Variety (Feb 1943)

Wedneedaj. Februry 17, 194S VAimiVILLB 87 Shehrey Names 2d ItoT Rep Second of tht three national field representative! ordered to 'crack down' on delinquent locaU throughout the country was named last week by Matt Shelvey, new national administrator for the American Guild of Variety Artists. Latter has taken drastic measures to effect a complete overhauling of the various local AGVA offices. Changes would include sweeping curtailments and serving notice to locals that If they continued to be delinquent in their payment of per capita tax to the national office, the offending locals would be eliminated end the area taken over by a national AGVA representative. The three field reps—one each for the east, west and Coast districts —will be entrusted with the task of making the various locals toe the mark. Jack Irving, local AGVA exec secretary in Chicago, was chosen tot the midwest post two weeks ago, and last week Shelvey an- nounced the appointment of Miss Fiorine-Bale, exec secretary of the Los Aneelcs local, to handle the chore on the..Cqast. Selection of a permanent director .for the Sarf Francisco local, as succc.«sor to Shelvey there, rests between' Dick Barclay, formerly of the exec board of the Detroit local, and Al McKaye, who is present- - ly national rep in the Washington AGVA office. CoiniiBttee Seeb Greater Autonomy For N.Y. AGVA; A^ Open Eledion I3 Mos. After Cocoamit Grove Disisler. Hd) Niteries Remain Far Below Par Andrews Sisters open a ihree- month tour of picture hoi.scs this week, starling Feb. 18 in Oakland and swinging from coast to cuii.'-t. Sisters are due back ai Uiiivci.-al June 7 to start another picture, still unthled. . Dissension within the American 4' Guild o( Variety Artists flared anew last weekend, when an advisory'com- mittee of the New York local dis- closed it would petition the parent Associated Actors and Artistes of America for an open election and the setting up of a local board comprised of rank-and-file members. Claimed by the advisory group that, 'lack of membership participa- tion' in the N. Y. local is responsible for the 'general rundown condition' of the AGVA chapter, with Arthur Wiird, chairman of the committee and a former member of the national board and N. Y. local, stating that under a 'proper .setup the Leon Sc Etidie. N. V.. nitery dispute mi|!ht have been settled long ago.' Meanwhile, a stalemate continucu lo exist in the AGVA-L. & E. nitery dispute over terms of a new contract, following a breakdown of negotia- tions 10 days ago. resulting from demands of the nitery reps that the union extend anincsty to the per- formers at the ea.st 52nd street nit- ery who arc currently on AGVA's unfair list because they crossed a picket line or (or other activities stemming from the dispute. AGVA refuses to yield on the amnesty clause. RepereuBilonR Repercus.sions in the AGVA ad- minLitration impasse and the L & E friction came thick and fast within the past week and were highlighted by ttie following developments. 1. Eddie Davis co-owner with I^on Enkcn of the L & E nit- ery, and Ihe floor show's head- liner, received an offer from Vinton Freedley, producer of •Lei's Face It,' to lake over the role being vacated .soon by Danny Kaye. with a guarantee of $2.S00 a week for 10 weeks. Equity, however, turned thumbs down on the proposal and re- fused lo grant its .sanction be- cause Davis is on the unfair li.st as ,-i result of the contract di.