Variety (Aug 1941)

4B HOUSE REVIEWS Wednesday, August 27, 1941 MUSIC HALL, N. Y. Robert Sfianlev, Oanui Krupska, Adrienne Toner, Mar;orie MatUn, Loren- Hollenbecic, Ttp, To-p und Toe, Three Stui/ts, Corps de Ball«t, Glee Club, Rocfcettes, House Symph Orch condticfed bv JEmo Ropec, Richard" 'Ltebert; 'lAttXt Foxes' ( "KO), reuteujta in 'v^KlETY, ^luo. 13. Strings are off the budget at the Music Hall becruse 'Little Fo::es' is a hit picture likely to stay several weeks, so the physical production ior the stage show is a sockeroo. . Result Is that the talent gets hefty backing and it all provides punchy enter- tainment. Builds to a potent climax at the finale, as the Rockettes, in while sailor togs, do their precision kick on a battleship setting, with huge gun'turrents upstage swinging around and emitting pufYs of smoke in a simulated broadside. Show, dedicated to the USO and tilled 'Follow the Fleet," opens wiUi Robert Shanley, apparently from the Glee Club, vocaling from the uncur tained downstage left, then the en tire curtain rising to disclose sec rep- I'escnting South Sea island USO rec reation center for sailors. Corps de Ballet, costumed in a Music Hall version of native duds, does a hula number, with Dania Krupska, Ad rienne Toner and Marjorie Matlin offering individual bits. Against the same set and with the Glee Club members representing the sailor. audience. Tip, Tap and Toe, standard blackface trio, do their fa- miliar sliding tap dancing on a large, oval platform. Set changes to a battl^ip layout and the Gtee Club oilers several scngs, with dif- ferent members warbling sob inter- ludes and supplying visual comedy business. It's quite good and has even more movement than the once- wooden Glee Clubbers have recently shown. Three Swifts, vet juggling turn, next dols its standard comedy toss- ing in gob togs, building to a solidly received close. Rockettes provide the spectacular finale on still an- other, much more elaborate battle- ship setting. Because of the ex- tra-long feature, the entire stage bill tuns only about 40 minutes. Hobe. SHEA'S, BUFFALO med the payees and ^ode home on a heavy torrent of palm-smacking His efforts are strongly reminiscent of Red Skelton's type of stage em- ceelng. With a bit of strict direc- tion and a brush-up of his material, this ingratiating clown should be abM to negotiate any grade. Bumper crowd at last show open- inc i':\v, with plenty of noise from what looked like a predominant continnent of ickles. Burton.' STATE, HARTFORD STATE, N. Y. George Jessel, Hudson Sisters (2), Joyce Matthews, Pouiers Sfnging Models (3) with Jay Levison, Ruth Hughes i4arons and Sandor Glancz. Wi/ntv Murray, Betty Bruce; 'Caught in the Drafts (Par). Buffalo, Aug. 22. Bob ArmstTonfl urch (14; tirith Titiy Schwartz, Vera Holly, Tnree ireys, BiUy De Wolfe, RossUianos, jay and Trent, Gil Moison; 'Whist- Imp in Dark' (M-G). Pretty mild midsummer entertain- ment for a deluxe pic parlor used to presenting top name bands. It's an Item which qoesnt put any violent . strain on the budget. Bob Armstrong bas been around these parts ior some time and has cut himself quite a groove with the local hoof-and-«ar addicts. Long a sustainv around WBEN, be has more recently drawn a Canadian beer sponsorship and been cut in for an NBC piping. Dances, benefits and similar events have added to bis considerable local following. Cur- rently he is holding down the Casino dance spot at Grand Island (state) Park for the summer. This is the group's first appearance as a band show and, as the first instance of a local radio crew going onstage, its somethine of a gamble for the house. It's probably smart enough boxoffice because of Armstrong's local popularity, but as entertain- ment it is mostly on the down side. Too bad that Armstrong under- took this one without more footllght experience or professional direction. ' -It demonstrates again