Variety (Oct 1941)

Vedneaday, October 29,. 1941 ▼AUDEVIIXB 45 AGVA TAKES TAX STAND Chicago Nitery Operators in Move To Combat Employee Organizations -fr Chicago, Oct. 28. ' There is a movement here for an organization that would be known as the Cafe Managers Assn. Tried unsuccessfully in the past, move Is being headed by Dave Branower, of Harry's New Yorker. Branower is- rounding up cafe men primarily to combat pressure of Organized employee groups, in- cluding the American Guild of Variety Artists. . ■ Meeting of cafe owners, arranged by Branower, takes place today •(Tuesday), with Branower claiming ■ at least 75 cafe men will be in at- tendance. Latest straw which is cracking the cafe owners' backs, says Branower, the proposed six-day week by actors. If the situation continuas there is a threat of 'blackout' by the cafes as a protest against the in- creased costs necessitated by the unions. Bradower claims that his organl- ratlon will take in Cincinnati, Cleve- land and Detroit as well as ChJ- cago. Conflict on Bnrley Date In Pitt ^ps Ann Corio Of Niglit Ciab Booking Chi AGVA Gives $500 For Hospitalization Chicago, Oct 28. Local office of the American Guild of Variety Artists has given $500 to the' American .Hospital here, which has been known, for years as 'the theatrical hospital.' AGVA contribution is towards set- ting up regular hospitalization priv- ileges for show people. AGVAWoosAFM Aid on Pact Tiff With N.Y. Hotel Pittsburgh, Oct 28. Ann Corlo, the- Nrf. 1 burlesque peeler, almost had a week at the Yacht Club here—at $1,000. As a matter of fact, che did have it, for about six hours, or as long as it took . George Jafle, owner of the local bur- lesque house, the Casino, to learn about it. Then Jaffe shot into ac- tion and, pre^o, the Yacht Club and Hiss Corlo called the whole thing oO. It happened this way. About 10 days ago, the Casino announced that for one reason or another Miss Corio's legit tour in 'White Cargo' ' had been called off and that she would open an engagement at the peel wheel outlet here on Nov. 23 But the stripper happened, to be playing in Detroit at the time and ■ ran into Little Jackie Heller, one of the operators of the Yacht Club, there. She told him she had a couple of weeks oft before going back into hurley and he asked her If she'd like to play his club. The lady said* yes. Talked It Over So Heller talked it over with his brother-partner, Sol Heller, and they figured the $2-$2.50. minimum cus- ' tomers weren't patrons of .the four- bit hurley house, so despite the fact that Miss Corlo had already. been penciled into the Casino, the deal was closed.by phone and the Yacht Club announced the strip would be Its headline attraction for the week of Nov. 7, just two weeks before ' she was to hit the Casino for the first time this season. Jafte hit the ceiling. He got Izzy Hirst on the phone Immediately and Hhrst hit the celling,^ too. He con tacted Miss Corlo and told her she couldn't do that to Jafle—go into another Pittsburgh spot just couple of weeks before she was to play for him. Miss Corlo said she ■ didn't see where It would make any diflerence because a nitery's a nitery and a burleycue house Is a hurley . cue house and never the twain shall meet, or something like that. But Hirst said he'd see about that, whereupon Miss Corio decided to give the matter some thought her- self, She called the Hellers and told them the situation and won- dered if they wouldn't let her out , of the agreement The Hellers were good friends of Jaffa's. They didn't want to-create any hard feelings, so they told La Corlo to forget about it Out in front of the -Casino imme diately went the billboards pro claiming 'Ann Corio's first Pitts- burgh appearance of the season at thla theatre Nov. 23.' American Guild of Variety Art- ists is making a determined effort to get New York Local 802 of the mu-. sicians union to stand beliind it in its battle with the Park Central ho- tel, which has refused to enter into an agreement with AGVA. Latter is picketing the hostelry, which has a large show in the Cocoanut Grove, plus entertainment in the cocktail lounge. Through AGVA's efforts, the Com- bined Theatrical Crafts Council of Y., embracing 37 unions includ- ing AGVA and the musicians, will send a committee tomorrow (Thurs- day) to appear before Lrtjcal 802'e board and ask the latter to stop mu- sicians from walking through AGVA's picket Une.. AGVA Is also asking the Teamsters Union to halt deliveries to the Park Central while the hotel is on AGVA's unfair list.' THEflTBEiy L Variety Peirformers Union In Position to.Force Houm* to Shell Oiit If Musician* Win Out on That Score— AGVA