Variety (Jun 1943)

Wedaefldaf, Jue 9, 194S CAPITOL, N. Y. Bob Allpii Orrh il5) irilh Vir- fiiiiKi Mdxtv: Willie Houurd. Htrlen OCoiiiioll. Wiilinm Gargan; 'Bflfadu' «M-Ci, rcrieucd in 'Variety,' May ?6, 43. Followint! a combo of George Jesiicl. Jack Haley and Ella Logan on str.jjc. with n boxolTice film such as 'Lndy ot Burlesque' <UA>, is tough for any new layout: yet. that's the experience currently of the Cap- itol's new show comprising Bob Allen's band. Willie Howard. Helen O'Connell and Mm actor William Gargan. 'Baladn' <M-G), starring Robert Taylor, is the pic. The new setup isn't likely to approach the umash b.o. figures chalkied up for three week? by its predecessor, but It's one, nevertheless, that should do veil. The Cap layout, on paper. Is well- balanced and nenerally plays that way. There's the Allen band (or the live set. along with Helen O'Connell in her first theatre date as a solo. Willie Howard takes care uf th« humor with his still great standard act. while Gargan is giving the cus- tomers a touch of Hollywood. All, with the exception of Howard, are reviewed more extensively tmdcr New Acts. Howard is still extracting maxi- mum laughs from his hokum French professor routine. AU his other etulT. too. notably the soa^x turn In which he's heckled by unbilled Al Kelly, who's been stooging for the comic for yiears. is atill Bouh. How- ard had trouble bowinc oft. doing so only after he had done another one of his standards, a cotiple of tpkeofTB on Jessel and Jtolson. Biz good open- ing night (Thursday). Kihn. RKO, BOSTON Boston, JmM 8. Charlie Barnet Orch (17) vOU Mary ^^i" MocCall, Little Tough Cuv« i2). Gil Lamb; 'Forever and a Day' tRKO) Last minute switch brought the Little Tough Guys into thla layout when Elton Britt took UI, but the bill remained weak «nd never quite clicked. The Barnet band, one of the biS' gest to oom in during the seBto'.'. as a feUowing here and wppUed what the customers wanted. Band features a couple of colored stan on trumpets, aad gives them their chance in such iive lingles as 'Scot' land.' -Things Alnt What They Used To Be.' 'Mood Indigo' and 'Chero- kee.' Band has plenty «C precision and a bouncy style, Barnet Maudt fronting with sax licks and intro- ductions. Teeing off are a pair ot Jitterbug contest winners, a colored couple in soot rigs, who go to town but hard, drawing plenty ot noisy encourage- ment. Little Tough Guys follow with routine chatter which invites ^—and gets—plenty ot sharp com' ment from the floor. They overdo their toughness considerably. Gil Lamb winds w with his standard chatter and pantomime businesa, taking a neat reception. Besides its colored insteumental stars, t>and features Mary Ann Mac- Call, vocalist. In 'Blaxft Masic' and Inevitable 'As Time Goes By'; Chubby Jackson In a hep bass-slap- ping session, and Tnimmy Young, hot trombonist and vocalist. Show scores moderately but needs more aing. Biz off at opening. Elte. KEITH'S, INDPLS. Indianapolis, June 4. Collins Peterson, Novak Sisters (3>. Johnny Hyma*, Golden Mr, Jackie Green, Ed Beaeiwr Hoiiae Orch; 'TMiiti Honey* iJdepi. package lh» wedc witt tvm acts and Bd He aca er'a hooai tra out ot the pit and on the for a snappy rfiange of pace. Otd tins and Petcfwm, appeartag throughout the ritow as ita m.c. combo, qiaik the pertonnanoe with their gi\* and take. Peterson builds up the (cts and OoUins tars them down, in a klddiag way. FrnynB comes at flnldt when Peterson and Kesener fix CoUins with m doable hot foot while he warns etoquent on the trumpet, givlag him bade his 'lookit the guy bunra' line. OoUins really blows that hon. Jackie Green gets a hie hand with his clever impersonatlcms. He opens with a couple of stoilea In dlwet, Irish blarney aad Rngiish cockney, then mimics Utt siniiag style of George M. Cohaa, Eddie Cantor, Al Jolson, Jlawiy Oarapte aad flte Ink Spots tor Uc applaus e . Johaay Hyman offers an eateitainins nov- elty in his chalk talk, "naylng Pranks with Webster.