Variety (Sep 1942)

Wednesdaj, Septibmber 80, 194t YAllDEyiLLE 47 Equity Averse to AGVA Takeover; Unk Predicated on 'Good" Org. Plan; Variety Actors Would Get No Vote -ft : Stage Unions Meet in New York To Define Jurisdictional Status Of Shows Presented in Legit Houses While the possibility exists that Equity will absorb the American Guild of Variety Artists, per the suggestion of the latter's administra- tive chairman, Walter Qreaza, the legit unioti doesn't welcome the idea. • If and when the takeover is ef- fected, however, AGVA will be Iden- tified as "Variety Equity,' meaning another Equity arm such as Chorus Equity, the members of which do not have voting privileges. While Greaza's report to the As- sociated Actors and Artistes of America, after 18 weeks as director of AGVA on loan from his assist- ant executive secretary post at Equity, did not specifically mention- the fact, it's also known that he is desirous of getting rid of the ex- traneous job at AGVA, a headache for all who have tried to solve the riddle. Greaza's report and proposals for the future of AGVA were read to the Four A's at the tail end of the latter's meeting last Wednesday (23), and thus no discussion took place then and there. A special meeting has been called for today (Wednes- day) strictly to consider Greaza's analysis. It's indicated that Equity will agree to take over AGVA only if a good organizational plan is worked out—and also only if its sister unions In the Four A's agree to cooperate financially. It's figured that an ad- di.ional organization fund of at least $50,000, which would be kept sepa- rate from Equity's, will be needed to effect the change and put AGVA on its feet. AGVA already owes Equity $35,000, plus $40,000 to Screen Ac- tors Guild. SAG NoUbly Concerned SAG, it's claimed, should be par- ticularly concerned in AGVA's fu- ture—not only because it's the heav- iest creditor, but also due to the fact- that its executive secretary, Kenneth Thomson, played a major part in the revocation of the char- ter to the American Federation of Actors, which AGVA supplanted. There was bad feeling between Thomson and Ralph Whitehead, head of the AFA, and this built up to the ultimate investigation of AFA's ad- ministration. When the Four '.'s finally voted out AFA it was not with the full assent of Equity. Bert Lytell, now Equity's president, was out of town at the time the vote was taken, with Winifred Lenihan, his alternate, voting against AFA although there was an agreement that no vote was to be taken in Lytell's absence. Miss Lenihan is among those former Equity councillors who resigned a year or .so ago due to di.ssali.sfaction with the election at that time. She is now inactive in Equity affairs. Greaza's report to the Four A's stressed that AGVA's setup is eco- nomically unsound and that there's no salvation for the union as cur- rently organized. The locals are in- effective. As variety actors move from one point to another they pass Into different local jurisdictions within their own union, which ex- plains the frequent mixups that have arisen. Present .sy.stem of lo- cals also calls for expensive opera- tion, what with officers, office rent and staffs, which AGVA can ill af- ford. It's believed that Grcaza proposed scrapping the locals and that the variety union's organization be set Up along Equity's lines, i.e.. local representatives in key spots who are answerable fully to the council in CHI'S CHICAGO THEATRE SETS TOP ATTRACTIONS Chicago, Sept. 29. Topline attractions slated for Bala- ban & Katz's Chicago theatre In the ensumg- two months arc headed by name bands. They are; Bob Crosby, Oct. 23; Glen Gray, 3ct. 30; Woody Herman, Nov. 6; while the Andrews Sisters play a re- urn engagement Nov. 13. Nov. 20 ^rmgs in a Diamond Horse.shoe •aude unit produced by Billy Rose. _ John Klrby's small band play.s the ■arle theatre, Philadelphia, week "f Jet. 9. Yaode Version For Rose's Nitery Show Billy Rose Is planning to send a duplicate version of 'Mrs. Astor's Pet Horse,' current show at his N. Y. Diamond Horseshoe, on the road Presently he is setting up a number of dates in vaudfllm houses, with the unit slated to open at the Adams, Newark, tomorrow (7). Show is being staged by John Murray Ander- son. Cast for the touring 'Horse' version