Variety (Oct 1936)

Wednesday, October 7, 1936 VAUDE-NITE CLUBS VARIETY 47 Musicians' Hitch Nulls Chances Of Loews Vaude Return in Balto Baltimore, Oct. 6. Begins to appear as if Loew's _ Century will not resume stage- ■^"dio'ws. When house, after lengthy status as vaudfllmer, went straight- pix Sept. 4, it was with the intention of reinserting flesh after playing off ; 'some strong film, product .stored up. Local Musicians' Union No. 40 • of- 1 fered at' that time as a new season's • contract terms dated from time the- atre "dropped" pit band along with stagenshows, I.e., demanded retro- active* pay for musikers. for layoff time -when they returned to work. Century balked and'signatured-no contract for this season. Situation hung until past weekend, when Century figured on bringing in three consecutive weeks of vaude, commencing Oct. 16, to tide over succession of films house thought needed bolstering. Bill Saxton, local Loew city, manager, inquired at union whether he could get ok to use pit band on a week-to-week basis, but. union nixed, proffering only a full-year contract. In proffered contract* however, union did. not seek layoff-time payment to mem- bers of theatre's former crew, merely straight scale from time they commenced working again. Saxton refused these terms, saying only agreement Century would consent to was the on-call ..arrangement. Union apparently has classed the Century in strange position, although • house broke no rules when it let go . the musicians last month, abiding* by the .two-weeks' notice order to the letter and notifying its'pit band just 14 days before the. '36-'37 season contract, was to have been. signed. The, 11. musicians are currently drawing 'strike' salaries, first time for such a situation in Balto. Union bosses will not let 'em accept any other jobs for a. reason -union will not clarify. At time band was dropped, house wanted to keep organist Harvey Hammond, who was getting -$200 a week, with his relief man snagging scale rate at $75, but union ordered Hammond out and he went along with relief. Century will resume its Saturday a.m. free dance classes for 'kids this week, which, conducted by Laureine Bac (Mrs. Bill Saxton), re- quire a pianist. Has been decided . over weekend to' switch these to the Valencia, Loew subsequent-runner, and union has not as yet boycotted spot on request for the single mu- siker. Loew's switched spots to avoid any new tanglements. 1 Izzy Rappapbrt's indie Hipp con- tinues as only , downtown site using vaudefilm policy, and only spot in Balto with stage show aside from Frank Durkee's Enterprises, east- side State, second-run flicker house that split-weeks three-act vaude bills on budget of $600 weekly. RK0 RESUMING UNITS AT SHUBERT, CINCY Cincinnati, Oct. 6. RKO Shubert to add units to Screen fare starting Oct. ' 16. Unit bookings for. .first five weeks are «M°i ie Parie senne,» 'Bowes' Ams. W T.g. Revue,' 'Glorified Follies' and shooting High.' House concludes straight film run SreanT^* ' Midsummer Ni £ h fs 4-DAY STRIKE Atlanta footers' Walk Not a Long: One Allen Foster's 'Jumbo* Troupe Minus Billing Allen K. Poster, last with 'Jumbo,* js producing an act for the vaud- nimers utilizing the Foster troupe of girls and horses from the Billy Rose musical. William Morris agency is handling. Foster doesn't intend to use' the Jumbo' billing in any wise. It's the "■ouDe that was • last year at the ■Hippodrome, N. 'Y., and this past summer in Fort Worth at the Fron- «er Festival. Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 6. Capitol theatre's standby musi- cians, eight in number, staged a walkout on- orders of their union Sept. 28 and walked back in Thurs- day with consent of house manage- ment. Theatre, Atlanta's only vaudeville house, has no use for standby band .since all units playing house bring their own bands. Management, however, three years ago, hired five local footers to augment trouping bandsmen and last year, to help out unemployment situation in local pro- fessional musical circles, added three more to bring standby outfit up to eight-man size." House men were pulled out almost without notice. Fact that musicians traveling with 'Southern Serenade' unit, then on stage, stayed on job, as did stagehands and operators, is be- lieved to have, influenced about-face on part of union. WPA Celebrates 50th Anni of Frisco Vaude San Francisco, Oct. 6. Golden Jubilee of Vaudeville is being celebrated by the WPA here this week on the spot where the first so-called: vaudeville originated, at the old Orpheum- theatre, now called the Columbia. Vaudeville' started in the Wigwam beer hall here 50 years ago at Stock- ton and Grant. Later higher class acts came into vogue and a larger theatre was built for them. That house,' the Orpheum, later became the keystone of the Orpheum circuit. WPA's" presentation of old-time 'vaudeville at the Columbia began September 3. Current bill offers What is styled 'the new order of vaudeville, 1936 brand.' John W. ROscoe, only living mem- ber of the original' Orpheum per- sonnel, was guest of honor at the opening of the Golden Jubilee bill Monday night (5). Cops Clamping Down On Philly Class Niteries ""Philadelphia, Oct. 