20th) (2d wk). VFjnei $21,000 on bai^is of Academy aw^ ~ publicity. La^ week, rang bell for $28,'O0Qi Warner (WB) (2,154; 44-74)— "April Showers" (WB) (2d wk). Mildish $13,000 following profit- able $17,000 «B opener. LA. Nearly Foinets ltei». Heritage" (RKO) ,f2d wk). Near $2.0()0 in 6 days,, Last; week, okay $3t700.- Beveiiy BOls Mwlc HaE (GifeS- Blumenfeld) (826; 65-$l)— "Smig 4MF Heart" (Mono). Slim $3,000. Last week, "Man of Evil" (UA), $2,800, Carthay Circle (1,518; «041>-* "Gentleman's Agreement" (2Qth) (2d wk). Up to $5,300. Last yiftOt, ikir $5^00. OdMse (Gttwnwn-lirC) (2,049; e»:$t)— "Slitting I^retlT" mm mA "Challenge" (20fh), .»ut''^jKlT^: Last week. »Agieeme«t'« (2d wk),$9300. Culver (PWC) (1,145; 60-$l)— "Bambi" (RKO) (reissue) and "Western Heritage" (BKO) (2d wk). Only $3,000 hi S days. Last week, okay $5,400. iMwatwin (WB)t (1^0; ^$1>-. "April Simmsf' ,{WB> m wk). Nice $14,'0001 List 'Svedt. «lg $17,600. Dewatown Music Kail (Bhtmea- feld) (972; 60r$l)— "Song Heart" (Mono) and "North Begins" (SG). Slow $7,000. Last week. "Man Evil" (UA). $«J100. Eevptian (PWC) (1,S3S! 90^1)— "Bride Goes WUd" (M-G). (2d wk). Near $8,000. Last week, tiiee $11,000. m.Key (FWC) (861; 60-$l) — "BailoilK" OSKO) (reissue) and "Western HSeritage" (BKO) (2d wk). Xm to $2,SiOO in 6 days. Last week, okay $4,500. Esquire- (Rosener) (685; 854L20) —"To Live iij,_Peaice" (hidie). Smart $6,000. Last week, "Nicholas Nickleby" (U).(5th wk), $1,800. Four Star (UA-WC) (900; 60-$l) —"Fugitive" (RKO) (2d wk),- Nifty $7,000^ Last week, $9,000. GidU (FWC) (968; 60 -$1) — "Naked City" (U) (4th wk). Down to $3,500. Last week, nice $4,000. Hawaii (G&S-Blumenfeld) (1,106; 60-$l)— "Song Heart" (Mono). Only $3,000, slim. Last weeE, "Man Evil*' (UA), $2,900. Hallywood (WB) (2.756; 60-$l)— April Showers" (WB) (2d wk). Nice $10,000. Last week, $15,900, over average. . Hio9yw«Qd Mnsie Hsdl (Blumen- feld) (475; 60-85) —."Song Heart" (Mono). Slow- $2,500; Last week. "Man EvU" (UA), 4^2.600. Iris (FWC) (828; 60-85)— "Naked Caty" m (4th wk). Over $3,500. Last week, good $4,500. Lanrd (lioAcner) (890; 85) — "Furia"- (W?) (4th wkl Finals at $2,000. Last weieik, trim $2,900.. LiKtW's State (Loew-WC) (2,404; 60-$l)— ."Sitting Pretty" (20th) and "Challenge" (ZOth). Sock $28,500. Last week*. "Agceemeit" {20th) (2d Wk), fav $12,900. ; ' Los Angeles (Dtown-WC) (2,097; «0^t)—"3aride Goes Wild" (M-G) <2d wk). Good $13,000. Last week, $19,000. Ibfyola (FWC) (1.248; «0-$l) — "Sitting Pretty" (20tfa) attd "Chal- len^" (29th). Stout $10,000. Last wetk, ^Agreement" (20th) (2d wk), . .4kphmm' (mown-WC) (2,210: ~— "BaJttM" (BKO) (reissue) aad."Westem Heritage" (RKO) (2d wk). Near $7,000 in 6 days. Last wei^ .oke $12,900. " *»la«i (D'town) (14S!6; 60-$l)— •^iStiivft" (HKO) (2d wk). Smooth 93^,900. Last week, socko $20,000. Wraadages (Pan) (2312; 60-$l)— ''Rettember Mama" (BKO). Strong $24,000. Last week, "Mating Millie" (Col) .ited "Return Whistler" (Col) t2d •wk-9 flays), pleasing $15,500. .■tmnmim^ (F&M)F (3,388; 60-$l) — "BiAoP^a Wifis" (WKO) (2d wk)v Off iii $li,900: Last week, thta $19;200. ' Parasas—t HaQywwad (F&M) (1,451; 60-$l)— "Bishflp-s Wife" (RKO) (2d wk). G6od,$i3^000. Last week, okay $13,600. , l^O Hillstrcet (RKO) (2,«90; 60- ' (Continued on page 20) 'Sbwiers' Pofcs M at Big $24, 'Qectra No Momwng 9G, 'Ai^ef lOG Detroit, April 6. ■ Only two new pictures come to town this week, "10th Avenue Angel" at Adaral^, and "April Showers" at Michigan, both lop> ping double bills. "Showers" shapes big and is pacing the city. Three holdovers this round with "Unconquered" ■ at Palms, and "Double Life" at United Artists, doing best. Surprise of week is "Mourning Becomes Eiectra" at bandbox Art Cinema where it's nearly as big on second week as the capacity opener. . It's done tiunaway nearly every show at 'upp.ed prices. Ideal weather is helping biz all over. Estimates for This Week Adams (Balaban) (1,740; 70-95)— "10th Ave. Angel" (M-G) and "Louisiana" (Mono). Very good $10,000. Last week, "Cass Timber- lane" (M-G) (6th wk), fine $7,500. Art Cinema (Marten) (450; 74- $1.20) — "Mourning Becomes Eiec- tra" (RKO) (2d wk). ContinuecJ surprising at $9,000 or near after terrific socko $10,000 opener. Broadway-Capitol (United-De- troit) (3,309; 70-95)— ''Robin Hood" (WB) (reissue) and "I Became A ■Criminal" (WB) (2d wk). Neat $14,000 after big $18,000 first stanza. Downtown (Balaban) (2,863; 70- 95)— "3 Daring Daughters" (M-G) and "Jiggs, Maggie In Society" (Mono) (2d wk). Moderate $8,000 after excellent $12,000 first week. Fox (Fox-Michigan) (5.100; 70-95) —"Sitting Pretty" (20th) and "CbaUenge" (20th) (2d wk). Strong $18,000 after sturdy $26,000 last week. Michisan (U-D) (4,039; 70-95)— "April Showers" (WB) and "Gu-1 ISsa" (WB). Big $24,000. Last week, "Big Clock" (Par) and "Bill and Coo" (Rep) (2d wk), sock $25,000. Palms (U-D) (2,761; 70-95)-^"Un- conquered" (Par) (2d wk). Satisfac- tory $16,000 after great* $21,000 stai'tei' at pop scale. United Artists (U-D) (2,976; 70- 9,'5)— "Double Life" (U) and "Wreck Hesperus" (Col) (2d wk). Okay $17,000 after smash $26,000 last week. COLMN OSCAR UFTS W$22M DENVER . ■? " ■ Denver, April 6." MUd weather is hurting the box- office this week. "I Remember Mama," holdover, shapes strong at Orpheum and holds.- "Double Life" looks fine in. two spots being boost- ed by Ronald Colman Academy Award. " Estimates for This Week Aladdin (Fox) (1,400; 35-74)— "Scudda Hoo" (20th) and "Dock.s New Orleans" (Mono), after week at Denver, Esquire, Webber, Rialto. Fair $3,000. Last week, "Black Narcissus" (U) and "Secret Door' (U) (m.o.), $4,000, Denham (Cocltrill) (1,750; 35-70) — "Unconquered" (Par), (2d wk)» Mild $9,500, but holds again. Last week, fine $14,000. Denver (Fox) (2,525; 35-74)— "Double Life" (U), day-date with Esquire. Big $17,500. Last week, "Love Trquble" (Col) and "Bill and Coo" (Rep), $13,000. Esquire (Fox) (742; 35-74) — "Double-Life" (U), day-date with Denver. Fine $4,500. Last week, "Gentleman's Agreement" {20th), big $5,000. . Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 35-74)— "Remember Mama" (RKO), Big $19,000. Holds. Last week, "High Wall" (M-G) and "Springtime" (Indie), $12,500. Paramount. (Fox) (2,200; 35-74) — "(2f.:ntleman's Agreement" (20th> (2d wk), day-date witli Webbir, Fair $10,000. Last week, record 819.000. Rilato (Fox) (878; 35-74)— "Black Narcissus" (U) and "Secret Door" (U), after week at Paramount, Aladdin. Mode$t $3,000.' Last week, "Scudda Hoo" (20th) and "Docks New Orleans" (Mono) (m.o.), fine $4,500. Tabor (Fo~x) (1,967; 35-74)— "Mummy's Tomb" (Indie) and "Mummy's Ghost" (Indie). Good $10,000. Last week, "Frontier Mar- shal" (20th) and "Belle Star" (20th) (reissues), $8,000. Webber (Fox) (750; 35-74)— "Gentleman's Agreement" (20th) (m.o.). Day-date with Paramount. Fair $2,i)00. Last weol:, "Love Trouble" (Col) and "Bill and Coo" (Rep), $2,000. 18 Judge Msguve Eeprts to NXs Mayor Anent GoAam s Co^ on Fib Prai HoUyivooct's pi-'Wiuccjis wlio aliM4 everythiag that goes vr£om with a New York Mm. sUat to the eiiy's lack of coopsiraUon, are taken aver the coals iu mi ofKcM repsrt to Mayor WilUmw i?- O'Dwyer. 3Rap- ping thafc jfenre ot fitawimfcers, Mz- zoner is lold Commissioner Edward C. aXugoim, head of the city's CoiBTOfeicc De:pt, that the alibi Iienccfortk i« uufc mow possible, tejwrt ae«lM*«.,for lUm compsuies t* file »pplfc*ttatut m the motiiingi 5M*4 tiseiit delimit by the ^tteuwoit. „ . , » Maguire, who WM Oeputixed last yesr ta clwor unMHcuifeL at a multitude o£ pcrmita «i»d, ■ppUca- tions required by aft aixJwtc code, tags as one «£ the nuior obiUaex to increased pgcodnctiatt In GaOuaa. Drlve^ni the fact thiit an iMuqr at tbtim eociateft with bMttMH V(MBBe pro- ductioH-HPodwwi, dfiMtat, iRUb- tract Tgfy6^*-i^m»--'*uM.-imi? roots % SUIzwMd- mi •» con- sciously age HWiMWiiiMli to the.euetanaBMeiii mdac^ tion elsewhere." aim» pnrftaem have acknowledged adhrMitacev New York production, report eo*- tinues, "many othei-s do not hesi- tate to ofifer as an alibi for every- thing tliat went wrong during past productltmfe hef e, the chatge' that the City of NteMr York failed to cooperate and permitted a cottf&iar: ance o£ what they term impoiHaM*' conditions." That the alibi has now been re- moved is conflmed, report says, by Universal, RKO and 20th'-l!'ox, whosfr execs have cjfpressed grati- fication hSi& MUddtoftftaMLjui New York. Msfflfc smmgtti *Hi*6Mi City" is cited as "a sgwtacaUc tut- ample of what can }» taw hmttn" With 90% of the film aiMt is tll»- city and all but three ■ o£ tt»!*etaw- and extras drawn from, the- Mew York stage, Hellinger enthusiasti- cally acclaimed the ciiar for its part, report declares. , , Televiidon . - Corporation counsel's- oAice is currently drafting an o>Merall cotf* Which will blanket botJt and television fields, Magulte dH- closes.- Video has run into parallel problems and because of this, Ma- guire has sat in on confabs with reps of NBC, CBS and Dumont Whidi are actually operaliu£ U-Ie- vision stations a& weU as the N. Y. Daily News whieh plans one. Mean- while, same procedures ' ore being used to liandle video api&Kti«Mi and permits as films. Maguire served as -cooi-dinator last year to help speed film produc- tion after -pniite«irs 'aa?pealed to Mayor O'Dwyer for aid. 3e later was named connnissioner of the newly-formed department designed to brmg business to New York. 20THTOREEASEHOSS SAGA MADE BY POUMAR Hollywoodj April: 1. Kicliard PdUmar has Inked a leasbi* p«ct with 20th'-l^or jRor "TTha Winner'* Circle,** sepiatoae aioiy of thorouyhhceda tnm hirih to thrw:- ye«r oiufs. miia.iikliMlM tmtmtmni owaeir Bofe VnmitA «^ha nmtrnwoBd "without pay; jockey Johunr t«BK- den; Billy Mills, starter at Samts Anita; Johnny Bcrardiiio, Clet*- laud outJIelder. aadl JjM^at. Willi*, playing :^Hume liiM. in hee fltat: fihn. - ■ ■ ' Folimar, Barardino, Howard Ijong and a niunber o£ stiidio asso- ciates partMpatad in ~ pic which ytm nwia at MnrtlifWi ITanna;; StaaU . AaHa. Xkmm. aad .Biliwrt Bark. tiack limiMrtiilMlMr la> JTow^. Hi» W^P ^ * ptVK Igram dndttned to iinpni>ve Drive-Iu ^itandardK, ^ IDlTOAUuw iiaa a eenbeal oMca here which aervea aa aa infolntia-- tion ceuiar indie UrivMn members whereVet located. Info OIL seaiidg: and paickittg; methods, patent saita kn«t otker data ia avail- able. Oraanlsatfaat will assist in. eatabliabirfk new outdbar theatzeii; iwMtia*. hik Stuffy-Pictures ^f^}'^ ran inlo an unekpacted hump Whiin th« winW of it, eoniaat tm "chauphaL movie fan" arrived m the CbSat traia: ISTew V«S last we*k. l-fca "cfaamp." 19-yeaisokl Artyna liaasra, waa imZtl^ by Cfalcaiio papeta ott. b*r way fftgk and Was ^ttcStitat'p^^^^^ w^«Hl soKK^rtin^. that all the teal .^lality pictwSTS^ A» a MHilt; theK« \yas a not uttexpedM chOl wbm. ihto t^mt^ wlM^ had |i|«pi««|.fio.fl)« !i|wiio»t|ult,>'tlti«r In* ""mOmFMim^^ Xotet new suburbans, tb*. CMHt- and the Avenue, opened kan last^ week, both for PhlL laiaar graup, 'J*. N. Childress will »sBM«Mr the Crest; C. V. Cayex-i the Amsmmc laAttstate Circuit ivtHHWHA a l,10(NjKat sabmfaMt. humm ,jkarfr tliis siunmer. • - , , 90mm opained t]iaA1d;i«K ItaA heea mis. fhe LtRiNto V&ti witdL WAold require- tlw stadias. Mlaer fhatt ih* «xMbitcKf$:|* i •ittee' -tmi ask fTfr-|'Tiaiaiiirii.n. ""ittee, '^fitea if tmiim-.mKiimi EOCK OF NEW SUITS WICHISEUNG Score on percentage-chiseling suits filed throughout the country In the majors' campaign to clean up on alleged claims for phoney re- turns mounted several notches ■fcigheir talis week with a batch of acMons Iwught ia West Virghua and CiHmiecitocifi. 4i4iuesame time, at the 0%edir :i»tii «f t&e double- pronged dfcis*, gt«up ttf eight suits pending against Ellsworth h. m& Paul Stanp in tCaledo dropped after settJejtnent " , Seven ixaiaA actions* separately filed by sSL malors exe^ tMted ArtistSt idaip WJWWgiBg di- rector, but latter'»«d4i.M wsis only an employee of 20th-Fo3c, who was paid to screen piettu*es, not to make them, National Council also plans tsor meet with leading esdiib organiations in the m»r totara amoont ttt.mo&if%illfikili'iilil»- pofld. 5 • '« iM- English pictiHra or as -sMn-^waaK Hollywood film, an afflUatad cir^" cutt mi^t be wise in takio«i-1ii# ■rittdt- ^picture. But that's the liHdia' iptw d fcj a a' a psnal^ for mak- 'im^wim trntmt, "not ttm' iault of tfaa' tafa aKFiiiSMi .U JWa Am is 'St fjUL' jgrn^: itf-'wntwnit' knows' from' paat.i»|nlsiai a- it baa. a bat-, ter chance of ■gHtfac thaatiifr dates. than a British picture of.anywtafi»^ near tjte same quidity." ' Hor the'dunce. they .take in los-' ing XJ. S. playdates, it was pointed out, the indies get other OMnpsn- sations in tba pact. First of aU, af^ course, as a result of it theyll be realizuig -additiaBal iooom* . an' their frozen funds in England...Bae^ ; ondly, the^ can buy rii^bft» wifih. frozen funds to independent Brit^' ish pictures far showing in the U. S. Tliirdly, they can sell, trans- fer or amalgamate their frozen coin itt England with that o£ other indies. This waa a large conces- sion to minor American firms tliat inight not pile up'sofficieutly- large blockages to {ffioduiee. pi(etar«s or make other investments on their own. Ent-U A import Epencfe , M«del for^Arcli' Sliced thinner, publicity-wise, than a drugstore sandwich, Lise Bourdin, arrived in New York from France last week. She'is the 2i- year-old Erencb model whose pio- ixm in a bathing suit in lifo nag, a couple yeaocs ago made her maae^ thing of an internattonal sen^tion. Back of ilie idea of briniSng her to the U. S. find sponsoring in part her sjxrweek stay hei-e is Enter- prise- and United Artists.. Their interest is In. the appellation. "Miss Arch of Triumph," which they have attached ta hn^ as (xm wa^ of getting mentitai of tte Bit plctare of the same name. She% ostensilbly here, however, for Americatt Overseas Aid and United Nations Aptpeal for 'Chil- dren:, which win use her for pro^ motienal .purposes in eonnection with its current fund-jsa*sing cam" paign. Group, incidmtally, wiH sponsca: the preem of "&s^' at the Globe, N. Y., April. 19, with Miss Bon3TOin,^in attendaneex. Transportaflon fot. the' femme was provided. by Air France in a publicity tieup and she has brought with lier a new wardrobe created by C^irven of Paris in another pub- licity hookup. She's been one of the most photographed models in Prance since the Life break. MM* Top come to this country Jfetweea Cte^ toher, 1947, and September, 9he two main American com^ paniips wit& prodtusing interests in «ti» eoMotry afre . TPlroers luid ISi^o. They make septate appl- ca&nj &r every major tecbnfcij man they wish to fasutig over' And these are considered individually by the Treasury and the MMstiy .o£"Ijabca:, The Ministry, in these 'mm^t eamitis the Assn. of Cine- "Eei^im^im lH^bom gmiting an ap- plieiitiicttt. *Ehe assqduitiiiax^ -with hundi^ds o£ unemples^ed ott its book*, makes every ejfroxt to pro- vide a British technieian bafojoe' agreeing to enlaop ot woileesBi Msm other countisteir.. Oarf sstisa a<'»cacetowwt. fat ii*|llilltrring.1h[e Motion Picture As.<«. of Am s rtfsias p*wiiriilsig wHa )«' bsfafg worked out by the advertising ad«lso9.'e«iBiid|'-M'th» ttgij^-- Qtfm^i made up of the advertising- p a Mirtly ta* M'the Mjar eaagMtas, is attaaspting a codificaUon of procedure* ka headline cafgr \ataieii have- grown- oiver the years. Council, which has baan lasgHng InfrecniinWy-ta ifaa past, is plan- ning a more active. role of cdllibotation wltk QawlsB .WUte, adminis- trator of , the advertising, code. CharW ^adAtUlnr. HWkFox pub-ad •Weft was rejected chairman of the group las^wiatlfc,, , . , ^Iteihcaaalac Tsleaaa Iqr tinited Artists o£ Westport International's '"•Klng.ol the OlyMfics" has caused tbe MtwasoB. U Modem Art, N..Y. to wilhd!raw.a sawcning; at "Olyn^jU," a «lm: versian ot the Oiympie Games held in Beriin. in 1936. Miiseum^ had. srigtaWUy programmed 'lOlympia" for the first two wealai in May; but whan 04. brought ant a new]jr «dited version. of the same gamas-liai- rsitalaf tih«atiiii- est in' im Alabama Mvet, .GaSm and Almnedtt tteiHitees in Sbnstou, - AnotiMaf ms&m jeinisi the heap in ChieitgE»*wi^ Alesaurfer- Thea* tre Corp, filing in i^ederal court for $51»,000 triple damages. Be- sides the eight majors, Balaban & Katz, Warncsia' Xfieatee circuit, Pttb}ix*SSe»oj* a live mnsift i*iow iBrete transmltteo to theatB» iscteeBSfc , As for theatre use of a televisei dramatic • show, the number , at Eights to be cleared up is trein^ doufi. They iniSude the author's Tights, vatious Actors* Equity nu- ings and the rulings of other unions. At the base of the entire situation, meanwhile, is the posr sibility that regular theatre ProJ™" tionists may refuse to work wnn film of shows televised by camera- men belonging to a rival union. It For the to the WARNIR THCATm TiAHi f ii#iiriii0i .ALBANY.....' ..Warner Screca* Room 79 H. Peafl St. r- 8:0{> PJM: ATtANTA. .. Z&ACmt^'Pox Sc. Rm. 197 Waltoffl St. N.W. - 2:3© KM. . BOSTON RKO Sctreeiui;^ Room 122 Arlington Si, -2:30 FdMi. " BUFFALO...... Paramount Sc. Room. e 464 FranldsM St. ls3© PJM. CHARLOTTE 20lls Cent.-Pox Sc. Rtn. 308 S. Chuifch St. - 10:00 AJM. CHICAGO Warner Screen. R«u 1307 So. Wabasli Ave. - 1 iJO P,M. CINCINNATI RKO Screen. Rm. Palace Th. BMg. E. 6th - 8:0© P.M. CLEVELAND. ..Warner Screen. Rtn. 230O Payne Ave. - 2:00 PJSI. DALLAS 20th Ceat.-Fox Sc. Rm. 1803 Wood St» ~ 10:00 A.M. DEMVER... J^ataMuoimt S«. Rta* 2100 Stout St. -2:00 Pi* dbsmoinbS 20th Cent.*Fox Sc. Rnfe 1300 Hifh §t.- 12:45 P3f. DETROIT. .. ...Fam Exchange JSldg* 23X0 C*M Ave. - 2:00 P.M. INl>IANMmiS..lJnhr««al S& 517 No. lUinois St. - 1:00 PJM. KANSASCITY ^Oth Cent.»Fox Sc. Km. 1720 Wyandotte St. ~ li30 PJMU LOS ANGELES Warner Sc Rm. 2025 S. Vermont Ave. - 2:00 PJMU MEK{PH£$....20di C«nt.«Fox Sc. Hbuh, , 151 Vance Ave. - 10:00 A.M. MILWAUKEE... Warner Th. Sc. Rm. 2ia W. yx^MMom Ave» - 2:00 PM, MINNBAPOLIS,.....W«mef Sc. Rmi. 1000 Cwrrie Ave, - 2:00 P.M. NEW HAVEN Watn«Th.ProJ.lJM« 70 College St. - 2:00 PJM. NEW ORLEANS 20th Cettt.t«Fox Sc. ttm» 200 S. liberty St.- 1:30 P,M. NEW YORK. .; Hoaie OfliciB 321 W. 44d» St. - 2:30 VM. OKLAHOMA 20th Cent.c- plaimed. " ' = M any late, Baxter mixes with a femme stooge of tlie gang (Virginia Gilmoro); Is oaptoBed ^wittt * nega-> tive Of (ho films; makien liis get-' away only to be grabbed again. MeanwIiUib, the positive, , some mighty careli^M haiidlbig^ reaches (he police who *(age *' grand manhunt tov tile Had. Wind- up which bais, good, smart pace i« a tliree-coKoefed gun battle - among the Nasti, &e cameraman and' the Nazi's gangster henchman -who's out to get his»boss. . Thesping is adequate it not standout. Baxter nieets hiii. role's requirements ttumgh he's iJrequent- ly emhim'afised by weak r linea. Miss- GUmore is fairish on. deUwi^r and cute In appearam^c. ' Xollmai* has little to do but on that little registers well. Phil Hufnton, as the- gangster, overmugs Ji). spots. Camera work is well, handled, eagily cashing in on tht' Ifew .York localie. Direction is faulty, in al- lowing iiie pae« too mui£ 'slack. Exgla X.ion-};«Iew«.ti£ Hfexathsn FIcturaK proilucljoit (iri-nBfc Satenstein, producer; Biibect li. .ToMejii-h, assoc. p'rodiiccr). Ctnvs Alaa Biutter, Vii-gtaiR GUmore; feature*. Slchard K-oUmar, Lorlng; Smitb. mi Hu»- ton, HHSBell CoIUns, Wendell PhtUlpa, .Toey I"aye. Direcfed by Jaeic Donohue. Screen- play by John Bright and Maa; Wills; efli- toiv Hobwt KlftKftr;- music, Jerome MoroHs; camera, wniism Mffiisr. At:<3Ioho, N. T., vreok Apill 3, MB. Bnnnlng time, 13 MINS. Phil SBarr , Alan Baxter PesK3?..."**4-— Virginia Gtilmorft BoiiumoTit .Richard Kollraar Avery... .,,.I.oriiig &nltU Gibbons. .s.... Phil JIuoton Beck ...,..Buana <;..i.MaarIee Manaos Millar.......,,,.,.,.,.^ IiRuren ailbert Recoptiantat ...JSrln O'Kelly "CInse-lTp" is touted by Mara- thon as fiSie first 'film completely shot in New York during the past IQ years and, as. such, it admittedly has . Qie» advantages of Gotham's solM baeMrops, a tonohf of iwridi-' in>i!>is «hieh>no WsMi^poA loso^bnd- geteE jGOMld 4ffoM. Adde from its giftfifom»Iajfttattan,-(Sie pic labors ijnder a yarfi. shot full ai holes, an overiy-woEdy pace and scripting that slips at times. Result should hs tsepid i»3ossinj^ ltt diud smd nabe sitrntions* Sot OBBi "Close-tip" which is olKditttslF mteded as a zippy ac- tioner, takes unconEcionahly long in getting started. Almost the first half, of Wie aim is spent' in setffitig the scene, , a pitocess delayed by talky comic gags which come off infraqiienitty, For another— and a strange device for a film dependent on action — a crucial scene involv- ing the struggle of two men in a . 12th floor" office and the forcible ejection of one via ttte window, is narrated by one chaEaeter but not depicted. Story details the efforts of a w.k. Nazi (Richard Kollmar), to gain and destroy a newsreel clip, acci- detttaily imm W caffiffltaman Alan Baster, wWfih pfoves tiiat ttife Bttfc- lerite is Mdlng out in New York a'--}r lie collapse of the fuehrer's go '/emment. Why he should per- isistentljf stick his neck -out, once the police are'oa ta his existence .and why films deemed so valuable .isbonld be as carelessly kicked around as they are in this story (SONGS) Oolumblsi i-Moaw of Colbert Clai-k produc- tion. Stars CBttrles' Btateetl, 'SpiiUo' '3ftnr-' actta; ff«.t«i'e» Kve "Millci-, I'lmtst Tayloi,-, Paul Gampbftll. Blrei-ied by. Bay J>fax«rr<^. Ort^in:tl Kcieoiiplav, JS^ouuku" ^XtnlXi capiera, George y. Kelley; odlLor, Paul SUiroteky. At New Xork Uientre, N. T,. wrslc, Mai'cli 30, •4S. Brunning time. SS 3M1I8. ? ■ Steve Laoey !i$ley BurnKstte mVle. P*W«1I 3fUler ■pop ByUwd;;. ,..,..ari>«w«t Hnj^t* Clint Rymd... ...PftPl -CampbeU Tommy BrXimd....<<^.t... 1. . J[}9ti«- Coppln Sheriff PArueJI. ,. . , PbtUp,. -Mwri)|, Dave Ryland....... Cawy Sr«o<5roi(*t' Lon I^riecoll.. .^.:x*il' AdaiM' Ben Tiaak i- ...Ktban I.a{dlK«r McCall ■ Rawik- McCarroll fixei eiRss Count}- B«y« . . i . ^ , "Buckacoo from Powder Bive'r" is a standard oatimer in Columbia's Ducango Kid aeries. CSiarles Star- rett shoots a nvean paic of. Sbt-guna m a dual Boie adeqiutely satisfying the actttw. «iH|!iifeeltn«Qta while Smiley BniiMHtfe winpliteji -the comr edy and the Cast CitaKty Boys fuc- ni^ a qtuuabefc of meal tunes. IVs okay film fare fi^r the actioa. spots and SatOEdaiy limlnee trade. FormiiU, j^ot '- sb!«' declUttkii tb«ir suppoH: in ^ eomp^fBiMf address^ The sp««ch is bt'aut||iiQy d«Uvei>ed and ably iwis forth K«)i^'t«MiOH8 for eschewjag a political aadi who diHipptovea of His Tsiifc's intcmt in poliUcs, but is aHreaaed when she -rediscovers the sanctity of ihe home. Armando lligliaci does okay as a crooked contracior who ad- mittedly pocketed a government housing subi^dy. In, a minor ro- mance are his son, Vittorio Mlttini, and Mlw Wagnani's daughter, Ave HittCbi. HuAc association occa- sionally proves somewhat embar- rassing to. ttie campaign for civic imprnvement, but tiw scripters plausibly find a solution, paoll Cxaveri's camerawork is good w'hlle pniduMr Paolo Frasca made skill- ful use of what apfieared to be locattao backgraunds employed f or pnctiealljr tlie entire footage. " Gilb. ■ iln Itoifen; English Tittesi Filmed against a back©?ound of poverty and squalor, "AhseJina" is a pictorial history «£ the stmiggles of the poor of an Italian slnm for food, better housing, , adequate transportation as well as improved sanitation. These oppressed peo- ple revolt against their exploiters under the leadership of housewife Anna JMagnani, a modem-day Joan of Arc. Documentary styled pio- teire is franlj and raw in Rs in- dictment of the corrupt resulting in aureflee b.Q. at the art houses where it should reap steo&g word- of-month. A secondary story theme, which toppers Iv&en: rmdsdkvws v«s» dropped. Beswlt is a sltdown by exhibs in many areas. Thatfs paridcularly true, it's said, of large circuits, many of wMch have an inflexible ruJie against bj«ring mm on 50% rental witliout allowance for house expenses and overhead. ' Under- stood, for instance, that ttvexi sev- eKd of ParamounJfa own partner- held ctecuifcs met baOMim aggdnst 3Eti3ang these mist iMTana" (K130>. Medium 920,000. Last wwsdk, '. Mat- ing Millie" ', .smooth 117,600. KMC (FWC) (l,S70f «Mil>-- ,"Naked City" ftl) l*ai< wk).- Good 98,000. LastW4|«lc, W>U4 f»l,000, . stoii* City ivwci mit.m-$i)~~ "israked City" (C) (4tlt wk): Heas- ing $'i,tm. l,^Bt week^ f4,90u. VniU4 Ariiatsi (l/A) .(2,100; flO-' ID- -"Naked City" (U) (4th wk): Near $11,000. Tjisfc week, ,fast $12,700. . ■ir»*»wn (two ajtm «!hmi)— "Sitting PMtty" (20di) and "lOhjilr lenge" (^Oth), Sharp 114,000; tJtsb week, "Agre«meMt"'^(20th). (2d wfc), fait |«,500. ▼•itiw (PWC). (88S; m-itS)— "Bambi" (JBKO) ■ (nteue) and ."WMeni Jfiecitag*" (RKO)''(2dwk). Ote $3,900 in 8 dayc . ]:ji4fe.«ieek, Mmmimi:-.:, : ^-v-.' "mm (^ mm*w^^m Okar |T,SOO. ImA .weftk. $ti;OOQ. WJiMn (WB) (240D; <041>— '.'April., SbQwemf (WB) (M vkK But 'JMiM' Fat 12G^ 2ili Baltimore, April 0. ' B-acUcally solid list of • h.o,x after last week's big holiday lineup is holding faidy weUj this session. ''£i«nilm«R*A' i^gmbMBf ! is, veiry fbrte «t mrmmnaiA. *1fitl«ed O^" shapes exfam sbnng at IMw'* Gan- tur:;. Good action cpatintiM fhc ''t Il«member Mama" at Town in sec- ond' week. • » EsttMafati for nis Wedk Centunr (Ldew's) (3,000; ;20-flO) —"Naked City" (U). Od wk). Pomt- ing- to trim $13,000' after sock 118.000 getaway. HipvodEMn* (Rappaport) (2,240; 20-70)~"EndB of Earth" (CoU plus vaude (2d wk). ' Fairi'sh $11,000 aft«r.nice preem at *1S,500. • Ketth's (Schanberger) (2,480; 20:- 60)— "Unconqueted" (Par) fi,4M er. WDtrfalr (Hicks) (980; 35-55)— "Song of Heart" (Rep). Town's lone new entry, and aU rirfht at $6,000. rjMt week, "The Spoilers" (Par) (reissue), average $4,000, Miar (Mechanic) (1,800; 20»«0)— '^'G«BtU!:man.'s Agceemeni" (2mh) <2d wk^ Robust $14,000. after mighty initial sesb at $18,700. Stanleji^ WB) (3,280; 25-75)—- "April Showers" (WB) (2d wk). Oif to $8,000 after fatriy good $t3,200 opener. Xow» (Rappaport) (1,500; 35-65) —"Remember Mama" (HKO) (2d wk). Big $12,000 fellowijig« fine f 15,3W openhig «ee3k. SAN FEipc^CO ... <€onlinue* ftom page 13) Big $26,000. Last, week, "Bishop's Wife" (HKO) (4th ^), $ia.0OO. Fox (EWC) (4,851; eO'-gsl— "AUaa a Gentleman"' (M-<3t) and "10th Ave. Angel" (M-G). Qteay S3.T.500. Last week, "Gentleman's AgBae- ment" (2(ilh), sMdded to $12,W ia six days. Warfteia (PWC) (2,85,8; 68^5^- "Three . Daring. Eraugiitea'S" (M<^). Husky $23,000. Last week. "Sitting Pretty" mm (M 5temg$17.- 500. JTaranutnui (Par) (2,6*0; S0-8S) — "April Showers" (WB) (2d wk). Good 1(14^, Last we^ sock $23,- 000.' St. Francis (Pat)' (1,400; 60-S5)— "Big Clock" "mgh Wall" looks modesi r-t the State. If 3 ihe thkd Loop wesk for the socko "Cill Noithside" at Lyric. Continued cold atid clear weatlier are helping. Kutfniates for I'his Week Aster (Par) <900; 30-44)— "Hich Tide" (Mono) and "Swamp' Woi?" an" (KD (reis.sue). Fair $1,500 in 5 days. "Docfai of New Odean.q" (Mono) and "Mary Lou" (Col) opened todsg' (Tues.), Last week. and •'Caged Fury" (PaiO, fair $1^600 in 5 days. ■ ewataty IPai'} (1,000; 5D-70)— "Sq WeU* Bememberod" (RKO). Light. $8,000. -Last week, :'Call Mortliside" {20th) (2d wk), big $8,0«i0. CI:o»'.h«r (Par) (1,000; 44)— "Pranken8tehi"-(U) and "Dracula" (U) (reissues). Okay $4,000. Last we«kf . "Joe Palooka ICnockout" (Mbho) and "JSggs, Maggie in So* elety" (Mono), mild $2,300. . -IjrHtt (Pari '(1,000; 50-70)— "Call Norttside". (20th) (m.o.). Third loop week. Solid $6,000. Lasi week, "Saigon"- (Par) (."Jd wk), $5,000. X,yee«m (Schreiber) (1,900; 00- $1„30)— "Mourning Becomes Eloc- ten" (BKO). Two-a-day at uppsd scaUt under N.Y. Theatte Guild sponsorship. Single week nwy satisfy demand. Ok.iy .it $10,000, and may hold. Last week, "Goona- Goona" (Indie) and "Africa Speaks" (Indie) (reissues), fair !t;3,000. *uBo. C«y. (Par) {4,40Q; 50-70)— "Onconqjiered" (PaiO (Zd wk) (2d nm). Back at regular scale looks nice $12,000 after w»w $lff,500 in BX po^ iklt Bow- land, WilidnslHIHEt. Bert Steam; intd their wired jnaaic |Hfirii»» tta^cr to SfthenectKdy 1^ iem Ownetx hm». Cmrj^ AlMWt 1100,000. Chicago. -V. Lt-CoL Joseph qo«ii:, WBCX :the«- tre as«i8t$uitMti«aag«r hue, re* tamed to «cHv BKO .einaiit- topper, opmed fa Nev)^^ York week fa commentfag on Audience Research Institute's report that adult even- fag prices across the nation had hit the all time pealc average of 50.4c. This compares with 46c. a year ago. Kfagsberg said he thought any admission cuts would be a grave mistake at this time, when foreign restrictions and top production costs are causfag producers to strain to make ends meet. As for effect of cuts on the b.o. draw» Kfagsberg declared: "If th^ haven't got 50c, they haven't got 45c, so it's not going to make any diffei;ence." . He said any slashes at the top of the heap fa first-run pric^ would have to be immediately re« fleeted fa sindlar cuts aU the wajr down the Ifae; to maintain the standard differentials. Result would be a serious dedfae fa ovec^ all receipts, he stated. Sface a slight flurry of trint« mings took place fa the face of a fall off fa busmess last sprfag and summer, there's been no fadicatfan of any tendency to cut. Trend, as the ARI figures show, of course, was fa the opposite direction. Cuts that were mad^ last year, such as those of the, Paramount, State and Roxy, K.Y., were for eaily-bhid admissions'. CTOA's Trailer I mia. Howfwar, dtiiv*qr«»«l*tX*» prom^d Iw ao' lopiK fimt it mad* th* tliottljt^ 9i "tAishiileoilor «iriiniH on th* sm» IiiUoiL 'ibK liIiMASSttt^ white. Charles Sdtlalifcer <(2(Mji - Foxy, cbahrman, of thai. APPCx pujUUt relltttoM svlKomndttee, presldftd ma ■ Jlondiqr!* f siion In the ab- sentee of the KOBp'« regular fchair- man, Hattrice Bergnum (Univer- sal), who Is sick. Yeirterday (Tues.)) SchUifer, Hpof^f liaet, Bergman;* jMriiiittl 'Jit .Vr mim SteOof^ (envrnm*^ and Svpii {Stadn (sotki iMet^xirjliriSuCi&idson; <^tabnn«n,oB TOA'f i^Odfaptty comsiitteei on por' Oppcittioti in^ardtag the trailer and att Industry iniMle Relations «am- pidgn fa 'iM^Hntl. No conctoidcNri came' OBt^ of. UM) meet mept m. promise by Hudson that TOA' would submit figures otiDif ' num- ber of theatres it'cbuld assure tiling' dates of the trailer. ' - . TOA-MPAA >T.of ;ttW' imbnad! men'a lacic oC tothtistasm tot it> fal regantl'to production, tiiey see tU ' kinds ' of heiidaches Juviilved ^fa s^eetinA the ^in^ let it be known tl^y have no fa- tention of showfag the trailer. And if one exhib doesn't show it, his competitor surely isn't, because it will advertise the first man's house. The pul}-ad men are altogether dubious that a sufficient number of playdates can be obtafaed to make the expense and troubl{i»' worthwhile, , In the meantime, however, tiie TOA retains its enthusiasm for the idea, and is prepared to go ahead on its own if the majors won't co^ operate. It claims that it can guar- antee that a sutticient number of houses, will run the trailer to fan sure success of the scheme. HMO ADDS 3D ncn ID Him. . Still hhddUng on phms for re. «unpti«wt otpcoductionfa Enclnnrt -aretro has. tenUttvely id^d "Si t«m tft-NiRht" to thi list of fiw 4» h« nwd^^thew^ durmi t^ S .to* year. , .IRENE DUNNE In GMrK Stevcm' Prtd. «l ;: "I RtMfMIER MAMA" bttlnn ' eEk CEOOE* Ptwiimil Spectacular Stag* PraMntalioh Ohm- pmii* • HOMOtKft • OORN by HARRIET PARSONS' ^iddliihlin a junket to England some time in May or JFune to survey conditions there. In g«a»al, the stttdlo chief tinged his remarks with an opti- aiistie tume stating that the com- pmr would show a profit despite economic difficulties both fa tho U.S. and abroad. Attendees at the meet voted 1,260,165 shares in at^rOvai of a prtqiQsed sale of a whoUy-owiied Bep, -subsid to a "mystery man" ts^Mseuted.by a Brooklyn attor- ney, for a! joiiidmum price of «850,- QOD. Subsid Is ConsoUdated Molded Products Coi^., manufacturer of 'iaaBtic8,.and unrelated to- the film, Industry, ■ Reason for the sale, its understood, is parent company's feeling -ihat for Consolidated to continue- openations would require Ijieavy capital Investment, which It's unwilling to shell out. Five members of the board were reelected for a three-year' period during the session. They are Richard W. Altschuler, .Tames B, Grainger, Albert W. Lind; .ITed- erick R. Ryan and Yates. Jiatter, who expects to leave for the Coast Sunday (18), also touched on He- publio's activities fa color. Re said that the firm's progress on .Tru- color was gral^ying, that the process Was now "conunerciat," and he hoped to add a third tint to the teclmique in the near future. Board, meeting following th* stockholders' conclave resiltted in reelection of all current ottlcei-s. i Mwriflff FREitttininiAy! FRANK SINATRA i MtRMHl bV IIICO RADIO riCIURES I sst Continued from.puse 3 sss difficulties of proving Conspiracy Also that the Loew's dates pro^ duced .poor results and circuits could Mint-to that as good enough reason 'for not boolcfag the iifan^ As against that, however, is. the surprise husfaess recently res^ tered in Chicago. "Vcrdoux" did well fa its first run at the RKO Grand, and then exceptionally strong fa second run at the Jaek- son Park. Subsequent dates were also good.. Fihn has run the gamut on re- views from the ecstatically lyrical to downright libels on the picture and producer. However, mitigating against it most has been the op- position of religious and patriotic groups. Former have objected to what they claim are anti-religious attitudes, whUe the latter, in the -light of the present anti-Com- munist attitude, have charged Chaplin personally with, leftist leanings. ContiiHied; from ihik« only CBS, DuMont and ABC later on are potentials. If it can break even on tiie first year, 20th' will have garnered vitiuibie experi- ence heiddes befag fa' a positieir fa pick up addled cofa as atitiliates join the NBC net. The heavy nut hai discouraged a niunhw of deals. N, Y. Daily News which will open WPIX; June 15, tentatively approached .Warneiv Pathe. but notldng came firom ini- tial feelers an^ tiie News there- upm started., its own uewsreel vnng. . Paramount dickered a number of . iqEKmsoni indudfag Chesterfield, General Motors and Pfallco but the jprice sacred as » major st&mbUoK block .mm Bom Olyfaplc film laniiiig m VL"* shelves, while tX gets "Christopher CofamfaH^*' -84*1*1^ It i>R mdric March . Other films going to U are "Bhmche Futy,^" "Blue Lagoon,'^ "Dulcimer Street," "The Passion- ate Friends," "Daybreak," 'Snow- bound," "One Night With You," "Woman Hater," "Corridor of Miri-ors" and "Good Time GirL"- EL's other pix arfe "Red Shoes," "Saraband," "Scott of the Ant- arctic," "Esther Waters," "Lord Byron," "Broken Journey," "Mr. Perrin and Mr. Traill," "Miranda," "The Calendar" and "Sleeping Car to Venice." HLMSMtPf tmmmmm •r ymir fnnrel t!d(«OffleM, Afrffnet Tararfiwl • fticlitf»l/«f CmI«- * ftet*l N»tr Via*«r • 120 tmaihtf AHmiCAN TeUphone Circle 6-3001 fRANS ATLANTIC, AIRMS N. T. onicti mm mcain. aAWL««J^ WeilnesA9yi,_A pi'U.7, 1948 / AtmAUylED MM KainsaS City, April 6. - *" Allied Independent Theatre tvmers of Kansas and Missouri is wSdving' « "pioneer bfinquet" de- /iSd to honor industry veterans whoVe fteen actively and contlnu- . mislv engaged in the film business -to a period of 40 years of longer. "Oldtlmei's will deceive a "suitable toW" of Allied's esteem at a din- 'W to be held in cbnjiUietion with ■'m organization's first annual con- 'wntion, slated to convene here 'May 12-13. It's planned to make -the pioneer fbte an annual aflair. I Meanwhile, Allied ' States' na- tional prexy William. Ainsworth 'hss. S&vised the local group that he'll attend the forthcoming con- K ciave.' Other Allied regional heads, • including Col. H. A, Cole' of Texas, • Tj^eman Rembusch of Indiana and I Bay Btaasji ot Michigan, are also s expected, as Allied, general coun- .sel and board chairmaj* Abram F. Myers. It's anticipate^ the meet's . jigenda will deal with adoption of ■by-iawsi election of a board for the Jtciopte* y9air ;a»d,' alleged distrib- AKMIT's Convention 4 J Denver, April 6. " ' Annual convention of the Allied 'Bi^ta' Mountain Independent The- ' attes has been scheduled for May tS'lS at the Cosmopolitan ' hotel *'|£re. ' Allied toppers throughout ' country will isit in on the busi- ' pess sessions. Also announced last 'week was the appointment of 'ABMIT prexy John M. WoUberg, 'as regional veepee for National • Allied to rep a ■ newly-created ' i'westem division made up ,of • ABMIT, Noi;1:h Central Allied', Al- ' lled of lowa'Nebraska and Allied • 02 Kansas-Missouri. I $8,000,000 Boost I ' jL:-^ cbntlaued trom page 3- i • Kcture Assn. "of America had done •a i5n6 job if $5,000,000 were re- alized from the ERP biU and $3,- 000,000 from the Smith-Mundt. Latter covers the "Voipe of Amer- ic»V broadcasts, into which the heaviest part 'of tb« coin is ex- pected to go. ■ MPAA instituted the idea of get- ting films a dlwy from both bills ' and has fought for the appropria- tions all the way through. ERP provides for repayment to Ameri- ■" can. companies in dollars' for part of their frozen monies abroad, in those countries where the media •'oresttpporttng U. S. policy. Smith- ' Slundt pty>Mae8 for direct coA- ' tracts under which Yank firms would distribute designated pic- ' tures (out' of their pwn product ) in stteciflc countries for the State - Some highlights of the ERP bill, from the point of view of the pic- ture industry, are these: ■ As the legislation is worded, it ' apparoi^tly will ndt be retroactive. la other wfords, no money will be available against funds frozen paor-to^ the act going into Sifect. No government help will be ex- tended to unfreeze profits. The assistance will cover only the share , of the cost of the picture applica- ble to the country in which the ; cohi is frozen. For example, if funds are frozen in Italy on a , spediflc flhn, it will be necessary to figure out how much of the cost, including prints (but probably not including negative), can be applied , to Italy. Then the government will pay dollars in this country for the hra blocked in Italy. Furtliermore, the law is not to help Hollywood avoid normal busi- ' ness risks. It appUes only to the - special problem of frozen funds. , Primarily it will be the State • Pepartment which will be allocat- , ^""Sh. However, the Army wm also step in, since the compa- . Wes are expected to get back costs aavanced in the military occupa- . non wnes whore the armed forces *re in control. / «„™ conference report, the «vni?f adopted. It was in part: f-v*u ^"ate recedes on (agrees S™,™ P''«>yfs*on as passed by the House requiring that when any fS»5 "»^er a guaranty, cnrril currency or credits in such Sn7 *" '^^^P««t of which the • Com« "^^^ honored shall be- T^y^P^'"*'^ o* United conr«l' provision will, of only to the amount ^ • ■CUrZ?»,*'T''"'=y credit in such "««ae under the guaranty." Kost Morelk B. 0;. SSSS Contlnuea from page < went to "Knew Susie" (RKO), mainly because of consistently good, if not smash business shown. Best of Tunners-up for month were "3 Daring Daughters" (MrG), "April Showers" (WB), "Miracle of Bells" (RKO), "Voice of Turtle" (WB) and "Albuquerque" (Par). Of new product , hinting future potentialities, outstanding at close of month appeared to - be "The Search" (M-G), "Big Clock" (Par), "Bride Goes Wild" (M-G)) "All My Sons" (U) and "Mr, Blandings" (SRO). "Showers," which only started out the final week.of Maith and "Bells" seem sure of being heard from this month. Showing made ..thus far by reis- sue of "Robin Hood" (WB) is one of the surpiisek- of the ti although the cast niones should, have been the ttpoflC. : Anotlier strong reissue is "Bambi" (RKO), particularly during Easter Week, "Cass Timberlane'r.(M-G) still was getting nice money during March although . its really sock showing was in February when it copped first placOi "Bill and Coo" (Rep),, which won a special Oscar, mahagftd some nice money, when launched Eaiiter Week to casl^. in on' juvenile trtide, "Smugglers*' (EL), which was in- clined to be spotty during the month, racked up solid biz in N. Y. "Sign of Ram" (Col), whiclj. started but slowly* showed up better on final dates of m\>nth. . Definitely .disappointing, as i;e- flected by past month's showings, are "My GirLTisa!.' (WB) and "Ideal Husband" (20th). "Scudda Hoo" (20th), which shaped nicely in sev- eral spots, did not get the smash coin anticipated in several play- dates. n PAR'S BID lOR FRENCH, BEGIAN 16M jilSpiESS VVJ^y April Paramount is making a bid for the busluess of thousands of 16m houses in France aftd Belgium by launching a block of 12 pix in nar- row-gauge distribution. It's the first step taken by Par in Europe to> peddle 16m films to theatres. Entire program is being handled through the Paris office in. regular dlKtributioti without ' Ststi^ up a separate iotce such has. All the jSlms are M Istast. one year - old. No . oj?{t6sitidn from French iexbibs is expected' because l6m distribution is tradltiiohal in this country. Only, other spot in which Par is now releasing narrow-gauge pix in quantity is the Philippines. Pro- posal to handle the films similarly in the Near East was weighed but has been definitely dropped. One reason impeding iPar and other ma- jors i's the terrific print cost, which is much higher proportionally than for. 35m films. That's due to the smaller rentals garnered in 16m bookings alnd also the fact that 16m pj^j^ctionist^ are generally inex- perienced. Their bungling is said to exact a heavy, toll oh prints. Warsaw^ March 31. Edward Maswe'skl has been ap- pointed pub-ad manager of Motion Picture Export Assn.'s office in Poland. He succeeds Dan !•& Boche, re- signed. ' ■.. ■ Shifts H» Ad AgebcjrBizBabktoFCB After a • one-picture tryout of Donahue & Cae, Samuel Goldwyn last week shifted his advertising account back to Fobte^ Cone ■& Belding. Change«of -mind. 'follows that of last summer, when . FC&B lost the account to D&C for "Bishop's Wife." Commissionable billings . to FC&eB from Goldwyn this year are expected to amount to between $1,- 000,000 and $1,250,000. They'll de- rive from two films, the regular re- lease of "Best Years of Our Lives' and distribution of the new Danny Kaye film, "A Song Is Bom." One of the factors influencing the producer's about-face was the fact that FC&B prepared the cam- paign for the orighial, upped-ad- mission release of ^'Best Years." II. $. 1 $111 Biz Here to Stay i Continued (ro'vii page' U , Metro sales veepee William F. Rodgers to switch from his former steadfast refusal to countenance domestic IQm distribution. Metro is expected to enter the field slowly in this country. Com- pany" will probably tee off operas tions .first in Canada, where . dis^ tribution is under the jurisdiction of the domestic sales staff. R. Haven Placoner, of Loew's Inter- national's 16m department, recent:- ly conducted a- scouting tour of Canada preliminary to the start of the program. Once Canada is rolling, Metro will then swing into operation in this country. Considerable adverse exhib re- action has already been voiced to preliminary reports of the 20th and RKO programs. Both Allied Slates Theatres and the Theatre Owners of America have moved the 16m problem near the tops of their respective agendas. Most vociferous -opposition, of course, has come from independent e-xhib groups who, following their usual procedure, look upon this . latest move of the majors as another at- tempt for the distrib companies to' make more' money at their ex- pense. In answer to this, the majors have followed various lines of ar^ gument. All those going into - f> mestic 16m distribution have guiiir- anteed. tliat they'll protect their 35m custoniers by not turning out any films, on narrow-gauge ■ stock less than 12 to 18 months old. °In addition, all 16m locations mujet be okayed by the local branch man- ager. ' Twentieth, .which paced the majors into the domestic 16m' field, has argued that the steady expan- sion of 16m distribution is impos- sible to stopi hence, regular exhibs can best be protected if the majors step in and raise the bars against so-called jackrabbits. RKO Also 'Con^dering' RKO^ while not making a spe- cial pitch for theatrical distrib of its 16m product, will accept re' quests for such showings, All con- tracts, though, are subject to the 1 protection gnaiantees. IJSetrO;. is expected to offer still another ar- gument. Since the films to be re» leased via narxow-^gauge stock are oldies, M-G wiU argue, .any the- atre playing them will be in the position of a lower run operation^ Thus, instead of ' there being three runs for an area, the addition of a 16m installation ' will make for 'a fourth run on each film. . That fac- tor,. according to Metro spokesmen, has apparently been overlooked so far by the indie exhibs. All the majors, ineanwhile, still hope to get their 35m customers to expand into 16m operation. Small-town exhib could substan- tially increase his grosses by open- ing a narrow-gauge installation in av neighboring locality which is too smaU. to support a 3^ theatre, If s argued. . ' MPEft Plitch SSa Continued - trom page 7 ;s ate. more profitably by going out and making their own deals, ini- pendently of the Export Assn. V Bis- Slows The Hague, March 30. Pix business' in Holland haJi slowed down steadily the. past threfe months, especially in the provin- cial theatres. In larger cities, mat- inees have fallen off considerably and only verygobd- pictures have chances for holdover. Feeling pre- vails that the good times for the- atres are now Over and that exhlb^ distribs must do a selling job On pix, as before the war. ' .American pictures are 'still doing best at the boxoffice, followed by the English, though British-mades are up to 80% of American imports. French pictures have gone down. New amusement- taxes (generally from 20% to 35%) are a big head- ache for the exhibitors, who prac- tically foot the increasb, as admis- sion prices have been lowered. The Nederlandse Bloscoop Bond is pro- testing to the authorities, but tilt now without results. ' UAW-WOR Clash Stir$ Up Chaise (tf PosA Red 'CentroF ti Mm Washington, April .6. • ]>osSibtUty of Communists gain- big control of the CIO's United Automobile Workers in- some fu- ture election headlined arguments at a Federal Communications Com- mi^on hearing here, last week. The Detroit UAW local met the Issue head-on in its contest with WCAB, Pontiac, Mich, to uise the 1130' kc channel for a juUtime sta- tion in Detroit AxUitir Sharfeld, counsel for "WCAK, reminded the tCC of tes- timony by UAW reps at an Octo- ber," 1946 hearing on the union's earlier bid for the 680 ke slot hi Detroit: At that time, Allen jSaylor, ex-radio director, testified a He" publican or a' Commonist would have as much chance as a Demo- «n«t to work at the union'a pro- iposed station. ■ Emll Mazey, UAW secretary- treasurer on the stand last Thurs- (1), punched home the success of new UAW prexy Walter Beuther In purging Comndeft in the vef&m ranks and dedbired VAW would "definitely" not hire them at any of its AM or FSS. stations. He adr mitted it was possible but "highly improbable" that any Communist would be elected to UAW office in the future. Morris. Novik, public service consultant for the APL's ]iitematl(mal , Xadies ^Hraient Workers' Union stationst has . re- placed Saylor as UAW radio- ad- .JBlsor.,.-' . Testimony by Mazey, Movik and 'Victor Reuther, UAW education director who will supervise the Detroit operation, brougbt oat the following: . The Intemati«Hial UAW has guaranteed loans up to $300,000 jftntf' Dtock purchases of $160,000 to underwrite costs of a non-profit -jradio opieriktlon. S^»ck will later be .ihadfi' Available to other unions in Detroit, although it is planned to sell only enough airtime to cover ' expenses. Time wiU not foe sold for xeligious or controversial stanzas and the station is committed to a jpolicy of providing equal time for . «U points of view< Station will not be used "for collective bargaining" but as part of "the union's educa- tional program." F-C-B bi-&-Oiit On Fix Accpiuts Foote, Cone Sc Belding agenqr, which resigned thfe $12,000,000 American Tobacco 'account a cou- ple weeks' back, is la the middle of some maneqnrerfttg OC iUm com: pany accounts. . ' . Becently F-C-B losjt the |1,000,- 000 Walt Disnqr - ttiUuii to La- Boche & Co. agency. However, the loss has just been cancelled out by F-C-^B acqoisitibn of the Sam Goldwyn account. Xatter, amount- ing to appi-oxtmately $1,250,000, actually 'represents « reinheritance Of the billings. I,asVfall Goldwyn moved It from" F-C-B to Donahue & Co., and decided lAst week to re- enter it on the F'C-B books. Adver- tising will be channeled into the new Danny Kaye "A Song Is" Born" pic ' and the regular reletee of "Best Years of Our Lives." E-C-B's most lucrative film bill" Jngs are in the BKO business, run- ning in excess of $3,000,000. There have been some reports that BKO lias other agency plans for fbB ac- count. To which BKO retorts: "We're doing, very well, thank you." .. Meanwhile, the agency has just wrapped up a new $1,500,000 ac- count tp partially offset loss of the Am^can Tobacco business. New billings are on behalf of the Glass Container Manufacturers Institute, with advertising (non-rddlo), de- signed to promote use of glass con- tainers. Washington, April 6. The Federal Communications Commission lost another of its top men this week when Vernon Wilk- inson, assistant general counsel in charge of broadcasting, announced bis resignation to join the private law firm of Haley & McKenna here. Fornier FCC chainnan Charles S. Denny brouj^t Wilkinson into K!C firom the Justice Department la July, am CINCY SlMFCiy^ 'GO FM' IN 6 WEEKS Cincinnati, April 6. Within six weeks, passengers wiB be bearing news, mtiaiei sports, and weathoK report* «« iher ride ia ntotor buses, trolley -coaches and new PCC streandined istreetears in Greater Cincy. Programs will be furnished by WCTS, FM station of the CBS and Times-Star affiliated WKBC. Contracts for the Cincy ^d* of the Ohio. BLyor wc)^ closed last week witii Cincinnati Street Rail' way Co. The servico company is Radio Transit, Inc., a "VVKBC aCfili- ate. The Green Line, which oper- ates in two Kentucky counties op- posite Cincy and crosses the Oiiio River to this city, signed several months -ago for WCTS programs in its vehicles. Radio Transit, Inc., installs the receivers, severe of which are plwed in each bus, coach or car so ttmt the< vdome will not be too high for ridm' comfort. " ■■■ BiztfikeatWUB Sharp change in programming poUcy at WIJB. N. Y., following Herman Bess? moveover as com- mercial manager, is cueing indie's bid for a spot in the business sun. Station, Which never had a- disk jock^, now has Art Green in two shows starting Monday (5>, one 10 a.m. to noon, titled "Crooner's Comer," other, 2 to 5 p.m., called "Musical Sportsreel." Latter will carry baseball re- sults in season and is- now incor- porating racing results, in a tiein with tbie Morning Telegrafrfi and DaUy Bacing Form, JBess is 'also negotiating for iialne talent to ap- pear as guests ffld Greene's airers. Switch from longhair to pop policy is as radical a programming move as station has ever made. Bess claims new' policy has al- ready paid off with a 65% hike in billings over previous week, ATlEASfMSTATIONOP WasIiittgtOB, April 6. Alfred' M. Landon^ GOP Presi- dential contender bi. 1^6, picked up his third standard broadcast station here last week when the Federal Communications. Commis- sioni authorized Iiim to oi>erate on 1270 kc, da;;time only with 1 kw power in Liberal, Kan; Landon is already permittee of KTLN, Den- ver, and KCLO, Leavenworth. He identified himself in the FCC ap- plications as an independent oil operator of 20 years' standing. Concurrently, Landon entered a bid at FCC for tele operation in Denver. Undcj: monicker 'of the Landon Broadcasting Co., he ap- plied for channel 5 and plans to use a 16.9 Inv visual transmitter. SydoD Vke Ted Adams As Director of Teople' Bod Erickson, former WOB (N. Y.) program director mow pro- ducing "We, the Peojple" for Young & Bubicam, has raided his old stand for a new director for the show. Jim Sheldon, WOB ex- ecutive producer and program manager, will check out April 16 to take over the directorial chore on "People.'^ He succeeds Ted Adams, who has resigned as of April 15, and plans a long vacation before re» sumlng radio activities. He's been with the CBS show more than six years. • Except for some magazine writ- ing tof wliich he has commit- ments, Adams will loaf for three of four months at his place at Pawling, N. Y., then go to the Coast for a short time on personal business. Delivars the Newt BOB PETRE KliZ does an exacting job oi gatliertns and editing the news tor the Denver area, then turns It over to Veteran newscastera like Bob Betre to deliver it to llstenera over the 'air;". KL2;- DENVKR. ABCs B WUy. RatH^TopsISS A table in tbe March 15-21 Kooperatittg Pocketpiece, out last week; eontiSaed the best news AfiC has seen. The web was ahead of CBS, 9.» to 9.S, in the total avtr- ages of aB ovening sponsored pro- grams. "This," said ABC'ors, "is what we've been Ifidng for," It's the first time ABO has topped CBiB in this respect, txc«pt on the Dec. X-7 report, when the Loui»-Woleott fight jumped nie ABC average abnoraudly nigh. The March 18-21 beat, .bowever, is no fluke. In proof, ABC execs point to the stoady rate at which the rating- gap oetween the two nets has oeea closing during the past two years. On the same re- port in IMS, ABC ttaUed CBS, S,4 to 10.3; On the same jcepoct bk 1947, the gap was narrowed to 7.7 against 10.4. By March 1-7 this year, it was: squeezed to 10.1 for ABC to 10.4 for CBS. Isn't Just on Hoopentingi, either, that the race is pnviilg neck-«Bd-aeck, ABC paints out 'The Nielsen report for Feb. 15-21, also out last week, showed ABC with a commercial nighttime aver- age (6-li p.m., Smjuday- through $aturday) of 11.4 against CBS' 11.9. On the preceding report, Uie same averages were 10.8 against 11.9. All this is mutic to ABC ears. Which often bum tarn. xeferenc«s to CBS and NBC as "tkt only net- works." ABC as yet, however, is quite a way from catching up with CBS and NBC in volume of sponsored evening time. CBS has 1,600 ndn- utes weekly and NBC 1,639 to ABC's 865. Conte, Bams, Pit Br^ 4G Show Among Flock On Lester Lewis Ageida Lester L^wis Associates, package agency, has come up with a show for the Mutual net featuring John Gonte from the "AUegro" legiter; David Biu-ns from "Make Mine Manhattan" and Patricia Bright, nitery comedienne. Titled "Top- ical Times," variety airer is being peddled for $4,000. Script is being handled by Mort Lewis, Larry Markes and Ralph Tollers, with Ward Byron directing. Two other shows just packaged by the agency include "America Closeup" for ABC. Show is 30- minute news roundup with Martin Agronsky from Washington, Bebe Daniels from Hollywood, Harriet ■Van Home from N. Y. and Milo Boulton as emcee. Tab is $3,500. Ctther show Is '*Mr. Giveaway," with Dennis James, which has been buOt as a' summer replacement for agfflu^ cooddcratlon-at $1,500. •Ml Corn Vet's Bep gwiteb Chicago, April 6. Iowa Tall Corn Net IS eta- tios is between reps, following the April 1 breakaway of Taylor, HoWe & Snowden radio sajes. Firm kissed off the qcponnt for so-called "policy reasons." Bred Vktwy Snpaiv iliet As^ New Bbtod bfiiNFs )^ Bw^ ALABAH rCiSIERS > Mobile, April ff. The Alabsmit jBttoadcastera Assn, in a 9(Mif«b at. BfontgDmery, Satur- day '(3) ntwi^ that laws be en- iictcd to gtvfi radio stations greater protection against libel and slander suits. A resolution asking for new state an^ federal legisla^ tion on tltis score wax adopted. Thomas Martin, Montgomery at- torney, told the radio men that un- der existing Ia\;?s and FCC regu- lations; radio has practlctiUy no protection against libel. .'He, saidi mt tbtir is ejttt^m^ true tis to polttlcat speeches. . Henry Johnston, newly<«Iected jhreftident, suggested a national campaign bgr the radio industiy for equal protection against such suits with other advertising and pubUc service mediums. The broadcasters passed a reso- .lution in favor oif the Johnstm blU now bef time cuifo. HARRY INGRAM QUITS AS mr DIRECTOR . Harry Ingram, director of "The Big Story" for PSH Mall, has quit the show with the switchover of the account from Foote, Cone & Belding to' Sullivan, Stauffer, C(d- well & Bayles. His. resignation Wa& effective immediately. However, he's remaining with F C & B a few days longer to do some re- corded spots and clean up a few details. When S S C & B took over the Pall Mall account, Ingram was asked to continue with "Big Story," and agneed to do so on a freelance iMSis, which the sponsor okayed. Subsequently, however, the agency uisisted that he Join the SSC&B staff, so he resigned. Washington, April 6. FM boosters bere are hoping ac- tion of Howard Hayes, licensee of daytlmer WPIK, Alexandria, Va., won't be a precedent for other hard-pressed broadcasters. Hayes, on the air since August with a chiss A FM station, WPIK- FM, sUenced ids IM transmitter last week with the flat statanent that the future of sound radio lies in television and he doesn't intend to invest more dough in FM. Hayes maintained he can't serve tbe area he wants to cover with a class A outlet and added he couldn't find a site for a class B operation. He dismissed a pencUng ,bid at FCC for metropolitan-sized FM faciliUet. in NAB touwto. accorSttiltlSl pwrts here. *^ Breen. with Ted Cott of WNEW N. Y., led the indies' fight audml tantic City Convention last year of WND, cai. in chreulatteg fSfr tion dcHMndinc .ntirely new strad. ards geftred to null station opera- NAB mall Actions of. 16 dii'eo. iearsv announced hero last week, show nine oldies regaining Hieir seats, with six new faces definitely assured a seat on the inner coun- cil. A runoff election ia necessary ^«^J?* wh»UMB: Indle Cal Smith, "^^^^ manager ol , CBa-KNJC, both of to« Aogeha, wm represent the l«th NAB Dis^ trict. ■ ..Big specidatlon tiere oh ths Southern CaUfafinia. fi^tt is whethe'r the votes for incumbent BiU Byan. KFT, will be shifted to CBS' Witt or to indie Smith. Elec- tion of Witt would give CBS sta- tions two members on the board, since Harold Fellowes of 'WEEI, Boston, is' already represented. Smith's victory would augur vigor, ous representatkm foe the Coast indies. Smith has served on the industry music committee and on the indies' code committee, under Cott. He led the Pacific operators' flght against the original NAB standards of pBractice an the ground tliey discriminated against th^ weewatter. In any event, 16th (Continued on page 40) AFRA Bib Back hDelieJ^pdi WaafatngtoD. April «l American Federation oA Radio Artists yestcrdasr (&> caiBed e state «C Jtiti own mind." B«ft SVtote lasi wedc really let loose, sugg^stmg that any resem- llJaBoe to ibe Wahenum who lisudled the Lufikies account and the '0eiiiHial Tic Homuut, who resigned for a pnamphe, was purely coin- cidental. And despite the fact tbat "I Jiave been somewhat disap- ipsinled in Wakenian an certain ways," Foote still feeils he was ni^t £1 QiinldaiC 3ilm a smart guy. "Anjiwdy who can make a balf* million doOars through parodying his f lioads is A ga^st operator — on tbe record," says the F-C-B preiy. Wtiabe isays Wakieman's dmsion ta scram Ms ' account exec job wSk F-C-fi hade iai^Die sununer of MS may have been a money de- i^iiiM,*1«tBatftewJcr U wsss wii^ He gjSAmtt thict! resting, the $12jOW4MJO Amedcan Tobacco biz, a m«t peoi^le have atiieni(A«d to draw a parallri between tliis and l^alceihan*]! fictional exit from the account. "There is a certain parallel," says Foote, "though I think a little strained, between the fiwciional Vi£ fTomuot's departure from his account (though I can't i|iiite see pouring a carafe of cold water over a clients head and Uutnang yaat last f 14 bill in the Easi river . . . that does seem a little siHy:^ Bat flsHre is absohitebr no parallel between our firm's «tiiiBMfnniercao4»iit Canada for about a moniSi/andbad been for ^Hujt jwriod 'oal; «C toudi Witii us. that Wakeman— beang under no kBoim premoe ^whatera-— suddenly told me be was gcntag to resign. ... He tsaid lie bated -ta leave on «nch dmrt notice but that he liad no other alternative because a film ^onqwrny . It's beeq iKWy -i^blistied over pie past week or so that Biggio bas had about JB% of Jhe i*oddM)Ider proxies lined up to insure bas con- ^aed dwnainanra!. However, on the eve of WeeBon, il's ngported raat many «t the prosit beld by me AT prvx$r were beang tanodled even to -the degree Ibat it "may ™«v toe roof off Hie FJemin^n «>»na Mom." as Me close ob- ■ server -pat it. thi^piag Tides For some strange reason, a lot of radio names and titles have heen cropping up among the entries at Ibe Jamaica (N. Y. racetrat*. Flodc of CBS boys plunked down coin on "Mr. Ace," wMcb ran on Thursday <1). Cioodman Ace shot a wad on it. tbt^ an eollwted. Friday m "EmiAv Noose" ran. Thut w»s. fl^ t^g of a CBS dociimaitaiy last season. It - was an e^t-to-one shot. CBS Oocumeutary Unit bas re- orientated its lahbddQK to ^no- grams. TflolZ-WdbM S^nnf Fii% Oommoidy referred to as "an old P & G dodge" which permits for a saving of talari: costs throogh the sample omedlrait of paying a repeat fee, Toni's decision last week to g^ve '"Jfom Drake" a two- way. cross-ibo-lKHad lide im NBC and is creating some uneasi- COIfiATE SESfEB SPOES 0)9gate Bestaa Cream has pshed ite 3^ haOeOL *i4lb the that mir-m^;hsm id Marbs on a cwgile bundrefl ata- uons drop from 10 to 7,- Ted Bates Is the agency. particularly has . some qualms about the two- web show- casing, in anticipatioB of some squawks firom their affiliates. L.at- ter will be carrying the show in the afternoon while the same "^ora" script gets a inoming ride on NBC. CBS recalls that wb«i Procter & Gamble some time b«ick did a two- networic spread on "Boad of Ijfe" it was faced with similar beefs. '"Ma Perkins" is another P & G property that has been spotlighted via tmth netwotlES. Qri^ailly Tom bad plazmed to nwve "Nora" over from NBC to CBS, but last week ajsp came through with a renewal of the NBC time for the same show. VIDEO iOFFLES E By GEOKGE BOSEN The likelihood of duplication of the top xadio programs on televi- sion has brotnght In Its wake some unforeseen deveb^^ents which will have a vital 'bearing on many of radio's standard broadcasters. The pattern is already being set and .even today some of the major operators of network affiliate sta- tions are apprehensive over what the future has in store for them. Broadcasters wbo for years have been solidly entarenchcd in fbe AM picture and reaping the rewards of their basic affiliation with NBC and CBS, are fttankly disturbed over a turn in events wliidi may find them losing their audiences to competitive operations. The scramble among the net- works to latch on to red hot tele stations, regardless of whether they're affiliated with the AM operation, is throwing a £right into many a standard broadcaster. For they know now that, by continuing to turn a deaf ear to video's po- tentialities. ;they run the risk of losing their sound audiences to rival si^t-and-sound tooadcasters in their cities wbo, by virtue of their TV affiliation with tbe web. will i>e getting' the duplicated shows and snaring the lioq share of the audience. And apparently NBC wasn't kidding when, even two years ago. It was cautioning its a&liates to "come on in," pointing out that unless they did so within a reason- able time it would have no recourse but to grab oS the hottest facilities available in ei^anding its TV net- work. &BevltaMe.J)iqriUeatimi The picture started to shape itself last week when CBS signed on WMAB-TV in Baltimore as its second tele network affiliate. (WCAO is the web's AM affiUate in Balto). True. CBS hasn't em- barieed on a schedule of shnultane- ous iHoadcasting as yet. But when and if, as many l>eileve is in- evitable, duplication gets rolling, WCAO, out of the tele picture, will find itseU in the unusual predica- ment of losing its CBS audience to the competition. The situation becaauts even doubly tiddish where network owne4^«l|dH09erated stations arc dio budget runs around $3,500,000. With that additional bankroll on tap BBD&O probably replaces Dancer, Fitzgerald & Sample as tbe biggest spender tor radio among agencies. Bven with ttie departun of ffa* residue of the Browzt & .William- son business. BBD&O vilt be still numbered among the very top buy* ers of spot time. The agency last year picked up the tabs for aliout $9,000,000 worth of it and the pres- ent estimate is the spot outlay should go at least $7,000,000 in '48. Adding the Jade Bendy show and "Hit Parade," BSD&O now sltep- herds on the networks two one- hour programs^ nine half-haiic shows and a couple quarter-hours events. Talent and time on this lineup tallies well over the $10,000,000 mark. The present BBD&O network roster and the costs talent and material per program is as follows: Toms Loolaig Turns is shopping abound for a replacement tor its Tu tage of the stipulation in the origi- nal contract which permits Mm to lay off two weeks in each 13-week cycle. Thus far he's stuck witk every program. KMH will have three New Yorlt originations on May 6» 13 and 20. There'll also be a May 27 Cht origination and one from Denver on June 3. Show returns to th» Coast for the June 10 show. Lafrance's Spot Bide General Foods Is giving Iji France blueing a sped^ ima(Mimee» ment ride, starting April 1%. It^ for six weeks and as many as 12 a week if the spots on the local sta- tion are deemed desirable. List covers alwut 30 markets ai^A the buying is Young & Rubicam's. f6 Weduesday, April 7, 1948 'How T Gonna Keep Im Away,' NAB Laments as Convenfion Ust Grows Washington, April 6. • . The National Assn. o£ Broadcast- ers' hopes of streamlining its Los Angeles convention down "for top management execs only" appear doomed judging by prc-registra- tions on file here for the May 17-21 meet. Some 270 hroadcasters, led by station men from New York, Cali- tornih, Texas and Ohio, have al-* ready signed up. About the same number of early birds checked in this far in advance for earlier con- ventions which leads NAB to be- lieve the L. A. sessions will be well attended. Association execs, how- ever, are still banking on under- cutting the whopping 2,500 attend- ance of broadcasters and their wives virho showed up at the Atlan- tic City sessions. Tentative agenda, released here over the weekend, divides the Con- vention into a broadcast manage- ment session (May 17-18) and an engineering conference (May 20- 21), with no more than one round of sessions «n the griddle at any one time. Most of the local head- aches, usually aired at the annual conventions, have been held over for District NAB meetings. Television, the Code and the Pe- trilio recording ban appear to be top-interest agenda items so far. Tele is getting most attention at the engineering parleys and code' "discussions will mark the opening and final day. of the confab, with the new NAB Board due to adopt or reject the standards at a post' convention session. May 19. The sessions at the Biltmore hotel and theatre will open Mon- day, May 17, with greeting^ itom California governor Earl Warren, L; A. Mayor Metcher Bowron, KPI general jmanager Bill Byan and William Beaton, prexy of the Southern California Broadcasters , The Monday session* -wiU tee off with k panel on employer-employee relations, an address by Justin Miller, and an "all-radio presenta- tion" featuring Eugene Thomas chairman of the NAB Sales Mana- ger? committee, Vic ttatner, CBS, and, Gordon Gray of WlP, Philly. Gmeral discussion on the code -will consume the entire aftenioon nesslon tjS. Monday, May I?. BMB, researcli isaid music prob- lems come up for airing Tuesday morning and - a general look-see into the future for AM-FM, TV and fax in the afternoon. FCC Chair- man Wayne Coy is the luncheon ? weaken Tuesday. Tuesday ^business sessions and xepOrting of resolutions in the late afternoon will wind up the broad- icast-management end of the Qoa» vention. Mpls. Mayor Officials Put on Spot In WDGY's Info Quiz Airer Minneapolis, April 6, WDGY has inaugurated a series of municipal "information please" quiz programs that put Mayor H. H. Humphrey and other city of- ficials on the spot every Saturday morning. Programs are broadcast from mayor's office. Citizens are invited to air their complaints with Humphrey and city officials, either privately or on the half-hour radio program. Approximately 25 persons were on hand in Mayor's office for ini- tial session. Most frequently asked questions concerned city taxes . and park board tree-trimming activi- fies. ■ . One woman- asked the Mayor why Sam Davis, former Communist candidate for governor, "an inno- cent man," was I'framed" by the police department, which arrested him last week on an assault and battery charge brought by a Univ. of Minnesota student who .flleges the attack took place during a campus meeting. The Mayor told her that a warrant had been is- sued for. Davis' arrest and that the coiirti^ would decide if he's guilty. , A man "asked: "Why is there wiae-«pen gambling in Minneap< olis?" The Mayor referred him to the police chief, who declared there has been no organized gam- bling here for "quite some time." While radio program was only half-hour duration, questions and answers were continued ' for two and a haU hours additional. Mayor and other officials have ' picpmised to "meet all comers" subsequent Saturday mornings. Frott ik Prwhctioii Centres HARRY SALTER MUSICAL DIRECTOR Stop the .Musicr- ABC !t PAy& ko Be Ignorant— CBS AFRA Chapters Huddle on Code MEREDITH WILLSQN'S GF SHOW TO ABC Hollywood, April 6. Meredith 'Willson will do a low- budget musical series on ABC next season for General Foods, as part of a realigned program £etup {or Jello. The plah Is for tlie, dessert product to liave three Inexpensive shows instead of the One ^high- budgeted Fanny Brice stanza now on the air. The Danny Thomas program may be retained, but only its $7,000 price tag is unchanged. ' The Brice series, which i,3 pack- aged at $13,000 this season, is be- ing offiered around at $10,000 for s^xt f alU with no takers thus far. ABC Mulls Ex-Mutual 'Convict' as Summer Fare Memberships of the New York, Chicago, ' Los Angeles . and S^n Francisco chapters of the Amerl«' can Federation, of Radio Artists are meeting this week to vote on ratification of the revised code ne- gotiated last week by the networks, and already approved by the ad agencies, sponsors,, package pro- ducers and transcription firms. The Chicago meettng, held Mon- day night Ing off on Mutual next Saturday (10) Lionel Gamlln, BBC gabber, formerly heard on CBS' "Yoyrs Sincerely" transatlantic stanza, has British talent agent Al Parker looking over American air shows for one which Gamlin could adapt for BBC airing As of last Thursday (1), WOR, one of the ctgruntry's best Imown stations, had been without • program director for six months. . . .Patsy Campbell doing the lead in "Molle Mystery Theatre" Friday (9).. Third Party's convention won't get as much radio and tele coverage as it might have. Efforts to have the confab scheduled in Philly, where the major webs will have full facilities set up, midway between th« GOP (June 21). and Demo (July 12) powwows, were "frozen out," ac- cording to a TP spokesman Chuck Acree, emcee of- CBS' "Hint- Hunt," and Tom Moore, emcee of ABC's ^'Ladies Be Seated," have ar- ranged to pinchhit for each other during the next month so each can take time off, Acree to go water skiing hi Florida^ Moore to go cross- country flying in pursuit of a pilot's licence, . . .John Stanley and Muriel ' Carr Into "Young Widder Brown" cast Robert Pollock and Grace Keddy new to "Backstage Wife" Florence Williams in. "RoSe of My Dreams". .. .Ray Johnson added to "Lorenzo Jones" roster — With the Milton Berle program going off the air next Tuesday (13), Nat Hiken will write the Tallulah Bankhead series which the William Morris office is putting together for next fall. Fred Allen would welcome' Hiken back as bead scrlptier, or he could tak« any of several Coast pitches, but he wiaU to stay )n tiie east and xVrite his own sw. ... " Aaron Rubin, co-scripter of the Berle stanza, will take an extended vacation — Fred Allen, who summered on the Maine coast for yean, . is undecided %bout vacation this year. He probably won't go to either Bermuda or Fire Island, as last summer. IIS. HOLLYWOOD ... Donald O'Connor strikes ABC as "big talent" and the net will pay aU charges for an audition record in return for a 60^day exclusive on the sales rights. Nick Keesly of the Sam Jaffe agency negotiated the deal and will also take his turn in the box George Fisher is back on fh« . Columbia Coast skein with his cinema chatter to bait a sponsor. He's been around hawking picture gab for better than 15 years and has rarely been without a bankroller. . . .Edgar Bergen packs up Charli* and Mortimer next month for a program from Washington and tw* from New York. Just likes to travel and give his writers new locsj? to work on The four Crosby lads appeared for the first time wMb their illustrious pater in a record cutting last week of a skit in which Clifton Webb .played a baby sitter Don Searle and Jack O'Mara, ABC's "power" boys, moved up to Frisco for a week and the fur must be still flying around the Golden Gate.. . . Olin Dutra, golf great, will record 52 "Golf Doctor" platters in company with picture and radio names to make duffers conscious of their faults Gale Gordon, radio's Apollo, was set as the father on "Junior Miss," which gives him his fourth weekly show. He currently performs for Burns and Allen^ "The Mc- Gees" and Judy Canova. He's the hunk of man called "the actors actor" by Don Quinn. . . Zuma Palmer drew a round of parties and a Hollywood Ad club salute for her 20 years as radio ed of the Hollywood Citizen News. Here is the only sheet in town that devotes a full page daily to radio and she is highly respected for her fairness and exhaustive coverage of the news C. E. Hooper and "Doc" Gallup around bvt not on the same mission. Just as coincidental as an old Crossley JFrank Ferrta turnea ' (Continued on page 38) S8T Olffl (lANNEB HGHT FOR M Pi P8ot S&M^ Vs. Hoflfwr Ratii^s • ■ Washington, April 6. Listening habits of D. C. citizens Une up almost clieekrby-jowl with the top 15 audience-catchers listed In C. E. Hooper's March 30 cross-country poll. Fact warms the hearts of NBC research chief Hugh Bftvillc and WRC research director Jim Seller who used technique of counting individual listeners in this area. Hooper, ^ c while two of his top 15— "My Friend, Irma" and "Bandwagon" —don't rate ectually with the D. C, audience. The Phil Harris show and "Gildersleeve" chalked up top ratings in the Washing- ton area but don't show up at all in the nationwide' Hopper tally of the IS most-Ustened-to stanzas; Pefaio W«ws Radio IW; By DICK DQAN Old sparring partners of radio's labor front.liad tliemselves a love feast last Thursday (1) night. It was the annual banquet of the Radio Pioneers. Music czar James C. Petrillo was theuf top guest, and if he and they were remembering it was April Fool's Day as they melted in mutual -affection, they didn't bother to say so. The af- fair. Iiighllghted by an unsched- uled, hair-Iettin^own talk by Petrillo, was a network office topic next day and did more than, a little to win friends for the Ameiicari Federatfon of Musicians boss in gewraUy hostile circles. Petrillo, vowing when he arrived he was: in no mood to speechify, got up -upon introduction by retir- ing RP prexy Mark Woods and, thumbs hooked in' vest, had him- self a -fine time telling jokes and kidding his recent negotiations with the networks. He tossed bon-. quets ground to web brass -gener- ally as "fine. feUows" and pointed out that be had been "misrepre- sented in the industry and .to the world." Woods had- just. railroaded- through, with no dissent, an elec- tion of nefw Budio Pioneer officers, and PetriUo cracked that he'd be mvestigated, by- Congress for years" . if he conducted a union election this w«y. Regarding the new network pact, the AFM boss opined that "in the windtip we all got what we wanted. We gave them FM. What the hell good is FM? Nobody's using it! We gave them music on tele. Every- thing we gave them for nothing. nt who would mateif*?l''„S?*'''«Sed at approxi- rm rt}^^'^^. " week, has a cur- spoLnr °f with the no«o^too h^ni? Morris reported as pull. ''P**^ ''^^ audience Bfilova StnUioni About Acadein^ Awards Setoii Hollywood, April 6. Undeterred by rejection of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences of his $30,000. offer to exclusive broadcast rights of the Academy Awards, Alex Cohen, Bulova public relations topper, said he% back witlx ' another oifer. He said Bulova is determined to sponsor the event, , ' Jean Hersholt, Academy prez, wouldn't venture an opinion whether the new board, due to be elected in May, would turn down the'off^r. Airer fa) JSC Net Mutual's jplaguing difficulty in getting' WOR (N.Y.) airing for its shows' has again cost the web a bunk of billing coin. The United Electrical, Radio & Machine Work- ers of America, is moving, its Ar- thur Gaeth news commentary and interview stanza over to ABC. The union was not in any way dissatisfied' with the Mutual desil — the 7:30 p.m. Wednesday -stanza has a curi'ent rating of 3.7, which beats "Newscape" and Henry .1. Taylor — but UE pointed put that the pro- gram simply had to have- adequate airing in the N* Y. metropolitan area, where a large segment of UE members is concentrated. (WOR declined to clear the Gaeth stint on the ground that the station had- more than enough commentators now. Station until recently aired a Carey Longmire commentary at the time Gaeth was on, but now has a "Labor Speaks" .series in the period. Mutual suc- ceeded in "farming , out" the' UE stanza to indie WMCA, but the union felt WMCA's Skw was a poor sub for WOB's SOkw. (Mutual also was unable to get Don Lee clearance on the Coast. Colonel McCormick's W6N in Chi- cago, however, carried the UE pro- gram.) Gaeth. a Headliner Award win- ner for his coverage of the Nurem- burg trials, will take his show over to ABC April 19 for airings Mon- days at 10 pvm. He was a staffer at Mutual, but is being, released and probably will be officially annexed to ABC's news staff. Washington .April 6. Reps of the clear channel broad- casters took the stand before the Senate Commerce Committee yes- terday (5) to battle for their exist- ence in what is conceded to be the most -important, radio hearing of recent years. Strong rift of opin- ion within the committee ranks, divided largely on party lines, ap- peared to be the clears' only hope of killing a bill by Sen. Edwin Johnson to break do-wn the favored channels and clamp a 50-kw power ceiling on all XI. S, stations. For the Commerce Committee has received over -700 letters from broadcasters and radio-users favor- ing the Johnson measure. Hun- Shouse's Experieiice Washington* April 6. James D. Shouse, prexy of WLW, Cincinnati, the only U.S. station with actual experi- ence in the SpOkw field, told the Senate clear channel hear- ing toddy (Tues.) that during the five years ('34-'38) the Crosley station was operating with super-power, no wee wat- ters were put out of business in WLWs 'Coverage area. In fact, their business grew. As for fears that smaller stations would lose their net affiliations if certain clears got super-power, Shouse testified that during the period of WLW's 500kw operation, small stations in the WLW area con- tinued getting web affiliations at the same rate as stations in other parts of the country. Shouse's blow-by-blow ac- count of WLW'S SQOkW experi- ence emphasized the clears'- major j)itch: that super-^power doesn't extend cover^e partic- ularly, but merely improves the signal in rural areas. dreds of other letters have, been forwarded directly to Congression- al offices in what looks to be the biggest pressure campaign evSt exerted in behalf of radio legisla- tion. « At the outset of the hearings, however, it became apparent that acting chairman Charles R- Tobey (R., N. H.) had the support of the Demos but not the GOP solons on his committee. Senators Owen Brewster, of Maine, and Homer Capehart, of Indiana, miade no bones about their displeasure with Tobey's handling of the hearings. GOP solons Wallace White, of Maine, and Clyde Reed, of Kan- sas, showed no disposition to sup- port Tobey. ^ Conunittee's Sharp Wranslinr Committee wrangling developed at the outset over Tobey's insist- ence that , opponents of the bill be heard first, his refusal to release letters received by the committee, and charges by Clear Channel Broadcasting Service coimsel Louis Caldwell that the hearing was sparked by Ed Craney, Montana broadcaster and radio mieutor of ex-Sen. Burton Wheeler. Caldwell, declared the hearings were rigged by Craney, who has six stations, and backed by John Shephard, of Yankee Network, and the Cowles Broadcasting Co. These multiple- station operators, he claimed, hard- ( Continued on page 36) NBC-WRC Comes Up M Unique D.C Pdl OH hdrndual Liking; Tedmqne To Be Used Qsewlbe OM Gold's ITi/zG CBS^owFa^ Hollywood, April 67 Old Gold is understood planning to drop the Franlc Morgan-Fi-ances Langford«-Don Ameche show at the end of the current cycle. The rat- ing (currently 8.0 Hooper) is figured insufficient to justify tlie $17,500 weekly talent outlay. Se- ries airs Friday nights on CBS. Lernien & Mitchell is the agency. Xounty Fair's' Nbfhttiine Strawhat Status for Borden "County Fair," Borden's Satur- day afternoon CBS show, wUl move into the evening slot currently oc- cupied by Mark Warnow's Borden show, starting July 21. "'Fair" will continue in that period until Sept. 8, after which it will revert to its afternoon status. : "Your Song and Mine," the Frank Hummert-produced show via Air Features aegis, will re- place the Warnow session starting April 21. Cast will have Thomas L. Thomas, Mary Martha Briney, Felix Knight, and the Edward Slattery orch. Both replacements for the War- now show wOl. emanate from New York: Warnow who did the show from the Coast, has' been ordered by his physician to rest for a mini- mum of three weeks at the Cedars of Lebanon iiospital, Hollywood, follo\ving a heart attack Saturday (3), Remaining sessions wUl be batoned -by his arranger - Gus Levine. On 'Ws^ Man' Nixed After Beefs Proposed eljtloltation stunt for the Molle "Mystery Theatre" 'Se- ries is apparently slated for the junkpile as a result of squawks by Ralph Edwards. The owner-m.c. of "Truth or Consequences," also on NBC, bleated to Niles Tram- mel, network prez, on the ground that MoUe's projected "Shaving Man" contest, a sort of satire of his "Hush" and "Walking Man" gim- micks, would damage .his "Laugh- ing Lady," which is being readied for next fall. Molle's "Shaving Man" contest, with a $25,000 giveaway, with a let- ter gimmick on "Why I like Molle shaving cream," was to have been a gag for publicity and mail pull,, with Fred Allen obviously the un- known man to be identified. Wi Abandons Revised Is Chicago, April 6. Western Union has dropped the idea, at least for the coming- sea- son, of Introducing a new rate set- up for regional baseball networks which takes its tape reports from baseball parks. According to the explanation the Midwest Baseball Network, which feeds the Chicago Cubs games to some 30 outlets, got yesterday (Monday) the wire company had meantime discovered that the tariff scales it had on file with the FCC would not permit such an increase. Under the old setup WU fed the reports to the web for a straight fee of $30 per game and the net- work had the privilege of relaying the stuff to as many stations it. chose without exti-a charge. The revised plan was to charge $26 for each station on the link. Washington, April 6. Results of the first radio poll to come up with complete figures on individual— rather than family or radio-home program listening were unveiled here last Friday (2) by NBC-WRC. Survey covers pro- gram preferences of all persons 17 years or over living within the Dis- trict of Columbia. The unique polling technique was master- minded by WRC Research Director James Seller working hand-in- glove with his boss, NBC researtA chief Hugh Beville, Jr. • Individual diaries were kept by a precision sample of 810 D.C. resi-> dents for seven-day periods rang- ing from Jan. 15 through March 1. Happily for NBC, 12 of the top IS program winners, headed by Jack Benny and Amos 'n' Andy, were national airers. ABC's Walter Wm- chell showed up in 10th place, whUe CBS' Lux Radio theatre and Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts rated 13th and 14th -with local fans. No non-network stanzas showed up in the top 15 program favorites. Study is unique in that it came up with complete records of in«« dividual listening done both inside and outside the home. As suchi it represents a refinement over the Hooper tally on family listening and the Neilson poll which di$^ covers programs are heatd but n«it which members of a family Uirit are listening to them. Seller em- ployed the new research technique to find answers to the following: 1. How many .people are actually listening to a. specific show? and 2. What kind of people are they? Se- ville described the Wasliington pilot study as "the most advanced method yet devised for measuring the actual number of individttailil listening and the age, sex, ocgu|»- tion and .education of the audience for any 15-minute period." Ooiuff Into Other Towns Use of personal interviewers to place and keep check on the diaries with the resulting expense make the technique impracticalde (Continued on page 40) WHDH in Hub Preems FM Boston, April 6. WHDH, Hub indie owned and operated by Herald-Traveler, hit the air this week with FM. Beam- ing it from its own studios in the Paine Furniture building near the Statler at 1,000 watts until new transmitter, not yet under way, is finished. Programs are dupes of AM schedule^ Rid|^ Snari Hollywood,- April 6. Fitch, sponsor of "Bandwagon" on NBC, and Phil Harris are re- ported in a hassle over trimming of the ^Qw's budget for next sea- son. Currently priced at ^arotuiil $12,000, the client is said to have made a demand on Harris and MCA to get the show's cost down to below $10,000. It's imderstood Harris has de- clined to mstitute the requested cuts and is holdmg to the current price on the premise' that the pro-- gram's ratmg justifies the payoff. Unless a compromise figure is reached there is likelihood that Pitch will wash out on the show at the season's end and have a new entry in the fall acceptable to NBC. BAKER RETURN LKEY FOR Blow QUm Phil Baker, who has been oBt the airlanes .since Garry Moore took over his emcee role on Eversharp's "Take It Or Leave It," has a new quii!; show which was auditioned in. New York Sunday (4) for the Mifc. ton Blow agency. New Baker quizzer is being mulled by Blow as a possible suc- cessor to the Dinah Shore show for Philip Morris in the 10 o'clock Fri- day night period on CBS. Miss Shore moves over to NBC Tuesday nights for the ciggie outfit. Blow had also considered as an alternative picking up the- Goodman-Jane Ace . comedy pn>> gram for Philip Morris. osebttoNBCTelePod Wl Sharing of Philcot WFIZ I' Westlnghouse Electric, which helped form the basis of NBC's radio web by linking its pioneer AM »tatiOns to the NBC network, Is finally following through in the web's tMevision plans. NBC has arranged to bring the outfit in on a pool arrangement ■jvith Philco in operation of WPTZ, Philco-owned station in Philadel- phia. Working agreement, which has tied WPTZ to the NBC east foast video web for the last two. years, expifeti next month. West- lnghouse will be brought in at that «me on the assumption of both |7BC and Phlleo that it's better f<>r a big-league AM station* such as WesflnghSuse's KYW in Philly, to Jsgue' into video than for an outr 'y like Philco, with no AM ex- levience, to try to go it alone. EWtry'of We'stintfhouse into the WPTZ operaLloh wll give it two W^C tele aSiliatesi It Sal; already conipleted consteuclion on its WBZ-'fV i{i ' Boston, which is fi«ted to "take .the air wimin the' AeKt couple- of -weeks. Westing- house was'Jeft with only the Bos- ien statioif in the race for video [ipUcations for the key cities, .ice it Was still experimenting ^idog thei time the race was 09 Nith such teebnicjil work; CBI olor. tele/ jifarAtovision (me^od of etworking fele shows via air- lanei), etc, Weatinghouse's three pioneer \M station* m<>*$ w* ntcit ri#6 web. These %a to jKyw, AM AtaSoai ^ere fo joifi the NBC radio web. These lelud^d, in ftdsjUtlon to Orsatd Agtncy Packages I6111 'House' for Video Hollywood, April 6; June Preisser and Jene(le to'present a good picture. *, Washington, April 6. , Maj. Sdwin H. Armstrong, in- ventor of freiiueney' modulation; todacr. (3!ues.) a^ed FCC to gratit him a -ilpense to operate an experi- mental television station at Alpine, I^. 