Variety (June 1954)

Wrtlnttflay< June 30, 1,954 fitstler Hotflj X* A. Los Angeles, June 25, Horace Heidt, Ralph Sigwald, mSc Kerr, Allen Breneman , EJfett- lunchLila Jackson, Russ Xdd &Orch (1?), Line'(8); $1.50 cover. Few acts taking up abode in the TerJacfi Room here have ever had Eiants for all the tables, except- ing convention reservations. Hor- ■ n o ■ Heidt’s barnstormers can match ^tubs with any of them, trfb- to his continuing popularity altn after radio has fallen from its Zfe S estate. What he dishes 1 thev like and traffic the next fotir^weeks should keep the cap- tains hustling. ’ ' , what the smart set along the Strip may call “cornbaU" Is Amer- icana with Heidt and he has made it pay off big without spreading^ too thick. He makes much of the American way (born of his sponsor- ship by American Tobacco),, but he .tivavs was an opportunist ( Hor- fce Heidt for Alemite,” “Horace for Philip Morris”). One might say that reciting a poem on freedom, declaiming the virtues of our way of life or Ralph Sigwald singing •The Lord’s Prayer” to the ac- companiment of tinkling highballs, has no place in a nightclub, but the customers suffered no such qualms of uneasiness and paw-pound like the strippers do for Joe E. Lewis. Call it showmanship of the dirt- road type, but there are more of this kind than the boulevard set and he has the bankroll to prove it. Aside from Sigwald there’s probably riot one familiar name cavorting through the 75-minute spread of fast, well-paced enter- tainment but at least two wi|l be heard from if the tv scouts are on their toes. Eddie Cantor would have been “mighty proud” to have discovered 12year-old Allen Brene- man, a drumstick virtuoso who even stirred the ringsiding Liber- ace to feverish acclaim. Not even Gene Krupa was more proficient at his age in beating the skins with jet-like speed. Star of the layout, however; Is Dick Kerr, a whimsical comic with a trick voice, ranging from the high squeak of Rose Murphy to the low gutturals of Satchmo Arm- strong, with all the intermediate impressionistic licks. He’s com- pared by Heidt to an alumnus of his stable. Art Carney. He has the same droll characteristics but a wider latitude of talent and should soon be taking off for the bigtime and matching strides with Dick Contino, a Heidt grad. The nine girls floored by Heidt to doll up the act are young and fresh albeit not too professional. Elizabeth Lynch, Who also takes a turn at thrushing, is well-stacked. Lila Jackson, Who graduated from Heidt’s to an understudy role in ’ Kismet,” tilts a tune likeably. Russ Budd is an agile hoofer, whose takeoff on Ray Bolger is profes- sionalized stepping. The . swing waltz seems to be doing all right on ice shows so Heidt stages a waxed floor version with Jthe bandmen doubling like they had diplomas from Arthur Murray. Heidt’s in that, too. Work for Heidt and you gotta do everything. Helm. Thuiiderltiril, Las Vegas Las Vegas, June 27. Sunny Gale, Orson Bean, Basil et Martinet, Barney Rawlings, Buddy King & Ladies (10), Al Johns Orch (11); no cover or ■ minimum. Basil et. Martinet are an inter- esting dance duo with male a long- limbed high-kicker and femme graceful in ballet and adagio. Buddy King and His Ladies hold ovfcr Calypso and Hawaiian pro- duction numbers that move in nice fashion after three weeks of per- formances. * Barney Rawlings is emcee and the Al Jahns orch backs up the show okay. Bob. « ., * Celebrity Room, Phllly Philadelphia, June 24, Buddy Lester, June Allen, Lee Henderson Line (6); Al Small Otch (6), Neal Lews Combo (5); $2.50 minimum. Buddy Lester’s local following Is large . and loyal—-loyal to his old routines. . As a result comic relies too much on well-tried material. He finds. it almost impossible to get away from the routines asso- ciated with him. The ringsiders call for it, and although Lester seems startled that they want to hear such things as his “Africa” traveltalk over again, he obliging- ly gives it to them. However, he has an. irrepressible comedy sense, and his throwaway remarks, have plenty of topicality and hUmor. The Lester routines are elastic enough to provide for these inter- polations, which is all to the good. Hi$. zest is genuine and explosive