Variety (August 1949)

24 HOUSE REVIEWS Vednoaday, August 24, I 949 Pallafllum. London 1 stunts. Act Is cannily dressed up I Pninee, Y London, Aug. 16. ! .8‘ve a dramatic eflect, and is a Robert Sitters & White. Philhar- j Burns & Allen, Ben Blue, Frank solid click. jnonic Trio. Rigoletto Bros, with Marlowe, Ben Yost Royal Guards ' Patti Page does okay with her Aimee 6’isters, Eddie Garr, Jack i5), 3 Rudells, Count LeRoy, Jean, throaty versions of pop and novelty Powell, Sara Ann McCabe, Irving : Jack Si Judy, Alan Clive, Robert tunes. Blonde appeal helps, and Benson & Jack Mann, Pallenberg's Harbin, Boy Foy. ' there's plenty of whistles from gal- Bears, Don Albert House Orch; , Series. Numbers are mostly on “Arctic Manhunt’* (U-I). 1 Biggest aggregation of American blues lines, opening vdth “The One loni acts with native . 1 Love, then on to So In Love talent, seven acts, with native act. Boy Foy, practically an Ameri- can standard, the only non-impor- tee. Burns & Allen are the head- liners and mop up. With the majority of the bill and Cabaret. Goody Good-Bye ! p^moosed of veteran acts the Palace has whipped up a diverting Joe Shirmer, a banjoist, went through his routine at a fast tempo. Wally Johl, personable youngster with bass-baritone pipes, was sec- ond to Wy.se for top honors with his interp of “Riders in the Sky” and “Some Enchanted Evening." Bill is brought to a close by Ben fieri, in tails, doing a juggling stint with tennis balls, Indian clubs and tam- bourines. Clicked with the cus- tomers. Sahu. octet of turns for its current ses- sion. In keeping with the hou.se’s Money, Marbles and Chalk,” an audience participation novelty, Foy. in a miscellany of juggling ° ‘' relatively modest budget there are and balancing atop a unicycle, |' . t voi., bracket names. However, which would be an accomplishment!. , late of the xaie generally nostalgic flavor of on terra firma, gives show a speedy basketball team, proves there are layout appears to be a sure start, with Robert Harbin, local plenty of accordion fans around, guarantee of success with the pre- magico, continuing the gait to good Lan seems a bit awkward in ein- dominantly midde-age audiences return.s. The 3 Rudells, initial ap- ceeing, but makes up the theatre has been drawing since pearance here after provincial try- a hep exhibition of handling the i yaude’s revival here. out, are first American click, ap- rniSri Eddie Garr’s mimicry evokes pealing greatly with their clever than usual curtain raiser approval. , His impressions of # *«ek vwvl i A X^UM/v« I j ...2 ^ ^ ...... ....... trampoline work interspersed with good comedy. Act is ideally suited for pantomime season, and seems •et for lengthy run. ' Alan Clive, local mimer of Hol- lywood and English filmstars, gives Jimmy Nelson, Carroll touch of realism to takeoffs of Allan Sisters, Tucker & National^ L’vllle Lousiville, Aug. 19. Rimmer Sisters, Howard Nichols, Sisters, varied singing styles are so-so, but he gains momentum with a carbon of Jimmy Durante and garners heavy applause at the windup with a “drunk” routine that’s a classic. Artistry of drummer Jack Powell also pleases. Working in his Gloria, Danny Kaye and Tommy Trinder. The Sensationalists, Tiny Toniale’s [ familiar blackface, he plays the Ben Yost Royal Guards, here Orch <9); "Ladies’ Mari’’ (Par) last year w'ith Martha Raye, un- and “Give Out Sisters’’ (U). load an avalanche of operatic airs, i Including a Victor Herbert medley | Current bill indicates that vaude to top results. sticks all over the stage and cli- maxes by tattooing the frame of a chair. Concert style of soprano Sara policy is becoming firmly estab- Ann McCabe is ®^®ctive for the lished. Fact that at show caught After briskly opening Ben Blue, a favorite here some ^ —..tv rm, ♦ v v •» 15 years ago, has developed his audience was made up largely of He now younger patrons, who gave the ' seven-act bill a warm reception, is a good barometer for the approach- style since those days gabs to some good laughs. His other