Variety (Jul 1946)

Wednesday, July 24, 1946 HOUSE REVIEWS 57 Rexy, N. Y. Chico Marx. Jane Pickens, Debon- • ir j ,5), Harold Barnes. John Guelis, Jess Renna. Varsity 8, Roxyettes, Paul Ash House Orch; "Centennial Summer" i20th), Teoieuied in 'VJHiwvM'ii1/i» 1 , «. Well-blended mixture of music, terDing and comedy makes the bill here Hi is scsh a pleasant enough midsummer divertissement, but one tlial has nothing the customers will ■<o mil and talk about. Standard house ads show the usual top- drawer staging of Gae Foster but the headliners—and Chico Marx in navicular — look as though they made up their routines driving Over to the Roxy in a taxi. • . • Roxyel,tes and the Varsity Eight start the proceedings on a nautical theme with a hicdly-prcsented pro- duction number . built around the old sea chanties. Number provides solo spotlight for John Guelis, danc- er, and comic Jess Renna. Guelis demonstrates some eye - catching leaps' and turns in his ballet routine but ■ features nothing spectacular. Renna gets only a very short turn and, from the mitting, could have done more. Attired in a burlesqued version of an admiral's uniform, he drives onto the stage in a midget auto, goes through a gagged-up magic trick with his pooch and then runs off. Gaod act and gets good returns.. Debonairs take over next, with a clever precision terping routine that continues' the nautical note. Dancers, representing four sailors and their C.P.O., tap .'Ut ; the dialog as the chief puts his men through a close-order drill. Nice comedy note is added by one of the sailors doing a sad sack misfit. Harold Barnes . duplicates the tight-rope success he established before joining. the' Coast Guard three years ago with spec- tacular dancing on' the wire. Gets plenty of applause as he jumps over a walking stick, skips rope, etc., and bows off nicely with a well-executed double back flip on the wire. Jane Pickens again- demonstrates that she has the stuff to sell in a large house, same as. in the intimate niteries, her usual stamping grounds. Her contralto sounds nice as ever on "Full Moon and Empty Arms." from which she segues into the old mirr ror trick, playing the reflected spot- light beam around the audience while giving out with little side remarks that draw plenty laughs. She winds up with a jive version of. "Dixie," featuring pianistics in ad- dition to her pipes. Marx does well with his ,zany piano work but his act disappoints-, probably because there's none of the comedy associated with him and his two brothers. He tries hard to pull off some gags but most of them fall flat.. He's dressed in his Italian'cos- tume and, naturally, plugs his ac- cent all the way. Teeing off with his standard "Beer Barrel Polka." he devotes the rest of the time he's on to kidding with 'the band.. Violinist he brings down from the orch to do an assist on "Gypsy Love Call" steals his thun- der. . Marx doubles with the band pianist on a burlesqued version 6f the 'Mexican Hat Song," with the two of them running around, the stool as they switch parts. ' Paul Ash's house orch is on the stage this sesh and the maestro does a nice job ofemceeing, as well as backing up the acts. Marx and Miss Pickens lead the audience in the usual group singing before the final curtain. SRO when caught U7) SMI. Tower, K. Kansas City, July 19. Atlas Trio, Schloss & Matheuw, Eddy Kozak, Billee Byers, Jacque- line Foley, Totuer Orch (9) toith Don Tiff and Beverly Cassady; Wild Bill Elliott; "In Old Sacramento" (Rep) and "Throto a Saddle on a Star" (Col). to the boxoffice and got a wow re- ception from 'the kids. He.just told them about making the picture, about how good it is to be back in the hometown,.answered a few ques- tions, and they swamped him after each show for. autographs. His ap- pearances here was on crutches: due to a fractured leg. Quin. Apollo. \. V. Loitis Jordan's Tympany 5 (7). Hot Lips Page orch (13), Mitchell & Gib- son, Orlando Roberson; Charles Ri-. ano, Spider Bruce, Vigal & Taylor, Line (4); "The Cat Creeps" At/).. The Apollo looks set for another bdff week with parlay of Louis Jor- dan's Tympany Five and Hot Lips Page's orch destined to keep the wickets turning merrily at this Har- lem vaudery. Despite, sultry weath- er, and lack of air-conditioning, the brace of topliners stood 'em up six deep on all floors opening day (19). Jordan and. crew, comprising four rhythm, two saxes and trumpet, steal the show in closing spot with the same torrid numbers and vocals that made them