Variety (Apr 1937)

Wedncsdayv April 2a, 1937 VARIETY HOUSE REVIEWS VARIETY 61 KEITH'S^ BOSTON Boston, -April 22. 'St Moritz Follies' unit, combined with the good supporting vaude «9kes a satisfactory offering for the fustom^rl in the final week of this season's vayde here. Novelty of a troupe skating on real ice roused much comment, although fte show was considerably maimed Kir the enforced abisence of Herman Lflhazi, figure skaterv due. to an in- fected foot. Kit Klem, speed skater, iq the star; and ,she'is introduced by news clips arid 9n m. c, unbilled. Ttfiss Klein zips oh stage, fOr a few whirls, gabs a bit with the m.c. about her special skates and introduces her own interpretatibns of 'skaters of all nations;' Unquestionably ah ace sneedstef, Miss Klein cannot ^how off her best talents on a vaude Stage. Bobby Hearh, barrel jumper, is the highlight frorii entertainment angle; and Sonya and Margp, figure skating duo, never really got wound up on opening show. A; penguin number, later yanked, arid an ice ballet, add little to the appeal; of the unit. JOiily tiie opening number, a line routine by thie 'Dancing Darlings,' has more than the apron to work on. This is a cute little sfebrts riuriiber with gals biatting out fake tennis balls to the audience. Best bets of the show all come in: the early chapters: Dick, Dinah and .Don; Frances Arms, Frank. Gaby, and Barbiara Belmore* Soft shoe eccentric ■ aind aero hoof^ ;ing, as well as some unique pierch arid cbalarice. work are the surprise packages in the bag of tricks of Dick, D'nah and Don. Frances: Arms, grand.; seller of patter songs and dialectic iriondgoly. is here again. It's the same solid routine' with the sure.-fire patter- piece about 'tiCt 'Eriv Ramble,--'Let 'Em Rciam' for a finale.- Miss Arms leaves 'etti begging, for mbre. Frank Gabv. with Billy Curtis, midgeti is displaying his wares iri new dress. Many of the familial gags iare there, plus some new Ones that jell with " hig, professorial rig. "The dummy is a pupil in similar atr tire. The box bit is but,, although Curtis takes the spot for the live ventriloquism at the end. If Gaby is wondering about the new business, he should relax after, hearing huz- zahs .that call him back 1 for extra bows. ..• •': ' Barbaira Belmore. brie .of .the most e^:pe;'ieAced fanners in! show biz, satisfies with her eye-filllrig Tbutine sebn around here many times in nitcries. Openirig Miss BeliYiore apparently had not quite, adapted her turn to the relative broad ex- pense of this stage. .. 'Breezing Home' (U) on the screen. Fox. Wintergarten, Berlin . Berlin, April 12. Although theatres in general, arie toot feeling that upward curve which usually follows Lent, Wintergarten IS doing sell-out biz. . Bill is ho great shakes, but if it's vaude the folks want, their only . two choices are Wintergarten and Scala; - . Show opens With Hanria Feller, in ner. hew act, balancing herself on a big ball iascending arid returning on ^ah inclining three sided right- angled gangway. Dbne in a big spot It would be effective if not sb slow. Irene Clarton follows with three monkeys on the flying trapeze. High spot IS when two pf the monks cross ^".,the air exchanging triapezes. William; Bliacker is a good mimic Who in his opening number affects a Harold_Lloyd pan ahd with his partner, Emele,, does an eccentric ^3"ce.with plenty of pep. After the Jack Hill ballet fill-in, Emele and Blacker m a tin-type get up to a S terping as done in wop. Nicolo Lupo, quick change nist, doles a sketch in which he pops in and out of three exits in Ifi^"se makeups of five different cnaracters. If speed means anything, • it. Fourteeh-year- oid Mariechen BrUmbach, billed as ine world s yoyngest aerialist, has all In^t^i^?^?''^ t^'icks down pat—hori- 2ontari)alance on the ring, hanging on .With one foot and the split-5sh6 aid them an and got a big hand;: frfiE" ^in^tes: of hbkus pokus and. inl 5 5*^1 offered by Clemens Bell- J^LSirls and poodles.. Th6 n^iS^r Step and . the latter catch Plates and balls by the dozen. One «og _even batches a ring with its riiil^^ whirls it. round ' ' round; canines go bVer big. ■ Sv&°»^?