Variety (May 1941)

Wednesday, May 21, 1941 NitERT REVIEWS 47 New York's Qass SL Regis Roof Errs In No-Show Policy; Waldorf s Big dick By ABEL GREEN Hotel St Regis' Viennese Roof, NY., Is making a try ot its sans any floor show, relying merely on Its two bands for draw, and it may prove a mistake. Thus far biz has been spotty, about averaging up fairly well' if not consistently. Owner Vincent Astor, • always one for keeping the budgets at a mini- mum, hit upon 'unsettled world con- ditions' as reason for eschewing the usual James Mitchell Leisen revues which the Paramoimt producerrdi- rector heretofore staged here. On the other hand, Astor and managing director Gaston Lauryssen should know from their success with the ice shows in the downstairs Iridium Boom that even the conservative carriage trade that the St Regis at- tracts goes for some sort «f diver- tissement Bands Ok&y Hal Saunders' and Gus Martel's (rhumba) bands, competent as they ere. alone cannot suffice. SauTiders and Martel shifted to the Viennese Roof from the Iridium, first time the hotel did that sort of thing. They dispense expert dansapation. Saund- ers is a particularly suave and com- pelling maestro with his battery of fiddles, putting emphasis on the Viennese waltz, sets that blend sp well with the Viennese Roof and its charming old-world decor. But at a time when even the class east side boites which, for so long got away with only dansapation, are jiow put- ting in 'talent' the St. Regis may have to reverse its conservation pro- gram. Cufat Mid Stronc Show Xavier Cugat is riding the crest of the Latin-American vogue by doing hangup biz at the Waldorf-Astpria's Starlight Roof. Monday night for dinner saw a turnout that would ap- proximate a strong weekend's busi- ness in anybody's hotel. Which tells everything. Unlike the St. Regis' curious conservatism on the budget- itus, they're not sparing the horses at the Waldorf and the theory is tO' go after biz by spending more than ever. The b.o. tells the story. For one thing, Margo is reimited with her uncle-maestro Cugat She started with him years ago and went on to stage and screen stardom and Is back at the Waldorf, still a com- . petent song-and-dance specialist al- though her routine could stand re- furbishing with emphasis on accel- erated tempo. 'Guadalajara,' -the opener, then a slow French ballad and, after a costume change, a con- servative 'Cordoba' dance, " don't make-for the zingiest effect For the rest Cugat's fanfare of fiddles for 'Perfldi? and the like, when Miguelito Valdes isn't leading the Afro-Cubana stuff, is solid. And Hermanos Williams, this time with i femme violinist assisting the WilUams Bros. In their curious tango-acrobatics, get over solidly. They do their hand-to-hand stuff to the Argentine tempo, and some of their body holds and fulcrums are Quite extraordinary. Cugat is in error that this is their first in the U.S. from South America, as they've been around in Iiondon and America for some yeai*s; In fact first recorded by Variety at the Palace back in 1927 although the Willlamses are still quite youthful appearing. Only change is the femme violinist plus the fact one of the men doesn't start his stuff by faking It at the piano. On the subject of Stelnwaying, Evelyn Tyner, from the Rainbow Room, Is a nice keyboard Interlude. Gypsy Markoff, accordionist comes on for the supper sessions. Cover |1 and $130 on Saturdays. BEACHCOMBER, N. Y. Tonama Hattie' where she also socks In a terp specialty. Toy and Wing, personable Celestial .pair; do ballroomology that would click sans the charm and the novelty of being done by a gOod-looking Chinese boy and girl. They do a beguine, conga and' fast dance finale —she on her toes, for the jazzique— that's solid entertainment In be- tween Rica Martine, personality songstress, does Brazilian chansons in Portuguese, and over very well. And Marjery Fielding has assem- bled the 6 Beachies, a nifty sextet of lookers, who dress the atmosphere pulchritudinously but don't rest 09 their s.a. only, because they know also how to jerp. Nyles White has given them some novel costuming. Carmen D'Antonio is a Liatin from Philadelphia.' by way of Hollywood, where Buddy DeSylva caught- her and spotted her into 'Panama Hattie.' She's possessed of a champ stream- lined figure which is an aesthetic thing to' behold in its paucity of costuming. For the 'Ba-Ba-Lu,' Afro-Cubana conga-drum routine, she effects a sleek, well-oUed body covering which should either be put on more sparingly, or perhaps it was the lighting that didn't show her up to the ultimate