Evening star., 1942-03-17

anceS, an habitue by the most ex-
acting standards, dropped In on the
Mayfair maestro for the first time
in a year, previous to which period
he had been a rather constant at
tendant of Kain musical entertain
ment. Recognition was immediate;
both parties exchanged the airy
hand wave and "Hi'ya," and the
habitue adjourned to corner of the
room with his guests to discuss the
1912 buckwheat crop and wait until
Paul was through with the set be-
fore having friendly words with him.
But hardly had the visitor be-
come settled when he began to no
tice familiar music in the air. He
couldn't quite place 1t even after
his mind had strayed entirely from
the table conversation to the band
stand and he had started to hum
along with the music. Came the
revelation, so to speak.
There was good old dutiful Paul
barking back to dim yesteryear with
cycle of Noel Coward melodies
You Were There" "zigeuner," It'll
See You Again." etc.-which his
habitue chum used to absorb by the
delightful hour in the days when
Mr.. Kain's outfit played in the
Wardman.
1t cannot be said of Charlie Rock.
who bends loving chin over hot
fiddle in the Hi-Hat, that he and
his foursome fail to rock the patrons
vocally and instrumenta1ly when
they attack some up-to-date ditty
of a sprightly nature. And the same
may be quoted regarding their ven-
lures into "old favorites" which are
very frequently requested and never
turned down.
On some occasions, however, the
Hi-Hat clientele has shown the
somewhat disconcerting habit Of de-
manding q selection Of such age
and obScurity that Charlie finds
himself personally at a loss to recall
the lyrics of same. Since he does
all the solo singing, this establishes
a nasty predicament.
But Mr.. Rock has solution for
such eventualities. He will simply
give his pianist, Frank Conroy, who
also possesses memory. the mean
ingful eye, whereupon Frank leans
a little further over his piano and
supplies the forgotten words as
Charlie sings each preceding line.
Admittedly it's a shaky procedure,
punctuated from time to time with
nervous gulps and mild tncoherence
In the finished product. But how
courageous! And how suited for
drawing unsolicited and good-hu-
mored laughs from the mob.
The inner sanctum Of Herbert
Sachs Del Rio has an announce
ment to make, II the din will please
to subside. 1t concerns the sched-
ule of dance orchestras that will fol-
low Carl Hoff's numerous crew IN
the little sanctuary of Fifteenth
street.
Henry King, piano-wise and long
recognized as able dispenser OF
society" music, introduces his band
next Tuesday and will continue to
do so for two consecutive weeks. At
the termination of Mr.. Kings stand
will arrive Arturo Arturos, also
but of Latin American
leanings and with a songstress,
Wendy Bishop, who Is decorative
and is called (by M. c. A. pub
licists, at any rate) "The Carib-
bean Songbird." Furthermore, with
the advent of Senior Arturos also
comes the band Of one Canay,
which is an abbreviated rhumba
group now at the Beachcornber In
Miami. Entertainment honors are
to be divided between these two
organizations.
Prospects are promising, one
might say offhand.
X n
Junie Howard, who. as you should
know unless your soul is dead to the
nicer things about night clubs, sings
with Study in the Cosmos Room,
blossomed out with new gown Gre
alton last week. 1t was, at least,
new to this department: that full
some corsage Of three varieties each
of roses, geraniums and petunias
strung diagonally from right shoul-
der to left waist.
Its note of originality also hap
pened to impress Bill Russell, drum
mer in the band, at a dress re-
hearsal" last week.
In fact, what did Mr.. Russell
shrek as Miss Howard entered the
room but: "Yipe, fellas, look! The
Derby winner!"
Shows about town:
In the Blue Room, that immense
stretch of hardwood at the Shore
ham, Talia is winding up her closing
week with her hula specially Tin
three moods, they say) to the tune
of an authentic Hawaiian war
chant: Baritone Hugh wellington
Martyr, fresh from a symphonic
season In Hollywood Bowl, and
fresher still from SO epochal weeks
in Graumann's Chinese Theater:
while the wisecracking dancing
Aherns return for another verbal
siege of various Government depart
ments and individuals.
At the Casino Royal, the following