Variety (March 1955)

60 Wednesday, March 2, 1955 — "■ 1 " VARIETY BILLS WEEK OF MARCH 2 Numerals In cgnngctlon with bills below Indicate opening Sey el shew whether full or split week tetter in parentheses Indicates circuit. (I) Independent; (t) Leewi (M) Mess; (P) Paramount; (It) RKO; (» Stall; (T> Tivoli; (W) Werner NEW YORK CITY Music Hall (I) 3 Anthony Mordente Brute Sidlinger Patricia Kayney Novellos Mitchell Gregg Korkettes t ni ps de Ballet gym Ore Palace <R> 4 Alphonse Beige Honey Girls Courtney St S Van Horne Clark St Knight Ben Beri Bunny Briggs Don Francisco CHICAGO Chicago <P> 4 Illinois Jacquet GP Joyce Bryant A1 Bernie Roulettes AUSTRALIA AUCKLAND His Maiestys (T) 7 Jean Sablon B Warren & Chic W Latona St Sparks Roy Barbour Margaret Brown 2 Myrons liarry Jacobson C'hadells Max Blake Dancing Boys Ballet Girls MELBOURNB Tivoli (T) 7 Norma Miller Dancers Michael Bentino David Hughes Howell Sc Itadcliffe The Alfredros Ursula Sc Gus Gordon Humphris Irene Bevans John Bluthal Ron Loughhead Dancing Boys Ballet Girls SYDNEY Tivoli (T) 7 Winifred Atwell Chris Cross Eddie Vitch Kontane St Vaughn Joe Church 3 Hellos Romaine & Claire Julian Somers Maureen Hudson Show Girls Nudes Ballet Girls Dancing Boys Milt Shaw Ore Ray Bari Hotel Statlor Dick Jurgens Ore Hotel Taft Vincent Lope? Ore Latin Quarter Charlivels Wiere Bros Chiquita St Johnson Bas Sheva Clarissa Melodears Harmoneers Piroska Art Waner Oro B Harlowe Ore Lo Ruban Bleu Julius Monk Norman Paris 3 Patio Gleb Yellin Ore La Fronton Ore Two Guitars Kostya Poliansky Misha Usdanoff Lubov Hamshay Aliya Uno Versa lilts “Bon Voyage" Hope Hampton Paul Gray Louise Hoff Tommy Wander Margaret Banks Rosemary O’Reilly Carl Conway Batty Colby Ann Andie Rain Winslow Danny Carroll Danny Desmond Don Dellair Jim Sisco Salvatore Gloa Ore PancAito Ore Viennese Lantern Helene Aimee Simona Dolphen Dolores Perry > Bela Bizony Ernest Schoen Paul Mann Charles Albert Village Barn Hal Graham Fred & Sally Barry Joe Mavro Pam Dennia Gigl Mayo Melodiers Piute Pete Waldorf-Astoria Lina Renaud Nat Brandwynne Mice ha Borr Village Vanguard Charley Manna Rosetta Tharpe Marla Knight Lucy Reed C Williams Trio CHICAGO HAVANA Troplcana Darvas St Julia D'Aida Q Mercedes Valdes D’Ruff Q O de la Rosa Leonela Gonzales Raul Diaz Gladys Robau Tropicana Ballet S de Espana Orq S Suarez Orq A Romeu Ora San Soucl Harry Mimmo Rivero Singers Victor Alvarez Beverly Hills Ethel Smith Sonny Howard Ricardo St Norman E Lindsay Dncrs Clarissa Novo Paulina Alvares Sans Souci Ballet Ray Carson R Ortega Orq C Rodriguez Orq Montmartre Alba Marina L Dulzaides Q Nancy Sc Rolando Ivette da la Fuente Zenia Martha Veils Monseigneur Orq Montmartre Ballet Casino Play a Orq Fajardo Orq Larry Vincent Dick Hyde G Benedict Ore Jimmy Wilbur Trio NEWPORT, KY LAS VEGAS Flamingo 1 Mills Bros Mary McCarty Dominique Sands Billy Gray Georgia Gibbs Hal LeRoy Last Frontier Ben Blue Blossom Seeley Sc Benny Fields Desert Inn L Parks Sc B Garret Jackie Miles Rudy Cardenas Thunderbird Norman Brooks Roily Rolls El Rancho Vegas George White Rev Guy Cherney Sahara Dunham Dancers Dick Shawn Goldan Nugget Hilo Hattie El Cortes Four Tunes Showboat Minsky Follies of 1955 Silver Slipper Nile of Fun Revue Logan Comeback BRITAIN BIRMINGHAM Hippodrome (M) 31 Teddy Johnson Rev & Ronjy Raf & Julian Pearl Carr E A D Waters Arthur Worsley Billy Maxam