Variety (April 1953)

PIBSIEFr ^JnesdaTf April 15» 1953 „ Vji Vetfak in typical Moro fashion, is a good Sahara^ ij* a aq t itself. This is a mambo, "I Las Vegas, April?. Left My Hat ^ Haiti,” md achi 4 ves Kelson Eddy, GateSherwooa, ^ |, ejrt efTect as Nash tries to re- vjarren, Latona, & Spwr^, HOger trieve kis hat as girls toss it TDolores, 4 Men of Note, A Nea, around ^ a game o£ "keep-away.” t-Harem dancers (W>. Ted Colorful costuming and music inn Cee Davidson Orch ill), no present exciting sequence. Marc. ever or minimum. — , , nn Edd^TSst nitery date Sheraton Plaza, Boston umving his January break-in in 7 * ?J ch < 15); $1.5Q cover, minimum following 1 m es off first-rate. He Ving Merlin & Enchanted Strings $3. sa ? D „‘, e v g »UlPUircmin thick and (5); Larry Green Orch <7>; $1- pot only it that all $1.50 cover. Entertained n Measure. NIGHT CLUB REVIEWS Tabarin, Paris Works out the sequence with wives Paris, April 6. “portrayed” by Dietrich, Hepburn, Gisele Suel, Tour-Bier, Ana Ne- Stanwyck, Holliday, Bankhead and vada, Paul Bemy, Rosyane & Tucker. Pierre Larau, Marise Beaaru Third stanza is “Visit To Madame Buck & Chick^Sid'^umme^Lucte Tussand's Wax Works.? Again Dolene, Les Casavecchia (4), Rob- costuming brings the mitts with ertLamouret, Siv & Nadia, French to M® ^c^ng (8); decor, Jean Erte • costumes Clifton Webb as Charles II, Marjo- Marinette and Aumont; Colombo ge e st e Sf layout is' insurance for While initial visit of Ving Mer- lin and his four femme fiddlers The Tabarin has reopened after a nine-month shuttering. Since demise of Pierre Sandrini, Mme. Sandrini felt there was no one to rie Main as Queen Victoria, Stew- art as Louis XVI, Mae West as Marie Antoinette, Edward G. Rob- inson as Napoleon and Bette Davis as Queen Elizabeth. For each performance Blake adds part of regular mimings and come- dy gab to warm them before essaying heavier portion of the act. IPs a definitely different idea for cafes. Rest- ul pA t he Eddy name, out Willie was practically unheralded here. ‘to to tadttton STflS on 'ilfnp the month’s -stand. the group scores strongly at this lush staeines and mpnrann ma ,f HIT has a lot to learn with swank boite via a nifty musical and of this w k tourist mecca There c ? fe ?’ °1 e wh , i< $ *i ends J£5? u ?° He s 1 i «re2n selUng job. Bary eye-appealing stint. Room has been were" also ntSl shabbies be-' PJ ent ? g f e*P citation. j Obviously ss.^.s ga ae eyy&sgeS Sassy's taking to the idea, it’ll pay off in for'hhnself Without aid duct on which results in favorable to the tourist season ahd the^ BlakO crutches. Choice of reaction. Each number reflects loads that will soon ho ^mntvinrr ?mm nostalgia crutches. *vu«wu. _ xcxiwo ioaas mar wm soon oe emptymg SaCasas and his orch are hiehlv £S “material „is : okay. « 'fe J° r „i US, comepy- *:r d " effects of_ yore, to >evue top manner U “ Ann in Herman and brief comeujr- J - . if . . , p v* *»«. *v,v«.v tup inaunei. Aim nemicin a I Bread,” is . good ^^£® a ^ er dl tS2 has a number of fine acts and gim- dancers tee off matters With bri needed, but his bowoff medley mg movement to the stint wander- mick turns that make for a pleas- group of Latino-slanted terps. filled with tunes sung m pix is the mg around floor in pairs, dippmg ing evening. ■ Lary. clincher. Some of i^ese are point- and^ swaying^ and forming comely Madame Sandrini is now in Eng- ed by Une gals goingthrough terp background for Merlin s occasional land looking 1 for chorines and show and pose enactments behind scrim, soloing. . will be built up to its former cali- Gale Sherwood, as the Indian Accompanied by the foursome, bre by December for the French maid, steps out fiifnip S ■? sprightly provincial visitors. Word-of-mouth join Eddy in great duet finale of Holiday For Strings with a quick among stateside tourists will not Indian Love Call. ^nH wRh the segue into "Wish You Were Here” give this the big push as it now look at, sings a neat blend wiUrthe for sllck change of pace. From stands. When caught biz was big. Eddy harmonies. _Ted Raxton js then on, group dishes out such diverse numbers as "Hot Canary,” tossing in a bit of byplay via slid- ing over strings; a mellow scherzo, Ted Paxton the^assured accomper on the 88 behind all of the special Ben Oak land and Eddie Maxwell scores, Show is femceed by curvaceous Gisele Suel, who lacks the poise and verve that her hep chassis promises. She intros each act with Lary. Statler Hoitel, L. A. Los Angeles, April 7. ‘Ice Ahoy Revue ” with Wilma & Ed Leary, Jean Arlen, J. P. Melendez, Johnny Casper, Dor- othy McCosker, Bladettes (5); Frankie . Carle Orch (14), Ron Perry Quintet; $2 cover. Ice shows in a hotel are a novelty plus other toss I «ve fidaies playing in unison; I Siuypa'ssabie song'and patter rou-l on‘7he‘Coast and'the'Innovation tiarona oc opat&a l v a . a I “J#?? Pizzicato, sans, bows, and ' *-'-— o>-» «« I j—x ...l... il* String Concerto, or Look Hands,” dedicated by Mer- *a into bic comedv finish un <J u America’s greatest violinist, a blackboard to create caricatures needs to help build a hefty clien- afto spri^esof" yockworthytum- Ja ^ k . . and landscapes. This type of re- tele for its Terraee Room. Show %ger & n Do& delight .spec- ^S^'^^^enwhUe'gals tators ®ith succession of difficult soloing g the verse ^wnue gaw - culminating in a honey— PAfy^oras^ backgrounci, registers lifts, __ _ . . . , Dolores’ back flip into one-hand catch by Holger, holding an over- head extension while he slides into floor split maintaining perfect bal- ance. Pair receive ovation for windup trick. Sa-Harem Dancers once more exhibit prowess in terps, costum- and landscapes. This type of re- tele for A tasty gypsy arrangement of verse sidewalk art belongs in more itself, tagged "Ice Ahoy Revue,” "Zigeuner,” spotlighting ^ Merlin’s intime and chansonnier spots than needs a little work before it rates as an openet in this big house, as a peak entertainment offering Next up is a carioca dancer who for a top hostelry, does only a fair, vulgarized Layout runs for about 45 min flamenco terp. Paul Berny, juggler; ntes and could easily be trimmed Rosyane & Pierre Larau, aero- at least 16 minutes, mostly repeti- dance act; And Marise Begary,, tious "comedy” stuff. Remainder, of neatly, with "Flight of Bumble Boogie” fiddled in rhythmical fashion serving as strong windup. ‘ Larry Green and his crew, who | tee off proceedings with "Ritual Fire Dance” and showback com- petently, have returned for cur- j rent two-weeker, following which trapeze, are under New Acts. Buck & Chick, an American act, wind the first half with a combo comedy and western lariat and the layout is an okay frappe frolic, tastefully produced by Wilma & Ed Leary, who are also featured, at tractiveiy costumed and sporting ery and looks as they wow with } room will scuttle floorshow policy I bullwhip act that is risible some good solo and ensemble Im Tw_ 1 avaavnI urAAlmnilc* Elt € 9 ' 1 1 m 14 m r4«m4e 0Q (fO I . % x* _ n Nx it. _ a* _ George Moro routines in East In- dian choreo, a visually stunning fan number midway featuring tiny but neat contortionist A’Nea, and a precision capper with chicks in- Northwest Mountie wardrobe cleat- ing into great Tillers. Coe David- son orch responds to every cue and measure with surety. Will. Riverside, Reno Reno, April 7. Kean Sisters, Trio Bassi, River- side Starlets (with Gene Nash), Bill Clifford Orch; no cover or minimum. except for weekends. Hotel Radlsson, Mpl«« Minneapolis, April 11. Carl Brisson (2), Don McGrant Orch (8) with Joan Montel; $2.50 minimum. x Seventh annual visit of Carl Brisson finds local cafe society flocking once again into the tony Flame Room to greet one. of its favorite performers enthusiastical- ly, The handsome singer bubbles . over with exuberance and vitality and sets off dramatic and comedic fireworks to make his performance more than ever a one-man show instead of just a song session. He’s at his best as he perches atop a chair or cavorts around the floor fraternizing with guests, whipping up intimacy, spreading the charm on thick and infecting customers with his high and happy spirits. It's the brand of superior entertain- ment and. showmanship that has spelled such great success. Compounded of old faves and firstimers, his routine is high- lighted by a medley of "Hans Christian Andersen” song hits, especially apropos because he’s concurrent with the pic here and because he, as a Dane himself, socks them across with zest and fervor. No Brisson audience prob- ably would be satisfied if he didn’t, repeat such perennials as "Cock- tails for Two” and he doesn’t dis- appoint. His occasional sallies into Danish are especially clicko in this Scandinavian community. Brisson gets superior support from Hugh Merriman, his own accompanist, at the piano, and from conductor-emcee Don McGrane and the latter's boff orch that plays the show and for customer limb-shak- ing. McGrane’s fiddling solo during one Brisson number evokes ap- plause. Jean Montel the orch’s new singer, offers looks and a neat set of pipes. Rees . pleasant in its stunts and gags, skating. Some of the routines are Chick plays the blonde zany for enhanced by blacklight costuming, hefty yocks. ■ Editing is indicated in some of Second half starts with English the comedy solo stints of J. P. Sid Plummer, a gimmick xylo- Melendez, some of whose Sight gags Flamingo, Las .Vegas Las Vegas, April 8. Russ Morgan Orch (16), Monica ,— . - ~ ^ Lewis Jackie Kannon with Lynn phouist with applauding meccano are ou t 0 f place in a dining room. Kannon Don McKay, Flamingo hands, breakaway parts and van- Johnny Casper and-Dorothy Mc- Starlets’ (8); no cover or mint- ous gag spots that make this a Cosker offer the tried and true mum. pleasant filler. Also under New takeoff on willing but inept skaters Acts are Lucie Dolene, songstress; All elements of okay entertain-1 Les Casavecchia quartet, in slap- On the crest of tremendous pOpu larity, the Keaft Sisters were al- most capsized by the usual Reno welcome on opening night. How- ever, they have since come to real- ize this is not a sign of failure but only a prevailing coolness which the town has a rep for. Plenty of comics have sworn never to play Reno again after an opening, but later discover they are clicking quietly. Betty & Jane Kean, as is occa sionally the case, have managed to shake some life into notoriously un- demonstrative crowds, however. As the locals are weeded out of the ill! wivmvuw v* v«**-*w—— . , - * . * . «• i. ment contained in this packet stick. Robert Lamouret is a slick serve to draw passably well for ventriloquist whose showmanship two-frame stand in the large Fla- and solid material are evident mingo Room. Three surprises throughout. emerge from this booking—the Bill winds with semblance of terrif selling job by bandleader, oldtime show as a lift comes up Russ Morgan as personality, the from cellar with two underdressed | perry’s combo, socko reception to Jackie Kan- chorines on stuffed horses. They nun’s comedies in this nitery hav- go through usual contortions to ing rep for being not too kind to add spice. Then celling lift lowers funnymen, and lukewarm once- the French can-can group (8), who Overs for chantoosie Monica Lewis, go through a rousing skirt flurry HJT/wcrnY i*e niiinnincf cptc him in rAntinA tv.11 hvnn^H hv Lfiili and the Learys, plus Jean Arlen, handle the figure effectively. Revue also has a five-gal line that is at ease on ice. Frankie Carle’s excellent music backgrounds the show and keeps the dance floor vibrating in the alternating dance seshes with Ron Kap. EddysYK. C. Kansas City, April 10. Frank Libuse with - - . . . _ Libuse with Margot Morgan’s quipping sets him in ing routine well hypoed by Leila Brander, Lloyd & . Susan Willis, realm apart from usual fronting Lampi, in traditional red dress Tony DiPardo Orch (8); $1 cover. by downbeaters. Remarks are on ^th polka dots, as the lead dan- the spontaneous side as he show- seuse and pace-setter for this al- cases a couple of w.k. tunes, "I'll Be Hangin’ Around” and his big seller of more than a decade ago, "Small Fry.” Gets in some licks on his tram, with orchestra re- sponding socko in all backstops for acts and line. b Monica Lewis evidently needs a ways eye-filling spec. Music by Columbo Orch is okay for show and dancing. Mosk. Tomfoolery is the keynote around this smart spot with the booking of veteran comic Frank Libuse. As the mad waiter he plies his trade before, during and after the show, and there are few mo- ments of the evening when there isn’t some merriment going on. latni. J 1 , , — IV iviumca J-ie\VJLS cviucuw; uctuo « inHL show i ! nd reptoced by week- smaUer room in which to sell her gets louder tourists ’ the rece P tlon thrushing. She is goodlookmg, has Preview of coming events Suns SoucI, Miami B 9 ch Miami Beach, April 11. Arthur Blake, Ann Herman Possibly more of the fun comes Dancers Sacasas Orch; $2.50 mini- while Libuse is practical-joking uu U 011 .UB* .w o * — -«> y YnilTTl with the customers than during the nice chassis as gandered during • show. It’s a different type of en- Jane’V ;, Thinoc close of rnomG ? t . s after she Arthur Blake is playing his third tertainment for the house, and pened doffs 8° w . n for vocalizing and tap- engagement here in the past works out very well on the tabs. with ™ te ^ s - f ipes a / e . soft ’- ^ sty il« vear^nd g per usual, is packing this The official show is started off by m, nn ^toristine, Harry relatively ^undistinguished , from y hotel’s Blue Sails Room, Tony DiPardo as m.c., turning the ville) m V T» U f^ many good purveyors of rhythm V ' P turnaway biz on most opening over to Lloyd & Susan nn \H Mon ^f• J^ty and ballads. . . ^ g ht s Return^o marks intro of Willis for their round of comedic - j- ?? Christine with a cigar. Jackie Kannon moves into ,in three dances Thev go in for imores- producrion >a SJ >11 Tani» a «farl $S Bette V€ f. as for , sec -9P d >.- 0nsl ii U P pH t nn aI j5 sections presented on successive sions of standard dance teams, giv- Davi«; C p?nri^ b c Jane> ma ^ es good with his collection of ... to build plenty of come- ing the satiric needle to musical to!knatonSt'shighly effecUve cVdy, ballroom and ballet. terp : arnnno x j. w &iunca. i-iutti.ee.u»jr hark natronace. It s highly etiecuve comeay, oaiiroom ana oanet xerp- time 0 around are some . w hich, with editing and ers and working in a good deal — - - ’ arid 1,16 Gabors are unap- stones. He is wise in . s L c ^\ n , g t f ) trimming could easily be packaged of aero and specialty work. Femme MT1C innuendoes, concert. handles most of the funny busi- For the cafe run, the melange ness in a pixieish way, with Willis of characterization and costuming playing it straight. They make a Rlake sets up is a bet for class pleasant opening team and go off • * * approval. on the floor for much .lap: ' be sisters are never at a loss In what may be the first, or at by ahefs and narration, only gathering chain of laughs but predated here since town has seen current material sans innuendoes, none of these. Works in portion of "Old Fash- ine constant clowning of .Betty joned Guy*” a special Eli Basse sometimes distracts from the chat- routine for boffo returns. His very ter of Jane. “ ' ' - . for interchanges and narration. | only gathering a Trio BaTsid^a felt-upVrform- Stery losing cI^pUte'iinir'is>n Fiiat t g‘ ance flat on their backs. Tfiey build the record whei Desert Inn motion pix from the flicker^ to .the # • ai. .. w TS?^: ki » a .« J sttenUon. . | least are, instance . of^another | V^vakade of I bulidSig anticipation for the show. ^ ^ ^ ■ x a 1 A* _1 A . A.\- ^ I 11 4 A. 4VlA l^Air. Hotel Jefferson, St. L* St. Louis, April 7. Betty Reilly with Bill Russell it Roy MacNair; Clifford Guest, Hal Havrid Orch (7); $M.50 cover. What is lacking in numbers is amply made up in quality in the current layout of new faces in this plush downtown Boulevard Room. The dynamic and vivacious Betty Reilly, a blpnde; looker, wins a. close race for top customer ap- proval with her chirping over Clif- ford Guest, the first ventriloquist o visit this room during the cur- rent season. In the closing Slot, Miss Reilly, wearing an eye-filling snug silver 'ame strapless, put the palm- pounders to work with a neat vari- ety of ditties, teeing off with "The Kerry Dancers”' with Bill Russell * at the 88 and Roy MacNair at two snare drums, phis Hal Havrid’s lads or the. accompaniment. Her "Quizas,” while strumming the guitar, is done in both Spanish and English and cops a lusty mitt. The room is blacked out and only baby spot illuminates her head and shoulders as she completes the chore. A novelty, "Molasses,” is an- other that wins heavy audience okay, especially when she mimes Billy Daniels, Betty Davis and Margaret Truman doing the : same number. Perching on top of the baby grand, Miss Reilly earns another salvo for her interp of "Look To The Rainbow” and dittoes on Femme Fatale” while plunking a banjo. Guest in white tie and. tails wins chuckles and yocks with his smart chatter while manipulating his tiny dummy, Lester. An Australian, Guest mixes his Down Under ac- cent with perfect English as he socks over his routine, grabbing heavy mitts while doing the gallop- ing of horses, the blowing of horns and shouts of Englishmen during a foxhunt, with the dummy chiming in. His free-for-all while trying to return Lester to his suitcase habitat and a mother trying to quiet a squealing baby also grab a deserved , okay. Havrid cues the proceedings in clicko style. Sahu. Ankara, Pitt Pittsburgh, April 7. Joe Jackson, Jr., Billie English, George Arnold, Phil Richards, Dorothy Hutter, Kay Mapes, Ice Cubettes (5), Bob Rhodes, Wal- ter Gable Orch (7); no cover or minimum. 4' r a UUV1. vnu tvvu uaiuco* uuun i* DinlrfhrH fif)P V\a44a te. tx ^ ‘mt ^ i i f i . <• _i*x* ^ a I ^Valentino, George Theda fn. J“66»u*6 O'-, upaiuc u«w»» I 1 IC UCWU wot IU o „ . * ir.lontinrt rifinrap Arli«y» ^/better resuits. The finale whirl Hollywood auditions failed to ® ara vValenflna George ^iim, dfirii? 6 table ' et al.» has ringsiders gather and rehearse enough gals cvrano Mate- bucking. The act is smooth—it has for opening. With the Arden and Jose Ferrer as Cyrano. Mate If) hfl* Ama - fj J • A - A ^ , * -1. A t a At showtime he takes to the key- board with Margot Brander front- ing the act at the mike. Pattern from there on is the zany brand of fun, with DiPardo, Willis, bus- boys and virtually everyone else drafted into the act. Anything can happen and generally does, with t» b.^^“.J5ErSS^ kibt V » prgki'kedlid injay- nal Js ^sharplywrfledjo ^spark a n.vpne nearby. George Moro refurbishes one of ais standard routines for an opener, with Starlets in Gay ’90s t-osiumes and Gene Nash in derby, ew routine puts the finishing show, however^^ifs Ze and pa yi6 g Ht«, attenrioh to S?H-rtaS %,*2S£&3S!. It ^ Doll” "Salome” while Don Me- Duplication of costumes of the ing hand and th6 mad waiter sbon George Arnold’s hack at Ankara again to resume big room's icer series and he’s teed off the new season with another winner irt "Belies on Blades.” Skating space has been enlarged with installation of a permanent rink, covered by dance floor. Which slides beneath the bandstand during the shows. That’s a big help since it gives bladesters some space to move around in for a change. Phil Richards is assisting Arnold in the production, and they’ve tied