Variety (Dec 1938)

4» VARIETY VARIETY ROUSE REVIEWS Wednesday^ December 21, 1938 MUSIC HALL, N. Y. Jane Cilligan, Bob Ripa, Robert Weede, Nicholas Daks, Pansy the Horse, Lou Purdy, Belle Flower, Jane Sproule, Dolores Pallet, Choral Ensemble, Rockettes, Ballet Corps, Twelve Princesses, Music Hall Sym- phony, Emo Rapee conductor; 'Duke of West Poinf (UA). This week's stage show, fitting for holiday time, is in two parts with a Walt Disney's 'Mother Goose Goes Hollywood' sandwiching. Cartoon likewise is appropriate for the Christmas holidays, over which it will be held. Characters, coming to to life in the pages of a book which are turned after each interlude, are of Hollywood personalities with Katharine Hepburn as Little Bo Peep, W. C. Fields as Humpty- Dumpty, etc. Same production of 'Peace on Earth' (The Nativity), which was done here last Christmas, has been ' re-staged by Leon Leonidoff. Only change is in the soloist who is Jane Gilligan this year. This, portion of the stage entertainment will beheld over for the holidays with the in- coming 'Christmas Carol' (WC-G) to- morrow (Thursday) following some minor changes through the addition o£ the Vienna Choir Boys. To be retained intact for Christ- mas week and probably also New Year's will be Florence Roggfe's pro- duction of 'The Twelve Dancing Princesses,' a pantomime or 'ballet change' inspired by Grimm's old fairy tale. The show is in numer- ous scenes and employs a large num- ber of persons. Staiged well, with colorful settings and good lighting, it is excellent visual entertainment, but is a trifle longer than it might have been, apd fails to deliver any solid punch anywhere along the line. ..Production is. the third for Miss jRogge} who has been ballet mistress here since the bouse opened and doubles from that assignment when puttiitg on a whole show, as occurs this- week. Her unit around the Grimm fairy story is mostly ballet, as it happens; and in some respects the routines in this category are among her best. Notable is the bal- let in the garden scene in which the. girls , playihg the princesses and others figure. . Opening the show, and to which the action cuts back several times during stage changes, is a. little scene at side stage whfere Dolores Pallet is telling the story oi the '12 Dancing Princesses' to a baby. The scenes on stage include outside the castle gates, -the castle itself, the boudoir of the princesses^) the magic garden &nd the princesses' balT. Settings repre- sentmg^ all ol these are very eyeflU- ing, Kids will like the scenery, and at- . mosphere, well as the enactment oi the .^airy. talei even if it isn't going to entertain the adults so'ihuch. . Talent includes Boh Ripa, .jug- gler long in vaude; Pansy,- the horsi, also around sometupe- and. getting plenty of laughs here .(great for th6 youngsters); Robert We'ede, M. H. soloist; Nicholas Daks. Jane Sproule and other regular?, including the perennial Rockettes. and the Choral Ensemble. The Rockettes do a num- her as the Blackamoors and, painted . vp..as Congo sav9|es,. present a some- what different picture. Routine is about average. A group of waltzing couples inject particular charm info the proceedings. No newsreel used this week, Cher. LYRIC, INDPLS. Remainder of the'hour is devoted to the singing, by Marion Mann of 'My Reverie' and 'Sleepy People' with ^Martha* as an encore; to Bob Crosby's vocalizing of a medley of 'Don't Let That Moon Get Away,' 'Small Fry,' and 'Pocketful of Dreams'; to the able roping tricks and mild comedy of Dick and Leota Nash; and to the swift and funny knockabout comedy of Marion Belett and the English Brothers, Biz capacity at final show Fri- day (16).. Kilcu. ORIENTAL, CHICAGO Indianapolis, Dec. 17. Bob Crosby Orchestra^ Mairion Mann, Dick & Leota Nash, Morion Belett & English Brothers; 'Up the River" (20ih>. Bob Crosby and his band have climbed considerably since their first appearance here about three years ago. At that time they had heen organized only a short time and were playing their first theatre date. They did a 20-minute band act to: close a straight vaude bill, and biz was n.s.h. Now they fill an hour with the aid of two added acts. Meanwhile, they have built an air rep from the Blackhawk nitery in nearby Chicago, and the boxoffice is being kept busy in a week that's usually the lowest ebb of the year with everybody joining the Xiiias shopping rush. Boys Still do their comedy fan dance same as thre^ years ago, but everything else is newer and much smoother. Crosby works and talks more confidently, and his aggrega- tion ^Ith its ace rhythm section dishes out its Dixieland brand of swing music in good style. With the exception of their numbers for vo- calist Marion Mann and for Bob Crosby's singing stint, the band keeps awfly from w.k. pops and plays instead original compositions by various members of the band. These — such as drummer Ray Bau- duc's. 