Variety (March 1959)

66 VAfJBEVHXK P^KHStf'Y Wednesday, Marek 25, 1959 Autry a Defendant in LA. Suit Cued by Brussels Rodeo Fiasco Los Angeles, March 24. ' Gene Autry is named as one of the defendants in a Superior Court suit involving last year’s Brussels rodeo turkey, which left. 150 cow¬ boys and cowgirls stranded in the Belgian capital. Three performers, first to bring court action to date, are asking $19,525 as amount claimed due them. Trio include Bill and Kay Williams and Bob Davenport, and named with Autry in suit are Cremer Rodeo, G. Robert Fleming, Wild West Show & Rodeo, Edward C. Flynn, Verne Elliott and George Murphy. Considerable speculation has arisen over who were directly Mgrs.’ ‘Newer Act’ ; Continued from page 65 —.^ take away their discipline from acts lies in the rise in importance of theatrical attorneys as career moulders. The legalites frequent¬ ly bark out the orders to agencies, who are left with the no alterna¬ tive but to try to carry out these demands. The loss of control is dangerous, say the agencies; because neither the act, personal manager nor at¬ torney can have an overall con- — -— - j sciousness of the directions of the r^ponsible for the P s | businegs can bave no knowledge of Kf L u Jr v at - overall trends, requirements ot in- the Brussels Worlds Faur. dividual buyers, and straining Case of the three performers, ac- j points of budgets. cording to Herbert Golden, their i attorney, will be based on “pierc-1. O ne . example is seen in the Flor- fne the comorate veil”- i e legal- S lda situation, according to one ing the corporate veil i.e jL egal This office helieves that ite will seek to prove the corpora¬ tions involved in production of the rodeo were not properly formed, and consequently, the individuals agency. This office believes that the free shows started by the Deauville hotel combine prior to the current season, in Miami Beach, ana consequently, uie luuiYiuuaio ... , . , , ,, who owned the corporations are in- which may be. copied by another dividually responsible. group of inns next year, will have A , . . . the overall tendency to knock out Autry last year told^fnp lthe week-long engagements in both he had only provided services for jnlght clubs and maJor hoteI the show and was not one of the Q th Florida vacatffloners get backers, although he had an option| h j fm £ fr entertainment. to buy stock in it if it clicked. Only other suit to have been filed previously was that brought by Hank Fine, publicist, last Sep¬ tember, in which he demanded $10,497 in salary and expenses as- sertedly due. Autry*, however, was not named as a defendant. All others in present suit were named with exception of Murphy and"; Elliott Six rodeo performers last De¬ cember brought claims before the California Division of Labor Law* Enforcement. there’s little likelihood that they will care to pay the gigantic prices that prevail in this resort area. This percentary feels that with long-range vision, the top rung of talent can save the night club situ- tion, but there’s little belief that this will happen. Dazzled by salar¬ ies up to $10,000 for a single night, plus whatever other emoluments come from a Miami Beach engage¬ ment, the acts will come flocking for the one-night stands. The agencies generally agree that strong action is needed in this as well as other situations. Unfor- _ /iTTimarhUTv ! wel1 as otner situations, urn:or- CLAIMS CHIMPS CHIMPEDljuaataly, they say, they can no __ . _ T __! longer previde that leadership. HIM OUT OF CHANGE* Agent Eddie Smith has asked for ; PUPC WAIKIKI TO a hearing before the Artists Rep-! LIll & YTiillUm 1U resentatives Assn., in New York to j obtain an accounting and commis- j sions on a series of dates booked, by A1 Dobritch for the Marquis! Family. . ' Smith claims that he permitted Dobritch to book a date for the chimp act, which he has under contract, for a stand in St. Louis. He says that afterward Dobritch set the act in Cincinnati, Toronto and elsewhere for which he re¬ ceived no commissions. “THE COMEDIAN' TH* LATEST — THE GREATEST — THE MOST-UP-TO-DATEST Now in its 103d Issue, containing stories, one-liners, ^oemetfes, song title*, hecklers, audience stuff. Mono¬ logs, parodies, double gags, bits. Ideas, Intros, impressions and im¬ personations, political. Interruptions. Thoughts of th* Day, Humorous Views of the News, etc. $30 yearly. Introductory Offer: Last 13 Issues $15 Single Issues $3 Foreign: $30 Yr.