Variety (Mar 1937)

^edne:»lay, March 17,1937 _V4RIE1V HOHfE RiVIEWl VARIETY 51 Embassy N^wsred, N. Mar^h of Time.. Ives a badly n^ded buildup to the regular news- clips this week, with spot, news light flnd President Roosevelt's fireside chat on the supreme court the lead- bflf J)ut n0t ai,happy starter. Sub- iect piatter was too well thi-eshed oiit ' ln earlier weeks, and the. ap- nlaiisti was slight arid scattering. Pathe registered this with the usual foUoWup from the man in the street, with the latter tiame-stufT. Photo- graphically thie. second clip was the knocker-outer; th6 nitrate ship fire at its Boston dock. . Paramount shot from several different angles for ^cellerit technicial arid artistic qual- ity. Hot news was Luisie Rairier, and Paul 'MUni receiving the Academy awards apathetically, with scenes frohi 'Great Ziegfeld' and 'Pasteur* respectively to show why. Interest- ine to cbhti-ast their almost amateurr ish uni-ehiearsed posing with the carefully staged screen scenes, Mie- tro'made; this one. . That jPut the Spanish War scenes down to fourth spot. Nothing of especial importance, but well done, ith an appendix in Franco's recep- tion of the. Italian Ambassador. ;F6x, as nisual, got the war. with Para- mount tagging, the aimbassadpr and making, quite , liroductibn of' iti . Univei'sal revived the recent shots made down N. Y. hiarboV oh the ship carrying airplanes to Spain, . later sunk in the Bay of Biscay. Pathe •followed with a..silly .shot of the robklyhite to whom Queen Mary spoke at an English exposition. Jiist « home shot, with, "the dialog plain' twaddle. Properly, should have classed as. a news flash as should U's alirnony striker anhpuncisd as deterhiined to stick it but but she went to the hos- pital. Pathe flashes show another auto strjike. a match p.ilerrupjper. Princess Marid,: of Italy. .reviewing boy troops, a. high dive :and an ice- boat' bit. Owing to current weather conditions the ice boats were nibre of a novelty than they. usually are at this , time of year. Fox went to the training! camps of the Yankees, Cleveland .Indians, St.. Louis Cards: yiTashington. Senators and Pittsburgh Pirates, All pretty hiuch the same as last season and the season- before, but it's a. habit. Fox also flashes clever kid bowler, a couple of girls in a boxingmatch and a couple of. wrestlers' with a faked climax that got laughs. Mor^ boxing from Pathe; which showed the . finals of the Golden Gloves contest. Another batch Of midget auto racers with one thrilling spill from U, which also contributes. some .flashes, of early bathing girls. Has been done before .and, much better. Fox has fashions lor cowgirls as well as; costumes frpih; the old south and this week's ;d6g team race comes from close to the Arctic circle: Had to get that far north toVgiet the. snow. Christening of the hew Mexican air- linier (U) teams with ah U. S. Army flieht with some nice clouds coh- tributed. by Fox. U also has a dust .storm, but in Southern California (which is .news),, and Paramount comes along with a run of snrielt in' the Columbia river. Floods in Eu- rope also from' Par, which takes more photographic honors for a set of; scenes around Dover. England. .Styles in hairdress for the Corona- tion (Par) suggest' manufactured hews and U staeed a bit on the 5c beer strike . ithOut getting . any- where.- Lew Lehr on once, with an eleohant sit-down stirike on a. circus, with one laugh. Not at all up to: standard; Fox leads with. 14 credits.' with siK for Par,, seven for Universal; eight for Pathe and Metro, three. Chic. HIPP, BALTIMORE Baltimore, March 12. A bit of a presentation idea this week at the Hippf. using Little Jack. ..Little and his band for a background along with three acts spotted inter- mittently during the doings. Work- ing .in a flashy full-stage .house set. With Little as in. c.