Variety (Jul 1941)

^P^ednesday, July 9, 1941 HOUSE REVIEWS 47 ROXY, N. Y. Mojor Boice** 'Star Parad« of 1941' u>ith 4 Mimicking Melodeers, Ihckey Ludurfff, Ross and West, Robert Shilton, Bertay Sisters, June Brady, Three Harmonica Bees, Paul Jones. Three RolHclcinp Rockets, MuiHet Ober. Arthur MelU: Gae Foster Girls (24). Paul Ash House Orchesfro; 'Moon Over Miami' (20th) reviewed In Vabietv, Ju ne 18. The Roxy does well with Bowes units usuaUy, and as a rule Bowes am shows are surefire for any rostrum. There's no difference between the mrmpatheUc reactions of a Broadway flrst-runner and the patrons of the Idle Hour theatre in Wichita- especially if the amateur talent Is basically good. 'Star Parade of 1S41' unit, as the billing suggests, Is a galaxy of top ams from Bowes' radio shows: and Paul Ash, batoning the Boxy house band onsUge this week, in a boat- deck setting, thus parades a mess of talent that ranges from basically good to professionally competent It spans 50 minutes and therein are packed U acts and two ensemble specialUes by the Gae Foster line (24). No encores because of shows length. Ash announced, but none the less Dickey Ludwig, one of the bke- liest semi-pros, tied it up with his ventriloquism. In view of the cur- tailed time limitations. New Act re- views are eschewed, but cafes and such, ever hungry lor modestly- budgeted specialties and new faces, could profit from an intensive o.o. of this week's show. In sequence: Three Harmonica Bees (a corny billing, by the bye) open with mouth- organ work, distinguished by a dif- ficult 'Csardas' and some comedy by the manipulation of the elongated instrument. All three boys work around a mike and over neatly. Arthur Melli does barnyard imita- tions; for 1941 purposes they're 'sound effects.' All right too. Robert Shilton, in grand opera manner, barytones 'Figaro,' also to good returns. Three Rollicking Rockets, two boys and a girl, are whirlwind roUer- skaters and might be suspected ot being pro ringers. Ash explains that they hitch-hiked from Lincoln and naturally, sans television, couldn't do anything over the air, but they're effective for personals. They do their fast whirling on the rollers with eclat and display an essence of novelty showmanship with a neon- light effect. Muriel Ober, femme whistler, pleases with 'Glow Worm.' Ross and West, heralded as fresh out of City College, New York's own,' are professional timber. Their radio Imitations depart from the usual; they punctuate these with satire, wit and not a bit of shrewd comedy, under the aura of a 'tele- visioiT newsreel.' Will make a good cafe Interlude also. For recent col- lege alumni, one must have boned unduly hard judging by his remote hair-line and he woul'd be wise to in- vest in a Westmore for pro purposes. June Brady, soubret, with 'You're the One' a la.Garbo, Hepburn, Lew Lehr, Mae West, and signing off with a brisk vocalization of 'Hut-Sut,' also clicks. Here the 24 Fosterltes come on for their first line routine. Paul Jones' musical spoons and bones is 1941 Dockstader stuff. That end-man bit went out with Primrose and West minstrelsy but, considering that Bowes brought back Miner's amateurs under ultra-modern kilo- cycle auspices, why get (;aptious about a spoon-player? Bertay Sisters, acrobatic dancers, must have studied June and Cherry. Preisser before those kids broke up, and presumably they too were wait- ing for television to project them- selves over the air, but on sight they're all right. They should be— they suggest fugitives from the NVA. Four Mimicking Melodeers (an- other awkward handle) are a trum- pet- clarinet-string bass-«ccordion _ cprnjio. .jvhose billing tips off tiieiY specialty. They Imitate Clyde Mc- Coy, Tommy Dorsey, Wayne King, Goodman, etc. For the main, the horn man handles the major burden, also making the announcements. He's a personable lad. Combo has poten- tialities but must be extended with novelty; the 'impressions' gag Is now an oldie. Dickey Ludwig Is the cream of the crop with his voice-throwing. Ven- triloquists are a vogue now anyway and the youngster makes much of his opportunities with the traditional fresh' dummy perched on his knee, sassing his Svengali. Ash, the cus- tomers and making Wesh asides. The material Is always the barometer, since the pattern is no longer a nov- elty, and to Ludwlg's credit is a pretty good admixture of small-talk and difficult double-voicing. Main- stay is the buildup about 'Peter Piper picked a peck,' etc., and the not too subtle imparting to the audience that us considered Impossible' to project P 3 without moving the lips—where- upon