Variety (Jan 1934)

Taesday,, Jaimary X934 TPOORS VARIETY 12T Arthur ,Biondell, affent bookef with the KeMh tfna; RKp circuits lor nearly 25 yeftrs, ciied suddenly Ped. 2ft of heaLrt 'failure at his hoine in Flushine, L, ll Ap- parently in good health, he had < gone out for ai; walk with tjie family dog ii* severe ■ snow and a. wind storm that morning and died upon returning to the house> Blondell's activities In vaiide- ▼iiW inc^"''®^ participation in about every, departihent:. of the J business, excepting acting. He started but as -office boy. for Mrs. Meyerhoflf,. a leading outdoor booker (Hf her time, slater becoming fs- soclate' pf her son, Henry. Ateyei'- hoflf, alsor, an outdoor showman.. Leaving Meyerhoff, Blondelljoined the Reich Plunkett agency' as an associate 'actors' representative. When that a,gehcy partnership dlis- Bolved iBltondell remained with Plunkett (Jlnimy)* His handlltig Of talent theri.' attracted P,ah ;.Hen- nessy, whp .engaged BionlaeU .'as 'a booker In the Keith IPairiily Pept, <flfth floor), After tliree ye^rs .J;. J. Murdock brought Blondell up, to the sixth floor as booker . ofi the middle western houses. during-the ' Shubert, opifiositlon period; ' Blondell remaihed a Keith book- er, holding over In that cajpacity When tha;t .circuit . became BKO, until about flye years ago, when he was made .talent scout for. the booking .office. He had ..a roving cOmnilsBloh lor a couple of. years; leaviiig the; booking office .about three' years ago to become an agent. As: ah agent- again,. Biohdell . Weht into partnership, with his life long friend, Bin Mack. In Its., first year of existence the Blondell & Mack I agency becanie one of the first four ■ Iranchiised RKO agencies in volume, of business, and at a time when, being among the first four meant something, Blorideirs widow, Edith, former danceri a married son and two grandchildren survive. LARRY .B.C>YD liarriy B.o'yd, about 42, died in Toronto, Pec. 25, after being under treatment for heart trouble since summer. Originally, a vaudevilUan with .ia male quartette, he was well khown in the ca.rniVal field and in partnership with James Sullivan toured the Wallace Brothers ^how., For the past five years .he has been connected with the ^Irth, Hamid fair and park booking office and later with George .Hamid .as field nian booker. A jovial i330 pounder he decided to reduce, iind after dropping. 100 pounds there 'vyas. a heart attack. Under treat- ment in Ghlcago for a time in the fall, he wa.s taken to Sullivan's home In Toronto, under care of his wife, Birdie, who. survives. Funeral was held In. Chicago, Dec. .28, under the auspices of the Show- men's Rest lieague. BERNARD WEBBER Bernard Webber, 32, radio and vaude singer, died In Hollywood, Pec. 26, the result of an automobile accident. lila car turned over while driving from Seattle to Lk)s Angeles and he sustained only what was be- lievtid at the time slight .Injury Later complications,: developed and he died as a result of 'spinal Injury. Recently Webber .has been a staff singer at Kli'WB, Holly wood and a regular on tha-t station's Weekly Hi- Jlnks. He is survived .by a widow and .an- li-year .old daughter. He. jj. Was born lii.'New York .arid was ■ originally in vaude in the east. president 61 th6 GSiieral. Outdoor Adyertlsihg Association of the United States and one of the old- est men in thd: country In tjte~T>IU-, posting- busines.fdi Suryiyed by his widow, a-brother and a Blister. Burial In Columbus. BLANCHE F. CAMPBELL Mrs. lanche Fridericl Campbell, B5,- stage, and iscreen actress, .died Dec. .