* He writes headlines, sentences, etc., on bladi- board. then gets sutprldns effects by chancing tiiem around with eraser. The Novak sisters show lots of bounce in their fsst-paced acrobatic routine, featuring some veedy cait- wheels, flip-overs and other fancy didoes. Tbey do * neat balancing stunt in which one of the gals walks across the stage widi a sister doing a head stand on her head. The blonde springs the climax by trot- ting off mth her pards balanced on each hand. The Golden Pair shows some diverting tricks in thjC adagio- acrobatic line, sviu'hronized to soft music. In their bot. the guy rises from the floor to standing position »nth the gal wrapped nround his arm. Biz was good when caught. Corb. STATE, N.Y. Six Karvelettes, Coleman Clark k Co., Alan Courtney, Molly Picon. Al Trooe Orchesiro (») wild Dare Derorr, 'PresciitinB Lilu Wars tMC). This stage show, with one excep- tion, is a capable Uneup of talent. Majettic, San Antonio fairly fast in its approximate y W ' ' . , . minute riinolT. There are no really San Anto.110. June 8 " st-mdinR stars on the bill, except- WiU Oslionie ond »i;s Orch (13) ^''^o,," Picon, a standard name in Mrith Marioinie; Borrn/i Mi.ifiilt-h s | ^ Yiddish legit and Hnrmonira Roscol* "{»> ler Siiigers, Marion Hidtoii & The Modemaires; Three Hearis /or| Julio' tM-G) for the last two weeks at the Green- wich Villa«e Inn, N. Y. MI.SS Picon IS the hit of the bill. Starting out with a slightly weak biographical song. 4 n c I u ding snatches of 'Do Chi Chornia,' 'YW- dishc Mama.' etc.. leading up to What vou must give them today,^ Triple feature stage revue here has a neat wallop at the boxoftlce. It's a smartly paced 60-minute of- fering which has pajees begging jgijo^^ by exaggerated veision of for more. WilU Osborne and orch .^,„rder He siys.' From there on open with Cnhteen Bounce ,.n.no Uiiss Picon, working in a polished, from then on keep the joint ^^^^ manner, project*! a dialect bit jumpin'. Osborne's crew is com- gj^^j , Jewish mother's concern for posed of six men in the sax section. . drafted son, a swell melodic three trumpets, two trombones, base .j.^jg about 'Hands' and another on Addle, drums and piano and gives .woiking Goil." She had to beg out with a neat brand of rh>-thm. - Trumpet and Sax .sections give out ^.^^ Marvelcltes. troupe ot femme with some nice blending in'As "Time , j, and fresh looking. Goes By' and Medley of World War a"°°»"'/^;'"5<,n»irt, of pyramids, J «..MA« Kap* «\# wVtinn fir* IvIV I — r- . _ stool, her Informal manner is dynamite. Miss Boswell tees off with "Weep No More My Lady,' foUowmg In rapid-flre order 'I Heard That Song Before,' 'Wing and a Prayer,' 'Don t Get Around Much Anymore' ond her always-clicko clincher, 'Stormy Weather.' She had to beg on or she'd be there yet. Jack Marshall, last seen here at Walton Root, proves he's as clicko ith tlie theatre trade as he was ilh the cafe customers. The comic, whose mugging and material are both fresh and amusing, registers neatly with his takeoff of a WAAC getting into her uniform: a double- talk-nursery rhyme routine; his familiar ,hat-folding trick and his sock 'Butchie McGuirk' act. Other supporting act is the ace balancing turn of the Three Kings (two guys and a gal) who perform bewildering feats winding up with the distaff portion atop a