—3 Yrs. $t# Single Issues S4—No C.O.D.'s BILLY GLASON 3M W. 54 St- New York 1* 50TH SISTER LUAU Chicago, March 24. Hawaii’s admission to the Union is getting a month-long salute here from Club Waikiki, the nabe nitery with island-pegged shows. Owner Harry Nakamura, Hono¬ lulu-born, tees off the tribute to¬ day (Tues.) with a complimentary luau (traditional native feast). Rest of the month, in addition to luau dishes, he’ll also offer diners im¬ ported souvenirs from the 50th state. WILL OSBORNE and His ORCHESTRA HARRAH’S CLUB Lake Tahoe ! Three Stooges on Tour ! Of Chi B&K Nahe Houses Chicago, March 24. i Balaban & Katz theatres, looking j to cash in on the current revival of j the Three Stooges, have booked ! the team for a fast series of ap- : pearances in six nabe houses on j successive Saturdays, May 2 and 9. ! Comics will do morning shows at ‘the Granada, Gateway and Con¬ gress one week, then play the Up¬ town, Marbro and Tivoli the next A number of their old Columbia shorts will fill out the programs. Moscow’s $90 Cake of Ice’ “Holiday on Ice,” which will | play the Lenin Sports Palace, Mos- icow, starting Sunday (29), is issu- jing “passes” to newspapermen (throughout the U. S. as a promo¬ tion gimmick. Passes can be exchanged at the boxoffice, 24 hours in advance of the show, for two tickets at 360 rubles, or $90, each. The ruble is officially pegged at 25c. The DEEP RIVER BOYS Starring HARRY DOUGLASS _lattniafioflal Tow KEY CLU1 MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. riroctionr'WUUAM MORI1S AGENCY Pen. Mgr^ ED X1XKEBY K. C. Legion’s Continued from page 1 —^ DiPardo and orch is to follow the program. Funds derived from the Night of Stars supports the post’s memo¬ rial scholarship fund which an¬ nually gives four prizes to high- school seniors as well as special awards to outstanding students and their schools. What Makes Sammy Tick Washington, March 24. Sammy Davis Jr. came in for high praise from Rep. Richard Bolling (D-Mo.) in a speech to the U.S. House announcing that Davis will be presented the annual Americanism Award of a Kansas City American Legion post. “All America,”':said Rep. Boll¬ ing, “as well as the entertainment w T orld, should be deeply proud of Mr. Davis for his tremendous gifts of time and talents to philanthro¬ pic, civic and humanitarian causes. His help has brought comfort and health to countless thousands of adults and children. In^the last four years alone, he has received more than two dozen major public serv¬ ice awards in the field of inter¬ faith understanding and assistance to wounded veterans, orphans, youth and the aged.” TIJL Acts Won’t Topple on High U.S. Pedastal’ Glasgow, March 24. The standard of entertainment in. America is high, but not so high as to prevent British acts making the grade on datfe there, so. say- Morecambe & Wise, British com¬ edy duo, home after a look-see trek to the States following their Aus¬ tralian stints in Melbourne and Sydney. Twosome, here in vaude, spent some time looking at the show biz scene in Las Vegas. They opined that the “approach” of acts in the U.S. is what counts. They all go for the best musical orchestrations, said M & W., and they also main¬ tain versatility by being able to sing, dance, juggle, play musical instruments, etc. “Most of the acts we saw finished with a dance,” Ernie Wise said. Comedians believe that UJC. and other acts have still a lot to teach their American counterparts, and that more British acts should blaze a trail to the States. Morecambe & Wise visited San Francisco, Las Vegas and New York. They are now readying act for summer season at the Central Pier, Blackpool, northwest England show biz mecca. prai mmi uni ijj u m n mm mu i un m n nnnrq | Saranac Lake Saranac Lqke, March 24. - Benny Ressler, chairman of “We the Patients,” put on a St. Patrick’s Day party assisted by Arthur Slat¬ tery, Charlie Frank and Marion McLaughlin. It ended with a bingo game, welcome visitor with the shut-in gang. - , v , A. B. “Tony!