New York Clipper (Feb 1923)

10 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER February 14, 1923 CENTRAL If a vaudeville bill of this strength could be pTCsented every week to as large a house as occupied the Central Monday afternoon there would be no talk of Shubert Vaude- ville finding the going rough. This was the first real vaudeville bill presented at this house this season and the patrons, filUng every scat and overflowing into standipg room, were not slow in showing their ap- preciation. The opening act was the Musical John- sons, two men who did some Bne things with a pair of Xylophones. There is no reason for spelling that with a capital ex- cept that these two are capital performers and went over great. Leonard and, Eddie, a pair of colored dancers, came out and tied up the proceed- ings. This pair work hard and were as warm, when they finished as they pretended to be. when they started. They have really no comedy in the act but get some laughs out of the way they handle the little talk they use. They have a fine repertoire of Steps, but, above all, they are great show- men and sell every step they use. Bert Baker and Company, seen at this house earlier in the season, bad no tronble at all playing a return engagement Baker and the rest of the cast romped through their hilarions collection of delightful im- possibilities and had the house howling. This act has been, going the rounds for years but it doesn't need a bit of change, because it is stronger now than the large majority of acts playing the big time that try to get laughs out of material not half as good. Baker, with his happy chuckle, is admirably assisted by others, and they make the most of every opportunity. Polljr Connolly atid Percy Wenrich have a pleasing act. Miss Connolly has a good singing voice and works easily while Wen- rich, at the piano, gives her splendid ac- companiment. At one portion of the act a violinist does some assisting and Miss Connolly later plays the ukelele. The act is_^ well constructed and Wenrich, playing his own compositions, gets over great. The closing, in which Miss Connolly alleges that she fell in love with Wenrich's picture over the counter in the five and ten, is well written and scares heavily. El Brendel and Flo Burt still have their same laughing Swede act and still go just as big as ever with it. Brendel's trick suit gets a howl wfaoi it starts to £all apart and he makes the most of every oppor- timity for comedy. Miss Burt is good- lookmg and possesses a fine voice. Following the intennission came the Fu- taristic Review. There is really no reason for this title except that the opening cos- tumes are black and white and the scenery the same. The act consists of eight peo- ple, four women and four men. Seven of the octette are possessed of fine voices, while the eighth is a woman violinist of no mean ability. They use a repertoire of operatic numbers closing with the sextette from "Lucia," Tht act went over.wdl. Joe Towie, working in his usual care- free manner, had no trouble in making them laugh at the right places. His finish was a trifle weak, but he probably knew that he was coming hack in a few minutes to assist De Haven and Nice, so that he didn't worry. De Haven and Nice are doing their well- known "Mnlliean and Mulligan" act and it goes as well as ever. Someone in the back of the hoose evidently wanted to slip the boys the razz early in the' act, but no malicious razzing conld weigh agr^inst the fine performance thev gave. Tow'e. help- ing them out. grabbed off a good many laughs on his own hook. Jimmy Htissv, closing the show, held them intact and was a laughing treat. His gags, many of them not so yoimg, go over big, mostly because of his clever delivery, and he nses three numbers for vocal selec- ttons that are funny, but not always so clean. "Benny be Yourself," "barney Goo- gle" and. "Mighty Lak a Rosenbloom" are all wows, C. C. 8l8t STREET Six vaudeville acts, a patriotic feature and the cinema drama. "The World's Ap- plause," combined forces in an luusually good show at this house last Monilay night The patriotic feature was in for the day only in commemoration of the anni- versary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. The feature was conceived and staged by Manager Lewis and portrayed Arthur Coglizer, who stepped out of his routine as doorman and ticket taker of the thea- tre to essay the role of Lincoln. A photo of Lincoln was projected from the stere- optican, which faded out and revealed Cog- lizer as "Honest Abe" delivering hb fam-' ous Gettysburg address. The feature took the house by storm and set the ihob