Variety (Feb 1935)

14 VARIETY VAmEW¥ HOWSE WEVIEWS Wednesday, February 20, 1935 ROXY, N. Y. announclne. conviction, the otherl lOEW'S JERSEY CITY acquitai. Pathe claims scooping all i ~ There's very little chartee In these I by using the radio to flash the Roxy shows as week follows week, news of the verdict. That company _ k^,,-^ va^ob They're all pretty much hewed to had prepared a apeclal "el an- band policy whlchjhe ho^^ measure; they're all over long, and nounclng possible verdl«3ts^afld had to make permanent, ^ Headed, by S«r all are cWoeed of about the U ready for. showing; Whfen flash Johnny-Perkins, T^hoat^vs^at least same type of material. Audiences of the verdict reached^the papers, mto spring, there Is no Teaspi^^why sS^T generally sitlsfled, the Roxy word was glyen the theatres and the ide^ should not click,, although audience being of a very special the Pathe reel went oh. _ . attendance. Saturday mat. was light, kind, 80 all Is probably well. The Macon disaster leads_^of( on Though it can run as at present, .kiiiu, Dv o.. ? ' . . . , tj,- nrograih.' It la ably and com- the show needs a writer to freshen -^pere won^t^-be -any^^klt^ in^hF^^m^ S'a i^ll "the same P ctwbs of the big ship on takeoff Ihe Incessant us6 of the mike does all the same faults^ All the same j^^.^^^j trip and scenes In the not help this policy. Judging from W»aHiihpr ♦his week la a tvol- air. This retl attempts to dramatlcr thecljpesults-jichlevedl-Jjy-l-ltorma^ naP^am^le of ^thl TsoxV's shoS- ally show what happened, bringing Frescott; ^hb played from the^audl- ^ini^in --^hsJe'a aiii^^^^^^ Ih shots from Columbia's 'Dirigible' ence, the.mlke Is often superfluous. Sirner hSTw^^^ With band, led by.Joe «fri.S nSrlv mteaiifl^\ tures 6f survivors and a'word from the curtain-Blngii amid projected -nf^rirtftC-Thl^^^^ flnowflakea. Tha .curtalmailBcloseB dLfl^^xSSse Betfve^s S^^^^^^^ up, editorial y the the 14 Danny Dare Girls; who grace- ?n 'TmiSr, nf -i^le^ questlon of What's wrong wl?h our tiilly execute a toe dance flnale* by ♦S/n wirfc run^ artW^^^ Au* airships, ^reviewing AHron , and Rosemary Derry: with effect.. The hT«;^ r^rS^^W have more c ass that^« nleS^*-^^^ rnnm<? ?^in«dlftdv h^^^ . — doubl^ arch and hwk drop firlCt nlt/'sn^e^^^^^^^^ Show on whote is pretty newsy^ 1^^^^^^ framed " this nuniber, the ^ga&X<^^S^\\^ ever expects a 'c star'/ to sing really -Wr^-^|ml?e»^^^ Bweater has gone. Alan Roxv this week has-a Anothas^lS Babe Rutlh pn sklta to. jj^ - ,^ gained ease technically " as sutfektuVl A^geffl quite Jaiurttofdottiiollowi: wlthJbilB^^Lh^^ -Vermont; arid who won an ^^^r Wg^^ contest onv Fred Allen^s radio hour -Soaa^Wt^^^^^^ iasrveel^- 'm^/I^^ alsa I „'^he 3-^? {^wT^^f^ exceedingly good line He makes no bohef about It" He \ f^S^*\^^^ri^rJ&^7 <Jf trlclS. His ability to ^tand still is announced as an amateur and ^J^^.i^^^^*] 'hi^^Slilne mv- m ^» wheel la surprising. He sings two. soiigs. There is no" doubt; Mex^^reds.OT^^^ «J useu several bikes, Includ ng a one- in Wone's mind that.he's a genu- autos^ art elevated blko and .a Tn5-gffigt ^. : : —^Ja r n elnnft^ ^*^"^-\ ifgi ^°^^^^f+ttiree^eaterr^ : Show starts off with the Sakurl 'Sf<S^ilf ^oSdi (PaS • ^^«®1' mou"""*^ from the Japs; one: of the best rlsley .acta f.^V^^'t^^b^'.S^^ back seat to the front as he goes, around. On just a; hit too long, hut ]W^y jnobUlzl^^ flve-year-pld son that's an old Roxy fault and notU^) j.