includes Gilda Gray, Charles King, Aunt Jemima, Walter Dare Wahl, the Great Yacopis, Pansy the Horse, Cecil Lewis and Harry Mee- han. Unit goes to Stanley, Pittsburgh, for week starting Oct. 9; fearle, Phil- adelphia, Oct. 16; RKO, Boston, Oct. 23; RKO Palace, Albany, Nov. 5; Palace, Cleveland, Nov. 13; Chicago theatre, Chicago, Nov. 20 and Am- bassador, St Louis, Nov. 27. AGVA SIGNS UP 5 NITERIES INN.Y. New York local of the American Guild of Variety Artists has signed two cafes, both in Brooklyn, nego- tlF.ted contract renewals with three others, and is currently talking with Leon & Eddie's to give that spot an 'A' rating instead of the current "C teg. New signers are the Club Bali and Oetjens, both of which signed the AGVA minimum basic agreement. They are rated 'C with minimums of $45 for principals and $30 for the chorus. Renewals are La Conga, 'A' rating, minimums raised from $'.3 foi principals, $40 for line, to $75- $45; Rogers Corner, the ex-Dempsey Restaurant across the street from Madison Square Garden, 'B,' from $45-$30 to $55-$35; Flynn's, Brook- lyn, 'C from $40-$27.50 to $45-$30. Toughest job at the moment is to reclassify Leon & Eddie's. Under it.; old AGVA contract, negotiated by a previous administration and voided as of Sept. 30 by Ross Pepe, prexy ot the New York local. Leon & Eddie'.<: operiiled with a 'C classifica- tion. Under the AGVA minimum basic agreement this calls for miri- nuims of $.50 to principals and $30 to line girls for three shows a day. Spot has a foui-show policy and had special dispensation in its old AGVA pact. Now, since the 5pot conforms lo AGVA's regulations for top rating, the union wants to give it an 'A' classification. This will mean $75- $45 minimum?, and pro-rata for the extra shows. The spot countered v'Uh an offer of a $5 lilt lo the line and $10 to the principals. The club has an 'A' rating with the musicia. s unon. Anthony Sharkey Gets Suspended Sentence Philadelphia, Sept. 29. Anthony C. Sharkey, former agent- in-charge of enforcement of thea- trical booking license law. was handed a suspended sentence on Thursday (24) by Judge Hiram H. Keller of Bucks county, on the charge of abet- ting an illegal strip show. Sharkey was fired from his State Job shortly after Liquor Board agents found him tending bar at the Villa, a roadhouse, near Parkland. Pa.. Shar- key, now a welder, was one of six persons who received a su.spended sentence. The judge imposed a $400 fine on the proprietor of the Villa, Anthony J. Cortese, despite the lat- ter's contention that the girl was performing 'an exotic dance' and not a strip tea.se. Sharkey defined an 'exotic dance' as one in which the performer lifts her veils and '.swishes them around.' In a strip, said Sharkey, the veils are removed. Force 'Banner' Respect Minneapolis, Sept. 29. , An ordinance Is being intro- duced Into the city council here to prohibit dancing in night clubs to "The Star-Spangled Banner' and to require greater respect for the song. It all came about because of an Imbroglio In a local nitery— Andy's. The fracas ensued when some of the dancers insisted on continuing cutting rugs when the band switched from a dance number into 'The Star-Spangled Banner' In an eilort to quiet an argument. Three of the offenders are alleged to have made pro- Hitler remarks and have been apprehended and taken into cus- today by the FBI. The proposed ordinance would require every person to stand at attention during the playing of 'The Star-Spangled Banner.' CLUB DATES HIT HARDINPHILLY Philadelphia, Sept. 29. Nitery biz is reaching boom-town proportions in Phllly, with Friday and Saturday nights resembling New Year'* Eve in the cafe belt, but (he club-date performer is on starva- tion rations. War industrial boom has just about killed the convention biz in this town, which in recent years had be- come a 'convention mecca.' Not only have many industrial groups called off conventions for the duration, but even those organizations which are holding conclaves these days ■^re steering clear of Philly. In the first place there are few accommodations left in the local hotels, with war plant execs. Army, Navy and Marine personnel taking over most available space. Another factor is that many groups feel that money ordinarily spent on conven- tion 'frivolity' is unseemly in these times. • So the club-date entertainer is looking for a job in a war plant. And so far three club bookers hav; gone out of business. 