The Billboard 1910-10-22: Vol 22 Iss 43 (1910-10-22)

; KL) COE SA ets CRP meee a ‘ OCTOBER 22, 1910. 2 The Billboard 13 THE BURLESQUE WORLD Improvements in the Personnel and General Appointment of this Season's Travesty Companies Conspicuous By SYDNEY WIRE. The real theatrical season bas now begun In earnest, and with the advent of cooler weather, business is beginning to reach a more satisfactory mark. time, worked themselves into shape and a better lineup of burlesque attractions has never before been seen. This applies to both wheels and a deal of credit is due to those owners and pro ducers who have made an effort to give burlesque patrons ciean and attractive productions. With some shows there is still a leaning towards suggestiveness and vulgarity, but generally speaking, there is a marked improvement over preceding seasons, and the modification is plainly perceptible. Better scenery, better wardrobe, more attractive numbers, better principals and a marked attention to detail brought about a vast improvement in many of the shows on both wheels, and it is evident that the burlesque manager ix keeping pace the time and growing with the business, is improving every year. The old-time comedian with his slovenly makeup, slapstick methods and vulgar jokes, is fast replaced by product which is characterized by cleanliness and ability to make good on his merits as an actor. | Harry Lamont, who opened the season with W. Dinkin’s Jolly Girls, is at present in New York, rehearsing a new act with which he will open on United time October 24. Harry is a well-known performer and his many friends wish him success in bis vaudeville venture. The roster of Whallen and Martell’s Kentucky Belles, includes Joe Opp, Al Patterson, Jean R Darrow, Brownlie Carroll, Wm. D. Colton, La belle Helene, and Chas. Relyea, with the following chorus: Belle Kennedy, Hatty Benjamin, Corinne Brown, Grace Harmon, Pauline Weston, Lotty Reynolds, May Clemons, Violet Wild, Mart Street, Belle Allison, Trixie Wolton, Anna Stirk, Bessie Grove, Gladys Craig, Jessie Van and Mabel Carrick. The executive staff is: Charles E. Foreman, manager; James Hearne, business representative; Jacob Miller, properties; Frank Hastings, electrician; and M. elenko. musical director. + last season with Hurtig and Seamon’s Ginger Girls, is now opening the olio with Al. Reeves’ Beauty Show. Loretta was a former partner of the pow famous Fanny Brice, who also made her stage debut as a burlesque eborus girl. + a chorus girl with the Cozy Corner Girls (Western wheel), is framing 4 an act for vaudeville with Eveline Frances, also a chorister with the same company. Veronica is a good-looking and talented young aspirant and was, two seasons ago, with the Fay Foster show. She is now in her second season with Watson's Cozy Corner Girls, She has an excellent singing voice and make quite ai sized hit last summer working as a single act on the small time. Miss Frances, who was last season with Andy Lewis’ Mardi Gras Beauties, is also said to be possessed of some ability as a singing and dancing comedienne. The girls will clome with the Western wheel show at the Folly, Chicago, next week, and will open on some vaudeville time which is being arranged for them by Charlie Harding. Loretta Leroy, Veronica Husemanne, Barney Girard reports excellent business with his Follies of the Day (Western wheel), which is headed by Gertrude Hayes and Louis Dacre. The roster includes Sam Hearn, Joe Barton. Lew Reynolds, W. J. MelIntyre, W. J. Ward, Jack Mendelsohn, Lew Acker, Wm. Mack, and Mm. McClusky. The members of the chorus are: Anna Vrepp, Madeline Sullivan, Marie Hilton, Mabelle Mack, Ivy Vernon, Margaret Rounds, Annette Marion, Teddy Stanley, Mar aret Clarkes Bessie York and Nellie Lawless, The executive staff is: Barney Gerard, manager; Gus Liening, owner; Jack McNamara, business Manager; H. F. Link, auditer; Fred Rounds, musical director; Mort Fox, carpenter, and Wm. Abels, electrician. _Millie Blair, a chorus girl with Gordon and North's Passing Parade, is making a terrific hit with her Hebrew description of Under the Palm Tree, which is used in the review with the show, Miss Blair has been receiving quite a number of pleasing compliments in the varfous cities in which the show has so far played. It would be hard for any manager to secure a better selection of principals or a better company in general than the galaxy of talent which Al Reeve® has gathered about him this teason. The genial Al. is as versatile and as deb noair as ever, and his easy manner and ready flow of unadulterated blarney makes him the favorite that he has ever been with bur. lesque audiences His show this season is evidently of a more expensive nature than any of his previous efforts, and the staging is of a more elaborate nature than usual. Andy Lewis interpolates several special numbers in which he uses some of the girls to excellent. advantage, and appears to satisfy the audience to an extraordinary degree. The opening is an enlarged modification of Andy Lewis’ sketch, The College Tout, and makes a satisfactory first part, interspersed as it is with weil Well dressed and catchy numbers, supported by the best all-around chorus ever seen on a burlesque stage. Idylla