Variety (Jan 1948)

W^ednesdvy, January 14, 1948 61 Plenty Biz Seen for Established N. Y. Bistros When Weaker Spots Fade Out *phe probable shuttering of sojme niteriec during the next six months may bring a degree of stability to the industry, according to ipokes- itien for talent agencies. It's claimed that the major problem in cafes is overseating. There's no longer enough business for ;.the present numbef of cafes, consequently elimination of unprofitable opera- tions would put the remaining cafes In a more solid position. Th^ agencies say they're not par- ticularly worried about the current' slump. They claim that with the present problem of getting enough good acts -to go around, the talent situation has become extremely un- healthy., Bidding is so intense for the few name acts available, that salaries are now more than the cafes can pay. They point to the current F'lorida. situation as an ex- ample. Business in most spots there is way below standard, but they're shelling out the , highest talent budgets in history; ; Within six months, it's claimed, The Exclufive and Amusing LAQREm and CLYMAS "PANCUMORISTS" JACK DAVIES PHIL TYREU N*w York ' Chicaga FLORENCE WHITE The Risqu* Frisky 29th Week MermdM Room Park Centrdl Hotel, New York JANE DOUGLASS at the Piono. the clubs that have been ilounder- ing will have given up; When that happens, it's felt that nitery salaries will revert to nor- malcy. Salaries in the top brackets may not hit the prewar levels, but with fewer clubs able to pay $3,500 and upwards for one act, downward modification will be inevitable. Foldo of the weak clubs will simi- larly mean a business increase for those remaining. Presently, with most, cafes, competing for a ■ limited numbet of nitery patrons, there's too tliin a patronage spread. The estab- lished nitery operator thinks that the spots that survive the next six months will be permanent fixtures on the cafe scene. MIAMI NITERIES POST BONDS WITH AGVA Niteries in the Miami area have posted $75,000 in bonds with the American Guild of Variety Artists to cover performer salaries. The Miami bond situation was cleaned up Monday (12) when the Copa- cabana, Miami Beach, told AGVA it had forwa'tded' a $1'5,000 certified check. ■ The bond situation in the Miami clubs had been snarled because of the change in administration result- ing from former national adminis- trator Matt Shelvey's dismissal by the Associated Actors and Artistes of America. Cafe managements claimed that imder those circum- stances the cafes could not post se- curity because of conflicting claims by AGVA representatives. Max Bar- nett^ appointed by Shelvey, claimed to be in charge of the jurisdiction, while the national AGVA headquar- ters declared that all bonds were to be posted in New York. The Florida Supper Club Assn., organization of Miami Beach boni- faces, asked AGVA to pe_rmit them to post bonds with either the Florida State Labor Commission or a local bank. AGVA refused and told club owners that talent wouldn't be per- mitted to appear unless security was posted. Bonds started coming in shortly afterward. The only cafe caught in the con- flicting jurisdictional dispute is the Little Roumanian, operated by Yid- dish actor Michel Rosenberg. Rosen- berg gave Barnett a $1,350 check to cover salaries. The AGVA national will take action to recover that sum. AMERICA'S TOP HEADLINE SINGING GROUP Currently PALOMAR VANCOUVER AH Major Nctworka, XlicatrcB and CIniM), V. 8. Md Ciitiiid* . BOYS i PnrHoniil l>ir<>rnnu—F.D KIKKK'KY M«« KKO Iliiililliiic, Nmv York »«, N. V. Bertell, ApoUon Sign Dave ApoUon, the mandolin-play- ing comedian, last week signed Jack Bertell as his personal manager. However, his former p.m., Bernard Burke, will continue to book him in conjunction with the William Morris ageni^. Burke has been Apollon's personal manager for mpre than 20 years., ■ Bertell, incidentally, has moved his office from the Plaza hoteli N.Y., to larger'eastside quarters. Backlog of Boom Salary Acts Has Bookers Worried Major N. Y. vauders are faced with the problem i)f playing high- priced acts that were pacted during the boom days. Several theatres now have a backlog Of commitments with acts in the $2,500-$4,500 brack- et that they'd like to get rid of but cannot because of contracts. As a result they've been going through all sorts of maneuvers in an effort to get the talent off tlie books. One theatre has postponed the play-date of an act no less than six times. Booker for the same house has also shuttled other performers t< out-of-town vauders in an effort to get rid of the commitment. The