Variety (Apr 1939)

Vednesdayi April 26, 1939 OUTDOORS VARIETY 47 N. Y. WdiTs Fair Sidelights (Continued from Page 46) bit Magazine Covers <wltb models posed In tableaus); Salvador Dali's Mermaids (bathing beauties In tank fitted out like living room); Tony ^ir*8 Enchanted Forest (glrl-in-flshbowl Idea, with human being appear- w the size of birds and small animals); Victoria Falls (replica of deepest Mis In world in South Rhodesia); and Children's World, a small world's fyii within the exposition. Partial LIcht-np ([tan^rtatlon Zone and a portion of the exposition grounds were lighted Monday (24) ni^t, full test of grounds being delayed because Grover Vhalen was not present Color dominates virtually all lighting displays, niectacular effects giving the illusion that different buildings are sources of IjXtlng instead of targets for spot or floodlights. Circular gadget lights, jecenUy installed on bridge leading from the exhibit area to the trans- portation zone, were tested out Whole effect on the N. Y. Fairgrounds stdistantlates the contention that a big exposition should be. seen only at night to be fully appreciated. One typically uncanny effect is obtained on the Perisphere (giant globe that Is 200 feet In diameter) where some 270 floodlights bath the huge Bpben in deep blue light, producing cloud effects and the movement of light That makes the Perisphere seem to be revolving while the cloud effect is like a large shadowy map. The light, water and fireworks display wiU be given a preview on Fountain Lagoon, opposite the amusement area, later this week. Workingmen have been building. and frlmming large barges from which water and fire diq[ilays will be touched off. Preview Parade Previews of buildings and shows staged inside have become so common In the last 10 days that newspaper scribes, photographers and aewsreel cameramen are spending most of their time going from one open house to another. Goodrich Rubber opened its large building and smallr&cale auto racing track Monday (24) night with a buffet supper and cocktail party, preceding an advance lowing of racetrack stunting. Party was transported to fair site in two chartered schooners that tied up in Flushing bay. • .. •' Other recent previews Included RCA building. Ford building, Cteneral Jlotor^ Chllds Restaurant DuPont and miniature railroad system in Rail- road building. Among dedications or shows slated for this week, are the A T. & T. building, Frank Buck's Jungleland and Railroads on Parade pageant (preview). Barkers OK, But N« ShlUs ■ Bai'kers will be allowed in the Play Zone, according to John Krlmsky, Who has charge of the fair's entertainment Krinisky said this week, how< ever, that he was not so certain about permitting shiOs, indicating they would be taboo. 6E Sideshows Latest official tabulation reveals that 52 shows and rides are contracted for the Midway or Play Zone. Others for which admission la charged are located in the transportation area, main exhibit zone or elsewhere In the grounds. Exposition executives are hopeful that 36 of these will be oper- ating opening day or close to 70%. CosUiest Smallest BIdr. House of Jewels, although the smallest exhibit building, houses the most costly diq>lay. Structure is so small that it is difficult to locate among huge, surrounding structures. Preview Gapers Fair weather and the final Sunday before official opening brought out thousands of motorists to the Flushing Meadows site last Sunds^ (23). Autos stretched five-abreast down Horace Harding boulevard near the amusement zone entrance. One unofficial observer claimed that those trying to get a glimpse of the grounds through wire fences repre- sented ai capacity crowd of nearly 500,000, with only New York City license tags represented by motorist caravan. Werld's Largest Soda Fonniafai World's largest soda fountain, especially designed to handle Juvenile trade, will be among unusual features of Children's World (the fair within a fair). Unfarling the Bunting Monday (24) was the official day for unfurling exposition flags and decorations in the Times Square area. Orange and blue color scheme figured in displays on Broadway, Fifth avenue and side streets. For the Lenshounds Lagoon of Nations, a portion of the vast Court of Nations, forms the most photographically perfect alignment of the exposition, with the peris- phere-trylon Theme Center at the end. Lagoon has been fitted with special lighting and water effects for night displays. Not Sharing Spotlight New York World Fahr officials tutned down a friendly proposi- tion