Variety (August 1955)

58 vitUBmix w mwfr Wednesday, August 17, 1955 BARBARA McNAIR Songs - 15 Mins. Bine Aitffel, If. Y. Barbara McNair bows as prom- ising vocal talent in her initial stand at this east side N. Y. spot which, under Max Gordon’s aegis, experiments with new talent. Young Negro songstress is a looker with a trim physique and a set of pipes that, at the moment, are pro- fessionally competent, but with ex- perience could be even more than that. The distinctive styling and phrasing are already there in em- bryo. Her opening number, “Ain’t We Got Fun,” is a poor choice. This is a depression number with lyrics that have little relevancy for con- temporary audiences unless there’s a special point to be made. Miss McNair doesn’t have any particu- lar reason to do this number as a warmup exeept-ihat it’s uptempo. The rest of the repertoire is okay. She handles the ballad; “I’ve Got A Crush On You,” with sensitivity and goes into a snappy spiritual- type number, “Yes, Indeed,” be- fore essaying an excellent “Happi- ness Is Just' A Thing Called Joe.” The swinging “I Love You Madly’ r gets her off strongly. Hem. VIVIAN & TASSIE Juggling 8 Mins, Apollo, N.Y. A Danish import, Vivian & Tassie are a fast juggling turn who mani- pulate a variety of obects ranging; from Indian clubs to hoops. Mixed team opens with club tossing fol- lowed by male member bouncing a ball atop his head while simul- taneously jumping rope. He also DOTTIE and JOE has a novel acrobatic twist in that he sandwiches some forward, somer- saults into his routines from time to time. Femme partner 9 , a statuesque blond, is more than mere window dressing for she- joins with her mate in a neat club juggling switch that comes off'without a miscue. Male, in addition, has an interest-!, ing audience gimmick whereby he throws a ball to customers at ran- dom. On the return toss he juggles the sphere at the end of a stick held m his mouth. However, the effectiveness of this bit depends upon' accuracy of the return throw This was considerably, deficient at show caught. Withal, Vivian & Tassie have sufficiently eye-catching routines, to qualify them for most visual media including vaude, niteries and tv. THOM HELLING Songs, guitar [22 Mins. Allegro^ London . Thom Kelling is * a personable young Dutchman, who sings, in a variety of languages to his own guitar accompaniment. He has an exceptionally good command of the English tongue, which enables him to introduce and explain his foreign language numbers. That apart, the act hardly impresses as up to standard for first-class night spots, although he should get by in more modest establishments, particularly on the Continent; His act has’ a saniieness which makes it difficult to sustain cus- tomer interest. There is little va- riety in the choice of numbers and a complete absence of original material, which might suit his per- sonality. ; His selection of songs range from Brazlian to Cuban, Spanish and West Indian numbers and . there is & pronounced em- phasis on the Brazilians tempo throughout the routine. None of them achieves an individuality. Myra. ZIZT RICHARD Songs 9 Mins. Gatineau, Ottawa Billed as “from Folies Bergere,” exotic Negro chirper ZizI Richard (pronounced Ree-shore) is amply equipped physically to represent the w.k. Parisian spot. Wearing a flashy costume that emphasizes the stint’s s.a." structure, Miss Richard works eagerly and maintains a strong French flavor throughout. Sharp tonal quality keeps her pip- ing in so-so category but the cus- tomers, particularly males, aren’t too particular about the canarying as Tong, as their view of the femme is uninterrupted. Medley arrangement, with “I Don’t Care” (in Eva Tanguay style) as a base, is opener and rest of the act follows similar styling. Okay for niteries, act would have stronger impact in a smaller room, although ft satisfactorily fills the Gatineau Club's exensrye space with both sight and sound. Gorm. JUST CLOSED GLEN CASINO—Buffalo CURRENTLY ONE-TWO CLUB-Toronto JACK POWELL and Ms' Educated Drum Sticks Under the Personal Management-of .MARK LEDDY and LEON NEWMAN 48 West 48th St., New York 19, N. Y. Phone—JUdson 8-2760 HERBIE SELLS' Impressions 20 Mins. Gatineau, Ottawa . Herbie Sells was In niteries for some years as chant partner of Jimmy Hollywood but since Holly- wood’s fatal illness. Sells has worked as a single. His staging: is effective and singing impressions of Sinatra, Cole, Bennett, Rose Murphy, Monroe and others, are standout. Compared to chanters, -gab apings are weaker blit on the , whole Sells’ stint gets his returns throughout. Sells is capable of handling crisp comedy both in impressions and filler