Variety (March 1944)

Sonny Dvnnam vrcn iioj wim Pat Cameron, Billy Usher; Raye & Naldi, Bonita Granville, Jimmy Dtiranre. with Eddie Jackson, Jack t;'"" -Ir^n^fnTn Rnriu" (M-G), re- Both. -Heavenly Body vteiMd Dec 29, 1943. ■wh'o, rated' ' ■ . jjftt V «1 ■ -perforBjers , ■ .u.yv. . ■ Jieacitiiie'■ hiUing in, ■ the ya«de. 'ei-a, have managed to outlast the ever- : shifting allegiance-to, falea^^^^^ Durante is one ol" the few; , And ■ he's increaEjiig liis; Stature.^.;; "■ ■At' 'the ^ Camtol,- DuKaiite'g ,■ billing, : ■•'Diiraiite'^ i Circus,?;;; ^.tris.^afti,; seem- ■'ingiy ■■all-'^'i' '''l^' witb:i;cjiil3!,.iti<isie-; '■'■patfeirir,;' -av'-.bowl;' ,'frorii ■"stert;'' to ■^fliiisls !ahd;'h^ -'SiaP.arentTy,-,.!iaS' .as; ■■•jinioiJ.''ftEn ^is'thgiau,di,e?ice . Tlipte's' no ,tell'ipg'-i'Iiat-'.Kul*ahta:is:. gpirtg. to. do' nijxt-arid it'svtvvtee,' aS; diffiiittft/ to- :„ explfiin wfet he; does do . in ;c6m^ p'ariy^ witfi-Eddie i^'aofesoii; b,rie- of Ms former . .partners, and Jacli -■ ' Ro'tk drummer.- ■ Buraftte irisults- th;e audience, gags, ■ sings, plays'.p'iarjo,' 'denes*'aii ''Ssteirno' '. .-"Icissing". -routine; l-ifuhbing,- .n'o'Ses,) with Pal Cameron, Sonny Dunham's :voi0#i3t;' ail at, a;', -ft'liiflwiact,, pace. He '■• is ''not' thrpwi'ng i-ia's Imkny-i things , aS he once did, but still d^es a lairly good job ol taking the Cap's stage ■•■-'apart; ''The''act'fs a;-*ipfc;,-.'.-.:" -'-',.:^^, ' ■■ Sonljy Danham's orchestra backs Durante and the other acts _A_good "cotribinatTon oi 'Sfx-brass.'five saxj' four rhythm boIsteTed by the leader's trumpet and trombone ' ■ -vvork, .;the outfit .'gives 'a good- iie- ■ eonnt of 'itself in 'the comparatively, ■■ short tirnie .it gets td show, Vlt plays: too lou<ffly :at..:times, its .only .fault. Dunham has Pat Cameron and Billv Usher onj vocals. Former is on 'first with "GI Jive," a tough ]ump melody, and gets it over , nip.ely. TOher,.-who'k. got a liste'nable '■' voice ■ and a- Sinatra . appearance, isn't too impressive, but he's a solid click. He used "Besame Mucho" and "Lovely Way to Spend Evening" , wKeli caught' arid It.'earried ah, 'eri.- ■ core,", tiie^ r'hythtri,:, "WKeri - They. Ask About You," a type of tune he shouldn't do too often. ' Mary Raye and Naldi, one of .the fihest dance actS'iri. the busiiiessi are bqtljered; 'considerably .by the, con-, ' -fifaes ;Di llie Cap?S stage,. but go: over.. big with three routine.--, Il s ob- ' -vious at times that the pair have cut their stuff to fit the small area they work m and it's also evident : that ..they: fear'a fall, btif j all.th'ihg.<s- , ■ coiisideredi .the team :.dbes'.&- Sn^ .job. Boftita- Granville's bandlats are. in ■ a hurry to make a glamor girl of .;.t.-.lleir':She ■ vi?a's made up and 'dres&ed ,', this - showing with loo . much : at- tention to Uie glamor angle. It . clashed with her routine, which con- sist!) of a parody on "Either Too Young or Too Old" citing the "awk- ward age" and a serious "reading" oi ;. a letter to a boy friend 'in Service; This bit is too long and her hur- - - ried interpretation i probably due to a realization o£ its len,|th) wasn't as good'as she has done before with it (she did same thing with Abe Lyman last year). However, this audience appreciated her act. Biz good. Wood Ca|iii4»l, Wasli. :.'