Variety (Sep 1942)

Wednesday, September 30, 1942 ROXY, N. Y. Al Bemie, Mata & Hari, Condos Bros., The Jansleya, Bob Hannon, Cat Foster Roxyettes, Paul Ash's House Orch; 'Orchestra Wt«es' (20th), reviewed in 'Variety,' Aug. 12. The Gay "SOs is the underlying motif of this week's stage show, but it is carried out only to a minor ex- tent. Presentation runs 45 minutes and is thoroughly entertaining. Has been produced effectively, with settings adding to the general value. Al Bernie, with his comical imita- tions, heads the acts. He scores de- cisively with his fast hoke and in- cludes a good war bond selling spiel in his routine, together with a clos- ing song stint. Most of his talk registers in a detonating fashion. Another turn getting the laughs is Mata and Karl, working in costumes of the near East type. Their comedy dancing-acrobatic routine has been expertly devised and is well timed for guilaws. The hypnotizing bit is a standout for novelty. The Jansleys, two men and two boys, appear toward the end in cir- cusy atmosphere, with the Gae Foster girls lending background. This act, one of the best in the risley field, also develops some laughs. Foster line tops for the close in a swell number in which they bounce large rubber balls around, while Bob Hannon, standby here, sings 'GirJ from Kalamazoo.' Hannon figures In the number which principally exudes a Gay '90s flavor. Using novel ye oldtime slides, he -sings 'Girl in Gilded Cage' and 'Curse of an Aching Heart,' with lyrics thrown on the screen with a view to getting the audience to go along with him. Hannon winds it up with 'Strip Polka' as five of the Foster line gals do a modified strip. Fosterites also appear in the open- ing number in a tap routine in which Hannon gives out with 'I Met Her on Monday.' As usual. Hannon's voice lands him nicely. The Condos Bros., with their fast tap dancing in* the buck manner, are in the opening production number. They click stoutly, as usual. Whole show has good pace and smoothness. Char. HOUSE REVIEWS 23 OLYMPIA. MIAMI Miami. Sept. 26. Potti Pickens & Bob Simmons, George Freem3, George Downey, Bud A Judy Allen, The Mandetis, Harry Reser House Orch; 'Across the Pacific' (WB). Minus a single standout act, this Is a lightweight lineup, with little to recommend it from either an en- tertainment or b.o. angle. As a vocal combo, Patti Pickens and her husband. Bob Simmons, are a disappointment. Output of both Is in an operatic register, and at- tempting to level off by dueting 'Kalamazoo,' with a 1}eat-me-daddy bounce, is nothing less than murder. Operatic burley of 'Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree' is okay as comedy relief, but for consistent returns it might be wise for a duo of their calibre to pick their book from standard musical and operatic duets. A tired comic, George Freems has a nice stage presence, but is badly In need of material. He's completely negative with present mon'o. Familiar brokendown bicycle rou- tine of George Downey is dated but still good for giggles. Refurbished and stepped up. he might continue Indefinitely, bul, as is, it's boring. Two youngsters. Bud and Judy Allen, are mediocre tapsters, appar- ently having difficult in crystal ga^ip^ each other's routines. They're both in there on the final beat, but it's close. A standard trampoline act. the two Mandell brothers waste time with much aimless fol-de-rol, and fail to uncork anything particularly- spec- tacular. Phoney intro, as two stage- hands, is corny and slows up the act. Leslie. Hawaiian number by the line in grass skirts, Lyle Griffin orch gets hot on 'I Got Rhythm,' a foursome of trombone, trumpet, sax and l>ass bearing down on the boogie. Next comes an Indian number by the line in beaded briefs and feather head-dresses, with a neat bit of con- tortion by Princess Chariot as the feature. Then Savoy comes on for a routine which combines fast patter and songs. He is the best m.c. seen at the Tower in many months, his material and delivery winning him a loud hand. Aileen Holden, neat blonde, works with Savoy in the kiss- ing bit which registers solidly. Next-to-closing is filled by Miss Rand in her fan dance, working with -two