Henderson & Kemp BRIXTON Empress (I) 28 Frank Kornby De Yong & Delysia Calvin Kay Marsh & Lorraine Noon Bros Monica Henri Momo Beam Co Raymond Way CHELStA Palace (I) 28 Betty Driver Afrique Pharos Sc Marina Revel Si Fields 4 Musical Derricks Tommy Dee C Sc C Ross CHISWICK Empire (S) 38 Fred Emney Edwin Styles Dorothy Carless Boyer & Ravel DERBY Hippodrome (S) 38 Eddie Calvert Kordites Dashs Chimps Leslie Lester 4 Riegels Rob Nelson Billy Livingstone 6 De Vere Debs EAST HAM Granada (I) 38 B Brooks & Harvey Botondos 3 Gitson Sis Les llowe & Audrey Metropolitan (I) 38 Terry Cantor Hal Swain Colin Crompton Grangers Puppets Shirley Kay Red Preston Valerie Rolls Riviera I.ovlies FINSBURY PARK Empire (M) 38 Ronnie Harpis Ladringlos B Si M JConyot Jack Jackson Jerry Harris Treble Tones Wilson Keppel Sc B SAP Kaye 8 Bobby Soxers GLASGOW Empire (M) 38 Josef Locke ’ ■Clarkson A Leslie Hackford A Doyle Sally Barnes Rita Martell Cherry Wainer Kendor Bros HACKNEY Empire (S) 38 Ray Burns Bonar Colleano Slizi Miller Jerry Allen 3 LEICESTER Palace (S> 38 Hal Monty Monty Norman Diana Cou plane Terry Reilly . Claude William* Fe Jover * Coronets Les Spangless LIVERPOOL Empire (M) 38 Carroll Levis Co Violet Pretty Teen Agers 3 Svendys MANCHESTER Hippodrome (S» 38 Frankie Howerd Lee Young Pan Yue Jen Tp Sandow Sis Tex James Chevalier Bros Walthon A Dorraine Jean Hinde Gale A Clark Kenneth Birrell Yvonne Bowers Sunny Rogers Blanche Mooers NEWCASTLE Empire (M) 38 Peter Dulay Sid Plummer MAH Nesbitt Griff Kendall Joan Mann McAndrews A Mills Benson Dulay Co NORTHAMPTON New (I) 38 Jimmy Malborn Lillian Pearson Babette Dave Starr Shirley Jevons Len Gale Roy Gordon Dorothy Howe 5 L.vricales Audriana Nudes NORWICH Hippodrome (I) 38 Freddie Carlisle Dexter A Dale Garland A Roberts Katrina Ann Rooney Roberta Dexter Jimmy Lee Frances Snow NOTTINGHAM Empire (M> 38 Beverley Sis Shane A Lamar A A I. Ward Key Overbury A S Rexanos Bill Waddington Des O'Connor Allan Kremble A C PORTSMOUTH Royal <M) 38 Joan Regan Kazan A Katz Fred Lovelle Johnny LOckwood Medlocke St Marlow Rosinas Tommy Lockv < Gary Grosetto A G SHEFFIELD Empire (M) 38 Max Miller Curzon 3 Nat Gonella Qold A Cardell Authors A Swinson Elizabeth Hutchins Clive Alien SOUTHAMPTON Grand <l> 38 Cavan O’Connor Jimmy James Co DAS Stephens Nelson Lloyd Ken Williams Lester Sharpe A I Eve Valerie 3 Reedings '— | Cabaret Bills t NEW YORK CITY Birdland Kai-Ja.v 5 Bon rati Tony A Eddie Jimmy Daniels Blue Angel Paul Killiam Charlotte Hae Foursome Portia Nelson Bart Howard Jimmy Lyons Trio Cafe Society Sunny Gale Vivien Marshall Tony Roberts 5 A Roberts Ore Chateau Madrid Tun Tun Ralph Font Ore Maya Ore Hotel Ambassador Quintero Ore Sarkozi Ore Hotel Pierre Mat'inu Marlowe Stanley Melba Ore Chico Re'.il Copacabana Billy Daniels Phil Foster Blackburn Twins Genie Stone Donna Williams Jack Drummond Barbara; Mzyc Larry Howard M Durso o«c Frank Marti Ore No I Fifth Ave Cedrone A Mitchell Karen Anders Bob Downey Harold Fonvllle Hazel Webster Hotel Plaza Mata A Hari Ann Crowley Ted Straetcr Ore Mark Monte Ore Hotel Roosevelt Guy Lombardo Ore Hotel St Regis * Frances Bergen 1 ' l ' • • v 4 ** e • Black Orchid Josh White Lauri Ames Helen Boice Rudy Kerpays Duo Blue Angel “Calypso Follies of 1955” Phyllis Branch Talley Beatty The Charmer Verdi Lo Prestt A1 D’Lacy Quartet Blue Note Jack Teagarden Blue Note Trio