Variety (October 1953)

Wednesday, October 28, 1953 V.I1DEVILLR 49 More Beefs Heard From Vauders On Kickbacks to Agents for TV Dates Both American Guild of Variety ♦ Artists and American Federation of Television-Radio Artists are grow- ing more concerned over the in- creasing number of complaints of kickbacks being demanded by a tew agents booking specialty acts <>n television shows. Complaints have mostly been in the form of anonymous letters; and .the few performers who have made verbal charges have been unwilling to sign an affidavit to let the unions take action. Usual reason for not sinning a complaint is a fear of Blacklisting by all bookers of TV dates. Kickback accusations have come from every major originating cen- t«-r—N. Y., Philly, Chi and L A.— on medium and high-budgeted local shows as well as web offer- ings. Most common form of kickback i«. lor the booker to make the act sign an lOU for upwards of $60. payable in cash when the act is mded the check for perlormance on the show. Union execs are mystified as to why acts would submit to such extortion in light of the scrap the union members put up to get the specialty act classifi- cation into the new AFTRA rates. An AFTRA spokesman believes the willingness to work under scale- may be the specialty acts’ un- familiarity with union minimum rates. (One act. when told by the producer that the show pays only scale, said he and his partners would not work for scale—and demanded $400 for the date. He was startled when the producer told him $450 was union minimum lor the four-man act.t Local rates lor a single are $152 in N. Y., $135 in Chi, and $82.50 in’ L A., with various amounts for each additional member of the act. Network scale is $225 for a single, and $112.50 for each additional performer. AFTRA and AGVA are doing some extensive sleuthing in a con- certed effort to trap the bookers who are suspect. Union retaliation would involve defranchisement. Federal rap is in the cards, too. on income tax evasion charges should the kickbacks be proved and not decla red. Girl Reporter Shocked By Midway Femme Show Tent Greensboro. N. C.. Oct. 27. A girl show, “La Vie Farce.’’ on the midway at the North Carolina State Fair, was closed after Deputy Sheriff Wiley Jones received a re- port from a girl newspaper report- er that the show was “vulgar and filthy.” Jones said that immediately upon receiving the report, he contacted James E. Strates, proprietor of the midway, and Strates promptly or- dered the show to close. Jones said he also reported the incident to Dr. J. S. Dorton, manager of the fair, who told Jones that if the show was allowed to reopen, he (Dorton) would direct a member of the Raleigh Civitan Club to keep a close watch on the performances. The Civitans serve as ticket takers on all shows and rides on the fair midway. The deputy sheriff said he had this, and all other shows on the fairgrounds, checked on the open- ing day of the fair. ICE FOLLIES’ HOT 120G FOR WEEK IN DENVER Dencer, Oct. 27. Shipstads' & Johnson's "Ice Fol- licv of ’M ” r an the gross for seven nights and two matinees to a rec- ord $120,000 at the 7.900-seat Coli- seum, with scale from $1.50 to $3 50 The Saturday night played to standing room, with 8,733 at- tending. The fact that only two ice shows are making Denver this year con- tributed substantially to the fine business "Ice Capades” will be here in April. Irving, Jones Seen in Major, Subrosa Battle for Control of Talent Union Weather Lops Off Dallas Fair Mark; Merman RECITAL ANGLE SNARLS ‘HIMBERAMA’ N.Y. DATE Union difficulties plus differing interpretation of the meaning of "recital” is likely to force Richard Himber to call off “Himberama” slated for Town Hall, N. Y.. this Saturday (31). Town Hall execs, viewing a rehearsal, decided that a bit with Henny Youngman definite- 1> didn't fall into the category of a magic recital, which Himber is (ailing the layout. Himber subse- quently promised to take out the bit. However, Himber yesterday ' l ues, i received a registered letter from the Hall notifying him that the show as it was projected didn’t qualify as a recital, and a perform- ance at Town Hall would definitely jeopardize the spot’s license. Re- citals only can be pertormed there, according to its permit. Shortly after