Variety (Sep 1938)

VAUDE—BURLESQUE—NITE CLUBS Wedneaday, September 28, 1938 50 VARIETY NEW ETHEL MERMAN <1) Songs 14 Mins. Strand, New York In July, 1930, Ethel Merman was first (and last) reviewed as a new act, when Al Siegel Was at the ivories with her at Keith's 86th St., and Siegel was also known, in the biz. as mentoring her with his, spe- cial arrangements and a unique style of vocalizing. Miss Merman. was soon to become his most distin- guished alumna, for she has since traveled far, wide and handsome in topflight Broadway musical com- edy, Hollywood fllmusicals and on the radio. Back bh Broadway, Miss Merman, in the varieties, is now an expensive , name entry. She brings with her an air and an aura of polish, and the ultimate in big league vocalizing. She made her Friday preem at the, Broadway Strand something of a gala occasion, with an entire loge section roped off for her friends, who had feted her earlier in the. evening at the Stork Club. In a nifty hoop-skirt creation that looks like a fugitive from a Champs Bysees couturier. Miss Merman doesn't let the class clothes stop her from singing about 'Eadie' who spelled class with a capital K. She. opens with 'Pocketful of Dreams/ does 'So Help Me* in a manner that. makes it sound almost new, reprises 'Heat Wave' and other Berliniana out of 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' —wherein she's featured—and whams 'em with-a medley, of her musical 'comedy hits, and songs she's introduced. The latter pot- pourri unreels like a double-A rat-, ing in ASCAP, and impresses anew how important is the association of hit hingers with hit songs. What vautffilm is around is a cinch for Miss Merman. As a stage and screen personality, she must, of course, find her most important out- lets in wider media, such as Holly- wood {depending on the fllmusical cycle, of course), the air, and musi- cal comedy. The latter seems in for a bit of a renaissance, especially if cinemusicals are to take a temporary time-out. -But apart from that, she's a clicko performer in the flesh, as ever before. Abel. JAN GABBER ORCHESTRA (19) With Patricia Gorman, Rudy Rudi- . sill, Fritz fiellbron, Lee Benaet Presentation Strand, New Tork Jan Garber has been away from Broadway about 12 years. From his 1924 start as "the <Sarber-Bavis or- chestra, collegiate, combo, he's weath- ered the cycle of sweet and swing, and still continues in the limelight by not changing much with the present trend towards jive, alliga- tors and out-of-Ibis-world solid-, senders, liike Ijombardo—an inevi- table comparison—Garber proved that there's a market for salon syn- copation, Benny Goodman, Tommy * Dorsey and Chick Webb to the con- trary. Because of Garber's long absence ■ from New York, and the fact he has gone through a significant dance-, band cycle, he's reviewed- anew. For; the Strand he has an augmented comboh of 10, heavy on the brass. (89 and four Teeds, but, despite the: brass domination, a surprisingly smooth and almost long-underwear combination. Garber is a dapper chap at the helm, batoning and Violin-soloing alternatingly, and making no cap- itulation on the altar of Broadway and 47th .street standards. That was a smart idea. Since his booking is predicated on a radio rep for smooth . dansapation, he'd be foolhardy to at- ; tempt any phoney heating-up, and while some of the swing-cats mayi scoff at Garber's 'Three o'Clock in the Morning' violining at so late in his routine,- it's better to be consist- ent. There are opportunities for crit- "ical captiousness, however. For ex- ample, that off-the-cob bit with the stage-money, in the course of '111 C".t By, So Long As I Have You,' whsreupon he flashes the prop cur- rency. That went out of date with Gus Sun. But in the main he paces well and performs expertly. Patricia Norman's 'Ole Man Mose' Is a hotcha note, and by contrast, the more effective, as is her swing-billy msdley. Ehe also gives out with an oldie, 'You Made Me Love You.' The other male soloists of the band con-. trib comedy bits and vocal numbers. Abel. MOKE and POKE Bongs, Dancing 12 Mins. Apollo, N. Y. Two colored kids from Baltimore are getting their second try at this house Pair easily work their way into favor with the audience via the enthusiasm with .which they mix ex- cellent tap routines, eccentric danc- ing, songs, chatter and rough and tumble acrobatics. It's not so much what they do, but ; the way afs done that appeals./Taps 1 are clearcut and made to look simple, and' tune