Variety (Jun 1941)

38 TAiniEVILLB Wednesday, June 25, 1941 >♦♦♦♦♦♦»»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦«♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦»♦♦♦»♦ The Good Old Days ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦t«««««»»«»««««»«»«««*»««»»«»«»«»«»' Herewith appears a Variety revtevo of a N. Y. Palace bill of 20 n^ara ago. The intention is to reprint these weekly using the relatiue tueefc of 1921 with the cwrrent date of issue. . No special reason in reviving these reviews other than the interest they may have in recalling the acts which were plav>n0 at that time, the manner of putting together a big time show (booking), which radio stations may find pertinent, and os a resume of the style of vaudeviUe reviewing of that day. (Reprinted from Variety of June 24, PALACE, N. Y. 1921) John Steel and Harland Dixon, familiar strangers in vaudeville, divided Monday evening 50-40, leaving the regulars to cut up the war Ux. The gentlemanly romantic-dramatic tenor of Ziegfeld renown scored as few have done here, and Dixon, heading the 16 Palace Girls, played just ahead of him and finished only slightly behind him. Steel sang nine songs, from an introductory medley Cwltb lyrics beneath bis jaliber) to "Eli Eli," which he rendered with the voice of a cantor- star and the emotionalism of a tortured soul. Steel is the answer to those wiseacres who say Shakespeare couldn't write a vaudeville sketch were he alive today and Caruso couldn't make good in an act in "one." Steel, the delicate, silklined balladist of the highest priced legitimate, out- vaudevilled vaudeville. He had every trick of the trickster, the better done because he had every art of the artist. He proved as adept at keep- ing an ovation alive as the most notorious bow-stealer, but he did It with distinction. And his applause came from men as well as women and from the uppermost gallery seat as well as from the enthusiastic boxes. Steel need hunt no further for a future. Probably there rests in his cerebellum, hidden or outspoken, an ambition to be a concert soloist. He can easily attain it. But he need not. In vaudeville he has found—^and quickly and unequivocally—a career in Itself, comprehensive, sufficient. He has the perfect combination—personality, appearance, fame, superior. Individual talent, bearing, poise, aplomb and a high-bred geniality. He wears clothes easily and impressively. He is a wicked master of colora- tura for finishing effects. He has upper and lower range. He isn't ashamed to give fervent expression to homely sentiment in song. He doesn't wear gloves. He is a corking headUner. • What he did to Mel Klee was homicide. Klee, coming on at 10:56, went Into his talk. There was no use singing. He had his comedy talk down and going well—that Al Herman monolog a la Jim Harkins pseudo Ed Wynn—and started into his mammy ballad. It was one of those moments that makes a professional silting in front feel chills creep up the vertebrae. He was wringing his hands like Al Jolson and kneeling like Joe Daroey— but nothing could save him. Nobody could have sang in that spot follow- ing Steel except Steel. Klee, who has a comedy-smash act for all that it Is a potpourri of others' business, went right to the fall that was doomed. A little patter of hand-meeting, one chagrined bow, and it was over, It Is a classic. Miss Young sang It well except for one or two minor in- tonations where she made reason secondary to rhyme. But this is the type of work which is her high mark. It seems lamentable that the other song be lost, even though this one is so worthy. A bit of friendly advice to this artist would suggest that she i do her old one and follow it with her new one Immediately; it would ' make the new one even bigger and stronger and it would save for vaude- ville one of its surest entities. She might easily throw Into the garbage pail whence it came the wench's maladorous lament, which she does not do as well as it deserves, and It deserves no.t to be done at all in theatres for nice people. It is the descendant of a soiled stag story and its tone is low without being amusing. It seems inconceivable that this girl, who does chorus girls so snappily, so interestingly, so truly, should persist In doing black washerwomen (and only washerwomen by inferential agree- ment with the censor, as the intimation is less wholesome) and get noth- ing back. Margaret Young's way to headlining Is the chorus girl's way. Everything else she does must be 'filler.' She will do better to employ while filler and keep it spotless. Adelaide Bell, a hefty and pretty girl who looks like a grown-tip Cud- dles, opened. . She had a male pianist who stuSed the gaps. There weren't many folks in, but they wouldn't have been annoyed if they had been. The act is there. Bertram and Seton about tied it up In the deuce hole. Two men with strong voices and varied material hit it from the tap with opera to the bell with the best yodeling heard here in moons. The mother ballad was a jot under par, otherwise the routine is happily blended. Hymack got gasps on his breakaway, proteanisms arid breathless novelty jump-ups. His wit didn't hurt the act much. Joe