Variety (Dec 1942)

Wednesday, December 16, 1942 HOUSE REVIEWS 19 OLYMPtA, MIAMI Miami, Dec 0. Gus Von, Kay and Korol, Yvonne AdaiT. Vol /ruing, Lynn Brothers (2), Harry Reser House Orch. Gus Van is topping a show this week that fails to click. Some of the individual acU get over but the bill as a whole falls flat. Van m.c.'s throughout and does his best to coax applause. Kay and Karol, man and woman juggling team, open bill. High spot of act is working with service men in the audience and getthig a sailor or soldier on the stage to hold a cigar between teeth while man and woman throw Indian dubs past his face in attempt to knock cigar out. This bit registers big. In the deuce spot is Yvonne Adair, who has sung at most of the local niteries and Is presently doubling from the Clover Club. Tries to be too cute in selling songs and waves her hands madly about. Encored with a swing arrangement of Wil- liam Tell overture that could be left out. Girl is a looker but needs plenty of-experience. Val Irving on next, standing at mike with a line of chatter and stor- ies. Opens act singing few bars of 'Vesti la giubba' from 'Pagliacci' and breaking it up with a comedy bit. Line of chatter and stories reg- isters well. Closing number is a double-talk Russian song that gets him olT to big applause. Could have taken encore but wisely refrained. Begged off with«a speech. Lynn Brothers, neat appearing hoofers dressed in white evening coats, show style and originality and use plenty of ballet combined with their tcp. Took three bows and were well received. Van in closing spot sings the char- acter songs that have been associated with him for so long. At show caught he did five tunes and finished with a medley of George M. Cohan hits that scored heavily. He displays the same old time showmanship. Harry Reser orch in pit. House filled at performance caught, but business just fair generally. Bil. EARLE, WASH. Vfashington, Dec. 11. 5hetUi Barrett, the Six Willys, Roxyettes, Joe Lomhardi's House Orch., Joan Ritter; 'You Were Never Lovelier' (Col). Harry Anger builds his show this week around a night date in New York with visits to Madison Square Garden. Radio City and El Morocco. Drops on stage help in the musical illusion. Joan Ritter, perched at the organ loft, sings while the acts un- fold. Sheila Barrett, working 18 min- utes, is the champ of the bill. Satir- ical impersonator is in good form. Opens with burlesque of Bronx torch singer, follows with camp tour as Greta Garbo might make it, with a foUow-up on Tallulah Bankhead. Then mimics types confronted on war bond selling tours. Encores with 'Blind Date,' in which a lonely heart waits for telephone to ring. When it does she primps, and then opens the door to discover a shortie. The Six Willys do their club jug- gling and other feats, with the Roxy- ettes contributing a gay circus num- ber and El Morocco routine in filmy skirts. Joe Lombardl's overture runs to moonlight and romance medley, with Joan Ritter assisting in the vocals. Fine production makes this 60-minute stage diversion a definite clicker. Kely. TOWER, K. C Kansas City, Dec. 11. Ann Corio, Cecelia Parker, Texas Jim Lewis & Lone 5tar Cowboys (6), Dicfc flalduiin, Frances Wills, Stuart TTff. MlTe CaV(e ffulani •That Other Woman' (20th). 'lifflfSSlflfOSfT ''''Mil Plenty of names are up in the lights at Tower this week, headed by Ann Corio and Cecelia Parker, sister of Andy Hardy In M-G family pix, and both featuring 60-minute vaude bill. Top is raised 50c for the week, and show is worth more. Tower Orch. begins proceedings with special medley of George M. Cohan hits arranged by Don Tiff, pianist. Dick Baldwin, film player, Is a pleasing m. c. Late in the bill he does two songs and also works with Miss Parker. First on is Frances Wills, pretty aero. Nice costuming adds to the general effect. Deuce spot goes to Stuart and Albertson, comedy duo, who begin with a southern medley and then go into some neat hoofing. Baldwin comes on next for a breezy bit of talk about Hollywood and picture-making, then sings 'Cecelia.' a buildup of Miss Parker. Latter received plenty of palm-pat- ter on her first entrance and also after her aab and song with Bald- win. Next-to-closing is reserved for Miss Corio. who at show caught wore a brilliant orange gown with bare midriff. Her talk is very informal and apparently ad libbed tor the most