comedy antics comprise, with the help of four stooges, a mind ing fall bills. reading act good for plenty laughs, as is his mock Russian ballet steps. With some tightening up. Blue should fit in in any revue or vaude- ville bill here. Rimmer Sisters, colored tap team, set a fast pace in opening slot, with fast rhythmic beats and the stately blonde loses some head-' way with a difficult Irish number, but bounces back with a Friml medley. Irving Benson & Jack Mann hold down the comedy slot. Theirs is an innocuous line of chat- ter that occasionally assumes a slightly blue tinge. Team’s best off to a solid hand, followed by ".^Vw' ,,e U... n..r.- . Nichols, hoop juggler, 1 sfnglng cSml^ of . bygow Opening intermission, Jean. Jack who gets nice returns. i oygone & Judy, youthful comedy acros, hold spot well and reveal some nifty knockabout comedy to hefty returns. Frank Marlowe, playing quick return, is fast becoming a favorite gets i,n:c iriui us. 1 Register nicely. Carroll Sisters, nitery turn, do , Rigoletto Bros, with the Aimee nicely in ballet taps. Gals inter -1 Sisters, in the trey, is a show in sperse dance with flip-flops and the i itself. Brothers open with a bit of like. prestidigitation with colored hand- Jimmy NeLson, ventro, kept up kerchiefs. Follow with the bottle irthi. h.ncl HTr.TrLciv* mnnH ' Set by previous acts. Nelson’s and glass switch, illusion. Also es- at this house. His aggressive mood J.p mouths some sly gags, 1 sayed are juggling, bell ringing tomer^ ^and^^his^^m?^ fa^ls are Sll winds’ by singing while smok-' and hand-to-hand balancing, lomers, ana nis pii laiis are suii . „ ^ ki.* ...uv. i luiio oc Ho good for laughs. Count Le Roy, here after his suc- cess in Harold Steinman’s “Skat- ing Vanities” at Wembley Stadium, socks ’em with dance impressions, atop a pedestal, of Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and Bill Robinson, ing a cigaret. Went over big with i Femmes have little to do aside the kids. j from a toy soldier shuffle they ex- Allan Sisters are pair of exotic , ecute on their haunches. Get okay appearing blondes who sing in duet, returns. „ i. . harmony, and display plenty of vo-' _ closing slot are Pallenberg s cal savvy at the mike. Gals have Eears. Animals alternate in riding full, deep throated voices, and har- ® up an incline, pushing a ’ monized well on “Old Gray Bon-, scoo^r and riding a bicycle. For T^rnvinp nnp nf ihp hitf: nf thp pvp- niumzea well on vjia uray oon-, proving one Of the hits of the eve a double version of “My ; the blowoff, one of the mammals X. Aii^« ..'Man.” “Some of These Days.” and pilots a motorcycle around the Burns & Allen, back after 15 . p^her old faves then give out with ' stage. Novelty clicks, especially pars, got an ovation on entry, and ^ j, rendition of “Whiffenpoof i with the youngsters. Reviewed un- iinmediately had the house in guf-, long” and ‘‘Dr? Bones.” ! der New Acts are Robert Sisters & faws. Act IS a hodge-podge of in- Ticker & Gloria follow with ^od Philhafmonica Trio, consequential talk on local and Tucker dishing out a mon.^i;ig^nri former turn opens the bill while Palladium stage-doorkeeper Bert, after bringing on his femme part- ‘ who was in charge when couple , ^ sesh of zany dancing, made their first appearance here turn won solid applause. In 1932. Stage goes in two, re- Closer, the Sensationalists, roller vealing grand-piano, with Grade skatin.g trio, register with head doing her famed “Concerto for In- dex Finger.” Finally, team, assist- ed by Ben Blue, goes into the “Col- le-’o Holiday” film minuet for big 1? "'hs. .