Variety (April 1956)

Wednesday, April 18, 1956 PSSiEff REVIEWS 79 House Reviews Roxy, N. Y. Robert C. Rothafel presentation, "Gala Paree,” with Vicky Autier, Nicky Powers, Leslie Sang, Bar¬ bara Hunt, Line (24); choreog¬ raphy, Dolores Pallet; scenic de¬ signer, Bruno Maine; costumes, Lou Eisele; “The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit” (20th)’ reviewed in Variety April 4, ’56. The Tricolor /has taken over many major entertainment centres in New York.. Whether it's the in¬ fluence of the “April in Paris Ball” to be held Friday (20) at the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria, or whether in the springtime a producer’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of Paris, the net result is the virtual transformation of Manhattan into a French colony. The Roxy, for its 30-minute icer accompanying “Man in the Gray Flannel Suit,” has spiced up a fast- moving and satisfying frappe. The film’s running time of approxi¬ mately two-and-a-half hours pre¬ cludes a stageshow of longer length. Managing director Robert Roth¬ afel has masterminded this layout so that an intimate feeling is ob¬ tained. Singer Vicky Autier, dou¬ bling from the Viennese Lantern, works from the pit with a rising keyboard, setting the mood with vocals: The orch is colorfully garbed in barets and velvet jack¬ ets which helps put the show with¬ in closer range of the audience. Miss Autier does a number of Gallic pops starting with “Poor People of‘Paris” and winding up with a dramatic “Padam.” The blonde chantoosey has a difficult assignment since the setup gives her virtually no production. How¬ ever, she’s equal to the task and the audience takes to her. The major talent in the icer is the Dolores Pallet routined line. Their opener is in gendarme garb and the closer 4s in the inevitable can-can costume. Both are potent¬ ly choreographed and colorfully costumed. In the former number, the pinwheel is used, as it has been in virtually every show the Roxy has done since its resumption of stagers. Fortunately, it’s not the focal point of the routine. An Apache trio comprising Nicky Powers, Leslie Sang and Barbara Hunt, provide an effective inter¬ lude of hoke and terps. Powers is an extremely strong dancer, his aero and straight dance work being on a very high level. The two girls provide staunch support. Robert Boucher showbacks sharply. Jose. Palace, N. Y. Perry & Diane, Val Setz, Gillian Grey, Roy Benson, Roberto & Alicia, Bob Howard, Lane Bros. (2), Arleigh Peterson Dancers (5), Myron Roman Orch; “Never Say Goodbye ” (U) reviewed in Variety Feb. 15, ’56. Palace bill this stanza is satis¬ factory throughout, with the pro¬ ceedings punched up by jester-jug¬ gler Val Setz, magico Roy Benson and the aero antics of the Lane Bros. ■ ' In for visual and ear appeal is songstress Gillian Grey, while Perry & Diane are likeable in the opening terp slot. Also on tap for the footwork fans are flashy Ai menco d ^nces by Roberto & Alicia and a brief exhibition by the Arleigh Peterson Dancers (review¬ ed under New Acts). Rounding out the talent lineup is singer-88er Bob Howard, who scores with a personable delivery. Perry & Diane kick off an eight- minute stint with a “Gotta Dance” vocal and. that’s just what they (, o. The pair, with .gal neatly gowned, work together, then Perry takes over for a solo, with femme returning in cut-down garb to show off legs in bow-off number with partner. Setz follows with a . slick luggling demonstration. Running 15 minutes, the stint is also played lor laughs. Although most of the Patter is in the cornball idiom. The turn has a. pleasant flavor and registers effectively. Miss Grey, a looker with opera¬ tic tones, holds down the trey spot. Her songsterihg is easy to take and includes such numbers as “Life is a Beautiful Thing” and “Granada.” vocalist takes the spotlight for seven minutes, with Benson moving in for a prestidigitation session ?