Variety (Mar 1946)

58 nOVSK REVIEWS Wednesday, March 6, 1946 Papanioiinl, N. V. Bemijy Goodnion Orcli (16) wit/i hvM Morrow, An Lund, Mel Powell, GooAmim SexteV. Put Bemdny, Johnny jBfwiias; ''Road to VtOina" (Par), rcricifcd t»( Vaiuiitv, Dec. o, •45. Benny Gootimaii, "King of Swing." is back at his old stand on the Para- rnoL'nl stage and demonstrating once again that he has every risht to the title. Kids. ;aren'.t dapciiig;. in tlio aisles this time as they used to do but Goodman's orch is still l?nocluiig them cold with the lino rhythm and melodic worl: that's highli.ahted his band since he first dropped a boat to transform jazz into .swing mnsic. Goodman's come up with two new vocalists in the persons ol Liza jVIor-. row and Art Lund. Latter's a solid show-stopper ..and ; stands, ■ ai . fair chance of becoming the biggest thing in male singers since SinatrS. A handsome six-footer with a huSky physique, Lund has the gal.s gasping even before he gives out with tlic first note. Guy's ^ot a distinctive style, in which he plays around with the mel- odv by .'•-lidmg into the ri"ht key from a slightly off-pitch note. Pos- sessor of a smooth, pleasant voice, he opened lip a little stiflly at the session caught on ' Talk of the Town" but came back to wow them with "I'm Always Ghasing. Rainbows." With plentv of heavy mitting, mostly from the distaff side of the audience, he returns for encores on"Blue Skies" and "Blue Heaven'' and finally has to beg off; Forte seems to be the swingy arrangements of old faves such'as the latter tw-o, in which he can eive full play to his styling. Miss Morrow, who got her show biz stal-t in the Universal h.o. pub- licity staff, is a curvaceous blonde wlio does well with the ballads. She opens with "My Guy's Come. Back" for good return and then gives out with a sock version of "3.vmDhony." Mood of the second number is high- lighted by a blue spot trained on the singer, plus Goodman's excellent elai;inet acconipartiment from a sec- ond mike. , Pat Henning eontribs to the com- edy side of the bill with his usual zany antics and- gags. Some of his jokej! are frayed at the edges but his delivery makes them palatable. Au- dience goes for his "imitations o.i the imitators" routine and his man- ner of telling off-the-record secrets about Goodman and the house man- ager. Johnny Barnes (New Acts) rounds out the single acts. Pianist Mei Powell, only solo mem- ber of the orch, gets in some amaz- ingly fast finger work on a hot ver- sion of "Avaion." Band, with five reed'?, seven brass and four rhytflm, has only the opening and closing shots btit shines in both. Bemaindor of the instrumental work is • m the, highly capable' hands of the Good- man Sextet, composed of Goodman, Powell, Cozy Cole on drums, Barney Steeler on brass. . Mike Bryan on guitar and newcomer Johnny White on vibraharp. Sextet does some good precision playing on ''After You've Gone" and then gives Cole a chance to beat it out on "All the World is Waiting lor the Sunrise," which also featureh some hand-in-hand timing by Good- man and White on tne melody. Group closes with "Oh Baby." in which Goodman sings one chorus and the entire band comes in at the end to echo the sextet on the various solo breaks, Audience was clamoring for more v,'hen the stand began to lower into the pit, Adams, I^cwark Neioart:, Feb. 28. Stan Kenton Orcli. with Gene Hou-'dTd, June ■ Oiristiy; Artie Donn; Fred Lotcern & DorotUy Rtie; Romiee & Myra Sawyer; "The Sliadow Re- turns" (PRC). Christy add much, former being tall fellow With likeable style in "Day by Day" and "Don't Let Me Dream." Tiny, blond Miss Chi-i.sty, fetching in black skirt and ilowei'cd blouse, bulks large in ''Sittin' and a-Rockin''' and "Shoo Fly Pie." Fred Lowery, blind follow, helped on and o(T by partner, Dorothy Rac, has'a lot of enthusiasm and whistling ability. "Whistler and His Dog," "Indian Love Call" and the finale