Variety (Mar 1948)

ss New Acts 80NALD mCHABDi 45 Mint. „ . lert Boom, N«w TTork Donald Richards is virtually making his N. Y. nitery debut al- thoush, on a couple occasions, he has doubled under emergency from "Ionian's Rainbow' of which he's the iuve lead. A personable bari- tone of fine voice, Richards should ouallfy in the saloon circuits, esnecially with such a smash musi- cal as his Broadway background. The above indicated 45 mins, running time is obviously a mis- take It will doubtlessly be trimmed after the premiere en- thusiasm at the Waldorf-Astoria is discounted. He's generous to a fault and if the idea is to engage Jn a vocal tour de force good self^ editing—such as those three cycles' of doing everything in threes— wopld automatically correct mat- ters. The triple trio embraces three excerpts from other musi- cal hits ("Fellow Needs a Girl," "BfeSt Things in Life Are Free" and "June Is Busting Out All Over"); a trio of excerpts from ''Finian's" (a natural enough idea); and far down in the routine, after a second encore, he does an oper* atic trio. And that is really carry- ing the trey too' far. Especially considering "Romantic Guy," "But Beautiful," "The Whip," an Air >■ Corps parody on "Whiftenpoof" and the inevitable "Glocca Morra." Not that he doesn't appeal al- most all the way but the leave-'em-. hungry show biz adage should ob- tain at some point in Richards' eongalog. The Air Corps stuff, in- cidentally, is nicely dovetailed with a salute to Charles Segal, his pian- ist (aiid also his sergeant in the AAF). Robert Lamouret, the French ventriloquial comedian who clicked In London in the Sid Fields variety revue, and repeated on Broadway , at the Roxy, proves himself plenty OK in the niteries, following Rich- ards. Only clash is the repetition of the "Figaro" operatic excerpt wliich the singer does legit, and which Lamouret repeats as part of his slapstick shaving hokum with his Donald Duckesque ventriloquial puppet. It's obviously more neces- ^6ary to the Frenchman than Rich- ards, hence the. latter should edit It out. For the rest, Emil Coleman, now quite the grand old man of class hotel and nitery maestros—he's been prominent on the podium for almost- a third-of-a-century, and remains among the best baton- Vdelders extant-^ontinues with his smart dansapation. And Mischa Borr, despite his un-Latinesque Cognomen, dispenses a brand of dance music that would qualify him for top membership in the daiqui'ri-carioca-paso doble unions the world over. . Incidentally, in face of current ease-off in N. Y. nitery biz the Wal- forf-Astoria's Sert Room seems to* e holding up nicely^ Ambrose at the tape is still a busy gent, even tinder present standards of cafe- caterbig. Abel. GENE McCARTBT * TOAUiY FARRELL Comedy 18 Mins. Falmer House, Cbi Gene McCarthy, no newcomer at platter byplay, and Tommy Farrell, *ecn on Broadway in "Barefoot Boy With Cheek," are happily ac- commodated in Max Shulman's first try at nitery routining. Team, opening at dual mikes on chest- nigh stand, satirizes disk jocks, radio commercials, and hoke plat- «er lyrics in crisp, punchy style. /Mugging and panto stuff are tightly dovetailed with disks played by engineer. For Red fngle-Jo Stafford recording of Temptation" (Tim-Tayshun), Me- J-arthy dons a bandanna head- P¥pe and pumps a prop accordion ywie Farrell saws at a pocket-size noale. Stint drew salvos from ppchlng night aud, fWlowed by heavy hand for similar treatment S«r Bing Crosby singing . Wail 'Till the Sun Shines Nelly." li.i^^.r.