Variety (November 1961)

NIGHT CLUB REVIEWS 52 Waldorf-Astoria, N. Y. {tric showbacks and makes with the' pire as ‘dansapation. Incideutally, almost everywhere, The. were out in some force but what the kids do, and make palatable, somehow tak... on a cruder connetation whe: me of the adult Soptie Tucker (with Ted Shapimo: Mile Shaw Orch and Ada Cagullo & Her Bodkasha Trio; $3-$4 corer. A New Act review of Sophie delinquents th ‘: they’re Tuckel at the Albee, Brooklyn, in| -ayte’ ey” Aenee 1929 led off that she “is the un: * api VARIETY'S disputed champion in r Blackste , Ch New Act files. In 20 years she has received a New Act notice 16 tunes." Her first such appraisal, arcording to this journal of trade i:xformation, therefore dates back te 1909. Chicago, Nov. 13, Monique Van .Vooren, Franz Benteler Orch; $2 cover weekends, $1.50 weeknights. Sheraton Blackstone general Five sears preceding this Brook| manager Doug Boone has been gm oresies, Sime, the founder of ‘carefully developing the BonaVariety, had some fun with Soph’ parte Room as a class showrqom ir. “is Aus. 13, 1924, notice, aS} 5; : Hea actertain. fotlov s "On tie program it read! ene Me foe ter athe ° oom last Madame Sophie Tucker; the cru j spring, Judging, from the §RO c1aters he x . erow : stage read Madame Sophie Tucker, ' who turned out press anc celeDs and when the Madame appeared, i van Yooren's opening, he: double-decker piano-playing ® parte has established lads, Ted Shapiro and Jack Carrcil.: lively stood up shouting wn unison. | club circuit. ‘Madame Sophia Tucker’." Since, . oar : the Palace was scaled to a $2 top; Miss Van Vooren's current turn Sime centinned ribbing “the Madame in a S32 house.” A year{ | Burt Rkodes; Line (31), Sydney |who have loyally supported her 4 | impact when she walks ‘an stage e I $5 for Monique! in a tight Gtting white gown which, e0S dwells mainly in the realm. of the Bona-| enhances her features.. She is re-| Standards following a special matitself as &@/nowned for being immaculately | erial opener, and scores tellingly | factor on the Chi supper} turried out, and on this occasion. demonstrates ‘that she is as well-} sion from the old. Hippodrome endowed with showmanship as she | Theatre, is a kinysized room’ by Talk Of Town, London. oo Lendon, Nov, 14. Julie Wilson (with Jack Chi vers); Robert . Nesbitt’s “Ten. |O'Clock Foilties.” with Michael Desmond, Pat Ferris, Josephine Blake, Ugo Garrido; Ballet Trianas (6); choreography, Billy Patch; decor, Tod: Kingman; costumes, R. St. John Roper; vorchestrafions, Simone Orch, ido Martino. & his Latin Rhythms; $6.75. minimum. Julie Wilson is back to headline at the Tolk of the Town, and that should spell good news fer thease -during her many stage and cabaret ‘appearances in the West End. She |’. has: a strong personal following; | this will doubtless be reflected in | the stout business that’s. certain | to: ensue. ae cial group rates. The. bil, it ao. happened, is one of the better combinations brought in by Abe Goldstein & Arturo Cano. o -Gunty is one of the youngish{ He} comedic vets.in the business. Started originally as a musician and held down the sax chair in this spot under the incumbent ‘maestro, Johnny Morris. So now ‘he’s headlining. here and proves his right.to this status. He is a good storyteller with a capacity to project special material tunes, Gunty runs a wide gamut from im-: pressions to song and. dance work along with this yarns, and is proficient on all counts. re Miss Stevens is excellently endowed, both physically and vocatiy, for her work. She is a charming stylist who brings an element of intimacy :even in this kingsized Miss Wilson makes an Immediate |T0om.. She wraps up. the crowd excells herself. _ The Talk of the Town, a conver with eas¢ and elegance. Miss Stev| With a nicely arranged catalog. The openers are Margot & Chiverto, Spanish: ireparts, who: show : a. wide range of :ballroom tricks. Much of their work is devoted to lifts and spins, and they have Wedecsday, November 