Variety (August 1957)

56 Wednesday, August 28, 1957 P^RIETY VARIETY BILLS WEEK OF AUGUST 28 Numerals (n connection with bills below Indicate opening day of show whether full or split week Letter In parentheses Indicates circuit: (I) Independent; (L) Loew; (M) Moss; (P) Paramount; iR) RKO; (S) Stoll; (Tl. Tivoli; (W) Warner NEW YORK CITY Music Hall (P) 29 Rockett es Conrad Ludlow Wes Harrison George Carl Rosy (29) “Fiesta at Roxy” Maria Antinea Mario AIvcrcz Enrique Montoya Virginia Morrison Nancy Lee Parker Manuel Del Toro .’Heating Squires Itoxyettes Roxy Orcli AUSTRALIA MELBOURNE Tivoli (T) 2* Archie Robbins Margo (Z Bomb) 2 Earls Christine & Moll Lebrac & Bernice Bobby Gonzales Dellcados Williams & Shand Buster Fiddcss Brenda Rowe Frank Ward Della Vance Dionne Vail SYDNEY Tivoli IT) 24 Johnny Lockwood Bobby Limb Dawn Lake Riggoletto Bros. Sc Aimee Les Thaika Medlock Sc MarloWe Balladinis Billy Raycs Darryl Stewart Johnny O’Connor Edit Juhasz Alwyn Leckie Hae Morgan Pamela (lodso Olivia Dale Rudas Co. MANILA Grand Opera House (T> 24 Katherine Dunham Co. HONG KONG Rltx Cabaret (T) 24 Darvas & Julia BANGKOK Oasis Cabaret (T) 24 Bankx & Demuth ADELAIDE Royal (T) 24 Luigi Infantino BRITAIN ASTON Hippodrome (I) 24 Dan Young Billy Eaves Karen Kent Wanda Alpar Izna Roselll BLACKPOOL Palace <11 24 Hylda Baker Tanner Sis Odette Crystal Sonny Roy George Mitchell Impero Bros. Janet Gray Martin Granger Boliana Ivanko 4 Joan Davis Co. Winter Garden Bob Monkhouse Karen Greer Norris A Savage 3 Romanos 3 Merkys Eliane Sc Rodolphe 12 Starlights Opera House Jewel St \\ arris* Yana Holger & Dolores Latona Graham & Chadel George Mitchell Dancing Debonaires Dorothy Dampier Herbert Hare Audrey Mann Nirska BIRMINGHAM Hippodrome (M) 26 Mel Torme Rochelle Smoothey A I<ayton Joan Hinde Garth Meade 3 Tobas Mumford’s Puppets E Sc J Webster BRIGHTON Hippodrome (M> 24 Winifred Atwell David Nixon Aileen Cochrane Reg Varney RAJ Jover Malta & Fernandos George Mitchell COVENTRY Hippodrome (I) 26 Billy Cotton Darly’s Dogs George Bolton De Vel-A Part- ' Billy Maxam Flying Demos Horler 2 Tattersail FINSBURY PARK Empire (M> 24 Marion Ryan Burke A Kovac George Martin Les Mallinis Renee Strange Mack A Kirk Gaunt Bros. TAP Derrick GLASGOW Empire (M) 24 Dickie Valentine McAndrews A Mills Eleanor Gunter Vic Hyde David Berglas Tex McLeod Fred .Lovelle Cynthia . A Ptnr LEEDS Empire (M) 24 Fred Emney Lorrae Desmond Bert Edgar Rosa Macari K A V Glynne Ancasta LIVERPOOL Empire (M>. 24 Harry Secambe Billie Anthony Rudy Horn Dior Co. Glmma Bovs MANCHESTER Palace >M) 26 Dave King Hazel Gee Kordites Flack A Mills Tiki A Del Bernard Landy Linda A Constant Dany Ray Mistin Jnr. NEWCASTLE Empire (M* 26 Chas. MeDevitt Nancy Whiskey Terry Dene Dene-Aces June Birch Clifford Stanton Grecos Jeffrey Lenncr Shipway 2 Renee Dymott NORTHAMPTON New (l> 26 Leon Cortez Tony Dalton Plgalle Lovelies NORWICH Hippodrome (I) 26 Connor A Drake Gay Leslie • NOTTINGHAM Empire (M> 26 David Bruce Tiki A Del Digby Wolfe Bela A Mary Arthur Sorsley M A B West Joan Winters Guy Fielding Georgette SOUTHAMPTON Grand (I) 26 Lane A Geo. Truzzi Cellophane SOUTHSEA King's (Ml 26 David Whitfield Harry Worth Audrey Jeans King Bros. Billy Dainty Skylons Blue Angel "Calypso Fiesta” Princess Abilia St King Christian Lord Rafael Lord Calypso Prince