■ . '- ,- VVfishi-istoii, March 23. ;'.'■ -' Martha Raye, Condos Brothers, Three Swifts, Roy Snieck, Three Lit- .; tle;. Sis^rs, , Sam '■ 'JaeUXKmfrna^s House Band; '^Swing Fever" kMG). ■ Martha Raye's package b-how is biff-bang entertainment, .fast and' al- ■ways, on the beam. , Opens with Three- Little Sisters. =■ girls who know their acroljatics. They get the show off to a fast start. Roy Smeck tises a banjo, steel guitai and ukulele to get over a patriotic ,:: medley.. a medley of '•How Sweet You Arc" and "You'll Never Know" and an encore, on ukulele, imitat- ing Bill Robinson's ddorstep idarice. ■'. Three Sv'ifts have been on F street . often, but they are still masters at swinging the clubs. Condos Brothers make the sta?e boards sizzle with their triple time stepping and go ever big. Martha Raye is great on timing, Ktmr» how to sock over a joke, even wdics. "Shoo-Shoo Baby," wise :cracks :'lV£r.: ■paginifti}""then "Shut. Your Mouth for Uncle Sam," adapt- ed to her style, is solid tor her. As ine trailers close. Miss Raye comes oetore the curtains, makes a plea to send soldiers overseas letters. Only reterence to her overseas trip. Bo- tore she finished had them eating out of he* hand. Aikc. Cook performs "lady Be Good." a medley of William Tell and Poet and Peasant overtures, and "Swanee ■River on the harmonica, a-scom- ■panyirjg -Himself on the guitar.^ Gay- lord ■ Sisters, attractive trio, harmon- ,lzes .'Don't Sweetheart Me" and are :.lOined: by Masters ,{», "San:Fernando Valley." They click. :: -^-:: ■ , RndcIilTo and Jen.kins. mixed col- duo, keep the audience happy vviih comedy talk, piano'playing and. smgmg. .Material /is amilstng. Wom- ati'' plays a Strauiss tun.; in . boogie-: ..woogie ti.r.e and aet.s as auequate foil -fo,r rr.nv. s chatter. Man .si'rigs Dp.r.nj.- Boy" in high and lew tones ;aiia; -^mstes : ■ with • "You're Dr-A-ii:.'? ■Pl,;fK<i55s^'7^'Hirrarm»T^ ii'. ■ Virginia Weidjer p'eascs Wi'th^: a c.oupk _c£ pr.'-a : arid. chatter, doing -lakedfl:;'.. b'f '..-deacl-pani,. Virginia .0 Brren: ^«sing "J?ock-a-Bye Ba'oy," ■and:-]s ..well received. . .. .- Mory' ■ Pal«niair. Si>atlle ,■'■'■'„'■'■. '-"i,' ■ ■.■::Seaitle.iMarck'1^:'-\ , ■: liarrv: Dunn, Mack, Maldng, Cath- ^:miDoiuniey, :.C!iffotdi-^Sisiers,;'lJaj3(S ^n^"<Pj' -Bob Harvey house band (9); ."Men on Her Mind" tPBC)., .Ri^bino.fT ar.ci his fiddle ^is'' jtisi ■about, .the- whole .show here this week. He plays and mugs, talks and jplays, .and the .audierice loves if." •' :. Oti last. Rubinoff giv.fes.:-the custom- ,eEs;.,hiS./:0w-h-^'-!Danee--of-4;h«--i}tissian'' Peasants,'.', a sweet rendition of State, T. Will O-sborwc Oj-cfi (15) vnih Marianne; Jean Carroll, Harry Cool, Sjuor Carlos. (3) r "Whistling in Brooklyn;' tM-GK .::' reviewed :f'An ■■VarteiTi" Oct. 29, '43. - -' .■Li.ebestraum'';an'd;a:;:«caTic»tee?