Variety (May 1942)

48 BOUSE REVIEWS Wtiutaiajf Hay 6, 1942 RITZ, N. Y. (•HABLEM CAVAI.CADE') Ed Sullivan presents all-colored vaude revue at tfie Ritz,- N, roith Noble Sisile, Peters Sisters, Moke & Poke, Floiimov Wilier, Una Mae Carlisle, Tim Moore, Joe Byrd, Red & Curley, Hawleu k Lee, Pops & Louie, Miller Bros. & Lois, 5 Crack- erjacka. Win! & Bob Johnson, Gin- gersnaps, Amanda Randolph, Tom Fletcher, Jimmie Daniels, Garland Wilson, £duMird Steele; dances staced by Leonard Harper; costumes, Veronica; $220 top. The vaude revues, 'Priorities' at the 46th Street theatre and 'Keep ICm Laughing,' 44th Street, are rid- ing high on Broadway, but there is some question whether the colored outfit, ^Hvlem Cavalcade,' can also turn, the trldi because of a $2^ top without the name power of tiie other two shows. Colored, lineup has names as far as Harlem is concerned, and there is a fair content ot en- tertainment, though the show is very weak on sketches. Attempts to bol- ster that department - delayed the opening at the Ritz until Friday (1). House, like the others, is a leglter but hasn't been used for shows In recent seasons. It is of compara- tively limited capacity and hardly figures as a desirable spot Ed Sullivan, the.N. Y. Daily News Broadway columnist, came forth with the idea. for'CaTraacade,' setting the. nod ■ffoirias'miKt^ partner of Clifford C. Fischer in the profitable 'Priorities' end "Langhing* troupes. 'Cavalcade' can hardly be said to have competition from the colored vaude shows at the Gaiety and Eltinge, former burlesque houses. Latter two are 55c tops and not doing so well at the b.o. Simivian, appearing at the opening Of the premiere's second part, ex- pressed his admiration for colored troupers and NoUe Sissle, composer- warbl'er'bandleader, wiio teamed with the colmnsist in staging 'Caval- cade.' Sulliyan has appeared in vaude now and then, while last sea- son he rescued 'Crazy With the Heat' from total extinction and kept it go- ing <for some time. Sissle followed'Sullivan, recalling the first sock colored revue, 'Shuf- fle Alms,' whose' score he 'wrote with Euble Bldce and which started a.vogue of Harlem shows downtown. That cued' in one ^of the 'Snuffle' standout tunes, Tm Just Wild About- Harry,' with a dusky chorus hunch of 16 behind him. Right after tiiat come Pops and Louie, 'who can really hoof, worldng. in their unique setup of drums. Classiest girl performer of the unit, Una Mae Carlisle, is then neat- ly introduced by a light-skinned looker. Slim SCss. Carlisle accom- panies herself at the Ivories, giving several numbers, her composition, *Walkin' By the River,' a sweet mel- ody, easily being best. Floumoy Miller (of the'Shuffle Along'comics. Miller and Lyles) does fairly well with a routine,. 'Drafting An An- swer,' but a sketch, 'Another Policy Game,' comes near bogging do'wn the second part. even though all the •how's comedians participate—Miller, Johnny Dee, Tim 'Moofe, Joe Byrd, Amanda ' Randolph and the Gingersnaps. Fortunately, the excel- lent and 'weU-appearlng dance trio, miller Brothers and Lois, pep' up ihi performance next to the finale en' semble. It isn't surprising for a graveyard scene to be included, as jsuch inter- ludes have been present in nearly all colored revues. Here it is called 'Midnight Sonata,' with.Moore and Byrd sitting by the tombstones. Skit seems somewhat better than most others, but not a wow by any means. •Irish Justice' is another sketch out of the trunk, it also coming in the first part Moore is on the bench and flirts with lawyer Maude RuS' sell The hefty Peters Sisters were con- siderably liked in the first part and they introduced "Pushin' the Sand' for the first-act finale, when sand is . spread for all the steppers, of whom there are many. Moke and Poke, Winl and Bob Johnson are among (he scoring dance combinations. On the warbling end Sissle is on high Jritta a .patriotic number,- while immle Daniels is also a top con- tolbutor, with Garland Johnson and Edward Steele at the pianos. Sullivan has done a pretty good lob. So has Sissle, who is leading his band in the nearby nitery, the Dia- mond Horseshoe. Were the show ipotted in a larger theatre with a f^odified top, its chances would be better. Ibee. of 'em, are shapely lookers, and the acts, although some of them are off the cob, won loud applause opening night when seats, as usual at the Golden Gate, were at a premium. The dancers are intriguing in a can- can, an Indian nimiber, a patriotic finale, and a sarong