Variety (Jun 1943)

48 HOUSE BBTIEWS Wednesday, June 2, 1943 PARAMOUNT, N. Y. Frank Sinatra, Grade Barrie & Orch (17). Gene Sheldon, O^rford Boys '(2). Walter Long: Don Baker, Teri Josefovits: "5 Cravet to Cairo' (Par), reviewed in 'Variety,' May 5. 1943. Compact one-hour stageshow augments 'S Graves to Cairo.' and business looks - very much on the credit side. The emphasis this week Is on Frank Sinatra rather than any Qame band, although Grade Barrie. heading jin all-male combo, is the musical background. Both, around for some time, are detailed under New Acts, to complete the 'Variety' flies which, heretofore, spotlighted the Great Swoonatra under Nitery and House Reviews, aqd also eclipsed Miss Barrie. bccause-of her couplmg with hubby Dick Stabile, now in '.he service. The Oxford Boys, clever musical mimics, come on directly after the band's intru. and while it would ap- pear a misspotting, their simulations- of Busse. Kyser. Owens, Waring, the Dorseys. a radio- medley and Harry Jame.!; arc showmanly projected: Utilizing but a guitar for straight musical accomp. the boy with the trumpet imitations is the mainstay of the team. Both are per.<!onnblc and flt in on cafe floor or rostrum. Walter Long iNew Acts) breaks up some further band specialties, and then Gene Sheldon whose panto- banjocosity leads into further come- dy business with Loretta Fischer. Sheldon's zanyisms and fine concep- tion of pantomimicry make one wonder why Hollywood hasn't 'dis- covered' him as yet. He'd be a cinch to spot into the current crop of fllmusicals in the hopper. Then Sinatra, and ofT. Don Baker's organalog Is the hors d'ouvres within the theatre and Teri Josefovits, at the mezzanine Stein- wny, is the mu.'^ical ointment for the waitees. Abel. RKO BOSTON Boston, Mat; 27. Erskine Haiolcins Orch (15): Brookins k Van; Berry BrOi. (3); Ethel Watert; 'Sherlock Holmes in Washington' (U), climbs the ladder 'and stands on hia master's head, also is a clever per- former. The show uses a line of girls, the Betty Ciicds. who appear to advant- age in three brightly costumed rou- tines. Their acrobatics in the dosing miniber are Arsl rate. Biz fair when caught. Corb. This all-colored show with plenty of live jive paced by huge brass sec- tion (nine pieces) is collecting the consumer kudos here this week xnainly through sheer volume of decibels. Certainly the loudest out- fit to visit this niche this year, and there have been plenty of loud ones. Show of this type as a rule draws a special audience opening day or two here, then falls off, but Ethel Waters has a good following and will help to keep the show pulling. Actually, it's a swift layout* and sums up to solid if distinctly stren- uous entertainment. Besides his six trumpets and three trom'bones, Hawkins sports fou* saxes, piano, bass and drums. Hawkins himself joins in to reach for the ceiling on the trumpet, and the cats collapse of ecstasy with such melanges as 'Let's Ball Awhile,' 'Nona.' 'Bicycle Bounce' and Tuxedo Junction.' Jimmy Mitchell vocals' 'Lights Go On Again' and 'Don't Cry, Baby.' the latter a real lowdown num- ber that seemingly, only a colored band can do. Paul Bascomb takes a few licks on the tenor sax. and Gene Rogers does a solo on the piano. Brookins and Van catch on with their piano, patter and tap routine, but overdo It by about five minutes: the Berry Brothers had to beg off after a brief but whizzy turn culmi- nating in as deft an acrobatic trick as there is around on the circuit these days, and Miss Waters winds It up with a quintet of pop tunes. She got a neat reception. Biz fine opening day. Elie. APOLLOr N, Y. A/illOH Lorlciri OrWi il4'), Ceorgie Lane, Cliarlos (rarrer. Ca(s & Fiddle (4). Princesx Sahloo i3i. Cooh & Broirii. Teahoiie Walker. George Will.'ihirc. Joe Byrd & Helen Stew ard: 'Cilu of Silent Men' iPRC), A'diver^iflod bill, sparkplugged by top talent, marks this week's Apollo Piickaiic. OtTering aWo .serves to in- troduce to Harlem audiences Milton Larkin's orch. which hails from Cliic.nco. Outlil is competent but not .Mandout. and is at its best while arcumpanyiiig acts. In spotlight rdle it works for deciblcs at expense of smoothness. Thifi is illustrated .in "Grout LeC and 'Let's Go Home.' Lnrkih could also use a vocalist. Gcorgie Lmie, who fills the spot, has a potentially good voice, but lacks stage presence and oomph. Ill contrast arc (he Cats and Fid- dle, combo of bull llddie. two regu- lar and one electric guitar. They have plenty personality and instru- mental dexterity. Their 