Variety (Apr 1939)

Wednesday, Aprfl 26, 1939 VARIETY HOUSE REVIEWS VARIETY 35 MUSIC HALL, N. Y. mSSio VtoHn, Frot* Nototeki, con- SeSnm EffilVti Duerler, RocJcettes, rSrcittb. COTTW de Ballet; 'Dark Victon/* <W^'' revlevBed in Vahiett, Horch 15. State show runs exceptionally short this week, due to the length ol the picture (104 mins.), but all Standby departments and personaU- ties manage to get Into the proceed- • Jngs long enough to hold their Xran- fhlses. Also buttonhooked into the «l minutes of fleah doings is a Sappy roUer-skating act The stage SSsination^ takes the Utle of w^nte to Spring* and climaxes this ^nal greeting with a repetiUon Sthe Music Hall's standard spec- tacle, "Blossom Time on the Poto- the opening inning, Evelyn Duerler lifts a dulcet soprano to a Kwdelay on Tulip Time' and, from show-windows lining the boxes on either side of the auditorium, there emerges a parade of mannildns clad In Dutch costumes. With the scenic Uckground featuring a Dutch wind- iiiUl, the Rockettes, togged^ In the saine nugget of fashion, take over the next few minutes for an assort- ment of softshoe dancing and high- Uck drilling. Harry Leech and Betty are given a park setting for their whirlwind toutln». of roller-skbte acrobatics. •Stila team of youngsters go a few notches above the conventional triclu of the trade and sock home in showmanly profusiota the more dlfUcult variations in arm roUs, bodv swings and muscle controls. Leech is even different when It comes to performing the handkerchief pick- m>> He whirls around until his nose can't l>e more than an inch from the floor. „ Following, item brings Jan Peerce and the Glee Club together for a pleasant arrangement of "The lla^auerade Is Over.' TUs all blends neatly into the finale, which hag the house ballet disporting It- self rhythmically and gracefully be- fore an impressive scenic replica of Washington's Japanese cherry trees in blossom, the Potomac and the Capitol's dome. Odec. STATE-LAKE, CHI Chicago, April 22. George Bauer & Co., Jue Fong, Alice Daum, Alice Kavan, Jack La- Vler, Fla00 & Arnold, Dich & Dot Remy, Jaclcson, Stoiie & Reeve; Three Musketeers' (20th). Lot of show here for the custom- .'Or's money. EUght standard acts and a good picture at 40c. top is value In anybody's town. George Bduer and Co. opens the bill with their novelty dance work and go over neatly for the getaway. Around for a long time, 'it still a good novelty singer In a family house is Jue Fong, who sells him-' self nicely with ms pop vocalizing. Jack LaVier is another playable novelty in vaude with his inan on the flying trapeze' comedy perch tarn. VThlle tecluilcally ai. acro- batic turn. It is really a comedy monolog routine hapdled for good variety results. Outstanding for class and distinc- tion is Alice Ravan (New Acts) with ber bright and solid dance act Flagg and Arnold are a serious hand-to- band acrobatic team. They make a good appearance, but have a rather slow turn. Alice Dawn sings pop songs energetical]^. For soUd audience reaction to ac- robatics there are Dick and Dot Remy. The gal in this act has grown to Mack-trucklsh dimensions in the £ast couple of years, and .lier ability > still come through with acrobatic q)lits, flip-flops, etc., makes her an excellent novielty. The young man u also an asset with Kis acrobatic stunting, espedally with novelty gadgets such as band-skates, hand- 8tUts,etc. Jackson, Stone and Reeve do a iltue of everybody and everything and manage to do an act Stone does • Barry Ritz (unannounced) and Jim- my Durante (announced). Jackson oog himself and Reeve comes in Wth a good solo tapping routine, un the Durante impersonation, the uKe schnoz is not necessary, since stone indicates abOlty to work such up ^|^'^''*tl<'° without any make- Business good last show Friday Cold. PARAMOUNT, L. A. Lo« Antreles, April 20. , SrUc Rhodes, Judy Storr, Plnkv •?fe * Co., George Downey, Jimmy S£!?