Variety (December 1954)

62 Wednesday, December 15, 1954 VARIETY BILLS WEEK OF DECEMBER 15 Numtrals In connection with bill* bolow indicete opening day of show whothor full or split week Letter tn parentheses Indicates circuit. (I) Independent; (L) Loewi <M> Mess; <P> Paramount; <R> RKO; (S> Stoll; <T> Tivoli; (W> Werner NEW YORK CITY Music Hall (I) 14 Shirlee Emmons George Sawtelle William Upshaw Edward Powell Shellie Farrell Eric Hutson Clausons Famous Bears Ramses Rockettes Corps de Ballet Sym Ore Palace (R) 17 Tanya Acraments Townsmen Van St de Rovart G 4c H Nells CHICAGO Chicago (P) 17 Don Cornell Mambo Jets Ice Rev AUSTRALIA MELBOURNE Princess (T) 13 Jean Sablon Chris Cross Guss Brox & Myrna Ron Parry • 3 Hellos Irving * Glrdwood Eddie Lynn Dale Gower Show Girls Dancing Boys Tivoli <T> 19 Roy Barbour T Fontane & K Vaughn Margaret Brown Julian Somers Nina Cooke Eddie Edwards David Eadie John Bluthal Lloyd Martin Vocal Octette Male Dancers PERTH His Majesty's (T) 13 Michael Bentine W Latona & Sparks Buck St Chic Dagenham G Pipers O’Hagan St H Stead 2 Myrons Francis Van Dyk Seyler Heylen Max Blake Irene Bevans Ballet Girls SYONKY Ttvoll (T) 13 Jerry Lester Howell St Radcllffe Harry Jacobson 2 Chadells A tele St Latu G Dawn St F Cleary Singers Dancing Boys Ballet Girls BRITAIN BIRMINGHAM Hippodrome (M> 13 Terry-Thomas Morgan & Manning Gary Miller Louise Pets Ch Warren tw J Del Cort'ia Terry Ha** Shipway Twins BOSCOMBE Hippodrome (l> 13 Bob Gray J Sc B Patton Sheila Atha Billie Roche 8 Del Rosa Dancers BRIGHTON Hippodrome (M) 13 Issy Bonn Noberti G H Elliott Nicolettes Leslie Sarony Copa Cousins Iris Sadler Tommy Locky BRISTOL Hippodrome (S) 13 Martita Hunt Michael Gwynn Hugh Wakefield CARDIFF New (S) 13 Ike Hatch Johnnie Mason Mundy & Earle Ron Perrian 4 Tune Tellers Jacqueline McVee Ann Davis I)ick Beamish Exotic Pauline 8 Gordon Lawrence Girls CHELSEA 9 Palace (I) 13 Acott Sanders Silver & Dry Len Marten Tommy Godfrey Carizelles CHISWICK Empire <S> 13 Peter Cavamgh Sally Barnes Daisy Mae & Saveen Baker & Douglas Pa® Rose Anion St Janetta EDINBURGH Empire (M) 13 Fr Crock St Crackpots Rey St Ronjy Wilson Keppel St B Yale St Diane Harry Bailey Alexanders Dogs Richmnn St Jackson FINSBURY PARK Empire (M) 13 Caroll Levis Co Violet Pretty Teen Agers Alalne Diaeora LEEDS Empire (M) 13 Tony Brent Kay St Katrina Gladys Morgan Russmar 2 Eddie Arnold Brian Andro Billie Anthony S St P Kaye LEICESTER Palace (S) 13 Billy O’Sullivan Wilton Family Monsantos Kathryn Cain Salome Alan Fielding 13 Ted Slraeter Ore Mark Monte Ore Motel Roosevelt Guy Lombardo Ore Hotel St Regis Rosalind Courtright Milt Shaw Ore Ray Bari Hotel Statier T St J Dorsey Ore Hetel Taft Vincent Lopez Orr Latin Quarter Wlere Bros Chiqulta St Johnson Uas Sheva Ashtons Debonalrs Jet Sharon Ralph Young Piroska Art Waner Ore B Harlowe Ore Le Ruben Bleu Julius Monk Irwin Corey Turtlenecks Norman Paris 3 Dorothy Louden Melita Little Club L’Apache Faconi Jules Kuti Rudy Tlmfield Two Guitars Kostya Poliansky Misha Usdanoff Lubov Hamshay Aliya Uno Vei sallies “Bon Voyage" Paul Gray Louise Hoff Tommy Wander Margaret Banks Rosemary O’Reilly Carl Conway Betty Colby Ann Andre Rain Winslow Danny Carroll Danny Desmond Don Dellair Jim Sisco Salvatore Gloe Ore Panchlto Ore Viennese Lantern Helene Aimce Dolores Perry Bela Bizony Ernest Schoen Paul Mann Charles Albert