Variety (Sep 1937)

« Wednesday, Scpfembcr 29, 1937 OUTDOORS VARIETY 63 What They Think pica for LiTinc Music San Francisco, Sept 20. Editor, yAmryi About seven years ago 18 to 20000 musicians, gainfully enl'- oioyed In moving picture theatres, had been displaced by sound pic- tures. In Hollywood about 400 musicians can probably fill the needs of mo- tion picture producers in making film records. H it were humanly Bosslble to dispense with the serv- ices of the 'select 400' the producers would not hesitate to eliminate then). When the movie theatres threw out. their orchestras, Joseph N. Weber, president Of' the 'American Federation of filfusicians, :gave us the Argument that we coiild riot stop ^progrtss' and seemied'in a more,or less helpless state to" handle , the sit-, uation at that time, and has done nothing since to remedy the situa- tion, '• " ".. Thousands of' musicians, who are still capable performers on. thisir in-, struments and experienced in con- cert and theatre work, are ,now.. on WPA and-relief rolls. This year a heroic, but Isolated at- tempt by the fighting New York Lo- cal to get' the musicians back into the theatres^ met with but little suc- cess; A successful fight, can only be achieved by a'firm stand oh the part of every red-blooded' local- in our American Fedejation of Musicians. Moreover, this fight can only be waged effectively by a rank and file movement . ' ' If we intend to wait for any sug- gestions about getting musicians back into the theatres from our federation officers (drawing big fat salaries and' trust funds) we may have to wait' imtil h freezes over. Most of us former theatre musi- cians haye been imder the impres- sion that there was a standing agreement between the stagehands, operators and musicians, which pro- tected each other in .their employ- ment In other' words, all three crafts must work together in the theatres, or none at all. What has become of this agreement? Why were the musicians kicked cut of the theatres when sound pic- tures came in, without recourse to the aforementioned agreement? This is something for our national offi- .cers to explain to the rank and file and also to let us know how much longer the Musicians are going to be barred out of the motion picture theatres. The first-run movie theatres have recently raised the admission charge from 40c to 55c, with some talk of raising it further to 65c, and still no living music in the theatres. "Well, maybe the Government can do something about it. From all re- ports, the governments of other countries have long since done something about it and the musi- cians arO' working in the theatres in those countries.. Perhaps the CIO could help us out of this dilemma. F. R. Fuller, Local No. 6, A. F. of M. Vox Popper Himber Pops In Again New York, Sept 22. Editor, VARiErt: Permit me to offer a few addi- tional facts to the item that appeared in Variety of Sept. 22 regarding the contractual obligations that exist be- tween Fredda Gibson and myself. The item stated that Fredda Gib- son is desirous Of abrogating her contract and agreement with me on the grounds that at the time of sign- ing she was an 'infant' and that be- cause of her obligations to me as her pwnager and agent she wasn't earn- ing as much money as she felt she should. Six months ago, before the contract was signed, Miss' Gibson was with a road band, receiving ap-; proximately $40 a week during the weeks the band worked seven nights, nothing some weeks, and a fraction $40 other weeks. The contract Between us guararit^d her, whether worked or not, a sum in excess of her earnings during the previous year. In fact, she has earned much •iiore than the guaranty and is now • earning about four times her earlier compensation. I have been advised by my at- rcyney that an infant can bind him- self for what the law calls 'neces- saries' and also may bind himself When a contract is for the infant's Deneflt. Certainly, a management contract such as this and under cir- cumstances such as these was both "^^ssary and beneficial. I engaged Miss Gibson I was oroadcasting for Studebaker, and when I approached the 8p<msor's agency requesting fhem to use' her on the broadcasts, they told me there was no need for a vocalist in addi- tion to Stuart Allen. I finally con- vinced them that she might add to the merit of the program and they then reluctantly agreed to let her go on the show—provided they did not have to pay for her. During all the time that shef was on the Studebaker. iAiow I paid her from my own pocket In