the gap be- tween ear and eye entertainment. The group has' always sounded ac- ceptable enough over the ether, but in person its way short on ap- pearance and delivery. There's no excuse for slipshod stage manner; and deportment from the ensemble, and the instrumMitation could do with lots less tin and much more modulation. Tiny Schwartz, 'Vera Holly and the Three Treys, from the regular program lineup, add little to the show. Schwartz, a six-foot deadpan tenor of uncertain range, is em- phatically nil here. Miss Holly stacks up as an unenthusiastic thrush heard to much better advan- ^ tage on the air. The Three Treys, ^long local network standbys, have ■ looked and sounded smoother both V via the airways and in other per ^ sonals. Added talent helps carry off the proceedings. Ray and Trent develop their legology into some fine acro£ and bandbalanciiig, although miss- ing fire in timing and finesse at thlr catching. The Rossilianos are Polish folk-dancers for the longhalrs, if any, and are definitely out of the band show world. Stranige commentary on modem variety talent is that an animal act can come near being the peak of a performance. That's what Gil Maison's click dog show did here and, as seems to be the currenf mode with these acts, the patter neatly overshadows the tricks. Mai- eoifs turn is cute stuff all the wav^ Including hlmselt his patter, his animals, snd ^l"? femme assistant. Billy De Wolfe Is too man with this show. On his first showiiu! here witlilh ■ i-ecollectlon. De Wolfe wham- Hartford, .iug. 24. Phil Harris Orch (15) with P-'ri-ia Kay, BilHngtons (2), Ames and Amo, Paul Winchill, Sam Kap- lan pit band; 'Piuldin Head' (itep). For its opening attraction of the new semester. State booked a show that has turned out t>etter at the b.o. then appeared oh paper. Making his first trip here, Phil Harris, during the Rrst three days of a six-day booking, chalked up a pretty neat coin score. At teeoff of his show, Harris goes into a detailed gagging bit about characters on the Jello program, in eluding Jack Benny. Fifteen-piece band, consisting of two pianos, three trumpets, three trombones, traps, French horn, guitar and four saxes, spends most of its time backing up the acts that make up the fast-moving, smoothly paced divertissement. Piloted by the affable Harris, band has a well- balanced collection of sweet and swing. Arrangement of "Poet and Peasant' and Things I Love' are par- ticularly okay. "Hut Sut Song,' done with Harris under a green spot is solid. Harris, as a maestro, spends all of his time fronting the band and gab- bing away. His chatter is entirely in- formal and ingratiating. In a couple of spots, though he seems to spiel a bit too long. Relegates himself to two vocals. Weak spot of show is lightweight vocal department, no one's fault as Harris' thrush, Patricia Kay, is laryngitis stricken. Despite her handicap, luscious looking red- head is out for a &ir effort at a boogie woogie number. Billingtons, boy and gal, are neat- appearing, youthful tapsters. Kxude pleasant personalities and- sell selves easily. Ames and Amo, mixed knockabout standards, are big laugh- getters with their boked stuff. Work exceptionally hard and earn the plaudits accorded them. Paul Win- chell, uses a redheaded dummy in his ventriloquism bit. Chatter is lively. He has an apparent lip mo- tion but okay material puts him across. Eck. TOWER, K. C. Kansas City, Aug. 23. Jerry Coe and Maari Ann, George Lyons, Florence Hin Louj, Lester Harding, Caroline Gargotta, Rajah Raboid, Herb Six house orch; 'Pri- vate Nurse' (20th). Assemblage of acts this week rounds out a good variety bill and entertainment average is a step ahead of what's been offered here past several weeks. No one act par- ticularly outshines another, but all get across well to Jiold the pace of the show at a clicky pitch. Standard and assisting acts are ' un off in 35 