six-foot l)ole balanced on the chin ot one ot :he husky males. House was about three-quarters filled when caught (Saturday after' noon). ShaL . tunes, best of which are 'My Buddy* and 'Keep the Home Fires ^^Band^s vocalist is Marianne, tall shapely blonde. Has nice delivery and voice range putting over 'Em- br«ceable You' and 'Cow Cow Boogie.' , ^ Solo spots are taken by two ot Os- borne's men with neat staging. Lee Pines at the piano rax-e out with orch accompaniment 'Boogie Woogie Boxcar* and then some piano ram- blings with a medley built around Stardust.' Ernie Wright at the cartwheeU, etc. Nothing ex ceptioaal in the stunts, but looks okay and gets neat hand. Goldman Clark a Oo.'consists of two expert table tennis players, with an inter- preter. Clark hn Allen Thomas, National Junor champion to oppose him in an obviously fixed, but in- teresting nine-point match. Prior to this, they do a lot ot Uick stuff (or dressing, including a bit with varl toned tryihg pans which ring out 'Jingle Bells' as ball bounces back and forth. There are other Sm^s^ves^it Witt, a.; bciglaal showmanly^ insertions and all add tip bit of skin beating to his 'Drum and Audience 1 ked it. ru„.wn«. Cdtat' I In the third slot Is Alan Courtney, Bo^rah Mlaevitch's Harmonica N. Y. record lockey actor. Rascab hold second rtot with their Perhaps his name oa the marquee playing and comedy antics. Bwt tA \vimiBammBK»b^i^^ua^ "'^{.IJIS: fteir tune blending Was on 'It Can't ord Aow on WOV, N. Y. What he Be Wrong' and 'Always In My does laslde^ however, adds i* sero. Heart.' (Soup had to beg off with Succession of Ured gags and sonp 'American Patrol.' give a prolonged lull to fte show. Show stoppers were the Glonn He tells it all when he wisecracks KBIIer Singers, Marion Hiitton and 1 •anybody can do this, aU you need Modemaires <B111 Conway. LitOe | is nerve.' Ryan, Ralph Brewster and Harold Dickinson). Group opens with •You've Heard That Song Be- fore' making way for bits from their recording hit tunes, including •Moonlight Cocktails.' 'I Got a GaP and 'Apple Tne.' Miss Hutton gives out wi&> neat arrangement ot 'Mur- der, He Says.' Novel and nice blend- ing is group's singing of 'Juke Box Saturday Night' with orch. doing l«- Al Trace <New Acts) and his nine-piece orchestra composed ot a bunch ot sanies, goes over solidly Biiokay. . Wood. CHICAGO, CHI Chicago, Jane 8. Tommy Tucker & Orch (15) with Amy Amell, Donald Broum, Jeste k presh of Harry James ai^d the Mod-1 James, Georgie Price; 'Lady of ernaltes giving out as the Ink Spots. 1 Bwlesqttc' (uA). Group had to beg off. Neat bit of I staging was the playing ofGlwn I Xoaany Tucker's orchestra is en Miller's theme by the orchestra and I tertalaing for the most part and won Miss HuttoB called from the wings |. aBpraval tor most ot its efforts here, by Osbotne to direct the band. 1 fJJJker gets started with "You're (Miorne turns In a neat Job as m.c. jjjjg Come Home To,* 'Star- Gives out wltti one vocal, 'As Ttaje and 'Jii^. Jangle, Jingle' Goes By.' Has a pleasing personality during which a lot ot time is wasted and keeps show moving fast. i . . j_ Standing room at show caught Andy. ORPHEUM, L. A. Lot Angeles, June 2. Benny Goodman's Orch (15), Don Tannen, Peggy Lee, Moke k Poke; 'Keep 'Em Sluggine' (U). in trying to work up comedy busi ness. Donald Brown, romantic baritone, makes good with diet's Get Lost' and 'As Tine Goes By,' Jesse and James are • solid hit with tap dancing while twirling trays, oUtet fast step- ping and sensational high Jump splits. ^Kerwin Somerville, baritone-saxo „ , . v t .V .»K-,c 1 Phonist. teatured in the singing of Benny Goodmans not rhythms .q^ ^ qj^. ^nd The Man That pace the shortest stage show to hit ^omes to Our House' does okay, the Orphcum in m«ny ".TTSIL Amy Amell gathers nice applause Management apparently fl^ired the ^er warbling of 'Johnny Zero' swing maestro and featured specia- and 'Papa's In Bed With HU Ists in his band were enough '*'ith- Bfg^jj,,^^; out adding more than* two outside Georgie Price goes over bigger acte. Goodman and his crew «« here than at the Blachstone hotel, doing five shows daily, as against ^ ^t*s saying lots since he was flie oaal four appearances for] thei«. His imprasioas i aames at the house, hence the blU| joIsob. is n«3e up ot top mu- sMaas tn all dcportaseats aad has! less noise wad mote rhythm than inl its swingiest days. . Goodman'sl (heme, 1^'s Dance,' starts things roaiiag, aad is foUowed by the Jivyl •Bugte Can Rag,' Goodmaa turns] Cantor. A- heavy applanse. HIPP, BALTO. Baltimore, June 5. Dorothy Keller. Jiadto Ramblers (3), Lou Hoffman, Pat k- Sylvia Harry Krivit's Jtockeis (16), Felice lula and Hotue Orch (12); 'The Desperados' (Col). wcU organized and nicely paced layotit Sans master ot ceremonies, acts follow each other in rapid suc- cession with net result okay. Line of 19 Rockettes is smartly uMd to tie show together. Following a Scctch hooflng num ber by the Rockets, Dorothy Keller, swift tapping looker, gives out with three potent routines running the {aniut of. rhythm to live all nicely landled and a smart getaway. Makes swell spot tor Pat and Sylvia, mixed singing duo who sell legit vocals to the very hilt. Have fine voices and a sure selling stance. Iltey open with a rather dated medley wrapped around 'For Me and My Gal,' and follow with 'As Tiaw Goes By' and 'Beguine.' latter a aoek as poncted out by the male member. Combine for strong closer with 'Conchita Lopez' and encore with Irish song for a beg oB. Lou Hoffman follows with hi comedy Juggling, utilising balls, boxes and high hats. Garners lau^ and completes some nifty tricks to good response. Radio Ram- blers next and a sock from teeoff. Have legit voices and obviously know their way about a stint like this one. ImpressiOBS of celebs are smartly sold and closing bit of tqiera punchy. Encore of the Sd Tomeck version of 'Sonny Boy' more recently revived by the An' drcws Sisters, is good for ample llorv. Line closes with very tricky full stage radium number In which girls simulate garden of flowers blacked out stage. Some Pansy-the- Horse business and fluorescent scenery provide enhancing effect Biz all right. EMBASSY, N. Y. <NIwaBBBLS) Outstanding pictures to come from the Timlsian campaign in North Africa and the succesdul exploit of the Coast Guard cutter 'Spencer' against a Nazi sub give this news- reel show a terrific lift. Although a bit late after the actual victory in Blaerte and Tunis, Patbe'i adept handling of the excttii« entry ot Al- lied forces into Tunis stiU carries a Tuais' popi£fiee. ~ Aehial fl^ttag EARLE^PHILLY PWladcIpMo, June a IfUchcU Ayns Orch (U) trith vocaUrt oa "Rosie the Ri\<<cAer,' and] Oicfc Dyer, Rath VcCnllouph, John- did ok» for house approval at open-1 ay Bead, Oenacc Bostoell, Jocfc ing matiaee. Jess Stacy's .