Variety (July 1949)

t2 ■Oi:SB REVIEWS Wedoesday, Jaly 6, lf49 6.0. Zapoppin at Madison Sq. Garden ' With O&J s ScrewbaD Extravaganza ' By JOE COHEN The current layout is another Caplioly Nm V. *nd slapstick routines. Shorter | Aqaa«bom\ N.V. Bert Wheeler, with Sid Slate; > member of the tearn excells via , (FLUSHING AMPHI-THEATRPi Hal LeRoy, Thelma Carpenter, Bob *ome snappy footwork. j June Earing, Bobby Knapp Mar Dupont, Hal McIntyre Orch with Sandwiched in the 55-ininutelaj^ ; Wayne, Fitzsimmonx Sisterit Frankie Lester; *'Any Number Can *>'e the terp team of the Two ( 2 ) Aquazanies, Sheelagh Kellu Hot Shots and dancer Winnie Ben- Harrison JoJ son Former turn won strong salvos pi ^e^^ Carney. Ken WhiJer with its amusing aero stepping and ^uck & Bubbles, George wZg Play” (M-G>, reviewed in Variety June 8, ’49. Capitol is offering a neatly-paced . “ejitly via warbling "The ^ 5 ) £5^ Dreamers [il* Sheik of Araby." augmented with clay Warnick Orch. Olsen li Johnson have now latched on to the superior gross- ues case in point. This is a wetl- and pleasantly-diverting bill this - . - stanza, highlighted mainly by the satirical footwork Spotted comedy antics Wh^pi#.r briefly in a number with Basies Elliott Murphy has built the I • e •lie uii III me nupeiiv.. f^tw.-io VMr... ••• • ....T ... M ...... . vuiii..u^ of Bert Wheeler - ' —...w.. ..Mr. uum me ing potentialities of the arenas, planned, snappy bill, playable to with his new foil, Sid Slate, and band, the slim Miss Benson writhes Meadows Aquashow into In a two-week stand even with the hill and crowd-winning all the the standout thrushing of colored ^nd sliakes the more inieresiiog institution which is snaiigini? moderate prices, a stand at the way. song.stress Thelma Carpenter. Com- Pa^ls of the anatomy • to garner considerable family trade. He isn’t Madison Square Garden, N. Y.. can Lott and Joe Anoers and Kay j bined with the Clark Gable-starrer, oefty palmwhacks. u — * ... - outgross a longer run in the small- Kenton are reviewed under New "Any Number Can Play” on the er legit house.s. They’re zanies on- Acts along with the smash item screen, it’s okay .summer biz. stage but it seems they’re shrewd of this package. Ross and La Wheeler, who has a good knack operatorsotherwi.se. Pierre. None of these, however, is of turning up capable stooges for The duo came into the Garden a newcomer, all being vet acts his act (Hank Ladd, who headlines departing from the format that’s I brought him prosperity in’previous seasons. Now in its fifth year j there hasn’t been much of a change in presentation. However, there’s Arthur Coiffed and gowned identically, —; ; gals race through a popular reper- Wirfz presentation of tory of such numbers as "Mc- !on, J. c. uisen, tserry uro.s., nnisn wiin classics vs. jazz numoer. i act is based on Mate s .stealing pond, put on a swank show which breezy entertainment to which 1 Taylor Trio. iS'hort It Dorian, I In the Latln-American vein, the ; wheeler’s gag lines, which gives js more in the cabaret class, and *^he crowd responds. The George : Cook, Gloria Gilbert, Ru.ss Ciro Rimac Revue (4» is a minia-j Wheeler plenty of chance for nos- vvhich will have to attract patron-i Wong Troupe, five Chinese contor- t, Helen Magna, Andy Raton-jtuie show in itself. Packed into | talgic reminiscing. There’s also a i age from other than strictly vaude Zionists and tumblers, also get the London, June 30. - Yrc.s Montand, Stephane Grap-, been considerable tightening f^r with"^"Funzapoppin^^ aT r^tfme which never found their way into the succeeding Capitol bill, once pelly Quintet, Gil John.son, Ginette better pace. when they’re very much in’ the i Variety’s file. Carlton Emmy’s held down the job), has made one | WoTidcr. Cliff Gordon, Monna Bap- It’s difficult to tell whether it’s public eve having preemed their standard dog act, in the trey, click of his best selections to date in , fiste, Men About Town, Eddie, the stage acts or the watershow Buick video show a few days pre- P®** u.sual. .Slate. Latter is one of the Slate , Vilch, Marjorie Dunkels. 