Variety (March 1956)

62 VAUDEVILLE PSSRIETY Wednesday, March 14, 1956 ‘Politico’ Joey Adams Gets His From Confreres at 25th Anni Gala By JOE COHEN | Joey Adams, who marked his; 25th anni in show biz with a gala at Gilmore’s Restaurant, N. Y., last week, started his first public appearances as a politico. As a youth, he was one of the campaign¬ ers for the late N. Y. Mayor Fiorcl- lo H. LaGuardia. He addressed corner meetings, entertained the crowd, and ultimately this project¬ ed him into the entertainment field. Actually, in the quarter-century that Adams has been paid for it, he has never abandoned that po¬ litical touch—not that his comedies carry a political tinge, but he seemingly has developed the knack of a ward boss to cater to those who stand in line at the boxoffice, and the ability of a statesman to make his presence felt in the higher councils. A roomful of celebs and newspa¬ permen came to pay tribute to Adams at Gilmore’s last Tuesday (6). A lineup of the town’s top columnists, including Earl Wilson, Louis Sobol, Frank Farrell, Lee Mortimer, Danton Walker and Hy Gardner took the mike to give Adams plaques and cups from various organizations for his as¬ sistance in raising funds for some charitable endeavor. Adams has played a lot of bene¬ fits, probably as many as most en¬ tertainers who have been land- based in New York. This type of endeavor has its own type of payoff. But it’s an instance where the politics. of show busi¬ ness and the commonweal have a mutual link, and Adams has been one to fuse the best features of both for the good of himself and a lot of organizations and even for the entertainment industry itself. Beaucoup Amis Adams certainly has beaucoup amis in all fields. Virtually every show biz personality who could make it showed up, and the room was loaded. Red Buttons emceed the show with some interruptions from Cindy (Mrs. Adams). After about two sentences, Mrs. Adams heckled “Joey, you told me he was going to be funny.” But as he got into the subject, Buttons displayed his usual good form at these functions. The hecklings by the Adams dis¬ taffer forced Adams into the act. Whether he was kidding on the I taka this occasion to express my gratitude for the continuing confi¬ dence placed in me by my cus¬ tomers and friends in show business. JESSE BLOCK Registered Representative IRA HAUPT & CO. Investment Brokers 50! 7th Ave., New York 18, N. Y. LOongacre 5-6262 COMEDY WRITER A new writer with a talent for creat¬ ing effective material would like to make some contacts. Monologues; situations; topical—tailored to your delivery and style. Any reasonable "pay-for-what-you-use" plan available to responsible parties. Write to: VARIETY, Box 314, 612 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 11, III. souare or not, the mock-seriosoed pleas to his spouse to please not to lose him his friends. Before Buttons hit his stride, Jack E. Leonard had hoped to hasten the process of killing off the conferencier, by heckling. “What was your final remark?” However, as the introes and speeches wore on, Buttons got off such remarks as the one to Rudolph Halley, counsel to the Kefauver Committee, “You killed it for everybody.” Whi’e Buttons d'd an excellent job on the toastmastering, it re¬ mained for Leonard to deliver the prize oration. To Rocky Marciano, Leonard suggested that he fight his manager to get some of the money coming to him. Tn his tribute to Adams, he stated that Adams has worked hard for Israel. “Now you see hew they’re doing.” The most sustained laughs were by A1 Kelly, who double-talked into continuous yocks. Adams, who beamed at the turn¬ out, remarked that the only celeb who didn’t turn out was Grace Kelly, who is busy learning how to deal (for Monte Carlo). He in- troed Mrs. Fiorello H. LaGuardia and was all humility in the rest of the evening, thanking everyone. Adams is alsb a well-known au¬ thor, having his name