Variety (Sep 1946)

Wedlineeday, Seplemliep 18, 1946 VAUDEVILLB 47 AGVA.ARA in Amity Huddle To Gear Up Artists-Agent Disputes Matt Shelvey, national head oft- American Guild of Variety Artists, met with I. Robert Broder, attorney for Artists Representatives Assn., and committee from latter agent group: last weelc to devise a plan, to be mutually agreed upon, to ex- pedite hearings and disposition of some 17 cases involving agent-per- former disputes that liave been pil- ing up at AOVA through inability to line up impartial arbitrators. Modus operandi in such matters requires an arbitrator for plaintiff bringing the charges, whether per- former or agent, another for,the de- fendant and a third that'.s impartial but generally carrying the weight in rendering a verdict. After confab it was agreed by Shelvey and ARA that Broder and Mortimer S, Rosenthal, associate counsel for AGVA, would get to- gether on these cases this week and attempt ..conciliatory, meetings with parties involved. This would ascer- tain whether matters could be threshed out satisfactorily at these sessions and if not what method of arbitration should be set up. At any ■rate, both sides want to' clear the declc on this unfinished business. Want Out on V»<:ts Principally on the calendar, which mostly involve performers wanting to terminate exclusive representa- tion pacts with agencies, are cases of Benny Rubin, comedian; Viola Laync; songstress; Rufe Davis, comic, and Edith Fellowss, sTeen starlet, ■who want out on their contracts with Fredenclc Bros. There's also Ann Howard and Phyllis Claire seeking to abrogate exclusives with Sol Tep- per agency, Lenny Kent with Gen- eral Artists Corp. and June Rich- mond, sepia songstress, who would like to kiss off American Booking ' Corp. (Joe Glaser) deal. There are nine other agent^artists involve- ments calendered at the union but the abovermentio.ied will- be ironed out first before taking on the others. Should the conciliatory sessions prove fruitless there is a possibility they will go to the American Arbitration Society for arbitration. Although AGVA has heretofore han- dled arbitrations in its national headquarters in N. Y., the talent union is amenable to sending such matters to-the ARB AAS, providing ARA and AGVA split arbitration costs on SUCH matters. COPA, MIAMFS 7iG CHUNG FOR TOP AaS Murray Weinger, operator of the Copacabana, Miami Beach, has set a rigid $7,500 ceiling on Individual acts. Copa is opening Dec. 5. Opening show isn't set yet, but he's dicker- ing for Jan Murray and Bernice Parks, already has Harvey Stone and Frances Faye set for the Dec, 26, and has the Rit2 Bros, signed for a January date. : Mftjestic theatre, Paterson, N. J., . is slated to open for the season Sept. 20. COMEDY PATTER For All Branchei of Theatricali No*. I thru 13 at $1.05 each or 13 Script! for $13.00 Not. 14 thru 20 NOW READY! $2.00 •ach-<.-DoHblc Scriptt SKNn FOR THEM NOW! CAT€H m* 0.V n.-\cit ISSUKS! "BOOK OF BLACKOUTS" 3 Volumes at $25.00 per Vel^ "BOOK OF PARODIES" 10 Sock Farodlci—$10.00 NO C.O.D.'S PAULA SMITH 200 W. S4th St., Neyr York 19. N.Y. Ex-S«(vicemen Subtcriberti Send Ui Your Honi« Addrcit Lois Lee "America's Singing Beauty" Tw« Wrphii KeKiiiiilnir .Se|>t. JOIh CONTINENTAL CLUB. CLEVELAND 'Xlinnk >'on, Frank SeniK'H, ,\(iirl.v <^iln R«P.: 1'KE0F:I{IC'K ItROS., N'rw Vork La Martinique, Copa, N.Y., Set New Pacts With Union Dario, of La Martinique, and Jack Kntratter, repping Monte Proser's Copacabana,. will huddle with Dave Fox, head of N. Y. local of American Guild of Variety Artists this week anent paoting new basic agreements with union and posting of cash bond security. ■ Both N. Y. niteries have .siKnified intention of signing new pact.s. Harry Romm Sets tip Own Agency; Drops Plans to Rejoin GAG Harry Romm, who last week drop- ped any ideas he may have had about rejoining General Artists Corp, in New York, has set up his own booking organization. He has leased space in the office o£ Century Artists, Ltd,, but will have no con- nection . witli Dick Dorso, its head, outsi'de of an arrangement to handle each other's properties in certain fields. Romm, working a's a one-man firm for the present, intends to limit the number of people he will handle. He has theatre booking rights to the Tex Beneke-Glenn Miller orchestra, subject to Don Haynes, its personal manager; the same privilege on the Andrews Sisters for locations, pic- tures and theatres, under Lou Levy, their manager, and will handle the Three Stooges, Jean Parker, come- dian Pat Henning and singer Phil Brito for dates in all fields. Brito is personally managed by Irving Romm, Harry's brother. In addition Harry Romm figures to do one in- dependent-film a year. . Romm's deal with Dorso calls for the latter to represent Romm's art- ists for radio, in those situations wherein he has such privileges, and Romm will in turn repre.sent Dorso's clients tor theatre bookings. BOYS' TOWN CHOIR SETS CONCERT TOUR The Boys' Town Choir, directed by the Rev. Francis Schmitt, will open its first nationwide tour at Fabian's Palace treatre, Albany, Oct. 22. The 35-voice unit, selected from the com- bined first and second choirs of 150 at the famous Nebraska institution founded by the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Ed- ward J. Flanagan, sings a capella and in accompanied unison. The youth- ful choristers perform three times a year for the public at Boys'. Town, but this is their first cross-country venture, Albany appearance will be spon- .sored by Knights of Columbus for the benefit of Camp Takawitha on Lake Luzerne. 