Variety (Dec 1942)

46 HOUSV REVIEWS Wednesday, December 2, 1942 Indpls. Rates New Henie Revue As Lavish Spectacle; Short on Speed Indianapolis, Nov. SB. Souia Henie and her Holtvwood Ice Revue, preemed at Coliseum, In- dianapolis. JVot>. 26, 1942. Produced by Hollyu)ood Ice Productions, Ar- thur M. V/irtz, director. Choreo- qraphy and staging by Catherine Litrle/ield,. Musical director. Jack Pfeiffer. Musical orrangemenfs by Paul Van Loan. Costumes by Billy Liringston. Star, Sonjn Henie. Fea- tttred ployers—Freddy Trenfcler, Caley Sisters, James Kawley, John f'laitagan. Iris Gordon, Jean Stur- peon, Elizabeth Kennedy, George Cufany, Leo Freisinger, James Cae- sar. Chorles flall«tt, James Kelly, John Van Doren, Peter Killam, Bob Murphy and Lloyd Cawthom. good ballet work with some extraor- dinary tap dancing, she's the TNT o{ this program. Jo Lombardi's house orch opened things with a swell arrangement ot Jerome Kern melodies, which also served as a musical trailer for next week's 'You Were Never Lovelier.' Business Thanksgiving terrific. i4rJ,e. SHUBERT, N. H. Sonja Henie's 1943 edition of the Ice revue has the makings of an- other big. beautiful and extravagant sliow when minor quirks evident at the opening here are ironed out. Emphasis is on production values, with costuming by Billy Livingston so varied and exciting in color schemes that it often steals the spot- light from the performers who wear his creations. Catherine Little&eld has given the ensembles some brilliant and spec- tacular mass routines which utilize every inch of the rink's ample space but tometimes fall to take advan- tage of speed, which is this kind of entertainment's greatest asset. Some of her stuff could be done better by the kids if they took off their skates. The bigger ensembles —there are 24 boys and 24 girls all told—still need plenty of practice to •tralghten out their line work. Sonja dominates the human ele- ment, with five major appearances In the program. In one number. To flia Colors,' a scintillating military routine representing some of Liv- Jngston's and Littlefleld's best ideas, ihe comes out three times, with a gorgeous change of wardrobe each Hip. Aside from lights and costume, {Host of the production is in the se- ries ot vehicles she uses for her grand entrances. In 'To the Colors' she rides out In • prop plane with a propeller that ipins. In 'Minstrel Memories' her mount is an all-white carriage dravi-n Sy eight boys, and In "There'U Al- ways Be a Christmas,' a sleigh. She flutters and dies gracefully in The Bwan,' her stand-out solo. The Tango,' skated this year with youth' ful Jimmy Hewley, Is as big a hit as ever. The finale, the Christmas number. Is a typical Henie fantasy, with a lot of dainty charm about it. flhe's a belle of New Orleans and does a sprightly Cakewalk in 'Min' nrel Memories. Nearest thing to a show-stopper !mong other performers Is Freddy 'renkler, who gives the show its omedy punch with Us botmclng ball antics. His funny stuff as the •quad misfit in an army routine had the audience yelling. The sur prise of the show Is John Flanagan, ( newcomer who didn't even have ■n encore ready when his eccentric skating in a silly femme get-up brought another vocal response. The Caley sisters are fast and sharp in 'Dynamic Duo,' ttielr speed and pre- gision number. George Cavany, Leo Freisinger, Jimmy Caesar and Charles Hallett do some nifty ice acrobatics in an exhibition of speed and leaps. On the pretty side. Iris Gordon, Jean Sturgeon and Eliza- beth .Kennedy skate charmingly in 'Trio ot Grace'. 'Winter Revelry,' 'Latin Rhythm', 'Flamingo Flare', •Waltz Mood', 'Garden ot Jive' and other ensemble numbers are alive with color and will form an eyc- fllling extravaganza whne smoothed out. The cast Includes about 60 in all, Dnany of them youngsters new to the ice show. Some of the specialty firtista have been recruited from pre- vious choruses and show promise. Attendance at the opening was es- ilmoted at 9,300, with several sec- tions filled by men in tinlform, ad- mitted free. Houses near sell-out itage for all performances through Monday, (30) but what happens to pox office after gas rationing goes Ipto effect Tuesday has them wor- ried. Corb, New Haven, Nov. 28. Louis Prima Orch (141, with Lily Ann Curroll. The Brtcklayers, Five Herzogs, Victory Ttuins, Oscar Davi.