Variety (May 1935)

18 VARIETY MUSIC HALL, N. Y. It's lace week over hero, nn Idea el Russell Markcrt's, producer of a Btnge table d'hoto bearing the label of 'Land of Lace.' It's In five por- tions and adds up to a tasteful, pleasing session which affords the kind of relief for the current pic- ture, 'Escape Me Never' (B&D-UA). Picture is long and'Inclines to the moodier side of things, while the atage production has a lightness and color, sans pretentiousness, which affords balance. Altogether, Includ- ing a new Silly Symphony, 'Cookie Carnival' (UA), and a 'Pagliacci' overtuVe with a soloist, Robert Weede, the show lUls the bill nicely. Markert sta.rts his presentation pot-pourri off with the ballet against effective lace drops in a Btrlking routine. Three girls step out for featured position, but fail to impress. Music Hall Glee Club (24 men) and Nita Carol, coloratura, are No. 2 on the five-part show. The men are in white coats, black trousers and straws, lending a summery touch to the proceedings. Singing ensemble provides one of the socks of the show, but it re- mains for a couple acrobats. Park and Clifford, to cop the big applause honors. P. and C. team is on twice as long as they should be, and for the first half of their routine don't appear to bo outdistancing competitors in the endurance-aoro line, but they end stror.g wltli a few tricks that cinch a hand. Some stalling is evident at the beginning, but the two last endi.'rancc stunts are genuine and lifts this pair to.a high spot in their fle!d. Lace background for the acrobats is a network of buildings on a small drop. Looks a little cheap. Giersdort Sisters do two numbers In the next scene, the first their best because the diction and har- mony elements are better than on the other. Girls are on a revolving 6ta,<;e which brings around the final background for the finale, which in- cludes a dance team, Mario and Floria, as well as the Rockettes. This is of a huge laco fan, with the Rockettes, In a half-moon forma- tion, taking on the appearance of the celluloid spokes of such a fan and creating a picture. They step down later for another almost flaw- less routine. Finale both Imprcs-. slve and colorful, including for the sign-off a tableau of fan figures which are brought up behind a scrim so as to appear as a part of the fan itself. Business very good Friday night when a large portion of the audi- ence, many of them apparently fans of Elizabeth Bergner, applauded her picture. "Whole first mezzanine was •old out to a theatre party. Char. exercise of playing medley of 'Ro- berta' tunes in serious manner, and started in on their madcappery, stage seemed scarcely big enough. Don't, possibly, make the most out of that bit which sees the lads cos- tuming selves as Hitler, Gandhi, Penner, Marx, Santa Glaus, Gable and Vallee. Ends rather limply, and needs big sock for conclusion. High- light Is closer to turn,' when the crew does bit it did In the legit revue of few seasons back, '50,000,- 000 Frenchmen," depicting Circus Day.' A carload of cackles embraced In it, with stunts looking pretty nifty after all these intervening years. On screen feature Is 'Flame Within' (MG), flanked by a Mickey Mouse reel and Metro newsreel. Harvey Hammond's organlog pre- luded the vaude show. Biz very mild first show, opening day. CENTURY, BALTO Baltimore, May 24. Extremely lengthy five-acter this •week, .and, because it is not, In the round, a very good show, seems much longer. First four frames failed to deliver enough to suit mob and was not until concluding act bludgeoned through to 'em, that they stopped and opened up with Bome recognition. Jeanette Hackett and Ivan Trie- sault started off with _ flash act. There's some thought behind first routine, presenting twain as just- wedded pair, but they commence with a song that cannot be heard beyond first few pews; long song, too, so most of "mob will not warm up when they go into a ballroom waltz. Then, better impresh with a fast team tap dance. "While away changing garb. Frank Judnlck slips on for some fair accordloning. Then team returns for what was pretty mild danse moderne. Act carries a corking set in 'full.' Dolly Kay, very large lass with deep throaty pipes, followed, work- ing into mike and hiding half her face behind it. Probably, her most effective metier is torch-singing, but she gave all type chants a try. Should indulge in fewer of those sweeping gestures. Man accomps at piano. Eddlo Hanley hosted at this Junc- ture with a hodge-podge comedy act that didn't do overly well. Seemed to have material a bit out- of-date. A stooge In goof garb, Harry,Tlllmaii, is sort of wasted by • stuff he peddles. A girl, Louise Gay, straights for Hanley for a bit, also