^'^hy scores solo in clown- Klrsten Plagstad's trilling of , Valkyrie," a sharply con- ceived satire of operatic posturing, i?.. talteoff on newscasters, pair recite stock news oddities with trick payoffs. Both have a lendency to drop unctuous radio l^l^^'L*""® while yocks come fast and hard. Turkish disk is weak- closer in comparison to preceding platters. uver-all act is firstrate for class ""OMes. Baxt. VITOLA ~ , Comedienne JP Mins. Havana Madrid, N. Y. ««]w3*2'^' according to the intro 2f ?ii her here, has done a lot and nitery work through- out Latin America, but this rep- resents her ftrst time in a New York club. Gal is a hawk-faced, grotesque, character, with an ul- tra-long and thin body which she contorts into freakish postures for the basis of her comedy. In addi- tion, she has a goo.d soprano voice, which is apparently well-trained and which she uses deftly to kid the classical operatic arias. Grotesque posturing and comedy thrushing could probably fit her for the title of the Latin Cass Daley. Right now, however, she lacks both the timing and comedy- knoWhow of Miss Daley. As a re- sult, tKe solid laughs she builds up with her first appearance rapidly dissipate as she repeats with the same routines for three numbers in a row. As is the case with all gro- tesqueries-the audience soon tires of looking at ct-azy stances. She'll have to add more to her act, con- sequently, if she's to catch on. 5tal. possibilities for smarter niteries, once they get themselves some new routines and better costuming. As presently constituted the trio reminds slightly of Jack Cole's ideas, but the basic conception seem to have gone astray in the stagings. One spot sets a takeoff on Indian dances with jive interlinings. Idea may have looked good, and per- haps with some new. conceptions might work into a solid sequence. Other 'section of the act is a nicely worked out canto of ballet- modern that sets well for their first impresh on the audience. As a group they impress as potent dance talent in the modem-satirical vein. JUDY GERSHWIN Songs".' IS Mins. Ruban Bleu, New York Heralded as from a radio back- ground, Judy Gershwin evidences the accent on the mike technique but she is effective, none the less, in person. In an intimate boite like the Ruban Bleu she. could dispense with the amplification because her personality is good and she projects on both counts. Thrush probably has chirped with bands judging by her tech- nique. She's in the modem rhythmic idiom as she unreels "Still Get a Thrill," "Got a Crush On You," " 'Swonderful" and "Don't Blame Me." Nicely attired, that hennaed streak on her fore- tresses is a conceit which means little either way. "'Swonderful," of course, is one of her famed kin's better tunes but she makes no capital of her in-laws, George and Ira Gershwin. Songstress is the wife of Arthur Gershwin, their youngest brother, and himself an incipient songsmith. . Miss Gershwin is okay for the class nitery league and suggests greater scope with schooling and extended materiaL Abel. Variety Bills WEEK OF MABCH .24 Numeral* In canncetkm wHIi blUi b«I<kW indicate openlnK day «r «h«w whether fuH or K|>ttt week. Letter in iiiireiithefleH IntlK'iitesi elreiilt: (1) Indepenileut; (T.) I'.oew; l-aramuliiit; (R) KUO; (H) StoU; (W) Warner YanK Show Biz Continueil fromi page I ; CONDE Litis Magician 12 Mins. El Chico, N. Y. Conde Luis hails