Variety (Dec 1939)

« VARIETY VAUDE—NIGHT CLUBS Wednesday, December 13, I939 Del Asking Questions on Why There's No Vaude In the Town Detroit, Dec. 12. Ot late Detroiters have started ■wi itiag into tlie newspaper letterbox editors asking why there is no vaude- ville in town. More than a year ago the Michigan and Fox theatres switched over to double bi!h, leaving this town's stages darlc. Nobody said anything then. Re- cently there has been a healthy stir In Detroit's newspaper columns about what has happened to keep vaude- ville shows out of town.. One news- paper even wrote an editorial an- swer when the controversy began, explaining that houses found it more profitable to run two pics and blamed the lack of stage variety in town on the lack of public support. But news- papers keep running the questions, explanations and growing murmur as good, controversial material. Although none of the former major vaudfllm houses have made any stir to change the present status, the Colonial, second-run house started to move in on this ripe interest. Ray Schreiber, head of, the Mid-West Theatres, Inc., which operates the Colonial, announcing .that the public was vaudeville hungry, booked a show as an experiment. It held Rita Rio's femme orch, Toby Wing, Faith Bacon, Maud Hilton and Dell, and Sylvia and Clemence. Schreiber has also lined up for the Immediate future Fats Waller's orch, Frankie Darro and Ina Ray Hutton's orch. Curfew Hits Waukesha Co. (Wise.) Nileries Milwaukee, Dec. 12. Night life got a terrific jolt this week when the Waukcsl>a county board clamped on a curfew lid that's going to spoil a lot of fun. When Milwaukee a few years ago decreed that music must stop in public places at 1 a.m. weekdays and 2 a.m. Sun- days, Sam Pick with his Club Madrid pioneered a movement that resulted in scores of late spots being opened up just across the line, where the sky was the limit on anything anyone wanted to go for. The Waukesha territory includes a widespread-lake resort region, where hundreds of Milwaukeans havie sum- mer homes, and they gave the sub- urban niteries a great play. When the lights went out in the city they went on in the roadhouses. Now comes the new law not only halting all music after 1 a.m., but also slapping on extra license fees for- all places having music of any kind, even taverns with phono- graphs. SENATOR, PITT. WILL AGAIN TRY YAUDFILM Whoopee in the Automat New Year's Eve Ahnost Happened—For Charity Plan for a very socialite New Year's eve party in the Automat on Broadway at 4Gth street was turned down last week by Horn & Hardart executives. Scheme was put to them by Bill Sykes, perhaps New York's only press agent whosje name ap- pears in the Social Register. He wanted to promote the shindig and was guaranteed attendance by a.host ot his blue book cronies. Sykes* idea, as presented to the nickel-in-the-slot proprietors, was to run the whole affair for charity. There would be an admish charge of $.5 per person. In addition, because ot the charity angle and because al- most all restaurants boost pjices on the big night. Sykes planned to sell food only for slugs instead of nickels, the slugs to be purchased at the rate ot four for a quarter. H & H was pretty much sold on publicity value to their restaurant chain ot such an event, but feared It 'undignified.' It also objected to the necessity for obtaining a liquor license, this being against standing policy. PitUburgh, Dec. 12. Senator theatre, one of Harris company's two downtown houses, is set to tee-o(T with^ vaudfilm policy Xmas week. It will mark first time in several years that Stanley, WB deluxer, will have stage competish, although two houses are hardly rated as opposition, former being a 4,000-seatcr, while Senator can ac- commodate only 1,750. Spot, the old Aldine which Harris took over year ago last month, orig- inally played vaude, but, after a disastrous opening, dropped shows except for couple of scattered weeks. Of late, shuttling between singles, duals and holdovers from sister Alvin, house has been doing only fair, losing weeks overbalancing the winning ones. Senator plans to use units exclu- sively with slufT pix. Deals with unions are now being worked out, return to stage shows being con- tingent on satisfactory concessions, with Jerry Mayhall slated to go in as house orch maestro when and if. Ga. Spot Reopens Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 12. Capitol, dark since June, reopened Sunday (10) with a vaudfilm policy. First unit to play house is 'Water Follies,' with cast of 35. Dari Fitche's 'Pleasures of Paris' is also set for early showing. Shows are being booked by T. D. Kemp, Jr., of Charlotte, N. C. TheJHEATRE of the STARS BOOKING AGENCY GENERAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES LOEW BLDG. ANNEX 160 WEST 46^" ST. NEW YORK 9'7S0O J . H . L U B I N GENERAL MANAGER SIDNEY H. PIERMONT BOOKING MANAGER HOLTZ DID IT Lupidus llecomes'IIyman Leonard- Can't Take It Detroit, Dec. 12. Hcrninn ' Lapidus does not think Lou Uollz is funny. In fact, Mr. Lapidus went into court here to es- cape front Iloltz's humor. 