Variety (Jun 1944)

Wednesday, June 11, 1944 PfitRIETY VAUDEVILLE 41 Selling Job Ahead So they've cut the 30% nitery tax rap to 20%. That minimizes the error of the solons' revenue perspective only 10%. But battling the D. C. idea sometimes is like Louis Sobol battling Joe Louis, so Jet's table that. :.-'•'•; ■'. The big mistake will be if the nitery bunch doesn't sell the public oh how they were oversold on the 30% bu|abop. • v : . There's: something about the negative approach that's deadly. It's the old pink tbothbrush technique, this time with a 30% angle. Now, if the cafe kiddies can sell the public the idea that 20% is no better or- worse than the taxation on other" amusements—pix, legit, etc;—it will help undo a lot of the damage. ' ■ The daily press owes it to the U. S. public and the bistro bonifaces alike to help the cause along. They went overboard on the 30% thing, and- both the cafe proprietors and the public deserve a'10% shake by ballyhooing the modification, which takes effect July 1'; It'll go a long way towards giving a psychological lift to every- : thing... ." '...'•!'•... •'-.. ..';■■:'"/V '•'.'.'•'•';■/ ' i-y'.Met.- : AGVA Gets Tougher On Non^Bonded Spots Amciicah Guild of Variety Artists ' has nullified the temporary .mora- torium it had given several New York nite spots during the 30% tax •:• crisis. Union will now insist that since relief 'is in sight, via tax re- duction to 20%, these places must now post customary bonds.- '■ Of the class spots involved, .La Vie Parisienne had not only failed to put up a bond, but had gotten in ar- rears on salaries.' As a protective measure, nitery .was permitted to re- tain acts '■ on understanding'.-.Qjfc;.la;, .nightly pro. rata pay oft. This week, however, the-spot posted cash : cover- ing, one week's salary for. acts.' Sell Det. Spot for 40G - ; '" ■..' "Detroit, June 13, Blossom Hcathj.. once' swank lake shore nightclub and. mecca tor local disciples'of chance, has been sold lor $40,000 to Samuel Besner, a local investor; The purchase of.the nitery and spacious grounds was made from the estate of William Mcintosh; : •»Besner has made .no announcement on whether .the spoi. outside Detroit and formerly noted for-its esccllc'nt cuisine,, class entertainment and no- limit belting, w ill be put into opera- tion. '.'.'-•' •r,'.;..^ ";;'•;-'• •-.-':.;•_. STATLER CHAIN CUTS DOWN ON TALENT The 30'.o, cabaret tax, as well as the. expected dull summer .stretch, are reasons cited by the Statlerhotel chain tor discontinuing its enter- tainment policy in most spots until the fall. This pertains only to in- dividual acts 'and . does not affect prevailing, band setup's. \ Individual turns 'are being- .cut July 2 in the Bull'alo .link, July Tin Cleveland , and. July 9 in Detroit. Discontinuance in latter ..city is only temporary and will be in eflect. only until after hostelry is given an' in- terior overhauling., Exceptions . to the. .summer layoff are Boston and Washington, which will', continue their established .entertainment pol- icy. '•'; ■'' "•' "■ ,' ... ;'-.'.'■: -.''.• ENTERTAINERS WANTED Urgent need for t more Variety Artists, Musicians, Singers, Dancers, Accordion and Guitar Accompanists for U.S.O. Camp Shows in V. S. and all over the world. World's Greatest Audience On Uncle Sam's Big Time. Send Application To USO CAMP SHOWS 8 West 40th SI reel ■,•.'