Variety (Mar 1948)

Wednecday, Mnirch S, 194S ttouse Reviews Capitoh Wash. - Woshitigton, Feb. 29. " Tex Beneke Orch (30), Lou Wills, jr Marshall Bros. (2); "Tender years" (20tlJ). Usual practice of tossing the cus- tomers a lightweight screen attrac- tion when there's a heavyweight bill on stage baclt-firecl here this. week. Tex Beneke, playing under his own banner rather than the Glenn Miller tab has been a b.o. disappointment, with management gnashing its teeth over faillure of the large nut shelled out, to balance the budget. Seems to be no, reason for n, since the large, well balanced Beneke troupe stacks up well along- side big name orchs which have burst the seams of this Loew house. Payees at Sunday matinee caught displayed plenty enthusiasm for the 50-minUte show, so word-of-mouth plugs may yet pull the Beneke chest- nut out of the fire. u Band is strong on strings, though that section is featured in only one liumber, "Over the Rainbow." Fea- tured soloist of crew, besides Beneke himself, is ace drummer Jack Sperl- ing, Who is plenty flashy in "Halle- luiah," Opening number, Maestro himself handles the batons the sax and vocals with equal ease. Of the straight orch numbers, ''Golden Earrings" is standout, giv- ing Kich section of the bund equal share in honors. Also deserving kudos is- the finale, "St, Louis March," which is just what its name indicates. Arrangements in latter are novel'and effective. Beneke shows here a flair for arranging Which. is missing in some of the other orch numbers, which im- pressed as routine in form. Beneke gets fine returns with a novelty vocal "Rambling Around." "Moonlight Serenaders," three men and a girl, join him in two numbers, best of which is "Chattanooga Choc Choo," handled with style and novel effects. Singers are part of band. Two acts wedged into package are X.OU Wills, Jr., featured' terper in "Wild Irish Rose," and Marshall Bros., team of comics. Wills sings as well as dances, but payees like his terping best. He dances with ease, humor for good- returns. Marshalls are strictly slapstick in a routine of take-offs and gag.s. Resort 'to everything but pie-throw- ing, and succeed in getting laughs most of the time. Imitations are not meant to be taken seriously, pro- gressing rapidlv 'hrough a Sinatra opening to Gang musters, soap opera, Xionel Barrymore, and Peter Lorre. Beneke gets a satisfying amount'of response from the teen-age gallery with his pleasant, una.s-suming man- ner and good looks. All in all, show ; is. worth a better reception at b.o. than it's getting. Lowe. IIK«I, Boston ■ Bo.9tOTi, Feb. 27. BUSS Morgan Orch (16), Lubn Malina, tew Parker. Tip. Tap & Toe; 'Green ]or Trouble" {ED. For a while it looked as' though Music in the Morgan Manner" was going to be secondary to Morgan's bid for a single comedy turn. After theme opener Morgan takes over for about five minuteSi kidding and joking with audience. Follows with band number "Cheerful Little Earl xul ' in neat commercial style, Band has pleasant, easy .style and features a sharp fiddle trio. Morgan leaves no doubt whose band it is, as he Sings "Small Fry," plays trom- bone in all arrangements and winds with medley of his own compositions on piano. His easy manner pleases the .stubholders. Pat Laird, band thrush, does nicely on "Little Old Mill" and "All pressed Up in a Broken Heart." later doing a tap routine. Followed by Tip, Tap and Toe in their -sock standard terp chore. Comedy offerings of Lew Parker were not too solid at opener except In dining room skit. Could use stronger material. Luba Malina, last here in "Marinka." wows : with vivacious manner and fast delivery. Handles tongue-twisting lyrics In paimv Ka.ye manner, scoring heavily m "Someone for Me." Biz okav at openefi Elie. Casino., Lonilon Eojidon", Feb. 24. Olsen and Johnson in "Hellzapop- Vm" with Gloria Gilbert 3 Pttch7?ien, Keaton & Armfield, J. C. Olsen, June Johnson, Wax Bocor?. Clark Bros., Great Alexanders TcoMpe, . Joyce Goldinfli, Louise & Does, Freddie Carprnter's Casino Girls, Harold Collins Orch. a clever dual-voiced' operatic duet^ tor nice returns. Clark Bros., colored dancers, get well earned applause for their in- tricate steps. Max Bacon clicks with comedy patter, ending with a turn at the drums, with Eddie Wtiite at the piano. Closing first half are the Great Alexanders Troupe, springboard acrobats in clever gymnastics and