Variety (February 1951)

so VAUDEVILLE vsktim Wednesday February 7, 1951 Night Chib Reviews HVil^vood Rooniv !• (WALDORF-ASTORIA HOTEL) Liberace, Landre & Vcwta, Emil Coleman .Orch, Mischa Borr Orch; cover, $2-2.50. . Liberace repeats the pleasant impression he made last year in a return engagement currently at the Wedgwood Room. He’s exceed- ingly slick in his work at the piano and warm and friendly in his in- troes to the tunes. He’s likewise pleasing in the occasional vocal accompaniments he provides to his playing. Music runs the gamut in selec- tion. It’s mostly on the pop stand- ard side, but Liberace goes at it as seriously as a concerto. The range is from Strauss through Gershwin to boogie-woogie, all done in a style that leans more to the schmaltzy-' than brittleness. He does a highly-entertaining en- core by asking for requests and, ailer getting about a dozen titles thrown at him, running through them all with 'skillful segues from one tune to the next. His brother, George, handles the baton for Emil Coleman’s orch in providing background lor the 88ing. Spectacular ballroom terpery is provided bv Landre & Verna,, the only other turn on the bill. Team specializes in lifts and spins, which are accomplished with astounding ease and grace. Act would be par- ticularly good for vauderies where they could give full vent to their showmanship with more space 'in which to operate. ' , Femme’s quite a looker and male half of the duo is likewise present- able. Among the numbers they do is a very neat arrangement of “Oh, You Beautiful Doll.” They also have a cute getaway in announc- ing they’re now. going to do “the most dangerous and difficult step any, man has ever done.” Band goes into the wedding march as they trip off. Coleman’s combo provides the usual workmanlike backing for the show and dancing, with Mischa Borr for the breathers. Herb. Versailles, IS. !• Mindy Carson, Johnny Coy, Emile Petti’s Orch , . Panchito’s Rhumba Band; $5 \ minimum, no cover , Aval Itoonu ftostfon (COPLEY PLAZA HOTEL) Boston, Feb. 1. Burl Ives; Ranriy. Weeks Orch I (8 >, Bob Taylor Trio. $1.50 cover. See Him Saw GARRY MOORE in Half MILBOURNE CHRISTOPHER GARRY MOORE SHOW CBS-TV MON. FEB. 12 Burl Ives, husky balladeer of ! Americana, is current lure here and j is grabbing nifty audience reaction ! during his 25-minute sesh of folk- songs. He’s in for two weeks, and when caught, room was packed with “Burl Ives Club” fans who apparently don’t object to.his lop- : ping off his beard as long as his, ! soiigs are.basically familiar, a mix- ture of laments, whimsies and hu- morous ditties. However, his entire repertoire is greeted with solid appreciation, whether a d v i s i n g “Watch the Doughnut, not the Hole,” lament- ing “When I Was Single,” sung to his own guitar accompaniment, or “Blow, Ye Winds,” ancient whaling industry chant, with vocal back- ground supplied by the bandsmen. Ditty of a “Little Tin Soldier” who bemoans'fact he’s priced at 29c. and can’t make any time with a cute doll on the same shelf because of another tin soldier priced at 63c, is a cute gimmick and regis- ters solidly with diners. Attempt to bow off with his trademark, “Blue Tail Fly,” brings unanimous audi- ence participation and Ives returns to encore “Bachelor’s Life,” a beef that “married men ain’t got no time to play,” finally ..begging off with “Hey, Little Blackeyed Susie.” Entire stint is solid, with biz good. Ranny Weeks batons show, while neatly splitting dansapation rhythms with the Bob Taylor trio. Elie. The chi-chi intimacy of a room like the . Versailles is. something to be reckoned with wherein the future of Mindy ; Carson is con- cerned. Not that she can’t click in a noisy spot like the Copacabana —where she has hit, on two oc- casions—but it’s just that a cafe like the Versailles, with its plush background and clientele, seems so i much more in keeping with her ' quiet, casual, effective style; She | is topping a bill that includes one I other act, hoofer Johnny Coy. Miss Carson, adopting the simple style and sock vocal quality that have zoomed her into the popularity polls during the past year Or so, is doing around 20 minutes of expert entertainment. Her routining at the beginning could be speeded up, but she soon catches oh. “Till You” is too slow in the No. 2 spot, followed too closely by the slow “September Song.” Her “If