Variety (May 1961)

Wednesday, May 10, 1961 NY. Niteries’ Clientele Takes on ntl 70? TIKES | IN ~ Flavor as World Trade Fair Bows| During | the U.S: World Trade Fair, held annually at the Coll-. seum, N.Y., Broadway as ‘well. as the east” side takes on amore. {in ‘ternational character. The: sari of . India is seen more frequently as ‘are the flowing robes of the natives’ of African nations. and a. wider babel: of languages ‘is heard. _ ” The Broadway area especially is a bit’ more crowded at Trade Fair ‘time, and with. it comes a general increase of ‘business in nightclubs. and restaurants. It attracts-a lot of. buyers who come for a peek at: dis plays of the world’s. goods, and ‘also’ many foreign businessmen, ‘manufacturers and even diplomats.. . +. It's one of the bettér events held “at the Coliseum,. according. to bonifaces. The Latin Quarter has been fetting a healthy slice of that trade. on the eastside. the ‘Copacabana as |}. well as ‘most hotel . rooms reflect |. ‘the: upbeat: in visitors bécause of the Trade Fair. _ This year, the Trade’ Fair. is on the same level as the four previous fairs held: in this. building. There | : Pact J ane Russell For Mexico City Vaude Stint ‘Jane Russell has been booked for the Senoral Theatre, Mexico City, ‘to start May 26 for two weeks. Piero Bros. and Excess: ‘Baggage |are also set for the same bill.: The Senoral plans a steady vaude: diet with U.S. names topping. Rep-. resenting the housé in New York. will be Alex. Valdes. Subsequent names are now being lined up. Sinatra's 3-Day Mex Stint Pulls 506 for Charity: Mexico City, . May 9. Frank Sinatra's three-day Mexi HITE FIEL ‘By JOE COHEN The one-night concert field has become ‘the new bonanza for per formers. It’s shelling out the highest prices in the personal appearance ‘orbit, with takes for the art-: ist ranging up to 80% of the gross as against healthy guarantees. Virtually every manager and agent is looking for offbeat qualities in .Many. performers for exploitation on the concert beat. : The field is no longer: confined to. folk singers and jazzsters, as was” ‘the’ original‘ concept, when concerts first. started coming in following. World War II.. Comedians are also eligible, with: primary appeal aimed for the college crawd {who upon well-spaced occasions are able and-willing to shell out around $4 for single ducats. formula must. also satisfy the intellectuals if. the: concert. is to. make ‘good in most areas. | The major agencies now have ;departments for the pop concerts. In some instanees, they're paired with the percentery’s. longhair en ‘are upwards of 400 exhibitors from, can charity performances were a | deavors, but the field has become | tall. over-the globe with prime asj hit, financially: and artistically. He. i sufficiently important. to rate. masortment. of goods. tastefully dis-| played the packed audiences last jor attention. layed. Some are here for the ard. ‘sell. . while others. ‘promote ‘their country culturally: as. well as; economically. One™. of the ‘more heartening! sigbts in Nigeria’s display. wiich ‘reflects African cultures making a ‘brave entrance’ into the 20th century. It has exhibits of native arts, samples of fabrics and timber . as. well as. expensive printed. matter | for ‘distribution. The Common Market’ countries “are exhibiting: cooperatively. The! “Jron Curtain area is represented by. Foland, Czechoslovakia. Ytigoslavia : and Rumania. The twain meets. week ‘from the swank “April in| | Mexico” ball at $120 per ducat to: 1} pop shows scaled at 80c to $1.60. tSinger got’ the. full treatment in Mexico. He. was received. with ‘La tin. enthusiasm, beginning ‘at the airport and continuing throughout his brief: stay in this capital.. At ‘the ball, and during the gala performance at the International The ! atre. he did. 22 numbers backed by. ‘the: Nelson Riddle orchestra. | ~The National Child Welfare .Institute and the Mexican Rehabilita. tion Institute profited by over $50,: 000,’ and total Sinatra audience for j ‘three benefit performances exceed ‘with India, Japan, ‘Thailand and! ed 14.000 persons., With promoters Korea coming together’ with. W est | impressed bY Sinatra’s success, ‘Germany. France, Greece. Nether| plans: ‘are. being laid for further lands, Italy, Spain-and other Eurobenefit events and negotiations go pean countries.. There are ziso. port | :ing on to bring other top names to’ authorities of several cities bidding. Mexico, Conductors Arthur’ Fiedler}. der business, and Andre Kostelanetz. may also __ Show biz is an ever growing item be invited for charity in these displays. The Israeli -fashe , ; ances as well as the New. York Pan jon show. has several acts to work, American Ballet... ‘with the mannequins. There is a, : Sinatra, who expressed hope of. theatre which shows trailers of | returning to Mexico. soon before! films of various nations as well as | planing back. to Los. Angeles, made tlavelogs and industrial -pictures. j po ‘contractual: commitments .durPulchritude is also an important | ing his ‘stay: here. He did authorize perform}. factor. Girls (in native garb are! eager to ‘pive ‘sales spiels to any who will listen. One of the incon ‘gruitics is a flossy espresso ma-! chine niede in Israel. _ The U.S. World Trade Fair since _ ‘its inception has been one of the: more eagerly awaited. events on the } N.Y. commercial. calendar. ‘Tie lift it gives to nearly all types of business ig appreciable, ‘and’ it’< major . maygnet:. {or visitors. The public is admitted. to this event on aspecified. scheduie: including all! Gay Saturday, The shindig closes Friday -12. | des Cy Saturday Recitals For 13,500-Seat Tennis Club an " Greco-Belafonte Gamut: A series of Saturday night con-. certs: have. been lined up starting June 24 at the West. Side Tennis : club keyholders, latter on a firsti show. business” Club in-Forest Hills, N.Y. under come-first-served basis at $240 per ‘AGVA board of directors. ‘the “Music Festival” label started Jast summer by Ronald Roye. ‘Henry Foster: and William poate man, partners’ in’ Snowlift. Inc. Mhich contracts for snow ‘remoyv al: work at. airports. Young impresari, “all aged 28,. have ‘booked the following events. June 24—Jose Greco Dance Co. July 1—Judy ‘Garland. July. 8—Still open. ~ July 15—Theodore Odetta. July 22—Kingston Trio. Aug. 5—Ella. Fitzgerald Aug, 12—Victor Borge. Aug. 19—Still open. Aug. 25-6-7—Harry Belafonte.. Stage and orchestra p.a. plus atcreo-sound system is ~ being “created. _ Capacity is 13, 500. Bike] & t videotaping of his pop price bene‘fit performance, and’ .-homescreens ‘will see this show .soon. Proceeds of sales of -his. Reprise: label during. his stay in Mexico. were also. ailo| tions: ‘TICHICAGOANS PLANING | TO PLAYBOY FLA, BAS Chicago, May .9. i A local contingent of 77 persons . Will mike a charter. flight to Miami: ifor a May 19 weekend bash ta cele-' 1 brate opening of the Miami Play-j; ‘boy key club. Spot is the second (of a projected international chain | | auspiced. by’ the Chi-based | s.a. ; Magazine, and formally opens. to. morrow “Weds, Windy -City entourage will consist ‘of Playboy mag: staffers, a: | COFDS. of. “Bunny” waitresses, and”: for the round trip. Like the: Chi original, the Miami . link is also’ booking beaucoup : ‘nitery and musical acts for roundj ‘Tobin div ersion.Ses [ Garden State’ f Spec Garden ‘State Park, near Camden, N.J., -is staging a. spectacular |. ‘in conjunction with renewal of the |° Jersey Derby. to -be run on Memor ial Day. The oval will be. the ; _| scene of a pageant in. which several | important engagements of the Civil | War will be recreated. First run-| . ning of this race was ine 1864, thus : the Civil War ballyhoo. cated to the two welfare organiza| _ . Judy Garland’s 20.G In some instances, ‘the pop concert attractions are able. to com‘mand higher prices than many of the established longhair lures. The highest submission on today’s popular market is being ascribed: to Judy Garland, whose office ‘Fred} die Fields-David BegeIman) is ask (Continued on ontinged on page 82) AGVA Launching Youth Program "Hollywood, May 9. ‘American. Guild of. ‘Variety Ar4 tists’ youth program, in operation, Yin the. New York area for the past jvear.and.a half, will be activated |. here this month, it was revealed | by Joey: Adams, president of the ‘show business union. Adams told VARIETY. a week of confabs with labor. and entertainment industry jinterests here has resulted ‘in $25,,900 worth. of pledges to. Stayt the : ball. rolling. | Most of the facilities and ex-' ; Peases for the shows ‘are donated. but Adams stressed. that all musi cians and’ workers are paid union | Stars.