Variety (Apr 1949)

fJh ^r, April 6, 1949 IliPCopaCityJiam^^ Creditors Step In; Future in Doubt VAIJDEVILLB 49 By LARY SOLLOWAY + iiliami Beach, April 5. ' Topper to a wail-raising season ;J 1 Mod portion of the niteries S this area (though some half of S. hPtter rooms hit the black side t ihP ledger) was the sudden clos- fnJ bV creditors Saturday night g of the new $1,000,000 Copa City- <5hnw. which featured Ben Blue, ien Lessy, Patti Moore, Sid Gary, Sf' paysees, plus production by SonttArden and Benny Davis fea- S« a 10-girl line and Tony Sar and Ron Fletcher with Michael Selker's orch, was paid o« in full, Pl"S fa"^*" ^^"^ York for the show gii'ls. Odd side to the shutdown, with possible freezing out of dozens of big and small stockholders in the oroject, was complete ignoring by local newspapers (amusement and city desks both) of the occurence, though it was main topic of talk in this amusement-minded area ov6r the weekend. Undoubtedly one of tlie lushest dubs yet hullt in a resort which has always boasted lavish rooms, cost for copa City originally ran o^it $800,000. The Norman Bel ; k (Continued on page 50) ' SUNBROCK PINCHED ON HOTEL SKIP CHARGE liarry Sunbrock, who is touring a one-iiighter stageshow, was ar- rested last week in Columbus on charges of defrauding a Cincinnati . hotel of a $50 bill. • Simultaneously, Sunbrock has been warned by radio station WSM, Nashville, to stop advertis- ing his current layout as the orig- inal "Qrand Ole Opry." Station claims that Sunbrodc' was never given authorization to use that name, which the station claims is its exclusive property,' Only one act from WSM's show is in the Sunbrock unit. Music Bowl, Chi, Folds; Effects Up for Auction Chicago, April 5. Music Bowl, wliich folded a month ago, goes under auctioneer's hammer tomorrow. Over $75,000 of equipment is up for sale. Spot, on site of former Latin Quarter, was unable to meet talent costs. Closing act, Brother Bones, has a claim against bistro for back- salary. Philly Nltery License Lifted, for Minor Sales Philadelphia, April 5. Little Rathskeller, one of the largest midtown niteries, drew a 40-day suspension of license by the State Liquor Control Board, ef- fective April 22. The suspension was based on Saturday night raid by members of Ehilly's special Crime Prevention unit, which alleged the spot was selling booze to minors. K.O. to Qut-State Agents Doing Biz In Pa. a Break for Pennsys 10%ers Benefit Promoters' Soft Take Due for Slicing By AGVA-TA Action The promotion of benefits where- in an outside ticket selling organ- ization gets anywhere up to 45% of the net proceeds is due for a re- vamping. Situation was brought to a head when a promoter con- vinced Theatre Authority to okay gratis talent after request "had been previously denied; Affair in question was for the As- sociated Blind, Inc., which under auspices of promoter .iimmy Ban- man, was originally slated to buy a show through Jerry, Rosen for the Madison Square Garden May 12. Henry Dunn, American Guild of Variety Artists representative to Theatre Authority, proposed a compromise situation whereby 15% go to TA and $1,000 go to acts. Deal witli Rosen was subse- quently called off. However, the Associated affair is seen likely to set off a reaction that will force a looksee into all benefit promotions. It's being charged tliat too little coin is re- verting back to charity. If ticket- selling organization gets the great- i er part of the proceeds, benefit is actually for the boiler-room opera- tor. As such, many performers are demanding an inquiry into the dis- position of monies realized at bene- fits. Elkort Sets Deal With Grade Agcy. V London, April 5. Deal was completed last week between Eddie Elkort and Lew & Leslie Grade agency, London, for Elkort to open a New York branch for exchange of talent. Elkort will represent the Grade's list of acts in this country and will also line up American acts for presentation in England and the Continent. Elkort will plane to the U. S. tomoi-row (Thurs.) to open tlie of- fice. Lew Grade is due in New York April 18. Elkort, until recently with Music Corp. of America, met last week with the Grade board Of directors. Deal was worked out so the Grades will put up some of their funds 1 banked in the U. S, for the open- 1 ing of the U. S. branch and initial operating expenses. British Trea.s- I ury permission was obtained for I the move. I The Grade agency at one time 1 was negotiating with MCA for a I mutual representation pact. At one I stage in the proceedings, MCA of- i fered $500,000 for the agency with Lew & Leslie Grade retaining di- rectorships and managing the Lon- don office, but deal was turned down inasmuch as the Grades wanted to retain their