Variety (Mar 1936)

^eBA m^mk 18,1936 IDOO RS VARIETY 71 Chicago, March 17. " «,«/»rate has been organized lo- ?r d tb erect a new ; amusement tib? tagged 'City of Mars- ha siie o« White City, which dark for the. past three 2*J, fcaeic plan for- the -new SmeTt pirk is that it will be SleTS roofed over and will be ■ffSSSto** to attract the sum- ^ «fthd Figure on a site 8,000 SSuSSrt in area, containing 40 SSf bu«ding3 and 182 minor con- • "Svndi6ate : is now, seeking conces- -f£S on a rental and pe.rcent- SSl. Concessionaires will be X>n .five-year lease, ,and the mm* ^iU be erected by the syn- Ete according, to the .concession- 's specifications. Building is de- S on' a flat .rental rate for which'the concessionaire will pay «& Aown on execution of the lease and fthother 26% when building is Jeady for occupancy. Balance of fa% can be paid in monthly install- . i&entfl over two years. . In making deals with prospective coiBcessionaites the syndicate states MX all.;mbney .paid on leases will to held in escrow by the bank until UOfflclent' space has been sold to •Justify construction. Guiding individual in the project ts Martin J. Green, architect arid enitaeer, with Howard . #ox, now operating the ■ balroom, roller. sHat- tog rink, boxing arena and bowling alley p>i the old grounds, also asso- in the enterprise. This group Erpi liMLjiecvred a 20-year lease oh the tJNtt City property ^ and Carroll & •Co, headed by G. F« Carroll, will hchdle the leasing details on con- cession space. Planned on a basis of $4,000,000, the 'City of Mars' amusement park will go into actual construction when 60% of the leases Have been ttfl&i Schedule: is to cell these wtthiri four months and With con- etructlph to, start in time, to "open the park: ^arly in the spring of 1937. ^Hlred- aB technical scientific ad- vfiWW Martin- Green will be Dr. James Moulton, who was chief con- cession consultant at the. Chicago Centu^iof;;Progress.' 7 ■>''•' 'jAiffpflg 'those' proposed . build Inge. -arTvinCgeV after 'the; Worl&'s Fai'V. oii^er>>. rilte ..clttb" 'to : "be tagged tjrt,'iSfonte J Carlo,'' motion' picture thWirt,';hlig'e roller rink, and the rlg^ar-recii noise rides. Among the rides planned is a ''25th Century* Jopirier which is stated to cost 1300,000. iExplpittition "building will ito'a j85'-foot tower of light 'Joinbdy Easter Week Stay at Hipp Ccrapetish hi fiardien ■$ Big Show 'Jumbo 4 at the Hippodrome is fig uring on actively competing with the Ringling-Barnum & Bailey cir- cus, during its New York engage- ment at Madison Square Garden, During Easter week daily 'Jumbo' matinees will be played at $1.10 top! That halves scale for matinees. Show started on a twice daily oasis but dropped all but Wednes- day, Saturday and Sunday matinees alter .the first of the year. No deal has yet been consum- mated for touring tho show either under canvas or auditoriums. LEGION SHOW A FL0PP0 CANT'T PAY OFF ST. LOO st - Louis, March 17. Urcus sponsored by St. Louis H?. and Buffle Cor PS of the American Legion, which was to jave received 50% of profits of slx- «ay stand at Coliseum, folded up Morwi Gne Performance at Coliseum iRnorVj/ 9 ^ Sh0 * wa * virtually anT i y publlc - leaving sponsors ana c lrcus managers without, funds Adv ei L^ USlcl J ana an « stage hands. Searg W S p" Pr ° Sram enabIed ClrcuS t? ; ae<?1 mgr - American wff un , n ^T MwB 0f Peru - Ind - t0 celnt^ and he anti «lPated gate re- Afte? ZT\* enab:e Wm to carry on Sn^S?' 8 fl <>P Page could do lock 3?o^ nt " rn o « »^ts and pad "raighuS' H °i' e ™ih*d..in city to Bop. len out financial nxuddle of (Continued from page 23) talnment by a picture.' Darby , ex- pressed belief the 'freedom-of-the- screen/ Issue raised by Judge Nields .'involves a very important matter of public policy/ He quoted a Su- preme Court decision tying, up pub- lic entertainment to the problem of public health. Darby" .'contended the contracts with producers were void because they provided for no real termina- tion. He argued they were perpet- ual unless terminated by ERPI. On the repair and replacement pro- visions of the contracts with exhibs, Darby quoted" Judge Nields' tem- porary injunction opinion in 'the same action that testimony would not change their import and argued they, were illegal on their face. 