*1| •^TScfatfi

50
US&tETf
VAUDEVILLE
Blame Unfavorable Publicity' in Natl
Mags for Bahama Casino's Shuttering
F r e e p o r t G.B.I., J u n e 27.
Too much unfavorable publicity
In national magazines and a huge
tax increase were blamed for shuttering Friday (30) of the Monte
Carlo Casino, located in the Luoayan Beach Hotel. No decision has
beeti m a d e yet as to whether
casino stays shut.
But Keith Gonsalves, prexy of
Bahamas Amusement Ltd., which
owns the spot, said " t h e decision
to reopen next season will depend
on economic factors." El Casino,
more lavish of company's two
casinos, which opened J a n . 1, stays
open, currently catering mainly to
heavy weekend play from Miami.
New Lynden Pindling government recently upped taxes on
Bahamas Amusement to $1,000,000
p e r annum, retroactive to J a n . 1,
topping by a whopping margin the
former $280,000 bite. Gonsalve*
said a reopening depends upon
"the government's determination
of a 1968 tax structure." | n ' Nassau, *he sland chalitfa iapi'taH,
Premier Pindling was unavailable
for continent.
Freeport and h e r gambling interests, particularly tieins with the
so called Bay Street Boys of Nassau and their former iron clad
control of the island's business,
were examined in the glare of surgical room lighting this year by
extensive articles in both Life
and t h e Saturday Evening Post.
Both publications cited mob connections between the island operation and some of the U.S. mob's
top men, even detailing trips to
Miami with the skim off money.
"We w e r e perhaps two years too
early in the establishment of a
second F r e e p o r t casino," Gonsalves
added. "We have never looked on
gambling as anything but a means
to stimulate tourism and of new
, hotels (to) accommodate tourists.
If we were in error, it occurred
because we have been dedicated
to rapid development of the Grand
Bahama Island economy which depends so substantially on tourism
and guest facilities.
"Any profit has been a virtual
Impossibility due to the subsidies
we have been providing to airline
and hotel c o m p a n i e s . . .As a result,
our casinos have been able to
operate because of our ability to
borrow funds from t h e Grand
Bahama Development Co.- and
commercial banks.
"Neither of these sources now
finds it possible to continue this
program in face of accelerated
costs of casino operation."
After U.S. magazines blew the
lid Off, She entire gambling situation c a m s u n d e r minute scrutiny
of the Royal Commission in Nassau
in April. After nearly a m o n t h
and 5,000 pages of testimony, which
probed American money behind
the casinos, the commission r e cessed.
It scheduled additional hearings
in August, planning to call Sir
Stafford Sands, called the most
influential man in t h e Bahamas
during t h e pre-Pindling years. Witnesses told t h e commission Sands
received $1,300,000 for his legal
services. Latest reports say Sir
Stafford, perhaps fearful of a
queen's checkmate, has moved to
Spain.
5 Roman Chansonniers
Turn Showboat Ops For
A Mediterranean Tour
Rome, J u n e 27.
A group of Roman chansonniers
have rigged what is probably Italy's
first showboat and will steam it
up the Mediterranean coast from
Capri to San Tropez during J u l y
and August.
Members of the group—Oreste
Lionello, Claudia Caminito, Gabriella Gazzolo, P i n o Caruso and
pianist Pino Roccon, have been successfully performing in Rome under the shingle "II Bagaglino"—
a small cabaret in the ancient part
of the town.
Their showboat, with a deck capacity for 450 spectators, will also
visit Anzio, Positano, Ischia, Fiumicino, Fregene, Santa Marinella,
Porto Ercole, Elba, Viareggio, Rapallo, Santa Margherita, Portofino,
San Remo, Villefranche and Monte
Carlo, with a closing curtain
whistle late August at San Tropez.
Showboat will also accommodate
20 tour passengers, for whom the
bagaglino chansonniers are planning a separate program
GOV. VETOES EXTENSION
OF TEX. CAFES' CURFEW
Austin, Tex., J u n e 27.
Gov. John Connally last week
vetoed House Bill 1164 which
would have extended the curfew
hours for the consumption of liquor on weekdays for two hours
and one hour on Saturday nights.