^3 from, a heart attaick at Visalia, Calif., lyhile' ehroute With her husband; Ponald Campbell, stage manaiger for the Henry Puffy Productions, to a Christmas service in the General rant National park. Mrs. Campbell, a. nktive of Brook- lyn, N. Y„ played on the New Tork stage and. In stock and repertory companies throughout the country.. Had been In pi x s ince 1920. VAt KENNEDY Val Kennedy, 66, manager of the Biltnvore and Mason Opera houses In Los Angeles, died In Los Angeles Pec. 24 .following a lingering Illness of two years.. He hiad beeii mah- ■ager ,of. the two houses lor lour .years. Previously he had been associated With Henry Miller for - 35 years, Charles F^ohman .. and Klaw and .Erlanger. He Is suryiiv.ed by his, widow. Interment In Hollywood. CHARLES A. LEVY ..".One of .the most alert ticket brokers in New York, Charles: A. Levy, of the ■ Btoadway Ticket Agency, died Sunday (31) of .cerebral menlngrtls i^t, the Manhattan. Eye and Ear hos'plt&l.. He wf^ stricken about i ^i^ month after, a mastoiditis operation; .Funeral Will be held to- day (2).; ithe Riverside. Memorial. Chapel. BILLS NEXT WEEK Loew 4> WILLIAM DYER William; Dyer, 62, stage and screen actor, and stage manager of- the, Hollywood Troupers, Inc., died, in Hollywood hospital, Dec, 23. Had a,ppeared practically In all ken Maynarjd.' pEo<?uctlons, and at one time was production director fipr Willard Mack. Mr. Pyer let no relatives. Funeral services In Hollywood. NEW YORK «lTr BoaIevar4 (8). Olverft Bros Lydifi Harris Art Frarik Go Kramer & Boyle Vogues' of 1934: Qrpheum let halt (6-8) 6 Arleya JUe Fone Ja:ck Shea Co IVlxie Friganzit Jackie Qreeno Co 2nd half (9-11) Violet, Ray & N Rosy' Ctanigr Whltey. & . Ed: Ford Bre'ms, Fltz DeMay, Moore & If Paradise (5) Con. Colleaho Hilton & Oardn Charles Carllle' Buster West Alex Hyde ft' Orch State (5) Leo Murray Rev Tito .Giilzar May &. Carroll Songwriters on- P • Ritz ..Bros ' Chin? I.iln(? Foo, Jr BROOKLYN nay Btdse' lat half (6-8) Belmont Bros Frances ■&" Rae M Montgomery Bob Carney & I Dave Jones Co 2hd half (9-11) Bud Harris . Co W^lnian's Saxonet 2nd half (9-11) Andresdens Sonny O'Brien Co Bernlce & Walker Cass, Mack & O Dave Harris Co BALTMOBK (Century (5) Mickey Klngr Walter D^re Wahl Crufnlt & S^nde'son Herb WilliAtnft (Others to flU) BOSTON . Orpheum (S) Dupoiits Angus & Searle ■ Joseph Pope Jones Ijow. Parker Co Dancing Aces (Others to mi) CANTON lioew's (lot half 5-8) Andressens Sonny O'Brien Co Bernlce & Walker Cass, MacTi A O: t Dave Harris Co (2nd half (9-11) Audrey Wyckolt Ray HuUng '& S^al Parker Wynn CO Bud Harris Co OOLVMBUa Loew'B i6) Midway Nights.^ fERSEX CITx (Iioew'B (S) ' Harrison's Clrc\i8 Grace Barry BOBBY GILLETTE 3RD WEEK M*C. •t . FOX'S, BBOOKLt^ laced by VEbDY'& SMITH SUSANNE SCHUMACHER Susanne Schumacher, H, long- time contralto headllner oh staff of WICC, Bridgeport, died Christmas eve, at her home, Soiithport, Conn., of a' heart ailment. Singing under the name Betty (Say, Miss Schumacher won a wide public through Southern New Eng- land. She is' survived lay her mother, two sisters and three brothers; Interment in Westport. HARRY C. KENNEDY Harry C. Kennedy, 58, an em- ployee of Fox. and the father of Hope Hampton, opera prima donna, died in Hollj^wood, Dec. 28. Funera^ held In Sawtelie, Cal. Miss Hampton, In New Tork with her husband, Jules Brulatour, was unable to come to the coast. ROBERT PARTNIG Robert Partni , died^at his home In Queens, Dec. 26, following a long Illness. • In his youth he trav- eled with circuses as ticket taker or ballyhoo man, but later turned his attention to devising games and rides for amusement parks, a score of. his Inventions having been wide- ly accepted. LOUIS HEILBRONER Xiouis Heilbroner, baseball stati- stician and sCout for St. Louis, died in Fort Wdyne, Ind., Dec. 21, of heart trouble. He was compiler of a bluie book valued In baseball cir- cles. Funeral services in Glendalc, Calif. GEORGE L. CHENNELL George L. Chennell, 67, president aiid general manager of .the Colum- .bu.<; liillpostihg Co., died recently, at his home In Columbus,. C, follow- Ihg ia heart attack. He was a past J. G. kNAPP j. G. Knapp, for 20 years prom- inent eJchibitor at' San Bernardino, died Dec, 24, at his home after pro- tracted illness.