22, 1961. ing to order without benefit of spe{ Mae Persian Room, N. Y. Dighann. Carroll & Co, (7); Emil Coleman. Orch, Merk. Monte Corn tinentals; $3-$4 cover. ~ Returning for her third stand at. the Persian Room, N.Y., chirper’ Diahann Carroll impresses as. -a polished. performer with a well-: a wy balanced. sense’ of dynamics‘ and’: winning delivery that makes her a solid attraction for this ‘society strorighold. Her versatile stylings ‘and pert appearance create an in ‘timate and direct rapport with the. audience that serves. with increasing effectiveness as her turn progresses. a , Highlight .is. the “West: Side Story” medley.in which Mis $s ,Car ee also gets a chance. to show. off some terping. For. this set she is assisted by Claude Thompson as a. dance partner. She ‘sings six tunes from the show, some in ‘part. and others in full, in¢eluding top © treatments of “Tonight” and .“I Have A Leve” anda cute’ cutup version of “Officer Krupke.” It ‘is a nicely-designed ‘effort, that fea-. tures special: ‘material -by Phil . Moore .and solid orchestrations by Peter. Matz, as “played by. Emil Coleman's. house orch, ‘hypoed: fer ‘ 'is with her remarkable physical |.any standard and it is not an ideal later, back at the P ance. So hie | attributes. The wellstacked and | setting for an artist of Miss Wilbilled this time a5 4 trae "tione of| Cutstandingly gowned thrush ‘son's calibre, who is infinitely more Tucker, either a contra _ begged off to thunderous palm-| at home in intimate surroundigs. Madame or perhaps, having long been a London favorite, somewhet in the British Empire idiom, a la Dame May Whitty et al. net in tbe saloons, is back in a new kind of plushery, the posh Empire Room of the Waldorf-Astoria, in: handling customer traffic. found himself overwhelmed albeit not losing aplomb. d’hotel later observed, “It seemed mot unexpected to sa many that when 1 apologized for. the opening night and other night sellouts they understood and ‘agreed charmingly to suggestions for alternate evenings.” Siccardi likened this opening—and advance ‘yeservations—to the Eddie Fisher jamup ‘he’s due back “March 28 inecidentally:, with the dance floor curtailed by extra ringside tables.” Tre accent on Soph’s multiple reviews, even in 1929 ‘now over 3. years back’, is that, as Williaam Gaxton, Shepherd of The Lambs observed to Harry Hershfield at the preem, “They just don't make tioupers like her any more; alWays working. always back with new material, new gowns, and with new enthusiasm as if this was a ‘showing’ date.” That about sums fi up. Suph came+ on literally to a standing ovation which almost unnerved her and, as she ad libbed and piano accompanist Ted Shapiro privatel> stated. “These songs are so new they're even unknown to us.” In the Tucker tradition. the Iyric content was beited over so that nary a syllaole pounding—even more noticeable . from the usually restrained sup-|of her performance is. somewiat ‘lost. Her best liked and best known ' per club crowds. Her sengalog is a mlance of | numbers do-not achieve. the direct Now Soph, long a socko b.0. Ma8-} pop tunes and French oldies, with | Simger-to-audience projection which ;a few songs in other languages. | they deserve. — she has interpolated. ' ‘ J . : seme clever special material in‘ ards, like “ost Gentlemen Don't and Louis Siccardi, a past master. such numbers as “Lady Is A] Like Love,” “My Heart -Belongs and “Let’s Do Iit.”