Variety (Sep 1946)

Wednesday, Se£teinl>cr llj 1946 N.Y. Nitery Ops Hope for Compromise On Scale Before Moil (16) Deadline New York cafe operatox's are* battling the Sept. 16 deadline by Lo- ' cal 802 of the American Federation of Musicians in an effort to arrive at an agreement. Unless a.contract is signed by Monday (16), union is prepared to pull out its musicians tiom all N. y. niteries. Late yesterday^: afternoon, spokes- man for the Allied Restsurant and Entertainment Industries, bonifaoe organization, said that, "We're still J'ar apart" but held out hope that a meeting last night (Tues.) between Local 802 reps and the organization to be held at the AREI headquarters, plus an additional confab today (11) at the N.Y. State Mediation Board might produce results. Cafe men feel that the musicians should be given a raise, but feel that the present union demands which they say would increase music costs, in some cases by more than 50 % are way out of hne. An offer of about 12Vi!% has been extended to the union, it was reported, but Local S02 is holding out,: although" it's said that they're willing to rhake some compromises. •The musicians walkout is contin- geilt upon how far negotiations get in this week's meetings. If an agree- ment in substance is reached, the union is expected to extend Mon- day's deadline. If it reaches the strike stages, then shows will be puUedj and many cafes will attempt to run as straight eateries, Local 802 contracts expired Labor Day and all increases granted will be retroactive. Vaudeville house reps are slated to meet with the union Friday (13), but situation is said to be not so acute as that of the cafes because negotiations can extend beyond Monday. Four Top Las Vegas Niteries Pact With Union Paqting of four more niteries in Las Vegas last week, by that branch of American Guild of Variety Artists, gives the talent union 100% security in that territory; with all having signed basic agreements and posted cash security to cover talent budgets. New spots are El Cortez Last Fron- tier, Railway Pass Casino, Horace spots with $85r50 scale, latter for line gals, on a six-day work week for both. Other spots in that : area were pacted by AGVA some weeks ago. VAIJDEVILLB SI Ptiimer House Beats Music Ban Clvicago, Sept. 10. I Despite James C. Petrillo, who railed a sympathy walkout of or- che.stras in three local hotels in sup- port of the N. Y. musicians' strike, the Palmer House put on its Empire Room floor show sans music last week with good results. Stunt, the brainstorm of assistant producer Dick Barstow, played to near-ca- pacity biz over the weekend and will be repeated once nightly until the strike is settled. Problem of what to do when the Muriel Abbott dancers took their turn was solved when Barstow wrote special lyrics to jive with the steps of the line, then accompanied the gals over an oil stage mike. An- other line number was done to the accotnpaniment of the vocalizing Maurer sisters. Werblin's Mont'l Visit Cues Speculation On Cardy Booking Setup Montreal, Sept. 10. Arrival in Montreal Saturday (7) of David A. "Sonny" Werbiin,, Chief of Musie Corp. of Americans office in New York, cued speculation on hovv much of a flght MCA is going to put up to keep the Cardy hotel ac- count from going to Mae Johnson, who ankled MCA as of Sept. 1. VAuiisTY learned that purpose of Werblin's junket here was to con- fab With Vernon Cardy, head of the hoter chain. Miss Johnson, who was in charge of booking the Cardy chain for MCA for the past 10 years, took the Cardy account with her when she left MCA to open her own booking office here. Informants close to the situation have stated that MCA will not give up the ac- count without a fight, . which is the reason for Werblin's trip here. Werbiin could not be reached for comment over the weekend since he left town immediately on his arrival and it was reported that he was con- ferring with Cardy at his country home. Aiixiety for MCA to retain the account is not so much because of the Normandie Roof in Montreal, or King Edward Hotel in Toronto, since the combined nut of both shows rarely goes above the $4,000 mark. Real reason may be that fact.that with liquor restrictions eased in On- tario, Cardy will likely be placing entertainment at his hotels in Ham- ilton, Windsor and Niagara Falls. This would mean a sizeable commis- sion slice for anyone booking the spots. It's also speculated locally whether MCA will try and keep Miss Johnson from using MCA acts, if they're un- successful in retaining the account, Gypsy's Repeat on USO Gypsy Markoff, one of the survi- vors of the Lisbon Clipper crash in 1941, has signed tw do a .USO-Camp Shows overseas tour in October/ Miss Marlcoff, who was severely in- jured in the crash and still has not regained full use of her arms, made a tour last year. She'll head an all femme unit. HYPNOTIST AmailnK and Exoltlup Performance AVAIIjABIiXS FOB BOOKINGS M. ELSTER ai« Eiwt 7Btli Street, N. T. HI, X. T. Martolais' Own Agency Joe Marsolais, who recently re- signed as cocktail booker for the Moe Gale agency, last week opened a personal management office in space let to him by Frederick Bros., where he formerly managed that depart- ment. LOEW BOOKING AGENCY ocNiKAt ixicutm otncif tOEW BUUOINd ANNEX ;TM W. 44lh S>.,N.Y.C. • llty*nl:>-^«00 -f- H. i A. & C. Cancel Canuck Date When Primioters Stall on Guarantee Coni Acrobat Held On Assault Rap A. B. Larbe,. understander of the tumbling act. Four Moroccans, was held in ,$500 bail for trial in court of special .sessions, N. Y., Friday (1.3) on assault charge made by Bernard Sussman, stage manager of Nicky Blair's Carnival, N. Yi -nitery, where both were employedi Larbe was re- leased on bail day after amignmeftt. Alleged assault was result of an argument, according to reports, be- tweeri ^ the acrobat and Sussman