Variety (Apr 1939)

^ednesdsf, April 12,-1939 VARIETY HOUSE RfiVffiWS VARIETY 45 APOLLO, N. Y. Count Baste's orch (15), Helen Humes. Jimmv Rushing, Honey rr^» k Bert Hotuell, Westchester riub Lindv Hop Champs (6), Jackie Mnble«. Babe Wallace. Sam Theord, mS™ Bnice line; 'Whispering auihuf (Col).__ It's all Count Basle at the Apollo thS week. He's come a long way SSe first attracting noUce about See years ago, and it's like old SiiM week for the Harlem crowd, wlSdi lT familiar with his jump ityle of music. His instruments ope-ate with the jhSler off in this gppt, but his play- tatnof an original, 'Miss Thing,' fs the «5ofl on hU versatility. Brass sec- Soh really blasts, with five mikes down front accentuating this—unfor- tunate, too, because the aggregation has the goods. The original brings on three-sax, trumpet and trombone folos wlth dulcet swing of most min- ute notes really something. Opening Is usual swingeroo med- ley. Slgnofl Is 'Out the Window,' but the outfit furnishes some trim backgrounding for the two balladists, Helen Humes and Jlmm^ Rushing. Former makes up for routine appear- ance with her swell warbling of •Heaven Can Wait,' 'Deep Purple* and 'My Heart Belongs to Daddy.' Rushing, a rotund vocalist, does with "Won't You Please Come Home,' His enunciation was a bit off when caught but he fills In for any finging deficiency with his strut and mugging. Basie could offer more piano sSolng, his deft Ivory-manipu- latlng being standout' Surrounding bill Is much better than usual at this house. Honey Coles and Bert Howell' tops remain- der of bill with a particularly clean- cut turn. The tall, angular lad is ■bout the swiftest, most agile tap- ster seen In this sector In months. Other boy registers solidly with his evenly-modulated warbling and trim work on the guitar-uke and violin. 'Simple and Sweet' Is his best Westchester Club Lindv Hoppers knock thmeslves out with teipsing gyrations. This Is a white combo, with unbilled colored mixed sextet coming on in mopup spot Jackie Mabley stands out In fa- miliar sketch with Babe Wallace and Sam Theard. Mary Bruce's mixed line comes through with two neat production scenes, four femme step- pers leading the vigorous dancing. Wear. EMBASSY, N. Y. (NEWSBEELS) A verv poor bill. Stock, dated shots make it so. - nie world armament race again features, casting an ominous note with its grim imdertones. From the reels here there is suggested increas- ingly the theory that the next world conflagration will be fought in the •ir, since the air forces, with their improved fighting equipment are highlighted. " » " Also in th war vein is the tall ol Madrid, by Paramount but there's- no action, the reels merely glimpsing the Nationalist lorces marching into tte city. On the lighter side, ttiere's Clark Gable and Corole Lombard, •fter their marriage, caught by Pa- ine, Sports come In for a major share, Witt a Budge-Perry tennis match; Bobby Jones teeing off in the Mas- ters Tournament; Man O* War still spry at 22, and the New York-Chi- cago Golden. Gloves battles. A note of pathos is lent the pro- gram with the showing in Paris of ■j *S™ P^inS homage to their war dead (u). In the same vein is seen the charred ruins of two U. S. planes whose pilots died when they crashed into two dwellings, setting the planes .and homes afire (M-G). In keeping with the big publicity ■Plurge attendant to the preem of Jodge City' in the Kansas city of pat name, Pathe has considerable rootage showing several of the film's Players in festive spirit ..Because of the Italian aggression, March (of Time's 'Albania' subject was revived and rushed in the next day, along with some Zdg-Duce footage. NATIONAL, L'VILLE Louisville, April 8. Bennj/ Boker, Pat Rooney, Jr., Hermon Timber^, Jr., Sid Walker, Cel Breece, 3 Morin Sisters, Chas. Brinfclei; orch. College Rhythm Girls <6); 'Slave Ship' (20th) and 'Old flam Donee' (Hep). Benny Baker heads this layout Bbly assisted on the comedy side by Pat Rooney, Jr., and Herman Tim- °^rg, Jr., Chas. Brinkley's orch is on the stage and while not a b.o. name still the 'crew* does its mu- sical chores in nice style. Baker first delivers a couple of sags and paves the way for the Col- lege Rhythm Girls line (6), decidedly peppy and youthful. Morin Sisters (3), harmony trio from radio, group themselves around the mike, wearing long white velvet frocks, and warble 'Old Grey Bon- net' in swing style. Gals' voices blend pleasingly and they set them- selves solid, both from the sight and sound angles with pops. Their en- tire