Variety (Mar 1936)

50 VARIETY VAUDEVILLE Wednesday, March 25, 1936 UNIT REVIEWS FOLIES COMIQUES (KEITH'S, BOSTON) Boston, March 19. For two seasons the highlights at Keith's have been, the shows of the French Casino as they went out on tour. This season 'Folles Parisi- enne' was penciled in. then sud- denly cancelled when the company returned to Europe. This booking gap threw Charles Koerner and Bill Howard of RKO into a serious hud- dle from which blossomed forth the girl show that opened here after a two-day tryout in Providence. iTo compare it with other vaude shows Is hardly fair because it eclipses most of' the $3.30 stuff seen in: this town for some .time. It is decidedly out of the vaude class and credit not only goes to the pro- ducers but to. Megley. the stager, and the designer and executor of the costumes. These'factqrs,. plus I 4 carload of fascinating'femmes, tasty scenery and smart' lighting have all- combined ■ to deliver' a colorful, showmanly revue; That-it waspro- "dueed in ■ two-weeks makes it all the more remarkable. But- Megley bias always,been-a fast .stager. Tempo Js consistently zippy, and the talent widely; varied.' The stags dbri't'have' tfr wait long for.'their first flasK/ 1 Qpe'ningj with a' trailer of a cablegram announcing the ar- rival" of the-troupe'by air* , the sceYie "blends into .an = airport. set. . Show girls costiimod to. represent .14 Paris avenues and boulevards step but . of' pn ait liner and. show, off the ; first assortment'of costumes. T.The Bebe. Berrt line girls fojlow up : wl'th : a brief, but sightly, aviation ballet ac- centuated-again by excellent cos-' turning. CHmax . comes - wlien the plane's mail compartment is opened to reveal a nude stowaway. Jack Whitney*.last here in 'Jubilee,' car- ries on in k orie with a solo ballet just long enough tb shift scenes for James Evans. Pace of the show- leads Evans, into a sweet spot for his. foot juggling. ... 'Easter in. Paris/ next, is a knock- out-scene; Lucien. LaRivlere and Diane Denlse open it. vocally for a parade of girls . In. show of pastel costumes that will make them dizzy with dazzlement. A scrim of the Bois then flies, to reveal a sextet of 'swans' oh a chromium lake. Swans necks are the girls'-arms ' waving gracefully to introduce a swan bal- let by the Berrl girls.. A talented girl from the line is premiere danseuse." Lee Brothers (billed as Inlanders Freres) take: over. Playing this show dumb so as not to efface'the French illusion,, the Lees deserve a big nod for their revised turn. Their hoof- ing, eccentric tumbling and tangling keep pace with the show, and the pasty-faced pianist cops whatever laughs they leave for him. The; : ensuing 'Fiesta' number is another; high spot.'. Aside from a landslide of Spanieh'costumihg there are two specialty dances that merit mention. Dolores and'■ Cahdido in a .vigorous, authentic Spanish dance Is'followed after a • lirfe number by Whitney, Millard and Austin in a bull, fight idea, with the girl, cov- ered, only by a split cloak, tempted ■ by two matadors in . a spectacular routine. Park and. Clifford (tagged Les Cerkos) next, and they stop it with their ace rlsley turn. Then ' full stage to an apache, cafe scene for a can-can number by the line and a sensational apache dance-brawl by Billy Branch and his company.. of knife-throwers. Mitzi; dog act, serves as scene shifter after which Diane, Denise gets a spot for. two French vocals. 'Creation' is the next production flash with 14 show girjs parading in a brilliant array of costumery de- picting Eve's warmth, coldness, cruelty, softne_ss, . cunning, etc. Climax is a semi-nude number by Whitney, Hillard and Austin, called 'Temptation.' - Men's arms entwined together look : like a giant snake. (In an„ X-ray spot) encircling ;Eve. Cleverly conceived routine. Next, to shut is Ferry Convey; the musical clown.. Socks with an assortment of musical, novelties* on a trick tooting fence, a slew, of zithers and bells. Convey !Comes nearest to stopping' it of anyone on a rapid-fire program that prac- tically prevents stoppage. Finale, in a palace set, gradually brings:on the entire-company in a .brilliant mob scene, climaxed bj- show- :'glrjs-/atid .'line "air 'whacking' drums which they carry on. Nude on a drum, high on the set, is un- veiled ;fbp a fl,nts" flash, ', and Mitzi the do£ toddles;'apross; stage. 'Folles'-is in here for two weeks. *. Fox* RAINBOW KEVUE (ORPHEUM, LINCOLN) Lincoln. March 21. 