Variety (Jul 1944)

Wednesday, July 12, 1914 USriety VAUDEVILLE Burlesque Loses Vet Showman As Izzy Herk Dies in N. Y. at 61 . By ED BARRY almost-forgotten phase of '.:'<■ An show business — burlesque — last i \ week lost one of its pioneer show- men when Izzy Herk succumbed to a \ heart ailment in New York—He-was- .'' 61. ^'\-^ ; .:->v.'--V ..-' :..'.'{■./,'. In recent years identified with the legit field, through his management' ,. of troupes for Frank McCoy, Herk achieved his greatest prominence as a producer and operator of burley shows for more than 30 years. He- had amassed . and lost several for- tunes in the interim, but reportedly died broke.: Long suffering from . heart ailment, his imprisonment for several months a couple of years agd, after a conviction for present- ing an • "indecent" show (."Wine, Women and Song") at the Ambassa- dor theatre, New York, is believed to have been a contributory factor to his failing health. Bom in Toledo, Herk got his early theatrical training by managing burlesque houses in that territory and later managing burlesque shows. He later formed a producing part- nership with Ed Beatty and for years the duo operated their own shows over the Western Wheel Burlesque Circuit, both amassing fortunes in show and theatre opera- -V. tions west of Chicago.. This was in - the early 1900s, when a three-cor- nered fight was being waged for burley supremacy by trie Western Wheel, Extended Wheel, also a western outfit, and the Empire Cir- cuit, which seemingly had the east tied up. . Plenty Pay Oirt . Burlesque was bringing plenty of pay dirt in those days, instead of dishing out dirt in its shows which later ruined that branch of show biz. The Stair 8c Havlin circuit, . which played the pop-priced melo- dramas and replicas of Broadway and other key-city shows, was beginning to wobble on its throne through the ^tongrr-c o i npe tis h u f-Khrw-jfc--Er- langer, then the big-time theatre trust. '■ ■ •'."' I ' ' ' : .- :\ ■ The selling pitch in those days for the burleys .were real comics who could make 'em laugh, buxom primas with shapely underpinnings and gals in lights. Only line of debarkation between the Stair & Havlin friusicals < which included such names as Billy B. Van and Beaumont Sisters in "Patsy Boliver," George Sidney in "Busy Izzy," Williams & Walker in "In Dahomey" and the burlesque shows was that the former did not employ gags of double entendre be- cause it catered to family audiences. With the flop of the Stair & Havlin circuit it was inevitable that bur- lesque could come into its own by spending some more coin on produc- tion and talent that, would'more than pay off in - returns of the mixed family trade instead of Strictly stag audiences their shows had been get. ting. Herk and Beatty saw this coming, especially Herk. They had ama.<sed sufficient coin to command respect. Consequently they trekked to New York after J. Herbert Mack and the late Sam S. Scribner aligned the best producers of the then-operating three wheels and organized the Co- lumbia Burlesque Circuit. The latter, circuit leased plot of-ground at 47th street and Seventh avenue upon which it-erected its ace house, the Columbia theatre (now Loew's May- fair). Mack and Scribner had <louble-barreled purpose for spotting in Broadway territory. By keeping shows clean and practically on a plane with the former S&H mufii- CAPPEUA: PATRICIA How Appearing at tfce ST. REGIS HOTEL NEW YORK .4 ml You Can See U s In The Universal Picture MOON OVER LAS VEGAS' end the Republic Picture 'THE COWBOY AND THE SENORITA" At Yotir Neighborhood Theatre Music Corporation of America J cals, they had hoped to win respect from showgoers and the press. Up to now burlesque was seldom, if ever reviewed by the dailies. Critics had long since labelled it the illegiti- mate: child of show-biz,—r~— ,'■■ ■ ' Got Shows Reviewed ' Mack and Scribner, via the late Fred McCloy, their publicist, finally sold the newspapers on idea that they were entitled to have shows re- viewed, pointing