-.urprise of the evening was the sudden appearance of Jack Benny and Jane Wyman, who were in- veigled into coming on stage, with Benny compelled to make a speech. and floor spins. Threesome ap- peared here in “Skating Vanities,” and proved a sock finish for this bill. Biz good at last show', Friday (19). Wied. RKO9 BoNton Boston, Aug. 20, F»x« Kf. lAiuis St. Louis, Aug. 16. Gaynor & Ross, Lloyd & Susan V/illis, O'Donnell & Blair, Jack Gwynn & Co., Joe Shirmer, Wally Johl, Ross Wrjse, Jr., & Peggy Wo- inack, Ben Bert, Russ Daind Orch; "Canadian Pacific" (20th}. Apollo, IV. Y. Billie Holiday, Machito band (12) with Graziel, Bruce Moore; Wong Sisters (2), The Angel, Ber- ry Bros. (3), Pigmeat Markham & Co.; "Hideout’’ (Rep), Billie Holiday, making her first N. Y. appearance in some time due to legal snafus, is topliner of the new layout at the Apollo. She duplicates, if not tops, all previous stands at this colored vauder. Flanked by Machito’s Afro-Cuban band, giving out with bebop vei> sions of native tunes and other items, and the sock session of the Berry Bros, in their whirlwind dance contribs, it looks like the uptown vauder is in for a solid session, both entertainment and boxoffice-wise. “Lady Day," as usual, doesn’t let them down. Neatly-gowned and niftily coiffed, the sultry song styl- ist gives out with a solid song ses- sion that has ’em begging for more. Teeing off with medley comprising “Lover Man," “Lover, Come Back to Me," “My Man" and “All of Me” for top reception, she follows through with “Porgy” and “Strange Fruit” for an undisputable hit and begoff. Berry Bros., strong faves here, do equally well with their socky I dance session. Lads give them everything in the book, solo-wise ! and tandem, and top it all with their slick aero cane tw'irling num- i ber for a boff finish. Win many recalls but guys are too knocked out for an encore. Machito band also registers high on the applause decibels with its I bebop treatments of sambas, : tangos and other fare. Compris- ! ing five reeds, four brasses, three I rhythm, bongo and maraccas trio, I they give out solidly on “Tim- bero,” “Tanga.” “Blen, Blen Blen” and other tunes. Bruce Moore is I spotlighted on tenor sax for a cou- I pie of items that win good ap- ' plause, while Graziel, sister of the j maestro, gives lusty rendition of 1 “Oo Blaba Doo.” Combo gen- , erates plenty of excitement and I applause from the audience, j Wong Sisters, neat appearing ! Chinese gals, score in their dance and aero interlude. Pigmeat Mark- ham & Co., house comics, tickle the audience with their customary blackout bit. The Angel, youthful harmonicist, mouth-organs slick arrangements of “I Got Rhythm” and a blues number for neat re- turns. Edba. va^npia, xtiiami DeCastro Sisters^!^)Luruf Louretle «. ayvM. Lenny Mayo Bros., Freddie Carlone ^ch; "01,1 From Jon»\"ZTn Current layout is satisfyinn the vaude addicts. for Familiar to the stubholders are the topliners the DeCastro Sistei whose Impact in a theatre seem.’ more solid than in their recent iv! pearances In local niteries ;of the "sophisticated””"eomediS I are toned down. Their harmoniS are blended in a smart mixture n# i Latin tunes, expected from thl iCubano lassies, with versions n# ; “Riders in the Sky” and a hmbllW particularly effective Offed to heavy palming. Art Lund’s rugged looks and per. .sonality hit for full mea.sure in ri ' turns, though his vocalistics are on the average side. Mayo Bros, are neat pace-setters with their precision tappings on a platform. Slick presentation wins them solid applause. Laurette and Clymas with their tongue-in-cheek approach to ballroomology and , rack up the necessary amount of I giggles and mitts for neat returns Lenny Bruce, comic, will do bet- ter once he slows up on delivery Lad has the material and talent to develop rapidly. Freddie Carlone orch backs show capably. Lary. New Acts ROWENA ROLLINS Comedy 10 Mins. Latin Quarter, N. Y. Rowena Rollins (ex-Masters &), now in business for herself, stands to make her mark as an eccentric comedienne with probabilities that maximum effectiveness will be in I vaudeville. Miss Rollins has col- I lected some good material, best of I which seems to be her impression i of a stripteuse making a political ; speech. Carryover from her act with Johnny Masters is the impres- sion of Mrs. FDR which is also a laughgetter and her eccentric arm movements similarly are in a comic vein. Miss Rollins, on show caught, ex- hibited