Variety (Jun 1939)

Wednesday, June 21, 1939 VARIETY VARIETY 47 surer • (Cl««»»»«»»> iliek*r F«nill»nl Or 7llM Lucey Sin* P«tter.oii Val Mar 3 Llvlne Stntue* Lillian Kusro Barbara Joan Maria Hole Ccorg* Ktta Saa Bar Curden* TeirK7 Frame Niolie Gallucol Dlik Taylor Ore ISOO Cafe Bandra SItaw Cumllla Bob»rU Wargle Fraiue Sin Miller Jimmy Bronwn Nan Roberta T«»ae plant Teake GrIIU Claire Evani' GeorKe*March«ltl O ^^ pni , , polorce Lackro Vlklns Cafe Jerry Delmar Of9 Murray Parker I.loyd ft Janl9 Virginia Abbott Bstelle .Sloan Helen Brooks Wagon Wheel Al Wilson Johnny Trebon Al Bastlan Oro Weber's Hot Brao <CamdeB) Use Hart Rudy Bruder Jules Flaoco Ore Helen Worthlnctoa Ralph CorabI 8 Guardsmen Arena & Martinez McConnell & Moore Sinclair 3 Znra Lee Bill Evans Sid Golden Signer Karmino J A T Shellenh'mer BIdoradlans Tacht CiDk Jimmy Bailey Klliy HeimUiig Ore hhwadkee Athletle Clnb nal Munro Ore Cbet a Marcia Bert PbUUp't rep Babler ■iSel Eeldel BIstB Fala. Oardea Gabby Rogers Oro Al Buettner Oro Cardinal Clab Jsy Burt Oro Chatcaa Clob ■tan Jacobeen Ore Johnny Poat « Brucettes B ft M Gates Jule Andrea Dorothy Dale Bebe Sherman Solly Ayres Thelma Ward. Ijane Arnpld - Chet Boavell CtoTer Clab Harry Weber Ore Marge Tonne Cleaner Oall Flo Radke - Don Kranlch Margo Cole T\7lns ' Clob Forest Virginia Grey Berdlne Dlckeon Helen Kaye Vera Weleb Hlckey Goldman Clab Madrid Jimmy Rotas Ora Jack Ppangler fielby 1 Janette Held Jllllle Grease Clab Mllwaakeaa Otto Rlobter Oro Club Babara Cordle Bennett Ore Clab Terria OordoD Oenscbore- Mona Hendersoa Btbel Wsrrea Phil KestiB XathlceB Kaye Sale a Dale Jean Renard June Hurley CoBge Clab Christine Mayberry Ima Wagner Tvonne Broadway Crl«tana Buokner Morton Brown Leonard Oay Ora Canles Ship. Ben'Bee Ore Bobble Stuart Ralph Lewis Bailey ft Lamarr Bert Gilbert Fadya KublkolT Oerlaes Eaglea . Billy Baer Oro Bob Garrlty Ora Mabel Drake Red Roberts Ora Gloria Qals Manx's Orotta Gus Brhley Ora VI rg Ilonman Betel ficliToedef (Empire Boom) Rerble Holmes Ore Mancy Hutoon Rari Batsch's fepple Bach Ore Helens Sturn Waller Merhoff Marguerite Dibble _ .Lamea's ■ay Meadows Ore Last Bomd Dp Jimmy Roye Ore Kea Keck Uady'a Dorothy Palg« Marty HoO Vlotor - Cabia «rl Bergman Ore Mlani ciDb Jay a Lucille ♦Queens Elctnor Leonard Jayne ft Daye Pol y Walters Collette Garnet Joan Nleeen Kay Lawrence Jeggy Geary Gene Emerald 'ebnny Davis Ors Modemliitlo &";'e Cummins C Walter Cummins Connie Barleau if n Beche "aureen Roaay "leva Swedls Oro Oasis Shaw Ore ■nooks Hartmaa Old Beldelbcrg Eddie ZIpp Oro Donna LuPaa Claudia Ferris Dlannu Lane nin ne Vere PegRy Hall St ClaIr ft Durnnd Nonfe Morrison Iiouls Streeter Bobble Rae Paria Joe Gumin Ore Kenny Kny Little Ray Bill Davidson Plaatatlaa Clab Bert Bailey Oro Mary Webb Plantation « Brown ft Lyont Hunky Brown - Buddy Tenter S Jokers BeadeiTOna Bob Hatheson Ore Grace Brown Rendesvoos 11 La Nore Sis Marge O'Brien Helen Shower Evelyn Parr Jerry Lynn . Billy I^amont Cedar Oardeas Duke MelvlD Ora Trlza RIoh'd Montgomery Mary Dlson Howard A Carlta Helen Wiles Chateaa Pete GeracI Ore Leon LeVerdle Art West Leon's line College IBB Norman Brill Ore Robbie Colllne Jack Raynor - Freddie's Cafe Tony Emma Ore Barbara Long Frltzls Wick Edille Barnes Stanley Ja<l<ln. Texas Rockets Ooldea Glow Paul Slmonettl Ore Mary Lou Gladys Delmar Camllle Ooormet Club B Roblnfton Oro Harold Copeland Bill Lauchman Gayle Gaylord Harry Meyers Hattan's Club Lenny Colyer Bob Armetrong Marshn - Stone Ruth Parker Hotel Allertna Sondra ft J Steele Betel ClevelaBd Gene' Brwin Oro Walt Bergen Ore Hotel Btcrllnr Marty Lake Ore BIft Blake Oro Vivian Hotter Runty Banks Ann Gregg Alma