Variety (February 1957)

W^egday, Fc1>rn<iry 6, 1957 t^WFr XICIIT CLVB REVIEWS >fi;»iiigi Rgm<»h j tventog. She ef»rtlessly doeg 4niba«l8a«lor, I«. A. a separate acj Jn. the show. Their Ch«z .jparee^<Chl Eden ..E,^Strtet'>; tune exee^ • Los Angeles,' Jan. 30. Starlets are ChleagJ; .Tin.' SOI Joes. Leva, (vMhA^lnmcM; {SpingSnto TOd'ly^P^^^ ThoS sInger Don Dellair lends still rJ^^’Ted ^FZ^Rito'^Zrch wul foSlf'SioVFL" a*n”S“"v??fd1eetS: raJanos F^My Martin OrcH^X.U ^ sf phony -Orc^ 'Tohia.Sf Mai Malkin Orch; $4.50 paniment at the harp by SteHa $2 $2.50 cove?. < for-all dance sessions with vigor. $1,75 cover, minimum. «7 tin minimum. Castellucci^ Other members of her , “ The rock 'n' roll number is a ^ ftve-piece group, supplementing ,9^^® entertainment whammo is midway .session which is a good program built around the Arrival of Joe E. Lews annually the regular house . ofch, are Lou huild for the Hi-Lo’s. Bill Clifford ! S^^ss t,op piano and candlestick is ’ /nmv at new home base. Cafe Pom Levy, piano; Max Bennett, bass; ^}9'^® V lends the recording quality to ; apt to keep pandma, out past her signals influx of * the bigger Mel' Lewis, drums; and Carlos Me v their numbers. bedtime. The Liberace keyboard, fnindcrl uiio Some down for Hia jla. congo drums. Bill Homan and The two-week production is a ; Jerps .and vocals, supplcmen ed by ?pah and begin their nightly rounds Marty Paich deserve credit for real ambitious project and \vord-;9®®^?®^l^/‘\9®®sfiddIes>i«l .sym their “season" is “officially” the specially tailored arrange of.moiith may build some better sidekicks and romantic when then season enter ments ^ and both his draw and his talent Luan-average business Mark , warblings of thrush Jean Fonn. spin launched^by their pet cate^ eni^^r_ ments^^_ _ _ _ increased in that time to'make ■ a^elage pusiness. lua^c. . ' "euL hous^s^ with Jepeit'of the “«=>*“• , h*'; f*Y‘' Tea^y grosses racked up., last year device which makes very funny In today s talent-consuming mar Miami Beach, Feb. 1. ; sumes and 1 aiidos. !n the 700-seater. This is doubly lines even funnier. Sophisticated ket. Belalonte is that rarity among The Jerry Lewis Revue, with ^ The peadle pumping antics of Inciured with co-featuring of night clubbers are prime targets performers— the -entertainer who Aristocrats (7), Judy Scott, Gcor. Liberaco run through “Lover," Roberta Sherwood. for his particular brand of under can hold an audience spellbound pine Darcy; Sacasas Orch; $5-$10 i "Beer Barrel Polka” and Warsaw Lewis, unlike too many of the playing. His seemingly accurate a dozen numbers, and minimum. Concerto” and some special mate topstert comes back with & com observations of the foibles of Las Anally take a .screanjmg begoff af i ‘'"4 the uniformity of style ’ pletely new act. This might in Vegans & tourists, and the fnmi *nmutes on t^ Boxoffice-wise, Jerry Lewis is : idiom vaued by amusing tap itself be one reason for. hiS con bling takeoff on Ted Lewis are Aoes it simply and witlumt pi oduc ^hc hit of the season in his ono attempts by the star and fidcUe tinuing draw values and personal sure yock-getters. . , ®hting at the La Rondo of fpj® topstert comes back with & com observations of the foibles of Las Anally take a .screanjing begoff af • . riah with the uniformh^^ ’ pletely new act. This might in Vegans & tourists, and the fumi ^®J^ Boxoffice-wise, Jerry Lewis is : idiom vaued by amusing tap itself be one reason for. hiS con bling takeoff on Ted Lewis are A®es it simply and witlumt pi oduc ^hc hit of the season in his one •finning draw values and personal sure vock-£etterS'. tion tricks, but with a keen sense outing at the La Rondo of ®olo by brother George, A good impact on audierices. Not even an xwo of the best production num swankery. All shows wore SRO | keeps things moving “ad lib” sounded familiar as he un bers the Sands ever had, a snow 5.9” u foJ’ the seven-night stand and cushowls from ^ wound” his sometimes ribald, ball sequence and one featuring ° tomer reaction ranged from luke' 1 \xrUn Tnalro lin hie 5^9 9_1J _ .... -DAn/x-h. The eos^op^ j The «^5?ecmin.gly naive presentation Jean Fenn flits through some someumes loose-gaiLcu wuiu-Mv».