'that get better deception. The viously They look to the teevee ! Ben Yost Colleens, in the num-' Bros., who’s picking up time with' ! crowd takes to both displays nicely pull to kite their Garden gross ber four spot, is a pert-looking and wheeler while his brother, Henry. | After an ab.sence of •nearly a and iVs the combination plus re- ind are relying on the in-person smooth-vocalizing femme quartet. 1 remains in the cast of "South year, Bernard Delfont comes back laxation in the open that s made , . Honi 111 I pgg jflg •• ^ vecsatile performer., (o the West End with the cla.ssiest, the Aquashow a winner, Siate complements the particular i vaude show London has seen in a I The stage olio constitutes good brand of Wheeler whim.sy. punch-' long time. A fine all-round Anglo- vaude fare. Buf;k and Bubbles run ’Olsen & Johnson production with Samara's Band” and “Buttons and ing up the routines without taking | prench team of entertainers, with away with that part of the show. Olsen & Johnson, Marty May, June I Bows.” They build up to a strong away any honors. Most of the new ■ a slight flavoring from across the Their song, dance and piano work Johnson, J. C. Olsen, Betry Bro.^., finish with classics vs. jazz number. i act is based on Slate’s .stealing pond out on a swank show which breezy entertainment to which Peggy Taylor Trio, Short b Dorian. ' ” ■ ’ ■ ’ ■ " " - Frank Sobey •cheff. Jock Joyce, Pat Moran, Lou about nine minutes, Rimac plus two lush-looking blonde brought on for ' fans. ' measure of the mob. Ken Whit- Barrison. Fine Mighty Atoms, line , femmes and male dancer deliver Wheeler’s standard "toasted sand-, Topping the bill is a newcomer d®es a good job with trick and <36). Choraleers. At Madison | topnotch exhibitions of the samba ' wich” gag. The act rated the plan-1 from France, Yves Montand, with orthodox musical'instruments. The Square Garden. N. Y., June 30; ; and tango and some hot chile vocal dits it drew here. i a well de.served reputation. Prefao Dreamers (4) are fair on $3 top. i numbers with bongo accompani- Miss Carpenter, attractively ing each of his songs with an Eng- i vocals. ment. Vivid garb and intense per-^ gowned and in fine voice, scored lish explanation he dispiays a fasci-' The aquatic portion of the show formances send this act to a strong ^ with a well-rounded repertoire. Her ; nating personality destined to win bas a high degree of intere.st. reception. } particular forte is still torch bal- audiences here. With a choice The gal lines goes through a series In closing, vaudeo joins hands < lads, as evidenced by the way she range of numbers he dicks all the of picturesque formations. They fenny piannea i.sn i a lair ie.se oi ^ith vaude in the person of Bob j wraps up the difficult "Something wav , ^ the mutual aid given by television Howard, old-time vaudevillian late- j i Dreamed Last Night” with the | r, and in-person work but there s a , ly CBS video and now back on ' maximum of pash. Her "Who ! poi’ts. r»rsi mere is iiineii possibility that the troupe will stay boards. Howard exudes a jolt- i Cares” opener is good and “Almost der, a graceful and colorful dancer accomplished divers. Virtually longer. Maximum .^ay I ing charge of electricity with his , Like Being in Love” repre.sents from the Folies Bergere and the ! ®''e*’y tyP* of flight into the deep is den is five w^k^ Then the f^o^es | lowdown pianistics and hot vocals, a good pace-changer after i stephane Grappellv Quintet with <*ore by Sheelagh Kelly. Betty Ball. Canadian National , He has his own style but there’s a j "Dreamed.” Slow arrangement of ; Monna Baptiste as soloist and Ed > Bettv Harrison. Marshall Wavne, _ Armstrong and Fats | "Big. Wide Wonderful World” ac- JJe Vitch a mimingTrt it in a Waller in him, which ain’t bad. He cents the tune’s unique lilt and gets ^y himself. * weather and Len Carney. .Some of parlays his .solid rhythm and infec- her