Variety (Feb 1946)

50 nOVSB RGVIKWS WeJncaclay, Fcbinary 27, 1946 Strand, N. V. Jack Carson, Arihur Treacher, Taiffioell, Mary McGnrf y, Eleanor TeemaM, Art Mooney Orcli (10) with Johnny Darcey, Janie Morgan and 4 Brothers; "Three Siraagers" l WB), reuicu'cd in Variety, Jan. 30, "40. Hour's layout here this pesli it- marked by a general dullness that stems I'rom failure of the two n;imo toppers, Jack Carson and Arthur Treacher, to get across the way they should. It's mostly a matter of ma- terial, with neither of the pcir cffor- ing a fast, laugh-filled routiro. Auoi- enco appreciates, of course, a gander at film and radio fares, but it ti'kcs a lively rautine to' sew up that ap- prec atioh for meaningful resulti. iit the b o. Carson has with him Tugwell. u h<i also works witli him on his Camp- bell's radio show, and Mary Mc- Garty. blonde warbler, who like- wise figures in a couple of the com- edy bits. Carbon makes two appcai- ances in the rather pepuUarly rou- tined show, first time winding up by iiitroing Treacher and: the seioTid time bringing on Tugwell and Mt.s.s McCartv. All four of them work in the finale, which rightly top,s the turn. . Weakness in Carson's line is mak^ ing the spectators self-conscious b.v a lengthv chunk of gab on how good "audience causes an actor to knock hinisclf out and makes for a good show. Tlvat's entirely unneces- sary. Likewise h:s habit of tipping Off the house to the eifect that "This storv that you are about to hear is a joke." Otherwise, a, shortening of each of the bits he does with his various aides would help the pace immensely. Treacher, in addition to sparring with Cavson. does a patter tune, "That's the Life for Me," which is Weak. He comes off fairly well on the whole, however, on the strength of his familiar butler characteriza- tion. Art Mooney . orch scores n icelv with rhythm, numbers, at which it excels, and mediocrely with a med- ley oE "Rhaosody in Blue," "War- saw Concerto" and "Cla.'re de Lune.": Vocalist Johnnv Darcey is; n.Sih-. on "Bells of St. Mary's." but attractive femmc chirper Janie Morgan hits •em iust risht with "Sunny Side, :6f the Street." Four Brothers, warbling group, is so-so. Terper Elesnor Teeman, with her pert mannerisms provides a couple pleasing tap routines. Herb. Ot**>h<>«iim« Los Angeles, Feb. 22. Chuy Reyes Qreh (.20\:, Antonio Triana, Lola Monies, Ltiiso; Hector Del VilloT, 3 ; Mlnnevitch Modcnps; "Red Dragon" XMpnahr. is heard in impersonation.<!. His best are Qharles Boyer, Ronald Coleman:, Katharine Hepburn and Uncle Ezra. From the band Phil Marx, Jr., gives out on his electric guitar with the "Steel Guitar Rag" for nice hand. Mugene Huglics, wint'cr of a contest in Houston has joined the show and is hoard in several songs. Dub "Cannonball" Taylor di.-^he.s out comedy antics with Rittcr and follows with some neat xylophone tunes, Wesley Tuttle alle. nates as cmceo with RItter and also does several songs which ho has recorded, including "Detour" ai.d "With Tears in My E.ves." Rittcr has nice stage personality and partakes m several sessions .of repartee with Andrews and Taylor. Ah.o brihg.s out ln.< olOver horse. White ,:F,lash, fOr. roulinc: of situiits. Hitter doe.s several soiiss ipclucling "Now Moon Over My Shoulc'er" and "Empty Saddles." Capacity biz at show caught. Andy. Apollo* IV. ¥. Lionel Hdiiiptoii'.s- Orch (20) trit/i Madeline Green, Wliwic Brou'n, Red. & Ciiriey, Riiiijuer Sitters: "iWinder ill tfte Blue Room (l/i. Acceptable aggregation of talent of Latin flavor has been assembled for this J week's Oppheum bill. Shar- ing top spots are Chuy Reyes orch and the Antonio Triana Spanish dancing troupe. Both deliver to good response. Reyes orch, augmented by several of regulars from the Orpheum's pit crew, opens with "Sin-Tin-Bal," fea- turing the Reyes piano work. Leader shines on a medley of "Tico. Tico," "Toca