=ii.a tne uopa uiris w in noop slants, «*Tnlin TTpn v” nr 'VKun lo approving. A ne cosmopoii .ur* -y-". on the characters who make up his are held over, as are the Beach >» nr Vua tan cafegoers make this one of the f ® material. The lines are out of the combers With Natalie, a quartet toughest stops on the circuit for topical drawer with highlight a top song savvy. Antonio topsters, for they’re more h^ely act till howler based on “Person To Per Morelli’s orch expertly backs the S ^pftten U the Utl^^^ critical of the bigtimes than of the ht,,off Ani.sh son” anent visit with a honeymoon package, which bows out Feb. 12. kIs forjJo J “island in the Sun” i^^iddle-bracketeers or upcomers. Jean Fenn flits througli ^ some ing couple: rowdy parody to collec ^ ’ Dn/cc. 2 ' The first two shows were the classic b ts of light sentiment with tion of Cole Porter tunes, followed^ ^ Aim. . The othei is tlm frustrating for Lewis in his a skilled voice and pleasing stage by another wayward “for adults «•- ^®1® ^Ae many-faceted per manner to add something socko to only” musing on “I Get Ideas” and Bcvorly 1111189 Newport 9c former facing these hypercritical the show. Biggest hands of the then “the $64,000 Question.” His Newport, Ky., Feb., 1. i?;o opening-nighters. Subsequent per evening came for her vocal duets line of gab is long and lusty. . Ethel Smith, Hamilton Trio, Boh ®”tiy in ms leguiar lepertoiie. formances — of which this reviewer with Liberace. r ClllUUACl -m.-r a ily^^ musing on ‘‘I Get Ideas’’ and Bcvorly llill89 Newport en “the $64,000 Question.” His Newport, Ky., Feb. 1. le of gab is long and lusty. Ethel Smith, Hamilton Trio, Rob On for a solid 45 minutes, Lewis jjy Arden Daricers (10), his tortcoming Island in the Sun , ^he first two shows were the classic b:ts of light sentiment with film. The Other IS th® n^ frustrating for Lewis in his a skilled voice and pleasing stage cous Boo Boo Dey, a cal.vpsocker many-faceted per manner to add something socko to probably will hecome a disk hit. former facing tiiese^ hypercritical the show. Biggest hands of the Sun also should become a strong opening-nighters. Subsequent per evening came for her vocal duets entry in his regular lepertoiie. formances — of which this reviewer with Liberace. Ii.’s with the calypso material caught two — saw improved rapport, , The Ted Fio Rito hou.se band is departed the stage with tablers o^uce '’Yarnell Gardner Benedict ^'h^t Belaf onto registers strongest, de.spite the sudden adjustment upped to nineteen-man strength pounding for more. He's rocks in ^ Jim?m/ Wilber Trio Bar ^,he early part of the turn being tablers must make, in preconceived by the seven man George Liberace the bank for the Roc — a relaxed, cna^t Rou<f (2)* minimum devoted to work songs and folk image, to take on this new version contingent and works through most always sure com'fedian who sets his oary coast Hoys minimum, tunes. It’s patterned after his edn of the erstwhile “scatterbrained” of the show with the Liberace ar ■ auditors at friendly ease, the de ^ai. cert format, but it s a little too buffoon now very much the smooth, rangements under George’s baton, ceivingly deliberate, .sometimes ^ : ... . , slow-starting for nitery consump slickly attired topliner who takes Fio'Rito’s gioup as per usaul fills fumbling manner slipping them Greater Cincy ace nitery s tioor tion and some change of p.ace m some time to break into the wack Ihe dan.sapation innings. Current into a contented, ready-to-yock-it show for this fortnight is sl^anted the initial 5 minutes is indicated, character he’s been identified with lineup exits for the Will Mastin UP mood. It’s a trick that looks for the smart set. Ethel Smith, Through much of the program he for so long. Trio (Sammy Davis Jr.) Feb. 26. easy, but one tough to achieve, e.s back after two years, enriches the gets backing from his own trio, ifg not a matter of missing Dean Leva. ' pecially with the over-hep cafe top spot with a change of delight guitarists Millard Thomas and Vic Martin; rather it’s a lack of a more _ ^ : c(*owds who make this area one of ful rhythms and crispy songs. Mes.ser and drummer Danny Var inventive series of concepts that tire toughest for performers to Supporting her are the Hamilton ra.ianos. Frequently, he uses only might enable a gradual working in |S<»|levEio Casino, piav in winter season. Trio, smooth, impressionistic step the skilled stringwork of Thomas, of the lunatic line at which Lewis ATontreal Feb 2 Miss Sherwood, following big in pers; Bobby Jule, dapper, expert who has been with him for many i.