Variety (February 1957)

60 VAUPETnXB Hamid’s^iUe’ for Favs: Learn To live Wilii and Even ‘Join’ TV By JAMES CONNERS Albany, Feb. 5. “Fairs have been with us since Biblical times. Other forms of mr tertainment have come and gone, but fairs will continue to exist and to be successful, although their managements must learn to live with television to capitalize on the medium’s personalities avail¬ able for outdoor appearances, and to book them with an intelligent realism.’’ So leading outdoor book¬ er George A. -Hamid told Variety at conclusion of emceeing the 30th annual presentation of acts, as a highlight of the dinner of the New York State Fairs Assn., in the ballroom of the Sheraton-Ten Eyck Hotel. , , Hamid, who pointed out that he won a tumbling championship in Madison Square Garden, New York, in 1907, decried the ten¬ dency of some fair managements to take a defeatist attitude toward television and to argue that ex¬ positions cannot successfully com¬ pete with it.’’ because •'.people can Destined To Be No. 1 it ^ Record in the Country . The Original “BUTTERFLY” on Cameo Records CHARLIE GRACIE For Availability Contaet BERNIE ROTHBARD 250 S. Broad St. Philadelphia 2, Pa. Phone: Kl 5-1665-6-7 PROFESSIONAL COMEDY MATERIAL for all Theatricals GLASON'S FUN-MASTER Tht Original Show Biz Gag FiU ' Wa Service the Stara 35 Issues $25 — First 13 for $7 Singly — ^$1.05 Each Iji. Sequence • 3 Parody Books, per Bk . $1.0 l • 3 Blackout Books, per Bk.:..$25 • • Minstrel Budget . $25 < How to Master the Ceremonies $3 per Copy • "The Comedian" Monthly Service « $15 per Year (12 Issues) We Also Teach M.C.'ing and Comedy Let a Real Professional Train You NO C.O.D.'S BILLY G L A'S O N 200 W. 54th St., N.Y.C. 19. Dept. V Circle 7-1130 turn on the switch of a set at home and” see big acts for free," “Fairs must live with television,” declared Hamid. “Any time they book a television act, they should exploit it to the hilt — through' in¬ terviews on dLsk jockey and other shows, by effective advertising and other means. At the same time, fair managements must be realis¬ tic. Because a Pat Boone is booked for the State Fair at Syracuse, it does not follow that he should be booked at the Trumansburg Fair. There is the matter of a fair’s size, its location and its grossing poten¬ tialities, to be considered.” Hamid stressed that upkeep of the physical plants is most im¬ portant. “I told the boys, at a i closed session, that they should try paint instead of whitewash,” he re¬ vealed. In view of the fact that fair as¬ sociations are non-profit operations and their managing boards are drawn from various walks of life, it is not reasonable to expect they will be as flexible and as alert to trends and changes as regular businesses and businessmen are, Hamid emphasized. Some of the men on fair boards are too much tied to the past and “have the wrong attitude,” he con¬ tinued. Hamid saw sound grounds for the future of .fairs in “the younger men, the fellows who are ' moving aheatl.” Because fairs are a combination of “agriculture, business, entertain¬ ment and Old Home Week, pre¬ sented at a moderate price,” they will continue "to flourish, Hamid de¬ clared. Hub Show Biz Continued from page 57 sasas surrounded by filled-in ground. It will be covered over with multi¬ level plazas which in effect will provide a roof for the whole area. The main line .tracks of the Boston & Albany will run underground diagonally across the whole site.” Negotiations are underway with private interests for construction of the hotel which is to be situated close to' the municipal auditorium. The auditorium is to cost be¬ tween $5 and $6.5 mllion. The Pru¬ dential skyscraper will be a