large white clusters of feathers in dark blue light. She finishes holding the fans aloft as she poses for a few seconds in an amber spot. Finale brings on showgirls and line for a patriotic finale combining marching, baton-twirling and flag- waving, to medley by the orch. Capacity biz opening day, with many standees at night shows. Earl. CAPITOL, WASH. Washington, Sept. 26. Ralph Edwards' 'Truth or Conse quences,' Rosita Rios, Grace Drys dale. Rhythm Rockets, Sam Jack Kaufman's House Orchestra; 'War Against Mrs. Hadley' (M-C). TOWER, K. C. Kansas City, Sept. 25. Sally Rand, Horry Savoy, Aileen Holden, Gilbert & Parks, Princess Chartev-Showgirls (3), Line (12). Lyle Griffin Orch; *Lotjes of Edgar Allan Poe' (20fh). With her ostrich-feather fans, Sally Rand comes back to "her home bringing a unit Which includes supporting prin- cipals, showgirls, a line and an orch, w present a one-hour show which lower patrons are finding to be good entertamment. The top tor the week " 50c, and rainy out-of-season weather did not crimp the b.o. line Mie opening day. ^"•lowing initial greetings over an on-stage mike; Harry Savoy, m.c, orings on the line in scanty cowboy setup for a western song-and-dance medley beginning with 'Pony Boy' and ending with 'Jingle, Jangle.' cJ^*?i °" si'e Gilbert and Parks, smooth acrobats, in a turn which In- some fine lifting and balanc- ffl- ''oys flavor their act with "t?"fnt.bits of click comedy. * ollowmg an easy - to - look - at Definitely from the headline stand point a screwball show. Sparked with giddy nonsense and a chance for the audience to laugh at the un- wary who climb upon the stage for ludicrous stunts. Saturday's mob seemed to love Truth or Conse- quences' and ushers report audience appreciation cards show th> radio nitwit show is a positive clicker. Microphone was not working smoothly when caught, or victims re fused to talk into it, so much of the fun was localized to the front rows. Ralph Edwards emcees the show with a running vein of wit. Volunteers from the audience who couldn't supply the right answers to such questions as 'Does a hen set or lay when she lays an egg' were obliged to take the consequences. These in- cluded a sailor who put on a grass skirt and won $5 for doing a hula. Another couple, blindfolded, sat at a table and tried to consume a bobbing apple. Another high school girl, also blindfolded, drew a picture of her ideal man. Climax was two men (plants) who took off their shoes and coats and donned feminine garb, wow coming over their manipulation of corsets, brassieres and pink pan- ties. Not much dignity to this act but plenty of low comedy laughter, All volunteers were given $2. Rosita Rios, the Latin-American songstress, pleases with south of the border numbers, and Grace Drysdale manipulates puppets, payoff coming when she shows how it's done. The Rhythm Rockets have a smash num* ber with 48 radium-lighted violins, cleverly staged by Gene Ford. Sam Jack Kaufman's house orch puts the audience in patriotic mood for the picture by a rousing medley of war songs. Arfce. EMBASSY, N. Y. (NEWSBEELS) One of the most compelling clips (M-G) on the 'deadly danger' of the yellow peril yet to appear since the outbreak of the war is the warning given by former Tokyo Ambassador Joseph Grew. Grew speaks from deep conviction, srsonal knowledge and an emotion whicl should go far toward awakening the U. S. to a full appreciation of the enemy's ruthless cruelty. Crew's voice is almost out of control as he talks of seeing what the Japs did to people he once knew. Appropriately the clip is tied in with the September War Pond sales drive, winding up with an appeal from Grew. Also on the same subject is a shot of President Roosevelt (Pathe) looking at a Jap flag captured by U. S. Marines during the fighting in the Solomons. F.D.R. refuses to touch the trophy. Current newsreel issue contauis usual quota of war clips, most inter- esting being Paramount's coverage of the offensive in the Solomons, showing bodies of dead Japs piled high, while husky marines stand fuard over some 3,500 prisoners, athe contributes some footage on the Yorktown, Metro and Fox split coverage on Wendell Willkie visiting