Variety (Apr 1942)

Wednesdaj, April 15, 1943 MIGHT CLUB REVIEWS 47 Night Club Reviews VERSAILLES, N. Y. •VersoillesMcmoiTa,' stanei by Mor- ierv FieWng, toith Don Cummings, mima. Cox, Olaen & Shirley, Patricia King, The Vocaleers (George MltcheZl, Rondolph Symonette, Or- vllXe Race and Norman Ruvell), Ver- Sighs (6), AfoitmilHan Bergere and Panchito Orchestras; special songs by Miss Fielding, and Charles Barnes; costumes by Miles White; $2.50 ond |3.50 mlnlmvms. Versailles' productions, okay right from the beginning of the policy at • this w.k. ■ restaurant, continue to show improvepnent. That's to the credit of stager Marjery Fielding, who comes up with the prettiest eye- and-ear picture to date in this spring edition. ^ The draught- of the Versailles' show policy BQd rep for cuisine got a strong test opening night (9) and delivered a Sunday punch. Despite the patriotic-charity opening of the Ringling circus at the Garden, and In face of the sloppiest April weather the town has had in years, this spot, had a virtual sellout for the dinner show.- Aside from a few and expected opening-night rough spots, lilemoirs' played most promisingly. A good roster of specialty acts Is back- grounded by what looks like a com- pletely new complement of Ver- Sighs, six beauts who have been an exploitation feature ever since the Versailles followed the production trend in N Y. niterles. MUes White came up with an excellent costuming ]ob and Miss Fielding mixed all the Ingredients, Including the songs by herself and her husband, Charles Barnes, into a palatable souffle that play» In two parts, dinner and sup- per, and a potpourri of both at 2 a.m. ' Opening Is a clever novelty that has forthright Wllma Cox refurbish- ing the Ver-Stghs, changing them over from hom-rimmed secretary, farmerette, 14th street moU, cigarette girl, etc.. Into glamour girls. This segues into Olsen and Shirley, cute and' clicking aero-contortion mixed dance team, and then Into a southern «reduction number utilizing George [itcheU singing the Fielding-Barnes tune, "My Dixie Belle,' which brings Patricia King on for a neat high- kick routine. Other three Vocaleers follow with a medley of Dixie tunes • which Introes the Ver-Sighs In strik- ing gowns In the cotton-country ' motif. A strong feature of this en- tire number is the excellent voices of the male quartet; notably Mitchell. Don Cummings, the rope-twirling comic. Is this show's funster, but he was bitten by Dpening-nl^t ner- vousness and was throwing a num- ber of his gags away. Once past the tremors and working more slowly, Cummings should bang over as well here as he has elsewhere. 'He's got excellent style and good material, is young and clean-cut This isn't his flr^ time In a.class spot (he recently clicked at the Rainbow Room) and its surprising how well his -rope tricks go with a smart audience. ' For the finale. Miss Fielding dipped Into the South American, plus an- other special tune. 'It Looks Like the Latins Are In.' Miss Cox does the singing in good fashion, Miss King contributes a modified flamenco dance, while the Ver-Sighs do the Samba dancing. It's another colorful and well -costumed production bit,, but the ending can be punched up more. Maximilllan Bergere plays the show in his usually smooth, flawless manner, al§o alternating with Pan- chlto's rhuraba crew for the cus- tomers' innings on the dance floor. Both bands are fixtures here. Scho, BLUE ROOM, N. O. (HOT«L KOOSEVELT) New Orleani, April 10. Johnny long's Orch (12), Willie Shore, fiillingtons, Lester Oman, Bob Hoxuton It Helen Young; minimum $1.90 weekends. Paced by Johnny Long's band and backed solidly by a group of good acts, the new 'accent on youth' show in the town's top nocturnal rendezvous IS entertaining all the vfay and main- tains the nitery's high standard. Although well-known here through highly-rated recordings,- this Is first time in New Orleans for liOng's crew, which has carved niche for Itself in the east. With a style less frenzied than some of the bands which have preceded it, the combo registers across a wider variety of tastes, winning over mor^ than file hepcats. . ■ Long, personally, Impresses '&s a modest maestro who plays the violin yn the southpaw side. The orchestra IS smooth, listenable and capable of satisfying for dancing or playing for the floor Acts. Arrangements that reflect, present-day jive tendencies are adeptly handled