Identity.' Laurette and Clymas open at the William Penn hotel, Pitts- burgh, April 15 and follow with jHollenden, Cleveland, April 29, and 1 Mt. Royal, Montreal, May 13. Modernaires' Coke Grove ; Return at Salary Boost | The Modernaires, who recently | completed a four-week stand at the | Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador hotel, Los AngeleSi are set for a i return at this spot .early next year i at a salary increase. . { starting date is tentatively Jan.; 24, for four weeks. Tarheels Like Hefty j Fair Profits; Planning i Reprise Next Year i Greensboro, N, C, April 5, Tlie North Carolina State Fair i took in $196,924.72 la.st year and earned a net profit of $38,778.13, according to report from the State I Auditor's office submitted at a j meeting of the Board of Agricul- ture. , • ■ Report also showed that the fair had accumulated a surplus of $187,521.66 Since the Department of Agriculture.assumed supervision of the exposition in 1937 at the re- quest of W. Kerr Scott, then com- missioner of Agriculture. The fair since then has been managed by Dr. J. S. Dorton, of Shelby. After reviewing the report, the Board of Agriculture voted to re- elect Dorton manager of the fair, for 1949, commended him, and in- creased his salary from $4,500 to $6,000 a year. The greater part of the State Fair's surplus of $187,521.66 has been accumulated since 1946, when it was reopened-after having been I closed since 1941 on account of the I war. The Auditor's report showed I that 1946 was the banner year with I gross revenue of $220,544 and net profits of $72,104. In 1947 the fair took in $166,312 and earned I $22,421 in profits. Philadelphia, April 5. K.O, to out'-of-state 1E>ookin£; in Pennsylvania has been given in a directive issued to all agents in the state, clarifying the Employ- ment Agency Law of 1941. The di- rective, which was sent out fromi Harrisburg March 31 by Secretary of Labor and Industry William H. Chesnut, makes it mandatory for all purchasers of talent to deal through agents licensed and bond- ed by the Commonwealth of Penn- sylvania. Penalties ranging from fines of $25 to $250, and jail sentences, from 30 days to one year can be invoked against all violators, whether agents, talent purchasers or the entertainers themselves. Ruling virtually ends the general practice ot Hrgf New York agen- cies dealing directly with clubs here. . Local agents, paid nominal sums yearly, merely rubber- stamped these deals. Practice was particularly prevalent in the big Sunday night club date business, : (Continued on page 50) : : NEW HOPE TOUR TO HIT 19 TOWNS IN 13 DAYS ' Hollywood, April 5. Bob Hope hops oft' April 19 on a 13-day barnstorming tour to hit 19 towns he missed on his last trip. Troupe will appear chiefly in out- door arenas. Stpps are Shreveporti La.; Columbus,'Miss.; Providence« R. L; Hoswell, N. M,; El Paso, Waco and College Station, Texas Little Rock, Ark.; Birmingham, Ala.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Ashville, N. C; Roanoke and Richmond, Va.; Winston-Salem, N. C; Charleston, W. Va.; Washington, D; C; Erie, Pa.; Columbus, O., and Indian- apolis. Hope will be accompanied by Doris Day, Irene Ryan, Bill Far- rell, Hy Averback, the Tiunbling Titans and Les Brown's orchestra. ERIC THORSON PAQTa Just Concluded 4 Weeks at the mo I » MAYFLOWER HOTEL, WASHINGTON, D. C. "Eric Thorson, handsome young Viking's voice and personality are a hit at the Mayflower Hotel, Wash., D. C. While he is singing, you could hear a pin drop—so quiet is the audience. They love the guy!" , ■ .. . . ... ' 6ob Jordan, Washington Post PRESENT: MOUNT ROYAL HOTEL Montreal, Can. March 25th to April 9th (4th Return Engagement) "A big Viking sort of guy whose intimate ballads provide much pleasant listening and whose arrangements on popular numbers are tops around town, and winds up taking heavy applause." Bruce Taylor, Montreal Herald, "Eric Thorson, does a smooth job ... is good for squeals from the ferns. Thorson has a good set of pipes." Charles J. Lazarus, Billboard FUTURE: "Broadway weiseriheiniejcs; predict. that Eric Thorson, Norwegian tenor, will prove the biggest male singing find since Frankie Sinatra. Several Broadway musical producers have already reserved scouting tables for his opening at the Pierre Cotillion Room." Robert Coleman, Daily Mirror, N. Y. Opening Sheraton-Biltmore Hotel, Providence, R. I. April 11 through April 25 (Return Engagcment Within 4 Months 1 Opening Pierre Hotel, Cotillion Room, New York April 26 for 4 Weeks (Return Engagement) Opening Thunderbird Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada June 26 through July 9 Personal Management MAY JOHNSON COMPANY, Inc. 74S Fifth Avenue. New York 22, N. Y.—PLam 9-2991