opener (a coin- cidence). Masters and Rollins do ]nst about a litOe of everything. Masters does a stutter routine, hoofs a little, and joins his partner in clowning that arises from her double jointed pro- pensities. They get by. Hal Sher- man's mimicry and' his burlesque-tap dancing are plenty okay, but some of his jokes could stand refurbishing. Vic Hyde plays four trumpets at once with aplomb, and also per- forms on other instruments,. with a running line of gags. He's as stand- ard as gold—and just as popular. The Rio Brothers' song end dance act differs little from the traditional (the com), but San Francisco must be in that certain mood, for the boys got over.' Strongmen Martin and Allen, plus Les Scott, with his pogo stick, also get over. , Sherm. STANLEY, Pm GOLDEN GATE, S. F. Son Francisco, May 1. 'Beachcombers of 1942' fcaturiTio Hal Sherman, Jlto Bros., Vic Hyde, Masters & Rollins, jyfartin Allen, Les Scott, Lee Kelson, Hudson St. Claire tiancers: 'Butch Minds the Baby' (U). Any relation of the name to the nevue is purely coincidental, but 'Beachcombers,' nevertheless, emerges as a girl show that doesn't need grass skirts to get over the gen- eral idea. ' The Hudson St Clalr dancers, 35 Pittsburph, May 1. Alvino Rev Orch (17) with King Sisters (4), Sfceets Herfurt, Btllw ShaUen, Dick Morgan, Eddie Julian, Spencer tc Foreman, Jean, Jack & Judy; 'Joan of ParisT (RKO). Stanley has one of Its most enter- taining bands in. months in the Alvino Rey Outfit Horace Heidt alumnus h^ come along fast and he has a gang that's currentiy made-to- order for the presentation houses. Miislcally, they^ right - up there with the best ot them, but Re|y's also seen to it th^t he's addlUonally. for- tified' in comedy and. novel^;' in those departments he leaves little to be desired. Of' course,, the King Sisters, who left Heidt along with Rey, are a big heln,. too. A' crack quartet girls have everything, looks, class, voices and loads of salesmanship. They're in the closing slot here, and at the getaway show today could Have stayed on forever. Mob simply wouldn't let 'em go. Foursome's ar- rangements, are right out of the top drawer and those guitar obligatos Rey gives them for backgrounds cer- tainly don't hurt any either. Band's lineup reads five saxes, four trombones, three trumpets, guitar,, drums, bass, piano and Rey, of course, on the electric strings.' If s a solid front for either sweet or hot and Rey keeps his catalog, neatly balanced^ Important too, is the fact that he has a .first-rate comed;r crew, which iai't surprising in view ,of leader's immediate backgroimd. Slceets Herfiirt is a crack do'wn and couple of others, lirummer particu- larly, can toss 'em up fast.. Latter has a swell spot early in the show, when he comes down front for a skin-beating sesislon and refuses to quit until the gang takes, his kettles away from him one by one end, finally, even his sticks. Then he starts tapping them out with his feet Bey's .guitaric wizardry is dis- played smartiy first in. 'My Buddy* and. later in 'Soiig of the Islands,' and a comic opera idea wiU be a' high- spot when, if s polished more. If s a good idea, and a funny one, but needs editing. Two outside acts are both socko, Jean, Jack and Judy, two 'girls and a boy, have an acrobatic turn thafs off the beaten, path and it has the look of those slick continental music hall 'varieties. One of the femmes is also an okay comedienne, but laughs are subjugated to the pre- dston rolls and tumbles they execute. Spencer and Foreman Imock out three showy hoof routines with Dlenty of stuff, finishing off 'with a jitterbug flirtation thafs cute and flashy. Boy and girl act as if^they don't care whether they get paid or not so much of a kick do they seem to be getting out of what they're doing. VThole show, In fact is in same vein. , Cohen. ORIENTAL, CHI Chicago, May 5. Jan Garber Orch (15),—Alice Kavan, Whitaons (i). Jack Morshall; 'Jimmy ValejitiTie" (Rep). This band show is fast, tuneful and smooth. Every act Is a powerhouse of entertainment Alice Kavan scores big and is a real eyeful 'witfa her fine Spanish cape number. Miss Kavan handles it with grace, skill and showman- ship. Her tap routine In blue is also effective. They hardly would let her off the stage here. Jack Marshall is a clean-cut comedy hit with his chatter, develop- ing right along and keeping his ma- terial polished brightly. The Whit- sons score, too, on their risley turn, aided by good showmanship and some new twists. Garbet, of