'Clauses like this/ he said, referring to the 'equality' provision, 'are in- herently illegal even though they attempt to Inject an atom of le- gality by allowing a little loophole.' Later Judge Nields asked Darby:. Dp you feel that it would be in- appropriate for the court to take judicial notice of the fact that people operating theatres are those :o. and with whom very specific terms' could be made?' Darby re- plied there waB no reason for re- quiring that all 'replacement. parts be purchased frorii EttPI. As to the mass of testimony pre- sented at the trial by defense coun- sel to show the difficulties ERPI met in the transition from silent to talkers, Darby said he did not ques- tion the difficulties, but insisted Deforest, as the GTP predecessor, had met the chief difficulties before that. < Hurd for Defense George. F. Hurd of New York handled the arguments for the de- fense, for which he is chief of coun- sel. The court,- he hypothecated, might ask why ERPI should fight a permanent .injunction if, as it claims, the things against which the injunction would be. directed are not,, In force • anyhow,?: In answer, he jpointed to the, $65,(100,000 Voca- fllm damage action in the Southern District of New York and other ac- tions, Including Berger's, .aggregat- ing $40,000,000, -//.which actions, he. said, a permanent injunction in the Wilmington court would be used before a jury to the great disad vantage of ERPI. The equipment contracts were not illegally restrictive, Hurd con tended,- because there was always the possibility pf arbitration when any question arose as to the equal ity of other, equipment with that produced by ERPI. ERPI, he contended, never had any disagreement with the prod- ucers as to distribution, the arbitra- tion, clause never, being invoked. He argued that this was proof that the producers were .satisfied with the arrangement. As a matter of fact, he continued,, the producers made their agreements with ERPI for equipment only after considering for a year and only, after careful examination of all other types of equipment. He contended that the 'use pf technical knowledge' clause was perfectly legal, because ERPI had a legitimate proprietary interest in its technical knowledge. The $500- per-thousand feet charge of ERPI was 'not a burden on the industry/ he insisted, because it applied only to negatives, after cut for release, in the first place, and because the charge was meagre when compared with actors' and directors' salaries and other costs In the Industry gen- erally. As to the long term of the 11 censes, he declared, this was nee essary to Insure an honest attempt at pulling talkers over, assurance that he held was required to protect the big investment of ERPI in the picture industry, The Duovac case Hurd contended, is distinct from the GTP case, it being concerned only with the replacement provisions in the contracts. Duovac manufactured tubes. " Judge Nields raised a question as to GTP's position in the industry when he asked whether GTP pro duced pictures. Learning GTP did not, he asked how much of rcpro duction equipment' that company manufactured, and Hurd replied only the 'sound head', of machines adding that GTP bought the rest of the machines elsewhere. Girl Grows Older Grace Elizabeth Hannaford, who is working with her daddy Poodles in 'Jumbo' at the Hippodrome, N. Y„ Is now 16. She was born while the Hannaford Family was play- ing in 'Happy Days' at the Hipp and when three months old was taken on stage by chorus girls. Miss Hannaford attends the professional children's school and in between receives les- sons from Poodles. TOM MIX CIRCUS Biggest French Circus Starts; 6,000 Seats Under Tent Wired for Sound Santa Monica, Cal., March 13. First trick to take to the road in this country is the Tom Mix aggre- gation. This is Mix's, second year as owner of the onetime Gentry show. In tho season on the road, Mix. learned a great deal 'bout the operation of a truck show,-now has under his wing the largest motor- ized, unit of its • kind • traveling on some- 110 trucks. It's a three-ringed show under a 160 foot round top-with three 50 middles. ' Kid show is of the pit type.. .Joints are all owned-by the show. Dale Turney, former Mix manager, is manager of the .show with Rhoda Royal, equestrian- direc- tor, and Alfred Cadona, former fly- ing ace, as his assistant. Harry Rogers Is assistant manager, with his wife acting as p.a. Tom. Metz operates the-kid show. Performance this year is woven around Mix, Max Gruberg's Jungle Oddities, former standard vaude act, Homer Hobson's riding act, Irma Ward and her muscle grind, Hal Silvers, tight wire artists, and the Arbaughs, an offshoot Of the .many Ward flying acts with Irma Ward featured. In between are sandwiched the standard circus acts, all doubling. However*, the .features are so -well spotted that the absence of anything outstanding is hardly noticed and the multiplicity of repeats over- looked. This year Mix will play all around Los Angeles but will -stay out of the city, proper. Last year he played three days here to poor business. Mix name means most in the smaller communities as evidenced by the two straw, houses at this town. Opening is the usual spec walk- around with Mix leading. From this, show opens, with small dog acts in the three rings going into the usual swinging ladder routin.es by 15 girls Following this is a horse drill by 