Variety (November 1918)

22' VARIETY •V!* 23RD STREET. A crackerjnck show, long on cotnudy BOd novelty tbe flrst h«lf. After tho nowe weekly - nnd a comedy picture entectalaed, Booth and Lsfintlor cticraa ihalr cycllnB act, whlcli Sb ovl- doDtly In a rut. Ttie straight man is now try- ing tolk and the comedian Is dressed In an ocoentrlc nailor BUlt and does little to help. Cbeslelgh Oirli and Billy Baskotte (New Acts). Harry Richards and Bessie Kyle ofTored their comedy trifle, which scored many laughs. The netting shows tbe outside o( a clubhouse where wide iR seeking hubby who discovers wlQe and in several crossfire gags and some comedy busi- ness puts over several telling points. The act is nicely sot; tbe couple are experienced vaude- ■vilUans and deliver their talk accordingly. Richards does some good clowning and as a flntsb they do a double song, of last year's vintage. The song needs modernizing. They went well. Ted Doner (New Acts). Bert Baker and bis company of three ca- pable assistants scpred tho laughing bit with "Prevarication," sure-Ore laugb winner. Oscar Lorraine In street clothes is assisted only by his violin and starts off with a flve- mlnute overture in an act that runs 11 minutes. The opening number Is too long to be of any Advantage. He announces that be will Inter- mingle tbe classics with ragtime, and then does that thing, making bis violin practically speak, play tho weird chords of the "blues" and then make the audlenee start moving Its feet as If ready to dance. Harry Le Vail and Sister unfolded one of the best trapeze acts <ieen for some time. The girl la dressed In an lll-flttlng lacey affair, which detracts from her appearance, and Le Vail In the white flannel trousers and white iblrt starts things off with a routine of tricks on the rings.. The girl also helps with a bit of work on tho rings. Tbe small bar is attached to the appa- ratus and they each do several dandy tricks. Then the girl climbs the apparatus and holds the bir while Le Vail does several great look- ing tricks. The bat* Is then cast aside and the girl does the tricks by hand, using Le Vail as the flyer. The act went big and Is a worthy opening turn for tbe best on the big time. HAMlEfON. It might have been Austria,' the Fairbanks' picture, or the pleasing bill the flrst half, the causa for the big business Monday night. Tbe opening turn, Little Hip and Napoleon, a corker for that spot The comedy antics of the monkey bad tbe folks In an uproar. In the second position was Bill Pruitt, in west- ern garb, singing songs. Bill used up nine minutes for bis four numbers and received the best returns for his closing bit in a falsetto Tolce. Chas. Mack and Co., In "A Friendly C^all," fumlBhed good laughs, and scored. The old man's dance at the close was a surprise to Uie audience. The Semi-Weekly News Pictorial split the hill and was followed by the Three Tlvoll Oirls In their harmony singing act The trio Is slightly better than the usual run of female harmonists but that will probably never get them better than the three-a-days. Archie Atwell (New Acts) held down the next-to-closlng spot, and Fern and Howell rounded out the bill. Tbe men In blackface got the best returns for the aflldavit bit, with the boxing portion running a close second. They closed with singing, and passed. - IZSTiTsTREET. The bouse bad a sell out early Tuesday and the crowd seemed anlxous to remain all day, so that tbe tine in tbe lobby of Proctor's 126th Street Theatre was bolf way down the block. John Loverldge, tbe manager, was thinking of the good old days when a "chaser" in the bill might have remedied the situation, but the entire show was given according to schedule. Ben and Hazel Mann offered a comedy skit which was tbe laughing bit, and although Trlzle Frlganza was billed for headline posi- tion, the Orst part of this week. Van and Schenck took this honor through Miss Frlg- aiiza's illness. After a long-drawn-out picture which ran for an hour and 37 minutes telling of some of the events in General Pershing's life and showing a few crude war scenes, the show was . started by the Retter Brothers, One of tbe "brothers" in the act is new. He is the straight man who does the ground tumbling. Dezio Better is of the original act and be does tbe eccentric clown falls and tricks in his best known style, winning laughs and putting over a corking good flnlih with his burlesque wrestling match. The