deliveries are good for laughs, as arc their eccentric antics.; Audience didn't want 'em to leave. ; ACTS JOHNNY DEVANT Magician 10 Mins. Nixon Cafe, Pittsburgh Slick, suave trickster with a nice bag of now-you-see-its and a smooth line of patter. It's Devant's gab more than his legerdemain that puts him over and that's not an easy thing to do with an alcoholically-loaded ringside. He gets most of his laughs from a spectator picked at random from the audience. Ifs slightly dan- gerous because latter is the butt of Bevanfs gagging with a set of steel rings. If he picks the right fellow, however, clicking is a pushover for him. x Style suits him to cafe floor, where he's a natural, but Devant needs more than the present setup for stage work. Cohen. •RAMON and RENITA Dancers Hotel St Regis Roof, N. Y. Ramon and Renita have been away from New York for over a year, playing last winter in Nassau, Ha- vana, Florida, thence to Mexico City; and the Coast. Their return to -the Hotel St. Regis Roof "thus is backed by considerable nuance and novelty/ which is further highlighted by ai somewhat 'new' Renita in that she's: more polished and also physically changed. Instead 61 a blonde , she's a natural chestnut-brown. Their stuff also is lighter, mixing up the McCoy terps with novelty and deftness. For instance, the finale 'impressions' of Veloz arid Yolanda and the DeMaroos are broad satires which, in some spots, are a shade too broad in their travesty. They feature the zamba, do a waltz and a. fox seriously, then essay a burlesque on an amateur dancing couple, in a Spanish contest, trying to do a tango. Ramon, of course, is stand-: ard, and long identified with. Bosita, 1 until partnering with Renita as hi6 new vis-a-vis. Strictly a class team,; but can perform anywhere. .Abel. EDITH BROWNE Mimic, singing Dancing Six Mins.; One RKO 58th St., New York A rather, rangy girl with an at- tractive phiz, Edith Browne's imper- sonations, at best, are lightweight., She doesn't seem to know where; satire ends and consequently stretches it out too far. i Uses back-to-audience changes to' get facial impressions, which are ' pretty accurate. Takes" off on Helen Morgan, an unidentified French -per- sonality singer and ZaSu Pitts in three singing stints. Smart enough in her physical tricking-up, but that's where it stops. Fades out on impersonation of Charlotte Greenwood. Drops sequined cocktail jacket to reveal low cut, blue evening frock then .goes into walking on all fours, head between legs, high kicks and assorted under- pin acrobatics, with same net result as her less strenuous efforts at mim- icry. Would be better off with less quantity and more quality. H<arl. ; ORIENTAL TRIO ' Acrobatic 10 Mins. ; Folly, Brooklyn This Celestial combo must have been around, although not in the files under the present tag, which may be a phoney at this date. Girl does little but background and assist leg balancers. Challenge work features barrels. A. K. under- stander is announced as being 70 years old. Flashy bow-out has younger man doing a hand stand : -while spinning a long ribboned pole ' on his feet. Hurl. TED LESTER Music, Novelty 12 Mins.; One Folly, Brooklyn Ted Lester can work anywhere from a club date to a major house while offering his novelty musical trick. Good looking, well dressed in magico style of topper and cape and working with a black-covered table, he fits as prospect for No. 2 and upwards to next to closer. Cape is more than dress, hiding a raft of miniature instruments rang- ing from a fife to a mandolin. Opens by fluting on his ivory-topped cane with fife, ocarina, saxophone, har- monicas (two), violin and clarinet. Plays all well and has a nice selec- tion of tunes, from the classical 'Flight of the Bumble Bee' to hot stuff. Manner of discovering each adds to performance. For an encore he plays an electric guitar to band accomp. That's an off- stage prop and equally as good as rest, musically. Hurl. LARRY WILE (1) M.C., Comedian Folly, Brooklyn Middle member of late Worth, Wile and Howe, vaude trio, Is smart —too smart perhaps, in his new capacity as an mx. Overdoes the job as far as rest of the .show is con- cerned and ■wieenheimer's himself to death—not slow. Wile digs the blue gags out of the trunk for laughs, which are not too frequent. Every old saw irom the Strand building curb to the Palace beach is part of his routine, along with talking- back and anticipated re- sponse. He T s probably seen too many m.c.