running time Is well paced and In the groove for vaude'patrons. Sid Walker, with the shock of bushy black hair and morning coat crossfires with Baker for good re- sults. Gags contain a few blue in- nuendos, but at show caught cus- tomers went for it Pat Rooney, Jr., and Herman Tim- berg, Jr., click with their hokum clowning, both proving they have inherited some of their dads' show- manship tricks and legbmania. Tim- bf rg, Jr., registers with clowning im- personations of pic ' stars, and Rooney's forte is his footwork. Eight minutes of smooth card and cigarette manipulation, topped'off by materializing glass of colored liquids from the air, is turned in by Del Breece, youthful magician. Baker follows agaiii, but solo, for more comedy. His style impresses, also his work with ah audience stooge. Brinkley's orch and the six gals each take turns at a couple of num- bers, plenty fast and In no sense an Interlude between the comedy turns. Closer has Baker and Walker on stage, with Rooney and Timberg seated in boxes on opposite sides of the house for some crosstalk and heckling, all of which coimts. Show runs fraction over an hour, and maintains nice pace throughout Is set for only two days (8-9). Biz was stoong last show Saturday (8). Hold. FOX, PHILLY Philadelphia, April 7. CTiarley Bamet'a orch, Shirley Ross, Judy Canova, Annie & Zeke, Judy £Ilin0ton, Muriel Thormts & Adolph Komspan's house band; 'East of Heaven' (U). Fox clicks solidly again this stanza with a nifty lineup for the boards. It's also pretty strong stuff for the marquee with a good variety of names for wide appeaL Show when caught at last session opening day was a bit overboard on time, out a little slicing should be. easy. Charley Bamet's orch is making its initial appearance in PhUly since it hit the big time and the result li very satisfactory. Still rather ques' tionable as a general name draw, Bamet nevertheless seems wel enough known through radio time and discs to have aroused plenty of curiosity in the crowd that follows the jive senders. Bamet himself, meshes nicely. Tall and good looking, he's not only an asset for his ability to swing a sax, but also a stick. Back of him he has a crew of 15, made up of seven brass, four rhythm and four reed, plus his own sax. Music, of sourse, is of the boimce variety on which Bamet eased Into a reputation at the Famous Door, N.Y. Irs good listen- ing, too, though somewhat rough in spots with the heavy brass con- tingent Principal weakness of the band is slight tendency toward monotony In arrangements. It's accentuated by just atiout one too many choruses of each number. Cutting them down would help. A lltUe less of Bamet'p solo takeoffs would also aid to re^ lleve the ennui problem for general vaude audiences, who ordinarily don't appreciate the fine finger and lip work. On the visual entertainment side, the crew is weaker than most of the older bands with more stage experi- ence. Fox management takes care of that this time with a flock of sup- porting acts. Femme chirper with the crew Is Judy Ellington, An oke looking blonde, she's weak on pipes. Voice is rather high and thin and she scores only mildly in a short turn. On the other end ot the warble scale and in the final spot is Shirley Ross. As nifty a looker as ever faced a mike here, blonde film caniary is equally strong in voice and nerson- aUty. Following 'Could Be,' the opener, practically all her selections are numbers she Introed in pix. Her easy stage presence and willingness to oblige catch quick attention. Judy Canova with Annie and Zeke repeat the sock they regis- tered at the Earle here a short space back. Trio is tops on both sight and sound in the hillbilly stuff, and tosses in an extra flash with the fine keyboard solo work of Annie. Omy hitch of the act this time is In the dress of the two femmes. A hill- billy gal in fine silk stockings is in- congruous, and it detracts. Funny colored hose they wore previously was better. Another weakener is the lengthy patter with Bamet for the sake of a couple of laughs. It slows up proceedings and should be sliced. The 'Jesse James' number Is sockeroo, as is Judy's short hooflng bit for an encore. Muriel Thomas does two terp singles in opening spot after intro- duction of the band. Femme's been seen frequently in niteries here. She gets off easily. Herb. PALACE, CHI Chicago, April 8. Roxyetfes. (16), Frank Ports, Peggy Taylor Trio, Broion & Ames, RondoU Sisters (3); 'Stori/ of Ver- non and Irene Castle' (RKO). This is a pleasant enough show to