*^toderson, man¬ ager of Schines^ipBntiac Theatre, was defeated fo^piyor by Demo¬ crat Frank Rat4§jj|ic. Jeri Lee PaigfcgjK musical com¬ edy and burldflRae mastered a major operation^*! is now flash¬ ing above-par pr O ^c ss, her recent clinic upping h'e^for meals and pictures. Pierre Andre, Spanish dancer, In from N.Y. for his semi-annual checkup and rated 100%. Joseph Shambaugh, former film salesman for Republic Pictures, Cincinnati, and long a patient here, drew a top clinic that allows him all privileges. He planed to St. Petersburg, Fla., for a three-week stay with his sister. Alex Nebesar of the front end staff of the Music Box Theatre, N.Y., finally recuperated from his double major operations. His first clinic upped him fpr meals and mild exercise. Ned Shugrue and Murray Weiss, from Gotham and Boston respec¬ tively and executives of the Variety Clubs-Will Rogers hospital, in for the first general 1959 inspection; they found everything in tiptop shape. Write to those who are ilL Inside Stuff—Vaude The forthcoming Judy Garland date at the Metropolitan Opera House, N.Y.—the first time this venerable institution will contain a variety show—is being promoted by the Asthma Research Institute, for which United Artists veepee Max Youngstein has been chairman¬ ning the shows for the past five years. The Institute will have Sid Luft, Miss Garland’s husband, and Chi promoter Harry Zelzer as producers. The surrounding cast will have Alan King, with others to be signed when Luft gets into New York. Vaude, Cafe Dates New York The Weylin started a late show Monday (23) with the current head¬ liner Bobby Short... Page Morton of the Bird ’n’ Glass to.double at the Warwick’s Raleigh Room on Sundays . . . Joe E. Lewis’ starting date at the Copacabana set for Sept 10 for six weeks . . . Bob Melvin goes into the Sands, Las Vegas, April 1 . . . Fred's, Rio De Janeiro, has signed Damita Jo for April 3 and Teddy Randaszo start¬ ing April 17 . . . Larry Tiseh of the Tisch hotel chain left for Florida last week after a gander at nitery lists . . . Liz Williams new at In Boboli . . . The Playboy, a new eastsidery, preemed Monday (23) with Morgana King heading the bill . . . Lillian Briggs moved Into the Flamboyan, San Juan . . . Robert Merrill doing a return at the Deau¬ ville, Miami Beach, April 16 . . . Teddi King inked for Mr. Kelly’s, Chicago, April 13 . . . Jimmy Nel¬ son to the Riviera, Las Vegas, May 4. Col Charles Baron, of the Hav¬ ana Riviera staff, on a trip to gander talent for the inn’s Copa Room . . The Three Stooges inked for a week at the Steel Pier, At¬ lantic City, Aug. 9 . . . Charlie Manna booked to double between the Palladium, London, and the Savoy Hotel in that town starting April 20 . . . Hannah Aharoni, the Israeli singer, preems tonight (Wed.) at the Elegante, Brooklyn , . . Abner J. Greshler, in from the Coast on a .brief visit, to fly down to Galveston, to confer on setting variety shows, operas and musical comedy as well as concerts into the Galveston Park and Re¬ creation Pier. Pearl Bailey scheduled to do her annual appearance at the Apollo Theatre Miay 8 . . . Lilo signed for the Cup Club, Tulsa, May 12 . . . Dorothy Dandridge now with the William Morris Agency . . . Bobby Van inked for the Beverly Hills, Cincy, May 8 . . ►’Jean Carroll to the Diplomat, Miami Beach, March 27 . . . Gail- Inc. t Detroit, has changed the agency name to Gail & Rice, A1 Rice having acquired part ownership of the office ; . . Patachou inked for the