Variety (December 1953)

NIGHT CLUB Mi VIEWS 7 p%s&wn weil Mtiaj, December 30 , 1953 By LAEY SOLLOWAY Miami Beach, Dec. 29. There’s tough going ahead for most night club, and hotel cafe operators if Christmas 'we^k was —aTTy-haromcter-on-thlngs t f-^”^ftreshi ng - ide ar . ikni arno Al/HC 1A1T1« .. ■ Despite fact that the area was jam packed with vacationers, patronage attracted saw big first shows but sagging late sessions. . For the top spots with heavy budgets that meant a breakeven or, at most, small profit margins. 'Holding up in that bracket were the Beach- comber, Clover Club, Latin Quar- ter among the big clubs* and the new Di Lido and the Saxony along the hotel run. Type of talent they purveyed brought them into most prominence. BEACHCOMBER Norman Schuyler unveiled his rebuilt club—-a new layout from exterior to interior with room ex- panded to seat 900 and some odd- making it largest in the sector. The lineup installed reflects the ex- panded-budget policy to be ad- hered to. and plays to sock reac- tion. based on the Sophie Tucker golden jubilee theme. The press buildup and word-of-mouth public- ity on the array presented had the place. sold out for first and second shows on premiere night. .. La Tucker comes up with a new songalog that reflects plenty of work on part of her special ma- terial writers. The mixture of the sentimental and observations on the Wandering from the sex mores brings mounting response. Rang- ing from ‘Tm Getting Older by. the Day, But Younger Every Night’’ through interchanges with yet ac^ eompanist Ted Shapiro anent age. marriage and other personal themes, her analysis of the Kinsey report, advice to the younger gen- eration and finally the nostalgic special material songalog that con- tains French accented .tunes, be- speaking her continental tours .A Top piece in her book is the ‘'-Make the Label Paris,” with hat model- ing and clever lyrics marking a re- segment to round out an intelli- gently-set^-up-stint, — : —--- Saveen is new to these parts and should be returning often, based on reception accorded his veritro work. The British import is a fine technician and displays an unusual act that keeps the tablers in- trigued. Dispensing With the type of dummy most of the: profession utilizes, he works with a tiny maid, then a dummy dog with refreshing dialog ‘interchange’ and finally, for the zinger, a live Scottie, trained to p e r f ec tion, and with- an—eye»- Francois and Giselle Szoriy dis- play all the grace and inventive dance designs that make a top terp duo.. Their spins, whirls, lifts and ballet leaps build constantly, mounting aud response to a re- sounding bowoff. Walters has built a Stephen-Foster background around the young pair, to. add color and highlighting of their talents. . Import Veronica Bell adds a fooling gimmick that has the aud thinking the hound talks. Has to beg off, Quiritetto Allegro round out the layout. They’re excellent in their, instrumental work, but weak on material. Best of their offerings is ♦ hi> three-violin closer, ’'Pas sing of. the Regiment.” Earlier portion of the act has the five playing on one Steinway. Strengthening of the song-comedy sequences would help. well-rounded lyric .soprano to the As l> urr c ntl y constituted, they hit group mimbers and on own works l the 1<Hys w often as the highs; to sans mike for an impressive, al beit short turn. The Debdnairs, who worked here several seasons ago, retlirn with their “Machine Age” dance routine; it is as pre- cise and different as when origi- nally presented. Ruth Costello and Piroska handle the ballet end of the big numbers. Miss Costello impresses With own session of aero- modern stylings. Zqe Sail and two male aids set up typical British music hall song- dance routines. With her hit song, “When the Lights Go Up in Lon- \ negate sustained appeal. Val Ol- man emcees and conducts ably Tor the show and dance seshes. Moulin Rouge. II 9 wood Hollywood, Dec.‘26. Frank Sennes ; presentation of Dohn Arden production, “Void/ Paris!