Fanton and Co. (3) did not hold them in with neat hanging and holding athletics. Lait, Army Show Pitfalls ^Continued from page 37; walked off at 11:14. It was no spot for him. Ahead of Steel he might have been among the hits. Following Steel, he got sympathy from those who understood and silence from those who never will. Dixon and his Palace bimbos outdistanced the wallop they landed last week it seemed. Second after intermission, they were heartily greeted, and at the end of each .single from Dixon's nimble and unique feet and each company dance of the supertrained British girls there was a rocking salvo. Dixon was forced to a solo encore without music. Doyle and Dixon for many, a season had set the pace for two-men dancing teams. Dixon need not worry. He can go it alone and go it Uke the mischief. The girls worked without a hair out of tune or place. They looked like 40 instead of 16—all animation, all synchronism. It is a pity that this turn cannot circle the vaudeville map. It might''drive a few of the underdone 'girl acts' back into tabs, Sig. Friscoe came next in sharing what glory was left. A cunning showman, this chap, who started with two hammers and a teawagon and finishes with a rattling act that ran as long as any and was welcomed and hilariously acclaimed throughout. Friscoe had his plants massed at strategic points and used them for the biggest woofs of the- evening. Plenty of encores and all that goes with them here, opening intermission for a healthy hit. » Bill and Gordon Dooley and their Morin Sisters closed the first epoch. The falling and rough-and-tumble were immense. Laughs cracked upon laughs, but they have and could have gone better. The girls worked smoothly and "belonged" on their own in their single and dual specialties. Leon Bloom, a young Chicago musician and composer, is the Dooleys* leader. He handles the baton like a master and gives verve and snap to the act. Margaret Young has gone and done something. She has thrown away her disgruntled chorus girl song. If there was one character ditty In th« business that deserved to live it was that one. When she announced that ■ she had a sequel to it there was an unrepressed 'oh!' for everyone who had given-her a reception had meant They Don't Make "Em Like That Any More.' Then she pulled a miracle. She started slowly with a re- cited song which turned out to be called something like 'It's a Long Way From Chllds to the Rltz,« and It Is a gem. From private sources It was reported that Jack Yellen wrote It. Whoever did should make It a play; j partially solved by a credit system set up with the Post Exchange in each camp. It would sell the tickets on tick, coin to be taken out of the rookies' $21 at the end of the month, and remit the proceeds to the show minus a 10% discount. Trainees showed imusual qualities of thrifti- ness, however, Mclntyre declarc^d, exhibiting a distinct aversion to go- ing Into debt. Camps and posts with under 5,000 population should be avoided like a Hitlerian Invitation to Berchtesgaden, Mclntyre emphasized, while those with 5,000-10,000 troops are good for only one or two days. Southern camps were best because they are bigger. Complaining of the bad physical He '. conditions, Mclntyre said the show was forced to play in a steel and glass hangar at Maxwell Field, Mont- gomery, Ala."^ Seats consisted of 1,200 wooden benches on one level. When a better theatre was offered outside the immediate center of the post, Mclntyre declared, it didn't work either, because the boys, after a day of drill, wouldn't walk two or three miles for a show. AIl-American troupe consisted of line of eight gals, Al Morrison, m.c.; Skating Carters (4), Bobby Carr & Co. (3), Diana Noble, warbler; Nash & Evans, boy-girl comedy team; Betty Reeve, comic, and a lO-piece all-girl orch. In addition, there was a company manager, advance man, sound man and truck driver, sending the payroll up to around $1,400 a week. &eep nSm Bollinf Spartanburg, S. C, June 24. Keep 'em roUing! This is attitude of thousands .of Dixie-encamped soldiers, hailing mainly from north and east, to motorized shows on the roads to show soldiers a good time. Ijew Parker show rolled into Camp Croft here last weekend, and, de- spite absence from unit of Allan Jones, recalled to Hollywood for pix purposes, 18,000 Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, Jersey, Illinois and Michi- gan lads thronged the tented layouts for both shows and demanded more. Camp Wollers Show Mineral Wells, Texas, June 24. A Pullman-load of talent pulled out from Mineral Wells, headed by Chlco Marx, after giving two shows In two days for the benefit of soldiers at Camp Wolters. The en- tertainers, coming here Saturday (21), mada their first lap- of a tour of army camps of the Eighth Corps Area^ The shows, sponsored by the Citl- zena Committee for th* Army and Navy, Inc., went from here to Camp Barkeley for a program yesterday (Monday) and then the schedule called lor departure for Camp Bowie at Brownwood, Fort Sam Houston at San Antonio, and several other camp sites of the area. The entertainers Included Harry Savoy, m. c; Tom Lane, singer; Janice Williams, tap dancer; Mar- Jorle