Variety (December 1951)

48 [OUSrf REVIEWS Veilmfai 26 , 1951 R»iy 9 W. Y. Guv Mitchell, Bob Fosse, Paul jtemos & Bovs (3), Bela Kremo, Dolinoff Sc Raya Sisters (4), Nor- wood Smith, Evelyn Case, Roxy- ettes, H. Leonard Spltalny Chorus; *Elopement” (20th), reviewed in Variety JVoo. 7 , ’51. The Roxy’s holiday bill is de- signed to suit all age and taste groups. There’s a nod to the aus- terity of the occasion with the annual production of "Ave Maria," concessions, to the kiddies via juve- aimed acts, and a bid for the bob- by-soxers with the disk-developed Guy Mitchell. This stagebill represents A. J. Balaban's finale as head of this theatre. He goes on a consultative basis thereafter. It’s an appropriate ending to a distinguished steward- ship of this theatre,, inasmuch as it’s a bill that pinpoints showman- ship at comparatively modest cost and makes maximum use of the Roxy facilities. The major name value is in Mitchell. This performer made his N. Y. bow at the Strand some time ago, when he evidenced a sad lack of stage dcporiment., He’S pro- gressed cons'derab.y since. He now has a : credilable stage pres- ence, but he gets , across mainly on the strength of his pipings and re- lationship o” liis tunes to the best- seller ' L ags. . "Truly Fair," "Sparrow In the Treetop" and "Roving Kind" are his major of- ferings and he’s off to a salvo. ns' an inducement to the kiddie trade, Paul nemos & Toy Boys ate responsible for a healthy share of the entertainment. It’s still a cute novelty turn after all these years. ?.ob Fosse (ex-& Niles) does some decorative terping. It’s too sophisticated for the trade that hits theatres during the holiday week, blut there are sufficient highlights in his stint to maintain interest. He’s a skilled dancer in the mod- ern idiom but his attempts at pa 1 aver are feeble. Another novelty, Dolinoff & the •Raya Sisters; contribute hand- somely to the entertainment. The three girls Work in full view of the audience while the male in the background is hidden from > view. Combination produces some Weird and impressive effects that bring- healthy nuttings. Another, major component of the lineup is Bela Kremo, one of the best jugglers of this era. He han- dles cigar boxes, high hats and balls with top dexterity and a grain of humor. Received solidly. The spectacle is comparatively brief and follows an abundance of light entertainment. Evelyn Case’s solo of Schubert’s “Ave Maria” is in tradition. The stage setting is impressive and the choral work provides an excellent background, Costuming and presentation pro- vides a fitting closer to the festive show. Norwood Smith does, the singing chores for the production intervals. Jose. opened at this house. This time she socks them with an original num- ber by George & Sheila Mela- chrino titled "Once More It's Christmas," and has a second hit in a more boisterous song, "Rootin’ Tootin’Santa Claus." Vic & Adio, who scored a big Palladium hit earlier in the season, are in the top grade of acrobats. Theirs is a highly colorful routine which is given special punch by the nonchalant way in which, compli- cated stunts are. Carried out. Act deservedly sets boffo reception. Climax to the show is developed on the “Sleeping Beauty" theme. The singers, ballet dancers and chorines combine in a lively spec- tacle which is imaginatively con- ceived and expertly executed. Myro. Chicago, Chi Chicago, Dec. 21: Ming Toy Troupe (4) , Maria Ncg* lia, Jaywalkers (3), Think-a-Drink Hoffman, Viven Scott, Louis Basil Orch; “Man in the Saddle " (Col). , House producer Nate Platt, has thrown everything but the book in to o v e r c o m e the. usual-; lull. Whether or not color cartoons, lob- by clowns, live animals, puppets, and free rides, plus this show can shove aside the usual weak b.o. and snowdrifts is anybody’s guess, Ming Toy troupe are socko con- tortionists with three femmes aw- ing with double pointed tricks. Big part, however, is the balancing of plates on sticks With one gal do- ing a back bend, drinking a glass of water atop three-legged stool planted on table; all this while juggling four dishes. Maria Neglia has improved her stage, presence, with petite .violinist pulling all the stops With her