^^^^^ OJ^P^^ a new bicyclist, who turns out to the fault of the act. They work Jf,^®/if,„.Vn^ Pr^^^ be Johnny Perkins, hnrd and sn.tlsfactorlly throughiMit. g!tlng^Hp^1gom Pag^^^e^o^ Frescott - follow g,^ with Along about center is Joe and Jancf^T^fff McKlnna, a rough and tumble mixed w„„;lih^H„„v team/whlch managcs to get its full 1 major news contributions, sharie'bf laughs';; 'Especially'is their ftnale :dance a pip fill out the show, 'Going Plades^ Thete are two anecialtv numbers I (U), with Lowell Thomas doing the over a good miiid-readtng . stunt. T^ri^St^'^'ihS'Seiogtypal working Intirelyln^t^^^ Two shoita or. tne ,travelog. iypR|..^^,^jj^j^j^g,^g pisrklris the full names and birthdays of patrons. This Is done with apparent ease and only ^lif WeW- »ooa Salunlay MterS. I *""' TO o» th»,)ii«. aija th. Un, noon. Char. Weakest spot on the bill, It could be among the strongest with some bet- tor lyrical assistance since she has a punch delivery that's right. uP vaude's-alley. ■ . ■ ^ . Next Is team of Buster West and LUcUle Page, who carry another fellow. Now man and wife, they re doing a two-act; combining West s eccentric hooflng, always sure-flre, and Miss Page's great c.ontror sturr,- likewise always surefire. Indlvldual- lyr they're each the tops, but. some^. how the two styles of dancing don t click when It's dished out together. That was apparent in the flria.le, most unlmpre'ffBlvr■ of-^iheir-combl— natlibh turji, when the challenge stufl; between comedy and. control didn't come off. V . . V ,. ' Following Durante comes Rimac s Havana band in: full - rtage and a flash act thfet" rates with the best of them. Run off at Ughtnlng-like speed, with isdme sensuous rumbas by a couple of f enimes and a lot of musical paprika, It brought the house down .for-the_flnlBhL.and_h.ad: to reBpond with, art encore, unusual for the curtain turn. Leader Is a wiry, light-footed- persohallty..^whQ d oes a.sw eirGomlnCTt al Wlth-one-o^ the gals, and a; sax to6ter, :who's something - of a comedian on the side, doubles effectively as a hoofer, One i of their highlights la Cuban ork'a Impreaslon of American Jazz. Entire act Is a pleosairtt Burprlse and mob went 'for It; _ . ■ v Picture Is . fGllded; .Lily' V (Par); Downstairs opening show-comf6r.t ably fllled» but with a sniall balcony court.' , €ohen. . MeU^poli^ " v Boston^'Feb. 0l6, Producer Harry Gourfain at the Met has to do riiore .thla nionth than simply put on a good .iahoWr he haa to buck stiff talent opposition at the Memorial. • Last week he stenimed the tld fi' Bxii^ f-AgHfiilly with a colored unit,; 'Harlenl Express,' featuring iand the continental.: Three sets of ballroom duos front to.put the Idea over, all in different colored cois- tumes.- -The Gae Foster girls are fine In their ehiare of the work; The three teams; Town. and Knott, Rosa- lean and Seville and Nadlne Geraldo, . are weak. They, allegedly, do three ACADEMY, N. Y; again does a routine,. this time in black and white costumes -resem-, bllng bathing suits, Helen Meek sings, and gets across;. Perkins and the band put over the tale of Cln- Same amount of applause here derella pretty well, ain«rent types of dances at the same ^eek after week, no matter If the Sammy Lewis and Patty Moore, time and to the same music, but no I stage shows be hot or mild. Audi- with the girl playing tough, do Blng- one oiit front can tell which la danc- I ence respbrtse is Just fair. Per-r I ing, clowning, and rough dancing. Ing what. The waltz, the tango, the. formers, bent on striking; closer to The dancing is really good, and they Continental, but all three look like I home, give but a foreign crtick or end wjth a, tap routine up and down » ,mil4 Llridy hop. . I delve Into some Union Squarish ora- stairs to a good receptlbrt. The Dare For a closei", the line Is back on tlott to get reaction,; but always gjet Girls, In Ibhg gowns, do a rteat num» skates. They've heert ort roller game tepid attentiori. ber, with Rosemary Peering on :Bkartea-beforerseveral-tlmes,-but-«re-H^oTif'T3ln1stense7renBqp alwaya welcome In a return. They're pjace In this house ;wlth their ballet dictating to Miss Meek n letter of «xceptlbnaJly._-well:.. drJlled:^in, the .jj^nbes. Act smacks of class on thanks to-the aiidlence, - number and carry It off to perfe'c- first sight. Two girls and two rtialeis, Curiously', the band doesn't do one tlon. In regulatiort ballet garb, spin and Uiumber,, which Is probably account- Freddy Mack, .