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| 1933 Century of Progress Exposition Documents |
Fair Brings Prosperity to City's Theaters and Cafes
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By John Lawson.
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Source: Chicago Daily News, 15 July 1933, pg. 11.
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The mirage has proved to be a reality. Before A Century of Progress opened, the hotel and cafe men of Chicago viewed it as a desert traveler views the sight of a luxurious oasis in an inferno of sand. It was lustrous in the dim distance. It promised to bring back prosperity to many hotels and cafes that could barely stumble along. But by many it was feared that this glowing oasis, this world's fair of 1933, would be nothing but a mirage.
Speak to any hotel of cafe man today and he will assure you, with a triumphant sparkle in his eyes, that Chicago is well on the road back to prosperity.
That the hotel and cafe men are confident is evident in the expenditures they are making in providing talent for their floor shows. Chicago has not only the greatest fair in the world, the greatest art display, and some of the best legitimate stage productions, but in dining and dancing places all through town it has the best cafe talent ever offered.
The Chez Paree, at Fairbanks court and Ohio street, presents two of Broadway's favorites in Helen Morgan, Ziegfeld's most glorified songstress, and Georgie Price, a protege of Gus Edwards, on a lively floor bill featuring many talented principals, a chorus of sixteen girls and the orchestra of California's Tom Geran. Joining the Chez Paree show this week-end is Alice Joy, "Radio's Dream Girl," who will bring a new and engaging type of singing into the north side rendezvous.
Sophie Tucker's Show.
Nearby, at the 225 Club in East Superior street, Sophie Tucker, the grandest of red-hot mammas, heads a floor show of many talented youngsters. Grace and Charlie Herbert came from New York this spring and have fitted into the club's atmosphere like a lady's hand fits a silk glove. In the same neighborhood, at 747 Rush Street, Evelyn Nesbit Thaw, formerly a "Follies" dancer, now sings as the lead attraction of Dan Blanco's show at the Club Alabam.
One of the most popular figures in town is Buddy Rogers, the movie juvenile, who is conducting his California Cavaliers in the College Inn of the Hotel Sherman. Buddy alternated with Ben Bernie, one of radio's most popular personalities, between the College Inn and the Pabst Blue Ribbon Casino at the fair until it was decided, recently, that the old maestro and all his lads should stay in one place, and they drew the casino.
Out at the Dells roadhouse in Morton Grove, Ted Lewis is holding forth with his great show, Veloz and Yolanda as the "world's greatest dance team" shortly before the fair opened, and, since the pair has lived up to its reputation, the Empire room is one of the most popular dinner and supper places in town.
The Empire room was transformed from a conservative dining room into a smart supper club last May when Veloz and Yolanda were brought here from New York. It changes its shows every few weeks, but retains the same cast of entertainers. The Congress hotel, likewise, opened a new room for the world's fair, and the Congress hotel, with Vincent Lopez and his orchestra in the Joseph Urban room and Carlos Molina and his tango-rhumba ensemble in the new Hawaiian room, offers musically the best dance orchestras in town.
Young people are attracted to the Blackhawk restaurant in the loop, where Hal Kemp and his talented group offer an original and appealing style of dance music. Ted Weems and his orchestra at the Lincoln Tavern roadhouse in Morton Grove also attract young people with their smooth rhythms.
Chicagoans seem to go in a big way for the Hangar dining room on the top floor of the Hotel LaSalle, which is designed like the interior of an airplane hangar. Popularity has come also, to the reposeful Terrace Garden of the Morrison hotel with its original setting of palms and blooming rose trees. Both of these places offer good floor shows. the Hangar presents the dance music of Johnny Hamp's band and the Terrace Garden flaunts the versatile Benny Meroff and his musicians.
Drake's Summer Show.
The Summer Garden of the Drake hotel features the dance team of Fowler and Tamara, who have danced before many of Europe's crowned heads, and for good measure tosses in the excellent music of Clyde McCoy's dance band, while the Blackstone hotel, in its basement grill, tenders Tom Gentry's orchestra.
Fifi ("Allo Beeg Boy") D'Orsay of the movies headlines the amusement bill at the Club Royale on Wabash avenue. We find other notable floor shows at Albert Bouche's Villa Venice, the most beautiful roadhouse in this region; at the Vanity Fair outdoor garden and the Cafe de Alex in the loop.
Good dance music in pleasant surroundings can be found in the Walnut room of the Bismarck hotel with Verne Buck's orchestra; in the Summer Garden of the Chicago Beach hotel with Al Kvale's orchestra; in the Southern Club of the Crillon hotel with Freddie Hankel's orchestra; on the Beach Walk of the Edgewater Beach hotel with Mark Fisher's aggregation; in the Boulevard room of the Stevens hotel with Charlie Agnew's string orchestra.
Other new places are the Harding Tavern in the John P. Harding hotel, the Alamo Gardens and the Hi Hat Club, as well as dozens of scattered beer gardens.
At the fair the best cafe shows I've found are at the Blue Ribbon casino, where Ben Bernie reigns supreme; at Texas Guinan's Pirate Ship, at the Old Heidelberg Inn, at the Cafe de la Paix and on the public square of the Streets of Paris.
[End of news article]
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Page compiled: 14 January 2006
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