'J., site of his super-jpowered FM experimental stations. He litsked t^. operate In the ultra-h|Eh baiid <4iB0-80d megacycles) oh 90,- 000 watts. ■ It's the iifst experimental tele application ^e FCC has received in a long tijne, althou|di 20 experi- memtal stjttions have FpC authori' zatlon, all in the "upstairs" fre- neies. FCC offieials estimated aboiij: 10%, of liiem ai% sxperi- tneiktli^ In' color video, and there was immediate sjMCulatldn that Major Armstrong might have plans in tbis direction. Three a^^iional applications, for commereial liejfisei were filed during the we«k: frank Gannett NeAytiptpeM, Albany, for channel 2; mbiSk H«W4|Mperg (which have « HUtttlMHr of AjS lotions In Micia<- gan), tot ohjunel 11 in Flint; JaclH|9nviQ« ' Broadcasting CWPI^Q) for channel 8 in Jacksonville, Strieliy for Lovgliairs, YeriKiet on Coast After W of Synpli low Chioago, April 6. Teeoff on WGNrTV Monday (6) night added new dimensions to Chi tele and gave many of the area's 17,000 set owners the best gliitipse to date of video's vistas. Local screens for first time carried an array of top talent equivalent to radio nighttiine shows, backed, also for first time, by full orchestra. Preem goes down as milestone in midwest tele, .. - : . There were of course flaws, rang- ing from momentary loss of picture at outset to occasiional mishandling of cameras: Fail«i;e of . one of three cameras in the latter half of a two- hour show, which originated before an invitation , audience in the main "WGN studio, also worked against deft lensing of mobile acts. But these were minor In an overall job. , Program opened with Jack Brick- house interviewing, celebs at the studio entrancfil,' then it switched to terse bpn voyages %y Mayor ICenneUy, Gov. Dwight Gfjeen and Sen. C .Wayland Brooks, Col. Rob- ert R. McCormick, publisher of the Chicago. Tribune arid owner of WGN-TV, failed to give a skedded, speech because of. temporary in- disposition. ' . Variety bill, etgceed by ld» Gahle, Martha togas, titt Cdoley,- . others ]pro4ueer: Cooley Direetor: Tom HutchbiaeB T«eh. direetor: Bib States 39 Mbs,; 'Hiiturs.. 8:3t *d>. WNBTi-SWC, N. Y. . (McGonn-JBfricfcson) - After almost a year as. a Friday, after-lunch program starring Tex McQrary and Jinx Falkenburg, the 4wift show has moved up to a Thursday evening half-hour on the NBC web. Reason for the move is hard to figure, since the rfiow is stilf slanted mainly at the house- wives; Noyc that it's being aired at night, though, MoCann-Erickson producer Lee Cooley has wisely dressed it considerably. Format ^remains pretty much the same but the production ingredients have been strengthened. ' Tenor Lanny Ross has replaced Tex and Jinx in tl}e emcee role. His singing voice on the night caught (1) was good, hut he needs (Continued on page 34) • MONOPOI-X'S SH4DdW - West«J»tt VxOm ■imm tatent Upon praventlng history reDeattn- Itsell. A ttuftif!«r lans, each of the pollticos would get a chance to present his views on national and foreign policy and the course of action he would pursue if he were elected. He would then be sub- jected, to cross examination by the' opposition counsel. KEN FARNSWORTH IN DUMONT CHECKOUT Ken Farnsworth, sales manager of WABD (DuMont, N. Y.), tOX resigned, effective April 16. FariW- worth is currently mulling offen from several top ad agencies to join their video departments, but will hoJd off his decision for sev- eral weeks. His successor at wABi) hasn't yet been named. Farnsworth is leaving DuMont, he declared, on the assumption that the most important work to be done in tele now is withm tne agencies. With the rtiedium'S lim- ited networking facilities at pres- ent, the agency's job is much mote difficult than in radio. Only way possible to network shows now, ne said, is through film. Thus, » client can handpick his market ana the agency itian, consequently, wiii have to decide what market areas are best for the product advertised,- instead of merely selecting one ot the four major networks as he does in radio. „ Prior , to joining WABD, Farns- worth was head of the ABC tele- vLsion sales department. Before that, he worked with ABC radio sales.' '.: . . ,.■ Heaney's TV Show Aimed For Mail-order Houses First television show designed to sell mail-order articles i.s now being peddled around the agencies W packager Jack Heaney. H wi" comprise a variety format usmK mainly unknown talent a"^ '° being pitched at mailorder oress houses. Complete pacltage cost if. $876 for a 20-mlnute slot. . Heaney was formerly tele eAim vt Women'* Wear IMUy- 72G AND YOU'RE IN BUSINESS ^ ^ • a. ■ ' ■ — -— — : — ' "■ ," ■ > .. -'.. i . i'ii Riid lir lele Tffic Sptts Aroimd E^HiAed Tde lUn Costs . Following is A snitttnary of the capital investment and annual opera tiuE costs estimated by CBS for various sized television sta- tions. !Fype "A" station is one designed to carxy network shows ex^nslvely; type "B" is. one designed for network and film 'shows; ^pe "C" is one that wBl carry network, *lm and local remote tkam, and type-"0" is one. designed for network, film, local re- mote and live studio shows. Operating costs are figured on a sta- timi's pnoigntmmlng 28 'hours per week. (Costs are probable, al- though CBS ccmtends they can be lowered to an "irreducible Pirabatile ItpttraUnK Caidtail I^qpendi- . ' CSoats tares T«ial Type "A" station: . / ¥100,000 ^0,000 »120,000 ffype "B" statton: (a) 50% network, 90% local 1&0,000 40*000 170,000 (b) 100% local ISOgOOO 60,000 180,000 Type "C" station: ' (a> 50% net, S0% local .... 280,000 150,000 430,000 (b) 100% local 280,000 250,000 . 530,000 Type "D" Station: . (a) 50% net, 50% local .... 450,000 800,000 7504)00 (b) 100% local 490^ ^Si^MMI HOQ^O TV MHskNotil Sweet Yet; Setdi« (V Rirte Stiuchire %iiiies Shows Cbicaco, April 6. ^ Expected pricine . pattern fer musicians on tele^siim failed to fsausft Seem . a SamHiMar meettae hevie of the American Federation pf lllusiisliuis 4Bncii|jbre board, end- tag itf9ay (TacB.). The board; however, authorized pfexy James C. Fetcillo to ncso- ^;ite such rates upon £is return to Vitw York Ihis week. AFM toppers also decided that fifins made for tele. shall |>e cov- ered hy rates, separate ftom fitose set for other films. ' Regulations covering transcrip- titm remain the same. liifting of the American Federa- tion of Musicians' ban on the use of live musicians' for tele vision may have paved the way for duplicating radio shows ,in tele, but it hasn't yet opened the door to the «nitployment of musicians on a show carried only an video. Intricacies involvedvin seittiitg up video's minimum wage pattern for tele has caused the de- lay. McCann-Erickson tele chief Lee Cdoley had tried for two weeks to get WSC to okay the use of live inusicians on the nev/ Swift Show, wliich teed off last Thursday (1) it^t. NBC execs kept stalling him oflfr despite Cooley's offer to psly the musicians :wbatever rates are ^et as soon as they're established. He subsequently, learned that NBC had never submitted his proposal to the union,, preferring instead to wait uuta a' netwprk rate comes through. Cooley declared that he was will- ing to write a blank check for th^ union on the gamble that a rate woifld be set by the time the show took the air, but .NBC refused to play ball, preferring instead to pro- tect itself against the estijblJshment of too high a -precedent. Show, consequently, went on the air last week with recorded music as backgrounding for Lanny Hoss' songs. Cooley plans to use an a capella chorus tomorrow (Thurs- Asy) night, in addition to the disks, if no music scales come through by then. He declared he'd much pre- fer, however, to use live nrasicians. Bdlr-PaHe^ Lawrence Gertrude Lawrence, who's to star in the forthcoming Theatre Guild presentation of George Bernard Shaw's "Great Catherine" pn 3SBC television, reported to the Guild's N. Y. office last week to talk over the play. She was to me6t there the Guild's Warren Caro and NBC's Owen Davis, Jr. Since it was after working hours. Miss Lawrence found the ■ front, door locked. ' ^ A gang of urchins playing ball in the street watched her knock repeatedly on the door withoirt getting an answer, since Caro and Davis didn't hear her. As the star turned and walked away from the door, one of the kids, evidently - accustomed to seeing tyro actors pounding the door for Guild jobs, shouted to the others, "Ha! Look at her. She didn't get the job." wm mmk mm LOOMS JN PHOPX BID Phoenix, April 6. The Phoenix Television Co. has entered the local video scene via an application to the FCC for a permit tO' construct the fiorst tele- vision station in the state here. Outfit is backed a local hotel owner and three Te;Kas millionaire oilmen, initial construction costs are figured between $200,000 and ^00,000. John B. Mills, Phoenix stock- holder, is one of the principal owners of the downtown Westward Hotel, which is currenUy being ex- panded with a $1,000,000 addi- tional wing. According to Mills, the video station wiU probably be situated atop the hotel. Texans in ?J? ,^eal are K. L.. Wheelock, w. L. I^kBfts and'a Bi.etflfiold. &hM Setap k Sponsor Mch With the first six Theatre Guild television, , shows now a matter of record and with six more recently pacted for, NBC is intensifying its search for a sponsor to pick up the $12,000 tab per show. Since the Guild is prepared to air only one televised legiter a month, the chief obstacle in the sponsorThunt- ing path 13 what the bankroUer can do for the other three Sundays every month. NBC has reportedly tinned Up several advertisers willing to lay out' the $12,000 every week, but hasn't found one yet who will take the show on a once-a-month basis. Potential sponsors, all imbued with radio-type advertising ' ideas,* believe that getting their names before a tele audiaace only once monthly wouldn't pay oS. With the GuUd's Broadway shows, radio program and occasional coopera- tion with films, the outfit feels It couldnt. do justice to more than one video show a month. As an alternative, the Guild is mulling the. possibility of working out some kind of show that would make use of its dramatic work- shop. Students in the latter are composed mostly of young actors and dancers who've worked at times in various Guild musical pro- ductions on Broadway, such as "Oklahoma!" and "Carousel." For- mat of the show using such talent is still not set, but it may take the form of a variety program.; Such a Shaw would require far less preparation than a full-length play. 'In addition^ the Guild be- lieves it would be less costly than the legiters, so: that - a package comprising three such shows a month add one legiter -would form an attraCthre offering-to a spot^pr. GBSBREBN ON SIllTIi m By BOB STABL Despite talk of television "acorn stations" and other low-priced video outlets, station operation: and construction is still an extremely expensive venture. - Lowest possible annual operat- ing and capital cost of a station, according to information passed out by CBS execs last week to their affiUate reps, is $72,000 — and that's for the smallest-type outlet, designed to receive its progr^un- mlng -entirely from a network feed. On the opposite extreme is the elaborate station, equipped with film, live aiid remote i4ckup pro-, gramming facilities and designed to operi^e 28 hours per week as a 100% lobal outlet. Annual operat- ing cost and capital investment for such a station is $625,000. (These costs are what CBS terms "irreducible minimums." Probable costs, according to web execs, will run substantially higher.) CBS estimates, revealed at the web's tele clinic in N. Y., does not include depreciation .ch^ges, broadcast rights or program costs. Average equipment costs used are based on quotations recently re- ceived from HCA, General Electric and DuMont, plus the web's own experience at its WCBS-TV (N. Y.) for the last several years. Operat- ina costs, including salaries, repre- sent average station ' conditions. CBS pointed out, however, that they cover items for which the cost varies to a considerable de- gree, based on such factors as local conditions and circumstances, grade of service proposed, avail- -ability of AM and FM personnel and facilities, etc. Four Station Categories CBS broke - its station costs an- alysis down into four station cate- gories. Type "A," designed to eariy network shows exclusively an a 28-hour per week basis (plus a limited amount of test 'pattern broadcasts),, has a SOO'watt -video, and 500 -or 250*watt audio trans- mitter.- Bstimated capital cost lor such a station ranges Scam $80,000 to $100,000, -with the operating costs estimated at from $12,000 to $20,000 yearly, plus depreciation. Thus, the irreducible mlnimiun for such a station is $72,000. Type "B" station is one with a 500-watt video and 500 or 250-watt audio transmitter, operated with network and local film (lOm) pro- gram material. Film equipment comprises two 16m projectors, a slide projector, one optical diplex- er and a film camera chain. Esti- mated capital cost for such a sta- tion operating 28 hours weekly on a 50% network and 50% local basis ranges from $90,000 to $130,- 000, with ■ annual operating costs ranging from $30,000 to $50,000 (Continued on page 34) Are You Decent? NBC television, to make cer- tain that guests at a public function don't embarrass them- selves unknowingly before 'the video cameras, has printed up a batch «f warning cards. They'll be placed at the tables to caution tim guests against performing uncouth acts while on camera. The cards read: "You are being televised. Portions of this program are being televised by the National Broadcasting Co. and recipi- ents of these cards are in direct range of NBC's televir< sion cameras. Mi^ we respect- fully call to your attention the fact that during this broadcast you will be in full view of the television audience. Thank you." • swsnsed as m TELE CONmXM Noted industrial' designer Nor- man Bel Geddes has been signed as a production consultant by CBS television. He's to receive $1,000 per day for a minimum of 25 days' work during the year. CBS is ex- pected to utilize his services In construction of its new studios in New York and in designing the basic sets for future video pro- ductions. Inlclng of Bel Geddes Is regarded in the trade as a result of CBS board chairman WilUam S. Paley's yen for big names. NBC television, under the influence of RCA prez David Samoff, has also evidenced a desire for top names, as, for ex- ample, appointment of Noman Blackburn, former Coast veepee of the J. Walter Thompson ad agency, es executive producer. Bel Geddes, in addition, to his industrial designing, was also a noted legit scenic designer. He's probably best known in that field for his sets for the' Broadway pro- duction of "Dead End." MGATdeotShw Ce<^ Tdb Hp%wood, April 6; MCA tele department moves into video April 14 .* . a destt whereby the agency hopes to showcase its talent in video plus getting, ex- perience In packaging telecasts. When Hollywood Koosevelt re- opens, Cine Grill spot will buy a oue-hour weekly teleshow , from MCA for $750 for KTLA beaming. Hotel believer .Stunt will build to in re£urfoi8he4 i^oom. MCA Mdll SiQiply talent, and stager Sid Barnes, Herald iEisipress columnist Jhifuny Starr wiU be in- cluded on agency's talent roster, will salute "Picture of Week" and try to induce pie's stars or featured players to appear with Mm and take bow. He'll do similar stunt on "Song of Week." ' . Some of MCA's talent WiU be ior duced to guest to get accustomed to medium. Talent show will be a feature. First program probably won't he beamed until April 22 as KTLA director Klaus L&ndsbei^ believes it will be some time be^ fore a musicians' scale for such tele pickups will be set by union under Petrillo's recent blessing of video. Program also will be trail- blazing, locally as niteEy jdckicp, oldhat in radio, never htxta -done in tele here. Fairbimb' Trosecirt»r' T^pk on ZS-Wk. Basis; Se^ 5 Tcieieirs Weekly - Hollywood, April 6. Jerry Fairbanks announced that Fairbanks Productions will in- crease "Public Prosecutor" tele- vision series from 17 to 26 pro- grams to enable sponsors to pur- chase a half year of programs as it done in radio. Series now before the cameras includes a cast headed by John Howard, Anne Gwynne and Walter Sande. Lew Landers Is directing. Fairbanks also plans to up pro- duction of NBC television news- reels from one to five per week. Releases will continue on -weekly basis for the nejtt 30 to 60 days and will gradually be increased. Paul Alley, of NBC, is now head- ing newsreel events for Fairbanks, and Jesse Sabin, who has been staff cameraman for organization's NBV reels in Washington, D. C, will fo to N. Y. as editor of the staff, os^h Vadala will replace Sabin in Washington. Fred Porrett has also been added to N. T. produc- tion staff. CB6 WARTS mkYE CO&AN Shaye Cogan, singer at the Vil- lage Vtoguard, N, , Y., is being sought -by- CBS ' -television for a term contract. The basic terms arc- set, but contracts- haveiv't been signed. : . "j-M-v I - Demand for the time spots Im- mediately preceding and following broadcasts of the N. Y. Yankee baseball games on DuMont tele- vision this year has been so great that WABD station manager John McNeil has been forced to divide them into seven different groups so that seven ad-«rertisers can buy them. With 71 dates avciilable for the 77 home games, tirete are 142 spots open, vdiich will gross about $17,000 for WABD. All spots preceding and follow- ing Brooklyn Dodger games on WCBS-TV (CBS, N. Y.) have been wrapped up by CBS tele conmier' cial manager George Moskorics. Total of 266 time signals and one- ; minute film plugs are to be shared by R o n s o n , , Baacney's Clothes^ Pepsi-Cola and Bulova. One of the few stations to charge separate rates for its day- time and nighttime shows, WABD has decided to ask for ni^t rates on the spots, according tb^MdNeil, on the assumption that baseball draws an audience as big as any lured by a night show. With almost a dozen different advertisers bid- ding for the spots, McNeil has se- lected those who have heen Du- Mont's best.customers in the past, or who 'have been -wa&ttng to enter tele bankrolling but haven't foundi a suitable- time segment -yet. Seven advertiseist wtao have gained the nod include Texaco, BVD, Canada Dry, Broadstreet's, Botany, Barney's and Austin Nichols (Mouquin Wines). McNeil ruled out any beer .accoimtSt since the games , themselves will be bankrolled 'by Ballantltte's. DuMont, meanwhile, is .wqfiapping up a half-hour variety j^ow to be aired before game time «ach dajr. Show is to feature interviews with sports celebs and other personali- ties, with a story line providing a vehicle for the .interview. . It'll probabty be 9oiA m ajiigtirifpatiMg basis, DifeNea said. as a n Foitlowing the success of his two appearances on NBC tefevision tids year, Arturo Toscaniid is' consider^ Ing the possibility off doing a short- ened version of the opera' "Fal- ataff'.' next season.before.-tbe iddeo 'oamei:as. Idea is still in the preliniinary- thinking stages but it's reported that Tbscanini, who's an enthusias- tic video fan, would like, -to treat videoglers to a perfprmauce of the opera which first won him promi- nence in Italy. There's talk of NBC's inviting in Dr. Herbert Graf, operatic stage director, to take . measurements «f Its studio flG» . prepm-atory to reprodhCiffig- the Verdi Little Theatre in Ital^ there. If that idea should -prove un- feasible, Toscanini may do the opera as a regtdar program next season with the NBC Symphony Orchestra, as he did "OteHo" this last season. Show would then be duplicated on radio and tele. BOOKIES GET Yfl»EO BONANZA m m N. Y. cops on the traU of nace" track bookies will now have tq start watching for "underi^nnd" television sets. CBS tele, with several top racing events already signed for airing, last weelc pacted for 21 top^-purse races on the W. IT, tracks. Contract includes 18 racing days this season at Jamaica, Belmont, Aqueduct, Saratoga and Bmpu». New series got tmder way Thurs- day Ml) with the Paumonok handi- cap at Jamaica. Other races al- ready inked include the Kentucky Deiiby, Behsoat Stakes and Preak- n^sB and several ' PimUco jcaces. With the lack of networking |)iritt- ties between Churchill D'owhs and N. Y., the Derby- is to lie filmed. Airmgs Irom Fimlic» v^l origfittate from WMAR-TV, recentbr-^itoai 99 warn msswwBsws SJNIOB MISS KnutWiA. Gtfe Ctoidon, S«»h S«lby» My«a Mandi, WaUot Sdin- mkiui orch. ' _ Vroaucert Fran Van Hardtesveldt Wrttens: Henry Garsdn, Eobert Soderbertr ' 10 nilns.. Sat., 11:30 a.ni. ilKVlBR BROS. CBS, from ttollywood (Needhom, Lot^is & Brorby.) Lever Bros, has bought the new ^Junior Miss" situation comedy series based on the Sally Benson stories and has slotted it in the 11:30 to noon Saturday morning slot on CBS as part of the web's strong sequence of dramatic airerg, Including "Let's Pretend," "tSm.- ftrong Theatre," "Stars Over Slollywood" and "Grand Central tation." Production-wise, it's a bigtime en- try in the commercial sweepstakes, daytime or nighttime, with a strictly pro aura permeating the •ciing and direction. However, the inconsistency of trying to mix !Jew York sophistication with ado- escent behaviorism represented a script weakness that ev«n the top production i^outdn't remedy. Perbaps ihe basic fault of the "Junior Miss" program that nreemed last Saturday (3) was its failure to capture sympathy for its Park ave. characters^ or create a mood or tempo. It may be asking too much in an initial instalhnent to breath life into a family, set tiie stage and establish the, sur- roundings. Then again the sophis- tication of an upper bracket New York family, even when presented as coping with the domestic prob- lems that confront any other American family, may not be coni' |>rehensible to a large segment of coast-to coast listeners. A reader' of the New Yorker mag encountering "Junioc Miss" It con- ditioned to ttie suavity and detach- ment of. thisv^e of parentHkff' spring rttlfttloiiship. But it's quwtion how understandable or real the Graves family will come through iio that larger listening audience west of the Hudson. But on the whole the effect left toy "Junior Miss" was that of du- plicating a pattern and formula that's been almost wrung dry ih radio. There are overtones -r but frob a different $nt/£eQlnnent— of *Aldifch Family," "One Man's Family," "Corliss Archer," etc. Perhaps if the scripters didn' try so hard to make eaOh of the characters so clever fhey might get aroimd to making a real family. And then the situations might hold -Water. But it was the bon mot for Which "everything else was sacri- ficed on the opening stanza. Barbara Whiting, kid;.si8ter of songstress Margaret Whiting, plays the lead in the air sefieS. She brings to it a definite charm. Others in the cast measure up the, script's possibilities.- lifivers plugs Pepsodent on thfe show with the same familiar exag- gerated claims heard on its night- time shows. But it's also a mul- tiple sponsorship "deal which per- mits a three - way plugging for Levers products. Last Saturday Binso got in its Innings at the end. The result was^ confusion and a commercial treatment that gave Binso the definite exlt$e. Rose, SPEAK IIP AMERICA With JelW B. Kennedy; Kws Hub- erts, Gene Hamilton, annoimcer* PtodQcer: Murdock Peoiili«rtciii IS niin.. Sun., 4 p>m. TUCKBK AtJTO CORP. ABC, from New York (BOV f. Durstine) There's nothing particularly novel or even exciting about this new 15-minute Sunday afternoon gab session on ABC— except the novelty of the sponsor himself making the commercial pitch at the halfway mark. Like most of the new programs bitting the air today, there's a giveaway as the comeon, this instance one of the first Tucker autos to come off the assembly line. It's not even a box- top payoff; simply recognition for the best letter in 50 words or less on one of the day's vital Issues. For the initial session last Sunday (4> the subject was: "Can a Military Man Make a Good Presid^t?" Otherwise the John B. Ifennedy gab built , around the week's auto winning topic amqunts to more or less filler-stuff; a rehash of piiblic and official sentiment; plus -some wire-recorded vox popping of the man-on-the-streel. * Kennedy backgrounded the dis- cussion with a fast-paced historical ret'rise of past generals and mili- tary men who had moved into the White House, but for the most part, particularly in the wire-re- corded data, there was little said that showed careful thought - or analysis. And Kennedy's strident and excitable voice hovered, over the whole thing. For a quarter-hour program, the opening and. closing . commercial!^ in addition to Preston Tuckei^s midway pitch, seemed overdoing it. ■ ■ • : JRose. Monitoring t|H> Hop«fub In step with the CBS serieiii on "Presidential Timber," Variety will review each of the declared candidates; in terms of their air personali- ties. Starting with Harold E. Stassen, this week, the review page will cover President Harry S. Truman, Sen. Robert A. Taft, Gov. Earl Warren of I GalifoKnla, Henry Wallace, Gov. Thomas E' Dewey and Gen. Douglas MacArthur. If any of the presidential hopefuls fail to accept CBS' invitation, Vaiiikty will cover them on other broadcasts. dRCUB «tIERiqAN ALMANAC ith jQlitt Henry Maedoneli; Wal- ter Merliiiy, annovncer; Buddy Weed, juuste Si-odueer^dlreetor: Henry Dick Writer: Getfrxe Faulkner 1^ MiM.; Sun., 3:15 p,ni. Sustainln; AT.-C, from New York EiUed as a "new departure" in programming, this is simply a one- man readmg of an artful script built around facts, figures and anecdotes stemming from the old family, almanac. The narrator, John Henry Maedoneli, is former radio head of the J. Walter Thompson ad agency's London office and hasn't been before a mike, it's reported, fa more than 16 years. Writer GGorge faulkner also is a former JWT man. Maedoneli gave the reading -a cuiiured (a 'little too British, if anything) treatment that carried a happy-to-be-doing-this tone. Faulk- ner's material was a collection of trivia, moderately interesting. ■All told, it's what might be called a charming little show, de- lightfully done — ^f or a very limited audience. It wouldn't, however, be ' likely to sustain the interest of a xim-Qf-'the-^inaill listener for 15 min- utes. Doan. DRAMA. CRITICS AWARDS With Irene M. Sebnlck. EUa Kaian, * John Mason Brown, Karl Mtalden, Jesslea Tan^y, Marlon Brando>, Kim Hunter; Frank McCarthy, announcer Producer: Jock MaeGregor 30 Mins^'-Sqii. (4), X^pjo. Snstainet ■ .■ ' ■ WOR, N; Y. This was a special broadcast in connection with the N. Y. Drama Critics' Circle 1947-'48 award to "A Streetcar Named Desire" as the best play of the season on Broad- way. Instead of the usual dull "award-dinnet" typfr of program, this was an interesting airer, with some wttty or searching comments! on the theatre, and a capsule edi- tion of the play in a few 'scenes presented. Producer' Irene M. Selznick threw her adjectives around a little too lavishly, in Hollywood style, as she thanked everybody, espe- cially -the critics. John Mason Brown, Circle prez, in a witty speech described the play and. re- ferred to some of the problems of critics. Director ■ Elia Kazan, ac- cepting the award on behaU of the absent playwright, Tennessee Wil' liams, paid tribute to playwright, cast and others involved, and saw evidence that the New York theatre was "richly replenishing itself" in the fact that two young play- wrights, Arthur Miller and Wil- liams, had received the Critics' awards two years in a row. Then in skillfully picked scenes, with a narration by Kazan iieing them together, principals of the leister gave .listeners some Idea of what the play was about. Di^mat seemed a little halting at first, but it picked up quickly as the actors settled down, to paint an interest- ing portrait of the pathetic school- teacher-flirt who,' .according to Brown, "had lost her amateur standing.'' PRESIDENTIAL TIMBER With Harold E. Stassen 15 Mins.; Wed., 10:30 p.m. Sustaining CBS, from Madison, Wis. The first politico openly to seek a post position in the '48 election sweepstakes, Harold E. Stassen was also the fh:^ to accept CBS' invita- tion to all presidential aspirants to air their views on a webkfer IS-min- ute network spot. With radio due to play a signifi- cant role in this election, how does Stassen stack up as a vote-getting personality? The old master, F.D.R., set a standard duruig big 13-year term in office which will be difficult to approach, much less to meet. He still echoes in the inner ear, and who can match his intimacy, hisr slncferitj^, the ring and rotundity of his voice -and the crys- tal clarity of his prose stylet . Stassen registers as a ^erioys and effective radio speaker biit lacks the impact of distinctiveness. He has competence but he does not compel. His voice, measm'ed by normal platform standards, is vig- orous, experienced and free of any provincial taint; but it cannot soar into the realm of emotional power, irony and wit. where F.D.H; held sway. Stassen is not cold, but he never ignites. Blaybe it's the fault of his prose style. Too often, Stassen lapses into the ready-made phrase and the prefabricated idea. Typically, he opened his talk with: "this is a time tha^ tries men's souls," a sen- tence which has tried men's souls for 150 years due to. over-repeU* tion. Several of ids ideaSj more-^ over, became tangled in a web of daUfding participles which compli- cated the job of foUowtaig him through his national housing plan, This should be the simplest thing for Stassen. to remedy. Hem. Wecbaifwlwy, April T, j[948 OB SPBAK8 fWun GrMi myt yiit«*nt J. Ivish, announcer Prodttctrs John Wlngats . , Writers: Nat Ruddiok, Mlko Ja- . Mous ' 16 Mlns., Wed., 7:30 p.ia. Sustaining WOR, N. Y; This 13-week series, markingthe first time that the American Fed- eration of Labor and the Commit- tee of Industrial Organizations have cooperated in a set of pro- grams giving the views of organ- ized labor on national and inter- national affairs, ought to be as provocative as it Is unusual. Wednesday's (31) "opener, how- ever, was a disappointment. True, it was the initial airer and had to set the scope of the series. 6ut it had AFL prez William Green and CIO head Philip Mur- ray to tee it off and program should have had' the oomph to go with the prestige of thete two. Green, who led off, spoke in gen- eralities without any specific labor angle, belaboring inflation, Russian labor policy and the Soviet men- ace, and repeating oft-told remarks about the enslav.ement of Russian workers. Murray was more spe- cific, although also withdit getting down to brass,^ tacks. Murray point- ed out that this was a crucial po- litical year, that labor had to take part by registering and voting, and guarding against leaving the mak- ing of political decisions to mi^ norities. Mayor Vincent J. Murphy of Newark, who was the moderator, mentioned the all-importaht sub- jects of housing, prices and civil rights without discussing them. Labor has to speak more specifi- cally — more violentiy, perhaps, but certainly more pointedly to its own interests — to make this an out- standing program. It starts off soK emnly, seriously, and' a little pomp? ously. It ought to take its gloves off and start to swing. This inl- tialer was' as respectable as the NAM. Bron. Bnm. EYE WITNESS NEWS With John B: Kennedy Producer: George Calian IS Mins.; 6:30 p.m. RCA-VICTOB CO. WFIL, Philly Here's a news commentary seg- ment with a unique twist — a report on television. John B. Kennedy, longtime network news gabber, is doing a pitch via WFIL, local ABC outlet, with a view toward going on the net if idea clicks. The sponsor, RCA- Victor, is plugging television sets exclusively in commercials and whettjng the customers appetite for buying them by telling what they're miss- ing on the video circuit. When caught, Monday (29), Kennedy dis- cussed the top news of the day in his usual style, which is still okay listening, then segued into "what's what" on video, describing the shows he saw over the weekend (Easter parade, ANTA show, etc.) and then gave the highlights of the shows to come. ShaL I BELIEVE With Recordings by Emma Scha- ver, operatic soprano, accompa- nied by symphonic, orch and chorus conducted by George Se- bastian; Robert Lurie, narrator Production: Steve White 30 MinS:; Thors. (1), 10 p.m. Sustainiue WNEW, N. Y. Here's another demonstration of the initiative and imagination which makes this Bulova-owned station an outstanding indie opera- tion. The program' was a "musical documentary," built around a col- lection of folk songs of the. dis- placed persons of Europe, and ini- tiated a series the station expects to air, perhaps on an every-other- week basis, in which music will play die leading role in document- ing themes of contemporary impor- tance. The DP songs, comprising a col- lection titled "I Believe," were re- corded by Emma Schaver (who has sung with the San Carlo and Cin- cinnati Operas), following a tour of concentration camps and DP cen- ters as a cultural delegate for the World Jewish Congress, with the aid of UNRRA. Here, in a panor rama of song, were all of hopes and sorrows^ all of the courage, desperation, defiance and tragedy of Europe's oppressed, told at times in mournful dirge, at times in strident marching music. The numbers included "Hymn of Youth," "The City Bums," "The Hymn of the Partisan" and the title piece, "I Believe," among others. Connecting the numbers, sung in native tongue and stirringly pre- sented through the orch-chorus backing given Miss Schaver, was a two- voice script which painted the setting for each succeeding num- ber with poetic, dramatic vivid* ness. The reading was a little over-wrought, but this did little harm to the overall effect/ If the stanza left anything to be desired, it was simply that parts of the songs weren't sung in English so that their stories would be fully conveyed to listeners unfamiliar with the DPS' tongues. Doan. GAL TINNEY U Mins.; Sun., 4:15 pjn. Sustaining ABC, from New York Cal Tinney's homespun humor probably has ite best showcase to date with th^s IS-minute session that permits him to give thoughts itt random under the heading of "Thinkin' Aloud." Tinney gives a series of one and two liners on practically every controversial sub- ject. There's bite and significance to his verbiage inasmuch as what- ever thoughts he wants to get over are sugarcoated with humor. Tinney has an unusual format inasmuch as there are lengthy pauses and evcfi audible sighs be- tween his short paragraphs. How- ever, he inaintaiva a sense of tim- ing even with' thesfe stoM which permit the audience to cDgest his pearls. . There's an imorthodoxy in every- thing about the show. 'Finney does everything from singing, whjstling, ceeiting poetry to getting off lines that would do justice to a vaude- vHie' emeee. His session is reminiscent of a newspaper columnist who fills a good portion of his space with con- secutive periods. For example: "They've stopped making $5,000 houses in Brooklyn. The builder ran out of scotch tape ... A bar- tender is the only psychiatrist who works in an apron — (song) Flow Gently Sweet Congress, You'll Wake Up Some Day.... Radio is turning into a lottery. The people don't want to listen, they 'want to win (song) Kinsey, K-K-K-Kin- sey, I'll be waiting for your, book about the girls — There ought to be a law where you can't have a new war until you've paid for the old one. . . .Winchell's talks give the people gooseflesh, then he sells Jergen's lotion to clear 'em. . . ," All of it is listenable and amus- hig. Jose. ROGB» jKaGORB-PCBLIC DK. Wltti Raymond ^fidwurd' Johnson. Santos Ortega, Andy Donnelly, Gharita Bauer. ISatl 0rge, BUI Smith, Humphrey Davis; Sylvan Levin, conductor Writer: Stedman Coles Producer: Jock MacGregor 30 Mlns.; Tuesday, 10 p.m. Sustaining - MBS, from New York To buck Bob Hope in the 10 p.m spot Tuesdays, Mutual has played a longshot with "Roger Kilgort?.*. Pliblic Defender" as the replace^ ment for Theodore Granii^s "American , Forum." The choice isn't exactly a triumph of inspira< tion, being an unabashed variation of "Mr. District Attorney" and umpteen other crlme-doesn't-pay mellers. The slight switch is there for differentiation, but in every way possible the new stanza is slavishly imitative — as to story pattern, musical identification, pre- tentious quotation (this one the opening words of the Declaration "of Independence) and even to the casting and performance of the title part. But "Roger Kllgore— Public De- fender" raises one Interesthig thought. That is, how far can the defense' attorney idea be carried. First of all, it's essentially in con> fllct with aU the sanctimonious premise of the "D. A." and other cops 'n' robbers stanzas. Inevi- tably, it m<}st make the prosecuting attorney out to be either a lunk- ' head who's unwittingly trying to convict an innocent man, or a vil- lain who's knowingly pinning a rap on him. On the assumption that listeners take these. things seriously, what'll Mutual's audiences begin to think . about their local D.A. and all his gumshoes and flatfeet who stumble around pinching right guys and trying to railroad them to the rockpile? And how a1}out all tiic lawyers in the country, who're try-^ . ing to make aiiuck and (doubtless) having trouble collecting from their clients as it is? How are ' they going to like this dauntless de- fender named Roger Kilgore, who ' works such miracles and doesn't charge a fee? ' As for the premiere show itself, it was nothing very impressive one ' way or the other. Considering the. basic limitations, the Stedman ■ Coles script seemed reasonably workmanlike, ahd Jock MacGre- gor's production was competent. Raymond Edward Johnson sounded enough like Jay Jostyn to get the desired idea across. Santos Or- tega was the dimwit, (and suspi- ciously generous) D.A., while Andy Donnelly was acceptable as the accused and Charita Bauer turned in. a nifty performance as the w willing alibi. Earle George, as the cabbie who mis-identified the sua^ pect, seemed to be characterizing too much. Street & Smith, which publishes a fistful of pulp mags, is billed as owning the series, and the pre miere signoff mentioned a cash contribution to the Public De* fender fund of Philadelphia. Also, the yarn was. atmounced as bein^ a true story, presumably from the Street & Smith files, Hobe. THE UNEXPECTED With Barry Sullivan Writers: Robert Levitt, Frank Burt Producer-director: Frank Dandg IS Mins.; Sun., 10:30 l UNIVERSAL MOTORS WOR, N. Y. (Levy Advertising) .This is a transcribed, packaged program presenting what amoimts to a dramatized air veri^ion of a magazine "short short.'' Tiie series is plattered in HollywMMas 70 -wecicljr pajners ik its listener wten-ior a $1,700 pri2e. JamuA wiii ga to pajper doosg best job in wammtBy campaigns or i]idq{wndaiit4UalUiM(lBjedlbiiM co^ Sep- tember nt IHw aieoni aunial.apnm xadio diuer at Conudl. Judges for ■nd attomer Mmxis !«. Kcint • Theodore GxanOc'js "American Forum of the Air," which bad more than hardly jnatlced its Mth anni some weeks ago when Mutual, axed it, still isn't In total eclipse. Stanza is being aired by WOL, MBS out- let in WaAington, Tuesday «t |l;30. just halt an hout' earlier than it ■vms tocvierly he^ on the ncH:. lUiaiin also Is'behig plattmd and offered to other statioas iof local juKiiMimlrip. DON LEE OPENING Sm* BACK TO MiD-SEPT. Hollywood, April 6. Don Lee's new $3,000,000 plant at 1313 Vine street will have to wait early Septembet for its offi- cial dedication, kewis Allen Weiss, headman of the Coast regional, had tentatively set May 22 for the un- veiling but contractors couldn't rush it through that fast and have everything in ship-shape for the big blow-off. Three events originally set for next month, however, will be run off as scheduled. Press and agency personnel will be given a preview of the new. edifice May 18; next day the Don Lee and Mutual affiliates will be tossed a feed and taken on an inspection tour, and on May 19 and 20 the Mutual board of direc- tors hold their first meeting this far west. ■ ' " Lemke Bill To Hand Prewar Meg Bands To FM Seen Doomed Under Heavy Fire mS Sued for $25,000 By Weatliercaster Chicago, April 6. Harry Geise, former weather- caster and meteorologist for WLS, Chicago, last week sued for $25,000 in circuit court here, charging the station had violated the two-year contract he signed in April, 1946. Contract called for $125 weekly the first year, $150 the second, with renewal option at $200. According to Geise, long hours and "intolerable working condi- tions" caused him to suffer a nervDus breakdown last summer. Station nixed ' reinstatement when he returned after a four-month lay- off. Thomas E. .Murphy, WLS at- torney, contends 'that Geise broke the contract by faiUng to report for work. Geise currently is employed as special representative of Dr. Irving Krick, West_ Coast meteorologist. Memphis — ^Ralph Haskins, for- mer Cincinnati radio newsman, joined WMC as a news writer last week . He comes here from Green- field, TemL, and prior to his cur- relit «»ignment,lwld down a news CARR'S BEING READIED FOR SPRING John Dickson Carr, American whodunit author who spent the war years doing various writing stints for BBC and the British Ministry of Information in London, is readying a new melodrama series for CBS. It's to be tabbed "Cabin B-13" and the storyteller and principal character will be a doctor aboard an ocean liner. The author, original "Suspense" scripter who has written Various mysteries under the pseudonym of Carter Dickson, has? laid out the general plot line and several ^^i- sodes, and is now doing the luittal scripts. The show : will probably stait late this spring,' with John Dietz directing, Charles S. MonroB editing and Harry Ackerman pro- ducing. Dietz will continue handling "Crime Photographer." Monroe has been producer-editor of the "Romance" series, which is being shelved. Nutans B'casters Elect . Hartford, April 6. Glover Delaney, station manager of WTHT in Hartford, has been named prexy of the Connecticut State Network, Inc., composed of seven Connecticut stations. It's a non-profit organization that carries public service shows; etc^, to its members. Other officers are Terry Mc^ Gough, WNAB, Bridgeport; James Mihie, WNHC, New Haven; Sam Elman, WATR, Waterbury; Gerald Morey, WNLC, New London; James Parlcer, WTCHR, Torrington, and Julian Scheartz, WSTC, Stam- ford. They constitute the board of directors. Paul Baumgartel of WTHT is secretary. Washington, April 6. Effort of Rep. Wiltiam, Lemke (R., N. D.) to legislate return of the prewar 44-50 meg bands to FM broadcasting appears doomed, ac- cording to observers here. Thei House Commerce Committee heard some 20 opponents bf Ms H. R. 78 in two days of hearings last weebi and will schedule a final ses* sion later to cross-examine Fed» eral Communications Commission-' - er George E. Sterling. Sterling de- fended FCC's 1945 decision to shift FM upstairs to the 88-108 mc bands in lengthy statement last week. Sterling's 'vigorous opposition to the liemke resolution and the lambasting given it by 17 reps of the police, taxi, bus, and so-called "public safety communications, services" is generally conceded to hav® killed chances of favorable committee action. The resolution has the support of FM inventor Edwin Armstrong, and a dozen other *FM boosters who wish to use the 44-50 mc channels primarily to relay FM netwoi'k shows. FCC has .tentatively proposed to turn, over the 44-50 meg slot — ^now shared by the police and- non-broadcast trans- mitters with television — ^for the ex- clusive use of the mobile and safe- ty services. Big pitch against Congress' tak- ing over FCC's job of allocating channels to- any service was made by RCA's C. B. JoUiffe and a score of industry witnesses.- Claiming that the Lemke resolution would delay progress of both FM and tele, JolUffe lashed out at earlier charges by inventor Armstrong that RCA and other "radio monop- olies" had conspired to hold back FM. RCA, he declared, pioneered in FM research from 1924 on and was the flr^t web to apply for all FM license back in 1939. Detroit — Joseph Manocho new- est addition to gabbers at AV^^YZ. , He replaces Ken Marviii,%hq an- kled to WAAF in Chicago. ntOINIMIf ^isfc«^any Columbia Pacific Network adverMser E&'e's selling pmer. . . A OiMbia JRwaffia auaieoee partidpation ahow brought 111,352 prodBCt labels (and 111,352 twenty-five cent * ^ faeces) for a miniature ball point pen advertised by one of tlie sponsozs only 18 times. Bere^B low co4i ■ . „ ' A Columbia Pacific Network sjmnBor ot » n«ws prognon g«ts listeners for Wc per thousand for time . . . 53.79ft less than tlie average cost per thousand for time on all Wigional network news programs. another rmsm why CPN 19 the W^slfs . Meffioml Network Suoh WKCess does not merely happen. It is viade to happen by the sixty-one people in CPN's program department ... people with mors- creating, writing and directuig skills Hian any other regional network on the Coast. Our job is to create the most effective programs and the jBOit 'effective advertising in the West So , when you think Of the Coast ... and want the Coast to think of yon . . « think first of Columbia Fadiic. MDIOSUES, lidii Stfllieni Kiprisintitivf.CIS; Hiw Virk.ClikiH, Ut An|«l«, DiUttI, h» FniKlio, Columbia P«€ific Network Hw Wert't Complete HegloBol Welwwk C O M r I E T i ( N CP V E R AG Cr f K O GUAM r « O D U C T 10 N, MtOGR A M r KOMOTI O N, N i W I t i ^ O RTI H Oi I N 0 I N i i It I N U(^, to boOi fhe hausfraus and the male chefs in the. axidience. Sandra Gahle has «lso been retained to provide her ttlvk LAZING new ttalls" is one way of putting It, another is D "setting new standards." Somehow, we prefer to thmfe of our- selves as the network mtb its sleeves rolled «pr-working, expand- ing, developing new ideas, new techniques— so as to give out listeners better programs and our advertisers a better advertis- ing.medium. In living up to this concept, we've often taken the lead. And becatise actions speak louder ,than "copy"— let's look at soipe examples o^* this leaderdbip; iaA at a few diii^ we have up our relledoup sleeve. COVERAGE We developedIij^«»<»fo7«;^-;4morc3jk^ndabIe measurement of network physical coverage— to give advertisers a clearer pic- ture of what tfaey are buying. Our daytime Ustenability %ures created sometliing of a stir 'last Fail; our nighttime figures 'Will be released in the neat future. Interest in listindl^ty is gaining because it is practical and always up-to-date. COVERAGE {ROM WIXIDN Here's another Mutual idea, tooted in the conviction (proved by countless surveys) that a station which is the only one in its. market, dominates that market— with anywhere from 30% to 90% of'the listening. Mutual has neatly 273 such statiotis— serving about 20% of the U.S. radio homes. PACKAGE PLAN To make time-buying easier and to deliver even gteater value, «e instimted the "Padcage Plan"„ whereby an advertiser giets, itee of diaige, all statiotis added' to the network dtuing the contract year. Since 1945 our Pacb^ Flan advertisers Iiave tec«ved litetaliy thousands of dollars in "bonus'' time. RATE CONTROL Tb die b&t of out ability we've fought the rising cost of • advertising. Irue, the rates for some of our stations wem up— wben their power and coverage increased. To offset this we have, in three years, wiyasxeit downward the races for 1 1 4 of our stations the mne of $2,089 per evening hour. Moreover, we are the only national network that is continuing the full-year guaraiuee on rates (the otbers' have c^t it to six months) . We think an advertiser shQidd be able to budget n least a yeai; ahead with ' some Confidence that ]|iis costs won't jiimp. • "" ' RESEARCH- We ate planning some studies and surveys on one of the most important aspects of radio— just another of the things we have up our sleeve tliit will be "up the advcttiser's alley. STATION CONTRACTS" AND CONTACT After three years of work, we now have all our affiliates on a standard station contract. We also maintain a full staff of field representatives to calf on stations and work with thiem on pro- gramming, sales', promotion and overall operations. These two Mutual ideas nqt otdy help our affiliates and us, but our advec- tims benefit fm. . ntOGRAM INNOYAT1CXN5 We think 4XitPrO[gram people, under the direaion of Ptiillips Carlin, have imagination: it shows up in die .piqgtsuns dey dard<^ and discover. For instance, Variety said of our new MHtud Newsreel^"lt!s about time one of tbe oMworks gjot'. aioundio a show like dtis." Opinion-Airi is the only discu^ion type of show that gives the listeners a duuKC to- express their thoughts. Twenty Qmestions took a patlof-gache ahd 'made it national entertainment, while Juvenile Jury gives the moppets the mike— and whata job dwy do of it! Other program innova- tions include Queen For A Day, Heart's Desire, Meet the Press and the award- winning family Theater. And Mutual was the first'to petmir and to use tiansctiptions for network broadcasts. PUBUC SERVICE .PROGRAMS We could a tale unfold about the impact of our two recent seties— "War Babies" iuid »"Infiuetice of Radio, Movies and €omics on Children." Our iiew docmnentaty series based oa Civil Rights report^ is receiving more ^bouquets than we tans remember in a long time. CO-OP PROGRAMS Mumal started tbc Co-dp idea a dozen years ago with the Fulton Lewis, Jr. show: today it's one of the top Co-ops. Mutual started die practice of "big name" Co-ops. Today Mutual leads die other netwoflis in number of good Co-op shows aiid in vohune— twice as amay program sales as the next network. TELEVISION Don Lee, oiu, Pacific Coast affiliate, is one of television's teat pioneers— having been active in it for the past 16 years. WGN, our Chicago affiliate, isW the air; and WOR will have stations In New York and Washington. Altogether we have 33 stations^ mostly in major markets, under construction or with pctaiiis. A network organization is in the blueprint stage^ and soon WU be in the network TV picture actively. * SIGNIFICANCE The progress we've made in the past three years can be expected to continue— because our sleeves are tolled up. Car staiioiis ate benefitting from affiliation with this kind of network —which explains why we could go from 300 to nearly 500 in two years. And advertisers wuh eyes on the fdture, mijjit ser- iously ponder.the advisability of buying Mutual now— for results now mi a kaachise ia the competitive tomorrow. mmmi momcmnm $mm ^'v^trs li^mm^ mmom fashion and decorating notes to viewers. Best part of the show, in fact, was that revolving around Miss Gahle, due largely to the interest- Ing -trick camera «iI«ots worked out toy Ckwley, director Tom Hutchinson and t.d. BUI States. Dissolves wad super-lm^ositlons* With a group «f pretty models demonstratimg costume jewelry, Wec6 <«lEO^ent. As « clincher Cooley himself appeared on the show to run- A iOjAz contest partici- pated in ijy four trade paper re- porters. Latter were erudite finough but, m jpotential 4ele per- sonalities, they'll probably stick to reporting. Sponsor plugs were >coiifln«d to opening and closing . announce- ments and various intejgrated s^ots. As SI result, they were nowhere ob- trusive but probably still packed file •neoeaiaiy wiles impaa. Stal. NAnnUE OF THINOS With Dr. Roy K. Marshall Director: Paul Nlokell IS MHns.: 39ibxs.. •SA'S ^pjb. MOTOROLA WPTC-^BC, VJiUaddpiila (Gour/ain-Cobb) Here's a .good way for television audiences to go to stStoDl in their own living rooms — and they can learn identy that way, too. Strictly a one-man operation, Nature of ViUngs" has JDr, Roy K. Harshafll, director <^ the Fels Planetarium of Philly's Franklin Snstttute, giving a visual demon- stration on iHipular scientific sub- jects. Obviously an erudite au- thotity nn aueh subjects. Dr. Mar- shall presents his discns^ons In n«M«diideal Jagiiage thaCs eas- ily understandahle to tlie layman. In that lies most of the success of this show. On the night caught (1), the sub- ject under consideration was the Archimedes principle. Dr. Mar- shall wisely dressed up his talk - with anecdota about, the way Archi- «ciedes 'diBcovered 4ds mater dis^ placement law, thereby making the subject much more intefesting than has' been done by too many .eoUege professors. He used min- , iature props, - includixte a small tank of. "water and a toy sailboat, to deinonstrate visually how the Show originates in Philly from 4iie stadios of WPTZ, where- if s Iwen carrle'd as a sustainer for several months. It's now aired over NBC's five-station network. 'WPTZ crew does an okay job with its two cameras, with the simplic- ity of the show making it fairly easy to handle. Last Thursday's (1) show was the first sponsored by IVIotorola. Since it runs only 15 minutes, the bankroUer wisely limited • commer- 4earing in person, "Batter Up^' is the latest entry In video sports programs here. Initial show, handled by vet sportscaster Tom Moorehead, went off smoothly, helped by the quick repartee of guest expert Chief Bender, oldtime A's pitching stal- wart. Betty Shellenberger, girl track expert, and basketballer -Toe Pulks made up the rest of the panel of sports know-it-alls. Show has a visual gimmick for keeping tabs" on prize-vnnners — a baseball diamond with contestant "moving up a base" each time ex- perts are stiunped. Contestants receive sporting goods as prizes; cash for stumping. Blossom Terry, local model, adds eye-appeal, helping Moorehead with prizes and other chores. Com- mercials and titles are on iilm Show is produced by MUt Shapiro, radio and video package agent. Wally Sheldon dhvcted. Sftol. Detroit — The local c'lapter of AFRA has renewed its contract with station WOOD, Grand Hiapids, calling for a basic raise of $'/.5Q in stafif salari<2E. 'Kie pact also continues AF»A shop. Chesterfield wants to be satisjkd too . . ♦ That's why WNBT was chosen -through NewelJ-Emmett — to broadcast the New York Giant gamps hi 1948.^ Satisfy Yourself, like Liggett and Myers, that NBC is the right combination for your television plans* NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY 3 0 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA NEW YORK 20, N. Y. A Service oflUdio Corpontlon «f Ameriai 1 mmm Petrillo Wows 'Em Continuea trom paK« ST'. it. He fcld4ed tb« Congressional hearing at whtdbiliB^'was summoned to testify, ntFiojf the committee just couldn^ tmdeiwtand why he didn't have a lomwl statement to submit. And J» x»ng doA»n the curtain with an meodote — ^"this story don't btSsxog hei*"— *l»nt * bull flddle idiiyet«iS« %««r,-»aiich made up Jn ibe hsOiag. lOumisr m the gestures) v/kft }t JmMI in point. Peti^ miti^-'ammM:ifim»sa. •nd heartily aj^ndwt mmu, 'Realistic and Bonest^: UliMMhi On the industry's «ide, Woods had teed off the mutual «dndrftiati by introing Petrillo as "tottenit . , . has posed as a tough guy, but has never really been tpugfa. I take oiT my hat to him. He's real- istic and honest." Radio Corp. of America board chairman David Samoif, next up after Petrillo, followed, up by say- ing he thought the AFM-network xtegotiations "lasted so long be- dowjse the boys enjoyed .Petrillo's •toitec." SamoS added that he al- y/»ir.i suspected Petrillo had a mo- Hre m sronouncing his name -f^fjamnff.^ Case of one czar to maUmc, im lOiought. JbunMtf. iututatK serious, said the praeitt jKMHiiiMi should be re- ~ nat art of Caldwell's state- ments critical of the committee and Craney. Senator Johnson said it was absurd to say "Craney in- spired my bill" and JTobey indi- cated the Montana broadcaster might be called to the stand to clear up the charges against him. Last idgbt the committee met in executive sessioA.to4aeid«'Wll«ther to Admit CMUMI^ 9(Mtfis«'-v^^^ ment to -ftm xtearH. Th« vote vm in fawHT of admitting it. Caldwell made mnch of the fact that letters iavoratde to tlte bill had been jKtivelyc soUdtcd by Tobey, Johnson and committee ceosultant Hd Coopet. "1 am con- Adant," Jte declared, 'the commit- tee mmt going to Hcciile ftis issue )[«f»«Gallup poll of IncoKdearters." ' IChese were the other 4eveloj»4 0wnts: ' 1. Tobey hinted the «onunittee may later delve into WCdt alleca- tions of FM and tettevhiion chah- : -nels. He Itubed out at criticisms raised agadnrt Congressional inter- ference with rCC allocations, de- claring "these iie«ring$ involve a possible monopeify control of the most powerful otgm of public opinion and propaganda in the country today." . Caldwell, voicing a . sentimcnt- abcred by many observers at the •iamOim, urged the Conpew ta let -FCC decide clear channel alloca- tiOBS. 13te Commission has been studyiiw tbe /problem for three years, he said, and Congress* can- not give It "the time and atten- tioii leQulred.'" ' 2, Caldwell piedicted that Cuba and Mexico would move in on U. S. channel*, if the clears ai^ broken down. Both, he said, -are pn^pos- BQg drastic tipsets of our present treaty, suarantees in tlie next Kortjbt AsoericaB. regional broad- " m sgreeuent TS^ atfloBS ajbeiciKl plenl^ «| smaller affiliations power " dieted tracts with „ danger 'enMptegwe" and 'Independent tractor", to be considered. Guild leaders note that the re- vised Bostaining and commercial coies agreed to last week by AFRA an^.-lSie networks cover the ques- ticp of jeertUtcation. Although the agencies and i^onsors aren't direct parties 1o the AFRA codes, all ad- here through letters of agreement. The Guild has offered to let the sponsors and agencies cover them- selves by merely signing letters of agreement, as they do with AFRA. And, the Guild points out, the AFRA-network codes (which the sponsors and agencies approved) calls for "cooperation" in defining the bargaining unit for NLRB elec- tions}: Guild membership meetings to- ni^ fWediy in New Toiic, Ctaieago and Hollywood win take up the question of policy in combating last week's sponsor - agency tiun- down. Possibly a vote will be taken to authorize the negotiating o)m- mittee to can a strike. More likely, the meetings- may merely be in- formed of the present situation and general strategy may be dis- cussed. Probably before actually voting to authorize a strike the Guild will approach the various agencies and sponsors Individually, to see which ones go along with the general AAAA-ANA policy. Also, consid- erable preliminary preparations would have to be made toward lining up support among the writers of the various top commer- cial shows before a strike wonld even be autlTorized, let alone ac- tually called. One thing appears definite. That is that the sentiment within the Guild membership is' more unified now than it was before the agency- sponsor group refused the Guild offer to seek certification under AAAA-ANA "cooperation," The at- titude of the affiliate Authors Guild, Dramatists Guild and Screen Writers Guild within the Authors League of America is now probably stronger in suppoit of the radio, scripters, too. Cleveland — John Patt, WGAB genei-al manager, elected presi- dent of the Cleveland Convention and Visitors' Bureau. concern over the possibility of stations losing their net -ns if some 20 clears hlkB to 750kw. Caldwell « »!S«-*t2"'¥"^°*«etcon^ 8 among the larger stations .Jr of losing local sponsors to blgtlme outlets. -The adde^ he maintained, will -Sri, .^VMprove service in s^as •Wung clear channel signals ,^«ot add much addiS Tobey inQ|Ufa?ed: "fe w Mtmers, and mt the added N you are .Btfjttng for?" iVs reply was: "Well, the are pretty much on our the . matily now but lor.ttof reveoue, Caldwen faraners side." 1? 1 85 witnesses are skedded to be heard. These Include reps of the four webs, «U cf whom will oppose the bUl. NBC and CBS yill also oppose Caldwell's pitch flor 750kw for 20 clears. PeRTPUUS SWITCH IN BUYING NEWSPAPER Miami Beach, April 6. Fort Industry Co. cued a re- versal of the newspaper-buys-radio station trend last week by acquir- ing 50% interest in the Miami Beach Publishing Co., publisher of the Miami Beach Morning Star, the Evenhig Sun and the Sunday Sun- Star. George B. Storer, Fort In- dustry proxy, becomes board chair- man of the publishing firm, with John D. Montgomery contbiuing as prez and puUiaher of the papers. Deal is believed to represent the first instance of a large radio sta- tion operator becoming interested in newspaper properties. . Fort In- dustry, largest independent opera- tor of radio stations in the U, S., owns the CBS outlet here, WGBS. Station currently is building a 50,090-watt transmitter on a site fkasK miles northwest of Hialeah. WSLmrnkt WGBS Florida's first 50- RIdin' Highl The Texas Rangers transcrip- tions of western songs have wtett it takes! They build i^tidiences . . . they build sales. The price is right— scaled to the size of the market and station, big or little, Standard or FM. And The Texas Rangers transcriptions have quality, plus a programming vemtiiity tint no odiers have. Win, writ* or plioii* far complete dotoils ARTilURB. CHURCH I^ROOUCTION Kansas City 6, Mo. -A JL 4h- t-1- '.a ALEXANDER GRAHAM BEIX wa$ first wifh his jnyenHortyol^ |i(telephon$ which btcam« a rtlrli^ onMarchlO,1876 wtlh the famous message to hrs assistant; "Watson come here! I need you." Just as BeH needed Watson, you need WJR because WJR is. . , iiiiiiiliiiiiiSii^iiliiii^i^^^ :ii;ili;liiiliililiiiilii;SSi«li^ wr \0 WW nun DBCIII'VC AND K E S U IT 9 M i C H I G A N'S G R E AT I S T AmVERTI SIMG Wi E 0 I U M 10,000 W A T T i i CBS THI • O O » W I L I. fTAfl PITHY D I T It O I f O. A. RICHARDS NARRY WIfMiR Awf. f« fib* Ar«iu S8 wLAmm ■I Britain Drops Alwrfness Toward Radio Lp; New Series Stirs Bties London, April 6. Badio circles are amus6d at the new aura surrounding Radio Lux- embourg, here. Hitherto it hasn't been respectable to associate with the continental watter, which has been beaming commercials galore into commereial-frte England.- Un- til now Lux has either been brushed off, or, as was suggested not so long ago in Parliament, at- tempted to buy up. , Now, since start ot Isux's serissi "United Europe Movement," pic- ture has completely changed. Brit- ish dailies, which, never even men- tioned Lux before, are commenting on the station and. the program, .with the Star, News Standard -and even the stately Times devoting ' paragraphs to them. British sta- Itions have been shy of the move- ment, so that there's been no gen- . eral publicity on it until Lux's se* ries started the butt Tolling. Pco- . grams based on Winston' Church- r ill's idea got under vmy on Lux Feb. 22, on Simdays' in English, 1 French and German, with 10-min- \ ute talks in English beaming«at f 4:20 p.m. and heard throughout ' Britain. Lord Layton, Victor Gol- > lancz. Lady Violet Carter, Coni- mander Stephen King-Hall and i I- I H Ringling Circus (km Fatally Stncken Wkile Albertino, Bingling Bros.-Bar- num & Bailey clown who shared billing with his wlffe, tuln, col- lapsed apparently of a heart at- tack while being Interviewed in New York by Joe Basel on . the latter's ABC sports show late yes- terday. (Tues.). He died a few minutes later. His real name was Albert Adams. Act was billed as Albertino & Lulu. As. Albertino fell against the microphone, Hasel signalled the master control room to cut them off and fill out the air period with music. Medical director of Rocke- feller. Center was summoned «utd actminlst^red oxyisen, hat without avail.. others have been recorded Ha Lon- don for Lux airing and dailies are now taking cognizance, as ^yK^al for general support fyik Ifyxpofiem. unity grows.' * • , Pirmee's Princely Take' As Pitt's Top Baidordy on Pittsburgh, April 6. Busiest bankrolled personality in local radio these days Is Bob Prince, with a new deal to do a weekly audience participation pro- gram labeled Nickel-A-Name over \rCAE for Equitable Gas Co. In addition. Prince does a daily quar- tei>hour sportscast for Fort Pitt Brewing Co. over WJAS as well as a nightly newscast at 11 o'clock over WCAE for same teewery. Not only that, but with opening of Pittsburgh Pirates' baseball sea- son, Prince becomes assistant to A. K. (Rosey) Rowswell, Who has been broadcasting games of local National League enficy tot last dee^ ado. Prince was recently signed by AflanHc defining Co., sponsors of the p]ay-1t>y-play accounts, to re- place Jack Craddock, who bad been ' Rowswell's aide for -years. Craddock's gcdng to devote all his time t» managing WMCK in Mc- .Kctespor^ On labe side. Prince runs an in- surance business. It .all adds up to a pKlncely weeUjf "take." St Leuis-^With its new 585 foot tower located atop a downtown bank building G . NOW Increased Its power from 5,000 to 30,000 watts.* For advetdatts this means one-stadon coverage of auut of the Oevgonmatktt, plus a substantial slice of Washington. To sell tihtii. Piacif* Northwest, do It the ;^af('«rfaL wayt us* IQEX -wxdi its WESTINtHIUSE RADIO STATIONS Inc ■ kvw ■ kdka . vinz • mzA ■ wowo . kix Nationd Repr4»atat!ves, NBC Spot SaUf^BxmiM for IKEX • Row KE^^ *BMB map* otKBX coverage are obsolete after April 8, 19*8. In ptepanuion: ■ valai^map'* to dcfiitc new telt jj^rodticer and c«U«d tlii.illwt» on some film sijiots for Browtt Shoe Co.. . ...K«a imma has ordfawd the waxtag of Bob Bums in "The Coun- try Bditot^' foi* April 9. . . . Jim McKibben ta leaving the tumult of the big city for the program director spot at Boise. Lathrop Mack, who recently folded his station, service publication, Badl-Opinlon, Is alse casting his sights on a small town operation, and another seeking the peace and quiet of the lessePiiepulated uetropoU is Stu Wilson, one of the better television ^emcees. Qetting away from the ulcer shift so to speak — Old Fashioned Revival hour has cancelled out its time on the Mutual stations due to an exchticpi^ drought. , . .CBS will sus- tain "Corliss Archer" until the time is sold or Jinuny Saphier comes up with a new client. liV CHtC^GO Bbucry Oilman, oBitibte producer itf CamalUon'a "Contented Hour," is WJJD's new' continiiity ed, repliyetng Marie Karlstrom, who joins Dewitt Mower's forthcoming inrogram sales agency Newscaster Spencer Allen will head WGN-TV's news department .... Singer Jack Owens of the "Breakfast Club" temporarily silenced by a thx-oat in- fection Jack Sexton, WBBM's director of ■productidb, tees ofT a twice-weekly interview series from the Bismarck hotel's Walnut Room Thursday (8) Former New" Yorker Vilma Kurer Is the newest resi- dent of Chi's radio row Fibber and Mo^y skedded to arrive here April IS en route to C;'s. ....IVlUage Broadcasting Co. launches a new AM'er in suburban Oak Park within Uie next three months ... Goldblatt's, bankrolling "At Home With Barbara Barkley," on WGN-TV, bills itself as the "iirst department store in tlie world to feature a daily half-hour telecast from within the store on a permanent basis". . . I»ure"oll has signed for its ninth year of H. V. Kaltenbom commentary via NBC WBKB had to switch to film for four minutes when Ed Faulkner, of General Motors, miscued in mixing chemicals during a demonstration of how to make synthetic rubber. Yellowish gas that resulted dbrove 2S spectators from the studiti'and blotted out the video screen.''. Management of Roseland theatre has installed a special seat to ac- commodate the 340-pound bulk of Dick (Two Ton) Baker Mall count in the Quiz Kids "Best Teacher Contest" stands at more than 30,000 letters. . . Jack Fuller, former Canadian emcee and spieler, has been added to WBBM's announcing staff WBKB tossed an April Fool party for its staff Thursday (1) . . . . Bob Elson resumes his baseball call< ing on WJJD April 16 with the City Series Teeoil date of WENR- TV, ABC's Chi video venture, has been moved up to Aug. 1. . Eddie Fritz, tunesmlth of "Anonohe Sone" (Last Night), has been added to WGN's music stall Steve Hatos, of Foote, Cone & Belding's radio dept., is enrolled in WBKB's tele training course Paul McCluer. chief of NBC central division sales.- vacationing at Ft. Myers, Fla. Longhair on TV Continued from page 28 j novelty it igoitUftliave dravw a size- able audience «f l^t nighters but from the standpoint , of entertain- ment and production skill It fell far short of the niarkl Momentous occasion was the first TV treatment of the Los Angeles Philharmwic frfan its downtown «diflccH.wifh:^Mned WiHbHMt^ 9a the podium ind Yehudt ifennhin as guest solotst. Cameras vtert set up^in a fnof. and high in the balcony and all that was picked up^ito Utt the home sci^n$ was what actually occurred on the stand. Long shMS' were lost in a cloudy haze and at times the musicians were indistin^: gulsh&ble. The doseups were' sharply defined but there was not much to excite the senses in the stndcing of fiddles and the color- less conducting of Wallenstcin. Only time he faced the camera was «n leaving the podium to take his walk between sets. For music lovers with a passion for the finer works of the masters it must have been a joyous evening. Musically and sonnd^nise it was an artistic triumph, but that could have been accmnpUsh^ without the visual adjunct. No -attempt had been made to broaden the concert 'appeal for those not hep to the philharmonics other than a few production asides, such as panning through the audience and the inter- mission interviews ' by Thomas Freebaim-Smith. It got a bit bor- ing listening to the platitudinous posies passed around to those who made this epochal event < possible. The lighting and stage setup may have militated against truer repro- duction and tricks were played with the lensing. - Wallenstein's 1 KJR'S LOCiU. ADDENDA TO ABC 'CHILD'S WORLD' Seattle, April 6. Continuing its policy of tieing in both commercials and sustalncrs with local conditions and striving for local flavor in programming, KJR is airing a special 15-minute local program immediately follow- ing ABC's "A Child's World," heard here Saturday mornings. Presented as a public service in cooperation with the Community Chest and Council, the local quar- ter-hour features a panel made up of a child psychiatrist, a social worker and a public housing of- ficial,! who discuss what the chil- dren have said on the network broadcast and apply their com- ments to the local situation. swallow tail at times was white, black and gray and the solid back'' drop didn't do anything for the mu- sical crew. Their grouping en •masse represented a bleary con- glomeration of something or other and definition was entirely lost especially when the balcony cam- era ,was on the scan. Creditable Experiment As an experiment in televising a symphony group it can be summed up as a creditable job. It's hard to imagine what else can be done with such a presentation even with tlie addition of another camera and more skilled production. As a first fo» the youngest of the arts it served Its undoubted purpose but this i^ewer prefejcii to go along with the lady who sai4 "what -good is it; when t'go to the symphony I usu- ally close my eyes to better enjoy the rapturuous flow of music. I'd rather not see it." ■ Hehn. f "HIRiSTO YA"' I FOR THIM YIMI 1 No FM? THEN IN NEW YORK CITY HEAR CHARLIE SLOCilM Oil WICC— BRIDttCrORT 600 KC on Your Dial 4:1 S P.iM., EST. Srtardavs prDudlji p0p$ its top iis UMIIII ibffe a b0ff 'ihDuimiui' Bivard for 'MkIpus'' '47 pariiui of pubsmi & mhiz biz. "'Iftpst copUil'' 0p£rati0it's fourth liuiio cues sock citAtioit on ""^m To Itun H Badio Statioiu'' Inibiltiidrfi). Upor 1 |^iirdui$e in^ |orlt ]i>lw])hlrlsr|.&{». 49 wuam Radio Reviews Continutd from pm* M ; Barry Sullivan to teU the «toty of a salesman who murdered the wife he supposedly loved (but Inwardly hated) who supposedly loved him as a devoted wife. Sure at first he'd made the slaying look like an accident, ho shot himself when he discovered a bridge-playing woman friend of his wife apparently had found him out. In the payoff, the woman friend fold a police mspec- tor she'd been covering up for the wife, who'd been meeting another man, and wasn't it too bad the poor husband killed himself when he oame home and found his be- loved dead from a fall in the bath- tub? , / , If the outline is sketchy, so was the alt capsule. In 15 minutes— actually about 13.5— —there isn't much time to build up plot, char- acters, motivation, etc. As a briefie built for a surprise payoff, how- eyer, it's a fahr item. Sullivan, et ai. Were par. Doctji. STORY SWEEPSTAKES -With Court Benson; Joe fOag, an- nouncer Proiucer: Paul Talbot Writer: Lester Cooper 80 Mins., Frl. 7 P-W- iiostainer WWCO, Waterbury, Conn. This combination story and quiz g' rogram, packaged in New York, ad a "sneak" preview here to test its audience pull. Program calls for stelU and knowledge on part of listener, as well , as alertness. I'bere's nothing hit-or-miss about llie «|Ulz part; no name picked at random from a phone book on a million-to-one chance. Narrator tells a story; listener guesses au- thor and title; a cue is given as to name and phone-number of the "judge," and the first one who phones in with the answers wins S prize. Program has a lot of merit, oe* Ing narration - dramatizations of stories from Foe, Hawthorne, Ste- venson and the like that all hi^- ichool graders should know. Open- er wqs Stevenson's, "Treasure tslaad," narrated dramatically for 85 mlnutes'by Court Benson. No sooner .had announcer Joe King given the "judge's" phone num- ber, covered up in a cute rhyme, than a quick-ifvitted housewife uessed it and phoned in to give show's title and author. Program should appeal eveA to thosf not interested in qujzzei, as challenge to their knowledge 6r memory of the classics. )&enson handles sev- eral voices nicely, ma «ound ef- fects are good. TENTH OF A NATION With Ralph Cooper, moderator 30 Mtns.: Sun.. 0 p.ni. Sustaining WINS, N. Y. Following the trail blazed by several other iQdie stations in New York, notably WiildA and WNiCW. a special time slot has been set aside for discussion of Negro prob- lems on WlNS. Format for this program is straight discussion among leaders of the Negro com- munis of all issues, local to inter- national, which relate to the half- mUlion Negro citizens of New York. Initial stanza was devoted to a* rather narrow topic— shopping con- ditions on 125th street in Harlem •with participants including Sdith Alexander member of the Mayor's Committee on Unity; Julius Adams, editor of the Ainaterdam News; and Matthew Kder, memlier of the 125th Street Chamber of Com- merce. Apparently, a nasty situa- tion of over-charging and misrep- resentation of merchandise had existed in the area. The program failed to generalize the meaning of such disdmiHation in terms- of any wider tqcuMUon fiioiilg the Negro people. For maximum results, the pro- gram should aim for a listening audience cutting across any color lines. Why, then should problems which are essentially inter-racial be discussed fey Negroes only, a policy which this titer wUl con-, follow. • IHerm. gue m JINGLES for TELEMISION fHtPIMONAILI ANtt TILEOENie SINOINO, ACTINO ^ Lanny and Oinger Gr»y Siaglafi ttemmerelal* for RsnHo and T4evti|«ii |1H0 MmtfsM N. Y. 31 AT 9m20 HEAD OF THE FAMILIT With Bert Jullui, MUton Metz, Tutti-Fniittl Trio Prodncer: Porter Bibb 30 Mina.; We«., »m »JB. BVTTEItllAII ICE CMAM WHAS. liMliMlIe - • (Porson If Huff) New agency dhrected-and-pro- duced quiz show, direct from the stage of the National theatre, has been on the WHAS air five weeks, and has undergone a change of format which is noir pretty well set for,Aiture jdrinsi. Ihow got off to a rather confuted start, but iron- ing out process has helped. Idea ift to ptat the father and mother of > faniUy against the children in a test of wits. Basic- .ally, the setup seems to hold a real competitive theme, but somehow it just doesn't come off. Parents are inclined to hold back and let their kids come through with the correct answer, probably reasoning that winnings will all be in the family regardless. First few miputes of the show are taken up with a recital of pre miums to be given away, all do nated by local merchants. Gets rather monotonous bearing the lengthy list of artieles and give aways, ranging from a cocker span iel to a pair of blue jeanfi. Also the $10,000 prize contest "Who Is Mister K?" This gimmick is prac- tically lifted In toto from Ralph Edwards' "WaUdnf Man" idea Hhyming clues are i^iven and eon WI'RI COCKY . . * cjbftit the |Mr- cmit««» cf y»«irly renewals — nearly perfect I WIP BASIC MUTUAL PHIIADEIPHIA'S PIONfiR VOICE ly by EDWARD PEfRY & CO. testant in to send a donation to TieiiitucSy Children, Inc.," charity group. ThlB sojiment reoelves htavy plugging during the half- hour atflng. I'hree phone calls are made mama tn« stanza, none of whioh brou^t out the connect tn- swer at show canght. . Music is by a string trio, attired in oomiO clothes, and the m.c. is Sert Julian, commerolal manager of a Kokomq, Ind., station. He teams with Milton Metz, WHAS spieled, who handles the commer- cials and lends an assist to Julian on the comedy spots. Hold. TwHight sa CoaUaiie< frem race 25 , involved, as, for example, in the case of NBC in San f rancisco. With KNBC, the iaetwork's o o Frisco operation, bereft of a TV arm, the web has made a deal with the San Francisco Chronicle's video opera- tion. Again, NBC finds itself in the same predicament in the case of Denver. NfBC's five TV applications embrace New York, Chicago, Wash- ington, Cleveland and JLos Angeles. Denver's KOA is out in the cold. Comes the day when duplication of AM programming in tele may rep- resent a -major facet of operation, and KOA will 'be sharing NBC shows with a sightrand-^ound sta- tion, in Denver. RepercussionB Likely The same situation will probably be applicable in many other cities. That there will be repercussions from the AM boya is omisidered a foregone conclusion, ^raey're not going to like it, despite the warn- ing ^ven them that' "you may have to lose money for several years, but an investment In a television station will be insurance for the future." NBC and CBS are aware of the dangers and threats inherent in such a setup (it was no problem until duplication came into, the picture) but they're going ahead regardless, staking their future In television's expansion. ■ That out of it will come a re- sliuf fling of AM afflllationa ts con-' mt/sted Ukeir. Alao, .th^re will be AM operators who, because they refuse to Invest their money in television, are expected to dump their stations on the market before the depreciation in value sets In too deeply. They'll cash in while the cauiing is good, it's, figured; tdey cleaned up — but good — dur-. ing the bonanza days of radio, and rather than risk losing it on a still unproved, medium, they'll scram and take the chip» with them. NBC-WRG : Continned ttom page Zl i for nationwide polling. However, NBC expects to use it in other NBC-station towns. Locally, WRC- NBC is already reshuffling its local stanzas in line with audience pref- erences uncovered in the poll. Through personal checkups, WRC was able to get a 96% return on the diaries it distributed. Mokt of Hooper's mail-diary studies average only a. 65% return. When persons contacted appeared re- luctant to undertake ^e. diary project, the station wisely sent oat interviewers of the opposite sex who succeeded in enlisting about half of the recalcitrants. In only about 35 cases — ^largely Negro re- spondents—did WRC resort to dishing out premiums, in this case, weather-birds at a buck a piece. To hideiact Out WRG was bank- roIUng the jsurvey; the diioles bore ^e title «t the .American Hesearch Biireau, ji^4iimmyca«anizati li -> . i . c i 0 0 w i f t s . c. e a a c h i n m m • * ■ c v ii o c y - i t S • n j : * . m v i a : t NASHVILLE 42 OMCHnsntAS-iuvsic Major Dislbrs Crack Down oaCoast, Boode^ (rf Ifit Recordings Hollywood, April 6. 4 Bootlegging of hit recordings, accomplished in various ways— in- cluding "borrowing" of masters from originating factories for noc- turnal pressing— has become an object of scrutiny of major disk companies in this area. RCA-Vic- tor, Columbia, Decqa and Capitol, reps met last week and okayed a plan to back the battle instigated recently by Paul Reiner of Black & White label to halt the thievery. They will contribute the coin to help underwrite the crackdown. Beiner in recent weeks is said to have spent around $7,000 to se- cure, definite proof of bootlegging by at least two indie pressing plants in this area. .He has turned the dope over to^the Xreq^uiy, Dril. * .'.:here are dozens of indie pifess- ers in this area that wilt jobU.ot anything handed them to work on, ' with no questions asked. Keps of legit firms are convinced that as many as 40,000 copies of hit tunes are surreptitously turned, out vraekly and fed into tjife' various' record markets In competition with boaai^de platters, at 25c a copy. Of Course, the bootlegged disks look the. same as those produced from the real owners of' ^master, and to avoid, suspicion the thieves concentrate only on hits. ' Uncle Sam Called In Al Katz, who handled distribu^ tion here on "Near You" for Bui let Becords, claims he has knowl' edge of at least 5,000- copies of -that tune which didn't originate with Mm. He's helping Treasury agents uncover the racket.: What- ever evidence the Government gathers, however, can be used Only as evidence in civil action;-,, the Government will go only so far as to prosecute on failure to pay th^ m.-'nufacturers* tax. It's admittedly difficult to prove that a disk picked at random off a retail or coinmachine distrib coun-t ter is' coimterfeit. Labels, of course, are accurately duplicated, and unless there are obvious flaws In a disk that' do not turn up tti others produced .by legit factory machines it*s a task to prove the bootlegging^.' In the past, many publishers and indie disk company heads have been convinced that pressing plants to which indie hit disks ■were farmed for pressing have been cheating. To do it /in one way it's simply a case of^pressing two-for-you and oncrfoivme from , stampers supplied.by the owner of th9 master, ■ with the "extras" spirited into various retail and coinmachine marts. Idea of set- ting up a similar racket by an over- n'.ght "borrowing" of a master from a legit factory, presumably Srith the aid of a workman at the latter, and from which mothers and stampers are made smd the master -' is returned to its proper place, is • a new one. "Bullets/ Bullet in Deal George ("Bullets") Durgom, man- ager of songwriter-singer Bob Troup; haS. ccsnpleted a deal with Jitti Bullet via which the 'latter's Bullet Records will market a gi-oup of sides Troup recorded before the disk ban; Deal covers eight sides cut by Troup with a trio accom- paniment, made independently. Troup only recently became a recording artist. As a soog-writer he's responsible for "Route 66" and similar items. Bounces Back at WFEN As Sponsored Jockey Philadelphia, April 6. Billy IVIarshall, leader of the WPEI^ studio orchestra, which, was dropped*by-the «tatioit last month, is back on, the payroll — ^but as a disk jockey. Marshall started his proigrani yesterday (Monday) complete with a spohsor, Al Schwartz, Inc., au.< tomobile dealers. His band is in- tact, currently at the Bellevue- Stratford hoteL ' WPEN, recently acquired: by the Pfevins firug-Chain from the Eve- ning Bulletin; axed the band at the expiration of its contract in February in -line with an economy wave at the station. American Fed- eratibn . of .Miisicians had treat- ened ^'action'.' but thus far nothing has.bappened. ' , , British Best Stieet Mm , London, April 2. ■ Tree -in Meadow. . . .Connelly Near You Wood Who's Kissittg He*..Peldman Shoemaker's S'r'n'de,.Kassner Were Sweet 16 . > . , , . Darwskl " Once Wintertime. .Cinephoniis " Serenade of Bells Morris Civilization Morris Golden Earrings v., Victoria too Pat Polka .F;0.«eH; Old ^Postman F.D,&h; Appte Wedding Connelly Second 12 Peg O' My Heart. .Ascherberfll Make Up E'v'yt'ng.P. Maurice < ■ Happy Right Here.' — .Unit, CotCee Song .Southern' Tell Me Story. ........ .Dash Little Old Mill Dash Sorrento Ricordl,.- And Miml ConneUSr Cousin Lpu^lla . . , , , .F,D,&H, South America^.t.WFel^an , GseOm la Rata. . . .Connelly • Girl ' I Maiiiy. ..Berlin ' BMd QooSUt-CU liicensei Chicago, April 6. Broadcast Music; , Incoporated, has licensed 14^ more Chicago spots, including Vine - Gardens, Igler's Casino, Crown Propellor. Lounge, Esquire Lounge, Mickey's Theatre Lounge, Stratoliner, and Fireside Restaurant and Loimge, . With these acquisitions, more than 75% of the ci^ is BMI' licensed. ^ Jocks, Jukes and Disks By -Ben Bodec Iifat CoIe~.<'Natni:e. Boy," "Lost ApriV .XCapitoM... Cole's unique way with a refrain, woven around a simple heartwarming sentiment, lifts "Nature Boy," authored by a Yogi, Edei^ Ahbez, ' into the hit class. Jit will! likely become a» much, ttf a standard as Cole's Christmas sons, .The grooving is $0 'distinctive, what with its blend- ing of fine lieder-singing, with an orchfistrisl design of pure melodic chariif, as to tag it a sort of mav- erick; that is, when compared with SPA-MPPA Run OutofExtenaoiB That there is no contract now in existence between the Song- writers Protective Assn. and the Music.Publishers Protective Assn., which HavjB been working about a year and a half on a new agree- ment, has no special significancef, it's pointed up. It stems from the fact that John Schulman, SPA at- torney, has been out of town and not in ft position to renew the old deal. Ever since the old SPA-MPPA agreement -expired Dec. 31, 1946, the two factions have been nego- tiating a new contract. The old one -, has been extended, first monthly, then for two-month periods, tasti extension expired last week : 4S1> - and Schulman wasn't here to' renew it properly. My Favorite Five ^ By ZESAS SEAM IWATL, Atlanta) . ^'Sqng of India" (Tommy Pqrsey). : ''Sing, Sing, Sing" (Benny Groodman) "Sensation Rag" (Yank Law- son) "Siboney" (James Melton) "Walt Until the Sun Shines, Nellie" - (Bing Crosby, Mary Maiiln) f Cha'Srles CMpusie') Warren, broth- er of songwriter Harry Warren, due In New York soon to take over management of Warren Music, a Big Thrc^ iSnbsld. the usual run from the dlskmakers' assembly line- "April" also gets the full scope of Cole's flair for sentimental reverie and it likewise is primed with ai" string arrange- ment that, enhances the song's ap- peal. Frank peVol conducted for "Boy," ancl C^lyle Hall command- ed the background of the mate. The counter repercussions on this one have' already been felt around New York. Andy Russell— "Long .After To- night," "What Do I Have To Db?" (Capitol). There's the tang of hit about "Tonight." Biissell endows the lyric from "Arctt'of Triumph" with a wealth of melodic pleasure, and the Patd Weston string-loaded ensemble contributes much to its continental flavor. An engaging novelty, teaming Russell and the missus, Delia; is the, backer-upper. It's cute bit of fluff, with the Ernie Felice Quartet instrumentallzing in a bright rhythmic veib. Spike Jones— "Down m Jungle Town,'.' "Ugga Ugga- Boo, Ugga Boo Boo Ugga" (Victor). Jones FRANCE OKAYS COIN TRANSF^ TO ASCAP Minister of Finance of France has approved the trans!fer of coin due the American Society of Com- posers, Authors and Publishers from the French performing rights society, with which ASCAP has a reciprocal deal. Amount involved is not definitely known to ASCAP executives, nor is it clear when Oie coin will be shipped here. It's known only that the recent devalu- ation of the° franc will reduce the surti somewhat; . Negotiations for collection of the cash have been going on for weeks. K.C. Co. Opens in Chi Chicago, April 6. The Kansas City Music Sales Co., distributor of Damon Records, has opened a Chi branch with James : -li. Davidson, president of the company, as head. George G. Gasaway leaves the Missouri of- fice for general sales manager post here, and Bill Warren, recently . with Midwest Music Co., joined as * sales repi I''im is expanding because it has a potential hit in "My Happi- ness," by Jon and Sondra Steele, for Damon. Record has been given strongest play in K.C., , , Ken E. StovaU takes over David* ion's former job as manager of the K.C. office. ■.