a standout else- where in vauders and via their re- cordings. Jordan fronts, handles vo- cals and injects comedy at a lively pace throughout. Teeing off with "Salt Pork,"' he and band follow with "Sadie," '"Beware" and "Cal- donia" to bring down the house. Solid all the' way.. . Page and band also give good ac- count of themselves with sizzling numbers as well as doing a neat job of backing other acts. This one con- sists of three rhythm, five reeds and five brasses, in addition to Page's own licks on the trumpet. They teeoff with sizzlling iammer, "Let's Go," and Between other specialties spot "Joshua" and "Sheik of Araby," snbtlighting maestro on trumpet ana vocal for solid applause. . Sandwiched between band num- bers are Mitchell' and Gibson; male team that clicks with comedy an- tics and eccentric acrb hoofing; Or- lando Roberson, personable, .bari- tone who registers with "The Gyp- sy" and: "Marie"; and Charles Riano, only ofay act on bill, who contrib- utes a nifty juggling routine for ap- preciation. Spider Bruce. Vigal and Taylor grab plenty of laughs with their comedy skit, a throwback from burlesque. Both bands combine in finale, flanked by quartet of gal dancers, for a torrid finish. Edba. State. N. V. Jerry Wayne, Carter It Moreland, 5 Willys, jack £. Leoanrd, Virginia Austin, Billy Wells & 4 Fays, Ruby Zwerling House Orch; "Tiuo Sisters from Boston" iM-G). with the Clooney Sisters on "Love on a Greyhound But." The Clooneys turn on surprisingly big voices for their size in warbling "Hallelujah" and "Patty Cake" to general satis- faction. Henry Riggs, drummer, beats a solid rhythm in his version . „. . L „ ... , of "Paradiddle Joe." Current State bill isn t one of the _ . r ,,„„. „,i,««.' v,un house's best inasmuch as the layout th B ^„5 V ^f h m ic IS g /£« £ L„ has difficulty in maintaining pace 1 the show w,ln h,s smart line of ven " wilh uneven . tenor of acts even triloquist tricks, including amusing Mlllloa Hollar, ■„ A. Los Angeles, July 20. Joe Ligglnt lc Honeydrippers (5), international Sweethearts of Rhyilim (17) with Jimmy Lewis. Vi .Burn- side, Coleen. Ray, Pauline Brady, Mildred Mcluer, Wonderful Smith; "Avalanche" (PRC). Teeoff of. Joe :Liggins and the Honeydrippers' at this vaudftlm spot though the half-dozen turns contain sufficient variety. Majority of the performers at show caught worked like the terrific heat caught up with them, consequently the lackadaisical tempo of proceedings.. In the headline department, Carter material as well as sharp technique . shapes up to a sharp bill , for music with the voice. Dolly Dawn is well received and registers best in her novelty and jump tunes,-'including "Sunny Side of the Street," "They Say It's Wonderful" and "Doin' What Comes Naturally." Charles and Moreland toeether with Jerrv i" Di "J" Smith clicks in a series of . .. W?yne hold ud thet^Sd idmirablv imperspnatiohs -of- film stars with ! "Tanya," "Caravan." "I've Got. a Th^ Newo JHm corned ans st U use t hom he has worked ' '"eluding I Right to Cry" and "The Honeydrip- A." e ^5l%il Im ii?J!!!S , . a . l ! s ' „J!."!? 1 Jimmy Stewart. Lionel Barrymore ! pcrs." All please mightily. Combi- fans. Further musical emphasis to the bill comes from '"International Sweethearts of Rhythm," a topnotch. all-fame combo that beats out solid tunes. Honeydrippers are on in closing spet with "The Drippers Boogie,' and James Cagney. Biz okay. Corb. Radio tMy. Mpls. Minneapolis, July 20. Phil Spitahiy'i. "Hour of Charm" the familiar incomplete sentence routine, plus song and dance- work, but make the mistake of remaining on too long. Could have used sharp editing of their work at show caught. Wayne's chirping shows consider- able savvy in tune selection and delivery. With a parlay including "Blue Skies" ;and "They Say It's Wonderful" . hfr could have stayed on to do a second encore. Rest of the .layout has some mo- ments: with a strong, opener held down by the Five Willys with a It's seven years since Phil Spital- good juggling exhibit of clubs and' n y's "Hour of Charm" last played hoops, with a few balancing ses- " .. . 