'Craziest Dream' and 'Miss You So' netted them several encores. Also, solid personality is Teabone Walker, who accompanies himself on electric guitar. He mugs, does stunt playing and works self into lather selling a song. And he dcflnitely sells 'I Love My Baby' and 'Ration Blues.' Charles Carrer, standard juggler, the only ofay on an otherwise all- colored bill, has a clever, entertain- ing routine built around a fk>rtablc bar. Mixing 10 cocktails simultane- ously and Severing an apple in the air with- a knife are the highlights of his act. Another novelty is Princess Sahloo. sexy looking torso tosser. The 'princess' is supported by tob-tom beater, who sets the tempo for her torrid wiggling. Comedy department offers Cook and Brown, fast stepping hoofers who do socle downing job and neat tap routine. Act also gets laughs from antics of short member of team who mugs with jitterbug take- off. Comedians George Wiltshire, Joe Byrd and Helen Steward fill the humor quota with 'Honor Among Thieves' sketch which is corny and well-taken. Biz Friday (28) supper show was fair. KEITH'S, INDPLS. Indianapolis, May 29. Cliff Edwards, Naomi Ray & Eddie Harrison, Kay k Kendalls, 4 Naval Cadets, Johnny Laddie & Co., Betty Coeds (8), Ed Resener House Orch, 'Eyes of Underworld' (U). Cliff Edwards, making his first local appearance- in some years, tops the holiday show at Keith's in his auiet, whimsical way. The rest of the bill is evenly divided between comedy, musical and novelty acts. Edwards strums his uk« and vocals *Fa8cinatin' Rhythm.' 'Paddlln' BladC' line Home' and 'When You Wish Upon a Star,' his best. For an ea- core he presents a new ditty by Hoagy Carmichael, "Bless You Sis- ter,' in the spiritual vein. The sing- ing is carried along by the Naval Cadets, a lusty male quartet that of- fers medleys of oldtime and college tunes in acceptable fashion. Ray and Harrison, spotted next to closing, present their 'Pain in the Ballet^ routine, burlesque of the arty dancers. Kay and the Kendalls sag at the expense of their stooge, work a little sleight-of-hand and ■mall magic and wind up with some novelty steps. Johnny Laddie Impresses with his ■waylng 'drunk' routine on unsup- ported ladders, the outstanding novelty on the bill. Hla topper Is a Juggling routine, In which he han- dles three Indian clubs at the t6p of the ladder while turning it com- pletely around. Laddie's dog, which PALACE, CLEVE. . Cleveland, May 28. Sonny Dunham Orch, Detial, Merle & Lee, Dorothy Ciaire, Benny Rubin, Kenny Baker; 'JMoon Is Down' (20th). This bill looks great on paper, and its name acts have enough marquee power to guarantee a big gross for Palace, but It doesn't have the right zing in entertainment. Kenny Baker comes closest to it when he unlocks his tenor pipes with all the astuteness that years of mike experience have given him. It's straight-from-the-shoulder-and- hcart singing, socking fresh appeal into such ballads as "Stardust,' 'Lonesome Cowboy,' 'Black Magic' and an Irish baHad that pulled solid approval from the folks out front. Rubin briefly teams with Baker in an amiable bit of apparently ad- libbed tomfoolery, but at Initial per- formance his gags fell short, "rim- ing appeared to be somewhat off, although material okay and he started to warm up house to laugh- ing stage just when his time ran out. On his bow at this deluxe RKO stand, .Sonny Dunham's sizzling notes on a trumpet get the jiving cognoscenti heated up although his band's numbers are lacking in originality. Neither does the maes- tro exhibit much flexibility or stage personality. Yet he wakes up the gallery when his trumpet begins climbing to the clouds in 'Memories of You.' Well drilled crew offers a nice, sweet arrangement of 3y Light of Silvery Moon,' putting the heat into its brasswork for 'One O'clock Jump.' Dorothy CUire, the bumptious blond who displays more vocal en- thusiasm than . the average canary, lays it on in exhilarating quantities to the immense satisfaction of the Jitterbugs. Her clowning version of If I Could Be With You' needs a trifle more polishing but she is in flne charging form in 'Hip. Hip, Hooray' and 'Strip Polka.' with her coquettish eyes, strapless white gown and comic byplay. Greatest amount of life, odd to say, is injected Into bill by burlesque adagio team of Deval, Merle -and Lee. It's vigorous, slick, laugh-packed horseplay that's spot- ted perfectly. Duo of Cleveland jitterbugs-tagged Jane and Red, who won fli'st prize in Palace's hoofing contest put on by Manager Lou Mayer, also help by adding a lot «t energetic footwork. Show did bang- up biz flrst three days. Putt. | STATE. N.Y. Ray ffeatherton'f Orch u'tlh Betty Brewer; Jan Murray, Barry Sisters (2), Una Merkel; 'Hanynien Also Die^ iUA). The State won't sustain any frac- tured boxoffice figures this week, but those who do pass the wicket will not have any complaints about the stage entertainment. One of the better .'