Variety (Dec 1942)

«« OBCBESTBA OBOSSEa AH Bands' Theatre Business Boffo; Brown-lorocco' (iSG, Chi; J. Dorsey Plus'Dandy 70G.N.Y., New Record (Estimates for This Week) Les Brown, Chicago (Chicago; 4.000; 35-55-75)—Plus 'Road to Mo- rocco" (Par). Mammoth $05,000. Nevv Year's eve business, of course, help- ing with $1.50 scale effective from 6 p.m. on. Big lift here is from Crosby-Hope-Lamour starrer. Jimmy Dorsey, New York iSirnpd; 2.756: 35-55-75-85-99-$1.101 — Wilh 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' (WB) at pop scales following advanced-price road- show run at the Hollywood. The fourth time here, the Dorsey b;ii;d makes an ideal combination with 'Dandy' for near to $70,000. whlcl) cracks the all-time record here un- der present pitband policy and *^Clen Gray, Boston (RKO Boston; 3.200: 44-55-65-76-85)—With 'Nisht- mare' (U) and supporting stage bill. Fine $24,000. Woody Herman, New York (P,U'- amount; 3,664 ; 35.-55-8'>-99-$1.10)— With Hazel Scott, others, on stage, 'Road to Morocco' (Par) on screen. Finished seventh (Anal) round last night (Tuesday), first any show has held that long here, at close to $70.- 000, exceptionally big. Figure has been exceeded on opening v.eeks on only a few occasions. Eddy Howard, Chicago (Oriental; 3.20(j; 28-3.1-4-4-5n—With 'La'd.v' lri Distress' (Col). Soaring to scn.'Ja- lional $32,000 or boiler. Looks like new house mark, with Howard's or- chestra siven most of credit. In- cludes New Year's eve business, with scale at $1.10 from 6 p.m. Ina Ray HuUon, Pittsburgh (Stan- ;ioy: 3.800; 30-44-35-66)—With Marion Hulton and Modcrnaires. Jack Ou- ^ant and 'George Washington Slept Here' iWB). The s.a. band-leader has always had a strong b.o. dr.ift here and this time she has the holi- day and better stage and screen sup- port than usual, which should count up to socky $23,000, best here in a long time. With a New Year's Eve midniter coming up for this bill, gross may even go above that. MacFarland Twins, New York (State: 3,450; 39-44-55-75-99-$1.10)— With Jackie Miles and Mitzi Green on stage, 'My Sister Eileen' (Col) (2d run) on screen. Draft of stageshows among out-ot-towners over Christ- mas lending stout support for pic- lure: a very big $42,000 is seen, one of the best weeks ever done here and topped by only a few shows. Tommy Tucker, Philadelphia (Earle; 2.768; 35-46-57-68-75). Draw- ing $31,000. Picture draw. 'Whistling in Dixie' (M-G) also helping some. Best Sheet Music Sellers (Week ending Dec. 28) While Clirislmas Berlin Lighu Go On Again CLP There Are Such Things.-Yankee Craziest Dream BVC Why Fall in Love Harms Praise the Lord Famous Moonlight Becomes Famous Star Spangled Bainier Miller Me and My Gal Mills Five By Five Leeds I'm Getting Tired Army Daybreak Fe'st Manhattan Serenade Robbini Wednesdajt December 30, 1942 Inside Stuff-Orchestras Xavier Cugat and Carmen Cavallero continue to be mentioned as the bands which will probably get the m«ch sought after date at the new Hotel Statler on Sixteenth street in Washington. Hostelry plans to open to general public late in January and Is definite for main attraction of the President's Birthday Ball celebration here. Music Corp. ot Ainerlca and General Amus. Co. are canvassing name field for band to play this Jan. 30 date. Count Basie, who plays the Howard theatre that week, will play for the colored celebration under the direction of Abe Lichtman. Event is scheduled for the Lincoln Colonnade. Jerry^Waliln Buff. Aud, Draws 'Sweet' $1,700 (Esliniated) Bob Allen (Shubert theatre. New Haven, Conn.. Dec. 27). Allen's new band plus vaude. on first local stand drew estimated 3.500 admissions at 75c