Variety (August 1957)

56 HOUSE REVIEWS PfoUEff Wednesday, August 7, 1957 RKO Palace’s Swan-Song Vaudflmer; Into Straight Pix After 8 Years By JOE COHEN ' ments of the former Palace glory. T . ,_ _. To many of them it was like a home, and to many acts it was like show run tomorrow iThurs.i after . „ - _,,_a home, and to many acts it was a tenure of a little more than eight Broadwav at tasti even if it didn’t years. Yauilevll.e has come and , ea , further „ p . the udder. For gone at what was once the lore- lhe - f hundr £, acts that pla yed most variety house in the county annually, the Palace repre- -the eption e of every venders , d hop J’ that they might b „ ambition With each revival and and Iik ‘ ed by some important. each demise there were economic lmpl . esario To agents and bookers conditions that created tlm situa-■ it ‘ vas a showca * e that would de . tion 10 • 0. i -i' - h‘ * ; termine whether an act should get counting rooms again dictate the :a vi(leo shot or a cafe date. To show business, even at this staLe, | end of the latest stageshow revival it performed an important fane- : at this house. However the treasurer’s office ; JJ on m , witch to a straight pic. on.> i effects a host of other condi- po ij C y leaves a lot of people home- txons h» tv'i ' . rch- " {ess i had become the least creative of , i the theatrical arts. Even if vaude- History of the Palace ; ville could create enough new Th ? ^. a1 ^ opened on two-a-day values, it wouldn’t be long before M ar ?? 2 4. 1913, with a bill compns-: other fields would outbid the fami- • H« ? h ? Pal £ <e GlI ? a - ot ? Gy =>- lj time vaude. An act does better Japierkowska ; Speaking to financially in cafes, where he does ' a skit liy. George Ade with . only half the shows lie would In a,!' 10 ", wf : ,A ? a5h , act i theatre. And on television, it’s f,"™ 31 Waltz; McIntyre* Harty, on’v one V • f-w a Miren-i en, d-1 Holme* Four Yarns. Hy , ling his weekly cafe salary. So the I M ay f and Ed Wynn. Sarah Bern- great acts work elsewhere, and the : liardt started » three and a half new acts that play the Palace can’t 1 "„ ee £ «oiwt^ ’ draw enough at the wickets. . ; on tiem^ paid her fee 3500 after The latest incarnation of the “<* Performanc*-m 8° d - Her ; Palace wasn’t bigtime, although > •' booker Dan Friendly thought along J"J d „9?5“ , q 1 ‘SKfi 1 bigteague lines even with a puny J. "* d h u» a ?S*a2 n 19 \ F ijV?! budVt tV* fTi’dn’t ly- nip im : Sclieff headlined Sept. 1, 1913. portent nitery act. Friendly ' ®^ a ™?9 ^ C ° Dtin “ ed *“ ' ercised a lot of tact and judgment. more than 19 yeais ' on the bill, took chances on new ; Famous runs at that theatre in- talent and persuaded agents to let . eluded Frank Fay, 8 weeks, in 1926; representative acts work at a lesser. Lou' Holtz, Lyda Roberti and Wil- j -— | Ham Gaxton, 8 weeks, 1931. Kate V v ] Smith joined that show during its _ V „ * . " . - ! fourth week and remained to the .. B(, rf c * Hallow, Tomm & Phyl- lend. Eddie Cantor, George Jes- lis, Stanley Burns, Los Gatos (3), ( se i and Burns & Allen headed a Lee Sullivan, Dohnoff & Raya Sts- { n ine-week layout ending Dec. 26, f o T i (4 ’ Ma l*** ll >Bud Carloel \ 1931 . The last straight vaude bill & Rose; Run of the Arrow> (Ul).