Variety (April 1953)

86 VACTMETUXK P&i:rEf? Wednesday, April 1 , 1953 LQ Unit’s 6-Wb. Record in Vegas Latin Quarter shows are set to j have lengthy routings. LaS’Out that j recently closed at the Miami Beach edition of the club has been booked at the Desert Inn, Las Vegas, where it is now in an engagement that will last six weeks.. This Is the longest time that any unit has been allotted in that cafe. Fol- lowing the Vegas run, unit moves to New York, where it will open around the end of May. Current LQ show will open at the Casino de Paris of Tahoe Vil- lage, Lake Tahoe, Nev., in June and will run there until Labor Day. Lou Walters, who operates both Latin Quarters, will again run the dining room of the Tahoe spot. Agencies Retrench Continued from page 84 keeping the percenters hopping. In addition, the strawhat season is now being plotted and the agen- cies are busy preparing lists and packages. The Teason for the economy kick lies in the summer diminuendo .‘n mechanical media. All the agen- cies' N. Y. operations are oriented to video now, and if sponsors fail to spend heavy coin on summer replacements, a major share of business goes down the drain. Even If the office comes through with a lot of film replacements, the in- come isn’t as heavy since the sta- tions aren’t going to invest in the choice, expensive celluloid when video viewing diminishes. DONALD RICHARDS Star of "THERE'S MUSIC IN THE AIR" FRIDAYS, CBS RADIO NETWORK, 9-10 P.M., EST Personal Mgt. DAVlb L. SHAPIRO AL 4-J077 Philly Cafemen Grapple With Union Performers On Return to 2 Spots Philadelphia, March 1. The Club Owners Assn, of Greater Philadelphia held a meet- ing at Lulu Temple here yesterday (Monday) in an atmosphere as quiet as magnified bedlam. Cafe- men attempted to explain to American Guild of Variety Artists’ members what was going on. Or- ganization, sffi affiliate of the The- atre Restaurant Owners Assn., had invited acts to return to the Rath- skeller and the Celebrity Club, from which AGVA pulled its shows on the ground that these spots had inadequate bond. Dick Jones, AGVA eastern re- gional director, and Joe Campo, AGVA national board member, both took the floor to denounce the action of the operators. Harangue continued on both sidqs when questions were flung at both club owners and the AGVA reps. Meeting had no immediate result in getting performers back to the pulled spots. George A. Hamid, Sr., of the Hamid agency, and operator of the Steel Pier, Atlantic City, together with TROA executive secretary, Dave Fqx, pleaded for the right of the operator to sit down and ne- gotiate with the union, instead what they described as the present method of drawing- up a set of terms and presenting them to the cafemen on threat of a walkout. Jones reminded the meeting that the operators promised the union that they could guarantee $500,000 to the welfare fund and then dared the ops to post, $100,- 000 against the promised payment, and open negotiations thereafter. Ops countered that this propo- sition was tantamount to “pur- chasing negotiations.” YOU CAN "IMITATE" ANY STAR! Read "GET INTO THE ACT!" Complete with 33 "Show-How" Photos PLUS—Five (5) ORIGINAL MIMIC ROUTINES ★ ONLY $1.00 POSTPAID i ENCORE PUBLICATIONS rC Dept. V—267 S. 10th St., Phild. 7, Pa. Philly Cafes Continued from page 82 LEW BLACK end PAT DUNDEE (Beauty and the Least) . A new note In Glamor Comedy GERBER-WEISS AGENCY 1697 Broadway,N.Y. Club Datei NAT DUNN JACK DENTON WORLD'S GREATEST COMEDIAN (APRIL FOOL). C/O IRVING CHARNOFF HIP BROADWAY, NEW YORK CITY bers had pledged if show were yanked at one ‘Spot all would drop entertainers. Spots refusing Jo let performers take the floor Saturday night were Barton Show Bar, Black Cat, Cata- lina Show Bar, Carroll’s, Celebrity Room, Cabana, Cumberland, Ha- waiian Cottage, Kay Karlton Room, Knotty Bar,* Pacey’s; Rendezvous, Powelton Cafe, Lou’s Moravian, Murray’s Inn, Rathskeller, Lynne- wood Bar, Boulevard, Gay Time, Golden Bar, Club Chateau, Little Spot, Star Dust and Ciro’s. Substitutions Prevalence of musical acts in show spots left many places undis- turbed and musicians were hastily substituted where shows ■ were dropped. Unusual feature of cafe action was membership’s vote to permit Latin Casino, town’s largest nitery, to continue floor policy be- cause of costly contractual obliga- tions. Latin Casino is currently playing Billy Daniels and has name acts signed until late in spring. Excep- tion of Latin, however, was given as reason by several member clubs for their own failure to cancel shows. Two-column ad in Monday morn- ing Inquirer, headed, “Attention! All AGVA Members,” was call to a mass meeting at LulU Temple Mon- day afternoon. Ad was placed by cafe groups to permit nitery own- ers to explain their position to acts. Principal cause of Contention here is union’s minimum basic agreement with its demands for the ^yelfare and insurance fund, along with a change of the present oper- ator-artist relationship to that of employer-employee status. Nitery men here believe latter switch would make them liable for social security, city