Variety (May 1946)

54 VAUDEVILLE P4SSIETT Wednesday, May 29, 194$ Ted Lewis' Boff Riviera Preem Proves Need for 'Casting' Nitery Customers By ABEL GREEN Say what you will about Sherman (Stork Club) Blllingsley's Enid (Okla.) yen for what he calls "nice people," and Jack & Charlie's pseudo-snobbishness at their 21 Club — that opening night turn- out at Bill Miller's Riviera almost squares everything. If the so-called class joints have erred in catering to phonies and decorative layoffs at the expense of perhaps unknown substantial people, this is almost to be preferred to what happened at this Jersey roadhouse last Thursday.. For one thing it proved that every- body seems to have 10 bucks—plus. The premiere tariff for the Ted Lewis date was $10 a head—act- ually $12 with the basic minimum 20% extra, not counting the other extras—and it certainly evidenced that the barometer is no longer on the economic basis. A brash, black- eteer-type audience, suspiciously of the same calibre which gave Miami Beach such a black eye this winter, turned out in all its vulgar finery. And everything happened, including BILLY RAYES 91st Consecutive Week AS Master of Ceremonies Earl Carroll's Sketchbook Earl Carroll Theatre — Hollywood — Met: MCA ARTISTS PAUL REGAN COMIC-SATIRIST Management: M.CJi. $100 AND UP PER WEEK! 3«lllni •\mrm tlo:ki. irktt knlvet. Ink*. glevfli. overt. 111, thlrti, irugt^ unit try tMdi. carded indie., nut* supplies. Hundred* tt other ttarr* itami tt FACTORY PRICES. 9*nd 3e stamp far bit Raw eatalof* MID-SOUTH SUPPLY CO. 219 E. Markhlm Llttli RKk. Ark. 910 W. Brut) Tenrkau. TM. a switch on that oldie about the drunk who thought the rostrum was the gents room. In this case a fernmc literally got into Ted Lewis' act, by walking across the stage in search of the powder room, and it was a tragic moment indeed for the time- honored high-hatted tragedian of jazz. If the turnout in numbers.bespoke anything for Lewis' draw the vet jazzist was paid off in spades, No disputing his draw. But like the old wheeze—is money everything? Un- questionably it is to the new boni- face, Bill Miller, whose initials fit the previous incumbent, Ben Mar- den, who still owns this Riviera-like inn. Miller's is a rental arrangement. But if there looms any sort of stand- ard as a determining factor, no ques- tion but that the new lessee and his syndicate, mait're d', Marcel, and the rest, will have to start casting the customers. So far as 70% of the premiere audience was concerned the show was a secret. Seemingly it was more im- portant to parade glad rags, furs and jewels, and yoo-hoo at one an- other. Hence it is all the more a tribute to Lewis and his show that the unit created' any impact. And that it did, too. as Lewis and his "shadow," in this case Paul White (in lieu of Snowball Whitticr), did the now classic "Me and My Shadow." The Stanton Sisters with their acrobatics; the zingy drum; majorette Audrey Zinn with her amazing twirls and whirls; the vocal- izing Reid Sisters (3); Nancy Belle Diamond's taps, Geraldine Dubois' vocalistics'and Elroy Peace, another tiptop colored terper, round out a good support, whose accent is the sight appeal.. With the chirpers the mike does yeoman service in giving them a much needed assist to eclipse the unruly crowd. Of course, amidst the tuimoil, noise and general inattention, what comes through in telling manner is the authority of a seasoned troup- er like Lewis, he of the. battered top hat. trilling clarinet and limber legs as he «ives a 1946 fillip to the technique which, for more than a quarter-of-a-century, has won him acclaim for the tiptop showman that he is. You see the Lewises, Jcssels and Berles of today and it's little wonder that the microphonic up- starts must concede they have yet to take showmanship lessons. The new boss-man, Miller, who has suddenly come into his own with the Frenchy Charles Trenet at his mid- town Manhattan Embassy, and is parlaying himself into a double- header winner with the lammister from Circleville, O., yclept Mon- soor Ted Lewis, looks set for the summer. Lewis is in for only a lim- ited stay (due shortly into the Latin Quarter on Broadway) but very def- initely he has given Miller's reopen- ing of the Riviera a gilt-edged im- petus. The spot has been shuttered since '42 because of gas-rationing^ Waldorf and St. Regis Roofs Segueing from this Palisades road- house back to Gotham, the summer season is officially harbingered with the opening of the two top roof res- taurants of the town—the Waldorf- Astoria's