^ as well ,as di- rector, the combiriation. when caught, .jnakes for an eaisy movinjp; arid entei'- ^inirig 44 riiiniites of variety; . This is the fourth bahd booking in.flve weeks at this house, but Lit- tle s. current sfet up of II men, four brass, four sax and three rhythm, brings a riicie hand oh the curtain parting and an . audible response at ine close. Diminutive; maestro has, gained in showmanship and self as- surance since last here and has de- veloped some comedy whibh sells.; Uets, laughs throughout and ovatioris wneiieyer he takes over oh the .lyories. Band now ha.s ehtcrtainrii'eht value, as well as first cla.?s musical ' ^'*h a nice routine of solid arrangements and musical bal- .ance: v "•■ / ,. .?^9W gets off to a pleasing start with a nifcely paced medley. Little i»King turns at piano and Working in iront of combo during re.^t of me- j^^se- Pemme hoofer; Marilyn Marr }i« ' P'^'Ss over here with two rbu- both smai Uv sold:, the second. T>u ^P''''^ish Fanta.«5y in Modern Mi,-r "y*'*^'^' getlihg. &cro.<!s partic- a^y.^vell. Girra looker arid uDreviated evening gowri a welcome aiit^S^ from the PowelMlke bvcr- "5 most femme' tappers ' feature "owadays. ju5?\''o<Ji>ced as a new addition and •■"5* in. the country two weeks, Majc, a Mex ririachacha singer and trum- peter, Steps down irom the brass sec- tion, and, after some clowning Avith Little, swings out with a vocal arid instrumental version of La Cuca- racha. Okay. Boy has a pleasing personality and goes to town triple- tonguipg in torrid manner. Frazeie Sisters, on here With two harniony .numbers,adequately sold and rightly spotted for Little's impressions bf various name orchs, that fbillow, Band siriiulates styles of Kemp. Lpmbardo, Duchin, Wayne King; rShep Fields and Goodman legit take-offs with Little:.getting in soine highly effective clowning to excellent returns. Following another band niimber McKay and LaValle (New Acts) step put for some knockabout and a pleasing change bf :t>ace. Special arrangement of 'Somebody Stole My Gal,' with. Little really ^o- ing to town bn the babyrspott^d keyboard a sock finis with ample Curtains for a reward.' Film is 'Sea Devils* (RKO) along with curi-ent release of' 'March of Tirrie,' ' . Bur)h. ST. LOUIS, ST. L. St; Louis, March 11. ■Teeming with youth arid with a singer unknown until la.st week twice stoppihg vshow, current bill at St, Louis theatre, si)eeded up by johnny Pierkins, m.c. proves to be one of most attractive. presented at thi;^ 4,000 seater. since reopening last -Fail arid house .is 'findiris it easy' to record take in, black figures; Last week, at.anri nite. Jack Prince: personable 19-year-Pld from Mon- roe; La.,' entei'ed lists against' other hppefuls arid scored heavily with his- wairblirig of several pop numbers. Perkins promised him a week's engagement, the stipend, to be:paid by m.c. . At show caught. Prince garbed in pew butflt, clicked with his interp. of .'Star Dust,' and 'Melancholy Baby' and. as an encore, 'Pennies from Heaven;' His siiccess has been so outstanding that singer will b0 h.o. Show stairts with half of line doing a Puss in . Bbots. routi; ith Joe Winters' ork .plaijring from behind closed curtains arid as lights fade rest oif. line comes pn.arid their white boots are only pb.iects visible as they do smart steps: joinirig other gals for disappearance into wings. Perkin.s makes first appearance with a flock of stories;: has barid applaud a fev^ late .corners, gags- with first row patrons and puts everyone in good humor before introducing Dick, Don and Dine, a trip that, clicks with eccentric, and acrobatic, hobfing. Prince gets ig build up arid doesn't disappoitit. Then comes Rose Cbyle, Philadelphia girl, re^ cently crbwned 'Miss America' at Atlantic CJity for second Cohsecutive yiear.