minutes, and then house Is turned over to Rajah Roboid, top-billed, who fills out 23 to 25 minutes to make this one of the longest shows in several weeks. Leading off, Jerry Coe and Maari Ann classify as a variety act, with Coe showing off an accordion in trio of. numbers before his partner comes on for a modem terp. Coe shakes a tambourine cleverly and they wind up in a novelty dance as a Ubangi-jittering pair. M.c. Lester Harding fills second niche warbling 'Yours' to expressed satisfaction of the house before he brings on Caro- line. Gargotta as the house's weekly amateur winner. She's been on these boards enough past three years almost to rate pro standing. Her tapping is first-rate, though choice of "Boogie Woogie Bugler* as a vocal was unfortunate for a moppet. From the orch stand George Lyons works out his ^ing harp on .several modern and standby pop tunes and closes with an Irish number to show off a capable vocal. All of these acts thus far have appeared at the house previously within the year, and all earned better receptions than on their earlier stands. Acrobatic contortionism demon- strated by Florence Hin Low is like- wise aces. She sets off an extremely elastic and graceful figure with ap- pealing modernized Chinese cos- tumes on first section of show. Raboid ther works solo, blindfolding himself as he answers questions written by the customers while act IS. in progress. Sans blindfold last 10 mmutes he devotes time to identifying patrons by their initials and calling out answers to their un- expressed queries as they verify his statements. As mentalist and psychic Raboid does some clever work and his delivery keeps the 25 minutes moving fast. The full hour is not solid socko, but combination has enough strong innings to sum above average, and that's exceptional on such -a long show. Quin. Too much show at Loew's State, but all good. It could be billed George Jessel and his Glamour Gals, it being the s.a.est lineup this house has had in weeks. It's frequently the reverse—a plussage of men, but apart from Ruth Hughes Aarons' '-"ble-tQnnis vis-a-vis and the Singing ■'owers Models' oianist in the pit. it's an all-femme frolic. And all very cEsy on the optics. Jessel, of course, is the mainstay, marking his I5th return to the Loew flagship and seemingly insuring him- self for IS more repeats if he wants it. Nor will Bob Hope's 'Caught in the Draft' on screen hurt at the b.o., despite its having been milked for five weeks at the nearby Paramount Jessel is the omnipotent oom of Broadway and 45th. He's on from barrier to the tape, having trimmed it all down to 30 minutes which, ac- cording to State standards, is still plenty of show. So much so that it curbs him monologistically, though what he does is highly effective. In sequence, he opens with a spiel ribbing radio, its quiz shows, news- casters, etc. Thence the. Hudson Sisters (Rae and Geraldine), nee the Hudson Wonders (2), who have grown up considerably and pulchri- tudinou.<;ly since last seen by this re- porter at Paris' Folies Bergere in one of those Frenchy revues which required no interpreter for the American kids' tiptop whirling- dervish, acro-dancing. Now, lithe and lissome lassei. they have added mature, nhotogenic appeal to their nipups, flipflops and general upside- down stuff. . Next is Joyce Matthews, who Is trailerized by Jessel as Milton Berle's No. 1 romance. Miss Matthews is a blonde looker who's her best author; nobody could write better lines than those with which nature endowed her. Jessel's fol-de-rol about a stage- coa'^hin* les'on. n'ior to a Metro contract, Is so much hors d'ouvres. Get a load of Hiss Mr.tlhews— vri that's all, brother. Quite fittingly Jessel preludes 'You're Always on My Mind,' from his forthcoming Broadway musical, 'High Kickers,' with her as foil. Then the Powers Singing Models, a likely looking threesome who, even if they're only stand-ins for the magazine ads' gals whom they're supposed to represent. lend a nice Stork Club touch to the usual vocal harmonics. They're lonsj-legged gals who wear clothes well, look ditto and sing better than that around a mike. Two brunets and a blonde, Rosalind, Carolyn and Kay, they trailerize John Powers* beaut fac- tory and the NBC. Jay Levison, their arranger-accompanist, is in the pit, and his 'Panamanita' is the act's finale. 