Variety (April 1953)

SnSCBIXAJW Pfati&rr We (Tuesday, April 1, I953 Paris 53 Baedeker to the Bistros; New Fun, Same Slogan: Bring Money By GENE MOSKOWITZ Paris, March 31. Biz not so hot is the verdict -of the Syndicat Djes Cabarets here. This strictly voluntarily joined and obeyed union has most of the boites here under its ’ emblem, which adorns the walls of most of its members. Plaque, giving the name of the org in bold face, js supposed to insure customers and tourists that clippo practices are not followed, here and that the average cabaret charge is adhered to without sleight-of-hand tactics in re half-filled champagne bot- tles, etc. Average price for a bottle of champagne for iwo should not come to more than 4,600 francs ($11.50) according to the Syndi- cat prexy. He adds that prices are, about the same as last year though j costs have risen. He says this is i due .to shaky niterjf biz, and the 1 desire of owners not to antago- nize the clientele. Object of the Syndicat is “to do away with, over- charging and be able to convince foreign patrons,” he continued, that Gallic cabarets are out .to en- tertain rather than fleece custom- ers. . Syndicate topper finishes with fact that not all boites fall into the desired category and the biggies, of course, charge more due to the size of floorshow -and overhead. However, he feels that/most of the members-stick to the unbinding code. Nachat Martini, Pigalle nitery en- trepreneur, is back here after drop- ping a wad in his try at purvey- ing Gallic nitery fare to the New Yorkers. He dropped a chunk at the French Casino (old Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe, off Times Square) and is now here sticking to his two nudey boites in Montmartre — Le Pigalles and (Continued on page 20) 1 Big Slow Biz flavor To N.Y.’s ‘April in Paris’ Ball Jose Ferrer, Zsa Zsa Gabor and French imports Suzy Delai? and Renee JeanmairB’* are among the entertainers slated to appear at the second “April in Paris” Ball set for April 20 at the Waldorf-As- . toria, N. Y. A total of seven tableaux will be presented at the ball with • socialites and profes- sional performers' handling the thesping chores. Legit producer Gilbert Miller and Barbara War- ner, daughter of Jack L. Warner, are also scheduled to take, part in individual tableau productions. . Ferrer and Miss - Gabor, along with a group of Can-Can girls, will present scenes from the film “Moulin Rouge,” in which they both appear. Miss Gabor will also do her songs from the pic. Miss Delair, chanteuse and actress, due in from Paris April 8, will offer a • program of songs. French drama- tist Marcel Achard is writing a sketch for Miss Jeanmaire, in which she'll sing and, dance. Henri Sauguet, French composer, will also appear* in a tableau written by him and choreographed by Mme. Yvonne Frank, of the Paris Opera. Costumes will be provided by leading Parisian couturiers. Claude C. Philippe, veepee of the Waldorf-Astoria Corp., is sec- retary and sparkplug of the Ball committee. Elsa Maxwell is chair- man of the entertainment commit- tee. Festive Birthday Party For ‘Okla.’s’ 10th Anni Washington, March 31. National Theatre is setting to- night (Tues.) for a festive birth- day party for “Oklahoma,”''’which opened exactly 10 years ago at the St James in New York, Scheduled to be here for* celebration are one of the play's authors, Oscar Ham- merstein, 2d. Co-author Richard Rodgers has a bad leg and can't come. This marks the 10th year of their collaboration. Others scheduled to be here are Theresa Helbum and fellow Theatre Guild .producer Lawrence Langner, and associate producer Armina Marshall; Agnes De Mille, who composed “Oklahoma’s” bal- lets; Alfred Drake, Bambi Linn and Rod Alexander of the original cast; Richard Aldrich, Richard Myers and Louis Lotito, operators of the National, and other Broad- way notables. Party is to be held in the Na- tional's new lounge, which opens tonight. Nitery Tax Receipts Uji 6iOG for 8 Months; Amus. Biz Skids by $19,500,000 Washington, March 31*. a General admissions tax collec- tions for .the first eight months of the U. S. fiscal year, commencing July 1, *1952, were approximately $19,500,000 back of figures for the comparable period of a year earlier, according to Bureau of In- ternal Revenue figures just an- nounced. It's estimated that 75 to 80% of the tax take comes from motion picture theatres. Thus the drop largely reflects a decline in film theatre attendance. At the same time, there has been a booming market in the sale of radios, TV sets, and phonographs. For the eight*-month period, the U. S. excise t$x take in this cate- gory .zoomed by $22,235,000. Large bulk of this undoubtedly came from tele receivers. Phonographs helped the category very little, because there was a drop in the tax receipts on records. February admissions tax receipts (for the last of the eight months) were down no less than $3,250,000 from the same month in 1952. ^February figures generally reflect January at the b.o.‘ Month’s take came to only $20,636,600. How- ever, unlike the tax bite on gen- eral admissions, the 20% levy on nitery checks has held its own. For the eight-month period, this tax yielded $31,634,000,. which was $610,000 over the preceding year. In the month of February, the re- ceipts of $4,248,000, ran about $300,000 ahead of the same month in 1952. In New York’s 3rd Internal Rev- enue District—all of Manhattan above 23rd St.