Variety (Sep 1936)

MUSIC HALL, N.Y. The 1936 'Swing Time' (Astelre- Rogers-RKO) on the screen and the ye^eryear Vienna of Johann Stratiss, under the caption oi "Waltz Time,' on the stage, make for a perfect conjbo at Radio City Music HalJ th;s week—and for two weeks there- after, from present plans and indl-!- cations. It's' a winning show in cel- luloid and reality, a cinch for Its scheduled three-week i»oldover, and perhaps even beyond that. With 103' minutes on the screen and another 33 minutes for the pres- entation's running time, the rest of the hors d'ouvres must perforce be curtailed' considering that the new Mickey Mouse ('Mickey's Rival') is a must, but for the final show, opening night, even the newsreel was sacri- ficed. Incidentally, these R. C. Music Hall premieres are assuming gala proportions what with W. G, Van Schmus, the managing director, fete- ing the visiting stars (he had Ginger Rogers in tow on this occasion), re- serving the entire "flrst row dead-cen- tre until the final performance, which means he's host also to those. 14 guests in the upstaixis pri- vate dining room of the Hall. Leon- Leonidotf has done a hrlt- liant job of *Waltz Time,' built en- tirely around' the Strauss waltzes, and Albert Johnson's decor is in gay and colorful keeping with the very effective costumes to the credit of M. Montedero, Wllla Van and H. Rogge. The Radetzky March o^ns, se: guelng into 'Llebeswalzer,' with which Viola Philo,. bat^ced by fh^ chorus, ties the short tip in knots. This classic; Strauss Waltz is a nat ural for Miss Philo's full-range so- prano. • . Second, portion !s 'Wiener Blut* -with Beatrice Joyce and Don Loper^ Beth Hayes as soloists.. The latter team stands up and out, even despite the setting doin; calisthenics as it smoofuy rolls into i>osition ■ from a simi^le set-piece into a massive set. ' 1hi3 visual setting up of .the physical properties has al- ways been good showmanship ' and impresses anew at the HalL particr ularly with .the .hugeness .and the ease of the manipulations. 1 'Viennese Nights' is the slgb-ofl, a three-part interlude opening with a polka by the Rockettes, alwa^. a flash, thence into Paul Remos and • his Wonder Midgets. <2), who are playing a quick repeat her^. They're cute IitUe people^ and Remos ban'- dies 'em in glreat style. With the Al- pine get-up they're In natural back- ground, • «ind, if perhaps running' k bit overboardi -they're fever accept' able. ' 'Die ■FlederinaUs'''(^e Bat*) oper etta-waltz snakes for a splendiferous .finale with Betty Bannister, Marie Grimaldi, Milton Bam6tt, the ballet •■corpr ahd "Uie entire fensemble par ticipating for an arresting and mu sically. sturdy copclusion to a con' slstently tuneful pot-poiirri of fa' Vorite Strauss waltzes. Opening day's business of record propwtions. Abet. for stage purposes he's limited. A rhumba team fill, in one interlude nicely. But no sockeroo there or with Miss Delys, who looked' fetching in royal blue velvet. Show got over 'because Hal Sher- man got over. He starts almost im- mediately doing, 'encores.' The en- cores run 10 times longer than the 'act' Paramount audience rose to the occasion and initt-whacked Sherman to a solid click. In the downstairs lounge house has two ping-pong wizards, Emily Fuller and Sara Silverman (New Acts) edifying the mob. ' XaTid. Winlergarteii, Berli^ eludes some-nifty Wgh Sicking , Later on, Miss Bjano, is again R*.rim. Auff 21 paired with Wolf, this time in a the Olympic month,.the Wtatergarten J garnering plenty ot lans ai upe«».« "~"""" motii' during £arly se- Hawaiian, with band was right in guessing that the crowds 1 stwjza. would come anyway. With showere St^e ^.^-..^n and cool spel^earV every day.and quences > is S^l wttL^g Ob^M due to its central Ipcation nght lii spo««f^,l»_« the hotel belt of the -main stem has Alha Pua and hCT boum^ dowhtp^ .the Wintergarten -was land girls (six lor r^^^^^ CENTURY, BALTO fc^SrSiaS'l to"a?