on four books. He has now delved into the field of film production with “Singing in the Dark,” which preemed in three houses in vari¬ ous sections of New York last week. He is also available for weddings, engagements, etc. ‘Tough’ Vegas ■ v Continued from page 61 —- and ask them for their applica¬ tions,” Sinott said. “Furthermore,” he continued, “we’re trying to em¬ phasize that an investigation can take up to six months, the period allowed by state statute.” .Sinott said that in order to get a license under the Commission’s new rules, the applicant must not only have past gambling experi¬ ence, or be represented by a for¬ mer gambler, but he must also be ready to prpve- that he can as¬ sume complete financial responsi¬ bility for his acquired interests. “This means,” said S|inott,” the applicant will have to be prepared to even go so far as opening his safe deposit boxes for the board’s personal inspection.” Sinott disclosed that figures compiled over the past six months prove conclusively that of the three Vegas resorts that folded last year, only the Dunes had a valid ex¬ cuse. The latter hotel, according to Sinott, “simply wasn't making money.” But, said Sinott, the cash register receipts of . the Moulin Rouge and the Royal Nevada were plenty sufficient to sustain-the two operations even through the slack winter months. Sinott blamed mismanagement and too heavy a coin outlay for operating expenses on the Royal Nevada, Moulin Rouge collapses. “One expense that appears ut¬ terly ridiculous,” said Sinott, “are those fantastic salaries paid enter¬ tainers, especially in cases where the resultant business doesn’t war¬ rant it. But,” he added, “that’s up to the casino owners—the wallets are theirs, not the Control Board’s.” ANGELAIRES HOWARD LANIN. MANAGEMENT 113.W. 57Hi 51., Naw York JUd.oR &-304S Circus Review I Cirque Medrano, Paris Paris, March 7. Gilles Margaritis presents “Ches - terfollies ’56,” in two parts , with Zavatta, Charivari (5), Balladinis (2), Mona Silvy, Salvatore & Kate, Marie Sergent, Drena, Isolina, Lydia & Linda, Talo Boys (5), Bob Bromley, Alex, Simo Charlies, Gau¬ tier Dogs (2), Jean Laporte Orch (20); $3 top. Gilles Margaritis, while the reg¬ ular Medrano Circus is on the road, has taken over the house to mount a composite circus-music hall revue, JL,eavened with a “Hellzapop- pin’ "-like carrying-on around the one-right house, this shapes as an overall comic, as well as sawdust- ridden show, and should get patronage. Main reason is the consecration of the house clown Zavatta. Be¬ sides inventiveness, slapstick and daring, Zavatta also displays a satir¬ ical and pathetic sense and emerges a complete clown well rat¬ ing star billing. A bevy of good acts, some fine sketches and a gen¬ eral- good pacing make this a worthy entry, though lacking some of the more diverse qualities of the real circus. Show begins with okay clown shenanigans of Charivari (5) and then into an equine number of Florian that has the horses well trained and showy. Balladinis (2) essay a quick juggling bit for an okay offbeater. Zavatta comes on for a zany takeoff on a ballerina who is hired to dance on a bare- back horse. Then a hefty soprano, Marie Sergent, is annoyed by a tiny piano player in Salvatore for a lowdown risible bit. Bob Bromley brings in his per- l fectly manipulated puppets and his trapezist and sad clown fit in per¬ fectly. The uncanny mime of the stringers is in for big mitts. Zavat¬ ta again comes in with a funny desert island routine. Salvatore & Kate is a fine contortion number with a long-limbed girl flung about like a sack by a tiny fellow and finally wedged into a small box. A good sight act for U. S. interest. Isolina does some fancy balancing on a trapeze to keep eyes aloft while a cage is put up for the lions, Lydia & Linda do some fine arabesques and balancing on the trapeze, with one muscular girl supporting the other from hand¬ held