from Madrid and is making his American debut with his routine of standard cards, rope, ciggie, paper, candles, bal- loons and handerkerchief trickS; He runs the gamut, doing too much, but is cute in personality and dia- lect as he projects the few neces- sary American words he has not quite mastered. The unfinished linguistics are a plus but the sur- plusage of routine should be edited down. He should, of course, dis- card the corny 'American flag busi- ness, apparently injected as insur- ance." ■ ■ He doesn't need it because he's a seasoned manipulator who- can fill his spot with showtnanly entertain- ment. Abel. FERNANDA CRESPA Dancer ■ 10 Mins. El Chico, N. Y. First time in America, Senorita Crespa impresses on her whole- some Latin good looks and an authentic terp style that holds the customers and registers in both halves Of her routine. She breaks it up by being brought back for a reprise of an Andalusian routine: Opener is a Spanish fantasy and. a fiesta number, with- and without castinets^ She's an exicting looker and her dance .sequences bespeak intensive schooling. She'll impress generally, as she goes along, not being confined to atmospheric boites like El Chico which is dom- inantly Latin. Abel. MINDY CARSON Songs 12 Mins. . Club Charles, Baltimore Attractive songstress displays considerable know-how in selling a vtocal. On the wholesome and clean-cut side and gowned accord- ingly, she liandles own introes and utilizes a good change of pace. Opens with "Got a Feeling I'm Falling," following up with "But Beautiful"; a brace of Gershwin tunes; "But Not For Me," and "Someone to Watch Over Me." Good spot of rhythm, "Feathery Feeling" strong closer. Encores with her current recording seller of "Pianis.simo." Should be able to hold a potent spot in any company. Bwrm. DAVID NILLO DANCERS (3) Dance 10 Mins. Copacabana, Miami Beach Young trio of terpers, compris- ing two lads and girl, show distinct more than 1,000,0Q0 marks ($100,- 000). The top-grossing Yank' play to date is John van Druten's "Voice of the Turtle" which has brought its author 110,213 marks ($11,000), according to the latest CAD sur- vey, in blocked currency. Royalties are fixed by the CAD (which clears all plays before they can be staged in occupied zones) at 10% less a Slim not exceeding 3% deductible for translations. Next in order as moneymakers are Robert Ardrey's "Thunder Rock" which has earned the playwright 82,789 marks ($8,- 300); "Skin of Our Teeth" bring- ing Thornton Wilder 80,844 marks ($8,000) and S. N. Behrman's "Biography," netting 76,951 marks ($7,700). Dramatizing the intense activity with Yank works, ther» have been five times as, many 'American plays produced by the Germans than that of any other of the occupying forces. The British, for instance, have had only six of their, plays staged and the Russians, generally regarded '^s the most active prose- lytizers of the Germans, no more than the British. 60 Plays; First Musical Some 60 plays have been cleared by the CAD for use in Germany and Austria and the division is now working on. musicals with "Oklahoma!" a probable first. In Germany, 604 theatres and music halls have been licensed by the Yank army officials. So far as Aus- tria is concerned, 16 plays have already been produced with "Life With Father" the ranking favorite. Playwrights Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse have garnered 34,- 380 Austrian shillings ($3,400) as royalties. [Both shillings