The New York Clipper (February 1920)

February 4, 1920 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 29 "SLIDING" BELLY WATSON HAS A FAST, SNAPPY SHOW THAT WILL DRAW That funny illttie Dutchman. '.18llding'\ BUly Watson, the first fellow we ever sawij.. doing that peculiar, funny slide In bur- lesque, waa over at Mike Joyce's atar'- Theatre. Brooklyn, last week, with his own show. This IB Watson's first season on the American Circuit, but it la not his first time at this house, for we remember him playing there some fourteen years ago. But that was under different conditions, Watson la the same big drawing attraction now as he was In those days, he la the same funny feUow and he la using: some of the same bits that he used then and getting them over. ■ Bat he Is not surrounded by the perform- ers now that we have seen him have in the past. Consequently, as hard as he works, he did not get the results last Thursday night he should have. Watson Is the whole show In himself as far as the men are con- cerned. He has the same amusing man- nerisms, funny whistle and slide and Is the type of comedian that one never sees any- where else. In Sadie Banka, the management has a prima donna and comedienne new to bur- lesque. She la a blonde of pretty form, who can put a number over and works well In the bits and scenes. She does nOt take her work too seriouuly and works up well to the comedian or whoever she la with In a scene. She also wears pretty gowns that fit nicely. She Is clever and a good type for burlesque. Myrtle Andrews, a pretty soubrette with an exceptionally fine form, put over the fast numbers and did them well. She does a good "tough" part In the first act and, as the maid, in the burlesque, la better than any we have seen In Uils part In the past. She also reads lines nicely. Miss Andrews' costumes were selected with good taste. BURLESQUE NEWS (Continued from P*uj* IT) W«wifrht ad"5 that she led one number In tights and looked' stunning. Gladys Bijou, the ingenue, Is another new woman In this branch or show business. She can sing and puts a number over welL She can also read lines, but seems, at times, to take her work too seriously. Burlesque Is all fun, so why take things In It seriously. Smile and make them think, out front, you are enjoying yourself, anyway. Miss Bijou has talent which can be used to g-ood ad- vantage in burlesque. She displays a pretty wardrobe also. Alfred Dupont does a French part In the first naif, but seems to forgot himself at times and gets away from the dialect. For- est Nelson Is the straight man. He Is not In many scenes, but Impresses one. It given the opportunity, of being a good man. He has the physique and can talk. Lawrence Brookes does a Western charac- ter and portrays the part very well. While Watson Is used to a man two or three inches taller than Brookes, to play this role, and he shows up better with a taller person. Brookes portrays the part well. Gua Roeber Is doing bits of which he takes good care. But he stands out with his sing- ing. The "fight" bit between Watson and Du- pont, went over well with Miss BUou as- sisting. The "kissing" bit won much.favor aa of- fered by Watson, Dupont and Miss Banks. This has been attempted by others, but none can do it as Watson does It. The same can be said of the "card" bit. We saw Watson do it many years ago and, since then, many others In burlesque, road and stock shows, but to see it done rightly one must catch Watson doing it. Brooks and Dupont were also In this bit. The "wedding" number waa pre ne stagfed and- weHzrand«2 by Bnaber, BUou and the«atttre company. * Miss .BUou offered a number in one. as- sisted by the chorus, it was well rendered, but came near being spoiled by the loud talk of several of the chorus girls. Watson and Miss BUou ottered a y*"sj"^s* mnd danc- ing specialty that waa liked. The book is about the same aa Watson had on the Columbia Circuit several years ago, with the change of some of the bits. The girls in the chorus are a lot of flirty youngsters, who couldn't stop smiling at the boys down front They are prettily cos- tumed. "Sliding" Billy Watson and his show la fast, has good women and Is a real bur- lesque show. It had a crowded house last Thursday night. SID. KAHN'S SHOW, WITH PRETTY GIRLS, PROVED GOOD ENTERTAINMENT "Bohemian Ufa In a Studio" w«_ the title of the first part of the show at Kithn's Union Square but week. The scene opened with Norma Bell, as a model, In a union suit. But never again did anyone appear during "the whole scene In a costume of this kind, although the audi- ence expected to see some figures. Kahn has a number of girls with pretty forms who could have posed In union suits, and they would have given this scene more or a punch. There were a number of bits. Inter- mingled with numbers, that made up a good entertainment. The comedy was taken care of by Harry Koler and Joe Rose, both doing Hebrew, but of a dIfferent type, Bom has been do- ing "dutch." in the past and the change did no harm. The boys worked hard ana fast and managed to keep the house am us e d . Wen Miller, the young Juvenile, was la a number of scenes and played the part of the artist very well. Re also took, care of a number In the first part that Went over nicely. Miss Lorraine stood out In the bits and displayed pretty d r e ss e s . Norma Bell bad two numbers that were well received and she took care of the bits she waa In nicely. Her dresses looked well from the front. Smiling Helen Adair offered "My Home Town" and "When My Baby Smiles 1 ' nicely and her telephone number went over strong. It waa staa-ed nicely. Grace Howard did a bell bop In the first part and handled It finely. She also nut her numbers over with plenty of "pep." Her wardrobe waa up to tba ragutaO mark. Hasel Hargis displayed a Uttle mere gin- ger In her numbers than she did last week and they went over better. Koler, Rose and Miss Lorraine offered a bench bit that pleased. The "model" bit was worked up nicety by Rose, Koler and Miller, with Miss Hargis doing the model. Miss Lorraine offered an Apache ^n**irt with Miller that waa very well done. She took some good falls and her work waa applauded. Rose and Koler followed It with a burlesque Apache dance that was very amusing. . The balance of the show went over very well last Wednesday afternoon and pies sad a good alsed house. Kahn has a fine looking lot of girls in his chorus now, and they work with lots of Ufa and acUon. BID. FRANK SILK RETURNING Frank X. Silk will return shortly to the "Jazz Babies" and will opest la Bal- timore. VAIL AMUSEMENT COMPANY PRESENTS GROWN UIP BABIES AS GOOD AS THE BEST AND AS GOOD AS THE REST - WANT TO HEAR FROM VAUDEVILLE PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES. SEND PHOTOS. 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