^:^..10 Best Selfer& on Coii^Macliinte!:^!^:^:^^ 1. NOW IS TBffi HOUR (10) (Leeda). t. S. 4. iGrocie Fields. . . . ... .London Bing Crosbj/. . . .Decca MANANA (») (Barbour-Lce) ^^^^ Bros., i -."^SSct , , . . . .Decca LITTLE .WHITE LIES (4) (BVC) Dicfc Haymes . BEG YOUR PARDON (7) (Bobbins^ j cZt ! l '. : l . ColSa 5. FOUR LEAF CLOVER .Ul) (Remlck) 7. 8. ■ '■ 9. 10. J Art, Mooney. , .-. M-G-M {Vptownr String Band. . . .Mercury SABRE DANCE (6).(Leeib> j F".^!^ Hemaw Columbia ' ' \ Friday- Martin. ....Victor MATINEE (1) (Morris) — ....... .;..., Vatts?in Monroe .......... Victor BUT BEAUTIFUL (4) (Burke-Vit)-. ......... . . . . v. Bing Ctosby . , . : . ... . . , . . .Decrco TERESA (i) (Duchess) [ Andrews Sis-Haymvt. . . -Decca ' (Vtc Darnme^^. ........ Mercxt/ry BALLERINA (2«) (Jefferson) [Vaughn Mvnroe Coming Up YOU CANT BE TRUE, DEAR (Blltmere) Ken Griffin Rondo BECAUSE (ChappeJl) Perry Gotno. .......... ..Victor ST. LOUIS BLUES MARCH (W. C. Handy) Tex Beneke Victor SHINE (Shapiro-B) Frankie Laine Mercury BIG BRASS BAND FROM BRAZIL (Morris) , Art Mooney M-G-M 'TttOUSANDt ISLANDS SONG (Morris) {^"i^^^ Pri™" J^or (Johnny Mercer. . , Capitol I BABY FACE (Harms) , ; Art Mooney M-G-M ' DICKEY ,BIRD SONG (Bobbins) . . \ Freddy Martin Victor I Lorry Clinton .... r ....... Decco PIANISSIMO (l^fly-Joy) ,,.4, ' fPeni/ CoTOo,..,.vi.,.., .Victor ..... V '"V'' ''V'V''Vi''VV*"'' V {Buddy ciorfc. ,.G^^ ' HAUNTED HEART (Williamson) , [Perry Coma..,.., Victor iJo Stafford., Capitol .. ■ ■ BED WAGON (Leed«) , , I Andrews Sisters Decca ] ; * ' ITony Pastor Colnmbio ■ ■ TELL ME A STORY (Laurel) , .- . j Sammy Raye Victor '. '. "'\Ames Bros, .i ...Decca IN LITTLE BOOK SHOP (BVC) 1 Vouj/hn Monroe Victor .. " *"**' (Gwi/ Lombardo,.. ;,Decco .. THOUGHTLESS (Feist) ; Buddy Kaye M-G-M ALL DRESSED, BROKEN HEART (Marks) ' [Buddy Clark ........ .Columbia """\Peggy Lee .....Capitol TOOLIE OOLIE DOOLIE (Southern). [Andrews Sisters. ....... .Decca ...» ^ . tVon Horton... Continental MY HAPPINESS (Blasco) gc Sandra Steele J HEABTBREAKEB (Leeds) , p^rko String Band .Patbft LAROO LILLI BOLERO (Shapiro) [Peggy tee Copitol """" I Perry Como . Victor IFifliurcs in parentheses indicate number of weeks song has been in the Top 10.1 takes the oldie into a darkest Af- rica safari, and It's about the zan- lest and zinglest thing he's cut In some time. Added to the din from the sound-effects bench is a banio a , vocal by Paul Judson and a mad- cap traveloger; "Ugga," an oriit- Inal, mixes a catchy tune and re- cital with the usual interplay of washboards. whisUes, horns, pops and whatnot. Beryl Davis— -"Spring in Decem- ber," "I Wanna" (Victor). Quite an improvement here over some of her previous releases. She imparts a sensitive quality to the Harold Rpme ballad and seems to be in pretty good command of her high notes. She handles the saucy verses on "Wanna" with plenty personality and zfest, and rides the rhythm of the piece like a pic- nicker on a carousel. Danny . kaye— "Ballin' the Jack," "St Louis Blues" (Decca). Kaye's treatment of the old ,Chris Smith- Jim Burris novelty could whip up a new taste for it. Kaye troupes "Jack" with a finesse and precision that invite a repeat spin. The "Blues" stencil is capably per* formed but it's nothing for which Kaye can cut an extra notch. Johnny Green's orchestral job with either surface is of .the plus cate- gory. It's swell dansapatlon: Jerry Wayne -r- "You Can't Be True, Dear," '-'Doodle Doo Do" (Rondo). Another one of those click eruptions from, the fringes of the trade. The matching of Wayne's VQsal over Ken Griffin's organ dl^, which .. had' previously got quite a play around the midwest, has . been skillfully contrived, and the wedding, plus Wayne's per- formance, should do much toward hoisting tile singer back into spot- light. Kay Kyser — "Cincinnati," "My Fair Lady" (Columbia). Ghoekful of rousing, infectious toe-appeal. 'Cincinndli" offers as an attractive premium the bouncey, well-turned . lyricizing of Gloria Wood. "Lady" comes "wrapped in dulcet shadings, with Harry Babbitt on the vocals' and a snazzy passage of trumpet- soloing during the interlude. A quality; double feature. Mel PoweU — "Anything Goes," "That Old Black Magic" (Capitol). For a debut waxing, this is more than , promising: it's there. Al Goodman's' pianist, and also quite an aanranger In his own right, dem- onstrates that his is a touch andj style that's not only commercial but strongly on the Imaginative side. "Magic" slides along nimbly on a boogie beat, while in "Any- thing" the trend Is more toward retaining the melody, and much of the play Is assigned the sidemen. Harry James — "Love of My Life," "You Can Do Wrong" (Co- lumbia). ■ Two crack items from Cole Porter's "The Pirate" score, with the "Life" side likely to garner huzzahs. Aside from the boss' trumpet, ,;the high points of this . standout beguine are Juan Tizol's .trombone solo and the scor- ing of the bongo drums. Marion Morgan's thrushing sounds a little strained but it amply meets the mood ■ of the number. "Wrong" is pitched to a more blithe key, with Vlnnl de Campo and Miss Morgan exchanging lyrics and James toot- ing a pair of passagw against the melodizing of the strings. A likely pet with the jocks Pied Pipers ■— "At a Sidewalk Cafe," "Crying for Joy" (Capitol). A disk which attests to superior showmanship as well as musician- ship. With Paul Weston's baton to help, the group molds "Sidewalk's' recital of reminiscence into a warming bit of melodic harmony. The rhythm composition on the re- verse side is peppered with lots of spark and style. • , Ella Fitzgerald — "You Turned the Tables on Me," "How High tlie Moon" (Decca). Smooth and soha is the rhythmic going of "Tables, with the Daydreamers lending a happy choral riff to La Fitzgerald s nifty phrasing and mounting tem- po. "Moon*' moves out of origin^ text after the first few bars and sings into a heated session of the bebop idiom. A "must" for the jitterbug trade. Platter Points The Three Sons (Victor) have a wizard of an instrumental in their revival of "Hindustan" . . • Stan Freeman (Rainffow) shows- some- thing super in stylistic 48-ing wiW (Continued on page 48) I MMM to Epmd on Natiunl Scak fiot After Cut in 20% Tax Tap Chicago, April 6. 4 Botird of ' directors of the Mid- west Ballroom Operators' Assn., which met in Chicago last week (31), cited a proposed expantton to a nationwide group, and contem- plated' name change to National Bailroom Operators' Assn. Group, formed in 1937 to cover Midwest .'territory, has. been extended , to 15 states, as far east as New York and west as Utah, and' has 300 mem* bers. Chicago was named as site of org's annual convention, next Sep- tember, with Ken Moore, veepee ^ org, and member of the Kar^ .. Ballroom, chain, appointed chair" man. First membership drive will iicgin in early fall. Membership thus far has been tmsolicited. MBOA also plans to aid in seek* Ing a reduction of the 20% enter- tainment tax, preferably to pre-war level,', on griounds that there has been a 40% drop in business since 1946. Despite the- decrease in biz, talent agencies are still offeritq; , bands at war time prices, and- ops are taking beatings on both ends, it's claimed. A' committee, head6d by Horn Archer of the Archer chain, which has been 'investigating the music licensing problem, reported that no agreement was reached. Although no specific licensing, groups were named, certain ops expressed the opinion that they felt no need for a second group (obviously Broad- cast Musics Inc.). Meeting was attended by Larry Geer, prexy of otgtmi^ion, and owner o£ |He Geec baUtooms in Iowa; Ken. Hoore, Aragon Com- pany; Alice McMahon, Indiana Roof, Indianapolis; William Wittig, Pla Mor, Kansas City; Otto Weber and Bob Sodenholm, Grande Ball- rpom, Detroit; Doc Cbinn, Crystal Ballroom, Fargo, iN. D.; Rudy Vederbar, Oh Henry Ballroom, WU- low Springs, lU.; ♦Tom Archer, Qes Mofaibs; Eddie Schima, of the Arciier ohaia; Herb Martlnka, Kato Ballroom, Mankato, Minn.; and a'om Roberts of Bes Moine'^ group's legal counsel. Qmk Nune$ for Utsk To Offset E.O. Sfide . Hollywood, April 6. Mauiy Cohen, operator of Pal- ladium ballroom, is seriously con- sidering narrowing poUcy at ter- palace to local scale-priced bands, beiieving stronger weekend biz will hold no matter wliat tlie at- traction. If Cohen cuts' down on name policy, it would change the whole complexion of booking wvst of " the Rockies. Following Charle Spivak's cuf- irent stand at the Hollywood hoof- lAg-hall, Henry Busse open fpur- week' stand May 4. Cohen has offered Art Mooney band a flat $2,500 weekly to follow Busse and If he can't close a quick deal, the local-band policy is expected to be Installed. Palladium operation has been narrowing for some time. Feb- ruary top bands were getting $4,500 ~ guarantees and a split of gross over $13,500. When Woody Herman opened, preceding Spivak, policy was adjusted with Herman getting $%^00 weekly guarantee, plus split over $9,500. Herman made good coin both for himself and ballroom dm-ing stand, but last two of six weeks ran red, which prompt^' Cohen to adopt policy of keeping orch only four weeks, on theory they ■ normally drain their peak b.o. potential in that period. Change in Palladimn policy will be a blow to band bookers because they have been hauling name crews to Coast on strength of a Pal- ladium date, and then building up other bookings around such an en- gagement. Without the Palladium as an anchor around which to wrap other s'maller^ates, most iiames will be reluctant to stir out of the ■ east and midwest. Berfin^s Guesters As Ballyhoo for M-G Pic Irving Berlin is cooperating with Metro on rather unusual angles of exploitation for the composer's forthcoming "Easter Parade." For example, Berlin will do two con- secutive guest shots with Perry Como on t^e tatter's Chesterfield broadcasts May 4 and 6, on which Como will introduce the new tunes in the score. Singer recorded at least two for RCA-Victor, "Better Luck Next Time" and "It Could Only Happen." Como at that time will be in Cal- ifornia. Singer goes west April 18 to perform in Metro's filmization of "Words and Music," based on the lives of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart: His Chesterfield slfpw, of course, will then originate from Hollywood. lko[£Hg FnBis in Intensive Search To ftq^e hstmmental Souds %'Roiiiance'By AgNidesinTry To Get Jnrgens Band business is watching close- ly- the "romance" being served on Dick Jurgens, now at the Pennsyl- vania hotel, New York,' by every agency in the business; Jurgens' current contract with Music Corp. of America concludes sometime in June and, being aware of it, other agencies are doing their best to beat MCA's time with the leader, due to the opinion that Jurgens' combo is a comer on a national scale. Jurgens' beef with MCA is similar to all other leader-«ontract entanglements the a^ncy has got- ten into in past years; he wants radio. MCA, of course, is in the fore- front of the "romance" activity on display almost nightly at the Penn's Cafe Rouge. But last week, the new Mus-Art agency, set up last year by a group of ex-MCAites, transported Lyle, Thayer east to do its talking. Thayer in recent years while with MCA became very friendly with Jurgens. Knowledge that Jurgens' MCA contract was near expiration and that he was being difficult about renewing, was , imparted to the trade on Jurgens' opening night at the Penn. Nevet has MCA made such a showing at any leadet's opening as it did that night. Virtu- ally every executive, with the ex- ception of Jules Stein, was present. They were in N. Y. for a meeting' anyway. London, April 6. An agreement has been reached between British Broadcasting Corp. and the Music Publishers Assn. here which is expected to terminate once and for all the plug bribery that has been ram- pant here for years. Terms call for the banning for life by BBC of any artist proved guilty of ac- cepting payoffs, and the banning from the air for two years of the entire catalog of any publisher caught participating in' such of- iense. Agreement also makes either party liable to suspensioii if accused of payola, until, proven in- nocent. These terms were agreed to fol- lowing a lengthy investigation into the payola system by attorney William Crocker, widely-known Criminal investigatoi:, who was hired by the parties involved. Crocker is a member of a council including BBC executives which will have full power to investigate publishers' books at any time publishers have been avoiding legal entanglements by declaring plug payments. To offset the loss of income by artists as result of outlawing of the payola, BBC is opening nego- tiations to increase scales,, wM«A may result in a boost of licensing costs to consumers. Only pub- lisher payments permitted by the new deal will be for special ar- rangements. These taps range from $20 for arrangement for 10- piece band.- , Deal will be signed Friday (9) and will be tor one year with three-month option periods^: Krantz C4-Leaf Clover') Severs Mercury Deal Krantz Record, which launched "Four-Leaf Glover" via its Uptown String Band arrangement of it Hater duplicated by M-G-M with Art Mooney), has severed its deal with Mercury Records on the basis of which the latter was marketing pressings of the tune. Cause of the split between Krantz and Mercury can not be ascertained, but the «[eal between the two ended as of April 1, and all stampers, etc., are to be returned to Krantz by May 1. An accounting is also to be mjtde to Krantz. Cancellation of the arrangement between the two companies in- volved no legal tangles. There never was a contract binding the deal, it's asserted by 'Krantz, ter- mination being a simple matter of notification. STEVPS BOUGHT BY LEVM/SHEET PRINTER Stevens Music has been bought by Henry Levine, . music printer and owner, of Jewel and Encore catalogs, and its acquisition will form the basis for an expanded approach to publishing by Levine. Latter also is a bidder for the Barton catalog, Barton, now deac- tivated, has been in financial trouble for months. Levine acquired Stevens, set up a couple years ago by Jack Osfeld and Charlie Spivak, in affiliation with Broadcast Music, Inc.,. by arranging with creditors to pay off the firm's debts at 25c on the dollar. Firm's copyrights will be absorbed by Jewel and Encore, and the firm name will pass out of existence. Osfeld, who came east from California several weeks ago to arrange the deal, will become general manager of the new or- ganization. He has sent Murray Massey to cover California and will add others to his staff. RCA 10% Dp Qa Royalties • RC^-Victor's royalty statements were issued last week for the first quarter of '48, covering Dec - 1 to Feb. 29, and the overall total be- ing disbursed is approximately 10% above the previous quarter. This is due partly, of course, to the fact, that almost a month of pre- Xmas sales are included. 'Victor's fiscal year runs on the odd dates, one nfonth ahead of most other firms. Coin, is now being processed by Harry Fox, general manager of Music Publishers Protective Assn., for distribution to publishers, not all of whom are MPPA members, as a result of which a total figure is difficult to arrive at. Quarter usually runs around $500,000. Babies and College Hops IhHi't M[ix» So Manhattan, Kans., March 30. Dance, promotion has been a los- ing proposition at Kansas State College, resulting in the closing July 1 of the Avalon Ballroom, student dance spot for the past 33 years. Matt Betton, bandleader, who plays the area, credited the fact that more than 60% of the student body is made: up of vet- erans, many of them with families, for dancing not being' -attraction it used to be. Production and Marketing Asso; will take over the quart»s, accord- ing to A. F. Roberts, building ownet. Camarata Won't Risk AFM Wrath By Briti^ Disking London, April 6. Tuttie Camarata, who supervises a majority of the recording dates here by London Records, which exports disks to the U. S., isn't likely to be conducting disk ses- sions here for a while. Camarata is a member Of the American Fed- . eration of Musicians, which has banned recording in the U. S., and though AFM head James C. Petril- lo is understood to have advised Camarata that his AFM standing won't be jeopardized if he comes here to cut disks for .export to the states, Camarata doesn't want to risk tangling with the AFM. Camarata is cm-rently in New York. He was due back here re- cently to plan more recording for London, but instead he's -staying in the U. S. for a while concen* trating on aiding London's cause from that end. i -• London Records, incidentally, is looking forward to signing U. S. artists, if possible, as a means of strengthening its roster with names known in the U. S. Up until now, London has gone after the Ameri- can retail market with names known 'only to English record buyers. It got a huge sales break from the application of the APM's disk ban, plus the Oracle Fields recording of "Now Is the Hour," which helped establish the label with U, S. buyers. But if London can snag well- . known American artists from other recording companies, it can further its cause. There's nothing to stop London from taking such a course, and American artists could help put the firm into more direct com- petition with other leading U. S; manufacturers: Recording companies which have made disks since the application of the American Federation of Must« clans ban, and which will continue now that the ice is broken to cut when the necessity arises, are in- tensively searching for sountls to duplicate those of bonafide instru- ments. And when they find' them indications are that 'every effort will be made to keep the identity of the substitutes a secret for their own continued use. For example, Capitol Records last week made disks in New York of Leed's Music's "Heartbreaker." and "Baby Face." Rbythm stems' from .something that sounds almost exactly like a stringed bass. Capitol won't say what was used to make the sound. Jack Smith made the disking, incidentally, following by only a brief period another record made for the same company on the Coast by the Sportsmen of two promising new tunes, "TooUe Oolie Doolie" and "You Can't Be True, Dear." Capitol is by no means the first to seek synthetic instrument sounds for disking purpdses but is the iiist to apply the idea. One otheur ai-tisis-and-repertoire ^mum ihvestt* gated .the thoU^tfor\treelQs before the disk ban was applied and claims to be. able to dvq>licate vir- tually every instrument in the con- ventional band. Capitoli in cutting since Jan. 1, joins Columbia, Decca and Victor. Columbia was .first, with an a-capella arrang«nent of "Now Is the Hour," Leeds top-«eller, by Buddy Clark. Victor did "Deck of Cards" several weeks ago by Phil Harris, also a-capella. Two weeks ago Decca made "Heartbreaker" and "Sabre Dance" 'with the Andrews Sisters, using harmonica backing. . It had used J^armonicas once before, but discarded the disk as not up to standard. Art Mooney's Dislc Click Gets Him N.Y. Biltmore Art Mooney's recording click on M-G-M with "Four Leaf Clover" and "Baby Face" has gotten him a sliot at a New York hotel. He opens the Cascades Roof, Biltmore hotel, J une 1 or 4* for an indefinite pe- riod.- . , ■ ■ Mooney wound up four Weeks at Roxy theatre, N. Y., last (TuesJ night. DETROIT TlilES BOTS DISK JOCKEY PLUGS Detroit, Aptil 6. Marking the first time locally that a newspaper has sponsored a disk jockey program, the Detroit Times Monday (29) began spon- soring a segment of Eddie Chase's "Make Believe Ballroom" over CKLW. Tieup was handled with plenty fanfare. Program has a unique twist in that Chase's two shows daily on CKLW are transcribed from Hol- lywood, where he is currently dou- bling on KFVD. Coast origination enables Chase to obtain top names as guests on the Times portion be- cause of the double-barreled pub- licity. The Tinjes promotes the show with front page boxes, daily pix of ChaiM!) ahd his guests and stories. Cap Waxes Two By Sportsmen Hollywood, April 6. Capitol Records waxed two sides with the Sportsmen Quartet here last week, thus becoming the last of the big fdw: to cut over the' disk ban. • , ■ ' Sportsmen vocaled.'TooUe OoUe Doolie" and "You Can't Be True, Dear," furnishing their own back- ground on "Doolie." Group waxed song twice, etching background on one cut and vocal on the other. Two cuts , were then blended into one for final effect. 1 m si i m m AFM Local 47 Woos Bigger QnomiBS To Coin^t Troublemakers Hollywood^ April 6. Local 47 of the American Fed- eration of Musicians is redoubling | efforts, to get more of its 13,500 members out for general meetings ' in hopes of Off-setting clique of s trouble-makers which has raised r havoc during past meets: Quorum is 150, a figure barely attained at .| the last six sessions. I'f Troublesome faction, union said,' has continually pushed aside mu- sician's own affairs to make way for general trade union, problems. At last meet, group brought up lo- ' cal garment workers strike and ^ DiGiorgio farms affair (trouble ^ over the' hiring of non-union \ hands), handed out pamphlets disr $. cussing national affairs and intro' i-i duced a resolution to enter into * Overture, local's house organ, not }. less than one page or more than Ave on strikes throUghotit the na- " tion. :■ ■ , ■ ■ Tune officials said that the Con- <: tinual departure from mui^an's affairs has caused many members ■;' to ankle meetings before adjourn- i ment. Union feels that majority of members is" now annoyed enough J to attend meetings in large enou^ i numbers to keep musician's affairs ^ on the agenda and curb disturb" | ing element. ' I 4S BAND BOOKINGS SIKONG TeklbidllaMlesWil^Wn^ Bdkooni favresskms. Says Geer Cliicaso, April 6. > Battroom ops' hejf© for thei Miff- vest BaUroom Opwators Asan. Iioarct m«»t last yreek expreSBed ^ belief that, television will bting the biggest Hypo to. dahceries since th^ iatroductioa of. , juke boxes. Reasoning is that t^Te' will for the first time. introduce many average citizens to, the interior of a ball- roam vis remote broadcasts. Sasicy Gee*", MBOA prexy sad, operator of the Geer ballrooms of Iowa, ssAA too numy people still have the .quaint idea tliat danceries are dens of iniquity, IMlevision. he predicted, wilL break down this prejudice by showing bdllrooms as ttey really are. Himbes'ift Kemote Idem First dtmceband reniote on tele- ^tdaion. nuy^ item £mm the Tavem- On-tiie. Green^ fentrai Pari. Bich> ard Himber's orchestra has been booked into th& spot for tiie i^ng potiod: and he** eddiOivaiTinf^ to ar- range 4 tele pickup so that he can iis« tar advantage- the magi and other sight gimmicks he's beetf em- ploying for years in conjunction wUb hifi. music. Himber opens April 14 in a room that has. been refurbisAed and whieb now mntSF around' SOO. Tav- emfs. idea i& to use names such as- Himber's in the spring and fall, .bat to- rewrt to non-name material during th» summer. Its huge ant- door pavillion doesn't need name sftengdi dUriiag the summer; it draws capacity anyway. Americau Federaiaon o£ Mu- ^ianlt SO! £ar hax made no pcorvi- sion for f&e pos^Me picl^ of remote band tele broadcasts^, It has not- given pemiissian. for any of tfaidi type of video work and so far is aai€ to be sidesteppiag 49ucfa ar- ransemoits; Onl^r channels for tiie uae oi music oa . tele abseady opened ai« ctodto- diovnv pius pub- lic functions at which music may be incid^Bta}» sndb as parades, rallies, etc . < Ifcw Torfe Ecank Dailey expects to resume bi» Saturday afixmoon "Matinee at Meadowbrook" shows on NBC; Louis Prima current at his spot, wbieh has decidedly impconred its h4t.. in tbe past twa weeks with Kcankie Carle; ptak two weekends Carle plajwd to S,900 and 3,S00 i-e^ speetivetsF, Friday to Sunday eve ning. . .Palisades Park, Fort Lee; N. J., . resumes using, bands April ' IT; spot is; confined to weekends until. May 29; Henry Jerome, George Paxton,^ Tommy Beynoldai Gltcis CrossT are set. . .Mus.^Art ageney magged most of Jantzen Beafa, PorOand, Ore., season, buy- ing otiier agency bands to fill in. . Louis Prima into CUck Club, Philadelphia, May 3 for three weete. . .Mary Kas'e Trio into Jai Lai Club, Columbus, for three weeks. . .Columbia Records Dooated counter cost of albums^ to We, making four-disk package *3a0. . .Tommjf Dorsey and Guy Lombardo music offices in New York rifled of typewriters, a trom- hone, etc. , Frank White, Colum- hia Record president, will chair- man Music Division of N. Y. Can- cer Committee drive... Alan Courtney will open his Restaurette, from which he'll do disk jockey *™ws over WGBB, Rreeport; early nest month. . .Joe Deiise, organiz' ing his own orchestra. . .Buddy "8sch starting disk jockey show ..Charlie Parker and Freddy alack orchestras to work dates, to go out together on "battle of jazz" dates. Hollywood Charlie Bamet band playing weekends at Trianon ballroom... iTank DeVbl, using 23-piece Capi- 101 recording crew, will play series ot one-niters. . Dick Peterson crow re-optioned. at Zamboanga . . . ^mimy Dorsey has reorganized his (Continued on page: 4S) Osear Strang ant Wife Kow Amevkseoi €3tiz«is Bminent Viennese' composer Os> car Straus and bia wl&, Clara, be- came Ameeicaa eitizena oa Mon- day (5). He's in his late 70s, Straus, originally Ajislrian, be- came a French citizen before Hit- lerism. After the Nazis seized his castle and belongings in Austria and then occupied France, he mi grated to America. Like many other non-"Aryans," Mrs. Straus- was succot-ed by the townsfolk whom' she- had befiriended in years past, although she could onljir be permitted to leave the couqtey at the priee of all' then: -worlcE^ pbs- Although honored tiy the French government, and many of his works published by (the late) FVanicis Salabert in Paris, the composer for many years has be- longed to the British Per^rming Rights Society, instead .of to the AKM (Austrian) or SACEM (Fraichir societies. lEli tliBS 'fnuisai^ Outfits Meet it N. T. Band agency executives, one- night and location salesmen are viewing the coming summer sea- son with some jubilance. From where th^ sit at this date, book- ings for the various standard one- nighters, locations, etc., which con- fine themselves to Decoration Day to Labor Day seasons, are being JiUed out better than last year. They can only sit back and hope that enough customers show weekly at thie various spots to justify their feeling that the band busimss will begin to move up this summer out of the slump that gripped It all winter. And that possibility take» heart from the statement of Julian North, opera- tor of Lake- . Compounce, Bristol, Conn., and pnesident of the New England Park Menr» Assa. He's of the opinioa tlie dance biz will be better this season. While many standard buyers are set with commitments filling more than 50% of their needs, there's still a great deal of resistance evi- denced toward high prices. This has produced, according to some (Continued on page 49) ' Ta Weisfi Tactb VS. AFM Disk Ban Davis to Lead 75-Piecer At OOP Coiixv«sit£oife Washington, April 6; Meyer Davis will conduct a 75- brass band at the Republican National convention, in Philadel- phia, In June. Davis is known as the "White House maestro" because he has conducted at presidential parties^ since Warren G. Harding held ofQce. 'emu Set Q^n Mew Turk Patmar Music, owned by Dennis Day and Jack Perrin, is expanding its activities. Firm openedl New York headquarters this- week; beaded by Mac Cooper, TEormerly with Santly-Jby. Day and Perrin, in N. Y. last week, made the arrangements: Patmar; unable to. find office space as yet, will temporarily be at Tbmmy Valando's new Laurel Music. mm mm mi smm t Lewis Teegarden, attorney for Standard Transcriptions* Coast re- cording; outfit battling to upset leg- ally the American Federation of Musicians.'' di^ ban as it applies to them, met in New Tfork last week with reps' of other transcription outfits; Teegardien asked various transcribers to meet with him for the purpose of urging other com- panies to join Standard in the AFM argument and determine which would go along with Standard. So far he has had no definite answers. Reps of Langworth, CapitoU NBC and Associated, all N. y: firms, met with Teeg^deh. He had witli him National Labor Relations Board blanks for anyone who wished to join, in the fight against the. AFM. Wliile Teegarden didn't admit it, it's said the National Assn. of Broadcasters is financially backing ttie 'maneuver. Teegarden assertedly has not yet decided which angle of the case wUl be the foundation o£ his attack . on the disk ban. Top approach is understood to be the fact that the union has never labelled ' its disk ban as a strike, heoee' bainEfi^'* ers still under contca^ts Stan^d were bound to veHcasistBctbe csm.- pany. o « CO; CO 3 t^jfuegJBTi'r Survey oj retail, disk best ■ sellers, based on reports ob- tained from I'eadittcr stores in 13. Cities, and shaxBinig. com- parative sale* rating far this and last we^ a o : 1 IS JO a ■ o t at s 3 B 3, o to in g CO 3 1 u -1 1 I 1 € 3 ks s M ■ a in a r\ w a & a : M ■■T O X . A National Wttit ElldSn| Aprils 'Wis,: wm''i.^Af^'t a buyer of the firm's assets. He's tied fairly tightly, jt's claimed. Majestic Files Figures Chicago, April fii Majestic Records last week fiHed- a summary of labilities totalftig .$1,264,628, and assets totaling^ $989,760 in Chi federal district court before Judge Phillip Sul- livan. This' does not include amount due artists and publishers, which iB still: being determined. U; &. government is Majestic'* largest secured creditor, with duik- ery owing $115,074 in fed taaeib $6,890 in state taxes, and $2,198 county taxes. Parent corajjamy,- Majestic Radio and Televis&n Corp. has an unsecured claim ' of $787,013, and the Walter E. HeHer investment compans<. Chi, which holds securities- MliiecE at $84,238, is listecE for $^,9&L Ameriean Federation of Mosleians, lifeW York, is on booka^ fta: unsecured $30,417.13. Only two major artists listed ore Rose Murphy, for $371, and Ray Dorey, $750. Eddy Howard, label's biggest name and believed to b« company's top cr'editor, is not listed, but will probably be in- cluded in summary now being com- piled, "which is expected to total over $1,000,000. Other major creditors includo Bart Laboratories, $20,832; John Horn Printing Company, $24,795{ Montrose Corp., $24,256; Elizabeth- town Corp., $19,629; Tatham-Laird ad agency, $13,010, and Universal Recording: Corp., $1,937. Stock in the company is com* pletely controlled by Majestio Radio and Tele Corp. Parent eom- pany also listed Utilities totalhtg .$3,360,649 and assets totaling *7,48fi,515. 46 Disk-Jockey Reviews -SWINGING AT THE SUGAB- BOWL W«h Freil Beyndlds' Sat., 12:30-1 pjn. CHICAGO TBIBUNE WGN. Chicasro Fred Reynolds, dialog writer of the "Harold Teen" comic strip, portrays that perennial adolescent of the Chi Tribune-New York News syndicate in this juve-slanted ses- sion, which preemed April 3. Show will parallel the cartoon career of Teen, who is skedded for a black- and-white debut as a deejay. Beynolds' patter is right out of the Teen balloons, but he falls short in the larynx department. Voice has niiaertones of maturity . at odds, with the Teen stereotype. Pitch could be somewhere between the vocalistics used in creating Henry Aldrich' and Dagwood. ■ Disks on opener were Introed as .. requests from - characters in , the • atrip. References to "Brick Jacfc- liouse" were somewhat oveirwork^d. - but that's U{i4ei»tan49bl« .Since • Jsckhouse is pMtemed^ after Jack Brickhouse, WGN's sports service , maiager. " ■. ^ ' . Well-balanced disk lineup ranged frpm Benny Goodman to Peggy •* tee,' with a pas'sing nod to Dixie-, '- 'land. Reynolds' comments on side- inen were valid jgud informative. '' JAM SESSION . . MaxshaU SnuH Safturdar. ilMit* SmtainiuK KVTA, Salt. Lake City . Marshall, ^mall whips out a smooth, easy to listen to half )iour, tiy foUovdng the simpteV and not fufSel^iitlsr appk«ledo, 4; Buffalo, S; Pittsburg) 7; Cleveland, d; Day- ton, 9; Columbus, 10;, Akron, 11. Tour is being sponsored by Mer- cury Records 4ind being handled by Norman Granz. . Adolph Deutsch has been pacted by MGM for scor- ing and conducting tour . . .N. J Hartford has joined PanrAmerican Records as publicist . . ^ L e o n a r d Sues and Kermit Goel cleffied "Don't You Leave Me" for Co liunbia's "Sweetheart of the Blues" . . Rodgers and Hart tune, "The Lady Is a Tramp," from* the hit legit musical. "Babes In Arms, will be sung on screen for the first time in Metro's "Words and Music," Rodgers and Hart biopic. Lena Home will handle vocals and also sing "When and Where". . .Sei%e Walter and Jack Brooks will cleff two tunes Ivf- "Rogfuaf Ret^ment' atU-L • April T, 1948 B an d b at Hot e I B.< ).'8 Emil Coleman*. . . . Waldorf .(40q; $2) ; , , , , , Dick Jurgens Pennsylvania (500; $1-$1.50) 8 Shep Fields* New Yorker (400; $1-$1,50) . . . . '6 Johnny Pineapple . .Lexington (300; $1-$1.50) , , . . , .73 Lawrence Welk. . . . Roosevelt (400;, $1-$1.50) 3 Buddjr Moreno Commodore (400; $1-$1.5Q> 2 w«.k.' 'iSl'S* ,® -s-ssj: 2,228 58,025 - 1,775 - 9,200 1,300 7,800 800 65,250 1.350 4,500 850 1,750 ■■■Don RichardS'Robt Lamouret at Waldorf: Ice Show at New Yorfcer, Skinnay Ennis (Empire Room. Palmer House; 550; $3.50 min-Si cover). Easter week bolstered sagging grosses. Fancy .3,500 diners • Herbie Fields (College Inn, Sherman; 050; $2-$3.50 min.), Kav Starr Fields snappy 3.900. ,. Fair 12,000 callers. g Charlie Splvak (Palladium B., Hollywood, 3rd wk.). Very pqor 8,200 callers. Ribpsoilette, New hSkt Hollywood, April' 6. Rhapsodette Records, new Coast indie label, has been formed by Mortimer Singer, Robert S. Butts and L. McDonald. Firm will deal in kiddie and novelty pliitters pri- marily and branch into oatunes after wax ban is lifted. Singer is also affiliated with Rhapsody and Clover labels. Butts, attorney, and McDonald are new to the platter field. TOVIS FETE WAKOra Hollywood, April 6. Coast songpluggers tiiriied out en masse for luncheon in Fred Waring's honor at Tom Brenoman's last week. Waring, on vacation here, was toasted by 95 contactmen. Upbeat II om page IS U. S. ENGINEERS CAN'T STOP THIS TIDAL WAVE FROM THE PACIFIC I WHEN VERONICA PLAYS THE HARMONICA f DOWN ON THE PIER AT SANTA MONICAl M-G-M RECORD 10145 A JUKE lOX SMAiH! RaeerdiMi by THE MULCAYS JIMMY AND MILDRED APPEARING BY POPULAR DEMAND ON EDDIE CANTOR SHOW NBC w APRIL 8TH . ALSO APPEAMN6 ON MARK WARNOW'S "SOUND OFF," APRIL 12. CBS COMMAND PERFORMANCE, APRIL 20, OVERSEAS Thank* Johnny Mtrenr, it Was Great Appaarlng willi Y«h on tbo "Coil for Mnsie" Show, Maroh 2*. CBS Radio— ARTISTS AGENCY, BEVERLY MILLS . HsbltcitiMitfB WEISS, BEVERLY HILLS WrittM by TOMMY MACK and THI MULCAYS OUCHE$S MUSIC CO. VOCAL vON "VnONICA" BV rAIKICIA KAREN f», $.: "VERONICA" IS GRATEFUL TO 4LL THE DISC JOCKEYS FOR PUTTING HER WHERE SHE IS TOOilri On the SS Continned from orch for eight weekend stands at Casino Gardens ballroom, starting April 9. Gardens will open on full* week 'policy after Dorsey Itoves, May 29... .Jan SaVitt outfit and Jack Durant at Flamingo, Las Vegas. . .Frankie Carle band, with . vocalists - Nan Wright and Gregg Lawrence," at Columbia's N. Y. studio making a two-reel short . Stan Kenton bahd inked for jazz concert at Oakland aiid June 1T« and another bash at San Francisco Opera House, June 30. For each date, band gets 50% of gross. Chicago Chi office" of Mood Music closed . Sherman Hayes returns to Martinique hi June, following Wayne Gregg. .. .Eddie Hubbard, WIND disk jockey, off "ABC Club" due to illness; Dave Garroway, WMAQ spinner, "Two Ton" Baker, \ Sony Howard and Mel Torme tak- ing tutus as subs — Paul Davis, of McConkey's Kansas City office joined Mus-Art's band department here . . . Jimmy Palmer, currently at Bill Green's, Pittsburgh, into Kenny wood Park, May 24 ... . Chick Kardale, contact man for Morns Music, to New York to bedside of ailingi mother. . . .Charlie Spivak set for Aragon Ballroom, in July ...Joe Venuti headlines next show at Sherman hotel, April 23 Bob Berke into Pla-Moor, Kan- sas City, May 20, eight days ... Betty McGuire All-Girl orchestra into 400 Club, Dodge City, Kansas, Monday (5), two weeks . . . .Jimiw Featherstone into Oh Henry Bau- room. May 5 Herbie Fields goes to Stage Door, Milwaukee, May 1 . . . . Ray Herbeck currently ^at Dutch Mill, Lake Delavan, Wis- consin. . . . Lionel Hampton plays concerts at Mir-A-Mar BaUrom, Gary, May 22,» and Civic Opera House here May 23 . . . Robert Grum's new Dixieland band_ at Rupneck's Lounge .... Page Cav- anaugh Trio at Forest Park hotel, St. Louis,, for four weeks Strand, New York Louis Armstrong debuts couple weeks at Biptioft Calumet City, May 11. . . "Doc Craig, arranger, doing special ma- terial for chirp "Kathleen Dennis^ Dynamie IniiramMlal— iwcordod by ARTHUR FIEDLER tVlctor) CAMARATA ILoadonl FIDDLE FADDLE MILLS MUSIC, INC. U19 irawlwar • Now York 19 Jones 1ji»Re(mMU Till Vf'Prt^' Disk Wmsliftigton, April 6. Kffort to bjceak the American ■geAva^aa of Miuiciaiu recording f^n to cut it single nuurter. on the found fbat tbeirs is a siieclal case, being, made by the Jones Bros., vocal and iiuttum«BtaI trio cur^ xently playing the Blue , Micror betO" "J^&f *>W>* that the SSaiestic jBfectods: ritnatloa, which has. tied ftp their rendition of "A&i't.She Pretly," is unfairly losing^ them monegr and tiiey want to lemalEe their aeiMigeinent t«e another com- :^ey elalnt they have tlwee rew. ■ So far AniC has tunned tbumlMF ^wn on the graudd ttaatthb aiightt act a preeedeafc which would tet-* tnit otfam to crack thOi rectad' Ing hab. Xtkt botong to the BostaB. local of AFIUL Thegr waxed 'i^ttx*' back in im. A tew montha ago ft caught on and pcqtu-. larity of their platter,, they- daim, cuiaitd thxeo other gionpa; to jcecord^ tt* fiiner. em uaing. « iMHuiOy tdn^tlcal ancaagemeiit; mw, sir 4ft* JoDM boyt thef, Mafeatte. nMter ts- tied up and othen- «nv, oaUan hi at new veiv glons. ' ' ' diuMiF Ttfjte KM Slater De- Itoso hare coUa]knc«ted' on„a «>ng ^odteftted tft BMS*l|tffik. tttled A pueiSttiUaifi. q£ the proceeda go to the Haho Bnth roundatton. -OSCBBSimAS-SilTSIC 47 SPIYAKENI^PACr Holly woodj April e. Charlie Spival^'s orchestra and RCAVVictor have parted company, according to reports here. VTHat caused the split between the ma- estro and the disk manufacturer is pncertain. When his contract came up for renewal, it's understood, there was none agreed to. Spivak came to Victor during the last record strike called by the American Federation of Musicians. At that time his switch from Co- lumbia caused him a lot of grief since he advised the latter of liis intention just before the strike was called and made the move during •the walkout. Columbia pulled all o£ his dislts from the market and Victor had none to issue, which meant he went without a record fox almost two year?. WAAT, Newailc, Quits Jockeyii^r N. Yi Nitery WAAT, Newark, haa pidled its all-night disk jockey show out ot Leon & Eddie's-nitery, N. Y.. because, the station .'could not sen tb* time after .almost a year of airing. Jeny Bob«rt«r stair disk Jodk and annQunc^, did the prb- gtram nightly. Eddie. l5avis, owner of , the elub, is endeavoring to Ihie iw another statUm to do a show in md period WAAT vacated. BilYDiP Triwrnphawli INKim W Wax "SoimiMNp I Dtwamed . IReawt li2) Sepia Sbng Stylist JfteKBERGit Favorite Radio SFnger "I'm Qotiim Onirep to DMtiiii^ New jMexko" "VIMdrnt ■cHc Are Brwiking B|K Hm* QM Ghms of Mine" (Regent 114) JOEDOSH v New Stnginf^ Disi RCA in Dme to Ping Dodgers Cantata ECA-VlctojP Is preparing to launch a heavy exploitation cam- paign behind its "Brooldyn Can- tata" album, to be marketed April 16, the day the Brooldyn Dodgers open their '48 baseball seamonk "Cantata," baritoned by Robert Merrill, Victor Red Seal artist and star of the Metropolitan Opera, is a musical theme whose inspiration is the Dodgers. It was composed by George Kleinsinger, one of the writers of "Tubby the Tuba." Victor recorded the item last fall and has been ^holding it for the start of the annual baseball fever. Feist, Bourne Sue to Halt CQpgnrigh^t Infringements Feist' and Bourne' music com- panies filed infringement suits last week in N, Y. federal court against Vagabond House, Inc., Mohegan Lake. N. Y. Charge is using copy- righted tunes without consent. Standard $25(1 is asked for each violation. Complaint alleges Vagabond per- formed Feist's "I Understand" at various times, and "Careless," owned by Bourne, without permis- sion. An injunction is sought Feist also slapped the Mayfair Restaurant, Ine:, N. nitery, with an infringement action claiming illegal, violatioa.of the.coiarij|^t of "My SSu6 WeKi&i." DgOMiges and injunction 'ore asted. um am show KHJ[5iP0RROOF,N.Y. Sammy Kaye's signing for the Chestergeld broadcast for the sum- mer (7 p.m„ Ave times weekly, NBC) eliminates bim from the pos- sibility of playing the Hotel Astor Roof, New York. Though the Astor buys Music Corp. of America bands almost eD^clusively, Kaye, who's now with Qeneral Artists Corp., could have continued playing the spot this year as in the past' He might have signed for it weeks back, but he and Bob Ghristen- berry, Astor managing director, couldn't get together on the pe- i-iod. Kaye wanted the August- September spot and Christenberiy wanted him to take the June-An- gust slice. Cbristenberry so far has only Carmen Cavallaro set for the'sum- mer; he opens the Roof May 17. Usually the spot's season, split into three periods, is fully set by this time of year. iuifcOrdiestra»-4liisR ° Feist Music will continue to< work on the tune, "Miracle of tfie Bells," though the melody was cdipped, from the RKO film of the same name. Feist flgureiB that although its song is set back ar tttt by having been left on. the cutting room floor, there's no reason mby it cannot receive some benefit from . the title while the film is circulating. It^s pointed out that "To Each His Own," one of the heaviest hits of recent years, was not used in the Paramount film of the same name. Cutting Am tune from the Dim was- ironical, however, in view of the hue . and cry that was set up over Kay Twomey's and Al Ckmdr heart's ''Serenade of the Bells." Feist's Harry I^ink once thought of suing the pair, who had originally titled their song "Miracle 'ef 'the Bells;" then switched to "Sermade" when Russell Janney, writer of the "Miracle", book, asserted he intended penning a ttUe tune for the plcturiation with Father Joe Ocimer. One of the reasons for the fidelity superiorly Iiondon Records, made and shipped here by the British Decca company, is the latter's ability to get and use stieUac in its pressings. Few, if any, U.S. record nuuuifacturers are able at the moment to use even minimum amounts- of shellac in their disks because of the unusually high price (76e. a pound) of the material, which comes only front India; ' - England, of course, with its Indian connections, is better able to secure pure shellac and, since the English government-, is giving the London company all the help It can in an effort to round up U.S. dollars, the use of it in pressings makes^ the London disks- superimr. BCA-Victor,. Columbia, Decca or any of the other major and minor- U.S. firms use no shellac at all, or, if some do, only minor amounts per disk. Victor has for some lime been usihg a compound involving a comparatively recently' developed .plastic. Othe^fr are operating along the same lines. - Sanuny Kaye in Kansas City Thursday (8) for a broadcast, concert and dance in the Municipal Aud is getting the benefit of one of the most comprehmsive camimigns ever connected with a' band date in K.C. A & N ^Presentations, which is promoting the band^ ha? tied-up with Crown Drug stores and KCMO. Cro-wn will plug the date in all of its 45 stores in the K.C. area, and KCMO will carry a week's air promotion; . Idea is to sell advance tickets. Every buyer of an advance ducat in the stores will be offered a second one at the price 'c^ the taxes-^6c. A & N recently pulled over 4,000 to the And vidth Vau^bn Monroe. With the three-in-one Kaye program and the heavy plugging, A & N hopes to better that figure. Record for the Aud. is about 13,000, jammed in by the Ink Spots several years agOi ' . . . ' General Artists Corp. is using a new -method' of ascertahiing the validity of promoter's checia forwarded to the agency as deposits on future dates. With permission from the American Federation of Mu- sicians, the agency banks each check for collection' hefore allowing' the bandleader involved to sign the contract for the dftte. Previously AFM rules stated that once « check is deposited for colleetitin the 'action was construed as a ]binder on a booldng, regardless ot wheoHar a bandleader had signed a contract. Permission was sought and granted on the grounds that, checlcs occasionally bounced after deposit, leaving the agency in the position of having agreed to supply a band for a pro- moter who wasn't financially riKsponsible. Diiyc jocks and coin machine ops are handing jukebox music a "new look," according to surveys of performances the past month or so. Concert recordings have been Showing up on popularity polls as well with Macklin Marrow's "Meidcaft Fantasy" and "Sabre Dance" waxings especially in the fore. Leroy Anderson's "Fiddle-Faddle" and Toots Camarata's "Rumbalero" are also cited as a further indication of the new trend. Switch to the classics and quasi-longhair tunes is credited by some quarters to the interest in "Hora^-Staccato," "'Warsaw Con- certo" and numerous filmusicals in the Tschaikovsky and Chopin idiom. National Records states that it has not made a recording of Leeds Music's "Heartbreak" Its name had been included in a story in the previous issue telling how Leeds, which bad accepted the tune less than a week before the recording deadline, Jan. 1, only knew of two disks made/ of it at the time but found itself three months later with 11 versions of "Heartbreak" on wax. National also points out that the Billy Eckstine recording of "All of Me," which had been inadvertently credited to M-G^M in Vaiubty's disk jockey poll, is one of its own disks. Eckstine has beoi with the M-G-M label almost a year. Alan Lomax, Decca's folksong authority and Mutual's folksong disk jockey, thinks there must be around 25,000^ compositions of the folk- music category on commercial records, and' he's launching an all-out effort to round up ast many of them as possible. Types of music Lomax is looking for include blues, spirituals, hillhiUyt forciIgn language, gospel singing, ballAds. boogie woogie and "in the alley" Jazz. Lenny Herman combo will be back on the Roof as reUef combo and may have own wires. 111^ Use for Tele Of Old Band Shorts May Stir Inquiry Band agencies are up in arms over the discovery that some of the shorts filmed around name bands now being used by television sta- tions in New York are 'heing sold to them illegally. One agnecy dis- covered recently - when going through some old contracts that pacts under whidbt the I>ands re- corded many of these- shorts were written specifically to covCr their use only in coin-operated machines, or "spundies" as they are called in the trade." "Soundies" machines never were very successful and at the moment are virtually out of existence. But not so the siiorts that were made for them bj^ vaiious combos. And it seems that tiiere are agencies that have gotten hold of the films and are selling them to television. Complaints will be made to the American Federation of Musi- cians. BiTTVlSMSrORA^mi f On fttcMtiKl ALL DRESSEH W WITH A IRCMCEN HEAiT . r«ts« tM-C<4>. tSO» e IvAiy aai)[r-C«l. 379S5 . Bob HmsMn-MGM 10112 • Ahw G*r«ni-lli«. 7919 JoKii Uurmn-4llHcuiy Se«t • Alan Dab-Sig. 1S174 Ih* Ry*. Ben-hibt 1009 » Jodi QwMM^tmw IMA ' Tha Va«gttanh.--UhhMnid 34 * Jwriy Cpu ftt ' .iW I m m m ii SOW Run Martnn-OK. 2433* • iddy Hwwonl-rM«(. 1234 BiU Johnton-Vtc. M474* • PMI llaMl-Oam»^«Mi 17ft DREAM PEDDLER, THE (f««r) Frank!* CarU-Col. 3S034 • HtA Ommiii-tap^ 441 laiBmy Koya-Vic. VkUU • SnMky Ummt-Mw*. 5U4 FOOL THAT 1 AM iMii » H«ah Sliwp-.~Col. snSi fmay Hkfr-Vif. MOtm ' - GMrgie etUn-Moi. t3M9 *. Kfly Etb«M-JMM. IMf7 EmKm HMrMm-Vk. VMUn * , fretiw BmilMftr^Stc. 4(M4t Dhah WinWiigton-WUn. SSSO • .qMiiif a hi w M ar edhr 104 . 'ni«''llaMti»-Naf...f04ft' ' irS EASY WHEN YOU KNOW HOW«'*«^« John Ptm'o-Vwi 2M027 • Joan EduMrdt-Vita. 931 Bwdiiy Clark-Xovior Giiflol-Col. 38135 • Bkio Barran-M6M* r - Eddio Ballantino— Toyrar ^ I WANT TO CRY (ExdAri Cbrit Ctots-Stotlina 4004 , * Sovanrqi Oraniim-lteaMr 1139 , I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED (RoprfiHci Harry Coal— More, 50M) • Sammy Kayo— Vic. 20-2761 LET'S BE SWEETHEARTS AGAIN (Cwiriwu-Persie} . Mo'rgarat Whtting-Cap. 1S010 • Victof lombanlo-lll«|. 7249 . Ma«'BBmm-MSM^012) • Sha|» RoMt-Musicrofr 529 BOiJohnton-VSc. 20.2591 Guy U>mb«iRlo.4Aan(«i. Uwh— Dac. 2429S ~ LOVE IS SO TERRIFFIC (Maiii.) too Brown-Cai. 30040 • AM Uind-MGM lOm IMan CarroN K SotURaM-Vtc. 204472 Vic Damona-Marcury 5104 • End* Fslica ttmm-Xlmf: 4BB PASSING FANCY (tMi) Vaoaim MoaMO-Vie: 10-3S73 Ray Daroy-dhii. ItM ' Johnny Johniton— M6M- 10127 * FiWKot lai mt of d. '- iM arcwy 'anti-. TERESA (OaciMMi Dicfc Haynia>.AiidioMv Sttai»-Dac. 24330 • Kay Kysar-CaL MUf Jock SmiMi-Coik 414 • Vh Damono-Marairy SOtt . . DwJtay^ Tri»-«enu 7S04 • j^brea BlaM»-4Excl. IM Ja> Garbar-Towor 1435 • Joa UM-Vic. 30-2SI9 WHO PUT THAT DREAM IN YOUR EYESfStaortl Mark.Warnow-^oost 8024 • Ray Carlar— Rap. 122 Jack McUan'<-Coatt 8015 • Chuck Fottar-Marc. SI2S WHY DOES IT HAVE TO RAIN ON SUNDAY (JollMiteaal ' Fraddy Martin— Vic. 20-2557 • Snooky lanson— Marc. SOSS MiH Harth-^ac. 243SS • Baale St. Boy*-^M6M 10141 ■Mnnit Ooy-Vic. 20-2377 YOU'RE GONNA GET MY LEHER IN THE MORNING ILewles) Mary Otborna*^l)o(, 24308 * Guy lonibardo->-Dac% YOU'VE CHANGED (Mtlody Lane) Anna Shahon-london 118 • Adela Clark— Dec. 24352 Harry Jamas-Dick Haymei— Col. 36412 Frankia laina— Alia* 236 * IWary Oaborna— Aladdin 3010 King Cola TriaM.Cap. * * Joan Edwards— Vita. * *$«a« To B* Rttaosad. BHOJIBCJIST MUSIC INC. ■580 flfTH AV'ENUE . •, .< ':S« ' N • NEW YORK . CHlCaCO . HOILKWOOD 4a ORClIS;S¥llilS»M1JSI€ Wedneaday, Apyil 7, 1943 AFM INsku^ lid Si On fight There is stiU no settlement of the recording ban despite'' the many persistent rumors circulating around New York during the past month or more. Though responsi- hle people for' both the recording side an4 the AFM. faction- flatly deny apy. stgreement, or even the conversations toward that end^ many tnusic and agency peopHe have just about been convinced that a deal ejdsts, that the record- ing companies are keeping it a secret until they clear shelves of stapks of masters cut. before 'the ban. And- that the AFM is in ca- hoots, with thiis arri^pgeKneJfit. - Jt'ti pointed by. thf^irecor^ets .that the- AFM stiU wafit? ij^ ifby^ dlty jArrangement, outlawed by the Taft-Hartley Act, continued . iii .some way before another deal Is . made. Ancf-that so' fjfir no one has . come up with a plwii that ^11 keep the disk coin flowing into the A^M treasury which 40e9n,*]t. violate th6 , Oolumbia Records, denies, in jnrt,^i report current "lit. the trade that'^jOie company %d decided on ,«o|iamtbut .vrith a.^ow^-pticed pop l«be|tfW}'" ' •' • ". A^taflq.tt fof a reversion to the old :%cilicy '^f iwiihig two differ- ^fttlyrpric^d label* -was isomethtaig ¥11 ,Qbemtfcln,^"T*cprding liead of BO^f^icttHr, xan:'jn1» q.uite fre- . ^uenOy dmring 3riBceat-.^busine'Ss tci|« iBrouad.w Soi« $clling Agtnts By ArNncicntcnts witli CttESTVIEW MUSIC BURKE and VAN HEUSEN, INC. ' . SIDNEY KORNHEISER, Oaii. Mgr. 1619 BROADWAY NEW YORK 19, N. Y. Cboti Ayes BlilnoiiSoiigQodifir New RocheUe, N. Y. Bditor> VABEHnr: The Irving Berlin article you ran was not only a Vei^ authen- tic cvaluatidd of songwritevv* copy- rights but "a tut« tipoff to the younger generation who are desir- ous of making song-writing their life work that qui^Uty and not quantity Is the important thought to keep in mind. Among tlie cele- brated, coterie of great popular songwriters^ there has never been a more talented, tasteful,, and harder working craftoman, as Mr. Ibcrlin has demonstrated over the past 40 years. His record of achievement speaks for Itself. He has been a truly tremendous in- spiration to dozens of great writers who came along many yeafs after he had reached the top ranks. His enthusiasm, apd liappy approach to the many tasks he imdertakes, is so delightful to behold, that it seems a pitj^ that all ' aspiring tunesmiths .'and lyricists cahnot have a front row seat and watch him go through his paces. In my humble opinion, Irving Berlin will be writmg hit songs for the world to hum and whistle 20 and 30 yearQ from now. Check nie in 1968 and 1978 and see if my personal proph- ecy isn't entirely correct. And while thinking over the tre- mendous galaxy of highlights in the life of Irvhtg Berlin, I give thought to the transient group of embryo Berlins and note that the majority of these hopeful song- writers are starting out under varied handicaps, caused by their own ignorance and lack of a true understanding of what it takes to reach the top rung of the Tin Pan Alley ladder.^ First of ail, they must determine to sigh, cry, go a little hungry, get sluffed off, take a lot of daps and disappointments, and stand up -am- der all the varied heartaches and heart breaks that practically all of the senior residents of Tin Pan Al- ley had to accept for many years before they really clicked. They must always keep in mind that a high quality blend of warm melody and lyrics is more valuable than a thousand hebop, or jive, or jump, or jazz rhythmic monstrosities, that sell terrific on records only for a few weeks then die, disappear for- ever. I call their attention to Bet- lin's remarks about the importance of high copyrights, that increase steadily in value as years roll by. It is these powerful copyrights of thousands of truly great songs, written by those illustrious song- writing pioneers along Tin Pan Al- ley over the past 40 years, that has made ASCAP the great institution it is today, enjoying distinguished prestige throughout the entire civ- ilized world as a collective brother- hood of songwriting men and' wom- en and their publishers. Let the songwriting newcomers remember these facts, and if possessed of patience, fortitude and talent, they shall go far. J> JF'rcd Coots. Tfk Scale Angles Still Snag AFM Though the American Federa. tjon of Musicians has consistently been worldng on television scal#« since the okay was given more than two weeks ago for the usi of live music on video, no pay set- up has yet been devised. PerloSe checlcs on the Am bring onlyX statement that the scalel are sUtt . being worked over. ■ There are so many diflferent ai- gles involving the use of musicians on tele that the delay is - held to be understandable. Sdme 'sboa. sored broadcasts, for example, are &S^vim on .doing AM broadcaste and televising at the same' tS plus taking 16m films for rebroad' cast. All of these efforts done seb- f *t«}y would ordinarily, demand ^^jlJa^er*" * «;» : Meanwhile, the tola broadcasteis aro paying token salaries to those involved in television shows. Mm- cians. worldng under Arturo TosS- mni on NBC got $2 per show I«st week and the week l^fore. ; TED Hnm TO EMCEE . B.G.'S WEEKEND HOPS Ted Husin?, WHN, New Yoi*. disk jockey, will emcee tho Friday and Saturday, night dances iBenny Goodman will stage w:eekly at the 9«ihfy Center, White Plains, Jr. Y, Goodman is rumnhig the hops hiip- self and will start them June 18, using a full-siied jband, after tWo wJseks at the CUck Club, Pbltadel. phia; with a sextet, Husing and Goodman plan to promote Sunday afternoon conderts at thj* Center after the leader's weeUy dance Idea gets uhderwaJr. Cab Calloway's recently formed six-man combination is due at tile Rag Doll, Chicago, Jme 4-27. Group, known as the Cab^Jiven^ ' will follow iCing Cole Trio. A 0rMf |Vo'Fe«rSfa*df«ni I FEEL A Mffsfe by • . . JIM Mr M^mCH ROMINC ThmNvfhil'* ifyHAsf ktqMsf Sent [ I'd Give A Million Tomorrows (Per Just'OH* Yasttrdayl OXFORD MUSIC CORPORATION U19 IrocMiwdy. N«w Yoik Til* No. 1 Folk Record of iho Nation T. TEXAS TYLER'S "DECK OF CARDS" Conr Star KcDord liiSS AMERICAN MUSIC. INC. GarM JEComero, Prof. Mgr. BIOD Sunset Blvd. .1S70 Vtronilnrnsr HoUywood 46, Cal. -New York, N. If. Cltcstvlenr COlunibo;. E-?8i!0 PROMOTION NIAN t« takfl (iiU clinrgo of larKCi sUntlnff Tlnk-reorontion center ouerntliiff «es«fuUy for «v«r 10 years. Must linve full loiowIcdKe and ability to curry out promfitlon Ideas. ISxoeUont op- Dortunlty. Apply Horman MoTOWiM, as* Main SWoefctttterwrn, New Jersey. BRerwooa s-sm. mmmmmm'WBmm ML S(Higs with Lngest Radio Anii^ 1 {Survey Week of March 3e-Apri! 1, 104S A Few More Kisses Patmar April Showers • • • M .tianns teg Your Pardon [...., Bobbins Mli Tl»lngs"^In life Are Pre*-t"<3oo* Neii^s'*. . ... .CiwwfOrd But iffeautlful— HSoad to Rio" Burke^VH Cttiolnnati ..... . . . .Simon Xaster Parade .«.....■ .Berlin Golden Earrings— t'fGolden Earrings" Paramount Haunted Heart— *"In!iide USA" Williamson Hooray For Love — fCasbah" .................... Melrose , i May Be Wrong Advanced 1 Never Loved Anyone Dreycr • , I'll Never Say "1 Love You" Mood I'pi Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover Hemick I'm My Own Grandpaw. .... . . . , .......... General Laroo Laroo Lilli Bolero Siiaplro-B Love Is So Terrific Mellin Manana BarboiuvL Now Is the Hour . . . . '. Leeds Oooh Look-a There, Ain't She Pretty Leeds pianissimo . .• Santiy-Joy Saber Dance- ■. • " t!^*r5 ■ Saturday Date Southern serenade. Of the Bells Melrese Spring In December Leeds Tell Me a Story Laurel ■ Teresa • • ■ ■ • • < • • • • • • • • • ■ • • Duchess' There Ought To Be a Society Dreyer Whafll I Do Berlin You Were Meant For Me— f'You Were Meant". . , . Miller You're Too Dangerous Cherie Harms The remaini'ng 20 songs of the week, based on the copyrighted Audience Coverage Index Survey of Pop^ilor Mtwic Broadcast Over Radio Networlc^. Published by the Office of. Research, Iw., Dr. John G. Peattnan, Director. Baby Face Remick Ballerina ■■ ..Jefferson Brass Band From Brazil— ♦"Angel In the Wings". . . Morris Bye Bye Blackbird Bemick . plckey-Bird Song— 1"3 Daring Daughters" Bobbins Don't Call It Love— t"I Walk Alone" Famous I Wouldn't Be Surprised ..." Republic- i:m a Comin' a Courtin Corabelle ,. . . Dreyer ' I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling Santly-Joy Let's Be Sweethearts Again . C-P Mary Lou Mills. My Cousin Louella • .Shapiro-B My Sin OiappcU Stars Will Bemember ^^FW Thoughtless ............. ....Feist. Treasure Sierra Madre .' Bennck When You're Smiling • • . Mills Who Put That Dream In Your Eyes Stuart You Turned the Tables On Me; Fox You're Gonna Get My Letter London » Letfit Mwkol. t FMtftusical, - Mtw^ Sijdlft'tiolQfn'bip. disk exec 14 lHa when the booming band business attracted droves oi wellknowu side- men who turned leaders, plus the money men to back them. Strangely enough, some execu- tives have during recent- months shifted from the idea that the band business needs new names to lift it out of the b.o. doldrums. They have been witnessing the clicks of comparatively unknown leaders on records during the winter and have watched these amount to compara- tively nothing extra at the b.o. as a result of the disk hits. And they have come to the conclusion that tlie best bets are stiU the standbys, the top names of the old days. Execs reason thusly:' leaders such as Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman and all others in that cate- gory are widely laiown. They don't have so far to build if any manages to make a hit recording, whereas an Unlaiown, even with a hit rec- ord, ' must struggle through the general public apathy toward dance bands. Even if he manages it, be must continue to make hit dlslcs to establish a name as strong as the above-named maestros. Today's public reaction cannot be assured on the basis of a one-hit start. AH this theorizing, however, is aside from the fact that the feeling around band agencies is consider- ably brighter in view of bookings already sealed over the summer. And since one-night operators have shown willingness to reduce admission prices where leaders' price demands allow it, they feel better patronage will Inevitably complete iihe picture. An unusual set of bookings will bring two name bands, Vaughn Monroe and Lionel Hampton, into Albany on the same night, April 8. Monroe at the State Armory, Hampton at Mid-City Parli^ OB Albany-Troy Road. IKPIATIOH iLUES RKT, mm, AND GONI ftARNYARD BOOOIR HOW LpNO JMUST I WAIT POR YOUt Dmgh Rteotd #24300 mwBR wiNmi LOMlf JORDAN'S AlBUM, VOLUMI II* a n*w coilMtion of your fovorltos Na a-ms . "TRQUiLp H A MAN BMMltH«l4|243Kl CINCINNATI HONIY^ HONIY, HONIY f>MCa R««ord ]f24335 N s S9 Assumption lOwt /fite dts{«ctime of JUaitt SltetlM«y «s tx^ tarn witli Aim^ao GSbH* sX Vsciety ArtWs migbt 9«la9SL slcingent xtttes he set down IcHT iiBcotrsl$int:t)n^.^ advance «f the aeiMn m ibaik ,ai>L' sides Smbtstei .mtsg imm .Out -^Bt- f eri»ic«ic> wtilimmmM- « im mmlim 'troi(aMM.4M:9nipi|)pipib'ai«: theMMiwi'ltMMler.'^prrWii'Pie^ . coMiiiiaiiii: oyecatots And the union on a clauso ot the AGVA contract, as set by Shelvey, that all performers jilay- ing the spc^ must be housed on premises of 49m|doyntent er ■wi&Aa thixe ntOes of such spoil. It also provided that tbt^ nmee' to b<^ given acconunodatiow tfmal to that )^aying gusto JoiKt riiniiilv food, mmirk perte/ema» wtr^ working oft premises, it cjSfed fipr operators to convey pecfoiimen safely to and from their cmploy- meaA peint Ihete. was consider- aiAe disfntkm among operatorx on ttSs nutter vMch resoltea in m lociwat of 3fBttaemevs, -oMiAt tm eveniwKllr ai^asted by the ntdan. Since suit aiiots taity on a weekend basis, they argwdf that holding rooms vacant for per- formers' accoikimodation had been a loss to them, when they could have oQierwise rented same to paying lests at $75 weekly or better. It's -andiBnIood that AGVA will not bodge on this point in the coming ft-ViUa clttb, has been betud 4Mwr to the ifeitnd jury on a clum«'«f atteng^feSK to In^ two. Uqu«r«genf«. tbe taro «f«M!|i jMM under indictment IStenutdm m tScrngf^ of trying to i;et VkWi ^ bribes irom Alvino. Meanwhile, Alvino's liqnnr li- cense has been wnpieBdeil ]w the liate Jicpuir 'immSt, far MWnfMa Sunday sato^. aiiiB^.Piill ON TRIAL 7 M KOMk Atlanta, April d;-' Jmie IfaC' date set for trial of IHielvey, former na- tnmal j|da)Bairttatac of the Ameti- can GnQd of Variety Artists, and Arthur. -iCaye,- ex-AGVA regional director in IQami. Beth wexe secently indicted by an Atlanta l^and jury on two e«pfl» «C Jtanduleut conversion. SNHT Me cbarged with getting A -total of i$a»,000 from the Henry GXaAr Mel here as a "contcUm- «o«r-i«» JSe AGVA welfare fund, lor Iter ,%|isivllege of conducting n wCn e e ' ^ows in the Paradise jMwin -oCiSiat hob^ It's «Ue>ed tint the iBaipcy never reached the Ai(^& treasury. H I, Commodore Hazy (hi iSiiynr %cnng^ ComtmodDie hotel, *Kew York, is uncertain about whether its Cen- tury Room will be Icept open for supper all summer despite the fact that the hostelry went to some ex- jteuse'ltst iall 4* install air-condi-, iti«nin|?. Weesks'back it definitely^ ^tended-^iSgKJUnne bands tUniiilK. mat lM!t p^idbd far the first Una^,,, IMt nowmeqr wea small gwap aadt- open ior'iC&uKc;. The room is also fofT luncheon.: here if Ringling Brofherst sisiMm & Bailey decide to pass up PMSQy in a disapuie with the Fire Mar- shal's office. John J. Quinn, Municipal Stadium concKSsionaice. said ' he will pro- mote the Ceie Bros. ap{)earance here, pQSsQiily- in Yellowjacket. Sta^m, from IVIay 20 .to 129. Fire Marshal George J. Galla- £|ier hn baixwi'tiie Kini^g Bros. dscus< from tlie site it formerly used aa the gcminds Itaat Ihe circus !«ra8 a fire haurd. After casting sbMt'Jn PUBly for anoCher spot, Waldo Tui>per, general agent for Ringling Bros., said "It lo(^ quite probable that «te vrill pass up Btailly aiaegfither.'* ; However,' Roland Butler, circus pjL, fan conferred wttb^ Commis- sioners in nei^bdrihg Upper Oaxby Towndiip witti' » view of obtaining a sidtable sfte Just across the Philly coimty lineJ Ringling would put on its show there from May to 2S, fiidier wtJL Cole Brothers,' however, appar- ently is leaving no stone unturned to take aidvMitaee iti, (he huge Philly circus biz if -Ringling Bros, -failk. to shew here. Quinn, Its Philly representative, said that Ullis Gimbel, department store exec, and Frank Pahunlx), nitery omaer, who annnaSy taie parties of children to the Ringling circus, would- be ' gism Uook» of free tickets'^fhe Cole Bros. vhow. 3Presenta[tion luwaet ^nOI tw aibl* td compete With televlsilon if co- operation' with HoUywMd itt*- dqeers is, enUsttd, according to showmen ■fASa do not:vlew Yidw as' the kiss-of-dni^fbr'lnrpersan en-' trartahiment. ITs feltiStat tdg iMdS- eted pictures jnA'staQgeAtaws idll do, the trick. Bookers reason that people will gladly pa;^ for 14^' enter- .t^ment, «v«n tlk1« ' for free over She tde'ttttrwi'.- Thfei atiremen' say that 4ei^p3t(^ the mdnej^ ihwt will be poored' into the new inedium, bulk of indto ' entertain- ment, except £ar special events, wUl be alcng low-budgeted lines. ITbis type of ahow wQl not be able' to stand up against the coinbina- tion of expoudve BjcrHywobd prod- uct and well-^moanted staqpsj^senr ttdions that vnuie homes wm have to'use. ' They feel that people will sHII want to pay Cor something really cood, rather than accept niediocrlty far free. This asmsaeBt is buttressed by the belief that with the high cost of television programming, video imdgets wHl most likely be on a pa^ with that of radio shows. Even if an advertiser spends as much as $25,000 weekly "for a show, \hl layout wUl stUI off^r no compMi- son to a supet^taudgeted Hollywood product. It's just a matter of giving bigger and better shows than tele can offer, according to theatre bookers People still wiU want to go out' Wis declared, and once hi the enter! tainment centres, they'll want something they can't get for free at home. ■ ■ ■ ■ The bookers say that theatres ^vill fetill be paying dividends no^ matter how strongly entrenched video becomes. Hollywood will have to go back to the hieh brd^-' eters. and video will help build at- tractions for theatres. Ifs pointed out that Danny Kaye's pOpubniiy increased tremendously when he started making ^pictures. Ciif»lnto m&trtmA, April 6. ^. :ikMe'|l|M''iH(:iiMMt haU in- MlWi^ia iW-yr'l^ifiiiil.Fernan- do 'Valley iMory. Hisjsteisg 50% •mtimdiAlmlt.ymmmtmmA. by ing fn w)iiai ma^U iltmtsA. ' ■ ■'■0mmmalii- Ti $ %m i t[: ;iili>a ..1 )l ld ecided 'm 1B» s«A|lslhtt;~lli'vliWH0:'-iiame of tl» eMr 'MiA''|iit4l^iiK ifi'X show ToMal»iladaaiMiit Mejdcu Oit^,' M^arch' 90;' The wrald's only-CMHidian mata- idar has bowed on hfae fint test in IMblic at Tlalnepantta, State of 3Mexico, just over the border from: Iiere, Sunday (4). Se Is Raymond Dnbe, 23, French-Canadian, native of Fairview, Ont,'tilio has passed 3^ first five tests,' in frirate,- vn-' der veteran Spanish and Mexican tareadors. Dube hopes to go as far in IwiWtgisling aa 1mm SUmmy FcankUa «f. BnMidiayeady AmctI- «aui bullfighter. Dube has been « book aalwan in Meideo iar turn ymm. Says he became iotecested in buimghting B»|A» Wiiifaif.'-8(titape ah^ cfllM WTB ibtlSkmmer The-Bajidiflioaliptf^tBMiiding, Pa., will ittm^ il niiliBiiii' ter the sum- mer, Mi^ XL ..iBanse •■jiays three days of vande an laatliif of week, Iwohed iQr BdcBe gHwatwan,' New shmBbm6ii:mait,Mmmme& in ifrom pix, plays and mag stories, and. bellewa he's of. '^tador 3aake';-Hi^ fk talatt to MSL WOa isq^ctaculaily in ptilKBe. IBswifie^i Meidcan, mA they butve a IS' m«»ith-old dauglbter. Xf his Thdne- pantla test is aacoi^ful, Dube will iceep on going, wiCh both eyes on persanaling on stace, in xitenea and pa^ '* la Frwkiin. FAMOUS OPEN AIR AMPHITHEATRi OKN MAY 10 H. Y. SOCIAL LOW RATIS . 'MAY whi jmni - ; n»Mit iA. MIMt:' ] FRE£GOUF Elytia, 0., Hiiety Bnined Elyria, • have met wiih difficulties, management of tlie. llr$ttun -f lUnhouses feel .it's unfair to havfc'a rebirth of vaud^ through a tax aimed at them alone. Film ops are repoirted willing to pay imports up to4a,00a-$3,000 to stave off introduction of the pro- jected tax. Ferro. incidentally, has made some/efforts to aid live talent by establishing an organization known as "Stages of the People" whereby, prizes and awards ar;e distributed yearly to playwrights, and amateur Theiipians. ' Currently there are only tour stages for vaude pur- poses besides the state-owned San Carlos Opera House and the ; Na- tional Iheatre. nVOUSYDM^RESOMES VAUDE BILLS IN MAY Sydney; March 25. Tivoli, key house here of the Dave Martin vaude loop, i3>yiU ,tidce most of the TivoU's Playing ijme. - ' K.C. Tavern Owners To Curb Slot Machine Activity Kansas City, April 6. Tavern owners on the Kansas side are going to take it upon them- selves to do their own policing. More than SO owners got togetlier and formed the Wyandotte County Retail Tavern Owners' Assn. The group's first project will be a self- policing program, according to Clyde Dewey, assn's prexy. The organization follows recent drives by the authorities against slot machine sites within the cofinty. John Theroff, Wyandotte County Sheriff, teed off the cam- paign recently when he smashed over $4,000. worth of machines. The coin hoarders had been seized, in raids March 5 and were ordered destroyed by-C. C. Myers, judge of the city court. VAVmBVWUM Moss Indicted For Tax Evasion Nat Moss, prexy and secretary- of 400 Restaurant, Inc., a defunct midtown N,,y.,nitery, was indicted last'week by a Federal Grand Jury which charged him with "attempts to evade and failure to pay fed- eral cabaret taxes amounting to $70,000." Operating the spot for about three years: he allegedly Hied a false tax return of $15,- 379.14 for the first five months of 1945 while his true tax for that pe- riod was said to be $34,379.14. IndictmeVit claims Moss collected the Federal imposts from his patrons and converted the monies to his own use. If convicted the 53-year-old nitery op is liable to 32 years' imprisonment and a fine aggregating $120,000. In addition he can be tagged with a. civil suit to recover the sum he failed to pay along with delinquent penalties. Now in Florida, the boniface was associated in operation of the old Hollywood Restaurant, at 1600 Broadway, and also -was with the Famous Door, N. Y. Paul Draper^ Larry Adler SetforN.Y!Ko39Apnl28 Paul Draper and Larry Adler have been signed for the Roxy theatre, N. Y., starting around April 28. Duo nave been teamed In concerts,. but this is their iirst vaude date together. Supporting talent will comprise Galli-Galli and HoUace Slww. The DrapeMdler layout follow the show headed by Ed Wynn. Dick & Dot Remy, Three Rockets, and Davis CDlvtlingham, The Renay act wound up at the Paramount ■last week, biit were . Included on the Roxy bill because they had been doing' some integrated bits With Wynn, when they appeated at the defunct Carnival, N. Y., which Bammy Rauch, Roxy booker,' want- ed in the program. Current show, which stays five weeks, is playing the final session without the Art Mooney band. De- cision to play a fifth week was made too late to push back pre- vious commitments of Mooney. lhere.\vlll be no replacement. Arnauts for Palladium Pittsburgh, April 6 J**" ^""l Arnaut, veteran yaude act playing Nixon Cafe here, set to open at Palladium, Lon- A„"» jyi*^ Carmen Miranda on ^^^y sail on the Queen Mi ^t^** Wednesday (14). /<»"<»ws Martha Raye .into the British Vauder. . vJJl^^ will be the Arnauts' first SF'*Pean engagement since 1938. fin^L'i ''" to remato on the Con- SL*"' s?'?'' following the un and are also lining «P number of French bookings. For Kay Thompson When Stage Accident Upset$ Her Le Directoire, N. Y., which had a boffi preem Friday (2) with Kay Thompson and the" Williams Bros., ran jnto on Sunday (3) mechanical difficulties with its stage, which caused cancellation of . the show. The revolving platform, which is still to work perfectly, jammed and a busboy who had been trying to get the platform to turn, had his arm caught in the mechanism. A group of customers immedi- ately rushe^d to the front of the room and succeeded in extricating the lad's arm. However, Miss Thompson was too shaken by the incident to go on. Milton Berle was in the audience and jumped into the breach, giving a full show and satisfying the cus- tomers to the extent that they re- mained despite the spot's $7.50 Saturday minimum. Difficulty was corrected for subsequent shows. Martha Raye Will Tour Provinces After London London, April 6. Martha Raye will be the first major American name to play the- atres 'in the provinces. Following her run at the Palladium, London, Miss Raye will start on eight weeks in the smaller towns, start- ing April 26 in Glasgow. Miss Raye is proving a terrific draw in her London stand. Mai^n'9 London Date London, March '25. As a result of Charles Tucker's recent trip to America, Tony Martin opens at the . Palladium June 7 and Abbott St Costello July 5. Several other big names are pending. Film Audition P»ys OflF ,The Whirlaways, roller skatr hig act touring with "Skating Vanities," are convinced that auditions by film can hit pay- dirt. They made a trailer of their act and forwarded it to Leon Newman of the Mark Leddy office. Newman ran off the footage for Harry Levine, Paramount booker, who set act for Olym- pia theatre, Miami, June 16. They'll clpse with "Vanities" a week prior to the Florida dale. FranUe Imts Hnem, N.Y„ ^liig May Aistify 1^ on Me Faves' B.O. Broder ResagBs Dual Post fdli N.Y. Agmts Assn. I. Robert Broder, last week re- signed as counsel and executive secretary of Artists Representa- tives Assn. Resignation followed a disagreemeUt with the ARA board at a meeting last week. Broder, several days later, handed in his resignation. No successor has been appointed as yet. The board meeting was ad- journed and the members were on their way home when a tiff started between Al Rickard, of the Arthur Fisher office, and Broder. Sundry items such as what was considered high operating costs of the group were brought tip. Several mem- bers considered : that Broder's $6,000 salary plus expenses was too high an annual cost. The organization's total budget runs around $13,000. Of which something around $8,000 went to Broder. Broder spearheaded the forma- tion of the group in 1940 and has since served as counsel. He became executive secretary as well, a few years ago. This step was taken so that ARA problems • with the American Guild of Variety Artists could be discussed directly with toppers of that organization in^ stead of going through AGVA' counsel. ' The ARA board is expected to meet this Week in an effort to name a successor to Broder. Several names have been proposed, in- cluding theatrical attorneys Lou Randell and Jack Katz. Some board members favor the forma- tion of a board to handle Broder's former chores. With the growth of membership from 30 members in New York in 1939 to more than 300 all over the country, his duties with the associ- ation were increasing to the point where he fjelt that, in justice to his private practice, he had to give Up his work with ARA. William Kent, prexy of the Assn.; said that at the meeting of its Board of Governors held following the receipt of Broder's resignation, that the, resignation was accepted with regret at Broder'jji withdrawal after eight-and-a-half years of faithful and untiring service. He further stated that he hoped that Broder's advice and counsel will be available to the association in the future. . New Healy*s Cafe, N.Y^ Set to Preem Shortly Work has ben resumed on con- version of the former Thomas Heal/s Golden Glades, N. Y., into the newer Healy's Cafe, now that contractor tangles have been ironed out. Spot had been sched- uled to preem some months ago but was held up by various snarls. It's now figured to be ready for opening latter part of April. New enterprise will be operated by Jerry Healy, son of the late Thomas Healy, and Dan Healy (not related). Due to delayed op* ening the latter is undecided- upon entertainment policy for the room. It will probably operate with a couple of acts for summer months and expand its talent budget in autumn. . Del Cafe Op Fined, License Suspended On Lewd Show Rap Detroit, AprU 6. ^ For permitting a dance number in its floorshow, bUled as "exotic" but which police called "indecent and obscene," the liquor license of Mickey's Show Bar was suspended for 30 days Saturday (3) hy the Liquor Control Commission. At a hearing before commission, Mickey Jarvis, proprietor, said he deleted the dance when he learned, one woman performer had gone beyond bounds of decency. "I broke my contract with the booldng agent and ordered her from the premises," Jarvis said. Police said Jarvis' action came too late, since this ^as the sixth violation against him. Twice be- fore, police said, Jarvis staged in- decent floorshows^ He also was fined for serving drinks to minors and staying open after legal hours. He was fined $200, in addition to the 30-day closing. Myron Cohen' in for two dates at the Town Casino, Buffalo. He does four days starting April 12 and a week beginning May 31. AHA Makes Phch For Cnt in 20% Tax Washington, April 6. This week may see some results of the amusement industry's efforts to reduce the wartime enacted 20% tax~on niteries. According to in- side word, there are several pro- posals currently before the House Ways and Means committee, with one group working toward revision of tax to 5% pre-war level. The Committee Is expected to take some action this week or next. The American Hotel Assn. .has been working actively for reduc- tion of the 20% tax. The AHA had been set to recommend a pro- posal that would reduce the tax to 5% but present rate of revenue would be maintained by making all rooms with music subject to tax. AHA rejected this plan on the ground that only 300 spots would get relief by such measure, but found that some 6,500 spots would be saddled with a tax nick. AHA. has given the Committee figures showing that tax returns are dwindling and will continue downwai'd if present levels are maintained. Frankie Laine'a. booking at th* Harem, N. Y., starting April 15, may cause some basic changes in the thinldng of . Broadway bo- nif aces. The spot operators hav* always regarded singers catering to juvenile trade unsuitable tor niteries. They have felt that a jukebox fave would only bring . in a batch of minimum spenders, which would ultimately drive out more subtsantial customers. However, there's been a Chang* in that thinking recently. Agencies have convinced operators that it'? better to have a room full of mini- mum spenders than a handful of the usual run of customers. At least with people in the room, they'll be collecting, k hatful of mmimum checks. In a room, the size of the' Harem, it can come to a considerable sum. Besides, it's pointed out, start in booking the disk faves must be made sometime. Similar situation has been evident in the rooms which book bands exclusively. In the early days of Glenn Miller, the orchestra drew a batch of kids, and the rooms lost money. However, on subsequent trips to same stands, the. band made heavy money for the operator. Situation with singers on juke- boxes may be shnilftr, It's believed. The first time around a disk fave may entice the youngsters for mini- mum returns, but on subsequent' visits, returns will be gt'eater.i At the Harem th^ chance opeN- ator Nat Harris is taking on Laine' is being minimized by the pros* ence of Beatrice Kay en the same bill. She's expected fO -attract the standard run of ttltei:y>.patron, and with Laine bringing in ttio.yqutig- . sters, layout is expected ' to eoiue out all right. Ilhess Kayos Ellington's ApoHo^NX; Date, Band Carries on With Guesters Duke .Ellington, bandleader-com- poser, was reported doing nicely after undergoing operation for Md- ney ailment at the Harkhess Pavil- lion, N. Y., Monday (5). Ellington was taken bff train after collapsing while enroute from Washington to open at the Apollo, N. Y., last Friday (2). Despite absence of the maestro his band went in at the Harlem vauder, with guest conductors go- ing in on Friday and Saturday, and with Una Mae Carlisle, sepia song- stress-piimiste, taking over chore Sunday for the remainder, of the run. AH future bookings, Iiowever, %re being held in abeyance pending Ellington's recovery. Richinan, Murray Top Riviera, N.J.,Openhig Bill H^rry Richman and Jan Murray will headline the opening show at the Riviera, Ft. Lee, N. J , starting May 1. Deal for Richman hit a snag because of his commitment to the Harem, N. Y. However, lat- ter released him since spot intend- ed for Richman had been filled by the Ritz Bros., who open April 15. Richman is getting the highest price in New York in some years. He's reportedly inked in for $5,000. Riviera has also signed the Cata- lino rhumba crew and Walter Nye band. Sarah Vaughn's Concerts Singer Sarah Vaughn begins a concert series in Cincinnati April 18, promoted by Norman Granz;. Singer Will cover 21 cities on the tour, accompanied by an orchestra of seven pieces. Cincinnati date ii at the Taft theatre. ASTRYSmflEVTOtEDO mRDWITfll9G]N2 Toledo, April 6. New attendance record of 8,900 was set at the Sports Arena, To- ledo, last Friday night (2) when Gene Autry and' his show attpeanedt topping the previous high set by- Spike Jones and orchestara. An es- timated 1,800 were turned away; More than 6,500 persons, mostly children, were on hand for flie Fri- day matinee. The two performances took jn $19,000 (after taxes— $22,€b0 be- fore taxes). Seats were $1.25,' $2 and $2.50. New 'Water FoUies' Set to Freem in Salt Lake City Salt Lake City; April 6. Sam Snydet's "Water FolUes Of 1048" will preem here May t at the Coliseum. .Show is slated to run 15 days, with 19 performanceis, at $2.50 top. Cast will feature last year's stan^ with Peter Fick, former Olymp^ performer, getting top biljiiig. Others featured include Fit;»im-. mens Sisters, swimmers; Don Corey, impersonator; Norma Dean, Roger Nadeau, and Whltey> Hart, divers; Eddie Rose,. . comedian; : Danny Southern, vocalist; Loree Layne, songstress; Doris Lee Long', swimmer, and Cecil Lewitt, bailer* ina. Latin Quarter, Chi, Folds Chicago, April 6. The Latin Quarter folded last week. Latin Quarter has been operat- ing on day-to-day basis for past six months^ with half dozen differ- ent policies, and has been paying off acts nightly for several weeks, AGVA finally pulled out acts March 29, but bands stayed on un- til April 1. Also owed is approximately $12,« 000 in federal taxes for 1947-48. Noble Sisfde's Concert Varietief Inc; has been chartered to condoitt a theatricat and concert producttOlt business in New York, with a capi- tal stock of $15,000. Directors aret Noble Sissle, Paul Sissle and Cal- vin Holder, 1560 Broadway. Simoa S..Feinstein, 1560 Broadway, was the attorney filing incorpAratlmt papers. • S2 l> ii » iii )n ' (Fot no other than nostolsic red- tons ,^ef* Palace bills will be re- printed ««ch toeek, o«a for the cor- resptm&mg lotek, m ihey origihaUt; oppearcd in Variety 25 years ago,) PALACE, N.Y, (April 5. 