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Tips on Tables - Robert W. Dana - January 10, 1958

Nat Cole Rides Again On Copa Reservation

Nat (King) Cole had many merry old souls applauding his return last night to Jules Podell's Copacabana. Without introducing a man who needs no introduction, let me say that here, again, is the classic Nat Cole example of a performer who has been through the proverbial mill. The distillation as we see it, and hear it, is as exciting and rewarding as a concert appearance.

In a gray silk suit, his willowy figure attuned to his rhythmic repertoire, Nat ran through a nat coleprogram last night that had everybody relaxed and eager for more - and this after the comedy team of Marty Allen and Mitch De Wood had registered a distinct triumph of their own.

As Nat sang, I wrote, and here are the song titles, plus some annotations: Opens with "I'm Shooting High" (he touches a few keys on the piano from a standing position) "There Goes My Heart" (he commands great respect on this one), "I Am In Love"(he pounds the piano with an assist from Michael Durso's orchestra), "Stardust," "Night Lights,""Making Whoopee" and "Ballerina."

A Pied Piper.

Nat Cole was a Pied Piper for me last night,leading me into wondrous other worlds with Victor Young's "When I Fall In Love," "The Party's Over" (from Bells Are Ringing), "I Want to Be Happy" (with a great jazz touch at the piano),"Lullabies of Broadway" and "Just One of Those Things."

The Douglas Cloudy revue has a new line of girls in costumes by Sal Anthony with Michael Durso, Mel Mitchell and Marvin Kahn turning out such catchy cartoontunes as "Ukelele Rock a Bill," "Heartbreak Avenue" and "Pick a Partner," With Ted Morrell, Mimi and the dance team of Danii and Genii Prior to back them up, these are up to the Copa's high standard.

It is interesting that with Nat Cole, Jules Podell booked Allen and De Wood as a supporting act. It's one of the funniest comedy acts in the country,sort of in the old Martin and Lewis manner. But these boys don't have to make their way as carbon copies.

Singers Open.

Show openers are the Axidentals, a rhythmic singing group,three boys and a girl,who work hard in the customary manner of the day. Harmony is good,arrangements well noted. But I keep thinking that the choice of name isn't too friendly to their cause.

Summing up: this is one of the best shows the Copa had in months. Even Jules Podell seemed to feel this was so, for he was posed with tapping feet on the stairway as Nat Cole wound up his performance.

Does anybody recognize the fellow in the photo below (perhaps a musician) on the left standing next to Nat Cole? This picture was taken outside the Tropicana in Havana, Cuba. Please email me if you do. Thanks.

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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