*4. FanchonetUs; 'The Ladt/** from Kentuckv* (Par). Film colony and radio was drawn ™ fpr two top-liners on current weeK s stage show in persons of, Erik «nodM and Judy Starr, respectively. « addition. Pinky Lee & Co, not po^mmed, are Just back from Australian tour en route to London to fill vaude dates and they add ma- terially to success of the bill. Rhodes, in addition to warbling several tunes and clowning, acts as m.c. and does. a capable job. His ringing is not so forte, however robust but he gives the pay custom- ers plenty for' their adinisslon. Miss Starr, tiny songster, is back at the Par after about three years, during which time she has achieved quite a national rep singing over uie air with pop name bands. Gal is full of personality and has about everything it takes. The way she puta over her tunes in swing- time leaves nothing to be desired. Opening of show is flash tableaux, participated in by the 20 house Fan- chonettes, with femmes then going Into a coloiful and well executed routine. Rhodes is brought on for faitroductory dancing- with various members of the group and proceeds to vocalize and clown. Pinky Lee is a hoke comic aided by semi-straight man and attractive femme, latter doing some nifty danc- ing. Comedy is of the infectious type and scores decisively, with Lee uncorking some dexterous stepping tor his finale. Then Judy Starr,. followed by George Downey, tramp comic cyclist reminiscent of Joe Jaclcson, and Suite humorous In his own right lowney works with a. brealuway bike, uses the timewom interfering cuff gag, and clowns his way in pan. tomime to-a big finish. Closing has Jimmy Dickie, car. toonist surrounded by the Fan. chonettes, doing a series of draW' ings which are reflected on a screen back stage. 'Windup is a patriotic ensemble, with the gals forming a huge relief map of the United States and sending every)>ody away "bip- hip-hooraying.' Edua. ORPHEUM, MPLS. Minneapolis; April 22. Wayne Kin^a orch (13), Peppino & Caille, Dean Murphv, Lynn, Royce & Vanya; 'I'm from Mxssouri' (Par). 'Wayne King has dropped down the radio popularity ladder, accord- ing to recently published standings, but he undoubtedly will climb ace high in vaudfllm fans' estimation If he tours with his present show. Showmanship, 'music and a bit of vaudeville, all exceptionally good, add up to one of the 1>est band unit offerings to play here this season. In staging, lighting, swift pace and aU-around quality, this presentation rates tops. Other radio and nitery ttands contemplating theatre excur- sions might do well to take a leaf out of long's boolc Firstly, of course. King has a bang-up orchestra comprising really first-rate musicians whose playing merita high praise. Secondly, ar- rangemente are superb. But, with- out the skillful selection of numbers, the production artistry and the masterly manner the show is put together and run off, it still might hie just another stage band. There are only three acts—^two of which classify as dance turns—but each is a show stopper. Band plum- bers provide most of the show, but there's no surfeit King eschews the corny entirely and makes only two concessions to Jive fans—'Hold Tight* and "TaranteUa* at the perform- ance's' start and finish, respectively, "niree violins and two clarinete make for smoothness of tone. It's the sweet and soft music that has brought King fame, yet It possesses more snap and life than his pre- vious contributions. There are bizarre back drops to give atmospheric emphasis to sev- eral of the band numbers and vari- ous striking lighting eflecte are cleverly employed throughout King is a gracious and self-effacing m.c, conducting unobtrusively and taking a whirl at the sax. One deficiency, however, is the lack of at least one feminine or male vocalist King himself croons one number but hardly scintillates in that capacity. Peppino and Camille are the° first act after the oreh's initial session. They're a smooth, polished ballroom ?iair, popular here as a result of a engthy Minnesota Terrace nitery engagement Dean Murphy gives a new twist to'his iinpersonations by embodying them into a monolog that carries hm» from one to another without interruption, and with a semblance of continuity. It's mimicry at its best Murphy's material being exceptionally good, too, althou^ somewhat off-color In several spots. The act furnishes plenty of laughs and the customers are loath to let Murphy go. His curtain speech is a knockout ' . „ The oreh's next numl>er is Deep Piirple,' which calls into play an- other bizarre backdrop and Peppino and Camille for more posturing and prancing. Then the outfit goes into still another composition of one of its own members 'Annaiielle.' Lynn. Royce and 'Vanya are click knockabout comedy adagio dancers. The femme of the trio Is whirled from one man to the other for a thrilling finale. A hot orchestra swing number, Tarantella,' Is a lively finish to the show. House was two-thirds full at open Ing. Rees. COLISEUM, LONDON London, April 16. Poul Bemy, Betty Driver, Bertha WtUmott, Yvonne Amaud, Jack Mel- ford, Patricio McGrath, Horace Goldin, Murray & Money with Eric Edgley & Clem Dawe, Edna Lus' combed Mae Knight, Joe Termini, Darmora La Vie Porisienne Dancers. The headline' attraction at the Coliseum this week is Yvonne