<!. Dorothy Young, Harry Berman House Band; 'Sealed Lips' (U). With legit bookings doing a fadc- oiil for several weeks, Shubert is filling in currently with a four-day triple threat show on stage and screen. Bill consists of Louis Prima's orch, five acts of vaude and a fea- ture film. It's a lot of talent for the tariff and makes up three hours of good entertainment. Following pit overture, bill gets off with four of the acts working to Harry Herman's house band and Oscar Davis' emceeing. Latter's handling of program is smooth and in his own specialty as a single he puts himself across favorably despite fact it's a fairly early repeat date for him. Herzogs, flve-femme team of trap artists, offer a fast aero routine involving daring swings out over audience heads. Comedy bit is in troduced by having one girl stooge from the house onto stage as an im promptu performer. Next on are the Victory Twins, girl duo ot harmonizers who make a nifty appearance at the mike in semi-patriotic garb. Girls rate, and oblige with, encores to sign oft to a pleasing impression. Bricklayers ore in at this spot to come through with a click despite performance caught being a bit rough. Dog act registers as one ot best of its kind seen here in some time. Davis follows in his siixgle, then intros Prima. Band, with heavy brass and reed stops wide open, runs through a 40- minute session^} varied appeal that ranges from comedy to hot stuff. List includes piano, sax, drum and trumpet specialties, also an amus- ing two-trumpet 'conversation' that strikes a novelty chord. From the general response, indications were that Prima fans got what they want- ed. Singing with the band is Lily Ann Carroll, brunet chirper whose several ditties get a friendly recep- tion, Dorothy Young, fifth vaude act, works in front of Prima band. Lass does a hoofing turn that exhibits clever tapping. Biz fair on holiday but light on Sat. nt mat caught. Bone. CHICAGO, CHI Chicago, Nov. 27. Lawrence Welh Orch (14) uiith Jayne Walton, 'Red' Howe apd Bill Kaylor. 3 Make Believes, Buster Sha- ver, u>tfh Olive & George; 'Major and Minor' (Par). STRAND, N. Y. Glen Gray Orch with Kenny Sor- gent. Pew Wee Hunt, LeBrun Sisters, Gaudsmith Bros., Dean Murphy; Gentleman Jim' (Wfl); rci'ieujed in Variety' Nov. 4, 42. Casa Loma orch, batoned by Glen Gray, combined with a couple of nifty specialty turns and two sock outside acts, provides ample stage support for 'Gentleman Jim,' Errol Flynn starrer. Outside turns are Gaudsmith Bros, and Dean Murphy, the former with their never-tailing comedy poodle act and the latter in a series ot cornic takeoffs on celebs. The Gaudsmith hounds, with their tunny haircuts, are spontaneous laugh-getters, the acrobatics which follow further clinching the original impression. Murphy impersonates practically everybody from Mae West to Presi- dent Roosevelt. Material ranges in effectiveness from indifferent to ex- cellent, but he manages to hold Inter- est through the milder portion.<: of hi.s monolog and builds steadily to a smash windup. Pee Wee Hunt impresses as the outstanding turn with the Gray combo. He cleans up with pleasant interpretations of such listenable tunes as 'Strip Polka. 'Five by Five' and 'Take It Again,' solo and with the band chorus. LeBrun Sisters, vocal trio, also click with 'Gobs of Love' and a novelty humming bit giving the im- pression of an electric guitar. Kenny Sargent, vocalist, relying on 'My Devotion' and 'I Came Here to Talk for Joe,' could likely do better with a change of material. In the second number he's joined by the LeBrun Sisters and the boys in the band. Gray remains the suave, somewhat retiring m.c, selling a smooth, expertly-routined musical' unit for maximum returns both as a playing aggregation on its own and In setting off the various specialties. Afori. CAPITOL, WASH. on 'I Said No' and encori, 'Knock Me a Kiss.' Dick Montgomery, comedy Negro female • impersonator, is followed by Jimmle Mitchell, male vocalist, who steps out of the sax section to warble 'At Last' and 'Let's Be Sweethearts Again.' Singing in true blue fashion and effectively using shading and coloring, Mitchell had the most effective voice of the evening. Montgomery's femme take- off is aimed strictly for laughs, but is not very professional. Last act. Red and Curly, novelty dancers, are a real socko, displaying I htning footwork and applause- getting tricks. Pair exude contagious enthusiasm. Finale combines fast footwork with a novelty drum