Tu Samba," and "The Twelfth Street Rag." He and his orch also do full justice to a George Gershwin medley. Midway Reyes offers "Rhythm Rhapsody." proving him- self a sharp interpreter of Latin rhythm. . Triana and his co-stars, Lcla Monies and Luisa, backed up by an ensemble of four femme.s, give Class performances of "CEpriccio Espanol.'' "Jorop OS," "Fire Dance." Latter is showmanly staged and clicks. Lviisa, 14-year-old dancer, offers a high spot in "Farruoa," and the ensemble shows up well in "Canasteros." Hector Del . Villar. Afro-Cuban Singer, pleases mildly with two numbers. For variety. ■ the Three Minnevitch Madcaps give a switch on the Latin tempo of bill with broad comedy and harmonica play- ing. Trio is good for plenty o£ L heaity laughs with antics and tunes. I . Brog. Lionel Hampton and Orch,give out •' I with a solid hour of jive pyroteeh- " I nics that leave the jampacked hep- sters at the Apollo limp but scream- ing for more. The tci p and gag items on the bill arc .nothing hut brief diversionii to let the cuatomGrs come up for air. ' ■ Hampton's aggregation tees off with a frenzied ten-minute numbci; of alternate brass jamming and" rhythm pounding that heats up ti;c house to the: melting point. ■ Terij- perature' stays up throughout with.; the band driving into:"Hamp's"': Boogie" with George Jenkirs show- casing a terrific set of drunis. Hamp- ton reverses the field with a, slQwrr beat vibraphone solo. "Can't Get Started Over You" then switches into the wild "Bugler's Boog'c- Woogie." In this numbei', Hampton deploys a pair of drumsticks in tricky maneuvers with a.bass fidr die and a tympany..: His stomp- ing antics while emceeing get laughs all the way but the stops ai'O let out when he: talks through the double-entendre lyrics, of. "Hey Baba Re 6ob" with* the customers joining into the refrain. Both Madeline Green, singing "Blue" and "Sittin' and Rockin!". and Winnie-Brown, singing "The Man I Love," get noisy receptions from the crowd impat-'ent tor more Hamoton., Hampton rides along by dueting with Miss Brown in a cute novelty "Frim-Fram Sauce" bring- im the house down again. Rimmer sisters, a pair of good- looking tapsters, wor-k hard in a snappy but standard rouWjje . early in the show and bow ofiPto loud whistles. Red and Gurley. male team, in a: versatile display of tcrpmg. gagging, and drumming, register high vvith some help from Hampton. They cater to the crowd's tastes with some ever-popular swi.sh play and recite oft-color limericks which, though off an ancient cob, tickle the Apollo pddicts. Their dance routines are flashy but the smash bit is an uri- testrained drumming scs.sion with Hampton, whom thev jo'ii in thi" finale band number, "Flying Home." S(n«4?, IV. V. Jacfftc Coogan, Jane Keaii, Ben Beri, 3 Rockets, Gaudsmith Bro.s. (2), Doiicina Dito)io.s- (2), Crosby Sisters (2), Ruby Ziwcrliiif/ House Orch; !'Tars and Spars" (Col). State, N. Y., had planned on hold- ing over enlirc bill of previous wei k. but ran into a booking s.nafu that required release of three acts and an addition of four to the current stanza. Holdovers are Jackie Coo- gan, Jane Kcan and Ben Boii. Three Rockets, sepia male dtmce trio, tccoff bin with nifty prccisit n tapstcring and cleatwork t) grub a solid hand. Coogan then takes over' as emcee to bring on tho Crosby Sis- ters for some neat hal;moni!r.iag 11 guitar accomp. interlaqed Avith nifty funstering by one of the gals in the Martha Raye manner, whom she le- senvblos. They open wi h 'Chickoi v Chick," followed by the tunny g.il'h impi'e.sh of Joan Davis on "Ynu Till Her, I Stutter." and w.iid up willi •'Donkey Serenade" to neat re- sponse: Encore with a takeoff Van the Ink Spots' "If I Didn't Care." Gaud- smith Bros, aid the comedy motif, as usual, with their gymnastics anil clownantics wi h a brace ol trained poodles for plenty laughs. Neither