Will Also Insist on Workmen's Compensation, Unemployment Insurance Coverage PRO-CON CLAIMS American Guild of Variety Artists is taking cognizance of the current dispute between theatres 'and the American Federation of Musicians on the latter's new Form B contract, which makes it-mandatory for the- atres to pay social security taxes on leaders and individual musicians of traveling bands. Should the AFM win out AGVA states It will take steps to make all theatres pay s.s. taxes on all performers. Many houses up to now have been ducking the s.e. taxes on acts by claiming that they are buying inde- pendent contractors' rather than hir- ing employes. AGVA has disputed this contention, but should the the- atres agree to pay the taxes on mu- sicians In name bands the actors' union will be in the position to present a. like demand for per- formers. Plus sj. taxes, AGVA ,will also insist that theatres cover perform- ers on workmen's compensation and. unemployment Insurance. AGVA Members Push Kelly as Choice To Enforce Pennsy Booking Measure Accident Uabifity Feared By Michigan Night Ckbs On Run SoM to Patrons aCE-CAPADES; $35,000, NEAR CAPACin IN K.C. Kansas City, Oct. 28. First seven days of 'Icc-Capades' at the Pla-Morice rink (21-27) topped $35,000 at price range of 55c, $1.10 and $1.75. Gross exceeds any- thing of previous years in this arena seating approximately 5,800., Gross represents virtual capacity and show plays 10 days in all. K. C. performances brought re- turn of Bernie Lyman and Eric Walte, both early season casualties, to player roster. Lyman cracked an ankle during the Atlantic City en- gagement and Walte returns after recuperating from an auto crash several weeks ago. Rosemary Stewart perforined her turn solo, as partner Robert Dench is hospitalized in New York. Renee de Marco Shifts Dates; Hotel Spot Too Big Finding the room too big for her to work in, Renee de Marco shifts from the Hotel Ambassador's Trianon Room to Fefe's Monte Carlo, N. Y., Nov. 5. Dancer will be backed by a vocal male quartet as part of her new solo offering. Meantime her ex-partner and hus.band, Tony de Marco, has Sally Craven opposite him in the forthcoming 'Banjo Eyes,' Eddie Can- tor stage muslcaL Del Casino, in a last-minute switch in bookings, goes into the El Dorado Room of the Commodore Perry Hotel, Toledo on Nov. 13, Bill Bardo follows in January. Lani Mc- Intlre and his Aloha Islanders cur- rent. Detroit Oct 28. Michigan's nitery operators and tavern men are weeping in their bar towels following a decision In the Circuit Court here which threatens them with a worse headache than any hangover. They are fearful that a precedent was set when a jury in Muskegon Circuit Court brought in a $3,800 rap against Oscar Nlchelson, operator of the' Halt Moon Tavern, near Whitehall, on which he was held liable on the theory that liquor he sold to a motorist was responsible for an automobile accident The %uit was brought against Nlchelson by Karl Natalie Reed, a school teacher, who charged that drinks sold at the Half Moon caused one Riley Sherwood to drive his car into her's, causing injuries. JEAN SABLON Now Appeerlns at Pertian. Room, Plaaa Hotel New York RENEWED FOR 1 WEEKS WILLIAM MORRI* AGENCY DirectToni Irving Laaar Auto Stunter Dies, BuDdoggier Hurt At St Loo Show Joe E. Lewis as Chi Prez Of AGVA Seen Assured Chicago; Oct 28. Annual election of officers by the local American Guild of Variety Artists will be held in December, and indications are that Joe E. Lewis will be a walk-in for the presidency. Lewis heads a ticket which has Dolly Kay listed for first v.p. and Ralph Cook as second v.p,, with Uie incumbent executive com- mittee listed for complete re-elec- tion. This Is the only ticket In the field now, and it appears that there will be no opposition. 8t Louis. Cot M One fatality, om serious injury and the lost U $il,180 In cash by anothar li tb* toll among partorm- •rt at the Sunbrock-Padu rodeo and thrill' show held at the Arena last week. - During the opening jMrformanc* Tommy Marcus, 27, Hollywood auto- moble itunt drivar, was trapped in his burning car and lo badly burned that he died three days later at Dea- coness hospital. Marcus drove' through a wall of burning oll-soaked barrels, one of which apparently had quickly became a mass of flames. Fire extinguishers were fetched to put out the blaze before Marcus was hauled out of the car. His body was shipped to Attica, Ind., for burial, Red Risto, Midland, Texas,. was knocked unconscious and gored by a steer a -few nights later. He suffered shock, severe cuts and bruises and required hospital treatment The night before the show opened, Ole