addition to that I Went to great trouble and expense in grooming and coaching her for radio, converted her from a hand singer into' a radio performer, and also went to great lengths and . ex- pense in reference to her publicity, wardrobe, photographs and similar things, "The best proof that a good job was done for her is that her present earnings from the Lucky Strike show alone are about four tim6s what she made six months, ago. Also in this short space of. time I procured a guest shot for her .on Hamnwrstein's, -electrical transcrip- tions and phonograph recordings. Richard Hitriber. An Explanation New York, Sept. 24'. Editor, Variety; <. Just for your own information I am attaching hereto copies of the opening 'dnd closing announcements for . 'The Microphone in the Sky' program, same being made from the WOR Studios before and after the. program which is broadcast from the Empire State Tpwer. These announcements are correct and self-explanatory. During .the period that I have been General Manager of the Empire State Ob- servatories, Earl Harper and I have conducted this program, and Pub- licity Associates has had nothing whatever to do with same. When I was appointed to my present po- sition a year and a half ago there was no broadcast on the Tower. About a year ■ ago I made an ar^ rangement with WNEW for the present program which we then called "The Inquiring Microphone,' and which was shortly thereafter re- named 'The Microphone in the Sky.' From the commencement*. the pro- gram has been just as it is now an- nounced by WOR and Empire State, Inc., is under contract with the Bamberger Broadcasting Service to thus continue it. Up to the present moment there has never been a commercial spon- sor for any program broadcast from the Empire State Tower because Empire State, Inc., would never con- sider same. . The organization has now agreed to accept a suitable sponsor if and when one satisfactory to WOR and to this organization is available. In the meantime the broadcast will continue as now over the entire Mutual Broadcasting Sys- tenl as a sustaining program. Because of the article published in this week's Varibtt you may also like to know that WOR is privileged to sell no broadcast from the Em- pire State Tower other than The Microphone in the Sky' program with its present personnel and fea- tures. Publicity Associates has no mana- gerial or publicity connection with the Tower and its Observatories, nor any jurisdiction whatever over the radio program being conducted there. EMPIRE STATE, INC. 'f Julia Chandler. Another Nod to B'way Detroit Sept 25. Editor, Variety: Broadway—and why it is in no danger of vanishing from the New York scene—by Epes W. Sargent, was enjoyed by most of your distant readers, I am sure. That pleasure was derived from the fact that the writer had a very interesting sub- ject to deal with; also because he knows his Broadway. The movies and newsreels give us frequent scenes of New York's bril- liantly lighted streets, which dazzle us with such overpowering flashes of illumination as to be inconceivable in their grandeur in any city outside of New York. All of such scenes I invariably locate as Broadway! Yet they may not be the famous street, at all. But they reflect so well, and so brilliantly, the spirit life and gaiety that those of us who enjoy reading about Broadway associate with a street which has flgured so long, and so prominently, in the show business, that we instinctively give Broadway what we feel is its proper recognition. Harry W. Cole. Benny Dryden Injured Tacoma, Sept 29. Benny Dryden, aerialist who, with his wife, has been performing on the high wire at the Puyallup fair, was critically injured when he fell 40 feet Wednesday afternoon, suffering a fractured skull, broken arm, shock and possible internal injuries. A flower bed in which he thudded partly saved Dryden from instant, death. ROADSIDE CURB EATERIES A BIG BIZ Salt Ji.ake City, Sept 28. Up and down. the^ U. .