Ar- naud, weU-Imown comedy star here; in an ' Edwin Burke playlet 'You Can't Beat Them.' It is new to this country, but is probably one of Burke's old ones, with a cast of three—wife, husband and friend. Miss. Arnaud plays the wife, Jack Melford the husband, and Patricia McGrath the friend. Husband is stingy on wife's, allowance, but in- clined to be generous to the friend who seelcs contributions to charity. These turn out to be sums of money which the friend turns over to the wife to enable her to pay her dress- maker's bills. It is scarcely worthy of Miss Amaud's talents. Next in importance is Horace Goldin in an up-to-d e illusion act which is sufficiently intriguing to hold the audience in- closing spot "rhe remainder of the show is inter- spersed by Murray and Money, old-time cross-talk comedians, aug- mented by Eric Edgley . and Clem Dawe, who are billed as Australia's foremost comedians. They are as- sisted by Edna Luscombe and Mae Knight, and the six of them work through the acts of several others. If Messrs. Edgley and- Dawe are in reali^ Australia's 'foremost come, dlans,'. the Antipodes does not coil' tribute much: Their style of work is oiitmoded and they resort to the old skit 'Do you know what we do with strawhata here?' jumping upon the victim's headpiece. The laughing hit of the program, in a late spot is Joe Termini, who now works with a man. and woman for a finish.' The girl is - -etty and sings well, and the man a lanky loose-limbed hoofer. On their own they would be hardly strong enough, but are very competent assistants to the somnolent melodist Show opens with Paul Bemy, a French juggler, who manipulates tennis rackets, Indian clubs, ete., while doing Russian stepping. He works rapidly for a brief turn with- out stalling and earns well-deserved applause. Bet^ Driver is a single, comedienne who apes Grrde Fields negligibly. Bertha Willmott is a torch singer who does some radio work. She depends upon ancient popular tunes, asking the audience to join in. 'Wby is it tliat all torch warblers carry chiffon dusters in their right hands and' wave Uiem about while vocalizing? The Darmora La Vie Parlslenne Dancers, h.o. from last week, have a shorter and slightly altere" rour tine, but still feature the Can-Can quadrille, which is their best num- I>er. And through i'-t most of the evening come Murray and Mooney and their Australian prototypes In efforts to do funny bits like the Palladium's Crazy Gang. Jolo. CAPITOL, WASH. Donald Duck on skates, all scoring, Cardini takes it next for usual sodc suave deception stuff, .^yanlcing cards and lighted cigareta out of midair as always, but adding a shifting bOM- tonniere and flame-shooting matches, which are new. Godfrey warbles 'Turkish Delight' aided by Lampkin in fez and sheet Song is one he does over air regu- larly and in person it is Just as sock. Also warbles his latest composition, 'Grandma's Minuet' a sentimental ditty. Ames and Arno bust on for the finale with their gamut of slapstick hoofing and nut verses, leaving out none of the stock stuff and adding plenty of their own ideas. Godfrey gets in on some hoke at the finish. Biz oke. Craig. TOWER, K. C. Washington, April 21. Arthur Godfrey's Retnte with the Stapletons, Mary Russell, Kotherine Westfield, Cardini, Ames tt- Arno, Phil Lamplcin's house orch; 'Let Freedom Rinif (M-G). Arthur Godfrey, whose spieling, warbling and m.c.'ing have kept him far and away the top figure in local radio for years, has gathered up his ether crew, inixed it with three standard acts and' the house orch, and, with Gene Ford, Loew's di- visional producer, has emerged with a revue as varied as it is informal. Granted it would need plenty tight- ening to click In a non-Godfrey town, ifs right up the alley of the customers here. Red-headed favor- ite son lias dabbled in nearly every entertainment field, but sticks to amateur pose as regards vaude. working strictly as a radio star out of his element and keeping audience on his side throughout Pit band Is banked on, full-stage with (Godfrey's radio mainstays, elec- tric organist Johnny Salb, and vi- braphonist Bee. Clements, in the center, above Godfrey's piano with neon-lighted keytward: (Godfrey opens 'With band, alternating be- tween piano and banjo in variations of ^Avalon.' He then brings on house maestro, Phil Lampkin. who waves the stick for the Stapletons, who follow with smooth, sophisti- cated pantomime and ballroom taps. Kids are good looking and well dressed. Godfrey takes it again to introduce Salb and Clements, and then brings on his other air feature, Mary Rus- sell, attractive