advantage. New manager of the Beachcomber is Billy Reed, ex-vaudeville hoofer. Chihg is the No. 1 boy and this makes Reed the No. 1% boy. Abel. CURLEY'S CAFE, MPLS. Aflnneapolis, May VJ. Zonibte Girls (4), Jimmy Hegg, La Grandeur Sisters (3), Pat Rooney, Tommy McGovem's Orch (4); no cower or minimum. ajpecialties of their own to the 20 or more minutes. Couple of other specialties are provided by the Sher- rill Sisters, with main work being done by Doris, younger of the two. Center of the presentation is Austin playing the piano and war-| bling his standby faves, 'Blue: Heaven' and "Melancholy Baby.' For these club spots he is also carrying a repertory of novelty songs, works in a- western tune and winds up with an audience participation stunt. 'I Hear- You Knocking,' which leaves everybody peppy and ready for some stepping to the orch music that fol- lows. The Bernard crew is a newcomer to this area, having been assembled only In recent months.' Music is quite acceptable, however, with the maestro making much of a trio of fiddles and carrying the usual as- sortment of brass, reeds and rhythms. / . _ Following the .date here, Austin and troupe move into the local Tower for a week's stage work. Quin. Stairway to the Stars (SAN FRANCISCO) . Ben Marden's Riviera (FORT LEE, N. J.) Jimmy Savo, Betty Bmee,. Gouier i & Jeanne, Sara Ann^McCabe, Nora Williams, Chester Hale Girls (24), Paiicho and Carmen Cuvallaro or- chestras; $3.50 and $4 TUtniinuni, no cover; $7.50 premiere scal«. LEON & EDDIE'S N. Y. San Francisco, May 16. Jimmy Duronte, Joe Tenner, Debby Claire, Jack LeMare, Sammy Wolfe, Faith Bacon, Hovse Line (8), Herb Saman Orch (8>; $2 minimum, openiner $5.35." Carmen D'Antonio, Toy and Wing, fl Beachies, Chavez and Lester Lanin bands; $2 and $3 . minimum. One good Carmen deserves an-^ other so Monte Proser now has Carmen D'Antonio, coocher fron\ 'Panama Hattie,' succeeding the flamenco Carmen Amaya who is largely credited with resuscitating the Beachcomber. No secret that this Winter Garden spot what with I>roser's self-competition via his still cllcky Copacabana, and the former Broadway opposition from the now extinct Hurricane, was due for the ■butters imless something happened. It did, when the William Morris Agency's Abe Lastfogel got Senorita Amaya from Sol Hurok and spotted the concert terpec into a South Seas bistro. The b.o. effect was magical. From p no-cover, policy the place went to a $2 minimum check and the $2-$3 (Saturdays) scale still applies. It is worth it even now, with the new frolic. For one thing, it's a sexier revuette. Carmen Amaya may be the tops in flamenco but Carmen D'Antonio has it all over on the 3.a., with her lissome chassis and her voodoo style of Interpetive danc- ing—and you don't need an inter- preter! She's ' doubling from One of the town's leading niteries, this spot has been converted into a 'beachcombers' room,' with tropical trimmings and atmosphere, and it's again offering 'name' acts in its floor show. Pat Rooney is current hav- ing followed Armida. Present show could hot be termed 'pretentious' by any imaginative stretch, but it satisfies. Moreover, there's little doubt that Rooney, al- though making his first local appear- ance in seven years, still boasts some pulling power. Room is compara- tively small, so that four-piece or- chestra fills the volume bill ade- quately. It provides satisfactory dance tunes for the guests and plays the Show well. In view of the small floor space, too, the four-girl line, the Zombies, does not seem too abbrevi- ated in numbers. Each of the" girls does a specialty bit in addition to working in the three ensemble con- tributions. Youthful Jimmy Hegg, a fixture at this club, is personable emcee who occasionallsr does an effective vocal. The show is started by the attractive Zombie girls, in scanty spangled at- tire, with theh: snappy Tahitian dance that's mostly torso twisting. The Three Le Grandeur Sisters, who also sing with the band, do all right with 'pid Man Mose' and "The South American Way.' A boogie woogie tap serves to re- veal the trim figure of Lois Lane, optic-teasing blonde. The line fol- lows with a rhythmic tap number paving the way for Rooney. Despite his 81 years, the white-haired Rooney is plenty spry. His old-fashioned soft-shoe hoofing, although slow and tame for this hectic jazz age, appar- ently isn't dated judging by the en- thusiastic audience response. He steps nibly to 'East Side, West Side,' with derby tilted rakishly; then, after going through similar paces to the accompaniment of 'Tea for Two,' he livens it up with