Variety (May 1957)

54 PSiKlPFr Wednesday, Mr>22, 1957 New Acts BOBBY VAN Sons and. Dance 25. Mins. Copacabana, New York Bobby Van has been around but is,missing from the Variety New Act files. Personable juvenile immediately conjures up, the observation of “cute personality’' and it’s patent that if hasn’t been in pictures he deserves it on looks and talent. A reference to his “Kiss Me. Kate” (Metro) chore indicates he’s no novice there cither and probably will rate plenty of film and video exposure on the strength of his Copa impact. Heralded as making his Gotham nitery debut—and probably his bow in any sort of important New York showcasing—the Copa date is bound to be fortunate in many respects. Standout dancing juve¬ niles are few and far between as witness the durability of Astaire and Bolger. Van has\ these poten¬ tials judging his current presenta¬ tion. After the small-talk, the “Time To! Dance” . and “Kate” refer¬ ences, Van gets.into.the nub of his act which is built around a special song titled “It’s All In Variety.” It’s a natural springboard for his Versatile talents, as he perches on the Steinway with a copy Of the paper to set the cavalcade of his versatility. This includes, follow¬ ing an audience-identification, of the paper as “the bible of show business,” a reference to what and haw he worked when he “was first reviewed in Variety”; throwaway but effective comedy impressions of Grant,' Stewart. Cagney, Walter Brennan and Lorre; and followed by “next time Variety reviews me on' the Ed Sullivan show,” with a socko eccentric dance. Follows still another commercial for the paper—.“just imagine, 51 years of faithful journalism to show busi¬ ness”—which segues into “and 50 years ago Variety was writing about George M. Cohan this way,” as the cue to -a more effective Cohanesque impression than was telecast a week ago Saturday, by Mickey Rooney in the Cohan spec¬ tacular. *Tt’s All In Variety” may be the peg on which Van,hangs his stuff but it’s all in the variety of his talents 1 that the sum total, from start to finish, brings into focus an important new juvenile who is ‘ de¬ stined for the heights. Abel. TOMMY SANDS Songs 25 Mins. Roxy, N.Y. Tommy Sands, who has come up fast and has surpassed many of the rock ’n’ rollers, has tremendous §tage presence for a lad of tender years. He haft the assurance and the poise of a vet, and with it gives the air that, he’s still a little dazed by it all. Should he be able. to carry off that air during the rest of his still formative years, Sands will maintain a high level of artis¬ tic stature and even a greater, level of earnings for some time to come. He is another of the come-up- quicklies that so frequently distin¬ guish the newer type of teenage idol. He’s likeable and personable, and like many of his singing prede¬ cessors strikes a responsive note with youngstrs. .Sands makes like the first callow expressions of love on a first date. It ; s either lYm mo¬ ment- many of the lasses aream about or one that the older girls (maybe 18 or so) recall with affec¬ tion. Sands has been aided by his Cap¬ itol stampings. His album, ‘‘Steady Date,” and the disklngs of “My Love Song” and “Teen. Age Crush” helped catapult,him to renown. His songs repeat his record material. His chansons d’amour plus the rock V rollers combine to give him a well-rounded stagestand. At this moment, Sands is big business. He brings out the young¬ sters and