'A Rose by Any Other— Hollywood, Sept, 17. Two niteries bearing the same name, Copacabana, are readying a title battle in these parts. First to open will be the Hollywood. Copaca- bana, occupying the building that once housed the Hollywood Can- teen. ■■ Meanwhile a sign on the old Trocadero announces: "Montie Pro- ser's Copacabana will open here before Jan. 1, 1947." Nitery Musician Strike Averted When N.Y. Bcniface Group Okays 20% Hike MCA to Open Mont'l Branch Music Corp. of America will open a Montreal offlee in around eight weeks, according to Sonny Werblin, head of MCA's 'N. 'layfiut. MfcA is entering the Canadian field in com- petition with May Johnson, former MCA agent, who has gone into busi.- ness for herself and is now booking the Cardy chain of hotels; chief tal- ent buyers In the Dominion. Werblin, who corffe*red last week with Vernon Cardy, owner of the chain, refused to say whether they'll make some arrangement with Miss Johnson on talent exchanges to get their talent into the Cardy chain. ; However, it's believed unlikely that they'll; conclude any arrange* ment with' Miss Johnson, inasmuch as present MCA policy forbids com- mission splits. It's figured that with prohibition repeal in province of Ontario, there'll be enough bookings to keep a branch busy. MCA was set to open a Montreal office as far back as last July. Deci- sion was made at a N. Y. staff meet- ing, sentiment of which was to in- stall Miss Johnson as head of the setup, because she had been dealing with firm's Canadian customers. However, Larry Harnett, MCA vee- pee and coordinator of the theatre and cafe departments, is said to have insisted on Ray Overbeck of the Beverly Hills office -heading the setup with Miss Johnson assisting him. Miss Johnson subsequently re- signed, and plans for the opening were delayed. Adler Delays London Trek Until Apiil, '47 London, Sept. 10. Larry, Adler, who was expected here in October for a series of Har- old Fielding celebrity concerts, is not coming to England until next April. V ' '•; . Adler will do a series, of recitals with Paul Draper' here in April, which are being ari;anged by Emile Littler. Werblin Thrown By . Horse Montreal, Sept. 17. Werblin and Cardy were at the Mount Vernon (Cardy's) ranch for the weekend, and while there, Cardy invited Werblin to pick himself a nag from his extensive ^tables. Werblin apparently picked one of the more temperamental nags and the first thing he knew he was on the ground, the horse having thrown him. Damage: A few cracked ribs. St Loo Nitery Wins Tilt Vs. New Setup Law St. Louis, Sept. 17. A temporary injunction restrain- ing cops. Prosecuting Attorney and State Liquor Control supervisors from enforcing the new state liquor license law governing set-up estab- lishments was won last week by George GrafT, owner of the Club 400, a well patronized nitery in mid- town. Graff filed suit last July 2, the day after the act became effective and testified before Circuit Judge Charles B. Williams that the law is uncon- stitutional and that it deprives him of bis livelihood. He asserted that he serves no liquor on the premises and be derives his largest revenue from customers after taverns are closed. The new law place's all set-up spots on the same plane with other places whei^e liquor is sold, 'requir- ing a license and the same closing hour. Heretofore the set-up spots have enjoyed a big edge over other similar places and by not being- re- quired to have a, liquor license they Were not subject to any closing hour. AMBASSADEURS, PARIS, SET TO PREEM OCT. 1 Clifford C. Fischer's Les Ambas- sadeurs, Paris nitery, will open for the first time since the war, Oct. 1, with the first American talent to be exhibited in a Continental cafe. Talent will include Jack Harris, who formerly operated La Conga, N, Y., who'll be the maestro in the spot; ,■ Whitney Sisters and Anne Francine, Other, acts will include Woodrow, juve British juggler who appeared recently at the Roxy thea- tre, N. Y., and the Dormonde Bros., bicycle act, only French turn on the bill. Two Breedwins and a line of British femmes (12) complete the lineup. Acts are booked for four, weeks and optionSj with the Whitney Sisters leaving at the end Of the first period becau.se of a Nov. 1 commitment at the Restaurant Windsor,, a new nitery in Madrid. Better Shake for Payees If A.C/s Beaut Contest Is to Continue OK B.O. Atlantic City, Sept. 17. , I Approximately 50.000 paid their I way to view the crowning of the: new Miss America and the events leading up to her selection with complete figures on attendance and gro.sses awaiting a report .of the I local Pageant