-'who Is now thce Uv-hirl with marked aigllity. NoUd for by the 65 minutes running house m.c, has thrown away his (.i^^nge of set or cbstUnie for the I time. Preceding the show, Ted baton,-^hlch is a shanie, and doesn t entire offering. Bob Howard (NeW l Meyn, at the consbie, takes 10 mln- tell arty gags, which is a blessing. Acts) rated about as niuch applause utes for a songfest. Joined in pleas- He's a pleasant young man, and he as anyone on the bill. Gallery crowd antly if mildly'by the audience, doesn't interrupt the show or ; dls-| gaw to this. ■ Feature Is 'Society Doctor', (MG), Foy Family, five, are on for a I with several shorts and a Metrotone song ^about their father and. into | News to All; sortie sta;ndard gags and hoke. Bert Gordon with a stately .femnie part-I ; , DITX- ner, garnered laughs when he gavel "tWINj Jrll !• out those funny facial expressions. |: ; • • K.;-i,fc ii'^K ii: ,*.....r*»i.i.. ov . He tried the Intimate stuff on the ^"i^^"f^^'^^^ (NEWSREELS) . house, but no go. Strictly a vaudeville layout this The Hauptnianrt conviction Is the" . Art Landry's hand closes, with a week a,nd suffers the fate this type big news of the. current week and, blonde, announced as •Sophisticated of entertainment usually experiences with interest, in it still running Lady' from the airways, assisting in a big deluxer like the Penn, high, Embassy holds .over for a on the sineing. 'Hands Across the La:rge-sea;ter is for most part poison third week one of the testlniony Table' very good as led by the to straight vaude, with acts required specials gottert out by . the various harpist In a lilting arrangement, to work twice as hard to get over reels, choosing the 9-minut6. corti.- Leader-lifeless before his 14 men, and even.then its a tbas-up; _Intl' pllation by Pathe. It was Pathe, which may be something different mate presentations are almdst^ es Hearst and Universal which : re- in the way of band direction, but sentlar here, otherwise it a Just flesh fused^tb wlthdiuw their newsreels limped across" the stage in its de- for ,flesh's sake and a tough nut .for picturing Hauptmartn In actual sired effect. Sixty, minutes for the the boys and girls to,crack. ■ Others I sta;ge department. ^ ^ ^ > . ■ B ' 'BordertoWn'-(WB) on the- screen. I with.. Jlrtimy Durante making an Jlnimle Uuncefdrd's band --This week he repeats with .a lot of front show leading" Into the per- sonal appearance of Polly Moran, The comedienne is, clicking here in her vimprbmptu, ad libblng aklt In Which she urttoads' so-called Mnslde stuff' about some of the more hea:u- teous -Hollywood film femrtiiea and conrtdentlally tells the a.udience that Joan Crawford and Jean Harlow are the only stars Who do not appear biefbre the Icamera without wigs. She also whispers to the, gals, out front that Garbb's. eyelashes are Yeal. That gives ian idea of the tenor of her Holly viroDd cha.tter. Bulk of her bit is loWdown, hoydenlsh and a complete debunking of dignity. They love it. Oji show caught . (78 minutes) Miss Mbrart found herself following a top-heavy serving of. talent, but she dug In and wort out easily. Ellda Ballet opens brt a black stage i n g delightful 'Old Fashioned G iar- 4en' routine, in which a pnospnor turb it very much. 'Behold My.