square¬ shaped tower building with 750,000 square feet of usable space. Cost of this building alone will be close to the $50 million mark. Parking space will allow for 5,000 cars. Shanks said the centre will pro¬ vide 1,300 new jobs and estimated 300 other persons would be brought in by the company. Some 1,000 business leaders were on hand to be briefed on the de¬ tails. Ernest Henderson, prexy of the Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is the kind of a dream that builds new cities and gives a re¬ birth to mature economies. This is the opening gun in a resurgence of business and industrial growth which will bring greater prosperity to every one of our two-and-a-halfmillion citizens.” O&J’s Miami Kickoff Olsen & Johnson open their, Mi¬ ami Beach nitery tonight (Wed.) following a press preview held last night. Roster of entertainers will include son-in-law Marty May, plus their usual assortment orplayers. Operation is located on the site formerly occupied by Ciro’s. MORTGAGEE’S SALE ai PUBLIC AUCTION on the Premises Sdmmy's Amusement Center 133 NANTASKET AYE.. HULL. MASSACHUSETTS (Near Boston) Vaade, Cafe Dates New York Helene De Lys a newcomer to the International Showcase toihorrow (Thurs.) . . . Trudi Richards works the Zephyr Room, Cleve¬ land, May 7 . , . Billy Vine dated for El Morocco, Montreal, March 6 . . . Betty Hutton goes into the Fontainebleau, Miami Beach, March 26 . . . Hick Shawn set for the Palmer House, Chicago, April 20 . . . Connie Moore tapped for the Elegante, Brooklyn, starting Friday (8) . . . Lili St, Cyr, starting at the Mapes, Reno, June 27" . . . Peggy King goes to the Village, San Francisco, March 7 . , . Betty Madigan makes a March 11 stand at the Mocambo, Montreal. ' Kitty Kallen, back after an ill¬ ness, has signed with the William Morris Agency . . . Somethin’ Smith & Redheads pacted for the Cliche Club, Detroit, Feb. 18 . . . Singer Isobel Robins signed for a series of Sunday nights at the Red Carpet . . . Bob O’Donnell of the Interstate Circuit to be Texas Chairman for the Jimmy Durante tribute by the Jewish Theatrical Guild for the dinner at the Wal¬ dorf-Astoria March 7 . . . Maya Angelou heading the new show which preemed at Le Cupidon last night (Tues.) . . . Division of spoils has caused the split of the impend¬ ing combo of the Harvey Boys & Arlene Fontana, who had been re¬ hearsing an act in the Pittsburgh area. They had been working club dates in preparation for a bow at the Holiday House, Pittsburgh. Hollywood' Lee Scott signed to choreograph nitery sequences in , Edward Small’s “The Barney Ross Story.” . . . Gordon MacRae will guest solo with Birmingham Symph Feb. 16 •beneJit performance ... Lucille Norman opens three-week stand, Feb. 21, L.A. Statler Hotel . . . Pup¬ peteer Jimmy Shaw current at Bar of Music . . . Lisa Kirk follows her two-week stint at the Ambassador Hotel with a three-weeker at Hotel Americana, Miami Beach, Feb. 20 . . . Earl Barton will handle the choreography on first show at new Tropicana Hol;el, Las Vegas, March 1. . , . Paul Gilbert, current at Frank Sennes’ Moulin Rouge, opens four-week date at Hotel Roosevelt, New Orleans, Feb. 28. Ringliiig __ Continued from page 57 ^ tained Clifford S. Hogan, a Miami accountant, for a look into the books, was shown some cash vouch¬ ers and a trial balance, but was denied access to more pertinent facets o.f operation. Mrs. Sanford’s petition declares that according to the company charter and Florida law, it is pro¬ vided that a director shall have full knowledge of the company’s operations, and therefore must ex¬ amine the books in order to be able to discharge her legal duty. Charted also provides that two di¬ rectors can call a confab. On this basis, a meeting was called by Mrs. Sanford and Mrs. Irene Ringling Bonsigneur (widow of Robert Ringling), another minority stockholder and director, ^or Dec. 10. That meeting was called off. Third minority stockholder is W. C. Dunn of Sarasota. Defendants named in the "peti¬ tion are North, general manager Art Concello, John Reddy, secre¬ tary, and N. J. Schiavone, control¬ ler. Concello and Harry S. Dube, program concessionaire for the cir¬ cus, are negotiating all the busi¬ ness for the show and for all prac¬ tical purposes are in control of the situation, it’s alleged. Both Con¬ cello and Dube are signing con¬ tracts and have made major com¬ mitments for this season’s opera¬ tions. Mrs. Sanford and the other rriinority stockholders seek to de¬ termine whether North has dele¬ gated control of the show. Steele’s Brit. Buildup FRIDAY, FEB. 8. 1957 at 11 A.M. AMUSEMENT EQUIPMENT KIDDIE RIDES ALLEN HERSCHELL MGR MERRY-GO-ROUND ALLEN HERSCHELL SKY FIGHTER W/8 SKY ROCKETS ROTO WHIP W/8 CARS & MOTORS BOAT RIDE W/5 BOATS & MOTORS JEEP RIDE W/8 CARS & MOTORS TWIN HEAD MILLS FREEZER W/lVa H.P. MOTOR, SCHAEFFER DEEP FREEZE .CABINET, Ticket Booths, Benches,OTHtR AMUSEMENT DEVICES, ETC, Terms: Cash or Certified Check — Sale by Order Att'y for Mortgagee For Additional l(ifprmation — Contact Auctioneer J.' STONE & CO., Auctioneers 114 State St.. LAfayette 3-2477, Boston, Mass. ! Edinburgh, Feb. 5. I Tommy Steele, a young English I rock ’n’ roller, will open a British vaude* tour at the Empire Theatre hei'e April 1. He starts his first film for Insig¬ nia, offshoot of Anglo-Amagamated, Feb. 18, at Beaconsfield Studios, London. Tentative title is “The Tommy Steele Story.” Plot con¬ cerns his adventures in the mei’i chant navy and his sudden jump j to national spotlight as a tv ahd i disk r&r singer. W<;daesday, February 6, I957 hside Stutf-VaudeviDe { A testimonial dinner for Mary E. Driscoll,, colorful ex-dhairman the fioston Licensing Board who made headlines for many years in'th policing of Hub. nightlife, is set for March . 26 at Sheraton Plaza recognition of her 34 years Of public service. The “Friends of Mav! E. Driscoll,” including nitery ops, theatre reps, liquor association ret? hotel interests, plan the setting up of a $25,000 endowment fund signed to take care of Miss Driscoll's needs for life. The residue wouS go to charities designated by Miss Driscoll. ^ Jersey Burlesque In Trouble , Continued from page 57 : City Commission. Modeled after Newark’s arti-strlpplng law, the regulations list as violations “the commission of actions that shall be lewd, obscene or indecent . . .” Also outlawed Is use of “profanoi lascivious, indecent or disgusting language . . The twin ordinances, which be¬ came effective Jan. 1, reportedly were inspired by a flood of tele¬ grams and letters from clergymen, veterans groups and “public spir¬ ited” citizens who long have cam¬ paigned to “clean up the situation.” Their attitude is best summed Up by an editorial captioned ?‘For Commoi; . Decency” which ap¬ peared In the Dec. 21 issue of The Hudson Dispatch, UnionCity. The late Msgr. Robert J. Byer, says the editorial, “who for many years sought to rid Union City of burlesque, would have been happy yesterday, if he had lived, for his long fight had, apijarently, finally triumphed ... These orilinances have sufficient teeth to make them effective in outlawing all obscene performances, whether they are presented at the Hudson Theatre or elsewhere ...” Torsos Tamed There’s little doubt that the laws have tamed a tornado of torso. For on the Hudson’s stage last week, which once resounded with the pelvic pyi’otechnics of Tempest