"Fiddler on the Roof"

CAPITOL'S FISCAL '63-'64 "Fiddler On The Roof"- BEST YEAR IN HISTORY A Hurricane On Broadway e HOLLYWOOD-Sales of Capitol Ree- collection of vocal performances that NEW YORK - "Fiddler On The Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick who )rds for the fiscal year ended last achieved best-seller status on 'pop' Roof," the new Zero Mostel musical, have garnered raves in the past for e June 30 reached the highest level in charts; and a number of complete- opened on Broadway last week with the "Fiorello" of a few years ago,

1 :he label's 22 -year history. opera recordings, including 'Andrea the force of a Fall hurricane and "She Loves Me" of last season, and d Glenn E. Wallichs, chairman of the Chenier' and `Samson & Delilah,' that heralded the new musical theater for the New York World's Fair pro- d ooard and chief executive officer, dis- drew unanimous praise from critics season with one of the brightest and duction, "To Broadway With Love," _losed last week that Capitol's net and consumers alike. most widely acclaimed shows to bow which closed only because of poor sales totalled $57,460,133, an increase "The past fiscal year saw Capitol in many a year. The new Bock and Fair attendance. The score is pub- of $8,855,187 over the previous fiscal terminate its activities in the elec- Harnick show has been likened to lished by Tommy Valando's Sunbeam year. Net income for the year was tronics field through the sale of this "How To Succeed," "Hello, Dolly" Music, BMI's most prolific publisher a $1,952,533, an increase of $951,517 aspect of its business. Despite signfi- and "Funny Girl" in importance and of show music to date. Sunbeam has over the previous year. Earnings cant sales for the three -year -old projected box-office receipts. published all of the-earlier Harnick amounted to $4.24 per share of com- electronics division, Capitol's man- The New York Times reported that and Bock shows including "Tender- mon stock outstanding at June 30 agement determined to withdraw following the opening, lines of ticket - loin" and "Body Beautiful." e. compared to last year's $2.17 per from this highly competitive field. seekers converged upon the box-office The show's star, Zero Mostel, fast share. "Prospects for the new fiscal year of the Imperial Theater and that becoming one of the foremost per- In a letter to Capitol stockholders, are bright, with new product from police barricades had to be set up to forming names in the world of musi- in Wallichs commented: both domestic and overseas sources allow entrance into the neighboring cal comedy, was a driving force in "As was the case for most English- finding immediate success and enabl- Piccadilly Hotel. Carl Fisher, general his last show, "A Funny Thing si speaking countries, 1963-1964 was for ing Capitol to maintain its substantial manager for producer Harold Prince, Happened On The Way To The a Capitol the 'Year of The Beatles.' position in both the single-record estimated that advance sales have Forum," and has been acclaimed by With an unbroken string of million - and album markets." topped the $650,000 mark and that the critics as a major contributor to selling albums and singles, the phe- Broadway ticket brokers are com- the success of "Fiddler On The Roof." nomenal British foursome became the plaining loudly over the few tickets fastest -selling artists in the history available to them. The major backers of the show, as of the American record industry. Bob Skaff Promoted RCA Victor Records, which did not reported in the New York Times, With The Beatles leading the way, invest in the show, (an unusual situ- are the First Theater Investing Serv- Capitol clearly dominated the Ameri- ation by today's standards is reported ice ($71,000) , Morton Mitos$y ($22,- can singles market, with four dif- to have paid a higher royalty fee for 500), and Anthony Brady Farrell n ($22,500) retired producer and ferent records achieving No. 1 chart the original cast rights. Victor etched a status. the album this past weekend (27) at former owner of the Mark Bellinger "Equally impressive was Theater. Profit splits and fees include Capitol's the Webster Hall studios, and is fee 15 is performance in the album field. Be- expected to rush the package into a of $10,000, percent of the h sides the ubiquitous profits and 3 percent of the gross to Beatles, a dozen release by this week (Oct. 1). For the Robbins and .e artists were represented on the best- label, the instant success of "Fiddler" Jerome for staging ib seller charts: The choreography; $4,000 a week to Beach Boys, Nat portends a cast album of major sig- 10 of the King Cole, Dick Dale, Bobby Darin, sificance with heavy sales guaranteed Mostel against percent )e gross and a 2 percent royalty from Judy Garland, Jackie Gleason, Peggy as soon as the LP is issued. Harnick Lee, The Lettermen, Al Martino, "Fiddler," with a book by Joseph the album. Stein, Bock and Wayne Newton, Peter & Gordon and Stein who adapted it from stories by will share 10 percent of the gross and Nancy Wilson. Sholem Aleichem, has a score by 3 percent of the profits. .r "During the year, Capitol made further progress in the important Broadway -show field through the li acquisition of original -cast rights RCA Victor Unveils 31 LP's For Oct. to one of the season's biggest hits, IS `Funny Girl,' featuring Barbra Stre- NEW YORK-RCA Victor will re- RCA Victrola, the label's low- l isand. For next season, Capitol has lease 31 new albums for Oct., plus priced classical line, will offer "Fin- already obtained rights to two ex- the original cast album of the new landia & Other Favorites by Sibelius tremely promising musicals, `Golden Broadway smash, "Fiddler On The & Grieg"-Mackerras, London Proms Boy,' starring Sammy Davis, Jr., BOB SKAFF Roof," which was cut last week (27) Orch; Beethoven's "Symphony No. 6" and 'Ben Franklin In Paris,' starring HOLLYWOOD-Bob