virtually her entire catalog to fine results. A bit of judicious cutting would provide more spark to her act. Turn looms like a dur- able item for the tourist set in cafes and it’s broad enough to make ' a handy impression in the vaud- filmers. Jose. With the lighting of this mid- town S.OOO-.seaier after lieing shut- Jesse, James & Cornell, Grace I House was sellout, and looks like ! Dn/.sdnle, The Fontaines, Doris to revive vaude in attracting biz despite current heat- Patts & Mrs. Waterfall Kim Yen burg has begun and initial pro- vave. Rege. > Soo & Co., Rochelle L Beebe, Jack I K. Leonard, Proskes’ Tigers; ‘Kazan’’ (Col). Dallas Dallas, Aug. 18. The Roulettes (3), Bobby Brandt, The Arnaut Bros. (3) Ruth Petty, Dave Apollon & Co. (3), 3 Swifts, Paul Haakon & Stephanie; "Roughshod" iKKO). ment. The huge house was virtu- ally bulging for the first se.ssion and a continuance of this kind of ^ . ui * * patronage, with a 60c.-75c. scale. Comparing favorably to the two is certain to insure vaude’s relen- Capifol, WaMh. Washington, Aug. 18. Dean Murphy, Patti Page, Tony . — Lavelli, Peggy Taylor Trio; "Sand" Previous bills, this lineup has tion here. (20th). There’s an overdose of music in current Capitol bill, which detracts somewhat from usual variety and pace offered here. However, since enough variety to reach all types of audiences for solid reaction. However, bill runs a little too long and could .stand tightening to make it more sock. It’s been such a long time .since vaude has been presented here that a new generation has grown up but there was a large number « „ 1 of oldsters who contributed heavy Openers, Jessp, James & Cornell, Dalm Doundinc for evorv art thut ijui-e uiiuruu nure. nowever, since nMUmtaU o puuiiuin>; lor every aci mat !^^si;;ner“ise%m.rukeu'i„’','l?rdT wl'.'h'a'Vr'^f S'i!'* and like It. Accent on music fs fial,‘Vo'’r Vftv refuTn.‘"V%?r marked by usual overture. Milt nJJednfr fnPnwc xJf/h 'V* P.*' Municipal Slo.s.ser organ-sing fest and then f^*^y®oale follows with some neat Theatre Assn s Forest Park the- an accordiList and chantoLy To toe off vaudebill. Rearrangement Fontaines, two boys and a gal, chair-warmers with his pratt falls, of acts would help. score n^tly with ballroom dancing line of nifty chatter and zany stuff, T ... * ... . , balancing. with his partner, Peggv Womack )ean Murphy, with his impres- Doris Patts & Mrs. Waterfall. In a tall, willowly gal who seemsTwiS sicn monolog, headlines layout and a corn stint of overworked gags, his size. Teeoff of Gaynor & Hos^^ geU terrific reception. Murphy, a are not too impressive, although roller skaters, working on a dr^ great fave of the late FDR, has a bow'off bit with Mrs. Waterfall cular platform startc^d the pro Vinning personality and a greater dowming through a Charle.ston rou- gram off on the right foot with the respect for, the celebs he mimics, tine registers okay. Kim Yen Roo Customers as they worked V a than most imltatore. His impres- & Co. bafHe the payees in a smooth dizzy pace with the gal beinS *mns gam, rather than lose in au- stint of magic, stunt of making whirled around Just inches aboUe thenticity, by. the fact that he temme aides vanish and reappear 1 the platform, strives for effects, rother than rll> is surefire. Ben Rochelle and { Lloyd and Susan Willis, comedy bing his subjects Running line of Jane Beebe clown their way'dancers, copped the mob’^okaJ patter ties it all t^ogether and adds through ballroom routines for fair ' with their routine which inclSdld ihe comic touch with ^nstant, response. a nifty by Lloyd giving hU impresh laughs and appreciation Sock ap- jack E. T.eonard. In next to clos-' of tap dancing as it was dX 35 peal of the Murphy routine lies in ing. got off to a slow start, but years ago. O’Donnell and Blair in his final sequence with heavy, and captured stubholders with his im- the next slot, have a zany act in strongl.y sei^imental accent on the presh of Fred Astaire. Wound up which a phony seven-foot sax ex- no.stalgie. Deft as.sist from the pit | ^fint badgering the nit hand for plodes, chairs fall apart, a boxing ’^.