Williams Helen Claire Jean Hamilton Bomona Brownvlll Scaler's George Wald Oro Marie Kecky Jessie ft Viola Dorothy Hamlltoa BIng Burdlch Roma Costells 7M Clob Babe Laway Ore Teddy Capp Schworta George Wald Ore Shipper Leone Oro Ray Wick Irene Griggs Claude Parmenter Six FelBt CInb Casper Reda Ora Stat* Oaideaa Earl RIgg Ore Irene Sehrank Anita Allen Rose Marie June Hermaa Bddle Kube Flo Bell Betty Lnne Jean Jacques Kliaad Abbcb Matthew Cryan Simeon Phlllpoff Bert Snyder SvBset CInb Eddie Apple Tie Top Tap Joey Feldstcln Ore Ken Leslie Ueluhrel E:dlth Grimth Zlla ft Anis Billy Gray Jerry Bergen Emma Galder Dolores Donar TewB and Conntry Clab TInney Llveng'd Ore Larry Powell Oameo GIs Irene Burke Helen Savage Dorothy Starr Laureen Nevelle Duke Mallne Hal Barber Joan Rogers Mlgnon T»y's esse Landls Ore Mlh ft North Clab Kay Crandell Ore Trocadera Mlren Stuart Jane Rubey Shutta ft Kent Doll^ O'Dea .Woodard Sis WIrib's FatorfsUc Bill Sebweltter Ore Jack Feser Vallle Jay Oro Maureen Rosay Regan ft Mann WIseonslB Roof Prank Cooper Ore M Merrymaker Ore Nlo Harper Oro Tom Sheridan Cappy Lewis Arnold Dupre Maxine Beguette Zanker Cardeas Lyle Stann Oro Ore 'Alpine Village Otto Thurn Ore Caetles Paul a pe,t,t "erman Plrchner B. r. A*aIoB Bejwie Brnwn Jhelma Sloe Bonnie LaVonne CLEVELANl) Allen a Pnrlcer Dni-oihey Wayne Airway Clob Troy Singer Oro Judy Black Cnlar Coontry Club Prank Derrick Ore Monette Moore Slim Thomas M) ra Tu) lor Babe Shormun James ft Peltz Betel HalleadeB Bob Millar Oro Sammy Walsh Martinet's Crow Callahan Els Judy Jants Romany 3 Hotel Statler C Hoagland Oro Jeanne Stewart Curtis Andrews Jack A Eddie's Chick Wllllame Arlene Rice Oro Vlo Corpora Lindsay's Bby-Clab Poison Gardner Rica White Pearl De Luca Monaco's Cafe Wlllnrd Poit'i Ore Jl.irllyn Mnynard Grant Wllnon Moonds CInb Dunes Boys' Jules DeVorzon Jack Webb Ohio Vllto Freddie Carlone Or Mickey Katz 3 Wilds Paul ft Petite Barbara Long Pol-Mar Una Boathera TsTofB Ted King Oro Don ICaye Obaagl Clab Tommy Barnea Ore Hertel Collins Ethel Avery Rose Morgan 8onny Carr DETROIT Ambassador Bill Tracey Rene Danny Beck Crandyl 61s Mel-Lo\«e Ore B4>«k-CadllUe Hotel <Book CaslBO) Lowry Clark Oro (Motor Bar) Vlo Abbs Ore Cheae-Traaiblcy Dnnhy Beck Gloria Shayne Yevo ft Doro Pat Bloor Hank Finney Ore ConiBMdore Clab Virginia Ballou Harry Watklns Kurtfs Marionettes Artm Models Harkar Thomas O Eastweed Gardens Bob Crosby Oro Marlon Mnnn Dorothy Claire Imperial Clab Boyd Senter Nub Brown Ore JelTenaB Beach Dick Bnrrle Ore Anita Boyer Dorothy Mayo Curly Clark Neblolo'a March ft Play Helen Dove Loretta ft Navarre Ray Carlln Ore Nortbwood Ina Ted ft Mary Taft Oragory ft Raym'd lien Young uro Oasis Kan Conroy Jans & Lynton Frank Drool.'s 'Dorothy Berlin Mary Jane Palm Beach Amos Jacobs Capt Frank Art Mee Ronton Pearl Magley • Don Pablo Oro. Powalaa Walter Donahue Mildred Fenton Cai'Ole ft Sharoil Sammy DIbert ore Saks Dancing Remos Johnny Hale. Shirley Handler Doiothy Mayo Don Juan Rodrico O Htetler Hotel (Terrace Boobi) Frank Gagen .tiro Te-Je Farms Four Old Timers Carroll ft Gorman Hal Boom Oro Walled Lake Caalao Tommy Tucker Oro Weetwood Gardens Bunny Berlgan Ore FTTTSBUBGH ABtberage Hughle Morion Ore Maynsrd Desne Arllagtea Lodge Art Norkus Oro Balcanadea Clyde Knight Oro Janet Lee BUI Green's Jack McLean Ore Tommy Cunn ghnra 3 Jacks Howdy Snortland Stormy Gormely Don Gilbert forest Johnny Roberts Ore Everett Haydn Cainevale Puppets Clob Carlisle Red Mitchell Oro Clab Petite piccolo Pete Ore Marlon Mason Vera Barnett Flo Parker Allen ft Davis Louie Amen Cork and Bottle Caria Moore Nick Parlllo Eddie Peytea's MItte Peyton Phil Cavezza Ore Joyce