course, has been a Chi- cago favorite for more than 10 years and continues to rate highly with the Chicago ticket-buyers. And he continues to turn in an excellent per- formance. He has a good, solid or- chestra and went over dicklly. Bi2 good at the first show Saturday (2). Loop.. STATE, N. Y. "Water Follies of 1942' totth Bus- ter Crabbe, HopMns Tiolns, Jim Mart, Larry Gristoald, ChatUe Dlfhl, Joe Peterson, Joe Seymour, Dill]/ Dollies (4), Line (10); Gil Maison, Sora Ann UcCabe, Jimmy t Mildred Mulcav; 'Butch Minds the Baby* (V). State opened Thursday morning with tiie 'Water FoIUes' unit of crack divers and swimmers headed by Buster Crabbe, plus one extra act Next show Sara Ann McCabe was added and. for the following show Jimmy and Mildred Mulcay were brought in to bolster the occasion- allx entertaining; but slow-moving tank tura Even with the additions the State is below its usual par. If the aquatic unit were cut con- siderably here and for future book-r ings, and used' as a single act instead of the major portion of the show, it might go over. As is the tank is too small and allows too little visibility of the swimmers-.inside it Expert' diving is interesting, but even that gets monotonous when doled out in big doses. Expert stroking could be of Interest too, but not when two or three stnAes- enables the swimmer to negotiate the distance from wall to wall. Highlights of the act are Crabbe's exhibition of the evolution of swim- ming strokes; crack diving of Charlie mour, ciSmefd^ plunguig oi Junmy Rice, Cld Canale, Frank Foster and Iiarry Griswald,. who comprise the DiUy Dallies, and' the drunk bit by Grlswald, which should be shortened considerably. If only those bits were used, along, with, perhaps; the div- ing of femme Corky GiUison'for a bit of s.o., the act mi^t have some punch even though overloaded with males.' Miss Gillsbn's work doesn't amount to much, but she ought to wear a swim cap while doing it; there's nothing , so bedraggled look- ing as long wet4iair. Line work of 10 girls at the open- ing and' closing is 'extraneous and useless - except for dressing^ Six gal swimmers who go tMough 'various formations midway are aho useless except for the appeal of the. form divine. Their work can't be seen ex- cept occasional glimpses through the glass front of the tank, and even tiiaf s blurred. . Gil Maison, his monkey and group of trained dogs lead off the added acts. His comedy (hatier and tricks were falrlv well received at this viewing but deserved more. His is far from the best act of its type, but the handstands of the hounds and monkey plus amusing details are .pleasing. Miss McC^abe exhibits good voice but she gets off on the 'wrong foot by attempting 'Arthur Murray Taught Me Bancing,' a novelty thafs hardly suitable to her operatic-style voice. 'Everytiiing I Love' shows her off better, followed by a Rudolf Frlml medley of 'Indian Love Call,' -'Sympathy,' etc., all of which are cut too short. Patrons weren't insistent on an encore but she gave one any- way. Jimmy, and Mildred Mulcay's har- monica bits were well received. Act hasn't been changed much; they, still start with their old gag, he out front she backstage. She does 'Chat- tanooga Choo-Choo,' now dated, alone, then the' two combine on 'Rhapsody in Blue,' 'Carnival of Venice' and gamer a neat hand. Bi? fair. Wood. 20TH CENTURY, BUFF Buffolo, Moy 1. Red Norvo Orch, Jimmy Durante, Mildred Boiley, Chester Fredericks & Gloria Lane, Nancy Healey; Ray Allen & Fran Snyder; 'Volley of the Sun' (RKO). As band show entertainment goes, this triple-threat production is plenty tops. It's Durante's first Buffalo ap- pearance within memory, or at least since the Great Nose has been in neons, and at each performance opening day he left 'em standing in the aisles yelling for more. The Great Schnoz's current workout is a combination rodeo, riot and revolu- tion. It packs a terrific wallop every minute and holds the mob hanging onto every gag and gyration. The No. 1 Proboscis sweats himself into a socko reception, generating' at the same time a kind of audience en- thusiasm which Is all too infrequent in the modem pic parlors. The Red Norvo outfit impresses as a businesslike, musiciaiuy crew which, while short perhaps on polish and suavity, more than makes up for it in musical value. Two added turns, Chester Fred- ericks and Gloria' Lane, plus Nancy Healey, take care of the footolbgy. The Healey girl is easy and effective .in a varied tap routine while' the rapid ankling of Fredericks and Miss Lane proved a solid slam with the patrons. Fredericks' comedy hoofing 16 amonc the best caught here in a long time. The band's 'Jersey Bounce' is tick- lish and rousing. Special credit goes to the 4rums, piano and bass for their compelling rhythms. 