balancing feats. "Hellzapoppin" ran. 30-minutes overtime on opening show but kept 'em happy throughout. Uised to the antics of the local Crazy Gang, audi- ence was prepared for anything, but most of them, judging by their faces, gunshots. (Hannen Swatter, noted British critic, reviews the O-J show more extensively on page 2). were overpowered by the incessant Gloria Gilbert wins applause with her clever dancing and the Three Pitchmen find favor with their musical act. The older the gags the more the public responded, and as- suredly the screen fans of this com- bination will- see that it draws the town. No doubt of Olsen and John.son's popularity and the generous prizes and gifts were also greatly appreci- ated. If the necessary cuts are judi- ciously carried out to fit the time limit, the breaches of good taste should be the first to go-and greatly enhance the stars' prestige in this country, . Clem. Apollo, IV. Y. - Buddy Rich Orch (14) tuith Karen Rich; Hadda Brooks, Johnny Hud- gins, Steve Condos, Streamliners (2); "Phiio Vonce's Secret Mission" (JEL). , ■ i - . Fir.st variety bill to follow the pantomime .season is Olsen & John- son's 60-minute version of "Hellza- poppin ' occupying second half of show. First part iis well-balanced and a pleasing, peaceful prelude to the noise to come. Freddie Car- penter's Casino Girls open with dance routine, followed by Louise and her dogs—a clever animal act With a pony and three pooches do>; mg the usual circu.s tricks. ^•Tnyne GnldinE c'ontribs "I'm a Big Girl Now." dialect versions of "The Charge of the Light Brigade" and Buddy Rich's hot combo heads up new layout at this sepia vauder and pulls all the stops on the loud and slick arrangements this audience goes for. Band is an okay outfit that prelects on a solid beat to win plenty audience appreciation. Bandf comprising three rhythm, five saxes, three trumpets and three trombones, tees off with a sizzling version of "Fine and Dandy," spot- lighting the saxes and other side- men on hot licks. Karen Rich, good- looking vocalist, then works over versions of "Blue Heaven" and "Don't Take Your Love From Me," best on the latter. The Streamliners, mixed sepia team, score with clever tripstering. Band takes over again for "Song Is You" and "I've Got News For You," Rich handling succession of giggle choruses, which sets things for Johnny Hudgins, Negro panto comic. Latter wows with his hockey bit_,and takeoff on dame primping up for a .stroll. Comic then goes into audi- ences and corrals guys and gals-to jitterbug for sustained howls. Of course, its the brace of femme stooges that makes for the best laughs and a begoff. Band socks over another sizzler, "Let's Keep Thin," featuring tenor sax. Hadda Brooks, recording song- stress, of song and pianistics, is quite sharp in both departments. She socks acro.ss slick versions of "li AH Depends on You" and "That's My Desire" for top returns. Num- bers are interlarded with pianoing that's al.so appreciated and gal could have remained On longer. Steve Condos, formerly of the Condos Bros., spots his slick terpinK sessibn next with his "Drum Beat' dance, wherein he cleats to rhythm of .skinbeating, standout Of bis turn. Band takes over again for finale. Edha. Stat«-I.ako, CJif Chicago. Feb. 27. Phil Regan. Boosier .Hot Shots, Johnson & Owen, Ca.Tol King, Lou Breese Orch (13); "The Arjielo Ai- fair"' (M-G). It's doubtful that Phil Reganites will take to the Hoosier Hot Shots and vice versa. Regan still has the elegant dust of the Palmer House's Empire Room on his shoes while the Hot Shots aren't too far from the county fair circuit. All in all, it calls for wide range In taste. Bill opens with Johnson and Owen bounding on for aero stints on high bars. Dapper pair in sport clothes unreel,bar-to-bar flights with comic stuff breathers for steady returns. Carol King, following, toe terps triple measures for okay returns. Regan offers standards from his nightclub familiars. t!asy-mannered singer tees off with "I 'Wish I Didn't Love You so." then "Feudin' and Fightin'." 'Vocalist offs after firm response to "Peg O' My Heart." then returns for "Whiffenpoof Song" and "Dear Old Donhegal" for additional salvos. . „ . Hoosier Hot Shots maize finds a ready market here. Foursome, pla.y- ing bass, guitar, clarinet and wash- board-slide whistle, corral, yocks with broad byplay and bucolic gags. Chief Comi(!. Hezzy. manipulates the slide Whistle and a washboard sprouting bicycle horns. Battle of music has him matching slide Whistle against the clarinet. , Quartet gets brisk response in vocals of "On the West Side of Chi- na.go" and "She Brokp My Heart in Three Placfi.s." 