Variety (February 1926)

rvr- VARIETY CABARETS Wednesday. February 8, 1939 > CABARET REVIEWS 5TH AVE. CLUB Quite an umbiiluua eiuei cviiniaeni •t iitily iioae'it 6th Ave. Ciub, but u questiun whether jubt the th.ng fui a New York supper club, in tem- pcruie Kruiice uii utter theatre ui- vonissemeni such us Kuse is ot- tering would cunimand sulucicn> atieiuion, but ill tiicse pru-prul)ib- Itlon benighted states one wonUer^ wliether the clever Lorenst H^i. lyrics aren't wasted on the !<■ Couvert charges. " The 5ih Ave. Club is the first nighi place on the uvenue, ultiiou^h tiic Embassy nearby has been function- ing successfully, but more us u dinner proposition. The new caft. Is on the site of the former Cri- terion Club, although coni,iletoly re- niouclcd. An outer room Is a Perfumed Gar- den with three Assyrians p.ayJnii weird Oriental lunis for the a^mos- pl.ere. That part of it is all t6 the $5 class but the main cafe room possesses just an ordinary Broad- way atmosphere. Notliing Fifti. avenooiah about it. 'Ihe show is a bear for ideas am. cleverness, the '"dope" being that the cafe will serve as a breaU-in for r'.i'd.'uy niaKT. il. It ■-! Ilos"': Intention to sponsor a "Fifth Ave- nue I'oliits" revue on ijiOau..ay ba^;ed on this matcr.al. Seymour Felix, who staged thi dances, and Hichard Rodgers ani. Lorenz Hart, who did the music and lyrics, are receiving royalties for their contributions to the "Fiftli Avenue Follies,'' such arrangement In it.self being a departure. Harms. Inc., is publishing the score. The substance of the revue la u clever female sextet, equally dividrtl as to blondes and brunets with the- opening number, "Do You Notice Anything?" being a boast that tht choristers will be the best remem- bored thins nltor aM i.s snll nn'' done, and after the principals have had tlieir innings. Cecil Cunningham, Bert Hanioii and Doris Canfield are the scintil- lating triumvirate of the proceed- ings. They do their stuff "Ih the Name of Art^ aa the second offering An Harold Atterldge skit, "Fa- tl^'ue," with Bobbie C!if as the Com- mere. and Hanlon, Cunningham and Canneld comprising the eternal tri- angle, is a bright offering, funny and worthy of a revue showing. "Do You Notice Anything?" is a reprise and continued for three or four times more, the choristers each time appearing with less and les.s costuming, that being th» spice of the show. ^ "The Morning After" is a naughty Bliit. "Maybe It's Me" is one of the best numbers in the show, intro- ducing I<:ii:.abcth Brown and Danny McCarthy for a waltz number. The team has been seen before at the Hue de la Paix, Miss Brown being best remembered as Sednno's part- ner. Johnny Clare and Albert Burke with the 5th Ave. girls otherwise Burg the number. Bert Hanlon then cut up with a clown "Mammy.'s Knoe" number in which he eulogized mammy's fallen arches and broken instep. It's a corMng number and smart. Mignon Laird's harp dance scored, her acrobatic stuff standing out. "Literally Speaking" (by Atter- ldge) was an idea that would make a funny skit if built up. It's funny, but not aa clever as it could be de- veloped. The idiomatic Kn-^iish language is uti.i ed, the slanr phra.ses being literally interpreted by action such as "I have a case on you" (with a prop cane being place on the vis-a-vis); "I'm fall- ing for you" (with a nop); "you kill mo!" (with a prop pi.stol utilized for the literal interpretation of th< expression), etc. Hanlon and Miss Canfleld in "A City Flat" showed another cute number. Miss Cunningham's "Mike " was too long drawn out, the .song- stress bewailing the los^ of her hus- bands love since he .doesn't beat her as he was wont. Adlor. Well and Herman, clever ratiiskeller trio, placed a Broadway etjimp on the 5th avenue interior, this being one of the several thing;; that make one forget the ritzy alloy. "So Does Your Old Mandarin," a cntp Chink nvi>il)er, among other thinfjs stood out. "illt;h llats." -Where's That Lit- tle Girl?" and "Simie," with a wow Of a finnle (the chori.sters comin- down from the stai,'^ „„ to the dance . floor for this) coini.l.M.d the offcr- " r"m. -^"f't." l,„r..,l,u..,l a soxtet of The 200-poundor8 doinR an oM-tlnic> parade number were a wow amid the clever surroundigs of the lireceding material, (incidentally, the only professional lemperanient come.s from the big gals, who take .iieir hokum parade seriously anii object to Miss Canlleld'a prop bun- gling up of the routines). llie mural decorations of the room proper are by Clara Tice and noi i)articulurly noteworthy. That blac. border has a gloomy effect on the luditors. The dance floor is much too small, l)ut a Harry Archer band, only eight men, recruited from the "AIerr> Merry'' show and directed by Uegi- nald Chiids, is a corker. It has f>verything desirable for a clas.'