Variety (December 1954)

Wednesday, December 1, 1954 REVIEWS 67 Palace, N. Y. Cathalos (2), Pat Hill & Larry Delma, Wyse & Mann, Olga Sim- mons,, Estelle & Alphonsp, Johnny Morgan, Gautier’s Tally-Ho (2); "The Human ..Jungle” (AA) viewed in Variety Sept. 15, ’54. The holiday bill at the Palace is Well-designed to accommodate the kid trade that predominated at the matinees until school resumed on Monday (29). This session is of eight-days’ duration, having started Thanksgiving Day (25), r one day ahead of the normal Friday open- ing.. It’s a talent collection worthy of the. extra running time, since comedy is its major commodity. All the comedy is readily under- stood by the youngsters. Major item is Johnny Morgan, a vet at this house, who does a good bit of laughmaking with his reliables. His gab has ~been around perhaps longer than he has, but it’s still serviceable and he makes out well. Ross Wyse & June Mann are alsbl in a comedy vein. They do well with their antic aero arid terps. One bit that they’ve been doing for years should have been left off the show, especially, this week, in deference to the moppet trade. Other comedy note is injected by Pat Hill & Larry Delma, a pair of puppeters. . Their humor isn’t strong, but it’s sufficient for the occasion. They should remember that there are sometimes adults in the house. Their opening bit is too sugary for grownups. They try to compensate by doing a strip. At show caught, the. backstage crew ruined them completely by failing to light up the stage or giving them a spot «for their walkpff. Whatever hand they would have gotten was ruined completely. Also for youngster consumption Is Gautier’s Tally-Ho, a combina- tion of dogs, horses and monkeys that has done well before all audi- ences. They repeat their good brand of entertainment at this stand. Dance turn this week are Estelle & Alphonso, Latino terpers. Lad, for the greater part of the turn, accomps his partner on the conga and bongo drums for at- mosphere and beat- The femme doesn’t rate all this accompani- ment* since there are long stretches of her routine that need some brightening. The heavy background seems to point up the lightweight numbers- However, she’s fine at , occasional aero work. Under new acts are The Gathalos and Olga Simmons. Jo Lombardi batons sharply. Jose. utilizing only culinary objects. Cutlery and plates and'saucers fill the bill with a good ending in put- ting a tray, atop his head and add- ing a trio of saucers, cups, teapots and plates, and a pig’s head top- ping it off. This is in for good applause. Mumford Puppets (2) trot out a group of Stringed performers which registers .nicely, A bullfight, a Japanese beauty singing “Butter- fly’’ and a red hot mama make these puppets a different entry ap- preciated by. the crowd. The hot singer is put into the aud for a natural in effect. The Lane Bros. (2) U. S. act formerly at the Lido', do their brilliant aero rou- tine! Jumping rope lying on their backs and then with One on the other’s back ends this in a gale of palming. New femcee, Monique Leroy,; has the gams and gambits that make the crowd purr with her. Mosk. Itobiuo, 4*aris Paris, NoV; 30. Line Renaud, Garcons De La lie (3), Lane Bros. (2), The 3 Hake/, Tux , Miimford Puppets (2), Maurice Merane:-Tres Arroyo, 3 Ahdreu, Ker Ben Ly (2) , Mau- rice Boulais Orch (9); Monique Leroy; top $1.25. House goes on unearthing neat offbeat acts and'headli ing toppers to ; make this new show a high- calibred offering. Line Renaud, in her, first riiusic hall apearance af ter. her success at the 'Moulin- Rouge nitery arid her stinting with Bob Hope, emerges as ope of the surest song talents here. Her dy- namism, control, song rep and thesp underlining make- hers a completely satisfying act. Taking the whole second half of this pro- gram, she rates as a star. Other song aspects have Maurice Merane, Los Tres Arroyo; 3 Mexi- can trio, and Garcons De La Riie (3), Merane is a personable youhg maii doing a series of