-'': New York, N. V. Larry Sunbrock Jailed On Federal Rap in Columbus ' ■ Columbus, O.: June 13. ' Larry Sunblock, 39, whose name and occupation are on the police record as "Terry Sunbrock, Radio," is being held in. City Prison here in default :of $2,500 bail after'.pleading not guilty to charges of . violating Federal ' bankruptcy laws. "He was arrested Saturday.. (10) at Red. Bird Stadium, Where his rodeo-was start- ing a two-day stand. According to affidavit filed by the FBI. uponwni'.h Sunbrock, was ar- rested, the offer.se with which he is charged was committed in Los An- geles in June, 1943. U. S. Cpmmis- sioner Robert Newlon. before whom Sunbrock was 'arraigned, said- the charge arose from certain assets that were concealed in a bankruptcy pro- ceeding, in L. A. ' The assets, ac- cording to N.jwlon's belief, were 18 head of.horses. ■■ '■.'.';. . Sunbrock's hearing is set for Sat- urday.. .ilT). Nitery Biz Perks Nitery biz perked up generally while the 30V* law was. in proc- ess of- being . reduced, and 1he bistro bonifaces look to the iO.'i ..slice, in cafe taxation to have a ,, signal effect On business.. • It's a token gesture'from UnclC . ■Sain., since a 20^ bite on nitery checks is no small item, but psy-- etiological]}* it is expected to help, business considerably.' •.' .'. '••' Waltersin Script Row on'Bow' Lou Walters, whose "Take a. Bow", variety show bows in at ike Broad- luirst. N. Y. tomorrow "(15), faces possible legal action stemming from an- alleged oral agreement made with Hy Cooper for skits and music for the .revue. 'Walters heard from Cooper's alt orney early last week.-' ! According to Cooper, Walters of- feied ;him $850 for original material, alter Coopei had promised him two skits and a. song to. be included, in "Bow," then .breaking . ill- via, Phila- delphia .under title of "Slap Happy." . Cooper, contends, that after 'O.o.ing the Walters revue in Philly,..he re- turned to N, ,V,. to .be■-informed that the deal • was- oft., Among. • other things, Cooper asserts.'that he . sug- gested the title ;change from, "Slap Happy" to "Take a Bow.''. Walters maintains, that after his first interview with Cooper several ..weeks ago, he offered him $850 for two skits and. a song but called the deal -off. the following day -when Cooper -.was. to-; have .confirmed . the transaction. According to Walters. Cooper never confirmed the deal but went right, to' Philly from N..Y;. Cooper's claim to the title of "Bow'' is laughed oft by Wallers, who says that 'Bow" is virtually public do- main and was. originally considered by. him: more than a year ago as a tag for his .shortlived revue, "Artists and Models." . : : ■ Drive On to Reduce Night Club Tax Further After FDR Signs for TOP-tfOTCH COLORED TALENT TJyen.trittil :l ii,| njn,-rtjt 1 l.ilciit- for '" l;l;nl , l.nuilk'S, ThWl°l*i.« XlRlit. i'lulis nn<l Krf.Uo. Iw-tertjUnro-ent funlisbi-ri (in- nil <k-- XVj-llc Pimm, •■r .Win. ('"loii'il Kmliii Aillsl-.' A>»i>,iu<iiiii THEATRICAL BOOKING AGENCY si.'.k s. sun., m.. < iifi'tieo. . I'll. Vi-1-rv ;:>r. Three Acts Added To Nelson-Hilliard Tour The Ozzie Nelson-Harriet Hilliard 10-week s,umrn"er vaude tour, opening June 23 "at the.Orpheum. Omaha, will be rounded out by three addi- tional acts.' Package unit, will. include Harris and -Shore, West and Lcxing. arid Lindsoy. Laverne and Betty. Adjust Vaude-Radio Conflict for Flippen So He Stays in Vauder /After a series of in-again. out- again . reports, it. now. seems reason- ably certain that Jay C. Flipped will remain in >cast. and come into New 7 York with "Take a Bow." the T,nu Walters vaude revue, which has its 'New Yorle preem tomorrow, (ThUrs.) night at the .Broadhiirst theatre. . In explaining the affair, a repre- sentative, for Walters slates that "as a result of conferences between Mr. Walters/ Jay C. Flippen and ; Flip- pen's radio sponsor, the Conflict in time between the comedian's radio and theatrical commitments, which would have forced him to bow out of revue, has been eliminated. So he will .remain with the show." : . In Philadelphia, however, where the revue tried out. friction is said to have arisen between Walters and Flippen through change of show's format. Sent out originally as Jay C. Flippen's "Slap Happy." formu- la was a combo of "Hellnapoppin" and' "Priorities." This didn't jell. Both in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia show, was -re-routined.! ;. [ Walters went' tp PhiHy. last week and' made a new deal, with Flippen to remain as emcee of the show. • : ."