Variety (October 1954)

70 VAUDEVILLE P^RIETY Wednesday, October 27,- 1054 Podell’s Gopa Miami Beach,. Get; 26: The operations of two of the major iteries here problem- atical this The Beach- comber and Clover Club, two of the major talent buyers in the area, are still mulling the big question of whether to open arid with what kind of. talent, Norman Schuyler, Beachcomber operator, is ailing and would, like to take it. easy. Problem is whether to get someone to lease .the spot or find a skilled general-manager who knows the business. He’s re- ported to have Offered the spot to Alan Gale, now functioning in New York. So far, there’s no deci- sion. Schuyler is also trying to de? fermine just what kind of names are available arid if he could get enough top talent to make a run. It’s reported that he has been after Betty HUtton with a $20,000 offer. So far, he’s been told that Miss MEMO from I'm very happy to report that I'll be singing at The. CASINO THEATRE in TORONTO, week of Oct, 28th. (Toronto Papers please cover) ; * . Week of Nov. 8th, BRADFORD HOTEL, in Dear OLD BOSTON, I'm very glad to get back to Bos- ton and ail these nice SPOTS . . . Here's hoping I'll be singl- ing for you soon in your SPOToo ., Direction: FIALKOFF r A SSOCIATE S 1560 Broadway, New York 36, N.Y. JUdton 2-4037-8-9 MISS "Chants With a Chuckle" Held Over, AGAIN and AGAIN LAKE CLUB Springfield, III. (Thanks HUGO, HAROLD and PAUL) Dir.; JIMMIE HUSSON AGENCY 119 W. 57th St., New York COMEDY ACTS 5 different acts. Can be used .anywhere. AM for $3. An Introduction to the most helpful writing service In the Held of entertainment. A. GUY VISK Writing Enter 196 Hill Street “Creators of Hutton plans, to retire following h. current Las Vegas stand. Jack Goldman, Glover Club top- per, is making no bid for names, lie’s running with a burley policy.. Sherry Britton is his current lure and Kalantan is booked for Oct. 31. Goldman,, it’s reported, would Tike to sell out and devote all. his time to operations in Las Vegas, The two .major Beach cafes, then, may be Gopa: City, for which operator Murray Weinger try- ing to get a, parcel of names, and Ciro’s. Latter’s Red Pollack is cur- rently conferring with the talent agencies for headliners. However, it’s recognized that even two niteries can start a full- scale price War, which would in- crease talent budgets to the break- ing point. The competition from the hotels will also be consider- able. Consequently, 1 it’s evident that the Florida spots Will still be forced to spend money for talent, on a level with that of previous years. Whether grosses Will justify such .expenditures cannot yet be determined, although Miami Beach just concluded one of its best summer’s’ in history. SEGUES TO MIAMI TV Pittsburgh, Oct. 26. George DeWitt, nitery comic who played the Ankara here the last two weeks, is pulling out of cafe cir- culation shortly, except within Florida commuting distance, to launch his own tv shows on WTVJ iri Miami- Beginning Dec. 6, De- Witt will be on twice a day Mon- day through Friday, for . half an hour in the daytime and 15 min- utes, which may later be doubled, at night. DeWitt tested the Miami tele- vision atmosphere during the sum- mer as a warm-weather replace- ment on WTVJ and liked it so well he decided to make the deal permanent when an offer came his way.. He’s moving to Miami bag arid baggage with his wife and two children. They’ve already bought a home there, and DeWitt plans to concentrate mostly on club dates which won’t interfere, with his video commitments. “ Continued from i-age 58 Dance-Stager Sues MCA, El Rancho Vegas on Pact Las Vegas, Get. 26. Gene Summers, leader of a dance troupe, filed suit for $17,505 in District Court against Music Corp. of America and El Rancho Vegas, charging "threats and coercion” to reduce her price on a contract. Complaint declared she had a | contract with MCA to stage dances at the hotel for five weeks at $2,350 per. week but El Rancho refused to sign it She contends that MCA made a false representation dr the hotel broke a contract. She wants, $10,000 damages arid $7,050 for loss of wages. CAB CALLOWAY NOW-NINTH WEEK HOTEL SAHARA LAS VEGAS Mgt. BILL MITTLER, 1619 Broadway. New York to virtually no returns, but it hasn’t happened to them since the Copa took them in; Joe E, Lewis has made this spot his New York home. He had achieved a reputation of sonie de- gree in show business. He had to . supplement his cafe dates with stands