Variety (Jul 1939)

Wednesday, July 26,. 1939 OUTDOORS VARIETY 55 CoinMeans Midway Break (Continued from pag^ 1) Fnir itself is turning a profit. Dis- missal of hundreds from the sUflf, admittedly to operate ^yith^n the budKet. clearly indicates the reverse. Wall Street, busy with heavy se- curity turnovers last week, hardly gave the Fair's bond payments a tumble. Brokerages said there was 'something' in back of the move, yesterday (Tuesday) the bonds were quoted at 53.6, a new low for over- the counter securities. Prior to the Fair's opening there were bids for the bonds as low as 50. After open- ing the highest price quoted was around 82, Fair .bonds steadily drop- ping since then. They are redeem- able in 1941. the bargain tickets strongly hy- poed the attendance, particularly on Saturday 122).. Sunday ran behind, but still registered big flgures.. • The exhibitors are. demanding anew a flat SOc admission, the same rate that the midway bunch has been pleading for, with a 25c admish after 9 pm. Paid count for the two bargain days was put at 483.516, mostly pur- chasers of the experimental %l com- bination ticket, which had a value of $2 25. based on the regular rates. The special $1 ticket included general ad- mission, entrance to five midway shows or concessions and stubs good for 25c worth of food. The bargain combo attracted many visitors who had not previously entered the amusement loop. Concessionaires contended the stunt proved what could be expected if rates were revised downward. Each stub on the combo ticket re- turned only 5c to the concessions named, but the operators seemed well pleased with the plan, which brought crowds and overcame the handirap of location and the opposi- tion of the exhibit area. Conces- sions not Included on the bargain ticket cut their admissions to 15 and 25c on both days. Some have had a top of 40c, but figured it better to have their spots populated than op- erate to slim crowds. Such conces- sions did well, drawing from the overflow or attracting thqse who did not care to jam r into the packied cheap ticket spots. Jesscl's Big Jam Probably benefiting, the most on the combo was Little Old New York, which claimed 68,779 admissions on Saturday and 66,387 on Sunday, said to be a record of some kind at the Fair. Reported that the shops and shows inside the George Jessel 'vil- lage' did better business than at any time since opening, indicating that if crowds can be attracted, they will spend. Regular admission to old N. Y. is 25c. The Children's World lias taken down its hair and is now called Car- nival-land. Some concessions there cut some time ago and others are following suit. A roller rink is un- der consideration as is a dance hall to accommodate 500 couples. Rides in the loop, which were virtually deserted, at least did lively business from the combination ticket hold- erg and lines formed at such con- cessions. They may not have op- erated to a profit at 5c per, but it was known that the rides were scaled too high originally and such concessionaires have a logical excuse to chop now. Easing on Girl Shows Fewer restrictions on girl shows and a more liberal attitude towards censorship was a development over the weekend. Previously a committ tee of concessionaires, H. M. Lam- •ners, chairman of the amusement control board, and Grover Whalen *8reed to a more active contact be- tween the concessionaires and the Fair Corp. management, added transportation to the midway; and jinmediate consideration of matters that have annoyed concession opera- tors. One of these is understood to have been need for a more sensible attitude on midway censorship. ... One effect of the squabble over nudity or so-called slight undraping "1 some shows has been that the Objectionable, blatant ballys at sev- eral shows have been toned down. What uncovering that has been done IS not being shouted to the rooftops outside, but is left strictly up to the Visitors to find out or take a chance on what they will see inside. Its "etter also to the extent that it does "ot extend extravagant promises, and wipes out that feeling of being gypped as some have charged. Y'th some 13 or more undraped S'rl shows operating, some leeway was to be expected. Either that or Anti-Nazi Game ICO.d a quick fold for some of the places loomed. In the meantime, a new cabaret with Nils T. Granlund at the helm opened last week. It is not far from the Congress of Beauty show where N. T. G. has his outfit. This revue again threatens to undergo changes. A realignment of some sort is in the ofTing, with business off so badly that matinees were aban- doned temporarily. Midway is surfeited with nudie shows but it is not unusual for a fair to be . overly supplied with any one type of attraction. Second year of Chicago's fair witnessed an array of 14 'villages,' nearly every one boasting some type of girl show. Conce.ssionaires argue that they come to New York to be shocked, and if they aren't, they are falling down on the job and they are disappointed. Rule on covering up for the girl performers lasted about three weeks. New entries were Greenwich Vil- lage Life Classes; Naughty Nana, peephole dancer; and Cutest Nudist, all in George Jeissel's Old New York, all grinding «( 10c arid showing signs of catching on. Also the larger girl dancing show is back after a try with old flickers. 