flashy fiddling, Most of her work is on the pizzicato side, producing a hefty hand for her “Hot Canary;" Jaywalkers capture third slot with their aero comedy. Although there’s nothing new, especially hilarious is the (Operating room bit along with slow motion boxing. Trio get real yocks;. Think-a-Drink H of f m a n has youngsters in audience in his camp with his pouring of mixtures, with the older folks suggesting po- tions to slack their thirsts. Louis Basil does a fine job on traditional Xmas tunes and Viven Scott, boy soprano, closes the cur- tain with an impressive rendition of “Silent Night" against cathedral window backdrop. Zabe. EiiarLondon London, Dec. 18. “Jingles” staged and produced -by Nat Karson. With Empire Girls (24), Empire Ballet, (20) Choral Ensemble (12 ), Vic & Adio, Grace Drysdale, Georgia Brown, George Melachrino Orch; “Westward the Women” (M-G). There is the traditional seasonal flavoring in Nat Karson’s new revue, but he departs from ex- pected conventions and introduces many of the famous pantomime characters in an original way. Pro- duction marks his second anni as resident producer at this Metro London showcase, and current lay- out is one of his most successful. Show breaks away from stereo- typed formula that has stamped some. earlier productions. For its opening sequence, entire Company cpmesiion for a number magnifi- cently. staged in a London subway booking hall. The Melachrino combo, then takes the stage to put over its usual fine style tunes from current West End musical bits. The pantomime flavor is intro- duced with the next item, the bal- let girls doing a special parade, eight of the; male singers coming on as “Dames" and 24 Empire Girls as “Principal Boys." Latter, per custom, come on to an ovation, and after another delightful step- ping routine, bow Off to powerful applause. Grace Drysdale has a nifty rou- tine with her two dancing mario- nettes, but much of the illusion is lost when her head. is frequently keen above the curtain. The Christmas spirit is caught With the ballet, which uses Dick- ens’ “A Christmas Carol" as motif. This is an imaginative and original effort. Alan Carter, who devised the choreography, also makes a fine impression in the principal role of Scrooge. Georgia Brown, held over from two previous shows, has made enormous strides since she first Apollo, IN. Y. Josephine Baker, Pat Henning, Jesse James & Cornell, Orch con- ducted by Fred Staner; “Call of the Klondike” ( Mono ). Paramount, N. Y. Tony Bennett, Joey Adams with Al Kelly , De Marco Sisters (5), 4 Step Bros,, Art Mooney Orch (16); “Double Dynamite " (RKO), reviewed in Variety Nov, 7, *51. Yule package at tlm Paramount will probably keep Jthe theatre loaded and entertained. It’s a live- ly layout with Tony Bennett, cal- culated to get the -customers into the house and, once in. Joey Adams will keep them entertained. Bennett is probably the top disker of the moment. His Colum- bia waxings have been occupants of the bestseller lists for a com- partively long term. "Cold, Cold Heart,” "Because of Ypu" and “Solitaire^ are the bpbbysoxer bait which have catapulted Bennett into the coin. Indication .of his b.o. potency is evidenced by the fact that this is his second; stand here within a comparatively short time. The jeune femmes probably go for that schmaltzy whine that he uses at periodic intervals. There are moments When he shows vocal solidity as he tries the upper registers but,. generally, the. pipes haven’t the universal appeal that will hit all age groups. At this point, all. he can do in a theatre is make money—for himself and the house. That’s the most important criterion these days. Adams, partnered with double- talking Al Kelly, is doing an ex- cellent act. He emcees, Works with every turn on the bill, and pro- vides plenty entertainment in the process. He’s an. affable clown. The audience takes to him from the start, and there are times When his~talents rise considerably above his material.