Variety (Oct 1938)

Wednesday, October 26, 1938 ▼AUDE-NITE CLUBS—BURLESQUE VARIETY 43 Nitery Reviews HOTEL NEW YORKER 1 L I (NEW.TOBK) Tommy Dorsey Orch (with Edythe Wright, Jack Leonard, 'Skeets' Her- iurt, 3 Esquires), Maurice and Cor- doba, Paul Rosini, Dorothy Wilkens, Ross MacLean, Helen Myers, Emery Deutsch Orch. Tommy Dorsey'5 orchestra is fall- and-wintering at the Hotel New Yorker's Terrace Boom and biz is bullish. He's been on a shuttle be- tween this spot and the Paramount due to 'If I Were King* holding four strong weeks—a fortnight beyond what the bookers originally figured on, not knowing, what the film coupling would be—but, this week, Dorsey's schedule eases; Meantime, Artie Schutt and later Emery Deutsch's orchestras took up-, the Elack. Dorsey, ,is a tiptop illustration of what sweet-swing means for b. o. He has all the zing of the 52d street idiom, but it's not headachey, blatant or cacophonous—^people gan still talk about the music without shrieking, and that's sohiething in any res- taurant. , Floor show surroundmg the name band is likewise strong. Maurice and Cordoba, who've terped in the Persian Room and the Rainbow Room (in fact, they return Nov. 21 to the Hotel Plaza's Persian Room, coincidental with Morton's Downey's preem there); do an expert job of dance-cavalcading in almost all ..'Paul (Rosini, excellent floor worker with magico, is as effective on his -personal charm and deportment as with his two highlight tricks. In a large roomi such, as this,- the i)erson- ality equation must be effective, or else. His card trick, later exhumed with his cigaret tobacco dregs, arid the Chinese thumb-tie tri<5k are dif- ferent, unusual, and certainly diffi- cult and bewildering. He's a relief from the recent crop of cigaret and card manipulators whose prime forte is sleight-of-hand. Rosini's are basic Houdini tricks, but the thumb tie was developed by Ten Ichi. Dorothy Wilkens opens with ac- cordion-songalogs. Out of the versa- tile Tommy Dorsey combo come Edythe Wright, Jack Leonard, JACK HYLTON'S BANDS Dressed by SIDNEY FISHER 75^77, Shaftesbury Avenue PICCADILLY. LONDON, ENG. Best Coffee in England QUAUTY INN Leicester Square LONDON, WEST-END JACK and JUNE BLAIR On Tonr Fuller Circuit, AuHtrnlln with "Hollywood Hotel" Revue DANCING PARTNER Toang Ituly with thorough ballet background, for profebslonal exhibi- tion ballroom dancing.- Must bo tall nnd have nophlstlcatod appearance. References exclinnged. Give fnll par- tlonlara. AddreNH BOX 26, VAriety, Mew York. HOST Young man, well built, good looking, loads of personality, salary. Apply after 6 P.M. PEPPER POT 4th St. Sc Cth Ave.. Greenwich Tillage 'Skeets' Herfurt and the 3 Esquires for vocal specialties. Ross MacLean is the m. c; Helen Myers does relief work, atf the piano. Max-is back at the door, biz is good, and Ralph Hitz is grinning. Abel. LEON & EDDIE'S, N. Y. Eddie Davis, Iris Adrian, Carlisle Sisters, Wanger Sextet, Madgie, Eleanor Troy, Lou Martin Orch, Ford Crane. Eddie Davis, past master at singing songs and gagging, whose partner in much of his routine, Iris Adrian, is really becoming his oldtime standby here. New show includes Carlisle Sisters (New Acts), Terry Walker (New Acts), Eleanor Troy and Mid- gie, the Wonder Horse (New Acts), Ford Crane, ably m.c.'ing along with Lou Martin's orchestra remains, too. Snappy and varied bill starts With the Carlisle Sisters, fast, young tap dancers. From films, \5?here she has be«!n featured, Terry Walker so- pranos, but doesn't swing, ynusual for this 52d street spot. Having a good voice and personality, she looks like a find. Texas Tommy and a pony were formerly here. Replacing Tommy's pony is Midgie, billed as the Won- der Horse.. Midgie does a somewhat similar and effective routine, in- cluding tricks, answering questions by nodding, etc. Eleanor Troy m.c.'s and does a strip type of routine. She's tall, glamorous, and her routine is nicely handled, not being too