Variety (Jul 1946)

38 VAPBEVILLB Wednesday, July 3, 1946 Miami Nitery Ops Unloading Spots; Gambling Looks Dead for Next Season Current summer season is ex-* peeled to produce many changes in | the Miami and Miami Beach cafe sclup. Many spots are expected to No Sunburns Here Hollywood, July 2. Showgirls'working in Earl Car- roll's nitery. here have been strictly warned not to acquire suntans this summer. Producer figures the milk-white epidermis shows up better on stage. I change ownership with virtually! every spot on the block at asking! prices ranging from $25,000 up to j $250,000, One recent change has been made. The Riptide club, Miami, has been sold to Al Freeman, and others arc expected to follow. Basic reason for the desire to un- load is the fact that there's little , hope that Dade county authorities will permit gambling for the com- ing winter season. Political pres- sures, so far, haven't produced any results, and it's felt that the reform wave started at the beginning of last j season, will remain for sometime. • Consequently many who bought clubs expecting a bonanza from the casinos are trying to unload their holdings. Another factor in wave of attemp- ted sales is the expected boom to Hallendale and Hollywood, Fla., lo- cated in adjacent Broward county. Setup in that area is such that the green-felt tables operate unmolested. Myrt Wertheimer's Colonial Inn, Hallendale, made a killing reported at $2,000,000 during last season. It's expected that once building restric- tions are lifted, many hotels and cafes will be built to provide keen competition for the Miami and Beach regions. Broward county has a race track as well, and the smart money gen- try spend more time in this vicinity than they do in Miami. But, so far,' controlling syndicate men, aren't permitting too much gambling competition to move in. But if their expectations of increas- ing tourist trade this winter, vaca- tioner increase may make it feasible for them to permit more spots to open. Harris Trio Begs Out From Max Richards Mgt. Harris Trio, singing act. has vamped exclusive management con- tract with Max Richards, talent agent, by mutual consent. Act made petition to abrogate agreement with agent to American Guild of Variety Artists. /' Matter was to have been arbitrated. After preliminary hearing ■ Richards agreed to release, making subse- quent arbitration unnecessary. AGVA Arbitration Body Splits Nitery Decision Hollywood, July 2. Arbitration Board called by American Guild of Variety Artists last week to decide on claim leveled against Swing Club by singer Carol Abbott, split in its decision—to ap- parent satisfaction of both parties. Chirp said $50 wrongly had been decked from recent week's pay, and Swing operator Paul Bershon coun- tered that she had okayed a cus- tomer cashing two $25 checks and that they bounced, hence the deduc- tion from pay. Arbitrators, after much debate over what constituted okaying a 'customer's check, found agreement in having Bershon pay Miss Abbott $25, or half her claim, with stipula- tion if he ever can collect, he will restore rest of cut. Philly Coronet Sold Philadelphia, June 2. Coronet Club was sold today (Tues.) by owners Stanley Schwartz and Bob Wasserman to Joseph Fein and Joseph Kravitz for a reported $50,000. Club is closing down to- night (Tues.) for renovations, to re- open in four weeks under new tag of Cafe Society. New owners operated a musical bar of latter name in uptown Negro section of Philly. SONNY KENDIS AND HIS ORCHESTRA CarrvarHy Appearing for Eatir* Sumintr Season At the Famous EMBASSY ROOM in the HOTEL STRAND ATLANTIC CITY. NEW JERSEY CM. COAST-TO-COAST COLUMBIA RECORDS ! Charlie Freeman Says He'll Take the Rap For Starting Bowes' Units Dallas, June 29. Editpr. Variety: Qn June'19. you carried the story ■ of the Major Bowes Units. Out of respect for the late Major's mem- ory, and in order that the blame for these shows can be placed where it properly belongs, I am going to tell you the true story of the Major Bowes Units. B;ick in 1934-35 when the Major Bowes Amateur Program was at its height I was then booking the Inter- state Theatres out of Paramount's New York Booking Office. I called Bill McCaflciy. then with the NBC Artists' Bureau, and told him I would like to make up a vaudeville show of Major Bowes winners and ] play them in the Interstate Theatres ' in Texas. McCaffrey liked the idea and said he would take it up. with the Major He called back in half an hour and reported that the Major was not interested and couldn't be bothered. . I then told him that if the Major wouldn't do it. I would go ahead with it myself. Bill said that I couldn't use the name. I told him I was going to make up the show of Major Bowes winners.' booking the acts direct, calling it the "Major Bowes Amateur Winners" and could- n't see how anyone could stop it. Bill then asked me to hold up until he contacted the Major again. This time he called back in 15 min- utes and asked me if I would come over and see the Major. The Major and I then got together, and the first Major Bowes Unit was organized, and a few weeks later opened in the Majestic. Houston. All that happened with these units followed this show- ing in Houston. I was rather surprised at the profits Variety figured had accrued from these shows—$3,000,000. I can readi- ly understand now why the Major sent me an electric clock the follow- ing Christmas! Charles J. Freeman. P. 0. BOX 12t, TIMES SQUARE STATION NEW YORK It. N. Y. Sherman's Aqua Follies Refurbished for Tour Noel Sherman, whose aqua show, ' Water Follies." closed an experi- mental tour two weeks ago. is plan- ning lo. revamp show with enlarged cast and. additional scenic effects and send it out again latter part of next