•'. Washington, June 13. . With the nitery tax set-to drop to 20';i. July I, a campaign to cut it still further, in the fall is under way, but will depend largely on whether Sen- ators Sheridan Downey (D., Calif.), and Pat McCarran (D, Nev.), can assemble the figures, to prove that the Government can get a bigger revenue with a 10% bite than with 20V;-. .-;..;;'•. .-."'• : .'•".• ''■•>,''■:"•<;• - President Roosevelt signed' the bill slashing the tax from 30'V last Sat- i urday after the' Senate had. passed ' the measure On Tuesday i6) and.the ■ House had approved it the tollowiiig day. . . " "'.■''.'.■'''";, : " : > '. '■-";.;■,. Meanwhile,. Downey ^co-sponsor : of the bill with. McCarran, admittcd. he was still ■ not satisfied, and said he would probably tiy again after the summer recess' • • "I believe we can show," he said, "that the Government will collect lets revenue with a 20'.r> tax . than •with-lXK-J.-aiid.it we can prove this- we will press for 1'j.irther reductions in the fall." If- he . docs not. succeed in , getting the 20% cut in half all a'.or.g the lir.e. Downey added, lie will try to get the further reduction for servicemen and women in uniform. . The Senate bill originally called for special treat- ment for servicemen, but the . House balked at this.: As an interesting sidelight, night- clubs ■'■_can pride themselves on . ob- taining the. first reduction TiT any" oi the stiff wartime excise levies.* Ap-: parently it will b.e a long time before any other business gets. a..cut in its excises ,- Possibility of a new bill to correct an error in the current tax bill loomed today ..(13)w and' with it a place to hahg the proposal to cut the nitery bite still further down 'to 10',. .. It seems that a $10- error has been found in the tax simplification bill which became law a coupie of.weeks back. It means that single people in the $1,075-$1.100 income" bracket will pay $10 less income tax Than, they should." . • ■/':-• ;; : .'.-_' ' The Treasury, is trying to, figure out' a way to correct it without .a new bill.. If, they fail, Tidwcv.er, an- other measure- will have to go through to straighten - out the point, and this Would provide a. suitable vehicle for a rider still furiher cut- ting the night club levy. In acfti- tion, one Congressman will try . to affix a rider slapping a 5'!, nick oh pari-mutuels, to make up for the 10%: already cut from'.the. nitery figures. ;'. j ; ' : '.•'■.' '•.-" . 0 and ngn*eg__of ■what , government re- ceived last summer under 5% tax. This, he. presumes, may turn the trick, for further reduction When. Congress convenes in August. : SOPHIE TUCKER DROPS PLANS FOR OWN CAFE . Sophie. Tucker , has abandoned . plans to open her own. nitery in At- lantic City this summer, which'she had planned prior to tipping of cab-, aret tax; Even at reduction to 20% Soph's not, interested despite having pi.ictically optioned a sile ; - t .., Miss Tucker is currently at: fhe Chez P.uee, Chicago, and will re-^ main at Chi spot» lor an extended run. with other nitery dates to fol- low./ . '• '....' . „ ' ';.V '. '•; • ' "'. Adler Sets Back Pix ' To Fulfill Chi Contract Larry. Adler, harmonica virtuoso currently featured , at the. Empire Room of the Palmer House. Chicago, has arranged to set back film com- niilinentswhich would have curtailed engagement' there.. Thus, he'll round out his full contract,: which expires on .rune 28. ' ••.' , _Lasl.,year; Adler was booked Tor 12- weeks a t Palmer . houscy but gave management four weeks' notice, on opening night to enable him to ac- company Jack Benny on: USO over- seas tour. He is now playing out that borrowed: time.,. Also scheduled to again join Benny Unit for latter's second jaunt on the -overseas circuit. : Adler wis reported, as., having propositioned Palmer, house to let him out of final week and that latter had: asked .