of "William Tell" ovcfture are fiist- rato and get attention even from .iittci'bugs. Tlie Ronncc ard Myra Sawyer act, familiar and funny, !'ot.s usual big hand; Bran, Orsifii'iiiii. ■« A. tos; Angieles, .Mni'cfi 1. Mandrake Magic Unit (lil) icith Cliarliv Neipman, Narda avd Dores. Sheets Cameron; Al Lyons' OrpJieum Orchestra (10); "Hoxc Do You Do'' (PRC) and "Danny Boy" CPRC), , SIbight-o£-hand and illusion: :- as deaU out by Mandrake makes for a good magic show. He is particularly dett on the novvryou-i le-d, now-you- don't routines. - Production illusions come off well. too. although his aides weren't up to the split-second timing required to show them at their best at oai'formance cau.ght. First spot for magician is a clever run-throueh of standard trickery such a.s di-sappearing handkerchiefs and invisible rabbits. Cieation of a Hindu princess segue-i into Narda and . her Doves, a turn that has comely dancer doing her terping with five trained . doves fluttering around. Enchanted Pagoda number has. Mandrake making an aide vanish and rc-apoear from a bo.x pierced with swords. Another vanishing turn is tasked The Atomic Vanish, a sure mystifier.- Best is the B,'ack-is-White my.^tery in which Mandrake makes first an iaide and then himself, vanish, rhaneiiig costume while doing so Audience particiaation is used in hvonotisni turn anc. Chinese puzzle rip" work is outstanding. Charlie Newman, harmonica oliiyei-; is added/ attraction and is out of kilter with the magic. So is Rkoots Cameron and his hoofing as, an over-groWn rabbit. Brog KoitliV, Inilpls. indionapolii!, Marc/i 2. DicJc Cieinori.'! Lionji, Jo/m?ii/ Lad- die & Coi, Pot & WiKo Lc Voio, The Cnrletons, Snyder & Little. 3 Cor- ivins; 'Gold Mine in.the Sky" (Rep). I A dllly from curtain to 'closing,, this caper ranks among the season's high spots, Stan Kenton's, flash, hep . crew and the maestvo's keyboard ''' thumping are a big factor. Add a new clown like Artie Dann and the sum total is a botferino. Dann really is something. New to these part's, this shortv vital ex* Joe has a unit|ue comic style. Ex- cept for a few minutes of mimicking ■ Durante (he is the possessor of an even longer schnozz); Dann gives one tlie startling impressibn d£ look- ing like nobody else. Even his iokes are new, especially. ;:cne gag/telling the audience how it came in to hear Kenton and a.sked it^ collective self, "Who's this guy, Dann?" He puts it , oyer. to6. -aiid draws: yiills of mi: sort usually reserved for the crooning ilk. Darn doesn't sing or dance— he doe.sn't have to. Kentpn, althotigh not the socKoroo type leader :pf the Hampton stripe, is a forceful fellow in bis own idiom. His stuff, like Woody Hormsn's. might be called the newer sort of jive, -.rt's corhfilifcated sfuflT, With plenty of' sharp cbuhterpoint, a rare •tfciuch for strange sounds- among, the trumuets and a rhythm section sec- ond to none. His piano playin'?; is the soarknUig.f nd stiper-dooper it is; Only Old-fashiOned hint i? con- tained 'n n'inibe''s placing sidemen as comiw. These , are not p.s lethal as usual however ard are even rea- sonably bricht. One is "St. Jamps In- firmarv." nlentv clowi-'ed, Theire sonij. "Artjstr.v in Bhvthni." is great. So'ioi.«t<! «hine in "I Got the World on a Strinp." Vocalists Gene Howard and June Whenever other ideas arc lacking, Keith's always can revex-t to its-fa- vorite circus theme and come up with a winner. Second batch of acts thi": season with big top flavor—animal, acrobatic, aerial: and comody turns —-is doing well for curreht, week. Leading novelty is Dick Clemens' lion.s, which catch attention with dis- play of cubs in lobby and hold it for routine of full-grown Leos in clo.sing spot. Clemons has five lions in cage on stage, but only two work at the hoon jumning and similar tncks. Three Corwins open wi'h novel aerial act. The girls. Northwestern University coeds, perform their .soins with