Variety (February 1959)

PfaRnsfr VAUDEVILLE Wednesday, February 11, 1959 65 Vancouver Civic Group Bids Solons Baa Segregation in Theatres, Etc. Vancouver, Feb. 10. -*■ Vancouver Civic Unity Assn., concerned with Tacial and religi¬ ous equality here, lisa petitioned British Columbia officials in the capital, Victoria, for statutes to stop current segregation and color * bans in “hotels, taverns, theatres, restaurants and other accommo¬ dations.” It wants a board set up that can slap offenders. At least one local film house is segregating colored patrons and “objecting to the wearing of tur¬ bans,” by East Indians, according to group’s chairman S. B. Gervin petition is backed by a stack of affidavits Of parties discriminated against. Taverns and certain ho¬ tels, which official declines to name, are ousting or “freezing” colored folk, and association is aware that colored acts, from stateside, are limited to certain S ptels and motels for accommoda- on, he said. He deplored, the fact that none have spoken out in pre¬ test, “though we promise no un¬ wanted publicity.” Group, which includes t)r. W. G. Black, immigration topper who in¬ terceded for area’s German colony during several-chapter fuss over old anti-Nazi' films on tv last year, now largely remedied, is also seek¬ ing a ban on the racial and religi¬ ous origin question in job-applica¬ tion blanks. Case in point on * problems of nitery acts was that of Leolani, Polynesian comedienne, who could find no accommodation here for her stint at the Cave, was hosted by a local family for the period of her stay. Central hotels where acts normally find shelter are the Devonshire, Parktown, Kamlo, Ritz. Local labor unions are back¬ ing Civic Unity’s petition to quash color barrier, which few as yet will admit exists here. BLACKPOOL NET 821Q ‘SURPRISE’DIP OF 234G Blackpool, Eng., Feb. 10. A long run of increasing profits at this northwest England show biz mecca has been followed by a set¬ back. A trading profit of $821,823' showed a decrease of $234,486, it was disclosed at the annual meet¬ ing of Blackpool Tower Co., outfit controlling majority of theatres and cinemas here. Among causes for the decline were bad weather and the state of« trade in northern England, accord¬ ing to H. Douglas Bickerstaffe, company chairman. Company had also suffered a steep fall during early and middle parts of the sum¬ mer season when the town had fewer visitors. • Despite this new setback, he re¬ mained “an optimist,” he added. “I do not even subscribe to the widely-held view that television is killing show business. It certainly has a bad-effect during the winter when people would rather stay by their firesides. “In the summer, however, Black¬ pool’s millions of visitors prefer to see artistes in the flesh. After a day in the-open enjoying the sea and the : sands, they are ready for an evening’s entertainment and dancing.” Blackpool, seaside town in Lan¬ cashire, is the too show biz centre of Britain, outside of London, be¬ tween May and October each year. Atlanta’s Paradise Room Atlanta, Feb. 10. George S. Sherinan has been named manager of Henry Grady Hotel’s Paradise Room, succeeding Lark Bragg, who resigned to enter the tax consultant field. Room has been under temporary supervision of Harvey Watts, brother of min¬ strel man Cotton Watts (& Chick). Sherman, native of Danzig (Free State that was), has been in this country nine years and worked at Luchow’s and the Stork Club in New York before coming to -Atlan¬ ta in 1957 as catering manager of newly organized Cherokee Town & Country Club. He subsequently be¬ came manager of the new Key Club, with lavish quarters in Broad¬ view Plaza; a shopping development in Atlanta’s northwest section. U.S. in on Caracas Date Of Cole’s Latm-Am. Tout Hollywood, Feb. 10. Nat King Cole launches a seven- week Latin-American concert tour March 28 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, returning here May 18 after ap¬ pearances in all the major South American countries. One of highlights of tour will be a benefit performance in Cara¬ cas, Venezuela, April 9, sponsored by the U. S: Ambassador there with joint blessing of the State Dept, and the Venezuelan government as a gesture of goodwill. All proceeds go to charity. Accompanying Cole will be his wife Maria; instrumental