^ e d with some okay yock mate- ria 1 . The tricks are good, but serve Primarily as a peg for a .peat eight- minute round.of verbal furisforing. Robert and Alicia fQllpv/ Benson with some vigorous stompin’. The duo are colorfully dressed and wbrk over the Latino rhythmns neatly in an eight-minute stand. Next in line is Howard, who scores with his keyboard . and vocal handling, of a number of standards. His Steinway imitation of a mechanical piano is also a strong item. The Lane Bros, take over for a snappy aero session. Highlight of the turn is the various rope tricks offered by the male team. The Peterson Dancers are in the .windup position. Jess. Supermarket —— Continued from page 76 ■■ —■ entation of acts in the summer,” he said. Supers in the area have tried al¬ most every gimmick in the book to get and hold crowds. The give¬ away fizzled out after the chains knocked themselves out competing with each other to see which could offer the biggest pot of gold. New car offers, real estate, trips to Paris and Rome became common¬ place. Next came the trading stamp ballyhoo. The flesh kick, however, is the latest. Super officials reported they liked acts on all counts. Contests and giveaways are loaded with re¬ sentment and ill will from the losers. Block dances and dance parties on the parking lots to live orchs, which they have tried, at night, doesn’t bring the people into, the store. The live acts far out- draw anything previously used, Star Market officials said. Unit Review WLS Nat’l Barn Dance Omaha, April 7. Homer & Jethro, Jimmy James, Gus & Gregg, Bob Atcher, Wilson Sisters (2), Nancy Lee & Hilltop- pers (5), John Dolce, Square Dancers (8). At Music Hall, Ofnaha, April 4, ’56; $1.50 top. Styled along the lines of the “Grand Ole Opry,” the “WLS National Barn Dance” package shapes as a moneymaker in the rural sections that dig cornball music and comedy. In addition, there’s Homer & Jethro as headliners, with their hep parodies that should pack a b.o. punch. Boys go over big in their bright red and yellow suits, taking sharp pokes at “Mr. Sand¬ man,” “Love and Marriage,” “Let Me Go Blubber” and other hit tunes. Their chatter is of the “Come back here, you coward” vintage when a customer heads for the lobby. Feminine pulchritude is fur¬ nished by the Wilson Sisters, singers-yodelers, who are lookers and strikingly gowned. However, the gals, who make a to-do over the fact they’re no longer the “Beaver Valley Sweethearts,” haven’t the best stage presence and are awkward bow-takers. They feature “Mocking Bird” as a closer. Jimmy James, comic, doubles as emcee and goes over big in his own inning. Funny little guy has a novel gimmick in playing the trombone and banjo at the same time. Bob Atcher, cowboy singer, uti¬ lizes a drawl in his spiels and does well with “Sixteen Tons.” Gus & Gregg work hard in their harmon¬ ica bit, winding up with a rousing “Yankee Doodle Boogie.” Youths need some sharper comedy, though.- Nancy : Lee & Hilltoppers are okay as show backers, and John Dolce does calling for square danc¬ ers to open show and ring down the curtain. This failed to generate much enthusiasm here. Trump. Cal. Labor Raps Cantor v Hollywood, April 17. Eddie Cantor and songstress Roberta Linn have both been cited by the California State Federation of Labor for passing through union pickets set around the Mirador Hotel, Palm Springs. It’s under¬ stood that C. J. Hayan, local rep for the Federation, is requesting that all show business and other unions place pair on their respec¬ tive org's “do not patronize list.” Previously, James L. Kelly, local AGVA exec, ordered Allan Jones not to play a one-niter April 21 at the hostelry because of it being on unions “unfair-.list.V Robert Clary To