/' featuring Borrah Mine- vitch Harmonica Rascals (6) t De Castro Sisters (3), Dominutue, Chiquita & Johnson, *Louise Hoff, Barbettes (5), Gina Genardi, Tom Canyon, Fluff Charlton, Mile. Mar- garet's Chimps, Toth Gehtty &. • - 1 — n:il while the Barbettes, an aerial pal- let troupe, wprjc. overhead. . It's preceded by a parade, and followed by a fine .production number in which the chorines—40 of : 'em-** ring out the melody of “Where Is Your Heart.” Spectacle get* an. added touch of humor incidentally from Baby Burma, the elephant, who appears to be auditioning for a spot with the Harmonica Rascals. Bob Snyder helms, the house band which backs the show and does a fine job of a lengthy layout replete with music cues and spe- cial-arrangements.——— -Kap— Conrad Hilton* Clil ' Chicago, Dec. 22; * Margie Lee, Bob Bromley, Lippe Sc Balisch, Bobby May, Berti Capek, Bill Griffin, Eileen : Carroll, Hay McIntosh, Neil & James Waldo, Boulevar-Dears and - Dons (12), |~Frankte Masters Orch ' (12)'; $3,50 minimum, $1 cover. don” featured It’s fair stuff • Bab U Burma, Bill Dedrick’s Ponies Uilored mrr'for Brifch fute! 4 ^vder Orch (13>; erices .than for the stateside cafe ? »5. metudiua dinner and crowds.' Semi-nude is injected | 0 e a l,lK ‘ • . with the Golden Mermaid: Blonde looker works in a glass-bowl a, la ' Divena, discarding filmy garments as she revolves in the tank. Qgoduciionwise, Natalie Kama Save for an occasional one-shot experiment that didn’t last long, Earl Carroll’s famed theatreres- taurant has stated vacantly and forlornly at Sunset Blvd. ever rova has staged the: ensembles in.'. since' the master • showman was colorful, imaginative routines, i^hilled in a plane crash. Now it has Costumewise, the Freddy Wittop ; bc K cn ? ak ffi "T* to Fra ,1 k Senn.es, creations are gasp-bringing with' -'- bo ls Pitching to .call- it The Showplace of the World,” with piece wbven around “Some Of | the distaffers at. the tables com* These Days,” there is always pres-: menting. ' 1 | titillating, eye-filling floorshows to spectacuI^ affaiT in gold ^that had [ spread excited word-of-mouth and a package-policy to appeal to all ent the knowhow, timing and sen- sitive handling of aud moods. On to a sock ovation she leaves them pounding, for more. Supporting show is a well-bal pocketbooks. It deserves to make the grade, driving songster, wraps up in his spot. He’s added new tunes, premiere his project, looked about for a top name to open and came but still hits best with his stand-1 bp with the Ritz Bros. The zany ards, such as “Yiddishe Momma’’— j trio hasn’t been abound in a couple with appropriate dedication to Miss Tucker—-and ‘"Black Magic.” Ben- ny Payne, his dueting pianist, turns in a skillful job. Comedy slot is a howlmaker via Myron Cohen’s mixture of intros to his yarns done straight; add the. contrast that points up the characterizations. Has added of seasons and from the manner in which they jammed the room first two nights, they’ve been missed by the local cafegoers. e was first DI LIDO HOTEL This year’s hotel is the Di Lido, but only time will tell whether Biggest on the beach, the new 1 Sennes has found the pill to stim- hostel boasts a 360-seat cafe, the I blate a town long lethargic to the Moulin Rouge,, that can be con- 1 bistro beat. # No casual acceptance anced affair and contains names \ verted'irito600 capacity spot via}®/ ^ le Moulin Rouge will do; with that have toplined on their own in; sliding walls that connect with the • ® doT'hpftv G hn?i" clubs around town, Billy Daniels.' dining room. Owner Irving Cohen. ne ss sbc niehTs ^ week fiiorterto a bit less frenetic, but still a weav- j knowing the need for publicity to come Sit on top. From a show standpoint, niteries have never seen anything like this. It’s as good as a circus; in fact, it is a circus, complete with ele nhants, trick dogs, prancing ponies, tumbling chimps and an aerial act. Add to that some Donn Arden production numbers that truly de There was a $7.50 beverage min-! ! en l e >. a PP. el, f tlon “tremen- irmim first ntaht ■ ; dous,” the musical mernment of ,- * f cr f • I iMuaaic thanfei ** ary . a BoiTah Minevitch’s Harmonica Ras- dialeet takeoffs on garment Indus-, squauk, thanks to^the manner in ; ca i St s0C k acrodancing by Chiquita try types and vacationers. The j which the buffoons literally & Johnson, the sleight-of-hand knocked themselves out for 50 min -1 .wizardry of Dominique, plus some utes. Regular policy calls for at standard song/dance and comedy _ $3.50 tariff. Layout of the cafe is; stuff, and you have a rough es large assortment of new material I P er ^ ec t for a comedy act with tier } timate of the . oneThour and 45r to buttress the called-for repeats.'