While Miss Jayne Mansfield rested yesterday at a Darlington hotel, after an unscheduled 1 a.m. appearance at York Press Ball, allegations were being made in London by a solicitor about her conduct at northern night clubs.
Mr David Jacobs, speaking on behalf of the American Contemporary Record Company, issued a statement at a Carnaby Street, W1, Press conference called by West End impresario Mr Don Arden.
He said Contemporary Records are to bring an action against Miss Mansfield, claiming damages for breach of contract.
The company revoked its contract covering Miss Mansfield’s £3,000-a-week two-month tour of British clubs last week while she was in the Newcastle upon Tyne area.
Mr Jacobs said Contemporary Records had had a number of complaints about Miss Mansfield’s behaviour during her tour. On occasions, he alleged, she had had to go on stage in her street clothes, having failed to take her stage clothes to the club.
He also claimed that Miss Mansfield and Mr Sam Brody, her American lawyer who is accompanying her on the tour, had had differences of opinion in public. Miss Mansfield had arrived late for rehearsals and Press conferences.
Because of the loss of rehearsal time, Mr Jacobs said that Miss Mansfield “kept losing the orchestra when singing.”
Accounts for drinks were excessive, Mr Jacobs alleged. The atmosphere between Miss Mansfield and Mr Brody had deteriorated to the extent that the hairdresser and road manager – permanently attending her – had informed a representative of Contemporary Records that they could stand it no longer.
A producer who had seen one of Miss Mansfield’s performances with a view to arranging a television show had afterwards refused to enter into any negotiations.
Replying to Mr Brody’s allegation that Miss Mansfield had not been paid “one dime” for her appearances, Mr Jacobs said: “the reason for any amounts not being paid to Miss Mansfield is that they will be set off against the damage suffered by the company. The matter may well have to be resolved in California.”
News report on page three of the Observer on 9 April 1967
