Variety (January 12, 1955)

58 VAUDEVILLE USRIETY Wednesday, January 12, 1935 Top Names Can t Hello Diners Under Miami Anti-Mixing Proposal Miami, Jan. 11. Miami city commission last week voted a drastic new ordinance aimed at outlawing B-girls. The law was so worded that all female performers—stars, featured acts or chorus girls—are forbidden to “fraternize” with patrons in clubs where they are engaged, and also forbids males and femmes from taking a drink in the establishment in which they are working. In answer to a query on how this stringent measure would ap- ply to such names as Sophie Tuck- er. Tony Martin, Milton Berle, et al.. Mayor Aronovitz made it clear that they are "performers ... if they don’t like it, that’s their busi- ness.” The original B-Girl law, invoked last October, required listing on checks of patrons buying, the amount of drinks consumed by an employee with a stop limit of 10, and also required pouring of the exact liquor ordered. Appeal to Circuit Court here by operators of the Jungle Club, a strippery, saw ruling against certain sections of the ordinance and injunction granted. The drastic new measure is con- fined only to Miami and does not apply to Miami Beach—where the majority of plush clubs and hotel- cafes are located—or to other municipalities in Dade County. Af- fected most by the new law will be the Clover Club and the Vaga- bonds. last remaining biggeries in the city. Vagabonds Club raises another controversial issue—the quartet are partners in the opera- tion. The question raised is: are owners included under the wording of the ordinance? Some members of the city com- mission conceded* that the measure is harsh, but voted for it despite , their misgivings. Mayor Arono- vitz has been the spearhead in re- form movements since he took of- fice. The new ban is certain to be appealed by cafe ops shortly; it w'ent into effect Saturday (8). Early Matinee Bid By Gotham leer The early matinee idea on days when lots of moppet trade is avail- able is on the upbeat. It’s particu- larly true in the shows which play arenas and auditoriums, where tremendous markets must be tapped in order to come out ahead. Latest to go for the early matinee business is the "Hollywood Ice Re- vue," going into Madison Square Garden. N. Y., Thurs. (13) through Feb. 2. Layout will go for 7 p.m. evening shows on Sundays and an earlier matinee. The major success with the matinee displays came during the recent Roy Rogers Rodeo run. On one day they were able to get in three shows for a gate of more than $50,000. With the early show gimmick, Garden can get more suburban trade as well as more kid admis- sions. Customers from outlying districts are able to make an ear- lier train which has been a con- siderable inducement, particularly when kids axe kept up a little later than usual. The plan is working out in other cities. Boston has found the accent on matinees to pay off, as has Phil- adelphia. Other major cities will i also experiment with earlier shows j this season. Cornell’s Big Lineup Of Brit. Vaude Dates Glasgow, Jan. 4. Don Cornell will have a fairly extensive lineup of vaude dates at key British centres following his United Kingdom bow at the Em- pire Theatre March 21. After a week in Glasgow, he will top at the Empire, Edinburgh, on March 28, then at the Empire vaud- eries at Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham and Finsbury Park. His last skedded date is week of May 16 at the Hip- podrome, Coventry. The Empires in Edinburgh and Glasgow are his only two Scot dates. Interest in the Cornell visit is being whipped up by his disk “Hold My Hand,” a bestseller here. ABRAMSON SET TO BOOK ITALIAN, GREEK LINERS Nat Abramson, head of the WOR Artists Bureau, has been signed to book the cruises on the Italian liner Homeric, which arrives in the U. S. Feb. 11, and on the Greek liner Queen Frederika. The Ho- meric will have an entertainment complement of 26, including the band. It’s a former Matson liner with new engines installed and re- fitted in Italy. The Fi-ederika is the former Atlantic. Abramson is also booking two cruises on the lie de France and will set the talent on the Nieuw Amsterdam, which will take off in March for a 56-day cruise in the Mediterranean. Entertainers on that trip will get return trip tick- ets if they elect to work or tour in Europe at completion of that tour. Jackie Bright, president of the American Guild of Variety Artists, doubled on Monday (10) between the show at Grossinger’s, Fern- dale. N. Y., and as a juror in the N. Y. Supreme Court. ★ . ★ NICHOLAS BROTHERS INTERNATIONAL DANCING SENSATIONS Just Completed HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL ENGAGEMENT IN MEXICO CITY Currently ON TOUR IN EUROPE and NORTH AFRICA ★ ★ Direction: ASSOCIATED BOOKING CORP. 745 5th Ave., New York, N. Y. I Ellington Teeing ’55 Vaude in Reading, Pa. Reading, Pa., Jan. 11. Duke Ellington and his orchestra will tee off the 1955 vaude season here at the 2,100-seat Rajah The- atre with a two-day engagement Friday and Saturday (14-15). This marks a return for C. G. Keeney, local promoter, who an- nounced he will present a name band once a month. Four shows are scheduled for Friday and five on Saturday. The scale is 50c be- fore 5 p. m. and 50c to $1 after 5. 