‘and of-° generally work. “minimum salaries. .ficials, however. without pay. | portance of having paid entertain:ers, however, to insure shows being | presented when promised ;children will ‘be able to depend . on the program's interest in them. Top pledge locally came ‘from |} .the Central Labor & Trade Council, = Which’ promised $10.000 to start. “An additional $5,000 minimum. is | guaranteed by the Friars Club. to -be raised at a special dinner on ‘June 12. At. this event, -would emeee a show consisting ‘of the “greatest all time stars of who are on the Among ithose he suggested bring’ out here ‘from:.N.Y.are Smith & Dale, Georgie Price. Gus Van of Van & : Schenck and Al Kelly. He said he ‘has -also.. been promised “some kind” of fund-raising function by ‘| Disneyland. ~ Diana Dors’ S.A. Tour British .filmster Diana Dors is ; “the, latest to. do.a tour of. South! | America. Miss Dors, together. with | her manager Kal. Ross, of Berger, Ross & Steinman, planed to Brazil’ last week. .Miss Dors begins her jaunt in‘Rio de Janeiro today. 'Wed.', and. \continues with stops in Sao Paulo, ‘realty developments have sparked | ental” VAUDEVILLE 8} ZA FOR ACTS Meyer Davis, Leonidoft to Produce Ohio Takes State Fair Out of Political Control Columbus, O., May 9. ‘Ohio -House has passed a Dill creating a 16-member commission to operate the Ohio State Fair and |Fairgrounds. The bill is expected to take the fair out of politics. The governor. appointed commission would hire a manager to run the fair. At present, every time there is a hew director of agriculture, he appoints a new fair manager. The bill, even if, passed, would not affect the 1961 fair, as it would go into effect Nov. 1. ~ GAC Soon to Be Part of Chemical, | [| World's Fair Amphitheatre Spectacles ¢ This summer will be the last that the Flushing Meadows Amphitheatre in Queens, N.Y., will be operated privately for some time. The World’s Fair Corp. will take over the site after this year and may release it for summer operation at the conclusion of the 1964 World's Fair which will be held on the Meadows tract. But at present the Amphitheatre is under jurisdiction of the New York City Dept. of Parks, headed by Commissioner Newbold Morris. |The Parks Dept. is now negotiating ito lease the 8.200-seater for the summer months. _ John McKnight produced the Amphitheatre show last year. Prior to that George A. Hamid had the site for several years. Preceding Hamid was Elliott Murphy, The Flushing Meadows Amphitheatre producers during the 1964 World's Fair will be orchestra leader Meyer Davis and Leon Le‘onidoff, senior producer at Radio |tand Music Hall, N.Y. They plan a land and water spec to be produced at a cost of $600,000. Both Davis Rubber, Beer Co. ind Leonidoff have acquired about | $250, 000 in World's Fair bonds. Stockholders of Centlivre Brew| Thomas E. R. Rudel, head of the ing Corp.. which controls General ! Artists Corp., are slated to meet! May 26 in Fort Wayne, Ind., er with the Baldwin Rubber Co. uf Pontiac, Mich., and © Montrose | Chemical Co. of Newark. N.J. The consolidation plan had previousiy . been okayed by the boards of the respective firms. New company arising from the merger will be known as the Montrose-Baldwin Corp. It will be listed on the American Stock Exchange. ' Little difficulty is expected in winning shareholders’ approval of the proposed merger. Majority stockholders in Centlivre are Her ‘Rudel Machinery Co. of Montreal, is treasurer of the new