The New York Clipper (December 1919)

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December 31, 1919 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER COLONIAL Leon Gautier"s Bricklayers is one a nim a l act that is always interesting, and, to mike it more so, there is no director or trainer on the stage while the act is - in progress, except in one scene. The offer- ing contains several bits that serve excel- lently for laughs, and they did not fail their purpose with this audience. The dogs are exceptionally well trained, and not one missed a cue when reviewed. 'The Otto' Brothers presented, their trav- esty on vaudeville, written for them by Frank. North.'' The boys have some clever ■'hokum" in the act and handle it well. The pair work in one, separating the stage into two parts, one being the stage proper, in which they do their torn, and the other representing the wings, where they show to the audience the secrets of two-acts and their petty quarrels off-stage. They pnt over many a gag that is true about "back- stage" conversations. The "Nance" bit at the close of the act went over for a comedy hit and sent the boys off to a nice hand. "Ye Song Shop" is another of Irwin Rosen's girl acts, in which Rosen has again set a record for splendid, in fact. gorgeous costuming. The offering features two men, who are programmed as Warren Jackson and Robert Adams. One of the men sings very well and the other is an excellent dancer. The act is built some- what on the style of Mabel Burke's "Old Time and Modern Song Revue," bat, in- stead of screening the numbers, this act baa a very attractive set in three, with a book on each side. When this book opens, the words of either the old or the new song (whichever is being rendered), are visible on the cover and a very pretty girl poses—and later dances—in each number. There are seven girls in the offering, all of whom deserve programming, for this is one girl act in which all of the girls are very pretty and talented. "Speedy" Ryan, despite her name, looks wonderful in an old-fashioned costume; her sister, Kather- ine Ryan, does a dandy eccentric dance, and Vivian Birmingham almost stopped the show with one of the meanest shimmeys handed to vaudeville. We should like to mention the others, but couldn't learn their names, although all are very capable. Pat Rooney is credited on the program for the idea of the act, and Cliff Hess and Joe Santley with the music and lyrics. The act is one that will please any audience from start to finish. Lane and Moran are still doing the same act which they have offered over the small time for the past year, with the ad- dition of one or two new' gags. Mickey Moran, or rather Tom, as he is programed, formerly did the same kind of a turn with Bert Wheeler. The boys handle their ma- terial, despite its age, excellently, and were a riot here. Moran, for some reason or other, refused to take the extra bows with Lane, though it must be said that the audience wanted him. Irene Franklin, with George Foirman at the piano, offered her old numbers for the opening part of her act, and it seems that the audience liked them better than the new ones. For that matter, the "waitress," "chambermaid," "redhead" and "Bringing up the family", numbers are. jhard to re- place with material halt as good. Miss Franklin was called back for 'a curtain speech in which she told the reason for Burt Greene's absence. Grace Nelson made her debut in vaude- ville for the first time about si' month ago, and it seems that she can now take her place with- the standard headliners. An attractive appearance, and a voice of ex- ceptional range are her qualifications, which are sufficient for any audience. It was only three weeks ago that Claude and Fannie Usher were seen here with "The Bide-a-Wee Home," but that seemed to make no difference with the audience. The playlet presented by these two is in a class by itself, and they scored a hit. George M. Rosenor was also seen here recently, bat found it easy going. He has a lot of "bine" lines in his material, which were eaten up by the gallery mob. The Ara Sisters seem to improve their dance offering every time they are seen, and it wfll.not,be long before these girls win surprise vaudeville by being something more important than a. closing act. G. J.H. VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS (Continued on paga It) PALACE The pictures opened and were followed fay Mijares and' company. The company consists of. two "men and -b young woman who only fill in to introduce Mijares and his WirtfjWprk. However; one of the men does two g#od tricks'on the thread. There is a story in which Mijares exits' from a confectionery store in an inebriated con- dition, 'ana goes to his room in a hotel where a sheet is hang on a clothes line. Mijares.goes to the line and uncovers a brand of walking that is sensational. The "book" of the piece drags and the only real acting takes place while he is spin- ning and whirling high above the stage. Lou and Jean Archer are a fine looking pair of song and dance artists who go through a routine of songs that are too much alike to show off their real value. The girl wore a few pretty gowns and the tough dance finish sent them off to a big hand. The "Bowery" number would have gone better had only one verse and