Variety (December 1954)

Wednesday, December 8, 1954 VAUDEVILLE 49 Competitive Ice Shows in Indpls. Touches Off Wait* Billing War Tex. State Fair Netted 350G, Less Than in ’53 Dallas, Dec. 7. The State Fair of Texas, in its 16-day run, Oct. 9-24, made an es- timated net profit of $300,000, expo pi'ez R, L. Thornton revealed to the 48-man directors’ board last week. In 1953 the net was $350,439. Rec- c'd b.o. was 1949’s sock $513,133. However, this year’s fair broke all attendance records with 2,506,463. Kxec committee voted two more payments of principal and one of interest on Cotton Bowl bonds, pre- paying the debt to Jan. 1, 1963. Bowl bonds still outstanding total $685,000. Indianapolis, Dec. 7. 4 A battle between showmen, rem- iniscent of the oldtime circus wars «lu-n billposters would cover up ' „ other’s paper, hit Indianapolis last week. Arthur Wirtz, who has lone been the major iceshow en- trepreneur here, has been accused of flooding the town with circulars oleine prospective customers to stav away from the Coliseum, whi'rc ’Holiday on Ice” started an engagement yesterday (Mon.). Folder asked the customers to wait for the original show, “Holly- wood Ice Revue,” which Wirtz al- ways produced, and not to be misled bv similarly named produc- tions It’s believed that Wirtz will plav the city in the Spring at But- ler' Field House. “Holiday” spokes- men claimed an advance of about $85 000 for this stand and indicate that it will be a big engagement for them. “Holiday” countered with ads in the papers saying “There is only one Holiday on Ice’” and urged immediate attendance. Wirtz, in former years, held a lease on the Coliseum and thus was able to tie up that house for his own show which he played dur- ing the fall or winter season. He didn’t bid on a renewal of the lease this year. PIAF SET FOR THEATRE TOUR IN U. S. IN SPRING Edith Piaf will start 10 weeks of theatre dates in the U.S. to be played in 11. French chantoosey will play a string of houses starting March 7 in San Francisco. Gale Agency set up the stands. Following the two-week Frisco deal. Miss Piaf continues in Den- ver for March 21; St. Louis, March 28. She lays off Holy Week and start afresh with the Great North- ern Theatre, Chicago, starting April 11: Detroit, April 25; Toronto, May 5. and Montreal for two weeks starting April 9. Miss Piaf was originally slated to make a long stand at the Ver- sailles. N.Y., but operator Nick Prounis agreed to the tour on the proviso that she steer clear of New York and vicinity. Gordon Irving details that while TV is growing in the Highlands Vaude in Scotland Still Packs a Wallop Chile Launches First Stage-Pix Combo Policy Santiago, Nov. 30. Chile’s first combination pic and stage policy has been inaugurated at the Pacific Theatre here with the playing of the Gina Lollo- brigida starrer, “La Insatisfecha” <The Unsatisfied), with the Argen- others. Violins ensemble was booked by the newly-organized Conciertos y Espectaculos Limitada set up by Donato Roman Heitman, local rep of Southern Music, and Lolo Aehondo, radio announcer. Heit- man and Aehondo booked the vio- lin act into the Pacific for three weeks together with three perform- ances weekly for three weeks over Radio Corporation, to be followed by appearances at the gambling casino in Vina del Mar. Aehondo and Heitman are nego- tiating to bring the French D’Arcy Ballet from Buenos Aires to the Pa- cific Theatre next. The Magic Vio- lins is an act consisting of seven violins and a pianist. They also m e trying to book Frankie Laine, | Duke Ellington and Lucienne Boyer for next year. ana of tho many editorial feature* in tha 49th Anniversary Number of P’fiftlETY OUT SOON Sauter, Phillips to L. A. For Holiday USO Shows For Overseas Troops USO-Camp Shows president James Sauter and exec veepee Lawrence Phillips leave for the Coast today (Wed.) to put the final touches on the holiday troupes to be sent to all parts of the world where U. S. troops are stationed. This is the fourth successive year that these holiday shows will be going out. This year, five special mission Air Force and Navy planes will leave Burbank