Variety (November 1954)

62 P’AHIETY Wednesday, November 10 , I954 Why Not U.S. Command Continued from page 2 The pomp and the circumstance that surrounds, the appearance of Her Majesty in the. Royal Box, the dignity of, the proceedings, thrill even a non-Britisher, when at ex- actly eight o’clock the Queen steps into the Royal Box. and the band strikes up “God Save the Queen;” Fact is that this• is not a stiff, arty highbrow show, but a real vaudeville, show, whieh in spite of the presence of royalty becorties.. downright bawdy in spots.. Many of the scenes and gags, in fact, are far broader than we are accustomed to seeing, on the too-highly criticized American stage; But the audience, .the royal party, everyone, enters into the spirit-; and. for over three hours one sees , a smooth, enjoyable, funny,: sometimes buriesquey show, that is. staged arid presented by a master showman. Tickets are always at a premium. . The theatre is always sold out. The seats which f occupied were priced at 21 pounds each,, (approximately $50), and if we suppose that on the average the seats, sold for $20 each, in a house seating 2;000 Reo- pie this would total $40,000, hot a bad suifi to use for the relief, of vaudeville actors,. yvho today have no reahrelief:. $75,000 Boxoffice In addition there are thousands of dollars worth Of ads in the pro •grai , and the souvenir programs are sold by society . .leaders and well-known stage and screen stars, When I asked the price the iady in- formed me that the .. program was five shillingsj.or more, so on a sir 7 lar scale it might be quite easy in the United States to raise $75,000 or more. That, for the use of in- digent vaudeville actors, would be quite a sum. There isn’t in this country any agency set up for the relief of vaudeville actors. The Saranac fund, the Jewish Theatrical Guild, Catholic Actors Guild and Negro Actors Guild are . all, of course, splendid and worthwhile charities. But. . their scope is necessarily limited, by the amount of money they are able to raise, and none of these organizations has ever captured the imagination of the audiences as does the Command Performance. So I advocate an Arriencan Com- mand Performance; A once-a-year show held perhaps at the N.Y.' Palace, or the Winter Garden, on • a Sunday night when most legit- imate shows are closed. What A Show A show, ait which the President and the Vice-President would be guests of honor and sponsor.. Tickets priced from $5 to $100. A show that would excite the pub- lic. What a show we could put on if this was properly sold to tlie: people iiv show business as well as to the public, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope, Jack Benny and Mar- lene Dietrich, Judy Garland and Lena Horne, Eddie Fisher and Sophie Tucker, Martin and. Lewis, Milton Berle, Jackie Gleason, Sid Caesar, A sketch with Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart; Clark Gable and . Tallulah . Bankhead, Scenes from “Pajama Game” and. “Kismet,” the Radio City Rock- etles. Mae West and Betty Grable. Guy . Lombardo and Harry James,; Lauritz Melchior and Helen Trau- bel, scenes , from “Tea and Sym- pathy” ancl .from “Teahouse of the August Mbon.”v. What a : show! So I suggest thd.t some of us. get 1 together and promote. And the' money raised without any deductions of. any kind lor of- ficers’ salaries, administratiori ex- penses -of anything else, 'all to g-6 ! to the relief of the indigent