Variety (February 1950)

Vednesdayr February 15^ 1950 47 New Acts OENE’NELSON . Pance _ 5 Mins; ^ Music Hall, N. T. Gene Nelson , makes an attrac-^ tive* if fleeting impression in his how on theJMusic Hall stage. Tap dancer, appearing by courtesy of Warner Bros., in whose upcoming “Daughter of Rosie O’Grady’' he’s featured; is ' tall, sleek and well- gropmed, and has a neat, individual style. Setting adds a good deal to his turn, the Set being a nitery peopled by a large group of color- fully-cbstumed gentry. ; Nelson’s entry is unobstrusive, in the middle of a vocal solo, his dance breaking into the siong sharply. He taps first with one girl, then aiiother, then with several for a striking unusual effect. His tap- ping has a: good deal of Paul pra- per’s style, with notable ballet in- fluence in his leaps and turns. These twirls are standout. Nelson is off too quickly, leaving, however, Inipression of a solid standard act. • "■ Bron. ' BOBERTA'S CIRGUS (3) Noveity 10 Mins.; Full Palace, N, Y. Roberta’s Circus, comprisihg a comely femme operator, a couple of assistants and an assortment of ponies, dogs and a monkey, is good fare of the type that has always found a niche in the four-a-day houses. The girl puts the animals thr 9 ugh some liyely, although fa- miliar formations, such as pre- cision drills by the nags, comedy bits by the dogs and the alternat- ing pony riders. : The turn shows; a great deal of discipline and some experience. They’re okay for the vaude and outdoor wheels^ Jose. B.Q. Cut Continued froin pa|;e 1 CEDRONE & MEIGS Sbngs: . .9 Mihs.. -^. . , , Le RUban Bleu, N. y. Clara CCdrone and Bill Meigs have worked bn their act during their long tenure at the Old Knick Music Hall, N. Y., where their .en- tre’act olios provided ample op- portunity to test audience reaction. Their, efforts have paid off with a stand, at Le Ruban Bleu. The pair project some geriuine comedy into bldtime tunes. Work has an - excellent satiric flavor which gets, steady laughs. Team is alsct capabliEi of buffooning the oldtime o Sbftshoe . styles, which blends well, with their particular style of comedy. Miss Cedrpne, «a smallish girl, carries the bulk of the comedy, and provides excellent contrast to the king-sized Meigs, Vocally, both are okay. Appear good cafe and nitery bets. ; Jose. RALPH WALDO CUMMINGS Soiigb. .10:Mins^' One Fifth Avenue, N.. y. Young ex-Navy combat flyeri who .was in the chorus of “Finian’s Rainbow” bn Broadway, accom- panies himself oh the guitar and does three of his oWn, tunes. Opens with “Wind Blows and Blows,” folksy number on his native Ne- braska, follows with a ballad, “That’s Enough For Me,” and a fey ditty,“Passing of An Elf.” Ma- terial is fresh and his styling shows versatility and training. Person- ality is engaging, and turn got a hefty mitting in this irttime spot. ;; Encore of Cole Porter’s “Me and Marie’V exhibits vocal dexterity and neat handling of light pieces: • Bril CHUBBY NEiVSOM Songs iZ Mins.; One Apollo* N. Y; Chubhy Newsom, Negro song- stress, offsets' a not-too-dis- tihguished voice by hinging most of her vocalizing on off-color tUnes. Gal;gives her numbers, all in the blue's idiom, added emphasis by executing bumps and grinds. Ma- terial is definitely not for the family trade, but should fit in nicely at vaude and niteries with policies resembling that of the Apollo. ■ Miss Newsom drew sock