- ■,iipi)or club, being smirt. subduc>l. rhythmic and dance-inspiring. In addition, it takes a tried and proved show orchestra to play the score lor this show. iiie r. om cost Rose J.'i" oro to open. The show costa $3,500 to operate, and tlie place in to.at lias u $5,000 weekly overhead. It looks ah t»f that. The policy of the club seems un- certain. To quote Rose: "We are working on the theory nothing is too mucli for the $5 couvert." Hence, the perfumed garden; hence an actual loss of revenue when all service is suspended during the show's run- ning time of one hour. Nobody can be served from 12:40 to 1:40. He has ills cigaret girl dressed up in a •personality" gag of a sheer skirt (although that may be her own ;dea) and other little niceties for -jeneral Impression. All of which is commendable. If he can adjust .•natters to bolster up the general \tmosphere to spell "class" In keep- ing with the location and the cou- vert, which should make for ex- clusivenesa in itself, he has a win- ner. The controversy over Miss Can- field, who was permitted to play out the week at the cafe by the Keith-Albee people before returning to the K-A fold. Is worthy of com- ment. Miss Canfleld is clever and possesses possibilities which the vaudeville people discovered only when reports of her cafe impression percolated into the booking office. In a production she should stand out particularly, as she handles lines and business In great style Keith's plans for her are for a two- act combination. Abel. tamea even tha wildest aa an at- tention-grabber late la th* morn- ing. An added starter la Dolly Sterling, the inimitable, who la doubling from Texas Gulnan'a 300 Club. Her "Winegar Wolka" and tough num- bers are classics. Miss Sterling un- corking a couple of fly punchlines in the k\8t two ditties. It's a clever show, a cute place and the band Is all there, which makes it a perfect combination. AbeU Bacoi SlLVERBELl .; BANJOS ^^^ Neu Catatog-^Just Out THf BACON BANJO CO., Inc GROTOlte'CONN. _ .■• 54THnST. club Al Raymo, former vaudevilllan, is the host at this new night club entry, not so new strictly, but only coming into prominence the past fortnight or so. Raymo la going in for tiie "human form unadorned" billing and the gals live up to it, hence the attendance at 13 a head. It's a cozy room, on the same block with the Casa Lopez, seating 200. Mary Mulhern is the piece-de- resistance of the works, the ultra shapely young woman giving lie to the wheeze about the secrecy of woman. Yet nothing is offensive. Miss Mulhern being as pretty as she is shapely, the charm offsetting everything else and in truth, under all conditions. Impressing as a statuesque and- wholesome exhibi- tion akin to a museum viewing of nude sculpture. That's kind of a stiff gSLfi ns regards a night club, but such is the reaction. On top of that, there Is really a smart entertainment on view for the three buck assessment. Some- thing is doing at all times, the Idea being a marathon of entertainment with never a lull. The smart Mike Speclale band, for .years a fixture at the Carlton Ter- race hotel, is a dance staple with an oxceptionaiiy fine sense of rhythm and syncopation, a natural heritaKO from their prolific re- cording experience for the phono- graph disks. Of the show, Dorothy Ramey In a pajama, number opens smartly, this being'an N. T. O. and Frank Bannister conception, the former conceiving and authoring the revue with Bannister doing the songs. Ann I'age's hula number is a kicker, and Harriet Townes (Tom I'atrlcola's former partner) steps like nobody's business. Frances Mallery, with a Charles- ton, clicked as did Bernice Pctkere, vocally, and also accompanying: Raymo for an impromptu "wop" numlfcr, n Raymo staple. Of the flash numbers, Dorothy Ramoy led a cute Kve nunil)cr with prop .-rpples pnssed out to the cou- vert char'^e Adams at the $3 v.an- tagp points. And plenty bit the apr'l''. too, but gulped several times with Miss Mulhern's entrance a.s the I'.vi: of Rvp.s wearing a smile and a li'o't of optimism. The Jlanley Sisters, sweet and pr-ttv cntle.s, .lid double* numbers, and Polly and Molly dittoed to uko aci ompanimcnt. Van Lowe, an In- vclcratp rnaster of pcrcmonlos. has alway.s l.ci-n a qucst'on a.s a Moor show pfTHonality. but spcrns to l)e making the rounds of the all nK-hJ. pliccs in a series of limited cngaiie- tnent.