Variety (Apr 1942)

40 ORCRBSTRA GROSSES f^mBTt ; V..he,a.r, Ap,U 1. 19^ ^.Bk in Theatres (HC Despite Holy Week; Shep Helds Fine 45G, Davis Good 22G, Masters $USOO Bands at Holel B.O/s (Presented heretoith, a* a' ueefcty. tabulation, is the estimated covjtr charge buaintis being done by name bands tn various New. York hotels Dinner business (7--10 P.M.) not rated. Figures after name of hotel give room capacity and cover charge. Larger amount designates weekend and holiday price;) Coven I'otai Wr«ki Pai( Cuven Bund Hold Pliiyeti tVurk On Uat* Jimmy Dorsey Pennsylvania (500; 76c-$l SO) '. 7 2,775 ie,52S Woody Herman*..New Yorker (400; 76c-$l.50)..r:.... 2 1,925 5.150 EnricMaciri£uera..Biltmore (900, $1-$1 60) ,^. 8 725 8,075 H eddy Martm*,. Waldorf (475; $1-$1.S0) 10 2,350 22,376 Lanl Mclntlre.... .Lexington (300; 76c-$1.50)...,^ 7 1,475 9,875 Vaughn Monroe* Commodore (400; 76c-$l) 24 1,950 37,926 * Asteric/cs indicate.ji suigiorting floor show, although the band is the major draw. Lqs Angeles Sklnnajr EnnU (Ambassador; 900; $l-$l.sb). Continuing on the upbeat with 1,100 covers on the two nights (Frl., Sat). Phil Harris (Biltmore; 1,200; EQc-$l). They keep on rolling In here for 'Hlya, Jackson'; 6,000 on the week plenty good. Chicago Chnck Foster (Continental Room, Stevens hotel; 400; $1.56-$2 mln.). Foster going along and'satlstylng In this room, oil the%tem, enticing 2,000 patrons last .week, X»vler Cur^t (Empire Boom, Palmer House; 600; $3-^.50 mlh,). Cugat winds up excellent stay. Being reple6e4 by Eddy Duchln; .Chicago fa- vorite. Last week Cugat snagged good 3,200 customers. Gene Krapa (Panther Boom, Sherman'hotel; 800; $l-$2 min.). Krupa band snapping Into It excellently, now and last week' drew 5,000 dancers. Nell Bondshn (Mayfair Room, Blackstone hotel; 350; $2.50 min. Sat.). With Jane Froman as main attraction, played to 1,900 patrons. Art Kaasel (Walnut Boom, Bismarck hotel; 300; $l-$2 min.). Kassel finishing up annual long'stay. here where he Is .stcmdard attraction. Jimmy Joy replaces this week. Trade okay with 1,900 customers. Baltimore Don Bestbr (Charles Boom) Belvedere hotel; 500; $l-$2 mln.). Winding up six-week run with fairish 1,800 covers. No Sundays In this spot Minneapolis Mel Marvin (Minnesota Terrace, Hotel Nicollet; 500; $1-$1.50 mln.). Lent cut attendance' at thb class spot to around 400 nightly fourth—final week^-of well-Ilked Marvin band and show. 'Freddy Nagel orchestra, Three Tanner Sisters, Briicetta. and John Gallus, current. Boston John KIrby (Bermuda Terrace, Brunswick hotel; 550; 65c-$l cover).' Second week, Klrby did exceptionally well with 1,825 - covers, mainly 6h weekend when cover' Is $1. 'WUl Osborne follows Thursday (2) for Urree weeks. _ - Leifhion Noble (Terrace Boom, Hotel Statler; 450; $1 cover). In 11th stanza, Noble,, still maintaining fine pace with 900 Friday-Saturday, only late nights, plus excellent dinner business. Griff Williams (Oval Boom, Copley Plaza; 300; $1 cover). With Dorothy Lewis' Ice Show; in first week, Williams drew big 1,3(K). Dinner biz good also. Philadelphia Paneho (Garden Terrace. Benjamin Franklin hotel; 600; $l-$1.50-$2 min.). Biz picked up during Pancho's second full week here with okay 1,222 supper customers checked In. LOCATION JOBS, NOT IN HOTELS (Los Angeles) CUnde Thornhill (P^Iadium B, Hollywood, fifth week). Helped by parties and running ahead of