. The | to: Daddy.” “A. Man. Could Be,” . effect is that of personalizing the | “Twelve Good Mea And True" and As the maitre! numbers and taking them out of | “Bad Bad Woman.” ‘They’ stil! ‘| come over well enough, but not to ; However, j . i Tramp : the standard delivery category. + She uses a: local quartet for ‘some brief backing in “Never On : Sunday” iin Greek: and for a rocking version of Oscar Brown Jr.'s “Forbidden Fruit.’” However, usage of the quartet is so tentative the production values that it ‘her generally surefire turn is her inclusion of ‘Little Child.” a ten-| O’Ciock Follies,” including that ! recordings at late show. skilled juggler Ugo Garrido, who! j der lullaby. It’s an appealing num: ‘ber and Miss Van Vooren reli-! has been held over from the previ-; _Siously dons an evening coat to ‘cover her decolletage in deference : fo the song. But it takes more than ; that to dim the high-voltage s.a. ‘she projects. and the whole number comes off as out of place. . Franz Benteler’s house orch backs Miss Van Vooren. zealously. ; Plays appropriately contigental * sigeunermusik for listening, and dishes out capable dansapation. Miss Van Vooren is in for three ‘Mor. — , weeks. i . | Ho Ti, Portland, Ore; ; Portland, Ore., Nov. 17. “Roaring 20s” with Leonard _talents.and rouline to cope with this ! { outsize room. in the act that the advantage of | ta! reservoir of. material to draw is | apparently intended for is dubious. Medley and a-trio of blues songs. of memory gems composed. by her ' Another small point of cavil inj; was missed in the outmeast reaches. Barr, Joanie Spinder, Louise Gray, in The songs were all new, chiefly: Alickey Robertson, Lynn Gordon, | mone departs for a-previous com| t femme performerirs called . The !. staging. Dons Alber-| Meditation Singers. Group sang in | Ray Binney; | church choir with Miss Reese when | credited to Jack Yellen and Mac! Ray Binney Line (4 dancers, 2 Muaurada, and per usual what Soph. nudes’, Herman Jobetman Orch can do with an earthy lyric makes! (5) with Kitcy Nelson, and Betty ker unique in the same idiom as Wilson; produced and created by Jee E. Lewis—that it’s never of-; Al Learman: fensive. A sampling of her wares | to; choreography, i, evidenced by some of the’ $1.50 cover, $2 Sat. titles: “I Am Living Alone and I, _ oe Like It." “How Are you Doing in the | “Roaring 20s” is Al Learman’s Love Department?” and a word-; second package aimed for bookings lessonograph titled : “Sophie! Tucker's Little Lover Pills.” Open: | inz with “You, Too, Can Be a Red Hot Mama” and her philosophic | “Fife Is the World's: Greatest’ chance of making the grade. Game,” she does a wild rib on; Vet vauder Leonard Barr scores Perry Como's “Letters,” which is. with his deadpan, sad sack one@ sprinzhoard for a medley “Bird in Gilded Cage.” salute to tric softshoe terping is nifty: Petite longtime friend Maurice Chevalier Joanie Spinder wows the custom the country. New unit. | in niteri ; ' With the star they do “Wadi in niteries and other spots around !in the Wetens a ley do “Wading | at present the ‘Mo tain.” “ith ere ara falls short of the mark, but with | 4 istenighters with appreciative work and some changes has a] Miss Reese, with “Mimi. “1 Don't Want to Get Thin.” and a salute to Shelton Brooks who brougnt her “Some of These Dass” in 1911. What looked hke an unorthodox bovkins for the Waldorf ‘although ir. this day-znd-azge of nitery bookints, ax Witness, Pinza, Coward, Bankhead, Hoien Traubel, Dietrich i Lay Vegas and other saloons: it will probabis set record business. Miss Tucker: nentioned her $3,BHU total charity giveaway, to Gate, frou the sales ot her books ari records. anit she set up shop. pronto in * outer foyer. The Ti:lton Maser ent’s acquiescense to thi. personal charity pitch i. prababh vurorthoedox than boukineg the hot mama. This seine-tet marks Ted Sha *hs Boot ravi Pires Alst ances ay Suoph’s acGaumpanisi or reele oa recurd. OW versing, tle El Sean arciies tra spelled bb, the Ada Carallo ‘ers with her chirping of “Give Me _A Little Kiss.” " Ray Binney and Lynn Gordon: tango a la Valentino style. Louise | but } _ Should chirp semi-classical tunes. Gray displays good pipes : instead of wasting talent on. Jolson ‘melodies. Ray Binney line is on for two brassy production num ‘bers. Dancers (4) work hard and} their terping is proficient. Two , Shapely nudes add eve appeal. Pul‘chritudinous Mickey Robertson registers in a nurse's role. sO Binrtey’s group is a strong asset as are Staging and choreography. Bash is given solid . backing: by ‘Herman Jobelman Orch «5! with Kitty Neison singing during the dancing seshes. Betty Wilson ~ is -in the Lamplighter lounge with | (17) the rreem of the Morty Gunty-. But there was'}.] -aton Hotel till Nov. 25. her piuno and songs, . Layout, which: runs 35 minutes. -is in fur four weeks with options.’ it Feve. In this. vast room, the intimacy In that category are her ‘stand the same immediate reaction the Star has: evoked in the past. oo Being a seasoned performer, Miss ; Wilson will undoubtedly adapt her : : She has a substan-! on, plus sore solid opening night songs which included a “Can-Can”’ |. As usual the cabaret starts with : Robert. Nesbitt's.. lavish “Ten ous show. Newcomers are the Bal let Trianas. who ‘made a personal : click a week earlier in the Royal 7 7 ‘and “Sleepy Time Gal” are among. Jack Chivers accompanies Miss ‘her standouts in. this set. She has Varicty Show. Wilson on the ivories during her ! 40° minute stint, with Sydney! Simone leading his resident orch |: to give strong suppertDlyro.. Flamingo. Las Vegas ' (FOLLOWUP) Las Vegas, Nov. 16. smooth moments in their straight | Miss Carroll’s engagement with dance passages. The femme'’s;the added musicat services af. gowning Is firstrate. Male tries to , Francis. Williams, Jimmy Cleve-_ essay an air ‘of being calm, butjland,. Bill Maynard, Jim Fitz-: | piano. manages only to Teok frozen. Nonetheless, they hit it big with ; their tricks, Jose. BR & BH, Indpis. — Indianapolis, Nov.-18. ' Margaret Whiting, Lewis & Dane, ' Billy Moore Orch (6); $2.50. cover, two drink minimum. _ Margaret Whiting. making her" first appearance in this city, scored solidly’ on a good bill at Charlie , Burkett’s B & B when She opened : a 10-day stand there Friday -‘(17). . Fetching .in blue, she grabbed warm applause .for her bright, clear singing of ' program that leaned to nostalgic side, one large segment being devoted to medley ; sinvon, Puma. Me” and earthy. ballad. styling on |*Brown Baby.” .In the -medium tempo groove, she toys pléasantly with “I Wish I Were In~ Love: Again.” Hers is an_ all-around, nicely designed act, offered with Style and knowledge. =. Miss Carroll's abilities‘ have not. been limited to niteries,.as she has ‘appeared on various tv shows and¢ the. recent. picture ‘Paris Blues.” She is. currently ‘in’ rehearsal for. the upcoming Richard Rodgers father, Richard Whiting. She ‘al-., Samuel Tayler tuner, “No Strings.” ternates this medley of her own. She chats engagingly and does a. fancy step or two “to make jt look . like a. bigger act—more spread out.” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “Getting to Know You,” “Louise” 7 good. backing from Billy Moore’s-house band. and her own accom. panist,Geoffrey Clark, .at the . Comics on bill, Lewis -& Dane, | get some hearty laughs with ma-/] terial that ranges from interviews | with Cleopatra and the mother of Julius Caesar to zany impressions of Louis Armstrong and Elvis Pres, _ The. Plaza’s show. is rounded out. by the dansapation of Mark Monte. and his Continentals and the Coleman outfit. Opening night, the latter introduced The Twist tothe plush room, but was hushed aftér. :a@ few bars.by. a less. courageous manager. Both. groups provide. smooth arrangements forthe customers,.in quiet and terpable tone and tempo. -‘ Kali.. _. Flame Room, Mpls. ‘: “Minneapolis; Noy. 17. Phyllis Ditler, Danny Ferguson Orch. (1);" $2-$2:50 cover. Flying. inafter her umpteenth Della Reese. replaced Vie Da-| ley. Don Lewis also tosses in some ; guest. stint -on the “Jack. Paar {mone as Joe.E. ,.Lewis’ teammate in the Flamingo Room for the final | two weeks of Lewis’ stint,.as Da-* mitment. . | Miss Reese: brings with her, ‘in | their nitery debut, .a . quartet “of | all were youngsters, and.-are now highly effective in a background blend of gospel and blues. begging for ‘more. ! clad ‘in‘ a beautiful | gold lame gown, sings ‘'Getting to | Know You.” “Bye Bye Blackbird,” . ¥ ;“Don’t You ‘Know” and “Some } ;. . , : x | = * , aoG ‘rangements aré by John Cotter, | who conducts: the Nat Brandwynne ; orch (11).