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ON THE BROADWAY SCENE ByBurtBoyar NEW YORK, N. Y., May 30. THE TROUPERS: Sunday night at the Latin Quarter The Troupers gave their annual dinner in honor .01 Sammy Davis Jr. Once a year a performer is honored for theatrical and human achievement. In the years past it was Milton Berle, Judy Garland, Betty Hutton, etc. The Troupers, a charitable organization composed of women of the entertainment industry, raises funds this way to carry on their work which centers largely around the care of children. AAA It Was a Four Hour parade of stars MCd by Joey Adams. Introducing George j Jessel he used every superlative, every flattering phrase in the book, winding up with "when he used to play Loews State Theatre-, years ago. I remember that I used to rush downstairs to the mens room and try to imitate him." Jessel came on and said. "This is a very, very warm introduction. It was so warm that for a moment I thought I was dead! As to the business about being imitated in mens rooms, thats the story of my life." He looked around him and continued, "Its a pleasure to be here, with The Troupers, this wonderful organization. He said, "In all my years I have seen many great performers, and I mean GREAT performers. Sammy is one of them. Not only is he a great credit to show business, but well, I wont even say that hes a credit to his own people because Sammy is all of us." AAA Jane Froman was then introduced from her ringude seat. The audience called for her to sing. "Ive been on, vacation for a year," she explained into the mike which Joey Adams brought over to her, "and Im afraid Id be terrible." However, she sang, "Embraceable You", from her table and she had "nothing to fear but fear itself." As she left the club later she said, "I might go back to work now." AAA Fran Warren belted out a few songs, Comedian Jackie Miles came on and started speaking. The audience called out, "Louder." "Cant you hear me?" asked Miles. "No, was the reply. "Well, then" he asked, "how come youre answering me?" He explained that before coming to the affair he told his manager he wanted some new material because "I dont want to just be there and do nothing. And other comics will be there doing their jokes, and thats what I do their jokes." AAA Polly Bergen was asked to sing. She was not prepared, but her husband Freddie Fields, who is also her manager, listened to the sustained applause and gave her the nod. Polly asked composer Jule Styne to accompany her on the piano. Onstage, the girl who had just played Helen Morgan on TV pointed to the piano and said, "You dont mind if I lean against this, do you? Ive kinda gotten used to it." She then hushed the room with her version of "Why Was I Born?" Eddie Fisher sang one very sweetly, then Debbie Reynolds was called up to take a bow. However, once the audience had her onstage they wanted her to entertain them. But, "with no material at hand, she could do little but be charming and poised. She was asked to sing, but hedged, "I cant. I need an accompanist." At this point, Milton Berle, from, his table, leaped up shouting, "Ill play, Ill play." He raced onstage and relieved her of the mike. "I cant stay long," he said, "Ive gotta be back on the set in December." There are those who might say, "There goes Berle again, busting into everyones act." On the contrary! It seems that he went onstage to help carry her over an awkward period and give her a chance to decide what she could do to get herself off. She chose "Singing in the Rain." A A Jack Carter was next. After some machine-gun jokes he started to do a song from "Mr. Wonderful." He turned to the guest of honor and sang, "Sammy, Without You Tm Nothing." Sammy came up and they did parts of the show they had done on Bway together. Their wind-up was a devastating simultaneous double impression of Ed Sullivan. Comedian Jack Kannon, Hal Loman and his Playmates, Lionel Hampton, Alan Dale and double-talker Al Kelly kept the show rolling. Kellys slipped lip is funny even after youve seen him a dozen times. Like Joey Adams, Im getting worried, Im beginning to understand him. AAA Milton Berle came up in his regular turn Continued on Page Forty-Four i i j j ON THE BROADWAY SCENE By BURT BOYAR Continued from Page Two and said simply, "Im not feeling well tonight. I cant do much. But I did want to bevhere for Sammys dinner. This is an evening that Sandra my mother would have loved, because, Sammy she loved you. And, speaking for my mother and from my own heart as well, may I say that you are a very great gift to our profession. Keep in very good health, Sammy we need jou." AAA Joey Adams announced, "And now, the Queen. The First Lady of Show Business, Miss Sophie Tucker." The band hit "Some of These Days," as Miss Tucker, swathed in furs and jewels, walked to the stage. The entire room stood up to applaud. Her eyes and and voice seemed genuinely misty as she said, "This has been a wonderful show everyone here paying tribute to Sammy. As Mom of show-business with every bit of esteem within me and with all the love that I have ladies and gentlemen, I give you our guest of honor." AAA Sammy, obviously shaken by her unexpected introduction an honor in itself embraced her, then kissed her hand and escorted her off stage. At this point Ceil Beckman Jacobs, president of the Troupers, presented him with a plaque and a pair of gold cuff-links bearing the emblem of the Troupers the performers trunk. Sammy forgot the words he had prepared and just ad-libbed-off-the-heart, "I would like to accept this for my father and my uncle as well as for myself. I know that may seem corny or very show business, but I mean it sincerely. Without them I certainly would never even have been in this business Id probably have been in jail." He tries to express how he felt and then promised, "I can only say that I will never consciously or unconsciously do anything to tarnish this plaque these cuff-links or the sentiment."
