Warren Commission (15 of 26): Hearings Vol. XV (of 15)United States. Warren Commission
History
Warren Commission (15 of 26): Hearings Vol. XV (of 15)
United States. Warren Commission
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 -- Assassination; Oswald, Lee Harvey
Mr. PALMER. Clubs are rated deluxe, A, B, C, and D and his was far from
being deluxe, which allowed about a $10 a week less minimum.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Do you remember what his rating was?
Mr. PALMER. I think it was a B house.
Mr. GRIFFIN. The rating is deluxe, and below that is A and B?
Mr. PALMER. Yes. The other two houses, I believe the Theatre Lounge
is an A and the Colony Club is a B, but it never, he never practiced
minimum rate.
See, we only guaranteed the minimum rate. The artist could negotiate
for anything above that.
Mr. GRIFFIN. What factor did you take into account in determining what
rate?
Mr. PALMER. These houses had already been rated prior to my coming
into office here, and I didn’t feel that there was any necessity of
reevaluating them.
Mr. GRIFFIN. I didn’t mean you in particular, but what are the
standards of giving new ratings in AGVA?
Mr. PALMER. There is controversy. I rate them primarily on seating
capacity, cover charge, and type of show budget. It has not been
delineated clearly in any of the offices.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Did Jack Ruby complain to you about the amateur nights
that the Weinsteins were running?
Mr. PALMER. Continuously. He stated that he didn’t like to run them
himself, but he had to in order to meet the competition. The other two
brothers, the same thing.
Mr. GRIFFIN. What did Jack ask you to do?
Mr. PALMER. He was constantly trying to have them disallowed by AGVA.
According to the first directive I received in office, they were to be
immediately discontinued.
However, I believe it was Abe Weinstein’s conversation, either in
person or by phone--I have forgotten which--I had both with Irving
Mazzie, that they were allowed to continue until clarification of
the amateur shows could be had. I was instructed to allow them to
continue. It was not indicated that it should be just simply for the
Weinsteins, but also for Jack Ruby, and any other club that might be
in my territory. I believe there was a club in Oklahoma that was also
contemplating it. At that time there became an upset in our executive
offices, and it was not clear to the people taking over whether they
should adhere to the previous policies.
Mr. GRIFFIN. When did this first order come out that there was to be no
amateur nights?
Mr. PALMER. In October, I believe it was, originally.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Of 1963 or 1962?
Mr. PALMER. 1962.
Mr. GRIFFIN. 1962?
Mr. PALMER. I believe that is when I first received the letter
indicating it was to all club owners.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Did Jack Ruby discontinue amateur night at any time, to
your knowledge?
Mr. PALMER. Yes; prior to my, well, unpleasantness, he began a series
of dishes, giving away dishes Thursday and hi-fi’s and everything else,
and had discontinued his amateur nights, and made quite a thing that he
was complying wholeheartedly. But it took him almost 4 or 5 months to
get around to complying.
Mr. GRIFFIN. Was he still complying in November of 1963?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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