^ Eddie Cantor titled "Banjo Eyes" Got a great big hand. For an encore no does': "Pistol Packin' Mam.a" in different, styl.es, winding up a la hoog!e-woo3ie. and "Ahj Sweet My.nery of Life." ■' ■ ■ Harry Dunn opens the bill with a .few;, song,s. followed by I'on-g-legged •apstor Mack- Maloiio. Catherine Doumey on next for songs and mug- gJiig. She has a nice enough voice, and her act, that of kidding the words via mugging,'has, promise,'but seems more for night clubs . or. inti- mate spots than for vaude. ''■" '•' , CliSford Si.ster.?. hill .billy, singing ■group, ,s.tru,gglGd again.sf the cro-wd's apathy and got, a fair hand. Biz fair. Reed. National, L'ville ':, ■ .Loui.'i.finc, March 25. ManOT! Hntton, Bob & Masctne Gates, Bert Lynn, West & Lexing, Five Herzogs; "Darling Clementtne" (Bep). , Marion : - Hutton ■ ' shares •.,' credit with, ti,-e pic this week for the draw at this to-vvn'.s only vaude house. A .cute blor.de. she knows how to di.sh out personality vocals, but Roy Acuflf and his Tennessee Ramblers on the screen are m there pitching for the film portion of the bill. Miss Hutton carries her owji piano player '■wh'Q,-W-bricS: with the pit- ork. She socks over "Pig Foot Pete," "No Love, No Nothin'," "Take It Easy, f*'^t«;;.f««et/tJ-oni .tli^e Capitol, thea- tie, N. Y, also operated by Loew's, !s an, excellent maneuver for the State Osborne has assured draw- jng ^>»*er,;ana 'is ,needed .teis'-#e'efc ■".,„^°'!J?'' ^'"'^ "liW- screen,„-fa,re ,.( Whistling ■ia-Broo'By#^^ elosed;, ..a|','the'\.-Caijitol,;: Wedrieg^ .dowri',:Bj;6.ad\ya.y-to tfte St&te'tli'e fo-1- lowmg. day.:-: " :'.-"k;. ' ■"'.'.^ ^..,-■■■■■:l-;:,'^"-■■ .©sboirne's ■:aeS'igation--'Clteks''.e£isi- .ly. In addjtion.^ :,there's'-':iti''6re. ■Siiird.'i? suppopt^, jri,. t'ne .'■•tage -lineup from Har-ry.'.C:ool, vo.ealist.'.ahd:, Jean'. (Sar-; ,'rp.n.. .■ i.Ne.w:..Acts'-):, ■:,&:: Sin'giri'i''''com'a- d:em-.e with surefire, liiaterial.'andde iu-ery.':.; Scnor Carlos (New Acts),' comedy ar.d instrumental trio, is also adecxuate. ,. ' -.'• , ,, .-'. -" --'- ',:.. •;Marianne. blonde warbler featured wrtli;ffie baBd, is .tf distiliet 'asset'Ielr. swing-addicted patroru\.ge. She's a '-■"i^. li'-iiesorae, girl who handles G. T ,jive" and "No Love, No Nothing m a plea-Sant, Tistenable style. . .She . also tetps': briefly; wilft one of the boys fi-om the band dur ing the, "Jive" num.ber. ■' ; ■". '•' j^Band'i! - -nn-angem.entsr such as '. 'Shme On" (with Osborne vocal), and a condensed version of "Rhap- sody in Blue" ^ire satisfactory '-Star- Boogie," with emphasis on the pian- ist, is sock. Band's work backing Marianne and the ouiside-acts is first rate. Harry Cool, robust vocalist who succeeded Dick Haymes on the "Evening in Paris'' radio program, scores handsomely with such pops as "Shoo, Shoo," "Besame Mucho" and a medley including "Couldn't Sleep a Wink" and "Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now." His delivery of "Temptation," on the other hand, is n s.g. and should be eliminated in favor of .some other tune. Cool still needs:- :,stage. p.Qlish,' but that: will come. He's got everything else. O^lborne band winds up solidly with lakeofl's on other bandleaders. , Edwai'd Dou,s!las, who succeeded Al; ;Rosen as i-.ouse manager, has 'Drought in, more modern stage light- ing- Mori. OrpEseiiin, L. A. Lo,>! Angeles, March 21. : ',Benrt!) "■Rut!to;." ,JoIittme Johnston, .IVora: M«rtiii,', .BQ-b WiiMms:- Md Red Dust. ,3 Kings. M Lyons' Orch (14);: "Relurn of Vampire'' . ((..'oO and "Cri?ne Dr's Strangest Case" {Col). :. Orphetim offering is first rate ,yari.ety. this week, all under the sliolk ni.c.'ing of Benny Rubin, who has lost none of , his feei-;.' foi* audience T„'/i'' ■ " Tr ' r.