Play Pierre’s Cotillion Room Singer Robert Clary has been set for the Cotillion Room of the Pierre Hotel, N. Y., starting May 22 for two weeks. He’ll finale the room for the season. Clary will be the first male French singer to play the room this year. Inn has been stressing chan- tooseys during this season with Hil- degarde, Denise Darcel and Lilo having had spots there. Vaude, Cafe Dates New York Sophie Tucker repeats at El Rancho, Las Vegas, June 27. . . . Deep River Boys pacted for the Club One Two, Toronto, May 21. . . . Four Lads set for the Holly¬ wood Palladium, following their stand at the Thunderbird, Las Vegas. . . . Archie Robbins resting at the Ranch Inn, Elko, Nev. . . . Ving Merlin to the Ankara, Pitts¬ burgh, May 14. . . . Jimmy Du- rante’s date for the Copacabana, N. Y., set at May 17. . . . Lena Horne to play the China Theatre, Stockholm, June 2. Henry Tobias, who’s been pro¬ ducing shows at the Eden Roc, Miami Beach, has obtained'a leave of absence from the inn to resume production at Totem Lodge, Av- erell Park, N. Y., for the summer. . . . Terry Haven at Dore’s, Pitts¬ burgh . . ... Bobby Short, at the Beverly Lounge, N.Y., will double between that spot and a role in “Kiss Me Kate” at the N.Y. City Center, starting May 8. Perry Como to be guest of honor at the ball for the benefit of the Harlem YMCA, tomorow (Thurs.) at the Savoy Ballroom . . . Elvis Presley to the New Frontier, Las Vegas, May 23 . . . Danii & Genii Prior inked for the Wolhurst, Den¬ ver, April 20 . . . Joe Bishop set for the Cliche, Detroit, July 16 . . . Tina Louise and Marshall & Far¬ rell new starters at Le Cupidon, N. Y., tonight (Wed.). Chicago Martin & Lewis pencilled in for the Chez Paree, Chicago, opening July 20 . , . Jimmy Durante set for Chi’s Chez Paree June 7-19 . . . Pompoff, Thedy & Family at the A n k aT a, Pittsburgh, currently through April 29 . . , Hildegarde into the Lake Club, Springfield, Ill., next Sunday (21) through April 28 . . . Marion Marlowe open¬ ing at the Baker Hotel, Dallas, April 27 for two frames . . . Kathy Barr and Tony Lovello into the Muehlebach Hotel, Kansas City, April 27 for two weeks . . . Jimmy Ames pacted for Amato’s, Port¬ land, June 25. Hollywood Woody Herman set for the Salt Lake .City Lagoon July 27-28 . . . Dick Contino opens May at the Mapes, Reno . . . Bebe Allen and Barry Ashton, reunited as a dance team, opened at the Chi Chi, Palm Springs, Monday (16) in support of Connie Moore and Wally Brown .. . Ventriloquist Lou DuPont and singers Gloria Becker and Don Du¬ rant head new show at the Bar of Music which opened Friday (13) . . . Ames Bros, have been set for week stand at the Latin Casino, Philadelphia, starting May 7 . . . Romo Vincent set for a future stint at the Thunderbird Hotel, Las Vegas. Atlanta Singer Johnny O’Leary opened Monday (16) at Joe Cotton’s steak ranch with aero dancer Toni Mara and harmpnicist Alan Marlow. Miriam Sage Models and Dancers held over with Wes Baxter orch . . . Danny Demetry’s Zebra Lounge has a new pianist who calls herself Unpredictable Lil . . . Atlanta Biltmore Hotel’s Empire Room new show bowed Monday (16) headlining Jimmie Costello, comic-pianist-impressionist on a bill that includes Sylvia & Chris¬ tian, dance team which mixes in balancing for good measure . . . Gypsy Room’s new offering spot¬ lights Cotton Watts, oldtime min¬ strel man with exotic dancer Sandra Sexton and pianist Fay McKay . . . Lorelei in new show at Imperial Hotel Domino Lounge. Renee Granville is the featured vocalist. Omaha Don Romeo set the Ink Spots for a series of one-nighters in this area from April 18 through the 28 . . . Lou Monte opens at the Seven Seas April 20, followed by Mickey Shaughnessy May 4, Bobby Sedtt May 18 and'She6ky Grfeenfe Juiie 8.’ New Acts JILL DAY Songs 21 Mins. Colony* London In a comparatively short span, Jill Day has advanced from being a band vocalist through radio, tv, disks and vaudeville to become a* Rank contract artist and a new British film name. Now she ad¬ vances a stage further and makes her West End cabaret bow with her date at this fashionable Berke¬ ley Square cafe. Miss Day starts with an obvious advantage. She’s a handsome blonde girl and natural good looks are enhanced by stylish grooming and excellent taste in gowns. On top of that, she projects a pleasant and genuine charm and has quite an acceptable and melodious voice. Those are her main assets which appear on the credit side of the register. On the reverse side there is a lack of authority and a re¬ luctance—possibly due to first night nerves—to assert her per¬ sonality. Her song routine, com¬ pactly trimmed to 21 minutes, has been carefully planned and neatly balanced, with a mixture of com¬ edy numbers, dramatic ballads and a calypso for good measure. As it stands, her act is an acceptable en¬ tertainment; but as she gains more experience Miss Day should be in demand in local night spots, par¬ ticularly in view of the lack of adequate talent to fill the 30% cabaret quota. Myro. MAURI LYNN & KEN WATTS Songs 10 Mins. Cameo, N. Y. Mauri Lynn is a deep-throated thrush and Ken Watts is a light- fingered pianist. Together the Ne¬ gro team supplies the sort of mu¬ sical fare that goes over with the nitery crowd. Their songbag is de¬ livered with taste and the duo could do well in intimeries as well as the bigger spots. Much of the turn depends on Miss Lynn’s piping style and she’s got the technique to carry it off. She’s the kind of singer who gives a song added meaning via an off¬ beat lyric interpretation and with Watts’ keyboard help, she puts a nifty melodic beat into her work. Her styling makes for easy lis¬ tening and she could stay on long¬ er than the 10-minute run. A sam¬ ple set will include such tunes as “Sometimes I’m Happy,” “One For My Baby,” “Too Marvelous For Words” and “Why Was I Born.” Although her striking figure, draped in a clinging gown, is one of her assets, thrush could shape up as a good wax bet, too. Gros. KAYTRON BROS. Comedy 30 Mins. Bradford Roof, Boston Artie and Stan Kaytron, who have been around the nitery belt for some time, offer a rousing 30 minutes of unrestrained comedy jinks in which one of the brothers works offstage for the most part heckling the other. They do bits from films, carbons and snatches of songs, while keeping rapidfire gags going at jet speed. Stan opens the turn with Artie heckling off -stage. Both then gp into “Something’s Gotta Give” and Artie goes into an eccentric dance, that’s attention compelling. Then segue into a round of one-line gags followed by sight bits, ride of Paul Revere, baseball antics and Spanish dance git. Both don straw skim¬ mers and hoist canes for nqstalgic softshoe routine. They g6 into “Rock Around the Clock" for torrid bowoff. Guy. ARLEIGH PETERSON DANCERS 4 Mins. Palace, N. Y. Current Palace stand is the first New York date for this terp . quin¬ tet. Group, comprised of four femmes and male leader, is a Coast import. The unit offers jazz inter¬ pretations of Oriental dances and is colorfully costumed in garb be¬ fitting the terp theme. On the basis of a brief four- minute spotting on the Palace bill, the group looks like a okay bet for most visual media. Jess. Test Omaha Vaude Spot Omaha. April 17. Possibility of a vaude show pol¬ icy at the Omaha Athletic Club here next season loomed this week as booker Don Romeo set three tryout shows this spring. Lenny Colyer opened with a one- righter Saturday (14), and will be followed by the Ink Spots Friday and • Saturday <20-21) and the -Woodson Family -April 28. CONSTANCE BENNETT (With Joe Ross & Jean Carrons) Songs-Dance-Talk 35 Mins. Nautilus, Miami Beach Constance Bennett