Variety (April 1953)

84 VAimimujK P38snm Wednesday, April 1, 1953 Post-Holy Week, Degree of AFM Co-op Seen as Test of TROA-AGVA Strength The war.between the^4^erictt^^r Guild of Variety Artists And tre Restaurant Owners ol^Amerle*’: increased in ‘ intensity lover . tjji£ weekend. The tinion itartfed ifir strategy with rapier-like thrusts meant to probe TKOA r defenses and the boniface Organization countered with bludgeon-like blows. Original AGVA . moves were made in Philadelphia and Balti- more, where talent _was pulled from three spots. TROA countered by heaving entertainment out of more than 50 clubs. *AGVA stated that operators of most of the spots were happy to be relieved of shows during Holy Week. Real test will come if the bonifaces maintain the no-show policy when biz gets bet- ter. Another factor that is going to determine AGVA strategy is the degree of cooperation the union gets from the American Federation, of Musicians. AGVA will charge that musical acts are being used as one means of helping lock AGVA people out of the bistros. They’re waiting to see whether this will be the overall plan adopted by re- calcitrant owners before* making a heavy pitch to AFM -proxy James C. Petrillo. (See separate, story (Continued, on -page 86) .V-'.V.-. BILLY GILBERT * Currently OASIS CLUB Muncle, Indiana April 13 TRITON HOTEL nochatter, N. Y. - Penocai tianmement DAVID L. SHAPIRO AL 4-1077 For Night dubs — Mercury Artiito ■* -V. % i- THE CHORDS Instrumentalists without Instruments Dir.: GENERAL ARTISTS' CORF. C/oh Date Bookings by HARRY GREBEN 1 NAT DUNN , 203 N. Wabatfr Av«. I 1850 B'way Chl«#*, III. I ' Now Y*rk. . COMEDY MATERIAL For All Branches of Thentricots FUN-MASTER THF ORIGINAL SHOW-BIZ GAG-FILM ^<The *«rvlea of the STARS) First 13 filet $7.00^-AII 35 Usuas $25 Singly: 51.05 Each IN SEQUENCE ONLY Beginning with No. 1—No Skipping! • 3 Bks. PARODIES, par book. .*$10 • • MINSTREL BUDGET $25 • • 4 BLACKOUT BKS., oa. bk...$25 • • BLUE BOQR (Gags for Stags) $5$ • HOW TO MASTER THE CEREMONIES £L A £L.9 L £ s,,F,eD encyclopedia OF GAGS, $300. Worth ovar a thousand NO C.O.D.'t BILLY GLASON 200 W, 54Hi St., Now York 19-Dapt. V Circle 7-1130 Latest Comedy Material for MC’i* Magicians, Enter- tainer*. etc. Sen# for eur latest price list »f great ORIGINAL gagflles, mono- logs. dialogs. parodies, k-sklts, eto. Written -by show Mil* top gagmen. Or send 510 for $50 worth ef above. Money hack if nat sjitisfled. LAUGHS UNLIMITED 10$ W. 45 St., N. Y., N. Y. JU 2-0373 Is. Revokes license Of Gawron’s Funhouse Minneapolis, March 31. After John Gawron had pleaded guilty in Federal court to charges that he participated in’ a prostitu- tion ring which specialized, in ship- ping "young girls to Chicago to work in a swanky callhouse there and after V U. St. tax lien had named him as a co-proprifetor with his brother, Frank, of the Fun- house nitery, headquarters for the ring, the city council rescinded its action in granting the spot a re- newal of Its liquor and other licenses. The renewal had been granted after Frank Gawron testified be- fore the aldermen that his brother had been only an employee and was discharged after his run-in with the laW. It also was condi- tional upon shuttering of the sec- ond floor where the “fun” devices included one, common to amuse- ment parks, that blows up skirts as women patrons walk across it. Oregon’s Jigger Jag Preeras May 4 Portland, Ore., March 31. Oregon became a liquor-by-the- drink state at noon last Thursday (26), when Gov. Paul L. Patterson put his signature on the hill. The liquor control commission an- nounced that it would he May 4 be- fore the across-the-bar sale will start. It will take this much time to get the machinery in operation and to license the state’s 600 Jp 700 dispensers. Change of the state’s Wagner act had been on the ballot for a num- ber of years and always met with defeat. ‘Last year, however, hotels, restaurants and nitery owners got behind the change and Oregonians voted the change last November. Several big hassles took place at the state capitol in framing the bill. The Independent Night Club Operators appointed Ace nitery owner George Amato to represent them on capitol hill and he did sc bang-up job. At present liquor is purchased by the. bottle in state liquor stores. M&L to Play B’way Par At 50G Plus; Copa Date? .Hollywood, March 31. _ Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis have been signed for the Paramount Theatre, N. Y., for two weeks start- ing Aug. 26. Duo will be getting $50,000-weekly against a 70-30 split of the gate. Date will-be played immediately after their return from Europe, for which they em- bark June 3. While in New York, the team will probably be asked to play a stand at a later time at the Copa- cabana. They were originally slated for the Gothani cafe some time ago, but elected to pay off the face value of