^ best: Thus, when he finally r.. rfnllpr ^ Rentw Havden tro by Walter Winchell, who came juggler, and the location crew years, to shrink the vast confines arrives onstage after the big intro (9) ^ on from aud to make with the lim which has several changes. of the Grove to that of an intimate in-patter by the Aristocrats (with Canton Bios iZ), Laimcn i i .eria ning of her struggle to achieve cur Miss Smith, trim in a deep nitery. Judicious lighting helps L^^^vis “thinking out loud” over & Jose, Casino Lovelies rent topliner status, matron with champagne gown with gold sequins too, and the turn, save for the slow offstage mike, a gimmick which ' 'A), Carl Conway, Bix Belair Orch sweater carelessly thfown around and an Italian boy hairdo, makes start, bespeaks taste and care in forms mental pic of the old zanv, <11> Buddy Clayton Trio; $1 ad shoulders, the hbrn-rimmed specs, 32 minutes of caperings and art preparation, embracing the chome veaction is a buzz-buzz aiiciit mission.-. using the beat-up cymbal, the for istic treatment of a Hammond or material plucked largely from the . handsome, smartly dressed • tyish belter stands up and whams gan, exclusive and clever songs, and .smash Belafonte albums, including young man standing centre stage Harry Holmok and new partner across her collection of artfully handling: of a guit^ and maracas, item like “Delliah.” “Shenandoah’ working in a manner befitting Jack Suz develop their current of phrased and tricky, temno-chang a fleeting entertainment passage, and “Jamaica Farewell. hj^ suave new demeanor. Tne first fering on a IMerry Widow theme in? chants, torchers, high-riders As of yore, a mirror reflects Imr Freddy Martin orch has little ganibit of one-liners is negated by that has plen y of color and varia and out-and-out go-to-meetin’ work at the' organ keyboard. On to do in the way of showbacking curiosity murmurs which set lions. Revue is headlined b.v a brace stomps. ' the classic side is her special for the turn but opens the layout expectant wait while he of comics new to Montreal, Joe With a top guitarist now along “Dresses For Springtime Have I, with an excellent seven-minute nioves into the serio-song biz a ia Haller & Benny Hayden, who click to filF the rhytlimic breaks and Er a dress manufacturer’s lament. salute to Tommy Dorsey, reprising joison. This is w^eU handled, luit after a cool start; the Canton Bros, nie DeLorenzo playing a dedicated Ever-youthful Bobby Jule gives a a dozen of the late trombonists s again, a matter of too much build with their acrobatics; flamenco piano. Miss Sherwood repeats her fast start with seven minutes of disclassics. And, as alw'ays, the image-identification ^a.-ked hoofers Ambra & Jose and the smash in this room where .she first original manipulations of Indian Martin crew does a standout pob Lewis’ rundown of gab harking chirping of Carmen Pizzeria. How J.* _ ..Jo ‘i\/r,...%.oxr TT'i.onlrlin’ci oliiKo KqIIx; on/1 nlVton halonmncT rknri rianpp Dliorps Kan. L .., /.J XI T-T _ _ _ _ __ ...iii _ _ 4. _ started, via Murray Franklin’s lo clubs, balls and. other balancing ond dance chores, cal intinerary. on the big-cafe trail props. . last spring. Her appeal hits all Here for the first tii'ne, Bob Ham z i » i juuwis as a siugei-, uuv loo jjiu-ju Ljumusa.v-j-juyc iJiuAiu^;i.iuixa wxlh age? in the room; the old-vaude ilton and his talented and curvace 1IIV01*81«10, K4^iio j for the tablers as a “new Joison,” choreography by Craig Daye for stjde is something new for the ous partners, Claire Gunderman, Reno, Jan. 31. which in effect is what they are this session are up to the usual younger element; nostalgic and a Cincinnatian, and Lila Pepper, Hi-Lo's, Trio Bassi, Tommy Won asked to imagine. standard. Several new faces in the refreshing for the older set, build assure repeat welcomes with a 17 ^ Margaret Banks, Don Del Withal, when he hits a new bit pony line, new costumes with in? returns into a callback windup, minute cycle of interpretive dances, starlets. Bill Clijford Orch 1 such as a lampoon of a Jap record plenty of color and exposure and Mario & Floria are a vet pair Bruce Yarnell, i:obust young Louise Vienna; $2 minimum. \ mg idol \yith an English interpre