vaude- ville actor,? so many of whonv in these days need help, and relief,' a clubhouse and home = Where .the oldtimers may meet and reminisce and be taken care of. ; Charity At Home If our American actors, can go to England to. help the British ac- ■ tors, why isn’t it just, as great a. cause to help out the oldtimers who helped to make show, busi- ness, so many of whom need help, so many of whom are too. proud to ask for charity but who, because this would be a recognized and bonahde arrangement strictly for them, would be happy, to take ad- vantage of clubhouse with ho dues, no strings, just a place to take care of and look, after those who need it. I.know, of course, that some one will Say, “How about AGVA . or' Actors’ Equity?” Equity and the dramatic stage run a show every year for the dramatic actor’s relief. AGVA. ‘ not in position to give the vast amount of money our scheme entails. The cost of ad- ministration of a union, their busi- ness expenses, are treihendpus; their setup is primarily labor and; management, pot charity. And while the Four A’s does have a charity fund, only a proportion goes to. the vaudeville actor—not nearly enough to look after the need. Arid all of these unions have,’as I .say, adrriinistrative ex- penses,. ,If an actor is not in good standing with ..his- dues paid up, the' unions do not or cannot give relief. Actors who are ill, have been out .of work or are indigent, cannot keep up with their dues, and this project as I say makes it possible for every worthy vaude- ville riefor to get help after his playing days are over. An American Command Per- formance—what do you think? . Everybody Got Elected or on a night like tonight I’d blow a fuse rind short circuit the whole program.” “It could be that many people had flat tires on their way to the polls and blamed it on the party in power.” “One of iny male' colleagues has expressed the opinion that this (type of balloting) comes from giv- ing women the vote. But personally I can't. go that far. My wife wouldn't like it.” “When we Kaye trouble making iip programs in this business, we go to something called audience participation, So—send in your favorite trend to your local sta- tion.” Ballads to Ballots Coiiti from page 1 Cont^/iied from 2 the b’casters run well behind the tallies and could not possibly de- liver a reasonably accurate pic- ture on a national basis. The local stations appeared best equipped to pinpoint how candidates in the area were doing, but many of these were caught with a preponderance of their commercials showing. Even the most astute politicians in and out of office were caught with their “horse’s mouth” tabula- tions awry. There were so many concessions it resembled the New York World Fair of 1939-40 in re^ vival. GoyerriorrElect Ave H^rrirnan of N. Y. thought late Tuesday he was a shoo-in with a 100,000 plurality. The updated score (with a state recount on. the way) gave him no better then an il.OOQ or so edge over, Senator irv Ives. ■ Franklin Roosevelt (D.)' funning as N. Y. attorriey general, was win- ning handily on radio-tv; but Jack Javits. (R.) will go to Albany in a sweep, ; nbt having heard what the .airialists were saying about, him on the scoi-eboard. The kiloioatt and kinescope boys were fair game. for. the politicos. Biggest of the beefers was Vice President Nixon, after.. NBC nixed his request, for time to -folldiV Adlai Stevenson's "villifyin ”, speech. But Nixon pulled