\ began Ju i y g, 1932 with columnist reviewed in Variety May 29, ’57. j Louis Sobol headlining. A com- -—-j bination picture and vaudeville salary. But a sufficient amount of ; u f n ^ ^? v * a ^ d new talent never came up. j d,a Cantor ? } d fl °™ s P al " The closing bill makes par for j ? I tarted ? a * raight fllm P ollcy untl1 course—and a little better. Jay a ”* 7 * 18dd * Marshall has been around the cir- I Continuous yaudefilm policy cuit in some top cafe situations. He : s ^ a , I ,. ed Q E oh. A? 99 ^ d has an easily assimilated vein of j Yfhp^flaMhin comedy, an ingratiating manner>‘> f. a ‘. Keith-Albee ftigship and a knack of trettinff ahead of the • un ^ M a y" 29, 1949, when the pres- " K geUing aneaa of lfte . ent policy started. First bill com- Lee Sullivan, who tenors In the ; Ma^elTn^ Gook^i t . i y„; u fon/liflAn Vi«e« kA An • NOlUldQ EVfllU). MfiTVCuOSj COOK & nest Irish tradition, has been in i ^ legit musicals and films. He's an • experienced hand before audiences ! j ^ with Canadian Pacific on screen. w f S wl! • Lillian Roth played the Palace dur- £ : ln « one of & anniversary shows. pi A V1 fiSS lonno The Pala ce reverted to two-a-day r % ™ BiuS h wb?co^flfitPd a on ° ct ' 16 » 1951 » w K jci Judy Gar ‘ ! Iand occupying the second half of bit with Marshall inasmuch as both th bfll First half comprised The Doodles * Spider, Smith & a though needing material, manip- : Dale G i se n e & Francois Szony ulates his two manikins excellently, i ^ n _ i_... ing with a smart man-of-the-world typ^. In . contrast, the Chas. McDevitt Skiffle Group, while pleasing the ardent skiffle fans, lacks in stage showmanship and all-round enter¬ tainment value. Group gives out in tunes like “Every Day of the Week,” “I’m Satisfied with My Girl,” etc., but shapes as better to listen to vte disks than to watch. Nancy Whiskey, much-publicized folk chipper, who’s shortly going solo, gives out with “Green Back Dollar” and “Freight Train,” but has only average impact. Bill Wareham & Marcia, mixed twosome, offer clever balancing act against a toymaker’s set. Male, a New Zealander, has only one leg,, and merits all the more palming as - customers note his pin leg. Sally Logan, teenager thrush, is sweet as she vocalizes “Getting to Know You,’ “I Give You The World” and "Oh, My Beloved Fa¬ ther.” Shane & Lamar are stylish girl dancers who open both seg¬ ments. In the ihodern music section, Terry Dene, backed by the Dene- Aces (bass, drums, guitar), is a new English kid registering via disk and tv appeal. He will need to liven up his act considerably to retain his impact. As is, youth has talent but adopts a too-lazy ap¬ proach in projecting his person¬ ality, such as it is. Showbacking by Bobby Dowds orch is okay. Gord. A new bit is a puppet which is con¬ trolled electromcallv offstage. The illusion created in this respect puts an additional zinger into the act. and Max Bygraves. This layout; ran for 19 weeks. Lauritz Melchior headlined the second two-a-dayer with Ben Blue, DnwSTCarroll, Les Compagnons de ihl ' la Chanson, Chandra Kaly, Andre, ilitl n i Andre & Bonnie and Billy Wells & Palace ei ght years ago, and also i Four Fays> Third card comprised fhl nniw & Johnson, Jose Greco, i n-inn tn'rJJ 1 Jackie MileSa Rudy Cardenas and illusion turns in the business. The Bunin p