* A couple of other production nnm- l)ers were a ro.se ballet with rosebud <(>sturnoa Intrlgulnfrly arranKcd. !\n<\ an Indian ensemble number that MOULIN ROUGE Chicago. Jan. 2S. Moulin Rouge Is getting to be a hang-out for show folks who are quick to respond to the cordial spirit Proprietor Bill Rothstein in- stills in hia deailnga. Some of the cafe men in this town seem to be laboring under h secret sorrow when they are introduced to anyone, but Bill Rothstein la what the dames call a "sweet guy." He appears glad to see you come In and sorry to see you go out. What a business asset that is! Following the tragic exit of Eve- lyn Nesbit, another one of the wo- men in Harry Thaw's life. Fawn Gray, got the big lights out front. Lots of good publicity goes with Fawn. Her act consists of a gen- erous exhibition of a f^ure that would show up better after a spell of Iamb chops and pineapples. The flimsy costume accentuates it. That costume, however, created a world of excitement among several groups of stags who made noises Indicative of high blood pressure. Ha*- Charleston is pretty good. Producer Dan Blanco has a good assortment of talent. The Moulin Rouge does not have any set sched- ule for new acts. They have 10, dropping one or two each week as a rule but keeping an attraction aa losg as condltlona warrant. Thua Mike and Ike. twin midgets from the carnival world, are just winding up a very long engagement, while another act might only be In a couple of weelis. And the hottest band the Chi- cago cabarets have to offer is here. It's a colored aggregation headed by Jamea Wade. When you dance at Moulin Rouge you have to be in condition. It's serioua business keeping afloat. But a joy for the dance-flenda. Among the acta caught between twelve and one waa Paulette La Pierre, a singer with a Mortlreal accent. Shejs a filler-in, her voice not being over-strong. A great singing combination waa Smith and Durrell, man and woman wlio har- monize on the heavy stuff and get over big. Pedro Ru^tin did a vig- orous tambourine dance. Ray and Joyce danced soft shoe and Miss Gray made her sensational "per- sonal appearance"—it's personal, all right. A snappy placs^ this Moulin Rouga HaL Ballroom Instructress at $100 Per Despits th* occasional blurbs from -ths dailjr newspaper "aob Bisters" anent the trials and tribulations of the dance hall Instruc- tresses, there are any number of girls doing well In that capacity. Particularly, a couple of smart gals at the Clover Gardens ballroom in the Grand Central Palace, east of Fifth avenue, are averaging tlOO and more weekly, caterlnj; to the hotel element that dropa In from the Roosevelt. Blltmore, Commodore, etc. The tips count with the gals. There may not be much in getting n cents out of each three dances which cost the patron 35 cents, the dime difference going to the house, but Judicious attention to their partners and Initiation into the niceties of ballroom terpslchore has Its compensations otherwise. The ballroom Instructresses parallel the night club hostess propoal- tlon and, everything elae considered, the "nick" Is not so heavy f^r the evening. Ballroom's Charleston 2d Elimination Contest Chicago. Feb. Z. White City Ballrooms, always taking the initiative in plugging the Charleston around here with one of its bands, Sid Meyer and His Druids, the orchestra chrfSen to play for the city-wide Charleston contest of last fall, is novr promoting another Charleston elimination contest with the finals set for April 21. Prizes totaling $2,000 partly cash and partly Jewelry will be distrib- uted In the course of the contests. John and Chrlsto Concession John and Chrlsto have taken over the kitchen cenceaslon at the Plan- tation. Both still control the 300 Club's kitchen, although Texas Gulnan has taken over the proposi- tion otherwise. MONTE CARLO with the Chummy Club on Seventh avenue afflicted witli Buck- neritis. which caused a premature suspen.slon of business. William J. Gallagher now has the Monte Carlo as the solo proposition to concen- trate on. Seemingly, that is his idea. The Monte Carlo, with the elimination of the Strand Hoof for similar reasons as the Chummy Club, Is now in the unique position of commanding a certain following all to Itself The out-of-towr and suburban trade which haa for long been wont to hie either to the Strand Roof or the M. C. for after theatre divertissement, now has the Gallagher cafe on 51st street and Broadway to command Its sole at- tention. Gallagher Is seemingly Intent on building up the place. Jan. 21 he Introduced a new show, "Ted Rclly's I'"*antasloft, with Bert Lewis aa the extra added