their ankles fastened together; chain gang style, to guarantee the customers a demonstration of perfect muscular coordination. It works. Johnny Laddie jan'd his five doss con- tribute nicely to'the comedy side. with a bag of tricks. Other laugh getters are Snyder and Little, tall man and midRot, who break up their line of patter to keep the sjiow moving between acts. Pat and Willa Levolo provide thrills in a slack wire perforrtanoe. ^Wilia's best on the thin strand is a waltz. Pat's a bicycle ride. A father and i soil hand-balancing act, 1 he Carle- tons, shows: to ndvanlage and gels a nice hand. The boy, 7-year-old Kenny Garleton, always comes up with a smile and a perfect hand- stand. Opening biz: was averfir:e. Corb. CapHol, N, Y. Sammy Kaye Orch (17) luitli Betty Barclay, Billy WiUianis, "CImbby" Welcome; Marie JWcDon- nld, Jack Carter, "Sailor Takes a Wi)e" (M'C), reiiietoed in Vahiei'v, Jflli. 2, '46. Sammy Kaye's orchestra, comic Jack Garter, a recent serviceman; and Marie McDonald, whose claim, to fame is best described by the piieu- tlouym "The Body," stage a fair enough show at this house in com-, pally with Metro's, "Sailor Takes a Wife," ; Kayo's band does its usually click job, but it's not aided much by tht; two acts, both of which add iip to medium proportions. Outfit; comr posed of live sax, four trombones, two trumpets, five rhythm, does a sharp job all the way through with the lone exception of an arrange—. moBt of "Caldonia," which by now has been done on all Broadway stages over and over again by nu- I mcrous bands. Kayo starts his show on a neat note with his disked ar- rangement of "Gotta Be This or That," using the Four Kaydets, Num- ber blossoms into good audience gag, sequence when the members of the band kid Kayo about his clarinet playing, etc; This and "Stardu-st'' are the only instrumentals used; the lat- ter turning into a attractive bit built around the use of phosphorescent star-s handled by the musicians. Kaye's remaining contributions in- volve his vocalists and his standard "So You Want to Lead a Band," which adds substantial audience ap- preciation via the leader's clever handling and questioning of contest- ants. As for the vocals, Betty Bar- clay,-a blonde-looker, exhibits a lot of.talent right after the opening with, "Doctor. Lawyer., Indian Chiet" and an original recently disked bv Kaye titled, "I'm a Big Girl Now." It's material,that's strong for stas^o work and it's solidly nut over by Miss Bar- clay. She's a: fine nor former. Later; she works with Billy Williams on "It's Been a Long, Long Time," which also is a bit aged, but serves well as a duo bit.. Williains also solos "At- lanta. Ga," and "Bell- of St. Mary's." backed on the latter by choral: work by the band. , Miss-McDonald prances on mid- way: -She sings, if anyone stop.'; to notice it. "Hubba Hubba" and "Per- sonality.'" In her case the eyes are bigger than the ears and the fact that her singing is simply an excuse for an act means nothing. When caught, however, she turned out an act that 'acked class and was far from good taste. She appeared in a gown: split uo one side as far as her hin, an idea that left /comoaratively, little to the imagination. Too, she went through a "What are we goinc to do later" routine with Kaye. which led into, the song "No Can Do." which was in bad taste. Kaye didn't help it, either, by seeming flustered. Carter'.s routine of gafs and im- personations was adequate, but could stand much improvement. He com- bines fair material_^with apinps oi: Peter Lorre, Maxle Rosenblnom, Barry Fitzcerald, Jimmy Durante, ct al. , He was a big hit with audience; however, and no more could bp aslted ol any pesTformer. Wood. mixed quartet, "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief." Other band eontribs are "Swanee River," stressing muted brass and a nice, solid bass; "King Porter Stomp"; trio of tunes—"Let It Snow," "Shoe