New York Clipper (May 1923)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER May 16, 1923- COLONIAL (Firit HbU) The Colonial inaugurated its summer policy, six acts of vaudeville and a feature picture, last Monday. Hereafter the house will operate under a split week policy, with change of bill on Mondays and Thurs- days, until Labor Day, when it will again dispense with the pictttre section. The current cinema feature is the Rupert Hughes photodrama, "Souls For Sale." The film has already been shown at many of the neighboring houses and conse- quently did not count for much from a draw standpoinL Then too, the exploita- tion stuff used in connection with the film would lead one to believe its story to be an expose of the vice and dope rings at HolVwood, which have been grabbing considerable space in the newspapers. Those who are primed for this sort of thing are consequently disappointed to find that the story docs not even toudi on these subjects even in a small way, but Tather b the regulation film story that glorifies a feminine "Merton." The vaudeville bill was typical warm weather entertainment in that it was -brim- ful of good natured clowning, songs and dances. There was nothing shown which would give the auditor much food for thought. Foster and "Peggy" provided a novel opener, showing by far the most inteUI- gent canine the reviewer has glimpsed to date Her trainer puts her through the usual routine of paces familiar to acts of this sort and later has the animal go its predecessors one better by offering a piano solo. Jack Lexey and Celia O'Connor are as nifty a pair of steppers as has graced the Colonial rostrum this season. After going through a series of inq>ressions of some of onr favorite dancing stars from Frisco to Fat Rooney, they snap out of their mumciy to offer some original dances and a spng or two which makes their net all the merrier. Douglas Leavitt and Ruth Lockv.'ood gave tbie comedy section its first boost with their collection of nifty clowning and songs. Their satire on marriage—before and after—may be old stuff and all of that but it gets the laughs and plenty of them to warrant its retention in the acL .\notlier stnnt that bowls them over with laughter is a nonsensical duet "Umpty Gmnpty Goo." Leavitt's si>ontaneous wit and Miss Lodcwood's effervescent personality have proven an unbeatable combination for vaudeville and consequently they registered one of the hits of the bill at this house. Another candidate for stellar honors was Mary Haynes, who wowed them with a series of "specials" and demonstrated her ability as a character comedienne. Miss Haynes has found her forte in the slangy chorister and the "hard woiking goif and happily adheres to these types for her comedy nombers. Needless to say her efforts are revrarded with resounding smacks of applause on all sides and when they positively refused to let her take leave she encored with a satire of "Dangerous Dan MdSrew," which brought more howls and satisfied the mob that she was just as good a redtationi^ as a singer. Bert Gordon and Jene Ford were also there with -bells on when it came to blend- ing nifty nonsense with song. The girl m3ces an excellent straight for the comic antics of her partner and both manage to make a music lesson an excnitiatindy humorous situatioii. The T nma« Company offer a knockabout comedy act for an introductory and wind up with stik walking, all of which is cleverly done and which makes for ^>od entertainment. £. J. B. BROADWAY Seven acts this week, and most of them good ones, topped off by Jackie Coogan's latest release, "Daddy." There was not a show-stopper on the early bill, but diis -was more the fault of the bouse than of the performers. SeaJo, the opening act, was one of the best on the bill and is worthy of a better spot. Here is a trained seal that, as far as the audience is concerned, works en- tirely unaided, doing his repertoire without any assistance. As the curtain rises he is in bed, throws off the covers and goes into his routine. The act is a dandy and the seal works with almost human intelli- gence, scoring a big hit Furman and Evans, on second, have a neat two act with the t>oy playing piano and singing along -with the girL They are better on their harmony numbers than they are as singles and go over pretty good. The medley finish, white not entirely origi- nal, is nevertheless well done. Sunbonnets is further reviewed under new acts. Nevertheless, working in third [position at this house it managed to go over fairly well, the ankle work of the one boy coming in for the biggest hand. We cannot understand the purpose of the South Sea Island dance done by the stocky little blonde girl, as, with a little effort, she could do a good routine of fast work instead of the wiggles and twists that fail to get her a thing. The act is well staged and the lighting has been improved at this house so that die act looked better except for the finish which is a trifle weak. Mel Klee, using his same line of mate- Hal, proved a popular draw at this house. They liked his work and they liked his line of so-called confidences abouf the folks back-stage. It is his nerve and his personality that get him over, and, in spite of his blackface makeup and style he keeps his act clean, if you know what wc mean. Seed and Austin were another popular act and had no trouble at all in gening the comedy over. Seed is a popular clown in any case and his trick collar and hat got many a laugh. The two work well to- gether and have their comedy well timed and well worked up so that the pace is kept up all the way through and the offer- ing is sure to win approval. Deagon and Mack, working next to clos- ing, luve a neat offering. Mack does straight and Miss Deagon provides most of the comedy, working first as a silly girl about twenty years old and then as this same girl's eight-year-old sister, twice as silly. This is really the backbone of the act and it is about this that all the business is built Miss Deagon docs her work in the accepted fashion and really plays the part exceedingly well. As the eight-year-old kid she does some fine work, ending with a singing bit that is good and in which she is helped by Mack. Mack makes a good straight but works as if he were a little self conscious and not at all sure how the audience - would accept the offering. The Choy Ling Hec Troupe closed the entertainment viiA a series of tricks of Oriental magic and some good acrobatic -work. This is the same act that formerly carried a small boy but had to leave the youngster out of the. act by police orders. Even without the boy the act cocs over Avell, but, as we remember it with the kid. it was a knockout Two Other acts arc on the bill at die Broadway this week but were not caught at this performance. They are Shaw and Lee and Hartley and Patterson. C. C. FILH CO. WANTS BDWY. THEA'niE The Universal Film Mfg. Co. are seek- ing a theatre on Broadway for the purpose of exhibiting two super-feature pictures this summer. ACTOR BECOMES A DETECTIVE Jack Reddy, who has been a vaude- -ville single for the past te.i years or more, has retired from vaudeville to join the New York City Police Depart- ment He is now attached to the de- tective bureau of that department PALACE (Chicago) A remarkably good show here this week with Frank Tinney as the heavily billed headliner and Joe Cook providing the greatest share of the entertainment. Every act on the bill was well received and enjoyed. Visser and Company opened with some unusual acrobatic accomplishments which has some splendid surprises in connection with the presentation, including the duck, which does some jazz. The Love Twins followed and did nicely with their offering, which is along the lines of the average pleasing sister act. Harry J. Conley and Naomi Ray enter- tain with a hick comedy offering that is in a class by itself for the most part The finish is a bit of mechanical ingenuity in which the tail light of a motorcycle is traced down the road on a trip to the church and then to a cottage, etc, on a specially built drop. Allan Rogers and Leonora .\lle have some different songs from those presented when last hcri and resulted in their be- ing greater favorites than ever. Frank Tinney does the comedy with his own leader in the pit, and later is assisted by his wife. The title of the offering is "Meet the Wife," and Tinney does a coachman bit, which is funny and which is adapted from one of his musical comedy engagements. Joe Cook not only does his own act but seems to continue it in the following of- fering of .Alexander and John Smith. Joe keeps the patrons in continual laughter and docs no end of stunts. In the Alex- ander and Smith act he assists with the business and adds his own line of comedy as well. Lucas and Inez closed with the lady's physical culture stunts, making the offer- ing notable. F. E R. STATE LAKE (Chicmso) The bill this week is full of big names and