Variety (Nov 1937)

W'cdnesday, November 17, 1937 VARIETY HOUSE REVIEWS VARIETY 21 PALACE, CHICAGO Chicago, Nov. 14. House has been , going steadily from bad to worse as iar as its stage shows and vaude are concerned. For- merly occupying a prime spot with the Chicago public, it has been, drop- ping steadily during the past few months. It's now unusual to find a show here that gets good, sdlid audi- ence comment, and extremely rare to see a show do business. . Acts are played here over and over again, without regard to the audience at all. Acts are also bfought In, on their eastern rep. without regard to whether they're known here. . Qhick Webb, ibt in^ st'ancie,. is a good, solid swing band. But it hasii't anywhere near the fol- lowing in Chicago that it has in '.the east. Plays plenty , of hot music, with «xcellent drum-banging and cornet- puffing. Webb, is really, a swing ma-, gician with those sticks, Ella Fitz- gerald comes through with a nifty session of colored warbling. But they don't go beyond that. Had good publicity build-up here, but it hasn't the repiutation in this-city to make the box-office churn. George .Beatty is .the single in next-toi-closing. He should get to- gether with Vic Oliyjer and straight- en out this fadio commercial an- nbuncement burlesque routine. This house, .'interchanging these two acts almost continuously,, seems always to have a single who ijLoes a commercial radio burlesque.. For .-tbei finish Beatty does what he can with his drunk sailor routine, which has gbt-. ten pretty ragged these days. . In the; beginning hfe tries so'nie straight gagging, but get^ more laughs from this audience by his apologies, for the lack of laughs than from the jokes ' themselves. In the deuce are Geraldine, and Joe. They make a fine appearance; but they need a new act. Joe's head- spin is still good for a quick gasp, thdugh it hasn't the powerful sock that it had when he was a 10-year- old. Girl has a' nice little toe num- ber. Best of the acts is the Woolford's Pets in the obener. Excellent novelty dog turn, with the dachshunds get- tin)* plenty of laughs. Picture is *Merry-Go-Round of 1938* (U). Business wasn't so hot at the third show on Friday. Gold. MET, BOSTON Boston, Nov. 15. . Borrah Rfinevitch's harmonica band, sans their maestro, Jane Fro- man and Stoopnagle and Budd are the names in the niost entertaining pro- duction show offered' by the. Met in many weeks. Eye-catching line numbers and a swell surrounding cast make it a winning combo. Thejre are few acts that work with the smooth precision and timing of the Minevitch harmonica band, with MineVitch on the Coast, Johnny Puleo, the pint-sized' bad boy, is starred. Their, .'Liniehouse' number is still unmatched by any act of its kind. ^ Featured in the opening produc tion number are Anita Jakobi, tal ented aero dancer, and Bob Ripa in his dazzling juggling routine. Stoop- nagle and Budd follow with, an as- sortment of silly stuff typical of their humor, and they register well with the kids and their own radio fans.' Three Men of Melody and the Four Step Brothers are spotted in the Down South' .production number, which has the line gals dressed in crinoline outfits. Effective brenkert . .effect;. with ' a'. steamboat moving ' across water,, sets, th^ theme on a scrim;' When this =Avashes out, a southern mansipn set is revealed on staee.- • ■ Mi.ss Froman gets a good reception for her sinetine of 'So Rare.'. .*Me. Myself and I,' 'That Old Feeling' and Cabin of Drea|Tfis.' Closin^r line num- ber, 'Dude Ranch Corral,' is a co.s t\ime treat, with the gals dressed in cowgirl rigs, • Lighting and scenery rate special mention in this show. On the screen, 'Ali Baba' (20th \ ■ Fox. ROXy, SALT LAKE Salt Lake City, Nov. 14. Patrons of this two-bits vaudefilm house like Billy Barty, of 'Our Gang' comedies reputation, who, assisted by his two older sisters and a mixture of varied flesh talent, comprise the current bill. Youngster, whose height jlist about tops a yardstick, possesses a knack of winning an audience. He sings, dances, does a'hovel takeoff of an old Jack Powell drum routine anc works hard throughout. . Curtain raiser features Joe Lewis' band, well known in the intermoun- tain country. Rendition of 'Jangled Nefves' is one blistering swing Lewis also handles the m.c. duties and seems at home on the stage. He ha.s a couple of turns before the mike and is effective in story-telling. 