Variety (Jan 1942)

46 HOUSE nsvnsws WcdnewLij, Jannarj 14, 1942 STATE, N. Y. Romo Vincent, Joan Merrill, The Barrus, Estelita, 4 Afnclcs. Hugh Forgie ti Ken Davidson, Tip, Tap and Toe. Rutty Zioerlin^'s House Orch; 'H. M. PuUiam, Esq.' (M-G). Goini; to seven acts this week in- stead ot the customory five or six, and keeping the running time down to 68 minutes, the State has a very compact show. Varied in entertain- ment and with Romo Vincent doubling as m.c, It is pleasing sup- port for 'H. M. Pulham, Esq.' on which the house mainly depends for draught. Two acts from night clubs, making their first appearance on any stage and reviewed more extensively un- der New Acts, are on the bill. They are Estelita, a singer from Cuba who has been working at the Copacabana, local nitery, and The Barrys, society ballroom team which has been working various niteries in New York. Appearing between acts and intro- ducing them. Vincent offers a lew gags here and there before getting to his regular spot, but they are on the weak side, especially that one about the sparrow. It fell completely flat. Doine eight minutes in closing the show, Vincent comes into his own with his gags and comedy character songs. He injects a lot of hoke into his routine, but on the whole the material and Vincent's selling are very entertaining. He is slated to go to a night club from here. He has played the State before. Joan Merrill, who has been in pic- tures on the Coast and ^oes back there immediately after this engage- ment, has also been here before. A blues singer with a compelling style, backed by personality c^d looks, Miss Merrill Is doing four numbers ranging from a novelty number with rhumba touches to a seriously patriotic ode to tiie Red Cross nurse, 'Aneels of Mercy.' Last-mentioned sends her across very strongly. Tip. Tap and Toe, on third, score soundly with their tap dancing. The buck work is extremely good. Four Macks, fast roller-skating turn of two men and two women, in which excellent carrying and twirl- ing flgures, open while midway in the show are the two badminton ex- perts, Hugh Forgie and Ken David- son, in a standard exhibition. They are on 10 minutes, with Jerry Bram mon acting as referee. Business at the Friday show eaught was very good. Char. CHICAGO, CHI Chicago, Jan. 10. Griff WilHoTns Orch (17) toith Vfal ter King, Bob Kirk, DeVal, Merle & Lee, Juvellys (2), Carroll & Howe; •Thev-JJied With Their Boots On' (WB). Having scored in the Empire Room of the local Palmer House the Grifl Williams orchestra finds a ready au- dience .at the Chicago theatre. The Williams band has always been dis- tinguished for decorum and class and presence here augurs well for the theatre. Williams has developed a running theme to introduce all numbers so that the band' is immediately recog- nizable without announcements. It's a sweet and swingy band and main- tains excellent pace. Leader does a bang-up job in front of the orchestra and also clicks solo at the piano. Vocalists are Walter King and Bob Kirk, both fitting in nicely with the style and structure 5? Sie band. Three standard acts make up bal- ance of the show. All three were distinct clicks with this audience, DeVal, Merle & Lee being standout with burlesque and knockabout ball- room and adagio stuff. Juvellys are a topnotch acrobatic balancing team, with the girl doing some unusual head-stands, and the man turning in great balancing on a board set on a rubber ball. Carroll and Howe drew laughs with chatter and finished well with comedy and hoofing. Biz big last show Friday (0^. Gold. pretentious skilL. gets the lyrics across clearly and Is almost the only one in the show who doesn't blast the house mike. Kenny Sargent, saxophonist, does. 