the letter came, Himber was notified by the Asso- ciation of Theatrical Pressagcnts & Managers that Town Hall is on their unfair list and the shindig would be picketed. It was also in- dicated that Himber would endan- ger his membership in the Ameri- can Federation of Musicians if he would cross the ATPAM picket hoe. He’s also a bandleader. Himber is going to confer with attorneys today (Wed.) Hut there's little possibility that he'll he able t" put on his magic recital there. Arden, Fletcher Reunite For Line Producing Donn Arden and Ron Fletcher lane reunited as a line-producing •‘'Jim. Duo will work on the Mou- 1 n Rouge, Hollywood, which opens Christinas Day\ It’s the oul Karl C o’roll spot and has been taken r by Frank Sennes. Cleveland looker, w ho will rcpi'c*eni ah operating syndicate which includes Liibur Clark, Desert Inn Las ^ egas bonifate. Arden and Fletcher had been iiparated lot more than a year. Dallas. Oct. 27. Weather kept State Fair of Texas from its 11th consecutive attend- ance record as the annual 16-day expo wound up Sunday (25) with a total of 2.382.712 visitors roaming the 187-acre fairgrounds, but short of last year's record 2.387.140. Closing day »25) attendance was marred by rain, causing officials to cancel the third annual Cotton Bowl religious festival, on which a new gate record hinged. Rcligioso in 1952 drew 30.000. Also, welcome rain in fhis drought-stricken area fell on the expo Thursday and Fri- day (22-23', slowing attendance. “The Ethel Merman Show,” after 24 performances in State Fair Auditorium showed a net of $207.- 000 from 8.520 payees. With Miss Merman in for a $50,000 fee and a total nut of $152,000, fair took a neat profit on the seven-act variety show, produced and staged by Charles R. Meeker Jr., expo’s vee- pee-assistant general manager. “Ice Cycles of 1954.” in for its ninth straight season with 23 shows at $3.30 top, pulled a 114.400 at- tendance. shy of 1952’s best sea- son. which drew 121,700 to the blade shows in the Ice Arena. "Darning Waters,” aqua show which built in attendance after a slow start, continues its grind pol- icy on the expo grounds this week. Tented water works got a hefty $15,000 gate in its first eight days here. Aut Swenson’s Thrillcade again got good biz throughout in the 5.000-seat grandstand. Motorized daredevil shows lured 49,000 in 23 performances scaled to $2 top Clif Wilson, with 16 midway shows, reported good biz for the run, in spite of the “cleanup, no strip” policy for his two girlie shows. After a slow start, his “Folies Bergore” prime tent at- traction and Pete Kortes* Circus Side Show, featuring Jess Willard, ex-heavyweight champion, in per- son, ran neck and neck for gate honors among the Wilson midway tenters. Cuffo Cotton Bowl show Tues- day '20) drew 25.000 fans to hear Gordon Mac Hae* and danc ing Apache Belles from Tyler, lex., Junior College. Nitery Biz Is Off Despite Bookings Talent agencies are greatly dis- turbed by an unusual condition which has the offices doing a tre- mendous volume of cafe hookings, while the spots are complaining that business is at an extremely low ebb Date diggers confidential- ly feel that the heavy hooking load i* a result of a time lag that gen- erally comes before a business slump In virtually every important olfiee the standard remark is. "Our business is great but the cafes are doing badly.” # Agency execs know that it's a matter of time before the had nitery biz catches up with the agency, and then they’ll be hit heavily. Consequently, they’re try- ing to forestall what may be an impending crisis. Outside of Las Vegas and New York, nitery business is way below par. Bonifaces are especially wor- ried, since October is generally one of the best months of the year for cafes. Therefore the outlook is par- ticularly bleak, as the Christmas shopping season is due in a little more than a month. The offices have been asking tal- ent to go into many spots at re- duced prices, and are asking them not to impose too onerous condi- tions on an owner. Agents are also scouting around for angles to help individual operators. Brit. Variety Theatres Won’t Be Hurt by Com’l Video, Says Foster The variety theatres will not be harmed when commercial televi- sion comes to England, according to Harry Foster, head