^ The line,; toting elongated fans, . makes, an eyefilling arch through which ;Miss Coyle parades frbm behind Venetian blinds. If girl could sing or tap on par with, looks and fornri she'd be'a world beater, but she liaicks ..finesse in these esseri- tials although she's easy on the glini- mers. She does warble 'I've Got My Love to.Keep Me Warm' and sittees give h^r a nice hand. Line doe: another routine and sevr ieral display styles of bathing garb popular in 1897, 1907, 1927 and what they wiU wear in J946 was a clever blackout, SriowbaU arid Johnny, sepia hpbfers,'first to grace St. Louis stage during current season, -win sev- eral bows arid encpre for thei'i' chal- lenge tap rbUtine in lightning fast terinpo. Bob Ripa, another youth. :does a -juggling act ar ' his applause matches that giveri Prince. Line .re^ turns fbi: an individual stair routine, orie bf most difficult they have been called on tb perform in recent mpriths arid Test of bill comes on for a finar bow. Screen, offers Plainsman'. (Par) (2d fun) and biz is still good despite Lenten seasori.'- Sahu. Syracuse, is also after a "Trby, N. Y. license. Latter town now has a part- time non-commetcialj WHAZ, ^du- catibnaliy ©varied. Troy, isr, Y.^ March 16., laris for the proposed 1,000-watt s tion to be operated here by the Troy Broadcasting Co. (Harry Wilder) Ayere revealed as a delegu-. tion headed by Mayor Atkinson, President of the Charriber of Com- nrierce George .N, .Patrick and DV; James Laurence Meadcr,. of Rus.*;ell Sage College, prepared to entrai a. for Washington for Tuesday's hear- ing before the FCC Made known that the only: formal bfajectibn.s the station had come frprii a distant Eastern city .seeking use of the sa.me wave lerigth^956 kilocycles—arid from Albariy-^WOKO and WABY opened a "Troy studio last week; . Chamber Of Commerce, •which has be6n /massi evidence supportiri.!; Troyrowned Station With Troy call letters, .pointed out that this is the largest city in the East without local facilities. Out-of-town' coverage,, the Chaimbier hpld.Sv is .not sufficient; thie city has ia right to a station serving Troy and its tributary territory ex- clusiyely. The service a Trby traris- riFiitter could render to Ibcal.. prep-- aratory Schools and cbllcges is stressed.. . M«;KAY iilid LaVALLE Comedy 9 Mins; One Ilippbdrpine, Baltimore - . Good knockabout tiirn a bit abovie ihc average Boy.s take a world of puivishnieiit . but. get returns; DO .some; logit hoofing alOrig with the polls. • ■ When^ caught here as turn in im- promptu presentation, featuring I,,it- tl0 . Jack Little, boys did . twp routines., .both good for well earned and audible returns. Nicel;^ dressed iri-jsummer.tux for opener, a chal- lenge hoof setto; featjiiring . sbme good tumbling, duo goes ' off for change into tails arid top hats fblp \o 'irig annunceihent) by one of . a .scene with^e.ssed at Club Lido in Paree. Some quiestiph about' Paris stuff unless it's to indicate ■enga.ge- ment there. At any rate;, they conie back, stewed if not liulte cbriiinerital, and proceed to commit mayhem, .riiurder and hari. kari. It'.s pretty sock arid the .customers iiked it, Biirm. Unit Reviews N. Y. Petitions (Continued frbiri page 42) GIRLS OF TODAY (cXpITOL, ATLANTA) Atlanta,-March 14. Plenty bf socko stuff in' this one. with novelty preddmiriatirig; Girls and standard vaude acts make it ari audience pleaser and its speed is an- , other recoirimendatiori. Show is Owned and produced;, by; Hal Ctider and Morris. Nelson, hp strangers to this Ipop; : Fahfare brings' on Raby Crider, Hal's daughter, as mi.e., .in one with mike in her harid, announcing title; followed by Nelson.' and traveler parts to. reveal six line girls, scan- tily clad, who -dance,' pose and display while he sings. Next comes Crider, 'The Man on the Fly-. ing Trapeze,' who,, after plenty of .clowning, gets