ses- sion and dancing. It's a wow finish. Hawkins closes with 'Flying Home.' Pull house on openin<! nite, Fri- day (27). PALACE, CLEVE. Cleveland, Nov. 28. Dick Stabile Orch (16) tvith Grocie Barrie, Paul Warner, Betty Jane Smith. Watson Sisters. Louis Jordan and Tympany Five; 'Navy Comes Through' (RKO). Washington, Nov. 26. Johnny Downs, Murtoh Sisters, Jan Murray, Loyal's Stallions, Rhythm Rockets, Sam Jack Kaufman's house orch, Lynn Allison, Art Brown; •Thunder Birds' (20th). EARLE, WASH. Washington, Nov. 27. Betty Bruce, the Three Swifts, Roxyettes, Jo Lombardi's House orch; 'Gentleman Jim' (WB). Short and snappy show this week due to lengthy screen feature. Three Swifts lost Uielr Indian clubs for this show—trunk went astray en pur—and they worked with a hast- ily gathered group of seven bor- cowed clubs, Ttlcked up most of nelr routine and spiced In the miss- I tricks with comedy. Roxeyettes for a 'Stage IMor Johnny' num- er. Dancers were on later in roller ating turn that closes show at a fast dip. Betty Bruce from High Kickers' ia Ine dandng headllner. Combines The wisenheimers who have claimed that a band must be noisy and brassy should visit here this week and see how sweet music is making a hit with the customers. Since the band first came into prominence around here six years ago it has weathered the jitterbug era with ease, proof that the public likes something besides the so-called modern aggregations whose music sounds more like a boiler factory. Just to please some who might like a litUe loud stuff Welk has in- serted 'Running Wild,' featuring the skin beating of 'Red' Howe, the out- fit's drummer, and Warren Smith, one of the trombonists. After a tew strains ot the band's theme song it swings into The Penn- sylvania Polka' with vocal by Bill Kaylor. who then takes the spotlight with his rendition of 'White Christ- mas.' Welk soloed on his accordion with 'Nola' followed by three songs from Jayne Walton, the band's fea- tured vocalist, to good results. Buster Shaver, with Olive and George, talented midgets, well liked. Olive end George's numbers to- gether, both singing and dancing, and tne waltz done by Olive and Shaver put the trio over to a big hand. Three Make Believes (Marvin Himmel, Phil Erickson and John Russell) score with perfectly-timed gesticulations to records plaj'ed over p.a. system. Their takeoff on the Andrews Sisters doing 'Boogie Boogie Bugle Boy' and 'Sunny Boy,' Himmel's version of Csrril Smith doing The Sow Song' and Russell and Erickson's impersonation of Bing Crosby and Mary Martin singing 'Walt TiU The Sun Shines, NeUie' ring the bell. Show closes with a cavalcade of patriotic songs done by the band as drops painted with the flags of the United Nations, are lowered for the finale. Loop. Jan Murray was thrust in as emcee for this show but was as green as fresh cabbage on introductories and was later assigned to a monolog spot. Murray has a good line of gab, work- ing in the Red Skelton style, and won opening audience with his songs and chatter. Loyal's dogs with the horse wigs works fast, the canines seem to enjoy it, and good showman- ship does the rest. The Murtah Sisters, with blended voices, open slow with one sister on stage. Act goes into high gear when comedienne of the trio opens up. Pop tunes from'White Christmas* to special arrangements give comic chance to clown'. After Murray's monolog comes Johnny Downs from .Hollywood. Youngster Is tops as soft shoe dancer and won them with his routines, with opening number introducing- couple of magic tricks. Downs must be sensitive about his youthful appear- ance, for he introduces himself with a gag about his baby, then unturls an oversized tepestry of the kid. It's corny but audience gave it a hand. Song from Hollywood feature hits mildly, but Downs has the answer with his feet, and should concentrate on dancing numbers. Rhythm Rockets on for two num- bers, closing the show with a min strel high hat and satin pants. Sam Jack Kaufman's band opens stage show with Vincent Youmans medley, Lynn Allison doing the vocals. Art Brown's organalog too difficult for community singing. Should stick to songs they know, Arke. This nearly solid musical bill has plenty of b.o. value, in addition to being perfectly grooved for the jive addicts. Remarkable angle about Dick Stabile's finely organized orch is that it managed to get along efficiently tor the first three days without