Variety (March 1950)

Wednesday, March 8, 1950 Colleges loom a$ an Important* outlet for talent. Universities are paying as high as $2,500 for single appearances of top personalities apd list of schools using top^talent is on the increase. In fact, field looks so good at this point that Paul Gregory last week resigned from concert dept, of Music Corp. of America to start an agency to handle , collegiate bookings. Homepffice of Gregory’s outfit will be in Hollywood; He’s expected to arrive on the Coast next week to line up personalities, Gregory says that he has already pacted Charles Laughton, Elsa LanChester* Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Eva Le Gallienne and others for tours in the fall. For top names, the collegiate Institutions will pay from $1,250 to $2,500. Eddie Cantor, for example,. got $2,500 last season at the University of Indiana. Most schools have sufficiently large auditoriums, but it’s still possible to get bookings in spots without adequate auditoriums by pressing the school-gypi into service. Sufficient bleacher seats can generally be erected in the gyms to make a big-money date pay off. Personality presentation in the colleges is generally part of the school’s cultural activity program. Cantor, for example discussed his career in. the theatre. Others will talk on acting and production techniques with one-person dramatizations from plays or pictures. Most schools admit outsiders to these performances. According to Gregory, these events are well publicized in the college towns in order to insure a large gate, v The schools lately have been including pro actors in their dramatic presentations paying as high as $1,00Q for three performances. MCA to Send Out Miami’s Clover Club Show as Unit Music Corp. of America plans t(f package the current show at the Clover club, Miami, as a cafe unit. Comprising Jan Murray, Rose Marie and the Vagabonds, unit has been one of the rhost financially successful shows in the resort. Show case in when the spot had already sustained terrific operating losses and pulled it out of the red. The layout operates on an ad-lib basis with performers horning in on each others’ acts. N.Y. ^abce Seen Upping Budget for Anni Show The RKO . Palace theatre, N. Y., is currently Working on plans to martt the first anniversary of its vaude revival; which teed off May 19 of last year. Plans haven’t been completed yet, but it’s likely that house will, go beyond its normal budget for the anni show, Opening of the Palace last year j sparked a national upbeat in vaudeville. RKO during the year booked eight-act Vaude units for 12 week . tours throughout the country; to , B&B Circus To Raise $1,250,000 For Hospital Shows Offices in the Roxy theatre, N. Y., will serve as headquarters for Veterans Hospital Camp Shows’ drive for funds to continue entertainment units for hospitalized vets. Offer was made by A. J. Balaban, Roxy executive head, at a meeting of the VHCS board held last week. Just what method will be used to raise the estimated $1,250,000 is -still to be decided. VHC5} board came up with several plans which are still fn the discussion stage. Abe Lastfdgel, William Morris Agency general manager and VHCS president, is remaining in New York for several weeks in order to set the drive. He came in from the Coast last week to attend the VHCS meeting. CALLOWAY TROUPE DUE FOR VAUDERS Cab CalloWay is forming a package show to tour vaudfilm houses. Bandleader, who for the past few years has been working with , small combos, will use a musical aggregation of about 15 men. No dates yet set. Accompanying talent is still being set. General Artists Corp. is booking. New NVA Slate Inducted; Handiri, Prez; Rose, Treas. Newly elected officers and board of governors of National Variety Artists were inducted at a special shindig in their N. Y. clubhouse Sunday (5) night, with Dave Ferguson, exec secretary of the Jewish Theatrical Guild, chairmanning the proceedings. Elections had been held the previous week. Since most officers had been renom^ liiated without opposition to succeed themselves, only