an impression of Joe Frisco that's somewhat warmer. •The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady' has Rooney putting the chorines through a soft-shoe dancing routine in imitation of himself. For a strong finish Pat and Miss Lane get hot with Jitterburg antics that cop laughs and heavy applause returns. Room well filled at late show caught Rees. TERRACE GRILL (MUEHLEBACH HOTEL, K.C.) ^ Kansas City, May 10. Gene Austin with Whippoorwills; Eddie Bernard Orcli; Sherrill Sisters. The town's eUte supper spot takes on aspects of a club for a fortnight. While it isn't offering a floor show in the strictest sense, it's making a presentation in Gene Austin and his accompanying troupe, and in addi- tion has the Eddie Bernard crew of 10 for the regulation dancing. Austin's is a name with a draw in this town and this marks his 'steentK theatrical engagement heye. But this time the old familiar Candy and Coco are gone and in their places are a quartet of young strlng- p • . v7r.:''--rir-.-.-iUs bsok up Austin's own-performance and add ar couple of singing and instrumental The Joe Tenner-Lloyd Campbell Stairway to the Stars nitery kicked of[ in a blaze of mystery last night (Wednesday) with an invitational pay-as-you enter preview paving the way for the - public debut tonight (Thursday). Obvious last-minute rush with which former Embassy club was rcE^died and show assembled could be interpreted as verification of rumors that the place had a strug- gle to open. Entire cast and staff, with possible exception of Jimmy Durante, was virtually out on its feet as a result of three nights sans sleep, spent in rehearsals amid refurbisA- Ing. Spot with two bars and bating for around 400, features red plush, with walls entirely cloth-covered. Tenner Is quoting astronomical figures, but disinterested estimates place the re- modeling job in the neighborhood of $15,000. Floor show Is delivered In two sections, second half hitting about 12:40 a.m. Break-in naturally was somewhat ragged but demonstrated two things—socko showmanship of Durante, who works like a Trojan, and need for a raised floor or change in seating arrangements. As laid put now, anything below a performer's shoulder level is lost except to' ring- siders. Comics and others dropping to knees in course of routines vanish from view of those at rear tables. Jack LeMare m.c.s, bringing on the line first as the Hollywood Sweater Girls. Effort is made to introduce each of the eight by name with a gag, after which they go into a moderate- ly snappy number on the theme 'if we stand erect the censors object' LeMare and Sammy Wolfe, latter one of the original Ted Healy stooges, then give the show a second Intro as it would be done 20 years ago with strawhats and canes, after which they bring on Debby Claire who vocalizes 'Ain't MlsbehaVin'' Featuring an upsweep hairdo, lass reveals plenty of personality and a good set of pipes, getting over nicely, Tepner himself on next doing an imitation of Fritzi Scheft shoutin' 'Down Yonder in New Orleans,' breaking in with a long panto on a dressing-room scene, including pin- ning up the tresses and yanking the girdle, most of which is lost save to ringsiders. Line follows in black net to tune of 'Dolores,' during which curtains of small stage behind orch part to reveal Faith Bacon. With aid of black veil and spangles, she does a 'Dance of Shame,' much of which is done in kneeling and reclining posi- tions out of view save for first tables. At this point the customers are pretty well convinced that the place needs Durante, whereupon Schnoz comes on end lays 'em in the aisles. Leaping from song to song, he breaks the verses for gags and biz, throwing his hats at the orch, ordering waiters to 'break it up because whenever two of them guys get together there's a strike,' etc. Bit which landed solidly here is one wherein Durante, at piano, repeats a song endlessly while a stripper works behind his back, flnaUy discovering they weren't ap- plauding him after all. Second frame Is almost all Durante, comic keeping the mob in an uproar with a cross-section of everything he's known for. He car- ries the load, but easily. Balance in- cludes a 'Bird of Paradise' routine by Miss Bacon and some more okay stooging by LeMare and Wolfe, who work plenty hard. For a closer the line comes on in showgirl costumes supposedly' representing famous Alms, Miss Bacon climaxing as 'Lady Eve.' First-night confusion prevailed, tight squeeze between tables causing ont- waiter to flop a tray on the dance floor and another to douse a customer with ice cream. Wem. Ben