Variety (Jul 1937)

48 VARIETY VAUDE-NITE CLUBS^BURUBSQUB Wtdneadajt July 28, I937 Burley House Fold-Ups May Menace Existence of VRTA, Also Scribners Censorial Job Newly lormed Variety Revue Theatre Assn. of New York (bur- lesque operators) and its ruling Board of Governors (6), hand- picked by Mayor Fiorello H. La- Guardia, practically dies aborning with the closing or near-closing of all th9 former bump-and-grind spots which reopened after a sapolioing process a couple of weeks ago. With the association and the board vanishing in- thin air also goes the .job of executive secretary (censor) handed Sam S. Scribner. Latter was reported to have been set at $10,000 annually, but a board member de- clared that Scribner's stipend wasn't to be any where, near that amoimt. Also going up in smoke is the much-heralded revival of vaudeville via the former burley joints. That vaude was never really given a chance, the theatres sticking to the old burlesque formula of production, only whitewashed, is advanced by showmen as the chief reiason the houses folded or are folding so sud- denly. : Disbandment of the VRTA and eventually the Board of Governors is now a foregonis conclusion^ Only 'two of the five theatres which opened are still grinding. Last night (Tues- day), the Oriental gave up the ghost tUl at least the fall. H. K. and Mor- ton Minsky claim they'll reopen the house Sept. 3, again with. colored shows. John F. Masterson, attorney and chairman of the Knights of Colum- bus Coimcil in. Brooklyn, who is cbairnaian of the board, selected by Mayor. LaGuardia to keep the bur- lesque; iheatres decent, stated yester- day (Tuesday) that Scribner's job . will automatically end if and when the Apollo, and ijltinge fold. As far as the board is" concerned, he de- clared that it inay continue though inactive till the fall, when some of the houses claim they will reopen. Quarterly dues of $500 for each theatre paid by the burley ops for administering the expenses of the VRTA and Scribner, according to Masterson, will probably be returned to the impresarios after expenses in- curred thus far are first deducted. Foldup of the VRTA marks the quick death of the first organiza- tion of the burley ops in years. Ever since stock burley invaded the Times Square area (the Republic started it), the theatre operators have been battling each other, with even rela- tives, chiefly the Minskys, pitted against one another. It was this competish that finally degenerated burlesque to such ah extent that Li- cense Commissioner Paul Moss, after frequent complaints from civic and church groups, refused to renew the licenses last May 1. COLLECTS WITH GUN Cafe Prop Held on 'Kidnap' Charge After Forced Payoff Detroit, July 27. Frank Barbaro, proprietor of Bow- ery Cafe, walked into the Chahi- pagne Bar last ^ week, slapped and ordered Lou Captain, m.c, to come along at point of gun, and held him- a prisoner until he dug up funds to pay off $350 debt. After the 'kidnaping,' which had caused much apprehension on part of policie, was explained, officerslield Barbaro . on charges of kidnaping. AFA'S COAST BBANGH American Federation of Actors will open a Coast office within a few weeks. . Ralph Whitehead, executive sec- retary, will go to Los Angeles to open the braiich. Next-to-Shut Tom Senna, head of thtt (vaudeville) Federal Theatre Project tn Boston, has a son, Don, who has just finished his apprenticeship for jockeying. Last Wednesday he rode his first race and every vaudevil- lian was leaning on the rail Watching thp kid ride. Don came in fourth and the boys turned away slowly, tearing up their tickets. . A late member of the group rushed up and asked, 'How did the kid make out?' 'The kid was in the fourth spot,' was the answer. 'Well,' said the: newcomer, 'it's a better spot than his old man ever played in.' Elkins, Youngman, Frohman Set In Yacht Club Show New Yacht Club, N. Y., moved' one block west on 52nd street, opens Sept. 16, with Al Felchin operating. Old Yacht Club lost its liquor license early. last spring because of a viola- tion. , First, show in the new spot, prac^ tically next door to the Hickory House, will be topped by Henry Youngmah, Frances Faye and Bert Frohman. Band will be batoned -by Eddie Elkins. , Initial show layout will stick for four weeks, with options. B'klyn Tirofi Mulls Resuming VaudeviOe Tivoli, Brooklyn, which scrapped flesh shows a year ago, is talking re- sumption of stage shows next month. House is spotted in downtown shop- ping district of Brooklyn and has been going along as a dualer. Alex Hanlon formerly booked