Variety (Jul 1946)

46 VAIWKVIIXB Wednesday, July 31, 194$ Night Gob Reviews Versailles, IN. 1. Carl Ravazza, Penny Bancroft, Joel H'cTron Orch and Paiicliito Orchs; $2.50 and $3.50 minimum. need the mike but she utilizes it in- telligently, in alternation, when do- ing operatic excerpts or ditties like "J'Attendrai" and "Falling in Love With Love." Joel Herron. longtime Copa maestro, and latterly Jane Froni.an's piano accompanist, heads his own dance band now and does a good job with the straight dance sets in If Nick, Arnold. Bogfiiano. et al:, can book good, little shows o( the calibre' currently oiv tap. the Ver- sailles would have no name-show n^a S ma y H ^ C a C no-,^ C at^e -.ay with Panchitos Latin tempos moment, he bespeaks truly bigtime potentials .as a cafe personality. He has progressed even further since debuting at La Martinique last year, when he headed his own band; and from which spot A. J. Balaban. Irving Lesser and Sam Ranch snagged him for a six-month stretch at their Roxy. He's due to return there for a similar half-year but. in between, Ravazza has thrown away his 802ers and is now a solo mike chirper of a calibre comparable to Tony Martin and kindred cafe swooncr-crooners. Of felching boyish personality he uncorks a cavalcade of pops that are surefire. In between are a couple of politely saucy ditties like "But Her Bathing Suit Never Got Wet" in Caribbean rhythm, an Hawaiian "Princess Papaya," and a calypso titled "Always ■ Marry a Woman Uglier Than You." "Acapulco," "Seems Like Old Times," "Septem- ber Song." "Girl That I Marry," "Paradise," "You Were Meant for Me" and "Prisoner of Love" com- prise the rest of it, in long and short Choruses, the old familiars being crooned in a marathon medley of short choruses that makes for strong audience appeal. Incidentally, this a.a. and s.a. are an undeniable par- lay for Ravazza, who is, particularly, a cinch for the femme trade. Good change of pace also is his addition of a guitar for self-accomp strum- ming towards the end of the song cycle. Good stunt, which the Versailles is making pay off . in an un-maudlin .jnanner, is the "GI Showcase," spotlighting ex-service performers of both sexes. First of the distafTers is Penny Bancroft, personable prima who headed her own all-femme USO-Camp Shows unit in the CBI sector, the only all-gal unit in that battle area. Now solo, she flashes a lusty soprano, which really doesn't Tiro's, H'woimI Hollywood, July 25. Larry Adler, Leounrd Sues Orch (16); Don Alfredo Orch *.0»: $2 couer. Hot weather or no hot weather Larry Adler is the hottest nitery at Savoy-Plaza, IV. Y. . Barry Winton Orcii (7) tuilli Cnrol Page, and Clemente's Orch t5> with Nerita; $1.50-$2 minimum; $1 and $1.50 couvert after 9 p.m. The Savoy-Plaza's Cafe Lounge has a good setup in the two tiptop terp bands, Barry Winton's and Cle- mente's, each featuring a personality songstress. In the case of the ma- rimbaing Clcmcntc. the lissome Ncvila, a sultry Latin brunet beaut, is more dominant)}- the personality as she shakes her maracas up front, In the case of Barry Winton, his violin-macstroing is at the helm,' Hanked by a looker of a chirper, Carol Page, cx-Pancho.: Prankie Masters and Tommy Tucker, who handles a nice vocal in the roman- tic interludes.; A .tall, stalely blonde, she's highly decorative on the po- dium. Winton's septet is versatile, three traction in town, and his hike of labs of his boys being capable of vocals, but their prime forte is called "society" music, suave and hoof-compelling. the so- smooth, Abel. for Ciro's shows how well received the master of the mouthpiece really is. Adler gives customers gamut from Bach to boogie and everything in between, keeping up a charming and refreshing-bit of patter during the intervals between applause and numbers. Kidding himself, niteries. acls in general and the band behind him. Adler never goes over the line of good taste. As for his music.