top; fair but biz off all over town. Herbie Kay (Chermot B.. Omaha, Neb., Dec. 26). Heavy storm cut Kay. and 1.200 at 85c was good in view of that. Jimmy Lunceford (Brookline C. C, Philadelphia, Dec. 20). Lunce- ford did surprisingly well, luring 1.021 hoofers at $1.10. Wayne Milton (Totem Pole B.. Au- burndale, Mass.. Dec. 25-26). Milton and Penn. Military College outfit are new here, and after slow 1,000 Fri- day (25) hit okay 2,100 Saturday at usual $1.45 couple for $2,558, fair, but okay for this part season and new band. Sigmand Bomberg (Erlanger the- atre, Buffalo. Dec. 27-28). Romberg's two concerts Sunday (27) and one Monday evening did approximately $5,000 at $2.20 top, good. Jerry Wald (Aud., Buffalo, N. Y., Dec. 26). For night after Christmas Wald did a sweet job here, drawing 1,400, capacity, for a gross ot $1,700. Bands at Hotel B.O/s (Pretented herexoith, <u a toeefcly tabulation, is the estlviated cover charga buslnesf being don* by name bands in varioxu New York hotels. Dlnn«r bttainest (7-10 p.m.) not roted. Figures after name of hotel give room capacity and cover charge. Larger amount designates weekend and holidav pric*. Thii compilation is based on the period from Monday- Saturday.) Coven Total WmIii Part Covsra Baad Bottl' FUtmI tVMk Oa D*t« Jan Savltt-. Astor (l.tWO; 75c-$U 7 3,100 19.475 RayHeatherton*..BUtmore (300; $1-$1.50) .35 900 23.525 Vaughn Monroe*..Commodora (SOO; $1-$1.50) 12 2,250 25,350- Lanl Mclntire*... I^exlngton (300; 75c-$1.50) 46 1,950 72.675 Mitchell Ayres ..Lincoln (225; 75c-$l) 3 700 2,175 Benny Goodman*.New Yorker (400; 75c-$l) 11 2,650 26,950 Charlit Spivak ..Pennsylvania (500; 75c-$1.50) 1 3,250 5.075 Guy Lombardo ..Roosevelt (400; $1-$1.50) 11 1,475 16,050 Xavier Cugat*Waldorf (550; $l.S0-$2) 6 2,825 11,950 Roosevelt hotel, N. Y., denies that it has any intention, or was even thinking about closing its Grill next month, for any reason whatever. It's stated that the room will stay open whether or not Guy Lombardo's band' continues through its scheduled engagement at the Roxy theatre, N. Y. Present plans call for Lombardo to double from the hotel to the the- atre, it's explained, with a standby band to fill in for the former during the time outs for theatre work. Somebody has been opening the mail of Paul Schwarz. president of musicians local 161, Washington. Missive from War Department sent on Dec. 4 arrived Dec. 20, marked 'opened by mistake.' Union head has also had wages garnisheed for unpaid bills of his namesake. Other irritations resulted In matter being referred to Federal Bureau of Investigation, with G-men calling in the envelope snipper tor a quiz. 10 Best SeDers on Coin-Machines (Records below are grabbing most nickels this week in jukeboxes throughout the country, as reported by operators to 'Variety.' Names of more than one band or vocalist a/lo; the tide indicates, in order of popularilv, lohose recordings are being played. Figures and names in parenthesis indicate the number of weeks each song has been in the list-:ngs ond respective publishers.) 1. White Christmas (11) (Berlin) ) Bing Crosby Decca (Charlie Spivak Columbia 2 When Lights Go On <10) (CLP) (Vaughn Monroe Victor ■ ( Lc; Brown Okeh 8. Had Craziest Dream (4) {Harry James Columbia "■■(Tony Martin . .' Decca 4. Why Don't You Fall Love (7» (Harms).. ) Conncc BoswcU Decca (Dick Jurgens Okeh 6. Dearly Beloved (6) (Chappelb { Alvino Key Victor ) Glenn Miller Victor 6 There Are Such Things (5i (Yankee) Tommy Dorsey Victor 7. Manhattan Serenade (8t (Robbins) ... J J'mmy Dorsey Decca (Harry James Columbia 8. Five By Five (9) (Leeds) J Andrews Sisters Decca I Freddie Slack Capitol 