and marks figure 10 to the dollar.] "The Germans were taught un- der Hitler for many years that no culture could compare with their own," a CAD official said, explain- ing the Army's program. "It's our job to win them to democracy and one of the best ways is to demon- strate that American entertain- ment shapes up as well as their own. We think we're on the right track because attendance Is hold- ing up so well." , Radio, film, music and art and periodical sections of the' CAD are also stepping up their programs. So far as pix are concerned, some 54 theatrical shorts and 22 non- theatricals have already made the rounds of the German flickeries. Some 27 more are being processed and will hit the theatres shortly. Packaged Entertainment In Germany, booking of Army- designated shorts is compulsory. They're included in a package with newsreels and a feature for the theatres. Besides, 150 prints in 16m are also prepped for each pic for showings at information cen- tres, labor unions, youth groups and other organizations. Program will be considerably zipped, up in the near future since the Army has a $600,000 untapped appropria- tion for the purpose. It spent $900,000 last year preparing its program. Going has been Slower in Japani but CAD expects to go full-tilt with the Nips during the coming year. Five plays, "Yellow Jack," "Abe Lincoln in Illinois," "On Borrowed Time," "Ethan Frome" and "Our Town" have been cleared for Japan and are currently being translated. Brigi General Robert A. Mc- Clure, commanding the CAD, planed to Japan last week to give the program further impetus. He's surveying the field and checldng into theatre facilities in that coun- tipy. One poser in Japan is the problem of piracy since the coun try has a history of copyright pla NEW YORK riTI Capitol <r.) «5 Tex Beneke Ore Dean Mai'tin .lerry Lewis Miitttc Hull (1) lilt Paul Haakon vSlephanle Anile' l^aul Franke ,; A. -\ii(ire(i tk Bonnie Beiiak & Elaine Rotkelteij corps de Ballet Olee Club. Sym Ovc: I'liriimoiiiit . (P) .34 T^oni.*! Pt'ima B(l Dick *, Dot Remy . Roxy (() 24 A>'t M ooney Ore Gafli- Sis Betty Rruce Al Bern I e SitlU-l Flippeta Strand (W) Claude ThornhiU O Helene Sr. Howard Morey A;mHterdain BRONX Windsor (1) ^«-«8 Danny Drayson ^ Ladd Lyon Bdtlie Hanrey Morgan Sla (two to fill) BROOK liYN li'ltttbuHh (I) '^6-%8 Bobby Rollins Beau Jenkins Skating Marks Foran Sis QlJ.IHlflNS .Tamaim (I) »4-«7 Ai Schenk C Fredericks Co Kayos Bobby Winston .) Hurley Bruce Howard Oriental (I) IB Nellie l.utcher Tito Gulzar (taudamlth Bros Carl Sands Ore , (one to nil) Regal (D i!« Wdie Vinson Bo The Ravens Qeo H ud son Bd I'huck & Brown Owen Tinea HAUTKOKI) Siiit« (I) n\--i» Horace .Heidt Sliow .UOI.YOKU valley Arena (1) 2« only Gene Krupa Ore Al Srfienk ;i Miniie Men belage & Rlilrley (one to fill) MIAMI Olymvin (P) -114 Latinos Olt^s Carrer Elton Brltt Sybil Bowan. ■ Curryi ByrA , & LeBoy j MKWAKK Adanig (1) M Henry Busse Ore Vic Damone ,laok Leonard Emerald Sis PATEKSOTf Mnjeotlo (I) ,1 & T Nip Mllo Sc Moran Hermlne Candv Stevens Hermine's MldKets «0-31 B & .T Peterson .10 & .toey Mack Jimmy .limae Co Al Schenk. R & M Carnevale CARL AND FAITH SIMPSON AND THEIR HVMORETTE8 Rtfll at Ireland Reatanrant, N. Y. Per. Met. TYfcER MASjON EDI>1E SIWITH AGENCY ISOl Broadway New York Bagatelle Dorothy RoSs Bine An|;el Douglas Byng : . Alice Fearce . . , , Marc Lawrence •giariaihs running back many years, ncita Rhythm By» Lucky & Lea .lane Frazer P