^ around in Vierina that . p^iyja. Bettma has -good looking All she is doing a single douV ■ "^"Ju^^ ^t"PS i« a show win- fl^^Vwith^ transparent blind. Alter S?/,?^'ng^her ..nbiletries, she did a 9riiip and a terp. "^Jf.gals. closing the first half brin«^^ military drill .dhd formation the house. Intermission vwMi.^^ * riieant nothing. The folks. cortS ^0.^, satisfied till the girls eri-. All 5 syncopated goose-step, of f*^tators seated in the middle duriw iw"^^ ^^^® shooed on stage in s^ii^^^ *P^'^°s^"i tight rope act, obiK.*'^ the net which they were cSf^ accordance with the on th« Two meri arid a girl •others cui'^^,',°"® chap gets. onto the B fun. - added to which the ie f "P 3hd, balancing her- othev ^ ^^^"^ one end to the nurnhJ. final thrill is the bicycle "umber. Across .the shoulders of the two bikers is a bar which sup- ports a third cyclist with the femme posing on his cranium. Keririt and Paddy offering tumb- lirig and strong arm stuff in a spirit of fun click nicely. Jack Hill girls, charmingly costumed, forhi a back- ground lor Bettina's second attempt Which consists of a dress lined with red tulle ruffles. Buck, Chick and Co. close with a cowboy nuriiber. The whipping and; lassoing, the shooting blind-folded, haVe all been done be- fore, but the act has class; is well dressed and the blondes are lookers. Who, do sonie hot stepping within their rotating lassos. HIPP, BALTIMORE Baltiinore, April. 23. Rather punchless doings on Hipp stage this week, with Jan Garber arid his orchestra putting over a 48- mipute session of. bandolbgy' inter- spersed with specialties by members of his band plus "Three Ryan Bros;; and. Jack iand' June Blair.' Gairber has some entertaining momierits. in his .set up,- but as caught Iiere, needs sock very badly. Working in house siet, combiriatiori of .12 men is riiade .up .of' four sax, four brass, bne .doubling on guitar, and four rhythm, incUiding two pi- anos.. Opens mildly with 'Moonlight and Shadows' with vb.cal by. Russel. BroWn, one of three singers carried with but.fit..' 'Boo Hbo' next with Fritz Heilbron, one of trumpieters, taking off iri a scat vocal nicely. Rather strange to bring-on another singer, here, but Roberta Sherwood, band's, feriime^ vocalist, conies through with a session of 'This Year's. Kisses,' and two swihgy ver- sions of 'Old Cowhand' and 'Pennies from. Heaven.' Jack and Jurie Blair, personable youngsters, take hold here openine with some Astaire-Rogers talk that might be okay for cafes but itlean- ingless at. ^his hbusie. ' Two dance routines, however,; are- sold nicely to good ..returns. ..FbUowirig some clbwriing by Rudy Rudisal, bn6 bf band's pianists, Gar- ber then takes band through: over- sweet, medley including, inevitable 'Stardust.' Has a tendency to slow things up considerably ' and needs every minute of the fast hoof routine put ori. next by Jack Blair. Anothier sihgei*, ,Tony Allen, intro- duced as' Winner of Fred Allen con- test, giv^s out with the bewhiskered •Laugh ClbWri, Laugh' including the fari:iiliar,Pagliacci business, and fol- lows that with - When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.' Nice spot here for Three Ryans and the'y score with assort- ment . of knockabout and phoriy recitatioris. GaHjeir takes over with usual okay fiddling, but still slow stuff, and clos- irig sig in similar style and tempo, still not supplying any added and needed -^unch. Maestro has the makings but needs sonie sock eritex*- tainmerit features. Film is 'We're ori the Jury' (RKO) arid current issue 'March, of Time' Burm. DENVER, DENVER Denver, April 24. It seems the answer to.whether radio is helping pictures can par-: tially be seeh at the Denver this week. With 'Ready, Willing and Able* (WB) on screen, along comes an all-girl. Major Bowes unit and is heading the house for record-break- ing business. Staff