Variety (Apr 1939)

4^ VARIETY VAUDE-NIGHT CLUBS-BURLESQPB Wednesday, April S, 1939 Night Club Reviews TOP HAT CLUB (UNIO N crrr , n. j.) Unton City, W. J., April 1. Julie Wintz orch, Dan Healy, Ger- trude Briefer, Thelma Nevins, Three Wiles, ensemble. Formerly the Elks Club, tills elab- orate four-story building in the core of Union City, just across the Hudson from New York, is now a class nitery with a complete layout and a heavy nut There are ample facilities for handling a sizable mob, and the whole thing is expensively and hand- somely done. Entrance is into a main foyer, a large, high-ceilinged room with a huge bar In the center. Ban- quet rooms and porches adjoin It, and tnere are bowling alleys on the floor below. Second floor, reached by elevator or stairs, includes anotHer foyer, a cocktail lounge and the nitery proper. Latter occupies a spacious room, with a moderately low ceiling, a bal- cony around three walls, a terraced floor with tables seating about 800, and the huge circular stage extend- ing well out toward the center. There are bandstands at either side of the stage but backed up against the pros-' cemum. A silky looking curtain does not cover the forestage, which is Used for dancing between shows. A . small instrumental vait uses the sec- ond bandstand, alternating with Julie Wintz's crew for terplng. Although the room is unusually attractive. BOY TOY DruMd br SIDNEY FISHER 76/77 Shafteabury Avenue .PICCADILLY, LONDON, ENQ. with a remarkable degree of Intima- cy considering its size, its acoustics are faulty. Three-a-night show includes Dan Healy as m.c, three acts and a large ensemble of girls. Latter are the principal item of the bill, both as to loolcs and numbers. Idea, borne out by the audience the night caught (30), is to concentrate on male pat- ronage. As an attraction, the gals are okay. They're billed as number- ing 60, but counted up to 44. Still, when they're all out together they crowd the stage and offer some eye- pulling routines. They are on for three numbers, all of which are long, but ingeniously routined Of the acts, Gertrude Briefer (New Acts), dancer, comes nearest to a real click. She's on -twice, plus . a briefle with the entire troupe for the finale. Three Wiles, male vaude team that's been around several years, offers its unchanged tap stuff, topping off with a military routine. Passable if not startling. Singer is Thelma Nevins (New Acts), svelte looker,.who's apparent- ly used to small spots and is lost in present surroundings. She's handi- capped by the bad mike, but never- theless, does too much acting and not enough vocalizing. Virtually inaudi- ble in all but the loudest tones, while her enunciation just ain't Dan Healy is a thoroughly ingratiating m.c. with an odmirably simple style, but he's also hampered by the mike's short- comings. Show is staged by Mildred Ray, a forte job. Kay Blair, singing In the second- floor cocktail loimge, has fairly lusty pipes, smart showmanship, infectious rhythm sense and an apparently in- exnaustible ' repertoire of songs. Jerrie Smith, ah ample Negress who seems to have about six sets of fin- gers, supplies brilliant piano accom' fianiments with occasional solo bits, t's a strong combo. John Hanna operates the spot Minimum is $1.50 for the nitery. Hobe. TheJHEATRE of the STARS BOOKING AGENCY GENERAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES LOEW BLDG. ANNEX 160 WEST 46" ST. NEW YORK J . H. LU B I N < OENERAl MANAGER SIDNEY H. PIERMONT BOOKINO MANAGER SAVOY-PLAZA, N. Y. HiWeporde, Gerry Morton'* Or- chestra, (7). Hildegarde, now the co-star with Raymond Paige of 99 Men and a Girl radio program, for U. S. Rubber, achieved her standing the hard way, progressing within a select circle among the New York, London, Paris and Palni Beach class cafes. As an international chanteuse. Miss Hilde- garde, U. S.