Variety (Dec 1947)

S4 WGEK OF DECBIMBEB If Munwiral* iii tM>nn«ct{oii nitb bills below Indloato openliig ilivw wlielliei'-tull lOT split iFedc Letter III paroxtlK^BCit Inillrntes nlrcnll: (I) Independent; (L) Loewi ' (P) rnniinoiint i (K) HKO; <W) IViirner NKW YORK CITTf C(ii)it«i n Paul Wliltoniaft Q Marilyn MaxweH: ■. Gewo sh^ltlon ■ Ben 3oi'i MnKic Hitll (I) 18 liuollo Cummin«» Myi'Mll & I'acmio Aipromafiiars Oauasmtth Bros Kpdccttcs Cotpa (10 Ballet , Syin Ore . ^„ .■ rurunvonnt (P) 17 Ray McKinley Bd Pralihle Lain* Billy DcWolXe- ClarlrBvoa Koi.v m i « Conntie BobwoU taul Gevrlts , J & A DlUatano Pltohmon State 18 J & C Brlcl( Georgo A ^lavlin MoUy Picon Dave- ApoHon. Orlviitul (I) 18 G(iutici-'» BritUlay'fl 1^ elson Sla WiUdo & Karcy Shavo Shprman Carl Simda Oro HAK'I'1'0B!> State (I) IW-SO Jan Ausnst 3 Bobby Byrne Monica I>owia Barney Grant gl Vaugbn Monroo O MI'UIX Olympliv <I') 17 GonstalCH Duo UoisS) Bros Kllltli Follows . Ooorsio Kayo 4 Canton Bros NHWA«K AdnmN (I) 18 Dr Nett' Show Bfla I.nsosi Slajestlc (I) 18-31 Gllbort & Carroll BEN BERI PAUL IMfHltEMAN CAliratoaj^Sew ¥ork Mat. EDWtflfcHTH ASEMCY IBOiBroadw-y Hew r«A VP BDdrl<iuez Maria Del Say Ijeon & Bddlo'i Haato Davis Art Waner Ore Mayo BroH Marion Manners Roy Davis ■ Rl la Lopez Wally Dean £jlio.pard Lino Old ISoumunlan Sadie Banlts Joey Dean .Too LaPorte Ore D'AquiIa Oro ISasex House Erwin Kent Oro j:,atln Quarter Harvey Stone Campagnons Ge6rKie Tapps Smith Si'3 Patricia Adair C & T VaUle-/. Gueneth Omeron Bon VivantS Vincent Travers O Riviera Billy Vine .ran Bart Demar & Denlse Betty. lane Sroltli Tony Bnvuar Catallne Ore Bnban IIIcd Sonia Cortls Connie Sawyer Jean Palmer Nermann Paris 1 Wully Blaclcer Sidvy'a Spivy Theinia Carpcnler Garland Wilson VersnlUeK Ilona Massey Bob Grant Oro Panchlto Qrc yillace Bnm pmte Pete Tonl Palmer Lou Apparetl MacArthurs Ranch Oro VlUuXe Vimeniird Irwin Corey Lee -Wiley , . Max KamiinsKy » Don Frye. , ■ . Waldorr-Astorta De Marcos i Nat Brandwynne O MWha Borr.Ore CHICAGO Jaclt Carter , Harold & Lola ' ^ 8tmpA^(W) «. ^ Charlie Bamett O Bunny. BriggB Ada Lynne D "Marie & Lee , ■ BAT.xmOBK Blppodrome <M tti Ernieat Tubb SHOW ! State (I) IB'KO WyominK 2 BlU Jordan '. ■Sid Stojie Co., Louis & Oliver '. . June' LoMlne ,. ClmcliM -genns Cordano * Cortnne (one to All) BOMXON KeiUis (K> IS li Cole Debutantes Umit & Van Bob.Bvans . t Saya B&ai't SI* \,. Jerry Co* . ,* . Skr.BIAers' .Beitnle George • 'tfeltes . ' JCHICACiO Chleaco (P) 18 Gordon M^axrKae JoJinny .Morgan' ' BunlnH'.'Puppets . .X^eBrae'&'.Bornleo Gloria French Olson & Joy Steve Murray ■ The Vespers Kay & Aldvleh .BoEsr Barnct Al Bjutltln Vred Rookie, li Graya , BEATONO , Rijab (B lH-«0 Tony Pastor. Ore Cy Beeves:. . Tyler Thorn as Roberts KOCKFORn tVtilace (I) 18 B & N Lang S'ield Bennett & . Jack DeCrowe Dene & L^on. , Juoi Fong 3. Flying Demons Paul .Walker Oro SAN imxcicisco Ooldeii «tate (B) IT Schalier Bros JOhrniy O'Brien Straw Hat Kovue Guy Ghurncy (two to aill) ■ ' WA8H1NGTOS .Capitol <L) "IS 'Jan. J^iatin . Nancy Donevan atroud. Twine Corday St Triano Blnekliawk Phil Levant Ray Olfieh Howard Brooks ShlTley .White T Sc J Mahoney Che* Tnree Marty Gould Ore Kitty Kallen Itlartin & Lewis J & AlMcatano Paul Sydell . Hotel BlnchHtone ■Ray Morton. Ore Jane Dulo. MyrUH Maurice & Maryca Tlotel Bismnrk JPlerre Cartler Benno Delaon O The StSAVarts /W) Tony DlPardo, Ore Helaintni' George.' Gobel Bill Chandler Ore Mary IT KIncald Jack BurtoII U KdKewater Bearh Georffe Olsen Ore. ■. Sharkey the Seal Lea Canova (2) - Preston Lambert Marian Fodele Song Stylists (4) D HI Id Donors <la> .Hotel Shennaa NeVlIe Iiutchor Marty HuK»n Jose Mfillii Ore -Jeanne "Williams Carl Marx . liatln Qaarter Lenny Kent H Mao Mahon Latin Lovelies (l?i Buddy Shaw Ore Valetda Show r-icl' Hyde Vllma Sherry • ■ palmer House Grin ■Williams Ore Florence .Desmond . Artino & CAunsueIn Ray Malone •HowJird De Coui-cy Hotel Stevens Orln Tucker.Ore Prof Laisibertl Marcella Gould E & J Slack Sootee Marsh Sensationalists .