new member makes an announcement absut tbe wrestling, but it is lost in back of the six row on account of lack of pitching h's voice properly. A short reel of a Ford picture was shown and then tbe show was resumed with Alice Nelson and Co (New Acta). Chief Caupollcan, dressed as an Indian, stated that during the last Liberty Loan drive he was. Instrumental in raising nearly two million dollars with a poem he bad written, and recited It. He then sang songs, next also talked, saying be Is about to Join the forces of Uncle Ssm where. If be could not flgbt, be would at least be able to sing the Huns to death. He sang the French martial air and finished, scoring a bit. The' Four Bangards (New Acts) were fol- lowed by Ben and Haten Mann. This pair of vaudevlllians.bave taken pains to gel a routine - of-differem^oagiS;" Eefl MsuiT get* laaay laaghG with his antics and gestures. A little nut chatter is Indulged In and they flnlsh with a ditty. Tbe act went great. Van and Schenck were accorded a reception and they did tbeir full routine of numbers. A News Weekly closed tbe show. 81ST STREET. Not A particularly strong show the flrst half, but one that proved fairly pleasing to the holiday matinee audience. The bouse was a Itttid more than half capacity on the lower floor. It became Impatient by 2.15 and started applauding until tbe lights were put on and slides shown to keep them. quiet, but Uhls fulled. Finally the educational reel was run and by tbe time It closed the- orchestra was In the pit ]u8t in time to play the introduction for tbe opening act. This proved to he The Brlants (New Acts) a pair of acrobatic tumblers with a decided novelty turn. They were well liked. The Bell Sisters, who followed opened nicely with songs and earned applause with the dance that followed. There were three other numbers Ic the act. The girls look pretty, dreaa nicely and sing and dance well enough for tbe average big time show In an early spot. John T. Doyle and Co., In "Spies and Lies" (New Acts), closed tbe flrst half. The feature pic- ture, Douglas Fairbanks 'in "He Comes Ui>. Smiling," started the second portion with a laugh. The second half of tbe vaudeville was opened by Cbarles Irwin with bU songs and stories nnd he was one of the bits of the bill. Mme. Doree's Seven Allied Song Birds (New Acts). A typical weekly closed. FreA, 58TH STREET. At the beginning of the fourth show at the 68tb Street, Tuesday night, there was as big a crowd at tbe bouse has had in some time. By the end, though, tbe bouse was deserted, Loney Haskell, on at the time, offered to buy tbe audience a drink, saying it would only co«t about ?0 cents. At tbe conclusion of the third show and dur- ing tbe feature picture, Loney read tbe election returns from tbe stage, and from tbe way be read them It was easy to see he was a Smith man. He Joked about the Socialist candidate, with the people roaring at his sallies. Bobby Nasb, of tbe Gilbert and Frledlander's staff, sang their latest composition, entitled "While You're Away," accompanied by Illus- trated pictures, and served as a good runnerup to Delano and Pike Injuggllng and acrobatics, who opened tbe show. Tbe men .got big returns for the dancing while swinging clubs; also tbair difficult acrobatic stunts added, and sent 'urn over with aome to spare. Kamplaln and Bell (New Acts) preceded "Hector," the smart bound who goes all around the audience doing as his master tells him. It proved a novelty at the 58th Street. ^The Loos Brothers (New Acts) in the fourth spot did nicely and were followed by Earl Cavanaugh and Co. in "Mr. Inquisitive." The turn opens with a picture to explain how he goes to a lady dentist when there is nothing tbe matter with his teeth. In tbe clubroom scene where Mr. Cavanaugh flrst sees the ad. about the woman dentist, men are seated around a large table drinking, with tbe near- est man to tbe audience having a VARIETY In his lap. Maybe that's tbe reason the act Is good, but whatever It is, Mr. Cavanaugh and bis comiiany of five bad 'em laughing, and scored solid. The turn has been played around the big time, though the film opening seems new. '' Loney Haskell in his comedy monolog had the audience (that was left) laughing all tbe way, and registered. The Koban Japs closed a little after 11, with a six-reel feature final. CITY. About the only bad feature at the City Tuesday afternoon was standing on line out on 14tb street to