Palmer Marlon Muller El Ceaga king Bass Oro , Tondelayo ft Lopez Grant I'age Nick Brooks Ruth Baker Hazel Calloway Blllls McAlllsier Evergreen Cardene George Baurcr Ore Dave Jeffreys Marlon Mason Lois Donn Hotel Henry M Contreras Oro Concblta Hotel Jachlonn Freddy Caatle Ore Hotel Roosevelt Bon Aire 3 Hotel Sehenley Howard Baum Ore Buzz Aston Jack Rogers Hotel William Penn (Urban Jbior) Joe Ilelchnian Ore Paul Moore Tony Do I'arde Dave Ke'ner (Contlnentnl Bar) Billy Cail'/une Harry Martin Johnny Fritz Al DILernla ItallaB Gardeas BtsI Covnto Ore Bernis Perella Michael Strange Johnny Morris Dick Smith Batty Nylsnder Larry ft Davis Nora Lewis Keaaywood Jimmy Joy Oro Gal Moran Vernon Batty Guy McCombs Bernards Elephants New Peaa Jimmy Bray Oro Thompson Sis Betty Gay Chlcqulta NIxoB Cafe Al Marslco Oro Bob Carter Sybil Roth Lealles nule.>n. Tamara ft B Angela Dl Palma Nat Honse 6 Rhythmanlacs Boogy-Wongy Jack Lewis Harry. Nosokofl Reggie Dvorak Al Mercur Jim Buchanan pines J Livingstone Oro Nolan Canova Frances Crawley Pbtra Cafe Jimmy Peyton Ors Adele Curtis Sidney ft Ames Dewey Moon Jack Morgan Rlvlcta Hal Curtis Oro llorothy Jones Br'zz Dlp^nkl Show Boat II Middleman Oro Billy Kcaton ROMS Kenny Betty Beniton Co-Kds (S> CnloB Grill Art Tsgello Frank Natal* Webster Hall Nelson Maples Ore Iluzzy Kouniz Oeorge Weber Buzz Mayer West View Emerson Gill Ore Call Rood Campbells Willows mil Mary^all Ore llarbnra Bush Johnny Duffy New Acts RUBINS AND BITA Adagio 5 Mlns. B. C. Mnslo Hall, N. T. This is a fast turn with a load ol solid merit for any place wanting a surefire adagio routine. Opened here with some whip-snapping by the man, a he-man fresh from a Baby- lonian saturnalia. From flagellation he progresses to assault and battery. The girl is tossed about with spirit. For the last whirlwind minute or two the routine is a steady crescendo of nifty catches, lifts, and general mayhem. Excellent Land. JOHNNY JOHNSTON Songs U Mlns.; One State-Lake, Chicago Johnston is a young singer who has been riding over NBC out of Chicago for several months. The State-Lake marks his first stage ap- pearance. His complete lack of stage experience works against him, but with time he should come up with a good single vocal turn that will please ^e pop fans In the variety spots. He makes a good appearance and handles himself casually enough, but he needs some lessons in song sales- manship, especially for the finish of each tune. Pipes are plenty okay, With the register hitting the ears pleaisurably. His choice of songs is good, concen- trating on the best sellers of the day. At one spot J.ohnston invites danger by asking the audience to join him In putting over a song. Until he gets more experience in handling the occasional young hood- lum who may get out of line, he will do well to stick to his solo canary job and let the audience remain just the audience. Gold. COON CBEEK GIBLS (4) Songs, Muslo 5 Mliu. Stanley, PiUsborgh. HiUbilly foursome comes from radio with quite a rep and also the honor of singing before King and Queen of England at the -white House entertainment For the stage, however, - gals have little to offer. Airwaves nave always been particu- larly non-allergic to this type, of turn, but a visual acquaintance definitely shows up the Coon. Creekers' shortcomings. .Girls wear gingham dresses and cotton stockings to substantiate their billing, play bass fiddle, guitar, man- dolin and banjo, one of them also doubling on the violin, and sing in nasal discords. Instrumentally, they're not bad, getting some snappy go-to-meetin' stuff out of their set-up, but vocally, quartet is something else again. Their numbers