Variety (Dec 1942)

42 VAUDSVILLB ycdnend^j, December 2, 1942 Greaza Remains as A6VA Chieftain Pending Selection of Successor 4- Walter Greaza, due to return to the assistant executive secretaryship of Equity yesterday (1), will probably not resume his duties there tot sev- eral weeks because of failure of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America to name his successor as head of the American Guild of Va- riety Artists. Equity 'loaned' Greaza to AGVA after the Four A's took over the vaudeville branch for the pur- pose of setting the union on Its feet. Four A's huddled futilely last Fri- day afternoon in an effort to select a new executive to handle AGVA. There had been over 100 names sub- mitted to the committee, that total* Anally being pared to a list of 11. Indicated that someone within the Four A's setup will finally take over, rather than an 'outsider.' Another session on Friday (4) will again try to determine Greaza's successor. N. T. Confab Executive secretaries of all AGVA locals, excepting Frisco, Portland, Ore., and Cincinnati, concluded three days of confabs at union headquarters in New York on Mon- day (30). That afternoon they ap- peared before a special meeting of the international board of the 4A's to present their recommendations on the revamp of AGVA and a suc- cessor to Greaza. Their candidate to replace Greaza is Carl Dennis, the Detroit local's exec. sec. Among the reorganization sug- gestions was a plan to shift the national office to a midwest locale and another calling for an AGVA council staffed by the executive sec- retaries end national representa- tives. The 4A'8 is studying the report and is expected to act upon It at the next 4A's board meeting Fri- day (4). Saranac Lake By Happy Bcnway Saranac, N. Y., Dec. 1. Horace Bentley, ex-pianlst for Higgins and Bates and other stand- ard turns, is a new arrival at the Will Rogers. William 'Whitey' Matthews flash- ing his go-home papers. Hoofer made th6 grade in less than a year. Marthea Marryfield, ex-nltery dancer, still held to a strict bed routine. Mrs. Alice Van Ness, a newcomer at the lodge from Newark, Is get- ting better. Monroe Coleman, ex-NVAite pa- tient and former lab technician at the Rogers, is doing defense work for Lockheed in Burbank, CaL Bows to Clayton Cornell, man- ager of Schlnes' Pontiac theatre here, for the open-house welcome tendered ailing artists of the colony. Among those flashing good holiday reports from their medico. Dr. George Wilson, are Myron Tannen baum, Harry 'Slipfoot' Clifton, Joie Cowan, Slift (Warner Bros.) Farmer, John (legit) Eaton, and Isabel Rook Joy Navarre, entertainer, who made the grade here, sends swell reports from her home in Jamaica, L. I. Making the grade is Margie Regan, who has left for her New York home with expectations of resuming her post as secretary to Jimmy Johnston, the fight manager. Promoted to the post of downtown shippers for the Rogers patienls are Harry Feingold, Rogers Keene and Patricia Edwards. Mike Cojohn wires the colony that he's back on the Job. Ben Schultz, former Rogerslte, back at his duties at the Benson the- atre in Brooklyn. Write t« (hose who are UL TIP-TAP-TOE SUED ON Pin PACT BREACH Plea for Rainbow Room Pittsburgh, Dec. 1. Frank Matesic, local agent, suing Tin,^Tap and Toe, dancers, for $300 for running out on a written contract with him recently. Trio was playing Stanley, WB deluxer here, and Ma- tesic, upon learning that they had two open weeks, contacted the hoofers about a date at the Merry-Go-Round, nitery here he's been booking. Their N.Y. agent wasn't satisfied with the money Tip, Tap and Toe were offered, but. told Matesic if threesome was satisfied, they could go ahead with the deal. Dancers agreed to the short coin for their layoff period and signed on the dot- ted line with Matesic. Meantime, an offer at a bigger sal- ary came to Tip, Tap and Toe's agent through Joe, Hiller, another local booker, for a date at Gray Wolf Tavern in Sharon, Pa., and that was accepted. As a result. Tip, Tap and Toe failed to show up at Merry-Go- Round after that spot had advertised them extensively, and management was forced to book in a substitute act at last minute. MPLS. NITERIES HIT BY DEARTH OF NAMES Minneapolis, Dec. 1, Increasing shortage locally of well-known and name bands and acts for night clubi Is a current headache. One leading club, the Hotel Radlsson Flame Room, has entirely eliminated its band, danc- ing and entertainment. Committed to a policy of well- known bands, the local Happy Hour has been forced