Starlight Roof and the Ho- tel St. Regis' Viennese Roof. Xavier Cugat who, not so long ago, was a y. IflOACUS LOEW BOOKING AGE NCY ottttKAL ixtcunvt ornces LOEW BUILDING ANNEX ; 140 W. 44* »., N. V.C • MyaM 9-7*00 iLL' 1 *"«•«. relief band at the Waldorf, not only is garnering a fancy $8,500 guarantee but eclipsed his percentage break th» first week with what is unques- tionably the No. 1 congarhumba dans- apatlon. Svelte, sleek and South American, Cugie and his 30-pJece combo (vocally featuring Dulcina and Jose Monero) are worth anybody's $2 couvcrt. This is one of the few N. Y. spots getting a cover, but worth it. Mischa Borr, per usual, is a fine alternate. The St. Regis, like "Old Man Riv- er" and the affable maitre d' Jean, goes rolling along with its Josef Ur- banesque decor (seasonally done over) as the prime appeal. Here, truly, is an environment which, without phoney pretentiousness of exclusivity gets genuine class clien- tele. And all it offers is fine service, aivAunusually fine wine cellar and kitchen, and two effective bands in Paul Sparr's major combo, featuring the pcrsonably blonde Peggy Nor- man as featured vocalist, and Theo- dora Brooks and her smaller Latin combo. Miss Brooks, like her famed predecessor, Ethel Smith, presides at the Hammond . organ, and between both bands the customers get a mar- athon of solid dansapation. .lack Lyneh's. Phila. (HOTEL * WALTON ROOF) Philadelphia. May 24. Henny Yoiiiiffinnii. CaTt Ravazza, Bob Diioii, Paul Dufce, Elaine Jar- roio, Eddie DeLiica Orch (8); no cover or m in. Henny Youngman—thanks to a wad of new material—is really ring- ing the laugh gong during his cur- rent engagement at Lynch's Walton Roof. The comic gives out with some fresh and punchy stuff which keeps the customers guffawing^ His timing also seems sharper. He's in the closing spot, which gives him the opportunity of delivering his stuff with a punch, rather than .try- ing to spread it out over a long period as master-of-cercmonies. a chore he essayed in previous nitery engagements in this town. Seen for the first time in Philly is Carl Ravazza and the guy has caught the fancy of the customers. Loaded with personality, Ravazza clicks solidly with his renditions of novelty tunes like "Her Bathing Suit Never Got Wet." "Always Marry a Woman Uglier Than You." as well as romantic ballads — "Prisoner of Love." "Might As Well Be Spring" among others. Paul Duke, familiar to Walton Roof- ers, returns with his smooth and mystifying magic act in which he pulls cigarettes, cigars and meer- schaum pipes out of the air. Elaine Jarrow, a sexy-looking terper, combines acrobatics with taps. Bob Dixon, personable m.c, docs an adequate job of tying the show together as well as contribut- ing a couple of vocal numbers. Eddie DeLuca's music, as usual, up to its high standard in accom- panying show and dancing. House almost capacity-filled when reviewed, despite rail strike. Shal. Itlo Cabana, f hi Chicago, May 24. Jan Murray, George & Gene Ber- nard, Manor & Mignon, Rio Cabana Lovelies, (8), with Ellen Terry, Don Bradfield; Cee Davidson Orch (9), Rio Rhumba Bond (5); $3.50 mini- mum. Rail strike notwithstanding, Rio Cabana was jammed with natives and the visiting firemen caught be- tween common carriers at the Jan Murray-George and Gene Bernard opener. AGVA-ites beat their brains out as a result, as who wouldn't with that w.k. 20th Century-Fox tycoon, George Jessel, at the ringside?. Murray and the Bernards divide comedy honors, former killing 'em with his cutting adlibs, the "Joe Louis vs. Punchy Schlemiel" stuff, "Dr. John's Other Knife," loony-bin guest who painted, the grass green, and "Laugh, Clown, Laugh." Off loudly, after a heartfelt tribute to Cee Davidson and "his grand aggra- vation of musicians." Chicagdans pondering the manner in which celebs react to biting satires of themselves were treated to the spectacle of The Voice rolling in the aisle as a result of George Bernard's takeoff on a swooner in need of digi- talis. The pair, who intro. themselves as "satirists of the satirists of sing- ers," tecoff in Andrews Sisters pina- fores with "Three Little Sisters" and. don't have time for changes through the Crosby-Martin "Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellies," Andrews trio, again, doing "Massachusetts," Betty Hutton's "Stuff Like That There;" and Sinatra's "Sunday, Monday or Always." Act gets additional punch via let- ting the records get ahead of them, a la Irwin Corey, another Blue Angel, N. Y., fave. Wind up with "Para- mount Newsreel," and