Variety (Dec 1948)

Wedneatlay, December 29, 1948 VAVDEVIIXE 45 Embassy, La Martinique May Reopen To Grab That New Year's Eve Coin Ihtrocl«<sti6h of Broadway comics at the Diamond Horseshoe, N; If,, is ! apparently paying off. Btinifaee j Billy Rose will continue to super- ' The Embassy and La Martinique j prior to shuttering.. American ' '^^^rxS^.^'^^r^^Z Yo„2 •hoth N. Y,. may reopen to cash JfUUd ot Variety Artists declared man departs Friday (31). Al New year's Eve biz. Although I "^at '^J^''^^. ^ , Bernie opens there Jan. 1 SZnYSS' n1 ' AGVA Retracts Decision to Clear Its Own Benefits, Sticks with TA ia (jn JNew • ^ y^^^^ money posted with the union Shutterings were anticipated by the Additional bond coin will be neeS: trade, ij was originally held that ed if White opens, hnth would hold out until Jan. 1. La Martinique's Gardner, inci- JrVever, the business di.. that a^^^ V^l.^'S^.^^lV^'^^S. S fected many niteries . caitsed both I■ • - ■ "r.' spots to fold. Insiders declare that La Mar- tinique will undergo a reorganiza- tion Whether Monte Gardner, who fronted the spot since it reopened several weeks ago, will remain, is uncertain. It's believed that the jnaitre d'. Rodriguez, will head the new setup. It's also believed that $25,000 will be needed to set it up again. Most of that coin is said, to have been raised. Opening show Is stiU to be set. The Embassy may reopen tonight (Wed.) with Miguellto Valdes. Nitery is committed to play Valdes Diamond Ugrseshoe celebrated its 10th anniversary Christmas night. ■♦■ The .American Guild of Variety j Ai'tists has temporarily retracted its decision to clear its own bene- claiming that her walkout violated ' contract. Miss Lee walked out; when spot was' originally set to ! open last month, claiming Gardner 1 owed her a .week's salary. Union I has. not yet made a decision on^the \- matter. Pitt Cafes Making Bid For Top Name Talent To Bolster Post-Holiday Biz Cole Circus Sold To New Syndicate For Kay Starr Wins Tiff Ovpr Rnnd TtsiplrSnir' Decision, made at a Theatre l^ver rwina naCHing ^^uthority meeting last week, was based 6iit a resolutiion stipulating thait' ho further beneflts Will be cleared by TA' uhless" approved by Hollywood, Dec. 28. Kay Starr won her battle with the Casbah, south side L. A. nitery, over how much backstopping she Mould got. Booked to open last night (28) for a two-weeker at $1,250 per I frame, chirp insisted, she be backed by Dave Cavanaugh. and a seven- I piece combo. Bistro wanted only lour pieces. She opened last night with Cavanaugh. Louisville, Dec. 28. ' Cole Bros. Circus, which winters at the State Fair Grounds, came some time, in order to escape 20% Federal amusement tax in addition to city levy of 5 percent, are sudr denly breaking out in a rash of names in order to try and bolster t.'t. 1. w no I under hew top management Satur- « • T^'S". f day 25^- Deal was announced by iNiicAj — ;- r-^ Bars in Pittsburgh, .which have i »,„,,t rr„,.„„n t - i for another two-week period, and ^een sticking to straight music for f"^^ J"!^^^'' will play out the contract. g^^g jj^e in ^^.^^^ escape 20% Jack Tavlin, new general manager ■ Prospects of continued operation of both spots after Jan. 1 is still in doubt. It's most likely that both will attempt to make the run until spring, but whether they can make it will depend upon business dur- ing the generally bleak period after New Year's Eve. Embassy con- 'teicted Josh White to open Jan. '15; ;This commitment was made British Bookers Seek U.S. Acts for Provincial Tours After London Stints a committee comprising, represen- tatives of AGVA, : American Fed* eration of Radio Artists. Equity, Chorus Equitj, and Screen Actors Guild. and vice-president. Latter re- ported show was bought for $350,000. ',. i'Procedure had: been sot up at ■ preylquS meeting persuaded to stay in the TA setup inasmiii^h as:: new system of clears arxces had nqt; yet been giw trial.: AG^A spokesmen, declared : that unless the number of. benefits was drastieally reduced under thcv new .system, it will clear its own free shows. ^ ■., ^-v..; .'i \< i One effect of AGV.\'s threat to _ , „ „„ clear its own benefits was the de- London, Dec. 28. cision by TA to cut down on num- Brilish vaude impresarios will i ber of clearances and to further \ attempt to get more top American , police the field so that a "fraudu- 1 names to play houses, in the prov-1 lent benefit; racket" will bc eliml- .mces. Among those already signed ; nated. Latest - switch on the bene- ; lor tours In theatres outside of i fit situation^ is said to have been London are Danny Kaye and Elea- made by several bookers who ap- WEELA GALLEZ COMEDIENNI DIrcctloB HESS MAYER M» Bnwdmv Suite 110, M. T. drooping biz. Mercur's, owned and ; ^^^^ announcement, came |nor Powell. Other performers will' preached name acts to work at cut operated by Harry Fox, is making ' report that the circus probably I be asked to tour, the outlying ' fees because a benefit committee the biggest splash with Ethel Wat- ■ "l*?"'". "^''^^ "S winter quarters to iiouses after playing the Palladium, i had neglected to get TA clearance, ers,-accompanied by Fletcher Hen-' ^".^a'ni by next year Circus has | London. , One performer was asked to work derson at piano, in for this week, \ iV"^";"^ Loui&viUe since 1945. | f^elMig is that the top U. S. \ for $100 when his regular club and Golden Gate Quartette, Dick I Negotiations are "ow i„ progress names can create a greater interest | (Continued on page 4«) Fulton, Fran Warren and Deep ' *the purchase of 150 acres - " ■ , , ■ P»B« "P; Miami, with tentative plans to last season by Martha Rave and make . the Miami home a year- John-BQjes, have whetted: appetites River Boy.T following. Although Mercur's has occasion-1 roy^xiA zoological garden, nasn t, ana ic, loo, nd> lebum^u i,„c}»,«tc.rv,£.n „iKn *.Avri, of British theatregoers in variety. It's also been proven that U. S. names can get top money oiit of niH nnlif v with honkins of Vel-businessmen who have in-1 theatres in Birmingham, Glasgow aLi^nmmrRn^^^^^^ "ntlei- "le name of and other stop.s. vetones and Tommy Robeits M-Or -i^^^^^^^ Circus Corp. Cole name I The Foster agency, which has disk singer Whether this resump- $200,000 is be- I been instrumental in getting most tlon remains pe™^^^^ „t for modernization of of the top U. S. names to play termined by business in next few , ^ ^,1^1 and show's personnel' Britain, will attempt to spot more weeks. Penn-McKee Hotel in Mc I Keesport has gone in for same I thing. In past, it's only had musitv I Dick Brown and Johnny Desmond I were there for week each, now Lilyann Carol's in and Maxine Sul- livan follows. NICK LUCAS '.Otamntly. KEN MURRAY'S BLACKOUTS HoHywoad will be ■ changed almost :100%. ^New management will feature •stars, such as Gene Autry and ) Judy Canova.; Idea is to bring the name players to .small town audi-' ences; ■■■ . • • ■ I j New ownership also' will book the circus in eastern cities. For- merly the show never trekked far-: : ther east than Buffalo. performers ; tricts. in the outlying dis- AGVA MULLS STRIKE ' CALL VS. APOLLO, N. Y. M miMMlMM, M,i CLINTON HOTEL r.Tcl IQQ eUTilBI ItOOM* Irtm DAILY SMciAi wriKir ii«ris rnqvutturiHO jneiiiiiti ■WA^K.MS eiir4N<l Of All rHfAr«fii CHEZ CARRERE FOR N.Y., COUNTERPART OF PARIS Paris, Dec. 28. Maurice . Carrere, who operates Chez Carrere in the Etoile sector, is negotiating for a New York coun- terpart of his plush Paris nitery. The idea would include exporting Aime Barelli, trumpeter-singer, I American Guild of Variety Art- who heads the band, and who has a i i.sts is mulling strike action against local rep as the "French Harry j the Apollo theatre, N. Y. Union is James,'' to work in Gotham as a -iseeking a contract with the house soloist, in view of American Feder- ! on- a 30 show weekly basis. How- 'ation of Musicians restrictions, I ever, Apollo operator Frank Schiff- and thus impress a true Franco- man is seeking a 31 show per week American flavor to both bistros, contract to include extra Saturday i by. Sissle. shuttling back and forth with: the midnight show. Union insists that 1 r—; sea.sons. 1 performers be paid on a pro-rata Cynda Glenn, American come-; basis for the midnight chore at dienne w k. here through her star- this sepia hou.se. , ' . ^ ^ ■ • Contraet is now being studied by Sohiffman'is iattorneys..' \ A to AGVA unless contract is sighed within a reasonable tinie, union will forbid acts to play house. NEGRO ACTORS STAGING BENEFIT FOR USO FUND Lena Horne arid Bill Robinsoh Tavlin has i were, named co-chairmen of a com- retained Noyes Burkhart as mana- mittee to stage a benefit show Feb. ger with the show. ; Ik for USO's fund-raising cam- " j paign. Appointments were an- nounced at a.luncheon held Mon^ day '27) at the Theresa hotel, X. V. Benefit will be part of Har- lem's contribution to the campaign to rai.se money to meet entertain- nient needs of service men. Noble Sissle will head the Harlem USO committee. ;, Luncheon was iattended by John J. Raskob. USO general chairman, a^d Dr. Lindsley P. Kimball^ USO president. Event was chairmanned dom in the "Folies Bergeres," is sparkpluggirig the venture. Robert Alda will .loin the Jack Carson show at the Strand theatre, N.Y., in February. "BOOGIE TO BALLET ON WIRE HAROLD BARNES CURRENTLY—ROXY, NEW YORK ^ r "• .. Ww fMd A«talr« ef tli» wlw."—franh giiinn. W. Y. Mirror. | DiNcriMt SAM RAUCH. Roxy Theair*. Inc. N. Y. C. Gypola's Carny Tour I Gypsy Rose Lee is planning a i season in carnivals. Miss Lee left for Tampa yesterday (Tues.) to confer With Carl Sedlmayr, Sr., head of the Royal American Show, , which is winter-quartering- there. j Carnivals have long been a bonanza tor femme performers. Sally Rand and Sherry Britton ' have previously cleaned up on the outdoor and tent show circuits. Cimpaenons de la Chanson set for Shorcjiam hotel, Washington, Jan. 1. ^ MALINY ? "oJtty iht ntmt act «n mrtli. A few o»n> <l«tf" In »Vbraary nnd April. Write or win at prrwnt Clmiie HoWI. bt. I.oiil», Mo. SEASON'S GHtCTINGS EDDY • M A N S 0 N Tonliclit .TAliriny Thomp- non T.V, Show W,IZ-TV, 8 p.m. Openlnir D«c. 31 ■ SEIGNOKY COFNTRY rH'K Quebec, Canada Margery WelUs at the Piano Mgr.: Ian LipMl M.C.A. Former screen star Patsy Kelly and Fred Keating have formed a comedy team which bows at Spivy's Roof, N. Y , tonight (Wed.). Miss Kelly- was formerly teamed with singer Barry Wood. JOHNSON America** Foremost Marimbist GEORGE; GUEST Manny Opper thai luw cemccfa'an 85th Week Hollywood Show lownga Ctlicaf* ^ Pwi. M|t.: IRV LIVIN ^cm S^t ?/mA )^^t ^ World Famous Photographers to ARTISTS of STAGE...SCREEN...RADIO REPRINTS v-SUt are now equipped to make quantity onginal reprints at reproduction rates. CARNEGIE HALL STUDIO :154 W. 57th ST. N.Y.C, Phone Circle 7-3505 BOSTON STUDIO ; Hotel Lenox ; Kenmorc 5 300