Variety (Jul 1941)

Wednesday, July 30, 1941 41 Night Qub Reviews RHUMBA CASINO, CHI Chicago, Julw 25. Joan Merrill, Georoie Tapps, Gloria Gilbert, Galli-Galli, Pan- American Daiicers (12), Carlos Molina Orch (12), Don Pedro Orch. (10); $250-$3 minimum. Here In one of the town's most beautiful rooms the management has succeeded in assembling a knockout show packed with talent of first-rate calibre. Rhiimba idea is carried out only In the production numbers, with other Spanish dances coming in for their share of attention' also. Show opens with eight shapely gals attd four men, billed as the Pan-Ameri- can Dancers, and built for the most part around the swell Latin terping of Martinez and Devlin, who dish out the rhumba with verve and appeal, in numbers produced by Sammy Bose. Pan-Americans make two additional appearances In the show, with an excellent South American tnngo and a fast moving conga finale. Femmes are plenty easy on the eyes and the inclusion of the four men makes the routines interesting. Galli-Galli performs some intrigu- ing legerdemain, with the assistance of a couple of patrons, and gets him- self across with his easy chatter and clever manipulation. Topper of all his tricks is the planting of live baby chicks on the unwitting customers. With a nifty assortment of spins, ballerina Gloria Gilbert contributes a fast-moving terp that spells sock entertainment. Gal still whips around with amazing speed and pre- cision and combines her stunts with some better than average ballet dancing. Georgle Tapps is a class dancer of the ballet-tap style, and offers an Interesting and technically fine group of numbers. Opening with his familiar '(^harmaine,* he moves into a Spanish dance, which contributes plenty of color and serves as a good medium for his individual artistry. A Viennese waltz is equally good, and he closes with a comic impres- sion of an old-time vaudeville hoofer. Could easily have done more. Carrying the ■ main spot, Joan Merrill is the recipient of an en- thusiastic buildup and proceeds to justify it to fullest extent. A neat looker, she possesses a warm, full- ranged voice, and can get good re- sults from both ballads and swing tunes. Her best offerings are 'Inter- mezzo' and 'How Did He Look?' latter announced as a recent record- ing by her. Gal shows a litUe too studied mannerisms, but otherwise is a fine performer. Show is m.c.d throughout by Carlos Molina, who also capably leads his band for both show and dance music. Additional Latin touch Is by Don Pedro, who nicely sings in the production numbers and fronts his band for some of the dance sets, altomr.ting with Molina. Business great Friday (25). Gold. CHATTERBOX (MOUNTAINSIDE, N. J.) Mountainside, N. J., July 26. Bob Chester Orch. (14) with Bettv Bradley, Bill Reynolds. Chester's sitdown here, for at least six weeks, marks the first time that outfit has located anywhere in more than a year. It has been on the road working one-nighters and col- lege dates, broken only by theatre dates, and the lack of broadcasting has made deep inroads into the pop- ularity ' the outfit was able to build up since its inception two years ago. While this North Jersey roadhouse, which can't possibly seat many more than 300, is not ideal as a visual showcase for the band, it's equipped with five NBC net broadcasts a week. And though Chester's band hasn't improved its position lately it ranks above the calibre of music that the Chatterbox has been using, with a few exceptions. AU In all, the setup Is satisfactory all around. • Composed of three trumpets, two trombones, four saxe.s, and four rhythm, Chester's outfit, while rough in spots diie to too long a road stay with not enough rest between dates, is basically a good band, one that can reach an important bracket. Its books are stocked with exceptionally well-tailored arrangements ranging ^from tasty pops and standards to sock originals. Band's use of mutes on some of the slower-pascd ballad stuff builds up a strong liking for Its work in that category. On the heavier, driving stuff careful brass dissipates a great deal of blare. Its rhythms, herded by a drummer whose tempoes are strong, yet al- ways for the band alone, are fine for dancing; Summed up, the band has a lot to offer and needs only air time to show to advantage. Chester handles himself easily up front, only occasionally reaching