Variety (December 1951)

Wednevdafi Pe wlH MP VAUMVEEXB 45 • • • „ M .. Minneapolis, Dec. 25. With the city council committee on public grounds and builds togs, which controls toe local municipal auditorium where profes- sional wrestling is staged, serving notice on promoter Tony Stecher that "wrestling rules must be enforced In Minneapolis,” the Morn- ing Tribune complained editorially the aldermen ate causing “an irreparable loss to the dramatic arts.” Carrying the headline, "Wrestlers Are Actors,” the editorial comes to the defense of the grunt and groan fraternity in its pres- ent form, to wit: .*■ “A wrestling referee is not supposed to enforce the rules. His function, as we understand it, is to see that they are broken im- partially, and with equal impunity on both^sides. ... Let us face the truth'squarely: if a referee enforced the rules, there would be nothing left for the wrestlers to do but wrestle, which would be perfectly appalling entertainment and might even involve the pro- moters in a swindle charge. "Let us concede another melancholy truth: that the grunt- groaners are primarily artistes and not athletes, and that wrestling Is fundamentally a child of the drama marked by low comedy and heavy breathing. The gents who wrestle hold no animus toward their opponents as they kick each other in the epiglottis and mas- sage the lumbar region wit)), each other’s, knees..., "Most patrons of the So-Called mat sport would as soon see the wrestlers dance a two-step together as to wrestle under a strict interpretation of the rules.” Saranac Lake By Happy Benway Saranac Lake, N; Y., Bee. 25.. Will Rogers-;Variety Clubs hospi- 7 } and Raya Sister# "DANCING DOCL-USIONS” CURRENTLY ROXY NEW YORK PirioHol MoNgmaM THE WILSON AGENCY 1 % Phil GRAE-Phil COSCIA § 1501 'Broadway, N. Y. C. ■ IN THE HEART OP CHICAGO'S LOOP near th# OHantal, Palaca, Chicago .A Erlangar Theatres It's tho BANCROFT HOTEL •> W. Randolph St. Franklin 2-4740 Oftftlal Ratos for Show Folk Nawly Decorated. > Nsw Management tal received a double salute and di- rect plugs over two network radio programs. A number was dedicated to jean -Ellis, a patient here, by Frankie Laine while he was on his Shamrock Hotel date in Houston. ‘He also boosted the institution. La- ter on, her hu$band, John H. Ellis, an Interstate theatre manager, and her mother were on the "Strike It Rich” -program on which they hit thfe jackpot. Frank Walter, Philly and Atlan- tic City theatre circuit manager, in and out of the general hospital af- ter mastering the Muhaldi opera- tion, and now resting in solid comfort. Bob (Harmonica) Coffey, who de- finitely beat the rap here within two years, is elated Over the fact that his final reports are so good that he goes back to the harmonica come early spring, Charles W. Griffith, former own- er of the Burnsville, W. Va., Thea- tre, is a newly registered guest here and showing marked progress while, on observation. Among those that Santa Claus told they, were skedded for sur- gery after the holidays are Audrey Lumpkin, Charles Aldebo, S. Cole- man Houff and Paul Heins. All are eager for the event. (Write to those who are ill.) HERB and BETTY WARNER in "ROMANTIC INTERLUDES" Just CloMil Two Weak* - DAYTON-BILTMORE HOTEL, DAYTON, OHIO (Thanks to MERRIELL ABBOTT) Opening December 24th Quebec City, Canada Opening January 11, 1952 CARIBE-HILTON HOTEL, SAM JUAN, PUERTO RICO (Thank* to MERRIELL ABBOTT) Monogemenf-MAY JOHNSON CO., INC; T*S HW Ay.- HW Ywk CD, Mam MW N.Y. SUGAR HILL FOLDS IN PRE-XMAS SLUMP Sugar Hill, N. Y., closed* sud- denly last week as a result of the pre-holiday slump. Spot had. been paying off ..debts of its predecessor cafe, the China Boll, with little re- serve to tide* it over the emer- gency. Situation was further compli- cated by the fact that partners in the spot had been in a hassle L^Bout cutting up the coin. It’s re- ported that reps of v a Philly syn- dicate which put up a portion, of the backing had demanded their cut in one payment. Mike Kay, principal stockholder, was in-town when the shuttering came. Harry Steipman, former operator of the Latin Casino, Philadelphia, had taken off for Chicago a few days previously. Spot had been rehearsing a new show which was to have started Jan. 4. Kay stated that spot will reopen at a later date. Nitery de- buted couple months ago. Statler in 1954 „ . Balias, Bee. 25. Erection of a 975-room down- town Hotel Statler will begin next spring, Arthur-F. Douglas, chain hotel prez, announced here. Boni- face stated that the new $10,000,- 000 hotel should open in early ’54. Site, already bought and cleared, fronts on Commerce St.