Variety (May 1941)

Wednesday, IVlaj 21, 1941 VAUDEVILLE 45 ^ ■►♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ MMM The Good Old Days \ »♦♦ . ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦««♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦«♦♦*♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ 4 4* f> 4 » f ^ f V Hereiolfh appears a Variety review of a N. Y. Palace bill of 20 years ago. The intention is to reprint these weekly using the relative meefc of 1921 with the current date of issue. No special rcoson in reuiuing these reviews other than the interest they may have in recalling the acta tuhich tuere playing at that time, the noanner of putting together a big time show (booking), which, radio stations may find pertinent, and .as a resume of the style of vaudeville reviewing of that day. For the passing of vaudeville has also made it di^icult to develop reviewers who can recognize talent when they see it. Variety has found that out, and therefore particularly recommends this column to its reviewers and correspondents, (Reprinted from Variety of May 20, 1921) PALACE, N Y.' One of the best vaudeville shows of the season at the PalacCf the cur- rent bill holding 10 acts, with the house sold out solidly Monday night. Dancing predominated in most of the turns, but the comedy and artistic elements were.not slighted, three of the former and two 'names' in Adele Rowland (new acts) doing a reappearance from a long musical comedy engagement, and Josephine Victor in the Lewis & Gordon slcetch, 'Juliet and Romeo,' among the entries. Miss Victor closed the first half in about the classiest skit that has hit vaudeville In some seasons. She is a legitimate actress of reputation and histrionic ability, and is surrounded by a strong cast. The way the act went at the Palace will go a long way towards exploding the booking fallacy that a sketch does not make for good vaudeville, as it slows up the show. The spot was perfect and the act toned up the opening section of the bill like a spring tonic. The finish seems to be an anti-climax after the dressing room scene, and could probably be dropped entirely with tAe author's help. Just ahead of Miss Victor, the Weaver Brothers, originators of the hand- saw playing and other freak musical instruments, walked off with the first-part comedy honors. Garbed in the official regalia of the Arkansaw "yokels' they so truthfully depict, the men got a big'laugh an appearance and mannerisms alone. The Instruments clinched it, with the speech at the finish adding Just the proper qlosing touch. It's a standard comedy turn for vaudeville and welcome on any bill. Anatole Frledland In his revue held third position. The support is capable, the girls all good looking and Frledland a good showman. One ' or two obvious 'plugs' for some of the Frledland songs were noticeable, but did not interfere. AH of the girls can dance, with costuming up to the high standard that vaudeville has set for itself with this type of enter- tainment this season. , After Intermission Joe Jackson, who has been at the Hippodrome'-for several seasons, opened with the same act that he first showed to vaude- ville ages ago. The pantomimed 'pinching' of the comedy bicycle got almost as much as when - first seen. The edge has been taken oft the comedy business with the floppy cufT that always gets in his hand and the dilapidated auto horn that he steps on while trying to mount, but none do It quite like Jackson. The business of picking up the quarter has been changed, and, coupled with a new encore bit of the house darken- ing just as the clown pantomimes the beginning of a speech, are the o(ily new touches. He went strongly. " — Miss Rowland followed and pulled down unusual returns in her song cycle, being presented with flowers at the conclusion. Miss Rowland flipped a few remarks to a box on the left of the house where Joe Lynch, the bantam champion, was entertaining a bunch of admirers of Miller . and,Mack, who were down next to closing. One of the Lynch party was so enthusiastic in his enjoyment of the Rowland turn that the artist thotight she was being kidded. Pearl Regay walked off with the hit of the bill following. This girl has developed into one of vaudeville's marvels. Her vEontortioning is so cleverly blended Into her dancing she amazes at times. Add the personal charm and the grace of a gazelle and a slight mental picture is con- * structed. Her work is as frictionless as the running of Man of War, the body bending and dancing riveting attention at each appearance. A sing- ing voice of good quality completes the cycle of talents. The jazz band and production helped the general impression, but could be dispensed with If necessary. Miss Regay holds plenty. The house applauded until arm weary at the conclusion