is having a tough job taking* care of the cus- tomers, and are running a. riiidnight show (Saturday) to help care for the crowds. . Show is one of the fastest and best balanced to show here. .A girl does the . emcee job; and in order to keep it entiriely feminine they make Dprir nelly James,, orch boss, don grass skirts for his bit (but not .while directing the: musicians. ) Julie Ballew does the emcee job with zest, but she should stay away from the mike. ..Voice is loud enough •without any help. Van Zant Sisters, accordion ;vts,' open, and handle the instruments .with finesse. Play ?12th Street Rag,' and just to show they know their: stuff do the 'Trieste Overture;' Frances White is a' tapper of no nriean ability; with rhythm and is fast. Marie Woods,; anriateur Sophie, T.ucker, arid, a heavyweight, sings blues. Starlight Dixie. Trio .get going good on.their siecorid riUDnber, riot so good, on; No.: i^th'ey har-. monize, but-should do; more straight singing. Helen Diller from Canada in'her cowgirl togs is an eyeful, iand she plays the guitair. sings, and yodels. Ann Palmer^ who handles a piano during th6 show, sings t\vo numbers in a pleasing coloratura voice of wide range. Here 'Dorinelly James tpsseis in his bit as a hiila. dancer, a bit that gets a goPd hand, and he does a hartd-r spring also, ite a job for hi ,; he's that fat. " Lorraine. Leff, 14-yeai>old top. sbot winner of a couple of Aveeks ago, is the only one of the group .showing a wee bit of timidity, but she sings her 'Coo Coo^, Clock' inMhe manner pf an-old timer. Sara Berneri impersonator, re- ceives longest applause; and is ibrced tb respond severar times. Julie Bal- lew sings about a niidist camp, and the Tri-City Trio does a fast dance —novelty tap and acrobatic. , House packed for the second show, Saturday. Rose. ORIENTAL, CHI Chicaigci, April 23. Crack show this week with a nudie, and good acts .to furnish the entertainment afterwards. Soriie im- proveriient; hbwever, could have been made in layout of acts, arid Johnny Perkins could .have been given a lot more to do.. Pierkins, who has been considered b.o. for Oriental since the Paul Ash era, makes twd . appearances,, both times to introduce acts. . 'Dbes. one son.g tb -pfove his showinainship. . Reynolds and White,, ti-amp musi- cians, spbtted last, do everything but tie things up Avith their, hoke come- dy, cap-shbotirig instruments, and bursting .flares; and when one of trairips reveals she's a' woman, things start all over agairi. These two kribw how to . play violins, arid knbw their comedy. ;Marion ellet and English Bros,, Val Statz,. and Esther Tarler tie for •second honors, latter being the win- ner of the. WENR-Sachs Amsiteur Hpuir, and a girl who has a lot: to offer in Way of satirical ininersbna- tioris. Routine here pictures Winchell as m.c. introducing Edna Mae Oliver, ZaSu Pitts,:; Ned Sparks, KQtharine Hepburn and Lionel Barryniore.. Opening is taken by Marion Bellet and English Bros., a knockout danc- ing act. The two boys and.the heavy girl set a very fast pace right from the start, and finish with all three dpirig steps which are seemingly im- possible. Val Statz, jusjgler, uses rubber balls, Indian clubs and discs on an uriibrella fpr. regular Toutirie; but has a lot of what ,it takes in Way of per- priality, and clicks bi(»per than .would the usual juggler doing .the same •tricks. As fpi" thiis week's nudie, one of . which now seeriis necessary to keep house in this black, no matter wheth- er good or bad. .she's Fritzie Wick, recently acquitted of givi "r an al- leged indecent performance at an artists' affair. Housie has surrbunded her with nice build-uo, usint? special .magazine ' dron . and... house, lire dressed and riiasked a la Esquire's Jb-Jo. \ - Picture is 'Fifty iRoads' (20th), and business good at early evenih^r show Friday.. Loop. CAPITOL, WASH. Washington, April 25. Variety is what the trade calls it and variety is what the trade de- livers this week, which runs gamut