Variety (Feb 1947)

56 Wcdawwby, Fribgytwy 5, 1947 Vanity Fair, N. \. Joe Howard presents Gertrude Neisen in "Affairs of Vanity Fair"; staged by Donn Arden; songs by Ted Murry and Charles Tobias; cos- tumes, Mme. Berthe, designed by Bob Mackintosh; features Bob Wil- liams, Hal LeRoy, Jan Murray, Bob Kennedy, Danita, Welle Fisher & Ron Fletcher, Corinne Anderson, Line, Boyd Kaebwrn Band uiith Ginnte Poioell, Monchito's Rfiumba Orch; $2.90 minimum. whistled, pounded when she finished. and cheered When it comes to showmanship and an awareness for audience values, credit Joe Howard and Carl ISrbe with more than just a casual Take their new joint, for instance. On the site of what until recently was the Zanzibar, where an all- colored stageshow policy was the thing, Howard and Erbe didn't wait for the Zanzibar policy to catch them short. The highly-geared Zanzy was played out after almost four years—and immediately came plans for the current type of opera- tion. Namely, the Vanity Fair, with an all-white show. In a couple of weeks, the Zanzibar name will be illuminated further flown Broadway, on another site, where the partners will operate the Zanzy all-colored entertainments on a more modest scale. It's a case of knowing just when to make the twitch. And it takes courage, too, to go in for a new type of operation at this time*.when nitery biz has be- come rather erratic all over the country. A venture, incidentally, that probably costs in the neighbor- hood of $17-18,000, which is certainly high these days for talent. Now the show. Gertrude Niesen is the star. Featured are Jan Murray, Hal LeRoy, and Bob Williams. Add to that the bands of Boyd Raeburn and Monchito plus a flock of other able performers, and you've got a layout that looks like a million on paper. If it doesn't always run oft' that way chalk it up to an insuf- ficient playing time. Give it another week, and let Miss Niesen take some direction on the type of songs she should choose (along with her gen- eral routining), and this will be a topflight layout. Right now it's got the basic values to at least sock home for the out-of- towners—at whom this show is timed, one might add. What about the Broadway hepsters? Well, maybe . gome of the stuff here, particularly the bits of business by Miss Niesen. are not up their alley, but since when: are the Broadway hepsters be- 1 coming paying habitues of the Broadway cafes? Unless it's to come and smirk with a show-me attitude— ' after which they depart -for the Lindy's ringside for the kayo punch! This first show of the new policy Is expensive in every detail, from the $7,500 guarantee-against-percent- age that Miss Niesen is getting, down to the basic essentials of costuming (which is particularly nifty) and decor. Le Roy as a tapster can still hoof with "the best of them, although the one big detracting factor in his career—an unintentional inclination' to gaze at the floor—is still prevalent. And he still falters at reading lines, get laugh*. And that's still the pay- off. Miss Niesen, of course, gets- the major playing time, and it all leads up to "I Wanna Get Married." the hit song she did a couple of sea- sons ago'in the Broadway musical, "Follow the Girls." The headliner requires better routining than was present at the show caught: for in- stance, it's off-base for her to open with an Hawaiian chant, then into a Russian melody before she does for the first time an American pop, whose choice, by the way, still isn't strong enough to get her into high. And when she does the usual boy- girl stuff with Le Roy, Williams and Murray, consecutively, she throws away too many payoff lines for the ultimate effect. It's as if she realizes how obvious the comedy lines are, and thus can't take them seriously. When Miss Niesen, however, belts out those tunes with the throatiness that has distinguished her through the years, there are few who can reach an audience the way she does". When she stops