Variety (May 1941)

64 ORCHESTRA GROSSES Wednesday, May 7, 1941 Bands' Theatre Biz Spotty; Noble Good 15G, Omaha; King Okay 34G, Chi; Orrin-Bonnie Blah $IOOOXC. (Esfimotes jor This WeeJc) Bob Crosby, Cincinnati (Shubert; 2,150; 33-44-60) with Cass Daley, other vaude acts and 'People vs. Dr. Kildare* (M-G). Well-rounded com- bination heading lor good $12,000, with credit the customer-lure evidently equally divided. Jimmy Dorsey, New York (Strand; 2,767; 35-55-75-85-99) with 'Great Lie' (WB). In fourth (final) week here and okay at indicated $25,000, following a third stanza's take of $29,000. On the run very pTofltable to theatre. Woody. Herman, Minneapolis (Or' pheum; 2.800; 39-44-55) with vaude and That Uncertain Feeling.' Her man evidently has plenty of lure for this juves and this accounts for a good portion of the disappointing $10,000 in sight. Business in this town, per usual, is terrible. Hora^ce Heidi, Pittsburgh (Stanley; 3,600; ' 25-40-60) with 'Cheers for Miss Bishop' (UA) on screen. Biz started slowly, but take expected to climb to $22,000, which would be okay, film and band about equally potent at b.o. Harry James, New York (Para- mount; 3,664; 35-55-85-99) with 'Road ^to Zanzibar' (Par), Gil Lamb, Co- .pacabana Revue, others, on stage. James came in for the fourth windup week with 'Zanzibar,' substituting for Benny Goodman, who could not hold over. Balance of stage show remained intact and on the week ending last night. (Tues.), $29,500, not fancy, but fair enough. Wayne King, Chicago (Chicago; 4,000; 35-55-75) with vaude and •Night in Rib' (20th). Film and band sharing about equally in box- office draw, which looks like satis- factory $34,000. Bay Noble, Omaha (Orpheum, 8,000; 10-40-55), vaude and 'That UncerUin Feeling' (UA). Getting good $15^000, but that's not excep tional for stage shows here. Film has good marquee names in Melvyn Douglas and Merle Oberon and must . take credit for good part ofr the draw. Baymond Scott, Philadelphia (Earle; 2,350; 35-46-57-68-75) with vaude and 'Magic in Music' (Par) Business here not so forte and prob- ably hurt by last-minute dropout of Anita Louise from stage show. In- dicated take of $18,000 will not be very profitable for the house, but Scott is credited with a major Ehiare of what draw there is on the marquee. Orrin Tucker-Bonnie Balcer, Kan- sas City (Tower; 2,110; 10-30) with •You're the One' (Par). Far from a ball of fire at indicated $7,000 gross. Maestro-singer combo also in the picture, which leaves no alibis. Campos Best Sellers (U. OF WASHINGTON) Seattle, May 6. Six best record sellers on this campus: 1. 'Amopolo' Uimmy Dorsey). 2. 'Lazy River" (Bennu Goodman). 3. 'Nighty Night' (Aluino Rey). 4. 'Dolores' (Binj; Crosby). 5. 'There'll Be Some Changes Made' (.Benny Goodman). 6. 'Wollcin' By the River' (Una May Corlisle). GOODMAN WOULD TEAM WITH LEVANT ON WAX Benny Goodman is planning to record with Oscar Levant as the piano-playing sixth of a sextet. Goodman played with the Roth String Quartet at Carnegie Hall, New York, last week (29), using Serge Prokofieff's 'Variations on Yiddish Themes.' He's thinking of repeating the performance for records and using Levant on piano. Though the arrangement used at Carnegie runs about 10 minutes, it would be cut to fit onto two 12 inch sides for- Columbia Blue Seal Masterworks. Goodman has recorded several classical themes in the past in company with various outstanding longhairs. ^♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ M »»» ♦■♦»*♦♦♦♦♦ ■ In the Wax Works ;: ■'♦♦♦»♦♦♦»><»»♦♦♦♦♦♦>»♦♦• Claude Thornhill (Okeh) 'Over- Night,' 'AH i Need,' 'La Cinquan- tane' ('Golden Wedding), 'Gomer the Goose.' Jimmy Dorsey (Decca) 'Bar Babble' 'Blue Champagne,' 'Aurora,' 'AH Alone and Lonely.' Harry James (Columbia) 'I'll Get By,' Trumpet Rhapsody' (Sonata Moderne'). Jerry Wayne (Decca) 'Yours,' 'Drifting and Dreaming.' Shep Fields (Bluebird) 'You're Blase,' 'You, You're Driving Me Crazy,' 'Don't Blame Me,' 'Haban- era.' Dinah Shore (Bluebird) 'Jim,' 'Listen to Mocking Bird,' 'Where You Are.' Sammy Kaye (Victor) . 