'I tell people my name and they laugh right in my face,' Lapidus said. 'I want my name changed to Hyman Leonard.' 'Why let it bother you?'. Judge Joseph Murphy said. 'I got a friend named Charlie McCai'thy.' 'I'll bet he gets called a dummy plenty,' Lapidus said. 'Why not cash in on your name?' the judge suggested. 'Advertise as 'The One and Only Lapidus'.' 'Why should I be a joke?' Lapidus countered. Lapidus is now Leonard. Jersey Towns Paving Way for Escape From Philly New Year's Eye Philadelphia, Dec. 12. Three South Jersey towns, through their officials, Saturday (9) invited Philly. celebrants to ring in the New Year in the traditional style that'll be taboo in the Quaker City due to New Year's Eve falling on Sunday. The municipalities,. Camden, Glou- cester and Clayton, passed special ordinances allowing the sale ot li- quor all night Sunday and Monday so that whoopee shall reign unre- strained New Year's Eve and day. Since these towns are all within a short drive from Philly, it is ex- pected that the 75 niteries and tap- rooms in the three places will do record business. Meanwhile there was a growing sentiment among Philly night spot ops to get together and defy the law in order to cash in on the one big night in the year. Operators of big clubs and hotels are loath to lake this chance of running afoul the law because of their huge investments, but smaller clubs that have been losing money feel they've got nothing to lose. A big New Year's would put them in velvet, they claim, and it they're forced to shutter on that night they may as well fold up. anyway. Some clubs have already been contracted for by by private organ- izations, who are allowed to hold Sunday affairs under the law. These groups are selling tickets to out- siders. Liquor will be bought in advance and ticket-holders will be allowed a certain number of drinks. Liquor Board officials, acting under orders of Governor James, reiterated their intention of enforc- ing the law, which forbids the sale of intoxicants from midnight Satur- day until 7 A.M. Monday morning. DANCER KILLED IN ALA. AUTO CRASH Montgomery, Ala., Dec. 12. Mrs. B. C. Hightower, femme half of -the dance team ot London and Eloyce, died here today (Tuesday) as result ot injuries sustained Sun- day night (10) in an auto accident six miles south ot here. Her husband and dance partner was not seriously hurt-in the-crash. — — Couple were reportedly en route to West Palm Beach, Florida. Annual Benefit Skeded By NVA in N. Y. Feb. 4 NVA has scheduled its annual benefit show for Feb. 4, again at the Alvin, New York. George M. Cohan is chairman f the entertainment committee, with Olsen and Johnson, current in 'Hell- zapoppin' at the Winter Garden, set to stage the show. Leide Picked to Head Atlanta Conservatory Atlanta, Dec. 12. Enrico Leide, notable figure in At- lanta musical circles for past 20 years, last week was named director of the Conservatory of Music at Brenau College, Gainesville, Ga., suc- ceeding late Prof. E. B, Michaelis. Leide, between engagements as maestro ot Lucas & Jenkins' local Capitol theatre's standby band, has been teaching foreign languages at Oglethorpe University here. He has headed several important orchestras in Atlanta. • 15 YEARS AGO^ (From VABiEiy.) Along Broadway there was differ- ence ot opinion as to wisdom ot cut- rates for legit, but fact remains there were 33 shows at the bargain prices. Senator C. C. Dill, ot Washington, was pushing the Dill bill, which granted to broadcasters the free use of copyright music. Dame Sybil Thorndike, the British player, leased the Regent, London, and was to revive Shaw's "St. Joan.' Pearl While was set to star in n French revue, in Barcelona, follow- ing the sh6w's wind-up at the Cigale, Paris. Increasing number ot benefits were believed to be hurting vaude houses in the U. S. The Shuberts signed Willie How- ard to start in a new musical on Broadway. Brother Eugene was also to be in the show. A number ot managers had been dickering for their services. Irene Dunne, the prima who fol- lowed Peggy Wood in 'The Clinging Vine,' was featured in a vaude tab operetta, 'Lady, ot the Orchids.' It was her debut in variety. With Harold Lloyd pulling away from Pathe, Harry Langdon was to replace the goggle-eyed comedian. Langdon was from the Mack Scnnett two-reel comedies. The strength bt Benny Leonard's eastern vaude debut was Herman Timberg, latter supplying the com- edy highlights in their headline' act at the N. Y. Hipp. Seven members of the Minsky Bros., burley troupe at the Apollo, N. Y., were arrested for an 'indecent' performance. F.