Variety (September 1952)

PTSkimr VAUHEVIIXK 51 Percenters Uj^ade 1-Nile Divisions jis New Ballroom Bonanza for Combos The major agencies are putting greater stress on the one-night de- fartments to stimulate talent book- ings Formerly, this sector was concerned only with bands, but SS the vaude slump, agencies .re studying ballrooms' as an act i Outlet Even the William Morris A^encv, which dropped, the band JeWment some years ago, is con- , sidering reentry into the one- f nighter field. i Decision at the Morris office came with the pairing of Don Cornell and the Elliot. Lawrence band on a tour; and Billy Eckstine who's now lined up with Count Basie and George Shearing on a one-nighter jaunt. The former was pacted by Joe Glaser’s Associated Booking Corp., and the latter’s itinerary Is being lined up by the Billy Shaw office. The Morris agency, in consider- ing reestablishment of the one- nighter division strictly as an out- let for acts, theorizes that with a pair of percenters who know that field, some of its singers can be booked with various acts in ball- rooms. Originally, Cornell was to have gone out with the Lawrence band, ,„Jut maestro later begged off be- '^“■Icause of a radio show. Glaser of- fice was faced with cancellation of 41 dates, but managed to persuade 17 ballroom operators to hold onto Cornell and book him with a local, band. The Morris agency feels that the major concentration is now on singers pointing to Guy Mitchell’s four-week booking into the Palla- dium Hollywood, as ample proof of the new trend. They also feel that vith their stable of singers and acts, they could hold a key posi- tion in the ballroom field. A cur- rent disclicker could be the bait that would help sell a comparative- ly weak band in many one-nighter situations. Revival of the one-nighter de- partment would also mean a great- er emphasis on concert 'dates. Both fields would complement each other inasmuch as they are worked on a one-night basis. Other major offices such as Gen- eral Artists Corp. and Music Corp. of America have on various occa- sions made combination bookings. At this point, both outfits are study- ing the use of disk singers as an aid to bands that have fallen down on the onenight trail. It’s an- ticipated that combo bookings of bands and singers will become a standard procedure before long. ‘Fabulous Job,’ Sez Hutton Of Firing-Line Talent As She’s Cited by Camp Shows Betty Hutton paid tribute to all entertainers in USO-Camp Shows in her acceptance of a citation from the organization last week at the Waldorf-Astoria. Miss Hutton de- clared that all performers playing near the front lines “do a fabulous job,” but minimized her own role in entertaining in Korea as one that should be done by “a human being and a good American.” Miss Hutton was awarded the citation at a luncheon by USO-SC prexy James Sauter, who praised her as a “great talent and a great heart,” She was given a certifi- cate and an inscribed compact. Feed was tendered by the New York USO Defense Fund, which is seeking $2,500,000 in that area. Advance contributions from cor- porations and foundations already have reached $750,000. Miss Hutton left for London Fri- day (19) for her opening at the Palladium next Monday (29). She departed prior to the opening to- day (Wed.) of her pic, “Somebody Loves Me,” at the Roxy, N. Y. Star also confirmed that she’ll biopic Sophie Tucker in “Some of These Days,” which wlU be her first indie film venture. RiYerside, Milw., Reprising Vaude on Spot Bcmkings Milwaukee, Sept. 23. Riverside Theatre Impe is return-i ing ' to vaude policy Oct. 3 with j Rosemary Clooney headlining the j first show. Also on the, bill is j Bobby Wayne, Helene & Howard, ! and the Four Evans. House Is booked by the Charles Hogan office in Chicago. Acts will be set on a spot basis. A1 Martino is being pacted for next bill, possibly in November, N.Y. Spot for Henie leer a Question As Armories Lml Seating; G.M. Exits Palace 2-a-Day Nears Via Kaye Deal for Danny Kaye to go into the Palace Theatre to kick off two- a-day at the Broadway house is virtually completed. Kaye is now slated to go in shortly after Jan, 1 and will remain for several months on an option basis. General manager Abe Lastfogel of the William Morris Agency came into New York last week to work out the deal with Sol A. Schwartz, RKO Theatres prexy. Lastfogel left for the Coast yes- terday (Tues.). Comic played the Curran Thea- tre, San Francisco, and will return for another engagement there Oct. 5. Kaye is also slated for Christ- mas week at the Cotton Bowl, Dallas. Schwartz and Lastfogel haven’t yet decided upon the type of deal* that will be made. Several blue- prints are under consideration. It’s expected that Lastfogel will hud- dle with Kaye ij erore a -pact is finalized. Kaye's lllG S.F. Record San Francisco, Sept. 23. Danny, Kaye concluded his sec- ond and final week at the Curran, Sunday night (21), chalking up an all-time house record with $110,- 900 for 21 performances. Included