Chez Peree Brian Farnon Ore Helen Forrest The Goofers M Sisters A Bruno Cloister Inn Lurlene Hunter Laurie Allyn Ace Harris Claude Jones Dick Mar> Johnny Frigo Conrad Hilton “Spurs 'n Skates” Cathy Sc Blair Marvin Roy Carol Williams Le Due Bros Kile A Newsom Robert Lenn The Tattlers Frankie Masters Ore Palmer House Genevieve • Dick Kerr Lucille A E Roberts Empire Eight Charlie Fisk Ore LOS ANGELES Ambassador Hotel .Kaye Ballard Florian ZaBach F Martin Ore Band Box Wesson and Polk Larry Best Cheerleaders (5) Gloria Gray Larry Green Trio Bar of Musle Julie Mitchum Mark Newman Geri Galian Ore Biltmoro Hotel Mae Williams Consolo A Melba Bobby- Sargent Rudenko Bros (2) Hal Derwin Ore Charley Foy's Forrest Tucker ■loe Frisco Charley Foy Mary Foy A Browne Ore Lord Buckley Clro's Peggy Lee Da\e Barry MIAMI-M! Clover CtuB Lili Christine Luis Torrens Baron Buika Elaine Deming The Rivieres Tony Lopez Ore Selma Marlowe Line Woody Woodbury Latin Quarter Jean Carroll Yvonne Menard Stuart Morgan 3 Kathy Barr Ray A Gomez Renita Kramer Lucien A Ashour “Excess Baggage” Ralph Young Arne Barnett Ore Mandy Campo Ore Black Orchid Jo Thompson Richard Cannon George Stubbs Sans Soucl Hetgl Frances Langford Sacasas Ore Ann Herman Dcr* Saxony Hotel Dorsey Bros Ore Freddy Calo Ore Johnny Silvers Ore ; Frank Stanley Ore Bombay Hotel I Phil Brito I Nelida i Peter Mack Sandra Barton Johnlna Hotel Judy Tremaine Sam Bari Gloria Panico Paul Trio DiLido Hotel Bea Kalmus Mambo Jets La Playa Sev*i-i Emilio Re> es Ore Vanity Fair Otheila Dallas Havana Cuban Boys 3 Tones Jerry Brandow Bar of Musle Bill Jordan Arne Sultan I Beth Challis Dick Stablie Ore Roxanne A Martin ! Bros (2> Ciro Rumba Band Crescendo Gene Krupa 4 Tommy Guino Ore Patty Ann Moca m bo Ann McCormack Paul Hebert Ore. Wanda Smith Co Joe Castro Ore Moulin Rouge Frank Libuse Margot Brander Four Bogdodis Miss Malta Sc Co Doubledaters (4) Mine Ardelty Jery LaZarre Ffolliot Charlton Tony Gentry Gaby Wooldridge Luis Urbina Eileen Christy Bob Snyder Ore Statlor Hotel Margie Lee Perky Twins Art Pinson Charles A Lucille Skinnay Ennis Ore tMI BEACH Harvey Bell Fred Thompson Isle De Capri Gene Baylos Ruth Wallis Las Malangans Wally Hankin Ore Cope City Jane Powell Los Chavales de Espana Eileen O'Dare Stuart Harris Hal Loman Peter Gladke June Taylor Lin^ Red Caps David Tyler Ore Fontainebleau Helen Traubel Patricia A Cappella Joey Bishop Lecuona Cuban B Val Olman Ore Beachcomber Sophie Tucker Billy Eckstine Sam Levenson Len Dawson Ore Casablanca Gracia Barrie Jerry Lester W Wanger Line Jacai’ij Donnet Ore Balmoral Hotel Emil Coleman Ore The Spa Preacher Rollo S Clro's Three Peppers Th» Treniers Vagabonds Club Vagabonds 4 The Dunhilla Chaz^ Chase Martno Bentley B’Andrea Sisters Charlie Farrell Frank Linale Ore Airliner Harry The Hipster Pearl Williams Billy Lee Nautilus Hotal Lillian Roth Antone A ina Tip-Toppers <2> S.vd Stanley Ore RENO Mapes Skyroom Carmen (avallaro Step Bros Donn Arden Sk> lets Eddie F'itzpntrick New Golden I Bill Haley Comets Wally Dean D Kramer Dncrs Will Osborne Ore Riverside F'our Aces M Malnetk A Co Trio Gypsy* Starlets Bill Clifford Ore • i * • • « . Continued from page 1 _____ way play. He and producer Leland Hayward are reportedly splitting 15% of the profits of “Rear Win- dow,” through their sale of the original Cornell Woolrich maga- zine story. They bought it several