Variety (May 1941)

Wednesday, May 28, 1941 HOUSE REVIEWS 47 PARAMOUNT, N. Y. Vauohn Monroe Oreh (15), Paul WiiichelL Beatrice Kay, Hal Sher- man: '1 Wanted yfingsf (Por), re- viewed ift Vamety, Morch 26, '41. Socle one-hour show at the Broad- way Paramount with three of its lour major components relatively new Two are under New Acta, Paul Wlnchell and Beatrice Kay, the. lat- ter like maestro Vaughn Monroe, a radio enUty. Hal Sherman,^ who made his 'Hellzapoppin' run almost a U/e's career, is the fourth entry, and as to be expected a soUd dick with his unique comedy style of panto dancing although he's now doing a bit more audible announcement as well. Monroe, with a sUong band team son, who gets liberally squirted with seltzer. It's nutty but okay. Closing (save for hula routine by line) is Tommy Harris, long a Coa^ air fave, who apparently gets paid oS in plugs for his owil^nitery. Also managed to plug his morning. air show (the guy never sleeps), KFBC's Breakfast C^ub. Harris does 'More Love,' 'Stardust,' 'My Sister and I,' 'Amapola' and lands easily. It's beginning to look as though Dan McLean's hunch of raiding local tiiteries and radio stations for talent is working out okay and might be. a hunch for other sectors where low- budget vaude revivals are contem- plated. Wem. TOWER, K. C. Kansas City, May 24. . , . Gene Austin with Whippoonoills & of 14, embracing six brass, four ; Sherrill Sisters; Fetch and DeauviUe, Teatro de la Zarzuela (MADRID) JVfadrid, May 3. Josephine Baker, Farabont, Rafael de Granada and Carmela, Margarita y Francis, Carlota Bilbao, 12 Ritmicas Ballet and Jlfanolo Bel Orch. It's Josephine, and nothing but Josephine. The remainder of the show is just filler. It's not muph in the way shows go, but Josephine Baker has little competition here. She sings, jokes and adlibs for one hour and completely runs away with all honors. In a sketch Ebano' ('The and adds the necessary flash to get response from the stubholders. Mills, King and Ray, males, go through an assorted routine of song, dance and patter for fair returns. Biz way off. ' Ecfc. KEITH'S, BOSTON APOLLO, N Y. Boston, May 22. Renna and Company (3), Chester Fredericks with Gloria Lane. Dinah Andy Kirk Orch (14), totth Afary Lou Willioms, June Richmond; Four Runaways, Crawford Price, Jackie Campbell, Tondeleyo & Lopez, Nor- man Astwood, John Mason, Sandy Burns, George Wiltshire, Viuian Harris, House Line (14); 'Great Plane Robbery' (Col). Will D„.i. J -F" m.." ';— Andy Kirk's band came out of the ,«''^^ °P.f c'm middlewest several years ago and ».^Td '?ii^d' He'aif °' flrst 'big-, dates was^t this (Prod) dual. house. In about three years group has become one of the topnotch colored orchestras. reeds, bass, piano, guitar and j Herb RosWer & Shadow, Lester drums, again gives evidence of the Hardino, Patsy & Brady Bridges, " ' " ■ - ■• Orch; 'Ride on fact that few new bands really come from New York. ,They all have to click around Broadway for that big- time naUonal impression, but invari- aby they emanate from the hinter- land. Monroe Is a product of New Eng- land, long maestroing one of Jack Marshard's sub-units around the Boston Back Bay sector at parties end such, until asserting himself at hotels and danceries, plus a radio wire Then came 'Amor, Salud y Dinero' which he recorded for RCA Herb Six House Vaquero' (20th). 1 called 'La Mujer de ' brlliV tolethe^^'^^ilt^R'cTk'^r^m Ebony Woman'), which I show and Dinah Shcre on the same li5f„2^^i",'' *■^""'"7' P°P"l3"''' is a sketch in name only, the Amerl- i jjiu While Rock has appeared here ^ 6'vmg the unit more' prominence can comedienne gives an abbrevi- befire,.the radio singer has not, and 1?^," "',V^' ''1"''^ =ll ^^^^ ^P°^°- ated repeat-the dresses definitely ' she receives flattering reception as "P,^*ti'"^,^"'"'^"''?^ ^he musicians are not-of her last performance at - she comes on for a session of soncs, „'i*! 