. ai * ra ngements that allow for pe^ ' minute show. Keeps them yocking all the way. fect viewing. The freres take full! Visually, it’s all on the plus side Blackburn Twins with new part- advshtage of the sight values, with i a °d there s plenty here to send ail ner Evelyn Ward sit well with their j H a rry mugging and clowning to i audience away gasping. Arden has song-dance routines, the boys’ ringsiders, breaking up their “Gyp- “mirror” routine gamering big re- - sF Fortune Teller” bit with his ad ception. Miss Ward is an attractive ; a ‘bs. lass with a flair fqr a lively tune. Injection of a new routine, a Handles her vocal assignments lampoon on Mexican disk-jockeys, capably, and with it, displays neat - is a mirth-raiser, as is opening" bit gams to add eye-appeal. Harry ( dedicated to the hotel and its own- Richman is on hand to fill the j er. Called—for standards such as emcee chores. It’s perfect casting, { the “Continental Gentlemen” sat^- the suave approach and authorita- j jre on French singers, “the Guy tive manner adding distinction to in the Middle” and the hoofery the proceedings. Len Dawson and j sequences keep the laugh-pot boil- his orch background the show ,.»ng with demands for more at end capably. j of the stint. House dancers, the J LATIN QUARTER 1 “Ricky-Basha group, set up mambo One of the most beautifully ap-; and sama rhythms for a fast tee Merriel Abbott's 15th ice spread at the Boulevard Room of this hotel is sleek, exuberant fare that should be lively family divertisse- ment for the next 22 weeks. Paced smoothly in a .well-fashioned hour, show clicks, on all counts, with brilliant costuming and Bob Frell- son’s smart staging meriting spec- ial huzzas. Unifying theme of “Skating Headlines,” from which the productions arise, doesn’t . ob- trude to squelch the talent. Spotlighted is Margie Lee, a cat- like charmer held over from the previous show, taking two skating solos-r-a lissome Hula and a low- down blues — both of which, fetch steady returns for polished terp and acros. She turns up again .in a slick pasrde-deux with Bill Griffin and caps the finale, : during which bubbles precipitate from the Ceil- a Featured skating team of Lippe & Balisch, playing their first American date, has a momentary music box session in the rink that registers nicely for adagio work and for one-handed and one-legged: flying spins. European comic Berti Capek solos with prattfalls, awk- ward aero and threatened spills for a chorus of cackles; and the youthful Waldo brothers, Neil and James, cartwheel and spin through a fast segment and Work with the line at other times. Qn the vaude side, juggler Bob- by May impresses with the manip- ulation Of Indian clubs and balls, climaxing in inverted ball tossing from a headstand. Bob Bromley puppeteers personality dolls, the best of which is a trapeze artist which executes toeholds and one handed swings from a bar over head while Bromley works the strings below. It’s a clever novelty bit that wins a salvo. Line dishes up four socko pro- ductions, all sumptuous and preci- sion-made, against showmanly lighting effects. Eileen Carroll, and Ray McIntosh air Hessie Smithes clever music and lyrics, and Frankie Masters orch T splerididly showbacks what probably is this room’s best frozen water show to date. Les. pointed cafes hereabouts—a must- see for visitor and resident alike every season—has a plush produc- tion installed by Lou Walters for the current run which should mark up another successful term. Talent off. Backing by Freddie Calo orch is adept. SAXONY HOTEL High budget policy Set by this swankcry. brings in a diversified layout With Estelitia,. Latin song come up with two standout pro duction numbers, “Desire” and “Slaughter on 10th Ave.,” the lat- ter a restaged version of the num- ber which, was the talk of Las Vegas some six months ago. Both are extremely effective, the sets by Harvey Warren and costumes by Madam Berthe adding immeas- urably to the impact. Too, Arden has made canny use of a treadmill; thunder effects and rainfall to pro- voke constant gasps for another of the production numbers and there’s an overall of opulence that is bound to have an effect. Initial show has some deadspots. 