chorus been offered. The Spanish Revue, held over for the second week, just passed, as it is a slow moving affair, with the principals doing solos that did not cause much excitement. The act is costumed in real Spanish style. The song of Rosa De Grenada was one of the features. George MacFarlane came at the right time to save the slow moving show, and he surely held up his end. He was in good voice and rendered a number of popular songs to the delight of all. A story told between the numbers was a scream, and he was compelled to do an encore and make a speech of thanks before the audi- ence would permit him to retire. Herbert Lowe, at the piano, accompanied him. Leon Errol surely made a blunder when be spied some friends in the audience, and seemingly played to them instead of to the entire audience. It was in bad taste, and had Errol known that it killed most of his best laughs, he surely would have done differently. However, the act is a corker and Errol is a real comedian, getting laughs aplenty after he settled down. For a fully detailed account of Erroll'e vehicle we refer you to New Acts, where the offering will 'be reviewed at full length. "Topics of the Day" was flashed during intermission. Shelia Terry, Harry Peterson and Gatti Jones offered "Three's a Crowd," with music, lyrics and staging by William B. Friedlander. AH three worked as if they enjoyed it and the result was very good. Miss Terry is a splendid performer and Jones one of the nattiest chaps in the game, while Peterson sang very well. The act is worthy of headline position on any first-class bill, as the music and settings, not forgetting the romance, is about the best bet of the season. Grock came and conquered. The ques- tion often arises, "What does he do?" The answer is, "He does everything : [.but skate and walk ;a wire." The audience' was skeptical at bis initial performance, but before many seconds passed he had every one with him. Several new comedy bits with acrobatic trimmings followed in close succession, and his playing of the violin, piano and concertina brought forth much applause. His makeup is grotesque to the extreme, and, as a contortionist, he is surely there. He also sings a song with a comedy yodle and heavy bass notes. Dialogue with his straight man caused a ripple, and the contortion of his counten- ance was always good for a laugh. After the act, he made a speech and thanked the audience for the appreciation. Joe Browning braved the storm and won. A harder spot would be difficult to imagine, and, if this performance was a test of his ability, then Browning should have no fear, for he went over with a hang, taking sev- eral well deserved encores. Page, Hack and Mack closed the show with a skillful. hand-balancing act that held all in. The last trick is a corker and well deserved the heavy applaase it re- ceived. ' J. D. RIVERSIDE Le Poilu opened a show that is the greatest holiday bill one could desire. Le Poilu, a French war veteran, offers a novelty instrumental act that went over like wild-fire and started applause that con- tinued all through the show." Second position fell to the lot of Yates and Reed, who offered their comedy singing and talking act with all the fine touches that they always display. They had a bard time getting off the stage, for the audience was very insistent and they took an encore. Vie Quinn, Broadway's latest "jazz" find, followed; and, as usual, cleaned up a big hit. Frank Farnum did not appear with the act at the Monday matinee, but George Kreer and the Memphis Five did what they could to fill in, and, although the act went over for a huge hit, we missed Far- num. Miss Quinn is a rival, and a good one, too, of any of the Jazz queens on the stage. Swift and Kelly offered their "Gum Drops" skit,'and had the laughs flowing like the old Green River used to. This couple have united personality, ability and material into a pleasing little skit, which they rightly call a comedy confection. It must also be said that it is also an infec- tion, or, rather, infectious. They declined an encore. Grock is all that is claimed for him and a little bit more. He is a clown, an acro- bat, a musician and a showman. What more could one ask? He has the assist- ance of a neat appearing and capable vio- linist, who also serves as straight man for bis humor. Grock plays the violin, con- certina and piano, and plays them well, too. His bits were laughing riots and he had to repeat several of them. After tak- ing an encore and innumerable bows, the audience still wanted more, and Grock made another bow, without make-up. He is headlined, with the Mosconi Brothers sharing honors. Following intermission and the "Topics of the Day," which, for a change, bad. a few good laughs in it, came Hugh- Her- bert, in his character study of Jewish life called "Mind Your Own. Business." Her- bert is, without a doubt, the best student of Jewish character on the stage today. His type is not exaggerated nor grotesque, and the beauty of it all is that he is de- picting the people of a race other than his own. Herbert is assisted by a capable company of three men and one woman, whose names are Samuel Rose, Anita Pam, Harry H. McCollum, and Joseph Hogan. The act was a hit from start to finish. Herbert had to stop several times to wait for the laughter to