<huws of recent wcek.< here, it also spotlights a listenable band with a highly personable maestro, Ray Heathertoh. Plus his own singing and (he orch's good musical work, Heatherton has the. happy faculty of being a good, articulate m.c. which is more thai\, can be said for most bandleaders. Another noticeable Improvement currently is the good band setting, the house evidently investing m .■<omc new hanging pieces. The red and gold motif, abetted by the red- pea Jackets of Heathertoii's musi- cians, is Riving the State's rostrum the brightest appearance it's had in months. Now, for further modern- ization, the hou.<:e might invest in a rolling band platform to better pro- ject it.<; bands. With Jan Murray on the bill and also m.c.ing. there's a conflict ion on entrances and exits between him and Heatherton that appears to be step- ping on applause. Thoy could have worked out ^ smoother routine for better audience reaction. As is. Una Merkel, doing a cute personal,, worked to a blah reception opening night. .She comes out of the audience, on invitation from Murray for screentest candidates, and gives a typical zaney characterization thpt deserved more laughs than received. A hillbilly sOng duct with Heather- ton on "Are You Spoken For' is her bowoff. Another applause-killer is the poor spotting of a song duet by Heather- ton ana Betty Brewer, his vocalist, immediately following the Barry Sisters' harmony session. On her own, earlier, cute Miss Brewer aptly sells 'Johnny Zero' and. with Heath- erton, 'Hey, Goodlooking.' Murray, who has had his schnoz bobbed, as has one of the Barry Sis- ters, is working with plenty of . as- surance and a good batch of jokeS; In his own spot, he got a lot of laughs from a nalf-emphr house. His delivery is fast, in the Berle-Young- man idiom, and he's a Youngman in- sofar as stringbean appearance is concerned.' The Barry Sisters are a station WHN (also Loew's) singing team, and (Okay, too. The nice-looking girls have had several theatre' and nitery dub dates and are constantly Improving. Aside from 'Me and My Gal.' however, their choice of songs could be improved here. The open- ing 'I Want My Mama' parody and the 'Gypsy'-'Dark Eyes' medley were not forte. Heatherton's crew is divided be- tween three sax, three brass, three strings (two of 'em femmes) and four rhythm. It's a smooth, society- type combo, has played some of the classier hotels and is excellent mu- sical support in a variety house. Scho. OLYMPIA, MIAMI Jfiami, May 26. Vic Hyde, Harry Stockwetl, Val- ley & Lynne, Hap Hazard, Clayton & Phttlips, Brennay JVforrow's 'fia- liettes,' WaKer Witko Orch with Laura Kelloyp; 'Sliyhtly Dangerous" (M-C). Six acts and orchestra with singer comprise the fare at the Olympia this week. A good average show. Vic Hyde's one-man band stunt tops the bill and goes over. Hap Haz- ard's comedy juggling and acro- batics also click, while Valley and Lynne are ok hoofers. Harry Stockwell, whose voice was (ised to portray that of the prince in 'Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs' iRKO) goes over well on personal- ity and voice. Clayton an<f Phillips are a mixed team of acrobats who do the standard stunts, and all good. Brennay Morrow's 'Baliettcs' unit from the local Club Bali, do well in a couple of well-executed, well- costumed dances: Walter Witko's orchestra and Laura Kellogg, the band's vocalist, balance to the show neatly. Biz fair. Laur. EARLE, PHILLY Philadelphia, Jtfay 29. Jimmy Dorsey Orch with Kitty Kallen, Bob Eberly, ^eal Stanley; Joe k Jane McKenna; 'Cowboy in Jifanhattan' (U). PhiUy's sweater and zoot-suit set IS turning out en masse for Jimmy Dorsey's outfit this week. No little part of the welcome Is going to the Quaker City's own Kitty Kallen, an alumna of WCAU's 'Children's Hour' program, who sang with a couple of local bands and was given a buildup in the dallies here prior to opening Friday (28) at the Earle. The show is all for the jivesters, teeing off with the Dorsey theme and swinging Into 'One O'clock Jump.' Miss Kallen steps in at this point with a sassy rendition of 'Mur- der,' followed by 'Don't Get