part. Stuart and Albertson come on for some clowning with her, working up to a burlesque-type routine which clicks nicely. Texas Jim Lewis and his Lone Star cowboys close the show, playing the usual combo of squeeze-box, violin, guitars and base. Their num- bers include such favorites as 'Wreck of the Old 97," 'Little Red Hen' and others. Standout of their turn is Helen Hester Diller, who knows how to yodel. Finale comes when Lewis wheels out a you-name-it of his own construction, with bells, horns, siren, washboard and various other gadgets which he manipulates as the groups go to town on some hillbilly boogie. Capacity biz at first night show, with standees. Earl. EMBASSY, N. Y. (NEWSBEELS) The 'day that will live long in In- famy,' Dec. 7, 1941, is given its first extensive newsreel reportage this week, along with the okay by the Government for newspapers through- out the country to issue last week the true stories of what happened at Pearl Harbor. But, somehow, the burning of the American battleships, along with other damage, is perhaps no more startling to the audience than the rumor-filled reports that have sifted back to the states from time to time on what actually hap- pened at Pearl Harbor. In short, it seems as if Mr. and Mrs. America had long since suspected the worst. Fox-Movietone has the major clips on the Jap attack that plunged America into its second World War, and special encomiums are heaped on cameraman Al Brick, who was on the spot at the time and scored considerable eye-filling shots of the American battle wagons being bombed to the bottom or into various states of damage. Now that the dam- age has been officially made known, the government has, by contrast, also shown how, after a year, the damage was not as irreparable as first re- ported. Pictorial shots reveal how the various ships and destroyers have since been'fixed up and sent to join the rest of the fleet in the fight against the Nipponese. There's very little else that can compare favorably with the week's top newsreel event. A short released by the British Ministry of Informa- tion has its quota of interest, being titled 'Diary of a Polish Airman.* It deals with a Pole from the time of the Nazi invasion of his country to the time he's been forced to flee, first to France, then to England, where he's joined Polish compatriots carrying on via the Polish govern- ment in exile. H. V. Kaltenborn and Tex McCrary contribute their usually interesting short subjects especially for the Em- bassy. Kaltenborn. to whom is credited 30 out of 32 major predic- tions In world events, is answering questions submitted to him from the Question box in the lobby of the theatre, while McCrary's contribu- tion is his last for the duration, since he recently entered the Army Air Forces Latter's subject this week epitomizes the foresight of Bernard Baruch and Generall Billy Mitchell. Kahn. ORPHEUM, L. A. Los Anpeles, Dec. 10. Marie and Her Pals, The Dells, Will Aubrey, The Duttons, Rich Sis- ters. Al Lyons Hotise Orch. (10); 'Invisible Agent' (U) and 'Smith of Minnesota' (Col). With the hook out for shopping hausfraus and offspring during Xmas lull, Orpheum this week tries turning theatre into big top, offering ballyed 'circus' show. From looks of things, and considering cost, house rigging, etc., but retain the necessary air with their makeup and dress, while performing on grotesque fiddles, playing musical saucers on a marble top table and simulating two restaurant eaters with musical notes to each hand movement. Jingle- jangle stuff is a dilly for the kiddies. Finale has them draped in bells and electric bulbs for flash musical fin- ish with movement of all limbs beat- ing out tune. Trapeze work is taken by Rich Sisters, one doing thrilling aerial work while the other works one-arm endurance somersault swings. Last bit carries less hypo for audience. However, whole sells circus idea. Picturesque Dutton horse act closes show. There's little real sock or bang in the prancing of two white nags hitched to white wagon with white-dressed occupants who, one by one, indulge in back stands, pyra- mids, balancing, etc. But there is color and grace and big-top taint That's what was sought. That's what is gotten, and that's what's paying off. Exchanges Contlnned from page 14 voted to the exchange showing the best results over a 20-week period. Wolfe Cohen, district manager