he creates excitement' in a .theatre. With proper handling he should create a lot'of boxoffice ex¬ citement before he’s-absorbed into the mainstream of American sing¬ ers. . ’ Jose. pact with some traditional Bava- vian folk-dance, and segue into series* of clever equilibrium. At times they ..entwine arms'and legs so that audience mitting is at its strongest, At one point, one part¬ ner sits with his bottom on Moth¬ er's head, resulting in unusual viewpoint for outfronter. While thus engaged, each starts playing the harmonica. / Act is in true tradition of Con¬ tinental vaude, and merits atten¬ tion for possibilities in connection with tv, general vauderies and nit¬ ery stints. Groupings are always cute as well as visually smart. For the record, pair are respectively i 24 and 27„ and are now on British Vaude tour. Cotjd. JUDY FOSTER Songs . 10 Mins. Viennese Lantern, N.Y. Judy Foster is a. well-groomed coloratura who shows lots of classi¬ cal background. Although her voice is still to be built up to the task she has taken on’:for herself, the pipes show a good texture, and she rates the good mitts she gets. In¬ cluded in her repertoire are some of the' tunes done by coloraturas on nitery floors, including, the stand¬ ard “Love Is Where You Find It;” At this point. Miss Foster is still a bit too light for su£h heavy work. With more grooming in the in- timeries, she’ll be ready for a far wider variety of assignments. Jose . LES BRAZILIANOS (3) Luminous Juggling 8 Mins. Empire, Glasgow Use of ultra-violet lighting adds the novelty and color to well-re- .hearsed juggling and cycling act, done by one male and two dis¬ taffers. Group make ' speedy entrances garbed in various costumes and masks, all painted, in luminous style as to reflect brightly against blackout setting. One.member' of act rides on via a bicycle and is followed, pronto, by a wiggling hip-snaking distaffer made similar¬ ly luminous. Another member of act is dressed in guise of a giant¬ sized character. Variety of charac¬ ters and dresses is large. Segue with some- plate-spinning, again done under ultra-violet light¬ ing, and wind with colorful finale ensemble, all lights reflected and letters appearing' to spell out fare¬ wells. ... Ok'ay act for general run of vauderies' and niterieis. Gord. DORRI MERRILL Songs 20 Mins. Sherry Biltmore Hotel, Boston Here's a versatile youngster, 5-2, blue-eyed blonde looker, grad of ice shows and club dates, essaying the nitery circuit with a wealth of I material embracing ballads, blues, jump tunes, r&b and calypso. Handsomely gowned in white bro¬ caded sheath, she projects in wide range with, 'big voice carrying husky tonal overtones switching song offerings'* at will. Her magnum opus is a tour of • Broadway, old and new, with nos¬ talgic undertones. Sheath comes off for Pat Rooney waltz clog, from which she goes to slick carbon of Helen Kane; then terps the Charleston, and rounds off with carbons of Billy Daniels and Elvis Presley. Backed by the Versitones.