corporation to producing the spectacles. formally approve a proposed merg{. Robert Moses, prexy of the N. Y. World's Fair Corp., said the producers plan to draw 200.000 customers a week at popular prices. In an overall estimate of the exposition’s b.o. potential, Moses said he expected a profit of $53, 000.000, all of which would be given to New York City for education. The Amphitheatre was originally built for the N.Y. World's Fair in 1939-40 and was operated by Billy Rose as the site of his ““Aquacade.” It was the expo’s most successful show biz venture. In Coast Area} bert Siegel and the Reuss family of Fort Wayne. Siegel arranged for Centlivre’s acquisition of GAC last year. The Reuss family: has long ibeen associated with Centlivre Brewing. STRIPPERS ON SUNDAY OKAYED BY TORONTO Toronto, May 9. "Strippers have won the right Honolulu Cafe Biz Up As Key Spots Bring In Flock of Fresh Talent Honolulu, May 9. Upbeat in nitery biz is continuing, with Dave Barry and Nancy Wilson topping the new bill at Top : o’ the Isle, where thev followed ‘He noted the im-. s0. Adams! .to work on Sundays under an in_terpretation of legislation whereby Toronto will have Sabbath films ‘as Well as theatrical and concert ,hall attractions. With the City :Council now giving blanket approval to Sunday entertainment. shows will be presented in local houses starting May 14. City Council decision also al‘lows the Canadian National Ex:hibition grandstand show and CNE attractions, other than rides. to he open on Suftdays. But Toronto night clubs will remain under jurisdiction of the Ontario Liquor License Board which forbids Sunday sales throughout the province. ‘Sheraton Skeds Junket i For Chi Hotel Renaming ‘The. Sheraton hotel chain and Chicago Unlimited, latter an organization ‘of Chi tele and radio execs. will sponsor a junket to the Windy City May 25, as part of the festiv-ities in the renaming of the Sheraton Towers Hotel to the Sheraton -Chicago. A group of entertainers of the present and past eras will be flown in for the festivities as well as a batch of newspapermen. The Sheraton Towers is an oldline Chi inn to which a new addition has been built. In the change of name, the joint effort with the | Chi, Unltd. was worked out as a ;means of calling attention te the ‘new label. ‘The junket fs also slated to call ‘attention to the redevelopment pro: gram in that section of town. Origiinally, Sheraton chain jnvested ’ $10,000,000 in the new wing of the : hotel. Since then various firms and Della Reese. Jack Cione’s Forbiaden City launched a new revue, “Black Bottoms of 1961," Jest night ‘Mon.!. It replaced the click comho of Tempest Storm and Herb Jeffries. Maxine Weldon opened Wednesday -3: at Backstreet. where shes backed by the Dusty Barron Quintet. Kellie Green and her Trio are bringing new faces into the Little Dipper. Over in suburban Kailua town, Bill Werner Trio is playing nightly at Andy’s Ebbtide. Dvke’s at Kalihi is featuring Tom Andys & Gill, a Cuntinental comedy juggling act, plus a Japanese revue. Pearl City Tavern, aside from vet emcee Mike Fester, has an all-femme show, featuring Jeanine France, Barbara Hanna, Sonja Stevens and “Taika.” Ginbasha nitery is starring “Little Egypt’ and The Invitations, along with Tommy Fujiwara, the Ginbasha girls’ and Paul Mark‘s band. Bobbie Lester and his r&r band opened Thursday ¢4) at the Swing Club. Chi Cafe Continental Eyes Tab Revue in Mgt. Shift Chicago, May 9. Cafe Continental, near north side Italian food and _ dixieland music nitery, has been taken over by Jerry Finkle, a young restaurateur who formerly managed several suburban dining spots. Previous owner was Irving Roth. Finkle will continue current pasta and dixie “for at least several months;” but says that ne is considering a broader “continmenu and is tentatively Locals as well as track employees j Buenos Aires ‘and. elsewhere. The :work to the tune of $147,000,000 in | considering a New York tab revue ' will participate in this: pageant. junket ends May 27. that area, “currently on the road.”