<:- pute. Equity's stand in the nial- ler resulted in Freedley assign- ing the role lo Jo-^e Ferrer. Davis meanwhile, is conferring with his attorney to determine whether he has any redre.s."!. 'It strikes me there's sonuMhing wrong with an orginiization that allows Simja Heine, who is also on the unfair li.st, to come inin Madison Square Garden lo work, and turas around and clamps down (III me,' said Davis. Aiiii effort oil Mix."! Hriiic'.s part to n/i()ly /or o iicu' coiiirnil or serif n hci,- rii(/n(icmcii( irliilo thc's oil (lio viifair U.ti icdiild -<•- siili ill the Four A's •rmck-iin doirii Oil lii'r ax it did with FaUIiC Duris: said Fox in niixircr lo Dori.s' clniiii. -/.pf Ali.w Henir trj/ •o (/I'l iiiio nil Eiitiity shiiic. or Irii 10 .vifiii n IICU) coiirrnn iciili tlic Srrrrn Aaors' Guild. <iiid .vlif'il tF'i Ihe. .>!(iiMe Ircniiiiciil.' far oddod. po'iiiiiif/ (Hil ihdl tmdrr ei'i.<iliiiff .iiniiilp.'! llir foiir A'x strjut in iiMiiicdinlcli/ Jipon crpirniJ'iii nf 011 c-.ii.sl.tif/ coHlrnci. 2- A Iciirirl was- cirouliilod anumc nitory and V.-uide prr- forniors railing upon incnilii-rs of the AGVA to allciul.ii nicct- ln« Friday nflrrndon il2t iit 3 Ofl'ick nl the L & E niliry In . diMus.s the insliliiliiig of rhjiiu-c-; .In IheN.Y. local looking lownrd a broiidcr representation ->f im-ni- beiship in the adminisli-iilion. The meeting, however, did mil coine off as scheduled, at Ica-t. not at the 52d street spot: L A E feps deny they institgatcd ihe mieeting, with a similiar claim made by Ward. A 'P.S.' on the leaflet also called on the AGVA execs to attend the session, but Dave Fox, AGVA's N. Y. local - director, says he did not get one. 3. Matt Shelvey, new national administrator for AGVA, re- ported Friday (12) that the N.Y. local for the first time in a year had made a per capita payment to the national office—'and a substanial one'—inferring a step forward in the financial outlook of the local. Election of a duly constituted offi- cial board by the membership in place of a local under jurisdiction of the national office Is sought by the AGVA udvi.sory board. The lat- ter committee claims that under the present setup a state of dictator- .ship' exisl.s. with the national organ- ization and the Four A's holding too much sway over the local union. The attack is not aimed at Fox, but the committee wants the mem- bers to have the say in elections, as previously existed, rather than hav- ing the authority delegated to the national office, which makes the ap- pointment.":. It's felt that with a local body ruiictioning, L & E difficulties would have been Kcttled. It's further claimed that progress has been re- tarded by interference from the na- tional office. 'The very fact that Ihe advisory board is functioning and is given u.<e of the national office board room is a clear indication that we're in favor of its continuance and wel- come its suggestions,' said Fox •We're in no way trying lo stymie the board, and the N. Y. local stands in favor of membership participa- libn. not only from the advisory board member!:, but from all AGVA ineinbor.