^»no ManAoU, 3 Rings; *AU By Myself work features 'Hoaky Took Tnin'j (O). aad tvcffv-ti^Ier diould have been permitted an encore so w«U did hisl Sixty mlantes of solid eatertain- playing get over a'ith the full house.] ateat is tte parage offered «a the Peggy tiee, band '\t>ealist effec-1 Earle boards this sesh. tively sells 'Don't Get Around Much parked by die dulcet tones ot Anymore,' her very popular 'Why Oonnee Boew^ giving forth with Dont You Do Hiidit?' TUdng a the toppers ot the current hit parade Chance cm Love' - and "On the Sunny as well as oldies i^ch put the mob Side of tiie Street.' Goodman gives] ri^t into Coonee's tiny mitt his clarinet a s^ workout on •The]' Tite bill gets off to swift pace with Henderson Stomp' aad also makes I a medley ot times by the Ayres good tse ot the licorice stidc oa the] band including 'Hallelujah' and otter tunes. In addition to ^t- 'Velvet Moon,' then swin^ng into a liditiag Jess Stacy. Goodmaa ^ves tricky aovelty—aa Imitatioo ot the solo bits to Lee Castaldo, truaipet; top name bands broadcasting oa Miff Mole,, trombone; Hymle Martia Block's famous recordiog Shertzer, alto saxophone. Unusual] show on WHN. lastrumeht In band is a bass sax,] Dick Dyer, a dean-cut looking Idayed by Joe Rushkln. Final work- youngster, warbles *A1I or Nothiag out tor band Is 'After You've Goae. at All' and let's Get' Lost' aii^iag Moke and Poke, two funay aoot- at the femme trade aad seoriag suited colored bo5-s, go over big la ] heavily. Hie guys la the aud are next-to-closlng spot a,ith their the targets fbr pert Ruth McCul- knock-about clowning aad dandag. lough's ehantlag of 'Why Dont You Boys throw in a Jitterbug routine. Do Right* and 'Johnny Zero' while one in femme garb: some acrobatic Johnny Bond Is socko in the novelty taps and mimbo-Jumbo gags in department with a eomic rendition riiyme that patrons liked. Don ot 'I Opened a Trunk.' Tuiaen does a bit of song jtmildiagj Queen Connee has things her own In dialed in an earlier snot as only ] way the minute she unleashes those other outside act on the bilL I talented pipes. Seated on a high Chicago, June i, Kenny Baker, Dave Apollon k FVUtuno Boys (4), An(hoii|y, AllyK k Hodge, Allwite & Blue. Jimmy Costello; 'Sherlock Holmes in Waih> ingion' (U>. Plenty ot solid entertainment in the current bill with Kenny Baker and Dave Apollon and His Filipinos sharing headline and applause honors. Jimmy Costello is an ac> ceptable emece after his stint in tha deuce spot Allwite and Blue, man - and woman, pace the show with expert hand bslancing and adagio tricks. Man handles the woman with case and works smoothly. Close with •blind flying' In which the woman does balancing while blindfolded. Good hand. Jimmy Costello offers a line ot chatter, some old, some' new, that was mildly received at the show caught Made up for it later with aifty impressions of Bine Crosby, Morton Downey, Rudy Valke. Harry Ridunan, Eddie Cantor and Jimmle Durante that sent him off to nice applause. Could improve act by pruhing the gab. Anthony, Allyn and Hodges, two men and a woman, start off with expertly done ballroom routine to tune ot "Danse Macabre' ond then swing into a dance mixup that has the audience roaring with laughter. Thea show some expert adagio stuff Kenny Baker, with Emil Seidel at the piano, came on to a big hand and gave them 'Lone Prairie,' 'Star- dust*^ 'Old Black Magic,' 'Could It Be Wroi«?' aad "Wben Irish Byes Are Smiling' and had them begging for more. Solid hit. Dave Apollon and His Filipino Boys were socko In the closing spot Backed by three FOiplnos, plsylng two guitars and bass, Apollon's showmanship, musical genius and terrific sense of comedy valuer which he works to the utmost with the boys, added up to wowing tha seatholders. Paul Limico, one of the guitar players, almost stopped the show With his singing of There Are Such Tilings' and 'Sing Me a Song ot the Uand.' The ensembia numbers Include Vegin the BeguinsT and a medley beginning with the Hawaiian War Chant' and ending with a Russian number with Apol« Ion's fine mandolin playing out* standing. Sock hit. Morg. TOWER, K.C Kansas