Village Barn Hal Graham Senna & Gyle Jack Wallace Givens St Ferris Mary Ellen Trio Larry McMahan Piute Pete Weldorf-Asterig Jose Greco Dcrs Nat Brandwynne Mlscha Borr Village Vanguard Stan Freeman Sylvia Syms C Williams Trie CHICAGO 8 Eager Misses Vicky Day Gwen Fields LIVERPOOL Empire (M) 13 Smith Bros Granger Bros Jack Jackson Nordics Frank Cook Allen Bros St J Joe King Billy Maxam NORTHHAMPTON New (I) 13 Sonny Roy Chinger Chilton G St B Joy NORWICH Hippodrome tl) Jane A J Powers Buddy Ritchie Max Moran Co Kay Elvin Girls Tp NOTTINGHAM Empire (M) 13 Sonny Dawkes Arthur Knotto Gary Webb Mel-O-Macs PORTSMOUTH Royal (M) 13 Jimmy Young Conway St Day Suzette Tarri Angelos Morris St Cowley Arthur Worsley Dashs Chimps SHEFFIELD Empire (M) 13 Frankie Vaughan Hunty St Clair B St A Person Kosinas Hilly Russell Eddie Vitch Don Philippe & Bruce ForsMh SOUTHHAMPTON Grand (I) 13 Tanner Sis Frasers Harmonica Bd Tiki Del Potter St Carole Hal Hiller SWANSEA . . Empire (Ml 13 Leon Cortez Doreen Harris Nat Gonella Afrique Nelson Lloyd S St R Holland Percivales Dogs WOLVERHAMFTON Hippodrome (I) 13 Dexter St Dale Freddie Carlisle Garland St Koba-ts Ann Rooney Katrina Jimmy Lee V Valentineses Royal Girls WOOO GREEN Empire (S> 13 Harry Rowson Philipe Rivers Wilfred Gartel! Maureen Comfort Michael Packer YORK Empire (L) 13 Phyllis Dixey Varga Models Jack Tracey RAJ Penn DuMarte St Danzer Revel St Fields Dorothy Reid St Mac Black Orchid Budy Baer Cooper St Rogers Dimh Kaye Rudy Kerpays Duo Blue Angel “Calypso Jamboree" Phyllis Branch Count Daville Lady Tina Joc-a-hodi Dcrs A1 D’Lary Quintet Blue Note C Ventura Ore Mary Ann McCall Lou Levy Chez Pare# Cross & Dunn Tommy Leonettl Richman & Mannequins Brian Karnon Ore Cloister Inn Ruth Price Laurie Allyn M Cabaret Bills NEW YORK CITY BIRDLAND Count Basie Geo Shearing Sarah Vaughan Lester Young Jimmy Rushing Bon Soli Tony St Eddie Jimmy Daniels Blue Angel John Carradine Pat Carroll Mort Sahl Susan Johnson Bart Howard Jimmy Lyons Trio Chateau Madrid Ralph Font Ore Maya Ore Belmont Plaza Joan Bishop A1 Castellano John Barney Hotel Ambassader Quintero Ore Sarkozi Ore Hotel Pierre Denise Darrel Stanley Melba Ore Copacabane Vagabonds Dunhills Maria Neglia Martha Bentley Bob Sweeney Peter Conlow Jean Stevens M Dureo Ore Frank Marti Ore Gale's Alan Gale Jackie Heller Warner St McGuire Larry Foster Teddy King Ore No. 1 Fifth Ave Bob Downey Harold Fonvlll# Hazel Webster Hetel Plate Kay Thompson Paul Methuen Ralph Sharon Ace Harris Dick Marx Johnny Frigo Conrad Hilton ‘Skating Stars' Margie Lee Cathy St Blair Shirley Linde Weidemanns Polo Perky Twins Jimmy Caesar Eileen Carroll Ray McIntosh B Dears St Dons Frankie Masters Ore Palmer House Ilildegarde St Jack Whiting Howard Senton Gene Bone Robert Norris Empire Eight Charlie Fisk Ore Riverside Bernard Bros Vlvlanne St Tassl Starlets Betty Joyce BUI Clifford Ore Montmartra Novellos Lago Sisters Romero St Chicuelo Salvador Levy Nancy St Rolando C Playa Orq Fajardo Orq HAVANA Tropicana Tex Mex D’Ruff Quartet Tropicana Ballet S de Espana Orq A Romeu Orq S Suarez Orq Unit Review Hippodrome of IB55 Kansas City, Dec. 9. Harold Steinman presentation, featuring the “Skating Vanities ” and “Dancing Waters. Staged by Gae Foster, with Flo Kelly, Anolyn Arden and Nadine Gae; costumes by Michi; arrangements by Frank Ventre -and Benjamin Schwartz, musical