trio of Lee Young (drums), John Collins (guitar), Charles Harris (bass), man¬ ager Carlos Gastel and interpreter Carlos Leon. Dean Martin, Red Skelton for Copa In Upped Outlay The Copacabana is completing negotiations for dates on Red Skel¬ ton and Dean Martin. Skelton is slated for a stand at the New York cafe between April 16 and May 6, while Martin is expected to come in Nov. 19 for two weeks. The Copa is shelling out a heav¬ ier budget than usual this year. Aside from Skelton and Martin, the nitery has pacted Louis Prima & Keely Smith to start May 7, fol¬ lowed by Tony Martin on May 21. Nitery has also signed for. the N.Y. bow of Ford & Hines on the same bill with Tony Bennett, Feb.26. Following Bennett, the Will Mas- tin Trio starring Sammy Davis Jr. comes in March 12; Frankie Laine, March 30; next is Skelton, Prima- SmithT Tony Martin, then Britain’s Frankie Vaughan, June 25. The nine weeks after that are still to be lined up, inasmuch as it’s customary to wait to see what availabilities there are in the sum¬ mer. Frequently, the absence of a talent schedule during the hot months indicates a summer .osing, but this is believed not to be the case in this instance. The fall season will start Sept. 10 with six weeks of Joe E. Lewis followed by Nat King Cole in Oct- tober, with Dean Martin following. The latter will be playing his first N. Y. stand as a single since break¬ ing up with Jerry Lewis. He made his N. Y. nitery bow as a single at the. now defunct Riobamba, follow¬ ing a protracted stand of Frank Sinatra. SEE IKE BID TO USSR FOR SEATTLE EXPO Washington, Feb. 10. If no hitches develop, Russia next month will get its first invite to a bigtime international exposiion in his country since the 1939 World’s Fair in New York. . President Eisenhower is expect¬ ed to send out invitatioins in-March for the ’‘Century 21” exposition in Seattle. Expo officials are still conferring with the State Dept, over exact makeup of invitation list, but it’s understood that, bar¬ ring something unforeseen, the Soviets will he on it. Under the legislation setting up Federal participation in the fair, Communist China, North Korea and Viet Minh are barred. Hungary won’t get an invitation either, but Czechoslovakia might. Prime emphasis of the exposition will be on science, hut a 3,000-seat concert hall to be built by City of Seattle will afford performing arts a good showcase. Officials said they hoped Russia Would send a top ballet troupe or folk dance team of Moyseyev calibre. Special section in Commerce Dept is working up recommends-- tions for- a Federal appropriation; most of which will go for the U. S. science exhibit. Stgte of Washing¬ ton . and Seattle are putting- up $15,000,000 for the exposition. ‘Burlesque’ to Hit toast “The Best of Burlesque,” a satire which had run last season in Car- .negie Hall Theatre, N.Y., is being! given a Toadshowing for presenta¬ tion on the Coast, and possibly in Las Vegas later in the year. Cast¬ ing will be done on the Coast by Stan Seiden. * Deal was set by Miles Ingalls & Howard Hoyt. Chi s Marienthals Plan Third Nitery Chicago, Feb. 10. Oscar and George Marienthal, who own Mister Kelly’s and the London House jazz club (and a parking lot), are plotting expan¬ sion via a third nitery, this one primarily to'showcase cameo revue presentations. \ The brothers have leased a small tract of land fronting Rush St. (on the near north side) and hope to start construction within two months. Unlike their present pros¬ perous holdings, the new club will serve only beverages. Interior is being blueprinted by Broadway stage designer Ralph Alswang, and as envisioned, stage and lighting facilities will he able to accommodate legit offerings, as well as the more intimate musical revue and standard nitery fare. Building architect is Bertram Goldberg, who redesigned the Cinestage (ex-Selwyn legitery) when the late Mike Todd bought it. Though plans are still on the drawing boards, the main (street level) room is conceived for 250- 300 Capacity. A lower level lounge is expected to hold about 200 im¬ bibers. Total cost of the project, accord¬ ing to Oscar Marienthal, will come to at least $250,000. Ohio State Fair’s New Mgt Would Not Have Families ‘Boat Loans’ to See Bills Columbus, Feb. 10. Rowland Bishop, a Union County farmer, has