at vaude houses; .Loew's State was one of his regular stands. He made the, vaude circuits regu- larly but he hasn’t bothered much with theatres since he played the Copacabaria. Niteries, where he shows up to much better advan- tage, .have been taking: up. all his available time. Sid Caesar, Hayes Sc Healy Sid Caesar got his first major showing in New York at the E: 60th St. spot just after his discharge from service- Copa audiences also decreed that Peter Lind Hayes and iris, wife Mary Healy, should be among those at the top. Kitty Kalleri scored her first -major hit there. Some performers, were ..originally developed elsewhere,, byt the Copa. brought out their: full potential, This applies to Frank Sinatra, Dan- ny Thomas, Lena Horne, Billy Eck- stine, Desi ArnaZj Mitzi Green, Mondy Carson,. Toni Arden, Kean Sisters and a few others; Top Showcase It’s still the top showcase in New York. Janis Paige was piaying at the Copa when she was eyed for .‘■Pajama Game.” When. Eddie Fisher did the production tunes here, he showed enough to indi- cate: that he had considerable promise. Julie Wilson was first a chorus girl here, and then she. graduated to the production tunes. Among the chorus girls here that have gone on to Hollywood are June Allyson, Lucille Bremer, Olga San Juan, Pat Hardy, Joanne Dru, Mae Wynn, Martha Stewart and Janice Rule. Boniface Podell has found a very prosperous form of revenue for the Copa in the operation of the Up- stairs lounge, The disk jockey pol- icy having petered out, Podell re- built the lounge’s reputation with a late show coming after the finale in the downstairs room. The sing- ing talent moves upstairs for a late show and it’s been paying off tremendously, The upstairs lounge also showed its star-building potential. Nat (King) Cole evidence his promise initially in that room as did Sarah Vaughan. In the line of choreogra- phy, Don Loper & Maxine Barrett danced at the Copa before moving on to Hollywood as a couturier. Podell takes pride in the Copa's importance as a name showcase, although he’d rather be known as a restaurateur. The kitchen is his especial province. He's proud of the fact that he can shell out a full dinner under $4, and he at- tempts to operate ori the basis that food is still important in the night club business. He's also an im- portant. contributor to iriany chari- ties, Once, every year he. donates a night in December to the cerebral palsy fund. Three or four nights a week there’s a table of disabled vets who get no check. He’s a soft touch for a lot pf legitimate chari- ties. According to ilery actuarial tables, 15 years is a fairly advanced age for a nightclub. In that Lime a spot is expected to have devel- oped some kind of tradition and .reputation, The Copa has this tra- dition 1 as a starmaker, and a reputa- tion that, makes it an important entertainment; stop for the visiting firemen of the nation. There's a Copa road company in many cities, tribute enough to the New York operation that imitation again is: the sincerest form of flattery. Saranac Lake By Happy Benway Saranac Lake, N. Y., Oct. 26. The Will Rogers hospital lourige room is now a real entertainment haven for the patients here. A large, new tele set has been in- stalled, thanks to Murray Weiss, Will Rogers exec from Boston; a modern jukebox donated by the IATSE boys from N. Y, via the ef- forts of Herbert Johnson,’ a long- player and records, gift from Manie Sacks, latest picture pro- jection outfit installed by Ballan- tyne Theatre Supply Co, of Omaha and the National Screen Co. of N. Y, Sam Smith of Stewart-E.verett Circuit, Charlotte, N. C., into the General for major operation; now back at the Will Rogers recuper- ating, ; The John McKerriins back to N. Y. arid the St. Regis hotel after spending three weeks vacationing at a bedside of their brother, Tom McKernin, now resting and under observation at the Will Rogers here. A double birthday shindig was tendered to Louise Riso, of United World* Films, and to Jack Kelley; manager with the Walter Reade Theatres. Write to those who are ilL, ‘Eve’ Sellout Continued from .page 1 while another firm is dickering for the takeover of the. Copacabana. To the bonifaces, the more im- portant facet of : the sellout lies in the fact that a . trend is In the making. Last year, the LQ was closed to the public because of the takeover, also by Victor. The fact that commercial firms have latched onto the Eve as part of its in- centive program