acts, however, are sticking to the letter of the contract—^that is, they want the N. Y. dates. In one case a house booker was able to juggle play-dates of a linger to reduce a four-week commitment to two weeks. , As a result of backlogs, bookers rarely will sign an act to a contract far in advance. No More Gold in Them Thar Jomts; Las Vegas Sets 5G Top on Floorshows Ed Wynn Toasted At N.Y. Luncheon Comedian Ed Wynn, currently making his first nitery appearance, at the Carnivaly N. Y., was toasted at a luncheon hosted by agent Paul Small at Toots Shor's, Monday (12). Virtually every major comic in town showed up. Among them were Milton Berle, Willie Howard, Lou Holtz, Smith and Dale, Jesse Block, Jack Pearl, Joe Laurie, Jr., Harry Martin, Frank Fay, Morey Amster- dam, Lew Lehr, Al . Kelly, Harry Hershfield, Phil Silvers, Henny Youngman, Harvey Stone, Red But^ tons, Joey Faye and George Jessel. Others paying tribute included A. J. Balaban, head of the Roxy the- atre, N. Y.; columnists Earl Wilson and Leonard Lyons; cartoonist Ham Fisher; Loew circuit booker Sidney Piermont and author Quentin Rey- nolds, ■• Berle emceed. CLUB MOROCCO, H'WOOD, CLOSED ON TAX RAP Hollywood, Jan. 13. Club Morocco, Vine street nitery, has been shuttered by local Treas- ury department officials because of unpaid back taxes. Club has been in financial diffi- culties through a series of operators and though it was SRO with Frankie Laine and Herb. Jeffries,' owners have never been able to level off. Red Ingle, who opened at the nitery a week before it was shut- tered, has been paid off according to contract. Basse's Concert Bow Eli Basse, who has written comedy material for Joe E. Lewis, Eddie Davis and others, will make his bow as a concert performer at the Town Hall, N. Y., Jan. 17, He'll do some of the tunes he's written for others and also a few new song.s. He'll appear on the bill with Red Buttons and Jennie Goldstein. Show is one of the "Concerts at Midnight" promotions by Ernie Anderson and iSam Outworth." Jimmy Edmundsen (Prof. Back- wards), now at the Capitol theatre, N. Y., signed*for„the Glass Hat, Bel- mont Plaza hotel, N. Y., Jan. 29. MIDWEST TOUR SET FOR CARSON OATUNE TROUPE Hollywood, Jan. 13. Sunset Carson will head a Western revue and rodeo whicli will tour Michigan, Illinois and Ohio, starting on June 1 in Michigan. Troupe consists of Carl Zeller's band, seven bronc busters and other sage brush vaude performers. Chi Gronir Raising Fund For Satira^s Appeal Chicago, Jan. 13. Heavy sentence imposed on Pa- tricia (Satira) Schmidt hy, Havana court has led to formation of a de- fense committee here. Key commit- teemen are Milton T. Raynor, attor- ney for the Cafe Owners Assn., Jack Irving, of American Guild of Va- riety Artists, and her ' agent, Bill Matthews. Group plans a benefi:t to raise funds for an appeal. Satira, who formerly danced at the SilvenPalms here, was sentenced to 15 years and a $5,000 fine for con- viction of homicide in the death of Jack Mee, Chi attorney. . Jackie Miles will play - his first Coast cafe date in mid-March when he opens at Slapsie Maxie's, Holly wood. Las Vegas, Jan. 13. Gold Rush days are over, begin*' ning early in February, for nitery entertainers who have been pulling down $10,000 to $15,000 a week in this town's gilded bistros. Operatora of the Flamingo, the Last Frontier and El Rancho Vegas, as well as th*' smaller clubs, have signed an agree- ment to liipit their shows to $5,000 a ■ week. ■ Reason behind the retrenchment , policy is a lapse of business, which boomed during the war years and rolled along merrily until recent weeks. Last name act booked into the Last Frontier under boom prices is the Ted Lewis show, which opened last week. Bookers were notified of the i m p e n d i n g move several weeks ago, but the bad news was kept under cover in hope that busi- ness would boom 'again. ' Price's Nitery Tour Georgie Price, who opened at -the Hollenden hotel, Cleveland, Monday (12) for two weeks, will follow with the El Rancho, Las Vegas, Jan. 26, for two weeks. Price is also slated for the Fair- mont hotel, San Francisco, Feb. 1% JOHNSON Ameriet^t Foremott Marimbitl GEORGE GUEST I'MrxoiMl Maiwsfittent:. KOKKItT.COK ikSSOCIATtSS >9«tt Aladlson' Av«„ .J(cw Yodc Cttk-ago Rep.: PHII</tVttR]jEt< m THE INK SPOTS «) Currenlly STRAHD THEATRE. N. Y. Mgtw—AgMcy. Inc. 4S W«t 4Mi SfiMt. N«w Yorfc JUST RETURNED FROM SUCCESSFUL TOUR IN EN6LAND ROLLY ROLLS Opening Today (January 14) at the ROXY, New York (4th Return Engagement) And Concurrently Appearing at ST. REGIS HOTEL'S MAISONETTE Per. Mgt. JACK BERTELL Dir. MCA ARTISTS, LTD.