'Fat' Laymon. 300-pound ex-fllm comic, as deucer. fails with his gags. Audrey Dennison, on next, has a slick turn of control gymnastics. Has a refresh- ing quality, is a looker with a lithe body, and receives several calls. Recruited from the University of Utah, the 'Four Rhythm Boys' uncork plenty of onei-gctic sinking, but their chord I'll", esnecially on hot tunes, doo.sn't do ri.t;ht by the off-beat licks and rhythm patter. 'Harbor Lights' is punchy, but their trump card is 'Listen to the German Band.' Billy Barty's pipes are lusty while singing 'Waitin' at the Gate for Katie,' during which he demonstrates leg-twisting softshoe steps. After a Drief banter session. with the orch leader, Billy brings out his sisters, Delores, pianist, and Evelyn, vocalv^, and fiddler. Trio makes a fine nov- elty act, with the girls also showing professional stage mannfers. Billy's versatility as a drummer is amazing. Delores is a precision swingology student and Evelyn's violin playing surpasses her ability as a songstress. Laymon spiels Billy's, accomplish- ments in the films and then the youngster imitates Henry Armetta and Joe- Penner, but it remains for his mimic of Mae West's 'Frankie and Johnnie' number to really sell the act. Whamming honve a pleasing , finale number, the . house band en.gages in a Solo aoplause-milker with individual musicians spotted during 'Mamma Don't Allow No Music' Entire bill lasts nearly three and a half hours. Pix are 'There Goes'My Gal' (RKO) and '23>/4 Hours' Leave' (GN). Bei sides, ■ there's goulash .of shorts and animated subiects. Cash give-tways are added Fridays. Gtws. Embassy Newsreel, N, Y. War and politics are conspicuous by their absence' from the newsrcel screen this week. Clips lean more toward humor than the grim scenes of. remote strife. Nearest approach to war coverage is' Fox's interview with Gen. Franco, in which the lead- er ,of the Insurgents outlines, in Spanish, plans'for-a drive which will end the Civil War'. Football, aviation and fashions consume most 6f the 55-min. runoff. " Snapshots show a Moscow Yoiith Parade (MGM), and a Fascist gath- ering in Rome, depicting Mussolini decorating soldiers Who took part In the Ethiopian campaign (Pathe). Paramount goes to England for the death of Ramsay MacDpnald, insert- ing a -closeup taken in a previous interview, in which Mr. MacDonald closed a speech with the appropriate words, 'And now my friends, the time has come to say goodbye.'Very impressive. Pathe comes back to the U. S. with scenes of the ex-Premier's visit to President Roosevelt in 1933, followed by Fox's clip of a James Roosevelt speech on social and eco- nomic problems at Loyola U., Chi cago. Clip was inserted to show similarity between son James' and the' Px'esident's mannerisms and speech, which are nearly identical. Pathe closes snapshots with four clips on engineers laying'an asphalt bed to be placed at bottom of Mis- sissippi River • to check erosion; counting of ballots from recent elec- tion; North Dakota's 100,000 ton crop of sugar beets; and enraged, western ranchers organizing a vigilante com- mittee to combat activities of mod- ern motorized horse 'n' ca thieves. Metro comes up with a fashion parade of expensive furs, giving prices and leaving women auditors gasping. Pathe has one 6n Fashions in "Vogue. Universal spreads propa- ganda for Florida vacations with latest in bathing suits to be worn in Miami this winter, Clem McCarthy describes the run nihg of the Australian Derby in New South