clowning and gets down to the basic essentials of tip- ping her larynx her voice achieves a new stature, especially in that Jolson bit, where she hits a high mark exceeded only by her payoff "Married" number. - There are lessers in this show who also contribute neatly: Bob Kennedy goes over as the production numbers singer; Danita does Latin songs and some mild cooching in the Latin en- semble layout; Fisher and Fletcher, with production interpretative danc- ing, and the beaut Corinne Anderson, as song and dance leader in the en- semble numbers. Ted Murry and Charles Tobias have written an original score that is tuneful, especially the opening "My Young and Foolish Heart," sung by Kennedy. Boyd Raeburn's band plays a neat show, while Mon- chito's Latin outfit plays equally well for the customer hoofing. Kahn. Miles, with this engagement, adds to his stature. On in the tough spot following Miss Tucker, he gets them from the first line and keeps them howling throughout. Stuff is Ins standard mixed with new, and in- cludes his kidding of Miami Beach and its high costs the western pic satire, a funny twist on "You Made Mj Love You" and his dissertations on horses, gin rummy playing and comic strips. His ad libs and after- piece with Miss Tucker and Bobby B :en added to the yock effect he left on audiei.ee. Breen proves a surprise in the manner in which he. clicks. Still possessed of a neat pair of pipes, he makes a personable, heart-warming juve, earning' solid returns with "Anniversary Song," "September Song," "Blue Skies" and "To Each His Own" among others. Youngster Ci.n hold down a spot in any pro- duction, gauging his work here. Looks good and the appeafis there. Production wise the proceedings build nicely tJ topliners appear- ances. Betty Luster toe dances in sock "fashion " v.hile Jack Stanton song-taps the production numbers niftily. Line gals are all lookers and handle their routines compe- tently. Joe Candullo and his orch pace the show in top fashion. Del Toro and his unit handle the rhumb- addicts. Lary. Variety-Bills WEEK OF FEBRUABY 5 Nametab «■ Mnwwtism with bltta below ladfcat* epeatn. te , „, th< whether full et aplit week. Letter* la parentueels Indicate elrcnlt.- (I) Independent) (L) Lm«< (F) taramoaut; OS) RKO; <W> Earner 1 lleaeheomber, Miami Miami Beach, Jan. 31, Sophie Tucker with Ted Shapiro, Jackie Miles, Bobby Breen, Jack Stanton, Betty Luster; Line (7), Joe Candullo Orch (10), Del Toro Orch (6); $3-$5'min.~ Ned Schuyler and Jack Casey emerge with a double barreled setup that packed the big room for both shows opening night and One which "will keep them Coming for the next few weeks despite the heavy com- petish from other top spots, i That Sophie Tucker is box-office for any spot in this area has long been established. Add Jackie Miles and you simply can't miss.^ La Tucker demonstrated opening night that she is still one of our greatest cafe showmen. In a sock 40-minut6 session of songstering, ably assisted-by Ted Shapiro, she proved there'll only be one like her, Niftily gowned and furred she came on to the most thunderous re- ception accorded a topliner here this season. She didn't let that huge crowd down', either, as she purveyed a mixture of new and requested material that kept the zingy pace , up all the way and which left them as-per that bit of comedy talk with "pounding for more after a begoff. Miss Niesen. •• Williams, with his dog act, remains one of the personable young men of the varieties, a sock act anywhere, mostly because of the energy and exuberance he puts into the effort. Murray is using some hoary gags but here again it's not so much the gags but the delivery, and he does Most of her material is new, and all pf it top-drawer comedy stuff with the toppers "I'm Having More Fun-Since I'm Fifty," "Love Is My Bad Habit," "Your Red Hot Mom- ma's Gonna Go On Strike," "Mrs. Anthony" and that nostalgic caval- cade of her years in show biz which brings the house