young Ludwig proceeds to do the 'imnosiible.' Therfi'S also ?n ef- fective buildup with 'Sin to Tell Lie' for comedy vocal returns. A^ain the Gae Foster Girls with a patriotic finale, Irving Berlin's 'Any Bonds Today?' In turn, for the July 4 occasion, from the screen came the National Anthem, with kaleidoscopic cinematic trimmings, while the audi- ence stood patrioUcally at attention On screen, 'Moon Over Miami' (20th), Technicolor filmuslcal, which should spell good b.o. for the Roxy. Aa managing'director Irving Lesser observed on Friday (4), that day was the answer to the theatre manager's prayer, what with the rain keeping 'em In town and chasing them in- doors. Abel. LYRIC, INDPLS. Indianapolis, Julv 4, Biltv Gilbert, Britt Wood, Helen Honan, Nelson Sisters, Doris DuPont, •^vf^-^^^'e, ..y ...-^....o, I>icfc Gordon; Raioh Raboid; 'Pud-|tne socko south-of-the-border type din' Head' (Rep). ' * — LOEWS STATE, N. Y. Pork and Clifford, Sara Ann Mc- Cabe, Cardtni, Smith and Dale, Car- men Amaya and Co.; 'Penny Sere- nade' (Col). Loew's State this week is offering Brazil's contribution to Pan-Ameri- cana, and the results that Carmen Amaya achieves in her spectacular, violent flamenco terping is a* tribute to the excellence .of her dancing in a family-time house sUch as the State. Rest of the bill is pleasant and appealing to the masses, but it's The management of the Lyric again has the pit orch on the stage with Dick Gordon in his second week of stickwaving. The boys in the orch give out a little extra when they're exposed to public view and serve to lend weight to a stage show built principally of acts that would ordinarily work In one. The band gets a chance to show off in its own spot by plugging 'Hot Town,' an original by Henry Watkins, trum- pet member.' Dick Gordon sings this week, lending a nice tenor to Maria Elena' and 'Little Bit of Heaven.' Holding down the top spot among the visitors Is Billy Gilbert, sneeze- master.- Gilbert works in plenty of the olfactory histrionics, but the main part of his act Is a chef's bit which he does with his wife. In his mixed-up way, familiar to screen audiehces, he tries to explain how to combine a couple of pies with a cake to get a new pastry. He works in chef's apron and cap. Gilbert comes back after a tap dance inter- lude by Doris DuPont, to sing 'Sheik of Araby,' 'You Say the Sweetest Things, Baby' and 'America, I Love You.' His turn got plenty of chuckles. Brltt Wood has played this house more times than feven he can re- member. The audience knows, and loves every line of his rube routine when he explains his trip to Chi- cago. His mouthing of the harmon- ica Is also solid. Helen Hbnan is another repeater and ranks tops among visiting mimics. She takes on Bonnie Baker,- torch singers, 'Goodwill Hour' peo- ple, sopranos, and winds up doing Bette Davis. The Nelson Sisters do acrobatics. Rajah Raboid has been held over for a second week to answer ques- tions asked by members of the audi- ence. He has his special spot In the schedule, being separated from the regular stage show. His mental prowess seems to ring true as he gives advice to those who want to know their own past and future. Bill hangs together well and biz was booming at third sho.w Friday (4), opening day. Kiley. STATE-LAKE, CHI date Chicago, July 5. Harry Richman, The Stadlers (2), Three Winter Sisters, Morris and Rooers, Carlton Emmy's Madwags; •Wagons Roll tit Night (WB). • Heavy activity at the b.o. marks any appearance Harry Richman makes in this locality, and this time is no exception. There Is a fair sur- rounding bill, but it is Richman they come to see, and he does not disap- point, . .- Opening are the Three Winter Sis- ters, who combine a few acrobatic tricks with a rather xmlmportant tap routine. Dispensing with the danc- ing altogether,-thei «o Into- straight- tumbling, at which they are much better. One of the girls specials with a couple of more difficult stunts and shows some fine control work. The Stadlers, dance team, boast good appearance and some fresh ideas. They combine comedy with .bellrnom-wDtlt without the u se of the hackneyed stuff. Their 'Around the World,' wherein they show the comical side of travel instead of the expected dance Interpretations of various countries. Is especially en- tertaining. Carlton Emmy's Mad wags, clever dog act, drew a lot of laughs and plenty of applause. Emmy works the dogs well, and finds plenty of humorous situations to tickle the funny-bones. Tricks are not unusual, but are well presented. Morris and Rogers, comics of the zany variety, come up with an act which Is good