Wales for Pathe. Unusually clear photography, and smooth lens following makes this a standout'. Universal brings in the prize among race spiels with description of race at Newmarket, ..England. Narrator, with a cockney accent, spiels in verse, while lens is following the gee-gees, about'the horse he bet oh. Sends the house into an uproar by climaxing by calling his choice a son-of-a— •-. But cutting it short. In aviation, Fox shows the taxpay ers whei-e their money is going, with shots of the army's new four-motored flying fortresses. Scenes showing the inner workings of these mammoths are interes,ting. Pathe hais cJoseups of wreckage of two army planes which collided over Boeing Field, Seattle, killing five officers. . Uni versal has. particularly interesting clip tracing the evolution of trans- continental flying from the first pas- senger plane to the latest 15-hour sleeper. U also has shots of England building her air force into one of the most formidable defense units in Europe. Follows through from fac- tory to formation flying of fleets of new planes. Only ship news shots are by Para mount, which covers the arrival and subsequent barring by Immigration authorities of Magda d'e Fontanges. On football Fox has the Nebraska Kansas conference game. Thrilling shots show Neb. staving off. defeat bv tieing the score in the last few minutes of play. Navy - Columbia game played at Annapolis also well covered by Universal. Shots of New York's own Sid Luckman heaving passes all over the lot were just what the customers wanted. Ford- ham-Purdue, also scheduled, not shown at show caught. Comical Oddities, a Clancy shot on the screen for seven min;;., pro vided plenty of laughs. Camera .is taken on a tour of old New En<jlanc cemeteries, where in the 1700's the cu.stom was to ir»Tibe gravestones with humorous eulogies and epitaphs PALACE, CLEVE. Cleveland, Nov. 13. With Dick Powell yanking 'em into the current auto show at the civic auditorium, Nat Holt's booking of James Melton for the RKO Palace to counteract the competish turned out to be a master stroke. Radio and concert singer is pushing up the gross by being ballyhooed as the 'star who cracked attendance rec- ords of last year's motor exhibit here,' which is shrewd publicity. Fact that this is his first vaude date in Cleveland, which is his wife's home town, gives the bill more news value. Tenor has the crowd in his hand from , the start, for his voice is in finest .fettle.' Excellent judgment shown in his repertoire—six pop song hits of the day—and nothing high-brow about his delivery. Be- ginning with 'September in the Rain,' then jumping to a Southern dialect ditty and 'winding up with 'Whis- pers In the Dark.' he sings them with ringing fervor and clarity. Cheerful nersondlity clicks as emohatically as his,vocal form. Mike .technique is faultless. . Trifle too rhuch music in the rest of the .bill, but there are two good relievinT spots. Three Swifts, in the third turn, sell mighty fancy Indian club jugcling . with novel twists. Coiriedy stuff Is c^tsual, worked in deftly. Deucer _ is Nora Williams, sin'^er whose hotcha numbers and style are definitely dated. Does bet- ter in sweeter 'I Need You,' but had her pianist yanked after opener. Too many pianoi acts, was the manager's coTnr>laint. ■. Frank Libuse holds No. 5 spdt okay with slapstick stuff on the ivory keys, horsing a tall prima donna and valet boisterously enough to earn laughs. While the gags at half-way mark-get a bit silly, act'is acceptable takeoff 'on Al Trahan's>- Good production values are given the show by 12. 'Dancing Sophisti-. cates,' mixed troupe of neat tappers, who rin.g up the curtain with col- legiate steps. ■ Also come out in. the fourth spot in a flashy ballroom adagio and in closing the.v execute some tricky footwork in white tux- edos. 