Variety (Dec 1941)

56 YAUDEVIIXE Wednesdaj, December 3, 1941 The Good Old Days .<♦♦ < m ♦<♦>♦♦♦♦ M <»»>♦ t » Mu lt M ♦««« M t I M I I M «» M Hereioith appears a 'Vorietv* review of a N. Y. Palace WU of 20 yean ago. The intention is to Teprtnt these weekly using the relativ week of I9ii with the current dote of issue. No special reason in reviving these Tetiteuis other than the interest thew may have in recalling th« oct« which uiere plowina at that time, the nianner of putting together a big tint* »hoto (DooK- ino), which radio stations may find pertinent, and as a resume of the style of vaudeville reviewingf of that day. (Reprinted from 'Variety" of Dee. 2, 1921) PALACE, N. Y. Ifs a long step from Alcazar (Chicago) to th« Palac* (New York). New Yorkers don't know much about the Alcazar. A lot of ChioagoaDS don't either. It isn't—it used to be. It used to be a picture ihow in the days when a two-reeler was a 'special.' All day the one-reelen and haU- reelers used to grind, and during the time it took to fuss In • new film a thin, angular girl with big, bright eyes that never seemed to lira despite the 30 or 40 frolics a day, used to step out on the apron before the sheet and knock out a ditty. She wasn't important enough then to have a stage name, so she just called herself what she honestlj was—Rae Samuels. A certain reviewer stepped into the Alcazar one winter day In 1910 to get in put of the Madison street blizzard. He didn't want to lee anytbing in particular, and he particularly didn'i want to hear anythlnf, for he had suffered a few frolickers in the converted slot machine arcades which had become mushroom movie temples. But he couldn't help H this time, for a reel just snapped oS and a girl just came on as he entereij—a thin, angular girl with big, bright eyes. She was singing *• Oarden of My Heart' This reviewer looked, then listened, then sat down. Being always a hound for reviewing himself rather than the shows he li sent to cover, he likes to mak^ 'discoveries' and tell of his emotions and reactions rather than of other people's. So he wrote a column or so about Rae Samuels and he called her The Blue Streak of Ragtime' idter he had sat through three films and four songs, and she had sung "Lovln' Rag' as no other human had ever sung it, or . ever will. Charles K. Bray, then chief of the Western Vaudeville Managers' Association, read the column— probably because he had nothing else to do. And he went to' tiie Alcazar. That same'reviewer is still reviewing. Monday night he saw a thin, angular girl walk out on the Palace stage, and on the card et the side was the same name that had been on the card at the Aleaiar, and on the program she was called The Blue Streak of Vaudeville.' Ragtime had been passed by. The Palace bad It on the Alcazar in everything except location. Otherwise It was pretty much as it had been tiut night In 1910, even to the storm outside. Rae hadn't been at the Palace in more than two years, but she got a whopping reception, then went out and earned it. / Snappy, airy, punchy, she wblzzed through song after song and made it hum,- Tbe reviewer wanted to get up and shout and take a few bows himself. Rae made a speech—teUing New York how glad she was to be back again. 'Back againi In New York! And the Alcazar closed years sgo. And the re- viewer still reviewing. And 'Lovin' Rag* and 'In the Oarden of My Heart' forgotten. And the blue streak streaking, all dressed up. Hl-ho, that's the way New Yorkers and New York stars are found—and made. - But they have to be stars to be found and made. AnylKidy might have walked Into the Alcazar—but not anybody might have walked out and kept on waiting until, she could tell New York it was great to be back again, and sticking over for the second week, and at the Palace, too. Miss Samuels started the show off. Leo Beers, ahead 'of her, registered mildly with material that had been heard too often and business that has grown too familiar. Ityek and Jenny opened, sensiitional rollerskating going by the boards to an incoming audience. Hyams te Mclntyre were tliird in 'Honeysttckle,' a telephone melodrama that bad the atmosphere of not being new, yet being touched up with current colloquialisms. It is a pleasant sUt, never boisterous, and goes lightly on song, numbers. Leila Hyams, daughter of the principals, gave ■ retrcdiing sprig 9f youth and charm to It The turn was heartily taken on sentiment A few additional laiiglts, which will come with continued work, 'will not be amiss. Roacoe Alls, with Kate Pullinen, a combination that registered out west aftet Midgle UQUer left the Alls act two years ago, hit U hard closing the first part. The act was much too long, the introductory scene in 'one' being extended throu^ many minutes orbreezy talk that oould be knitted up considerably, and the unexpected encore episode being strung far be- yond either