^SSte^e MraJTrf«^^^^^^ ^o^d had to put in some extra in^ ^vely h^a.^^^^^^^^^^ .-e ■Nobody: featured on the bill. Just bUng aid registers solidly. ^. 'international Festival Program.' It's Tito <i^'^^\'^^^^^^^^''^S, international alright, with an accent does a «o"Pl? o',?i=^fPSr Snd on acrobats, but nicely balanced. strums a bit with the Hilde Schoenbom, Gerrtan warb- essays to sing a ler, is perhaps the most international Chap has a swell Palr.of pipes ana Edwo. EMBASSY, N. Y. Baltimore, Aug. 29; ixci, is ^xunt^^ v.*.^ •..^-^^——•.:r—i ^ i -l ji ♦i.^^ This week the Century customers of *em all, singing in Italian, French, knows how to;handle «jem are waving farewell to vaude for a EngUsh, Spanish and Viennese. A Alicia, Careda and Tbeodore are time. House next week brings in fine Toice and a personality; a class dancing Jea'^'i.f' u •Gorgeous Hussy' (MG) and after Six Lai Founs, Chinese, held over neat ballroom and topnotch aMgia that 'Great Zlegfeld' (MG); 'tween from last month. Three Hartwells, Just before close, l^mbertU comeay the pair of pix hopes to span about open with a snappy performance on xylophonist, goals em watn ma seven stanzas without stage shows, the swinging rope above the heads of timeworn offering, _ Site , has always been a vaudeflhner the customers, giving them an extra Screen has 'The Texas Kangers since, was first slapped up about 15 thrill. ^ .1 (Par), Paramount Nws and Color years ago, with exception of about a Rassana brilliant in a Lillian Leit- classic, 'Hawaiian Buds. iTaae month during mid-summer of '31, zel act. Four Riehys,-comedy aero- good at iriitlal perfonpance, when Loew's tried to tie the can to bats doing well, and the Two Rever- acts, but after some slump weeks hoes excel in a wire act that stands wheeled flesh in again. out. - Bu-Bn, two chimps, exhibited House isn't telling patrons this is Iby Viggo Benny, are the best trained their last gander at the .stage for a of their class. Rhourad Troupe is a I ' (>rEWSREELS stretch; 'just advertising the coming J swell bunch of graceful gymnasts In- 'March of Time.' both in style and celluloider. If the customers had re- side huge wheels. . ' continuity, can still teach the regular alized last Sat afternoon that they Heyde Go. have du^ out the funny newsreels a lot. ware witnessing last 'stage-show for I antics of shadowgraphs seen through Seeing the newsrieels on the same awhUe, they Blight have given even colored spectacles. Duecker, a really 1,111 .^^ith 'M.bxcYC points up the stronger salute to the Phil Spitalny J funny clown, held over from last j,yg,gjgjj^ the 'reels—the things band. And .the' bouse might have | month. Kurt Engel, a remarkable ^j^^y ^jo^.^. cover, or cover super- saluted, vaoAt with a better blended xylophonist. Gsovsky Ballet and Lee flciaiw. Friday last (28) unde-rlined combo. ' "Last of Mohicans' is on the {Street and Jose are first rate in terp thought by having more.tnan its screen. j offerings. usual quota of commercial publicity The 21-piece skirted crew is the ) ' '■ — '■ — shots CM' course, there are some ^-^LW 2r^*?u?i? * LOEW'S STATE. N. Y. publicity stunts wWch also qualltr stage. This is the third time.town *• nevit Witness Harry Rlchman's has hosted band $ince its assemblage Perhaps the State shoidd play aeroplane flight (HearstX about three years back, and each j Milton Berle in stock. Certainly itl gygh items as-Fox's plug (by visit finds group gripping a hlgher jshouldif a'permanenttieup couldbe the Ox Yoke dud^ ranch rung. - Doing 45 mins^ which seems arranged ^yith the N. Y. Daily News 1 Wvoming on the flimsy excuse shade,too long considering -there laiior weekly mrvest Moo»,baUr6om S i'^^-^j^g season is about over ; ust one outside specialist, tap-trotter T winners (New Acts) and if there fohotocranhed In early August!) and Dale