— ; the general admis- sions tax brought $3,728,000, which was. $150,000 back of figures for the previous month. Hqwever, the sock $861,000 nitery tax receipts ran double the figures for the pre- vious month. Floorshows Not Trenchy Enough,’ Paris’ Lido Acts Now Only 50% Yank HORACE HEIDT ♦ FOR LUCKY STRIKE Under Personal Management JOHN LEER . Ill Fifth Ave., New York B.R. Oscars on TV While pleased with the impact of the televised Oscar awards show March 19, exhibs are nevertheless divided on whether or not it would be wiser for the industry to go ahead and sponsor the presenta- tions itself on TV .next year. It’s generally conceded that, de- spite minor production flaws, the show was the public relations job of the decade, spotlighting in the , public’s eye the glamor and the ex- citement that goes with Hollywood j and its personalities. At the same time,^ there are some who feel that an Added ad- vantage coiild be gained from keeping the entire event “in the family.” It’s felt that this would create an ^opportunity to plug thef' pic biz more forcefully and direct- ly rather than by indirection through the awards themselves. , There were a number of com- ments pointing to the advisability of building the televised Oscars strictly around the glamor and production side of the industry and of finding time to dramatize happenings beyond the element of suspense about who would get an award. It’s pointed out that, from (Continued on page 27) BBC Chief Show Biz Loser % / On Queen Mary’s Death; No Change in Coronation London, March 31. There was no general shutdown of entertainment as result of the .death of Queen Mary, but all legit and picture theatres will stay dark until 6 p.m. today (Tues.), day of the funeral, as a mark of respect. At the passing of King George VI last year, all _branches,of show biz turned out the lights day of his death, with partial. closing also during the period of the funeral. There has,/however, been some modification of arrangements. The London preem of “Stalag 17,” which had been set for last Thurs- day (26), has been'postponed until next Saturday (4). This was a joint decision by Jack Hylton and Sam Byrd, who are co-presenting the play at the Princes. Prince Phillip had to cancel ar- rangements to be chief guest at the world preem of “The Cruel Sea,” proceeds of whtgh were handed Subscription Order Form Enclosed find check for* $ Please send VARIETY for Two Years (Pleas* Print Name) City, Zone. ••• State. Regular Subscription Rates - . One Year—$1G.00 Two Years—$18.00 . Canadgand Foreign—$1 Additional per Year y&RIETY Inc. 154 Wm* 46th Sfrnnt N.w York 36. N. V. proceeds of whtgh were handed over to a naval charity. Cabarets are carrying on as usual in hotels and restaurants, although many of (Continued on page 95) Shufflin' Shirley Shirley Booth took the spot- light twice at the American Theatre Wing’s Antoinette Perry award dinner at, the Waldorf Astoria, N. Y„ Sunday (29) — oijce for her thesping ability and again for her terp agility. Actress‘copped a Tony for her starring performance in “The Time of the Cuckoo” and later on in the evening took over the dancefloor in a jitterbug session. Actually, she’s an old hand at the Lindy-hop, having rub- berlegged it with the Visiting servicemen when she was a hostess at. the Wing’ji N. Y. canteen during World War II. D.C, Helps Mary Pickford Launch Her'Bond Drive Washington, March 31. ' Mary Pickford came to town yes- terday (Mon.) to repeat a patriotic role she played 35 years ago when she embarked on a tour for 'TJncle Sam to sell Liberty Bonds. This time, she is taking to the road for six weeks to push a Bond-A-Month plan among professional and other self-employed people. She will speak to some 10,000 women’s club leaders in 13 states. In launching her campaign. Miss Pickford, now nearing 60, spoke from the Capitol steps, at- tended a luncheon given in her honor by House Speaker Joseph Martin and was guest at a tea given by Mamie Eisenhower, At the White House affair, attended, by wives of Supreme Court, justices and Cabinet members, guests were shown a “Mary Pickford Caval- cade” containing scenes from the star’s silent films. Tour, arranged by Jacob Mobel-“ ever of the Treasury Dept.’s Bond Division, winds up May 13 in San Francisco. , Cry Guy’s Drummer Barred At Palladium Bow; Union Objects to ‘Wandering’ London, March 31. Three hours before Johnnie Ray made his British dehut on the stage of the London Palladium last Monday (23), the Musicians Union informed the management that they could not grant .permission for his American drummer, Sam- my Fede, to appear with him. The Cry Guy, who is partly deaf,, relies upon his accompanying drummer to give out with a strong heat, and the MU’s pronun- ciamento was regarded so seri*. ously that, at one time, there was even talk of- the theatre closing rather than give w^y. Palladium boss Val Parnell went so far as to suggest, in a press interview, that MU probably ex- pected Ray would be unable to ap- pear without his own drummer. Union called this suggestion “scandalous,” and said: “The management told us that the the- atre might have to close.” Fede has a