-for¬ merly at the shuttered Bradford Roof, she takes a spot for good blues offering, “Misery.” On the one song of each style kick, over¬ all results are solid. She packs in so much material that it’s kaleido¬ scopic. . Should be in line for good possibilities on the nitery circuit. Guy. ROY CASTLE Comedy 10 Mins. Empire, Glasgow Young exuberant comedian makes breezy entrance singing “I’ve Got Music,’- tap-dancing si¬ multaneously, and tapping micro¬ phone head with tuning fork. He has friendly and natural approach, and shows happy style in putting over his yock-fodder. Excels in tap work, and does wisely to Weave' much nimble foot¬ work through his comedy act, thus achieving offbeat slant. Also sings, getting outfronters to join in with his r’n’r beat song, and segues with a trumpet bit. Follows this with some impressions, including one of Billy Daniels, but scores most with travesty of Jerry Lewis, lifelike and physically similar due to build, shape of head and coiffure. Comedian shows potential for tv and vaude, and exits to good palm¬ ing. Gord . TUBBY & FAT Acrobatic 12 Mins. Chaudiere, Ottawa Right out' of British music halls (it appears) comes this fast-work¬ ing aero male and femme stanza. Duo stacks closely to routines bor¬ dering on comic, most' of them w.k. but timed to the split’ second *and kept to upped pace throughout. Name of stint isn’t too apt al¬ though femme, short arid blonde, is . on the stocky side. Male is short,“ too, but far from either fat or tubby and both work with lightness and confidence. Session is not standout but Will fill any nitery or vaude bill nicely and parts of it could' make clicko television fare. Gortn. LORD MONTEGO CALYPSO RE¬ VUE (5) Calypso 35 Mins. Gatineau Club, Ottawa Lord Montego and his calypso revue is a group with considerable potential but great lack of show¬ manship savvy- and direction. Using bengo drum, guitar, bass and Lord Montego chanting, plus a cute young femme in canary and other chores, group spends its entire time on calypso items, sans terps, -features, production numbers, any¬ thing that could add some bril¬ liance to the stanza. There are plenty chances for comedy, feature numbers, and general- buildup imo an .act, but as it stands this group is only a. fill-in in a dancery where calypso is wanted. It. would; take, hard work /by somebody with the talfent, time and ability,' to turn it into a nitery. or television offering., Gorin/ THE VIRGINIANS (2) Juggling 7 Mins. Palace, N.Y. Mixed team score most, heavily by the fancy work they do in re¬ gard to three cigar boxes. They flip the rectangular objects with great dexterity, for the best returns of their short act. In tossing the "pins, however, they do make minor goofs. Yet in the main the act is han- rled without fault, though it doesn’t presently present enough different material to qualify for moving out of such positions as closing the bill. Art. EVERS & TONI Balancing 8 Mins. Ejnpire, Glasgow Here’s an offbeat balancing act with native skill and flair in Con¬ tortions. Two brothers, both from Nurem¬ berg, although born in Bucharest, Rumania, Evers Be Toni are dressed in green Bavarian costuming, with Tyrolean-style hats, big boots and short pants. Open to strong. ini- .litre jdik CELESTE EVANS Magic* 6 Mins. Palace. N. Y. When running through the standard feats of prestidigitation— with hankies, ropes and golf balls —tall, shapely Celeste Evans is not particularly noteworthy. That’s not to say her .stuff isn’t handled f acile- ly but, in' addition to lacking in¬ dividuality in her choice of tricks, she doesn’t always convey clearly to the audience the precise trick she is in the process of doing. One redeeming feature of the act is her windup. Dancing with a fluttering dove on either hand, and by working in luminous darkness, she makes for a sharp visual effect. Art. Khrushchev ; Continued from pace 1 ; VARIETY BILLS WEEK OF MAY It Numerals In connection with, bills below Indicate *p«nlngd*y thaw whether full or spilt, week . Letter In pSrentheses Indkaterclrcult: (I) Independent) <L) Loews <M) Most; CP) Paramount; <R) RKO; <3) Stoll; (T> Tlvollj <W> Warner NEW YORK CITY Music Hall (R) 2 | Jay Marshall John'Alexander Clark Terry Anthony Makaa Rockettes Raymond Paige Corps -de Ballet .Palace <P) 24 Oliver A. Smith Wanda St Amend tour - Mints George Carl •' Lou Seiler Mauri Leighton Si Reeves Mansfields Roxy (23) Tommy Sands WiU Jordan Tina Robins Roxyettes Roxy Orch AUSTRALIA MBLBOURNU Tivoli (T) 3 Johnny Lockwood Bobby Limb Dawn Lake Les Thaika. Medlock Sc Marlowe Balladlnis . Billy Rayea Darryl Stewart Johnny O'Connor Edit Juhan Alwyn Leckie Lisa Brionda Rae Morgan Pamela Godso • Olivia Dale 2. Dancing Boys SYDNEY Tivoli (T) 3 Richard Hearne Julia Nicolas Darvas Roh Sc La Pierre Lane Bros Bob Bromley Albins Frank Ward - Daniel Davey Lewis Jacob BRITAIN newsmen will depart for Moscow at the end of this week—exact date not yet determined—to be followed by program moderator Stuart No- vins .and a still'unselected panel of newspapermen. They will film and tape the interview in Moscow and fly the footage back to the U. S. for editing. Show will air on CBS-TV at 3:3Q to 4:30 on June 2 and the same night at 9:05 to 10 on CBS Radio. . The crew consist* of Ted Ayers, Face the Nation”, producer; Ted Koop, CBS director of news & pub¬ lic affairs in Washington; Robert Hess, manager of motion picture production for CBS Newsfilm; cameraman Cyril Bliss, and sound¬ man Frank Binney. Bliss and Bln- ney will plane to Moscow from London, where they are presently stationed. Since Khrushchev speaks little or no English, the program will use Russian translators in r simultaneous-translation technique similar to that used at the United Nations. The Khrushchev interview, first of its kind with the Soviet boss, is the second major.“Face the Na¬ tion” beat in as many months. First was the session with Teamster 'Union boss Dave Beck a week be¬ fore he was due to testify, before the Senate Committee on Labor Racketeering, in whi6h Beck ad¬ mitted to certain transactions Which he subsequently ducked with the Fifth Amendment in tes¬ tifying before the Committee. Rea¬ son for his willingness to talk on “Nation” was the fact he wasn’t under path* blit the story nonethe-' _ less was. the lead for most U,. S. i- dailies the following morning. A BLACKPOOL Pal*** (I) 22 B Sc A Pearson Mra. Shufflewick Bill McGuffle Keefe Bros Sc Ann WiU Carr. A Part. Gold Sc Cordell Reg Thompson Slim Rhyder ' BIRMINGHAM Hippodrome (M) 22 Max Bygraves McAndrews St Mills Kaye Sis De Marios White Sc Ann Jack Beckltt Richards A Yolanda BRADFORD Alhambra (M) 22 CarroU Levis. V Sc L Aubrey Warren St Genlo Eddie Goffron Billy Stutt Allen Modley BRIOHTON Hippodrome (M) 22 Frankie Vaughan Lane Twins Joe Church Idris St Bella Tippy St Cobina Murray Campbell Audrey Jeans Skylons Ossie Noble EDINBURGH Implro (M) 22 Lonnie Donegan Marie Do Vere Smoothy Sc Layton Mundy St Earlo Des D'Oonnor *Curzon 3 Peter Quinton OLASOOW Empire (M) 22 Howard Keel Recklin St Inge . Benson Dulay Co. Horler 2 ■ Dickie Dawson - Group One* LRBDS Empire (M) 22 Ted Lune Golding St Stuart S Dallas Boys Billy Maxam „ Leslie Roberts Co, LIVERPOOL . Empire (M) 22 Shirley Bassey A Sc V SheUey . Edmund Hockbridge Evera St Ton) Jimmy Gay Allen Sc