Variety (Jun 1941)

Wednesday, June 4, 1941 HOU8S RKVlKWtt 45 EARLE, PHILLY Philadelphui, May 30. Giro Himac Orch (10) toith Charley Boy, Alzira Camargo, Estret- doom, McCrary shouts that America must learn the lesson ot air power and suggests that it may bp as soon as this Christmas that Hitler's para- chute troops will be swooping down on islands in the Caribbean. He also Owrlev f^""-^"V''^"^^^ that America must recognize lita, DxosaCoUello Bea Wa^^^^ „ggd of air power by the cre- Vincenf, TTOjans <3).-.Lo» | ation .of a secretary of aviation in House . Band (18). Singapore ^^^^ cabinet. His candidate for the Woman' (WB). I |iost is LaGuardia. Two newsreels, RKO and Unjver- Ifs a 50-50 bill at the Earle this ja]_ report the recent convention of session, half Broadway with tne-thg General Federation of Women's other part south-of-the-border. ■rne -ciubs in Atlantic City from the de- honors go to the Manhattan continr, fanse angle. RKO offers Senator ; has stepped up Uie value'of the'of- gent, however, ^ _ ^ _ i Burton K. Wheeler and Pepper in a ' fering, but his attempt to peddle It 20TH CENTURY, BUFF Buffalo, JVfay 30. 'Laff America' with Milt Britton's Orch, Al Gordon's Canines, Milt Herth's Swing Trio, Tommy Raf- ferty, Tito, Ginger Manners, Helen Pammer; 'Met in Argentirui' (RKO). Under the tag of 'Laff America,' Milt Britton is around agsiin with a repeat edition of his 'Crazy Show.' By adding a couple of top turns, he Scandals Cavalcade (STATE, HARTFORD) Hort/ord, June 1. Harris and Shore, Charles Kemper, Bob Shea, Nonchalants (3), Gloria Blalce, Mimi Kellerman. Gautier's Bricklayers, Margery Daye, Kay Penton, George Haggerty, Jess Mack, Sam Kaplan Pit Band; 'Sis Hopkira' (Hep). _;i„„ ToAb- ^""."""Bc "1. v.cvYiiuiiiia ui> ulc , as a laugn snow puis mm in aanger pearance in Phil ysihce he left Jack ^> j^i^^gg ^^^^ ^^r tak- Lynch's local bistro to wake a stand- the federation's new president. Mrs. I ing peseUs under false pretenses, out success at Gotham s Beach- john yt,. Whitehurst, as she issues a Britton's concoctions are always fuU comber. ROmo PrOves to be one of call to arms to the country's 40.000,-! of the fast and loose business which the most entertaining acts seen here OOO women. - ; passes for comedy and are bullseyed in many a moon. He fads his a^vo^^^^ The shipyard strike on the west, at the pop-price band show trade, dupois to a fare-thee-well.jinpng &. coast is graphically pointed up by This one is no excepUon. When ludicrous new tune Iin too Big for rkO. The clip shows President! caught, the ensemble looked and the Army and Navy^^whioh bro^^^ Frey of the metal workers' union , acted weary and bored enough to howls to the hundreds of men in leading many of his men past picket have missed the preceding night's khaki in the aud. .... ''"^s of what he had termed an un- I sleeper jump In addition to being ■ with socko. standard acts inter In addition to emceeing the stage authorized strike. Of the clips from ion the sad and seedy side in decor,' spersed by a neat-appearing line, show handily, Vincent proves he has abroad, the same newsreel takes I the boys are sporting the shiniest I Bulk of the comedy entertainment an excellent voice as wpll as a rib- leading place in interest via an in- Ugt of tuxedos caught on any band' rests upon Charles Kemper who tickling delivery, ,with his clicko terview with the Scotch farmer who I yVt ""S"' any uana ... , „„_.,„• baritoning of 'Blow Gabriel, Blow' captured Rudolf Hess The brogue , Addition of Al Gordon's dogs and and I^st R°¥"d"P;,. is thick but the thread of his stpcy miu Herth's Swing Trio, while a Bea Wain IS anoth^^^ combination, gives the show Linegirls (16) are spotted at. five wiUi her okay chirping in the sweet age picture^^^ customer. An iu two highest spots. Smart patter different times in simple but ef- and hot manner. Her re^^^ participant is this farmer's . by Gordon is a big help, topped by fective song and dance routines.' fleets her radio following, with the mother, whose closirfg line is likely ! a choice routine fSr the hounds. Girls and wstumes are eyefllling.i fans applauding in advance as she. to get a sardonic smile if not. jjilt Herth's Trio. InstrumenUl- White has apparently spent more! announced her air faves S^^^^ ''^'■io?in„**'^'i.h "^M^ Hn^^^^ * <="<='^° contribution, plenty Ume and money