McWlUlams Co ATKANTIO eiXY Casino (1) »(l-i8 Georgia Gibbs Ro?B & Stone Stage McMann 3 .Tim "Wong Troube The Londons BALTIMORE Hippodrome (I) 4 Fast Steppers Gary Morton Clark J>ennts State (I) 26-%1 Malone & Sharon ,Gina Thomas Terry & Crals , 3 Co-Elds 28-Sl Renee & .Tim Thelma Baker York & Pierce M MoClanaihan BOSTON Boston (R) iiS John Calvert The Extremes ■ (three to (111) CAMDEN Towers (I) 2«-»8 The Tanos Gae IDixon .limmy Jiinae Co Steve Bvans . Nat'hane Brorf CBICAOO Staterfake (P> M Kaijhryn GTayson Johnny Johnson .Ian Murray . Cardens,a Caetle Sl« PHllABETMhlA' Carman (1) !B5 "Walter Waltiers Jr Pansy the Horse Ij & A Anders Duke Norman READING Bnjah (I) %S-27 Eddy Arnold Rev BOCKFORD Palace (l).-.!ie "Strike Up Fun" Paul & Paulette S Blair &, Barnett Nardlne & Nadyne Ann Suter Bill Snyder Paul Walker Oro SFRINGIIEI/P Court Sq (I) 25-28 Anson Sis Benny MeroiC K McLaughlin Arthur Donnelly Billy Carr Betty Percy WASHINGTON Howard (1.) 2fi IFreda Bhys s Maureen Gannon C North & Marcla Debonairs HoAvavd (I) 2« Duke Ellington (J, Moreland & Hurray George KIrby Peck & P^ck. WOON800KET Capitol (I) 28 only •Tack Oleson P Mason & Pals Bud & OIlie Tenner & Betty (two to All) Fats Pichon €11 (T Jackson Edmund Hall Ore . China fita XCatharine Chantt: .Tack Soo Laurie Long ' 3 Cantons Matt TUck Noro Morales J Fra.se OoiiacalMina Jerry Lester Qnv\ Ravass:sa D'AU'gelo & Vanya .Si.:sHr. Graves Miriam La Velle Sacasas Orn . ' Iceland Boyd Heath C & F Simpson . Calnger Kinney , > Ben Ribblo Oro Jack Ripley Line' Hotel Edison Henry Jerome Ore No 1 iltth Ave Joan Casto Hal Hackett Har.el Webster Downey & Fonvlile Hotel Belm't-riaza Georgie Price Eddie Stone Oro Machito Ore Hotel niltmoce Larry Green Ore : n INirecarao Ore Hotel Commodora Eddy tloward Ova Hotel LextOKton Pineapple Oro Hotel New Yorker Shop Fiiilds Ore Marshal Beard Phil Romayne Terry Brent Jay Martin Muriel Pack .lanlee Hamilton Hotel Pennsylvania Dick Jurgcns Oro Hotel Flerra .Taclc Parker torn Scott Hoetor & Byrd Van Smith Ore Chas Reader Ore Diamond Horseshoe Mata & Hari Choral Octet H sandier Ore Alvereis Mora Juenger Ballet Line Hotel ria» Hiidegarde •Toel Herron Oro Saivatore Gioe Hotel BooBeTeil Lawrence Weik Ore Hotel St Morlti Menconl Ore Hotel St Reel! Dave Apoiion Hal Saunders Oro Kvalyn Tyner Rosalind Oourtrlsht Laszlo & Pep] to Hotel Tatt Vincent Lopez' Ore Charlie Drew . Jelf Clay Michael Dnrso Oro Fernando' Alvarez O El Chleo Fernanda Crespa Conde Luis Victoria Barcelo Rita & RoKino Los Panchos BRITAIN • CAKDIS-F New Theatre (S) 22 .SlefiflHilf Beauty Freddie Forbes Nlta Croft Phil Strickland Bert Murray Btllle Love rsabei Marden Bill Dunckley Leon & Klkl Hamilton Robins Sidney Trevelya.il Vilma Do Boer Robs & Globe Gle Balmoral i ' Charles A.ncaflter Beaton's 12 Juves , CHISH'ICK Empire (S) 22 20 Questions' S MacPherson F Bamberger Max Geldrey V Civclist. Trp Flacit & Lucas Terry I-lall ' F Marx & Iris Daring Darlta HACKNEY Empire (K) 22 Harry ParrS- « Gftorge Lacy -Wilson Keppel & .Betty .'Skadng Typhoons Saveen XmCBHTER Valuer (R) 22 Robin Ricltmona Organ Odrs ."ing M & H Nesbit , liaha & Rudas I 'ijdftie Reindeer J Kavanagh Al & Vic Farrell lioreen Victor I^ONDON Stoll (8) 22' Stars on Ice Palhullum Jean Sablon Casino . Olson & Johnson Pitolimen Gloria Gilbert MANCHESTER Hippodrome (S) 22 Good 2 Shoes Ronald Frankau Sonny Jacobs Jack Stanford .Toan Davles .Toy Hayden Sttieddle Bros Sosamund Belmore Agar Toung 2 Stuart Pearce Braemar