-gagsters and has too good a memory. His takeoff of Red Skelton's crul- ler-dunking routine is best described as another way of doing someone else's act, and is his best contribu- tion. He gives credit to the origina- tor by stating that Skelton gets a couple of grand for- the stunt. Hurl. JACK AND ALYCE (2) Acrobatic Dancing 10 Mins.—Two RKO 58th St., New York Mixed terp team impresses nicely. Get off to mild start with pirouette tapping in unison, but girl more than makes up while carrying most of the load thereafter. Both are nice look- ing and neatly dressed. Team starter is followed by boy's solo. Nothing new, though possibly a little faster than most. Works in a couple of new wrinkles to old steps, but partner puts over the act in her stint Does backhand springs com- bined with hand-walking, backwara and forward flips, without support, head spins and pirouetting coupled to turnovers. Challenge- work makes for exit. .Act is fast all the way through, especially so at close. Hurl. CHARLES FREDERICKS Songs Midnight Sun, N. Y. Baritone of the Nelson Eddy type, Charles Fredericks uses tunes sung by Eddy in past pictures and does [ 'em well. Broad-shouldered, virile \ looking, singer is personable and presents a neat appearance in tails,! which isn't missed by f emme half of his audiences. Only does two tunes at each ap- pearance here and leaves ' patrons asking for more. Leads off with 'Tramp, Tramp, Tramp' and follows with the 'Donkey Serenade' from the 'Firefly.' CAROL BRUCE Songs Midnight Sun, N. Y. New to the cafe floors, Carol Bruce displays a nifty set of pipes and a nice appearance. Her time is limited, confined to two numbers and an encore when caught, but her con- trasting pace mark her as one of the stand-out turns here. Attractively decked out, singer impresses favorably in all depart- ments. Started off with 'Says My Heart,' followed by Irving Berlin's 'Always' and encored with a 6wingy pop. EARL AND FRANCES Dancing 7 Mins. Roxy, N. Y. Colored teams (mixed) in tap rou- tines that rate fairly but is far from sockoroo. Will serve for the same purposes as No. 2 acts used to in vaudeville. A song introductory of no import figures as team gets under way in a soft-shoe, followed by a hard-brogan tap and a third number. In favor of the team is its fast performance. Char. N. Y. Cafes Prep (Continued from page 47) former John Murray Anderson aide, opens with a beaut show and Russ Morgan as the name maestro. Jerry; Blaine is back at the Park Central hotel, with Garland and Maria ierping and featuring another Brit- ish imported dance, the 'Palais Glided Still another Thursday night preem is the reopening of the Hotel St. Moritz's Restaurant de la Paix, meaning ,the folding of the roof, with the same show, including Yvonne Bouvier, Theodore & Denesha and Basil Fomeen moved art- the street- floor restaurant intact. Dick Gasparre and his orchestra reopen the Trianon Room of the Hotel Ambassador, N. Y., Jn mid- October. This is his third successive year here. The Ambassador Gardens is staying open an extra month this year, Arthur Herbert directing for dancing from cocktail hour through supper. Dwight Fiske begins his annual fall engagement at the Savoy- Plaza, N. Y., on Oct. 7. Fiske suc- ceeds Hildegarde in the Cafe Lounge. Emile Petti band stays on. Philadelphia, Sept. 27, Old Club Cadix here, scene of Helen Kane's first *boop' and Eddie Davis's first ditty, will be relighted shortly. It's been taken over by Gordon Lexton, owner of ithe Hotel Madison, who's retitled it the Hick- ory Club. o Spot shuttered shortly after gangster Mickey Duffy was mur- dered .there several years ago .and was reopened with little success a couple of years ago as the Kit Kat Club. Incorporations NEW YORK Albany. Klrby Grant, Inc., Manhattan; the- atrical business; capital stock, 100, shares, no par value. Directors: Lee; Cohen, Samuel Yudell, Gloria Stroll, 8 w. 40th street, New York. {Jay Win- ston, same address, llllnfir attorney.) M. II. Productions, Inc., Manhattan'; theatrical business;- capital stock. 200 shaves, no par value. Directors: Louie A. Bardoly, 10G-1G Euclid ayenue, Cleve- land, Ohio; Adelyn Bushnell, Hotel Al- gonquin. <Sldney K. Flelsher. filing at- torney. 