1927) The interest of the show people over the country this week is how the. vaudeville houses are handling the NVA collection. It's the first puhBc appeal for the actor as rep- resttttea Sirough the National Vaajtevflfe Artists, j^vecal diffaient schemes to coajcBKlittfiy into tlie baskets, which are passed around, appear to iiave been found for as many theatres. Some jaisz the impromptu on the stage; others make it ad lib; but for all a set piece of reading mat- ter .coiiqpiled: by Mark A. Luesdwr of thft Keilh^s special exploitation department was givett out, to be {ipoken after memoiizedi or read. It explained the purpose and made the appeal. At the Palace, New York, Duke Cross does the talking, xeading the statement the first couple of days of the week and announcing the Invited entertainer for that perfonnapce. Those two events, with, iSie eollecfian «a, 10 PAfiODUES for $10.00 How to ■• OR f nrecc" $3LM hudwitati S«M Itt Ott at awt. omttedgr mtm», Mfantart ont, ilcUii^ etc. NO fK(KIl% pAuiA sMrm CM nr. stm-«ri. New ■Gk- » Managers Protective AssociaUon through securing th« gross of one matinee performance in each house, usually in April and on a Friday. The Sunday receipts of this ^ek through the collection xoute were said to have exceeded more than tiie entire grms of last year's ua^ees. The Patasst bas been c«iUecthig between ^00 Mid $500 dally for the N.V.A. with the matinee intake about one-half of that at night. Sunday afternoon the Palace got- around $150; at night, about $300; Tuesday on the day, about $400. The Palace, Chicago, Sunday got about $500 and the State-Iiake $700. The week may give the N.V.A. between $125,000 and $150,- 000. The N.VJV.. also will hold its usual spring benefits in New York on May 13tb«ln two theatres for its fund. For-the public the Palace attrac- tion Oiis week is Sophie Tucker, and a very decided attraction, as indicated by early week attend- ance. Miss Tucker returns with an all new routine of songs as well as a Iwand new Chalmers she en- ters in. It is driven by a uniformed chauffer, and $opbie allows him to drive off after the song starts with- out' tippbig his hat or saluting. The highly pdlished macUne against the splendid bads: curtain, %vith two 'pianists at the concert grand, composed an attractive stage pic- ture, with the star in the > center, of it. Miss Tucker has weeded out all of the personal stuff, in her lyrics. That's Ihie, too. The nearest is her opening, about coming back {"Rover"), used to explain the auto. Closing the first half, she held the stage for 35 minutes doing about 11 «ongs. They made a varied assortment, with a couple in, the, skit style using one for a weather man she called Mitchell" (out after the second show — ^the "Mr, BlitGhelV not the song nor. the man), .and another for a draggy ballad that-only Sophie could make stand up, something about, "au- tumn leaves tumbling down." The leaves as they tumble seemed to be arguing, and sometimes they wouldn't tumble, - Her best -ballad was "When Will the Sun Shine "for Me?," a plain- tive, peach' lyric' and melody, while others were along her Jmown style, tiie latter being tiddng. in "King Tut," almost a comic, and a real pop stage number for laughs as well as likable melody. For a finish she did "Carolina" in variations, vocally making that nice. Another comic, "You've Got to See Mamma Every Night," was one of those tilings Miss Tiicker or anyone else might reserve for private affairs, although there's always the chance a vaudeville audience won't get it altogether. One or two of the lighter numbers were a bit too light for Sophie's strength as an act, but she got them all over. And, oh, how ^Qiat gal is lookingl' Soph looks to be about just one of the fiappiest blondes " ambling over the headline route, and if tliat isn't a squai^er. Soph, what is? . It's too bad Miss Tucker is leav- ing vaudeville this week for a' Coast production engagement. Tbe current week at the Palace is dis- playioc *b»'« better now for « x«-i turn In the big bouses than before. Another well-liked act on the bin, and likewise a return, Is the Ben Bemie band. The Remit or- chestra played superbly. I*r. Ber- nie seemed to give more than his usual particidar atlention to it, includtatg bis own solo work, on the villin, and all of his boys respond- ed. No one alters their opinion on the Bemie turn as it repeats that it Is an orchestra act which may be a vaudeville standard for as long as they want to stickt it holds music; and Bemie, with his punch way of putting over bis talking points and his personality. His is a neat crew of capAble playing boys, indttding the jcomewhat ex- aggerating dranimer, the latter, however, getting his -share of attention and appreelatum. Tuesday Edith CIsrsper was moved from closing to opening and the lAister Bros, ecchanged with bw. Montana, « banjo play- er, m» WMSond. *3!he Show Off", sketch was third, making it early, as the 'pertomutnee was too long Monday matinee. It started at eight at night,- with Elizabeth Brice dropped out to save running time. Miss Brice substituted in the after- noon for Sybil Vane, reporting ill, Iiewis & Sody were No. 4 in a good place and to. a big score wbile after the intermission (cut to two ndnutes) and the band were Wil- liams & WoUus. » £ime. Ril^ Xckstlne Mckag* with Julia 1*« act for the Adams, Newark, June S, and makes a big jump to Chicago's Regal theatre, June 11. Carl Bavazu, who winds ap « two-month engagement at the Copacabana, N. x., tonight (Wed- nesday), has been set for repeat date next January. Mitzl Green signed for the Bachelor club, Pittsburgh, May 5. and will follow with, the Mount Royal hotel, nfontreal, May 21, Kitty Kaltoi besdUnes Beyerly Hills Country Clttb, mwpoti;. ICy., April 9, She follows eunent: run of Peter Lind Hayes. Dennis Sisters and BOl Shirley pacted for George White's '^id- night Scandals," preeming at Flor- entine Gardens, Hollywood, June 3. Dave Apollon and Senor Wences oomprUK April 12 show at th« Statler hotel, Washington. . St. Louis, April 6. On orders from Internal Reve- nue Collector James P. Finnegan federal agents last week padlocked .pitery owned by Paul J. Faasan- ante for iailure to pay $^000 taxes, ineluding cabaret, withholding .and social security that have accuAm- latad since Jan. 1, 1046. Passan- ante's trouble started when he was discharged from the Army in 1945 and discovered that he owed Unde Sam $18,000 in various taxes. He was permitted to write off two-thirds of tiie money by making his returns wi »partnisrsliip basis and forked over $B,000 in a settle- ment for that year. Since then his taxes piled np and Finnegan said that Paasenante's declaring of poor business doesn't hold water. Unless Passanante li«i[uidat«s'the tax matter Finnegan will sell the fixtures at auction wd apply pro- ceeds to taxes owed. Finnegan also sidd that -be wiU endeavor to dispose of other property Passan- ante owns to satisfy the judgment 'Hr-'Hapvy Banway , Saianac Lake, N. Y., April S. Easter Sunday at the Will Rog- ers xsa'tttte to form, the mid-day dinner a festive occasion, followed by special entertainment headed by the Great Grocmi, magician, who stopped off enroute to Mont- real to amuse tiie gang. Julia Kaufhold in from Harris- burg, Pa., to bedside husband, while Maria Lalis shot in from N.Y.C. to ogle hubby Bill Idilis, who is doing nicely. Helen Grupp off to N.Y.C. on a 10-day furlough, to Visit relatives and former co>twori^i8 at the .Re- public Pictures.' Laura (Loew's) Sldan upped for suppers with mild exercise, first break from infirmary routine in a year. She is also flaiihtaig O.K cUnic reports. Arthur Davis, former mhistrel and circus performer, and Michael Brocca, carnival man, taking the cure at the State Sanatorium, Rut- land, Vt, would like to hear from iriends. Natlie Smith shot in from N.Y.C to visit husband, G. Albert Smith, who recently underwent appendec- tomy. Joe (Loew's) Taft in from N.Y.C. and elated overplus frau's progress. Thanks to the local chapter of the Tuberculosis Society and the Marie Carson's for the floral dis- play that decorated our lounge room during the Easter holiday. At request from Col. Cervantes of Colombia, South America, Carl Kessler (The Amazhig Mr. Ballen- tuie), leftjhis bed to entertaui Pepe Cervantes, the former's son who is 1)11 at the Alta Vista Lodge here. The lad has a yen for magic. Al Chappel, formerly of this colony and who now operates a nitery in Massena, N. Y., in to visit the gang, also gifting the needy. (Write^to those who ate 111.) Talent S^e Minneapolis, April 6. Splurge is on among local nlt- erles. mth Ctonival opening here, xepladng former Happy i;ejtniere» f or Instance, where many 1^ hardy salbonatic voiced the jDpinioA, "Well,' she won me over." There's no cpiestion .that such a terrific batlider'uppei? is tough to overcome, especially- in a hard- bitten community like N. Y. Where they write show business. The Winchell trailer, led the customers to expect the greatest thing since Christy Mathewson to pitch at them. The Missouri attitude, therefore, was natural but she did show '«m. m spades. . .Working like a.. supercharged ■ group of West 52d street lam- Inisters they tore this East 58lh street bistro apart. On the site of Cafe Society Uptown, which Bar- ney Josephson long operated as « twin to his Greenwich Village spot, bonifaces Herbert Jacoby and Max .Gordpn (not the legit producer) have jiiven this room the Directoire motif, from whitii eomes the billing. Flunkeys in Oallic getup, decor in the idiom to -Itiatch, and a generally artistic background, such as has always ob- tained at any of Jacoby's bistros, are a cinch to convert this room Into the town's No. 1 must-see spot. . Before it was C. S. Uptown, this ' room an through a series of poli- cies and name>changes dating back ,to Belle Livingston's Salon (when she was Texas Guinan's competi- tion as a speakeasy hostess), thence the Park Avenue Club (one o'f the mob's classier whisperlows ) , then .100 Zelli's Royal Box, "Mother" Kelly's illfated venture, • etc. Most consistently successful has been Josephspti's policy, but Jacoby-Gordon tiid' fair to eclipse jhat click.: And, as in the. case of the new owners' Blue Angel, on the site of another speakeasy era hot spot, once known as the Kit Kat Club, their artistic endow- iQents to the atmosphere constitute one of the nicer attributes. For instance, a trick platform is a perfect vantage podium for the Thompsonites. It doesn't slide out, as with the conventional ice-show floors; instead it is perched against the rear wall and slides down on a 45-degree angle via a pulley effect. Its a novel parquet super-floor contrivance which will undoubtedly be cflpied in similar rooms. The act, of course, is not what they do but how they do it. But the material Is all fresh, new and onginal, exceedingly well orches- trated and arranged by Miss Thompson whose background with Metro and kindred musicals has heeu strictly -in the C«piie«1iimii, Miami Miami Beach, April 2. Henny Youngman,, Georgie Tapps, Tommy Dix, Betty Beilly, Buster Bwrnell, Ralph Young, Wal- ly Wanget Lim <7), Frank Linale Orch; ^^50 minimum. arrangement big league. The Thompson saga is now standard; tired of schooling the Metroites in vocal rhythmpation she essayed it on her own. Her Metro colleague. Bob Alton, who is one of- the out- standers in musical staging, rou- tined the act. It emerges strictly sockeroo. l£ would be a wow in a spot in a class legit revue. Every one of the numbers is a gem, be it "Myrtle" (Brooklyn), '^Caribbean Cruise," Noel Coward, "Broadway Is Show' Business," "Sweet Katie" and the like. Each number is production .to the hilt with zingy lyrical fol-del-rol and 'extraordina.rily well planned business. ' . The lean and ■ lanky , Miss Thompson* appears .cooler.. than a sponsor's heart but the personable 'male quartet in support work up a dew like an acrobatic a.ct. None the less she matches theix physical pyrotechnics step for ste]^, cleverly garbed in bizarre pajamesqu'e cosr tume that is_ slightly put of Culver City and the Grecian sartorial in- fluence. William Pahlmann did the decor and rates* the billing; Ted Straeter plays a' difficult show ac- comp and his usual tiptop dansa- pation. Gao's Latins register for the wbaV'oppened trade.' Idea of two shows, at 10 and '12 i 45, is good showmanship, and a cinch to get great drop-in, after-dinner trade, plus the . usual pos^theatre mob. Minimum $5 tab is also good show- manship; in actuality it means lit- tle under existing average-check standards. In short; Jacoby^r- don have themselves a wlnnah. The preem mob was like a blend of the Met and the Stork, and class audi- ence was keyed to unusual expect- ancy. . They weren't disappointed. . Miss Thompson's management had understandable qualms about braving the New York o.o. and de- liberately stayed but as long as possible? They have nothing to worry about now. Act gets $6,500 and a split — and is bound to hit the jackpot for the 10 weeks they're in. It returns in the fall to reopen Le Directoire. PS — as a sentimental albeit theatrical curtsy to their super-p.a., Winchell, preem night saw the front-center table unoccu- pied, with a. box of orchids perched thereon in tribute to the -absent g. Ofh. Abel. Writer Giiirds Oiieii Drive 'Continued from 1 Though the ueavier competish spots' have shuttered, the Copaca- bana hasn't stinted in its current installation, 'With the lineup adding up as one of the most satisfying to have played this smart room since its reopening- last fall. First complete package to be set by . house bookers' Beckman and Pransky, the pace set is crisp all the way. Henny Youngman return's with plenty of new - material, to score solidly. The dead pan comic oilers series of topical gags that keep the howls coming. Toppers are the Kinsey report satirizing the rephrased' gab anent Miami Beach hotels, : and inevitable barbs at his bosses. Switches standard "Laura" around' for . additional yocks to wind into a begoif. Guy has never been funnier", and works with an added assurance and poise that re- flects his confidence in the new ma- terial, he purveys. Rest of show builds in sock fashion. Tommy Pix tees off the solo spots with his robust bariton- ings, blending of .-pops and semi- classi ' Giene Krupa's orchestra making annual . appearance . jA. Frank Palumbo's Click seems' to have added versatility.. Once, depending mainly . on Krupa.'s artistry at the skins, the band now gets into the sweeter groove and play music for diners. That doesn't me.an fhat the guy at the drums can't give out with the hot licks which has kept him at the top of the drummer's roost. After the dinner dishes are out of the. way, the bounce and the slam- bang type of rhythmics again are top-dog. Dolores Hawkins, a gal who doesn't stop bouncing, is fine at the mike with the pop novelty tunes which are Krupa's favorites. Buddy Hughes and Emil Mazinick, trombonist, take turns in the male Tele Bows as Integral Feature of Nitery Show At College Inn, Chi Cliicogio, April 1. Kay Starr i Sonny Howard, Meade Lux Lewis, Darwin Dane, Carl Marx, Herbie Fields Orch. (8) with Gingie Mchols; $2-$3.50" minimum^ i vocal department. Shal. IVorinandiK Itoof, Mont'i Montreal, MTorch 31. Benny Fields, Neil Golden Orch with Mae Allen; Minimum $2, Coucr $1. Benny Fields has picked his best material for this hotel room and coupled with his sentimental sing- ing of old favesi gives a smooth, smart performance. With can, top- hat and a rich voice, Fields works with ease and polished delivery. Fields, happily given perfect musical support by Neil Golden orch, opens with "No Business Like Show Business" and follows with "Freedom Train." He hits full stride with a medley of yesterr year hits. Encores after hefty isalvos with another medley for additional plaudits and begs off with "Melancholy Baby." Fields known all the tricks of smart showmanship and has thtt'i ... — „ ^ musico^ sunder control at all times. Jtf arc. Otherwise routine opening at the College Inn, nitery room of the Sherman hotel, took on his- toric' import via a seven by pine-foot screen on which snatches of WBKB telecasts were projected between the first show and dance sets. It marked the first use of iarge screen tele in an upper bracket nitery. Video fare had small entertainment value, but, given technical improvements and station-nitery synchro, its implica- tions loom large. Song-laden live show in front of the tele screen tees oft with Meade Lux Lewis in brisk boogie 88'ing for prime returns. Darwin Dane, youthful disk songster, lacks punch and authority on this floor. Sonny Howard bags salvos with sharp impersonations of top pop singers. Best of his gallery of eight are Rose Murphy, the Ink Spots and Nellie Lutcher. Any one of the three might be a heftier closer than his straight version of "Body and Soul." Latter, if used as an intro, would heighten the impact of vocal carbons that follow. . Kay Starr, sheathed in a white, beaded gown, uses deft • gestures and fine facial play for added thrust to lyrics. Songstress draws appreciation with "Them There Eyes" and "I'll Be Tired of You." Exiting after her disk fave, "Lone- somest Gal," she returns with a brace of oldies for a solid send off. Herbie Fields, doubling on sax and clarinet, puts literal meaning into jump tunes. Maestro bounds ceilingward in some of the most hectic fronting %t: this .spot since Cab Calloway's last stand. In show set orch builds up. to a bash on "Flying Home," in which Fields and three brass weave their way among tables. Orch overrides Gingie Nichols' vocals. Carl Marx continues adept at t.tble-to-table clowning. Baxt. operated largely on outright buys, of material, the licensing campaign probably won't become such , an issue there. By nature, most of the popular commercial programs, use material that would be unsuitable for any other show or, usually, for any other medium. < The only place where subsidiary rights are likely to become an im- portant issue is on freelance pro- grams, which do single broadcasts of individual stories V'Mystery Theatre," "Suspense," "Cavalcade of America," "Big Story," etc.). Even . there, general practice ' is to buy only single broadcast rights, with all repeat arid subsidiary rights (including film) remaining the property of the author. Involves All Gnilfls The new ^tand 'of the Authors Guild in favor of licensing deals and ' escalator clauses appears par- ticularly important because it is part of a campaign on all fronts and involves all member guilds in the Authors League. Thus, if the Authors Guild fight for licensing and escalator clauses is ' accom- panied by similar prelisure by the Dramatists Guild, the Radio Writers Guild (in the occasional deals for air material), arid, where original , film stories are ; involved, by the Screen Writer's Guild, the studios may have more difficulty making o]utright' buys. The Authors ' Guild I council indi- cated that although; progress may be slow in achieving its objectives, it will wage a continuous battle to establish the licensing and escala- tor clause as standard ior all film deals. It intends to battle imme- diately for such deals for "stronger properties where a seller's market is involved." ' On leSs valuable material, the organization proposes "to push for fairer standard clauses, covering everything but price, which is to remain nego- tiable." The attempt will be made to "in- corporate escalator clauses in all contracts." It's explained that such clauses itavolve a sliding-price iscale . and thus "protects an author Who has a smaish book sale exceed- ing the number of copies on which the motion picture contract ; is based." . Would Eliiiiinate I!iib's Share On another front the AG aims to eliminate the publtsher''s 'share from the proceeds of film deals. It notes that in some present in- stances, the author "donates" 25% to 50% of the film rights of his book to the publisher, and .adds that as a first step in abolishing this practice the Guild, in its basic contract with Random House, set a limit of 15% for the publisher's share and confined this "privilege'' to two years. It expresses the de- termination to reduce and ulti- mately eliminate the publisher's percentage. • ' : With th^ adoption of a policy looking toward licensing rather than sale of written' material, the' Authors League as a whole goes on record as favoring thp basic idea of the proposed American Authors Authority plan. However, assignment of copyright, the con- troversial part of the AAA plan, is now significantly missing. ' Except film deals, virtually all rights to literary material is on a licensing basis, with payment on a royalty or per performance basis. Thus, in the case of book publica- tion, the author gets a royalty based oij sales and after a stipu- lated period the material reverts to him. Same' is true of, magazine publication and such subsidiary i literary rights as stage and radio (an'a, thus far, television). In the dramatic field, too, nearly all deals are on a licensing and royalty basis, with payment based on number of performances and boxoffice gross, with the title re- verting to the author after a speci- fied period. In the case of plays, however, the producer gets a 40% share of film rights (pi-ovided the .show runs three weeks on Broad- way) and also participates in for- eign, stock and amateur rights for a stated number of years. In the picture business most writers are employees of the stu- dio and work on salary. <. Thus, their output is the outright prop- erty of the company. However, even original screen stories writ- ten by freelancers .are normally bought outright, except in rare cases of outstanding writers. But there have been increasing ' iih. stances in ths last:couple of years of «|itho]!«, such as Carl j^ndbuifi being subsidized to turn out lit* erary material on which they re- tain all I'ights except film, which becomes the property of the studio. The Screen ' Writers Guild doesn't figure on doing anything for the presfent about material turned out by studio contract writ- ers. .It's immediate object is to es- tablish the principle of licensing of freelance-written originals. «This fits in with the present moves of the other Authors League affiliates. New Tax Laws s Continued from page I g ing pertaining particularly to peo^ pie in' the eptertfUnment fields, ^how business' people iti upp«r incdthie brackets will be greatly benefited by certain aspects of the new law, however (just as will those in- all businesses). In par- ticular, those with top ■ brackets; whose wives (or husbands) have much smaller . Income or none at all will get a big break Under re* vised regulations covering Jpint re- turns. ■• Under new terms, /all coupler may now file joint' returns, witii their combined income split even- ly between them. Thus, istar or high executive with income of, say, $100,000, could file a joint re- turn ' with Wife who might make, for instance, only $10;000 iP that year.; Each could claim half of their oombined $110,000 income, which would put, both itt .$55,000 bracket. That would involve con- siderably less total' tax tjian w.ould be payable if he were. separately taxed on $100,000 income and shft on $10,000. In cases of people like Bing Crosby, who have stratospheric earnings arid where the wife makes little or nothing, the tax difference may be very large.. Somewhat similar conditions -ipay apply on estate and gift taxes where "mari- tal deductions", are 'involved. Of course, all taxpayers will get a break from new law, as there's an "effective reduction" on all rates after computation of tax, plus in- creased dependency deductions al- lowable. New law Is likely to have only indirect effect on" theatrical invest- ment. It -does not apply , to cor- porate taxes', and partnerships arc still- not taxed as such, but only through levy on individual incomes of members. Thus, while partner- ships themselves won't he affected, members who benefit directly from revised regulaitiOns may be in . financial position to' make greater investments. ' Stalin as P. A. Continued from page 1 {jg^^^l the ' Soviet commissars. Metro's booking of it now isn't' expected to do the Italian Communists any good in the crucial elections com- ing up here April 18. ' ■ . An' Italian official acceded the Russian note and "announwd. that . a • reply was being ■ prepared. It's expected that the note will be re-- jected on the Italian government's insistence that it has the right to preserve the freedom of its screens. Largely as a result of the fuss stirred up by the Russians, "Ninot- chka" was given featured play in most of the key Italian newspapers. For example, the Tempo in Turin handled the story humorously. It's front page story read; "Great agitation has pervaded the offices of the ministry of for- eign' affairs. Rumors are buzzing and interest and curiosity are at a fever pitch. Ministry officials are inquiring in awed tones, 'Has the Russian note yet arrived?' "You mean, of course, the note about Trieste.' 'No, the note' about 'Nl- notcljka.' " Film', which was banned by Mus- solini when released shortly before the war, opened day-and-date here in four Rome theatres. It's fiow playing five; Rome houses simul- taneously on a second run basis. In Turin, it broke all opening week records for 'Metro film's. Just be- fore Easter, the Metro exchange ordered four additional prints above the usual 26 used on each film. Now, the demand from all parts of the country has grown so ^miich that another Ave printf haVf be^ ordered. .1 WEEK, OE APWL T NumentlR In CMnitctlvn with bllln bclaw iadkaita •v«Hlti( day •! jitow wliethvr full «r mpllt week. I«H«r in MreatheseR iadlntlra virralt: (1) ludrpendfiiti VLY iMeni (M> Mms; in VnbmtmMt (A) BKO; <8) Btqlls (W) WiinMr KEMf YOHK VIVY r'aiHtol • nVx Benelre Oro l^aa Martin Jerry .Lewia Musif Btdl (I) R Paul Haakon Steidianie Aiitle Paul Frankfi A A4idrr« & Bnntiie Bellah Klains Corps (l« B*ll«t GlM Club Bvivi Ore pucldy Klcli Mlllfl Brou pean Mirphr Tlie ■ OolstonH Hoxy (l> 1 gain Biit fftty Bruce Al Iternle Salicl PUDPPls Stnaul J*-ll Pat Rooney St Simtf Kfune Staim MrMvrni t Joey . Adams Tony CSanconeri Ixmls'BtisIt iOr<^ I' «• J Anders ICuth Wells ■Pcflro -JSr Pnrand fturtcm Sis Bve to flll) nippodroinA <1) 4 Woodaon Sis ' Ann BUasell ■ - . Maiid Hilton Co ' Bei Tost U Kay DeWitt Btanley Kayne Xouman Bros 8t ■ Frances War.v P Karl waUace & Carroll WaltP-r Carlnon Nirlio1a''r£- Penny IIOSTON IMtlM OR) • IShirley Roes Acronianla«« Johnny Mornran H^irtnells K«1(> Mwrtah Tinwm (1) 0-11 Ved -I^aster., ' Bprnlo Sloano ■ Torite & Piwee Z>Olinn » "HI Uei^kbor" JllH WoSs Trp . Martrnette * Oroive I,.oew * Harp**, Cliarlotte Day Cyclonians Paul Walkei* Ore HTOirx €JTV Orptafani (8) IS-U Spade eooley Ore Sinlley Burnett Pansy the Hutse i!ip:Ki>'GiiniT.D c«w* ,st )• Horace .Heidr Ore WASHJNGTON Capitol (I.) 8 Troy & lA'nn BWeklaSers AfUe nann atarEie Kebto Ilonarjl (T) S t. SfHUnder Ore Bull M .IifekBon Hadda Brooks »u»ly Fletcher Berk * Hallow >»00N80CKET Capitol (1) II only \Va>ne M.'irllu t T>nmi> Shaw Tl,e nattya .Toe Howard Biity Percy .Tulle Andrews .lean Carson .SluUiBCV Bd Paliadinni (M) 8 Martha Raye B Irlluevitch Harmonica Rascals Yost Royal tluaid Peter Cavanasti M Bddie Gtay. M U NesbLtt' Wairen A Jean in Baba Rvdsa > .T Blllin«rs & Plana Olsen * Sea Xion C^ino (H)' a Tones & Harvey Maurice Rooco George Noon an W ICcPppl A- Hetty Bennett & Will'ms Newman T.Wins Elwardos irarrison & Fisher Cai'iienter's Otrla MANCnKSTBR liippodnnuc B Ttilent Parado ' .Tiinmy^. lames . Irene "Manning ■ ' .■. I^n & Bill Low* liovetle Veronica Marteli - Palace & RAM Ijounar .Dick Henderaou flrafton Sis Ik ' Jacques If*alcons l.>orraln* N Hope A D Ray Moudelsaolm Hawaiian Seren'd'a Baiplre (M) 11 Ta Ila Rail Boom Frankie Howerd Adrleune^ Xrfsslle 1^ Rapids MorKau & Boyle Irvinsr & Olrdwood SHKPII'KOS BVSH Kmitire m 5 Holiday Mood . Caryil * Mundy Ann Scott .Tava Bros V & M Norman Ban«.v Gray Oeorfce. I*avole Wyatt Sis SWANSKjV liiiniiire (91) B Snow White & T Bwarfs ■ Olca Flcminif Victor Standing 7 Dwarfs Walmrluunpton lUtxwdjnnBc m« (M) 9 Mary Priestmaii Y.-He Bro.1 Ailnee Kontenay C tlliin Rhyder GiJly Cotton Bd Jflrjkson . * Siiadcii CAROIFF New (S) 8 Buster Sliaver «eovK« *. Richard SuBi'lto Tarri lluliert tr. PiciT* Pic-rotya '. Kii()<-liire & Bay J-olMiny T.ockwood Bobbie Kimber Adcle • > ft B'Nnv ■ iriSWKtK I''-i-.ii)ire, (8) 5 I) Tteinliardt fi. tjrappellyr:. •ncli Hot '"lub B len'ire l]MUIKGir •Hilre (M) » fri -I'M' ' Show 01.' -ly 'i'rind*.i< ai.Uv l*ro9 ft .'■■-n'fji » i; ■ •!].! -i-s (■■ .lorrclt Bnuiand & Piitonna Jten-y Allen il XINaStTRT PARK ' Empire (M) 6 SO .Questions ISarlo &- Ba1>ette Bamberger Sr., Fam D Gray tc Bro. Jacques Chosnaia Ronne Conn Frankle l-lif^fTlns l>unoan*s Colliea S MacPlierson AlbajBhra- («) B lc« 3leTue Cecilia Colleire Kaiplfe (Bf> 8 Thanks Memory G H Elliott Gertie Gitanai Nellie Wallace Ella Sliie14s Randolph Sntton T O'Farrell Billy Danvers BACKNKT BnipIre (S) ■ Hal Monty r> Smith Bros Morri.4 & Cowley 3 Nickies Ros^iric'K Pekinese Claude ].iester MacDonald Twins liEKDlH Knipire (M) K I^ucerne Skalei-a O & B Bernard Ben^e & Sinfrlo : Riley & Heller Rob Murray Tetnelin <*o UcB JL>ix«n Hackford ft DoyI* Boynl (M) 5 Red Ridliis Hood Norman lOvans AlaTKcry Al;inners P.croy Gai-.side Belly Martin Gray Ati.*tli) & Worth l.IVJiRPOMI. Kmlkire KB .110 IKpiHidrome (.M) l> Vic Oliver Pat ICirkwodd Fred Kjiincy J Melrtchi'iino ('>rc I MarlLvn HiKliKiwcr Michael Bentiiie . . 'Bagatcm Dorothy Koss Itlao Angel Douelas Byng. Alice Peacce Marc Lawrence ^' Delta Rhythm Bya Kills l.arkiD » Hal Cooke Jane Harvey Bruilley's Dorothy Carelesa Vin Roddie F Curbel^o Oro I'nfe JamfD Mary l^ott Barta Cafo Socleti (Downtown) Timmie RoK(?rs Ginnie Powell Gene Bodgers t^li ft Jackson .Ifldmund Hall Ore China Uall Katharine Chang Jack Soo r..anrte I^ong- Cantons Matt Tuck Noro Iklorales J Frase l'«IHM«baaa Martin & Tawin Vivian Blaine Bett>' Bonnie Ward. Donovan Jotr Clay ■&1 Durso Ore Alveres Ore lllanmnd Uoreesliae Mata & Hail CllOral Octet n. Sandler Ore Alveres -Mora JuePKor Ballet Line m Chico Fernanda Oespa Oonde XiUis Victoria Barcelo Rita ^ Roxlno lAJS Panchoa Rmbasor Belmonts Fisher ti Whit* }.4rry Britton Ruth Kelly Diane Madison Tannos Boyd Heath Arliue & Dowling Shepard T.ine Old / Roamaahia Sadie Banks Bella Smaro Joe .Lal-'fjrte Ore D'Aquila Ore Pentlionse (Inb Maxine Sullivan. Oscar IvaiKcr Itiiban ICIcd IjoIk Andrews Paula Drake Bill Diilai'd James Nermann' Paris S Wally<' Blacker BiiiTyra Snlvy Pierre Cartler .Tean March Hayes Gnr<1on Versniiica Carl nrjs.son Bob Grant Ora Panchifo Ore VllliiKe ilara Piulo I'eto Doris Faye Bourbon & Bain PopuLiircQ Buccaneers Oro VilluKe VangnarA ,M:il-y .McCarty Ram Rsmircj! l*ete SPCBCr Molroiie Coibert OoTi Kryo Waldorf-Astoria Donald Uii-liai-ila Tmmouret lilmil Coleman Ore Misha Borr - Ore Old Hipp Site , CantlDQed tnm fag« 1 , inidude at least one l^t house In the premises. Efforts are being made to find someone who will head that asiiect of tlje setup, and assurances of support for booking of shows, etc., are being lined upi. With consttuctjlon sUteA to . start in October, there will have to be quiclc action on. inclusion of a theatre in tlie plans. The original suggestion of hav^ ing a legit house in the garage building was made by Kobert Breen, executitre-secretary of the American National * Theatre & Academy. With the cooperation' of Vinton Freedlfey, prez of the or- ganization, and Lawtott Campbell, board tdiairman, he made the ini- ti'i approach to Horvath. The Idea Was further discussed Friday (2) by Horvath, Breen, Prcedley, Campbell and Clarence Dcrwent, president of Actors Equity. It w»s indicated that Freedley might lease the theatre for two: years, either as li spot for his musi- cal productions or as aa Invest- ment to rent for otiter Shows. The group was also informed that New York City authorities would prob- ably favor mduding a legit, house, but would' frown- oh too many theatrical projects on the premises, as it's figured the proposed five- stony garage ibel. WYMAN & WHITE Bones ■ iSt Mins. Little Komumla, Miami Beach Here's a couple of youngsters who show the talent, know-how and routining to make them ready for top cafes, vauders or musicomedy. White, the male half, is a hand- some lad who reminds of a young- er Nelson Eddy in looks. Baritoii< ings ate well rounded and make for a nicely blended complement to the lush sopranoings of Miss Wyman. Pair tiave obviously been around, and sliow it in their con- fident approach. Teeoff with "Song Of Love," . followed by solo sesh featuring Miss Wyman, who re- veals full ranging pipes in "Kiss Me Again," to earn solid reception. Duo follow with defver lyrics on "I Can Do It Better Than Tou'Do.'^ For the Yiddish trade which fre- quents the spot, they toss in a folk comedy .song to buUd.reaction then wrap op with "Anniversary Song." Lary. «r«, familiar without having been i|o!i« too much by other , chiros Tunes such as "Take OH Your Slices," "Moonlight and Vermont" set her pretty. She" also does a special number on psychoanalysis, which hits audience solidly. .liter piano accohips are also effective. .■ Jose, ■■' MAST McCABTT Comedy ' 12 Mins. VlUaire Vancuard, N. Y. Mary McCarty promises to d»i velop Into a ranking comedieim* for smart and intime rooms. She's already set for the forthcominjt legiter^ "l^ieepy Hollow." She shows capabilities in several directions. She's excellent in handling lines and in doing pan- tomime. Her satire on the star of silent films indicates her potentiali- ties in these directions. Equally as impressive are her comedy tunes, such as lier delineation on the dancehatl hostess arid her rib of the role of Sophie in "The Razor'tf Edge," which show a good brand of high-keyed humor. This is Miss Mccarty's secbnd New York stand, having made her preem at Spivy's roof a short timt» •go. ' Jose. DOROTHY CAKELISS b CHICAGO lllai'klinwlc A rt Kiimel ■ aUtrin Hurt Shirh'y Inline Cliry. Phiw* M»rt,v (ioiild Or« Jack Ct*l» Ti>»n<'p'ts Kova« Ot<:h Requisite fer Tele cede tele'vision is being talten away from them, as was.radjp, through the ad agencies seizing control. So hungry are the TV channels to sell time, admittedlyf /that ttiey don't seem to care about program bal- ance. , ^dio showmen . admit tiiat whereas two or three soap operas or . whodunits or quiz '^ows or symphs, one after the other, seem to have become accepted in radio, with the addition of the visual component the' result may be a much different story. But they admit quick defeat because the admen just buy Uie time and put in whatever ^ows they choose. Oliviously the siiccessive sponsors, competing . or contemporaneons, care nought about pro^^am col- laboration. Must Create New Valnes What's more, as with radio, the TV producers can't seem to think in new names or building new values. Like radio, which grooved vaudeville veterans ihto topflight kilocycle stars— radio, of itself cre- ated no stars, .save an occasional Rudy Vallee — similarly TV wants ready-made values. "What must happent" continues another showman, "might be com- pared to a crack N6tre Dame team, all seniors, graduating at one and the same time. 1?hat's the radio show business today where all the top stars are well along in years. It's a question whether some of them will even care about chang- ing their technique for television. For one thing, too many have film contracts which rule them out for video. Many of them, to Iwrrow from Jack Bennj', may Ite lonely but they're all loaded. I can't see loo many of our stars worrying about making up, rehearsing lines to "memory, week after week for 39 weeks. Tlie idea of dual shoot- ing, i.e. for the TV as well as the radio mike, may - produce hazai-ds. It's a cinch that iC-they start to U Mins. Bradley's, N.Y. Dorothy Careless Is a charming British import wtiose talents are familiar to British rddlo audiences and also to a sizable number of U. S. citizens through her songs before GI audiences during the war. Her American preem at Brad- ley's indicates she's ideally suited for intime spots. Siu! has a smooth and softly modulated voice that accents personality. ' Another fiwtor in her favor is ber -song selectioaBu Her numbos JEAN MARCH Songs 9 Mins. Spivy's Roof, N. Y. Jean March, a newcomer to N. Y. cafeSi has evideqttly been around for some time, since her work in- dicates plenty experience. How- - ever, her opening here was marred ' by a nervousness that minimized overall results. Her voice is essentially smooth and easily controlled in the lower registers, but has some difficulty when going into the upper tones. When "She hits her stride voice shows pashy qualities, desirable for the Intimate spots. Song selec- tions, "J'Attendrai," "Touche" and "Down With. LoVe," are keyed for smart audiences. ' Once she gets used to this room, she'U'make a bi^r dent on aHdi<:. ences. Jose. GEORGE KIRBV ImpersMiatioBS 9 Mins. ApoUo, N. Y. George Kirby, Negro who im- personates fioQywpod names, boHi mate and feaunes, has a slick turn that should go places. On appear- ance here he stopped the diow and could Iiave -remained beyond al- lotted time. His vocal mimicry of Bogart, Cagney, Robinson, Rochester, and "Amos 'n' Andy" is uncannily realistic to win repeated palming. Ghiy has plenty of personality and appearance for either niteries nr theatres. Edbn. play to the camera— a natural enou^ instinct-r-the radio audi- ence will suffer. You know how we resent a small studio audience enjoying some visual \At; well, this will be accented by TV-radio ac- tors playing t6 a larger sightAudi- ence, via the iconoscope, whereas an even greater audience, that is the radio tuner-inners, will still be ignorant of any facial or sight val- ues, stage business, makeup, etc." % Boys Alerted On the other hand, the ad agen- cies are starting to faint broadly of a 20% commission on TV ^ows, claiming the overhead and the technique of servicing video pro- gramming calls for greater exf- penditures. Wltli TV programming comes the question of TV commercials. That's a problem already. If it's beer, the film inserts show too many mixed crowds in pseudo- convivialiiy around public taverns. That's because TtV plays so much to, the barroom and other public room trade. If it's coffee, says another, there might be the non-caffeine sponsors who would over-dramatize the "benefits" of coffee that doesn't make one nervous, with business of not-drumming-on-the-table, and the like. That's where radio might become resentful and conceivably take umbrage at the network which, on one hand, plugs coffee over the air; but, with the visual advantage of TV, also plugs non- caffeine products. This raises the proposition that TV and radio may liave to become two separate and distinct things, with separate sales organizations, just as their programing differs. It's conceded that the peak of radio was hit perhaps in '46 but none the less time billings and merciiandise sales are still at peak figures, hence the radio diehards refuse to go along with the phil- osophy that, perhaps in time, TV will eclipse it. Problem posed by comedy on tele what to do about stutUo audi- ences. Most broadcasters are con- vinced that audiences 'wUl be neces- sary to provide a means for the comic to judge his timing and de- livery. Duplication of radio shows, however, poses the problem of what to do about the present-type studio audience for radio programs. PossibiUty that comedians, blow- ing they're on camera, will play to the camera Instead of the audience foi-ms another objection to such duplication. Disk Jocks in Vaude Contiinutd from pas« HBBBBSI ude 1 ESsJ Eigen, Bea Wain and Andre Bai-uch and Paul Brenner. Sur- rounding talent will include Sarah Vaughn, Jerry Wayne and the Page Cavanaugh Trio. Other shows have been set for Toledo, Detroit, Dayton, Cleveland, Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha. In all eases, local jocks head the di.s- play with surrounding performers comprising singers and instrumen- talists with a disking rep. WeJnatday, AptH 7, 1948 ■OVSE IIBVIBWS BuddV Rich 0^c'».i">i ro^s Mills Bros.; "Soiflon" (Par) reviewed in Vamexv F.eb. ■ Paramount stageshow ' seems at «m( slance a bit overstuffed with five Mts, including Buddy Rich's ircheistra, but the plajring supplies S different story. Nicely paced, its " tertainmenfvalues are there and Siey're fully weed without going overboard. "Standouts are the Mills Bros., who seem to grow better as time j'-d by. Fortunate as they are m SrinJ! able to bedome closely iden- Sfled vith hit tunes, the quartet is constantly in the forefront of the vocal parade. ■ Apd they de- fiferve it, for they're excellent from all angles. They even improve their showmanship • each time cau«ht, although there's plenty of natarai appeal in their approach to Ss of all kinds, •particularly. In the beat they develop over a '''ifcre they cohfine themselves to one current pop — the current "Manana"— and progress through "Lazy River" and "Paper Doll," standard arrangements with them. Using one pop and all past hits wouldn't suffice for other similar turns, but it more than satisfies here since the oldies they use are iiuch standout Items. Buddy Rich's orchestra back- grounds the show, and Rich could learn a lot from the fact that he's lieing forced to work only one liand on his drums.. (He broke his left arm weeks back and has it in «-'cast.) Rich is a great drummer, but when he uses two hands he overpowers his audlenci^s, so tre< Xiendous is his attack.. Working wit» one hand (and the single- ivitig approach proves him better with one than many guys using two hands), he is forced to confine hini$elf tti shade moi-e, to use more tricks.' And the net result is a better' all-around performance than one of his two-hand solos. And ironically enough. Rich clicks Heavier with the audience in using one hand. v There'js this sympathy angle, of course, 'plus the auditor's amaze- ment over the pace he can set un- der such restrictions. His band, composed of four trumpets, four .trombones, four sax and four rhythm (he uses a sub drummer), bas been, together off mi. on for feeveral years. It's tiot-.n crack 'band, its arrangements often being unrecognizable, but here ' it dis- plays more finesse than ever- be- fore. It does a nice job behind the acts, and Rich himself shows more ability out front than he has in the past. He sings one tune, "Man Could Be a Wonderfur Thing," and also dances with Steve Condos. He rpodroine^ Biilto Boltimore, April 2. Morion Down, Don Henri/ Trio, Masters Sc Rollins, Clark Dennis, Jo Lombardi House Orch <12), "To the Ends of the Earth" (Col). Patio, BrwoklyiB Bill Robinson, Luba Molina, Emerald Sisters (2), Kitty Cover, Jeff Clark, Gerie Rabum,' Louis ' Basil Orch; "Golden Eorrings" (Por). .■ ■ StntcLahe, €hf . . - Chicasro, April 2. Sthturr^'^^^y- -Tohnnv Coy, %„: "' ^^''''^^'^^on Orch (14) with "Cn" S^^^ A'^y Roberts; sir?fIlJ.^« ^"i acts this week, but BKitch Henderson and his band are a show m themselves. Maestro Si »s a conductor and r„ "'St' and keeps things moving m line fashion. taic*"*"/ l^ans to ballet wps. Lad has a vocal intro, leading mto "Lover" for walk- f™""«. session. Follows with impressionistic version of "St. «>uis Blues" done in the Martha Ever since the Brandt . circuit took name acts out of the Flatbush theatre, Brooklyn's vaude fans have been deprived of Grade A variety. The Century circuit has taken steps to correct that situa- tion with the Weekend vaude shows at the Patio theatre on an experi- mental basis. The shows for the remainder of the season are ex- pected to provide a criterion of the possibilities of live talent for this house. The initial batch of shows are expected to run four consecutive weekends, after which they'll' close down for the summer and resume In the fall. ' The initial layout represents top vaude fare. With three acts on the layout, an emcee recruited from the disk-jockey ranks, and expert backing by Louis Basil, who ba- toned the shows at the Loew's State, N. Y., the entertainment values are evident. Packed eve- ning shows similarly ' indicate that the b.o. potential is there as well. The three acts comprising Bill Robinson, Luba Mallna and the Emerald Sisters, are solid' enough for any v a u de bill. ■ The Emer- alds provide excellent warmup/ with their comedy tumbling hitting nice reception. Miss Malina, in the deuce, may be a little too sophisticated for w-atinees in over-the-river houses, but there's no mistaking her abili- ties as an entertainer. Her num'^ bers, well-suited to «dult audi- ences, include "Chi-Chi Caste- nango," "Nicolina" and VAudition For the Harem of the Shah," all going over solidly for good returns. Robinson's stories and terps also hit the applause jackpot. There's hardly an audience in America that cannot be cut to size by this venerable terpster. Vaude shows at the Patio' come 'as a result of an attempted disk- jockey show. After signing talent for this type layout, management changed its mind and went into a straight vaude operation. ' For the first show, however, house used two singers, KMy Coyer and Jeff Clark, along with WMEW plat- ter pilot Gene Rabura. Clark and Miss, Cover provided a pair of pleasant renditions, whUe Raburn- emceed in fairly orthodox' fashion.. He confined' himself mainly to straight introes. after story at- tempts didn't come off too well. This 2, 673-seater is, incidentally, a handsomely equipped house. Basil worked on a rising pit which has an elevated plaUorm for sing- ers or instrumental soloists." Mae- stro dressed the proceedings neatly with a smart arrangement of "Car- avan." The Arthur Fisher office has set Joey Adams, Tony Canzo- neri and Mark Plant as toppers of next week's bill. ' Jose. with hefty Kitty Murray, In pirac- tically a reprise of the ac^'he had done With Carter. He also gets a valuable assist fToni Ralph Cooper, brought in to emcee show, who straights for the comic. Ensuing comedantics of the mixed team register high on the laugh meter. Peck and Peck, males, are also strong with .their slow-motion fight bit and foUowup dancing for happy returns. Even more solid . is George Kirby with bis slick take- offs of Hollywood celebs (New Acts). Edba. Capitol, Wash. Washington, April 4, Major Bowes Alwmni unit, with Danny Dray son, 2 Mortinis, Arthur Melli, June North & Co., Howard Frye, June Brady, Henry Mackross, Sam Jack Kaufmann House Orch; "Three Daring Daughters" (M-G ) . Pleasing layout is a bit topheavy on warbling but nicely highlighted by strong interpolations of Masters and Rollins and the Don Henry Trio. Show opens with Jo Lom- bardi house orch on stage in snap- py overture with vocals by Marion Dawn, nice selling chirp from WFBR here, who does "Dicky Bird" and "Zing Go Strings of My Heart" to good returns. Henr-y trio of harmonica players lirovides a sock with extra-strong versions of "Now Is the Hour," "Four Leaf Clover," a comic im- pression of Spike Jones, and for a solid getaway, "Sabre Dance," all sold for hefty returns. Masters & Rollins follow with ,, practiced clowning, and knockabout routine. They're in the groove from the tee- off and win plenty appreciation. Clark Dennis scores with vocals of a cowboy medley, "Ballerina^" "Jealousy" and "Peg O' My Heart." Biz fair. Burm. AlK»lI«», BT. Y. Duke Ellington Orch (13) with Johnny Hodges, Ray Nance, Kay Davis, Al Hibbler; Monton More- land & Kitty Murray, George Kirby, Ralph Cooper, Peck Sc Peck; "Too Many Winners" iEL) , Duke Ellington's always solid orch is toplining current stanza at this colored vauder, sans the maestro, who was stricken ill Thursday ( 1 ) night while enroute from Washington and . rushed to the hospital for emergency operation. The management solved the dilemma by having guest conduc- tors filling in Friday and Saturday. Despite absence of Ellington, there were no squawks from the patrons, and business seems geared for a terrif week. The .band, comprising four rhythm, three reeds and four brasses, with William Streghorn, Ellington's arranger, maestroing from piano, clicks with its reper- toire Of swing and sweeti Teeing off with a sizzler opening, crew goes into hep version of "Frankie & Johnnie," "Trumpet No End" and medley of their bestseller disks, Johnny Bodges, saxist, and Ray Nance, trumpeter, are alternately spotlighted in most of the num- bers. Al Hibbler, blind baritone, does a neat turn on ballads, while other band vocalist, Kay Davis, trills a couple of higher^reglster tunes to appreciation. Supporting biU is plenty solid, too. Mantan Moreland, makitig his first appearance here since the death of his former partner, Ben Carter, is teamed for a ohe-shot This is the second of the Bowes Alumni troupes to play this house. Lou Goldberg has assembled a pleasantly competent show with two good numbers and plenty of I trimmings. Danny Drayson, who emCees the show, gets the bulk of laughs with some fast patter and dance rou- tines built closely along the lines of the Will Mahoney stumble and fall dances. Terps are a combina- tion of taps and buck and wing of the "eccentric" type. Pushing him for top mitt action' is June Brady, blond gal singer whose big number is "Dancing Cheek to Cheek" as it would be sung by Katharine Hepburn, Al Jolson, Vera Vague, Baby Snooks, and others. The impersonations win a fine himd. Hen^y Mackross, a good bari- tone, does slick job on "Song of the Open Road" and "Figaro." The Martinis are opener with so-so tapstering, followed by Arthur Melli, who pleases with sound ef- fects ranging from the barnyard routine to foghorn and a banjo. Bill, rounds out with Howard Frye, a good banjoist, who has been on the Major Bowes video show; and June North and her 84-year'old grandfather, who do some taps together. The Capitol house orchestra ^ vrorks on iStage with the bflL Lowe. lee Capades of 1948 (PLA-:..OIt RINK, K. C.) -Konso* City, April 2. "Ice Capades," eighth edition presented by Ice Capades, Inc.; produced by John H. Harris; directed by Chester Hale; musical score, Jerome Mayhall and Fran Frey; M. C, Brian McDonald. Cast: Donna Atwoodi Bobby Specht, Denise St Froncine Benoit, Patti Phillippii Alan Konrad, Phil Toj/lor, Eric Waite, Forgie & Lor- son, Nate & Edythe Walley, Chuckle Stein, Jackson & Lynam, Red McCarthy, Esco Larue with Irwin Sc Setia, Mullen Twins & Bd : Raiche, Orrin Markus & Irma Thomas, John Flanagan; Ice Car Pets (60), Ice Cadets (27); $3.30 top. OlyMjpia, Aflami Miami, April 3. Phil Regan, Artie Dann, 4 Evans, Marvel & Co., Chris & Col, Les Rhode House Oreh; "Song of Love" (M-G).. . Current layout is one of the best in recent weeks, adding up steady palm-whacks from the payees. In Phil Regan it has one of the most satisfying topliners. The per- sonable Celt belts from his walkon, with "I Wish I Didn't Love You So" through "Irish LuUaby," the comedy lined "A-Feudin' and A-FIghtint" and "Donegal." Easy manner, plus assured delivery, .{tnd charm, ring the > bell for Regan, with a begoff windup. Long-schnozzed Artie Dann takes full advantage of proboscis in his routines. Hard working gagster keeps punching for laughs and gets them. Lot of the stuff is fresh- sounding and the kidding of his long - breather adds to overall yock effect. Takeoifs on Durante (natch), Jolson and Jessel also get solid returns. Four Evans are faves here and rate it again with this engagement. Contrast in tapstering between the oldsters and the son and daughter scores neatly. Younger team elicits with clever cleat work and the joining of the quartet makes for a solid finish, « Chris and Cal contrib some mus- cle control work and weight lift- ing that warms aud. Marvel 'and Co. fill out novelty side of bill with comedy illusions and music for laughs and gasps. Les Rhode and house orch pro- vide solid backgrounding. Lar]/. Chi Bistro Robbed Chic^o, April 6. ' Bandits held up the swank south- side bistro, Martinique, early yes- terday morning (3) and escaped with $2,500 and jewelry. Four gunmen entered the club just before closing and the time of arrival for a police sqUad to take over receipts. A machine-gunner held members of Gay Claridge's band back as they stripped a $1,000 ring from iemm« vocalist, Thelma Gracen. Topnotch ice extravaganza con- tinues in its established vein of eye-filling costumes, and settings and accomplished, youthful per- ' formers. In -addition it wraps up quartet of solid standard acts and showmanly production routines throughout. Each edition of the show appears to be better than ' previous ones, and this one is no exception. Just where It come' out atop is hard to say, but troupe seems to give a littlci extra all along the line. It's big and color- ful, a smash spectacle by any ' standards of showmanship, and the patrons eat it up, as evidenced by the 4,B00, near capacity of the. - Pla-Mor, who jammed the rink opening > night. Pattern of interweaving produc- tion numbers with jipecialties , which has become formula witii . "Ice Capades" is followed once more, "Dtitch Treat" number at close of first act copping the hon- ' ors for size, beauty and splash. Close behind for production scope, and class is "Rhapsodic' Royale" with whole company in purple vel- , vet and ermine, midway of tb« second act, and, "Mexicana" num- . her closing the show. Ballet number, Virhich leads off with tlie Ca-Pets and is tcavestlzed ', by the Ca-Dets, gets show off to * nice start. "Mother Goose Ome- let" follows with fun for both kids and adults, bringing in some effective dialogue, a somewhat^ missing ingredient, in these huge:: productions. "Curtain Time'' serves to introduce Donna Atwood for a turn .at her fan<^ aerobatic . skating. Benoit sisters follow to make the most of a trim, precision ' turn, , "Rodeo Daze" production provides the setting for a flock of the show's special talent, includ-- ing Bobby Specht as the fancy skating cowboy; Patti Phillippi as . pistol packin' rhythm dancer; Forgie and Larson in their zlpipy' badminton; and Trixie with her ace juggling, Jacksoh and Lynam get fun out of a pair of swinging, doors on a gay 90's' saIoDn> an4 Nate and Edythe Walley mal^e acrobatics their forte. . Eric Waite has bis first -inning of comedy hamming up a class of beginning dancers, and Red Mc- Carthy has the rink entirely to himself for his ballet-jumping tarn, ; Esco Larue comes out of the audi-, ence to : work out a conlicsaiarqi:, routine with Mary Irwin and JOf- Setta, and first act winds with.th*. entire company working out In flit Dutch Treat number. , Second half gets under way with a fancy skating turn' by Alan Koo- rad, and midget Chuckle Stein and Nate Walley register in Uieir by- now expected "One and a Half," a me-and-my-shadow session. "Spe- cialty roster during , the second half also includes John Flanagan as a laughable cop; Phil Taylor, stilt- skttting; Eric Waite as a tipsy comic; Irma Thomas, and Orrin Markhus, the old^smoothies, in their waltz skating; Mullen Twins and Ed Raiche who run through intricate acrobatics at top SiVedi and Jackson and Lynam as rollick* ing Mexicomics. Interwoven with the "Rhapsodie" and "Mexicana** spectacles, second act winds tlue show solid. Quin. Crystal Palace, Ariz., Taking on 'New Look* Tombstone, Ariz., April 6. Crystal Palace Saloon-r-once th« most rugged symbol of the OUI. West — is being readied for busi» ness again. " Walter Lombardi, owner, ilriU. convert into a modern nightiblw fbr reopening, next month. ' M ■JKOnHATK— CaNCUT Ri^easd Pay Mgs Beefs hm Strawhat Ops; (Hber Briefs Five well-known summer stock + managers have registered pro- tests with Equity over the new rule requiring rehearsal pay of $20 to actors appearing in the strawhat spots. Union's council conceded, that some other points seemed equitable but rejected the proposal or dropping the rehearsal pay. Strawhatters were asked, however, to- furnish data during the coming season which may lead to revisions for the summer of .1949. The pro- testing managers are Richard Aid- rich. Thferon Bamberger, Melville purke, William Miles and Guy Palmerton. ■ •» The managers contend that sum- mss stocks are small businesses even when they are successful, and it's necessary to pay lower S^ila- rieS, also, that the new niles will ''lead to endless chiseling and far more complicated methods of nego- tiating than have piccfvailed fa the ^past." ".It's claimed that m some In- stances the actor will actually get $1 less pay because of the re- hearsal pay rale. That could apply to jobbers who are actors -engaged ,for one week by some sfrawhats. It engaged for the minimum of $50 they would get $70, whereas ordi- narily they would get i$3 per day subsistance money, or $71. Some strawhatters engage numerous job- bers during the summer, in addi- tion to the resident company of six. {Stated that one operator used -90 different addithmail aetors, or job- bers, during the season and, if he repeats ;ttiis year,- rehearsal-psy costs would add $1,800 tO' the sea- son's^ payroll. Thus, unless he cots salaries. he.?must shut down. A flock of actors In strawhats command, salaries considerably over &e 'ininimtitn> 'and . stars get as ihuBh' as $J,O0O,, or more;. It's' stated, however, that because of the. $20 pay, $100 actors will be asked to accept $80, to equalize the . payroll. Rehearsal pay-applies only for the first week prior to opening for resident players and of course, the the same- jobbers, some of \Khom.aie'enga|Nl for two-or three f' rawhatters suggested various sei es for such jobbers but their ideas .are held in abeyance, .despite . their insistence that the new rules do not really improve conditions for aetors getting low pay. Pocono's Loxger Season 'Mountainhome, Pa., April 8. Pocono -Playhouse here, estab- lished last season by Rowena ^tsyens, plans a longer season this Sstr, jStrawhat to open June 21 for 12 -weeks instead of last year's 10. ?/!i:s. Stevens, as producer- Setting is supplied, it's, understood,' fee covering roy- alty, actor» salaries an4 « ii9»fit to filaney; Sbws k Rdkeiiaal •'Eats of Nerway"-^amea Elliott and Carl Schruer. ♦"Sally" (revivallk— Hunt Strom- berg, Jr. and William Bemey. ♦"Sleepy. HoUow" — Lorraine ♦"High Button Hboea" (Road)— Monte Proser and Josepb Kipness. "To TtUt You The Truth"— New "Sword By My Side" — Zionist Organi^-^tion of America, ■■■Musical Vernon Bdb Sees PaiisAsOKSpot Karlweis.in'Bam Tour Oscar Karlweis,. who originated the? part of Willie Kringle in the; Broadway production of A. B. Shiffrin's "1 Like It-Herei" will re- sume it this summer for a strawhat tour in the comedy. Olney, Ilid., April 8. Helen Hayes virill soon play it the- nearby ' Olney theatre here, opening the strawhatter's season May 28 with "AUce^it*by-the- Fire." Miss Hayes will do the J. M. Barrie play only twice this summer^ repeating at La JoUa, Cal. Her daughter, Mary Mac^ Arthur, who played with her in "Alice" during last summer's strawhat tour, -vidll again support. Mi$s Hayes, who wUl do 11 per- formances taece, Is restricting her summer activittes to prepare for her appearance In Marcel Achard's 'Aupres de ma Blonde," which ttie Theatre Guild will present, in S. Behrman's adaptation. , Olney vwU present a 15-week season under management of Rich- ard Skinner, who is also co-pro- ducer with Redge Allen .and Eve- lyn Freyman of the strawhat. Harry Ellerbe wUl stage the fUrst five weekly shows. S. Syrjala.vtrill be the. designer. Theatre is being com- pletely rebuilt for this season. Seating is being increased Irovci 400 to 600; floor (at present flat) is being raised; stage is being re- constructed, with 35 feet of space on either side for wagon-^ges to be rolled on, and air-cooling sys- tem being put in. 'Mirror* Opens La JoUa La Jolla, Cal., April 6. Actors' Co. will open its second strawhat season herie June- 29 with the George Oppenheimer play, "..lirror. Mirror," starring Sylvia S "ney, and directed by Mel Fer- Vbis year's program calls for nine plays in nine weeks. Dallas N. Y. Staff Active Dallas, April 6. Starlight Operetta of Dallas, summertime operation of State Fair of Texas, is mulling establish- in it of New York heactquarter.s. ow actively engaged in prepa- rf an for summer season at Dallas are Roger Gerry, formerly stage d etcor of Billy Rose prouuctlons, wJio directs Texas season; Peter Wolf, scenie designer who did sets for "Sweethearts Tree Producers of Broadway musicals who And themselves .stymied by still spiraling production costs might save a pretty penny by try- ing out new scripts in Paris and other continental centers. That's the belief of composer Vernon Dttke, recently returned from a year's stay in the French capltaL He pointed out in New York last week that the average cost of mounting a top Paris musical aver- ages between $25,000 and $30,000, With such a low figure for the initial outlay, Duke feels that the American entrepreneur could build his show around several American principals, hire an American ar- ranger and choreographer and fill out the balance o£ the cast with French performers; Stuslcal would be able, to play' London as well as Paris before coming to the U. S. By priesen^lng a revue in France, a ta^out there would be fully as valuable as a test in New-. Haven or Boston and Considerably tbeap- er, he believes. Currently Paris' four or five mu- sicals -are doing; "tremendous busi- ness," Oale^ -ast^ated, despite-thobr uncanny resemblanee to a 19ZZ Broadway production. Books of th* revues are quite dated and the music often is filled out with "badly digested American jazz." Nevertheless, the" French theatre has sprioglwarded a number o£ performers into solid b.o. clicks in recent months, including the comic Bourvil, described as the Gallic Bobby, dark, ,as well as Luis Ma- riano, a matinee idol. While in Paris Duke flaw his ballet, "Le Bal des Blanchisseuses" ("The Washerwomen's Ball'*), pro- duced at the Theatre des Champs Elysees on Dec. 19, 1946, and last year attempted to arrange produc- tion' of his operetta, "En Valsant." Fact that he's not a French citi- zen and hence not entitled to a government subsidy reportedly was one of- the reaisons advanced why French producers were cautious in proceeding with the venture. Now that lie's back in New York, Duke expects to remain in the U. S. for at least a year before returning to France. While here he's planning to do a new ballet with George Balanchine and will also handle musical scores on sev- eral films for an Indie New York producer. Play Royalties Set Play royalties for Stock engage- ments for the coming season were revised yesterday (Tuejs.) by the Dramatists Guild council. As es- tablished last winter, flat fees formerly paid by each theatre for a week's engagement now become the advance payment against royal- ties. When the week's gross is under $9,000, the royalty is 4%. If the gross is between $9,000 and $15,000 the rate is 5% from the first dol- lar, and if the gross is over $15,000 the rate is 6% from the first dollar. AH the above are strictly min- imums and apply only to previou.siy produced plays. For new plays, the theatre and author (or agent) may make any mutually satisfactory deal. Derby, N. Y. Bows June 15 Buffalo^ April 6. The Lake Shore playhouse, Derby, N, Y., on the shore of Lake Erie about 15 miles south of here, will open June 15 for a 12-week stock season. John J. Dee, direc- tor, and Lewis T, Fisher, producer, and "Linden I will recruit the company in New Douglas Mo.rris, technical: Yoi-k late this month. lOOG Malt h Sen f«r Lewsohn London, April 6. (Figure shows weeks of run^ "iMma Laoasta," Majesty's (23). "Annie Get Gnn," Col's'm (44). "Bless ibe Bride." Adelphi (50). "BOlton-'s Kevne," St. Jas. (4). "Burlesque," Garrick (6). . "Carissima." Palace (4). "Cbiltem Hundreds," Vaude (32). "Dark Eyes," Strand (2), "Diamond Lil," Wales (11). "Edward My Son," Lyric (45). "Four, Five, Six," Yorks (4). "Happiest Yeats," Apollo (2). "Hidden Years," F'ortune (ll). "I Remember Mama," Aid. (5). "Indiff, Shepherd," Crit. (9). "Life With Father." Savoy .(44) "Linden Tree," Duchess (34). "Mountain Air," Comedy (10) "Never Can TeU," Wyn. (27). "Off Becord." Piccadilly (45). Oklahoma^. Drury Lane (49). "Ontraseous," W. Garden (49). Present Laughter,*' H'ymkt (51). "Relapse," Phoenix (10). "Rocket to Moon," St. Mart (3). "Starlieht Roof," Hipp. (21). "Together Agrain," Vic. Pal. (42). "Tuppence," Globe (26). "Worm'a View," WbitebaU (49). Diplomalr Would Work ForEreeforANTA A letter received recently at the American Notional Theatre & Academy ojSHce in New York, from Roy E. B. Bower, U. B. consul gen- eral In India, offered the sugges- tion that would.work for ANTA full time, without salary; as soon as he gets Iiis anticipated medicid discharge from Government serv- ice. Postmarked the U. -S, con- sulate in Madras, the letter ex- plained that Bower had read of ANTA tn theatrical papers. ExE^ining that he has contracted tropical disease, which r^uires him to live in a temperate climate henceforth, which will seriously limit his activity, Bower wrote that he -will have a small pensitin from the Govenunent and that he hopes to live in N. Y. permanently and take any unpaid job, no matter how minor, with AWCA. ttemttiSetFw Thpee'f ay Skel Compoaer-playwright Gian-Carlo Menotti returned last weekend to N. Y. from a quickie trip to the Coast where he took the first draft of an original script, "The Happy Ending,"^ to show Metro officials. Script was satisfactory to Metro, and MenotU wUl work on same while abroad. He*s sailing to Lon- don April 14 for a month, and on his return will go to the Coast to cast and arrange shooting, for his pic. He has an -unusual contract for a Coast newcomer, permitting, him to cast sad direct bis own works. -Menotti returned to put finishing touches on his two comic operas, "Amelia Goes to the Ball" and "The Old Maid and the Thief," which he is also staging, and which will be presented at. City Center, N. Y., tomorrow (Thurs,). Euro- pean trip is in connection with the staging' of his two Broadway suc- cesses of last season, "The Me- dium" and "The Telephone," hi London. . Opening there is uncer- tain' because a theatre is unavail- able, but it's believed to be in about ia month's time. Emile Lit- tler is producing. There's possi- bility of John Gielgud restaging "The Telephone," with MenotU handling "Medium" chores. Same principals who sang in New York will appear lii London with excep- tion of Frank Rogier. Marie Powers, who scored in the name role in "The Medium" on Broad- way, is making her City Center debut tomorrow in "The Old Maid.'* Straight play by Menotti, "A Copy of Madame. Auplc," which was tried out in. a Connecticut strawhat last summer, will be staged in London this season by Linnit & Dunfee, in association with Richard Davis. Latter bought the U. S. rights, then got into a tangle with the author, wanting extensive tiiird-act revisions which Menotti refused to do. Compromise was made with the decision to stage the original version in Lon- don, and if it goes over, to bring it to N. Y. in that form. Altiiough Uio .jLelvisohn Stadium (N. Y.) concerts managemm^ places its 1948 budget at $2MMn with an estimated deficit of &m* 000, management has redu^d some of its prices. -Reserved »S tion drops from $2.40 to $2 and unreserved field seats will be $ltt "U tije time (last year they wew -c regular and $1.80 for nights). Table $2.40 price and?h2 same as last year. Feeling is tw toe higher-priced section!, wffi,* didn't sell well enough last sZ. mer except on occasional hiX spotted nights, will do better and cut the estimated deficit. La^ year's deficit was under $50,000 Season (the 31st) opens June 14 " ™" lor irtght- weeks, five nighS a week. Fritz Reiner wUl conduct first two weeks, with Pierre Mon: teiue,. Alexander Smallens, Dhnitrl Mitropoutos, Jose Iturbl Ustcdl f^°u^^ will also include PaS Lavalle and Alfredo Antonini, frmn ra«Uo: 'Max Goberman, on baUet, as well as specialists Sigmund Rom- ^^^♦h"/S"'^'^L?*°'^- Hazel Scott and the First Piano Quartet will T!!.?w*'?i5A^ soloists, who include Iturbi, MiScha Elman, Nathan MU- iJ-^ii:. "5'" ^™"' Isaac Stem, Maggie Teyte, Jan Peerce, Eleanor Staber and others. Maria Jeritza rad Mario Berini will sing in a Viennese Night program. A con- cert version of the opera, "La Tosoa," is billed, as well as two evenings of BaUet Theatre. Smri- lens will again batons for the aU- Gershwin program. msttAs immA VA&Ejm Raleigh, AprU 6. Plans for summer presentation at Cherokee, N. C, of a drama de- picting the life of tiie Cherokee Indians and early settlers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region, are nearer realization. Tiie Cherokee community, which had been assigned to raising a fourth of the $65,000 seen neces- sary to build an amphitheatre and stage the drama the first season, reports that the amount had been fuUy pledged. Theatre '48's lOG Black Dallas, April 8. That Theatre '48 will end the season with about $10,000 cash on hand is reported by Manning Gurian, business manager. This sum represents an average profit of $500 weekly for the 20 weeks of operation. Max Allentuck partied MUdred (Goldie) Stanton, Mike Myer< berg's ' general manager, who ia marrying E. B. Oough this week in N. Y. Party took place at the Picdadilly hotel (N.Y.) drugstore at noon, around the counter, with hats and favors, a wedding cake and - a phonograph blaring tht Wedding March. Annual board meeting of the American National Theatre and Academy, will be May 10 at Uie Maxine Elliott, N. Y., to be fol- lowed by a dinner. ANTA named a neyf projects committee consist* ing of Fred Stewart, Arnold Sund> gaard and Ezra Stone to pass on all suggested new activities for tho organization and make recommen- dations . . . John Effratt and Rich- ard Beckhardt have compiled and edited an ANTA book on strawhat operation, which will probably sell for $1. The Joshua Logans (Nedda Harrigan) are due back from Italy in two or three weeks. The di- rector is looking fOr a story to adapt (as he and Thomas' Heggen did with the latter's "Mr. Rob- erts"), but may find something to stage among the scripts he took with him. . . . Mignon and Robert McLaughlin, whose "Scenic Route" was under option to Herman Shum- lin , and Otto Preminger, are work- ing on a new script at their plact on Long Island. "Milton Baton will have an an* dition Monday night (12) at th* Savoy-Plaza ballroom suite, N.Y.. of his musical production of George M. Cohan's "45 Mmutes from Broadway," with Mary Jano Walsh and Lee Sullivan singing the six unpublished Cohan songs to be in the show. . . .Margaret Web- ster last week auditioned 16 young ■ applicants for the Old Vic acting school ,in London. As last year, six will be selected on the basis of her reports. . . Keenan Wynn, Frank- lin Pangbom and Lionel Standcr reported looking for a, comedy in which they could co-.star for a strawhat tour this summer. Sartre ^Sales' Paris Hit Paris, April 6. Jean-Paul Sartre's new drama, "Mahis Sales," is a hit at the Thea- tre Antoine. Play has been SHO since its opening under Simone Berriau's auspices. Play's theme of internal strife in political parties, as welt as its human Interest, make the piece a natural for both Broadway and Hollywood production. IJECaVlMATB 'Streetcar 174 Maipi a Si^ hieFiiiiier Kaffi^ Streetcar Named Ij^^' tin JTX Critics Clrda w ifwa •» ««« bw* »*w P^W of ■'iha Brijadwoy neason provolced inor* Interest than «»ual In the JSfitlott I* two other dramas were SS^d to he in the xunning, "Mr. ^Slrts" anti "Conanand Decl- Sni" It was fairly welHmown J^fe^jjU the Circle that "Streetcar"' . irtHild wta but not' by the shoo-in of 17 to 4. Last week's VABaixy, published on the mom- toiai) of the day the *wiftd was JnSde, tedlcated the wfaner. Broadway buisied over the win, •lid bats were BWde that the Pul- itier prize, diifr ai»wia the first of Mgy; wotdd fatt to a shaw other & "Stwetcar" (Barrymore). Dls- coadiA* were- Based on the fact ftalt the Bulltner judges rately make the same choice as the «cii- w although they were in ame- ment several years jag/o on "The Time of Tfour Life." "Roberts" (Alvin) la believed to have an edge on the basis of its showinsg a few days prevldus, when flhe Antoin- ette Perry citatiim were made, at ' frUcfa time "Streetcar" was all but It's pointed out that the judges '''*i?'*„^"l ^ presented at Hall. N. Y., next Sunday inr '„l * produced along regu- ilL^^ ^^^i'"^^ *««it lines, under tKf Zionist Organiza- v°'?„°^, America. Attraction will Sefw"^ the organization's Pal- esttao cause and will probably be gv«i subsequent performances in in J:, ^""l otber cities. Play, orig- & written in Hebrew by Max «weig. will be done in English, trap?! was given regulation con- tacts, Equity members being de- S**"^ J''* performance. If no Eff showings are given im- S"n«l«y. the actors are l^'^-S salary. All «60 ?oard and chief light operators will get $99, while grips and clearers will re- ceive $80 weekly, a boost in the latter (flassiflcatioii from «cwmd $74. ' - ~* To clarify certain.rules that have caused friction for jears, a joint committee Of three decUumds. and three managers mil Ibe HfQ^tAitedi and if they cannot a^«e a^yenth member mutually agreeable to both sides will, be a^ded. ' ' Managers also granted a pay in- crease to theatre enf^neers, who will now get $90 aii against fb» previous rate of $84. ' ATAM SE1S JSC FEE F(miY LEGIT STAFFS Fees of $S0 each for the com- pany manager, house manager and pressagent of all legit shows done on television have been set by the Assn. of Theatrical Agents and Managers. They will apply not only for legit performances Tor portions thereof) televised, but also to plays on which background material is telecast and whose stars are thus used. The AT AM ruling adds another $150 to the . budget for Martbi Gosch's "Tonight on Broadway" series which preemed last night (Tues.) for American Tobacco, and other \ideo shows using legit. However, the figure may be in- creased or (less probable) reduced later, as ATAM set it on a tempo- rary basis. The pressagents unit of ATAM voted to devote its $50 weeldy fees to the unemployment fund, and the company and house managers decided to use half of their shares to the same purpose. M.O. House Renovating New Orleans, April 6. P'oche tlieatre, formerly the Star, which previously played burlesque, recently closed for repovating, season ending with Joe E. Brown in , "Harvey.^ House will be. equipped with air conditioning and, togetlier with other interior new equipment, it's estimated the cost of replenishing the house will ex- ceed $200,000. Major bookings for the Poche next season include ''Oklahoma,"4program manager Charles Harrell, 'Carousel" «md "Mao and Super- man." ' GOLDEN, EDDIE DOWLDfG Ambitious summer drajndiatie workshoi), with John Golden and Eddie Dowling heading the list of Broadwayites who wiH work on the project, tees off June 21 at Adelphi College, Garden City, L. 1. Six- week course is designed for young professional actors, as well aS' in- termediate and advanced legit students. Crolden is slated to rehearse and and produce several plays on the college campus with Equity actors. Comics Willie Howard and Mil- ton Berle are also to take part in the drama course, which is headed up by John Thompson of the Adelphi faculty. Burton Rascoe, former drama critic of the N. Y. World-Telegram, is to head up the creative writing workshop .in as- sociation with Adelphi's Woodrow Howard Lawn. Also participating will be novelists Thomas B. Cos- tain and Louis Paul. Music workshop, under the supervision of Adelphi's Lawrence Rasmussen, will have as teachers Rise ' Stevens, Metopera soprano; composer Paul Creston, band con- ductor Dr. Edwin Franko Goldman, and Metopera. stage director Dr. Herbert Graf, among others. Long list' of professional radioites heads the radio and television de?. partments. Included among these are Edward C. Cole, tele professor at the Yale Drama schoolr NB6 public affairs manager. Sterling Fisher; Earle McGlll, CBS writer- director and national prez of the Radio Directors Guild; CBS writer- producer - director Robert Louis Shay on; indie pacltage producer Wynn Wright, and ABC eastern Workshop is to be directed by Victor E. Jacoby. 58 Fix, kegitShafciiiSB^ Biles Continued ttom v*f 1 i Him as Blowimg foreign currency restricttoins and help? all amuse- ments by boosting tadustry-at- large. Films, sparked by the Anglo- American tax settlement and hefty Easter week b.o. returns, leads the pa6k with Industry biggies feeling fhappy-days-are-here-again." Legit laso came tip with trim b.o. figures for Holy week and shares pix senti- ments that the outlook Is improv- ing. Nitery bushiess is now in a • spurt- and bands are more solidly booked, then usual for summer engagements. Radio, uncertain of television's future and hampered by shopping of ad agencies for cheaper packages, stiU Bhow§ no signs of trattsaatlittg the' better^eco- nomic scene Into iieavier billings. " Pik B.6. Spurt Cu^ Turn r , Of Tide After a Montha : ' After eight glum months,- the past fortntgpit has seen a newattl- - tude permeating Itoough pie pro* " Ruction; distribution 4md exhibition ; «taffs-*-aad, best of all, through the customers at the b.o., too. Sur- prise spiurt at the nation's box- ; Offices during Holy ■ week and > Saster Week, coming on the heels • of the British tax settlement,, have -mppiiraitly , smed ito break the I §amh^i sp«lL • . AppaieaW iit an ehd-4or the . naonfieat, at least— an the succes- Rudio's Stance It's- still a case of waitrand-^ fee bow th« economic patterns shape, tbemiselves as far as radio bankrollers are con- ,<:erned' Recent, axlhg of top- budgeted shows, such as Fan- nie Brlce, fit aL, in favor of less expensive packages supl- ports the evidence that net- Tvork prog^m bankrollerscon- tintie to share a view-wlth- a}ai% : attitude, toward, the '.future. " • Factor; too; is th6 expansion of television. Sp<>nsors want to know how immediate will . bie video^s impact on the stand- ard Moadcasting picture and itre holdhig oS.on future com« mlttnents,' xion of foreign restrictions on filniisr the curdling of domestic re- ceipts^ economy moves,. Congres- idonal attacks' and labor troublesi - Iftesnlt is a feeling that "now we've reached the bottom of the pit and ihc only way we can go is up." Among those happiest at the new complexion on the industry are "exUbitors. They've felt, as evi- 4tefteed by the public relations ctunpaign now getting , under way by the Theatre Owners of America, that the tales of Industry hardship, pouring out of Hollywood in a tearful stream since 'the ^itigh tax. hit last August, have created Band Prospects Up In the popular music field, the band business supplies the plearest note of optimism. Bookings set so far for the usually good summer season d^otes. a period as good, or hotter than recent years. All Standard bookings are reopen- ing, with, a few fresh dates here and there. (Detailed s\pry on page 45.) Sheet and record sales have been dipping in recent weeks, a condition, however, that was normal prewar at this time of the year. Each spring brought an offbieat and a fall recovery. an idea that nothing but quickies were to be produced in the future Unfortunately, one of the things that has brought on the feeling that happier days are ahead busi- ness-wise, is the cloud of war. With munitions and aircraft plants start- Settlement of the British tax Was the turning point in casting off of the sackcloth in favor of the "new look." That's considered in many quarters as Important a re- sult of the Anglo-tr. S. films agree- ing up again and the threatened draft absorbing youths from the labor pool, there's unhappily an assurance of continued full em- ployment and high wages, with a promise of a return to the boom days of '46. - Tax Peace the Tuniinf Point ment as. the dollars it promises from England. In reality, of course, any „ joy ov^r the pact Is the result of. false thUiklng,- sine*: the Industry has never actually felt any loss yet from the British market. All the. new agreement promises Is that Yank companies will receive per- haps 40% or 90% of what they got out of England last year— ^whlch Is hardly a reason for applause. Mahi thing that came, however, from the tax settlement, was a feeling that "now we know where' we're going." Before, there was an uncertainty that brought on ah atmosphere of hisecurlty- and fear. With the field clearing ahead, there's a growing self-confidence, Natural Bnthutiaam Not to be discounted, either; in explaining^' the "new look" is thO natural effervescence of the peo- ple ia show business. It's the same enthusiasm that makes them suc^ cessftti in pletures or the theatre or radio that lEMps them from long being bogged -in a state of depres4< Part of it is certahily just the cure of time. Fillip that was needed to give substance to the feeling that hap- pler-days-are-ahead came at the b.o. during the past few weeks.. Holy week, traditionally bad, and Easter week, traditionally good, both ran 'about 10% above the same weeks last year. That still leaves theatre biz for -the first 13 weeks of 194& down about 10% from 1947, but it is certainly en- couraging. Especially hn light of stronger product ahead. Current week may be the telltale. Some film men are of the opinion that the strong grosses were, at least in part merely a roaetlon to the good weather after the severe win< ter just past Broadway Outlook v For Legit Strong Business outlcMok for Broadway legit through the spring is becom- ing more and more favorable, fol- lowing the upturn of the past two weeks. One factor adding to the optimism Is the reduction of ia* come taxes by Congress last. week. Showmien se^m to feel that with the tax decriuise theatregoers' will be more lnclined.,towards spend- ing for amusements. There vill be an automatic, virtual increase In salaries starting May 1 and whUe the added amounts may not be large, the average playgoer wUl obviously have more money tO' spends Only disappointment, was the failure to cut down admistdon taxes. Managers were surprised at the goodly grosses of a majority of at tractions during Holy Week, but they were particularly pleased over further Increases last week. They did not anticipate the the- atre surge during the days Imme- diately after Easter, but the week ending last Saturday (3) saw upped takings at nearly ^1 shows. Those attractions which did not spurt previously picked up materially, while stayers closely approached winter money levels'. "Allegro" (Majestic) grossed close to $45,000, an increase of over $4,000; "Annie" (Imperial) got nearly $41,000; "Oklahoma" (Ma- jestic) got $26,500, its best gross in monthSi helped by the publicity given the show's reaching the five- year run mark; "Look, Ma, I'm Dancing'" (Adelphi) got $40,000; "Angel in the Wings" bounced back to $27,00Q. ■ The stayers, "Finian's Rainbow" and "Briga- doon,'' also climbed to the $40,000 brackets, while the season's newer musicals have been selling out and couldn't increase their grosses. Among the straight plays that climbed back to levels that approx- imated midseason form were "Har- vey" (48th Street) at virtual capac- ity, around $19,000, with the re- appearance of James Stewart counting more than the general trend; ''Bom Yesterday" (Lyceum), over $18,500; "The Heiress" (Bilt- more), over $21,000; "Command Decision" (Fulton), around $19(500; "Man and Superman" (Hudson), estimated at $23,000; "Love oi^ Money" (Miller), over $16,000 Top-rated plays such as "Mr. Rob- erts" (Alvln), at $34,500, and "Streetcar Named Desire" (Barry- more) ^ at $27,500, could not im- prove because they have been reg< ularly grossing aU the iiespecUve houses , will bold. Newer plays that went upward were led by "Respectful Prosti- tute" (Cort), $20,000; "Joy to the World" (Plymouth) $19,500; and Me and Molly" (Belasco), around Nightdub Business In 20% Increase Nitery business in New York has spurted upwards about ?0% In the past few w6«ks. The cafes have been hitting grosses that approach those of record-breaking 1946, and many. have been going-over last year's figure for the same period. The biggest beneficiaries of the spurt have been tho Broadway cafes. The eastsideries have ; umped to some extept, but Increase hasn't been as marked as those reg- istered along the MaiU Stem. The end of the Lenten season is responsible for part of the upward trend, but bulk of the increase is ascribed to the inrospectlve lower- ing of income taxes. The prospect of retaining a bigger pay slice has already given' the nitery trades a psychological hypo. Ifcdnosday, April 7> 1948 triade Stuff-legit Party tepdered some 500 guests In the Plaaa hotel ballronm i.ii Wednesday (31) midnight in celebra^iott of "OkHOidmal's" five vear» f Broadway (St. Janies), was att elJ»bopat;«, gay aiffalr, with no SS? champagne or other drinks. The tab handed the hosting producer Theatre Guild, was estimated, around $5,000.. Closing acts of ai^ companyihg show had Lawrence Langner, Theresa Helbum and Armi«. Marshall (Guild), Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstehi, 2d S wrote the show) 6nd Agnes de Mille (who staged the dances) on platform. They were billed as Larry, Terry, Armlny, Dickie, Ocklc Aggie. 'ISmokehouse Blues" was - a skit- travestying the show, "Th. Can-Can Cantor", had boys dolled up as. dames and girls as cowhsnHa the "Catoosie. Palace Hotel Band" .gave out music for a square ilmZ' "Oklahonia!" numbers >wer« sung in ittow tempo by Jim Pamell biiiM as the "Kansas City Stoatra," and ^erry W!hyte,.the show's stage mln ager, supposedly revealed how much the show, made and also the Idm tlty .of the backers. But the drummer drammed so loudly that nobn^v could hear the guy. Two shows touring by bus, mostly in the south, are bebig booked 'hv an outfit billed as the Civic Drama Guild of N.Y., described as "■ division of the Drama Corp. of America.". Although the guild 'jim offices on Broadway; it la little known, though Stanley Wolf, the onea^ atlng head, has toured shows in small stands heretofore, using Equity. Ites and depositing salary guaranteie nioney as required. ; A btdchure containing reproductions of laudatory letters from (m. ganlzatlons, such as KlwianUt,. Lions and some chambers of commerce Cid Pix fl;olding Up, Legit Strong, Cafes Off : Chicago, April 9. Comparison 'between first week of April, 1948i with correspondhig pexi(td last year reveals Chi pic grosses holdinig up amazhigly ^vell, along with decided boosts In legit and ballroom takes. Cafes are sagging, however. Big stunner is> fact that pic grosses are only 3% lower than in the previous: y^ar^ First nm _ ses ' on April-, 1947, were itsaijm as against $264,000 this year. Legit grosses are 10% better than in opening week of April, 1947, with four shows on the boards in both Instances. Recent Holy Week failed to make its usual dent. Most of the 10% rise was' contributed by hefty $43,000 gross of "Show Boat." Cafes are taking It on tlie chin. Latin Quarter and Copacabana, both "A", spots/ have folded, while, the Rio Cabana has switched to strip shows. Covers are generally off about one-third, with average chc«k proportionately down. Hotel rooms are doing slightly better although the take is down 25.%. Decline gives no promise of bending upward in face of 20% amusement tax. Ches; Paree still leads thje country in covers, al- though down.to avierage of 1,400 as against last year. Dancehalls are up almost 10% as former blstrogoe'rs are turning to less^xpenslve entertainment. Friars-Jessel i Gontinned from p*g* 2 —-.'Vanities' Several shows on .the nix list have been turkeys but tho Inclusion' of the latter two seeni8'«](t](a&eoU8, Indicating that. Wolf doesn't Intend troun- ing musicals. ' , Shows offered are "Made In Heaven" and "Dream Girl," which are said to be grossing between $5,000 and $7,000 weekly. Robert Whitehead and- Oliver Rea, young producers who bowed on Broadway this season with "Medea" and "Crime and Punishment," got the National (where "Mede^" first' opened) from the Shuberts OriginaQy on the basis of the two diows-they planned to do. Instead of the usqal 65/35 deal, they received a 70/30 proposition. Move of "Medea" to the smaller Royale, where show Is now playing, was contemplated from the outset, to make way for the later "Crime" production. ' v Paying off of "Medea" production costs March 27,- htcldentally, made a radlcar change In the salary of its star, JudlJCh Anderson: Actres>, hitherto on $1,000 a week salary, went onto an arrangement of 15% ot the gross plus 15% of Qio profits. Show, paying off Iheoretically lu 21 weeks, actually paid off in 18, there being 20 performances cancelled because of the star'* Illness. l>roducen( had Insured star agafaist just such a contlngenoy. t>rci>arations for "Sleepy Hollow," musical now In rehearsal, were started more than a year ago and caution was exercised in starting the show until ample backing was obtained, budget approximating $200,000. It will be presented by Lorraine Lester, new to the man- agerial field, whose husband Is George Lessner, who composed tht score, It being his first show. It also will be the first musical to have been staged by John O'Shaughnessy^ who won attention^ by directing "Command Decision." Book, based on Washington Irvlng's "The j:iegend of Sleepy Hollow," was written by Russell Maloney and Miriam Battlsta. ' . ^ George Abbott Is lining up a tentative cast for a comedy called "Bruno and Sidney," by Edward Caulfield, and although U Is not due until next season, a summer tryout Is possible. Names in the title are those of mice, the locale being a Third avenue (N. Y.) wallotp and the saloon on the street level underneath. Characters include habitues of the ginmlll who refuse to believe reputed antics of the rodenta. As In William Saroyan's "The Beautiful People," the mice wlU not be , visible to either! the audience oir the actors. Extra-space ads appeared in the dallies for "Streetcar Named De- sire" (Barrymore) and "The Wlfaslow Boy" (Empire) when the N. Y. critics last week cited the first named as the best play of the season and the latter the best of foreign authorship. In addition, for the first time shows' whose players were given "Tonys" at the Antoinette Perry memorial dinner, for', outstand^g performances, also went to extra space. Included were- ".^gel Tn the Wings," the Hartmans (Coronet): "For -Money,'? June Lockhart (Miller) and "Command Decision." Paul Kelly and James Whltmore (Fulton). sound like you have too much ego, make your speeches more simple and less flowery. Remember, Doug, you're X)nly a 'man, not Zauuck.' I could go f ar^ into the night about my achievements, but all Is water under the bridge. All yesterday's roses. And though I have spoken at more testimonial dinners than anyone else in these times, I know how much is bunkum and just how much isn't. No one in public life has had to tell more stories about guests of honor than I, screaming their virtues from the speakers' table, hiding their vices in my mind. But I have fotmd this is to be so true, and this Is In defense of the Friars giving me a dinner. I' never Itnew anyone who was re- cipient of a testimonial dinner who didn't have a little something good, some tiny decent quality. I don't recall anyone anywhere ever giving a dinner to Lepfee or Sitting Bull. Where Life Begins "As to my birthday or my 40 years in public life, we are, of course, as young as we feel. And as to life beginning at 40, there is some question as to the veracity of this statement. If it begins at 40, it begins from up here. But this manuscript of life is a tragic farce. There is very little mystery in it, and before we know it we reach for our hats and our hearts. At this moment the scene is light and gay and there the manuscript sweet- scented, and as the curtain rises I find myself basking on the right side of the tracks. And while I am not rich, whatever I have is profit. I had nothing like this when I was born. If. in fact, a few days after I was born they took yet someUiing away from me. Somebody stole a blanket. , * ." "Brigadoon," now playhtg Sundays at the Ziegfeld, N. Y., by drop- ping Monday, nights and midweek matinees, is slated to play through the summer and is booked to start a long tour in the fall. Dates in- clude, eight weeks in Los Angeles and San Francisco next spring under a contract that guarantees $50,000 to the musical for the dual Coast dates. "Brigadoon" is in Its S7th week. • Seminars for Young Actors ToBe Resumed The series of seminars for actor hopefuls in New York will' be re- sumed next fall by the American National . Theatre and Academy. The discussions are intended to give young would-be leglters a bet- ter idea of how to get- jobs, how to make a living in the meantime and how to pursue a stage career, etc. They will again include tallcs by various noted Broadwayites. The first meeting of the next series will be in September, prob- ably at the Maxine Elliott theatre, N. Y., which ANTA operates. There are to be six weekly sessions in the initial series, before a group of about 40 participants selected on the recommendation of VSirious key people in the theatre. Later, thero may be similar series for otlier be- ginner groups and more advanced seminars for junior Equity mem- bers, and .possibly a final discus- sion meeting along somewhat sim- ilar lines for the many established actors who have expressed interest. New Mo. Theatre Group Kirksville, Mo^, April 6. Little theatre group has been or- ganized here as the Experimental Group Theatre. First such group to be set up in this part of the state and is prepar- ing three one^bters for spring. SUITS FOR NON-OK'D AUSSIE DATES PREPPED The Dramatists Guild is about to file suits in the Australian courts against several little theatre group* in Sydney, Melbourne, and Bris- bane for unauthorized peritonnance of American plays and non-pay- ment of royalties. Understood there are v a r i o us plays that have been pirated, m two in particular are known to pe "Life With Father" and "Deep AW the Roots." The Howard Lindsay- Russel Crouse comedy, whicn law summer set the Broadway ^ong-m record, is reported to have been presented 84 times by different amateur troupes in various Auswe cities. Even at the standard raw of $50 a performance for H"/, t h e a t r e s it would hardly pay » bring suit, except for the pui^rt'^e example it would presumably sei. In the case of "Deep Are tM Roots," the Australian gro"P S James Gow and Arnaud d Ussea" for permission to do the. ^"?