'Rampart Street Parade'—are In the orchestra's own characteristic vein. Pianist Bob Zurke is featured In the middle of the show playing two original numbers. Later, a spe- cial section of the band, called 'Bob- cats' and headed by Bauduc and bass playef Bob Ha^gart, are fea- tured in a Jam session of original tunes by the boys in the orchestra. Chicago, Dec. 17. Spencer & Foreman, Three Murtah Sisters, Terry Hoauord & Co., George Lyons, Six Lucky Noys; *Five of a Kind' (20th). So it's the week before Christmas. With a view towards keeping down expenses the house managed one solid turn, one so-so act and others ranging from fair to unfair. Best- of the bill on results is the Terry Howard turn. Miss Howard makes up well as the pint-sized kid and tosses off an excellent novelty impersonation for plenty of laughs and comedy. Her present costume, however, doesn't have the appeal of previous outfits. Back in town after a long absence are the Six Lucky Boys yvith more clowning than acrobatics, and the clowning isn't so funny. Risley work is good—what there is of it—but the effect of one trick wears off long be- fore they go into the next one. This being the Christmas season, let it suffice' to say that Spencer and Foreman are a young man and a young girl who dance, jitterbug fash- ion for the most part, and with some occasional tapping in which every step looks like every other step. Also there are "Three Murtah Sisters who sing popular songs and finish with a- very brave attempt to be comical in doing what is announced as a satire of three debutantes singing opera. George Lyons plays a harp in a good little musical novelty tui:n by strummini; out some ragtime on the strings; Business wasn't so g6od at the last show Friday (16). Gold. HIPP, BALTO STATE, N. Y. Baltimore,'Dec. 18. 'Baltimore Follies' with Bob Bruce, Pepper Asner, Morguerite Melvin, 'Modern. Melodiers jf3), Dolores Con- nelly, Lillian Kaltcinska and Willard Von Simons, Abrosha Robofsky, Billy Dale, Charles ' McCubbin, George VanHbr,n, Police Quartette (4), ;Roclcettes House Line (16) ,'Blondic' (Col), Strategically spotted to take in usual slack of pre-holiday lull, 'Bal- timore FolUes' is the third local tal- ent revile staged here in tie-up with ihe News-Post As in previous at- tempts, H. Ted Routson has handled the material on hand in skilfull and showmanly manner, building a fast moving and entirely entertaining unit from curtain to curtain. Origi- nal musical numbers-by Ben Kanter and B6n Klassmer, and line routines by Betty Jane McHugh, also size up well. In revue style, emceed in pleasing fashion by Bob Bruce, and employ- ing short blackouts to fill in switches between full stage produc- tion numbers and specialties in olio, current 'Follies' has in it a wealth of variety and one or two real socks. Oif to an effective opening by Mar- guerite Melvin backed up by smooth working line in radium treated min- strel song and dance, doings build nicely with some fast hoofery by Pepper Asner and instrumental and vocal specialty by the Modern Melo- diers, three yquthful guitar and bull fiddle whackers who swing out fetchingly. Ballet, 'Blue Danube Fantasy,* in which line is used to round out toe specialty by Dolores Connelly and adagio of Lillian Kalicinska and Wil- lard Van Simons, presents a pleasing picture well produced and lighted. Makes fine spot for Abrasha Robof- sky next, who puts over three vocals. Of good stage presence and equipped with legit pipes, lad does the inevi- table 'Without a Song,' 'Stout Hearted Men' and an original, 'Heavenly,' ringing the beU. Presents real pos- sibilities for radio or musical com- edy. Good change of, pace brings on Billy Dale for routine Juggling, his work with sticks a standout. Is fol- lowed by production number by Miss Melvin and line in Mickey Mouse masks for fairish interlude. Charles McCubbin then manipulates a man- dolin, followed by George Van Horn, ventrilo(luist, who has something on the ball. Youth works smoothly, utilizing excellent and original ma- terial. Closes strongly with two dummies, one in blackface, crossfir- ing nicely and giving out with a two-way vocal that clicks. Police Quartette, a repeater from former doings, gives out with the usual four-part harmony stuff. Lead into finale which presents line in smooth precision tapk and a reintro- duction of all principals. Biz good, Burm. James Evana & Co„ Deane Janis, Tim & Irene, George Beattv, Barney Rapp Orch, with Hozel Bruce, June Hart. Vivian J^etuell; 'Great Waltz' (M-G). With