from a yo-yo-.slinger to Lenore Ulric in 'Lulu Belle.' Latter is headliner and works plenty haird, but combina- tion of a bad cold, plus fact that dramatic skit is usually brutal in 3,000-Seat house, leaves her more in- teresting than entertaining. Use of final scene from 'Lulu Belle' probably sounded firie as an idea, and if a scene from Jegit is in order it's one of the best, barring comedy. As it works out, however, lack of explianatiori as to What it is all about'leaves pop audience to. sit through half the stunt without know- ings of its farce br. tragedy. Cold prevents star from hitting full stride and, tb the mpb, it's Frank Kent, as the I'eformed convict who coines to her apartment to, redeem her, who gives rtiost cohvincing performance.' Eight-minute turn is put on in third spot. Yb-yo flicker. Art Lang, billed aS world's chariip, dbes trick aftei: over- ture, and before newsreel, following hbuse policy of putting specialty iri as extra attraction to regular bill.- Lad works on run-way in front of pit. making red toys satisfactorily promirient under bright spot. Uses bne in- each hand and keeps at least one going during chatter, which is both explanatory, of history and titles of tricks and pleasantly amus- ing. Bill gets under way -with Saul Grauman . and Co., nicely varied dancinf talent, although original idea of having four gals step oUt of and represent bottles of. assorted liquors is pretty well. lost in. coricentratiori ori musical staircase. Grauman's speech, in which he sentimentalizes about, his desire to; give something different,, still bverdone, but it. is spectacle arid it is different: arid flash finish, especially, phosphorescent chorus dprie in dark, gets nice hand.^ Easy ; tops of .shpw, however, is Little Jack! Heller, who offers nothirig but iriiself and his vocal chbrds. to wi two encbres and fol- Ibw three bows wth a smooth speech, /Routine this tiihe-puts empihasis Pn the sentimental ditties.; ' Mells, Kirk and Howard wind up the slate with series of sock comedy dialect; pieces, each .cut off insttint audience really gets hep. Pic ■ 'Hit Parade' (Rep) and bfz weak. , C'r' iff. Embassy NeWsreel, N., Y. Okay eritertairirifierit for drop-in clientele, but rearrangement .of clips would point up miaterial into, punchy, program; Present . haphazard se- quence ..scrambles news. Number- of unusual and striking clips,in the bill. Several laughs, too.. Sure; giggle is mayhem wrestling match in which principals fail only to hatchet each other. So good it must.have been framed by Universal. Another chuckle in Fox clip of Lady-Somebody-or-Other. launching British aircraft Carrier arid failing to crack the champagne bottle in three strikes. Metro contributes clip of notables sailing from; New York for Coronation. Includes inane interview with forriier Ambassador Gerard that's new low in scripting. Ariothev Metro clip about the lowdov/n bri Murray Korman models is loiaded with hoke but rates a. laugh. Also a snicker (if via routine forhiula) in Metro's bit- bri Jegal beer in Kah- sa.s. an bld-maidish dame getting off tut-tut stuff aboiit eVils bf drink. Sbcko cli^s include Par's baseball season; opening. Par bit about U. ;S> army aviation (with pome haywire offscveeri; editorializing), nice Fox clip ori hbi'scback jumping • in. Aus- traliiij amuSinT 'Fox clip of Joe Kirk- wbod illustrating new trick golf shot, effectively • photographed Pathie clip of the Grolderi Gate bridge, stirririg actiPn in Universal bit on strike vio- lence in Philly, ainbther: okay Uni-: versal bit on strike viblence in Philly, another okay Universal .clip bf champiori.ship hbckey match be- tween Rangers and Detroit. ' Several clips have been either; clumsily edited or badly photo- graphed, or both. Par's wild animal cargp piece is pointless, Pfithe's treat- ment of Federal spending and taxa- tioh bprely touches the subject, Par's clip of recent Cunninghani-Rbmgrii mile run is sketchy and drab, while Fox bit on. U.. S- shipping seems meaningless. Clbm McCarthy's mar; chine-gun spiel anent Derby iavbrr ites":is ill-suited to pccasiph—spund.s as if he thought race was being run at the time. Fox clip on wonieri's clothing styles for dancing shows inspiration... Total ;of 44 clips in all. Also twb special shorts, Universal's. 