$10,000 : for release. This . was--discounted in New York Mon- da\: H2) by Harry Kalchcim, of William Morris agency, who handles Aciicr.,--: '.:•".'.•• v'; ; .' ; '-.'.f'-:-' ;' '■■ MINEVITCH CREW FOR USO Bdrrah Minevitch's .-Harmonica Rascals open Monday• (19) on^USO- Camp Shows' Victory' circuit,* their , first Calnp Shovvs toii'r. ... , ':>■ ( Camp Shows has also signed Craig Malhues,' singer, to open June 26, and Roscoe the "talking" crow, both- for t|ie domestic circuit., %; ,;'' . --'.'.'''.. Status Quo for iVtany . While tax reduction gives 'the shorlroll nitery operators a breather over. Summer months, many of the spots that either folded or gave tal- ent; the tossout because, of prohibi- tive tax, will remain status, quo for the summer at least. Matt Shelvey. national administra- tor of American Guild of Variety Artists,, will,., during the. summer, have his key-city representatives compile comparative statistics on niteries in operation under 20% tax HOT SOPHISTICATE TIMMIE ROGERS June III—OBPHFUM THE*TRe. Omabi With STAN KENTON . . Msitt-l'llll l>v Sill Kl I I.Kit ' yiul : W.M. MOKKIS AGKNCY WANTED A I'KIISON A I. KKl-IC KSKNT ATI V K to ' I'l-oiniTIf. ivi.i,'. „ I'l.lllH- Wiofr-j- Ixiirk. '•'Hii-erC KprtiiH.'ih(tV" 'Thl'iil <...MUi-|„ ,.«s,.,,rlul .V'"' 1 '.'!?:. I '•T ilii h Si ■■■■■ \<-w Turk. ' .1 !iu.t'-iii;in ilni- 'Ui ij rluH, .-(ml t \|:: I I. I). : \\. Uiiv- \Vnvy.Jl-l< Chi Hotel Names Dot Hild f . Chicago. June 13. j ■.' Dorothy Hild has been appointed dire'etpr of . chtertain.nicnt ' at .the ] . Kdsowatet- Se;ich hotel., .succeeding i .DOt-dihy Ddrbcn. who leaves -Jiity if>'; fT.o".go;Tn.te:bu*ift<-*s':f'OF-, ^^.f.-'-Sti**;' I Dorbon'■ lui.- been-w..th the hotel for I this . u rek a,nent , entanglements " on '.. ov'cr .cigM years,-four .yciirs as po>>tt.R0?e S si new liitcrv, shou,-"Opera En tain of the 'previous line and: tor oyer |, ■ ' ->.•."• .•• • 1 foui-^r'ns 'in charge ol ail .ookmg 1 Cas^e, ule." current .at Rose* 'and production '.•.''. \ . mond Horseshoe, NY. ! Mi^s Hild. also dance producer at; After, ironing out all difficulties,-on ROSE, AGVA MEET TODAY ON SALARIES Billy f!use and Ame'ricau'Cfiiiid of V.U4ftty-Al-Ji«!te SLU8 confabijing. again the .Qui! Ihos Chicago, •ter.ea.fe 3 spots I theatre and the Latin will continue h-andimg i addition A Personality in Song NOW HENRY GRADY HOTEL Atlanta V Pcrtonal Management—LESTER LADEN Roses vaude unit, ,: Post-war Pre-: Mew "' t WM later found by AGVA that there were a few-instances in cist of "I'.cmj show where salaries wove- not in ,.cc)id with latter'? term.-, for a Class A spot, v Inch is what Diamond Horseshoe is Classified. Some, nets are. getting much above scale and some, are not getting the $79' minm-iton for principals, . .Matt. Shelvey, national-director o AGVA: and Dave- Fox. director of it New York .'local, will mett .wHi Rose agiun -ioda\ tWed), : in aodition to $75 weekly- for pr.in- cipiiN'. contract also calls Tor a niini- mtiiii wage of S1,5 wct'kly tor cn'o- tinc* on' a 21->Hows weekly "-hush: ..\vftfj".-prb : rata, compensation for t>;tr:r. pei'lormances. ,* t" ^ftUvicus* LOEW BOOK ING AGE NCY 6fNf»»t IXtOJTIVt Officii LOEW BUILDING ANNEX ;1*b W- 51., N. V. C. • Uyonl •■7100 J H. L