Variety (Mar 1942)

22 HOUSE REVIEWS Wednesdajr, March 18, 1942 STANLEY, PITT (Continued from page 20) ■masheroo. Team, last here in May, •was a last-minute booking, having become available when Glenn Miller, with whom them had four weeks to go, was suddenly called to the Coast by ° 20th for another picture. Just about one of the funniest teams around these days, and audience re- fused to let 'em get away. They made It tough for Marx to follow with his piano specialty and he smartly had the femme stick around for an intro- ductory bit with him so he could ease Into his fingered keyboard magic. And that's what it is—magic. Film fans are familiar with his style, the fast roll followed by the single-digit plunking, but Judging from tlve palm- Eolishing, most of the mob was hear- ig it for the first time. Had to do half a dozen numbers and could easily have stuck around for that many more. Fast, funny show, ex- cept for Lane's mistake in selections, and over biff with flrst-show house that was full uo downstairs and three-quarters in the balcony, despite cold drizzle outside. Cohen. TOWER, K. C. Kbnjos Citv, March 14. Mills Brothers (5). Ted Claire, Pan iAvnvmav.. AToblc Trio, Hose Mone Cooper, Jimmy Bunn, Herb Stx House Orch; 'Bombov Clipper^ (U). Mills Brothers haven't played Kansas City in nearly five years, but In the interim they seerh to have lost none of their potency. Although their popularity isn't what it was on their last stand here at the Tower, their name still furnishes some heft for the marquee and their per- formance adds a strong closmg punch, to the 45-minute stage route. Accompanying standard acts meas- ure up rather well and week's vaude Is one of best variety bills seen here In weeks. , .„ Herb Six house band, with Jimmy Bunn vocalUng, begins with a nov- elty on 'Income Taxes.' Pan Merry- man makes a duo entry in an adagio aero and a modern Interpretation of the Cakewalk near closing, both satisfactory. „ j Strong applause Is drawn by Ted Claire, who has returned to the U. S. after three years in Australia and the South Pacific, his touch ap- parently being as good as ever at comedy chatter and pantomime. As his own contribution Bunn warbles lioil't Want to Walk' and then gets confidential with 'I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now,' which 'got strong appreciation. Noble Trio of two men and fenune contribute ultra acrobatics and tinge work with comedy. Rose Marie Cooper, an eight-year old amateur entry, has unsuitable song In 'Kiss Boys Good- bye,' but toetaps for better results. Filial 20 minutes are given over to the Mills boys. "Bombay Clipper* fneans little as magnet, and biz Is up apparently be- cause of the singing Mills. Qutn. FLATBUSH, B'KLYN start Kenton OrcK (15) unth Red Dorrit, Eve KvigMf Acromaniacs (3), J>ixte Duftbar, Dave Apollon & Co. (5), Bonnie Baker; Shorts & News- reeis. youthful, clean appearances. An ex- ceptional opening act, strongly re- ceived.here, Dixie Dunbar was bothered a bit by Kenton's accompaniment (band lacks experience In this line), but clicked easily regardless. She's in a tough spot following the Acro- maniacs, but a rhythm tap followed by one at rhumba speed and a third to 'Comes Love' put her over with ro6m to spare. Apollon, his FlUplno trio and singer-dancer Eleanor Whitney also taps the bell. Apollon's smooth showmanship rides herd on a flpck of laughs gotten out of his time- honored, but effective, patter with his two guitarists and bullflddler. Meat of turn is the pop and stand- ard melodies played by them, ac- companied bv Apollon's own mando- lin. Miss Whitney. • lively looker, solidifies the r.ct with a *I Got to Get Hot' vocal and neatly routined and executed taps. Miss Baker, recently spilt from Orrin Tucker's band, gets in 'What Do You Think I Am,' 'Is There a Latin In the House.' 'April Showers' and 'Oh Johnny* in her baby-voice style, but fails to sell any of them. Her delivery is cpld. She obviously was disturbed by a lethargic re- action to her stuff. Biz good. Wood. GOLDEN GATE, S. F. STATE, N. Y. San Francisco, March 11. Arlene Harris, Franlclvn D'Amore Si Co. (2), Frank Gaby, Frank Evers & Dolores, Igor & Tani/a, Crewe & Somers, Charles Kaley, House Orch (13), Peggy O'Neill Line (12); 'Call Out the Marines' (KKO), Running about 85 minutes, this stage show Is one of the liveliest and most entertaining the Flatbush has ever presented. It has its faults, namely the booking of Bonnie Baker, who's as out of place with Stan Ken- ton's drive outfit as her 'Oh Johnny' Is dated. There's so much happen- ing preceding her closing spot that things should have ended with Dave Apollon's group, with the elimination also of Eve Knight, band's new vocalist. Kenton's Coast combination of five sax, three trumpets, three trom- bones and four rhythm ^including leader's piano, which he rarely touches), is one of the strongest, best rehearsed crews to reach Gotham. It's a heavy drive group equipped with excellent arrangements, some . 