Variety (Jun 1939)

44 VARIETY VARIETY HOUSE REVIEWS Wednesday, June 28,' 1939 MUSIC HALL, N. Y. £rno Rapee symph, Richard I>etbeTt„ Leonidoff preseiftation urith Marie Grimaldt, Ballet, Jan Peeree, Joe Jackson, Glee Club, Rockettes: also ncwsreel, JMarch of Time end •Good Girls Go to ParUf (Col), re- viewed in this issue. CHICAGO Chicago, June 24. Phil Spitalnv orchestro with JMoxine, JSwelwn, Ginger Hormon, Three Little Words; Lovis DaPron; Inritotion to Hdppiness' (Par>. Phil Spitalny's orchestra practically guarantees business following its great build-up on the airlanes. And thei« is no question of its entertain- ment ability. Following four weeks in the hoito Drake liotel, it has moved into this ace midwest house to deliver a full stage presentation that has the audience spanking Its mitts throughout Band is a splendid flash with that flock of gals stretched across the stage and makes a great novelty set^ up for any theatre. But beyond that the femmes have musical ability and can d^ver both pop swingeroo and top classic stuS with the same sure- flredness. They hop from Liszt's 'Hungarian Rhapsody' to 'Old Man Mose,' and the results on l>oth are higli^ acceptable. Three little Words make a neat- looking trio for novelty vocalizing, while Maxihe gets by in her war- bling. Ginger Harmon is the jitter bug songstress and clicks easily. Evelyn goes big, too, with her fiddle virtuosi^. Only outsider is Louis DaPron, splendid ^oung tapster, who also ap-r Reared with tne band at the Drake. Sold quickly on appearance, DaPron makes good with his hoofing, coming throu^ with two excellent tap rou- tines. Spitalny band Is lifting gross to the finest here in a long while, with business brisk at the sIm>w caught late Friday (23). . GoldT ORPHEUM, MPLS. girls and a man, knew so many cor- rect answers that they tied, forcing Kyser to resort to emergency lists of quesUons. It was the first time, Ky- ser declared, that three contestants had had perfect scores. Winner of the final round, in the Judges' opin- ion, was the finalist from round one,, but because of the many extra ques- tions the round two winner had had to answer to compete in. the finals, Kyser awarded both finalists a $5 No question about Radio City Music prize, and gave tlie other two con- HaU being a prime must-see with the testants in the second round IS ««!b. Pair visitors. Judging by the $1.65 M"'> loge reservationists, there must . be a ritz tourist trade in town, although —from the typically scornful New York attitude—some of thie audible word-of-mouth is basically corny. No question alMut the Rockettes being more than a casual wow in themselves. The air of audible ex- pectancy evidences an unusual hin- terland renown, and when they whammed 'em with their surefire *Wooden Soldiers' routine, the visitors W2ll-nigh fell oft the balcony. The ohs and ahs on the general flash and impressiveness of the Mtisic Hall presentations is a trailer which man- aging director. W. G. Van Schmus should interpret Into, -'nestimable 'value Ita the future for the beauteous HalL Emo Rapee, alternating with Frank Nowicki and Jules Silver, alternates a medley of three 'Concert Favorites' as the.symph overture this week—a polka by Weinbergfer (Czech). Mas- senet's Meifitation from 'Tha^ (fea- tures Jacques Gdsselin's effective . violin solo) and Berlioz's "Bakaczy March.' The Leonidoff presentation, *A Summer's Day,' reprises 'The- water Lily,* tfectively, done on an in- clined mirror, aiid reflecting Marie Grimaldi's plastic toe artistry, plus the supporting ballet, so well primed by Florence Bogge, their director. Maurice Baron and 'AUiert StiU- man fashioned some amusing'Hobo Convention' lyrics for the Walking Delegates. -Hie Glee dub (William Reid, director,) are the hoboes, also reviving that box-car set for the exit Jan Peerce clicks here with a eomy, but commercial, 'Bluebird of Hairi- ness' pop, including me of mose Lewis-ana-Yenng patt» 'pomes.' However, they eat u up. This segues into Joe Jackson's tramp bike, stuff, seemingly, new to half of 'em and fondly—nay, senti- mentally and enthusiastically—re- called by another'50%. ludgini ~ the word-ot-mouth. VTiile Jac has extended his panto, and by some standards exceeds b:s running time, there's no disputiog the whanuno results. The Austrian panto come- dian, who's been around file varie- ties well over a quart.r of a cen< .tury,. is as surefire as ever, regard- less of the copyists. Including his own adopted son, seen at the Music Hall not so long ago. Latter is do mg a road company of Jackson'i stufl. The program heralds him as hav- ing been abroad this past year. He was seen at the Savoy hotel (Lon- don) show by this reporter last July, before a gulnea-dinnu audience at Eric Wollhetm's spot, but whether in ctoseup, in a class dining room, or in the mammoth Hall, Jackson is equally commercial. ^The Rockettes' 'Parade of the Wooden Soldiers' finales and leaves em limp. Biz looked over-capacity last show Fr iday night Abel. GOLDEN GATE, S. F. San Froncisco. June 22. Kay Kyser orchestra with Gmnu Simms, Harry Babbitt, Sullv Mason, and Mervin Bogue; 'Big Toton Czar" Playing his first local engagement since he made his initial click at the Bal TalMrin several years ago, Kay Kyser and his 'l>and are going big at ths Golden Gate this weelc Radio popularity of .the Kyser 'College of Musical Knowledge' is largely re- sponsible for the Iieavy business at the t>ox«ffice. Warmly received from the moment the curtain rises, Kyser and bis mu- sicians and singers nKire than live up to expectations. The band opens with 'Angels Sing,' following with 'Limehouse Blues,' to which the audi- ence added some rbythotie tapping at Kyser's suggestion. Ginny Simms, becomingly gowned in deep blue, in harmony -with the lighter blue shades worn: by. the band men and in the stage settmg,-scores with her singing of TJon'F Worry "Bout Me* and other numlwrs. Well liked also were Harry Babbitt, Sully Mason and Mervin Bogue (Ish Ka- bibble), the latter' geltihg lots of laughs with his dead^ah- and un- musical monotone- High spots are Hi Yo, Silver,* in which Kyser flowos with a 10-gallon hat and toy pi;toIs, and 'Three Little Fishies,' sung by Bal>bitt, Miss Simms, Mason and Bogue, with Kyser's aid. Band's arrangements are smart not over- done, cleverly conceived to achieve a' variety of combinations; and exe- cuted with zest and sparkle by the n)usician.<!. A pistol shot behind the curtain neatly disposed of a seventh contest- ant who. demanded a place In line when Kyser opened his 'college.' It was a nuty gag. The quiz consisted of two preliminary rounds and a final round. However, the three participants in the second round, two STATE. N. Y. Minneapolis, June 24. Bob Hope, 12 Aristocrats, Georpe & Jack Dormonde, Catherine West- field, Dolores Reed, Marion Bailer, Jerry CoUmna, house orch (12) 'KofcoiRo' (wb;. Current array has everything needed for Iioxoffice and audience enjoyment There's the name in Bob Hope (New Acts), abundant comedy, diversitjr and novelty. Nary an act lacks distinctiveness. While played in front of a locally recruited band and witli Hope m.c.ing, the sitow's stUI vaudeville, rather than a tmit presentation. As for Hope, besides tteing master of ceremonies, he's in and out of the show with vocal and comic contribu- tions and is right up to form. Brought on to the strains of Thanks for the Memory* and getting a heavy hand, Hope loses no time in establishing dtummy relations.' He nifties some comedy lyrics toe 'Lady's in Love' and then- goes into a monologue that unloads gags rapid- fire. In introducing the acts, Hope doesn't overselL Opener is the 12 Aristocrats, six men and six girls, all nice lookers and personable. They cUck with precision tap and acro- batic dancing and some ballrooni- ology. They're on again next to closing, for a waltz adagio with two of the men tossing each of the girls across the stage into the arms of the four other youths. Ifs a new slant on a dancing chorus and impressive. After a brief bit of stepping him- self, Hope .engages in some effective comedy business with Marion Bailer, a sister-in-law. This paves the way tor George and Jack Dormonde, corned., unicyclists. (Seorge does t drunk that has 'em ga-^ing. Wind- ing'jip with a two-man p^o game on the unicycles, the pair stops the Bert Wheeler with Hank Ladd and Francetta, Ames and Arno, Red Nichols orchestra. Six Antaleks; 'Union PacificT (Par). Bert Wheeler heads a four-unit layout here in an offering that Isn t sockeroo, but is entertaining for the entire distance. Wheeler's at his best He's aided by three others he carries, Han!. Ladd, Francetta and an un- billed acrobat The show runs slightly under an hour, due to the lengthy film, Union Pacific,' which.was pushed to four weeks on its initial Broadwav en- gagement at the Paramount Thus, it has eaten up a lot of customers there and may not get the full ben- efit of an average second-nm date, with Wheeler and the Red Nichols band, mainly, as box office supports against such deficiency.' Opening , was sturdy and the Friday busmess, when caught, holding up well. Bill gets away with the Six Anta- leks, moves to Ames and Arno, who add to the comedy content takes pn Wheeler tor next to olosinf and comes down the stretch with Nichols. Latter has an appreciable followmg, being