lines but needs stronger gag material. Personable, able and young, he will enhance any nitery or stage production. Gorm. ' they give the fans a display of gam-kicking, showing their shape- liness and s.a. Highspot of act is when one gal comes on garbed In tophat. style to offer a top-hat-and- tails routine, and is followed by her partner in a pretty ballet se- quence. Femmes show ideas and fresh- ness in their stepping, and are use- ful booking meantime for Europe- an and United Kingdom vauderfes or tv. Gord. BRUNNAU & FLORENCE Comedy Dances 9 Mins. Rheinland, Frankfurt This man-and-wife duo- has some amusing dance parodies. Their slapstick presentations of the rum- ba and mambo are slanted right for a boisterous audience. They sum up as an adequate pair who would do well to throw out the . standard srick-and-duck comedy and concentrate on their dance with an idea type of ma- terial. Haze. GONDA SCREEN Acrobatics 7 Mins. Rheinland, Frankfurt A tall, shapely blond titled “The German Leg Queen of 1953, Gonda Sureen does some surefire acrobatics. Her tight-as-skin tights and her elegant body make this a most attractive bit. There’s not enough to this act to make it bigtime. Haze. VALDETTES (2) Dancing 7 Mins, Empire; Glasgow The Valdettes, two attractive gals, open brightly and display some varied terp routines. Distaffers’ terping is lively and CAB CALLOWAY Continuing INTERNATIONAL THEATRE TOUR Mgt. BILL MITTLER, 1619 Broadway, Now York Another Turned Down Saratoga, Aug. Iff. The N.Y. State Liquor Authority has restored a liquor license to Newman’s Lake House, on Saratoga Lake, which operated the year- around strictly as an eating place since- a previous request for re- newal was denied in 1951. At the same time, the Authority denied a permit for Riley’s Lake House, re- opened just before the August racing season, after a closedown of several years; The decisions, announced in New York last Friday (12),.followed •hearings in Albany Monday (8), during which the proprietors pleads ed their cases for reissuance of li- censes lost during the state-ordered gambling probe in Saratoga Coun- ty four years ago. Gerard E. King, co-owner with his sister,. Catherine S. King, and his father, John J. King, told SLA deputy* commissioner Walter S. Schmidt that “there has been no gambling (in Newman's) since. 1949 and there won’t be any in the fu- ture while we’re there.” The Kings had met the major objection raised by the SLA in re* fusirig to grant a license two years ago—the existence of a casino-] building 10 feet from the restau- rant. proper—by attaching the casino to the eating quarters and providing additional dining facili- ties 'for 250. It’s called the. Coach House. In denying the application of Louis D’Andrea, recent purchaser of Riley’s, the Authority said it was not satisfied he “would be the sole party and interest or that he has shown adequate financial resources of his own.” The SLA' also took Into account D’Andrea’s age (28), “inadequate resources and ad-* mitted inexperience ” “Unusual cir- cumstances leading Up to acqui- sition of the property” by th e young man were given as an added reason. D’Andrea, nephew Of Louis (Doc) Farone, convicted in 1953 of gam- bling charges in casino operations named as Riley’s, The Brook and Smith’s Interlaken, testified he pur- chased the property from his aunt and did hot discuss the venture with his uncle. His weekly nut, for a floor show and musicians, was around $5,000; D’Andrea stated. No gambling, would be permitted, he pledged. Belafonte N.Y. Reprise In an unusually Speedy return booking, Harry Belafonte has been pacted for six weeks at the Empire Room, Waldorf Astoria, N. Y., be- ginning Sept. 29. It’ll mark a three-month lapse since his last appearance at the hostelry in June. Singer is currently appearing at the Cocoanut Grove, L. A. p- New York Management of the Thunder- bird, Las Vegas, gave songstress Dorothy Collins .a. diamond wrist- watch, at the windup of her foiir- week engagement at the spot Aug. 3. She’s current at the Chez Paree, Chi . . . Goldie’s,. N. Y., operating on a Monday-Thursday basis,, per- mitting alternate 88erar Goldie Hawkins and Bob Prince to work the weekends at Goldie’s Fire Is- land . . . Lew & Leslie Grade han- dling the exclusive casting of the “Louis Braille Story.” Harry C. Brown, head of the agency hearing his name, current- ly in Miami Beach on a 10-day business hop , . . Connie Sawyer, currently appearing in the Leonard Sillman revue, “Come As You Are,” at the Versailles, N. Y., has been booked for an early fall stand at the Colony Club, London ... .' Cab Calloway begins a tour of the British Isles Aug. 