self-cieffed .tunes. Though' essaying the pleas^- ant and poetic, he never achieves the complete individuality needed for this and remains an encaging filler, He still lacks the distinc- tiveness and depth for the bigtime Songs are simple iri melodics arid not lingering or catchy. . Mex trio is a refreshing bit with the trilling, shouting and bombast seeping into the house for good audience reac- tion, Garcons De La Rue are still an excellent mime-song act with tlieir street apparel of bowlers and basque shirts a good backing for their interpretative street ballads/ this' is a begoff. There is also a good dose of acrobatic and juggling with Ker Ben Ly (2) and The 3 Hakef, bright enough for inclusion under New Acts,. The 3 Andreu are two girls and a boy who do a combo tap dance-acro number for okay re- sults. Mainstay is a girl who does some fine somersaults but, on thd Whole, this is primarily an opener or filler number. Tux is a jug- gler who adds some originality by Roma, Santiago Santiago, Chile, Nov, 20. Antohita Colome,, Alonso Trio, Chita Morales, Georges Dancers, Yolanda Montes ( Tongolele ), Dalva de ; Oliveira,. Roberto Inglez, Maria Godoy ,. Kika , Orlando Cas- tillo, Pancho Huerta, Manuel Con- tardo Orch. L’Qlympia, Paris Paris, Nov. 30. Lionel Hampton Orch (21), Philippe Clay, Trio Florida, Line. Andres, Domenechs. (2), Great Felixio, . Dick & Deck, Yvonne Soldi; $1.25. top.. In the first appearance of a U S. jazz orch at a pop music 'hall here, the JLionel Hampton orch (21) wows them. . Filling the . second half of the program the Orch starts fine, buf then has a few slow interludes, with a sudden upsurge of jazz beat and Hamp frenzy that has the aud clapping time, dancing in the aisles and keeping him on until after midnight. This is a phenom here, for most crowds 10aye to Catch that last subway, but they missed wholesale on opening night. Olympia is definitely established as the young house here and the Hampton success will probably open the way for U.S, jazz outfits into the pop field without being restricted to the one-night concert routine. Band rocks with all the standards in the book. When they come out with • “Flying Home’’ in their “meet the aud” bit, ifS pan- demonium. Singers Beatrice Read- ing, Sonny Parker and A1 Taylor also score, but it’s the indefatig-. able Hamp who’s the star of this rumpus. Surrounding show is good but repeat acts again behoove a-rieed for roaming and booking oi new, unusual acts. Second lead belongs to Philippe Clay, orie. of the top offbeat singers here today. Lanky, craggy*youth delivers a solid song- alog of the unusual, interpretative rep and has all the attributes of a topliner with, distinctive voice, un- usual body and terp prowess and solid backing. He is in for big palms arid shapes ready for an as- sault on the U.S! Gallic singer route. Another singer; Line Andres, is also on the bill. Girl has fine plas- tic proportions but emerges more chirper than chantdosy. Replete with a pseudo dramatico rep she doesn’t get the most from her lyr- ics and shapes mainly as a good orch singer With not enough Class or presence for the distinctive ranks. Howeyer, looks and timbre put her in line for secondary bill- ing in most situations. Aero bits are nicely filled by the Trio Fprida, The pomenee'hs (2) |*and The Great Felixio. Trio Forida is an ammusing contorto act with a man and Woman twisting a masked dummy into incredible shapes. It is a fine cast and good for specialized spotting for U. S. chances. Pomeriechs do a good acro-balance stint and enhance things by doing it to a curious- rhythm, with Felixio balancing on a high platform on the tfdges of bottles and chairs for good effect. An English music hall trio, All, Norman & Ladd, clicked at the Moulin Rouge here arid were rung in as van added .attraction. This zany low comedy affair of three .forlorn musicos is a veritable yock fest and goes over big. Another added bit is a memory act which is a tour-de-force but appears lost