VP to the bar arid goes through'a series of comedy stunts that please, Suzanne^ .iaccOmpariied by the 14- j piece ,band, six with unit, does a ■ creditable banjp number in front of the mike and is followed by darice team. Bill Dixon and Gail McLean, in a fast tap routine done to "Mir. Ghost Goes to. Town,' which got fine hand. Ginger .Lawrence; blonde, • on next with an. acrobatic riumber. Girl docs- half her; number with a glass bal- iariced pri her forehead. The two Criders and. Nelson do a telephone bit on : a darkened stage and .Nels.on :yodels a number into the mike, giVirig; 'Night and Day' as an e.ncbre; Line comes back in this spot. 'Bumpsie! Anthony, old-time cir- cus clown, working •with ia trick bicycle that falls tp pieces on the stage. Plieaises particularly the kids in the front rpw. Dixon and McLean cpme back for another fast tap rbutine and make way for Del Breece, magician and cdrd manipulator, iritbp hat and tails, wh(K.works smoothly,' His tricks are good, too,' and wori applause. An agile Japanese, Jimmy Yama- moto: starts his act.with a few dif- ficuTi hand stands aitop a srriall table The and then did some barrel balancing with his.feiet, the pleasure. Of the' audi nee. . Finale brings on the whole com- pany. With Dixon doing a bit, Raby Crider singing'a little and the line gii'ls dancing. . Show moves 'fast, beirig clocked in 42: minutes, Unit is well mounted and costumes look clean. Despite wet .weather, house vi/a\, full for opeuier Sunday. politiical campaigri* Aftier gettirig the npd.frpiTi the exanvi.ning division, crowd was elbowed aside when political strings were .pulled, since the .Nc.W De^alers were not enthusi- astic about .issuing a franchise to a group hooked up ith the power trust; which has fought persisteritly against niany of President Robse- velt's polici Present ciies are that this gang has the inside; .track again, Watei-tovyri Times and . Wateriown, Broadcasting cases have been in the Commish ice-box for months, also. Paper, .whose publisher , is Harold Johnson, originally sought , per sion buy the St. Lawretnce Uni- versity transmitter and move it to Waitertbwn, a '■ year ago. Watiertpwri Broadcasting . Co^, in whilch owners of WSYR have, .significant rnindrity /interest, was left at the. post \yhen the i'Black -River applicati; was rushed through the Gbmmish. Turn- ing the rivali-y into a norholds- barred. ir, this faction now.-has asked for the sariie faciliti .. re-, .viou.siy sought «by the Black River Valley crew; Harry Wilder group WSYR SYLVIE ST., CLAlR. Son?- T> Mins. Hotel St. Regis, N. Y. Sylvie St.d'air is a wcomer tb Airicriea. Does Mohtiviartre. .sprigs, .but actually; only orie in Frerich. hei: operier; theri the increasijngly. -pop- ular 'Je Vbus Aiitie- Beaucbup,' a hybrid Anglo-Frerich pop;, and finales v/ith 'Soriiethirig.in the Air.' Pririie appeal of MUc; St, Clair is her Personality - sbng sale.smanship, ^lthough; handicapped on thi.s pcca sidn by ah obvious cold. She's, a ibokef. sports a sriiart . gowi for every show, and fits in nicely into .a class room such as the St. Regis' Maisonette. Russie. A,heV. Nitery Reviews HENRY YOUNGMAN Comedy 20 Mins.; State, N. Henry Ypungman is riot a riew act, but thus far has escaped the files, As Hennv Youngman, he was m.c. and life-o'f-the-party in tank theatres and Catskiir re.sorts, and. tecently ; was cbnferencier at the Yacht Club, N; Y, He's listed iri the Radio Reports, however, and it is radio (Kate Smith's A; & P. prograni) that is chiefly responsible fbr his Broadway vaude booking. Transitibri from Heriny to Henry also comes, through- radio, .the former not being considered clajisy ehoiigh for the air. But that'.s the only nriajor change io far as Youriy- iTiari himself is concerned. TjiU. skinny cbriiediari, whose flair for ghg- switching and ad-libhing