offered by the New York Dally News last week. Sheet informed the Fair execs it was printing a color map of New York In its Sunday roto section indicating the Interesting points of the city. Offered to run off a million or so extra that could be passed out at the Fair. Sheet got a polite turndown. Inference being that the Fair wanted no opposition from other historic or scenic attractions and certainly didn't want them pointed out on its own igrounds. BELBEDDES'GJH. MMAGRMT FREESHOW The Norman Bel Geddes-deslgned General Motors building and Its amazing highways and horizons eX' hibit promises to be the show place of the transportation and exhibit area at the exposition. It has sturdy competition from the Railroad Build- ing, Cioodrich, Ford and others, but for sheer Ingenuity and theatrical staging the G-M outlay looks tops. Besides the usual array of the company's products, including a giant 4,000-hor8epower Diesel locomotive in the lobby entrance, arranged in a typical future city of buildings^ the thlrd-of-a-mlle trip through the largest panorama in the world Inside the General Motors building is ace showmanship. Creation of Geddes Is virtually a realistic trip in an airplane,-over a typical U. S. countiyside of 1960, Electric Research Products (West- em Electric) has installed a 20-ton sound system which enables' each set of two seats in which visitors ride, to listen to a description of the view below. This is done by syn- chronizing Innumerable sound tracks, picked up by as many projectors and distributed among the series of two- seat cars. Each two chairs has a dual sound set over which .the des(^p- tion Is heard. Trip takes 17 min- utes. niere are two chairs to each car, and 150 cars.- Previous to tailing this ride, visitors are taken through a vast auditorium ^th the largest map in the world, 110 feet by 60 in size, outlined by three separate lighting systems. Special - announcer shows how future highway system will have to be constructed. Chariotte Jury Frees Fonner Circus Aide h Death of His Mate Charlotte, N. C, April 25. Robert Newell, until last fall traffic superintendent of Bamett Bros, cir- cus, was acquitted in circuit court Friday (21) of the charge of slaying his wife, Winnie, 32, on the circus lot here the night of Jan. 29 last Mrs. Newell was found dead in her trailer on-the circus' winter grounds, apparently the victim of a head in- jury caused by a fall. Bay W. Rogers, general manager of the circus, had testified that New- «1 left the show last September but came to the winter quarters thie day Of Mrs. NeweU's death. Rogers said u>e and Newell quarreled, after ^ch the latter went to his wife's traUer. LatO'. Rogers said, he heard a commSton and « dull thud, then ^ed poUce. NeweU denied that be had quarreled with hb wife or tad struck her, Mrs. ewell, who had appeared in a Bamett Bros, elephant turn, then >n a balancing act had not been a performer of late. NeweU admitted on cross-examina- Bon that his wife began action last I Mil for a divorce, allegtaig mental ' ^Ity. He Insisted, however, that ne came to York, the circus' winter juarters, from Florida to take her , Oack to Oiat state with him. RINGLING CIRCUS BIZ PERKS AT N. Y. GARDEN Business for the Ringlings, Bar- nuiin & Bailey Circus at Madison Square Garden, which started mild- ly, has picked up considerably. Lat- ter part of last week saw strong at- tendance, but imder capacity, and indications are for a profitable finale week, which ' conclude Saturday night (29). It's conceded that at- tendance is under that of last sea- son, along with general amusements, but claimed to be better than three years ago, when there was a decided drop. Big top goes to Boston next week and be^ns under canvas on a lot next to Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City. Spot is not far from the World's Fair, which will then be in its second week. Out- doors scale will be $1.75 top, except boxes, which will be used for the first time by the Ringling outfit seats there being $2.50. Unreserved tickets are priced at $1 and all the rates will include tax. At the Garden the $3£0 and $3 tickets call for an ad- ditional admissions tax. Rosello, the high trap specialist who fell on the second night and sustained fractures of both wrists and one foot is out of the show for a longer period than expected. Aerialist was one of the show's top features. Analysis of the Midway Shows That Phase of N. Y. Fair Furthest Behind -4- HANDLING THE PRESS Bureau ' Opened Yesterday—Season Passes Host Be Visaed Press Pass Bureau, through which