'Country Needs More Love,' 'Ever Think of Me' and 'Melancholy Baby' (by Katherine as a solo) make for a brisk routine, expertly ar- ranged and professionally merchan- dised. Then Ruth Hughes Aarons-Sandor Glancz, with her kid brother mike- announcing the table - tennisters. They put on a quite exciting ping- pong exhibition. At long range, in a theatre, they're possibly even more effective than at the Rainbow Room, where they just completed a fre- quent' return. Miss Aarons is the femme world's champ; he the former Hungarian tbpper. Next, Wynn Murra- no longer a 'Babe in Arms,* but a gro\vn-up gal, nicely trained ' down in ingenue fashion, and selling a song as if for connotation of th« word telid.* The Cab is all over the lot, singing, tapping, wailing, while piloting the zingy show and his band of jive artists. Band tears right into something called 'Special Delivery.' Second number is the latest C^oway re- cording, 'All I Caa See is You.' fol- lowed by 'Booglie-Wooglie Piggy.' with maestro handling the vocals in excellent style. Honi Coles, lanky sepia tapster, holds down the deiice with unusual, eccentric terping. Calloway re- turns onsta.ee wearing a huge straw hat and long white jacket for his tricky rendition of 'Geechie Joe.' This is followed by him and bis band beating out the pseudo-spiritual 'Yes Indeed.' In the trey spot comes taffy-col- ored, attractive Avis Andrews, strik- ing Jn a white evening gown as she gives-out with 'In Still of Night* and 'Van I Love.' Though lacking some- what in voice, gal has plenty of salesmanship. Calloway's quintet—guitar, sax, drums, xylophone and bass—go into action with an old-fashioned jam KEITH'S BOSTON Boston, Au0. 23. Abbott & Costello, Six Willys, Johnny Woods, Luctenne & Ashour, Bea Wain, Larry Flint house band (12); 'Lady Scarjace' (RKO). With their 'Hold That Ghost' In its third week at the Keith Memorial, after a very recent flve-week run of 'In the . Navy,' Abbott-Costell-o in person are jamming 'em in at the Boston: Ex-burley comics jump right into a line of chatter that the mob is waiting tor, Costello fools around with the orchestra a bit, then they encore with that terrific routine about the ball game. Avoid- ing all the best-known bits from their pictures, the comics stay away from the Hollywood personal ap- pearance angle Eilmost entirely. Surrounding bill, which opens the vaude season here, is intelligently booked, okay for the family. Six Willys, opening, and Lucienne and A.ihour, trey, got the best reception ^^..r^^ „.i»i. njT _* c . when caught Saturday (23) matmee. meroo with Meet Me at Savoy' as vriu-s eive out a slick iue^line rou- Qtl>«>1nilf niiTnhor TKi= !. fn11nu,iw4 .WlUyS glVC OUl 3 SUCK JUgeimg TOU- standout number. This is followed by Calloway's terping sextet, three gals and three guys, who give out In true Lenox avenue brand of hoofing, pa'-ed by Calloway himself. Cozy Cole then solos on the skins in a bit titled "Rhapsody In Drums.* Almost halting the proceedings was the swift tap-acro stint of Paul, Slim and Eddie. The crowd con- tinued to pound for more but the trio declined to encore. Finale has the whole troupe on- stage in a number called 'Chica Cw Ccn''a' v/ 'h.the gang swinging off in a conga line. House was almost filled when show was caught (Saturday afternoon). 