this is normal Steve, it requires vac on that hose to allow fuel to flow. no vac and no fuel is correct and what you wanted to see.
I would offer that the correct path would be to start at the beginning and confirm that #1 spark plug is firing when the crankshaft is just before tdc by looking in the distributor with the cap off and confirm the rotor location in relation to the mark on the crankshaft pulley. and then confirm or do a complete tune-up