-:. We need their assi.stanre and advice and are anxious to give thorn every opporl'jnity lo voice them." Tiio.se i-eportcdly .serving on the | c'lmmittee, in addition to Ward, are Leo Fnld. .Samuel Kramer. Emily Wal.'>h. Nila Naldi. Robert Rhodes. Charlotte Joyce. Honey Gale. Peter WolK Miiya GifTord. Jay Marshall. Pill DcMayo. Alfred Brower and Lo- lita Moya. Considine Had Colorful Career Los Angcle.-:. Fob. 16. John W. Considine. Sr.. DO. pioneer of vaudeville and one ol the out- .standing names in show bu.<lnr.<ui. died Thursday iH) in Hollyv.-oiid of a heart ailment compliciitcd by ad- vanced age and pneiimonia. One nf the most forceful and colorful lig- ures of the old vaudeville oi-:i. his activities reached out Inio v;irious Held.': of .<port. includint! horse shows, harness horse bn.'C(lini!. >ci- ler dog kennels and boxinu promo- tion. His theatrical career bcuan in Seattle in 1880 with The Pcnpli-'s theatre, which included a dance hall and a gambling house to eiitert'ain the adventurers who were flocking to Alaska at that time. Moving to New York, he esiablishcd a part ner.ship with 'Big Tim' Sullivan, then a political power in Tammany. As Sullivan & Con.sidine. they built the Orpheum theatre. Seattle and enlarged their circuit from coast to coast. Considine was the first manager to offer a full season's route through the west. Later, in combination with Loew's circuit, the route covered more than 100 vaude houses. In 1916 he .<:old out his in- terests to Loew's through a deal w-ith his old-time friend, Jo.ueph M Schenck. He retired from active .•-how business around 1.5 years ago, but his home in California was al- wa.v.- a meeting place fur his friends in show business, rich or poor. Many a veteran of the old days came to him for comfort and none of them went away empty-handed. In the old vaudevjile days Con- .sidine's word w-as his bond, even Ihuuy.h he often lo.st money keeping a promi.se. He often carried as much as $20,000 in cash in his pockets and never lost any of it through loans to people in show businc.s!:. It was an axiom that Considine never sued an actor and never was sued by one, Among the top names who flrst appeared in the Sullivan-Considine houses were Charles Chaplin. Will Rofiers. Marie Dres.sler and Sarah Bernhardt. At his bedside were his wife. Mollie. and his .>:on. John W. Jr:. producer al Metro. Others .sur viving are two daughters. Mrs. Tom Cnnlon and Mr.--. Ruth McLean. In his ojirly days in the northwest. Considine met Alexander Paiitagos. who akio cot his show biz slake out of the gold rush. Later, when both .were operniing comi>etiiig vaudeville 'circuits, a bitter rivalry grew up boluoiii them that exi.sied until 1031 when Considine. Jr.. married Pan- ;es' <l:ui;:hter. Carmen. :i!id Ihe GREAZA RETURNS Oh, to Be a War Worker! .Minnoapoli<:. Feb. 16. While :ot-»l niKht clubs and swanky cafes are doing record- breaking business, waiters al the.-e r>liibii.--h:ncnts nrinally complain of financial suffering bccau'=e llio preseiit clienlole comprises maii.v v.-:tr indiislry worker.-:, ilie iiouvcau riche. wlm. 'di-n't know ho'.v lo lip.' ■ Male wai'.cr.<. receiving only 27c iin hour from their eniploy- ers are dependent upon lip- for iheir livelihood. The new cla.ss of patrons aien't 'up' on lipping, according lo the waiter.":. Some don't evrn lip at all and mo.