the pre-Christmas lull knock- ing the edge off even the sock shows, the State this week is treading water with its current bill of semi- names and the tepid film grosser, 'Great Waltz' (M-G). There are no dead spots in the stage portion, but' its not hefty enough entertainment to cause any word-of-mouth dnd certainly isn't calculated to cause a boxofl'ice stampede. Show opens with James Evans & Co., whose iuggUng with his feet is a standard turn m vaude houses and occasionally niteries. Always acceptable and this, time is no ex- ception. Deane Janis (New Acts)* radio, warbler, has the second posi- tion and gets by without trouble. Offers three short and. tastefully varied numbers, which she sells skilfully. Also shrewd enough not to beg for encores. Tim and Irene, whO' under the real names of Ryan and Noblette were a standard comedy act for years before going into radio, re-, turn to vaude with ^ettr much the same brand.of stuff as formerly. On for 15 minutes when caught "Thurs- day night (15). She does a flut- tery, liame-brain act, using a dead- pan and a slow delivery of the gag lines. He's the straight and does most of the. stokinjg to keep the steam up. Their inaterial is only fair, hut they get almost everything possible out of it Best portion is her hoke sobby rendition of the song, 'Nobody Knows.* In one series of gags he refers repeatedly to Law- rence Tibbett, but puts an's' on the last name. Another prodijsal back in vaude from radio is George Beatty, with a collection of monolog gags. His style of delivery doesn't vary. It's the familiar technique of two or three lines to set the situation, then a quick snapper for the laugh, all offered' in a ary- manner and gener- ally funny. While the material is the kind that, almost anyone could use, Beatty scores with -much of it, staying for 20 minutes when the show was caught. He winds, up with a drunken sailor bit he did in vaude years ago.and wMch has since been aped by several other comedians. Windup brings Barney Bapp?s or- chestra, with several solo turns. Band doesn't oftef a single tune on its .own. so no real estimate of its worth is possible., Acts with the band include Hazel Bruce, scat singer; June Hart, accordionist, and Vivian Newell, acrobatic dancer. Miss Bruce imwisely wears a white gown that's too similar to the one worn, by Miss Jaiiis; otherwise she's simply an inexperienced band vocal ist. Miss Hart is quite young and far too energetic ' Miss Newell is the only one with promise. Makes a pleasing appearance and her dancing has possibilities. After a couple of novelty turns by members of the band, Rapp's outfit finales with the familiar impressions of other orchestras. , Hobe. EARLE, WASH. ^asHington, Dec. 17. Milton Douglas, Grate Drysddle, Gang Busters, Stump and Stumpy, Roxyettes (16) House Line; 'Heart of the North'. p Variety and action are squeezed into this one to make it one of the most colorful revues gathered to- gether here in weeks. Acts are so contrasting that no attempt is. made to blend them through staging, but use of emcee builds transitions satis- factorily, and acts work in just enough gags on what has preceded their own stuff to tie it all together. Milton Douglas' emcee job was ragged and loaded with off-color hack at opening, show, but under- stood that subsequent- tightening brings it nearer standard required by local audiences. BUI opens with the orchestra across rear' of night club set and gals in blue and yellow sailor garb tapping out fast rhythm num- ber and domg chorus introduction for Douglas. Patter song is awkward and kids in front row spoil attempt at cross-talk with Sf(i6ie in box. Grace Drysdale's puppet show catches on nicely, BaUrooin team dolls really get 'em, and when she steps out of box to show how it's done, idea of pretty girl doing ade- quate dance herself while making pair of dolls attached to her hands go through elaborate hoofing, builds to fine climax. Douglas takes over for patter with gal before introducing (Sang Bust- ers. Announcer under baby spot ex- plains idea of latter act, and interest is held throughout by both script, which relates capture of Fleagle Brothers in 1928, and radio tech- nique as exemplified by stage full of sound effects stuff, actors doubling up on roles, and semi-pantomime by performers working with scripts in their hands. Although overhead spots direct attention to which of three mikes on darkened stage is be- ing used, pace at which show moves demands strict attention and only fault may be its length. As travelers close, Douglas "takes over for clothes-and-anatomy patter with male stooge and' introduces Stump and Stumpy. Negro boys take center mike In front of band and entire cast