Variety (Dec 1944)

Wednesday, December 6, 1944 HOUSE REVIEWS 43 Jimmy Swo, Mildred Bailey, Pearl Primus, Cfntc/c & Chuckles, Bill & Cora Baird, Gae Foster Roxy- eiies, Ash and Roxy Theatre Orch: "Something jor the Boys" ,(20t)i), reviewed in "Vaiiety," Nov. 1, '44. Jimmy Savo and Mildred Bailey fiom Cafe Society Uptown, plus pearl Primus and her voodoo danc* jng group, form the basis for a some- what different type of stageshow here one that has considerable meat but plays a little slowly. Savo, headlining, is spotted toward the fella but has appeared lo better advantage than on this date and, wheii caught, was short of being a sock with his clowning, talk and song stuff. He is topped for the fihi.sh by the Gae Foster Roxyettes (jn ? their highly clever routine on bikes, a number that can be brought back frequently. It's one of the best the Foster line has ever developed. Miss Primus, late of Cafe Society Downtown, m her hot African cere- monial dance, backed b.y her own troupe of tribal hoofei.s, is a solid click. Roxy, has given - her .produc tion number effective .staging and lifihting. On earlier is Mildred Bailey in several pop .songs which she spUs very ably. She works in one and, wliile holding the .stage for a . pretty long spell, registers slrongly. Her numbers include "Don't Fence Me In," "Old Rockin' Chair," "I'll Walk Alone" and the one she dedicates to the war effort, "Scrap Your Fat." The exceptionally clever marion- ette act ol Bill and Cora Baird, in- cluding those three cute cat char- Hctcrs, opens the show, toUowed.by a mixed en.serable line number that stands out and the colored dance team of: Chuck- and Chuckles^ who go back to the old Palace , days. Some of their talk could stand revamping. Char. statueeque chirper, rings the gong with the "Trolley Song" and "Tears Plowed Like Wine." Baritone Tom- my Morgan gets the gals, asighin^ with his croon-swoon type ol war- bling "I Dream of You," "Con>- fe.ssin,'" "Don't Want to Love You." Band's novelties "What's the Use of Gettin' Sober," and "Hanover Hangover," are likewise m the grooyey' style. Long provides the longhair. :touch with ''Mozart's ■ Con- certo" and a violin solo. House only about three-quarters filled when caught i Friday after- noon). iSJial. Circle, Indpls. .. hidiannpolis. ■ Deo. 2. Tex Rtiter's HMbtlly Jamboree, tcilh Dub Taylo^, Rla~ Terhune & Eimer, Shm Andrews, Milo Twins, Bonnie DoM, 'i Dude Swingsters and Doma Dae; '•Mxisic in Manluittan" iRKO). . "Tex Hitter, appearing with Donna Dae as an added attraction, ofters some pretty good talent in his out- country, revue, but It hardly figures either to please the foUewei s of Cir- cle's regular band-show policy or to catch the attention of the barn-dance fans. Donna Dae adds a touch df cafe society to the rustic netting and Impresses with her stylish warbling of "I'll Walk Alone," "It Sad to Be You." "On the Sunny Side" and "I'll Be Seeing You." Ritter acts as emcee and stooges for his comedians, all, of:whom have musical sidelines. Dub Taylor's slick work on the xylophone overshadows his gags. Slim Andrews knocks mu- sic trom all sorts of gadgets, includ- ing a hand saw and an old tire: pump. He plays "Sweet Jennie Lee"'on a v ashtub, banjo and horn, all at the fame lime, and. Tiiakes four funnels .sound like a cornet. The Milo Twins of "Grand Old Opry'^ fame offer "No Letter Today'^ and other sentimental ciittie.? to their -own guitar accom- paniment. ? The boy.s also : play on their identical looks for laughs. Bon me Dodd registers - nicely with her cowboy songs. . Terhune .shows he can do more than ride a horse by displaying a wide variety of accomplishments.. He \vhistles "Listen to the Mocking Bird" . and captures hi.s echo in a bottle, later relea.