^reviews of the Hohner hbtshbt arc but of the question, because he is the maestro when it comes to making the mouth organ sound like a true musical in- strument. Leonard Sues' musicrcw does a neat job of backing the show, with :„ htim? effe i.ts narticularlv in Alfredo s sextet an authentic r hu , nl - adaptations of old Southern tunes, band, supplies ctulibowl beats in the f £ th solid meat of the click intermission for dancing and listen-1 f nd w really somcthin g t0 ing. Latter group, a new one to m ni ^ b j e on ■ Oval Room. Boston (COPLEY PLAZA HOTEL) Boston, July 29. ."Summertime Ice Reuiie," loith Mnribel Vinson, Guy Ouien. Li 1 linn Tribby, Chet Nelson. Iris Gordon, Roslyn Kane, Winnie Maqee, Jacque- line Sawyer; Ralph Scott Orch (.10); $3 min after 10 j).m. In their latest ice show, in sixth week of debut run here, ex-champs Maribel Vinson and Guy Owen have a brilliant hit. Blade artistry, fine favorable side, though, which ac- counts for success. 'George and Gene Bernard are back as show headliners. Brothers are lops at amusing customers with an- tics performed while records of name artists are being played. Aping is hilarious fun for auditors. Bad spot in act is when team goes blue with own material for encore. Definitely bad taste when contrasted with pre- ceding sock work. Ben Blue reigns over upper stage blackouts, working with Patt Moore and Ben Lessy for solid laughs. Low comedy sells big here, and trio knows how to get it over. Trio spots eight blackouts in the two floor shows, in addition to punching through with hearty satire on local used-car mag- nates. Senor Wences, Lal|n ventroquist, stands out in the more rowdy doings. He sells a class voice manipulation lurn that has nitcry fans begging for more. Callahan Sisters are adequate lap team. Milton De Lugg, accor- dionist, joins with Matty Malneck for musical spot in floor show for good returns. Malneck's orch furnishes smooth dance music. Bros. Walnut Room, f'hi (BISMARCK HOTEL) Miriam Seabold, Haskell, Sherman Hayes Orch (11) with Dell Welcome; $1.50-$2.50 min. . a new Ciro's, adds just the right touch of maraccamusic for the hip-shakers Huts. Copa Cabana. A. C. Atlantic City. July 27. Sophie Tucker tuith Ted Shapiro, Maurice and Muriel, Bob Diamond, girl reuue, Eddy De Lucca Orch, Dancer Miriam Seabold and ma- gician Haskell are bill-toppers in Walnut Room's short but well-bal- anced mid-summer revue. Sherman Hayes arid his orch lend a smooth hand to the show with an assist from chirpstress Dell Welcome. Blond and,tanned Miss Welcome obencd with '.'Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance. With You" and fol- lowed with "Devil and the Deep Blue Sea." Fern, who is Hayes' Mrs., has a pleasing but liny voice _ „ .. w ,. _ . „ . which doesn't carry loo well They call it a Mardi Gras ballet, throughout the room. and it certainly recreates some of w „j„„» _ „ _ . . j the dash and spirit of life and car- L^/ 1 ""* R ,°° m ffack who pegged nival along the levees. Bustles and Mlss ,;Seab°ld as having the most fans embellish . several costume ! b . ea " tlf "» l e « s ln « he w° r >d may be changes. Opening is tuned to Chopin Noc- turne in 6 followed by shadow waltz to "Way Down Yonder in New Or- Herbie Collins rhuniba tinil; no tou- leans," with Vinson and Owen in vert, no admission. j smashing form. . Extremely pcrs'on- able, youthful Lillian Tribby, who Sophie Tucker returned to Atlantic j enhanced last year's lesser show, City Friday (26) and is packing the Copa Cabana, now handled by Joe. Moss, for the evening's shows. Smartly gowned in white, Soph's work is no stranger here, and after her opening numbers. "Plenty of Everything Now," and "After He's Out of the Service," she let the cus- tomers in on some stanzas of her career at this resort. She laughingly told of her auto- biography, "Some of Those Days". ___ (money received here from auto- j Habanera with Miss Vinson starring graphed copies will, incidentally, be ■ evokes tremendous applause, turned over to the Betty Bacharach : This is a class offering, fresh, home here, where children are treat- i lively, original. Dame. od for polio). She recalled lurh-ol right but payees were more inter estcd in her fine toe work in' two jazzed-up ballet "routines to "Hora Staccato" and "One O'Clock Jump."' "Miss Seabold's modern ballet in- terpretations are a relief from the flood of