New York Clipper (Jul 1923)

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July 4, 1923 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 9 PALACE Fred and Anna Hcnnings, assisted by an tinbilled boy, provided pleasing entertain- ment with a routine of juegling. hat sealing, and other novelty bits. The boy is recruited from the audience apparently and did his stuff nicely. The Four Diamonds have further de- veloped their offering to the point where they stop the show with comparative ease. The man, woman and two boys are real steppers and can put songs over equally good. The two boys are in line for a production one of these days for they work in a way that is irresistible. They knocked the patrons clean out of their seats and at one period stopped the act. In "Shivers," William Kent, assisted by Elsie Shaw, with Lester Elliot, gathered a continuous round of laughter in the comedy skit which is an excellent vehicle for Kent's talents as an inebriate. At times the offering is a satire on man and wife quarreling, then passes beyond that stage into great comedy. Miss Shaw wore an attractive gown snd did very well as the "wife." ■ This was one of Jim McWilliams' good days and he got across wonderfully well with his pianologue and other comedy. As usual the "opera" bit at the piano went good, and for a closing number he offered one of the selections trom his new musical comedy, scheduled to open shortly. Gosing the first half. Vincent Lopez and his Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra, stopped that part of the show as well, going bigger than ever before. Orches- tras may come and orchestras may go, but Lopez proves his supremacy by coming the most often and staying the longest. Several of the numbers were featured with the usual clever setting in the back- ground, including "Swinging Down the Lane" which opened the act, and "March of the Mannikins." "Bouquet of Roses," was a medley of Rose songs and the last one "Roses of Picardy" was done with a red-cross nurse in a poppy setting. A race won by Spark Plug was done with "Barney Google." Most of Lopez' ar- rangements are now being done by in- dividual arrangers and it makes for more variety in the way the song^ are done. The opening is done with a scrim showing diem playing at the Pennsylvania Hotel and like the other new effects contributed to the orchestra's unprecedented success. Dave Seed and Ralph Austin in "Things and Stuff," opened the second half in their well Icnown routine of comedy bits, gathering laughs as they went along. So many things are in the concoction, all done in a sustained tempo, that the offer- ing is funny for the most part despite the fact that it is all hoke if analyzed. One of the finest acts that ever came ' out of the West is that of .Frances Williams and -Miss Vannessi, with Arthur Freed, songwriter, and Jack Gifford, as- sisting at the pianos. In an attractive set, the girls simply saturated the atmosphere with personality, charm and talent, singing and dancing in captivating style. "A Study in Contrast" is the name of the act, one of the girls being a blonde and the other a brunette. Miss Vancssi, the "brunette," affected a rather dignified style, doing her dances on the classical and artistic acrobatic order at times. Her peacock number was unique and held the patrons almost breathless until it was con- cluded; every move and step executed was the personification of gracefulness. Miss 'Williams, the "blonde," did the faster type of stuff putting her songs and dances over with pep and in a manner all her own. The boys at the pianos rendered able accompaniments, but their waltz song "After Every Party," should be speeded up a little and done in a more sustained tempo. Harry Delf filled the next to closing spot as a^ single, opening with the Greek diancing bit from "Sunshowers." and closed the show with his condensed version of that play with a large company. M. H. S. VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS 81ST STREET Maurice Tourncur's rather long feature picture, "The Isle of Lost Ships," which is being given at this house this week, is the reason that only five acts appear on the bill. These five arc good, each in their own way, and the whole presents a well- rounded bill, not quite up to the standard of the past few weeks, but good acts never- theless. Opening the show is Nellie Amaut & Co., the violin-playing and acrobatic act that never fails to please. It is seldom that tliis offering is seen in opening po.tition. hut they did not find this spot any harder for them than a position further down on the bill. The violin playing of one of the youths is very fine and his solo drew a good solid hand. The girl has a charming personality and is a neat dancer and the two boys are good acrobats. The act is well staged and has been working so long together that it is