Variety (July 1942)

Wednesday* J11I7 22, 1942 STRAND, N. Y. Jerry Wald Oreh (16) with Anita Boyer; Ross Sisters (3), Val Setz, Judy Canova (2); 'Big Sho^ iWB) reviewed in 'Variety,' June 3, '42. This stage show and the usually good pull at the Strand ot Humphrey Bogart's name in 'Big Shot' should spell fine business this week. Running approximately an hour, the stage portion of the combination is nicely paced, smooth-running enter- tainment headed by Jerry Wald's orchestra, a newcomer being pushed along fasi Wald on this date gives every in' dication- that he possibly will win through tq an important level in the band field. Since being reviewed as a new band last winter at the Lin coin Hotel, N. Y. (from which it's currently doubling), the outfit has been sfrengthened surprisingly by influx of. crack musicians, new ar- rangements, etc. .This date is Wald's very first in any theatre, and while his handling of himself, in announce' ments and other details, is not as smooth as it could be, he shows up well and should overcome his sh1)rt- comings in short time. He's young and of good appearance. Composed of five sax, three trum- pets, three trombones, four rhythm, and the leader's clarinet, the outfit plays modem arrangements in solid manner. With good key men in each section its work is neat and full and based on good tempo. Wald's clarineUng has drawn comment In {he trade because of its similarity to Artie Shaw's, and this trick of his Is seemingly..welcomed rather than resented, by the patrons here. He has one fling at the top notes which draws big applause. Anita Boyer, who vocalled in the past for a string of top names, and had a fling as a soloist, is Wald's chlrper. She knows her way around and her confidence here seems steadying influence. She does. In nice voice, 'One Dozen Roses,' and the fave 'Jingle, Jangle,' but she and the band both would be better off if not attempting that semi-jive ar- rangement .of Gershwin's 'Simmier- tlme.' She and Wald have a trick of Sodelling and darineting in duo lat's good; ditto that Ught-flttlng-at the-bosom black gown she wore at this catching. Ross Sisters (New- Acts) young and crack contortionist trio. Is a strong opening act. Val Setz, jug- gler, rushes through a host of tricks with clothes, balls and clubs. He has so many stunts, some conventional and some unusual, that it's impossi- ble to detail them. He was a defi- nite click with this audience. Judy Canova's standard act closes, Working with a girl pianist she in- troduces as her sister, Annie, the comedian-singer works her way into earnest appreciation with a trio of tunes, including 'Benny the Beaver,' •I Ain't Got Nobody^ and 'NeUle Gray.* Midway she gives her ac compahlst room to hammer out a classical piece, w£ll done. Biz fine. Wood. ORIENTAL, CHI Chicago, Jvly 17. Al Donahue Orch (16), The Merry Macs, Ray & Trent, WMtnev Roberts & Co., Potti Farmsworth, Snooky Lanson; 'Parachute Wurse* (Col). Members of this week's Oriental stage jamboree whipped into the stage door just In time for the first show Friday morning. The Merry Macs flew in from Los Angeles, fol- lowing their Kraft Music Hall broad- cast, Ray and Trent and Whitey Roberts trained in from N. Y., Al Donahue's orchestra drove In from Denver, and the maestro himself, who has been 111 in the hospital there, came in via plane from Reno. The Merry Macs steal the show with their close harmony caroling. The slow-paced tenoring of Snooky Lanson, the pleasing ditties of Patti Farmsworth, difficult acrobatics by Ray and Trent, and juggling of Whitey Roberts; comedian-juggler, make for a lively and engaging not- weather bilL Band opens with a spirited, brassy Interpretation of 'Jersey Bounce.' Ray and Trent, a UtUe double-jointed contortionist and a husky young muscle man, offer excellent acrobat- ics and balancing, the pair working In perfect accord to create spectacu- lar patterns In the afr. PattI Farmsworth, a blonde pretty |n glittering white satin, pleases with Arthur Murry* and 'Who Wouldn't Love You.' Canary's voice Is sweet, although someone should teach her the Importance of proper gestures. Donahue.orchestra gives out with a Jam session built around a jitter- bug number called 'Go Light' which tney kick around with considerable fisto. Snooky Lanson, tenor, of- «£? a vocal of 'Sleepy Lagoon,' Which Is beginning to get tiresome, 2?