2d ‘Capades’ Co. For Arena Tours Chicago. Jan. 11. | A second company of “Ice Ca- pades” will tour arenas and audi- toriums next season. New label will be “Ice Capades National Co.” The second layout will be the for- mer “Ice Cycles” company, and a new' edition of "Cycles” will be cast. For the past two years, “Ice Capades” has been drawing big- ger grosses than ever, and third company to be produced bv John H. Harris. Pittsburgh showman, in partnership with a group of arena j operatoi^, is seen as an expansion move. It’s anticipated that icers will have a bigger year than usual this season. "Cycles” was originally started , as a junior edition of “Ice Ca- } pades” for exhibition in towns that couldn’t support the bigger “Ice Capades.” However, in time, pro- duction costs caught up with “Cy- cles” so that the nut was about the same as the larger troupe, and thus "Cycles” had to look for top towns for support. Thus the step to ex- pand “Ice Capades” into two com- panies seems a logical move at this time, in view' of similar produc- tion costs and increasing gate for icers. At the same time, many cities have been building large arenas and auditoriums, many as war me- morials. This has increased the amount of playing time available, and has opened a new market for larger shows. Thus Hams and the arena owners feel that there is a market for a second large show, and "Ice Cycles” will probably pick up the playing time it was original- ly designed for. FROZEN ‘PAN’ TOPPER OF 1955 ‘ICE CAPADES’ Hollywood. Jan. 11. Frozen version of "Peter Pan” will highlight the 1955 edition of “Ice Capades,” bowing July 22 in Atlantic City after rehearsals here. ! Rights were secured from the J James M. Barrie estate by Pro- ducer John H. Harris for a 22- | minute ice capsule. Donna At- j wood will star in the title role. Show' is also to use the Kirby : flying ballet last seen here in the j Mary Martin production of “Pan.” j Harris tried out the flying bal- i let a few years ago in a few en- gagements at Madison Square Gar- den, N.Y., to determine whether the special equipment was adapta- ble for auditoria. Current edition of the blade show' returns to L A. May 5 for 18 days at the Pan Pacific Aud. Rehearsals start thereafter for the new show'. Meanwhile a deal haA been set for Miss Atwood to make her nitery bow’ at the Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas, next June, while the show vacations between 1954-55 editions. Deal for a six-w’eek stand was set by the Flamingo’s dance director, Ron Fletcher, who also stages “Capades.” Miss Atwood will star in an ice version of George Gersh- win’s "American In Paris.” Com’l TV to Nick Brit. Vaude B. 0. British television, which goes commercial soon, Is expected to cut into variety revenues, accord- ing to Val Parnell, managing di- rector of the London Palladium and the Moss Empires Theatres. Parnell said that although tele- vision hasn’t cut into theatrical revenue thus far, it’s expected to do so when commercial program- ming starts. In the first place, he said, the viewers will have the choice of a second program, which they do not have now'. Again, many stars will be available on the new medium, and thirdly, Parnell said, people will be buying sets on cred- it. and will probably eschew thea- tres until the sets are paid for. However, Parnell held out to the theory that the people will soon be tired of video, and will resume theatrical attendance. Parnell has hopes that this will be an excellent year at the Palla- dium. The vaude season will be longer than last year, starting March 28 with Eddie Fisher, and going into August. Last season, va- riety ended in May when the Nor- man Wisdom show came into that house. So far, Parnell’s only pactee is Fisher. Others are being negotiated for. A deal had been on for Ethel Merman in February, but that fell through. Deals are on with several disk names, and it’s expected that some will be concluded shortly. Parnell will return to England end of the week. While in the U. S., he’s headquartering at the Lew & Leslie Grade Agency in New' York. CURRENTLY: Henry Grady Hotel Atlnn+n dn and MR. CHIPS Direction: MILO STELT MUTUAL ENTERTAINMENT AGENCY. INC. 203 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago, III. Hollywood • Cleveland GABY de LYS Sensational Subtle Stripper EXOTIC PRIMA BALLERINA e CARMEN—Phil Dtc. till e EL REY— Oakland... Dec. 31-Jan.11 e San Francisco T e Los Angolas T e Las Vogas r Contact DICK HENRY 1733 B'way., N. Y. JU 3 001* WHEN IN BOSTON Ift the HOTEL AVERY The Home of Show Polk Avery & Washington St*. "The Voice with the Magic Spell" TONY DRAKE Walter Winched Curtain Calls: "Tony Drake, the Pal- ace show-stopper . . .” Frank Quinn, N. Y. Mirror “A triumphant debut was made bv tenor Tony Drake at the Palace. Ac- claimed by both critics and patrons, he is being interviewed for a possible role in a forthcoming Paramount mu- sical." Donton Walker, N. Y. Daily News "Tony Drake, getting his first hi* break at the Palace is of Mario Lanza material." Variety “Tony Drake has the earmarks of a romer. He has a clear and powerful tenor voice and shows ability at selling a song. Physically of the Mario l.anza- Kichard Tucker school of tenors, he has a nice friendly manner and the audience is with him from the begin- ning. He switches easily from the operatic to the semi-classical and pop- ular." Loo Mortimer, N. Y. Mirror "Tony Drake Is a cinch to reach the heights. He’s a big-voiced tenor who belts like Mario Lanza and I betetaa he’ll hit the Copa within a year.” Frank Farrell, N. Y. World-Telegram & Sun "Tony Drake who got his first pro- fessional break in the Catskills this Summer landed the Palace stage as- signment with feature billing." New York Journal-Amerlcan "The cradle of stars, the Palace The- atre, is launching a new voice which has been heralded as the greatest since Mario Lanza," Irene Tkirer, New York Post “Tony Drake. 28-year-old tenor, makes his Broadway debut as Palace vaudeville headliner." Currently, FRANK PALUMBO’S Philadelphia Contact: GARY WAGNER ASSOC., 161 Wost 57th St., Now York Clrclo 6-9470