results with her warbling of “Chubby’s Confession,” “Still in Love With You,” “Hip Shakin Mama” and ^‘Hard Lovin' Mama.” to. the Alldredge report by the financial institutibhs, Raibourh said, because m a j or, company names were mentioned as sponsor- ing it and the idea got around that it was ■‘official.” Actually* it was sponsored by the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Metropblitan Washingtori, CBS, NBCi DuMont and the Washington Eyenihg Star.. Loew’S and Warner Bros, are mem- bers of the theatre owners’ group and thus participated, but only in- directly, : Alldredge, who surveyed 400 families in January, found they went to theatres 4.51 times a month before they had their sets, and now go 1.27 times^a 72% drop. Chil- dren in these families went 5.13 times before their parents got TV, and now go 2.75 times—a 46% WEEK OF FEBRUARy 15 Numerals In cenntctlon with .bills below indicate opening day of show . whofher full or split w^eek Lettor in paronthssos Indicates circuit (FM Fanchon Marco; (1) inpopendent; (L) Loewi .(M) MosSi (P) Paramdunti (R) RKO; (t) Stall; <W) Warner; • -IWR)-Walter .'.Reade GEORGE CONLEY Monologist 5 Mins.; One Music Hall, N. Y. George Conley uses too much familiar material; and slightly out- worn gags and comedy, to rise above -ar-^routihe level—inr- his net,. Utilizing an easy, informal manner, the yOung monologist goes simply and quickly into his series of comr ments on parents, children, radio and television programs, and life in general. . . Some of his takeoffs on well- known radio programs are amus- ing* and several of his imitations of Hollywood figures are effectiye. On the Whole, though, his act is only mildly appealing, and pretty much run-of-the-mill. Bron. HOWARD & WANDA BELL Acrobatics 8 Mins.; Three Palace ’'N.' Y. Howard and Wanda Bell appear to be experienced hand-to-handers whose routiries are applause-catch- ing. Their assortment of tricks are .w^ll desighed and they use a variety of perches to get some good aero effects. 'The girl who does the aerial work is personable and appears accomplished in this field. Turn, however, can stand' some speedup. They lose a great deal of time .switching to different bits of aipparatus. Otherwise act is okay for visual; media. ' Jo$e: RASTUS AND ROGTSIE Comedy 15 Mins.; One Apollo, N. y. Rastus and Bootsie impress as having been around. Negro pair start off solidly With Bootsie, on stage about to begin the act, in- terrupted by Rastus, walking lip arid down, the orchestra aisle call- ing for his wife. Rastus eventu- ! ally works his way up to the stage, where duo bandy about some chat- ter, provide a few laughs, but overdo themselves in the long run. Team is a good bet for situa- tions siriiilar to their current booking However, tightening of the act and a faster pace would help. POLLY POSSUM ■|-Songs-^'—• 5 Mins. Village Bam, N. Y. JACK FRIEND Comedy Songs 13 Mins. One Fifth Avenue, N. Y. ^ Assistant Stage itianager of “Where’s Charley?*t on Broadway, breaking in as a nitery act. Jack Friend has ah exuberant comic style well suited to small sophisti- cated rooms; Opener is ^^Loofc Out For Your Heart*” a ribald .fib- bing of the roue. Ballad on a Har- vard lad who gets snagged by^a saucy wench is sbeked across.. spot is Satiric patter number ing a current bestsellerv Friend expends plenty of energy but It’s kept under control, and material, although salty, registers. Btil.