Boxoffice-11.04.1950

THAT'S
all Hollywood needed, yet^-another
round robin of kudos. And, of all
places, under the auspices of Giro's.
From Henry Rogers, free-lance flack, who
presumably is currently thumping the tub
for that plushlined bistro, comes an idea
(spare the mark) and a release, to wit:
To representatives of the American press
the nightclub's impresario, Herman D. Hover,
has assertedly begun circulating ballots
through which candidates for the first annual
"Giro's Hall of Fame Awards" will be
selected from any branch of show business
the legitimate theatre, supper clubs, films,
radio and—excuse it, please—television. Rogers
even goes so far as to invite comparision
with the Academy's Oscar sweepstakes by deposing
that nominations will be tabulated by
a firm of certified public accountants "similar
to the balloting conducted each year by the
Academy of Motion Piature Arts and
Sciences."
From Hover, via the Rogerian release,
came the explanation that "Giro's Hall of
Fame" is being set up to honor "those who
entertain the American public whose efforts
go unrewarded."
In addition to Cinemania's No. 1 glamorfest,
the aforementioned Academy Awards,
there is already a large number—probably
too many—of well-established annual laurels.
Not the least of these are such events as the
Photoplay, Redbook and Look magazine
achievements presentations for industry personnel,
and the yearly selection of filmdom's
"best" by the New York Film Gritics. And,
parenthetically, it might be pointed out that
the Photoplay, Redbook and Look affairs,
all staged locally, are impressively accoutred,
intensively publicized and viewed by Hollywood
as being of considerable significance
and value.
Now let the film capital's lush niterles—all
of which apparently could stand a sizable
shot of business stimulation—muscle in on
the annual conferment carnivals and there'll
soon be more awards than actors—unemployed
actors, that is.
There's always the chance of LaRue's
Laurels, Chasen's Cheers, Romanoff's Raves,
Perino's Plaudits, etc., ad nauseam, even unto
Ptomaine Tommy's Tributes.
One thing, at least, about which Boniface
Hover need not worry. His eatery should
never be short of eggs—not with Handsome
Henry laying them in such quantities.
For the past several weeks it had been the
int«ntion of this department to dispatch a
bow in the direction of Bob Hope for the
tribute he paid the industry—and most especially
its exhibitors—on one of his radio
programs. Space limitations, however, pushed
the item into unfinished business.
Now comes the Allied Independent Theatre
Owners of Iowa and Nebraska to do the
job. That showmen's organization, in its
"Allied Caravan" newsletter to members,
cordially saluted Hope by declaring the
comedian's remarks were "just about the
nicest thing that was ever said about the
movies" and reminding that Allied has always
been "most vociferous" in criticizing
film stars who, in radio or TV appearances,
belittle motion pictures.
Hope's recent tribute to the industry contended
life would be "pretty dull routine"
without the movies. He said he was "mighty
proud to be part of a great industry that
gives so many so much pleasure for so little.
Yes, sir, a dollar doesn't buy much of a
steak any more, but that buck at the boxoffice
is still a great bargain . . . You can't
beat it!"
So, the comment becomes a double bowone
to Actor Hope for his appreciation of
and loyalty to an industry that has been good
to him; and the second to a group of showmen
thoughtful enough to say, "Thank you."
If there could be more of such mutual understanding
between those who make pictures
and those who exhibit them, the trade
might be confronted with fewer problems.
In a recent issue of Fox West Goast's house
organ, Newsviews, Editor Dean Hyskell reported
an exploitation stunt which assertedly
"worked wonders" for an FWG showcase in
nearby Bell Gardens. Manager Harry Zeidell
of the Towne Theatre there whipped up an
advertising dodger in the form of a slip of
paper, folded once and captioned, "You're
Drafted." The throwsheet, when opened,
adds: "To See (title of picture.")
One of these days Manager Zeidell is gomg
to wake up with a mouse under each eye
administered by some 1-A lad without a sense
of humor.