„v The authors refused, as the pw had not yet been released aw_ where for amateur or stodc pr» entation, and they were at the uii. negotiating for a Profff '"JTr Hie duction in Australia, "."wever, tn little theatre outfit w<;ut ahead a»v did the show regardless. • BizMiiiaih'SlioweiMA'm 1^11830/ Job Loves' m Chicago, Apill 0. 4 Cht gnQ*>«s currently nm- t l(t^ higher than last year. W liiHir houses are Ughtedj. but are doing hilsk business. "Show ate i — tt" continues terrific. "Student opened at the Blackstone jipril it with the first weekend sold ."Jjnrfi Button Shoes;" skedded tniame May 4, has been set back. mm Had a Little" relights the (Studebaker April 12. "My Ho. nmee". will have a klieg light starting date, when it reopens the rtiroodeled Great Northern April 19 Katharine 'Coniell goes into tiie Blackstone April 20. . Estimate* (or Last Week . Catching on with exeeUent 418,300. "John Loves Mary" Harris (Oth week) (liOOO; $3.71). Jumped up •-- ■'-*— -ach Current Road Sbows ■ Colo- ' to $20^0Qi Has better take eac ''V^eek." '' ' Forrest (1st week) (1,785; $3.90). Two very pig matinees helped Miss Cornell's Bhafcespearean revival a lot; Other- wise it was most disappointing biz Star has done here in some time in terrific competition. Did RHA^'.^S'''" ^of^ust (1st week) (1,- .f Pi Not capacity gait at Mart but zoomed up steadily and w « very fine !^6iS0O week with every indicaUon of gaining tms week. Has seven skedded and would turn in a fine local record p ^eneagement which may be ex- (iipril 5-17) "A Cup of Trembltnc" nial, Best. (0-17). "An Inspector Calls" — Natl, Wash (8-10). "Annie Get Your Gqn"^Moi j^chmond (0*10); Aud., Cincy "Antowr and Qlematira" — For- rest, Phiuy (S-10); Shubert, tost (12-17)^ .... Bidlet Knsse — Opera Use., Best, (12-17). "Uaokonts of 1948" —£1 Capi- tan. L. A. (9-17). "Blossom TimeV — ^Erlanger, Butt. (5-8); Aud.; Soch . (9-10); Boyal Alex., Toronto (12rl7). "Burfoaaue"— Selwyn. Chi (5-17). "Carousel"— Nixon. Pitt. l5-17). "First Mrs. Fra8er"~Plymouth, fos. (5-10); Met., Prov. (12); Court, pgfld. (18-14); Shubert, N. Haven (15-17). "Harvey"— Locust, Philly (5-17). "Harvoy't— MajesUe, Ft.' Worth (9-6); Music Hall, Houston (8-10); Par, Austin (12-13); Texas, S. An- tonlp (14-17). "HOW It" — Slmbert, Boat. (5- 10); Forrest, Philly (12-17), "Inside V. S. A."— Shubert PhUly (8-J17). "J«ha Lovea Maty" — Harris, Chi. (5-17). "Lady Windermere's Fan" — Cox, Cincy (5-10); Hartman, Col. (12-14); English, Indpls. (15-17). "Maty nu a Little" — Aud., L'ville (7-8); Aud., Newark (9); Weller, ZanesviUe (10); jg;tude- baker, Chi. (12-17). "My Bottanee*^— <7ass, Dot. (B- 17). "O Mistress Mine"— Aud., Pasa- dena (t); Aud., San Diego (6); Aud., Fresno (8-9); Aud., Sacramento (10); Geary, Frisco (12-17). "Oklahoma!" — Curran, Frisco (5-17). "Private Lives"— Hartman, Col. (5-7); English, Indpls. (8-10); Amer- ican, St. Louis (12-17). "Show Boat"— Shubert, Chi. (6^ 17). "Sonir of Norway"— Mem. Hall, JopUn (5); Conv. HaU, tulsa (6); Home, Okla City (7-8); forum, Wichita (9-10); Omaha, Omaha (12-17). "Student Prince" — Blackstone, Chi. (5-17). "The Play's the Thing"~Ford's Balto. (5-10); Nat'l, Wash. (12-17). "The Glass Menagrerie"— Town Hall, Toledo (6-7); Hartman, Col. itt-lO}; Shubert-Lafayette, Det. (12- 17). " "The Red M11I»— Court, Bpgfld, (5-6); Shubert, N. Haven (8-10); Lyric, Bdgpt. (12-13); Aud., Tren- ton (14); Playhouse, Wll. (15-17). "There Goes the Bride"— David- son, Mil. (6-7); Aud.; La Crosse (8); State, EaU Claire (9); Aud., St. Paul (10); Orpheum, Waterloo (13); Iowa, Cedar Rapids (14); Music mil, K. C. (15-17). "Third Person" — McCarter, Princeton (16-17). "Tropieal Bevne"— Royal Alex., Toronto (5-10); Majestic, Bost. (12- 17). St. Louis, April 0, Kot much enthusiasm here for irge Oppenheimer's comedy, ere Goes the Bride," with Qiloria Swanson, Robert Alda and Haifold J. Kennedy. Eight perform- ances grossed estimated $12,000. House is darjc ciurently but re- lights Monday (12) with a two- week stand of "Private Lives" with Tallulah Bankhead, to wind up the local teason. 'R(Hiiaiice' 2C mn'm. Cowl 8G, Hub Boston, April 6. "Hold It," Sammy Lambert's musical, first new' musical item to Wt town in months, ran into plenty of biz in this starved town on opener at the Shubert despite only moderate nods from equally starved crix. Couldn't see it con- tending on B'way too much, but recommended it anyway. That, plus plenty of laughs at opener, guaranteed word of mouth and put it right into top grossing ranks in •a hurry. "First Mrs. Fraser" light, but "My Romance" doing good biz. Only entry this week is "Cup of Trembling," relighting the Colo- nial, with "Antony and ;Cleopatra" at the Shubert, BaUet Russe at the Opera House and "Tropical Revue" at the Majestic, all on April 12. "High Button Shoes?' comes to the Opera House April 20 and D'Oyly Carte at the Shubert April 26. Estimates foiit Last Week "Hold It," Shubert (1,700; $4.20) (first week). Found agi-eeable if not sock Broa.dway material and the town piclred it up fast for a wow estimated $22,000, nearly top at scale. "My Romance," Opera House (3,000; $3.60) (3d week). Fifth non-consecutive week in town, and finished up with a strong estimated $24,000. .Described locaUy as the "Student Prince in a frock coat," but really did biz here. "The First Mrs. Fraser," Plym- outh (1,200; $3.50) (first week). Very well thought of in press, and Jane Cowl draw pulled in an okay estimated $8,000. Fiiud week cur- rent. B way B.0.Sp1sAIJio^[ line; ' 'Joy'Up,19^'MolIy'17G; Stewart's llarvey SROmMe 2(l& 'Mama' 8G in 4, Denver Denver, April 6. *„ 'i^?* sales dropped oflf rapidly rh»..i\^"^'"^*"''e'' Mama," with J^rlotte Greenwood, as soon as it generally known the film JI?« "pen at the Orpheum tlie teme week. Advance sale a week o^f 'i^.^^'* *>vw $5,000, whUe sross finished at $8,000 for four performances. +h Jn?^ $57,000 advance sale for the Metropolitan Opera Assn. later «us month, with "Carmen," with *«se Stevens, sold out. 'OKLA.r40G, 'ROOTS' 11€ San Francisco, April 6.. "Varieties of '48" opened at the Geary last Monday (29) to a thor- ough panning by crix. Pitclied f or nightclub fare^. this pseudorlegiter starring Michael O'Shea got only $8,000 in first of fortnight's stand. Lunt-Fontanne "O Mistress Mine" is due April 12. "Deep Are the Roots," with Rose Hobart, Betsy Blair and Robert Warwick, opened to rave reviews Tuesday (30) at the long-shuttered Tivoli with a $2 top, and grossed $11,000 in seven. "Obdahoma!," at the Curran in its fourth week, held to a capacity $40,000. TlayV 9G in 4, N,H. New Haven, April 6, Premier^ of "The Play's the Thing" did okay biz at Shubert last weekend (1-3). On four per- formances, at $3.60 top, gross mounted close to $9,000. current Week has "Red Mill" for Thursday - Saturday (8-10) and next week gets Jane Cowl in "First Mrs. Eraser" for three days (15-17). LUNTS SMASH 606 IN 2 WKS., L.A.; 'SONS' 6G Los Angeles, April 6. Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne left town after a smash two-week engagement in "O Mistress Mine." Play chalked up two $30,000 weeks for a new season high. Enough would-be ticket buyers were turned away to insure at least two and possibly three more sellout weeks. Other bowout was "Brooklyn USA" which slumped badly in its .final week at El Patio, leaving road tour , uncertain. , House relights Monday U2) with "Thieves' Para- dise." Biltmore is dark until April 20 when house rekindles with Joe E. Brown in "Harvey." Estimates for Last Week "AU My Sons," Las Palmas (2d Wk) (388; $3). SRO $6,000 for first full Jrame with extended run in sight. "Blaekouts of 1948," El Capilan, (302d.wk) (1,142; $2.40). Same $17,- 000. "Brooklyn, V. S. A." El Patio (4th wk) (796; $2.40). Fell apart at seams for $1,800 final week; about 25% capacity. Total for three week and three day run, $13,050. "O Mistress Mine," Biltmore (2d wk) (1,636;. $4.20). Another great $30,000, for $60,000 two week total. Could have stayed several more weelss. • •■■ "The Glass Menagerie," Coronet (1st wk) (255; $3.60). Reopened Tuesday (30) on moveover. Started off slowly but was building at week's end. Total $2,500, repre- senting slightly more than 50%. Probably will hold for several weeks. BALLET RUSSE 23G, TOBONTO Toronto, April 6. Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo broke all ballet records in the 40 years' history of the Royal Alex- andra (1,525) on second stanza of fortnight's engagement, with gross of $23,000, This meant a $41,000 gross for the two-week stand, with top at $3.30. Broadway legits spurted- last week and grosses easily topped those of the .surprising Holy Week figures. Jewish holidays doubtless figured in the uptui'n and crowds along the main stem were aug- mented by junioi-s on extended school holiday vacations. Virtu- ally, the entire list was benefited and those attractions that were static the previous week were on the bandwagon. It w§s evident that extra matinees could have been played. Not one was given witli the exception of "Icetime of 1948," which gave 13 performances' and topped everything with takings of $51,000. "Harvey," which has been playing tltree and a half years, virtually sold out all week. Response to "Oklahoma!" reaching ' five year mark was a. jump of gross to $26,500. One addition to the list, a re- vival of "Macbeth," "drew divided opinion. No arrivals this week but "The Mikado" started a three-week engagement, which will be the finale of the D'Oyly Cartes. Ring- ling Bros.-Bamum and Bailey cir- cus opens a 33 day stand: at Madi- son. Square Garden tohi^t (7). Estimates for Last We^< Keyt: C (Comedy}, D .(Drama), CD (Comedy-Dmma), R ■ (.Revue) , M (Musical), O (Operetta).. "AUcKro," Majestic (25th week) (M-1,695; $6). In the van on grosses with business going up over $44,500; biggest figure in some time. "Angel in the Wings," Coronet (17th week) (R-998; $4.80). , Went up close to the 'SRO status with takings around $27;000, further in- dicating summer holdover possi- bilities. "Annie Get Your Gun," Imperial (99th week) (M-1,472; $6:60). Still a leading musical and only "Al- legro" topped it in gross last week, when "Annie's" count was nearly $41,000. '■Bom Yesterday," Lyceum (113th week) (C-993; $4.80). Back almost .to winter figures and stayer was clocked at better than $18,500, a $2,500 jump. "BrigadoOn," Ziegfeld (56th week) (M-1,628; $4.80). Scored its best gross in month with takings around $40,000; has started playing two performances Sundays. "Command Decision," Fulton (87th week) (D-968; $4.80). An- other attraction that gathered in the best money since winter with gross approximating $19,500. "Finian's Rainbow," 46th Street (65th week) (M-1,319; $6). Like "Brigadoon" last week's takings went up materially and the gross also was around $40,000. "For Love or Money," Miller (22d week) (C-940; $4.20). Another straight show to materially im- prove and the gross was quoted going over the $15,000 mark. "Harvey," 48th St. (180th week) (C-902; $4.20). Capacity quoted for laugh show first week of James* Stewart's limited engagement as star; $19,000. "High Button Shoes," Shubert (27th week) (M-1,387; $6). Standee admissions increased, musical sell- ing out all times; '$38,000. "Joy to the World," Plymouth (3d week) (CD-1,063; $4.80). Extra advertising probably helped Holly- wood comedy to higher figures, estimated at $19,500. "Look Ma, llm Dancin!." Adelphi (10th wk) (M-1,434; $4.80) Up with the top musical grossers; . draws standees at most, performances; up last week; $40,000. "Malce Mine Manhattan," Broad- hurst (121h week) (R-1,160; $6). Revue getting great money, around $35,000, takings only being limited to house capacity. ' "Me and Molly," Belasco (6th week) (C-1,077; $4.20). Materially improved again and last week's takings around $17,000; best gross to date. "Mister Roberts," Alvin (7th week) (CD-1,331; $4.80). Referred to as "the Oklahoma of straight plays" with an indefinite run in prospect; $34,500. "Oklahoma!," St. James (260th week) (M-1,505; $4.80). Publicity attendant completion of fifth year on Broadway accounted for a jump to $26,500. ■ "Strange Bedfeilows," Morosco a2th week) (0-935; $4 80). Perked to $17,000, whicir was best figure for this one - since early weeks; should span .spring. "Streetcar Named jOesire," Bar- lymore (18lh week) (D-1,064; $4.80), Critics selected this drama as l>est play of the season but it couldn't get more money, . just perhaps more standees; $27,800. ' "The Heiresff," Biltmore (27th week) (D-920; $4.20). Getting fine attendance and could stay through Slimmer but for the defection of Wendy Killer; up to $21,500. "The Ressectful Prostitute," and "The Happy Journey," Cort (3d week) tD-1,164; $4.20). Most suc- cessful venture by a new group this season (New Stages); getting surprisingly strong igrosses; last week nearly $20,000. "The Winslow Boy," Empire (23d week) (D-1,101; $4.80). Named as best foreign play by Critics Circle which should perk the business which had sagged; up to over $13,- 000 last week. . Revivals D'Oyly Carte iQpera Co., Century (14th week) (0-1,670; $4.80). "The Mikado" started three-week en- gagement MondiQr (5); "lolanthe" last week drew' big business^ $38,-' 500. "Man and Snperman," Hudson (26th week) (CD-1,057; $4.80). Bn- proved to virtual capacity last week when the gross vrm quoted around $23,000; due thros^ M^. "Macbeth," National (1st vmM (D-1,164; $4;80). Booked for ap-. proximately eight weeks; opened last midweek to divided notices but got $15,500 in first five times. "Medea," Royale (22d week) (D- 1,025; $4.80). Advertising last eight weeks; business for classic, selected by one critic as season's best pl^y, but eased a bit. $21,000. "You Never Can Tell," Beck (3d week) (C-1,214; $4.80). Scored goodly increase last week when gross W.1S around $18,500; may move, house having booked "Sally," revival. muLiurs liP' OFF iN HIT lM$17,5§0 Pittsburgh, April 6. Tallulah Bankhead's "Private Lives" got. caught in a trap last week at Nix(m, right between fort- night engagements Of a couple of widely-awaited musicals, "Annit Get Your Gun" and "Carousel," and as a result her take was a little disappointing. Playing at $3 tou, "Lives" got arOund $17,500, all right but not what show has been doing elsewhere on smash tour. Curiously enough, play got probably the best set of notices generally that*^ star -has ever re> ceived locaUy. Following "Carousel," which opened Monday . (5) for two weeks, Nixon gets ., "Lady .Windermese's Fan" April IS; and notiiing definite set to follow after that. 'Babes' 4OG,TF09KarB€ In Detroit M. Upfceit Detroit, April 6. Legit b.o; is on the upgrade again, with one house, the Shubert- Lafayette, continuing dark. Both Babes in Toyland," offered by Civic Light Opera Co., at, the. Ma- sonic . Aud:, and ' Katherihe Dun- ham's' "Tropical Revue," at the Cass, came through with better than anticipated grosses, "Babes" did $40,000, despite terrific kidding by the crix who called it the worst offering of the season, "Tropical" hit dose to $21,000. Civic is ready to fold its tent and .sneak away when the last curtain falls on "The Desert Song" Sunday night (11). "My Romance" opened Monday (5) at the Cass vrith Anne Jeffries and Charles- Fredericks in leading roles, and is scheduled for a two-week run. 'Norway' 27€, Kaycee Kansas City, April 6. "Song of Norway," with seven performances in six days in the Music Hall (March 28-April 2), did $27,000, only fair. / Town waits on legit now until A &. N Presentations brings in Gloria Swanson in "There Goes the Bride'* in mid-April. 60 nbys (hit di Town Cwp of Tremliling * Wltoinsptpn, - April 2., Pawl dinner and C, P. .Taoeer in'oiuc" tlon of drama In two" atsta (li! acenftn) W . liiUltH I'aul. Hints Wliauljetli H"ri;iier; Staged hy Czlnn»r; uettinKS, OhrtrlpH Kl- •on. At PlayhouKe, WIlmlniflQnj Dol.> Ai\^Al,.,'T.^^;i«;,,•J'A•?*,.■'.<'^■,, .. , .. . Mrs. Biiiifcharijt,,' '. Beveily Bain* BlWn Oroy .,,1-.:. .EHMbPth BerKuev Dr. Bwn...i.. Philip Tonse John Oi-oy Mlllmd JllidipU Chau Wcur Hol)e>t Bolsir Anil. ... i, v.... ■ - •. .IrJa Mnnn Oracle 1 lui'e Bnievson Miw. Artnltage....: Marsaii-t Wydieily WAltOf VmUit John Caffailino jram^nsen,.,v.:",..;...'.i..Donaia Poster Nur«e». ....... *.',.,;....*. . ..loan Norrtlandor' Another .Vuroe Gloria Whitney Mtaa Nioholo... Sylvia Mhnners Sheila Vane.... Ailene Francla tDeUvoryman .,Wlll|arrt Sobertaon 1-. DCnnIng . .Iffattln 'WoUaon 'illiam J-unileman Anthony Bosa Peewoe, • . . . . . . . .*. . i • .Herman KUisa A Man ; Ingwall Tollcfaon X Woman, Buby fabarca As tt psychological study of ft woman qlcoliolic,- "Tlie Cup of trembling" • is : engrossing in a clinical sense. But as a play it leaves much to be desired. Yeo- man work is ahead to get this one into shape for Broadway. At pres- ent it doesn't Jell despite superb playing and some esccellent indi- vidual scenes. , , . , One fault is the length, the pre- miere curtain dropping after 12.'30 a.ni. It's K tribute to Elisabeth Bergner and .the cast that, few of the aufileitce took a walk. Divided into 12 . scenes, the episodes are jerky and- disjointed, and the long waits between scenes are no; help f ither. . ' Louis Paul adapted the play , from his book, "Breakdown." He calls it "the study of a woin$n." Because of the morbid theme there Is little XQom for pomedy, so the^ is QQ. letup ia fUi tension created whitf! |be tc»i^ nerpine goes f rpm bad .to Vrojt«<) -ia alcohol .tightens its grip. There is bhly one central character— Ellen Croy, an intelli- gent, apparently happy columnist ■ who leans mor? and mbre on. liquor lis an escapist outlet .without know- ; Injt why'. .•. fat succeeding episodes her .de- nted hii^banid, «dopt0d. child, iriends and doctors attempt to re- store her to normalcy with no suc- cess. Finally, psychiatry and Al- coholics Anonymous combing to work the. i^forinationt and the cur- tain falls .with the 'colUnl«ilst en route tQ -help 'another- problem drinker. ■ Members of - Alcoholics Anonymous will cheer the play, several of the scenes being an all- out plug for that group. • As. the coIumnist,'Elisabeth Bei;g- ner gives an exciting performgncS,' Technically, it's an electrifying characterization and exhausting as well, the star, being, onstage prac tically throughout. She .creates sympathy for the tormented herort* ine and gives life to scenes which would fall flat without .her presence'. Others in the large cast have little more, than bit roles. Millard Mitchell iS' excellent as the hus- band, Hope Emerson draws some welcome, chuckles as the maid and Iris -Mann fs -cute as the child. Single scenes lire well handled by John' Carradine, Margaret Wych- eriy, Donald Foster, Martin Wolf- son and Anthony Ross. ' Two good scenes fall to. the lot of Arlene Francis, as a reformed drinker who draws the ' columnist into the AA group. However, the whole show f Acuses on Miss Berg- ner, and no one else h^s much of a chance; ' . ' Handsome settings by Charles Elson add much to the production's eye -appeal, and Hattie Carnegie has provided Miss Bergner with a stunning wardrobe. Co-produCer Paul Gzinner han- dled the direction, which ranges from good to indifferent, depend- ing on the scene. The play doctors started work immediately, after .the - pt^niiere, S«ver9l scenes and characters being missing at the second and third performances. Klep. HllVHf SIHIH' t05Vriiisniv(ii«( T£NNES^ WILUilMS Talk* lock fo Read His eommtnt* On TK« Profit* in MAY NOW ON SALE The Vlmy^H The Thiag New Haven, April I. ■ CHlbert MJUer (in 'aaij'oclatlon with ;rameS Rum and Micha.el •., Elllla) praducflon at P. O. Wodehonse adaptation of Ferenc Molnaj'.'a comedy" in three acts (one fiet- linK). -Stars Louis Calhern; features Paye Bmerson;- Arthur Margetson, Krneat Cos. Bart, Claud : Alllater, . Praniila Combton BloHard Hylton. DIreotea by Miller; scenery, Oliver Mee/Bel; JiKhtlOK. Kaleh Alswang, Opened at Shubert, New Haven, April 1, '48; »3.80 top. Sandnr Tural I.ouio Calhern Manaliy ; .Krneat CoSsart Albert ■ Adam. . .Klchard Hyltoh Johann Dwornttohek. Francis Compton ;110na Sisabo..,.. .....Faye Emeraon Almadjr. • ■ • Arthur Margetaon Moll. , .Ciaud Allister iaokeya v , , . Ted. Tiller, JF^d Wentler This. Molnar comedy, which be- lies its title, could concelvabiy be pretty ;duH without the lift given it by a fine set of troupers. Even with the advantage of considerable acting skill, this revival has its periods of vacuum, but a consist- ently high third act obliterates most 'Of th^i preceding .loW' spots and ealcri«s the production .through' .to An ctptiinistic sendofC that should culminati^ }n.a satisfactory Broad- way reception. Gilbert Miller has given the opus top-drawer .presentation, and he has doubled oh the staging end. As yet, full cohesion of script, cast, and Erection has not materialized. I^'hfs: "olbservation' applies to such items' as Louis Calhern's freciuent ihaiidibllity; a wider variation be-, tvj'een thte straight and affected act- ing of Faye, Emerson; timing of lines which are how losing a por- tion of their value. But the short- comings can readily be overcome through further playing. Script is as originally adapted some 20 years ago, being the tale of the.alinost shattered romance of a yoiiniS composer and his prima donna flancee, who is being pur- sued by a foiiner admirer. To oS- set the effects of a torrid love scene between the latter pair, and over- heard by the composer, a playlet is concocted in a manner that passes off the eavesdropped dialog 'as merely .part of a rehearsal. This -synthetic excerpt from life as conceived in the mind of an im- aginative i>laywright provides an element of charm which, in itself, is the basis-of a pleasant playgoing experience. The added ingredient of hilarity, as contributed by the final act, enhances the overall values to a considerable degree. Heading the cast is Calhern, who gives the playwright role a bright polish with a series of mannerisms that stamp his work with a solid mark oi approval. In bearing, ges- tures, -and expression, he is an ace choice for the part. Miss Emerson comes to the role of the prima donna with a back- ground based more on film than Stage thesping.* That she will be ac- cepted in the latter field is ind' cated by the poise, physical "attrai tiveness ^nd acting ability she ax- hibits in this offering, Arthur Margetson, as an aging matinee Idol, is superlative in the show's comedy highspot, Ernest Cossart ^oes wfeU as • tha jplay-. Wright's collaborator, and 'Claud Allister plays competently the role he created in the. original" produc- tion'. Francis Compton, as a butler, make's his scenes '■with Calhern stand out, and Hichacd Hylton is good as the young- composer." Single setting of an ornate castle room on the Riviera provides Jflch atmosphere, and Miss Stnerson is sumptuously gowned. Bone. Deseret Salt Lak^ City, March 30. Expevlmental Theatre proilUction of drama in four acta .by Don Ijlljenauiat. Staged by Holbert 8. Greaves, sjalBtea h>- Dnrlene Sperry; eostumes by Sereta T. Jone.s. At Studio theati-e, Salt Lake City. Cast; RoLoyne Baantuasen, Heckle Thomiison, Sally ' Kretchinan, Wayne Brown, Howsrt |j. BhUdall, Tvonne Muir, Joseph Glaaanw, Pavld 9. Hoopes. l;!>wia B. Turman, Jeanne .Ludwlg, Paul h. pixon, ,Tr., Maiyann Baarauaaen. Ralph J.. Thompson, Albflit O. Mitchell, Jr., DoUKlas- MiU'holl, Michael Bennett. .Atden -R. Rl?h- arda, Orvllle H, Miller, Prank Cammans, Joseph H. W^llliama. Krat\k jBcohHon. Dar- lene Sperty, Albert J. Southwlck, Jr., Jack Shumwasj^ nui Hoover, "Deseret" won for its author the $1,000 first prize in last year's Utah Centennial competition. Its _ play that could be good but doesn't quite come off. The scene is laid in Utah during pioneer days, and the story is concerned, jwith the conflict of Aaron Savage; his parents, and Laura' "Wells, his" fiancee. Aaron wants them all to abandon the Mormon cause, leave Utah and go to California where he has struck gold. The plot unfolds slowly, and the general feeling throughout the opus is why don't they get going? Part of the fault Ues with the ^tt- thor, who would do well' to com- press his work into three, acts, shortening np on his opeBtng act, which takes too long to expound the basic problem. The balance of th'e blame can be laid to the direc- tor, who permitted a pedestrian pace, and the actors, who on open- ing night muffed too many Untijt at criicial points. - Joseph Glassner as Aaron does a nice job reading his lines, but at times ';'ves them a little too much sophistication. RoLayne - Rasmus- sen, as Latira, gives a sincere if un' inspired job. Chief honors go to Sally Kretchman, a moppet who shines as Julie. The rest of the cast rates no more than adequate. Sereta Jones has donje a top job of costuming,-^ using authentic drawings and photos as models for her costumes. : There's a stirring drama waiting to be written about the early Mor- mbns in Utah, but thi« isn't' it. Berl, ^4 Theatre, Inc., ^ production (In ^tasoointton with Brian Doherty) of tragedy in two Hfitt by William iihukoHpeare. Stni-» Michael Redtcrfive and Piora ^obaon; features W'hiifleld Connqi', Beattlce Stralsht, BuaaeU Collin*, Q«o(tr«jy 'Ti><)n». 9t«|i;«^',by jSforrU Houghton; aettiAga .etna ^oatiim^,-! Paul SlieriK; music, Alan nush; inu^lo dim'toi', Lehman Kngel. Op*n«d at National, M. Y., ilarch 31,,'4»; Ha* top,, , «<, , Punca'n, King of' Scotland. I .'.-.J , , 'i 7 •• Siephea Obuvtleigh Kl'w Sonat f': ^ ■ 'Malcolm Elliott Rel4 Ponwlbain , , Michael Rellly Miiftbeth .Mlchaifl Redgriivo Banquff. , ,. , .Ocuitiey Toon* Mnt'durt , Whltfleia Connor Lennox, . , . . ■ , . John Croinwell Ross,, ,,,, .Hector Macdiogor Angus .John Straub Mentelth', Paul Mann Ca Ithnesa .......... .. ,,.•>• Thonias . Fninier rieance , Ken Raymond Slwaiil -, .John McQunda Young Slward ; Arth fan- tasy is Okay. Clem. Shakespeare at best is always a hazardous undertaking in the thea- tre, and now along comes Theatre, Inc., to present, In association with Brian Doherty, one of tfaie most precarious boxoffice yirorks of the Bard. "lAacbfeth'' has the benefit of such names as Michael Red- grave and Flora Robson, as the mad warrior and his lady, but they are insufficient to raise this tragedy of Scottish murder and Intrigue much above the level of academic :lnt«r- est. Only occasionally does "Mac- beth" .assume a distinction that does justice to a setting other than the classroom. Only, occasionally do the perforniances of the two stars stir, the audience into believ- ing that the power-hungry general and' his too-ambitious mate are other than sifpeirficial pawns in the Bard's ganie of ianibi«; irhet- oric. . . . - . - It is generally an intelligent production that has been given to this "Macbeth" but prratic shad- ing given the two lead perform- ances are too frequently ^straet- ing. Redgrave has a tendency to look far more mad than his read- ing of the lines would ' indicate, and Miss Robson has failed to give her part' the intensity of, say, "Ladies in Retirement," with which she scored an enormous success on 'Broadway. Redgrave's voice open- ing night was too often pitched in a lower key; it. failed to reach the entire audience) tnough tnis' condi- tion existed mostly in, the ^irst act and improved -considerably In the second. The rest of the cast, has- turned in consistently fine- performances, namely Stephen Courtleigh as the murdered king; Geoffrey Toone as Banqno; Whitfield Connor as Mac duff; - Beatrice Straight as' Lady Macduff and Russell Collins as the drunken porter, Norris Houghton did the staging and he aptly cut this production to keep the performance moving con- sistently. Settings and costumes by Paul Sheriff are within the needs of this presentation, which doesn't appear too expensive by Shake- spearean standards. There Is some pace-setting, effective music com- posed especially by Alan Bush and directed capably by Lehman Engel. This "Macbeth" is In for a limi- ^.ted run of eight weeks. It must inevitably be c o m p a r e d to the Maurice Evans-Judith Anderson revival of 1941 at the St. James, N. Y., and perhaps that's where the current version suffers most. Kahn. Inspector' 20G, D.C. Washington, April 6. "An Inspector Calls," starring Thomas Mitchell, racked up $20,- 000 during the first week of a two- wee]): engagement at the National. "The Play's the Thing," starring Louis Calhern and Faye Emerson Roosevelt, follows as next attrac- tion. Hay Head Mpfs. Civic . h Rejav« Hfovenieit , ■ Minneapolis, April 6 After announcing its intention* of disbanding at the end pf this sea, son the Minneapolis Civic \yill probably continue in the Mi' with an established Broadw*^ figure in charge. Either actoN' director Alexander K 1 r k 1 a n d ot' George Somnes, Broadway produ- cer and director of the Elitch's Garu" dens summer theatre In Denver ^ii due here in the nqxt few days to survey the situation and work oi^ plans for next season. Robert T. Gaus, director of the Civic last season and this, has in! dicated a willingness to continue with the gi'oup next season under Whoever conies from New York to take charge,- He has'^been in regu- lar contact with Robert Breen, executive-secretari* of Uie Amerl* can National Theatre and Academy; in NcMf York, and the latter wfli decide today (Tues.) or tomorrow whether Kirkland or Somnes will come here to discuss matter. A promising possibility for the future of the Civic has been offered by the local Young-Quinlan depart- ment store, The establishment pro- poses to give the theatre tree ns*' of its 75Q-seat, fourth-floor audin torium, with heat, light, etc., also gratis, for an indefinite number of years. Theatre patrons would be entitled to use of the free parking space for several hundred autos in the store basement. A possible hitch to the deal is the fact that the auditorium stag6 has a celling of only 12 feet, but it's figured this limitation can be corrected. Also, one of the store windowx will be devoted to a display pn the theatre, poster cards will be placed throughout the store, ^and an- nouncements of current shows will be carried in the store's' news- paper ads. Finally, the store has offered to spend up to $10,00& to reconstruct the auditorium stag* -so as to make it suitable for dn^ matlc productions. The local troupe booked name players as leads for the first time this season (Sidney Blackmer, Lois Wilson,' Blanche Yurka and Philip Huston have appeared). Tli« BAIE|R¥BIOBE| THEATER i of the AIR 2 starring « Diana Barrymore . will •ttraet littaiMH* afKi t«ll your - .product btcaus* th« nam* . « . BARRYMORE r«prM«ntf quality M •ntartdinmant^ AtHtttipn ncoid *v«iUU* , Robert Evans ^Productions ^ lncorpor«t«d 113 W. 57th St CI 6-9861 i FOR RERT Summer Thetitre seatn .too Mlil-Huil- smi Vlillry. FarticulurH Write Hox 1.00%, Variety, 1S4 W. Mth St., New York 1». , HOTKL ROOMS IN TBE HBAUT OV TIMES BQ. Room, balti and ihowoi*. Tele))Iion(9. Vnm $3 Jtajlojja^jjUljMloiiljIc. RosolT's Rflstaurnni Famiui on tho . . HOTEL ROSOFF 147 W: 43lrd 81. (at a'twr), VH. t-MM 61 Literati " saOG Salftn Pblltr Kaldv ' fhilt $8(Ht>Qook of memoirs in a casual'diaiy fashion that makes for easy reading. As in the other, "Admission" is freely sprinkled with w.k. names and intimate closeups V of familiars and other intimates not as genelraUy known to the public. a translated vetaion published by Peuser, the Buenos Aires nmnidpal police have placed it on the index and prohibit its side in B.A. .Ban is effective only in the capital, but the cbucoh' authorities are pre- sumed responsible for the mov6 and will have the ban axteaded to the rest of the country. Variety mugg Riqi' Josephs' book, "Argentine Diary," is another U.S. publication placed on the local index. A number of- local bookstores were raided and: copies confiscated, while the owners were haulted before police authorities to explain why they had such "com- munist literature" on sale. Am- bassador Joseph Davies' "Mission to Moscow" is another .opus not in favor with the local authorities. AiiihofM Leagne Ffaiance Status Ammal financial' statement of ihft Authors League o£ America, released, shows a net drop of $50,708.23 in surplus for the year en^g last Sept. 30. Total income was $109,098.44 and total expendi- tures, were $162,306,67. The state- ment reveals tiiat authors' flues totaled $21,024.79 and assessments $1S7.50; dramatists' dues were $15,- 244.05 and assessments $30,221.52 fnnn royalties first class, $24,138.68 from film sales, $3,162.42 from.«on- tcact countersigning and $347.34 figom stock: and amateur royalties. Other income hiduded $8,000 surplus from the film sale negotia- tor, $648.39 from, sales of contracts. $l4iS0i pec i^pita. tax tsam tne Screen Wiitov Guilds $740 from interest in slays and $834.20 from the authois' craftsman, series. Ex- penditures included. $78,913.87 in mlaries. K. T. German Daily's lOSth Aimi The German -language New Torkcr Staats-Zeitung und Herold celebrated its 100th anniversary with a. special edition Sunday (4). ^Chia Bidder-owned daily survived two wars with Germany^ uliis the pressure put 'on it by local Bund, by foUowhig. an American- first poUcy. Also, during bottl wars, the Staats was used, by our govern- ment to coimteract the.enrany's propaganda. . Sunday's anniversary edition was partially in color and featured a special amusement section edited by Ethel Colby. 'Amber* Dimne4 In 9> A. Film version of Kathleen Whi- tor's "Forever Amber" looks to stand little chance of exhibition in Argentine houses. Although the book has been on sale in Argentina ance 1946. both in English and in DlUhigiDoean't DaUy .Elizabeth Dilllng filed a motion in Chicago federal district court last week seeking $500,000 default judgment in her libel action aga&ii^ John Rogge. farmer gov- emnilent prosecutor in the wartime sedition trials. Motlbn claimed that Rogge had not answered inter- rogatories filed March 5. Libel action grew out of mate- rial printed in PM. and allegedly given out to paper- by Rogge. Hfearv ing was set for May 14 before Judge Michael Tgtie. tall partying its columnists and- artists at a reception slated fbr AprU 20 at the WaldoifrAstoria, N.r. Metro is interested In the film rights to Mathilda Ferro's suspense novel, "Fear is the Parent," with the possibility of baokins a stage version first, - ' Charles Scribner will publish an edition of the A^ X. Bezzerides novel, "Thieves Market," simul- taneous with the release of the pic- ture by 20tIi-Fox. New novel by .Betty Smith, au- thor of "A Tree Grows in Brook- lyn," has been chosen as the Book- of-the-Month selection for either August or Septembet, Iptrper Bros, will publish. A. L. Bradford has been ap^ pointed to post of generapl Euro- pean manager and vice-prexy of United Press. He succeeds "Virgil Finkley, who is resigning May 1 to join the Times - Mirror Co., pub- lishers of the Los Angeles Times. Blythe Morley, of the American National Theatre & Academy staflE in New York, has authored a novel, "The Intemperate Season," which Farrar. Straus will publish May 20. She's the daughter of Christopher Morley and has previously written two whodunits under a pseudonym. Ezra Goodman has assignments from Colliers, True. Pageant, Coro» net, Harper's, and the N. Y. Times on Hollywood pieces, so he is stay- ing on the Coast indefl His yarn on Jerry Wald in Harper's will be out late this month. Another, on the ktate of Hollywood, is also due soon via Coronet. SCULLtiS SCRAPBOOK By Frank Scolly ♦ ♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦4 Mar Pubs Set NT. ¥. Agenda Speakers at the second annual forum of the National' Assn. of Magazine Publishers, Aptil 27-28 at the Waldorf-Astoria, N. Y., will hidude Don Relding, of the Foote, Cone & Belding agency; Barbara' Ward, foreign editor of the London Economist emd board member of BBC; Bev. Daniel A. Poling, news* paper columnist and editor- of Christian Herald mag; Barclay Acheson, foreign director of Read- er's Digest, and Gardner Cowles. publisher of the Des Moines Regis- ter and Tribune and of Look mag. Walter D. Fullerr president of Curtis Publishing Co., will be^ chairman, ' . Baggy Pants Continued from page 1 Frobetr 1I.S. Theatre for Japan A Japanese reporter-author, Mrs. Ayako Iidiigaki, £s currently in New York gathering material on the American theatre, "as part of a series of articles on U. S. life and culture, for publication in Japan. She's a civilian representative of the civU. affairs division of the War Department,, which will edit the aitiieles for translation into Japr^ anese and then distribute them to Japanese newspapers. Mrs. Ishigaki is a native of Tokyo, but lived in the U. S. during the war. tended by the program director and sales manager- of five. N. Y. stations, including WNBT (NBC), WABD (DuMorit), WCBS-TV (CBS), WPIX (Daily News) and WAT V (Bremer Broadcasting, Newark), Spokesman for the Fash- ion Guild is men's fashion author- ity and commentator Bert Bach- arach, who worked out the idea in association with WABD sales manager. Ken Farnsworth. Decrying the careless dress of many tele performers (but with- out naming names ) i Bacharach de scribed their attire as "sartorially sloppy, careless, incorrect and con- siderably below the par set by similar performers on the screen PUMSHHI rODAYl Tilt SKndanl RfferaM* for ■*«TMe Wlw RocKb and ToMrt AiwiM Hw N««r* WORLD WORDS KeeoiWRMMIed PmHUKiaiiom SECOND EDITION REVISED AND ENLARGED ■y W. CABELL MEET ^ COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS Morninosid* Htighh, N«w York 71 ABA Vs. Book Club Stymie The American Booksellers' Assn. campaign to set up its "equalized and competitive" price scale with book clubs received an initial sty- mie last week when Houghton, Mifflin refused to lease the plates for the first volume of Winston Churchill's memoirs. The publish- ing house explained that conflict- ing contractual obligations pre- vented okaying the ABA bid. The ABA plan, announced some weeks ago, is to lease the plates of forthcoming books and print and distribute its own. edition to stores, at a price to compete with book clubs. CHATTER Paul Gallico returned last week from the Bahamas and Florida. Stan Musgrove is doing a column on Hollywood for Campus Mag. Everybody's Digest reprinting two of Paul Denis' N. Y, Post radio columns. Donald Day will open a Holly- wood office for Readers Digest about June 1. , Richard English doiiig a piece on H. N. Swanson, literary agent, for Satevepost; Charles Baker has been named head of the literary dept. of the Gloria Safier agency. Frankie Carle is writing a book, "How to Play Like Frankie Carle," with a foreword by Tommy Dorsey. Russell Janney will be guest of honor at the Hoosler State Press Association's dinner In Indian- apolis. James Maresco, the, Manhattan cabbie who authored "My Flag is Down," has "retired" until * July to work on a novel. Oscar Hammerstein, 2d, has written a piece titled "The Authors League Today," for the next issue of The Screen Writer. United Features Syndicate cock- Sfaa^e» o£ Jobtt,L. With an eye to video broadcasts, the National Box- ing Assn. ha& advised all boxing commTssions afEUiated with NBA to adjust their local fight setups to conform with New Look. Communique sent out by Abe J. Greene, head of NBA, calls for referees to preen their attire in the ring and for boxers to emphasize neat- ness ing^e the squared circle, down to and including trunks, shoes, SOX, robes, and gloves. or stage." He added: "It is even more important that the man who appears on a television screen be properly- dressed, for unlike other actors, he's visiting private homes. Yet, while Hollywood and the legitimate theatre spends hundreds of thousands of dollars seasonally to make certain their wardrobe de- partments are properly stocked and maintained, in video it's every man for himself — and it looks it." Men's fashion industry, accord- ing to Bacharach, feels certain that the cost of the "wardrobe bank" will be more than justified by the impression it creates on video fans who will eventually look to tele, as they now do to films, to set the style. All clothes and accessories loaned to the various studios are to be replenished constantly. Once they're removed from the "bank," they'll be sent to charitable insti- tutions lierc nnd abroad. Benny, Harris CoiitinueH from page 1 i=s comic has been taking his troupe out on tour. During the war, he played USO-Camp Shows overseas and last year he played two vaude dates. In two weeks at the Roxy, Benny's troupe played for $40,000 plus a percentage of the gross over $140,000. Money for the British date isn't revealed. Comic winds up his air show around the end of May and will go to England around 1. ..Bedside Manor, Aipril 6. ... Sitting near us at the primal unreeling of "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" was. a stocky hunk of- middleaged manhood whd looked like a wrestler between giunts. "You a builder?" he grunted across several empty seats. I nodded, on account I had once graduated witti magna cum lousy from a technical high school back in the days when 2 and 2 made 4. "Watcha specialty?" he wanted to know. I told him I now built sentences for other guys to tear down. - Figuring there must be something wrong with the acoustics, ha moved next to us and made known that he was' Arthur Marcus, chair- man of all American Legion houang west of the Big Horn, He soon made it clear that to him, and indeed all vets, housmg was no subject for comedy. Thus "Dream l^se" had two strikes «ven before Caiy Grant came to bat. He ran a half-cockied eye down the credit sheet. "Thought so," he saidi ''not a vet in the whole cast" "Well, this guy was M the army,'^ I saidi pointing to^t^ of Melvyn Douglas. "Nah," he said. "Nearest he got to it was being manied to that ; dame in Congress. Helen Gahagan, or something.''. A Muggr Can Be Right "I'm pretty sure," I insisted, "that he was in General Osborne's outfits You -know, st only a few bucks less than the' ori^ai Waldorf- Astoria; . Like us, the' Blandings started building at a fair price and; ended by paying three times what they bargained for. - Seems the Scully Building Fund had been Uirough that one, too. Not once but three times. Four, if you counted Villa Variety in France. 'We sure -were clipped plenty rebuilding that old octroi in Nice. We took an even worse beating trying to dream an old mud hut near 29 Palms on the Mojave desert into an adobe hacienda. A third sheUaekins came our way when we built Bedside Manor on Hollywood's WMtli^ Heights from scratch, and Uie ultimate eiipperoo came to. us last' fall when we added a room and baUi for Mormor's visit? from Norway, which cost half again what eight rooms and two baiHis Haicl cost In Itie original ^building 12 years ago. , , ' * We certainly were prepared to laugh at some other chuuips tdldng a mechanic's Uen for a change, and would have if 'Le^oiuraixtriimiua hadn't turned a harmlm conversation' into a clipping .se^rrico. * Could it be that 'I had mistakea MelVyn Douglas '-Ittf -DiiD^S, Mae- Arthur. No, l surely know one actor from another by now.' ' Besides. I'd been to the mortgage maiibr i^ared by Hifelen Gahagan and Melvyn Douglas on Outpost, a hill above our tiilL X Tcntember when he built his vlace. tbet wasn't as smart then as he ira9:)n the picture. ■ ' ' He wasn't even as smart in the beginning as we werei Uiough in the end he may have come out with fewer invisible clips than -we did. But both of us fared better than the Blandings. A Friend And Your Money Tully had no architect, just a builder. So we followed -his., lead. After all, wasn't I a graduate from Manual' Training faighachool? And hadn't 1 outwitted' a Scotch realtor in selective bargaining? - : Trained to appeal to man's avaric^, the Scot reaUy didn't know . how to handle a switch. "I want a place;? X said; "-ad topper Mort Blumenstock settled out of court for $75,000 last week— after a jury trial had run four days in White Plains— the $2804KK) civil damage suit against him aa i«sult of the auto accident iii Which he was in) volved last Sept. 7. Helen Hayes is chairman of the committee arranging a dinner late this month in honor of Oscar Ham- merstein, 2d, and Richard Rodgersr for the benefit of Sydenham Hos- pital, Joe Louis and Jegrsey Joe Walcott will be guests of honor at cocktail party Tuesday. (13) at BsSi^ HoHSf;, tS. Y.> for the same - earances. , . Jof . -Mait^u:am, head? of the cbstiune fabric house that hears Iiis name, off this weekend on two- week inspection of his Cliicago and Coast Inranches. Leslie Morosco, retired legit agent and brotheif of the late Oliver Morosco, legit producer authoring' a send-biog -tome, Bemember Wbett— " .■ Bfldie Grainger, prexy and gen- eral manager of Shea Circuit, due . T»ack today (Wed.) with his wife . vaA daughter from a;3ix-week stay '•■ wt Ft> Lauderdale, Fla. ; Bieanor Goldsmith, who costume^ . designed . "Inside U. S. A.?' is daughter of S. L. Goldsmith, fi- nanee director for the National C!oti|ference..Of Christians & Jews, Ann Sloper to do publicity for Richard Skinner's Olney, Md. strawhatter' this summer. She'i daughter of Christian Science Monitor drama critic, L. H. Sloper, ,' Meriel Moore, of. the Dublin Gate Co., engaged to William J>evVn» playing in the The- Atre Guild's "You Never Can TeU.' . Gate troupe . sailing home from N.y. April 7. Kay O'Brien, secretary to 20th< Fox ad-publicity chief Charley, fchlaifer, hosted at surprise lunch' riday (2). Wife for the last two . years of Douglas Berryi she's leav- ' Ing 20th soon to have a baby. Paul Sheriff, British art direc- tor who recently arrived to receive the first annual award of the Na- tional Society of Art Directors, re- turned to Britai»r -I^riday (2 laboard the Mauretania. Scenarist-playwright Robert Ar- drey,. east on vacation, taking time Oif from seeing the shows this weekend to go to Washington for confabs with Eric Sevareid on background material for. a book, Si Fabian tapped as chairman of the N. Y. amusement division in United Jewish Appeal's current fund-raising drive. Fabian was named by Barney Balaban, Para- mount proxy, who's national chair- .man... . , Major Barney Oldfield, former Warners publicist and film critic, assigned as Anny represebtativ^ on , Sir Malcolm SAigeMt' to lilidia. Mrs. Belloc liOWndes left around $8,560. George Carney Ic^ ATOond $13,972. Bernard Sobel here seebig the West End shows. He leaves Thurs- day (8) for France, . Grenier Hbssenot troupe from Paris at the SavUle opening April 6 with a doubte biU. ."ParAde" and "Orion le Tueur," Sydney Box bought sereeti rights to the displaced persons play, "Cockpit," by Bridget Boland, Just closed at the Playhouse. Joe Marks, general sales head of Pathe Pictures, subsid of As- sociated British Picture Corp. since 1944, is leaving company by mutual arrangement with managing direc- tor William Moffat. British Film Producers .Assn. executive council advised Assn. of Cine-Technicians, to give formal notice to terminate their present agreement between employers and studio union at ..the first possible moment. .Michad Miles. BfiC "Radio Foiv felts" epcee, ta ime a new type show in May, an audience partici- pation program. Broadcasts will be made from northern 'theatres during the summer, with Bay Mar- tin providing the music. Another Dublbt importation, "The Righteous Are Bold," by Frank Carney, made Its London bow at the Embassy; with Sally Travers scoring as a poor Irish peasant possessed of a devil, and commendable, stmpoxting cast ad- mirably directed by Sbelah Rich- ards. Paris Miami Beach B]f Larry SoUoway Alan King into Famous Door last Thursday. Variety Tent national conclave opens here April 12. Sam (Blackamoor Room) Barken headed for IS, % and talent buy- ing trip. . Patsy Shaw, Carroll and Gor- man, Judy Magee new Uneup at the Blackamoor RoQtp. Barry Gray debuted his new 15- min. Sunday night commentary Via WKAT (MBS), Sunday («. f Benny Davis and Gabriel Heatter winding up plans for their new tal- ent radio 'package. Will go on ail in May; Betty Ann Grove, singer, added to Clover C)tub show, tepladug Eileen Barton. Carlos Ramirez ticketed to follow current produc- tion. - Tommy Dix added to Henny Yotmgman • Georgie Tapps - Betty Reilly lineup at Copacabana, with, entire show to be held over foir extra week. tal with Mrtha Legtand, !■ due back in Buenos Aires shortly. Jack Holt, who has been asso- ciated with director Carlos Bor- cosque for many years, is currently idlKhe Andean province of Men- doza, supervising- construction of studio buildljUigs foe ^Ofa Andes. " By Les Bees * Helen Traubel in concert at St. Paul Auditorium. St. Paul Civic Opera Co. to otter "Rosalie" April 29-MBy 1. \ • Eddie Ruben, indie circuit owner, back from month In Hawaii. Howard Greenstein, Universal salesman, ill at St. Mary's hospital. Tony Grlse, former Frankie Carle vocalist, at Flame club, St Paul. • ■ Robert P. Beaulleu succeeding Leonard Leigh as KSTP musical director. Fiddlers Club of film exchange employees reorganizing with A. Bidden AS prexy. f Bill Elson, Northwest Variety club chief barker, retumed'from vacation in Honolulu. Stanley Grodnik, local clothier, won Sammy Kaye radio slogan contest And $11,000 in prlees. Rome re- Josephine Baker at Club Champs Elysees. Dailies Le Pays and Ge Matin merging. , Director Edmona T. Greville prepphig trip to U. S." April 23 Louis Ascarelli back at Fox flackery after Easter trip to Bome. Simone Berriau to produce Serge Veber adaptation of the late Tristan Bernard's "Petit Cafe." Marie Claire Duhamel, daughter- in-law of writer Georges Duhamel, clicking in legiter "Bout de la Route." • Herbert Victor helping on sce- nario for Ernest Neubach, who just started shooting "Signe Rouge" with Eric von Stroheim. . Gen. Edouard CpmigUon-Molin- ier in Corsica in capacity of mem- ber of the Superitw War Board and not as Gaumont veepee. Colette Coiner is currently re^ hearsing a bit in Jean Ayme's com- ing "Lucienne et le Boucher" at Vieux Colombier. French Radio planning to air her script "Adven- tures of Francois and Francoise." : By Raul QuattnwdU Al E. Daff here. La Boite, deluxe niteiy, opened. Charpentier's "Louise" revived at the Opera Houses Guido Ollva, Ginecitta Studios general manager, died^ . ■ Olindo Vemocclii, Istltuto LUCE former president, died. Martin Sterman and orchestra now at Bristol Tavern. . Amerigo Benefiiio, Variety Film prez, here from' London. . Bene Clair, from Paris to huddle with Salvo D'Angelb, Universalis producer, on his next film here. Louis Jouvet, expected here for stage performances, will probably star in "Girolamo Savonarola,*' an ACIF production. Negro actor John KitzmiUer ("To Live in Peac'e") is star of "Settza Pieta" ("Without Mercy"), anti-race prejudice pic produced by Lux. Sir Alexander Korda arrived from London- accompanied ■ W Carol Reed. He will confab with Minerva, SciOiera and other com- panies' executives to set produc- tion plans here. Despite Soviet embassy protest, Metro's "Ntaiotchlca" is stiU playing and is now in second-;runs. Pic was a success in its first run (two weeks) at Corso, Modemo and Margherita, Even Communist papers called it "amai^' and "witty." vacation^ HowArd Hurgeryi" Donald . Bariy and Keith Thornm son to Texas' for a p.a. tour "P^"* sum- mer on his Sonera County ranch Dichi Pritchard, quit Po* w*«t Coast to open own publicity of. Ellsworth Hoagland, Paramoimt film editor, injured by a falltoa lAfiiP.. - ■^•^ AblMtt and Costello to touv south for benefit of Lou CosteUo Jr., Foundation. ' Sam Marx and Syd Boehni to San Francisco to get data for « Metro documentary. Masquers giving testimonial din- ner for Oscar winners, Ronald Colman and Edmund Gwenn. Dorothy Andre, stunt gal, broke arm falUng off a pogo stick in "Great Gatsby" at Paramount. Fritz Feld out of the hospital and convalescing at home from injuries sustained in an auto crash. Clark Gable and Howard Strick- ling in from play gandering in N.Y. Leif Erickson pinch-hitting in the legiter "The Glass Menagrale" for Paul Lambert, who is 01. - Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., goes to Europe in July as a delegate to ' Association for the United Na- tions. , Van Johnson planted his foot- prints in cement in -forecourt of Grauman's Chinese theatre. on By Florence S. Lowe Sally and Tony De Marco on re- turn date at .the Shoreham Blue Room. " 1, William K. Treynor appointed director, of traffic and continuity for station WOL. Adolphe Menjou in to autograph his new book in department 'store and also plug "State of Union" at Loew's Capitol. Mimi Chandler, daughter of baseball C!;ar H!appy Chandler, who quit attempt at Hollywood career^ now A disdc jockey in Kentucky. Grovec Whalen had his chest X-rayed in promoting Washington campaign to get whole city take the free X-rays and check possible lung ailments. Detroit By Glenn C. Ptdlen Margaret Peggy Ulmer opening strawhatter in Willoughby. Three Suns gave "Borsellino's Club a new attendance mark their first week. Bob Opitz's Versatilians' band back at Continental, after four- year Junket. Jack Dalton Jumping into band biz by signing Buss Morgan band for his Rollercaijle rink Easter Sun- day. Steve Drummer managing Show Folks Club, new nitery backed by Herman Pirchner, Alpine Village owner. W. Ward Marsh, veteran film critic of Cleveland Plain Dealer, off on one-month writing trip to Hollywood. . By Stan Worris Nelson Eddy's concert here Is April 16. Mel Torme opened at Bowery ; last Monday. ■ Guy Lombardo at Graystone Ballroom on April 1. Dancer Paula Hayes off to Chi- cago for nitery dates. ' Mel Torme opened at Bowery Monday (5) f or twO' weeks. Pat Bums, straight man, closed at Empress and off to N.. Y. Ollie Franlcs back to Civic Op- era after 10-day click at Penobscot Club. Skating Vanities, roller revue, inked into Olympia April 16 for 10-day stay. Ronnie Roberts, singer and dancer, closed at Avenue after three-month nm. Northwood Inn's opening set for April 10, with Herb Hand on way back from Coast to supervise job. Actress Libertad Lamarque is in Mexico for two pix; Delia ,Garces is to act in "The House of Bemarda Alba" in Italy. Amedeo Nazzari, Italian picture star, arriving around May 17 to start his first of three pix for Emelco studios. Hugo del Carril, ex-warbler, to start as director for San Miguel Studios, acting at same time with Aida Albert! as teammate. Amelia Bence, winner of 1947 Argentine Oscar for best pic per- formance, to do legit work and pix in Spain With comedian Pablo Palitos. Arturo de Cordova, who has been making sequences for "Pass- port to Bio" in the Brazilian capi- ByCttCHiAlls m M. OrotHtz is batik with the Varbalow iThCAtre circuit in CAm- den,. ■' OscAT Meufeld, vet Tilm Row figure, recupeTAting trcm long Ul- Elsye Morris, TAdlo Actress, now handling "Movie-Go-Bound" show on WCAU. Milt Shapiro, former nitery flack, producing sports -quiz show over WPIL-TV. KYW'S "Along the Bialto" has switched from the Latin Casino to Frank Palumbo's Click. built £ar^lZAnucktoSunVaUeyo« Wne hospitalised Stockholm By Sven G. Wlnqulst "Bom Yesterday," at the New Theatre, still doing boffo after five months. Swedish Badio Co. recently op* ened new .studio in KarlSIoiona, .Southern Sweden. Actress Irma Christensson to Italy to appear in the Italian film, "Adventure in Taomrina." Sandrew-Bauman Film Co. pur- chased Centrumateljeerna, one of Stockholm's modem studios^ Carl-Gustaf Kruuse to Copen- hagen to direct the ballet in op- eretta, "Der Bettelstudent" at the NorrelnrD thcAtre; "Best Years" (RKO) now on ite 19th week At the Roda Kvarn here. At the Lorensbergi in Gothenburg, film is now in its 13th week.. While touring in Sweden, Acx Stewart and his orch made some records for Swedish outfit, Gupol. Records are bestsellers here. Sven Nygren, 20th-Fox manager in Sweden, returned from Paris. Met's manager Ame Hallin back from Hollywood and New York. New legit producing organization formed in Stockholm to be known as Ab Stockholmsteater. First play planned to preem at the Circus at Djurgarden next September. Among the founders is actress BatImfo KoUberg. By EmU W. Maass Steyr, in Upper Austria, city- owned theatre. ■ Gustav Diessl, 48, weU known actor, died suddenly, - Rudolf Steintioeck directing film "<5jrl Friend," in Salzburg, State theatre in Bregenz, Vorari berg closed due to financial diffi- culties. Frederic Ashton of Sadler Wells Ballet Co., to direct «horeography of "Orpheu and Euridyce" at Salzburg Festival. Ernst Deutsch signed contract with Renaissance Buehne to direct next production, "Sheppey," by W. Somerset Maugham. Film star Magda Schneider, to South Tyrol (Italian territory) with Andre Maltoni and operetta .en- semble, to present "Unlcissed Girl." Ferdinand Brucluier (real name Theodor Tagger) back from New York after 14 years to attend pre- miere of his play. "Faehrten" ("Scent") in Burg theatre, starring Maria Eis, Alma Seldler and Fred Henninsst Hal Cohen Johnny Harris to Hollywood fiw next three months with "Ice- (Tapades." Lou Gilbert, ailing WB manager, improved since his arrival at Sara- sota, Fla. . Comedian Willie Shore and Mage & Karr, dance team, into Carousel. Lenny Litman skedded King Cole Trio for Club Copa on rec«» N. Y. booldng trip. Geoife Jaffe stricken after re- turn from Hot Springs and taiten to Montefiore ho,spita}. LOU Gilbert, Warner theatre manager, off for Florida to coii- vaiesce from xecentTieart attacK. "Ice Follies" lays off for montn following engagement here, re- suming April 16 in Minneapolis. Mary Martha Briney goes w Chicago April 24 to sing m Blos- som Time"/ on ' ' Air." Charley Earley, KDKA editor, out of hospital after seven months; doctors ordered mm v rest until fall. , , ,„i,rt Aleen Leslie, local giri„ scripts "Date With JudX,^ checked in at Col studio to screen play "Turn of Century.' , Joel Wesley, who did lead to "Another Part of Forest" at J^w house, joined Harry Ko^msky « flee in charge of radio promotion- Tommy Wonder, dancing juve i" Mary Mari:in's "Annie Get jo^ Gun," reports he's been signed w', featured role in next Ma« |T picture. "Hearts and Diamonds. '^Theatre of the news [ OBITUARIES MABIZALES (BILL) WIBTH Mrs. Marizales Wirth, 78, former liareb?ck rider and ringmistress of the Wirth Family riding act, died it her home in Kew Gardens HiUs, ^£ -1., Maycli 30. Born in Australia, she was the j-nfihter of John WirOi, founder 'of the Wlrtb Vnsos. Ciccuf. Uorgest 'and one of the oldest big-top out- fit* in that country. Following a circus tradittmi her husbindi. «he late John MMtf^ took the m*h family ^ 1907. MM. Wteth mOk her debut with , the areat «t th« ««» of 18. wd ap- peared in » v«ri«^ of actf befiac* winning fiuho as » bareback xider. Her two diintfht«n» Unf and SteUa. and 'her tm warn, PliiUp «ad I-rank, tollcmS the. «une caxeer. Alter 25 ye*Pi ' Jean nUfiftt Dtwnnis, 71, o « etim> Bextts court ^rganisi;. «M UEaKfc 2T jAMs hwMi in Httjc- vtllllfc.,. !>■ adLiHiMl. tarMt •w^.la. vm. mmms^ iMtad «F WB IShta-. trei wmmt, dtepfiinent Im SPitt. mk. A m/Smna Itoivaw Siitzeiiiiiiil^i D'lvcBHis ' waii 'itlaldl , to " ^(itm$.: 'itn-wa*;: 'Ohf- i^m^' author:. A » of Hmk StNttsHct (GeniMMr> ConacnntWT of Hkmie, lM^jha«|l^d ymtkHm^e^Wm- cmBaMi, me Eciuwaihc Bairi^ ite abadn, Xnmile band and aeraral Httsburgh theatre orchestras. In the last few yeai«k lieeh a teacher of muslesi.' "Snibf median^ 3. For in shows m betweoK pearedr-M-«nin. derstudWI 4h» li eratic carem of many noted sing- ers. ■ , Survived by tWo brothers, Tadeusx Jarecki, music lecturer at Columbia Univ.. and Sigismond Jarecld, vioUnist, of London and Paris. MBS. LBiLT ■mmS WBRTZ ^ Mrs. Lilly Dom Hei-tz, widow of Dr. Alfred Hertz, conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Orches- tra i atut 'herself a concert singer, died in Guadalajaxa, Mexico, April 4. She came to titia oquntry in 1909 and »«jeare* at- tibe Hippodrome, K. 1L,.in "AfCdp ttfA^en." Later Khe twured Hke couatllif; rBMBU S. BeiSeABBS Scank S.. ICegaree^ 47, pno^ent ^Scraataa: Bnoadeastcsa, Inc., in fbat ciiar SCarch ao. His emm^ olierated staldon WGWi, SBBfentOK. ' . ' Jfe leasR* a wife and five chil- ■Hism-. , John Wiffiftm Da^> '7'>^ Mm of the Monte theatrei lianmuma, Iowa, died at his home iloilimit city, March 28. He had opilited the ^atre for 12 years. wmm. *M9Mi m-l survived by wife, two daughters, m. Wm IMk)^ Jfift' ^««» brothers and a sister. ih 'laid' idaa vBf IN MEMORIAM iWAURICE ABILUIMIIS i^«her day.''lii» mAJH^Ba tSm survive. FB4M@B OOVBLOai Francia XteuUier. fl», a i^Umeer in the motfanu picture industir wiw helped pjsodnce i^tetures that . starred Ifiny maOaak, Dotmlaa FatebanlQti €%Klea €faap]fn and others, Afiftil S at Engle- wood,'Ni Jl Bom in I^on, France, be cane to this eountxy in 1901. He had alreac^ gained lecocuition Iqf hie - fihning: of the coninatiim of Our f iKicholas 2d in IHMI in Buaaia. He . became aaaadated with the Bdair, Faxagan and rarliograi^ .stndiaa wlitieh WQtr tiien pirodiwint fOaw in fort Lee, N. J. Vtr W«a XDmet . ^ he became acquaiikted iKdOi tiie stun of the silmt fUm dayau . Doublier was actlm in.tite pa»> fection of titepnoeaa of proje etl— of tUm. on to screen; having liei among the first perMn»to see pie- , turn projected on a idiite wiilL Xhis was in France in 1899 «n ttw eccasina of iMmta liimiml* ea^ perimentiti:tt« eiaiariie tte Ckimd CafeinParls^ He wtuAed i«i&lC Lumiere on fbe- develt^menir st the Lupieie camiira, tii^ kmx|ni as the "cinenudngraphis," ~ At tils death was vit^pccsir dent of Major FUyu lotheiaiktiHieai. Inc., of New. Yortt He Was a charter meutbeir of Bietaie Pioneers, Ite;, WMt^aimMiated with the Society of MoGhMt I^tcture En- gineers and belonged to the Fort Lee Lions Club. He leaves his wife and thxee sons. ScKviees wiBl ^ h*td today («ieA> at 19c9t ajn. at Riverside jffanBarial Cb^^ K. T. Inter meat wis beaA IR. aSnnt CemctKy, 1!» Z, - MAX MARGIN Tvr??^ ^S?'^.""' playwright, died March 30 in Tucson. Ariz., where ne flad been under treatment off and on for more than a year. His fj?'^^ ^^Ue Island, Conn. w, ^v'^ttngs he had speciaUzed in crime melodramas, of which be "ad contributed many to stage, screen and radio. ^.f .T'? \ P°''a'»itts- burgh iadie cixicuit .e*hib, died at his hanis.1ftjEnt' 'liMCidt 22t David Marks, 50, vaude agent, died at Guy's hospital. London, after pcatracted iHiMss. Survived by widow si»- cles to "one big- uniten" still esdat, it appears that they may no longer carry- as- much weight under the new.-conditions. Fw instance, one of Uie prime 'bbcllB to consolida- tion has alwajrs tieen a igEOUp. in Equity which baa; istubbamly op- posed closer xaSaa with- the otier afiiHates, partly liecauae tiie £egit. union has a large.^ treasuiy and because some of its veteran tiBe^ cials feel it has jurisdictional seniority. Dulizell'a lumdafMn ' ~ Recently, in response to an proach from the AFB^ - national- board for a meeting to diseuss' some sort of monger of the two unions, Paul DulbeU, Soltys vetr eran executive-secretary, wrote m blunt turndown l^er stating, that the legit outfit watrn't "interested" in the matter. However, that attt" tude is now subject to drastic re-, .vision and a sizaUe group in the^ Equity council is known to be de- termined to bring about a closer tie of all 4A's unions. Although jurisdiction over tele- vision is claimed by all 4A's affir liates and a joint ''authority" Has- been created to administer it, re- cent develcipmenlB have given AFRA an edge in the field, - Wtat. one thing, it mow appears that video. will become an adiMtrtisiiii^ medium, along the lines of rafflio, rather than like films or legit. Also, while botih films and legit are< thus far an ukteg:cal part- of tele entertainmen1?i most production is by compante in the radio field, and conditions o£ paid on tlie basis of annual eamii^'as is done in AFRA and SAG. Thus, dues would not be Ineceaaed. for the small earners in. the -industry, while ■ top^nlibdedi peciiMiners would earry tlke^lNMbt^-flfeince. Army ti Ccntlnuetfi tied to the cvmmt'mi^ im in :Sunq>e. Among tiiost iMBfiHMMen who have either afaKtttr ■ eenaiitted themselves, to t the fare for the tours, m b«itc«Hlng is expected to be cl*Midr>ttti»ugh the iaami^n Music CSontee; . Army's complMte. program is to send 12. groups.4busiac;tiie'lb»t six months of the pUn. Army olHcials, however, -are hniatingijhM: only top personalities be' . cgsuMcieA since they're out to.iitimsa the Ger- mans witit ibeqnall^ o£ Att^can entertiuttmeat.'Wid .eeMaeei Program |» ertwiated ta over- come ptmiaileeii ItaL pMpaganda that Amedea; is a nation of money- graM[iecs -wiSmut iattiUgeoce or cui^ture. Amqr braiatmstera think it wUl prove that there's Mtatething iclse in the world besides 1%atoniG culture; . Previously, Amedcan artists have gone across at the regiiieid;'«f the Army but only for spe«ild.'afervices to the armed forcexr ICtauliin, however, last faU gave ft Sag per- formances for the Geianan. -public with terrific success,. j^- MARRlMaSS Janet Waldo to Bb^tert Lee, Hollywood, March 30.. Siie's radio's Corliss Archer; he's a radio writei> director. Sunnie O'Dea to Ciua'les^Stoont> New York, March 31» finide's tbt- stage and screen dancer. Myrtie Kay Badow to' W. J, Cammer, Dallas, March 28. He's manager of the Screen Guild ex- change there. Maiy Hendricksoii; to . Walter Gooc^, Chicago, March 30. Bride is skater in "lee-Capadai"; ■ he's manager of the icer, currently at Chi arena. Eileen Quinan to BoI>ert McGar- ray, Chicago, AprU .3. -Bride ii auditor at Mutual Entertainment Agency, Inc. Phyllis Coates to Richard Bare, Las Vegas, MSarch 28. ■ Bride's a screen actress; he's a director. Patti AUcoate to Joim J. Bergen,' Jr., New York, April 1. Bride is daughter of Jack W. AUcoate and staffer on latter's Film Daily. Jasmine Krimian to Russell Forrest, Hollywood^ AprU 5. She's a film flack; he's a studio set de- signer. • Betty Brady to John T. Bourke, Las Vegas, April 4: Bride is a Republic flack; he's location man- ager for same studio. Helene Ambrose to Walter N. Greaza, New York, AprU 3. Bride is former stock 'and legit actress; he's irtage, screen,. Ka(S.o md former im.-vtfi!c mt '^IStpiity, Wtrikm^ :'i>m^ ?« ton GiMMiMf MONTE PROSER'S NiW YORK Advisory Counf«L MORREY DAVIDSON Direction] OlVi TO CONQUER CANCIR Amcriean Cane«r Sod«ty HhHi^ STANFORD ZUCKi r«sM«nf , INTIRNATIONAL ARTISTS CORPORATION 420 Modisen Avcnu*. N«w Yoric 17. N« Y. , LONDON ♦ lecasts Don't Hurt Garden B.O.; $368,000 Advance Sale Although there was a difference of opinion at Madison Square Gar- den o\rer whether television would affect attendance to the Rlngling, Bamum ,& Bailey circus this sea- son, the advance sale amotrnted to $368,000, around $60*000 more than last yealp's pre-opieulng business. Premier performance was telecast last Wednesday (7), throughout When the show ran until midnight. Advance sale is esi^soially heavy on weekends over the 33-day engage- ment. , It's -already indicated that the weekend demand is forcing patron- age to earlier days in the week. Circus was televised for a second time Sunday (XI) afternoon by CBS and there are to be three more_ such showings, arranged for by the Garden management, next telecast being next Sunday mati- «fe „(i8). Shere ase approximately 190,000. television. receiving s«ts in (C otttinuedt on p tt NIGHTCLUB TESTS YOUNGSTER MATINEES , The Harem, N, Y., is apparently Promoting trade for the future, vafe is holding a matinee show for juves Saturday (17) for youngsters Who can't affotd regular nitery prices. With Frankie Laine as the attraction, boniface Nat Harris has «p an extra show to Include m> Bea Wain- Andre Baruch disk iw / which will be broad- *® Harem stage during the matinee. ^he youngsters are getting in on a no-cover-no-minlmum basis. Club probably sett lotsa milk and Gillette's Giddyappers Horse-racing's triple crown, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness • and Belmont Stalces, will be aired over CBS',' radio television outlet with Gillette picking up the tab. It'll be the first time the three events have been .aired on the network under a single sponsor. • Kentucky Derby, running May 1, will be filmed at Churchill Downs, Kentucky, for telecasting within 24 hours. The Preakness, from Pimlico, Md., May 15, and the" Belmont Stakes, from Belmont, 3^, y., June 12, will be telecast from' track-Side. Top Stars Set Fw Gotham Swiipl^ot Hollywood, April 13. With a ilock of Coast-originating stars Jieading toward New York (Bing Crosby, Edgar Bergen, Al Jolson. and Jack Benny are all slated' for Gotham appoaraneos), the cuffo guestar exchange moves into high gear in the coming weeks. Fred Allen has Bing Crosby set for a guestshot on his Sun- day night NBC show, and Allen, in turn, will show up at the ABC Studios in New York to help the Groaner cut a platter for Philco, , The blowoff, however, will come in early June, with Allen and Benny winding up • their season's run with a couple of swap shots On the same night. Crosby, incidentally, has re- stricted his New York studio audi- ences in the past to wounded serv- ice men. This time up he's ex- pected to let the general public get looksee on the platter routine. 10 EOUITyiTES With the increase in community theatre activity in various parts of the U. S. last season and this, a new field of employment is open- ing for Broadway actors, particu- larly secondary , names. There are six such groups at present, and a number more are planning for this summer and next fall. Actors Equity Assn., which frowned «n such outfits in the past, has moderated its attitude re- cently, and appears likely to re- vise its policy officially before long. Clarence Derwent, the union's president, has been study- ing the situation and has expressed the intention of recommending a policy change to the council. The belief is that, with actor employ- ment steadily shriuldng on Broad- way' and Broadway-booked tours, the community theatre field may offer the possibility for a genuine resurgence of legit on a national basis, with the greatest amount of Continued on page 52) Joan Blondell Joins Berle'sVaudeTronpe Chicago, April 13. Film actress Joan Blondell has been signed to appear with the Milton Berle unit which Will play the Oriental theatre, Chicago, fpr two weeks starting May 6 at $15,000, plus percentages. It's the first vaude appearance for Miss Blondell, wife of legit producer Mike Todd. Under terms of the Berle deal he's to pay four supporting acts. Miss Blonde;|l's slice under the deal hasn't been disclosed. Film actress will join Berle at the Pittsburgh Gardens, May 30, in a show with Sammy Kaye. This layout will play three other dates before hitting Chicago. Berle is also set to play the Hip- podrome, Baltiniore, for week of May 27. Other dates are being Sined'up. ■■■■ Capra Sees Pix-In-Your-Own-Home Setup on a Television Fee Basis Jessel as WW Snb Hollywood, April 13. George Jessel Ijas been pver- tured as Walter Winchell's summer standby and is all for it. Robert Orr, agency on the Jergens account, and WW are also agreeable, so it looks pretty well in. Summer semestet would Orig- inate from the Coast. Television Prods Script Licensing Impelled largely by the current boom in television, the Authors League of America and its various affiliate Guilds are trying to speed up their drive to establish a system of licensing of written material in all fields of show business. The League's licensing committee will meet today (Wed.) on. the ques- tion, and the same organization's council will probably consider tlie matter at its next meeting, a week hehce, April 21. Also, the Dramatists Guild will shortly approach the League of (Continued on page 55) - KAY THOMPSON'S FANCY 106 TAKE, 1ST NX WEEK Kay Thompson and the Williams Bros., in the first week of their New York preem at Le Directoire, clialked up the second highest salary ever drawn from a N. Y. night club. With the spot's $29,000 gross, the turn hit a shade less than $10,000 under the terms of a deal calling for a $7,000 guarantee plus one-third the gross between (Continued on page 14) Tops of the Tops "Manana" Ketail Disk Seller Retail Sheet Music Seller "Now Is Tlie.Hour" "Most Requested" Disk "Manana" Seller on Coin Machines "Now Is The Hour" Britisii Best SeUer "Tree in Meadow" See Geo. Hefler As 1 Big Union' Head George Heller, executive-secre- tary of the American Federation of Badio Artists, may become execu- tive head 'of the "one big union" of performers, if and- when the ex- pected consolidation of the Asso- ciated Actors & Artistes of Amer-' ica takes place. Paul Dullzell, veteran executive- secretary of Actors Equity Assn., has a big seniority edge for 'iiie post of exec-sec of the prospective "one big union," but he is believed not interested in such a move. Not only is he not in the best of health and therefore not as active in Equity affairs as formerly, but he is regarded as relatively - unsym- pathetic to the over-all union idea. It's figured possible that he might retain his present largely-honorary title of 4A's president. Heller, who now has the dual jobs of national and New York local exec-secretaryships of AFRA, (Continued on page S5) Television may become 'the jnuch sought-after means of attracting the nation's 55,000,000 non«habitual filmgoers to See pictures, In the opinion of producer-director Frank Capra. He also envisions'' tele becoming extremely -useful to a producer or director ife^ing a film. ■ , Capra pointed out that he some- times worked with 10 or...l'^ dif- ferent cameras on.o^e Spectacle scene. "While I kndW "What each camera is supposed' to be filming," he said, "I don't actWlly know what, film it has taken -until I see the rushes." By placing tele cam- eras in the different positions first and then watching each sljot on a master control panel, it will be possible to determine in. advance if the cameras, are placed correctly. Film cameras can then be substi* tuted, with the resultant ^ pre-de- termination efflectiiig a consider- able savings of time and -money. As for the possibility of. tele ex- panding the film audience, Capra (Continued on page ]^i>)t ' Scfibners to lissoori WaM tide Forster Music Publisher,;*, Inc. and 20th Century-Pox Film Corp. have successfully enforced' THE MIL W A U K S E J O U n N ,\ t, . February 29, 1948 ^ • University Women Listen to Radio and Don Y Like It Journal Special Corresponilence Oconomowoc, Wis. — The local chapter of the Amer- ican Association of Univer- sity Women has tried radio and found it wanting. The chapter's two week radio survey ends officially Monday, but preliminary reports from 40 listening AAUW members find: Soap operas— "Too de- pressing. Nerve wrack- ing. Not true to life." Commercials — "Unin- teresting. Have no sales appeal." Comedians — "Poor. Jokes are routine. Each week Baony insults Allen and vice versa, Benny's violin is mentioned, Hope's nose and girl friends are supposed to be funny." , . Phil Spita}ny's,.i)?«gi?,am saved the day for The listeners found it "relaking, good music, entertaining." They decided the program's commercials were" "digni- fied." Mrs, Harold Hamley, in charge of the survey, said the compiled results would be sent, to the federal com- munications commission in WashingtOHj D. C. Thr^e MEwaukee > stations were monitored. mm PICTURES Wed nesday, April 14^ I94 iu NewN.T.<>iiisorialBiHYs.Pix-Le^ Introduced Despite Big Opposition The Cunningham bill threaten- ing extension of film and legit cen- sorship in New York City was in- troduced yesterday (Tues.) in City Council. The action of Councilman Edwdrd A. Cunningham caught tlteatre men ofif balance, as the Bronx Democrat had indicated he had decided not to present the, mudi-criticized measure. Previous- ly, Benjamin Fielding, License Commissioner, whose, censofsliip powers would be increased by the bill, had expressed opposition to it und had warned agaiiost any such threats to "our liberties in times likC' these**' With news of the introduction of the. Cunningham measure, a meeting of representatives of more than a dozen theatrical craft organ- izations was announced for to- morrow .afternoon (Thurs.) at the Algoncitiin hoti^t, N. Y., to plan op- position. Invitations wer« sent by the new anti*suppression group. Stop Censorship, to Actors Equity, APKA, Screen Actors Guild, the Authors League, Motion Picture Assn. of America, League of N. Y. Orheatres, stagehands,, musicians, agents and managers, scene design- ers, unions and various other such organizations. ■The Stop Censorship group has tentatively scheduled a protest mass meeting next Tuesday night (20) it -the Imperial theatre, N. Y. A sfmiiar meeting, originally slated for last night, was called off after Cunningham was reported to have assured vatious theatrical repre- sentatives that he would not press the censorship measure over the opposition of Commissioner Field- ing. One of those to whom the C6uh(^lman made the statement was James F. Reilly, of the League of TJ. Y. Theatres. N<* actian on 'Gimninghams bill wiJl be taken by the City Council for at least- two weeks. It's been referred to the Committee on Gen- eral Welfare, where it'll toost until the Council xeassemblea April 27. puMic hearing^ may be held, de- pending on the Committee's action. Proposal would require inspec- tors of the Ucense Dept. to re- port on the character of theata- cal and film performances in addi- tion to advertising, matter, fiospec- tors are to report "any offense against morality, decency or pubhc welfare committed at such per- . formances." In answer, Commish declared that existing laws gave his department and the five Dis- trict Attorneys ample powers to prevent indecent performances. * Major film companies chipped to urtth a wire sent to city officials by Charles Schlaif er, 20th-Fox ad-pub .chief, as chairman of ttie Advertis- ' Ing Advisory Council of the .Motion Picture Assn. of America. All Arts Committee to Stop Censorship has slated a protest meet. Other op- posing fdrce$ are Actors Equity, league of New Yoi% llheatres, M- ilesendent Theatre Owners Assn., . HettQpotttan Motion Picture Thea- tre Owners' of New York and vari- ous stage and film imions. Cunningham, apparently, has been moved to act because of the title "The Respectful Prostitute" In the Jean-Paul Sartre play now running, on Broadway. uvERrsuBESurroN FED. COURT C^DAR Los Angeles, April 13. Writer Emmet Lavery's $800,000 libel and slander suit against the American Broadcasting Co., Town Hall, Inc., and Mrs. . Leila Sogers was placed on thfe Federal court calendar and assigned to Judge Ben Harrison. Suit was originally filed in L. A. superior court but transferred at the request of ABC, Action is the result of statements about communistic activities in Hollywood, made on a Town Meet ing air program. ~^ Rank-Bing Golf-Talking Possible 1-Picture Deal Bing Crosby and J. Arthur Rank, ace British filmmaker, will w<>rk out plans for the Groaner'Sr pro- jected film stint in England white making the rounds of the Green- brier golf course at White Sulpti^ Springs, Va. Rank heads for Greep- brier today (Wed.) as a .guest of Robert R. Young and Crosby wUI join him there to play golf and talk production. Understood that Crosby would like to play the lead in a filmiza- tion of the musical legit hit "Brig- adoon" and that Rank has already sent out feelers as to the price tag for film rights. WhUe no deal has been closed, i£ the price is right Rank will go for it Crosby is com- mitted to a one-pic" deal. With Young hosting, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Max (Simon &) Schuster will also be in the party at Greenbrier with Rank. ERROL FLYNN TAUONG M INDIE DEAL VIAE Hollywood, April 13. Errol Flynn is current)^: talking production deal with Arthur Krim. Eagle -Lion prexy, which wotild bring him to the EL lot on a one-picture-per-year pact for the next four years. Flynn is seeldng an arrangement under wliich he would become co-producer of the films liesides taldng the lead. He and undisclosed partners would form an indie production outfit and deUver the package to EL with all parties sharing finanidag. . Actor now has a ticket to make one picture yearly for Warner Bros, with freedom to pickup other commitments. 303irtl WEEK! KEN MURRAY'S "BLACKOUTS OF 1948" El Capitan Theatre, Hollywood, C«l. Now Playingr Nationally "BILL AND COO" Speeial Aeadomy Award Winner . ttt'ttin M l l ining A ThambDOse Sketch: Jack Norworthl Ward, 'Oar W Antlwr, Gets Guggenlidin Fettaw To enable him to write a play about the life of Jolm Brown, Theodore Ward, author of "Our LanV a larestige success of last year, has been awarded a fellow- i^p by the Guggenheim Founda- tion. Total of 112 f eUowsliip& are awarded, involving grants of $300,- 000, in the 24th annual series &om the $29,000,000 endowment. Other fellowships are awarded to Francis Lee, of New York, and John Hales Whitney, of Hollywood, to carry out experimental work in the field of motion pictures. Others, to assist them in the writing of I novels, are granted James Powers, ] Marguerite Wood, Saul BeUow, Elizabeth H a r d w i c k, William Woods, Jean Stafford,' and ex-actor Sam Byrd. Eric Bentley gets a fellowship to do a book on the nature of dra- matic art; Mark Schorer, for a book on the ' techniques o^ fiction; Charles John Olson, for creative writing in the field of narrative; Edwin Denby, New York dance critic, for a comparative study -on the ballet in Europe and the S. Also the foUowins composers get fellowships tor' write musio: Leon Kinchnor^ Herbert Owen ReeT, Romeo Cascarino, iticolai T. Berezowsky and Hubert Weldon Lamb. John Erskine Hankins re- ceives a fellowship to prepare a book on background of Shake- speare's philosophy, and awards for tlie writing of boolss about mur sical subjects go to Stephen David- son Tuttle, Otto John Gombosi, Erich Hertzmann and Bertrand Harris Bronson. Among the artists receiving grants is Eugene Ber- man, Coast painter and scene de- signer. James A. Fitzsimmons, of Los Angeles, gets a feUowsIiip for experiments in color .photography Upward in Mardi Led by films which hit tlie up- grade following settlement of the British tax question, amusement stf>ck during March rallied for the first time in many montlis with the total market value gaining $117,- 264,301 for a rise of close to 20%. Value of all entertainment stoclcs listed on tlie New York Stock Ex- change—it includes' film, radio and record conceras^were up to $714,- 84Q.984 on March 31. Absolute low was hit in February when entertainment stocks totalled $597,!>76,683f while January's total was somewhat better with evalua tion of $634,094,424. Average price of amusemeQt shares wound up at $17.29 at the end of March compar- ing with an average of^$14>59 on Feb. 28 and $lSi,4T On Jan. 31. Peak postwar high on the Idg board came in 1046 when stocks lilt an unprecedented figure of $92&r 813,983. WhUe films took a fiBp from the tax settlement, amuse- ment shares followed the general trend and rallied along with in- dustrials and utilities in the overall bull market which marked March. Price quotes on total amusement bond issues on the exchange slid a shade during March. Value came to $6,568,789 or an average of $91.50 per bond on March 31 against $fi,640;575 total and $92.50 per bond for the dose of February. Bob Rubin Due Back Metro veepQe J. Robert Rubin returns to the homeoffice from the Coast next Wednesday ^21), after two weelcs' huddles with .studio execs on various production mat" ters. Rubin reportedly had no special business, to consummate on the Coast. He spent a three-weeks va- cation in Arizona and decided to gft on to the studio before return- ing to New York since it was such a stiort jaunt. O^Brien Finn's New Pards Two new partners have been named to O'Brien, DriscoU, Raftery & Lawler, law firm w.k. in show business. Added members, both previously associated with the firm for a considerable period, ai-e George Rafteiy. and Milton Rosen bloom. Their new status will take elTect May 1. Raftery is a brother of Edward C. Rafteiy and has been active rep- ping United Artists in anti-trust actions. Rosenbloom is an expert in the field of copyright law in wliich he'd fronted for music put>- lishing firm& ED LASKER DICKERING LONDON PIC VIA KORDA Edward tiasker* son of Albert Lasker, phUantliropist and former president of Lord & Thomas, is negotiating a desd. for production of a film in England, possibly in partnership with Sir Alexander Korda. Lasker is to put up $375,^ 000, giving him a half-interest in the film. He's' to be partnered on thd American end with Peter Cusacki who's also interested in production of a George Sands biog with Greta Garbo in England; Lasker's finan- cial, contribution represents $17S,- 000' for preparation of the screen- play, "Bridal Night," which . he owns, and paypient in dollars to Melvyn Douglas. Latter will be starred, according to present plans. Sharing in U. S. income will be Milton H. Bren, with whom there is a tentative deal as producer. ^♦♦♦♦♦♦f ♦ ♦♦♦♦ By JOE LAURIE, Jlf***M«MMM»44.| Jack Norworth was born without any adequate protest in Philadrf phia about the tmie Ben Franklin was flying his kite but th»f i ,r sure. The Liberty Bell aim comes ftom there, that's cracked ton left school by request (it was said the teacher brought him anni„.? Spent two years on a training ship and four years on the km^nZl Line as quartermaster,' then made a mistake and became an actor- h- first job on the stsage was doing a. blackface monolog between thk ..i^ of "The TwoOrphaia" at Camden. J. (Cwndea hasn't fully recovcMd yet.) Be was promised $12 a week, received $6 . . . for which the mrt agement is stiU suhig hha. After one year in vaudevlUe he took oTl melodrama on one-nighters called "CalifpmisL" , . , he did not hrSil ^1 vaudeyilte. then his first Broadway show with TeS • Fields, "About Town.'