so as to enhance the enjoyment of dancers. Long's band has two topnotch vocalists. Bob Houston, with a Bing Crosbylsh quality, was given a nice hand for singing of "Blue Skies' and •Blues In the Night,' assisted by band's glee club. Helen Young has a low-pitched voice well suited for niterles and registered big with first- nighters with her singing of 'Rose O'Day' and in a novel arrangement of 'Daddy.' WiUle Shore, singing and dancing comedian, tops the floor show. The crowd was a little slow in warming up to his brand of comedy, but be- fore he was through, he had them asking for more. He does satirical impressions, dances on table tops and clowns his way all over the swank room with hilarious results. His takeoff on Pat Rooney is a gem and nets him plenty of palmpounding. The Billingtons, a couple of kid hoofers, do some nifty tap routines which they perform skillfully to gamer their share of the bows. Gal is cute and has nifty chassis. Lester Oman is skilled pupeteer Who makes his dolls behave like humans. His Little Old Flower Lady, who distributes blooms'vto the ringsiders, is a masterpiece of string manipulation, as is the dance of the skeletons. Liuzza. HOTEL PIERRE, N. Y. (COTILLION ROOM) Yvonne Bou'vter, Leoruird Elliott uiifh Myra Jurist, Myrus (2), Stanley Melba's Orch (6); $1.50 and $2.50 minimum. The Pierre's Cotillion Room may finally come to lifCj after a long (and costly) struggle, with this new show. It's a good blend, and the most un- suspecting component may turn out to be the real draw. He's Myrus, a somewhat amazing telepathist who started his stint rather negatively and wound up getting the class clientele clamoring for his private seances. The gaff in Myrus' routine is beside the point, but when he reels off names and places so glibly as to astound an audience whose IQ for those things may be accepted as well above par, he becomes a cinch. The other highlight Is Leonard Elliott (New Acts), newcomer mimic hailing from legit, whom Ben and Herman Bemie are sponsoring. • Then -there's Yvonne Bouvier, a Frenchy songstress with a mediocre routine that needs re-edltlng. Her personal charm can almost make 'em buy the chopsticks jingles, and like it, but, apart from her 'Amour' opener, she's from Dixie with 'Day Dreaming' and 'I Said No.' Latter, strictly one-punchline lyric. Is now for the memory book, and no matter how much saucy accent the Gallic chlrper gives It, It's still a waste of talent. True, she, along with other pre- Vichy chanteuses, are now under wraps. In a tlnie when even menus eschew French cognomens; but even if there's no way of giving it a "Free French' slant, she could pick her catalog better. This doesn't gainsay her pert personality appeal nor her vocal delivery; it's because of these' assets that Miss Bouvier should en- hance, not handicap. Her talents. Stanley Melba's band holds over, and It's still plenty OK for hoof-and- sound ease. Abel. LA CONGA, N. Y. Las Congettes (6), Gil Gftlvan DoTicers (3), Cfuili Guili, Harriet LoTic, Al Bemie, Jack Harris Orch (9), Woro Morales Rbumba Band; $2-$2.50 minimum. Some one of these days a musical comedy producer will .'discover' Al Bernie. A performer who is stIU a youngster chronologically, yet a veteran—with the polish that goes with it—by . professional standards, he's the headliner on this show, and rightly so. There's no one on this layout who' can even reihotely ap- proach his glibness, comedy fol-de- rol and general entertainment values. Which, however, is no unfavorable reflection against the rest of the set- up. The others all contribute to the excellence 'of this well-rounded bill. Where Bemie formerly relied on straight mimicry, he's more recently eschewed that njedium considerably for a comedy turn whose clicko pro- pensities are best measured by his casual, assured manner of putting over his gags. ■ He's too good a mimic to have en- tirely dropped the impersonations; he still draws plenty of laughs with his finely etched satirical sketches on notables, whether they be those of the entertainment industry or poli- tics. His mimicry, however, is rele- gated by a rambUng act that defies description because of its all-inclu- sive mien. 4 For Bernie sings, after a fashion. He'll knock off a parody at a seemingly Impromptu moment that the Initiates would suspect actually required plenty of thought And his gagging is seemingly end- less. , . Rest of the