Variety (May 1946)

Wmlneaday, May 1, 1946 ORCHESTRAS-MUSIC Air Transport Firm Solicits Band Biz; More Leader-Owned Planes Air travel between dates by bands ♦• may not be as far away as has been thought. In recent weeks, various band agencies and personal man- agers have been solicited by one new commercial air transport . outfit for assignments to move bands between dales. This firm does not state prices, but ■ asserts in its letter that ■ rates.will not be lar away from cur- rent bus-transport charges, which now vary from 44c to 60c per per- son per mile. While this firm seems to be one devoted only to the movement of freight and chartered passenger hops, the various major companies have' been bidding for theatrical trade. And it's safe to assume that, as soon.»s new and sufficient equip- ment is .obtained from plane manu- facturers; the big ones too will go after band business. Although the band business will in" years to come make extensive use of plane travel between dales, it s not likely that one-nighlers will be covered thus. Currently, few hops between dates are long enough to warrant the use.of planes, at least for the average band. The top- nolchers, who can afford to uiidet- wiile. the' extra costs, might do it in order, lb give musicians more rest and relaxation between book- ings. But lower-priced combos will probably slick to buses and private cars. Many leaders, however, are mak- ing preparations to cover distances between dates in private planes. Quite a few are pilots. Vaughn Monroe, for example, is. getting de- livery next month on a new four- plnce cabin ship which will pick him up' and lay him down "on one-night ers, etc. He's a licensed pilot, but the ship will be in charge of His 'brother, also licensed. Copyright Shift Hypoes Maurice Peter Maurice Inc.,. new publish- ing house set up in New York as a result of the reciprocal publishing deal tieup between Leeds Music here and the Maurice firm in Lon- don, will be . strengthened imme- diately by a shift of copyrights. ' . Peter Maurice for years has been placing songs with various U. S. publishers. These copyrights are 50% owned by the U. S. firms which marketed them here, and 50% by Maurice of London. Now, the half of these copyrights held by Maurice of London will be transferred to the N. Y. firm to give it strength. Working'out of the shift required the okay of Performance Rights So- ciety, the British counterpart of the American Society of Composers, Au- thors and Publishers, Under the agreement, all royalties formerly paid by U. S. firms to Maurice, which went first to ASCAP then to PRS, then to Maurice in London, will henceforth go from the U. S. publishers to ASCAP to the Maurice setup here. J.C. PETR1LL0 CAN NOW PROVE HE'S FAMOUS Toledo, April 30. Investigation is under way- by. both the Toledo local and the American Federation of Musicians, in an effort to determinc lhc identity of the person who, representing him- self as James C. Petrillo, head of the union, last weck .i23) asked Clarence R. Ball, supervisor of music in Toledo high schools/ for Hie names of students playing in the bands. When Ball refused, the iin- POoier threatened him with loss of his job. .Man told Ball he wanted to form civic bands in cities of more .than 50.000 population. He said he wanted to get the youths into the union before they get commercial jobs, and could provide them jobs during the summer as soon as ihey get out of school. James'Eastern Plans Involve Many Dickers Harry James still has not definite- ly decided on the dates his band will play when it comes east in June. For weeks, Music Corp. of America has been dickering for va- rious locations, bids and . counter- bids flying back and forth between the agency's'New York and'Beverly Hills offices and James. In addition to. coin, working hours, number of performances per day or night, etc., have been haggled over. As it stands,. James is likely to play Totem Pole, Auburndale', Mass.; Convention Hall, Asb.ury Park, N. J.; Steel Pier, Atlantic City; perhaps Meadowbrook, and a string of one- nighters. Canadian promoters have been making offers of $5,000 and $6,000 guarantees in U. S. coin for him, but nothing is definite. Post Lodge, Larchmont, Name Band Expansion Set for May 29 Preem Post Lodge, Larchmont, N. Y., ap- parently has been able to