I Were a Bell I’d Be Ringing” is a sock pick-me-up, followed by “All Things You Are,” the very cute “Boutonniere,” a strong “Mad About the Boy” and [the concluding, nifty “Take Love Easy.” Miss Carson has improved tre- mendously in the showmanship de- partment, all of it of the self- effacing quality, with no small fac- tor in her click being that Whole- some prettiness that communicates itself to the audience from the moment she’s on. Johnny Coy ha? some neat, in- tricate hoofing steps, and he got * neat hand with his wide assort- ment of routines. He has a habit of overdoing the gestures, and that goes for the grimaces, too, but all in all he went over neatly with the opening-night mob. He should, however, never forget that in a plush dining room gentlemen never remove their jackets, even if they are warm. Nick and Arnold have never allowed the Versailles to become stuffy, but it’s still the kind of cafe where gentlemen never remove their jackets. Emile Petti’s orch and Panchito’s rhumba band do a neat job for the dancing.- Kahn. “Hallelujah” and “Don’t Take Your Love” js prelude for.return of Twins and some challenge terp- ing. “Ballin’ the Jack” shows re- laxed warbling and footwork, but “Movies Are Better Than Ever,” and “Baby It's Cold Outside” wrap up trio’s sock stint for big re- turns. Wesson, sandwiching this date between pic chores, has put to- gether an okay single for niteries. Mobile expressions weave impresh patterns enhanced by clever lines on quickies of pic stars Cagney, Widmark and Cooper. Exhibs neat vocal characterizations on Monroe, Laine, Melchior, Daniels, and a particularly yockworthy Jane .Rus- sell. Panto bit of guy attempting to crowd into crap game has thin windup but holds for laughs be- cause of Wesson’s incredible facial distortions, Cliff Ferre joins Wesson in song and impresh bit of Milton Berle, also one with twist having Ferre asking Wesson to give with the funny stuff, but doing it himself while comic heckles from audience to boffo reaction. El Ranchoettes set up two eye- filling routines! “White Waltz” has deft strob illumination, and a Spanish number has gals putting forth good ensemble precision taps. Ted Fio Rito, in for two weeks, handles musicues neatly aqd dishes out okay tempos for terpatroris. Will. ZENITH SISTERS Thctnks to JOE DANIELS, JERRY ROSS, and LEN MAN- TEL for a terrific four months stay .in the Northwest Territory, Seattle IC Town and Country China Pheasant Portland Spokane B. 0. F. Club Vancouver, B. C. The Cave PERMANENT ADDRESS 1545 So. Burnside Aye. Los Angeles 19, Cal. Emerald Rin.. Houston (SHAMROCK HOTEL) Houston, Feb. 2. Foy Willing & Riders of the Purple Sage r Anita Aros, Bob Williams, Henry King's Orch; $3.50 minimum. The Shamrock’s first three-act bill in a long time, designed to lure visitors in for annual Stock Show and Rodeo, is a triple-threat hit, and has brought in, crowds despite the biggest snow storm in Houston’s history. Foy Willing and his five trouba- dors, decked out in Western regalia, combine the plaintive cowboy ballads, “Cool Water,” “Tennessee Waltz,” et al. with a brace of pop tunes, .some lively fiddling and a drum-trumpet-song turn by Dick Hill. Biggest smash of act, however, is tenor Al §loey, who vocalizes “Tennessee Waltz” and “Danny Boy.” The Riders, familiar to localites through Rodeo appearances, prove they can dish out top' entertain- ment in a swank nitery as well as from a ropin’-ridin’ arena. Seventeen-year-old Anita Aros, pretty .brunet with a nifty figure, does a nice turn of fiddling, offer- ing gypsy tunes and czardas, plus light opera offerings such as Her- bert’s “Kiss Me Again.” Bob- Williams’ dog act, is a sur- prise hit that knocks the customers in the aisles. The three pooches, ' carefully trained to disobey the embullient Williams’ commands, 4et the boss cut the capers, while they wander under the customers’ tables, play dead and otherwise behave like everyday dogs turned loose in familiar surroundings. Fraz. Copa City, Miami Beach (FOLLOWUP) Miami Beach, Feb. 3. . The needed sock to make the current Sophie Tucker-Billy Dan- iels show a solid click bizwise, was added .by Joe E. Lewis, with heavy reservations resulting. The puckish comic has never been in “better form. Offering a completely new lineup of special material songs and parodies, he keeps the yocks mounting, pacing himself in