'Medlev of "Bhip Danube," "Anvil Chorus" and "Yankee Doodle" has Hezzy i« fancy work on the horns. For encore, group does a jive job on "Flat Foot Ploogie." Lou Breese Orch makes the most of its spot with the violins spotlight- ed in "Hora Stacatto." Baxt. Oriental, Chi y«onne DeCorlo, King Cole Trio, Jacfc Leonard, Carl Sands Orch' '•Killer McCoy" (M-G>. It's unusual w..en the opening act holds down, the spot in such fine shape that the rest of the show, al- though good, pales in comparison. Show stealer is Jack Leonard, hefty comic, who has developed "a prime stock of fast and (jlean throw- away gags. In addition to his, fun- stering he socks across a couple of tnne.s, "I'll See You in My Dreams" and "My Blue Heaven'" for^ top re- turns. Yvonne DeCarlo, fi'lmster, clicks in her song session. Teeing off with "Dat's Love" from "Carmen Jones," she follows through with "For Every Man There's a Woman" with a bit of hip weaving. In a bit of hokum with orch • leader Carl Sands, she does some of her pic dance routines. Winds with "Ba- balu" for plenty appreciation. King Cole Trio scores in foUowup spot. Combo opens with "Ballerina" and segues into "What'll I Do," "Henry Jones." Electric guitar has opportunity, for good bit of solo work in "Jones," and "Baby, I Need Vou," latter pointed up with comedy bit. Trio finales with their disk fave, "Those Things Money Can't Bjjy" for sock applause. Carl Sands crew shine in medley of songs from Miss DeCarlo's pix. Zabe. Hippodrome, Balto. Baltimore, Feb. 29. Jocfcie Gleason, Elton Britt, Paula Bane;, Four Macks, Jo Lombardi House Orch (12); "If You Knew Susie" (RKO). ■ 47 said, NBC may be forced to make its own picture.s such as is being done by Jerry Fairbanks, who is turning out a-series of 17-minute subjects. May Make Their Own "We're going to need film and if 'Hollywood studios won't malce it available we have only the alterna- tive of making our own," be said. "Sound broadcasting has a lot of lift left in it," offered Mullen, "and I would guess it will stilL be around 20 years from now. AH niedia seems to manage to survive and standard broadcasting will be able to sustain itself for a good many years lo •come." Sitting through a pre.ss conference for an hour, H. V. Kaltenborn, who is airing from here, (juipped to Mul- len as he got up to leave, "well, I guess it's time f6r me to get back to my obsolete medium." television as Arnold-SWG Continued from page } Three singles, two of them vocal- ises, and all routed in successive order, make up the most of this four- act layout. Fourth turn is a quar- tette of roller skaters. Take it from there and figure what became of vaudeville. It takes about 40 mins. to run off and provides spilling time for _ film portion ("If You Knew Susie") which is drawing maximum trade! ^ Follo\<'ing a swingy orchestral bit by Jo Lombardi and his house or- chestra, on stage, Jackie Gleason takes hold as emcee to bring on El- ton Britt, cowboy singer who accom- panies himself on the guitar for typ- ical cowboy and hillbilly ditties in- terlarded with yodeling,. Has a style for this type ofrstint and makes the most of it. Because of available acts Gleason is forced to follow in the deuce \ffith his own routine of swift gaggirtg and comedy impressions and the rotund comic makes it count in spite of the strikes against him. Next comes Paula Bane, legit singing gal who delivers "Falling in Love," "Golden Earrings," "If I'm Elected President," and for encore, "Donkey Serenade." Stubholders re- acted well enough when caught in .spite of excess of music tossed at them but went all out for closing flash by the Pour Macks, mixed roller skating foursome in punchy spins and throws and Just right to give some novelty to the whole busi- ness. The acts are here but the com- bination is all wrong and a little re- prise out of the old book of routin- ing a show might serve the responsi- ble parties here; flwrm. there can be no decision on the fit- ness of writers. If sucli a yardstick could be applied, he said, the stories of O. Henry might be turned down as possible screen material because the writer had served a prison term. "We are not going to talte part in the contempt case,*' he declared. "The Guild is not a legal aid bureau. It should represent only public is- sues—and there is a great public is- sue at stake. It i.s of tremendous importance, not only to the Guild but to every medium of artistic ex- pression, including the press." Arnold's fee for handling the SWG action,' understood to be between $25,000 and $35,000, depending on the length of time the cases require, will not come out of the Guild treas- ury. Fund is being raised by volun- tary contributions from individual members. 