THE WORLD'S FOREMOST AMUSEMENT WEEKLY MORE GAB BUT LESS GABBERS Local Advertisers Face National $$ Aches MUSIC Band Dilemma: Fast $ or Plugging for Long Pull NIGHT (CUBS-YAUDE 01 Man River Has Nothing on Him See page 41 CLUB TAX LAYING EMPTY EGG www.americanradiohistory.com Spring of 1944 t New Top Hillbilly Hits t RECORDED BY TOP ARTISTS AL ERNEST SPIKE DEXTER TUBB JONES On OKEH It's No.l at Dextet's TOO LATE TO WORRY, t TOO BLUE TO CRY [OKEH 6718] On DECCA It's No. 1 Eutest 7 66's TRY ME ONE MORE TIME t H [DECCA 6093] t N On VICTOR It's No. 1 Spike gctes' BEHIND THOSE SWINGING DOORS (Words and Music by Fleming Allan) t [VICTOR 30-0821] 1619 Broadway AMERICAN MUSIC, INC. 54 W. Randolph St. New lock City 9153 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood 46, Calif. Chicago www.americanradiohistory.com Vol. 56. No. 19 May 6, 1944 Ike Werld'i Formest Aaeesewent Weekly MORE GAB BUT LESS GABBERS H -M Circus Sets Up Post -War Radio Forums and Lecture Fund for Service Performers Bureaus Face Changing Ideas NEW YORK, April 29.-What has been only two years ago have been affected temporarily called a "post-war financing more or less seriously, and a number of project' has been adopted by, George A. them put out of business by joining the And a Host of Other Aches Hamad and Robert H. (Bob) Morton, super -colossal show of Uncle Sam in - Hamid -Morton Circus, and under it a stead of the great shows they were serv- fund will be set aside to provide financial ing before they donned uniforms," he aid to all former H -M performers now (See H -M PROVIDES FUND on page 40) Not Even Coin Helps Some Cases in armed service and who may need fi- nancial assistance after they are mustered C . NEW YORK, April 29.-War has stiffened the problems of radio forum out. 1y programs and lecture bureaus to a point where it is next to impossible to Thru the plan funds will be available CBS Lays DownDo n find speakers willing to take stands on subjects about which audiences are to returned service members who may makes it imperative to find speakers who have need rigging, costumes, places for re- yelling. Present demand hearse's and other equipment and ma- the Gauntlet in names to satisfy call for first-hand war experiences, travel talks and politi- terials with which to stage comebacks cal topics. But the usual attractions aren't talking because of 1-Reluctance in, their profession. George A. Hamid to commit themselves, 2-Change of ideas that makes them take different said the idea came as a result of big re- Video Battle stands than before, 3-Service in the armed forces, 4-Censorship, and 5- turns now being realized by show busi- Hush-hush government work. Getting speakers has always been tough for ness in the midst of SRO signs and so net educational directors, much talk of "post-war planning." He Battle To Public lecture bookers and spe- declared that he and his partner had Carried rh cial events men in indie determined to do more than talk about Bi 1.'(')d d stations all over the planning. By LOU FRANKEL country. Requirements "I conclude that probably no less than YORK, Tax Fighters l Good talkers NEW April 29.-CBS this week t included: 90 per cent of the acts that we knew went aver the head of the trade, in- who were quick on the ! come-back, m i k e a b l e cluding the set and equipment makers and the competing producers, to carry { voices, big names, desire for Stir Thruout to argue and definite Today those directly to ttlehe aconnsy umeri Atn s a deftly opinions. Local 1 Hits helloed and well -attended luncheon for who will complicatest srs by the press, the web announced its policy changing their ideas-sometimes over on post-war video. Whole Nation night. Watching these chamelon changes Goosens and 5 have made directors and bookers wet - The policy: CBS will support post-war opinions of their men. has atis the cost of scrapping pre-war invest- nurse It Many Join AGVA in Fight forced them to impose opinions on the meets. In other words, "Let's improve many big -small fry. They have been Cincy Symphers our product, even if we have to lose the because approximate $20,000,000 now at stake, NEW YORE, April 29.-From North, forced to use smallies of the rather than stick to the status quo and South, East and West, assistance in its dearth of prominent talkers. HeavyFines,Suspensionsp perhaps lose $200,000,000 several years light against the 30 per cent amusement At the same time, more and more sub- fl-om now." tax poured in on the American Guild of jects have grown into solid draws be- CINCINNATI, April 29.