-r "'"•'•"„ handling. He paces' the show for and an untit ed tune anent "Junior ", topnotch response. In addition to a vest pocket commando. She's ry,K. n.,u.' " , , . a vest pocket soekD;.::-.^''-.'-:;.<-':,:,;i;' - ,- '•■■■.':■ ^'-s :.: Bob and Maxine- Gates open:: with pleasant . tap routine, followed . by Beit Lynh;: mie.v who gets /linusua'l' :efiS,e|^:.'V*ith: his- electric ."Vibroiyhri:" Closer' i.s an impression of Dbolittle I aid over Tokio, with realistic sound: cflects and spots. Copped a nice hand. .:.. '■-:'■,'''^,'.-' ■■ -'">'■■:'.v.--^:-'.';-. -■:';' - ., Comedy siiiging team, Wiest and Lexing. two males who burlesque operatic singers, arfe- the laugh hit of the bill. Contrasting in stature, they vocalize "Donkey Serenade" throughout, with hi,f»h tenor, voices, and register sciUdly. -. -. • Closer is -, Five Herzogs, v fern me trapeze group, offer hot tricks on: flyin.t; bars.. Aero iituft by two on a single rope is outstanding. Act in- •rufi^ice comoi.iy oU-ment via a volun- teer from the audience. Garnered plenty of laughs, and an effective closer. -'..■■■.'- .■-::: :.;;■'-■'..■■:■■:-•■ '-.,■■'■■- /■ '■: ..-:- JBiz good. Hold, Ton-or, K. C. Kansas City. March 21. £lnio Toniier, Gleason & Sariborn, Joan Baker, Le Claires (2). Claude Fdlkenstein.^ Tower Orch icith Marilyn Bnllinger;' "My Best Gal" (Rep) and "Hi, Good Lookin' >' (.U). Oriental, f 'lii -■ , • ' ,. Chicago. March 25. p/^".»'"« Mii.s-!er.s- Orch <:{'>) ici!-h ' ff^l.!- '^-''w- f'-nnk Codfc, Gay Lord clifff'* ?\' ^^mnia Woidlei-, Rad- (VA) -^^"'""s." "3 Russian Gtrls" "■■ Ji^^'i^'^5^^^*?«*5'-^wh,(j ,first'nia(te;=a hoki« ?u 'I'W'self around these parts, livelv n.^ this week with a ■ ti*'^i^'^5ljM*fl*^^ftat-,'is,' solid ali: You nl-' Opening with "What Do by hir- IL'K° ^^fantry", with vocal ^^^'^P'W' althgiSavoy."^ - "pS Yof^i^^. . registers ' with, die Iln-, T ")i;ni'5 Around Me," "Cud- Jones^'L^'"''' and "Deacon *itf wS,°°H cJicks jn the next spot " "armoniea and guitar playing. Tower . orch opens current 40- minute bill with a ■ Spring medley of ."Blue Rain'' a;;d "Stormy Weather," ■:with? chic Marilyn Ballinger doing vocal,■hbnoi-s effectjvelyi Art Glea- son, on first with' his- partner -in a mr,.«icai. itct; do-.;bles as, .rn:.c. and chatter in'an:;.;i.-^.■,::: ■ .:: '. : .:..■:":.,.';. Glea.'on and Sanborn play pops and . standards:.',(311 •., ya,r-ie«i.'.- ■'iristr-'Ur: ments. the, man particularly adopt with trumpet, ciarinet.ar.d sax. Joan Baker, on next, is a ..shapely . acro- batic dancer... .Her ;,fihish,. a .running somo.sauit through ■a-.: hoop, clicks with the s'.ubholdersi ''''■■'. •',,'-,,,.. ■ -,■ ■-.' :-■- ; The Le Ciaires rate nice hands for their ' j'ug-gling.. ■ In.: finale,; woman Swings, out with hit of. piano melody while ,s'teadyi.rig a basket on a 10- foot pole atop■ i:er forehead. .