10 Writers' $61,108,975 Suit For 'Conspiracy' The indicted 10 writers have start- ed a new legal action, filing suit for $61,108,975 damages, charging pro- ducers "conspired" to drive them from the industry in violation of the State Labor Code. Damages claimed approximate $2,000,000 each, based on individual earnings, plus perpetual restraining order against any blacklist, discrimination. Les- ter Cole, Ring LaTdner, Jr., Dalton Trumbo, Alvah Bessie, Samuel Or- nitz, Albert Maltz, John Howard Lawson, Edward Dmytryk, Herbert Biberman and Adrian Scott are the plaintiff writers. Defendants are Loew's; Inc., 20th- Fox, Paramount, Columbia, RKO, Warners, Republic, Goldwyn, Roach and Universal, along with their top execs, the Motion Picture Ass'n of America, the Society of Indepen- dent Motion Picture Producers, Eric Johnston and Donald Nelson. Raps H'wood Fear Fear ■' — ^ S Continued from page, picture industry, but they're behav- ing just like the press did in the early days of radio. They were dead certain that news broadcasts would wreak havoc on circulation but wliat I happened was that a greater reader- ship was built up than could be han- dled. Television will do the same thing for pictures and I'm confident aft^r we really let rolling theatre attendance will be doubled. Just let us run a flve-minute vignette of a big picture and then watch them flock to the theatres showing it. Not For Sponsors "Hollywood needn't fear any com- petition from television in their main product. No advertiser could afford the cost of an hour and a half running time on 100 stations; Magni- tude of production required for tele- vision's needs is far beyond their comprehension. In another year we could use up in 30 days all the product turned out by HoHywood. Currently video is using equal' thirds for film, field pickups and studio programs." Asked what NBC would do about it if theatres projected the network's programs on their screens without permission or payment, Mullen said, "we'd use their pictures and perhaps we'd both be sued." He declared that a test case will have to be made to clarify rights of appropriation. li Hollywood continues in its tough attitude . toward television, Mullen 3d Fostponement (or the 10 Washington, March 2. For the third time, the trial of the 10 "Unfriendly Witnesses" for "con- tempt of Congress" has been post- poned. Late yesterday (1), Justice Rich» mond B. Keck, of the U. S. District Court, granted a postponement until April 12 in the case of John Howard Lawson, first on the list to be tried. The others are scheduled to follow, one at a time. The case had been slated for March 8. The-"last two postpone- ments have been due to the continu- inf? illness of Rep. J. Parnell Thomas, cliairman of the House un-American Activities Committee, who is re- quired as a witness, particularly by the defense. The last time the ques- tion of a postponement was brought up by defense counsel, who claimed they could not proceed without Thomas. The Government lawyers said they would be satisfied to call other members of the un-American Activities Committee. Yesterday, however. Government lawyers also said they needed Thomas as witness. Hence the post- ponement was at the request of both sides. Pix Unrepped ^ Continued from page 1 ss be on hand for the Pentagon session. Invitations have gone out to some two dozen top-level media execs, but several, including Johnston, won't be able to attend, it has been learned. For the radio industry, Justin Miller, National--Assn. of Broadcasters presty, and an exec of each of the four major networks have been invited. Bids also have been sent to the American News- paper Publi.sher.s' Assn. as well as ■to several lop magazine people.