(3> Boulevar-deara TelevisiiMi Reviews Continued from page 28 HACKNer Kmplre' (I) Ik ' Henry HaU Ore Lea TounB' Sldanl ' Bernard .Speer . 4 Atlas M Hope & D JRSy BUeen & ,T Paul ' I.EICI!81<XB Palaco (I) 15. . Bor^aih WuevJteh Bamonica Rascals Johnny Puleo Xieonai'd Barr tta-mllton & Vassi Palette Dogs Peter Tayner Eddy Bayea Mayeto ; ■Newman Twins SHKPHii'ns ursH Bmpire (1>. :|S Ignorance Is Bliss Alys Pant ft Jill Los Valentes Pepino's Circus >ladrlgal NolsonlJoyd Vilicent Artliura , HEW YOEK cm Basatelle Dorothy Ross Blue .AnccI Amanda. .Laine Kayo Ballard Fearl Balley Jay Marshall HaL Cooke Three Flames Carnival Ge'orgo Samel Elsa & "Waldo Graham Sis Luba Malina Hay Jacauemot 'CItas Irwtn Ctaas Blaekman Or Oao Ore . Cafe Soelety (Domitown) Rose Murphy. Alan Alolvin FJ Chico F Del Monte Victoria Barcclo Hita & Rozino IjOS ^Panchos Harem . Jack Cole Dcrs Myron Cohen Frances Faye aitaa Jayns Johii Ulllot Paul Remoa Mack Ti'lplels Leo Bartel . Nevada Smith Fftuato Curbollo O' Art Roman O Hotel Ikllsnn Tommy Reed Ore No 1' Sinu Ave Eliyilis Grey . Vlfllsoii & Hosley Hazel "Webster Downey & Fonvlllo Highlights Belinont-PlaKn Rome Vincent Jon LTvurens Taylor Lino Castillauoa Ore Bddia Stone Oro Hotel, Biltinoro tluas: Morgan Ore Tom, Grant Oro Hotel Commodore Stan Kenton Oro Hotel IioxInKtou AloiAfta Hawaiians Hotel Kew Xnrker Sammy Ka.yc Ore. Hotel Pennsylvuniu Chas Spivak' Oro .. Hotel, rtorre" Lan'dre; & Verna . Chas. Reader Ore G Ray Terrell " Van Smith Ore , Hotel Plaza Phi) Regan Joel Herron Ore Hotel Rnofiovell Guy Lombardo. O Hotel St Moritu Edo Lubicli Ore Hotel St Regis Raye: & Naldt Nspo & Cote Holly. Rons 'Andre.Andree At Bonnie baszlo Ji PcWto Ted straeter Ore J Guarneri 3 Hotel Tnft Vincent Lopez Ore Cliarlio Drew Ilavnna-lUndrld Noro Morales Ore Joaquin Garay Gorday •& Triano Sacasas Oro Icelnnd Lynn Allison Tiny. Clark Dorothy Jarnac Hope Foyo Ckinn Doll Ming & Line "Wong Sis Laurie Long Beatrice Funa: Oye H Curbelio Oro Jack Prase Oro Copncabnim Peter Lind Hayes Jet Ma"«)DonaId Mary IlVny Blair & '{Jean Ray "Arnet"" Michael Dursio Ore Fernando Alvarez O Lou Menschel Martin Line Bllmpy Blank Ore lia MHttlnlciao Mlguelilo Valrtez . Ralph Font Oro on the experts and needn't give them ah A just lor coming close. And, to keep thB session from being too litcrpry, perhaps at least one. li not two,, of the experts might well be drawn'from outside the mag-^boofc- newspaper field, On the whole, however, ■"Ameri- cana" is one of the most diverting video program billings to date, Doan. are certain, in fact, to be reminded of the film shorts of "Info," so sim- ilar are the formats. In addition to latching onto a for- mulsi that has pulled radio audi- ences years in and out. Stone wisely has given his show plenty of name appeal, Author John Mason Brown seems a singularly smart choice for the chairman's chorci being not only well known but. well equipped» His delivery, diction iaiA general manner are pleasing; he is intelligent and in- formed, without seeming snobbish; glib and humorous without seeming silly. He does the stint with relish and verve. In the four-expert panel (again like "Info") on the second perform- ance of the show