Variety (Jan 1949)

46 REVIEWS Wednesday, January 19, 1949 Night Club Reviews Copttcaliana, IV. V. M'xtzi Green, Carl Ravazza, Susan |[ Fred Batry, Paul Godkxn, The tattlers (4), Linda Lombard, Herb Verna, ballroom terpers, take spot to Rubciistfcin's "Romance," and ex- hibit smooth mid-air turns and fast shoulder spins, Rhumba rendition of "Tonight We Love," music box George, Line (81, Michael Durso j ^jagi^i^g "Dark Town Strvitters and FcrnoTido Alvares Orchs; spe cinl music by Gordon Jenkins; lyrics. Tom Adair; staged by Douc/- las Coudy; costumes designed by Billy Livingston; $3.50 minimum. With Mitzi Green getting top bill- ing, flanked by Carl Ravazza and the Barrys, the nevir Copa show doesn't lack for money values, It has the entertainment ingredients to satisfy most tastes,. There are oecasionaL, items that don t uphold the Copa's high standard but, by , and large, the current production j gj^g^g game enthusiasm. Max Shul has good taste and performers ot ^g^.g material possesses satirical proven ability. twists In writer's hilarious style. This is another repeat date for i but in patter form doesn't project i^r i « ' ' nmvi/irliannn I 1. r^AM>k#1lAM&'' Aacv style BHu. Ball," and Paso Doble also bring good returns. McCarthy and Farrell deliver same material as last year, with no deviation even in pantp_^rou- tines to disks. After takeoff on disk jocks, pair mimics Crosby ana Martin's "Lilly From Laguna' and Crosby and Jolson's "Spaniard That Blighted My Life." Returns are mild, although mugging gets titters from ringsiders. McCarthy cuts up with pantoing of Flagstad g "Valkyrie" but onlookers don t Ikw Acts Miss Green, a versatile comedienne whatever the medium of entertain- ment. She's feetting to suggest her- self more and more as "the young Souhie Tucker" in the way she works, though without the blue stuff that Miss Tucker uses. How- ever the voice and the way she here; Comedians' easy . vitality make up for somewhat slug- gish pace. Miss Knight keeps patrons In palm of her hand during renditions of standards and her recorded hits, "Mv Grandfather's Clock," "You Leave Mt- Breathless," "Embrace THE TITANS A symphony in Motion. Currently touring with BOB HOPE SHOW. Contact Harry Rogers Agency Pantagos Theatre Bldg. HoUywooa,. Calif. PAUL & PAULETTE TRIO Trampoline | 10 Ml»s. Latin Quarter, N. Y. TWO males In bellhop garb and a cute looker are a youthful and attractive trio, with the girl (wife of one) supplying considerable beaut dressing. She does some standard stunts on the trampoline to give the indication that she s not along just for the looks that she supplies. The younger of the males Is Jimmy Garner, _ former AAA trampoline champion, and he per- forms some difficult tricks with consummate ease. . ■ There aren't many acts of this type around any mote, but for the time there is still available in the vauders, they can play any of them. Plus the larger niteries, top Kahn, Apollo, the boys impress as an ac> complished group, but lack the polish and finesse that further sea- soning will probably give them, ' Rhythm outfit comprises piano, electric guitar and bass. Did three numbers here, "Gonna Laugh at You 1,000 Times," "Wrapped Up in a DreamV >and a punchy novelty, "Ad-ee-yah," Pianist generally carries the melody, with vocal backing by his mates. On the whole, Do-Ray & iSle is an okay cocktail unit for the more modest nitery spots using this type talent. Gilb. tosses off a lyric or a line—these ;and "My Fickle Eye,' are indelibly ^M>ss Green s ov\n go^gj-tress makes large room seem ■ showmanly attributes, ana uie i ._4..„,;j„ ,i„,«,ina mntn: nar- 'like intimate drawing room, par- opening-night mob went for her in , (.jj.j,ja,.iy ^y^en singing to male ring- sock fashioft _ : Siders via roving mike. Encores Some of her new material may | .j^j,jjj^g ..Salmon,'' one of her earlier not be as effective as the stuff she s j,gpjjj.jj^gg ..Lass With Delicate used in the past, but there s no | ^.