7, ful'^^'^.t*" the Casln„ de Paris before- the 'ojtly ballads. In addition to the ^^.l""' ^ ^P*'"^''^^^ French collapse. . . usual four numbers allotted to star . ^"M=.rv T^f, w'^?" . ■ . 'singers. Miss Shore has no .trouble --'^-"^ L<^u_W.lliams, pianist, getting a bid for an extra encore A headliner of some note, Gene Austin with his musical troupe is the '■ better part of the week's show. I Singer is in from a fortnight at the Terrace Grill of local Hotel Muehle- ' bach, where the minimum is $1 per head, and offering the same show were the family trade can see it for 30c per. Austin is more like what the house needs in the way of at- tractions and such a weekly booking Victor and Monroe started to become! should build a steadier trade. Bar- ft factor on the wax works via the Jukeboxes. Thus are Broadway 'aramoimt band attractions bom. In the flesh, Monroe puts up a highly impressive front that should carry him to HoUywood for cine- matic values. For one thing. Tie s a tall, rangy, romantic-looking guv who backs up his sight values with. ney Joffee, house operator, is hold- I ing the pace, however, with Ted i Lewis on the bill next week. Supporting acts are condensed into less than 20 minutes at the start un- der the routing of Lester Harding, m.c. Following the opening band specialty, call is to Peteh and Deau- ville in a round of semi-acrobatic a compelling barytone voice. This and comic interpretative terping. he capitalizes to the hilt With a SUrrf- W»rrf.nir ^nos « 1,ttl*. towarH thP rlra. fire medley of current pop ballads like 'My Sister and T (against an appropriate Duteh .windmill scrim), •I Understand,' 'Intermezzo' and a moderated swing version of "Vesta la Guibba* from 'Pagliacci.' He sings all appealingly and in fine voice. Monroe paces tiie show nicely. He's one of the few-southpaw riiaes- tros in the public eye. His musical Instrument u the trumpet which he utilizes sparhigly, and only in en- semble. Despite bis augmented seventh brass, the band doesn't' drive too bard, keeping Itself wisely under wraps. The marked contrasts, in audience values, incidentally, is something for showmen to ponder. Forepart is iorte on the swingo, the kids doing the concerted handclap- ping for the rhythmpation that's now an accepted form of audience ac- claim. Later, when the steam pres- Harding goes a litUe toward the dra- matic sinking, not to conflict with the headliner, of Peter DeRose's 'I Heard a Forest Praying'^ for his own assignment and drew a healthy re- sponse. Next call is to' Patsy and Brady Bridges, who have been thrice discovered as amateur night winners, ■youngsters are offering an empha- sized conga this time. Closing this half of the show. Herb Roshier ex- hibits his limber black chow. Shadow, for some okay light comedy. Rest of the bill Is left to Austin playing the piano, running on his accompanying talent and closing with a list of song vocals that have the customers wondering why it has. to end so soon. In the 'Whippoorwill foursome of string accompanists Austin Is equipped for stage work as well as clubs (he takes his crew into Village Barn, Greenwich Village, June 5), and four get their own in- ning to reel oft a torrid "Boog-It.' At- sure is eased off. and Monroe goes i Is .then to the Sherrill Sisters Into his ballads, the applause comes from the conservative, back-of-the- audience portion, Instead of from the down-front jitterbugs who invariably scramble /or and monopolize the well-towards-the-stage pews. WUh Monroe is Marylin. Duke, the tallest chanteuse In the with Doris doing imitations and a terp and the two harmonizing on pop songs.. Snow Is sewed up by Austin's vo- cals as he goes into tiie album for 'You Beautiful Doll,' 'Pony Boy,' 'Cheyenne' and 'Casey Jones' before socking over his reputed favorites. Despite the handicap