8ne,ojnes for stage work and others tnaf are knockouts for one-night stands. Ballad numbers, which were lacking only a Tew weeks ago, are gradually being added; several are used here to good advantage. When caught a full house went for the new group uinstintlngly. Opening 'Concerto to End All Coa certos,' an original - studded with team and itidlvldual solos. Is a par- ticularly enjoyable tune while 'Easy to Love,' done seml-symphonlcally, rates - similar reaction. In other spots, too, there was excellent work, partiqiilarly behind the finale of the Acromanlacs. Red Dorri^, sax- vocalist, exhibits a peculiar, but neat style on 'I Don't Want to Walk' and "Time on My Hands,' latter going over best. Miss Knight gets only one chance, on 'St Louis Blues.' It's too short for a nroper evaluation of . her voice. Kenton handles an- nouncementa easily enough and wiU be better with experience. Acromanlacs, trio of aptly titled young fellows, present an acrobatic turn that's a cinch \o click on any bllL Their fast' routines of" well- executed material are enhanced by House band and line back this week after a two-week layoff for traveling bands. . Opener revealed the line haSn't forgotten its routine. This time it's done while band plays Heart of Texas.' Frank Evers and Dolores, wire act, on first, Dolores hulalng during set- ting up of apparatus. Pair does its standard trick terping on the strand for solid returns. New finish has both working the wire simultane- ously. Crewe and Somers, boy-girl tap- pers, deuce, with male half showing ingenuity in a baseball panto-tap solo midway. Band then takes over for another of its torrid arrange- ments, plus trick lighting, tbls time working out on Rachmaninoff's •Prelude,' a slick job. Halfway mark is allotted to Arlene Harris,, who does her straight party- line gossip radio monolog as heard on the Al Pearce show. Material- routine, with appeal mostly for dial- twlrlers. Franklyn D'Amore, strong-man who lugs his femme partner on in a sack. Is next and although his acro- batics have l>een around here before, he's still a solid dick.. His lift from the back of a chair particularly gets "em, Frank Gaby, In the next-to-dosing with dummy. Is also familiar here but likewise lands although inclined to get tough at times. His closing Is still a slick bit of biz, wherein he ventriloquizes a song with a live stooge, even while lighting a ciggie. Dance team of Igor and Tanya, sophisticated dress act with a some- what surrealistic routine, doses with house line working in for the finish. Biz average at show caught. Wem. Stuart Morgan Dancers, Frank and Jean Hubert, Capptf Barra. Har- monica Five, Bert Lahr vtith. Rims Brown, EsteII« Tovlor; 'Corsfcan Brothers' (UA). It's a fast show, long on comedy because Bert Lahr is present. There's one weak spot In the five-act bill, but that turn doesn't take much time; There Isnt a thing in connection- with Hollywood about Lahr's act, whleh is the way it should be be-, cause he is of vaudeville and musical comedy, scoring in those fields long before the Coast used his comic kiss- er -and flair for tbe ridiculous. Lahr's act consists of two skits that were laugh-getting hIghUghta In "^e Show Is On,' a revue presented at the Winter Garden, N. Y., a few years ago. They're still cllcko. Turn opens with a travesty on a guy being examined by an income tax man, Russ Brown being' the inqtiisitor and Lahr, of course, me taxed one. Secr ond part of the Lahr goings-on has hiin with a prop sxe and dinky tree doing his now-classic 'Song of the Woodman.' Nothing delicate about Lahr's monkeyshines, but he is a tunny'guy. Stuart Morgan quartet certainly fling their little blonde around plenty to close the show. They have adagio stufl down to a science and the rou- tine is strenuous enough to keep them in prime physical form. They got over, as usual. Frank an(^ Jean Hubert fill the