enough to score plenty laughs with his Harry Richman takeoff and the series of impressions built around a boxful of outlandish hats. He also scores with the coy impresh of the stripper, “Tondelayo Gold- farb,” and the funny, if hardly novel, trumpet challenge. Lester is an assured performer who is always ahead of his material and his zany enthusiasm is contagious. Opening act is* chirper June Allen, whose youth and good looks are definite assets in sell- ing, her half dozen lilts, most of which are on rhythm and jump side. Girl does takeoff of Eva Tanguay, who departed long be- fore Miss Allen arrived, which makes song (“I Don’t Care”) what John Crosby calls “an imita- tion of an imitation.” Lee Hender- son line dresses up show with two ensembles, neatly arranged con- sidering small floor space. Al Small’s six-piece orch backs up show in professional style. Gaght Shoreham Hotel, Wash Washington, June 25. Enchanted Violins (12), Gloria fr Jaro York, Bar nee’s Orch (11); no cover weeknights, $1 Fridays and Saturdays. Minor melange of talent drew sparse crowd at opener of two- framer, as show turns out to be far short of par for the Vegas course. Sunny Gale has good set of pipes, but In her 30-minute stand blonde thrush does not quite register as stellar nitery attraction in bailiwick where Helen Forrest and Dinah Washington, no less, can be seen in a spot somewhat lesser than a Strip hotel. Miss Gale lacks sureness and poise gained only through experience. She-has the makings and songs please, but she d be better off to play some offbeat boites for a spell even 'vhile shellacs are mounting in favor, to acquire the polish that would pull her up with her record rep. . ■ ■ Also in a minor key is Orson Bean, a self-effacing, crewcut, col- legiate type of comic. Material is J^r. with topper being an Aus- tralian courtroom bit in which he essays all characters. Falls short J* yock category but gets good modicum of laughs. Main chore is pnysical. Bean tears up a news- paper from which he evolves a 10? joot papyrus ■ eucalyptus tree. S e A vhere between Herb Shrlner George Gobel, Bean is striv- JJ**® do . som othiog different with S dy „ in . character depart- ? e ±i ha . s the flalr and » good niuu, ? tlm ] n 2 *nd is very deft- «&£££ nlt * n, fc<t . wh * n h * Something new has been added at the Shoreham Terrace, the out- door spot overlooking Rock Creek Park, which has long been Wash- ington’s most popular summer nitery. In the past the natural beauty of the Terrace, with a large fountain and colored lights on one side, has been figured as sufficient to get and hold the dance and dine trade. Aside from Barnee’s perennial dance band, the eritertainment has consisted of two very so-so acts, one of them gen- erally acros or cyclists. Comes now the Enchanted Violins, 12 male violinists in whit^ dinner jackets, who weave through the house (place seats about 600) playing schmaltzy. and romantic tunes. For their twice-a-night per- formance, lights are cut down and spotlights are played on the mu- sicians. They dispense such solid standards as “One Enchanted Eve- ning,” “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” If I Loved You” and Hungarian melodies. The 12 then leave the audience, line up on the dance floor, and play one or two more numbers as Barnee, the orch maestro, comes down from the bandstand with his fiddle to lead them. Then they join with the dance orch to play accompaniment for the imported dance team of Gloria and Jaro York. Latter is a snappy ballroom team, with plenty of acrobatics woven in the rhythm of their terp- ing. The couple shows plenty on the ball and looms as one of the better new dance acts to show here in some time. The Encharited Violins are a copy of the violin troupe at Mon- signeurs in Paris, according to Bamee, who was jn Europe last summer and who is responsible for the new. presentation. A simi- lar stunt, with 25 violins, was used recently by Perie -Mesta. in , her sensational party for the ladies of the D. C. press corps/ .There is no .question that the Shor^ham’s version is proving exr tremely popular with the patrons wlio, for the first time, talk favorably about the Terrace en- tertainment. Lowe. PSkIEFy NIGHT CLUB REVIEWS 