Variety (Nov 1942)

Wednesday, Noviember 18, 1942 ROXY, N. Y. Bob Haiiiioii, Bobby Whaling k v«efie Jock Durant. Raymond Scott tZh '(7). Cressonians (6), Roxy SlJSe Orch conducted by Paul Ash; &.ime in Rocfcies- Wth) re- viewed in 'Var iety, S ept. 23, 42. Roxy layout this week is a semi- .lart toward lU long contemplated Same band policy, which has been rfymied by the house's inability to S2)kVname band. Raymond Scott's SSJen-piece combination, recently /^rmed as a house unit at CBS, fol- SwTng the breakup ot his large or- ihPstra is onstage, the first name miilc the house has used. It is not S be construed as the beginning of the name band policy, however. As a whole this show is okay. It doesn't knock anyone off a seat at X time after it gels beyond Bob Whalinu's antics, but it's enterUining «eardless. Bob Hannon, m.c- slneer. ties the thing together doing a neat job of paving the way for the acts and also vocalizing. He does a half-dozen tunes, beginning with a medley of George M. Cohan stand- ards' follows with 'Velvet Moon,' new MP'around which a line production 1, built, among others. Bobby Whaling and Vvette, shape- ly aide to his act, begin it in a set- ting designed to emphasize the country's rubber situation. Us a bike leoalr shop, seguing into Whalings exlraovdinaiy tricks aboard various two-wheelers, unicycles, etc. He does some stunts that are amazing. Jack Durant Is on next, clicking easily He does about 10 minutes of fast gags, all pretty bright, some titltioSs* (Clark Gable Charles Boyer) and generally knocks himself out to the satisfaction of the cus- tomers. _£cotCs combination is. used as. an, ' act Inserted about halfway through the show, it's poorly spotted. Scott has some of the country's ouUtand- ing musicians with him, namely, Mel Powell, pianist (there are few better), Billy Taylor, bass; Cozy Cole, drums; SUnley Webb, tenor: Emmett Berry trumpet: GeOrge Johnson, alto. It's a mixed band, Taylor, Cole, Berry and Johnson being Negroes. Band has shown to much better advantage on some of its CBS broad- casts. Here it's in a dull setting Tsiiice changed) and it's pacing of tunes could be much better. Be- ginning with the slow 'Keep Smil- ing,' the combo goes on to George Gershwin's 'I Got Plenty of Nothin, an unbilled number, then a Scott medley of '18th Century Drawing Hoom.' Toy Trumpet' and 'Twi- light in Turkey.' which the lead- er's old quintet popularized. The band is composed of extremely able musicians and its showing here was good, but not particularly impressive when caught. Mel Powell's brilliant piano passages stood far above the ensemble playing. Following Scott, one expects the show' to wind up. but it blossoms igaln to bring on Hannon and the toxyettes with a routine built around ■Praise the Lord.' It's neat enough but It isn't helped by the lack-lustre arrangement and playing of Paul Ash's pit band. That's also true of the previous 'Velvet Moon' bit. Then come the Cressonians, a teeter board act. They're good In what they do but there Isn't much variety to their tricks. Consists mainly of flipping one of the men from a board Into a barrel while the remaining three men and two glrb run around getting things ready or flipping across the stage. Finale Is ■ double somersault Into the barrel. Biz big. Wood. KEITH'S, INDPLS. Indianapolis, Nov. 14. 'Ren/ro Vallev Barn Donee' with gUm Miller, %iU Russell, Granny arper, Oeti« Cobb, Traui* Turfn*, fibabeth Coleman, Silly Sheets undodeers; 'Moscow Strikes Bock (Documentary). Iladio favorites with a big follow- ing among folks with a country yen Vt doing well with their 'Renfro Valley Barn bance' this week at Keith's. The hay-flavored bill has little appeal to smartened show- goers, but is getting a nice play from defense workers and the rural ele- ment who don't go to the theatre often. Their stuff mostly musical novelties with some homespun come- dy on the side, is good ot Its kind and pleases. The entertainers include Bill Rus- sell, a rustic cut-up who plays the harmonica and smokes a cigaret at Jne same time without holding on. Granny Harper, so short she looks as if she's standing in a trap, saws on the fiddle, croaks a chorus of Crawdad' and gets a warm hand for ler pep. Billy Sheets, who .sings njounlain