Variety (December 1952)

46 VAUDEVILLE Wednesday, December 3, 1952 Toronto Offers Jack Arthur 3-Yr. Pact As Prod. After 430G Tony Martin Pull Toronto, Dec. 2. A three-year contract, with op- tions, for production of the 24,000- • sealer grandstand' show’ at the Canadian National Exhibition here has been offered to Jacjc Arthur, With his decision expected within fortnight. Rushed in on two months’ notice to produce this year’s CNE show, Arthur’s ven- ture grossed $430,000 at $2.50 top for the 14 night performances. Customers ’ paid an additional 50c to enter the grounds, for an addi-' tional bite of $168,000, or actually a $3 top. Arthur’s deal this summer was $12,000 flat, plus over $350,000, thus giving him^close to $18,000 for the chore. Understood proposed contract covering next three years ,is slightly better than this summer’s emergency one-shot, more advance time being required henceforth to line up talent. There were last-minute- cancellations for the f 52 show, climaxed by Para- mount^ nixing of the Betty Hutton deal, and the almost 11th hour pacting of Tony Martin. On previous grandstand shows stressing big names, the William Morris Agency and/or Music Corp. Chicago's NEW LAWRENCE HOTEL of America reportedly got $50,000 guarantees, plus 50% over; $350,000,- and taking $80,000 to $85,000 as fortnights share. Fol- lowing decision of new Toronto Mayor Allan Lamport to engage more Canadian talent and dispense with such costly American head- liners, city’s share was higher this summer. With Tony Martin head- ing, the Arthur show did $11,000 better than with Jimmy Durante last year, and $8,000 more than with Danny Kaye in 1950. One possible hitch is that Famous Players (Canadian) Corp., with which Arthur has been con- nected for nearly 40 years and which granted him two months’ leave of absence to CNE this sum- mer, may not see its way clear to release, him for longer periods over ensuing three years. Although Arthur refused commeht, it’s fig- ured unlikely that he would sever his association with Famous shouldpl the exhibition pressure him into a contract deadline plus setting up his time schedule. Joe Laurie, Jr. humorously Inquires Wanna Be an Actor? S PECIAL SIONAL RATES I twrsnei A Ktnmora Avinuts at Sharldan Road hkatf* 4®, Illinois L0n«lwaeh 1*2100 LKW BLACK and PAT DUNDEE (Beauty and the Least) A nsw not* In Glamor Comedy QERBER-WEI8S AGENCY 1697 Broadway, N.Y. Club Dataa . NAT DUNN Hutton’s $230,400 In 8 Wks. Abroad Betty Hutton, who returned last week from Europe, grossed $230,- 400 in her eight weeks of theatres there. Her takes were exceeded only by those of Danny Kaye, but difference represents a compara- tively small margin, relating large- ly to amount of standing room sold. Highest grosses, of course, were registered in her four-week stand at the Palladium, London,- where she pulled a $128,800 total. Sec- ond highest was in Dublin, where she did $33,600, which was the highest weekly take. Glasgow scored $22,400; Liverpool, $22,300 and Manchester, $22,100. Miss Hutton, who returned to the Coast shortly after arriving in New York, will play a series of two-a- day vaude stands. William Morris Agency completed a deal for a date at the Curran, San Francisco starting Jan. 25 for four weeks She’ll follow with spots in the northwest ferea, same route that Danny Kaye traversed. Kaye re- cently hit $242,000 in five weeks at the Curran. ROGER CARNE and CANASTA fht Cat Currently Resident Season HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE Johannesburg, South Africa Direction WM. MORRIS AGENCY * an amusing bylln# plec® la the forthcoming 47tk Anniversary Number of Variety 52d St. Strippers Continued from page 1 USO-CS Execs To Coast on GI Gabs on a single consideration. The epidermis display is -frankly the only draw. There’s only one oasis (aside from the respectable Leon & Eddie’s and 21), and that is Jim- my Ryan's, which remains purely a jazz joint. The boys and their girls were lined up in front, of the doorway trying to get in. A man- agement spokesman at the thres- hold tried to steer the kids to the spot’s other operation at the Hotel Sharon on West 46th St. ‘See Cyr and Die’ In most of the strip situation, the “tomorrow-we-die” Attitude on the part of the bulk of the custom- ers prevails. Many of those going in. are obviously not of drinking age. These are turned back by the doormen because the cafes can- not jeopardize their liquor license and besides, these kids can’t spend any