- RUTH ADAMS NEUBER(^ER Mrs. Ruth Adams Neuberger, €2, novelist, and klri of John Qulhcy Adams, sixth President of the U. S.j died at Saiita Monica, Cal., I)ec; 28. Formerly secretary-treasurer of the .Theatrical Ass'n of New York. Husbahd and son survive. Funeral was held in Santa Monica. JAMES CROSSON James Crosson, T2, widely known in executive circus spheres, died Iii Saiita Monica, Cal^ Dec. 28. Funeral services were held there. Father of Col. Arthur Frudenfeld, supervisor of RkO theatres In Cln- -clnnatl . „dled-Dec 27—at - h ome^of daughter In Milwaukee, aged .84. Mother of Charlie Johnson, of Johnson and Dean, died In Mih- veapoUs Dec. 28 In her Slst year. Mother, of Warren Jones, assist- ant to RKO booker Dick Bergen, died In Chicago, Dec. 24. Donals SlaterS Peggy Calvert crane & Costello Ha;rry Hliies Jackie Greene Co Gates Ave 1st half (6-8) Murray & Moss Whltey & Ed Ford DeMay, Moore & M Harry Hlnes Roxy Gang 2nd halt (9-11) 6 Arleys Jtie F.ong Abbott & Bisland Giaile & Carson Dave Jones Co MtetroiiOlitan (S) Buddy Rogers Valencia (5) Kay, Hamlin & K Ruth Roye Block &: Sully T^ambretl Lee. & Rafferty Co AKRON Loew'8 Ist half (B-8) Audrey Wyckoff Ray Hullng & Seal •Parker Wynn Co Solly War* Co Rio Bros ■ Coleby & Murray R HONTRI^I. lioew's (S) Tankal & Oklnu. Rosemarry & F •Pete* Hickey Bros Jack Sidney's Rev NEWARK State (6) Janet. May Murray & Maddox Welcome Lewis Joe Laurie Jr FBOVIDBNCi: lioew's (6) fark & Cllirrbrd LeVan & Watson Freddy C^alg Jr Slate Btos Georges .& Jalna SYRACUSE liOew's' (5) Ted I;ewl3. Show WASHINGTON Fox (8) Casting Stars Sid Page DlaitiQnds Max Baer Story of the Fair RKO N£W YORK CITT Palace (5) J Lang Co Hal Sherman Leon Belasco Orch "(Others to fill) (39) Karre-Ije Baron Co 3 Slate Bros Rublnoff Ja^Jk McLallen Honey Fam Academy 1st half (6-8) Reggie Chllds (P'bur to flU) 2nd half (2-4) Amos 'n* Andy Arren & Broderlck (Two to flU) • (29) Artists & Models NIIWARK Proctor's (B) Benny Davis Rev (29) George White's R PATRRSON Keith's 1st half (6-8) MJlo Shean ft Cantor Lewis & Amea Irene Vermillion .,C OFFICIAL DENTIST TO THE N, V.. A. DR. JULIAN SIEGEL Now lii Paramoant Bnlldirte N T G Revue rifl D'Orsay Collln.i & Peterson BROOKLYN Albeo (5) Strike M<? Pink (29) Jack Bpnny Rev KOSTON Keith's (6) Sybil Bowan (One to All) .2nd half (9-11) W ft O Ahearn Hill & Huffman (Three to fill) . 2nd half (1-4) Mulroy, McNeece Chaz Chase Gracella, & T- Ross Wyse Jr Ingenues WARNER EUZAItETllr . Ritz 1st half (6-9) Cab' Calloway - • Show 2nd half (10-12) Milt. Dougl.ts (Poui- to fill) 1st half (30-2) 6 Danwills Deiharest & Sibley Glenn & Jenkins Harmony Co-Eds 2nd half (3-6) Stan Kavanaiigh (Four to nil) PHILADELPHIA Karle (6) 6 ■ Wonder Iris Eddie White Ben Bernlo Orch Jackie Heller . (30) Ted Lewis Rev ■ WASHINGTON Earle (6) Great Gretonas Slzzlers Clllford & Marlon Doris Kenyon Chaney & Fox (29) a DeLong: sisters EMdle White Ben Beriile Orch Jackie Heller Chicago, Dec. " , Chicago went into competition againiBt the nation's state and county fairs during the summer of 1933 and came oilt on the long end to the music of $3.7,270,520, the tibp gross for any event In the history ,6f America.. Total attendance' to the Century of Progress reached- 22,320,466 people, which is the high- est attehdance mark ever reached, for iany event eolurnhus landed. Of that $37,000,000 total show, buslnses delivered the reoLlest chunk of coiPr getting more than 26% of the take, , or $9,781,317. This figure is split ,twb ways, a<;icording to the Fair books, $7,513,081.26 be-. Ing listed as the gross- for shdwS and spectacles, $2,268,236 for ..rides and amuseriientSi Running behind the $7,000,000 fbV shows and spectacles' were the eat- eries. Which meant $6,7Q3,205 for the restaurants and food stands pn the. Fair grounds. ; Othei' coin was split up as fol- lows:-— Stores $3;56'9.886 Utilities .... ..;... 