subside before being able to continue with the dialogue. Ben Bernie, with his fiddle and a few gags came next and walked away with a large hit all his own. He borrowed Grock's grotesque suit case for comedy effect at the beginning of his act Bernie has a, lot of : clever gags ..that, he keeps feeding to the audience rather [successfully. He gets a good many laughs out,of his fiddling and imitations on the violin. He took an encore and several bows before taking farewell. A few of his gags might be eliminated without at all injuring his act. j Although billed as the Mosconi Broth- ers, Louis and Charles, the following act was really the Dancing Mosconi Family. They just danced their way into an over- whelmingly large bit. The act took about fonr encores, for the audience knew the boys, and showed that they did. For a detailed revue see "New Acts." Han Ion and .Clifton closed a bill that is an all-star one in more than name. Their act is truthfully billed as "The Un- expected." They start in with violin and vocal music, and conclude, after one num- ber, with a series of sensational balancing and strong man feats. The highest praise that could be given them is deserved, for they made an audience, intent upon raz- zing them, stay to applaud them insist- ently. S. K. ROYAL The Jack Hughes Duo, a man and woman team, offered an instrumental torn that went very nicely, bringing them tour bows in the opening position. The pair play the cornet, piano, violin, banjo and saxophone. They play well and offered a repertoire which consisted, for the moat part, of popular numbers.; The man played a violin solo, rendering a selection from the "Gypsy. ■Airs,", in which he displayed rathef marketability. ' . /'« . J Helene Vincent could set about improv- ing her offering by getting better lines for the patter bits. Her singing pleases, and she delivers fairly well. She opens with some talk on a 'phone and then goes into a popular ballad, afterward offering a routine of published numbers in which she intermingles some patter. "Pnppy Love" is one musical tab of vaudeville that is different, in as much as it does not contain a so-called "beauty . chorus" or any kind of a chorus. Six people, three of each sex, make up the entire cast of the .act, which programmed Dorothy Vim and Frank Ellis, with Jack Edwards. Ellis, evidently the comedian, does excellent work, but the authors of the offering could greatly improve it by pat- ting in gags that have not been used by a countless number of vaudeville acts daring the past few seasons. The finish of the offering can also be strengthened. However, oa the whole, the offering pleases, and with a little time to smooth over the few rough spots, will be able to give a very good account of itself. There is also another young man in the act, who must be Jack Edwards, who features eccentric dancing, mingled with some acrobatic work that is good. This young man almost stopped the show with his solo dance. Miss Van, also, is to be given credit for being a very neat dancer. She displays kicking ability as a feature. The others in the cast have little to do, but do that very nicely. Victor Moore and Emma Littlefield were the laugh hit of the bill. Miss Littlefield, although programmed and billed, did not appear, owing to the fact that she was taken ill last week. However, a young lady by the name of Cummlnga filled in for her capably and no one in the audience was aware of the change. The act |f a satire on the manner in which stage bands formerly, and in some places still do, treat actors, making life unbearable for them in every manner possible, by practical jokes. Moore was a riot with everything he did or said, and the two young men in his com- pany gave excellent support. He was Called back for a curtain speech. Alice Lloyd, with William Walsh at the piano, not only succeeded in stopping the show in closing the first half, bat also took a number of encores in which she rendered a few of her old numbers. Miss Lloyd, internationally" > known as a character singing comedienne, is assuredly an artist Following the Topics of the Day, Harry Anger and Netta Packer offered a routine of songs and patter which captured the fancy of the audience, and they went off with a good-sized hit to their credit Miss Packer, who formerly worked the "Book- shop" act with Fred Heider, who stepped into Johnny Dooley's part In "Listen f^? teT :',' P9** 5 **** «n ideal j voice for blues songs, and we would suggest that she use one number of that type. Hoseoe Ails and his jass band scored the hit of the bfll ; Mn fact, one of the biggest hits scored here in a long time. Aus dancing U very good, for he sure does put over some novel and difficult work Midgie Miller is one of the best female eccentric dancers seen in a long time and certainly deserves equal billing with Ails, for she does just as much work. The band also came in for their share of ap- plause. Artie Mehlinger and George W. Meyer found it easy going with a number of their old and new srngs. Mehlinger can use a few new gags to advantage. He has pat a few new songs into the act and one in particular promises to become a hit The Joggling Nelsons replaced the Biiants on the bill and gave an excellent account of themselves. Four men are in the act which contains a lot of new stunts. G. J. H.