is bring- it ^ hirii favorable cbmpar.I.son .with. Milton Berle, has hot altered his i timate style of working. At'tir . that style is too intimate, bu,t Yoiingr man will l^arn as he goes along thai' the customers further hack iri the theatre count much' mor thftu the fiddlers in the piU Lau s fi'bm thie latter won't add to his: pay-check, which, iricidentally, he-. grbwri cpn^ siderably since, his knbck-arpund days; of six moniths or sip ago. . At the Stale, ...besides." nn.ic. Ypungman holds down . two .solo spots; First in what ;is noriifnally the deUce arid second in next-tp-closirig. Doies close to 10 minutes in each frame.a.id his.laugh avei'agt is high. Not all his gags are new: nor are all of these given a fresh; twist, but his briginail material is. tpps. Dei liyery ri^iikes alhipst everything sound ad-lib. ■With Berle ' ripw pictures (likO).. Broadway has need for a comic like Youngman:' How far he can go depends almost wholly upon himself. He's getting.the ricc(cs.«ar breaks; Scho. (Continued frpm page 48) have all been routines for orb ap*-. peal. Only one, that military,- ta-ta, .flag-waving finale, is out of place here. In a,stage presentation, okay; but here - without buildup arid - flash, it's flat. Di Palm'a still feserves the riext-to- closing niche for himself because nobody else has showed up. here to take that, spot from him. Husky tenor, rounding but 13th consecutive: ihorith at same place, is - a cinch for at least half a dozen arias, when he steps out ori the floor, and Nixon rriob could stand that many more night after night. Looks like he's set here practically for life.. Music is still by Herman Middleman, who knows the theatre-^thus the swell time-peddling for the show—and the riight clubs- as well, which accounts for a 'floor con- stantly packed with couples gettirig rh.vthm off theii- chests. .Bi7. here Still tops in town and no re^spri why it shouldn't cpritinue that way; CoheTi. SWINGTjME FOLLIES (CAPITOL; WHEELING) Wheeling, W. Va.. March 13.; One of the best of the Wiibur (iushman units to piay the iCapitol. ace upper ib valley house, iricc it.wa.s acquired by the Di it. Dressed; up arid replete With variety talent and riovelty turns, it pleases more than many that haye .pr'eceded it at 'the playhpuse which switche.s to stage la.st half of the week at a 40 cent top. Weekend bli? pickUp entirely due to ' uriits,. screen atr tractions usually no better , thaii mediocre. Unit has 18 people, all Of whom do plerity and keep actipn nibving at.; fast pace from the rise of the curtain TWO O'CLOCK CLUB (BALTIMORE) Baltimbre, March 11, This spot, opened in December by Sam Lampe, identified . with riiteries iri the prohibish ..era, is located iri the middle of a block made, iip of town's only double feature houses, burlesque theatre arid freak show. It's a tough location to draw any of the uptpwri trade and everi hard for the local and limited demi- monde. b,ut Larnpe is going right after h\i and this week starts a pol- icy of vauQ9 acts that may be the thing .spot heeds to put it over. First booking in riew set-up brings Ted Claire arid his Rhythm Red Heads, just two weeks after their appearance at the local Hippodrome. Claire" played ari extended engage- ment at Loew's Geritury here, dur- ing days of in, c. arid presentation craze. Currerit setup: includes, in fiddition,. Patti Crariford. blues singier; Chickie arid Tex, .specialty dancer.s. and a. line, of six'gals who open: arid clo.se dpirig.Si Shpw i.s put on twice ni.!*htl.v. with, in-betweeri.community sprig sessions conducted by Nan Woods at the rininiatui'e pinnb. Operiing show revealed Claire as- ;tn, c, .attempting, a .song or. two, a- bit of hoofing. ;his standby snowbird iriiDressipri.varid a routine of intimate »THg;ging and cro.ssflre with the check-payers.;. Sock of. the doinas was put -oyer by the Redhciads. with ♦heir hotcha double harmony: a bit better than the usual nitery talent dished put Ibr.nllv arid particularly 'n this sector. Intiriiate. ropnri i.s miiide <o order for them. Other .'ict."; and lirie are usual .stuff. Six-piece band. 