B pioneer in swing, and ably adds to Wheeler's pull In bringing em in. . , » = •. Partner for years of the late Bob Woolsey on stage and screen extends himself to 23 minutes, but is up to such a route assignment "The vet fails to tire at aiqr stage of the running and strong]^ suggests that he might be a good bet for an air *"T^act Is now new, but freshened up; with Ladd doing the assistant house manager gag as a basis for talk. Jokes and clowning anent front house squawks concerning Wheeler's tuni. It's surefire for laughs and novelty. One of the ^ags concerning Iierfume is a bit on the subtly bluish side, but skins' throfugh. Francetta, the toughie typ works into the routine smoothly, strength- ening the four-person act Among other things, she fl.eures in the only singing in which Wheeler indulges and that's mainly as an excuse for interruptions by the unbilled acro- bat For. a smarts amusing finish, Wlieeler gets close to the mike to speak confidential-like to the audi- ence concerning the three people' in his offering, how he's hamstnmg and his troubles with them. This runs some six minutes, but all of it's good stuff" and very nearly stops the show. , . ., Nichols isn't on so lone with his band and soloists, doing 15 minutes. Aside from the blowoff, -Bugle Call Rag,' in ^ich thunderous brass nearly tears the ears off, the band is good. There is no excuse, how- ever, for that final number with its noise and its length. Eleven-piece organization is mostly brass, with drums and piano at left of stage somewhat by themselves. It's a dif- ferent setting from most. Specialists are Pearl Robbins, toe tap dancer, who's quite clever, and Bill Darnell, song stylist Latter is fair on his first number, better on bis second, a clever arrangement of show. - Catherine Westfield follows wit., her -marionettes. This Is a dif- ferent and exceedingly drver turn, for Miaa-.Westfield works right along *"ith ihi marionettes herseUTmanip- ulatlng.t]ie'.strings and going throiii^ pasts- xitjVthe :routines. ' She has^ rhumba.t»per ,an 'Alice Blue Gown' dancer,' a - jitterbug and 'Donald Duck' or roller skates. Dolores Reed (Mrs. Hope) puts over several songs in a husky voice. Hope stooges for her. Jerry Colon- na comes on late for bis own style of comedy, with the high-pitched voice - and nonsensical observations that have made him an outstandinf! radio comic standing him in gooci stead. He gives novel comtdy ren- ditions of several songs, including 'Sonny Boy,' and dijco'-rses unintel- ligibly on swing to the customers* amusement Then he and Hope do a variation of the comedy skit of the cheap hotel clerk and guest, long a burlesque standby-; House welt-^fllled at the opening show Friday (23>. JUm. town in mbnttis and makes straight imitation of Charles Boyer in 'Al- giers,* done to 'some of that slimy music,' a perfect contrast Finishes sock tapping while Juggling sticks. Two more gals announce Owen McGl-veney, who takes bow and falls back as scrim comes'down to allow elaborate trailer to explain back- ground of his 'Oliver Twist' sketch and point' out that this time his changes of costume will be done in view of the audience to prove con- clusively that he plays all the char- acters himself, a fact do"bted even by some of the press.' Act old stuff here, is revitalized by using small set and spotting his lightning changes Just outside of exits. They' are done with aid of two assistants covered head-to-foot In black. If anything, it's more amazing when it's done openly. Four gals In hayseed costume In- troduce Coon Creek Girls as 'from the White Houise to the Earle thea- tre.' Four billies In red gingham amble out with two guitars^ a banjo and a bass fiddle. Dielr lyrics are completely lost, but mythm, yodel- ing and Bwitching of instruments puts 'em across as well as any 'moun- tain' act of the season. Gags a la 'tear the house down if you want to, it don't l>elong to us no how*, are just plentiful enough to score with- out overdoing It It's the house line from here oh. Gals work altemaitely in sets of eight, routines ' iiiciuding snare drums, stilts, megaphones, foils, rifies, bouncing balls, bicycles, three- foot solid wooden balls and ladders. Biz oke.