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Tips on Tables - Robert W. Dana - February 13, 1956

Buddy Hackett Wows Copacabana Crowd

Jules Podell has such a wow of a show at his Copacabana, one hardly knows where to start. But I'm afraid I must start with Buddy Hackett, a comedian with a buddy hackettface that scares you at first glance. He starred a year in the Broadway smash, "Lunatics and Lovers." He's been funny on television. Now he's at the Copa, and I wish I could see him every night.

What therapy that would be. He breaks up the joint, waiters, captains and customers. One captain advised me to look forward to his impression of a Chinese waiter, which turned out to be a classic. Every line he says seems to have been inborn, built to order for a man who is humor personified.

'King of Comedy.'

He describes the contour of Miami Beach, and how the ocean was curved to fit it. He says he isn't nervous, "just watching my lips." He tells of his experience visiting a California drive-in, kind of embarrassing without a car. Maybe these lines wouldn't sound as funny if delivered my another comedian, but from now on, until somebody else comes along, Buddy Hackett has to be the king of comedy.

Singer Vic Damone is star of the show and has the unenviable task of following the comedian. buddt hacketAfter singing "What Is This. Thing Called Love?" and "Autumn Leaves" with sad sorrow in his eyes he accomplishes this with rousing, success.

There probably isn't a handsomer singer in the country today, so Vic is legitimate swoon bait for the ladies. There's only one trouble. He pointedly lets everyone know in song, just how much he loves his beautiful wife, Pier Angeli. His aunt and uncle, at ringside during the show I saw, seemed to approve the way he sang "I Hadn't Anyone Until You' Came Along."

Medley from 'Kismet.'

And everybody else seemed to approve of his singing of a medley from "Kismet" (a movie "I was fortunate to be in"), "Dancing Cheek To 'Cheek" and, "Oh, Look At Me Now."

Opening, the Copa's show in a featured spot is another splendid act, The Cheers. Here you have harmony and comedy, dancing and sex. The girl is a shapely beauty who isn't afraid to show her legs. The boys are young and handsome; one plays the trombone, another the bongo drum. "What Do You Want?" "Up a Lazy River," "Heat Wave" and "Crazy Words, Crazy Tune" help establish The Cheers as a dynamic act.

And I mustn't forget the youngsters of the production line, who opened with the last show. Mickey Calin and Grace Genteel, the dancers; Chic Layne and Barbara ammond, the singers, and all the beautiful girls. For music, Michael Durso and his band, with Frank Marti and his samba band to alternate.

THE REVIEWS
Andrews Sisters - Latin Quarter 1957
Desi Arnaz - w/Diosa Costello 1948
Count Basie - Lincoln 1943
Tony Bennett - Copacabana 1958
Milton Berle - Latin Quarter 1948
Joey Bishop - w/Andy Williams 1959
Ray Bolger - Wizard of Oz Scarecrow, Empire Room 1956
Cab Calloway - Greenwich Inn 1949
Diahann Carroll - Persian Room 1961
Betty Clooney - Waldorf Astoria 1954
Nat King Cole - Copacabana 1958
Perry Como - Versailles 1944
Copacabana - famous night club restaurant is reviewed 1953
Crosby Brothers - Latin Quarter 1961
Xavier Cugat - Waldorf Astoria 1951
Vic Damone - Riviera 1953
Billy Daniels - Copacabana 1952
Sammy Davis Jr. - Copacabana 1959
Phyllis Diller - w/Bobby Short 1958
Nancy Donovan - Copacabana 1952
Jimmy Durante - Copacabana 1951
Billy Eckstine - Copacabana 1951
Duke Ellington - Basin St. East 1961
Eddie Fisher - Empire Room 1959
Judy Garland -Town & Country 1958
Jackie Gleason - La Vie en Rose 1953
Benny Goodman - Empire Room 1956
Dolores Gray - Waldorf Astoria 1954
Buddy Hackett - Copacabana 1956
Connie Haines - Terrace Room 1951
Dick Haymes - Versailles 1956
Horace Heidt - 30th Anniversary 1954
Florence Henderson w/Bill Hayes 1958
Hildegarde - Pierre 1953
Celeste Holm - Plaza 1958
Eddy Howard - Roosevelt 1955
Burl Ives w/Wally Cox - Persian Room
Lisa Kirk - Persion Room 1958
Frankie Laine - Latin Quarter 1955
Julius La Rosa - Romanian 1958
Peggy Lee - Copacabana 1958
Jerry Lewis - Town & Country 1957
Joe E. Lewis - Copacabana 1945
Ted Lewis - Latin Quarter 1953
Liberace - Persian Room 1947
Guy Lombardo - Roosevelt 1957
Vincent Lopez - Grill Room 1954
Tony Martin - Riviera 1953
Martin and Lewis - Copacabana 1950
Ray McKinley - Glenn Miller Band 1957
Mills Brothers - Latin Quarter 1956
Vaughn Monroe - Astor 1955
Constance Moore - St. Regis 1958
Johnnie Ray - Copacabana 1953
Rowan & Martin - Latin Quarter 1961
Della Reese - Copacabana 1961
Sugar Ray Robinson - French Casino
Dorothy Shay - St. Regis 1961
Frank Sinatra - Wedgewood 1943
Danny Thomas - Copacabana 1949
Sophie Tucker - Latin Quarter 1950
Mae West - Latin Quarter 1956
Julie Wilson - Persian Room 1954
EDITORIALS
Dean Martin - thoughts on Mr. Sauve
Peter Lawford - retrospective
Rise & Fall of the big bands
INTERVIEWS
K Baggelaar- Copacabana author
Don Dellair - cabaret performer
Denny Farrell - big band disc jockey
Hal Turner - Performer/Conductor
B Zickafoose - played in WWII Europe
ASSORTED
Bernie Bierman bio
Sammy Kaye - Roosevelt 1957
Dinah Shore - press release and autograph from the 50's
A Letter about a WWII song
Harbers & Dale - Dance Team
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