Albee Sis Winters Sc Fielding LONDON * Hippodrome (M) 22 Dave King Shani WalUs Andrea Dancers Jones Sc Arnold Los Gatos Jimmy Lea Palladium (M) 22 Frankie Laina Leo de Lyon . Rudy Cardenas Joan Turner Fraser's Co Gilbert RAJ Jover Mandos Sis Carden Dancers Metropolitan (I) 22 Toni Kaye Eddie Reindeer Elaine . Jack Whitley's Co. Nicola Shaw Lilian Brown > Pauline Mae A1 Roxy Glenda Sc Co. MANCHESTER Palace (M) 22 Ken Dodd Brian Andro Petula Clark Jeffrey Lenner Robert Earl Del Rinas Dennis 5plcer Joe Henderson Trio Rayros NEWCASTLE Empire (M) 22 Nat Jackley Ken-Tones ■ George Lacy Dave O'Gorman Daphne de Wit HiU St Billie Rock 'n' Roll Girls Curtis Sc Jee NORTHAMPTON NOW (I) 22 Maree Manou Terry Cantor Toiya Kee Lcvacq Sc Juanita Wanda -Alpar Red Preston NORWICH Hippodrome (I) 22 Jack Storey M Sc M Morris NOTTINGHAM Empire (M) 22 Benny Hill Fred Ferrari Barbara Leigh Peter Crawford 3 Roger Carnc B A M Konyot Rey A Rortjy Peter Vernon Harvey Church PRINCE OP WALES (M). 22 Bernard Bros. Sabrina Dickie Henderson 3 Monarchs Lee Sharon Maggy Sarragne SHEFFIELD Empire (M) 22 Tessle O'Shea A Sc L Ward Babette A Raoul SOUTHSEA King's (M) 22 Eddie Calvert GiUian A Juno Kordites Michael Martin Gerry Brereton Jim Couton Nemec A Violet Paul Dalton SOUTHAMPTON Grand (I) 22 Hackford A Doyle Franks A LeCren Keiidor Bros. DeYong A Delysla Shan Mason! ■ Cabaret Bills Old Roumanian Jan Bart Danny CarroU Sadie Banks Joe La Porto Oro Park Sheraton * Jan August' Spark Thurman RSVP Jo Hurt . Don Carey .Don Evans-, Town A Country S urndll Dancer* . ed Harvey Ore' La Play* Two Guitar* Kostya PoUansky Dolores DaUpblne Leonid Lugovsky Eugene A Sonya Andrei Hamshay NEW YORK CITY Bon Solr Bibi Osterwald • Felicia Sanders Jimmie - Daniels Three Flames Bruce Kirby Blus Ansel Spivy Dorothy Loudon Will Holt Diahann CarroU Jimmy Lyon 3 Casanova Jacques Zatow Alex Alstons Chateau Madrid Mauri Leighton Horaclo A Lana. Canay Ore Copacabana Tony Martin Bobby Van Tom Rockford Marilyn Cooper Tony Starman Michael Durso Ora Frank Marti Oro Downstairs Room CeU Cabot Jack Fletcher June Erlcson Gerry Matthew* Julius Monk Daphne Heilman Stella Brooks . Blossom .Dearie No. 1 Fifth Av* Joan Bishop Bob Downey iirjidfwy i. Hotel Ambassai.-. Chauncey Gray Ore Jani Sarkozi Gypsies Quintero Rhumbas Hotel Pierre Celeste Holm LAE Roberts Stanley Melba Or* Alan Logan Oro Joseph Sudy 'Hotel Roosevelt Sammy Kaye, Ore Hots) Taft Vincent Lopez Ore Hotel »t. Reals ' Julie Wilson Milt Shaw Ore Ray Bari Oro Hotel Statler J, Dorsey Ore. Latin Quarter George Matson Isabel A Miguel Georgia Reed Kitty Dolan w t Carmen Phillips Trio Cottas Syncopated Waters Jo Lombardi Ore B Harlowe Oro Hotel Plaza Dorothy 'Shay Ted Streeter Mark Monte Hew Roumanian Lou Menchell Alverda Jeryl Chandler Viennese Lantern Galena Judy Foster Ernest Schoen Ore Harold . Sandler Paul Mann Village' Bam Norma Smith Ralph Michele Danny. Davis Or* Larry McMahon Billy Kelly Irving HarMs Village Vanguard MS* Barties Luc Poret Ketty Legter p WilUams frio WsIdol-f-Astoria Johnnie Ray Emil’ Coleman Ora Mlacha Borr Ore CHICAGO Black Orchid Hl-Los Irwin Corey Blue Angel Calypso Jubilee** Jamaica Slim - Lady Sylvia Lord Lady Venlta CalypSo Trio • A1 DTacy Ore Blue Not# Woody Herman Ore Choi Pare*. Nat (King) Colo Allen A De Wood Henry Brandon Ore Chez Paree Ador¬ able# Cloister. Inn Chubby Jackson's Rascals (5) Ruth Olay Conrad Hilton ’Skating Memories" Boyers (2) Clifford Guest Colstons (2) Karen. Jo Ann McGowan ' BiU Christopher Paul Gibben * Naomi Wold. "China" Clark Aniu CUcksey Encores X4) * . Frankie Masters Ore BoulPvardearf A Dons (12) Drake Hot*) Betty Madigan Oaf* of Horn Win Stracke with Richard Pick SheUey Berman Peggy Seeger London Houfo Dorothy Donegan 3 Eddie Higgins (3) Mister Kelly's Kav Ballard Phil Leeds Harry Slottag.