Variety (Jul 1944)

U HOUSE REVIEWS Wednesday, July 5, 1944 Music Hall, X. Y. "hong Ago," produced by Leon Leonidoff; settings Bruno Maine; costumes, WU.la Van, Marco Monte- doro, executed, H. Rogge, lighting, Eugene- Braun; special lyrics, Albert Stiiinini! with Don Cossock Choir (25); Serge Jaroff, director; Jane For- rest, RusselV& Renee; Betlina Rosay. Rudolf Kroeller; Roctettes "(Gene Snyder); ballet (Florence Rogge); Richard Leibert,Harry Campbell at organ; Erno Rapee, Frank Nouiicki, Jules Silver, conducting "La Bo- heme"; March of Time; "Once Unon a . Time"' (Col), reviewed in "Va- riety'' April 26, '44. .:.' :>. V.' while Billie and Evelyn Nightengale are a smooth tap team, with guy dis- playing some well executed stepping. Show closes with aforementioned "Flying Home" stanza 'hat lands solidly. '■ ■ ■'■ .::' Orpiiemn, 1.. A. ■-, Los'-Angeles, June 30. Hollywood Canteen Kids Orch (15), Freddie Stewart. Carmela, the Paysec Dancers C2), Danny Desmond, the Thornton Boys. CI J. Betty Atkin- son; "Follow the Leader" tMono). Stale, X. ¥. Mage & Carr, June Taylor Girls (6), Duke Art, Jr. ; Ladd Lyon Co. (2>. WUlie Howard u ith Al Kelly, Benny Fields, Ruby Zwerling's House Orch; "See Here, Private Hargrdve" (M-G). , .: Snappy three-quarter hour show- to complement "Once Upon ,a Time'' features the Don Cossack Choir (25), no strangers here, "The Fair" and "Meadowland" are their . openers (scheduled "Volga Bdatman" elimin- ated) and they return for the in- evitable "Twp Guitars*' in the ballet finale, wherein Bettina Rosay and Rudolf Kroeller are the vocal solo- ists plus the Florence Rogge-trained Corps de Ballet, ... "Long Ago" is the title of the Leonidoff presentation which is the tipoff on nostalgia as June Forrest does a glorified ill. slide routine. There is the usual mauve decade ac- coutrements for "Ta-Ra-Boom -de- Ay", by the Rockett'es, et al. segueing into Russell & Renee's effective trampoline specialty. '. -V-;' ;•: This sort of act is so old today it's new, and all the nonsense of -the ex- aggerated pole holds, plus the com- edy trampo-tumbling, go for extra values, espedally-W-hen the.sigbJLels.-- rhent is so advantageous in the mam- moth Hall. Renee is an especially good performer with her comedy rope-skipping and hoop tumbling. * / Abe!. Michigan, Detroit Detroit, July 1. Jerry Waid Orch (18) unth Perry Como, Ginny Powell, Dick Merrian, Mr. Ballantine, Jeanne Blanche, Ox- ford Boys; Phil Brestoff House Orch with Del Parker; "Meet the People" (M-G). Now competing with, the Down- town which has a regular policy of stage shows, the Michigan currently is countering with the draw of Como's radio rep, Wald's warmish band arid several standard acts. Como takes the show with ease with his effortless delivery on such sock tunes as "I Love You," "Good- bye Sue," "Temptation,"- "I'll Get By" and a string of old favorites, 'Long Ago," etc., which gives an idea of his workout in the show: Done with a ' dramatic touch, he scored high. Wald loans his clari- net to sharpen up his band and registers biggest on the-.^hq^ side with "Jam Blues" and "Blues Con- certo' with Miss Powell and Mer- rian doing a good job on the vocals. Supporting acts up to standard with *Mr. Ballantine getting the laughs with witty stuff as he botches up a magician's routine; Jeanne Blanche, with great elevation, float- ing through difficult acrobatic dance routines and the Oxford Boys sound on their take-off of radio per- sonalities. Del Parker, improved af- ter a stint with Vaughn Monroe, is back with Brestoff's house orch and scorer with "Tess' Torch Song." At- tendance good at afternoon show caught. ';■.■/ ....