Variety (Jul 1939)

36 VARIETY VAUD1&-MIGHT CLUBS Wednesday, July 19, 1939 Night Club Reviews ST. REGIS ROOF (NEW TOBK) LeRoy Prim production directed by James Mitchell liOisen, costumes by Leisen, featuring Mary Parker, Billy Daniels, 6 Paramount Starlets (Harriet Haddon, Norah Gale, Marie DeFdrest^ Bemice Stetoart, Barbara AfcLean, Lucille LMMarr)', Harold Richards, Joseph Rines orc?iestro with Freddy Steele, Jules Lande's orchestra, with Eddie Singer; dances by Billy Daniels; $1.50 and $2.50 couvert; ouerape dinner check $5, Second edition of LeRoy Prinz's 'St. Regis RuRles,' directed and cor- tumed by Jantes Mitchell Leisen, witli the 6 Paramount Starlets sub- feattired to Mary Parker and Billy Daniels (also of Hollywood) reads ^ quite like a cinematic array ot credits. Par's director Mitchell Lei-- sen (the James is seemingly a re- cherche touch for the chi-chi St Regis) put on this intime floorshow, and while the production is more F&M than Zanuck. 'it's still a color- ful and imaginative revuette. - Furthermore, considerable back- of-the-kitchen showmanship has been injected by gjn. Gaston Lauryssen, hotelier Vincent Astor and artistic director Prince Serge Obolensky, all ot whom have the sKow values of this hotel's sundry rooms very much at heart One of these niceties, and a pertinent one, is the almost-10 p.m. curtain for the first show. The sec- ond part comes on at 11.30. This vir- tually insures holding the dinner crowd over to also take in what is technically the supper show. Prime idea, of course, is to keep the room filled since the after-theatre biz, dur- ing the summer, is negligible. Hence it resolves itself down to holding the fashionably late diners interested i;;itil midnight or after. ITie air-conditioned St. Regis Roof (nee Viennese, but that was before axis politics made that billing im- politic) is the high spot of the In- town dining season over the summer. With Joe Rines and Jules Lande's or- chestras alternating with their svelte dansapation—Rines on the forthright foxtrotology, and Lande's emphasis on Viennese waltzes and Latin tem- pos, although also terping the other tunes—the Roof is a fave with the smart stepping-out set.. For the floor show'the bandstand moves back and a movable stage rises from the floor, probably an Idea adopted from Pierre Sandrini's Bal Tabarin room in Paris.- Coming up on an hydraulic lift with a canopied enclosure to further set the motif, 'Summertime* is the opener by the sextet of Hollywood lookers. Then Mary Parker and Billy Daniels with a tzigane motif, serenaded by the gypsy violinist at their table, which precedes their tiptap taps. He solos a 'Golliwog's Cakewalk' number that's a nifty, and the finale is a new French waltz, 'Et Ca Fait Bourn* (it'll probably wind up as 'My Heart Goes Boom,' after Rines fixes it up for the U. S.), which is a very likely air. Prince Obolensky brought it back with him from abroad. A little extra reprise is the 'Pattycake' number from the previous edition. Contrasting the bullishness of the St Regis Roof biz is casualty to its Iridium Room (street floor) which normally closes in May for the sum- mer, but has kept open with its. en- tire ice show, in anticipation of Fair visitors which haven't materialized. General manager Lauryssen mean- time ha.<! a hula decor slated for the hotel's third room, the Maisonette Russe, when that reopens in October, Hilo divertissement in a : Russian room strikes .a new note of some- thing or other, but undoubtedly the M. R. billing will be switched. Featured in the roof show also Is Harold Richards, who does a good Intro vocalizing job with the revue proper; also vocal soloists Eddie Singer (with Lande) and Freddy Steele (with Rines). For Rines, this is the second successive season, hav- ing clicked big last summer when 'Lambeth. Walk' became a sort of trademark. This year, besides 'Pat- tycake,' Rines is introducing his own 'Hot Gavotte' as a terp novelty. Lane, 11 years at the hotel with his svelte string music usually in the down- stairs rooms, again heads up a dance combo, for- the flrst time in some eight or nine years, but his expert violin soloing is again standout. Abel. FAMOUS DOOR, N. Y. Count Basie orc?i (18), with Helen Humes and Jimmy Rushing. A year ago the Famous Door brought in the Count Basie band and gave it its first real chance in this section of the country. Outfit clicked and went on from there to climb in importance until today it's one of the leading colored .bands. Its past year's ascension was capped by the recent date at the Panther Room' ot the College Inn at the Sher man hotel, Chicago. Now it returns to the Door to toss the spot a life' line. Basie comes back with an enlarged brass section and a wealth ot new material to impress his band more solidly on listeners. One of the most TheJHEATRE of the STARS outstanding numbers in his book is his recently recorded 'Miss Thing.' It's an arrangement that stills con- versation. At the keys Basle seems to have become more of a showmah than heretofore. His fingering was al- ways solidly impressive, but now, in addition to that it's seemingly play- ing to the eye as well as the ear. With him in the lead, the rhythm section ot his band rates with any. Addition ot an extra trumpet to total the brass section at four and three adds lustre and ot course, power to that end. Within the next two weeks Door owners will enlarge the spot still furtl^er than when Basie first came in last year, . Then the back wall had been pushed back. It's now due to be taken out entirely, leaving the downstairs floor for the room alone —kitchens and rest rooms to be shifted upstairs. CAFE lOYALE. N. Y., IN PLEA FOR REORG A voluntary petition for reorgani- zation under the Chander Act, was filed in the N, Y, federal court Wednesday (12) by the Brighton- Long Beach Corp,, operators of Cafe Loyafe, 521 Fifth ave, nitery-res.tau- rant Over 100 creditors are listed, although no amount is mentioned as owed. The schedule shows the last appraisal of assets in 1936 disclosed them to be worth $100,361, Cash on hand is $525, and Metropolitan Life holds a chattel mortgage of $50,000 covering fixtures and equipment. The weekly payroll is $500, and the N. Y. Times, and the American So- ciety of Authors and Composers are among creditors. The proposed plan of reorganiza- tion calls for oaymeht of all wage claims, and U. S., state and city taxes in tuU. / Unsecured creditors and conces- sionaires will receive 33% ot their claims over a period of 24 months. Peter and Charlotte Block, doing business as the Mid-Block Cafe. 117 West 54 street N. Y., filed a volun- tary petition of. bankruptcy In the N. Y. federal court Thursday (13) listing no assets, and liabilities ot $5,242. Among creditors are-banks, erocery chains, liouor stores, and the Wurlitzer Piano Co. Mltery ITnder Hammer Syracuse, July 18. The Cafe Dewitt night club, erected at a cqst of $250,000 by Julian S. Brown several years ago and one of the showplaces of up- state New York when it was flrst opened, will be sold at public auc- tion in a tax foreclosure suit in- stituted by the city of Syracuse. The sale is scheduled for early Au- gust Delinquent taxes, city and county, total more than $37,700. The club has been vacant, except for a few ventures Into bingo, etc., tor nearly five years. Equipment was sold at auction about a year ago. 15 YEARS AGO« (From Varieiz} Broadcasters were held to be the reasons tor the decline in radio in- terest They weren't introducing any novelty to their programs. Berlin was going In extensively for show biz, paying English, Amer- ican and FreQch acts 20-25% more than o^er countries. Nora Bayes reopened the Empire, London, clicking handily. Reopen- ing of the spot as' a music hall augured a vaude revival for Lon- don and provincial' music halls. Clifford C. Fischer sued Brelt- bart, the strong man, for $12,000, charging conspiracy when Breitbart is said to have lured Marta Farra from Fisctier's' management Realizing that the outstripped him in ot theatres . during dozen years, A. L. stepping up activity tion, with deals lif York, and Boston, cities. Shuberts had the acquisition the past half Erlanger was in that dlrec- Chicago, New among other Benny Meroff's band was smash at the Palace. N. Y., while Henry Hull and Edna Hibbard,'from legit, did well in a comedy sketch on the same bill. Al Shayne plus Dare and Wahl, 'hoke aero team, both