City, Jun« 4. Marion Hutton k The Modemaires (4), Cy Landry, Grace k Evelyn Storey, William Morton. Three B's, Tower Orch with Jack Parks Ji Marilyn Baltinger; 'FoUotu the Band' <V). scenes in and about the suburbs rad a good eloseup ot captured Aads sol- diers enhances the stay (runs about le miautes). Irving Smith, Uaiver- sBl, and Jack Bamett, Movietone, at the newsreel pool, are said to have obtained the best shots for yam. Movietone also has aa laterestiag story about Biaerta, ghriag a com- prehensive airplaae view of the air bombing of this city. Paramount re- counts the victorious battle between the "Spencer* and a Nad U-boat one of the most .draaaatic newsreel yaiss of the war to date. Universal chlpa tri several htmtaa Interest and YTeak' stwies, outstand- ing being the one about the pooch mascot ot the WAACS. It's a i«al Chuckle. Reel also covers the Memo- rial Day parade in N. Y. aad ser- vices in Wadiingtoii. West Point's wartime graduatlan gets tonight coverage from Movie- tone. Ihu newsreel also mdces somettlng of the ban on pleasure driving in N. Y. Graduation «f a Marine paratrooper, first flytag priest M that corps is adeptly banoOed by Vt. H. V. Kaltenbom answers ques- tions about Spain, the Polidt-Russo problem and chances of Japan in- vadiag Australia with lisual reason- ablen^ News Forum, another Em' bassy shorts special, answers the question if American cities will be bombed by the Axis. Answering in the alTirmative, It Is a sensible, smart summary ot the situation. March of Time's 'Inside Fascist Spain' rounds out the bill. Wear. Current bill is one of the best In months, judged on entertainment values, and p. a. of Marion Hutton and The Modernaires assures a gross that will keep the wickets turning. Following opening theme, orch segues Into 'Ain't Misbehavin',' plays two choruses and ttten backs up pretty Marilyn Ballinger as she gives out with the refrain both straight and swing. William Morton, young magidan who is doubling as m.c, brings on Grace k Evelyn Storey, sister duo. who have k sprightly dance turn. Second spot goes to the Three B's, a trio of boys who get rhythm out of a combo of guitar, drum and washtub fitted with a small rope strung throu^ a hole in the bottom aad hdd taut to produoe bass tones, ne lads won a big hand at show caught and took four bows. On next a aica Uae of patter. Bis tricks indoda wMk sin Btunta wltti sUk haDdkcrchicfk, riea bowls, rabWt wd hat and other tamin^y IDusiona. Next-to-ch)slng Is Or Landiy. comic, who scores beavijy with hia soft-shoe httoflng, ■"■■tg*"r aad gag- fing. WoiUng in contedy get-up^ Landry downs all the way. His soft-shoe stepplag is outstanding, and s toppod the stew. He took five bows, and then **^gg*** off. Marion Htittaa and Iha Modeni* aires coma at after a brief build* tm by the m.e, wd wham out a chorus of 'Heard That Song Before.' Then tellowa a medley which ln« dudes 'MoonllghtCodrtail.* Dont Sit Under the Apple Tree' and other Miss Rutton swings Into 'Murder, He Says,' and with the aid ot tha touraome really sells, to merit the palm iriiadclag It gets. Next comes 'Juke Box Saturday Night' with tha Barry Jamas and Ink^ts bits. Jack Parks, Tbwer Orch front nmn, steps oat to take ttae . opaiing baM ot K:iriribln' is the James manner, add the fotirsama fbOows through Mth the mimicry of the Negro en- semble Flaale Is 'Strip Polka.' with Miss Bottoa and the boys giving out with an arrangemeat which gains effect by use of comedy business by her as iht iqipears to begin a tease. Grtn^ took six bows when cou^t and the drnies dosisd la as tha house begged tor more. Capacity and standees at first night show. fiarL