- S5 Continued from broadcasting activities, has announc'* ed NBC's immediate intention of duplicating the best radio shows on video. That will naturally mean dressing up the radio programs with visual accoutrements. It's hoped that out of the idea eventually will emerge new programming techniques ifor radio, as well as for tele. 1 'What's In It For Me?' I That tele has drawn off much of t the lure and glamor from radio for ad agencies, advertisers, talent and execs is Unquestionable, Most of the agencies, for example, report that the first thing their clients say now when they start talking business is, "What's television? Is there anything in it for me?" Confronted with that attitude, the agencies have b.een forced to, delve into tele, whether they wanted to do so or not. Radio talent has manifested increas- ing interest in tele. Video projects undertaken by such top radio artists as Edgar Bergen, Rudy Vallee, Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenburg'dem- onstrate their interest. Others, when permitted, have been more than eager to take a crack at the new medium to see what all the shout- ing's about. Attitude of radio execsi is exempiifled by. NBC, which is gradually 'moving its top personnel from raciio into tele, thereby leaving openings in radio. Current downbeat trend in the film industry has been manife.st for months. Rising production costs, coupled with the slumping domestic boxoffice and near-collapse 'of the foreign market, has that industry casting about for a way out of its morass. Tele, according to some fllmites, may provide just the hypo needed to give a lift to the industry, which hasn't seen a real innovation since the advent of sound 20 years ago. Leading producers envision add-' ed revenue by turning out film's especially fop tele. Twentieth-Fo* has already paved the way by selling its newsreel to television. Exhibitors; although still uncertain of tele's po- tential threat or value to them, are beginning to see a lucrative field in theatre' tele. Legit theatre, although it's enjoyed a comparatively good season on Broadway since last fall, is also in a static condition. More Equity mem- bers are out of work today than ever before and the opportunities for tyro playwrights and producers aro equals ly slim. Tele is expected to benefit that medium, too, by offering count* less opportunities for talent and pro« duction personnel. Video will also be instrumental, it's felt, in booming an interest in legit throughout the country. • Blstcos In the Re^ Niterles and vaude can be classed together^ as far as. business condi-' tions go. With an end to the easy- money era of the war years, most of the key city bi.stros have been op- erating in the red. Big names^ which can draw business, are scarce and most of them still expect the sam^ kind of top money they received previously, despite the slump in biz, , Lesser<lights,' on the other hand, although they'll work for less coin, won't draw business. Significant is the recent fold of vaude at Loew's State, N.Y., until, then the nation's leading vaude stronghold, and of the Carnival, N.Y., nitgryj which de- cided to shutter until another top name was available. While tele may not provide the means to bolster vaude and nitery bis, immediately, it will offer job oppor- tunities for the talent thrown out ol work. And, at . least as far as telt officials are concerned, the medium .may eventually tioost that part of the entertainment biz. Video set.owners,, they think, will have a chance to see many experienced and new perform-, ers on their receiving sets and will consequently desire to see, them in veal life as well. That, according to the tele officials, should turn the trick. in addition, tele itself will revive some of the activity now dead to vaude and nitery performers. Video's emphasis on variety shows has al- ready given promise of returning to life the aura of the old two-a-day vaude. Very fact that the Major Bowes Amateur show has been re-^- vived on tele indicates what the me» dium can mean for tyro performers, for example. ' As for the music industry, it's be- lieved, doubtful ihat video can do much to perk up the recording biz or road stands of topname bandsi But, as soon as the American Feder- ation of Musicians settles \4th the tele industry, the new medium is ex- ■pected to welcome live musicians with open arms. With new stations springing up across the country, tele should offer plenty of job oppor- -tunities to unemployed musicians.