February 10, 1940 VAUDEVILLE -BURLESQUE The Billboard 25

Where There's Hope .. . Miami Beach Girl Exchange Short -Changing na- Magic CHICAGO, Feb. 3.-Harry Frees, Show Is Amusing; NEW YORK, Feb. 3.-Unless formerly of the Frees Brothers vaude tive performers going to Cuba specify By BILL SACHS and circus acro act, joined the race in their contracts that they shall be from the Cast Mostly Burly paid off in solid American currency, (Communications to Cincinnati Office) as a candidate for Congress short- 22d Illinois district. Harry who has pleas- they will find themselves MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Feb. 3.-A by 11 per cent. In trans- I L. BURK, who did such a smash been playing theaters for 30 years ant surprise awaits'Music Hall customers changed AIL* job of piloting the El-Wyn Mid- promises, among other things, to ferring Cuban coin to U. S. dollars, in the current offering at the Pier (for- acts they lose that per- night Spook Party on its Coast -to -Coast bring back vaudeville. He will de- merly Minsky's). The show is actually have found tour a few years back, is now acting in mand, he says, that vaude be the rule draw many centage. funny this year and the skits A charge of is levied upon for- a similar capacity for Dariel Fitzkee's of theaters all over the country. hearty laughs. $4.50 recently concocted mystery revue, Inter- eign acts by the Cuban performers' national Magicians in Action, made up Comedians are well above the run of union. of a dozen prominent magic workers usual burlesque comics, and their ma- and now playing West Coast theaters Hirst Unit Review terial is served up to best advantage. on the beginning of what promises to be A shot of two men and a girl in a the- a transcontinental tour. The Fitzkee Lovely Lassies of 1940 ater box heckling a "drama" on the Lean B. O. Closes presentation, judging from newspaper (Unit 14-B) stage is highly amusing. Production clippings which have hit the desk, is (Reviewed at Troc Theater, Philadelphia, numbers grow tedious at times because Shubert in Philly attracting a raft of attention in Cali- Thursday Afternoon, February 1) of their sameness. PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 3.-Shubert The- fornia houses, both from the standpoint Newest revue produced by Frank Bryan, The usual number of nude scenes is ater, Hirst -operated and Minsky -managed of novelty and entertainment. Since its cut almost in two, making the audience organization a few weeks back, the unit with scenes by Johnny Kane, is quite an burly house, goes dark after tonight's per- artistic layout when stacked against appreciate them all the more. It's good formance. House has been hitting below has played ,the Curran, San Francisco; psychology. The strip teasers, inci- the Civic Auditorium, Oakland; Sacra- burly standards. And it's taller on talent par at the box office and was operating the usual run of these revues. As dentally, eliminate the corny tunes be- on a week -to -week basis. mento, and January 28 began a two- than fore is wel- week engagement at El Capitan in Holly- it tightens on its run around the Hirst unveiling-which indeed Closing cuts a week off the Hirst play- wood. Featured with the unit are Wheel, should go far on pleasing the pa- come. ing time, leaving 11 weeks. Hirst units Caro, Jimmy and trons everywhere. Girlesque Follies of 1940, which is how played the Shubert as the wind-up week, Fitzkee, Tolmack, prin- Donna Eyster, Marcia Adair, Jimmy Strippers split the billing with a flash the billing reads, is headed by Bob Car- house augmenting with additional Muir, Mr. Slyter, Mr. Ming, Lynn Miller ney, emcee, and Mary Joyce. Carney is cipals and additional line girls. Darken- dance act. The Beauty and the Beast bit town with only one burly and Senor Maldo.... J. ELDER BLACK - of choreography by Burns and Burnache, excellent and Miss Joyce strips. Others ing leaves the LEDGE, Indianapolis lecturer -magician, member in gorilla get-up for a in the cast include Marie Cord, Gladys house, Hirst's Troc, where biz has been has been associated with the Columoia male Clark, Leon Murray, Toni Mitchell, Pad- on an even keel. It was only a few years Tondelaya terp turn, makes for the most dy and and supported three burly Lecture Bureau, a division of Columbia of ballet productions. Cliff, Dixie Sullivan Marshall ago that the town Artists, New York, since the first of the interesting the Welsh. The dancing talent in spots is houses. Hirst's Bijou has since turned he Dance duo well received here. year. . . . JOHNNIE EADS pens that in highly acceptable. into a movie grind. has been keeping busy in and around nis Comic relief is the richest here There is a bar close by, which gives the home town, Medford, Ore., since closing weeks, with Joe Freed and Bert Carr in establishment the air of a night club. the season with the Foley ,Z Burk Shows Hebe roles alternating in the sketches. Lee Simmonds. in October. He enjoyed a visit last week It's not so much the material but their Teresita, featured dancer. Chorines are from Harry Wong and Emerico. Former delivery that counted most, with Carr's Anna May Butler, Susanne Paul, Sisille is playing CCC camps in the Oregon offsides and mugging making a royal time Lantz's Louisville Line -Up Pando, Mary Dickman, Cora Stocker, country, and the latter, schools. Eads of it. Gets the best of the guffawing as Ruby Landrum, Emily Evans, Dee Bailee, infos that he's framing a new layout for hizzoner in the Meet Father courtroom LOUISVILLE, Feb. 3.