- Craip. FOX, PHILLY recent pop. He has a decidedly dif fereht style, but could sell himself more vigorously, among other tilings loolung up from the mike more often. Ames and Arno are being held to eight minutes with , their roustabout comedy and hoke, wliile the opening Antaleks are also doing eight Perch turn is one of the neatest of its kind with its four women and two men. Chor. STRAND. N. Y. Philadelphia, June 23. Tommy Rings, Lyitn, Boyce & Vanva, Soul Grauma» & Co.' (S), RxKhel Carley,. Raymond Wilbert, Adolph Komspan. house band; 5u- tannah' (20th), EARLE, WASH. Washington, June 24. Houston & Harden, Billy Hayes, Owen McGivenev, Coon Creek Girls and Roxvettes (16). Talent and variety run riot in this one. Four solid specialties involve warble duet. Juggling, hillbillying and quick-change drama, but it's the house line again that walks off with the honors. Gals, who sing, hoof, an- nounce, pose and back up entire show, as usual, takie over the last 10 ihinuies in 'Roxyette Cavalcade'—a TtgHtin g round-up of their best nine routines, including, everything from stilts to bicycles—and score mightily. Show opens on coimtry field set with trio of line gals, in glorified flsherboy costumes^ warbling Three Little Fishies.* Rest of line trucks oh for chorus and swell rhythm pan- tomime. Girls group around DUtt end. of big fishing pole and drag Houston and Harden out of wings. Attractive boy and girl in evening clothes vocalize 'Donkey Serenade^ and 'Gianina Mia* in strong soprano and teaor for good reception. Eight gals appear in Gay Nineties garb to ' t>ack up 'Girl on the Police Gazette,' in which Houston and Harden use ; derby, mustache and ostrich plume hat and dick nicely on both vocal and hoofing ends. TWO gals In striking scarlet split- skirt gowns announce Billy Rayes ' and wiiite-tied Englishman strolls on to tell about his experience 'coming over on the t>oat,' and nonchalantly Juggle his top hat He gets 'em Im- , mediately and holds 'em through six minutes of steady chatter and ball tossing, unusual twist being his working of ball stuff Into gags via " ■ " fuj - ■ this is Im>w Gart>o would juggle' meth6ds. Patter is freshest to nit Turning from both name bands and Hollywood personal appear- ances, either or both of which are practically musts on any Fox bilL show this week is a rather mild, offering. It's not bad entertainment for family trade but for the semi- sophisticated Fox audience. It's slightly off. Undistinguished show -with lack of any real name to pull 'em in is, of course, a budgetary move in line with the summer re- cession. Two radio names are given top billing. Tommy Riggs, atai, and Rachel Carley, second. Riggs has been here before .and . repeats his radio specialty of a twoway conver- sation with Betty Lou, imaginary kid. It's similar to any ventrilo- quism routine except that Riggs doesn't liave a dummy on tiis lap and makes no attempt to keep his lips from moving, wnlcti' is in line with the radio .origin of the act His mat«ial is somewhat better than that of earlier appearances here, but stiU in need of plenty hypo. Betty Lou has nothing re- sembling tlie socko lines of Edgar Bergen's McCartlw or Fanny Brice's Baby Snooks. Riggs closes with Betty Lou chirping 'Sir Echo' and then does 'Jeepers Creep'ers,' alter- nating voices between himself and the imaginary stooge.' Ifs okay. Lynn, Boyce and 'Vanya, slaistick ballroom .terpers, hold the runner- up position for attenticm. Two men and a girl, working in evening clothes, start Innocently enough with standard, smooth hootery. However, they soon miss cues, colliding, etc. Ifs considerably better than ordin- ary, however, for In the knockabout are contained plenty of nifty lifts and spins that could qualify the trio for ' straight terp routines any- where. Saul Grauman Sc Co., giving a demonstration of Grauman's own device, musical stairs, is interesting. It consists of electrically-operated beUs rung in tunes by the action of four gals dancing oa a long fiight of steps, to which are connected the beUs. One number, in which the girls'.hands, feet and the outline of tiie steps show tip in phosphorescent paint under a purple li^t is partic- ularly good. Prior to the musical demonstration, three- of the gals do ordinary tap routines, while the fourth does an aero and contortion numt>er that's excellent Trio of tap- sters weaken the turn by their short- age on looks imd their overweight. Opener is Raymond Wiltiert, who makes two-foot hoiops perform. Ifs an <*ay novelty and Wilbert gets some amazing results despite his in- variable misses on first tries: 'What he needs, however, is a complete switch of the' poor patter he uses throughout. If s extremely amateur- ish, unfunny and distracting from what might be a good opening act Miss CTarley offers swing songs in French that make pleasant listening. A satisfactory looker and with a nice 'voice^ she goes over wdl. Herb. DndnD Inio Strand, N. Y. Eddy Ducbin winds up at the Wal- dorf-Astoria, N. Y., July 17, and crowds in a weA of ooe-nighters be- fore opening at ttie Strand, N. Y., July 23. He's in for three weeks at the presentation