6. Determined drive against class niteries has been started by local gendarmes. Raid on Embassy Club, one of leading night spots, was pulled early last Sunday .morning for al- leged.after-hours likker sales. Couple of hundred guests, entertainers and musicians were chased. Owners, Sam Silver and Herb Smiley, with two bartenders, were pinched. Understood the raid followed squawk by local magistrate that in the recent drive against local nit- eries, 'big places' weren't bothered. At least half a dozen of leading spots have been remaining open after legal closing hours. Expected they'll now close" 1 on time "for usual till- this-blows-over period. Eddie Pilcer Bankrupt A voluntary petition in bankruptcy was filed last week in N. Y. by Ed- ward Pilcer, former 'steamship so- licitor,' and brother of Harry Pilcer, Paris m.c. and producer. He lists his debts at $3,257 and assets at $25, his wearing apparel. Among his claims are: National Trade Bank" of N. Y., note of $780; as stockholder lit Bank "of U.. S., N. Y., $326.50: note to John A. Muel- ler, 100 Park Row, $2,150.37. Chi Syndicate Buying UpDIusicals For Conversion Into Vaude Units To Supplement Current Parading—Figure, to Edu- cate Public in -'Live Music' and Stage Shows . AUDIBLE PICKETS Nationwide educational campaign by the American: Federation,of Mu-. sicians and American Federation of Actors to supplement the picketing in cities where permissible will prob- ably eventuate shortly. Campaign is expected to be even more vigorous than the AFM's heavy outlay for ad- vertising a couple of years ago in magazines, newspapers and trade pa- pers calling for the return of 'live music' in theatres. Picketing , in New York continues, with the musicians and actors parad- ing in front of more straight film houses daily. On Broadway it is especially noticeable,, pickets parad- ing in front of the Capitol, Palace and Strand. Two men (or women) carry the placards, while a third, is handing out literature derogatory to 'canned music' and those ^theatres which pulled stage shows. Picketing by the musicians is being done With the cooperation of the American Federation of Actors and the third person on the picket line is usually an AFA member. Yesterday (Tues- day) the picketing was supplemented by audible chanting from the pa- raders urging to 'live and let live.' Several musicians' locals of other key cities have communicated with 802 in New York, asking for details on the picketing and the results, if any (there have been none as yet). Ordinances in several towns do not permit picketing When there isn't an actual strike, which would force the AFM-AFA to take Other steps to apprise the public of their stand re- garding the return of stage shows and pit orchestras. Dave Klein, Fusion nominee for member, of the executive board of the New York musicians local 802 and delegate to the American Fed- eration, of .Musicians convention, leaves- for Hollywood Oct. 8. On the trip out Klein will contact the business agents of various locals with a view to getting their reactions to the present theatre picketing sit- uation in New York. Klein will be gone several weeks. Silence Order In Frisco San Francisco, Oct. 6. Musicians here are formulating plans to bring back live shows and living music into the theatres, ac- cording to an announcement made last week by Eddie Love, secretary of local No. 6. There was some talk of the local union following in the footsteps of New York's 802 in picketing thea- tres not using orchestras. After sev- eral huddles, the Frisco union de- cided that the local picketing ordi- nance doesn't give enough leeway to do any good. If pickets here shout anything but the name of the union paper which they peddle, they are jailed. Union has plans up its sleeve to launch a big educational campaign in behalf of living music and live shows in the hopes of stimulating a demand ^or the return of musicians to theatres. According to Love, the California State Federation of Labor and the California Theatrical Federation are working with him in his campaign. Theatre men here are. watching the coming campaign with considerable interest, San Francisco being one of the strongest union cities in the country. Na6h. Resumes Units Nashville, Oct. 6. After discontinuing stage fare for ihe summer mc«)ths. Princes theatre resumed vaudeville Friday (2). Stage show is Jimmie Hodges' 1*111- Town-Laff/ a Wilbur Cushman unit. Shows will run for full week, with openings on Fridays. FANNER ROUTED Interstate Books Sally Jtand in Unit Production i Fort Worth, Oct 6. Sally Rand, with a unit, has been signed for a tour of Interstate cir- cuit, beginning Nov. 14 with one-day engagement-here. She will head unit to be billed as Sally Rand's ■'Frontier Centennial Revue.' Several acts are likely to be signed from Frontier Centennial. • The itinerary includes* week each in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio-, with split.dates at Beaumont, Waco, Galveston, Corpus Christi, Harlin- gen, Marshall, El . Paso; Alber- querque, Abilene,. San Angelo and Sherman. The unit also will play Oklahoma City,- Tulsa and Enid, Okla., and then will jump to Florida. Vancouver Nitery Padlock Hits 20 American