in this big house. It is more for niteries and more limited areas. Mosk; Buddy Day and Gustavo Cam- pana had the Roma for a few months but their revue didn’t click and'they bowed.out, to be. succeed- ed by the Ra-Ta-Plan Co. ,set up by Florencio Contreras. New- lineup is straight vaude, tagged “Taxi to the Roma.” Chances of this enterprise suc- ceeding are good .if customers will cross the tracks to ogle the top acts in Santiago today. It’s a prob- lem to get audiences who’ve been u§ed to seeking their amusement in-showcases north of the Alameda to change their habits and trek three, blocks south of Santiago’s main stem: Promoters have snagged such proven nitery draws as .Yolanda Montes (Tongolele) and Roberto Inglez/ British pianist and orch leader, to head the bill. Georges Dancers, a troupe of young, good- looking terpers, female and male, liven up proceedings with their routinesand colorful costuming, but group needs a healthy round of contracts to smooth out their numbers. Comedy 1 blackouts han- dled by Chito Morales, Orlando Castillo, Maria Godoy, Pancho Huerta and, Kika are based on weak material arid few get boffs except the takeoff on the current Folies Bergere flareup between the Folies’ star, Xenia Monty, and Ju- lian Borkori, Folies’ manager. Alon- so Trio score with their Spanish terping of De Falla's Fire Dance and earn a big hand. . Orch in general is weak, until Roberto Inglez* who disbanded his ^local band to work niteries, comes along to inspire it with his tingling piano and flare for a hot beat. In- glez is popular in these parts through his recordings. and boite work: He’s tops at the keys. He arid Dalia de Oliveira, Brazilian chanteuse, attempt to get a cominu- nity Warble with ‘‘Volta para o Estoril” (“Return to Estoril”), a new pop number locally. La Oliv- eira, decked out iri clinging bare- shouldered white evening gown, walks through the audience, with a mike and garners laughs from her efforts to get men-to. sing. Antonita Colome, , Spanish ac- tress, does a typical Espanol rou- tine of flamenco chanting and casta- riets. She’s a looker and. comes off well. Tongolele, Who is also ap- pearing at a local night club, closes the bill with her deadpan shake- and-shiver routine. She’s huge draw. In general, staging leaves much to be desired and a good m.-c. could make it a lot more, presentable and step up the pace. Eade. HOLGER & DOLORES Dance 8 Mins. Latin Quarter, NY. Holger & Dolores, a European import, have a flashy and precise dance act. that provides a continual aura of excitement. The duo are more skilled at acrobatics than at terping, but possess enough, savvy at the latter to provide fairly en- tertaining interludes between the trick, holds and wild leaps. Male is A big,. Nprdic-lookirig chap who seems to have enough strength to give stability to his holds. . On one of/ them, he bal- ances his partner with one .hand on her head. ...In , this position, /the; femme takes off on a leap which Winds up in a split. They do some trick twists which are made pos- sible by the apparently prodigious strength of the blonde behemoth. Miss Dolores is also on the tall side and h* Sufficient grace arid lithe- ness to take the, king-sized leaps in manrier that makes it look -easy, t’.s an arduous turn, but none the ess exciting and/ worthy of all sight situations,‘ Jose. MAGIC VIOLINS nstrumental 23 Mins. Pacifico, Santiago, Chile, Combo of seven violinists, and pianist headed by David Sailon, described by batonist as “each an artist and each a soloist,” pleases in smart presentation of classical rnusic. Group consists of naturalized Argentines whose original nationalities include a Pole, Greek, Hurigarian, Czech, etc. Sailon announces the numbers which could be pepped up and some of stiffness removed by in ore solo work, on part Of individual members. The . brigade is decked out in full dress with fiddlers Wearing black masks. Full advan- tage of lighting effects could vital- ize presentation but apparently