'romantic' vocals and virtually cracks a customer's eardrums. Gray is an Informal, straightaway m.c. Morgan Sisters (New Acts) are a •assable tap-dance filler. Barry Jislcrs (New Acts) are a trifle more impressive rhythm harmony singers and Jack Carter (New Acts) hammers away without letup with a comedy monolog. Cass, Owen and Topsy, comedy acrobeiuc turn, get the best response. Some of the balances and knockabout stuff is quite tough and other bits are funny. It's a bit too strenuously screwball at times and therefore somewhat exhausting. About a two-thirds house when caught. As usual with Flatbush audiences, everything was si scream. Kobe. TOWER, K. C. Kansas City, Jan. 10. Russ Morgan Orch liiith Clarence Melter, Jana, Bettv Barrett, Morga- naires Trio, Marie Carroll, Reynolds Houjord; 'Cadet Girl' (20th). Russ Morgan Is best name, the Tower marquee has carried in sev- eral weeks. Added to the screen at- traction it looks like a good week despite continuous cold weather. The' 55-mlnut* itaga lineup in- cludes good music, is bolstered with various entertainers -and aided by Morgan's intonnel but atfecUve em- ceeing. Laryngitis took its toll, with Morgan working against a sudden cold, and Phyllis I^^in*, regular vo- calist, remained In Chicago because of throat trouble whll* Betty Bar- rett came on from 9t. Louis to han- dle the singing chores. Morgan plays only two of his own composition;, 'Does Your Heart Beat for Me,' witii the Morganaires trio singing, and 'So Long,' featuring leader on trombone and verse. Near finale he brings In his recorded ver- sion of 'Small Fry.' Clarence Melter takes in the spot as featured singer, with 'Concerto for Two' q)otted near opening and 'Yours' later on. Miss Barrett, with 'Jim' and 'Do You Care,' shines on both appearance and de- livery. Jana, charcoal sketcl) artist, dis- plays remarkable gift for instantane- ous caricatures ana profile drawings 'of patrons picked at random. He's a regidar member ot t)ie Morgan crew, while Marie Carroll and Rey- nolds Howard are added standard acts. Miss Carroll appears in a stand- ard acrobatic turn while Howard does a snappy modern taps and clinches with an imitation of Bill Robinson. Morgan reaches back in the portfolio for 'Linger Awhile' and 'Stumbling' as band specialties be- fore' closing with original lyrics to 'G'By Now. Quin. FLATBUSH, B'KLYN Glen Gray Orch u>ifh Pee Wee Hunt, Kenny Sargent, Morgan Sis- ters (2), Barry Sisters (2), Barry Sisters (2), Jack Carter, Cass, Owen and Topsy; Shorts and Newsreesl. Moderately entertaining show for this Brooklyn neighborhood house, with Glen Gray the principal b.a draw. Despite the absence oi strong acts or sock moments, though, the show runs too long —about 80 minutes, There are only isolated bright spots, with extended let- downs. Gray band, with an orthodox setup of six evenly-split brasses, five reeds and four rhythms, tends toward hot style, occasionally becoming ob- iectlonably blaring. In spite of that, the outfit seems to lack fire or zest. There are frequent solo breaks and the arrangements are reasonably distinctive, but the numbers are in- variably overlong. That drags out the already attenuated show. Pee Wee Hunt, trombonist gets by rather well with vocals. Has un- COLONIAL, DAYTON- Dayton, O., Jan. 10. •The Time of Your Life,' with Mar- velo It Co., Peck tc Peck, Betty AC- kinson, Carl Freed Orch, Phylis Cott, WJiitcy Roberts; 'Glamour Boy' (Par). Personalities put over the 'Time of Your Life' unit and, with each act on its own merits, it's a pleasing presentation. Una of 10 girls, ap- pearing In three routines, confined largely to tpps, gives the show a Carl Freed teeing off as a single in front of the stage band, with house orch augmented to 19 by ad dition of troupe muslolans, gets mild returns on olarlnet solo. But when he brings on a harmonica trio in next to closing he cleans up. Boys come through with 'Green Eyes,' 'Beer Barrel Polka' end 'Poet and Peasant' for excellent results' v7hile Carl does some neat work wi,th' the jews harp. ' ' Winners In their respeoUve fields, are Betty Atkinson, dancer,- and Phylis Colt, singer. MIsS Atkinson uncorks the smoothest triple taps seen here this season, while Miss Colt could not give the audience enough vocals. Latter, a vivacious personality, opens with 'Goodbye Dear,' follows with 'Tonight's My Night' and closes with a 'I Want to' Be a Hill-Billy Bride.' Marvelo, with spirit flgures flying about the stage In a spooky black- out following the opening chorus, miss^ Are. Peck and Peck, a colored team, following with slow motion comedy pantomime, registered. Whitey Roberts doesn't Impress on flrst appearance, but once he gets started with fancy tapping In con- junction with rope jumping he makes the grade easily, Roberts juggles plates and closes with jitter- bug Imitations. - Kany. Ohio Nitery Fire Yellow Springs, O., Jan. 13. The Savoy night club and two ad- joining buildings were damaged last week by a $10,000 fire which threatened an entire business block. Blaze started In the night club -from a gas heater, firemen said. STANLEY, PITT Pittsburgh, Jan. S. Clyde McCoy Orch (12), Lucille Ball & Desi Amaz, Hal LeRoy, Wally Broum & ilnnette Ames, 4 Bennett Sisters, Freddy Stewart; 'Look Who's Lattghing' (RKO). For a bill that's been kicked around plenty, WB deluxer has come up with a neat package of entertain- ment this week. Originally, only Clyde McCoy's band was set, that and a picture, 'All Through the Night' CwB). 