'Alcatraz Island* (WB), the film,' but vaude this time is the strong-sister. Pwllen. FOX, DETROIT Detroit, Nov. 14. With Jan Peerce and. Eddie Garr dividing top honors on the boards, and 'Ail Baba' (20th) on the screen, current show here adds ud to sock- aroo. It's 50 minutes of-zippy vaude. with plenty of eye and ear-appeal. Real support is accorded. Peerce and Garr by Lamberti, zany xylophonist who's scored. here frequently; the Three Wiles, .hoofers; the Two Eileens, blonde terpers, and 16 Gae Foster gals, "who turn in three spifly numbers. Peerce's clear tenor pipes are matched only by his easiness-in front of mike. He's intro'ed by a stunning, ballet routine by. house line, and gets over niftily with' 'Dancing in. the Dark,' 'Macushla,' and coupla other pop ballads. Besides his usiial mim- dcs of Chevalier. Harry Richman, etc., Garr takes off Peercfe with remark- able accuracy. With a smart round of patter, comedian also. turns In a nifty parody on ,'You , Can't Have Everything.' Vying with Garr for laughs is Lamberti, whose xylophone Stuff proves' riotous every time he appears here—which has been often in last few years. Antics - haven't been, altered much since last time caught, but they still click with payees. Three Wiles' eccentric hoofing re- veals some novel' routines that get over nicelyi Two Eileens. blondes with plenty of- s. a,, highlight two 'picture' ballet by the Gae, Foster line. Latter gals likewise turn in a swell kiltie gun drill. With Frankie Con- nor's back in the pit warbling 'That Old Feeling,' Sam Jack Kaufman's overture Is a round of pop tunes. Nice crowd on hand at late show Friday evening (12). Pete. Unit Reviews WAIKIKI NIGHTS (STATE-LAKE, CHI) Chicago, Nov. 14. This is one of the better units to hit town during the current season. Three Byrons are in the deuce spot, following an opener which has the line girls getting off a ship, dressed in red jacketed traveling suits and carrying bags, to be led in a routine by the singing of Ginger Dulo. Aci'obatic knockabout turn is bad, pace being too slow, and tricks inferior. Harry Savoy keeps in line by introducing his appearances with Waikikl tie-ins from orevious scenes. Hie does two. sock showings, and is in for the finale. Has discarded the dramatic bit finish. While the Littlejohns have nothing to do with ■ Waikiki, they are a cork- ing novelty act, and well worth a look. Routine consists of juggling and dancing while rolling around on large silver 'and crystal globes. Both ari dressed swell (in silver) and use two jeweled backdrops while work- ing. Adds plenty to this show. Another welcome novelty turn is George Cortello and his Hollywood Canine Stars in closing act, showing a Hawaiian hotel veranda. Cortello has his dogs costumed to imperson- ate Mae West, Stepin Fetchit,. and Joe E. Brown. They're better than clever in walk-acrqss stujRt, and Cor- tello is a master at knowing when to holler in order, to get the most ap- plause; Also has a limp dog that's good. Scenic stuff and production num- bers give the unit its large appear- ance.- Excluding the opening and finale, the routine has a volcano- moonlight-seashore set where girls do a Hawaiian dance led by Princess Moana, who also takes the finale line number. There's also the Human Sac- rifice to Moiint Pelee number, which is big stuff. Ritualistic dance has the girls parade on slowly in pairs, while Princess Luano hoofs it up to the top of a smoking volcano- crater to disrobe and jump in, . Excellent set and impressive as done. Next to closing has Ginger Dulo doing a specialty. She's okay in leading the line numbers, but peo<- pie aren't going to like her if she keeps jabbing Martha Raye the way she's doing. Girl's appearahce is only fair. Hawaiian "troubadours are on for all production numbers and do all right. Houst held stan- dee line from opening show through- out the day. Billed with unit was 'Bad Guy' (MG). Loop. SHOW PARADE (CAPITOL, ATLANTA) Atlanta, Nov. 14. Cap's cash customers crave dancing in small doses. Therefore this unit's 30 minutes (out of 40 total) of terp- ing is too much. Not that