*- Got eodty with his success and wrote his first song, "Holdinc HmdQ". - not so hot but got real hot with his next one, "Honey Boy " which cnw 2,000,000 copies with Which money he used to play four-horse narla™ He got Racing Form eyes and went back to vaudeville in a "Coiw Boy" monolog. Wrote "Take' Me Out to the Ball Game" which him enough fame and fortune to double up with Nora Bayes Wroth "Shtae On Harvest Moon" while in the subway one night and'nlawS weeks. Bayes & Norworth had their own show, "Little Miss Fix It" They then joined Weber & Fields at their 44th Street Music Hall Weber & Fields split, so did Bayes & Norworth. Jack went back to split weeks in yaudcvillet went abroad and got caught hi LoncJnn Am ing the fittt World War but liked It (London, not toe war) so stawd there for three years, . Some of the Germans must have seen his act because they dropped bombs oh the theatre. He returned home in 1917 Norworth now had a gotdheaded cane, \xtm derby, striped pants and a monocle, so decided to build, his own theatre (now the Belmont) and produced his own intimate revue, "Odds and Ends of 1917." Sold the theatre at a loss but still had vaudeville to go back to. Bought "Mv Lady Friends" and toured in it for a year. Played five summers in stock at the Ohio theatre in Cleveland. Wrote "Honeymoon House" with Herbert Hall Winslow, played six months in Chicago, but got too old for the part before he could bring it to New York. He played in a show called "On Location" — ^in a week it went Off Locatioh. He managed to keep busy writtng songs, making shorts for Warner Bros, with Mrs. Dorothy Adelphi Norworth and played four straight years in vaudeville with her in a sketch called "The Naggers." He went on the radio for General Electric in "Melody Master," followed it wiOi a sustainer called "Father and Son." Ho also wrote the (irumit & Sanderson scripts for two years, then got a break in a swell part in a swell show, "The Fabulous Invalid," but when that show closed there was no vaudeville to go back to. So he took up pool playing. He just had time to chalk his cue when he got the job as Assistant to. Pa». seager Traffic Manager of the Columbia Staeamsliip Line. He iuid charge of pictures, orchestras and cruise directors. He could sigft all his bar checks and the company paid his Hps, The company fold«l tip; the bar checks were too big. All this time he liad.a hobby of collecting miniatures (liis first salary gave him this idea). ' He had over 50,000 items and opened up a store the store closed. The call came from Hollywood in ' 1942 for him to write an original stofy for "Shine. On Harvest Moon." He put in 10 wedis and theg didn't use a syllable, but instead Warners made a bit . picture out of it. He expects to res^ them his version under the name of "Smarty, Smarty, Smarfer." 'So Back on fXampacne Bottle He thought he would try another end of show business, so went to Jersey and played in Bustonoby's Cabaret. He fired himself after three nights when he saw a customer order champagne who wanted 5e back on the bottle. It was in 1942 that he also played a small part in a picture, "Virginia"; he can prove it by his pay check. He and his wife then played the Hospital Chxuit ia "You Cant Take It With You." also doing specialties for the wounded. He toured all the camps and lived on peanut butter crackers and apples. At the end of the trip b.e was ready to eat a good meal but his stomach got out of the hubit. Decided to take his wife, ndtaiature collection and bad stomach to Cali- fornia. He now has a corldng miniature shop in Laguna Beach where he is enjoyihg plenty of rest. No customers. He fills in time between customers by playing in a picture now and then when he likes the part, entertains ttie hospitalized service men, and uses up gas visiting bis shoW:..'!^. friends.," This guy Jack Norworth you see has gotten into more thbigs than a leaf of lettuce in a drive-in. Be has a great sense of humor; a banana peel all by itself will maKe him laugh. Be chews tobacco, a deUghtful habit if one is accurate. Never takes oft his hat although he has a beautiful crop of white hair Uiis own) and nice white teeth (also paid for). He was a champion day .pigeon shooter but of late years has run out of i)ullets. He has had his triumphs and has enjoyed a fair measure of ill success. He is ft swell actor, a gireat songwriter, a good friend and a great show in Coney Island. He had everything, but a miniature salami, so guy. OuMde of that he basat one redeeming vice! Rapp Believed 1st " Lobbyist for Pic. Co. Washington, April 13. Leslie M. Rapp, of Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett, attorneys for Paramount, filed a registration with the clerk of the Senate under the Federal lobbyist act stating he represents the film company on legislative matters. It's believed Rapp is the first rep of a motion picture company to file under the act. Other industry figures who pre- viously have registered include Herman Levy, general counsel of the Theatre Owners of America; Abram F. MyersI general counsel of Allied States Assn., and Louis- G. Caldwell, gemral. counsel of the Clear Cliqnnel Broadcasters. - Honse Ways Grpiip Studies Results of Tax Hearings Washington, April 13. House Ways and Means Commit- tee, where the Federal taxes orig- inate, is currently slutting the results of the past year's hearings on streamlining the entire .Federal tax structure and also reducing various excises. Most likely change in excises, according to committee members, is the elimination of the 20%' admissions tax on counti^ fair frontrgate ticlcets. Tliis would not cliange the 20% bite on amusement concessions at the ttSax. Reduction of the 20% on theatre admissions atad nitery tabs is also under consideration. However, the committee finds itself under equal pressure to reduce the high war- time tax rates on such things as alarm clocks, communications, transportation and a scoi-e of other items. ' It is not considered likely tliat much will be done toward reduc- tion of these other items, aside from communicatioi^ and trans- portation, wldch may be aided. However, in an effort to convince the public it is-, getting a break, the committee is considering changing a lot of consumer excises to man- ufacturer excises. This would actu- ally tend to increase- prices to "the consumer, but the tax would be bidden^ mm mm mm 10 SETTLE TAX CLAl George M. Cohan's estate and Federal tax officials are in process of worldng out a settlement on a U. S. tax claim stemming from Cohan's profit-sharing arrangement with Warner Bros- on "Yankee Doodle Dandy." Similar to other show biz hassles with the Govern- ment, Cohan's estate contends that any income derived from the deal is a capital gain while tax officials claim it's current income. Cohan's pact with WB gave him 10% of the profits on his fibn biog which was completed in June, 1942, six months before his death. Pic's total gross is estimated at $6,000,0OO-$7,00O,000, with a net of about $3,500,000, the bulk of which was earned in the year of Cohan s death. Madeleine CarroU Cited For Red Cross Work Chicago, April 13. Actf ess Madelehie GarroU will receive the 1948 American Broth- erhood Arts Citation for outstand- ing contribution to better human relations and welfare. Award, to be made by the National ContCT- ence of Christians and Jews, wm be presented to Miss CairoU May 18 herci. Wdi»««br* April 14, X»i8 IPICTIJIIBS EMS' B.O. PITCH FOR 'OVER 35'S' &ePars$llJO,()(IO Stock Reserves ildmed to Buy-Ont Theatre Pards Terrific accumulation, by Para- mount of Its own stock, already tilting the scale at $11,500,000, demonstrates company's detemi- hation to hold on to its theatres re- eardless of the partial divorcement Srovision of the anti-trust ^decree. Par is pushing its buying program at a steady, high pace with 25.400 shares picked up on'thp New York ■■ Stock Exchange during last month. ■ Most, if not all of this stock,, is in- tended to protect the company ' aaainst large losses in theatre hold- ing when and if the U. S. Supreme • Court upholds the loWer court.. - BypUinjf the $11,800,000 out of ■ surplus funds and continuing its stock buys, Par has already placed itself in a- position in which it's able to make deals with its part- ners on a scale involving circuits rather than individual theatres. If the court decision, expected within the next couple of months, goes against it. Par can dangle blocks . , of stock before its pards without ' being slowed by the 'necessity of ^' ■negotiating financing. Part of the surplus monies comes from record profits gained in the nast two years. Anther part, it's - reported, is derived from a liqui- dation of its brick-and-mortar holdings to private investors with the company taking back longterm leases which insure continued op- eration of the theatres. More Willing to. Sell Than Not Company expects its partners to . be willing to sell their interests in . more cases than not. In an early neport to the Federal statutory (Continued on page 19) Chemical-Contineiital jerSeenAs Favoring Film Financing Increased source of coin for film industry financing , is seen in the pending takeover by the Chemical Bank & Trust Co., N. Y., of the Continental Bank & Trust. Edwin Van Pelt, Continental v.p. in charge of illm loans, reportedly would take over th« same task for the combined Chemical - Continental ■^unit.'\ Continental, : compared to It^ telatively small capitalization, has been, under Van Pelt's .aegis, an important source of loans to both studios and indie producers. It has specialized in financing the smaller companies, such as Republic and Film Classics, and low-budgM indie filmmakers. With the much greater capital resources, which would be avail- able to Wm if the consolidation wins final approval, it is expected that Van Pelt would expand be- yond the financing activities of both Continental and Chemical in the past. Chemical at various times has been active in making loans to major companies. It has several picture men on its board. Profitable Revenge Minneapolis, April 13. Because .peeved ab Minot, N. D., for installing parking meters and compelling him and other Westhope, N. D., residents to put a nickel in the slot for parking, Howard Henry is building a film the- atre in his home town of West- hope. Then he won't , have to visit Minot in order to° see any shows, ' Henry has ' announced that the theatre, part of a $2Q0,000 shopping center, represents his "revenge" against Minot. AIM FOR OLDER S Lawson Jolted In Trial Prelim M With Judge Washington, April 13. Defense counsel for John How- ard Lawson, screen writer under trial for contempt of Congress, re- ceived a jolt in the preliminary legal sparring, today (Tuesday) as the U. S. Court of Appeals denied a motion to disqualify Justice Ed- ward M. Curran as the presiding judge. Although the defense still has the right to bring the issue up to the U. S. Supreme Courfe, Hob- ert W. Kenny, Lawson's ■ chief counsel, said the case would roll tomorrow before Justice Curran with selection 01^ jurors. Bequest for Justice Curran to be removed was based on allega- tions of ' ''personal bias and preju- dice" resulting from the fact that, (Continued on page 20} With the British tax question now behind it, film industry is readying to piece together the next ibig puzzler how to win the "over 35's" to the nation's theatres. It's a problem which is gaining wide recognition as the top must for films with evidence from a num- ber of sources graphically proving that films' lure for patrons over 35 years old is alarmingly thin. Hence, heaviest concentration is expected by film biggies in the immediate' future on that question. Lopsided appeal, of films to the young is now be'ng pointed up by latest surveys, of the public. More- over, Eric Johnston, Motion Pic- ture Assn. of America's proxy, de- clared last week in Hollywood that his org will concentrate on build- ing up film attendance at home to supplement the bulwarking of foreign revenues. "All kinds of problems face us," Johnston expounded. "We now have to figure out how to get the older brackets into theatres, in view of recent surveys that show audiences are predominantly youthful." MPAA will tackle this question immediately, he added. Most startling revelation was made several weeks back when the study for fan mags, steered by Dr. Paut Lazarsfeld, disclosed that fully 80% of film revenue, domesti- cally, was derived from patrons (Continued on page 14) EAGLE LION GOES SLOW ON FOY SUCCESSOR Eagle Lion won't actively prowl for a new production veepee to re- place Bryan Foy, who stepped off the top rung last week to produce four ih^diiim-budgeters for the cpmpany. lfs been learned. Xf the wght man 4!omes along.^Hsomeono experienced in running a: studio with a heavy production schedule — t'h will go for him. Otherwise, out- nt will work along with Arthur K-rim, company prexy, handling the general production strategy plus A u and financing end, while Aubrey Schenck, his assistant, does the spadework. , Meanwhile, Krim is active nego- tiating for more outside indie pro- ducers with one chief limitation. ^"ot going to take on any more i^^y-^uaseters where the nut ranges between $100,000-$150,000. Com- "els it's taken on enough of i2!^.;5f?''¥*®^ productions. Krim nt»„ ^ ^^^^ down a number of ProposUotts for cheaiiies. Hi^hes Still^on Prowl for Pix Co. After Stymie on Atlas RKO Buy Pres. ' Truman's Encore Washington, April 13. President Truman apparent- ly likes- the reference to him in Metro's "State of the Union." After having iseen the film at a special D. C. preem Thursday (8) in company with other top Governmental dignitaries, he asked Carter Barron, Loew's exec here, for a. print to screen aboard his yacht Monday (12) night. Second screening wis for the benefit of lArs. Truman, who was unable to attend the preem. Metro Salesmen To Sell Industry AsWellAsFibns CP. Skouras' Fre-Trial Exam in Stockholders' Suits Vs. 20th and Execs Charles P. Skouras, head of Na- tional Theatres, will be examined before trial next Wed. (21) in the six consolidated stockholders' suits against 20th-Fox and its toppers. Skouras arrived in New York over the past weekend with his appear- ance in the action as the prime reason for his crosS:<;ontinent trek. Milton Pollack, attorney for the plaintiffs, will shoot the questions while former Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson appears for Skouras, Quizzing of Skouras is part of a string of examinations before trial. Already examined have been Otto E. Koegel, 20th's general counsel; Spyros Skouras, company prexy; William C. MiiChel, veepee, and Robert Lehman, director. Accord- ing to Pollack, other officers and directors will follow Skouras, Trial in N. Y. federal court is ex- pected to come up either late in the spring or early fall. Main ob- ject of suit is to declare void a deal whereby Skouras, F, H. (Rick) Ricketson, Jr., EUner C. Bhoden and Harold J. Fitzgerald, all NT execs, netted $6^850,000 through sale of NT stock to 20th. Com- plaint is also aiming to upset bonuses and stock options granted to Spyros and Charles Skouras over a period exceeding 10 years. Skouras will remain in New York for two weeks. NICK SCHENCK UP FROM FLA.TOMEETL.B.INN.Y. Miami Beach, April 13. Nicholas M. Schenck, Metro prez, heads for New Xwk Thursday (15) to be on hand to meet production chief Louis B. Mayer for confabs Monday (19). Mayer, making his first trip east since last November, will be ac- companied by studio publicity di- j^ector Howard Strlckling. Arthur Loew Plans Indie Production Arthur M. Loew, last remaining official of Loew's, Inc., to bear the name of the Marcus Loew dynasty which founded the organization, will leave his post ds prexy of Loew's International in the near future to embark on an indie film production venture. It's believed he will either join his brother, David, in turning out pictures on the Coast, or ally himself with Lazar Wechsler, head of Switzer- land's Praesens^ Films, in produc- tibn overseas. ■ ' The question of Loew's successor in the international company hasn't yet been decided on. It's ex- pected, though, that the Loew's di- rectorate will name Morton Spring, now first veepee, to the position. Date when Loew will leave the (Continued on page 19) Every young Metro salesman is now going to become a salesman for the industry to the public un- der a new Metro "executive train- ing course" plan. Idea calls for a certain number of salesmen to be trained at the home office every year in everything from company policy to public speaking, so that they'll be able to punch across the company's message to the public and exhibitors alike. In announcing the new step at a trade press luncheon yesterday (Tuesday) in New York, Metro sales veepee William F. Rodgers also announced that his company would seek to expand use of the sliding scale arrangement in sell ing films.- "It's an absolute (Continued on page 18) > Howard Hughes'is still .on an. in-, tensive prowl for control of . a major film company. While he's; stymied, for the time being, in his efforts to buy up Atlas Corp.'s con- trolling stock interests in RKO, there's still a fair chance of ne- gotiations being reopened. Hughes, himself, couldn't be reached fol- lowing the blowoff but sources close to him, including his attor- ney Loyd Wright, believe the col- lapse in negotiations may not be final. Wright, questioned on the point, cracked: "With Hughes, nothing is ever final." Other persons dose to him reacted similarly. Mean- while, announced end of Hughes- Floyd B. Odium talks immediately generated Hollywood reports that the former was seeking to buy into Columbia, Universal or Republic. On the Columbia front, there are some indications that Hughes is pitching for control. To spike rumors that he was interested in selling out, Harry Cohn, Col's prexy", has issued a statement de- claring: "My stock in (Columbia Pictures is not for sale; that Is, until I decide to sell it. There have been no negotiations between ^ Hughes and myself." Cohn holds (Continued, on^page' 16) PART TAX CUT GAIN TO BRITISH PUBLIC London, April 13. Certain managers have decided to allocate part of the entertain- ment taV reduction to the public, remainder being retained to guard against increased production- costs. This action was taken at a meeting April 9. Final revised seating prices like- ly will be determined at a session of London and provincial theatre managers this week. . . National Boxoffice Survey Storms Slough Biz in Some Keys— 'Naked,' 'Mama,' 'Sitting,' Cooper, 'Agreement' Top Coin-Getters Rains and high winds are cutting into grosses in numerous key cities covered by Variety this week. There is an offish tone in many other spots but r a i n y weather has been helpful in Frisco. Fact that many theatres are still on extended^run on product started Easter week also is. hurting. Leading the boxoffice procession currently is "Naked City" (U), with "Remember M^ma" (RKO) right behind for second money. "Sitting Pretty" (20th) is copping third place. These three leaders finished in that order last week, too. Ability to make fine to smash showings in virtually every city played pushed "Naked" over the top. It also is pacing Louisville and even good in fifth session in L.A. "Mama" was just over aver- age in LiA. in second stanza and fell back sharply in fifth frame at N. Y. Music Hall where getting bulk of its coin this week. Fourth slot goes to "Uncon- quered" (Par), Gary Cooper star- rer getting comparatively as big coin on current pop-scale dates as on first time round. "Gentleman's Agreement" (20th) ^ound up fifth, being on * spotty side especially where on extended-run; Others among the Top 12, in order of strength, are "Big Clock" (Par), "April Showers" (WB), "Saigon" (Par), "Mating of Millie" (Col), "3 Daring Daughters" (M-G), "Double Life" (U), and "Bride Goes Wild" (M-G). Heading run- ners-up is "Miracle of Bells" (RKO). "Winter Meeting" (WB), a new- comer, looks merely nice on first week in N. Y. "To the Victor" (WB) shapes very disappointing this week, with solid showing only in Washington. "Casbah" (U), which .is due in N. Y. shortl/, teed off with great session_j)r Boston. , "Old Los Angeles" (Rep) will be mild on L. A., preem. "Ft. Apache" (RKO), anoUier new entry, continues solid On second Chi week. "Song, of Heart" (Mono) is doing nicely in Frisco. "Bill and Coo" (Rep) looks over average in Baltimore. . "Mourning Becomes Electra" (RKO) is shaping solid in Boston and sock in Detroit. "Sign of Ram" (Col) looks fine in Denver. "Man of Evil" (UA), ' while very thin in N. Y., is doing okay in Chi. (Complete Boxoffice Heparts on Pages 1143 ) U.S. Will Withdraw Its Films If Magyars Start Fooling Around With Pix If the Hungarian government persists in its intention to "adapt" all American films playing there to "Hungarian ideas," as has been re- ported from overseas, the Motion Picture Export Assn. will with- draw immediately all U. S. product from that c^unti^. That's the answer of MPlSA of- ficials to newspaper reports that the Hungarian government would cut and add special subtitles to American films in order to convert thein to the "official" Hungarian line -of thinking. MPEA spokes- men declared they haven't yet re- (Continued on page 16) Trade Mark neeristored roUNDBD BY SIMB SILVERMAN Published Weekly by VABmty, Inc. Sid SUvetean, PrMldebt . 154 Weat 4Ctb St., Kew Tork 19, M. Y, HoIlywiMiil 28 ' 6311 Yucca Street Washlngioii 4 1292'Natldnat Press Building Chicago 1 S£0 No. Hlcbieratt At*. ■ %mamVrt!s.> ' n St, Martin's PK, TrafMlfar So, SUBSCRIPTION An;iual. . . .. .?10 Foreign til Singrle Copiea., ............. .26. Cents Vol. 170 ISO No. 6 INDEX Bills :.. 47 Chatter 54 Concert . i ...... ^ .. . 50 Film Reviews . . . . 8 ' House Reviews ............ 48 Inside Legit . , . . . . . . i . . . . 50 Inside Pictures. ......... 14 Inside Radio 30 Inside Television ........ 28 Joe Laurie, Jr. . ,~ 2 Legitimate 49 Literati , 53 Music , i . . . 37 New Acts .' 47 Night Cliib Reviews 46 Obituaries 95 Orchestras 37 Pictures ...... . . ..... ... 2 Pre-Production News . 9 Radio ... 21 Radio Reviews. 29 Records 39 Frank Scully 53 Television 26 Vaudeville ........ 4 .... . «' 44 (Publinhed in Houywottd by Dally Variety, ltd.) $16 a fear — tZty JTorolen - WcthMMtdhy, Ai»vil 14, 194a SA&PAtOddsonNegotiatkms; Contract Chances Held Unfavonible Hollywood, April 13. •* The Screen Actors Guild and the Assn. of Motion Picture pro- ducers are .at odds as to whether contract negotiations are still on Ijetween them. The Guild has notified members that negotiations ■were broken off after their last meeting 10 days ago, intimating that a strike vote would be taken later if the producers continued to oppose seven vital points. Charles Boren, speaking for AMPP, said , that "so far as the producers are concerned we have not broken off negotiations with SAG." With a reference to a pos- idble strike, SAG reported to members that the "Guild cannot «ttUce until the expiration- of our present interim contract Aug. 1. The board believes that strike meetings so far in advance are premature; that all Guild members should be informed and should re- iilize that the present situation does -not look fayorable for a new {contract" The report stated that the most vital contract proposals were to be taken up first, at the Guild's sug- Sestion, Since if the producers wouldn't negotiate an agreement »n tiiese, it would lie a waste of time to discuiss less important matters. The producers flatly le- jected seven of eight vital pro- posals; The report added, and they are as fallows: (1) restric- tions on reissues, to curb increas- ing unemployment caused by re- issues; {2} temporary stopgap ^use to preclude use in tele- vision of films made for theatre exhibition "until agreement is xvacfaed so that actors as well as producers may share in additional revenue from new medium (clause proiKised -is identical with tele- vision clause in producers' con- tract with musicians); (3) no loan- outs- without actors consent; (4) (Continued on page 19) Eddie Sherman To Front In Europe for Producers Hollywood, April 13. Agent Eddie Sherman heads for England April 29 to front for sev- eral indi* producers making ar- rangements to produce pix there with coin piled up in Britain. They expect to use the same method as the majors in getting their monies out by American release, Sherman will also spend time in Italy, HoUand, France and Belgium during lO^week trip. MayGetU.S.Pix hSovi^ Austria Strange-Bedfellows Borne, April "Earth," a semi-documentary film on Sicilian life, is being directed here by Luchino Vis- conii, legit director, and Com- munist scion of an aristocratic family (He's a duke). Film is being produced by Univex'salia, an outfit financed by the Vatican, Majors Slked H.O. Bui^ets $1,000,000 Via Letout of 500 Collariles in tl. m DEHANDS SHARE IN LOANOUT mis Hollywood, April 13. Demand for a share . in- loanout deals is one of the innovations in the new basic agreement being drawn -1^ by the Screen. Directors CSoild for presentation to the major producers. Old agreement, adopted in 1939, expired March 12, but will ctmtinne in effect until the new pact is signed. George Stevens is chairman of the Gtdld's contract negotiation committee, and . Charles Boren heads the committee for the studios. Possible House Upset On Lewis Bffl Stirs iD.C. Washington, April 13. Question of whethef the full House ' Judiciary Committee will upset its sul^committee on the Lewis bill is exciting considerable interest here. Rep. Earl C. Mich- ^er,. (R., Mich); chairman of the full committee, is reported iniavor o£ the bill and may seek to have the- committed send it to the Ifouse for action. ' The subcommittee last Wednes- day (7) voted to Icill the bill, for the second time. The vote was three-to-two to report it adversely to the full committee. Such an adverse report normalVtr kills a biO. Tlie X«wis .i»U, backed br the Allied States Assn. of Exhibitors, vouH require studios, instead of exhibitors, to deal with ASCAP on the performing rights fees for .soundtrack music. Theatre Owners of America and the producerti have been opposed. The first time the bill was un- favorably received by a four-to- one vote of the subcommittee. The change took place when one mem- ber agreed to oblige Rep. Xiarl Lewis (R,, O.), subcommittee chair- nmn, and nominal sponsor of the bill. Paris, April 8. Motion Picture Export Assn, negotiations with Sovexport (Rus- sian monopoly for distribution) in Austria have reached a point which might shortly clear the way for U. % products in the Russian mnes, American pictures are now ex- cluded in Lower Austria, parts of Upper Austria, Burgenland and five districts of Vienna. There were occasional exceptions lately, principally in provincial towns, Theatre owners, however hesitate to take risks of caushig Russian dissatisfaction. Today there is every reason to believe that both parties are eager to get together and settle their differences, much to the satisfaction of film fans m the Russian zones. The latest Russian proposal calls for a "Quota system." Despite the fact that the American Military Government cUngs to the June 1946, later-Allied control ag ment, stipulating that commercial activity shall not be hampered by the zoning system in Austria, the Russian proposal was not rejected and is being scrutinized very care- fully. Plans are being elaborated as to fix "film days" 'reciprocally, thus giving both sides an evm chance to place their prodiictaf^ U. S. In Riuoian SBone and Russian pictures in IT. S. zone. .Sovexport mentioned — besides the quota — a limit of titles and prints. MPEA asked for further details on these rather vague defi- nitions, but no satisfactory answer has been received so far. Proposed censorship might be the stumbling block. This was de- .manded by the Russian Military Government, Sovexport having nothing to do with this deUcate problem. Introduction of tids pro* cedure wpidd be . tantamotint to cancellation of the 1946 Inter- Allied agreement, eliminating any kind of censorship on works of art of Allied origin. The Hussian point of view is rather paradoxical as U. S. iUms, released here, are far less political (if at aU) than Rus- sians.' ■ Thoiuih English ^nd Kroidi filcns are not barred in Russian 'Ames, .political tension indicates that Buisr sians aim to propose similar eraidi- tionstothem. Ai^o Tax Peace SpureExpai^ Of Pnb-Ad Depts. -Expansion of major company ad- pub forces may be one of the earlier reactions to both the Anglo- American peace settlement and brightening prospects in general for films. Trend may be signaled by the step taken by Maurice Berg- man, Universal's eastern ad-pub chief. He's posted a request with U's top echelon for permission to expand the company's homeofflce forces and restore the staff of field exploiteersi it's been learned. Bergman made his pitch shortly before he . was hospitalized two weeks ago. U, last year, liquidated its field force of eight as a rcper' cussion of the sudden imposition Of the British tax. At the same, time, company took steps to whit- tle its h.o. personnel. Bergman's argument with U's toppers for the expansion was to the effect that films were now showing every sign of going up- grade and that the best way to build Impetus was by added fan- fare for forthcoming product. U's strong prqdjict coming up, led by "Naked Gily," vws also citfed by Bergman in favor of the move. With films generally showing strong boxof fice staying power, op« timistic view by many indwstry- ites is expected to take 'the form of moderate Increases in ad-pub forces. They've been generally down to a minimum at the h.o. and next to nothing in the field as a result . of last yearls jitters over foreign and domestic diffi- culties. Wayne Aslcs $100,000 . On *Red River* Pact Los Angeles, April 13. Suit for $100,000 was filed in' L. A. superior court by John Wayne against Monterey Produc- tions, Actor also asks m injunc- tion restraining the compdny from releasing the picture, "Red River," in which he starred. Wayne declares he has not been paid for his work in the film, which was made by Howard Hawkes for United Artists release. RydgetoDbtrib3 DOS Kx in Ansae Ben Henry's Bake-Out Ben Henry, Universal-Intema' tionai's rep in Great Britain, who just arrived in New York, heads for the Coast Friday (16) for a stay at Palm Springs. Joseph H. Seidelman, U'l's for- eign department chief, flies west April 25 to catch up with Henry and confer with studio execs, on production plans. Meet on New Fiifimciig For tk Wfll R(^ers San Various plans to finance the Will Rog^ Memorial hospital, Saranac Lake, N. Y., were discussed at a luncheon hosted Monday (12) by Radio City Music Hall's head, Gus Eyssell, in the theatre's studio apartment. No definite setup was formulated, and another meeting will be held next month. Tiie Sara- nac sanatorium is in need of funds. Those attending the luncheon in- cluded Barney Balaban, Len Gold- enson, Par.; Steward McDonald and Harold Bodner, Warners; Leopold Friedman, M-X3-M; Dan Michalove, 20th-Fox; John O'Connor, U; Abe Montague, Col. ; Major Leslie Thompson and Sen. J. Henry Wal- ters, RKO; Eddie Grahiger, Sl}ea circuit; Lewen Pizor, Philly exhib- itor, and Morton Thalhimer, Rich mond, Va., cxhib. HALO PK mffSMG Italian importations are running away from the Add as boxoffice winners in the ftoreign language trade. Top b.o. status of the Italo pix is a marked reversal of pre- war form when they, ran a poor second to French films which prac- tically blanketed the sureseater trade. Currently, French product is generally meeting only a fair reception. Ascendancy of the Italian films reflects the flourishing state of pro- duction in 'that country as against France where filmmaking has been at a virtual standstill due to finan- cial difficulties. Foreign pix dis- tributors . in the U. S. also ascribe some of the grossing power of Italian pix to the great number Italian - speaking ^people in tills country. While in prewar years, this population sector patronized Italian films in a limited way, ttiey are now throwing their full weight behind current releases. Circuit execs have been struck hard enough by this phenomenon to open up playing time at some of their regidar theatres for Italo pix, "Open Ciiy," Italy's Initial sodc postwar entry, paved the way with bookings across the country in houses that never before played a foreign language flhn. Similar bookings are being set for "Furia," "To Live in Peace" and "Shoe Shine" on the basis of initial fa- vorable reaction. PAR'S ANNUM. MEET TOm IS Annual stockholders' meet of Paramount has Wen set for June 15. Stocldiolders of record May 7 will be eligible to vote fw new directors at the meeting;. Sydney, April 7. Selznick Releasing Organization has closed a distribution deal with Norman B. Rydge's British Empire Films whereby the latter will ban die three Selznick films. Pact grants Selznick an option to ex tedd terms of the ^tribution.tieup to future releases here. As part of the agreement, SRO has ap- pointed Cleve Sheph^, longtime with Warner Bros., as its Aussie rep. Understood that Selznick is set- ting up a local company and that it will fix the pattern for his opera- tions in all large territories over- seas. Idea which is being adopted generally Is to- name a local man-r ager for separate sales units and to grant him the right to pass on all distribution contracts bandied by local distribs. ' Shepherd's job is to lay down the overall sales policy and handle selling in key situations wherever it's convenient for liim to operate. BEF will work-, along -with Shep- herd and also sell in outlying sec- tors. Any licensing by it, however, subject to Shepherd's okay. Since Rydge also heads the power- ful Greater Union circuit, tlcup should prove highly advantageous to Selznick. Disclosure of the pact, comes as surprise to local trade circles since it was thought that Manny Reiner, sent here by SRO. was un- able to come to terms with Rydge. After Reiner left, Selznick sent bis okay. ^'Duel in the Sun" will be the first Selznick pic to hit the GU loop. Mrs. Goldwyn's London Hop to Visit Sam, Jr Mrs. Samuel Goldwyn, wife of the producer, flies to London from New York, Friday (16) for three -week \isit with their son. Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. Young Goldwyn has been engaged in film production in London with Sidney Box, J. Arthur Rank producer. Goldwyn, Jr., also recently pro duced a legiter, "Gathering Storm," which failed to make the grade at the St. Martin's theatre He's currently worlcing on an orig- inal screenplay, wbich be is to pro- duce for Rank. With business jitters at an end due to optimistic outlook on the U. S. economy aiid the Aniglo-U S film agreement, the film companies have called a halt to the deep Mr! sonnel cutbacks which were launched last summer. Overall re- suits of the economy wave, how- ever, reveal that approximately son employees in aU categories were sliced ftpm the payrolls durinff that period in the majors' home- offices. Figure represents almost a 15% drop from the peak employment- leveL of 4.000 in New York reached early in 1947 before the foreign market snafu became serious Comwise, it amounts to a combined saving of approxhnately $1,000,000 annually. This saving, however, has been wholly evaporated by the second round of wage increases currently being granted to the white-coUarites organized by the Screen Office & Professional Em- - ployees Guild and the Screen Pub- licists Guild. Paramount was scarred worst by the axing program with 150 em- ployees let out since last August. Metro was next with about 110 dis- missals, followed by 20th-Fox, Co- lumbia and United Artists which laid off approximately 60 employ-, ees apiece. RKO dropped only 20 workers, while layoffs at' Warner Bros, and Universal-International . were only a negligible quantity. . Down to rock-bottom employ- . ment figures at present, the film companies are expected to start ex- panding as soon as their optimism is cashed in by rising domestic and foreign revenues. Personnel .pinch is being most acutely felt cfirrently ! in the publicity, ad-promotion and exploitation departments as a re- sult of hypoed selling plans. These departments suffered drastic slic- ing at some companies where econ- omy measures were put into effect in a haphazard manner, now rec- ognized as shortsighted. Meanwhile, efforts of the collar- ; unions to get their members back on the company payrolls have been blocked by court action. Both SPG and SOPEG tried to institute arbitration proceedings on the di$^ missals, charging the companies with contract violations in thdr layoff procedure. ' 20th-Fox and Paramount, however, succeeded Ht obtaining.injunctions which barred the unions from bringlAg'the cases to arbitration. L. A. to N. Y. Robert Aldrich Max Amow Harold J. Bock Nate Rlumberg - Syd Boefam. Donald Buka J. Cheever Cowdin Bing Crosby Dixie Crosby Xavier Cugat Luther Davis Richard Day Al DeGaetano Sherman Ewing Virginia Field Mrs, Lou GS^brig . Alan Hanis ' C. E. Hooper Dick Haymes William J. Beineman Marcel Hellman Nat Holt C. E. Hooper . Johnny B^de John Joseph Jacques Kop&tein Elay Kyser Charles Laughton Paul Lukas Ernest Martin . Coke Miller Mike Newman Val Pamell Sol Polito Abraham Polonsky Harry Rapf Bob Roberts J. Robert Rubin William Saroyan John Searle Sam Shirley Charles P. Skouraft Jo Stafford John Sutherland Jacqueline White Robert Wolff Jane Wyatt lA CoUarltes Next Contract negotiations covering over 1,000 clerical employees at Warner Bros., Universal-Interna- tional, Paramount News and other smaller film outfits are slated to open next week between the com- panies and Local H-63, white col- larite divitdon of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Em- ployees. Talks will begin prior to the expiration of the local's con- tracts on BSay 3L Union demands will include a 25% wage boost and maintenance of a Union shop. Union has already filed for elections before the Na- tional Labor Rehitions Board as re- quired under the Taft-Hartley law. N.Y.toL.A. Cecil B. deMille Bert Goldberg Ben Henry Robert Lantz John Lehrfeld Peter Lav^ord Lees Sands Johnny WelssmuUer Europe to N. Y. Ben Henry Sidney Hyams Spyros Skouras N. Y. to Europe Igor Buketoff Len Camber Irving Drutman Florence Eldridge Mrs. Sam Goldwyn Arthur W. Kelly Vincent Korda Fredric March Gian-Carlo MenotU Carmen Miranda Boris Morros ' Edward R. Murrow Stephen Pallos Phil Reisman Rebel Randall Sam L. Seidtelman -y^Jfift Bday, April 14, 1948 nCTUBKS See Harry Cohn s Convronnse Col Contract Via a 9iare of Ae Pr^ Tt'o likplv now that Harry Cohn, ■ nresident °f Columbia Pictures Siu obtain a new employment pact Slch will give him a share of com- Wanv profits above a fixed mini- S That development became a Sability after Cohn, last week, Ened a proposed five-year con- Whlch^lncorporated Stock op- Ifnns to a total of 75,000 as the up- hot of a^ot stodrfiolder fight, »iaed by a small minority during m'rarmual meet, Cohn kicked over the deal Jbeeause he was dis- inclined to sign a ticket which teought on any form of organized "^Future"negotiations between Co- lumbia's committee of four, named for that purpose, and ^rhold Grant, rnhn's rep; will presumably take ttie couwe of a profits-cut, it's un- derstoodv because minority stocfc- holders said they'd go for that sort of deal. Benjamin Javits, mouth- niece for the. Investors League which fronted the fight, declared at the meet that no objejctions would be raised , to terms which would grant Cohn an incentive bonus over and above some 10% return on the $12,000,000 of capi- tal Slock. Understood negotiators wtU take the cue. Grant goes to the Coast Apr4 25, and he'll huddle with Cohn at that time. It's expected that when he returns the dickerings will begin again with the committee consist- ing of directors Leo M. Blancke Donald S. Stralem, Nate B. Spin- gold and Abe Schneider. MeanwWIe, Cohn won't lose out (Continued on page 18) - Expansion of Swedish Prod. Cnrbed by Labor Unrest, Says Molander With David O. Selznick already hiked on a deal to produce Ibsen's "A Doll's House" at Svensk Film- industri's Stockholm Studio ttaisi summer, the Swedish firm has two other Independents plus a couple majors interested in using the com- pany's facilities in an attempt to whittle down frozen rental coin there. Harold Molander, veepee in charge of production for SF, de- dedared in New York before sailing aboard : the liner Stock- holm that he would present the quartet of propositions to the com- pany board for possible approval. Molander pointed out that in any event space-seekers would not find facilities available until 1949 inas- much as his own company's pro- duction schedule, coupled with that of the Selznick pic, would keep their three sound stages busy for the balance of the year. Film- making has been crippled, he said, by a strike since Jan. 23 when a long-term ■ contract with studio , labor ,*jEpired. ■ Workers are seeking higher wages among other things. How- ever Molander felt that a possible solution to the deadlock might be forthcoming some time this month, those vfho walked out include elec- carpenters, painters and Doothmen. Cameramen and sound- jvere unafifected as they're attihated with a separate union. (Continued on page 14) I^eady Columbia Deal For 'Jolson' Sequel Hollywood, April 13. neiLl"'!?" ^ Harry. Cohn are deal the signatute stage of a Storv'' fn?f*"^*.*« J°lson bia L c^S on the Colum- ttve n;;^ Buchman, execu- on "Story," is famil- sonh i„ ".t**^ "details of the Jol- r.«'°|.'?P> and is the most like- sequel ^^'^ for producer of ^ the i gefnlT '^'^^ take some time to mittpH^'^'' '^^'ay- with Jolson com- ances inVf personal appear- ish w,*",^**^" o* the United Jew- Pro&s a«« other humanitarian 560G Admish Tax High For March, 32G Over '47 Minneapolis, April 13. Amusements here, including pix, are setting new record highs, judg- ing by Federal tax receipts. March, 1947, had set a top for that month with $532,000 Federal admission tax collections, but this was ex- ceeded by .$28,000 in March of this year, the total being $560,000. Nightclub business, however, continues its downtrend, the in- ternal revenue collector's report indicates. From this source the tax ] receipts were $69,000 this March, compared to $80,000 the corre- sponding 1947 month. Italy's 'Nmotchka Incident Continues Hot Politico Item Repercussions to the Soviet am- bassador's objection to the playing of "Ninotchka" on Italian screens has assumed all the aspects of a cloak-and-dagger story. Anonymous letters were sent to all Metro branches here last week, threatening dire consequences if the film was not withdrawn. Metro, of course, disregarded the letters following the Italian government's official rejection of the Soviet note. Film, meanwhile,~continues to do SRO biz as result of the unsolicited Soviet plug. Russian envoy object- ed to the film because of its satire on Soviet commissars. It's believed, moreover, that the unpredicted favorable audience re- action may have a telling effect on next Sunday's- crucial elections. Front-page publicity given the In- cident in the leading Italian news- papers have created a good oppor- tunity for non-Communists to voice their opposition to the Commu- nists. Leftist press, meanwhile, apparently seeking to play it smart, has attacked "Ninotchka" only on an artistic level, claiming for the most part that its subject "lacks interest." Only the Milan Unita, official organ of the . Com- munist party, attacked it on a po- litical basis with such statements (Continued on page 14) TO DIP IN PRllFITS Buying strike or no buying strike, the 50% rentsl froni the first dollar is here to stay for top Hollywood product. Henceforth, as sales chiefs see it, that'll be the price for first- run on costly pix or medium-budg- eters that do top business as the only answer to the decline in distri- bution profits which has worried, the majors for the past year. The sales end, for the mOst party has given up roadshows, mainly because of exhib outcHes. But it won't follow suit on the 50%ers. The sales biggies frankly con- ceded that the 50-50 terpis are her ing used as a substitute for ad- vanced admissions. The buying strike, led by some of the biggest circuits, against the extraordinary number of films .now selling at 50% won't sidetrack them because, un- der present market conditions,' they say exhibs can make more coin out of a heavy-grossing 50%er than a mediocre pic peddled for S5%. Aside from the essential facts that films have risen substantially in costs and sales expenses have also climbed, postwar distribution makes it necessary to jack the best terms on the big grossers, sales toppers say. Because all films now must be sold individually and no longer are "blind articles," the number of pix which fail to earn their pfroductiott nut has shown a steady increase. Must Make Up for Duds It's now estimated by sales of fi- cials that fully one-third of all pix handled by a major land in the loss column. Which means a loss against negative cost alone without superimposing distribution ex- penses. Listing the dogs, one sales distrib cited costs in this year's re- lease schedule on three pix, costing $1,500,000, $1,450,000 and $1,300,- 000, respectively. The first filiii (Continued on page 16) CliBeliiig Exhibs Now Rudh to Pay Before Dbtribiitors' Suits Filed Wilcox Wilinah in British Film Awards With 'Curzon' London, April 13. "The Courtneys of Curzon street," Herbert Wilcox produc- tion starring Anna Neagle, has copped the annual national film award in Great Britain. Margaret Lockwood was named best actress for the third straight year while John Mills was named best actor. Runner-up film was "Great Ex- pectations," with Miss Neagle and Michael Wilding winning second place among the thespers. Awards were made on the basis of voting by 23 countries, includ- ing Germany, France, the Scan-^ dinavian nations and members of the British. Empire.. " $6,00&,000 FOR 4 DUE FOR SPERLING PROD. Hollywood, .April 13. United States Pictures, Milton Sperling indie, announces four pix for 1948-49 with an overall budget of $6,000,000. First win be "Distant Drums," Joel MeCrea starrer, which rolls May 17. Others are "Sacramento Sal" and "The Gentle Sin," the final one to be ''either "Dream Street" or "Long Way Home." Latter is slated to be a Lilli Palmer Prepping for 1949-50 are "Sister Act" (Fannie Hurst story from which "Four Daughters" was made), "White Heat," "Sport of Kings," "As the Night the Day," "Till the End.s of Earth," "Golden City" and "Th» Children," plus two novels for . which USP is now dickering. Warners will release. Freeman President Of Acad Foundation Hollywood, April 13. y. Frank Freeman was elected president of the Academy Foun- dation, the group that handles finances for the Academy of Mo- tion Picture Arts and Sciences. Other new officers are Walter Wanger, veepee; Mary C. McCall, Jr.. secretary; Farciot Eduart, treasurer, and Margaret Herrick, executive secretary. Metro Adding More Outside Indie Pix; 6 From Roach Next Yr. Metro has signed to distribute six Hal Roach streamliners within the next year, as the teeoH in its program to release product from indie producers to bolster its own release schedule. Roach will make the films entirely at bis own stu' dio, with no production coin to be invested by Metro. Latter will re- ceive & straight ' distribution fee based on a percentage of the gross. In announcing the pact yester- day (Tuesday), Metro sales veepee William F. Rodgers cited the Roach streamliners as a partial answer to the over-length of cer- tain major features released dur- ing the last several years. Loew's theatres have played several of the streamliners in the past, when re- leased through United Artists, and have found they fit well with Metro's more, lengthy features on double bills. Metro' has also been reported courting releasing deals with other (Continued on page 16) COL'S PEAK $28,000,000 IN FILM INVENTORY Columbia Pictures has cut back the negative costs on 1;op pix by over 30% since the economy wave got under way, Abe Schneider, company veepee and treasurer, told stockholders at the annual meet last week. Despite the slashes. Col's inventory is now the highest in the history of the com- pany at $28,000,000, Schneider said. Government anti - trust decree which nixed block - booking, and forced Columbia to compete with other majors on single-picture sell- ing caused the backlogging of product, Schneider added. In respon.'ie to stockholders' questions, Schneider predicted a further dip in company profits dur- ing the current quarter. He couldn't predict the amount of net because the British situation made (Continued on page 14) Tulsa Court KO.s Gerald Smith Suit Vs. 'Agreement' "Gentleman's Agreement" ran. into its first censorship obstacle last week in Tulsa, Okla., when rabblerrouser Gerald L. K. Smith sought an injunction to prevent the film's opening at the Tulsa Or- pheum. After witnessing a special screening of the picture, however. Judge Eben L. Taylor denied the motion and "Agreement" opened as scheduled Friday (9). Smith brought his motion for in- junction on .tiie basis of a refer- ence to Mm in the film's dialog. In commenting on l^e action, 26th- Fox sales chief Andy W. Smith, Jr., declared: "This picture has been widely acclaimed by disinter-^ ested observers as marking a new era in forthright entertainment and honest treatment of current themes of major interest. This very fact renders our obligation to preserve its integrity all the greater. To do otherwise would be the height of irresponsibility and a setback to motion picture progress." In the south, meanwhile, where it was expected in the trade that "Agreement" might run into simi- lar difficulty because of its anti- racial intolerance theme, it's been all smooth Sailing. Grosses in many southern cities, in fact,, have kept pace with those in other sec- tions of the country to put "Agree- ment" near the top of 20th's all- time record earners. Drive launched by mayors sev- eral years back to throttle phoney returns on percentage pix is now- paying off with a surprising num- ber of settlements before com- mencement of litigation, it's been learned. The 171 suits now pend- ing throughout the country against some 36 . exhibs represents only a small fraction of percentage chisel ing claims which have been pressed against exhibs. In the mfiin, exhibs have submitted their books for in- spection and settled before suits were filed. Additionally to the flock of pre- court settlements and current liti- gation, some 110 actions have been dropped against 20 exhibs follow- ing payment by the latter. In all instances, it's "said, theatre ops ac- counted for the full amount of discrepancies; Of the current actions pending : with potential claims running into millions, Metro is the top litigant with 28 suits brought in its name. Paramount ancj 20th-Fox are each plaintiffs in 25 actions; Warner Bros, and RPO have 22 apiece, while Universal is plaintiff in 18; Golumbia; 16; and United Artists, 15. Suits are pending in 17 states. Metro also leads in 'settlements with 18 in its name. After M-G comes Paramount with 17; 20th, WB and U each have 15; RKO, Coli^mbia and UA, 10. Sargoy and Stein act as ^neral counsel for distribs in all actions brought outside of New York City. Following complaint against an exhib, demand is made .to inspect books. That's granted more often than not, in which event, claim is generally adjusted without court ado, otherwise' suit is brAught> METRO ADDS CRUMP IN NEW-BLOOD MOVE Hollywood, April 13. In line "With Metro's plan to draw new blood into the organization, Owen Crump, who ankled a pro- ducer- berth at Warners several months ago, checked in at Culver City as a producer. His initis^ler will be "The Guilty Bystander," currently being scripted by Ber- tram Millhauser. It will be semi- documentary study of violence with a smalltown background. Other newcomers include Sam Wood, who inked pact months ago. He's directing "Command Deci- sion,'' Clark Gable starrer. Studio last week set Arthur Ripley to pro- ducer-director pact. Former Metro director Fred Zinneman, who left studio a year ago and made "The Search" in Switzerland in interim, recently inked one-picture yearly deal. His first will be "Act of Via* lence." John Huston and S. P. Eagle are due to check onto the lot soon, Hus- ton to direct and Eagle to produce films of their own unit. John Ford is another contracted to do a single, "Three Godfathers," but this is strictly a releasing arrangement. MPAA Execs In Hush-Hush Canadian Huddles About American-Made Pix There Toronto, April 13"; On a hush-hush huddle with of- ficials of the Bank of Canada and the federal government over , the making of films in this country by American producers, three ex- ecutives of the Motion Picture Assn. of America, with J. J. Fltss- fibbons, president of Famous layeirs (Canadian), are holding a' week's discussion— but not talking. The three MPAA members are Francis Harmon, vice-president; Taylor Mills of the New York of- fice, and Blake Owensmith of the Hollywood office. As spokesman for the group, Fitzgibbons said that a series of discussions bad been arranged with C. D. Hoinre^Minister of Trade and Commerce, but that, by mutual consent, no preliminary informa- tion was to be divulged. However, it's known that the quartet are discussing film production in Can- ada as a means of alleviating the current drain on American dol- lars out of Canada. Government officials were also vague about an- nouncing developments but indica- tion is that certain fuU-length fea- tures will be made in Canada, plus other sequences with a Canadian baclcground, this to boost Canada's tourist trade. A plan' is also un- derway whereby more processing and laboratory work on American films will be done in Canada. Johnston to Preside At Next MPAA Board Meet Board meet of the Motion Plc-r ture Assn. of America, originally slated for this week, has been post< poned until Tues. (20). With « number of questions on the agenda for decision, Eric Johnston, MPAA proxy, will return from the Coast in time to preside at the confab. Final interpretation^ of the' An- glo-American film tax accord will likely take top billing in the delib- erations. Meeting is expected to handle important subjects which were by-passed at the annual meet, two weeks ago, when most majors attended only by proxy. THb Next ini^fHMtHinft thfefHtim • ♦ in Ifte 2lliir €i»fii ITi li^ffiiif lUiiy ill ^etfecsclay, April. 14, 1948 11 MOST LQQKED -TQ MOTION PiCTURE EVENT OF THE DAY! [iTO SEE IT IS TO KNOW ITS STARTLING FACTS... the remarkable personal disclosures of Igor Gouzenko, former Code Clerk, USS'R Embassy, Ottawa, Canada... the true headline revelations of the atom bomb spy plot that stunned the world. TO SEE IT IS TO FEEL ITS LIVING DRAMA... made with tlie same force and vitality that brought acclaim to 'The House On 92nd Street," "Boomerang!" and "Call Northside 777." ' TO SEE IT IS TO SHARE A GREAT SCREEN EXPERIENCE .made unforgettable by the star performances of Dana Andrews as lgor,:Gene Tierney as Anna ^nd a distinguished supporting cast. > ^ ' 6 N A T U R t Directed by Produced by myiiWELLlN-SOLCmEL THE IRON CURTAIN ...h JUNE HAVOC BERRY KROEGER • EDNA BEST CEKTURY-FOX f-.^ — 8 I^er from Vmbwenna Wohuih Hollywood, April 10. Universal roleaso of Bsmpart . Boy and dog film in color aimed for juve and family trade. "Here Comes Trouble" (Color) lUA). Hal Roach "Laff- Time" comedy about a Cub re- porter; deluxe slapstick geared for lower half of dualcrs. .. "Miranda" (GFD). Amusing British farce about a mermaid in London; good boxoffice. ally does a good job of resolving all plot problems in acceptable fash- ion. Sheep dog hero and his juve master, George Nokes, project the usual appeal of such characters. Grownup leads are handled in okay style by Brenda Joyce and Itoincrt Sliayne. Others measut« up to de- mands. The WQliam Pine-William Thom- as production has been neatly dressed in outdoor scenic values that will interest tj^pe of audience at which film is. aimed. Color lens- ing by Ellis W. Carter gives an ex- cellent display of settings, and other technical credits are good. Broff. lias Rita Hayworth's name for the marquees. Entertaimncnt value suffered from the striving for effect , that features Orson Welles' produc- i tion, direction and scripting. f Script is wordy amd full of holes ■ which need the plug of taut story j telling and more forthright action. I Rambling style used by Welles has | occasional flashes of imagination. I particularly in the tricky back- ; grounds he uses to unfold the yam vuiwu'.'-' but effects, while good on their performances in difficult parts that own, are distracting to the murder could easily have been overplayed. r...»«_K..«„« ♦k^ Story follows a familiar pattern but the taste with which the film has been put together in all depart- ments under John Houseman's pro- duction supervision ■ makes it a valid and interest-holding drama. The mounting has an artistic flavor that captures the atmosphere of early-day Vienna and has been beautifully photographed. Story unfolds in flashback, a de- vice that makes plot a bit difficult to f oUow at times, but Max Ophuls -direction holds it together. He doesnt rush his ditection, adoptmg a leisurely pace that permits best use of the story. Film is endowed with Uttle touches, that give it Warmth and heart while the tragic tale is being unfolded. It concerns a young girl who falls in love with a neighbor, a concert pianst. She follows his career from the side- lines until one night they meet on the eve of his departure for a con- cert tour. His promise ^to return isn't kept and later she marries another man to givie her son a name and home. Years later she again ^^■^^ her only love but he fails to rememberw Story is told as he reads a letter from the girl, written after the second meeting and -just before she dies of typhus. Supporting roles are brief but effectively handled in- keeping yiiih high quality of the entire picture. Mady Christians, Marcel Joumet, Art Smith, Carol Yorke, Howard Greeman, John Good and others creditably sUpply the backing per- formances'. The ace lensing is by Frank Planer. Daniele Amfitheatrof's music score is topnotch and art 'direction, settings, costumes and o^er contributions earn the same rating. , Baxp. TheXady from Skanghai (SONG) Hollywood, April 10. Columbia release of Orson Welica prodao- tlon. direction a«d wjreenplay by Welles. Stars Hita Hayworth, Orson Welles:, fea- tures Everett Sloane, Glenn Anders.' Baned on novel by Sherwood King-; oamerai' Cliarles Lawton, Jr.; Bontr, Allan- Roberts, Doris Fisher; soore, Heinit llocmheld; edi- tor, Viol.x Lawrence. Previewed April 8, . MS. Bunninif time, 88 snss. Ktsa Banniiiter....i.....;^..nita Hayworth Mii''hael O'Hora. ........ ......Orson WoUes Ariliiir Bannister. .P3verett Sloan© fieirtBC Gvlsby ..(Slonn Anders Kidney Broome. . ..I,,,, Ted De Corsla Judge,.:. .*..,....«.....«.. .Esklne Sanford tioldte GUs -Schllilns DiSlirict Attorney............... Carl Frank Jake. .•...Xioulir MierrlU B<;ssle.,. .Evelyn Bills Cab Briver....... .Harry SliKnnon U. 1 ....... Wong Show Chung Tacht Captain,i,.............;SBm Nelson (COLOR) rnU(->! ArtiiiJs R^leaw of Hal Reach, Jr., pnMlucsion. ^lam WillSani Traey,' Joe '{^nw.ver; feUturfs Josn WocjlMiry, Btfvorly l.*)>t;. lit Sly ("VinspsOR. Di:\v'ttii by tYvd li'-jAil. fMTi"vnvJ:iy, (I*-i*rKO rair3eu,M llr,nTr., Ki?«iini K. .'^v.^mofc; i-i.ni*-r^i tOine,'«»lor), ^'ibvi W. I'Wyle: v^liJor, Arthur Sp\d. . Trade- Fti«wi> X. T., Ajtril 9, "48. Ruunintr time, ii5 -MISS. IXkIo Bill Traty .4!u<:s Joe S.^vtrer IViniifM B:a3.e , Kin'ory P.-inieIl Manh:; BSakc- .IS^tty Compson .•sinlTonl , IV,ul Stanton rensy RlHk*. , -.i,,,.. -navcrly Loyd BuliKes l,.aRue........ J<44n Wowlbury D^istsr .....SstU H-Jtssn MiiClure Tbontaa J.iukson plot. Contributing to the stylized effect stressed by Welles is the pho- tography, wMch features artful compositions entirely in keeping with the production mood. Story tees off in New York where Welles, as a pttUosophical Irish sea- man, joins the crew of a rich man's luxury yacht.. Schooner's cruise and stops along the Mexican coast en route to San Francisco, furnish varied and interesting backdi-ops. WeUes' tries for effect reach their peak with the staging of climatic chase sequences in a Chinese thea- tre where performers are going through an Oriental drama, and in the mirror room of an amusement park's crazy bouse. He has satir- ized human foibles in the court- room scenes of the murder trial, getting a sting into depicting insr tice and the people who gather to watch human drama unfolded on the witness Stand. There's a - complicated* • murder pattern involving Welles, Miss Hay- worth, latter's busband, Kverett Sloane, and Glenn Anders, crazy law partner of Sloane's. Plot is often foggy of pui-pose and confus- ing to follow, but apparently deals with Welles' yen for . Miss Hay- worth, That leads to his acceptance of. scheme to stage a phony mur- der of 'Anders which turns into a real killing, a trial and final, poetic justice for the evUdoers. Welles has called on players for stylized performances. He used an Irish brogue and others depict er- ratic characters with littte reality. Miss Hayworth isn't called on to do much more than look beautiful. Best break for players goes to Sloane, and he gives a credible in- terpretation of the crippled crim- inal attorney. The excellent lending is by Charle^ Lawton, Jr., in the mood of Heinz Roemheld's music score There's also one song, 'IPlease Don't Kiss Me," used in shioboard scene. Brog. , "The Lady From Shan^ai" is Okay boxoffice. It's exploitable and The Mikado "The Mikado," British-made Technicolor film opening at the Park Avenue theatre, N, Y., tomorrow (Thui'sday) as a reissue, was reviewed from London by the late Jolo in VARUm', Jan. 25, 1939. He found it "a thoroughly ingra- tiating satire, carefully con- cocted." Although Kenny Baker is the only name in the east known to U. S. patrons, he said: "Many English-speak- ing people who have never seen a Gilbert and Sullivan production should flock to the picture houses for 'Mikado'." Rejst of the principals were drawn from the D'Oyly Carte company. (COLOB) Hollywood, April 9. Paramount relense of William Pine- William Thomas Droductlon. features George Nolces. "Brenda Joyce. Ilohert Shayne; Directed by llobert Emniett Tan- sey. OriKinal screenplay, - Maxwell Shane; camem (Clnecolor), Kills W. Carter; editor, Howard Smith. Tradesiiown April 0. '48. Running; time, 71 MllirS. fjaura Calvin . . . ,^ .Brenda Joyce Robbie .Calvin. ............. .ileorge Nokes Bob Calvin. ^ ^ . . .Robert Sbayne Tessle, . ... ...... ... , i „ . . . . Jody Gilbert Fnzzy. , . . '.'Ralph Sanfort^ Mac. .... .^......i .... . .Alex Frazer Oonnell ...,...«...........> .William Ilaade 3ot>,, ....,.>,..•,...... i .Dan White Shaggy .Himself This is Uie third of Hal Roach's "Laff-Tlme" subjects, to sell in pairs with each group of two pictures being sold as a .single feature. However, with "Here Comes Trouble" and "Who Killed Uoc Bobbins," latter being listed as Part 2 of tiiis group, dis- tributor will sell either the two as a group or the exhib can buy either one separately. These are designed to fill out double-feature setups, and as such "Trouble" .vrill help pad out the lower rung of many dualei-s. This is far from being Roach's best comedy effort. It runs the full scale of inane 'hokum^ none of which is done well by a fairly ca- pable cast. Excellent Cinecolor ap- pears wasted since every scene is pounded over with sledge-hammer force. It relates, the ventures of a cub reporter with a photographic memory^ Scripters and Fred Guiol, director,, also seem to have reten tive memories,'many a hackneyed routine being included. ' Idea' of the blundering cub re- porter being handed the tough po- lice reportorial beat is merely the groundvrork for introduction of such gags as the exploding cigars, spattering powder in face, drench- ing a damsel in a shower-bath, toss- ing a valuable diary around a la football, and^a chase finish in the fly-loft of a theatre. William Tracy, who's been in other Roach comedies, is the silly reporter just back from the war. As such he's not too bad. Joe Saw- yer is his ex-buddy in arms, now on the police force, in his familiar flatfoot character. Joan Woodbury adds some zest to the zany proceed ings as a burlesque vamp but she's pushed aside early in the quest for laughs. Patti Morgan looks fetching in a secretary bit role, while Betty Compson, veteran of silent era, does nicely as the newspaper pub- lisher's wife. Emory Pamell is the overly, bombastic publisher. Bev- erly Loyd' shows promise as the comely daughtet: Wear. "Shaggy" is a familiarly laid-out story of a boy and his -dog. . It wUI serve okay 'for juve and family trade circles. Use. of color adds to sales values, slotting it' for' good booldngs in supporting position on two bills. Plot gets off to a slow start, but gradually picks up to neat finale. It concerns a sheep dog that is branded a killer, although the real culprit is a mountain lion. Shots of the lion and its- marauding among sheep flocks, its fights with a wolf and the dog hero are good excitement stuff that helps inter- est. Human angle in plot deals with boy's new stepmother and the antagonism that instantly develops when she is introduced to the ranch's wild life. Robert Emmett Tansey's direc- tion, often has a naive flavor, in keeping with the story and gener- WvinmsAHyt April 14, IMg Scheduled for an American preera early next month at the Park Avenue, N. Y., "Show- time" was reviewed April 24, 1946, by Variety under its orig- inal title, "Gaiety George." Produced and directed by George King for Warners in Britain, the picture is being distributed in the U. S. by Eng- lish Films. ' A bioplc on British stage producer George Edwardes, "Showtime" looks "highly du- bious as a strong entry In 'the U. S.," according to Variety's reviewer. Critic adds that when the film Vconcems itself with the life drama of Ed- wardes, it is brilliant, but the moment the camera shifts to stage ensembles . , , this effort goes haywire." Richard Greene is starred in title role, white his co-star is Ann Todd, JMUiraHdta - - iMniiaa, April 7. General Film 0l«ilriImtoi»- Tfdimvs of Gainsborough-Sydney BOX ModdBttolt. Stars Olynls John.-i, Qttogle Wttbenr, ■ Griffith Jones, John MoCullum, Directed by Ken Annakin. niireunpluy hy- BoCvr -BluoKiiiufe from his Htnge play; ciadlttonal dlaluin Donls Wiildook) cnlitor, Gonloti Halec; lumera, Hay SIton,' Ouaiey. IbttvAH. At Odcon, London, April fl, '48, Huimlnaf time, Mlrnudn , , ,,,,,,,, ,GlyniH Johns Clare Marten. .Google Witherls Pnlil Marten.,, .Griffith Jono«. Nigel John McCalliiD) Nurse Vary Margaret HUthertonl Charli'ti, David Tomllnson Betty .Yvonne Owen iHObel. . Sonia llulm Inn I.,andlnrd. l.,yn KVanu erialf ami t'apratilca, Kdmc. Hun- nliiK time, 1(7 MINH. Matthew Btuinenthal Vlttorlo Gassraan Ksther , .ynlelitimi Cortese liliinienthur.'j Mistress. .... iNoelle Xorman Sariili. ,lnge Gort I'rot'eSfiui' JOpstoin . , , .Pictro Sliar^v flails Harry Felst D.-iviil , ..Armando ,l''rancloH Doctor Si'hu.stiT ......Hans Hinrli-h Herman Oftlcer. Antonio l^rust rJ^■K<•ham^l^■. . . , Anllli'm o I'eitinelll Maqnisarii Hislsto Olivier! "The Wandering Jew" is one of the biggest-budgeted pictures pro' duced here lasfyear. This time the money was well spent. Film seems to have strong p'otential for export success, with particularly favorable reactions on American market Its unique (and minor) defect i«!fn».i legend witii reaUty" SarnatS; Christ to eternal wandering. tS Divine curse is in fact recalled S a prolog, laid in ancient JeniKnW which adds a pompous Sis. " ""ter The young and wealthy Vittori*, Gassman, who could and woSd collaborate with the invaders izes in time the treachery h^. about to do against his own peonlo and prefers to go with all th« others into a concentration camD Having escaped with the girl ho loves, while the AUies are an- proaebing, be comes back to the camp, having known that Nazis will kill a number of prisoners if he doesn't surrender. Through death under the fire of machine-guns th^ Wandering Jew finds in his sacri- fice the deliverance from the curSe Except for the symbolical angle' pic registers, very well. .It has plen- ty of strong action and impressive scenes and combines realism and poetry cleverly. Helped by an ex- cellent cait; 'Uiiicb' is beaded tor Cassman and Vaientina Cortege (latter now under contract to 20tif Fox), director Goffredo Alessatt- drinl (who made "Furia") has handled story and cast with sharp- ness and frankness, rendering a gruesome story poignantly, without coarseness. Lensing by Vaclav Vicjbu sets by Arrlgo Equini, cos- tumes by Darlo Ceccbi, are all vs.* pert, and the music score by Gnzo Masetti is adequate. Westport^ International Films acquired Ui S. distribution rii^ts. Qmt flioventn Perdiiia UWIsled Youth) (ITALIAN) (ONE SONG) Rome, March 30, T.UX Film release of Carlo Punti |>radue> tlon. 8t4irB Jacques J^jcrnas, OarUi dPl rotj- Rlo, Massimo Girntti; features .Ninido , Ivruno, Dliina Horghese, FniTira Mave«u, Directed by Pletro Germl, ()i-iffl»iiL sloi-y by Germl : screenplay, Germl, .Vlario Jfonl- cclll, llruno Valerl, Ijoopouio Trlestis wim- em, Carlo- JMontunrl; music, Carlo UuH- tichelli. At Metropolitan, Rome, Knnning time, M AUN8, ,Stefjino. Jac> . ... i.. . 1 , . , Franca Marfsa Torchsinger , , i ,. .Blana Kurghcs*. When "Misled Youth" first went before the censors, they wouldn't pass it. Decision, somewhat un- usual here, caused protest from - film directors and critics, giving the film much publicity. Pic finally received the greenlight In order to avoid political speculations, as Italian exhibs are generally leftist, while government is Christian* Democrat. As a thriller, pic is a little' dis- appointing. Most suspenseful se- quence, showing a detaUed robbeiy by a group, of students at the Rome University, has been cut out. How- ever, It can be kept in for exploi" tation abroad. Film offers a fine directorial job. Helped by a clever screenplay, Pietro (5ermi has turned out a vivid dramatization of the moral disorder which has taken hold of postwar Italian youth, especially the middleclass. He has given more stress to characters than to story. Plot revolves around the double life of Jacques Sernas, a student and leader of a gang of young bandits. Love and robbeiy form complications, with murder in the denouement. - Film is beautifully played. As Stefano, the wicked hero, young French actor Jacques Semas W handsome and authoritative.. He looks like a good U. S. bet. Mas- simo Girottl adds realism in the (Continued on paRc 18) Antoine and Antoinette "Antoine and Antoinette," French-made Gaumont pro- duction, reidewed in VAHiETTr Nov. 12, 1947, was tradesliown in New York last week. Film, Which won the grand prize at the Cannes Festival, was di- rected by Jacques Becker, and is being released in the U. S. by Siritzky International. Variety's Paris reviewer (Maxi) found the pic "refresh- ing," but felt it would have "limited appeal" in U. »■ Roger Pigaut and Claire Mat- fei, stars of picture, portray a young married couple Who get involved in a story about a lost lottery ticket. Acting was considered "good throughout, but outstanding was the real- istic" treatment given to hacK- ground and people. The re- viewcr also added that tne picture "might rate a remaice from an American producer. U. K. G0VT;S L»LEASE to FlIMS IVoAictiM on Location Has St3l One QAer Advaidage-Speed Shooting a picture on location,* to addition to the reco»ttlMd lac- tars of greatef authenticity and lower costs, may have other bcne- tos to offer Hollywood, according to ttroducer-director Frank Capra. A director working on location, he uaid has acknowledged handicaps to start with, such as the lack of nerfect studio lighting and the ease of having everything within reach of his fingertOpfi. By taking these handicaps into account from the start, he can work a little faster and often achieve better camera work than would have been possible under -studio conditions in Hollywood, Too often, Capra said, a director will lose time in studio lensing by sti-iving for better lighting and 'otiier carhera refinements. Time Ig also lost, he declared, by "stars who dominate the cameramen" and so make various demands for more favorable camera angles, etc. Few of these refinements are possible In location shooting, and the direc- tor can consequently work faster. Shooting away from Hollywood also gives a producer or director a chance to get acquainted With the lives of other people. "In .Holly- wood," he feaid, "we learn about life only from each other's pic- tures." In New York for the preem at Radio City Music Hall next Thurs- day (22) Of his ."State of the Union," Capra declared that plans for his next, picture are still in- definite. He's considering both "Flying Yorkshireman," the Eric . Knight novel, and "Friisndly Per- suasion," penned by Jessamyn West, but casting trouble is hold- ing him up on both. He said he Would like to get Bing Crosby and Jean Arthur to star in the latter, (Continued on page 19) U. S. Naval Base Cinema Cbided as 'Unfair' To Civilian Theatre Ops Government exaction of early clearance on top pix playjng armed service theatres is handed a thor- ough IfLshing in a recent decision of the Appeals Board of the Mo- tion Picture Arbitration system. The Government is attacked for "unjust and unfair competition" for permitting civilian attendance in the ruling on a clearance battle between the Jamestown theatre, Jamestown, R. I., and the Strand. Newport, R. I., with the three-man board asking- the Government to drop Uie practice.. With Universal Military Training and the draft currenOy hot national questions, trade cu-cles judged the attack as a timely warning against the loose setup. In taking the poke at the Gov- ernment, board added, "Although the subject is beyond the juris- diction of this tribunal we trust that it will be brought to the at- tention of the Government and will be remedied." Specific instance under attack was the Beavcrtail ■ Waval Installation which plavs mms at a nominal admission' of luc. Board noted that the liouse Umit itself to naval per- sonnel but offered its facilities to a" Civilian residents of the island. ,„ -"^^'stence of the naval operation was taken mto consideration by the as actually lessening coni- uuli iT between the Jamestown and Strand. Appeals body ordered of tiie Strand over Jamestown to be reduced to LebedoiF Sues for 835G In Mpls. 'Gonspiracy' Minneapolis, April 13. Charging conspiracy to set runs and clearance here^ Saul G. Lebe- doff, owner of two local neighbor- hood deluxe houses, the Brynwood and Homewood, has filed an anti^ trust suit in Federal district ;court against the Minnesota Amus. Co. (Paramount theatre circuit) and six major distributors. He asks $835,- 000 damages. Distributor defendants are M-G, Paramount, RKO, 20th-Fox, Uni- versal and Warners. PLEOGES mo TO Rental Sinlos h Lond Wail Holly woody April 13. Hollywood's rental studios, pros- perous during the war years, are feeling the pinch of poverty, with little prospect of early relief. Rental operators give three rea- sons for the current situation : One is the rush of Hollywood producers to shoot their films in England, France, Italy, Mexico, Canada and Australia. Another is the competition from the .major lots, which are round- ] ing up numerous indie producers and encouraging them to film their product at the big studios. In this way the majors can keep their contract crews busy between their own pictures;" Third reason is the increasing number of location troupes shoot- ing documentaries, semi-documen- taries and other films in .various parts of the U.S. Argosy has made several pic- ' tures in Mexico and has another coming up south , of the border. David O. Selznick will make "A Doll's House" in Sweden; Earl Car- roll will shoot a picture in Japan and Roland Brown in Tahiti. Sam Bischoff . and Edward Gross are heading for Canada to film "Mrs. Mike." Arthur Kelly is leaving for Eng- land to line up several films for United Artists, one of which will be produced by Mary Pickford and Lester Cowan. Nat Holt will make "Canadian Pacific" in Canada, and Al Rogell is slated for two on loca- tion in the Canadian Northwest. Majors Woo Indies When Paramount took over Liberty films it started a general movement, of indie producers to the major lots. Frank Seltzer, Re- liance and Belsam Productions have arranged release deals with 20th-Fox during the last year. Metro has a deal with John Hus- ton and Sam Spiegel. Universal- International is playing host to Geffen-Shane, Hecht-Norma, Irv- ing Brecher and Westwood Pro- ductions. Alfred Hitchcock and Sidney Bernstein are hooked up with Warners; Cliarles E. Feld- inan and Mari^hall Grant are con- nected with Republic, and Colum- bia. RKO and Eagle Lion are crowded with indies. : , Some indie producers are mak- ing pictures on rental lots but the trend is toward the major studios, where plenty of space and' accom- modations arc available. London, April 13. Closedown of some British film studios coupled with scattered em- ployee layoffs by several indie film- makers apparently will be reme- died in the near future as result of a pledge by Board of Trade prexy Harold Wilson. • He promises gov- ernment support to insure full maintenance ot production and em- ployment. At a . general meeting of the Assn. of Cine-Technicians held here Sunday (11) he stated there will be no government subsidy for British production, but addf^d that the possibility of renting govern- ment-owned studios^ plus loans, to qualified indie producers is being considered. Under this program, Wilson em- phasized, the greatest possible use will be made of studio space. More- over, there will be a full inquuy into the distribution and exhibi- tion aspects of the industry soon. He added that the government had no objection to the setting up of a film bank or film finance corpora- tion, but on the otiier hand govern- ment money couldn't be provided for such a purpose. To offset the lack of government I (Continued on page 18) Variety Clubbers Take Over Miami; Frisco Has Edge for '49 Convention Lenser Asks $975,000 For Coast Union Ban Xjos Angeles, April 13. Curtis Courant, former European lenser, filed suit for $975,000 against Cameraman's local 659, cliarging the union with conspiracy to prevent him from working as a firstclass' cinematographer. Also named in the suit is Herbert AUer, the local's business agent. Courant demands $375,000 for the loss of past and future em- ployment; $100,000 for humiliation and $500,000. for exemplary dam- ages. ■■■■ seven Bj-it. Shutdowns Protested „ London, April 13. mJ;. i?^!*'''' °* studio technicians dav nn/? P''rU«'«enl last Sal.ur- t«=) ■ , ^°^Se a vigorous pi o- mLT^^ the Board of Trade stRf V Studios and '•tall dismissals. Drn,iM^?!" Studios have trimmed Producnon schedules, with rcsolt- ■■whili i"*'-gi workei-s not jneoded Coast Color Confab SyntaMonica^ April 13. Technical aspects of color are to be thoroughl.y covered by a panel ot experts at the forthcoming 63i*d semi-annual convention of the Society of Motion Picture Engi- neers, slated for here at the Ara- ba.ssador hotel, Ralph M. Evans, superintendent of all Eastman Kodak's color film and print processing, will deliver Hie fi'atui'o" paper on tints.' AUSSIE HOYTS CITED AS BEING ANTI-UNION Sydne, April 7. Hoyts cinema chain, major Aussie loop, has run into a hassle with the Theatre Managers Assn. over alleged anti-union practices. Theatre managers have asked the local Trades and Labor Council to impose a ban on the Hoyts 156 theatres. Chief allegation against the cir- cuit is that it tried to form a com- pany union of managers after dis- criminating against members of the TMA. Laboe council has re- ferred the dispute to a committee for investigation. C.B.DeMineOn Production Cuts Despite gains in economy made, in the last year, cuts still have to' be made closer to the bane in order to bring production costs within sanity, Cecil B. DeMille said yes- terday (13) in New YOrk. "There is too much forced duplication of jobs in the studios," he said, adding that when "you pay ''without receiving anything in return, you bleed to death." DeMille, however, Indicated that he didn't plan to drastically slice the budget for his next pic, "Sam- son and Delilah," slated to roll next fall. Some new techniques will have to be explored to keep costs under control, he said, but film- goers "expect a certain type of pic- ture from me and I will deliver it," Cast for "Samson" has not been set as yet. Riding the current headlines, De- Mille announced that Me and Par- amount execs have decided to re- issue his 1935 pic, "The Crusades," in June. A new preface to the pic, built out of . newsreel shots on the current Paleiitine situation, may> b# (Continued on page 20) By ARTHUR UNGAR Miami Beach, April 13. The Variety Clubs International, with some 900 international officers, chief barkers, canvasmen. barkers and guests have taken over the Roney-Plaza hotel in toto for their 12th annual conclave, which got under way yesterday (12). The town has turned itself inside out to host : the delegates and their followers^ with- plenty of entertainment and an abimdance of hospitality exud- ing everywhere. The advance guard arrived over the weekend, with the last of the delegations getting here Monday night. Today (13) the first session of the 132 accredited delegates, barkers and international officers got under way in the Roney's Surf .. Room for the general business meeting. .General Chairman Mitch- ell Wolf son. Of Tent 33, In charge of the arrangements, made the ad- dress of welcome to international chief barker Bob O'Donnell, of Dallas. Tom Smith, of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, tendered IJie gold key to the town \o O'Donnell. Marc Wolf, who handles the in- texna'tional's pursestrings, repoi-ted the club's solvency, with $124,000 in the kitty. Of which $85,000 is in Government bonds. At a meeting Monday it was proposed that the midwinter meeting of international officers be held in New York at the ■ Hotel Astor early in October to give the boys a chance to be close to the World Series. This was okayed today. All of the delegates made various suggestions on how to raise funds, and there will be presented a plan by Walter Wanger (Continued on page' 14) Briefs From the Lots Hollywood, April 13. Selena Royle drew a key role in the Michael Curtiz production, "My Dream Is Yours," at Warners. . . * "Police Reporter" is the final tag on the Screen Guild produc- tion, "Slioot to Kill." . . . Paul E. Burns and Louis Mason drew fea- tured roles in "The Wrangler" at Columbia- : . . Dorothy Hart signed for a part in "Larceny" at Uni- versal-International. . . . Robert Faisre will double as veepee and actor in a new production outfit bankrolled by Glenn McCarthy, Texas oilman, teeing off with "Land of Plenty," to be produced as an indie in Hollywood. Arrow Productions, new indie outfit, is breaking in with "Thir- teen Escaped," a tale of Czecho- slovakian refugees, written by Hans Habe. . . . Stephen McNally was signed for the role of Martin Bormann, last of the top Nazi tribe, in the Robert Buckncr production, "Rogues' Regiment," at Universal- International. . . . Michael Kirby, after a number of screen tests, was signed to play opposite .Sonja Ilenie in "The Countess of Monte Cristo," a job he performed on skates in the Henie rink show. . . . Warners borrowed Betty Ann Lynn for the second femme lead in "June Bride," the Bette Davis- Robert Montgomery starrer which Bretaigne Windust will direct with Henry Blanke as producer. Henry Kostcr chocked in at War- ners to direct "Happy Times," Danny Kayc's first starrer on the Burbank lot . . . Russell Simpson signed to play the gun-toUng preacher in "The Wrangler" at Columbia . . . Argosy obtained a Technicolor commitment on "Three Godfathers." which will be re- leased by Metro . . . Eagle Lion will release the Pliilippine story, "The Avenger," in the U. S., while United Artists will handle the for- eign distribution. James Tinlins directs "Big Dan," third of Sol Wurtzel's 1948 pro- ductions for 20th-Fox release . . . Frank Fenton will .screenplay "Operation Malay," Manchester Boddy's waiUme story at RKO . . . Dorothy Malone and Helen West- eott assigned roles in "Smart Money" at Warners ... Republic bought James Edward Grant's story, "Bayou." . ; . Noel NeiU drew the femme lead in "The Adven- tui'es of Frank and Jesse James" at Republic . . . Harry Romfii signed Rand Brooks for the male lead in "Ladies of the Chorus," in- die production at Columbia. Jack Chertok's new indie outfit, Ambassador Productions, will tee off July 1 with "Hill of the Hawk," based on a novel by Scott O'Dell . . . Leon Gordon will produce "In- troduction to Sally," based on a legit play by Geoffrey Kerr, with Elizabeth Taylor and Peter Law- ford in top roles, at Metro . . . Marshall Thompson draws one of the roles in Metro's "Command Decision." . . . Frederick dc Cor- dova signed a new director con- tract at Universal-International . . . "On Our Merry Way" is the re- lease title for the Ben Bogeaus production, "A Miracle Can Hap- pen." ... Harry Sherman has three story properties, "Brandy for Heroes," "Ring Horse" and "Car- men of the West," lined up' to fol- low "Tennesee'a Partner." RKO borrowed Spring By ington from Metro for a role in "Weep No More." . . . Mark Robson closed) a deal to direct two pictures for Universal-International ... Eagle Lion stages are dark this week, re- suriiing work April 19 with "29 Clues." Toho, Top Jap Producer, Battling Costs, Fixed ' Fees, To Keep Afloat -Tokyo, April 6. Toho Shows, Ltd., leading Japa- nese pix producer, is struggling to keep its head above water 'as its debts run into an estimated 50,- 000,000 yen ($1,000,000). Katamaru Tanabe, who took over prexy chores last year, has re- signed in favor of Tetsuzo Wata- nabe, but not before firing Sane- yoshi Morita, director; Kazuo Ike- naga,' biz manager; and Kazuo Takimur a, theatrical producer, on charges of mismanagement. 'Toho's main headaclie comes from producing costs. There are-.. 