off a solid'hit. Manor & Mignon, making their Chi debut, are a svelte, cleancut ballroom duo who tag* some routine turns in their first stint with a shoulder-to- shoulder spin that pleases. Gal, a blonde looker, holds the eye through a tango, one-step to "Who?" and cavprtings to "I've Told Every Little (Continued on page 50) Dario Dicker to Dispose of His Half Of N. Y. Martinique Falls Through Dixie Hotel, N. Yv, Shifts Policy to Acts Plus Bands Dixie hotel, N. Y., went into an act and band policy as switchover from the straight comedy-orchestra policy. New idea started yesterday (Tuesday) with Larry Funt's band and Lou Seiler. Hattie Althoff will book the spot. City to Gose Cafes For Fire Hazards Youngstown, O., May 28. City Fathers have been asked to give Fire Chief Clarence V. Thomas authority to padlock night clubs, taverns, theatres and other public buildings which fail to comply fully with all fire regulations, following an airing of Are conditions in the city by. Council. Move is result of a blaze which destroyed the Man- hattan Room of the Hotel Pick-Ohio early in the morning. May 12. Three days after the fire, said to have been caused by a cigaret; Chief Thomas closed the Rayen-Wood Au- ditorium, sports and entertainment spot, and last Friday (17) he closed the Heidelberg Carders, frame res- taurant building in Idora Park, with a seating capacity of 500. Latter was condemned as a fire hazard. Audi- torium will remain closed until sufficient exits are built. Chief Thomas said he had no au- thority, to order immediate correc- tion of fire hazards, and his depart- ment was without power to close public places in which fire hazards exist. "Wc can't go into a night club, theatre, or bar and close it if we find a violation." he said. "As it now stands, we must serve notice oh the owners and bring them into court." Such action was taken in the two places ordered shut down. Thomas intends by his current in- spection campaign to obtain ade- quate fire escape facilities and the removal of inflammable hangings in public places. Pick-Ohio blaze was fed by heavy draperies throughout the cocktail lounge, and only be- cause the hotel building itself was highly fireproof was a disaster avert- ed, the fire chief said. Dario, who in conjunction with Jimmy Vernon, operates La Marti- nique, N. Y., has thrown his half of the nitery on the block. Deal was on last .week between Dario and Frank Caspar, operator of the KuhgshoUn restaurant, for sale of .his end. Dick er, however, fell through, because of price differences, Dario originally asked $250,000 and subsequently dropped to $225000 while all that Caspar would go was $175,000. Only arrangement discussed was cash. Frank Law, N. Y. press- agent, brought both parties together. Dario, during negotiations, con- sidered going into partnership with Barney Winkel, who expects to open the Cosmopolitan restaurant, N, Y in about two weeks, Club is located on the site of the defunct 800 Club. However, Dario, walked out of the deal not wanting to be In competi- tion with himself. Thomas Folds Torch Club Torch Club, .Youngstown night spot where as many as 350 patrons crdwd into a "two-by-four" brick building with barred windows, was declared a fire hazard by. Chief Thomas. He ordered John Cherol, operator, to correct conditions by June 15. Thomas discovered that inflamma- ble materials covering walls and exit doors in the rear portion of the building make the club virtu- ally a firetrap. Previously, the chief inspected the Tropic Club, Club Lido, Mickey's Bar, and the Shamrock, but found no violations of city fire regulations. COMEDY PATTER Per All ■roKhot of Thcatrlcoh Fun-Master Gag Files Not. 1 Thru 13 at $1.05 lack 13 Dlfforoir Scrlptt for $13.00 A "MUST" fOR MOUNTAIN AND Ml OTMflt JtfSOKr INTtltTAINUS Not. 14 Tbra 20 READY SOON! (0« Prepaid Arfvaaeo Ordor ONLY) Id preparation: "Fun-Miiittcr Hook of IllmkouU. Skit■ & lilt.," B l» "Fu- Mailrr Hnmor-dnr for Kmrrcfl." $2.00 Dopoilt oa C.O.D. Oram FOR ALL MATERIAL PAULA SMITH *00 W. Mth Nlrrrt N>w York I'll)' !•> N- *• W ALLY BOAG Currently WILLIAM PENN HOTEL PITTSIURSjH. pa v MaMtMMl: MARK J. LEDDY Special Material Custom Made FOR SINGERS NORINS-GOLDMAN •ok 102, Hatottr*. L I.. N. Y. JOE JACKSON JR. CURRENTLY RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL NEW YORK . MaBaiemont LAWRENCE AOLDEN, INC. 74S Fifth Av*v Now York 22 LEE TRENT "To//, Dark and Funsome" Just Clotvd OLYMPIA, Miami. Florida Opening May 30th Hippodrome, Baltimore MoBuqomoirt:—LEO COHEN Thoaat to JIMMY SCHURE