for Warners in the Dominion, presided at the Friday-Saturday (11-12) ses- sions. Those from the h.o. were Ben Kalmenson. Roy Haines, Arthur Sachson and Norman H. Moray, short sales head, who also is chairmaning the sales drive. Seattle Promotion Seattle, Dec. 13. Helen Harper, for the past eight years with Hamrick-Evergreen chain as a cashier, has been advanced from the boxoffice at Orpheum to assist- ant mgr. She succeeds John W. Fletcher, ex-mayor of Unalaska, who was there when Dutch Harbor was bombed and was evacuated with other civilians when the army came in. Fletcher is now in defense work. Iowa's Bond Drive Des Moines. Dec. 15. Nearly 1,000 picture theatres In Iowa. Nebraska and western Illinois were engaged in an intensive one- week war bond-selling campaign through Dec. 13, headed by A. H. Blank of Tri-Statcs Theatres, chair- man for the three-slate area of the war activities committee of the mo- tion picture industry. Kansas City, Dec. 15. W. H. Ledbetter is new manager of the Osage, Kansas City. Kan., owned by H. R. Biechele. Ledbetter suc- ceeds Don Martin, who resigned to take a job at the Sunflower Ordnance Works near here. Dickinson, Inc.. has purchased the Kaw, Merriam, Kan., from A. W. Hyle, who also operates the Kaw, Junction City, Kan. Richard Brod- head is manager of the house, which is being redecorated. W. H. Fox Heads Pitt Theatres Pittsburgh, Dec. 15. W. H. Fox, an accountant, has been named general manager of the four theatres in Carnegie owned by Dr. C. E. Herman veteran tri-state exhib. Fox succeeds Mrs. Anthony Vincent, whose late husband. Tony Vincent, operated the Carnegie houses for Dr. Herman for several years. Mrs. Vin- cent took over his post for a few months. Marty Seed, son of Harry Seed. WB district sales chief, has been promot- ed from manager of Regal theatre in Wilkinsburg to the managership of Warners' nabe .house, the Squirrel Hill. He replaces Max Silverman, who departed last week for the army. Par and Col offices here have fol- lowed RKO in adding femmes to their booking departments. Mrs. Dorothy Goldstein Melnick, a mem- ber of Par staff for years, has suc- ceeded Ernest Stern, who quit to go into defense work, and Peg McArdle fills Col berth vacated by Eugene R will come out better than it has in , , . . . fat^M> WiataMWi. d ftF w a-i&^ a in > ,„ Ed <Hip) Siegal, former theatre attendance and response due novelty—not so much from quality, and despite being further sloughed with two second run films. House band is pitted and rigged in tent show regalia, giving out with traditional oompa oompa scoring. Emcee Will Aubrey takes off a ring- master in manner and delivery, when not doing his own minstrelsy singing to guitar accompaniment for pacing stagewaits in front of curtain. Marie and Her Pals, assortment of ponies and dogs, open show. Pooches and diminutive gee-gees are a natural for the kids. Most of work has dogs jumping on backs of circl- ing nags, running against turntables and hurdles. Number of attendants standing about makes it go off well as 'circus.' Thai's followed by a comic butting-kicking routine be- tween a donkey and a stooge, and topped with a performing camel, property of the Dutton troupe. The Dells, boy and girl eccentric dancers, take the deuce spot, eliminating the sawdust atmosphere entirely but coming along at good time for con- trast. Conclude in Gay 90's clothes to reclaim the theme. While offering little of unusual, they fill. Williams and Charles, vet clowns, work in three stage and minus tent manager here and later U exploiteer, then exchange checker for same com- pany and also for Columbia, has left show biz to go to work in a war fac- tory. He's learning welding at the Dravo plant. Leo Wayne has returned to the Monogram exchange as salesman and booker, succeeding Joe Hanna. who resigned. Hanna went to Mono re- cently after being with 20th-Fox for nearly quarter of a century. Navari Brothers—Rudy, Sam and Julius—Verona exhibs, last week purchased Bryn Mawr, oldest ball- room in Pittsburgh. They will mod- ernize it extensively and reopen the spot as the Flamingo, featuring roller-skating and dancing. Harry Rupp has returned to work at U exchange after an illne.ss and ab.sence of nearly two years. The veteran inspector had been a U em- ployee since 1918. when a rare type of poisoning developed in one of his hands and paralyzed his fingers. Abe