real contest was between Al Friedman, incumbent, and Lester Rose, for post of treasurer. Rose won out polling 358 votes against Friedman’s 154. Remainder of slate includes Louis Handin, prexy; Jack O’Brien, 1st veepee; Harry Jackson, 2d veepee; Dorothea Masters, secy. Successful board candidates were Herman Crystal, Jock Harris, Ruth Lyons, Harry Frahk, Rose Lillian Sollisch, J oe V erdi and Ben W alker. American Guild of Variety Artists is starting intensive prganiza^tion of the Ringling Bros., Bariium & Bailey circus, Vic Connors, head of the outdoor division in New York, and AGVA organizer Emil LoeW are slated to leave for Ringling’s winter quarters in Sarasota, Fla., tomorrow (ThUrs.) to line up performers as they* report for rehearsal. AGVA’s Organization task is more difficult this year, because of the amount of foreign performers slated to work the circus this year. It’s reported that there are 96 alien acts On their way to this country to fill Ringling contracts, Connors stated that it’s difficult to line these acts up, inasmuch as many are in the U. S. for this specific engagement and do not speak English. Connors said that it’s probable that the union will have to picket the circus when it opens at Madison Square Garden, N. Y., April 5. Picketing is expected to continue in other cities of the tour unless an agreement is reached. BENEFITS MAY NET IOC FDR FUND Hollywood, March * 7. *■ American Guild of Variety Artists figures to earn around $10,000 on the benefit being staged at the Guild theatre, Hollywood, for its welfare and insurance fund. Estimate, based on the first five of the scheduled eight performances, is below hopes. First four performances netted $6,400 but fifth bill Sunday (5), billed as KTL night, was almost a sellout, indicating that the show is building. The $6 top is hurting the overall draw, although lower-priced ducats were selling. Theatre was donated by Spyros Skouras, 20th-Fox prexy, and International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees donated the backstage crews. Benefit will be continued March 13 at the Last Frontier hotel, Las Vegas, for three nights, Washington, March 7. Paul M. Massihan has been named general manager of Washington’s National Sesquicenteiinial' Commission, which means he will be overall directing boss of the D. C. fair and exposition now expected to get into full swing in 1951. Appointment of Massman, Who Was .associated with the New York World Fair, Texas Centennial, Chicago Railroad Fair, Chicago’s Century of Progress, etc., was made over the weekend by Carter T. Barron, executive vice-chairman of the commission. Barron is also. Loew’s rep here. The D. C. fair was scheduled to get under way this year, the 150th anniversary of Washington as the national capital. However, .through a series of bad .breaks, there will be only limited observance in 1950. Instead, the real fair will run during the seasons of 1951-52. Jane Pickens Setting: New Production Act J aiie Pickens will preem a hew act similar to the Kay Thompson layout when she opens at the Wedgwood room of the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria, N.Y., May 11. She’ll be backed by a male sextet. Moe Gale, Miss Pickens’ personal manager, Will do the production. Bert Shevelove, who directed the legit musical “Small Wonder" will stage it. Act will precede its Wedgwood: room stand with engagements at the Providence Biltmore hotel, April 15, and the Copley Plaza hotel, Boston, April 26. Oil Go. Builds to Mark 65th Anniversary Hollywood, March 7. Union Oil Co. here has made a public relations deal with the William Morris office to package a show which the Company will book in 35 ..cities to celebrate its 65th anniversary. Cities are all in the west, in California, Arizona, Oregon, Nevada and Montana. Show will play the Wilshire Ebell theatre here late this month for three days. Featured in the Morris-packaged stage offering are the Minevitch Harmonica Rascals, Gil Maison, Shaw and Lee, the Songbrokers, the Rudells, the Cover Girls, the Lucky Girls, Stuart Morgan Dancers and