off to heavy applau.se. I Only American on the hill is Pit fbe dives from the 40-foot platform tious per.sonality into a surefire Terper Hal LeRoy eases through john.son whose reoiitation In I nn were marvels of grace, vaude turn. Ray Engli.sh. comedy , his stage-cares.sing tap routines, don will be enhanced bv hi*: i The swim specialties are hv .lime where they were permanent ten-1 hoofer, turned his ankle on the , perennially youthful in appear- nearanc*e in this shnw tvim Earing. Bobby Knapp and the ants for several years. O&J are ! opening day while falling into the ; ance. he demonstrates that his lim- Mile. Wander and then Tkrnhahlv innmnet mit-vovrkrc nt I nit And u/AC niit rtf thr> chrtu/ frtr A ! Wam «kA*A v\lAm4«r fxrfftlax ift/l4l^ Q_i< ^ Stand to trailerize the tele show. Naturally, a two-week stand as cur- rently planned isn’t a fair te.st of are good precisionists and make Bulk of bill is made up of im-! Pheasant viewing. poi-Ls. First there is Ginette Wan-1 _Athletic expertness is by a group Exhibition before .settling down for television work in the fall. The Garden layout is a compen- dium of all the shows the duo have done at the Winter Garden, N. Y., probably topmost purveyors of | pit and was out of the show for a her legs are plenty agile with a solo turn highlighted bv a m iKir-Ai i whom contribut practical jokes, quick gag^ and couple of days. Herm. wide range in rhythms. Standard box dance Marioric niinkpi^ r^nn I around the pool. i... « . .. iviai jui ic l^milKeiS COn- . , r i sudden switches. The hoke com edy that will find favor with most audiences. There’s fun aplenty from the moment the patron en- ters the lobby to the final curtain. Trick ushers give the customers a runaround, whiz femmes past a wind machine for some extra-cur- ricular cheesecake display which gives a slight warning for what’s to follow. Comics dispen.se entertainment lavishly. It’s one of the largest companies extant with straights in Fitzsimmons Sisters '2). ea<h of contribute graceful antics Roxy, X. Y new Impersonations. sitting position, is still good for T „ Di • I u er • audience respon.se. Juggler Bob Janet Blair, Blackburn Twins, Dupont, in the opening spot, mixes Martin Bros. (2), Herb .Shrtner,! comedy and new material into an overplayed act (such as the and Escorts, Roxy Skating Blades of duckpin balls) to raise his jeefed songs & Belles, Paul Ash conducting Roxy | routine above average. His clinch- Theatre Orchestra, House of which he gradually eats an Stranpers reviewed in Variety ^ppjg ^^ile juggling it with a plate j June lo, 49. 3 stick. Is excellent. Less of i Cliff Gordon maintains the high Aquashow has a good grossing __ ! potential with its capacity of more standard'with a‘skeTch'"of‘7subai- i ® ’IIP’ tern instruction class of soldiers e«nt'nu®t»on of good weather, spot in elementary French, and the Men i e®»‘tain to hit top takes. Jose. About Town have some well .se- Myro. RKO, Roslon Palaee*. Clev#*. Cleveland. July 1. Berk & Hallow <2). The Chords (2). Watson Sisters '2). Hain- the Simple Simon mugging, though. C^j^ Bros.: •■.svrrr, New stage show is consistent might be appropriate. with the Roxy’s recent efforts—a | Hal McIntyre orch backs the the minority. Aside from O&J mas-i so^artly entertaining string of turns show solidly and also scores with ferminding of the proceedings, I headed by Janet Blair and the its own stint. Comprising seven there’s a troupe of midgets, a mul-! ®lae*^burn Twins down through the bras.s, five reed (including MeIn-1 p,♦ i,- u i ' Vaude’s comeback was a fast- titude of .stooges and varioin? .spe-i flash of the ice revue, pegged this tvre) and three rhythm, the combo ! stepping, scintillating layout of cialties .sufficient lo keep the bed-i session on Carol Lynne. concentrates on a swing style to of- house. Ls i eight acts that go over with a lam pace running. ! Miss Blair, who only recently fer welcome relief from the current ^ severai bang. They have called on some of I