1 — sions . added. Billy Wells and the Four Fays, at the tail end of the show, similarly get across .with their usual assortment of clowning and tumbling plus the rubber torso work of one of the femmes. Pace isn't held up in the deuce spot with Virginia Austin's puppets. nation, with Liggins at piano, fea- tures two potent saxaphones, drums, guitar and bass. . All-girl crew opens show with "Don't Get it Twisted" then spot- light is turned over to various side members. Mildred Mclver sings Orch (32) with Evelyn, Frances ! "Day by Day" and "Mr. Postman Jeanie and Comedy Trio, Jonn Lor- Blues." Pauline. Brady sells "Drum raine; "Our Hearts Were Growing Sticks" as a. skin-beating specialty. Up" (.Par). M^^A^'fJ- ?V m \ , manip "J ! Charm" is tops in its field. The. type T Sls , h r ,u d0 ^ w,tl 3 of better grade music and song in Coleen Ray, guitarist,, vocals "Temp- tation" and Vi Burnside, sax, does , snappy noodling chore on "After You've Gone" and "I Cover the here How the all-girl choral or- Waterfront." Jimmy Lewis, guitar- chestra has skyrocketed in prestige 'st-vocalist wraps up good selling and popularity here in absentia • of I Ain t Mad at You and then was amply demonstrated. On a hot J works with crch.cn "The Thing/' midsummer day it filled this 4.000-| ™ n 5 w fronted by Ann Mae Win^, seat theatre to capacity at first stage, show, (19). For class and popular, appeal., there's no question that "Hour 6f personality, appeal of the turn at this show was limited. Seemed to overstress the cuteness of the act to the extreme and walked off to a fairish hand, despite her. excellent Anale of manipulation of three pup- pets. Jack E. Leonard, completing the bill, is tinder New Acts. Jose: Cbieago, Chi Chicago, July 19. Charioteers (4), Fred & Elaine Barry, Nip Nelson, Ben Beri, Lou Breese Orch (18), urith Joe Masek & Earl Gaines; "O. S. S." (Par). Olympia, Miami Miami, July 19. Pro/. Konyot & Howe, Diana Berry, Jimmy Leeds, Jack DeLeon, Raye & Pedro, Les Rhode House Orch (13); "Without Reservations" (RKO). Famed on both coasts but com- paratively new to Chi audiences, the Charioteers top new bill at the Chi- cago theatre. If enthusiastic Friday It's an offish layout at the Tower this week. Best of acts are the Atlas Trio and Eddy Kozak. The trio of two men and a gal score in neat balancing and acrobatics. _For a youngster on the marimba, Kozak's offering is smooth. His pounding dut of the "Second Hun- garian Rhapsody" and 'Tico Tico" are first rate, and the lad adds much with personality. Billee Byers' vocalling is some- what lacking. Her medley of old songs and "Wailing for the Robert E. Lee" get across fairly well, but a novelty number and "Curse of an Aching Heart" come up short. .Jac- queline Foley, amateur selection. Current layout here a spotty one, with little in way of marquee lure. Odd booking brought in Prof. Konyot ■ and his educated horse as topliners, along with type pic hot designed, to attract juve trade which would go for the act. Overall re- action to Konyot's stint was apa- thetic at best, with nothing out- standing to pull it through. . Jimmy Leeds, personable lad emcees pleasantly enough but in own spot had to work hard to get house. Offers tricks on yo-yo's while purveying a series of worn gags. Stint picks up when he gets into harmonicaing. Long, lean Diana Barry, Charlotte Greenwoodish looking tapster clicks with her groovy hoofing and comedy. Looks a good bet for intimate niter- ies. some. of ad-libs getting yocks from down-frontcrs who could hear her. . Mimic Jack DeLeon contribs take- offs on pic celebs, among them Cag- ney. Lorrc. Grecrtstreet and Colman Gets healthiest milting of the ses- sion. Raye & Pedro open with comedy balancing for fair hand. Les Rhode and house, orch back show smoothly. Biz fair when caught. Lary. Capitol, Wash. Washington. July 18. Al Gordon. 4 Euans. Ralph Danilo, Herman Hyde uiith Roberta Light, "Centennial Summer" (20th), Capitol accompanies second week of feature with a decidedly second rate show. With run of mill acts, show gets . o n 1 y mild response throughout. Best of layout is the Four Evans dance group composed of seniors ., v 4 . v .„. .„„««„.- -»«.,««.«., and juniors pf;the family. Held over has a mrtoprtoZftexFlFZuZ from last week R^oup clicks again ■ 'in a lively,.skillful hoofing act. Opening number, Al Gordon and his comic dog act; is well liked here, but follows former pattern without Chick Schloss emcees, and with his partner, does a burlesque on Army induction routine. Schloss'I monologue and the duo's "comedy-! V»ytt»nfi new added. Animals and manual-of-arms routine hit a me- ' *" mum register with the patrons, but their closing hoofing is okay. Don Tiff and the Tower band background throughout', and feature Coax Me a Little Bit" with Bev- erly Cassady on the vocal. Wild Bill .Elliott, Republic star, appeared at all shows Friday and i Saturday in connection with the