2.ff76,914 Refreshments .;. 2,677,651) Exhibits' sales . .. . . .. ./^J 725,208 Games, vending machines .'497,841 MisceHaneous 365,485 Those pay . rooms, . whlcii caused such yowls from the popu- lace, paid off thia. inortgiag© like a iiero atrrivlng at the last, ininute, these nickels totalling $861(617 In the Ave mohths. But the siquawks have Impressed with , the result thdt the^ Fair promises no charge for. 1934. ..Rides and .amUsiements, Which refers strictly to the midway thrill concessions, meant. $771,648 to the Sky Ride, which was thie leading light in this group. However, It was one concession that didn't pay' off despite Its top grossj due to the original cost flgtaririg at $1,500,000. in the .shows and spectacles sec tlon are Included such Attractions as Streets of.. Paris, Oriental Vil'- lage. Midget Village/Battle of Get' tysburg. Wings of a Centiiry. Head currency in. this group didn't go to Streets of Paris, as had been pre dieted after the first great rush of business. Top coin - wfent to the demure.; Belgian. . Village, which grossed $650,293. However, Streets of Paris \<ras therewith $635,8.31. Ace. Concession Of all conceissiohs in the Fair, the ace money-maker was the Grey-- hound Bus Co., which hit $1,647,326 with its sight-seeing and ankle-see-, ing busses. Runner-up on currency was the Union News Co,,f whose gadget kiosks turned In a hefty $1,301,419, which adds up to a lot of picture postcards. In third place was the i2ltel Co. eateries at $1,013,020. 60% In '34 Entire Fair was financed on a two-year writc-ofC basis and It is figured that with an attendance In 1934 of only 60% of the 1933 admis- sions the t'alr will pay oft its bonds without a penny lost, a record for all time on Fair financing. Estimated total cost of the Fair is" $38,647,836, which figure covers all construction, but not the pri- vate exhibits or transportation. Subtraction of the money turned over the concessionaires from the total Fair revenue leaves the sum of $18,404,149 tia the- final gross rcVenuo for-the .World's Fair as a. cori>oratibn.. Deducting operating expenses from this $18;000,O0() fig- ure gives ?|2,488,933 as the final ,net revenue- of the World's Fair com^ paL,y. Oh the write-bfC basis .the Fair charged 60% of the total In- come .a,bby.e, operating expchses and interest for. the cost of .plant' and equipment. Paramount BUFFALO Itaffalo (5) Jlalph=JClrhery.=^_= Melissa Mason ($eo Prentiss Kitchen Pirates CHICAGO Chicago (ft) Mary • Plckford Pops & Louie (Three to' nil) Harding (20) r»ng Tack Sam Shahghal Follies Marbro (5) Vie Oliver (Four to fill) Soothtowii (i;e) .B£nnyJVIfln>'fl^.=,= Gllda Gray Maldle. & R-ay Jack Marshall Jay Hill 'Red' Pepper Vptotvn (20) Beverley West Rev •Footllght Parade' DETROIT Mlchlgun (0) Radio .Rub«s Will Mahoney Ixmias Tr UnderstOiDd that the Fair will gO; into thja sociuoaice wUh assets: of $l,591,^643,. with tJve Fair runjiing! at practically no expenso during- the winter close-down. OperfCting expenses on tho I^alr for-loss were. $4,783,839, which cov- ,^rs sonie ^2;600 people unofhcially reported to iiavo boon employed on the grounds both, .as' Fair ofllcials arid in 'the ■various concessions. Pair itself hired the bulk, of the. helPi particularly ..ushers, . guideEl and cashiers with the money takcQ in at all concessions turned intoi the Fair headquarters and then dlis- burse.d to the cohcessionalrei? from a .central point. Ga'to . receipts were \$10,175^00T With .the average gatb tarifC 46o, which figures 60.c foi: adults and. 25c for children, though the. kids were admitted for a nickel bn Fri- days. That 46c average illustrates thei ide; disparity; between adults and .children , in . Fajr attendance. It- having been previo.usly figured that the ■ Fair would play to