-. Pool. Apollo, IV. V. Lionel Hampton Orch (18) with Dinah Washington, Ritbel Blakely; Conway & Parks, Otto Eason, Billie & Evelyn Nightengale; "Detective Kilty O'Day" (Mono). Bobby socket's have . taken over !the Oipheum stage this week to give 60 minutes of entertainment that stacks up to many, an adult show put on at this house. Hollywood Canteen Kids orch (15,1 features the mighty drum work of Karl Kiffe. who also 'acts as leader Teenaged skinbeater won a local Gene Krupa contest several years back, and is capable of excit- ing rhythm that ,is second to none. His solo work on "Hawaiian War Chant" and "Drum Boogie" is top music.'anship on a par with more experienced drummers. Youngster has an assured future; in the band world.'v!- ■■ - ;'•-■>"' •'''.;•'•';■'':•-.',■■'.:''.• Another standout of the show is vocaling of Freddie Stewart, also in his teens. Stewart makes a nice ap- pearance, has vocal quality and good range that should sell his tenoring in future work. He scores' solidly with "I'll Get By" and "Amour," plus two encores. "Last Time I Saw Paris" and "I'll Be Seeing You." A -little-more attention_to__his hands and forgetting of ' swoon-breaks" oh some of the phrasing would improve his otherwise topnotch delivery. Orch pounds, out noisy rhythm with with "Blue Lou," ''And the Angels Sing" and "Second Rhap- sody," plus backing band vocalist, Carmella, on "I Cried for You" and "Tess' Torch Song." Danny Desmond emcee? show and also cuts in two pantomime bits of his own, both funny. Desmond is a brash comic, but some of his material was out of line with the bobby sock troupers on stage. The Thornton Boys, three youth- ful exponents of mountain music, please nicely with their interpreta- tions on ukelele, fife and a Spike Jones contraption of percussion noise-makers. Betty Atkinson sells some first rate rhythm taps, and the Paysees (2V exhibited clever foot- work on ball room terping and more exciting jive steps. Brog. With WillieV Howard and Benny Fields topping the current layout, the State has a combination of veteran standards in addition to suf- i ficient new... talent to make this a I well-balanced bill. . Another 'in the many dates played by both Howard land Fields ,at this Broadway vaude spot, there's no denying . that their familiar turns are still as click as always. There isn't much difference in their acts than normally, except, possibly, in a couple of the Fields songs. But that doesn't mean much because, with turns like Howard and Fields, it's question of the audi- ence, as a rule, wanting repeats of routines that made them originally notable. ;•■''•.', * : '■'' ; ..' .. : Howard is still ; dp'ng his Prof. Pierre Ginsberg routine in which he professes to teach French. Al Kelly, for years a Howard foil is still with, him, and that Kelly' double talk is .still good tor plenty of laughs i Fields returns' to 4-he.*-State with somewhat of a,, picture rep. Recent- ly back from Hollywood, where he made "Minstrel Man'! for PRC Picts. purportedly a story of ; his life,: he • still uses all the old corny mannerisms. .But, withal, a pattern in showmanship for the younger singers to follow. Now around the mid-century mark, Fields was the original crooner, and he can hold his own on any- rostrum. ' ;-'■;'■'■'■'; Rest of the bill includes the ball- room pair of Mage and Carr, June Taylor's six-girl acrobatic dance troupe, Duke Art, Jr., clay-modeling act, and Ladd Lyon, comedy acro- batic turn. All go over. Lyon is re- viewed more extensively under New Acts. Ruby Zwerlirig in the pit still re- mains one of the crack maestroes for playing a vaude show. ' Kahn. one provided by Harris & Shore, whose knockabout dance travesties repeat the hit they've always scored here. They, too, have no superiors in their particular field. The nifty Miss Hilliard in a stun- ning gown does four songs, "It Had to Be You," "Sing a Tropical Song," "Milkman Keep Those Bottles Quiet" and "It's Love, Lovey.Love," and she, of course, makes every one a knockout, and leaves the custom- ers begging for more. Nelson joins her in several numbers for clowning. Lower, floor well filled at:opening show Friday.: Rees. Ilipp, Ha I to Baltimore, July 2. . Mora & Yacouelli; Gene Archer, Olympic Girls (2). Joe Morris .