assures the night- clubs of a maximum income. With the firms picking up the tabs, the celebrants will not be worrying about the tab at the end of the night. The bottles placed bn the table at the beginning of the. evening will probably be re- placed before the night is over. It’s a known feet that when the joint’s cuffo, everybody is a little more lavish than they would be if they were paying for the stuff. With the Eve very much in demand, the cafe is in position to charge trip prices per head. Again, with two: appliance firms bidding for dealer goodwill with a night out, it’s logical that other companies Will follow suit, in order to stay on the good side of the dealers. Firms in other, lines are also expected to get into, the bidding with an evening out. It looks like New Year’s Eve will be a sponsored shindig, iri many niteries before long. . Trouble is that after the top spots are sold out, then the com- panies will be at a' loss, since It would be loss of prestige to book the second-rate spots. They may have to be left for the general public, who will have been denied access to sortie of the top spots because of sponsorship. Fact that the booking of the Latin Quarter has. occurred so early is an indication that the firm buying out the cafe were fearful that others would move in, so they acted fast. It’s, a delightful prospect for bonifaces, since they’re not only assured of maximum revenue, but they will be spared the prob- lem arid expense, of. selling for the big night. Vaude, Cafe Dates New York Lisa Kirk signed for the Persian Room, Hotel Plaza, for late Decem- ber or early January . . . Larry Starch tapped for the Nautilus, Miami Beach, DeC; 22 . ,. Micki Mario to the Sans Souci, Miami Beach, Dec. 7 . . . Marshall & Far- rell set for-the PrevUe Club, Col- linsville, 111., Nov. 4 . Hamilton Trio into the Hoilenden, Cleveland, Nov. 22 . . . Billy Shepard, current at the Casino, Toronto, moves to the Bradford, Boston, Nov.: 8 . . Valerie Noble, who returns from USO-Camp Shows jount, Saturday (30), into the Bradford, Boston, Nov. 15 . . . Dick Kallman to El Rancho, Las Vegas, Dec, 22. Eddie Albert & Margo spotted for the Waldorf-Astoria, N. Y., in March and for the Palmer House, Chicago, in April Denise Dar- ed inked for the Monte Cax-ld, Palm Beach, in February . . Kean Sisters and Charlie Applewhite in the Latin Quarter, Bostori, show Nov. 18 . . Marshall & Farrell signed for the Latin Quarter, N. Y. p starting Novi 28. Holger & Dolores on the : same show. The Ju>t Concluded 2nd Contacutiva Yaar touring fair Barnat and Carruthan . (Thanks SAM LEVY) Wish to qnhouflco with pridt thtir first eastern appearance Week of OCTOJRER 29th PALACE Now York (Thanks;. DAN FRIENDLY and PAUL GRAY) then: WESTERN ELECTRIC SHOW Chicago (Nov. 16, 17, IB, 191 (Thanka: STU McCLELLAN) then: BROWN HOTEL LoNlsville, Ky. (Nov. 26 for 2 WEEKS) (Thdnka: CHESTER LORCH, LARRY LUX) Exelualva Dlrectian: fiutarn RapratantatWa: Chloaga I, III. II* Wait 37 8t. ; N. Y. Daarbarn 2-7413 Clrela 6-2433 SHE'S DYNAMITE! Currently CASEES Toledo, Ohio Direction MERCURY ARTISTS WANTED PORPOISE TRAINER Prafar man with experience in trai - ing sea lions or chi Ago 27 to 45. Permanent position. Contact W, F. Roljeston, Marina Studios, Ma» rinaland, Florida. Currently playing club dates in the Northwest. Week of Nov. 15th, Amato's Supper Club, Portland, Ore. JOE DANIELS Orpheum Theatre Bldg., Seattle, Wash. RONALD ROGERS SINGING STAR OF PARLOPHONE RECORDS OPENING NOVEMBER 1st, starring in "Off the Record" Revue VICTORIA-PALACE THEATRE, WEST END, LONDON for jack Hyltpn, following a record breaking 22 weeks at Queens Theatre, Blackpool BOOKED SOLID SINCE MARCH 7TH — PERSONAL MANAGEMENT: ROSE ADAIR 7 Wait 44th St., New York City MU 7-3829-3157; Cl 7-3900 “American Singer RONALD ROGERS has the looks and voice to ensure him his own special niche among the season’s male attractions.” B. B, EVENING GAZETTE. "RONALD ROGERS hasn't a hit film behind him to boost his discs but he has something else, a glowing stage personality al- lied with the 1 really rare gift of lyrical song;” WEEKLY SPORTING REVIEW. —Show Business—Sept. 17, 1954, “As a formidable rival to the Tony Martins . corues RONALD ROGERS (now a big hit in ’Off the Record,’ Black- pool.) Rogers has a fine voice Sc lntpnation, sings in perfect English . . . “Three Things” ... a record which could easily make RONALD ROGERS huge favorite with the disc- fans here.” RECORD MIRROR, London.