showing of film "In Old Sacra- mento." It's a combo of a home town visit and a brief p.a. tour for Elliott. Doing a strictly informal 10 . volubly in a stanza of minutes, Elliott added considerably -ballads. L ■ UCllCl -giauc mifcai,. aiiw awui, ji, i i_ ™hlch it specializes leans mainly to «ugns. symphonic overtones, but with suf-| flcient brass trimmings and distinc- tive arrangements tb bring: them, apparently, within the popularity range of all music lovers. Tot this engagement Spitalny brings the usual aggregation com- : prising eight brass, seven violins, two basses, two pianos, cello, flute, harp, five saxes and drums in'addi- tion to three, extra vocalists to sup- plement the choir, a violin soloist and ah outside act. With' one or two exceptions, his numbers are perennial favorites with which the orchestra has become identified on the radio and records. It all makes for 60 delightful minutes of enter' tainmept. Throughout, of course, there is in- dividual and group solo work to lend added values. A medley of burn. Wonderful Smith, radio comic, takes care of the chuckles on the bill, using his telephone call to the president and pointed quips on OPA and_^ other topical matters to get Brog.. Can. Net, Films Continued from page ilms ;e 1 —J| aud is any indication, this sepia" ■ , "™"' ■ "* quartet can hold its own in future | son 6? of_ the armed forces follows Chi engagements Standouts in a well-balanced show, the quartet clicks from the start with "Gaucho Serenade," fol- lowing with "All I Need Is You," and "Ride, Red, Ride." Highlight of. act is sock rendition of Earl Rob- inson number, "The House I Live In," with all four of the boys—Wil- liam Williams, first tenor; Edward Jackson, second tenor; Ira Williams, baritone; Howard Daniel, bass—tak- ing turns in the solo spot. James Sherman gives neat keyboard assist. Nip Nelson gets salvos' with his imitations of w.k. orch themes in- cluding those 6f Kyser, Lombardo— with a quivering Carman vocal— Dorsey, and Clyde McCoy's' "Sugar Blues." Well worn Crosby-Sinatra takeoff is still popular with the payees, as Nelson's version is well received. Youthful Fred & Elaine Barry score with clever interpretations of a "Viennese Waltz," pasadoble, and a short snappy piece called "Eccen- tric Number." Faking tiredness, team encores with "Sleepy Dance" with Fred carrying Elaine off the the familiar theme number and en lists the-choir's services to good ad- vantage. "Amour" features the string section and scores. A jungle chant calls,for some madcap drum- ming and. leads to a hot swing finish with a pair of trumpet players sharing the spotlight. Fronting is Francine, personable singer, the. choir does its finest with "Ave Ma- ria." There's exceptional piano per- formance by Eleanor in "Rhapsody in Blue." Again Francine and the choir tickle the ears with "Roger Young" followed by "Onward Chris- tian Soldiers." Comedy singing trio do an amus- ing "Stage Door Canteen' number that narrates their experiences with servicemen while performing host- ess duties. Three numbers by the glamorous Evelyn on her "magic violin." . "Zigeunegweisen," "Begin the Beguine," and "Holiday for Strings, with arrangements notable for their new intruiguing twists, are socko. The string section plays an important part in making "Holiday for Strings" effective. | There's a novelty band number on the scales, something new and dif- ferent;- and then Joan Lorraine named in the report as involved in the spy network. Jacques himself has often been charged with being. anti-Semitic, and his charges against Communism are nothing new. He . charged there were- -700-odd people on the NFB whose sole pur-, pose was. to put out propaganda. Canadians, he said, sought amuse- ment from government-owned radio and films, and resented the presump- tion of the film board and CBC in the- attempts to "teach" and "in- struct" "I believe that for years the Film Board and CBC have' been- the means of spreading Communism, and it is very largely owing to their propaganda that we have the cur- rent espionage situation." ' Jacques also raised a beef that the Labor Progressive party was given free time on the CBC on the same basis as other Canadian politi- cal parties. Under '. the CBC system, all political parties froin left to right, are given free broadcast pe- riods with the allocated lime based on their representation in the House of Commons. Jacques even slammed Prime Minister Mackenzie King for having assisted ' the Communist "propa- ganda