its leader. Stabile enlisted in Coast Guard in N. Y. last week and band came here without him. Batoneer was expected to rejoin it Monday (30). During his absence his sing- ing wife. Oracle Barrie. fronted for him. And did a swell job, too. Although she didn't attempt to wave a baton, (which she may Ao if she takes over band when Dick re- ports for duty), Gracie was on the stage most of the time as emcee. Her engaging vocals were put over with finesse. Grabbing audience's atten- tion with 'Pack Up Your 'Troubles,' she sails through 'White Christmas' and 'Strip Polka.' Sweet-swing technique of orch best illustrated in 'Blue Skies.' high- lighted by piano solo, while 'Please Give Me Something' offers contrast in hotter rhythms. Smashing finale is pyramided Into battle of syncopation between Stabile's unit and Louis Jordan's Tympany Five, with each hepping Praise the Lord' as various maestros would interpret it. Jordan's quintet steams up a halt-dozen jive numbers that has ihe gallery jitterbugs In genuine lather. Paul Warner's baritone fits into the deuce spot smoothly. Following comes Betty Jane Smith with her precise taps. Some well-needed laughs are sandwiched Into bill by Watson Sis- ters, back in semi-uniform. Their same old sure-fire humor is now flavored with the mllitery and still put audiences in good humor. Crowds consistently excellent. Pullen, APOLLO, N. Y. Ersfcine Hou'kiJis O'ch U6), Man hattan Paul, 'Pigmeat,' Ida James Dick Montgomery, Jiinmie Mitchell Red <fe Curly; 'Torpedo Boot' (Par) House this week rocks solidly with Erskine Hawkins, who rates highly with his showing here. The man with the horn was never surer. Band opens and scores immediately with two originals, 'Lucky Silver' and 'Bicycle Bounce,' featuring half a dozen instrumentalists at the mike including a torrid solo by Hawkins. Leader is an excellent front and showman, m.c.ing easily to bring on Manhattan Paul, personality sing er-dancer. 'Pigmeat,' in a comedy skit, gets plenty of laughs via his 'Judge Pine' role aided by straight man Jimmy Baskette and Isadora Price. On Hawkins' return his pianist plays a solid five minutes of boogie, soloists joining In one by one, and entire band rocking to a sock finale Ida James, vocalist, disappoints with a baby voice that fits her manner- isms but not her choice of material, especially her opener, 'Mr. Five by Five,' Number needs a fullness she Is unable to provide, She is better KEITH'S, INDPLS. Indianapolis, Nov. 28. Cus Van, Simmons & Joey, Chaz Chase, Barton It Brady, Vol Otven, Debutantes, Ed Resener's House Orch; 'Old Homestead' iRep). STATE, N. Y. Keith's has organized one ot its best shows of the season in the new vaude bill headed by the veteran Gus Van. There aren't any weak sisters among the acts and they all fit snugly in a program that's really variety. Comedy, athletics, singing, dancing and magic are neatly bal- anced. Van has the audience eating out ot his hand as he puts his line ot char- acter songs across. He features a medley of George M. (^han tunes, topped by 'Grand Old Flag' and 'Ovei; There,' then comes back with the timely 'Der Fuehrer's Face." with sound effects added by the folks out front. Chaz Cha-se is doing his always good routine as the baggy clothed comic who thrives on a varied, vita- min-added diet of lighted cigars, cigarettes ■ and matches, with his boutonniere and stiff shirt front for dessert. His dances include a Russ- ian number and a strip tease burles- que. Chase gives the show its main comedy punch. Val Owen keeps the customers nicely puzzled with his trick of mak- ing perfume out of what passes tor ordinary drinking water. His magic has a special femme appeal. Women in audience call for any particular scent and, presto, he delivers it. And it's for free. At the flni.sh. he goes into the market brands. It all comes out of one bottle. Barton and Brady get some healthy laughs with their athletic clowning as inebriated tumblers. Simmons and .loey have tun at the expense of several radio features, their gags running a wide range from hill-billy to opera, from Winchell to Hitler, with a few special sound effects ot their own for good measure. The Debutantes, line ot girls used frequently at the house, are well costumed and routined in football tap. 