bill Is a good buy for the $2 $2.50 minimum, and includes Gil Galvan and his two femme dancers, clicko in two appearances; Harriet Lane, mike singer who regis- ters neatly; Guill Gulli, exceptionally clever magico; Jack Harris' and Noro Morales' bands, the former for the straight customer dancing and the show, with the latter for the one- two-three stomp. Boniface Jack Harris Is seldom on the bandstand with his outfit these days, with the' task of running the joint keeping him busy enough, but he does manage to' pace the outfit oc- casionally with his violin. Biz is at a steady gait, with the word-of-mouth on the generally good shows being a factor in the up- beat Naka. BEACHCOMBER, N. Y. Erik Rhodes, Lenny Kent, Ros- siltanos (2), Lila Borbour, Chinito, Virginia Vaughn, Jeonette Garrette, Andrews iSisfers. (2), Andre Monice Orch (8), Cordobo Orch (5); $1.50 minimum weekends. With Andre Monice orch (replac- ing Salazar) back after stint ^ an NBC house band, and Lenny Kent as emcee plus the Rossilianos (New Acts), ballroom dancers, spot has nucleus from which a more adequate fioor show can ,be built . Kent impresses 'as a .pleasant emcee and comic with some click material already on hand and likely possibilities as he matures. He ha^ facility of expression, a ready sup- ply of apparent 'ad lib' gags and a good sense of timing. His 'Hold Tight' routine, novelty medley built around several pop tunes, could be improved upon. He's co-author of the 'Hold Tight' song. Erik Rhodes, from pictures, who's also been around in vaudeville, is still badly in need of material. Cur- rently sings Cole Porter's 'Every- thing' and wound up at show caught with a song about an 'International Heel,' giving history of a cafe society gigolo on a matrimonial merry-go- round. Rhodes' unorthodox dialect routine lends itself to special comedy material which is lacking in quality. Lila Barbour, singer, registers mildly with such numbers as 'Darl- ing Daughter,' novelty version of 'River Stay "Way' and 'Arthur Mur- ray Taught Me Dancing.' Andrews Sisters (2), lively tappers In abbre- viated bright yellow costumes, flU opening spot nicely. For the rest, lineup is rounded out with (^hinita, in South American singing and cooch; Jeanette Garrette, (New Acts), dancer, and Virginia Vaughn, terper, whose dimaxer tap- ping out tunes on xylophone salvages an otherwise uninteresting act O)rdoba rhumba orch alternates with Andre Monice's band for dansa- pation. Beverly Patemo Is slated to be added to lineup this week, plus a line of girls recruited from various musi- cal shows on Broadway. Mori. LYNCH'S, PHILLY (WALTON BOOF) Philadelphia, April 3. Sammy Walsh, Chuck & Chuckles, Nancy Healy, Trixie, Castaine & Barry, Line (14), Eddie.DeLuca Orch (5) , Terry 5isfers Rhumba Band (6) , Helene Heath, Rose Gallo; no cover charge, $1.50-$2 minimum. It's the first time in more than five years that Sammy Walsh has played a nitery in Philly, and from the re- action of his hearers when caught he's stayed away too long. The comic (he's acquired a bit of a paunch since he last played here) has developed a style of his own. His only failing, it seems, is that some of his gags are a little too subtle for a Philly night-club audi- ence. In addition to piloting the floor show, Walsh sings a couple of nov- elty tunes, including his hilarious 'Mrs. Piffingwell's Tea' and 'I'm Breaking My Back for Beck's,' the lament of a shoe clerk. For a wind- up of the show, Walsh does a bur- lesque of Fred Waring's glee club, using a deadpan Cuban busboy (Louis Hernandez) as a stooge. Its a very funny bit Chuck and Chuckles, latter being a new replacement to the team, are expert at terping and -comedy. Hie colored boys, togged out In 'zoot suits,' have an ingratiating way of presenting their stint which went over with these customers. Trixie, blonde juggler, is plenty clicko, as.sisted by her sister, Hilda, an oomphy brunet Latter shouldn't hide behind stage' posts as she's an ornament on any nitery floor. Nancy Healy is In the teeofT slot with an excellent dance routine fea- turing taps, fancy pirouettes, and ballet steps. Holding over is the ballroom team of Castaine and Barry, who solo In a couple of turns as well as fronting the production numbers with the line, which is In itis usually top form. A new addition to the bandstand Is the rhumba band led by the Terrv Sisters. The gals, a couple of red- heads, are