Coogan nor Mi.ss Kean has .made any substatitiat changes in their offerings since the previous week. Coogan gags up the introes and spots a couple of talking Kong,s he did last week. Miss Kean is solid again in her song stanza and in team- up bit with Coogan. Beri sells his juggling act for tops. Dancing Duanos. personable ball- roomologists wi'h plenty on the ball, win solid hand in getaway spot. Their trio, of numbers are expertly done and feature some nifty twirls and lifts: Ruby Zwerling pitcrcw provides customary sweU show-backina. Edba. Olynipia, Miami IWiami Beach, Feb, 21. Guy Kibbec, Conuie Haines, Blis- ter West & Co.. Lou Vogle, Alien & Kent. Les Rhode House Orch (13>; "My Reputation" (WB) , Kationa;, L^iillo LotiisuillCi Feb. 22. Cob Callotvaii Orch (17) luitli Dot- tie SmO. ers. Moke St Poke. 3 Poms, Peter Sisters, Jovah Jones. Tyrea Glenn. Milton HilUon; "Shanghai Cobra" (Mono). Twentieth anni bill for this house, though:'not what one: might expect (in names) for such an occasion, still turns-out to be'pleasing. Topliner -is Guy Kibbee, who turns in a nicely routined stint in which he kids himself; tells some Holly- wood stories and projects the grull' personality familiar to picture tans, to garner a heftier hand than is usu- al- with screenites who've played here before. Connie Haines, wlio hails from this town, gets a big re-- ception when she comes on and' turns in a smartl-v blended routine of pops with "Navajo Trail" getting, best response. Buster West and Co., essay some comedy-hoofery to^ draw plenty of laughs. Act is full of those falls and spins which have featured his woi'k and remains as good as ever. Lou Vogle, impressionist, who has worked around the niteries in this area, almost ties up the show with his takeoffs on late FDR, Churchiil, Ink Spots, Morion Downey and Crosby. Allen and Rent open show with standard -tapology, then intro old- timer Lou Casey for sock session of hoofing, to heavy mitting. Les Rhode and house orch over- ture with medley of tunes running back to opening of house, and back- ground show in great fashion. Biz good when caught. Lary: Texai$. Naai Aiaionio * San An onio. Feb. 22.. Te.-c Ritler & While Flush, . Dub "Cannonball" Taylor, Slim Andrewr.. Wesley Tuttle, Pals of the Prairie (3). Phil Marx, Jr., Bill Lister,: J<)e AlHson, Mugene Huqhes. Ernest Hauser. House Orch (12); "Along the Namjo Trail" (Rep), Interstate circuit has booked the cov-iboy star Tex Ritter for a series ' Cab Galloway ha.s talent down to his fingertips, , ahd the gu.y knows talent, too, as evidenced by the .swell crew of bandsmen and specialty acts which make up-his stage show. Band is both sweet and hot, and the Cab has assembled a group with plenty on the ball; Standouts arc "Who Can I Turn To?" spotting Mil- Ion Hinton with hi.s sax, and plenty sweet tones; "Don't Blame Me," aives Tyree' Glenn his opportunity lor mellow trombone tooling. : Maes- tro is complimentary when refer- ring to his seven-piece combo wliioh he called the "Gab Jivers." The boys recently recorded tune "Honey- dripper" gives everybody in the band a chance to cut loose, and with Calloway fronting in his w.k. man- ner, patrons are almost blasted out of their seats, but eat it up, - Three Poms, femme dancers of the jitterbug school, are cute arid strict!. df westernahd hillbilly jamborees ill when it come-s. to the legijiania. its key houses. Its a fast-moving i ^''il-s arc plenty limber-legged and hour of western and hillbilly wham over fast routine to garner music, comedy and novelties that i.s sock hand, attracting heavy patronage. Dottie Saulters, with an expressive Show opens smartly with Ernest voice and chassis, gets results with Hauser and house crew ' playing "Goita Be This Or That," helped a "Deep in the Heart of Texas.' Boys lot by Calloway, who follows with are decked out m cowboy regalia "Dinah," plenty on the jive side. Pals of the. Praine are two girls, comedy team, Moke and Poke, two RegalvCiii CUtcago, Feb. 22. Dtilee JSUingtOTi'Orcli (IS) with Al Hibbler, Joya Sherril, Kay Davis; Chetney St James; Cooke St Brown; "Breakjast in Hollywood" (UA), one with a guitar and the other with a bass violin, and a boy with an ac- cordion who registel' with neat yodcling and back up: the other solo- ists in fine style. Slim Andrews contribs rube com- edy and musical antics as he gives out on a saw, violin and other weird contraption.s, ■ '='vom KT-'A comes Bill Lister, W'<'> does oknv with "My Filiiviim ^Baby." Joe Alison, foreman of the KTSA. program "The Dude Ranch," lads who have Contrasting degrees of energy score with tl>eir mugging, eccentric stepping. More comedyi aLso some good har- mony singing from the Peter Sisters, decidedly, on the hefty side. Gals win the customers on entrance, and hold 'em with their clowning and harmonizing of "Rainy Sunday," "I've Got Rhythm," and a South American samba, i whicli has 'cm )iowIi.tig. A sock act, . Hold. . Dulce Ellington aggregation could carry this layout witli no outside &s- si.stance, as the orch hits every facet of . jazi rhythms for: the south, side audience. . Opener, is "Solid -Old Man" 'arrangement featuring entire trumpet section at the mike; ' Im- mediately following Ellington's opu.s, is "Rugged Romoo' 'spotting Tall Joi- dan and horti in a neat tiirn. . ' ' Cooke and Brown are first of-two acts,! both of which are backing an audience that evidently wai'its the Duke and nothing else. Stint hcic is .comic .soft-shoe,';with added gyra- tions. 'Patter : of . soiigs is :almo.st: completel.y ijsointelligible at times, witli .Straight bracks not much' bet-, tor. Fair, terping - helps. . Ellington unveils his .standard .showpiece to tune of bofio hand when Johnny Hodges altos "Pa.ssion Flower." No question here. Law- rence Brown backs Joya Sherril on "Come to Baby Do" and "The Won- der of You." Trombone man's fines.se is key to fine work in this spot. Music-poll winners Jimmy Hamil- ton, clarinet, and Oscai' Petliford, bas.s, take long solos in "Metronome Ail-Out." F'ollower is Ellington comp, "Transbluescency." with spe- cial voice effects of regal Kay Davis, blending with clarinet and two- trombone tone combo. Might have been a little subtle for' moppets of Washington Birthday crowd, but at- tention was respectful. Femme's en- core is "Yesterdays," formerly an Ellington fave, but. more than slightly commercialized here. Gal plenty okay, however. Al Scat's -docs line tenor solo in "Suburbanite," a concert Jump tune. Second act is acro-tap with comedy standards, but whipped to froth by swift pacing of Chetney and Jamest Guys spliti slide, 'tumble, and tap, all the while balancing a whirling tray on one fingertip. This act a genuine begoilV " Al Hibblov turns out "My Little Brown Book" and "Every Hour on tht Hour," Stylized presentation okay for here. He docs two encores, "Baby. You're My Meat" and "Guess I'm Jiisl a Lucky So-and-So," botli drawing good applause. Guy is bet- ter in this sort of chanty. Finis is torrid "Blue Skies.'" Tomm. i:ai*i<s vunty Philadelphia, Feb. 23, Buddy Rich Orch (18) with Doro- !ln/ Reid: Klttij Kaflen, Don Cinu- i»ii!f/.s', Edward Sisters (2); "5/ie IVoiit to (be Races" (JV/-GI, Tills is the last stage show for at least two weeks for the Eaile (due to bcoking ditHcultics) and the cur- rent bill is beamed heavily toward (he teen-agers. . It's first time here for Buddy Rich's band and although maestro's lonn drum-beating solo ses.sion^ are a little tough on the eardrums of anyone over bobbysox age, the kids eat it up. Rich takes time out of his skin-beating for a solo-vocal stint with "It's About Time" that's okay. Sharing tonliiie honors is Philly's own Kitty Kallen. who started her career on the WCAU. Horn and