money. What's more, 52d St. gets the youngsters ..past 18 and be- parley ofL top USO-Camp low 21 from New Jersey where the Shows’ execs is siated for the Coast legal drinking minimum starts at shortly with Lawrence Phillips, age 21 (it’s age 18 in New York), exec veepee, planing out Saturday There's a sad abandon about these (6) to start huddles with CS board kids trying to get some fun ahd chairman Abe Lastfogel, They’ll most wind up bored, tanked and be joined by CS prexy James Sau- cantankerous. At- the midnight ter who’ll take off in about a week, shows the problem starts with the Among the projec.ts to be 'dis- niteries, The sihgers get little at cussed will be^the Resumption of tention, the strippers more and the Coast office which will be there’s frequently . some accom- headed by Ed Lowry, who former- panying heckling, ly was in charge of the Hollywood The most rapt attention is ob- office which has been closed for tained by Miss St. Cyr, who quiets some time. Lowry has been pro- them down completely. The bar ducing units for Camp Shows in is five and six-deep and most of recent months. He did a unit which those standing up cannot see the recently took off for Europe. Other show. There’s a fleeting glimpse packages include one destined for of the peeler between craniums. the Alaskan command, which takes The more penurious kids find a ter- off Dec. 29, and another for the rific refuge in the overcrowded bar Far East which ships out Jan. 5. conditions. They can.hide between Other major item of business on paying customers and stay through the Lastfogel-Sauter-Phillips agen- the show without buying a drink, da will be the Christmas enter- Many do not even check their hats for kids seeking to unload them selves before Uncle’s greetings hit them? It’s practically the same dur ing every war period,, but the rel lease that was available to young- sters of other periods has evaporat- ed because of the pressure of varil .ous. vice investigations. The 52d Streeters are a “lost generation” of this period. At one spot there were a pair of nice-looking young- sters discussing a high fidelity am- plification problem right in the middle of a stripper’s act. The gtreet provides its own bit of skepticism at the entire setup Two spots have a life-sized picture of a stripper, Chiquita’, gracing the front. It matters little whether Chiquita is in either joint. The object lesson is that it’s the same show, regardless of title. Set Yolanda Montez Yolanda Montez, Mexican nitery and film headliner, is making her first New York appearance begin- ning this week as she plays the H i s p a n a Theatre, Spanish-lan- guage house in Harlem. She ap- pears with the Tito Rodriguez band. ° She recently signed a manage- ment contract with William L. Taub. tainment for GIs overseas by Hol- lywood actors. Latest Comedy Material for MC’b, Mnglolans, Enter- tainers, oto. Bond for our latost price list of great ORIGINAL gagfllos, mono- logs, dialogs, parodlos, l skits, otc. Written by show 1 biz top gagmon. Or sond '$10 for $50 worth of abovo. Money back if not sattsflod, LAUGHS UNLIMITED 100 W. 45 St., N. Y., N. Y. JU 2-0373 Fran Warren Breaks With Pers. Mgr. Who’s Among Creditors Totalling 80 Singer Fran Warren, who last week filed a petition in bankruptcy in New York, listing $138,111 liabil- ities and no assets, coincidentally broke with her personal manager, Barbara Belle. Papers of termina- tion were completed last week. Miss Belle is one of the creditors, having a $25,000 judgment against the singer apd a confession of judg- ment for $30,000. > Other major item on Miss War- den’s listing is a $50,000 claifn against her by Arnold & Sandra ‘Gordon, who filed suit in that amount, charging invasion of pri- vacy. Suit is a result of publicity pictures taken with a ,son of the Gordons in Chicago. RCA-Victor is also being sued,for invasion of privacy in the same action. There are about 80 unsecured creditors, including the William Morris agency for $2,200; publicist Kurt Hofmann, $3,000, and cou- touriere Florence Lustig, $1,057. Miss Warren’s husband is Harry Steinman, who formerly operated the Latin Casino nitery, Phila- delphia; Sugar Hill, N. Y„ and the Crescendo, Hollywood. Steinman is now a personal manager. and coats. At the Samoa, there’s a 25c. checking fee. It’s little wonder that the kids have evolved these tactics. Many on their first visit to the street have been virtually pushed into the spot by the doorman, and before they know it