this week (15) were Lewis Gannett, book critic of the N. Y. Herald Tribune; Millicent Fen- wick; .an -editor of Vogue; .Russell Maloney, author and mag writer, and Merle Miller, an associate editor of Harper's Magazin^. (On the initial sequence, in addition to Gannett and Bennett Cerf, book- publisher, "Wil- liam Auerbach-Levy, the artist, and li-year-old Linda Nissen.) Remembering the medium it was using,, the caught session made plen- tiful use of visual tests—identifying states by their outlines, pasit U. S. Presidents with .some of their fea- tures blanked out, f ollcsongs sung by an a cappella group, etc. As a conr tinuing, viewer-participation feature, prizes were offered for identification by a televiewer (phoned up by Brown at' the show's close) of a photo screened early in the show. Ques- tions and tests tossed out by Brown were generally • intriguing "and the "experts" performed astutely, flip- ping back alert speculation when they couldn't nail the right answer. Miss Fenwick easily qualified for a regular post'on the panel, being not only a very bright femme but a very videogenic one. She stole the show from her male fellow experts in this week's edition. Of the other three experts—all of whom, it should be noted, pei'formed admirably—the puckish, ear-pulling Maloney, whose caustic comments have earmarks of the late Alexander Woollcott's. looked like,the best bet to enliven future sessions. He never really got ■wound up in this sequence, but there were hints that he could. Format of "Americana"—which gets its title from the fact that it deals with American subjects (but why be so isolationist?)—has the in- herent wealcness from a video stand- point of being talky, but it can re- .duce this eflect through abundant use--<>t visual quiz stuff. Viewers might be^given a slightly longer look at the test articles, to give them more of a chance to compete with the ex- perts. Setting of the show, while it should not distract from the proceect- mgs, might be a little less bare than if is now. Brown is a trifle too easjr Tele Move s Continncitl (Tom .patie JSS'.sb threat, he declared, citing one film topper who finally realized what video might mean when his own kids turned down a chance to" go see a picture because they wanted to watch a tele show. To Revolutionize Show Biz . Tele can be counted on to revolu"^ tionize show biz, McCrary declared. Films and carSj he- pointed out, be- gan taking Americans out of their homes and then radio came along and began putting them back, -Now television will complete the cycle; McCrary declared that, with tele- vision, the public can be expected to go only to outstanding films, which will mean a'n end to double bills and production of B features. Film in- dustry, consequently, will probably revert to the basis of indie produ- cers like Sam Gold"w^n, who turn out. only five - or tcqa-limdgeted films a year; If the film industry doesn^t start renting its oldies and reissues to broadcasters, McCrary warned, tele will turn, to the use of foreign pic- tures "and the comparison won't be good for Hollywood." McCrary also, pointed out "that video can eventually thirow open a wide new market for Hollywood, since it will be able to! use more films in a week than Hollywood turns out in year. He suggested, in addition, that much of the feature footage-that Coast pro- ducers throw away, such as cuts and retakes, could be rounded up into highly-entertaining "tele shows if Hollywood wanted to do business. . McCrary ^revealed that Goldwyii; for. one, had evidTenced enough in- "t'erest in tele to otfer to. finance