seated at tables. Warbling of 'Swing for Sale,' complete with sock pantomime and vocal calesthen- ics, 'sets pace for series of hoofing, rhythmic slapstick and imitations o: Donald Duck, W. C. Fields and Ted Lewis that stop show cold. Gals take over for rhumba tap to ring down curtain. Biz light. Craig. Embassy Newsreel, N. Y. Nicely balanced bill here this week, well distributed with impor- tant subjects. While standout stufl! is not evident, with the exception oil some excellent table-tennis snots by Fox, this does not upset the tenor of the bill when viewed as a whole. March of Time's 'Uncle Sam-^The Good Neighbor,' devoted ■ entirely to a fair depiction of the U. S. diplo- matic corps, winds up the 50-odd clips. Anthony Eden's visit to the U. S., snapped by Pathe and Fox, Latin- American relations and the: Jewish refugee problem are keynotes of the program. Last-named is treated' ably and, excepting sports, is the strong- est individual topic. Universal shows the Bratislava-Czech refugees piti- fully attempting to survive in a no- man's land. Semi-portrait photog- raphy is brought^ to bear». and the choice of faces among, the aged, the very young, the crippled,^ etc., is aces. Metro follows, up with good shots of child exiles, ousted from Gern^any with one suitcase and 40c, plus N. Y. Mayor LaGuardia's and Mgr. Sheen's speeches against intol erance.- Xmas stuff is briefly introduced by Par, Metro, Fox and Universal, a lot of it hoke, but pleasant and timely. Lew Lehr has two. spots, one describ- ing a baby elephant, the other anent a monkey house. Latter has chuckles aplenty. Metro catches sonie waltz contests, which represent coverage of its in- tramural activities since th& company launched the contests in connection with its 'Great Waltz.* ^ Coverage of Ataturk and Queen Maud funerals is strong, former by Pathe and the other by Par. Real pains seem to have been taken with the Queen's rites and the results are worth the effort. Sports wind, up the works with a aeries of clips by Fox, Pathe, Metro and Par. PatbC' has boxing at Fort Totten, N. Y., and Metro gives out oh wrestling. Fox, meantime, does a very good job with table-tennis tourneys. Par unspools the Giants- Packer's pro championship football battle won by the Giants, 23-17. Some good camera work here. Fires, local disasters of other types, new inventions and the usual run of minor topics are interspersed Fewer fashion shots than usual and less hoke. House loaded with standees Sat- urday afternoon (17), when caught. £dga. STRAND, B'KLYN Teddy King Orch, Midgie Fellows, Blackstone & Co.; 'iStorm Over Ben- gal' (Rep). It's been a long time since New York had a full stage magic show and probably a longer time for Brooklyn. Nonetheless, Blackstone is doing pretty good business. He's working all kinds of gags, from kid mats with bunny giveaways to mid- night freak show, amid heavy adver- tising and exploitation. Such magic shows are new to present generation, which may account for receptiveness of heavily jitterbugged audience which showed up for dance contests on stage. Show is stretched to the breaking point, running full 58 minutes of gimmicks, gadgets, illusions and some n.s.g. clowning. Magico has added a bunch of stunts since last caught, which accounts for extended time. Turn is very dressy and eye-filling, what with quartet Of looker f emmes in varied brief riggings, demonstrat- ing Blackstone's showmanship. But he could use some- slicing and speed- ing up for better results. Vet Blackstone adheres to the prop school rather tham the Erdnase sys- tem, of magidcing with passes, table and finger work. It's this sameness of each trick with fancy props that makes for some slowness, though it must be said that he has impressive trappings such as live horse,, fowl, machine-run giant saw, spiked cabi- nets, crates, etc. Best bits are xm- connected incandescent bulb, levita- tion with girl, wriggjing-writhing hanky, and spiked cabinet with dis- appearing occupant. Gets showy with kid stooge foiling for him (looks Mc- Coy), girl sawed in half, and by pass- ing out beer from 'empty' box to audience. Good touch. Trickster was in for plenty of au- dience ribbing last show Friday night (16). House was packed with al- ligators waiting for finals of dance contest. Was all good-natured, but obviously annoying to the showman. House leader King played from pit for show. It's first time that the pit has ever been used here, band for- merly playing on stage with acts in front. Got off one swing tune and then quickie for vocalist. Midgie Fel- lows, singing 'Night 'Fore Xmas.' That came between magico and con- test after him for fast closer. Contests continue to build business for house; which