for his tenor sax, and then almost al- ways slipping it Into the work of the other four. Betty Bradley, good looking and a neat seller, handles bnilads and novelties In good voice. Bill Reynolds is the band's one glar- ing deficiency. His vocals are stiff, being a halter on the band's chances. Wood. VILLA MADRID, PITT Pittsburgh, July 24. Etzi Cowoto Orch (6) with Mork Lane, Peter Higgins, Hollywood Blondes (3), Kay Taylor, 4 An- toinettes; cover, 50c. Villa Madrid has been limping along with just an act or two for most of the summer, but with late Installation of a cooling system man- agement decided to splurge on talent and come up with a big (for Pitts- burgh anyway K show. Combo has been just right, with biz springln'g back into regular season form as a result of the air conditioning and the augmented lineup. Headllner Is Peter Higgins, and it's a return engagement for local tenor who has come back to town to live after more than 15 years. Voice is better than ever. Higgins puts his catalog over like a super-salesman, hits 'em high.and clear, and when caught had to slip in six encores before crowd would let him get away. Not even .in his old Keith heyday was the guy singing as well. Hollywood Blondes, three gals on rollerskates, have a spectacular turn with, a series of whirling stunts that take the breath away. They're look- ers, too, which doesn't hurt. Act until recently was - quartet, and Blondes are doing the same tricks with only three girls now and get- ting just as much kick, of which there's plenty, into their repertoire of thrills. Kay Taylor's a cute little tapster who rates high among the dancing dollies. Just a bit plump, but lots of ingenue s.a. and need.s only to shave ner hips a bit to get up there. Four Antoinettes comprise the line, and their stuff individually and collectively is okay. Nicely cos- tumed and they make a favorable annearance. Etzi Covato's orch plays a lot of music for a six-piecer. Covato, how- ever, is 'the leader in name only, turning that chore over to Mark Lane while he concentrates on the managerial end, being part owner of the establishment. Lane also m.cj the show, sticking to stralcht announcements. Cohen. CLUB ALABAM, CHI Chicago, July 21. Larry Vincent, Poncho and Loltta Roche. Irene Burke, Ramona Huffhes, Natasha, Eddy Roth Orch (3), Dave Vnell Orch (3); No Cover or Mini- mum. This spot has reopened with prac- tically the same personnel and excel- lent cuisine. Primarily an eating spot, room nevertheless enjoys a good late business, and show and music are in the Intimate vein as befits the small room (100 capacity). Larry Vincent is the m.c. and top attraction. With running chatter and the ability to dish out some funny slightly blue material accom panying himself at the piano, Vin- cent Is a natural for this spot and should register well with everyone. Surrounding acts are not too strong but collectively they shape up as a fairly good show. Pancho and Lollta Roche, Latin dance team, have a castenet number and a conga which turns out to be a conga, chain in which the patrons participate. Team has good appear- ance, but dancing is handicapped by the small floor. Blonde soubret Irene Burke is a good hoofer, but weak on the vocals. Attractive and shapely, however, and registers okay. Ramona Hughes, an- other dancer, has little to offer. In- terpretative dancer, Natasha, makes a big thing out of a couple of simple acrobatic tricks, and Is unusual only In that she fails to come up with the expected strip. Eddy Roth and Dave Unell orchestras alternate on the dance music, with the Unell crew doing the shows. Loop. Giveaways :Continued from page I; theatres begin battling each other for biz. In Chicago alone, it is estimated that 200 theatres will be using bingo and defense bonds, at a minimum prize of $200 worth weekly, which means a conservative figure of $40,000 worth of defense bonds being purchased by Chicago theatres each week. And with Increased competi- tion, this figure will likely be doubled or tripled, since many of the bigger theatres can give away much more than $200 weekly. During the bank night mania, some of the houses were disbursing as much as $2,500 in cash each week. Bank night, strangely enough, Is still under a strict ban and no of- ficial okay is. forthcoming for this stunt, defense bonds or no. The authorities have given the nod for the