^ ,, and finally, the much re- doubt as to her ability to hold an i ^^ ' ^gj ..LUtle Bird Told Me." audience. For an hilarious closer, t „ . she satirizes Kay Thompson and the Williams Bros, GerieroiiS offerings and easy charm captivate audience for a bejgolli - . J . „ i„„*,j ~ Barclay Allen neatly backs Miss Green is doing aroiind a ^^^.^^ ^^^^^^ keyboard. Orch virtually no change in his material, halt-hour, opening with neatly for the dance, and opening show he was wonder- tro in which she lyri^^^es .Mi^u-^ i ^^^.^ Abbott Dancers' lively step-, j„g out loud whether the place Carousel, Pitt Pittsburgh, Jan. 14. naroey Stone, Shirley Lane, Ralph DeStephano Orcli (5); $3- ?3.50 mitiimMm. : This is a return engagement here for Harvey Stone, who was a big hit W Same room last summer, and the going's a bit Tougher. That's because comic has come back with light in being back .in New York after Hollywood, Then a para- phrased version of "Mahzel" which fs passablv effective, followed by her inevitable capsule imitations^qt name personalities,: namely Mae West, George Arliss, Ted Lewis and Sophie Tucker, imper-, j^^--- jjigsa' Costello, Xavier sonalions, as usual, aie auinen , p ^ q , (jeorgie Tapps, Tony tic, but the mateiual that goes with , DomiArden iginai, QOBMi i cii ^ , R„„,„, Dams. Music and hincs I ping is in usual top form. Greg, j Copa Chy, Miami Beadi I Miami Beach, Jan. 12. i Henniy YoMngman, Jack Gole had changed. Everything he ; did was boffo last time, and now Stone was havihg a hard; time ■v^iarininl 'eni up. Vr'/v'- Evehtually he did, howeVer, but it took tod long, arid he had reason to fee arid look worried. They start- ed responding, however, when he got into the wife routine and were S »"*°'lfe Mr^SlllJient ^L^\Y'J±%.J^lt°Z'\.J.Z- which has virtually become Stone's MAXINE Sones „■■■: 9 Mins. Raleigh Ro«m, N. Y. The singularly labeled Maxine, who vocaied with the Phil Spitalny band several years ago, has been on her own for some time, but has so far escaped attention of the New Acts files. During the inter- vening time, it seems she's upped her voice placement several notches, singing more in the mezzo register than in the contralto groove. The vocal elevation lends a lighter and more graceful char- acter to her work. Maxine is an authoritative sing- er who infuses feeling, into her work and getting maximum re- sponse out of "Maybe You'll Be There" and "Don't Take Your Love From Me." She does well on the rhythm tunes as well. She's okay for most cafes and vaude. Jose. FRANKIE QUE Dancins 9 Mins. Apollo With a smooth, effortless terp- ing style, Frankie Que is better than the average male hoofer who struts at the Apollo. His shuffling is done with an air of precision. Unfortunately, however, he con- fines his proficiency to vei-y few routines. There''s sameness to, the sepian Que's stepping which is the more, accentuated by the relatively long time he's onstage. Either the use of more varied terping or addition of a line of patter would provide a better change of pace. Turn needs more development before it's ready for the more lucrative vaude and nitery bookings. Gilb. them, \\hile original, tirelv come off. "Molly . McGee." lament of a $4:BarrrGra« VtHe Lounge^M ^^.^^^^^^^^^ shopgirl, is ovet-writlen but Mis^ i „„ miliimum. " i V:.^'J5'!'?i?,\__"L,i°"".^'„ i?