theater, a new house, isn’t prepared for stage acts. But as .it is,. the performers look good and draw generous applause. Act is doubling in .radio appear- ances and. is being offered to night clubs. Eadie. Eni(iIro, Edinburgh Edinburgh, Nov. 25. Jimmy Young, (with Jack Mar- tin at piano), Jimmy James & Co. (2), Radio Revellers (4), Margo Henderson & Sam, Kemp, Bob & Marion Konyot, Raf <Sp Julian, McAndrews & Mills, Gordon L. Rolfe Orch, ■l. ROYAL , , Las Vegas, Nov. 30; First component of the Royal Nevada Hofei talent setup has been completed with the appointment by entertainment director Eddie Rio of Jerry Fielding as the batOneer of this newest Las Vegas inn. Fielding was set on a deal nego- tiated by Joe Glaser’s Associated Booking Corp, Jimiriy Young, English disk singer, tops this fairly attractive vaude layout, and pleases the stub- holders in a simply-presented song- alog. He ranges in tunes from ■'Sky Blue Shirt and Rainbow Tie” through “Story of Tina” to the current hit, “Hold My Hand,” which earns solid mitling. Young, who made his start a few years ago in the aptly-chosen song, “Too Young,” still uses this as an intro melody; Jimmy James, north-of^England comedian, proves that he is still one of' the finest drunk funsters in English showbiz, but it’s his sec- ond spot on this bill that really clicks, in whiqli he is r ai.ded by his two excellent stooges, his son Cass James and nephew Brettpn Woods. Raf &• Julian, young male duo, arid sons of vet English comedian Tommy: Jover, indulge in comedy of"*a sluggish variety in between some adept somersaults. If they’d quicken up the comedy gabbing, they’d click more. McAndrews & Mills offer an ar- tistic line in terping as openers. Margo Heriderson & Sam Kemp are a solidly satisfying act in.musi- cal items and impressions. Miss Henderson is a specially talented young femme deserving of tv and nitery attention, and her husband partner scores with solo rendition of “Chapel in the Moonlight” as well as winding, the act most effec- tively With "Scotch bagpipes. Bob & Marion Konyot have an attractive musical knockout turn and the four Radio Revellers are a male harmony quartet with a pretty slick line in current pops There’s good showbacking from the Gordon L. Rolfe house orch. 1 Gord. TOBA STEVENS Songs 8 Mins. Latin Quarter, N.Y. Toba Stevens is a well-groomed looker with , a strong coloratura Voice. Times include “Lover,” a French medlay, and the “Laughing Song” from “Die Fledermaus.” Jn each, she has ample opportunity to let out with copious amounts of. trills and cadenzas. Some of them, however, are of uneven quality. Miss Stevens, at times, gives the impression that she’s losing a lot of inherent color, in order to achieve volume. More control on the decibels would result irt a greater ease of presentation and more intimacy. But despite these lapses, there’s a lot of basic merit in this singer and she can make good in many cl&ss situations.. Jose, THE CATHALOS (2) Acrobatic 9 Mins. Palace, N.Y. The Cathalos (2), man-and- Woman acrobats, 'seem capable of hitting a good stride iri most -sit- uations- where muscle work, is re- quired. They are a good warmup pair in vaude, .and in outdoor situ- ations can hold their pwri on most sections of a bill. It’s an expertly prepared: act, both are Skilled workers. The eriime, in addition to balancing herself on precarious perches and doing a neck-swivel on a high pole borne by her partner, is good at some elementary dance steps which help divert attention from her partner while he’s preparing the equipment, and in addition, does a few somersaults. • Femme -balances herself atop her partner while he’s perched on a ball and goes over a teeterboard. Major trick is a pin wheel bit on an elaborate perch placed atop her partner’s shoulders. Off to hot mitts. Jose. ALL, NORM AND & LADD Comic, instrumental 15 Mins. Moulin Rouge, Paris , Though as old as music hall itself in their comedy and routining, this act bears cataloging under New Acts due