Pablo. Lady Melena A Lady Blanca Roger McCall A1 D’Lacy Ore ■•Blue Note Duke Ellington Chez Parte Billy Daniels Corbett Monica Chez Adorables (6) Ted Fio Rito Ore 13 Cloister Inn Ramsey Lewis Trio Lorez Alexandria Conrad Hilton “Ice Review Spec”- Glenn A Colleen Miss Lucille Jo Ann McGowan Ros Pettinger Bill Christopher Gil Shepard A De Soto Sisters (3) Paul Gibbon & Sully Kathman Fred Napier Norman Crider Tune Tattlers (4) Charlie Fisk Ore Gate of Horn Odetta Jo Mapes London House Errol Garner Trio Eddie Higgins <3> Mister Kelly'* Jackie Cain St Roy Krai Maya Angelou Shelley Berman Marty Rubenstein 3 Palmer House Hildegarde Mattison Trio Ben Arden Orch LOS ANGELES B. Gray's Band Beg Billy Gray Leo Diamond Carol Shannon Bert Gordon Ric Marlowe Le Hermen (3) Bob Barley Trio Coconut Grove. Gordon MacRae F. Martin Ore Crescendo Dave Brubeck Mort Sabi Interlude Bobby Short Chamber Jazz Sex't. Mocambo Dlahann Carroll Frankie Sands Trio Paul Hebert Ore Moulin Rouge Jerry Colonna Statler Hotel Harry Babbitt Lloyd Lindroth V. Moreno ARosalie Ed. Betgman Ore LAS VEGAS Desert tnn Jan Peerce Happy Jesters Gina Genardl Art Johnson Donn Arden Dncrs Carlton Hayes Oro Dunes “Pajama Game” Larry Douglas Betty O'Neil Buster West Barbara’ Bostock Garwood V'an Oro El Cortez "Rhythm on Ice” George Arnold The Gaylords Buster Hallett Oro El Rancho Vegas Joe E. Lewis Roberta Sherwood Nejla Ates Molnar Dancers Dick Rice Orch Flamingo Ritz Bros. Gogi Grant Fiamingoettes Lou Basil Orch Fremont Hotel Time Jesters Jo Ann Castle Stardusters Bob A Sylvia Golden Nugget Harry Ranch Jig Adams Lee Maynard Faye Ellen Riviera Blackouts of ’58 Ken Murray Marie Wilson Novelites Ray Sinatra Ore Royal Nevada Sonny Howard Russ Morgan Ore Sahara Betty Hutton Amin Bros. Sbaw-Hitchcock Dcrs. Cee Davidson Ore Mary Kaye Trio Sands Marguerite Piazza Davis A Reese Copa Girls Antonio Morelli Ore Showboat Pat Moreno Taffy O’Neil Garr Nelson Showboat Girl* Mike WerriOr Orch Silver Slipper Hank Henry Electra Barbary Coast ►Joys Jimmy Cavanaugh Sparky Kaye Mac Dennison Pat Yankee Slipperettes Geo. Redman Orch Thunderbird Four Lads Jay Nemeth Billy Wells A The Four Fays Rex Johnson Thunderbird Dncrs Al Jahns Orch Tropicana Carol Channing Elaine Dqnn Judy Logan Norvas Singers Jack Costanza Nat Brandywynne RENO Harolds Jodimars Phyllis Inez Harrah's Louis Prlma Keeley Smith Sons of Pioneer* Tommy Sandi - Betty A Escorts Mapes Skyroom Mickey Rooney Skylets Eld Fitzpatrick Ore New Golden 4 Tunes Hank Penny Penthouse 4 Riverside Dorothy' Shay- Starlets Bill Clifford Ore LAKE 1AHOE Cal Neva Tony Martin Lotere Dcrs Matty Malneck Orb Harrah's Roberta Linn Wilder Bros. Giovanni Del Courtney Ore Stateltne Country Club Bob Scobey Woodsens Noel Boggs MIAM1-MIAMI BEACH NEW YORK CITY Blue Angel T. C. Jones Carol Burnett Mae Barnes Jimmy Lyon 3 Bart Howard Bob Ritterbush Casanova Jacques Zarow Alex Alstone Chateau Madrid Monica Boyar Panchito Ore Soccares Ore Copacabana Don Corhell Larry Daniels Coronados Tom Rockford Mari Ann Cooper Tony Star man Michael Durso Ore Frank Marti Oro No 1 Fifth Ave Peggy Ann Watson Bob Downey Harold Fonville Hotel Ambassador Chauncey Gray Ore Jani Sarkozi Gypsies Quintero Rhumbas Hotel Pierre Stanley Melha Ore Alan Logan Ore Joseph Sudy Hotel Roosevelt Eddie Lane Ore Hotel Taft Vincent Lopez Ore Milt Shaw