The New York Clipper (December 1919)

December 31, 1919 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER ll BEATRIX DOANE Theatre—Fifth Avenue. Sty le—Singing. Time—Twelve minutes. Setting—in one (special). When reviewed, Beautrlx Donne evi- dently was giving her first metropolitan Eerformance with this act, for, although er closing number sent her off to a big hand, she took entirely too many bows, creating a poor Impression at the end. However, this fault la more easily remedied than some of the others In her offering. Hiss Doane is an attractive brunette and possesses a fairly good voice. Her act consists of an opening number in which she announces that she will sing four songs, and then does so, making a change for each number. Her last number is a selection from "Sometime," In which she wears an extremely abort but very becoming frock. The act needs a little time to smooth over the rough spots, bnt, later, will do nicely for the better class of small time houses. GOULD AND ARBUCKLE Theatre—Fifth Avenue. Style—Singing and talking. Time—Fifteen minutes. Setting—In one and full stage. Billy Gould starts this offering In one, with a song about his act and the fact that a pretty girl la essential to the suc- cess of any act in vaudeville today. The setting then goes to full stage, where no and Miss Arbuckle put over a "•hokum" drama, using some gags that are good and some that are only fair. After the drama IB presented, the pair complete the rest of the act in one. Miss Arbuckle delivers a few songs very well, for ber voice pleases. Borne patter in this part gets laughs. Both present a nice appearance, deliver their material well, and, with a few lm- Srovements In the way of new gags, should nd it eaay going. G. J. H. SIX MOORS Theatre—Jefferson. Style—Acrobatic Time—Twelve minutes. Setting -Full stage. Dressed in blue, red and gold costumes, with black shoes and stockings, five dark and swarthy men and one woman com- prise this act, the routine of which con- sists of pyramid building and tumbling. They open with an exhibition of pyramid building hi which they demonstrate the ability of one man to support several other people without any apparent effort on hli part. After several pyramid tricks, they offer a variety of tumbling stunts such as have been seen for yean with all Arabian acta The work of the men la fast and. In some cases, novel. The act Is an excellent opening or dos- ing turn, for it has speed, style and novelty. ROSCOE AILS AND BAND Theatre—Fifth Avenue. Style—Comedy/ dancing and band. Time—Sixteen mlnutea. Sotting—One and full stage (special). 'Frisco became known to the public through an original style of dancing. Roscoe Alls, a short young man made up like a "hoke" comedian, evidently Intends also to become popular through an original routine of dance movements. His dances, however, are much more difficult than those of 'Frisco. Besides having a Jazz band in his com- pany. Alls is supported by a young lady, wbo dances and comes In for some patter and song bits. ThlB little girl does fully as much work as Alls, If not more, and is entitled to equal billing. She opens the act In one. and Is Joined by Alls. Patter thst lasts entirely too long foIlowH. Later, the setting goes to full stage and the Jazz band starts its work. The girl tben starts off with an eccentric dance and is followed by Alls, wbo reveals his special line of work in a dance that consists mostly of slides. The dancing is original and gets over very well. The jazz band, however, would do well to arrange a different program of numbers for the dances, for their present selections do not show them off to the best advantage. The act win do well wherever lass and eccentric dancing Is liked, and It seems that that is every place nowadays. • G. J. H. JUDSON AND HALE Theatre—Hamilton. Stylo—Singing and talking. Time—Fourteen minutes. • Sotting—One and two (special). A man and woman make up this team, • the man being formerly known as Skipper, of Ashley and Skipper. The pair use dif- ferent sets, opening In two, going into one, end going from one to two again, with a special set in each case. Both present a very good appearance and slug excellently. The talk has some room for improvement, but pleases. The act possesses class from start to finish, and both members have pleasing per- sonalities. It will not be long .before they ■■•• can make a bid' for an> early 'Spot on the Mi big time. ";' . Q. J. H. STEVENS AND BORDEAUX Theatre—Qreenpolnt. style—Skit. Time—Twenty minutes. il ... Setting—Four (special). ffl _ Stevens and Bordeau have an ordinary man and woman rural skit.