9. Daybreak (8) (Feist).. | Jimmy Dorsey Decca (Harry James Columbia 10. Moonlight Becomes You (1) (Famous) Bing Crosby Decca OTHER FAVORITES (These records are directly below first 10 in poptilarlti/. numbet of weeks in parenthesis are fading, others gaining.) Praise Lord (11) (Famous) | •^'>' Kyser.... (Merry Macs Decca Touch Texas (Southern) Freddy Martin Victor Brazil (Southern) Jimmy Dorsey Decca This Is Army (Army) Hal Mclntyre Victor There'll Never Be Another You (Miller) Sammy Kaye Victor For Me, My Gal "(Mills) j Judy Garland Decca (Guy Lombardo Decca Here Comes Navy (Shapiro) Andrews Sisters Decca Tunes with .Columbia Bine Gardens Burns With $30,000 Loss; Sth Band Spot Lost m Year Blue Gardens, Armonk, N. Y., roadhouse which played name bands up until six months ago,' burned to the ground Saturday (26) evening with a loss of $30,000. ^vhich. it's claimed, was partly covered by in- surance. Blaze was started by the explosion of an oil-burner. At the time the spot was partially filled with patrons, all ot whom got out without injury. Since dropping name bands after gas rationing started in July, the spot has operated only weekends with small, local orchestras. Bill Allen's outfit was playing the spot, which is owned by a Jake Abels. Blue Garde..s is the fifth subur- ban, N. Y., roadhouse user of bands or entertainment to be destroyed by fire in the last year. Last Janu- ary the Rustic Cabin. Englewood Cliffs. N. J., was levelled, and is now being rebuilt: Flagship, at Union, N. J., went the same way, ljut has been rebuilt. Fires closed the Colonial Inn, Singac, N. J., which tried name bands months ago with Tommy Tucker. Another was the Eldorado Club, Areola Manor, N. J. Mrs. Kramer Closes Ritz Deal With Harvard U. Mrs. Maria Kramer and Harvard University last week reached agree- ment on a price for the swanky Ritz Carlton hotel. New York, said to be around $3,500,000. Details of a deal are now being worked out and it's figured Mrs. Kramer will lake over by Feb. 1. Harvard U. tried to make a deal with the government, idea being that the hotel could be used as an Army hospital, but military authorities prefer larger buildings than the RiU. Sources close to Mrs. Kramer say she intends to jazz up Ihe stiff at- niosphere ot the Ritz and thus turn it Into a popular hotel. The revamp will also include a band policy, similar to that at the Edison arid Lincoln hotels in the Times Square * Asterisks Indicate a supporting floor show, although the band is tht major draw. Chicago Griff Wllllama (Empire Room. Palmer House; 600; $3-$4.50 min.). No letdown in business. Williams and the Hartmanns, heading floor show, responsible for 4,000 tabs last week. Art Kassel (Walnut Room, Bismarck hotel; 300; $1.50-$2.50 min.). Kasscl and a pleasant floor show drew 2.000 last week. Nell Bondshn (Mayfair Roonv, Blackstone hotel; 350; $2.50 min.). Bondshu has developed so well management ha.s extended stay until Jime. Renee DeMarco shares billing; 1,700 people last week. Stan Kenton (Panther Room, Sheridan hotel; 800; $1.25-$2.50 min.). Kenton proved good boxoffice. Jerry Wald opens New Years Eve. Around 3,700 last week. Rnss Morgan (Marine Room, Edgewatcr Beach hotel; 1,100; $1.25 min.). Morgan Is weU liked. Around 2,100 last week. Boston Eddy Oliver (Oval Room, Copley Plaza: 350; $1 cover). Sheila Barrett is headliner and credited with 1,158 covers Thursday to Saturday, opening three days, considered fine. Previous three days, Morton Downey In clos- ing successful four-week stay, garnered 602, good during Christmas week. Excellent dinner biz throughout week. John Klrby (Colonial Room, Copley Plaza; 306; 50c-$l). Ktrby