upp ets. Betty Hutton ctJmts in° w!!f I played the house twice, and after uiht? iK I a lapse, during which time the 0b " ! hous 0 resumed four-a-day, Danny In their usual spot when playing;^ »P an J d 5 * or nimidi aC a e S Tnrrinf £ ^ Judy Garland's second visit was Tn^ ri fit,;cK Ph t>! S StaP h ?i- ag - 1L ! okay h.o. and Jerry Lewis’ recent v hlnif hik Wnm!l : try end ^ the two-a-day. There’s the possibility that Lewis may play somethmgelsewheninverted the ^ ouse again ar0U nd Christmas e (time. Even Jack Benny has ex- ! pressed the desire to play here, Mghfa n5 somit onIy f ° r a limlted e ngagement ing for fine results. Bud Carlell ? & Rose display okay fancy roping.! Empire, Ulasgow Cardell does some precision slicing i Glasgow, Aug. 2. with the whips for applause-win-! Jack Radcliffe (with Helen Nor- hing tricks, while Rose holds up man and Billy Dick), Chas. Mc- small objects. Latter would look Devitt & Skiffle Group (4> with better in skirts than in shorts. j Nancy Whiskey; Terry Dene & His. Per usual, Nick Francis is in. Dcnc-Aces (3), Bill -Wareharrt v& the pit and gives aid and comfort Marcia, Sally Logan, Shane & to the various turns. I Lamar, Bobby Dowds Orch. Of course, the economic wheel! .-—• may turn again and there may be : Here’si a mixed layout, blending ; some new acts around that want | J h . e established in vaude with the j showcasing on Broadway. In this ; ^? m and 11 ^oll. respect, it’s possible that the house Radcliffe^doer^mc^g’"chores may be like the late Sir Ha-ry Lau- a nd appears successfully 8 in com- der who was always coming back ^ for a faiewell tour. .... ‘Norman and Billy Dick. In tim- One thing is certain about this ing> attack and poise, Radcliffe house, it has built up a large and sho\vs value of experience and loyal following from among the - pleases the outfronters with home- ousters. who remember the gol.ien ly comedy in racy vein. He is best days and perhaps relive some mo- as a typical Glasgow drunk argu- B’way Bistros ; Continued from page 1 starting Oct. 9/ He’s contemplating a name' policy, with deal on for Jackie Miles to-preem the spot. In addition, the Manhattan Hotel (he Lincoln), also being renovated and modernized for September oc¬ cupancy by Webb & Knapp, will have an entertainment room, policy of which is still to be decided. It’s anticipated that the spot will have more than a name band policy, which was the mainstay of the old Lincoln hotel. Of course, the Latin Quarter would still be on the Stem with its 550-609 seats, and Birdland is still around for jazz devotees. Such an influx of cafes would in¬ duce others to open in the rea. It’s a distinct possibility that should all these cafes open, that the old Diamond Hoseshoe in the Paramount Hotel, could suddenly find new tenants. Theatres Would Welcome Broadway theatres have, long contended that they are handi¬ capped by a small number Of cafes- More niteries would make the Stem a more important nightclub centre, and this would pull a greater amount of patronage both from in¬ dividual and party trade as well as the package tours. The Webb & Knapp deal with Walters looms as the most impor¬ tant facet of the deaL It’s a mu¬ tually beneficial item. The base- merit of any structure is not nor¬ mally rented with ease. Thus Webb & Knapp with an initial investment of about $5Q,0Q0 would get a $40,- 000-plus annual tenant for 21 years, thus quickly amortizing its invest¬ ment. At the same time, the build¬ ing makes itself more important for ground level store tenants, which could reflect itself in higher rentals. Walters, meanwhile, has a ready- built situation for a minimum in¬ vestment. It’s likely that he’ll call the new nitery the Cafe de Paris, same label that he’s using in his Florida spot. The 1^00-seater j would be theJafgest in Manhattan, only somewhat smaller than the Town & Country Club, Brooklyn. Later’s negotiations for the Ar¬ cadia Ballroom would also result in a large seater of about 1,500 ca¬ pacity. Between all these spots Broadway would have a greater] capacity than Las Vegas, and could return New York to a premiere position in the nightclub world. VARIETY BILLS WEEK OF AUGtJST 7 Numerals in connection with bills boiow Inchests opening day of show whether full or split week Letter In parentheses Indicates circuit: (I) Independent; (L) Loew; <M) Moss/ <P> Paramount; (R) RKO; <S) Stoll; <T) Tivoli; CW) Warner NEW YORK CITY Music Hall (P) I Rockettes Conrad Ludlow Wes Harrison George Carl Roxy (7) “Fiesta at Roxy” Maria Antinea Mario Alverez Edrique Montoya Virginia Morrison Nancy Lee Parker Manuel Del Toro Skating Squires Roxyettes Roxy Orch AUSTRALIA MELBOURNE Tivoli (T) 5 Johnny Lockwood Bobby Limb Dawn Lake Les Tbaika Medlock & Marlowe Balladinis Billy Rayes Darryl Stewart Johnny O’Connor Edit Juh?sz Alwyn.Leekie Continentals Rae Morgan Pamela Godso Olivia Dale 2 Dancing Boys Rudas Dancers ♦ SYDNEY Tivoli (T) $ Peter Brough Ronald Chesney •Boys of Mexico 2 Earls Christine & MoU Lebrac & Bernice Bobby Gonzales Delicados Williams & Sband Buster Fiddess Nina Cooke Brenda Rowe Frank Ward DeUa Vance Dionne Vail MANILA Opera House <T) 5 Katherine Dunham Co. SINGAPORE Cathay (T) S Darvas & Julia BANGKOK (T) 5 Banks & Demuth BRITAIN ASTON Hippodrome (I) S Johnny Silver Mink Devine Two Palmers Noble & Denester Bery Catlin Harry Saunders BLACKPOOL Palace (I) 5 Hylda Baker Tanner Sis Odette Crystal Sonny Roy Geo. MitcheU Co. Impero Bros. Janet Gray Martin Granger Co. Beliana Ivanko 4 Joan Davis Co. BRIGHTON Hippodrome (M) t Winifred Atwell David Nixon Aileen Cochrane Reg Varney R & J Jover Malta & Fernandos Co. Geo. Mitchell Co. Belles & Beaux COVENTRY Hippodrome (1) S Dany Rav St Ptnr. Mandos Sis Mistin Juniors Bernard Landy Two Whitmans Hazel Gee Dancer* FINSBURY PARK Park (M) S Mel Torme a Quarters Bamberger St Pam Sharpe St Iris Five Darlys Co. Rosto Sc Partner June Birch Sapphires HANLEY Royal (M) I Albert Modley Flack St Mills Falcons Mack Sc Kirk Chas. Ancaster Joan Hinde Lynda Ross Matanzas LEEDS Empire (M) I Hal Montv Miles Twins Allen Bros. Sc June A Sc B Black Pierre Bel Georgette LIVERPOOL Empire (M) S Marion Ryan Dorothy Reid Vic Hyde Fred Lovelle Morris Sc Cowley Gaunt Bros. J Sc P Barbour Jackie Ross Johnny Dallas LONDON Hippodrome (M) J Charlie Grade Dorothy Squires Jack Radcliffe Billy Russell Three Edwards Duncan's Collies Reg Reddiffe Metropolitan (I) V Fred Emney ' Lorrae Desmond Eric Williams Madrigal Sc Ass’t. Rosa Macari Roy Mack Bert Edgar Mardi Gras Dncrs Palladium (Ml 5 Max Bygraves Joan Regan Goofers Carsony Sc Bros. Kaye Sis , Clark Bros. Page St Bray MANCHESTER Palace (M) 5 Billie Anthony Rudy Horn Dior Dancers Gimma Boys NEWCASTLE Empire (M) 5 Ronnie Carroll Kidd St June Allen Modley Bobby ThomDson Amazing Briton Les Riga Fraser Hayes 4 George Braund NORTHAMPTON Now (I) 5 Hackford St Doyle Ken Wilson Kendor Bros. DeYong Sc Delysis Mason! NORWICH Hippodrome <11 I Dan Young Billy Eaves Wanda Alpar NOTTINGHAM Empire (M> 1 Dene Sc Dene Aces Burke Sc Kovac Southlanders Smoothey Sc Layton Pat Rosa Dickie Dawson Sammy Wilde Karl Karl SI* Mumfords Co. Prince of Wslot (Ml S Sabrina Dickie Henderson 3 Monarchs Maggy Sarragne SHEFFIELD Empire (M) • Lonnie Donegan Marie De Vere Dcrs Mundy Sc Earle Pan Yue Jen Trp. Des O’Connor Shipway Twins Peter Quinton SUNDERLAND Empire (M) 5 Tommy Fields Betty Jumel Jimmy Gay Jack Stanford Barry Sis Eric Roger Grp Wendy Todd Alan Mills ' Betty Fox Co. Bil Sc Bil J Sc M Ellwood SOUTHAMPTON Grand (1) 9 Pauline Penny Barry Piddock GabrieUe Pauline Penny Co, SOUTHSEA King's. (M) 3 David Whitfield Harry Worth Audrey Jeans King Bros. Billy Dainty 'Sky Ions VICTORIA Palace (M) S Naunton & Gold Bud Flanagan Nervo Sc Knox Monsewer E. Gray Lyric Row Continued from page 2 — Threw the Overalls,” continued O’Neill, “has lyrics which declare a ‘Mick’ did the dirty deed” and the Congressman. added, “I resent it.” This put O’Neill in favor of censorship of lyrics and obviously opposed to the resolution for the probe. His committee marked time on the issiie. Meantime, the Federal Communications Committee got it¬ self in a safe position, far from the controversy. It announced that it lacks authority over songs on the air. Cabaret Bills NEW YORK CITY ■on Soir Anno Russell Charles Manna Anita Ellis Three Flames Bruce Kirby Bluo Angsl T. C. Jones Carol BUrnett Mae Barnes Jimmy Lyon 3 Bart Howard Bob Ritterbush Casanova Jacques Zarow Alex Alstone Chateau Madrid Helene Aimee Romeros Sc Relna Panchito Ore Soccares Ore Copacaban* Don CorneU Larry Daniels Coronados Tom Rockford Marilyn Cooper- Tony Starman Michael Durso Ore Frank Marti Orr No. 1 Fifth Avo Cedrone Sc. Mitchell Bob Downey Harold Fonville Hotel AinDassador Chauncey Gray Ore Jani Sarkozi Gypsies Quintero Rhumbas Hotsl Plorro Stanley Melba Ore Alan Logan Ore Joseph Sudy Hotel Roosevelt Eddie Lane Ore Hotel Taft Vincent Lope 2 Ore Milt Shaw Ore Bay Bari Ore HoteKL R« 0 IS Latin Quarter Szonys Jack Durant George Matson Molidor Trio Debonairs Gillian Grey Simon McQueen Chic James Syncopated Waters Jo Lombardi Ore B Harlowe Ore Park Sheraton Jan August Spark Thurman Viennese Lantern Rita Dimitri Yasuko Ernest Schoen Ora Harold Sandler Paul Mann Village Barn Dick Todd Sophie Parker Zeb Carver Ed Smith Jodie Cartier Jo>j1 Shaw Ore Village Vanguard Modern Jazz Quart BIL Evans Waldorf-Astoria l Count Basie i Sarah Vaughan Haitian Dcrs | Bela Babai Oro CHICAGO Black Orchid Larry Storch Abbey Lincoln Ocie Smith Blue Angel "Calypso Fiesta** Princess Abilia & King Christian Lord Rafael Lord Calypso Prince Pablo, Lady Melena & Lady Blanca Roger McCall A1 D*Lacy Ore Blue Note Bobby Hacket (6) Carmen McRae (3) Chez Paree Sammy Davis Jr. Will Mastin Trio Luis Gomez Sc Beatrice Chez Adorables (6) Ted Fio Rito Ore 13 Cloister Inn Ramsey Lewis Trio Lorez Alexandria Conrad Hilton “Ice Review Spec** Glenn. Sc Colleen