month. Encouraged by the boft biz the water specuiele did on tour, Sher- man figures there's a large public for this type entertainment, which has precipitated his desire to plunge into heavy financing for the next edition. New combo will comprise vnuclc acts as well as water stars, whom he's now lining up for re- hearsals in N. Y. They Call It Comedy Every once in awhile a few performers in vaudeville and the niteries get out of hand with their material, and as a result the entire field suffers. The misdeeds of the few are made to ap- pear as if they are the misdeeds of the entire variety phase of show business. It recalls the Keith-Albce clays, when Keith and Albee found it necessary to post on their callboards the "don'ts" that were making vaudeville a drain for sewage mouthed by a group of so-called comedians. Of late this condition has'be- come increasingly noticeable. It's shameful, for instance, what one high-priced act is doing in top theatres. And in family- time houses, at. that. For this the bookers and house managers are to blame.. You can point to the really great comedy stars, and you've got to admit that few, if any, ever got to the top by using filth And dirt likewise has no place in the nitery, regardless of a common statement that there should be a greater leeway in the boite. Why? Should the patron sensitivity in the nitery be less than that in the theatre? Smut has no place anywhere. Some comedians point to the laughs they get and defend their tactics by saying that the results speak for themselves. How often ate those "laughs" just of embarrassment, or laughs of those being made "hep" in much the same manner that they are covertly shown French postcards. Keith-Albee edicts of not using certain words, or doing certain of a situation that repeatedly cropped up In vaudeville during ■ the '20s. Of course, some comics were inclined to observe the. Keith-Albee edicts of not using certain words, or doing certain suggestive things, but when they hit the next town they im- mediately inserted new, but still dirty, material. There is one comedian, in particular, who has been involved with the police because .of dirty cafe stuff, and yet this third- rate comic frequently crops up, with the same type of filth, in other spots. Performers will resort to smut when their talents are limited. And dirt can never be denned in terms of talent. Saranac Lake By Happy Benway Saranac Lake. N. Y., July 2. The Bradley & Benson 'circus, the first big-top show to hit this colony since 1941. did a two-performance stand to sellout business- Al Brandt, who is doing a repeat routine, handed a 10-day furlough, meaning nice improvement. Lillian Bergson back to the Rogers after a 10-day jaunt to visit relatives and friends. "Hi-Lights of 1946 " musical revue, being readied as benefit for the general hospital, with Eddie Vogt producing. " Marilyn Shaw elated over surprise visits from parents and the John Highlands. Florence Bordley. ex-NVAite, who beat the rap here and doing well with her radio work in Detroit,.due soon for'annual checkup. Peter Hasen shot in last week to visit daughter. Edna Hagen. who is improvin™ nicely at the Rogers. Alice Farley, dancer who cured here, vacashing and mitting the gan? between medico checkups. (Write lo those who arc ill.) Sepia Vande Flops Again at McKinley, N. Y. McKinley theatre. Bronx, N. Y., which attempted a Negro vaude policy, folded Wednesday (26) after one week's operation. It was second ill-fated try. Heavy losses and inability to get names that might have increased business, were given as the reasons for the fold. Bill consisting' of Clyde Bernhardt band, Maxine Sullivan. Foster and Batie. and Pitts and Pitts were paid off in full. New Acts ELEANOR BOWERS Songs 19 Mins. Village Vanguard, N. Y Eleanor Bowers has vocal equip- ment that is ready for the swankier boitcs. ■ She's a looker with a fine flair for interpretation and a sure- ncss in projection. Indicative of variety in her catalog is selection of "Lovely Day Tomor- row," "In Love in Vain," jive ver- sions of "Kerry Dance" and "What Can the Matter Be." Rendition of the latter two suggests that she can make a selling specialty of riding [oik and nursery airs. Jose. PIED PIPERS (4) Songs 9 Mlns. Paramount, N. Y. . This vocal group of three guys and a gal have an established b.o. value by virtue of their long association with the Tommy Dorsey band and a batch of recordings. Now making; the rounds as an independent act, they impress as a well-groomed quartet with carefully worked-out arrangements. Offerings are varied; they tackle slow numbers with ease, ditto rhythm tunes* It's air act that can play deluxers anywhere and the' type that could enhance a variety radio show. Jose. DALLAS NITEEY SOLD Dallas, July 2. The Sky-Vu nitery has been sold by Ben Friedman and Herman Wafdnian to W. D. Satterwhite. own- er of the Southern Mansions.' Satter- white will continue operating both. At the Sky-Vu he will present a new policy opening with a hillbilly band, the Light Crust Doughboys of radio, who were with W. Lee O'Dan- iel from his salesman days to his present post as U. S! Senator. COMEDY PATTER For All ■roach*! of Theatricals Fun-Master Gag Files No*. I Tare 13 or SI.OS Each 13 Different Scripts for $13.00 A "MUST" FOft MOUNTAIN AND All OTHER KSOkT tNTEKIAINtBS Not. 14 Thru 20 READY SOON! ($2.00 Each—Doable Scripts) (O n Prepaid Advowee Order ON IY) In prritrtrittion: "f-'iin-MuKtrr Hook nf Ulili'kniitK. Skits * Kirs." iiIni> "Fun-Muster llmuor-ilur for r'.nH-res." $2.00 Deposit on C.O.D. Orders FOR ALL MATERIAL PAULA SMITH 200 W. Sllll Sln-Ft New York City IS, N. Y. s TTUuuus LOEW BOOKING AGENCY OINHAl fXICUriVf OfHCfS IOEW BUILDING ANNEX ;M0 W.44* St., N.Y.C • My** f-Ttm XSS£ Kt