out the vast amounts of revenue that would be derived from their advertising. They only got a few of the critics, mostly on their summer run shows, but did get readers and- capsule reviews from drama editors. Herk hitched his wagon to the Columbia wheel. . He knew the racket from all angles. He continued to produce his shows and clean up financially. ">. . The Shuberts, after the fold of the Columbia wheel, became overloaded with play-or-pay contractees, mostly vaude headliners and teams which they had pacted for musicals that didn't materialize. There was sparse activity among the producer group which had swung over their way. Dead rentals on dark houses which Shuberts had leased in their heyday were also eating up plenty of the Shubert coin. They .had tried straight vaude to so-so returns. With folding of Columbia wheel, its pro- ducers- were virtually dispossessed frem show biz. They" didn't know any other field of show -biz. Herk became the answer to their prayer, and also Lee Shubert's. Practically overnight Consolidated Unit Circuit was'formed, with Herk fronting for Shubert. In short order he had aligned Barney Gerard, Jack Singer, Ed Daley, Jacobs &,Jermon, Hurtig & Seamon and other front-line Columbia producers as producers of units, many of them carrying the former burley titles. Producers were -to—hold—rein—en -production' costs, with cast payroll to be around $5,000 and shows to be played on percent- a ee. ;';'- -'.>.:'--;'"----,'. - This looked like a great deal for the boys, who saw no other way out. Circuit was functioning scarcely a month when the. producers ac- cused the Shuberts of unloading some of their high-priced acts on them. "Your show needs strengthen- ing," was the way it was put to them, and before the producer Tcnew it he had inherited a $i;000 or $1,500 act which he didn't want in the first place and which upped his nut so much that he couldn't break even. This sort of procedure riot only broke the producers, but Herk also through his having loaned the boys the coin to set up their shows. Herk took the rap for the flop of the cir- cuit. It made hjm a flock of enemies. . Kept Faith But Herk still had faith in bur- lesque. He mortgaged himself and founded the Mutual Burlesque Cir- cuit. Again he had to help the pro- ducers since all went to the cleaners on the circuit fiasco. Within the initial season of MBC, Herk learned that burlesque fans, still wanted rough shows. So he obliged with plenty of bumps and strip-teasing, naughty blackouts and stag jokes. Although Herk had placed a limit on the "dirt" stuff producers, and comics went beyond'it when on the road. Everybody made plenty of coin. Herk got another fortune of over $1,000,000. But the tide turned again, Police interference and other forms of censorship sounded death knell of the Mutual wheel. - Herk then. aligned with Abe Minsky in operation of stock burlesque at the Gaiety, (now Victoria), -N. Y. He. mopped up another bundle of coin until. Mayor La Guardia had bu r- lesque legislate/ out of New York. After that .he had yenned a flier, in iegit. and had planned to. star Margie Hart, burley .stripteuse, in . the : •'right" play if he could get; it. The result was the vauder, "Wine, Women and Song," "which did tre- mendous biz from opening at the Shuberts' Ambassador...-"But his pre- vious . connection wlih \ burlesque ■proved his undoing, When biz was boft'iest in stepped, the', police. Herk blamed the pinch as outcome o'' per- sonal feud between him .and Paul Moss, licea-ie commissioner. Herk wsj» arrested and convicted for having projected an indecent performance. ■He served three months in the. work- house. The. Shuberts disclaimed responsibility though their license to operate the Ambassador was sus- pended. Benny Rubin Should Have Stood in Chi Benny Rubin, comedian who re- cently closed at Chicago in. "Let's Face It" revival, taking over former Danny Kaye role,, had been agented in Chi for-vaude or nitery dates and when none materialized hopped to New York