to spot a local out- fit currently. Bob Owens. I,atter followed Carlos Molina, with Fletch- er Henderson due afterwards. Mo- lino had played his second local engagement within a few months and Henderson also was here the past fall. The Minnesota Terrace In the Hotel Nicollet is bringing in un- known and inexpensive orchestras, but concentrating on floor show acU. In St. Paul, the Hotel St. Paul devotes its entertainment mainly to a single outstanding floor show personality to supplement a local dance band. The St. Paul Hotel Lowry uses outside unknown bands and Curly's here has pick-up floor show acts with Twin City orches tras. New York. Editor, 'Variety': Many of us have been reading with deep. regret and sincere con- cern about the contemplated closing of the Rainbow Room. Those of us who have had the pleasant privilege of doing business with the manage- ment look upon it this way: John Roy, a cultivated gentleman of high personal integrity, who had devel- oped In himself an intelligent show- manship that was also characterized by surprising courage. He dared to introduce artists who represented a new phase in floor entertainment The acts without losing their intrin- sic, popular aspect, seemed to t>e clothed with smart distinction and unobtrusive dignity. Here, one dis- covered a helping hand to new art- ists, and many of these have since justified the confidence placed in them by quickly becoming names on the radio, stage and screen. But there is the public, too. Here you could bring your mother, your grandmother, your aunt from Du- buque. You could bring your wife and your children. Many such fam- ilies came. You could hear a father tell his young ones, as they came into Rockefeller Plaza, something about the magnificent buildings, the enterprise of the Rockefellers, their benefactions; as he walked through the spacious and impressive corri- dors ha pointed to the historic mu- rals; then you got into the speedy elevators and remarked with know- ing pride that they ascended at the astounding rate of 1,400 feet per minute. Then you came to the Roof. Here, before the dimout regulations, you announced with civic glee, 'Here is New York!' And you looked out across the million needle points of light that pricked the dark pano- rama. New York rolled out at your feet; you looked at It from the height of 65 stories of Rockefeller achieve- ment. You could point to the Statue of Liberty. It meant something. This is not just.another night club. The Rainbow Room is a contribution of modern America. It is Institu* tlonal—that's it, institutional. People come from everywhere and go back home and tell a wondrous tale of be- ing in the Rainbow Room .in Rocke- feller Center. There is pride in It. It belongs. It has become a part of something. .would sadden you if you walked along Fifth avenue and looked up and knew the Rainbow Room was no longer there. You would feel as if the RCA building were unfinished, lopped off. Benjamin David. USO to Aussie Contliaoed from pace and operates with a $15,000 per month grant from Camp Shows. Also in thi ofTlng but still in the shadowy atages are plans for supplying shows to Yanks In other foreign areas. Wherever possible these will utilize local organizations and manpower. This desire to tread tenderly yet firmly is regarded in informed cir- cles as aimed at not offending other charitable organizations which were active In providing entertainment for the AEF in the first World War and have felt that Camp Shows should confine itself to the U, S. A. and let them service the AEF'b. JlntiDjr Mlaiaella'a or^h has been booked b^-Verne's, Detroit nitery. USO Troupe Continued from oage 41 New Show Dee. 9 Status quo continues in the Rain- bow Room's plans to try and work out a compromise with the waiters and cooks unions. Meantime a new show bows in next Wednesday (9) headed by Rosita Segovia, 21-year- old premiere ballerina with the Bar- celona Opera and Mexican Sym- phony whom managing director John Roy saw in Havana. Her U. S. debut depends on getting a U. S. entry visa, which,, however, is ex- pected soon. Walton & O'Rourke mark their return and Eleanor French also comes in with the new show plus the Leo Reisman and Dacita (rhumba) bands. Paris' and 'Melody For Three.' All of these were regular 35 mm. prints with the 16 mm, issue of the new re leases due to arrive any day. Aside from Bob Hope, the big clicks with the troops were the Superman shorts. One of the performers ran into an ex-customers man who, back in 1929, had sold him a flock of stocks and bonds