good entertainment, making the Spring festival show a success. Margaret and Morrell opened with a highly enjoyable Chinese number and brought the offering to a close with some splendid acrobatic dancing. Dolly Kay won more than the usual applause accorded a woman in the second spot. Her selections of songs were -varied and at times ran to the vampire style. However, she puts them over with con- siderable pep and style. Josephine Amoros and Company couple feminine acrobatic accomplishment with singing and music in a way most effective. The triple dislocation stunt of Miss Amo- ros was very well received and got a big hand. Florence Tempest and Homer Dickinson with an interlude which is made largely entertaining through Mr. Dickinson's comedy, contributed to the general value of the bill. Houdini is doing the same stunt that he presented in this city some time ago when he opened on the Orpheum, but is intro- ducing a film taken of an escape effected in Chicago which gives the offering addi- tional interest Johnny Burke scored the hit of the bill with his monolog. "Drafted," which is noted for the number of laughs it con- tains. The closing bit done with the aid the orchestra was also a scream. Paul Whileman's Cafe de Paris Or- chestra closed the show and duplicated its recent success at the Palace Theatre. R. E. R. "FIRES OF SPRING" IN STAMFORI> "Fires of Spring," the new drama by Robert McLaughlin, said to have been based on an amazing incident in the life of the late Sara Bernhardt, played a two day stand at the SUmford Theatre, Stam- ford, Connecticut Monday and Tuesday- of this week. Last week it played in- Brooklyn. The cast is headed by Jos- ephine Victor and includes Albert Brtming,. A. C Andrews, Herbert Yost and Edward Emery. UNDER RETURNING TO- VAUDE Mark Linder, who appeared earlier this season with Herk and Beatty's unit show,. "Say It With Laughs," is planning to re- turn to vaudeville in his protean playlet,. "The Criminal," in which Linder plays six different roles. Linder will continue ia vaudeville until the completion of a new melodrama, "The Frame-Up." which will serve as a starring vehicle for him on the legitimate stage next season. "SUNBONNET SUE" MUSIC SHOW "Sunbonnet Sue," a new musical comedy by Jack Lait and Gus Edwards, will be- the first production of the newly incor- porated Gus Edwards Productions, Inc., which was recently incorporated for $200.- 000. This is the second of the composer's^ song titles to be used as well for produc- tions. A number of year ago Edwards produced an all kid musical show called' "School Days," the title of which had been borrowed from one of his popular songs. PEARL REGAY IN ACT ■Pearl Regay has returned to vaudeville after an absence of several seasons, in- troductions, and Is now playing with the Moscow Orchestra supporting her. She opened in the Moss houses last week and -will begin a tour of the Keith houses at the Colonial on May 24th. ALLEN GOING TO EUROPE Edgar Allen, booker for the Fox vaudeville circuit will depart for a three months' vacation in Europe on the S. S. Paris June 7th. Mrs. Allen, profession- ally known as Catherine Murray, will ac- company him on the trip. FARNUM'S HAVE NEW ACT Nat and Jackie Farnum have discarded' their former vehicle to do a three act as- sisted by a colored dancer billed as "Strut."" They will continue to do "The Doctor Shop" afterpiece in bills on which they work. DREON SISTERS ROUTED The Dreon Sisters have been routed over the Loew circuit, and opened last week at the State Theatre. A new routine of songs and other material ha& been added to the act as well as new costumes. May Rowe, (The Happy Girl), for- merly of Connelly, and Rowe, has re- turned to the stage after an absence of eight years, and is now rehearsing with the Peerless Stock company in Chicago. BUTTERFIELD IN NEW YORK W. S. Butterfield, owner of the Butter- field chain of houses in Midiigan and the Middle West, visited New York all last week, and stayed over until Tuesday morn- ing. He returned to Michigan yesterday. DESLIE SISTERS' FATHER DIES E G. Herbert, father of the Three Des- lie Sisters, in vaudeville, died suddenly last week, on May 10, at his home in Los- Angeles. His death was due to injuries received from being gassed in the war. "FEARFUL NIGHT" NEW MAY May Tully has contributed a new mdo- -dramatic farce to -vaudeville. It is called "A Fearful Night," and had its first show- ing at Proctor^s 23rd Street the last half of last week.