'however. Comedienne Lqulse Hoff, on twice, has some of the most pathetic material heard on' the Coast in some time and Dominique, pickpocket and sleight of hand artist; is badly hampered by the size of the room (1,000 seatsJ, contained is above par, even for 1 stress, in the tonlihe snot k p^rl i which bis appeal. There’s s-! brunet with the cna»»v/>v«»«ce5o ...in. ! P® question, though, blit what he a socko act. for a more inti- mate spot, where all of the custom- ers can follow his intricacies at all standouts in the brilliantly cos-; brunet with the snazzy chassis Wins ! hoc turned revue. them quickly with her breezy ap- 1 The Bernard Bros, score heavily, proach. Catalog contains a smart with their pantos. Working with blend of straight and comedy- j Um^‘‘The^^n^h^Sitdi^ the recording backgrounds, they lined specials. An ingratiating per- j monica Rascals are still peddling rai^e steady series of howls as they: former, she meets the challenge of 1 the same brand of harmony-cum- satirize the Andrew Sisters, Ethel a class room to walk off a winner 1 ^ ------ ^ ^ Merman and Russell Nype duet- with plenty to spare. Best of her. . ing. a yocker on Kirsten Flagstad’s lyrical essays are the twist On hill- Vaikvi’ie sooranniinpt: arid ! hillv tunes •“Rnm in Valk.vTie sopranoings and “Figaro” 1 hilly tunes, “Born in the Hills of takeoff which shows top mugging \ Cuba,” an effective giggle raiser, talents, all to begoff returns. Jane i Takeoff dn Lena Horne is . weli humor, although it seems that some new—ahd funny-r^indignities are being heaped on Johnny Puleo. Chiquita & Johnson, acro-dancers, win continued salvos with some intricate routining and Chiquita’s Morgan in the featured song as- versed and makes for palm at>ur£! jbpplqn'eSs; the De Castro Sisters iation. Dramatic poupce signment hits from first spot early; ciation in a production number and fol- j Prayer” makes for lows laic.r dick. Handsome Dramatic “Bullfighter’s I P°HP ce ? Ver several; tunes midway in. the tshow, and Gina Genardi is auction number and fol-1 Prayer'' makes for a swift change 1 l.V * t ^ ■ ^ niark up a solid solo’ of mood that comes off to big rc- fh o a ?how off niJcc RS get . andsome canary,, rowrrcl turns. Terp bit in which she dis- : Finale^^is^ stririfv^rci the m stunning costumes, sets up a plays well-shaped limbs is a zingy; animal acts working in rings, tM Vi# Bft Rose, Ns v. - Mills LaRbsa with Joe Guercio* Limn Roth, Van Smith Orch?T 0 \ wtd Orch ; $3, W minimum, '• • ■ /t. • Monte^Proser’s La Vie en Rose has probably one of the more in- teresting shows on the N.Y. nitery circuit. With the current display, a vet is making a comeback and a* youngster is embarking on his first major N.Y. date. This is a crucial . stand for both Lillian Roth and hJulius-L^Rosa (New-ActsPahd^oth seem in a position to go forward. Miss Roth,'who started as a mop- pet performer, was a mainstay of the early film musicals, and a fig- ure on the operetta stage, was on top at a time' when some of the attractions in today’s circuits were n’t around or were in pants; However, a series of per- sonal mishaps put her in retire- ment for a time, and she’s been plying, the boards in a comeback since 1947. But at this point her career seems to be taking a crucial turn, and with her entry into the top time she indicates that she can hold a top, sohgspot in virtually any situation. Miss Roth is a thorough pro. She retains her style, shows a lot of charm, knows what to do with a song and how to handle an audi- ence. • There’s little else ■ 16 do or know in this respect. Miss Roili dwells on some of the numbers she helped introduce, which include several long medleys and many tunes that were popular in the ’20s. and ’30s. In a turn which lasts 28 minuted, a few numbers can be eliminated, but generally Miss Roth doesn’t overstay, although a bit. of pruning would give her a punchier turn. Miss Roth looks Well, is nicely couturiered and coiffed, and makes a fine appearance. Van Smith’s orch does ah excel- lent job of showbacking