- ■ Polly Possum is a pigtailed: rube warbler who appropriately aug- ments her bucolic chirping with a garb of calico,; hair-ribbon and high-button shoes. She works plenty of 00111 .. into her routines and her hillbilly mannerisms .are fraught With realism. In; a brief stint here, Miss Pos- sum muggs. her Way through ^^Ozarks Are Callin' Me Home” and dresses up “Oklahoma Hills’^ with a few bars of yodeling. Turn is suitable for spots specialwing m, . a rural atmosphere, but obviously j is of little value elsewhere. Glib. The novelty does not wear off, either, Alldrfedge said, but just the contrary. Those families Who have had sets two years or more used to go. to film houses an average of 5.8 times a month* They now go 1.5 times—74% liess. Their kids;have fallen frpiri a 6.1 average to three times—a drop of 50%. Raibpum said that the statistics collected by his surveyors over the years agree rather closely with All- dredge’s on rate of theatre attend- ance after ownership of a set. They are far off, however, pn attendance before, the advent of TV to a house- hpld. . While Alldredge found that attendance formerly was 5.8 times, Raibburn states his figures show the average nori-TV family to go to theatres only about 2.5 times a month. That means that the sta- tistical dropoff after tele ownership is much less precipitate. Depended on Meinbry Alldredge’s polling technique was [at fault. Par v.p. declared, because I of a number of factors well kriown I to public opinion samplers. First ! is that Alldredge depended on the memory of people questioned con- cerning what they did more than two years earlier. Second is that the police always has a tendency to answer a question the way he thinks the poller wants it answered. In this case he knew that the sur- veyor was trying to prove a drop in thcfttre attendance. Raiboum said that Par started out using the same method as All- dredge* arid soon discovered its error. That was that people thought they had been going to films more often than, they actually did. As a result, Par dropped that method and started querying peo- ple who did not have a set, but who appeared likely to buy one within a year Or so. Close check was then kept on their actual attendance iiritil they acquired a- tele receiver and after it was installed. The habits-of- some families have thus been studied by regular researcher visits over a period of years. Raiboum further refuted the Alldredge figures by pointing out that average admission prices are somewhere around 40c, and there arb about 100,000,000 potential the- atregoers in the U. S, If the aver- age person went. 5.8 times monthly (70; times a year), as Alldredge stated, total admissions would amount to $2,800,000,000. Tax fig- ures show, Raiboum said, that; the total never was higher thari $l,150i- NEW YORK CItY Capitol (L) 15 Gordon Jenkins O . Marion Hutton Jack Douglas.. Nip Nelson Musk Hall (I) U: Gene Nelson Jessica Haist Raniirez Peralta George Conley Robert De Voyo Viola CrucU Richard Tetley- .. Kardos Rdekettes Corps de Ballet Sym Ore Palace. (R) 14 Rudenko Bros Clark Bros.' ^ 0 to fill Paramount (P) IS Johnny Johnston Lina Roihay . Boyd Raeburn Ore. Gcd DeWitt Mayo Bros • Roky (I) 17 Allan Jones B 4c J Kean Irving- Fields 3 Berry Bros.. Anthony Allyn & Hodges Strand .