'SHOW TIME' $24^00; 'PRIORITIES' MHJ) 17G 'Show Time,' the Fred Finklehoffe- pre.senled biglime vauder at the Bioadhurst, N. Y., is a boxoffice mopup, doing near-capacity $24,300 in its second week ending last night (Tuesday). In contrast, 'Priorities of 1943,' the other vaudeshow pre- sented by Clifford C. Fischer and the Shuberts, fell off sharply in its second week and got $17,200. Priorities' last Saturday (26) tried an innovation via a midnight show, figuring that the dense weekend mobs on Broadway would go for a l.'>te-hour stage show. The test of thu initial show was not accurate, however, due to the heavy rain which completely stymied transient trade. Gross for that show was cliiimcd at over $700, still I'alher poor. N. Y. YersaiUes Offers Rae-Waterfall $1,590 Cancellation by the N. Y. Ver- .saillcs of Nan Rae and Mrs. Water- fall (Maude Davis) four days after that nitery's new show, 'Life With- out Men,' opened Sept. 17, has re- sulted in a salary dispute between the class eatery and the femme com- edy team. The act was booked into the spot with a six-week contract at $500 per. With the cancellation, the Versailles management offered them $1,500 in .settlement, but the leam is holding out for the full amount of the con- irnct, i. e.. $3,000. Paul Draper .substituted for the team. Barnes Joins Thornhill Johnny Barnes, hoofer, has joined the Claude Thornhill orch unit now touring the vaudcrs. They are .tet for two weeks, so far; Ihe Colonial theatre, in Dayton, week of Oct. 2. and the Circle, Indianapolis, week of Oct. 9. ^ Carroll Sets Clark For H'wood After Chi Snag Pittsburgh, Sept. 29. Coleman Clark, table tennis champ who was supposed to have been in Earl Carroll's opening show at the Morrison Hotel in Chicago, will work for Carroll anyway, despite fact that the Chi project failed to jell. Pro- ducer has signed the ping-pong troupe to open an Indefinite engage- ment at his theatre-restaurant in Hollywood on Oct. 27. Meantime, Clark was able to accept a return date here at Nixon Cafe when the Chicago booking fell through. He was here..just.a few weeks ago and went over so big at the downstairs cafe that manage- ment brought him back as soon as possible. Act includes Bob Ander- son, former Olympics ping-pong player, and Wally Sherwin, who does the announcing. Clark closes here Saturday night (3) and will play couple of theatre dates in midwest on his way to the Coast. BERT WHEELER IN PRIORITIES' PAY ROW After Harry Richman made an an- nouncement to the Thursday (24) matinee audience at the 46th St. the- atre, N. Y., that one of the co-stars of 'Priorities' would not go on, and that customers could ask for refunds if desired, Bert Wheeler finally made an appearance with the show. He, along with Richm'an and Carol Bruce, are stars of the Clifford C. Fischer vaudery. Wheeler balked at making an appearance because he was deducted a couple of hundred dollars due to a switched Broadway opening schedule. When Wheeler had to cut short his stay at the Central, Passaic, N. J., by two final shows, in order to break in with Fischer's vaudeshow in New Haven he thought he would be paid in full for the opening week. Instead he was le.ss a couple of shows due to the 'Priorities' debut on Broadway on a Tuesday night. His attorney. I. Robert Broder. had ad- vised Wheeler not to go on until paid, but after Richman's spiel he finally made it. Only a few people got their money back upon the Wheeler an- nouncement, the olher.f, mostly a fcmme mat attendance, waited to see the show regardless. Wheeler was forced to pay the Passaic management $500 in order to make the 'Priorities' New Haven break-in in time. Originally, before accepting the Jersey date. Wheeler claims Fischer assured him the straight-vaude show would not open out of of town before Friday, Sept. 11, which would have enabled Wheeler to comfortably complete the Passaic date, a Thursday closing. Fischer then moved the N. H. date ahead one day whereupon Wheeler insisted that he should be paid in full for the first N. Y. week. The matter is now being ironed out by both sides and their lawyers. Year-Round Vaude Set For State, Benton Harbor Followins successful experiment witli unit show.s one-half of the week at the Stale, Benton Harbor, Mich., during Ihe summer, the theatre, .