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MAY 10, 1969 ?╟≤ 75* MUSEMENT USINESS A BILLBOARD PUBLICATION $29,000,000 BID FOR FOOD AT CHI. HALL ... Page 6 GOING STRAIGHT to the top of the profession ought to give "Holiday On Ice" its prettiest appearance this year. Added to top direction and costume design, the show now has its own garment factory?╟÷supervised by a top manager. The list of credits is easily documented: Donn Arden has turned out many lavish nightclub revues; and Freddy Wit- top's mind has created costumes for "Hello, Dolly!" "George M!" "On a Clear Day," "Happy Time," "I Do, I Do," and other Broadway hits. When the show, now part of the expanding Madison Square it," Finley says. "You can look at it two ways: Either we get twice as much costume for the money, or the same product for half the price. Either way we're ahead of the game." Blumberg's availability for the project?╟÷he was no longer with Brooks?╟÷spurred the decision. He located a loft on New York's West 19th St., and six weeks later (Nov. 11) it had been renovated, brightly painted, and staffed. The new set of costumes was to be ready the third week in April. That was the first deadline. Final deadline is mid-May. Actual "final fitting" takes place in Knoxville when the Conference: Wittop, Bfumberg & milliner Marcelle Mendizza. Garden Corp., decided to make its own garments rather than contract the job, it luckily found Steve Blumberg available. "It really was luck," says John Finley, Holiday vice- president and production director. "His family had owned Brooks Costume Co. and they had dressed all or part of the shows, 13 of the last 18 years. We let the job out on bids and Brooks usually was the winner. . . ." The shop is no Holiday innovation for the ice show industry: "Ice Capades" and "Ice Follies" produce their own. But Holiday's affiliation with MSGC has expanded its booking horizons while at the same time, tightening the financial operation. 'DO IT YOURSELF "It's always cheaper to do it yourself if you're geared for troupe assembles July 7 for rehearsals. Everything will be carefully packed in movers' cartons; on the road the garments hang and are moved in special, wheeled carts. Blumberg will fly down with master tailor/cutter George Deutsch and one or two others. It will be a simple fitting job. Close measurements were taken by Deutsch last November on the show, at Indianapolis. About 70 per cent of the girl skaters and virtually all the boys return each year, so the measurements hold true. Anyway, AB was told, the show can't be blamed for seeking some uniformity in hiring its girls. "We find ourselves hiring a size rather than a skater," Finley jokes. Ideas begin with Arden, who originates the productions which form the base for any ice show ("Conceived, staged and directed by . . ."). With Finley as the catalyst and show president Morris Chalfen riding herd on all, these ideas are transmitted to Wittop. Costume sketches are pretty closely followed, although the designer admits to occasional compromises in conferring with others on the team. ("He reads his director pretty well," AB was told. "We have very few throwouts now.") Blumberg consults as the designs are worked up, then the cost estimate is devised. With Holiday's okay?╟÷he starts a ferret-like shopping tour in the maze of stores and factories all over and around New York. Patterns are taking shape as he does this. Holiday's 436-440 costumes this year will represent products gotten from upholstery shops, plastic factories, curtain houses, ornament stores, shoe buckfe suppliers, metal- findings houses?╟÷and even a wireworks. Blumberg found a specialist in New Jersey to make wire bustles. Wittop woke up one morning in California, sketched a costume with a gaudy, flowery print, mailed it more than 3,000 miles to New York, and Blumberg rooted out the identical print in Manhattan. They show the drawing and fabric to illustrate the coincidence. Amusement Business, May 10, 1969 early run; (among acts ter for kids to 11. Free parking for 4,000 cars will again |be provided. Downtown Merchants bay and Regional Merchants bay will be featured July 1 ?√ßand 2, with half-price ad- Imissions between noon and 4 p.m. Ride prices also will be reduced. Al Kunz's Century 21 ?√ßShows will pull all units to- Tgether for the first time during the season and provide fhe midway. Show, like piany exhibitors and concessionaires, will close in Cedar Rapids and then move immediately to the Heart of [Illinois Fair in Peoria. UTAH STATE: DAVIDSON, BAJA BAND John Davidson, Holiday on lice, Art Linkletter, and The |Cowsills will highlight the 1969 Utah State Fair in Salt Lake City, Sept. 12-21, manager Hugh Bringhurst told AB. Davidson starts things off (13-14) followed by TV's Gentle Ben appearing on the two Kid's Days (15-16). Julius Wechter & The Baja Marimba Band perform next (17-18), with C&W singer Charlie Pride set to follow (19). The Cowsills (20) and Linkletter (21) come in to close. Holiday on Ice will appear at the Salt Palace main arena all 10 days. Also set for the full run of the CMA-booked show through Eldred Stacy are The Chieftones, helicopter- aerialist Dave Merrifield and magician Mark Wilson. Candy Candido will be in the area for 16 days, with many publicity appearances set up prior to fair's opening, Bringhurst said. SJM Fiesta Shows will be on the midway for the third year. 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