Variety (Dec 1942)

Wcdneedaj, Dceembvr tf 194S VAUDBmLB 41 USO Troupe Details IiM^ Of Haying Bermuda, Iwt Extreme Enjoyment of Soldiers Was Worth If By LOO FBANKEL Performers slated to play Bermuda {or USO-Camp Sbow«, Inc, should be prepared for clammy weather, a shortaee of laundries, and beauticians with just about nothing In the way of accessories. According to Frank Conville, who headed a troupe which returned to New York last week from the isUnd. the best thing the gals can do is wear dresses that won't wrin- kle, while the men should stock up on 'thousand mile' shirts; L e., dark- colored shirts that won't show the wear and tear. But the soldiers' su- perlative enjoyment was enough to compensate for these Inconveniences, Conville reiterated. The troupe, consisting of Conville, Blo5som Sisters, Stan Kavanaugh, Ge^rude Briefer and Eleanor French, were on the scene for about three weeks. They left the main- land with the all-girl, all-ster troupe (Kay Francis, Martha Raye, Carole Landls and Mltzi Mayfair) that was headed for England. With them was Abe Lastfogel, prexy of USO-Camp Shows. And when the European Jaunt was delayed In Bermuda for nine days, the two units combined and gave the servicemen a number of two and one-half-hour shows. Everyone, stars as well as the others, bunked in the USO Flats, a 50c per night bunkhouse. By dint of much searching, the authorities man- aged to locate someone to press the stars' gowns, but everything else was strictly adllb. The gals washed their own hose and lingerie. The men washed their own shirts, and were lucky. In that Eleanor French toted a portable electric Iron with which their shirts were Ironed. Everyone naturally traveled ligH, especially the people bound for Eng- land. Abe Lastfogel, with six clean shirts in his kit. was on a spot, since, as the Camp Shows prexy, he was the recipient of numerous dinner In- vitations from assorted dignitaries, English as well as Yank. Most Shows Ontdeora Most of the shows were outdoors and several of them were given dur- ing rainfalls. Afternoons they usu- ally entertained at isolated posts and for hospitalized men. The shows for the isolated detachments were adlib gabfesU, with the men happy to just talk with the troupe. At these sessions Conville huddled with the men and fed them gags and anec- dotes. There were only a few regular stages available. Mostly they worked on planks that were slapped together or on a concrete floor. A couple of times they worked on tennis courts. All of these were a problem to Kavanaugh and Miss Briefer. Latter is a hoofer and does a routine that features a lot of splits. Kavanaugh, the juggler and rubber ball trickster, had to learn new methods of keeping his tricks going. The lights were usually mounted in gallon-size cans that formerly held tomato Juice. And, in most of these catch-as-catch-can showings, the pub- lic address system was on a par with everything else. Despite the handi- caps every one enjoyed everything, with the show people getting a bang out of the amazing reaction of the audiences. During the time the stars were with the troupe they did nine shows for the men, Mies Francis and Con- ville split the m.c.ing. Former and Martha Raye did the singing. Miss Mayfair hoofed and wound up with a jitterbug routine with the huskiest serviceman in the audience and, despite the disparity In their size, she'd toss him around and carry the Kuy off stage. The Kay Francis song was 'Brother, That's A Wolf,' and after a second show practically everyone on the island was using the wolf call' for a running gag. Wincheira Faux Pas Favorite hangout was the Pan American Airlines office where the entire troupe did a lot of radio listening. There the , stars heard Winchell announce they had arrived in England. There also they heard most of top radio programs which are shortwaved to the troops. Most of the films on the Island were oldies. The big favorite was My Favorite Blonde,' with Bob Hope and Madeleine Carroll. Other cur- l ent fare was 'Young as You Feel. Irish Luck,' 'I Married An Angel, Joan o£ the Ozarks.' 