ballads in a nice baritone, also has a dog that skips the rope Slim Miller, an elongated comic, nadies a bit and horns in on the other fellow's act. Gene Cobb, who "ic.s. entertains with a humorous monoloB. The Travis Twins. Ruth and Ruby "nR Ynu Waited Too Long. Darling ind I Now Have a Bugle to Play' in "•^ olrt country .style. Elizabeth Coleman, who sings and yodels, makes a hit with There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Some- where.' As Cobb says, most of the music U made up out of their haids. The 15 people in the show are on the stage most ot the hour, putting up a musical background for the leading performers with various combina- tions ot guitars, fiddles and basses. Corb. EARLE, WASH. Washinefon, Nou. 13. Sue Ryan, 3 Samuels, Roxyetles, Joe Lombardt'.f House Band; 'My Sister Eileen' (Col). The Roxyettes, a jvell-trained group of 16 dancing lookers, are carrying the brunt of Harry Anger's shows these days. With only 47 min- utes allotted, he uses only two .stand- ard acts and tricks up the time with flashy production. Dancing troupe is versatile and. with three costume changes, is kept busy. Besides the line work, the girls are used for the introductories. .'Deep Purple.' flashily costumed, is a line salute to the Navy, and the finale 'White Christmas' utilizes full stage with a glistening and spangled tree; they're best of the line's turns. Three Samuels are used twice in stepping routines, last one a military takeoff. Sue Ryan, with special lyrics, in- cluding one topical .socko, 'Publicity,' earned two generous encores. Fin- ishes off with a special arrangement of 'Praise the Lord.' Voice has plenty of volume and, with satirical trim- mings, her budget of songs gives this program its dynamite. Arke. ^TAR, BROOKLYN Charles 'Peanuts' Bohn, Milton Frome, Bernie Miller, Vilma Josey, Mozelle, Shirley Lynn, Joan Valdez, Shoutgirls (6), Ponies (8), Mike Lor- raine Orch (6); shorts. HOUSE RETIEWS 4T SHEA'S, BUFFALO Buffalo, Nov. 13. Bob Crosby Orch with Bobcats, Billy Raycs, Ray & Trent, Evelyn Farvey; 'War Against Mrs. Hadleu' (M-C). R< !!nod Show this week has five costume changes for the showgirls and seven for the ponies, all of them bright and clean.- And when one can grab ap- plause from this type of audience with a line of girls doing a modified crinoline routine in appropriate cos- tuming, that's something. The comedy continues in expert hands, with 'Peanuts' Bohn, Bernie Miller and Milt Frome working in every skit. Shirley Lynn and Vilma Josey double as straights. Bohn, in particular, can milk plenty laughs out of a familiar blackout. Specialties work into the produc- tion numbers, except for Freddie and Flo. Their singing and dancing are just fair, but they were solid with the audience. Other turns are Joail Valdez, toe dancer, and Mozelle, who does a couple of pseudo-classical terp routines that pleased these cus- tomers. Frome, the straightman, is also on in one for a solo of 'That's Why Darkies Are Born.' Has a full baritone that matches his frame. A big surprise is Miss Josey, good- looking blonde who can sell a song. Had 'em yelling for more. Biz off a bit due to the cold snap Friday eve (13). Fron, EMBASSY, N. Y. (NEWSBEELS) Dearth of world-wide screen news is glaringly illustrated by this pro- gram. It's about 32 ' minutes ot shorts and special Embassy clips and around 29 minutes of newsreel ma terial. With Armistice Day and opening ot a second front in North Alrica, newsreel l>oys have plenty ot po- tential newsworthy fields. Yet both yarns are either dull or cluttered up with obvious library material. Pathe, with its comprehensive film library, has done a hangup compilation pho- tographically of the 'second front angle despite a rather pompously spoken narrative. There's also an interesting roundup ot U. S. troop- landing technique, old shots of spots figuring in African campaign and newsreels of troops going 'over there in World War 1 with "Over There background music. Metro's News of Day also handles the North African drive. Universal shows the wife of Lt. Gen. Dwight D. Elsenhower, com mander of U. S. forces in North Africa, listening to radio news of campaign. President Roosevelt's Ar- mistice Day speech at Arlington is given faithful reproduction at some length by Movietone. Emba.ssy s ■Ringside Seat.' done by Carey Long- mire guest spieler, cites the African campaign a.s possibly 4he luininB point of the wiir. Newsreel Iheatie also has a .special on Andre Pn'l'P- Free French repreienlative in N. v.. outlining his ideas on S. Africa drive. H V Kallenborn. too. highlights the African campaign and its signifi- •Privi.le Smith of U, S. A..' flist of new RKO .