^L Green, on sheer talent alone, makes of it more than the material de NOBLE TRIO Acrobatics S Mins. Apollo, N. Y. Comprising two males and a femme, the ofav Noble Trio do expert acres on parallel and hori- - zontal bars. Rapid-fire routines are done in a comic vein. For a climax the males do head- stands atop the parallels. Attached to their noggins is a special brace to which the ends of a short rope is made fast. Gal partner then spins in mid-air with her teeth clenched in the center of the line. It's a novelty that produces sock DO-RAY & ME (3) Songs, Instrumental 11 Mins. Apollo, N. Y.. This sepia, all-male instrumental trio is one of many similar units results. Trio is fine for vaude, but RprvoS And if there are any i j. doubts there is that Thompson bit, i show on tap in this plush^iest of In which Miss Green perfectly sug- niteries. Bests her subject in both voice and mahner, and even to that^ slack-1 outfit costume that Miss Thomp 1 Jackie Heller, who owns place and; , , „ X. r , 1 serves as host and m.c, wasn't Tliere's another well oalanced i around, having been on sick list for couple of weeks, didn't help Stone' any; Hellei-'s a shot 4n the arm for all performers vi^ho play his Carousel; his - intros .arid hold he has over the clientele here have Trio of toppers on tap wrap up, with the Jack Cole dance group affects. Thr'wiuTams Bros. 1 practically stealing the show with have been cut down , to two, the "brothers" in the Copa act com- prisii)? Fred Barry (of the Barrys) and Herb George, production singer. Ravazza is generally effective in his personality songstering though their modern dance interps. On in two spots, led by Cole; the trio of femmes and the team of lads handle the intricate routinings in superb fashion. First brace, to paved the way to a dicko for many performers. Stone's got a style that is easy to take and he slides effectively under the skin with his studied effortlessness, a contrast to the tee off the solo spots, are the [general run of cafe raconteurs, who familiar Cole Indo-Javanese weav- he's sometimes overly cute. - He's ] ^jtjj the spins, head-move got a plea.sant voice, good_ looKS, , and urecision group worl „ ... . -u„^\rc ti,~ iments and precision group work and the kind of pink cheeks tlie , pajm-sparking in their coordina- gals just wanna pinch. He could , ^^^^ ^^^^ imaginative staging. It was in their next to closing spot, gals just - . subdue some of those gestures Does a polyglot of tunes that in elude Straight rhythmics, Calypso and ballads. Susan and Fred Barry are mak- ing their Copa debut as a team though that sextet had them, lit erally cheering. A teworking of the Harlem jive type patterning they purveyed at the Colonial Inn la.st sea.son, it kept the mitts though both have been here before, i mounting via the topping knee- slides into a begoff, Henijy Youngman, in the comedy slot, turns up some 10 minutes of new material that had them howl- ing. In so vast a room, with his type of straight, gag lined material, it was to his credit that the laughs she as a Copa Girl and he with his late wife and partner, Elaine Barrv: They're effective, he espe- cially with his personality, some- thing, incidentally, which she s lacking. They're hampered by the small floor, but he still amazes with those airplane lifts. And thcio's always that cute lullaby closer. .. ■. : Paul Godkin handles a couple of ^^^^^ „r w effective spots requiring mterpre-| j^^-^^ top comedies, tative dancing, while Linda Lqm- r bard and Herb George are the pro- duction singers, both of whom click; The Tattlers are an evenly mixed click foursome of harmo- jiizers who work the production numbers. Mike Durso, as usual, plays an effective show in batoning the Copa orch, with Fernando Alvares doing I sometimes produce -more nervous- ness out front than relaxation. For return dates in such a short" time, however; he does need a wider va- riety of stuff to intersperse with his sock standbys. Comic carries a pianist, who gives him a nice, pleasant musical. background that hits the . ear ^easily. Only other act on the bill—Hel- ler's usually around to make it a three-turn layout at the Carousel- is Shirley Lane^ a well-stacked hoofer who makes a flashy appear- ance and gets off some slicte terp- ing. Ralph DeStephano's small combo backs things effectively, with maestro tooting a smart trum- pet and Joe Lescak a whiz at the that have built up an advance rep on the strength of its recordings. In making their vaude