for a lot of good, solid laughs. One of the boys has a flair for impersonation used to good ad- vantage In several satirical impres- sions of popular radio programs. Old stuff, but these boys have their own style which adds new flavor to it. A dance on the table by the other boy is only fair, but at least breaks up the act so that there is not too much of the same sort of thing. With material, these boys should do well. Richman Is on for four songs, opening with 'You're a Lucky Fel- low, Mr. Smith* and following It up with 'No. 10 Lullaby Lane.' A dra- matic interpretation of 'My Sister and I,' however, is where Richman really finds himself, and he follows with a nostalgic rendition of 'That Old Gang of Mine.' Still a great per- former. Business fine at second show Sat- urday (5). Cold. of hoofing of Miss Amaya that gar- ners the major honors. The crowd, surprisingly, at this catching de- manded an encore, though they ap- parently constituted, to a consider- able extent, as they have wherever she's danced, many Latin followers. Senorlta Amaya by no means has an act worthy of a theatre tour right now, since there's plenty of rehearsal to be done if such Is the intention of Sol Hurok, who's presenting the senorita at Loew's State and in con- cert. But for the sheer artistry of her heel-and-toe stepping she re- mains the same sensational click of last winter when Monte Proser first introduced her to the Gothamites at his Broadway nitery, the Beach- comber. Senorita Amaya is accom- panied by a number of unbilled members of her family in her en- tourage, including two dancing sis- ters who serve merely as foils and background, along with several men guitarist-accompanists. One of the men fills in lulls during the dancer's costume changes with an instru- mental specialty, but it's strictly a breather. That factor, along with the fact that the background people are so much deadwood, practically, in their complete void in personality, Mnds to dissipate somewhat the gen- erally fine impression won by the headliner. The rest maintain the tradition of this all-variety house. Park and Clifford are the openers, hand-bal- ancers who start the show off neatly. Then there's Sara Ann McCabe with her sopranoing, one of the smash portions of the bill. Miss McCabe is a nifty looker, with plenty of stage presence and an- excellent choice of numbers that range from a spiritual- type opener through 'Chi Chi Cas- tenango' and a Rudolf Friml medley. Her encore, however, a flag-waving tune, could stand a substitute. CardinI is making one of his fre- quent returns to this house, (loing his expert sleight-of-hand work with the playing cards and cigarets. Smith and Dale occupy the fourth slot with their hokey, but still laugh- provoking comedy. 'Their stuff, how- ever, by this time demands some new material, particularly since the old Dr. Kronknite skit dates back years ago when the pair were part of the Avon Comedy Four. Two unbilled operatic-type male singers fill In the Smith and Dale lulls by warbling Italian arias. Biz just fair opening night (Thurs- day), the b.o. being divided by the recent playing at the nearby Music Hall of 'Penny Serenade,' the accom- panying picture this week. Naka. dance, and boy telling first goodnight in hallway. Four Co-eds, two redheaded and two blonde lookers in white suits, were appealing sights with rapid succession of tap and cartwheel dem- onstrations. Buddy Howe and Jean Carroll started with mike conversa- tion in which she got off smart line of localized gags, suggestive enough to please seashore mob. Then she sang, 'Lady Be Good,' with lively effect, finishing tune with trumpet imitation. Their big applause came with hot jitterbug finale. For 75c customers saw this show, Tony Pastor's orch in ballroom and circus acts on end of pier. Carter. 20TH CENTURY, BUFF Buffalo July 4. 'Crazy with the Heat' with Willie Hotoard, Sylvia Froos, Dacita, Betty Kean, Peggy and Moro; 'Thieves Fall Out' (WB). STRAND, N. Y, Cab Calloway and Orchestra (16) with Chu Berry and Cozy Cole, AvI* Andrews, Moke and Poke, Otto Eason, 12 Dizzy Feet; 'Manpower* (WB) reviewed in this Issue o/ Variety. HAMID'S PIER, A. C. (HIPPODROME) Atlantic City, July 6. Salty Rand, Adrian Rolttni Trio, An'dfew,~DewaU and Madeline, Jack McCoy, Buddy Howe and Jean Car- roll, Four Co-eds, Goldte's House Orch (10); 'Lady from Louisiana' (Rep), Willie Howard remains very much the No. 1 man with this show. What Ed Sullivan's tab version of his Broadway In-and-outer would be like without this veteran comic is some- thing.to think about With Howard it's easy enough to take, though