(W) II Lenny Kent Charlivels Linda Lombard Francis & Grey.:. ■ Ernestine Merter Lucieiine & Ashour Art Waner Ore .. Ames Bros Peter Donald JACKSONVILLE Florida (P) 21 Only Vaughn Monroe O LAKELAND Polk (P) 1? Only -Ted Weems Ore. LOS ANGELES : Orpheum (I) 15' Ala Ming Riiss Clark Margatet Brown 3 Guys - V Consolo & Melba. Sue Carson . . Gil Maison Goetschis MIAMI Olympia (P) 15 . J & M Nagle G Ray TerreU . Constance Moore Lew Nelson . Russ Mack & Owen OMAHA Orpheum (P) 17. Sammy Kaye Ore Frank Marlowe .Blair 4c Dean. ■ PHILADELPHIA Carman (1) 15 Gilbert 4c Russell .Tim Penman Co Peter Sinclair * 3 Sherwoods POUGHKEEPSIE Bardavbn (P) .17-11 Chambers 4c Blair Ar Sehenck Howie Stockwell . Nancy. Walker Douglas Francis Harry Korris Elva Sheridan, A '■ Bpe'-- Rondart YORK . Empire .(I). 13 S 4c M Harrison Freddie MlrSeld Andre Twins & Sandra ,. Bob Grey Claude Williams Susan 4c. Pat CANADA Montreal Gayety <l). 13 Anita Marie George Beatty Elmer Cleve A • Marilyn . 3 C's ’ ■ Frank Cook Co Betty Mae Allen Barron Twins . Bernle Sloan Jane Moriran Tommy Day Orch Roxy (I) 13 Mary Mack Joan May Ernie Rythm Red , Dutch Jordan Bob Coffee, • E & B Root . Ray' Kolb ^c6ast-to-Cdast, |lorder-to-Bordei*" BREAK YOUR JUMP! At the FOX theatre# St. Louis orpheum theatre, Wichita Agents, or Act^wrIts anlv*--$tato asking lai. ary. open tlirtfi and include one .set of pliofos! F&M STAGESHOWS, Inc. TiiSS* ‘ DOC HOWE ToiirlnK Gne Foster Rpxyetfcft NEW tOBK CITY Continued from page .1 DAVID BLIGHT Dancing 8 Mills. Village Bartti N. Y; : il,. Youthful terper David Blight shows promise. Opens with some standard footwork, then shifts to. —Ri-rub e rontitifi that blends well W'ith the Barn’s rustic policyi Also does a fair mimic of Ray Bolg^. For a finale, the tall* lean Blight has a good novelty ih a dance a^p a small table. On the overall, his stepping lacks grace and polish, but these faults can be corrected RIMMER SISTERS (2) Dance • ' 8 Mins.; Ori« , ^ .. . , . Apolio, N. Y. I of prosperity on the, heels of last A routine tap tearii, Negro sister i year’s billings upsurge . whicb; saw act fits the bill as okay filler ibR" i the. network close a $7,000, terial. Diio ■ make a ■ nice appearr i ij.. ■ uTii ance, work at a fast pace any syn- chronize well in their execution pf ATLANTA : Roxy (P) 21 Only Vau,t;hn Monroe O . BALTIMORE State (I) 16-11 Allen Sc Bobles Jerry. Morgan Rod Rogers Marcolli 4 e Janis 19-22 , Lenore & Charles Bobby Shields Whltey Roberts Brick Bros Sc Gloria BUFFALO Buffalo (L) 15 Berk & Hallow Leonard Sues Appletdhs Artie Dann Ink Spots CAMDEN Towers (I) 14 T. & M Conihe Stenards • Carr Bros .. Danny Crystal Gibsons CHICAGO .. Chicago (P) 17 June Havoc- ' Joey Adams Tony Canzbneri Mark Plant Raphael Mendez Tip Tap Sc Toe Oriental (I) 14 Wally V^rnoii Christian Tp Vic Hyde Carlos & Linda Bob DeU Carl Sands Ore . Belmont (P) 17 only A.sylum of Horrors Tower (P) 18 Only Asylum of Horrors HARTFORD State (I) 18-19 Charlie Spivak Ore RDCKFDRD Palace (I) 17-19 Wilford DuBois Egan Sc Parker Dina Lure Milton Douglas Co 4 Wades ST LDUIS Fox (F A M) 5 DeMarco Sis Johnny Downs Martez .& Lucia Ross & La Pierre - Alphonse Berge Co 2 Jacks : Buster Shaver Sc Toytown Ming & Ling SARASDTA Florida (P) 15 Dniy Henry Busse Ore SIOUX CITY 'Orpheum (R) 14-19 Roulettes . D & D Workman Virginia Lee Think-^a-Drink Hoffman. Rex Weber M Sc M Viera . & - Monkeys. Alan Carney. Salici Puppets-' SPRINGFIELD Court SqJR) 14-19 B & J ROTdy Gadabouts Doris' Patts Sc Mrs; Waterfall .Tuyelys Paul Gerrits Harry Kahne WASHINGTON Capitol (L) IS Pat Hill Sara Ann McCabe Cy Reeves Dave Apollon WEST palm BEACH Palms (P) 17 Only Ted Weems Ore BRITAIN some average turns. 