in talent than in' ^'''^ ? *^ t«*^n|/ her meeting with N^^^^^ They sounded production numbers since there's. fA'ri?ste^"a,?S T^lngs^r^ote/ ^e^nVi^L Tn^'e^rth'o^igrhe^y I \ S« VT^l.Tl^^'l'^S^^ Tm'ac« ' v '''^ t ""T i p4 Pi-rple- .and_'Bounce Me . Jerry. U must be .remembers that ^e'J?eyya^!i?ngfof''b"X S'Ln'^ifs'^^^^^^^^ This new George White 'Scandals' unit, preemed at the State, is not much different than other preced- ing White presentations. Unit, out of White's recently defunct Gay White Way, Broadway nitery con- sists of much comedy tied together handles his assignment excellently.' His buffoon type of humor is, Clicko in various bits in the show. I a now almost-standard Latin turn. Darlene is presented in a 'Parisian Coquette' dance, which amounts to a veil whirl, with a shed at the flnlsh. Unit has no band and local musicians played here. Poor biz on show caught Just. All-American Follies (BROAWAT, CHARLOTTE. N. C.) Charlotte, May 23. £mmet Itftller, Ches Davis. JVadine & Charles, White Twitis. Rix/ord Bros., Mae Parish, Chester Doherty Girls (8), Tommy Chriitian'a band (5), Charles Ost. EARLE, WASH. Brother With a Solid Four.' Windup after all he's somebody's son. tune brought the heaviest palm-' . thumping. The Trojans are a topnotch tum- bling team who perform bewildering mid-air somersaults with ease. Lou Schrader's pit crew accompanies the flrst half of the 90-minute stage show handily. Ciro Rimac's band pries open the second part with a medley of Latin Odec his pianist are noteworthy for their speed and dexterity. Aside from this, the show is de- livered in stereotyped fashion by the regular band lineup. Britton ];etains the noise and wacky antics. ,„ .. , - but they still seem to get over Wasftinffton. June 2. okay. Helen Pammer continues her Golden Gate yuartct, L«nn, Rovce tricky tap legmania. Tito with his and Vanya, Goodrich and Nelson, 16 accordion is - a mild addition. , , - . .*u 1 I. ■ Gae Foster Girls, Joe Lombardi I Tommy Rafferty's tappings In the ^n'I3%',?rSl^Tfn;,,7rn\la^hl't^»rfn^^^^ Orch; 'Million Dollar BabW Will Mahoney style are best when Bn<l RcitrAllita illiistpa-tinff th» irarini,. (^gj^ ' offered Straight, most of his comedy efforts being, drooly and of the tap- and Estrellita illustrating the various native dances. Rimac's aggregation has grown in stature as an entertain- ^ . , i room genre The band thru<!hinir "of ment unit since it made its appear- Another compact, fast-moving SnTeriSamiers Is ove^^^^^^ ance almost a year ago at the Club show, with production values making ^heSlcwntHc /ide a^d degenerates Bali, Philly. up for no-name cast. Three turns 1 j to muBBine acrobaScs Mn^i^^ Alzira Camargo proves to be a I featured are standard, but sUging | Xin^of the e?^lmW^ a^e nil carbon copy Carmen Miranda, sing- ni»i"« tlie revue a sure click. . I mu. — , .f^^ I ing Brazilian ditties in Miranda style *\?P wearing the tricky regalia entertainment, as always here, pro-■ strongly overflow becoration""l)ay ~ viding a military motif fore and aft supper show crowd loved it. And of the other proceeding?. Their, you can't argue taste or talent with flnale-is show's handsomest produc- a spinning turnsUle.' Burton tion number, girls appearing in cos-' tumes of the 'Evzones.' ballet-skirted . Greek soldiers, for difficult tap and I Shore mixed ballroom burlesque team. Pair works with a fine sense of timing and garners . plenty: laughs. Gautier's Bricklayers, dog- act. are another outflt that's been; around for some time and do plenty' allright. Nonchalants (3) comedy | hand-to-hand team, also around fori some time, are nimble with a rapid- fire line of effective comedy patter. I Climax with their threehigh pyramid; fall to big applause. | Miml Kellerman in a sensuous, dance; Kay Penton, Gloria Blake and' Bob Shea In vocal assignments, Margery Daye, high kicker and acro- batic dancer all handle their as- signments neatly. Conscription drill sure ciicK. i jhe firouo comedv is'air"7iiit^"rniiBh' i ^^^^ ""'^^ Kemper, George Haggerty Roxyettes count for considerable h^usef roUrand^maudC but th^ ^'^^ ^'^'^ "ack is strong laugh win. of the 'Brazilian Bombshell Diosa Costello milks her act. Starting off with a series of hip- weaving, ear-tingling Cuban son- nets, she spoils the effect by taking too many encores, adding nothing on . — _—.. ^ - her return