Miss LucUle Jo Ann McGowan Ros Pettinger Bill Christopher Gil Shepard & De Soto Sisters (3) Paul Gibbon Sc Sully Kothman Fred Napier Norman Crider Tune Tattlers (4) Charlie Fisk Ore Gate of Horn Bob Gibson Jo Mapes Dylan Todd London House •Errol Garner Trio Eddie Higgins (3) Mister Kelly's Sarah Vaughan Marx Sc Frigo Marty RUbensteln S Palmer House HUdegarde Mattison Trio Ben -Arden Orch tos ANGELES 8. Gray's Band Box Billy Gray Leo Diamond Carol Shannon Bert Gordon Ric Marlowe Le Hermen (3) Bob Barley Trio Cocoanut Grove Nat King Cole B Sc C Robinson F. Martin Ore Crescendo Dave Brubeck Mort Sahl Interlude Bobby Short Mocambo John Carroll Frankie Sands Trio Paul Hebert Ore . Moulfn Rouge Jerry Colonna Stiller Hotel Dave Barry Merry Macs (4) Eddy Bergman Ore LAS VEGAS Desert Inn Gordon MacRae Rudy Cardenas Gina Genardi Art Johnson Donn Arden Dncr* Carlton Hayes Ore Dunes "Pajama Game’* Larry Douglas Betty O'NeU Buster West Barbara Bostock Garwood Van Ore Cl Cortes "Rhythm on Ice" George Arnold Jimmy Caesar Buster Hallett Ore El Rancho Vegas Joe E. Lewis Roberta Sherwood Nejla Ates Molnar Dancer* Dick Rice Orch Flamingo Anna Maria Alberghetti Alan Xing Flamlngoettes Lou Basil Orch Fromont Hotel The Satellites Bob Sc Sylvia Golden Nugget Harry Ranch Jig Adams Lee Maynard Faye Ellen Riviera George Gobel DeCastro Sisters Novelites Ray Sinatra Orch Rsyal Nevada Russ Morgan Or« Sahara Shaw-Hitchcock Dcrs. Cee Davidson Ore Mary Kaye Trio Betty Hutton Amin Bros. Saner Robert Merrill Louis Armstrong Copa Girls Antonio Morelli Ore Showboat Joe Cappo Garr Nelson Showboat' Girl* Mike Werner Orch Silver Slipper Hank Henry Norman Erskine Caprice Barbary Coast Boy* Jimmy Cavanaugh Sparky Kaye Mac -Dennison Pat Yankee Slipperettes Geo. Redman Orch ThundsTpIrd 4 Lad* Thunderblrd Dncr* A1 Jahns Orch Troplcan* Carol Charming Elaine Dunn Judy Logan Norvas Singer* Jack Costanza Nat Brandywynn* MIAMI-MIAMI BEACH Americana Steve Lawrence Haller-& Hayden M Sc B Haggett Jackie Heller Lee Martin Ore Maya Ore Stan Rom Trio Balmoral Billy Mitchell Sonny Kendis Ore Tana Lenn DI Lido Mandy Campo Ore Othella Dallas Jane Moore » Bemie Sager Jack Barcena Ora Edsn Roc Marie MacDonald Don Tannen Johnny Costa Trio Mai Malkin Ore Chico Cuban Boys Fontalnoblsau Mata Sc Hari Vaughan Monro* Jack Stuart Ore SacasaS Ore Pupl Campo Oro Natali-Fields Trio London Town* Arthur Blake Weela Gallez Jean Tourigny Lucom* Havana Mardi Gras Diosa Costello Milos Velardo Don Casino Toni* Flores Tony Sc Francella Juan Romero David Tyler Ore Luis Varona Ore Murray Franklin's Steve Murray Joe Mayer Trio Dick Haviland Murray Franklin Sue Lawton Eddie Bernard Nautilus Sammy Shore Nancy Ford Mario Sc Tonia^ Syd Stanley Ore Sevilla Dunhills Terry Haven Murri Sc Ruth Tomm; Ryan Johnny Silvers Or* Rey Mamho Ore Saxony M Stuart Archett# Grade Barrie Fred Thompson Tommy Angel Vagabonds Calypso Revue Lord Flea Sc Co. Frank Linale Or< HAVANA Tropicana Luis Garcia Alberto Kochi . Matzuko Miguel Gladys Sc Freddy Riverbs Dominique Tropicana Ballet S Suarej Orq A Romeo Orq Sans Souci Johnny Mathis Gloria Sc Rolando (Continued Sonia Calero Victor Alverez DulzaldCs Singer Ortega Ore Montmartre Raul Mesa Raquel Barisba Ivette De La Fuente Claris*e Novo Gladys Bocay Guzman Singers Fajardo Ore on page 63).