'Extazie' (former- ly the Amazons), is taking ort im- proved form with realignment of routinies, new Salome dancers and a bubble danseuse. Crystal Palace- has cut down the. running time of its revue, stressing Rosita Royce. Cuban Village also has realigned its rhumba and native .dancers so that a full show is put on without those 20-30 minute waits. The origi- nal version has not been changed much and is attracting crowds. N. Vancouver, B. C, July 25. Provincial police stepped in and stopped an anti-Nazi game at an outdoor show staged here under the auspices of Loyalist Spain sympathizers. A mustached dummy wearing a swastika and bearing a sign 'der dictapator' was erected with a sign nearby: 'Knock the storm trooper coid. Three balls lOc' Protests made by the German consul started action. Frisco Fair s 5-Week Figures Show OK Biz; Kyser Strong; Cite Grosses ASCAP Politics (Continued from page 31) General Murphy and causing him to inquire why some action has not been taken. 5. After refusing to renew the at- tack. Assistant Attorney General Thurman Arnold (head of the anti- trust division) has directed subordi- nates to hypo the antique 1935 suit. Staff is very industrious at the mo- ment, anticipating a move to restore the bill of complaint to the - N. Y. calendar as soon as the justices come back from vacation. Wheeler Bill The Wheeler till—specifying that networks must assume responsibility for infringements on chain broadcasts (the old NAB-backed clearance-at- the-source idea), but without placing any limit on liability—was a major surprise <to radio watchers. Not be- cause it reflected the Montana solon's views, but in view of his recent de- si re ^ to be educated in regard to the whole subject and indications he would make no move until next year. At a recent hushed-up dinner parley with various radio people. Wheeler announced he thinks the chains should be responsible for copyright clearance, but ga\^ other diners rea- son to think he vKitited to go deeper before endorsing any cure for the perennial headache. In view of the web people, Wheelers bill would be acceptable with ^ addition. It should fix a maximQm on their possible liability —such as the $2,000 clause embodied in the 'compromise bill' being drafted under State I>epaptment auspices— or stipulate that any network broad- cast is a single performance. The present law is phrased so that each station carrying any web program can be forced to pay the $250 mini- mum award. There is nothing 1o block ASCAP from coOecling from every outlet which, without knowl- edge as to the copyright situation, transgresses. What the network people here claim they want in any such bill i."; a clause declaring that no matter how many .stations air a particular number at the same moment there is only one 'performance'. If the law places a roof on their potential dam- ages Webbers .lay they would be sat- isfied. Ev<.n if subject io a bill of such proportions as $2,000 per number. Although the NAB is trying to speed action on Capitol Hill, there is no chance of any action before next year. Probably late next .spring at the soonest. No member of either branch has been willing to present the 'compiomi.«e bill,' even though several agree with the broadca.sters and other music users that some Shades of P. T. Barnnm: Coast Ham 'n' Eggers Hook Up With a Circus Los Angeles, July 25. Falima, the Hindu elephant, lifted her trunk to the California sky and snorted, ladylike but disdainful. Abkar, the Abyssinian gorilla, beat his chest and let out a sound that carried all the musical nuances of a Bronx cheer. Nero, the Numidian lion, and Beatrix, the Bengal tigress, snarled in the same key. In their various modes of expression they were uttering a protest against Ham 'n'. Eggs. Harn 'n' Eggs, a political persua- sion peculiar to the State of Cali- fornia, is camping on the tanbark trail and threatening to take over the remnants of the Hagenbeck-Wal- lace and Al G.'Barnes circus outfits, which have fallen upon evil days. The tent shows are in hock and the Ham 'n' Eggers, technically known as the $30-a-Week-Retirement-Life- Payments-Association, are offering their assistance to foil the sheriff's bloodhounds. Big idea is to combine the men- agerie,, acrobats, clowns, bareback riders and Ham 'n' Eggers -into a three-ring show un(ler • one -big