shocking. She headlined recently by slappjing the usually horizontal Jack Doyle. In addition to her stint with Davis on the *Gone with the Wind' satire, Miss Adrian occupies a solo singing spot with her spicy specials, well sold. Place continues to enjoy one of the finest and steadiest b.o. pulls in town. Were not Davis an owner- partner in L. & E.'s, he himself would be commanding more dough than most clubs could pay. Char. of cleverness, it all comes under the I head of goodj if not so- clean, fun. Fiske mixes *em up lor the 12:30 and the 1:15 a.m. frolics, the latter even a bit more heated. His f isque song stories are standard now with •the white-tie set in London, New York and Palm Beach, so Fiske keeps in the social' swim as he's booked there during the respective social seasons. He really does, as much with his dynamic Steinwaying, dramatizing by leer and lilt what the, lyrics might lack—if any. The Fiskeana, .of course, is well known in its clever bawdiness, which paradoxically skirts offense at any and ,all times, this thanks chiefly to the solo entertain- er's expert showmanship* With his return, biz is big at the Savoy-Plaza, although Hildegarde, just preceding, likewise registered heavily at the gate and on the take, both having a jjercentage sliding ar- rangement computed on the gross. Emile Petti's orchestra ,holds over, per usual, and registers deftly with suave dansapation. Abel. WALTON ROOF (PBtLADELPHIA) Philadelphi , Oct. 21. . Benny Fields, Readinger Twins, The Ghezzis, Powers Gouraud, Jeno Donath and Vincent Rizzo Orchs., Line. YACHT CLUB, CHI Chicago, Oct. 22, Gary McGrath Orch, Line (6), Pinky Trocy, Ruth Denning, Abhie Grella, Mona Leslie. Club, recently renovated, should have no trouble finding a place for itself in Chicago's night life. After midnight it's more or less a rendez- vous for show people. Basis of the entertainment is Gary McGrath's orchestra, which plays both for show and dansapatidn and rates highly. Chorus line is quality rather than quantitv, with the half- dozen girls under the direction of Winnie Hoveler. Girls turned in two neat numbers when caught. M.c. is Pinky Tracy, who also has his single turn, which is solid variety. It's a drunk bit, familiar enough, but registers well here. Ruth Denning, vocals and was forced to encorp twice before getting away on this show. She's a contralto with plenty on the tonsils, ^nd a smart ,eye for costume. Abbie Grella is a very youthful-looking acrobatic dancer and tapster, and it's evidently "her youth that's fesnbnsible • for her few rough edges. With some addi- tional experience should develop into a strong performer. For s.a. there's Mona Leslie doing a drape nudie. Well known around this town and a local fave, she has them asking for rnore. Gold. SAVOY-PLAZA, N. Y. Continuing with the name and heavy-nut policy he ■ inaugurated at the beginning of the season, Jack Lynch is currently presenting Benny Fields. Biz good, although profits are curbed considerably under load of no-cover, no-minimum policy. . Fields ably carries off the tag, 'Your Minstrel JWan,' that he has earned through years on the boards. With the usual top hat and cane, he opens with 'My Walking Stick,' goes into 'Now It Can Be Told' and fol- lows with 'Melancholy Baby,' which he estimates he has warbled 30,000 times. Novel touch- Is given by m. c. Powers Gouraud, who for years has been doing 10 minutes of nitery and theatre gossip on a WCAU commer- cial each evening. W. k. in Phila- delphia show, biz, this is the per- sonable old-timer's first pro engage- ment outside of broadcasting. Un- forgiveable, especially for one in radio, is his tendency to mumble. Gouraud concludes the bill with a cavalcade.number of Philly niteries and eating plates, gals in the line coming out in the dress of the pe- riod to which he is referring at, the moment. Good, as is also his open- ing patter song, 'I'm Back in the Racket Again.' Readinger Twins, who present in- terpretative