'Aurora,' 'What Word Is Sweeter Than Sweet- heart,' 'For Want of a iStar,' 'Don't Cry Cherie.' Johnny Long (Decca) 'Back Home in Indiana,' 'That's What I Like About the South,' 'Miss Johnson Phoned Today,' ITake It Jackson.' Dixie Artists Bureau Dallas, May 6. Morris B. Harrell, local Ettorney, has organized the Southern Artists' Bureau, Inc. A. T. Mickle, managing editor of the Texas Digest, is asso- ciated with the undertaking. Executive secretary of the group will be Ann EUerd. Booking agency's officials hope to establish reciprocal relations with regional artist groups in other sections in order- to book attractions in this area. Bands at Hotel B. O. ^Presented herewith, oi a weekly tabulation, U the estimated cover charge business belno done bu name bands in tidrfoui New York hotels.. Dinner business (1-10 PM.) not rated. Figures after name of hotel give room'capacity and cover charge. Larger amount desigTiates 4iieefcend ond holiday prtce.^ Coven Total _ . WmIm Part Covara Band Hotd Played Weeli On Date Clyde Lucas Biltmora (300; $1-$1.50) 6 XavierCugat Waldorf (375; $1-$1.50) 3 Ray Kinney*. .....Lexington (300; 75c-$1.50) 3 Guy Lombardo... Roosevelt (500; $1-$1.S0) 29 GeneKrupa Pennsylvania (SOO; 75c-$1.50) 2 Harry James Lincoln (250; 75c-$l) 1 675 1,375 1,425 1,200 1,125 600 4,100 4,845 4,550 37,200 2,225 1,075 * Asterisks indicate a supporting floor show, although the band is the major draw. Coin-Catching Record Possibilities DETROIT RODEO SHUNS BRASS: OLSEN BOOKED Detroit, May 6. Now it's the rodeo that's gone musical. For the Wild West Rodeo and Hollywood Thrill Circus at the State Fair Coliseum here, back- ground music is being provided by George Olsen's orchestra. Dick Ryan, producer of the show, says that veterans in the business have told him it was impractical to use a ballroom band for broncho busting, high-wire and auto-catapult stunts instead of a band that played Sammy Kaye 'Daddy'—'Two Hearts Pass in Night' (Victor 27391) 'Daddy' will get healthy coin-rhachine circulation. Number, which prob- ably will prove a heavy popularity booster for Kaye, is all cleverly written lyric chorused at lilting and solid tempo by the entire band, relieved mid- way by shorftnstrumental bridge. It's a strong and well-handled novelty. 'Hearts,' a good tune, will be lost on the back. Arthur Wright vocals. Woody Herman 'Intermezzo'—'My Mom' (Decca 3738) Herman mouths perhaps the best vocal he ever has recorded on the 'Intermezzo' side, and the instrumental backing is solid. Cutting is ex- tremely saleable all around. There is only one better version, Marie Greene's on Columbia, but Herman is better known and probably will take the play. Other cuttings of the melody all sound alike.with violins, etc. 'My Mom' is also good, aimed at Mother's Day play. Leader again vocals. Will Bradley 'Call Me a Taxi'—'Shadows In Night' (Columbia 36082) Bradley achieves a moving tempo and strong beat on the first side to good reaction. Beyond that and Ray McKinley's vocal, however, tune isn't much. Coupling is played okay, but tune is either, commercially worthless or Terry Allen's dull vocal makes it sound that way. Melody is better through Bradley's finale trombone break. Sonny Dunham 'Mighty Lak a Bose'—^'I Understand' (Bluebird 11124) Dunham's initial sides kick the band oft neatly. A good band,.along Jimmie Lunceford's style lines, it gives first tune a listenable workout from neat arrangements featuring Dunham's high register-trumpet. Ma- chines won't find much in it, however. 'Understand' is nicely done, but there are others which outcla.<<s it for commercial use. Ray Kellogg's vocal lacks punch. Tommy Tucker 'No. 10 Lullaby Lane'—'Nice Dreamin* (Okey 6156) 'Lullaby' is a good melody and Tucker gives it ditto treatment. It's not as well done musically as other versions, but side turns up easy, rhythmic tempo and good duo vocals by Amy Arnell and Don Brown.' 'Dreamin' is okay for same reasons, though it's not as strong a melody. Brown vocals alone. Jan Savitt 'We Go Well Together'—'Horizon' (Victor 27382) Savitt turns up nicely contrasting sides on first Victor release, each with good arrangement and playing. First is rhythm tune that band could have done a bit slower for better results. Tune has good lyrics, easily handled by Jack Palmer and vocal group. Reverse is unusual mood piece, strictly for non-commercial turntabling, but listenable over and over. Andrews Sisters 'Music Makers'—'Aurora' (Decca 3732) Harry James popularized 'Makers' without lyrics. Andrews trio's cut- ting is one of few so equipped and the side will sell well. They do a cinch job on it for machines. Tempo is easy. 