top, with everybody drawing 30 bucks every week from the California State treasury. The circus people have the big top and the Ham 'n' Eggers have the big idea. Everything grows big in Califor- nia, including taxes. limit is desirable. . Senator Homer 'T. Bone of Washington, chairman of the Senate Copyright committee, has had the bill in h|s briefcase, for instance, for the past month, but will not as- sume re.sponsibiUty for the mental trouble that is bound to iipset any- body who tries to chaperone it through Congress. Bone was urged last week by radio wire-pullers to get to work and expedite action. The Wheeler bill, while it em- braces the theory urged by NAB for several years, still does not have in- dustry blessing. It's regarded chiefiy as the handiwork of Ed Craney, owner of KGIR, Butte, and a pal of the senator's, and of Phil Loucks, former head of the trade body. (John Gillin is also in town.) The prin- cipal intere.tt of the wirepullers is a comprehensive overhauling of the statute, not a piecemeal perform- ance. Slumbering suit against the copy- right pool will be revived in October with the aid of NAB and prosecuted vigorously under the new trust- busting policy of the Roosevelt Ad- ministration. Prof. Arnold ~has been lukewarm' i feeling before that the amount of money involved and the extent of public interest in copy- right is altogether too limited to jus- tify a big expenditure of money and effort) but now has' felt the prod from Congress, particularly Justice Black's outspoken dissent in the Florida case. 'Black declared Federal power should be invoked especially since the copyright act is intended only to protect the creators again.st misuse of Iheir brain-children..) Several senators, and even more congressmen, have been hearing from their broadcaster-constituents about the amount of money they mu.>-l fork over to Tin Pan Alley. An unorganized lobby is in opera- tion. The vole-conscious lawmakers are besinning to feel that they can make political capital out of slam- ming the 'c\\y slickers.' From the states which have enacted or are considering local copyright laws, the pressure is Iremciidou.s. (Re.sponsi- bility for lhe.se local campaigns is di.sowned by the NAB.) Expo Attraction EXTASIE (25c) Using the .same stage and layout as the Amazons, which it replaces, this new show promises to catch on because of its sock dancing. Present unit has gone through several revi- sions since rearranged as 'Extasie.' Still remains the Salome dancing girl story told by means of a sound track, with performers merely moving their, lips. Performance is a shocker for the visiting firemen. Dcnise is Salome, who discards the seven veils. Dance itself is not so suggestive, but there are plenty of 'playful didos leading up to .it that are torrid. She's a looker and trim dancer. Tatara and Tahita.are the relief terpers appearing as Salome. Car- men is a graceful balloon dancer who entertains between main perform- ances. There are three statuesque Roman gUdiators (also femmes), a slave girl and a plump Nero who. plays stooge .to the dancing Salome. Wear. N. Y. STATE WILL BEKNEE-DEEP IN FAIRS Syracuse, N. Y;. July 25. Central New Yo»k, birthplace of the county fair as it has been trans- planted to every section of the coun try, is preparing for a. banner ex- position year.. Disregarding the fact that most fair-minded residents of the area are expected to see the N. Y. World's Fair during the suim mer, directors of more than 20 coun try fairs are going ahead with plans based on expected record attendance So many of the county expos are celebrating centennials that that fact has lost almost all news value In these parts. The 'Tompkins County Fair, Aug. 15-19, is marking its centennial The Cortland County Fair is settling down to its second hundred years and many others are pushing the century mark. In the latter classification is the New York Stale fair in Syracuse which is already making plans for its centennial in 1940. Legiiers ' Films (Continued from page'3) IndiaDola Pavilion, Columbu.s. once the outstanding ballroom in the city, has been converted into a .skating I rihk by 1 Bill Kirkpalrick who also I operates Ihe Crystal Beach Ball- ; room, V.crmillion-on-lhe-Lake, 0. month for interest and other financ- ing charjges as well as first call to the picture's backers to recoup the loan from initial distribution pro- ceeds. Labor Hlgber Regarding cost of union labor, thj.'! ha.'