Fly Pie" and "Lover, Come Back to Me"—showcasing chirpstress Nancy Reed; and, with the top ap- plause of the whole layout supiilied by bobbysoxers, Frankio Lester's crooning of "Patience and Fortitude," '■There's No One But You," "Em- braccable You," "Blue Heaven" and "Night and Day," The Vendors give him good backgrounding in two of the numbors. Cy Reeves' frozen-phizzed patter registers big too, but most of his material, like Lester's—from "Dark Eyes" punctuated with gasps and the :iazzed-up"Old Man River" wlndupr- have been done here recently. Comedy hoofing and, acro-batios of Wilkoy and Dare, midway, are di- verting, and Rapps & Tapps, mixed sepia tapteam, pet across well, too. Both of tbc latter are dressed in identical men's suits, and the tall .Hnl'.s Lip.'^wecD further adds to the iilu.'-ion th:it the.v're both guys, which doesu't niakc much sense, as she'd look svvell in-a fcmme gctup. Mike. KiiipiiMS San Aiiionio San Antonio, Marcli 2. Farrcu Twins (2) Golden Spur Baud ((i>. Pat.si/'La Roye. Kittxi & Cille. Jack pnuidson; "CaUlornia Gold Rush' (R), Interstate scoi-cs again this week with a low-budget show currently here and skedded for second-run houses on its circuit. It's a well- balanced cowboy jamboree running 30 minutes; The ; Fan-en Twins; Jimmy rnd Eddyc head the group and are heard singing and playing many of the westei n tunes which have become a household word in Texas. Jimmy handles violin while Eddye strums a guitar. Duo has nice harmony and gives out with some neat arrange- mont.s. Standout is "Twin Guitar Special'' ola.ved by duo on one ijuitar. Eddye docs okay- as ni.c. and keens show moving.; Patsy La Roye ; handles accordion with ease and also is heard in sev- eral .song solos. Has nice voice aiid plea.sing pei-.sonality, Kitty and Cille double Ori the miliar-, ard do a tap dance to "Old Couhand" in nice style for a good hand. ,■. Also good IS the groups' limitation of the WSM Grand OI' Oory Satur- dav night shindia with the : Farren twins R viiig with Ida Rod. Out- stand ni: numbers include "Snn An- tonio Rcse." "Oklahoma Hills" and ' Shame. Shame On You." Capacity house when caught. Andy, J. C. Flinn Dies S Continued from page 4 — ToiiW, K. €. Knnsn,s Citjy, Marcli 1. Te.vas Rangers (8), George Goebel, 3 Cyelonians,, Le Rot/ Scott, TotOer Orch (9) toitli Don Tiff, Nell Shel- ton; "Allotment Wiiies" (Mono) and "Sliocfo" (20tli). Tower has neatly-routined and diversified 407minute bill which i.-i okay for entertainment. .Don Tiff and tlieTower orch, with Nell Shelton : handling ,:,-^ocal, lead ofy with "Some Sunday jvlo.rning;" to nice response. George Goebel, guitarist and vocalist, is okay as em000. : , : ■. ■ ■ ■■ The Cyclonian.?, trio of cycle rid- ers; tliek. with a fa.st rouliiie. \ Boy :ail<l Girl work straight, while third .member gets laughs as traffic eop. LoRoy Scott follows with a fire-eat- ing act worked with two blazing torches. On. riexit to Closing. Gooijcl opens with chatter about fronting a band and then goes into combo instru- mental and vocal .specialty. Clo.'-e.s with "Maybe." sung jij the Ink Soot.s manner and then in swing time', to gamer hefty, mitting.; The Texas Rangei-.s, ether oefet which has 9 weekly shot on .Uslioo KMBC here for the CBS net. v.-ird no bill wifh sOn.f'S of the rant^c. Shift from studio to stage apoeai-.s ,to handicap them. LsHt of fiho-.-.'m/jii- .<-h'n keeps act from registerio" n.ore solidly. Earl. dlyuipiaw Miami , Miami, March 1. HaZ LeRoy, Em,{le Boreo, Sylvia Froos, Ken & Rail Paige, Marvin & Ha.3el Case, Rhode Howe Orch (13); "Lost Wecltend" (iPar). Plenty of biz here this week, with "Lost Weekend" and a layout of acts which clicks all the way. Marvin and Hazel Case, high-wire act, open with some slick work on the strand, with male's obstacles jumps s'andout. Hay LcRoy is first of topliners and gets some heavy palm-whacking with his tapology. He's still one of the best. Bit with band skin-bealer is tops. , Sylvia Froos projects neat arrango- ments with "Chloe" and a Calypso number standout of her song stanza. Loolvs nifty and had 'em begging for more; , ■ ■ ' Emile Boreo whams with "Last T'me I Saw Paris," "Wooden Sol diers'', and garners plenty of mitting with "La Marseillaise." Ha.