'Goin.£; Places,' travelog of Brice" can- yon, in Utah, and bit about , a bird sanctuary, with offscreen, explanation by Lowell Thbmas, and RKO educa- tional, 'Deadly Females,' fasclnatirtfr and repulsive rhicroscbpic shots of insect savagery. Hobc. HOLLYWOOD REVELS (FAY* , PHILLY) Philadelphi , April 23. , Initial touring unit of 'Hollywbbd Revels oi: 193V' preemed at Fay's here. Produced by Joe Moss, crew billed as coming direct from Holly-- Wood restaurant. Some <rf it has, a lot of it hasn't, come direct from the Broadway nite spot. UsqW cabaret tare naturally had to be consider- ably primed with additioniil material to make it suitable stuff lor -Vaude stage. 'Boots' McKenna _,did board- ing- Show all gir,ly-girly> v^iry light ;oh good socko humor. Entire produc- tion> in fact, needs plenty work on it yet. All gives impression of being slipshod and not; thoU|}htfully rou- tined in spots. For inatarice, seertis no excuse for having two gals, who do almost precisely sahie type of seriii-stri act, follow each other. Production , also a little too long when caught, timing about 72 min- utes, but understood that this;' has since been tvinimed to even hour. Only ohe. set used. This consists of gold backdrops, split in center" for pair of . wide stairs coming down from upstage. On either side of stairs are few tables arid chairs to emulate cab.airct atmosphere. In sho-w's favor is careful chbice of gals. Plenty Pf them, and all pretty swell, particularly Iris Adrian and Jeanne Landis. Latter does practir cally nothing but pose, biit that's plenty. Costuming of gals in many numbers not piarticularly hot. At- tempt seems to be to toss flesh at aud, but not yet encroach on hurley. Result is costuriie that sometimes look just plain queer. Bulk of comedy assignment given to Emcee Jack Waldron. He's . an old, experienced hand at it, and knows the biz of being funny. But he has nothing to work with. Gags are knock-kneed, with the weight of ages. DPcs a cpupla skits, too, best of which is Christopher ColUmbU.s. Aided in. these by Jerry Franks arid Iri.s Adrian. Adrian gal hot looker and shows good, comedy sense. iFrariks';good, tbOi' All huriior pretty v/ciak thrbu.tjhPUt.. production,, ; al- though staler : the gag, more Fay's aud seem.s; to enjoy jt,', Best act; is.Bobby Kenshaw, -who deservingly gets, greatest apprecia- ti . He's iaty iuriny looking guy Iri the first place, and has uriusuai abilr ily at making queer noises and ad- 1 ibbing;. at hbu.se. Fair numbei: is Three Eltbns, two guys arid a. blbnde, vvhp start out as a ballrPpm team and,end UD-roUghhbuse. Finish with bid stunt, but one that.clicked strong here. Gal goes backstage, and .sec- ond later; guy comes out .swinging: dummy fenl'rca pf her. Aud unable to tell until, he. plops her that it is a dummy. Geraldine Kruger i.s a .sort of blues shputcr. Has/no voice and practi- cally nb persbrinlity; Wieakest sinf^lc, link in shpw. Itma-Brendei is fair to middliri' looker and-not a. bad tanber. Best of gal. exhi its is'Great Zleg- feld' number, Fcrnme.s' are brought on in costumes, of each Ziggy suc- cess, while brch nlavs hits from, the.se .shows, Preci.sLon t.np numbeir with fencing foils from "Three Mii.sketeers* cxceDlipnally hire. In anplher pro- duction piece .t'fil.s are broucht on as circus acts by arker Jack Wiilflron. Thisjs clever touch. Ji.nd gives Wal- dron opportunity fpr some good comedy. Gals in air numbers need iVco? Acis LENNIE tra (16) With Paul Barry Hotel. New Yorker, Y, Lennie Hayton is a musician's mu- sician. And that V of course ■ rates anipng the tops. Lorig an outstander among the imaginative. ultra-mpdern arrangers,, and long a princip.al ar- ranger for Paul Whiteman, it