10 lads 'dressed as Canadian Mounties Now comes Mix. introduction." He works Tony Jr. at liberty, goes to a sharp shooting act. Manages-riders next, .with the 15 girls dressed, in polo outfits. Stock is all new,' works badly, with' most of the horses and girls unable to follow the prescribed routines, something; that. Royal can work out in short order. Three rings then follow .with one horse riding- acts, all Hobsori stock with the Hobsons' up. SJlver'a next in the center ring, works strong with a drunk routine on - the tight wire, finishing with a swing. Good performer and sells his stuff well Long concert* announcement next, then the two Mix bulls arid the Gruber act, latter in the center. Mix team does little, Is- pulled after elementary trick with Gruber's" act being featured. It's the show's high spot. Gruber bull does about every- thing including bowling, marking its own score, cooch dance and topping with a plank "walk. Pony drills next, all Hobson stock-. Tumblers follow, with everyone who can. do a handstand doubling. Makes a good flash but nothing ex- cept a teeter-board chair catch im- pressing. Miss Ward next featuring hei* grind. Liberty horses next in the center ring with Royal working. Quartet of animals has looks, do intricate maneuvers but are still a little strange. When working in order, act should be a standout. Second con- cert announcement. Hobeons in their feature equestrian act spotted next doing the same as all family riding acts. Closing has the Arbaugh flyers featured on a simple routine with their rigging spotted lengthwise in the top. Cross rigging would show the act Off to better advantage. . Only its third day on the road, show was draggy, not due to per- formance but due to green crew who stalled on props and handling rig- ging. Could be snapped up consid- Mix is in evidence throughout the performance, watching the running of things. Personality adds consid- erable flavor to the show, indicates gopd showmanship. Show looks exceptionally good on the lot. All canvas is red and white striped, with the familiar TM brand In evidence everywhere. All equip- ment carries the same color scheme and at least half of the trucks arc Ford ami!™ 01 California for a month, before mov- ing north and east, beats the Al G. Barnes .show into numerous spots by at least two weeks. However, they are not opposition this year, both outfits finding it to their dis- advantage last season. For- 25, 50 and 75 cents, show is good value. Going on its own around here, however, may work merchant tieups later. However, if business continues: as it has started, latter won't be necessary.' New line of pape-r has been added this year with all playing up Tom Mix. . Show could stand a better public address system arid the throwing out of names on the announcements. Names always impress v audiences and 'a group of young ladies' rhe-ans nothing. Usual clown walkarounds between displays- are in order with the "circus world in general still in need of, a good producing clown. Call. Night Club Reviews (Continued from page 57) they seem to knock the bald-headed contingent of Cleveland diners corrir pletely coldi Dahce routines are very elementary, made appealing by glittery costumes that are mostly very brief. Excellent cuein§r by. Maurice Spitalny's orchestra is largely responsible for show's- stac- cato pace/ Pull, RUSSIAN BEAR (NEW YORK) One of the' pioneer vodka nlterles In New York, the Russian Rear, at Second avenue and 12th street, has become something- of a noted spot, in over 20 years at the same loca- tion; Place is authentic in its Russe atmosphere to the' smallest blini avec smetana and the entertainment is commensurately McCoy. As the Boniface of the Russian Bear entreats, the crack balalaika orchestra, maestroed by Costyd Krumln, would prefer to adhere to native music, although for a string combo, as the hours grow smaller, they also Jthow. how to give out not bad dansapatioru even . though it seems rather laboriously performed from special orchestrations. T.his becomes £ necessity due to the, all string instrumentation. ' Kuban Cossack Choir,. conducted by Sergey Sokoloff, is the imposln; headllner, a double .quintet of i;o bust voices, who -are part pf the famed Kuban, choir which, has girdled, the globe several times-, on- concert tours. ; One wonders- how the Bear can stand ■ the overhead, which is: pre- possessing on numbers alone, in view of the $2 table d'hote, served at all hour's, and np couvert save for-a $1 minimum weekdays and $1.50 on Saturdays. 