been named to man¬ age the Ohio State Fair, replacing D. Robert Jones, whose resigna¬ tion is effective Feb. 14. Bishop agrees with his boss, state aggie director Robert Ter- hune, that the fair in the past has used too many big name entertain¬ ers for one or two-night stands, and said he was inclined to book entertainers for longer runs. Bis¬ hop has had only brief experience on the management side of a fair, having assisted in organizing the Plain City Fair and serving for four years on the Union County fair board. Jones resigned in the midst of criticism that there had been too many high-priced enter¬ tainers at the fair and too little emphasis on agriculture. In announcing the appointment, director Terhune said that the Ohio State Fair would be the kind of event that a family can attend without having to “float a loan.” He is not in favor of raising admis¬ sion prices, a move suggested by Jones last summer. “What I’m for is to get the most people there at the lowest price of admission at which we can break even,” Ter¬ hune said. AGVA BACKS BRIGHT VS. USSR CIRCUS TOUR; The national board of the Amer¬ ican Guild of Variety Artists voted to support national administrative secretary Jackie Bri&ht in his oppo¬ sition to bringing the Moscow State Circus into the Ur S. for a tour. Bright had written the State Dept, stating his disapproval of the ven¬ ture, with indications that he will picket its playdates and try to en¬ list other organizations to do like¬ wise. The matter was discussed at length, with first veepee Rajah Ra¬ boid making the motion. However, Raboid withdrew his motion after board member Paul Valentine made a plea for international co¬ operation by artists in the interests •of peace. However, the motion was reintroduced by Jay Lester, who cited the tour as a propaganda at¬ tempt by the Russians, and it was carried. See Brights AGVA Control Dipping In Wake of Penny Singleton Charges Danny Thomas and Dukes Set for IBEW Chi Ball Chicago, Feb. 10. Union-topper-lmpresario . Frank Darling has set the bill for the spring vaude extravaganza for membership -of local 1031, Int’I Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Layout will star Danny Thomas and feature the Dukes of Dixieland. ' Others inked for the seven-day; stand starting May 21 include thei Happy Jesters, Doodlers, Double-; Daters, dancer Johnny Bachemin, the Lou Breese orch and a line of singers-dancers. In addition to performing. Bachemin will again choreograph and stage. AGVA Board Nixes Look Into Books Of Relief Fund The national board of the Amer- icap Guild of Variety Artists voted last week to continue its Sick & Relief Fund as a one-wom¬ an operation under the control of its director, Margie Coate. For the second straight meeting, a motion to have a committee comprising the president (Penny Singleton) and other officers look into the books of the setup, was voted down by a strong majority. This move came after a bitter wrangle On the floor concerning previous actions by the hoard trig¬ gered by loans made by the Sick & Relief Fund. Former president Georgie Price stated on the floor that he had tried to get informs*, tion as to the loans made to na¬ tional hoard members, to find out why attempts at legislative re¬ form^ were constantly defeated. Miss Coate, .he said, turned him down. Miss Coate responded that national board members may call upon the resources, of this fund if they can prove need. The motion to. supervise the fund first came as a recommenda¬ tion in the' report of veepee Rajah Raboid. Russell Swann made this into a motion, but it was defeated. The fund now has about $250,- 000 but the disbursements are a well-guarded secret from any su¬ pervising body. Records are given out by numbers in order to guard the identity of the money recipi¬ ents. Raboid in his speech said that there is not even a bank pres¬ ident who controls that kind of money without supervision. Miss Coate also stated that she would prefer to wait until super¬ visory Federal legislation, now in the works, was adopted before dis¬ closures are made. —- m - ARTHUR BARKOW CHIEFS RIVIERA’S BOOKINGS Havana, Feb. 10. Arthur Barkow, veteran U.S. stage manager, is new entertainment di¬ rector for the Havana Riviera Ho-! tel here. He will handle booking! of talent in all the entertainment rooms