terping in pop form, are swell. Likewise the Ghezzis, two- brother hand-to-hand balancing and strong-man team. Replacement of about , half the line of 12 in the past month has been a large improve- ment, although there's still room for more. Herb. Burlesque Reviews WERBA'S, BROOKLYN Ann Corio's 'Girls in Blue' unit with Jean Lee, Eleanor Dare, Miss Verne, Eileen Hubert, George Mur- ray, Eddie Lloyd, Jess Mack, Allan & Knopf, Ralph Shelby, Barbara Doqne. In its fifth road tour week, Ann Corio's 'Gi^ls in Blue' unit, an Izzy Hirst wl^eel show, reopened this house as a burlesque stand Sunday (23). As befits o;.e of hurley's strong- est b.o. strippers, Miss Corio is sur- rounded by a well-'i':aged production, above average for Hirst shows. House grinds on Sundays with only a travel short and a newsreel split- ting the shows. During the week, there are obscure features. Prices range from 35c to 75c. When caught (23), house was sold out. Good .staginjg of dances makes that section strongest, forcing the comedy of George Murray and Eddie Lloyd, straighted by Jess Mack, into the background. Comedians use same hoke stuff hurley patrons have been fed for a long time and the diet, no matter how altered to give it a hew twist, is still weak. Murray and George garner laughs but it's their performance rather than the mate- rial that's responsible. Short gag bits are no more than sta^e waits. Unit carries four peelers, but only three are bona fide. Miss Verne can be listed imder that category, but she's essentially an interpretive step- per. On first in an abbrefyiated phosphorescent costume, which glows .under dark, blue .spot, and again l&ter for a semirstrip fan dance. Does, .a 'Gplden Girl' number- near the close but it was cut out at. show" caught Eleanor Dare wastes no time uncovering while Jean Lee is at the other extreme. Her curtain pay- off doesn't make up for the delayed strut. Both, howevet, have what it takes. Miss . Corio** work is, of course, dressed excellently for color blending,' which shows her off to advantage. Her actual .peel isn't anything to get excited about although she's smooth- et than ordinarily. It's done on a full siazei. draned entirely in black, with -the star encased in a sheathlike red outfit. Barbara Doane is hot part of the unit. .She was put in for the week by the. house ahd is used in several places. On near the curtain rise for a tap routine and again later for a strip that's more animated than when last caught. Her wardrobe rivals Miss Corio's in tastp, being dressed in a tight, purple velvet gown. Also works in comedy skits. Twelve ponies and e'^ht showgirls comprise ,the. dance ana parade con- tingent. Both -sections are shapely. Eileen Hubert, highkick-tapper, leads the line' in a'C0ui}Ie of spots. Allen and Knopf do unison tapping, with- out which no hurley is complete these days. Ralph Shelby handles the piping. GARRICK, ST. LOUIS St. Louis, Oct. 22. Red Marshall, Bert Carr, Conny Ryan, Murray Leonafd, The May- fields, Major Jerome, LaTemple ' & Co., McConnell & Moore. Morales Bros. & Daisy, Peggy St. Clair, Weitzel Sisters, Ann Powell, Boo LaVon & Jeon Carroll, Line (14). Presence on six consecutive nights of Rev. Mary Hubbert Ellis,. minis- ter of" the Primitive Methodist Church here, served to tone down. some of the salty .Skits at those' shows with the five vaude acts added by Manager Bill Bickens, to augment the current 'Teases ahd Wheezes' show, copj)ing the heaviest approval. The cleric sought police aid in squelching some of the 'im- moral' hurley x turns in the show. Police then toned it down. in addition to the vaade acts, which include The Mayfields; ball- room dancers; Major Jerome, xylophonjst: Lg'Temole and Co., il- lusionists; McConnell and Moore, jugglers, and Morales Bros, and Daisy, trapeze ring and contortion trio, Peggy St. Clair, acrobatic dancer, and the Weitzel Sisters, warblers and tapsters from the line, give the mob plenty of opportunities' fc palm ooxlnding. Even the strippers, Ann Powell.