have been put at a table where it’s a $3 minimum. More likely than not, he might have made the “acquaintance” of one of the entertainers, and her drinks cost money too. Beating the Rap On his next visit to the street he’s a little wiser. He remains at the bar, where there’s no .mini- mum, has a drink and stays through . _ _ _ , _ as much of the show as he wants to. been Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and Some spots such &s the French their musical troupe who tolled Quarter advertise 15 acts — all 9,240 patrons for as estimated $17,- femmes. A singer and stripper al- 650 in one matinee and evening, ternate. And when he can get away leers No. 1 Canton Draw, Roy Rogers 1-Nite Topper; Longhairs Get Short End Canton, O., Dec. 2. Ice shows still are high draw for the Memorial Auditorium. In eight performances, “Holiday On Ice” pulled 31,400 persons for an es- timated $60,000 gross for LCL Presentations. Biggest lure so far this year has “Caravan,” with Woody Herman’s orch, Mills Bros., Dinah Washing- ton, etc., attracted 3,400 for about $4,700 in one show. Longhair bookings haven’t fared so well. The Slavenska-Franklin- Danilova ballet totalled 1,900 spec- with it, he’ll hide in the bar, shrouded by the crowd. The cus- todians of that area cannot ferret them all out without raising a ruckus, although they do get around to most. Some of these pa- trons have even gone out when the tators in two appearances, grossing management has tried to get them an estimated $3,800, while the to buy. Most of the kids go In Charles Wagner presentation “Car- singly. men” one-nighter drew 1,665 for Howpver, the reputation of the about $3,200. old days of that thoroughfare seems Holiday on Ice” and Rogers to persist, especially among out- troupe plan to return next year, of-towners. To a knowing citizen LCL manager Lew Platt states. pub-crawling in those spots, it's Improvement of Jtlie auditorium’s embarrassing to see a guy and girl acoustical system in its first year in their 30s timidly come in. Both cost $21,145 and has converted the acquired red faces when a stripper $1,250,000 building from an near- starts doing her stuff. Yet to walk white elephant into one of the na- out there’s a $6 or $7 tab (mini tion’s best auditoriums, both for mums) plus tax for both. arena tions. and stage-styled presenta- The kids seem to come back week after week to see the same tired strips and the even more tired singers. It’s evidenced by the fact that the young customers seem to know most of those around the bar, JON ANDRA CARLTON and KARROL Just Concluded CHEZ PAREE, Montreal, Canada Opening Dec. 6, 7952 JACK LYNCH'S CAMBRIDGE CLUB Philadelphia, Pa. HARBER HELD OVER REX HOTEL MADRID', SPAIN snd DALE COMEDY MATERIAL For All *Branches of Theatricals G LAS ON'S FUN-MASTER Till ORIGINAL SHOW IIZ GAG flit <Th* Service of the Stars) 35 ISSUES $11 First* 13 Files $7.00. All 35 Issues $25.00 Singly: $1.05 Each IN SEQUENCE Only (Beginning with No. 1—No Skipping) • 3 Bks. PARODIES per book $10 * • MINSTREL BUDGET $25 * • 4 BLACKOUT BKS., **. bk. $15 • HOW TO MASTER THE CEREMONIES (reissue), $3.00 GIANT CLASSIFIED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GAGS, $300. Worth over a thousand NO C.O.D.'S BILLY GLASON 200 W. 54 5h, New York 1? Dept. V Circle 7-1130 Scrap Kitty, Sit Pretty San Francisco, Dec. 2. Frisco’s three bar-operas, the Bocche Ball, Vieni-Vienl and L$ at a given lime. They all appear Casadora, which combine food, to have a common bond of attempt- quaffing and opera songfesting, ing to beat the management. They have been signed by American frequently cooperate in a crowd by Guild of Variety Artists and will handing drinks to one another so henceforth Operate in line with that the same glass will serve as other niteries paying scale or bet- “permission” to remain, ter to their warblers. Pre-GI Spree The spots, which feature heavy They all seem bored at the proc and light opera yodeling with a ess and it’s reasonable to assume piano as the music section, employ that they hate themselves in the two to three males and femmes, morning. Yet what is there to do FOSTER AGENCY, LONDON presents CHrrenlly. TOURING ENGLAND American Rep- WM. MORRIS AGEIJJ' TAVEL-MAROUANI AGENCY, PARI* i NANCY-EVANS CURRENTLY 2ND WEEK, CHICAGO THEATRE, CHICAGO D*c. 12-25 FRINGE'GEORGE HOTEL, Toronto • Openinq Dec. 2? COPA Pittihurah Opening Soon CARIBE HILTON HOTEL. Puerto Rico - Thanks to Merrlel Abbott Direction—GENERAL ARTISTS CORPORATION