- The pair are good performers, but their material is such that even a Chic Sale could not go very far with It. The talk is rather funny In spots, but that Just about lets It out. The most detrimental thing about the entire busi- ness la that there ft no apparent sense to it at all, at all! _ ■_• This pair are wasting excellent ability upon poor material. ■ S. K- BERRIE AND JONANI Theatre—Fifth Avenue. "Style—Singing. Time—Twelve Minutes. Setting—In two (special). • Two women of good appearance, assisted by-a pianist, have a classical song cycle that will soon make the better houses. Tbe act Is presented In a setting that is very pretty, and also artistically arranged. "All.of tbe songs are delivered u duets, and the women stay on stage all through the offering. Both possess good voices and have arranged a pleasing repertoire of numbers. G. J. H. SHELDON AND HANSLAW Theatre—Proctor's 2Srd St. Style—Playlet. Time—Thirty mlnutea. Setting—Four (special). With a little more working out, this little playlet ought to shape up into a very like- able bit of vaudeville. The plot Is simple, being as old as the world Itself. It has to do with a certain young millionaire called Billy Sampson and a young society woman named Delilah Smith. One can scent the plot In the names of the characters, inn is going to teach xh- lllah not to be a flirt, out has his wing clipped when, after all his trying, she makes him propose to her. However, it wss only a bet between berselr and a cer- tain Doctor Matthews, that she could make him propose. Bill, not to be outdone, keeps his promise to make her marry him and makes ber do It. The playlet Is rather cleverly written and very well acted. With rounding out, it should not take very long before it can make the rounds of the better houses. 8. K. ELLA SHIELDS Theatre—Bushwick. Style—Impersonator. Time—Fifteen minutes. Setting—One and four. Ella Shields, billed as "the debonslre comedienne," snd Just from England, offers several Impersonations of the male sex that are not only Interesting bits of char- acter study but so well done that half of the audience didn't eeem to know that the performer was one of the fairer sex. She opens in evening dress, top bat and all. and sing* a love ballad. About thirty- Ave seconds. elapse between the. first and LEON ERROL AND CO. Theatre—Palace. Style—Comedy and falls. Time—Twenty-live minutes. Setting—In three (bedroom). Leon Errol Is showing practically the same act. after an absence of exactly one year, as he did before he went to appear at the London Hippodrome, where he ?roved to be such a laughing sensation that ealousy on the part of George Robey, com- pelled him to cut his time to seven mlnutea After his act proper at Keith's Palace Theatre, Monday, December 22. be ad- dressed the audience and thanked it for its kind appreciation of his efforts and said, "I am surely glad to be back home." Errol has long been Identified as a por- trayer of "The Souse," and In .this act, "The Guest," he Is assisted by Alf. James as a butler. The latter conducts him to bis sleeping chamber, and while there they go through a routine of talk that contains many bright lines, expertly delivered. During the action of the playlet. Errol falls several times In such a peculiar man- ner that the audience screams with laughter. Be then tried to Juggle a vase, only to have It strike a pedestal and break. This piece of business brought forth a howl of laughter. After destroying the antique, he decides to retire and. after two futile attempts, carries part of the bedding to the floor and rolla the blanket around his body with the pillow projecting high above his besd. He tben flops Into bed with a smile of satis- faction beaming over his countenance, and the curtain falls. Errol Is s comedian of the old school who knows the art of comedy, and tbe act is replete with humor, expertly delivered. In addition, It must be truthfully stated that in "The Guest" Leon Errol is a gem In the vaudeville circle. J. D. , Navee." She closes with a "Swell Tramp" number. •-'••'. Miss Shields baa the height, build and voice to present an excellent male imper- sonation. In fact so well does she fit the part that It is hard to realize that a woman Is doing it. It might be suggested that, after her third number, she show- herself In V woman's clothes, so that the audience will understand what It Is all about. B. K. SHIRLEY SISTERS & BERNIE Theatre—Proctor's 125th St. Time—Fourteen minutes. Style—Singing, piano and dancing. Setting—In three (special). The Shirley Sisters have already ap- peared over the Keith circuit with their sister act and Bud Bernle, said to be a brother Of Ben, has played with a few acta on the same circuit. The girls have now worked out a new routine which la much better than their old one, in which Bernle sings a few numbers himself, besides handling the piano end of the offering capably. The girls have also secured a new wardrobe and setting. The numbers are much better fitted to the pair .than those In their offering of last season, and are also delivered to better advantage. The act is nicely set and. all In all, should find it essy going. G. J. H. NEIL McKINLEY Theatre—Proctor's lid Street. Style—Nut comedian. Time—Twenty minutes. Setting—One. Nell McKlnley, he of the large propor- tions and good spirits, has somewhat changed his act since last we beheld him handing laughs across the footlights. Just as funny as ever and lust as good satured, he now has an act full of clever cross-fire for some of which the audience la Indi- rectly responsible. Neil, without his lad- der, has to go down to the audience for his fun, Instead of the audience looking up to him. However, be that as It may, he fools around, sings, tells a few stories, and gets away with It Nell, being s good Silk, has lota of friends in the audience, and, being a clever come- dian, makes many more by his good- natured easy going method of delivery. Neal's act reminds me very much of a little gathering where everyone shows off their talents and Neal, being the best takes the cake. Neal, among his other accomplishments, used to be able to play a ukelele unless we are mistaken. S. K. HALL AND ZARDO Theatre—Audubon. Style—Violin