keystone easily. The-stew stuff re- quires plenty of action, too, includ- ing the comic pantomiming. Man ;ets a laugh with a cigaret bit, while lis partner is just as agile. Disclos- ure of one 'guy' as a dame when she doffs her hat'to display, her plati- num tresses Isn't Important, for tfie act stands on its own. Cappy Barra and his harmohica quintet were put into the show when Tiebor's Seals, originally booked here, were held over at the nearby Music HaU. The Barra troupe opens strongly, After a semi-classic the Iwys.with the mouth organ do 'Heart of Texas' to set themselves well with the audience. Allen Green, of the Barra outfit; warbles 'Diane,' and fhen comes a harmonica jam session. Estelle Taylor is on next, faring mildly with ditties including 'Don't Want to Walk' and "Luck^ in Love.' Ibee. HIPP, BALTO APOLLO, N. Y. Tiny Bradshaw's Orch (14); til Green, Glenn & Jenkins, Edioards Sisters- (2), STiap & Snappv, Lalage, Mills, L ee & Powers; 'Young Amer ica' (20f7irr Tiny Bradshaw's vigorous show- manship,- backed by a capable band, has improved vastly since the outfit first appeared at this house several years ago. Neat combo features 'Jersey Bound' and 'In the Groove,' compositions written by members of the orch. Surrounding acts-are far above standard for this house. Glenn and Jenkins, - blackface male funsters, hand the show a real lift Their patter and timing are eX' perL Edwards Sisters,' pair of speedy tapsters, are better than when they first showed up here two or three years ago, but mil to cash in on their poten^alities. Lalage, one of two white acts on bill, still is cUckeroo with her aerial work. Blonde does some work on the rings but continues to do best on her deft one-arm turn- overs. Continues to be a fine vaude or nitery bet Mills, Lee and Powers (New Acta), other ofay turn, panicked folks here. In the deuce with their comedy rough stuff. Snap and Snappy, two agile boy steppers, are devaoping into a first- rat& combo, but should lean more on their fancy tumbles and stunta employed as dosing effort Miss Green sings 'I Hate to Call You Names,' Td Get Somebody Else' and "Romance In Dark' in typT- cal blues fashion. For the date here there appeared to be too much same- ness in Ker tunes, but she scored heavily anyway. Biz way bfl for first Friday night show. Wear. Baltimore, March 14. ■ Ella FifzcreraW Orch (15), 4 InJc- spotj. Moke (fir Poke, Bed & Curley; 'Date With Falcon' (Col). The Jive is loose and rhythm is rampant here with response extra heavy from the hepcats but also fairly potent with a more sedate cross section attracted by the Inkspots. Fast and lilting setto Is rather brief, and necessarily so, for extra shows are being rung In daily and, more particularly, on weekend. Fronted by an luibilled, clarinet- playing bandsman, in the groove with both instrument and announcements, band Is typical in instnmientatlon of four sax, six brass and foyr rhythm. Swings out from the tee- off with arrangements nicely scored and sharpfy handled. All sections have their Innings and solo chairs also get off in hectic fashion. Following swingy opening by band. Red and Curley wham out some fast hoofery and dose with their socko routine on the multiple drums. Boys work fast and puncn frorn start to finish, winding up to big response. A scream number by the band spaces matters for appearance of Ella Fitz- gerald,-who sells tff'the hilt Vocals of 'Heart of Texas,' 'Don% Walk Without You,' 'Blues in Night' and, for encodes, the inevitable Tlsket- Tasket' and '5 o'clock Whistle.' Had them- yelling for more when caught Moke and Poke follow with vocal of 'Breaking In New Pair of Shoes,' interlarded -with tricky and well- timed tappery.' Funny gagging leads Into vocal of Tuzzy Wuzzy7 with hectic Jltterbugging enlisting smaller members a howl. After a band number. Ink Spots take possession and wham, from the very first Intro. IJb ■ Java Jive,' *Do I Worry,' 'Is It a Sin,' -Feet's Too Big' and, in answer to shouted requests, 'If I Didn't Care.' Bring back Miss Fitzgerald for a bow to break the demand for more and line up en-Ure troupe for a rendition. of 'Star- Spangled Banner.' Biz very big. Burm. MICHIGAN, DETROIT Detroit, JVforch 13. .Johnnv Long Orch (14), Andrews Sisters (3), Fred Sanborn, Southern Sisters, Helen Young, Bob Huston; •Shanghai Gesture' (UA), Bringing in a stage band new to this area and hooked up with the queens of the local jukeboxes, the