for a week at Loew's State- last week. Monday (10), however, Chi agent wired that he had set him for the. •Chez—Pareer-but—he-would—have—to open July 13. Rubin okayed date. He'll close at the State, Wednesday night (12), grab the 11 o'clock rattler for Chi, which will/ bring him in on; time for opening Thursday night. AGVA Asks Easing American Guild of Variety Artists, through Matt Shelvey, national di- rector, arid Mort Rosenthal, national counsel, is pressing for a modifica- tion of the War Manpower Commis- sion's edict that all males, between ages of 18 and 45 be frozen in pres- ent non-essential occupations. New ruling became effective July 1. All in this Classification , wishing to change place of employment must first obtain a clearance from regional board of the WMC. Shelvey and Rosenthal have out- lined to the regional WMC what a strict adherence to this ruling would mean to performers and theatre op- erators, as well as nitery operators. They pointed out that an act would have to get special' clearance on every booking With such ramifications performers would be legalized "coast defenders," permitted-only to operate within their present areas, and even re- quired to get permission to change employers upon going from one date to another, since it would involve changing place of employment as well as changing employer. AGVA is seeking a modification wherein-as-long-as a performer re- mains in his own line Of business, the entertainment field, he should be free to travel without being subject to clearance required for workers in other fields. Regional board seemed in accord with special provision for performers. .'-.<•• -Same ruling "would affect legit shows somewhat, but not as bad as vaude. Shows probably could get clearances for entire troupes under clause of changing place of business when rotating a* show from*one city to another. AGVA, however, ex- pects answer on its petition this week end, confident it will be favor- able. ■ -* :: '.:."/ . v ','.-' - Camp Shows Accept 138 Out of 2,122 Given 0.0. in National Talent Hunt Saranac Lake By Happy Benway : , Saranac Lake, N. Y., July 11. Ruth Thompson won William Mor- ris award for General Science, Send birthday greetings to Flor- ence Cohen, Virginia Browne, Dr. William Stern. Muriel Scheedel, Nurse . Norman, all . at the. Will Rogers. Rogers was flooded with holiday weekend visitors, among them were Abe Cohen, ogling his frau Flor- ence; Jane and Ed McLean visiting sister Jordy: Frank Scheedel, Judge and Mrs. Grossinger, Artie Hirsch, Sonny Barkus, Carl Erbe visiting Harry Jackson, George Eaton, and Dr. Franceses Montana ex-Rogers medico in to ogle former patients. Betty Hoffman (20th-Fox) pro- moted from wheel chair routine to mild exercises Hazel Smith received O.K. to take in the holiday sports at. Lake Placid, her first time out of the sari, • .-'> ; Kay . Laus happy that she'Hsoori receive her go-home papers. Louis Goldshlag will receive his discharge papers August I. ''■ " ; Victor King, composer, who has been doing bed routine since arrival, penciled in for an up routine soon.'.. Joe H. Klein back at the Rogers after a )0-day furlough, in New York. All records broken by the attend- ance of kiddies-at the William Mor- ris Memorial paTk on July^th. Write lo those who are ill. Johnny Thompson, currently sing- ing-emcee at Leon Eddie's, N. Y., I forced to postpone his opening at | Esquire Club, Montreal, -scheduled ] foi; July' 17. until July 31, because of ;-a two-week' holdover at Loon & Eddie's, "■• :'•'' ■ ' Elias Sugarman, recently dis- charged frorh \he Army; has joined, the nitery department of Gcnef-al Amul; --'•"'.$ Dancer Sues Pitt Hotel For Injuries in Mishap ' Pittsburgh, July 11. Beyei'ly" aayne, ol aance team of Bunny and Beverly, is filing damage suit against Webster Hall hotel here as result of knee injury received when she slipped and fell, at the swimming pool there. Several liga- ments were torn, forcing Miss Bay'ne out of the act, which has been at the Villa Madrid for couple of weeks; Physician told girl he didn't know j .when she'd be able to go back to I "work. Meantime, her partner, Bunriy j Howard, is carrying on at the- Villa Madrid alone. JOE LEWIS INTO CLEVE. MOUNDS; THROAT OK Joe E. Lewis will play his first engagement '' since his recent throat operation when he opens Aug.