rings, etc., while the other balances on her toes. Talo Boys (5) are an acrobatic number mixing plenty of comedy into it. This is a good number and ending with a vervy takeoff on the 1900-type ac¬ robatics with more handclapping and posing than acrobatics, which fits their style well. Gautier Dogs (2) has a man and a woman putting five shaggy dogs through some clever tactics. Quaintness and ease of the act, with no forced harassing of the canines, make this an excellent entry and it’s warmly applauded. Mona Silvy abets Zavatta in his sketches. Drena is $ fine emcee and Jean Laporte. Orch (20) give good accompaniment to the cavort- ings. Clown trio of Alex, Simo & Charlie also helps in the buffoon aspects of the spectacle. Mosk. R. I. Terp Binge The Rhodes Ballroom, Cranston, R. I., has gone on a name-buying binge to hypo trade. Spot has bought Julius LaRosa, for next Sat¬ urday (17), with Frankie Laine and Pat Boone for subsequent weeks. * The Abe Feinberg Agency sets the talent in that spot. Troupers’ Easter Project Welfare Committee of The Troupers, femme counterpart of The Friars, is now working on the annual Easter project of"furnish¬ ing clothing to needy theatrical children. Organization at this time Is also lining up medical and dental care for the kids. u&iias Dave Brubeck Quartet slated f March 26 at State Fair Aud . . Nat Cohen, 88’er, and Ski Fletcher, WFAA-TV vocalist, in Village Club . . . Danny Marsh; and Gary Eoss, comedy team, nc at Colony Club, with Geor Shearing: quintet due March 16 . Gary Morton and Patty Thom are additions to Nat (King) C« show at State Fair Aud April Show also has June Christy, Fo Freshmen and Ted Heath’s orch. Charlie Applewhite due for An induction March 26 In Fort Won «i tit* -.Yirlr >. New Houston Club Houston, March 13. A new, posh private club opened here recently. It’s The Park Towers Club, located in the Park Towers Apartments, a newly-con¬ structed luxury apartment house. Management plans to have en¬ tertainment, but because of the limited room, acts will have to be confined to solos or duos. Texas liquor laws give private clubs their existence. For the opening, a Dallas duo was brought to town. Bobby Bat¬ son, singer and 88’er, teamed with femme warbler Lieux Dressier. MCA Veep Stripes Hollywood, March 13. Music Corp. of America handed out veepee stripes to four here. Herbert Brenner was upped in MCA Ltd., and Lou Lindsay, Man¬ ning O’Connor and Dale Sheets in MCA-TV Ltd. Winter Threat . Continued from page 61 ■ tour plans which blossomed this season: for $10 per, the night in¬ cluded stops at three places, with a drink provided in two and hot- turkey supper in the third. As many as 300 persons per tour have been accommodated on a big night, in some cases filling a hotel, room for the first show to the point where legit cafegoers couldn’t get the sort of table they usually duked the maitre d’"for; the hotelmen however, are catering to the tours more than ever, feeling that year ’round business can be established thus enabling them to hold on to help, and most important, chance of tempting some tourists into checking into their hostels on their next trip down. Middlin’ Pickln’s Night clubs, too, booked in the bus-groups, but didn’t seem to get them in enough numbers to help late'shows any. The bargain price, too, couldn’t aid in keeping their financial heads above water, where a hotel owner could mark off any losses to promotion.. Of the past season’s attractions only Tony Mar¬ tin, Peter Lind Hayes and Mary Healy and one or two others racked up the big crowd returns for the Fontainebleau; Harry Bela- fonte and Joe E. Lewis for the Eden Roc; Myron Cohen for the Sans Souci; Jackie Miles, Lillian Roth, Dick Shawn were among the winners in a generally winning Roulette Room of the Monte Carlo; Jan Murray at the Nautilus; Sam¬ my Davis Jr. packed Ciro’s for 10 days. Other acts in the various spots worked to fair