Ore Ray Bari Ore Latin Quarter Dominique Szonys Y Knot Twirler* Molidor Trio Debonalrs Gillian Grey Simon McQueen Chic James Syncopated Water* Jo Lombardi Ore B Harlowe Ore Park Sheraton Ian August Spark Thurman Viennese Lantern Rita Dimitri Yasuko Ernest Schoen Ore Harold Stndler Paul Mann Village Barn Dick Todd Sophie Parker Zeb Carver Ed Smith Jodie Carver To‘1 Shaw Ore Village Vanguard Chris Connor Slim GaiUard Waldorf-Astoria Count Basie Sarah Vaughan Haitian Deis Bela Babai Ore CHICAGO Americana Jaye P. Morgan Jay Lawrence Priest A Fosse Stan Ross. Trio Jackie Heller Lee Martin Oro Maya Ore Balmoral Billy Mitchell Rosina Aston Sonny Kendis Ore Tana Leun Di Lido Mandy Campo Ore Othella Dallas Jane Moore Bernie Sager Jack Barcena Ore Eden Roe Cab Calloway Lois O’Brielf Bobby Sargent Johnny Costa Trio Mai Malkin Ore Chico Cuban Boyr Fontainebleau Toni Arden Frank Marlowe Raye A Naldi Jack r Stuart Ore SacaSas Ore Pupi Campo Ore NataU-Fields Trio London Town# Arthur Blake Weela Gallez Jean Tourigny Lucerne . Havana Mardi Gras Dlosa Costello Milos Velarde Don Casino Tonia Flores Tony A Francella Juan Romero David Tyler Ore Luis Varona Ore Murray Franklin's Roy Sedley Joe Mayer Trio Dick Haviland Murray Franklin Sue Lawton Eddie Bernard Nautilus Larry K. Nixon Marriette Mario A Tonia Byd Stanley Ore Seville Boh Sennett Murri A Ruth Tommy Ryan Johnny Silvers Ore Rey Mambo Ore Saxony Mari Leighton Charles A Faye Al Stuart Archette Jimmy Grippo Fred Thompson Tommy Angel Vagabonds Vagabonds (4) -Micki Mario Dunhills <3< Frank Linale Qr( HAVANA ^Montmartre Raul Mesa Raquel Barisba Ivette De La Fuente Clarisse Novo Gladys Bocay . Guzman Singers Fajardo Ore . Nacional Helen Forrest Tun Tun Ray Carson Dancing Waters W. Reyes Ore Sans Souci Gloria A Rolando Alfredo Sadel Miriam Baneras Roberto Barcelo Maria Magdalene La Serie Ore Ortega Ore Tropicana Luis Garcia Alberto Rochl Matzuko Miguel Gladys A Freddy Riveros Dominique Tropicana Ballet S Suarez Orq % Romeu Orq C'anadfana. ’57 (CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION) -Toronto, Aug. 23. Jack Arthur production, starring Boh Hope, with D'Arco & Gee; Geoffrey Holder & Co. (8); Martha Ann Bentley; The Atcettys (2); Paul Kohler; Jo, Jac & JOni; Wally Koster; Velyn & LaVerne French; Shari McKim; Phyllis Marshall; Gerri the Giraffe; The Canadettes (56), choral ensemble (24). Set¬ tings, costumes, Stuart MacKay; choreography. Midge Arthur, Alan and Blanche Lund; lyrics, Stanley Daniels, Howard. Cable, Jack Ar¬ thur; musical director, Howard Cable; lighting, William Dale; stager, John Maddison. At the CNE Grandstand, Toronto; Aug. 23, ’57; $3.75 top. The demands of a businessmen board of directors is reflected, pro¬ duction-wise, in this year’s 24,000- seater grandstand show at the Canadian National Exhibition, but Jack Arthur has whipped together a fine 150-minute melange which is topped by Bob Hope. Comic is getting $100,000 for the fortnight’s nightly work, plus a reputed 50% of the gross over $472,000. He’s the b.o. draw, judging from open¬ ing night. The enforced economy drop in production costs — this including the dropping of a designer whose sets have been eye-filling in the past—is particularly evident in an offering that has been reduced to two levels instead of the six that made spectacular stage-pictures