-In the cast of Midge Cornett, Ruth Eldridge, Marta clubs and schools... . THE NINTH AN- scene. Paddy Cliff and Bert Saunders "Blackie" Lantz's stock burlesque at the Foxx, Jean Powers, Pat Rush, Betty De NUAL Magi -Fest staged by the Columbus are straights, with Cliff lending robust Drury Lane Theater here are Buddy Lake Monburn, Ruth Stinson and May Brown. (O.) Magic Club, January 26-27, panned and strained tenor in the production bits. and Honey Chile and Cliff Cochrane, co- Vaude acts this week included Kohn and out a huge success, according to word Dorothy DeHaven makes for a saucy medians; Ray R. Kolb, characters and DePinto, LeRoy's Dogs, Don Caper, Allan from S. W. Reilly, who says that 235 soubret. Also doubles in terps with an straights; Johnny Watson, straights; Billy Smon-Tan and the Magic Flyers. Lantz guests registered and that the charity elementary toe dance to give some sub- Hudson, tenor; Dot Farley, prim and talk- is encouraged by the business done by the show was a sellout to 1,500 people. The stance to the Study in Blue ballet. Chorus ing woman; Billie Mayshell, soubret, and troupe since the opening January 26. bill, emseed by Harry E. Cecil, included of 10 steppers and six strutters are nicely Jack Thomas, Douglas Anderson, Ed costumed and easy to take. But the gals Fanley, Guy Stanley, Galvanda, Sturm still cannot achieve a semblance of pre- and Dr. Carroll Ritchey. . BOB NEL- cision. Unit falls short in its ballet SON, prez of the Magic Hobby Club, re- scenes, which, if on par with the special- ports the same results for that organiza- the Lovely held in Columbus ties and sketches, would make Burlesque Notes tion's get-together Ladies for the vaude unit houses. January 27. "Our shindig opened at 2 good and the last magician Strippers also carry plenty on the ball. (Communications to New York Office), p.m. Saturday Helen Colby is a youthful blond looker was hanged at 5:30 the next morning," Gal, in NEW YORK: Century, Brooklyn, inserted a Gay '908 writes Nelson. "We had hoped to get to- who leaves a lasting impression. number last week as a build-up for the gether with the Columbus Magic Club a green spangled gown, is practically the GEORGE KATZ, operator of the Em- Beef Trusters, in which Ann LaBelle, for a social week-end magi -fest and epitome of grace in making an artistic bassy, Rochester, threw a wedding party Jean Remington and Thor Tone doubled the proposal, but one or two of ritual of disrobement. Sally O'Day, saucy for Jeanne Pardue (Judy Hurley), strip- as singing and dancing leads made aside the white of grotesque the boys raised so much hell that they brunet looker, casts per, and Sam Raynor, comic, the night with singer Joey Shaw... . HENI JOYCE wouldn't consider it. So the affair chiffon with a jungle feverish dance. their marriage, January 17. A convertible and her Kewpie Dolls, a Beef Trust ag- was somewhat divided for the guests. Pat Paree, lead in this back -to-nature coupe, Raynor's gift to his bride, trans- gregation including herself, Bobbie However, everybody had a great time." movement, makes it via the dance route. ported both to Miami Beach, Fla., Jan- Diamond, Myrna Dale, Peggy O'Day, Ruth The Columbus Citizen gave considerable Tempo of her terp matches the tempera- uary 26 for a honeymoon trip. Romance Gottlieb, Terry Loy and Margaret King, space to the two events and commented ture of the music, going all the way from began a few weeks before in Buffalo, when wound up a week January. 25 at the on the confusion occasioned by the two the Rhapsody in Blue to St. Louis Blues. both were principals in a Midwest Cir- Century, Brooklyn, moved from there to rival groups holding separate affairs. Two sock specialties round out this two- cuit show. Jeanne formerly was Mrs. the Lyric, Bridgeport, Conn., and acter. Otto Eason, sepia lad, is a show - Irving Lehrer. . SAMMY SPEARS, migrates then to the Roosevelt Hotel, stopper with expert tap on roller skates. comic, opened at the Triboro January 26, Jacksonville, Fla., for an indefinite stay. CARYL FLEMING, president'of the Pa- Gets the greatest palm salve when taking relieving Pinky Lee, who returned to the KITTY VOSS is the new chorus cific Coast Association of Magicians, to the miniature steps with the wheels. Gaiety. Also new at the Triboro are Nona captain at the Gaiety, replacing Ruth was