Dec. 17 for various parts of the world. At present, it’s estimated that 86 performers will take off. Thirty performers will be as- signed to entertain in the Atlantic theatres. One troupe will go to France, Germany and England, and the other to Navy bases in North Africa. On the return flight, the latter group will perform in Ber- muda and Puerto Rico. Other group will work the Northeast Air Command, visiting isolated base in Thule. Greenland, Baffinland, New- foundland and Labrador. Performers flying westward will stop at Eniwetok. One half will be flown to Guam, Phillipines and Okinawa. Balance of the group will split into two units on arrival in Tokyo for entertainment in Korea. Fields-Seeley Club Date Benny Fields & Blossom Seeley will play their first nitery date in some time at the Beverly Hills Country Club, Newport, Ky., start- ing Dec. 17. Duo had been heading an air show on WMGM, N.Y., until a few weeks ago. Parnell’s Africa Dates; Anzacs Wooing Heath London, Dec. 7. Jack Parnell, British drummer- leader is flying to South Africa for a long theatre tour next March. He will take with him his full orch, plus his two singers, and they will all be part of a package show fea- turing British ar'ists. At the same time, Ted Heath has received an offer to tour Aus- tralia and New Zealand next spring. The project calls for a series of concerts extending over four weeks. Hilton-Statler Merger Cues New Talent Setup: Abbott May Take Over jp -X i ■ Outlying Clubs Sign Names For Weekends Only’ The outlying clubs in the New York area are starting to tie up performers for successive week- ends only. Not willing to spend tall coin for the portions of the week when many shouldn’t even be open, the operators are willing to spend important coin in order to maintain top-level business over the weekends. A slump during that portion of the week puts them in the losing column. One of the longer-range book- ings was made last week when Ben Maksik’s Town & Country Club, Brooklyn, signed Jackie Miles for four successive three-day week- ends^ starting Friday <10). Joni James recently played the Boule- vard for two successive weekends, and operators are shopping around for any name that can lure them in during these vital periods. BILL LOEB TO BOOK FOR BIMBO’S IN FRISCO San Francisco, Dec. 7. Bill Loeb, Hollywood personal manager and agent, has been signed as house booker for Bimbo’s 365 Club. This is the first time the spot has had a regular booker since Sam Rosey departed early last summer. The new move is expected to change somewhat the nature of the talent playing the club with an in- creased emphasis on record names and a bigger pitch to the younger customers. It is understood that the spot has dropped off in its week by week business consider- ably in recent months and the bringing in of Loeb, who manages Mel Torme and Margaret Whiting among others, is aimed at hypoing business. Loeb formerly was with MCA in San Francisco and is hip to the local scene. Chairman at tha AGVA Walfara Truat Fund Nat Abramson detail* tha whyfora of Insurance for Performers , A Modern-Day Necessity * * * an interesting editorial featnre in the upcoming 49th Anniversary Ntimber of PfiniEfY OUT SOON Joe Bonds, Dallas Chib Owner, Gets 8-Year Rap On Morals’ Conviction Dallas, Dec. 7. Joe Bonds, 44. former nitery and tavern operator, drew an eight- year prison sentence on a morals charge here last week from a jury in Judge William McCraw’s crim- inal court here. Bonds said he would appeal the decision. Ex-nitery owner disclosed he was born Joseph Locurto and changed his name to Joe Bonds here in 1947 when he and his wife, singer Dale Belmont, bought the Sky Club while the vocalist was booked there. Last year Bonds opened the midtown Blue Lady lounge and was ready to open a similar spot, the Blue Isle, when three morals charges were filed against him by teenage girl em- ployees. Two plaintiffs disap- peared, and he was convicted on testimony of a 15-year-old former waitress. Earlier, the Texas Liquor Con- trol Board had revoked his Blue Lady beer license for sales after the midnight curfew in Texas; he