to its solid 4 yock content. Deadpan trio essays a recital with guitar,. bass fiddle and violin. Bored-looking English gentleman type, a waiflike bass player and a longhaired fiddler soon break up the aud. Fingers get caught in instruments, they gouge each other, and destroy clothing, and in gen- eral create a lot of laughs in. these tried slapstick measures by fine timing and control. Fey and knockabout antics.might be a nice entry for spotting in U. S. vaude or tv aspects, with its surefire low comedy still .a staple Mosk: OLGA SIMMONS Songs 10 Mins. Palace, N.Y. Olga Simmons is a well-groomed blonde with a striking voice. She seems to have a classical back- ground, although dwells in pops and standards during her present engagement, lyiiss Simmons has. a voice that sounds like it could tackle coloratura arias with ease. It’s evident that she reduced her repertoire to simple elementals for this date. Miss Simmons’ major number is “Hi Lili,” a light and melodic item Which she does with ease. How- ever^ in. all her numbers she’s still using too much volume so that she fails to; get an .intimate touch iri her voice. Some of her tunes, such as “Ain’t: Necessarily So.” seem to hit pedantic note. With more time, on the circuits, she’ll get on more familiar terms with audi enoes for. better effect. Jose. THE 3 HAKEF Aero 10 Mins. Bobino, Paris Fancy footwork is the mainstay of this act. Elder backs to table and handles two youngsters with his feet, He tosses them about, puts them into rapid spins and creates a graceful, fast-moving pattern in this whirling dervish affair. Youngsters are well bal- anced and agile as they soar at the footpoints; and a double somer- sualt, ends this on a solid note.. This looks fine for that aero spot in any U. S. hbuse or.-nitery spots and a good.possibility for tv show- ing. Mosk. KEr BEN LY (2) Aero 10 Mins. Bobino, Paris Male member of duo goes, up a ladder and balances atop it with deft movements. He plays a trom- bone and then femme shinnies up to take her place on his shoulders as they play a guitar duet together. Then she does some fancy contort- ing while aH the time duo is atop this unleaning ladder. Unusual act look!?: like a natural' for offbeat slotting for U, S. niteries, vauderies or tv. Well- paced and flippant, this is a fine act.- Mosk. TED BROWNE FolkrCalypso Songs 15 Mins, Purple Onion,: N.Y. Patterned along routine lines, folk-calypso balladeering by Ted Browne is okay arid riicely grooved for such intime spots as the Purn pie Onion, formerly the Playgoer’s Club on 51st St, and 6th Ave, As is usual with this type of an act, Negro singer is decked out in pants and shirt and accompanies himself on the guitar. Songalog is pleasant although lacking in sock values. Repertoire includes “Egg and Marrowbones,” "Lowland Sea,” “Matilda,” “Man Smart, Woman Smarter” and “Fair Thee Well.” Jess. BOB & MARION KONYOT Comedy Dance ~ 12 Mins. ‘ I Empire, Edinburgh ■, , This male-arid-femme twosome offers, some fairly amusing knock- about comedy that still needs to be sharpened for the U. S. market. He’s in guise of a painter* wear- ing an artist’s beret and handling a palette, arid distaffer makes danc- ing entrance as his model, posing in graceful terping that soon switches to comedy. Duo engages in a series of pleas- ing comic farHs-/ They wind effec- tively with leaps over each other and brisk, somersaulting across stage. Gord. MAIA ANGELO Songs 15 Mins. La Rose Rouge, . Paris A tall sepia dancer, appearing here with the. “Porgy And Bess” troupe, Miss Angelo tries out her song and iriterp qualities at this offbeat nitery cave, Possessed of an agile, intense body, she comes out clothed properly in ii cotton frock with a large slit up the side allowing for leg freedom. She does mostly calypso songs and needs some hep material which would set off the obvious fine body attributes. Her Candor and audi- ence appeal is evidenced in her ad libs and fractured French transla- i tiohs of her songs, MosJc.