'Clipped in running time so that each member Of the taient squad gets'on-but .once, and featured by the. first holdover of. an-act .for. five years... Alvira -Morton's .'Rainbow Revue,' drew a creditable reception in this house. The show, which was taking- a few minutes short' of 'an hour on the beginning and tedious at that;, was scissored to 45 minutes even with the added house attrac- tion, Raynor Lehr and Willie Cockey. A breakneck pace, but exactly what was needed. It!s an- other or those units dated and sponsored-' by, the Belasco of the west, Wilbur Cushman. Not unusual in : these units is the fault , of being topheavy on time and lean on talent. For this lack, every- body is called on to change cos- tumes and come back in some other kind of a turn during- the life of the bill. For those who want the time - and , not talent, it's. oke, but this house, with .its College trade, de- mands snap,- which usually sees 10 to 15 minutes:out of a unit, as' was done with 'Rainbow.' It Is a very nicely dressed opus and has a girls' band, which is led by the show's producer.. On this date, and -because the girls lacked the brass to fill the house,, the male standby, freckles the layout! - judging frdrn the ages Of most of the boys, it looks like father .and daughter week, or a mixed Chorus. At the opening Alvlra Morton, who is mistress of cere- monies,' takes the spot before the curtain and announces'-jthe .name of the show,, after- which the Orion! Trio, adagio team, starts tossing. Team is good ahd sets the house up. Fiddlers Three, who took the bill- ing in preference to-. their' own names, which are Rita Slmmer- macher, Louise. Stablien and Edith ; Carter, marquee exhausters to say the least, have a short violin medley. Raynor Lehr and Co.,. which in- cludes Willie Cockey, is the re- tained turn from last week's comedy bill. Lehr is a fast talking boy, with gags which may be old, but come -fast enough • so it doesn't matter. His act builds at a speedy rate and •when-Cockey, colored boy, comes The THEATRE of the STARS J . H . LUBIN GENERAL MANAGER SIDNEY H. PIERMONT :'ni. BOOKING MANAGER out with his hoofing and top spin- ning whirls, it's a sellout. . Eloise Ray, aero dancer, is next. Fair. Miss Morton, who will be re- membered as a prim of other days, is still good. She takes a collection of tunes from 'Marietta' and wows 'em. Her 'Italian Street Song' en- core is swell. She has the pipes and class. Jackie Mack, who hoofs very well, and Connie Mitchell,, barnyard mimic, fair, follow. Dorothy Denese, In black paint. - does a 'Panther* number which turns out negatively, principally be- cause it lacks the production neces T sary to background it. L. W.,Burns makes the air blue with whip cracking while the girl spins about the. rostrum. Only a fair ' hand, •Skeeter and Ray, comedy, are a knockout. Theglrl is very-good. . Shut is Hashi & Osal.Jap perch- ists. Theirs is a-very good offering. The 'Panther.girl' and Mitchell are closing with the show. Business very good here, although opening was a day early to make room for. Benny Meroflt, who comes in for two days. Bar "' BEN BERNIE BAND (iFOX, DETROIT) Ai . Detroit, March 20. Back in the vaude again, Ben Bernle,. and the lads acquit them- selves .well. . The droll. Bernle . has shown good judgment in picking additions to the band for unit pur- poses. Unit'"moves'.swiftly and patrons don't get a. chance, to squirm in their seats,- because' show is . cut nicely to about 25 hvinutes. . A new 'find/ whom? Berhie in- tros as someone he picked lip. in railroad station, is the outstanding bit of the show. He's Joe Rardin, and he turns in some okay mimick- ing of orchestral instruments. 'Colonel' Manny Praeger is still with the band, and continue-s to give his 'King's Horses' novelty number" in . pleasing manner. Gets off some good talk, too, witlv.ald of Bernie. Other soloists are Billy Wilson, whose Southern-flavored warbling has no trouble clicking; Ray Hendricks, ex of Ted Fio Rito's band, who comes" on for two or three sob songs, and Billy Severin, a passable acrobatic dancer. Bernie's selections and arrange- ments are always pleasing- He gets in a violin number himself, plus his usual gags, etc;, and a good- sized crowd at show caught cheered everything. Pete. Duffy Hearing (Continued from page 47) has ho right, to use under an ASCAP license,' noting that all Warner writers appear on the ASCAP lists. The book is 'the ablest job anyone could do,' Cald- well admitted, adding 'but the fact remains you can't rely on