■.tarting tomorrow iThui.sday), goes li' a split-week policy. While orig- inally planning slage .'ihows only fcv the summer, since Benton Harbor is a resort town, the thought now i make il a year-ioiind propo.sjtion Jack Linder. former N. Y. booker and Ictjit producer, is pulling on the show.'.-, booking the bands, vaude act.' and line u'lrh from Chicaeo Joint nvtfting of most stage unions was held at the New York offices of Equity Monday (28) for the prin- cipal purpose of defining the types of shows which h%ve been and are being presented in legit theatres. Question has been on the minds of union leaders for some lime and on* organization (scenic artists), which felt that it was shut out entirely, is adamant over getting the opinions of other unions. [Appointment of a permanent standing committee of all stage unions to handle jurisdictional * classi/ication of various border- line shows has been approved by ^ union reps. The group will be aimed to solve such problems as those arising out of presentations like the two 'Priorities' 'Star and Carter' and 'Wine, Women and Song,' as well as such produc- tions as the ice shows at the Center theatre, N. Y., and Madi- son S(iuare Garden, N. Y. When the committee has been set up and is tn operation, alt managers of shows not clearly defined as coming in a specific category will be required to ap- pear before the joint group. All pertinent evidence will be heard and a final decision, binding on all participating unions, as well as on the management, will be handed down. Equity has already approved the proposition for itself and Chorus Equity, and the other unions involved have either okayed it or are to do so this week. Equity's representatives on the joint committee will be Bert LyteU, Paul Dullzell, Afred Harding and Chares Mantia. Chorus Equity will be repre- sented by Ruth Richmond and Gerald Moore. Other unions to join in the move include Ameri- can Guild of Variety Artists, Agents & Managers, stagehands, treasurers, scenic artists, theatri- cal wardrobe attendants and the musicians. First formal meeting of the joint committee is sched- uled for Monday morning (5)]. Vaude-revues such as 'Priorities' which rekindled the two-a-day vaude vogue, is the type of show which aroused doubt among the union peo- ple. Different conditions are required by the backstage unions if the show is a legiter, vaudeville or burlesque outfit. Indicated that spotting such shows in legit spots, at admission prices under straight play -scales, inspired doubt among the union people. When "Wine, Women and Song' was first reported. Equity was one of the first unions to express inlere.st as to class- ification. Stated then that if that .<;how was designed to oppose any legit attraction ('Star and Garter' in particular), it was not Equity's In- tention to permit showings on a seven-day basis, with the number of performances weekly exceeding that set for legit. Eight limes weekly Is Equity's rule, with additional per- formances calling for one-eighth more each show. Tho.se at Monday's session are to report opinions expressed to the boards of their respective unions and decisions may be made by the organi- zations separately or in concert. Association of Theatrical Agents & Managers was repre.sentcd. al- though recognized by the manage- ments of the vaude revues, each of ' which has a press agent in addition to company and house managers. That point may figure in possible ac- tion by the other union.<:. Philly AGVA to Ask 10% Increase in Oct. Philadelphia, Sept. 29. 'Cost-of-living' increase of at least 10% will be asked by the American Guild of Variety Artists in new con- tracts next month. The exact arrlount of the rai.se. to be applied uniformly in all elafWr.' '"' fications, will be determined at ■ meeting of the AGVA local board here at a meeting today i29). All cafe operators, theatres and agents will be notified and will be given from 15 to 30 days notice before the new scale will become operative. AGVA's action followed a similar step taken by the American Federa- tion of Musicians, who.se upped scale of 15% went into efff*"' T.abnr Dnv