a 40-minute Color film. Jack. Aronson batons the orch. « Hub’s Bradford Hotel To Set Name Acts In CircUs Room Boston will get another major nitery next month with the opening of the Circus Room in the Bradford Hotel, Spot will open April 6 With a show headed by Johnny Howard. Lenny Kent ’will follow April 20 or 27. Negotiations are on for Jack E. Leonard and Artie Dann. It’s expected that Ralph Snyder, Bradford’s operator, will move the nitery activities to the hotel’s roof, which has . a considerably larger seating capacity. . Bradford’s opening will provide major competition to the Hub’s Latin Quarter, which is now the major cafe in Boston. The Oval Room of the Copley Plaza : isn’t considered in the same field since the Copley draws a different type of clientele. Chicago, March 7. Merriel Abbott; entertainment director for Hilton Hotels and on* of the largest talent buyers, ruled today that talent booked into Hilton spots cannot double on tele . vision; Giving as reason the large salary acts get, Miss Abbott said, “We are trying to get people into our entertainment rooms. Why of* fer them the same entertainment at home, especially when acts appear at disadvantage?” Majority of acts which have appeared at the Palmer House have doubled. However; several in guest appearances have been hampered by material and presentation. Greatest effect will be in New York, rather than in Chicago and on the Coast, as Hilton Corp. owns the Waldorf-Astoria and the Plaza, which use only top names. Some talent may decide not to go into Hilton hotels if such restrictions continue. This seems; somewhat unlikely, though, as close to $6,000,000 of talent is booked annually by Miss Abbott, with playing time from three to Six months. As for those who have regular tele Shows, such as Slid Caesar and others, they have played the rooms in video off season. Miss Abbott said that “Problem, of people who have regular shows will be taken care of when it arises. Quick check of other hotels finds no such ruling contemplated. But both Chi vaude houses, Oriental and Chicago, have Clearance, clauses in contracts as to tele appearances. Date On 5 Wk. Chi Cafe Run Chicago, March 7. Jimmy Durante continued to shatter all Chi cafe records with a mighty $57,000 for the third week of the Chez Paree engagement. For, the five-week date which ends March 14, comedian looks, to be a cinch to hit the $250,000 mark, an all-time high for five weeks. Tony Martin comes in March 15 with the Rifz Bros, following a month later. Dave Halper, manager, is in New York trying to pact Bob Hope for aitwo-week date. Phillips Vice Deutsch In Glaser’s Coast Branch Hollywood, March 7. Milt Deutsch is ankiing post as western manager of Joe Glaser’s Associated Booking Corp., April 15 to become general manager for the new Western Village on the Last Frontier grounds, Las Vegas. Village will comprise playground, restaurant, entertainment room and LAMES’ NIFTY IOC ON % DEAL AT CLICK, PH1LLY Frankie Laine raked in a reported $10,000 for his engagement at the Click club, Philadelphia, last week. Spot grossed a little over WHh $7,417 Take Cesar Romero took out $7,417 as his share for a Week’s date at Teatro Puerto Rico, Bronx, N. Y. House grossed $19,834 during his run and Romero’s terms were $3,000 guarantee against percentages. Ronfero’s take was upped considerably on the last day of his stand when the Latin picture star Luis Sandrini made an appearance at several shows. ..... connnrt ..Mfi, r ano/ i Carlos Montalban, . house opera E L 0 8 ng % tor, his set Argentine picture play, for his end. , ers : Letitia Palama and Antonia Singer was in on an old commit Badu for week starting Thursday ment calling for a $5,000 guaran! (9). tee against half the receipts. Laine follows with three onenighters in Canada, starting tomorrow (Thurs.). Dates in Guelph, Toronto and Montreal call for a $3,000 guarantee against 50%. He follows at the Copley Plaza hotel, Boston, week of March 15. Hildy Skips Plaza, N.Y.; Roller Derby, Watercade Pacted for Arena Tours Arena Managers Assn, has set the Roller Derby for a