<3) Mays. A Frigo Frank DUpne . Palmer Hous* Crew-Cuts. Page A Bray CharUe Fisk Or* LOS ANGELES Bar of Muti* Beverly Hudson Ray Hastings Felix De Cola , Jerry Linden Ore' Cocoanut Grove McGuire Sis F. Martin Ore Crescendo June Christy Lenny Bruce Dave PeU Octet Interlude Mort Salil Shorty Rogers Or* Mac a mb# Enid Mosier Frankie Sands Tri* Paul Hebert. Ore* Moulin feoug* Dennis Day Statler Hotel AUan J6iies Dick Stabile Ore- ZardlsJauland Johnnie 'Scat' Dayl* Roy Muton Ore LAS VEGAS Desert Inn Ted Lewis Marie McDonald Art Johnson Donn Arden Dncra Carlton Hayes Ore Dunos Havana Mardl Gras' Cesar Romero Eve Flores Milo Velarde Tony A FranceUa Marquez Sis Garwood Van Oro El Cortot 'Rhythm on Ice" George Arnold Paul Desmond Buster HaUett Ore El Rancho, Votes Joe E. Lewis Lili St. Cyr Kay Brown * Molnar Dancers Dick Rice, Orch/ Flamingo Jan Murray MlUs Bros. Flamingoettes Lou Basil Orch Fremont Hotel Ish Kabibbl# A Shy Guys The Make Believe* The Nitecaps Gayle Walton Ooldon • Nuggot Lisa Alonso , Hank Penny Sue Thompson Frankie. Mayo Lee Maynrird Faye EUen Dream Ranch 3 Hacienda "Can Can" Denise Darcel Larry Alpett ' PhU Van Zandfr Brand Ore Rlvlet-a Llberace Geo Libetaca Jean Fenn Janik A Amaut Dorothy Dorbgn Dancers Novelitps Mickey Katz Ray Sinatra Orch Royal Nevada Cab CaUoway Cotton Club Revu* Sallie Blair . Lonnie Sattin George Kirby Norma Miller Dncrs Sahara Teresa Brewer Dick Kerr B A C Robinson Sonny. King The sabres Cee Davidson Ore Louis Priina- Keely ‘ Smith " Samrs Lena Horne CharUvel 3 Copa Girls Antonio MorelU Oro Frankie Rapp Carole -Jayne Gary- Nelson Showboat Girls Mike Warner Orch Silver Slipper Hank Henry Peop-etts Boubouk* Tura Satana- •* Barbary .Coast Boys .Jimmy Cavanaugh Sparky Kaye Mac- Dennison Slipperettes Geo. Redman Orch Thuhderblrd - ’ China Doll Revue Thunderttird Dncrs' A1 Jahns Orch Treplcana Rhonda Fleming Elaine Dunn T-ybee Afra Ben Dova Judy Logan Nat Brandywynns MIAMI-MIAMI BEACH Americana Jaokie Holler Geoffrey Holder Carmen De Laval- lade Archie Robbins Bobby Breen Lee Martin Or* Balmoral Charlie Farrell- Sonny Kendis Or* Tana Lenn Club Calyps* Tropical Holiday Carlos VareUa's Cubanalres Dl Lido Mandy Campo Or* Freddie Stewart Maria A Toni - Caney Ore ■den Re* Morty Gunty. Enzo Duartl Kasse Quintet Henry Tobias Mai Malkin Of* Count Bernardino Palmetto Boys Fontainebleau Carl Ravazza Corbett Monica Norton A Patricia Murray Schlahlmo A1 NaVarro Ofo Sacasas Oro London Town* Arthur Blake • Weela GaUez Jean Tourlgny Malayan The Riveros - Mighty Panther Bahama Mama Conrad Hodges* Calypsonians - Murray Franklin's June Perry Nat.Poolgate Richie Bros. Dick Havlland Johnny Franks Murray Franklin Billy Mitchell Eddie Bernard Nautilus ' Buddy Walker Sheppard Sister* Mario A Tonia Syd Stanley Ore Place Plgalle B. S. Pully • ' Dixie Evans French Follies Seville Mickey Gentile Tommy Ryan Johnny . Silvers Ore Rey Mambo Ore Saxony L^matta Bros, Calypsonians Cones Oro -.Roney' PI#** Lord Count Ka(y Lee Serge Valdez Or* _ ■ S O'Cleck Bubbles Darien* Tommy Raft (Continued on paw ,63) wa ’ov i *.er ci finite • u*