of. inferior lighting and staging, the dusky star gives a typical Baker performance. She packs plenty of personality, and despite language difficulty — she speaks' French with a few Spanish phrases-ogives the audience what it wants—an informal hour which is quite unusual in Spanish vaude. Introduced as the chief of an island. Miss Baker opens her num- ber with 'J;a1 Deux Amours.' Although it's Paris she sings about, audience gave her glad hand. She then announces that she's going to stntp, but, unlike Paris, the shedding consists of the removal of an outer gown. ij She then puts over 'I've Got Rhythm,' which she intersperses with some dancing. 'Cigarette,' next, is done in the theatre itself. Miss Baker goes among the audience dis- tributing cigarets and picking on the boys with the hairless pates—and they love it. She then winds .up with 'J'Attendrai,' ' ballad made notable by Rina Ketty. Mariolo Bel's orchestra does its job in competent 'fashion, playing from stage throughout entire show. Faraboni excels- in tap dancing and whirling. The remainder is so-so. Rafael de Granada and Camela do all the Spanish dances that one in- variably sees in this type of show. Margarita and Francis try their best to look like jitterbugs. Carmela sings a few ballads. 'These are the best of Miss Baker's mediocre sur- roundings. Ravo. STATE, HARTFORD" Hartford, May 25. Count Beml Vicl Revue with Paul Kirkland, Gloria and Doniele, Barr and Estes, Three Flames, Mills. King and Ray, Line (10), Girl Band (12), Sam Kaplan Pit Band; 'Redhead' (Mono). . com- poser and Decca recordine artist, continues as one of the orch's out- Changing tempo with 'Argentina,' 'tt""Jl„Z\°L^^^^^ •All Comes Back to Me' and 'Ama- c^JS^"?" 'S'?' '"'V pola,' her best number is 'Yes, My i^Mpri a^cn'^n mL?**,,^? ^'^^^J^- Barling Daughter,' nicely arranged fwh Qmi?h »vV»^L^^^^ and delivered. Hw added encore of , fJ°y£.p^^' ^jJ''5f''!"^^^^^^^ ^ith 'Sister and I' is also a clicker. Singer'i l^f.;"^^ ^^f avoids all aspects of making a big : f„KmL°''l|^^°" J"^^^^^ shot p.a. and sUcks to her singing. ! w l^S. HmXh. Will Rock has Bhproved in his ^'^5;' hmehght too staee presence and chatter since he j tfip'ir Hreccix im nro^ont-.ii^n i'/o*- ''aTd'Ve'en'ti;"e'"u?.^{*"JuL^'o1f ^e^^ Sair,"%?S^^"e'f '°"wi?h' ?^?h- n^rfprt nr^rutnn whT f>,» ' specUl Spotlight On the skin-pounder r.pirSn^ n?l Jntc Inmk ^^Ji- fri^tt ^nd phosphoFescent sUcks for novcl ^ ?in?rt^=?,^^^l«l^n T^r»^ effect. Lad hammers the drums with n tSi^S^iw tv' hP?JJpin^ Henry Wells, balladist ^5,Jp'»4 t«« m«nv <^vnrr Jpn^ i ^ho doibles from the br4ss section, fflplf n«^SinT n^.t nf w^t^ an<l J""* Richmond,take care of the Thp'^HlnHn hLiTBf tri^v t'^^^ Specialties. Duet-'May I Never ^iSiic^rt with , Again,' with the evir-present S2?r^ ?h» hirtrt»r. n»i.r.n !Ci,n^t' Smith bringing in his guitef Girl Stw^'4^1=rpH' hv tS/!w«rH ^Pron '■ Warbler uniiuluy popular here. S r^r/a^u''t^fJS^Tvfdtio^n'"iS I „.^5S^^fJ^S!^i^ eld, "She's over 6 feet, but nicely » Heave^'Melanc^^^^^^^ built and ' highly personable. Gal has'command of the rostrum and the mike and does well with 'Changes Made' and 'Amapola.' Biz excellent opening day 'with the ex-$2 roadshow film from the Astor, 'I 'Wanted Wings,' now on regular run. Abel. EMBASSY, FRISCO San Francisco, May 22. Tommy Harris, Charles Raino, Gilbert Bros. (2), the Humanettes (2), Betty Langdon, Alice Hulette, 'Jay Brower, m.c, Raybum Girls (6), House Orch (7); 'BocJc in the Soddle' (Rep) and 'Mutiny in the Arctic" (U), 'Lonesome Road.' It's all over in less than 40 minutes and customers would have taken more of the last half. - Quin. EMBASSY, N. Y. . (NEWSREEIiS) Third week of the .vaude revival at this house emerges as socko enter- tainment and sent a capacity open- ing audience away happy. Intimacy of the house and informal handling are building the same sort of