expectations. Solid'11,500 past week. Sunny Dunham comes in April 7 for three weeks. Bob Crosby (Trianon, N. South Gate, Cal.). Hit high road for a nice 9,500 customers. Duke Ellington in Thtirs. (2). ' Louis Arttstronr (Casa Manana, B, Culver City, Cat). Opened Friday (27) and should catch normal trade until word gets around. Oiiie Nelsbn (Florentine Gardens "N,' Hollywood). Punching around. the 4,000 mark with Nils Granlund's floor show topping 'the draw. (Chicago) brrln Tucker (Blackhawk; 400; $1,25 mln.). Tucker near finish of stay did nicely with 3,000 tabs last week, . Boyd Baebnrn (Chez Paree; 500; $3-$3,50 mln.). Raeijurn nearlng end of run that has established him In this territory. Drew 3,000 persons last week. Milo Franklin band replaces. (Estimates for This Week) Alvlno Rey, Providence—(Metro- politan; 3.200; .44-55-65). Plus King SIsten and 'Borrowed Hero' (Mono). Plenty good $8,500 for this time of year "(three days) largely on stage setup, Chloo Marx, Cleveland—(Palace; 3,700; 30-35-42-55-66). With 'Valley of Sun' (RKO). Barely satisfactory $18,000, though aided by Harry Adler and Gil Lamb on stage. Sammy K*ye, Kansas City (New- man; 1,900; 11-39-56)—Combined with 'Fly By Nl<?ht' (Par). First theatre date for Kaye In K.C, and running'up one of best grosses for house in recent years.' Tariff upped from usual 44c to Sec, and trade Is almost entirely due to band. Huge $16,000. 'Ina Ray Button; Boston (RKO- Boston; 3,200; 30-44-60-65-75)—Sup- ported by Jimmy Durante on stage and "Ghost of Frankenstein' (U) on screen, band will turn tn one of best takes this season here, around $23,000. Blue Barron, Pittsburgh (Stanley; 3,800; 30-44-55-56) with 'Sullivan's Travels' (Par). Considering cost of ' band, as against what house usually pays for Its flesh, around $15,000 Isn't bad at all for Holy Week. Get- ting some help from film, which is stronger than Stanley's usual run of celluloid fare. Loa Breese, . Philadelphia (Earle; 2,768; 35-46-57-68-75). Gertrude Nle- sen, Jinx ■ Falkenburg, Lew Parker on stage plus 'Call Out the Marines' (RKO) on screen. Netting fair $18,- 000 with credits about even between band, stage personalities and- film. Frankle Masters, Milwaukee (Riv- erside; 2,600; 30-40-50)—With 'Never Give Sucker Even Break' (U). W. C. Fields in picture credited with helping In this house to draw un- expectedly good $13,500. gross. For Lenten biz, swell. Lea HIte, Brooklyn (Strand; 2,800; ■ I. 30-40-50-55)—In addition to Ethel Waters on stage 'for four-day en- gagement accompanied by 'Tragedy at Midnight' (Rep) on screen. Brisk round of entertainment will bring fairish $7,000. Clyde McCoy, Newark (Adams; 2,- 000; 25-35-50-80) —With Henny Youngman and Susan Miller on stage and 'Let's Go Collegiate' (Mono). Band and other vaude acts are likely to draw good $14,500. However, cur- rent attendance not quite up to that of recent weeks. Shep . Fields, New York. (Strand; 35-SS-85-09). With 'Male Animal' (WB) on screen. Combined box- office pull of Fields and the picture, which received fine notices, means a muscular $45,000 or near on the first week. Show starts second Fri- day (3). Johnny 'SeaV DavU, New York. (State; 28-44-55-75-00-$1.10). With George Beatty and Beatrice Kay on stage, 'Lady Has Plans' (Par) (2d run) on screen. 