but a continued mugging | precision drill routine, partly with and prancing around the stage with out musical background, and gun ' her posterior at an odd angle. I drill. Won solid audience approval. I House almost filled when reviewed Roxyettes open with another click,' (Friday supper show) ' - . . . . • EMBASSY, FRISCO EMBASSY, N. Y. (NEWSREELS) Tempo, sound and depth of Amer- ica s awakening to the peril of the spread of the Nazi holocaust is im- pressively reflected in this week's newsclip parade. The excitement derives not so much from the action on the screen as from 'the shadows of danger and call for action that are cast by words and pictures. How sharply all this is becoming etched In the consciousness of Americans may perhaps be judged from the auditorium-fllling applause that at the initial runoff Thursday greeted President Roosevelt's speech in which he proclaimed an unlimited natiorfal emergency and Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia's first words as director of the Office of Civilian Defense. The excerpts from the President's talk of May 27 come from Fox and run nine minutes. It's a commend- able piece of editing, projecting the most telling of the highlights. The camera in this instance is a traveling one, capturing among others, as the President spoke into the network mikes from the White House's East room, such cabinet members as Sec- retary HuU and Vice-president Wal- lace in listening repose. Fox Is also the source of the La- Guardia item. New York City's mayor has approached his task, the clip suggests, with a marked sense of calm and assurance. As he speaks his face is wreathed in a smile, and instead fit spreading gloomy fore- bodings he quietly urges that all patriotic organizations report for duty to the mayors of their respec- tive cities. The destruction of the Bismarck and Hood are interestingly treated by Paramount through the blending of library shots and drawings. The library gleanings deal with the launching of the Bismarck and what had been Britain's biggest battle- wagon in firing maneuvers. By means of the charts the reel's editor tells how he figures the battle started and ended. The Embassy's latest commentator is Tex. McCrary, chief editorial writer for the N. Y. Daily Mirror, a fiery young Texan who seems more intent upon striking terror into his listeners than in contributing a broad blueprint of America's defense needs. Most of which .he warns about has been recognized by the country's military authorities, and that Is that air power is the No. 1 panoply of modern war. With the manner and voice of a prophet of San Francisco, May 30. Shal. miUtary tap" that"sets fast pace for: .I.''^ ^„<?). ^r.°^^„^°°h what's to follow 14!?°'". Appell, Clijf Ritchie, wnai s to loiiow. , ^^^.^ ^^^,1^^ Raybum Girls (6), Golden Gate Quartet, from radio, Jay flrowcr. House . Orc/i (7) and niteries, stick to their forte, 'pught Command' (M-G) and 'In- Negro spirituals, coming only close „isi\,ie Woman' (U) •to pop stuff with their harmony ver-1 sion of 'Little Brown Jug.' They're neat-appearing on stage and look Dan McLean's "Night Club Follies' definitely in character with their ma- moves into its fourth determined terial. What's more, in addition to week with problems multiplying, being melodious, their numbers have. McLean says he isn't making any novelty. | money yet but is still optimistic. It took about two minutes to get Comic note is pro.vided by Lynn/House is finding that^d^^^^^^^^^^ curtain^ up on 'Manhattan Show is one that has appeal tor the family trade. Softening of some of the gags would bring it closer to that, field. Skits and gags take care of the, bachelors and baldheads. Dog act good for the kiddies and adults. | Biz strong at show caught tonight (Sunday). Eck. Manhattan Scandals (BROADWAY, CHARLOTTE, N. C.) Charlotte, N. C, May 30. McKav & LaValle, Janne & An- thony, Jack Wader .& Audrey, Dar- lene, Clyde Jordan Girls (10), House Band; 'Repent at Leisure' (RKO). Royce and Vanya, o..