From the MCRFB news archives: 1954
HALEY COMETS RACK BIG GROSSES THROUGHOUT YEAR
NEW YORK — Record popularity enjoyed by Bill Haley and His Comets on Decca disks has boomed the sextet into the top money-making bracket, according to Jolly Joyce, head of the Jolly Joyce Theatrical Agency here, which holds the booking exclusively for the musical unit.
Before locating for December at Andy’s Log Cabin in Gloucester, New Jersey, the Joyce agency had the Haley Comets take in a full week of one-nighters. And with combination of percentages and guarantees, they netted well over $5,000 for the past week.
Much of the take came from a record one-nighter at the Valencia Theater in Baltimore, promoted by Buddy Deane, disk jockey on WITH and Jim Ferguson, Haley’s personal manager.
Giving two solo concerts Saturday night, November 27, at a $1.25 top, tax included, the 1,600 seat house was overflowing for the two evening shows. Promoters reported 3,300 tickets sold to make it a sell-out three days in advance, with more than 1,000 turned away at the box-office. The gate was over $4,000 and the Haley Comets came away with a net of $2,040 for the evenings’ work. END.
(Information and news source: Billboard; December 11, 1954).