get to tbe box office. Some arrangempnt might be made for the box office to be moved Inside tbe lobby and keep the patrons out of the cold. There is plenty of room with tbe storm doors placed to the front of tbe building. The crowd sure was a holiday one as the house was packed from top to bot- tom and there was enough of an overflow In tbe rear of the lower floor to again fill the orchestra. Zlta in poses opened and passed. Allen and Avlott, and "Work For Uncle Sam" (New Acts), made up the first portion, followed by the Universal Current Events picture. "Opera a la Mode," a comedy light opera with parodies on popular selections, did nicely after the picture. All four members possess good singing voices and tbe numbers are well rendered and liked but there is not sufllclent strength In the story to get tbe act past the small time. McFarland and Palace (New Acts) make the type of act the patrons of the City go wild over, and they showed It by tbe applause given tbe boys. They were forced to return for two encores. The other turn on the bill which shared the applause honors with the men was Jim and Betty Morgan. The couple used mostly all special material. It is first class and stopped the show. They use all "Jazz" numbers and the way rendered can't go wrong. For a'n encore they Introduced a guitar and piccolo and gassed tbe audience with some more "Jazz" music in such a way that thny were bouncing around In their seats and couldn't keep their "Around the World," a light singing and dancing turn with two principals and a chorus of six girls, passed on the patriotic finale. The turn. If It can get the money, will do nicely on a small time bill. Zerthe's Dogs closed to a slow finish. MANAGERS APPEAL TO V. M. P. A. Several of the managers of shows on both the Columbia and the American circuits have entered a protest to the Vaudeville Managers' Protective Asso- ciation, charging that Chamberlain Brown, the legitimate booking agent, was disrupting their organizations thrpugh luring some of the better known players from the shows they are now with and obtaining engage- ments for them with legit attractions. As a result of the protest to the V. M. P. A., Pat Casey arranged a meet- ing of the burlesque managers and Brown early this week. At the meeting it is stated that the nunagers proposed to Brown that in the future when he desired to obtain the services of one of the players in burlesque he approach the manager to whom they are under contract and negotiate through them, instead of the artist direct. The managers are angered against the luring away of Florence Mills from "The Merry Rounders" and the obtain- ing of a contract for her with the new Edgar MacGregor production, "She Took a Chance.". Miss Mills is to join that show as soon as she can obtain a release from her present burlesque contract. Julia Kelety, who is with "The Sporting Widows" is another case. Brown has signed her with the new Winter Garden show. Richard Pyle. with "The Merry Rounders," was placed by Brown with "Rock-a-Bye Baby." Grace Anderson, with the "Bowery Burlesquers," was booked into the Cen- tral, for a Sunday concert by Brown, and Hurtig & Seamon refused to per- mit her to appear. She, however, re- ceived an offer from Arthur Hammer- stein through the booking and subse- quently Hurtig & Seamon had to double her salary to hold her. SergL Harry F. Fraser has returned to Sioux City, la., to vindicate him- self before the federal authorities who arrested him here about three months ago on a charge of violating the Mann act and accused him of being a faker. A recent grand jury refused to indict him on the charges. Sergeant Fraser has medals and an honorable discharge on account of wounds from the Cana- dian Army. He was formerly in a patriotic act, "No Man's Land." SHOWS IN NEW YORK. «Aii Ideal Haaband," Comedy (8tb week). "Auctioneer,'* Manhattan Opera House (Ist weelc). "Be Calm Camilla," Booth (2d week). «DiK Chance," 48tb St (2d week). "Canary," Globe (1st week). "Daddies." Lyceum (10th week). "EverytbiDK," Hippodrome (12th week). "Fiddlera Three," Cort (10th week). "Forever Alter," Central (9th week). "Freedaim," Century (2d week). "Frieadly Enemies," Hudson (16th week). "Girl Behind the Gna," Amsterdam (8th "Glorlanna,** Liberty (2d week). "Head Over Ueela." Geo.