-whilie the man gives out on ciari.'-.et. -ivhilo balancing upside down." % Claude Fa!-, ^kenstfeirii ■' ail: •,:eitra,': .wi fis ; :p,l.au'dits with a tap .specialty. :,::-. -,:;'>:.:i '-^. Elmo ■,' Tanner, •.■whistlisr, ■ :,''ot.ose's m.c. duties Rubm essays dialect routine.', gags and his impersonation of a dancer following a dog act, to thorougiily please. ■■..--:,.•■ Rubm brings on the •J'hree Kings first, a man and two femmes, in a click balancina act. - - ' ■'■..-■.■.: Nora Martm, billed as "Eddie Can- tor's latest .discoveryi'i. has a trick of slipping a yodel into her balladmg that is catchy arid listenable. Her tunes were a cowboy ditty with a yodel break, "Couldn't Sleep a Wmk,'' and "Deacon Jones" En- cored with a medley, "Paper Doll," "My Heart Tells Me" and "People Will Say," "Swiss Yodel Song," a sock, and "No Love, No Nothing." Her arrangements are tricky; ,■ Bob Williams and Red Dust are a high spot, the rubber-boned pooch, plus Willianjs' chatter, selling turn ■big. .■:-■■■., ■...■,-.'■-■■' ';'..:■.'..:-'-,<;'■,-:;■:■:,-■:- Jphtmie• Johnston,' baritone,. j*ihds uD with potent vocalizing . on "Besame Mucho," "G-I Jive," "Blat-k. Magic" and "Don't Want to Walk V/ithout You. Baby." Under con- tiact to Paramount studio, he should click on any stage. He has know- how in song delivery, a refreshing personality and plenty nf appeal for ■th.e^'.fenimes-to -ca;iry,-him:'afo^^^ ..'.' Brog. riii«>a;«o, €hi . . ,: ,: -.. Chicago, March 24. Tommy Tucker Orch (16) . ■ with Dbh Brown, Kerwt-n Sbmerville, Bud Ki'inkef..fv30-TirneTS:'W tons (2), Billy Rayes; "Lost Angel" i.M-G)., --■■ -■" ■'- ■'■:,"■■., -^'^: ;;■■ Timers, vocal trio, work nicely in an early production number. The Colstons have an uphill climb with drawn-out comedy dance rou- tines but manage to exit to healthy palm wh.acking. Biily Raye, fared ■niue& :bett^r: 'here. thkn' at' a. previoife local, -night, club engagement. His glib talk- got plenty of laugi-.s. His imitations of film stars' jiiggling thfee balls, had 'em chuckling and his'plate .tuggling ■ while.. dancing sent tiixn :qM a clicko. Morg. Earle, Wash. . ■■.-■:'' ■' .','■ Washin-crf0)1, March 24. ■Jeo.B;,- JacJa % rju&y,: thc'-'ifidij/eiites,- Jo Lombardi's House Band; "Co»er' Girl." (Col). ' , . Harry Anger house band takes Ea,ri;e.-.^6a&o«s';o»-a'"to.ur!;bf':K^^ dubs, !o open this week. Diamond Koi-seshoe. Cotillion Room. Persian Room and- Copaeabana,. ..-Mthv'sfege settings ■represeri'tirig thWse- Mstrijs.' in. miniature, is -nicely- lighted and staged, all very flashy. ,. ■ : ■--; Roxy^ttes open, then Introduce Jean, Jack & Judy, whose lO-mmute aero routine is fast, full of novelty. ■ ' Mary Healy, who looks moie allur- ing than some cover girls, sings "How Sweet You Are," then for an encore a medley from "'Winged Vic- tory" tunes, which-take-her-oft-to-a' rousin,£i hand. ' ■.■■■■-■■■.. -,- . Great Ballantine offers magic hocus-pocus without illusion. As » matter of fact, he carft do any trick?