the danc- ing wasn't good—jUst overdone. Ex- cello Brothers, Harry and Leo, grab top honors with their high perch act, wiHi which they mix comed.y. Harry acts as understander, while Leo .shins up the pole and does angle balanc- ing. Show's opened- by Franklin Sisters. Olga and Irene, and Woodrow Mosher, with a swift challence rou- tine to 'Sweet Sue.' Ray Dawley. emcee, makes his appearance and intros Benny Scott, who apes Eddie Cantor's mannerisms in a son.C, 'She Don't Want To,' and then does a comedv dance to 'Goofus.' Person- able Betty and Helen Southern, blonde sister's, first nresent some pic- ture work with li»*hted fag.s in a .steel blue light to 'Two Cigarettes in the Dark.' then go into a smart hir?h kick routine to 'Easy to Love.' Girls KEITH'S, INDPLS. Indianapolis, Nov. 12. Although heavily featured in all advertising, Barney Rapp and his New Englanders actually take a back seat in favor of the several unbilled specialty turns that are spotted in front of the band. Outside of usual opening number and the familiar finale, Rapp and the band only fill two spots of their own in. the show, a medley, which includes a trumpet number and a glee club bit, early on the bill, and then a straight band number down ^n the middle of the show. - "~ ' The orchestra, consisting of five brasses and four saxes plus three rhythm men, sounds well enough in its routine playinf», but for stage work it lacks individual novelties and entertainment tricks within its own ranks. Rapp has lost several of his older men who formerly took care of this type of thing. Rapo himself waves the baton in a standard manner and introduces the acts and band offerings without any particular display of personality or shov/manship. He has a noticciblv band nervous habit of oacini* bac'c and forth while specialty artists ar« working. Amon" the added arts for "'hich Rann n'^d his bind nlny is the Three Swing Kings, harmony singing trio are symmetric, rhythmic and lookers. Howard Robinson, a natiVc Atlan- tan despite his billing as an Xingli.sh- man, provides the first relief fiom dancing with his small ma.qic and card manipulation. Assisted by Ann Scott, he performs all of his leger- demain with his hands encased" in ?loves, which, at least, is different. Woodie Mosher, also an Atlantan and just a few short months out of amateur ranks, comes back for a speedy rope skipping dance to 'Bye Bye Blues' and encores with a cred- itable bit of tapping on the minia- ture stairs to 'Marie.' Franklin fcmmss return for a straight tap routine to 'Sheik of Araby' and moke way for Excellbs. Mosher, panting from his other exertions, makes a third appearance, offering a complete toe tap routine to 'Don't Give Up the Ship.'- • Ray Dawley then offers comedy .?ags, mostly off color,, and is joined for some hokum by the'Southern sisters. He goes off and the cirls present an acrobatic dance to 'Tor- mented' and 'Eyes of Texas,' finish- ing with jumps. b«<ckflips and double cartwheels to 'Boola Boola.' Dawley rejoins them and after some crossfire with a. stooge In the audi- ence he and ' the Southerns go through more aero stuff to 'Swing Hifh. Swing Low,' with, girls nrac- tically. disrobing the man during turn. Usual cut-and-drled finale found Dawley summoning on acts one at a time for bows. Show is owned and produced by Charles Se'dner and there are 17 in cpmnany. Man- n.ger has reroutlned whole show, moving ExcellQs .into closing soot ''nd eliminating some of dancing and Dawley's gags, which rut time down to 34 min.s. ,Toe RoUey, blackface billed out front,' is m'ssint. Mnnnijcr spid. he walked out because he was 3,<:ked to ellm'nnte rl^nije .song from, his routine. Pic is 'The M.m Vfho Cried Wolf (U). Biz: capacitv. . . Li(ch. doing two comedy numbers that fail to get laughs, and one straight num- ber which unintentionally succeeds in that department. Jane Ruljy, en- ergetic, but lacking in • looks and Trace, contributes two tan dance.s, the last number being almost in- visible because it is done in a dark blue spotlight, for some strange roa- s6n. DeRosa and'Cyrlta, ballroom team, on early to present a Spanish ;dance, come back later for a. whirl- in** routine that would make a good fln'.