follow- ing vaude used to know, with a few younger faces sprinkled this week among the oldsters pulled by Jay Brower, m.c, who doubles from the Lido nitery and Is doing a better job here than he did in palmier days when he had the Golden Gate thea- tre. I Gilbert Brothers, bar act, open for an okay warmup, followed by the Raybum girls, doubling from the Kona Club in El Cerrito, with a flashy balloon routine. Charles ,Raino, juggler, deuces, kidding the audience and covering misses 'with a running gag, 'it's in the act' • Brower then calls Betty Langdon, hous^ usherette, out of the aisle for two numbers, an on-the-level plant, gal having a yen to croon. Novelty Well received here. Humanettes, puppet act, follows, dolls dancing to tune ol recordings. Two boys work the - strings, using Laurel & Hardy dolls for a drunk bit which also in- cludes a snake. For windup, they introduce an oversize professor who conducts the orch amid handicaps. Lads get across solidly. Best laugh-getter on the bill Is an orch novelty in .which Brower reads a phoney script with orchestral Ulus- trations. Principal stooge is one of the boys in the band, Floyd Robert- Embassy this week produces two specially photographed interviews with Tex McCrary, editorial writer of the New York Daily Mirror, who recently went to England aboard a U. S.-manufactured bomber ' being delivered for service. McCrary has since returned and his observations of two important phases io the Brit- ish war effort make up two separate items in the week's reels, and they are packed with punch. Writer covers the 'Battle of the Atlantic,' explaining the differences In the cur- rent situation as compared to that of 1917. Second surveys the develop- ments of England's tactics In com- bating night raids of Hitler's bomb- ers. Both interludes are liberally sprinkled with illustrative shots, few of which, however, are actual action photos. Night bombing pictures in- clude shots of nightraid results, etc., and are concluded with what seems to be an actual aerial fi^ht, smoking tracers togging a fastflying plane in front,- taken, apparently, from the plane from which bullets are fired. Quite a few of the clips that make up the rest of the bill are, as usual, devoted to overseas fighting. Para- mount runs in flrst fllms of site and peoples concerned with capture of Rudolf Hess in Scotland, and Fox comes up with neat-photos of-bombed House of Commons and Westminster Abbey, going back on the last to compare the interior with the day the —present King George was ' cro-wned. Quite a few of the re- mainder cover same war atmos- I phere, but none gets out of the ordi-. ' nary. I Rest of the clips cover various do- ' mestic events in sports, new way to I gather a sun tan, crew races, aqua- ' planing in Florida, etc. Fox has the only subject that tends to lighten the fare. It has a few short minutes with the bear cub that a woman in Mil- • waukee uses as a pet. Wood. gamut sawing-a-woman, Rock . performs tapster, works in -front of the band, ending his fast .topping with some adroit toe only one card trick, deftly done in iV" ffi™fr,,w „^ one to stall for a sc4ne change. I ^Jf^^^J"^: °'J?ortV,V^'nn «^mS^n! Renna and Company open the biU. ' „L'»ni^» f^^^^^^ °' Clown >comes on in a ^dget car i^oiBSter and a fairish top dancer. and pops out with a dog and iuitcase ' „r!durtio^^J^hPr^« R»rh?™"r«^*^^ after him. He also goes in for some , ^Jw^ ^^Wn^ ^hi." ' sleight-of-hand, making his pup dU- ! f,?^"!?;^!"*^^;. J^'f ^'^^^^ applar. Act is - an entertlining | {.'^„PIS4n,inl rntnhM? wfJh t^„J*t! Sa^nffnTalfd n^int^^'^A^'aTiol! *to"5d^'mod«tic "d^lf ^y dISce Ind thfcS^^Mmedy biufrt ^opez, who've been aance ana tne closing conieay oauei hpfnro «tith thp fnrmpr rtninff on ski-like shoes are highlights. Chester Fredericks dances fran- here before, with the former doing a modified cooch, capably done. tlcaUy in assorted steps, assisted l?