was a Sunday 5:30 to 7 benefit with proceeds to an ail- ing member of the Frisco Drama Critics Council. • . A New York booking for the Sonja Henie show is in the doubt- ful stage. According to a spokes- man for the armory at 62d and Columbus Ave., where Miss Henie was pencilled in to start on Christ- mas Day for three weelcs, no con- tracts have been returned by Miss Henie for that date. At this point, the spot is still being reserved for her from Dec. 25 to Jan, 15, pre- dating the, Arthur M. Wirtz “Holly- wood Ice Revue” at Madison Square Garden. One of the rea- sons why Miss Henie may be forced to forego the N. Y. date is the fact that the armory has been limited to 4,000 seats. This, coupled with the fact that it costs approx- Frisco’s Downtown Peelery in Sadden Foldo to Make Way for Metal Bodies San Francisco, Sept. 23, In an almost overnight move, the Downtown Theatre, operated as a burlesque house since April 18 by Jack Blumenfeld and Irving Ackerman, was shuttered last Thursday (18), and will be torn dovm to make way for a garage and parking lot. House, a 1,900-sea ter, was re- cently purchased by the Con- tinental Assurance Co, Sudddn move to close appears to be predi- cated on the recent burlesque shut- down and resultant publicity and drop in business. ' A'local landmark, the Downtown was built in 1917 and operated as the Casino by Ackerman & Harris, housing the VSmi King shows for more than six years. It was re- modelled in 1941 and run by Ackerman as a pix house. Blu- men^eld moved into the picture in 1948 and for a time tried unsuc- cessfully both legit and films. .Its imminent passing froiif the scene is remindful of the old Orpheum, which also wound up as a parking lot. imately $20,000 to install and rip up the ice, may make it impossible for Miss Henie to go into the tall coin. It’s recalled that Miss Henie skipped a N. Y. shewing last sea- son. She had been scheduled to play the Kingsbridge Armory in thp Bronx shortly after the col- lapse of the portable seats in Bal- timore. The poor advance follow- ing that had Miss Hen’*e calling off the N Y. stand. It’s also understood that after the Baltimore accident many armories were reclassified. Gen- erally, seating canacitios were made smaller.' Miss Henie, along I with other shows, was forced to in- ! stall steel framework for grand- I stands. More space h.id to be al- lotted for aisles. Wlii'e these dif- ficulties are comparatively minor, the major headache is the dimin- ished seating capacity. It’s al.so reported that Miss Henie’s backstage has been rife with dissension. Jim Colligan was let out last v»eek and he was re- placed as general manager by Ken Stevens, who still doubles as show’s vocalist. .A group compris- ing Miss Henie, her mother, brother and husband along with Stevens, remain the governing board of the show. Colligan is considering action against Miss Henie despite the fact that his paper with her was oral. A spokesman for the icer de- clared that business is excellent in Chicago where show winds up Sept. 28. It was said that there were turnaways over the weekend. Show opens frnndiaiiape5llsHDct“J, ahead of the Wirtz show. Daniels’ 3-Week Rest Chicago, Sept. 23. Billy Daniels, who closed at the Chicago Theatre Thursday (18), cancelled out of a two-week en- gagement at the Four Dukes, De- troit, which was to start the next day (19). His physician ordered a three- week rest for the singer. ★ 9 Thanks, Mr. Hover, for holding us over at Ciro’s, Hollywood WILL MASTIN TRIO ★ ★ ★ SAMMY DAVIS, JR Guest Starring Septembdr 28 “The EDDIE CANTOR TV Show” NBC ★ ★ Opening Oct 16 FLAMINGO HOTEL Las Vegas ★ October 30 FAIRMONT HOTEL San Francisco ★ ★ November 27 LATIN CASINO Philadelphia HUdton 3-73II it Suniet Boultvttd • Hollywood Ub, Colifoini* SepteHbsp 16 , 1952 .,, ViLL JixSTis Trio c/o Arthur Silbkr 15 b 5 Crossroads of thf VoRtj> Holltwood 26 , Caljforhja Dear Dots: " Please accept ht thahks for the wnderful record- BREAKIHG EHOACEMEHT TOV ARB CURREHTLY PLAYlSO AT CLWS AHD »Y CONCRATOLATXOHS, This js the third time you have played ovr supper CLUB DURXHC THE PAST 12 HOHTHS AND ON EACH SUCCESSITE VISIT TOUR POPULARITY WITH OVR REOVLAR PATRONS HAS HOT ONLY CON-' TRIBVTED TO CAPACITY ATTENDANCE NlOHT AFTER NIGHT, BVT THE i/ORD~OF~MOOTH COMNEHTS A BOVT XOOR ACT, AND PARTICULARLY Sahny Davis, Jr,, alhays brings us a flood of new patronaoe. /Otrfl PRESENT RECORD BREAEINC ENGAGEHENT AT IF THIS IS A CRITERION — SHOULD KEEP YOUR ACT IN CONTINUOUS DEHAND FOR NANY YEARS TO CONE, DoUEVER, I HOPE THAT YOU HILL HAVE OPEH AT LEAST AHOTHER FOUR WEEKS TO CITE US DURING THE NEXT YEAR, SO THAT GIRO'S CAN HEADLINE YOU AGAIN. % The record you have set during this ehoagehent hore •THAN UARRAHTS HY HOLDIHG OVER THE ACT FOR AN ADDITIONAL TWO weeks. If it verb not for previous cohhithents, I would ASK YOU TO PLAY FOR EVEN A LONGER PERIOD, UlTN EVERY GOOD WISH FOR YOUR CONTIHUED SUCCESS, BELIEVE HE, > HDH/jr Yours very cordially, D,D, Hover Exclusive Management: ARTHUR SILBER