Variety (Oct 1941)

Vednesday, October 29. 1941 VAUDEVILLE 47 ^, , HMI i rttt *** ******"Mttttttttttttt ltl i The Good Old Days : t MM ft««»»»»« M »«« MMM « M > ♦«♦♦♦« Herewith appear* a Vabieiv review o/ a W. ?. Palace bill of 20 yeart aao The intention i« to reprint these weekly .-using the relative uieek oj 1921 loifh the current date of issue. Ifo special reason in reviving these reviews other than the- interest they may have tn recalling the ac^s ujhich mere plai/fnff ot thot time, the manner of putting together a big time shoio (boofclng), uhich radio stations may find pertinent, and as a resume of the rtjle of vaudeville reviewing of that day. (Reprinted from Variety of Oct. 28, 1921) PALACE, N. Y. " with a' troupe that cost more than the 'Follies'—and was worth more— the Palace this week had probably the best entertainment in America. ' From overture to Aesop's Fables the show zipped through with a whizz fud a whirr of ndtable names, singular specialties, vivid variety and a blaze of glory. Little Huth Roye breezed on at 10:50, and followed Whiteman's Band, Hal Skelly, Arnold Daly, Charles King and Lila Rhodes and Venita Gould, ^d she didnt' lose a taxpayer. Her kettle of fish bubbled and the busy ' little comic added a knockout to what seemed already too much. The . ...Avon jCftmedtJ^pur did not fare quite so well in holding the_ overflow tbiong solldT but "more pMplie''remrined" in'To "s"c'e~"them^ law any part ot any other vaudeville show in town Tuesday night, and the comedy and singing clicked and held for encores. Whiteman's Band was moved down second after intermission, though programed No. 3. His open time Is between 10 and 11 only, causing the tvritcb. Perhaps it was just as well. On too early this bunch of specialty musicians would have mutilated the show. Closing would be the ideal ■pot and it would be- an ideal closer, guaranteed to 'stop' a show even if There'were no more show-to-'stop.' -Hal Skelly and the peppy little pinch of quicksilver called Midgie Hlller, assisted by a blonde and a raven-head, cantered in with a song- dance-farce that never mufTed for a line, a step or a note. The idea is liumorous, Skelly is fast and sure-shot, and the double dances with Miss Hlller rocked the house. A panto dance bit for an encore in 'one' was Erlme, Midgie Is a Daphne Pollard,. perhaps not so readily recognized ere, where she grew up. If she did in London what she is doing at the Palace she would be an overflight star. So would Skelly, for that mat- ter. Great act Arnold Daly, the supposed 'highbrow,' ripped off 'The Van Dyck' with the highest grade low comedy seen in sketch work this year. From the lecond he entered the action hunmied.. William Norris, who was a star, more than 20 years ago, is still one; .and his support work was per- -fect " Another riot Venita Gould, however, really copped the noise bonors of fhe night. One impersonation after another had 'em howling and clapping and ahing. Hers was a remarkable triumph, and she was truly embarrassed and flabbergasted by the appreciation and retired ex- bausted from playing and bowing and apologizing and thanking. Charlie King and Lila Rhodes, assisted by Sidney Franklin at the piano iind In talk, wafted over the high spots of a very flimsy comedy Idea. The . laughs were pleasant, if not thick, but the songs, the dances and the .welco'me personalities sent the act in and over. Miss Rhodes looks chic (nd charming after her lengthy retirement. She used to promise much In the heyday of the sho.ws in-which her uncle (George M. Cohan) starred She looks the same child now. King, too, was the juvenile of seasons back. It was all very hospitable taken, and the encore speech was iustlfled. Pearson, Newport &-Pearson, In a handy routine of dance, melody and mappy bits, made the No. 3 spot important, and will probably never be asSed to show £0 early anywhere else, Durkin's European Novelty, dogs and monkeys, comedy and stunts, opened the opry with a smash. No use talking, the Palace (New York) Is still the unrivaled throneroom •f 'supreme' vaudeville, no matter who else may claim It Loit. Dalbs Cafe to Open Dallas, Oct 28. New winter quarters ot The Plan- tation, built in the past tew weeks, will open Thursday night (30). ' Dusty Rhodes' orch has been set. • TERRY LAWLOR • • HURRICANE, NEW YORK « NOW... ^ BOOKED BY • ^ KEN LATER • <fr W. 48th Ct. New York • L. & R's NEW imEUP New Bobby Santord revue, with completely revamped line, is sched- uled to open at Leon & Eddie's, N. Y,, on Friday (31) with Eddie Davis again headlining. Among those alated for new production are Yvonne Moray, Wesson Bros., Gene Stockwell, and De Lisse and Elliott Dwlght. Noel Toy, Chinese fan dancer, will be sole holdover from current presentation. . Bobby Plncos, comedian, is bead- ing new show at Dinty's Terrace Garden on the Albany-Saratoga road. Friendly Jobs Fisher Dan Friendly, Monday (27), Joined Arthur Fisher's indie booking office as an associate. Friendly was first offered the. post of associate to Harry Romm, who Is remaining with General Amus. Corp. after all, but decided instead to take Fisher's offer. Romm's brother, Leonard, is leaving GAC, although it was set foe him to remain even if Harry Romm left Latter is said to have accepted GAC's terms of a flat salary instead of a piece of the thea- tre departmeift's income. HOPE-COLONNAUPS.F. AUTO SHOW TO 36G NET San Francisco, Oct. 28. San