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Show STAGE?SCREENRADIO By VIRGINIA VALE Released by Western Newspaper Union, WELL, you never know when something you've bought may come in handy especially es-pecially in a motion picture studio. Paramount bought two rooms from the Hearst Collection Collec-tion when it was put on sale in New York, consisting of carved oak paneling of the 17th century, cen-tury, originally part of European castles. So they were used as sets in "The Hitler Gang." They're the living room and library of the Nazi Industrial magnate, Alfred Hugen-berg, Hugen-berg, in the picture; Hitler comes to him seeking financial support. The cast of NBC's "Johnny Presents" Pre-sents" has been having a bit of fun with Ginny Simms, we hear, since ehe has become mayor of North- F - ,y " K i; . i ! -t I X ... . - i . ' ' I j GINNY SIMMS idge, Calif., where she has a 63-acre 63-acre ranch. No more calling her Miss Simms or just Ginny she's "Your Honor" now- Warner Bros, is certainly trying to do right by Mark Twain. "The Adventures of Mark Twain," co-starring co-starring Frederic March and Alexis Smith, will have its nation-wide debut in more than 200 theaters, will be shown at advanced prices for one week. Those who have been confused by the conflicting stories coming out of South America can't afford to miss the March of Time's new release, "South American Front 1944." It tells, and shows, the truth about Argentine's so-called "palace revol tion." It shows what an impressive amount of rubber, quartz, mica and tantalite were supplied us by Brazil, and how important was Brazil's t grant of air bases. Too bad everybody who listens to Joan Davis and Jack Haley on the air can't see them working but it's a great break for the servicemen at the military posts where they've been broadcasting on their eastern trip. When Rudy Vallee Vent into the service radio wiseacres wondered won-dered if Joan could hold up the program pro-gram that succeeded his; with the able assistance of Haley, the show has moved right into the top ranks. Deafening noise was created on Vox Pop in a war plant the night Parks Johnson demonstrated the new army lip microphone, which permits distinguishable speech over disturbances. Later a worker who handled the rivet guns was heard talking to his wife over a pay station sta-tion phone. "Did you hear that noise on the air?" he asked her. She evidently had. "Well," said he, "that was me." For mystery fans; Republic's making "Secrets of Scotland Yard," with Edgar Barrier. International has signed Joan Bennett to play opposite op-posite Edward G. Robinson in "Once Off Guard." And Dick Powell Pow-ell gets the starring role in RKO's "Farewell My Lovely." Jim Jordan Jr., son of Fibber AIcGee and Molly, has had his option op-tion lifted by RKO. Some months ago the studio signed him as a contract con-tract player, and while receiving dramatic training he has appeared in several pictures. Seems likely that he got some coaching at borne, too. Robert Livingstone, that gun-totin' hard-ridin' western star recently promoted to straight dramatic roles by Republic, had to take it on the chin from his western pals, who razzed him unmercifully after he had to wear a woman's coiffure and dresses in several scenes of "Good-eight, "Good-eight, Sweetheart." His one consolation conso-lation was that, as a female Impersonator, Im-personator, he fooled Ruth Terry and Henry Hull, who appear with him. ' ODDS AND EVDS Production on "Casanova Brown" was temporarily halted recently the star, Gary Cooper, was injured when he fell of a bicycle . . RKO borrows lovely Ella Raines from Universal for the lead with John tfayne in "Tall in the Saddle" . . . Servicemen in hospitals want sheet music, mu-sic, says Frank Novak of "Hook 'n Ladder Lad-der Follies," u-ho's been entertaining them; he cleaned out his files and sent them plenty, noiv he's urging others to do the same . . . It's reported that 20th Century-Fox took a second look at Perry Per-ry Como's screen tests and raised his pay from 125,000 a picture to $100,000 for ht's first three films. |