Variety (May 1941)

46 HOUSE BEYIEWS Wednesdiiy, May 21, 1941 MUSIC HALL, N. Y. Anne. RoseUe, Hilda Ecfcler, Jim Wong Group (5), Grace Panvini, Jim Mulhollond, Ballet Corps, Glee Club, Hoelcctfes, Music Hall Symphony Orch, Emo Rapee conducting; Devil and Miss Jones' (RKO), reviewed in Variety, April 9. Passable stageshow for the Hall, with only fair entertainment from the Ulent, but effective physical production. Has several dull spots and, at this catching, was surprising- ly rough for a Music Hall presenta- tion. Show has a Chinese theme. Opening at the end of a brief 'overture' by the orchestra, the first act is an aria from Puccini's Turan- dot,' sung, with considerable power, but little discernible meaning by so- prano Anne Roselle. She stands In- tentionally stiff against a vividly- colored drop, with a Chinese screen and impressionistic trees as settings. Turn lasts too long. Hilda Eckler and the ballet corps do a fairly elaborate Oriental rou- tine, which is handsomely staged. Use Chinese parasols and fans ef- fectively and the costumes are deco- rative. Next is the Jim Wong Group, standard tumbling, acrobatic, bal- ancing and contortion offering that Includes unbelievably difficult tricks. Scores solidly, as always. That's followed by a vocal number by coloratura Grace Panvlni and the Glee Club, 'with' a stunning Chi- nese riverfront setting. It's called 'By the Yellow River' and is kind of a Chinese version of the 'Song of the /Volga Boatman'—good enough. John Mulholland (New Acts) is next with a magic act, and the Rock- ettes have .the finale, using a Chi- nese lantern theme backdrop to set forth a precision tap routine with a taint nod in a Far East direction. And though it scarcely seems pos- alble, the girls actually, were a trifle slipshod in performance—at least for them. Hobe, EARLE, PHILLY PMIadelphia, May 10. Guy Lothbardo Orch (14) with Kenny Gardner, Carmen LomlXirdo, ■ ZiOmbardo Trio; Gil Lamb, Tommy ■ Sanford, Olsen and Shirley; 'Sis HopWns* (Rep). bill are Lewis and the Oliver Sis- ters, in novel acrobatics, and Yola Galli, whose singing would carry the show. Opening, Lewis and the Oliver sisters go with apparent case through a routine which includes difficult head-to-head stands. Lewis tops the turn with a one-hand stand on the head of one of the girls. Another of his stunts is carrying a partner head-to-head up steps, across a plat- form, and down another flight of steps. Miss Galli, blonde with a voice as i;ood as her nifty figure, grabs honors : n audience appeal. ' Working through a few South American songs, her voice seems merely pleasing.' Then she imitates 'Susie Green's' progress after vocal lessons' and the voice seems better. When she cuts loose with 'Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square,' she reveals a full-colora- tura previously bidden plus dra- matic ability. Veteran Eddie Lambert effectively clowns through an impersonation of a concert pianist and music teacher with the aid of a stooge vocalist. .. johnny Cook, who emcees, and Lou Black turn in some good com- edy, including a quiz in which Black answers questions by playing songs on his fiddle. The act is marred by bad taste as it ends, however, in by- play with a 'whiskey' bottle and an- other . which, it is found, is on its way to be delivered 'to the draft board.' The pair has a knack of building fun around local 'institu- tions.' Opera to pops in furious accordion playing—occasionally not quite ac- curate—is the turn of Dejla and Bobby Del Rio. The latter's version of 'Poet and Peasant' overture is best. Business fair at first "show Satur- day (17). Lynch. GOLDEN GATE, S. F. San Frariciaeo, May 14. Nick Lucas, Gene Sheldon & Co. (2), Stan Kramer, Roy Davit, Hargar and Maye, Charles Kaley, House Orch (13), Peggy O'Neill House Line (12); 'Rookies on Parade' (Rep). The schmaltzy rhythm . of Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadians are a great contrast to the brassy bands that nave btea holding down the stand at the Earle recently. But where the heavy-pn-the-iive boys keep the place jumpin, Lombardo's soothing ■ strains tend to put this house's usual- ly swing-conscious customers in a state of lethar»^. The fact that the house was stu^ due to the sultry weather and a slipup In the air con- ditioning didn't help any' when this show was reviewed Friday (16) night The^Lombardos need some com- edy novelty . being displayed by many '.of the present-day aggrega- tions they want to attract the younger set. A sock femme chlrper for another thing. Gil Lamb and