ent001210-014

I FREEMAN COMPANY pubf/c/stts - 7 - Since then show people have not been surprised at anything Involving Jack and his desert stage. When he recently decided that Van Johnson had cabaret possi- bilities, for instance, the young movie star protested he couldn?╟╓t do it* "Jack,* he said, ?╟Ñ1 haven?╟╓t the right material and, believe it or not, I haven?╟╓t got the money to buy it.?╟Ñ ?╟╓?╟╓Don?╟╓t worry about it,?╟Ñ Jack replied. "I know a couple of writers in Hollywood who can write the material - and I?╟╓ll give you a ?║10,000 advance on your salary to pay for It.?╟Ñ Johnson?╟╓s subsequent performance was what the pros call "socko", and as a special tribute most of the hotel employees began wearing the Van Johnson trademark - bright red socks. Some of them are still on display In other Las Vegas spots. The tremendous salaries paid by Bntratter have occasionally caused a snag or two, but Jack views these problems as Inevitable in a town where seven luxurious gambling casinos are scrambling for their share of the 9 million travelers who visit Las Vegas every year. Jack originally signed Johnny lay for #8,500 a week, for example, but had to postpone the booking because the hotel couldn?╟╓t open on time. When Hay was later offered another date, he asked for #20,000 a week. ?╟ÑX didn?╟╓t think he was worth that much,?╟Ñ says Jack, ?╟Ñand I told him to go somewhere else.?╟Ñ Johnny did. Humors about Las Vegas salaries eventually got out of hand-- thanks to certain press agents anxious to Inflate their clients?╟╓ value. When Milton Berle was erroneously reported coming to Las Vegas for #37,500 a week, columnist Louella Parsons rebelled and publicly rapped all the publicists on the knuckles. The wild money talk has since subsided* But there Is nothing spurious about Sir Bountiful himself. At the moment, he gives away #5,000 worth of whisky every week to gambling visitors in the Casino, plus #800 in cigars and cigarettes. The constant pressure and the seemingly casual but nerve-frazzling juggling of huge sums occasionally - more - 9508 WILSHIRE BLVD. ?╟≤ BEVERLY HILLS, CAL. ?╟≤ BRADSHAW 2-8611