the contract, plus $10,000 advance that they obtained from the nitery. The $34,000 check, rep- resenting the debt and four weeks at $6,000, is still being held by boniface'' Jules Podell, uncashed. An attempt will be made to get them to honor the regional' commit- ment, Word-of-Mouth Builds Borge to 20G in Mont’l Montreal, March 31, Victor Borge’s one-man show at Her Majesty's last week wound up at a near $20,000 with 1,726-seater scaled to $3.38. Borge’s click in Montreal was due almost entirely to word-of- mouth. Despite good reviews in both English and French pjress, Borge was an unknown as far as localites were concerned and the idea of watchirtg a single for two and a„half hours failed to convince •theatre-goers, judging from the poor advance sale and the thin opening night attendance. However, with show talked up around town, Borge built to capac- ity from Wednesday night on. Jack Arthur, in charge of enter- tainment at the Canadian Nation- al Exhibition, Who has inked Borge to a. two-week contract for the CNE this August, -came down with film crix from Toronto to catch the show, -. Agencies Retrench Despite Good Biz in Act Dept; TV Causes Dip Heidt’s ‘American Way’ Troupe in N.Y. Showcase Pre-U.S. and Global Tour Horace Heidt and his 60-mem- ber musical-variety troupe start a- 10-week cross-country tour of one- nighters at Hartford, Conn., Easter Sunday (5). The junket will wind up June 15 at Richmond, Cal., so that the group can catch its breath before planing on a Government- approved world tour. The show Heidt is presenting, titled “The American Way,” had its New York preem last Wednesday (25) at Carnegie Hall, and essen- tially will be the one—deleting stateside localisms—that will be taken abroad for military base and foreign civilian consumption. Group is scheduled to start the in- ternational tour July 15, hitting [•the major U. S. bases abroad. Lucky Strike, Heidt’s sponsor, is footing the bill. The New York program was a fast-moving, colorful variety bill, with gal-dance production numbers and acts including accordionist Lou Prohut, trampoliner Olie Brien, fireeater-bicycle - trickster Wally Blair, pianist Conley Graves, the teeterboarding Hildens and singer Ralph Sigwald. - Dick Kerr, a clever comedy mimic on leave from the Air Force, wowed the aud with his song take- offs an several pop singers, with the stopper a satirical howler on Johnnie Ray. Kerr edges into his routine by assuming a naive pose and semi-literate falsetto voice. The solid takeoffs come as a surprise. Another standout was Betty Cole, a brunet warbler from Texas, who conceals a mike in the cleavage of her strapless ’ dress. Circus motif ties up the- second act .neatly. The pitch overseas will empha- size the rags-torfame leaps of Heidt’s youthful finds, prime ex- ample being Sigwald, three years ago a janitor: The talk will be translated in progress before for- eign audiences. Opening number, of gals in red-and-white-and-blue tights singing and legging “The American Way” while waving UN flags, will have to be changed for foreign civilian consumption. The GIs will like the girls, but for- eigners might get the wrong im- pression of what constitutes life in the U. S. A. - fr Dallas Doubler Dallas, March 31. .. Joe Bonds, Sky Club owner, heads a corporation taking over the shuttered Studio Lounge. In- timery, after renovation, opens April 15 as the Blue Lady, with acts but no customer dancing. Grind policy is skedded with talent rotating between Bonds’ two spots/ MPLS/ SEARS-ROEBUCK FOR BRISSON STAND ' • Minneapolis/March 31. New gimmick locally for a sup- per club is an advance mail and phone order sale for an attraction by the ..Hotel, Radisson Flame Room. Two weeks in advance of the en- gagement of a local cafe society favprite, Carl Brisson, hotel start- ed running, daily newspaper ads, announcing the by mail and phone approach. Brisson plays the spot April 9-29 in an annual stand. Palm Sunday Rain Offs A.C.; Prep Easter Bills Atlantic City, March .31. Overcast skies Which later brouglit light rain put a damper on Palm Sunday crowds. Resort hopes for better luck Etfster Sun- day, when crowds are supposed to give an inkling of the kind of sea- son in store. Preparations are being com- pleted to give the Easter Sunday crowds plenty of • entertainment. Hotels and niterles will offer spe- cial Easter Saturday night bar- gains and Steel Pier is opening for two days featuring Vaughn Mon- roe and his organization in the Marine Ballroom. -In the pier’s •principal theatre, Four Aces will top a vaude bill consisting of the Candy Carnival .