attraction. Lewis is a Broadway vet with a marathon run at the Kentucky Club to his credit. He ofTlclatcs hero aa a solo hicrhllght aided and abetted by his piano virtuoso. Aila Walla, a portly Hindu, who comes to Broadway by way of 135th street and Lenox avenua He Is good for a laugh and can be built up aa a night club gag. According to plans, however, G.allagher contomplatea reopening the padlocked Barn Club and rcchrl.ston It the Bert Lewis Club with Lewis as the big noise. The Ted Relly revue Is typical of the Relly school, going In for some IVashy ballet stuff that misses, but tiie costuming, however, la at- tractive and fresh looking. There are nine girls, with Buddy Kennedy, an experienced juvenile, acting as master of cerenionlea. Johnny Dale of the male contingent is an acrobatic stepper of no small order. Some attention to sartorial details for "class" appearance would not hurt the general .scheme of thlnu'3. but as a legmanla artist he la flashy. Ti'irtlcul.arly at close r.antre on a r.afo floor. Bobble Adams la a personality rng sonfTStress who might clioosc her material, with better JiidKmont, but that may come In time. The girl posses.Mos a roguish "front" that Imtiresies tiie more she Is on. Violet McKee steps better than she sings; she should forget the vocalizing If possible. Her high kick stuff Is okay. Bernice- Fur- rows, the prima. Is satisfactory. The choristers open cold Mrlth no Introductory comment, going through an ensemble routine and making a nice appearance. Ken- nedy, a perfectly at ease confer- encler. ^hen Introduces the princi- pals In rhyme, also leading one or two numbers effectively. Lewis Is a syncopating cyclone who goes even better In a smaller room. The Monte Carlo Is too large a capacity for him, although he clicked. The show needs priming and prunlnc and building, shaping up only as so-so on Its present presen- tation. On the musle end Roaa Gorman and his orchestra are a relkible standby. The combination, with several changea sounds well and is an attraction In Itself. AbeL "Hostess" Is Sent Away for Stealing Lace Grace Llchter, who described her- self as a "hostess," living at the Hotel Hargrave. West 77th street, was sentenced to Auburn prison for women to a term of from one to two years by Judge Max S. Levlne In General Sessions Friday. The woman pleaded guilty te srand larceny a week ago. Accord, ing to the police ihe has been la trouble several times before. MIsa Llchter waa arrested two weeks ago on complaint of Eliza- beth R. Jacobs, aaleswoman, em- ployed by George Tabet. lace dealer, at 510 Madison avenue. Miss Jacobs claimed the defendant stole laces valued at $127 on Dec. ^" The laces were later found In a furnished room at 70 West 69tl street where Miss Llchter had formerly lived. Large Kitchen Operator Joe Freeman, who had Freem.an'i before disposing of his 711 7th ave- nue place to Gertner's, contemplates a Times square return in two years when his atop arrangement with Gertner expires. Meantime Free- man Is one of the biggest conces- sionaires among the night clubS, operating the kitchens at the Club Rlchmai^ Anatole. Fifth Avenue Club, daravan and CaardI amon< othera Gallagher Takes Csardi Club William J. Gallagher has taken over the Csardi Club. New York, which Joe Fejer opened with an Hungarian policy. The new Idea of entertainment has not been de- cided on. LEADING ORCHESTRAS IRVING AARONSON AND HIS COMMANDERS LOEW'8 STATE, ST. LOUIS, MO. DAN GREGORY AND HIS Victor Recording Orchestra En Rout* to Coast Pane* Tour* Headquarter! 1101 North 16th Street HARRISBUR6, PA. I CHARLEY STRAIGIfr ! AND HIS Rendexvou* Orchestra B^ndesTooB Cat*. Chluise. 111. Alao Jack Johnitona an<1 Hia Ramorar Orcheatra. <A Charley btralahi Unit). Caloc Coaa Inatramenta Kxclualvaly ARTHUR SIZEMORE And His SERENADERS MADRID BALL ROOM, WAUKEGAN, ILL. Conn Instrnments Exclnsively MR. AL TUCKER and hia SOCIEH ORCHESTRA Keith-Orpheum Circuits DIrrrllon fl«mard Bark* RAY WALKER'S RADIOLIANS PLAYING CLUBS Representative, Harry Pearl 1607 B'WAY, NEW YORK CITY ACE BRIGODE ] and His 14 Virginians Swisa Gardens, Bond Hill CINCINNATI, O. DETROIT JEAN GOLDKETTE Orchestras Y1CTOB RKCORDfl MAL HALLETT [ and his Versatile Entertaining Band NOW PLAYING ARCADIA BALLROOM FIFTH SEASON ON BROADWAY Original Indiana 5 Record and Radio Artists Now Playing Cinderella Ballroom 48tb 8tr««f and llroadway Nrm York TOMirt MORTON Maaaser rhoiM Bichmond nui 8479. BtarUng SSM VAN AND HIS COLLEGIANS ASTORIA 9644-J JAMES F. WADES f Moulin Rouge Orchestra (^6"M^r.) Radio ArUsts Best Colored Orchestra in the West MOULIN ROUGE CAFE, CHICAGO