working permit granted by the British'Ministry of Labour, in view of the special cir- cumstances regarding his useful- ness to Ray, but MU has its own ideas. During afternoon rehearsal for the first show, it squawked about Fede playing on the drum- kit belonging to the resident drummer of the Skyrockets’ Or- chestra (Palladium house hand). Another kit was sent for. • A few hours later, the decree forbidding Fede from playing at all was issued. During the first house, the Sky-, rockets’ drummer. accompanied Ray while Fede* (garbed in a cerise jacket like all the other band-members) sat by his side, whispering instructions to him as Ray changed the- tempos or switched his program. Union al- lowed this for one performance only. The MU statment on the sub- ject says, “We will not have it as- sumed that foreign musicians can wander into a British orchestra freely. A British drummer would not be allowed, under similar cir- cumstances, to play in the United- States.” It was pointed out to the MU that, among others, Danny Kaye brought pianist Sam Prager to the Palladium* with him; Frankie Laine brought Catl Fischer; Billy Daniels brought Benny Payne, and that an American drummer was actually allowed to accompany Jimmy Durante at the Palladium. Other accompanists have been al- lowed in from time to time. MU replied: “Where the union has been satisfied that the foreign musician is an integral part of an act, his appearance has been ap- proved. • Where such permission is given, we cannofTaccept an obliga- tion to justify our action to any- body but our own members.” • Pierre Louis-Guerin, g.m. 0 # Paris’ Clfib Lido and also the Em pire Theatre, .fle^back .tq France" last week alter. a -three-month scouting tour, of Havana, Miami Beach, Hollywood, .Las Vegas and New York. Rene Ofraday, who pro. duces his shows* departs on Fri- day (3), to be followed by the Tfc S. talent, sailing April 24 on the Mauretania, -for ( .the new Lido “Voil.a,” which opens . May 28. It will again be admixed ice- and regular floorshow, but Fraday this year, intends to put more ac- cent on the .,French components. About 50% of the personnel wili be Yank talent, where heretofore it was 80% which, while liked by the natives, has been criticized by American and British tourists vis- iting the Continent as not be ing “Frenchy enough.” For the first time, for instance, a native can-can troupe of danc- ers will be part of the Lido, which is on the Champs-Elysees, now that the Bal Tabarin, dark for some time, will veer more to a vaudery, a la the Moulin Rouge, also in the Montmartre sector. The Bal may revert to its traditional pattern, when its new show next December goes in rehearsal, that being more for the French pro- vincial audiences it usually at- tracts. The terping'Cabots, two men and . a girl, recently at the Versailles, N. Y., the acfo-dancing Lane Bros. (2), and Homayne & Brent, adagio iceskaters recently at the Roxy, head the Yank acts; The boy skat- ing-dancing line Will also be from * New York, but the eight dancing girls will again be from England, as Will the showgirls and nudes from Paris, numbering 24 in all, it’s the biggest femme line to date at Le Lido. •Donn Arden, as- sisted by David Nilo will again stage the dances; last year Arden had Ron Fletcher .with him, but the latter has since stepped out on his own with TV chorus lines and specialists. Sinatra in June Per usual, an occasional name will further punctuate the Lido proceedings, as with Yma Sumac, Carmen. Miranda and Lena Horne in seasons past. Frank Sinatra will probably officiate this season in like manner, at least for a week in June, during the peak post-Corona- tion influx. Marionettes Lafeyn, from the the Quatre Saisons nitery in inti- mate Left Bank boite, will be the featured French act along with a native magico named Danny Raye (sic!). Lafeyn’s act comprises five people, and utilizes life-size pup- pets. He has been mentioned for the London Palladium, but Fraday states that Lafeyn is tied to the Lido for & solid year. Lido Show's U. S. Tour Paris, March 31. The William Morris agency is trying to set a U. S. tour of an “official” Lido Club show start- ing next December, but there’s nothing specific yet. Plan calls for one month’s book- ing in Havana, three months in Miami Beach, and two months be-_ tween Reno dnd Las Vegas. Ac- cent would be even more on the Gallic talent, a reverse on the Lido’s inclination towards U. S. acts. ‘Grassroots’ Editors Now In USSR for‘Town Hall’ Nine U. S. “grassroots”. editors now visiting Russia were tapped over the weekend by ABC and Town Hall, producer of “America’s Town Meeting,” to participate in an exclusive radio-TV discussion program on their return from Mos- COW. . ’ Deal was arranged by Town Hall radio-TV topper WilliameR. Traum in a trans-Atlantic phone call to James Wick, publisher of several U. S. dailies, who is now heading a junket of 25 editors’ through Eu- rope and the Middle East. Nine members, selected by lot, got an okay from the Russian Em- bassy in London to pehetrate the Iron Curtain—first such group the Soviet Union has admitted in many years. Among them are John Bid- dle of WCPA, Clearfield, Pa.; Re- becca Gross, Look Haven, Pa.J Martha HbileS, WFAH, Alliance, O. ; Bennett Knudson, KATE; and i other news reporters.