Variety (Jul 1944)

Wednesday, July 5, 1944 VAUDEVILLE 35 fater Follies' Flops on Coast "Water Follies," aquatic revue, folded in San Diego, Gal., last Sun- day <2) after several weeks of bad business. Management owed the cast and chorus large amounts in back pay when show folded. American Guild of Variety Artists' Boston local wired $3,000. whi ch ha d been posted as bond for show to partially allevi- ate distress of players and provide transportation back to Boston, from which the show originated; ■'■/. Schindman and' Snyder, producers! promoted the show in Boston, with Jud Gray, Boston restaurateur, re- ported as having partially financed. AGVA's representatives claim that when show started out in Boston the $3,000 bond was sufficient to cover salaries, but that- producers kept building up show and adding per- formers. It had been out about 12 Weeks and in half. of that time had run into a siege of bad biz. Salaries were not paid in some stands, but troupe carried on without making complaint to AGVA, figuring, it but temporary. -. Understood that; when show—hit San Diego, $7,000 was thrown in by local promoters. It was then learned that show was too far in the red. Florine Bale, AGVA Coast repre- sentative, then stepped in and di- verted the nightly receipts to pay off some of the indebtedness, but with no fresh coin coming from promoters or elsewhere it was decided to close. Boston local of AGVA stated that Gray has promised to liquidate out- standing salary claims when per- formers get back to the Hup. $1,500 San Antonio Cafe Fire San Antonio, July 4. A fire believed to have started In the air-conditioning system , caused damage of approximately $1,500 to the Tower nitery. NOW ENTERTAINING THE BOYS IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRE OF OPERATION'S WILLIE SHORE Peraoul M an ft nwcit t AL HORDE HOT SOPHISTICATE TIMMIE ROGERS Columbus, Ohio, with COUNT BASIE Material l» fill) Kl l T.lOK Mitt.: IV*. MORRIS AUENCT ■'.- ON THE LAND : ON THE SEA IN THE AIR ART BORAN Touring down the Erie Canal »'nd llie Iliulsm llivei' -npiwaving "Ijtrorc seven million people •lillltiat flu entire Fifth Wet Loin drive IS master or ceremony of'.the . ' ■ UNITED STATES TREASURY SHOWBOAT Also broadcasting Me noted Impersonations on tile *it for •: GIBBONS ALE Dir..- NATIONAL CONCERT ARTIST CORP. WARDROBE TRUNKS Large selection fine, used wardrobe trunks, H & M, Hartmann, ©shkosh, Belber, etc. Completely refinished. Reasonably priced. ' EXPERT I.L<i(i.\(JK REPAIRISO Gordon Luggage 1314-Slxth Ave., mr. T,8d St., X«w Tork Municipality Upheld In Denying Cafe OK Detroit, July 4. Citing a court rule against inter- ference with a municipality's opera- tion, Circuit Judge Noe, of: Mt, Clemens, Mich., refused a court or- der by which Blossom Heath, Inc., was seeking to compel the Village of St. Clair Shores to explain why-it had refused the club a license. The form^Twalfl^itery^on the Dertoit outskirts was purchased .recently by a Negro social club. ■'_'< ; Following the purchase by the Ne- gro group, the village refused to issue liquor, food and other licenses on the grounds that "an outside group" was making the application and that "disgrace" had been brought on the community in the through the operation of Blossom Heath. The spot had been shuttered because of gambling in the days it was getting a big play from. Detroit's elite; Judge: Noe held that community officials were entitled to use their discretion in granting licenses, and the court could only interfere wheh there was a gross abuse of this dis- cretionary power. The new buyers had sunk more than $60,000 in the purchase. : Lois Andrews Set For Vaudeville Tour Lois Andrews, film actress and erstwhile spouse of George Jessel, has been set for several weeks of vaude. Miss Andrews will head bill at Loew's State, N. Y., July 13, at re- ported salary of $1,000, with the Earle, Philadelphia, slated for the following week at the same figure. During interim, Sam Tishman, her agent, figures upon setting additional vaude and nitery dates. Sam Bardy Freed On Assault Rap Sam Bardy, vaude and nitery per- former, was freed on his own cog- nizance last week in N. Y. court of special sessions, when arresting offi- cer admitted inability to locate Mary Fasseo, 65-year-old-pianist, com- plainant against Bardy on an assault rap dating back to 1935: Bardy claimed, and witnesses sub- stantiated his statement, that com- plainant was under influence of liquor on night When she caught her heel in subway grating and fell. Bardy said he merely offered her aid, but she turned on him shouted for "help." : , l ; Bardy recently submitted finger- prints for permission to work in N. Y. niteries and was bagged as a "fugitive" from justice on the nine- year old charge. Wessons Forced to Quit N Y. Par for Chi Chez Wesson Bros., mimics, were com- pelled last week to curtail their en- gagement at Paramount theatre, M.i Y., a week sooner than antici- pated to open at the Chez Paree, Chicago, tomorrow, Wessons had played eight weeks and withdrew from show last Friday (30), with Arnaut Bros, replacing. 