Variety (December 1957)

House Reviews Masfc Hall, X. Y. "The. Nativity” and Christinas Shaw, produced by Leon Leonidoff, with Lillian Murphy Ed Powell, Symphony Orch and Choral Ensem¬ ble under Raymond Paige, Wil¬ liam Maun, Hlenka Devon, Jack Beaber, Rae McLean, Jeanette Cioffi, Corps de Ballet (Margaret Sande, director), George Sawtelle, Mascott Sisters (2), Rockettes (dances. by Russell Markert); sets, James Stewart Morcom ; costumes, Frank Spencer; lighting, Eugene Braun; John Jackson, director of stage operation; lyrics, At Still¬ man; "Sayonara" (WB), reviewed in Variety Nov..’ 13, ’57. Post-Thanksgiving at the Music Hall, means, of course, “The Nativ¬ ity,” annual curtain-raiser to a Christmas package of frosted pic¬ ture postcard splendor. At this late date, everyone is inclined to for¬ give the Rockefeller theatre’s ro¬ manticized pageant-like, concep¬ tion of the Birth in a well-taken point on dramatic license. (The little stable in Bethlehem seems seven stories high; the ensemble scarcely suggests humble folk come to pay their taxes!) “The Nativity” segues to. a gay and colorful, celebration of the joyous season highlighted by. a “Cinderella’s Couch*’ ballet danced superbly-by Hlenka Devon as Cin¬ dy and Jack Beaber as the .Prince, with, MH’s toe-girls in support. Up ahead, Lillian Murphy aud William Maun duet in “Surprise Package.” Miss Murphy is also soloist, in “The Nativity,” to narration by Ed Powell, who doubles later as roof¬ top Santa Claus in “Caroleers” and with George Sawtelle carrying the song. “Jingle Belles”: Introduces the Mascott Sisters, smash balancing duo reviewed under New Acts. “Ye Well-Filled Stockings,” perfectly describes the Rockettes, Russell Market’s age-old. contribution to the last word in precision troupes. Layout is down to a snap¬ py 35 minutes or so, due to the fact, that the film. “Sayonara,” runs nearly two and a half hours. Trail , ^BOSTON SMASH HIT THE GLAMOROUS NEW _ HOTEL ^ Show folks are raving about-the. 1 all new Hotel Avery; All new, large,. || beautifully furnished deluxe rooms ?f with private bath and televisi {■ Many Air Conditioned. fl h AVERY & WASHINGT6N STS. | OLA SON'S FUN-MASTER I PROFESSIONAL COMEDY MATERIAL for all Theatricals "We Service the Stars" Big Clean-Oet Special on All 35 Gag Files far Only $15 Pint $1,00 Postage • 3 Parody Books, Per- Bk....S10 • • 4 Blackout Books, Per Bk... $25 • • Minstrel Budget.-... $25 • ' How to Master the Ceremonies $3: per Copy No C:O.D's ..... "Always Open" BILLY GLASON 200 W. 54th St., N.Y.C., If Circle 7-1130 Apollo, X* Y. Stuffy Bryant, The Spaniels (4), Stewart & Oscar, Wynona Carr, The Bobbettes (5), Jackie Mabley, Clyde - McPhatter, Reuben Phillips Orch (13); "No Place to Hide ” (AA). As a change of pace from the rock ’n’ roll sessions, the Hadem house has. a likable fare sparked, by the stylings rif Clyde McPhatter and backed up by the antics of comedienne Jackie “Moms” Mab¬ ley. Others who round out a good supporting bill are songstress Wy¬ nona Carr; Stewart & .Oscar, a.ven- triloquial act; the Spaniels, a group of male warblers, and the stepping of Stuffy Bryant. Bryant Opens the sesh with some snappy hoofing. He has a lot of stage know-how and is house pleas- er with his fast legging. The Spaniels follow and give out with pleasing renditions of “I.O.U.” and “You’re Gonna Cry.” The group does a neat job of harmonizing and winds it up with “I Need Your Kisses.” No -stranger to the house are Stewart & Oscar in a >yent bit which, comes off nicely except for moments when the jokes get a little rough. Act does a twist in that the : dummy does an imitation of Stewart’ir voice add vice versa at one point. Finale is no small trick in that Stewart & Oscar do a duet, * : Wynona Carr is an attractive: miss who scores well with a pleas¬ ing voice. She initially shows signs of nervousness but recovers well and so does a fine batch • of num¬ bers; Her best are “All of Me” and “You. Send. Me.” She seems able to handle, the hot Stuff as well as the ballads. The Bobbettes