Variety (Jul 1939)

S4 VA RIETY Wctlnesdaj, July 26, 1939 House Reviews MINNESOTA, MPLS. (Continued from page 16) was sold on idea of helping vaud- film stage comeback here. Initial show, a pattern for those to follow, is laid out along the enter- tainment lines in vogue here when the house .first came into being. It comprises mainly Jack LaRue's 'Hol- lywood Follies.' Latter's five acts, however, are augmented by house line, m.c, 18-piece orchestra, two singers and an organist. The whole adds up to a flrst-rate entertainment, setting a high standard which may be hard to maintain. Difficulty probably will be In obtaining a sufficient supply of satisfactory stage fare within the limited budget necessitated by a 30c top admission and the generally steep operating nut. Also, there's the even tougher problem of film product, inasmuch as the Paramount Northwest circuit op- position has all the major stuff sewed up. Under such circumstances the weekly nut, which doesn't include rent, may be hard to crack. There was a single performance opening night and it stretched out from 8:30 to midnight, with an addi- tional m.c, Cedric Adams, Star col- umnist, and two speechmakers in- creasing the running time. Other- wise, schedule will call for three stage shpws a day, one in afternoon and two at night. House was packed at the opening. It's quite apparent the music will be one of the theatre's principal sell- ing points. Jack Malerich, localite, who held a similar assignment at this house before, is not only a highly efficient conductor, but also a show- manly organist. The 18-Diece orches- tra on the elevated pit, under his masterly handling, sweeps through several lively and showy selections with the volume, authority and ef- fects of a symphony unit several times its size. It also plays the show nicely on the stage. Tlie two permanent singers who work with the band are Jean Arlen, a looker, and Joe Griffin, Irish tenor. Their pop contributions jell. Later in the program, Malerich appears at the elevated' console for a specialty consisting mainly of accompaniments for audiencesinging of well-known songs, with the words flashed on the screen. . Lew Brock, the theatre's m.c, has a breezy personality, sells the acts capably and does effective bits of stooging. The 12 Patricia Wynri dancers, the theatre's regular line, offering two numbers at separated Intervals, are decorative precision steppers who cavort through their simple routines moderately well. Lots of good talent is in evidence In the LaRue layout The O'Sakis, Jap man and woman, go over nicely with their perch and risley act. Most daring of their stunts has the man balancing his oartner aloft a tall pole from which she sways and otherwise disports herself perilously. Roy Rog- ers (not the cowboy film player), a rubbery comedian, annexes laughs and gasps with somersaults, tumbling, gaegine and clowning. Floyd Christie also tickles the funny bones, fooling around first with Brock and later with his part- ner, Gould, in a bang-up comedy aero turn featured by a slow motion burleso.ue of one of their feats. La- Rue, billed as 'the films' No. 1 gang- ster,' is a mild name for the show. He's assisted by his sister, Emily, who sines, and an unorogramed pianist. LaRue and his sister join for some comedy business and then-he gets ssrious for a portrayal of a youth ab'^ut to go to the electric chair. The blonde Irene Vermillion Is as nimble nnd agile as-ever in her aero dance. The four gal trumpeters and a oianist still embellish the act. Per- mitting Miss Vermillion breathing spells between her endeavors. She has a narticularly striking and bi- zarre Oriental number which wit- nesses her beating tomtoms during her gyrations. Unit is undeistood to be working for $2,000. for week. Aees. EMBASSY, N. Y. (NEWSREELS) / . Excellent compilation of material and a super-abundance o^ humorous, human mterest and iopical news subjects, outweighing usual prepon- derance of weighty world events, makes this week's presentation a standout. In addition to the usual two Lew Lehr (Movietone) clips, shaped for laughs, thefe are. at least a half dozen relatively unimportant sidelights on news which hit the funny-bone because of' flrst-rate commentary and witty punch lines. Three subjects share top honors. March of Times' monthly release, •The Movies March On' (reviewed.iii Variety, July 5), easily dominates, with Paramount's exclusive of the 'Whitney Bourne-Stanton L. Griffis wedding aiid News of the Day's 'Is New York Wicked?' as runners-up. 