Around Much Anymore—the opening bars of which almost brought the rafters down. Neal Stanley, clever Impersonator, is plenty clicko, best being a take- off on Eddie Cantor and Donald Duck reciting 'Jack and JUl.' The band then c)owna through 'John Silver,' featuring the skins and setting off the jitterbugs again. Joe and Jane McKenna provide a hilarious comedy relief, a pit on the slapstick side, but funny neverthe« less. Their takeoff on an adagio team netted plenty of chuckles, From here in it's all band.. Heart- throb Bob Eberly takes things apart with his mellow renditions of 'Let's Get Lost' and a medley of Dorsey recording hits, Tangerine,' 'Breeze and r and 'I Understand.' Fliiale has Miss Kallen joining him in a pleasing novelty tune. Take Little Johnny in Hand.'. The Dorsey signoff had the aud whistling and begging for encores— but with six shows a day, that's all there was. House packed when caught (Saturday afternoon). Shal. ORIENTAL, CHI Chicago. May 28. Oil lira H Sisters, Dorothy Dotiegan, Tim Herbert. Gaynor k Ross, Earle & Forliiiip; 'Shanty Town' (Rep),' Headline honors of the current bill ore shared by the veteran Dun- can Si.sters and Dorothy Donegan, local pianist making her flrst theatre appearance. From the confines of a small cock- tail lounge to the stage of a big downtown theatre is a long jump for 0 performer without any stage ex- perience; in short. Miss Donegan should have been booked into an outlying house for several days to give her little more stage polish. Her awkwardness in getting on and off is obvious: also she lacks a defi- nite routine and has an annoying habit of beating time with her feet OS she plays, but loud. In a noisy cocktail lounge this may not be so noticeable but here, where the beatings are amplified by stage mikes, the effect is particularly bad. During nearly all her numbers she goes through a series of facial con- tortions running from apparent ecstasy to pain, a characteristic that's hard to explain. But she went over big. Gaynor and Ross, working on a raised platform,. open with a fast line of rollerskating tricks. Team works at a dizzy pace and deserved- ly Won generous applause at the finish. Earle and Fortune begin with a rather mild comedy dance that failed to arouse much interest at show caught, but their second'num- ber, a melange of eccentric, loose- jointed steps to the music of 'On the Trail' and 'Donkey Serenade,' put thcin over nicely. Tim Herbert (Herman Timberg, Jr.) repeats his recent success at the Chicago theatre with his clowning, comedy talk and dancing, going over big. Duncan Sisters, as Topsy and Eva. came on to a hand and wowed them. Rosclla Duncan's impish comedy antics as Topsy had 'em laughing continuously and the girls' harmonizing is as good as ever. So a medley of their old favorites in- cluding 'Side by Side,' Then I'll Be Happy.' 'I Never Had a Mammy' and •Wherever You Go,' then into a very funny Spanish number and close with 'Remember,' leaving them a sock hit. Morg. EMBASSY, N. Y. (NEWSBEELS) An excellent rouncfup of the final stages of the Tunisian campaign, which runs at considerable length but packs much interest, stands out on a generally routine bill here this week. Although 'Africa Report,' as billed, bears the Paramount label. It was photographed by the Army Sig- nal Corps, which did a swell job. Maps supplement shots of actual ac- tion, capture of various towns and the taking of prisoners. Tacked to this is a clip on arrival of Winston Churchill in Washington, with much foottige devoted to his speech before Congress. Then the reels turn back to Tuni- sia, where Fox-Movietone catches Turkish officers In the conquered country as observers and visiting with General Eisenhower. Except for a Par clip showing a U. S. sub gunning a Jap signal boat, putting It afire, the rest is standard. However, intense Interest is generated by an OWI short. 