*^** Eill winds with an ex-; glove smacks O’Donnell in the puss of Wendell Wilkie. Churchill. Mrs. 1 citing hit by Proske’s Tigers, five when he tries to play a piano etc Roosevelt, and, finally, cats being nut through their naces I It’s fast stuff and the payees loved FDR himself. Response is close to by the slight Proske, Bit of tea.s- it. ^ ° ing them with hunks of raw meat | Jack Gwynne. magician has nn» J— A. A A. A. _« A - « _A A • •• ” •how-stopping Next best bet Is Peggy Taylor is a thriller. Attendants standinr’ novel stunt in his repertory biit all * nd her two male partners In a hv with drawn revolvers added ♦- tricks clicked with the mob The ashy 4icro-adagio act. Technique the tension. Solid biz at on^^er. , customers recalled Eddie Peabody Is fine, with some truly dazzling' Elie. >*/ave here many years ago when Vaudeville returned to Inter- state’s Majestic and with it came four packed houses. As early as 10 a.m. for a noon opening, crowds .started lining at the b.o. to witness the much heralded return of stage shows. Seven acts of well balanced variety and a lively pit band ush- ered in Dallas’ comeback. Like other openings the country over, the theatre was filled with old vaude fans, theatre execs and press. The Roulettes, a roller trio, with new spins and nifty background, started the show off with interest and encores. Bobby Brandt, young tapsterer, followed with a few new tapnastics and .somersaulting for neat returns. Arnaut Bros, click with their dual violin dance and bird flirtation whi.stling bit. Ruth Petty, blonde sung.stre.ss, with nice audience appeal, contribs neat vocal session topped by im- pression of Sophie Tucker on “Some of These Days." Dave Apollon and his two young talented assi.stants. La Verne Gustafson, piani.st and Lois Bannerman, harp- ist, score heavily. Gals contribs are neatly received. Apollon’s comedies and talking mandolin are as sock as ever and won many rounds of applause. Three Swifts’ clever club jug- gling, interspersed with comedy, keeps things rolling for neat re- turns. Paul Haakon and Stephanie Antle sock over combo of ballet, adagio and modern dance Inter- ludes dressed up with scenery for nice response. Hyman Charnlnsky batons the pitcrew of 11 men and provides ex- pert backgrounding of the acts. Berg. ROBERT SI§TERS (2) & WHITE ; Dancing 6 Mins. Palace, N. Y. Three gals garbed in short, blue dresses contrib varied terp routines I atop a raised platform. Femnies I work in unison, in tandem and in- ; dividually. Turn builds to a climax ' with two of the gals executing acrobatic .somersaults. Despite the obvious earnestness ans spirit of the trio, the act has an irritating sameness to it. A ' dash of comic patter midway through the stepping might supply the needed change of pace. With further experience the Robert Sis- , ters & White loom as likely con- tenders for most vaude and nitery bookings. Gtlb. ■ PIIILHARMONICA TRIO Harmonica Novelty : 6 Mins, j Palace, N. Y. Handling three numbers in tn* ' deuce spot here, the Philharmonica Trio shapes up as a b€*lter-than- average mouth organ turn. Three males use one standard size instru- i ment and what appear to be two ; oversize gadgets. I Particularly novel are their ar- i rangements of Liszt’s “Hungarian ! Rhapsody" and the “St. Louis ' Blues.” Boys sell their efforts well I and impress as suitable ^ I for vaude and cafe |hTie tnai ! doe.sn’t call for too sophisticated a ; turn. Glib. RKO SHEVES PIC IN SNARL WITH SHERIDAN Hollywood, Aug. 21 RKO shelved “Carriage jn* trance," proposed Ann Sherida starrer, because of casting difficu* ties. Studio declared actress w re.sponsible for the cancellati but she denied it. „ “I approved Robert Younj Franchot Tone, John Lund » Charles Boyer," she said, “but tnj^ all turned it down. Others P posed by RKO were not acceptam*- This is no reflection on them P sonally or on their *hllitie»- . simply felt they would be mi in the role.’*