Nightclub owners
throughout
Texas were looking forward to
passage of the bill which would
have gone Into effect Sept. 1 if
t h e governor had not vetoed it. A
curfew extension would mean
longer hours of operation for
cafes, with added hours for entertainers.
The bill, C o n n a l l y ' s a i d , had a
conflict that might let private
clubs escape without any curfew
a t all. Operators of private clubs
criticized the veto. Most legislators also expressed a concern over
possible ill effects of the veto on
biz in general, tourism and future
convention trade.
W e d n e s d a y , June 2 8 , 1 9 6 7
Hawaii's Maui Island
A Roadshow Version Of
Waikiki Talent-Wise
Honolulu, J u n e 27.
Once-sleepy Maui island, in the
midst of a rash of hotel and resort
construction, is turning into a
smaller version of Waikiki as far
as entertainment is concerned. At
least a dozen rooms are offering
entertainment of diversified types,
with Hawaiian tempos emphasized.
Buddy Fo & his Group has
opened what is described as a longterm engagement at the Kaanapali
Beach Hotel. Nelson Kaikiki, "King
of the Ukulele," is currently with
his combo at the Royal Lahaina
Hotel.
The Maui Hotel Serenaders are
featured at the newly-opened Hilton Hale Kaanapali, a 254-unit
luxury facility.
There's nightly entertainment
at Hotel Iao Needle, dancing u n d e r
the stars at the Banyan Inn, Lahaina, hula programs nightly at the
Maui Palms Hotel, the Gil Hanaike Trio in the Wailuku Hotel's
Sky Room—and western music
Saturday nights at Club Rodeo,
Makawao. Maui island is about 100
miles southeast of Honolulu.
Hughes Acquires
Big Krupp Ranch
Las Vegas, J u n e 27.
Howard Hughes has purchased
the sprawling K r u p p Ranch located about 25 miles west of Las
Vegas, it was revealed Thursday
(22).
I t m a r k e d the second major investment in Southern Nevada within six months by Hughes. In
March, he purchased the Desert
Inn hotel on t h e Las Vegas Strip
for an estimated $13,250,000. He
moved into t h e gambling resort
last
November
and
remains
secluded in a ninth floor perCN
house when in Las.Vegas.
Historically the Krupp Ranchhas been used as a h i d e a w a y first by its founder and most recently by wealthy baroness Vera
K r u p p , a former film actress and
t h e ex-wife of German munitions
magnate Alfried Krupp.
Observers
speculated
that
Hughes purchased t h e 518-acre
ranch to assure his privacy during
trips to Las Vegas. He also owns
an estimated 40 square miles of
acreage in Clark County located
in the general vicinity of the newly acquired ranch.
The sales price was undisclosed.
However, during recent months
Mrs. K r u p p negotiated with Clark
County officials to sell the ranch
as a regional park for $1,110,000.
Hughes purchased
the
land
through the Hughes Tool Co., a
firm through which he conducts
a multitude of business interests.
Montreal Expo 67 s Asides
**1|
Montreal, J u n e 27.
Flocking In F o r Premieres
As many as 15 world premieres are expected to be seen locally a t
the Montreal International Film Festival Aug. 14-18, which is tied
in this year with Expo's World Festival of Entertainment.
Because of Expo, the film fest is being stretched to two weeks from
t h e usual one; will be seen at the new Expo Theatre; and according
to informed sources, will be the ultimate in glamor and razzmataz,
plus big n a m e personalities, in decided contrast to previous years wher«
the "in" people were the cineastes who have little patience for any
film activity not tied to their restricted experience.
Egypt's Unlisted Phone
Add Middle East effects: United Arab Republic pavilion involved
in two incidents ,none of their own making; Crank calls forced t h e m
to disconnect telephone and get unlisted number; four young m e d
graduates who thought they'd have a little fun with a little horseplay
in the UAR Pavilion, soon found themselves in trouble with the law.
All forgiven by both the Arabs and the law, thus leaving Expo once
again free of any disturbance resulting from the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Police Work Tiptop
Amazing Is the word from Milton Lipson, former Secret Service
man who's now head of American Express security, that the world's
fair is practically free of crime—except for minor stuff such as
pilfering for souvenir purposes, the odd pocket picked, and occasional
passing of a phoney $20. Lipson, here on an Amex business visit,
attributed the clean Expo crime record to perfect coordination of all
police forces—including city and provincial, Royal Canadian Mounted,
the Federal Bureau of Investigation, etc., etc.