him in production of .films lor video. McCrary claims> to have turned down the ofEer but will use several of Goldwyn's technicians in experi- menting "with 16m production, lie pointed: out that he and Mrs. McOary (Jinx Falkenburg) bad shot 16m film lor their Bristol- Myers tele show last year and had discovered they could , turn out 20 minutes of film lor Only $1,200. - New Acts News 'Continued from page 26 { ters any> fading and holding over significant items that can't be fitted into the 8 jam. show for the 0 a.m. program,. Biggest virtue of magnetic record- ings, especially the tape variety, lie^ in the ease with which they can be edited. . According to . I«e Bland, CBS director of. special events," the ratio of editing speed- between disk and tape recordings is in the neigh- borhood of 50 to one. Tape record- ings, moreover, permit such line editing that even a note from a bar of music or a syllable from a "word can be removed without detection by the listener in the final form. Recently, when the Coast Guard Cutter. Bibb rescued the do"wned airliner Bermuda Queen, CBS sent a -jecording crew to Boston to cover the ship's arrival in port, In reporting the event, the Bibb's captain said one of the airplane's life rafts Md "bursted." CBS tech nicians edited the word to read ."burst" and gained in grammar what it lost in local color. First major project in which wire recording was used on an air show was Norman Corwln's ''One "World series in January, 1947. With wire being more difficult to handle, the whole works were transferred to tape, edited and then re-recorded on acetate disks for transmission. Broadca.sters are gradually losing their reluctance to bi'oadcast di- rectly from tape which stemmed from a fear that the equipment would break down midway. Tape recording gear, however, is not all that it should be, according to the experts. Although greatly improved over their early models, the machines are still not rugged enough and lack self-contained power supplies for ideal portability Major advances, however, are in the near- offlng. CMS engineers are cur- rently collaborating with equip ment manufacturers on a special electronic .editing-device and some refinements to Increase the fidelity and overall performance of tape recorders. CAMPAGNONS DIE LA CHANSON Sonss-Comedy- ' * ' 17-iains. I/iiUn Quarter, N. Y. Les Campagnons de la Chanson, the 9-man comedy singing group re- cently imported from France, by Clifford C. Fischer, lor display in .the now-closed Edith Piaf vaude- revue at the Playhouse, on Broad- way, is probably one of the most amusing satirical song groups around. If s an act that appeals to the literate, and with a few added touches can widen its mass basis.' As far' as bhoral work and M)ng conception is concerned, there scarcely a group that can equal them. They are equally adept in iniparting sly touches and broad buffoonery. Their offerings are a sapient mixture of both. , Thejr have a sequence oa the interpretation of a French folk-tune as it would be done by an American jazz band, the Don Cossack Choir and a symphony orchestra, that has already, reached classic proportions during the short time it's been seen in this country. They do a ddnkey number that's good for .broad laughter, and. a straight choral number to show," oB their tonal accomplishments, Altogethet thCT do around 17 min- utes, but lor a Continental act that's only a warmup. The various French chansoniers have demonstrated that they can remain on the floor lor in- 'terminable, lengths and they get better as they go along. It's almost an injustice