Variety (Jan 1949)

142 Forty-third f^Ki^hr 'An^maary Wcfhieatlay'f lanninry S, 1949 i ★ ★ ★ ★ THEATRES NiTE CLUBS ★ * ★ RECORDS RADIO TELEVISION Talent Questers' Stardust Route By JOE COHEN For years talent-buyers have been moaning that there aren't enough performers developing to provide freshness to theatre and cafe circuits, and subsequent grad- uation to radio, video, pix, etc. The old development grounds of burlesque 'and the myriad small vaude houses dotting the country have long since gone; What's left isn't sufficient to incubate enough stars to provide marquee interest. All fields of entertainment are now feeling the effects of permitting talent-building sources to evapo- rate. Whether this 'condition will be corrected in 1949 with the reopen- ing of many vaude houses remains to be seen. However, three inde- pendent ventures were started in 1948 that hold promise of breed- ing new performers. The talent quests by Arthur Godfrey and Horace Heidt, plus the Ted Mack- Lou Goldberg combo of the late Major Bowes staff, indicate that much new material will result. That,. by necessity, is a long- range program. Stars aren't made overnight, and even a season or two in the tyro or semi-pro cir- cuits isn't sufficient background for first-class theatrical stops. Ac- cording to Mack and Goldberg, it takes about five years to incubate new performers. Tlie amateurs that started with the late Major are in virtually every field of showbusiness. It took most of them between five and eight years to reach fruition: The cream of the crop includes Frank Sinatra, who was part of a quartet known as the Hoboken Four; Robert Mer- rill and Regina Resnik, are both with the Metropolitan Opera. In assorted fields from all the Bowes ranks are Vera Ellen, Tommy Dix, Wesson Bros., Stanley Clements and Jan Bart. A jaunt with the Bowes amateurs has been helpful to all performers. They made their mistakes when they could afford to.' A slip was frequently more amusing to thea- tre customers than a straight pres- entation. Soon the mistakes disap- peared and they became seasoned performers. Following the stint with the ams, a performer was generally' showcased and was soon playing minor houses and cafes. SEASON'S GREETINGS to All Our Dear Friends Trampoliningly Yours a PAUL AND PAULEHE TRIO Amtriea'f Foremost Trampolino Artiitt Currantly; Latin <f\uaivi, N. Y< SEASON'S GREETINGS . • to LOU WALTERS - RAY LYTE - MAY JOHNSON Pen. Dir.: LOU COHAN. 203 N. WABASH, CHICAGO THANKS for a wonderful 22 weeks and a HAPPY NEW YEAR to Mr. and Mrs. NATHAN at the Original 606 CLUB, Chicago, and also to MARTY WHITE. The Barons Parsonal Managtmml: SEYMOUR SHAPIRO Ileidt's Talent Hunt Horace Heidt talent hunt seems to be developing performers at a faster rate. Heidt conducts audi- tions in various towns, getting the cooperation of schoolsy city offi- cials and radio stations. He selects the cream of the crop, ipr presen- tation on his air show and in vari- ous auditoria, and has come up with a sizable list of accomplished performers. In fact, Dick Cnntino, the accordionist who has been a consistent winner in his contests, will head a Horace Heidt unit of his own- this year; Godfrey's talent-winners are now taking to the vauders in ad- dition to radio and television. All of them are of professional stripe. Acts that have been having com- paratively rough sledding have found that, winning one of the Godfrey contests provides a short- cut. They'll be able to play thea- tres with the two Godfrey units now foi'ming. To-ppers of these shows have done yeoman work in digging up new talent. They've beaten the bushes and raided the sticks for those likely to make the grade on the circuits. They've nurtured pos- sibilities, frequently having given them professional advice and, more important, provided a' showcase. There's plenty of talent around —if one looks for it. Most of it is jn a rough state and needs ex- pert guidance, but the basic ele- I ments of many good acts are I around. Even after discovery, it's I frequently difficult to get them to ' go into show business. Many re- The current revival in popular- ity in this classification is reflected in radio and television. Godfrey, after two weeks in television, has a Hooper second only to Milton Berle's Texaco show. The Mack- Goldberg unit is in fifth place. Heidt who commands 14th position in the radio Hoopers, has been as- signed the former Jack Benny spot on NBC, opposite Benny's current top Hooperated show on CBS. jr«rNonal A[nnttK«m«iit iilARK J. LEDDY Blreotlon LEOH NEWMAN 41 WEST 48TH STREET. NEW YORK ROY DOUGLAS ^ "Singing Ventriloquist" Takes GrMf Pkqsur* iit Announcing His Exclusive Management by MATTY ROSEN 143 West 49tii Street. New York 19 PLaza 7-5135 DOROTHY KELLER Musical Comedy Dancing Star Just Concluded Personal Appearance at COPACABANA, NEW YORK Direction: WM. MORRIS AGENCY BETTY BRUCE JACK DAVIS Happy 43rel Anniversary, P^ORIEff from JOEY BISHOP it's My 43rd WeekAversary at Vine Gardens, Cliieago ranwaal MoNagtmtiit: WILIIAM MORRIS AGENCY