are a swinging quintet Who have the house jump-, ing. The young gals blend well enough together and have no trou¬ ble getting through “Speedie” and “Mr. Lee.”" In addition to their voices they seem to radiate vim and vigor, and fit house well. Miss Mabley breaks up the audi¬ ence with her deadpan style of jokestering, Whether she would go as welljin other bouses is question- , able. «he identifies herself With the audience and with. a r big wad of gum in her jaw and decked out in a house dress, plays the mother role to' a tee. She’s crusty and the house likes her. The show is headlined by Clyde, McPhatter who’s got plenty of 1 showmanship and style ari<f runs through offerings of “Hold My Hand,” “No Matter What” and “Rock & Cry.” When he had the house feeling that he could : do no wrong he committed the error of singing ^White Christmas” in a jazzed-up manner and it came off fiat. McPhatter has a good voice and he knows how to use it. Bern.. Soviet’s Scot Vaude Soviet Artistes j (ST. ANDREW’S, GLASGOW),. Glasgow, Dec. 10. . Presentation of group of. Soviet singers, dancers , acrobats and jug¬ glers, with Nikolai Svetlichny, Igor Politkovsky , 'Lilia ' Nopgorodova , & Yuri Mironov, Beta Kolyada, Zin¬ aida Y evdikova & Nikolai Fateyev; Yuri Lazko;emcee, Alex McCrin- dle. Unit show of Soviet artistes, currently trekking through the ; U.k. in aims of friendship* throws ' interesting spotlight on undoubted j Russian talent in vaude sphere, j particularly, in dancing and aero f chores.. This. layout, while over {accenting terping, is otherwise ( neatly balanced and notable for ex- Jcellent speciality work, particular¬ ly by a juggler and two acrobats. | Performers number 17, and are 1 from Moscow, Leningrad, Tashkent CAB CALLOWAY Featured in PARAMOUNT'S “ST. LOUIS BLUEST SOON TO BE RELEASED Mgt. BILL MITTLER, 1*11 Broadway. Ntw York and Georgia. Standout work is by Fyodor Savchenko, a juggler with rare aptitude : for manipulating balls (see New Acts). There is also a gasp-catching aero stint by Zin¬ aida Yevtikova & Nikolai Fateyev, mixed diio from Leningrad 'State Variety Co. also reviewed under New Acts. ...•' Igor Politkovsky opens concert with fiddling of classical airs, hush¬ ing vast auditorium at show caught oii chilly, fog-bound night. Irina Tikhomimova, Bolshoi, Theatre ballerina, teams with another Bol¬ shoi exponent, Gennadi Ledyakh, for some graceful dancing to mel¬ ody of Gluck. Bela Kolyada proves attractive chirper of Russian folk and operatic pieces^ being garbed sifnly in evening dress with low- cut neckline, showing that Russians are coming mores to Western-style garbing, although dancers, jugglers and others favor traditional colored costuming. Lilia Novgorodova & Yuri Mi¬ ronov offer joyful Moldavian dance, femme half being perky art¬ iste with personality and smiling orbs. Nikolai Svetlichny scores in arias, a Soviet folk tune, and a Neapolitan folksong, and was called for repeats following. heavy palm¬ ing. Uzbek silk-spinners’ dance, is brightly worked . out by Sevilla Haibulayeva &. Kakhramori Dada- I yev. Yuri Lazko attends busily to the ivories, and Alex McCrindle (Equity Assn, rep in Scotland) does jaunty emceeing chores garbed in kilt, gallantly overcoming tongue- twisting, snags. Gord. Empire, Edinburgh i Edinburgh, Dec. 10. Leonard XJrry presentation de- ; vised and produced by Cecil C. Buckingham; musical arrange¬ ments, Tex Johnson; features Fran Dowie, with Gay Leslie; twice nightly; | Another echo of current U S. disk names’ ,draw via recordings is | this unit layout, devised as so- called “tribute to world’s top re- [ cording stars” and featuring artists using vocals resembling leading U.S. names. Whole layout is emceed via wisecracking patter by Canadian comedian Frhri Dowie in guise of George Burns, ] Already an established radio and vaude name in U.K., Dowie proves effective emcee, smoking cigar, a la George Burns and gently acting as foil to partner Gay Leslie, posing as the fluttering Grade Allen. Pair catch admirably the spirit of B & A, even to the American accent. Dowie is working With Miss Leslie as, partner in absence of his wife and teammate. Candy Kane, who’s awaiting motherhood after, being With show since its start in late summer. Company of mostly unknowns are assembled to sing tunes in styles of Guy Mitchell, Harry Bela- fonte, Doris Day, Sammy. Davis Jr., Frank. Sinatra, The Platters, Pat Boone, Little Richard, Judy Gar¬ land, Billy Eckstine, and Johnnie Ray. In intro patter, emcee ex¬ plains that these performers are putting oyer the voices and not faces of the U.S. types; John Clarence has tall presence and apt voice as Belafonte in “Island in the Sun.” Eric Hayden does commendable impression of Sammy Pavis Jr.; and Sylvia Drew, ex-danceband vocalist, scores with “Tammy” as Doris Day. (The U.S. hit desk is by Debbie Reynolds, from her film of same title.) Slender thrush, who has tdured here With Johnnie Ray shows, also takes, a femme slotting in impresh pf The Platters. Tall vocalist Dick Francis pleases with “Tender Trap” as a Sinatra type, and Calvin Lewin, with advantage ..of black curly wig, throbs and leaps as Lit¬ tle. Richard. A solid impact is made by John Hughes, singing as Pat Boone, and he exits to good mitting. In comedy slotting, there’s the established western takeoff , by Frain Dowie, working with partner Gay Leslie as a cowgirl. This act is surefire for yocks, including the shooting-down from “flies” of a prop cow and. dummy shots into auditorium.. Also, Dowie works neatly with new funnyrihn Dev •Shawn, who merits attention by bookers, and who also does the Johnnie Ray likeness iri numbers like “Just Walking in the Rain.” Tex Johnson, who has done musi¬ cal arrangements, also conducts, theatre orch for this unit perform¬ ance: Hi-Fi Rhythm Group (4) accompanies performers in stage backing. Gord. With a $U50,000 Yr. Under His Belt, Borge Can Stand a Mere 35G Week The. one-man tour, virtually a lost art among variety performers, is. probably the biggest personal grosser in. show business, Victor Borge’s stage appearances around the country returned to him ap¬ proximately $1,250,000 last year. This kingsized sum was Borge’s slice following payoffs to pro¬ moters on deals which called for terms giving Borge a 759b- to 90% slice of the gate. During his tours in theatres, Borge’s average runs to $50,000. There were one-nighters in which the Danish entertainer got a take- home pay of $30,000. In four nights in St. Louis, Borge realized $64,000. There was one memorable week in Hershey, Pa., in which he grossed more than'♦‘South Pacific” by virtue of the fact that during his show, customers who would otherwise be turned away were seated in the orchestra pit and onstage. There are even no regrets by. Borge; for his . just-closed stand at Ben Maksik’s Town & Country Club, N. Y., Borge says for the four weeks preceding his stand there was only a handful of cus- DUF0UR& GREEN SET INT’L AVIATION SHOW A couple of showmen are behind the “first” International Aviation Show heading for the New York City Coliseum next Sept. 6-14. Im¬ presarios of the show are Morris Green arid Louis Dufour, associ¬ ated off and on oyer the years and show biz executives separately for several decades. Green (ex-Gensler &) produced numerous legiters on Broadway ^nd Dufour (& the late Joe Rogers) has been an outdoor showman - particularly known as suppliers of attractions at-world’s fairs and expositions beginning with the Chi Century of Progress in the early ’30s and including the N. Y. World’s Fair, as well as at carnivals. The show was formerly sched¬ uled for Sept. 10 to 23* but had to move the dates ahead to conform ' with plans of the cooperating Air Force Assn, to enable aviation and allied industries to exhibit both at the Green-Dufour expo'and. the association’s Air Power Panorama, to be held in Dallas Sept. 25-27. . Display will occupy three floors of the Coliseum and include a se¬ ries of films segueing to enact¬ ments onstage. Subtitle of show is .