has a routine that looks, like toe- dance till it Is discovered she too seldom lifts on toes to earn classi- fication. Act rather meanders, then closes with Hanley and Miss Gay doing a n.s.h. burlesked adagio. Needs some sterling material, and a little cutting down on running time .should help also. Sam Hearn, the 'Schlepperman' of the Jell-O (Jack Benny) broadcasts, followed In the headlining berth, sticking for 12 minutes to decidedly light response. Uses a miko in 'one,' with unbilled man for feeder. Mid-way and at close, Hearn fiddles a bit; rest of time he chatters with his straight-man, who is early es- tablished as a reporter seeking an Interview. What chiefly hampers act is fact material consists of whiskered wheezes that have long elnce lost all wallop. Closing turn, California Collegians (7), grabbed all the garlands. Looked pretty desolate' when cur- tains parted and disclo.sed the small band on the full stagp. But when the boys got over their opening ROXY, N. Y. To go with Unlversal's 'Mr. Dynamite,' the Roxy this week has a stage show put together by Fanchon & Marco which embraces Armlda, the Mexican senorlta; An- thony and Rogers, wop comics; Jimmy Hadreas,, the dancer; The Four Trojans, Don Davis and the Fred Allen program amateurs. It manages to provide fair entertain- ment without getting off the well- trodden pathways. Armida's voice sounds very good. She gets a lot out of it. And she works hard. In fact, it remains true of this lively soubrette that she just misses being explosive. She remains forever held down a,nd back by lack of material and stage di- rection. Her vivacity, sense of comedy, daintiness and feminine pcrlnoss otherwise suggests greater importance than she now enjoys. She followed Anthony and Rogers, who wei'e not listed on the printed programs. These two men employ the comedy technique and the gags of 15 years ago. In fact, it's virtually true to say the act and the type of vaudeville is so ob- solete that it's almost starting to bo new again. Few turns of this category have survived the wearing down since 1929. They come running on from the wings and anchor themselves to the microphone and then go into a rou tine of gags set to music. This is practically unintelligible. After that the boys tackle the verbal cross-fire. It's like a page out of the Harding' administration, but they obtained fair results from the Roxy. For houses this size they should talk louder arid punch their gags stronger. Obviously, experi- enced old-timers, it's a pity they haven't kept their gag file up to date. Jimmy Hadreas Interrupts his very good hoofing with some very Inconsequential singing. But to take away the lyrics would take away his act, and maybe the ma- jority won't mind. Don Davis' tom- foolery with the fiddle was liked, and tho astounding acrobatics of the Four Trojans was logical to precede the drapes. Freddy Mack rlngmastered wlth clear diction, and the Gae Foster brigade copped some response. Three L,ade, so-called, are the radio amateurs. They wore velvet pants and artistic satin blouses with sashes. Which is showmanship in Pittsburgh. Their work on stringed instruments Is okay, but they re- tain their pristine classification on poise and stage deportment. If they never get another week they've still made Broadway. Land. r Paramount, St. Paul St. Paul, May 24. George Glvot headlines here this week-end and though it's his first time in St. Paul, this radio name with the fruit-stand dialect gar- nered an audience reception that brou.!,'ht out the lobby ropes. Bill throughout was nicely paced. Paramount Adprables, a line of 12 young and lovely femmes, who have augmented the vaude bills here for the past 12 weeks in dance en- sembles trained by Zjna de "Valdi of the Chicago theatre, have been yanked for the summer. Too bad, 'cause they've been nice. Manager Ayer, however, has trotted out a find In Mildred Parker, who, as an 'extra a'dded attraction,' warbled tour pop numbers to orchestral ac- companiment. Went over solid and merits a bulld-up. Openers on the regular bill were Three Queens, a trio of fast-step- ping, prettily-garbed gals. Good teri)lng and lots of flash. Carter and Holmes, in . the deucer, wh.lmmcd over a mixture of goofy chatter and near-mayhem acro- batics. Their takeoff on a coupla present-day grunters had the crowd In stitches. Bernard and Henrle, two girls who can sing, came on next. Handled blue lyrics smoothly and had to beg off. Then came Glvot, who caught the mob to sucli a de- gree he had to call time out be- tween gags, Closers were Seven Wonder Glrl.s, whirlwind roller skating group. Put on a few hair- raisers that won gasps from the watchcr.s. 'Our LiUle Girl' (Fox) wa.'