thoroughly broken in and always gets excellent results. They finished in one effectively with a medley of published songs, this to allow the stage to be set for the following act. Their finish showed that as violinists they are fully as talented as they are as a novelty act Mabel Burke, assisted by Norma Ley- land, held down second position admirably. The turn has been changed slightly since we last saw it, but the results are just the same. Both Miss Burke and her assistant sing in exceptionally fine voice and get good results. For a finish they use a film, but the film used is different from the one they formerly employed. This one starts off with somebody else, which they retain from the former, and follows -with "Sleepy Hills of Tennessee" and "Dearest." The photography of "Tennessee" is nothing ex- traordinary and the sight of a man with a belted and high-waisted Eddie Mack over- coat going down a rough country lane de- nuded of foliage fails to convey the idea of "Tennessee" or "Dixie" in any way. That is, it isn't our idea of Dixie and we've been there. In the picturization of "Dearest" some clever double exposure is used, the idea being built around the theory that "Dearest" applies to the old grey-haired mother. Miss Norton and Paul Nicholson are presenting their dramatic cartoon of a shop girl married to a Gimbel's clerk and what .?oes on in their not-so-well-fumished room. Their antics with the food are al- ways sure fire and there is just enough realism in the offering to make it attrac- tive to vaudeville patrons. The husband- clerk comes home with some tickets for a movie, which one of the girls at the store gave him, and wifie becomes jealous. She mentions the floor-walker at her store and hubbie becomes jealous. The battle is on, but it is carried on just aboiit the way a three-weeks-married couple of' their class would carry on such a battle. Finally ^..e husband h^s over a note in which the girl who provided the tickets explains that she is to be married to the before-men- tioned floor-walker and everything is again lovely. The housedeaning is funny and the entire sketch provides fifteen minutes of relaxation and enjoyment. Herbert Clifton's act is improving as it goes along, but he still occasionally gives way to his temper, a not at all pleasant sight He has materially helped his offer- ing by putting in Tosti's "Farewell." The boys still get on our nerves. Closing the show were Giuian and Mar- guerite, one of the finest dancing acts in vaudeville. They work hard all the time and dance with a grace, finish and charm that wins them friends wherever they ap- pear. Billy Griffith, at the piano, gives valuable assistance and the offering goes over to a big hit. C. C FIFTH AVENUE (Firit Half) Mot weather doesn't seem to affect business in this house in the least, for on Monday afternoon practically every seat, both in the orchestra and first balcony, were occupied. There were but few empty scats in the gallery. The show for this half of the week moves slowly through the major portion of the show, picking up only in spots, and most of these dur- ing the last few acts. Amy Dean made a good opoiing turn with her aerial work, but handicaps her- self and the act with an opening song about her being a great big "baby doU." llor work on the rings, trapeze and rope was good enough to draw several rounds of applause, some few bows at the finish of her act. Edwards and Preston were the first of an epidemic of two man teams to appear. With eight acts on the bill and three two-man teams, and a total of fifteen men altogether in the show, balanced by four women, one doesn't wonder that the show dragged. Edwards and Preston of- fered a song routine. Leo Edwards play- ing the piano and doing some singing, but the bulk of the vocal work being borne by Preston, a nice looking chap, with a voice that sounded like a good tenor un- til he'd get on to some high notes, and tlien he either hit them off-key or in a voice that was anything but a true tenor. One number, "Rose of the Cabaret" was announced as written by Edwards for Fanny Brice. It may have been written for her—but the question b will she ever tise it? It's a anch it'll have to soimd better than it did when Edwards sang it William H. Barwold and Company of- fered the comedy courtroom scene which was done for some time last season by Crane Wilbur and Martha Mansfield in Vaudeville. Three people are in the act and the entire trio, particularly the juve- nile couple, read their lines as though they realized there was hardly anything funny or convincing about them, and therefore made the forcedness of the comedy all the more apparent The Innis Brothers are a mystery to the writer. At times they seem like a male edition of the Cherry Sisters, and Mon- day was one of those times. Other times they seem to show a little cleverness, but the mystery