22. Chicago Bobby Kuhn arid the Midnight Suns opening at Chi’s Old Heidel- berg next Tuesday (23) in an in- definite stint. Herbie Hardt closing out there after a 18-year stay . . , The Peppermints, winners of last winter’s talent search at Chi's- Chez Paree, held over at Man- gam’s Chateau, Chicago, in their second pro appearance . . . Jimmy- Nelson and Patti Andrews co-1 headlining the show at Chicago’s Brewer-Thornhill 3G Asbury Park, N. J., Aug. Iff. Aftermath of Hurricane Connie was blamed for the failure of Ter- esa Brewer and the Claude-Thorn- hill band to do better last Satur- day night (13) at the Convention*}. Hall here. The single night gros- sed $3,000,. below hopes. Storm, did only slight damage here but continued radio-tv warnings! about Connie took a toll at the b.o. The McGuire Sisters play a re-\j turn date here next Saturday night, paired with the Tommy Tucker orch. Chez Paree, opening Sunday (21)? Gaby Monet also on the* bill . . . Hairnsh Meiizies currently . appear- ing at Mr, Kelly’s, Chi Atlanta A new revue, headlining exotic dancer Vicky Guy, billed as "Blonde Venus,” and acro-terper Leslie Cooper; with comic Willie Cooper as emcee, opened Monday (15) at Gypsy Room, managed by owner. J. C. Carmichael . . . Paul- ettes, singing sisters touted as “Connie Boswell’s Proteges,” will open tomorrow (Thyrs.) at Para- dise Room in Henry Grady Hotel, topping show. which includes Sonny Richard* and Walter Long, comedy song arid dance team. Jim Scott Dim, after six-week hiatus, will open on same date at Grady’s coektailery. Dogwood' Room. An added attraction! at Danny Demetry’s Howell House’s Zebra Lounge is banjoist Perry Bechtel, who appears with Jack Rowland, singer of risque songs.... George Forrest, singing impressionist, and acro-dancer Virginia Ayres opened Monday (15) at Joe Cotton’s Steak Ranch, where West Baxter’s Orch plays for dancing ... Kalantan, popular exotic, is being held over at Imperial Hotel’s Domino Lounge, sharing billing with, comic Marvin Boone. . . . Eddie Lee, singing pianist, is current at Mamma Mia’s Piccolo Lounge. Hollywood Will Jordan, headliner at Bever- ly Hilton’s Ball Room, opens Sept. 13 at Palmer House, Chicago . . . Cross Or Dram went into the Ma- cambo last night (Xues;), to bo fol- lowed by Julio WUson- Aug 23 for single frame . .. Brandie Brandon reoptioned indefinitely at Art Wil- liams'Eldorado. Lippizan School Back To Vienna Homebase Vienna, Aug 9. Major Podhorsky has brought his world famous Spanish Riding. Schopl - safely back to the Aus- trian capital, from which city he had fled in April, 1945, to Weis in Upper Austria. The outfit has> been under U. S. protection ever since. Meanwhile the stables and arena in the Reitschulgasse in the cen- tre. of the city were renovated and modernized. 'The L ippizaner horses (a breed that is horn black and then grows up white) are just asr fine a* their “parents” who had to leave here and “died in exile.” There willjje regular perform- ances starting Oct. 15. The Topnotcher9 into Lake Club, Springfield, 111., Sept. 30 for one Iframew Minneapolis, Aug. Iff. Within eyesight of 75 tablesit- ters,! Jimmy Hegg, six-foot-five, 230-pound owner of the Starlight Club, one of the town’s leading bistros, captured a 21-year-old ban- dit who held a gun at his stomach and attempted to hold up the estab- lishment. The incident occurred at 12:30 a.m., 10 minutes before closing time. Within secorids after the gun was pointed at him, Hegg put a c o m b i n stion hammeriock- stranglehold on? the youth and held him for the police. 'DANCING WATERS' IN TOKYO ■■ Tokyo, Aug. 9. The water and tight extravagan- za, “Dancing Waters,” has opened a 2V£-week run at Tokyo’s Kora- kuea Ice Palace. The spectacle will be presented in three installments, utilizing Japanese and visiting western entertainers who will per- form before the background of spouting fountains; First week will be “Dancing Waters and American Show,” with Wanda Smith and her Jimmie Durante Cover Girls, sin- ger Manolo Cuerva and Filipino Ceaser Velasco orch. There will be a four-day run of “Dancing Waters and Classical Ballet.” Final week will be “Dancing Waters and Modern Ballet” and will present program of modern dances; sX* TED MILLER and SMILEY "LAUGH PROVOKERS" AWUST BOOKED BARNES-CARRUTHERS Number One Fair Rove# Available Nov, Tst; Ctoir Dates _ Contact Larry Lux .PAUL MARR AGENCY 203 N. Watoasft Avp.r Chicago ills WSSxWS r .'K«CS>iS THE CLUB 59 206 East 59th If. Naw York Currently GLEN CASINO WIHiamsvIlle N. Y. ’’ -ETLR J IODICI t-o< THi'u* n Bldg., Detroit WHEN IN BOSTON If* Hi. HOTEL AVERY Tie Homo of Sfiow PM Avery t Washington Sts. Radio hi Ivory Roost