'One Night in (Continued on page 42) 2 of Mills Bros^ Now In War Service, Hypo Drive Richmond, Va., Dec. 1. Two of the Mills Bros., discovered at the Richmond Air Base where they are in service, helped swell the war bond total last week when they appeared at the Mosque In connec- tion with an all-Negro program dur- ing Women at War'Week. Negro women, staging a singing contest between various choirs In the city, had enlisted the help of the Mills, plus two other colored singers who made up a quartet and pre- sented five numbers. Also on the blU were Bob Robertson, former pianist and singer from the Cotton Club, and Floyd Smith end his 12- piece orchestra from Camp Lee, Admission to the event was through the purchase of war stamps, with two bonds as prizes to the local choirs winning the contest. NEW BREACH OF BOOKERS, AGVA IN PHILLY Philadelphia. Dec. I. W; has broken out anew between the American Guild of Variety Art- ists and Philly's booking agents, and this time It looks like the real thing. AGVA is threatening to open its own booking office. Agents are get- ting ready to toss their AGVA franchises Into the ashcan. Fur is flying around the Shubert Building, center of Philly's ten-per-center colony, over the new price scale established by AGVA. Last week everything looked rosy A committee representing the Enter- tainment Managers Assn. (bookers) and Its adjunct, the Cabaret Bookers Assn., met with a committee of AGVA's board, and agreed to the new price schedule calling for a 10% 'cost of living* increase in all catC' gories. But when the committee pre' (Continued on page 44)' ToungStown Showgirl Beaten; Seek Assailant Youngstown, O., Dec. 1. Police are seeking an unidentified assailant who waited in a darkened downtown hotel room until 4:40 a.m. Monday (23) to strike Sunny Lovett, showgirl who was returning- from work at the Grand Theatre, Youngs- town burlesque house. Stepping from behind the door, tbe man struck Miss Lovett on the head several times with a wooden club. Not seriously Injured she suffered bruises over her left eye and on her nose. N.Y. Par Option OnlnkspotsCues Booking Beefs Harry Levine, booker for the Par- amount theatre, N. Y., has protested the booking of the Inkspots for a week of single-day stands In various RKO nabe houses around N. Y. Le- vine lodged' his complaint with Moe Gale, Inkspots" manager, on the grounds that the Par had an option on the quartet's services, and that circulating them In outlying sections would Injure their next play-date at the Par. Latter house Includes clauses In all its contracts prohibiting per- formers signed from accepting (tetes within a radius of 50 miles of N. Y. for 60 days before and after playing the Par. This rule is often waived, however. All operators of theatres that could possibly play bands and vaude in the (Continued on page 42) Pay Disagreement In Chi Night Chibs Discussed by Assn. Chicago, Dec. 1. One of the salient points discussed at last week's meeting of the niinois Cafe and Cocktail Lounge Owners' Assn. at the Sherman Hotel, was the problem of talent buying. Members of the organization claim certain prices are submitted to some opera- tors and different ones to others. They feel they should have a Joint agreement on salaries. Meeting was presided over by David Branower, chairman of the executive board. An election of offi- cers will be held In two weeks. Boston, New York and Other Nitery Business Sharply Off Followmg Hub Fire; Key dties Ready Precautions Veloz & Yolanda Mild $3,000, Indianapolis Indianapolis, Dec. 1. V^loz and Yolanda, at $2.75 top and playing return engagement in their 'Dansation,' took mild $3,500 in three performances at English's (1,500- seater) Nov. 27-28. against stiff com- petition from Sonja Henie's 'Holly- wood Ice Revue.' Manager Vincent Burke reports lively advance sales for ZaSu Pitts in 'Her First Murder,' at English's, Dec. 3, 4, 5. Ballet Theatre, at English's for one performance tonight (Dec. 1) guar- anteed good house by Martens sub- scription series. Burke thinks effects of gasoline rationing, starting here today (Dec. 1), have already been discounted at boxofflce, since trade from nearby towns has been light all season. EARL CARROLL ASKS 25G IN CHI BREACH Chicago,- Dec. 1. Earl Carroll filed a petition in the U. S. District Court here last Friday (27) asking permission to file a suit against the Morrison Hotel Corp.. charging breach of contract and seeking damages of $27,000. Carroll charges that he entered Into an agreement with