in other years. The pi-ecision line of girls has also been cut to 48 from previous years’ 70. However, with Hope getting the cream off the top —and deservedly — Jack Arthur has evolved a splendid outdoor show, ranging from baggy-pants to ballet, for that 250-foot width and 60-foot depth. Bob Hope carries the second half, making his entrance in a blue convertible, and mainly working on a circular platform to the 24,- 000-seater grandstand audience which, on opening night, was ca¬ pacity. Hope does a single for some 45 mins, on his topical mono¬ logistics, plus clever timing, and ranges from remarks on the- size of the joint to his opinions of the “Confidential" hearings. Interpolated are gags about his age, his. singing of “Buttons and Bows," . his recounting of zany stories, and a soft-shoe routine -with a Couple of the line girls. Hope has no trouble in carrying the second half and continues to be a very funny fellow. On the dance production num¬ bers,- Arthur shows his flair for color and movement in the ma¬ neuvering of masses of perform¬ ers. This is evident in the gala opening of “Canadians •'’57;” the “Fall Fantasia,” a ballet number, and Martha Ann Bentley as solo- dancer for her technically-disci¬ plined on-toes pirouettes and cross-stage spins that were excit¬ ing on sight-delivery. Also visually outstanding on set and costume color is “Caribbean Mardi Gras,” this featuring Geof¬ frey Holder and his company, plus Velyn & LaVerne French for their "Ritual” dance number. It is a brilliantly costumed and lighted finale to the first act. Apart from I principals, choreography for all three was done by Alan and Blanche Lund. i Interpolated throughout, and all to sock audience reaction, are Paul Koehler for his marimba work; Jo, Jac & Joni for their comedy-Pan- tomime; . The Alee ttys for their plate-twirling on bending 30-foot bamboo poles; the. high baton- tosses of Shari.McKim; the sing¬ ing of Wally. Koster, D’Arco and Gee score next to Hope on audi¬ ence-decibels for their fast cross¬ patter and clowning of the clas¬ sics, with both in top singing voice. The finale, to “Poet and Peas¬ ant,” is an exciting eyeful, with t Midge Arthur doing the clever choreography for that precision line of 50 girls in spangled briefies and tall - head-dresses for their rhythmic struts and hi-kicks. It’s a rousing finish leading to a com¬ pany roundup of some 400 per¬ formers for individual bows. McStay. New Acts Lfls PUPI MARIONETTES CCE, Ottawa Los Pupi Marionettes, an import from Italy so new only one of the staff of 12 can understand English, is one of the firitest shows to hit the Central Canada Exhibition since World of Mirth midway be¬ gan here more than 20 years ago. Using puppets averaging three feet tall (some close to five), it's a fast- paced, showmanship-wise offering that uses a number of fresh ideas. Scene changes are extremely fast, scenery customs and dolls are clean and colorful and operation of the marionettes is superbly han¬ dled by a crew of eight string-pul¬ lers. Lighting and special effects are big. Comedy is always present in the dolls’ actions since the gabbing and chanting, recorded, are in Italian. This makes it difficult for Can¬ adian stubholders to accept, but they hand out plenty mitting for •quality of the visual side of the show. Another