director Schwartz. Cast: Nancy Lee Parker, Caroline Mire l- li, Tony Mirelli, Johnny Williams, Bob Grimes, Pat Williams, Barry Clark & Larry Knight, Dalton & Bailey (3), Mrs. Remos & Toy Boys t Trio Olympiads, Line. At Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Dec. 8, ’54; $2.50 top. tos ANGELES Ambassador Hotal Joyce Bryant Ryan & McDonald Harry James Ore Band Box Billy Gray Leo Diamond Dorothy Claire Nicco & Barba Larry Green Trio Bar of Music Happy Jesters (3) Jacqueline Aires C Callinicos Freddie Katz Eddie Oliver Ore Biltmoro Hotal Romo Vincent Tippy Sc Cobina Norton & Patricia Hal Derwin Ore Ciro't Jack Durant Jan Valerie Manola Mera Trio Fayes Dick Stabile Ore Bobby Ramos Ore Charley Poy'k Gil Lamb Fran Gregory Tommy Dugan Charley Foy Mary Foy Abbey Browne Ore Crascendo Mel Torme Mocambo Andre Philippe Paul Herbert Ore Joe Castro Four Moulin Rouge Frank Libuse Margot Brauder Szonys (2> Miss Malta & Co Doutiledaters <4; Mme Ardelty Jery LaZarre Ffolliot Charlton Tony Gentry Gaby Wooldridge Luis Urbina Eileen Christy Bob Snyder Ore Statlor Hotel Xavier Cugat Ore Abbe Lane MIAMI-MIAMI BEACH Clover crub Kalantan Luis Torrens Betty Ford Tony Lopez Ore Selma Marlowe Line Woody Woodbury Leon A Eddie s Lois De Fee Toni Rave Rose Ann Rita Marlow Charlotte Watera Nautilus Hotal Morty Gunty Antone & Ina Sid Stanley Ore Black Orchid Jo Thoihpson Richard Cannon Count Smith Sans Souci Hotai Lenny Maxwell Saeasas Ore Ann Herman Dcrs Anne Barnett Saxony Hotal Marion Powers Harmonicaires The Garcias (2) The Havdoeks (2) Tano St Deo Nirva Freddy Calo Ore Johnny Silvers Ore Bombay Hotal Phil Brito Nelida Peter Mark Sandra Barton Johnina Hotel B S Pully Sam Bari Harry Rogers Ore Bobbie Lynn DILido Hotel Bea Kalmus Martin Sc Maio Fausto Curbelo Ore Vanity Fair Pat Morrisey Havana Cuban Boys 3 Tones Jerry Brandow Club 72 Paula Watson Three Peppers Club Echo Jayne Manners Bobby Byron Satin Dolls Grade Scott Mikki Mars Ray Sindinn Trio Bar of Music Bill Jordan Hal Fisher Beth Challis Harvey Bell Fred Thompson Flvo O’clock BeM Barth Hal Winters Don Ostro Ore Isle Do Capri Charlie Farrell Holly Warren Eleanor Luckey Charlie Carlisle Caprieian Trio Wally Hankin Ore This is the ninth time around here for the Harold Steinman show, now with the inclusive title of “Hippodrome of 1955.” encom- passing the long-established roll 1 . “Skating Vanities” with the newer novelty, “Dancing Waters.” Show carries a lot of class, color and spectacle as always, and is well sprinkled with top vaude turns, as also has been the Steinman cus- tom. This one shapes up with its predecessors in most respects, with at least three outstanding produc- tion numbers and the water-spray novelty more integrated into the show. With the top held to $2.50, the 135-minute spec gives full value. After a “Hit Parade” opening production and “Teddy Bears Pic- nic” as entry appealing to the juves, the “Dancing Waters” is brought in as a featured produc- tion number on its own. The vari- ations are fully displayed, and thereafter the "Waters,” with some excellent lighting, is used as back- ground for the show, an unusually good effect. Nancy Lee Parker has her first inning of smooth solo skating midway in the first act. Outstanding trapeze work is shown by Rhoda Bailey of Dalton & Bailey, one of the few femmes making a comedy bit out of her high flying