A Seville show, as seen by a local hack

From: The Billboard; July 26, 1952; Page 17




Seville Theater, Montreal

(Friday, July 11)   Capacity, 980. Price policy, 50 cents to $1. manager, Mark Mehr. Booker, Ray Cooper. Show played by Len Howard ork.
   Bucking the tropical heat wave, exodus of patrons to Laurentians, and many other big local attractions, Gisele MacKenzie surprised the management by opening to good business, and standing room at night.
   Standing straight, introducing her numbers simply, and singing easily earned the girl solid applause. Her numbers include "I'll Walk Alone," "Song in My Heart," scoring particularly well with "Jolie, Jolie Jacqueline." Her "Whistle My Love," and "Fiacre" fit in very well as both records have had good local sale. Her comic showmanship came to the fore in her Texas version of "Kiss of Fire." "Watermelon Weather" is OK, with her "Johnny" number being done with all emotional stops pulled out.
   Begged off with "Silver and Gold," averaging nine songs per show to big applause. (Gisele is the only girl, other than Ethel Smith at opening, Rosemary Clooney, and Gloria DeHaven to do business at the Seville.)
   The supporting show included Wright Brothers, two fast moving tap dancers; Paul Rich playing harmonica including his "sexy' number and "St. Louis Blues," which does very well; Roby and Dells do a hand balancing and acrobatic bit that fits in okay, and Will Jordon's mimicry about a ball game with famous spectators would be better if all the audience understood English. Frank Heron, local veteran emsee, introduced the acts, and Len Howard's ork cut the show.

Colin Gravenor.