Us harmonica- playing stooge. Tommy Sanford, give the show some badly-neede(l lift at the closing. But Lamb, who's one of the best eccentric .dancers in ' the business, on^ gl'ves out with a couple of minutes of t^lng, spend- ing tiie bulk of his time out front needling members ot Lombardo's crew. His imitation of a jitter- bug watching a stage band is i honey, however; Gil and Sanford . .do their usual comedy harmonica turn, with the lanky terper giving a rib-tlckling takeoff on a guy who's •wallowed a mouth-organ. Olsen and Shhrley, th^ other out- side act, are plenty clever in a com- bination ballet and aero turn. The Lombardos are backed by _ neat-looking backdrop depicting the ^ city's skyline. They tee off virlth ^ 'Amapola,' followed by 'Oh, Look ■ at Me Now,' Kenny Gardner han- H dllng the vocalizing plenty. ade ^ quately. The liombardo Trio and Gardner collaborate in a couple of oldies. 'Camp Town Races,' 'The Band Played On' and 'Frivolous Sal. 'totermezzo' is right down the Lombardo orch's saccharine alley, with the sugary 'Time and Time , Again' following, this time Carmen Lombardo trilling. The closing med- ley Is the usual thing—a group Lombardo recording fives. Biz when reviewed was not up to par. . . Shal. STATE, N. Y. — ^' Dick Stabile Band (13), Ethel Shutta, Henry Armetta, Christianit; 'They Dare Not Love' (Col). Court Sq., Springfield Springfield, Mass., May 17, Conga .Revue viith RaTnon Tala- vera and Conga Dancers, Lewis and Oliver Sisters, Delia and Bobby Del Hlo, Johnny Cook and Lou Black, Yola Galli. fdtlie Lambert & Co.; •Magic in Musi& (Par). The (ionga revue at the Court Square (here May 15-17) is weakest In the dance for which it is named, but gains plen^ of appeal from other apts. The "real Latin-Ameri- can' conga is the dish of Ramon Tal- svera and his troupe, b'ut It's tame compared to Americanized version^ and has to fall back on its grace. Top^ In entertainment value on the Gate's lineup this week is virtually a parade of stag singles, with Nick Lucas topping. House band is back on the stage with Charles Kaley an- nouncing the acts after a week sans identification of performers. Opener, following routine by house line, is Stan Kramer, youngster 'with fiock of marlonets. An assistant sets a miniature stage while he roams at large, followed by a spot, with a waltzing dummy in blue ost- rich plumes. Switching to the mini- ature platform, Kramer trots out a hot pianist, minstrel and drunk in that order, syncing them to phono- graph records. N'ovelty is using two dolls as audience—man hi tails smok- ing a ciggle and a dowager wielding a lorgnette. Fat prima donna and a flourescent. conga dancer close, string- puller bowing off to a nice hand. The band, augmented with a sec- ond piano this week, goes into 'In- termezzo,' with various solo piassages by the boys and vocals by Kaley. Kaley's arrangements usual^ go big here and this is no exception. Roy Davis, another single is qn next, also usipg a phonograph. Lad spins records by Jerry Colonna ('Sonny Boy'), Cyril Smith CI Heard Three Birds') and Bonnie Baker ('You'd Be Surprised'>, while he goes through all the motions. His timing is amazing a&d his clowning Is okay. Too bad he doesn't have a voice of his own as well,- or he'd be a sensa- tion. Fans here like him as Is, how-. ever, and he finally had to talk his way off, which is doing okay in 'Frisco. Lucas follows, a spotting which ptits him almost In the nuddle. of the show. Goes right into 'You Walked By' and 'Amapola,' swinging the last chorus of the latter, then In- troduces his next, 'Painting the Clouds With Sunshine.' Trots to wings but bounces right back with 'Singing In the Rain' and 'That Great American Home.' At show caught his reception was hearty. Answered the palm pounding with 'Thanks for the Memory', and bowed off. ' Gene Sheldon, who also qualifies as a single except for -aid from a femme stooge in the latter part of his turn, is next to closing with a dumb act that kept-'em' chuclding. Opens solo with banjo comedy stuff which pleases although he's smooth enough musically to stand at- least one full number sans laugh-inter- ruption. Last halt in which he clowns around with aid of trick breaks from the drummer, -clicks neatly. Hargar and Maye finale with a Viennese waltz. - Male half, in cap- taln-of-the-guard costume, walks through some stuff with the house line prior to appearance of his part- ner for their waltz routine. House gals are decked out in snappy and fresh long-skirted, ^llly costumes and the lighting, as usual, is okay. Biz