'Then Ray Bolger was' booked, was taken out, pencilled back In again and finally eliminated altogether due to a previous one-day booking he couldn't get out of. So Hal LeRoy was grabbed. Couple of standard vaude turns were then dropped when Lucille Ball-Desl Arnaz act became available, and in this move, film was changed from 'Night' to 'Look Who's Laughing' (RKO) so that ads could feature Miss Ball 'on stage and screen.' Al- together a happy set ot circum- stances-tor the Stanley. Ball-Arnaz duo is the mainspring and they pack a wallop unu'sual for a Hollywood couple invading the personal appearance precincts. Open- ing chatter of how tnev met, wooed and married is a little corny but okay tor hinterland audiences, but after that they're in the groove. Miss Ball packs plenty of s.a., comes through with a hot dance—and could even do more ot It—while Arnaz, with a lot ot charm and an engagmg personality, vocals a couple of numbers and for a finish goes in for a hot session ot bonga-slapping, which he does with the expertness ot one who made his living at it before a screen contract came along. Both over big here and with reason, too. Clyde McCoy orch remains sugar blues-stylized, one of the tew name outfits to stick to their original pay- dirt Setup has tour saxes, one trom- bone, three trumpets, bass, guitar, piano and drums and, ot course, Mc- Coy with his horn, and he gives out in couple ot numbers with those sweet licks which are about as widely-imitated as anyUilng In the music field. Band still carries the four Bennett Sisters, who haye im- proved considerably since last time around, and their 'Boogly Woogly Piggie' and 'He's 1-A in the Army and A-1 in My Heart' are dished out in socko fashion. Freddy Stewart, another singer. Is in the Carmen Lombardo vein without so much of the tremolo and McCoy also has a trio step down from the stand tor some okay novelty stuff. On early, Hal LeRoy's a ■mop-up with his eccentric legmania. Rou- tines haven't changed much since his days as a youngster with Ziegfeld, but judging from way the customers went for him this afternoon, he needn't worry. Rubber-limbed kid has a style that's distinctly his own and those pretzel-like taps are still sufficient to tie up any kind of a show Into -a knot. Standard vaude team of Wally Brown and little Annette Ames got a tough break at opening' show but that s probably been corrected by now.- They were saved tor the last, following band specialty and McCoy's torrid trum- peting, and mob had begun to walk at end of the horn-tootmg, figuring that was the exit cue. 'Team, how- ever, kept those who stayed, kept them in their seats and entertained as well. Biz not bad, considering the below- zero weather outside. Cohen. EMBASSY, N. Y. (NEWSREELS) This week's accumulation contains one item that is certain to be of his- torical significance. It's the news- reel report of President Roosevelt's state-of-the-nation message to Con- gress (Jan. 6), In which he outlined Qiis country's $59,000^0,000 war production program. 'The excerpts which the Embassy uses are credited solely to Fox. The summary on the topic runs six minutes and the edit- ing succeeds in furnishing- a sharply defined grouping of the dramatic highlights ot the address. Of the remaining mass ot war reelage the clip that perhaps incurs the deepest reaction is Universal's pictures of the landing in Honolulu of the flrst American Expeditionary Force ot World War II. There are also a tew glimpses ot the transport in transit with the sailor and soldier pa.ssengers all wearing lifebelts, and of the convoying warships. . Univer- sal also contributes a review of ac- tivity ' in airplane, tank and mu- nitions plants, a bit about Jack Dempsey offering his services to the Army and some frames showing the Normandie in process of being fitted out as a naval auxiliary. Paramount's exhibits range over