a heat switch, After-..lowering the boom - on the web and giving the press a hand- out .. of a statement lie. .said he would have made oh the air had he been granted the time, he told NBC that theirs toes ‘‘the. finest elec- tion coverage: I have ever seen ; . .particularly excellent because of objective reporting:"- There was no. good word for the Election Night coverage '.of the other networks, apparently 'be- cause the Veep's' hassle had'turned strictly on NBC, Which had: been caught in the middle. It now develops, according to a Washing-tori authority, .that a V P. of the U.S: does riot have'any spe- cial rights the- exercise in “equal Urn privilege unless and until ,he c himself has been under "attack” on. the air by the opposi- tion,. The D C. expert claims, the more authoritative voice is that- of the. national. chairrnan of either party; that the Veep’s privileges, if any, stem from the White House,' i.e., the. President,, arid that the Chief Exec rarely exercises the: “demand” privilege.. Protocol .dic- tates that requests for cuff a time, come -direct from, the national chairman, The latter (of both parties) -were previously awarded the very time, that Nixon' had- sought. publican ticket; Bell, husband of ex-screen star Clara Bow, has been operating a western goods store in Las Vegas for the past several years.. ' A show biz background, however, doesn’t guarantee; Votes, Actress Karen Morley made a poor showing in last week’s race,for Lieutenant Governor of NCw York, running on the Americari ‘Labor Party ticket. Ex-film actor John Cabot Lodge lost in his: bid for reelection as Governor of Connecticut; Tin Pin' Alley ites constantly •have-, been disproving the bromide ‘-I’d rather write the nation’s songs, than write tlie nation’s laws” by moving into the political foray at every opportunity. Vote-getting power of the music biz was proved with., hillbilly, crooner-composer Jiriu ie (“You Are My Sunshirie’’) Davis getting the nod as Governor of Louisiana, and bandleader Vic Meyers dropping his. baton for the. Lieutenant Governorship of Ore- gon. Preceding them on the, road, to politics were such other tunesmiths as James j. Walker (Mayor pf New York) , Wiiliarn' H, Wobdiri (Secre- tary of Treasury), Charles G. Dawes (Vice-President) and Con- gressman (N. Y.) Sol Bloom. - Lat- ter operated his own rnusic publish- ing firm in the early ; 1900’s and Woodin established. Miller Music (now in. the Big Three orbit) with the late Charles Miller, Vet music publishers often have repeated that it’s easier for Song- writers to get into office than on the .Hit Parade. Stuart Hamblen, disproved that theory. - Hamblen failed to get into the White House on the Prohibition ticket in 1952, but he did make this year’s hit lists With “This Ole House,”. WEEK OF NOVEMBER 10 Numeral! In connection with bills below Indicate opening day of show whether full or split week Letter in parentheses indicates circuit. (I) independent; (U. Loew; (M) Moss; tP> Paramount; ( ) RKO; (S) Stoll; <T) Tivoli; <W> Warner NEW YORK CITY Music Hall (I) 11. Jacqueline ' Langee Edward Ruhl Les Marcellis Gloria . Ware Chet Clark Rockettes Corps de Ballet Sym Ore Palace { ) 12 Ferdinand. Gerri Joe Ho war Renards. Little Buck B Lenn & Tattlers 3 to fill GALESBURG Palace (P) 12 only House of Living , Dead PEORIA Palace. <P). 