-t of ihe others lip insulTlcieiilly. ji"-- .is.-cried. Murciver. these self-same patrons demand ihe. u;mo.<t in .-ervicc and are con- llnually lii-.dini; fault, the waiters declare. The >iluaiion i< Ciiu.<ing many wailers to quit their jobs and become war industry workers Ihcmselves. Al-o.' rai.-^es in fjay are behig ."■ought. Snag Billy Rose Unit ^ From Coast Opening Despite AGVA Tact' ^ By BL'OOLPH ELIE, Jr. I Boston, Feb. 16. I . That the hectic nights of the sum-> mer and fall are- over for good in the Hub night spots is now pretty much of a certainty. Business never fully recovered from tlie body blow of the Novem- ber di.sasler at the Cocoanul Grove and now. nearly three months later, harassed by wartime transporlntion re.":triclionsl rationing nn<l fuel problem.s. it still renuilns far below the level of other cities. The one .sign of reiiiiissaiu-e is the opening lonifthl ■!«». without Vpec- tacular foldcrol, of the Mayfair, v.'hich has .sunk pleiily of money in a complete redccoration. Even sit. Mickey ncdslone. who also KUides the Latin Quarter, has his liniicis cros.scd. All the other nitiht .spots in town are long bincc open, and business is .•ialisfaclory with fairly brisk wcek- onil.-:. but the binom is definitely off Jhc .ro.sc. In view of the ready, coin, llie mammoth after-dark crowds walking the streets and the hiith Kri>.":s levels of the film and legit hou.ses along the riallo. it's all pretty confusing, and Ihe only explanation thai ."leems to hold water is the theory ihul niRhl-clubbers don't want to face the harsh reality of streel-car-inK or .lUbway-ing home. Latin. Quarter Tops Enjoying the most obvious pros- \ perity is the Latin Quarter, which is ' well with week-day covers Despite a verbal agreement reach ed between Billy Ro.se and Mall ', doing well wilh Shelvey, national admini.stralor of i and often filling up by late supper • T,« .......La — ..!. ........ the .American Guild of Variety Artists, on the figning of a mini- mum ba.-:ic agreement covering the touring unit of Rose's Diamond Hor.seshoe revue. 'Mrs. Aster's Pet Hor.se,' indications last night <16) were that AGV.A execs on the Coast, where the .sho'v is currently louring, may prevent it from opening tonight (Wcdne.<'day) in San Francisco. Shelvey was notified yesterday ■ Tuesday) by Fiorine Bale, AGVA exec secretary at Los Angeles, w-here the unit closed an engage- ment la.<:t night at the Orpheum theatre, that .<:he w-as. encountering difficulty in organizing the member.s of the ."'how. despite a hurried call made by Ro.-e to the Coa.":t on Mon- day 115) that he and Shelvey had I come to terms on conditions govern- ' ing a pact. Rome's call prevented -AGVA from pulling the revue at the Orpheum. with Miss Bale notifying Fri.-:co and Oakland, next on the unit's route, to hold up Ihe opening pending a.-.suranees that the show- would be orKunizcd. As a re.-ull. the is.-ue w-as be- clouded last iii;!ht. despite Rose'.s a^-.siiraiice lo .Sheivty on ihe pactiiig : of the con tract. time. Its weekends are especially good, turning them away ."