■Sf.r Appian way, showmanship* is helping to sell hamburgers, hot dogg, pop corn and double-thick malts. Sex appeal, also, is an important attraction. So are p.a, Systems, ef- flcient service, and by all rneans, tempting food. . It has been estimated that there are 50,000 curl^ lunch stands in this country, ranging from small hole-in- the-wall eateries, to- sumptuously fitted units costing in the neighbor- hood of $25,000. It's iqipossible to cite what they gross annually, but in round figures, it amounts to $2,- 000,000. Maybe more. Shrewd curb stand operators, with an eye toward having cash registers jingle a. prosperous tune, have in- stalled public address systems on grounds fringing. eatery, enabling curb gourmands to receive prompter service. After attractive gal curb hoppers takes an order from patrons who drive up, she spiels request into a mike, picked up by chef in kitchen. Soon as order is filled, chef bellows out specific order and gal serves guests from tray suspended on the side of a car door. ' Chain curb stand proprietors also envision importance of personality of young men and women who curb-hop. They're offering courses in salesmanship, psychology and manners. - Cnrb Hopping Curb hopping is strictly an Amer- ican enterprise. It originated dur- ing the 1925 Miami land boom, but since then has gained hundreds of protagonists in practically-every city of the United States.- Like every other McCoy biz, U. S. vintage, it has- its specific lexicon. 'Strip a five,' or 'wreck a buck' being other ways of making change; 'creep' is draught beer and 'choc hi' is malted milk in curb code;- fountain 'coke' is 'shoot one'; bottled 'coke' is 'pop one'; cherry 'coke' is 'paint one'; lime 'coke' is 'paint one with sunshine'; milk is 'Sweet Alice,* while buttermilk is 'curdle one'; hot dogs are 'bun pup's' and hamburgers 'slash a meat ball.' Curb hoppers possessing person- ality earn about $3 a shift plus tips, usually averagng a fin for tiie evening. In some western cities, curb hop- pies alsQ are entertainers while biz is n.s.g. It's not uncommon..to get a three or five act amateur show while waiting for a choc hi and a bun pup. N. 0. Poster War New- Orleans, Sept. 28. Wholesale destruction of posters of the Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey circus was halted by local police Saturday (25) with the arrest at 2 a.m. of a man giving his name as Wiley Moore, 53. He told police he was a union billposter, and that because of a disagreement over labor used in putting up the posters, he had been ordered by his union to tear them down and destroy them, Moore was charged with malicious mischief, but this was later changed to destruction of. property after a conference between police and the district attprney's office when it was learned from circus represent- atives that more than $250 worth of posters had been destroyed. Saddle Sitdown Oklahoma City, Sept 28. Possibilities of a strike of cowboy contestants in the annual rodeo at the State Fair here when it was an- nounced that entrants will not be required by fair officials to belong I tp the Cowboys' Turtle Association. French Expo Likely to Fold Nov. 21, Not Enough Coin Seen for Holdover Wary of Wives Lynchburg, Sept. 28. Newspaper lads learned some- thing new about ethics when J. M. Sheesley's carnival played here last week. Soon a^, the show, hit town, the . scribblers,, asked .Whitey Newell, Sheesley press agent, how the girl shows were. Newell said he didn't know be- cause he had never looked in oh a performance. The boys waxed skeptical, so ilewell. explained: 'It's like this,' he said, 'none of the guys on the lot go tq the girl shows. Some of the fel- lows have their wives working in tho^e .places, an<i we don't like to ina)ce,' *em feel bad.' • IX ON RAILS NEXT SEASON? Canton, O., Sept. 28. Although executives would neither affirm or deny that Tom Mix circus, motorized, ■ will go on rails next season, it is reported. The show, moving on some 40 trucks and trailers, is said to be planning to go out on 20 or more cars when the 1938 season-' is launched next spring. So far as could be learned none of the roll- ing stock has been purchased. The Mix show lost heavily the past season through accidents to trucks moving from one city to another, it was said. 72-H0l)R UCENSE UW NEARLY BALKS FAIR Cobleskill, N. Y., Sept. 28. Officials of the Cobleskill fair en- listed the aid of a Supreme Court justice to make possible the public marriage, on the exposition's final night of a Pennsylvania couple who had been contacted through an- nouncement over WGY. Associa- tion, in several of its plugs via WGY, offered a prize, expenses, etc., to the pair from the most distant point who would agree to be spliced before the crowd, as the grand finale to the show. Donald S. Horwood, 28, of Scranton, Pa., and Sophie M. Ol- deziewski, 21, of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., one of several couples answering the air offer, arrived in Cobleskill the morning of the night the wedding was to be staged. They obtained a license, but the new Todd law. requiring