- at all, and his Ime of patter makes it great btirlesque. Eoxyottes finish with a flourish in a- fast terp-number- Plent.y of production in. this show, with costumes and settings making it look,rich. _ , -.,■.:;. :';:.: .,.■ :^:i!l:rJce;": Si. €karl«s, X. O. New Orleans, March 25. Gav Nineties- Revue;' with Jack Shea, Four Smging Aristocrats, Dor- othy Byton Giris (8), Tyier, ThoTii* & Kobert.'!, Lew Hoffman, Maya Keda. House Orch; "Sweethearts' of the U. S. A." (Mono). . Layout packs ■ a nice' entertainment punch,- It's in riiihia'fure the "Hellza- fiapiij'" of Olson and Johnson, with audience participation. Although not as good as some of the piperoos pre« sented in the past", it's still swelf di- ven-ion. .lack • Shea, billed as the 'Mad Auctioneer,",,, offers :cha<|er, singing, a, topsy-forvy auction ■ Snd has the eight Byton girls circulate in the audience and pick out parl- ners to dance on the stage, which re- sults In plenty of laughs. Pour Singing- Aristocrats are no stranger.? here. They go from mod- ern tunes, "Surry With Fringe," back to the plug hat and sideburns era: witfi "Put On Your Old Gray Bon-: net" and "Are There Any More Like You?" Get plenty of palm pounding, Byton girls are most eflfective in 'wiggling -bustles""" and "luminous- "Poor Butterfly" numbers. Tyler, Thorne and Roberts, click mildly with effortless acrobatics, dances and slow motion antics that are highly entertaining. Lew Hoflf- man is an experienced old-timer and a competent performer. He does a cifty juggling routine \viih gag in- serts that drew howls.' - - :' Maya Keila, exofically costumed, presents a trio of interpi ctive dances ranging from a subtle Creole love call to a fantastic boogie woogie in a manner that makes of hers a "class" act and certainly an tinusual one, Biz very forte. Liuz. Detroit, March 24. Glen Gray Orch (16> with Bob Anthony. Eugenia Baird, Ladd Lyon. Three Hearts, Ames & Arno. Phil Brestoff House Orch (14) with Don, Miltcm; "Hours Before Dawn" (Par). Wifh^^a ;.cpupre ■pat sinjjers for the bobby-socks trade. Glen Gray has a new ensemble, which is okay for this house, Pioviding music which doesnt drive the customers out of heir seats, Gray puts his aggrega- tion through a pleasant routine - which scores big. - Bob- Anthony,—vcho pu7.zles- on- .»'fl«ther ,'heVis; aa.titlzing, ,th%-" slria- - -■- tra stjle or is just using it. gives a :&p^, teritsin^: - '.t^':=":i;6mptatidhi?' ':aJ;:- - Spanish- number' and "People Will ■:■' Say We're in Love" to register hi^jh. ■ A decided looker, who turns out to ■.'. have a voice as w-ell as a figure, Eugenia Baird got strong apprecia- tion with "My Heart Tells Me" and A Lovely Way " Other acts give the: show a nice "--i fillip. Ames and Arno. despite weak: ' gags, register with their .slapstick antics. Tliree Hearts, are a trio of dancers who dance on chairs and the floor, although they are ham- ipered by working on the apron, Ladd and Lyon woik the old trick of calling up an audience volunteer for theur .slick balancing act. ■~TTon,TjriI£o""n, graduate of the" local Children's theatre, scored, heavily in his fiist appearance