the Tivoli, splitting the week between Brooklyn house, and Grand Opera House, N. Y., but-exited when both tossed stage shows. Heat Slougbs N. Y. s Pure Burly ftO. s; Oriental Folds, Apollojtinge on Verge FoDy, Bklyn., May Go Vaudfilins in Sept. Folly, Brooklyn, may go vaude again 4h Septenxber. Had formerly played five acts on split*week be- fore going film dualer. Zelaya's Route V^^— -.,..4 Don Zelaya, pianologist, having survived headache .encountered by doing an jccommodatioh date at the Republic, N. Y. last week, has been rewarded with what looks Uke a route! ■ Zelaya opened at Atlantic City Steel Piet this week (26), jumps to the Oriental, Chicago, next week, with Riverside, Milwaukee, and Day- ton to follow after which he will settle down for ah indefinite stay at the Drake Hotel, Chi. He has also been set for a. six months' European tour by Dick Henry, of the William Morris Agency, skedded to open in London next January. Philly Musicians Giving Nitery Scale Once Over Philadelphia, July 27. Scale committee of Musicians' lo- cal-skedded to confab In few days on new price lists for next season's nitery contracts. Understood there will be-tiltihg all along the line. Proposal Is to raise Class A from $52 to $58, B from $38 to-$52, set C at $38 and D at $30. Hotel Phila- delphian will be shifted from B to A; as will Walton Roof, which, however, isn't expected to reopen in the fall. Benny the Bum's temporary position in the A strata will be made perma- nent. Heat socked all aroxmd late last week and beginning of current week, with trio of converted hurleys taking a dive. The Apollo, downtown, with-a re* puted .$6,O0O. weekly nut, suffered with . the others, but; nevertheless continued Ana Corio, Arthur and Morton Havel, Joey Fay, Joe Mofrisc and the-rest of. high-priced lineup^ for second week, but with entirely hew production. Eltinge, on 42d Street, just across from the Apollo, also suffered at the b. o. ' Reports were ground bgain Mon- day (26) that both the Apollo and Eltinge would fold tomorrow night (Thursday), but scouted, though both admitting a Week-to-week ar- rangement with peHormers, stage hands and musicians. Both , spots have posted the provisional closing notices. Oriental, which had not been doIn| so forte with its colored musical opener, folded last night (Tuesday). 'Swing Time Down South,' due to succeed tomorrow (28), had been re- hearsiog but called off Monday's session, with jieat' as alibi. Hoey VS. Rosen for $800, Split Commish on Act Herbert Hoey, agent, through his attorney, Jonas Ellis, has instituted suit for $80.0 against Matty Rosen^ also a vaude agent, in N. Y. |tiu<« nicipial court. Amount involved is a split on commissions for Everett Marshall's engagement with Bill^ Rose at the Texas Centennial shoVj' at Ft. Worth last summer. According to papers, Hoey negoti- • ated the Texas booking for Marshall for Rosen, who agreed to split com* mission. It avers further that Rosen collected $1,700 in commissions bJX the transaction and only paid Hoey $50 of that amount which precipi" tated Hoey's suit to collect the re- mainder, $800. 6i THE HIT OF THE BIL L 99 Abel Greert in 'Variety' Issue July 21, 1937 TEXAS TOMMY Pony Act 5 Mins. Bainbow Room, N. T. Texas Tommy is a slick cowhand— anyway,, his spurs and chaps look dudish. His pony is called Baby Doll. Between the two they do « slick act for anybody's nitery di- vertissjament. Being a cute little pony, well- mannered and clever, and suavely cued by Texas Tommy, it's a cork- ing novelty on any cafe floor. And the snootier the environment, the more effective the results. Hence. 'A PARTICULAR WOW"— Abel Green In 'Variety' lssu« July 21, 1937 TOMMY AND HIS WONDER PONY "BABY DOLL'' The Pony with Human Intelligence NOW IN THIRD WEEK RAINBOW ROOM. ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK • Direction MUSIC CORPORATION OF AMERICA at the Rainbow Room it was a par- ticular wow. . Tommy straights well for Baby Doll, and the equine performs nobly and well for the sugary rewards after each series of tricks. From the v?t vaudeville viewpoint, ' the old hokum bucket about 'how many days in the week?' and 'one and six are. how many?' is corny. But it's all new stuff all over again, as the pony taps out the counts with his hoof. What's more, now, as then, it's sock variety fare. ■ That's why acts like Texas Tommy»should come In' for a renewed vogue all over : again.'' But instead of opening vaudeville bills they're slated for features. Texas Tommy was the hit of the bill here. ALSO COMBINING THE MOST NOVEL WHIP AND SHOOTING PRESENTATION