hep routines do much to keep the of terpsters who work out the tenor, is the new emcee and vo _ _ the ripple of giggles is warm patrons coming back to this lofty classic-patterns in the dwindling calist with the Donn Arden line lineun looks more like ing. Incidentally, the overdone room. art of straight ballroomology to which has Jerry Ruff ner as its first ^n*s . nneup iooks mpi e iixe Aristocrats Comics seldom get much of a warm returns. They set up a min male member. The Barbary Coast , » summer season Miv seems to have been cut down to break in this spot unless they come iature book of ballroom-craze his Boys ai'e a replacement in the T-n® ^nnmier beasom ^ innocuous— and laugh-accepted— from the baggypants school. And tory up to the Charleston, .to make lounge for Larry Vincent, who un briefies of the antics. Lewis' big this initial indifference was evi for a clas.sy teeoff act. denvent eye surgery. Mdls Bros, i „ , exciting nacka<^e with good Sest moments ' are in the dance dent when Haller & Hayden took Austin Mack, peralways, rates head the lineup opening Feb^. 15. “ school segment, in which his in the floor with the usual patter song a big bow, not only for inusical Koll. canned bv’the Hi-Lo’s This ouar herent talent for prime buffoonery (about being glad to be in Montreal, guidance and accomps for Joe E tet outstanding as it is is wastin'^ is allowed full play, the blundering etc. Basing their act on a starting but for his longtinm status as foil ^ Drake Hfllel. f ill its’ time on this audience thou<Th dod lost among the talented danc joke and using the tag throughout, for the comic. Extra-added on «■ ««« ToS in their field^of mXm ®i'S with eye-filler Georgine Daroy the team builds without frantic, to opening night was Milton Berle. . T harZniziV playing. the mam foil. It’s the only earn okay yocks and mitting. who had closed the night before. Caprice Chattel mth Faul Par j j sound rather than demon t^’uly rewarding sequence in his Ambra & Jose take the opening He came on in a surprise appear neiri, Jimmy Blade Orch (6); $1.50 9 ^ current book, climaxed by a show slot in revue with some fair fla ancri, to mtro Lewis a la Winchell, cover weekdays, $2 Sat. choreography the group lust does stop*' diio-hoof with ace tapster menco bits, but too many similar the ad-libbed piece raising .a nT seem to bi^eak through tlm Dick Huiiiphreys. After that, Lewis numbers, although technically fine. steady strfeam of howls, led by a xhe galloping pace of the barrier “Dug” by the trade itself is back on the smoothie trail, with failed at. show caught to get them briefly startled Winchell. Nat King Drake’s current latino thrush. Cap j^^d modern music enthusiasts it’s a gcA rework of the batoning bit, to any sort of finale. The Canton Cole and J^k E. Leonard are next, Chanlel, has the sheer phy ^ little out of the ' realm ’of a ibis tirrte utilizing the Aristocrats boys show skill and timing with beginning Feb. 15. Lary. gj^ai vigor that should keep the go-called theatre-restaurant But as a Choral group singing the their aero offerings and Carl Con ^ Camelia House sizzling for her there always seems to be enough “Mousdketeer” theme from the way doubles as emcee and prodiic SandS9 Las Vegas four-week stay. devotees in the room to keep the Disney tv’er, and finally, a ring tion singer with ease. Maria Piz Las Vegas, Jan. 29. Trptting onto the floor in pony the Hi-Los working for an enjoy siA® participation bit with femmes zeria’s multilingual songfest about Peggy Lee, Joey Bishop, The tail, tight tapered slacks and sporty able session. the main target while soloing ohor midway had nierit as a novelty but Beachcombers with Natalie (4), blouse, the hefty voiced singer Their entire repertoire is com uses of “Shine On, Harvest Moon” didn’t stop the gabbers around Copa Girls (9), Antonio Morelli threatens to run away with the au prised of standards to which they with Lewis ad libbing: ringside. Orch (16) rhnrenaranhv Rob Gil Aience in her athletic calypso ren given delightful modern’ ac There’s additional solo singing Bix Belair’s big orch does credit ber ^ Rene^ ‘^'^tions and African. Bahaman and ?ents “Swing low Sweet Chariot.” by Lewis, held down, but still effec to the show and the Buddy Cla.vton Gra^ orcZl American folksongs . -Nice Work if You Can Get It," tive. End