i;o along with a picture figured to lave all the necessary b. o. draught Fanchon- &' Marco (Roxyettes) line is back here, and going over espe- cially well with the repeat of the girls working on globes. This has always been a sock line number and it continues .to command plenty of attention from the audience. Two other line routines are satisfactory enough. Topping off the bill Is the. comedy team of Brown and Ames. Brown holds down most of' the routine strictly solo and punches over a highly salable line of comedy cliat- ter. Works in a quiet manner, but his material is loaded with laughs, which he delivers in a clean-cut manner.. Brown indicates plenty of possibilities for bigger and better stuff, and should rate as a top-liner if he continues to build on his pres- ent firm comedy foundation. Audi- ence found him to its liking. Lit- tle Ames femme is a neat trick and puts over her solo warbling and tap number effectively. Frank-Paris has a couple, of.solid items In his puppet turn, particular- ly the ice ucating and the Suzi-Q marionettes.. These are sold with a punch and go over well on clever handling and reasonable motivation. Other puppet numbers In the turn lack a sense of realism that detracts from their effectiveness.. Randall Sisters sing a lot of songs all alike, They lean towards novelty comedy times. A little variety In their pr^ sentation would aid. Back in town on a qiiick return Is the Pegfy Taylor Trio. Miss Taylor has switched over to knockabout burlesque adagio work and the threer some manage to snare a sufficiency of laughs on the prattfalls and the ripped clothing. In between the hoke they sandwich a couple of legit bits. More actual legit stuff would height- en the comedy switches-and solidity the audience's realization that the turn really can adagio If they want to. Business was good at the last show on Friday (7). Gold. from the audience really gets the house. Future policy of the ' <use has not been definitely determined. It's a Bill Miller & Al Rogers peration, as is the vaudfllmer Rivera, In an- other section of Brooklyn. This show plays three days and then the house goes duals until next week- end (15), when a show containing. Benny Rubin, Fifl Dorsay and Bob Howard comes In. - . Admish scale is very , low; 40c top Saturdays and Sundays, 35c > week- days, ISc for adults at the matinees and 10c for kids at any time. The picture, of course, can't be depended upon for draw, so the entire burden rests on the stage. Latter this week Couldn't hold up a cream-puff. Scho. SHUBERT, B'KLYN Nils T. Gronlund Retme, with White Sisters (2), Eve Arden, Dor- othy James, Marion Wilfctns. Collins & Peterson, Continental Thrillers (3); 'The Storm' (U). Everything was late for this thea- tre's debut as a vaudfilmer, including the audience. The house, which formerly played legit (mostly stock), was an hour late opening with Its new policy on Saturday (8), due to the late arrival of equipment and scenery; at that the nabe couldn't have been very excited over the prospect of stage shows, for only the first few rows were occupied at 3 p.m. The Shuberfs first layout head- lines the N.T.G. Revue, which Is dirty and lacking in talent In pres- entation and content in word and action. It's burlesque. But burlesque makes no pretense of hiding tmder another name, whereas N.T.G. is presumably playing to famUy audi- ences in a residential nabe. Atlanta, April 0. Harry Clark, Nelson Sisters (2), Horry fforper. White Brothers (2), Barney Grant, Bobby Jeanne & Co. (4), £nrico I.elde Copitolians, house bond (12); 'The Mod Miss Manton^ (RKO). A couple of N.T.G.'s cracks dur- ing the show are 'He turned pansy* and 'You look like a broken-down fairy.' Though a gentleman farmer, Granlund isn't referrinc to horti- culture or elves. Nor does he walk behind CoUins (and Peterson) to prompt him: nor does that cause Collins to rise on his toes merety for the purpose of stretching. As for the girls with Granlund, they're doubling from his Midnight Sun, Broadway nitery. N.T.G. doesn't even mention the names of some of them, the opening rhumba- toe dancer getting a brushoff, as does the Russian singer, heckled by Collins from a box. A blonde singer was likewise unidentified at {he opening show, but ' Granlund stresses Eve Arden, who does a veil dance. Her talent lies strictly in her sparsely-clad chassis. The 'dancing' is merely a monotonous manipulation of the vc:i to give the audience an occasional peek. What audience there v/as Saturday mati- nee was almost entirely male. Other