bow at the height of its special equipment I likely limits their nitery work to I high-ceilinged spots. ; Gilbi Lewis and White get sock returns for standard, "Me and My Shadow." Although briefly introduced be- fore, Geraldine DuBois comes on to clown and sing with Lewis, This well-stacked gal revives a few oldies brushed up in the modern manner, "April Showers" and "My Little Rosie," In cute novelty num- ber, soubret and comedian discuss the old and new looks, worked up for sock return.s. Pease and White race halfway through song and dance of "Swing For Sale" before Lewis interrupts and "chides" them for cheap enter- tainment and panhandling. Hurt look on Pease's face breaks up the audience. Duo really rocks with "Necessity." Cast members and band join for "Whiffenpoof Song." For the final section of the show, Lewis starts off with "When You're Smiling," bringing on Miss DuBois and line girls. Lewis encores with "When My Baby Smiles at Me." Sol Klein conducts the show and Cee Davidson takes over the baton for an excellent job on dance sets. Don, came in staccato fashion. Topped I keyboard. Their dance music is a with the violining bit, accompanied i lot better than many orehs twice by Cugat and stringers from his i the size, orch. All added up to a sound ses Cohm. The Latin hip swingers who've played this town so frequently in past months, remained obvious carbons, once Diosa Costello came on with her native songs and zingy hip-weaves. For a topper, follow- ing her work with the balding ring- ^i:"^*'*'-;^"^ eh„,„=' ..i,^ .....w^i^^Ht« at most shows. Chez Parce, Clii (FOLLOWUP) Chicago, Jan. 4. Ted Lewis has produced a new and expanded revue, which is attested to by rope-up policy siders, she switched completely, toj """"^ '3i„„ .'H'K^!. ^ h-.n'-.ri Pmiin in tiativp. F.nsli.sh appeal, according to the older I a ballad group in native, English orch, with Fernando Alvares doing i .n^'viddish on thi» mother theme ^ set, is nostalgic, the comedian- a tiptop .job on the Latin dance ' Yi^^^^^^^^^ clarinetest has tied a show together rhythms. ^ Kahn. ^ j^g.^ arrangement. En- which sells to all age groups. '■ -..,-■■■;[ ." . ' . ■ UinroH «;itli a fl'onofin VArainiV of I Lewi.S him.Self IS a "WOrltitiff PY- rhy Empiro Room, Clii (PALMER HOUSE) Qhicago, Jan. U.- Evelyn Knight^ McCarthy Si Far- roll, Landre & Verna, Abbott Dan- cers- (8), Barclay Allen's Orch (141 with Delor6s Crane and Alan Simms; S3.50 minimumi $1, couer. Regulation vaude bills instead of revue format looks like payoff' policy for,this popular rpom.. Eve- lyn Knight's appearance, timed With her disclick, "A Little Bird Told Me," finds white space at minimum with Miss Knight's stay extended to March 2. Merrlel Abbott Dancers set live- ly and colorful pace in "Cumana" opener, with Barclay Allen Sfl'ing ! for a slow, legit arrangement. En cored with a frenetic version of the "mambo," partnered with her drummer. Production is solid, though cut considerably for the Cole group. Costuming is tasteful and striking ' for the 12 lovlies in the line. Georgie Tapps is on briefly and effectively for his tap-ballet-spiri work, while Tony Bavaar handles the DaviSrSilver numbers in topi manner; Xavier Cugat emcees with age groups, Lewis himself is a "working ex- ample of his panacea for, all hu- man ills as he recites his philos- ophy, "I Only Count My Pleasures Not My Years." Reed Sisters trio backs Lev,'is in tune,; "It's a Most Unusual Day," bringing on sepia dancer-comics Elroy ^ Pease and Paul.White, who do some high and fancy cake-walking, and then join with Lewis for a bit of softshoe. Maestro turns carny barker and Motlier Kelly's, Miami Miami Beach, Jan. 16. Joe Frisco, Cully Richards, Frankie Hyers, Sammy Wolfe, Chloe Peterson, Ruth Gillen, Joe CanduUo Orch; minimum $2. accented charm. His orch can take I gives out with pitch to bring on bows for the solid job they turn in I Costello Twins, blond lookers, who