„ two men and hours of show at a 33c top, the fans girl, whose slapstick ballroomology, are still fussy about the pict^ures thrt is the funnier fbr fact their appear- eo with the vaude; that although it's ance is no Upoff when they come on a nite club show-actually-the stage. They look like any other, elderly mat trad, resents even the dance trio, until first slip; from then; most suppressed bu^ grind, on they build hilarity solidly. F°"rth sesh got off to a mild start Other turn is standard acrobatic' Rayburn Dancers open with a duo, Goodrich and Nelson, all right f'dlZ'?'',lm to%')fv„r'^*'ri'F^nt „trnna ariYi fans and nnt On a.k.s ciian t secm to lavor. La Fons too "'lonf °"t! d^siou ale*^ S?he?s" follow doing a clever Bowery adagio. «\lr ir in*^ta^/th^iY'»' at«rl^h^■^^h »rv^ l;,'?.?i!lVrRHteV': TV^^J^; ^^^luttSTca^^^ We IfAft'„^l"tfrfh°oT^'"'"'*''' I S^^eltiL'accordedVs^L^efmiSti^n prelude to stage show. ^ y^^^g trumpeter in the band Biz good Sunday night (1). Alac. | who hasn't finished high school yet; boy has plenty of promise but grabs plenty of applause because nearly everybody knows he's Jay Brower's son and one of the family, although Jay doesn't introduce the offspring until after the solo. Encores with 'After You've Gone.' nice for a heavy CDoug, Jr. Continued from page Scandals' and at no other time dur Ing its showing was it so advan tageously presented; It didn't have a chance with the curtain up. What little natural talent it possessed was counteracted by Jack Waller, who gave a detailed demonstration of how not to emcee a show. Waller got peeved because the house was cold to his opening gags, and Instead of attempting to thaw them out, he started riding them, with the result everybody wound up sitting on their hands. His ina- terial was fair in his own comic turn,.but his manner not only killed it, but also drew , a chilly reception for other acts. The imit doesn't have a single strong act, the dance team of Janne and Anthony getting the best re- ception for Its slightly better than standard terp gyrations. Anthony shows himself to be a smooth show- man as well as a polished dancer, r< I. «„j handling Miss Janne with skill on Z^.?3K9SJil^ A"^ i waltz and rhumba turns, their two best offerings. McKay and LaValle open with a knockabout comedy act that's spotty at best. Impersonat- ing'a stew, McKay staggers on stage Combining some old-time mln- strelsry with streamlined terping and piping, Ches Davis' 'All-American Follies' results in a pleasing blend of the old and new, which ought to satisfy the average stage fan's palate. Show features Emmet Miller, old- time minstrelman, in a blackface act in which Davis, another vet of inter- locutor days, plays straight to him. Miller digs up a lot of stuff with whiskers, but the crowd goes for it and his smooth brand of blackface patter. He also does some trebled voice-piping that at least gets novelty rating. The Rixford Bros., who go on next to last, look as if they are going to be just another muscle team, of which there has been a bumper crop in this territory lately, but before they go off they turn in a sock act. They do some nifty head and hand- stand balancing and Otis Rexford, big man of the duo. executes some apparently Impossible lifts. Team also works in some amusing clown- ing, being called back twice on show caught. Nadine and Charles, terp team, turn in some above par tapping, but their piping of 'Tea For Two' on their opening Is only so-so. Their sophisticated tapping is above the standard for this circuit, with Nadine particularly impressive.' She comes back later for a single in which she exhibits some particularly agile terp-' Ing. The White Twins, warblers, got a terrific hand, due chiefly to subtle flirting of one of twins with flrst 10 rows of male patrons. Although girls sing pleasingly, it is the sly by-play with .the male customers by one of sisters that makes the deepest im- pression. Girls sing 'Siboney.' 'Alice Blue CrOwn* and 'Ciri-Biri-Bln.' re- turning to pipe a double talk number. Mae Parish, scat singer, got a big response. She was called back four times due. no doubt, mostly to fact she's a hometown girl. Charles Ost also is pleasing in a uke specialty. The line seems a little short on vigor, although their opening, a jitterbug feature In which 'each does a specialty, is fairly Impressive. It's back for a butterfly number with Nadine and Charles and closes with a patriotic turn. Tommy Christian's band sounds weak. Good biz on show caught. Just. New Acts m Theatres public at large and U. S. officials in : particular. . . Fran'.. ^ From the arrival at Moron airport, i ^outh organ, operating latter sans when he was greeted by Ambassador hands or support. Nothing outstand/- Norman Armour—itself a rarity for i jng but the customers went for him a film star—until his departure three in a big way. Arnold and Appell. weeks later, Fairbanks received a; dress tap team, f^^^^ press and public break that's been °^"edalt7 wUh Ihe bSys p^^^^ l^^*"'* " « 1^*^ thoroughly clicko. i Brmver vi^ T nortable mike then 6° through a knockabout comedy El Pampero, chief Nazi «heet,; ^rP^r v.a a Portabte^^^^ f?