Rothenstein, owner of the West Aliquippa theatre, is doubling in brass as an exhib and defense worker. By day he's a checker, now at the Ambridge plant of the Ameri- can Bridge Co. and at night he runs his film house. Talent Dearth May Explain New USO Shows General Mediocrity MERRY GO ROUND (WHITE CIRCUIT; UNIT 71) Dorothy Simms. Marcia Harris, Hector and His Pals, Arthur and Morton Havel, Sylvia and Clemence, Al Wolf. With almost 75 units already out or in preparation, USO-Camp Shows, Inc., is apparently facing a greater manpower problem than Paul McNutt. Even the Palace beach is so empty, agents are trying to book each other. With the re- sult that CSI has just about reached the bottom of the barrel of potential acts. That's the only possible ex- planation for 'Merry Go Round.' On the other hand, it's one of those paradoxes to which Camp Shows is getting accustomed. It's a five-act revue at which no showmen could help but wince. Yet, caught Monday (14) at the Marine Bar- racks of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, it provided a real evening's enter- tainment for the leathernecks. They laughed, they applauded, they whistled for more. Had it been Bob Hope. Bing Crosby and Dorothy X'amour they could hardly have gotten a better reception. Easily the topper for both ability and palm-pounding received was Dorothy Simms, an attractive warb- ler with a .'you all' drawl thick enough to halt an armor-piercing shell. Her selling of 'Mr. Five by Five' on her first encore was as good as any that's been heard in these parts in a long time. In addition, she has class and looks, was nicely couturiered and generally showed profession'alism born of experience. Only really standard turn, how- ever, is Hector and His Pals, dog act. It has been a regular fixture at the top vaude houses, but suffered pri- marily, when caught from the lack of a stage. All acts performed on the floor, at the same level as the audience. Hector has a flock of more-or-less smart pooches that are usually good for laughs, but work- ing as the curtain-raiser in this cur- tainless auditorium, got over less well than might be expected. Marcia Harris, femme hoofer, achieved only minor results with her plain and toe-tapping. She's an okay looker, well-costumed and with technical proficiency, but her numbers are too sophisticated for the type of audience she's facing. Sylvia and Clemence, femtnes, provide a flash finale with a comedy-acro turn. It's corny and. amateurish stuff, yet, in all fairness, it must be recorded that the men of the Marines found the pair en- grossing. M.c.ing the unit are Arthur and Morton Havel, who handle that chore well enough. They've been long standard in vaude. Al Wolf, piano accompanist, does a neat job for the unit, which is one of the medium priced (white) shows of CSI's Red. White and Blue cir- cuits. Budget is understood to run below $750. SHUFFLE ALONG (RED CIRCUIT; UNIT 54) Fort Sheridan, ill., Dec. 9. Flournoy Miller, Chuck & Chuc- kles, Hepcats A Daisy Mae, Johnny Lee. Cora Greene, Chanticleers (4), Al Moore. Dene Larry. Ralph Broivn, Avis Andrews, Max Boyd, Chorus of 12: Cubic Blake, musical director; Adolph Meyer, manager. Some of the best colored talent in the business has been assembled for this tabloid version of one of the stage hits of 21 years ago. Only a small portion of the regular show's purpose of tying together a succes- sion of excellent specialties, which proved to be one hit after another at this stand. Show has the advantages of hav- ing Eubie Blake, who, with Noble Sissle, wrote the songs of the orig- inal show, as musical director, and Flournoy Miller, who wrote the book, playing his original role of the mayor. Johnny Lee, opposite Miller in most of the show's comedy scenes, is a delight to watch. He has a whiney delivery which is the signal for heavy laughter every time he open.; his mouth. For thi.s streamlined version Blake has written two new numbers. "Sec- ond-Class Daddy' and 'Miranda.' the latter being a very catchy tune. Three tunes from the original show. 'Love Will Find a Way.' 'Bandana Days' and 'I'm Just Wild About Harry.' are used in the show, which is nicely mounted with neat travel- ers and clean and attractive cos- tume.';. Addison Carey, stage mana- ger, keeps the show moving at a fast clip. Unit carries nine musicians and a stage crew of four. Following the opening number by the chorus and the entire company, Avi.