Boston & Philly Watching
Delegations from Boston and Philadelphia have been in contact
with Expo 67 officials relative to studies made by both cities for
possible world exhibition to m a r k 200 years of U.S. independence.
Competition between the Hub and Philly is heightened by the former
wanting It in 1975, 200 years after it all started, and the latter in
1976, two centuries after the declaration.
P r o b e of Congo Pavilion
Congo's exhibit In Expo's Africa Place opened only last week
amid reports of considerable unhappiness over the way the original
commissioner general—now in a local hospital—had handled things.
Pierre M'Bale said from his hospital bed after a reported chesl
operation, that " I admit that I am unable to fulfill my function because
of my illness, but I wish they would leave me in peace."
His successor, Charles Sumbu, has no such intention, and is already
digging into what went wrong, On orders of the Congolese Government
which has ordered a check of the books.
Man At Ugliest—In Shorts
Critic Kenneth Tynan and playwright Arnold Wesker, both from
Britain, had some tough things to say about Expo 67, while attending
a theatrical conference here. Said Tynan: the buildings are "superb,
ornate shells with r a t h e r hollow interiors." Said Wesker: "It seems
to me t h a t m a n just doesn't know how to celebrate himself with any
modesty or charm or any r e a l joy. The moment he begins talking
about himself it comes out like a great street crier's d r e a m : 'Look
a t me! Look at m e ! ' " Wesker particularly objected to the Bermuda
shorts on the male visitors, which he described as "man's most ugly
concept and design."
'Country Shindig* Pulls
Nice 12G in Knoxville
Knoxville, J u n e 27.
"Country Shindig," the 14th
country and western show presented in Knoxville by Carlton
Haney and WIVK-Radio, grossed
a good $11,900 Saturday night (24)
at Knoxville Civic Coliseum.
Headliners were George Jones,
the Osborne Bros., Bill Anderson,
Jan Howard, Melba Montgomery,
Carl & P e a r l Butler, Red Rector,
F r e d Smith, the Glazier Bros, and
The Duke of Paducah.
MEXICO TEEN CLUBS
TOO NOISY, SHUT DOWN
Mexico City, J u n e 27.
The Cafes Cantantes, entertainment spots for teenagers, which
have mushroomed into existence
in Mexico City over the last two
years, have been closed down b y
government authorities. Reason is
complaints from the public of t h e
"infernal noise," and fears of p a r ents that they were more than j u s t
a harmless outlet for t h e high
spirits of their young. These cafes
include such popular spots as A
Plein Soleil, Memphis, Tiki Tiki,
Slapping of government seals o n
the cafes' portals went so fast t h a t
many combos, such as Los Yaki,
Los Latino, Los Dug Dugs, L o s
Babys, Los Signos and Las Chicas
were left stranded without t h e i r
instruments. Arturo Vieyra, t h e i r
agent, is petitioning t h e Government to let the kids get their stuff
out.
FUN-MASTER
OLASONS
PROFESSIONAL COMEDY MATERIAL
"We Service the Stars"
35 GAS FILES $30 — FOREIGN $40
• 3 Parody Bks. $7 pr Bk. All 1/*1S •
• 5 Blackout Booki (sand for listing •
• "How to Master the Ceremonies" •
»3 pr Copy — No C.O.D.'s
SEND FOR FOREIGN LISTS
• W e Teach MC'ing & Comedy! •
Let a Real Professional Train Yon!
A N N I V E R S A R Y ISSUE OF
"THE COMEDIAN"
125 classified pages
(Separata from regular yearly subscription)
It's A l l Different! $ 2 0
(Add 11.25 First Class Mailing)
FOREIGNi $25 (add $2. postage)
Absolutely 7
t o t h e rs
Wits-. Shure°
in
Hartrey
^ g f f B
**
Remit to BILLY GLASON
200 W. 54th St.. N. Y. C. 10019
(See other ad in Radio-TV Section.)
J 0 *
•^TScfatfi*
KEVEBB
• tMT
SlMir* Broths'*. Ino.
THE JEFFREYS
AVAILABLE FOR
VAUDEVILLE CIRCUIT