Variety (October 1950)

Wednesday* October 25, 1950 VAUDEVILLE 5S ‘Jolson Story’ Finales Cpntinuc4 front page 3 turning to the faith of his fathers, etc.—the two film biqgraphicals he made for Columbia Pictures two decades later unquestionably were authentic Jolsoniana. “Jolson Story” ranked sixth top money-grosser in domestic film productions, with an $8,000,000 take (U t S. and Canada), and more likely nearer $13,000,000 if the worldwide income (frozen and/or thawed currency) were included. A recent Variety tabulation listed D W. Griffith’s “Birth of a Nation” tops with an estimated $40,000,000; David O. Selznick’s “Gone With the Wind,” No. 2 with $26,000,000; Samuel ^Goldwyn’s “Best Years Of Our Lives” third with $12*400,000; David O. Selznick’s “Duel In the Sun” next with $8,700,000; Irving Berlin’s “This Is the Army” (WB) fifth with $8,500,000, and then “Jolson.” Known as a mild hypochondriac, jolson had a fetish for “taking good care of himself,” A tribute to his personal abstemiousness Was the robust manner in which, at 60-odd, he could , sing as true and robustly as he did in both Col pix—with Larry Parks doing the skillful visual personation job. ' Jolsoniana Aides The Air The late Jack Kapp’s vision in recording a wealth of Jolsoniana-— all the old and the new Berlin, DeSvlva, Brown & Henderson, Gershwin, and kindred songs-r-on a flock of Decca platters was just one manifestation of the high esteem show biz held for “the king,” Just as tlie late president- founder of Decca Records insured Jolson for posterity, so did the disk jockeys all through Monday night, into the late Tuesday a.m., keep America awake with a Cavalr cade of Jolsoniana on Decca disks. In His Prime for 40 Years Jolsori’s vivid career, almost ap- proaching a half-century, w r as in its prime for 40 years. He was certainly one of the alltime greats of show business. His gregariousness, in and out of show business, .achieved such a common bond that Jolson felt more intimate with his general public than perhaps any other single entertainer. This ciosetip on his public was evident especially in the driving force to “do some- thing for our GIs.” Through the 1918 Liberty Bond days, into the more rugged World War II and Korean war periods, Jolson was one of the most potent entertain- ment forces in all theatres of war. , His selflessness was undeniable, i and his patriotism to the land j which gave him these rich oppor- tunities transcended the average. Born in. St. Petersburg, Russia, May 26, 1886, he came to Washing- ton, D. C., with his cantor-father at so early an age that many “official” records have him born in the capital. Asa Yoelson, the son of Cantor Yoelson, ran away as a child, sang with a Catholic boys’ school choir, and as A1 Jol- son went on to the heights. First in minstrelsy, With Lew Dockstad- ter’s troupe, through vaudeville and musical comedy, he achieved the Broadway pinnacle at the Winter Garden. His revues were notable for Jolson dismissing -his company, after 11 p.m., and then doing a ^marathon songalog of 10 or 12 songs—a one-man show in himself — with a reassuring “you ain’t heard nothin’ yet!,” as he con- tinued endlessly and tirelessly to regale the .customers past mid- night. (Jolson in later years re- I called that he carried the lyrics I Of 20 or 30 songs in his mind j always, for any “request” occasion i during his Winter Garden, days. “But such has become the habit of radio, reading from a script, that do you know I gotta have the words of ‘Mammy’.or ‘AprilShow- ers’ in front of me now!”). His tirelessness' was manifested during the 1929 run of Florenz Ziegfeld’s illfated “Show Girl,” starring Clayton, Jackson & Du- rante and his then wife, Ruby Kee- ! ler. It was the only time Jolson did an almosLnightiy benefit for Ziggy, as he would accidentally-on- purpose stroll down the aisle of the Ziegfeld theatre, N. Y., and sing ■J George Gershwin’s “Liza” to Ruby Keeler’s tapstering onstage—but nothing could help that show. Jolson was one of the three show biz greats who never played the Palace—Sir Harry Lauder and George M. Cohan were the others. Jolson qualified at the Palace vi- cariously only through deference to Dave Apollon, singing a chorus from the audience as a personal j tribute to the latter’s request. Ruby Keeler His 3d Wife The Ruby Keeler romance—his third wife—was a Broadway leg- end, born of the Prohibition days fContinued,on page 62) Wiley’* Chi Cafe Date Chicago, Oct. 24. Songstress Lee Wiley, making one of her rare appearances, has been booked into the Blue Note, Chicago, for two weeks beginning Dec. 7. She will share billing with the Bobby Haekett quartet. Miss Wiley is planning to pre- cede this date with a tour of east- ern niteries if she can get an okay from Metro, which has her under contract to do the soundtrack for the Helen Morgan role in the film production of “Show Boat.” She’s expected to complete the record- ing by the end of October. Hotels, Niteries, Radio Stations Chicago Paul Sanders has set Divena . units in Town Casino, Buffalo and Otto’s,. Troy,. N, Y., for Oct. 30. He’s shifting headquarters to New York . . Colisimo’s being turned into garage after 30 years of bistro operation , . . Jimmy Nelson does a repeat on the Ed Sullivan video show Nov. 12 '. . . Ken Griffin, Tucker & Gloria, Bobby Lee and Dainty Marie set for the Palace, Rockford, 