Michigan Is making ripe plucklngs with Rs pleasant'bill.' With a style of music not as frenzied as the bands which proceded It, I^ong's combina- tion is registering across a wider variety of tastes, -winning over more than Just the hep trade. The outfit plays a nice ■how, climaxed -with the Andrewa Sisters, Hollywood polished, having the audience dap- ping hand In rhythm—and then car- rying on for more of the same rhythm stuff. Long's band gets ofC to a nice In- dian beat with 'Mlnnetonka' before the Southern Sisters do their un- distinguished acrobatic dancing, mildly received. It's Helen Young scores swiftly with 'A-1 In Army' '1 Said No,' a deft 'Daddy* worked with the band and, for an insistent encore, she flashed a comedy knack with 'Elraer*s Tune.' With a nicely con- ^Ued contralto and her cutle-come- dlenne manner, singer registers far above average canaries. Long's slick southpaw ^ddUng* backed by nice orchestration, goes through a medley which Indudes 'Jealous', 'Aloha' and on-wlth-the-band in a dipped rhythm version of 'Shanty Town.' It drives home the fact that here is a solid swing combination. Bob Huston, with the Bing Crosby quality, keeps it up there with "You Are Everything,* Tls Autumn* and the oldie "Blue Skies. Fred Sanborn mote than fills the comedy end with his xylophone. . Andrews Sisters .harmonise through 'Aurora,' 'St Cecelia,* 'Heart of Texas' and for a -wlhd-up, "Boogie Woogle Bugle Boy.' It had the audience up to a piteh -where Long could prove that there's nothing like the national antiiem to quiet the house and finish a show in the hour limit. ' House full at evening show caught Pool. KEITH'S BOSTON Boston, March 13. Clyde McCoy Orch (13) with Freddie Stewart ond Bentiett Sisters (4), Carl DawTie, Chick & 'Lee, Bob Howard; 'Ride 'Em Cowboy' (U). McCoy band plays a return en- gagement here this week. In support of third week of the Abbott & Cos- tello picture. The 'Sugar Blues' orch has a good datice beat and the lea'der is an ace trumpet manipulator, but the outfit Is presented In a conven- tional pattern that does not distin- guish it from many another band resting i from dance hall dates. Freddie Stewart Is the anticipated crooner, getting over with a couple of pops. The four Bennett Sisters supply the proper femme touch. Bennetts Army' and 'Booglie Wooglie Piggy* for their Initial offering, and later they come on for a session of rhythm taps. Bob Howard, next-to-shut almost saves the show With his gusty song- plugging at the piano. Opens with 'Shine,' following with 'Hats Off to MacArthur.' Qis Impression of a playerpiano Is very okay, except that he milked it a bit when cadght. En- cores with more comedy and A shot at that Neopolitan nifty, Una Luna Mezza Mare,' which seems to be a surefire number at this house. Howard Is a natural entertainer, and one of the best In his line, but he should tone down some of his chat- ter, which Is occasionally tinged with too much variety. - .. Chick and Lee, playing the n}ld- way spot have some good material, and some that's not so good, in their impressions of radio personalities and programs. Boys were on too long opening show, but when their time is cut down they should regis- ter more solidly. Carl Dawn and his Humanettes deuce with a fair assort- ment of marionet tricks, McCoy's trumpeting on ^asin Street' and 'Sugar Blues' shows off his--telent- to--good advantage-- and was pleasing when caught. Leader cut down his announoements to a minimum, but would do wdl to in- ject a bit more punch and clarify his diction. Fair biz. Fox. Rubber Shortage I ^^SiCoatlnned from- pace 3 ^^^J tion than another sagebrusher. Bill Elliott, pltehed camp in a series of one-day theatre personal appear- ances. Both drew heavily on inter- views and pix, plus round of dinners and luncheons. Wllby-Kincey, Pal- metto Amusement, North Carolina Theatres, Inc., iad other steady weekend western feeders. Penalty for Yippee Fame Fact that'he was wearing cowboy garb and was known as a aiieen player saved Tex Rltter, Columbia's western star, from a series of iefty police fines recently In Delaware and Maryland where he's making personal appearances. Souvenir hunters, seeking something to re- member Rltter by, stole his motor car license plate from his station wagon and auto, at Seaford, Del. Cops stopped him but overlooked the missing license tegs when he explained who he was and why they were missing. Rltter winds up, his current