of her last jazz dance with the body pin- Wheel finish. * Miller and Mack got on at 10:40 and checked the receding dribble with their first number. The boys went at them fast and furious, doing exactly 11 minutes and goaling them as usual with their low comedy and dancing. A little higher they would have mopped up, but it is doubtful if anything ahead could have held them at that late hour. Mme. Rialto and Co., programmed to open, closed the show. The danc- ing turn was sacrificed after the Regay act and had a steady walkout to contend with all the way. The Gellis, one of the best acrobatic turns of Its kind, opened, with RusseU and Devitt following. Con. THE PITCHMEN The First Act of Its Kind Presented on Any Stage Acclaimed by Press, Public and iManagers as Unique and Distinctive May 8 to June 4, Roosevelt Hotel, New Orleans Opening June 26, Palmer House, Chicago Exclmtve Management BERNARD BURKE 48 WEST 4STH STREET NEW YORK Saranac Lake By Happy Bcnway ^ Saranac Lake, May 20. Top news from H. D. ('Hank') Hearn, United Artists connection stationed at Charlotte, North Caro- lina. He states that after he got his olcay from this Colony he is now better than well. Hubert Carlson, who did the trick here, packing a mess of good health and now in Oklahoma City. Sylvia Abbot, who ozoned here for years and years and left with an okay report, here for a checkup. She is married and anticipates an addi- tion to the family. When writing to this column for info please enclose a stamped return envelope. To Ruth Morrison, Bos- ton; Eddie Dowd's right name, writer of the song, 'We Met Each Other in a Dream,' is Ralph Cardamone and is here at the Will Rogers. Larry Navarre, who has a connec- tion at the Hotel Plymouth, N. Y., visited his frau, Joy Navarre, who Is doing well at the Will' Rogers. Not since the days when William Morris put on his benefit shows for the Saranac Lake Day Nursery has any artist turned them away from' the local theatre at $5 top. Grace Moore did it while giving a benefit performance. for the Saranac Lake Study and C:raft Guild. Her hus- band, Valentin Parera, who is doing well ozoning here, stood in the wings and received the thrill of his life. After a two-month shutter period with only canned music, the Hotel Saranac has installed a four-piece band. Write to those who are IIL Whitehead Faction ^Continued from pace *'^s AFA, allegedly for work on the AFA's house organ. Conspicuotis in the pamphlet dis- tributed in N. Y. Is . a complete whitewash of Whitehead on the front cover, which quotes ' a no- tarized letter signed by Frank Gill- more, president of the Four A's, In which he states, regarding the dis- Irancbisement of the AFA, as fol- lows: 'With reference to the charges against Ralph Whitehead as exec- utive secretary of the AFA, and the decision of the Four A's upholding the charges and expelling the AFA, the said charges and decision rested upon the mismanagement of the af- fairs of the AFA, but it was never charged that Ralph Whitehead mis- appropriated any funds of the AFA for his own use or for the use .of any of his associates.' It is probable that this letter from Gillmore was part of the agreement that resulted in Whitehead dropping his $100,000 libel suit against heads of the Four A's. During the Four A's hearing at that time much was made of the fact that the AFA pur- chased a $1,700 automobile for Whitehead, title of which passed to him, and Whitehead's large expense accounts. It was also attested to that several members of the AFA coun- cil drew salaries. Lou Taylor and Murray Lane, who compiled the pamphlet, also were the major distributors on the Palace Beach and nearby streets. Another who distributed the pamphlets was Pete Wells, whose election as pres- ident of AqyA's N. Y. local was de- clared illegal. Taylor Va. Ted Evans Taylor's support of Whitehead evidently goes even deeper than the verbal or printed form. On Friday (16), when he heard an actor named Ted Evans (Healy and) reproaching those undermining AGVA and cam- paigning for the return of the dis- credited Whitehead, Taylor slugged Evans. Hymle Goldstein, agent, intervened and prevented further battling. Both Taylor and Lane'for months have been petitioning William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, to Investigate the Four A's management of AGVA. Included in their petitions has been requests for the return of White- head to the variety actors union. That this has had, some effect on Green is Indicated by his recent let- ter read to the Four A's and asking appointment of Whitehead as na- tional organizer for AGVA. The Four A's unanimously nixed the re- quest. Last week (17) the Four A's, at a meeting, squelched reports that it was going to toss AGVA overboard. It was reaffirmed that the Four A's was solidly behind AGVA