coinniittee. | While the show was called a com- plete success this year, Pageant of- ficials realize that they must do two things if they are to continue to I draw some 10,000 people each night for three nights and 20,000 the night the contest end.s. One is to provide .seating arrange- ments .so that the customers can plainly see the girls. The other is malce a general rule .that the girl earning a place in the Pageant's events here have some definite, tal- ent, a tklent which will ; assure her of a chance to push on further into show biz. Thi.s year's seating arrangement was the poorest of any Pageant in the entire 25 years of its history. Unless the payee had a box, his chances of viewing the affair with- out the aid of opera glasses was poor indeed. The boxes crowded off the huge auditorium stage, and ex- tend some 10 deep beside the long ramp which led off the stage. Be- hind the boxes, without any eleva- tion whatsoever, came the next best seats while the customers paid third best money ($1.65) for seats slightly ramped behind the so-called orches- tra places, With regard to talent, some of the girls had it in abundance, many didn't. New Florida Nitery Sets 7iG Weekly for Acts A 3S0-seat cafe using a talent budget of around $7,500 is slated to open in Jacksonville, Fla., Oct. 15. Spot to be called the Peaco(5k Club, will be operated by; Joe Williams and initial Show will include Sonny Dunham orch. Bob Russell, Skating Whirlwinds, June Taylor line and Ricardo & Norma. General Artists Corp. is booking lout of New York. Although the strike situation be- tween New York niteries and Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians :was averted- by a last- minute' settlement Saturday (14), bonifaces are none too happy about the whole situation. Cafe operators' now exnect increased demands by other nitery craft unions. A.greement with musicians was reached after the Allied Res;taurant End Entertainment Industrie.?, boni- face organization, met with Local ' 802 representatives, end accepted a : union compromise offer of a 20% pay increase, time and a half for overtime, $5 extra for New Years' eve,' extra for working on the band*; stand ..rhore than an hour at a time, and a maximum of nine-hour work- ing day. Union membership iS'.slated;; to meet shortly to r^ati.fv the- pact. No trouble is anticipated. , , -,-'v 7 ' Richard McCann Local 802'ornxv, headed the union neaotiators, while Billy Rose. AB'R'Or president and owner of the Diamond Horseshoe, headed the bonitaee negotiators; : . Settlement followed a series of meetings held throughout the week. Negotiations had broken down Thursday (12) when the committees .were stymied by the 12V2% offered by cafe owners, and 20% demanded by the union.; The union was .slated to pull tootlers starting at midnight Saturday. However. AREI met Fri- day when they voted to attempt a last-minute settlement. The agree- ment followed on Saturday. Tilt Retroactive The increases granted are retro- active to Sept. 2. date of expiration of old pact. AREI averted a strike prior to Labor Day when it agreed to retroactivity. The musicians agreement, accord- ing to Carl Erbe, Zanzibar co-owner with Joe Howard. ,sets AREI as col- lective bargainer for the cafe indus- try. However, some believe that settle- ment came at the union's 20% offer because AREI execs felt that Local .802 would attempt to crack the united boniface front by individual negotiations. If union was success- ful in this strategy, many felt that this might have led to eventual disolution of the organization. SID PIERMONT RESUMES AS LOEWYAUDE BOOKER Sid Piermont, talent booker for the Loew circuit, until he joined the Army Special Services as a captain in 1942, resumes his former post with the Loew organization, Monday (23). He succeeds Jesse Kaye, who becomes head of the Hollywood oflioe of M-G-Hl record- ing company. Further ' details on Kaye's appointment in Music sec- tion of current issue. Piermont, since returning from the service, joined the theatre depart- ment of Music Corp. of America, and later resigned to be casting di- rector for Mifee. Todd, a post which he held until last week. Danny Kaye's Vauders Danny Kaye has been lined up for another vaude date. He's slated to open at the Chicago theatre, Chi- cago, Oct. 18 and will play the RKO, Boston, Nov. 28. 'Bowes Grads' Unit Set for Full Wk. Stands Full-week: jdates in Baltimore, New York and Detroit are set for Lou Goldberg's 12-person "Major Bowes Graduates" unit, which clcses its first touring Week tonight (Wed.) at Loew's Cs.p\io\, Washington. Group, for which Goldberg has been getting $3,500 and. which is -^cbmr pri.sed of former amateurs . who played Bowes' amateur radio show, is due for. the Hippodrome, Balti- more, the week of, Oct. 24; the Downtown, Detroit, the first week i,n December, and Loew's State on Broadway sometime in October, the actual date not having' been set yet. Goldberg for years major-domoed Major Bowes on the latter's touring i theatre units. LOEW BOOKING A G E N C Y CfNEKAl (XECI/riVC OfftCtS LOEW BUIlblNtS ANNEX ; 160 W. 44<h St., N, V. C. • BRyani 9-r«|0