Variety (June 1949)

S2 VAlfBBVIIJ.R Wxln€»J>y, jHnf> S. Operating Costs, Cagey Spenders Pose Problems for Saloon Circuit Niiery bonifaccs are faced with tin* necessity of meeting the de- mands of price-conscious cafego- ers While most have known that the prosperity era has run its cycle, many have been unable to reduce e?;penditures to permit lowering of menu and drink prices to pitch for the moderate spender clientele. The break-even point in most cafes has been lowered about 10'c from the peak prosperity era. However, receipts have dwindled from 30'’'f to 50*^0. As a result, many cafes are operating in the red at this time.and there’s little prospect of a biz pickup in the fall, unless the general economic picture changes or they’re able to .slasli budgets that will enable them to operate profitably. Several clubs have already taken th^steg^^ipots^ha^^oughtjhiglv JACK PARKER "A COMEDY OF ERRORS" nt THE CASCADES RILTMORE HOTEL NEW YORK I'lKt.: 40H^ bracket names on a regular basis are now putting in acts at a $1,500 top. The money saved via the ad- justment has permitted some to re- main open for the summer. Oper- ators have been able to cut a com- paratively larger percentage on the lower priced acts. Opening novel- ties that used to cost up to $i;500 just aren’t working cafes any more. Currently, they’re riding high in fairs, and when the rural route closes in the fall, they’ll have to drop salaries if they’re to work in , cafes. Same situation is true of dance teams. The higher priced ballroomers are finding tough sled- ding and prices are expected to drop in that category at a faster clip than in other types of acts. Names, however, are still asking top pi-ices. but there are indica- tions that this market is wobbly. Several in the top brackets have failed to draw expected business, especially in Chicago and Phila- I delphia They’ve been seen too often and have been overplayed in certain areas. Talent price situation has reach- ed the point where agencies are ■ advising most of their acts to ac- I cept reductions until the panic ■ blows over. Otherwise, they’ll find I avenues of employment scarcer. Meanwhile, bonifaces are facing increased competition from sources other than television. Night base- ball and trotting races lure a great part of the cate set. They have no way in meetinj^his_competislv^_ Balto’s Chanticleer Restores Floorshows Baltimore, June 7. The Chanticleer, former big name showcase recentl.v remodeled into a cocktail lounge setup, has switched back to floor shows stres- sing vaude and a line. No names planned with emphasis on girl angle and modified strips. Opening layout has Suzanne Shaw, Sammy Smith, Helen Irwin and two orchs. Atlantic City Ready for Summer Inllux, But None Too Optimistic on Spenders By This is the Real Macaw BURNS BIRDS Wednesday, May 18, 1949 BILL BURNS A HIS BIROS 15 Mins. Glass Hat, N. Y. 'I'hi.s is an ainiisinjj nuvnlty slatnd I’m a .suli<l it-ftpiion in any 'I’liis iin ImjH.-i \ i«|n,». Hill Hums has Ir.aiinnI his assnn- nienl of inini;ilm>' birds t<> a tint* edge and l»*i>s (•IC tlndr trii-Us with a rniininit liin* uf Mag- speckled chaliei'. I'jisi iiaciiiM t»f the sinnls and thn ns' amiable Hlyle cnniliiin- lor snst.iiin'd eve- catcliing t-ni m In innn-nt valin-s. A dozen edin iied avi.s, nnas- uring ahmit. lonr im lns apiece, show their siiiil' on to\ ferris wiietds, rnilricid iinins .ind other ereetors* ! n\iMl- Is Hii'd.- gen- erallv tvespond snnp|*il> l" Ihirns’ directions nnd w le-n tin y don't, tin* silnniioii is .sn ,,| hy n hriy:lii coinnn-ni. t'oi tin iniinint/* totieh, I'.nrns lirinys Ids edvey to tlte rinvside i lol" on a wnnd to run i'oioiimIi some fniiey .sidnninu .sinnis. .\'l is eliniased hr the hiids 11 \ dill!.; tliriinuii a naming hoop whiili almost inrns them into rois, siin.ih .\ eome- ly femme liene, helps out in llie hat kMioiind. Her in. COMEDY - VARIETY - NOVELTY BOOKED FOR 2 WEEKS HELD FOR 6 MORE GLASS HAT BELMONT PLAZA NEW YORK CITY JUNE I2TH, ED SULLIVAN'S TV "TOAST OF THE TOWN" DirectiOR: MUSIC CORP. OF AMERICA, INC. Thanks JOE SULLY Thanks JOHN WOELFLL N.Y. Roxy May Drop Productions For New Format The Roxy theatre, N. Y.. may, eliminate all skating, dancing and singing choruses. Step wil] be | ' taken as soon as a suitable substi- ’ I lute is deternuned upon and de-^ cision is likely to be made when A. .1. Balaban. Roxy’s managing director, return.s from C’hicago’ where be attended the funeral of his brother David. Theatre has been mulling a change of format for some lime in order to cut down expenses and at the same time provide a new , formula that would hypo new In- lere.st in the programs. I It’s been estimated that ice show'., with the dancing and choral . groups, costs $100,000 on the year. At the same time, the lush j production expenditures puts the ' bouse into direct competition with the nearby Radio City Music Hall, which spends considerably more and has better stage facilities j which enables it to achieve spec-1 lacular results. Ina.smuch as the Music Hall gets the cream of the picture crop from nearly all stu- dios, Roxy’s management feels ilial it must find a new basis of competition with that house, j The Ro.