630 ITlfth avenue, New York.) Trl-KnMeaul Xtlms, Inc., Manhattan; motion picture fllms, etc.; capital stock, 100 shares, no' par value. Directors: Matty Kosbere, Judith Kalin, Ester Moseson, 1450 Broadway, New York. (Schwartz & Frohllch, same address, filing attorneys.) Cabaret de la Conga, Inc., Manhattan; cafe and restaurant business; capital stock, 100 shares, no par value. Direc- tors: James N. Catlow (filing attorney), 11 W. 42nd street; Martha. D. Krayblch, 107-32 151st street; Marie R. Leahy, 10 Post avenuo, New York. Amusement, Inc., Niagara Falls; capital stock, 200 .shares, no par value. Directors: Charles J.- Grlswold, Bernlce Grlswold, 117 "Wlnndermere road; TV. Al- fred Brim, 290 High street, Lockport. Kaynrt Theatres Corp., Manhattan; theatrical business; capital stock, 200 • s.hares, no par value. Directors: Norman Lazarus {flllng attorney), Ida F. Rlccl. 19 W, 44th atreet; Joseph Klein, 125 W. 48th street, New York. Darling Theatres Corp., New York; theatrical business; -capital stock, 100 shares, no par value. Directors: Ben-, jamln E. Schrolber, 1850 62nd street, Brooklyn; Michael fl, Vogel, 34-4G 83rd street. Jackson Heights; William Swed- low, 2134 Vyse avenue, Bronx. •{Julius: Blumberg. 71 Broadway, filing attorney.); Klila Corp., New York; theatrical' business; capital stock, 200 shares, no par value. Directors: Robert Brule, 88- 40 £09 'street, Queens Village; Frank Kelly. Veragraph Film Corp., New York; mo- tion picture fllms; capital stock, 200 shares, no par value. Directors: Milton I. Stockton, Sidney Goldstein, Helen Rubin, M0 Broadway, New York. .<Jacob "W. Friedman, same address, flllng at- torney,) Moutab, Ibc, New York; theatrical business; capital stock, 200 shares, no par value. Directors:' Esther Streltzcr, Ethel KalmanofC, Anna Slporln, 28G Madison avenue, New York. (Hartmnn, Sheridan & Tekulsky, same address, fll- lng attorneys.) Canova-Hunsen, Inc., Manhattan; the- atrical agency, publicity and advertising business; capital stock, 200 shares, no par value. Directors: B. J. Santosplrlto, Edward J. Donnelly, Ida Slutakln. £80 Fifth avenue, New York. (Saul E.. Rogers, same address; flllng attorney.) Attendance Bui era, Inc., Manhattan;: theatrical equipment; capital stock, 20. shares, no par value. Directors: Ed- ward Goldstein, Anne Delehanty, 368 W. : 44th Street; Samuel Goldstein, 326 IS. 20th street, Bronx. Whipple Street Amusement Corp., 1 Kings; theatrical business; capital stock, 100 shares, no par value.' Directors, care of Isldor Block, flllng attorney, 42G Fifth avenue. New York; 1S1 Rutledge, street, Brooklyn: Rollln Cameron, 24 .Lancaster road, Island Park. Empress Pictures, Inc., New York; general theatrical and amuaejnent busi- ness; capital stock, 100 shares, no par value. Marks it Marks, G21 Fifth ave- nue. New York, filing attorneys. Blverhead Roller Skating Rink. lac. Queens; roller jkatlng rinks, etc.; capital stock, JlO.fOuO; |100 par value. Direc- tors: Howard Hoffman, 244-10 Slat street, Bellrose, L. I.; John McMoon, 41- 71 249th street. Little Neck, L. I.; Ed-1 ward Moore, 40-26 171st street, Flushing. Van I>er Scballe Contlmovie, Inc., Man- hattan; devices for a floating film me- chanism., etc.; capital stock, % 126,000; S12.60 par value. Directors: Hendrik Van Der Bchalie, Garden Apartments, Forest Hills; Graham B. Grosvenor, Old Westbury ;.John Sloan, 277 Park avenue, New York. Scbine Riviera Corp., Gloversvllle; the- atrical business; capital stock, 10 shares, no par value. Directors: Alton F. Dock- atader, Marie Benjamin, R. E. Wallace,, 40 No. Main street, Gloversvllle. (H. M. Antevil, JSctolne Circuit, Inc., Glovers-! ylUe, fliinc attorney.) Farm enterprises. Inc., New York; operate theatres, nignt clubs, hotels, etc.; capital stock, 200 shares, no par value., Directors: Wm. McKelvey, 217 Broad-' way; Alexander Spltzer, 217 Broadway,, New York; Anthony M. Spltaner, 4910 Snyder avenue, Brooklyn. Change of Name Miller Film Corp., Delaware to Miller Broadcasting System, Inc. (Lincoln Hp- worth, 67 Wall street, filing attorney.) Dissolutions Jnrvls Theatres Co., Inc., Binghamton. Chase Productions, Inc., New York. (Max Gordon, 214 W. 42nd street, filed.) ST. LOUIS SETS OUTDOOR SHOW AS BERGEN SUB St. Louis, Sept. 27. A substitute for the three-day cel- ebration planned by the St. Louis Festival Assn. and the Chamber of Commerce, and which was knocked into a cocked hat when the Music Corp, of America couldn't deliver Edgar Bergen for a p.a., is being worked out All local radio stations will have a chance to present acts cuffo at an outdoor fiiesta Oct. 11. Conference was held last week among Merle S. Jones, general man- ager of KMOX; Robert T. Convey, prez of KWK, and Thomas N. Dysart, prez of the local C of C, at which it was decided to hold the outdoor show. 