hep to the Latin jive and continue tirelessly to wiggle with the best of the Latlno.s during their entire stay for the lulls. The show music Is handled by the Walton or- chestra led by Eddie DeLuca, pianist who took over the baton when Sonny Fontaine left for the Coast and pic- tures. Tickling the keys and warbling in the cocktail lounge are Rose Gallo and Helene Heath. The lounge is now under the direction of Peggy Loeb, who formerly operated the roof. House was surprisingly well pa- tronized for Good Friday. Shal. LA MARTII^IQUE, N. Y. Raye & Naldi, Archie RobbiTis & Sfan Ross, Peggy Newton, Mar- tinigueens (8), Emile Coleman Orch (11).. Ever since Danny Kaye clicked here and packed 'em in nightly, the Martinique has had an entertain- ment reputation to live up to. With the Mary Raye and Naldi brilliant ballroomology as a strong peg, the present bjll establishes itself nicely, with few weaknesses. Miss Raye and Naldi have worked out amazing expressions of the dance that are brimful of imagi- nation, grace and 'Smoothness. "The pair's terping and extraordinary lifts and spins ring the bell constantly. And the showmanly idea of substi- tuting recordings and poetical read- ings for orchestral accompaniment doubles the effectiveness of their turn. , Archie Robblns m.c.s, then hooks up with Stan Ross. He makes little headway with gag sessions in early spots. Impersonations of various singers doing 'Jim' and a takeoff on an oldtlme song and dance man are better. His work with Ross is the meat of his efforts. Robblns vocally impersonates sundry personalities while Ross acts out the parts In panto fashion, fitting lip movements to Robblns". utterances. It's well-timed and will be better. Peggy Newton has a-nice way of selling her songs which her voice unfortunately doesn't measure up to. Ifs metallic and lac'ks range. How- ever, as a nitery songstress, where looks count she's okay. Her tunes In this instance could have been bet- ter selected; Therell Be (Ganges Malle' opened, then-'Blues Night,' and 'Barrelhouse Bessie,' new rhythm mdody which proved best Martlniqueens, Adele Jergens, Audrey Westphal, Adrlanne Moore, Iris Marshall, Norma Rlchter, Char- lotte Lorraine, Vera Devlne and Betty Apple, go through three routines, all costumed in a way that adds to the visual appeal of the blonde lookers. Routines are timely too, first treating with the circus; second, a samba; third, priorities. 'Emile Coleman's orchestra dishes iip smooth dance music and ably backs tiie show. ' Wood. El Grillon, Mexico City Mexico City, April 8. Rio V Rita, Hernandez Bros, and Rafael Hemaridez Orch (1). This select supper ~ ■ nla club in the fashionable Colonla Napoles district some .distance from downtown but well worth the trip, has reopened after renovations that are in good taste. It's an intimate spot one of the frontliners here. Place has a definite American atmosphere and is making a strong appeal to U.S. folk, and the Mexican social set. Estab- lishment is conducted by Manolo del Valle, veteran local restaurateur who also runs Manolo's, high-grade downtown spot and George Dolenz, formerly of Giro's Hollywood. Dolenz is directly in charge. There is a matching of pop prices and auality. Show Is very good. It was booked exclusively by Ramon ReachI, now doublng wth Renita in their stand- ard ballroom dance act. Rio y Rita (Fred and Sonya Romero) are a smash with their novelty magic routine and comedy balirooming. Rofero uses to good effect a live dove in his maglclaning. Mrs. Romero, a looker, is excellent sup- port for the magic and Is a nifty hoofer in her own right Hernandez Bros., Colombian trio of musicians, who have worked a lot here in recent months, sing to the accompaniment of their own guitars. They're highly popular. Jorge Reyes, Argentinian currently playing . In Mexican piz, is the m.c, doing very well at that and doubling in singing tangos to the guitar music of the Hernandez threesome. Orchestra is satisfactoryiT render- ing smooth swing. Several players double as song soloists with good re- sults. Trade good at this catching. Doug. smasheroo he's scoring at the VUla, Talent, and not place of residenc*, Is dqjng that He's in better voice than ever, cracking those high onps right on the nose, neatly mixing ballads, pops and'the inevitable Gaelic arias and working to the ringsiders as if he were one of them. New ease and naturalness have also come