Allied troops 'n North Africa and making a report in Cairo; Fox has a cli.5 on the Bomber Command in Aldslcs. On the home front war, activities cover the manufacture of the new General ..ee Unks (Fox), land troops in training (Fox), men sign- ing up for work in Henry Kaiser's Oregon shipyards (U), Paul V. Mc- Nutt addressing the American Le- gion convention (Palhe), and Betty Grable (Par) playing host to sol- diers. Lew Lehr (Fox), back after long absence due to illness, pro- vides laughs with his monkey inter- polations and H. V. Kaltenbom, as \ -ual, delivers a clever analysis of such problems as Vichy-U. S. rela- tions, Spanish neutrality and the wage and price stabilization prob- lem. Mori. STANLEY, PITT. Pittsburgh, Sept. 25. Charlie Barnet Orch (16), Diosa Costello, Ray & Trent, Nita Bradley, Hugh Andrews; 'Syncopation' (RKO). WB deluxer's giving Charlie Barnet a double-barrel play this week. He's the stage biggie and also gets a couple of shots on the screen with the Satevepost's All-American band in 'Syncopation' (RKO). First show mob this afternoon was packed with jitterbugs and they couldn't get enough of Barnet in either medium, but how the more placid night cus- tomers are going to react to tlie din and clatter is something else again. One thing is certain, there isn't a louder band around anywhere; com- pared to what Barnet dishes out, the sound track of a boiler factory listens like a muted violin, and the cry of the wolf pack like a kitten's meow. Stanley's rafters have never rocked or rolled to such blare and brass, not even from the Goodmans, Krupas and Shaws. Perhaps Barnet's showman enough to fit his catalog to the period of the day. in which case everything's all right. Because the band's capa- ble of getting out of the strict jive hounds' manna, as evidenced by the neat job they do on Duke Ellington's 'Solitude'. A couple more numbers like this one would be okay for the local late p.m. customers and, as a matter of fact, more palatable anywhere around the clock. For the orch's repertoire as it stood at get- away performance was almost ex- clusively for the jukeboxers. Personnel consists of four trum- pets, six saxes (including Barnet). four trombones, bass, piano and drums, with the brass section being paced by Howard Magee and Pea- nuts Holland, the two colored aces with the outfit. They're both whiz- zes, and Barnet's arrangements give 'em olentv to do, maybe a little too much. Holland also comes down front for some of his scat singing, with main vocal chores looked ,ifter by Huck Andrews and Nita Brad- ley, latter a newcomer to the crew. She's okay on the eyes and likewise on the pipes, with a husky, throaty voice that fits right in with the Bar- net style. Does only two numbers, 'Kalamazoo' and 'Wonder When My Baby's Coming Home,' and does a neat job on both of them. Only other bandsman to get a solo inning is Cliff Leeman, bass player, who knocks out a sock specialty. Barnet has an effective opening, with boys soread out behind a scrim on a semi-darkened stage and baby spots from flies picking out the solo- ists all through a five or six-minute medley. Considerable more thought than the usual run of maestri dis- play and it's a showy Introduction that pays off. Incidentally, Barnet handles himself with an easy casual- ness, bangs out some crack bits on bis sax and clarinet and what little comedy crossfire he has is ably han- dled. Bill includes a couple of acts, Diosa Costello and team of Ray and Trent. The Costello gal closes the show and continues to toss herself with wild abandon into the primi- tive urgings of the conga to a drum (her own drummer) accompaniment. She's still the hottest thing on two feet around. Ray and Trent have a crack dancing-acrobatic turn and pack a lot of laughs into it to chalk up a-show-stopper with ease. Barnet is first name band Stanley's had in some time, after several weeks of comparatively straight vaude, and biz big. Cohen. CIRCLE, INDPLS. Indianapolis, Sept. 26. Woody Herman Orch with Billie Rogers, Carotyne Grey, Chuck Peter- son, Frankie Carlson, Lyda Sue, Pat Henning (2); 'Just Off Broaduiay' (20th). Woody Herman makes the hepcats wild with his jive, then