officers of the hotel last August to take over the Terrace Casino, which -was to be transformed into a theatre-res- taurant, and after he had spent $27,- 000 In costumes, scenery and made numerous contracts with perform- ers, the hotel's board of directors refused to honor the contract. The petition states that Carroll negotiated his contract with A. E. Bolt, treasurer; Frederick J. Best, assistant secretary, and Leonard Hicks, managing director - of the corporation but that the board of directors disapproved the deal. "Show Business At War THEME OJ THE 37th ANNIVERSARY NUMBER of To Be Published Late In December USUAL ADVERTISING RATES PREVAIL Special Exploitation Advantages Reservations and Copy May Be Sent to Any Variety Office NEW YORK 154 W. 46th St. HOLLYWOOD 1708 No. Vine St CHICAGO 54 W. Randolph St. LONDON 8 St Martin's PI. Boston is still In mourning as re- sult of the tragic Cocoanut Grove fire Sunday morning which took up- wards of 450 lives, and its reflex effect has been felt across the land. Where spots like the 600-700 capacity Latin Quarter in Boston only had 12 people Sunday night, it was almost as bad. in New York and Chicago, where biz dipped SO to 80%' in those places which operate Sundays. Monday, - a traditionally poor go- ing-out night—although with the de- Other stories dealing with the Cocoanut Grove fire are to be found on pages 1, 3, and 24. fense workers' trend it's been much better, for some months—saw busi- ness likewise dented. No question among cafe men that quick and intelligent psychological hypo to public confidence is neces- sary if things are to perk up. Com- ing now, in the face of the usual pre- Xmas lull, it's no small chore for all concerned. Theatre men, too, took cognizance of their fire precautions, exits, etc. (details in film section), while from coast to coast the following key city reports are but a cross-section of what has been the direct result of the Hub tragedy. FhiUy's Probe Philadelphia, Dec. 1. A double-header investigation of Philly niteries was ordered yester- day as an aftermath of the Boston holocaust. Lewis G. Hines, Stat* Secretary of Labor and Industry, and Philly Fire Marshall Alexander M. Smith sent their agents to all spots in this area to see whether their exits met with safety regula- tions. Also checked were decora- tions, which under the law, must be flreproofed. It was announced that 417 spots in Philly have dance licenses, including niteries, cafes, taverns and halls. A City Councilman, Charles B. O'Halloran, a former member of the board of Local 8, International AU liance of Theatrical Stage Employes, however, declared that all niteries should be forced to employ compe- tent electricians. With the war boom, there has been a rush for dance licenses from many small spots in all parts of town with little .supervision on the part of th* authorities. 'If we were to bear down on fire defense in Philadelphia, very few of the night clubs would remain open,* said Halloran. The way, most of them operat* is a crime—with their inflammable decorations, lack of exits, and no proper electrical equipment 'The clubs should have a compe- tent electrician to supervise and op- erate their electrical equipment They should exercise the same care and precautions that movies and theatres do.' Spriosndd Taltet Stock Spt'ingfleld, Mass., Dec. 1. Seeking to eliminate possible fire- traps ill Sprini;!fie!d, municipal and civic a|:encies have instituted a se- ries of investigations of public and private propcity. Building Commissioner Gordon Robertson ordered immediate in- spection of 'all places of public as- semblage' and Executive Secretary Ralph W. Ellis, Jr., of the Hampden County Safety Council sent out a bulletin ordering inspection of pub- lic buildings. One of the victim* of the Boston nitery fire was Gilbert W. Winslow. local safety engineer. Following conference t>etwecn Mayor Roger L. Putnam and fire and police officials, it was announced all municipal agencies would coop- erate to prevent duplication of the Boston disaster. Fire prevention laws here have prevented visiting opera companies from sf.iKing little more than con- cert versions here because of limi- tations of ihe .Municipal Auditorium staec. Tan't Happen' io NenarkT Newark, Dec. 1. Ncu ark'f. oiii^y dub patroo^s ^re