-born, has been so fre- quently crossing the Atlantic that her manner is almost Continental, and as such it's good showmanship. But, primarily, she supports an in- delible personal charm with a highly effective st^le of pianologistic song salesmanship that accounts well for her consistent migrations among the fashionable world capitals. This' is a third repeat for Hildegarde at the Savoy-Plaza's Cafe Ijounge where, with the puckish Dwight Fiske, she has been the best b.o. in this smart bolte. In between, such singers as Georges Metaxa, Mill Monti, et al., have flUed in, but for protracted en- gagements, . Fiske ana Miss Hilde- garde seem to have the edge. She mixes up her stuff nicely, ranging from such little known Noel Coward- isms as 'Play, Orchestra, Play' (out of his ill-fated 'Operette') and 'Coun- tess Mitzi,' to a French potpourri, with a dash of 'Heart Belongs to Daddy'and'Get Out of Town.' She gives new lyric values to the Cole Porter tunes. In place of Emile Petti, long here, Gerry Morton directs his nif^septet of dansapaters from his Steinway, the maestro also doing a tlandy as- sist at the ivories for the chanteuse. She alternates before and behind the keyboard, in Itself a good change of pace. No couvert at the Cafe IiOunner $2 minimum. Abel. Borlesqne ReYiew SHOW BOAT (PITTSBDBGH) Pfttsburgh, April 1. Al Tremont orch (10), Leola Fra- rier, Joan Grey, Billy Keaton, Bar- bara McDonald, Santos & Elvira, Lane & Carroll, Brent, DeWaU, & Madeline, Line (8), Obviously John Maganottl is de- termined to shoot the works at Show Boat in a do-or-die gesture. Biz here of late has been terrible, fall- ing off to practically nothing in last couple of months, but instead of slashing entertainment as per usual nitery custom, Maganottl has gone out and brought in biggest cafe snow ever to hit town. It's a unit produced by Joe Casper and, while quality miay be just fair, quantity is on hand and ringsiders in tnis burg have always had a habit of overlooking shortcomings when the gals are attractive and the bare skin is opulent In a town where a floor show of 10 people is something of an eveht this one with twice that many should at least create plenty of interest That's what Maganottl is figuring on, although Holy Week seems to be a rather precarious time to launch the experiment • The midnight show runs an hour, and half of It's pretty sluggish, but alcoholic intake by that time is sup- Sosed to be a sufficient cover-all. est bets In performers Casper has roimded together are Barbara Mc- Donald and dance team of Lane and Carroll Miss McDonald's a little, sex-appealing blonde who sings a nice personality song, but registers best in her slick tap Bpecialties. She's got something on - the ball. Lane and Carroll, nice-looking couple, start, out- to do a regulation ballroom waltz when the music sud- denly goes hot The gal hits off some licks and bumps much to her partner's consternation and finally (Continued on page 43) GAYETY, MPLS. Minneapolis, April 1. Ada Leonard, Charles Country, Billy Foster, Louise Miller, Ray Par- sons, Petite Carol, Danny Jacobs, Mile. Jeanne, Dick Vernon, Mignon, Don & Marie, Brennan & Stone- backer, Line (18). The initial offering of the annual spring stock burlesque season here reveals no new departure in pres- entation. Harry Hirsch, the theatre's impresario, is clinging to the formula that has kept burlesque alive at this spot for years, while elsewhere, for the most part this type of entertain- ment long' since has died. Hirsch splits his seasons In two parts, running 14 to 16 weeks in the fall and winter and five to eight in the' spring. A limited amount of available first-rate talent and an in- abllily to vary the shows account for this procedure. ' After stretches of darkness there Is a sufficient local clientele that grows sufficiently hun- gry for burlesque to assure briefly profitable operation. When patronage starts dwindling Hirsch immediately shuts shop. Starring Ada Leonard, the current show's scenery and costuming are elaborate for burley; lighting is first- rate and there's snappy,- moderately good dancing by the.lme. Thanks to (Charles Country and Billy Foster's funmaklhg, the show boasts better than average comedy strength. It moves fast out there's still the ever- present fault—lack of diversity. Miss Leonard hiakes two brief ap- pearances, both highly effective. Her stripping, following her vocal of 'My Heart Belongs to Daddy,' arrests the optics completely. Petite Carol is an attractive. red- head stripper, whose singing and dancing precede her disrobing. Two other strippers, the Frenchy Mile. Jeanne and a captivating blonde, Mignon, peel skilfully and graceful- ly, lioulse MUler, the prima, sings satisfactorily, and works well in straight roles with the comics. Don and Maria are an exotic Spanish dancing team and. Brennan and Stonebacker, males, do taps. The comedy bits In which Countir and Foster figure are, of course, crammed with extreme double