fern tapsters that have hit town in the past few months. Solo ballet acts arc not exactly new in niteries nor are they as numerous and popular with auds who have been conditioned to accept the standard type of tepstcrs,: but Miss Seabold. proves the act can stand up in the smart nitery by the good hand she receives from an attentive aud. Haskell and his magic close the Strutters' Ball" and. with Chet Nel-, show with some average tricks, son. in a number adorned with i Habit of nonchalantly keeping his dominoes and balloons. A dashing j hand in his pockets while charming the aud with a line patter didn't does a dizzy series of pirouettes with Owen and later teams with supple Chet Nelson in "Pickin' Cotton." as- sisted by . chorus of four young cherubs. Miss Vinson's solo, "Danse Boheme" is a wow; all take part in a snappy cakewalk to the tune of "High Born Lady." Ensemble sparkles in "Darktown Coloslmo'g, Chi «. , . c if icaeo ' Ju iy 24. . Slapsie Maxie Rose n bloom and Max Baer, with Cordon AndreZ- Larry Drake, Marilyn Hare So phistt-Sfcates (2), Sol Feola line (8> with Margo Johnson, Mel Cole Orri.' (9); $2.50-$3.50 minimum. ' First of a series of name acta planned by Irv Benjamin, ColosimoV ' new boniface, the Slapsie Maxia Rosenbloom-Max Baer sector of this clambake alone saves the whole thing from falling apart at the seams, rest of it plainly showing the results of a carefully trimmed budget. Two. ex-pugs have a stint judici- ously planned to please both the sporting element and those who think a canvas is something- on ■ which to paint a picture, with Baer teeing off on "Lady Is a Tramp," re- vised by Jimmy McHugh to read, "I Don't Wanna Be a Champ." Also gives a smart account of himself as Phil Harris doing "That's What I Like About the South." Some idea of the paradoxically la-de-da routine the pair have con- cocted is. Bacr's intro of Rosenbloom as "the Noel Coward of the psycho- pathic ward," whereupon the latter takes over with an old-time vaude chanson, "Glad to Be Back," heckled betimes by his sparring partner from the ringside. Slaspie sings "The New Rosen- bloom," too ("I'm suave. I'm debo- nair," etc.), and they get together for "Personality," "All of a Sudden My Head Rings." and a switch on Gallagher and Shean. Kingfish Le- vinsky and his new. line of cravats .were onstage a good deal of the time at the opener, but the less said about that the better. Pianist Gor- don Andrews doesn't have loo tough a time keeping up .with the nco- comics, since they've memorized their lines reasonably well, and he deserves a nod for some clever lyrics. Sophisti-Skatc.v two-gnl roller- skating act, suffer, like the rest of acts from having their time cut to the'bone in order to-give as much space as possible to the headliners, but what was on tap was okay, es- pecially the closing neck-swivel. Marilyn Taft.. blonde, tanned and vi- vacious, sang (but to no avail be- cause of the noisy crowd's vociferous impatience to catch the two Maxes) "All in Favor," "Eagle and Me" and "Legalize My Name." Mike. the century show days in A. C. to old timers, pointing out she had played her first engagement al the old Apollo, a short distance down the boardwalk, now a movie house. She Rhumboogio. Chi Chicago, July 26. Joe Louis, with Leonard Reed; Pots, Pans & Skillets. Edwards Sis- iiiimi nia mil ■19 HII appeared in the "Ziegfeld Follies" of | tcrs ( 2 ), Tiny Dauis, Dorothy Foster, that year. j shorts Dauis, Floyd Campbell Orch She said that she first saw her , (14); $1.50-$2 minimum. . name in electric lights as it appeared I at the old Criterion theatre here on | South side spot is headlining the walk. There she sang "I Want i heavyweight champ Joe Louis in a a Girl Just Like the Girl That Mar- minor-league floorshow to pull cus- fool tyany of the customers. Exlrac tion of props from his pockets could be seen on more than one occassion. Two tricks stood well, however— one where he made his watch re- appear on a chain after putting it in a handkerchief; the other, bounc- ing a piece of paper on a fan until it assumed the shape of ah egg which he cracked and emptied into a class. WALLY BOAG Currently GLENN RENDEZVOUS ' Newport, Kentucky Management: MARK J. LEDDY tomers anxious for a look at the muscle-man, who owns the elaborate (for that section of Chi) spot. And tied Dear Old Dad," and she did it again, getting the audience to join her for a chorus. Between times she . _ .._.