'Movies March On' consumes 20 minutes of the hour program, but ° holds interest throughout with its brief history of the film Industry. The Gov. Dickinson controversy Is current front page stuff, and Metro caught visit of Miss Michigan to New York night clubs, enjoying all the 'wicked' pastimes. Comely l.iss concedes the governor may be right, but she is a modern girl, after all, and entitled to her own opinion. The Gov. himself has a bad time facing the cameras and his explanation of how girls can go wrong found hilari- ous response. Pathe shots of labor warfare In Harlan (bounty, Ky., with camera focusing on military preparations and scenes of wounded in hospitals, provide dramatic punch. Pathe also comes through with vital accounts of low-cost housing experiments in Indiana, wherein purchasers are shown actually taking part in con- struction of homes; another inter- esting subject on migratory farmers homesteading in California under difficult conditions, and C.I.O. strike scenes at the Fisher Body plant In Cleveland. Latter subject caught at- tempts of strikers to stop scabs from entering plant,, and mounted police scattering and arresting strikers. Metro has two timelv foreign sub- jects on the 150th birthday celebra- tion of the French Republic and air shots of Bastille Day parades, and Madrid reception of Italy's Count Ciano on latter's visit to Gen. Franco. Cheetah racing at Aldershot, Eng- land, provides a novel topic from Movietone. A Movietone millinery show in Paris, described by Ilka Chase, deals with military trend in skypiece decorations, cannons, planes and tanks forming the new motifs for milady's headgear. Paramount injects novelties such as competition between tobacco chanting auctioneers, their weird, rapid-fire lingo hitting a good laugh pace: East Side mothers getting first vacations in the'country, while hub- bies stay home to take care of the kids, and wedding scenes of Wrong- way Doug Corrigan.* Latter closed with effective,trick shot of the happy pair taking off oji their honeymoon in a Diane flying backwards. . Minor topics round out the reels. tatcd against talking turns, is switch- ing much of this policy under new booking setup. Bills find more and more talking acts on the rostrum. Especially is this the case with com- j edy acts, which were formerly a • rarity at this house. Currently, there i are two comedy vocal turns on the I bill and both manage to come through with this audience, many of which I were drawn by the film, i House has brought back Fred Evans, to stage, and his linegirls. As ever, the Evans production and line- girls lend distinction. Latter turn in three excellent numbers, with the topper being a 'Hungarian Rhapsody' routine that's a honey. From the files comes the comedy noyelty tumbling team of Fortunello and CiriUino, who retain a fine nov- elty gift that makps 'cm an unusual item in tumbling turns. There's more circus stuff with Capt. Treiber's four seals. For the most part this turn is similar to other seal acts, but there are two tricks that make it stand out; One of the captain's acrobatic seals does a single fiipper stand that's a knockout, and then two of 'em do a flioper-to-flipper balance bit that has seldom, if ever, been seen around these parts. Nan Rae and Co. (New Acts) were formerly the Clark Sisters. They do a talking comedy act which got laughs when caught, but which Indi- cates that it would do even better in the suburban theatres, where the strictly hoke comedy is nearly al- ways warmly received. Basis of the turn Is a housefrau from the audi- ence being Interviewed by a femme- inquirlng reprarter, with comedy an- swers. Wind up with a song and then a comedy dance by the audience plant. Bick again Is Steve Evans (no re- lation to Fred) with his impersona- tions of notables and his nunchy drunk impression. Some of the per- sonality mirroring is wearing thin. Biz excellent last show Friday (21). Gold. [ OBITUARIES Roxy, Salt Lake City Salt Lake City, July 23. 