WiAthrbp, in!the show. At least could be some surety as to consistent mlllinerv advertisement one numb^ should be cbpped -tor bo. films fte equal of-His Brott^^^^ more effectiveness. IWifie' <MG). . lM,,_t,; Waldorf-Astoria. Before an oJt. set band opens On the stage-Berle Is being biUed Wwbs f^^ Stomping at Savoy\ then 'Pan^a', as 'PubUc Comedian No. 1,' synonyr R^JW ^lub, Ritz Towere, fqUowed by the decade-dated 'Isle of mous with Taylor's screen plug asNo. ^t'^- Golden Dreams'. For Diiiah', 16 of one lover, and Berle is getting as <luesiion iMr^ ■ the musikers lorm a glee club in many laughs from the rostrum as Of the more consequential ttenis. Landon's speech at Chautauqua support of the deep-voiced Maxine ^ylor is drawing shekeb at tte b.o. r--^^ Snain (Fox and in. a black gown -that contrasts since That doesn't. mean Berlfe doesn't (fathe), "J ,°PP'^„^*^^_?^ every other pereon in layout is ^m- draw-he does-but the. top attrac- ymversal) are standouts m a pretty pletely sheathed .in white. Vocd ^on this week, with the excep^ori of dull-lyeel^ harmony trio. Three Little Wori^ the screen's newest Valentino, are Trivia includes a marrte also thread their' tonsils into number those winning dance teams. • mpior in - the mouth of a • w^uj" exceUehtly ^j^^^^"^"*"""''^^ j .^ith a million dollars worth ot whale (unintelligible since divorced Miss Winthrop comes out at this ] Publicity In tab with the biggest frora the PU^'^i^ juncture. Her rhythm tapping is not ne'i^spaper cfrculation, the terpsers least unexplain«J by the comment;, only-technically good, but she is one are natural money-getters,'And for a Hollywood foohslmient on. tne oftha few new Se gal hoSlCTson the attraction they are the State has knock-knock lad by Nat Pendleton view in last courte of years who P cheap buy. Six teams are splitting and Jane Withers doin? ;5ome puo- does not seem just a pale carbon of ? *otal of $90*1 among them ($150 i>er pgtry for Jimmy Fldler iV), the Eleanor Powell. She ducks the curse acquain- annual and inevitable baby parade at by investinK a DeDoery zest in her tances and relatives (they are all Asbury Park, mmiature roadsters work that opposes thl Powell school **oin New York) alone will probably racing in California (U) with none of carefree effortlessness. k«Pay this aniount at the wicket of the thrills the commentator ke^ps After band swings out on 'Chris ""iV^+^P® ^^t'- - ^.j --uX talking about Lorto- Columbus'. Evelyn, the lass who does LJJ:* ratehmg ^iday nighll most of the SpUahiy arrangements ^,^^«„^|„"°V^f«^JfA '4« l+^^^ and serves as fltst fiddler. dowSome K*^* and funny enough to rate. His I PALACE, CHI PARAMOUNT, N.Y. Lud Gluskin occupies the stage that-isn't-a-stage at. the Paramount this week. Occupies it and adds one more to the galaxy of name orcheS' tras, supp'emented by specialty peo pie, who have been doing much to improve and steady business at this house over the summer. With Glus . kin. is 'To Mary—With LoVe': (30th Fox). . Gluskin Is not completely smooth in the routined performance he Is giving at the Par. It's mostly a ques- tion of knitting-together,. continuity and running' order vpih a lack of standout numbers. Audience liked him okay. Yet fireworks, were miss Ing and the. proceedings end lamely without any. crescendo. It is not easy to put the- finger on the cause of Gluskin's stage per- formance falling short of what Glus- kin's luscious broadcast music achieves. Oddl.v enough, Gogo Delys suffers in similar fashion and inex- plicably. Over CBS' Miss Delys gives out -warmly and with ^riatlon. She did not work too surely nor .with partic- ular effect at the Paramoimt At least not Thursday night when she locked better (from the mezzanine) than she sounded, ■ This is her first N. Y. stage appearance and herein the answer mus^ lie. Would appear that light and shade and comedy was badly needed by the