a world-wide front They show ships in San Francisco disembarking the wounded from Pearl Harbor and the families ot servicemen In the Ha- waiian forces, the signatures ot the 26 nations on the document which binds the Allies against making a separate peace with any ot the Axis members and the arrival of Canadian expedltlonarles at Hongkong and Singapore shortly before the out- break ot the' Jap war. Also a few snapshots of Winston Churchill as he poses oh the White House grounds in his zipper 'siren' suit and on his visit with President Roosevelt to Mt. Vernon. Paramount does itself added credit with • tricky plM« ot ] rMcB It pok« raphy through whlcK It pok«i mud tun at Hitler and hli laglonf,' It's at introduction of taa whoM- rald-of-the-blg4iad-wolf psyohol- op to tha icraan, and tha initial effort has bean davarly daployed. This bit 'HtUar*! Amy does tha Lambeth Walk,' was created by Charles Ridley of British Movietone- news. From Pajhe comas a coupla ot sa- ?iuels to tna Pearl Harbor trafbdy. n one there Is Admiral Nlmitz pin- ning medals on navaUst* who dis- tinguished themselves during the attack, while the other bit pictures the-graves of tha men killed In the same encounter. Odec. STRAND, BROOKLYN Harry James Orch (19) tvith Helen Forrest, Jlnimy Saunders, Ctirfcy Corcoran; 4 Samuels, Billy Rayes; '£IIery Queen Murder Ring' (Col). Slick and showmanly Harry James band highlighted by the leader's hot deftly modulated trumpet plus two topnotch vocalists in Jimmy Saun- ders and Helen Forrest, spell gooU medicine tor this tour-day stand. Brooklynltes greeted the James ag- gregation with cheers, whistles and applause In approved jitterbug style. Corky Corcoran, featured iT-year- old sax, got his share ot the welcome too. Saunders led oft early In the pro- ceedings with such pops as 'Mlnka,' 'Everything' and 'Sinner,' while Miss Forrest cleaned up with '1-A in Army' and 'I Said No.' She also did a tune called 'I Don't Wanna Walk Without You,' which got by largely on girl's nifty handling backed- by excellent James band. James aggregation delivered its usual jam session, and It was plenty strong. Maestro, as usiial, set the pace and rhythm with his horn, and shrewdly blended the strings for maximum results. Billy Rayes, comedy juggler, un- corks his standard but stlU effective .line ot patter while manipulating golf balls. His patter brings In naines ot notables, with mimicry on how Gar- bo, KarlofT and Sally Rand would juggle registering. Takeoff on Miss Rand went particularly big. Four Samuels, two boys and two femmes, combine taps, aero hoofing and mild comedy for okay returns. The homo-erotica Is not so forte but military precision stepping is sure- fire. One of the girls, acrobatic dancer, sells best with novelty splits and cartwheels. Biz good. Mori. ORPHEUM, MPLS. Minneapolis, Jan. 10. Ersfcinc Hauifcins Orch (15) with Ida James, Red & Curley, Moke & Poke, 'Ink Spots' (4); 'Belle Starr' (20fh). Main cogs in an all-colored show that dishes out torrid rhythm, the Hawkins orchestra and Four Ink Spots stage a b.o.\putsch here. Cur- rent headllners, in consequence of platter and juke-box fame, have a large following among Ideal jive dev- otees who are putting It on the line to greet their idols in person. It's the first Minneapolis appearance - of the Hawkins aggregation, but Tux- edo Junction' fame has preceded it The Ink Spots, who played this house a year ago, solidified their standing here. Comedy Is Incidental in show this week except for some exuberant leSPiQanlB and hom tOOUng. Hawk- ins'hot swing of a type which evokes enthusiasm among jivers. Is temp- ered with liberal doses ot sweet vocalizing. Aside from the Ink Spots, there are two hoofing acts of almost Identical pattern. Hawkins band burn up their num- bers with original, scorching ar- rangements amounting to Individual jam sessions. Personable Jimmy Mitchell steps out from the band to vocalize. IQs 'Somebody's Rocking My Dream Boat,' with bOys in the band provid- ing come'dy effects, touches off heavy applause. Madcap eccentric tapping by Red and Curley enlivens proceed- ings that never suffer from dearth of' liveliness. Energetic duo beats the stuffing out ot a set ot drums while terping. Ida James, band's featured torch singer is, paradoxically, a baby- voiced warbler with distinctive vocal style. With such numbers as 