Har- dart Kiddie Hour;' branched out to singing" with' local and name bands and is now doing a solo. The gal nets plenty of dul^e-pounding from the customers with her renditions of "Blue Skies." a medley of tunes she recorded. "Personality" and encores with "House I Live In." . Don Cummings' stint is a little too much on the slapstick side. The puy is fine as long as be sticks to his uatler, but his takeoff on a television ainiDuncer demonstrating girdles, vodka, etc., doesn't quite jell. Dorothy Reid, Rich's vocalist, ooens the bill to a nice reception with "Might As Well Be Spring," "Let It Snow." "Symphony." Edwards Sisters, a coiinle of flashy spoia hoofers, virtuallv bent themselves to a pulp in trying to plense the pntronsr—and they do. Plentv of standees when reviewed (Friday afternoon). Sluil. rirclo, Inii|ii.<i^ fMdtonapoIi.s', Feb. 23. Rni/ Kiiniej/ Orch, Borrah Miiie- vitch Rascals. Patricia Morison. Mar- tin Bros.: "Behind Green Lights" (20t)v-Foa;). . Ray Kinney's Hawaiians, aided by drawing power of Harmonica Rrs- ca's, is uopinff its gross considerably at the Circle. Patricia Morison, w-ho clicks nicely in solo appearance as vocalist, also rates credit for; an assist. While Kinney's stuff is a little dated in .swing era, his soft,; seduc-t tive music still has plenty of appeal. He also spices his program with some modern arrangements: of cur- rently popular tunes in addition to his songs of the islands, with hula girls gyrating gently in front o" .stand. But the show's best seller is the Harmonica Rascals, wlii(;h reg- ister as great comedy act on strengili of Johnny Puloo's fighting tactics as bantam atom cutting big fellows down to his size when thev push him around. Lads are also solid on har^ monica selections. Mi.ss Morison imprcs.scs with nice voice and plenty of warm cxnre.^sion in her song cycle. The Hollywood lovely sticks to top-drawer romantic tunes, ooening with "If I Loved You" and "Embracoable Y'cu," and finishing in fine dramatic stvle vvith ,a ..slick version of "Begin the Be- guine." Martin brothers add a smart noveltv touch to the show wi'h their line of clever pupoets. Their stuff includes a pair of rhumba dancers, a dancing skeleton in a grotesque number, and a blackface minstrel that talks like Charlie McCarthy and plav.s the piano. Biz good at supper show onening day. , Corbi Bo.?toii, Feb. 22. Gil Lamb. Lois Andrews. Bob Eberly: Renakl & Rudy,: 5 Grays; Ldrni Flint House Orch; -'Cornered" (RKOi. Poor layout for schodlkids oh va- ciish and only ;SO-.sq in any ^situation; House band, pretty good, doe.s opening jnedley and Gil Lamb acts as m.C. for show, kidding the orcli, doing a song and fooling around with douhlo-ontondre, but, nothing, very spectacular and no danciu" a' all. '. Bob Eberly does "Symphonv," ^'Day by Day" and other tunes to click nicely, and Loi.s Andrews like- wise scores but uses some pretty blue songs for such a congregation; even making. "Personality" off-color, Best stufi' is provided bv Rcnald and Rudy, whose balancing act is ))lcnty spectacular, and by Five Grays, whose precision tapjiing. hi'Shland flinging, etc., is ogled hap- pily by the house. Doesn't stack up If) a solid variety show, however, proves only reasonably well lijcod by thd .trade. . ■ " ■ JSlie. Oriental, f;iii Tr . 