13 -only House of Living Dead AUSTRALIA MELBOURNE Tivoli (T) 8 hoy Barbpur T Fontane 8c K Vaughn Margaret Brown Julian Somers Nina. Cooke . Eddie Edwards David Eadie J.ohn. : Bluthal Lloyd Martin Vocal Octette Mate Dancers Ballet Girls PERTH. His Maiestys .(T). t Michael Bentine W Latona & Sparks Buck 8c Chic Dagenham G Pipers O’Hagan 8c H Stead .2 ’Myrons Francis Vain Dyk Seyler" Heylen Max Blake Irene Be vans Ballet ’ Girls ; SYDNEY Tivoli (T) Jerry Lester Howell & Radcliffe Harry Jacobson 2 Cha dells Atelc. Latu G Dawn & F Cleary Singers Dancing Boys Ballfet Girls Wo- 1 FlOb Ave Le Ruban -Bleu Helena Bliss : Julius Monk . Bob Downey . Norman' Paris Harold Fonvllle Irwin Corey Hazel Webster Dorothy Louden Hotel New Yorker.Melita Ralph Flanagan Ore Marshall Izen . Belmont Plaza . Two Guitars Joan Bishop Kostya Poliansky A 1 Castellano • John Barney , . Hotel Pierro I, Hildegarde j Jack Whlti Gene Bone Howard Fenton Misha Usdanoff Marusig' Sava Versailles "Bon Voyage” Paul Grey Louise Hoff Tommy Wander staniVv jl ommy wanaer Stanley Melba^ O^c Margaret Banks Genevieve p at * Rosemary O’Reilly JT S»V! <*>»»« Ted Straefer Ore Mark .Monte Ore Betty Colby And Andre VUST* 0 " K»ny W «I ^HoterVoosevelt Igf 0 " BRITAIN NBC was keenly aware of Uni- vac’s star billing. So it pitched a newsirian out of Washington as “NBC’s improvement on electronic computers.” But CBS is no .dummy. Its Murrow Sc Sevareid, among' others in Paley’s Comet, pooh- poohed the: “giant brain” all along. NBC's Joe Harsch was even , in- triguing the competition with his typical Harschisms. Soine exam- ples: “This is a terrible day for* Irend-spotters. There hasn’t been a good fat trend a man could sink his teeth, jnto.” And a crack on Univac: “I’m glad I’ve got brain cells instead Of electronic devices Hale-IK S. Pix Continued, from page 2 ; tion of Movie and Theatre. Workers Union and the New Japan Motion Picture. Co. It will. be offered free to distribs. Film opens, with the Hiroshima atom bomb explosion, moves to a closeup of a skull and a destroyed church at Nagasaki arid plays up the 300,000 casualty toll. Moving to Korea in .1950, the film shows UN troops fighting ’ a Korean town: with no enemy in sight, merely fleeing-refugees. Next come shots showing U. S, atom bomb* produc- tion and Japan’s elementary at- tempts at atomic power.. Next,, extracts of the U.- S. Navy films of the Biki i explosion are shown and there is a segue into; the; atom- dusted fishermen of Japan. After di.agramatic views of the damage to the human body from inhalation of radioactive dust, the film ends with, pleas for: .atomic control by world leaders', with the west represented ,by Churchill .alone,- the- others.,. being ;Nehru, Chou En-Lai and others. Ed Hastings Cortti ued from page 2 Iluntmgtori Hotel, Pasadena,, arid who will be Matson's general, con- tact on the mainland, in, light of his longtime connections with .the class trade which has periodically traveled to Hawaii. As for Rene Blaek, Whom many regarded as the logical successor to the famed “Oscar of the Wal- dorf,” When the latter died, his de- cision, too, is to. seek a balmier, clime. He becomes the general cuisine factotum at Ben Novaek’s lavish new Fontainbleu, Miami Beach, on the old Harvey Fire- stone estate. Black, now around 74. is considered by. hoteliers as still a virile operator. , ASTQN "Hippodrome (I) | Jimmy Bryant Patricia. Morrissey Paris Lovlies BIRMINGHAM Hippodrome <M) • Frankie Vaughn 2 Maxwells . Jimmy Wheeler Conway & Day Audrey Jeans. Vic Perry Dickie Henderson