The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1944-03-10


His new radio show, on the Blue
network, is quiz show; too bad
he's not doing an additional one, so
that the public could hear what he
told newspaper people.
b
The "vicious circle" that's sup.
posed to be show business isn't so
vicious for Xavier Cugat, who be-
came a movie highlight after re-
peatedly starring on the bandstand
of the New York Paramount thea
ter. Now that he has a handsome
contract with Metro, Cugat has been
rewarded with ten weeks person
al appearance contract, at $12, 500
per week-at the Paramount thea
ter, where he started to fame!
Lauritz Melchior, Metropolitan
tenor who scored such a hit clown
ing with Fred Allen on the air, has
signed for his first motion picture
it's Metros Thrill of Romance"
featuring Esther Williams, the
swimmer. He'll play an opera sing
er.
"All the other fellows razzed this
chap" said the soldier who'd just
come out of Halloran hospital. "He
sat down on the side of my bed
and played cards with me and
talked, and was swell. didn't know
l,,,I, he Enr1v1d r,IIf later
he was Frank Sinatra."
y
We won't see Rosalind Russell In
"Sister Kenny" after all that prep
aration, because it's been indefinite
ly postponed. But it's going to be
too bad if she's assigned to Rough
! ly Speaking instead, because that's
perfect story for Bette Davis.
B
James Cagney has started his
personal appearance tour Of u. s.
army and navy bases in the Euro
pean war theater; expects to re-
main abroad for three months. He
rehearsed six weeks with q dance
coach before leaving Hollywood, on
cavalcade of American dancing
from George Primrose to Fred
AStaire.
Shopping for lingerie with his
wife, Godfrey Barnes, he Of the
ominous voice on ''The Mystery
Theater," yielded to the temptation
to use his radio voice on the ele-
vator operator. Barnes says he new
er had an easier time getting out.
Next time you hear Cary Grant in
radio play, picture him acting out
all the dialogue as if he were before
the camera. When he's out Of a
scene he walks into the wings, min
giles with the supporting players,
and contributes to the off-stage
sound effects.
After finishing the hilarious "The
Miracle of Morgan's Creek Preston
Sturges left Paramount; now he's
gone into partnership with Howard
Hughes, who'll be his financial back
er. That combination should pro-
duce some startling picturesl
n
Dimitri Shostakovich's Eighth
Symphony will be given its first
performance in the Western hemi-
sphere over the CHS network on
Sunday, April 2, by the New York
Philharmonic symphony. Bill Downs
brought the symphony back from
Moscow.
ODDS AND ENDS-Thas Flying For.
fress named for I'VE, the People" Is still
blasting a,oay at the Germans While
Bob Griffin ioas recovering from a plane
crash on CBS's "Mary Marlin" he ,oas
do,Un ,Uith Jungle fever in valiant Lady"
:. "The Silver Theaier" may nsoUe from
Hollywood to NeW York. to present sOell-
knotun stage players in its Sunday dramas
One-third Of the principal players in
"The Robe" t0iA be neiO to the screen;
Producer Frank Ross believes the story
demands fresh faces !. Jack Benny has
checked of fhe Warner Bros. LOT. after
completing his starring role in '.The Horn
BIoxs al Midnight"