- 3 at the Mounds Club, Cleveland. Comedian's last nitery date was at the Copacabana, N. Y,, where he Was forced to pull out because of the ail- ment. ,./'-. :';•■;-.-'■".'"->: '• ■ ■{? Harlem Frolics, B'klyn, In Performer Pay Jam Harlem Frolics, Brooklyn nitery, had no show last week due to walk- out of its colored bill after manage- ment refused to liquidate salary claims of previous week—according to Eubie Harris, producer star of the all-Negro floor show. - i - Show had carried seven principals, eight chorines and six-piece music combo. Musikers had been paid. Since spot was not under jurisdiction of American Guild of Variety Artists, nor were the performers members of AGVA, Harrrs~satd~he~w' uuld lake salary claims to small claims court. The court doesn't function again" until September. Sol Newmeyer, operator of Frolics, claims temporary embarrassment was due to two of his partners deserting him after a siege of bad biz, with him holding the bag for rental and other bills. He said if given time he would settle claims. . BEERTS REPLACED IN K. Y. The Chocolateers replace the Berry Brothers beginning tonight (12) at the Cafe Zanzibar, N. Y. nitery. Latter team leaves for the Coast shortly to join lineup of "Star Time," Paul Small's vaude revue. Feeling that it has tapped a fresh . source of talent with satisfactory re- sults, USO-Camp Shows, has com- pleted, tabulating results of their natio n-wid e tal ent hu nt, held to fill Army heeds for entertainers here and overseas. Field directors held auditions in 27 major cities, June 4.9" to July 3, auditioning 2,122 acts and accepting 138 performers, ; tfr; 7<i, with 51 more acts rated possibilities. Camp Shows officials feel this per- centage is a good, average, since it's mostly acts not ordinarily going to USO offices for auditions. Officials also feel the talent search was a good idea, since it tapped a new source.; ;., A large percentage of the acts, say officials, were amateurs, although the quality of those accepted was high. More than 50% were singers, 12% , accompanists (accordionists, guitarists, etc.), 9% dancers,. and balance miscellaneous, running from contortionists and sharpshooters to Shakespeareans and poetry readers.. Officials were surprised that there were only 36 comedy acts and 11 mimics. . . In; -cities where auditions were held, several pulled blanks. In St. Louis, 170 acts were auditioned; in Cincinnati, 100; in Kansas City. 67, with no one accepted in any of these Cities. Los Angeles auditioned 198 acts, with only one accepted. With the standard-acts barrel touching bottom, as far as getting talent for USO-Camp Shows is concerned, offi- cials feel they've done a substantial job. this being one of the biggest talent hunts in show biz. ARENA MCKS. GROUPING TO PRESENT WET SHOW Los Angeles, July li. Arena Managers Assri., headed by John H. Harris, is formin g a new corporation to present "Water- Cades," a combined water'-and stage show, for a nationwide tour. Book- ings will be arranged at the annual Arena Managers' annual meeting in August in New York. Show is backed with $10,000 by each of the 15 managers with the as- surance of a minimum of two weeks at each arena. Chester Hale, produ- cer of "Ice-Capades," will handle the new show. i Riviera. St. I... Sold \ St. Louis, July II. I The Riviera, nitery, shuttered for the summer because of lack of air? j conditioning system, was. sold last! week by George Ogilvy to Jordan W. Chambers. . ; Chambers, a Negro, will probably j operate as a colored spot. HOT SOPHISTICATE TIMMIE ROGERS rAI.M K TIIKATKK. rirvrlanil, Olllu .'. '-; with COUNT B.ASIE ■ Mutrrlol by SIW KI'M.KK Mrl.: WM. .MOHBI8 AUKNCT LOEW BOOKING AGE NCY Of,