-. •Boo LaVcn and Jean Carroll, all' lookers, each of whom make two ibrief appearances, fall far behind the va^de acts- in- getting anplausie, even, thoflgh they peel almost to the, G-'string. Conny Ryan, one 61 the straights, who carries the singing choresv clicks with ^ a dramatic presentation of 'Striawhat in the Rain,' ^mong , other, numbers, and also ?s a member of a quartet that includes Murray L«».pnard, straight, and Mpr.chall. pnd Cure, comics. Mi^.rshall and Carr 'score in the subdued blarkout*:.. especially In a bnrlesatre of LaTemple .iand Co.,- whom ti^ey folic*''*. L'*"e best look- ers to bit the G''jrick this season, is refreshing as it gc*>« through its- routines, several of whjcb - are more elaborate t^'^n those in other shows pr'""»f'ing 'TegBes.* WHh c^ol weather after five weed's of Inr"?n srmmeri biz at this house is on the upbeat. Sahu. New Club Mgrs. Org Rebelling members of the Enter- tainment Managers Assn. formed their own group last Thursday (20) and elected temliorary officers for new Associated Entertainment Di- rectors of New ,.''ork. Inc. Tom Kelly, EKiA's flrst'prez, is the new group's he^d. Dwight Fiske, Emlle Petti Orch. Dwight Fiske and his Rabelaisean songs are back at the Savoy-Plaza. From which stems one of the prime anomalies of this ..day and age^ A class Fifth avepue hostelry, the house detective, discovered in the lobby, would probably be arrested for vagrancy, so polite is everything about the Savoy-Plaza. But the b.o. appeal of Fiske and his Boccaccio ballads is strictly on the s.a. basis. It's not honky-tonk exactly, but it's a sort of Barbary Coast with an Oxford accent. The lyrics are smarter, but the intent is the same. But, having the prime saving prarn 5th AETURN ENGAGEMENT SALICI'S PUPPETS The^ World's Recognized Unsurpassed Novelty LOEW'S STATE, NEW YORK, NOW (Week OcL 20th) Thank* to SIDNEY PIERMONT Direction: PHIL OFFIN RKO:BL]>G.. RADIO CITY, N£W YORK CHICAGO AMERICAN; OCTOBER 10, 1938 ASHTON STEVENS Vaudeville for George Ade George Ade, who-dot€td on good vaudeville, moved away from vaude- ville a few seasons too soon.' I think he would have gone twice this week to laugh over Bert Wheeler at the Palace, whose superlatively interrupted moriolog is as funny as Phil Baker's used to be when Sid Silvers lay in baiting in a stage box. This act of Wheeler's is as funny by intention as a copy of Variety is by the rigors of trade routine. It comically purports to give the lowdown—the extremely low down—on the act itself, which contains a comely girl arid Hank Ladd—especially Hank Ladd, who is Mr. Wheeler's gifted hisser, heckler and knife in the back. This Wheeler act builds up the way the Yanks build up a ball game. It has a murderous finish wherein what has been dubbed the eternal triangle is heard to jangle like sweet bells out of tunfe. It is here revealed to us by the frustrated and con- fiding Mr. Wheeler that not only can he -riot fire the annoying Hank Ladd, but that he^must pay him haU the. full salary and pay the rest of the act out of the balance because—^here is the final lowdown—^the girl in the act is Hank Ladd's wife and Hank Ladd doesn't trust Mr. Wheeler, whose last sad whispered words are about as follows: "She and I don't need him. And what an act we could do without him." The words are good, but it is more than words, it is the music of an ASHTON STEVENS actor's imagination. Living Vaudeville ♦ ♦ * ♦ That, I believe, is the sort of vaudeville that would make George Ade roll in his chair, W. C. Fields buy a magnum of Scotch, and George M. Cohan go into his old dance. That's living vaudeville. * ♦ ♦ * Good vaudeville will never die, and a lot of good vaudevillains are still alive, if they can only be pried away from pictures and radio. Little Bert Wheeler recently proved this to the blade, hilt and scabbard. BERT WHEELER 3I0ST ABLY ASSISl'JCn BY HANK LADD FRANCETTA MALLOIT