Marden's Riviera is its best draw, geographically, so it almost matters little if the .shows don't al- ways click. This one, however, may matter. It's a poor one. It's a miss- out from the start. Captioned, 'Let's Give' the Youngsters a Chance,' which is a sound, showmanly way of dodging the budget by spotlighting supposedly fresh talent and 'new faces'; it's a misnomer right down the line. What Marden, of course, meant was that this was one way of making his following forget that surefire albeit costly parlay of Sophie Tucker-Joe E. Lewis-Harry Richman. Judging by this one they'll-be-back soon Most discordant . among the 'youngsters' who are getting their 'chance' is veteran pantomimist Jimmy Savo. And, paradoxically, where ,on paper a panto artist like Savo would seem a natural for the mass-capacity Riviera, he misses here. ' In fact, so does most of the show. For one thing, apart from what- ever other lures the Riviera may have, whether it's because of its cliilside situation,- reminding of the corniche between Cannes and Monte Carlo, or its other U.S. -counterpart of the Cote d'Azure lures, Marden is needlessly handicapping himself and his customers because of that seat- ing arrangement. A not costly grad- ing of the interior for better visi- bility ,would solve an obvious de- ficiency. It's a case of either you're all right if right against the dance floor (whereon the show also per- forms); or if you sit at the absolute outer rim, overlooking the Hudson, which affords the douole compen^- tion of being on a rise , and, if you choose, seeing the river traffic and Hudson vista. But - that large ex- panse of tables in between could be given better visibility service.. So much for the room's inferior which, otherwise, with, its very dec- orative and fetching decor. Is really a showpiece roadhouse, perhaps No. 1 in -America from that viewpoint alone. The Chester Hale show, with its parade of variety people who are by no means new, is the big letdown. For some reason, also, the talent is not as socko in this room as they have been heretpfore. Gower and Jeanne, yputhful class dancing pair, register best with their 'dress rehearsaP and 'Jeaiiie' rou- tines, latter a suave sjrncopated Cakewalk. Betty Bruce's taps click although she doesn't do herself Jus- tice on costuming, Sara Anne Mc- Cabe, now a blonde, is an effective songstress. Nora Williams, whistling comedienne who's been around, al- though jiist 'discovered' in Miami by Marden, doesn't register and has since dropped out of the-show. Two cutting-room-floor casualties, before the preem, incidentally, were Car- roll & Gorman, songalogists, and Riviera Quartet, elided because of running time. Hale's 18 ponies and eight show- girls are champ lookers. They do three flash numbers in as many cos- tume changes (credited to John Booth and Mme. Bertha, and very okay). Opener is a Latin-American routine, in keeping with the current trends. A taps finale Is also solid A revolvmg stage alternates Pancho's orchestra and the Eddy- duchinesque band, piano-batoned by Carmen Cavallaro from the Stein- way. Both are expert for the hoof- muslc. Pancho also does the dif- ficult show accpmp. Cavallaro, first time in New York via Washington, D. C, where he clicked With his suave rhythms, is surprisingly effec- tive In so large a room as the Riviera's 750-800 capacity. He'd be particularly Ideal for a smart hotel room. Pancho, of course. Is stand- ard and gives out a finished Job. Per usual, Marden's cuisine Is any- thing but casual. Whether Sam Sal- vin or Jack Arkin, his associates, are again responsible, Marden always does all right with the food depart- ment That goes also for an impec- cable service, commensurate with the minimum $3.50 table d'hote din- ners and $3.50-$4 supper tap. [Again the seasoned Bonardi is the maitre d'hotel and Joseph Todaldl the chef]. With its great sight appeal, and proximity to Manhattan as a cool- off place, the Riviera is a showplace of inordinate charm which boniface Marden should par with an im- proved floorshow. As a nitery vet who has clicked repeatedly in the past that should not be difficult , Incidentally, speaking of the Riviera's sight appeal, an Inside laugh is a bit of a classic In decor circles. It has to do with Vernon MacFarlane and the time he was called in by Marden to build a new roadhouse when the Riviera burned down three or four years ago. Mac- Farlane did the competent job that it now represents, .and he was being complimented by one and all, but he sulked,'grudgingly admitting it was okay, but he pouted: 'If only that blankety-blank George Washington bridge wasn't there, it would be gorgeous. Why don't somebdy have it removed!