<;!ng it for all to hear. He Imitates barnyard sounds and finally steps out as a ventriloquist. Three Dude Swingsters-^guitar, accordion and bull fiddle-^provide the instru mental , background. Biz was slow When caught. , .Corb Eiirle. PliUly Phi/ndelp/im, Dec. 1. Johnny Long Orch (17) with Mary t^ou Wilsoji, Tommy, . Morgan, Lew Parker. Sybil Botrnn; "The Big Noise" <20th). Not: a potent marquee bill, but fairly diverting is this: week's lineup at the Earle. High spot is ed.sily won by Sybil Bowan, who sends up the decibels with her: hilarious mimicry. Best bit is her satirical takeoff of nurse's . aide: Other imitation.s-—all plenty clicko>—are- those of Carmen Miranda, Beatrice Lillie and Mrs Roosevelt. Latter is well doYie and in good taste. Lew Parker's standard hat jug ' gling, likewise is' okay . ;entertain- ment. Good timing, facial expres sions, makes -Parker'.s contribution always a good biU-filler. • , JohnnysLong's-band does a work manlike job of mixing soothing swing and jive. Novelty ol using amateur singers from the audience leaves plenty to be desired. When caught, Long did nothing, to bolster the confidence - of the simon-pure hopefuls. Consequently they started off wrong, touching off the hecklers, -and generally .gumming up what might, be a good feature. The maestro could do a lot to keep things in hand. Long's own vocalists are top 'notch and easily pleased the down frpnters loaded with bobbysoxers . tvhen reviewed. Mary Lou Wilson, Orphclun, A. Los Angeles, Nov. 29. Harry Howard's "Hooray for the Gtrls" unit, with Gautier's Briclc- layers, Harold Boyd & Jig-Saws (2), Al Norman, Larry Stuart, John Mxiccio, Frank Brooks, line U9); Ben Ben, Pit Bond Ul); 'Bowery Champs" (Mono). This girlie show,. nicely larded with comedy and dancin.13, is a neat hour's entertainment. Headliner is Gautier's Briofclayei-s, dog act, and sharing the limelight,: although. not with the. unit, is Ben. Ben, ace juggler. Show plays fast, using cos- tumes, 19 girls and lighting to good effect: in selling its merchandise.- ■: Beri adds plenty of punch in next" to-closing spot with prime : manipu- lation of balls, Indian clubs and tambourines. Timing of his juggling is deft' and: .his comedy flare is a decided factor in the turn. Brick layers again demonstrate what patience and smart pooches can do on a stage. Act has played here be- fore but has lost none of its kick with audience. Harold Boyd and the Jig-Saws (2) are a trio of sailor-suited tumblers who clown smoothly , to earn good hand. Al Norman throws gags and some nifty .soft-.shoe dancing to please. litrry Stuart and John Mucoio handle vocals for ensemble numbers, each doing okay job, and Frank' Brooks is featured on foot- work with the girls. Opening number has the line gals, backed by six scantily garbed show girls going through a painting rou- tine for applause. Girls are on next for the Ziegfeld number, with Stuart singing a medley from Ziegfeld shows while femmes run through well-costumed high spots. A Spanish production with ensemble and Stuart also pleases. Finale goes patriotic, as usual, with girls appropriately garbed to salute heroic branches of the armed forces. Brofli. State, N. Y. Laiii Mclntire Orch. tl3); A?i!ta Afartel; Sluiiv & Lee, Cross & Ditiin, 'Seventh Cross" IM-G). It's difTicult to realize what tlie great shortage of acts really amounts to until a show like this is glommed. With tlie exception of the Gross & Dunn-team, which has been standard for years, the layout at the State this' week is just so*so vaude. fare..-. , ■■:;..■■■.. ■ :'-.