down; They Copa«abana, N. Y. (FOLLOWUP) Monte Proser, who has virtually assumed the status ot an absentee owner ever since he started to em- ploy columnists and editors as film extras, hasn't permitted his Coast activities to get in the way of his selection of boff talent for his Copa- cabana. Via long distance, he's pact- ed Irwin Corey and Kitty Kallen to supplant Sid Caesar and Gale Robbins. With the substitutions, the layout retains its original potency, and remains one of the better nitery buys in town. Inclusion of Miss Kallen in the show makes the song department the Copa's strongest feature. Miss Kal- len, who has obtained a thorough schooling via the band-vocalist school having -served with Harry James and Jimmy Dorsey, with this engagement achieves a vocal matur- ity hitherto unnoticed in her ap- pearances as a single. Miss Kallen,,at her bigtime cafe bow, made one of the strongest im- pressions ever made by a singer who hasn't hit name status. She han- dles ballads delicately, flavors rhythm tunes with interpretation and shows a knack of mimicry dur- ing her interpretation of Ella Lo- gan's rendition of: "How Are Things in Gloca Mora?" In addition to pleasing pipes, appearance is ex- cellent. She stacks up in all depart- ments. Irwin Corey, with this date, plays his first large N. Y.' cafe. Other ap- pearances tiave been confined to in- timeries s tch as Blue Angel, Ruban Bleu and Village Vanguard. He's good for yocks in this big establish- ment but fails to give out with a sustained brand of comedy. Albeit he holds his audience with his char- acterization of the forgetful profes- sor, French oration and other bits that have been seen in his previous appearances. There have been some changes made in his routines, but c'-nartures from original script aren't in ?:eeping with the charac-* terizations and most are done for the Immediacy of tn"e laugh. His messed up, frock-coated garb has of late become too embellished with medals, l-aiick-knacks arid heavy, brown shoes, out .of keeping with the scholarly character of his sub- jects. However, these failings are easilv. corrected. Corey fills the com- edic needs of this show amply. Rest of the layout with the careful Doug Coudy production, Bill Shir- ley's superior . pipings, Fernando Alverez's production songs and Steen and Tasher's terping makes for top calibre cafe entertainment. Jose. La Martinique, 3V. Y. (FQLLOWOF) Lillian Roth, who recently essayed a comeback following several years of retirement, has by now reestab- lished herself as a potent cafe item. This onetime moppet star, who went on to legit and films, has been riding a crest since she appeared at the recent Friars Frolic, where she dem- onstrated her ability to bowl over an audience. Subsequently she ap- peared at the Chateau and now she's strengthening her rep at Dario and Jimmy Vernon's boite. Substitution of Miss Roth for Rob- ert De Lisle makes for a stronger bill for La Martinique, where Al Bernie and Ronny and Ray are hold- ing over. Miss Roth during- her appearance demonstrates her ability on a wide variety of numbers, which include a medley of tunes she helped popu- larize in films and legit. She's su- perior on the"rhythm tunes and is no slouch at ballad renditions. Her' special material additions to "Stone Cold Dead" provide the highlight of her offering. There has been a perceptible pickup in business at La Martinique since Miss Roth went on the pay- roll, but as in many spots, it's still a Jong way off from the wartime boom. Jose JUKW \'OUK CJTX Capitol (W « Tex Beneke ,Oro Gene Sheldon The Fontaines Mub1<- Hal (I) « Patricia Bowman Charleys Laskey Gil Malson Robert Marshall T St F Yalett Corps de Ballet Rockettes Sym Ore , \„ ■ Paramount (P> 6 Cootie Williams B Ella Fitzgerald Ink Spots 'Hp, Tap & Toe Stump St Stumpy Boxy (I) 5 Grade Fields The Debonairs Beatrice Seokler Arthur Blake State' (I.) 6 ,T T* A M Caltes Harris & Llllette Remos St Toy Boys Wilbur Evans