° Duke. Boulevard, Rego Park, iL Lo + Terri Stevens, Morty Gunty, ‘Margot & Chiverto, Johnny Morris ‘Orch; $3. mintmum.: The world-of suburban entertain ment even makes provisions for a la carte. cafe attendance. Not all those falling into a nightclub have come there under compulsion of a .charitable or beneficial | organiza-. . tion... Some come on their own. ‘drawn bya particular performer or just the desire to go-out and not. spend a fortune far parking. The Boulevard had a last minute fallout of a-party of 200 on Friday Ferri Stevens: bil!. still a big house made up of: those who Had reservations and were .go| offbeat vocals. : Corb. Show,” zany Phyllis Diller returns to this folding nitery in the Hotel Joe Benjamin® and Jee This’ is her finale and show-~ cases her legit abilities nicely. The: balance -of her act. sports some: | slick belting .on uptémpo tunes. like her opening “Life. Is.¥or Living.” flirty offbeat work on “Show... . a ._._. | Radisson whete the: attendance King Edward, Toronto Tecord she. set in her: first: appear-: -. . + Toronto, Nov.'14. | ance a year-ago still ‘stands. Cur . Marion Marlowe, Billy Willian: rent fortnight engagement shapes son Orch (8); $1.50 cover -Mon.| up as another recordbuster for this: Thurs., $2 Fric-Sat. | i!madeap comedienne.. With extra. oo, — as tables added for this run, room was On her first supper club engage| jampacked: at,“preem show’ andment in Canada, Marion Marlowe ‘dozens were turned away. Scramble. was unstinting in her soprano ‘tal-; for advance. reservations indicates ents when caught and stayed on! that-all subsequent : performances 35 minutes with begoffs. Tall | will also be sold out. brunet, with fine stage projection, | 4¢ anything: moré frenetic: than spent. two. years’ on Broadway. in “The Sound of Music” and. gives a-medley of the show’s hit tunes, including “Climb Every. Moun-; tain.” She also does a medley from { “King and I.” H Clad in a. Grecian style-gown of i Miss Diller keeps:tablesitters howl-. ing, the way. There's no letup in” ; the. yocks, and. considering her jheavy artillery delivery, the show with a bouncy “From This Moment On," then « switches. tempo fin her first. Minneapolis outing, -} ing throughout her. 45-minute act 7 with her demoniac laughter’ lead ‘malicious kidding of Arthur God*. “Make. Someone Happy” and “Ti. Get a Kick Out of You.” Follows | with “That Man of Mine,” “Begin ; the Beguine” and the medleys. Striking-looking contralto, in ex-| cellent voice, had crowded Oak : Room paying attention on second { show. to her. salesmanship and: choice of numbers. After her -non} frey, Ed Sullivan and the Jack , Paar tv shows. she had the. cus-, tomers in a happy mood through;out. on ° S| Miss Marlowe. with alternating ; whisper style and unlimited power | in some numbers, is ready for her | avowed. musicomedy ventures. ; '.| After completion of her tour. of posh -nightspots, she takes the: ‘femme lead next summer in a tour ing company ‘of “Kiss. Me, Kate.” She’s in the King Edward, Sher McStay. utter disregard for the sacrosanct and her ovenchant | for. attacking anvthing she thinks: might be vulnerable: the room’s: ‘decor. : the Manasement, the food, fashions, wamen drivers and, esveciallv,‘herself—her fienre. her: cooking, her marriage. .adinf. Comedienne’s flambevant enwn does nothing for . her ficure’ hut. does ‘wonders for her loftvetting abilitv. Danny Ferguson’s band, a regular here for the. past year, has nothing to do. wheti the topper: is on but sit back and enjoy the fun: Group is tops; however, playing for dancing. SS is remarkably free of duds. Comic’s’: _ to | Success conics: primarily from.her -.’ _Miss Dillet remains through Nov-:. 29 when ‘this swank ‘supper .club, | the’ city’s finest. and most sumptu cus, closes. It’s unfortunate there. aren’t more. entertainers with Miss Diller’s drawing power available. If . | there were, ‘this nitery might have ‘stayed open. indefinitely. Rees...