wage tax, unemploy- ment tariffs and other levies. Carrying fight to newspapers and announcement of loss of shows have had deleterious effect on biz, with cafes already suffering from Lenten layoff. Cafe owners swung into line to show solidarity, but public read news as “no shows” and absence on Friday and Satur* day nights was reflected in tills. SIBYL BOWAN Thank Yon kindly JIMMY GRADY BRITISH COLONIAL HOTEL NASSAU Bill Green’s Still Pushing In Pitt as Expiration Nears Pittsburgh, March 31. Bill Green’s, which will expire any day now as a nitery, is operat- ing v on a week-to-week basis and plans to bring in a*s many names as, time permits. First of the spring parade is Dolores Hawkins, who comes in Saturday (4) for nine days following her engagement at the Copa in New York with Danny Thomas. Green’s, can’t book too far ahead since it’s skedded to come' down '-at a moment’s notice to make way for a big shopping centre. At first it was figured that tomorrow (Wed.) would* be the deadline, but construction of centre has* been slowed, allowing for some grace. In the new building going up, Green has been ticketed for a bar- lounge restaurant but no nitery. ‘Follow the Girls’ Legiter to Get Slicing. For Flamingo, Vegas Chicago, March 31. Tab edition of “Follow the Girls” will hit the bistro circuits June 11 at the Flamingo, Las Vegas. Willie Shore will take over the role of the male comic and Sammy Lewis, pro- ducer of the capsule, is seeldng either Janis Paige or Rose Marie for the femme lead. Original show, with Gertrude Niesen as the lead, opened on Broadway in May, 1944, and ran for more than two years there and on the road. Night Club Reviews Continued from l>age 31 Post Holy Week Continued from page 84 from Chicago on Petrillo’s letter to bookers.) In. Baltimore, most of the cafes that dropped AGVA shows were the occupants of “strip row,” where peeler-parlors . abound. In this respect, TROA has promised that the Cafe Owners of ^Chicago, an organization having a working arrangement but no actual affilia- tion with TROA, will come to the aid of the Balto bistros by sending out strippers from the Windy City. There’s been one change in TROA strategy so far. Originally the cafemen intended‘to post a no-, tice in all TROA-member cafes stating that the spot would no longer recognize AGVA as the bar- gaining agent for the performers. So far this hasn’t been done. In- stead, the cafemen have posted in all bulletin boards a plea to per- formers to urge AGVA to sit down and negotiate with the owners on the question of the welfare fund. The only known police action as a result of the AGVA-TROA tiff came in Baltimore, where Vince Iannone, accompanied by Jack So- mers, both AGVA organizers, was forcibly ejected from the Club Ambassador Sunday (29), charged with creating- a disturbance. He was jugged for three hours and released on bail Monday (30). Latin QnarAer, Boston Brooks on strength of one disclick, j “Hello Sunshine,” Latin Quarter 1 boniface “Rocky” Palladino has at- tempted a repeat with the Gay- lords, but indications are that ex- periment will not pay off this time. Although the L»oys are currently riding the Mercury disk,* “Tell Me You're Mine," which has done : well hereabouts, it’s definitely on the wane and new etchings have so far failed to make any appreciable impression. Main deficiency apparently stems from fact that group, con- sisting of three boys, one doubling on piano and another bass, re- cently lost one of its members and Buddy Greco, a solid performer, who replaced, has not as yet hit upon formula to click with nitery patrons. However, his presence gives the group a lift. Spotlighted sans Greco, the Gaylords vocalize a variety $ongs, none of which is outstanding enough to warrant solid reaction with the exception of their trademark platter. Inser- tion of Victor Borge’s “phonetic punctuation” bit by one of group is poorly handled and incongruous, resulting in mild customer* reac- tion. ' ' ( Greco, although a youngster, has been arotmd for some time and his solo songology, including his w.k. “It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie," scores nicely with ringSiders. At show caught however, guy bypassed 88- ing except for closer, “I’m Through With Love,” a defection that could be corrected for better results. Joining the group for windup, Greco inserts needed showman- ship, pacing boys through “Ain’t She Pretty,” “That’s My Desire” and ‘‘Lonesome Road,” the latter accompanied by rhythmical hand- clapping of audience. x Bill opens with the Sanfords, a nifty terp duo starting with a' snap- py offering. Team showcases grace- ful terping highlighted by male partner holding femme overhead while executing twists. Bob Conrad Dancers continue with basically same productions numbers they've been doing for about a month, although currently tightened for slicker results. Char- lie Wolke crew showbacks neatly and splits customer terping with Zarde Bros, group. Elie. Saranac Lake By Happy Benway Saranac Lake; N.Y., March 31, Charles (Chick) Lewis, exec vn Of the V:C. Will Rogers HospitS* in