to. inflict time limita- tions on an act of this ^pe. The act could widen its appeal with' English preludes as to what they're doing. Most Yank audiences I don't understand the Ungo, and the Campagnons, like most of the Gallic songsters, could heighten their ef- fectiveness with some charming ex- planations. Jose. PATRICIA WINDSOR , Songs ■ 'SO.JHlns. ' Cotillion Room, N. V. Patricia Windsor marks her nitery debut, having come from operetta, and on her Hotel Pierre showing she irnpresses as toeing plenty OK lotr sound (and sight) in anybody's bistro. A personable blonde, her voice is ol tmquestipned schooling. A choice repertoire geared to the middlebrow taste ("One Kiss," 'Stella by Starlight," "Kashimiri Love Song," "La Boheme" excerpt, "Almost Like Being in Love," etc.) insures popular appeal, especially in a class hotel spot like the CotUlion Room. She has instinctive showmanship, as evidenced by a judicious-use of the mike A/lrhich she further proves could be dispensed with, as she does in'one aria. Anyway, she knows how and when to pitch her high", registers away from the mike. Attractively accoutred and pos- sessed of indubitable talefit. Miss Windsor is a plus value. • She erred only in overlength repertoire, which however was more the fault of an enthusiastic maestro - conferencier than herself. She could (and should) cut one and possibly two ol the en^ cores. However, that's a detail at- tuned strictly to the enthusiasm of the customers or the management. Abel. out being an imitation, in evident ' Stunt, of singing this at an empty -table with portable mike is bmh since Rancourt's acting is natoni and easy to watch and take. "Mmp Uupont" and "Je n'en Connais l4," La Who." are again effectively done ' Raticourt has more personality thnn many French so-so imports; he handsome, unaffected, has an agree, able voice and is perfectly bilingual with a small touch of French ac- cent Lad. is helped by excellent, piano accompaniment done by Gene Parr. As a new personality, Andre Rancourt has something which can be developed to star rating. More. ADA LTNNE Comedy.- . 10 Mlns. Strana; N. Y. Ada Lynne is a stranger to VARimrif's New Act files, although obviously an" experienced performer. A clever and personable girl, she is sometimes guilty of trying too hard, but none the less is a good bet for the deluxers. Miss Lynne opens with impres- sions of Carmen Miranda and Martha Raye, nicely received, but maximum effectiveness is registered in a song telling of the experiences of a WAG, and a medley of parodies. Under her current setup, she's- a - wrap-up lor the matinee audiences, but needs considerable toningdown for the evening crowds. Jose. RALPH BROWN Dmclnf ' 4Mioi. . ■ Apollo, N. ¥.. A Negro rhythm dancer who works in top hat and tails, Brown, impresses as a veteran terper. Somehow he's es» caped VAHtBTX's files. His work is fast and executed with precision. .-. Pacing and -timing, of Brown!s fancy footwork registered among, the customers here. Well received by the house, he should..prove more than adequate in similar vaude and.- nitery dates. DEWEY SISTERS (2) Acrobatic 1 Bftais. St»te, N, Y.,- " - The Dewey- Sisters provide an ef- fective mixture of terps and tumbling' that make them a safev proposition for family ■ vauders. They're a nice appearing pair,. costumed in good taste, and nave 4. set of applause- getting routines. . ' The gals do a comparatively long, siege ol taps before going into the acrobatics. It's the latter that makes the most' headway. They're fast, agile and energetic to fill the re- quirements of actx ol: this type. ^ Joss. ■ JEAN MVRAI Siiurer . 