Galnsworth, singer, and Tommy Trenfa puppets; The Fort Worth Community Lit- tle Theatre brought Its first attrac- tion. The Trial of Mary Dugan,' to Camp Wolters last week for the* heneflt of the 64th Infantry Train- ing Battalion. The battalion thea- tre waa transformed Into a court- room scene and trainees were chosen as Jurors. CHI AGVA TO RESCUE OF BERNI YICI UNIT Chicago, June 24. Jack Irving, Chicago chief of AGVA, rescued Count Berni Vici unit again last week, rushing to To- ledo to help get performers out of town and obtain' portions of salary. Irving also obtained week's work in Milwaukee to pay them off. New Act in Theatre Official N.Y. Unit To Aid Services OnShowAifanish A commldee of showmen and others, for the purpose of facilitating admission to shows and other forms of recreation for men in the services visiting New York, Is to be named by Mayor La Guardia, Marshall Field and Anna Rosenberg. It's Indicated that John C^lden and Mrs. Julius. Ochs Adler, wife of the New York Times publisher, will be co-chair- men. Around 25 showmen attended the meeting for such purposes called recently by the mayor after 75 had received delayed Invitations. Those furthering the movement are seeking the cooperation of Times Square weUknowns. Golden, who had been reported suggesting that men in uniform be admitted to thea- tres gratis, has stated that he had been misquoted. Manager, in ex- plaining that idea was never in his mind, says that it Is possible reduced prices will be sought. Cut rates will probably be particularly applicable to the non-commissioned men in the Army, Navy and Ah: Corps. A list of recreational advantages other than theatres will be prepared as soon as the committee starts func- tioning. BERNARDS & ADOBABLES (9) Dancing 8 MIns. Strand, N. T. Trio of male dancers, the Bern- ards, and a sextet of lookers "who, comprise the 6 Adorables, have! worked up a satisfying and unusual turn that Is satisfactory for most any type of stage bill. Group tees off h^re with a tastefully routined and smartly executed ballroom bit, then progresses to a short and fast stint using four girls. Punch finale brings an abrupt and surprising change of pace In view of the sedate groove of the opening rou- tine. Entire troupe swings into a hot and fast burlesque of wedding of a couple jitterbugs; At least that's the clear Import of the routine. One of the men don a minister's role, girl a veil, etc., and the ceremony is pan- tomlned with fiying feet, genteel bumps, etc. It's good. Wood.^ IcB Iroir, Youngstown, O., booking agent, has opened offices In the Realty BuildteA that.dty. New Act in Nitery WTNN MUBBAT Songs 8 MIns. Beachcember, N. T. No longer the rotund 'Babes In Arms' recruit, but now a seasoned songstress, what with her-Fred Allen radio and other radio programs be- hind her, Wynn Murray has also streamlmed her chassis and she's quite ingenue. Her coiffure Is ap- propriately Hoydenish, and her figure within reasonable bounds becoming to her years, instead of the teen-age heft that characterized her when first coming to Broadway In that Rodgers-Hart musical several sea- sons back. Her repertoire embraces three surefires, 'Changes Made,' 'Minnie i From Trinidad' and Twist of Wrist,* i all done In ultra-modern manner, ! qualifying her for cafe work, as she [ does for mike and stage values. AbeL JoDy Joyce Expands ' nilladelphia, June 24. JoUy Joyce, local nitery-vauda booker, Is branching out into asso- ciated fields. Bert Lemisch, band leader, joins the agency to handle the music field, and Bernard Roth- berg, manager of the Swan Club, local nitery, added to staff to han- dle park and fair bookings. Also adding desk space in the Earle The- atre Bldg. Paramount Entertainment Bureau, with offices In the Keystone State Bldg., Is new percentage enterprise, the partnership of Alexander Tiber- ini and Leon Kutler. N. Y. Nitery FoUow-Up Beaeheomber'a six lookers are do'ggin' it. They remind of BiUy de Wolfe's sathre at the Rainbow Room —the one about the girl who yens for the spotlight man, only flashing him a smile, up into the proscenium arch, and otherwise ritzing the cus- tomers. Ditto the line at Monte Proser's Broadway spot. They're nice-looking gals but Marjory Field- ing, who staged, is permitting them to get careless. Otherwise, Wynn Murray (New Acts) is in to bolster the proceedings. Carmen d'Antonio, with her well-oiled chassis—a pip!— in a minimum of Afro-Cut>ana trap- pings, does an arresting cooch. Toy and Wing, cute looking Chinese, do- ing American and Latin ballroom- ology effectively, topped with a touch of Calloway, also hold over. Chavez's band remains socko. Abel Soph's Seattle Date Seattle, June 24. Mike Lyons of Show Box, leading night dub In the burg, Is stepping to the fore again with names, hav- ing booked Sophie Tucker, for two weeks, opening June 30. . Spot Is dickering for Gyp^ Rose Lee to follow for two weeks. SIBYL BOWAN WEEKS JIM 20-27 STRAND NEW YORK 1 Year Cafe Society, Downtown 1 Year "Meet the People" Co. • 12 Weeks Cafe Society, Uptown Now Headlining CHICAGO THEATRE, Chicago JACK GILFORD Opening July 4th Riverside, Milwaukee, with Paul Whiteman Management: WILLIAM MORRIS OFFICE