“80 Hours . Around the World.” Saranac Lake By Happy Benway Saranac Lake, Dec. 10. , The Thanksgiving Day banquet surpassed anything that Mike Todd could have put on. Bicarbonate of soda ran out by 3 in the afternoon. ; , Thanksgiving night, Herbert Glad¬ ney, our hew “We the- Patients” chairman, ably assisted by Helen Van Note, Else Schreger and Lind^ say JHacHarrie,. put on a bingo party and card games with prizes relished by all. Prizes were won by Helen Van Note; Claudette Bas¬ sett and Joan Sinclair. Al Loscuito progressing so well that he rated a 10-day furlough at home in New .York. John Gurba rates a special mention via recent medical clinic that allows him a two-week furlough that he will spend in Philly with his wife Edith, cashier of the Stanley Warner Lane Theatre there. . Jay Schrader, theatre owner of Charlotte, N.C., was under obser¬ vation here for a period of two weeks and has gone back to Char¬ lotte to take treatments at home. Thanks to Peggy Hagedorn of Warner Bros. Gotham office for sending reading material for our library. Her husband Chris, theatre treasurer, was graduated here in class of ’35. Write to those who are ill. tomers in the spot. At least, dur¬ ing one of the 'slowest months of the year, when Asiatic flu, stock market descents and sputnik ascents took the mind Of the gen¬ eral public off iterygoing, he. brought in as many as 1,000' cus¬ tomers per .show—which would have been overflow audiences for the Ijatin Quarter and the Copaca- bana. Borge explains that for many years he hadn’t played a night club. Even Las Vegas spots can¬ not be called a night club in the strict sense of the word, but in the east he had done an occasional hotel show at the Waldorf-Astoria and Plaza, N. Y., and some of the Statler units. He said that he had to take a cut to satisfy his curi¬ osity. From the average $50,000 weekly that has been his average personal take fOr a maximum of five or six. shows when hitting one- nighters, he went down to $35,000, a sizable sum for a nitery. How¬ ever, Borge says that he seems satisfied since he reversed tile trend of low 'business at the Town & Country during a period when none of the niteries had. been registering any degree of pros¬ perity. ! Borge feels that this, in itself, is an; accomplishment, especially at a time when business is feeling I the lows that have hit the general economy.. Borge goes Out agam off the one-nighters on bookings by Harry D. Squires, with several dates sold out in advance. Of course, the benefits of being a one-man performer accrues ini many more, ways, video being:, one of them. Borge’s last tele salary was $100,000. On the road, there are no other performers to pay. off, the stage space is frequently uti¬ lized f or extra < seating, arid in¬ stead of touririg a large cast, he has only a road manager and sec¬ retary to accompany him. DON TANNIN Currently STATLER CHAIN THIS WEEK^P^TROIT KEN BARfeY RIGHT BACK . CLUB ELEGANTE Brooklyn, N. Y, Mg» : StM & Wilt Wtbar, Now York 7 7 "AT LIBERTY" 7 7 SHOWGIRLS and DANCERS CA«e* 18-35) B«sle wliry $50 * week {Earn u» $1 .) ai danee instruetkra and ifartnenl Will net interfere with daytime auditions. Work even* fnflt fi. PM . te 2 AM. Full , time-6-nlihte. Part tima Fri. Sat. and Sun. Apply I tt I PM far perianal Interview. MISS fiONtfELLI 838 Bread St.. 2nd floor, Newark, N, J. 35 Minutes from Port Authority Tormlnal.. NIGHT CLUB MGR. AVAILABLE 40 years •x*cutlv» background, • years with ona of N.Y.'s old and mosf succassfut night clubs^ Thorough knowladgo of all phasas of operation; Also ant interested In percentage prop¬ osition. Will, relocate. Box V 769. Variety, 154 W. 46th St. New York 36. The DEEP RIVER BOYS Starring HARRY DOUGLASS 9th International Tour | Phil Harris & Alice Faye will | make their .first cafe appearance as : a team at the Desert Inn, Las j Vegas, in April: concurrent with the i sixth annual Tournament of Cham- Jl Pi°A s . AoieVi coyrse 4 m J Curnnfly , LAKE CLUB Springfield, III. Direction: WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY Pers. Mgr.; ED KIRKEBY .