'Esquire* and 'March of the Toy Soldiers dances. Biz was good at opening. Corb. Ted Leuiis' band unit tviih Chur]es (SnouiboII) Whittier, June Eduja rds Lindsay, LeVerne & Betty, Byron Kau & Loui.se, Kane Sisters, Sammy Biroli Geralditie Dubois; 'The Moon and Sixpence' (UA). There's no special fanfare for Ted Lewis at the State currently, but the man with the battered topper and wailing licorice stick is com- pleting his 30th year in show busi- ness. That's a long time, but more remarkable is the tact that this gentleman, whose hair is now silver- ing heavily enough to match that w.k. hat lining, is working as hard as ever to please audiences—and doing it as well as ever. Lewis still doesn't hide the fact that he's corny; he frankly admits it a couple of limes during the 65- minute performance. But his type of corn is as commercial as gold bullion; it's all aimed to get an audience in a—friendly, intimate frame of mind, and it does. This unit is among Lewis' best, even though it virtually shrieks the inroads that conscription has made on the ranks of male specialists. Aside from Lewis' 12 tooters, none of whom looks like a highschool student, Lewis has only two men in the entire show. One is a new Charles (Snowball) Whittier, the original Negro hoofer of that name having gone the way of all khaki; the second is Sammy Birch, who may be 4-F because ot the need for those thick spectacles he wears. Lewis may be registered also, but more likely for the Townsend Plan than military service. Otherwise the show is strictly of and by ^emmes. with Lewis' special- ties intermixed. Probably because of a new 'Snowball,' Lewis isn't doing his standard 'Me and My Shadow' routine, but virtually all the rest of his trademarks are on display this week, from the 'Be Yourself opener, through 'St. Louis Blues,' 'Yankee Doddle Dandy.' a tekeoff on his first band playing 'Jazz Me Blues,' 'Melancholy Baby,' and, of course, his constant battle cry for applause, 'Is Everybody Happy.' He kills the people. This is Birch's first date with Lewis, the nitery performer, who synchronizes facial and physical mugging to recorded comedy songs, scoring heavily opening night. Birch will probably remain a fixture with Lewis from here on. • One of Lewis' sockiest specialists is June Edwards, a good lookii^ con- tortionist whose backbends oil high pedesUls are terrific. Close behind her for applause honors are Lindsay, LeVerne and Betty, who have a corking acrobatic routine seguelng from a can-can routine; Byron. Kay and Louise, good looking mixed ball- room team, the girl working on her toes; Kane Sisters, a harmony trio especially cllcko with 'Birth of the Blues,' and Geraldine Dubois, a fiery little personality warbler who does nicely with 'Let's Be Buddies,* 'My Mother Would Love You' and the finale samba. Whlttier's dancing, on the other hand, is only fair, but he has a personality to match the orig- inal 'Snowball.' .Biz opening night okay. Scho. EARLE. PHILLY . Philodelphia, Nov. 28. Johnny Long Orch with Helen Young, The Four Teens, Gene Wil- liams, Henny Youngman, Tip, Top & Toe; 'Priorities on Parade' (Par). Nothing spectacular, but genuinely diverting, is the bill at the Earle this se.sh. On tap is Johnny Long, the personable maestro with his south- paw fiddling and an okay team of tooters and vocalists. Latter consist of Helen Young, blonde canary; Gene Williams, youthful tenor, and the Four Teens, two guys and two gals who can warble. Mis.s Young caught on quickly wilh the customers, giving out wilh "Mr. Five by Five' and 'Strip Polka. Williams' package of tunes consisted of 'Manhattan Serenade,' 'When the Lights Go On Again' and 'Why Don't You.' The Teens team up for 'Fuehrer's Face' and 'Pennsylvania Polka.' both songs netting solid kudos. Band numbers Include new rhythm arrangement of 'Shantytown,* 'Rus- sian Lullaby.' 'White Christmas' (a novel rendition with all instruments muted), and 'Sorghum Switch. Johnny Long solos with 'Mighty Lak a Rose' on his violin and gives the song plerity of schmaltz, Hcnny Youngman borrows Johnny Long's fiddle for his now-familiar routine of combining his flair for comedy and unHnished musical ar- rangements. Although some of his gags are worn thin, he sells himself to the paying guests, and that's what counts. Tip, Tap and Toe are their usual click selves, having added a couple ot new routines to their already clever satisfactory brand, of terps artistry. It was a usual Saturday night crowd at the Earle when caught. They were standing three deep in back of the house. Shal.