with Phil Brestofl's house orchestra. Biz okay. Pool. Keith's, Indpls. Indianapolis, March 25. Bert Walton & Co, Gaudsmith Bros., Roy Gordon Trio, Al Libby & Betty, Bernadme & Bernadette, Musie Hall Girls flO>; Ed Resener House Orch; "Women in War" (Rep). ,, tfora.my .Tucilcer's -.bahd:'furnishes bulk ,bf.. entertainment this ,■ week, there being only two supporting icttf;, ■■■Ttieker's, 'dia'tfi't:-is diftere'nt ■tfian' othpi- bards that have p!0.yed here. : leaning, .moi'e,;tQWard';, comedy ■ and . nos'eUies. ., Customers ■ go for the gang's kidding in a big way. ,, -■ . ■ Don Brown, the band's ,'p,<!i-sbfiable- bnrit-jne. rc -.cher! the. bobby .^ockers with: ■': "Wonderful Baby." ''.H'dw Sweet You Are" arid ".My Ideal" and had to beg".:' off.-: -' . Band -plSy,? .a i«i5:dley of, '.'.Coilldtft-:-Sleep': a ' Win'ic'' ''.'Stardu.st.'- : and'-'."Jingle'. Jangle'": arid Bti'd;::',,Ki-,»«k,6-r,'--'' drurii.:! ' ■-Wei;.. is..' featured ■. in ' --a^- - ..>i.kin,;-be'at-' ■,irig',-.Se,<si.p'n with "B'.v.o .*'p:ie.-,'' Ker- S'-in;- 'Sdrii'erville. sitt^j's 'his - -Own'; song " ■ :Tfhe Olylnpia, JMHaint „ Miami, March 25 Cross & Dunrt, Walter Witeon, Julia Cummings, Doc Marcus, Bar- bam Belmore Dave Tyler's Orch; "Pistol Packin' Mama" (Rep). Olympia i.i getting a good play this week m spite of a "B" picture, be- cause of well-publicized acts from local nitery. It's a well-paced .show, with Cross and Dunn copping top honors. Barbara Belmore, doubling from the Clover Club, opens-the bill: - : Tee- off IS a terp routine, but her forte ks a neat and graceful hand-balancing and aero routine. Got off to a good hand. , She's ■ stu-riningly '. cds- tumed -in while feather getup for the first half of the act. ■ .:--■ ■: ' ■■: ■' :: In. the deuce is, .Tulia Cummings. who doubles as .mistress .of . cere- monies. " Opens with a song, -with --"StardUst," and stiish- pops^-as'-'"N6lji,;,; ,':'-p,ig-:'It -OMt"' ■aft(l-:?neoi'es, w-ith.:-.'';'ri-ic;, ^'How SWeet'::Yb'u-'A#,ei^a'Bd;"Ca.aatt^^^^ .A'ri>und''':.l'o. good ian .Caners"^ earn. him: two''bows, and- ' ■ - - be,c- off. , , , Biz average Earl. hand. Band makes a nice appeal ance AdiTii<fefei>Ci^ie£#ct4fc^'ftd^^ manlike emcee dnd leader. Two- oniy,:fair, response,.-bSf-31cits-,h,eavily ' w.ith,:. itepressions;' of-,' Ned--:' Sparks,, Katharine:.- .He:pblirn, ' ,Bette Davis; Vera Vague,' Carmen Miranda, and close,' -.vii.h a; .smart interprefatidn. of Eleanor Powei! in a tap routine.:' In the'mic, spbt girl-':h,as' plenty ftf:ability- :and',■ showmanship, and gets-' over well -■'■ Doc Marcus next; and gets a rather ,ccj()l'reeeptidii'to two audience par-: tioipatioh-' gags, in ' \vhich : ctiSterners are .T.ade to, look ridiculous. He -.s'aves ■.the; -ae'f iv-ith-^ nrnVcm^-i' ■■(ising; :fiye-: .4ervice,rheri in. a-.ele'vfer: HSt-iihift-' ing routine, where " the ' winner re-, ceivc.c a prize. ,."*..,: ;-■.,-■ ■■;.,■■;.';.■■ , Waiter Nil.s.son contribs a mildly a'tnus,it)^g, uniiiyele ,'ab4,- Routifte i,s.i>M'' ■and,,itiakes.for only a fEW/'laughsv.'