in good humor for the remaining program. Margot and francis set the show section going with an acrobatic novelty, in which the woman of the act duplicated the tum- bling and other stunts of her partner, atop stilts. The man also incorporated an ele- ment of comedy in everything he attempted which was enhanced further by his gro- te^ue make-up. Pollis and Le Roy, a mixed team, offered a happy blend of songs and dances. They opened with a duet. "What Do You Think of That?" which they finished off with a neat "business" dance that was really worthy of a production. They offered solos and later scored in a tough number that was warmly received. Sophie Brandt, grand opera prima donna, combined class with an excellent singing voice and scored in a repertoire of popular and operatic numbers. An operatic selec- tion served to plant her with the audience. She followed with "Wonderful Land of Romance" and "Lindy Lou." This was the logical conclusion of the act, but the audi- ence wanted more. She encored with "Wonderful One" and they still held her until she obliged with "Petrouchia" from the Chauve Souris show. If her reception here can be taken as a criterion. Miss Brandt should prove a valuable feature for anjr high-class bill. Wellington Cross and Company were as amusing as ever in the comedietta, "Wives." The plot deals with an author who has exposed the duplicity of the mod- em butterfly wife in his latest novel. A chum bets that if tfae_ guests of a dinner party knew his real identity they would turn their backs upon him. There is a wager. ' The women lionize him and, of course, the friend loses. There is much brighter comedy sprinkled throughout and the portrayal of the leading role is one of the best things Cross has done in some time. Lewis and Dodjr followed with their usual merry collection of quips and song. Their song, "Hello, Hello, Hello," bkls fair to become another "Mister Gallagher and Mr. Shean" number, so far as vaude- ville audiences are concerned. Owing to the length of the bill, they omitted their usual ventriloquial satire. Nevertheless, they got over to a wow without it Mammy Jinny and her Georgia Band, wluch is an offering somewhat similar to that of Aunt Jemima, closed the show with songs and jazzy melodies. E. J. B. PIANO PLAYERS' CONTEST Boston, Feb. 14.— On Monday next, at the Winthrop Theatre, Winthrop, Mass.. the "Entertainers' Club" will, in addition to a special program, have a piano con- test, open to the players of Greater Boston. A large group of pianists w31 compete, among them being Sid Reinberg, Walter Johnson, Ray Sinatra, Joe Solomon, Phil Qaff. "Doc" Cohen, Leo Kahn, Tom Kerr, Sam Liner and others. MARCUS SHOW GOING WEST A. 6. Marcus reports excellent business through the East for his show, and is enlarging the company for the Western tour. PALACE (Chicago) Karyl Norman, the "Creole Fashion Plate," enters his second week at this house, and is again heading the bill, split- ting top honors with Bessie Barriscale. Miss Barriscale was unable to readi here in_ time to open on Sunday, and made her initial appearance at the Monday matinee. Paul Morton and Naomi Glass, who were finishing a week at the Sute-Lake Thea- tre, were brought in to fill for Miss Bar- riscale. They offered a clever comedy, well staged and presented, containing plenty of good song and dance work, scor- ing a big hit. The Andreiff Trio were the openers, of- fering a dance revue in which some very good acrobatic work was introduced, in addition to some good comedy novelty numbers. Vincent CDonnell found the second stnt easy to hold and in it went over for a big hit with a routine of songs, delivered in a very good voice. . Morton and Glass followed, and Billy Glason, who was billed to hold the sixth spot, went on fourth. Glason's mono- logue and his songs found quick favor and he was one of the applause hits of the show. Jeannette Hackett and Harry Delmar, assisted by four dancing girls in a very prettily staged offering called "The Jewel Box Revue," registered strongly. The dance ability of the principals is very good, and the wardrobe of the act selected with good taste. Gordon and Forde kept the laughs com- ing every minute they were on the stage. Gordon's "nut" Hebrew comedy is of a type all his own, and Miss Ford makes a fine foil for him. The second week of Karyl Norman's stay here proves him to ° be even more popular than the first. He repeated sev- eral numbers which he rendered last week, and added several new ones to it By way of a surprise bit, Vincent O'Donnell was announcni as a "find," who was discovered hanging around the stage-door, and was brought