<hortly after dinner lime. Aside from the ripping out of all its expensive an4 beautiful hangings and revealing an unexpected number of exits, the Quarter had to undergo no extensive remodelling. As its clientele has long been well eslabli.shed, it'll sur- vive better, perhaps, than any of its brethren. The Rio Casino has been faltering steadily since the disaster, and al- though it continues on wilh occa- sional whopping nights, its complete recovery is not yet in sight. Inas- much as its patronage was always flexible, it hadn't the steady trade to full back on. On the other hand, the Beachcomber is flourishing ex- cept for an occasionally poor night, its riallo location being a terrific as- set. Copley-Piaia Best of Hotels . Among the hotels, the Copley- Plaza has bounced back most suc- ci.s.sfully. Besides Its 'mainline at- : tractions in the Oval Room, it has ' opened its Colonial Room, where it i features small bands (John Kirby ' and. currently, Milt Herth). It's had ! two Saturday night dancing parties in its main ballroom wilh the Tea- I two elders w-erc reconciled. Funeral services were held Mon- day 1151 ill Church of the Good Shepherd. Beverly llillv. with in- terment in Calvary Ctmeleiy. Los .Aiij!elc>. Active pall bciirer. wcj-e Jo.seph M. Schenck. .Arthur Uncar. i Major lliirry .Martin. ('. Ga'-dner SulKvan. Ur. .Ai '.hur B. C°( :-il. JudKC SEEKS NEW PARTNER l.rr Simmons Wants to Replace Pitt Aide In Comedy 'ream I'lr-buigh, Fell. 16. Lee .S.in:ni>!is. half iif r<iriricr j conif.-dy \;i-if!e 'cam of Chick and ' Lee. '.^Iiii ii ili.-.ol\<-d .-hort liinc UKu ^,,. ...»,. r% ,■ , w • '-.cilh ii(fiiirl:i;-|- nf Cli.elt IJinl f'-r FflUITY POST 'w n'"' V^""''ri'-e "ri.iv. , l.i:<-k ,., ....". n L.-kiim EyUllI A S. Set. W,ll,.im Care.v. frank ■f,„. ,, ,„..^. „..,„„., „.,„, .,,„„„ ,„ ■ After a week's vacation. Waller n. '-^'<"'"" W. _R. (hilUrs. :,c-.iiiiie h: . old luni. f.hH.k ai.'l L<->- jOrca/.a returns Monday iL'2i_as »— . ~ ~_ " ' ' |c;iii|i:i- Ni'-al buy-, nul l!,f.-,r -iarl Victor Borge Opens At on amaK-.i.- nhoirr-oi u-d ny 'sislaiit execulive ."icci-etary of Equity. Ko:- the nasi nine months he iiatl been on loan In \)\c .American Cl'.ii-d ; I'f Varic'.y .Arli-ts as iictini; iiaiKir.al ; ailiniifi.slrator. ■ Creaza checkeil off Ihe .AC!V.\ pay- • roll .Saturday il.'ti after .<peiid.iiL' :. iiioiiih t-.ninu over l!ic adniii!isli-at:ve : details w:i!i Mali Slu-lvey. the nc.v - iialioii:il ilirrclnr. See Fla. Boom Post-War ; J.ick-oii'-.lle. Flii.. Feb. li:. i nd.cf tiial Ihv "hnii and-: of n::!- ■■ funned im-n and womhii -.kix ' tinned -in . Florida -'. lil -ell" ' sla-.e's aiivai-r.tii- lo the i'--t •■< :•"' ■natlnii aflcr ;he war. v. ii-i .i i" -fil';!!-.- In :;icndir,i--- expansinji in '•••":-. ' liii.-iinr.-:.--. b.illi -'• inter a.ici -,..-v:ri r. was tM)i-c.--ed \'y l-'raiik \Vi:i.-;i>-ll. '.miin;iK(-r of liie Jack o.-.\;ile Tnnri:' . & Cniivciil "':i B.:i-eau. in :iiid:-i- •1:^'.; a Incal >-.\ic vr">ui> \Vfi:)ie i-:.'. •1(1.. ' Kxpaiidnl i..r ••. ill :i:.>-e iF'io.-iiia a ni"'i-i :.c.-, .•-in.-; c>'.;ive;il.n:i r„:- .So:.lli A • cricaii-. as -.\eil as , Ui-iaii .M-Po! f": rii**i- i'"n' ii-.'il Waldorf, N. Y., March 5.wi.^s'i';- I' -! r fjiii-ye. r(.:nc:lian fo.-.ne. ly !!h- (".l-n:.i"V-I<rail iirir.r;.:!,, r ".- . • -...I Moll I \V;l!l'■•i■!..^.-".l.. ia. V. .■•.i:::i---i ."i. a:i(r a :-iiii .