| Wife' (Par) la the screert feature. , Kauf. EMBASSY^ N. Y. testlniony on the; stiand. yanked 'em- ... v -; .f • . House does not lead off With the Hauptraann conviction, preferring to end its prograrti of clips with the holdover of Paithe's dramatic reel taken when the Bronx car- COLISEUM, N. Y. other swing around the Loew cir cult, toipping the roster in the next to-clbslng spot. Schnozzola has with him Lou Clayton, one of hia two ......... ...^ Thia RKO branch offers live partnera In this good old trio days, "Penter^as-^in-'^ This is followed up by Unlversal's { adjunct and riot as art Identifying This is his first week out and; at ^ilLiableHJOverage^of events during therMngredieat^; of jamusement, .^pojlcy. opening. shpw,; ..the. cb.medy ;Cyrano nasi week when Hauptmartn was Picture ■ current la 'Bbrdertown'"| ha'drt't fashibned the\ rtibst suitable - - — • - • • ' ("WB). act, putting in a couple of numbers Eddie "White, minus b. f., chatters that fell fiat. His madcap insanities, and sings. He Is urtorlglna.1, but however, are Just as spontaneous as possesses confidence. In the deuce. eVer, with his hat-tossing Into the Clasisy: opener, Pritchard and pit and klckirtg the bulbs out of the (3bldle, with special sets. Lighting foots emphasizing; the schrtozzola's l3-g6od^--i-^ ■■ ■ •;■ '-. _. IsUli/complete disregard The Honey Family, fasF^'and' rum. By secortd. perfbrman.ee, he balancer group, closes, was hitting on. all four, wisely In ; iourtd; guilty. .. U turned in :Bixv siinutes: on this, reviewing the case from the beginning and ending; lip with pictures of the Trenton peni- tentiary, the death house, and even the elfectrlc chair which-; the con-, -Vlcted—6ermari-:faces;-^In-the--Blx^ minutes of iobtage, U very interest- ingly tells the dramatic story. A iiiKij i,ciiD u<.ci,...<>,i,tx> „ I thrilling balancer group, „ portlon^^f-^Hentzti-aummatlon—jq- -Qlrla^re-eztraor dln graceful irt sertlhg^the 'Hlnky Dinky Poo' p lat included; topped by a brief doseup their unusual exhibitiort of strength, ter and also dovetaiung_ tne 'One exclusively with. Wilerttz ;whcn thel™ jecelyed,Joo,^ : , ; . VJT'A ^Ti^.-^^^ ^»i:^r.fj^£^ Drosecutor talks directly to thel Oliver precedes the Honeys. halla.d irt a way only IJurante pan *^ - - ' He-has a knack-of-cpmpelling ap-I do. jIt_JKajSl,aU^ — camera—" Crowds around :th6 Plem IhgtOn courthouse' night of the - verdict are included, but nb exciu- fllve pictures of the Jury. Ap- parently newsreel contact men weren't successful in , jgbttlng any members of the Jury to talk about ^ the - ca,se,.,artd their, battle .Ort^ .a., verdict. ' ' ■'.: ■ Considering the Importance: of the Hauptmartn case and the verdict, it plause on otherwise obviously in- setrup and ;audlence returns were consequential comedy attempts. A commensuratej^ blonde , rtiakes a .momentary chat- Opening has Arthur L'ePleur, a. tery, appearance, otherwise it's all' atrong-raolared acrobat whose dizzy Oliver and over big and easy. spins hanging .from his teeth Harrison and" Elmo, "cut to faster niake for a, swell fiash. Between his working time, win without effort first and last spots, LeFleur brings "bh" their ' exaggeratlortsa;rid ythe on an unbilled femme contortionist ghost house trickery. Occupy the for an okay filler. No. 2 spot goes middle spot to their bwn . and the to Grace Johnson, songstress who ^»«jr,^r,^~iA'''itr/i"«»"tiito^^^^ works, in one with a male pianist. ^'Si^iSfl?£l^cSlS^^ ^I^^a^ (16) :rtiiitlnee. Miss JohnBon cim^entrates^chte^^^ in iffor^ to reacr scr^^^^ and-many.kids In the on special lyrics, but gal's effective-. Snt plthl artf HeS^^ P^^^ Is Eddy-Burstpn's suit, ahe'a, best when she sticks to esceht watering ;pQt AroUeeis the 16 sleeping; flowers. Ensuing routine ia eye-appealing artd; altogether a worthy- opener :of: the prbceedlngSi Their aecond nurtiber, well along in the Bhow, ia a production Idea .