Variety (Jun 1948)

AGVA Conv.Opens N.Y. Tomorrow (3); fdl Elect Officers, Draft New By-Laws The first convention of the 4 American Guild of Variety Artists, nnening tomorrow (3) at the Park Central hotel, N.Y., will devote the major portion of opening session to setting up its proposed consti- tution. Document has already tieen drafted, but has not as yet been submitted to the membership. However, it's been learned that provisions call for the election of a board of directors to comprise 45 members which will meet every * three months. Board will also be empowered to select an executive board which wiU meet, more fre- quently. .... Already-written into the consti- tution for presentation to the dele- gates is the-formation of a branch setup with all governing powers to be vested in the national office. Delegates throughout the country are expected to squawk on this provision, inasmuch as branches in many towns will seek to handle their own affairs completely so long as it does not interfere with the by-laws and constitution of the parent organization. It's felt, however, that branch of- fice proponents will be able to marshall sufficient strength to carry that provision^ Stiffest fight is expected to come up in the constitutional clause which forbids subversive elements from holding office.' While no fight is expected on the barring of Communists or Fascists, several additions to that plank are likely to bring delegate opposition. One is the amendment barring from of- #ce anyone holding membership in any political subversive parties, (Continued on page 48) HARRY AOLER AGENCY pm«hts TOPS for SPOTS MYRON COHEN "Amwlca'% Grcofesf S#ory Te/fer" WMh cf May 31 ft, Tawb -CmlK*. •iiffale, N. Y. Wttk *f JaM M, Club ChArlM, laitlmer*. Md. WMk of JuM 14thi CdroHMl; nfftbwgh. Pa.' W««k June 2S, GImii RMdMvoui, Nawport, Ky. AVAILAILE AFTER July 10 BARTON BROS. "Three Liitiaiict" NOW APKAItlNG Tli« Chaitticfcer, ■olrlmort, Md. OKNING Juna 3rd, Latin Carina. Philaddphla, Pa. AVAILABLE after Jun* 19tii ALAN KING "New, Refresh/fig Younq Comedian" LATIN CASINO. Philadelphia. Pa., UNTIL Junt 2nd SONNY KING "The Gsntleman of Song" HELD OVER—LATIN CASINO PHILADELPHIA. PA. ^ TANYA and BIAGI "Sophisticates of Dance" Avallabl. On* NIghtar* Only ADELINE NEICE "Half Pint of Song" Available Ona Nightert Only Aiioelation—DUDLEY GILBERT 165 W. 4ith St.. New York 19. N. Y. PLOM 7*2S3S-«-7 Ohio Liquor Bd. Agents Convicted on Bribery Rap Youngstown, June X. Two Inspectors for the Ohio Liquor Department were found guilty by a three-judge court last week (25) on charges of soliciting a bribe from Paul Aivino, operator of the R-Villa Club, near Youngs- town, last Aug. 10. Joseph Holland, Cleveland, and Leonard Strauss, Middletown, were released under bond pending motion for a new trial.. ■ They were indicted on charges of demanding $2,500 from Aivino after they purchased liquor at the nightclub on a Sunday, in violation of a .state liquor law. Seeb B'way Spot For Two-a-Day A new attempt to revive two-a- day vaude shows on Broadway will be attempted by Arthur Spitz in the fall. Spitz, who headed a chain of 30 variety houses in Euro- pean countries and was last rejl- resented on Broadway with the le- git musical "Yours is My Heart," is currently negotiating for a house for vaude. Spitz plans to spot top talent, with each program to run a month, scaled at $1.75 top for matinees and $2.50 evenings. There have been no attempts in recent years to revive two-a-day vaude. However, such type revues enjoyed some popularity several years ago when Clifford C. Fischer produced his "Priorities" series, and Paul Small produced "Laugh Time," "Show Time," etc. These were scaled at regular legit tariffs, with eight performances weekly. YOST SLAPS lOG SUIT ON BERLE IN'VIKINGS'ROW Ben Yost filed a $10,000 damage suit last week in N.Y. federal cOurt ag^iinst Milton Berle, Frank Berle and Jack Collins charging the defendants with unfair competition by allegedly lifting the name, "The Vikings," which Yost,long'had used as aliag on one of his vocal groups. A declaratory judgment is also sought stating that the plaintiff is owner of the titles, "The Vikings" or "Ben Yost's Vikings." Yost claims Collins who was "a member of his organization beforoi 1947 quit and allegedly took cer- tain musical arrangements with him. According to the complaint the Berles contracted with Yost for his harmony group between 1942 and 1947. But upon termina- tion of the pact they hired Col- lins.'