Variety (May 1942)

Wednesday, May 6, 1942 UBIETY VAUDEYILLE 45 Keen Fight Indicated Next Month At Elections of Philadelphia AGVA Philadelphia, May 5, A hot flght between the 'Ins' and the 'outs' in the ranks of the Phllly unit of the American Guild of Variety Artists at elections next month was presaged last week at a local meeting by an attempt of 'out' factions to blast accomplishments of the present administration. Led by Tom Kelly, former execu- tive secretary and head of the'Uifited Entertainers Association (indie talent organization), the 'outs' de- clared that the present administra- tion had failed to bring any benefits ■ to the rank and file. At one point, Kelly arose and sar- castically asked: 'Where are the franchises with the booking agents which your officers have been promising for so long?' This was the moment apparently for which Dick Mayo, present exec «ecretary, had been waiting. Pulling a batch of papers from a portfolio. Mayo declared: 'Here are the franchises—every agent in Philadelphia signed up with -AGVA 100%.' , It was the first inkling the mem- bership had that Mayo had signed up the agents—a chore which took over a year to accomplish. But Kelly's boys were not stopped. They placed In nomination an entire elate to buck the administration ticket at the elections on May 26. EDDIE SUGH SHIFTS TO GENl AMUS. IN CHI Chicago, May 5. Eddie iSligh, indie vaude and nitery agent for many years, moves into the General Amusement offices June 1. He will handle all cafe and club talent Sligh Is taking three people from his own agency with him, Vivian Stewart, Fred Joyce and Sid Morse. Jessel May Replace Gaxton-Moore as Top Name in langhing' Headliner replacement for William Gaxton and Victor Moore on May 29, when both are due west for Co- lumbia and Paramount film commit- ments, respectively, may see George Jessel in that spot in Clifford C. Fischer's 'Keep 'Em Laughing' at the 44th Street, N. Y. The availability of Jessel depends solely on the road :u^iness of his 'High Kickers,' how in Pittsburgh and due in Chicago next week for at least a fortnight's stay. Fischer's 'Priorities' at the 46th Street, while running longer, is doing a shade better business than 'Laugh- ing,' latter being around $21,000, the former $22,000. The continued light business at matinees—some grosses as low as $200 and $300—is causing Fischer to wonder if the time-honored two-a- day tradition can be maintained in these war days, when the femmes are busy In some form or another of war activity, with little time for matinee theatre-going. From the performers' viewpoint, that middle show on Saturday and Sunday, at 5:30, Is a pain. It keeps 'em hemmed In the theatre from noon to midnight, virtually, and the little business has caused some to say they'd be willing to kick back a pro rata $20 or $25 in order to be relieved of that extra matinee on the weekend. Lupe Velez is also a pos- sibility as added starter in the .44th Street show when Gaxton and Moore leave. Meantime, Harry Richman has okayed headlining another Fischer vauder in the fall. Ditto Billy de Wolfe (opening at the Broadway Strand this week with Jimmy Dorsey's band for four weeks) and Truth or. Consequence,' brought from radio. AI Wilson Joins Up With Ed Smith Agency Al Wilson has joined Eddie Smith's agency in New York as an associate. Wilson for the past year or so had been conducting a talent agency in Miami, but with the Army taking over that resort he figured a move to N. Y. was expedient. RICHMAN, BERLE SET FOR CHI CHEZ DATES Chicago, May 5. . Harry Richman to return to Chi-z Paree May 22. Place has pencilled in Milton Berle to follow Riclunan, providing picture commitments do not interfere. 'AUCTIONEER' SUITS THad' Vs. 'Daffy* Anctloneers In ^25,000. Suit George Heather, actor, filed suit Thursday (30) in JS. Y. supreme court against Lionel Kaye, actor, and the J. O. S. Corp., producers of 'Sons of Fun,' seeking an injunction, ac- counting and $25,000 damages claim- ing plagiarism of his skit Plain- tifTs skit used by him since 1922, is entitled "The Mad Auctioneer' and Kaye's skit is called The Daffy Auctioneer.' While it is not claimed that actual dialog is the same, it is stated that the skits are similar in method and general continuity of presentation besides being similar in title. Copa's Sablon Error Despite announcements, Jean Sablon did not bpep at Mont6 Proser's Copacabana, New York last night (Tuesday). It was evidently a 'mistake' on the nitery's part Sablon