Variety (March 1959)

Wednesday, March: 25, 1959 JOHN CROSBY, New York Herald Tribune “Phil Ford ^nd Mimi Hines, a pair of gifted and distinctive clowns.” -B Hr H. W. CONNORS. New York World-Telegram VARIETY “The resounding song-and-comedy click of Phil Ford arid Mimi Hines, projected a brand of young professionalism, with en¬ gagingly romantic creeping-of-the-hands in their vocal duets, that hit home hard. Her comedy was inspired. It was starry-eyed stuff that played and came off well. Studio audience acclaim was whammo.” Abel. GEORGE BOURKE, The Miami Herald “The most exciting comedy act we’ve seen in many a nightly tour. Mimi Hines and Phil Ford are the names in the billing and remember them well. They can handle every type of comedy from the very subtle to slapstick. Then too, if we were a Desi Arnaz we’d grab them for a TV series:” JACK O'BRIAN, New York Journal-American “Neatly polished professionalism plus that indefinable endearing quality. Miss Hines has a modern version of Fannie Brice’s fabulous ability to commute between af¬ fectionate sincerity and gawky low comedy . . . They are pleasant to encounter in this cynical age.” TONY ZOPPI, Dallas After Dark “Phil Ford and Mimi Hines, the husband and wife comedy duo, who scored one of the big hits of the season at the Kings Club, Adolphus Hotel, returned to the scene of their triumph Monday night. To make it Sweet and brief, we are pleased to report that they took up where they left off last year. “The luscious Miss Hines established her- self as one of the most humorist distaff comics since Martha Raye was the toast of the nitery circuit. Phil Ford who wrote the act, is a perfect foil for Mimi’s punch lines — result — relaxed informality one would enjoy in one’s own living room on a Saturday night.” LEE MORTIMER, New York Mirror “Ford and Hines bring hilarity to Copa- cabana. The big news is the local ginmill * debut of Phil Ford and Mimi Hines, the cleverest slapstick comics to come along sinee the Keane Sisters. Ford and Hines Is the kind of ‘new’ act that makes my dreary job worthwhile.” DALE STEVENS, Cincinnati Post & Times Star “Phil Ford and Mimi Hines fractured me last night at Beverly Hills. “I’d like to own half of the act, because this gal’s great face and versatility, teamed as it is with a good straight man who plays it with a contagious feeling of fun, should be worth a million bucks.” HY GARDNER, New York Herald Tribune “The highly touted comedy team of Phil Ford and Mimi Hines, who made their third appearance on the Ed Sullivan shew Sun¬ day, finally made their N.Y. night-club debut Thursday night at Jules PedeU’s Copacabana. Normally, when newcomers show their faces or display their wares in this whiskey-irrigated bistro, very few mem¬ bers of the opening night audience stop talking, guzzling or eating—with the excep¬ tion, of course, of waiters, captains, press and booking agents and personal friends. In the case of Ford and Hines every one in the room must have been a personal friend for it was so quiet during their turn (except for the welcome sounds of laugh¬ ter) that you could hear a pint drip. There is no greater tribute any reviewer—or pay¬ ing guest—could pay to a pair of enter¬ tainers, old or new, than to offer such rapt attention. . . .” WILL LEONARD, Chicago Tribune “Phil Ford and Mimi Hines are exhilarat¬ ing, refreshing, and tireless. Discovery of the season.” FRANK BROOKHOUSER, Philadelphia Evening Bulletin “Their lines and their mimicry produce guffaws by the gross and they have become immediate hits in this town.” VARIETY “Miss Hines, a slim dark-haired dynamo, who can mug with the best of ’em, do side and back falls that are fantastic, make with the ad libs and funny lines, takeoff on Bardot at the drop of a hat, is a terrific comedienne. That she also can sing is an added plus. Her forte, however, is comedy. She can drive home the laugh-lines like a trip-hammer in action. Ford fe a very funny guy. He is also hip on the writing, penning all the material used, and has plenty of routines stashed away. With tv impact, and pro showmanship these two have plus-every. thing going for them—they’ve nabbed rec¬ ord-cutting contracts, too, plus full sked of nitery engagements. They’ve gone to top billing in one big jump.” Guy. PAUL HERRON, Washington, D.C., Post and Times Herald “Phil Ford and Mimi Hines are being talked about as the greatest comedy team since Martin and Lewis.” GEORGE W. CLARKE, Boston Daily Record “Sensational comics . . . Warmly received at Blinstrub’s.” LOUIS SOBOL, New York Journal-American “At the Copa, the highly talented and completely zany couple, Ford and Hines are as delightful and goofy a pair as ever tugged giggles and guffaws from a hep audience,” PHILFORD^MIMI HINES { ADOLPHUS HOTEL. Dallas EDEN ROC. Miami Beach BLINSTRUBS. Boston LATIN CASINO. Philadelphia TWIN COACHES. Pittsburgh BEVERLY HILLS C.C.. Cincinnati CASINO ROYAL. Wash'ton, D. C. EDEN ROC. Miami Beach f (Return Engagement) CHASE HOTEL. St. Louis TOWN CASINO. Buffalo RIVERSIDE HOTEL. Reno Just Concluded COPACABANA New York Currently (RETURN ENGAGEMENT) BLACK ORCHID Chicago Televisom JACK PAAR SHOW (Six Appearances) ED SULLIVAN SHOW (Four Appearances) jComing Upt LATIN CASINO. Philadelphia (April 13-18) CASINO ROYAL. Wash., D. C. (May 4-10) COCOANUT GROVE. Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles (May 20-June 3) EL MOROCCO, Montreal (June 4-10) CHELSEA AT 9 (Granada TV. London) June 14 TROPICANA, Las Vegas (June 24) DUQUESNE STATE FAIR. III. (Aug. 31 - Sept. 6) TWIN COACHES. Pittsburgh (Sept. 11-24) LATIN CASINO. Philadelphia EDEN ROC. Miami Beach RIVERSIDE HOTEL. Reno (Oct. 1-22) BLACK ORCHID. Chicago (Nov. 12-25) RCA VICTOR Records Press Re/afons: DAVID O. ALBER Assoc, Personal Management HARRY WEISMAN