fair at opening. Wem. . Borrah Mlnnerlteh and his Ras- cal^, currently in San Francisco, sighed for the new Earl Cferroll niteiy revue, opehiog in Hollywood June i.: Show is somewhat under standard for this spot Three of the bill's four turns are very good, the burden of entertaining the customers falling on the capable shoulders of Dick Stabile and his bandsmen. His act takes up the major portion of the running time. After he finaled on the first night (Thursday), the house was sparsely tenanted, most of the audience having by then taken the air. Attendance was distinctly off anyhow. Crew, with Stabile at sax, runs to brasses though the musical routine is not too brassy. Leader and men do very well with 'Intermezzo,' which. Stabile says, he rates the most beautiful song of the year. A little tap dancer, Betty Jane Smith, works neatly but Kay Little, a trim songstress, is the real audience- pleaser. Miss Little, who joined the band in Philadelphia recently, starts with 'Georgia on My Mind,' then come 'All of Me' and 'Nick the Greek.' which is announced as new. Bill De Mayo is a featured mu- sician, soloing, too, at the mike as a warbler with 'Walking By the River,' a sax quintet dolling up that popular meloiv- Band numbers are topped with 'Say It With Music' and 'Dancing in the Dark.'' Ethel Shutta is excellent, the well- appearing thrush turning in a real score in the second spot. Her num- bers have been- nicely selected and Miss Shutta adds somethhie 'with slight changes of lyrics. 'Isn't That Like Love,' a comedy Russian ditty, 'Let's Get Away From It -All' and 'One of the Back Row Girls' are het- best songs, most of the lyrics being, on the lighter side. 2Ienry Armetta Is back again, an example of 'what Hollywood can do to a character man. Armetta got a friendly hand from film fans out front but his act Is unfunny to the average observer and certainly the weak spot in the bill. Routine with the unbilled woman the same as be- fore, y The C:hristianis open cleverly. They're an ace acrobatic combo, formerly standard in the circus. Feats' are quickly accomplished, teeterboard leap four-high being the turn's standout Ibee. EARLE, WASH. •van on this L&ewls«, tenslv* coverage, and there's Uttle applause.^ Paramount's dip oa Rudolf Hess, a compilation of old newirael cover- age, was met with stony silence at this catching. In former times, the showing of Hess or Hitler, or both as in this compilation, made every- body sound like a radiator blowing its top., Par has a scoop this week on ex- King Carol of Rumania and his par- amour, Mme. Lupescu, landing at Bermuda. There are several posed shots and a few words spoken by the former ruler regardhighis pro- posed residence in Cuba. This same reel also has the first pictures of concentration canfps in France— aptly billed as 'Preview of Despair.' Pathe's coverage of bombed Ply- mouth, and Uhlversal's and Fox's shared coverage of Wjnston Chur- chill In the bllUed areas, graphically describe the horrors being wi-ought In England.' Fox also has a shot of Dowager Queen Mary visiting' Eng- lish wounded %oldiers; Universal shows King George and Queen Eliza- beth on a firing range, with the King testing a tommygun, and Paramount has one of the most Interesting war clips in describing the growing might of Singapore on land and in the air. Aside from the usual press agent- Inspired clips, most of the coverage on this side depicts Americans grow- ing defenses. Metro gives this good coverage on army parachutists and a regiment in training. Fox shows some flying fortresses in flight while Pathe indicates that our coast guard gunners are plenty accurate as they shoot at a radio-piloted speed- boat Fox didn't forget Hank Green- berg, now a raw army rookie In Michigan, and Universal went down to Rio to show Brazil's future nava( officers In training. Ed Thorgersen, Fox newsreel's sportscaster, did a hangup job on Whirlaway's victory In the Preak- ness. It's a corking and exciting coverage of the race, showing 'Whlrl- eway coming from far back to run over the field. U al^o did a neat job with a wreck of an oil train. Closing the bill -is March of Time's latest on the FBI. .It's a graphic, moving exposition of another arm of America's preparedness against out- side forces. Schdi CHICAGO, CHI Chicago, May 17. Eddy Duchin Orch with John Drake and June Robbins, ill Bemie, Merriel Abbott Girls (8); 'Greot Broadcasf (20th). LYRIC, INDPLS. Indianapolis, May 10. Pinfcy Tomlin Orch, Betty Bennett, Gil and Bemice Afaison, Starlets (6), Slim Timblm & Co., Jean