it still remains a rather episodic, un- inspired offering. With a single shrug, Howard transplants the hoar- iest burley routines to a certain de- gree of politeness. Sylvia Froos is allotted the war- bling stints of the presentation, punching in handily with 'Twist of the Wrist' and bowing out with 'Set to Music' for the ensemble finale. In between, she scores with a pseudo South American medley, 'Time of My Life' (With Betty Kean spotted for a comedy interlude) and a topi- cal travesty on 'Chloe,' which serves as a swell vehicle for her standard mimicry. Daclta's terp assists are in the Latin genre while Peggy and Moro's svelte ballroomology qualifies them as genuine dance stylists and earned them a heavy reception. An abbre- viated boy and girl chorus ensemble is not too much In evidence. Cos- tuming seems underdone and produc- tion is noticeable chiefly by its ab- sence. Last show opening day (4) drew substantial and audibly appreciative crowd. Burton. APOLLO, N. Y. Both George Hamid's Milllon'Dol- lar Pier and the jam-pack crowd got its money's worth at first show Sun- day (6), but crowd was wholly In- different to Sally Rand's topbilled performance. Every act except hers got tremendous applause, but she brought only a ripple, even after . Howe, who emceed. Fan dancer had sufficient buildup from Howe. She entered wearing white chiffon gown and the usual two large ostrich fans. After step- ping about she discarded gown and continued her dance waving fans gracefully. If audience speculated whether she wore any covering, all doubt was removed when dancer raised her fans over head and light changed from blue to bright "The small applause appeared an act of charity. Miss Rand's bubble dance, which followed, while gracefully done, was pretty much fioppo. Howe trough her out in green robe for small speech, and by sheer force of suggestion forced some hand clap- ping. •• Adrian Rolllnl Trio, smartly dressed in several shades of brown and white, drew biggest hand of show with their fancy tricks on xylophone, guitar, and bass fiddle. At one stage they had audience clapping in rhyhtm, unsolicitated. Andrew and DeWalt, In white tie and tails, and Madeline, a plumpish shapely, started with tap routine to Latin tunes; then went into grace- ful acrobatics with medium ap- plause. They wound up with polite roughhouse acrobatics in which girl was slung all over the stage and crowd went into whistling and stomping session. Jack McCoy got good hand with Imitations of voiinff.eters at their flr";! Canada Lee & Co., BUiTtche Col loway Bond (12), Willie Bryant, Paul Robinson, Brown and Lee, O'Connor Bros. (2), Paul, Slim and Eddie; •Ride on Vaquero' (20th). Headei^ by Canada Lee (New Acts) and others from the original 'Native Son' legit cast, plus Blanche Calloway's band, Apollo Is giving an extra helping of entertainment on the filial biU until house reopens next Aug. 29, Theatre shutters for summer July 10, Presence of Willie Bryant favorite here, as m.c, peps the surrounding show. It runs a little long but It's a' real b.o. mag- net, with house packed when caught Independence Day. Blanche Calloway, sister of Cab, stands on her own as a conductor and swing singer. She has a slick combination of four sax, three trum- pets, one trombone, drummer, bass fiddle and pianist. For the earlier portion of show, three brass instru- mentalists are added, with the pi- ianlst doubling as conductor and his place at the Ivories filled by another extra musician. Troy Brown, pudgy comic, teams —■■|-effectlve!-y-v.'ith-Baron Lee, ex-band reader, who sings and softshoes. Duo has a number of fags that are familiar and some indigo, but they go over nicely. Lee sings 'Blue Skies' to heavy returns and clicks with his agile stepping. ' Donald O'Connor, aided by brother Jack, is from pictures. The whole His hi-de-ho-ness of jive is out-of- this-worlding at the Broadway Strand. Cab Calloway, the sepia sultan of scat and king of klUer- diUering, is a slight wow at this house, drawing out the kiddies in no small numbers. Combined with 'Manpower' (Robinson-Dietrich- Raft) on the screen, it's a b.o. combo that should keep Zeb Epstin, et al. at this house running to the bank with the extra dividends. Inci- dentally, whoever staged the Cal- loway rostrum cocktail (presumably the new entrepreneur, Leo Morgan) should have his option lifted. It's a well-paced, skillfully blended assortment of° Harlemania, basically to Calloway's credit, particularly on its innate showmanship in giving all components fullest calciuming. There's no spotlight-hogging with this jazzbeau. When the supporting specialists are called on for their chores, he gives himself a blackout and lets everything -scintillate on its own. Calloway's consideration in that respect and as a sample of pres- entation showmanship, might be worthy of an o.o. by many of his ofay confreres. 