'While, picture is credited \ylth major portion of good $22,000 or better sighted, stage bill is believed to be lending satisfactory support. Lea Brown, New 'York. (Para- mount; 35-55-85-99). With Connee Boswell, others, In person; 'Fleet's In' (Par) on screen. Completed highly profitable 21-day engagement -last night. (Tues.) with final week lieing good $35,000; second was $48,- 000, very potent Bed Norvo, Chicago Oriental; 3,- 200; 33-44-55). With 'Blondie Goes College' (Col). Red Norvo band has fair local following and managing $16,000, fair. Bad Waples' band was t^e MCA opener Friday night (27) for Hotel Texas' Den In Fort Worth which had been closed for Tecondltlonlng. With Waples Is Charles Mayse, singer, and the Men of Melody. Band Bookings.. Bob Allen, April C-8, Plymouth theatre, Worcester, Mass,; 9-10, Poll T,. Waterbury, Conn.; 11, 14-18, 21- 25, Baymor B., Boston. Loa Breese, April 17-23, Century T., Buffalo; 24, Netherland-Plaza H, Cincinnati;. 25-26, Stratford T., Chi- cago; 28, Capitol T., Madison, Wis. Bobby Byrne, Api^U 13-15, Plymouth T., Worcester, Mass.; 16-17, Poll T., Waterbury, Conn,; 18, BPI, Troy, N. Y.; 22, National T., Bichmond, V*; 25, North Carolina State C, Raleigh, Del Casino, April 16, week, Cen- tral T„ Passaic, N. J. Carl Hoff, AprU 10-16, week. Cen- tury T., Buffalo. Ins Bay BnUon, April 24, two weeks. Valley Dale, Columbus. Ray Kinney, April 10, Kalamazoo T., Kalamazoo, Mich,; 24, week. Pal- ace T,, Cleveland. Stan Kenton. April 7-ll,.Raymor (Continued on page 55) T. Tucker Tucks Away Big $1,(80; Breese Fair in Erie (Estimates) Georce Anid (Empire B., Allen- town, Pa„ March 28). Auld's new band did okay, pulling little over 900 at 59c and e9c. Loo Breese (Waldemeer Park, Erie, Pa., March 17). Breese ac- counted for 'fair' $984 with 510 danc- ers. Del Courtney (Sheyboygan T., Sheybogan, Wis., March 21). Court- ney did weU, drawing $1,289 at 30c. Next day (22) at Par theatre, Ham- mond, Ind„ he also did okay, gross- ing $2,378 at 2Bc-35c-55c, Sam Donjkhne (Roseland State B., Boston, March 28). Vet here, Dona- hue maintains even pace; 900 at e5c- 55c for $540, good. Tommy Dorsey (Chermot B., (Continued on page'42) On the Upbeat Chnok Foster orchestra Is being held_ In the Continental Room .of the SiteVens'Hbtel, Chicago," until June. • BlUy Tates -orch out of Trelon Cafe and Into Oasis, Pittsburgh, re- placing Charlie Laup band. Sunset Ballroom, Carrolltown, Pa., reopens Easter Monday (6) with Art Jarrett orch. Brad Hunt plays one- nighter there April 11. Dnane Jadd, arranger for Jan Savltt now with Fort Monmouth, N. J. band. Herb Marsh, Boston batoneer by night has formed the Four MarshaUs, (Continued on page 44) Brunswick, Boston, To Run Later Into Spring Brunswick hotel, Boston, is ex- tending Its season Jhls year to June 1 and possibly- may remain open all summer. Exceptional business done by its name band policy past season is responsible. Normally hotel closes Its Bermuda "rtrrace on May 1. H It decides on operation through the summer a cooling system will be in- stalled. John Kirby's band Is current to be followed by Will Osborne and Gray Gordon. "A NEAT ENTRY" —Variety, Mar. 11, 194?- "More Than You Know" AND "Down for Double" OKEH Record No. 0584 COUNT BASIE And His Orchestra Per. Mrt: 'BaLVON; VSBIMS. RAINBOW ROOM LEO REISMAN OPENING APRIL FIRST I'll," V.'-Ai 1^ I':! !l -i-.M'-i v. ah Off h MacArthur" i;:iiup .".nil 'Mililarv li;i!ici nrr^',ii(;.-7ni-iils :';ii-il-:-i:>Tli ;-i- "Jii-.jc