Ruth; 'Lady from Louisiana.' Washinflton, May 20. Read Siatert {3), Weston Bras. (2), arina Lord, Siggy Lane, 16 Goe Foster Girls; Joe Lombardi's House Orch; 'Meet Jo hn Doe - (WB). Current show Is an excellent ex- ample of Harry Anger's knack for taking acts with no special name draw and welding them together into a brief and thoroughly enter- taining revue, mainly because he be- lieves in quality rather than quan- tity. This is a tuneful, fast-moving pro- duction, 'with not a dull moment from uie overture, RachmaninofTs 'Prelude in C Sharp Minor,' con- ducted By Joe Xiombardl, to Roxy- ettes' spectacular fan number finale. Roxyettes open with a rhythmic pre- cision number, giving way to three Read Slstei^ harmony trio. Pretty and fresh-appearing, the girls qcore solidly with a group of pop hits. They're followed by a definite con- trast m mood, the 'Wesson Brothers (2) up next The boys click to smash applause with novel Imitati<»is of screen stars and the Roosevelts. Any 'just another mimic' attitude in the audience is offset by novelty of their presentation, one doing the vocal impression, the other the pan- tomime. • Finale Is a lavish production num- ber involving Siggy Lane for song, the Roxyettes in an expertly done and devery-llghted fan number, and Marina Lord, who is Marina Franca When with the Ballet Russe. Whole Idea is built around Miss Lord, a skilled technician, and her dance wins fine response when the im- mense feather ^aln' of her costume opens into peaco<^ tail effect and audience realizes what a task it' is to dance in that outfit The tail ap- paratus is a new effect devised by George Golden, son of the late Meyer Golden, once the ace vaude producer. Whole show clocks at only 34 min- utes, but 'not a minute is wasted. Biz good Friday evening (16). Mac. NEWSREELS (EaOASST, N. Y.) The effect of the European-manu- factured news headlines upon the U. S. is perhaps best -illustrated en masse at the hewsreel theatres. There's an evident audience sobriety now that contrasts sharply with the ero and con effusiveness prior to ostilities, during the stalemate and up to the. Nazis^ inundation of the low -countries. Now .Americans Just alt back and absorb the pictorial news 'with little hissing or applauding. America's preparedness campaign is given .ex< J : /('.'O'-' ">iM:'..''■■>■ . '!'• . Back in the days 'when 'Object of My Affections' was being pushed through a loudspeaker in the Ameri- can Home a dozen or so times a day, local natives first heard of Pinky Tomlin. They heard more of him as he liad his fling on commercial radio programs, and many of them have records in 'which his voice is fea- tured on the vocal of some pop tune. But this week Is the first time that Roosiers have seen him in person, along with his four rhythm, two trumpet two trombone and three sax sections. Tomlin, himself, is • personable young men who looks like a come- dian, and if he Just had some funny lines to speak he could add much to the general impression of his show by sprinkling in a few laughs. As it is, he makes no great effort to be funny, but contents himiself' with straight announcing.- Down near the final curtain, he hits his stride when he gets con- fidential with the mike ^to sing Hagtime Cowboy Joe,' an original caUed 'I Did It and I'm Glad,' to Which the audience gave mitt ap- proval; 'Porter's Love Song,' a couple of novelty tunes and the inevitable 'Affections' for the close. The orchestra plays as if it were an assortment of. beginning musi- cians, picked up at some college and knighted with the publicity of the Tomlin label. They stick strictly to oldtimers, being turned lose on 'I Know That You Know,' 'Angry,' 'Blue Skies' and 'St Louis Blues.' Betty Bennett is a band vocalist and does okay by 'Walkin' by the River' and 'Say Si SI.' She's a looker. Gil and Bernice Maison gamer some laughs with trained dogs and a monkey. They follow the modem trend of having the dogs apparently disobey commands, then following with some nice canine aero worlt They're oke for any bill' • Slim Timblln does his familiar col- ored preacher routine, getting his laughs from his pixilated interpreta- tion of Bible ^history. Finishes with a wedding ceremony, with a litUe blue material. Jean Ruth Is current- winner of the WFBM Talent Parade' and could have socked on 'Make Believe' with her full soprano if she hadn't been sc^ired at^show caught. The Six Starlets are apparently recent graduates from a stage school, going through three tap routines in unison, each counting the atepis silently to the rhythm