23 1954 The Cash Box , Music Page 17 January , Trophies

TORONTO TOPICS:

The big news hereabouts is Carl Smith’s current engagement at the Casino Theatre. The Columbia Record’s star is backed by a strong bill of folk artists; Moon Mullican (Quality-King Records), the king of hillbilly piano platters, the Tunesmiths and Annie Lou & Danny, the singing sweethearts from Nashville. This Grand is folk Ole Opry road company the second ,,, talent bill to play the Queen street Vaude House and is packing them in much as Canuck Hank Snow, RCA Victor, did when he played this house a couple of |

months back. . . . Fred Roden of Roden’s Record Cor- j ral has been doing a bang-up job getting his folk following down to see Carl and reports that Carl’s and Moon’s platters are selling like hot disks—which CHARMING: they always are around here. Moon Mullican endeared NEW YORK — Capitol’s Les Paul : The Gal with the himself to the Canuck music men when he recorded i and Mary Ford display some of their Sweet Voice—her “A Crushed Red Rose (And Blue Ribbon)” i A Faded music trophies in their home. The hus- MOOD RECORD- and the local tunesmiths and publishers were avidly band and wife recording team hold INGS Get First looking forward to his appearance at the theatre. . . . Choice. Folk music continues to be the money-draw hereabouts three of the four gold records re- and rumor has it that this year’s Canadian National MARY MAYO ceived for passing the million mark Exhibition will have Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and on “How High The Moon”, “Mocking fheir troupe as headliners. The Victor stars are sure to be terrific attendance pullers for the Canadian National Exhibition and “Mr. Showbusiness,” Jack Bird Hill”, “The World Is Waiting Arthur is showing all of his usual showmanship in signing these swell per- For The Sunrise” and “Vaya Con formers who will pull in the youngsters as well as the grown-ups. With the Dios”. Les holds in his left hand a great folk tunes that being written in Canada and which could be used in the trophy awarded to Mary and him by Canadian National Exhibition—the 1954 grandstand show looks like the best The Cash Box for being voted The ever—for Canadian composers and talent as well as the audiences. . . . Chico ELISE RHODES Valle and his Orchestra got the nod to play Arthur Murray’s Gold Medal Ball Best Small Instrumental Group of “YES, YES, YES” at the Palace Pier on Thursday, January 14th, which pulled in the radio fans the music operators of 1953 by b/w are addicted to Chico’s dancipation. . . . For the first who Latin American America. time there is going to be a Canadian National Boat Show in this country. What DO YOU REMEMBER ME” is hoped will become an annual event will place at Mutual Arena, take the MOOD # 1005 January 22nd to February 6th, tied in with a fashion show by Schiaparelli and

featuring songstress Jacqueline James. . . . Lovely Louise Thomson is the new Sales 74 Prospect St. featured singer with Moxie Whitney and his Orchestra at the Imperial Room Benida Appoints UN. 4-2200 of the Royal York Hotel. . . . Denny Vaughan in New York on recording and Cambridge, Moss. publishing business. The handsome radio star’s Clarendon House Limited has a hit on their hands in the tune “It Happens.” Foreign rights have been signed Manager to BMI Canada whose Jack Perry is working on it with the U. S., A & R men. Jack informs us that Dewey Bergman and Benida Records have done a terrific job on this song with an outstanding platter by beautiful Mary Mayo, which Dewey Bergman, vice-president of

is scheduled for mid-February release. . . . Oscar Pettiford’s quintet is this Benida Records, Inc., has appointed week’s headliner at the Colonial and making much of Julius Watkins and his Howard W. Budlow as national sales French horn. Others in the group are Walter Bishop on piano, Phil Urso, tenor manager. Budlow was district super- LEW DOUGLAS sax and Charlie Smith at the drums. . . . Local music folks looking forward to the forthcoming visit of London Record’s Bob Farnon. The ex-Torontonian visor for King Records during the & His Orchestra has recently returned to America and is living in New York, where he is busy past five years. He was in charge of on English film and recording scores. It is always fun to have back in him Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, Toronto. . . . Loew’s Uptown Theatre has hit the jackpot with the film, Kiss Virginia. Me Kate, which is now in its third week. The Cole Porter songs are getting D.C., and "Caesar s Boogie heavy rides on the local airway and it’s sure paying off at the office. . . . staff of box Budlow has appointed a MGM 11654 (78 rpm) Don McKim, of Quality Records, completing arrangements to press and dis- K-11654 (45 rpm) field representatives who will coop- tribute Benida Records on the Quality Label in Canada. erate with Benida distributors at point of sale in stores; with music THE GREATEST NAME Ul INTfflHWMEHT coin machine operators, and assistant MONTREAL MEMOS with general sales promotion in their territories. Budlow leaves Monday, Joni James, while in town last week, was brush- 15 state trip to ing up on her French in preparation for her European January 18th for a invasion. Joni did an interview in French with Mario study the one stop operation and co- DECCA Verdon, Montreal top French dee jay, over radio sta- ordinate the activities of Benida dis- likes to interview visiting Amer- tion CKAC. Verdon tributors with Benida’s field men. Records ican artists if they remember their high school French Bergman also announced the pro- well enough to struggle through. . . . The Four Aces Get The due into the Seville Theatre January 28 for the up- motion of Sidney Ascher as national teenth time. The Four Aces Fan Clubs of Montreal advertising and public relations di- are planning a united get-together while the boys are Play rector. Ascher will also work closely in town. Should be some clambake in view of the fact that the total membership in these fan clubs exceeds with Budlow on sales promotion. three thousand members. Herb Kessler better buy the The next Benida release is scheduled boys running shoes. . . . Oscar Peterson and his trio for early next month and will star going into the Latin Quarter for two weeks starting Lloyd. January the 18th. It will seem like old times having song stylist Peggy

Oscar around for more than a one-night stand. . . . Dorothy Lamour opened at the Chez Paree January 12th and if she does any- thing like the business she did on her last engage- as most Invites Lor ment, the house will be more than happy Seymour VOICE TEACHER OF THE STARS clubs in town are complaining about poor business.

. . . “Changing Partners”, the most recent U.S. hit

to be recorded here in French. . . . Archie Laurie, Denise Lor, singing star of Garry manager of the Seville Theatre, David Grief, manager Moore’s CBS-TV show Monday MIRIAM SPIER of Hartney’s Record Bar and Larry McClenaghan of through Friday, will fly to Detroit Columbia Records, cooperating on a big promotional 49 W. 52 St. (EL 5-1941) N.Y.tr contest which will culminate with Carl Smith giving following her January 15th broadcast away the prizes from the stage of the Seville Theatre to make a guest appearance on Robin during his coming engagement which opens on Janu- Seymour’s program over Station DEALERS - DISTRIBUTORS ary 21st. . . . Coral Records advise that Teresa WKMH, Detroit. Brewer’s “Our Heartbreaking Waltz” is the fastest World's largest selection of specialized of Sey- bx-eaking record they have ever had. . . . Quality Rec- Invitation came as a result dance records for dance teachers and ords who handle the King line in Canada, all set for a mour’s requests for Denise’s new re- students . . . tap, ballet, etc. big push on Moon Mullican’s recordings when Moon plays the Seville Theatre Write or Wire lease entitled, “That’s What A Girl with the Grand Ole Opry group headed by Carl Smith. Mullican will probably RUSSELL RECORDS include Appreciates” which has given impetus in his part of the show a song he recorded “A Cnxshed Red Rose,” BOX 328 VENTURA, CALIFORNIA which was written by local composer Art Strange. to a “Denise Lor” Fan Club. “ It’s What’s in THE CASH BOX That Counts”