Gluskin-Delys combo. Without Hal Sherman as added attraction there would have been next to no change of pace. Entertainment progresses without arriving. Steady, sweet mo- mentarily swingy, the samples of Gluskin iana placed on view were distinctly below the full-bodied art- fully-arranged stuff heard over the kilievrl'is, Gluskin dnes his own announcing. This is oassable. He is clear. He can be understood, Nothing offensive. But just not an authoritative speaker. And th" history of his years in Eu- rope Avith the various numbers he introduced over, there (many of them sub.sequently arriving in America with different names and themes) could be told and built up better by somebody other than the hero of the Incidents. A hot harp is an instrumental standout. About- the onlv one. Glus- kin's men are good musicians, but not specialty entertainers. Therein Chicago, Aug. 29. This would have been a bang-up slick solo gut-grating on 'Sweet Sue' k^J^w^v «ti*-., u^^.-^o „+ and Xove You Ti^y', with band ^.^.^n'^^i^.^^^^M JhefeoS.^*^ """'"^ rchSk'af w'S'^^as^it^dld V^legft I five-a^t-iay-iut-if it l^dn:t been-for • ThV^TfHi* Wnrrt« cir,«, "T^i^o™ j„ ^ouse (thn State is entirely too large one act which, plunked down m the the^fen^^^Prt^nJiS^JIu h^n^ foj" » Sketch) and it is a waste of middle of the bill, .forgot all about iSLA^^^t 5^??^^,^?."^^ the audience and contented itself te?^^S^hP Berle works hard (perhaps too with being amusing solely to the hvmn ^ ^hail'^«r^i,»T rV=r,^ ^ard) and he gives ever^r act an ex- members of the act Chester L^f ceUent buildup. The Maxellos, open- Fredericks has always been a pretty i^^Sf Tur^1««.^^S^« ''^ elee risiey workers, are an instance, good hoofer, with personality, style tiVc U«w ,I,^Si,??.l ^* After Berle gets through with their Ind originality. Put he insists oc- cv!!^K,.m^^^®^i^*®°^2 trick takes on an aura casionally on doing a comedy, singing 5,.-- ^ I - 1 °* fans of sensationalism that winds up the and talking routine. And when that ovl^l 11 . 1 last season, she audience into giving the five boys haopens. nothing happens, ^"^o ?4. ,^ "l*?!.*' . a near-ovation. They're -good—yes,- Fredericks has been changing acts ihe bravura Spitalny rendition of but they've probably never Imown likj street cars lately, and this time uoiero miPht well be replaced, good such applause as they, are getting he shows up with two girls as his u aTI"® "^e" done ioo here. Nor have they gotten such augmented comoany, Theiy are not much. But it would serve as a better laughs before,, but never before did performers. Their wardrobe . and curtain-closer than the blaring swing they have a comic like Berle acting singing are both bad. Only bright °^5fL • - . „ as a human ball, spot in the entire and long-winded Frecedmg staee-shpw is Harvey I A. strong come-on is arranged for act, is the bit of hoofing tossed" in as Hammonds eight-mmute singing- Dolly' Kay also. Miss Kay i& a an afterthought by Fredericks. Bert. I vaude vet but it has only been re- Rest of the biU is excellent, with cently that she assumed click propor- ordinarily stolid audience going into Uons, Now svelte, she makes a plenty of hand-smacking for the striking appearance. Before -she remaining four acts. Particularly shouted her. numbers sans p.a.; now Morton Downey, who proves a .she's chanting intq^ a mike—and mike legitimate headliner from every an RC»CY/ N. Y. There is a real innovation at -ij^ Roxy. tWs week iA Buss. Brown,'fet„ merly'Brown and .'Whitaker, vatide •and l^gtt comedian, the first st^g^ newscaster. At each show BfflNtti i reads four or five miinites of iat^; ' news through a mike, standing a^-r^?' one. side of the stage. His voice i^! not brisk enough to show best-Je-j - sults and his attempts at humor ate^j a bit heavy-handed. Just how tiw" - newsrcaster idea will fit into -ttS amusement scheme can be better told~ ■ after the idea has