calms them down with honeysuckle arrange- ments of sweet tunes in a good, solid band show that has plenty of color and change of pace. He winds them up with 'Fan It' and a loud 'Amen,- then lets them relax on 'My Devo- tion' and 'Lamplighter's Serenade.' Playing to all tastes and pleasing them, too, he's sitting pretty his first time at this house. Herman opens with 'Woodchoppers Ball' in a throbbing jam session that gets the jitterbugs acquainted with all the key men in his gang, who take turns on hot breaks. He promptly changes his tempo, bring- ing Billie Rogers to the mike in a vocal of 'Serenade in Blue.' After giving out here with a sock, Rogers, who plays a regular horn in the bond, goes to town on 'Cow Cow Boogie' both as a vocal and a trum- pet sole. Herman comes right back with a sizzling arrangement of 'Fan It,' doing the ditty himself while his Woodchoppers get tropical on the music. There's a solid beat to this rhythm. Carolyne Grey, the decorative item on the bandstand, is next up to put her personal touch on 'Kalamazoo.' Chuck Peterson, the cutup from the trumpet section, matches her encore, I Met Him on Monday,' with a com- Uncle Sam's Roll Call ContlDoea from page 4 in Naval Procurement. List of 200 executives at the party was headed by such names as Mitchell Hep- burn, premiere from Canada; Gov. Murray D. Van Wagoner, of Michi- gan; the mayor, etc. Previous to the extensive goodbye session spon- sored by the Variety Club, Howard had been feted by the staff of the Paramount exchange. Frank Barbaro, owner and man- ager of The Bowery, widely-known Hamtramck nitery, has his call from the Army. Barbaro served in the Italian army in the first World War. Charlie Carlisle, former m.c. at The Bowery, a\fo into the Army. Corp. O'Leary Killed Corporal William F. O'Leary, for- mer Universal employee, was re- ported killed in action last week. He joined the U. S. Field Artillery in April, 1941. O'Leary was stationed in Australia at the time of his death. O'Leary had been employed -at U's home office mailing department for three years prior to entering the service. The Hollywood Sign-Up Hollywood, Sept. 29. Harry Poppe, Jr., screen writer. Army. Wally Haines, film cutter, Signal Corps. John Walker, cartoon animator, Navy. George Dane, cartoon animator, Army. Robert Carson, screen writer, Army Air Force. James Daly, cameraman. Marines. Lloyd Ward, cameraman, Army Air Force. Mat Duffin, vaude actor. Army, John Eckert, cameraman, Army Signal Corps. Robert Stack, screen actor. Navy Air Corps. John Campbell, studio press agent, Army Air Force. Gordon MacLean, cameraman. Army Signal Corps. Victor Schipek, cartoon animator. Marines. Arthur J. Zander, cartoon anima- tor. Army. Henry Wilkinson, sound technician, Army Signal Corps. Otto Ludwig, film editor; Army. Dooley Weil, studio technician, Army. Ned Brown, literary agent. Navy. Norman Goldstein, projectionist. Army. Henry Binder, film cartoonist. Army. Sam Ford, film librarian. Army. Warren Low, film editor, Army. From Iiidl»iiap«lls Indianapolis, Ind., 3ept. 29. Tommy McLeester, 20th, Army Air Corps. Johnny Barrett, 20th, Army. Dick Reed, WIRE newscaster. Army V. O. C. Bob Mann, WFBM, staffer. Navy, lieut., jr. grade. Jack Harrington, WIBC, Army. Tommy Wright, WISH pianist- composer, attached to special service office. Army Air Force Classiflca- tion Ce.iter, Nashville. Ensign Bay Britton Kansas City, Sept. 29. Ray Britton, assistant to Elmer C. Rhoden, manager of the Fox-Mid- west, ensign in Naval Reserve, re- porting Oct. 5 at Treasure Island, Calif. WAVES Get a Break, Too Any women employees of Warner Bros, who enter the service in WAACs, WAVES or otherwise, wiU be given the same benefits in allow ances to dependents, severance pay, etc. as given to males joining tba armed forces. First enlistment among Warner women is Betty A. Glixon, secretary In the Warner theatre circuit of- fices at Chicago, who has joined the WAVES. Ed Schreiber. of Warner publicity in the homeoffice, resigned to join the War Activities Committee oa publicity under Francis S. Harmon. Bill Lewis, field exploitation rep- resentative for Warner Bros., Army. Pitt's QaoU Pittsburgh, Sept. 29, Sgt. Dave