of the hotel, including the Copa Room, L’Elegante, L’Aiglon and Doble O Nada. Barkow was long in employ of Billy Rose. Boston, Feb. 10. Allan Schwartz, owner of the Crawford House and the Tic Toe, intimeries, has bought the Hi Hat nitery on Massachusetts Ave. It was formerly owned by Julie Ro¬ senberg, and then Louis Stevens, and had been shuttered for 18 months. The spot, refurbished and with an enlarged bar, now seats 250 and is following a jazz policy with no cover or minimum. Abbey Lincoln is current with Noble „ Johnson Quartet and Emily Foster,' comedi¬ enne, and Hilary Rose Trio. Booker is Fred Petty agency. , Control of the American Guild of Variety Artists seems to he slipping away from the administra¬ tion headed by Jackie Bright, Al¬ though Bright is still regarded as having enough votes to sustain himself in office as national ad¬ ministrative secretary, the crum¬ bling process appears to be in being. This is regarded as the net ef¬ fect of the charges made by Penny Singleton, AGVA president, at last week’s national board meeting at . the Hotel New Yorker, N.Y. Miss ' Singleton confronted the board ] with charges of “lies, deceit and I corruption” in connection with the j acquisition of the AGVA Country ' Club and Recreation Centre at South Fallsburgh. N. Y. The matter was resolved by resolution which called for a com¬ mittee consisting of Miss Single- ton, Bright and the union’s attor¬ ney, Harold Berg, to call on the N.Y. State Attorney General to re¬ solve the questions brought up by Miss Singleton. The union's prexy had charged that the union, because of the wording of the charter of the AGVA home, doesn’t have title to j the proper.y and it is vested in a board which is not answerable to AGVA. Both Bright and Berg in¬ sisted that that isn’t so. Miss Singleton also charged that the home was being operated illegally since the AGVA Foundation, which acquired the home, had not taken out a certificate of compliance with the N.Y. Slate Dept, of Social Welfare, without which no chari¬ table institution may be operated. Thus, it her view, it had illegally solicited more than $13,000 in donations, most of it in New York state. Miss Singleton also charged that the acquisition of the home was not entirely ethical. She said that the property was really a “white ele¬ phant” which hadn’t been operat¬ ing for 18 months, despite claims that it was a “hot buy.” The charges reached their apex when board member Paul Valen¬ tine, took the floor to declare that either Erieht c** Berg, or both, were lying or Miss Singleton was. Therefore, to get at the truth, he was going to prefer charges against (Continued on page 68) MONTI EATERY OP WINS 33G FROM QUE. PREMIER Ottawa, Feb. 10. Based on a legal suit that began in 1946, Canada’s Supreme Court in Ottawa awarded Frank Ronca¬ relli $33,123.33 for damages suf¬ fered by the cancellation of a liquor permit for his Montreal res¬ taurant. Ordered to pay was the Premier of Quebec, Maurice Dup- lessis. It is believed to'be the first time a provincial premier was per¬ sonally sued, for such action. Duplessis clained Roncarelli took part in a “seditious conspiracy” by aa religious sect (Jehovah’s Wit¬ nesses). Roncarelli originally brought suit for $118,741 against Premier Duplessis six months after his per¬ mit to seT liquor was cancelled in December, 1946. A Quebec court awarded him $8,123 in 1951 and five years later an appeal court quashed the judgment. The deci¬ sion can still be appealed to the Privy Council in London since the case reached the courts before such appeals were abolished in 1949. Pitt’s Twin Coaches Sets Spring S’-ree; Waring Out Pittsburgh, Feb. 10. Fred Waring pulled out of his spring engagement at Twin Coaches, asking management for a release from bis contract because he wants to get away from niteries and concentrate on concert work. Lenny Litman already has him booked for a one-nighter in Octo¬ ber, at 3,800-seat Syria Mosque. Coaches, which has been operat¬ ing weekends since start of winter, except for occasional bookings of big names, is plotting a spring splash. It begins with Jimmy Durfante, April 3; Guy Lom¬ bardo, - pril 17; Kingston Trio, May 1; Xavier Cugat & Abbe Lane, May 8; Johnny Maiiiis, iVlay 22, and Four Freshmen, June 2. Platters also come in March 6 for eight days.