■■. ':■'■; ■. Show opens with Lani Mclntirfe's orchestra, tresh out of a couple years at the Lexington hotels N. Y. Hawaiian : Room; It's- i-nusic ' is plesant when it sticks to-the island fare, but- distinctly not on livelier things. Otherwise it displays no more production 'or imagination than any. other: hula outfit, using three hip-tossers ill calico in a couple of items and another chubby temme who does a - comfedy . -dance bit. Music is. .standard ;"Song ■ of -the Islands," etc. Next act-is Anita Martel, blonde, apparently English, juggler, who w^ts m a brief costume and does a good routine with rubber balls and a trio of silk hats. It's all good stuff, but she takes the edge off her ability by trying to insert showmanship via doing what she calls a ''juggling jit- terbug" almost throughout. It's silly. Those gams and her obvious dexterity is enough;. . Shaw and Lee is a comedy act—at least it's so announced. There's no point in itemizing their routine for the reason there is none. They get a few giggles with a tangled-hands bit similar to the Walter Dare Wahl act but beyond that the turn is a dud. Gross & Dunn have a difflcult time overcoming what went before, but the trick arrangements and sales- manship that has kept them up front so long prevails and they wind up sock. : "Thi-ee Grows in Brook-: lyn," a treatment of "Five O'clock Whistle," "U. S. By Day, RAF By Night," etc., get 'em off big. Wood. RKO, Boston Boston, Dec. 1. Jean Parker, Frank Gaby, Merry Macs W, Burns Tuiins k Evelyn, Jack Powell; Larry Flint's House Band (15); "Woman in the Window" iRKO). Nntional, L'ville Louisville, Nov. 30. Smiley Burnette, Miss America of 1944, Jean, Jack & Judy, 2 Dees, Beth Farrell; "End of Road" (Rep). Gene Autry's old .sidekick Smiley ''Frog" Burnette, takes the honors this -week, but has a nicely balanced bill to .support his turn. Opening act, Two Decs, are-plenty clever on the horizontal bars. .One of the lads works in comedy getup, and caught a few laughs. Next on is Beth Farrell, who really excels in acro-control work. Gal IS small and pretty, and really ties herself up in the most unusual positions, that patrons couldn't help but appreciate her ability and sup- pleness. A click. Glamour portion of bill introes Miss Venus Rameyj w ho won title of "Miss America of 1944'' at Atlantic City. Gal is tall and slender, with corking lines and made a swell ap- pearance in an aqua gown and midrift. Has a pleasant enough voice, which she uses to good effect on "Trolley Song" and "Take It Easy " Back at this house after an ap- pearance about three months ago. Smiley Burnette, comic of Western pics, is his usual friendly, breezy wholesome self. Comes out and talks to the folks, making himself at home, and tells a few stories and gags. Burnette-is. working single on his current tour, and accompanies his songs on accordion. He: brings plenty of music out of the squeeze box, too, and wins. a rousing hand with his singing Of "Kidin' Down the Canyon" and "Sincerely Yours." Business was" light at opening show Friday (30). Hold. Adams, Newark Newark, Nov. 30. Ray Kinney's Orch a2). Aloha Maids (4):, JVani, the Coral Islanders, Leinaala, Sammy Makia; Danny Dray son, Walter Nilsson, Moro d Yaconelli; "Song of Nevada" (Rep). Too much twang and not enough boogie sums up the reason for a- moderate house. Kinney ^ crew., is tops in its line, although it's dif- ficult to get much variety mto the Hawaiian music and dancing. Aloha Maids hula a half dozen numbers^ all ■of them the same except for a change of costume. Vocals sung by the maestro. Alternating live and Hawaiian tunes, plus a .single croon- ing act, would have made for a bet- ter-balanced show. : Danny Drayson does .the uisual >ome<Jy. ..diid. pi-at-fall, ro.utihe; - but Winds .UP- o.kay AVlth a ' sock: i>apto- mime of . a subway, rider, Walter ■Nilsson- patt^i'.s while.-he: peddles, an, dissortinent, of high ' and lo\v urii- cyclcs. - Mt).ro and , Yaconelli cdtltrib some: s6uth-6f-the-bofder stuff, on guitar, violin, accordion, and har- monica, ' - Colt. hands .froni wallc on and ;1h'1c1 llieht throughout. Alter sockins ovei- "Lover Where Can You Be'/" she tops it on-"I Cover the Wntcrfront"-and "I'll Be Seeing - You.''