custom or requirements. Ails carries a good Jas band and Charles Calvert a dancing banjolst, who scores. Miss Pullman's specialty dance cleaned up on her looks and her sensational twists and q>Uts. Alls topped that with his eccentric dancing. Th«n came a long humorous af- fair about kissing, with a woman plant In tbe box for Ails and Miss Pull- man jumping down and kissing the leader, whlehr might well have been cut to hall The turn ran more than 40 minutes, with 25 "<»"■♦»«' excellent vaudeville. Alls will And himself a tip-topper if he sacrifices enough deadwood to stay Inside 30 minutes. It is a strong act as it is.. George MacFarlane, a baritone, an artist and a stoge gentleman of the first water, opened the second hall No stalling, no begging, no 'show- manship'—^just legitimate artistry^ personality, plus nature's glorious gift of a clutehing and vibrant voice—and a huge success resulted. Mac- Farlane is a model of stoge deportment, dignity without attectetlon, punch without straiiL Vaudeville rises to him instanter; and lie rises to it with that Instinct which always unites the true artist and the average audience on first contoct. He 'went' as many a millung, wliininig, shameless hick would wish to 'go,' and took away his self-respect as well as the .esteem of the patrons. Bessie Clayton's wonder act suffered little from tbe lateness of arrival or from the hegira of dancing It followed. The same «hi-»ii»ig speed and cunning construction which made it a sensation here a fortnight ago again sent it skyrocketing to a huge send-off. ' After which Bert bnd Betty Wheeler, taking no chances on trick intro- ductions, tore on and went to It and almost made the house forget the rest of the show. It pyramided to a smashing comedy, singing and danC' Ing triumph, holding in the mass for past 11 o'clock and taking .enough glory for any act in any spot Herbert's Dogs were a pleasure to those who still had an appetite for amusement Lait Dayton, O., Dec. X- Lack of suiteble stage bookings caused temporary cessation of this type of entertainment at the RKO Colonial this week for four weeks. Ben Bernie was the closer. Irksome feature of the situation Is that since the vaudftlm policy here with weekly change since August the house has had but a single los- ing week. Saianac Lake By Bappy Benw»y Saranac, N. Y., Dee. 2. The death of Thomas McVeety, known as 'Old Mac' to the actors' colony inmates here, is a blow to the locals. Mac, who operated a down- town diner, always had a soft spot for the ailing professional actor.. AI Brandt, who ozoned here for many moons, left for his New York home with a handful of okay papers. As usual, the Will Rogers dished ' out a tncLSS of real turkey with all the trimmings on Thanksgiving day, including a lot of entertaining by the inmates. Paul Sorldn, who did tbe trick here at the Rogers, was handed his okay papers and told he could go back to 'work. Stanley Rausch back at the HiU' top lodge after a 10-day vacation op Broadway. Thanks to lien Orotto, manager of Loew's Mayfair oi\ Broadway, and his frau, Eileen, for the many good wishes and things sent the local gang. Johnny Grimes, from the Syra' cuse Post-Standard, has taken over management of local stetlon WNBZ. Since his successful eye operation In Philadelphia, the Rev. Alvln B. Gurley has taken over the weekly bible classes at the WHI Rogers sana- torium. Write to those who' are ilL UCK OF NAME SHOWS NKES DAYTON VAUDE AGVA'S INQUIRY ON GRIFFIN SET FOR NEXT WK. A national I>oard meeting of the American Guild of Variety Artists has been called for next Wednesday (10), and, for the first time, a full agenda has been set up for action by that body at one meeting. No. 1 on the list is the matter of 'conducting a hearing and to. consider charges, complaints and whisperings against the national executive secretary.' Gerald GrlAin was not mentioned by name. Griffin is being widely Accused of his alleged part in a brawl that at- tended the opening a few weeks ago of new music publishing offices by bandleader Tommy Dorsey. AGVA has already felt several repercussions of that incident including the ex- perience of having Willie Feinberg, musicians union Local 802 official, walk out of a meeting rather than sit in the same room with Griffin.' In the opinion of a number of AGVA officials and members, 'the Griffin matter' should be cleared up immediately before the whispering campaign completely 'wrecks' the va- riety performers' union. Griffin himself is now reconciled to the fact that a full airing of the 'charges' is necessary. It's expected that witnesses and participants in the brawl will be asked to testify before AGVA's board. Drama Instruction a la Jessel (Continued from page Ss USO-Camp Shows Plan 11 More Units, For Jan.; 6 Now Ont With six shows already playing Army time, two more' set to open tomorrow (Thursday) and two more