Vogelbeins Bears Mundy & Earle . BRIGHTON Hippodrome <M) Tony Brent Bonar. Colleano Russmar 2 Eddie Arnold Brian Andro Medlock 8c Marlowe S 8c P Kaye Max Geldray .. CHISWICK Empire <S) I Lita Rosa Tito Hums Freddie.Sales Dargle 5 4 Cassandres Arthur Haynes N Lingana & Diane Barbara Billy. '8c Betty COVENTRY Hippodrome (I) I Billy. Cotton Bd Derek Roy Helene Cordet C Cairoli dc.Paul Clarisse -8c Marvin La Bola Misteriosa Ben Alls . Arabs Farlow 3 : Rbna Ricardo 5 Fisher Girls Paul Waring William Shearer.. EAST HAM Granada (I )8 Allen Bros 8c J Mel Taylor 4 ..Nordics Ruddy Bolly Metropolitan 8 Jimmy Mac Ragolol Bros Jan Harding Burke & Kovac EDINBURGH . Empire (M) 8 Vic' Oliver 2 Mazurs Sylvia Campbell Gaston Palmer Mills 8c. Melita George Meaton J & K Stuthard FINSBURY PARK Empire (M> 8 Diana Decker’ Rcy & Ronjy Jimmy James Co P & S Sherry B Kayes Pekes Tommy Fields L 8c E Roberts Kirk Stevens D Rosalre & T GLASGOW. Empire (M) 8 Jewel & Warriss Sally Barnes Audrey Mann G Grossetto 8c Q Eric Tinsley Harmoriy. 8 GRIMSBY Palace (I) 8 B 8c A Pearson. 2 Nadias Hengler Bros Billy Machett Lucille Gaya Cal McCord Peggy Cavell Susie HACKNEY Empire (S) 8 Tss.v Bonn Penny' Nicholls. Petbr Cavangh Joe Church Copa.. Cousins Ravic & Babs R Allan & Steve Nlcolettes LIVERPOOL. . Empire (M) 8 . Ray. Ellington 4 Eve Boswell Les Marthys’ Kay & Katrina Morecambe 8c. Wise Marvels Norman Vaughn Manning 8c Lea MANCHESTER Hippodrome (S) 8 Benny Hill ' Virginia Somers Jerry Allen 3 Jeremy Hawk Kirby 8c Hayes 4 Helmars Noberti De Vere Dancers " NEWCASTLE Empire (M). 8 Joan Regan Tommy Cooper Louise .Pets E Avnley 8c Glbrla Rex 8c Bessie Fayne ,8c- Evans Del, Cortina . Fred, Lovelle NORTHAMPTON New (1) 8 Reggie. Dennis Alan & : Alan Torn Jacobsen Cb 5 Speedmacs Henri Vaddeh Co NORWICH Hippodrome (1) 8 Carroll :Levls Co Violet Pretty Teen Agers PORTSMOUTH Royal (M) ■ Anne Shelton Kelroys 5 Skyliners Morgan 8c. Manning Gordom 8c Colvelle Peter: DUlay Wbodward, .& Cooper ' Joan & Ernest :> • SHEFFIELD Empire (M) 8 Josef Locke Marettas' Henderson . & Kemp Alexanders Dogs Joe King •. Lee Toungster Rolf Hansen ’ SUNDERLAND Empire ..(M) -8 David Whitfield Bow Jackson 8c D Jack Jackson Harry & Betty Terry Sbolt Lowe ,8c Ladd ■; Lorrae Desmorid Rio Ron & Rita SWANSEA Empire (M) 8. Peter Brough 8c A Ronald Chesney • Peter Madden Ossie Noble Robertis L Raynor & Betty : Candy S's & Eddie Jimmy .Gilmore Michael Mitchell ■■ WOLVERHAMPTON Hippodrome. (I) 8 FTasers Harm Bd Tanner Sis 5 J’s & June Billy. O'Sullivan. Jimmy Jeff 3c : .June B Brooks 8c Harvey Jack Bradley. YORK Empire (I) Jack . Storey Hilda Meechein: ’ Cooper Twins Tommy Ashworth Terry Hall Jack. Desmond Cormock 8c Sharhei R oyale 3 Darlys Dogs Fernanda • Montel Milt Shaw Ore Ray Bari Hotel Sfatier Vaughn Monroe R Haymfan Ore Hotel Taft Viennese Lantern Helbhe Aimee Dolores Perry Bela Bizony Ernest Schoen. Paul Mann noiei l«TT- A au& iUdUH Vtnoem Lope/ Ore Charles Albert : M Martinique , Village : Barn Harvey Stone Mary Burton Nyla Ates Kirby Stone 4 A Roberts Ore. Pupi Campo Ore Latin Quertar Mae West Louise ; Beavers Ashtons D.eboiiairs Anthony. Dexter' Ralph Young Piroska Art Waher Ore B. arlowe Ore Hal Graham Senna & Gyle: Jack Wallace ' Givens & Ferris Mary Ellen: Trio Larry McMahan Piute Pete- Waldorf-Astoria Los . Chavales • Da . Espana Trini Reyes. Nat Brandwynna Mischa Bdrr ; Villaga: Vanguard Robert Clary C Williams Trio Black Orchid Henny Youngman Terry Haven