Variety (Mar 1942)

Wednesday, March 4, 1942 Too Ultra Policy in N.Y.Nitery Held False Wartime Note; Other Reviews Present formal policy of the swank Hotel St Regis Iridium Room, New ' York, poses a wartime question of general Interest to class hotels, cafes, etc. Judging by the modest business being doiie now at this hotel. Isn't the emphasis on the ultra the wrong idea? For one thing, the strictly for- mal policy is a false note under ,war- tiiTi. conditions when, for one reason or another, other class- spots have modifled the formal keynote. For another it's considered, basically, to be the wrong thing. War has created many modiflca- tlons. The general attitude is to re lax stiff formality. Even the social ite lenshounds now view it comme il faut not to get themselves mugged; and certainly they're noi wearing the ice and' glad rags as heretofore. It's all right for the Iridium Room to want to enjoy some sort of dubi ous distinction as the last outpost of a sartorial glory and dignity in keep log with a fine tradition. But why flght the trend and the times? Nothing will minimize its ultimate In service and charm if Gaston '-Laurrysen, managing director of Vin cent Astor's hostelry, ordains that a less stiff attitude might be in order. Why not the Rainbow Room com prSmlse, where they dress the ring- side with folks in black ties and din- ner dresses, but everybody can dance. This doesn't chase them a^yay, as at the Iridium Room, where some come In mufti, of course, but cannot dance if not in evening aCtire. That economics must be the domi- nant keynote is evidenced by the hooyerized entertainment The Dor- othy Lewis ice show was ruled out for budgetitus, and Maurice aud Cordoba, plus the Paul Sparr and Gus Martel orchestras, hold forth. The ballroomologists, as ever, ultra with their suave terps, and both bands dish up compelling orthodox and Latin tempos. But the ' main thing is to draw population, and while the regular customers of the SL Regis are in the Lenten, Florida season or pre-March 15 income tax groove, that's true all over town. True, business has been very spotty In the N. Y. cafes,. The Hotel Plaza's Persian Room has totally relaxed its formal dress policy and the $1.50-$2 couvert is no more. There have been other compromises—and casualties— elsewhere. The St Regis should take lis cue accordingly. Abel. Is a Congo dance routine by two Negro girls and a guy that looks as if U stepped right out of Loew's Africa. Lou Martin's orch plays the show and customer dancing welk Nafca. BOWERY, DETROIT LEON & EDDIE'S, N. Y. Jon MuTray; Martin Bros. & Fovne (3); 2 Tops; Chinita; flarbora Long: Mirth & Macfc; Clem flellinss Co. (3); Bimini's Jungle,' Lou Martin's Orch; $2.50 and $3.50 mintmums. Commercial is the word for this show. Nothing here to indicate a possibility for one-of the flrst-rate niteries, but at least the quantity and quality should satisfy the type of clientele that frequents this spot. Which means the provincial and suburban crowd. Topping the bill is the personable, elongated Jan Murray, who emcees and has "a monolog spot on his own towards the end of the setup. Mur- ray reminds somewhat in appear- ance and style of Henny Young- man and indicates plenty of innate talent though some of his gags have been through the mill. Martin Bros, and Fayne are a trio, with the girl, a redheaded beaut the focal point of the turn from the s.a. standpoint. All three acquit them- selves creditably in challenge and precision taps. The males are in tails and the girl is In a scanty cos- tume that shows off her chassis to excellent advantage. The Two Tops are a mixed team of roller-skaters who perform on a small mat, and some of their stunts' are terrific in view of the small space In which they have to work. They got the best applause at show caught Chinita is the South Ameri- can equivalent of a cooch, though she does interpolate some south-of- the-border tunes. Nothing exciting. Barbara Long is a nice-looking warbler who specializes in the jivier numbers. She went over well enough with the moderate attend- ance. Her big fault is an apparently copied style. Mirth and Mack have been around. They're among the highllghU with their versatile turn that includes songs. Impersonations and hoofing. J-lem Belling's dog act, assisted by JJ'°, girls, has a Continental touch inats somewhat out of place in this spot, but gets by regardless, partic- ularly because of the well-trained £*f"=h poodles. Belling had best modernize the patter and improve »h! v"^.