Skaff, vice-pres- and is being rushed into release to with Montieux and Viennâ Philhar- Robert Preston. ident and general manager of Im- highlight Oct. product. monic, Ravel's "Concerto In G" and "Similarly, Angel Records enjoyed perial Records has earned VP stripes The 12 new popular sets are "Concerto No. 2 by Prokofieff" - a year of notable achievement. Among in the entire Liberty organization, it "Frankie Carie Plays The Big Im- Munch/Boston Symph.; and Donizet- the outstanding releases was announced last week by Alvin S. ti's "Lucia Di Lammermoor" with it were the ported Hits," "The Worth Is Yet To complete Beethoven piano sonatas as Bennett, the label's topper. Come" by Stan Worth, "In A Young Peters, Peerce, Tozzi, Maero and performed by Arthur Schnabel; According to Bennett, the new as- Mood" with the Marty Gold Orch., Leinsdorf. Great Voices Of The Century,' a signment expands Skaff's duties to in- "The Ed Ames Album," "David Mer- clude overall supervision of the A&R rick Presents Hits From His Broad- and promotion departments for the way Hits" with John Gary, Ann - ry Columbia To Etch "Bajour" Danny Davis To Philles whole firm. Liberty's executive A&R Margret, Merrill-Staton voices, "Frac- director Don Blocker and promotion tured Folk Songs" by Homer and NEW YORK-Columbia Records will head, Bob Fead, will not be affected Jethro, "The Travelin' Bare," by record the original cast LP of the although other department heads will Bobby Bare, "Sam Cooke At The new Broadway musical, "Bajour," ac- coordinate all activities with Skaff. Copa," "Fess Parker Sings About cording to an announcement by God- "In little more than a year, Im- Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Abe dard Lieberson, president of the disk- perial has chalked up an amazing Lincoln," "Original Music From The ery. growth record under the aggressive Rogues," Nelson Riddle Orch., "Drac- "Bajour," with music and lyrics by leadership of Robert Skaff," said Ben- ula's Greatest Hits" by Gene Moss, Walter Marks, is based on the Ernest nett. "For this reason, we believe his and "Small Wonder" with Rita Pa- Kinoy adaptation of Joseph Mitchell's talents should not be limited to one vone. 'New Yorker' stories dealing with facet of our organization." gypsy life in New York. Produced by Skaff joined Liberty four years ago The sacred release includes "Silver Saxaphones Play The Golden Hymns," Edward Padula in conjunction with as a promotion man. Shortly there- Carroll and Harrie Masterson and after he became national promotion Darol Rice, "Doris Akers and The Statesmen Quartet Sing For You," Norman Twain, the musical will star director-an assignment which lasted Chita Rivera, Nancy Dussault and three years. In late 1963, he was and "The Blackwood Brothers Pre- sent Their Exciting Tenor Bill Herschel Bernardi, and co-star Rob- upped to general manager of the ert Burr and Mae Questel with Gus newly -acquired Imperial label and in Shaw." Trikonis. early '64, following a series of im- Two new sets have been added to portant strides, he was upped to the Vintage series catalog with Currently in. rehearsal, "Bajour" vice-president. "Smoky Mountain Ballads" by vari- will open out-of-town at the Shubert ous artists, and "Stomp And Joys" Theatre in Boston (Oct. 12-24), fol- by Jelly Roll Martin. lowed by an engagement at the Shu- Vee Jay Sets Push Entries from the Red Seal division bert Theatre in Phila. (Oct. 28- Nov. are Shakespeare's Othello with 14). DANNY DAVIS On New Gospel LP's Laurence Olivier; "Humoresque" The show's Broadway première will NEW YORK-Phil Spector, Siegel, national with Leonard Pennario; "Italian take place at the Shubert Theatre on president HOLLYWOOD-Bill Nov. 23. of Philles Records, Inc., has an - sales director for Vee Jay Records, Arias" by Vickers, & Serafin; "The n ounced the appointment of DannyyDavis has announced that the label is ready- World's Greatest Marches" with as director of national promo- ing an eight -album gospel release Leinsdorf/Boston Symp. & Fiedler/ tion for Philles Records and subsidi- slated for Oct. 1. The label, which has Boston Pops; "A Ceremony Of Car- Brenda Lee's English Hit ary labels. more that 30 spiritual and gospel In The Lamb/Festival Davis ols/Rejoice Issued By Decca For U.S. will function primarily in the artists on its talent roster, is pre- Shaw Chorale; field of deejay and distributor rela- paring a "sampler" album to intro- Te Deum"-Robert tionships. In addition, however, he duce the artists featured in the eight "Songs Of Faith And Inspiration"- NEW YORK-Decca Records has re- wwill work closely with Spector in ac- new sets. Robert Shaw Chorale; "Amahl & The leased, "It It True" by Brenda Lee equiring masters and generally lending The Oct. entries are "Soul Of The of '63 for the American market as a result laassistance Night Visitors"-original cast of the deck's success in England. The to the Philles operation. Patterson Singers," "Let's Go To NBC-TV; "Songs At Eventide"-An- hDavis' appointment came immediately Church Together," "The Soul Of tune was cut in England and went Aafter he exited the Colpix/Dimension Charles Taylor," "The Soul Of The derson, Bennett; "Peter And The top 20 on the British charts within ,organization after a two year stint Argo Singers," "The Soul Of The Commissar, /Variations on "How Dry two weeks. as national promotion director. Gospel Harmonettes," "The Soul Of A The diskery has announced that Davis I Am/The End Of Symphony"- is a long-time veteran of The Thompson Community Singers," Allan Sherman, Arthur Fiedler; Rig- samples and stock have been shipped the disk business and has held na - "Wonderful Memories From The to dealers and stations around the i ltional promotion posts for the last Family Prayer Book," and "Come oletto-Verdi with Moffo, Merrill & country in anticipation of heavy de- 'six years. Closer To God." others. mand for the deck.

Cash Box-October 3, 1964 7