. An injunction and an ac- counting is also sought. Ohio Niteries Warned Toledo, June 1. Ohio nitery operators who try to stimulate trade with bawdy floor- shows were-warned here last week they'd better "keep them clean." Charles Schnur, asst. attorney general of Ohio, told members of the Lucas County Tavern Keepers Assn. that recent court decisions have granted wider regulatory powers to the Board of Liquor Control. j He said two recent cases now be- fore the Court of Appeals in Frank- lin County; at Columbus indicated that the Board can revoke liquor licenses "in the interests of public decency, sobriety and good order," as well as for specified violations. AMERICA'S TOP HEADLINE SINGING GROUP Opening Juna 4 CLUB NORMAN TORONTO, CANADA AH Mojor Netwo^bii, Xhentrca dna CInbii. V. Bi and Canada , . ' PerBonal Direction—ED KIKIKIEin i[ »Opg RKtf n^diaiBC. ttm Tork 20, U. rJu w iiiiiUiiijiMBiilix i ^ jj^^^ ^ I II n. j i ..„.i 'i.' ..m < 1 BOYS i m RCA VICTOR FAVORITES Cliele 0-9368 Jolson's Cuffo Stint On Chi's2SGSMIAShow Chicago, June 1. Largest outlay for talent in an institutional buildup was doled out for the affair given for the Super Market Institute of America at the Stevens hotel, May 27, Pacted by Abner Greshler, N. Y. agent, .show is said to have cost $25,000, plus a free act thrown in through the courtesy of the Kraft Co. Danny Kaye headed the lineup, which included : Jackie Miles, Frankie "Sugar Chile". Robinson, Mimi Benzell with Met Opera chorus,; Jayne & Adam Di Gatano. Free act was Al Jolson. VAIJIIEVII.UB 48 HospitalCampShowsKudosedbyAnny Brass for Aid in Cheering Disabled Winchell Accolades Show People for Efforts Toward Cancer Fund "Whether it is an explosion at Texas City; a cave-in at the coal mines in Kentucky; a hurricane in Florida or fiQods in the midwest^ the pattern is always the same; the first alarm is for the Red Cross— and other people of mercy—for first-aid . . . The second alarm is for the people of show business (the stage, screen and radio) who always respond first—as the first aid to tlie first aiders . . < " That was the keynote speech of thanks by Walter Winchell at Le- Directoire, class N. Y. nitery, which was the scene of an unusual gala on behalf of the Damon Hun- yon Cancer Fund. Winchell, spark- plug of the drive which has already realized $2,000,000,. took this oc^ casion to kudose all of show busi- ness ■ following a rather unusual nitery revue wherein Ethel Mer- man personated Kay Thompson and Miss Thompson did a MermsAi (with reverse blonde and brunet wigs), aided by a small but sock show. Latter comprised Henry Morgan (in an operatic travesty), wherein he was abetted by the Wil- liams Bros., who normally work with Miss Thompson; Henry Fonda doing the Noel Coward nonsense with Miss Thompson; Nancy Walk- er in a short but whammo excerpt from her "Look Ma" musical; and the undeniable Nicholas Bros, who wowed 'em with their legmania. It was a well knit and well in- tegrated j-evuette, showmanly and caref ully'wrapped up in one bright, tight little package via Miss Thompson's special scripting—in itself a novelty-^hence a refresh- ing departure from the usual clam- bake idea of "benefits'' wherein acts either do too much or macb of the same pattern. Long heralded by Winchell as a $50-per-person benefit for the Can- cer Fund, it was the management's and Miss Thompson's appropriate payoff for the terrific trailerlzing job the columnist has been doing this past year on behalf of the new singing comedienne from the Coast. Result was a sizable gross, still incomplete in its calculation because of the fancy supplemen- tary contributions, such as a last- minute at-the-door . donor of $5,000 "providing I can get in." Winchell happened to pass the door and ob- served thiat for $5,000 "you can have my seat, sir." CHICO MARX EXTENDS AUSSIE VAUDE STAY Melbourne, May 