'Aurora' slips back to trio's fast pace, a. tune and cutting which should give machines double play. Melody is being pushed, and a flock of recordings are scheduled. It seems a capable tune. Raymond Scott 'I Understand'—'Things I Love' (Columbia 36083) Scott laid out listenable instrumental path for first, a much better ballad Bradley s Ohio Debut Strong $3,700 1-Niter; Herman Vs. Noble in Lincoh (Estimates) Andrews Sisters-Johnny Richards (Pacific Square B., San Diego, Cal., April 26). Andrews trio and Richards clicked off neat 2,450 admissions at 75c and $1 for take of $2,205. Will Bradley (Ohio U., Columbus, O.. May 2). Initial Bradley stand in this area pulled exceptional $3,700 with 1,200 couples at $3 per advance and $3.50 gate. Topped all school prom records, several hundred turned away. Bobby Byrne (Wayne U., GM Aud., Detroit, May 2). Choice $1,610 from .ipproximately 930 dancers at $3.50 couple. At Masonic' Temple Aud., Det., next night (3) for Lawrence Tech, Byrne got neat $1,137 from 325 couples at same price. Bob Chester (Hershey Park, Hershey, Pa., May 3). Chester sent park's season away with a hangup, near-capacity mob of 2,371 at 85c and 50c for gross approximating $1,950. Band took $1,051 as its end. Sam Donahue (Roseland-State B., Boston, May 2). Donahue did well to draw 600 dancers at 55c-44c for $300 gross. Sonny Dunham (Totem Pole, Auburndale, Mass., May 2). First shot here by Dunham corraled 2,600 hoofers at $1.35 couple for big $1,755 gross. Ella Fitzgerald (Central Warehouse, Kinston, N. C, May 1). Neat $1,200 gross piled up with Miss Fitzgerald. Got 1,200 admissions at 55c-95c. Emerson Gill (Palisades, McKeesport, Pa., April 28). Fair $600 frOm 1,200 stubholders at 50c. Benny Goodman (Rhodes, Pawtucket, R. I., April 29). Despite rainy weather Goodman copped $3,000 with that many dancers at $1. Woody Herman (Turnpike Casino, Lincoln, Neb., April 30). Bucking Ray Noble at U. of Nebraska same night Herman drew close to 1,700 people at $1.10 for gross of $1,735, great. Inkspots (Indiana Roof, Indianapolis, May 3). Spots played to good 1,400 house, taking okay $1,350 at 85c-$1.10. Al Kavelln (Riverview B., Neponset, Mass., May 2-3). Kavelin drew largest crowd in several. years here, getting 1,205 Friday and 1,450 Sat- urday at 55c for total gross of $1,450. Newt Perry-Harry Morrissey (Raymor-Playmor B., Boston. May 2). Perry's return and Morrissey's first stand brought in 1,580 at 65c-55c for fine gross of $948. Red Nichols (Raymor Ballroom, Boston, April 29, 30, May 1). Playing repeated return engagements past three weeks, Nichols maintained high weekend average with 560, 590, 650 at .65-55c for big $1,080 gross. Ray Noble (University Coliseum, Lincoln, Neb., April 30). Facing Woody Herman at nearby Turnpike Casino, Noble drew approximately 1,750 dancers, topping Herman in attendance, but less in $1,400 gross at $1.60 couple. Okay, but Herman hurt plenty. Teddy Powell (Roseland-State B., Boston, April 29). Playing first date here, Powell drew 600 at 55c for fine Tuesday gross of $330. On Satur- day (May 3) band brought in heaviest crowd in two months with 1,100 at 55c-44c for $550, big at this spot. Terry Shand-Jack Renard (Raymor-Playmor B., Boston, May 3). Both Shand and Renard have good following here. Latter, however, accounted for most of 2,100 dancers at 65c-55c for big $1,260. Alvino Rey (Arena, New Haven, Conn., May 4). Rey's stage break-in, plus vaude, grabbed off $2,700, modest profit, from 4,900 mat and evening at 45c-$1.10. Jerry Wald (Totem Pole B., Auburndale, Mass., April 30). First stand here for Wald got okay 800 dancers at usual $1.35 couple for good Wednes- day gross of $540. Saturday (3) band culled strong 2,800 at same price for big $1,890 gross. circus tempo. But he picked Olsen, who brought ' try for him, but Clyde Burke's vocal takes shine off it; his work is not In his entire, crew, because