soimd like double-talk, with only about one word out of a . dozen catching the ear at all. Turn consists of four spots, three vocal and the other music, with the red-head going to town on the fiddle for the best individual bit of the act Look uneasy on the stage, but that's not important in a hillbilly turn, al- though the girls could make their seeming discomfort seem a bit more authentic. As it is, they have neither the amateur nor the professional touch, falling unsteadily between the two classifications. They need a showman's guiding hand, Cohen. House Reviews KEITH'S BOSTON (Contined from Page 45) the Rosenwald orch give them good backing, ... McKennas are a slap-about duo, built around Jane's singing, which is interrupted by belts in the back and kicks from her partner. She re- taliates until the custoipers are slap- happy. Their ' adagio burlesque ' is also funny. McKenna winds up with a good drunk monologue, switehing in character from an inquiring cop to a blotty stew-bum. Unfortunately, George Beatty also has a*^ ossified bit about 15 minutes later, and it's too much on one show. It's his standard sailor drunk, with vocal about his tattooed sweetie, and one could hardly expect him to drop it because of the McKenna number. Beat^'s swift gags are so stream- lined that it takes the customers about two minutes to get wise. As usual, he brings in a dialect vocal, impersonating Henry Armetta run- ning for Congress. His bit of daffy radio announcements, breaking up his warbling of 'Sweet Mystery of Life'—and the thank you, music lo -- :'—is stlU surefire. Dorh Bros. & Mary register in the trey through swing vocals, radio impersonations and sound-effect tricks. The Wayne King signature is well duplicated, and sound repro- duction ot a plane falling in flames is one of their best bets. Tiove Mountain Music' and 'Nellie Gray,' in swing,, are standouts in the vocal end. Yacopis are out of the Ringling circus this year, so they a^ ear In vaude at an off-season for them. Always good for thrills ofl!: the teeter-board, the troupe look even smarter than ever bieforo.- There's less missing of triclcs and the flap' doodle of circus bowing and gestica lating, with concentration on fast moving performance. Among the ace tricks of the Yacopis: a four-mount with' the woman catapulted off the board onto three standing men; a backward fly- ing somersault by two men, hanging to^'.ither, onto the shoulders of a' ground man; and a triple backward somersault by a single man shot off the board into a chair held by the ground men. Fox, STATE-LAKE, CHI Chicago, June 17. Jackson & Bldekwell, Vol Setz, Keaton dc Armflelds, Frances Wills, Storm* A Lee, Johnny Johnston, Charlev Kemper & Co., Clare A Sanna Sisters; 'Blind Alley' (Col), Rejecting Code (Continued from page 5) by Allied, as sought by the Govern- ment in the Griffith suit is not cov- ered in the code, nor is there any- thing in the pact having to do with lack of availibility of prints. Clause on overbuying gives no authority to the arbitration boards to apportion the product on the basis of quality. Allied also claims that distribs right now are guUty of the foUowing: 1. Requiring exhibs to negotiate for and license shorts before they will even tiiscuss selling the fea- tures. 2. Shorts are being forced. 3. Fdreign films are being forced. . 4. Despite business cpnditions now prevailing, price of flat rental pic- tures have been raised and the num- ber of percentage films increased to offset possible loss through exercise by exhibs of the cancellation priv- ilege. 5. Special inducements are being offered in price and terms for waiver of the cancellation privilege. 