v>9<; a deal pending for a South American tour, though this is not set as yet Detroit Groups Protest Transfer Of Night Clubs Near Churches 12 Men Get Off Ughtly In Cleve. Cafe Scandal Involving School Girls Cleveland, May 5. For contributing. to the delin- quency of one of four adolescent white girls, Harold Simpson, Negro entertainer, was fined $25 and given a suspended workhouse sentence of 30 days yesterday (4). Sentence meted out to 11 other night club fig- ures were surprisingly light consid- ering how the notoriety of case shook up night club row. Extenuating circumstances brought out in lurid testimony, most of which was muffled by newspapers, was the 'flagrant promlscuousness' of the four high school girls and the 'laxness'- of their parents. Latter, were blasted by Judge Hairy L. Eastman, who also ripped niteries as well as Ohio State Liquor Board for allowing likker to be sold to minors. Court psychiatrist In analyzing the so-called 'jitterbug vice cases,' blamed the absence of a proper home life more than the jernts named for the downfall of the girls. Those sentenced were: Nathaniel Spuriel, night club owner, nine months, $25 and costs; Joseph Po- lizzi, the same; Nick La Rlccla, 60 days and $50 fine; six-month work- house terms and fines of $25 were slapped on Grady Worthy, Eddie Scott and Charles Oates, cafe man- agers. Suspended 30-day sentences and fines of $25: William Coy, Louis Rosenberger, Andrew Czako and Charles Green, booker, while Joseph Bradfield got a Isuspended sentence of 60 days and a fine of $25. New Cafe in N. T. Albany, N. Y., May 5. Johann Strauss Cafe & Restaurant, Inc., has been chartered for business in New York. Detroit, May B. Transfer of numerous niteries and drinking spots here from areas around defense plants into the loop district Is bringing plenty of beefs from church groups. However, thus far the bonifaces have been upheld over the pastors, with the State con- tending that the niteries have a right to exist. The complaint is gathering more steam. The church organizations contend that it is an unwritten law of Michigan that no drinking estab- lishments may be set up within 500 feet of churches. Recently, as the state commission ordered spots out of locations near the defense indus- tries, licenses were transferred to 'Piety Hill,' or" North Woodward sec- tion, where plenty of churches are located. The commission claims it has to give the spots it Is moving some place to operate and that they are entitled to populous areas similar to those they had near the big plants. The protest was filed by the De- troit Council of Churches as well as specific pastors in the areas now starting to sprout with new clubs. They claim that in some Instances 'drmking establishments' have been sandwiched between two churches. In turning down the church protest at the moment the commission is worried about a bigger headache— the rapid multiplication o{ clubs and bars too close to each other. JOE L LEWIS RETURNS TO LOEW'S STATE, N. Y. Joe E. Lewis goes Into Loew'S State, New York, the week of May 21, fulfilling a previous contract. Obligation dates back to Loew's release of the comedian a few months ago so that he could go to the Coast for' a Universal picture with the Andrews Sisters. Wham''!! Said Variety. VARIETYt "Only Item to recommend thu show is BONNIE BAKER, now on her own after a long tenure with Orrin Tucker's band. She evi- dences CLICX POSSIBILITIES as ai single. A cute and tiny looker, Miss Baker knows how to handle a song and how to sell herself . . . the ex- cellent, assured way in which she handles such tunes as 'What Do You Think I Am, a Baby?' *Latin In the House,* *Lucky FeUow,' 'Mr. Smith,' *April Showers,' etc Miss Baker was a SOLID WHAM and the audience wouldn't let her get away." WALTER WEVCHELLi . . her charm... the poise that refreshes." MALCOLM JOHNSON, The Sum ''Engaging manner... steady tech- nique • • « audiences like her." Scho. DANTON WALKER, N. Y. DaUy Newst "Little Bonnie Baker is a click ... at the Hurricane." WILLIAM HAWKINS, N. Y. World- Telegram t ". . . capable projector of gentle-toned rhythms. , . ." DOROTHY KILGALLEN, N. Y. Joumal-Americani "GOLD STAR to BONNIE BAKER'S cntie pie crooning at the Hurricane." BONNIE BAKER HURRICANE, NEW YORK Personal Management HARRY BESTRY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ENGAGEMENT AT THE HURRICANE, BONNIE BAKER STARTS ON AN EXTENSIVE PERSONAL APPEARANCE TOUR WITH HER OWN UNIT. Press Representative :-DOUGLAS WHITNEY