re.sult Is a pleasant ai trio c6mc in for the interlude .sides tratimiii 4 7 i Top .response of the evening for “FqoIs Rush In,” are the sort of I fair for many, frustrating for oth neatly. The featured acts stayun iso, ri T tbe pleasantly accented and sleek evergreens whichdon’t get around ers expecting the clown all the til Feb. 16 with the productions staged by Jack Entratter; ^2 mini muscled lady from Martinique is much anymore, and “Tenderly,” way. All pay mitt-service to the holding a month. Newt. the half-panting and nostril-dialat “Birth of the Blues,” and “White smoothly devised and well re i . T X X. presentation of her specially Lies,” are the closest thing to a hearsed staging, . . ^ ^ . ^eggy Lee returns to the Copa arranged version of “Everybody commercial pilch. Judy Scott, a pretty thrush, is Moillr; C Mini Dell program which proves Loves Saturday Night,” which sets The “Hl-Lo story” explains their wasted in the teeoff spot. Her Miami Beach, Feb. 2. getting more than one foot to beating the position (it turns out more for in strong belting doesn’t come off on Warren Allen & DeWood, S carpets. formation for this audience than aiids waiting for Lewis arrival on Leonard You??g Sid Tucker Orclv The simple melodic and rhythmic for entertainment) in the quartet the scene. Georgine Darcy is held «o ^ a song-belting, comes close to it in folk material lends itself aptly to race today: how thev just sing and to the dance-school scene as noted, muunuum _ siich numbers as “I Can’t Resist her uninhibited but not overly how other maneuver. It’s pretty and could be given more to do. The inn qa-u RauIaKp Raai-a m Get Around strained presentation. The more unmei-ciful as satire, even though need for more of the lunatic b“® ' ® v DIuch Anymore. Her lack of am formal vocal qualities are not miss entirely true. ' ' is indicated, for Lew'is is playing i nation perfectly fits the cozy num ed in this act. The sustained Trio Bassi has added a few i the smooth comedian-performer to I |n ^e^Petm®n. . t hat s with a velvety hus energy and charming outdoorsy things to balance and whirl on their : the point where laughter becomes j A to a policy , 1 glamour make for mounting appeal feet The upside-down juggling : a sometimes thing. . Renown in?. ?be, purrs 'l^liat Old Feel| through Miss Chantel’s begoff always gels exciting when the ta: On basis of current length ®} ! 'i9 ^ Smoke Gets In Your i “Banana Boat Song.” | bles and “beds” go up on the feet : package (about 60 minutes), he 11 ; waSen who las^nlav^ at Lyes, she gets across the point to Paul Parneiri's vibrant guitar , for a blurring whirl. .need a stroixg supporting bill to Jian Waii^ each male in the audience that it [ gives fine support to Miss Chantel ' The dance team of Tommy Won, fill out the full-show time called , t”.® . c .,ii ®be is singj and Jimmy Blade’s hou.se bana de der & Margaret Banks thread i for by two-a-day and upped b.o. , Pr esses as an accomp^^^^ ujg. Latter Humber is reminiscent monstrates a new talent with its themselves through the Starlet proi scale stand at the Palace, N.Y., for : in otherwk. ‘Where Or When” re, venture into the calypso beat, auction numbers to advantage, and ; which he headed from here. Jjmmy ; JJtoacluaj aid loacl /C CO] ding done with the Benny GoodI Miss . Chantel stays on to ! have adapted a small segment of Durante follows Lewis for a two ; 1 ajama uame nas given j man sextet, and is the best of the ; March 5. Lera; < their own for what can be called I weeker. Lary. | (Continued on page 63) back to the Joison era. “Rockabye ever, as with most Casino shows. My Baby” is a good song lor les girls are the big draw and the Lewis as a singer, but too much . Lindsa.v-Daye productions with for the tablers as a “new Joison,” choreography by Craig Daye for which in effect is what they are this session are up to the usual Austin Mack, per always, rates j head the lineup opening Feb. 15. a big bow, not only for musical guidance and accomps for Joe E. but for his .longtime status as foil for the comic. Extra-added on opening night, was Milton Berle. who had closed the night before. Drake ltolel9 fill Chicago, Feb. 1. supporting bill to ^ , Fran Warren who last played at J ^ 11 -1 . T?rfcn^ Qin/\Klnnii nctfiin im I their own for what can be called , weeker. (Continued on page 63)