that went down the drain with the crash. Frank Convllle ran into Frank Simeone, once a saxman with the Bobby Byrnes orch. The footer was surprised to hear that one of the columnists back in the U.S. had him 'killed In action' in the Solomons. The troupe clippered out of Ber- muda last week and was well en- route to N. Y. when a sudden heavy storm drove the plane back to Ber- muda. Since the Clippers travel with the windows curtained, the troupe didn't know they had returned to Bermuda. Consequently the biggest laugh of the trip was the remark of Conville, who said, as they disem- barked in what he thought was Long Island, 'Kinda warm for New York this time of the year, isn't it?' Jack Pepper, formerly operator of a-night club in Dallas, inducted by Army. U.S. Tax Bureau Granted Time Extension on Plea Vs. Social Security Decision The U. S. Department of Internal Revenue has asked and received an extension of time in which to file an appeal against prior decisions which upheld the contention of the Music Hall, N. Y.. that acts booked by it are not subject to'social security de- ductions by the theatre, since they are independent contractors. Argument on appeal and resultant decision may have some bearing on the wage stabilization provisions un der which clarification Is being awaited as to whether bands, simi larly to acts, are to be classified as employees or employers. The Music Hall originally brought its case against social security for employees of acts in the N. Y. state courts, and won. Subsequently, a few months ago, the U. S. district courts in effect upheld the decision of the state tribunal classing acts as independent employers. Dept. of Internal Revenue was to irave appealed by yesterday (1), but on Friday (27) applied to the Federal court in N. Y. for a 30-day extension to permit the department time to perfect an appeal. Freeman Bonstdn. Fantastic Vande Fpre of Yesteryear. Kes in H woe Cafes' Midnlto Closing h Frisco Set for Dec. 10 San TranclMO, Dm. L Date for tha clampdown, In form of an earlier oloalng hour oa all local tavarna and night clubi, haa been set for Dao, 10 by 6aorga Rellly, of Stata Board of Equalisa- tion, liquor enforcement body. The closing hour decreed t^y RaUlr U midnight, in placa of 1 a.m. hour specified by atata law. In the absence of legislation to enforce the earlier shuttering, Rellly said that any drlnkery that aoet not conform voluntarily will ba de- clared out of bounda by the mili- tary authorities, and that then the state board will suspend the license for the duration. Nitery operators, who believe their chances of survival depend on revising the night clubbing habits of the populace, are planning to start operations much earlier every evening. Tha rule will ba dinner starting at 6 p.m., dancing at 6:30, and floor shows at 7:30 or 8 o'clock. A new military order, also ef- fective December 10, may throw some mors biz to tha taverns be- tween 10 p.m. and midnight. New order will permit drinking by service men at bars from B p.m. to midnight Heretofore, soldiers could not be served liquor after 10 p.m. FRIARS IN WOW SHOW: GROSS ABOUT 66 By JOE SCHOENFELD Friars Club staged Its best Frollos in years Sunday night (20) at tha Music Box, N Y., with tha variety show grossing around $5,000 from tha ticket sale, thus insuring a home for the klabiasb players for at least an- other year. Another estimated grand or so was realized from the program. It was the 34th Frolic since the club's Inception and two of its form- er Abbotts, Milton Berle, who m.c.'d virtually the entire affair, and George Jessel, who came over late from 'Show Time' (Broadhurst), wete among the entertainment wows. Berle kept bowling 'em over from the start, although, for some strange reason, complained about the au- dience. Jessel came late and, despite the flock of preceding acts, came close to stealing the show. Where his applause left off, Ella Logan, also from 'Show Time,' picked up and the fine little singer tied the au- dience into a knot. Her 'Sunny Side of the Street' delivery was among the evening's standouts. Also an applause smash was James Barton, on early with his classic 'Mad Dog' routine and a comedy dance followup. Barton appeared to be In his old Palace form and held the audience tight despite the famil- iarity of his material. Cross and Dunn were other top clicks, ably ac- comped by Newman Freres at the piano. Gypsy Rose Lee, Bobby Clark and Georgia Sothern, in the 'Crazy House' scene from 'Star and Garter,' the Music Box's home production, were among the Frolic's