^L^J^^r^^rLu°^^ ?^^LJ, J'*! canabiv bv his Mmeiv nartner luartet of knockabout tumblers and S'V.aS^. ^edeS^^'sho^er: acrobats, is the_ only white act on Gloria Lane. Ffcdericks shows ver- satility in eccentric, aero and zippy "vodka hoofology and takes the tough ones in the challenges. Miss Lane offers a brief solo tap and the duo get some laughs out of an Impression of a schoolboy jitterbug at a toxl dance hall. Fox. LYRIC, INDPLS. Indianapolis, May 23. Lou Breesc Orch, SWp Morr, Barry Warren, Harry Bason, Cass Daley, Stevens Bros., Three Cheers; 'Miss- There are two things that the swarthy Count Bemi Viol does, one very good, the other very bad. His production numbers are tops and I ing Ten Days' (Col), spectacular, his mumbo-jumbo em-' ceeing is unintelligible. Apparently working on a restricted nut, the Count has jdevoted much worthwhile energy to the. former department His talent array suffices. Show gets underway in a flashy blackout number in which Lou Breese and his boys have worked in neighboring Chicago for some time, and the local dialtwlsters are 'not unfamiliar with their musical wares. Appearing here for the first time, they brought along a couple of m which the' acts and picked up two more from maestro is spotted fiddling fairly local radio stotions to fill the 68 min- well while in the background, I utes running -time ' without over- through a scrim, are several i working the fourrrhythm, three- fiorescent-lighted violins and bows in | trumpet, three-trombone and five- action. On stage throughout is a sax sections of the band. bill. Four men garbed in sailor .out- fits clean up with their clowning. Couple of comedy bits worked in' this set by John Mason,' Sandy Bums, George Wiltshire, Vivian. Harris and Norman Astwood are good for more than usual quota of laughs. Astwood also is the principal singer on the production numbers. Earl Dancer staged the show well, work of the 14 girls, many of 'em new, being above par. Biz way oS at show ca'taght (last one Friday)', heat and Joe - Louis- Buddy Baer fight obviously hurting. House has new reduced summer scale in effect for second week, but that did not Help'much when caught Wear, EARLE, PHILLY ' 12-piece all-girl band' which backs I up the acts and production numbers, i Band is situated under a raised plat- i form on which a couple of produc- Phfladelphia, May 24. ■ 'Truth or Consequence,'' -Victor McLaglen, Lester Cole and Six Debs, Allen and Kent, Lou Schrader House Band (18): 'Adam Had Four Sons' (Cpl). • Lots of show on the Earle stage this session, running almost an hour some- and a half at this catching. But thing big." -It's a good Idea, too,__as^ outside of Xr.^nt^,,?' Victor Breese, as spokesman, is modest in his introductions of the orch work to evade the Impression that the. audience is getting i tion numbers-and -acts are whisked thing big.'-- It's a good Idea, — , , , . < ,-4« j _ off. Included In the band are an; the lads are okay as a dance band M^aglen s stint, there Is little drag, electric organ and novachord. and have some good novelties with- | "ruth or Consequence vlsuSUy, Miniature ''revolving stage Is out being terrific for a vaude house, proves even more enterUlning than uUlized on the raised platform in a, They do 'Dark Eyes' to open, and 2,'*'?'' air with the wacky stunts 'Cavalcade of America*^ number. A | through the run of biU include a sax i Ralph Edwards makes participants I colorful spectacle in which statuette' specialty of 'Look At Me Now,' fiddle' BO through when they fumble his ■ American soldiers of Revolutionary, ■ rendition of.'Last Time I Saw Paris' tricky quesUons. Among the conse- Civil and World War days are de- ! and swing arrangement of 'Delaware I quences which brought guffaws picted is climaxed with a peace 3434'to close. Skip Morr sings'No. i when reviewed were a stout woman scene. 