50 Coast Cafes Back to Shows Hollywood, July 4. Tax slash to 20%: failed to draw nitery crowds over the weekend though biz was better than usual. Operators held that long holiday past paused many to leave town, thus eliminating many patrons. , American Guild of Variety Artists reported that 50 niteries which lopped off shows here during 30% impost returned to former policy, and trend seemed to be swinging back in favor of live talent again. " WILLIAMS SUES B-K FOR 250G IN DOG'S DEATH Chicago, July 4. Suit for $250,000 damages was filed in Superior Court here last week against Balaban & Katz by Bob Wil- liams in connection with the death of Red Dust, his canine partner, while the act was playing the Chi- cago theatre last April. . \- } Williams described the dog, a chowj as "irreplaceable, unique and highly trained" which brought • him $40,000 a year. Red Dust, he said, ate rat poison placed on the Chicago the- atre stage during their appearance in April and died leaving Williams without an act. ' L A. Rink Construction Awaits Bldg. Priorities Hollywood, July 4. - Ice 'rink, capable of housing big skating productions will be con- structed here by Earl Gilmore as soon as priorities can be obtained on labor and building material. Gilmore owns the land on which the Gilmore Stadium and the Holly- wood Baseball Park are built. Idea is to build the rink between the two. Orph, J. C, Slates Split-Week Vaude Orpheum theatre, Jersey City, which has been playing five acts of vaude on last half weekly, will also install same number of acts on first half beginning,. July 17. House, and i which has been running double fea- | tures with acts on last half, Will now run solo film with acts on both ends. Switch to vaude is occasioned by lack of film product. -. Special NW USO Unit Minneapolis, July 4. .A Minneapolis USO-Camp Shows unit will "be organized here and sent overseas next fall to entertain Minne- sota and Northwest service men in various war; theatres. ' The unit's, organization by the local Aquatennial association has been ap- proved by USBp The Aquatennial association, wflKh stages the local annual summer festival, will furnish the unit with costumes and all other necessary equipment arid produce the show, , i ■ Marianne Mercer, who will handle the production, has been active since Pearl Harbor; in producing and stag- ing shows at Fort Snelling, local in- duction center. Assisting will be Norman Pyle, Metro exploiteer. . Canada Lee's Unit Canada tee, who recently com- pleted subway circuit tour in revival of "Native Son," has changed his mind about touring with it. ■'.;'./' Instead, Lee is lining up an all- Negro _unit, witjvband a nd seve ra? acts, for vaude. Lee had this idea previously,, but sidetracked to take another (ling at legit., • Court Commits Singer Leila Kane, 24, vaude and nitery singer, was committed to Rockland 1 State, N. Y., hospital by court of j special sessions,' N. Y., last ' week j when called up for sentence alter | conviction of petty larceny.. She had) Saranac Lake By Happy Benway Saranac Lake N. Y., ^luly 4. Lynn Stone author of day-time radio serials weekending here, col- laborating with Earl Larimore, legit actor and writer on series of new skits for* radio. • .: : :..'•".;'. : Mathea Merryfieid swamped with cards of greetings and gifts on birthday. Best of all a general im- provement report from her medico. Dorothy Gallagher and Kathryn Johnson visted Marie Gallagher who is doing O.K. at the Rogers. -:■;'• Emerson Buckley, former member of the San Carlo opera, a nev/ ar- rival at the Will Rogers. : Mrs. Jay C. Flippen and Mrs. Tom Diamond came up for the Mathea Merryfieid birthday party. Violet Farmer took time out from previously been sent to Bellevue | the Chicago: convention to visit hus hospital for observation pending) band, Cliff, who is showing swell Sentence. Commitment was made on ! improvement, at the Rogers. psychiatrist's report that defendant [ A. B. Anderson; manager of Pon- was suffering from dementia prae-, tiac theatre, Village Trustee and „ ox .