and/or her managers chose one of the most • unlikely spots on the oceanfront- hotel circuit here, the Driftwood Room in this lower-Beach hostelry, to break in the act which launches her on a new phase in a long career in show biz. Credit Miss Bennett and stager Herb Ross for coming up with a fast-paced, in¬ telligently devised potpourri that contains enough of the commer¬ cial to please the hip types who frequent this room, as well as adroit handling of the chichi aspects contained in slick gowning, address, personality and smart ma¬ terial to provide the necessary requirements of the class cafes pointed for. The Herb Ross devisings for Miss Bennett are intelligently staged, strong assist coming from' two talented aides in Joe Ross and blonde lovely, Jean Carrons, both very much a part of the act. Intro bit his quickly, thanks to Bennett penchant for tongue-in-cheek ap¬ proach, plussed by surprising warm in-person quality that comes through in lyric patter on the big- ycars in pix; a nostalgia noodler for the middle - agers, topical enough in lines to serve as solid warmer-tipper with the younger set who never saw her. The type of wordage handed out is tailored to the small vocalistic ability, but adroit reading builds impact to overcome the range-lack. “Down With Love” is a sprited deuce-spot' routine on how to win a mil¬ lionaire, artful pantomime work of her aides adding to the smile rais¬ ing concept. Twist comes with donning of baby bonnets for a funny original on triplets with Ross and Carrons, return to the sophisticated marks change of pace in a monolog sat¬ irizing Academy Award thank-you speech by a dimwitted, slightly loaded character. Pleasant change of mood is a fetching remembrance on schooldays in Switzerland and lead into school songs. On the ballading side, versions of “Moritat” and “Boulevard Of Bro¬ ken Dreams”—which she introed in an early pic With Franchot Tone —are sold in Dietrich husky-tones effectively, lighting and keyboard backing by accompanist Peter Matz plussing values. Climaxer is another commercial target-hitter, tile sleek gown gone, to be re¬ placed by dungarees for a rock n’ roll song-dance whing-ding that raises a palm-storm when she piggy-backs off on shoulders of Ross. As constituted the act is a cinch for the upcoming Cotillion Room (Hotel Pierre, N. Y.) and other plush cafe-circuit dates. Add tv guesters to the possibility list, going on the easy, assured self¬ handling displayed and and-accept- ance in this break-in to a new medium. , Lary. GERRY BRERETON Songs 15 Mins. Empire, Glasgow . Blinded singer (he lost sight through being shelled in Sicily, 1943) has strong vocal talent and assured delivery, and scores via sincerity of appeal. Wisely, he doesn't cash-in on the blind handi¬ cap, though he’s well announced as such. He opens with “Siesta Time and follows with American relig- ioso tune “He,” latter garnering solid mitting. Segues with "Band of Gold,” and then scores dramati¬ cally with “The Kid’s Last Fight,” which he delivers with plenty of punch and action, aided by good lighting effects. This tune wins maximum hand-to-hand music. # Finishes with “A Million Helping Hands,” new song written by a blind Liverpool, Eng., composer, with theme of the blind man’s many good Samaritans. Gord. SONGS 15 Mins. Bradford Roof, Boston This engaging auburn-haired songstress has a nice way with a love ballad and has evolved an original style which should carry her far. A looker, she shows a big powerful voice on “Sorrento.” She also gets across “I Love You Much Too Much,” “Do You Ever Think of Me” and “Something I Dreamed Last Night.” On the upbeat side she’s solid with “Occasional Man,” and “I’ve Got the World on a String.” “Funny Valentine” and “Autumn Leaves” suit her style nicely and she' turns in accomplished offer¬ ings on these two. Guy . '