\y is one of the few | houses in the country on a produc- tion basis. Po.ssibility is that it may use coin saved on dispensing ^ with production layouts to entice {topnotcli filmsters. Melopera sing- ! ers. and concert artists to play there. MONTANA SLIM WOULD ENJOIN Philadelphia. June 7. Jolly Joyce office here, w'hich handles cowboy yodelei* Montana Slim, has notified an act operating undo' the same name at Deer Head Inn. Narrowsburg. N. Y.. to change the tag. or else. In a letter sent to the "Montana Slim” at Narrowsburg, the Joyce a.gency stated that suit would be entered if the infringement con- tinues. Joyce is personal man- ager lor Wilf Carter, who the letter avers, has employed the name of Montana Slim, both on RCA-Vietor di.sks and in cities throughout in the country where he has made pci*sonal appearances. JOE W. WALKER Atlantic C’ity, June 7. It’s going to be a big .sea.son here, they hope. \ acationists will pay same tariffs as last year. However, it’s almost agi'ced that money w'ill he scarcer than in past few seasons and some adjustments on prices may have to he made. Whether the vacationist stops at one of the many tourist camps which have sprung up on the out- skirts of the city, or puts up at an avenue or beachfront hotel, he will find fun to fit his pocketbook. With a city fiscal affairs probe on and a tough SuiJerior Court judge watching for violations there will be no open casino gambling. Bookies can be found, if you know' where to look, but that’s all. Of coui'se there is the Atlantic City racetrack, which opens for 54 days on Aug. 11. It’s expected to help boom things. Things are unsettled with regard to legitimate entertainment. Warners have been experimenting w'ith live show's but it's a question W’helher they will continue them throughout the summer. Bur- lesque will come back to Globe June 17. Cops have been pretty tough and show's have been held under wraps in previous seasons. Nothing is definite with regard to auditorium show's. City’s mayor has agreed Convention hall theatre will not he rented if Warners bring in legit show's. If Warner goes back to pictures. David Low'e may install legits in Convention hall. Nitrries Need Casinos Once again, with a po.ssihle week- end or weekly exception, no big names arc looked for in the night- clubs. Most spots will operate as they did last year, with lines and acts. Out of the picture at the moment are the Paradise. W'hich gave up after operating as one of the top Negro talent spots, and the Paddock International, closed by i AB(’ last year. The old 500 Club i is opening under new management. I Babettes. Cliquot and Club Har- I lem will again be in operation. ; Also a number of smaller places, I using a few acts or small bands, i Most nitery operators are playing {it cagey, convinced they can’t re- ‘COPY’ ACT I coup on name talent shows w ith- Latter will attempt with a new policy, legit, pix. television, circus, etc. I "Ice-Capades’’ comes Auditorium in July lor * fomeback "ill offer lodeo, water into the an eight- week stand. Nothing ei.se is listed there. In brief, the sea.son will not be as good as la.sl year, but it will be good enoBgh. witlj any kind of break in the w-eather. And every, thing the vacationist has found in other years, gambling excluded will he on hand again, from deep sea fishing to getting that deep tan at a spot along the 10-mile beach or pacing the boards. Ouotvt from lithop't Clo««t tii>i iik Kk at a niiriiiiiiini. )*iii iint>i la t-ilK i h# hiH'iiM |Mii ii« iviili rlav^i i>a(irr, till' n.M.'i |ll••ln > of Uiiaiia . . . MtiiiiiM MU* arifficipin l> soIkI to win a 1>**R olf " N'niiny. *■ . . inslatU iiinlliHily llrita In in thit aiiill- •'ll' •' fT inn Ik t o Hii ' l'oill;inil < i| «*);otii:i I?. P S Koi « fliiinc <aM .M.XttK I.KI'I'V l.i:i>\’ .VKW ortici.il i.iiliii'N to Ills iiint;i< -t>. Itisli ilif Alaitisli. HELENE and HOWARD "FRONT ROW CENTRE" T«l«vitien ««<i APOLLO THEATRE. NEW YORK I out casinos. Steel Pier and the Million Dol- lar Pier, offer a plenitude of at- ; tractions. Former continues Its * policy of top vaude acts, name bands, motion pictures and tele- vi.sion. plus the other attractions. YOU MUST VISIT RAILWAY LOST PROPERTY when in LONDON for lorgoiat la Fort, For Coots, Loggogo, Trovol and Sports Goods:—VIC* TORIA STREET, S.W. 1. Saranac Lake By Happy Saranac, Benway N. Y.. Juno 7. Durgan’s has Stan and Dick Bo.scck’s KIttorshow at (’air, Sally Lee (»i ch. Lvdia Rutledge in to visit hiis- l)and. .Andrew. Helen O’Reilly, formerly at the Rogers and now owner of a wom- en’s shop here. ofT to atteiul the California Fashion Show at the Ho- tel Statler in N. Y. C. Mary Lou Weaver, who has been commuting between here and tile General hospital for a scries ol (>|>erations. is doing nicely at the Rogers. Giiy Lombardo coming to T.ake Plai'id for Henry Kaiser’s speed- boat tests prior to meet in Detroit later this month. Night spot business off all o\'(‘r town, hut two conventions — the Volunteer Firemen of Nortliern New York, on June 9. 10. II. and the Veterans of Foreign Wars get- together on 19-2’2 are expected to liypo things. ‘ Peter Schmith. Madison Square Garden auditor, in. visiting Margie Regan, former secretary of the late •lames J. Johnston, boxing promo- ter-manager. Kdna Hagen in from N. Y. (’ to spend weekend with Helen Pele- chowiez. Bill Lalis due in for a eheckup. Thanks to the Schroon Lake ho- tel for its hatch of hooks donation to the patients’ library. WANTED S'wiss Type Yodeler -Aq« 20 to 35 Molo or FomaU Vocalist or Vocol-lnstramaatolist Sand Pall Langtli PIctnra in Costs LUCILLE SALLANTINE. Sitmarch Hotal. Chicoqo