-M. Cohan (11th week). •'jBtormntioa Please," Selwyn (6th week). "Ladles First," Broadhurst (3d week). »LlKhtnln',» Gaiety (11th week). "Little Simplicity," Astor (1st week), "Lonic Dash," 39th St. (1st week). "Matinee Hero," Vanderbllt (6th week). "MIdnlKht Kevue," Century Grove (31st "NothioK Bat Uea," Longacre (6tb "Passing Show," Winter Garden (16th "Perkins." Henry Miller (3d week). "Peter's Mother," Playhouse (2d week). "Redemption," Plymouth (2d week). "ilichellea," 44th St. (Ist week). "Kiddle Woman," Harris (3d week). "SavlD»' Grace," Empire (6th week). "Sinbad." Casino (10th week). "Sometime," Shubert (6th week). "SieepiUK Partners." Bijou (6th week). "Stitch in Time," Fulton (4th week). "T For 3," Elliott's (8th week). "The Better 'Ole," Greenwich (4th week). "Thi-»G Faefa E*Bt,'»- eahait, >& - Harris (13th week) •Three Wine Fools," Crlterlorj (2d week). "Under Orders." Eltinge (12tb week). "UuiinotTn Purple," Lyric (9th week). "Where Poppies Dloom," Republic (11th week). / SHOWS OPENING. Mabel Keightley, attached to the George Winniett office, is the author of the new musical play, "Bottled. Babies," that will open on the road Thanksgiving under George Roberts' direction. Florence Gerard is under contract as a principal. Charles Burt is fixing up a route of southern dates. "The Man They Left Behind," which William Wood has produced for the road, is by Sidney Toler. "The Wanderer," called in because of the epidemic and held here tempo- rarily after a"repeat engagement at the Manhattan, started out Monday, the route first including Pennsylvania dates, with Washington to follow. The show will remain in the East, not going further west than Cincinnati. "The Wanderer" company now con- sists of 55 people and employs two baggage c^rs. When it first toured last season 110 people were carried and four cars used. As the control of tbe lately defunct "Kiss Burglar" passed from Orr & Welch, the producers, to the Kiss Bur- glar Corporation, Orr & Welch, in-- dividually or collectively, are not re- sponsible for the judgment of $645.13 which Mary Blackburn secured against them, for balance due on costumes for that production. Accordingly last week the court ordered the corporation to make good the judg- ment amount. Nathan Burkan repre- sented the plaintiff. The resolution instructing the Com- mittee on General Welfare of the Board of Aldermen to prepare legisla- tion which would eliminate ticket spec- ulation has been "filed." The Com- mittee went on record favoring the temporary "filing" of the order which holds up all activity in this line for some time. to come. Alderman Wil- liam C. Rosenberg last winter intro duced an ordinance making ticket speculating a misdemeand^r with a maximum fine of $100 and fen days in jail as the sentence. It was referred to the Committee Feb. 26, 1918, and, after deep thought during the eight months which have elapsed, the Com- mittee decided that the order be "filed." Charlotte Parry returned to New York this week after an eight months' trip to South Africa, where she went to present her two protean sketches, "The Comstock Mystery" and "Into the Light." "I suppose," she said, "it is necessary to detail some harrowing events in connection with such a jour- ney in these days. We were iiot fired upon by any submarine, but on the return voyage our boat caught fire the first night out and we were awakened at 3 A. M. and ordered to 'stand by.* We. put back into Cape Town and were delayed ten days. My otherwise suc- cessful engagement came very ncai being marred on the opening night in Johannesburg through the overzealous- ness of the local manager in endeav- oring to work up sensational advance publicity. I opened with 'The Com- stock Mystery' and the town was placarded with posters announcing I would make 'seven changes in seven seconds.' You will recall that in the sketch I made a slow, silent entrance from a box couch as the crippled boy. The act was holding magnificently and I humored the scene for aU it was worth. In the midst of the suspensive silence a deep bass voise from the gal- lery called out: 'You ain't making ,'em giving out election returns in the open, fast enough,' and of course there \yas a roar of laughter, completely spoiling the effect. I should like to tender a word of thanks to the South African ^Trust for the courteous treatment.tney._ accoi'ded me. They hot only IFved up to the letter, but also to the spirit of their contract with me and accorded me every assistance possible to make my stay a pleasant and successful one.