eof^P'eted a run at the nearby Par- bopciaze. They do an okay job on I Berk and Hallow set the pace their reliable standards. There’s! has worked out qui^ ®h "Donkey Serenade” to open the K .:.4 oerK ana tiaiiow sei me pace ni.st app^rance here, layout y^ith fast-clicking taps that features lArfttt; e#kliW 4 Ua 12 ..w 1 * uunKey lu me t nlon#%/ a 4 u i* — J wim lasL-Lneiwiiii; the hotel room .scene, western rou-' ®®t to go along with her blonde show but their best number is ; P®wn the line and several trick steps. The Chords tine, the barber shop bit. court-! Pertness and ta.sty costuming. She "Hucklebuck,” featuring the band’s P®f5;_ add to the spice with their adroit favor with his impressions of vari- ous type singers; the Berry Bro.s-. In the first bit witih the dance pair, ba.sed on "This Is a F'lne Ro- start toos. not onlw held the adults but James Rushing, Earl Warren; Johnny Moore’s 3 Blazers (4 (. with solid terping by Clark^Bros ' (3i;;,'uh iorexhlbrtlonrXf ‘ SlumM ho. .S.O., ,2,. who «... .«nKI tempo for reel of jOwen xrore in. lemania; Frank Cook, a bucolic en-1 ®®P®*^‘® fl®"®®’ She then goes into Wmnie Bcrison; Winner Take All ®®ts- tlale Robbins, pic singing series of comedy acrobatics, lertainer with harmonica and ' a slapstick routine with the 'Mono). .'^‘^"..S®" i:®®By ^ Wally Brown’s laugh-provoking guitar* Gloria Short and Rav Do- ' two to the tune of "Baby It’s Cold: . ,, , legisters nicely with ‘Every- barbs register showing he can do rian in a snake dance ala n'arolV P^tside/’ a smartly worked out Brefcz.v and compact, the AMIo s ^y'’®|'®., Y[»u Go." "Again” and a | more with an’unfinished .sentence and Lola: Gloria Gilbert with her ‘h® ‘t’s another current layout shapes up as better- toich treatment of ’^’I’m in a , than many can do with a neatly- fast ballet whirls the Peeev Tavlnr fl®rce and song approach to “Ballin’ than-average hot weather fare., Jam polished script trio songs of Bill Haves^and ^the ^ *fl® ’ f'or her efforts she and Count Basie’s band and Johnny Bill Norvas and The Upstarts, a Dolinoff and the Rava Sisters “in miS; wen^ex’enouch .mmuni I Twin, do .heir own sluff prior' vo. comicltump & Stumpy hold of vor.l groupf NorV.’s'. pT 1‘“JrVaUy''‘?yt'Roo^fsrA brief tion r«tinded Blair-S entry. Klr.it , funmalting slot. ^ K™' "i'b okay baritoneJl„trota||t ,oftS^ of the s^mJIcIv fnrfifild^ 1 *®p- tfleu ® "ovel precision [ With four rhythm, eight brass is backed by two lads and two gals wait” clog with grace and elegance, heads of the last war A "’•'J' eaehlfo.d five reed Basies combo is a 1 who pul plenty of movement into I J^d the certain came dow a line Ld some «* ‘boufih nn® w®™ looklnR i brisk agkregation. per usual. Out- act b,y adding terp rouUnes while ' welcome rrtlrth of vaude His legged dancer lark Iovpp midooi ' *uto a mirror, and duplicate each the sesh rolling with “Blee vocalizing. Result Is, act moves ' impresh of Joe Frisco’s shivver nflen Mien! a'nd a ‘fpi nfhTi Sn <>ther’^ moves. Good stuff. Blop Blues" and also clicks with fa.st and clicks nicely. Bow off to dXI provldes I swk finish Mark. bmfJ Herb Shriner’s homespun Will “Hucklebuck.'» In the vocal depart- hefty returns with .satire of night i Provi des a soi k^ finisn.. of* the Jevue*^^^*^* ' Rogers type *of deliverv^doesn’l ex- ment Earl Warren warbles a Opening nigh, indicated intense : CLf'he’Vets^^'cot.li. ■‘s':?ea'’.::"’o'f ” , . , . night fair Hub group singing "Night and Day, ’ Acromaniacs take over next Band appears less spirited than spot and wow with their fast aero TirpnarAtinn frtr this .Lionel R/I I ne xel^ a con.siani siream OI aaonvi icn.t niviincu mail Y>uv» Willi llieir lasi aero of t^heirTags deoeL imon Anm ‘*®®»^’^''® ®nd tumbling antics. Windup with ««/.