Evening star., 1943-11-21


fruits OF success during their life
time, instead Of the posthumous
fame accorded composers such as
Mozart, Beethoven, LiSzt and Schu-
bert. Radio, to a large degree, is re-
sponsible for this fortunate change.
In the past the life of COM
poser was not only an extremely
dihlcult one but often even precari-
Gus. Beethoven was perpetually
quarreling with his publishers over
his advances. royalties and accru-
ments. While 1t may shock some
people to learn that Ludwig Won
Beethoven was of mortal flesh, and
that he could haggle over pennies
when he needed them, such was
actually the case.
Liszt wrote voluminous letters to
his publisher. accusing him in no
uncertain terms of holding back
funds and Of trying to destroy his
art by making 1t impossible for him
to stay alive. The letters Of Puccini
reveal that all was not ever rosy
with him as far as finances were
concerned.
Such Is not the case today
ASCAP--the American Society of
Composers, Authors and Publishers
assures them certain comfort
able return each year. So does BMI,
and there are other American as
well as foreign organizations which
protect the writer as we'll as the
publisher. In addition, most of
them have musical posts which pro-
vide them with other income. Radio,
through wide dissemination of their
works, has made it possible for them
to achieve and enujoy living fame,
instead Of the posthumous variety.
* X
Off the Scratch Pad: The radio
actress Helen Bennett is beginning |
to wonder If those gunmoll roles she
draws from time to time on Mr.. and |
Mrs. North reflect an honest opin-
ion on the part 81 Producer S. James
Andrews. who has yet to cast her in
a sympathetic part. She's par
ticularly interested in his opinions,
because she became Mrs. Andrews
just month ago. :. After touring
Eastern United States on a heavy
theater. service camp and canteen
schedule, singer Connie Haines re-
turned to California for a well-de-
served rest. Her vacation" was
short-lived as she was signed for the
Abbott and Costello series. .. Prob
lem Of keeping house without a
really struck home
when Dinah Shore and Shirley
Mitchell (who share quarters) found
a new excuse from their latest maid
. no leaving you to work in a
war plant for this lady :. she quit
to go to dramatic school! Charles
Butterworth. guesting on Stage
Door Canteen, told Bert Lytell that
his draft board classified him 12-F
Explained Butterworth: First my
draft board goes. Then go!"
X
OF Mikes and Men: Comical high
light on a recent Battle Of Sexes
program came when Questioner Jay
C. Flippen asked Dancing Instructor
Arthur Murray to give as many
words as possible starting with GA"
. When Murray couldn't go any
further, Flippen coached him by
saying, go on, you can think of
another. Name a famous dancer
that starts with the letter "A"
OF course, Flip meant him to men
tion his own name, Arthur but
Murray wouldn't do that and after
thinking for a minute he excitedly
exclaimed, 1--WE got it-Astaire!"
Strangest sight last week was John
Nesbitt, story-teller on the John
Charles Thomas program, actually
boning for Navy examinations
John admits that his arithmetic
grades were always pretty low in
school and he's taking every precau-
ton he can think of so the Navy
won't turn him down. Receiving
an invitation to preview in Holly
wood doesn't necessarily mean a
picture preview, according to Arthur
Lake, who portrays "Bumstead" on
the Blonde show. Arthur re.
Gently received an invitation by mail
from a stationery store in Santa
Monica, Calf, inviting him to the
prevleW OF their latest pen and ,