53 Fontaine Des Qaatres - Saigon*, Parts Paris, June 28. Grenier-Hussenot Group (Olivier Hussenot, Genevieve Arno , Roger Caret, Hubert Deschamps, Rene Havard, Guy Oberlon, Jacques Du- filho), JeawPierre Maury, Jacque- line Villon, Marie-Jean Francois & Cecily Forde, Garcons De La Rue (3), Louis Arbessieres; $3 mini- mum. Offbeat: Left Bank boite hews even more closely to the after- hours cabaret-theatre .format in presenting an esoteric farce by Jacques Preyert, “Famille Tuyau De Poele,” by the Grenier-Husse- not Group, surrounded by some unusual nitery acts. Club still gets the intellectual set and those seek- ing out-of-the-rut nighttime offer- ings. Present show presents l“ss appeal to those not in on the lingo due to more theatrical format, but for the initiated it is -a refreshing Freudian romp with the new acts okay, though, some of the hep sta- ples, like the Georges Lafaye Mar- ionettes (5) (now heading state- side) and Philipe Clay, the rocket- ing new songster (now headlining his own chansonnier show), are missed. Biz was fine when caught. First act is Jean-Pierre Maury, who does a. patter bit while intro- I ing all types of fantastically-shaped, candles to the aud. Number is light, unusual and witty. Jacque- line . Villon then carries on the quarter mood with her dramatic ditties on lost love and unfaithful- ness. Slim gal has the looks for this sort of rep and delivers ade- quately, but lacks the spark and drive of distinction. Marie-Jeanne Francois & Cecily Forde are a sepia femme team who combine iriterp dancing and chant- ing to form a brisk eyefilling num- ber. Miss Francois writhes and does some priihitlve dances, and Miss Forde supplies a knowing drum accomp plus some nice folk- songs and blues on her own. Well- shaped lassies make for another unusual item here. Both are Eng- lish. ■ Grenier-Hussenot Group (7) of- fering is a strange one-acter by poet-playwright Jacques Prevert. It is a takeoff on the old boulevard farce with Freudian and ancient Greek overtones. Incest and com- plexes run rife iri this afternoon in the life of a playboy lawyer who gets more than he bargained for when an eerie family descends on him. Weird theme, fast-paced pro- ceedings and knowing delivery make for yocks here, and thus word-of-mouth and a probable nice run. Cast is uniformly good with Jacques Dufilho, as a libidinous old maid, garnering most of the laughs. Decor and costumes by Paul Grimault are good, as is di- rection by Jean Pierre Grenier. Show winds on .the w.k. Garcons De La Rue (3), who have their usual begoff in their well-produced and mouted song interps of the Paris street and spirit. Mosk. Charley Foy’s, I- A. Sherman Oaks, June 26. Carl Ravazza, Harry Stevens, Charley Foy, Mary Foy, Johnny Black Orch (3); $2 .minimum. This San Fernando hideaway is back in business after one of its periodic refurbishings—this time with a layout that emphasizes har- mony rather than humor. It’s a switch for . Charley Foy’s, about the last stronghold of the blackout on the Coast, but business should be good, particularly since Carl Ravazza has a strong appeal to the distaff side — and the ladies gen- erally are the ones to decide where after-dark entertainment should be purchased. Ravazza hasn't been seen in town for a couple '.of years, and he’s been missed*. An easy, assured singer with a fine voice and a nifty sense of song salesmanship, Ravaz- za pounds over half an hour of music that never lets up. Opening night, the ringsiders literally forced:, another 15 minutes out of him to build him to a solid begoff. He still gets his best response on Such offbeat items as “It’s the Same” and the speko “Calypso Joe” bit done sans musical backing. But the turn now includes such current hits as “Young at Heart” and his nostalgia medley, .still sold under the “Hold Hands Time” tag, fea- tures different standards, all sold to best effect. . Harry Stevens has nothing to sell except some excellent string work on the banjo and a desire to entertain. There’s not much to the voice, but he exudes a friend- liness that makes him an imme- diate hit as he rifles through re- quests, interspersing oldies . with such current tunes as “Y’all Come” and the appropriate “Man with the Banjo.”