Ruhy Hill Rudy Kerpasy Duo Blue Angel "Calypso Festival” Duke of Iron Mary Ann Trinidad Joe Calvin Harigan Victor Manuel D’Lacy Ore Angela San Juan Blue Note Dizzy Gillespie Terry. Gibbs Chez Pare# Sam Levenson Peggy Taylpr Ryan & MacDonald Brian Farnon Ore ' Cloister Inn Chris Connor Lurlene Hunter Ralph Sharon CHICAGO . . Conrad Hilton 'Skbting Stars* Margie Lee' Cathy 8c Blair Shirley Linde Weidemanns Polo Perky Twins Jimmy Caesar Eileen Carroll Ray McIntosh B Dears 8c Dons Frankie Masters Ore. Edgewator Beach Ted Lewis & Ore Bert Gordon Manor & Mi Sue Evans Dewey Sisters. M 8c B Haggett Elroy Peace Palmer House Jean Carroll Robert Maxwell Empire Eight Charlie Fisk Ore • IPS ANGELES Ambassador- Hotel Estelita Buddy Lester Los Barrancos (2) Rex Koury. Ore. Band Box Billy Gray Leo Diamond Dorothy Claire Nicco & Barba;. Larry Green Trio ,Bar of Music Wesson Bros (2) Kitt Carson C. Callinicos Eddie Oliver Ore Tony Mar.tinez Ore lltmore Hotel Romo. Vincent - Tippy 8c Cobina Norton 8c Patficla Hal Derwin Ore ciro'! Joel. Grey Dick Stabile Ore Charley Roy'! Dave Apollon Ann McCormack Abbey- Browne Crescendo Perez Prado Ore Mocambo Eileen Barton Paul Herbert Ore Moulin Roiiga Frank Libuse Margot Brander Szonys (?) Charlivels (3) Miss Malta & -Co Doubledaters. Mme Ardelty Jery LaZarre . , Ffolliot Charlton Tony Gentry Gaby Wooldri Luis Urbina Eileen Christy Bob Snyder Ore . Statler Hotel Dorothy Shay. Ralph 8c Lorraine Skinnay Ennis Oro NEW YORK CITY Bon $olr Tony 8c Eddie del Cabot Thelma Carpenter Norene Tate Jimmy Daniels Three Flames Blue Angel. Dwight Flske Othella Dallal Dick Drake Geo Lafaye Bart Howard Jimmy Lyons Trio Chateau Madrid Ernest Bonino. Sherri Shear Elba Ocampo Alonso .Dancer! Ralph. Font Oro Maya. Ore Copacabana Nat - (King) Cole Morty Gunty 4 Lads. Bob Sweeney Peter Conlow Jean Stevens M Durso Ore Frank Marti Oro Gale's Alan Gale Jackie Heller Warner & McGuire Larry Foster Teddy King Oro Bobby Ramos Ore MlAMI-MIAMI BEACH Clover Club- .Kalantan Luis Torrens Harold & Lola Baroh Buika Tony Lopez Ore Selma Marlowe Line Woody Woodbury Leon & Eddie's Lois De Fee Lynrt Star Rose Ann Rita Marlow Charlotte W.atere Nautilus Hotel Danny Crystal Anlone & Ina Sid Stanley- Ore Black Orchid! Jo ■ Thompson Richard Cannon Sans Soucl Nicholas Brds George Hopkins Sacasas Ore Ann Herman Anne Barnett Saxony Hotel Carroll 8c Gorman Tano 8c Dee Nirva Freddy Calo Ore Johnny Silvers Ore Bombay Hotel Phil Brito Lee.Johnson Peter Mack Jennifer Marshall Johnlna Hotel B S Pully Sam Bari Harry Rogers Ore Gloria Hart LAS VEGA$> NEVADA Flamingo 3 Ritz /Bros , ; . Silver Slipper Sally Rand Baddy Baer - Kalantan. Ilahk Henry , .Desert inn, . L Walters' L Q Rev Sahara' Marlene, Dietrich Last Frontier Ed Wynn Step Bros Dagenham Piper El Cortez ROwari 8c Martin Vieki Young . Golden Nugget Gas Lights 8c Pink Tights Sands Frank, Sinatra Harmonica Rascal! Clarke Bros' El Rancho Vegai Billy Daniels Showboat . Minsky’s Follies of 1955 Thunderblrd Ella Logan Don Tannen Catron Bros RENO . Mapes Skyreom Helen ;Forrest Dave Barry D Arden Dancers E Fitzpatrick Ore New. Golden S *‘S” Crothers Yvonne Moray Rich 8c Gibson Will Osborne Or* Riverside Mills. Bros Trio Fayes- Starlets B Clifford Ore HAVANA Montmartre Gloria 8e Jaro- York Hungarian Troupe Esther. Borja Nancy & Rolando Miguel Angel Ortiz Casino Playa Orq Fajardo Orq Troplcana Tex Mex . D’Ruff Quartet Tropicana 'Ballet S de Espana Orq. A Romeu Orq S Suarez Orq