&M. ST. L. VAUDE STYMIED BY UNIONS Scheduled vaudfilm policy at Fan- chon & Marco's St. Louis theatre, St. Louis, has been called off because of stagehand and musiciaii union difTi- culties. House was due to start Jan. 5 with A. B. Marcus' 'Moulin Rouge' revue and Jane Withers' unit had been tentatively lined up for week of Jan. 2G. Fox, F.&M.'s ace St. Louis house', played its last stage show last week, ending Thursday (7), with Dave Apollon's unit. There had been some union trouble there also, the house having been picketed up until it went straight pictures. Fox matter, however, was purely a jurisdictional dispute between unions. Stanley Jabin Goes On Own in Cleveland Cleveland, Dec. 12. Stanley Jabin, who walked out of Stanley_Club's rnanagership after a "fight- oveV policy with its angel, is on his own again. Took over de- funct Empire Cafe, formerly known as Paddock, renamed it Stanley's Club, and is now battling his old backer for low-priced acts. Latter, a real estate man, changed his spot's name to the Famous Door when Jabin refused to allow him to use the former trade-title. WIS.' DAIRY BOWL Brewery Town's Anomaly—Named After Slate's No. I rroducl Milwaukee, Dec. 12. Pasadena has its Rose Bowl, Miami Its Orange Bowl, New Orleans its Sugar Bowl,.and now Milwaukee has —ot all things for this bailiwick ot big brevveries—a Dairy Bowl. It is situated "in Slate Fair Park and was formally christened Sunday with a bottle of milk at the pro champ grid battle between the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers. Opposish to Dairy Bowl said the name was sissy and urged that in this town the playing field should properly be called the Beer Bowl, but Gov. Heil .(Julius the Just) said nix; the property was owned by the state, so its football field must be named for a more representative product. CARROLL. AGVA DICKER ON CHORINES Hollywood, Dec. 12 Earl Carroll is trying to get to. gether with the American Guild Variety Artists on a wage scale fn chorines In his new show opcnini here Christmas night (25). iij; hearsals are being held up pendini agreement, new contract calling to, $40 week for seven performances. Carroll is figuring on closing hii nite spot on Sundays and wants li deduct one-seventh ot weekly pjf AGVA, however, is willing to gi« him only five free Sundays out«( 26. Compromise is expected at («. day's (Tuesday) sesh. Saranac Lake By Happy Benway Saranac, N. Y., Dec. 12. Thrills of the Actors Colony: 'O^ way that Tudor Cameron has In. proved during his 12 weeks ot ozoD' ing and added pound weekly; Dub Huntington's musical gifts to thi gang, a bi-weekly recording wlB timely numbers; the Worcester Ev* ning Gazette oil file shot in via Jame Lee; ozoner Chris Hagedorn puttiiu himself . out lifting mental worri« from others that are not so luck; Joseph 'lATSE' McCarthy's weeklj walks from cottage to cottage haail ing out books and mags; Jen; Vogcl's holiday gifts to the gang. Hi gets mad as o March hare if one pa- tient is missed; wise-cracking of Be Schafter, Jack Edwards and Rus Kelly, always good for a pound i 'cure'; good reports handed out bj Dr. George Wilson that will enaM many to go home for the Yule holi day; Manny Kay, ex-ozoner, hen celebrating his second year as a stod burlesque comic; new offspring it the Rudy (orch leader) Houlf's tx- ing named Will Rogers HoufI; tribuk paid . to this colony by Johnni Grimes, Syracuse ' Post-Standari rep; dedication ot 'We Met Ead Other In a Dream,' by Smiling li McConnell to this Colony; e.xpr«s sion on an ozoner's face when fh medico says, 'You are okay and ca go home.' Mrs. Frank MacDonald bcd-sidini her daughter, Gracie, at the Rogen Fire department rushed to the Wil- liam Morris Camp IntermissiM where chimney was afire. After i two-hour wait, fire company No. 1 rushed to the camp, thinking thati serious fire was in session, only ts find the No. 1 company sitting arouni the Morris family table enjoyinj coffee and dunking doughnuts, wili Mrs. Morris acting as hostess aivJ telling the fire-eaters about the suc- cess of Ruth (White) Morris' recenl operation. Eddie McDonald, who staged la okay comeback at the Rogers, Is oik year older and in'£ood health. The Day Nursery, which years cost thousands ot dollars and financed by funds collected by Wil- liam Morris, was sold for $150 fM firewood. Write to those who are ill. 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