and would make every effort to put the variety performers' organization on a solid foundation. Threatened Stranding of ¥wood' Unit Prevented by AGVA Action Colored Perfonner Held In Wbite Woman's Death Buffalo, May 20. Carl V. Stinson, 33, unemployed Negro entertainer, was ordered held yesterday (Monday) in the fatal stabbing of a 32-year-old white woman, Marian Bojakowski, in a front yard In the city's Negro sec- tion. Police arrested Stinson when he asked to see the woman's body, Stinson, police said, is a singer and dancer, but has not worked lately. New Acts In Cafes ANNETTE Songs 9 Mins. Leon & Eddie's, N. T. Annette hails from the Coast but is new in Eastern cafes. She's a photogenic songstress, heavy on the s.a., reminding of Carole Lombard in face and manner which, coupled with a nice vocal style, 1^'t exactly a handicap for any entertainer. She sings in a throaty, appealing manner which, while heretofore as- sociated with 'society'. Singers, Is legit warbling in hfer case. A ju- dicious assortment of the current pops, with emphasis on beguines and Latin excerpts, further aids her impression. She clicks in this zany fun factory and would be even more effective in a 'classier' room, not that you're exactly camping out in Leon & Eddie's. Abel. THE BILLINOTONS (2) Dancers 6 Mlns. Leon & Eddie's, N. T. The Billingtons are a cute boy- girl team, young, personable ' and fresh. They hail from the midwest and this is their first New YorK en- gagement. ThQir forte is tap step- ping. Both are highly effective on the hoof and on face value. He reminds of the Buddy Ebsen-Hal LeRoy srbnni of legmanfa, and both click solidly with their energetic, well- routined dancing. Okay on rostrum or cafe floor. Abet MONBOE AT CEDAB GROVE . Vaughn Monroe has been booked for a short term at Meadowbrook, Cedar Grove, N. J. Outfit plays two weeks for Dailey, opening June 11. It is filling in remainder of a month for which Bobby Byrne had been booked but now has to cut short because of bis June 9 opening at the Pennsylvania hotel, N. Y. Monroe opened a three week stretch at the Paramount theatre, N. Y., today (Wed.) his first major date outside of New England. Dr. Sam Splitter, a former medico from Lausanne and Vienna, now a connection with the Will Rogers. Prompt action by the American.. Guild of Variety Artists last Thurs- day (15) prevented the threatened stranding of 20 performers in the cast of 'Stars 'Over Hollywood,' Coast-produced unit then playing Its closing day at the 20th Century, Buf- falo. On advice from AGVA's Chi- cago office to New York that th« troupe might be left high and dry, AGVA sent one of Its organizers, Leslie Litomy, to the upstate N. Y. city. He left N. Y. C. at 4:30 in th« tfternoon and cleared up the situ- ation as well as possible by 11 the same night. A call was first put through by Henry Dunn, AGVA's treasurer, to the manager of the theatre and the latter promised to hold up the unit's salary until Litomy arrived. The manager then handed over $1,623, the unit's percentage of a poor week's .gross, which was. not enough to pay off all the performers in full. Litomy, with the permission of the cast, first paid the 10 choristers their full salaries, $35 each, and those acts getting tmder $150 also received their full salaries, while the higher- priced turns got shares and notes for the remainder, payable in full plus 6% Interest in 90 days, signed by Josephine Earl, in private life Mrs.. Jack Pomeroy and wife of the unit's producer. AU told, the notes total around $400, with Senator Murphy due $162.75; Shirley Dean, $107.62; Frank Ross and Luz Pierre, $101.58, and Lester Oman, $32.25. When It was evident that there would be difficulty In getting the full salaries for the acts, AGVA got Mrs. Florence Marston, SAG's east- ern rep, to contact Kenneth Thom- son on the Coast, where the Screen Actors Guild's executive secretary notified Pomeroy that full payment to the performers was mandatory. Pomeroy is franchised by SAG and immediately informed his wife, trav- elling with the unit, to si^n notes for all monies due the actors. Litomy, didn't use all of the coin for salaries, holding out enough to pay the performers their r.r. fares back to tiieir starting points. Thus six glrjs and two boys got their fares to Los Angeles, whUe the remainder departed for N. Y. and Chicago. Enken Deal for Miami Airliner Grows Cold Miami Beach, May 20. Negotiations between Leon Enken, of I.eon & Eddie's, New York, and Kitty Davis for purchase of letter's Miami Beach Airliner have cooled off. He's currently here on a month'* vacation, Enk^n is reported to have offered Miss Davis $50,000 for the spot, but she is holding out for $75,000, Also objects to a clause in the contract which would restrain her from again operating within SO miles of Miami.