-winners, Alan Carney, Mage & Karr, and Benny Meroff & Co. Pier also will offer two feature films. The Jewish Passover holiday which started on Monday (30) helped fill many of the oceanfront hotels. Rio’s Night & Day Prowl (or Names Jimmy Schure has been assigned the exclusive booking of the Night & Day club, Rio de Janeiro. Acts playing that spot will double into Rio radio and television stations. Recent legislation will enable acts to take U. S. dollars out of that country. Schure is now negotiating for some top names including Lena Horne. Operator of the nitery is Francisco M. Serradora. Relaxation of Brazilian ban on exporting the Yanqui dollaire doesn’t meari a return to the pre- war days when Brazil bought as many acts as possible at salaries that far eclipsed those prevailing in the U. S. at the time. The per- formers .were bought by the gam- ing casinos, which have been long outlawed in that country. | The annual economy kick of the 1 big agencies has come earlier than usual this year. Majors are acain looking for ways and means* of tightening the flow of coin out of the office and have already told personnel to go easy in okaying expenditures. The first result was made evi- dent at Music Corp. of America last week with the resignation of Harry Diner, of- the cafe depart- ment. He’s not being replaced and spots that Tie covered will be dis- tributed among the others in the nitery division. He had a com- paratively short run at that office having recently come down from Boston, where he was in charge. However, the unusual part of the current economy binge lies in the fact that the personal appearance field is more than holding its own The act departments are doing ex- cellent business. It’s probably the most active on the entire roster despite the fact that it’s not the most lucrative. The agencies are booking far in advance even though, in many cases, they’re do* ing so against their better judg- ment. However, they’re forced to operate that way because of boni- race pressure in attempting to in- sure a supply of good talent. Also, the overall income from the act division is topping those of last season in most cases. Reason lies in the click of an unprecedent- ed number of record names. The fast turnover in name values is (Continued on page 86). ARE YOU WORTH SI,000.00 PER? Is your unusual talen! paying off loss than you're worth? Wh«th#r the fault lies in: unsystematic publicity; un-dynamic routines; or, * ' - hit-and-miss connections — get your remedy NOW, ONJ^OFfTC^ tipflfyED ArtGT. OF THE UNIQUELY TALENTED PERFORMER ONLY. Art Before Age. A(is for Youl Box V-11220, VARIETY. 154 WEST 45th St.. NEW YORK 36, N. Y. Gobel’s Chi 8-Weeker Los Angeles, March 31. v Comedian George Gobel has been booked into the Empire Room of Ihe PKlmer House*. Chicago, Opening July 30 on an eight-week ticket wlthvtVri four-week options, Gobel/-'is currently, playing the Statler Hotel here at $1,000, Jas. Hart’s 20th Century Bally for 18th C. Room Chicago, March 31. The opening of the Beau Nash Room in the Ambassador East Hotel here last weekend was one of the most elaborate pr«ss and social_Junctions the W indy City has seen in recent years. Jimmy Hart, president of the inn, and Frank Bering, chairman of the board, hosted over 250 people^who flocked in from all over the coun- try to help hoopla the debut of the elaborate men’s grill. In addition, Mayor Alleyne W. S. Berry, mayor of Bath, England, and his spouse, were flown in to help lend an au- thentic touch. Arthur Godfrey, as Beau Nash, led the list of celebs who included John Cameron Swayze, Mac Kreindler of New York’s 21 Club, C. R. Smith, American Airlines prexy, and Jinx-Falkenburg, in ad- dition to the localites. After the .press opening Friday (28), which drew more than 200, the highlight of the three-day junket was the reprise of the 18th century luncheon according to English authorities. About 25 men replete with *knee britches and powdered wigs sat down to dine' on such mundane items (then) as baked grouse in clay, roast Corn- ish Game hen, roast partridge, roast venison, stewed oysters with buttered whitihg and port plum pud'ding with wine sauce. Potables were ale- and stout. For a crowning touch a pigeon pot pie was'-'brought in, which' when opened, six white pigeons were re- reieased and the entire assemblage took to the nets to catch the birds. Most of the feathered friends nestled in the wigs of the gentle- men. » Later that night, after the men had recovered from the afternoon sports, a black tie affair ended the celebration. Life-covered the event, which has been estimated to have cost the hosts more than $15,000. BOB (Bobby) ROLLINS Now Playing MINNEAPOLIS Apr. 4 to Apr. 12 Thanks to WILLIAM SHILLING .145 Watt 44th Street Naw York City . and ELLIS ' ROMANCE IN SONG -ATLANTA BILTMORE HOTEL Atlanta, Georgia (April 3rd-April 25th) Byron and Margaret Ann TALBOT Currently ROOSEVELT HOTE Now Orleans, La. Thanks TOM MARTIN G.A.C. FOSTER AGENCY, LONDON, presents Currently ■ LE LIDO, PARIS American Rep.r>WM. MORRIS AGENCY TAVEL MAROUANI AGENCY PARIS WHEN IN BOSTON It's the HOTEL AVERY Avery A Washington Sts. . the Heme of Show Folk