& Dorothy Ryan, Buster Shaver with Olive, George & Ricburd, Felice InUi and House Orch (121; "Once Upon a Time' (Col). Oriental, Chi ... „ . Chicago, July i. Bobby Sherwood Orch (16), tutth Gail Landis, Skylarks (4), Rochester Hector & Pals, Troy & Lynn, Kitty Murray, Willie Covan; "Yellow Rose of Texas" (Rep.) Pleasing layout is paced by Gene Archer, recently discharged from Armed Services and on hand as a straightworking, singing emcee: Holds to unvarnished intros and contributes potent vocals in between general setup. Olympic Girls, duo of femmes essaying smart hand-to .-Rochester and Bobby Sherwood Orch are the big noises here this week. Rochester, assisted' by Kitty Murray, keeps the house rolling with laughter, and Sherwood's crew has the. j lives stomping to blatant brasses. Rochester, in closing spot, was a | little slow' getting started, mostly because of too much conversation. ! about ; the. Benny air show, but ' warmed up with some good gags, songs and Clever stepping that brought down the house. Later, when he teams up .with Kitty Murray, who is no slouch as. a comedienne, the rat'teYs ring with laughter, adding up to one of the biggest hits on the Oriental stage in a long time. Roch- ester introduces Willie Covan, who contributes nifty classic tap routine; Troy & Lynn click in opening frame with clever legmania routines. First one, very cleverly executed 1 , abounds in eccentric steps, and. closer, an impression of two high hand" ballancing, tire a. pleasing I school kids at a prom, sends, them off novelty and a punchy starter .Dorothy Ryan, foiling on stage for Joe Morris in a balcony box. whacks out a vocal to start matters after which okay crossfire garners steady laughs. Morris knows his way around and registers well, never leaving his .perch but front, • from which he takes his repeate'd bows, --following, an_ extended sesh of Karle, Philly Philadelphia, June 30. Abe Lyman Orch (15) with Frankic Connors, Rose Blane, Gene Sheldon, Bob DuPone, Loretta Fisher; "Ghost Catchers" (U). . :■' " Tower. K. C. Kansas City, June 30. Nick Lucas, Mel Cardo, Topsy Boyde, Whirling Aces (2), Richard Alexander, Tower Orch with Marilyn ■ Bollinger; "Lady, Let's Dance" (Mono) and "Trocadero" (Rep). Lionel Hampton's reprise at this uptown sepian showcase differs lit- tle from his recent run at the down- town Capitol, except from the view- point of audience reaction, in this case bordering on the fervid. The band generates a mass spontaneous enthusiasm and excitement when caught, with its torrid rhythms aud showmanship that threatened to tear down the house. The combination of three trom- bones, five sax, five tr.urofiet.and five j^X'rvJhrr makes for^.a^twelbXiril^W'- thaf can't be beat. When it plays "Flying HOme" and other such numbers, it creates a pitch of such intensity that seems about to burst the confines of the house. One minor shortcoming of the show, is that it doesn't utilize Hampton's varied talents to the fullest degree. While he does a turn on the piano teaming witTi his regular player on "Boogie Woogie," and works on vibs twice with "Holiday for Strings" and "Moonglow" for sock returns, he skips the drum beating, except for a short play on the second drums in the windup of "Flying Home," with Arnett Cobbs featured on tenor six for terrific impression." . Otto Eason, roller skating tapper, tees off with some fancy hoofing to healthy, response. Rubel Blakely. and Dinah Washington, vocalists, go over big. the former in "The Music Stopped" and "I'll Be Seeing You," with gal doing "Don't Bother With Me," risque ditty that the audience ate up T and "There'll Be a Jubilee." Canada Lee, Negro