^ :■■; .prop.s ;af-.d ■ Dunn hit the iackpoE with -the ■/Eittd:|«nee and :cotrie: back for three bows. Material is new and original,-and they-close show With much palm pounding. Laur, A bill that pleases is built around the Gay 90's motif. Costumes and:' backdrops, songs and gags carry out'; the unit idea. Bert Walton sets the mood and tempo in a slick job as 'e-racee. ■.---■ >- Biggest laugh-getters are Mac and I Henry Gaud.smith with a zany act buUt around two French pOodles' taught to perform rough-house dcro- batics with a comedy slant. Wal- ton also d-raws hearty guffaws with his dead-pan stooge. Anna Grim, who smgs "This Love of Mine" and "Starlight" to convince the audi- ence she''s stia ahve. The gal looks like a refugee from a mortuary but the voice isn't bod. Roy Gordon trio harmonizes- neatly on. "I'll Never Let -You Cry," - "Down by the Mill Where We Hade Sweet Cider," "The Band Played Oo" ancb other barbershop tunes. Al Libby and Betty do an expert bicy- cle routine against a Coney Island backdrop. Bernadme and Berna- dette register nicely in, a tap routine. The Music Hall girls are good lookers and dance better than aver-. age. A can-can number is their best seller. The entire company works in the flnale. Biz was okay when caught. Corb. RK* mmtmt Boston, March 24. ToTiy Postoi- Orch (15), Guy Kib- bee, Betty Lorraine, Stardusters (4), Duimand Brothers; "Action in Arabiaf' (RKO). Tony Pastor orchestra anchors an average stage layout which totes up to okay entertainment here Band only doe.s one or two straight instrumental n-umbers, all others featuring soloists. These in- clude Virginia Maxey, a looker, who warbles "San Fernando Valley," "More Than You Know" and other tunes for big lead-off recepti'en. Stubby Pastor next with brace of trumpet .solos, both drawing warm hands I,ater, Pa.<jtor sings a parody of "Whoopre" and Johnny Morris does Jive specialty on "Paradiddle Joe." Betty Lorraine's .swingtime ballet, novel stuff, doetn'l ouite dick with a m. audiences consisting chiefly- of kids, but adult audiences hke her individual style Stardusters, fea- turing June Hutton, do lour songs smartly for nice response, Like all visiting film personalities, Guy Kibbee's line of chatter is ap- pallingly dull and how he survives remains one of the- minor miracles, but he does, putting himself over on personality alone to hi;( hand. Diamond Brothers v;ind up the ■ .session on the up-beat with stand- ard comedy routine. Biz- lair,;,--. : ■;-)'; ■■;:;.':;-■■■:;:, '::y.'"^Eliei,. :.■ Earle, Philly ■ :. ■• ■.'. Phiiredc/phin. March 24. Ray Heatherton Orch (14) untfi Hat Chase. Anne Warren, Drane Sis- ter.i (2). Jane Withers, Steve Evans: "Nine. Girls" (Col). - -:'■:' i■' Ray Heatherton's orchestra of 12 men and a couple of gal 'fiddlers, makes its first—and, at least for the -, ■durafiorij.-.'las.t—appearance in Philly. '■: ■'' After this engagement,. Ray. is set.■ ■foi- ■r;an' ■ ihdefihite,: booki'hg ■: -with. *'■ the Marine Corps. .' ■'::.. ■.,:. ;,; ^i-.''^' ' .^fbe'-band is -able:, mu.sically. and in -'^'' ,toost spots .showir.anly. It features the voice of the maestro himself. , Ann Warren, comely brunet, and a . deadpan bandsman, Hal-Chs.oe, whtv (Cotitinued on page 47)