Block & Sully D'Anjrelo & Vanya Strand (W) 1 Charlie Barnet Ore Ray English Coles & Atkins BRONX Windsor (1) 8-9 Anthony & Rogers Stic Thoi'Bon Robertas Circus Primrose & Gold Morgan Sis BROOKLYN Flntbush (I) 8-8 Ted Claire The Delrios The Blue Flames Don Corey Edwards Sis (ICJSENS Jamaica (I) 5-S Boyd St Jigsaws Vernon & Draper Sunny Sparks Leasellis Marion't's Dobas Duo Pepper Shakers Sam Donahue Ore Michael O'Shea Diok & Dot Remy HOLYOKH Valley Arena (I) » C ThornhiH Ore S Chesterfields Evans Family Jean Dawn KANSAS CITY Tower (I) « Oscar Lopess The Walkmlrs Catleno. O'Don- nel & Smith MIAMI Olympia (P) 5 Janet St Paul Catherine Westfleld Danny Drayson Sonny Skylar Willie Howard NEWARK Adams (I) 6 Kathryn Dunham Phil Brlto Bedell St Maltaon The Herzogs Terry & Ralph Rio NEW BEDFORD Bayllss S<T (I) 6-8 Rosalind Page Jack Oleson Fred Pisano Co Chris St Ray The Carnivales PATHRSON Majestic (I) 6-9 The Kayos Don Hooton The Hollys Adams St Vaughn Conearoos 10-18 Wyoming Duo Walter Walters Jr Kathlyn Byrne 3 Bob Shepard Tanit Ikao PHILADELPHIA Carman <I) 6 Pierre Cartler The .Tacksons Ferdinand the Bull Ray Sc Nardo Earle (W> t Duke Ellington Ore Fred Douglas TIP* TAP and TOE ,NOW PLAYING PARAMOUNT THEATRE - NEW YORK ' Direction: EDDIE SMITH AGENCY 1501 'Broadway, New Yerk La Conga , Irma Henrique* Machlto Ore Pup! Campo Oro Ia Martinique Al Bernie Ronny & Rey Lillian Both Ernie Stuart Oro Latin Quartet A Lee Simple! ns Paul Winchell Marion Carter Francis & Grey Chandra Kaly Dcrs Oraddoeks Chic Gladke Esquires Wanger Line Leon ft . Edille'e Eddie Davis Jackie Whelan Sonny King 3 Parks Carmen Montoya 4 Macks Sherry Britton Art Waner Ore Monte Carle DICK Oaspnrr* O Robertc Siho'HM Old RomiiKlaD Jackie 1'bllHps Sadie Banks Nina Dover Alice King Bobby Harrell Joe La Porte Or* ft'wk'h Village Ina N T G Revue Frankla Hyere Pat Harrington . Johnny & George Chavez Ore Ned Harvey Ore Havana-rtnilrld Paco Reyes Clrltn liar Gloria' Lebran Margaret Phelan Carmen Sol ,■ ■■ ■ Luis tiel CamTw Carlos Varela Ore Belmont-Plaaa Blnir & Dean Bob Russell Eddie Stone Ore Nino Bd Hotel BiUmore Carmen Cavallaro Hotel Commodore Eddy Howard Ore Hotel New Yorker Chuck Foster Ore Marlon Spelman Wally Peterson Ruth Wells Charles Masters ' BALTIMORE Hippodrome <l) 6 The Workmans Wally Boag The Nonchalants State (I) 6-8 Randall & Bank Walter - Walters Bob Shepard 4 Fantinos 9-1* Shirley Lavalie Charles Leighton Tommy Hanlon Co Ray & Harrison BOSTON Boston (R) 6 Hal Mclntyre Ore P Franks & Janyce Cy Reeves BOI NI) BROOK Brook (f> 8-9 Pepper Shakers Ruth Wells - Billy Van , (two to mi) CAMDEN Towers (I) 1-9 Perry & Barry L & L Bernard Larry Daniels Barto Sc Stan 3, Kanftzawas CHICAGO Chicago (P) 7 Bob Crosby Bd Town Criers 3 Dunhills Eddie Rio ■ Oriental (I) 6 Clyde McCoy Ore Maurice Roeco Jack Leonard * Wells & i Fayes Regal (V) 6 Billy Eclistlne Bd Choeolateers George Prentice Pete Nugent " HARTFORD State (1) 7-9 Vlvlnn Blaine June Arnold Alioe Farrar * - Bob Turk Hotel I'enn 8 ylv«i,!, Charlie SpivaU Or™ Hotel Pierre v Noble St King Jere McMahon Chas Reader Ore Jlotcl nan, Htmegarde W , Hal Kanner Oro Monte Ore Hotel Roosevelt Guy Lombardo Ore , , Hotel Tatt "™ Miiceiit Lopez Ore Waldorf-Astoria Morton Downey Kmll Coleman Ore Mlscha Borr Oro Rogers Corner Don Baker Dutch Adler Alomas Ha wall am The Chnnteurs Barry Bros Oro Kuban Bleu Marnis & Miranda Muriel ■ Gaines Gloria King Cedrlc Wallace I lieotfard Elliott 4 Notes , Versa Ills* Bernard Bros Kmtl Petti Oro Panchlto Ore Village Vnngunri Maxine Sullivan R Dyer-Bennett Don Frye Dorothy Douglas Eddie Gitibs . Vanity Fair Gertrude Niesen Jan Murray . Hal LeRoy Bob Wllllnins Boyd Raeburn Ginnte Powell * Wlvel Bob Lee Kay Carole Stuart Lnngley " Peggy Palmer D'Qulncey & Giv'ns Zimmerman'* Gene Kardos . JancKi Makulii Zslga Bela Paul Arnold Sinclair & Aide Helen Wenzel Olgn Orlova CHICAGO Howel & Bowser Peck ,& Peck PROVIDENCE Metropolitan (I) 7-9 Gene Krupa Ore READING Rajah (I) 6-8 Elliott Lawrence O Lee Davis 3 Jansleys Anthony Sc Allya BOCKEORD Palace (1) 6 Kramer's Midgete 4 Brucettes Chaz Chase SAN FRANCISCO Golden Gate (R) Wally Blown Barr St Estes Eileen Barton Sing Lee 3 SPRINGFIELD Court Bis <I> 6-9 Katherine Chang Alan Ames The Kemmye The Vikings Sully Sc Thomas Johnny Ladder Co. WASHINGTON Capitol (L) 6 J & B Paysee Bob Hopkins Bonnie Baker Walton & O'Rourke Howard (I) 7 Buddy Rich Roy Eldridge. Coleman Hawkins Willie Smith Flip Phillips Buck Clayton Trummy Young Kenny Kersey Benny Fonville Helen Humes Steve Condos WOONSOCKET New Park (I) S Jack Curtis Connie Sawyer Pryde & Daya Edwards Bros Tile Carnivales Bhjckhawk Buss Carlyle Oro Geneve Dorn Woo Woo Stevens ■ Chez Pare* Tony Martin Pearl Bailey Jack Cole June Edwards Gay Olaridge Ore Adorables (12) Phyllis Gale Luclo Garcia Or* Coloaimo'a Vivian Francis ' Sherman Girl Tito Coral Garon St Bennett Rohmer & Darrow Sol Feola Oro Copacabana Dolores Gray Chuy Reyes Ore Arne Barnett Ore Corney Twins .Timmle Burrcll Marianne Hotel Bismarck Joseph Sudy Ore Roland Twins Vela 'Montaia Lehore Annette Olsen Montero & Yvonne Eddie Fena Ore Hotel Blaekstone Bartmans Ramos Orch Hotel Congress Joe Vera Ore Sam Barl ' Hotel Continental Za Bach's Ore Marianne Fedele Sheldon Reed Cabaret lis NEW YORK CITY Blue Angel John Biickmaster Josephine Premice Vicente Gomez Mildred Bailey Joan Niehol Telchcr & Terranti Cn fe hiulor ▼ (Downtoivn) Olivette Miller Phil LeeilH CIIH Jackson Josh White I C Heard Oro Cafe Society (Cptown) Jules Muriahln Dorolhy Jsrilao Susan Reed Roberta Lee Dave Martin 3 Edmund Hall Carnivni Olaen & Johnson Beatrice Kay Salici Puppets C St T Valdez Blackburn Twins Michael Edwards McManus Ore Reld Ore. China Doll George Wong Tr Frances Chun Tal Sings Ming Ling Joso Curbello Oro Copucaunna Irwin Corey Bill Shirley Raye Sr. Naldl Meen & Tastier Michael Durso Ore lernando Alvcrez O Diamond Horseshor Imogene Coca Hernian Hyde Turner Twins Rosebuds Jackie Gleason Billy Banks Hal Hunter Tables Davis Renald & Rudy Jack Mathers Noble Sissle Oro Syd Strange Oro 151 Cliico P.osHa Rios • Miguel & Albalcin CKelo Viliarcal Embassy Larry Marvin Renee &- Hoot -lose Mellis Ralph Font Or Iceland Ice Revue Bllmpy Blank Ore P Whiteman Jr Or H Edgewater Be'ch Henry Brandon O Hlld D'cers (16) Donna Lane • Song Stylists i.d's Hermandoa I Ben Berl Lathrop St Lee Hotel Shermaa Claude Thornhlll O Caii Marx In Models (8) .Hotel Stevens' Dpn McCrane Oro Dennis Kelly Bob Hall Donita Nelle Fisher Boulevar-Dears Latin Quarter Ted Lewis Ore Geraldine Du Bol» Paul White Elroy Peace Corwin Sis Sol Klein Ore Mack Triplets palmer House Grid Williams Ore Dorothy Shay F S7 B Barry Acromaniacs ADboft D'ncera (1!) Bio Cabana Jerry Lester Berry Bros.' Terry Lawlor Don Brndfleld .„ The Lovelies (1»> Cee Davidson Oro Vine Garde*. Al Zimmy Ryan Bros Jos Klsh Oro "Mel Cole Oro Negro Theme Continued from page 1 ; eds are trying all sorts of dodges to see it and, are biting fingernails in fear the competition may get the first o.o. Lewis' refusal to let the Aim companies have a look is said by story eds to be an attempt to whet their appetites in hope of pushing up the price, if the book is sold. It's to be the Literary Guild selection for June. Three other books on the agenda likewise have studio reps hungering for a look. They are Budd Schul- berg's "The Glass Jaw," a prizefight story; Howard Fast's "The Chil- dren," an amplification of a short story he did for Story mag in 1937, and Ernest Hemingway's unfinished and untitled new novel. way Flops Continued from page 1 s; "Bloomer Girl," Me.tro; "Carousel," 20th; and "Oklahoma 1 ," Col. Plenty more film coin is available for backing iegiters, "with play edi- tors ofthe various companies main- ly squawking because not enough suitable scripts have turned up to absorb the investments they'd lik e to make. There are no deals in force now for film company backing of any plays currently on the horizon.