6. Waiving of guarantees and sell- ing on straight percentage in order to secure preferred playing time is being indulged. 7. Score charges are being added to all fiat rtntals for 1939-40. In addition, distribs are increasing film rentals to equal the amount of the score charge formerly paid on per- centage pictures. .8. National allocations are being discontinued, thus retarding free u.se of cancellation and restricting same to the lowest price bracket Plenty of entertainment In this show with a flock of family time-acts to give 'em everything from acro- batics to slapstick. Storms and Lee open with a legitimate dance turn, doing their finale tap number to the 'Orpheus' overture. A good variety Idea. Later down in the show, there are Jackson and Blackwell doing a burlesque dance turn, with the regu- lation flops, kicks and sprawls. Wind up with a legit acrobatic lifting stunt Other dancing bit on the show is by Frances Wills, who turns in a good control routine. Val Setz, juggler works hard In the two-spot; he tries everything and puts most of it over. Specializes on rubber balls and Indian clubs. For the end tosses in a Russian dance. On sheer weight of material, Setz makes good. Clare St Sanna Sisters, a man and two girls in a well-costumed and neatly-presented skating act close the show. Work on a small arena and sell themselves quickly. For comedy there's Charley Kem- per and George Haggerty. Kemper never forgets the burlesque book of routines. And with that as the foun- dation) always manages to come up with old but laugh-garnering mate- rial. This time, Kemper does two burleycue bits: the insurance ques- tionnaire and the duolosue about the two brothers, Izzy and Wuzzy. Keaton and Armflelds are the other comedy act They get over best with a stooge who does a cornet Im- personation by using only Ji Is tonsils. Otherwise its regulation man and woman crossfire, with the gal step- ping out. on her own f6'r' some comedy dancing. Johnny Johnston (New Acts) again demonstrates vaudeville's desperate need for break-in dates. They sent him in here cold from an NBC ether warbling buildup. It's his first ap- pearance oh a sta^e, and he does well enough considering that he doesn't know many of the basic things that any stage performer should. He's young and makes a good appearance. Besides, he has a nice pair of pop tonsils. With experience, Johnston indicates ability to develop into a stage performer with plenty of ap- peal. He got over all right with the mob here, though they started to go aftei him when he invited them to help him in singing a couple of tunes. Business jiKt fair at the la.<^ .ihow on Friday a6). Gold. APOLLO, N. Y. £arl Hines band (15), Kathryn Perry, Charlie Bristol, Two Zephyrs, Madeline Belt, Btna Williams, Jack Sneed, Vivian Harris, Plgmeat, toys Bright, House line (16); 'My Son It a Criminal* (Col). Presence of Earl Hines' band makes the new bill at this house. Otherwise, it's light Innocuous fare with accent on clowning. That well- drilled line of girls and a few. boys offers much the same stepping It has been doing In recent weeks, but strenuous considering .torrid weather - when caught Hines' outfit hasn't been in this sector of New York for about a year. And the crew has added plenty of polish. Although taking the muffler off for this engagement because they like it loud up here, the aggregation has scads of dileinallty, snappy ar- . rangements and llstenable swingeroo. 'Riding a Jive,' first tune after opener, is a slick concoction ot weird notes and a wide ramiflcation of solos by five crew members. 