bingo setup, but still have the nix on banko. ICECAPADES OF 1942 (CONVEN'nON HALL, A. C.) Atlantic City, July 25. Produced by Arena Managers As- sociation. Staged by Russell Markert. Starts Belita; Jeotures Megan Taylor, Lois Dworshak, Vera Hruba, Joe Jackson, Jr., Robin Lee, Serge Flash, Red McCarthy, Jackson and Lyman, Phil Taylor, Pierre Benoit, Robert and Margaret Wriflht, Hub Trio ond Denese, Dench and Stewart, AI 5urette, Charles Ukstla, George Byron, Donna Atwood, Phil Taylor, Ctaro Wilkins, Arthur Vitarelli, IVor- ton Waite, chorus girls (26), chorus boys (15); Music director, Jerry Mayhall; opened at Convention Hall, Atlantic City, July 25, '41; $1.65 top. This resort, which has seen' all kinds of Ice shows the past few summers, turned out 8.000 stron.c to see opening of the 1942. 'Icecapades' In Convention Hall Friday night(2Sh Show is spectacular, colorful, worth- while. It has everytlhg any ex- travagant revue can offer, from dancing to a liberal sprinkling of comedy. Staaing by Russell Mar- kert is excellent John H. Harris, the Pittsburgh showman, impresarios as prez of Arena Managers Assn. Belita, British Ice ballerina re- cr^ntly starred In ice revue at Hotel New Yorker, returns as head of show. Good-looking blonde drew plenty applause with intricate gyra- tions,, exciting spins and beautiful glides. Forming an attractive set- ting for the star's introduction is the 'Garden of Roses' number, with ballet in pink and green costumes, black lace trimmings and parasols. Belita, in short pink, ruffled cost tumes with black velvet bolero, makes effective picture here. Her second number, 'Blue September.' has songs by George Byron. In white bodice and vari-colored skirt she performs double spins and whirls which got nice hand. Another British girl, Megan Tay- lor, a champ figure skater, was a prime favorite with audience. Her graceful and dramatic interoretation of Tchalkowsky's 'Francesca da Rimini' is nifty. Attired In black velvet ballet costume with black snood, the redheaded skater received big hand. She encored with a fast number in a smart little costume of blue sequins and white fur. Vera Hruba. blonde Czechcslovak- ian, went over big in her candle flaiiie number. This act had been seen here before, but there was no drop in enthusiasm. Always a fa- vorite ice performer here, Red Mc- Carthy appears this time in a Chinese god number. His sleek body is painted silver and colored lights are played upon him as he sweeps through a routine of glides, leaps and bursts of speed. After much applause, he encores with short, speedy run around rink. For sheer comedy, .Larry Jackson and Bernle Lyman excel. Their ballroom burlesk drew many laughs. Their rube act also good for laughs. Joe Jackson, Jr., son of the vet vaude trouper, repeats his father's trick bicycle act and pantomime on Ice. Attired in tramp costume and baggy trousers, he brought howls. The horse number with Al Surette and Arthur Vitarelli Is okey and pleased crowd with antics. Surette who combines smart blade work with good comedy and grotesque movements .showing fine control, is brought out twice. Phil Taylor. f-;;her o' Megan and 'originator' of stilt-skating, gives a fine exhibition of ditlicuK turns. Received big respon.se. Robin Lee, for five years national figure-skat- ing champ, got warm welcome and executed some fast .spins. Lois Dworshak pleased the jitterbugs in n shouldcr-swr'ying r^nd •^'o-swin"- ing jive number. So did another jitterbug number by the chorus, with cute Clara Wilkins soloing. Serge Flash, former vaude juggler, clicked with his balancing of a spinning ball on a fingertip while :;liding on ice. Pierre and Deni.sc Scnoit, in blue velvet trousers and short jackets, exhibit fine teamwork. They later give a neat exhibition of the tango. Robert Dench and Ro.se Marie Stewart. British champions, give exhibition of precision in green and while satin costumes to get good hand. Something new in these parts is the Hub Trio, with Kenneth Mullen, Edmond Raiche and Leonard Mullen. They put on tine acrobatic number, featuring a back somersault which brought outstanding applause. Nor- ton Waite went over well in a bur- lesk ballet number. Donna Atwood. newcomer, docs excellently in her professional debut, She appeared in the Arabian Ni.i;hts skit, a colorful interpretative fantasy elaborately .sta;'cd am-' fn.slumed. Robert and