femmes are Marion WIl- kins, dancer, whose Moorish routine and later interpretation uf various types of hooflng are very poor; Dor- othy James, singer, whose voice doesn't come anywhere near match- ing her looks, and the White Sisters, two blondes who dance, <-ut major in aerial and contortion work. They are about the only ones in the show with real talent. Collins and Peterson, as they are working here, are. strictty in the burley Idiom. XTsually funny, they are laughless .n this spotting. In a I4-mlnute setting they're okay, but on for nearly 75 minutes, as they are at the Shubert thev become quite wearing. On the other hand, the Continental Thrillers, skating trio, bring the show to a good flnish. Two boys and girl have some fast and thriUlng tricks, but their clincher ot whirling two stooges. STATE-LAKE, CHI Chicago, April 9. Leon Miller, Dorothy Oliver, Ralph Cook, June Hart, Mary Stone, Knight Sisters (2), Grisha & Grona, Lee Ma- son; DiHenH & Georgene; Anardo ■& Lita, Latin Quarter Sextet; 'Dis- barred (Par), This is a Balaban & Katz-built unit and issued for the current week under the tag of 'FoUes des Femmes.' Its purpose is to break the pace of straight vaudie shows that have been the- poUcy since! house came under B. & K. operation. Basically, the idea is solid, but it needs a touch' here and there to make it more prac- ticaL And that touch would be the utilization of more standard -vaude- ville talent instead of the' occasional specialty styS which is spotted in this show. B. & K. turned the production du- ties over to Leon Miller, who has turned out a bang-up job of build- ing a flashy, colorful and bulky unit Two or three solid acts In the show would make It surefire. Not only does Miller rate for his excellent production handling of 24 girls, a carload of costumes, a flock of scene changes, but he also comes through on his own to bang through with a hit performance. His solo presentation of various dances from Walking the Dog to the present-day Suzi is. well executed and smartty delivered. Specialty turns swarm all over the show, doing a three or four-minute stint and tiien scramming. Among them are June" Hart, who plays an accordion and does a little time step; Mary Stone, a little jazzy sou brette; Grisha and Grona, a couple of gals who give some s-a. flash to the show with their gold paint and flitter dance number; "DIHgnrl and Georgene, a ballroom" Bance. team. Mixed up in the general production bulk, they manage to squeeze through passably enough. Ralph Cook is the comedian on the bill. He is doubUng from the Ball- Ball club here. Cook works hard'^ at times too hard. His gagging is fair, and he does best with the old vaudeviUe burlesque magic bit that has always been identified with Frank Van Hoven and lately with Dell OITell. It still goes over, howr ever, on its hoke comedy. Cook also does some clowning with hefty war- bler Dorothy Oliver. Late in the show are Anardo and Lita -with a good Apache number, and the Knight Sisters, who are standout with their hand-to-hand and adagio work. Unusual to see a girl as under-stander In an adagio routine end It rates as a good nov- elty stunt Business 'was good at the supper show Saturday (8). Gold. CAPITOL, ATLANTA Abandoning unit |type shows as well as Sunday openings this week, Capitol offers a strong array of tal- ent in this layout It's 45 minutes of solid entertainment -veil sold. Harry Clark, who books acts for Cap, does the m.c. chores. Show starts with Kelson Sisters, Vivian and Tiny, pair f lookers. In a circus act on double trapeze. Femmes' tricks, synchronized and rhythmically done, score. They're Cole Bros. Circus performers in sea- son and will join that tent show in about three weeks. Banjoist Harry Harper follows, strumming out 'Deep Purple' and 'Tiger Rag,' plus train imitation and finishing to 'Bye Bye Blues,* getting over good. White Brothers, Joe and Al, prove better-than-average acrobatic tum- blers. They work dressed up and put plenty of comedy Into their turn. -Boys also use a couple of dogs In their act Barney Grant -who Las been heard on Rudy Vallee's programs. Is spotted next He tied up the show at this catching, second snow Easter Sunday (9). Lad works In hillbilly getup and has nice voice, playing Ills accompaniments, on guitar. He starts with rustic tunes. Interjecting palaver for laughs. He then plays 'Nola' on. piccolo, foiiows 'with 'Listen to the Mocking Bird* and finishes -with some c' ''hopper hoof- ing. He had to. beg off. Bobby Jeanne, - assisted by three lads, Norbey,' Overton, Norrls Spalt and Bobby Remow, constitute the strong 'finale. It's an adagio turn marked by swiftness and pretty work. Turn features a 20-foot 'leap for life' and some nifty one- hand catches. Miss Bernhardt has been featured recently In newsreel shots being' zoomed. 