1 Eiena Slavnala is the prima who runs the gamut from 'Bubllehkl' to •O Chichorni.' Nlcliolai Khadarik is a baritone with an iriiposing pair pf- pipes who earns several well- deserved encores.' The inevitable 'sword daricc-r Is also present, Ivan Kornlloff, always a good flash on a floor. Julian Altman is a precocious violin virtuoso, in his 'teens, billed ■with a 'master' in front of his name. He is quite an expert technician. Fronla Stanislavsky, tenor, Eliza Ramova and Nadja . Dushlnska, gypsy singers, and Miss Nightingale, coloratura, are others billed; It's an unique entertainment for a cafe floor more parlor- than nltery, which is, of course, its chief charm. Table d'hote is a buy; a la cart*" menu is high. Wine card varied and reasonable. Ahel. ■, March 8. Biggest recent show event of Paris was the launching pf R. and J. Medrano's new circus under can- vas, which played three days ph the outskirts of the big town before hitting the road. Opening was put over via two pages in the evening Intrangigearit, split into three-column ads scat- tered through the paper, , plus minor space in other sheets. No billbpard- ing. Customers were turned .away for three first performances and be- fore the boxofflce. closed for the second show, all advance publicity, which will carry the circus all over France, had been paid for. Tent measures 100 yards the long way, and covers 6,000. Only one ring, plus a stage behind the ring, which was discarded after the first performance because of low visi- bility from certain seats. In. spite of its.size the show thus, maintains- the intimate character of the French fixed circuses, and talking , acts are us.ed.' Especially, the' bulk of the clowning depends on patter. To put this over the Medranos have wired the tent for loud speak- ers, arid claim .to be the. first in France tp apply this system. At the opening performance• the crowd seemed to be preparing trouble because .. the seats proved insufficiently banked, and riot every- qne could get a view of the ring a|rid stage.- Cops were called and strategically -placed. But nothing broke,' and for succeeding perform- ances things we're fixed. Headline act is Togare with » group of tigers* a number that goe-s big all over Europe. Second spot is filled by Ritter's Midgets, with Wei-- rter Rltter, billed as world's smallest man .appearing only in the side- show. Clowning- is done by the Calroli- PhUlp-Carletto trip, which can be* rated as the best current in France and the only topnotch local clown troupe since .the decline of the .Fra- > tellinis. Couple of aerial acts, Chi* nese jugglers and' acrobats, Arab tumblers arid' equestrians complete the hill. 6loser is a sPrt. of ballet, 'Shanghai Fairyland,' put on. fey Floyd Du Pont, American. , Nothing extra as a circus, but a local sensation because of the way it's put oVer. .Jean .Cou pan did the press agentry all alone.in,'the primi- tive French fashion, without. even the - help of an office boy and de- serves a real hand. Stern; BARNES CIRCUS San Diego, March 17. When Al G. Barnes'circus opens its 1936 sea-son here with three day stand, starting March 28, outfit will be pitched on parking lot Immedi- ately adjoining Calif ornia-Faclflc Exposition. Through deal made between Fan- chon & Marco and S. L. Cronin, Barnes gen. mgr.; entrance will be cut from circus lot Into fair grounds, permitting circus patronfl to pass to the exposition grounds without payment of gate rilck; Stunt is figured to attract extra mobs, to exposition grounds, with- Hotel Pennsylvani (NEW YORK) Unique act for a hotel floor is ! pay concessions profiting Ben Yost's Varsity, eight, but they repeat the same click as when first hitting New York at the Hollywood restaurant. In the .staid surround- ings of a hostelry, the robust young men in their dashing, musical com- edy getups are even more effective. They're doubling from the current •Ziegfeld Follies' at the Winter Gar Off to the Wars Canton, O., March 17. Sterling (Duke) Drukenbrod, sfev- —o . oi-al vcars sideshow manager of the den, necps.«-:itating- an early frollc a, l Majjenbecif-Wallace circus, shifted the dinner sessions here j e A]< ( , Ba rne.s circus this Hal Komp's corklnp; <lam:apniion <■<> U1C continues ;ir.d seemingly is all tho youngsters' desire for their hoof- ology. ' . With tho Yost octet alone for id- able, that's all the floor fntcrtain- Tho usu.'il b-illroom learn. ^RoSlM'of the Mix show Is.th* strr.n-.vih looUin performance, tca'rdown, sleep, feed, teardown of kitchen then the move- ment. Most Other motorized shows move following the teardown. Show will stay around Southern tiiec in tlicir miles and riving nut the .viand."id cnrl pop ballads. The rousing I'male is a eolletre men*lev., apprmiriatc ' nfuc?li for their billing as Yal'ltyiies. reason has departed for BaldvVin Park. Calif! to ready bis outfit for the opening late this-month. ROSE'S TEXAS INC. Julian T. Abole.s, attorney f«r Billy I'vose, has formed Territorial i'roilueiions. Inc., to operate Hose's- Kn.nlJer City festival in Ft, Worth, Texas. v, Abele.s is en roule by plane to Fort Worth-to arrange the financial details in. Rose's bebal