'Hotch- kias Corners,' *this" Love of Mine* and 'Let's Do It' she tied up the show. Individual band men. Including a wild drummer, solo tor brief periods during the 'St Louis Blues' arrange- ment. Avery Parrish, ace pianist, then tickles the keys. At show caught Leon Poke was In a hospital here suffering from the flu and his partner, Fletcher Moke, worked alone, whamming the cus- tomers with comedy danchig. The Ink Spots, in closing spot left 'em begging tor more. They wham across "Keep Cool, Fool,' 'Real Thing Comes Along,' 'Without a Sweet- heart,' 'Hey, Doc' and 'Fire' to terrlflc applause. Despite below zero weather lower floor was filled at opening show. Reel. Unit Review DANCING AROUND (BROADWAY, CHARLOTTE, N. o,) Charlotte, N. C, Jan. 8 Irish . Ii Leslie, Horry Pepper, Del Breese, Baker Ttolnj, Theo Pennlno- ton. Erma Ma« Woodbury, Line (8) Walter Johnson's Band (4); 'Marru the Boss's Daughter' (20th). For a show tijat had just lost its top act to tha draft Bill Arms' 'Dancing Around' limps through sat. Istactorlly, but not spectacularly. The Lightning Three,' star act on the show, was dratted in Spartan- burg, S. C, just prior to the show's appearance in Charlotte. Del Breese emcees and does a tura with cards and ciggies. Breese ii better qualified for his magic turn than his emcee chores, as denoted by the fact that his entire rabbit-pulling routine Is devoid ot patter. He handles cards deftly, continuing to produce stacks ot pasteboards from the air, and Is equally mystifying In pulling smokes and drinks out of the ether. Act silenced front-row heck- lers, who started out riding the act Irish and Leslie ara so-so in t knockabout comedy turn which in- cludes passable eccentric dancing, gags and a song. Miss Leslie is an able stooge and got a good reception. The Baker Twins, cuUes from tha line, are pleasing in a tap specialty that drew'heavy applause. Emma Mae Woodburr Is okay In a Ha- waiian vocal auring a hula produc- tion numbet-, accompanying herself on the guitar. She returns In an evening dress for a smooth, hot treatment of 'Alice Blue Gown.* Jeanle Brands, redheaded beaut Is featured in a cootch on the Hawaiian number that's well executed. Betty Corday Is so-so-during a specialty In an'Oriental production number. Theo Pennington embellishes the two production numbers with bac^- ground vocal ing. Hits ot the show are two members of band on single specialties. Bob White, billed as protege ot Gene Krupa, turns In a klUer-diller per- formance of skln-beatlng. His tura was good tor an encore. Jay GU. buena, diminutive Filipino pianist, contributes some nifty dlgltlng, going through a keyboard routine In which he tap dances while playing. Harry Pepper opens with juggling. He got a good hand for nifty work- out of hoops and hats. Proves him--^ self a good showman and comedian as well. Line is fair In four appear- ances. House good. Just. Saranac Lake By Happy- Benway Saranao, N. Y., Jan. 13. It was 40 below zero here last week. Joe ("Tubs') Murphy, formerly of Murphy and Ingraham, saw a mess ot this routine at a Rutland, Mass., sanatorium, here for a general check- up. Town all agog as Judy Garland and Lena Turner are skedded to ap- pear at the Elks club ladles night eSalfi. Both pio ^tors Br« now winter rpbfUng at Lake Placid. Frank Q. Smith, musician who mastered many operations and three years of bed' routine, left with that New Year okay to resume work In Milwaukee. ^ Dorothy Maxwell back to Roch- ester, N. Y., after a general check- up, with ah absolute ok. She was here for five years. Harry 'Pop' Barrett has staged a fihe comeback with his eyesight while Charlie Barrett is still mas- tering that wheelchair routine. Dolph Singer has sent two more songs to his N. Y. publisher. He does most of his writing In bed. Benny Ressler an outstanding comeback. , Harold Bronson, former Boston nitery m. c. Is a newcomer here. JuM needs a little rest Thanks to Ivy Allen for the read- ing matter and books sent to the oplony. Ditto to Tommy Vicks. Write to those who are 111. Unbilled Act - AtlanUc City, Jan. 13. The Foii^ American Eagles, vaude acros, with bookings arranged In South America, waited several weeks for -State Departmerit's per- mission to leave, When grant arrived from Wash- ington, one of group, Joseph Pa- centrllll, 20, had to be removed to AUantlc City Hospital • for ap- pendectomy.