as many children as adults. But wiveh th6 Fair got underway it was discov- ered th«^t .ohly children from bhl- cago and vicinity were beinjS brought to the. grounds. From dis- tant cities came the adults, the kids being left home, No question the minds of most, people associated with the Pair that the lieep .ishow and fati dancer pub-* licity . was the biggest selling point on. the Fair for the yokels, but not for- the kids;/. That this ,wa8 thb ■ big • .attraction is now hetng proved .out on the road by the various' World's Fair stage units, as brily. thbse units which have fan danee angles are making, money and those 'Which Include the strip arid midway concessions for bally- hoo are also maklrig coin. Other units which aire from the Fair but which are more demure -are starv- irig; -]^air' at all times. ra,n wide dpen with everything allowed.- Streets o£ Paris, Hollywood-a.f^the-Falr, Ori- ental Village, Rhuniba Palace, Old Mexico, i)ays' of '49, are among th«' top jbints for sex-appeal, all of which followed the lead of Streets, of Paris. But Fair officials state there will be no stripping,. no peep shows, at the festival for 1934. However, there's little likelihood of this go- ing through, according to the boys. A Wbrld'a Fair is still just a fair and everything from shell game and to blow-off Is necessary for the final currency take. Fanciion & Marco NKW YORK . (Ho«y (5) Demarest & SMbley Murand Si Glrton Jerry Coe & B (Others to nil) BROOKLYN Paramount (^) Cantor Show (Others >to flU) nOSTON Metropolitan. (5) Ma;ry Mo<jo'rmlc Johnny Leo Ijpes ^OJ.h£ra,-_lo^JllL) BL'FFAIXI Nevf' Lafayette r-'rcddy Mack .lack SlarnftB O.cno Sheldon l-'or.sythe, S & (OthrT.i to All) (B) P DKNVER. i'tyiAi Orpliciirh (.•;) Kcotie Tv.'In.H Si V (2f) Sianator Mur)jhy I.rargB & M Oliver Pay LONG ItKAClI West COftOt. (28) .Ward & Van Vlckl Joyce. '. Lee Wllmot I/OS ANGKLBS Paramount (4) Guy . Lonsbfirdo . (2ft) '.• Mills Bros piiir.u\DKLpmA I^ox (6) Buck St Bubbles Jack' Arthur- .(Ja.pt-^ProBkelB—T— t- Callfornla Revels (Olhers to fill) 8T LOLLS fit r»uiH (.'S) We.slpy Eddy Zolda Santriey Koiir Franks Kil.'iros fOMiOr." to . nil I . SAN FRANCISCO Wurllrlfl (r>). Zolina White I'Vilz & Joan QRCUS CODE HEARING JAN. 19; HOURS, PAY SET Washington, Deb. 31. Long-awaited hearing ort pro- posed' NRA code for circuses will be held Jan, 19. here, with Divi- sional. Administrator Sol. Rosenblatt wielding, the gaveU Finishing touches on perplexing pact, which has been under con- sideration two months, were okayed by NRA last week. Proposed code carries approval of 100% " of . the rail shows and 80 percent of mo- torized outfits. Fixing a 4?-hour maximum work week, except for emergencies, and standardizing pay rates; code would oUtla'W child labor by: prohibiting erpploymerit as common laborers d£ persons under 18 years. ^ork-week limit docs hot apply to "persons working In managerial or. executive capacity earning $36 a week,, or advance men, 'while pro- vision Is. made that rules and tradl- tibris' requiring off-duty labor tO' s.tand. by for call will not., be af- ifectcd, PaV rates are set for 14 ciasslfl- batibns. of employees in railroad circuses or wild 'west sho'\y3> and for 10- classes of mbtorized outfits. Allowances wbuld bia perirnltted for hoard and lodging, With cash min- imum wages running from $3 to $10. "VVith. allowance of $10.50 for subsljstence In. railroad show's and $8 for motor circuses, total mlh- irrium amounts run from $14 to $20.50 In former field and $11 to $13 In latter. Special provision Is made that JiicGUSCs may^i3ntlj^ifiiJI.nfec^^^^^ the 'hold-ba(:k' or 'bonus* sy.stcrii to prevent employcVis from Jumping their jobs. Code was submitted hy the Circui Cbmmltteo of the Outdoor Show- hV n's A.ssoclatlon of AmerJca and Uve Motorized Circus Owners and Agents As.soclatlon, Sessions will he held in Ambassador Hotel.