643 film hoases in Japan today showing Toho pix, including 74 the- theatres maintained by the com- pany. But, as the admission rates are fixed, average revenue from a flicker is 20,000,000 yen (^00,000) — ^the theatre taking 30%, Toho grabbing the other half. Proceeds sometimes don't cover the nut, as "The Ends of the Silver Ridge" cost 11,000.000 yen, and "Now Once Again" and "War and Peace" each took a 9,000,000 yen nick. And these co.sts don't in- clude advertising machinery re* , pairs, office expenses, etc. ■ Toho produced 14 films in 1947, compared to 33 by Shochiku,' 33 by Daiei, 12 by Shin Toho, 3 by Toyoko and 2 by- Yoshimoto. , WB, CoL Stock Shifts • Wa.shington, April 13. Harry M: Warner, president of Warner Bros., has gifted 6,230 shares of Warner common stock. His holdings are now 284,330 shares of common outright and 16,000 shares in trust. Holdings of Jack Cohn, exec veepee of Columbia Pictures, changed slightly when he sold 500 shares as trustee for his wife Jeanette. Cohn currently has 47,- 969 shares of common outright and a voting trust in 23,619 shares in which beneficial interest is held by his three children and wife. Abe Schneider, Columbia veepee and treasui-er, tiov/ has 11,979 shares of his company's common after making a gift of 700 shares to the Schneider 1Soun^ti«W; CITY HACE OF SHOWING ADDRESS TIME / CITY ness.,.at Broadway firstruns this week; although a decline was ex- pected after the smash Easter week. Heavy rain Sunday (11) and part of Monday (12) plus showers yesterday (Tues.) did the most damage; Many theatres also re- ported offish business last Friday (9) and a slumjp Monday. Fact that only ■ two pictures were brought in during the stanza also indicated there were too many longruns. Having to open in the face of these unfavorable factors is hurt- ing opening week- of "Winter Meeting" at the Warner. It loi^ nice $32,000, but not up to stand- ard of other Bette Davis starrers. Other newcomer is reissue of "Farmer's Daughter," only a fair $13,000 at the Palace on first week ending next Friday (16). Second week of "Saigon" with Mills Bros, and Buddy Rich band at Paramount was caught by this downbeat, being $65,000, or $30,- 000 below initial session. Other- wise, Broadway is solidly holdover or extehded-run with such pictures off sharply. Typical of how business has slipped is the Music Hall where Remember Mama" with stage- show is down to $120,000 in fifth week, still fine, bUt $23,000 lower than fourth round. Even the stal- wart "Naked City" with Tex Ben- eke band and Slate Bros, is sagging in' sixth week at Capitol to $85,000. While as big as some first weeks at this house, it is $16,000 below the fifth frame. Roxy is bringing in "Scudda Hoo" with Ed Wynn heading stage- show today (Wed.) after five great weeks With "Sitting Pretty" and stagebill. Also opening today is "Duel in Sun" and "Here Comes Trouble" at State after tiiree strong weeks with-"Bi','s Daugh< ter." " "Are You With It?" is being given a special preem today (Wed.) to help launch the U. S. Security Loan ■ drive at Winter Garden. Regular run starts tomorrow (Thurs.) "Arch of Triumph" also gets a gala preem next Monday (19) at Globe. Estimates for This Week Ambassador (Siritzky) (1,200; 70- $1.50) — "Volpone" (Indie) (16th wk). Still making money at. $6,500 in current frame, ending, tomorrow (Thurs.) after $7,200 in 15th week. Holds again. Astor (City Inv:) (1,300; 80-$1.80) — "Blandings" (SRO) (3d wk). Third Stanza ending today (Wed.) oflf a bit at $38,000 after nice $43,- 000 for second week. Stays on. Bijou (City Iriv.) (650; 85-$1.30)— Mr. Orchid" (Lopert) (3d-final wk). Third frame of 5 days is down to $3,000 after $5,000 for second, both disappointing. "October Man" (EL) opens tomorrow (Thurs.). Capitol (Loew's) (4,820; 70-$2.20) "Naked City" (U) With Tex Ben- eke orch. Slate Bros, heading stage- bill (6th wk). Present session end- ing today (Wed.) continues stout at 15,000, albeit way down from re- cent smash weeks; fifth round was big $101,000. Goes seventh week, with "Homecomtag" (M-G) due in next. Criterion, (Loew's). (1,700; 60- $1.25)— "All My Sons" (U) (3d wk). Third frame ending next Friday (16) is slowing up to $30,000 or a bit less but Still fine profit; second was fancy $35,000. Continues. GWbe (Brandt) (1,500; 70-$1.20) "Close-Up" (EL) (2d wk). Initial holdover, stanza ending next Friday is off at $12,000 after fairly good $17,500 opener. "Arch of Triumph" (UA) Opens April 19 with gala preem for "Crusade foi; Children." Golden (Siritzky) (769; 70-$1.50) "Lost "One" (Col) (3d wk). Sec- ond round ended last Sunday (11) night held nicely at $11,000 after big $12,500 $rst week. Set for ex- tended run. Little Camesle (Indie) (460; 95- $1.20)— "Jenny Lamour" (Vog) (6th-final wk). Present week end- ing next Friday (16) sUU holding well at $7,000 after great $8,000 in fifth frame. "Wine of Love" (Indie) opens Saturday (17), Mayfair (Brandt) (1,736; 70- $1.50)— "Gentleman's Agreement" (20th) (23d wk). Dipped to $17,700 in ,22d week ended last Monday (12) night; 21st week $26,000. Stays on. Palace (RKO) (1,700; 60-$1.20)— "Farmer's Daughter" (RKO) (re- issue). Not dointr well even for an oldie, brought in ca^h in on Academy award for Loretta Young, femme star of pic. Looks only fair $13,000 in first week ending next Friday (16). Continues. Second week of "Tarzan and Mermaids"^ (RKO) only $16,000. - Paramount (Par) (3,664; 55-$V50) —"Saigon" (Par) plus Mills Bros., Buddy Rich orch. Dean Miirphy topping stageshow (3d wk). Second session ending last (Tues.) night slipped considerably from first week's figure to land solid $65,000; first week big $95,000. Stays only three weeks. Park Avenue (U) (583; $1.20- $1.50)— "MUl on Floss" (Indie) (re- issue) (3d-final wk). Current stansa ending today (Wed.) is down to $6,000 or possibly less after good $8,000 for second week. "The Mikado" (U) (reissue) opens tomor- row (Thurs.). Radio City Music Hall (Rocke- fellers) (5,945; 70-$2.40)— "Remem- ber Mama" (RKO) and stageshow (5th wk). Continues stoutly at $120,000 albeit way down front great $143,000 for fourth ses^^on. Stays a sixth. "State of Uriioa'' (M-G) is set to follow. Rialto (Mayer) (594; 35-85)— "Smugglers" (EL) (3d wk). Third round ending, next Friday (16) is off at $7,000 after $8,500 for sec- ond. "Alias a Gentleman" (M-G) opens on Saturday (17). Rivoli (UAT-Par) (2,092 ; 60- $1.25)— "Miracle of Bells" (RKO) (5th wk). Fourth frame wound up last Monday (12) night at $20,000,. off from solid $29,000 of third week. Stays on, with "Letter From Unknown Woman" (U) likely t* follow. ^ Roxy (20th) (5,886; 80-$1.50)— "Scudda Hoo" (20th) with Ed Wynn heading stageshow that includes HoUace Shaw, Dick and Dot Remy. Opens today (Wed.). Fifth week of "Sitting Pretty"' (20th) and stagebill headed by Al Bemie and Betty Bruce was down sharply in fifth week at .$.70,000, but still profit. Fourth week, with same stageshow plus Art Mooney orch, was great $115,500. State (Loew's) (3,450; 43-$1.10)— "Duel in Sun" (SRO) (2d run) and "Here Comes Trouble" (UA) (1st run). Open today (Wed ). Third wef5v: of "B. F.'s Daughter" (M-G) slipped to okay $15,000 after fancy $23,000 in second. Strand (WB) (2,756; 75-$1.50)— "April Showers" (WB) with Claude Thornhill orch, Morey Amsterdam heading stageshow (3d-final wk). Way ' down in final session at $36,- 000 or less after good $44,000 itt second. "To the Victor" (WB) and Cab Calloway orch open Friday (16); Victoria (City Inv.) (720; 70- $1.50)— "The Search" (M-G) {4th- final wk). Third stanza ended last (Tues.) night was very good $21,- 000 after $26,000 for second. Stays over again. Warner (WB) (1,499; 90-$1.50)— "Winter Meeting" (WB) (2d" wk). First week ended last (Tues.) night was nice $32,000, with uneven crix^ appraisal hurting. Fourth' week of "Robin Hood" (WB) (re- issue) was $12,000. Winter Garden (UA) (1,312; 60- $1.20)— "Are You With It?" (U). Preems today with all-star show headed by Donald O'Connor ta help launch Security Loan drive. Regular run open to public starts tomorrow (Thurs.). Third week (6 days) of "Man of Evil" (UA) Was below $4,000 after $6,500 for sec- ond, both mighty thin. 'Showers* Perks Up Port., $9,500; *Bishop's' 19»/2G Portland, Ore., April 13. Downtown exhibitors ate con- vinced this week that the publis will put it on the line if they shovr good pictures. Batch of nice pic- tures will give downtown houses one of their best weeks in months. Estimates for This Week Broadway (Parker) (1,832; 50-85) —"April Showers" (WB) and "Capt. Boycott" (U). Fine $9,500. Last week, "Black Bart" (U) and (Continued on page 16) • .» tis: tea* ' 1 1!' VeJitewby, April 14, 194a Big BaDy Booste 'Casbah'-Stage Boff ItOOO, fiob; '(M' Snudi $33,i Boston, April 13. Helped by smash bally, including newonal appearance of Tony Mar- tin opening day, "Casbah" is soar- iiiB to a great session at RKO Boston. "Big Clock," at Met, looks to be best new item in town, but "Naked City," day-data at the State and Orpheum remains sock in sec- ond round. "I Remember Mama" likewise is big at Memorial on third. Others shape moderate. Estimates for This Week Astor (Jaycox) (1,300; 40-80 ~ "Mourning Becomes El«ctra" (RKO) (3d wk). Night biz mainly responsible for good $12,000 after about $14,000 for second. Boston (EKO) (3,200; 50-$1.10)— "Casbah" (U) plus Shirley Ross, Johnny Morgan, Acromaniacs, others on stage. Hypoed by per- sonal appearance of Tony Martin on first day and big bally soaring to great $30,000. Last week, "Blonde Savage" (EL) plus Horace Heidt orch, others, $38,000. Exeter (Indie) (1,300; 45-75) — "Ninotchka" (M-G),and "Woman's Vengeance" (U) (reissues). Moder-' ate $6,000. Last week, "Ideal Hus- band" (20th) and "Green for Dan- ger" (EL) (2d wk). $3,500. Fenway (M-P) (1,373; 40-80) — ."Unconquered" (Par) Back at reg- ' Ular scale, so-so $7,000. Last week, "Sitting Pretty" (20th) and "Docks New Orleans" (Mono) (m.o.) (2d Wk), $8,000. Kenmore (Indie) (700; 40-80)- — "Beauty and Beast" (Indie) (3d wk). About $2,000 after nice $2,500 second. , Memorial (RKO) (3,000; 40-80 — "Remember Mama" (RKO) (3d wk). Great $24,000 after $28,000 for second. Another week is prob- able'. MettopoUian (M-P) (4,367; 40-80) —"Big Clock" (Par> and "BiU and Coo" (Rep), smash $33,000. Last Week, "April Showers" (WB) and "Inside Story" (Iridic), $22,500. Orpheum (Loew) (3,000; 40-80) "Naked City" (U) and ."Fabulous Joe" (Col) (2d wk). Great $23,000 after wow $33,000 for first. Paramount (M-P) (1,700; 40-80)-.- "Unconquered" (Par). Second time here but now at pop scale okay $17,000. Last week, "Sitting Pretty" (20th) and "Docks New Orleans" (Mono) (m.o.) (2d wk), $16,500. State (Loew) (3,500; 40-80) — "Naked City" (U) and "Fabulous Joe" (Col) (2d wk). Huge $14*000 after wow $24,000 in first. Med' Torrii $17,m rvaie;Ladd Lusty 1% ladm! No Dice C Louisville, April 12. "Naked City" is setting the pace this week at Loew's State, way out in front at great figure. "Saigon" at Rialto looks nice if not sock. "Monsieur Verdoux" is weak at National. Estimates for This Week Brown (Fourth Avenue) (1,200; 45-65)— "Scudda Hoo" (20th) and Challenge" (20th) (m. o.). Fair $4,000. Last week, "Call North- side" (20th) and "Campus Honey- moon" (Rep), neat $4,500 on m.o. Kentucky (Switow) (1^; 30-40) -Fugitive" (RKO) and "Slave Girl (U). Strong $3,500. Last week, 'Sierra Madre" (WB) and Love Trouble" (Col), $3,200. Anderson (People's) (1,100; 45-65) — "Robin Hood" (WB) (re- Jissue). Lively $8:;000. Last week, $7 500 <2d wk), big fis?**^^'"* and "ReturS wmstler" (Col). $14,000. "BpW. ^l^? 'I'OOO; 45-65)- Marih=v^^?I^<20th) and "Frontier Marshal" (20th) (reissues). Perky band"" "Weal Hus- uana (20th) and "Let's L!vi» Again" (20th), about same. Key City Grosses Estimated Total Gross This Week $2,654,000 (Based on 23 cities, 209 theotres, chiefly first runs, in- cluding N. Y.) Total Gross Same Week Last Tear 1^3,196,000 (Based on 22 cities, 197 thea- PICTITRB CROSSES IS St. Loo Stamp Blamed On Coal Stoppage, But 'Senator' Fat $19,000 St. Louis, April 13. Biz at main street cinemas has dipped again but "Senator Was In- discreet," one of two new films is faring well at Loew's to lead city. "To the' Victor" is ruimerup but not big at Fox. Coal strike, with resulting layoffs in factories here, is showing its effect by the dip at boxoffice. Weather has been spot- ty, being near 78 degrees Wednes- day, hottest for that date in 77 years, and the mercury fell to 38 degrees the next morning. Estimates for This Week Ambassador (F&M) (3,000; 50-75) — "Gentleman's Agreement" (20th) (2d wk). Trim $18,000 after $23,000 initial week. Fox (F&M) (5,000; 50-75)— "To the Victor" (WB) and "I Became a Criminal" (WB). Barely gbod $18,- 000. Last week, "Big Clock" (Par) and "Speed to Bum*' (Par). $16^000. Loew's (Loew) (3,172; 50-75)— "Senator Indiscreet" (U) and "Alias a Gentleman" (M-G). Fat $19,000. Last week, "A Double Life" (U) and "10th Ave. Angel" (M-G), $20,000. Missouri (F&M) (3,500; 50-75^— "April Showers" (WB) and "Re- lentless" (Col) (m.o.). Nice $14,000. Last week "Bishop's Wife" (BKO) and "Scudda Hbo" (20th) (m.o.) (3d wk). $9,500. OtiOieiiilii -"Moiutiing Becomes JEllectra" (RKO). Opening day started slow* ly. Last week, not using films. LA. Not isam Over los Angeles' ,000; Tictor Tame 41€. Cooper Liisty4C%lH!irGoesStli,0keM 'Daughters' Takes Top Money in Prov., $27,000 Providence, April 13. Fairly healthy spurt all around here, with State's "Three Daring Daughters"' getting top coin. In second week and still going strong is RKO Albee's "Remember Mama." Majestic's "(Sentleman's Agree- ment" also looks neat on second frame. - Estimates for This Week -Albee (RKO) (2,200; 44-65)— "Remember Mama" (RKO) (2d wk). Still a powerhouse at $17,000. First week was wow $21,000. Carlton (Fay) (1,400; 44-65)-^ "Sitttog Pretty" (4th downtovm week). Healthy $5,000. Last week, swell $8,000. Fay's (Fay) (1,400; 44-65)— "Cour- age of Lassie" (M-G) (reissue) and vaude on stage. Oke $7,000. Last week. "Jiggs, Maggie in Society" (Mono) and vaude on stage, same. Majestic (Fay) (2,200; 44-65)— "Gentleman's Agreement" (20th) (2d wk). Fairly neat $15,000. Last week, snappy $19,000, Metropolitan (Snider) (3.100; 44r 65)— "Fun On Weekend" (Mono) and "Scandal in Paris" (Rep). So- so $7,500. Last week, legit show. State (Loew) (3',200; 44-65)— "3 Daring Daughters" (M-G) and "Re- turn Whistler" (M-G). Solid $27,- 000. Last week, "Tarzan's Secret Treasure" (M-G) and "Tarzan's N.Y. Adventure" (M-G) (reissues), fair $15,000. Strand (Silverman) (2,200; 44-65) —"Saigon" (Par) and "Caged Fury" (Par) (3d wk). Started Sunday (11). Second week was fairly good $10,000 while opener was $16,000. 'Showers $13j TopsRMiyln^s. Indianapolis, April 13. By strange coincidence April showers have put the damper on new entries at deluxers generally this week, one exception being "April Showers," which is dandy at the Circle to top town. "Gen- tleman's Agreement" is just fair in second stanza at Indiana. "High Wall" looks under par at Loew's. Estimates for This .Week Circle (Gamble-DoUe) (2,800; 44- 65)— "April Showers" (WB) and "Devil's Cargo" (PC). Dandy $13,000. Last week, "Call North- side" (20th) and "Campus Honey- moon" (Rep), hep $13,800. Indiana (G-D) (3,300; 44-65)— "Gentleman's Agreement" (20th) (2d wk). Modest $9,500 on top of terrific $19,000 first week. Keith's (G-D) (1,300; 44-65)— "BeUe Starr" (20th) and "Frontier Marshal" .(20th) (reissues). Modest $5,400 in 8 days. Last week, "Sit- ttog Pretty" (20th) (m.o.), dandy $6,500. Loew's (Loew's) (2,450; 44-65)— "High Wall" (M-G) and "Captains Courageous" (M-G) (reissue). Mild $10,000. Last week, "Sign of Ram" (Col) and "Return Whistler" (Col), solid $12,000. Lyric (G-D) (1,600; 44-65).^"Call Northside" (20th) and "Campus Honeymoon" (Rep) (m.o.) Pair $5,500 in 6 days. Last week, "Prince of Thieves" (Col) and "Lady Sur- renders" (U), $6,500. Los Angeles, April 13. Fjlrstrun biz is on the medium side this frame. "Unconquered," playing at pop prices, looks stand- out and sturdy $44,000 at two Para- mount theatres. Reissue combo of "Lost Horizon" and "Adam Had Four Sons" also is hitting a good stride at around $30,000 in four smallseaters. n- "To the Victor" iSiapes to get well below average at $41,000 in three houses. "Old Los Angeles" looks to land only slow $25,000 m five situations even ' though preemed in city bearing its title. Top holdover coin is going to "Sitting Pretty" with Stout $54,500 in four sites, second frame. "Re- member Mama" is over average at $36,000 if not hefty on toitial hold- over round, two. houses. Fifth and itoal week of "Naked City" shapes to get $22,000 to five spots, good considering length of run. "Fugi- tive" is tapering off to $14,000 in third session, two locations. Estimates for This Week Belmont (FWC) (1,532; 60-$l)— "Old Los Angeles" (Rep) and "In- side Story'' (Rep). Slow $3,d00. Last week, "Bambi" (RKO) (reissue) and "Western Heritage*' (RKOI (2d wk- 6 days), $2,100. Beverly BQUs Music Hall (G&S- Blumenfeld) (826; 65-$!)- "Lost Horizon" (Col) and "Adam Had Four Sons" (Col) (reissues). Fancy $5,500. Last week, "Song of Heart" (Mono), $3,100. Carthay Circle (FWC) (1,518; 60- $1) — "Gentleman's Agreement" (20th) (3d wk). Thin $3,500. Last week.- oke $5,400. Chinese (Grauman-WC) (2,048, 60-$l)— "Sitttog Pretty" (20th) and "Challenge" (20th) (2d wk). Robust $16,000. Last week, wow $18,800^ Culver (FWC)' (1,145; 60-$l)— "Los Angeles" (Rep) and "Inside Story" (Rep). Dull $3,500. Last week, "Bambi" (RKO) (reissue) and "Western Heritage" (RKO) (ad wk- 6 days), $2,500. Downtown (WB) (1,800; 60-$l)— "To Victor" (WB). Slow $16,000. Last week, "April Showers" (WB) (2d wk), off sharply at $9,600. Downtown Music Hall (Blumen- feld) (872; 60-$l)— "Lost Horizon" (Col) and "Four Sons" (Col) (re- issues). Good $12,500. Last week, "Song Heart" (Mono) and "Where North Begtos" (SG), $7,100. Egyptian (FWC) (1,538; 60-$l)— "Bride Goes WUd" (M-G) (3d wk). Off to $3,500 in 3 days. Last week, light $7,300. El Rey (FWC) (861; 60-$l)— "Los Angeles" (Rep) and "Inside Story" (Rep). Thin $3,000. Last week, "Bambi" (RKO) (reissue) and "Western Heritage" (RKO) (2d wk- 6 days), $2,300. EsquU-c (Rosener) (685; 85-$1.20) —"To Live in Peace" (Indie) (2d wk). Good $4,000. Last week, neat $5,600. Four Star (UA-WC) (900; 60-$l) 'Bride' Not So fiUSim Pitt Pet; 'God' Fast $19,000, Tanhaiidle' $5, Pittsburgh. April 13. Leaders this week will be "Bride Goes Wild" at Penn and "Big Clock" at Stanley, running about neck-and-neck with "Bride" show- ing best. Couple of other new en- tries are going nowhere,- "Pan- handle" at Fulton and twin biU. of "1 Love Trouble" and "Wreck of Hesperus" at Senator. "Naked City" at Harris and "Miracle, of Bells" at Wai-ner are wmding' up runs and still rather strong in third weeks. Estimates for This Week Fulton (Shea) (1,700; 44-76)— "Panhandle" (Mono). Lucky to get even $5,000, not forte here. Last week, second of "Scudda Hoo!" (20Ui), nice $6,000. Harris (Harris) (2,200; .44-76)— "Naked City" (U) (3d wk). Con- tinues to show strength but limited to 5 day« this week, then goes to Senator. Stout $8,000, exceaient. Last i#eek. big $14,000. Penn (Loew's-UA) (3,300; 44-76) —"Bride Goes Wild" (M-G). Laugh picture looks strong $18,500 or more. Last week, "Unconquered" (Par), at pop scale, okay $13^000, considering 5 weeks film ran pre- viously downtown. Ritz (Loew's) (800; 44-76)— "Un- conquered". (Par) (m.o.). Meat and potatoes for this smallseater, nice $4,000. Last week, "Buckskin Frontier" (Col) and "American Empire" (Col) split with "Tarzan's Treasure" (M-G) and "Tarzan Ad- venture" (M-G) (reissues), $2,000. Senator (Harris) (1,750; 44-76)— "Love Trouble" (Col) and "Wreck Hesperus" (Col). Firstrun twinner, mild $1;500 in 5 days. Last week, "Farmer's Daughter" (RKO) and "Spiral Staircase" (RKO reissues) $3,000 in 6 days, under hopes. 6 days, under hopes. Stanley (WB) (3,800; 44-76)— "Big Clock" (Par). Very good $19,000, best here in long time. Last week, second of "April Showers" (WB), $7,500 to S days. Warner (WB) (2,000; 44-76)— "Miracle Bells" (BKO) (2d Wk). Despite notices, this one's been doing very well to finale at $8,000 on top of nice $12,000 last week. —"Fugitive" (RKO) (3d wk). Near $5,000. Last week, okay $6,100. Gu,ild (FWC) (968; 60-$l) — "Naked City" (U) (5th wk). Oke $2,500. Last week, $3,600, Hawaii (G&S - Blumenf eld) (1,- 106; 60-$!)- "Lost Horizon" (Col) and "Four Sons" (Col) (reissues). Fast $7,500 or near. Last week, "Song Heart" (Mono), $2,600. Hollywood (WB) (2,756; 60-$l) "To Victor" (WB). Slow $13,000. . La.st week, "April Showers" (WB) , (2d wk), $8,900. Hollywood Music Hall (Blumen'' ; feld) (475; 60-85)— "Lost Horizon" (Col) and "Four Sons" (Col) (re- issues). Pleastog $4,500. Last week, "Song Heart" (Mono), slow $2,400. Iris (FWC) (828; 60-85)— "Naked City" (U) (5th wek). Down ~to>, $2,500. Last week, okay $3,6()0. Laurel (Rosener) (890; 85)— "La Boheme" (Indie) and "Manon Les- caut" (Indie). Good $2,000. ' Last week, "Furia" (FC) (4th. wk), nice $1,400. - Loew's State (Loew-WC) (2,404; 60-$l)— "Sitting Pretty" (20ai) and "Challenge" (20th) (2d wk). Aver- age 18,000. Last week, nice $24,^ 200. ■ Los Angeles (D'town-WC) (2,097; 60-$l)— "Bride Goes Wild" (M-G) (3d wk). Only $S,000 to 3 days. Last week, light $12,400. Loyola (FWC) (1,248; 60-$l)— "Sitttog Pretty" (20th) and "Chal- lenge" (20th) (2d wk). Solid $9,000 or near. Last week, fine $10,500. Orpheum (D'town-WC) (2,210; 60-$l)— "Los Angeles" (Kep) and "Inside Story" (Rep). Fair $12,000. Last week, "Bambi" (RKO) (re- issue) and "Western Heritage" (RKO) (2d wk)-6 days), $6,700. Palace (D'town) (1,226; 60-$l)-— "Fugitive" (RKO) (3d wk). Nice- $9,000. Last week, $12,700. Pantages (Pan) (2,812; 60-$l)— "Remember Mama" (RKO) (2d wk). Good. $19,500. Last week, $23,500. Paramount (F&M) (3,398; 60-$l> —"Unconquered" (Par).' Hear^ $27,000 or near. Last week, "Bish- op's Wife" (RKO) (2d wk), $31,500. Paramount Hollywood (F&M) (1»- ~ 451; 60-$l)— "Unconquered" (Par). Rousing $17,000. Last weelcf "Bish- op's Wife" (RKO) (2d wk), $9,300. BKO Uillstreet (RKO) (2,890; 60- 80)— "Remember Mama" (RKO) (2d wk). Good $16,500. Last week, below average at $20,600. Ritz (FWC) (1*370; 60-$l)— "Nalced City" (U) (5th .wk). Near $6,000. Last week, good $7i800. Studio City (FWC) (880; 60-$l)— "Naked City" (U) (50i wk). Ftoales at $2,500. Last week, nice $3,700. ' United Artists (UA) (2,100; 60-$l) —"Naked City" (U) (5th wk). Nice $8,500. Last week, neat $11,000. Uptown (FWC) (1,718; 60-$l)— "Sitting Pretty" (20Oi) and "Chal- lenge" (20tii) (2d Wk). Sharp $11,- 500. Last week, very fancy $14,300. Vogue (FWC) (885; 60-85)— "Los Angeles" (Rep) and "Inside Story" (Rep). Modest $3,500. Last week. "Bambi" (RKO) (reissue) and "Western Heritage" (RKO) (2d wk- 6 days), $3,200. WUshire (FWC) (2,296; 6p-$l)— "Bride Goes Wild" (M-G) (3d wk). Off to $3,000 to 3 days. Last week, light $6,500. Wiltcm (WB) (2,300: 60.$1)— "To Victor" (WB). Mild $12,000. I^st week, "April Showers" (WB) (2d wk), $8,400. Street Repairs Slough Many KX. Spots Albeit 'Agreement' Big $23,000 Kansas City, April 13.. Main biz on theatre row is l>e- ing done by "Gentlemen's Agree- ment" this stanza with iUm hav- ing hangup sessions at the Tower* Uptown-Fairway combo, and stay a second week. ''Mating of MilUe" at Midland is- okay. The Main street houses. Midland, Para- mount and Roxy, are having some tough competition this stanza from the street-repair job which takes street cars and other traffic off the mato drag. Estimates tor Diis Vfitik. / EsQuire (Fox Midwest) (820; 45- 65)— "Sitting Pretty" (20th) (m. o.). Average $4,000. Last week, "Black Narcissus" (U) and "SUver Queen" (Conttoued on page 16) Weineeday, April 14, 1948 fitbMPEA Rolling, MPM Plans Now to Build Bigger U. S. Audience Hollywood, April 13. ' Concern over the domestic mar- ket and satisfaction with the re- sults obtained by Motion Picture Export Assn. throughout.the world were expressed here Friday (9) by Motion Picture Assn. of America prexy Eric Johnston, following confabs with producers and labor diiefs on world conditions and Hollywood production outlook. Johnston also made some esti- mates on what to expect in foreign revenues, and echoed producer sentiment that the British tax set- tlement was a moral victory for Hollywood in that it averted tax- ation, no matter how low, that would have plummeted out of sight eventually. On the export organization, he said, "We organized MPEA to deal with areas behind the'Iron Curtain and other areas where we had to deal on a monopolistic basis. Vari- ous industry peof>le said it couldn't be done because the film companies couldn't stick together. But they have stuck together, and the whole industry is now doing business, as tin export company in 13 countries. Foreign Profits Grow "We didn't make a net profit in these countries before the war, but now we are showing one. As a matter of fact, we paid $X,pOO,000 in., dividends last year from these markets and have paid $500,000 so far this year," he -continued. ■ Situ- atsion in a number of countries was reviewed, and Johnston stressed tliat the important angle was to keep ejdiibitlng in these marketis, even though the ¥. S. lost money, so that when tbey open up Yank . pix will still be in demand. "This industry, is spending bet- ter than $500,000 a year— actual out-of-pocket expenses ia^'addition to' production and distribution monies— to exhibit in these coun- tries. We can't go On that way for- ever. , We have therefore joined with the newspaper, magazine and radio 'people In urging passage of ' the Smith-Mundt Bill to appropri- ate $15,000,000 with which to buy Mocked currencies in certain areas. Tills money will be of great help to us. And johiing with the other Industries' gives us oWdal govewi? ment feedgnition a^ a news and pfopaganda medium." Regarding foreign revenue, Johnston s&ld, "It fs a tough pic- ture.. It means fewer dollars for the industry but It keeps us on world screens. The British tax was onerous. It meant that our Indus- try wo«4d have $46,000,000 to $30,- 000,000. impounded In X^gland all the time. ■ "But far more important was the principle of the tax. It was some- thing completely new. It had never beien tried anywhere in the-world, ttiis ad valorem ^Hiy m estimated earnings. Wlien I ti^nt to England in February I tried to explain to iSir Stafford Gripps the vicioiis principle of the tax. Then they wanted to reduce it to 25%. We wouldn't go fpr that. Then they ^ wanted 1%, But we had the ex- ample of the 1,% tax imposed by Sritaltt on admissions in its' own • ll)«8fctes.afteriWorld War 1, which has gone skyhigh Since. We held . oat for no tax at all, and that was . It."; Johnston stressed that Holly- wood will receive $17,000,000 from ■ ZIngland. regardless of the fluct^" atiott' of the British pound, plus earnings of British films in the U. S„ which he said he hopes will be $7,000,000 or $8,000,000 this year, as against last year's esti- mated $4,000,000. "They have some good pictures," he said. "1 have seen some of them. I have heard of others. I think British pictures should do better heire than they did' last year." ' "Loew'S Hose" . He also described how unremit- ted sterling can be spent for vari- ous commodities and services in sterling areas. These are not necessarily the kind of goods and services used in the film business, with $5,000,000 earmarked as reve- nue from abroad annually qn these deals. He told of one such setup, described later by one of the cor- respondents present as: »;'ljoeWs Hose," to wit: Metro buys Swedish wood pulp and ships it to Italy, where it's made into rayon. That becomes hose, orjvhatttot, and Metro splits the profits 50-50 with the foreign companies. Or Paramount builds a hotel in London, securing a hard-to-get building permit first Irom the British government. Con- ^.struction helps BrltlsU labor, re- lieves England's hotel shortage, and brings In free-spending Amer- ican tourists. Par gets the oper- ating profit — up to "a certain point, of course. This Is a four-year agreement, subject to review ^iftei' two years. . ■ * His answer to the usual guestltffifc about whether he's going tft--tuf for a political office: "I can!t an- swer that. I don't know. Well I'm going to do the best I can In this job, and as long as I'm In it I will not have any political am- bitlons." g. 'Over 3i' Coiitlnnea from pu« f Danish Producer Sees Few U.S. Pix Made There with Denmark still badly short of dollars, at least two more years are required before the country re- turns to normalcy according to Danish film producer^irect&r'-Carl Dreyier, currently in New York on his. first visit to the U. S. He pointed out, however, that cm-rent theatre attendance is exceeding prewar business. The public has .always "preferred American pictures'! although it warmly patronizes the few Danish films turned out by the local in- dustry. .Dreyer-is here 'prim^lly to at- tend the forthc<»ming preem of his film, "Day of Wrath," due shortly at the Little Carnegie, N". Y. Distributed in the U. S. by George J. ScSiaefer Associates, the picture was completedi. by Palla- dium Films in 1943. The pro- ducer-director ha's several ideas for possible production in the tj. S., and duiring his stay he'U naturally discQSS- thebi. Kay Thompsim S Cdntinued ft'oni page I g of $21,000 and $25,000 and 50% the receipts beyond that, , Miss. "Thompson is runner-up to Milton Berle WhOr; during his run at the now-ii^uttmd Ctwnlval,i in one, week Bit' altiund llO.SOO on a deal which gave him a $7,500 guarantee and 50% of the take over $42,000. However, both these marks will be eclipsed when' the Rltz Bros, open at the Harem, May 6, at $12,500 weekly. A hearty bit of the first week's bt^m at the Herb^ Jacoby- Hii^t Ctordon cafe 'came &oin car- riage teade Who hadn't been re- ported in niteries in as long as 15 years. Headwaiters from other spols, casing Le Directoire, nodded to people that hadn't been JEre- quenting clubs for more than a decade. . The same phenomenon occurred this past winter at the Versailles .with the Edith Plaf engagement. Duitog 'the height of the biggest snowstorm since the tailzKard of '88, When virtually every cafe in town was etiipty, . there were people waiting- in Itie snbvratorm to get Into the place. under the age of 30 years; Results almost as surprising had emerged previously from similar surveys made by Dr. George Gallup's Au- dience Research Institute. It's a problem which was first presented shortly before the war but never yet grappled with. At thfit time, first surveys on the sub- jecfcVwere made but the war came aXong and boom ,tlmes with it — so that action was postponed. ■ Various toppers, however, now feel that the hurdle Is too pressing to stall any longer. Surveys are causing a drastic change In thinking. Whereas, for the past year, there's been a good deal of brain-cudgeling how to bring in the 55,000,000 persons who duck all pix entertainment. It's not been predicated specifically on age brackets. Now, the thinking will go along those lines with strenuous efforts made to determine what's needed to attract the oldsters. Broader appeal In story material Is one of the approaches which some eXecs think may held. There's another school that believes care- ful testing will show that a wider variance in stories with some aimed specifically for older pa- trons may help. A change in the "boy-meets-girl" recipe to the buildup of some, other human rela- tionship formula for a fair number of pix may be one eutcropping of the poser. Some execs feel that careful checking of foreign-lingo, semi^ documentaries, "adult"' films and other product deviating from the norm should be made to determine whether the same heavy proportion of youngsters is attracted to these. If not, Hollywood may swing fur- ther in that direction. Advertising copy is expected to take some ^keen inspection. Re- cently, there have been a number of huddles of ad-pub staffers grap- pling with the problem of attract- ing that 55,000,000. One such was the meeting of Paramount ad-pub- befs in Chicago in which the prob- lem received plenty of attention. Problem of age will now play a big part in those meets. Ad copy may take considerable revamping and testing to deter-' mine whether the' space which draws youth, drives away the yover 35's." Surveys to detemdne the question probably be shaped. Ue Stnff-Pictinres National City Bank of New York did a pitch on the filn^ industry hi full-page ads in Time and other mags last week. It was on« of the series the bank runs entitled "America the Provider — plugging the foreign facilities of the institution. " Ad tossed off a lot of "popular" statistics regarding the industry K pointed up for filmltes Eric Johnston's jfemark that the picture business probably Imows less about itself statistically than any other business of comparable size In America. Among figures used, for instance is the 100,000,000 average weekly attendance. That's a statistic (like the 90,000,000 weekly that was formerly used) that's always tossed around by Industry Rotarians without having the slightest basis of solid re- search. It niay well be a true estimate— although most researchers think it is probably too high — but certainly it has never been proved Variety has for years tried to chase down.its source, only to find that one person has quoted it from another in an endless round-robin. Dr George Gallup's Audience Research Institute puts the weekly figure at about 60,000,000. ^ ^ National City ad also states that total capital investment In produc- tion, theatres and distribution is about $2.6 billion In the U.S. and another half billion abroad; B.o. receipts, it states, stand at $1.8 bil- lion, "triple the pre-war figure." Since no one ever had any accurate— or near accurate-^idea of the "pre-war figure," it's hard to tell how close to correct the present figures are. They're all undoubtedly equally as vague as tv origin as the 100,000,000 weekly attendance Johnston, In the past couple years, has considerably hypoed the quest for knowledge by setting up a research bureau In the Motion Picture Assn. of America, but only the merest surface has been scratched so far A new branch manager for one of the majors in the Colorado area is dealt a terrific lacing In the current bulletin of Allied Rocky Mountain Independent Theatres. It's claimed that reports have reached ARMIT that the b.m. is "traveling the territory makmg exhorbitant demands for mediocre releases and is using a brand of salesmanship which went out -of style several years ago." Bulletin continues that a recent statement to an Independent e». hibltor allegedly made by the b.m. was that his firm's pictures would play that town whether that particular exhib bought them or not. It's added parenthetically that "the implied threat was that if the exhibitor did not buy, then a competitive house would be promoted." In reference to the foregoing, ARMl'T argues "it is exactly that sort of thing which has already put ------ into the courts. And it is exactly that kind of talk which could keep - - hi the courts for a long time to come." Inside organteatton notes that its purpose is to ^'exitose" the branch madager and threatens that his stay In the area won't be a happy one if he fiedls to change his tactics. Swedish frod. s Contlniied froui p»ge 5'; Federsd Copyright Office is now issuing a newly refurbished series of catalogs covering pertinent info >on titles of both motion pictures and dranias and works prepared foi" oral delivery filed with the bureau. Half-yearly numbers for the January-June, 1947, period, have ahready been prhited and are on sale for $1.50 each. . Motion picture catalog contains alphabetical listing of titles to all types of films registered for copyright during the first half of '47^ Addi- tionally, it details type of film, produced, when made, running time,' credits and cast. . Catalog on dramas and works for oral delivery contains similar data. It also contains cross-references from titles, editors, translators and other contributory authors. Copyright office is touting both Catalogs as more complete than any other lists now in the field. Gor$ Inventory conidbaned trom )^se S's estimates tOb difficult The droit in net is. mainly -.due, Schneider opined/ h^feaus?" of "too many liigh cost" pictures in' stock which have to be 'liquidated." British situation will have an Im- portant bearing on Columbia's earning position, company exec said. Just Bow much money will be forilicondng from Britain is one of the Uhceriainties which Cloud the future, according to Schneider. Company, however, had embarked on a course in which It will try to get out Us costs and profits with- out counting on British revenues. Columbia will probably make some films in Eu^and under the settlement, Schneider said. Touch- ing on Hollywood, he depicted the< industry as "changing radically" in the past five years since Income taxes skyrocketed. "It's very dif- ficult to hire people on salary be- cause they've been 1 forming their own production companies." Quizzed On how Columbia was treating television, Jack Cohn, ex- ecutive veepee, answered: "We're working on television all' the time." A department handling video has been organized, he explained, and almost continuous negotiations have been pushed for sale of video rights to Columbia filnis. ~ All.film production has been halted with the exception of a few shorts. Labor unrest coupled with gener- ally unfavorable economic condt tions as well as smaller theatre at tendance will result, according to Molander, . in production of no more than 40 to 42 films by the Swedish industry this year. Be- fore the war he noted that the annual output approximated about 30 pix, but postwar production jumped to between 40 an* 50. Now it's tapering off chiefly due to pres- sure from pic patrons who are de- manding better quality films. His own firm, Molander revealed, will turn out no more than 12 or 13 features this yeac preferring to concentrate upon "quality rather than quantity." . Turning to the remittance situa- tion, Molander said that a 50% •freeze is now in effect but trade delegations are huddlirtg with the 0. S. State Dept; and there's a pos- sibility more favorable terms may result for American distributors. His studio deal with Splznick, In- cidentally, in which the latter Will presumably use up his own frozen funds, will make available in addi- tion to space a variety of techni- cians including cameramen and complete lab facilities. With judicious additions from the footage originally left on the cut- ting-room floor, Enterprise prexy Charlie Elnfeld states he has created almost "an entirely new film" on "Arch of Triumph" from that which was tradescreened for exhibitors and the tradepress. New footage, whidi extends the running time eight minutes to a total of 128 minues, is designed to lif^ten the' film and play up more the romantic theme between stai^ Ingrid Bergman and C^les Boyer. Film cost betwjeen $4,000,060 and $4,400,000. It will have to gross at least $6,600,000 in the world market before Enterprise hits the break-even pohit. Emfeld, who came east for his mother's funeral services last week, plans to remain in New York for the charity preem of "Arch" at the Broadway Globe Monday (19) before heading back to the Coast Wedn^day m). ; WB« Parleys Start After' series of delays, arbitra- tion proceedings between Warner Bros, and Screen Publicists Guild under the union contract's wage reopening clause start tomorrow (Thursday) at the American Ar- bitration Assn. SPG Is asking for a straight 30% tilt but likelihood Is that award will average around 15% as set by previous cases with other film companies. Arbltratbrs are Edward K. Hesis- berg, WB attorney; Aaron Schneid- er, regional director the white col- larite union; and Mitchell M. Ship- man, impartial member appointed by the AAA. Variety Club Tak'tis Over Miami Continued from page 9 ; to make a motion picture based on the story of the boys ranch near Belton, Texas, vi'hlch has been un- der the wing and suppojrt of Tent 17 of Dallas. Plan Is for the tents to get in back of the picture as they did "Variety Girl," made last year by Paramount, with theatres play- ing It giving special-performance receipts to local tents and Wanger cutting the intemational in on the profit This win probably* l)e adopted Thursday. It has also be^n decided to limit the, number of associate members in all tents to a point where the number does not threaten to over- shadow the showfolks. It will also be voted to give a runnerup cita- tion this year to the tent which is chosen second in the "Human Heart" charities awards, On Thursday ana Friday, the committee of judges chairmanned by Arthur Ungar, editor of Daily Variety, with Red Kann and Jay Emanuel ' as associates, will get the reports on the charitable work of the various tents during' the years and make the decisions. Also on Friday there will be an elec- tion of international officers, with O'Donnell chosen by acclamatl()n for another term despite his effort to go Into' retirement, There will probably be contests for posts of first and second international chief barkers. Also on Friday next year's convention city will be cho- sen. San Francisco now has the jump. On Saturday comes unfinished business and the humanitarian awards banquet. This will be at a steak house close to the Roney- Plaza, with 750 to attend, strictly stag. George Jessel gets in Fri- day from Hollywood to m.c. the show and will also be given a gold life membership card in the Va- riety International for the efforts he has made in its behalf. Former Governor. Harold Stas- sen will be the principal speaker at the banquet, with Morton Dow- ney and a score of talent headirg the entertainment. Prior to the banquet Warners will toss a cock- tail party for all guests at the Ro- ney. Affair is getting great news- reel coverage, with Paramount having two men here lensing it all and tossing it in^o the newsreel pool. Sunday and Monday will be getaway days. ; 'Ninotchka Continued front iKiEO t S ssssJ "reac- as It's being presented by tionary M-G-M." Grosses have continued to break records throughout, Italy. On the first Sunday the film played in Rome, truckloads of farmers came in from the provinces to see it. It's now playing six Rome theatres day-and-date on a secondrun basis, with payees lined up at all houses throughout the day. Italian Ministry of Information announced that it had decided to reject the Soviet note because "the picture, which was forbidden by the Fascist (Mussolini) govern- ment, is now to be shown in a free and democratic country." BI€6£ST SUNDAY BROADWAY^ fWtACE. and BIGGEST BUSINESS IN MONTHS AT GRAND, CHICAGO... ^£lDOt^£l^f SENSATIONAL AT THE RIALTO, SALT LAKE CUT, „ Oi<£i^l First three openings click to Top Tarzon Business across the board . . . as Dave Edwards, Genl. Mgr. of Joseph Lawrence Theatres keys exhibitor comment: ^Tinest Tarzan we have been privileged to play! Excellent opening and audience reaction!''' 16 I»I€TVRES Picture. Gresses PORTLAND, ORE. (Continued from page 11) "The Flame" (Bep), great $11,600. RIayfair (Eavber) (1,500; 50^)— "Jungle Book" (Indie) and "Xeader Years" (20th). Okay $5,500, Last week, "BUI and Coo" (Rep) and "Inside Story" (Bep), $3,600. Music Box (H-E) (1.000; 50-85)— "Gentleman's Agreement" (20th) (m.o.). Big $5^0. Last week, "Scudda HOo" (20th) and "Girl Tisa" (WB) (5 days) (2d wk) (m.o.), $2,200. „ ^ - Oriental (H-E) (2,000; 50-85)— "Bishop's Wife" (RKO). day-date with Paramount. SoUd $7,000. Last week, "Gentleman's Agreement" (20th) (5 days) (2d wk), okay $3,200. Orphcum (H-E) (1,750; 50-85)— "Sitting Pretty" (20th) and "The OiaUenge" (20th) (2d wk). Sock $9;500. Last week, $10,800. Paramount (H-E) (3,400; 50-85)— "Bishop's Wife" (RKO), also Ori- ental. Torrid $12,500. Last week, "Gentleman's Agreement" (20th) (5 days) (2d wk), $6,200. Playhouse (H-E) (1,200; 60-ffi)— "Good Old Days" (Indie) (r^Bsiie). Fair .$1,500. Last week, "Fanner's Daughter" (RKO) and "Crossfire" (RKO), (reissues), nice $2,300. United AiUsts (Pauker) (895; 50- e5>— "Three Daring Daughters" (M-G) (2d wk). Terrific $11,500. Last week, $13,800. Guild (Parker) (427; 50-85)— "Black Bart" (U) and "Bill and Coo" (Rep) (m.o.) So-so $2;000. Last week, "Sierra Madtfe". (WB) and "Campus Hbnegnmoqu" (Bep). (m.o.), $1,800. ■ - Despite Snow, 'Sitting' $27,5fl0, 3 Denver Spots SNewPkChea'Del.; Denver, April 13 "Sitting Pretty," is. standout here this M?eek, packing three theatres. An inch of wet snow on Sunday (11) cut into grosses geiaeraUy. Estimates lor Tfils Wcefe . . AtaddiB (Fox) (1,400; 35-74)— "Double Life" (U), after week at. Denver, Esquite. Pine $4,000. Last week, "Scudda Hoo" (20th) and "Docks New Orleans" (Mono) (m.o.), $3,000. ' Denham (Cockrill) (1,750; 35-70) — "Unconqueared" (Par) (2d wkK Thin $9,000. Last we^, $9,500. ]}enver (Fox) (2.5ffi; 35-74)i "Sitting jPretfy" (20th) and "Tend- er Years" (20th), day-date with Es- quh^, Webher. Big $20^)00. Last week, "Double Life" (U), $17,500. Esquire (Fox) (742; 35-74) "Sitting Pretty" (20th) and "Tender Years" (20th), also Denver, Web- ber. Fancy $4,000. Last week, "Doable Life" (D), fine $4,500. Orpheum (RKO) (2,600; 35-74)— "Remember Mama" (RKO) (2dwfc). Nice $13,500. Last week, faig $19,r 000. Pwantoimt (Fox) (2,200; 35-7#— "Sim M Xbm" (Col) and'^tum Wtaisttet"^ (Ck>U. line $11.00& X^t we^ "Gentlemah's Agreeownif' (20tb) m WK), $10,000. Btatto mmy mS; 35-74>— "tiea- tleman's Agreement" (20th). after two weeks at Paramount and week each at Esqiiire, Webber. Fahf $3,- 000. Last week, "Black Narcissus" (U) and "Secret Beyond Door" (U) (in.o.). same. Tab*r (FoJt) (1,967; 35-74)— -Wm&a in Nighl^' (FC) and *Flame of New Orleans" (FC). Nice $12,000. Last week, "MTUttmy's Ghostf' (todie) and "SSxamas's Tomb" (todie). $10,000. Webber (Fox) (850; 35-74)— "Sitting Pretty" {20th) and "Tender Years" (20th), d^-dat© with Den- ver, Ksquire. Good $3,500. Last week, "Gentleiuaii's Agceement" (20th), i; fh(K)0. Last week, "So Well Remembered'' (RKO), $6,500. G«iAer (Par) (1,000; 44)— «Bad- lands of Dakota" (Indie) and "Trail of Vigilantes?* (Indie) (re- issues.). Lii^t $3,000. Last week, ' tra" (REO). Roadshow date fin- ished near end of week below hopes. Thin $6,000. House not using, firstrun films this week. Lyric (Par) (1,000; 50-70)— "CalL Northside" (20th) (4th wk). A big winner, winding up at neat $5,000 after good $6,500 in previous canto. Radio City (Par) (4,400; 50-'?6)— "Gentleman's Agreement" iioib). Profiting via Academy awards and looks to hit huge $25,000. Last week, "Unconquered" (Par) (2d run) (2d wk), satisfactory $11,000 after fine $18,000 first stanza. BKO-Ornbenm (RKO) (2,800; 50-70)— "Remember Mama" (RKO) (2d Wk). Delivering in big wsiy, betog fan«gr $12,000 after big $17,000 initial week. RKO-Pan (RKO) (1,600; 50-70)— "Fitting 69ai" (WB) and "Vall«gr Of Giants" (WB) (lelssttea). Good KANSAS crrr (Contintied t(fm page 13)^ (Indie) (r^gssae)| (dcaiir $5,000 days. . Midland (Loew's) (3,500; 45-65>— "Mating of MilUe" (Ctol) and "Ad- ventures in Silverado'" (Col). Mod- erately good $15,000^ Last week. "Three I3^Kring Danghteni^ (M-C> and "Bteldiaig for Heaveir tBL), $19,000 in 8 days. Oophent (RKO) (1,900: 45-^)— "Remmiiar Mama" imOi — "Uncontinared" (Par) (2d Ofce $8j00a ntee $i3|00Q first w©^-' ■■■■■ Sasy (Dnrwood) (900; 45-65) — "Private life Don Juan" (FC) and "Cafhncinie tile Great" (FC) (re- issues)., Just dtrer average at $4,000. Last week, "A&ica l^aks^' (tadie) and "Goona &i«aaf (In- die) (reissues), $3,500. T«w«-' Uiitom<-l?airwa3r (Fox. Midwest) (2,100, 700; 45-65) •—"Gentleman's Agreement" (20tli), Best biz in town at $23,000, big, and certain to hold. Last week. "Sitting Pretty" (20th) (2d wk). nifty $15,000* 28% of the stock while his brother. Jack, controls another 10%.. Hughes, conceivably, could fee dealing with some syndicate cesnk- trolling a large bioefe. So far as m is conecsmed both WilUam Goetz, prodncfion vecpee, and Nate J. Blumberg, prexy, flat- ly deny the reports. There's no evidence that these rumors were other than spontaneous generation caused 1>y the vaenum in real news. Deal on Republic is far fictHu likely and denied by all available sources. Hughes would not only have to buy out Herbert Yates, president and board chairman of Repuldle, but aSspi fiie stoek ifttec' csts held by Wlltinn German in behalf of the Jules Brulatoor es- tate. German and Yates a#ditiveiy hold control but not one without the other. Yates is currently In New York on visit. Negotiations between Hughes and Floyd B. Odium, board chair- man of Atlas, folded last week when the former abandoned four months' dickerings to buy 929,000 shares of ItKO common. At no time, ifs said, did fiiey ever get past the talking stage and nothing was ever 'put on paper. At one point, it's reported, Hughes wanted to trade part of his holdings in Trans-World Airlines for part of Atlas holdings but negotiations finally settled into a pattern of a straight cash deal. In its last stages, Wright came to New York in an effort to get things moving towards an agree- ment. But Odium and Hughes couldn't agree on price and neithex' would move their figure. Hence, the blowoff. While Hughes is now scanning the field. Odium, on his part, is reported ectnaiily determined to Uquldate Us BKO holdings. Pro- tracted talks with Hughes pre- vented him from cmisidering oth«r offers, number of which were made in the course of the maneuvers. It's Ukdy htm. turn his atleniion to these and othw tecdera itt the near futtm^a Origjnal^, Biigihe9 wanted to tiirow his idctnre "Vendetta" on the scale as part of the purchase price at a valuation of tetween i 12,000,000 and $3,000,000. Ifs said to cost him $2;i00,00a'plus a write- off of $90,000. Odium, however, refused to go for the proportion. Odium, in behalf «rf AthBS, countered With a snggjution that a share of the pnifits cm cowtplWted but nnreleased pix above inmitwy listiBg be indnded in tte deaflL Hughes, in tnrn« tKdked at the proposal. ■ FRED BfOSSON TEULS OF KHPKIDREHniSIED With ai pnwdaetiqe aelwdnle of 10 films to be made over a five- year period, Independent Artists is lining up a "revolving" fund in New York to finxnee its future film-aaaking. according to Fred- erick BrissoH, who's partnered with his wife, BosaUnd Russell and Dudley Nichols in the indie organizationk Revolving credit v/ould be in addition to coin, al- ready nude MtSMOtt fey « Cbleaeo groupi* . In Kew Y«dt £«■ sevcnd vreeks. Bnssnn will als» estab!!^ hmi of- fices and appoint an eastern rep- resentative. He declared his com- pany's initial venture, a Rosalind Kussell starrer, "Velvet Touch" wa» brought in $500,000 cheaper than any major studio could have done due to its stars, top execs, etc., coming in on a "share" basis. It's slated for RKO distribution next fall. lA is also grooving three more pix for RKO distribution. Outfit's next, picture is to be produced and directed by Nichols. Currently the firm has four com- pleted scripts all earmarked for high budgets. They're "Madly in Love," original comedy by Miss Russell; "New Model," auto indus- try story by Harry Kurnitz and Collier Young; "Lucky Penny," by Mindret I^ord and Jack Rubin, with screenplay by Allen Rivkin and Laura Kerr, plus "Vanity II," by F^rank Hom and Milton Merlin. lA is also projecting a biopic to be made in Denmark on his fath- er's life (Carl Brisson. the singer) as weD as _a "super-western" based oa the career of Barney Barnato, South Afz-ican diamond pioneer. Exteiiors of the latter would be made in South Africa with frozen B^tiisii poonds financing opera- tions. CINCINNATI (Continued troin page 11) "Remember Mama" (RKO), sock $19,000. Capitol (RKO) (2,000; 50-75) "Remember Mama" (RKO) (m.o.) Rosy $930. Last Wedc "B> F.*s Daughter" (M-G), nkw $10,000 hi 8 days. ■ Grand (RKO) (1,400; 50-75)— "Itelentless" (Col). Perky $10,SDO. Last we^ "Robm Hood" (WB) (reissue) (2d wk), $6,000. KeifVa (Ql^y Inv.) (l,5^j 50-75) *-"Naked City" (OT (2d wk). Hptey ^.500 in wate of last ^eekfs great $15,500, season's second highest grosser. Holds again. ' Lyric (RKO) (1.400; 50-75 — "April Showers" (WB) (m.©). Ptmsittg $5,sm. Last week, Fix in MiBpry CoBtiiiaed fnm face 3 50^ ReiUds ceived oSidal ecsifinnatfiiHx Of ibit action ftoat their fi^ but xt- triboted this to the fact that the Hungarian ma«* is still im 4» planning stage and tosat yet heen put Into effect. MPEA phms to f oUow the polity original^ laid down W veepce- general manager Irving Maas to the field staff. It will make aBow- anee for certain "local editing^' but wont sbmd for any alteration of a picture's theme. As soon as ifs. evident that a film has ben tam- pered vrith too much politically, it win he withdrawn from that coun- try. To date, according to the MPEA spoke^en, political tam- pering hasn't been, carried on to "any alarming pcopartlons" in any eoiwtry serViGed bar the group. HPBA ofOel^ ]Mhted out tiiat- Bangary has already banned all films participated in by the so- called "friendly witnesses" at the recent House un-American Activi- ties Committee hearings (» alleged Communism in Hollywood. These include such stars as Robert Tay- lor, Gary Cooper, Adolphe Men- jou, etc. Hungarian government, however, has permitted such films to be shown as "Going My Way" and "Bells of St. Mary's," despite the usual objection of Russian- dominated countries to any p£s with religious themes. wiB do only $500,000. while radUher of the lattnr two wM cross the $1,- 000,000 marie "If ^dilbitins want lower per- centage tems (ax our good films," this sites Inggie satd, "let them un- derwrite our entire production costs for the seas«Mi. They won't do that, of course, and, fay tbe same token, we must make up for the bald tmes on our good films, or wen be out of business. This can mean only one thing— that we make not «mly a profit on the Me ones, but jMunethhig extra to take care of mmsyiii&^j^ pro- daetfam costs.**- ' " Distrib attitude still is. no mat- ter what rental asked, that the eaMh sciuawks will follow. "Maybe, if we asked 60% and then came down to 50%, we'd get less cmn- plaiDubtfe*^ was tbe way several put it. ■ ,■, ■ . At any rate, main line of sales strategy is fixed to make domestic returns pay for the negative. Tac- tics wiU be to test the 'big ones hi a nmnher o£ trial runs with ac- coniEMUiyiiiye^ fanfare. If the boxof- fice pa^ off handsontidy, bracket the as a 50%er and go after those t«nnsi sciuawto or no sonawks. .. - Metro Indies "Scudda Hoo" (20th) (m.o.), fahrtsh $4,5001 Palace (RKO) (2,600; 50-75)— "Big aock" (Par). Big $12^. Last week, "April Showers" (WB)', same. Shnbert (BKO) (2,100; 50-75)— "Sitting Pretty" (20th). Holding on moveover for third downtown sesh. StiU strong at $7,0(K> after boff $9,0(M) last indie producers bat ntme of these have been finalized yet. Closest to the inking stage is a iwntract for Louis de Rof^emont to tarn out several documentary pix yearly for M-G n^tease. It stiU has several minor legid entanglements that most be stcaii^htened out. 0*6'^ pending deals are with John Ford s Argosy Pictures and Horizon Pic- tures (Sam iSpiegel and John Hus- ton). . Four Of the. first six Roach piJf are to be in color. "Little Circus, first on the list, is expected to be available sometime in October. Deal marics the first association of Roach wiOi Metn» since the latter distributed his "OuT Gan^ come- ■dies.', ■ ^ Roach Sti^Uo Active Hollywood, April 13. HSal Roach studio, idle for several months, resumes activi^ May 7 with the start; of "Ba^e," which Walter Wanger will produce for Ea^e lion release. A week later WiUiam LeBaron and Boris Monras will roll "Babes in Toyland" for United Artists dis- 'trihution. m Everett $LOANE and l\m ANDERS • Screenplay and PreducUon liy OfSOO WELLES IS PICT1J1IBS W«HliM!. > . . . .ChoccQ RiHRono Driver..;^,.. 4. .........'vx-ii.FalCO This film won the award for the best Italian pic at the last Venice exhibition. Produced by ANPI (Na- tional Assn. of Italian Partisans) its Commtmist purposes are obvi- ous. Aside from the political angle, film is on technical and artistic side one of the best n;ade here since liberation. In U. S. it may do well for arthouses and selected situations. Story deals vrith bandits,- fascists, and collaborationists against a peasant background. A truck, carrying millions of liras 'for agri- cultural works, is attacked by out- laws and the money stolen. Peas- ants form together to arrange a general chase of the bandits. After many ups and downs, bandits are. finally besieged in their refuge Personal elements are brought in as a pair of innocent lovers are in- volved, with further complications from the bandit chief and his mis- tress. Although "Tragic Chase" is the first film made by Guiseppe De Santis, direction is absolutely un- erring. Young director has bal- anced realism and i%firement with masterly adroitness in an elebo- rate, intellectual work of extremely European taste. Characters, weU projected, are rendered equally well by leading and supporting players. Otello Martelli's lensing is firstclass, as are sets by Carlo Egidi. Giuseppe Bosati's score backs the drama very effectively. Quat. film financing, Wilson declared he added 1^ BfieMille when he returns to the Coast. Film also stars Lor- etta Young, 1947' Academy Award would unhesitating use his re- quisitioning powers in order to ac- complish maximum production. Meanwhile the National Film Pro- duction Council, with Wilsorn as its chairman, will review at future meetings the use now being made of studio space. Hie Board of Trade head has scoffed at hints that the industry's present diffl^ culties are due to the recent tax settlement. In spiking these suggestions, Wil son said, "In the early weeks of this year we paid $50,000,000 an- nually for the privilege of seeing 'Hellzapoppin' for the third time and 'Ben-Hur' for the 23rd with no way of stopping the dollar drain except by resorting to cinema closures." Present difficulties have been arising not from the tax agreement, but are a hangover from the recent unsettlement which the government topper hopes will be brought to a quick agreement as a result of the pact. An earlier session of the Cine Technicians on Saturday (10) ap- proved a resolution that the gov- ernment finance indie producers as well as start a plant to turn out raw stock. Fear that the U. S. ma- jors might cut local film-men out of the production pie was expressed by the association's general secre- tary George Elvln who told mem- bers: "We do not want our studios, or the vast, majority of them, to be acquired by American producers." his girl friend and later his wife Miss Zetterling stands out in « meaty role. Supporting piavers are good, with John Elfstrom and Douglas Hage particularly registerl ing in minor parts. Ingmar Bergman has directed brilliantly while camerawork of Goran Strindberg and Erland von Koch's musical direction maintain a general excellence. Producer Lorens Malmstedt, long noted for his b.o. clicks, has delivered aEain W "Musik I Morker." Winq. Rendezvous in Salzkanuncrgnt (Songs) (AUSTRIAN) Sasoba Film Distributing Co. relea.-ip of Vienna Mundus Film pioductlon. Htara Hoi-ta Jilnyen and Inge Konrndl; fcntnres f**""-,?""- Melnrad, lailsabctli Mar- kuB, Theodor Danoggcr, Harry Fuss. D1-. i-ci-ted by AHrsd Stoegcr. Screenplay. Altio von Plnelll; camera, Ludwlg BorL-er; muaio and niuillcal direction, Ilohert Stolz; ncto. Frits Ju«i)tnor-JonBtort At Apollo, Vienna! BunnlnB time, OS MINS, Catchy music of Robert Stolz is the saving grace of "Rendezvous in Salzkammergut." Picture's score is Stolz at his best .with three of the numbers guaranteed to entrance audiences throughout the world. Trio includes "A Littie Joddler," "You Need Only a Comrade" ("Du Brauchst Nur Elnen Kameraden") and "Never Was the Night So Beautiful" ("Nie War Die Nacht So Schoen"). Story is an illogical yarn built around two girl secretaries who lose $9.50 at the races and are forced to walk all the way from Vienna to St. Gilgen. Scripters took some poetic license at this point for the sum lost wouldn't cover the fare for the six-hour rail- road ride in the first place. Eventually the gals reach their destination falling in and out of love en route. Some of the scenes are admittedly amusing, but on the whole the plot is pretty far-fetched. Stars Herta Mayen and Inga Konradi aren't particularly photo- genic. Hans Holt and Jo.sef Mein-. rad are adequate in their support. Ludwig Berger's camerawork is not up to par, nor is the sound either, foe that matter. However, with careful editing and repairs the picture might appeal to some U.S. audiences. Moos. Music I Morker (Music In Darkness) (swxaoisH) Stockholm, March 16. Terra Film release of Iiorcna Marmatedt production. Stars Mai Zetterling, BIrgcr Malmstcn; teatures Olot WInneretrond, Hil- da Borgstrom, Naima Wifstrand, Pouglaa Hage, Bcngt Bklund, John BKstrom, Bibi Skoglund, Directed by Ingmar Bergman. Screenplay by Dagmar Edqvist, baaed on her novel, '*Mualk 1 ■ Morker." Camera, Goran .Strindberg; music, Mrlanrt von Kocli. At Royal, Stockholm, Running time, 88 MINS. ■ Ingrld Mai Zctterllne Ilengt Vyidecke. . ," Birger Malmaten The Prieet.. Olot Winnerstrand Mrs. Hclnoder ...Malma Wifstrand Agneta i ,Bibl Skoglund Lovia^ , , , , . .Ullda Borgstrom Kmee..,.^...., .........Douglaa Uago Klaa^an. , ............. .Clumiar Bjomstrand Kbbe.... Bengt Bkluna A pUnd man I-. .. ........ , . Jobn BIfals-om Foreign Film Reviews (Vnlikely for Anglo-U. S. Market) Film version of Dagmar Edqyist's best-Selling novel, "Musik I Mor- ker," has emerged as one of the best Swedish pictures in year.s. It's a surefire grosser in Scandinavia and has good b.o.. potential in the international market as well. Pic- ture picks up added values in the fine performances of co-stars Mai Zetterling and Birger Malmsten. Yarn relates the career t)f Malmsten as a blind pianist. He's a victim of a military training acci- dent. After failing to gain admis- sion to the musical acadeihy in Stockholm he's forced to eke out a drab existence as an entertainer in a cheap cafe. But life takes on a brighter aspect when a former ac- quaintance (Miss Zetterling) real- izes she loves him. Picture's underlying romantic theme is ably pointed up in the well-written script by Miss Edq- vist from her book. Unknown to the public only a year ago, Malm- sten shows genuine promise in por- traying the Sightless musician. M "I MlserabiU'" ("Lcs Mlacrables") (ITAUAN). liUX release «t Carlo PontI Pl'oduction. Stars Gino Cervl, Viilentlna c:ortesc,- Hans Hlnrloh; features Andrcina, Ptignini, Aldo Nicodemi, Lulgl ravose. Di- rected by Iticcardo Freda. Kcrceriplny, Miirlo Monlcelll, Rlccardo- Freda and Ste- fano Van-zlna from novel by VIctbr Hugo; ramera, Rodolfo Lombard!: music. Ales- Sandra CIcognlnl. At Superclnema and Odescalchi, Rome. Rnnnlng time, 180 AIINB, This seventh adaptation of Vic- tor Hugo's classic- has been pro- duced vrith no stinting of cash, and in regard to sets, costumes and lensing is of the best continental standard. - But yarn remains of doubtful interest, as it's too well known, and is without any attempt to adapt it to Modern taste. Cast, " besides, is generally unimpressive, except Hans Hinrich, who plays Javert with force. Pic is divided into two episodes, "Caccio all'uorao" ("Manhunt") and "Tempesta su Parigi" ("Stonn Over Paris"), each running 90. minutes. The - second is the better. Export values are modest, .because other pix of the same inspiration were produced in the last 15 years in France, U. S. tod Mexico. Quat. ■ "I BratelU Karninnsttv" ("The -Broth- ers Karamazov") (WAMAS). Kinclne release of Comtran production, Kinfs Fosi-o Glachetti, Kill Parvo, Marlolla !j(M\. An- drea Clioechl; features Glulio Donnlni, r^am-. berto I'icaseo, Franco Scandurra, I'aola Veneronl. Directed by Glaoomo Gcnlllom". Screenplay, Gentilomo, Gaspare Cni^aWo, Alberto Vcoohiottl, Giorgio Pala from novel by Doatoicvaky; camera, Giuseppe J. a 'J'orre; music, Ronzo Rossellini. At li'onliuin rtl Trcvl, Rome. Running time, 110 MISS. Adapted from Dostoiev.sky s novel, this film has dramatic and spectacular appeal to Italian and Latin - American audiences, but may find uncertain acceptance in the U, S. market. It isn't Russian enough for arthouse filmgoers ana not popular enough for large ex- ploitation. Cast is good, especially Giulio Donnlni, who gives a highly impressive portrayal as Smerdia- kov. Technical credits are average. W^Jnea day, April 14, 1948 19 Metro's Yankee-Doodle Bally on 'Search' To Offset foreign' Pic Hex wiillv cognizant of the problem involved in selling Its "Search" in this country. Metro has embarked „n a specialized merchandising campaign 'on the picture Fita's Xtrlbution is being handled by rt? domestic sales staff but under the direct supervision of Loew's International prez Arthur M. Loew. Tatter has appointed Seymour Maver, sales chief of the com- nanv's 16m department, as special liaison on the ^Im with the domes- tic distribs. ' " 4. „ ,u * With the apparent antipathy of filmgoers outside the key cities against foreign-made films, one of Metro's chief problems is to re- move the foreign-made stigma from "Search," which was pro- duced in Switzerland and the American zone in Germany. All Metro publicity on the picture has stressed that it's an "American- - made'' film, albeit produced abroad. In addition, the company is now spotlighting the appearance . in the cast of Montgomery Clift above others with foreign-sounding names. . . . With the' film having received unanimously favorable reviews in th($ N, y. daily newspapers and na- tional magazines. Metro is spotting furtlier bookings on the film caie- ' iiilly so that word-of-mouth can permeate to other cities. Only two other bookings set so far are May 2T in Washington and May 28 in ■ ■ Los Angeles. Other dates will; be chosen carefully in key cities, with ' no bookings contemplated for small towns until much later. K M. Loew Bobbed of $600 ' Boston, April 13. C M. Loew was held up in B;ick Bay here this week and robbed of a $1,000 diamond ring and $600 in t^h. He was in a parked car with the cashier of his Strand theater, from whom the gunmen got a dia' mond watch and ring. Now at your 9«nrkel riVC- SYAK IIC-6 FUttSHIPf LOS ANCEUS 11 hMirs, 45 miMrt** ^hon* HAvamayar ft-SOOO «F your travel ogam TfcUjOfficw.- ArWfne$ Tvminal • Rockafellv CwHr • HoM NnW Yorkv • 120 Broadway Haiti Si. Gaotb* AMERICAN AIRLINES FLY OVERNIGHT to phii tax w PHHaitin-llka f a theatre which will play Span- ish films as well as En^sh pix. Isley Opens 2 Dallas Nabes Dallas. Two new deluxe nabe houses. Crest and Avenue, opened here as Indiana 932-Seatec Nearly Ready Fort Wayne, Ind; Mailers Bros., circuit operators, will open their new 932-seat Lake theatre in Warsaw, Ind., about June 1, Maritn, Ind.. Drive-in Due Marion, Ind. Marcuccilli Bros, will build Highway Drlve-In on outskirts of Marion. Will open about May 1. Newport News Drive-In Newport News, Va. : Green Acres Drive-In, Newport News, Va., will open about May 15. WAC Starts 1,450-Seater Los Angeles. Ted Jones, Western Amusement Go. prexy, broke ground for a 1,450-seat film theatre on Sunset blvd. in Pacific Palisades district. San^e company starts construction shortly on another new house, a 7S0-seater, in Lone Pine. Western Amusement operates 55 houses in So. California, Arizona and Oregon. New $7S,000 Louisiana House New'Orleans. The new $75,000 Wakea theatre opened recently it Vivian, La. House is owned by Li W. Watts and T. F. Keasler, who run several houses in Louisiana and Texas. It's an 80Q-seater. THE SH0WMAN*S FRIEND 500 Modern Rooms with bath and radio "Everything Naur buf fhg N«m*" ALEXANDRIA HOTEL Fifth ai Spring * Los Angalot - FRANK WALKER, General Manager Formerly at Olmsted, Cleveland, O. New York Theatres FIED MucMURRAY FMNKSIHATRA WMaii«noncniMi| ^IVOLIWiT IN PERSON TEX BENEKE end His Orehtitra Extra I THE SLATE BROS. Stars of "Winged Victory" CAPITOL B'ttay at Slst St, Ute Shnn HUMly LADD LAKE. kMIMMHT HAIMI ^MDIO CITY MUSIC HAU — Koekereller Center IRENE DUNNE III Georft Sttvent' Prtd. tC] | ■■I REMEMBER MAMA" ; Barbara Ouar Philip BtL GEDDES • HOMOLKA • DORN Produmd by HARRIET PARSONS Spaetaeutar Stage Presanfatjow , 2 MORE FOR WIHDUST AT WB Hollywood, April 13. Bretaigne Windust, who directed "Winter Meeting" for his first pic- ture direction, is to do two more Bette Davis-starrers for Warners. The titles aren't set. He's on a term deal with the vitudio. jWlNIEBMiEniiSl m •iMjAMSrAISe.tMM^XVIS * > bretaicne'Wihdust- hehrTbunke _a WARNER THEATRE' "B'w*y Slsl • opens 10:30.AM ' Liti Midnldil Film. S MORGAN / ^SSr , UNDRHIS t NWMVIRMVS mti£mmr'[ ""S^Si'V STRAND^. I OPENS 9:30 AM ■M»*Y«T 47ik I IME MIDMIOHT niM ' JUNE HAVER Coler fcK TECHNICOIOR ROXY 7Ui Av*.li50Ui Acwfamy Awonl WfnmH- LOREHA YOUNG Best Mm 01 Thi Uni for liei piifomHci w IThe FARMER'S DAUGHTER' . /PAiACF 20 picvvubs Vf^dwewlay, April 14, 1948 Lesser, Corwn Buy (hit Bhunoifeld Interests in L A.; Excknge It«n$ Hollywood. Joe Blumenfeld, who inyaded -Angeles ejchibition field from San Francisco several years ago, has bowed out of operations here. His interest in two theatres in the lour-tlieatre Music Hall pool was bought out by Sherriil Coi-win and Sol Lesser. Also involved i» the buy was Blumenfeld's interest in the United Artists theatre in San ]|B'r«neisc6; Deal involved approxi- mately $500,000, it is reported. Although Corwin and Lesser are partners in other local theatre cir- cuits, their Music Hall^deal is separate and will be a private operr' ation. Pair plan to buy additional theatre holdings, ultimately estab- lishiiig la new theatre chain in this •territory. Houses involved locally in the buy are the Los Angeles Music Hall and the Hollywood Music Hall, laatter, seating 475, will be en- larged to 1,300 seats. Buy by Cor- win and Lesser covers Blumenfeld's leases on the two properties and Included a portion of. United Art- ists!.; interest: in the operation. Other two theatres in the pool, the Hawaii and Beverly Hills Music Hall, arc owned by Al Galston and Jay Sutton. Four-theatre opera- tu>a and policy, of firatrun pictures will retnain'lthesame. ager for St. Louis Republic ex- change, now booker for Eagle-Lion here. . ■ Zeva Yovftn, former assistant manager at Loew% IndiaBapoIis, named manager of poem's Or* pheum here. -> • Budd Rogers on RP Board Budd Rogers, distribution veepee of Realart Pictures, named a mem- ber of that company's board of directors. Rogers Is also on Uni- ver!sal's-.bo^4-' Realart is a reissue outfit which took over a 10»year block of U's «ldies last year at ajreported price «^ $3,000,000. Zion Sunday Show Halted Chicago. After 1,000 Zion, III,, people turned out for religious cult city's first Sunday picture show, they" were disappointed when a waiTant was served on Onnie Bridges, head of 2ion Theatre Corp., charging violation of ordinance on Sunday recreation, Bridges said he would start a petition demanding repeal of Sun- day blue law; his claim being that other business firms are allowed to operate on the 'Sabbath and that amusements are discriminated against.. Rochelle, Caplane RKO Winners Winners for March in RKO Tlie- atres' "Stunt of Month" competi- tion were Morris Rochelle, of RKO Strand, Far Rockaway, N. Y., and Lawrence Caplane, of IRKO Grand, Columbus, O. Both got Showman- ship, Certj^ate and $2& checks for originating and executing the most outstanding ideas. . Ask Sup. Gt. to Take Jurisdiction in Suit Washington, April 13. Two Texas theatre circuits and the major film companies yester- day (12) asked the U. S, Supreme Court to take jurisdiction in a change-of-venue angle featuring a treble damage suit against tliem by Tivoli Realty, Inc. Tivoli, which operates a theatre in Dallas, is suing for treble damages of $750,- 000 for alleged anti-trusf viola- tions. Defendants In- the suit are Interstate-. .Circuit; fexas Consoli- datedTheatres, Paramount, Loew's, RKO, Wamere, Columbia, United Artists and Universal. Tivoli is operated by I. ' B. Adelman and Harry Sachs, both formerly execs with Interstate. Tivoli, instead of bringing suit in Dallas, filed its action in the state of Delaware, where most of the defendant companies- are regis- tered. The district court in Texas niled this could not be done since it would involve unnecessary ex- pense and nuisance. ' On appeal, the circuit court agreed that it would -be a nuisance, but that the Federal courts had no right to tell Tivoli where it should bring its suit. ■ The defendants are asking the Supreme Court to take juiisdiction and tell the lower courts that ihey have the right to limit the suit to Texas. . Reeky Mt. Allied Views Combine Denver. -Agenda of Allied Rocky Moun- tain Independent Theatres' .con- vention here May 18-19 includes a proposal- of some mentbers to set up a film buying and booking com- bine. ARMIT points out that at Mrs. Alberta Pike Boyd resigned as publicity director for Fox the- atres to be manager for the newly- formed RedRoclcs Assn., non-profit group ^sponsoring concerts by Den- ver <6ymphony orchestra at Red Rocks and "Pops" concerts at Elich vnusement park this summer. Rep Dallas Manager Quits • Dallas. Norman J. Colquhoun, , Republic miinager here for'' five years, re- signed after being. offered the Chicago territory.' Be did not want to move there. Mr. and Mrjs. L. R. .Robertson sold their Ervay theatre here to P. G. Cameron and then bought the Lucas from Cameron. L. D. Montgomery, bought the Mary Jan theatre at Oakwood from L. A. Adcock. Justin - Herman, who has been making six shorts a year for Pata<- mount in Kew York, will turn out 12 in 1D4S under an expanded deal. Formerly a writer and producer in Par's GrOtham biiefies department, Herman for the past several years has been turning out the- "Pace- maker" series on an indep.endent contract .basis. . Knudsew Sells ' Stat«, Hastings Omaha. C. P. Knudsen sold his State theatre, Hastings, Neb., and bought the State at Red Cloud, Neb. |. Minn. Town Ups License ' : Minneapolis. With municipalities neetUng ad- ditional revenues, towns in this territory are boosting theatre li- cense fees. Most recent is- Man- IkAo, Minn., which upped the li- cense from $25 to a top of $200 annually. First Drive-In outside of Twin ■City area of this territory wiU be built at Rochester, KUnu. Permit bas been granted to Sid Balman of Ifiiineapolls. . Silverman Made Cot. Salesman , • . Pittsburgh. Frank Silvennan u|>ped from> head shinier to West Vir^nia salesman for Columbia, replacing Sid Goldberg, who resigned to en- ter business for himself in N. Y. Leo Wayne resigned, sales berth with Monogram on account of ill healtli. Ben Brown's new n^aiiager at the Soisson, Connellsvllle is his son-in-law, Alex Levin. JDavidson, N;. Ilonse Sold ' Chaijotte,^ N.. C. Davidson theatre, Davidson, pur- chased by a new Charlotte organi- zation from S. T. Stpugh and F. C. Stough. The 470-seater wUl be re- modeled. Charter for Northmeck Theatre Corp. granted by Secretary of State. Raleigh. Incon)>orated by T. A. Little, Frank H. Beddingfield, and T. B. Autrey, all of Charlotte. Uittle is proxy ot new firm jand Beddingfield, secretaiy-treas- urer, both being 'partners in B. & Ii. Theatres Corp. which operates a circuit in Carolinas, Virginia and Georgia. Hank p. Heam, 'operator of Ex- Mbitor's'' Service here, acquired Kew theatre, Black Mountain, N. C, Sxom A. J. Terrell. Herbst JobiK N> 3. Chain Lee Herbst resigned from J. Theatres, Inc., to join booking dept. of Trenton-New Brunswick Thea- tres Co. Latter is being operated by a committee of reps of RKO Theatres and Walter Beade^ Circuit Vovan^s Shift Zeya Yovan, formerly .assistant manager at Loevir's, Indianapolis, appointed manager of Loew's Or- pheum, St. Louis. Abrams New FC Indpls. Chief George Lefko, formerly Indian- apolis branch head for Film Classics, named sales head in De- ceit, replacing Fred Bonnem re- signed. Sam Abrams, salesman, upped to Indianapolis manager. Victim of St. Loo Holdup Okay St. Louis. Eugene Ablen, 23, treasurer of Fanchon & Marco's Fox here, who was shot by a holdup man, has re- covered and is back on job. Mark Jay Steinberg, son of man- Ohio Spot to Planck 'Theaitres Loudonville,.'.0.' Sale of the Oliio theatre here;'- to Planck Theatres, Inc., announced by R. A. Monun, who operated house since 1935. Pictorial I,ands 10 Small Fix Pictorial F^lms, toe., a Pathe. In- dustries subsid, picked up world non-theatrical distribution rights to 16m versions of 10 Edward Small productions. Company ex- pects to release prints next July. Butler Salt Lake Fix Clnb Head Salt Lake City. Warren D. Butler, manager of Lyric here, named prexy Of Motion Picture Club, Salt Lake City, suc- ceding C. Clare. Woods, at recent election. New slate includes Clif- ford Davison, RKO branch man ager, veepee; Frank H. Smith, Par manager, treasurer; Fred F. Wci mar, National Screen mianager, secretary. New Drive«In tor Rsdeigh Raleigh A new Drive-In, under construe tion on the Hallsboro road, will be completed- shortly. M. H. Davis and P. J. Barnes are owners. Lawson CDntempt Trial Continued fr(nn-pa(9 9 as former U. S. district attorney, he had pi'osecuted similar cases involving the House Un-American Activities Committee. William Hitz, assistant U. S, district attor- ney, prosecuting the Lawson case, contended before the appeals Court that Justice Curran had never ac-^ tively participated in the prosecu- tion of previous.' cases, maintaining only a supervisory role. Meanwhile, questioning of the jury panel was continued by both sides. Kenny directed his queries along thie line of the right of free- dom of speech and political opin- ion and the citizen's right to qnes- tion any invasion of his constitu- tional privileges. He also directed a number of questions to bring out that a large percentage of "the veniremen were past or present Government employees. Hitz con- fined hlinself to routine questions concerning the prospective jurors' affiliations with alleged Communist groups. Xawson on Sidelines As court recessed Lawson watched quietly from, the sidelines. Much more subdued than when he appeared before ttfe House Un- American Activities Committee last October, Lawson was unaccom- panied by any member of his fam- ily or any of the other Hollywood 10 under Indictmcmt for contempt. He sat aloof from the legal wrani^ lings, not consulting at any point with any of the battery of lawyiers representing him. Earlier, attorney Kenny predicted the Lawson trial would take two weeks, despite expressed hopes of Government lawyers that it could be terminated within a week. Hitz, i*^hb iRTOia a cohtempt of Congress conviction against Ger- „ ... aid Eisler last year stated that he Herman generally shoots the pix planned to call few witnesses, prin- mpally Un-American Activities Connnitt^e chairman J. Pamell Thomas . and committee counsel Ifobert E/ Stripling, prosecution's case could, howevefc, be di^awii out by lengthy cross-'exaimlq^anpn- by Thomas probe and the subseouent studio firings. The legit group was told about the SWG's hiring of Thurman Arnold to handle the legal case against the studios, at a fee of $25,000. Sonie 70% of this amouiS is being paid by the SWG and the balance is being i-aised by privat* Contributions. Wywood on Irktr Book in groups df three at a time and thus will put a trio fiefore the cameras in Mahattan this month. Initialer will star Jinx Falkenburg and Tex McCrary, radio chatter couple, and will feature model agent Harry Gonover, a- bimch of Conover gals and photog George Hurrell, in a pic on the inside of modeling. Second in the group will present ether chirper Monica Lewis, col- unmist Ed SuUivan and disc jockey Martin Block in a '^true life" dramatization of Miss l«wis' dis- covery and. climb. Third pic will be shot against a circus back- ground at the*Ringling Bros.-Bar-' um Bailey show in Madison Squitre Gwden, N. Y. In the meantime, Herman con- tinues shooting additional se- quences in the picturization of the McCrary as they t)repare for ar- rival of their baby, expected in the autumn. Pic is intended to show how a' .modem couple go about getting ready for a baby's arrival during the entire period, of Miss Falkenbiirg's pregnancy.. J. P. Winter'i New WE ^ot Julius P. Winter, former co«- traet manager at Paris office of Western Electric Co., named vee- pee of Western Electric of Italy. He's now in N. Y. for confabs with Westrex execs before leaving for Rome. Winter is commander of American Legion in Paris and Knight of Legion of Honor. DeMflle on Cuts Contlnned from page 9 j Des Moines Drive-la Set for May Oes Moines. City's first Drive-In likely will open in May on Ai-my Post Road. It has capaci^ for 500 cars. Will be operated by Tri-States The- atre Corp, and Midwest Drive-In Theatres. winner, which wiU be used to hypo sales. Referring to hfs dispute with the American Federation of Radio Actors, DeMilie said he was set to testify before the House Labor Ciimmittee May 11 on legislation "to protect the right to work." DeMUIe was barred from the airlanes by AFRA after the pro- ducer refused to pay a union as-' ses.sment. Losing out In tliree Cal- ifornia courts, DeMille's case against AFRA is currenty pending in the U. S. Supreme Court. His current film, "Unconquered," is edging up to "Going My Way" as the all-time record grosser at Paramount, DeMiUe said. Counter- ing critics of the picture who said it was "corny," DeMilie said the "great American pubUc is true to corn. You'll find it on the ground, in the hearts and quite a bit in my pictures." defense attorneys. Kenny, who was denied the riglit of any cross-examination or ques- tioning during the Un-American hearings, is undoubtedly champing at the bit to have his day in court with .Thomas and Stripling. Latter, incidentally, was. present tbrou^- out today's session. . Kenny revealed that be had sub- poenaed prlntli of every film on which Lawson had evelr worked, and would make an effort to have one or two of the outstanding ones screened for the jury. Mayer and Sefcary Subpoenaed He also-stated that ^th Louis B. Mayer, Metro boss, and Dope Schary, RKO topper, subpoenaed as defense witnesses, have been promised 72 hours' notice to ap- pear. It was later learned that Schary plans: to be here Wednes- day (14) in the hope of getting his vntness stint o V e r quickly have been changed. He'll wait until called. Shadow of things to come was cast by Charles Katz, defense at tomey, who made a strong plea that intimidation of "topflight Government officials" by the House Un-American Connmittee bad made' it impossible for the rank and file of Government em- ployees to serve on a jury with "the pervading threat against their economic lives." In the event of a conviction, tiiis would undoubt- edly be one of the aoft cards in the motion for appeal. Complete defen.se lineup is as follows: — Robert W. Kenny, Ben Margolis, and Morris Cohen, all of Los Angeles; Martin Popper, D.C,,. Sajnuel Roscnwein, N.Y.,- and Bart-' ley Crum, who was not present today because of speaking tour, but is said to be expected later in the week. Carrying the ball for the Government's case are assist- ant district attorney Hitz and as- sistant D. A. Oliver Dibble. ee'ThelO* "Hollywood on Trial" is a graph- ic and at times colorful descrip- tion of the House un-American Ac- tivities committee's hearmgs in 'Vyashington last fall on itlleged "Communism m Hollywood" Penned by Gordon Kahn, one of the 19 so-called "hnfriendly wit- nesses," in coQaboration with the 10 indicted for contempt of Con- gress, the book offers plenty of food for thought on the modus op- erandi of the committee and its possible future implications to the democratic processes in the coun- try. • . • . , As with too many writei-s with an individual axe to grind, how- ever, Ka^n leans too :far to the other side in attempting to sock . acr<)ss his point that the indicted 10 were "railroaded." He thereby dissipates much of the biM^'s im- pact. He repeatedly refers to statements made by committee members during the hearings as "undocumented," but foUows these almost immediately with undocu- mented statements , of his own. There are no shadings of grey in the book— the committee is painted all black and the 10 are white- washed with equally broad brush- strokes — and therein Ues the book's chief failing. Even those readers who might disagree entirely with the com- mittee's . actlonsi for example, would disagree with Kahn in his satiric reference to- the more con- servative, albeit liberal, element in Hollywood, as represented at the hearings by Ronald Reagim and Robert Montgomery. Because these witnesses failed to uphold entirely the 10, Kahn catechises them along with Adolphe Menjou, Gary Cooper and other soi-called "friendly wit- nesses." ' Otherwise, the * book punches home its point that the 10 were within their constitutional i-igtits in refusing to answer the "$64 ques- tion" as to whetheir or not they were members of the Communist party. By no subtle inference, Kahn plays consis'tent variations on the theme that the hearings might . well mean an end to all so-called "idea" pictures. Top film execs, moreover, . including Motion Pic- ture Assn. of America prez Eric Johnston, are brought within his gunsight for their alleged sellout to the committee in blacklisting the "unfriendly" witnesses. Withal, the book would have been much" more effective if Kahn had played it straight instead of striving 'for satire. If his charges are true, /then it's a serious matter and should have been treated se- riously, in closer keeping with the thoughtful foreword penned by Thomas Mann and the numerous quotes frQm Thomas Jefferson. Book was published Monday 112), to coincide with the opening of the trial of the indicted 10, by Boni & Gaer, N. Y. ($2.75; $1 paper edi- tion). All domestic royalties and profits from abroad arie to be chan- neled into a fund set up to provide leg*l cotms^ lor the 10. For that reason, Uie book Is copyrighted m the name of Herbert Biberman, one of those to go on trial, who's in charge r« iiAne.otimint except run-of-the-mill premium oilers. . Beart't Desire MUTUAL Iiettera telling what they want most Usually .five a day rewarded with merchandise, trips, etc. Mick carter Best tour-word jinglea 20 Ford sedans, t2,6(K) in cash about cleansing product awards. ' . . ' and Seismotlte Letters on "I'd like to "Trailer caravan vacation ' to be Vacation Queen be- the best vacation centera on the «au«e..." North American continent." Stop lie -It "ZW-'UtaxA Nominate "lunnlest per- . XUb One ' , aon you know" "Surprise priaie," which can bo anything from a burnt match to a oar or airplane. True or Add-a-Un« jingle son- More than 1,000 prizes totaling test ■ over $26,000 In value, including two-week trip to Las "Vegas,- $liDQO Adirondack log cabin, house trailer, etc. ■ ItFD America Vom Mix '. Questions to be used In farm qui* Fann equipment. Name^aodog contest 1,000 prizes. Including car, bikes with built-in radio, etc. Telt Tour Neighbor Momiqate a good neigh- Bousehold furnishings. .J52H . X Joyce Jordan 1 Road to Life I Xitte Can .Be Beautiful f Pepper Young J NBC 'Letters on "I T7se F^G $50,000 "treasure hunt" products for household 000 top prisse. cleaning because.^." $25,- Ua Ferkln» Letter* on "To me, that Oxydol Sparkle means $15,000 first prize, $5,000 second, 60 of $100, tSOO of $20, etc. i?ept>«ir ITottilg'* Family Choose name lor girl on Camay wrapper $1,000 a year for life or $20,000 in lump sum; $1,000 second prize; $750 tbird, $D0O fourth, etc. People Art Funoy ^Igfat ta HapiilBeM Quality to guess an- swer to riddle by donat- ing to CAHE, writing "inspirational letter" to accompany Three-bedroom ' house In San Fernando Valley, Cal. , completely furnished; Kaiser cms choice of job In Southern California. Tirhen a Girt ICarrtu Nominate "cutest baby" ona;teIl why "Ivory Soap Is her beauty soap" Five contests weekly, with $1,- 000 flrat prize, 10 ol $250, 100 ot $25, etc. • ..- Letters on "I serve Birdsoye peache'a be- cause..."- , . $10,000 in cash prizes.-^ Bergen Gets Lost; 15G Time Rebate last -Sunday's (11) disappearing Act Of the Coast-orginating Edgar Bergen NBC show', due to tele- phone line trouble, marked the first time within memory of web execs that a complete half-hour program vanished into thin air be- cause of technical diiliculties be- yond their control. As a rule .??,?,s»af«s have lasted but a few b1«S**^V, Sunday's Jack show, emanating from Palm springs, also ran into telephone »ir "'"t was only off the air for two minutes.) an«5®-^" fadeout cost the network ??P"«"nateIy $15,000. which is «)e amount of the rebate to Chase th» if'^S'f" ^Standard Brands) for atteU?"*""'^ However, NBC attorneys may raise an issue, ques- (Continuea on page 34) Paul White to MAU' nf ^rnl Wartime news chief Difl^„ "^"W living in San vZnu in the works Stml« ''^f"*"^ (who've had a n& ^^''ly chapters) say of th ^« "The Hucksters" 01 the radio news world. WhS+.^"'''*^'^^'^ already has paid how advance royalty. Just brk,f.T u*^^ t"*"" will hit the oookstalls, however, wasn't learned. BATES GRABS OFF KOOL $1,000,000 BILLINGS Ted Bates agency last week grabbed off tlie $1,000,000 Brown & Williamson account on Kool and Life cigarets which BBD&O re- linquished when it inherited the $10,000,000 American Tobacco billings. A considerable cliunk of the $1,000,000 goes into radio spots. Simultaneously B & W an- nounced launching of a campaign to hypo Life ciggie sales, adding an approximate $250,000 more to. the account. Campaign as a start- will be limited to the New York area, with, emphasis put on radio, magazines, newspapers and car cfli*ds Additional three-a-week sponsor- ship of 7 a.m. news on WNBC, starting today (14) marks initial radio splurge for Life clggies. . Alan Yofli«'s2-Way Deal Alan Young, who has finished up for Texaco in a reshuffle of its programming and network switch, is currently in New York prelimi- nary to teeing off a two-way radio- television season in the fall. Under the Jimmy Saphier ban- ner, a deal is cooking for Young to team up with Dorothy Lamour in a half-hour radio musicomedy. lie's also in Manhattan to case the video picture and to line up poten- tial sponsorship of his own TV package property. Bimm GETS mCHBUT RADIO j^iss Hush and the Walking Man set a bad precedent, say a growing number of radio execs; The "Truth or Consequences" hooplas, with their spectacular rating dnd pub- licity payoffs, have touched off the most widespread prize contest and giveaway epidemic on r e c o r d. Many feel it's approaching the critical stage, that it's unhealthy for radio advertising in general — an artificial stimulant to listening and buying; that it's giving people a feeling that radio's a big lottery, and it isn't helping to raise broad- casting standards. Total coin being poured into prizes and giveaways is difficult to tabulate, owing to the fact that the great bulk of merchandise given away is donated by manufacturers for free, plugs. But It. takes only a glance at the current list of offer- ings ■via network shows to guess- timate that the overall outlay is a multi-million dollar figure. Fifty thousEmd dollars on a contest bar- relhead is nothing rare — and thati is sponsor's hard cash---while con- tests offering $1^000 jackpots, plus myriad, autos, houses, washing ma- chines, radios, two-week vacations, etc., are virtually a dime a dozen. Seen As Fassine Fad There are industry execs .who re- gard the fad as only a recurrence in a cycle — contest sprees come and go. they say— and, look at all the superduper prize competitions advertised in magazines and news- papers. There are others who see it as symptomatic of a phase the films went through, with ."bank nights." free dishes and screeno as come-ons, and the underlying cause, these say, is a crying need for improvement in radio fare. If broadcasters put on good programs, it wouldn't be necessary to trade on people's weakness for trying to get something for nothing, it's argued. Still others blame it all on . the easy tendency to . imitate — ^if the other guy can make it pay off, why can't we? — ^but abhor it as tending to idestroy sponsor identification . (Continued on page 34) Budget-Pmnii^ Time on Shows HoUsrwood. AprU 13. Lots of program budget-pruning going on here. CBS apparently has some mis- givings about its $10,000 sponsor price tag on the new Mickey Rooney "Shorty Bell" Sunday night- stanza, which preemed a couple weeks back as a sustainer. The network is now cutting around the edges to get the price under five figures in the hopes of landing a fast sale. Another show to take a price whacking is Old Gold's gold- plated special, with Frank Morgan, Don Ameche and Frances Lang- ford— that is. if it's carried over into the fall. OG is unhappy about its rating at the present $17,500 scale and has 'been shopping around for a new property! WILLSON IN SEPARATE DEAL ON COMMERCIAL Unusual deal has been pacted by Meredith Willson in connection with his forthcoming show for General Foods' Jello account on ABC network. In addition to his own half-hour musical. Willson has negotiated a separate deal on the Jello com- mercial, which will be treated as a "package operation.'' Thus the Willson-conceived "talking chorus*' commercial will get a three-Avay ride — on his own show, the "mr. ace & JANE" comedy show whicli will also plug Jello and a third GF program being lined up for the same accoimt. 