shaken down. Seems to b.e a chance to worfc ' some 'excitement If the news coming right, and there is alw^ ball scoires to fall .baok upon, not t^' mention politics. But Brown ij. reading like a leading, man, whi(£, • added to his nervousness, dld <«4t make for the best results on opl^;: ing day. See New Acts. . . ■ General show. is a bit weak ''i^' comedy; a common fault at "fflu- houise, with only one real comeSj" act, but It offers better matettel than usual and has been knitted' nicely - into productions with 1h« Foster Gbrls. Tlxey start the proceedings with a' slow soft shoe dance,in tails aitd' toppers, evidently developed -froia the prelude to the Jessie Matthevis' picture. 'It's Love Again,' recency, seen. Dance is effective and got'';ii very decided hand. As they en*! core, the Berry Brothers, tbr^;. Negro acrobatic dancers, also In'- tails, make their appearance, glrij'' leavin.g aftist. they are well into Uii}', act Three b*^* give an excellent>. accQimt. of -themselves with opfj^^f corking trick, a leap over a flight, of steps to a iour-foot-high pjatii,^ form and landing in a split, N6t; properly worked up to make tn^ audience realize how good it however. • . Donald Novis, though the hett4*', liner, gets next, doing three soaigL-! .: to fair applause, and then tana^yf milch better with an Irish ditty^ . which gives hinj a good excuse t?, . come back and sing into a side mikQ , < while the Fosters pose behind « scrim for a Watteau style tableau, t Girls do their stuff and are fol*- towed by Sylvia Manon and hec three tossers ia an adagio number^. Novis reprising as the act closes., Steve Evans on next for a flook of comedy imitations and then a re-, vival of the bicycle ballet which ran three weeks on its original sho-wirtg'a couple of months ago . and has.been resurrected, entirely 'With the approyal of the audlaice, for a fourth week, . Show is smartly tun off in 45 min<*,i utes, with the entire bill running i six minutes short >.of three hours.^.-^; Small Stuff is- 'Elmer. Elephant, 9= Silly SyniphDhy: Bert . Lahr in 4. two-reel comedy, and the nfewsre?!, with a Fox Cameramen reel put in. apparently for the supper show ohiy.;. Eddie Paul has taken over the-; baton and the overlehgth announcer:,, mehts are out only a brief intcor-: duction over the address sjratepi : opening the show.. Film is Girls Dormitory' (20tii-Fox), Buslnea fine, with standees at eight oclocte and the side sections pretty welt filled. Chw.. organlog. LOEW'S, MONTREAL Montreal, Aug, 29. ^ » ....n.,^ ouv» *ii»*v^; Duke Ellington's band, elected by | is "good to'lherT'sheV'the Maxeliosi popular vote here to appear atthis and the sketch with SanfQrd com- T 6n next-to-closing. Downey is a «Aw ♦Cfj'^ i"^" u^"^^'^'" P^^^ ti^^®^^'^® regular vaude lay- clean-cut surefire performer. Plenty tiOrt and there has seldom been so out. But Berle works m between ©f nersonality, a voice that was in soplause for any presentation each act which must count for three flne fettie and a sense of showman "J;^ ijeatre, extra turns—but good ones, ship that actuaUy forced three en Ellington opens with muted musip „Then iome the annual Harvest cor^s and a speefeh-away. Pop songs behind tiie curtain which, when Moon wmners to wmd up tiie 68- for the most part, with an Irish tune raised, reveals 'dimly-Lghted band mmute stege show m a welter of ap- for the very last but each song de- behind a gauze curtain. with indi- plause.. Triple-draw spoke for itself Hvered with teiling excellence Re- vidual players spotlighted. Scrim Friday night. They were standing Leption demonstrated that the bulk nses and whole band, brilliantly il- fall over the house and sittmg m the Uf the customers had come in for luminated, gets big hand before they I aisles of the loge section, Bcho. have done much or played anything specially popular, .Ellington, introduces the Four Step ^^others, who