5hal. FOX, ST. LOUIS St. Louis, Aug. 22. Senator Murphy. The Colstons <2>, Sally Foster, Roy Davis, Diana Lure, Paul Ash Orch (40); 'This Woman Is Mine' (U). In response to a' recent survey that showed 07% of natives contacted wanted vaiidfilm, Fanchon and Marco has installed stage shows in this 5,000 seater. Current show, first here since last spring, runs 60 min- utes and has enough divertissement to satisfy the most exacting. Out- side of the al fresco Municipal thea- tre. Forest Park, which winds up season Aug. 31, and the Grand, downtown burlesk, which opened season this week, the Fox is the only hci'"" .>n tr5\/n or' ■tp''"» shows. Current bill, with the exception of Sally Foster, featured songbird at the local KMOX. was fetched here from New York with Paul. Ash doubling as maestro and m.c. Ash tine that is smartly paced and varied. Big early fla^ comes when all six are cross-firing at each, other with clubs, then the.7 click with a short juggling bit with hoops. Finale is a whizzer with four of the troupe balancing on two ladders, tossing clubs at each other with the other two down below. Lucienne and Ashour probably rip through the same Apache-acro dance they have performed before here in vaude and musicals, but it's so. continuously zippy that it appears to have a few new twists. After the couple finished scrubbing the decks with each other, they had to bow off in a barrage of duke din. Bea Wain received a nice patter of recognition when she first ap- peared. Opens with 'Hut Sut,' fol- lows with "Sister and I,' and gives satisfaction in both cases; but her best number, by a wide margin, is 'Bounce -Me Brother.' Encores with 'Deep Purple.' Johnny Woods, deuce, also m.c.s the show, cutting his intros to a minimum and thereby showing good sense in that capacity. Takes a while for the customers to warm up to his impersonations of radio people, but after he doe.s Kaltenborn and Vallee, they're with him right to the finish. Larry FUnt's house band is un- changed in personnel, but sounds slixhtlv better than last season. Holdout biz when caught. Fox. STEEL PIER, A. C. (MUSIC HALL) Atlantic City, Aug. 24. _ John Boles, 3 Stooges, Wesson has injected a new Fdea into the Brothers (2), Evelyn J-'amey, Cae show by clustering song hits by new; Foster Ballet (18), Ben Yost Singers writers at the sUrt of the shindig,! (8), Dick Dana, Pinfcie Lee, Ryon adding another bunch about midway, OTid Benson, Walter Morton, Music and then ending up with the national Holt Orch. anthem. Outside of Senator Murphy, none of the acts is known here, but all click. A femme voice, over the public address system, introduces Ash as he steps through the curtains, which fold back to expose the huge band on the full apron. After the footers, all local talent, are paced through 'Daddy,' Miss Foster, a blonde looker, does 'Maria Elena' o.k. and the band continues with 'The Thing I Love' and 'Green Eyes.' with ^ _ _^ Ash brings on Diana Lure, an rVponsor-^which'she haTdone'fre^ acro-tapster who exhibits shapely John Boles and 3 Stooges receive top billing, but it's a thoroughly good show all around at Steel Pier this week. The usual weekend crowd caused speed-up of shows when caught Sunday (24), ei($it shows being skedded. (Same num- ber were' given Saturday). Boles received good hand upon appearance and sings 'Follow the Sun.' Next is 'My Sister and I,' „- „ , , , -.u - . , followed by "Look for Silver Lin- Miss Foster back with vocals for • which is verv efff>etivi« nnd eni the latter before the 'Hut o.,t I i'fe. wmcn is very etiective and got Song* is socked over. Sut big response. Wearing a goofy look- ing hat and holding a bunch of quently enouoh on the Fred Allen show. 'Sing for Your Supper' and '■Where or When' are two Rodgers and Hart excerpts from her past gams in addition to some swell sfeps. The mob liked her routines. She gives way to Roy Davis, who has one of the most novel acts seen in shows, J and thence 'Minnie from ^^^f parts. He plays records on a IVinidad,' which she lends extra ?