-^n't changed his act much, but he doesn't have to, since it's still soeko. Ken and Roy Paige turn: in neat knockabout :coniedy , act vvyhich amuses, though some of the natter is a bit on the blue side. Hoofing i.-i okay, and pn overall, boys got over Wcely. I..es Rhode and orch handle the musical section in neat fashion. Lary. Oriental, <:iii C/iicaf;o, Feb. 28. Hal Mcln.yre Orch (16) xc'iii Frankie Lester. Nancy Reed, .Johnnn TurnbuU, Sonfi Vendors (i); Cy Reeves, WllUey & Dore, 7?a7j'jj.s- & Tnpps; "Diary of a Chuvibcnnaid'- (UA). Aiidthcf in the Oriental's long siring of votive ollering.s to Clii's oxaltes of swin;', new show i.s heavy o.n the, jive-, side but lightvveigl-it: otherwise. * ■ , Hal .Mclntyre's orch—4 trumpels- 'i,-tffj/tl.boHcsr.'i «axr4 rhythift--gives: it the gun with a )iol "Blue Skies," ff<l!nv/(!d hy saxi.st Johnny Tut'n- biiU'i; vofiilizlng of "Personality'' and then, v/ilh the Song Vendors, Corp. of California, v.p, and director of Cinema Corp. of America and a director of Cecil B, deMille Pictures Corp. In 1927, he became associated with Pathe Exchange, Inc,, as vice- president; Flinn was also veepcc and general manager of Producing Distributing Corp. After holding post as executive secretary of the motion picture code of the NRA; in 193,1, he joined VARiEiy. Flinn was involved in a long liti- gation that ended in 1932 when he and a Pathe a.ssociafe, Henry F. Lalley, were acquitted by the N. Y. Court of Appeals ef manslaughter charges gro-wing out of a fire that took the lives of 10 persons in 1929 at the Pathe studios in New York. Flinn was v.p. of the firm at the time, Each wa.s fined $500, however, for violating a city fire ordinance in havijig excess amounts of film on the premises. Flinn was a member of the Cinema Club, N, Y. Athletic Club, Newspaper Club of N. Y. and the Association o£ Motion Picture Ad- vei-tiscrs. he was president of the latter in 1923 and 1933. Surviving are his widow, the for- mer Courtney Luella Ames, whom: he married in 1911; a son, John C„ Jr., and a daughter, Mr.s, Alfred Fjshoi-. At the time of his death Flinn had made his home in Beverly Hills, but had come east for hos- pitalization. Services were held yesterday (Tues.)- at Campbell's, with inter-- mcnl in Evanston, 111,, his birthplace,; SIMPP Alfo Loses No.ves Hollywood, March 5. Coincidontally with death of John C. Flinn in Now York, Society of Independent Motion Picture Pro- duccis lost another exec by resigna- tion of vice-proi-ident David M Noyes. He hud boon with the Society since last Jtnie, when he came here ti-om Wa.shirigloii to servo as 15rcxv Dwald M, Nelson's press advisor ' Before joining the Sociotv Noves was consultant and porsoiia'l repre- scnlalive of President Franklin D, KooscvcU and still maintains his con- nections with the White House. Stale, N. V. John Boles, Bonnie Baker Lea Trent, Bobby Pi ulcus & Ruth Foster Merebcth Olds, 3 iSti'i/ts; "5(orfc' CJub" (Por). "'"^'^ Tw'o singing headliners, John Boles and Bonnie Baker, give the State bill its boxoffice strength with the rest of the talent prpvidine mixed moments of entertairitncnt. Of major interest of surroundinir session is ,Lee Trent (New Acts) n •likable newcomer whose only liabit. ity is his weak material, but he has an ingratiating dcliver.y and strikina looks. Other newcomer on the lav- out is Merebcth Okls (New Acts-) a' talented contortionist. • , Boles,; of courso, hasn't his old- time vocal power and he occasion- ally h.ts a clinker, but anytliipi; he otters is rcacMly gl.