'Walk Without You Baby,' with smooth ef- fects from the tromb and tnmipet sections^ brings On Ray Allen for • prettily Intoned diorus, after whldi Fraa Si^er cairlet it alonf with 'White OUH* In baritone. Koriro'a fine xylophone is In for 'After YouV* Gone,' followed by a slick comedy novelty encore. As alway^ Mildred Bailey (Mrs. Norvo) delivers her vocals ritfit into the custofners' laps, while she keeps their palms free and working. As a chanteuse. Miss Bailey has her own idiom, and her 'Mandy Is Two' is in it' as is her standard -'Rocldn' Chair.' A couple of lighter ntmiberL including 'Arthur Murray,' found high favor. The Schnoz winds' up the proceed- ings^ plunging in at hiph pitch and ending 'up in paiidemomum. He en- lists the services of the stage and pit bands, the audience and a small army of stooges' along the way, 4>lus the audience, and everyone appears to enjoy it Bumm. - KElTirS BOSTON Boston, May 2. Johnnie CScaf) Davis Orch, with LynTie Allison; Beatrice Kay, Jerry Lester, Jinx Falhenburg, Martez & DeUta; 'Yanks in Tnnidod' (CoO. This is another' combo of band show end vaude done in the pattern that has proved so successful here "^mMi«*-Been unseen by any audience for almost three months.. * Johnnie ('Scat') Davis has a unique style of Informid, punchy conducting and shows off his scat singing late in the proceedings. The band is loud and socky. in its- own right and was doing a fair job of vaude accompani- ment when caught on- a matinee per- formance of the show's second day. Lynne Allison, its vocalist delivers Tangerine' in a dull, mooing man- ner. Beatrice Kay whams over with her Gay '90s style husky singing and had to beg off vben caught She's best in bet whacky version of •Daddy,' however, but the reper- toire of old-time faves,' same as sung when she was re'viewed here re- centiy at the Latin Quarter, is what wins over- for her. Jerry Lester seemed to be rationed on time, he could have continued in- definitely with his screwy chatter had he''not been drafted to- assist In the personal of Jinx Falkenburg, the ex-Powers -model turned actress and now, for vaude purposes, a singer, too. Unfortunately, they go in for one of those corny comedy love scenes that becomes somewhat bor- ing. But Miss Falkenburg takes everything in stride and gets by moderately well, particularly on her looks. Martez and Dellta score with their distinctive risley turn, pepped up by dance steps and the s.a. of the gal. Staunch biz Saturday, afternoon (2). Fox. CHICAGO, CHI^ Chicogo, May 1. Gene Krupo Orch (15) with Anito ODoy, Johnny Desmond, Roy Eldridge; Connee Boswell, Acro- maniacs (3), Joey Rardin;'The Fleet's. In' (Par). With marquee full ot names, the Chicago theatre this week has a good bin, topped by Gene Krupa's or- chestra and Connee BoswelT Pres- entation is augmented 'with two standard vaude turns, Acromaniacs and Joey Raxdln. Krupa starts off with his charac- teristic 'Drumboogie' bit, which more or less serves to Introduce the whole and turn, built around the leader's drums. It's a solid piece, with Krupa getting in some hot licks with the sticks. Johnny Des- mond next sings 'Miss You.' He has nice pipes but could show more per- sonality. Acromaniacs, three guys, are neat looking, have nice outfits and radiate plenty of enthusiasm in their sbck acros. Band bit'next finds Roy Eldridge and Anita O'Day singing and jiving to 'Uptown Rhythm.' Eldridge, col- ored trumpeter of band, blows a mean bit of stuff and sends solidly. Joey Rardin gives various inmres- stons of musical Instruments wlUi his mouth. Following this he handles a neat trick built around auto horns. Does all the sounds and has a dever line of chatter to fill in. He closes with dramatic bit built around Jimmy Cagney, whom he resembles. Acting and impersonations okay, with material well prepared. i Krupa signs off with his arrange- ment of 'American Bolero.' It's made to order for him, and the or- chestra handles it nicely. Miss Boswell is the outstanding smash of the show. She came on to a tremendous reception and went off to an ovation that halted the pro- ceedings. She was dynamite from start to finish and had to do three encores, with the crowd stlU stomp- ing and whistling for more. Business okay at