? the feature, with a Mickey Mou.se and a Teclinicolor .slioi't added, Biz hey-liey when cauglit. KascMcle, , PALACE, CHI Chicago, May. 25. This week delivers a prime ex- ample of the difference between radio and vaude performers on a stage, and radio coirie."? out of the mess a weak and wobbly second. So wobbly, In fact, that the radio workers completely made a con- glomeration of specialties adding up to very unbalanced entertainment. If it were not for the three vaude acts inserted, show, which is billed as all Gus Amhelm band, there wouldn't have been any show at all. It was really heart-breaking to watch the strictly radio workers of the Downey Sisters, Maxine Tap- pen and Jimmy Newell type struggling against sure defeat. Those three Downey Sisters are easy on the eyea and the warbling gets by, but they ruin their own chances by the amateurish styling and performance. They were more Intent on backing away from the microphone to take their bows than to get their song across, and as the result no song they sang even got over properly. Also pitifully amateurish In per- formance was Moxlne Tappen who, with Johnny Hamilton, tried to sell some comedy tunes. Hamilton doubles from the saxophone and with his studied comedy gestures was as unimpressive. There was more of the same. Jimmy Newell sounds as if he might have a fine radio voice, but his ring-twisting nervousness in front of this audience should not be permitted. Finally, the other doub- ling bandsman, "Woody Herman, did somewhat better with the 'Drunk- ard' song but still unmistakably stamped with non-professional weakness. Audience demanded speeches from each of the three regular vaude acts before they could get away. First of these was the dance team of John and Edna Torrence, back in town after about two years absence. Before that they used to play practically stock at the Chi- cago and brierital for Balaban & Katz.' Now they're at the rival Palace, but this audience remem- bered them. They were a minor riot in their two numbers, a waltz number and a "'dllegiate caricature. George Tapps, also a returner, back in town after a sojourn at the Chez Paree about a month or so ago, got over solidly on his danc- ing. Gene Sheldon's deadpan clown- ing at the banjo had them ga-ga. These acts are all familiar in this town, but despite this were out- standing because of their at least basic knowledge of what vaude means. Arnheim band, in itself was, of course, okay. Played well and pleasantly through a series of num- bers. But what chances the band may have had through the entire 60 minutes were made Impossible by the brutally flabby array of ra- dio specialties. Picture was 'Break of Hearts' (Radio). Business good last show Friday. Gold. pearance. Then came Delores Rcade (only appearance) w n o warbled In a nice contralto and giggled at Hope's clowning. A tall demure miss whose first song was better than her second. More Hope and then the finale in which all ap- pear. , _ . Show lasts just an hour and has class written all over It. Only trouble, as noted, is that some of its material Is too fly for tho pic house mob. They go for the dancing, es- pecially for the Reed-Melee combo whose shim sham shimmy gets plenty of attention. This pair have a nice flair for comedy as well as hoofing. "Waters. CAPITOL, N. Y. Stage show this week offers more names than punchy entertainment. In addition to Eva LaGalllenne making her picture house debut there's Georgle Jessel and Ger- trude Niescn.. The combination makes . an imposing alignement along the marquee, but the going Friday night indicated that, even with the class trade that the legit actress is expfected to draw on her own, the box offlce will have no easy time justifying the boost in the stage 'payroll to over the $10,000 mark. 'The Girl From 10th Avenue' (WB)' is the feature. Ostensibly to make certain that her week's stand won't take on the aspect of anything but a personal appearance. Miss LeGallienno picked her script from among the moth- balls and old lavender. It's Sutro's one-actei", 'The Open Door.' The flowery language of the I9th cen- tury drawing room, the artless and obvious plot and the pacing of the dialog between herself and Donald Cameron, the lone support, combine to rriake the turn a 20-minute yawn for any film house audience. George Jessel sells himself effec- tively in his three interludes with his mastery at diverting 'em mak-, Ing itself especially noticeable dur- ing the passage of talk and song that follows the LeGalllene Item. It is a case of lifting 'em into a bois- terous and lively high, with the comic collecting handsomely on the sendoff. Jessel also contributes nicely to the encore that winds up an ear-tickling cycle of pop time Interpretation by Gertrude