went over well at the Broadway, N. Y. Keith's was ibstqlling a produc- tion department to develop acts. . Robert Mantell preparing. to re- sume his season in Shakespearean repertory. Was to embrace a six- month tour of Great Britain, Ire- land and Scotland. The days ot kid stars were over, according to expert film opinion. Baby Peggy, Jackie Coogan and Wesley Barry ot late were negligi- ble b.o. ' AKBON NITEET BEOFENS Akron, O., July 18. Shuttered several weeks ago, when the state refused to renew its liquor permit Merry-Go-Round, downtown nitery, has. been reopened by Jack Millard. Opening floor show in- cluded Los Chicos and her Latin America Revue, Esquire Six orches- tra, with Irene King and Mildred Kelly, mistress of ceremonies. Spot has been completely reno- vated and air conditioned. New Acts EDDIE ANDERSON (Bochesier) Comedy 17 Mins. Paramoont, L. A. Eddie Anderson, Negro comic, bet- ter known in radio and pictures as 'Rochester,' should be surefire stage tare once he gets his material smoothed out. Using three other sepians as stooges, and a voice (Steve White) ofistage to imperson- ate Fred Allen and Jack Benny, An- derson quickly sells himself and maintains the pace to' the finish. Early part of current act is long- distance telephone gag, with Allen presumably talking from New York and.pffering Benny's valet increased pay-tb-switch employers, with voice suddenly changing to that of Benny with latter's customary fault-finding with the colored handy man. Shuffle dance, including portion ot snake dance done in 'Man AtMut Town' follows with. Anderson then warbling a comedy ditty, 'Janitor Man' which registers solidly. Clos- ing, Anderson Introduces White and his three stooges Edwa. MARGOLITA Songs and Plan* 13 Mlns. Show Bar, Forest. Hills, L, I., N.T. This raven-tressed lass gets away from the usual type ot specialty as- sociated with the small circular stage above the bar at this spot A mezzo- soprano with a pleasing personality, she specializes in standard pop bal- lads, such as 'A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody,' alternating with current ditties on the sweet-swing, side. She seems to have an inexhaust- ible supply ot numbers like 'Our Love,' 'Don't Worry 'Bout Me' and 'If I Didn't Care.' For variety, she offers 'I Ain't Got Kobody,' but in a plaintive rather than' hot manner, and 'Come Back to Sorrento.' Vocals, which are good, are inter- spersed with piano medleys. Some- times the keyboard work is only fair: more attention to harmony and modulations, would help. No show stopper, Margolita is an excellent filler between band sets. Gilb. BUBENS and BITA Dancing S Mlns. Stote, N. Y* Act is interpretative, based on an Egyptian slave song, is gypsy In costuming, and the dance borders on the Apache in execution. Tees off in the latter style with the male snapping a long whip, then eases into various poses and fast tossing of girl. It's a fast and flashy five minutes and when caught here was well received. Okay for niteries too. Costuming of the two adds to the flash of the act male in black and gold-trimmed, skin-ti|ht outfit, with gold turban; and girl m conventional colorful gypsy style. Ed Shennan Dismissed ■ On Rubber Check Ch*ge Edward Sherman, booking agent | held on a charge of passing $100 worth of rubber checks,, was dis- charged in Special Sessions court N. Y., last Wednesday (12) when the ' plaintiff, Herman Barnett, art- ist with RKO Theatres, withdrew the complaint In a hearing before Magistrate Burke June 8 Sherman testifled he owed only half the amount in ques- tion and upon his refusal to make good the total was ordered held for the higher court He later made a settlement out of court Simon Feinstein represented the defendant ia both courts.' Bea Wain, ex-Larry Clinton band vocalist, is booked for two weeks at the Hippodrome, Baltimore, begin- ning July 28. We express our appreciation to Harry Richman who ivill help us welcome our friends at the open- ing of our New York Show Room, 4 P.M., Wednesday, July 26, 1939. You Are Cordially Invited LORD & STEWART Tailors—from London 660 Rfth Avenue • New York City PLaza 8-1890 HELD OVER LILLIAN CARMEN SINGING STAR INTERNATIONAL CASINO. NEW YORK