* 'X.? Hoagy Carmlchael's old hits, 'Stardust' and 'Georgia.' He Sjcjres with 'Story of a Starry Wlghi' Dressed In Impeccable white, boy leaves a nice impression. GemUne novelty Is Whitey Rob- S!3?t ^'i". 'ancy waltz clogging while aWppIng rope, then whirls a nivt^ various coUege narching tunes. Second half of act la a plete-Jui spectators Invlt routine, random with from audience to lear\ art from the mas- ter. The turn is amusing from start to finish. „ band swings out with 'Bugle CaU Rag,' hot, brassy and loud. They then turn the tables and deUver a fine, subdued rendition of Brahm's 'LuUaby,', with saxes and muted trumpets under soft blue lighting- effective and decidedly different from the usual, popular stage-band presentation. Show stoppers are the Merry Macs, smging 'Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree,' 'Starlight,' 'Hey, Mabel,' Jingle Jangle,' a novelty number. Pass the Biscuits, Mirandy,' and with their own unique arrangement of Breathless' to a fanfare conclu- sion of a great show. Weather was hottest in years, 100 in the shade, and the air-cooled the- atre was packed solid for the second show (17). Loop. TOWER, K. C. Kansas City, July 18'. Tom O'Neal & Kathe Joyce, Marie Hollis, Reed & Dean, Golden Gate Trio, Dora ArXene Cole, Herb Six House Orch; 'Whispering Ghosts' (20fh) ond 'Through Different Eyes' (20th). HOUSE REVIEWS 89 A rather medium array of talent comes up with something more than a medium portion of entertainment. House reverts this week to policy of combining double- features with va- riety stage bill, aU for 30c, as an eight-day booking sandwiched be- tween band weeks of Ozzie Nelson (last) and Paul Whiteman (next). Forty minutes of the regular formula with four pro acts, an amateur and Herb Six house band is neither a letdown nor distinguished, but satis- factory at these prices.* As m.c., Tom O'Neal Is doing a re peat on the task be handled for a feftr weeks some six or seven months back. He's also repeating as a stand- ard act, but now he's combined with Kathe Joyce, blonde dancer, and the act is considerably rounded both as to comedy and talent. Miss Joyce's dancing and foiling for her partner, and O'Neal's varied stunts on the harmonica and his travestized toe- dancing, along with their comedy chatter, are well spotted next-to- closing. Other outstanding stint on the bill Is work of Hi it, Rich and Murray, the Golden Gate trio. Their vocal arrangements of novelty songs close the show neatly. The Herb Six band contributes a specially arranged medley to open. Marie Hollis, as the opening stand- ard act, cleverly manipulates herself In two acrobatic routines the while she holds her tophat in hand. Fol- lowing her, Reed and Dean are a va- riety act comprising some comedy dialog, clarinet tooting, and shiging and terping from both partners. Midway young Dora Arlene Cole, amateur contest winner, vocals *I Don't Want to Walk Without You' with far more, volume than is cus- tomary with ams. As in other weeks when this pol- icy was tried, dual features are hold- ing up nicely and house is in for a satisfactory week, This bill stays eight days in order to enable Paul Whiteman and band, originally sked- ded to open next Friday, to play a bond rally here Friday and open a six-day stand at the Tower Satur- day (25). • Quin. MUSIC HALL, A. C. (STEEL PIER) Atlantic City, July 18. Dennis Day, , Bell Troupe (6) , Masy It Broch, Ban- & EsUs, Jimmie Bynes, Dicfc Dono, Charlie Kemper, Harry Savoy, George Haggerty, Ben YoH Singers (9), Music Hall Orch (11); Sweater Girl, {Par). Dennis Day tops a good, entertain- ing biU at the Music Hall this week. Introduced by recorded voice of Jack Benny, Day starts off with 'Tan- gerine,' followed by 'Sleepy Lagoon,' 'Johnny Doughboy' and "This Is Worth Waiting For,' scoring high and finally having to beg off. Bell Troupe, four men and two girls, put over one of the best aero acts seen in these parts recent^. Turn moves fast and high with back flips and double somersaults from teeterboard to elevated chair and to shoulders. Neat performance is given by girls In back somersaults to land on shoulders of top man in pyramid. Act got great applause score at this catching. Maysy and Brach do a clever unl- cycle number highlighted by man riding high cycle while juggling 11 hoops In various directions. Barr and Estes do okey and draw laughs ip comedy eccentric dance number and Jimmy Byrnes does some smart tapping. Ben Yost Singers are up to usual standard in chorus singing of stirring Guardsmen's Songs. Dick Dana handles m.c. role capably and straights for comedy skits with Cniarlie Kemper, George Haggerty and Harry Savoy, all good comics. Music HaU, 3,000 capacity, had SRO Saturday (18). Carter. ROXY, N. Y. Buster Shaver & Oliwe and Georoe. Tenner 4 Swift. Read Sisters, Amaui Bros. (4) ond Sis Nolly. Bob Hannon, Goe Foster GirU, House Orch with Paul Ash; 'This Above All' (20th) reviewed in 'Variety,' May 13, '42. Obviously because of the added nmnmg time of the feature. This Above All,' the Roxy's current stage- show is somewhat briefer than nor- mal. It adds up to nice entertain- ment, however.. 