- I l:)i :>'•■- -I'i:!/:! !:'i',<-l I5n-; ■1). ".here I.HI- .' '.i-iror i>:\ II.v!!', 'Tiii. - - 1 ill'- ••<-'!i on l-H- (■■ia--l for '■ I- ..lar :iii. ■ j-i • . ri - ;•: fai;.-n (',:\al!< rn '.•>'■:■ ■ i •'•• -. I-.'. Bc.-;,i.-'>- i liji !i- i:.<- ('i:|)- a -11. .V ii y. H-^i'V .\i -." i;ian 'n-n .-. :):.'.(' ':ii:f- '.'ilari-h 4i. N'l .)'. i.iifo'. 1.1 i.i;;,, im" i '.. r I'-i.<>;i ol a ^il-i*:'"i-i- l-h..:i.^--'V .S:'< le. i(|)» ra''ii (.'■'■':■ y. .■.:iv. i:i ■ •Hi:. <>j ■ if "-1" iiiXii- .> ''('in;' -nil." -.Virk for .Mc- O'.iialrl ciii:'-;rlly v.-!iile ."■( •i>i"i:i); aroiUif! fir :i i iiila'-'.ii'-nt. Miiy . : r lir I pi-nte.-. loiial 'ob |ia.d Ihi'M SlX.'i a -.'Ilk. had iii rriiip:e if -lini. yi-a. ..I'lKid llici:i. ill iup i"'o I; ( V.'i'iO -.-.'i kly i;la-- pr^nr lo L)c.:t' 1. ' '■ 1 •r.i ir.o C"i--l o-ivlii- nii'i; 1- . -.". I ;'' .. Richman Rests Voice H:'-::.::.:i ^'ui-ilen orchestra, and business is (If .si-ribcd as 'good' all around. The : Siatlcr has ^upper dancing Fri<lays I and Satiirda.v.s. drawing ninde.st : i-rowds. and that about winds up ihe liiitel ■ ralualion, allhoufih many of !!:(in draw plenty of ciiMoiners lo llie.ir intimate coeklail lounges. The Mii.'ic Box. a five-rimnih old p:,labliyhnu-nt iii Ihe Copley Si|ii;iro lioul. ca-iight on from the fir"I. and ' lias been doinc a large voiiiiiie all aloii).'. Theres no dancing. b;it usually a lialf-dozen > infers i-n hand to keep lliiiii'.s going, ii'id it'-i a reii'li-'/vous f'lr Ihe riHir': .■n|,'i,."-,- ti-al'd Ail- for llie r,ll-i(n-path >|;ols. Ilie .Ifil. 's Ihi; .-:une. .SoiJ-.e - . i(k( ..d>-. for i.n appiiieii; r'-;':on. b«.r'.i>e--i is ;< i i ifiCi and i>- lollowcd by a \M-y ;d -.".etk-iiitM lump. Nobotly (-:.n li'.-.ure .1 mil. and nobody (.■■.-en Iriis lo anv mo,-e. Nobody is dri-oiir- ated. hf,v.-' v<-!-. and all fiijure ihiiigs V. ill. briKl.ten v.-i;h a'change in ihe •,".-e:,lh< r. Al li a-l. Ihtrc's no (ine "o doiilji tliai the |if'0|jl<: arf. eai.'( i for .r c.Mve ill >r)e:!d '.h'.-ir rr.oiiey. tven if. .VTai'.-h I.") i" .ki-.O'.-king on Kie 'l«iiii-. Mail.-.- .\I an. Ii<: : sile f.ir llie added. pe. .|i|c of '.l-. s coiir.ii-y. he .lalna Ifavin^ a Haby, (ieur{(cs Has New Pard W..i.e .lalna i.H' .<■;.:'il '■ .:.!».- {•.Ay K\:,ri:\,:,ti a bauy. .!a!-iiii conli.i I'li'J 'o n;-.i-e V :.>:.al!y. Hi- fi'l-i:i I'.irliie,-, :> M;..-l- i'l-. T'.ey iii-e .j.iied I'or Ihe l'i-ii>.-:'i<-,)i t- Billin-Ve a.s br^ak-.n .sp<i!. T.-,i- II'- !.<■!' o->ii al. :.;.! . ii^'i ii-n.^:g a; ■.•I'- .-ii.;!l At"'-'. ::.i! voi'-i- a I-. ;i!<-i:i ed ". ■jcal .\:-h 'I'-r-a- • •1 li"' Klor.da Ml! enier'.'ii:,.'".; .•le . pr.iig. Miiiiiv .'\nnis ne-.".- '.ro.-iiuonc -.• 1 I'all All-'.e- bano al ('•>- .oii.al. I'.l' b irup. replacing Orva Ic'.-, who -Acni into Army, New Chi Ice Unit Chicii-o. Fi- ). Hi J;n-k F.ne. v. ho hii«- -.i i.-t (■'•.i,e i ff -he i-oad .th h.y -V.c'.oiy. ?*'-l!ii |-ii-oiiiicii.'i.' an i':e ^how un.!, !i(;:do<' by B-,bby McLean. Sched- •.I«<! 'o opi-ii ;>< M,ii'«lic D.'i.iie, J...... l..-.'-n. I'a.. Kcb. 25. K.'-.o-.':i a . 'Bobby M.-Li an'; I(-e Follit'.' caM hii.s Eddio Kelly. IP iir-y IVni.y. "The LaMa. r-. L>o-fl Lynn ft Co.. i.e-s He Poppy. Terinaine Twins and V'no Borelli's orchc.>-tra <6), Eddie F.dm-mson I' company man- ager.