** costuming if he hopes for me bigger time. Bimini's Jungle Detroit, Feb. 27. Cynda Glenn; Rio Bros.; Yolinff Sisters; Shandor & Margot; Johnny King; Paddy Cliff; Patino & Ross; Charlie Carlisle; Marjorie Simmons; Don Arden Line (16); Benny Resh Orch (7); 55c toeefc nights; Satur- days, Sundays and holidays, 75c. Frank Barbaro's 1,200-seat spot here, life-buoyed after the recent State closing aimed at 'clean' .shows for defen.se worker arcis. continues to pour out between $4,000 and $5,000 a week on its marathon floor .shows with good results. Despite current lull in work due to the conversion of the automobile plants into full war time arsenals, the Bowery Is continu ing to pack them in with the Detroit idea of mass production. Aimed at the idea that 1,200 people spending a buck apiece is the same as foiir guys spending $300 apleci only you get a better crowd—the Bowery still is running out what amounts to a continuou.s floor show, First show starts at 9:30 and goes until practically midnight and after a deep breath the performers lire back for another session. Entertain ers really- work here, but it is to terrlflc response and not too critical audience. On the show caught, Paddy Cliff had to sUy on for 10 numbers, eclipsed-only by the head lining Cynda Glenn and Rio Bros, specialties. * No slight factor in the good biz Is the backbone of familiars. The Benny Resh orch is an old settler, six years in the spot; Johnny King, a tenor who solos pleasantly and with the production numbefs, Is a graduate of the band, and Charlie Carlisle, the amazing m.c. comic, has been in the Bq\very more than five years. Current show lacks the usual old- timer name Barbaro usually features, but few shows fail to click here. Dull acts -are out swift. Line Is splendid' ly dressed, opening this show with an Indian number to Raymond Scott's 'War Dance for Wooden Indians,' followed by Shandor and Margot do ing nice pirouettes In the softer style and then a livelier spin turn, with King coming after with a set of Irish tunes and 'White Cliffs' before an- other line number featuring a com petcnt but novice Marjorie Simmons. Carlisle, who was particularly belted by the State censors. Is sur }rising and kidding himself by work-' ng clean to good results, being spot- ted between every act. His cadging cigars, plugging anything and every- thing, and pat quipping are ideal ior the spot and account for- half the show's running time. Margot's Castanet number with the line goes 'well; Cliff, a fine-voiced Irish tenor—and you need lungs and Imperishable tonsils in the Bowery- was terrific for 10 numbers, with everything from arias to pop tunes; Patino and Ross vary the pace with pleasant acrobatics; the dance team comes back with a morbid waltz to Sibelius; the Rio brothers' horseplay was slick for the Bowery crowd, and they had to beg off after punching themselves through four turns. Cynda Glenn, with her slick rough- housing on the piano, and her un- controllable hands business was grooved, too, for the crowds, who yelled for more. The Young Sisters, cute appearing and doing their bal- ancing wo;-k on a platform, were spotted between the two top acts. Pool. LYNCH'S, PHILLY (WALTON HOTEL) Phtlodelphlo, Feb. 20. Gus Van, Frntl Duke,, Castaine & Barry. Hollywood Blonds (3), ilfad- lyn White, Line (14), Helcne Heath, Rose Gallo, Eddie DeLuca Orch (9), Olga Mendez rhumba band (5). It's a field day for nostalgic Philadelphians, this return of Gus Van to the local nitery scene. It's the first cafe appearance here for the vet since the day when he was fixture with his partner Joe Schenck at the old Piccadilly during Prohibition. He's still the same old Van, a master of dialects and delivery. It'i great stuff for the oldtimers. Es- pecially Van's resume of old Broad- way numbers, which reach way back to the early part of the cen- tury. His modem ditties include: 'Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith,' 'Joe Di- Maggio,' 'From Wrong Side of Tracks,' and 'Rose O'Day,' among others. Paul Duke still is clicko with his amazing magic feats of pulling in- numerable