•'..'".>";" ...(President of the Saranac Lake Boat Mi« ir.'n.' hart h(>eii arrested in' Club boosted the 5th War Bond Miss Kane had been anes ea n g yja hjs untiring May upon complaint of Harry Har-1 eflol ; t9 J " per, merchant mariner, who accused. PaJ]'ine Russell has been elected the entertainer of having stolon $83 i pl . ez 0 f the local. Ladies Bowling from him after a night of revelry, League. She is a 100'.!, comeback. Conviction followed. ' : I Write to those who are ill. 'No Appearance Without Clearance Is AGVA s Renewed Stand on Cuffos American Guild of Variety Artists believes it will soon be able to settle for all time the question of farming out acts and sometimes entire nitery floor shows to charity affairs of questionable auspices. ' .".* /.".- AGVA has bulletined-its member- ship with a card reading: "No .ap- pearance without a clearance." It further informs acts that they may only appear at civilian benefits that have the blessing of Alan Corelli, of Theatre Authority, and that bond rallies or other affairs assisting the war. effort must be sanctioned by the United War Activities Commit- tee. On borderline or all other cases AGVA, Long Branch Spot Talk Terms American Guild of Variety Artists along with Ben Zdckerman and Al Pressman, operators of the new West End Casino, Long Branch, N. J., are working out an agreement whereby the resort nitery will sign a class A pact with AGVA next week. - Casino will play name bands and have a floor show, just a few acts at beginning which may be enlarged upon later. ; • '■'':'. , Chi Riaito Switches To Bands, Empress Burley •-' '.-:■%. Chicago, July 4. Riaito ■ theatre, for several years Chicago's only Loop burlesque stand, will switch to a band policy Sept. T, and hurley units will be booked 1 into the Empress theatre, beginning the same date, as a result of deals set here last week by Nate Barger, oper- ator of the Riaito. ,'; v .>; Plan of the Riaito amounts to a re- vival of the former Paul Ash stage band policy, used at the Oriental and McVickers theatres, with a 14-piece house band on the stage fronted by a well-known personality. Johnny "Scat" Davis has been signed to lead the outfit for the first four weeks. TBfite of"ftTore acts will be booked to fill each week by Charles Hogan, who also books the Oriental theatre. House is to be completely refur- bished. Deal for the Empress is for five- year joint operation between Barger and Van Nomikos on burlesque policy. '.';''■'-."-. Aussie R. C. Drive's Short A short made gratis by Fox Movietone for the Australian Red Cross, was shipped last week for distribution through Australia in August, when the Aussie Red Cross drive is on. Short has Marjorie Lawrence, the Met's Australian- born soprano, singing D oro 'hy Stewart's "God Bless Australia," then appealing for membership in the ARC. Short was made as a result of cable sent six weeks ago by ARC to Albert Deane, head of Paramount's foreign dept. arid member, of the Australian Society, who arranged making of film by Movietone. performer-members must consult agva. •'">' AGVA's stand in this direction is to offset further embarrassment to acts that had been thnid about re- fusing the play outside dates sans extra compensation. .AGVA has now ruled that unless they are com- pensated they cannot do so without being penalized. Nitery ' operators have also been warned that if per- formers are sent out on these so- called "free dates" they will be held responsible by AGVA for the acts' extra compensation, : • AGVA recently put the. damper on a previous dodge by tightening up contracts to read that all shows sfnd acts contracted for must be played exclusively upon premises called for by contract. Previously some spots which only play two shows nightly had signed contracts for the maxi- mum 21 shows weekly, and under that clause claimed they were with- in rights in farming shows out, That's been nixed now via the new contract, which carries both mini- . mum and maximum number of shows, all to be played on the same premises. ■■■».'■• '.•;■■':'•,-.' '•■•'.'. .'•'".•;- CAPPELLA AND PATRICIA After a RECORD-BREAKING 82 WEEKS in Hollywood . TROCADERO Held Over "Fiva Timet YOURS FO R PUN 12 Weeka ' CLOVER CLUB Held Over Six Timet EL RANCHO, Laa Vegas , EL CORTEZ, Reno RETURN ENGAGEMENT AT THE CLOVER CLUB; Alto Did Two Picture*—"MOON OVER LA8 VEGAS" and "THE COWBOY AND THE 8ENOR- ITA." Opening July 6 ST. REGIS HOTEL New York Music Corporation of America LOEW BOOKING AGENCY eiNiMt fxicunvr ornctt LOEW BUILDING ANNEX ; 160 W. 46th $»., N.Y.C. • IKyent *>7N0