years ago as an investment and resold it to RKO on the percent- age arrangement, Logan is also due for substantial income from Hayward’s just-com- pleted film version of "Mister Roberts” for Warners. He not only authored the legit edition with novelist Thomas Heggen, but stag- ed the play and was silently part- nered with Hayward in the Broad- way and touring productions. ; Since the Warner picture version is under a percentage deal, Logan will participate as co-author and co-producer of the play. Although his next Broadway as- signment isn’t set, Logan has a deal to direct pictures for War- ners on a percentage arrangement. And among the stage properties currently paying him revenue or almost certain to do so are the touring “South Pacific” (he’s co- producer with Rodgers & Ham- merstein and Hayward), and such stock properties as “Wish You Were Here” (co-author, co-produ- cer), “Picnic” (co- producer), “Roberts” (co-author, co-producer) and ultimately “Fanny” (co-au- thor, co-producer). At the time of Logan’s break- down in the fall of 1953, during the tryout tour of “Kind Sir,” it was feared his active career might be over. Certainly no one would have dared predict that he would come back not only quickly, but to top his already spectacular suc- cesses and earnings. Tympan Alley Co .tinned from page 1 played for 14 hours and 32 minutes ; before he got hungry and quit. J Sandweiss wrapped up the record | in Norman, Okla., and has now settled down in St. Louis. Such is the fleeting fame of offbeat talents, j Ulano is alining at a 72-hour rec- ord and will go on longer if he can hold up under the strain. He said | he had trained close to a year for a crack at the “title.” A medic and a nurse visited him regularly and his aides took care of his feeding. -(Ulano was still at it when Variety went to press.) Gawkers crowded the sidewalk all Monday end a klieg-light truck came on the scene in the evening io lure more reviewers. The press covered th<T stunt and a gal pho- tographer from Life mag was shooting most of the evening. Primary flitch for the “drum- athon” was Abel’s planned produc- tion of a revue tagged “Safari,” in which Ulano will be featured. He was garbed in a leopard skin dur- ing the longplay stint to give added sight values to the plug. Also in for a cufTo ad was Gretsch drum manufacturer who supplied the equipment. Ulano chainsmoked stogies throughout the caper. The ! cigar manufacturer missed a good 1 bet by not getting his credit in the window with all the rest. Mew Acts I SOLERO DE ESPANA ORCH Music, Songs Tropicana, Havana Several years ago, the Tropicana brought to Cuba a topnotch Span- ish orchestra, Los Chavales de Es- pana. After a while the Chavales went on to greater fame and for- tune in the U. S. Another Spanish orchestra, Los Churrumbeles, came to Cuba, and after a while it went on to better things In the U. S. Now another Spanish orchestra has been playing in Cuba—mainly at the Tropicana—and the next move seems inevitable, on to the States. The Solera de Espana orch follows in the footsteps of the Chavales and Churrumbeles not only geographically, but also in quality. It ranks among the best. In 1943 Spanish musician En- rique Oliva organized his own orch and named it Orquesta Olivian’s. Olivian’s successfully played at over a score of niteries and hotels and on radio in Barcelona and