third show Friday (1). Loop. MUSIC HALL, N. Y. Pafrlda Boumian, Paul Haakon Lortn HottehbecJe, SUvia Brema. Selma Xayt, Frank Paris, Ballet Corps, Choral JCnsemble, Rocfcettes, Music Holt Symph with £mo Ropee conductitHi; "We Were Danctno* (M-0>, retileweit In 'Variety,' Jan. ai, '42. With the exception of the terplng ot ,FatricIa Bowman and Paul HaaJcon, the Music Hall's current stage show is a bit under standard for' thp house. There are no other outstanding acts nor notable num- bers by the regular Music Hall troupe, though the Rocketies do pro- vide one briefly electrifying mo- ment of their characteristic precision lacking; Physical production is a trifle less impressive than usual. Miss Bowman and Haekon, who teamed about a year ago, again dis- play their familiar brand of click ballet Their turn here is quite short but has unmistakable style and finish throughout Haakon skiUtully highllghta Miss Bowman's spectacu- lar talent and stage personality.- Their act follows duet by SUvia Brema and Loren HoUenbeick, who, as . an affectionate- old couple, reminisce of their youthful romance In their small town. Dancers then appear as the^ personification ot the ft-mSbel and ihi aaaW'SI^ a whole. Opening bit is a rather stereotyped, but smoothly danced, routine by the ■- ballet corps, as flower girls at a college commencement Selma Kaye then sings the leading part in the choral ensemble's elaborate arrange- ment of spirituals, after which Frank Paris- offers his familiar marionet act. Finale by 'ttio' Rockettes has a frontier-town setting and is. neatiy terped to an ornately disguised ver- sion of 'Heart of Texas,' with the en- tire, troupe on stage. >. Entire stage show runs 33 minutes. ^- Hobe. HIPP, BALTO. .Baltimore, May 2. Little Tough Guys (2), Dolly Dawn, Archie Robbi-ns, Kay, Kotya & Kay, Lowe, Hite &. Stanley. Felice lula house orch.. (13); 'The W;i/e Takes A Flyer' (Col). This is a well-routlned and easy- playi^ig layout. With house orch on stage and Archie Bobbins, a wel- com^newcomer here, marshaling the doings besides . holdlne down a potent spot'on his own, layout un- folds in mounting cUmax to a neat windup. Smart choices to fill the opening slot are Kay, Katya and Kay, two nice working males and a femme In legit ballroomology, somewhat of a novelty nowadays with the plethora of traversitles of this type of act going the rounds. ' It tAes a few moments, for the a:udience to realize that one of the team isn't going to take a prattfall or upset .a partner in a hopeless tangle. Trio works straight and gracefully In two rou- tines; the opener a smooth waltz featuring good lifts and throws- and the windup a ballet treatment of a ragdoU dance very .much in the groove. Musical background and business to cover change of shoes and costume for the femme Is nicely worked out Little Tough Guys follow and go over surprisingly well. Two lads with some film background don't waste time talking about that par- ticular phase. Splicing a brace of vocals into well timed comedy and knockabout boys build to a begoff. Without a band and strictly on her own, Dolly Dawn takes hold of a spot in one and whacks , out a series of vocals in masterful style. Open- ing with 'F. D. R. Jones,' a bit dated but okay as delivered, she follows with 'Won't Walk,' 'Apple Tree' and a medley .of 'Moonlight Cocktails' and 'Somebody Else,' earning an en- corespot for 'Authur Murray Taught Me Dancing.' -She knows')iow to sell a tune and make the most out of evfe'ry possibility. If &..2'can get the same musical backing, as provided by Felice lula and his combo of top men here, she's a cinch for any vaude or nitery date. Lowe, Hite and Stanley, trio made up of giant a midget and a normal- sized lad, clown around for consider- able laughter. Gags are skillfully timed and routine ofhoofing is okay. Make a nice novelty and hold pace for Robblns to close with his own spot Lad. has a pleasing style utiliz- ing mostiy fresh material. Gives the familiar gags a twl^t of his own and really gets into the groove with ap- pearance of his deadpan and emaci- ated looking stooge. Using him to act out in panto the vocal impres- sions he plpeS;. Into the darkened mike, he whacks out smart charac- terizations of the usual fi: . and radio personalities. Closer of Lincoln giving out with a timely spiel is surefire and just right for setup here. Robblns hasn't played here before but on strength of audience accept- ance when caught he should be able to repeat early and often, Biz okay Burm.