has now caught on with stage fare. Hurl. STANLEY, PITT. Pittsburgh, Dec. 17. Gray Gordon Orch (12), Mike Riley Orch (14), Lane Sisters (2), Manon Miller, Robert Preston, Billy Reed, Goodrich & Nelson, Joe i Betty Lee, Phillips and Kohl, Marcy Bros. & Beatrice; 'Heart of the North: So-called 'Battle of Music' is a last- minute booking at this deluxer when Father Flanagan's Boys Town unit, originally slated for this date, folded in the midwest There's a lot of tal- ent on hand, but the show misses out practically all of the way be- cause it tries to do too many things at the same time. These melody skirmishes are in- variably pretty unwieldy anyway, and this one's no exception. Both bands on the stage simultaneously, each one occupying half of the plat- form in front of different colored drops,, with the Gordon aggre.;ation representing sweet, and Riley, of course,, catering to the jitterbugs, Gordon's tic-toe' music style has been lately built up on the air. These bands have been working niteries almost exclusively and there*s the rub. Music's all right for presentation houses, but the nov- elty stuff is strictly cafe. Of the two outfits, Gordon definitely has the better of it. While a little short on stage presence himself, he manages to be pleasant and self-effacing, and his rhythmic arrangements are easy to take. Has a crack vocalist in Sherry Lane, who does IShould I 1^ Sweet or Hot?* with a double-duty gown to fit the lyrics, in slide style. Gal, however, ^ould learn some- thing about make-up. There's an- other Lane gal doing solo duty,, too, but not in a class with her sister. Also among Gordon's credits is his novelty male quartet with some first- rate- comic lyrics and some others that should be chucked away from the nitery belt Riley*s swing is pretty conven- tional, but he whips across some trombone specialties that keep his end of it at least in the running. Carries two vocalists. Bobby Pres- ton, youthful looking, pipes well, but is ill at ease, and Marion Miller, torcher, shows promise. Comedy stuff Riley pulls, hcwever, with one of his trumpet players is way out of line and he should relax more, too. BUI has a flock of excellent sup- porting acts, with even the dance teams carrying out the hot-swing idea—Joe and Betty Lee,, ballroom exponents, doing the' class terping and shagsters Phillips and Kohl holding up the dance-hall end. Good- rich and Nelson land solidly with their strong-arm acrobatic stuff to become bona-flde show-stoppers, with Marcy Bros. (2) and Beatrice pulling flock of laughs with their mixture of nut hoofing and funny contortion posturing frdm the dame. Latter turn could stand a bit of scissoring, although otherwise in the groove. •Referee' of 'Battle of Music' la Billy Reed, who also gets a chance i:o knock off some eccentric stepping, winding up with his " inevitable skating routine, always good and still that way. Dave Broudy's house crew back in pit again for brief overture. Biz way off. Cohen. APOLLO, N. Y. Ot>te Alston Orch, Froshine SteW' art, Tom Sawyer, Jean & Joan, Ed- die Green. George Wiltshire, Vtvton Harris. Kirby Walker, John Henry, Jean Starr, Harlem Sabu Kid, House Line (16); 'Man with 100 Foces* (GB). Apollo departs from its usual ro- ation of house comedy (culled from aurlesque), outside acts, and a band his week,-and considerably improves its offering. Basic setup is still there, i>ut it's utiUzed in a difterent man- ner, stress being laid prim.arily on production intertwined with comedy. Whether or not Apollo audiences will go for continued use of such layouts sans double entendre, as this is, will undoubtedly govern future efforts. , Theme of the productional effort IS sustained through a large portion of the first half, bringing on most of the house people and Tom Saw- yer, an imported act. Latter opens by sawing tunes out on a musical saw and a long knife, dragging notes from a balloon, and pounding out pops on variously filled whiskey bot- tles. Novelty, but doesn't mean much. Line follows Sawyer for a modern- ized Indian dance in appropriate cos- ume, split by Jean Starr's interpre- tation of 'Rosie the Redskin' and an aero routine for a followup. Apollo seems to have something in this ver- satile miss. Girls do some nice work here and in later parts of same bit. Harlem Sabu Kid works with Miss Starr almost throughout, contribut- ing several vocals and-tap routines. He's okay. Eddie Green, comedian, who's had a radio shot with Rudy Vallee. Geo. "Viltshire, John Henry and Vivian Harris, then team for the heaviest bit of production yet seen here. Skit portrays the capture of an Indian ^ad man and shifts from a western street scene to a saloon. Henry, also (Continued oii page 41)