™a'l phonograph and then goes lyric values, possibly because most of the others just slur through it*. Thenee, Betty Bruce, whose two" through the motions of singing and flowers in his hand he then does 'Waiting at'Gate for Katie,' a stan- dard with him. The Three Stooges drew big hailds with their slapstick. Richard and Eugene Wesson click with their impersonations. 'They synchronize their characterizations. good reasons for dancing are quite Pl*yed are 'Sonny Boy' as done by advantageously made public as she | Jf^rry Colonna; 'I Heard Three tap-stet)s to a nifty personal score i g""'^^' Smith, and "You'd Be with her intricate hoofing. Jessel ' Surprised' by Bonnie Baker, finales to 'Lovely Day Tomorrow,'!. Then the band plays the second exhibiting all the grimaces as if he one doing voice, other facial con- were actually warbling. Songs!'ortions. Edward G. Robinson. Fan- - - nie Brice, Wendell Willkie, Edgar group of songs, 'intermezzo,' 'Isle of May," with a boogie woogie ver- sion after the way it should be interspersed with personal philos- oph-" and small-talk, with not a little nostalgia and a mild payoff or two to those who ribbed him and his 'adolescent' wife, etc. Finale is a strong s.a. display, as the nine femmes return (in nice costume changes); Jessel cues the customers into good humor for vaudeville's continuance, nlus a little plug for 'the grand country' we live in. Withal, Jessel's a surefire show- „ „„ man who can bivouac on Broadway | this time and unlimbered plenty Bergen and Charley McCarthy are included in the takeoffs, and for en- core they mimic President and Mrs. Roosevelt Explaining the satire, they state it is 'only in fun,' and 'they are thankful they live In a democracy where one can take such played: 'My Reverie' and the over-''**'^'"t'es. evpp with the. Oief fix- ture '1812.' The Foster gal comes ecutive,' whii« i,ft— back for her third session, this time wearing an attractive cowgirl cos- tume to warble 'Blanket Me With Western Skies,' the ditty she sang on Al Pearce's coast-to-coast program from Hollywood last spring. The customers really warmed up to her as long as the Hotel Astor has been standing and make *em come back again and again because he knowr how to sell. Abel. EARLE, PHILLY Philadelphia, Aug. 23. , Cole, Horn Coles, Avis Andrews,' ■ ■ ^ of oalmpounding. Next is Murphy, who hasn't been here in several years. He hasn't lost I his audience appeal. His monolog is up to date with barbs directed at tax-pavers, draftees, politicians. Hit- ler, Mussolini and the 'Japanazi.' The senator copped three bows. The Colstons, sister and brother dance team, are socko in their screwy At supper show caught house was While latter part of act IS not particularly dignified, especial- ly where the two sing and dance to 'Hut Sut Song,' it is humorous and annlause was tremendous. It was necessary to bring out team twice putstand'ng- comedy is also sup- plied by Pinkie Lee, from Frank Elliott's standby Minstrels, who has been taking la ;-er spot each week in show. Dick Dana emcees. The Ben Yosters, in cowboy cos- tumes, open with 'Hi Neighbor," and follow with a medley of cowboy songs highlighted by their arrange- ment of 'Home on the Range.' Gae Foster Girls appear in two colorful numbers. Their opening is in keep- 1?R with the 'Rio Grande Revue' tiUe, doing a Spanish dance. Their PniiT <tiim n-nii Fri/iio /-nt. /-„iT/'I i;au(jni. nouse was stepping is best in finale number &I?(S>^''' ^^^^^^^ '""^ Panammt (Par). ''^iS, houses have been more than Sammy Kaye's Orch Alex Bar- J?;.Rht during the run of tha's band t^iree fiuSs, ChUdre"s Its 56 soUd minutes of Harlem 'The Red Mill.' Fox will conUnue transplanted on the Earle boards! to present the combo policy when this session, with aU the Harlemese shows sought are available. Sahu theatre, wild animal zoo. Sharker the .'eal and water c'rci's rr» amonr other attractions on pier. Carter.