on a tpugh show, music wise. 1 get close attention with rapid toe In the lounge, Barry Gray is 1 spms and flying splits, ending with back for his midnight to three, a series of body flips and cart- ayeni radio airer, with practically p«'heels. Had to beg off. Pease every nitery act in town coming on 1 garners laughs with "Woodman, for interviews, plus his usual con-1 Spare That Tree," troyersy^making comments on local | Reed Sisters have a spot of their and national events. It draws own in which they get nice returns healthy biz for the 250 seat ad- on "Wliy Do I Love You," "Bill bis own composition.. Landfe & junct to the main room, 'iidrv,' .[aai ''Make Believe." After which Casino Ku$ise* N. Y. (FOLLOWUP) This vodka and beef stroganoff dispensary is one of the best showcases that Emile Boreo has had in New York. This bit of old Muscovy has a continental crowd very much to his liking. Spot's patronage can appreciate the numerous languages in which Boreo sings and gets full appre^ elation of his unorthodox lingual acrobatics. It's also a crowd that can appreciate his sly asides and comedies.' The Casino Russe, long a centre of family trade, will probably face an invasion of the Broadway hep^ sters. Boreo packed the house on opening night and will probably build as he goes along through word-of-mouth. His recent concert at N. Y. Times Hall has been in- strumental in creating plentiful support for this singing-comic. Such double-talk bits as his inters pretations of "Oh Johnny" and "Four Leaf Clovpr'' are audience winners. In addition, his standard "Wooden Soldiers" and "Dark Eyes" as sung in various tongues are prime audience fodder. Rest of the show has a conti- nental sparkle with Sonia Wojl- kowska in a native Polish dance. Vera Bryner's vocals and Maxim Hidl's pashy fiddle work. Show- backer and dance-dispenser Larry Murphy seems to be a foreigner in this collectioh.' • ' ■ ' ' ■ 'Jose.- One '.of last-season's clicks, this spot was In the doldrums, but with current lii.eup is packing them in. - Joe Frisco tops the layout, work- ing from' the floor on the heckling and coming on in his own spot for the howlmaking bookie routine, brought up to date, for added laughs. Teams with Cully Richards for an old vaude routine that em- braces soft shoe dance for more laughs and applause. Richards emcees with a hoary line of gags jmd bits that man- age to garner enough: giggles to lead fnto the stooge bit with Sam- my Wolfe, which is nostalgic enough to arouse yocks in spots. Wolfe's song mimicry sets him nicely with the hep audience. Frankie Hyers handles the screw- ball, earthy comedy well. Again there is the essence of "familiar" in the material, but delivery and timing overcomes the "heard it before" tinge. Trio com-" bine for the blackouts, some win- ning laughs, others on the fairish, side. What makes this package is the continued heckling, bits and solo spots, with never a let-down in the punching for laughs. Re^ suit is: an overall sesh of rough- house- and straight humor that leaves them satisfied. Thrushes Chloe Peterson and Ruth Gillen are just adjuncts in this two-lour proceeding, provid- ing the needed breaks in the g,o- ings-on ^plus spots for added ad lib remarks from the trio. Lary, Pentlionse ClTiili.) N. V. (FOLLOWUP) Paul 'Villard with his sea chan- ties and Monica Boyar's colorful Latin tunes comprise an interest-, ing entertainment at the Pent- house. Kurt Maier handles tne piano accomp for both, in addition to doing a pleasant interlude pi straight pianoing, . ,, Villard, a good-looking, virile chap in Mariner's attire, has a sub- dued sort of projection which is extremely eftective in a small room such as this, and he has an innate feel for a lyric, . mi Miss Boyar has been around tne New York iritime spots, and on her current date reveals improvea salesmanship. The intime spots aie likewise her forte; she liold.j audV- enC6 tatet-eSt throughout. Kam.