10 Lullaby Lane,' and Is joined by P aying nursemaid to an oldster, re- Interspersing the varied dance: the band chorus on 'He's My Uncle' i plete with putting diapers on him rouUnes and acts, the 10 Unegirls go' and 'Old Man River!' Best sock of i and feeding with a bottle and nlpnle; through some simple routines. They i vocal department Is Barry Warren, < a guy with a wig leading Lou open with a conga, coming back for guitarist who has next to closing Schrader s house crew through Poet ' an Indian dance and a machineage spot to tenor 'My Sister and I,': and Peasant with a toilet device .for I ballet Costumes are more eye-fill- j "Where or When' and 'It All Comes a baton^ a fat^gent singmg Commg kig than their routines. I Back to Me Now.' I Through the Rye' while getting Into I First act is Paul Kirkland, who' Cass Daley Is the real hit of the a two-way stretch, does some balancing atop a 10-foot show. Has been here before, but ) , Tops In screwball anUcs was stand- 1 ladder, coming down from his perch, every time she returns gal has fresh; jne ^tn^ee husbands in back of for some assorted tomfoolery, in-: material and is surefire for plenty of, boards wiUi only their noses pro- ' eluding balancing a paper cone on mittslaps. With her facial and body i truding. Their respective spouses ,-his-face, patter and balancing a girl contortions she Is a cinch for hearty' were supposed to pick their help- atop two chairs. An Indian love guffaws, plus her seUing of specialty, mates by their schnozzes and kiss dance by Gloria and Daniele is just tunes. Does 'Yeah Man,' a comedy, saine. Noneof the frau^ picked the another excuse for some sensuous number based on song tlUes and a Jlght one.- "Fhe stunt kept the pew- ! dancing. Goldpainted mixed, semi-' new one called 'Lament of the Laun-, holders near hysterics. Winners of 'nude pair does a lot of-arin-and dry Girl.' i both 'truth' or 'consequences' get bodyweavlng for audience gasps. I Stevens Brothers have a trained cash prizes and cakes of soap of the Barr and Estes, standard-^ot, are bear act. One of the brothers Is program's radio sponsor. Edwards • back again to garner a few laffs., mauled by the animal, then three does a sweet job of keeping it mov- ■ Standard of their work is below that 'spooks' come out of audience'to ing at a swift pace. He s aided down I of their last trip here. Male member' wrestle with the bruin, gettHg some front by Herb Moss and . Jack I gives a much too abbreviated version giggles. ■ '; ^VL*," ?n J i5='^p^iV of »ve of his socko crowded street car Harry Bason is from local station! .Lester Cole and his sextet of eye- I scene in 'panto. ' WIRE. He does an act at the piano . fll ing gals are- n the opening spot r A kanlard production number is with the help of Wally Nehrling of with Clole handfling the in c. slot and Jn-the-machineage balletdoneohthe the watterV annoijncmg: staff., warbbng With the I^O''; ., AJ"""^ raised stage, with Gloria and WFBM sent Three Cheers, girl trio, Uie tunes are 'A Pretty Girl, Sweet I Daniele bling brought back as who won a nice response for their Summer Dream' '^^ robota Utilizing a portable plat- version of 'Wise Old Owl.' The heart,' -TOere-U Always be an Eng. form on the apron, the Three Flames, double radio tleup should add a few land.' ^^^tte'^o"^^^ two boys and a, gal, go through some more shekels to the boxoffice count, with stage darkened and only the ordinary roller siclting. Number,' Biz was light at third show open- • heads di.the singers lit up with tiny done with special lighting and cos- ing day Friday (23), a clwpnic local | spote. /j- . .„ .mhiiiprt turning, makes the trio look Uke condlUon which can't be blamed en- AUeA and Kent, with an unblUed technicolorid esSplsts • from Macs, Urely on the stage show. Kilcw. I /(Continued on paee •■i-'^ /