w r as refused a license for his new midtown Blue Isle, and County Judge Lew’ Sterrett refused to re- new the license for Bonds’ huge Sky Club ballroom. Consolidation of talent buying in the Hilton Hotels is about to be set. Presently, Merriel Abbott has been acting as entertainment pur- chaser for the Hilton Hotels, while John Grande has been holding a similar post for the Statler chain, recently taken over by Hilton. It’s reported that Grande is about to leave the post and Miss Abbott will take over. Chicago will serve as the buying center for the entire operation. A Hilton rep has been in resi- dence at the Statler Hotel in New York for the past two months studying the operation, and his recommendations are about to be put into effect. One of the items is the consolidation of talent pur- chases. The N. Y. Statler has been serving as the centre of the Statler talent boys. However, there are some rum- bles as to the permanency of the Hilton merger with the Statler Hotels. The step has been con- demned in financial circles as a union which had no economic base. The American Management Assn., which had given the Statler chain an award as one of the better-run corporations, has taken away that award because of the merger. It’s also reported that Sen. Langer (R.-S.D.) wants a Congressional investigation into the matter. Texas Prairie Spot Dallas, Dec. 7. Bea Hoffman has opened the Sadie Hawkins Club between Dal- las and Grand Prairie. Miss Hoff- man is a former model now turned nitery operator. At present jukebox music will be used, wijth name bands to be brought in on occasion. The spot boasts the largest dance floor in Texas. OUT SOON The 49th Anniversary Number Of Forms closing shortly Usual Advertising rates prevail Special exploitation advantages Copy and space reservations may be sent to any Variety office NEW YORK 36 154 W. 46Hi St. HOLLYWOOD 28 6311 Yucca St. CHICAGO 11 612 N. Michigan Avt. LONDON. W. C. 2 • St. Martin’s Place Trafalgar Square LIBERACE TO GET 50G WKLY. IN L.V. HOTEL BOW Las Vegas, Dec. 7. Initial attraction at the Riviera Hotel, slated to open its doors early in April, will be Liberace at $50,000 per week. It’s a record peak in the Las Vegas sweepstakes. Jack Goldman, operator of Miami’s Clover Club and enter- tainment director for the nine- story hostelry here, closed a three- week deal for the pianist, his brother George, and the 22-piece orchestra that backs Liberace on his Columbia recordings. Liberace also will have final approval on one additional act to be booked to round out the show. Joan Crawford will hostess tfie opening night cocktail party for $10,000 plus a free week’s vaca- tion. Comic Fiddler Yonely To Do a Victor Borge Chicago, Dec. 7. Comic violinist Yonely is getting his first concert showcasing, a la Victor Borge, in 10 midwestern cities this winter via Jay Lurye’s “Winter Theatre” series. Rouma- nian trick fiddler’s solo stint will be part of a string promoted by Lurye which also includes “Caine Mutiny Court Martial,” and con- certs by Fred Waring, First Piano Quartet, and Hildegarde & Jack Whiting. Two-hour concert format consti- tutes a big raise in stature for the performer, who heretofore has ap- peared as a brief vaude or cabaret act. Yonely had made a clicko im- pression in the territory last sea- son. His tour in the series be- gins in latter part of February, through cities like Green Bay, Wis., and . Duluth am) Hibbing, Minn. Top admish for the concerts is to be $3.60. Shore’s Widow Sues For $60,000 in Fatal Crash Chicago, Dec. 7. Anita Shore Brown, widow of late comedian Willie Shore, has filed a $60,000 suil against owners of the Luke Club in Springfield, 111., from which engagement Shore was returning when he was killed in a highway auto wreck on Oct. 12, 1953 Suit charges bonifaces Hugo Giovagnoli and Harold Henderson with selling or giving liquor to Shore causing him to become in- toxicated before the accident. Mrs. Brown, who remarried, is asking $15,000 each for herself and three minor children. Joanne Wheatley, who winds up at Eddys’, Kansas City, Dec. 9, Inf- lows with a stand at the Mapes, Reno. Dec. 16.