en- tendre. Support from the straights. Parsons and Jacobs, helps no little. The former is one of the best in his line to appear at this theatre and, in addition to lending good comedy support sings well and does impres- sions of well-known radio commen- tators in a well-received special^. A restaurant scene, with some old com- edy refurbished, and a. music shop bit are provocative of most laughs. Fourteen dancing girls and four statuesque models comprise the chorus, which Is ably directed by Bobby Pegrim. Lavish productions include a Spanish fiesta and a ballet featured by lAignon's toe dancing. Aees. Here's how to pour masterpieces out of glasses... first, pour Johimie Walker an* soda into them! ItBD LABEL, 8 jiean old BLACK LABfel, 12yearsold BotbsespnoJ BORN 1820... itiU going strong t IT S SENSIBLE TO STICK WITH Johnnie Ualker BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY CANADA nRY GINGiR AL! l.MC NEW YORK N SOLE DlSTS'EulOR N. Y. Barley Reopening The Continental, on Broadway, re- opens with an Allen Gilbert bur- lesque show April 8. It's the second try at burley produced by Allen Gil- bert for this house. Spot opened two months ago as a strip spot subse- quently folding. House had previously been used for foreign films. Summer Bm-Iey Try Philadelphia, April 4.' Troc, burley house here, will at- tempt to remain' open all summer with stock this season instead of shuttering to duck the heat as usual Fairly good biz all winter has given impetus to the plan. Plan is to retain a chorus and change principals every two weeks. Ban Wilde's orchestra moved Into the Hof Brau, San Diego, CaU Phil Selznlck took over the It Cafe, Hollywood, opening with Mauri Vaughn's orchestra. HOPE SaranacLake By Happy Benway Mannle Lowy's trau threw away her crutches and can now limp around, on her sprained gam. Father.Blals, chaplain of the ac- tors' colony, has gone to Maiden. Mass., to bedside of his mother, whovl seriously ill. She's 80. Camp Intermission, the William Morris spot has been given a going* over to De ready for Mrs. William Morris. April 1 Is the general checkup day with the ozoners. The general re- port Is that over 20% are skedded to be homeward-bound. Jean Wolf and Patricia Wallace at the hospital for a checkup. Rose (WUl Rogers) Clark got her good health papers and left for home. Bed routiners given good reports at the Rogers include Jim Seeley, Richard Moore, Carl Kern, Jack Ed- wards, Eddie Dowd and Edward Mc- Donald. Dr. George Wilson, medlco-ln-chiet at the Rogers, elected president of the Saranac Lake Medical Society. Dr. Warrlner Woodruff named v. p. (Write to those who are UL) Long-Note Jerry Colonna ' Set for Summer Personals Jerry Colonna, now on the Bob Hope Pepsodent radio show, has been lined up for 10 weeks of per- - sonals following the folding of the program for the summer. He opens with' a two-week shot at the Para- mount theatre, N. Y., Jime 28. Walter Batchelor agency handled, AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND ARTISTS DESIRINO A PLBASANT TRIP TO tha Antipodes and the South Seas sbould communlrate with the RECOGNIZED BOOKINO AQENCT FOR AUSTRALASIA. Australian conditions provide for I shows only dally and no Sunday worh. Send lowest salaries, all par- ticulars, dates and photos to FAMOUS ARTISTS AND PRODUCTION AGENCY BtiMTt F. Doyle, UonnirlDr Dlrcrlor State Theatre BoUdlnc. Sydney Cables—^"Featnms," Sydney.-- New York BepreaentatlT^— M. L. W|LLSON Walker A Bedman, SB Bioadwar New York Beat Coffee in England QUALITY INN ' Leicester Square LONDON. WE8T END HARRY RICHMAN Se%: *LORD & STEWART, 19, Albemarle Street, LONDON, W. 1. Are Enstond's Best Tailors.' ANT TEBSON knowlnc «he where- abouts of James Haekeoad, vaode- *llle actor, bora Toronto; Canajla, about fltty-two years OKO,' complexion fair, heisht about Bto feet nine loches, last beard of In New York City about 1918, condactlns .vande- Tllle troupe '.'Jim Hack & Company." communloate ct once with John Wi. Bowland, BaTTlst«r-at-Law, 8S0 Bay Street, Toronto, Canada. ALWAYS.WORKING Jost Betnmed'from 7 Months' Tonr of Australia-New Zealand ''Whitey" Roberts Booked tor England In September —Now- Golden Gate Theatre, San FTancIsvO EDDIE MINOR and ROOT Held Over—Hollywood Beach Hotel. Fla. Until April 6 CARL SIMPSON FAITH Orlginatora Performino Marionettes Full View of Audience APRIL 10TH, HIPPODROME, MANCHESTER, ENGLAND Direction M-C-A • Europe: CHAS. TUCKER