5tep{n Fetchit, Thedd Loy, The Four Glovers, Ted Waldman & Sussxe, Ken Phillips, Three Busy Bees, Bill Floor's house band (5), 'Little Pal* (Mono) and 'All-Ameri- can Sweetheart.' There's a heterogenous assemblage of fleshers currently at the Roxy, lone yaudfllmer here.. Bill, running nearly 50 minutes, could have been spliced advantageously. Biz o.k. due to holiday spirit enveloping burg for celebration of 92d anniversary since arrival of Mormon pioneers in Salt Lake valley. Stepin Fetchit is top-billed, but two other acts rate higher for palm- patting, Theda Loy, tiny, exotic Chinese gal, who injects subtlety, into a fan dance, and the Four (Clovers, acros. Colored film player, spotted next to closing, " 0ffeF9-~Uttle in talent, is a singer or shufnev.dancer. He continually resorts to etniUing. gut- tural sounds and HarlemNdpuble talk, which went over Roxy holder's heads when caught, opening is built around his laziness with a boy frequently coming oh stage from wings to perform meager chores, such as removing Fetchit's hat and handing him a prop phone. Act fails to solidly click. The Glovers, following Fetchit, take a simple playground teeter- board and create a circus of fun, Each of the elderly males in the out- fit alternate at breath-taking jumps through the air, landing on a chair held by another member of the troupe. - Act is fast and sly. mimicry by several of the Glovers net them greatest number of encores. Miss Loy's opening number, 'Green and Gold Fantasy,' is solid ballet, aided by a gorgeous Oriental cos- tume. Her other stint, in contrast, is a ostrich feather-waving- workout, with dancer practically in her birth- day suit, subsequently making a brief flesh flash. Ken Phillips, who m.c.'s, has a powerful baritone, but his handling of a comic ditty, 'He Wooed Her,' was tepidly received at this catching. Dishes out orthodox introductions of acts via mike on stage. Ted Waldman, In blackface, and his photogenic femme partner, Sus- sie, open with some stale gags and it remains for the male's harmonica to raise act's ante. The Three Busy Bees, two gals and a boy hoofer, clog effectively, but their fare is well- known to regular house patrons, the trio having appeared here several months ago. Bill Floor's house quin- tet handles cleff duties well, Cruss.' CHICAGO, CHI Chicago, July 22. Nan Rae & Co. (2), Capt. Treiber's "Seals, Steve Evans, Fortunello & I CiriUino, Evans Girls; 'Daughters ' Courageous' (WB). 'stage here, formerly devoted al- most exclusively to sight acts on be- lief that the size of the house mill Singing Waiters (Continued from page 1) ica, claimed jurisdiction over singing waiters but the latter contend they should comrol their own field. If a charter is granted it will probably come from the Foiir A's, parent of the actor-artist unions. Jack Allman, who formerly ap- peared with Jimmy Hussey and Her- bert Ashley, is one of the leaders seeking a union charter. Warbling waiters organization has Sam Sim- mons as president, Ben Ritchie, v.p.; Dinny Nelson, treasurer; Eddie -De- laney, business agent, and Harry Mitchell, organizer. Simmons was of Simmons and Quinn, also of the Brooklyn City Four. MARRIAGES Patricia Gilmore to Enric Madrl- guera, in Crown Point, Ind., July 20. Groom is bandleader; bride his radio vocalist. Arlene Hoffman to Allan Lemay in Las Vegas, Nev., July 22. He's titer at Paramount. Pi^yllV■^aah^•^tn.