actor, brought on extemporaneously, delivered a trib- ute to Hampton for furthering cause of the Negro race through music. Conway and. Parks, male duo make fair patter and dancing go over well, The Earle boards are cooling off a bit this week after a torrid five-a- day dose of the Ink Spots, et al. Current layout lacks any hefty marquee, draw but proves fairly diverting. Abe Lyman's stunt of getting would-be Sinatras and Dinah Shores from the audience provides a novel and entertaining touch to a routine band presentation. When caught a husky truckdriver's helper with an ear-pleasing baritone copped the amateur honors. . Setup is for win- ners of each performance to com- pete for final honors at. the end of the week. Of Lyman's own troupe, his staff vocalists Frankie Connors, lienor, and Abe's wife, Rose Blane, are bell-ringers. Former gives out with the schmaltzy stuff "I'll Be Seein" You"; "Long Ago and Far Away"; "Begin the Beguine"); gal warbler's forte is the jump-up rhythms ("Milkman"; "GI Jive"; "Amen"). Band numbers highlight Gershwin tunes, with spot, given to Jack Marlow with violin solo of "Dark Eyes." •■;.'■.' Gene Sheldon's clever pantomine and guitar twanging is good for plenty of guffaws, especially his clowning with the band and his parther-wife, Loretta Fisher; The guy's antics are reminiscent of Harry Langdon in', .his silent pic days.- ■,'-::' ■ ■'.:■" ■ **4k Jading oui .bjll is Bob DuPont, comedy juggler, who never fails to please. House about 70% filled when re- viewed- (Friday afternoon). Shal. Capitol, Wash. .,. . .; ,' ■ Washington, June 29, Jane Pickens, Bob Gentry, Adrian RoIIini Trio, Manuel Viera's Pets. Sam Jack Kaufman's House Orch; "Two Girls and a Sailor" (M-G). With Nick Lucas heading a fast- moving 40-minute bill, the Tower is reaping its heftiest gross in several months.. • • .,..;;.. . ,>. , Walking on casua-lly with his guitar, Lucas was greeted with a big hand before he sang a word at the opening show. He tees off with "San Fernando Valley," and then follows through with "I'll Be Seeing You." , After several- bows,:, he revives such earlier hits as "Tip Toe Through the Tulips" and "Side by Side." Begs off with stubholders clamoring for more. .",■■'.'. House orch opens bill with the oldie, "It Had To.. Be You," with Marilyn Ballinger doing nicely by the vocal. . Mel Cardo, mimic, doubles as m.c. The Whirling Aces, man and woman roller - skaters, breeze through a fast routine. Richard Alexander, "Discovery Night" win- ner, gives with some boogie on his squeeze-box. Topsy Boyde, contor- tionist, registers s'olidlv with her back-bends. Mel Cardo. next-to- closing, gets laughs with his. takeoff on a street pitchman. Earl. Acts), Moro and Yacouelli take hold for a lilting interlude of good com- edy and instrumental music. Made up as Mexicans, taller member of duo has a decided Myle in slow- moving reaction to peppier partner. Utilizing guitars for comic but highly legit performance they switch to violin and accordion; wind- ing up with some-vocalizing which all adds up to a solid begoff. ', Buster Shaver with Olive and George offer their usual super smooth layout of songs and ball- roomology. Waltz of Buster and the diminutive Olive is a decided nov- elty and rear audience grabber. A new member of the act is introduced as Richard, tiny brother of George, and he proceeds to p-pe out a med- ley of tunes from 'Oklahoma" which ring the bell and give added stature to offering. . Biz very good. Burm. Downtown, lletro.it Detroit, July 1. Ada Leonard Orch (16) , utith Frances Grl^in; Rita Kctly, Dei Thompson, Sunny Rice; Jttne Lor- raine. Hilda. "Lady & Monster" (Rep). ' • ' : ■ . . '.:•-■; '■ , to healthy palmwhacking. Hector & Pals, assisted, by Marion, continue' one of the most amusing dog acts in Vaiide. Dogs offer many amusing tricks to. the running chat- ter