Gatineau, Ottawa, April 13 ... Sophie Tucker, goes into the Elwood Casino, Wind¬ sor, Ont., June 15. Chicago George Gobel signed for a May 2 date at the Lincoln, Nebr., Cen¬ tennial . . . Olsen & Johnson open at the Adolphus, Dallas, March 26, and follow with an April 12 Mueh- lebach, Kansas City, stand . ■ . . Toni & Jan Arden, plus Johnny Puleo’s Harmonica Gang at the Roosevelt Hotel, 'New Orleans, April 2. Hospice signed Norman Sc Dean and Connie Haines for April 16, and Dick Shawn April 30 . . . Tennessee Ernie Ford headlines the Wisconsin State Fair, Milwau¬ kee, Aug. 26-30 . . . Tidelands, Houston, set Don Cherry for April 6 and Larry Storch for the 20th. . . , Robert Clary signed for the Gay Haven, Detroit, May IQ . . . Sophie Tucker,into the Elmwood, Windsor, Ont., June 15 for a pair. . . . Ricky Nelson plays the Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis, Sept. 2-3. Dean Martin cancelled Ms April 5 bow at the Chez Paree. No re¬ placement yet . . . Tito Guizar launches at the Muehlebach Hotel, Kansas City, Friday (27) for two weeks . . . Edmona Sisters set for Park Lane Hotel, Denver, April 3 for a pair ... Spike Harrison’s key¬ board antics current at Toppers Key Club. ' Hollywood Singer Ann Weldon opened a two-week stand yesterday (Tues.) at Marshall Edson’s Ye Little Club . . . Mort Sahl set for an indefinite stand at Crescendo beginning April 2 . . . Pinky Lee headlines new show opening at Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas May 7 . . . Songstress Ann Hathaway opens at the Slate Bros, for two weeks beginning Fri¬ day (27) . . . Tempest Storm hold¬ ing over for an additional three weeks at Chuck Landis’ Largo . . . Betty Kean & Lew Parker will open at N.Y.’s Copacabana April 16 for two weeks . . . Columbia Reccffds hosted a dee jay-press party for Doris Day here Thursday (19) to celebrate the singer-actress’ latest album, “Cuttin’ Capers.” St. Louis Don Cornell due in Saturday (28) at the Sheraton-Jefferson Boulevard Room, shuttered during Holy Week . . . Comedian Lennie Colyer current headliner at the Embers . . . Maxine Kent continu¬ ing as the vocalist at the Ambassa- dor-Kingsway Crown Room . . . On the striptease circuit: Ann Curtis at Rio Club, Patricia Carroll at Ford Plaza, Cookie Cooper at Jimmy’s Gay Inn and Beauty Sc The Beast at Crossroads . . . Pearl Bailey Sc Co. slated for the Chase Club April 17, with Carroll Chan- ning continuing as current head¬ liner. Kansas City Enzo Stuarti is set for a guest spot on the Perry Como Show April 18. Following his date at the Hotel MueMebach ending March 26, he hies to New York for some recording dates before th* tv’er . . . Elisa Jayne hops from the Muehlebach Terrace Grill this week to the Brown Hotel, Louisville, opening March 27 for two weeks . . . Rusty Draper jumps to Youngstown, O., following his current stant at Eddys’, March 20- April 2 fc for three days in Ohio, then to the Coast for tapes on his CBS Radio show . . . Florlan Zaiach and Mike Caldwell set to follow Draper into Eddys’, a first for both acts in the room . . . Crlss Cross has shifted his piano to the new Variety room at Back- stage, initiating a music policy there . . . Tito Guizar returns to the Terrace Grill March 27 for two weeks. The Weavers drew about 900 customers and grossed around $2,200 at $1.51 to $2.75, in Troy Music .Hall Thursday (19) night. SPECIAL LATE LATE SHOW AT 2:15 N« Miff. - Mo Covor Apptarfi*^ Nit*Iy Bobby Short ‘One of America's Great Singing Stars? Pius The RALPH STRAIN Trio Continuous Entertainment Nitefy From 9:30 P.NL to 3*0 AM. Ixceifent Cuisino - Luncheon - Dinner The WEYLIN ^LOUNGE* 40 i. 54 St., NYC PL 3-4907 Dinars Club SEILER and SEABOLD Just Comploted Cleveland Sport Show Presently HORIZON ROOM PITTSBURGH Available for Club Dates After April 9th Th# Amazing Stan of "WHAT'S OH YOURMIND" Lucille and Eddie ROBERTS CffTTMtiy Md Ufftii April 1 THE TROP1CANA HOTEL, Los Vegas, Hoy. April H t# U HORIZON ROOM, .MtHRuifh Mfk M.C.A.