Pipers Tiller Girls .. .. Terry .luvenlles SlIEPH'BDS BUSH Empire <S) 22 TTai Monty •Seamon & Farrell Chas Cameron Ravel Singinflf Miner's 3 A'berdonianS' Floyd & B'Nay WOOD GREEN Empire (8) 22 Radio Forfeits Mooney & King Philippe & Marta Archie EIray Leslie I/cster Durosa 4: Cabaret Bills NEW YOBK CITY ViWa Larkin t Hal Cpoko .Fane .Harvey Cufe Society (Downtown) -Tlnimle Sogers Glnrilo Powell Embawr 3 Flames Belmonts Fisher & WhiSa . .Louis Varapo Or* Jose Cortes Oro ' Harem Dlosa Costello Eltssa Jayne .Tohn Elliot Nevada Smith Desi Arnaz Ore Art Roman O . HavunnTMqdrhi . Joaquin Garay PiiaV' Gomez , VoUta. Argueso Taylor Line Saecaasaa Ore Hotel Wanvleh Alan McPaige % Jan August I4| .MnrtlnlQM .Taolc Carter Fi'anoes Faye Freddie Stewart Ralph Font Oro Taylor jjine IjCoii 8i Eddle'a Kddie Davis. Art Waner Oro Sherry Britloo Nils & Nndyne . Lyda & Yannl Toby Deane >^effgy Palmer . ^ Danny SUlllvan Shepard Line. Old RonmaalMI Sadie B.mhs Don Tannen Bella Smaro Joe LaPone Or« D'Aquila Ore Essex lIODse Erwin Kent Ore Latin Quarter ' Frank Libuse . Nick Lbng Jr ■ Marian Mannera Radio Aces Patricia Adajr C & T Valde* Arthur Laurent . Bon VIvante Vincent Traven O , Ruban RIeB Pierre Cnnler ' Judy Gershwin Mervyn Nelson Daphne Hellman ■ Franklin & Moor* . Nermann Paris S Wally Blacker SpI'vy'e Spivy Mary McCnrly Hayes Gordon Versailles Carl BrlsBon Bob Grant Or* Panchlto Oro VUlace Plnte Pete Kay C&role Gordaoo ic CorlaM Populalren * Buccaneert Or^ VUlsR^ V«aiinr« Paula Drake Max KamlDsky t ' Shaye Oogan ' Melrose Colbert Don Fryo Waldorf-Actarfa ' Donald Richardi Lamouret Emil Coleman Or* Or* Misha Borr CHICAGO Blaekhnwk Art Kassel Gloria Hart F Ray '& D Nardo Mimi Waiters Chez Fare* Marty Gould Ore .TacklO' Green Jack Cole Dancers Joe Kovae Orch ' Ches Adorables 12 Connie Haines Hotel Blachstone Ray Morton Ore * Luclenne Boyer' Hotel BInnarfe J Sudy Ore Benno Delson O Tracy Sisters (2> Leonore Georgie Gobel Paulens (2) ■ IlelslBg* Al Morgan Bill Chandler Ore Alwite & Blue Mllve Young B Bdsewat^r Bcaek G)i Maison Myrtll & PIcaud George Olsen Ore The Chords (2) Preston Lambert Marian 'Fedele D Hild Dancra (12) Hotel .Sherma* Horbio Fields Or* Kay. Starr ■ Sonny Howard Mead J..UX Lewla Cart Marx '. liatln Quartt* ' Sonny Mars Gomez Rhumba Or .Jackie Hilliard Winn Seeley Palmer Hoas* Skinnay Ennls Ore Rosalind Courtrlght McCarthy St. Par'I C Kaly Dncrs (4) Xionora Edwin We Danped | ss Continued from page I (jsgjl , tion, I believe tliat all such mat- ters are automatically taken can of by the Breen Office. To give titose of you who have never had tlie expeirience an ex- ample of what it .was' like from the standpoint of blood, sweat- and tears, 1 can only tell you what happened to me. I was a social director .for seven summers. At these various places there were always a lake, a golf course an4 tennis courts. But I never got to use any of thiese extremely, please ant facilities. The sun never visited my face or body. I lost from 10 to 20 pouiids in the course of the three months by the arduous process of furnishing entertain- ment seven nights a week, and all- day long whenever it rained. Any- thing we could: think of to keep a guest froni checking -out was part of the job. Possibly one of the rea.sons 1 whisper little prayers at night that my pictures will be good, is that, although I believe it was the greatest training ground in the world, I never want to go back to it. And I wish all of my fellow alumni the same^