Tips on Tables - By Robert W. Dana - June 5, 1953

Tony Martin Tops Riviera's New Show

Time is moving along into the summer season as Tony Martin renews acquaintance with Bill Miller's Riviera as star of a new show. As part of the supporting cast Tony asked Bill Miller to book Bambi Linn and Rod Alexander, whom he saw with the Betty Hutton troupe in Chicago. Jack Z. Leonard, the hefty comedian, tags along.

Showmanship is a casual, easygoing thing for Martin. Speaking of style, his mannerisms become increasingly like those of Harry Richman. He has the same jaunty sway of body, the cane and straw hat. Unlike the legion of Richman impersonations, however, this is a natural falling into a solid-sending style. Now all Mr. Miller needs to rock the city and the George Washington Bridge is to have Richman and Martin do a "Me and My Shadow" routine.

I like Tony's program of songs, starting with "Hallelujah" and ending with a medley of oldies including "Sleepy Time Gal," "I'll See You in My Dreams," "April Showers" and "California Here I Come."

Referring to Vic Damone, his predecessor at the Riviera, Tony says: My son sang this last week.' The song is "April in Portugal." "Father" and "Son," if you wish, run about even on this. "Where is Your Heart," one of the most beautiful of today's favorites, "I Believe" and "La Vie En Rose" are other Martin renditions. Bill Miller is parading the country's top dancers this season. The Szonys, the Champions and now Bambi Linn and Rod Alexander. As in the case of Marge and Gower Champion, there are changes of costume to make quite a production of the act.

For "Traffic Jam" and "Capsule Cavalcade" Bambi wears an aquamarine chantung with rhinestone pearls and bugle beads. For "Younger than Springtime," a number of ethereal beauty, she wears white chiffon pearls and rhinestones.

Each dance attraction at the Riviera has also been completely different. Bambi and Rod have stunning footwork and stay fairly close to the floor, although "Younger than Springtime" demonstrates they can take to the air like birds.

There's never the suggestion of forcing, and, on the other hand, he never allows his relaxed style to become sloppy.