'Wings Up.' which takes audiences on a Cook's tour of the Officers Candidate School for fliers in Miami, and points up effectively the rigorous training and discipline of this branch of Army life. Short IS narrated by Capt. Clark Gable, a grad of that school. He does an ex- cellent job of it. Midwest floods, train wreck in New Jersey. WAAC commandos in train- ing, Greek beneflt show at Madison Sq. Garden with a glimpse of 20th- Fox prexy Sypros Skouras, celebra- J'"''°"8' Maritime Day, and Archbishop Spellman in MalU are among miscellaneous clips. Fulton Lewis, Jr.. expatiates on 'Post-War U.S.A.,' while H. V. Kal- tcnborn, another weekly feature of the theatre, discusses two war ques- tions received from patrons. , Char, ROXY,N.Y. The Hartmans (2), Lerpu Adlef MittI Uayfuir, Jean. Jack k Judy «). Merry Macs (4), Bob Hannon, Gee Foster Roxyettes, Paul Ash House Orch; 'Mtf Friend Flicka' (20th), reviewed tn 'Variety' April 7, '43. Pleasing, well-balanced stage line- up holds solid values all the way from the Hartmans' nitty comecly terping to the neat, standard Jean Jack and Judy tumbling turn in the opening spot. The Hartmans $till cop top returns with their hilarious takeoff on a pair of wacky ballroom Instructors They're planted on full stage with eight house teams in dress clothes for background,, but work alone later. They roll up their first big score with a dissertation on the whereabouts of the polka and follow with hoofing demonstrations, ell the while delivering their terp routines with a grace and skill which is ap- parent despite the buffoonerv. Wind up with big returns with their phoney violin and vocal bit. Larry Adler clean^ up with his standard harmonica tui-n. getting re. niarkable tone and volume. George Gershwin medley. 'Beguine' and 'Staccato' numbers click. The Merry Macs, harmonizers. us usual hold their audience. They drew healthy response with such pops as 'Hip, Hip, Hooray,' 'Brazil' and 'Pass the Bis- cuits. Mirandy.' Mitzi Mayfuir. also spelling class in the hoofing department is fea- tured in the ballet finale, soloing with ncro-tap routines. A strong as-set,' Miss Mayfair could stay considerably longer than the few minutes allotted her. Bob Hannon. emcee and solo vo- colist runds out the bill. He's long been a Roxy standard, and gets over, as usual. Roxyettes. house line. are. in for several numbers, too. Mori. CAPITOL, WASH. Washington, May 28. Block & Sully. Gus Von. Con Col- leano, Colstons. Sam Jack Kaufman's House Band with Heieiie. Lynn Alli- son, Art Brown; 'Assignment in Brittany' (M-C). This Is a return of oldtime vaude- ville, and it's a clicker. Sam Jack Kaufman's house band gets It off to a good start with an impressionistic overture in which Helene has a chance to show her virtuosity with a fiddle and Lynn Allison vocalizes. Then Art Brown's organalog, with the accent on come- dy. Con Colleano is not only socko on the wire but a master showman. Usually F street audiences sit on their hands for the acrobats, but Colleano warmed them up to rous- ing applause with his front somer- sault neatly sold. Gus Van hits the buUseye because he gels away from routine song material. His lyrics are fresh and new to Capitol audi- ences and he has a voice that can send them over. In between he mixes a few well-told stories ^nd winds up with a patriotic flourish. He recalls that 27 years ago he in-- troduced 'My Gal Sal' at the Cen- tury theatre. New York, with his late partner, Joe Schenck. ond he demonstrates that he still knows how to sing It. Block and Sully would go better should they take some of the tabasco out of their jokes. Downtown thea- tres are watched closely by the clergy In this area and any smut brings a pulpit reaction. B. k S.'s routine is more for nightclubs and a little too frank for the family audi- ences attracted at the Capitol. Ma- terial can't be censored without ruining the act, as house discovered after critics had panned the team for more than Innuendo. The Colstons burlesque dance teams and score. Good production by«Gene Ford. . Arke. HIPP, BALTO. Baltimore, May 28. Walter Nllsson, Ben Yost's Six Vi- Kings, Coley Worth k Mareia Line (16), Felice luUi k House Orch (12); 'This Und Is Mine* (RKO). Nicely organized layout plays at good pace and packs considerable entertainment. Utilizes the 16 Rhythm Rockets line, now a perma- nent fixture here, to open and close as well as break matters mid- way with fuUstage picture number. Following opening tap number by line, Walter Nllsson gives setup a brisk getaway with bis standard trick-bike business. Ben Yost's six VIKIngs are deuced and sell all- male vocalizing weU. Punch out the Hanger' song, a medley from "New Moon' and, for a rousing clincher, a good arrangement of 'Song of the Vagabonds.' S<A matters smartly for the RockeU In a fuUsUge pic- ture number employing scarfs -in graduated sizes. Lij[hting is nicely handled here, particularly. Coley Worth and Marda next and flood tor some gagging with a fiddle, mpresslons and hot hoofery by the femme. Then the Vi-Kings again m uniform for some Service tunes. building, into a rousing flnole sparkedf by the line's drill number. Biz okay. Burm.