The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-18
Billy House, Comic, Fills
Double Hole, and
He Succeeds.
BY JOHN w. THOMPSON

Billy House, the elephantine
comedian, is trying to fill two pair
of shoes left vacant by Bobby Clark
and Paul Mccullough in the cur
rent Earl CAROLS "Vanities" at
the Indiapa-and he's doing a
splendid job of it.
Working at break-neck speed
Earl Carroll himself revamped the
"Vanities" yesterday morning to fit
Mr.. House into the show. Skits had
to be rehearsed and action had to
be learned. From a. m. until the
first show started, the entire cast
worked hard to form typical Car
roll show. AS far as we are con-
cerned they succeeded. It's bang
up entertainment with almost any,
thing along the musical revue line
you could wish for.
Mr.. House, we understand, worked
practically all Thursday night,
learning his parts in the show
Yesterday he sweated and pulled
through the first show, cropping in
places, but coming out on top al
ways. Even the cast seemed pleas
antly surprised at the inevitable
House asides and ad Ibis which have
made Billy one of the stages most
infectious comedians.
Show Improved
Besides Mr.. House, Mr.. Carroll
has greatly improved his show
since it last was seen here. He has
had to speed it up to make it work
into movie house program and
that evidently has helped. If there
was any chance for the "Vanities"
to drag before, there is no more.
The "Vanities" are staged in the
traditional Carroll manner, with in
dividual specialties edged in be-
tween production numbers. 1t Is
a well-balanced program, with only
Lucille Page seeming to do too
much work.
The best of the individual dancers
Is Buster West. His eccentric soft
shoe number vowed" the audience
at yesterdays performances. He
conveniently combines comedy with
trick dancing.
Miss Pages "moderne" number,
staged under blue lights, is her best
solo. Her acrobatics can hardly be
compared with those Of any other
dancer on the stage today.
Part Is Amplified
Jean Lorraine's part in the show
has been amplified and she helps
humorous "black-out" sketches with
her a-kimbo strutting. Miss Lor-
raine's Spanish speciality is among
the high points of the show. This
she performs with the aid of the
male chorus Can adept one).
The girls in Mr. CAROLS show
are, If anything, above his usual
high par. They all are beauties,
nearly all different types, and every
one credit to the show. There is
a general lack of nudity, which is
unusual but extremely refreshing in
this "Vanities."
The show numbers include the
"Great Waltz" featuring Miss Lor-
d1llC dlll lN1l I1OuOC l1l o. OOlllC0y
costume dance, and Love Clouds"
which has as the centerpiece the
Carroll chorus carrying silver balls.
Unique lighting and the dancing of
Miss Page add to this one.
Mr.. House Funny
Of the "black-outs," perhaps the
one in which Mr.. House appears as
the philandering hubby in state
room is best. Here he attempts to
get his wife away so the sweetheart
can come in. The situation is an
ancient one, and the funniest part
of the skit is the way in which Mr..
House misses the light cues. They
come on when he turns them off
and vice versa.
Charles Carers juggling is a
good contrast for the rest of the
show, and is performed with enough
speed to keep it from interfering
with the tempo of the revue.
The greatest addition Mr. Car
up in the Cirillo brothers, quartet
of young men who can do almost
anything we'll They start out as
hill-billies, with Bronx quirks in
their voices. They end up in tails
and white ties, and are seen in a
snappy dance finale. These men
are truly funny.
AL Sexton sings the production
songs. and the Crane sisters are
seen in several short bits.
The picture at the Indiana, Her