of Hector for solid hit: Bobby Sherwood and his orch go heavy on the brasses, with a little too much power behind the instru- ments at times. Crew opens with legjt^ vocalizing^ ^by^AfcHer. .ty^jtoucl' v ersiott 6t rEl k lrParatte,"--iea=- turing Sherwood's trumpet, and then swings into a jive arrangement of Rimsky-Korsakoff composition. Gail Landis; statuesque blonde vocalist; warbles "Long Ago and Far Away and "I'll Be Seeing You" to good re- turns, and the Skylarks, mixed quar- tet, are adequate with several num- bers. Sherwood also, contributes a vocal with "It Could Happen to You" and outstanding strumming of "My Heart Stood Still" on his guitar, '■:'<.'■'-■■'■-' . Morg. Jane Pickens holding over, does the same routine as .last , week. She gets over solid with her songs. Manuel Viera missed the first show due to missing tr<ii.n. connections. His collie, great Dane and two monkeys, generate plenty, of com- edy. Bob Gentry's monologue is concerned with : humorous impres- sions of song lyrics. For encore an imitation of the nervous draftee facing his draft board. , '": ' Adrian Rollini Trio, bass viol, steel guitar, marimba and piano, lick out some fine rhythmic tunes. Gene Ford is going in for more production on his stjge shows and this miniature revue is niftily back- grounded and lighted. Arke; Orplieiiin, Mpls. Minneapolis, July 1. . Ozzie Nelson Orch (17) with Har- riet Hilliard. Lindsay. LaVerne & Betty. West & Le.ring. Harris Hz Shore; "Seven Days Ashore" (RKO). Dominated by the million dollar personalities and talents of Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard, this show cops plenty for comedy, vocal- izing and dancing, as well as the Nelson brand of swing music. It hits ail entertainment: peak. : As always, Nelson is a smooth as silk emcee whose deft handling of the proceedings enhance value great- ly. In addition, he fronts the band, sings and works in most of the acts, and whatever J -,e does^is-good.- "The' orchestra is of generous proportions, comprising eight brass, four saxes and three rhythm, and its musical emanations arouse a strong customer response. Miss Hilliard, of course, is tops in her singing—one of the best of the song stylists: ; "No Love, No Nothing" is rather torried swing as performed by the band for the starter. Then comes an I arresting arrangement of "I Love You" with some welcome Nelson warbling. Lindsay, LaVerne & Betty, | attractive girls, come through nicely with amazing cartwheels, somer- saults, handsprings and tumbling in their speedy dance act. Nelson's own' composition. "Jump ! Time," is, snappy swing that gives chances to the boys for individual ! soloing. _ Tall, austere Paul West and dirriiri- j utive, bald- Meggs Lexing were fa- vorite burlesque comics in this town ! and in their new field they're.as sue- i ccssful as ever in landing laughs and approval with their comedy singing | and original, clean tomfoolery antics, j They impress as a good bet for films. | Nelson paves way with snappy, re- , partee and comedy business for an- other topnotch laugh session—this This all-girl combo has improved considerably since in here last with Miss Leonard turned into a suave and poised emcee as well as an cyc- full in gowns designed for attention. Band is more on the hot than Ihe sweet side, having some good ar-: rangements. The long, lean maestriss leads her gals through sound stuff on "Frac- ture in C,". "Pale Hands," "Body and Soul" and "Straighten Up and Fly Right." Band's pianist. Rita Kelly, does right by a "Porgy and Bess" medley and others. Miss Shirley's hot trumpet and Dez Thompson at the drums get their spot. Frances Griffin, new singer with the band, comes close to being a show stopper with her versions of "Milkman," "I Love You" and a tricky scoring of "St. Louis Blue's." Miss Leonard pipes lyrics to "Mod About. Him" in a pleasing style. Combination has six - in . the. brass section,: seven in the ".strings and three percussion. Three i'emme acts are with the band with Hilda working in the juggler, spot by tossing top huts, dumbbells and . lighted torches around; June Lorraine cbhU'iljs clever impersonations ; of •Durante. Bar: vmore. Laughton, Bette Davis. Hepburn and others while Sui-ny Rice is also okay with a hoofing style which combines taps and bal- let. Biz okay with a better than usual picture combination for 'he ne'w^6useV"/'.': f ' , 'i ■■ "" «» ' ■■«.