^{sing odd music that conibines -Smoke. Rings' artd the 'Bolero' tempo Johnny Convey as m.c. is neither this rtor that; but Just aialr straight introducer whb knows ertough to bheck himself in the clowhing de partnient. He brings on the Bel mortt Sisters after the gardert- ballet nurtiber;' They.vbcal and shape up as average, but this illusion they imrtiedlately dispel iVhen they, finish off with a stbp|tlme- :: bu<^ that Whams.' Next spot is a weakle. Steve Allen, iaccordlonisl, squeezes 'Hold That Tiger,' his only number, and Obviously too much for hlni. Even to a layrtian he fakes and stumbles plenty. Next is Pattie Pierce in a fast acrobatic, oke. Then Convey steps out for his big moment. Gets off on wrong foot -with very un-. funny gag that might .get. .a ..titter in a side street hurley hbuse; but acqults.himself nobly.with 'Tou Tell 'em I Stutter.' : Old, but still" gets a hand. ■ • .■ •• . . Light, diverting interlude here is Buddy Rich's drummlngs on two chairs to 'Dinah.' Rich twirls, tossed and t widdles: the sticks ex- pertly ■aiul~earns" "iS" fine ' reception. His hoofing clicked—and It should. Madelirie-Willis- ls-swell -in-her con- trol acrobatic nurtiber, and well re- ceived in spite .of foUbwlng rather closely the acrobatic specialty ear Her in the show. They're ready now for something entirely different, and they get It in 'Red Dust/ one of the few dog ^ctB^In-^^which-the-^tralher-48 unbilled', Both are clever. Pup's real trick- ery la in hia ability to stay limp -whlle-hls-master-poses-himJn-funny, positions—closing with an Imitatidn of_ a. r.ed.fox fur piece around, the man's neck. Also skips rope with the man and balances a little. Ellda Ballet come in here for their bolero numbfer, followed by Rowcna, a femme in a very screwy bit with Convey. , Polishes off : with a ridlcu- loua ballroom 'Continental' with the nft.c. that la liked for ita sheer slllinc'ss* • Preceding Miss-" Moran's slice of the show, Carl Freed and his Har monica Harlequins (10) present i generous offering of. mouth organ harmony and tom-foolery. Excellent throughout. ._....: Henry Kalis a;na house oana de- liver their usual top brand, of show- playlng. Fabien Sevltsky and the Grand Orchestra offer. 'Columbia' overture. • 'Devil Dogs of the Air' (WB) is the pic. Biz good. Foa, ROXY-MASTBAUM (PHILADELPHIA) Phlladelt>h)a. Feb. 16. Attraction at the Roxy-Maatbaum thla week la Margaret SuUavan and Herbert Marshall In 'The Good Fairy' (U), following up a fitly week's business with Jack Benny. Although some attendance fall-off / was expected, situation nevertheless remains; a contest between Roxy shows and rtanies. Theatre has'done - poorly, since second, week and the jcurrent show will probably prove, that name billing is necessary to withstand the terrific expense the house labors under. Benny's ahow^ the flrat of this aort, pulled In the only box-offlce total to show: a profit. Nor is it . expected that atrong enough pics are . available. to _ draw the reqi'.''ed gate here. Opener Is a 'Southern Rhapsody' overture featuring the Glee Club ':■ chorus on stage with a black drop. Arrangements.arfi.:iggDd,..b.ut ..iLbad... mike set-up . loses . most of the chorus' lyrics for the rear of the house, - Slightly tedious, .too. ./ The . , Ballet^Corps^isr'iH^thB-deuce-spot—; with Von Grona. Number is a fu- ' turiatic one done to the 'Second Hungarian Rhapsody* on a plain stage In full. Reception to this one ^ ia bad, mainly due to the fact that the 'Rhapaody' is hardly conducive .,' to the extremely modernistic rou- tine that's anything but Hungarian.