. ■Drew ■ ■re- peated recalls. Eddie Rccloi- c^iii- tribs his classy hoofology, : Kt)(i«. : Orleutal, Cbi Chicago, Dec. 1. • Gi'iie Krupa and Orch (25), with Giinvy: PQwell,;vand, iGrNotvfs . Divk I Buckley, Eleanor Teemun; "Meet Miss Bobby Socks" (Col). Tower, K. C. : ■ Koii.sa.'j Ci(y, Dcf. 1. Meade Laa; Le!(;i,s, Burns & Wliiic. Bobby Herman, . Kat/ieriiic Hoijv.' Tower Orch (9) with Lcs Haidinti & Corrine Heldon; "Enemy of Wo- men" (Jlfo?io) and "Slot m Over Lisbon" (Rep). Meade Lux Lewis and his sohd straight-eight boogie-woosjic lop a 40-minute stage show wliicli yams effectiveness because of its nuikcri contrast to the war themes of the ac- companying dual sOreen bill. House band opens with "The Trol- le:y Song," with Le.s Hardini;, fiont man, and Gornne Helcloiv,; blonde "Discovery Night:' winner, duet nig the vocal. Burns & White, terp duo. are on first with, a fastTStepping routnic that clicks. - Bobby Hernuvn. wlio doubles as m:c., takes o\'er tlie deuce for a smooth blend of comedy \ioliii playing and tapping. Katherine Hoyt, blonde warbler, opens with "Hip! Hipf Hooray!.' and then changes: pace with "The Verv Thought of You" to .good leturn.s. She closes with a vocal of 'Kerry Dancers.''. Two bows and bee off. : . Lewis: gives out with hi.s eighl-lov the-bar rhythm ,at a "zoof «8-iiolrr,: an ordinary grand piano leiiKllicncd with fibre board and oarclully cainouflaged. The .sepja boogie \vi?.-. ard pounds out four solid numbers to the delight of the groovers. House full at first'tnight shovv-. ■V :"■ ■■.'.■■ ■ Eafl. OrplieHM, Mpls. Afinnenpoli,?, t)er. 2. . Artie- Shaw Orch . (.18) ii-nJi Imogene Lynn, Sunny Rice, Ross Wyse k June Mann; "Sensations' o/ 1945" (UA). :: Tluvt .lighting system Gene Kr.upa'* been; using for kihg-sized shadovvs at: llie Panther Room during the p,i.«:t Xwo months should have been tbtod down the street to the Orient.il lor .liis; ■..wcelt: ther^. ,. J*fot .that liis . big - band, augmented now by cello .iiid eii<lit-piece fiddle section, needs any particular trimmings to get over—but the , tomtom sessions current at the Randolph street vaudfllm deserve to be caleiumed for better results. Opener is a tinkling "Tico Tico/^ emphasizing strings. Eleanor Tee- man, attractive stepper, comes on for -some pert hootology to "It Had to Bo You," and twirl-taps off to "Night and Day'' and a good hand. Gniny Powell, slick local' chick in the process ol making good, starts the male, bobbysock .set squealing \mh -I'll Walk Alone" and "Tliere Goes That Song Again." G-rNoter.s 'one lemnie and three guys) aI.«o l ing tile bell in the vocal dept. with "Goroe Out, Wherever You-Are'? and ■ The A-B-C Song." Trio, consisting of Charley VenUiia on lenor sax, Teddy. Napoleon on tlie piano and Krupa:'on the .skins, beat out . a . virtuoso combo - of "Man I Love" and "Limehouse Blues," and then the j>and: tears into "Bolero in the Jungle," which aforementioned lif-'hting system would have helped con.siderably. . Krupa tuttis ■ on the w .k per.sonality to register in this and the clo.ser, "Drum Boogie." ; ..Dick Buckley gets across with a .- routine in which he comeis down into the audience to pick out four- cus-r lomers, who sit in front of him while . he lakes off Amos 'n' Andy charac- ters, prodding each of them into fa- .cial gymnastics to go with the char- acterizations. Stint ends with Buck- le! .-ringing "When the Saints Go Marching In" to mugging by .stooges. Mike. Supplying a staunch background for the four acts on-this bill is Larry Flint's house band. The outfit does all right as a .solo band, but it is especially good as the musical foundation for the acts, and the re- sult is an okay, if not high-voltage, show for the holdover of "Woman in the Window." Jean Parker occupies the ace. spot and reveals an appealing personali- jty, a nice if not very large voice-^ and the usual deficiency in stage material. H'wood personalities aU most always bring to town. She does a few semimusical skits, one on a Gay Nineties theme