throw a fancy variety of taps. They vary routine PARAMOUNT, L. A. Downey in the first place, Jansleys open th-: bill and send it away at a snf\->v pace v/ith their risiey woirk. In the deuce. Hector and Pals are a mop-up. His chat- Los Angeles, Aug, 27 Back m this country after several I t^^.is Imart in thrSst place." and with solo taps, all in different times years of vaude triumphs in Aus- his comedy work with the do^s has and variations, ending with a whirl fralia, Rene Riaho, English come- develoned into a science of comedy, of arms and legs. dienne, is rebowmg to American Winding uo the bill are Harris. Band then goes into cacophony audiences at the Paramount cur- ciaiire and Shannon in'a neat ball- with freak stuff in clarinet and rently. room dancin«». routine. Act has been cornet solos In front, with Ellinston Unfortunately, Miss Riano, who aroiind niterles pretty muqh lately, then swinging into 'Black and Tan has .always rated high as a single, but it ha-sn't hurt their vaude style Phantasy.' Tooty and Al, in tails, do has teamed with Rube Wolf, house a, all. Two girls arc a lesson in some hi"h, wide and handsome step- maestro ai)d emcee, for her Para- what and how to wear clothes. Are ology. Then Ivie Constantine sings {"ount week, with the result that an eyeful and make a selling picture into the mike ta a ribbuig accompa- her comedy- does not. stand out as from the bell. Neat -vaude novelty of niment by the drummer and, for the it should. Spotted twice on one m?n and two women in a ball- only encore of the show, delivers the bill. Miss Riano works an insur- room dance is' the basic idea that Ellington's 'Solitude,' ance gag routine first with Wolf that put-s this act over, besides good foot House was three-quarters full Fri- contains a bit of double entendre, work, day and full Saturday and Sunday, but otherwise scores. She clowns a Picture is 'Walking on Air' (RKO) •Devil Doll'(MG) on the screen, daft?- \vfth Wolt, aiifl-then dOM a Business ,iOd. at the cvtniinfi shov. Lona. ' bit eccentric stepping that in-' Friday. Cold. CENTER, DENVER ^ Denver, Aug, 28.- ■ Geo, Allen, formerly of Salt Lalie; City, took over the old Empress tW?:, spring, revamped it, ran stage shov© for a while, dropped them, but how they're evidently back to the winter. Only live entertainment running iH-. any house in Denver, with the ception of the Denver, which uses. only an orchestra, , n i ' With the low admission at the i:eii' .. ter, the nut can't run large, aaf^j?' don't Gets along with a five-pift^-. orchestra, but then- with thmgs mo7-. ing fast on the stage the crowa doesn't seem to notice the under- slze band. They handle their insttu* ments as though they mean busing = and make them sound like more tnan they are, Show opens with storm on stage, lightning fiashing, line doing T:°'\i\m . with parasols. Routine is ^ong intricate, with girls well tratnec^ - With. 12 in the line, they make a, stageful. Scene is college campi^ Marvin Jensen does some cnau^, that fails to click, then sings *XOP ; Hat,' His tapping and novelty danc-^ ing on a miniature stage clicks, - Uhe does butterfly routine, wt^ . half in pale pink and half in crlm^o butterfly rigs, and some small oua of clothing where they will ^O^Z most good, Nona Martin sings, a voice as deep as a man's, then acw» a complete strip, Mildred MarnW^ sings, dances and plays a violiOi o" • ing the best on the last two. .-^ , Line does routine on boxes, sractt ihg them up and forming PV^^^^ It is effective. Harper and MaS^ are a mixed dan^e team. J-"^. manikin dance is their best. routine done in silver shesn .gw^ skirts, with Marcia GrifTm. on.^^L the line, doing the hula'. Line fin^>J|" up by fashioning fences in geomevwv figures out of strips of flowers lasw ened on six-foot poles. , eat» Business only fair on secona j>«*(;| urrtay .shovr, -b-it thft plate ca,?.ilv at nights.