on in female attire. The Weaver Brothers held down the next-to-closing spot, finding it an easy job to do so with their rube comedy and hand- saw playing. Meehan's Canines dosed the show with some work by do^ of various , sizes and tvpes, which held mterest to the last. R. E. R. GARRICK (CUcago) "The Whirl of New York" is the Shu- bert vaudeville attraction for this week, featuring Roy Cummings, Keno and Green and Ann Toddings. Florence Shubert appeared at a- grand piano, and tried hard to entertain m an act called "Personality," but didn't do any too well, owing to the fact that the per- sonality was weak. The Purcella Brothers drew some laughs with their comedy and quite a big applause with their dance work, which featured their "chain-dance" number, which con- sisted of their ankles being shackled. Joe Kcno and Rosie Green rank high as laugh-getters and kept the audience amused from the start to the finish of their act. Kyra displayed a lot of herself and a lit- tle too much of dancing. Her work is good, but there is too much of it Roy Cummings was the hit of the first half. His falls, all over the stage and into the orchestra, resulted in screams. He's a one-man show by himself. Cummings and Ann Toddings are fea- tured in the revue portion. Miss Toddings has a charming personality and a voice that is very good. Keno and Green also api>car in several bits, and Billie Shaw aids Cummings in some numbers. Gene Doyle, a juvenile, does fairly well with a part in the unit portion. R. E. R. MAJESTIC (Chicago) A bill of unusual excellence, with suf- ficient variety and comedy, as well as two flash offerings. Larimer and Hudson opened the show with a bicycle act that had many excep- tionally good tricks, done with unusual skill. Ed E. Ford told some funny stories, fin- ishing with some recitations given as en- cores. His comedy registered easily as he has the correct countenance to deliver such stuff. Harry L. ' Cooper and company won many laughs in a comedy sketch in which intoxicated fellows figure, in fun of the burlesque sort Jonia and Company were seen in a Ha- waiian act, which has exceptionally good individual features, including a steel guitar player and a Hula-Hula dancer. Tom Powells' "From Broadway to the Boweiy" revue, in which four people do- singing, dancing and instrumental music with elaborate scenery contributed greatly toward making the show a good one. Maidie DeLong, "The Base Ball Bug," held down the next to closing spot, doing splendid characterizations of types known to the patrons. She finished with a Swed- ish girl, which was about the best in her repertoire and gathered many laughs. Kinkaids' "Echoes of Broadway," a Scotch revue, with seven people, closed the show, proving to be a splendid offer- ing all the way. R. E. R. NEW ACT FOR RENEE RAYNE Renee Rayne. prima donna, late of the "Broadway Brevities" and formerly fea- . tured with "September Mom," "Vanity Fair," "Melody and Art" and sever^' other attractions, and for two years one of the principal performers with Menlo Moore's act, is having a new act written for her by Vincent Valentin! and will open shortly in vaudeville over the Keith time. Miss Rayne, who was featured for some time with the various Ernie (jolden> Revues, both in Chicago and Baltimore, sings and dances and the act is being built around her personality. Jack Connors is staging the act, which includes a boy pian- ist and a violinist besides Miss Rayne. J. J. MURDOCK IN FLORIDA J. J. Murdock, general manager of the B. F. Keith Vaudeville Exchange, left for Florida on Monday, where he will remain for several weeks. His wife accompanied' him. Pat Casey, head of the Casey .'\geno', and president of the Vaudeville Managers Protective Association, also went with the Murdocks. TANGUAY ON PAN TIME Eva Tanguay, the cyclonic comedienne,, is "pinch hitting" as a draw star for the Pantages Circuit. Eva is said to be getting the highest salary ever paid an act on this- circuit, and. according to reports, is bring- ing good return on the investment wher- ever she appears. ASHLEY FOR VAUDEVILLE .Arthur Ashley, film star, who liad been appearing in "The Man Who Came Back." is planning to invade vaudeville in a new comedy skit, "In and Out of the Movies." His supporting company includes Helen Qeminent and Otis Spencer. MORRIS & BERNARD STUDIO OPENS Sam Morris and Ben Bernard have opened a studio and Office at No. 1658' Broadway, where in addition to staging and producing they are conducting a school of acting. CHARLES ORR SERIOUSLY ILL Charles Orr, vaudeville actor, is seriously ill with an attack of -pneumonia at the- Community Hospital.