Graham, a supervisor and performer with the Flying Bar X Rodeo, bepfed to cops that $2,160 In. cash was cop- ped from his room in a midtown hotel. With the American Guild of Var- .iety Artists on guard to see that all performers are paid for their serv- ices, Tom Packs, - local wrestling promoter, was aligned with Larry Sunbrock in handling the show. Be- cause he irked execs of the city's $7,000,000 Municipal Auditorium with some of his alleged unethical tactics on occasions when he rented the convention hall in the building, Sunbrock, as a promo.ter, has been barred from further use of the structure. No beefs were made that the per formers were not paid off for the show last week. Sunbrock has been involved on that score before. Philadelphia, Oct 28. Members of the American Guild of Variety. Artists are circulating petitions among show biz folk and trade unionists urging the appoint- ment of Thomas E. Kelly, one-time executive secretary of the local, as Investigator tor the State Depart- ment of Labor and Industry to en- force the new booking licensing law. .. A(5.yA..msnibeta.ara- dissatisfied jt.- the alleged unenforcement of the new regulations, which were aimed to erase chiseling among bookers and protect performers. They claim that Kelly, who is getting the lion's share of credit fo^ pushing the bill through the legislature, is the logi- cal man to help enforce the law. . If Kelly gets the appointment It will mean war from the agents in this tpwn. The ten-percenters hold a grudge agcHnst Kelly dating back ' to the time when he ran the local American Federation of Actors, later io' become AGVA., Two weeks ago members of the Entertainment Managers Association (bookers) notified AGVA that they would refuse to deal with the unioh as long as Kelly had any connection with it Ousted from AGVA during a battle with former national execu- tive secretary Hoyt C. Haddock, Kelly has recently made a comeback in the role of 'legislative adviser.' - An AGVA delegation wlU go to Harrlsburg, the state capital, -within the next two weeks to present th* Kelly petition to Lewis G. Hinei^ State Secretary erf Labor and Indus- ' try. MeanwhUe, AGVA strength- ened its bonds-with Local 77, Musi- cians Union; with. ■ pledge of the musicians'- president,-Frank LiuzzI, that' the two. unions will continue thair role of mutual cooperation. Richard Mayo, executive secretary of AGVA, a^mounced that beginning. Nov. 21, a new wage scale will be In effect: Ths scales are raised from 10 to 83% in the various daislflca- tlons. The higher jump is in the spots which book out of' New York. Tht new minimum "wags i«ales for single-acts ^outside of chorus) are! A-cIaaslflcaUons, $75 a week; B, |B5; C, $40, and D, #90. Bankoff-Camoii Win Pay Sot From NVkee Cafe After Booking Tiff Milwaukee, Oct 28. Confusion on whether s local nitery operator had booked a team as a ballroom pair or comedy act found its way Into olvll court here. Ivan BankoS and Beth Cannon, his wife, for yeara standing In vaude as Bankoff and Girlie, were booked into the Tic Toe Tap, a downtown nitery, as stars of the fioor show, but AI Tusa, the proprietor, closed them after their second perform- ance, claiming be had booked them as a ballroom dancing, team, not as comedy act. The dancers sued for $250 as two weeks' salary at $125 per. When the case was heard by a jury in Judge Joseph E. Cordes' civil court, the Bankofls were awarded the fuU amount of their contract ^ Toledo Vaude Toledo, O., Oct. 28. Willie Howard's 'Beachcombers of 1942' will weekend at the Rlvoli here Oct. 31-Nov. 2. Ben Bernie band is scheduled for a full week at the Rlvoli starting Nov. 7. Howard Pelgley, manager, reports house win present vaude as fre- quently as possible this season. Benny Burke Mended Benny Burke, vet vaude agent, for the first tinfie in months was back In his New York office yesterday (Tuesday). Burke early last summer under- went an abdominal operation and for a long time was in a critical condi- tion. Jack Charlotte playing at Rendezvous Villa, Youngstown. the Uhess Rednc'es Andrews From Trio to a Single Pattl Andrews, of the Andrews Sisters, was forced to solo through the last two shows at the Paramount New. York, last Thursday (23), when grippe and high fever forced Max- ine out. Since only i.'NO of the girls wouldn't blend vocally,. La- Verne was also dropped and Pattl went on alone. llaVerne subse- quently also came down with a heavy cold. Par, which had played five shows the day Maxlne went out out down to four next day (Friday) to lighten the load and enable all three of the girls to work. Maxlne was being at- tended by doctor and nurse between shows