both Miss Roth ^nd LaRosa and does Well on the dansapation. Jovita’s crew has the Latin, relief. Jose.. Charley Foy’srL. A. Sherman Oaks, Cal., Dec. 26. Ben Blue, Sid Fields, Sammy Wolf, Jean Marshall, . Kay Scott, Smith Twins, Charley. & Mary Foy, Abby Brown’s Orch (4); $l,50-$2 cover. The Blue of the night will meet the gold in the counting room for this stand of comedy that will keep the pews at Foy’s Well populated. The Blue, who is Ben, has always* been insurance for profit-taking at the vUlley bistro. The layout over which he presides is rollicking and boisterous and never a lag along the laugh line./ Droll in his eccentricities, Blue makes-his hoofing, pantomime and Chandu mental act pay off with rich dividends. He gets sharp writ- ing from Phil Shukin and the sketches and material pop laughs like exploding, balloons at the witching hour New Year’s Eve. The dizzying antiCs of Charley and Mary Foy, Sid Fields and Sammy Wolf hit the high level of hilarity with, a broad burlesquing of “Faust,” the foil being a slim, curvesome beaut named Jean Mar- shall. Blue comments that he found her in TV and TV should get her back fast. She’s a good tdreh- er, dramatically competent and peeled down in a strip to black lacy things that has eyes bulging. Kay Scott, a leggy hoofer with good tap technique, gets over the floor with rhythmic grace and the Smith Twin^ who are becoming a fixture here, regale with harmony and comedy fillips that work well into the insanities.’ Foy and sis Mary do a couple of clogs and -Wolf’s takeoff on Harry Richman .is a clever bit. Abby Brown’s crew is “augmented” to four pieces land makes a lot of music for the back- slopping and floor ‘ shbfflers. Helm, Anbarn, Pitt Pittsburgh, Dec. 24. Jack Durant, Marion Colby, Jac- queline Hurley, Jimmy 'Confer, Walter Gable Orch (7); no cover- or minimum. .1 « This, is an okay holiday season show for the Ankara, which lias dropped its icers for remainder of the winter. For the past couple of months, the big, attractive room pn the outskirts has been fleshing it half-and-half, with a couple of acts in the first portion and then Phil Richards’ skating revue wra i> ping up the entertainment. Until Easter, when Richards comes back . with a new edition, spot will stick to non-skaters. Three of them presently on tap comprise a fasbibnable. layout. Jack Durant, back here for his first Pitt nitery appearance in al- most a decade, hasn’t lost his old comic touch; in fact, he’s expanded it. Right from the opening, when Durant is introduced as an operatic baritone arid then does the trade- marked fall flat on his back after booming out a couple of notes, he has the crowd in his corner. The comedy chatter is grooved for him, except in a couple of isolated in- stances when its taste may be questionable, and he presses The advantage by picking out a coop- erative fellow or two down front to work with. The acrobatic stuff and the hoofing are minimuriis in Durant’s turn now, but. they're still meat and potatoes, and his impres- sions, especially Gable and the Greenstreet-Lorre bit, are spank- ing highspots. The easygoing, en- gaging personality continues to be in Durant’s favori too. Marion Colby was at Ankara only couple of months ago with the Blackburn Twins and comos back with her own new act, which she should have no trouble ped- dling. Gal’s a stunner who man- ages to look both sexy and whole- some, an unusual combination, Snd she styles up a song in smart fash- ion. Attractively costumed in an all-purpose gown that does triple duty, as she sheds different parts at different stages in her Set, Miss Colby scores all the way. . Jacqueline Hurley opens with her flash .control stuff to get show off on high. One of the best body- twisters in the business, $he brings a lot of palm-pounding on her tricks, some of. wh ich - look abso- lutely impossible. Turn’s . showily staged, too, with part of it being done from an electrically-lighted table on the floor that concentrates attention on Miss Hurley’s top con- trolegstuff. . Jimmy Confer, tie house band vocalist/ handles the m.c. chores nicely and Walter Gable’s orch plays* a good show and displays a lot' of mtisicianship in.the dance sessions, . 'Cohen. * 1 ;.* J ■ it • > / «• . J + * S. ■ r