'Mi-ected by: SpJ Lurie. vet at. this tvpe: of choie, plays for show and 'lnT>,.j,ijf arid .doc.s' AvbrktnarilikG ,iob. . RnoTri can hold about 430 and t?nff kAVVTHORNi: and WHITNEY Dariclnir 10 Mins. Nixon Cafe, PIttsbureh Femme dance teams ■ aren't too numerous, and here's one combining, everything the ..pix hou.ses and niteries ;are looking fbr. Gals are lookers ;iri first place and their, foot- work is sriiartly turned with ari eye to flash. ■ Costumes are classy, but designed Srinartly to show twb pairs of neat linibs ind whole turn smack.*; x>f .sriiartness. Hawthorne and Whitney go in more, fbr the musical comedy style, than the baHroomplogy that specificailly marks, another femme duo, Santschi and Buckley, and it's a relief tp. see this type .pf thing pedr dlicd by other than the customary boy and girl. :' For the Nixon's late show, they do three numbers, all nicely, worked biit, but the best of the trio is ia spinning routine, they keep up all over the floor for what, seems like miriutes. It's great audience stuff and practically surefire to ti ijp things anywhere. Gals have a be- cOmirig modesty, too, that's reflected in everything they do, which helps, additionally'. It's . also a relief to encounter a couple of gals who don't start off singing, thus letting the cus-. tomers know at the. outset that they're really dancers. Cohen. J''bout the sairie as Prevails in othpr Thsre are enough sock specialties to I'r>cal spo^ ith $1 mi u^ ohock. satisfy "(he riiost ardent flesh fan.s, : iirm. The Four. Lane boys, knockabout dancers, have no trouble iri scbririg with their fast and intricate.routine; Pree McGrau show."5 an unusual im- pcr.sonatibri .of Elcaripr Powell and Winrier -and Dolly grab a big hand for their daring, trafjczo work. Spotted in s-cvoral cn;;emble nurit- bers, the Six Tallin Girls won favor with, their new line dance con- coctipri.'!. Jack Smith,;scGre.s handily with an engaging h,irrrionica inedley and Will McCJrau add.s. speed find talent to the unit'with.a.beltbr than -werage tiirn. Comedy hpnor.s go to Strong and Ann, with an okay ..song and danee bit. Muvk. ■'Hi, BEATRICE and PEPPINO Dancers 5 Mlnii. Hotel New Yorker, N. Y. ice lookii? team have the 'front' to progress, thieir future; being sol61y dependent on the ultra niceties which distinguish <the belter ball-, roomologists from the rank and file. Among the qualities tp be developed is a greater ease and;poise; arid, from. Peppino, the. necessity tb inject an air of romdrice and glamour, and not perform his .routines as if scared by an Arthur Murray dancing,insli uc- tor. Instead of looking intently at his partner's: high kicks, .Peppino should, assume^ that Beatrice will do her stuff competently,' arid his eyes shbuld .fbcus more rohr>aAU.cal)y on his partrief; They open.'with: a .waltz, smpoth and techhicaliy expert, save for his .eyeS-to-ceUlng stare/ rather than the charming ViSr*a-vi.s p^r- soriality; so neicessnry to that school, of exhibitionism. The rhumba is No. 2 and ;a cute inkle-toei foxtrot caper flriales. /IbeL JOE ANb BETTY LEE Daneinff 6 Mins. Hollywood Rest., N: 'This Iboks like brother'arid . . ter tearii—and hardly out of. ihtir teens. KidS: match their youthlUl ap* peal, thPugh, with swell, ballroom- ology. IThey're a cinch click ' type pf riitery, but the :clas>sicr .better. Doirig..'two routines at the'Hiiil.v-. Wpo'd.lfirst a whirling.; waltz-like :if-' fair; .sdcpndly a subdued; but vcjy effective rhumba;' Clicked sirong with the payees both tirne. Their gerieral appcara them in vei-y good stead.