which ends up with a modified can-can, another about a soldier's wife called "Every- thing Happens to Me." She does them very well, for the matter; but it's hardly suited to the RKO audi- ence which is, nonetheless, verjr ■cordial..,' Routine begins with a lively dance number Tjy the Burns Twins and Evelyn, continues -with a comedy drumming turn by Jack Powell, Frank Gaby's standard act with Kay , Stuart, George : Mann and dummy, and the Merry Macs-doing "California." '.'Sweet and. Lovely," "Pass the Biscuits" and other sharp, vocal arrangements. All are warm- ly received with Gaby getting .big- gest hand for comedy stuff. Larry Flint m.c.'s neatly and leads the band in nice style. Biz offish at opener. ■ Eiie. .': Apollo, 9;. V. Hot Lips Page and Band (10), Btllie HoUiday, Rosette Williams, 4 Pm-Up Girls, Eddie Rector, Dottie Rhodes. Gardner tt Murray; '^Bowery Champs" (Mono). Hot Lips Page and his musicrew sending solidm .approved Har- lemesque manner and .Billic Holli- day, sepia songstre,ss and par* ticularly prime favorite here, share topline honors on current stanza, with results almost a photo-finish. Rest of biU is okay, too. Band works on telescoped st^d which projects to front for, b^no numbers and recedes to background for the acts. Band tees off with a sizzler, "Wild Men About Town," with Page get- ting plenty of hot licks, on trumpet to set the outfronters clapping and stomping^: seguing into another tor- rid session on "Gee,. Babyj Aint I Glad." Four Pin-Up Girls, ofay quartet, contribute some lively roller skat-- ing feats, working up whirls and spins to thrill returns. Rosette Williams, willowy sepia songstress, takes over for "Cow Cow Boogie" and "Stieet of Regrets" for solid re- •sulls. Dottie Rhode.', exotic dancer, uncorks an exhibition of hip-weav- ing and torso gynastics that scored. Gal had 'em hypnotized and could have sta.yed on indefinitely. Band takes over again for a brace of torrid numbers. Gardner and Murray, male duo, contnb the usual ■cotnedy interludes.; Then Billie Holliday whams 'em. Songstress had them m palm of her Artie Shaw has.gotten together for his re-entry into the orchestra field a sufficiently hot swing outfit whfth, supplement by his own superior clarinet virtuo-so talents and , Hoy Eldridge's ace trumpeting, should lift him back quickl.y to his previous pre-eminence in this field. Its five, saxes, eight brasses and tour rhythms are handled by first-rate musicians and pleasant musical results ensue.^ Although, Shaw has been out of or- chestra circulation due to his Navy stint, his reception here is indicating he has been far from forgotten and still ocpupies a high' place in swing lovers' affections. - Band leads off " with the lively "Tune Town, Shuffle," which is brassy,: but, thanks to, the Shaw handling; nevertheless boasts melodic overtones. First of the two acts sup- plementing the band, is Sunny Rice, a petite dancer whose combiniilion of ballot :and triple rhythm lap i.s difficult: and imusual. "Solid Sam," i more lively swing by the orchestra I permits some individual soloing.) Imogehe -Lyrin, the band's singer,:'is i an attractive; blonde with the fight vocal style for her numbers-^-'To-1 gether," "It Had to Be You" and "The Trolley Song." The cuslom(>iS; like her. Eldridge with his comedy sinsjing and scorching trumpeting rai.ses jivc to. the utmcst heights and ;ns ''Jumpin' in a Jeep" is socko; Hi."