'Deep Purple' . gives the sax soloist a chance to shine. Glee Club of or'- ganlzatlon chimes In for 'Piano Man,' with Hines working strenu- ously with the Ivories. Encores .with 'Lady's In Love,' again sporting his skill as pianist Kathryn Perry, on for three prolonged warbles, best of which Is 'Don't Worry About Me.' She has a pleasing voice, but was a trifle unbending here before the mike. The Two Zephyrs, Negro males, mbp UD with pantomimic buffoon- ery. Expert dancers, they've put together something out of the ordi- nary with their slow-motion panto episodes. Open with a loud effort to get music out of washboards and pans. After that they go into their slow-posing-danclng that needs only speeding up and a little pruning to make a solid click elsewhere. Jack Sneed (also billed as Sly Mongoose) supplies lowdown comedy ballading and guitar playing. Fave here. CHiarlle Bristol registers well with his spapy tapsterlng. Plgmeat and Vivian Harris grab laughs with another skit from the hurley book, " Collegiate Idea permits the chorus to wear sweaters and short skirts; Back' later for 'Sunrise Serenade' and a variation ot garb. BIng Wil- liams, leading the production sing- ing, developing Into a pretty good warbler. Madeline Belt and Loys Bright latter from .the line, and ■ limber stepper, also are used In the modest production numbers. NUty male acrobatic dancer is unbilled but went over nicely. Wear. EMBASSY, N. Y. (NEWSEEELS) Sound judgment is being exercised In holding over last week's clips ot the visit of the British King and Queen to the United States. With the footage ot Their Maj^ies' New York and Hyde Park stands added, the entire runoff on the subject which lasts 18 minutes, serves as an impressive, colorful and well-edited document Fox. supplies the addi'r tlonal clips and, like the lens pano- rama ot -the previous week, the sup- plement dramatically captures the enthusiastic greetings which deluged the royal couple. Tragedy dominates the rest of the newsreel parade. Universal con- tributes the first reelage on the sink- ing of the British siS) Thetis. It's stark stuff. Taken from a plane, the clip shows navy workships hover- ing around the projected stern of the submarine and the latter gradu- ally disappearing from view. In- terlarding these shots ire camera observations of the doomed men's families as they huddle In dis- traught groups ashore, with the sub commander's wife weaving in and out among them spreading words of reassurance. Universal also scores with its pictorial recital of the ar- rival In Mexico City of the body of SIrobia, Mexico's flying hero. Paramotmt offers background for the Jap blockade ot the British con- cession In Tientsin by picturing the many-precautions taken by the for- eign and Chinese authorities in this settlement to avoid cause for Jap hostlUtles. Sombre and poignant Is the refu- gee story that Paramount tells by way of clips taken In Cuba of the liner Flandre, which like Its prede- cessor, the St. Louis, found the local government refusing a haven to the ship's load of Nazi victims. Bound to etch themselves deeply ' on the spectator's memory are these flashes of sobbing children and of the bleak, bewildered faces ot the adult voya- geurs; Another. totalitarian remin- der stems from Fox. It shows Mussolini's troops leaving Spain for home. Of particular moment In the sports department are bits of golf play at the National Open in Philadelphia (Par) and the celebration of base- ball's centenary at Cooperstown (M-G), with the latter attended by many oldtime notables of the dia- mond. Lew Lehr (Fox) goes cock- ney but not very funny in bis run- ning comment on a firefighter expo- sition outside of tiondon. OdeC