comes in with oar wondering why, if they are clever, do they retain so much ot their old hokum laughless gags, which slow the act down and de- tract from their finish. More hoof and less mouth would aid the act a great deal Carmell and Harris and Company en- tertained with their dance offering in three scenes. The comedy bits are neg- ligible but the dancing carries the offer- ing along nicely. Hurst and Vogt were the first big hit of the show, getting good laughs all the ivay through and particularly in the lat- ter part of their offering. The old bit with one talking, while the other does the hand motions was never more effec- tively done than these two do it, and it was a riot of laughs. The Cansinos were minus one o{ the brothers, and the act seemed to be shorter than usual to us. The dance work of the trio more than made up for the absent member and they scored heaviljr. Al Herman had everything his own way in closing the show. The gag about "I hear they're all wearing lightning rods now," may be considered fuimy by some, but it does seem like a low down thing to do regardless of the reputation of a person, so soon after he is dead. Respect for the dead is the least any one can give. G. J. H. RIVERSIDE Headline honors are being split three ways this week, Karyl Norman, "Creole Fashion Plate"; Elizabeth Bricc, musical comedy songstress and Jack Wilson, travesty comedian comprising the happy triumvirate. Each offered individual con- tributors and ran each other a close race. Karyl Norman offered his pleasing song cycle, accompanying each number with a gown creation that was sufficiently gor- geous to warrant the "fashion plate" ref- erence used in his billing. He trotted on to a rousing reception and offered "Bab- bling Brook" for an opener. He followed with "Midnight Rose," "I'm Through Shedding Tears Over You" and several others. In the instance of one of his songs, "Back to Those Days Again," he discarded his feminine finery to don blue jeans _ and demonstrated that underneath his piping falsetto is a timbresome male voice that is even more pleasing than that which he effe<-ts for bis imperson- ations. Norman's act is well routined and sold with a degree of showmanship and grace that bespeaks artistry of the first order. His settings are gorgeous and the lighting effects serve as a worthy frame within which Norman does his numbers and lends a note of real class to an act that warrants it if ever an act did. _ EUzabeth Brice, accompanied on the piano by Leo Minton, was another de- lightful feature ot the bill offering a song cycle, which for the most part consisted of specials and were just the sort of songs one enjoys hearing from so de- lectable a singer as Miss Brice. A "Qua- ker GirF' number did good service as an "opener." Another cpmedy slant on the hard working "gold diggers" was em- bodied in her second song, "I Met A Godfather," which she sent across with equally good resulu. "Sweet One," "He's Mx Baby" and "Whea WiU the Sim Shine For Me" rounded out the act Miss Brice brings a delicious air of piquancy to her songs, making them all tne more enjoyable. Jack Wilson and Company held next to closing spot and as nsnal, sang, danced and downed their way throngfa a series of satires on some of the previous acts on the bill. Wilson, of course; sbonMered the comedy burden and kept them roaring with his humorous references to his fel- low artists and his_penchant for "spilling the dirt" Charles Forsythe. WilUe Ward and Adele Ardsley lent Jack worthy sup- port or registered on their own accoimt m the songs and dances. Wilson is im- doi|btedly one of the cleverest "ad libers" on any stage. On Monday he cut loose with a vengeaiKe and the result was most gratifying. Combe and Nevins, harmony singers, repeated their previous success in their "piano act" They offered a formidable list of songs and managed to crowd a gcod deal of harmony into the duets. "In Our Home Town" and "Like Kelly Does" were amon^ their best numbers, although all of their songs were worthi^ received. These boys are coming along in the same fashion Van and Schendc did and will undoubtedly emulate tbdr suc- cess. Edna Aug and Company offered a serio-comic playlet "Day Dreams," whch gave its featured member an opportimity lo shine to advantage in the brand ot humor and songs which she does best while George Austin Moore and Cor- delia Hager also managed to Iceep them happy with a mixture of gags and times. Lillian and Henry Ziegler opened the show with a routine of equilibristic feats, while the Sun Fong Lin troupe of Chi- nese athletes and wonder workers closed it with a lively routine that included bal- ancing, juggling, ctnrtortion feats and con- juring. "The featured member contributes the black art features by burning a rib- bon in half and cementing it in magic-like fashion before the eyes of the audience. E J. B.