'Jingle Jangle' is the tune and cowboy stuff the theme of the open- ing number, with Olive and George, Buster Shaver's two talented mid- gets, starting the song, the Read Sisters picking it up and the Gae Foster Girls coming on for an ef- ^;'ctive dance routine on tiny flights cj! steps. Backdrop and the cos- tumes for the number are striking, Tenner and Swift also provide a skilUul exhibition of rope-tossing during the nuirtber. . Shaver and his midgets follow with their familiar combination of dancing and comedy.- Although the appeal is basically the exploitation of physical abnormality, the act scores with the audience as always, .Another standard act, the Four Arnaut Brothers and Sis Nolly, is next. This is the turn in which the men play fiddles while doing acro- batics, then join with the girl in a broadly . comic -.birdiwhistling sketch. Foster Girls end the show with fan-waving maneuver, while Bob Hannon provides a melodious vocal, House was near-capacfity at final show Friday night (17). Hobe. GAYETY, MONTREAL Montreal, July 20. Noel Toy, HerWe Faye, Johnny Cook, Al Rio, Del Powers, Dorothy Wahl, Ruth Mason, Jerrie & Jarte Brandow, Nelson's Boxing Cats, George Moore, Cecil Alexander, Al Gilbert Line (16), Len Howord Orch (8). Close to three-figure temperatures and tropical rain did not deter a jam-packed hotise from attending the Gayety on the first matinee of the new show this afternoon (20). Noel Toy,- Chinese fan dancer, was the draw, but a flrst-class supporting show won major applause and there will be considerable word-of-mouth advertising for one of the best vaude layouts since the house opened 12 weeks ago. y Joey Faye, Johnny Cook and Al Rio, plus supporting femmes, Doro- thy Wahl and Ruth Mason had the crowd laughing in a series of sketches that were fast and weU- timed. The line is decorative, smart- ly wardrobed and niftily routined, but rather too long in its dance routines. Miss Toy Is slim, a looker and smoothly proficient as a fan manipu- lator. Backgroimded by the line dressed as Chinese coolies, with pagodt^ effects on the back drop, the act went over big and she.had to reply to numerous calls. She was on twice, next-to-closing the flrst-half and final curtains. The Brandow pair put on a tap dance for smash returns. They are a personable pair, with the gal a looker and a neat dancer. The man, however, is a stand-out with taps to 'Symphony In Blue' and the Rach- maninoff prelude. His machine gun action as he moves up and down a five-step platform, and then flips a glissando passage backwards down the steps, drew smash applause at this viewing. Nelson's Boxing. C^ts are brought on In a squar^ ring and uncork some lightning action at times. Nel- son uses no patter,and the act hangs fire. Cecil Alexander puts on a tramp act In th$ .$econd half that garnered fair applause and George Moore delivered some clever gags as a chef. Len Howard's orch plays the show well. Lane. CHICAGO, CHI Chicago, July 17. Tommy Dorsey Orch, urfth Jo Staf- ford and the Pied Pipers, Ziggy El- man, Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra; Bobby Lane and Edna Ward, Paul Regan; 'The Great Man's Lady' (Par), Tommy Dorsey brings his aug- mented 31-piece band, with Its sev- eral star performers, into the Chi- cago theatre for a smooth, pleasant and highly entertaining 70-minute show. Band opens with the familiar theme, 'I'm Getting Sentimental Over You,' goes into a lusty version of 'Hallelujah,' then offers 'Jersey Bounce' In fast, rhythmic style for a spirited show opening. Bobby Lee and Edna Ware are cUcko acrobatic'dancers. They do a couple of cute novelties, disputing the possession of a Sunday comic section in dance time and dancing without their shoes. Jo Stafford and the Pied Pipers, a better-ihan-average quartet, sing Georg«. Gershwin's 'Embraceable You' and follow it with a patriotic medley. Genuinely-attractive