* , Kelly is an inval- uable aide and his own turn gets a hearty , salvo. Starters are the 4 Step Bros., energetic hoofers whose repertoire comprises several dance styles. They’re fused together in a man- ner that begets fine results.. After scoring heartily on. their own, Adams takes over this group and does a spot of terping with them, The crowd goes for these tandem efforts. The De Marco Sisters (5), long the singing mainstay of the Fred Allen’s ex-AM show,, is similarly an entertaining turn; Youngsters seem to be adding more assurance with every trip to the local boards. They're acquiring, more showman- ship, progressively better routin- ing and tunes that show them off to better advantage. The Art Mooney orch (16) does a . capable bit of show-backing. His single tune starting the proceed- ings gets an ample mitt. Jose. . Josephine Baker has returned to Harlem: for the first time in many years. It’s most likely her first ap- pearance at a 125th St. showcase since her chorine days in the Cot- ton Club era. In respect to box- office, it’s a tare personality that can buck a week before Christmas. Another contributing factor at the wickets is the fact that this is her third N. Y. appearance within a year. There are many who jour- neyed from Harlem to View her works at the Strand t and later the Roxy. Few personalities can make three trips to the same town within a year—even In one the size of New York. Artistically, Miss Baker brings with her the same impact of other appearances. Her couturier col- lection brings spontaneous ap- plause and her song selection is as potent as ever. Her stylings are as effective in this house as in the better appoint- ed theatres. In fact, she gets a deal closer to this audience than in most others! There’s a thee-and- thou relationship; and a warmth that’s more apparent here than elsewhere. Miss Baker, as always is a con- summate showman. During her Al- gerian vendor number, she changes a sock for one of the audience who comes up on stage, and keeps one of his shoes: The multi-language tunes : come off particularly well here. In short, its a homecoming event for Miss Baker. She started in Harlem a couple of decades ago and indications point up the fact that she’s not without honor in her own bailiwick; The Baker, retinue still includes Pat Henning, who does an excel- lent job of entertaining the cus- tomers while Miss Baker effects her costume changes, Henning’s excellent sense of. humor permits him to get away with kidding Miss Baker and he has a fine assortment of routines that get handsome mit- tings on their own. She’s here for* bine days and it’s expected that she’ll gather b.o. strength during latter part of her stand. Other act on the bill is Jesse, James & Cornell a sepia terp turn, who do effective work in warming up the house. Jose. gorgeously-stacked blonde) are Else over big for their acrobatics, com- plete with spectacular head and foot catches, the girl for tosses to swift mounts. . Jimmy Came,ron, front his song opening ..onward, knits everything together neatly, With a commenda- ble assist from Archie Stone’s house orch foi* every act, McStay . Casino* Toronto Toronto, Dec. 21. Buck & Bubbles, Ray Barber, Marshall & Caesar, The Barton Family (4), Four Botonds, Jimmy Cameron, Archie Stone House Orch; “Criminal Lawyer” (Col ). Here is a bright holiday bill, smart on Murray Little’s pace arid routining that, when caught, saw every act garnering top response. Buck & Bubbles are dishing out their nonchalant but surefire blend of pianistics, patter and hoofing; Marshall & Caesar (New Acts) are convulsing the customers; and Ray Barber is on for the bobbysoxer squeal session to boff returris. To- gether with the other straight vis- ual acts on the bill, this is vaude in the tradition and the audience couldn’t get enough. With traveller parting on Jimmy Cameron -as singing m.c., proceed- ings are immediately underway witH hoofing of the Barton Family for two-geheration dance style con- trasts. Mother of the act displays more good-natured agility than her husband and two daughters, though all afce over individually to top re- turns on challenges and a rousing group finale. Buck & Bubbles held their per- ennial local fans with trademarked “Twinkle in Your Eye” opening; the Bubbles warbling and neat taps and struts to Buck’s terrif piano accomp; the switch of both as Buck goes into his lazy soft-shoe shuffles, with Bubbles at piano for their Joe Miller