secure building materials with which to en- large its capacity enough to permit a name band policy. Spot expects to be able to double its current 400- seat limit by May 29. It has bought Claude ' Thorrihill's new postwar orchestra to debut the. room. Originally, Hal Mclntyre was to open' the enlarged spot, but the idea was subsequently discarded due to construction materials restrictions. Mclnlyre's contract holds good, how- ever. He opens June 12, following Thornhill. Spot is paying good money; Mclntyre is drawing $3,750 weekly against a. percentage. Thorn- hill's coin is undisclosed, but it's probably similar.. Upped capacity and top names puts the Post Lodge in direct competition with Glen Island Casino, not far away at New Rochelle. Latter spot almost always uses non-name, em- bryo combos (see separate story). EMBASSY MUSIC, RCA, ID. SUED OVER SONG Charging that its copyrighted tune, "Blue Blazes," was appropriated by Embassy Music, Tommy Dorsey, and Radio Corp. of America, Denton & Haskins Corp., owners of the tune, filed injunction' and accounting suit in N. Y. supreme court. Ac- cording to the complaint, the de- fendants published, performed and recorded the plaintiff's copyrighted song since 1042, without consent. Embassy, et al. have moved for dis- missal on the ground that the court has no jurisdiction over the subject matter because ii is an action under the copyright laws of the United States and should be brought in U. S. district court. In the alterna- tive, the defendant's seek to have the plaintiff's attorney serve an amended complaint, making the alle- gations more definite as to whether they are suing for alleged infringe- ment of a copyrighted song under the U. S. copyright laws or whether they claim infringement of a common law property right. Complaint states that prior to 1935, the composers Sy Oliver and Jimmy Luncefdrd. assigned all rights to "Blue Blazes" to its own publishing firm arid that Embassy unlawfully published the same song and allowed it to be performed and recorded. (Oliver is arranger for Tommy Dor- sey's band and has written a num- ber of original melodies which Em- bassy publishes.) 49 Oberstein on Coast To Wrap Up New Recordings Hollywood, April 30. Eli Oberstein, head of RCA-Vic- tor talent and repertoire arriving here over the weekend on one of his periodic - trips to record RCA talent, in this area. He'll cut 'the usual bunch, Freddy Martin, Mar- tha Stewart, Spike. Jones," etc. Oberstein is due back in N. Y. May 11. ASCAP Reelects Entire Slate; Votes Prexy Deems Taylor $25,000 a Year AFM Unfair' Tag Shifts tod, Off Glen Island Casino Glen Island Casino, New Rochelle, N; Y.-, which a few weeks ago was placed on the "unfair list" by the American Federation of Musicians, is now mysteriously off the black sheet. Instead, the onus has been shifted to Howard Gill, attorney for the spot, who until a month or so ago was a licensed AFM booker, but whose permit was revoked after charges against him to the union by maestro Shorty Sherock. No one among the execs in the band agencies is quite clear on what occurred in the Glen Island case and the AFM is, as usual, not talking. Originally,. each of the major agen- cies was warned, by telephone, that the spot was out of bounds because of its habit of'exacting a "piece" of the future earnings of . all bands booked in there. Late last week, the ban on the spot itself and How- ard DeZutter, who operates the place on a lease from the Westchester County Park, commission, was lifted and, it was explained, Gill was the only person connected with the op- eration to be marked "unfair." This after his license was revoked. It is known that DeZutter had been in conversation with AFM execs after the first ban on the spot. It's probable that- this was the method evolved to clear, things up after he went to bat. As for the bands that will play the spot this summer, not. much is known. William Morris agency says that its contract with DeZutter for Harry Cool's band to work the sec- ond half of the season, opening July 17, has not been disturbed. Who will fill in the first half isn't known. Monroe Cracks B.O., $12,000 at Pottstown Vaughn Monroe, who has made a habit of cracking b.o. marks lately, added another last week. He topped all figures at Frank Dailey's Mea- j dowbrook for the period between ■ Tuesday (22) and Sunday (28) by | at least $2,000. Saturday gross was $300 above previous takes with 2;204 patrons. Charlie Spivak, who pre- ceded Monroe at MeadowB'rook, also did well, comparatively. Week before opening at Dailey's, Monroe worked Sunnybrook. Ball- room, Pottstpwn, Pa. and set a new admissions and money, mark. He worked to 8,273 people, and pyra- mided a gross of over $12,000, in- cluding tax. CBS' Coin Splurge For Meadowbrook' "Matinee A* Meadowbrook," 60- minute sustainer which emanated from Frank Dailey's Meadowbrook, Cedar Grove, N. J., before the war, will resume May 11, on CBS 5-6 p.m. every Saturday afternoon. CBS net is pouring some $900 weekly into the fashioning of a script show, with guest stars weekly, all backed by the band at the spot each week. Initial show will have Vaughn Monroe's orchestra, Yvette and Wal- ter Gross as guestars, and the Bergen County College Choir. It will be scripted by Draper Lewis and an- nounced by John Tillman. Jazz and Longhair To Work Together On o Carnegie, N.Y., Podium Lineup of jazz and musicomedy talent has been added to concert and opera names for the Pop Concerts which will be inaugurated, by Phil- harmonic-Symphony players at N. Y. Carnegie Hall Sat. (4K Eddie Con- don's Jazz group is dated May 13; John Raitt, of "Carousel," and Nan Merriman, radio soprano, May 19; Borodkin String Quartet, jazz spe- cialists; "Sugar Chile" Robinson, 7- year-old piano prodigy, May 25. < Opening concert will have Arthur Rodzinski and Walter Hendl as con- ductors, latter doubling as pianist in Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." Robert Merrill, Met baritone, will be soloist. . - Artists appearing with the 70- piece orch first two weeks will in- clude Simon Barere, Ray Lev, Vivian della Chiesa, John Corigliano, Rose- marie Brancato, Millza Korjus, Er- nesto Lecuona, Josephine . Antoine, Grace Castagnetta, Eileen Farrell, Katherlne Dunham, JPederico Rey, and others. Season will run six nights, a week through June 16. SYDNEY GOLDSTEIN IN RETURN TO PAR-FAMOUS Sydney Goldstein, who quit Para- mount-Famous several months ago to take over the operation of Plymouth Music in N. Y., has left the latter and will return to Holly- wood. He goes back to the Coast as head of Par-Famous activities in that area, the job he originally turned down. Eddie Wolpin heads the two music companies, subsidi- aries of Paramount Pictures. Goldstein goes back west due to family pressure.. All his ties center in that area; He had a contract with Plymouth which had a long time to run, but which was can- celled on his request by Cork O'Keefe and Glen Gray, owners of the firm. Yoicks! Hounds A'Bay For That Sweet Wall St. Hay Musikers l'lan Bowl Night Hollywood, April 30. American Federation of Musi- cians Local 47 is planning husc musical program to be staged in Hollywood Bowl on Auk. 21 to benc- 111 hospitalized war vets. _. Union spread similar show last September in Bowl, netting $24,000. Musicraft Sets Up Own N.Y. Distrib Machinery Musicraft Records has set up its own distributing company to handle its product in the metropolitan New York 'and New Jersey territory. Subsidiary is called Musicraft Dis- tributing Co. and it replaces-former- connection with Irwin Gwlrtz' dis- trib outfits. .George' Schautz 'will'be in charge o£ the distrib setup, working under Oliver Sabin, company's sales di- rector. By BERNIE WOODS Anybody who thinks the hunt, is a ' thing of the past in New York since > the Indians pocketed $24 and a few. 1 G-strings for the site, just ain't hep to what's going on. There's been enough sniffing and baying between Times Sq. and Wall St. the past week or two to make the Dutch who dis- placed the red men sit up and ask what's cookin'. What's everybody, I specifically everybody in the band 'and music field, hunting? Capitol Records' stock. . • . . • Ever since Capitol made that deal with a. couple of Wall St. firms sev- eral weeks ago for financial backing, ! via the disposal of treasury shares, ' and (be word got around that blocks of common would be for sale, every- body's been on his horse ready to , follow the hounds. Music and band , biz people don't even ask the stand- ard "How do you feel?" anymore All officers of the American Soci- ety of Composers, Authors and. Pub- lishers, from president Deems