item that may dis¬ appoint midway customers is the typical Italian attention to opera. Insertion, eventually, of some pop stuff among the tunes would prob¬ ably collect more attention. Curtain goes up on a concert orchestra with a jittery flutist in for comedy. Then an acro- balance item has femme doll rid¬ ing a rolling ball up and down a teeterboard. Concert pianist and chanter open seriously then garner guffaws when the piano strings begin to snap and the 88 finally collapses. A gypsy item opens <the way for clicko scenic effects, and an aero pair, with hand and head ■stands, gets attention. A Venetian ; musical stint uses top effects in¬ cluding a realistic moon, a passing passenger steamer and city and volcano in the background. Closer is a “Fires of Hell” thriller with impressive flames, some of them dancing in the chorus, plus plenty devils, imps and skeletons jvith flashing eyes and come-apart bodies. This is a unique show for a mid¬ way and should go far to bringing impact and business to World of Mirth. Gorm. BELLY ALBERT & ARDREY SISTERS (2) Songs, Dancing 30 Mins. Hotel Muehlebach, K.C. The threesome of Billy Albert & Molly and Sally Ardrey turns out to be one of the best turns in the Terrace Grill of the Hotel Muehle¬ bach in recent months. During the summer the room is on a policy of a single act combined with the Joe Reichman orch, and this act fills the hill. Format has Albert at the mike to warble and plunk the guitar, flanked by the two sisters, both standout on looks and charm. They offer a dozen numbers which com- | bine singing and dancing, doing some pops and some special mate¬ rial. Their list includes “Sunny Side Up,” “Over the Rainbow” and : “Too Much” on the pop side, along with a medley of tunes from “My Fair Lady” and special bits such as “Strawhat and a Cane” and “Ball at the Whitehouse.” Most of the dancing and choreography are done by the two girls, with Albert singing at the mike, but the girls also join in on the singing in trio style. Act has been around about six months, but already has class. It’s well paced, well done and handsomely costumed. Quin. HADDA BROOKS Songs 45 Mins. Romanoff’s^ San Francisco This is more a new old act for Hadda Brooks has been singing in her deep, husky voice and accom¬ panying herself on the piano a long time. But she’s tossed in; some new gimmicks and revised her procedure pretty thoroughly for Royce Russell's intimate Crown Room, and the Negro songstress rates a nice hand from the cus¬ tomers. Mostly, she works through a repertoire of standards. Since she plays her own piano, she can stretch out the phrasing just as she likes and occasionally use her own judgment in leaving the bench to wander up front and belt her numbers right out to the audience. Unfortunately she tends to be a bitvtoo kittenish in some of her standards and it isn’t until she does a songalog about “some of the men in my life” that she gets earthy enough to click solidly. One pitfall are some very old jokes, but on the whole she handles this well. She follows up with her own up¬ beat version of “OF Man River.” and “Tall Man,” both good .Stef, ELENA GIUSTI Songs 15 Mins. Roxy, N. Y. Elena Giustf.is a blonde, Italian warbler with good pipes, smart de¬ livery and stage savvy. Headlining the current Roxy stage bill, she takes over