* interpretations of "Body and Soul ' and "After You're Gone" also are smash hits. The band's rtiost musi- eal effort is a corking swing arranKo- ment of ''Begin the Beguinc" with Shaw scintillating on the clannc*/ The show's other act, Ross Wy.se and June Mann,- delivers the laugns as usual. Their comicalities and comedy dancing are still sure-fire.. Hie band winds up with a vvliam rendition of "St. l/ouis Bl ues'' »■ hi ch finds Shaw giving bis clarinet its biggest and best workout of the en- tire performance and slirriiiK the customers to a frenzy of enlhusiasm. Lower floor pretty well filled at Saturday noon show. Rees. St. Charles, IV. O. New Orleans, Dec. 1. Bob Wills, Laura Lee, Tommy Dun- rait, Everett Stover, OUte Franks, Ed Coatneyi Martell. Twins, Judy Kellyf Cherokee & Napier Raiuje Playboys'. Orch; "Cyclone Prairie. Rangers" (Col.). A group of nifty acts providing: rollicking fun plus a horse- opera with Gov, James Davis of Louisiana made before he became the state'.i chief executive makes the current: layout whammo. . Decketf' out in Western garb Bob' Wills and his troupe whoop it up with their range tunes and hillbilly music much to the enjoyment of the customers.. He's a violinist of: no mean: ability and had the patrons- howling for more. Tommy Duncan^ vocalLSt, has nice pipes and gets a. big hand. Laura Lee gets plenty of- palm pounding for her warbling. Ed Coatney, harmonica wiz and mimic, clicks for his rendition of "Nola- and other fave.s, as well as for hii ..sounds of a model T and other en- gine noises. • -4, Judy Kelly aero turn wins bravos,. while the Martell Twins share m the honors with their tap terpmg. Ollie Franks contributes some nice dance, routines and warbles okay for a big. hand. Cherokee and Napier pack a bit of everything into their turn to hefty applause. Jack McElroy han- ' dies the emcee chore ably. Bi/ capacity when caught. Liuz. 'Too Leftist' .Continued from page 1 deal with United Artists was can- celled. Bronston, also, did not caie to proceed with tlie production at the. time in view of the. likelihood that all foreign distribution ,would be jeopardized, BroAston now plans lo .submit ncw^ iscreen treatment : for approval of GWI' or . any other Government agencies concerned in order to as- surer expost license for the produc- tion upon completion. If treatmc/il is approved Bronston plans to iiio- Ceed with production which is lil<ely:. to be reinstated on the UA releasing schediflei- ..■■-■: ^yy--'-r^;-y.;' .r • Whether DUvivier, who took ac- tion against Bronstoh/Ott;^roiincl.s that the producer had failed .: to tulfiU terms of I71S pact, will be reassignt-d to direction of the film is not .so far uncertain. Chicago, Chi Chicago, Dec, I: Cab Calloway and Orch (18) Dotty Saalters, Holme* & Jean, Bill Bailey, ; CabalettM (6); "Broztl" (Rep). Cab Galloway's hi-de-hos make the , mike about as useful as a butterfly, not. The maestro, like all of the old school, learned to sell a song the hard way, and he still puts everything he has. inlo .such quaint oldies as "Mm- ■ me the Moocher," "St. James Infirm- ary'': and "Jumpin' Jive.7; Contem- porary jingles get a warm going-over loo; . with his scattin' of "Let's: Go,: .loe," "I'll Walk Alone", and "Hot Time in the Town of Berlin" winning a big hand. Band backs him up in : customary style, getting the curtain VIP with a crashing"Cruising with Cab", and later muffling the 'bras.s for a sweet-hot arrangement of "Kash- miri Love Song" that features boff drumming by J; G. Head. Dottie Saulters, singer, should tak« an evening off and teach the: Cabalr ettes .some stage bi2.- Line's terping Is oke, but deadpans don't go with it, MW" Saulters is something else again; her Jive and jitterbug routines with. Calloway in "Some Peaceful . Even-- ing" and "Tabby the Cat'? are 'eye-:: ' and-ear teasers. I Bill Bailey's taps, a la Bill Robin- ! -on, to "People Will Say," followed i ljy a breather with some neat patter ' ,1'oout his trip to Hollywood and I it-- with Lena Horne, Eddie Ander- ] .--on, et al„ and windup machine-gun , hooting, go over big. I Male half of Holmes and Jean, ' who^e tapping partner is supposed to ' brighten up the act but doesn't be- cauiie of mediocre routines* does -a ilinl involving keeping a cigaret un^ der his tongue lit while drinking a glass of water, working hard to coait a good hand. " Mtfce.