-horts >eiies. roiinds ml the bill. brinKinK .strong audience le- action. Wear. Initial appearance ot Bob Crosby crew at the Shea cinema show- window, just when stage talent is be- ginning to run low, makes good booking sense. Outfit has been around town before, but there's no question that much of its present oomph can be attributed to smart publicity, neat grooming and the Buff's facilities for bullseye presen- tation. Mild and rather sedate routine of the ensemble is noticeable, com- pared with the all-out jiveroo style of some of its contemporaries. The performance runs largely in the familiar band show grooves, and im- presses chiefly by reason of smooth delivery, polite decorum and general musical competence. Addition of three acts helps lift the over-all. Terping of the wingfooted Evelyn Farney, with her clicking taps, poise and trim stage presence, is on the button. The maestro's deadpan announcement that she is just out of 'Hold Onto Your Hats' is of course, erroneous, because if so (that show having shuttered a sea- son ago) she sure is late in arriving. Billy Rayes, who has been working with this unit recently, is a seasoned juggler whose patter appears over- loaded with corn. Ray and Trent are in again, opening with their an kle-shackled le/;mania, and piling up a fine score with comedy acros and hand-balancing. From the ensemble, Jess Stacy at the keyboard delivers 'One O'clock Jump' to the "Woters' taste, neces sitating a striking encore. Some of the impersonations ot the unit's un- billed songstress appear not too well simulated vocally, while her 'If He's Good Enough to Fight for His Country. He Shouldn't Have to Fight for Love' is open to question Bob Haggart and Nappy Lamare, in a bass and drums specialty, develop one of the high spots of the offering and vocal of 'Strip Polka' by mem- bers of the ensemble, accompanied by hoke fan dance humber, hit hard on the fans' funnybones. Opening biz sluggish. Burt Cohan Estate continued from page 1 , New Acis JOHN SEBASTIAN Harmonica 8 Mins. La Vic Parislenne, N. Y. A little more showmanship and John Sebastian would be up in that Larry Adier groove since he's an equally competent virtuos of the mouth-organ. But the showmanship .values spell the big difference. Basically Sebastian's resolves it- self down to routining, and that will come in short order. Perhaps there's a little too much Bach, Heifetz and the technique of what makes Alee Templeton click, which is the appli- cation of the classic touch to the pop- ular idiom. Whereas Templeton's pianolo^y does a Bach a la boogie-woogie, Sebastian does Bach period. His Heifetz excerpt is a wild gypsy air, which is a lighter touch, and then he goes back to 'St. James Infirmary Blues,' done a la romantic gypsy vio- linist, pash tangoist and finally as a wild blues. It clicks. In the main, for that matter, Se- bastian registers. But perhaps his mike values have the best of him, in that he harks back to his original CBS' radio background, where the sound alone is the evaluation. In a class cafe like La Vie Parisienne, and more broadly as he branches out into the mass niteries or for rostrum purposes, Sebastian should 'popular- ize' his stuff; then he'll go further. i4bel. Cohan's Grand, which he rebuilt at a cost of $730,000 only to lose the property without recouping. He was one of the executors of the Sam H. Harris estate, which will be administered by the other three executors, Irving Berlin, Dennis F. O'Brien and Mrs. Harris, who re- cently remarried on the Coast. Some months ago Cohan advised Mrs. Har- ris that he had renounced any com- missions due from the Harris estate. Capt. O'Brien, Cohan's friend and legal adviser, is executor of the Cohan estate. For several years there have been proposals to erect a statue of Cohan in 'Times Square, but it was felt that he would