skill. Also in the first act is the impressions session of Barry Clark and Larry Knight, who also handle m.c. chores, and throughout the proceedings are the two Remos Toy Boys, dancing and clowning in the production num- bers. “Indian Summer” produc- tion closing the first act is an es- pecially well-done combination of color, rhythm and skating. Second stanza, of somewhat shorter duration but livelier pace, "kicks off with “Mambo Wedding,” which is a frenzied, bellshaking workout for the entire cast. Mid- way is “Merry Widow Waltz” as a vehicle to feature Miss Parker and Johnny Williams in duo skating. Finale is a brief “Patriotic Mood,” with all hands joining in and cus- tomers singing their way out. Spotted between production num- bers are A1 Gordon and his “do- nothing” dogs, and a new trio of acrobalancers brought over from Europe, the Trio Olympiads. Three lads are excellent in their balanc- ing and tableau work, and draw a deserved hand. Show is another successful entry in the Steinman manner. Quin. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA Flamingo Ka.v Star Alan King Sllvor Slipper Sally Rand Buddy Baer Kalantan Ilank Henry Datart inn L Walters’ L Q Rev Sahara Marlene Dietrich Last Frontlar Dorothy Shay Shecky Greena * Cl Cortaz Rowan & Martin Vicki Young Golden Nugget Gas Lights & Pink Tights Sands Vic Damone Louis Jordan El Rancho Vtgas Sherry Britton A1 Bernie Barry Sisters Thundorblrd Lecuona Boys Choir Saharo Mae West RENO Mapos Skyroom Buddy Lester Continentals Don Arden Skylets E Fitzpatrick Ore New Golden Romaine Brown A the Romaincs Lorry Logan Rowan St Martin W’lU Osborne Ore Road Compares Continued from page 1 holdovers from last season that closed but didn't go out on tour include “By the Beautiful Sea,” “Girl in Pink Tights,” “Golden Apple,” “John Murray Anderson’s Almanac,” King of Hearts,” “Oy- dine,” “Remarkable Mr. Penny- packer” and “Sabrina Fair.” During the past few weeks road grosses have been exceptionally bullish, with a large number of tryouts one of the factors. Playing weeks as of Dec. 4 tytaled 412, or 52 more than for that period last season. As was the case with the gross take, figure was on a par with the top tallies of the past five seasons, but was 156 weeks below the totaled scored for the same period in '48-'49. For the first 27 weeks of the season (through the week ended Dec. 4) the comparative gross totals for the road for the last seven seasons have been as follows: Season Total Gross 1948- 49 • $11,674,500 1949- 50 8,800,100 1950- 51 10.375,200 1951- 52 8,917,200 1952- 53 10,694,200 1953- 54 8,243,900 1954- 55 10,108,400 For the same 27 weeks, the com- parative number of road playing weeks for the last seven seasons have been as follows: Olympic Films Continued from pagf 2 cerned, films were controlled by the Finnish organizing committee, which wanted $100,000 for U. S. showing. However, no U. S. source was willing tb fork out that much loot, and the pic went unseen. Bingham stated that even though Finland officially lost film control last year, it was a long pull even getting a few prints over here for limited college and club showings. Last month (November) Finland, finally gave two prints of the two- hour coverage to the U. S. Olym- pic Committee at a cost of $900. For the moment, Bingham was hap- py—that is, until he found the prints to be