the, sure and miles in wake of Bob Eberle's (Jimmy Dorsey) cutting. Burke maestro, a former University of, seems bothered by Scott's tempo.' Reverse, a good tune, shows singer Michigan boy, has had a long; time | better and the band in equally good light pull here. Olsen canceled several one-nighters to take over the musical chores for the eight-day run, mati- nees and evening, of the rodeo spon- sored by the Dodge Local of the United Automobile Workers. Following the show, the orchestra doubles back in brass to play for a dash of dancing. GLENN QABB BENEWES Chicago, May 6. Glenn Garr orchestra has just completed an eight-week opener in the Oh Henry Ballroom, and will continue, following the pick-up of the four-week option by the manage- ment' last week. Larry Clinton 'Smiles'—'Night We Met In Honomu' (Bluebird 11130) Almost every other standard has been revived recently, but 'Smiles' somehow seems to have eluded material hunters till now. Clinton's arrangement hews strictly to melody, played with mild hop. Chorus bits back and help Butch Stone vocal. It's coin-machine fodder. 'Honomu' is pleasant, but little more. Peggy Mann vocals. Jack Leonard 'In Hush of Night'—'My Sister and I' (Okeh 6158) First tune is picking up speed in popularity. Leonard finishes off sale- able melody, and his cutting is right up front for part of machine play number is bound to get. 'Sister' side is too late and not outstanding enough to crash through powerful versions already out. Backgrounds on both help. Art Kassel 'Dog House Polka'—'Lullaby Land' (Bluebird 11121) Machines always seem open to polkas and like. 'Dog House' is capable of creating a stir, particularly with way made easier by 'Friendly Tavern.' Kassel's tempo is lilting enough, but it falls flat on its vocal by trio. Big- gest punch in such things is in lyrics, and these are lifelessly and tone- lessly delivered. Slow tempoed, 'Lullaby' is so-so. Harvey Crawford vocals. New Yorker Hotel Still Defies lATSE Situation which keeps name bands out of the New Yorker hotel, N. Y., still prevails. It's been more than three weeks since Bobby Byrne's band was scheduled to replace Woody Herman's at the hotel's Ter- race Room, but the hotel is still adamant against replacing its Hotel Trades Council spotlight manipu- lators with electrician members of the International Alliance of The- atrical Stage Employees. Since its stand against the lATSE, the hotel has opened its dining room for din- ner only, with a small musical com- bination, and shutters at 10 p.m. New York Local 802, of AFM, back- ing up lATSE, ordered Byrne not to open. Biltmore hotel, one of the remain- ing three which are on the lATSE's list to force replacement of HTC men by lATSE members, ^has dropped the floor show it brought in six weeks ago with Clyde Lucas' band. In that way it avoided any argument with lATSE because it eliminated necessity of spotlights. Jack Renard has dropped use of vocalists in the Boston area. Thus far, reactions h£ve been favorable, hoofers preferring good dance mu- sic first. PLAN BALLROOM FOR N.Y. FAIR BUILDING New York City Building at Flush- ing Meadow Park, former site of . World's Fair, may be turned into a ballroom using name bands this summer. Building currently houses roller skating (it had both roller and ice-skating but has eliminated latter) which will continue until the weather gets too warm for it. After that, however, it will be turned over to ballroom operation if a feasible plan is presented. Several plans have already been laid before the N. Y. Park Department, which has jurisdiction over the building, but nothing concrete has come from them. Spot can set up a floor roughly about 350 by 125 feet. Long Island so far hasn't a single name band operation in its entire 130-mlle length. There have been occasional club hops which bought top outfits to draw for them, but there is no steady operation except the Roadside Rest, near Long Beach, which uses only lesser crews. One of best reasons for absence of a L. I. counterpart of Frank Dailey's Meadowbrook is that N. Y. Local 802, of the AFM, takes in that en- tire territory, and its • collection of $3 per man per broadcast tax doesn't make such a spot workable.