blonde soprano, who pleases with 'Sweethearts.' Gal then dons old-fashioned bonnet and shawl and Godfrey gets into derby and mustaclie for comedy ditty con- cerning Agatha and Wulber going to the St Louis World's Fair, a little long. Gal goes straight again to sing Summertime,' with Godfrey war- bling Interpolations of 'Snowball, My Honey* to strong finish. Godfrey next brings out Katherine Westfleld, who works puppets. Hoof- ing doUs include rhumoa dancer, clown, Alice-Blue-Gown warbler and Kansaa City, April 22. Orrin Tucker's orch, with Bonnie Bafcer, Lorraine Sisters (3), Body- guards (4), Roger Burton, Melba Ccrdes, Vero Fern, Vic Hyde; 'Win- ner Take All' (20th). . The Tower is in the swing this week with one of its infrequent stage shows. It's a semirunit arrange- ment of Tucker's organization with a duo of added acts, and mounts up to a sizeable entertainment package. It's the secctad appearance of this crew here in six months. Following a pop song opening. Tucker, as m.c., calls the. Lorraine Sisters, trio, to lead off the vocaling. Their hoteha harmonizing is sup- ported by the Bodyguards, male foursome, featuring Gilbert Mer- shbn. Arrangements are novel and the group clicks nicely. Second spot is taken by Vera Fern as a straight single with a short aesthetic acrobatic routine. Band then offers ita l>est novelty fea- ture, illustrating various rhythm s^les from dark stage with colored lighta representing several insbu. ments. Number clicked well in for mer appearance aiid with few changes this time is still solid. Mershon's solo is. the entree for the glee club ensemble of dozen male voices, crew sticking to pops this time and winding up with their Tower Blues' specialty, strictly for local interest Roger Burton, band fiddler, gets an inning .to play his own composition, 'Fly in the Fiddle.' The catehy novelty tune Is illus- trated by toe dancing of Melba Cordes, but music takes the spotlight Burton has written himself a small repertory of similar tunes and could be made a stronger feature of the organization. High spot of the show is the war. bling of Bonnie Baker. Style is her chief stock, 'Specially for You' and 'Sweet Little Headache* aptly il- lustrating her type. Personalizing the songs la large reason for long list of encores deinanded. Next-to-elosing Is assigned to Vic Hyde, added act with his one-man band routine. Features playing of multiple instrumenta at same time, act building all the way. Finale playing of fonr trumpets simul- taneously 'registers. Band finale is built around Tuck- er's own 'I Need Lovin' and It's a strong finish. More available unite like this would see more fieah In the Tower. Quin, SHUBERT, B'KLYN Pat Rooney, Walter V/alters, Lee Royce, Lucky Sisters (2), Rosalie, Mitts & Shea, Ben Nelson's band (6): '/ Am a Crinfinal' (Mono) and 'Texas Wildcats/' (Indie). This bill looks like the swan song for the.Shubert There will tie no more vaudeville under the present management after this bill closes. After two weeks with a more expen- sive outlay, a moderately-budgeted policy went in. It pleases the cus- tomers despite number of singles and a lightweight house band, but the trouble is that there aren't enough customers. Also, the theatre is blanketed by too many other film houses. Pat Rooney, doing much the same soft shoe routine he's clicked with for years, is the bell-ringer of the bill. Annoimces that he has been on the stage SO years, but scores via his sheer terpsing ability. Forced to make speech before getting away. Mills and Shea scored with their standard tumbling and knockabout sailor clowning, familiar for years. Walter Walters offers his usual ven- triloqutal turn. That record-play- ing over the phone and the crying intant stunt soimd good. . Rosalie, whose accordion playing is familiar, retains 'Second Hun. gariaii Rhapsody' as one of her best solos. 'Must Have.-Been a Beautiful Baby' is tried vocally as - well as with the accordion. Her voice is light 'Anchors Awelgh' is a neat novelty with ita sound of marching feet and 'Bumble Bee' gives her a trim closer. Lee Royce who m.c.'s the show, ballads 'Without a Song,' 'Eieat of My Heart' and 'Old Man River' in rapid succession. He has a power- ful voice and they liked him here. He's been working as Joe Besser's straight man. Lucky Sisters, two colored girls, make a try at vocal- izing "Hold Tight' and then robustly go into their tapping.