-. Costuming^ln - Bilver-cloth is -im- -; A hunting' extravaganza la In the next turn, featuring the entire com- pany. Set employs' Rbxy's proj- ected screen, effect: and. pictures the ;.: Inside of a hunt club. All costum- ing . la red Jackets and boots and stages nicely. In a duet, Ahraeha Robofsky and Charlotte Ridley are okay, with baritone and chorus later In 'Brown . October Ale,'. well re- -celvedr-Robofsky-*r-oke-in-la8t-week_ unimportantly but. Beema more In . his element now. Standout of the scene .. are . Bill Power'B Roxyettes,. who hold up the show with a Jockey routine that's a knockout. Effec- tive costumes of short red satin skirts, white Jabots and black boots - are. credited, to. Ann Elliott. . Newsreel breaks the show and, cues a flve-scene fantasy yclept 'Manhattan,' all in all one of the best flnalea bouse has yet concocted, ; Opens with camera shots on a front. ■ sbreen drop. Intro is 'Manhattan : ■ Madness,* Robofsky Warbling a top.. Job. 'Park Avenue* next, featuring . Felicia Sorel and Deroetrlos Vllan acting out an Impresaloniatic dance bit of the nilstresB who loses her papa and gulps the bitter drink, Gets a big hand. Following is 'East Side,' a contrast between the Bow- ery idea and the orthodox Hebrew synagogue. First part brings on the Ballet Corps in a hurdy-gurdy Idea j»>utlned _wlth-the-gial8-la.rom:pera»_ Switch over then to the chorus en- semble behind the front screen drop, lighted and colored by .projector to form an inside of a synagogue, sing- ing a religious excerpt. Affords • nice change of'pace. 'Times Square' Is fourth, using Fritz and Jean Hubert in their wow drunk act, the face-slapping bit a tier-upper if house policy allowed encores. Ortly comedy on the bill, and good. Closing is 'Riverside Drive* at Grant's Tomb. It's the anchors aweigh time for the fleet. The Rldley-Robofsky. duet handles the farewell ^with 'Something to Re- member 'You By,' and the Roxyettes rate a palm for a gob tap routine on a sandy floor to depict the swish of the briny deep. Idea is novel,, Full company in :on finale. Response plentiful, but biz wasn't. Ooach. LOEWS STATE, N. Y. Cortiblnatlort - bffered -^thls-r weeit; doesn't seem likely to miss, with Ted Lewis': unit providing whatever.;, sidded draft is needed.:for the sixth Broadway week of 'Bengal Lancer'^ (Par). Evidence of the b.o. power on tap was evident with the fine biz Friday night. Lewis is. the .whole ehbwr-^he hlm-... self, and. not the band or his epe- ; cialtles.. In fact,: with the exception: of" one or two sentimental musical Interludes, the work of the 16 musi- • clans, Including a femme harpist, is far from satisfactory. There's a brassy, blaring style devoid of an inviting arrangement. All that brass, arid but two strings, is hardly con- .ducLve to eai:^entertalrtment..j, Besides the noisy band, there is a, male harrtiony trio, Radio Aces, Who .shout-Jnto-Jthe mike_at_the_top_pf_ their lungs and only add to the pell- mell when the ork Is going full blast.;_ Other epecialties include a ball- room- tearit, Carroll-and- Sholita; :a colored Durante-imitator, 'Snow- ball' Whittier; an aero dancer; Lois, Sterner, and two showgirls, Mildred Gaye and Kathleen Bassette. Among them there isn't a hot or outstianding routine. But Lewis makes everything be- fore and after him forgettable. His unique style, plus that poetic song delivery, is the Usual audience-win- ner and he didn't miss at this catching. Only, once'. can criticism be levelled at one of his bits..That s. the 'Two Cigarettes in the Dark' In- terpretation, when the stage com- pletely blacks out to show the sil- houette's of the ballroom team In (Continued on page 2B)"