a good portion of the show. Brought over by Roxy’s i managing director Robert Rotha- fel, in a tie-up with Pan Am’s Showplane project, she has a .back¬ ground of tv appearances in* Lon¬ don, Rome and Paris. She could easily fit into a tv appearance in the U.S. on one of the variety shows. Despite fetching looks, stage savvy and fine delivery, though, a 15-minute stint, as showcased in the Roxy show, appears somewhat too long. The numbers sung in Italian on the whole come off bet¬ ter than her English ones—she has an accent which makes the latter lyrics difficult to hear. But wheth¬ er singing in Italian of English, she evidences vitality, charm and individualized stylizing. • Her song¬ alog includes a flock of Continen¬ tal tunes as well as such standards as “The Last Time I Saw Paris,” “La Vie en Rose,” and “Lullaby of Birdland.” Latter number, inci¬ dentally, comes off the poorest. Horo. TERRY LINN Songs 14 Mins. Chaudiere, Ottawa Big-eyed, dark and slight, Terry Linn makes a nice visual stint as well as a clicko canary stanza. Her pipes are throaty and her style is unusual. Except for the commer¬ cialism of her presentation, prob¬ ably deliberate for niteries. she would be big for jazz rooms and smaller clubs or lounges. Weak¬ nesses are in staging, lacking ac¬ tion and color, and in gabbing. It’s so low scarcely a word reaches the tablesitters. Femme is good now for disks and radio, and with elimination of gab items and stronger production, she’s solid for niteries for niteries and tv. Gorm. GAYLE WALTON Organ-songs 20 Mins. Westward Ho Jr., Omaha i Gayle Walton is a pretty, perky blonde who is breaking in a clever nitery act after a five-month en¬ gagement at the Fremont Hotel in Las Vegas. Gal has strong talent on the organ and a fair voice to boot. Miss Walton’s forte is her ability to make productions out of such usually routine numbers as “Gran¬ ada” and “Caravan.” A heavy beat commands aud attention in be¬ tween danceable offerings. Trump. JO THOMPSON Songs, piano 30 Mins. El Morocco, Montreal Jo Thompson, a tall, handsome colored girl playing her first Mon¬ treal cafe date, proves to be one of the most popular personalities ever to play El Morocco. Seated at a small piano. Miss Thompson belts out a rollicking 30-minutes of blues, ballads and standards like a vet, exhibiting at all times a solid sense of showmanship throughout that appeals to the near-capacity biz she is attracting each Bight. Primarily a lounge entertainer some of her sparkling personality | is lost behind the piano.on an en¬ gagement such as this. With her appearance and piping Miss Thompson should he a cinch front¬ ing a small combo without being hidden by an upright. Arrange¬ ments are clever and material va¬ ried; type of song changes with the mood of the crowd and run the gamut from demure to risque. Thrush is ready for a change in format and with proper handling should make it with ease. Ray Middleton Heading Stephen Foster Concerts Charles Peterson is promoting a Stephen Foster concert unit which will go on the road this season. Topping the troupe will be Ray Middleton with . Ruth Clayton, Guen Omeron, Norvell- Campbell, Gene Hollmann and The Choraliers in. support. Other acts will include The Holi¬ days, banjoist Joe Sodja, and Ernie Morris. James Peterson will be the conductor.