NECK-OUT DEPARTMENT
(Norman Siegel Division)
From Paramount's praisery an item concerning
Thomas Fortune Ryan II, who allegedly
called y. Frank Freeman, Paramount
vice-president in charge of studio operations,
to offer congratulations on "Sunset Boulevard."
Ryan, grandson of the famous financier, is
quoted
"I very seldom see pictures . . . but someone
talked me into seeing 'Sunset Boulevard'
What this business needs is fewer people
who seldom see pictures—and more publicity
about them.
Intelligence from the Burbank blurbery of
the Preres Warner that "Suzanne Dalbert,
French actress who plays femme interest in
'Breakthrough,' has changed her name and
will henceforth be known simply as Suzanne
. . . actress gets billing ... as 'the girl who
put the whammo in their ammo'."
Now her name is as short as the part she
played in "Breakthrough"—and Alex Evelove
can take credit for putting the harrmio
in
the whammo that went into the ammo.
"Love Is Better Than Ever" has been set by
MGM as the next starring vehicle for Elizabeth
Taylor.
Even better than movies.
WB Lancaster Stunt
Is Basis of Lawsuit
HOLLYWOOD—Filmdom may be suffering
from lack of bankroll, a sparsity of product
and other assorted shortages—but in the lawsuit
department the joint's a-boomin'.
Item: One Jules Garrison, a bit player,
filed a $1,000,000 action—that's right, $1,000,-
000—against Warners in federal court as an
outgrowth of the company's recent publicity
stunt in connection with the Burt Lancaster
starrer, "The Flame and the Arrow." Warners
had offered $1,000,000 to anyone who could
prove Lancaster did not perform all the
stunts and athletic feats in that swashbuckler.
Plaintiff Garrison charged in his
suit that the studio "laughed off" his offer to
prove Lancaster was provided with some
assistance.
Item: Groucho Marx claimed in a superior
court action that he hasn't been paid $35,000
allegedly due him for his services in "Love
Happy," a United Artists release. He named
Producer Lester Gowan and Artists Alliance,
Inc.. the production firm, as defendants and
charged Cowan had guaranteed payment by
last September 30. To date, added Groucho,
no dough.
Item: Scenarist Richard Flournoy and
tunesmith Sammy Gahn lodged a $455,000 suit
against Paramount, also in superior court,
contending the company failed to carry out
an agreement under which Flournoy and
Gahn were to write and produce a Broadway
musical based on the life of Gasey Jones,
They charged that after production of the
musical. Paramount was to relinquish the
film rights which it owns to them, but has
refused to turn over such rights. The agreement,
added the plaintiffs, was an oral one
—reached in 1949-but the studio allegedly
repudiated it last September.
Item: "Stromboli." Rossellini and Bergman
crept back into the news when RKO filed
a federal district court action here seeking
to restrain the Italian filmmaker and his wife
from interfering with distribution of the picture
by RKO. The complaint alleges the
defendants have filed injunction suits in
various European countries to hamper RKO's
distribution of "Stromboli," but that such action
is in violation of a contract giving RKO
exclusive foreign and domestic releasing
rights.
Jewish Home Auxiliary
Installs Mary Pickford
HOLLYWOOD—Mary Pickford was installed
as trustee and Mrs. Ida Mayer Cummings
took office for the 12th consecutive
year as president at a meeting October 31
of the junior auxiliary of the Jewish Home
for the Aged. The organization's new $500,000
home, now nearing completion, will be
named after Miss Pickford. Entertainment
at the luncheon was supplied by Lucille Ball,
Eleanor Powell, Penny Singleton. Marie
Wilson, Spring Byington. Yvonne de Carlo.
Ann Miller, Arlene Dahl, Ann Blyth and
other film notables.
Pushing past the halfway mark, the Permanent
Charities committee's current United
Appeal drive has now swelled to a total
of $773,832.35 from 11,593 sub.scribers. Goal
of the campaign is $1,345,000.
48
BOXOFFICE November 4, 1950