cross-rpatter; a zany jitter- bug routine prior to their smash “When You’re Smiling’’ f i.n a 1 e, with Buck on the hot trumpet and partner at piano. Act earns a sock begoff. Ditto for Marshall & Caesar zan- ies; a neat tempo change by Ray Barber, With his log of “When You’re Smiling,” “Because of You" and "Birth of the Blues." Husky- voiced young baritone has lots of sexy style, as exemplified in his ap- peal to the vocif erous teen-age femme down-front repeaters. With- al, in “Everything Happened When I Saw You" and "Satan Wears a Satin Gown" (written by his pit pianist, Kfcddy-Jtatzj, the young- ster reveals dramatic p.o w e r in song-selling that appeals to the . more mature vaudegoer. 1 Four Botonds (three men and a Capltol 9 Wasli. Washington, Dec. 24. Blackstone's Magic Show (8); “Red Badge of Courage** iM-G). The Blackstone formula of magl- co, girls and corn is certainly the answer to the seasonal demand for good, wholesome family entertain:* ment. That an expanded version of same show played here last at legit scale should enhance its value for the budget-conscious public. Actually, the hourlong stream- lined routine seems imprbved by the scissoring. It is faster moving and better paced than it was at full length. As for Blackstone himself, though visibly aging and somewhat slower in movement, fye still is the old master of legerdemain, with a skillful blending of hokum, ham and humor. It’s a' tribute to his innate showmanship: that his weak- ening voice, which frequently doesn’t carry beyond the 4 front rows, hardly detracts from the ef- fectiveness of bis many bits of side business and style. Production-wise, show is. eye* filling and Sparkling. Costumes are all oii the flashy side, well con- ceived for the purpose; and thank- fully fresh and new looking. Props are numerous, impressing by their very number and color? It's a raz- zle-dazzle show, running the gamut from varying stages of cheesecake, through Sheer showmanship, and deft staging, With a liberal sprin- kling of the Blackstone. technique, than which there is still no better. Forte of the Blackstone tech- nique is fapt that his routine is scaled for a large auditorium, un- like the current school of sophisti- cated niagicos who play only to down fronters. True, his many aud- parUcjpation gimmickg. are neces- sarily Confined to the front rows, but all of them can be seen right up to the cliffs; Aiding Blackstone are a quartet of shapely femmes and a trio of trim lads. Latter act as grips and general assistants, with former as window dressing. Everything the old master does is on a grand scale. When it’s a scarf trick, there are. dozens of scarves, all large and of dazzling hues. When he does the time-worn trick of sawing the girl in half, it’s in three parts that Blackstone sev- ers his dame, with an extra fancily painted chest to boot. All the old tricks are here—the birds that disappear, the rabbits that appear, the watch and wallet that are -spirited away, the knots that are untied. But, despite the fact that it’s all been done before, and by Blackstone himself , he man- ages to make it seem new and ab- sorbing. He is at his best, of course, in handling his audience volunteers, amusing, sans offense, with his witty patter. Lowe . Dunn Resigns Continued from pace 43 JANE POWELL Bongs 3D Mina. Cops City, Miami Beach Add Jane Powell, Metro song- stress, to the list of top acts equipped with the talent and dis- tinction for class rooms, video and, of course, films. In this, her first cafe date, at Miami Beach’s big name spot, she comes onstage to face an audience that comprises the jaded vacation- ing regular^. She wins them from the start. - Gowned simply and smartly, her soprano has a direct, warm ap- proach to build reaction through her versions Of “Most; Unusual Day," “Summertime," "Loveliest Night, of the Year,” aria from her “Holiday In Mexico" pic, tune dedicated to her five-month old youngster, etc. and. after encore, she had to beg off at show caught. She’s a welcome “new" face to tHe. : cafe circuit/ and with that screen rep easily a draw- : Her po- tency is furthered by a wide-rang- ing soprano and an easy, simple, delivery and charm. Lory. MARSHALL & CAESAR Comedy-Songs 