a 72-hour lapse between the iiJsuance of the permit and the performance of the ceremony, stood in their way. David O. Chambers, assistant to Milo R. Kniffen, attorney for the Sta^te Agricultural Department and " a Schoharie County leader, brought the pair before Supreme Court Jus- tice Francis Bergan, of Albany. He signed an order waiving the three- day wait. Two in Trouble Charlotte, N. C. Sept. 28. Frankie Monaghan and Max Mas-" sink, attached to a carnival company currently playing North Carolina fairs, are being held in jail at Raleigh on the order of the coroner. They are charged with responsi- bility for an automobile wreck that resulted in a broken leg and in- juries to two occupants. Circus Routes Week of Oct. 4 Barncs-Sells-Floto Swn Angelo, 'I'cx., 1; Urown wood, R; Wcathei-for<l, •>; Donhaiii, 7; Di-iilon, K; lllll.sboro, 0. Cole-Beatty-Maynard El Onli-o, Cal.^, 1; J'hoonlx, Arl-/.., B; Tucson, 0. RingUng Bros.-Barnum & Bailey ■irou.ston. 'IV.x., i-;>; 1<(>]i union I, fi; I.nkp, ('h:irtp.v, r.ii., 7: J.afiiyciKf, h; New Orleans, 8-10. Paris, Sept 19, No^ that the pros and cons have all had their say concerning the pro- longation of the Exposition for an- other year, it seems pretty definite that it will dose its door's forever on the stroke of midnight Nov. 21, 1937. Majority of opinions from the man in the street to the directors, com- missairs and even cabinet members, is in favor Of reopening in 1938. But it takes more than that, to keep it going. . Biggest and most important ques- tion, of course, is that .of money. Siecond in line is the consent of the 44 natipns participating and lasily the International Committee regulating dates for such shows. Conservative estimates place the expense of 'win- tering* the show and reopening agpin next spring at near $13,500,000. This was stated to be .a conservative es- timate. Funds would have to be yoted by the government and, with the finances of France in their presr ent state, it is not easy to see a bill for such an amount passing. At the same time repprts that the government had already appointed a committee to study {he question have been denied, while ilL Locquin, government delegate at the exposi- tion, has denied that any negotiations to continue the show have been com- menced. On the other hand, attendance fig- ures are expected to hit the hoped for 20.000.000 by the closing date. At the beginning of this week the expo was more than 100 days old and nearly 14,750.000 customers had been admitted. It has -sotpe 70 days yet to nm and oidicBls feel sure that the remaining number needed to total the 20,000.000 will enter, despite the fact that the peak of the tourist sea- son is passed. Peak record day so far was that of Aug. l6, when 363,340 rubberneck- ers paid 10c. to ogle the show. Part of this was no doubt due to the fact that the 16th fell on a Monday, which is a half-price entrance fee day. If the 20,000,000 number is reached, it is estimated that nearly $4,000«000 will have been paid in admissions alone, which says nothing of the amounts spent inside and the much larger amounts 'spent in France by the visitors. WEATHER-PARALYSIS HIT CANADIAN FAIR London, Ont., Sept. 28. The Western Fair, held here each September, went into history this year with an unofficial deficit Of be- tween $12,000 and $15,000. The fair's seventieth annual exhibition saw an attendance decrease of 43,000 from 1936. Last year a substantial op- erating surplus was shown. Officials this year battled against bad weather, coupled with the epi- demic of infantile paralysis, which necessitated children bein^ kept away from the exhibition grounds until the last day. AllentoWt Big Biz Easton, Sept 28. AUentown I|air last week broke all attendance records In its history and closed last night (25) with ca- pacity crowd watching auto races in afternoon and George A. Hamid's review in evening. Concessions reported best business in many years. SLAPS CAENEY GAMES Charlotte, N. C, Sept. 28. The whirl of.wheels and the clink of coins was absent on the Ideal Exposition Show's midway as the result of a police order banning all so-called gambling devices at the carnival here under the sponsorship of the local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans. CommemoTation Rodeo Detroit Sept. 28. A 'world championship' rodco, commemorating Olympia arena's 10th birthday, opens a li-rday stand here Thursday f30). Candy Hammer, rider and roper, is handling show. When the 20,000-seat Olympia was opened in 1927 the initial event was a rodeo.