-" Obviously need plenty of furbishing; Wear. STATE, N. Y. George Givot, Eddie DeLange's orch, Carroll & Howe, Neila Good- elle. Five ElginS, Elissa Cooper. Maurice & Maryear 'Stagecoach (UA). A five-course vaudeville buffet of regulation service, this show enter- tains sufficiently well to suit as supr plemental fodder with 'Stagecoach' (UA), on second-run here after a two-week date at the Music Hall re- cently. Drau^t Is the picture and Givot, plus Eddie DeLange. Last- mentioned has buUt up bis following through broadcasting since first caught at a 52d street bistro. A com- paratively new orchestra, having been organized last summer, De- Lange has Just closed 'with the Ptiil Baker progiam on the air waves and is now going oiit on theatre dates. The DeLange crew of 13 men, some of whom double for vocals, are sup- plemented by the slnginv EUssa Coo- per, with the original Will Hudson- Eddie DeLange orchestra, and by the ballroom team of Maurice and Maryea, recently back from Europe. Popular swing' number, with moder- ation of brass, and novelty songs are featured. DeLange, lyric writer of numerous tunes, liatest being 'Heaven Can Walt' wears tails and is the - more dignified type of leader. Miss Cooper does one number with DeLange, a cute thing, as well as two very clever novelty songs. 'Eagle Eye Flnkel* and 'What tMs Coimtey Needs Is Food*. She is a nersonable youm; miss from the South, who clears the hurdles neatlv as a swing singer. Maurice and Maryea's two dances are both excellent besides being distinguished by in.i;enlous rou- tining, Givot back from abroad, has added some new materiaL the Greek di- alectics around Marc Antony and Cleopatra belne nartlcularly effec- tive. Crack about how long It's go- ing to take us to get' into another war Is sour grapes, but otherwise the Givot turn Is beyond reproach in any W»v. No. 3 Is Neila Goodelle, and No. 2 is the team of Carroll and Howe. Both acta fit requirement*;, adeouate- ly. Buddy Carroll and Jean Howe, an effective comedy-dancing combi- nation, carry material that te a vital asset for them. Mis.<* Goodelle. who jiings in one at a mlke and also at the piano upsteee. Is no smash, but does new as well as old number.<: in a autte sast.sfactory m?nner. She mpkes a eood appearance. Real old-time vaude flavor Is lent bv the Five El«Ins. hat and Indian '>inh iiioTierg, who are good at their '—■'•/» TMq f,nt been n'nving aroimd a long, long flme. Char. EMBASSY, N. Y. (NEWSBEELS) Exhibitors have lately started ask- ing with more frequency what has happened to the newsreels. The gen- eral opinion is that are thev are less newsy than they used to be, as Judged by what the common opinion of news u, and that too many Issues are nothing but a lot of fiddle-faddle. Because of handling, together witia the editorial fearlessness with which the March «f Time approaches ita subjects, exhibitors are apparently willing to pay. many times ttie rental for this monthly reel than for others. Although the newspapers are full of hot news these days, the newsreels aren't Tendency of picture com- panies to avoid wis and that refus- ing to let their editors go after hot stuff without restriction, is no doubt responsible, niere Is no question but that newsreel editors can get most of the real news and present it with- out regard to ita controversial as- pects, or fears of complaint but they apparently aren't permitted to do this. The current jvogram of 54 clips here this week offers nothing of a startling nature. It is made up most- ly of routine, negligible stuff, a lot ot which the average newspaper would toss into the wastebasket A couple laugh Items with Lew Lehr another of a couple kid. boxers that is rather cute and some material ttiat is very finely photographed, stand out in sharp relief to the rest of the stuff. A forest fire In Washington and surf riding in Australia, former by Paramount latter Pathe, are both ex- ceptlonallv well shot . Another that is a credit to the cameraman is Fox- Movietone's piece on a Lake Michi- gan ice-breaker, including exposures at night The following are typical of what the newsreels are giving the public these days: A mechanical man; Pasadena fash- ions; N. Y. sculptors show outdoors; Embassy (this theatre) cleaning up street; Prince of Iran (very old -tuff): Beck of Poland; Chamberlain taking a walk with a cane; some army recruits sailing for Panama; parade in Milan; something In Dub- lin that seems to have no special sig- nificance; Max Baer imitating Joe Louis and Galento, young camels and bears in Iiondon zoo; shoe fadions; street clotties fashions: gaffing some salmon in Oregon (this is very hot stuff); airplane tactory in Liverpool (good any time): Baltimore clipper arrives: and Mt Rainier skiing. Nothing of great Importance con- (Contlnued on page 38)