25 Mins. Casino,. Toronto Originally a member of the Mar- shall Bros, and latterly with Gene Allen for three years as Marshall & Allen, Jerry Marshall has just teamed with a new partner, Jimmie Caesar. So uproarious are their comedy antics, that; when caught, at the Casino vaude date, they were' immediately signed for the Indigo Room by the Barclay Hotel .man- agement and are doing a nine-show daily stint between the theatre and the nitery. Marshall & Ceasar are very fun- ny,: a quick bet: for any media. Jerry Marshall, an authoritative straight, speeds the procedings, but Caesar, the little pixy guy with the crew-cut, as target for eye- gouging and nose-pulling,; contrib- utes to a comedy team that is gen- erally, well-mannered despite peri- odically mayhem. Caesar’s imitations of screen celebs lead into a smash burlesk, ..with the two doing, a Cagney- Bogart takeoff for terrfic audience response; coupled with Marshall’s respectful dedication to the mem- ory of the late; Al Jolson before go- ing into “Rock-a-Bye Your Baby" and “Swanee." both over big, Pay- off is the pair’s clowning vis-a-vis an “You Made Me Love You." Lads combine a knockabout blend of straight, song and comedy that is bright and breezy, with lots of fresh delivery, plus. Marshall’s otherwise suave foiling for. the Caesar juvenile antics. On comic values and srblety, this team is ready for bigger things. McStay. for the Grade agency of London Dunn has pacted a three-year deal which includes a share in the agen- cy’s business. He’ll be a veepee with jurisdiction over the Coast area. He’ll also gander the Chicago area occasionally and may hop to Lon- don periodically. The Lew & Leslie Grade Agency for the past several years ha$ been attempting to get Coast representa- tion through an existing agency. There had been a temporary tieup with the Edward Sherman office, but that didn’t work out. Lew Grade has been spending consider- able time on the Coast with every U. S. visit in attempts to get top filmsters to play British vaude. He initiated a deal with Jack Benny and Bob Hope to play the Palladi- um, London, this coming season. Pacts haven’t been completed as yet. Eddie Elkort, Grade veepee who’s currently in charge of the agency’s U. S. operations, is vacationing in Florida and could not be reached for comment. Grade Agency’s hiring of Dunn is regarded as a bid to expand the' office’s holdings on this con- tinent. Agency has plans of set- ting up an international act circuit \yhich would encompass England and the Continent, Canada and the Personnel at. the American Guild of Variety Artists headquar- ters in N. Y. were unaware of any change in the union’s top paid po- sition. a GERDA LANNER Songs 25 Mins, Ritz Cafe, Montreal Austrian-born Gerda Lanner’s Continental, multi-lingual' abilities serve her in good stead at this showcase. Throaty warbling is at . times not unlike Marlene Dietrich’s efforts but with more, legit overtones. Basic elements, grooming, gowns and figure, are all here but song selection shows need of trimming and better routining. “Lili Mar- lene” as an opener fails to rouse much more than slight, nostalgia, and “Venezula” is no improvement. But by personality and determina- tion, Miss Lanner won over the noisy holiday Crowd with “Young Lovers,” ,a neat German-French in- terpretation of. “La Vie En Rose’’ and a brace of off-the-cob Vienria numbers Which drew salvos. Com- ing back for her third encore, and obviously at a loss for material at this point, Miss Lanner reprised “Johnny,” a torchant that would be better midway through offering. Johnny Gallant at the piano gives socko support. With addition- al experience Miss Lanner is a cinch for. sophisticated intimeries and video. Newt. Leipzig Heads Agents Syd E. Leipzig was elected presi- dent of the Associated Agents of America at a meeting, held last week. Irving Bdrrrtt was named veepee, Jimmy Daley, executive secretary, and Harry Stone, treas- urer. Board of governors comprises Eddie Lunfz, Mike .Hammer, Juliet Heath, Dave Cohn, Sim Kemer, Harry Rudder, Joe ZWeig, Eddie Ross, Sam Golden and Mickey Shaw. Group will install officers at its annual entertainment and dance,.at the Henry Hudson Hotel N* Y*» Jan. 16.