next week, USO-Camp Shows, Inc., went ahead yesterday' (Tuesday) with plans for 11 more units. These will be for smaller camps. It is hoped to get them on the road 1>e- tween Jan. 1 and 8. Abe Lastfogel, v.p. and general manager of the William Morris agency, who is in charge of the Army entertainment, held the initial meeting of his advisory board yester- day to lay out blueprints for the smaller shows. Because the camps they'll play lack everything but the barest essentials for staging enter- tainment, only acts that can work under s^ch conditions will be sent out. CSI has broken the camps down Into two circuits. One is labeled the '65' and includes the 65 cantonments and naval stations with reasonable facilities. The Initial 11 shows will tour them. The second circuit the '141,' which includes 141 camps and naval stations with .minimum equip ment, is the'one on which the second 11 shows will be sent. .Harry Delmar, general production manager, started on the road Satur- day (29) to meet commanding gen- ■erals in all C6rps Areas and smooth the way for the advance men. Booking of acts, formerly handled by Delmar, will be taken care of by George Oberland and Bert Wishnew, under instructions from an advisory committee Including the nation's top vaude bookers. PanI Zara, whose Marimba Melo- dies broadcast over WNAC, Boston, for several years, returned last week from eight months Army stretoh at Savannah Air Base, Georgia, and after a month's hospital sojourn for an internal operation, will return to the air. whereas a playwright can nearly al- ways get his work before an audi- ence, after which ha is on his own. Comedian also touched upon the comparative cost of various types of legit shows, disclosing that he and his co-producer Al Bloomingdale figure it will take their current Broadway musical, "High Kickers,' about 40 weeks to pay back the orig- inal Investment In opening the question period, Jessel declared he was ready to an- swer queries alxiut anything but sex. 'I refuse to talk about that until after 2:30 in the afternoon,' he said. He also remarked at another point 'As you know, I've had a very busy season.' - And then, as his hearers laughed, he quickly added, 'No, I mean otherwise, too.' • 1o« Bitter Abont B'wood' After asserting that he was 'too bitter about Hollywood to talk about it' and that his experiences on the Coast had been uifhappy because he ■just wasn't the kind of a guy peo- ple like in Hollywood,' Jessel was asked the inevitable question of what he. thinks about the New York drama critics. Prefacing his answer with the statement that his opinions were not based on the t-e- vlews of 'High .Kickers,' the come- dian replied, "The average critic nowadays doesn't seem to respect his job the way such men as William Winter did.' He explained that most present-day critics apparently write primarily to attract the attention of Hollywood, so they can get fllm- scripting contracta. Asked about the many quotations in' 'Kickers' from the great poets, novelists, philosophers and scientlsta of the past Jessel revealed that all are phoney. None of the critics re- alized It, he said, adding that nearly all the reviews took the quotations seriously. Then reciting one attrib- uted in the show to Shelley, he re- marked, 'Now you know Shelley never wrote anything like that.' Matrimonial Epidemic A feminine member of the audi- ence drew,a laugh at that point by Inquiring about the number of re- cent marriages among the girls in 'Kickers.' 'What do they have that most girls don't have?' she wanted to know. 'I regret that I have no personal knowledge about that' Jessel an- swered amid another laugh. Asked whether any of the girls had sought his advice before get- ting married, he replied, 'Yes, near- ly, all of them use me as a sort of father confessor and talk their prob- lems over with me.' That Includes their prospective marriages, he add- ed, observing, "That'.i Ironic, consld- erine the number of mistakes < I've made.' One of the students thereupon asked the comedian his opinion about the Actors' Thrift Shop, a new cooperative venture In the Times Square area, for aiding unemployed actors. Jessel explained that he hadn't heard of it and when several students briefly outlined the Idea to him, remarked, 'Well, it sounds all right, but I wouldn't want to have n piece of it.' in answer to another question, he revealed that he has given an idea for a play to S. N. Behrman and is tryln.? to persuade him to write It Despite ur{;lng by his listeners, the comedian refused to disclose, the play idea, but did say It Is hitended as a vehicle for Ina Claire. In re- sponse to a later question about his tyeference for musicals or straight plays, he declared he would leave 'Kickers' on two or three weeks' notice for .'that play I spoke of (the one he wants Behrman to write). Digging Into the Flies In preparation for Jessel's appear- ance, the students had apparently been consulting the college library or old newsoaper flies, for they were primed with a number of quoted statements made by the comedian years ago. Reminded that he said In 1937 that he was retiring from the theatre, Jessel asserted he didn't remember saying such a thing, but in ahy case he bad changed his mind. "You can never predict any- thing In the theatre,' he explained. Seemingly consulting notes, an- other student asked the comedian about a statement of some years back to the effect the Theatre Guild was too arty. 