of the Foster Agency, London, who arrived this week from England for a talent gandering tour. Foster stated that because the advertising agencies in England have stated that they will leave control of commercial tele- vision to the British television in- dustry. there will not be the great necessity to book tremendous names at terrific costs. Under those conditions, according to Foster, the British Broadcasting Corp. will not devise a terrific layout of shows that would harm British variety and legit. Recently, the Incorporated So- ciety of Practitioners of Advertis- ing. a central organization of agen- cies. announced that they would not be interested in packaging tele- vision shows for programs that they might be buying on commer- cial video. Purpose was to permit BBC’ to retain all phases of pro- gramming. At the same time, it showed to the BBC the intentions • Continued on page 52) -♦ Haymes Gets Ultimatum On Arrangers’ Fees Due Houston, Oct 27. American Federation ot Musi- cians has given Dick Haymes. ling- er who appeared here at the Sham- rock Hotel, an ultimatum to pay $847.73 to four arrange! s. or be put on the unfair list. Haymes. who owes about $100.- 000 in bal k income taxes and per- sonal detyts, stated that lie owed the money to Vernon Yocum. Lou Ray mond Nelson Riddle and Alex Heller foil arrangements and copy- ing scons. Singer said that he would ap >eal to the Internal Reve- nue Rureriu to let linn keep enough out of his luturc salaries to p^the musicians. Chi Op Group In Claimed Threats On AGVA Ties Chicago. Oct 27 it’s claimed that a small clan of Chi nitery operators are intimidat- ing other ops, agents and perform- ers into opposing the American Guild of Variety Artists here. Their pressuring reportedly began to reveal itself when AGVA em- barked on its campaign to clean up the Calumet City clubs Ernie Fast, midwest director for the guild, indicated that AGVA mem- bers working in the cafes there were being threatened by the ops to fall in line with their policies or never be allowed to play a mid- western date again Fast said he knew that many bonifaees who are resisting AGVA are doing so because they fear the wrath of the group to which they belong, and lie said that many were willing to he franchised by AGVA if the union would keep the step secret. In his campaign, Fast is attempt- ing to recruit help from Cal City Mayor Stanley E Bejgcr. who scored an upset in last April’s city elections with a program to close the joints and c lean up the town s notorious State St The AGVA rep met with the mayor and the chief of police last week and was prom- ised aicL only if he had actual testimony in writing from per- formers w fio would admit that un- clean and illicit practices were be- ing carried on in Cal City cafes. Fast declined to solicit signed affi- davits from guild members, be- cause he did not want to put them on the spot as "squealers." He said that gals who had supported AGVA in the past were not put 1o work elsewhere. A major struggle for power la now taking place between the New York and national offices of the American Guild of Variety Artists. Stake is the top administrative spot. The behind-the-scenes hassle between Jack Irving, national ad- ministrative secretary, and Dick Jones, who was recently appointed eastern regional director and is head of the N. Y. branch, is so intense that the Coast division’* dream of being the central olMco of the union has no chance at the moment, unless both major protag- onists knock each other out. The jockeying between Irving and Jones started at the national hoard meeting held last week. At- tempts at enlisting the aid of indi- vidual hoard members in the event of a showdown have been made, and is likely to continue on a sub- rosa basis until one feels that he’s in a position to take on the other openly. Emergence of Jones as a factor in the national AGVA scene comes with his aggressive work in Phila- ndetphia and New York in getting cafes to sign minimum basic agree- ments. In hot)) towns, lie was able to get virtually ail the terms de- manded by AGVA. He has been able to get rolling in the N. Y. area because of hardhitting tactics and a well timed offensive. On the other hand. Irving is able to take c redit for bringing in Jones from