novelty is the band's concert arrangement of Sleepy Lagoon,' featuring the violin section of the orchestra. This is fol- lowed by 'Hawauan War Chant,' which shows off Elman's great trum- peting and the maniacal drummer- boy antics of Buddy Rich. Imita- tions, which seem to have become a standard part of most stage shows these days, are well presented by Paul Regan. ■ Poised and nonchalant, with a defi- nXe appeal to the ladies, Frank Sinatra sings 'Skylark,' 'This Love of Mine' and, as soloist with the Pied Pipers, 'I'll Nfever Smile Again,' 'South of. the Border,' 'Poor You,' 'Last Call for Love,' ending up with 'I'll Take Tallulah'. for a smash finish. Not a vacant seat in this big house at the opening show Friday (17). Loop. HIPP; BALTO STATE, N. Y. Andy Kirk Orch (14) with Jun* Richmond: Gordon & Rogers, Martif May, Mario tc Floria, Sims & Bailey. Six Willys; 'Beyond the Blue Hori. zon' (Par). Botttmore, July 19, Gene Krupo Orch (16) with Anita O'Day and Johnny Desmond, Don 'Popikoff* Tannenr Nelson Sisters (2); 'Sweater Girl' (Par). Krupa has been here before and his current layout, with interpolated specialties,, is again ringing the beU in highly potent 'manner. ' Boiled down to a 48-minute sesh because of multiple shows, show moves swiftly and in quickly mounting climax to big returns. Krupa steps down from seat at the hides to m.c. and give the beat to his orch. Has a straight- forward style of intros apd helps keep things moving. Following swingy opening, Johnny Desmond, band's male vocalist, changes pace with "Be Careful' and 'Miss You,' both nicdy delivered and just right to point hectic arrange ment of 'Jersey Bounce," highlighted next by screaming trumpet of band's colored member, Roy Eldridge. Krupa ti«s in for effective hide-beat Ing. Nelson Sisters, brace - of aerial workers with unusual oomph for act of this kind, follow with socko perch stuff that kept the jive hounds rest- ful during their brief stint (Hosing neck - spin in double swivel is a flashy oUncher. Band's. femme vocalist, Anita O'Day, follows with 'One Dozen Roses,' after which Nacio Herb Brown's 'American Bolero' serves to send Krupa In \Hth flashy timpani thumping supported by entire en- semble beating out the rhythm on small drums. Brings on another specialty, Don Topikoff*. Tannen, for highly potent spot of clowning. Comic's 'Russian concert singer' and ventrlloquial bit score laughs. He has .a strong switch by way of a serious Impression of (^eorge Arliss addressing the British Parllment He has developed considerably in the last year or so. Closing the show Is an Intended jam session worked around 'Rum Boogie' which follows on heels ot 'Sfeenyv Lagoon,' sold' by Eldridge and his trurfipet Jive hangs high In flnishing bit, with everybody beating it out, from front to hack. Accompanying film of 'Sweater Girl' I on the right beam for trade at hand and biz is the biggest here In weeks. EMBASSY, N. (NEWSBEELS) Burm. Y. Current newsreel show Is shorter than usual, but Includes some excel- lent material, particularly action war shots. There are only around 30 clips, including two regular weekly specials turned out by the Embassy newsreel theatre chain. Show leads off with the battle of Midway, clip embracing a still shot of the Yorktown. 'In a Malta convoy battle, cameras have obtained a lot of exciting action. Including depth bombs and a plane falling. Very ef- fective also are the pictures of the bombing of Ft Darwin, with billow- ing smoke rising high into the air. Additional war material of a thor- oughly interesting nature embraces bombing scenes in connection with a convoy Dound for Fort Moresby and an item dealing with the sub men- ace, with fine snots of depth charges and a ship that's hit Among miscellaneous clips are shots of the spy trial In Washington; decoration of Admiral NImitz; planes in Africa; Churchill back in London; ceremonies naming an Illinois town Lidice; Queen Wllhelmina in New York; anti-axis demonstrations in Brazil and Guatemala; and scenes inside a bomber plant in Michigan. Tex McCreaty this week expatiates on unity of command for the United Nations and as usual does a nice job of the narration. Major George Fielding EUot subs for H. V. Kal- tenborn currently, answering three questions that are • picked from among those left at the theatre by patrons. Malor -Eliot is a bit stiff, but handles the job well. An Itsue of 'Information Please' (RKO-Pathe) and a Grantland Rice sportllght (Par) round