* Abel, Eddie Davis, Don Rictiards, Anr> nette,The Btltington« (2), Cheena de Simone Dancers (6), Sherry Britton, 8 Bobby Sanford Girls, Nerida't Rhumba ond Lou Martin (Orchestra (6); $1.50 dinner and $3 minimum. Eddie Davis, on a sabbatical for some four or five months, due to an ear operation, is back in stride and evidences, if nothing else, that the enforced respite from nightly chores has Improved his zing and appeal. Now easily the No. 1 male comedy- singing star of his own establish- ment—an actor-manager distinction without par for longevity and con- sccutiveness in the business—:Davi4 proves anew wh.v and how -he and partner, Leon (Enken), have re- mained standard for 11 years on New York's 52d street. A canny showman - always, with a judicious eye to properly appraising his audiences, it calls for consider- able experience as to how their com- posite moods may be met- Catering to a quieter dinner crcwd and 'heat- ing it up' for the supper trade isn't always the solution. Many a dinner session has a 'liver' buiuh than the post-theatre audiences, and'when it comes to pacing song repertoires, from sophistication to forthvirht bal- ladeering, it calls for mcrkea show- manship. Davis is a sac'oncd hand at this by now.- Whether he does his saucy medley of parodies on 'In Arr. gentina' or 'Last Time I Saw Paris,' he sells the hot or sweet equally well. With Davis back ot the helm, the •Bobby Sanford revue is perforce hooverized, but the minimization of quantity has made way for quality, Annette and The Billingtons are both strong New Acts, The Cheena de Simone Dancers, mixed sextet is a versatile conga line that makes its two .opportunities hold up. Don Richards is an expert emcee, pacing the proceedings -neatly and clicking .on his own with 'Amapola,' "You Walk By' and 'Old Man River.' Per usual, L&E books a- stripper, this time Sherry Britton, alumna of Minsky's. Sanford's line'of eight are okay. Nerida, at the head of the' conga ensemble, and Lou Martin with the straight • dansapation, are holdovers. Biz above average. Abel. CLUB BALI, PHILLY _ Pftlladetphia, May 14. i Radio Aces, Gerardo and' Helen, Zedra de la Conda, Juanita Juarez, Bali Lovelies (6), Allen Fielding Orch (8), Juanita Rhumba Band (8); no cover or minimum, dinners flM up. There's plenty of zing in the bill presented by the Freres Kaliner this . week, with the sock trio, the Radio Aces, added to. the otherwise all- Latin American offering. The Aces, . making' their first . appearance in these parts, are doubling at the Kaliners' Rathskeller and knocking themselves out in their effort to please the customers at both spots. The .payees don't seem to be able to get enough of these three lads, whose style of song delivery and comedy Is refreshing in these days of hackneyed imitations. They .give out with everything from Negro spirit- uals to Yiddish tunes with low-down jive mixed in. When caught they were plenty clicko with "What -100,000,000 People Wanna Know,' 'Singin' and Prayin' Society,' a Vic- tor Herbert medley and several nov- elty jive numbers. Marty Drake soloed with 'Yiddishe Mamma' to a salvo of handclapping. Jua-nlta Juarez, a hip-weaving, torchy-volced South' American, is sultry with a paso doble dance and the samba, all done up with a pack- age of Portuguese and Spanish songs, whose words may not be understood but there's no mistaking their mean- ing. , Zedra de Ia Conda, a willowy brunet features a spectacular terp with a flowing cape in which she simulates a matador. Gerardo and Helen'continue their stand here with a hangup demonstra-tion of the conga, rhumba, samba and the other 'Good Neighbor' dances that are the craze with PhiUy's cafe set The line of Bali Lovelies are a sextet of lookers who really can dance. Tastefully costumed and well-trained, their three production numbers were received neatly. The gals and Gerardo and Helen lead off m the conga, with the customers taking part Allan Fielding's orchestra has de- veloped into a smooth aggregation, with the maestro gaining in stature as' a fast-talking . m.c. Juanita'a rhumba sextet fills in the lulls. Dinner biz at this ca-tchlng was strong. Shal. SCOITIINa FOB S. F. SHOW San Francisco, May 20. Bill Brown, Palace hotel exec, iM scouting talent for show to reopen the Rose Room July 10. Room will darken for remodeling on June 26, at close of Ozzie Nelson'a current engagement. niMk' Gray, Georr,e Raft's alter ego, took over ta. Conga in Holly- wood and renamed it Cr^'s Cabana.