25. Cliico Marx has extended his Australian stay and will open in the Tivoli circuit presentation of "Vive La Venus." Show has al- ready played three weeks in Mel- bourne and it's hoped that Marx will be able to stay for a similar period during the Sydney run. Length of Marx's stay will be dependent upon whether he'll be needed for the new. Marx Bros, film, "Hearts and Diamonds." In Melbourne, the business with Chico was so big that it was neces- sary to do five additional perform- ances. Sydney advance sale is re? ported heavy. Murphy Aquashows Again At Flushing Park, N. Y. The water shows at the Flushing Meadows Park Ampitheatre, N. Y., will be resumed June 29 by Elliott Murphy, who's; been running them for the past five years. 'Already booked are Louis Basil's band for the entire season, and Salici's Puppets, who work on the initial layout. Basil maestroed the orchestra at Loew's State Theatre, N. Y., until stageshows exited in December of last year; Morton Downey Into N. Y. Copa Aug. 12 Morton Downey is* set for the Copacabana, N. Y., starting Aug. 12. Downey's previous N. Y. engage- ments have been at the Persian Room of the Plaza hotel and the Waldorf-Astoria. Frances Lang- ford will top show at the spot, July 15. Monica Lewis, replaces. Lisa Kirk in current bi% tomorrow (5>.., , lexaco Vaudeos 2d Show Lineup Booked for the second Texaco Star theatre show over NBC June 15 are Bill Robinson, Gordon's Dogs, the Vikings and Costello Twins. Milton Berle continues as emcees. Others still .to be set. Series tees off June 8 with Berle, Al Kelly, Stan Fisher, Andrea Dancers, Rosario & Antonio, Senor Wences, Pearl Bailey and the Four MoroccanSi Billy K. Wells will write sketches for the first show. ; MONK TO RUN NITERY ATPROVINCET'NJASS. Julius Monk, entertainment di- rector at Le Ruban Bleu, N. Y., which closes June 15, is slated to take over the operation of the Atlantic House, - Provincetown, Mass., starting around July 1. Among those tentatively slated to appear at Atlantic House are Imogene Coca, Hugh Shannon, Connie Sawyer, Delora Bueno and Fletcher and Shiedy. Monk will re- turn to the N. Y. cafe in the fall. f The value of entertainment in treatijftg longterm patients in Vet- erans |Administration and Army and Navy hospitals was pointed up in discussions at the seminar held by VA execs and special service offi- cers of the Armed Forces in New York last week. It's been found, according to speakers at the seminar, that a complete recreational program en- compassing live entertainment, films, sports-shows, succeed in fur-- thering the.patient's desire to re- turn to a normal pattern of Uving, as well as offsetting the effects of confinement. E. A. Liebman, director of VA special services in New York, de- . clared at the seminar that the live ; shows provided by Veterans Hos- : pital Camp Shows give patients contact with the outside world and - assurance that they haven't been forgotten. Liebman said: "In line with tHie V^'s policy of putting emphasis on active participation, hospitals are l|taking these shows out of the pure»' ly passive form. Some make them springboards for development of local patient participation shows. Chief of special services encourage their patients to meet and mix with the performers, to develop, a theatre-mindedness and an inter- est in what's going on outside hos- pital walls.. Other recreational di*' rectors encourage others to de- velop their writing talents by do* ing a review of these shows." The" VHCS shows have also pro- vided the stimulus by which pa- tients have organized their own theatrical units. In the N.Y. state area alone, a total of 2,704 patient performances have entertained 70,- 000 veterans in 186 performances of 119 shows. Patient shows ranged from legit shows to home- made variety layouts. The shows are said to be instrumental in' curbing the defeatist attitude of many patients and have, helped get some on their feet* TO: TWEET HOGAN and FRANK HELSING for THE HOLDOVERS AT HELSIHG'S and to columnists GENE MORGAN, WILL DAVIDSON and DALE HARRISON... Naval Air Reserve Shew Broadeasting Ce. • Vitaceustic Recerds Personal Management ART WARD • Televlsien Direction M. A.