that slow, easv style. From “Ragmop, I Love You,” through a parody on “Shadrack ” ‘Pimlico” medley of college song satires and takeoff on “Be Happy, Go Lucky,” he .continues tq build with the topper a version of the book, “Fractured French,” with tribute to Abel Green, the co-au- thor, and inevitable leading to lam- poon of Gallic singers, “French Is Sweeping the Country” for a wrap up. Had to beg off. He returns for an hilarious finale with Miss Tucker, Daniels and the line in a “minstrel” idea with the gags go- ing wild to La Tucker’s windup in a fantastic pair of bloomers. Miss Tucker, as per usual, shows that vet knowhow In her spot with group of new songs. Takes over the opening slot and gets them, all the way with her-advice on marriage, men; femmes, takeoffs on Richman, Cantor, Joe E, Lewis, Durante, Ted Lewis, et al.; re her upcoming golden jubilee in show biz. The windup is her new “My Mother’s Sabbath Gandies” for plenty reaction. Daniels, too, holds up his spot with that finger-snap- ping, sometimes crooning, some- times shouting the pops. With accompanist Benny Payne aiding major part of the routine, via dueting, it adds up to another beg- off in a show that has sock all the way. Speaking of accompanists, there are three experts on tap in Austin Mack’s “right hand” key- ing for L e w i s, Ted Shapiro’s straighting and conducting for Miss Tucker and of Course, Payne. Dave Tyler’s orch is excellent on show backing, while the Arden- Fletcher line handle two neat rou- tines in top fashion. Lary. thez Farce, Chi Chicago, Feb. 2. Jerry Bergen, Paul Gilbert Paul Steffan Dancers (5.), Stan Grover , Rich France A Lucielle Bart os, Chez Adorables (10), Cee Davidson orch (8), Pancho band (5); minimum $3.50, coper $ 1 . Latest in the series of two-week fillers for this spot tries to add production values by having thei r acts work throughout the show However, although in several cases it works well, finale seems flat. Paul Steffan terpers also lose some of their impact via dividend rou- tines. Jerry Bergen, pint-sized comic gets yocks with his frantic efforts to play the violin; gets mixed up with a table of Swiss bells, and then gets trapped by a xylophone. ! He has a fine double-talk bowoff 1 session, haranguing the customers until led off by a nurse. Paul Gilbert works ^at top speed j as he rattles off his qqips. Young comedian has some sharp and seemingly new material, but some of it is better told at the second or third show, rather than for family dinner audience.* He has a good voice, which he might use more often and also registers in a soft-shoe turn. However, dance should be spotted further down as it takes the edge off some sen- sational balancing tticks . with a table and chair. Here Gilbert is assisted by Bergen, as a Waiter, perched high on balancing chair. Bergen’s panto plus the work of Gilbert has the diners roaring. Steffan dancers score in two (Continued on page 52) PATRICE JAN HELENE and HOWARD Currejitly STATLER HOTEL CLEVELAND, OHIO |0^ pd* c ei* COP HAL GE6rG1A BARBERS and DALE 7TH RETURN ENGAGEMENT SHOREHAM HOTEL Washington, D. C. Grant’s Riviera RESTAURANT AND BAR 158 W. 44 St., New York LU 2-4488 WHERE SHOWBUSINESS MEETS * TALENT CONTEST * MONDAY NIGHTS Prixet Professional Engagement (Duplicate Prim Awarded In the Case af Tiei — \ fftoiiiulup IIin.. Las Vegas (EL RANCHO VEGAS) Las Vegas, Jan. 31. Martha Stewart & ;Blackburn Twins, Dick Wesson . Cliff Ferre; El Ranchoettes. (8>, Ted Fio Pato Orch (10); no cover,, no minimum. Click by Martha Stewart and Blackburn Twins in smart turn, along with Dick Wesson’s mobile mugging and sharp comedies will beckon . plenty of traffic into this rustic intime room. Show opens fast, keeps tip pade for ; allotted 60 minutes without a letdown, gar- nering appreciative laughter and ("applause throughout. Blackburn Twins romp on with sparkling “Exactly Like Me” and dealing sesh. This gets them into “mirror” routine trademark, mas- ! terful terp and panto illusory deal ; to reap rich returns. Miss Stewart’s intro and quickie sesh of FIRST AMERICAN APPEARANCE! BERTI and SCOTTI NOVELTY DANCE DUO Opening February 8»h for 2 W..ki STUEBEN'S VIENNA ROOM BOSTON, MASS. v Feb. 22nd to March 7tli LORIER CLUB “ Lowell, Moss. TRINI and MANOLO * Flamenco Dancers Extraordinary HELD OVER 4TH WEEK HAVANA MADRID, New York BAUM-NEWBORN AGENCY BRyant 9-6377