in San Diego, Calif., several days Paul King also kicks in a spirited stanza Martin and Carmen Rand. . HONEY Freeman, who shifted to the Triboro in last week, arranging plans for the PCAM with his harsponica wizardry. giving 'em BEE KELLER moved from the Triboro a similar capacity.... LILLI DAWN left convention to be held there in July.. . a swingeroo and the classic William Tell last week to the Gayety, Boston. the Eltinge suddenly January 20 be- L. O. GUNN typewrites from Los An- a birthday back- cause of a controversy about a particu- Overture. ANNETTE celebrated the show, geles: "Thrifty Drug Stores are sponsor- Merrick Valinote and his tootlers pro- stage at the Gaiety January 25. . lar strip spot in the layout of ing magic exposes over the radio. One vide the musical background from the DAVE COHN placed Jeryl Dean, Nadine due to the incoming of Margie Hart. . of the local birds is helping with - JEAN DeMEAUX, producer, auditioned a man trench. Marsh and Alabassi into the Star, supervising, expose. A few dimes will make Dian Rowland heads the next unit in, lyn, February 2, to succeed Cell Von Dell, all week, with Ned McGurn do most anything." . CHARLES H. at the Republic prior to entraining to with Hinda Wassau inked in to lead the Joan Wray and Adra Cooper. . . . LOIS NOTES MAUGHAN, of the publicity department M. H. Orodenker. at (See BURLESQUE on page 54) WREC, Memphis, shoots a line one after. DEFEE and Marlene extra-attractioned of Station February 2 week, and Rags to tell of the big business enjoyed re- the Gaiety cently by Blackstone a) the Orpheum Ragland, comic, joins February 16. The Dome there. It was the third consecutive Uurlesque RCvíew For All Show -Folk season that Blackstone has packed 'em LLOYD MULLER, of the Hotel Claridge, at that stand, says Maughan, who credits Grand, Canton, O. returned from a tour of out-of-town a. and burly houses in time to attend a double Tommy Thompson, Blackstone's p. Saturday Evening, Jan. 27) a Memphis lad. with a large measure of (Reviewed birthday party tendered Dave Black and HOTEL CLARIDGE the best of . the success the show has enjoyed there. With but one exception, Al Specter by the management. AND 44TH STREET "Tommy really went to tpwn here," the Midwest Circuit shows to appear INEZ GRAY, of the Republic's front liners In the Heart of writes Maughan, "with all manners of here this season. Unit is long on talent, and chorus captain, forced to leave for her Phone: BR-yant 9-0346 tie-ups for news space, in addition to with every department better than the home in Hutchinson, Kan., because of ill- on all four of Mem- average and the comedy contingent be- ness. Betty Keane, who replaced her as having Blackstone comic, SPECIAL RATES phis' radio stations." FORCED TO ing tops. "Senator" Bob Ferguson, captain, is also putting on the jazz num- TO THE PROFESSION CANCEL the balance of their 1940 tour, and Charmaine share top billing. bers as assistant to Jean Demeaux, who and Company Incidentally, policy switch appeared to due to illness, Roberts succeeded Ned McGurn as producer. $8 Single, $10 Double, Without Bath. (See MAGIC on page 54) please patrons, the four acts of vaude Crystal Aymes left February 1 for the Bath eliminated. Instead of the $10.50 Single, $12.50 Double, With having been Gayety, Boston. Johnny Cook relieved Shower - Bath - and Radio. burlesque, bill now runs full Beat These Prices. abbreviated Lou Petel February 2. . . . TINY HUFF, Impossible To two hours. Largest ,Rooms in Greater New York. lot fully recovered from a recent illness and Ferguson is funny. Dishes out a back from a brief vacation at her home of new gags and uses some that are not reopened at the Club Hol- MAGICIANS! so new but gets away with it. His co - in the South, CLUB-VAUDEVILLE-ROAD SHOW 29. . . . FRAN LEWIS, Na. garners land January Comprehensive Publicity Service Weekly, comedy worker, Irving Harmon, to leave the Hirst Cir- WANT tional Releases, Pictures, Stories, Gags, etc., for himself, with the dancer, compelled in your city ahead of a lot of laughs L. I., battle Strip Tease Artists, Talking Women that Issued to publications 0f Jack Coyle, a better-than - cuit for her Jamaica, home to your engagement. assistance . . . MAC can sing. Good salaries for the right people. Publicity Office of Ferguson's outstand- with a pneumonia attack. Write for Complete Details, average straight. BARRON, comic, was away ing skits include the dog auction, court- GOGGLES Contact WALTER BUDD, Producer room scene and the night club incident. from the Esquire Club, Baltimore, for two COPY, COPY Harmon and Ted Kent, tenor, make a weeks because of grip. MAIN THEATER * 414 East Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Md. 701 SEVENTH AVENUE, NEW YORK hit with their silent movie days panto - H. Le Roy Shonting, Director (See BURLESQUE REVIEW on page 54) NATALIE CARTIER, producer at the

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