«»,h'* 4 u.se.s. A fair portion of his material height, but it s quieter style fits * Day getting into act on a Milton Hippodrome, Balio. Baltimore, July 3. The Danivoods (3). Don Henry Trio, Yvonne Moray, Walter Nils- son, Buddy Lewis, 3 Arnants. Don nd ^nn iiaht '^warl/rtrc -ru ® subtle and another goodly well with the pronounced trend Berle kick that score.s solidly. - /PFP A fPuf^n^’cr.nachPriK,t*”®5® I slice is almost double-talk, but only toward sweeter music. Basie spar -1 Taking over feature spot. Day Grauman Revue (4). Jo ncp ant iHp "‘iriPA^’aWiLa ® ®“fl'*!the most minute amount has ever t^'es on the ’88 and plays one tune gives payees a sample of his versa- 1 Lombardi House Orch (I2i: "Mas- Olsen anrf inhncrwTrii^o^'ra been heard from any other comic on the Hammond organ for .solid tility by singing each of his num- rtflinmpnt in n..an 4 i 4 ,!‘^^DPi^K«KK^ *A®^ alone makes him unique, results. Corpulent James Rushing, bfr.s in a different style. He han- tertainment in quantity. Probably every type of patron will find something to his liking in this dis- play and the chances are that the majority will like everything. the most minute amount has ever *^'es on the ’88 and plays one tune gives payees a sample of his versa- ' been heard from any other comic on the Hammond organ for .solid tility by singing each of his num-' River” (Mono). results. Corpulent James Rushing, bers At this showing he went over well, long w'ith the combo, registers died "Some Enchanted Evening” The N. Y. Palace carries its own Martin Bros., standard marionet nicely in piping a pair of novelty a straight ballad. "Galway Bay" brand of boxoffice magnetism. For act, precedes Shriner. They use numbers. in Irish ballad style and added an ! ^A® Hme in many years house the various stringed dolls lo excel- Moore’s Blazers is a crack instru- Lish brogue lor “Clancy Lowered operator Izzy Rappapori has angled lent returns, beginning with two mental unit comprising the leader the Boom” Follows with "Roamin’ a non-name collection of talent into Latin-costumed, maracas shaking at the piano, two electric guitars m the Gleamin’ ’’ as Marry Lauder a bill of sizable boxoffice pn>por- (femmes, a pair of skeletons, the and bass. Playing in front of a would do it. an imitation of Jean lions by giving the Gotham show- 1 , * clown doll, and piano-trumpet duo. .scrim, the boys adroitly handle a Sablon. “.Some of These Days" in ea.se precedence in the billing. Its A _ tit _ A . . t ■■ t ft CVS I 4&RM t • % t A t M ♦. ...ktHuF that Ap- Palaf 4 % X. Y. Lou & Joe Anders, Kay Kenton, r--- , -. . . Carlton Emmy, Ben Yost Colleens, To get off they use two new dolls, quartet of numbers. Three are the Sophie Tucker manner, and a bill that comprises those Pay English, Ciro Rimac Revue the arms. legs, head of w'hich arc crooned by Moore, while the winds with Schubert’s "Ave Ma- have played the N. Y. Pidacc. Ap" <4». Ross & La Pierre, Bob //om- striped with luminous paint similar fourth, an instrumental tagged ria.” a natural here. The guy is parently. there’s a great deal of r^ ard; "One Last Fling” (WB), rc- to costumes of the line routine into "Citation.” gives the guitarists a ferrific and if his reception in the sped in these parts for inose acts viewed in current issue Variety, which it segues. chance to show to advantage. Hub is any indication, package that can click at that noted theatre. Blade revue, based on "Slaughter Group .scores handily. should be a big lift for summer This house has been «)ne Vaude at the Palace is rapidly on Tenth Avenue" is a colorful In closing niche is Stump & slump around circuit. consistent spots essaying fie®® passing out of the experimental spectacle. Spot lighting Carol Stumpy. Their.s is a wacky brand Augmented house bind, batoned throughout the years and curreni "revival" period and growing into Lynne, it's a highly entertaining of humor that finds a ready market A.v Day’s personal conductor, switch lo "Bigtime" vaude is a phase where it’s delivering solid ! start on a satisfactory show. * in the Apollo’s clientele. Audience Charles Dant, did capable job of easy step with three more and sustained entertainment val- Wood. niitted the lads’ corny repartee, backing acts. Elie. i (Continued on page 55)