Acts Seattle, Oct. 6. Twenty American acts were out in Vancouver, B.C., when edict by the mayor closed the night clubs. A total of 26 licenses .. were cancelled.' Blanche Hammond is reported to have done a fanless dance, which -started the moral wave, and selling liquor too late put the clincher to the edict. Among acts hit. by the order were Dotty Dee, Peggy and Marv^s, Renoff and Renova, Gauchi. and. Sonnen, Dur Moy .Sisters and Blanche Hammond. Acts were halted in the middle of their week's engagement at all spots, and book- ings for following week were de- leted. Miss Hammond did her al- leged fanless fan at the Oriental Gar- dens, Chinese operated. Approaching election may have been at bottom of..the move, or rivalry between the popular Chinese owned and managed night clubs and the Canadian clubs. Clamping 4own has resulted in no bookings at this time from here to Vancouver clubs. American "acts have been playing Vaucouver dates only on permit of one or two weeks, with immigration laws stricter than in years. More American Acts Arrive in Australia Sydney, Sept. 6. New batch of -vaude acts arrived to play here and in Melbourne for Frank Neil. Lineup includes Jack Goldie, Gardner and Kane, Evers and Dolores, Billy Shenton and Brookins and Van. Neil is at present in America booking acts for Australia and will then go to England and the Conti- nent. Over here it's two-a-day, with no Sunday shows. New Haven's First Paramount, New Haven, plays Its first stage show of the year Dec. 4. House uses occasional units booked by Harry Kalcheim in New York. Opening show will be the Nils T. Granlund (NTG) Revue. Chicago, Oct. 6. • • Most ambitious project in vaude in recent years is being undertaken by y the newly - organized Continental Productions, which has just set plans for the production of a string of six units, within the next four months. New organization, set up by a local syndicate, has taken over the com- plete' productions of several New'' York legit musicals; also, it is re-' ported, the productions of the re- •' cently closed Casiha de Paree shows. This includes the scenery, costumes, settings, music and orchestrations of ' these shows. ■ • Deal has- been set for all the units to break in at the Riverside in Mil- waukee; the : opening show, 'Streets of Paris Revue,' having been booked by Manager Eddie Weisfelt for Oct 30. The others will follow at two- ■ week intervals. Each show is to contain four major, production num- bers, plus a name headline attrac- tion and standard yaude acts. Units will carry line of 16' girls, with the exception- of the opening show, which will' also carry eight, chorus boys. Likely also that each, unit will have-additional box-office • angle in a nude, dancer. Shows will be produced in Chi* cago under supervision of Michael Todd, who has been appointed gen- eral, manager for the organization. Negotiations are on with - Sammy Rase, Paul. Oscard; Fred Evans, . Truly McGee, Murray Browne, Dor- (T othy Hild and Eleanor Savage to . stage the units*' . ... .".'• Each unit "will be. treated as an independent, effort,,and totally unre- lated to'the others in the string. . Todd is now in. N. Y. assembling the productions, costume's arid scenery, and will be back in Chicago late this, week to, begin immediate casting and rehearsals.. Organization' is founded on the contention that vaude in itself'is completely put and. that only units count. While not yet set, it is understood that the booking of the acts in the units will be handled through an agency headed by Nan Elliott, former Pa'tltages and William Morris booker in Chicago.' CLEVELAND CASINO'S TOLJES' AS ROAD ACT Cleveland, Oct. 6. 'Folies de Nuitf show from the former French Casino: at the Great Lakes Exposition in Cleveland has • been produced as a road - unit by Mike Special here; New ac^s .were added to the original attractions, arid six more additional girls Will- up -the line to 24. Featured acts include Bernard Bros, and Duyals who fol- lowed their exposition 'date with an engagement at the Toronto, Expo. Toto, nude terper,. is retained in the road unit as well as ihe Donald- sons, casting adagio troupe. Bert Byton is show manager, with Lou Pollock in advance. Ferde Simon booking.. The - Ni Y. French Casino made the local F.C. change its name, so it simply became'the Casino. HONEYBOY'S PTOMAINE Baltimore, Oct. 6. George Fields, (Honeyboy and Sassafras), radio act, was stricken with ptomaine poisoning Thursday (1) and forced to drop out of the final three shows of week at the vaudfilm Hippodrome. Fields collapsed in dressing room. Was placed under' medical attention, and'the next day was able to return to New York. Rose Van Camp's Murderer Convicted Detroit, Oct. 6. John Roehl was convicted last week of the murder of Mrs. Rose s , Rankin, known to an older genera- tion of theatre-goers as Rose Van Camp. Roehl fatally slashed Mrs. Rankin, owner of a rooming house here, dur- ing a brawl Aug. 2. Jury took only 38 minutes to find Roehl guilty of second-degree murder. He will be sentenced Friday (0). LaSalle'a Other Boom " Chicago, Oct 6. LaSallc hotel is reopening its Blue Fountain, rooni; " 3Bob McGrew orchestra gets th« initial contract