not countenance such a move during lifetime. Soon after he died the idea was again suggested and eventually such a memorial will be erected. It so it will probably be spotted at 43d street and Broadway. Statue of Father Duffy Is at 47th street, which is really Longacre Square. Another suggestion is public plaque in the memory of leading showmen who have passed away during the past 10 years. Cbl Tribute To Cohan Chicago, Nov. 17. Tribute wss paid to the memory of George M. Cohan at a service held by his friends at the Erlanger theztre last Thursday (12) afternoon. Every branch of show business was represented. The services were conducted under the direction of Ben Bernie. After the opening prayer by the Rev. Ed- ward V. Daily, among those who .spoke were 'Skeets' Gallagher, Bert Wheeler. Chico Marx, Ashton Ste- vens. Clem McCarthy and Lou Hollz. The orchestra in the pit was furnished gratis by the Chicago Fed- eration of Musicians and other musi- cal numbers were Etta Motcn's delivery of Schubert's 'Ave Maria"; a George Gershwin number by the •PoiKy and Bess' choir, under the direction o( Ellen Dowdy, and Gus Van'.s tinging of two Cohan .songs. The Rev. William Finn, former di- rcitor of the Paulist choristers, de- livered the closing prayer. MERVYN NELSON With Shirley PpcIs 10 Mins. Le Buban Bleu, N. Y. Mervyn Nelson is a promising co- median who will go as far as his material. Right now it's spotty and needs revamping. He can also stand an editing job on the 'Ferdinand' finale, and that rather obscene sex lecture Is funnier in idea than exe- cution. The usage ot a social disease can never be funny, even if sloughed over; and if he wants to do a Mrs. Hokinson (one of those Wee- hawken dames who attempts a frank and free discussion of sex) he should consult an author. The opener is a Town Hall takeoff on a manly mouse. After a while the whole routine takes on the same flavor, and Nelson is being alternat- ingly masculine and prissy. He has a flair with delivery, gels a lot out of a couple ot trick hats, and has a very personable femme assistant in Shirley Preis at the Steinway. A better concept of comedy values would bolster him for a better league than in.' these specialized super-sophisticated boitcs. Abel. UNA MAE CARLISLE Planologlst 12 Mins. Cafe Lite, N. Y. Very paleface Negro songstress la a Bluebird recording artist and song- smith, with a couple of good BMI songs to her credit, such as 'Walking by the River' and 'I See a Million People." In person she's one of those whip-the-keys, boogie-woogie pian- ists. As a solo performer she's easily the highlight in this new black-and- tan nitery, which is patterned after Cafe Society, and the new spot, pre- sumably, feels it has another Hazel Scott in Miss Carlisle. She's a ripsnorting piano pounder, although at the performance caught she did unfamiliar tunes, eschewing the two above-named, which are rhythmic, melodic fox-trots. Inclu- sion of one or the other would mak« for a smoother change ot pace. There's a current vogue tor the snap-and-dash Steinway specialist;, and Miss Carlisle can capitalize it even a bit more, what with her RCA Bluebird recording and songsmith- ing background. But right now It'i a matter of improving the routining. Abel. BIL & COBA BAIRD Puppets !• Mins. Le Buban Bleu, N. Y. Bit and Cora Baird have been traveling with commercial live shows in the U. S, and Canada for seasons, playing conventions, food shows and the like, until rationing curtained the need for exploitation ot gro- ceries. This has segued the Bairds t>ack into the public idiom, away from pep talks, sales promotions, etc., and they should have no diffi- culty pleasing the general customers. It's a different type of puppeteer- ing, working here on top of the piano so as to be in full view, and expos- ing their manipulations of the strings in open manner. They match their marionets with a good selection of disks, such as that romantic tango dance team, the coocher, the strip- per, the cornily hepcat m.c. at the mike, the vocal trio. AH make , tor good sound and sight values. It's a miniature vaudshow in itself and the result is clicky. Abel. LEONABD WABE TBIO Instrumenl^l, Vocal Cafe Lite, N. Y. Leonard Ware, crack .steel guitar- ist, has at the piano a Ghandi-look- ing colored boy, plus another string bass, to whip up a mess of rhythm. They're strong instrumentally but, as with all such combos. It usually takes some highlight song to put them across vocally. Right now they haven't got the material, but they certainly possess the wherewithal to click. 