cigars, cigarels and pipes from .the air. The Hollywood Blonds have a difficult aero turn on rollcrskatcs which needs a little more space than Lynch's floor to do it justice As it is, half of the ringsiders ap- pear in danger of winding up with a blond in their manhattans. Castaine and Barry, holdovers here, continue to please in their ballroom routine. Madlyn White is also familiar~in these parts. She's a personable blonde w,ho can do almost any kind of dance routine from soft shoe to ballet The Glamour Girls, togged out in new costumes, give out in two pro- duction nimbers that are up to the Jatck Lynch standard. They are routined by Midge Fielding, who does the same chore at New York's Versailles. Wanding the band is Eddie De- Luca, pianist who has taken over vice Sonny Fontaine, who is Holly wood-bound for a screen test. De- Luca handles this chore neatly, carrying through during the show and the dancing. Olga Mendez and her maracca boys take charge dur- ing the lulls. Helene Heath Snd Rose Gallo tickle the keys and give out with pop tunes in the cocktail bar. House was near-flllcd when re viewed. Shot. NIGHT CS.UB REVIEW^ 47 ing the music department in hands or Jose Cortez, who batons both rhuinba |ind show aggregation. The Kendis pianlstics are being missed, but unit carries on in capable fash- ion regardless. Leslie. CASINO RUSSE, N. Y. Latin Quarter, Miaipi Miotni, Feb. 20. Hnrry Richman, Bob Fuller Sex tet, Stuart Morgan Dancers, Carol King, Diamond Bros., Senor Wences, Helen Reynolds Skaters («), Les Mid- tnctfes (15), Jose Cortez Grch (12); Ensembles by Madame Komarova; $3 minimum. Lew Walters can chalk up another solid click with the second edition of the Latin Quarter's 'Follies de L'Americana.' Vet showman has brought Harry Richman out of what has amounted to semi-retirement to top b bill that remains the best, buy ($3 minimum) in the local nitery picture. Rich- man is right at home in a produc- tion and room such as this. He's on stage for nearly an hour with his tunes, coming back after the finale to gag with the customers. Yet it isn't too long. He merits the time. Production numbers are un- changed, and the Diamond Bros., Senor Wences and the Helen Rey- nolds Skaters remain as holdovers. Stuart Morgan Dancers, .Bob Fuller and his sextet and Carol King are the newcomers. Since first caught the Diamond Brothers have geared their routines to a much faster pace, and now rate bows as an ace knockabout turn. Senor Wences' ventriloquism and Helen Reynolds' skating octet con- tinue to provide standout ehtertain- ment. • Miss King is a lovely, graceful bal- lerina, and her modern toe-stepping is a welcome addition. Bob Fuller and his sextet (five males and a femme) ■ are likewise dicky with their ballads and collegiate songs. While a standard now, the Stuart Morgan Dancers remain one of best aidag'io teams in the biz. Boys are now garbed in slacks rather than customary tails, which makes for more'freedom in tossing their petite partner through the air. Sonny Kendis has bowed out leav- Sasha Poltnoff, Nndia & Sasha, Di- mttn Mottiienko. Nicholas Maflheu Gypsies (3), Kris Kay Orch (7)' $2 ond $3 minimum (Sot.). The Hotel St Regis' Maisonette Russe being now no more (a fire casualty last month), the Casino Russe takes its place a.s the No. 1 vodka nitery in Gotham, approach- ing only the 14th street Kretchma for class. With the Russo-American amity a dominant world factor in this day and age, business reflects it. although, basically, boniface Sasha Maeef runs a pretty cla.ssy boite. The talent Is the best in Its field, Nina Tarasova heading the show with Continental songalogs. Michel llst°"poIinoff*rtheTalalaika-ex: MARTINIQUE, N.Y. pert; Nadia and Sasha n.ntive Hiinrers: th^^„'fv,'i";,- Meert? orch playi the authentic music for her. Ed wfnJ^in'"?.'"*"?'^''?,'* from Uie Winchell-Bernle film, 'Love and Hisses, puts across a neat turn of sleight-of-hand and patters his way f?^,?^"'"^'!-''"^' stooging with lemm* T-sJnir^V.l'f""^*..'"