With Justin Bieber the hottest -- at least in terms of sales -- young singer in the business at the moment, here's what was hot more than eighty years ago: a nice Jewish boy who sang sentimental songs, meant to appeal to the ticket buyers -- the parents, that is -- and told a couple of Jewish jokes. The songs are good, and a couple are still standards, but I haven't heard a quavery boy tenor like this since Richard Crenna's voice broke, some time between OUR MISS BROOKS and THE REAL MCCOYS.
The suit looks new, Eddie White tries hard to please and his renditions of the songs are good. The jokes are pushed through, though, as if he has told them twenty times.