12 Mlns. VilUg« Vanguard, N. Y. Making her pro bow here, Miss Mural warbles lolk and mood tunes to her own accompaniment on a guitar. She does much ol her 'chirp- ing in Spanish and wears an attrac- tive lolk costume to carry out the motil. Her personality Is mildly at- tractive, but she tries too hard, with the result the audience soon loses interest. Miss Murai's pipes are not out- standing, by any means, so it's vital that she develop a very definite style if she is to progress. As it is, her jumping from, one- brand' of song to another proves ineffective. She goes from a' quaint Spanish folk-tune to "Taboo" to "Donkey and the Mule." Without a marked style and man- ner, Miss Mural is too unsophisti- cated for this type boite. Until a few weeks ago she was teaching kindergarten classes in Manhattan, having been a New York public schoolmarm lor the past eight years. Herb. MoHARRIS &. DOLORES ^ Dancing'Slnctaif : 5 Mlns. ,-. Apollo, N. Y. Fast Negro terp turn employmg * singing Intro shows definite possi- bilities. Following the vocaling, where the duo identify themselves as "Dave and, Dolores," team does some brief stepping. Gal, a looker with snappy gams* lades out lor her stocky partner to wham 'em with some solo lootwork. Attempting a novel switch, ferome returns- with roller skates on her slippers. Tries a lew ineffective tap routines. Idea-is good but it's evi- dent she hasn't quite mastered the roller medium. With further ex- perience/ act stacks up as an okay turn lot the vaude and cafe circuits. ANDRE RANOOVRV (») Singing 12 Mins. Zanzibar, Montreal This young French^Canadian bal- ladeer is, without trying to imitate him, the <!loseat thing to Jean Sa- blon. Bancourt's soft voice is at times very much, by tonality, like Sablon's and he can hope to achieve possibly as much success if he dress- es up his Dresentation ."With more material. Rancourt's only mistake so far is to keen his delivery straight. He has to find some exclusive mate- rial. Lad's voice is pleasant even when it drops somewhat too low and be- comes a whisper on some final notes, He sings a French-Canadian origi- nal modern song, "Plus Rien," and follows with "These Foolish Things," where the Sablon tonality Is, wflh- RUTH WALLIS Songs -r ' 18 Mins. Warwick Hotel, N. Y. Ruth Wallis, who recently made the jukebox top selling lists with her platter ol "Johnny Had a Yo Yo'' (De Luxe), shapes- up as a pleasant performer in an itttirae room. She has a nice casual manner that takes much of the sting out ol the double-, entendres, and projects a tune ex- tremely well. Miss Wallis is best when doing more subtle material. Those num- bers take on a sly facade that get maximum appreciation-. She's "Wise in starting off with pops and biiiW- ing up to the all indigo numbers with tunes of various degrees .of subtlety. In this manner she avoids that initial shock which sometimes chilte an audience. She's a good-looking titian, nicely garbed, and an accomplished' galj doing her own writing. She's a staff songsmitb for Mills Music when not working the saloons. Jose. Delfont to Scout U. S. Acts for London Casino London, Dec, 16. Bernard Delfont sails for U, S. on the Queen Elizabeth Jan. 3 to Ime iip talent for the London Casino. House has temporarily abandoned vaudevUle to play annual Christmas- pantomime, "Cinderella," presented by Emile Littler. Theatre resumes its vaude policy Jan. 26, with Olson and Johnson lor a four weeks season. . , -u While in New York Delfont "Will also seek plays and musicals for his gaville and' Garribk Theatres.