main- taining steady draw for this new room; played to 1,000 during 'w«ek, wilh 196 Friday and 180 Saturday paying dollar cover, remainder In at 50c. Chick Floyd (Terrace Room, Hotel Statler; 450; $1 cover). Floyd has been consistent during long engagement; 800 paid cover charge last Fri- day-Saturday, only late nights. Dinner traffic at capacity all week. St. Louis Nick Stnart (Club Continental, Hotel Jefferson; 800; $l-$2 min.). Christ- mas splurge by natives reflected by sharp rise in biz done at this down* town spot. Stuart rounding out 15th week. Gillett and Richards, ball- roomologists, augmenting floor show. Total of 4,000 customers during last week. Minneapolis Ge«r(c Wald (Minnesota Terrace: Nicollet hotel; 500; $1-$1.50). Final week of Wald, who made favorable impression, ran Into pre-Christmas dip and attendance chopped to around 250 average. Poor. Art Kavelin band and Revel 8c Allen, Rex Owens and Doraine & Ellis current. Los Angeles Freddy Martin (Ambassador; 900; $1-$1.50). Thrived like others on big weekend: counted better than 4.500 covers on full stanza. Ozile Nelson (Biltmore; 1,200; 50c-$l). Nelson opened Xmas Eve just in time to dip into holiday gravy. Strong 5,500. Philadelphia Billy Marshall (Garden Terrace, Benjamin Franklin hotel; 500; no cover, $1.50-$2.S0 min.). Unprecedented record for room set last week with 2,517 dinner and 1,598 supper customers. Ice Show still the major at- traction. Walter Miller (Stratford Gardens. Bellevue Stratford hotel; 225: no cover or min.). Hurt by pre-Christmas slump vith 1.108 patrons for dinner and supper. Burgundy Room operated at the Bellevue this week with a cocktail trio. Location Jobs, Not in Hotels (Chicago) Loo Breese (Chez Paree; 650; $3-$3.S0 min.). Breese and Sophie Tucker continue to keep room well filled: 3.800 last week. Chico Marx (Blackhawk; 500; $1.25 min.). Marx takes the nod as the 'sleeper' band of the season here. Still drawing around 4,000 a week, Gracie Barrie replaces Jan. 27. Bob Owen (Happy Hour; 650; no cover or min.). Surprisingly good local band ran Into usual dip week before Christmas and patronage dwindled to 150 nightly. Bad. Fletcher Henderson current and other traveling bands follow. (Los i4ngeles) Gene Kropa (Palladium B, Hollywood: sixth week). Town overrun wilh furloughees who wore a path from Canteen here. Finaled to stout 21,000. Tommy Dorsey on deck. , Horace Heldt (Casa Manana B. Culver City; third week). Got in along with rest on big killing and drew week's total of around 8,000-after two n.s.g. stanzas. Noble SIssle (Trianon B. Southgale, first week). For band unknown to this industrial area Sissle swung into fast pace with 6,500 on week. Jan Garber (Casino B, Hollywood, first week). Garber well liked on west coast and at this spot, where he started pitch Xmas Eve, he racked up fine 5,500 admissions, big tor site. Floor show just an adjunct. No Green-Knight Deal The deal for tha Green Bros. & Knight catalog has gone cold. Lou Sarnoff, an outsider, who had been negotiating for the firm, decided that he preferred to invest in a larger catalog. Tha price, $10,000, was not a factor in the switch of interest. Meyer Davis again plays the Presidents ball at the Waldorf, N. Y.t Jan. 31, GOVT FILES AMENDED PETmON VS. PEimo Chicago, Dec. 29. The Government filed an amended petition in the U. S. District Court here last week in its anti-trust suit against James C. Petrillo, the Amer- ican Federation of Musicians and other officials of the union. The petition contains only minor changes from the original petition for an injunction to end Petrillo's ban on recording, which was dis- missed by Judge John F. Barnes.