Margaret Wright also make their bows as a pair in this number and do well. Outstanding among the tuneful se- lections is 'Somewhere,' music by Peter De Rose and lyrics by John La- touche. It's sung by George Byron. Another number of lilting charm is 'Oriental Moonrise,' by De Rose- Latouche. Carter. House Reviews -Continued from page 40^ STEEL PIER, A. C. patter skit. Moke and Poke, colored tapsters, do okay with snaPPy routine intersp'ersed with songs and chatter. Ben Yost Singers, in cowboy cos- tumes, warble some nice southern melodies, including 'Old Black Joe,' 'Swanee River' and 'That's Why Darkies Were Born,' winning good returns. With Dick Dana as emcee, comedy bits are interwoven by Pinkie Lee, Bobby Morris, Ryan end Beanson, and Walter Morton. When caught Sunday (27) at first show, long lines waited for admission to vaude program. Steel Pier upped admission this week to B3c instead of usual 75c. Other weekend features included Gene Grupa In Marine ball- room, three films, water circus, acro- bats, Sharkey the seal, Eskimo vil- lage, fun house, and children's the- atre. Carter. CHICAGO, CHI Chicago, July 26. Tito Gutzar, Sue Ryan, Jay and Lou Seller, (iolenian Clark & Co. (3), Chicago Theatre Ballet (16); 'Bride Came C.O.D.' (WB). For the most part a well-rounded stageblll, this week's show offers some good talent but not very much name value to keep the b.o. hum- ming. Having just finished an ex- tended engagement at a local hitery, Tito Guizar cannot be rated as a strong moneypuUer, and there's no one else on the bill with much to offer in this respect. However, there's a lot of entertainment value, and customers get their money's worth. Ballet gals open the show with an unimportant little table-tennis rou- tine, which doesn't affc-d them much sphere for dancing talent, but shows them at least to be shapely. Follow- ing this, Coleman Clark and Dick Hendry take over for exhibition of table tennis, which moves along at a fast clip, but not quite fast enough to keep from slowing up the entire show. A personable young an- nouncer describes the play as it goes along, which helps, but act is spotted wrong. ( Comedy efforts of Jay and Lou Seller get things going again, and this time the pace holds for duration of the show. The Sellers have an enjoyable nonsensical brand of com- edy, and combine it well with some swell eccentric hoofing. A novelty dance bit performed on circular skiis is outstanding. Boys work through- out the balance of the show and in- ject laugh-getting pieces of business between each act. Sue Ryan, singing comedienne, is on for some entertaining bits of mimicry, wherein she impersonates the magazine-cover girls. Working with a pianist on stage she makes the most of having a piano behind her, using It constantly as a prop. Gal knows how to get laughs, and her mugging Is superb. With a Mexican hacienda setting, and the girls of the ballet doin^ a rhumba-conga Introductory routine, Guizar takes over the stage for a series of Latin songs. His first 'Granada,' Is on the legitimate side and shows Guizar to have a real singing voice in addition to his more familiar crooning efforts. Following this with such favorites as 'Perfidia,' 'Maria Elena' and 'La Cucaracha,' he sells himself nicely and gets over to a nice reception. Audience at show caught would seem to indicate that Guizar has big femme follow- ing. Biz fair at flr.st show Saturd?" '?(!). Gold. LYRIC, INDPLS. Indianapolis, July 25. Jerry Colonna, Ted Leary, Lathrop and Lee, Monroe and Grant, the Three Cheers, House Band; 'Shining Victory' (WB). EMBASSY, N. Y. (NEWSREELS) While President Roosevelt request! Congress to hold draftees In tha army beyond the originally desig> nated single year, (general Mar- shall's reasons for such request and the drawing of numbers In the sec- ond draft hold greatest interest on the new bill. Also among best and most original subjects are those on the British besieged at Tobruk (as related by the United Press' Jan Yindrlch) and Paramount's admir- able handling of the DIonne quin- tuplets at CoUander, Ontario. Neither the Roosevelt. nor Marshall talks was especially good. All the reel companies had the siege at Tobruk, but Par credits the Australian Intelligence Division with the alert photographic material and employed UP reporter Yindrich for a vivid picture of what the Brit- ish troops (largely Anzacs) were go- ing through to withstand continuous Nazi and German attacks on the Lib- yan stronghold. Crisp, Intelligent scripting and superb narration make the visit to Quintupland almost a short In itself. 