'Minnie the Moocher' appropriately enough opens the jazzique. His team of 15 (six brass, five reeds and four rhythm), with the peripatetic Galloway a tireless personality at the helm, never goes into blatant jam- session. If anything, perhaps in con- trast to the -white man's 52d street habit of getting 'dirty,' Cab does the reverse. 'Peaceful in the Country' sets that theme as the No, 2 offering and 'Hut Sut' heats It up, but melodically. Example of good show-pacing is that Calloway establishes himself solidly before parading the dessert He's not only the hors d'ouvres but the main dish; the rest are extras, and the blend is a full-course din- ner. . Thus he introduces Otto Eason (New Acts), a novelty dancer on roller skates. 'Geechy Joe' is Cal- loway's sequel to 'Smokey Joe,' sired by 'Minnie the Moocher' while kick- ing the gong around. Thence 'Daddy* before Avis .Andrews comes on for her vocal specialty. Miss Andrews is a polite prima—perhaps a shade too polite—with an as-you-Uke-It voice. 'Everything Happens to Me" and 'Garden in the Rain' are her burthens, the latter a bit better. They liked her here, however, despite a sometimes shrill soprano. 'Au Reef is a new Harlemesque hot dish, again In sartorial display by Calloway, this time sporting a white dinner coat Calloway was always the one for an extensive wardrobe, but at the Strand he re- strains himself to but three' changes. It's here, that the 12 Dizzy Feet; yclept an ep"-lly '" '.'•dert sextet of boys and girls, come on for con- certed stepping. For one thing, the three girls are all almost paleface and very personable; ditto the Harlem blades, '-i •"•-t on 'sight' values they're exceptionally appeal- ing. They support that basically good impression by expert legmania and neat costuming, both In 'Au Reet^ prd in the Cuban flnrlc to 'Chili Con Conga.' In between, however, Cozy Cole, that gum-chewing alumnus of Stuff Smith and the Onyx Club, easily the Krupa carbon copy, whams 'em with his 'Rhapsody In Drums' specialty; while ace saxist Chu Berry through- out the proceedings has his reed riding in nigh. Moke and Poke are saved for the next-to-shut and they, in the tradi- tion of Buck and Bubbles, Stump and Stumpy and others of that brand of billing (as Calloway heralds it) go in for comedy break-a-legmanla that Small Fry,' song he used in a Bing Crosby feature; then dashes off a novelty dance. He makes the act although his brother vies well enough in some clowning and unison taps. Paul Robinson, Spanish virtuoso, is doing a solo harmonica act where a couple of years ago he headed Robinson's Harmonica Champs. His work as a single Is more effective than when he had his octet High- light is his playing a harmonica while smoking and drinking out of a glass via straw. Another bright spot is his solo with some eight dif- ferent-sized instruments In rapid succession. Well-groomed musician, act Is brief enough to get maximum results In cafe or theatre work. He and the O'Connors are the lone white acts on the bill, Paul, Slim and Eddie click nicely with their dancing and comedy. Grabbed big returns. They're suited for stage shows or band presenta- tions. Ropes up for last show Friday (4), Wear. J' BEIXE BiAKEE TO FEISCO Belle Baker is set for the Bal Tabarln, San Franciso, Aug. 26. She plays Hamid's Million Dollar Pier, Atlantic City, Aug. 10, and then heads west In the traditional Savoy Ballroom manner. Rostrum portion runs a iSnappy 44 minutes and whether or not kept down for July 4 turnover purposes the opening day,' that's the ideal time-limit. It packs plenty of enter- tainment With the Independence Day downpour, biz was terrif, of course, but shouta keep up in view of the combo show's quality. Abet. STEEL PIER, A. C. (MUSIC HALL) Atlantic City, July 0. Dinah Shore, Four Inkspots, Three Sailors, The Juvelys (2), fronk and Jean Hubert, Goodrich ond Nelson, Gae Foster Ballet (18). Ben Yost Singers (8), Dick Dona, Pinkie Lee, Bobby Morris, Music Hall Orch (10) t ■'The Flame of New Orleans' (U). This is an unusually big show, run- ning about 85 minutes, with plenty of excellent talent well presented and similarly received. When caught Sunday afternoon (6), the close of the biggest- weekend for several years, it was" necessary to take off feature film, 'The Flrme of New Or- leans,' in order to put on more vaude (Continued on p??*" 55)