into Higgins' worli lately. Earl and Josephine Leach (New Acts) are an A-1 dancing team, get- ting away from conventional ball- room groove and specializing in 'cute' routines. Mob here couldn't get enough of them wheii caught Also a standout Is Jack Spot, unicy- clist, especially when he's working on the high .wheel. It's much showier on a floor than on a stage . because of the proximity and Spot, With a face that's a natural for low • comedy, works In plenty of laughs with his facial pantomime. Hightower Trio are two boy's and ■ a girl, in for only three nights and doubling from their dance chores in' 'Panama Hattle' at Nixon Cafe. They're good-looking, with plenty on the ball and a cinch for cafes as well as musicals, In .'which they're already established. Lola and Andre rhumba line of four femmes and two boys Is one of the best ensembles to show around town In a long time. They're all good-looking (film scouts would do well to look over a couple of the gals), they're dressed flashily and routines are strikingly arranged, with two girls pairing off with one man In most of the stuff. For a finish, they, go to town on a conga line with half. dozen audience recruits, doing the one-two-three-kicks in teams as well as collectively. Mark Lane, who does the m.c.Ing, sticking merely to straight announce- ments, also batons the Covato orclk latter concentrating on hosting and management. For a five-piece outfit, it certainly makes a lot of music. Good music, too. Cohen. , Saranac Lake By Happy Benway Saranac, N.Y., April 14. William 'Whitey' Matthews, ex- Broadway hoofer and a newcomer here, has added so much weight that be vows the scales are fixed. Frankie Parker; ex-trombone player with Bryce LaVigne's orch, now with. Uncle Sam somewhere' in ' the heart of Texas. Dr. Edgar Mayer, former heaid medico of the will' Rogers, and Harold Rodner were weekend' visitors. Margie Regan, an outstanding comeback of the lodge, was called home to New York to bedside her ' ailing mother. Walter Loew's Conley all hopped over the surprise visit of his zrau. He's on the upbeat Harry Felngold has-progressed so much that he will soon go on un- limited exercise. Colin T'racy now a member of the 'up' gang. ' (Write to Oioie who are ill). 1 ' ' ] ^ Frankel Joins Lyons Henry Frankel has .joined the A. 8c S. Lyons office to handle theatre and night club bookings. He was formerly ''with' the WOR artists- bureau. VILLA MADRID, PITT Pittsburgh, April 9. Etzi Covato Orch (5), Mark Lane, Peter Higgins, Earl & Josephine Leach, Hightower Trio, Jack Spot, Lola & Andre. Dancers (6); 50c cover. • Crack show Etzl Covato has on deck currently, about the best veteran nitery owner and musician has come up with in a moon. It's headed by Peter Higgins, and the good-looking Irish tenor has always been a prime fave. in his home town. Higgins, however, doesn't have to de- pend on civic pride for the Vice Scandal -Coatlnaed from pace *3- Investlgated by the county prose- cutor. -J With policewomen, dancehall In- spectors and churches cracking down on the entire night club front, the worried bonlfaces are hastily adopt- ing stricter measures to satisfy the. clean-up crusaders. Majority ate placing the following sign on their windows: 'No liquor sold to anybody under 21 — minors not admitted.' Walters and bartenders are now give carte blanche to throw out any youngster who looks green behind the ears. Impresarios of several top- shelf bistros have warned.their en- tertelners, regaridless of color, that their contracts will be nulled If they are caught nilxlng with customers either at the place of business or outside. Art Warren, backer of Cabin Club and president of Night Club Owners' Association, called an emergency meeting to discuss ways of keeping adolescents out of cafes. Dangers of a prohibition movement in Ohio were pointed ou^ by Warren, who 'warned members that 'Proprietors must police their clubs themselvea for their own protection.' ' 'Unpleasant and awkward situa- tions' like the Lindsay's Sky-Bar case could be avoided, one of the associations' -execs steted. If Ohio adopted a liquor-enforcing measure such as Is enforced in Indiana. In that state a person must show a li- cense, which costs 25c, to show he Is of legal. age before a bartender Is permitted to seU him a drink, War- ren declared that Cleveland nitery owners are in favor of. such a state law and will campal^ for It.