'I can't imagine what- ever made me say anything like that,' Jessel replied in apparent em- barrassment. 'I guess Terry Helbum must have turned down a script of mine or something. Anyway, If 1 said it, I regret having done so.' Questions then turned to types of playwrighting and Jessel expressed the opinion that 'cheap' plays, such as those about the mean, sordid side of life, or ones giving a squalid pic- ture of family life, are no longer marketable, ftere Isn't an audience for them anymore, he declared. Asked If hs was referring to Clifford Odeta, the comedian agreed that he was, explaining that 'Awake and Sing' was a great play, but that it would not be In tune with the times if written today. He added that the fM^egoing opinion didn't apply to 'Clash By Night' the fortbcoming • Odets play. 'I tmderstand that has a sex angle and will be helped by a powerful cast with Tallulah Bank-i head, Lee Cobb and Joseph Schlld- kraut,' he said. In closing his talk, Jessel took a sheet of paper from an inside pocket 'As some of you may know, I do a radio program Friday nights,' he re- marked. 'I'd like to read you part of what I'm going to say on tonight's show.' He then read from the page of script It told' of his resentment some years ago against all eollege students, probably because of the fact that when he was 10 years old he was making up in a basement backstage dressing room and sup- porting his family, while they at IT were tossing fellow-students up in the air In blankets. But he has since revised his opinion about col- lege boys, he continued, and is now sure that the students of the present are the leaders of the future. 'I didn't know when I wrote this, that there would be girls in the class,* he said, when he had finished read- ing. 'I'll change it before I go on the air tonight' Pitt Roadery Fire ; continued from pate SS ; floor, lost everything, their ward- robes, equipment and musical in- struments. Passarello, who lived on the prem- ises, his hands scorched and head cut, was able to save little except a large sum of money which he kept in his room. On Thursday night Ave men were stabbed in a brawl at the New Penn but the proprietor said he didn't think that had any- thing to do with the blaze. He be- lieved it was caused either by an overheated pipe or a stalled motor under the floor of the kitchen. Too Moch Good Cheer The kniflng melee occurred Thurs- day night (27) when a Thanksgiv- ing celebrant wielding a penknife, was responsible for the flve men be- ing hospitalized, three of them seriously slashed. Two of them, Carl Scabareti and Dominick Spas- bo, were the New Penn's regular bartender; a third was 19-year old James R. (^yroUcs, parking lot attendant, and the other two were patrons, Eric De Cameron, of New York, and Edward McKeever, of Pittsburgh, who received only slight flesh wounds. Nelson Pavllck, charged with do- ing' the knifing, was arrested along with a companion, Joseph Urban, al- though the latter was said to have taken no part in the melee. Accord- ing to the stories told police, Pav- llck, a former football player, was helping Urban celebrate the wedding of the letter's sister, and at around 1:30 a.m., CeyroUes came into the crowded cafe to tell Pavllck that one of the tires on his car had gone flat. Pavlick and Urban followed the parking attendant outside, and all police could determine for certain after that was that screams were heard coming from CeyroUes, and the two bartenders rushed out to find him bleeding from a deep cut in the head. The bartenders, Spasbo and Sca- bareU, joined the fray and they were in turn slashed while trying to take the knife a>^ay from Pavlick. Then the two patrons, McKeever and De- Cameron, came Into it When po- lice arrived, Pavllck had given up swinging the knife around and was sitting quietly in a chair. He sub- mitted meekly to arrest. At first he told police he had been 'mobbed' for some obscure reason and had been forced to use the pen- knife in self-defense. Later, he ad- niitted he had taken seve'iral drinks and didn't realize what he was do- ing. Few of the New Penn's pa- trons were Immediately aware of the fracas. Al Kavelln opened two-week en- gagement Monday (1) at Bill Green's Casino, Pittsburgh, succeeding Ray Heatherton, who moved on to New Kenmore In Albany.