^_Ed^yard John Morgan, July 22, in Norwdljc, Conn. Bride is daughter of Hy; Daab (Variety). ' Adrienne Allen to William Dwlght Whitney, in Stonington, Sussex, England. July 20. She's filiin-and legit actress and former wife of Raymond Massey. > Shirley Gray to Russ Morgan, In Ft. Worth, July 21, He's the orches- tra leader; she's his secretary. Mary Farrell to Thomas L, Staple- ton, in Norfolk, Va., July 19. Bride formerly in musical comedy; he's in the production end of legit. Lillian Emerson to Herbert Huber Boscowitz, in New York, July 25. She's a legit actress; he's the bridge expert BIRTHS Mrs. Carlos Vannicola, son, July 16, in Boston, their second child. Father is advertising artist for RKO theatres, Boston. Mr. and Mrs. Dan Duryea, son, July 15, in New York. Father is in •The Little Foxes,' National, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs, Do\ Ameche, son, in Hollywood, July 21. Father is film player; » Mr. and Mrs, Ed Kirby, daughter, July 21, in Washington. Father is publicity boss for NAB and mother (Marjorie Arnold) formerly pro- duced cjiildren's programs over WSM, Nashville. Mr. and Mrs. Richard CardinI, daughter, in New York, July 13. Father Is the magician, Mr. and Mrs,.William Borack, son, in Salt Lake City, July 20. Father is booker and buyer for Intermoun- tain Theatres, Inc. ' HERMAN CASLER Herman Casler, 72, inventor of the biograph, one of the first motion picture machines to be Introduced in America about 45 years ago, died in panastota, N. Y., Thursday (20). He had been stricken with a heart at- tack several days earlier. After machine shop experience In Syracuse, he became affiliated with General Electric Co. in 1803, when he began dabbling with motion pic- tures. On his retirement from the company he constructed the muto- scope, a machine for exhibiting pic- tures of objects in motion, and the mutograph, a camera for taking pic- tures. Still not satisfied, he turned to the biograph, a machine for projecting by means of an electric lamp, mov- ing pictures in theatres. This quick- ly moved films into the fore as a major field «f entertainment. The biograph was first shown at Haih- merstein's. New York, Oct 11, 1896, along with machines of two other inventors. Surving are his - widow, Fannie Ehle Casler, and two sons, Harry and Roger. RAT S. SUGDEN (TAMPA) Ray S. Siigden, 52, known profes- sionally as Tampa, the Magician, died at the St. Francis Hospital in Pitts- burgh last week after a four-month illness. Although he retired from the stage eight years ago, after a ca- reer that included a command per- formance for the late King George V of England, Tampa continued to give exhibitions at entertainments and organization meetings in the Pittsburgh district right up until the time he fell ill. Of late he had been employed by the Pittsburgh Press as a feature of its Seckatary. Hawkins children's clubs. For 20 years Tampa was associated with the late Howard Thurston and invented a number of Thurston's il- lusions. / Sugden was president of the Pitts- burgh Chapter, International Broth- erhood of Magicians, and was also a 32d degree Mason. He leaves his wife and. two sons. JACK DUFFY Jack. Duffy, 57,. veteran vaude and silent film comic, died in Hollywood Sunday (23). Duffy had been work> ing as a make-up artist in studios. Survived by two sisters, one being Kate Price, former screen actress, and several brothers. Burial in Hoi. lywood. Duffy spent 10 years in musical comedy and vaude in New York be- fore entering fjlms. He had worked on all lots. His last film was 'Wild Brian Kent' at 20th-Fox in 1936. . CHARLES J. MAGUIRE pharles J. Maguire, 57, veteran of- stage, circus and screen, died July 22 in North Hollywood, Cal. Before moving to the Coast, he had bfeen with the New York Roof Garden, Hippodrome, Hagenbeck Sc Wallace and the Crystal Palace, Lon- don, Widow, Janet Sully, actress, and brother John, of N. Y,, survive. Burial in Burbank, Cal. DAWN NOEL Dawn Hope Noel, 19, actress, died July 18, 1939, in Los Angeles, a suicide. She was the wife of James Noel, orchestra leader, and daughter of Adele Bipod, stage actress, who died by her own hand three years ago. GUT DISERE Guy D'Iscre, 40, a clarinetist em- ployed by the Columbia Broadcasting System, collapsed and died on a stair- way of the 59th street station of the Independent Subway, New York, July 