8% Hike in CBS Biz for Fin;t ^ Quarter in '48 Seen Pay(^ On Nets' Pacb^e Show Philosophy Reprising a Lament . Last year Variety published the following box. It still stands. "Tomorrow (Thurs.) the Pea- body Awards will be presehttSd at a luncheon in ' Kew York given under the auspices of the Badio Executives Club. Who gets what is. of course, widely known around Man- hattan at this moment, but the press has been hamstrung l>y that favorite enemy of jour- nalistic enterp%ise-^the re- lease date. VAMBrrr, for one, observes this release date with distaste for the device which bottles up an obvious 'trade story' of considerable piquan- cy in connection with the awards this year. "In advance let it be said that the-Peabody selections this year, on the whole, are good ones. This has not al- ways been true." \ 'Leave Us Alone,' Fixers Tell CBS On Documentary CBS Documentary Unit has completed the research phase for its upcoming 60-minute probe into, the economic and sociological as- pects of the film industry — an am- bitious undertaldng marking the first time that one medium has so conscientiously examined another. Already, on the basis of CBS re-' search work, the project has cre- ated considerable curiosity in all film circles, and alarm in some quarters. The network is primarily concerned in doing a completely objective study,, of the film indus- try in terms of what it means in the fabric of American life. In its fact-finding period CBS got plenty of cooperation from the Eric Johnston office which, in fact, gave an off-the-cuff endorsement of the whole project. On the other hand, some of the film brass ap- proached, for data took a "wliy- don't-you-let-us-alone?" attitude of viewing with alarm. Latter reac- tion came mostly from the admin- istratiyje end. Talent interviewed liked the idea. ' Project is one of two on mass media which will come under the Documentary Unit's scrutiny. The magazine field — with particular accent on the Henry Luce dynasty -^is next on the agenda. HIRES'BACKS DOWN ON EXTRA QUARTER HOUR Hires, which was all set to ex- pand its Sunday afternoon CBS 15-minute musical to a half-hour at the end of this month, has had a sudden change of heart. Client asked the network for a release from the additional quarter-hour commitment. Show is currently heard. from 5:15 to 5:30 and plan was to acquire the preceding 15- minute segment. Hires pointed out it was a case of retaining the quarter-hour for- mat, or cancelling out altogether. JOHN KUCERA TO BIOW John Kucera. formerly with Foote, Cone & Belding, has joined the Blow agency as head time buyer. He started work Monday (12). Before joining FG & B, where he was assistant to Hubbell Rob- inson, Kucera ■'vas with NBC and then as time buyer and business manager of the radio department of Young & Rubicam. CBS reports that for the first three months of 1948, it is 6% ahead in sales over the correspond- ing period last, year. . Which is considered "great guns," coming as it does in a 'period of uncer- tainty and economic cutbacks that's gripped the radio industry, . Of deeper significance, howeverj is the chief factor for the upbeat — the sale of CBS packaged program properties which has not only swelled network coffers but today puts CBS in the enviable position of operating the most successful programming mill in the business. Sale last week of the Goodman and Jane Ace comedy show to Gen- eral Foods-^marking the 12th CBS ' property to land bankrolling— once more threw into sharp focus the William S. Paley-Frank Statt'^ ton concept of longrange thinking designed eventually to fill the "for sale" gaps, retain its hold o^ .cuiw rent clients and attract. new 'sponh' sors to the network. , Thus the CBS package show philosophy, underwritten by the most ambitious planning and eX'* pensive layout in network history^ has paid off during the past year (and accounting for the 8% hike) by the sale of the "mr. ace & JANE" comedy; "My Friend Irma"; Arthur Godfrey, both as a night- . time personality via the Lipton Tea "Talent Scout" show and the day- time Chesterfield program; Abe Burrows; "Suspense" (wliich Auto- Lite will sponsor in ■ the fall); "Strike It Rich," plus such sundry personalities as Ed Murrow an4 Eric Sevateid. 'Convinced that, eventually, its program philosophy will translate itself into multiple sale, CBS isnt (Continued on page' 34) - Burrid^e Butler s WiDFoikABCBid Chicago, April 13,. ABC's long cherished plan to buy WLS so that its o^& o WENB could become a fulltime outlet in Chi has suffered the stymie supreme from Burridge D. Butler, who died March 30 in Phoenix. Under terms of his will, made pul>- lic here last week, WLS cannot be sold before 1958. Station, wrhich shares time "with WENR, will be controlled by the Burridge D. Butler Memorial Trust of Chicago, which also will manage the Prairie Farmer and Butler's holdings in KTUC, Tuc- son. Income will go to the Chicago Community Trust for distribution to charities, with 20% earmarked for orphanages outside Clii. No change in operation or manage- ment is contemplated and the properties: can't be sold for 10 years. Trustees are Gus Holt, veepee of WLS and the Prairie Farmer; Thomas Murphy, general counsel, and veepee of both companies; J. E. Edwards, secretary of both companies; Fred Qrlemann, treas^, urer and business manager of Prairie Farmer; Arthur Page, las- sociate ed of Prairie Farmer and farm program director of WLS; and George Cook, treasurer of (Continued on page 34) Lyle Van's Fla. Station Lyle 'Van, human - side -of - the newscaster at WOR, N. Y,, is now a broadcaster. FCC last week granted him .a license for a full- time, 250-watt station at Delan^^ Fla., 45 miles north of "Orlando. Station, under call letters of WDLF, probably will be on the air by early summer. May be a Mu- tual affiliate. ' Van says he will stay on at WOR and run WDU* by remote controL 22 RADIO NBC list Cook Up 10 Strawhat Sustainers for Summer ^ Twelve o£ NBC's nighttime bank- rollers are retaining their half- hour segments through the sum- mer months, but with replacement shows that are currently being lined up, while 10 others are taking a hiatus, returning the time to the web. That means NBC has 10 strawhat sustainers to cook up and at least six of these are al- ready in the preparation stage. Lineup goes like tUs: Shows go- ing off, with clients keeping the time and whipping iip commercial replacements are Fitch (Phil Har- ris and Alice Faye vatation); Lucky Strike (Jack Benny goes to England); Edgar Bergen (replace- ment is the iRobert Shaw Chorale); Fibber & Molly, Bob Hopt, Red Skelton, Duffy's Tavern, Jimmy Durante (Pat O'Brien is the re- placement); Al Jolson (Nelson Eddy subs): Eddie Cantor (it'll be the regular program but without Cantor); Burns & Allen (Leonard Sillman's "New Faces" goes in); Sealtest (replacement is the regu- lar show- without Jack Carson), and Chesterfield .Supper Club (Sammy Kaye is the rejdacement). The following wiU.take a hiatus: Cavalcade o£ Ameriea, Dennis Day, Great Gttdersleeve, Fred Allen, People Are Funny, Life of Kiley, j Truth or Consequence, July Ca- nova, and Kajr Kyser. Thus far NBC has lined up the following summertime sustainers- (though what goes where hasn't lieen. decidea as yet: A program to showcase new writing talent; First Piano Quartet; a minstrel show; a comedy stanza with Slap- Cie Maxie Bosenbloom, which was auditioned Monday night (12); a musical featuring Norman Clou^ tier's orcb, and a political round-- EObin public service show which will provide equal time for opposi- Edith Min Back to CBS; Into Documentary Wiittiiwdiiy, Aprfl 14, 1948 KLZ'c Topnotch New» Woman LUCILLE HASTINGS Miss Hastings is KLZ'S women's news editor and tliree-tim*a winner of first place in tlve National Press Women's contest for the best pre- pared radio newscast. KLZ, DENVER. InfieRebeffiuiTo GetFdAirlii|[On Eve of MB Meet ABCs Stravto Rostar Singes Dpi A persistent campaign bj; indie broadcast's, spearheaded by WNEW's (N. TBA<3ott, fo eqvdtaole representation of non- network. statlQhs on the National . o£ Broadcasters' board, has, evoked a promise from NAB prexy Justin Miller that the indies' der mands will get a' formal hearing next motttii on the eve of NAff Sf. Los: Angeles convention. Cdttj on the basi* of. Miller's as- surance, said he wonld withdraw a petition placiiid id circulation among indie broadcasters severs^ Four new shows, three of them 1 weeks ago demaaddng that NAB diSmats; will hit ABC'S kilocycles byrlaws be amended to create two within k month in a prelude to *rectore - at - large representing suriimer strawhat scheduling. Web »wn-net stations, of which there are also has decided to give the Prank about 400 m NAB. Cooper-packaged "Comedy Writers' Miller agreed, Cott reported, to Show" a fling ia. the choice Bings- Lelve the NAB indie station com; day spot, Wednesdays at 10, which mittee beaded by Cott an inning C::rGsby will exit for the summer before the NAB board May IS and iune 2. I expressed hope that the differences Air version of the Ben Hecht- 1 on representation might be recon- Charles MacAxthnr hit, "FrontJciled at that. time. Page," with Dick Powell starred,! injie teioellion against web sta- also has been given the nod. After Uion domination of NAB has been being tentatively considered for the brewing since last year's NAB con- 7:30 Sunday segment precedmg ye„tion in Atlantic City, when au Stop the Music,'' stanza was jn^le committee headed by Cott, tabbed fot May 6 debut in: toe 8 Uhieh had been formed to submit Wau Thursday slot, "Candid Jficro- non-net stations' views on the pro- ( phone'' to be shifted from that pe- l^gti jj^. asked to be per- Edith Sulkin, who was chief of the CBS Listening Post during the war and who receAtly wrote the Continent in Limbo" bOok about Europe, has rejoined CBS for as- signment as a Documentary Re- porter in the web's Documentary She succeeds Huth Ashton, who switched a few weeks back to CBS television. ' Jmnor Mbs' Ratio a.O. Via Scouts The Girl Scouts may soon pro- vide broadcasters With a new "junior miss" cross-section of opinion on the vices' and virtues of radio. Coiqtle of months ago the Girl Scouts of America instituted a radio badge, one of tlie elective requirements to earn it being that a girl listen regularly to a "favor- ite" program for a full month, then prepare a criticism of its presenta- tion and purposes. Survey possibilities of this re- quirement and a number of others already has so intrigued a major network that it has approached (3SA execs about securing access to the resulting information. A research organization also is "ter- riflcally interested" in studying the femme teenagers' tastes in'atr fare, according to Natalie Flatow, 6SA radio director. She declined, how- ever, to identify either organiza- tion-.. ■ .■:„; While the badge work of local troops ordinarily is not forwarded to national headquarters, industry interest in the radio badge prob- ably wai result in arrangements being made to compile material submitted by girls working for it, Miss Flatow said. It's likely, thou^, that no "survey" of thp material will be' made ttntil fall, since many Girl Scout troops sus- pend activities during the summer. Local Stations Perk Ears Local stations are expressing Luce Wants WOR? There have befen persistent reports- in the trade during the nii*^ two weeks that HeflJCy B. Luce, owner of t?ie Timc-Ll£e-Fortune hwb empire, would be interested in negotiating deQl for the purcha^S of WOR, N. Y., one of the biggest coin earners among s(ations in America, with annual billings in excess of $4,000,000. However, the station's profitable earnings, it's claimed, isn't the real motive for the reported Luce interest in acquiring the station The mag magnate wants a television station; aU existing channels in the metropolitan N.Y. area have been gobbled up, and with WOft almost set to preem its video arm, it would provide I^uce with a ready-made tele operation. Jack Straus, of the Hacy store clan, who owns the station, claims he, for one, hasn't been approached on any deal and that if iuce harbors any desires to acquire the station, they haven't been com- municated to him. Luce had a brief fling in radio ownership a few years back, when he 'bought into the ABC— then the Blue — network, at the time when Chet LaRoche was exec veepee. When LaRoche exited, Luce also bowed out of the picture. There are some in the trade who would like to see Luce make a re-entry into radio as a bigscale operator. These people argue that the Luce publicatjlons have long revealed aq anti-radio bias in their editorial coverage and that once Luce comes to grips with, the manifold problems attending a radio operation he may be inclined to change bis tune. FCC Mu^ on P(^cal Stanzas May Be Cleared Up by Campugn Tidm! LS/MFT-4tI.P. Meeting of the American Tobacco stockholders in Flcm- ington, N. J.,' last week, when , prez Vincent Riggio, won hands down in recapturing control, was a complete fizzle. It cued the widespread com- ment in radio and financial circles that "Riggio mortis must .have set in," ABC Holds Up OnStoi^Sale To Affifiates Washington, April 13. Apparently the American Broac|r (Continued on page 36> riod to 9:30 same night As initially planned, "The Clock' will be pulled out of the Thursday sequence for the 7:30 Sunday pe- , _ v i ni n riod.. Program veepee 'TBud ' Bany JJ^OW SUrVCV , decided late last week to bracket a I ""^ " Carlton Morse^scripted "I Love Adventure" series with "Clock" in the 7-8 hour Sunday slot now oc cupied by the Detroit Symphony. New sequencing will preem April . 2S. Where symph will land, if any where,, is still undecided. and many are ance to local JX^^^r^]SSl*'t.t**we^* fMm I Commission here last Friday to KMO T^^a suralsting a sei^d^^ delay acceptance of its stock regis- ^Hf SllnnSao toi^ for ^te^^^^ for at least anotiier 20 days, local troops. In Dallas, so many The net's latest amendment on (Continued on page 34) J^'IT ^-o 'would have been okayed by the SEC yesterday (12), The agencjf, spokesmen saw, apparently IMw i«» quarrel «tteh 4he web'* priueosal, but niarkef (ioiidittons tnay have decided ABO to delay the sale temporarily. Plan calls for each affiliate to be offered a minimum of 100 shares at %l par value, with stations allowed to buy more on a sliding scale reflecting compensa- tion they received ih 1947, The net retains the right to re- ject single ownership of more than 36,000 shares. If -all 250,000 shares are not subscribed by affiliates^ ower In a commercial buildup for NBC's two-hour segment of juve «i-f * _ _ tx...— shows on Saturday morning, the ' *'°'/*^*?iT'n^J*S^'5^^^^ net's research depart;ment un- -^^^.ffi veiled results of the first re- packaged by Bob Jenn^^^ performed on dialers packager of "Mr. President'>^^^^^ the ages of eifeht to M. been pacted * ^roucho Marx^s ^ ^^^^ ^^^^ Youth pre-Crosby spot, 9:30 Wednesdays. I jj^^j,^ Organization, survey pointed to » potential buying power of . over- $l,()00,00fl,000 for children between those ages. Survey technique developed by the Gilbert outfit Was based on the premise that kid Interviewers would prod5ucfe more honest results than adults in judging juve pref- "time on ~mv hands" refrain I frences. Sample for the survey through the summer months; so totalled .LOO" i.^^'ol kids living fai- as the 7 to 8 p.m. cross-the- New York, Chicago, Pittsburgh board strawhat roster is concerned, and Philadelphia. That's because Campbell Soup is I Among other data revealed by taking an eight-week hiatus on its [the survey was* the fact that 65% brace of 15-minute. Monday- of the juves are available to listen through-Friday programs — "Clul*. on Saturday morning; nearly 60% 15" and Ed Murrow. Continuity, of the girls stop eating cereals by PactAimUPeil F(hpCBS'S(W CBS'- "American School of the Air" will undergo a radical switch in format as it heads into its 19th year next fall. While details of the change are being kept under wraps temporarily, C»S direetorlABC miy then make them avail- Robert H. Hudson disclosed that [able to selected individuals. Latest I proposal shows proposed capital expenditures by ABC of $5,325,000 for tele station construction, $3,- {825,000 to be spent in 1948. ABC said it will use temporary studios for Its N. Y. and Los An- geles video operations this year,, but expects to put out $1,500,000 for permanent installations in 1 1949, With $1.0(10,000 fi?om Cash OSWilllbvernneoHlts Hands in 7:8 Sunmier Slot As Canipbell,f&6 Scram CBS Will find itself singing the. seripter Arnold Perl has been Inked to handle the "School" shows next season. A dry run of the-series will be auditioned in the middle of next month. New look for the "School" re- flects the recent reshufine in exec personnel in the network's educa- tion and opinion division. Werner Michel, appointed to the new post I surplus and $807,500 from the sale of supervisor of educational broad-^ [of WOOD, Grand Rapids, plus an- casts, is sparking the overhauling other $2,000,000 from its projected in an effort to hypo a reguUr day- stock sale, the web said it will be to-day audience for the across-the- able to cover capital expenditures board series. Leon Levine, former Even if the stock sale nets less producer of the "School," is cur- than $2,000,000 ABC will "proceed rently building several new shows with its 1948 program." The web " Washington, April 13. Both the GOP and Democratic National Committees ' are evincing plenty of interest in a skedded oral argument here May 7 to hassle over the Federal Communications Commission's controversial ruling on political broadcasts. TIrey are urging the radio agency to dear the matter up once and for all be- fore the political campaigns start rolling in earnest this summer. The Commission last week by< passed a request from the National Assn. of Broadcasters to consider its interpretation of Section 315 of the radio act governing political stanzas in a separate legislative hearing, and invited NAB to trade blows at the May 7 argument. An FCC majority articulated the rul- ing in a January proposal to re- new the license of WHLS, Port Huron, Mich. That station's license had been hanging fire for two years because the licensee first scheduled and then cancelled a po- litical speech he believed to con- tain false and libelous statements. A Commission majority has ten- tatively ruled that Section 315 for- bids any censoring of political stanzas, once the licensee has agreed to air them, including broadcast of seemingly libelous statements. In return, the Commis- sioners held that stations should not be held responsible in any libel suits which might result. FCG Lacks Authority? In dissenting opinions, FCC'ers Robert F. Jones and Rosel Hyde declared the Commission lacks au- thority ifut^e such a ruUng . . . a view putUciy shared by most station men and members of the radio bar. The industry legalists argue that only the state courts or the Congress can make law on this subject. They point out that sta- tions have always interpreted the radio act's ban on censoring po- litical scripts as not preventing li- censees from screening them in ad- vance for libel. In at least one case, a Nebraska state court levied (Continued on page 34) Coast AFRAAsb Fa Probe KMPC however, won't be disturbed by CBS; which will sustain a news program in the Murrow 7:4&-8 slot - during hiatus time. Also,-Procter & Gamble is scram^ the age of 14 and less than half brush their teeth twice a day. Program preference queries indi- cated that "The Adventures of Frank Merriwell" and "Archie ming out Of the 7-7:30 period for Andrews" were the favorite Satur- teven weeks as "JBeuIah" and Jack day a.m. fare. Both shows are on Smith Uiy INBC. as director of discussion programs. Among them, "Capitol Cloakroom," which preemed two weeks ago as a temporary series, may be re tained as a permanent aircr on the basis of initial favorable response. CBS' opinion and educational de- partment has also taken steps to improve liaison with the commer- cial end of the net with Helen Sioussat, director of talks, handling time clearance for special shows. Other phases of the net's educa- tional division maintain the status quo with Eleanor Inman, John Pfiefler, and Don Lerch continuing in their posts as religious, science and agricultural editors respect- ively. estimates it will need additional funds in 1949 to repay a $4,000,000 note due Oct. 14,.'49,^but informed the SEC, "the company has no present plans wltii: respect to fu- ture financing." BRAKE TO LEO BUBNETT •. Chicago, April 13. Re-chi-istening is in order for Swaney, Drake & Bement ad agency, following the exit of George Drake, who's now with the Leo Burnett Co. In switching over ! Drake was accompanied by the account of C!lub Aluminum Prod- ucts, which bankrolls "Qub Time" I on ABC. Hollywood, April 13. . American Federation of Haoio Artists passed a resolution at meet- ing here AprU 8 requesting that the FCC thoroughly investigate tliat facts behind alleged slanting of news over station KMPC. Members stressed point that thcy are not interested in whether KMPC Is guilty but wish to have situation thoroughly investigaled and a decision rendered. Meet also upheld the Mayflower Decision oi several years ago at which tune FCC passed rulings that newscasts would U«t be editorialized nor slanted but Would give straigni unbiased information. AFBA also submitted new con- tracts to four San Francisco radio stations; KFSD, KSAJ, KGB and KFMB as present pacts expire on April 30. New contracts request fees and working conditions tor au freelance performers whereas pacis about to expire only covered saia ries for staff announcers. BILINGUALS (M Your Powder! Washington, April. 18. ^he Hatfields and the McCoys had nothing on the feud currently fn pivsreBS between broadcaster-publisher Edward Lamb and two Ohio published the Federal Communications Commission has declared tmfllt to become licensees. Each aide is using its news- naper to wage war on the other. Last week, Lamb used the entire front page of his Erie (Pa.) {)ispatch to p:ri$sigmnent on ttie . Coast for Co- lumbia Pictures on "All the King's Men," Norman Corwin is sched- uled to return to New York about May 1 in accordance with his CBS contract which permits him six months "outside" activity. Al- Ihou^h the six monthsi lapsed around last Chrl'stmas, Corwin re- ceived an extension of time from Uie network to complete his Holly wood chore. Now that he's ready to wind up his CBS contract commitment, the ^luestion posed around the network is how the writer-producer-^ector will fU into the web prograinniing pattern. . Cor^viu himself, it's .reported, is curious as to CB3' plans for him;, but so far as is Icnown, the network has nothing definitely lined up for ijim. It's considered likely that the Gorwin-CBS alliance renewal would prove tmeventful on either lAd? unless there were some new areas in tcdmlque or programming for' Corwin to touch upon. It's recognized, that Corwin pioneered all the forms that have taken a firm grip in the sphere of program- ming today (that includes fantasy, documentaries -and tape-recorded shows). But it's also recognized that they've aU matured beyond the level encompassed by Corwin. Auto-UsteningPoil AtRedL^EhtStoiis Growing feeling among broad casters that someone has got to come up with a poll of auto radio listening, especially covering the vacation summer months, has prompted the fomation in New York of an Auto Radio Listening Index. Outfit has retained George fine of the Market Research Serv- ice N. Y., to do field work tind cur- WnOy . IS attempting to line up Jiotham stations to underwrite initial polling. „ G«>*Win. who heads the undertaking, said that while he is limiting efforts at the moment to a poll of metropolitan New York, Market Research Service is set up to carry the poll into 900 U. S Cities if desired. Interviewing would be done at . . (Continued on page 3©) AttlryGetsOkayonKOOL Phoenix, April 13. takes over owner- ?m,L°„* 1^^^^ l*'"* week fol- i"^™'^ /CC approval of purchase Li5 Mancopa Broadcasters, Inc., ^tt^^^ by Carl Dexter Haymond. S'tatlon, which went on the air last i t l'nn« ^ sola for $250,000. KOOL IS 5,000 watter and is only Don l;?!"*""^ showcase in Arizona, nn! directed Autry to dis- KP«r^"^«^'® minority interest in *ji iiO, Phoenix ABC outlet, oper- i One for the Record What every radio producer has always feared finally came about. The new Phil Baker comedy quiz which Philip Mor- ris is considering for the Fri- day night 10 o'clock slot on CBS, was auditioned last week. When it was all fiidsbed, it was found that no record of the show had been cut. Baker St Co. were forced' to do a repeat the following night. SmbesM On ShayonTagikie In 'CBS Here' Behind-the-scenes friction that has developed in recent weeks over air credits on the widely^kudoscd "CBS Is There" Sunday afternoon show has resulted in several writers exiting the show in a huff. These scripters contend that Robert Lewis Shayon, producer- director of the program, also in- sists on sharing writer credit over the. air on scripts that represent the sole efforts of freelancers en- gaged for the assignment. They (Continued on page 36) SURVEY Silts m. OEGLIi Running counter to the zooming number of commercial AM sta- tions, foreign language outlets and programming inside the U. S. have been tail-spinning towards a van- ishing point during the past three years. Precaiious status of the for- eign language stations is revealed in an as yet unpublished report by Jacques: F. Ferrand;; chief of foreign language radio division of the Common Council for American Unity, Set against the overall rise in stations from 943 to 1,662 in the 1945-1947 period, > the decline in foreign language programming is graphically depicted in the follow- ing figures: 1,010 hours per week of f.l. broadcast time currently as against 1,206 hours per week in 1944 and 1,457 in 1941. WhUe about one-sixth of local stations carried f.l, programs in 1944, less than 1/12 are doing it now. In addition, the number of stations exclusively de- voted to f.l. broadcasting' have faUen off from 146 to 126 in the :same period. Despite Uie survey's finding that the overall qualitative level of f.l. language programs is unsatisfac- tory, Ferrand deplores the current trend for shutting out an import- ant sector of the population from access to radio entertainment and information. "Particularly in view of the current world situation, Fer-. rand points out, American foreign; origin groups have a powerful po- tential for influencing public opin- ion abroad. Radio, together with the f:l. press, ai>e the most efficient means of educating nationality groups in this country, Although German language pro- grams hav^ been hardest hit vtrith a one-thirdiMecline since 1944, the curtailmS&t has taken place across the board affecting every large f.l. ^oup in the U> S. Spanish pro- grams have fallen off; sharply in California and in New York, de- spite the recent influx of Puerto Ricans into the city. Drop in Italian programs has been evenly distri- buted over the country. 'Time-Broker' System Bulk of foreign language pro- grams, the survey finds, operate under the "time-broker" system in which a f.l. broadcaster buys a block of time from local stations with complete control over its use. As a result, these shows have been overdosed with commercial plugs from local sponsors. About 20% of foreign language shows, spon- sored by religious and fraternal ; (Continued on page 36) 'Great Ksseider ^ones, Oxmm Coy h Bloody Verinage Oyer FM Grants Durr: 'Not Interested' Wasddnston, April 13. Clifford J. Durr has definite* ly decided he's not interested in a new term on the Federal Communications Commission. Despite the ''draft Durr" move that's l>een saining mo- mentum in recent weelts the "stormy petrel" of the FCC wants to leave WajdUngFtoa, : ostensibly : to return to Ala- bama and law praotiee. Durr'sr decision, oddly enough, comes at a time when President Trmnan is reported to looks with favor upon a new term for Durr. Pressure has been bronsht on the iChief Executive from radio industiT, politlcid and other factions urgiiv his reappirintment to maintain a proper balance on the FCC. Despite Durr's deci- sion, those chamiriontng Ms renominalion are continuins their fisht, hopine lie can be persuaded to dumsie his jnind. DiulyNewsh Stymie By FCC FM Nix Wasliington, April 13. Both the N. Y. Daily News and the Methodist Board of Missions were no.sed out of the running in the Federal Communications Com- mission's third and presumably final decision last week, handing out FM permits to five bidders in the Manhattan area. Companies surviving the final screening were: ABC-WJZ; the In- ternational Ladies Grarmenl Work- ers' Unity Corp. of N. Y.; WMCA; WPAT, Paterson, and WNJR, the Newark News station in Newait, N. J. On the theory that Jersey had greater need for the FM service, a majority of the FCC bench re- versed its decision of December, 1947, in favor of the Methodist Board of Missions and awarded that channel to WNJR, Newark. The Daily News won votes of tliree Commissioners— Robert F. Jones, Rosel Hyde and George Sterling, all GOP'ers— but failed to make the grade in both the December, (Continued on page 36) State-By-State Breakdown of Bilingual Casualties a a f^ a $ o a a « n i| o to » 0 M o u « H O ■s A a M 1 u ft 1 « & S U 1 n o ■a o S r-4 s. S «« 4* ft Hi s? t s r^ o m e *» O ») ti a •ri O M 9 1-4 n m s 4* a o u o i « % o CO S o > . rH m ■wt s (/J s a '3 a o ".U 0 «> « »«» *J H 0* 0 » H tl TO "1 isSkjsSst m IB 6 6 6 ConnectiCttt 1 X I 3 I 4 s ...10 5 Sj!lS!!£!:S ] ' ,1 . 4 I ....2 m . ] I ■4 : a X 4 2 :A 4 . 1 s I 3 ,9 »? iX ? .. . .* Iidlffiia 1 J m -J 3 ...l ■ '.1 I 1 -.1. ■ ? , 9. m ,6 ImXiXfiVi — m 1 I ,. . » .1 m ..9 I i ? M>>». -.^ 1 1 1 I . i 1 X S 1 I I ■s ■ I 1 i I. 3; X ? I 1. 11 n 4 7 1, * IH 1 I ? I .1 .1 J. \iSamisX iSl 1 1 Nkw JertfBV I \ .1 1 ? } 1 f 2 Vw M»xlco nn 3 trf Y9rk I « m $ I 9 4 10 .1 1 1 ■,6,' 49 12 ! 3 a 1 1 n 5 1 ] i a ...fi a U ...1 3. .1 ,.«„ 14 fftnd* I»lanCommissioner has criticized the Commission for its "extra- legal" handling of radio matters and what he believes is the "light" view it takes of the pinkish politics of some station bidders. Jones is ■ almost iissured. of an FCC chair- manship if Sen: Robert A. Taft, of his native Ohio, makes the White House next year. His chances are less good in the event of a Dewey victory and are considered fairly dim if Harold Stassen makes tiie grade. Jones, who voted for hearings, on all the grants to Lamb, argued that the Commission's decision to keep the AJC testimony in the record was inconsistent with the treat- ment accorded Lamb. Coy joined his fellow Commis- sioners in opposing Jones' thesis that manner of conducting a news- paper should not be considered in ' judging a radio applicant's charac- ter or qualifications. Attorneys for the News had argued that any FCC consideration of such info violated the First Amendment. The FCC majority declared: "These" Constitutional guarantees are designed to prevent suppres- (Contijnued on page 36), CfflKo^ 'Jdpt' (fixed by Statims The New York cancer drive's big jackpot contest got under way tJiis week on a number of Gotham sta- tions—but it had run afoul of a mounting revolt among metropcdi- tan broadcasters against giveaway competitions as a basis for fund appeals, particularly where they pit one station against anotlier.« Th# N. Y. career committee, headed. by< Gen. John Reed Kilpatrick, now regrets undertaking the contest, it's said, but is in the position Of hay- ing to go tlirough with it. One by one, N. Y. stations lasi week turned thumbs down on the jackpot. All four of the network flagships, while agreeing to give the cancer drive generous backing in free time via plugs on regular shows and cuffo station breaks, nixed the contest. Indies giving the giveaway the . brush included Bui- ova's WNEW. Their reasons varied, some feel- ing the air is overcharged already with cash offers, others feeling that the giveaway technique has no place in fund-raising appeals or that, in this case, the contest is so involved (instructions to listeners, etc) as to require more air time than could be spared. Major plaint, however, was that the contest placed the time-giving stations in the position of running (Continued on page 36) Stegel l^Tm The Navy is putting Seymour Siegel, director of New York City- owned WNYC, on duty at NBC. Siegel, a commander in tht Naval Reserve, has been called up for a two-week "tour of duty." His assignment: an econonuc mobiliza- tion course of the armed forces in- dustrial college, which opened ^Moaday tl2) at-NBO. , • .* 14 RAl»Ifl» Wheekr, AIMhit for Breakdown Of Oears, in Slipi^ ^^'^ On 'Big Operators,' FCC Caldwell Washington, April 13. • The clear-channel operators, the big broadcasting chains, the FCC and, in particular, clear channel counsel Louis Caldwell came in for vigorous tongue-lashing today (Tucjs.) from ex-Sen. Burton K. Wheeler, who authored the 1938 resolution clamping a 50kw power ceiling on all U. S. stations. Wheel- er's all-out support for the break- down of clears was regarded by , observers here as likely to carry considerable weight with the Sen- ate Commerce Committee solons, before whom he delivered the at- Montanan took the stand with blood in his eye to label as "pure, unadulterated buncombe" Cald- well's charge that Wheeler had slipped the '38 resolution through when only a handful of senators were on the floor. Wheeler said he had no intention of testifying until he saw the "vicious tactics" used by big operators to smear him and others interested in giving the American people 'a truly compear tiye radio service. ■ Ex-seqator . insisted it was only a matter of common sense and not engineering that FCC could put an- other station on a clear channel used oh the east or west coast. He declared, "I tell you, the American people will never stand for roO' nopoly and if you go jto super power you'll feventually get gov- ernment operation." ' That, he add- ed, ''would be the worst thing that could happen." . Wheeler claimed President Boosevelt had instructed then FCC chatimaa James L. Fly to plug for estiO|>UshSittent pi 10 to 12 govern- ment operated stations,.. "JS^tu- Tally, we would have none of -it," the '.former solon added. Lashing ojit at the powerful lob- bies, of the clears and chains, Wheeler reminded the' senators that When WLW (Cincy) got SOOkw, the big interests hired Charles Michelson at $25,000 to "ring door- bells." Turning to FCC, Wheeler said : (Continued on page 35) t>ance oi Life A network broaddagter'S life was plenty- . hectic even in radio's infancy,. Merlin H. (Deac) Aylesworth, first prexy of NBC, recalls in the lead piece (first of a series) in the current Saturday, Evening Posti And one of those who contributed generously to Aylesworth's headaches was the late G. W. Hill, whose Lucky Strike account was con- siderably more vital to NBC life In the late 20's than it is; today. Aylesworth recalls how, for weeks on end. Hill showed up . regularly at NBC with his. ' "gorgeous Billboard Girl" and insisted upon Aylesworth and Bertha Brainard, who was in' charge of NBC programs, join- ing them in prolonged dancing sessions in the NBC board room to the piped-in tune of B. A. Rolfe's "rapid-fire melo- - dies." "Sometimes I was in no mood for this frenziied exer- cise," Aylesworth remeiflbers, "But that Lucky Strike ac- count could not be jeopard- ized." Hill, it- seems, just wanted to be sure Rolfe's music could be danced to; EHRENRQCHDPraD MWORRESHim Checkout last wfeek of Jim Shel- don to be dhrector ot "We, the People" touched off a chain-reac- tion series of promotions in WOR's (N. Y.) program department, with Dan Ehrenreich moving up as Sheldon's successor in the pro- gram operation manager's spot. Jeff Smith, formerly a produc- tion supervisor, has taken over Ehrenreich's former job as produc- tion manager. Bill Taylor, another production supervisor, beeotnes his assistant: Frank Muckenhaupt has been named a production super- visor, his former job as assistant to the program operations manager being assigned to Eugene Fitts. Latter's former title as continuity acceptaUce editor now belongs to Robert Sed'Crick, -formerly traffic assistant. <- Saudd[ Sets ABC VDDoGnmentary Robert Saudek, ABC public af- fairs veepee, - has pushed aside plans for halt a dozen other docu- mentaries plannad for 1948 in or^ der to tee off the web's undertak- ings in this field this year with an hour-long presentation on the problem of venereal diseases. Stanza, which Will be the first full and frank treatment of this prob- lem ever aired by a web, is caK endared'for 9:30 p.m., Thursday, April" 29. It'll be carried at this hour in each time zone in order not to bring it into the customary listening times for small children. Erik Barnouw is scripting the show, titled "V.D.," which will be presented in cooperation with the U. S. Public Health Service and th6 School of .Public Health at Columbia Univ., where Barjiouw is a faculty member. Barnouw, prexy of the Radio Wrij«rs' Guild, is ria- dio consultant of the U. S. Public Health Service and in this capacity has been researching venereal dis- eases since last summer. 'Technique which Saudek plans to employ in arraying the pr&blera promises to attract trade interest. Stanza will be built on the forbiat of a suspense thriller, incorporat- ing, however, actual case histories of VD victims and recordings made by patients under treatment in hos- pitals. CCNTs Institute Turnout a^ley City College of New York has pulled the institutie Hples/ of the year. In the .face of squawks that radio conferences are : in the doldrums, registrations for CCNY's fourth annual .radio and business conforence, ' which, opened last night (Tues.),^ .reached, nearly 2,500 before the- doors opened, (Last year's meet drew about 1,000.) Turnaway volume of bids for tickets for last night's dramatized conference panel led conference officials to arrange for piping of the program into, a supplementary auditoriuin to accommodate the overflow. , Further sign that CCNYers' ef- forts to inject showmanship and provocative topics into the con- ference agenda were paying off was found in the fact that 95%' of last year's attendants were repre- sented in registrations. Today's (Wed.) luncheon at the Roosevelt, .with Arthur Godfrey heading the speaker list, has been limited to 140 guests. This after- noon's session, also at the Roose- velt, on "The Business Future of Radio * and Television" originally was to be limited to 100 "key" in- dustry people, but has been en- larged under urgent pressing to take in 475. Afternoon panel will tie into multiple competitive problems of AM, FM and tele via a panel com' (Continued on page 36) (Hf Mayflower Hearii^Apr.19 Washington, April 13. National Assn. of Broadcasters prexy Justin Miller is due to tee off testimony when the Federal Communications Commission re- sumes hearings on radio editorial- izing here April 19. Tentative line- up of witnesses', released by FCC last Friday (9) shows some 20 reps still to be heard in. what looks like a fotur-or-five-day session at most'. ' Roster does not include any of the jprincipals ii| the squabble over alleged efforts cif Dick Richards to slant the news on KMPC, HoUy^ woo4; or his other stations, WGAR, Clevelahd, aiid WJR, Detroit. Com- mission general .counsel Benedict P, Cbttohe pointed out there's still time foi; latecomers to sign uP' NAB men will plufffor complete abolition of the FC(i!s Mayflower ruling with some backing from in- dividual station reps. ' ; Witnesses will be heard in the following order: For the NAB: Prexy Justin Mil- ler; A. D. Willard, v. p.; Don Petty, (Continued on page 36) Oppenheim to CBS Charles Oppenheim, who re- signed his WINS (N. Y.) job as di- rector of promotion and publicity a couple of weeks ago, checked in at CBS' N. Y. headquarters Mon- - day (12) to become assistant direc- tor of program promotion and merchandising under Neal Hatha- way. Before going to Crosley-owned WINS shortly after the war, Op- gn^eim was pv^VAKi/W M^f^- of Maride Doubles Between CBS 'Studio One' Chores, New Filni Assignment Fletcher Markle, director of the CBS "Studio One" hour dramatic .show (which, incidentally, marks its first anni on the air April 27), is currently doubling from his weekly radio chore into a pic writer-director assignment for Ed- ward J, and Harry Lee Danziger, who operate Tower Films at the Eastern Sound Studios in New York. Shooting is scheduled to start this week 'on a thriller, "The Vicious- Circle," based on an orig- inal novel by John Roeburt, with Markle collaborating with another CBS'er, Vincent McConnor, of the script division, on the screen treat- ment; . . It's Marklo a initial venture into films since he left Canada and the CBC to join CBS. During the war he did some documentary films for the Canadian government and in \m did thej,5ritisji, d^ciing^fltary on the V-1 buzz bomb. . On Amended Code After Stormy H'wood Sessions The membership of the Ameri- can Federation of Radio Artists voted last week to accept the amended production code nego- tiated a fortnight earlier with the networks. The New York, Cliicago and San Francisco meetings ^at which approval was voted were relatively tranquil, but the Holly- wood session was reported to have been stormy. According to word reaching AFRA circles in New York, the major' criticism at the Hollywood meeting was aimed at the 7VS% increase for staff announcers and sound effects . men for sustaining shows. Claude MeCue, executive-secre- tary of the Coast local, who out- lined the amended code and sought to defend it at the meeting, is said to have had a rough time before the members finally voted approval, by a narrow margin. It's understood the prime fac- tor in the final decision of the Coast members to accept the new code was the realization that if the negotiating committee had insisted on the full 10% wage increase ob- tainable under the cost-of-living clause, the networks probably wouldn't have agreed to "co- operate" on the definition of bar- gaining unit for NLRB elections to decide on union shop. Mutuar$ ProgramT Clinic Mutual' is prepping its first "clinic" for program managers of affiliates. They'll - meet in New York for two days, April 22-23, with MBS veepee Phillips Carlin scheduled to give them a full-fash- ioned showcasing of the web's pro- gramming plans and problems. Exec producer Walter Lurie will come in for a detailing of the net's Coast activities. Effect of television's rapid devel- opment on the Mutual program .structure, and plans the web has ior getting , iotp, Jljej ^leld, will get Important consideration, From the Productim Centres ' IN mW YORK CITY . , , ■ Garnet GaiVison, former NBC producer now associate professor of radio in the speech department of Michigan Univ., in town last w«ek t* see the shows Ted. and Mathilde Perro^ authors of "Lorenzo Jon^S"' are building (a couple of rooms at a time) a place at Wilton, Conn; itt time off from radio scripting, he's writing a play and she's working «a a new novel The Harry Ackernianis (Mary Shipp) have tafes^i a summer place at Greens Farms, Conn., . Frank Cooper is dicWlng; - with Judy Holiday, femme lead in "Bom Yesterday," to start in a sStija* ■ tion comedy series. It would be her first regular radio series siace slue- . was a member of The Revuers, with Betty Comden and Adolph GreenL Radio scripter Jack Dolph has written a whodtlnit novel, "Odds-Qn " Murder," to be published. April 28 by Morrow Mort Singer, Jr.» • former Broadway producer, has partnered with Seymour Kaplan m a radio and tele package' firm. They're peddling "Book Parade" as a radio series to star Bennett Cerf, and "Cards and Spades" as a video stanza : with Oswald Jacoby. Singer goes to the Coast about May 1 to open an office, leaving Kaplan to bead the Kew, York end Helen Walpole, scripter of Air Features serials, rejoined the Radio Writers. Guild last week, having withdrawn several years ago. .Mona Kent, writer of "Portia Faces Life," Is another recent joiner of the Guild. Jinx McCrary did the "Tex & Jinx" stints on WNBC solo Sunday and Monday (11-12). McCrary was called to Calvert, Tex., by the sudden death of his father, ,. .While Dick Haymes hopped in from the Coast aboard his own plane, his play-it-safe ether mates—Martha Tilden,. Oordon Jenkins, Tom Adair, Four Hits and a Miss, and others — took a commercial airliner — Jazz pianist Teddy Wilson added to WNEW's staff, doing a five-a-week air stint — WJZ has bought Zlv's plattered "Favorite Story," the ROnald Colman starrer, for its 4:30 Sunday spot starting May 23. WOR was dickering for the series "The Universal Heckler," by Olga Druce, producer-director of "House of Mystery," was footlighted by the American Theatre Wing's Community Plays last night (Tues.) before the American Ortho-psychiatric Assn.'s meeting. Final Shirley Booth record cut over the weekend. CBS series titled ''Our Miss Brooks" is slated for Sunday night spot in few weeks Stork visited homes of Mitch DeGroot, ABC copy chief, bringing a girl, and Paul Lubell, ABC staff artist, with a boy, over the weekend. , . .Les Nichols, WOR newsman, pinchhitted for Cecjl Brown on WMCA Friday (9) when latter was ill. ' ' , * Howard Meighan addressed Washington Ad Club, yesterday (Tues.> on "What We Know About You." He went into the new CBS radar audience measurement techniquie. .Newest book on trade matters is by Luther Weaver, of Minn^al>oUs agency, "The Technique of Radio Writing" Max Wylie is finally bringtaig his own old text on radio writing up to date. Will Roland, CBS producer (Arthur Godfrey, Robert Q. Lewis and Radie Harris shows), papa of a.boy bom Friday (9) at 'Doctors Hospital Bob Davis, ex-WNBC publicist now head of Carl Byoir'S! radio and tele dept., to wed Virginia Todahl, stage designer, on June 25 — Joseph Beisch, formerly with United Press and Sltouras enterprises, tak* ittg over the WINS promotional director chores resigned. by Charles Oppenheim WINS, incidentally, is tossing a cocktail party at the Roosevelt today (Wed.) honoring Crosley prexy James D. Shouse, who's in town to accept a CCNY award for WLW, Cincy . . . .NAB's A.D. (Jess) Willard, Jr., ticketed to address Amo Huth's "Mass Media and Interna- tional Relations" course at the New School next Wed. (21). Oliver Nicoll, ABUG chairman and U. S. director for Towers of Lon- don, keeping his traveling bags packed.these days. Hopped to Toronto OH Towers e.t. biz last week; goes to Washinjgton next week for the re^ sumed Mayflower hearings, to rep N.Y. guilds and unions; and hops April 25 for London to confer with the Towers homeoffice — Chrysler dealers sponsoring a five-minute WNBC stanza, narrated by Arnold Moss, dealing with heroism by dogs. . . .Bob Trout's 60-foot ketch, in which he cruised the West Indies this winter, is up for sale. He'll settle for a smaller boat. . . .Mutual is sending all radio editors and sta* tions a photostated blueprint of four-network facilities being set up itt' Philly's convention hall to cover the political conventions this summer. WNEW aired last night's (Tues.) opener of the CCNY radio busmess conference, thus getting a free, live performance by NBC's Fred Aliens one of the program's participants. . . .Producer Charles Stark has signed Art Henley to script the Peter Donald show, bankrolled by Stanback five times weekly over WINS and WNEW. . . ;Tom Mahoney, formerly with Fortune and United Press, into Young & Rubicam's flack dept.... Marion Guidera, publisher of Hooper's, City Reports, quit last week to wed Harold Stringer and go live in Kansas City. . . .Edward J. Rosen- wald, who lately exited a Lou Cowan Productions vice-presidency, has joined the Harry B. Cohen ad agency with similar title . . . ABC prexy Mark Woods resting up from Petrillo parleys in Miami. . , WHN's Morey Amsterdam will present a one-man, 2^-hour "Komedy Koncert" Sunday, April 25, at the Barbizon-Plaza theatre, Routine Will include 'cello numbers — Actress Elaine Kent ("Our Gal Sunday" and other shows) gradually tapering off radio activities as Blessed Event date .(mid-May) approaches. Hubby is Charles Oppenheim, who just joined CBS. . . .Joan Wetmore and Rene Gekiere new to "Lora Lawton" Reese Taylor and Ed Jerome added to "Stella Dallas" Helen Dumas into "Just Plain Bill" cast .... Kenneth Lynch with "Rose Of My Dreams". . . Helen Cheat added to "Young Widder Brown." lis HOLLYWOOD ... Bob Brown, western division program manager for NBC, adds the duties of pro tem television wheelhorse while Hal Bock is in New York boning up on the net's operational methods. . . .Marjorie lArd, veteran stage actress, has been added to the cast of "Public, Prosecutor," the seritfs of dramas being filmed by Jerry Fairbanks for NBC's video web Don Searle east for tele^ talks at ABC, with stopovers at his old midwest stamping grounds enroute. . .Richfield Oil, sponsors of Rich- field Reporter, oldest newscast on the Coast, finally decided there's no place like NBC. After serving notice on the network it was pulling out because its 10 o'clock time was forfeited due to state's daylight savings time and shopping around on other skeins, oiler recanted and stays put, returnhig to its 10 p.m. spot when the east gives up an hour Bing Crosby and his writer-producer, Bill Morrow, east for the , Pirates' opening and then on to New York for four Philco cuttings to close out the season. Last platter spins in early June and he starts disking again in late September C. E. Hooper around for a few days of gabbing with his survey's top point-takers, who were given the low- down on the howcum of their dips and dives Helen Guy, ABC's program manager in New York, passing three weeks here observing the net's operations and taking in the vacational spots. Gus Levene, long associated with Mark Warnow, took over the music direction for the last two broadcasts of the Borden series. Levene and Jeff Alexander collab on the Army's "Sound Off" stanza. Warnow is coming along nicely after his heart attack. So is Joe Bigelow, another ticker case, who is home from the hospital .... Barbara Jo Allen (Vera Vague) is cast as a small town school marm and. not a man-chaser in "The Surprising Miss Plunkett," being packaged by Wynn Rocamora for the shirt sleeve shoppers .... Benton & Bowles nixed a broadcast of Burns and Allen on the high seas because of questionable results. Jo Stafford was substituted for maiden sailing of Lurline for Hawaii ... • Foote, Cone & Belding was given first spin of audition record starring Cass Daley in a family comedy and the agency liked it so well that it has been recommended^ as^ the Bob Hope replacement.. ..Industry (Continued on page 34) ' : W«Mbieadoy> April 1^, 1948 niiMfSTED ft CO, , ija^ Nelson Olmsted, Tom Scott, Norman Cloutter orch Producer: Don GilUs Wins.; Sun-, 9 jMtt, sustaining NBC, from New xork With tlie Ihternattoftal Harvester musical sljow moving over to CBS and the KCA program going into the 2:30 Sunday afternoon slot on NBC, tlie networli is fiUing the ex- BCA' matinee time (until a new sponsor comes along) with a plea- sant, informal stanza called "Olm- sted & Co." It's nothing preten- tious, and, in fact, it's very unpre- tentiousness gives it an easy-to-Us- ten-to quality that merits continued showcasing. , . . The major emphasis is on the Norman Cloutier orchestral ar- rangements, and such items as "Bambalina," Gershwin's "Man I hove," "hook for the Silver Lin- ing" and a jazz vignette for strings were given tasteful renditions. Tom Scott, the balladeer, was also showcased on the second stanza (11) and his spiritual-folk sorig.contribs were nicely paced in Keeping with the overall format. Nelson Glmsted emcees the prO' gram, providing just the right touch, with his casual banter. At the midway mark he did a" five- minute capsule wrapup of a C. S. Forester yam concerned with Vic^ torlan romanticism, As a story spinner, he's okay. Rose. RADIO REVIEWS 2S THE ©BEAM Witlt Vivian Fox, Earl Hammond. Al RUey, Strattou WalUn^, Phil Sterling, Eddi« Zeltner Producer-director; Raymond Lch- Wt Writer: David Karp^ 80 Mins., Sun. (11), 2:30 . p.m. SANITATION MEN'S PROTECi- TIVE ASSN.. AFL Mmcx, N. Y. , This half-howr drama, bankrolled by the N. Y. Sanitation Men's Pro- tective Assn., simmers down to a lengthy ;squawk that the street — the aud participant calls the station where rapid-fire check is made against a masterboard. In- termittently during the show, names of winners are announced-^ this in itself is a good pitch. Mikemen Elliot Miller and Bob Maurer keep the sesh moving with mucho gusto and maintain high in- terest ' with rapid fire pitching of questions and gab. It's more than adequately handled. Station main- tains a battery of 10 phone oper- ators to answer calls during and for a half-hour after broadcast. . Ecfc. . CAPITOL CLOAKROOM Director: Ed. ScoviUe Producer: Leon Levine 16 Mins.; Wed., 10:45' p.m. Sustaining GBS, from Wa&hington Splitting the half-hour temporar- ily vacated by "Open Hearing" for the next seven weeks, CBS has come up with a flrstrate public af- fairs parlay in "Presidential Tim- ber" and "Gapitol Cloakroom." Latter program is spotlighting the political attitudes of leading mem- bers of the U. S, Senate in press interviews conducted in that legis- lative in«er sanctum— the cloak- room. Result is a stimulating, often excitingv and always interesting session of important gab from im- portant people. Chiefly responsible for the suc- cess ,of this program is the battei-y of CBS correspondents in - Wash- ington who are being rotated on this assignment in groups of three for eacli program. They're a hep crew who know how to explore the crucial questions without fear of treading on delicate toes. They apparently, like putting the law- makers out on a limb, which is surprising in view of the fact that everything in this type of interview is "on the record." For the second sessions, Sen. Brian McMahon (D., Conn.), was quizzed by Bill Shadell, Grif fing Bancroft and Don Pryor. McMa- hon, an atomic energy specialist, spoke frankly about the critical world situation and the need for the U. S. to maintain its armament lead. Veering towards the domes- tice political scene, he was asked if he intended to support President Truman at the nominating conven-^ tion. MacMahon wasn't enthusi- astic about that query and side- stepped it with non-committal declaration of affection for the President. But, all in all, there were more direct answers than eva- sions. ' fferm. VOICES DOWN THE WIND Witti Frances Keelan, WtlUam Wright, Edward A. Rice's En- semble 80 Mins., Sun., 10:30 a.m. : Sustaining NBC, from Schenectady WGY feeds this excellent half- nour of standard and popular num-* hers to the NBC network. It fea- tures Frances Keelan, coloratura soprano William Wright, baritone, ana a string group led by Edward A. Rice. * „, Keelan'a Vbice, rangy and wear is at times a bit sharp. She f^u^fS^ particularly good in a duet with Wright of Herbert's "Falling m Love with Someone." Wright's ueep tones came off very well in lureat Days." Rice, who played °» WGVs erst broadcast in 1822, gives solid, sure direction *.,.,f„^*™« Bob Tennant an- nounces nicely. jaco. KIDDIE KORNER With Joe Girand 30 Mins., 9 a.m.; Mon.-Sat. HARTFORD COUNTY DRUG- GISTS ASSN. WCCC. Hartford. Appeal of this moppet show is to the two-to-five-year-old youngsters who have no school to take up their time. For a half-hour each morning, mikeman Joe Girand fills their ears with stories, skits and music, latter via transcription. He does a good job of selling his show to the moppets and as a result station has achieved a great deal of accolades from mothers, etc. Even nursery stories that might leave bad taste in the mouths of kids by calling a stepmother bad are expurgated prior to air time. On session caught, Girand ex- plained to youngsters how to tell time. However, as appeal is to kids Who are apron-tied to mothers, commercials are not lost, this due to fact mothers are near radio or child questioning of mother as to sponsor. It's a good piece of psychology. Entire pitch is on a level with the youngsters show plays to. Girand does excellent job of wrapping show into a sal- able piece of merchandise. £cFq.> CAMERA CLUB OF THE AIR With Len Beardsiey; Juhn C^^nilen Producer: BUI Gnnnlair 15 Mins.; Tbnrs., 6:46' piJii. GOLDSMITH'S KJB, Seattle Information and tips for capera users are put over in nice fashion on this quarter-hour show by Len Beardsley and John Condon, play- ing roles of camera expert and novice respectively. Format is ideal for .aim and results in inter- esting session that brings out info on types of camera to use, hints on taking pictures, developing, etc. Give and take between the two and light, conversational tempo allows for the insertion of commercials in natural manner, with appeal of program to camei-a users and cam- era buyers evident all the way through. • Script by Norm Hanlin sets pace for easy, ad libbing style which is held nicely by producer Bill Gim- ning. For windnp of its current semes- ter as a 60-minute CBS ' sustainer (it returns in the fall as a half-* hour program under Auto-Lite sponsorship), "Suspense" last Sat- urday night (10) did a radio version of the RKO pic "Crossfire." The network gave it. a full-blown pro- duction, with the original film cast, including Robert Young, Robert Mitchum and Sam Levene. As adapted to radio (although for the most part it hewed closely to the screen treatment, with the flash- back technique, etc.), the hard- hitting paen akainst . hatred and prejudice was peculiarly suited to "Suspense,'' For the melodrama was a cleverly-wrought succession of events, with all the properly balanced elements of ' tension and excitement. Without in any way detracting from the dramatic value of the script, "Crossfire" in its radio ver- sion seemed to highlight the mes- sage, making it simple and clear. The characters spoke with under- standing and feeling. The reality of the hatred was brought home, this particular hatred-— the hatred of the Jew— and all blind hatred fed by ignorance and fears. Tony Leader's expert directorial hand 'Was in evidcmce 'throughout. - . -v ,\ I f i « < 0 t" » ' 'I f.'f 'f "I J I < ' . I AM YOUR SERVANT With Eddie DowUiig, Ed Begley, others; Don Baker, announcer; Chuck Kingsberry, music Producer-director: D. Gordon ■■' Graham 30 Mins.; Sun. til), 4:30 11.H1, WCBS, N. Y. CBS flagship cancelled the Eileen Farrell progiiam last Sunday (11) to air this one-shot dramatization by the Catholic Actors Guild in be- half of the Catholic Charities' 1948 Appeal. It highlighted the life story of Frederick Ozanam, foun- der of the St. Vincent de Paul So- cieties which now help -the needy in parishes around the world. Effort of everyone concerned in the production was obviously sin- cere. Eddie Dowling did a convinc- ing portrayal of Ozanam who, as a young student in Paris, enlisted five fellow students to join him in meeting a challenge as a Christian to "show his good works." How the good works of this small group grew into a worldwide program made up the rest of tiie stanza. The narrative was draggy in spots and the dramatization lacked excitement except in one scene. Overall, the program was one of limited listener appeal, partly be- cause of its subject matter, but more because the script (written by an adman who preferred to re- miain anonymous) lacked the spark of techniques known to grab and hold dialers' attention. Still, it was a lot more preferable as a fund- raising stanza, from the standpoint of good taste and intelligence, than a lot of others of recent date. ■ Doan: ANIMAL WORLD COURT With Arnold Moss Adaptation: Hal Stock Producer: Fran Harris 5 Mins.; Mon.-thra-Fri., 0:30 p.m^ CHRYSLER DEALERS WNBC, N. Y.. ( McGann-BricJcson) This cross-the-board briefie, which teed off this week (12), is dedicated to the proposition that alt dogs are created equally heroic regardless of "race, creed or un- happy condition of pedigree." Its sponsorship by the Chrysler dealers of N. Y. and; Northern New Jersey apparently is based on the assumpw tion that a great many dog lovers, are potential motorists, or vice; versa." At any rate, if not especially exciting, it's something different. Actor Arnold Moss, who can breathe feeling into most assign- ments, hardly has a chance to get going on this one, in which he reads' a fast anecdote of a dog's heroism. Initialer, too, suffered from familiarity, being the well- publicized story of "Shep," the dog that stayed 10 years by a hospital elevator door waiting for his dead master. Stories of dog's vigils beside graves, etc, are pretty com- monplace and it would seem, with five yarns a week to air^ and pre-^ cious little time to tell them in, this stanza will have to come up with items carrying more punch it it is to attract listeners. The sponsors get in a plug for the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Commercials are straight and in good ■ taste. Down. GENE RAYBURN SHOW With Peggy Ana Ellis, Boy Ross Wviter: Bob Stewart . 30 Mins.; Men. thru FrI., 12 (noon) Sustaining WNEW, N. Y. This variety airer is a neat con- coction of gab and music Which, if it maintains the pace of the initial airer (12), should have no difficulty in building a solid after-< noon audience. Gene Raybum, who bills himself as "a poor man's Henny Youngman," is more ac- curately described as a fresh car- bon of Henry Morgan. His chatter is biting in a casual manner. As emcee, Raybum's gags maintain a remarkably good batting average considering tiie lightweight nature of these sessions. Preem show also clicked music- ally with Peggy Ann Ellis warbling pleasantly on "Louella," "Pent- house Serenade" and "But Beauti- ful," and Roy Ross' six-man combo flashing, hot and fuU orchestrations on several pop times. Show also has a giveaway gimmick with Ray- bum offering an expensive radio for any dialer suggesting a suitable title 'foT'the-'series.' • • " Herm.' • 'I'M" t y , ' \ " f iiii LET FREEDOM RING With James Stewart, Rosemary Rice, Hal Stepler, Lyle Sndtow* - Ted Jewett;. Harold Levy, music Prodnoer-dlneotor: Jaek McKer- cher, assisted by Leonard Blair 15 Mins.; Tues., 10:30 p.m. Sustaining ABC. from New York .Expert and perhaps unique dub- - bing in of a transcribed role in a ; live dramatization was accom- plished in the teeoff last week (6) of this new 13-week series pre- sented by ABC in cooperation with the U. S. Chamber of Commerce. Jimmy Stewart waxed his role in the stanza while hfe was in Pitts- bui-gh recently for a "Theatre Guild on the Air'' performance of "Philadelphia Story." Rosepiaty Rice, also there for the Guild airer, tossed lines to iiim. When the pro- gram actually went on tho alr^ the dramatization was live "except for Stewart's part. And unless the an-r houncer had bothered to disclose that' Stewart at that moment was on the stage of the 48th St. theatre playing "Harvey," only the most keen eared listener mi^t have dis- cerned the e. t. Production had slick handling throughout. It sketched, in a light way the average 'listener could un- derstand, the steel industjr's multi- million-dollar research to solve the problem of how to use low-grade ore. Story frame depicted a young steel laboratory worker's attemlpt to explain to his wife how important his seemingly monotonous ■atprk was, an effort in which he was aided by Jimmy Stewart appearing to his wife in a dream and telling her what "a great guy" her husband was. Ideologically, the slant was that the worker represented "a symbol of the free man." (Amus- ingly, the stanza's signoff included a disclaimer that the opinions ex- pressed on the : program were "those of the Chamber of Com- merce." About the most controver- sial opinion expresseid was the wife's likening of her worker hub- by to Paul Revere!) Doan. ETERNAL VIGILANCE^ Producer: Jack Pinto Writer: BiU Shea 30 mins., Tues., 10 P. M. WHDH. Boston. In conjunction with Army , Day (6) WHDH staff writer Bill Shea whipped up a click script for Army Recruiting program. ,~' . Based on army career of Jake Lindsey, local Congressional Medal of Honor winner, the story fol- : lowed him through basic training and Tunisian, Sicilian and German campaigns. It wound up with an account of events , which led to his winning the highest award. Smooth script, light on histri- onics, {A ugged the necessity of' a well trained army, likening it to an accident insurance policy, good protection in time of necessity, but which everyone hopes he never has . to use. It added up to an interest- ing half-hour stanza. In addition to scripting. Bill Shea read the . part originally intended for Lindsey. Latters voice wa* found -unsuitalto 16 Tnjmsioiir VeJnegdIayt April 14» J,*>4« No Cut Seen in Receiver Prices Due To New Improvements, Set Demand Despite recent appearances on f the market of lower-prlcea tele- vision receivers, the major manu- facturers' expect no immediate cut in the price Of their sets because Of the continued high cost of com- ponent parts. Instead, the leading production, outfits hope to incor- porate gradual improvements in their present sets without reducing the retail price. Lower-priced receivers now on the market, in fact, may be under- priced, according to DuMont sales manager Ernest Marx. Most inex- pensive set produced by DuMont is the Chatham, priced to retail at $455 plus Installation. Demand for these is Still so great, Marx said, that it's impossible to turn them out fast enough., to line with this belief is the fact that nearly three- fourths of the sets in the metropoli- tan N, Y. area are owned by fami- lies In the middle, lower middle and poor income neighborhoods, according to a survey conducted by WPIX, upcoming N. Y. Daily News video stationi RCA is also selling sets as fast as they can be turned out, ac- cording to a spokesman for' that company. He pointed out that . all lower-priced sets marketed to date, iBuoh as those produced by Motor- ola, Hallicrafter and Tele-tone, were reduced in price at the ex pense of reducing the? size of the picture-tube. DuMont prez Dr. Allen B. DuMont has repeatedly emphasized his company * objec- tion to turning out a set with a tube smaller than 12 inches, RCA 'has pulled its seven-inch tube set off the market andls now concenr ti-ating on sets with tubes of 10 inches' or more in size. . The Manifold Farts RCA spokesman pointed out that the average video set today has five times as many components as the average radio set Dollar today is worth only about half as much as it was when the price of radio sets first came down to the mass pocketbook level. Tele set retail- ing at RCA's lowest price of $375, consequently, is still a good buy, he said." He cited the fact that RCA has already improved its $375 set t>y incorporating a better cabinet ■ and mote tubes. Latter factor gives . the set more power, making it bet- ' ter for installations on the peri- phery of the video transmitting range. Marx noted that Corning Glass is now developing equipment that wUl make it possible to turn out 12-inch ' tubes by mass production, but de- dared-^ the company is still trying to work the bugs out of the system. Sale- on DuHont's higher-priced sets, which range up to $2,495, are I proportionately as good as on the I lower-priced jobs, he said, with many of ' them being bought by : medium-inpome families. WPIX survey, based on the study of -distribution of 31,755 receivers in the N. Y. viewing area, revealed that 53% of the sets were located in the city and 47% In the suburbs. ' Brooklyn leads the lipt with 41.6% of the city total, yet' that borough doesn't have a single high income district, according to the survey, This f act, !x>lstered by the survey's showing that 09IX 26.5% of the sets were in higher Income localities, in- dicates that sports are still the main attraction to' potential- set huyers, with the baseball fever seen the main reason for Brook- lyn's high rating. In connection with this, WPIX pointed out that families in these lo#er income groups have always found ways to buy something ex- pensive it it appeals to their imag- ination, comfort or amusement, This factor, coupled with state- ments of the DuMont and RCA execs, is believed to make it all the more certain that there will be no immediate price cuts on sets turned out by the top manufacturers. WHL (PHILIY) REVAMPS TV, FM INTO ONE UNIT Philadelphia, April 13. With the organization and build- up phase of its tele activities fin- ished, WFIL last week broke up its separate staff setup.of TV and FM by integrating both departments. Kenneth W. Stowman, who had been television director In the pre^ llmlnary phase, was named televi- sion sales manager in charge of sales nationally and local. He will work under John E. Surrick, who is sales manager of the Philadel- phia Inquirer Stations, including AM-TV, FM and Facsimile. Walter L. tillriian, formerly with RCA-Vlctor and .Warner Bros., was added to the TV staff as director of films. WFIL-TV's Pronto Telecast Of Italian Election Pix Philadelphia, April 13. Films of the Italian Army's pa- rade in Rome, taken by Philly In- quirer correspondent Ivan H. "Cy" Peterman, were shown here for the. first time by WFIL-TV last Thursday (8). Peterman is in Italy to cover the Italian elections April 18, He is filming pre-election news events, the balloting and post-election demonstrations. The films will be flown to Philly, processed and edit- ed in the WFIL-TV newsreel lab and telecast as soon as they are prepared. . - ABC McNAUGHTON GRAB LATEST IN VIDEO 'RAIDS' Personnel raids by television sta- tions on one another hit a new high this week when ABC snatch^ James McNaughton, set design* for WATV (Bremer Broadcasting, Newark). ,, To date, most of the raiding has been done by new stations against the staffs of those stations in opera- tion for some time. WATV, how- ever, isn't yet on the air, meaning that McNaughton, while he de- signed the WATV studios, has never had a chance to design sets for WATV shows. McNaughton will receive what was described as a "top salary" when he joins ABC on or about May 1. He'll be "national art dl- rector-producer-direotor" for the entire ABC video Web, In addition to heading up the production de- partment of WJZ-TV, the web's N. Y. outlet, he'll also be In charge of studio designing for ABC studios throughout the country. His re- placement at WATV hasn't yet been named. McNaughton is. an oldtimer in video, having designed shows for WGBS-TV (CBS, N. Y.) for several years. After leaving CBS, he was on the staff of W.ABD (DuMont, N. Y.) for three months' last sum- mer before joining WATV. He's also had considerable film experi- ence, having worked as a designer for Metro in Hollywood. KLZ, Denver, Files For Tele Station Denver, April 13. KLZ, Denver, oldest AM broad- casting station in the Rocky Moun- tain area, and also first with a &e- quency 'modulation station, KLZ- FM, has filed an application with the FCC for a teleivsion station, Hugh B. Terry, KLZ manager, has announced. Terry said the application, if ap- proved, would mean construction of a television transmitter on the present KLZ .transmitter site in Englewood, Colo,, in an area suit- able for "blanketing" Denver's metropolitan area, KLZ is the second Denver sta- tion to actually file With the com- mission an application for a tele grant. » Extensive TV Sportscasts To Be Detailed by Prexy Ed Kobak at MBS Meet Hollywood, April 13. Edgar Kobak, Mutual Broadcast ing System proxy, will discuss plans to televise 500-mile Indian- apolis Speedway classic, the All- Star and World Series baseball games and the East-West Football game, held on New Year's Day in San Francisco, at 'a meeting of over 500 Mutual station owners here on May 19. Meeting will be held at Don Lee's new Vine street studios. Lewis Alien Weiss, v-p and general manager of Don Lee, and Willet Brown, assistant general manager, will also make reports at the con- fab. Television Reviews | TONIGHT . ON BROADWAY With *'Mr. Roberts" cast, LeIand Hayward, Tom Heggen, Jo Miel- ziner, others; Martlnr^ Gosoh, emcee' Producer: Gosoh DIrefitor: Roland Gtllett Tele director: "tVorthington Miner Adapter: Robert Sylvester 40-Mins,i Tues., 7 p.ni. AMERICAN TOBACCO WCBS-TV— CBS, N. Y. (Foote, Cone & Beldino) Long - heralded "Tonight on Broadway," after overcoming as many obstacles as any television show has ever been heir to, finally went on as scheduled Tuesday (6) night — and with good results. If for no, other reason, the show would Save been a success because of the pattern It set for future co- operation between tele and the legit industry and between various conflicting labor unions. But, de- spite several minor production drawbacks, it was also good enter- tainment. What more could any viewer ask? In keeping with his original thesis, producer Martin Gosch de- signed "Broadway" as a trailer for legit, with the teeoff featuring in- teijulews wltlP "Mr. Roberts" pro- ducer LeIand Hayward, writer Tom Heggen, set designer Jo Miel- ziner and various members of the cast, as well as two excerpts from the play Itself, all televised direct- ly from the Alvln theatre, N. Y. Gosch, handling the emcee job, bunched too many of the inter- views at the beginning of the show. Audience was^ naturally more in- terested iif seeing the excerpts and the 15-minute wait before the" first one started was too long. Once Gosch bowed off and let Henry Fonda and others in the cast take over, the show hit its en- tertainment stride, giving those viewers who hadn't seen "Roberts" an amhsing brief on what's in store for them at the theatre. It was In the excerpts, though, that Gosch ran into most of his production difficulties. Even with fqst, eras, it was tough to cover quately the entire scene c f -.iHk.n • There were too many rhiH': i-i which an actor's head was cut off while ho was talking. Difficulties pointed up the obstaetes that must be overcome before video can suc- cessfully go into a legit theatre and pick up a show, even If the show is adapted for the tele medium Fonda, David Wayne, Robert Keith and others in the cast were excellent, both in the excerpts and interviews. Most sparkling point in the show, in fact, was an ad lib monolog by William Harrigan, who plays the captain in "Roberts." That spot alone, with the intimate atmosphere Harrigan struck up with viewers, was true television Hayward, Heggen and Mlelziner also carried off their interviews well,. Gosch alone was too loqua- cious, indicating there's a spot open for a better emcee, Whoever gets that job, though, will have to be as fully acquainted with legit as is Gosch. Lucky Strike filmed commer- cials, as usual, were excellent, especially the animated bit on the marching clgarets. First one, com- ing less than a minute after the opening LS/MFT announcement, though, could have been moved down farther into the show for better results. Stal. BARNVM RINGLING BROS., BAILEYCIRCVS With Merle Evans Orch. Director: Fred Rickey 210 Mlns., S:30 P. M.> Wed. (7) FORD MOTOR CO. WCBS-TV, N. Y. (J. Woltcr Thompson) CBS did an excellent job of bringing the opening performance of the Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus from Madison Square Garden, New York, into the tele- equipped living room last Wednes- day evening (7). In spite of the missing color and atmosphere of (Continued on page 35) WATV Set to Go May 1 WATV,' Bremer Broadcasting's television station in Newark, N. J., expect^ to take the air ' now with remote pickup and film shows about May 1 and will swing into full studio production 'a month later. Station originally expected to be in full operation about April 1 but has been stymied by the slow de livery of equipment. It's now on the air with a test pattern several hours daily. Studios are about TO EKTEND T£LEFILH[ Hollywood, April 13. Telefilm, Inc., received the go ahead signal from KSD-TV, St. Louis, and WWJ-TV, Detroit, for second 13-\ireek series of "Telefilm Snapshots," which are 19-minute open-end shots. WPTrs 38 Comm'ls Philadelphia, April 13. Citing the rapid growth in video popularity, WPTZ, Philco's tele station here, announced it has 38 paid commercial programs, with at least six more sponsors due to be- gin programs in the next month. Present sponsors include leading public utilities, department stores and manufacturers. Of the 3& firms now using WPTZ, sgeven present local studio programs, one is origi- nating remote shows in Philly a^d four are sponsoring locally origi- nated film programs. . Inside Televisioii SIGHT AND SOUND; DuMont (WABD) has Come up with a fashion show that makes sense. It did, anyway, Thursday night (8) and it's the one over which Adelaide Hawley presidesi "Fashions on Parade." A half hour of attractive girls and gowns, concisely explained and highlighted by Miss Hawley for Bonwit Teller, was woven into a well produced and cameraed program; The Spanish dancing couple were needless and useless, as was the fiction of the wandering or curious mannequin,' a dream fantasy, when a two line introductory could have sent the young lady on her way, but the action also included Vincent Lopez at the piano around whom the girls briefly, grouped themselves. Show is not new yet this seemed the best., of the weekly string to date. Credit is given for everything from shoes to costume jewelry but no mention of price. Constant changing of costumes, grouping, and some backgrounds do much to help the presentation "move" , . . That offer to dress the men appearing on video programs by the Men's Fashion Guild, to get the boys out of the baggy pants category, is not without reason. Take Bill Slater on WABD's charade show. As interlocutor he conducts it sitting down, informally attired, hair mussed and dripping down over his forehead while addressing his audience without removing the cigaret from his mouth. Next week It may be "Ashes on the Lapel" but, meanwhile, slip Slate the careless and sloppy award for his performance Thursday night (8) . . . Something ought to be done about the staring Into the cameras Indulged In by so many of television's m.c.'s and narrators, especially when they have other people with them. Either direction or their own inclination has them ignoring their companions to intensely devote themselves to the camera. It gives viewers the impression they are lens hounds. For Richard Harkne^s and his NBC interviews from Washington this often impresses at the signoff as out- right rudeness to his guest. A normal conversatioii between two people cameras very well if they address each other and forget the tripod. This is one reason the guest generally makes a better Im- pression than the interviewer. The guest is not trying to crowd that lens ... NBC has evidently made up its mind, and rightly that the camera situation as regards ballads singers is serious. In other words, what can you do with 'em? A closeup of a singer is mostly teeth and for a full chorus this can be murder. So on Lanny Ross they NBCs Late Curtain On - Crime Shows Also Hits 'Barney Blake' TV Show ■ NBC's ban on the airing of any radio crime show before 9:30 p.m. cropped up for the first time in television this week. W^ sewed up the new "Barney Blake, Police Reporter" show, sponsored by American Tobacco, but because of the ban, was forced to slot it in the Thursday night 9:30 to 10 segment. Show thus becomes one of the first major studio productions to be aired at so late an hour. It'll preem April 22 on the WiC five-city net- work. Series, packaged by Wynn Wright. Associates, is handled, for Lucky Strikes by the N, W- Ayer ad agency. PAGE ! NEWS FORMAT SET FOR WPIX AGENDA WPIX, only newspaper - owned television station scheduled for the metropolitan New York area, plans to pace the N. Y, video field in presenting complete and up-to-the- minute news, when it takes to the air June 15. Three five - minute newscasts, two 15-minute daily newsreels, a Sunday news digest, and a complete remote program of sports and other events are planned for the, station. As was expected, WPIX, will rely fully on experience gained by the Daily News in its newspaper operation, despite the fact that the paper and the station are to be run as two separate entities. News will be put on the air "with a speed and completeness that hasn't been seen before in N. Y.," according to news and special events director Carl Warren. "We will use every device to keep the news up to the minute, including newsreels, still pictures, charts, maps, animation and interviews." Allen Martin, Allan Lawrence and George Russell, all former writer-editors from the broadcast desk of the Daily News, are in charge of the tele news operation For sports coverage, WPIX is cur rently on the prowl for top an- nouncers and has already signed Guy LeBow, former announcer for WHN, N. Y. radio indie. He reports about June 1. ^ , . j FCC Cracb Down, Nixes6TV Shifts Washington, April 13. The Federal Communications Commission served notice on video broadcasters last week it means business when it said tele slots will not be shifted from one town to another until contenders prove in public' hearing that such a move* is 'in the public Interest." The Commission proceeded to dismiss bids from six companies, all of whom are requesting chan- nels in towns where no channels are allocated or where available slots have alteady been exhausted. The b i d d e r s were WTOL and WTOD, both plugging for assign- ment of more channels to Toledo; WSTV, Steubenville, O., and the Lubbock Television Co., Lubbock, Tex., both of "Which town's were left out of FCC's 1945 allocation plan; and WITH and WCAO for Baltimore, whose three assigned channels have already been swal- lowed up. Interesting sidelight is that WCAO is a CBS-AM affiliate and the net has already affiliated Baltimore Sun station WMAR-TV there. AH six TV candidates were told to file new applications backing up their demand for channels, to be heard in separate "rule-making* hearings. At the same time, the Commis- : sion called for competitive hear- ings in seven more towns where the demand for channels exceeds the supply. Thrown into hearings were: seven bidders for three remaining slots in San Diego; three contend- ers for York, Pa.; four for Indian- apolis' three available channels; four for three availabilities in Buf- falo area; two for the Springfield- Holyoke, Mass., area; five for Des Moines; and four for the Chicago i ■area. ■ Also on the tele front, the FCC postponed a skedded April 13 hear- ing on Dallas contenders to June 21 at Dallas; moved back an April 26 hearing on Miami bidders to May 17; and deferred a propo.sed April 19 hearing on Hartford-New Britain, Conn., applicants to May TELEVISION 27 TELE SHIDIO Es^s FMter Alps M Tiie list For Gn^ TBef ImaBg •jVlevislDB at this ftx tncmiiud is all "life of Riley," hat it must have ^Iwn An*r JWBto Wlliaa ageaicy »n idea. Soaae one is to lie &m flcst.to tdbwise * £«ndio BQmieilr* l>e xesinofUEd. so STiallowNa 1din»^ In first -jUley" must hare lieen Tunning Homni^ his mind so he ^ledueed liiis will be it. So gKAting permis- alM fMm bviag Bndier. paMfkage mmer of conedlr. mmI its xpau- ■or. Procter & Gjunhie, he dog up w W ma fradtr fi»qd^ it for the Ttdeo camecas. SEenext Igleresled the I,. A, TH mes t ele ~|iMiK9[^ who in tian^'ttaAB .WEtMise- Mjitit with Fanden Community flliiyiKHHe for a 5*ndUo for leasing ad iiwaire for vinriafr Kmk itf the 'WJef n^tOars wUI appear intbm tdeiised vndau, the cait bring diwm ttam AFBA.** •Vmoned 40" and student body of the Kla^boaae. Herb Viffan and mmr Grrj. a padr of ABBA wheentmat, attemate in flie name nde became at couMffiwg oonnmt- saeadts. "SUt^ will be a luilf-hour . iMCment af a two^war show and nau foe two weda with invited aodicBcex from the trade. Potter and the L. A. Timis' KTTV hope to praws many things with thar esperiawBlL High, fri- ecUy will be given to the cost iH^Odown, XRlMd at tiuwu^ lopollietical pendling oE tite Sac- tuES and elements necessaiy to the enwoDuc whole. Both the AFRAs and Mayhoose stndes Sswe to pn£t bgr ap^rentiemg to the new art form, and Hie Times technical crew bofies to gain some IdgblS'.uselnl ftnini^tedse Mfone its transwrittef atorts up a irtting IntevKft in fbn pnoject bas been ao cleetrie IJjattiie inv^taliiMul list was early satorated and hundreds Da M and has started coostructiati m its sta- tion in FittsbmgiL A^pUca- tuns for two raore stafions in Clereland and Ciwrinnati are still pendinj; before the FCC, being withheld until the Oom- ' mission dedd«! whether to de- mand a split between BnMont and VannoanL BMwe are damdring fw Aicats. If nothing else, the project wiil pave, with adiowable mar^n for error due to alMence of minimam acales, wtu^ tetemiBded tradesmen 1»ne''lM«g: HMoied to know: "Wm iBodinMffie wOl it cost to do a live telecast of a radio show than the CBRcatlaloiTdefigiRe?'' Atlewst it will give IHwm jSMnrtWng. tingi- ble to go «a and Aorten the hivadth of i^gMMsnblinn on lite fiscal phases of "sq^ding Hw MMmd.' fa Heir ham hdagt Tata Sena Tcsis ^th Xtdlywood sQU refusing mjch help to the telewnon indus- try, latter wSl now silep in to aid Holljrwood. "Hollywood.. Semen ^t," new video series packaged ' lUseb^ Ijewis . Jd^dates, tees 2**»ao««»w ennirsJ nig^bt owsr wm^TV (ndtade^dda) under ««^OM ta ABC with the f«aiat o«>Bned to hhslp pramising talent get a sradi: at an ikdnal soeen ,te^,: , ^. , - ,.: Under plass Sot iOte s3iow, vAIidi ■SJ"^** «»ra!ied by WMAI^ TV (Washington), two i^lfteient each week waU get a chance * »M» wM» » spedad »*«tM. In addition, the tniddle 3*7 ™» "» show is to be given •*w *o a variety act wiw's also ■?«»^^ ».W»d acxteen bet Ba- »Wjadio actor Aank Bailer will <^E9osite guest Alan Baxter wj the precm pexfiKmanoe. Sanxmy ^to, smser on WHN «W. T. indie ^« station) and winner of a Arthur GodtH^ IMent WWM. wai hold down the middle «Pat Bert Xjytell Is tlw show's pe^^ I«s(*s has xoonded np a groop wnters to fiimisfa original &»r Hie sahits. llh^- ,*«^aadwra Dana and Bernard In additkm, he plans to T^se excerpts ifrom former Broafl- ft^f J*!'*^'"^ ti»«e to time. Kmph WaiTen will direct the pack- 3c V^lK^ '^^"S ofCei-ed to spon- sors at $1,000 per week. • 12StaiiMsNo» Od CBS-TV Web CBS, Indicating that its recent televisaiBi c3inic for laey AM sta- tifm exebi tfarooghoat the country paid (df better than that recently beld by 1KBC, last satgoed