- Opening- night he iet his “favorite-state”-request-bit get put f of hand and-overstayed his wel- come, but he’s a cinch to win favor. Host Charley Foy and sister Mary open with a nostalgic med- ley of some of the old Foy family songs and it sets the spirit of the occasion. Johnny Black's three- piece combo has taken over the musical elfbres and does right well. 4 , Kap. Tin Angel, Frisco San Francisco, June 26. Bob Scobey’s Frisco Jazz Band (5), Clancy Hayes; 50c cover weekdays, $1.50 weekends. Surprise click of the fading local season is this sock Dixie band playing its first gig in San Fran- cisco proper. Spot is a Bohemian bistro on the waterfront normally off the path for nightclub goers, but Bob' Scobey is packing them in like no other local attraction right now. Band is w.k. to record collectors and Dixiecats,- Trumpeter Scobey and clarinetist Bill Napier are fea- tured instrumentalists with Clancy Hayes, w.k. on local airlanes for years, -belting out the two-beat vocals in barrelhouse style for heavy applause. Scobey is trumpeter in style of Armstrong, Bunk Johnson & Muggsy Spariier . with a sharp at- tack. Band swings the Dixie stand- ards zestfully and the audience gets into the act singing along. Hayes is particularly effective on “Everything is Peaches Down in Georgia,” “Peoria” and “Big But- ter and Egg Man.” His delivery is easy and he sells good. Witlr proper showcasing he could be a potent commercial act on the Dixie circuit. Band performs in shirtsleeves without any attempt to make its performance visual. In nest of devotees this is unessential, but on the public circuit it will have to be corrected. Scobey occasionally dou- bles as vocalist on “Bimbo Down in the Bamboo Isle.” Tunes in.the repertoire are either original num- bers or venerable jazz items guaranteed to bring a nostalgic tear to the eye of oldtimers. Rafe. Club Des Mecenes, Paris Paris, June 10. Roberta, Charles Aznavour, Claudine, Jean Valton, Guy De- schaintres, Le Pars Trio, Freder - ique Hebrard, Jacqueline Jehan - neuf; $5 minimum. New, extremely Gallic intimery is located in the downtown room of the after-hours eatery, the St. James Club. Two units are not af- filiated and well known chanter Roberta handles the star and femcee reins of the boite. In a sedate, quality decor the club .boasts one of those long, many acted floor shows which runs most of the night, and is interspersed with intros of visiting celebs, door prize drawings, and the selection of career advisers for the younger show biz acolytes from among the experienced oldsters who have made this club a mecca. Roberta’s charm gladhanding makes this an intimery that is mostly for Gallic tastes, and show also follows that line with little fodder for the visiting tourist. This seems a staple- here, with the high- brow and show biz sets making it a regular on their agenda. Le Pers Trio plays dance music for those who want to on the tiny floor, and then many acts play the small plat- form. Charles Aznavour, a leading lyricist here, has turned songster for his own numbers, but it is evi- dent he should leave this to the regulars. Claudine recites a batch of rath- er banal poems saved by. a clever delivery, and Guy Deschaintres brings an impassioned tempera- ment to his recital of poetry. Jean Valton goes out his w.k. nitery turn of stories and uncanny imita- tions, which are the better for the neat material accompanying his takeoffs on most of the known un- usual .larynxes here, Frederique Hebrard and Jacqueline. Jehanneuf are two young actresses doubling here from a hit play, and unveil a rather devastating takeoff on the young female snob element in Paris. Material is good enough to make this heavily appreciated, though many of the inmates are blinded to similarities of their own table cliatter. .. Roberta ends show in her show- manly songalog. Singing in three lingos, this trouper knows her way around a song, and pos- sesses pipes of the old throb, school, plus a way With her bodily • em- phasis and lyric interp that make her a neat stinter anywhere, and more interesting in her own club. Though prices are steep, this ca- ters to those 1 who can afford it, and gives an Informal, atmosphere plus the intimate -participation