17. His body remained uniden- tified until two days later when Al- exander Semmler, a CBS 'pianist, made the identification. Member of the Columbia Symph since 1927, D'Isere Is believed to have died from natural causes. His widow, Jean, who was summering at South Brookville, Me., and a 14-year-old son, Chadwick, attending a boys' camp on Cape Cod, survive. JOSEPHINE nOFFSTADT WEHN Mrs. Josephine Wehn, 59, former actress who until recently had been an instructress of pantomime at the Alviene School of the Theatre, died in the Bronx, N. Y„ July 18, after a long illness. As Josephine Hoffstadt she played in stock and later appeared on the road in 1918 with Maude Adams in 'A Kiss for Cinderella.' In 1920, two years later, she performed on Broad- way with Lionel Barrymore in 'Let- ter of the Law.' She h^d acted abroad and other plays in which she was cast here Included, *We Ameri- cans," 'Four Walls' and 'Maya.' IRVING FENN Irving Penn, 42, manager of the royalty department at G. Schirmer, music Publishers, died yesterday (Tuesday) of bullet wounds suffered at the hands of assassins. Details in the music section. RUSSELL REDMOND Russell Redmond, 20, radio'slng«r, died at his home in Cedar Rapids, July 10, of heart trouble. Survived by a brother and sister. Charles F. Gladtelter, former exec of the Hearst newspaper organiza- tion, died July 19 'at his home in Scarsdale, N. Y. Became business manager of the Louisville (Ky.) Herald in 1914, later moving to the Chicago Herald-Examiner in tha same capacity. Came to N. Y. in 1929 as general manager and v,p. of tht . Newspaper and Magazine Paper Cqr« poration, Hearst affiliate, Teltftiig four years ago. Widow and a daugh- ter survive. Clarence E. Relier, 31, projection- ist In Marinette, Wis., and nearbr Menominee, Mich., theatres died in the latter city July 20. Survived by parents, widow, three children and three sisters. Wife of Capt. Philip Egner, writer of 'On Brave Old Army Team' and' other West Point compositions, died July 18 in East Orange,-N. J. Be- sides her husband she is survived by two sons. FAT BARRETT Pat Barrett, 67, died at the Buffalo Meyer Memorial Hospital without funds and with no one to claim his body. Last employed in 'Abie's Irish Rose,' Barrett was forced off the stage by falling eyesight and spent his last years living in straightened circumstances in a Buffalo waterfront lodging house. Actor's Fund of New York sent $100 for burial expenses and the Buffalo Variety Club contributed the balance as well as furnishing bearers for a church funeral. RAT LAUGHLIN Ray Laughlin, about 34, died in Milwaukee recently, despite a last- minute blood transfusion by Lloyd Hundling, with whom Laughlin played in Herbie Holmes' orches- tra. Laughlin, a violinst; led the house band at Kansas City's Palmor balj- room for two years and also did the same at the Fox Tower, K. C„ for some time. Survived by widow and mother. ' Frederick S. Hart, 34, member o( the advertising staff of RCA-Victor, Philadelphia, died July 19 at" his home in Narberth, Pa, Widow, fath- er, brother and sister survive. .Mrs. Annie E. Foote. 89, musician, died July 21 at her home in Mil- waukee. Mrs. Foote had been a pianist and organist for 76 years: Survived by granddaughter and son. Walker Reld, 54, for 15 years con- nected with the radio transmitter de- partment of the General Electric Company, Schenectady, died last week in Albany HospitaL Ed Toepperwein, 65, musician and local band conductor, djed at San Antonio, Texas from a heart attack July 19. Thomas J. Ford, 70, former Rubi- con, Wis., band musician, died July 13 in a Hartford, Wis., hospital. Sur- vived by a brother. Edgar Ha:mburger, 54, died July 12, in Bellefontaine, O. He was one of the principal developers of Indian View resort, Indian Lake, O. Bertie M. Altmlller, 39,' wife of Jesse Altmiller, drummer in the pit crew of the Fox theatre, Philadel- phia, died Ji^ly 16 in Camden/ N. J. Thomas W. Heaib, 45, an employee of Russell Bros. Circus, died in an East Stroudsburg, Pa,, hospital Sun- day (23) following an appendectomy.