house. Thence tOiDetndt at Eastwood and Westwood Gardens, plus other dates, Sammy Kaye orchestra (13) with Tommy Ryan,- Clyde Burke,- Three Barons; Three Samuels oTid Harriet Haves. The Ghez^ (2), Slate Bros, with Fay Carroll; 'Daughters Cour- ageousf (WB), reviewed in V/miviT June 21. Doubling Into the' Strand from the Essex House, N. Y., Sammy Kaye's orchestra turns in a neat job of backing the entertainment lineup. Kaye and current picture are in for three weeks. Biz excellent when caught (Friday, last show). This is Kaye's first date at the Strand, his last Broadway showing being at the opposition Paramount Orch go't a tough break ..at this catching when the elevator on which both band and acts work refused to function, making it necessary for the various turns to operate on the stage proper and lii back of the band. It's a tribute to Kaye's direction that the band played the show as well as it did in view of the acts being behind them and out of sight As always, Kaye's smooth style is listenable. It's not all confined to sweet, either. At the flilale the band lets go. and while ifs not Dorsey, Shaw or Goodman, ifs a change of pace ti>at most wouldn't suspect in the outfit Tommy Ryan, who's been out of the singing assignments for some time due to a oad throat turns loose his pipes here and elicits a neat response Doth before and after his chore. Does two, 'My Buddy' and 'How Strange.' Clyde Burlce, who temporarily replaced Ryan, is being kept, and exhibits a fine voice in 'Angels Sing* and as part of the Three Barons.* Jimmy Brown neatly turns in "Penny Serenade* with a dboral backgroimd by the band. ' Three Samuels and Harriet Hayes lead off the outside ttims. -Theirs is a tap tomfoolery layout that dicks. First Is two boys and a girl in some impressive tmison tapping and then two boys alone for .same. Slapstick stuff is dever in that it is used with- out breaking up the rhythm of the stepping. Later the three, augmented by Harriet Hayes, ' who does high Uck and difficult aero stuff alone midway, go Into a. mlUtary tap that's also burlesqued before it goes legit for a sock finish. There's nothing new in the act of The Ghezzis. The pair clicks hand- somely, however, with varied musde work. Comical appearing hand stand Jitterbugging is still good for a strong finish. Slate Bros, are In the same cate- gory as the Ghezzis. It's- tlie stuff, uiexve been doing for some time, asd, like the preceding turn, goes over solidly. Begins with takeoff of Soliticians meeting in front of City [all and fades the same terping style, nieir whacky business on stage and from back via the loud- speaker is good enough to pyramid ■nggles. Fay Carroll bluide foil for the trio, gets off 'Our Love' while the Slates do their 'news bits* from back- stage. Handles the tune in excellent manner. Between the short (50 mins.) but effective stage portion and the pic- ture, the Strand has a bill that seenu easy to stay three weeks without slipping. ORIENTAL. CHI Chicapo, June 24, Eugene & Jerry Strober, Arena & Fisher, Dave Seed & Co. (3), Edith Griffith, Carl Freed & Co., Sweet- hearts, Verne Buck, orchestra; 'Three Smtert Girls' (V) and 'Hound at Baskentillaf (20tfa). Only the Inclusion of the opening amateur act keeps this show from being a standard variety lineup. Two Strober kids Avon last week's amateur contest with ttteir song and dance routines, which are all right for eight-year-old amateuts, and are currently playing a week at a salary. Next week they can go back home and play with the other kids. Arena and Fisher are a .standard tap team, highly suitable in this house. They make a .good appear- ance and fit in neatly. - Dave Seed hasn't revamped his material mucb In the past few years, but still gar-* ners his quota of laughs with his knockabout comedy. Two assistants, man and woman, -work well' with hin^ especially the femme. Edith Griffith is good In either theatre or ni^ club. She looks great and warms an audience quickly with her wdl-delivered songs. Miss Griffith Is not content to grab a pop tune and call it an act She goes out for specjal material, and the dressup Is a big point in her act Has a dick comedy novelty number and a surefire flagwaver ior her finale. Carl Freed's harmonica, group doubles into the orchestra f ot a neat twist and then hits the footlighto for a novelty musical act It's well- balanced throughout with the com- edy bits fitting in smartly. Sweethearts chorus line is on for two numbers and wdcome as ever to this audience. 'Verne Buck , is out- standfiig as m.c. He is an' asset to 6very act and this audience is nuts about him. Business good at the first show on Saturday (Si). Gold.