000 gap in its competitive race • with NBG. Mutual, ciishirig ih in recent weeks to the tune of some $3,500,- Act ri^t for the smaller i POO. vaude houses. to have come up with an operational patr tern and sales technique that could well be the solutipn to a No. 4 network slanted to the small rnair- ket. ABC, too, in recent weeks (see ^" " ” ■ , r. : the “ABC Story’V in this week’s Sam Geison, Of has; been con- flackery, has _ been named^ I siderably heartened by a hew re- rary prepdent of the Pres^ Agents j club, which was recently organized facilities. Much of the gloom to .formulate K^ye 'KxecutWe l and the injeetion of its new Kay Norton was elected assistant by-five” sales technique to v to the chairman. All offioers are (gmaller client pro-tern until a general election is held; Frank Law* one of the or- ‘four . BLACKPOOL Winter Gardens (I) 13 Robb Wilton 3 Cardinals ' Young China Tp P & S Sherry Freddie Harris Sc Christiric: Society 4 Harry Bailey Regina Maida Co BRIGHTON Hippodrome .(M) 13 Cheerful Charlie . Chester - ' . Keri Morris Fred. Ferrari'. Arthur Hayes . Edwina Carol . Leh Marten . Grip 4 Mariotti & Wenman 5 Brahms Gene Anderson ' Harry Richards 12 Tiller Girls CHrSWlCK Empire (S) 13 Anne Shelton Charlie Clapham Arnaut Bros 3 Astaires HarryShields Archie El ray Lionel King Veronica Martell EDINBURGH Empire (M)'13 . Jack Radcliffe . Robert WHson Gfeorge Elrick Agnelte A Silvio . Anna Mac Francis Derry Del MOndi Traiitor 4? Hulley Jacqueline Dunbar. FINSBURY PARK Empire (M) 13- Drage Vlvianne « • Irene I Caryll & Mundy El Grenada 4 uu€ inese tauiis can oe 1 —- ic tAmnoratw nhairman. ivUh* furthoTA expoTioiicieii«v v. • V saiqs technique to woo the j Piddingtons 3 O'Doyle Bros ■ Turner Layton. Anita ’ Max Bacon . Harry Worth Kay Cavendi.sh Sheridan Bros LEICESTER Palace (S) 13 ■Ronnie Ronalde Avrll Angers Sirdani Linda Sc Lana Revel Sc Fields Slim Rhyder DenVexs Jack. Stocks NORWICH Hippodrome (I) 1.3 . O.scar Sc Punimie Patch Novelty. Amazing" Chevalier High School Horse Kayes' Lions . Liberty Hor.se:s . Paddle the' Mule Spuds Co • Ranleighs . SCUNTHORPE Savoy: (I) 13 Macari Dutch Serenaders Mayfair Debutantes Val & Monte V C^sto Bros & Margarite • Ros's Ian MacLean \ SUNDERLAliD Empire (M) 13. Mills Sis A Michael Dick Henderson Nelson Lloyd , Reino Co 3 Peters . Carroll Levis Co VICTORIA % Palace (M) 13 Jimmy Edwards Joy Nicholjf Dick Bentley WnUas Eaton Anton Karas WOLVER . : Blrdlano Les ’ YOung Ore Blue Angel Garland WllsOn. Stuart Rqss ' Eadie '& Rack Connie Sawyer • ' May Barnes .. Billie Hey wood H Chittison 3 . Marion Bruce Francis Linel.. . ■ Bop CIfy Dizzy Gillespie Bill Farrell r Flip Phillips Slam Stewart 3 Cafe Society .Ella Fitzgerald Timmie Rogers Cliff Jackson . Cbiiia Doll , Emilio Reyes [ Katharine Chang Toy & Wing Myra Kim. Canton Bros - Copacauane. ■Ted Lewis Geraldine DiiBols Reed Sis ,, Gordon Gaines Patricia Adair M Durso Ore . Aivares Ore Diamond Horseshoe Walter Dare Wahl Gloria Leroy W. C. Handy Billy Banks Noble Sissie Ore Chic Morrison O**® ' BigolettO Bros.. Jack Spoons Frank Evans Tommy King ILarry Meehan Billy Banks Harry Armstrong El