200 feet out of mouth of cannon. She does fhla trick on fair circuits In season. Biz Sunday (0) was n.ar capacity, which can be considered excellent since It was Easter. Folks down her* like to parade in their £nery. Luce. FLATBUSH, B'KLYN LYRIC, INDPLS. Indianapolis, April 8. .' Orrin Tucker's orch, Bonnie Baker, Lorraine Sisters, The Bodyguards, Carter & Holmes, Vera Fern; 'Hound of BaskerviUesT (mh). Playing his first theatre date after a long stay at the Palmer house In Chicago, Orrln Tucker reyeals plenty of showmanship and a flock of orchestral novelties that earn him a front-rank position -among stage bands seen here. Use of glee club singing, special lighting numbers worked on a blackout-out stage, etc makes one think of the styles of Horace Heidt or Fred Waring, and yet Orrin Tucker's offerings stand on their own. His band possibly does not sound as full as it should for stage work, but this fact is covered up pretty well since it does no straight musi- cal numbers. Everything is inter- rupted by vocals, stunts and special- ties. The band's style runs to sweet- swine, and this also conceals its scanty instrumentation. There are eleven men playing, consisting of a rhythm section of bass, drums, gui- tar and piano plus three saxophones, two violins, and only two trumpets for the brass section. Tucker dresses his bandstand well by having his femme vocalist his girl trio and four male singers seat- ed with his musicians. Everyone Is dressed formally in tails and evening clothes to add to the generally pleas- ing appearance. Tijcker himself keeps his baton throughout the show, althouph he does some okay vocaliz- (Continued on page 48) Jimmy Dorsey's orch (17), with Helen O'Connell, Bob £berte, Ruth Barnes, Sybil Bowan; 'Whispering Enemlesf (Col).. Jimmy Dorsey's band and vocal- ists and two outside acts augur a good b. o. week for the Flatbush. When caught ((xood Friday), bousa was packed. Stage policy at this house has been underway only several weeks and in almost every Instance has had a de- cided leaninig toward the blue. Even with a show which revolves' almost entirely, arotmd a band, this again shows Dorsey's outfit In a number by Dorsey's outfit tagged 'Annie's Cousin Fanny,' and some of the cracks 'of Sybil Bowan during her turn dish up some comparatively mild, but nevertheless pointed dou- ble-entendre. It's a little too sharp for a spot that caters to famUy trade, and youngsters were in the house when cauffbt (last show). Dorsey's heading a fine, powerful 14-plece setup and has himself Im- proved, as far as stage work Is con- cerned, at the head of It Once stiff to the point of overcoming the band's Impressions, he's apparently soften- ing. Still has a distance to travel, however, before reaching the Intim- ate Informality demanded of band- leaders these days. Band is sock and, although a bit too loud at times In this l,7P0-seater, goes over strong. Kuth Barnes and Sybil Bowan neatly vary the jive menu. Former is on early, following a Taln't What You Do' Instrumental and vocal by Bob Eberle, and clicks. Her fine tapping runs from rhythmic to faster tempos and gets her off to plenty applause. Sybil Bowan appears In the last half. Her mimicry earns her the top hand. Caps her takeoffs with an excellent one of . Mrs.. F. D. H., prefaced with an apology to the audi- ence which includes the reilnark, "big people can take it* Band's vocalists, Helen O'Connell and Eberle, are also strong. Miss O'Connell has a lot to contend with from the shelf.. Curiously enough her tunes are all setups for repartee. liCads off with 'Hurry Home' then the oldies 'I Cried for You' and 'All of Me.' latter idrew most of the heckling; almost broke her up at one point Gal's an asset to the band, handling her assignment neatly as well as creating a good appearance. Eberle contributes three songs late, as well as doing several throughout They are 'Masquerade is Over,'^Deep Purple' and 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.' Singer has a powerful voice which at times drowns out the musi- cal background. Impossible though to control p. a. to suit as he goes from one extreme tp the other so suddenly. J. D. gives out with his usual sax bit on 'The Bee' as a clos- er, .S^ovir.'8 good,. . , , .