1,. C/iicoffo, Feb. 21, - Vaughn Monroe OrcJi (16) ti JVprtoii Sisters (4), Solly Sfuan „,;3 Zif/qi/ TaXenX; The GerarZJ 'FrA Saiiborn; "Blithe Spirit" (vA). Vaughn Monroe platter stanrih* ••Let It Snow," featuring maestro anS Norton Sistcri!, opens unit layout fallowed by Andy Bagni in alto soin on "Night and Day." "■° ^*"«> Dance team Gerardos is unique in that numbers steer away tiom ^t-uiri ard ballroom routines and pitch to hMstor.s with swingy arrangements of "Begiii the Beguine" and "Stormy Weather. Beguine number a little too long and orduiary, but fits well with band unit requirements. Sally Stuart sings noveltv "I Don't Wanna Do It Alone" iii wispv voice. Drummer Eddie Julian spots comic -solo next, getting around problem of transporting drums to stage center with clc\er nuiUny against maestro. Monroe is featured in "It Miulit As Well Be Spring" Iclloued "by bobby-sox squealer, "I Can't Begiii to Tell Y'ou." Band tronter has sur» prising appeal for mature crowd which, when added to moppet fans spells hoff. Last of thi.s portion is "Somethhig Sentimental," with Mon- roe and Norton Sisters teaming again. Real vaude vet, Fred Sanborn, has cute comic routine with Jcylophoiie. Echo from unknown .source and wrong noting by baud bring heftv laughs. Little comic dates : himself with. "Chasing Rainbows,,'' "April Showers," and "Harvest Moon," nil done in two-stop style of early '20's, but no one minds. Ziggy Talent is obvious Monroe edition of Tony Pastor but guy is clever in '?Sweet Katinka'' and "Josephina Please No Leana on Da Bell." Latter has audience in stitches all the way. Climax to en- tire show is "Jose Gonzalez," with Talent, Monroe, and the Nortons. O.k. show. Tomvu Cilicago, riii Chicago, Feb. 22. Jack Diiraiit, Arnautt; Susan MiU ler, ,Acro?noTiiaes (3), Lou Br^ese Orch (14), with Gil Marshall; "Doll Face" (20th). Surprise of this show is filler- billed Aoromaniacs act, a real top- per. Guys follow orch opener, "One : O'clock Jump," nicely jumped by ordinarily sweet band; encore by Gil Marshall in "Symphony" okay too^ Three tumblers refuse to stand still, duking up hand-and head-stands with fancj? pyramids, plus i^uick shot, ot surprising jitterbuggifig. Topper is one-armed planclijB • on: revolving pedestal. Blond thrush Susan Miller coarses ilirough "Atchison. Topeka, & Santa Fe'' betore .showing well in "It's • Been a Long. Long Time." Swingy "Comin' Through the Rye" next. Amei-ican Brotherhood Week brings on "The House I Live In." Fair hand. ,'• Arnaut brothers do coniic fiddle act with offstage effects, ending up instrumental portion with a waltz played while dancing together. Next iS' bird romance imitation that is long-drawn and eventually very unfunny. Jack Durant's chatter and cracks are fa.st-moving and show well-done material. Comic eventually brings maestro into act, winding up with imitation 01 Clark Gable. . T07iTin. Ilon'ntfowii,- Detroit Detroit,: Feb. 21. Ina Ray Button Orch, Dancing Sherwoods, Coley Worth, Dorothy Donegan; "The Enchanted Forest" (PRC). Ina , Ray Hiitton and her now all- male orchestra moved into the Downtown theatre with one of tlje weakest collection of supporting acts that has been brought to this house in some time. Mi.ss Hutton has a good outfit, which gives with plenty ot solid swing stuff and her personality is evident in every twist'arid turn., ,,: Band is definitely in the hot cate- gory with "Bouncing Oft' the Moon" as introductory and such groovers as "Air Mail Special," "Friin Fram Sauce" and "Hutton's Boocjie Woogic" along the vvay. Miss Hut- ton gives out vocally in a pleasant way ,wif h "Silfin* arid A,-Ro,ckirt'." , Dorothy Donc.2'an is solid With her piaWistics but should refrain Iroin amateurish efforts to be cute, Coley Worth keeps 'cm happy with his zany antics while the Sherwoods contrib okay terping. Adanici. I\>wari< •■ ■■ ^kewarU, FBh^ 2t: Mary Beth Hxwhcs. . MigueVUo Valdcs, Ateitrt Cmnarcio, Ciro. Riwoc'; Orch (81, Adams Pit Band (H). Benny Rt(bii); "Texas P((nhandle (Col). ' Maize (that's Latln-Amorican 'for corn) is sprouting thickly during th'S; placid session. Tliis carload of South- o(-lhc-bort?cr musickers makes wuh the rhumbas, the sambas and the f<m!:;'s, but, senorcs, oet cos not so bucno, Ciio Rimao brcks the show, corn- bin i/ia his maracca wagglers with: the theatre's pit crew. First per- forrnancf found the lads lookuvi— imsiicco.«.sfully—for the notes. Ihc (Continued on page 02)