when former complained that the nitery floor, which is waxed for cus- tomer dansapation between floor sliows, had not been mopped up as per custom, making it impossible and dangerous to the acrobatic foursome in their pyramiding part of act, when Larbe is understander for trio of partners. Larbe alleges that when he approached Sussman on the mat- ter, the stage manager 'blew his top" and invited him outside for fisticuffs and took a sock at him, He admits socking him back but that's all. Sussman on the other hand claims Larbe was the aggressor throughout and victor of the fray. Aftermath of fracas brought cancellation of act out of Carnival show by Blair. Sub- sequent complaint made against Larbe at American Guild of Variety Artists by Sussman. After a trial board of the talent union heard case last week it found the acrobat guilty of "conduct unbecoming a member." It slapped him with a fine of $700, which goes to the AGVA relief fund, and awarded $300 damages to Suss- man for injuries sustained. It also suspended Larbe from membership for Six months. Larbe, flanked by other members of the act, plans to appeal to Matt Shelvey, national head of AGVA, for rehearing or modification of trial board verdict. Other members of trio will base stance for appeal on premise that Larbe is not replaceable in the act and they will necessarily be out of employment, too, for six months if the suspension stands. Winnipeg, Sept. 10. Most sensational story in Winni- peg's show business in years broke' Friday night (6) when Abbott arid Costello, scheduled to appear with their "Hollywood Revels" show,, at the last minute cancelled the show and charging promoter with having failed to live up to the contract, urged the audience to demand a refund: ' ■ ' • The comedians arrived in Winni- peg late Friday afternoon, the Can-, adiaii city included in their tour for the Lou Costello. Jr.i.Foiindatiori, ac- companied by Will Osborne and band and a number of Hollywood acts. After a lot of bickering with O. Noel, promoter of the show, the Comedians decided to put on a brief impromptu show but lett the band and other performers behind at their hotel. Addressing about 2,000 spectators huddled in the hold in open-air Os- borne Stadium, where the show was to have taken place, Costello said: "Our promote): has .refused, to give us any part of the seat money.' This is the first time in 24 years I've .ever had to apologise for any local shortf comings." ■ Abbott said: "We work for free. Every dollar we have made in our recent trip ■ has gone to the youth, foundation. Go back to where you bought your tickets and get your money back." - ii -v ■■■'.:■': . Claim Misrepresentation In : a statement released to the press the comedians claimed that they had been assured that the sta- dium had been sold out. They said their contract called lor a $10,000 deposit, all of it to go to the founda- tion. They said they had been phoned kt Minneapolis on Thursday night and told 12,000 seats were sold and the second half of the deposit was in a local bank. "Our agency (Music Corporation of America) had received $5,000 and another $5,000 deposit as stipulated in the contract had yet to be ipaid. We received the following wire to- day:. ■ "'Bank of Montreal advises that they do not have balance of $5,000 on tonight's engagement. There- fore imperative you collect the amount in United States currency before Abbott and Costello perform ...M. B. Lipsey, Music Corporation of America.' "In Winnipeg we were again as- sured that the money was forthcom- ing. We were stalled until curtain time with the intention of having us perform and collect the deposit later." Noel, who had made arrangements- for the show, is known here as long assopiated with the film industry,: , and recently employed by Monogram, Pictures. Associated with him itt the project are G, Bissett and - Lyons, two war veterans. Bissett is reported to have said that a com- pany was formed to promote the show but it never actually material" - ized. ■ Promoters' Denial The. promoters of the shb'W have, emphatically denied that they re- fused to hand over the $5,000 before the show started. They say that the money , was offered in : Canadian funds and refused with a demand that United States currency be paidi They have been quoted in the press as saying that so far as they are concerned the actors will not get aiiy , more money .from them. lipmediately following the charges made by Abbott and Costello, people who had bought tickets to the $2.50 top show began coming around for ' refunds. The promoters have a'n- iiounced that refunds will be made, ; but it is not known at time of writ- ing whether any have been made so far. ■ - According to a press report, an unofficial check by the promoters shows that they are out $8,500 on the ShoDVi '■ ,, -;.■ Show's Poor 2G, Mpis. : Minneapolis, Sept. 10. In 9,000-seat Auditorium, Abbott & Costello show grossed a poor ,$2,000 at $3.60 top for one-nighter. Boxoffice dip was blamed on polio epidemic, which kept away children of 15 and under and many others, rain and strong "Oklahoma" and baseball opposition. Critics and customers were lavish in show's praise. Henry Busse's band is heading a vaude package which will include Cliff Nazarro and Fred Lowery and Dorothy- Rae. Unit opens at the Circle, Indianap- olis, Sept. 26. POP CORN ROASTER Cretan No. f 0 PEANUT ROASTER - Royal No. S , ',.. '''-.deSoNiM' ■ ■ Box 301, PhocniXTlUc, Fa. LARRY STORGH 'REMBRANDT OF IMPRESSIONS' JUST CLOSED 8 SUCCESSFUL WEEKS PALMER HOUSE, CHICAGO OPENED JULY IITH CLOSED SEPT. IITH Opening Sept. 16th .to Oct. 13th STATLER, DETROIT Opening Oct. 15th to Nov. 3rd ' STATLER, BUFFALO Opening Nov. 5th to Dee. 14th STATLER, BOSTON : ■ ■ , Then ^to ■ ■ PARAMOUNT, NEW YORK Early 1947 Managemeni: ' WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY