Variety (July 1953)

116 KIGHT reviews PGBSTETr Thunderhlrdf Las Vegas Las Vegas, July 23. Norman Brooks, Henny Youngman, Artini Si Consuelo, DuuMUs ( 3 ), Karen Rich, Barney Rawlings, Kathryn Duffy Dansatious ' 6-> , Normandie Boys (3 Al Johns Orch 1 1 1 ' ; no. cover or ini nintu in. Perhaps names of Borman Brooks , and Heririy A Youngrivan won’t stahd up. as formidable in the eome-on sense as other current Strip • headliners, but wqikboi> mouth will: give the Thunderbird reservation lists plenty: of signatures. for three frames. Support by the volatile Dunhiils, Artini & Consuelo, Karen Rich will give the bill added value. Brooks and Youngman share marquee topline, with the youthful • Warbler'-' wrapping up . the show with tremendous' mitts/ He. belts out with the same throaty , ' coarjicned texturing of the old minstrel men, conjuring up. audio pictures of the late A1 Jolson, and touches of Qcbrgie Price, Jessel arid Cantor';: Looks good on the floor, willy ea sy , . a It h Ou gh occasionally st lidied, maimer Of delivery . In the old-, time diHies, "Rainbow .’Round My Shoulder,” "It Had to Re You*' ."Redhead," the familiar phrasing’s are brought hack. With latter-day . t i in 0 s ; *' Y.o u S ho u 1 di) ’ t Ha ve Kissed Me the ; First Time," "Hello Sunshine, Goodbye Rain,” . or ^TlushahyCi” rhythmic zest, arid cadences are siinilar. Having a current disk . enti\v in ; "Sunshiiier’ he winds up •wit h another Zodiac release, "Sky Blue . Shirt, Rainbow' Tie.”' sur. rounded by Kathryn Duffy Dansations i 1.1 usirat ions foe bright walkoff .anti ovation. . A.; Yoimgman, the master of oneliners, st i II proves , his ability as One of the better standup comediy :ans \yifli this return. Planting quip after’ quip, he gets the yooks rolling throughout entire: stay. Has the fiddle j lor. prop and; bowing . "Snvoke Gels in Your Eyes,” sliced by fast flippancies, and builds into salvos for exit.; •• .a . . Artiiii & Consuelo win .high approval iri seemingly effortie.ss bailrooniing, exhibiting samba, ; .Viennese u a 1 1 z, ma mbo, : Chari esiori and rumba. The Dunhills, Lou Spencer, Bob Roberts and Art Stanley, have unison legmanla as well as challenge turps to whip up big mitts'; Karen Rich divides Dunhills: and Art ini & Consuelo with a hatch of tunes. Animated blonde was originally skedded to be part Of. thy. Youngiiian act, but plans changed, giving her deuce spot with chirps. Kathryn Duffy Dansations get round rapidly In opening chore.o. With 1 Va rney Rawlings lyricizi ng. ■.■Nor ni ; indie Boy s' . assist i n g voca l;iy . A1 Jahiis. Orcii has tough assignment, hut gets good results, > . V . Will. aboard in couples reading Variety. Dancers and showgirls work through a sort of history of show business, from silent films to a record pantomirhe of Andrews Sisters and Carmen Miranda, Show flames up in a frantic Hawaiian finale, complete with native hula girls, and the machete dance of two big males; The 12minute closer uses authentic native dancing and interesting custoins woven; in. Black Orchid, C hi Chicago, July 21. Rusty Draper, Sylvia Syms, • Jayne Manners, Ken Sweet ~ * $4 minimum,. Three vocalists comprise the j Current spread at this intimate ] room, but they are se dissimilar as acts that the abundance, of song f laniiiigo. Las Vegas . ' Las Vegas, July 23, A Tony Martin ( with Hal Borne ) , Alan King, Ratcliff Sc : Moreland, Frank .Howard, Flamingo Starlets < 8 ! ,• T'orris Brand Orch . ( 13 > [ 'no; cover . or minimum. 9 IlonO , Reno; Nev./ July, 23! .. Joe E. Lewis, Amin Bros. (2 V, Riverside : Starlets . (12 V, Bill Cl if: ford Orch; no cover or .minimum'. . Reno’s niteries are filled with a cro.ss-section of locals and tourists; and the show business element, so prevalent in Las Vega's and Hollywood, and the show business element, so prevalent in Las Vegas and Hollywood; is practically non-existent; Show people and .the gambling crowd are the vigorous advocates of Joe E. Lewis; Even the big gamblers are dwindling in this territory, so that Lewis is really in strange country. This does not mean that. Rciio crowds are particularly square! But they are perhaps the least appreciative of Lewis type humor. Opening night had such ringsiders as Cornelius Vanderbilt, who presented Die comedian with the most cherished Of all trophies mid-wav in the nct-A-a beribboned package of hootch. And that just about represented the enthusiastic ,wefe conRng yomniittee. ■ ■;..!■ 1 -.•■''■’■■ OutfiKed with some iie,\v songs! Joe K, . Lew is failed to arouse anv •:hil:wr(y.; :H1s;.‘!3-D” song,, "Dinah, .. Daisy . and Dolores" reaped, the most yocks, ’ but only, on t iie most Clever play on; words, : such /'as! house. of ■'■timeout > a [Narama.’" The / iistial . for' Triny Martin is the Flairiirigo’s offering for current; list of Strip’s top names: He’ll pack the. room for three weeks:, and bring the casino pi enty of chips.. The artful : and insinuating ; Martin warbling style has put him in the toomost niche of cafe performers. He seeriis to be in softer voice this time around, but can belt when the measure demands. With the, expert accomping and conducting of Hal Borne,: he! docs "April in Portugal,” "Where, .is Your Heart.” and includes comedy touches in '"For Every. Man There’S a Woman,” After the requested "Beguine/’ grabs straw hat •; and cane for tour de song St terp "In Old Manhattan/-* resounding later With big pipes for "There's No Tomorrow,” I ritros his newest RCA Victor . platter. "Soria on the Border,” and touches a romantic spot in "No Other Loye>” . . . • Alan King has made a neatnest in the Flamingo’s aerie. Previous trip scaled him as a comedian to watch. Solidifying earlier impressions, ho comes tip with sock; turn, containing standout routines of boyhood in Gotham’s, tenement district , moppets, lampooning mothers and grandmothers arid Avinding up in "Babalu;’’ ■ Carl Ratcliff & Gloria Moreland, take it away with West Indies and Spanish flings to generate okay mitts. Flaming; Starlets look alive in both productions, with Torris Brand rich, augmented by three violins, building up good grounds. Will I [doesn't grow wearisome. Entire I show gets a rousing reception and, as usual, opening nigiit packs the house in midweek. Rusty Draper .headlines, making his first appearance in Chicago. He has a warm manner, an easy voice arid strong guitar that catch on. with .the clientage at. once. Iri the; splash ;of popularity via his Mercfiry waxirigs, he .builds his act, holding off the best-knows until encore with the audience clamoring for them throughput his turn. His offerings are "Begin' the Beguine,’’ "Bib Mamou,” rat-, iivg an pvatipn; and . f^No Help Wanted.’' "Gambler’s. Guitar" is sung as per disk arid leads, to begpff’in a din. of plaudits. O periing spot Is h el d by personable Sylvia . Syms, Who can sing: more Than one kind of. song, , as is attested by her ragout of the blues, spiritual and Calypso. > : She gives character To ail . she. [ sings, and; overall receptipri is big. with, help of informal iptros arid skill fui repartee ; with front-sealers, X!alypso piece is; good for laughs^ and the Uv'eiy numbers get fine hand-and-hip . assistance; but the blues are sold." most corivi ncingly of all, hey voice inflecting and her eyes welling With tears ns she sings. ; Gold^garbed amazon, Jayne Manners, fits : well in , the centre stint.. Hardly a . singer in any real sense, she rather talk-sings through ■ sophisticated specialty lyrics that .Vi bra te between th e suggest i vie and raw, the sultry and the salty; She has written most; of the tailorriiade lyrics herself !and wins a good ^ihand . and a smattering of chuckles front them. Rest routine is a Mae Westian thing called "It’s, the Same’’ • in which she sin art ly underplays the . off-color innuendos. Ken Sweet Trio backstops, with pianist Rudy Kerpayas handling difficult accompaniment in fine fashion, : Cos. Si aioliiMs Lakri Talioe Lake Tahoe, Nev,, July 19. Bob Crosby, Modernaires, Giselc MacKenzie ■' Terry Trite Dancers f Sterling. Young Orch; no cover or imnimum'. . . ' A ' A" tinvi'out ^ for' “post • . time". iUlou ed | . sp.mo . s liinina philosophy.; jU ;titiu*s1 •••' -^-"Yoir can lead a horse; | . . but; il. . you can. leach h ini . to float on his .baik. then you’ve got sonie^ thing A .; ■; • . v . . M'ist ; exciting aero team R^no ■ has se ui in a long time is the ^Ymni.'.ll.ros.'^dup, For the foot juggling o j t h is d u et , pn e t osse s . sp in,s and halances . the, other. . 1’op soqtu'n-.'e st*es the ' balanced member of the team, tossed from a sitting ; posiiioh; in a complete flip, to kind on his head, balanced on the one toot pi' the juggler. A bliirjving spin compleie.v the unusual act l’of high muiing _ ■•■ ; ■ • ' : ■; ■., f moi-ge Moro -has 'supiTomcrited tills tu 0-tK't show/; at botli ends A=jtit?lr7e hr borate i OiiTmes.. iKuekoiT is a show business: extravaganza," introduced by Starlets strolling , : . • ,<k« ?-T.I I f 1 I | {*■& -The "Cltib 15" crew, appears intact for tiie second time in. a nit-. erj’A Thc radio show played Vegas ea r i i e i; . in th e year and because . of the varied commitments of the three . acts , will probably . ri ot ai>-pear together ; after this engagelrieni. At least not for some; time. Business is at fits best for 'the season so far with this energetic; 75-minute: program. Working separately, then ducting, and finally enmasse, the. three singers! build continually to nice finale. Bob Crosby, With the family; trademark of casualness nudges the show Pit easily. Almost too relaxed, Crosby's wavering baritone warms up with "I Don’t Care If the Sun Don’t! Shine" and immediately goes into a lazy croon of "Moulin Rouge." ; • Mpdernaifes pick tip the pace again with their vigorous introduction A ’’The Customer Is Always Right.” The quintet . works in dancing, drama, juggling and .magic for the eye-catching kickoff. . A new medley starts with ballad "Pretend,” but winds up with "Doggie in the Window" arid "No Help Wanted” with plenty of tricks to take the numbers out of the averageTipyglty class.; Glemv Milr ler medley catches ! biggest mitts as Modernaires mix familiar. "Kalamazoo.v "Moonlight .Cocktails,” "Chxattariooga ChoQ Choo," et al! Crosby returns . in one of "Bing’s! east off s port s coats," : which'promo.os chatter about the family and a song , about, the-; "B.O.F.B;"-A .".Brothers .of Famous Brothers!” V'ofk.ing Bing into, tiie .script is legitimate enough, but the later use of a Jack Benny tio-inv.seeriTs only a name-droppirig event.' V ; The' quiet nusehief of Gisele. AiaeXen/.ie is noticeable in her most tender moments, everi: in the serious Tendition of “Vaya -Con Dios-" when she accompanies herself: on violin. This is brought al)out by some su.iprising., cloy, ri!ing elsou here in her stanza when she gallops t literally > through ‘ Wild *’ " Hotel Del C oronatlo Coronado, Calif . July 27. Nanette . Fabrtiy ( with • George Wyle r, -Howard Everett Orch ; no cover, or minimum. . . In first pro appearance i iv home town area ( San Diego; . her .birthplace,!. is acro$s the bay ) Na hette Fa bray, socks over some topnotch rie vV material— by Ben pakiand and Don Raye — and reprises riuisiComCdy bits for a socko turn. Usually cool Circus Room patrons warm Up astonishingly for : this compelling, petite performer.. Miss Fabray is inaster all the way, running gamut from broad" Humor on Texas bigness .("Why, eveii Texas is. bigger: than Texas" ) to charmingly tender: show business ode with impressions of Marilyn Miller and Eva Tanguay. Act, staged by Nick Castle, moves along in sprightly fashion as. singer’s provocative vitality wins river the Check-payers. Garbed in beaded, slate-gray! .gown, ; Mis* Fahray offers telling satire in poke at Opera singers handling of pop , tunes, her spoof centering, on "Sunny Side of the Street.” Belts over “Louisiana Hayride”; from her current film; with Fred A si a ire, "The Bandwagon,” with infectious appeal. This follows medley of tunes from her Broadway hits, including "Bloomer Girl," "Meet the People,” "By Jupiter " . "High Button Shoes" — latter: ;; earning; top palming: for. "Jealous" and "Poppa, Won’t You Dance . With Me." : Roomi is Awort completely when she . picks rings icier at random and ' pair polkas floor, she gallops a literally ) through ‘ Wild Horses," and . brings off a f u n ny h ill hi 1 1 y "Auf We i d t?]\selm." Paula Kelly and Crosbv . team an ! Miss .Fabray has ease. w_ „ Smile and manner arid, sings with sharp; clarity, George. Wyle’s .: at>-; rangemerits and' piano backing set off : the act, nicely. It’s -a. winner .all the way,, .with . aid from .the 1.1 oAy.ard Everett musicrew also;! doing uell for the terpers;.: >' Don, L#Vi Las Vegas, July 22. . ■ Ada Leonard All-Girl Orch (8A Joc.X'ctwti, Bert Henry. Jim. Ale.vflniler , Tommy Con.ine; no cover or ■minimum.... dazzling names along the Strip, the Nugget hops aboard the merrygo-round with its newly redecorated nitery. Dishing tip mediumbudget frames, bonifaces Guy McAfee and Jake Kozloff expand the former surroundings of intime barstage round-the-clock setup into policy of three-a-night. Only other Competition in this area is the El Cortez Hotel, . located . several blocks cast of ; Fremont Street’s UG litter Gulch." Nugget’s . neighboring gambling halls— in the brightly neoned two blocks zoned for such business-— mainly bffer the w;k. Vegas diversion, with perhaps a musical comibo, singer, pianist or organist in cocktail lounges or bars attached. ; Miss Leonard, a sultry/ looker with chassis features, has. her covey of tootlers—two brass, three reed, three; rhythm— sound off some tunes dotted within the hour frairiew.ork. She chirps a couple of saucy specials, "Horse With a Hari^ Torn Behind,” and ‘Tm Looking Over An Old Casanova/’ while giving extra movements with her expressive: torso. Fronts femmes during their charge through "As the Girls Go/’ "Caravan," "Danriy Boy," featuring Patricia Stullken on alto sax, and "Sweetheart Riff.’’ 3oe Vctuiti fiddles “Tico Tico/’ "Hot Canary," and tricks "C Jain Blues/’ after spouting into whimsies. Walks off for big mitts. Venuti will riot only appear on future productions/ but heads entertainment policy for Nugget, with Bill Green. as booken / Bert Henry blasts a barrage of familiars, juggling material for fair ;y ock average; Jim Alexander’s wide vibrato doesn’t fare too well on the rooin’s p a. system/ but he goes off to nice hands after participation sing of Irish medley. Tommy Gonine smacks over for biggest kudos of ka boodle vwith a. cleatingacio turn and . personality click, Narro\V rrionv, wh ich seats about 200, is tough to work .because of long throw to rear tables, but is richjy decked in period decor, from massiye bar along one wall to mahogany beams, globe-cluster chandeliers and other 19tli century! western: saloon filigree, interim rimntents are filled capably by duo88ing of Carter & Brooks. Will, / Pnrudi^o. A.;CV. Atlantic City, July 25. Clarence Robinson's 1954 "TroPtCana Revue/' with Stump & Stumpy, La Bommie, Bobby Ephram, Betty Carter, Janet Sayer, Princess De Paur, Tauiae St Dane, Anita ..Echols, Joe Noble , Chorus, Bob Bailey, emcee, T.add Darneron Orch; $1 admission, . Wednesday, July 29, lQ-q Hotel Radhson, Mnl« (FLAME ROOM) P * A * -Minneapolis, ■vjuiv / Quintette Allegro, Don M'eCr , Orch (7) with Jban Montelu&mminimum. ’ • With Ada Leonard and her orchtet, Joe Veriutiy comic Bert Henry, -r A,?, fv f>v k novelty about a , Tommy Conirie, the Golden NugGum Drop. . get Saloon -hits the local scene for ors,;r show A-,h« everything, including the comiiu'rcials. Marc ■ I> / .F> i.g i v. tri/Tt t-os ;• f ■ *i » ; V> seel or. In the midst of ail fanfare stem nM "i1! V'V’.n “f.t/v-1: This spot lias been making a determined comeback iri the sepia circuit here the past, few years as Clarence Robinson has been staging bis “Tropicana Revues" during summer seasons. An airconditioried nitery located blocks from the famed boardwalk; its show is such that its 750 seats are filled for two show's weekend nights, while the 10:30 p.rii. stanzas other nights grab their share of trade as does the 2 a m, offering. This /year’s edition of "Tropiearia’’ takes customers on a cruise, With Bob Bailey emceeing attired as a luxury liner officer. Production numbers bring in beautifully costumed line of 10 girls who work with four boys strobe used effectively throughout top numbers hour and half show is on. Same: show offei’ed with Tadd Dameron orch is featured through the 10 week season. Stump & . Stumpy get top billing with layout, appearing in final spot to climax show. Pair carbon Cagney, Durante, Jerry Lewis, and other greats, best offering clowning of "Cry," by Johnnie Ray. Tap numbers well received toons was their, comedy routine. T rip production number based rib T tour’s arrival in Haiti and features Princess DePaur and Taulae , & Dane. It is sot up with girls and boys doing fast dance with strobe used neatly. Trio do symbolic native dance ending in knife slaying of girl. , ;A ■ ; -. ? • La Bqmiriie, exotic . daricer a.pA pearihg in abbreviated costume, is. best customer bait. Changes from \yitclv to dancing . girl in Unusual entrance. Janet Sayer’s ballet tapA sternqutine. got! nice mittirig as did RObby Ephram’s clever tapping. _ Vocal chores are carried by Anita Echols, Betty Carter arid Bailey, each .working into the layout with fast pops. . Bailey keeps Show at move tha n fa st tempo , m ost procl uction numbers offered at snappy pace. All are well-staged and costurned beautifully for the. country in which scene is laid. Robirisdri uses each to bring in principal.’ Joe Noble, choreographer, appears at times. With baneers. ; ! Layout is well for patticulai i .9um|ette Allegro, Italian i mpor tation, introduces local cafe soc?.?r ’ to five accomplished male nimf cians . whose versatility pe-rm, c’ them, to take ;snecesSful: ^ voJal comedic flings; Their five-W show; comprising warbling And comedrand carrying an air otCoi)tinental refinement and gefifilitv suits this Type of smart, plush, iriumate room which tries to eschew anything savoring of the off-comv in entertainment. Wliile unexciti/ie perhaps, it’s pleasing entertainment..' . Group has its soloists, but mbmiv confines itself to ensemble conirb butions which . permit members to grab the individual spot li Tit briefly. Embellishing their off wrings with. occasional high . jinks and clowning, uncorking showmariiv bits of .vocal and other business and giving their routines distinctive twists/ the members attain a desired novelty rating. In getting away from the usual run of songand^darice acts / that predominate here, the Allegro outfit qualifies as different ' ' Each riian plays a variety of instruments and Mario Feni exhibiis a good set of. pipes and has solid vocal support from his fellow members. Performance : highlights in • eluded various interpretations of "Gui Marie,>* and a piano offering which found all five massaging, live ivories simultoneously by dint pf; some gymnastics and which, along with a "Passing of the Regiment” novelty number; stirred chuckles. Occasional . violinists’ ! visits to tables to individually serenade feminine guests give a European gypsy touch; Most singing is in Italian arid none the less effective for that. The performers’ broken English iir engaging, Don McGrane orch plus attrae? . live singer Joan Mori tell contribute their, usual substantial amount to patrons’ enjoyment. Rees, '. IVowGoldou.liono Reno, Ney., July 22; Ben Yost Royal Guards, Ted. Smith i Denny & .Cameron,: Golden Girls . (12 ), Garwood Van Orch;no cover or minimum; . A sound er. Dancing strong in all departments, pulling show to good Walk. Delivering a broadside whi civ levels all other casino sound; the Ben Yost Royal Guards’ trumpet every thing like it was their la.st stand. Decked in: usual bellhop red jackets with gold braid, the:, quintet is equipped With . five barrel chests — equipment for five big voices. /:.'■■ : The inevitable Irish medley features; a' big tenor and success is measured by the total Irish in each show; "Jezebel" is most tip-', to-date of offerings, also featuring tenor, Eddie Hoffmari. . : Concert singing.. Is the forte of this outfit and an attempt at comedy neither fits . the character of the Guards, nor would it be good' with pro comics delivering the script; Built on a "We take you now to———," skit consistf of real corn; . with phrases, broken off at the moirient when the Guards shove each other off mike. This is an encore routirie and is disappointing to /patrons Who brought them back to sing, Ted Smith runs .through several stories on gambling and the faces to Warm up. Content is good^ except that he seems too happily ex-. pectant of its impact. When audience laughs with him, this fits, but when he laughs alone, it’s awfully quiet. ! A pantomime poker game . with four of the boys is vivid to the character a cigar and. "sweating of hand." ^.Denny Cameron is an energetic youthful duo who get most their attention as Pat Whips Off her dress for a stripped-down jitterbug. . . Golden/; Girls / trade, places in "Moulin Rouge" theme intro and. close shOw. with jungle rhythm. ; Goman's Goy OOs^ • Bee Si : Ray Goman, fit ay ' Giry, . Four, Ray Goman, Jr., Pat Yqjrke Elliston Ames; no .cover .or ?m<iA; mum. : . This 12th anniversary opus contrived by '.the Gomans, with the aid of lyricist Mac Moraga, is a bright, . fast riiovihg shebang that, combining hokc; song, corn and sent iirient/ is value received by any bistro standard. It’s ai compact sboy.--: that clicks with the table tattle is and the commuiiity singing is equally well patronized. The sheaf opens with the R<»T City Four, barber shoppers oiit Ot as warmers. These arc "SHine:1 arid "Roll Them Bones.” both of