Philadelphia, where he was branch manager. And the fact that he deliberately brought in strong organizing talent will prob- ably rebound to his credit. How- ever, Irving knows that permitting Jones to grow stronger ultimately will put the latter in a position where the board may change the top personnel. Jones has had a checkered ca- (Continued on page 50) India in Bistros Hollywood, Oct 27. Coast-'to-coast nitery tour is be- ing set up for India Adams, chii p whose voice has been featured in two films. She opens Friday '30) at Tops, San Diego. Mi*-* Adam*- was the \oi<e of Joan Crawford in "Torch Song” and of t’yd C’harisse in "Band Wagon.” She gets credit in the M-G-M Records album of Walter Gross tune* Iron "forth Song. HUTTON STRONG 44G FOR 2D PALACE WEEK Second week of Betty Hutton’s two-a-dayer at the RKO Palace. N. Y . produced a strong $44,400. a small chop from Ihe $46,400 of the opening week. It’s still to he determined how long thi* bill will stay at the house, An unusual hpenoPhennn of this program lie s in the small advance, hut heavy window sale, jirt before showtime. In some instances, the house goes clean. Some of the, surrounding talent have slarted to make commitment*, for example. comedian Dick Shawn j* set for the Sahara Las Vega* Start of that dale will de- pend cm closing of the show at the palace Others on the bill arc Char live 1 Trio. Los Chavale* do E*pana, Shy ret t os, Hil & Cora , baud and the Skylaiks. WILLIE SHORE TRIBUTE AT CHI’S CHEZ NOV. 9 Chicago. Oct 27. Friends of the late Willie Shore will pay tribute to the Windy City comedian at the Chez Paree Nov. J 9 at a midnight show that will f*a ture topdrawer names in show business. Chez i* eontiihuting its facilities for the night, with reser- vations going at $25 per person. Funds are being turned over to a Willie Shore memorial, ihe purpose of which will he determined by a group of Shore * close*! associate*. Superior Court Judge Abraham L. Marovitz, longtime friend of Hi * comedian, and Ai.* Horde, hi* manager foi 15 year*, arc- spun 1 br- ing the event. ‘Show’ $21,590, Detroit Det i oil (>• t 27 "Biggest Show of 1953 with Nat «Kmgi Cede gro*-*ed $21,590 at the 10 000 *eat Olympia Satin day '24'. Top was $3 60. It grossed $8 500 at the 4 999- «.eaf Ima Auditorium, Flint, wilh top at $3.60. National Vaudeville Arti*ts hold- ing it* annual hall arid dance Friday (30) at Hu Capitol Until, | N.Y. AMES BROS. IN MIDDLE OF Pin NITERY SNAFU Pittsburgh, Oct. 27. Plenty of local nitery headaches over the Ames Bros last week, and MCA came out of it with a lot of ill feelings from Horizon Room, nitery operated by Andy Chakeras at Greater Pittsburgh Airport. It all started when Ameses were hooked for Horizon Room next week, after which MCA wanted to know if it would he ail rigid with Chakeras if act played Ihe previous week <1his week) at Twin Coaches, another Pitt nitery although located 25 miles from downtown. Chakeras said he didn’t think it was fair of hooking office to pull that on him and objected At that point, MCA asked him to release Ames Bros, altogether because a Paramount Theatre, N. Y., hook- ing had opened up for them in the meantime. Which Chakeras did. He was to burn plenty shortly after, however, upon learning that the singing quartet had been sold to Twin Coaches to open yesterday (Mon.). MCA said it was because they knew Chakeras had already been hooked for this week and couldn't play the Ameses anyway. Turn’s previous hookings in Pitt have been at Twin Coaches, anil Hus was to have been their Horizon Room dehut. N’Orleans Nitery Folds When License Is Lifted New Orleans Oct. 27 'J lie stale hoard of tax appeals revoked the alcoholic beverage li- cense of the Torch Club, Fie nr hi Quarter nitery. Fadeout of Hie spot Friday night '23) came a* a result of a healing before Hie hoard. Leva Vida Britt Bradley was charged on three counts Lewd, immoral and irnprope.i entertain- ment, permitting B drinking, and giving incomplete information on tier application for the Peer and whiskey permit Action of the* hoard automatically cancels rill liquor permits. The c ity of New Oilcan* file cl tin* charges. By state law Ihe f« r- ruit will he revoked not only tor | Ihe Bradley woman, hut -for Hie site c f t the Torch Club, too, for one iy car.