111 , Oct. 27 . . . Gloria Savitt into Helsings Oct. 30. Hollywood Frankie Laine set for a fortnight at the Flamingo, Las Vegas, at a flat $7,500 per session, starting Nov. 16 . ... . Rosalind Courtright started a two-weeker Friday (20) at the Beverly Hills Country Club, Newport, Kv. . . . Hazel Scott bowed in Sunday (22) at Ciro’s , . Edith Piaf set for her Coast bow Jan. 9 at Mocambo for an indefinite stand ... Georgte Price checks in at El Rancho Vegas, Las Vegfcs, Dec. 6 for two weeks at $1,750 per frame . Toni Harper’s Columbia rec- ord pact renewed for a second year . . . Ink Spots, who have re- corded exclusively for Decca for 15 years, signed another three-year exclusive deal with the p!attery . . . Harpist Robert Maxwell opens a fortnight stand at the Willard Ho- tel, Toledo, Oct. 30 and jumps to the Cotillion Room of the Hotel Pierre, N. Y. . . . Maxie Rosen- bloom and'Maxie Baer will share billing with Anne Triola at Desert Inn, Las Vegas, for a fortnight starting Oct. 31. Jackson Widow Adds TV Dept, to Talent Agency Rosalie Jackson, widow of vet agent Billy Jackson, has reactivat- ed her husband’s talent agency in the Palace theatre building, N. Y. In addition to handling vaude and nitery bookings she has added a television department. She set Stormy Bergh. Pat Lytel and Andy Ratouscheff, trio of midgets, with Fred Allen on the '■Colgate Comedy Hour” video show last Sunday night (22). Saranac Lake By Happy Benway Saranac Lake. N. Y., Oct. 24. Adirondack Community Con- cert Assn, has booked three con- certs for the coming season, in- cluding Marina Svetlova, ballerina; Robert Calder and Dolores Da- Silva, international dancers; Loewenguth String Ensemble with Marisa Regnles, pianist, and Mur- ray & Loretta Dranoff, pianists. Birthday greeting are in order to Otto Haymari, Don Wright, Jerry Hornsby and Dolly Gallagher, all Variety Clubites. Virginia Bishop has taken up residence in the downtown colony to be "near husband, Joe Bishop, musician, who is doing O.K. Mabel Burns received an all- clear to resume work and left for N.Y.C, “We The Patients” wish to thank George Roberts, of Boston Mass., for his gifting of many of the. pa- tients here. Among those recently upped for daily meals are Jeanie Reed. Jeff Clark, Harry Nason, and Lawrence Garber. Isabelle Rook, after long siege in a plaster cast, now sitting up and greeting visitors at the Ray- brook (N. Y.) Sanatorium. Write to those who are ill. Miami Beach, Oct, 24. The “small” hurricane that turned into one of the toughest blows in this area’^ history, didn’t affect the entertainment facets of the twin-cities, outside of radio stations and some oceanfront hotel- bar lounges. By Saturday (21) night all were back in action, though some on a limited basis. Premiere of the Copa City legit theatre idea was delayed a day, with ’Franchot Tone and the" rest of the cast of “Second Man” agree- ing to play through Monday night after the Tuesday performance was cancelled. Show has a good ad- vance sale. • On the Beach, the Under con- struction Monte Proser-Xavier- Cu- gat nitery, Casa Cugat, was prac- tically" blown apart by the high winds. Chez Paree, Club 22, Park Avenue Club-^all in the same sec- tor—were shut down for several nights, due to loss of power, but were back in operation on Satur- day night (21). Other clubs ran, but to offish biz. Along the swank hotel sector, same power problems applied. Biggest damage Was incurred by WKAT (MBS), WIOD (NBC) and WQAM (ABC) when their trans- mitters and towers >vere blown down. Towers toppled like ten- pins, with WKAT’s splitting m half, the others going when founda- tions were pounded. All had gone through previous storms, but the winds at 125 miles an hour along their exposed waterfront positions were too much for the girders this time: Emergency work had all sta- tions on the air within a short time after the destruction. WGBS (CBS) and WMIE (Indie) were on the air throughout the gale. Theatres, especially, were strong- holds against the heaviest winds since the 1926 hurricane. Alpert Management Corp. has I been chartered to conduct a (theatrical business and .booking ] agency, with offices in New York. I Capital stock is 200 shares., no par value. Jack J. Katz is a director and filing attorney. PINCUS’ ‘LAUGHS* UNIT i Bobby Pincus has taken over the ' cafe unit, '-‘Fun For Your Money,” ( and will go on tour with it, Label, ; however, has been changed to i “Laughs For Your Money.” ! Aside from Pincus, cast will in- clude Ginger Harmon and others. Jack Edwards of the Kenneth Later Agency is agenting. PHIIXY CAFF- BtlRGLFD Philadelphia. Oct. 24. The Embassy Club • liladelphia, was burgled of $2,500 Sunday (22) night. Thieves broke in through the kitchen and ransacked three floors. Burglars apparently planned to take a small safe with them, but abandoned the idea. The Harlequins, terp .act, have signed with General Artists Corp, W.HA' HOPPEN? IT IS HOPPENING NOW! AND HIS ORCHESTRA Currently CAPITOL, New York Just Concluded 6 Months at BILL MILLER'S RIVIERA Signed for Return Engagement THANKS : SIDNEY PIpRMONT BILL MILLER LARRY GENGO Just Appeared on Television for JACK CARTER - JAN MURRAY Soon to Be on MILTON BERLE'S Program SEECO RECORDS Management: LEONARD GREEN AGENCY PUBLICITY BRAVEMAN-NORTON I I .. Even the birds at the Mo- cambo were thrilled." PAUL V. COATES i