Madrid (including the latter’s Ho- tel Ritz). After making a name for itself in Spain, the group made some changes (broadening its repertoire of international songs; changing its name to Solera de Espana) and was brought to Cuba by the Tropicana, whose show producer, Alberto Ar- dura. reaches out all over the world for talent. Solera has been at the Tropicana steadily for over a year (except for a brief trip to Panama, from which it has just returned). The Solera has also filled theatre and other en- gagements in Havana. Solera’s major claim to fame lies in its exceptional versatility. Its repertoire includes music from Italy, France, Portugal, Brazil, Ar- gentina and naturally Spain, and now some Cuban numbers are in- evitably being added. Its Spanish numbers range with charm and facility from the haunting, lovely “Rosa Cani” (composed by Oliva) to snappy marches. Virtually every one of Solera’s musicians plays three or four in- struments, and can nimbly switch from one to another during the course of a single number. Jesus Peyron plays the trombone, accor- dion, violin, bass-viol and piano. Jaime Ventura plays the trumpet, accordion and violin, in addition to singing. Antonio Saigi plays the bass-viol and trumpet, and on the side does some clowning. Orch director Oliva plays the piano, violin and accordion, in ad- dition to composing and arranging numbers. Two of his w.k. compo- sitions are “In a Spanish Garden” and “Maria del Alma.” The 10 members of the orch are able to play a total of 30 instru- ments. That’s a lot of music. And it s highly enjoyable music, too. Jay. VERNON ALLEY TRIO Songs, Instrumental 30 Mins. Fack’s, San Francisco Veteran jazz bassist Vernon Al- ley (he used to be with Lionel Hampton and Count Basie) is cur- rently debuting his new trio which deftly combines modern jazz, swing and good old fashioned en- tertainment to emerge as one of the most commercial groups in this field to show here in consid- erable time. Alley, a pleasant personality with an infectious manner, sings novelty and up-tempo numbers liKe “Exactly Like You” and "Sun- ny Side of the Street” as well as taking numerous bass solos. Eric Miller, a fellow veteran of the Hampton band, plays guitar and sings ballads in a strong, movinp voice. His best numbers are “Birth of Blues” and “Yesterdays,” Rich- ard Wyands is one of the best jazz pianists on the Coast and is effec- tively showcased here. This is a good bet for any club with a jazz patronage. They reach all types of customers. Rafe. McSOVEREIGN & PARTNER Top twirling 10 Mins. Bobino, Paris McSovereign has tops which look like two funnels end-to-ended to- gether which he puts into action on a string manipulated by two handles. He then makes the whirl- ing tops bounce back and forth between two stringed boards on either side of the stage, play a small vibraharp by its vibrations and finally go out on a string over the heads of the aud to set off a box which sends back a tiny motorcycle. Though looking from the cave- man era of music hall, this emerges as an engaging offbeater and should be a good special entry for •U S. tv or vaude circuits. Mosk. ■ * _ < ■ GIGOLOS (2) Disk mime 12 Mins. . * Craxy Horse Saloon, Paris Disk mime duo is composed of a tall, lanky, energetic Scotch lad and a more laconic, small English boy. They do some frenetic take- offs to such disks as "Figaro,” “Cocktails For Two,” “John- Marsha” and "Mule Train” for gen- erally funny results, but using many of the numbers done with more aplomb by other practitioners of this type of act makes for a detrimental aspect in comparison. Boys have good timing and free- wheeling tendencies but can do away with bounding into the aud. More interpretive material to the disks instead of practically straight synch, roughhouse and slapstick would make this a more original turn and pay off better. As is, this makes for a neat offbeat entry and with more work and rep should soon be ready for a possible assault at U.S. nitery or vaude spots. Mosk. JEAN CONSTANTIN Songs, patter 20 Mins. Aux 3 Baudets, Paris A berhoustached, thinning-hair- ed, heavyset type, this songwriter has taken to niteries and music halls, peddling his own songs back- ed by a solid patter routine. Con- stantin sports a fey, detached air with an obliviousness of the aud that is rendered supportable by his spirited diatribes about song con- tests and songwriters in general, plus a fine songalog of his own which he gives out with a well- modulated voice and good piano accomp. Such hits as “Fleur De Papillon,” “Deux Thuns Sur Le Bestringue,” “Tu Rime Avec Moi” are already well-known here, and they take on new depth with the author delivering them. In short, he looks like a good bet for the U.S. intimers on wit and song talent, and also for tv. Mosk. SIM Impressions 15 Mins. L’Olympia, Paris Sim is a simian-faced comic-im- pressionist who does an uncanny rendition of a series of noises from a railroad train to traffic, auto chases and a horrendous battle of the planets, with projectors cast- ing flying saucers on the ceiling and walls. Then he goes into two ribtickling takeoffs on femme so- pranos, with the first a gurgling coloratura and the second a dizzy voice teacher. Last two can be shortened, to make this a fine off- beater for possible slotting for U.S. vaude or niteries. Mosk. Schwartz-Dietz ______ Continued from pace 2 will offer an “and-then-I-wrote” medley, Lena Horne will sing sev- eral numbers and Abe Burrows will m.c. Total take from the premiere and party is expected to be about $40,000, which will go to the Actors Studio, which has been nicknamed “Temple of the Torn Shirt,” after Marlon Brando, its best-known member. The coin, with additional contributions of $30,000, will be used by Actors Studio for the our- chase of its cv»ii building in New York Headed by Elia Kazan, who inde- pendently produced and directed “East of Eden” for Warners, plus producer Cheryl Crawford, stager Lee Strasberg and ex-producer Dorothy Willard, the actor training group has occupied various quar- ters since its formation in 1947. Chance to buy its own building arose recently, and the top dona- tion for the project, $10,000, has been from Gene Kelly. As part of the name-loaded af- fair, the usherettes for the film preem will include Miss Monroe, Margaret Truman, Fleur Cowles, Imogene Coca, Anita Loos, Carol Channing, Marlene Dietrich, Arlene Francis, Celeste Holm, Beatrice Straight, Patricia Neal, Meg Mundy, and numerous show biz and society names. Ticket takers will be i Steve Allen, Sid Caesar and David Wayne. Arrangements for the usherette and ticket-taker array and the after-preem party are being han- dled by Morton Gottlieb, whom Kazan recruited for the assign- ment.