and piano. Time—Fourteen minutes. ■ Setting—In one: ' ;! " *, Two women of attractive appearance are offering this muslcsl turn, which can suc- cessfully make a bid for tbe big time. Miss Zardo, a (liter of Eric Zerdo, the pianist, plays tbe violin. The act consists of various classical num- bers, rendered very nicely, and selected and arranged in pleasing fasblon. They close with a medley of popular numbers that sent them off to a big hand when reviewed and should do so In other houses. It's a turn with plenty of class. G. J. H. AL BURTON'S REVUE Theatre—Proctor's S8th St. Style—Singing impersonations. Time—Fourteen minutes. Setting—In one (special). In AL Burton's Song Revue, the drop Is divided Into different sections, each contain- ing the figure of a well-known star, such as Chauncey Olcott. Irene Franklin, AL Jolson and Harry Lauder? Burton and bis lady partner Impersonate these characters- While both possess very pleasing voices and appearances, the Imitations, vocally, could not Oe called very faithful beyond using a number song by the person Imi- tated. However, this fault will not be known along the three-a-day route. O.J.H. RENIE RIANO Theatre—Audubon. Stylo—Singing and dancing. Time—Fourteen minutes. Setting—In one. Miss Rlano starts her offering after' a stage-wait of a minute or more, by coming up from the audience and announcing that she la late and came In the front way, owing to the stupidity of a taxi-driver who forgot to stop In front of the stage-door. She also telle the audience that aha has Just been playing a benefit and that that i the reason she Is late. Renle Rlano is not what one would call pretty, but she does posse s s a lot of personality, and when It comes to talent she Is chuck-full of It She also announces that she would Imi- tate a few well known performers, but her arst Imitation waa announced too Quickly for the writer or those around him to get the name. However, the number resem- bled the style of Charlotte Greenwood. Her second waa of Ted I/ewls, In which ahe used a high hat and a freak clarinet which made a sound like that produced by playing a comb and tissue paper. This imitation was not very faithful, hut she uncorked a very good eccentric dance. Her closing number waa that of a country girl, and again she did some very good eccentric dancing. This line seems to be her spe- cialty, and she does It excellently. She is due for the better houses. O. J. H. DOLLY WARD Theatre—Proctor's 68th St Style—Singing and talking. Time—Fifteen mlnutea. Setting—In one. Although billed as a single act, a man and a woman make up this turn. But as the man works as a "plant" tbe woman only is billed. The woman stsrta off the act with an an- nouncement that her trunks have been de- layed In arrival, and. If they will excuse her street clothes, she will try and do her act. She starts with a song, accompany- ing herself at tbe piano and la Interrupted by the man, who comes up from the audi- ence as an expressman, carrying a trunk with him. He refuses to give her the trunk until ehe pays him 92.00, which she hasn't got, and sends him around to the house manager to draw on her salary. She than starts another number, and Is again later- runted. Some more patter follows and the lady goes off to make a change, while the man delivers some talk containing ran that are fair and very suggestive. 0. J. B. ALPHA AND BALLET GIRLS Theatre—Fifth Avenue. Style—Aesthetic dancing. Tlme—Twelve minutes. Setting—Full stage (special). Aesthetic dancing, as a rule, la rarely appreciated In vaudeville for Its full value. However, the andlence at the Fifth. Avenue liked these excellently formed girls and their good looks—and there were a few who seemed to appreciate their graceful dancing. Borne of tbe "Oriental" girls In the ballet had an Irish" tilt to their noses, but. per- haps there are Irish even In the Orient. Alpha, despite her name, does not ap- pear first. Tbe four "Orientals" open with a dainty dance Id which they display ability and bare legs. Alpha then dose a solo dance, displaying tbe same things tbe girts did. Thus tbe routine goes on, with all appearing In tbe closing number. O. J. H. ' 'GEORGE YEOMAN •< Theatrer-Colonlal. ••«.'. Style—Monologue. Time—Fourteen minutes. Setting—Two. George Yeoman several yean ago Id* augnrated bis "George Yeoman and ussier act* which be keeps changing from time to time to suit the occasion as new topics for humor arise. Yeoman styles himself "the editor of the assassinated press,' and is In charge, of the office of 'The Globe News 8ervlce." Yeoman enters and starts reading the latest news reports from the ticker, sad gives tbe news to the various dallies. cut- Ting or adding to his stories to fit the type of paper that is getting the news. -His gags sre now all np to tbe minute and are really funny. His talk includes, the "Bed Ark" and Its Inmates, the Automat, the one-arm lunch and various other Items such ss are bound to tickle, the fancy of his hearers. Yet. there are a lot of homely truths contained In .his act, too.' Not satisfied with having a lot of talk that la funny, he baa some corking nod bits of business, of which that of dropping whiskey from a sewing machine oil can is about tbe funniest In the act Yeoman, by no means a new actor, has a new set that la a sure-Are laughing hit There is not a moment In It when there Isn't a laugh forthcoming from the audience. . O. J. H.