wais inevitable that; Hayton, in time would go into the dance: band field as an attraction. He did this the roundabout way, i.e. yiat radio, as a band commercial,/therice iritb" the; Hollywbod restaurant ori Broadway, arid how irito the Hotel New Yorker. .Playihg; sweet-hot darisapatioh, it's: compelling fbr the hoof, as evi- denced by the sporitaneity of the urge to terp as soon as h6 strikes Up a dance set. The Hayton arran.'icr ments, for the ear and the air, iEU'e of course ever to the fbre, yet not ofer- scored. as to hinder the forthright rhythhfis. Hay ton's team of 16 men includes three: stringsi a supplemenii tary piano besides the one he: tackles off 'n' oh,, five brass, fbur reeds, etc* The. Terrace Room bf the. New Yorker is quite a big barn and that much manpower's necessary to per- colate. Paul Barry, the featured .vbcalist, is an okay baritone who micht im,« prbve his screen-test possibilities, however, by-getting that, heft down a bit, ; Hayton's a hew Dccca a-e* cording artist. Abel. TANlA and KIESOFF Dancliif 10 MIns. Hollywood Best, This is one of the most linii.sunl types of dance acts to be dcvoloprd lit recent years. Tariia and Klr.sofl add to aidaglQ technique a unique, grotesque quality.'and perform with spectacular effectiveness, using a snakei in one number and knife* throwing in the other. An ideal floor-show combinatiort. that also should be the ticket fbr stages. . Iri their so-called dance of the fori bidden necklace, Kir.soff wraps a llvt snake around the girl's neck as paii of the routine. It curls itself around Tania as the team executes th« dahce. Probably muzzled since lha reptile is handled roughly on a couple occaslbris. The other Tanin- Kirsbff routine is bf the Cossack' Variety, with Kirsoff at one point throwing sharp knives close to hit partner's body. Char. SIX DEBONAIRS Danclnr 8 Miins. Hollywood' Best, N. The Six Debonairs, hailing from San Francisco, comprise one of the' smartest acts of its kind to be seen. The six men, in tails arid making a firieappearahce, are tiap dancers with a lot.of rhythm and fine timing, plus unquestlohable technique and style. Opening with a parody on .'Funi- cule, Fuhicula,' Italian, folk .song, they go into their hboflrig routines. Their closing dance embodies the idea of a teacher and his tapping; pUpils, plus a sit-dowh by latter af- ter they get tired trying to follow the mnisten It's very hovct "cl diverting.. Char. DEANE and CAMfO Dancinf 8 MIns. Hollywood Rest, N. Y. A fair team of ballroom dahcei'.s, doing three numbers in the new Hollywood Restaurant show* While far from sensational; now,, they may develop into a name cbmbiriation, Deane and Campo were recently i London. Their first numbet her i a dance modern, okay. A fast, truc':- ing-type specialty follows, while tlie other is a rhumba, also fair enough. CJuir. AGNE.S ; ' tOMWY NIP, JR. Dancing 4 Minn. Hollywood Rest, N, Y; Agnes and Tommy Nip, Jr., yoimg brpther-siSter teani, whb.se father. Tommy Nip, waS a vaude standard, are. fast.tap dancers. They ai'c.ddjiig but one routi. e here, but no doubt can fill put an act; as dcmaiided by Pther flpors Pr .stage dales; . The Nips .inakc; a gcbdv- clean-rut lappeararice and in their .d.-niciJigf 'display an effective style. Char. LEN jVIANNING and MITZI Boff act Hollywood' Rest, . „ A . novel turn that should prbVe okay for weUas.theatr.es.. . - Len Marining aiid his,dog open in a drunk sequence in' which the pooch also plays slcwy,. gctllnij laughs. Gonyentioiial stunts, mo.'-lly. of the balancing order for the dog, take them to the flrii.sh. :hn considerable pepping on prcci'-.i Looseness hei'c delracts froh show. 'Revels* now is iin avcrr.;:o unit entertainment.that..shbiildMI;Kc lair biz in. riot top sophi.itlc-aled f,r tic- manding houso.?. Huw ver, -f .liov.- ing. extensive. advci-ti.<.'.i-ii.: />lul b.vi.u up given it in town hen; \<:!, t r ' ' disappointing. .Hii" U'C }•■•:''''.'<, though, to be bettor ths: •"'i'i-"->ry when perked up yoinc. rb.