all newspaper ducats will pass or be supervised, was opened yesterday (Tuesday) in the Administration BuUdhig at the N. Y. World's Fair. Working scribes assigned to cover the Fair Will be okayed for tickets here, when supplied with proper credentials. The bureau also will handle one-day and weekly pgsses for newspapermen only, it being lo- cated in the Administration Build- ing Just outside the Fair site when the exposition opens. Those who have been assigned sea- son passes must ha'^e their pho- tographic likenesses validated at the Working Press building, which is being officially opened this week. It is in the rear of the Administration Building, but inside the grounds; SMITH RESIGNS AS FRISCO MOWAY BOSS San Francisco, April 25. Mel Smith resigned last week as concession director of the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposi- tion, a post which he had held for Ave weeks. Smith said he resigned because he was "boss badgered.' In a statement to newsmen Smith clarified the charge by stating there's loo much red tape and too many de- partment heads interfering at the Fair. As to whether Smith resigned or was fired there .: ^ems to be some confusion. Harris D. Connick, expo manager, said that it was a question of 're-shufilihg.' Connick is said to be trying to get together with Major Art McCrystal in ah effort to get the latter to ^e over the Gayway Job. Emlle Bondeson, manager of the California Auditorium, where -Folies Bergere' is packing them in, will move the Clifford C. Fischer show to Hollywood when J. J. Shubert's 'Ziegfeld FoUles of 1039' takes over the auditorium next month. Sbubert is supposed to have a 10-week con- tract with a clause enabling him to cancel before then if hot satisfied with biz. Aerlatlst Hurt In Si L. St Louis, April 25. Nina Otaris, of the Seven Flying Otaris, trapeze troupe, escaped seri- ous injury last week while doing a double-over spin at the police cir- cus in the Arena. She lost her grip on her partner's wrist and fell to the net then bounding to the ground. She was treated for contusions of the back and lacerations of the left ear, but returned to her stint the following night lA-IBEW HGHT BmiRATFAlR -Jurisdictional fight between stage- hands of the lATSE and Local No. 3 of the constr uction electricians or- ganization (IBEW) for the slotting of members in theatrical and other staged attractions at the New York World's 'Fair promises to develop into a bitter struggle. That was the Indlcatloh this week, and events dur- ing the last 10 days indicate that both sides are extremely obstinate. Crvx of situation is that Local 3 officials contend that they should be left in key spots as long as they are building at the fair. Counter con- tention of stagehands is that they should go in as soon as a building is completed and admission is charged. More liberal interpretation is that they should be in charge even if no admission is collected—Just so that it is a theafrlcal venture of one sort or another. Group of- newsreel cameramen, belonging to the International Pho- tographers Local, an lATSE outfit inspecting the interior of the Peri- phere last week preliminary to tak- ing shots of the diorama show, found the complete interior llghtlnc system •pulled' as soon as -they climbed up to the peak platform.' Result was complete darkness,, although news- reel representatives claim that the lights were on full force before tiiey entered the structure. There have been several other In- stances where activities of rival imions were suspected when wiring has been found torn out and'other damage infiicted. A jurisdictional squabble betwefen unions probably knocked out at least one show at the World's Fair last week. It was to have had a trial performance which was not given. Had the show clicked it would have been regularly scheduled for the duration of the Fair. Show was 'Highways to New Horizons,' which was to have been shown to (General Motors executives in the GM exhibit building. There were 25 players in the play- let including several legit players, but Equity was not concerned in the mix-up. Allegedly responsible were an electrical workers local and two stagehands locals. Latter's New York union claimed the right to haul the production and unload it but the Brooklyn end is said to have con- tested that right The situation was only partly cleared when only two union groups were at odds the third having dropped out Motors people offered to pay both locals, if one would oper- ate the show, but that was rejected. The actors were paid off however, auto people deciding they were in- nocent victims, also not caring to risk unfavorable press reports. All players were hired at a flat rate jot, $40 for the single preview, contracts stipulating that there was to be no liability if the show was- not given. 