! "'e "'■'^h leader. Esquirtfttes and show girls follow, again in smarUy dressed rouUnes. and Belasco turns on the heat in buildup for the star turn. Nan Blakstone could bring a Mon- U-eal audience to an unheafed barn. The hardest part of her act every night is begging off. "Her program is the well known variant on marriage, divorce and their by-products, but she is an artist in that genre. There is no particular originality but her personality turns tricks that would otherwise go unnoticed. There's a thumbnail sketch of baby treatment by oldfashloned.and modern mothers that is the gem of her repertoire. With Alice Kovan tapping out a neat trick in white top hat and tails, and Belasco putting on an amusing drunk turn, the line and showgirls bring down the curtain. They're turning 'em away week- ends. Other times good. . -Lane. Dimitri Matvienko does all right with his fianilng dagger dancing! the toute ensemble does Chauve Souris sketches: Nichola.s Matlhey who used to be at the Maisonette Russe is the somnolent gypsy violin 1st and okay for sound:. which ap- plies also to Kris Kgy, heading the dance seotet and also doing a good emcee job. ■ The Casino Russe is the old Club Richman. and backs into the Rus sian Art Tea Room on the 57th street side. This, in turn, makes possible the Bagdad Room, an ad- jacent morning club, with intimate entertainment culled from this re- Odette Athos. songsfre.ss. Both the Casino and Bagdad rooms are unusually well decored. Abel. ESQUIRE, MONTREAL »r r,, , Montreal, March 4. ..•^"^ Blakstone; Frankie Belasco *o{5°'"'"'.^<* Ricord; House Line ni.V^.^S"'.'* ^i^'- Armand Meerte S^}.'- Barry Rhumba Band with Julio Reyes (4); minimum, $1.50 Saturdays; $1 other Tllghts. Rounding out a month's stay at this house, which rates in the big three of Montreal's night spots; Nan Blak- stone has lost none of the salty humor and sophistication that put her among the tops here in her last visit three years ago. She has broadened her material since then and a natty little French song dropped into the program doesn't do her any harm with the fans either. Show tees off with Frankie Belasco emceelng with quite a play of his own and a few over-ripe stories that i!0t him a hand. He sets too fast a lempo for the show. Belasco intros the line, clad in brlefies for a Chi- nese routine, and these bring in the show girls, an eye-filling bunch with nifty color and shape contrasts. Alice Kovan takes the floor in sec- ond stanza. She has a neat Spanish daiice with all the fixings, castanets, yards of crinoline, mantilla and rib New Acts CHRIS'nNA PAULLT Singer 10 Mlna. Russian Tar, N.T. Possessor of an excellent lyric so- prano of operatic timber, combined with looks and personality, Christina PauUy is out of place in a night club but, if .properly handled, should go far in concert and opera. At show caught she - sang two Russian songs and 'II Bacio, con- cluding the last with a ringing top D' natural. The quality of her voice luscious and warm, she uses it with distinct artistry, and the scale even from bottom to the top of a more than two-octave range. She's young and sounds much better than many of the Metropolitan Opera Co. lyric sopranos heard in recent months. She has an operatic reper- toire and should be given the chance to use it Eddy. . MASTERS and SCHEER Dancing 8 Mins. Tower "Theatre, Kansas City This pair is standard terp team, though commendable and somewhat ndividualistie. Begin with a patty- cake stomp, the'n turn to a fast rhumba tap, and wind up tapping out snappy clicks on a pair of pedestals. Okay for family-time vaude and lesser niteries. Quin. WALLY BO AG Balloon Artist Le Ruban Bleu, New York Wally Boag is from the Coa.st He has a cute novelty, inexpensive for the average boite but a neat flash for almost all spots. His forte Is making toy dogs, animals, etc. out of all sorts of gaily colored balloons. , These balloons are of sundry sizes and shapes—long, oval, round, and the like. Boag skillfully ties them all together to simulate torso, head, limbs, etc., and of course the femmes in the audience become recipients of the finished products. It's a switch on cutting paper dolls and quick- sketch artists. Boag keeps each chore down to some six or severt minutes. The banknite result of something free to the customers is lure. an added Abel. OLGA COELHO Songs With Goltar C Mina. Le Rnban Bieo, New York Olga Coeiho, Brazilian concert and radio soprano, does her stuff in the Helen Morgan manner (on the piano) to self-guitar accompaniment. She chirps in Portuguese, doing nature folk songs chiefly, opening with a 'My Little Lemon' excerpt and then a- French macumbo lyric. An interesting brunet personality .she's a neat filler for Intimate rooms of the type such as Le Ruban Bleu. Miss Coeiho has had radio experi- ence via CBS buildup. Abel, ACROMANIACS (3) Acrobatics. 