'Nights' Signs Besser Comedian Joe Besser has been signed for a 'Hawaiian Nights' .unit! produced by Antone Scibella. Unit' toured theatres last year as "Waikiki Nights.' Scheduled to open at the State, Hartford, Sunday <2), initial date has been deferred because of last week's storm. Burlesque Reviews TRIBORO, N. Y. Benny Moore, Mike Sachs, Lou Petel, Wen Miller, Roxanne, Diane Johnson, Winnie Garrett, Ina Thomas, Pastine, Alice Kennedy. Triboro augmenting its wheel shows with house talent, so Roxanne, on tap when spot reopened several weeks ago, is still starred and satis- fying. Unusually strong comedy is made up of only two -comics and two straights. Tagged 'Oriental Belles,' unit opened here last week but is currently in Union City, N. J. Mike Sachs and Alice Kennedy, latter a looker and better than aver- age bUrley singer, are coupled in one. spot and top rest of show. Sachs tickles tht ivories well while taking a heckling from the pit via offkey accompaniment. He then accom- panies Miss Kennedy in a couple of old timers. Pair close in a duet parody on 'Sonny Boy.' Sachs should b° allowed a solo on the keys. Benny "Moore, comic, also finishes in the black. Works alone here with a straight where formerly he was. hitched to another laugh-maker. Ina Thomas, Diane Johnson, Lou 5 Petel and Sachs do a '90s quartet of 'My Hero/ which Sachs uses for laughs, and Moore comes back with an army skit that's well liked. All comedy clicked with a good house opening night. Wen Miller is another straight. Peel section is smooth but under -wraps. Gals give no encores and no curtain peeks. Roxanne, of course, features and when caught wore a two-piece, blue-beaded affair. She still does the vocals to little effect, but it might be her way of making the boys impatient Diane Johnson, blonde and shapely, is smooth, and Winnie Garrett, dark-haired, pleases. Ina Thomas, who wastes no time giv- ing the customers a peek, is well- liked. There doesn't seem to be much ef- fort towards production. Line is neither appealing nor well-trained, and sets for skits, etc., are drab. Pas- tine and Partner are standouts in what production there is and look good in semi-adagio, ballroom and tap routines. Male half occasionally helps in comedy skits. Ina Thomas pipes with the line but doesn't im- press with a weak voice sans mike. Vaude half has Billy Harris in a variety bit; Mason and Freida, tap and slapstick; Mayo and Conn, tapsters, and an ineffectai unbilled m. c. GARRICK, ST. LOUIS St. Louis, Sept. 24. Tommy Raft, Harry Conley, Maxie Fwrman, Herbie Barry, Charles Schultz, Jack Buchanan, Roland & Francine, Musical Alberts, Hashi & Osai, Vicki McNeei°** Alvena, Yvonne Barry, Line Only flesh theatre in the burg, Garrick is in second week of 15th season under continuous manage- ment of Bill Pickens with *Vaniteas- ers' a bit above the average for this house. Harry Conley, vet comic, still retains his enthusiasm and his spirit is contagious to the rest of the east, helping, show move at nice tempo. A newcomer here and with less than three years on the burley cir- cuit is Tommy Raft, personable youngster, who hoofs, guitars and possesses .a lair voice. Maxie Fur- man, wearing lenseless glasses, is the third comic, while Herbie Barry and Charles Schultz are the straights. Several blackouts and skits are salty, but there are others which aren't objectionable. In keeping with his policy of aug- menting the traveling show with vaude attfs, current bill has contor- tionist, Jack Buchanan, six feet five inches talL Others are the Musical Alberts, accordion duo; Hashi & Osai, Jap balancing and tumbling team; Roland and Francine, ballroom dancers, and Alvena and Yvonne Barry, strippers. Roland and Fran- cine, after a dignified dance in the first act, return in the second for another. Before they finish, though, they tear the clothes from each other and indulge in amusing pratt falls. Vicki McNeeley, shov's top war- bler, gets applause for her interpre- tation of 'Music, Maestro, Please.' Each stripper shows herself twice. Line has plenty of lookers and works with gusto. House does well week- ends, but matinees are way off. Sahu. Haidy's Gay 90's, N. Y., To Add Bowery Saloon As soon as alterations are com- pleted, Bill Hardy's Gay 90's, New York, will open a Bowery Saloon ad- dition to his club. Third floor of the building in which the Gay 90's now occupies two levels, will house the lower east side N. Y. atmosphere. It's expected to be ready within 10 days or two weeks.