—address of the larger inns here. Hotel is to be a Y-shape struc- ture, and will contain a ballroom with 2,000 capacity, plus dine- dancery. Latter will be included in hotel chain’s bookings of acts and orchs. N.Y. Tribunal Rules Tkatres Liable Validity of a standard clause in most artist employment contracts, designed to exempt a theatre from any liability arising from injuries sustained by performers, on the premises, is open to question under a recent decision banded down by the Appellate Division of the N. Y. Supreme Court, Appeal tribunal upheld a ruling of a N. Y. municipal court judge that the so-called exemption clause was not valid and did not exempt a theatre from liability for negli- gence., Jurist delivered his Opinion in connection with a negligence suit brought by Tula Edel against Combined Century Theatres, Inc. Mrs., Edel, a member of the An- gie Bond Trio, assertedly was in- jured on July 9, 1949, while work- ing at Century's Patio Theatre, Brooklyn. She was standing in the wing of the theatre, according to her attorney, Morris K. Bauer, When scenery fell and caused a large proscenium lamp to strike her on the back. In its defense, Century’s insur- ance company invoked the stand- ard liability clause and claimed Jail, Bail, Opera Comique Tale; Grimaldi Vs. Trenet 'Good Name,’ Counterclaim A projected Canadian concert tour for singer Charles Trenet in the summer of 1950 had elements of a comic opera, it was disclosed last week in N. Y. Supreme Court. For the French warbler's alleged failure to go through with the tour Caused him to be named de- fendant in a $15,000 breach of con- tract action brought by impresario Jean Grimaldi. Vocalist, in turn, has filed a $50,000 counterclaim. Under a deal made early in 1950, Grimaldi charges, Trenet was to tour under his auspices from June 1 to June 25. But the singer, it’s asserted, only made one appear- ance and refused to continue. Whereupon Grimaldi had the clian- teur arrested and jailed on June 8. Following day, the complaint states, he was sprung when the pro- moter posted $5,300 bail. Grimaldi maintains that he raised the bail on Trenet’s assur- ances that he would resume the tour if released from stir. In- stead, the promoter, notes with chagrin, "the singer jumped into his Cadillac and heat it to the U S.” Moreover, the suit claims, the im- j presario’s "good name” was injured by Trenet's alleged walkout. Counterclaiming for $50,000 dam- ] ages, Trenet charges that Grimaldi had him "falsely and maliciously” arrested, and as a result, he was forced to cancel a Montreal appear- j ance. In addition, the singer con- tends, he was forced under duress to agree to continue a tour to which he was dissatisfied with both billing and attendance. Suit came to light when Trenet moved to examine Grimaldi before trial and also sought a bill of par- ticulars. Bon Voyage With Pay Inauguration of the Cunard Line’s 1951-52 winter cruise sea- son last week saw seven showfolk sail on the Caronia Friday (21) from N. Y. to provide entertain- ment to the course of the ship’s 12-day West Indies cruise. Booked on the junket were song- stress Mary Small, baritone Sid Gary, daffbe team of Eileen Ford & Bob , Robinson; comics Banny Crystal plus the troupe’s accom- paniment, Louis Metkur. Free-for-AII =5 Continued from page 43 assistant, will also be looked over as a possibility. If Price should accept the job, he’d be the ; first Wall Streeter ever to be the active head of a la- bor union. He’s of Price & Co., stockbrokers. Another prospect is Dewey Barto, former national ad- ministrative secretary, who pre- ceded Dunn in the post. Any number of board members would be Interested to the berth. As result, it’s expected' that* there will be considerable wire-pulling for the job of temporary adminis- trator. Next board meeting, Jan. 13 in New York, Will have a multitude of sub-rosa -candidates exerting in- fluence. It will be a three-day ses- sion. that the Bond act was not an em- ployee but an Independent con- tractor. Judge Daniel Siillivan, who presided in a jury trial of the case, granted the plaintiff's motion to dismiss the insurance firm’s de- fense after Bauer argued that the exemption clause was invalid and did not exempt the theatre from liability for negligence. When the Jury returned a ver- dict for Mrs. Edel, the insurance company unsuccessfully appealed to the Appellate Division. In light of the higher court's decision, Bauer points out* "it would seem to follow that an artist who is In- jured through the negligence of the theatre, may recover for his in- uries in spite of the so-called ex- emption clauses.” Appellate decision is an indica- tion that acts have been covered—^ in Jtheory, at least—during the time when there was no accident insur- ance from the American Guild of Variety Artists. Latter document also covers acts "off the premises'* in many instances. THE SEASON'S GREETINGS NR ". '■ mum'mvnm AND HIS WIR*/" JACK DEATON WORLD'S GREATEST COMEDIAN (Final. Returns Not In) «/• IRVINO CHARNOFP