they- seem to want > - Mosk. Gatineau, Ottawa ' Ottawa, June 25. Bill Kenny & Ink Spots (5), Ray Williams, Gene Griffin, Lind- 'say .Sapphire Dancers (6), Harry Pozy Orch (8), Bunny Dixon in lounge; 75c adm.; $1 Sat. The name oL Bill Kennyy and His Ink Spots is loeal magic here and this opener is no exception. Tefcoff business was fast and pros- pects are big for a eocko week. With half this city’s payroll coming from the federal government, it’s usual 'for biz to slow to a dribble just before each check-mailing. But the Kenny date preemed two days ahead of a payday to hefty attend- . ance, with ah assist from hot weather which sends customers to the breeze-swept rural setting pf the Gatineau (Golf and Country) Club. The Ink Spots wisely keep to w.k. disclicks—“Please Mr. Sun,” “The Gypsy,” others—with Kenny domi- nating the stanza. It may be be- cause they’re becoming too famil- iar, but chanter seems to overplay his trademarked - fluttering falsetto and hand movement. Opening ses- sion was a standout and drew con- sistently heavy mltting. The Gatineau’s Carnival Room is holding over impressionist Ray Williams, one of the better apers of Frankie Laine, Rose Murphy, Dan- iels, others. Williams uses a stand- out one-man bit on opera. Gene Griffin’s okay pipes are used effec- tively with the smart Lindsay Sap- phire line. Bunny Dixon canaries and keyboards in the 1 lounge to clicko returns. Harry Pozy’s band is tops as usual for show and danc- ing. Gorm.. Eddys’, K. f. Kansas City, June 25. Maureen Cannon, Sid Krofft, Tony DiPardo Orch (8); $1 cover. Petite Maureen Cannon, back ^ again after a year’s absence, and newcomer Sid Krofft and dazzling marionettes combine for a show that holds a good deal of pleasan- try in the midst of a sizzling heat- wave here. Although Miss Cannon has something of a tv rep and young. Krofft follows an old show biz tradition, neither name means a great deal in the way of magnet- ism. Price they’re in, however, customers can find more than their money’s worth in this round of en- tertainment. The Krofft- session of mario- nettes is by many measures an un- usual turn for a nightspot. Elabo- rately made and attired marionettes are handled with a great deal of artistry by Krofft as he manipu- lates a trio of Balinese dancers, a fall-apart skeleton, stripteaser “Little Lady Named Peel,” and a couple in a “Lenox Ave. Rendez- vous.” All done to original miusic, turn smacks much of the concert stage (where his father was known) and rates as a class turn for clubs. Pert Miss Cannon devotes her- self to singing songs with a large helping of personality, putting new twists on oldies such as “Shine on Your Shoes,” “If I Could Be With You” and /‘Lonesomest Gal in Town,” while mixing in the very new “Joey” and some special songs written to her personality. She holds the customers throughout, and makes a welcome interlude of her half-hour. Quin. Amato’s, Portland, Ore. Portland, Ore., June 24. Delta Rhythm Boys (4), with Rene DeKnight; Ving Merlin & Violins (3); Wymi. Walker Orch (5), with Rene Weiss; no min., $1.50 coven The Delta Rhythm Boys are headlining this sock show for the next thrde weeks, with Ving Mer- lin & his, string trio pushing hard for top honors. This is a return date for the singing outfit, who scored heavily with the customers on opening night with their stand- ard pop recordings and tunes of the day. Guys harmonize well and knock' out some rhythmic ballads. Best bet is a novelty, “Woman Is Nobody’s Fool.” Arranger-pian’st Rene DeKnight takes over the house band for the stint. Boys were on for 40 minutes on the opener and had to beg off with still plenty of palm-wacking. Merlin and his three lovely gal violinists tee off the layout and score solidly. This is the maestro’s first northwestern trip, but from the way the act was received, it will probably become a regular re- turnee. Troupe is well-disciplined, and has top production in each well-selected number. Gals are fresl\-lo6king and act has plenty of class, plus appeal. . Wynn Walker and his house, hand set the tempo for dancingand back,the show, nicely. Petite Rane Weiss continues to score . with her sockq chirping during -dance seshes. Full house when caught. Fete.