Chico rtoslta Rios Los Gitanos: Pilarin' TaVira Sarita, Herrera D'AIonso Ore • Mavana-Madrid Miguel Herrerd. Marga Liergo Ha'ifiilton Ders Sicciardi - 4 e Brenda Puento Ore Piipi Campo ‘Ore Hotel Ambassador Jules Lande Ore Hotel Biltmore Harold NageJ Ore Hotel Edison •Henry Jerome Ore Hotel New Yorker •Johnny Long Ore Upstarts Leo DeLyon Edwards & Diane . Peter Kent Ore Hotel Pierre Rosita Serrano Stanley Melba Ore Ralph Lane Ore Ralph Teferteller ■ Hotel Plaio Biirl, Ives Wally Cox Bob Grant Orb Mark Monte Ore Payson Re Ore Nicolas Mattbey;: Motel Roosevelt Guy Lombardb'. Hotel St. Morlti M LaPorte,' Leo Pleskow Erwin Kent Rjamoni::Orc Hotel 3t Regis Jiilie Wilson Laszlo & PepltO Milt Shaw Ore Hotel Sheibburhe Jane Harvey Irwin Corey Carlos Montoya . Cy Coleman .. Hotel Statlor . Jimmy Dorsey Ore ^ Hotel Taft Vincent Lopez Ore Hotel Warwick Jan. August Ore Iceland Korn Kobblers Saphronie O.rantae. Diamond - Ned Harvey Ore ■ Latin Quarter;. . Lenny, Kent' Charlivels: : Linda Lombard Francis & Grey. Ernestine Mercer Lucienne Sc Ashour. Art. Waner Orr Le Coq Rouge Oscar Calvet Ore Jack Towne. Ore - Leon A Eddie's Eddie Davis Jerri Blanchard Alan King Kono Rosette Shaw Lyda St Yonnl Frank Stevens . MaCombo Dorothy Ross Boylan & King Gordon Andrews Monte .Carlo Dick Gaspare Ore Ln. Playa 6 No 1 Fifth Avo Walling Sc McHugh ■Downey. &' FonviUo . Hazel Webster Old Knick Billy Bryant Paul Killiam Janie Stevens Frank- Wayne Charlotte Ray Bob Gallagher Al Cooper. Ore Old Roumanian Sadie. Banks. Jackie Phillips Irving Grossman - Diana Goldberg Susan Brooks Joe LaPorte Oro D'Aquila Ore Park A VO Billy Daniels Four Tones Beverly Dcnnli Benny Payne Penthouse -x, Betty. 4c Jane Kean ^ Herb Schutz ■. Rubah Blou Kirkwood 4c Goodman Cedrone '4c" Meigt 3 Riffs Ronnie Grahakn Julius Monk Norman Paris 9 Versailles kay Thompson Lee Scott Buzz: Miller George Martin Emile Petti Oro Phnehito Ore ’ Village Barn Polly Possum Mary Ellen 4 David Blight Bobby Myers Village Vanguard . Ellis Larkin 3; Clarence; WllHama Waldbrf-Astorlo .Sid Caesar . Georgia Gibbs Emil Coleman Oro Mjscha Borr* Ore CHICAGO is seeD .as orie of ABC's major answers in adopting the correct ,mod4i operqndi. . ^, HAMPTON . Mme truzzi Sc Pets Mipbodroino (I) 13 Fayne Sc Evans RaV^EUington 4 Job Loss Bd Bartlett tc Massey GLASGOW Eddie Bayes Blackhswk Mack Tygctt Janet CampheU i Deon Sherman Joyce Harley ! Jean Stanley 1 Sammy Shore ■ Eddie Howard Ore .; Black.stohc Hotel I Lind Bros 3 Dick LaSaile Ore Chf». raroo. .fimnriy Durante J & A DiGitano i Gloria Van I Adorables (12) - ■•C.ce Davidson .Ore I Heislihgs Bonnie Baker Jimmy Ames nop BradfieldS : Billy Chahdlet- Ore i Hotel Bisinarck I Maria Ravel Johnfliy AJladln. Ore Joe Isbell H EdgewaTOr Beach Billy Hayes Melody Men’ (2) D llild Ders (12) George Olsen Ore Hotel Stevens Joan Hyi<1oft Arnold Shodg Morgan 3 VkMOWVv - .i I •'J . finp|rg,(ML W • . > V Mel Cole Ore Pahchd OVe . Harper : Flaherty Bob Fitzgerald Skating Blvdears Jack. Raffloer Buddy Rust Jerry Mapes Frank Masters Ore Palmer House Billy De Wolfe Chandra Kaly Ders. Bella Kremo Rex Ramer Eddie . O'Neil Ore . Sherman Hdtfii "College tnn Story"V Phyllis Gehrig won Weismuller Christine Nelson ; Carmen Albino Norman Fields Frank Wagner Ward Garner Kenneth Remb Eileen Green cuff Norton Carolyn .Gilbert Les Weinrott Vera Gahah Bill Snyder Ore Vino Gardens Gloria Van. , Jackie Green