___„ came up with new and a few old '. that's what's happening numbers ' ' • All Louis does is pull a few gags with Leonard Reed, straight-man (or maybe Joe's the straight-man; it's hard to say, inasmuch as he's as stiff as a wooden Indian) on his ring A good many years have passed since La Tucker started in show business here but she still holds her audience, both during songs ?.nd pat- ter, as she has held them through the years. From the time she conies on until she goes off she, and she alone, holds the spotlight. career, never losing that w.k. dig nity. It doesn't seem to make any difference what'he docs, however, as the payees just want to look him We Are Interested in Booking Into The World's Largest Swimming Pool Ted Shapiro, her accompanist, ably [over. Withal, it can truthfully be supports Miss Tucker through her . said, that Joe. as a nitery performer, act. i is no threat to the Chez Paree, with Bob Diamond, emcee, uses his ex- ' J°e E. Lewis, cellent baritone voice to good ad-j ■ SnorU Davi th , iM _ &^^3J™ ri^t^-sepja feb ihc,uLg ] middlin' in the comedy department, I but fast and furious buck-and-wing- jers: the Edwards Sisters, tap duo: Tiny Davis, femme trumpeter and ; vocalist, who handles herself well in I a trio of bluesy items, and Dorothy ! Foster, specialty terpslress. Floyd ] Campbell's orch jams and jives furi- jously for the customers' dansants and backs the show well also. Mike. El Morocco, Moul'l Montreal, July 30. . Gene Baylos, Barbara Smith, Hau- kane & Lonya, Hal Hartley Orch (13), Milray.Line (6), Continental Trio; $1.50 minimum. eludes Maurice, and Muriel, an ex cellent dance team, and a revue, which.features Marion Niles. Th* MONTE CABL0 POOL AT ASBURY PARK, N. J. Water Carnivals, Swimming Acts and Wattr Attractions of Any Kind—Eithtr on P«rctntaa> or OutrfgV' Buys Open Time from Now Until September 15th Apply Walter Road* Offices, Mayfair Theatre Itiilding, 701 Seventh Ave., New York. Telephone BRyanf 9-7500. Slapsy Maxio'H. H'liood Hdtlytuood. July 26. George & Gene Bernard, Ben Blue, Patti Moore and Ben Lessy. Senor Wences, Callahan Sisters <2i, Mil- ton De Lugg; Matty Malneck Orch (11 )|; $2.50-$3'cover. This Wilshire boule nightspot has adopted plushy decor for reopening, but still features the same type of rough-and-rowdy floor show that keeps the customers happy. Reopen- ing after two-month hiatus for rc- decoration, nitery shows promise of ability to keep them coming, Lncc- lift didn't Include more space for cus- tomers and payees arc still literally packed in, table against table. Food, show and dance music arc on the It's not often that hinterland nitery payees get the chance to see a comic with the finish and showmanship of Gene Baylos. He provides a heavy session of yocks, and is a guy who knows his ringsiders and can make them eat out of his hand any time he chooses. Results Baylos gets ate all the more amazing in view of the fact that more than once, he has to dip back into his borscht and two-ceius-plain bag of gags. His ringside ribbing is sock, and except for letting things slide a Utile low at times, he shows one. of the best audience know-hows of any comic seen here. Warbler Barbara Smith (Miss De- troit of 1&45) registers only so-so, obvious drawback being some need- ed coaching in delivery and some perking up in arrangements. Reper- tory ("Brazil," "Summertime,'- "Shoo Fly") could also use a hoisting. "Stormy Weather" was completely snafued by a brassy backgrounding. Haukanc & Lonya have a neat nov- elty stint in a puppet and ballroom- ology routine that with a little edit- ing could register 1 big. Clever twist when puppets assume life size by the duo coming out in their Icrpol ogy. Hal Hartley's band provides .a click shpwbackgrounding if a little loud for the dansapation. Line back to some old Mllray routines. 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