>; Andrews and Max Boyd take the spotlight for an effective dueling of 'Love Will Find a Way' to good returns. The Hepcats (Arthur Rus* sell, guitar; Roy Testamark, piano; Billy Pollard, bass) and Daisy Mae, singer-dancer, are the first hit with instrumental and vocal rendition of a swing number, a boogie-woogie and 'Uptown,' all interspersed with comedy and dancing. Flournoy Miller and Johnny Lee, in blackface, had them howling with several hits, and they're followed by a 'Bandana Days' production num- ber, sung first by the Chanticleers quartet; a Cakewalk routine by Al Moore and Dene Larry, and then some precision work by the chorus and tapping by Ralph Brown. Brown's work is reminiscent of Bill Ro,binson, yet he does not imi- tate the old master. He has a great routine executed with finesse, and left to heavy applause. Miss Andrews sings 'I'm At Mercy of Love' and 'Where or When' in her usually excellent manner to resound- ing applause; then come Miller >md Lee in a very funny line of pader that deals with Lee's (as a police- man) trouble filling out a question- naire. The Chanticleers (Daniel Lackey, William Hurd. Ralph Graves and John Bunn) harmonize with 'Dry Bones,' 'Count to Ten' and 'Miranda,' which runs into a chorus number. The boys know their stuff and their harmonies are sweet and clear. Moore and Miss Larry are a grace- ful pair in the nexi .<;Dot. doing a classy soft-.ihoe lap wilh ballroom lifts that sent them off to much ap- plause. Chuck and Chuckles, with their eccentric dancing, xylophone bit and comedy antics, almost stopped the show and took several bows. Finale is a production number built around 'I'm Just Wild About Harry* with the entire company. Loop. MUSIC MASTERS (White circuit; unit 84) Miami, Dec. 9. Howard Kubifc, Garfield Swift, Agnes Davis, Byrd Elliot, Rom RoI- tand. Nicholas Beriozoff (6). This USO unit is designed to be of the concert variety, and when caught here was only lightly received. Frankie Masters and his Coca-Cola Spotlight Band Show, with Dixie Dunbar, Stan Kavanagh and Lyda Sue, got so big a response when they appeared here last week that tliu unit was in a tough spot following. Howard Kublk, pianist, m.c.s and ivories well enough. Garfield Swift baritones 'Old Man River' and 'Road to Mandalay,' encoring with the To- reador song from 'Carman.' Ap- plause strong. Rosa Rolland and Nicholas Berioz- off, ballet dancer, billed from the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, follow with a gypsy dance that's mild. Byrd Elliot, female violinist, offers a. group of three selections, outstanding be- ing 'Intermezzo.' She received the most enthusiastic applause. Agnes Davis struggles through 'Kiss Me Again' and two other stock tunes, while the audience struggled with tier. Polite applause. Nicholas Beriozoff Is next with a character ballet dance that, aside from a few pirouettes, is uninteresting, and Rosa Rolland, with a slow interpretative bell dance, registered mildly. Swift returns to sing 'Beguine' and far^ much better than his first appear- ance. For a finale the entire company participates In George Gershwins Porgy.' Good Idea for a finish. These concert units may be a good change of pace from the usual revue- vaudeville type of shows troupintf the USO circuit, but unless the oest available concert artists are used, they will fall flat with mediocre taU ij. i 8!!. ' .ej iJiv mg .iiitj'r ' i. ' u.ia ' much rather see a high knee than hear a high C. Bil. ROOM SERVICE (BED CIRCUIT; UNIT SI) Seattle, Dec. 13. It doesn't have to be a stirrinc drama or a great story. The boys in blue are just hungry for the sight of gals and legs and laughs. Those yearnings were hilariously demon- strated last Friday (11), when a com- pany of USO-Camp Shows, Inc.. pre- sented the breezy bedroom comedy, 'Room Service.' at Sand Point Naval Air Station. Only femmes In the cast are the s.a. Theo Coleman and Mary Alice Moore. Their every appearance brought cheers from the Navy audi- ence. Nor were the comedians unap- preciated. It was a quick-to-laugh audience, the kind that Inspires ac- tors to work harder. Because taps sound early for ser- vicemen, the show began at 7:30 p.m. and rang down before 10. It was then, as the house lights came on, that the sailors let go. The cheers made the lowliest actor a star—for a few moments, anyway. Trepp.