p.a tour early next month. ROXY, N. Y* House Orch; 'Sonff of the blonds' (20th), reviewed in "Variety,' Feb. 4. Couple of diverting acts lift the Roxy's current stage snow above av- erage. GeneraUy, It's the customary combination of individual turns aiid Gae Foste^-Esqulres routines, with Bob Hannon clicking again as sing- ing m.c. Opening number by the Foster girls Is an Impressive bit of formation roller-skating, with the Esquires as- sisting'and. cllinaxed by a difficult turntable maneuver. Effectively cos- tumed. Dick, Don and Dinah follow with a sock comedy acrobatic and- dance turn. Act h^ l>een aro'und some time, and continues to improve. Two men open with an eccentric soft- shoe routhie, after which the attrac- tive gal Joins them for knockabout- comedy and some goofy, rather baf- fling tricks with a large sponge-rub- ber ball, and flnaling with okay bal- lancing. . Sunny Rice, another standard act follows with a piano accompaniment to an effectively staged dance num- ber by the Foster girls -and Esquires. She then doffs her floor-length skirt for a short, flaring one, and does an applaitse-getting tap routine Includ- ing some tough tap-spins. She's a looker and her togs are. becoming, but the effect was somewhat marred at this catehlng by rumpled stocking seams. Hannon, besides being m.c. for the other acta. Is on here with rousing vocals of 'Heart of Texas' (during which members of the Foster troupe circulate through the aisles and un-' successfully try to stimulate the hand-clapnlng bits), "Johnny Dough- boy' and "Hats Off to MacArthur."^ Salici Puppeta, possibly too fa- miliar for maximum reception, close the show with their standard bita and then are joined by the Foster girls In a' South Seas number that cues Into the feature picture, 'Song of the Is- dands.' House was about two-thirds filled downstairs at the dinner show Wednesday (11). Hobe. EMBASSY, N. Y, (NEWSREELS) Overboard optimism of newsreel commentaries concerning U. S. de- fense and war effort, to which "Va- riety' called attention In a Page One story two weeks ago, is definitely curtailed In current jeleases. Not only has there been a leveling do-wn of th^ tone of the commentaries— which heretofore have all too fro- . quently assured U. S. audiences that tiieir country's production capacity made it absolutely unbeatable—but in one clip It is definitely stated that 'what we need is thousands more planes like this.' Commentator only sloughs the thought in, but that's a lot better than not mentioning-it at all. Clip is Paramount's, the Com- pany that has also sinned least in the past in encouraging American complacency, 'What on paper looks like it should be the most exciting of the war news pix. the fall of Singapore doesn't ac- tually turn out that way. It doesn't seem so much the fault of the tJnl- versal cameraman, however, as of the facts. People pictured seem sin- gularly calm, unhurried and unruf- fied amidst the terrible destruction and ensuing evacuation. Actually, more interesting shota are Par's 'and Metro''s of burning tankers in the Atlantic and Metro's of a ship towed Into Newport News despite the fact it had been literally cut in two by a torpedo -or -mine.■ Some domestic military news ap- parently has been imtouched cen- sorialy. Pathe*s sequences are good of the troop train which hit an auto with dire resulta and Fox*s of the munitions which exploded after a collision. Less exciting, but news- worthy, was the shift in Army (Fox) and Navy (U) commands and the commissioning of Negro fliers for the first Ume (Pathe). On straight domestic news cover- age, aside from the war, reels show Some pleasantly unique footage. Out- standing In newsreel photography Is the camerawork by Pathe on Boston warehouse flre. Lenser used -unusual Imagination, camera angles and nerve to get really excellent ^ota, far from the ordinary flre scenes. Par showed initiative in coverage of spy trials' In New York. Cameras not bel|ig allowed in the courtroom, reel shows Its photog being turned away by a guard and then Introduces a femme artist who subbed for him. Gal's drawings are shown and ex- plained. Herb. Just Another Jnngle Hollywood, March 17. Tarzan leaps from one jungle to another, this time with Sol Lesser as his, trainer and RKO as releasing outlet for two pictures. Johnny WelssmuHer Is moving out of his old Metro forest after a long tenancy apd Maureen O'SulIlvan goes along as the femme lead.