-ibbed up by the mob with the result that he does a deserved encore and a few bows' His Kern medley continues the major portion of his act. The nur.>.cry-v(iiced :\Iiss Baker at show caught took the deuce spot be- cause of the necessity of making a broadcast, which had the elTect of adding strength to the earlier por- tion of the bill. She hasn't added much to her repertoire and "Oh Johnny" still con.stitutes her top con.! tnbution for appreciable results. Bobby Pinkus. a recent dischargee fi-om the Army, assisted bv Ruth Foster, in a screwball comic" of the anything-for-a-laugh school. He works hard, biit results are not equal to the cfiort involved. His snake charmer bit. however, comes off well. Miss Foster does little more than,a few .grinds. . ' Bill is cbmoleted by the Three Swifts, who haven't' changed their .lufigliiig act since they've been play, ing Slcni houses. Jose. IIKO. Ilostnn Boston, March I. Giro Rimac Band ^cith Charlie Boy, Mcchita & Giro, Alzira Camargo. Migxtelito Valdes, ■ Whitson Bros' Johnny Morgan; "Dollface" (20t;i). Latin-American show proves color- ful, lively, well-routined and clicks from outset with the customers. Starts big with plenty o( bounce in the Ciro Rimac rlnimba band's rhythms and ,>--ets pace for lineup of talent headed by Rimac hiixiSelf, whose m.c.-ing in cnte accent plus his agility puts him over big. Charlie Boy, Mcchita and Giro wow with sambas, rhumbas and other South American rhythms, following up with a .sizzler of a jungle dance starring Dorita for a beg oil. Vocals are handled by Alzira Ca- ttiargo, who docs Brazilian songs, and by. Miguelito Valdes, who scores with "BambaUi," "Good, Good, Good" and a ,flqck of jabberwoekios in the Miranda vein, the whole proving plenty satisfying to the audience, which was big at the opener. On'change of pace frcm the Latin- American flavor, the Whitson broth- ers wow with their comic acrobatics, and Johnny Morgan, radio comic, parodies horse operas and radio com- mercial!?, and makes the old routine of spinning: a yarn based on snatches of pop song titles a novelty. His material is socko, and he brings just the right touch to smash in personal appearance. Judging by reception here; he's one of the best comics to hit this stage in some time. Whol^ show, actually, is geared liich for entertainment value. lEliei--' Clrt'lo, Inil|lls. Ivd'ianapolts, March 1. Harry Cool Orch unth Jeanne Shirley,. Gil Lavib, Peggy Ryan, Jimmy Dell; "Allotment Wives" (iWono). The Circle is drawing plenty of attention this week with' a Stage show Uiat .slack.s up as one of the best of the season. Harry Cool, Peggy Ryan and Gil Lamb arc uroving a- potent boxofl'ice combination. Cool is new here as band leader but his voice is known and impresses nicely. While the band hasn't quite jelled yijt, it pi'oyide.s the right„backgrbuhd for Cool's voice, has plenty of youth aiid. talent.arid should deyelop; ':;; Lamb'.s versatile eccentric comedy style is the main bell ringer. Even his clothes arc cut to get laughs, and do. Lamb heckles Cool, rides band, eats a cigarette, siiig.s ahd lops; it,, a,ll,.wilh a zoiil ,si,iit jiUei'bua roiltine. that, letches plonly of cliMokles; . _ Pc,';gy Ryan releases lots of energy , .ill a. sOiig ;afid .dance rOuiine, iiti-., .pressing a:s a youhger brunelic vqr-■; ■Sioii Of Betty Htitton. SJic cracks-a' few gaa.s. sinys "I'ni Just a Square in a Social Circle." and fliii.gs her limb-S around recklessly in a "vigorous bit of jittcrbugging, ' Cool's romantic warbling o! "Paper- Moon," "I Can'l BoKin to Toll You. "Symijhony" and "It H.'id to Be Ytu rates big reaction from the younger set. Band's vocalist. Je:'nhe Sliirley, also is heard to ad\-anta';e in "Put That Ping On Mv Finger." "No Can t^a" and "Mv Guy'n Come Back.'' Jimmy DeU, tronibnnisl. scores v/ith vocal of "Honey Dipocr." Band is not on its own much but gets a nice hand for its medley of "Sleepytime Gal," "Smoke Get.'-- in Your F.vcs . and "Melancholy Baby." Corb.