<;hinT number for the show. Jackie Rogan works in two. plares, first doing a modernistic toe number havin?* several crude and unn'?res- sary bumps in it, following with a better acrobatic control specialty. Rubv Wri'»ht. femme singer wljth the bpnd. and Eddie Ho\yley, male vocal- ist, also appear in separate snots. Both depend strictly on the micro- nhone and have no .salesmanship bo ttrp an atidience. The boy, who sits onstage throu»»hbut to fake at an "^xtra Piano, sin^s as though he >t^s ^csn listening too intently to Bing Cr^'sbv's records. Stage show ran 49 minutes Frid^v (12) at first evening .show, and biz was only fair in .soite of fact that ♦he'xtre had made house-to-houss '*"strib»i*'on of 'two for one*. tirV'^ts. Pic is 'Wallaby Jim of Islands' fGN> CAN YOU TAKE IT? (ORPHEUM, MPLS.) ^ Minneapolis, Nov. 13. This Nick Bella unit show shapes up as a first-rate revue of unpre- tentious proportions. While far froni being a 'Folies Bergeres,' It should pass muster anywhere, especially when augmented by a name Ijke Eddie Pcabody, .as here. It has a dandy line of 18 girls, considerable production flash, some swell costum- ing and two better-than-average acts in Dr. Hoffman and Don Zelaya. Like most of these minor units, it could use a little more novelty and talent advantageously, especially in these larger stands. Also, it is deficient in comedy. While ^t, moves fairly fast lor the most part, 6 m.c, who could ginger Up the proceedings and im- part a tone of greater importbince to them, would help Immeasurably. The well-drilled chorus does a modified strip-tease to get the show off to a swift start. Gertrude Briefer, acrobatic and contortionist dancer, demonstrates unusual muscle control and winds up snapplly with a series of cartwheels from a standing start. The Bredwins, a trio of male acro- bats, mix some mild comedy with their gymnastic feats. For a strong finish the act's limber comic jumps the rope while lying down. A production, number with the girls wearing striking gowns is built around a' bizarre adagio dance by a bronze-skinned, fantastically arrayed couple, Hahn and De Ncgrc. Mile. Lorraine sings pop numbers throur'.h a mike. Sh6 • Is foUoWed by the show's lone novelty, and its best en» tertainment bet; Dr. Hoffman. As- sisted by four of the girls, the suave 'doctor' changes water from white to pink and back again in a pitcher and ' glass, and then pours out every sort of°'alcohollc and non-alcoholic drink requested by auditors from one and the same cocktail shaker and passes the beverages out to the audience. Eddie Pcabody gets a hand on his entrance, and ms banjo and violin strumming registers solidly, as usual. He repeats such sure-fire number.s an 'Poet and Peasant' and 'Listen to the Moclcing Bird.' with plenty of trick playing tossed in.. For a sock finish he jazzes it up with the orchestra. Another production number provides unusual effects, with Miss Briefer dpncing cxotically in front of seven mirror.s. and the line Rirls swinging larr'e fans In fancy formations. First real comedy comes rext to closinct, and is the Vulgar and near- ofTonsive brand dispensed by Don Z?'aya, the pianist, whose act re- volves around h's demonstration n'->c[ explanation of the effects of var-ous tvpes of music on th" human bodv— the same as durin* the oast 10 vr«-irs or more. The act has been seen ho-e lime and time a^ain. but gets lau^^s from a comedv-hungry audience d(*- snite its repetition and TUVfnc?. A i-humba chorus number makes a sti-onf! finish. 'Danger—Love at Work' (20th> nnd ^ number of .shorts on th'> s''r'"^n 'I'^lp to provide nion*" of r'''o>-' ■f-^r '">'ip. L^ss thf>n ,T b'^lf-ni'7"^ '— .'>t M,o i^/-t opening day matir" ^ -'.-^r- formance, Urra.