> f> 5J ! New Acts LADD LYON (1) Acrobatics . 9 Mins. '.-• ■ '-'?. ,, Loew's State, N. Y. Ladd Lyon is a refreshing new personality who departs from the standard acrobatics in the employ- ment of a table and chair for his act. The bulk of his turn is in the use of an audience stooge for comedy values. It's , later revealed they're brothers!,. Lyon handles himself well though Hie stunts are not out of the ordi- nary. It would be best if he did more straight acrobatics rather than rely so much on the stooge part of the turn. It's inclined to slow up the act. However,♦for comedy purposes, there's no denying it serves its ele- mental purposes. Otherwise, act is okay for first or second on family-time bills. Kahn. GENE ARCHER Singing; Emcee 12 Mins. Hippodrome, Balto. Gene Archer is a nice-appearing lad just released by the Army. Pos- sessed of highly legit baritone pipes which he switches into crooning fal- settos and slides, he whaCks out a fairly potent song. When caught Archsr did "Girls, Goodbye" a medley from "Show Boat" and a potpourri of George M. Cohan songs, all pleasing and well received. With some polishing and better ar- rangements he should be able to find a spot in any company. Handles in- tros pleasingly and without attempt at- gaggery.. Burm. I Correspondents Earle, Wash. Everett West, 3 Pitchmen. Dolores Evers., Eileen Ritter, Roxyettes, Jo Lombardi's House orchestra. "Once Upon A Time" (Col). Robust baritone of Everett . West ffrom "Rosalinda") heard here this season. Tore roof off with "Song of Open Avoad," "Love, Love, Love,'' "Irish Eyes Are Smiling" and original arrangement of "Dark Eyes." On to lead Roxy- ettes for closing number in "Home on the Range." . "Three Pitchmen,'', swell comedy alesmeri, work fast and score heav- Cnntinued from page 1 pean invasion, who has returned to this country, has joined with Lt. Cmdr. Hartley in setting up facilities for'Tacific area news operations. Lessons learned during the inva- sion of France will be used to advan- tage, including a strong effort to im- prove the quality of Navy recorder equipment so as to bring even more realistic sounds of battle to listeners in this country. Alsov generating best voice} equipment will be perfected which is light and self-sufficient enough to fit into space on planes and small boats, including landing craft which do not have their own generating equipment. ,: ',. '..*■•''.■.."•■■■.''.'.' • Quicker dispatching of the film after the. battles are recorded will - I also be worked out, and a concerted imitate' 1 ^ ^^^1^1 effoft % the ^.transmitters ments; a'clever line of patter aiding 1 neilrel: the scenes of action will defi-. their music. Four bows and could , . ml ' c 'X be made. .. have; stayed longer. Dolores. Evers' Among the: network news heads on. the tight wire closes with'rhyth-.! who met with Hartley Monday, and mjc dancing. Roxyettes do a South I presented to him seven points which Seas number in- grass «skirts. finale ! wi n be worked out .between the webs with a wild western specialty with Eileen Ritter singing "San Fernando •Valley." Show. is. cleverly lighted and production numbers score heav- ily. :'■..'■ ; '-,". Arke. and the .Navy in future' meetings, were: Paul White, CBS; G. W. John-. stone, Blue; John Whittemore, Mu- tual, and W. F. Brooks, NBC.