Niesen. Stanley Twins score heaps of ap- preciation with their shadow dance, Hullng's Seal gets 'em for a goodly round of chuckles with i/s mimicry and juggling capers, while Stuart and Lea hit it off suavely in a ball- room number which serves as the climax to a crack mixture of move- ment and color by the Danny Dare line of 24 girls. Odec. FOX, PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia, May 25. Show this week at the Fox should click much better with eve- ning audiences than with matinee crowd. As caught the opening day. Bob Hope's 'Intimate Revue' seemed to go over the heads of the sparse audience, largely femme, and that audience was probably representa- tive of the Fox's daytime at- tendance. Pic is 'The Daring Young Alan,' an ordinary programmer which, however, seemea" more to their liking. Hope has a neat and well-as- sembled show, composed, for the most part, of young talent and moving speedily and easily with a judicious spotting of talent and ar- rangement of acts. Hope came on llrst wltli a brief Introduction, and then going right into the show. Opened with the Throe Hearts, two blondes and a brunette, who do a capable If not outstanding unlsoQ tap. Next came Honey Child, who didn't do much of anything in par- ticular and was only on for a brief minute. She gagged with Hope In that short time and their glib patter fell dead on the mat crowd. Tony Reed and Louise Melee follow with a nicely routined tap dance that clicked. Then Hope made his first real contribution to the program with a line of his own, peculiar fast and sophisticated patter. It was good, but lines that wowed 'em in 'Ro- berta' didn't get a titter here. "Vivian Barlow, following, topped with her Interpretations of screen stars. The inevitable Zasu Pitts, Mae West, and Garbo were sup- plemented with an interesting Imi- tation of Katharine Hepburn, a corking one of Una Merkel and finally, as an encore, her only male Impersonation—Lionel Barrymore. This radio recruit (Bowes' ama- teur hour) works smoothly and, if she fails in anything, it is that her characterizations are all too short. Second stooge of the unit (count- ing Honey Child with her southern drawl as the first) came next. Name of Popikoft, he had a session with Hope that was genuinely funny— and short. Reed and Miss Melee on again, nicely combining ballroom and tap dancing and presenting a rice ap- STATE, MPLS. Minneapolis, May 23. With 'Gdln' to Town' delivering the punch, this house currently doesn't need much in the way of stage support, and even the most enthusiastic p.a. probably wouldn't claim heavyweight entertainment qualities for the flesh-and-blood vaudeville array. Outside of George Glvot, there's nothing that means anything as a draw and no particu- larly outstanding performers. B.o. value of Glvot through radio and stage prominence may be a question for debate, but the 'Grikk Ambassa- dor' gets across nicely. Fred Helseke, pit orchestra con- ductor, continues to announce the acts, starting proceedings crudely and amateurishly with the explana tlon, 'we open our stage show with Three Queens, six feet of pep.' Be- fore the stage show proper, how- ever, Muriel Parker, a neat looker, sings a medley of pop numbers in the pit and finds a friendly audience. The Three Queens are a trio of feminine tap dancers attractively attired in brown trousers and Eton jackets. A shimmy tap number along with jazz clogging and an as sortment of fast and difficult steps Is* included in. the offering, which would be improved by a little more variety. Carter & Holmes, two young men who peddle comedy acrobatics and dancing, deuce It acceptably. They wind up with a really funny bur- lesque wrestling match after one of the pair has simultaneously played a mouth organ, ukelele and tap danced, while the other has con- tributed a series of amusing falls. No worlds are set afire by Bernard & Henry, Amazonian young women, but their pop and sentimental song numbers seem to set well. One number, 'Reincarnation of Mae West,' is particularly appropriate. Next to closing, Givot delivers his moderately amusing monologue through a mike. Scrambled English is, of course, his chief stock In trade, but his patter Is sprinkled with a number of good gags—albeit, many of ancient vintage. A first-rate single turn, this, but not quite strong enough for the pre-shut spot on big-time. Seven Wonder Girls conclude, offering daring and thrilling feats on roller skates. Manner in which they whirl,about, suspended by legs, ankles or arms, is hazardous if not novel. The screen program, in ad- dition to the feature, contains a Betty Boop cartoon comedy, a Grantland Rice 'Sportllght,' Para- mount Varieties and Paramount News—plenty of show for 