high spots; ditto J. C. Flippen, Calls Bros., Block and SuUy, Lucille Norman, 'Show Time' feature; Romo Vincent, Sammy Walsh, Frank Paris, The Marvelettes, the Latin Quarter nit- ery choral and chorus groups, and Jackie Miles, who was tha high scorer of last year's Frolics. A number of performers billed failed to appear, but they evidently weren't missed. The Frolics let out at midnight and none of the pew- holders could have been dissatisfied, even those sitting In the $13.75 top- priced seats. Sal Rechhl left Johnny Kaaihue and his Hawalians following run at Hotel Roosevelt, Pittsburgh, to form his own cocktail unit Freeman Bernstein, one of tha moat fantastlo yet colorful charac- ters known In and out of tha vaude- ville field that was, died Tuesday (1) In Hollywood. Ha had been 111 for soma tlma andt anticipated his demise, according to a note found in hli pocket Bernstein was visiting William X. Howard at tha letter's hotel room when stricken with a heart attack. Ha was 74. Bernstein trouped vauda shows to strange places and sometimes he stranded them but at heart he was a con artist Hia exploits were of such an unusual nature that tha stunts supplle*}- many humorous stories written by Sima, the yarns appearing In "Variety.' At various periods In his career tha cops caught up with him and he l>ecame more or less familiar with the Tombs prison but somehow he managed to walk out a free man. Perhaps that stunt that gave * Broadway the biggest laugh was a reputed deal with Hitler to deliver a shipload of nickel for which he was supposed to have been paid $250,000. When tha vessel arrived on the other side it was discovered that the cargo was virtually useless. Bernstein was brought back from tha Coast because of that incident but he 'beat the rap' with ease. One of the stories of hia far away wanderings had him touring a show through Mongolia, traveling by camel, oxen, or other means and ac- cepting furs in lieu of admission. From tha Orient ha brought con- siderable jade, much of which ha sold on tha Coast but whether ha smuggled in the stuff, was never clear. Bernstein had the native ability to borrow cash and his credit was con- siderable because when he was again In tha chips ha paid off. For that reason, perhaps, ha could always borrow up to $500 In any branch of tha William Morris agency. Sev- eral years ago ha returned to N.Y. from a trip loaded with money ha disgorged from all pockets and even his shoes. That was one time that he took care of creditors. For years ha conducted a vaude- ville booking agency with hia lata brother Samuel and what went on in that office furnished much of tha comedy that appeared in •Variety* stories. His wife was May Ward who, with her 'Dresden Dolls,' ap« peered in vaudeville. How he bor- rowed money from her furnished another line of comic incidents con- nected with an up and down show- man of the past. For some time he was reputed to be partners in a racing stable with Charles Pope and there were laughs about that Inter- lude too. Pope, who was an unusual character too, recenUy died broke. M. Y. Par ConUnued from page 41 New York area are awaiting the re- sults of the RKO experiment, which begins this Friday (4). It's flgured that if the Inkspota, with Tiny Brad- shaw's band and a group of acts, are signally successful, it might provide tha impetus for Loew's and Inde- pendent houses to go in for a similar policy, which, It's believed, might begin a booking battle royal benefit- ing performers. There are few houses outside met- ropolitan N. Y. playing bands and vaude currently. Fox, Brooklyn, uses such shows sporadically (opened with Glenn Miller In Sept and played the InkspoU and Lucky Millinder's band later), which was tmderstood to be an effort to cut Into tha Flat- bush, Brooklyn, which didn't resume stageshows then, but la about to. Brandt-owned Flatbush and Windsor, Bronx, go back Into name bands Xmas Day, playing Sonny Dunham and Hal Mclntyre tha fuU holiday week, then weekends only thereafter. Both houses have been staging stock legit Other houses that could conceiv- ably wade Into bands and vaude are the Piramount Brooklyn, for which a plan has supposedly been under consideration, and the RKO Albee, Brooklyn, opposition to both the Par and Fox. Loew's Metropolitan is in that area, too, and in almost every situation that chain bucks an RKO house. There are Loew and RKO houses In opposition to each of the Brandt theatres, also. Kenmore, Brooklyn, which will play the Ink- spots-Bradshaw unit is only a few doors from the Flatbush.