tour of the arenas it controls. Derby, which has been built into big-busigaming. Bob Phillips, who joined I ness status, via video, will start | Glaser Agency three years ago in at the Boston Arena, March 22 and 1 the Chicago, branch, replaces Deutsch. Phillips checks in here March 15. Lynch. Exits To Open Own Nitery Jack Lynch, last week, dropped out of the operation of the Latin Casino, Philadelphia, to open his own cafe. He expects to open a new spot designed along the lines Chicago, March 7. Green Bay theatre, Green Bay, Wise, last week in return to vaud drew hefty; $1,500 opening day . . . Paradise, Peoria,. 111., has discontinued shows while “heat" is on . . , Peggy Lee into Lake Club, Springfield, 111., March 31 Johnny Bachemati in for two weeks at the Pastime, Des Moines, March 31 ... Lane Bros, have pacted with. Barnes & Carruthers for summer tour starting with the Western Canadian Fair . '. . Jay Seiler opens with Henry Busse at the Grand theatre, Evansville, Ind. March 22 For the first tim. in many years, Hildegarde will not keep her usual spring date at the Persian Room of the Hotel Plaza, N. Y. Evelyn Knight is set for the chantoosey’s spot starting April 6. Current show comprising Lisa Kirk, Nancy Donovan and Eric Victor holds over until then. It’s probable that . Hildegarde will play the hotel after the room is redecorated in the Summer. Meanwhile, Joseph P. Binns, executive veepee and general manager of the Waldorf-Astoria * N. Y., which the Hilton chain now operates along with the Plaza and other announced yesterday , (Tues.) that Ted Saucier, publicity ‘College Inn into Helsing’s March 13. Helene & Howard, Joe Termini, Gil Maison, Asia Boys, , and Miguelto have been pacted for the DuQuoin, 111. state fair . „ , Yonelll added to the Dorothy of the’ Blue Angel, N. Y , within a | has been ^ ‘tviAvi+tk T nvit Inavoc Hhrrv t Sn8y T6VU6 At tnG Palincr HOUSC, , David Branower takes month. Lynch’s exit leaves Harry j j. g Steinman in charge of the cafe. , over personal management of Lor riane Fortune and Gloria Sawitt Prior, to his tietip with the Latin Casino; Lyiich operated the Hotel Adelphi Roof and the Walton Roof, both in Philly. Paul Gilbert Set for the Lookout House,. Covington, Ky. March 13. will go on to the large-seaters in New Haven, Providence; Cleve _ land, Pittsburgh, Washington and j hostelries', Cincinnati. ! AMA has also set the Johnny 1 director for the past 21 years at Weismuller Watercade for a tour i the Waldorf, has resigned to; open starting April 8 in , Cincy. Other j his own office. He will retain the stands will include Pittsburgh, Waldorf on a consultant fee basis, Philadelphia, Chicago, Toledo and — . •/;■■■ ; ■' Providence. Tour win last until | chi Bistro Wants Morgan ay To Resume Upon Recovery Chicago, March 7. Al Morgan, singer^pianist who Gets Extended Run i had been playing off a delayed date • . .. ® . .. 1 after the opening show and planed ' College Inn of Sherman hotel to Cincinnati where he entered a here, which was to shutter for re j hospital for treatment for a nervvamped format oil March 19, _ will ous breakdown. : Morgan, who also not close before April 2 or 19. ! has a teevee stanza on DuMont Holdover of the “College Inn ; Monday nights cancelled put of Story" is due to delayed plans in [last . week’s show (27) with Art Lund subbing for him. Helsing management staled they will expect Morgan to fulfill the nitery date upon recovery, claiming that if he is Well enough to do T»1*»iy Inin Mr A i His tele show and pass up the laian inio mvn nitery phoreT they'll file breach of Jack Talan joined the cafe dept.'j contract proceedings against him A n ■ • 1 • ■ I uuv vv UV4UJ VU I'JUini lit SJuiq goes i changing spot to the Ernie Byfield Room, in honor of the late host of the inn. It will become a steak house, sans show. of Music Corp. of America last week. Talan was former personal manager of Leo De Lyon. Prior to that Talan was with the Walter Batchelor office* : with Chi local of the AFM. The Troupers will hold their second annual benefit at the Latin Quarter, N. Y„ May 5.