any name in this list as indicating your light to play their music.' WB'a Withdrawal The Warner withdrawal caused the 'worst problem' ever confronting the broadcasting business. Caldwell said, explaining that if all stations are compelled to obtain Warner licenses the cost will be '$1,000,000 to $1,200,000 in addition to what is paid ASCAP. ' Numerous other tricky, problems confronting broadcasters in com- plying with'the 1900 copyright act were outlined by Caldwell, who said 'there is always a chance of an- other split in ASCAP or that some- body,, will go across the water and pick up whatever, is lying around loose and then, demand that we Jake out licenses.' He noted the danger of acidental infringement in broad- casting public events, remote pro- grams, and phonograph records, emphasizing that stations cannot be sure that the music played will be confined to the scope of their li- censes. 'In all these cases, we are not asking for a limitation of liabili- ties,' he said. 'We are asking that the innocent man not be forced to pay a heavy penalty for accidental infringement.' The problem of infringement by chains is serious because of the im- mense damages that may be sought for copyright violation ort a net-, work program, Caldwell noted, add- ing that the only person in position to control web programs and pre- vent infringement is the operator of the key station. With a ?250 pen- alty for each violation, copyright owners could collect 'far more in damages than the criminal penalties for infringement through networks, he said, since the infringement minimum is $250 while the mini- mum fine is only $100. Pointing to another anomaly, Caldwell said that the 'most deliber- ate* Infringer, who might play 200 numbers a, day, would be subject to damages of $50,000, although If the station were unlicensed, the penalty under the Communications Act Is only $10,000, Wired Radi Idea that wired radio should .be put in the same category with broadcasts was expressed by Cald- well and Kaye who told •committee- men. they were confident the courts would hold that the law covered this type of entertainment. Caldwell said broadcasters „are not trying'to chisel on' creators through wired radio, remarking that if this sort of entertainment ever becomes feasible on a broad scale' it will be. in com- petition with radio. Committeemen 'were obviously .irked at failure of networks fo send, their own spokesmen ito the hear- ings-and sought futllely to get from Kaye and Caldwell information,, about web earnings, salaries and expenses!,. Their persistent efforts at One vtime' caused.- Kaye;, whose firm is counsel for ;'CBS|i to * chide ,the committee and say that questions about private matters hav©. no re- lationship;tovthe. oh' racier of copy; right legislation. " * '; '•', Strong .denial that chains try to get creators to sign away rights forever without compensation and declaration that CBS is 'not inter- ested' in, offer to bujr the Warnpr housesSwere.voiced by Jjtaye,. .who told the . committee that 'there Isn't ah intentional pirate in the entire industry,' ,. Harry , Warner offered. ,the four publishing firms. .to CBS some months ago, the attorney, .revealed, but the network, 'never took it se- riously' and no negotiations oc- curred'. Warners' is 'very^'resentful,' he said,, but CBS 'would not offer 10c' for the* properties. Neither CBS nor any other broadcaster has a desire to get into the music busi- ness except as It may be necessary to acquire performing rights, he added. An attempt to wind up the hear- ings last Thursday (19) was made by Congressman Thomas O'Malley. oj Wisconsin, who' had been ex-. tremely critical of the conduct and course of hearings, but majority led by Chairman Sirovich steam- rollered his motion. Acting Chair- man Lanham, of Texas, held that O'Malley had no right to demand the committee go into executive session ^irtce formal, notice had not been given the* entire membership, but eventually permitted a motion by Congressman Braswell Dean, of Georgia, for a showdown Mon- day (23). New Acts PAUL LUKAS Talk 11'. Mint.; One Met, Boston Hollywood players now making p. a.'s in Boston have a consider- able list of this season's prcdecea. sors from whom.a standard of com. parison can be drawn. Lukas rises 'comfortably above the average.. Much credit must go to bis sagacity in working with a smart femme partner, Beverly Phelan, and to her excellent support on the dialog and s v a.. end. Shortly afijer Lukas walks on for