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Tips on Tables - Robert W. Dana - July 9, 1952

Nancy Donovan Graces Revue in Copa Debut

Nancy Donovan returned from London and a 10-week triumph at the Bagatelle just in time to make her Copacabana debut. Joining titian-haired colleen on Nancy Donovanthe bill are a new comedian, Joel Gray; Luxor Galli-Galli, the magician and the dancing Clark Brothers.

Miss Donovan is one of the few singers who can boast she has sung in the the Pierre Cotillion Room, Waldorf-Astoria, Empire Room (formally the Wedgwood Room), Versailles and Bill Miller's Riviera. Adding the Copa after the London success is another link in an interesting career.

Nancy always had the ability even in the early days when she was learning to tone down her strong voice before a microphone. Yes, she's considerably more professional than in the beginning, but she has accepted the polish without changing her natural, refreshing personality.

As she opens "With a Song in my Heart" in a ringside tour with a hand mike, you feel an immediate kin of friendship with the girl. The impression is magnified as she sings "September Song," a French medley, "Big, Wide, Wonderful World" and "I Concentrate on You."

I like best her soulful rendering of "My Yiddische Mama" cartoonand a novelty calypso in which she interprets a boy singing the blues at the oceanside. Her only accompaniment on this is the background of the drums beaten by Tony.

Joel Gray is one of the liveliest comedians you'll see in many a day. Only about five feet tall, he dances, sings and gives a triggerlike, off-the-cuff impressions of well-known persons. His most recent memories are of Frankie Laine and Johnnie Ray and he interprets both with skill.

Joel is a natural for pantomime, which he proves in a bit about his mythical girl friend, Gelda, to the music of "Honey Bun." In the course of the number he manages to work in impressions of James Stewart and Billy Daniels.

Luxor Galli-Galli is the Egyptian Magician loaded with baby chicks, which he makes appear and disappear at will. He calls two men from the ringside and has them experience the strange feeling of reaching into pockets for chicks. The act is always good for laughs.

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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