40e top and a large, audience at the show caught. eea. Holborn Empire, Lonclon London, May 13. Bill this week has several radio names, a few importations and one vaudeville name that is gradually building up. But business, first show, far from capacity. Two reasons to account for lack of patronage. Jubilee and daylight saving, but no doubt business will build as .the week progresses. , As an opener, "Taro Nalto, Jap hand and foot juggler, serves his purpose. Does his work in tho usual finished style of his race. . Clifford and Rhode, comedy tieom, and both working hard to score; at times too hard. Standard that's been around for yeai's, with only reason for not making the" grade being a lack of material. Follow a trio who in their hey- day headlined bills individually. Alice Lloyd, Daisy "Wood and Rosle Lloyd, thriee sisters, despite the Wood monnlker. Still get over on personality, not having to resort to sentiment. Rosie is the semi-ballad warbler; Alice the low comedy por- trayer, and Daisy the soubret. Les Allen with his Melody Four is a radio product. Starting as crooner in Harry Hall's British Broadcasting Band, he Is now a full-fledged film star, under con- tract to Brltish-Gaumont. But with all that, he Is no vaiidevill© com- modity. Croons, has a nice per- sonality, a tiny voice, and grows tired after a couple of numbers. Max Miller follows, departing from his usual next tb closing spot, due to doubling. Miller ranks an easy favorite among English comics, and is now building up a film repu- tation. Not wh.at he does, but the way he does it. Has the kind of Impertinence which Is always for- givable. A broad grin, an intimate style and confidential manner are his stock in trade. Always sure- fire here. Devito and -Denny with Dorothy Stevens have plenty of sight come- dy, with boya crashing in on col- lapsible piano starting the riot Here on eccond visit and getting plenty of laughs. The little they at- tempt at straight piano and violin stuff is overshadowed by the rough- house antics. Surfeit of laughs, but little applause. Nosmo- King, opening Intermis- sion, is the oldtimer Vernon Wat- son. "Used to do a brazen takeoff of Fi'ank Tlnney, ""to every mannerism'. Made a comeback through the ether, and still does blackface. Old gags, with some of the new ones Indigo blue. Phyllis Robins is another from the Henry Hall outfit and quite a name now on her own. Adopts some of the Ruth Etting manner- isms, with an occasional touch of Grade Fields for comedy. Does not overstay, and well liked. Raymond Baird, not programmed, obviously a mistake, as he is billed outside. Is here on second visit. Plays two saxophones simultane- ously, and expertly, but still mor* melodious than some solo efforts. Art Frank, only newcomer here, gets next to closing spot. Follows everything op tho bill, and Rich and Adair, who did a similar type of offerings here a few weeks ago. But with all that proves the highlight of the show. Plenty of funny an- tics. Can move his legs with the best of 'em, and never departs from the old rube character. Should have no trouble in lining up plenty of work here. Vivian Peterson, In support. Is good for the eyes. Del RIos, man-woman whip crackers and lariat throwers. In stereotype routine, closing act. ALBEE, BROOKLYN Reduced scale at this borough the- atre at least drew 'em in for this matinee performance. Long before tlic first show was half over the place was filled with some standees in the aisles at the rear. Current program Is nothing extra, however; In fact. Is quiet fare for the most part. 'The Informer' (Radio) on the screen had the majority puzzled, and tlie ensuing five stage acts jiist held their own. Jean Deveraux's dance flash (6) an opener which builds into some- thing better as it moves along. One male cavotts with two diminutive partners through an adagio routine which is heightened due to the double femme assistance. Rest is standard hoofing and toe work. Le Paul, card artist, pulls aces arid kings out of the air at will, but kept it Up much too long at this viewing. Three X Sisters treyed for atten- tion and getting tops from tho audi- ence. Harmony warbling with some imitations on the side. All laughs in the show were confined to Harry Savoy's next appearance. Stuttering style and mannerisms fatmed some giggles Into the mob for a brief spell. Mangean Troupe (7) goes IBava- Vlan In their aci'b offerings. Garb and set smacks of tlie Central Euro- pean hlU billy .stuff, whicli Is differ- ent from the usual t'.imhUng fl.Tsh. Members perform sUillCully on a springboard and fill their 10-mlnute spread with any number of corking flips. Show clocked at 65 mlnule.?. Phil Fabello's orchestr.i had a 'moon' overture for a starter.