Taylor down, were returned to office yes- terday (Tues.) by vote of the direc- tor board, but not before a hot ar- gument on the question of a salary for president Taylor's post. It wound up -with the chair being awarded a salary of $25,000 a year, with the restriction that no one can occupy it for more than two terms. For some time there has been sharp discussion among ASCAP di- rectors over the problem of a salary for the president, or since Taylor at first made it known he would like remuneration beyond an annual bonus (he drew $20,000 last Xmas in addition to substantial expenses). Some were against the idea, others were in favor. At yesterday's meeting, it. was the writers who were ada- mantly in favor, the publisher fac- tion being at first split, but finally making it unanimous. Taylor him- self, contrary to reports on his stand for a salary, did not lay down any demand, expressing himself willing to serve with or without pay. ' Prior to yesterday's meeting, it was known that ASCAP toppers had approached other outstanding music men on the idea of taking the presi- dent's spot, which actually entails a minimum of work. Two of these were Oscar Hammerstein II ajid Richard Rodgers, who turned it down. One of the reasons, incidental- ly; that the coin went through is to forestall any electees claim that, to take the post in the future, would be committing business suicide, i. e. that he . would have to neglect his own business; if he had one. Officers reelected, in addition to prexy Taylor, were Gus Schirmer, Oscar Hammerstein 2d, v. p; George W. Meyer, secretary; Jack Bregman, treasurer; Donald Grey, asst. trees. Only new member is Ray Henderson, elected assistant treasurer to take the place of Irving Caesar, now off the board. Irving Caesar A Mystery Man Major music publishers and top songwriters are trying to . figure what's behind the nomination of songwriter Irving Caesar as a can- didate for the publishers' seat on the Appeals Board of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Most have «thelr own idea on the subject, which they aren't voicing loudly or often. Unusual angle of Caesar being posted for the seat, is that last month he was defeated as a can- didate for reelection to the So- ciety's board of: directors, of which he was a member for years. How- ever, his presence on the board was. as a songwriter not as a publisher, and his defeat was not taken lightly by certain of his former contem- poraries. Caesar has every right to nomination to the Appeals Board as a publisher since he has operated his publishing firm, Irving Caesar, Inc., for years. Appeals board con- sists of two writers and one pub- lisher. » Caesar's name as a candidate for the a.b. was placed before the board of directors yesterday afternoon (Tues.) and ratified. This is cus- tomary; all such candidates must be okayed by the board before voting' by ballot by the full membership occurs. when they meet. First pops the question, "Where can I buy some Capitol stock?" Scent became increasingly stronger the latter part of last week, nfter rumors ran around that some pieces of Cap would be available soon. No- body knew whether it was going on the market,, or where it was coming from. But every one has been breaking his- neck trying to find some, even execs of rival companies, When the notes do show up they'll disappear so fast the light of day won't have a look-in at fading the nice fresh printing. Flash: The scramble started yes- terday (Tuesday) morning in New York. Some 95,000 shares of Capitol went into over-the-counter trading first thing in the morning at $19.50, and before most band and music bi:- people had time to bl'nk half-opened eyes, was up to $33 per. SINATRA VS. SINATRA OR BARTON VS. COL Manie Sacks, director of artists and repertoire for Columbia Records, is plenty , steamed at Barton Music, owned partially by Frank Sinatra, one of Columbia's top names. It seems Barton slipped Sacks and Sinatra a fast one by allowing Ma- jestic Records to release two of its new songs as done by Jack Smith, while Sinatra's Columbia cuttings of the melodies are still on the shelf for future release, Two tunes are, "How Cute Can .You Be" and "Something New.-Some- • ♦•-•««» Old," ma-l-fc' hy /VI, ■:• -.lie ilr.r- week. ■ Shir* a's <"•' ! !>;s <•;'. the tunes were made some time ago.