-A storm which This policy was no secret, at least not Variety Artists during the week. cause of the favorable progress of the has been brewing within the confines to readers of The Billboard, who had ASOAP joined the fray with a series war and the desire of audiences to hear of Local No. 1, AFM, here for some time read about this in the issue dated Feb - of telegrams to its field representatives, about and see, in travel films, the places f inally cracked wide open Thursday (27) ruary 26, 1944. But now for the first members and 8,500 licensees asking them where their sons fight (bringing about when six key men in the Cincinnati time it was out on the record, and so to write their congressmen regarding the a boom in the old -.time travel lectures). Symphony Orchestra, including Eugene were internal trade differences of opinion. effects of the tax. As ammunition, (More Gab But Less Gabbers on page 7) Goosens, conductor, were suspended and Obviously CBS knew that it risked ASCAP issued blow-ups of the tax edi- fined by the local on charges of conduct the ire of the trade by coming into the torial carried in The Billboard last week, detrimental to the association during ne.. open with what has thus far been tanta- and instructed ASOAP correspondents to gotiations for a contract for the 1944-'45 mount to a minority opinion. The angle do what the editorial suggested-"get going." - Naval Audience (See Symphmen Fined on page 12) (See Perfection Battles On on page 10) Theater Authority also came into the fight. Alan Corelli, head of TA, reported A that he was asking every organization State of Mind? which has ever benefited from free talent U. S. NAVAL TRAINING CEN- Let 'Em Hear Plenty Music, made available by TA to protest to Con- TER, BAINBRIDGE, MD., April 29. gress against the huge tax. First to re- -The bluejacket audience-and spond was the International Ladies Gar- that goes for "that other" major ment Workers' Union, which wired an fighting force-is not an audience MGM Slogan for Season, appeal to Washington. but a state of mind that operates strictly in unison. Whistling at Cafe ,ore girl -appeal stuff is a spectacle in Noah L. Braunstein, attorney for the itself. It isn't just a few gobs With 12-15 Tune -Piz Plan Cafe Owners' Guild of New York, brought whistling but a few thousand of the National Tavern Association into the them that start together and fin- picture. NTA is an organization of tav- ish in a dead heat. When a gal ern coverinto 26 States. I has enters upon the stage or screen More Than Hundred Chorus Boys and Gals Contracted asked itse members get behind Ht J. B. she's given a rousing ovation to 265 (Knutson Bill). Neil F. Deighan, begin with. If she has anything on HOLLYWOOD, April 29. -The most mente are ready. chairman of the board, will join Braun - the ball at all, they won't let her ambitious musical sked in Metro- It is expected that some of the noun- stein in Washington Tuesday (2) to work will launched try's off the stage. Goldwyn-Mayer's history be outstanding bands will get a call for the measure. What they like next best is when from between 12 and 15 tuners from the Culver City lot in order to fill The COG attorney appeared during kidding the gold braid, from en- will be filmed on the 1944-'45 line-up. (See Let 'Em Hear Music on page 12) (See Tar Fighters Stir on page 23) signs to commandant. Praise of Studio spokesman claims that this year's the navy and gobby songs also go sked for musicals is greater even than over double -big. Swing stuff the early days of sound when this type clicks, but it must be good. Only pic was practically the only thing. In This Issue fems with shapely torsos can be Top musical on the MGM calendar professionally bad, and score. Lots will be Ziegfeld Follies, which has al- Bands & Vaude Crosses ... 2:. Magic 81 Reviews, Legit 29 Burlesque Merchandise -Pipes ......50-55 Night Clubs 24 of jokes are drowned out by ready been in production for some weeks. Carnival' 33-39 Music 11-19 Vaude ..... 26 rolling laughter that sometimes It Is felt by studio execs that musicals Circus 40-41 Music Cocktail 20-21 Rinks-Skaters 45 reaches the proportions of a tor- offer the best escape for movie audiences Classified Ads 47.48 Music -Merchandising ..66.67 Roadshow Films 46 have Coin Machines 61-84 Music Popularity Chart ..14-19 Routes, Acts 28 nado.