'The need for a solid song Is pointed up by the Ink Spots, who didn't really get over the top until a number such as 'It I Didn't Care' clicked for them, and that goes lor the others. Boys »lt in with the regular Jance band, but on their own make for a sizzling specialty, okay for sound In any jive joint. Abel. HOLMES and JEAN Danoinf, Mailc 9 MIn*. Apollo, N. Y. Mixed sepia team looks good In its routine hoofing and flashy magic act. Pair is young, with male, garbed in bright blue suit, grabbing most ot the spot. Although plenty of energy Is put into dancing, they are just another team until digressing into a novelty routine that Includes his 'sliding a glass of water from forehead to floor while doing a rear bend, and then replacing glass to original position without the use ot his hands. He also does multi-variations on the smoke act, during which he drinks a glass of water, and then exhales smoke. Femme, good hoofer, is mainly standby in latter part of turn. They attracted good hand here and are good bet for vaude houses. Bob Carter, m.c. for the last four ye;ii< ;il the Nixon Cafe and singer with Al Marsico's band there, has b(cn picked a.s the permanent vo- c;ili-t 'ill KDKA's weekly Serenade in t!i'- .Vivlit Jhow every Snluvrlay GEORGE & ELLEN BRODERICK Comedy 10 Mins. Greenwich VlUage Inn, N. Y. Mixed team starts off by simu- lating Danny Kaye's 'Dinah' record- ing, the Bing Crosby and Mary Martin 'Lily of Laguna' platter, and Cyril Smith's English madrigal nonsense. Kingpin therein is the facially grim- acing George Broderick. as he matches lip movements to the rep.'o- duced recordings. She is a good assist. Format is by now familiar, but the execution is a bit more ad- vanced. They are a pleasant cafe interlude who .'■houltl prove OK also for vaud- Mlmcrs. Abel Dramatists S Continued from pa^e I s and sailor performance. Group of comedy stage and radio comedy writers also met at the Child Study Assn. headquarters, N. Y., for a simi- lar session with Young. Among the comedy scripters who attended and promised to contribute original scripts regularly every month for the duration were Laura Perelman, Sarah B. Dona, Mac Be- noff, Harry Bailey, Joseph L. Hock- man, Pauline Hopkins, Mort Lewis, Lester Lewis, Mrs. John Lester, Max Liebman, Alan Lipscott, LotUa Meany, Carroll Sachs, Mike Sklar, Harry Hershfield, Hal Block, Arthur Henley, Eddie Davis, Parke Levy, Henry Rose, Herb Moss, Jack Bar- nett, Joe Laurie, Jr., Mrs. Lydia H. Winter, Eddie Forman, Ray Yates and Lee Brody. In addition, a number ot serious radio writers are also contributing sketches regularly. They include Jerry McGIll, Albert Barker, Carl Bixby, Bob Sloane, Frank Phares, John Lend, Ralph Edwards, Mary t«uisc Anglin, John L. Greene and Bernard Dougall. The Writers War Board Subcommittee on Scripts for Soldier and Sailor Shows, of which Dorothy (Mrs. Richard) Rodgers is chairman, is in charge of obtaining the material. According to Young, the Army and Navy have three main objectives In encouraging service men to perform their own ahows. Such performances (1) help create an esprit de corps In the various service units: (2) gives the performers qualities of leadership necessary for promotion to non- commissioned officers, and makes It possible for the men to entertain themselves when they are sent abroad beyond the reach ot USO- Camp Show touring units. He explained that the soldiers and sailors cannot be expected to write their own material, as they are too tired at the end of the day for the necessary creative effort, but that they can and like to perform scripts already written. Lt.-Col. Young noted that all kinds of material is accept- able, but that comedy and short sketches are preferred. Alvino Rcy and his orchestra take over the bandstand at the Sherm.m hotel. Chicago, for a four-week en- gagement. With Rcy are the King Sisters, the Three Make-Believes, and the anti-fascist panorama. 'Rus- s'an Wheal FieW '