line" in his sponsorship of the ■film, "Mission to Moscow." The film was a "lie" from start to finish, said Jacques. stage apparently fast asleep in his arms. Aud wasn't however, with duo getting socko applause. ! muggs and gesticulates to stir laugh Ben Beri in white tie and tails I ter during her clever mimicry, contribs some sophisticated juggling Jeanie vocalizes a selection from routines' aided by his two small i "The Merry Widow" for solid re- sons—John. 13 and Scott, 11—who i sponse. Finale is a stirring salute to heckle and do solo stints themselves, the armed forces with appropriate John takes over the ivories for a ] colored shots flashed cri a scrim and brief solo with Scott acting as gen- 1 'he customers whipped up to a pa- eral handy man. Lou Breese's orch backs the show well, doing, the show opener ".When Uba Plays the Rhumba on the Tuba" with Joe Masek on flute and Earl Gaines, tuba, in the spot. Foos. Circle, Indpls. Indianapolis, July 20. Tony Pastor . Orch, with Bob Evans, Clooney Sisters, Tommy Lynn, Dolly Daion, Charles "Dizzy" Smith: "It Shouldn't Happen to a Poo" (20th). triotic fervor. Rees. moppets always do OK with this type-audience, so Gordon gets good returns.' Herman Hyde, assisted by Roberta Light, eye-filling, but inanimate, has a comic-mosical routine dependent on a collection of whacky instru- ments. He rattles around with' trick guitar, a cello that has a snake head that can double as a rifle. Ralnh Danilo. billed as "Singing Sheriff from Texas," has a strong tenor voice which he uses a bit too romantic Lowe, . Tony Pastor takes the bandstand at the Circle this stanza with a musical program that clicks solidly with the jump fans, in a show that features ah unusually strong array of supporting acts. Pastor's music, loud and groovey, offers specialty num- bers exclusively, with nary a.straight tune on the bill. Instrumental stand- outs are a pair of trumpet solos, "Body and Soul" and "I Can't Give You Anything'but Love, Baby," by the leader's brother Stubby Pastor. Tony himself comes up to expecta- tions with his vocals of "Surrender" and "Makin' W.hoopee." Tommy Lynn* band's new tenor, makes a nice impression with his handling of "I'm in the Mood for Love," "There's No One But You' - "The Gypsy," and harmonizes rtally RKO, Boston Boston, July 18. Shep Fields Orch (14) uiith Carol Norman, Jack Prince; Grace McDon- ald, Billy Gilbert, Tim Herbert; "The Stranger" (RKO). Exceptionally classy stage show at RKO Boston-this week. Fast step- ping, good singing and plenty of woodwind music from Shep Fields' variety-laden band. Opener is "Cement Mixer" by musicians. Pert-warbling Carol Nor- man clicks with "Exactly Like You" and: "Big Girl Now." Band follows with a classical medley and "Thanks for the Memory," with rippling rhythm throughout. Jack-'Prince, large in figure and voice, scores with "Old Man River" and "Chloc." Encores with "Forr ever Blowing Bubbles." Grace McDonald contribs neat tapstering and a comedy song, "Place to Hang My Hat." Billy Gil- bert specializes in gagS) including a hurricane of sneezes and a torrent of doubletalk. Before the band finale, "Flying Home." Tim Herbert wows 'em .u ith Gabriel Healler takeoff - and oilier" comedy antics. Dame. Urges New Homes Continued from page 1 coming an integral part of home fur- nishings." To this end, manufacturers and merchants in the industry must co- operate with builders, architects, in- terior decorators, teachers of music, educators and the. press, he stressed. McDuff also pointed out that American music manufacturers are building such fine musical instru- ments today that an established trend is being reversed, with European buyers coming to America for their . music and musical instruments. He pointed to the large number of buy- ers from England, France, Italy, England, Puerto Rico, Port of Spain, Honolulu, etc., attending the confab as proof of this.-' Raymond Scott Continued from page I ilar salaries, they all got around to thinking in : the same direction—all together. They' wanted a raise. Accordingly, his sax section ap- proached him in'a body for a boost Turned down, it went to another leader in a body (o audition, for his band and, in addition, said it was spokesmen for any complete section of - Scott's ' band the leader wanted. Unit topped that by offering the, entire Scott band, section by section. . As it worked out, only Scott end his sax' section parted. He replaced •hem 'iminrdjau'y.-' - Remainder, of tho band stuck with Him.