The Washington times., 1935-11-29

AL Schacht After Job
Al Schacht wants to play a week
for Washington vaudeville fans.
Yes, the same AL Schacht who used
to send 'em from third base when
Griff and George Marshall and
myself often thought it was bet
ter to anchor.
Comedian Schacht is now the
third-base coach for Joe Cronin's S
Red Sox. Recently, he writes, he
broke all box office records, while
playing a one weeks engagement
in Detroit. Boy did they pile in.
The picture was "Mutiny on the
Bounty"
But, all kiddin' aside, AL Schacht
is a better comedian than Nick
Altrock thinks he is. AL wants
to play the Fox and has PROPOSE
toned Carter Barron about it. At
this moment the theater and the
comic are divided over just what
the salary should be. Schacht
has won many an argument with
foxy Clark Griffith over money
and so I'll take a little side bet
on AL, although I don't think
he'll win when Maestro Phil
Lampkin propositions him about
becoming a guest radio star.
Rudy Joins Scandals"
Last night over the air Rudy
Vallee confirmed this depart
ment's Wednesday exclusive that
he would join George Whites
Scandals" for the Washington
engagement beginning Monday
December 9. So will Willie and
Eugene Howard, as announced
yesterday.
Take it from your critic George
White will have a bang-up show
to offer the Washington custom
ers prior to New York. saw
the first performance Of the
twelfth Scandals when it opened
in Richmond about five weeks
ago and it was a spotty revue.
That is, it had some crackerjack
stuff but there were dull stretches
and he was desperately in need
Of the right male voice. Rudy
will supply that. Besides he has
recruited Sheila Barrett to re.
place LYDIA Roberti and has
dropped the indigo Skit which got
a Polar bear reception in the Old
Dominion.
Incidentally Cliff "Ukulele Ike"
Edwards, second comedian and
chief prop for Bert Lahr, aband.
oned his uke and decided to work
without plucking on a shrimp
mandolin. Audiences just wouldn't t
have it. Everywhere that
Scandals" played they asked
about Cliffs uke. He held out
for a couple of weeks and then
decided mo Dice" trying to edu.
cate audiences. So he dipped
into the old trunk, shook off the
moth balls, and dug up the uke.
He's "Ukulele Ike" again. That's
the way think you'd have it.
Benny Davis Back
That man Benny Davis is in
again, at the Earle this time. Well,
he can come often so far as
am concerned for I have never
yet seen him arrive without a
great hours worth of entertain.
ment.
It seems to me that Benny
Davis has written so many hit
songs he ought to be able to re.
tire. Else there isn't much money
in music. His last bell ringer
and the one I like best Of all-is
Chasing Shadows" Benny loves
"Margie," so she must be the
song child that fattened his check
book the most.
Seriousl'', Benny Davis digs ur
some fine young talent They are
not amateurs, nor does he rob
the filling stations for singers. To
get with a Benny Davis unit is to
get a chance to move up. though
you may not get much money to
send home to mother. You must
have talent. Maestro Davis is now
Dragging about discovering Ell.
eanor Powell and Ruby Keeler. l
guess he's right. and I won't dis
pute him, for he could bring a list
as long as an auto repair bill,
with nothing but names of celeb
rites who call him Columbus
Jackie Heller is the last one I re.
member who moved up with a
Davis tag of all wool as an enter.
tainer.
Before I forget it let me say
that Benny Davis is stopping off
for a week. Last time saw him
was on the Boardwalk at Atlantic
City. He was leaning up against
a Ritz wheel chair and looked as
forlorn as the guy who missed a
$4,000 daily double by a nose and
a whiSker. I didn't speak to him
because Little Jack Little said he
was probably thinking up a torch
song. Probably he'll sing it this
week. Who can tell?