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 pain
Of shoes left vacant by Bobby CLARK
and Paul Mccullough in the cur
rent Earl CAROLS "Vanities" al
the Indiana-and he's doing q
splendid job of it.
Working at breakneck speed
Earl Carroll himself revamped the
"Vanities" yesterday morning to fl
Mr.. House into the show. Skits tao
to be rehearsed and action had tc
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 puffec
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 a 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 usua
high par. They all are beauties
nearly all different types, and every
one a credit to the show. There il
a general lack of nudity. which il
unusual but extremely refreshing II
this "Vanities.'
The show numbers include the
Great Waltz" featuring Miss Lor'
raine and Mr.. House in comedy
costume dance, and Love Clouds,
which has as the centerpiece the
Carroll chorus carrying silver balls
Unique lighting and the dancing O.
Miss Page add to this one.
Mr.. House Funny
Of the "black -outs," perhaps tn,
one in which Mr.. House appears a.
the philandering hubby in state
room is best. Here he attempts tt
get his wife away so the Sweethear
can come in. The situation is al
ancient one, and the funniest par
of the skit is the way in which MI
House misses the light cues. The,
come on when he turns them of
and vice versa.
Charles Carers juggling is
good contrast for the rest of tn
show, and is performed with enough
speed to keep it from interfering
with the tempo of the revue.
The greatest addition Mr.. Car
roll has made to his show is bottlet
up in the Cirillo brothers, a quartz
of young men who can do almcS
anything well. They start out a
hill-billies, with Bronx quirks il
their voices. They end up in tail
and white ties, and are seen in
snappy dance finale. These mel
are truly funny.
Al Sexton sings the production
songs, and the Crane sisters ar
seen In several short bits.
The picture at the Indiana, He