^. "ilVi sounded off usual warning for Fair-1 tigs suspended from coat-hangers.' .^orobatics by McKay, whose best banks to go back to the States and ^ This is the sort of stuff Embassy 'tell them that the crillos can't be . patrons think is really delicious, and conquered by false smiles.' Sheet' it clicked. ™miin'' bu?-in Ben"i%l ^hey Rifch'e 7rom"fhe''Ml/H"tz nitery j comes on with a violin and attempts lots of millions but n general tney | ^ ^^^^ reception, par- to gag in the Benny manner. Most lack the spiritual quality able to win tjcularly on his finale, 'Gianina Mia.' \ of his gags fall fiat, but he saves the esteem of a people such as ouis. : y^j^^ pjpgj 'jjaria Elena' and 'No. 10 . the turn by bringing out Audrey, Mae West might come down next to Lullaby Lane' in an upper-range who pipes There'll Be Some win good-will. Pampero concluded. ; tenor. Brower introduces him as a ' Changes Made' and 'Amapola.' She Aside from this, and a stench bomb ' Negro soloist, although he is so light' puts a lot of vim and vigor Into her thrnwn when enterine Radio El that his race might pass unnoticed delivery and the result is pleasing. M;,nHn for fl broadcast Fairbanks behind the footlights. , Waller winds up turn with a bit of ^" V J 4^,.?,,,h !,ith too honors I An assertedly Latin-American rou-' clarinet-clowning that's so-so. But crashed through with top honors. ^.^^ .^^^ , ^^^^^ ^.^ beginning. Waller Up against a two-strike situation be- .^^ ^jj^^ Hewlett featured, couldn't click If he'had been the cause of the good-will-intended picts , ygj^g ^^^^^ s^irt and castanets, that turned out to be anything but,: Wern, Fairbanks, in the opinion of ob- — servers here, not only managed to | bit is falling flat on' his face—like the act. In his own turn. Waller, who In to Cliff I addition to emceeing, leads band Dionne quints, The Clyde Jordan girls are pleas- , ing in tbr«e standard appearances, I their .beat being . a walking stick Dour o'il on -trouble waters but gar-' HarrV Carroll is opening a night turn. with. the fiance team of.Janne puuA V** VI* ^ _i. t TrAn4iii.« Klvf? nnrtVi nt HOI- ' a*T.4 AtifVi/inv . Thov nnj^n With' a nered an unusual amount of atten-'spot on Ventura blvd., north of Hoi- and Anthony, iitn for his godd-will talk. : lywood, titled Tin Pan Alley, '«=....- ^k. They open Salute to the Navy' and close with JACKIE MILES ^ Comedy • 20 MIns. Stato Theatre,' N. T. Jackie MUes apparently has been around, from his work, but there's no mention of him In Varietv's files. His m.c. and gag routine at this house rates heavy plaudits. Comedy Is whacky, but wallopy routine Is a standout part of an hour's entertain- ment. - Miles gags his way into strongly deserved reception, covering all sorts of material in gathering a harvest of laughs. Occasionally he resorts to an old line, but with a twist that gives it new interpretation. He works alone midway and also bows on the various turns on the bill. It's only in the mr.c. duties that he's a bit weak. However, In niteries he's at ease when conprenciering. His back- ground is dominantly in cafes, start- ing as gag material writer for Jack White, Eddie Davis, Harry RIchman, et al. One of the comic's funniest bits is running through, at rapid-fire speed, a resume of everything that has gone before, to a customer just be- ing seated. Wood. NORMAN YOUNG Singing Six MIns. Hippodrome, Baltimore Local youngster spotted on cur- rent vaude layout more than holds his own. Possessed of legit pair of pipes he has the added advantage ol a sure and pleasing stage presence. Held down to one number because of length of accompanying bill whea caught, lad gave out with a medley made up of 'Falling In I,ove.' 'Ah, Sweet Mystery' and 'Stout Hearted .Men,' milking them all and, making them count as a whole. With soma .added, mike technique should prov* a bet for more-ambitious doings. Burnt.