7 MIn.s. Apollo, New York Very fa.st aero and tumbling turn. Though none of the stunts is excep- tional, most of them are good, bal- ancing and lifts by the understandcr registering strongly. 'Only white act on colored stage lineup, at show caught Acrpmaniacs bowed off to heavier applause than any other turn on the bill. ' , Boys are young, neatly dressed in brown pants and short-sleeved shirts. They look okay for. vaude, as bill- openei's, and lesser niteries. Mori. Georgle Price, Mata & Hari, Delle Norclla, Line (Adele Jergena, Audrey Westphal, Jerry Lowe, Iris Marshall, Norma Richler, Charlotte Lorraine, Vera Devine and Betty Ap- ple), Vol Olman and Herbert Cur- belo Orchs; minimum, $2.50 week- days; $3.50 Saturdays. New La Martinique show is sub- stantially the same as the one It's had for the past few weeks except for the substitution of Georgie Price for Romo Vincent and Delle Norella for Roslta Rlos. Nat Karson-pro- duced presentation was tops as nitery entertainment before, but now is even better. Price is a nifty fillip as a comic and personality attraction to round out the pleasantness of the rest of the shew. There are the line of.elght beauts in unbeatable costumes de- signed by Karson, ok satirical acro- batics and dance mimicry of Mata and Harl and the warbling of Miss Norella. Price has a flock of special lyric material; most of it parodies and some mildly blue, which he sells handily. What he really socks 'em vi^th, however, is the biting satires of Cantor, Jolson, Cohan, et aL And he could make a very successful career out of Jessel alone. There are plenty of mimics around who can do better jobs on takeoffs of show biz figures, but few who catch the spirit as Price does , • ' Miss Norella is no great-shakes as a vocalist her sultry voice being slightly hard, but she has a pleasant personality and makes a nfce picture In the spotlight Val Olman's orch continues to provide dance apd." . show tunes, with Herbert Curbelo's rhumba crew filling in. Line gals continue to sell defense bonds and stamps at the end of the show. Improvement has been made in lyrics preceding this, with Price using the occasion for his George M. Cohan copying. - ^ -Herb. ■ EL CHld6, N.Y. ..Rita Bahia, Maria Morales, Trio Mixteco, Maria Louisa Lopez, 01- ivera del Duca (7) tiilth Carlos Liigo and Florita Mejia, $2 disner, 50c. cower. Benito Collado's El Chlco In Greenwich Village remains the class iL,atin nitery In town—this after shifting series of trends in all forms of Hispanic boites. They've come and gone, some have remained, but into the classy El Chlco on Grove Street Is crowded a wealth of native atmosphere, supported by ' authentic decor, plus a tight bright and right little revuette for its dis- criminating customers, Norris at the tape knows his Latinophlles, many of them of the diplomatique and the expora-lmpora crowd, and the show mu.st be properly authen- tic as well as diverting to satisfy. El Chlco has cradled some im- portant show names, especially In the years when international travel from the Iberian countries was un- restricted, plus a flock of Imports from the Latln-Amerlcas—and this was long before good-nelghborllness be.came a diplomatic 'as well as a social grace. Some of them have traveled into faster coinpany, but boniface CoUada still makes fre- quent trips to Mexico,.Central and- South America for new faces, al- though 'his present 'Very Good, Neighbor!' revue reprises two stand- ard acts that previously clicked here. They are the Trio Mixtecos, with their native Mexican song and dance (two men and a girl, a la ranch- eros)' and the ebullient Maria Louisa Lopez with her ingratiat-' nely clubby Rio Grande manner, Rita Bahia is a Brazilian singer and Maria Morales, Spanish dancer, one-two position; okay if imt ocko. but neat tecoff soociallsts. Thi band, succeeding Don Alberto is also - new. batoned by Ollvera del Ducca, who was pianist with Xavier Cugat Florita Mejia, songstress with the band, also does the emcee chores. Carlos Lugo, pianist-singer, plugs the wails deftly between dance sessions. Abel.