to bad business; new rooms such as the Seville’s Matador and Lucerne’s Club Chalet never got off the ground, despite booking the best attractions their budgets could afford. The Empress hotel’s Regency Room, which was a late entry, is still trying to break the good-biz barrier. Of them all, Alan Gale, doing his one show a night in the Celebrity Club of the Versailles, is the only consistent moneymaker, thanks to his fanati¬ cal following who come time and again to pack the place and listen to his one-man show. Withal, the Eden Roc and the Fontainebleau are planning ahead, setting in for next season those acts which have proved winners, and looking for other likely pros¬ pects in the upper brackets. Both will continue booking the best at¬ tractions available for one-week stands through the late spring and summer, at fairly healthy budgets. The Seville, Lucerne, Sans Souci and Nautilus hotels have not set their sights as yet, although reports have several going to one-night bookings for the summer. Among night clubs, the Latin Quarter closes, per every annum, on the 17th. The Vagabonds will run to June at least. Ciro’s is staying open with Dorothy Dandridge current. The strip joints and late-spots stay open the year ’round, no matter what conditions prevail, thank* to low operating costs. New York ’ Constance Moore signed for the Statler, Los Angeles, March 15 . Helen Halpin goes into El Morocco* Montreal, May 28 . . . Spellbinders open at the Palace, N.Y., Friday (16) . . . Terri Stevens moves into the Lotus Club, Washington, to¬ morrow (Thurs.) . . . Jan Murray opens at the Flamingo, Las Vegas- June 7 for three.weeks . . . Sally Blair drew a holdover at the Vanity Fair, Miami Beach . . . Billy Fields into the Muehlebach, Kansas City, Friday (16) . . . Vet London agent Will Collins, father of filmster Joan Collins, set to visit the U.S. with a new protege, Dave King . . . Michael Jarrett bows at Le Ruban Bleu, N.Y., March 28 . . . Cab Cal¬ loway to El Morocco, Montreal, March 19. . . . Irving Fields Trio’ started at the St. Moritz Hotel, N.Y., last night (Tues:). Lolo & Lita (Lannegrand), origi¬ nally from Argentina, obtained their final citizenship papers last week . . . Winged Victory Choru* set for El Patio, Mexico City. Hollywood George Shearing Quintet opens a two-week stand Friday (16) at the Colony Club in Dallas . . . The Ames Bros, play a three-week stand at the Cocoanut Grove be¬ ginning March 28 . . . Yma Sumac and her Peruvian instrumentalists and dancers have been set for a three-week engagement at the Desert Inn, Las Vegas, April 23 . . . Chirp Ann Hathaway opens a four-week stand at Johnny Walsh’s “881 Club” on March 21 . . . Con¬ stance Moore opens a three-week stint tomorrow at the Statler Ho¬ tel .. . Bill Andrews will stage and choreog Mae West’s new nitery act, skeddefl. to break in April 2 at Palumbo’s, Philly ... Sir Lancelot stars in “Calypso Carnival” at Philharmonic Aud Saturday (17) . . . Elliott Bros, orch set for Rain¬ bow Gardens Ballroom, Pomona. Chicago Beverlee Dennis set to replace Morty Gunty at the Chez Paree, Chicago, tomorrow (Thurs.) through March 28 . . . Helen King into the Chez Paree, Chi, March 29-April 22, on the Tony Martin show . . . FeKcia Sanders tops the bill at Chicago’s Black Orchid, opening March 26 for three frames . . . Nat (King) Cole opens at the Chez Paree, Chicago, May 10 . . . Stanton & Peddie, who close at the Chase Hotel, St. Louis, tomorrow (Thurs.) night, bought by the hostelry for three years . . . Jerry Lester re-signed with Music Corp. of America . . . Betty Madigan into the Palmer House, Chicago, April 19 for four weeks . . . Billy Wil¬ liams Quartet pacted for Peacock Alley in the Midtown Hotel, St. Louis, April 20 for eight days. 1 JEAN EVANS Singing Star Currently' 5th Week HOTEL ^ PIERRE. N. Y. (Thunks STANLEY MELBA) WARD HALL AND LEONARDO Currently ARABIAN NIGHTS REVUE OPA LOCKA (Miami)