from Gotham for the quarterlv inspection tour with the hospital staff here. He extended the usual homespun greetings to the pa- tients that packed a mess of tonic for the ailing gang. Kenneth Wadleigh, former own- er of Wadleigh Theatre Supply Co., Concord, N.H., a new arrival here anfl received his first top clinic. . ■ . .. The John Van Bjirens in from N.Y. for a surprise visit with their son, Ray (IATSE) Van Buren, who is skedded for major surgery, a family banquet celebrating his birthday was held atlDon’s Melody Lounge*and emceed by our own Eddie Vogt. Morris Dworski, research spe- cialist at the V.C. hospital, has added Forrest (Slim) Glenn to his laboratory as an assistant, while Dr. Homer McCreary is assisted by Eddie Vogt in our X-ray lab. Birthday greetings are in order for Frank Walters and Pegev McCarthy. , This would be a very nice holi- day gesture, a letter of good cheer or a getwell card to any of the following patients who are strictly in bed: Murray (& Burns) Kisseri, Frank Walters, Oscar Price, John- ny Lake, and A1 Brandt. Write to those who are ill. Artist and Writers Restaurant, Inc., chartered to conduct business in New York. Capital stock is 200 shares, no par value. Irving Fox, N.Y., is a director and filing at- torney. ■■■» I Balto Bonifaces Continued from page 82 mated that 80% have expressed willingness to continue* without AGVA contracts. If new contract is negotiated, it is understood that these girls will be reinstated as members in gqod standing. Musical acts or non-union talent will re- place AGVA members who hold on to their cards. •Block’ of Granite “The Block,” Baltimore’s famed city block of strictly femme show spots, is untouched by union dis- pute. Girls working there are vir- tually all non-union talent with many doubling as waitresses and barmaids. Sole spot still playing. AGVA acts is the Chanticleer. Owner, Curly Miller, expects to replace present burley type show with headliners early next month and will play strictly*AGVA talent. Ban oft AGVA entertainers .fig- ures to have, little effect on-this TV-mesmerized town. Business has been way off from recent years lately but publicity dispute is get- ting in local dailies and could pos- sibly help sagging returns.' Marilyn Maxwell has signed William Loeb as her personal man- ager. William Morris Agency will continue to book the actress-singer. £1 Rancho, Las Yogas Las Vegas, March 25. Guy Lombardo Orch (14), with Carmen , Liebert and Victor Lom- bardo, Kenny Gardner, Kenny Mar- tin, Bill Flannigan, Cliff Grass, Lombardo Trio, Twin Pianos; Johnny O’Brien, Evans Family (4); no. cover or minimum. Booking name bands for head- lining Vegas niteries is rare, and occasionally doesn’t pay off as well as usual procedure of slotting name acts. In the case of Guy Lombardo dhd *’ “reVue,” however, biz will inundate maitre d’Albert for the two frames with ropes likely to be strung across tlie door. Lombardo has a terrif appeal to all manner and variety of visiting firemen and firewqmen. Suave and smooth, maestro Guy downbeats his tootlers in the w.k. saccharine tunes he has trade- marked for many years. Audiences lap up everything. Unusually long period of band numbers kicks off procedings, introing collection of vocalists and instrumentalists. Chief warbler is Kenny Gard- ner, who handles ballads and novelties neatly. Also parading the pipes* are Henny Martin, Cliff Grass, Lombardo Trio centered by Carmen Lombardo. Instrumentally, Twin Pianos stroke “Humoresque," and Bill Flannigan doubles from vocalistics to picking out “Third Man Theme” on guitar. Good pre- cision work is noted from all sec- tions. Lombardo has his crew well disciplined. Johnny O’Brien hits for healthy yocks from start to finish, .trotting out cornball humor, gimmicking a phrase, “It’s possible,” for clinch- ers. Harmonica blowing takes second place to his humor, but he also registers okay in this depart- ment, reeding “Four Leaf Clover,” combined “Poet & Peasant” and movement from “Orpheus.” Closes layout in fine fashion before Lom- bardo segues into medley set for dansapators. Evans Family toss the nostalgia gong around with hoofing exer- cises by brother and sister, then step aside for contrasting steps by mother and father. Melissa Evans has chief turn with her fan kicks and on-the-floor contortions before entire family returns for hoofing bowoff. Will.* • -a TERRI STEVENS “Received a great many compliments on the ar- tistry and excellent performances of Mtji .Tetri Stevens while playing our Raleigh Room. Locking forward to a return engagement.”. . . Erwin H. Sehlicht, Raleigh Room, Warwick Hotel, New York. Currently in Philadelphia STAR MANAGEMENT 846 7th Ave., New York BAside 4-0918 Sensational Singing Duo CASS MONICA FRANKLIN and LANE Currently CHEZ PAREE, Chicago Just Concluded r ROOSEVELT HOTEL, N. O. Opening LATIN QUARTER, n. Y. May 15 Pert. Mgt.: Antro Amusements, Inc. JAY MARSHALL 1953 EASTER PARADE Management: ARCHBISHOP LEDDY and FATHER NEWMAN SENSATIONAL DANCE ACT (THE VALENTINO WHIP) WESTERLY and GAIL Dir.: PHIL BUSH 1650 Broadway, N. Y. C. . JU 6-2313