of their ac- companiment Their -numbers scould have been staggered with bet- ter effect Biz light at third show opening day, Friday (16). Hera is a unit that-consists only of a band, a line of eight girls and exactly one act—and In the out- standing midwest theatre! This Is short-changing in anybody's lan- guage and can do little to enhance the reputation of the Eddy Duchin orchestra, with which this unit must be Identified by the theatregoer. Here Is a house which regularly has a line of 16 girls, yet with Du- chin there's an attempt to sneak in with eight girls who are lost on this mammoth stage. The smallest cafes in town run with eight femmes. Not that these Merriel Abbott girls aren't Individually satisfactory, because they are. But they look pretty, skimpy and plnch-penny. In order to fill out running time three of the line girls are asked to step out for some specialties. They are still chorus girls and as indi- viduals do not have the semblance of an act. All they can do is a few minutes of specialty kicking. One girl does a litUe acrobatic tumbling, another some very weak tap-work and the third some fair ballet stuff. But it Is not variety entertainment for a -theatre stage of any impor- tance. The only act is Al Bemie who used . to be an impersonator, but -who now impresses a? one of the most im- proved acts In the business. Bemie, thankfully, has given up the imper- sonation stuff for the most part and now comes up with a talking act that's well presented. Has a line of comedy chatter, much of It new and some of it old, but all of it good and solid for every category of audience. In between he occasion- ally lapses into his impersonation background. He shows great prom- isees a comedian, and with the right breaks much more will be heard of him. For the rest It's just the Duchin musicians doubling in brass and tonsils plus two vocalists, June Rob- bins and John Drake, neither of whom Impresses. Duchin's band singers, are just band singers, get- ting by on the popularity of the tunes rather than vocal strength. The maestro is jumpmg all over the stage trying to keep the show moving with any semblance of pace and finally backs to the piano for his standard planalog and winds up with 'Stormy Weather,' which has long been identified with him. Business fair at the last show Fri- day (16). Cold. TOWER, K. C. Karxsaa City, May 20. Martin and Allen, Bert Lynn Woolsey and Claire, Phil D'Rey, Eva and Neva Evans, Lester Harding, Herb Six House Orch; 'Sis Hopkins' (Rep). Vaude is back in its own right at the Tower this week with sc snappy 35-minute show. It's one ot those rare combos where everything jells . for swift pacing and each act meets ' With hearty customer approval. Film is also a b.o. natural with the names ot Judy Canova, Bob Crosby and Jerry Coionna to entertain .the family-t;^ tirade. Herb six and his house orch lead off. with a medley ot 'Rain' songs and Lester Harding takes over to ulc. Martin and Allen are repeating their local appearance of about a year ago with their faultless h^dstands and adagio balancing. Deuce spot is decidedly novel, with Bert Lynn playing his own inven- tion, an electric steel guitar which is soon to be nucleus of an all-steel orchestra. While Lynn's first love is the perfection and promotion ot his line of instruments, he leaves out lit- Ue as a performer, selling hU steel strings In most sho-wmanly manner. Lynn's personalized performance makes the instrument not only musi- cal but also adept at Imitations of airplanes, trains, whisties, and he climaxes act -with a dramatic mimicry of an air raid. In the discoverynight winhers, 12- year olds Eva and Neva E^rans of Pittsburg, Kans., house Is realizing full value entertainment. 'Youngsters' contralto harmony is intermixed on 'Down Argentine Way' with some clever bits of business that sell the song for hearty approval. By way of comedy, Woolsey and Claire have some clever comedy interpretation of •Mood Indlgb' and Woolsey's slither- ing, lackadaisical 'St. Louis Blues.' Harding himself has a full inning's work and comes through in his usually acceptable manner in barl- tonlng 'Do I Worry." In the final spot he calls out Phil D'Rey to work his ventriloquial ability on a frizzy dummy, Dugan, for a nice line of chatter and accomplished vocal maneuvers. Six and the band with Harding vocalllng dose with 'Good- bye Now.' ..Quln. Roberta Lonlse wUl replace Gloria Hart as vocalist with the Raymiond Scott band. Scott is rehearsing a new small Mmbo ^om within his band which he calls the *Secret Seven.'