defective. Now he wants two others before he puts his cash on the line. Helsinki's fighting it. With the '56 Olympics in Aus- tralia coming closer, Bingham feels that the official Helsinki coverage will have increased commercial value. And furthermore, “Helsinki wants to limit us,” he said. “They can’t keep us from selling the mo- tion picture now; their rights ran out after a year.” With this angle to consider, it doesn’t look to ob- servers like the U. S. is going to settle for two prints for just small- time distribution. N. Y. Talent Reps Continued from pace 2 strumental in keeping theatres light this season, if not drawing much coin. These include “Getting Gertie’s Garter,” “Moon Is Blue,” “Naughty Natalie,” “Pajama Tops” and “School For Brides,” the latter having shuttered Dec. 4. “Gentle- men Prefer Blondes,” also a two- fer, closed earlier this semester. A medium-price tourer this season is the bus-and-truck company of “Oklahoma.” Other road items as of Dec. 4 were “What Every Woman Knows” and “Three For Tonight.” Former closed, but plays a short New York run soon, and the latter is due next spring. Tourers that opened and closed this season include “Saint Joan,” “Sholom Aleichem,” “Face to Face,” “Pardon My An- tenna.” “Dial M For Murder” and “My Three Angels.” Last two were originally mounted for the New York’s subway circuit and were not the original road versions. Upcoming road shows include a Coast edition of “Teahouse of the August Moon” and a second com- pany of “Pajama Game." Broadway low standards of good business procedure.” Several agents have actually pledged to join the new organiza- tion, but a temporary committee (for the 50) signed the agreement with SAG calling for contracts be- tween agents and non-exclusive artists. The reason a SAG pact was made in the East is due to the fact that the bulk of tv film com- mercials are shot here. Further- more, some vidfilm shows are be- ing lensed in the N. Y. locale. Agreement, which points the way for future dealings with AFTRA and Equity, was the result of the first meeting between East- ern franchised agents and SAG. It says that a contract be made be- tween the agent and the non-ex- clusively repped artist for indi- vidual jobs done by the artist. A second stipulation says that the agent may rep either the producer or the artist but not both. The organization of East Coast talent agents Is headed temporar- ily by He*iry C. Brown. Among those pledged to join are Robert L&ntz, Olga Lee, Miriam Howell, Peter Witt, Xucy Kroll and Gloria Safier. Incidentally, since the Eastern agents had no organization, AFTRA actually went to the Coast to ne- gotiate a deal in the recent past, so believes one of the N. Y. reps. "Without a group of our own (one of the few interests in show biz that has none) the unions handed down resolutions and we had no means of contesting them.” Botkin’s Anthology Continued from page 2 Gilbert’s "Lost Chords,” Gene Fowler’s “Schnozzola,” H. M. Alex- ander’s “Strip Tease,” Jo Hanson and Oliver Pilat’s “Sodom by the Sea,” Leo C. Rosten’s “Hollywood: the Movie Colony” and “The Strangest Places,” Oscar Lewis* “Sagebrush Casinos.’” Isaac Gold- berg’s "Tin Pan Alley,” Earl Wil- son’s “Pike’s Peek or Bust,” Alva Johnston’s “The Legendary Miz- ners” and “The Great Goldwyn.” Damon Runyon’s "Short Takes,” Evan Esar’s “The Humor of