out Char. Though a bit overboard on run- ning time, this layout plays ex- tremely well. Topped by Andy Kirk's red-hot colored band, Lee Sims and Ilomay Bailey, Mario and Floria and Marty May give the stage crew plenty of support. Kirk's out- fit leans heavily on its specialists for this date, but is otherwise forte on the swing sessions, Eddie Smith, guitarist; Howard McGee, trump- eter; and Kenny Curtis, boogie- woogie pianist, are highlighted, but others also get the spot. Richmond, who continues as Kirk's pop balladist is oke with Somebody is Taking My Place' and pon't Want to Walk Without You Baby,' but continues singing too long. This overcomes her initially fine im- pression so that the favorite 'One Dozen Roses' Is almost meaningless. Lee Sims and Ilomay Bailey, standard vaude singer-pianist act, were distinctly clickeroo with only fair-sized audience at show caught. With Sims at the Ivories, team romps ' through array of tunes listed as Grandmother's Hit Parade, then his arrangement of 'Nighthigale,' and tops it off with an impressive treat- ment ot 'Bolero,'. Had to beg off. • Mario and Floria, ballroomologist* score solidly, turn being particularly effective with the twirls and lifts. Mario. Latlh-'Amerlcan male mem- ber of combo, handles his comely femme partner in near-adagio fash- Ion. Opening waltz -arfd tango are standout Turkey trot used for en- core also over big. Marty May, recently in 'Best Fool Forward,' works off and on as m.c, keeping show on even keel. Cur- rently has a slick act of his own, spotted before the band's appear- ance. Including his Impression of three types of slni;ers ahd his violin comedy solo. Six WiUys. crack opening act, go over nicely with their Indian club and hoop juggllng-and balancing. • Gordon & Rogers (New Acts), colored song and dance comics, shape up weU as newcomers. Current show is leaning heavily on stage lineup for draw, 'Beyond Blue Horizon' not being credited as any great shakes at the b.o. Biz fair opening night Thursday. Wear. STANLEY, PITT. PiftsbuTflh, July 17. Ted Lewis Orch (12), June Ed- wards, Lindsay, LaVeme & Betty, KafmeSlsters (3), Charlie (Snow- boll) • Whittier, Gertrude Erdey, Helen Tell, Audrey Joan Zimmet' tnan:'BigShot^(WB). ..Getting a little monotonous to say that Ted Lewis has done it agaiA, but doggoned If he-hasn't" May be an optical Illusion that every one of his shows seems better than the previ- ous unit, because he's such a show- man, that he could probably take fi^f^".,??*'' »i*f.an<i make them look like mllllon-doUar babies. But the geezer, with the battered high hat owever he manages, has 60 minuteg °l,i^^,,^rst-iate show. At getaway this afternoon (17) he had a mob' resUMs from waiUng an hour eaUng out of his hand and colild have prob* ably made them wait twice that long "1. *6 same way. Train which brought him In from Detroit was late and house had to toss In several rihorts after the feature, "Big Shot' (WB), until baggage got {o thi theatre and set was hung. Talent Une up Is nearly aU new since Lewis was last here Just a lit- tle over a year ago, but general pate tern remains the same, as it should. The Lewis band, currently made up of four trombones, four sax, violin, drums, bass and piano, continues to stay pretty well In the background, being merely something for the flrS citizen of CirclevlUe, O, to front, al- though getting an inning In the In- evitable re-creation of an old time jazz band. With loss of several key men recently, band Isn't as hot as ft used to Ije when Lewis and Muggsy Spanler and a couple of others. Other Inevitables, of course, are the ^e and My Shadow' bit with Snow- ball Whittier: Lewis moanln' low on ttie clarinet in 'St Louis Blues' and the D«»anut-vendor finals. Wouldn't be a Lewis show, however, without them, and as unthinkable as White- man getting by minus 'Rhapsody in Blue.' Lewis naturally makes everybody with him look good, the way he cajoles the audience and stands around seeing that the kids get everything that's coming to them, and more, but one kid he doesn't have to drum up any enthusiasm for is June Edwards, whose limbs and bodv shoui'^ be rationed, they're that rubbery. She comes out In a long dress, ihen strips in a refined burley manner, with Lewis and Whittier working It for a flock of laughs, and goes right Into her control routlniL about as good as anything of Its kind around. Kid works from a high perch, bending backwards practlcaOjr (Continued on page 40) -