'Highways' was written and re- hearsed by Lem Ward. . By JOE 8CHOENFELD In the amusement sector (midway) lies the biggest problem of the Nrw York World's Fair, for the Flay Zone still looks like a quagmire of un- paved road and unfinished buildings. Any heavy rainfall two or three days prior to the Sunday opening will murder what llttie chance there is of giving the customers any solid ground to walk upon. Practically all the roads and paths are paved in the-Fair's main section, which only serves to point up the stepchild status the midway assumed up until a couple of months ago. That the midway always figured last is rather frankly admitted on the Fair grounds. -After all, it's pointed out the Fair could only hope to get the bulk of its money back from the industrial and foreign exhibits—the amusement concessions, in. compari- son, representing nickle-and-dime re- turns. However, the Play Zone will be fully complete by the time the visiting flremen really begin to roll into New York—after June 1. Six top shows in the amusement sector, N.T.G.'s two shows. Sun Val- ley, Billy Rose's Aquacade, (Alldren's World and the Savoy ballroom, will be ready for the starting gun, but such expensive layouts as (leorge Jessel's 'Old New York,' Merrle England, Lama Temple, Amazons in .No-Man's Land, Cuban Village, Mor- ris Gest's Miracle Town and (Crystal Palace (nudes) are In doubt. Jessel's diow and' the Amazon layout defi- nitely will not be ready. Cuban Vil- lage and Merrle En^nd will be at least, partially complete by April 30. Latter,has a band led by Vlng Mer- lin set ' Cavalcade of Centaurs (rodeo) may not be ready till late May. Three s.a. layouts, Salvador Dali's Mermaids, Jack Sheridan's Living Magazine Covers and Norman Bel Geddes' Mirrors, are most incomplete. The Dall and Bel (jeddes construc- tion Is lagging, while Sheridan's show apparently hasn't even started building as yet Geddes show never planned to be ready till May IS. The midway, however, will present a complete picture so far. as rides and concessions are concerned. .All of the mechanical amusement devices ap- pear ready, or very close to comple- tion. Including the 2S0-foot para- chute Jump. Hot-dog stands liberally dot the area. CUld's has that "concession; some 80 ^ts. Snq Valley the Most Novel One thing that's quickly ^parent in the N. Y. Fair's midway sector is that it holds practically nothing startingly new. Practically every ride and village, with the exception of Sun Valley, has been done before at other expositions. Sun Valley, with its ski-jumping and ice-skating rink, may well be one of the mid- way's top draws because of this. It remains to be seen, however, what the nude shows will present NTG's layout will have two enter- tainments. One will be a Cavalcade of the Theatre, In a tent at 25c ad- mish, whUe the second is a cuticle display at 40c. the Congress of the World's Beauties. TiUe of tlie latter originally was the Aztec Sun Wor- shippers, but the World's Fair Com- mission deemed this too suggestive. Crystal Palace, which will feature a dove-dance by Roslta Royce, will be another s.a. exhibit Rose's Aqua- cade will hold 100 odd girls, but no nudes. His admlsh is 40c for around 8,000 seats, with the remaining 2,000 choice locations going at $1. Aqua- cade will grind four shows a day and, housed in' the New York State Building, has the choicest location at the entrance to the midway from the main extiibition area. Details on the Aquacade-American Federation of Actors diq)ute are in another story. Savoy Theafre, which will feature Chick Webb's orch and . Ella Fitz- gerald opening day, will hold only a 20-mlnute display of Harlemania at 25c admlsh. Following the opening, Teddy Hill's orch will play the show. There'll be no customer-dancing merely a display of north-of-125th street terping, such as truckin', Suzl-Q, peekin', etc. Moe Gale is the operator. Morris (jest's Miracle Town (midg- ets) will probably be complete for the opening day. mSPIS. PASS BEOFENS Indianapolis, April 25. Riverside AmuE. Park, which after 36 years has a virtual monopoly on town's outdoor amusement coin, re- opens April 29. S. F. Fair Revue Planned Los Angeles, April 25. Harry Carroll and Dave Bennett are lining up a vaude revue here for the San Francisco Fair. Show is slated to open May 20.