! been' found to be higher east than in Hollywood. Rates for cameramen set by Local 644. N. Y., call for a scale of $250 per 48-hour week, or $62.50 per day for first cameramen. On the Coast, .scale is $272.25 the first week; $217.82 per week on a four-week guarantee, and $163.35 per week on a six-month guarantee. First cameramen in the east get the full $250 each and every week they work. It is true that they have less work, but the scale mu.st be paid regardless. Coast second cameramen get $136.15 per 48-hour week, or $27.50 per day, as auainst $54.45 for first cameramen. On a Xour-wcek basi.s, rates drop to $109,90 per week. In the east, second cameramen get $50 per day or $250 per week, the same as first cameriamen. In practice, when producers come east to make pictures, they are required to take on an eastern first cameraman, who usually becomes the second len.ser, as a No. 1 camera technician Ls usually brought along by the pro- ducer from Hollywood. General practice of financing done by Erpi or as.sociates is not to ad- vance actual ca.sh toward produc- tion but to advance credits if pic- tures are made at its eastern or western Studios. In this way, it is figured, Ka.stem Service and Gen- eral Service studios can be kept running at a maximum to cut down studio overhead. San Francisco, July 25. Gross income of the (iolden Gate International Exposition during the first five weeks of Charles H. Strubs regime as managing director of the fair has been twice that of any other five-week period in the history of the expo, it was revealed before Strub departed for a three weeks' trip east last Thursday (20). In the 25-day period starting with the summer opening, which official- ly started the Strub operation of the expo, paid admissions totaled 1.234.- 618, or a. daily average of 49,385, more than 15,000 a day in 'excess of the period from opening day, Feb. 18, to the summer opening,; June 24. The Fair has been clearing twice as much, above operating expenses, as it-did earlier, and that "the-.daily average profit during the past five weeks is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $5,000, The Treasure. Island Music Hall, hitherto white elephant, was opened last week by Kay Kyser, whose first week drew over 60,000,. pr -around $26,000 to the expo. 'Cavalcade of the Golden West' cojitinues to be the top attraction, both in the exposition-sponsored group and in the general concessions class:" The pageant drew $67,129 from July 1 to July 18, inclusive. For the same period, 'Folies Bergere* grossed $66,364; Palace of Fip-> Art.s, $17,537; automobile park.. , "Ml; Chinese Village, $27,369; Sal'..- Rand Nude Ranch, $20,685; Ripley's Oddi- torium, $18,805; Incubator Bahie.s, $14,443, and Midget Village, $11,450. ■ Expo management, since supply- ing these figures, has clamped down on gross releases of shows. No state- ment would be made'as to. why gate receipts will no longer be secured from the revenue control office. Travel here is up 26% over last year at this time. President Leland Cutler is still hopeful that he will get some favor- able action in Washington on the $606,650 additional money whict: the; expo is seeking from the U. S. ■ The spot formerly occupied by 'Secrets of -Monte Carlo' is to be taken over by Chuck Bedell who will .move his girl show from the Can- did . Camera exhibit to this Monte Carlo .spot. Greenwich Village, which has had a hectic career, what with police raiids, financial .diff-icul- ties, squabbles with expo execs, was closed again last week. A new con- tract Is being offered to sub-conces- sionaires there in.an effort to keep the place operating on a standard acceptable to the public. Elm^r Bose has sivceeded Tex Cameron, operator ,of the Happy Valley Ranch and other eateries al the expo, as prexy of the Conces- . sionaires Association. Members ol the board of directors of the pesocia- tion now are Bose, president; Charles G. Davis, F. M. McFalls, Mrs. Cliff Wilson, v.p.'s, and J. D. Lane, treas- urer. Russell, who no longer is con- nected as manager of the Scottish Village, is expected to be replaced as a member of the board. Ringling- Show's Payday Crap Game Starts Plenty Detroit, July 25. Two persons were seriously in- jured, seven men arrested and five persons were tossed off moving train last week as Ringling Bros.-Barnum St Bailey circus was traveling from a three-day stand here to Jackson, Mich. Battle followed- an after-pay- day crap game, in which one of cir- cus' roustabouts insulted a gal per-. former. Police at suburban Dearborn halt- ed train after reports several per- sons had been thrown off cars. Two of the persons, both Negroes, were taken to a hospital.' After making a prelim investigation police permitted trairi to move on in order to fill en- gagements at Jackson, but held seven-men. Fight apparently started when .a Negro, roustabout insulted a white performer' during the dice game. Performers pitted themselves against the roustabouts, throwing some off the train. Arrested men were re- leased next day after charges were dropped. I Sammy Kaye orchestra cancelled , the week of Aug. 11 at the Lyric the- ' aire,,Indianapolis, because of forced. : labor .strike shutdown. Onc-nighters . will fill the week. i