brief., introductory, remarks, Phelan crashes In as a newpaper woman seeking ah.'interview, idea jells very' 'satisfactorily from all •angles. In snaring, the interview she asks about-love technique,-and Lukas more than obliges with an-- proaches and clinches.. In fact he's" too- willing,.for, her. until she gets the- spirit, Of the thing. .Sounds Simple,, jls,,simple, but it registers* It also- sounds much lik ;a sk t etch' Maei'West played a couple 'of 1 seasons ago. : ' / ' "Fox. GQFF and KERR. Songs 10, Mms.j One Grand 0.' H., N- V. s Male singing team, labeled 'song stylists' oh 'the/ placards; acquit themselves in ' nice, manner after getting off to a slow start. They have been appearing mostly of late lrt hotels .and -clubs, and • intimate surroundings may have retarded their beginning before the foot- lights. : - .. Considerable chatter is inserted in. the ditties, and a few' are slightly sophisticated. This is something new for G. O. H. patrons, but they were aware of finished .performers before them and didn't hold back. They use the- standard radio imi- tation stanza for a clinching song, and utilize 'ether names other than the usual Vallees, Penners, etc, which is something to note. They'll do e ( ven better in classier^ theatres than this one. BraT. 3 AMERICAN ACTS CLICK IN LONDON London, March 24. Forsythe. Seamon and Farrell opened at the Holborn Einpire, and- are the laugh hit of the new bill, despite, local pilfering of their, ma- terial. durlng-the.-past year. Diamond Bros, and Duval are two other American acts to score. Moreton and Kaye, formerly pianists with Harry Roy's band, supported by Phyllis Thackeray and Ossij Noble, doing a Jack Powell takeoff, is a weak combo. SHEA'S, TORONTO (Continued from page 14) terlal getting by on healthy hearti- ness. They had to beg off after their dance finish. Ig reception goes to Pops and Louie, two colored lads in white, clinching on harmony warbling and hoofing. ^ Other turns include Le Paul for card manipulations, using two audi- ence plants for chatter; Pat Hen- nihg and Betty in eccentric step- ology, some bow-and-arrow work and whip-snapping in the clowning manner; Kingsley and Case'in songs and piano numbers, notable for nice arrangements. All get over with- out any trouble. House line works bar in a rhumba-tap and a minstrel finale, latter having the girls in white cos- tumes and toppers. Feature, 'Frisco Kid' (WB). McSta Cohen Scouting East Los Angeletf, March 24. "hen-ill Cohen heading east for three weeks' stay. While in New York he'll scout stage talent for Orpheum here. SID MARION and OLIVE SI Comedy, Songs .10 Mins.; One Grand O. H., N. Y. Olive Sibley, tall, shapely and an attractive brunet, makes an excel- lent foil for Sid Marlon's Dutch cofriedy. Aflss Sibley has a singing voice which can be heard easily anywhere in a theatre. Therefore the, use of a mike is unnecessary, although she utilizes one here. This is otherwise the usiial Marion act except that that crude .riose-kissing bit has been elimi- nated, and wisely. ' Almost everything "the pair do is sure-fire and. can be counted to satisfy anywhere.. Over strong her riext^to-closing. Shan. TURNBULL and MARTI Acrobatic 5 Mins.; Three Grand O. H., N. V. These two boys offer a flying dive as their chief bit in a manual bal- ancing routine which is familiar otherwise, but well executed. The top mounter dives over several kitchen chairs, piercing with his body a revolving, paper-faced hoop, to land in the awaiting grasp of his partner on the stage floor. Gives the act a climatic punch. Opener here when caught and the trick drew Its just revyards. Simple costumes, dark gym -'trousers witli yellow sports shirts. Mian. 'MOODS and RHYTHM REVUE' Flash Act 11 Mins.; Full Grand O. H.,.N. Y. Three girls and two boys in an ordinary flash. One of the girls offers a song. Other two dance, and are okay, particularly the one who engages in a rhumba with a boy partner who has style. A second boy offers soft shoe twists. No change of pace or set, and w ile the introductory song which a mixed pair offer to bring on the dancing is familiar, the act under this name isn't in the files. A piano on the stage isn't used. Slum. BUY DOROTHEA ANTEL invalid' Actress. Famous OreeMns Cards. 21.'Original and Exclusive. De- signs. One Dollar. ARenls Wnnied. •« Sell Cards. Liberal Commission. Can or write DOROTHEA ANi'KI. «fl West 'JSnil Street. New York Ity FtAMMT< ' OVtTAMMHT! IBUR CUSHMAN ,; ME LB A , THEATFU BIDC. CIRCUIT AM.,