Storm and Ann “Bang Bang” Ar¬ bor, the strip contingent offered routines practically devoid of the bumps & grinds of yore. Headliner Gaby DeLy$, a petite brunet who bills herself as “The Body of France,” shed her outer raiment down to panties and a filmy bra. \ But her anatomical movements ’were confined to “art” poses on a dressing table bench plus a couple of “acro-ballet” rou¬ tines. Ann Curtis, a tall redhead Saranac lake By Happy Benway Saranac Lake, N.Y., Feb. 5. Don McNeill during his network “Breakfast Club” broadcast saluted Happy Benway and his Variety column, accenting the column’s tagline, “Write to those who are ill.” The McNeill gang of radio artists will appear at the Will Rog¬ ers Hospital Feb. 11 and are skedded to broadcast for a full v/eek from the stage of the local Schine Pontiac Theatre here dur¬ ing the Winter Carnival Week, when McNeill will be crowned IGng of the Winter Carnival, that will bo in connection with “Varieties of 1957,” given by the Rotary Club and produced by Eddie Vogt. Emily Anne Bowyer, freelance tv-radio writer, in from Albany for the general 0.0. and rest period. Patricia Matthews,.wife of Thor Matthews of Motiograph Inc., also a new arrival. John Gurba back at the rest routine after a two-week furlough in Philly where his wife is cashier at the ^.StanleyWarner Lane The¬ atre. Ruth Burke, cashier of the Loop Theatre, Toledo, ' who graduated here in class of ’51, reports she’s at work daily and enjoying good health. . Joseph Chestnut Hays (lATSE) of Culver City is flashing a top progress report. The winter card tournament is in full swing with Marion Mc¬ Laughlin and Bob (Mello-Larks) Smith in charge at the Will Rogers. Appropriate prizes are given the winners, and among first to cop them were George (Elephant) Pow¬ ers, Arthur J. Slattery and Marion MacLaughlin. Write to those who are ill. with prodigious equipment, belied her nickname of “Miss Perpeutai Motion.” Even the comics Were toned down, Manny King and LIfty Lewis, veterans of the double en. tendre, were generally limited to such innocuous quips as “Every man has his woman, but the ice¬ man has his pick.” Sparse audiences attest to the enfotced change of poi, icy. They heckle the comedians and boo the strippers. Same situation prevails at the Empire where Marilyn, “The Cal¬ endar Girl,” and Donna Christine “The Original Rock ’n’ Roll Girl,’’ failed to titillate the customers Fri¬ day (1) at the opening of “Pin-Upg of '57.” In the glorious pre-ordi¬ nance days, when a. stripper un¬ zipped the last zipper, :the tempo of the music increased, the blue spot¬ light became bluer, the trumpets and trombones growled whilst the drummer frantically vied to stay in time with the bumps & grinds. tudUeend^** Orial"®*®'* _ IT r Orillnol*'* AN YOUR WIND 1 The I sti» Heturnlng F®**’ h. CoWmon Room hotsl RAYROMAINE and CLAIRE "Delightfully Different" Now Appearing or The Casino Campionei Italy Than1($ to TAVEL WHEN IN BOSTON /#'0 th» HOTEL AVERY Avery A Woihlngton Sfi. , Evtry room newly decorated. Air conditioned rooms available. The Home ef Shew folk MAKES PHOTOS MO$S 1,000,000 FOR ELVIS PRESLEY PHOTOS a$ low as 1c each Write lor samples, pricei. MOSS PHOTO SERVICE 850 W. 80th St., N.Y. <9. N.YPLAZA 7-3520 BInco 85, Serflng America's Stef* rvoaNEWRAY HAdEHDA HOTEL FRESNO, CALIF. MILTON DEUTSCH AGENCY 9157 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood 45, Calif. VARIETY said — "It's quite a fedt — the xcsty pace ond give-them-all performance ' but Cob in his familiar role os leader of the frenzied flock — It's the breeziest package around.” CAB CALLOWAY CURRENTLY SIXTH WEEK COTTON CLUB, Miami Beach Mgh BILL MITTLER. 1619 Broadwqy. New York