Berman, former Stan- ley stage-doorman, transferred from balloon barrage detachment at Haw- thorne, Cal., to Officer Candidat* School at Camp Davis, N. C. Lee Phillips, WCAE announcer, army as aviation cadet. Bill Sortino, trumpet player with Eddie Peyton's band at Liberty Caf* and brother of Vince Sortino, vet- eran horn footer with Stanley hous* ork, army and assigned here to the 104th Cavalry band. Joseph T. Birocco, Jr., son ot owner of Garby theatre in Clarion, army. Herman Denmark, manager WB State, Wilkinsburg, army. Al Weiss, 40, of Weiss Theatres in McKeesport and one of best-known showmen in this district, enlisted In army. Lester Young, manager of WB Virginia in Fairmont, W. Va., army. Irving Stutz, musician and nitery m.c, army. Assigned to replacement center at New Cumberland, Pa., where he's staging camp shows. Richard Walsh, little theatre ac> tor, army, called in middle of re* hearsals for Playhouse's first show. Par'a Del Mao Into Navy Detroit, Sept 29. -John Howard, branch manager here for Paramount,- has been ap- pointed senior lieutenant in th« Navy. Granted a leave of absence by the company, his post is being filled by Jack Ryder, salesman, with Edward Stucker named sales man- ager. . Eddie Fritz, orchestra leader, will enlist Oct 15 as soon as his orchestra completes its engagement at tha Hotel Book-Cadillac here. Nev Sim- ons will take over the band until Fritz's return. New Acta edy chorus, then warbles 'I Dood It' on his own. The comedy relief at this point is welcome. The pressure ri<,es again when Frankie Carlson, the drummer, takes his sticks to 'Las Chiapanecas.' He's a whiz. The band then returns to the mellow mood with a pleasant version of 'My Devotion' with Herman on the vocal. Its best sweet number, however, is a smooth arrangement of 'Lamp- lighter's Serenade' in which Herman is backed by a mixed chorus and a set of six muted trombones. Mighty pretty. The extra acts include Lyda Sue, dancer, and Pat Henning, reliable comic. They fit their spots at appro- priate breaks in the music. Miss Sue has some very nifty and spectacular cartwheels and flip flops, having the knack of doing the breath-taking athletic stuff without losing her fresh and airy charm. Henning's antics, imitating various dogs at a dog show, different Hollywood stars in typical death scenes and Charles Laugnton in The Hunchback of Notre Dame,' pay off plenty in laughter. It's a swift, ^50-minute show that never sags. Business ought to build. Cdrb. BILL JOHNSON Sincer-Emcee Belmont Plaxa HoUl, N. T. •A husky, good-looking chap. Bill Johnson is out of the recent Eddie C^antor show, 'Banjo Eyes,' where ha held down a singing stint. He has a pleasant baritone and a wide assort- ment of songs, from the pops to the operatic. However, he had best rele- gate the m.c.ing to a straight chore rather than the present one, in which he does some talking. He seems to flounder for words that when Anally emitted, are rather nebulous any« way. He sang about halt a dozen tunea when caught, nearly all of them okay, but seemed to be overstaying his welcome. He's of the musical comedy type, strictly juvenile, and greater attention to stage deport- ment might conceivably find him in that niche. He's got the voice, looka and, figuratively, breaks his neck to please. Kahn. AL and LEE BEISEB PUnlsts 8 MlBS. Moslc Hall, N.T. Pianists in the concert vein, Al and Lee Reiser are appearing here to play numerous tunes of a balladie nature written by Irving Berlin, whose music is used throughout the current show. Reisers, at granda facing each other, 'o an excellent job. Perry Martin, soloist, is spotted with the piano team for the singing of three Berlin ballads, with accom- paniment from the Reisers. Char. KAT PENTON Singer Belmont Plaza Hotel, N. T. An attractive singer ot pops, Kaj Penton has been around tor soma time, but this is her debut in the New Act files. With a George White 'Scandals' some years ago, she's ably suited for the intimate niteries such as this, having both a pleasant voice and the brunet looks to go with it. Starts with a rhythm tune, follow- ing with a ballad and encoring with another rhythm i]umber. This audi- ence liked her. Kahn,