Hu- mors,” Bernard Sobel’s "Burley- cue” and from the writings of such crackerjack Gotham journalists and essayists as John Crosby, Meyer Berger, Maurice Zolotow, Cleveland Amory, Lucius Beebe, Richard Gehman, Janies A. Miche- ner, Joseph Mitchell, Robert C. Ruark, Sigmund Spaeth, Stanley Walker, the late Russell Maloney and dozens of others. The show biz reader will also re- discover many wonderful pieces on such varied subjects as ad agency lingo, bop jokes, old cir- cuses, blue laws. Bowery enter- tainment, Greenwich Village screw- ball characters, bunco steerers, burlesque bits, dancing routines, street cries of the city, dime mu- seums, saloon behavior, hoaxes, juke joints, peep stows, mardi gras, slanguage of the street, night clubs, press agents, Billy Rose and the Algonquin Round Table, George Solotaire, Weegee and Gro- ver Whalen, Winchellese and Men- cken, bawdy houses and, of course, the theme of Brooklyn and other joke towns bearing the letter K as in Hoboken, Hohokus, Skaneateles and Podunk. This bulging anthology is in in- deed an eye-popping kaleidoscopic view of the fast, highly irregular beat of the city. Blame Exhibs Continued from pate s prompted by the remarks of Pat McGee, official of Theatre Owners of America and a Denver circuit operator. Speaking before the South Dakota Exhibitors Assn, last week, McGee said “no company now in production has a continuing program for the development of r.cw personalities." He charged that the studios wait for “someone else to take a chance on a young personality in the hope that when he has been developed, they can borrow him when they have a suit- able role. There are dozens of youngsters in California who could be developed into stars if produ- cers would only make the effort.” He said that by the very policy of fewer but bigger pictures, with no willingness to risk featuring a young but capable player, film com- panies are making themselves vie* tims of the policy of which they have made exhibitors the victim. “As the stars get older and retire, without suitable replacements be- ing trained,” McGee said, “salaries of those who remain are naturally forced up by spirited bidding for their services, in which the agents for the stars take full advantage.** The higher the salaries, accord- ing to McGee, the less the stars want to work because of high in- come taxes, and “thus you see the results of the fewer but bigger pictures policy, all of which raises costs which in turn force higher film rentals.” Despite this situation, McGee maintained that “we see a few newcomers rising to stardom. You see Grace Kelly, Tony Curtis, Rock Hudson, .and others like them com- ing to the fore. Just think what would happen if a determined ef- fort were made to develop new personalities, thus widening pro- duct! jn possibilities.” Gandhi Biopic Continued from page 1 Gandhi in the pic which will be made In one of the widescreen processes, likely Cinemascope. Preminger said the theme of the film would necessarily revolve around the "life of Gandhi per se, who was assassinated in 1948, but rather the effects of his teachings and the course of the “bloodless revolution” In India. While on the Coast, Preminger will discuss with 20th a possible production proj- ect. Under his contract with the studio, he is committed to make one film a year for 20th. He is also working on a play.