About eighteen years before Beatlemania hit the USA, Swoonermania was alive and well in Chicago. Here is an original review from Billboard Magazine and two rare photos taken during this historic gig at the Chicago Theatre. - Rick Apt
CHICAGO
(Friday, May 17,1946 )
Frank Sinatra arrived about 15 minutes before show time because his plane from New York had been delayed. Delay had pushed the show back almost an hour, but when he bounced onto the stage the complaints gave way to screams. He silenced the house at once with “Sioux City Sue.”
With cops covering approaches to the stage and flash bulbs popping continually, Frank did a better-than-average job of emceeing the production. When he walked off after introducing the Steeple-chasers, Negro tap terp trio, they moaned so loud he came back to inform them that it was a variety show and if they remained quiet long enough to see it they would like it. They did both, but found the “quiet” request hard to comply with.
Steeplchasers did some hot hoofing to “Cherokee.” One of them then came out in a zoot suit, and with interpretations of boogy-woogie and the camel walk, they wowed the teenage crowd. Pied Pipers, who are on Sinatra’s radio show, won hearty hand with “You Won’t Be Satisfied” and “Dream.” While they were offering “Personality” the crowd got restless, and despite their good work, the noise took a lot out of this one. Their voices blend well, but they are not for a house filled with bobby soxers.
Skitch Henderson took over the 28 piece augmented theater band. Skitch doubles on the 88 and did a fine job on “Full Moon and Empty Arms.”
Then The Voice gave them “Embraceable You,” “Sweet Lorraine,” “All Thru the Day,” “Oh! What It Seemed To Be” and “Nancy.” Wailing and screaming didn’t disturb Frank, who kept right on giving. With a wave of his hand he could quiet them, with a smile he could cause giggles throughout the house.
“With the Pied Pipers he sang “One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else” and “I’ll Never Smile Again” in memory of the Dorsey days. He didn’t use any gags, but got lots of yocks whenever he uttered anything that might pass as being funny. Frank had them for the moment he walked on until he walked off. - Billboard, May 25, 1946
Note: Frank played the Downtown Theatre in Detroit ( May 9 thru 15), doing 42 shows and grossing $55,000. Attendance was 66,000. His week at the Chicago Theatre (May 17 thru 23) grossed $90,000. He missed two shows opening night because of delayed plane flight, but made up for it by doing seven shows a day for the rest of the week. His Old Gold show originated from the two cities on May 15 and 22.
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