'Tex' McCrary deals with 'Swas- tika Over South America' In his ex- clusive for the Embassy this week. It's much better than his recent ef- forts. He takes a crack at the abili^ of American film celebs to Improve good will. Best of remained lineup, long on quantity If not quality, sizes up as follows: U. S. Marines practicing landing near Jacksonville (Univer- sal), actionful; land-water army scout car tested at Buffalo (U), be- low par; torpedo boat test at New Orleans (U), nifty; Joseph P. Ken- nedy's son joining air force (Par), worthwhile; army activity in ar- mored divisions and aviation (Par), dull: John D. Rockefeller's appeal for USO funds (Movietone), routine; Ft Reilly cavalry review (Pathe), slick. Also, Lord Halifax looking over bombers on the Coast (Par), pale; interview (censored) of nurses res- cued after U-boat attack (Par), original treatment; Independence Day exercises in Buenos Aires (Movietone), excellent; splitting the Vargas diamond (Movietone), In- triguing; bathing beauties in Califor- nia (Movietone), interesting; Lou Nova training (same reel), different Also, Britains vow revenge, with Churchill doing the talking, (News of Day), pleasing; diaper derby (U), funny; western rodeo (Movietone), neat action; Clem McCarthy gabbing a boss race (Pathe), original. Mac- aroni plant fire in Philly (U), nice - action; and kids boxing in Boston (Pathe), trim fun. 'Information Please' .short from RKO helps lift bill to a higher level. Weor. New Act in Tbeatre JACK POWELL & POWELL, JB. Comedy Drumming 10 MIns, Steel Pier, Atlantic Cliy Jack Powell, who has been doing a blackface drummlnir single for many years, has been joined by his 16- year-old son. David, to become a two act as Jack Powell and Jack Powell, Jr. It's a clicker. The senior Powell, in his standard chef's white uniform and hat begins with beating rhythm on the large drums. He then proceeds to tap on kitchen chair and floor to audience's deli/.'ht Then joined by Powell, Jr, a slimmer counterpart of his father. The boy, with exact makeup and gestures, has studied carefully the older man's routine and m.nnner- i.sms, including the shuffle effected by the veteran while drumming about the stage. Their duo on two kitchen chairs, beating out a lively rhythm In exact tempo, had audi- ence clapping hands in time, as did Iheir following number with senior on large drums and junior menjber using sticks small as poncils. Father and son act opened here Thp hii? noise this week at the • Saturday (26), just 25 years after the The big noi.se_this \\eeic at , ^enjj,^, po^ell began his career In resort. When caught Sunday, youngster .showetF much talent and confidence and kept close watch on veteran's movements. Act closed Lyric is Jerry Colonna, he of the .. bulging eyes and bristling mu.stache, both of which gave him an 'in' to these customers' funny bones. After his opening remark, 'What did you expect—a sweater girlV, Colonna goes into a lusty rendition of 'Sonny Boy," followed by the Road to Mandalay.' Although his with two walking off stage with chairs, still tapping out beats on woodwork and wings to receive en- thusiastic ha.idclapping. Act like all others on hill, rut "om" becaust ii,^^" ^" —"iX Mhe^vys^ed^ieohbig-V he was kept busy on encores. He revives another talent of earlier days, an Imitation of Tommy Dorsey at the age of three, then 12 and finally as adult—on the trombone. All clicko. Ted Leary amuses with songs and chatter, also emceeing ably. Lathrop and Lee, fine tap team, took several bows for their excellent routine. j The Nelsons also clicked with their clever m a r i o n e t manipulations. Monroe and Grant please with some hokum and acrobatic work atop a table. The -Three Cheers, announced as local gals, sing pops okay. Biz good Friday (25) at tb* third show. Kilev. Carter. Port.'s Weekender Seattle, July 29. Joe Daniels, local boolvr, an> nounces the Bagdad theatre, Port- land, Ore., operated by Ted ciambl*^ is now booking five acts of vaud*, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Gamble also has the Capital, Port- land, where acts play a full week. They double on the three lUfibti ltd to ihe Bagdad.