Francisco's annual auto show, starring Bob Hope and Jerry Co- lonna, netted about $36,000 last week, under last year's total of ^49,000, _but_.stiU .excellent, Show, closed Sunday night Hope, in on a 50-50 ^lit from the first dollar, is reported to have taken out -between $9,500-$10,000 after pay- ing off the acts. Harry Howard Fually Reaches AGVA Accord Chicago, Oct. 28. Harry Howard, whose units were cancelled tor midwest time due to lack of agreements with- the Ameri- can Guild of Variety Artists, has signed AGVA contract in Cleve- land. Howard has come to Chicago to straighten out final union details and to okay dates for the Oriental the- atre here and Riverside, Milwaukee. Saranac Lake By Happy Benway Saranac, N. Y., Oct. 28. Dolph Singer, author and song- writer who ozoned here successfully. In for a general checkup. Reports were okay. Sonja Henie and Mrs. Duke Daley, the former Paula Stone, daughter of Fred Stone, haVe joined the Saranac Lake Bobsled Club. Jimmy Johnston, the fight man- ager, stopped off at the Will Rogers to mitt his ex-sec, Margie Regan, who is doing mighty well at the ozoning routine. Anna May Teslo, former protegee of George Abbott, on the mend. Stanley Ranch bedsided' 'by his dad. Ditto fathers ot Colin Tracy and Toody Emerson. Lou Bety and Mike Cojohn dis- charged from the general hospital and back to the Will Rogers for ozoning. Jackie Roberts, who left here long ago after making the grade at the Rogers, here for a general checkup. Medico said okay. Harry.Martin back from his Big Town vacash, has been handed mild exercise routine and allowed up for one meal at the lodge. Roy Nunnley, who mastered a seri- ous setback, is among the outstand- ing comebacks of the colony. Donald Fairchlld, former star of the 'Danbury Follies,' wlir produce all the comedy .scenes for the Will Rogers Halowe'en party.-' Will be as- sisted by Ben Schaffer, Eddie Dowd and Harry Martin. Richard 'Dickie' Moore will have charge ot the glee olub. John Louden assigned as down- town shopper for the gang, which means he'i made the grade. Pat Rogers, ex-mlnstrelman and a Worcester, -Masi., product doing nicely after kayolng pneumonia. He trouped with this writer 30 years ago with the Quy Bros. Minstrels. (Write to those who are IIL) New Act TAMPA BOTS (2) Sonr, Dance, iBstmmcntal 7 Hlns. Apollo, New Tork Boys try to cover too much terri- tory. Displaying definite hoofing talent one of the lads in particular uncorks a couple of dandy sample routines before switching to pallid comedy. Partner comes on with guitar, later adding a bazooka while the other chimes in with an empty glass jar for musical effect ot doubt- ful calibre. Melody department needs tighten- ing while concentration on dance numbers would likely yield stronger rpturns. Mori. A.&B. DOW TAKE OVER BAYONNE VAUDE HOUSE Al and Belle Dow's independent vaude-booking office has taken over the Opera House, Bayonne,' N. J., and will run it themselves. • Will play bands Fridays, Saturdays and Sun- days, dual bills rest ot the week. Dows take possession Nov. 7 when the Loujs Prima band opens. . Agents have an interest In the Shubert,.New Haven, in association with the Yorkbaven Amusement En- terprises, and are also in at the Penn, Altoona, Pa„ in affiliation with Izzy Hirst AGVA Pickets Mpls. Barley, Clahns Low Pay Minneapolis, Oct 28. American Guild ot Variety. Artists has called strike against and is pick- eting the Gayety theatre, operated, by David Gillman with 'Follies Girlesque,' modified burlesque stage show. Up before J. L. Kelley, state la- bor conciliator, Gillman refused to sign with AGVA, claiming his shows are stock burlesque. Ted Brown Alch, local AGVA representative, pointed out, however, that Gillman isn't signed up with Brother Artists Assn., burley union. He charged that salaries being paid 10 perform- ers are considerably below AGVA scale. CLUB MODERE S. F. SHUT BY TAX BUREAU San Francisco, Oct 28. When Shirley Deane arrived in Frisco last Tuesday (21) to open a date at the Club Moderne she found a collector of Internal Revenue pad- lock on the door. Spot operated by Joe Merillo, has reportedly been in difficulties for some time, but re- cently had enjoyed a jump in biz. Spot may reopen either tonight (Tuesday) or tomorrow. Spot got Itself in a dither with two-week booking of Estelle'Taylor. Morello reportedly tried to cancel the singer after the first night, re- sulting in a running fight with Vince -Silk,-of- American-Guild -of Variety Artists, who. kept gal in the spot and collected her salary ot $750 a week in full . Esqaire CInb, Youngstown, has changed its name to the Na-Na- Club after a national magazine (guess which one) threatened three suits. So announced Jack Lumbard, man- ager. Murray 'Hats'' Parker leading new show at the It Cafe in Hollywood. WILLIE SHORE Now Playing TROUVILLE CLUB Hollywood PBRSONAL MANAORMKNT AL BORDE 203 N. WABASH AVE. Franklin 4400 Chicago, III. WITH APPRECIATION TO MR. JOHN ROY THE RAINBOW ROOM LAURA DEANE DUTTON Appoaring Nightly — La- Martinique , The Management of the < ] SAVOY-PLAZA i I New York ^ ^1 Congratulates ^ I IIILDEGAIIDE { > on 1^ Her Latest Accomplishment [ SEHING \ AN ALL TIME • RECORD * in the * I CAFE LOUNGE i During Her Opening Week y To The Savoy-Plaza Management — ' < ^ Thank you so very much Mr. Henry a * Rost and Mr, George Suter jor your ^ * cooperation and appreciation. ^ i (signed) Hildegarde. i