Vyner is the same pleas. ing worker as of yore, and ber dancing still | POssensen that fairylike grace which has alWays characterized her terpsichorean efforts, Dora Devere ix also at home in the roles she attempts, while May Rusch handles several bits In a competent manner, and leads several numbers in a pleasing style, Miss Busch te The various shows have, by this | have | with | which | the modern | of rare facial beauty and a graceful manner entirely ber own. Mary Brandon, who last season was with The College Girls, is another clever member of the company, and is a sprightly and graceful young dancer. The | show has no olio, although several specialties are introduced during the action of the two burlettas, the first of which is the coon singing of Loretta Leroy, who is possessed of a pleasing and appropriate voice for the song she possessed urlesque and Burlesquers FROM EAST TO WEST Brief Reviews of the Shows Which Played in New York and Chicago Last Week NEW YORK BURLESQUE BILLS. New York, Oct. 11 (Special The board).—Hurtig and Seamon’s Ginger pleased two audiences Octgber 10 at the umbia Theatre, where they opened engagement. The verdict of those who saw the work of the ‘‘girls’’ and the comedians they support, was that they furnished one of to BillGirls Col | SIM WILLIAMS, 2a y UL ———— a — ‘ ee , handles, and with a Jittle more attention to Stage deportment, delivery and gesture, she should some day become famous in her line. Loretta lacks that magnetic personality which is necessary to hold the interested attention of an audience. She might effect certain mannerisms and other methods of getting her stuff over which should bring about better results. ldylia Vyner, in Spanish dances, helped the situation, while the Busch-Devere Four did exceedingly well in their melange of illustrated songs, a recitation by pretty May Busch, and some phenomenal cornet playing by the famous Billie Busch. The extra attraction was introduced during the burlesque, and consisted of J. Francis Dooley and Corinne Sales in a singing and talk ing act, which kept them on the stage for fully forty minutes. Their work seriously dis turbed the action of the closing piece, but the audience liked it, so what's the difference? I have seen many added attractions with various burlesque companies, but do not remember ever having seen an act of the above mentioned description which made so sure and positive a hit as did Dooley and Sales with the Al. Reeves Show at Pittsburg last week. The show still closes with the models, this season numbering sixteen well-balanced, shapely girls in pink union fleshings. Miss Edna Hill is introduced by the loquacious Al. as a foreign importation and a winner of beauty prizes from the European salons, but if the matter came to & question of general selection it is more than possible that some other members of the company would run Miss Hill a close race, i, Manager Williams’ Imperial Burlesquers, Empire Circuit. the best shows of its kind ever produced. The opening burletta was entitled, Janitor Higgins. Ed. Le Wroth was the principal comedian. Jeanette Sherwood and Jean LeBean both did geod work. It was a rollicking piece with a number of good songs, among them being: The Red Head Girls and The World Without You. The second burletta was called Fair Day at Pocatello. It furnishes ample opportunity for fun-making, which was taken advantage of. The vaudeville features were good, The Tiger Lilies opened at Miner's, in the Bronx, October 10, and were given a cordial reception by a large audience. Mat Kennedy, a clever comedian, heads the aggregation, and he succeeded in keeping his audience in good humor. Miss Daisy Hareourt was engaged as an extra feature and was seen and heard in a budget of new songs. She made an excellent impression. The Gay Modiste, a musical comedy, with Billy W. Watson as the principal comedian, was given at the Metropolis Theatre October 10, by the Girls From Happyland Company. There are many amusing situations in the piece, which afforded Watson and his associates splendid opportunities to display their talents. + Jack Singer's Burlesquers opened for the week at Hurtig and Seamon’s Music Hall Oct. 10. A musical comedy, entitled The Serenaders is their offering. George Armonstrong and Bil| lie Seaton head the cast. They are supported | by an excellent singing and dancing chorus. | Besides playing the leading feminine role in | The Serenaders, Miss Seaton gave her imper| sonation of Eva Tanguay. | a week's | opened to an unusually large and appreciative Clarence Wilbur and The Rollicking Girls audience at the Murray Hill Theatre, October 10. The one-act musical burlettas were given | along with an olio of vaudeville numbers. Wil | Olympic Theatre October 10. | Clark’s Runaway Girls, bur made a hit. The Rector Burlesquers drew two large audiences to Miner’s Bowery Theatre October 10, when they opened at the East Side theatre for an engagement for one week. Two burlettas and an olio of vaudeville acts were offered. The New Gentry Girls are at home this week at Miner’s Eighth Avenue Theatre, where they opened October 10. Funny burlesques and vaudeville specialties were given. Charles Robinson's Crusoe Girls was the attraction that drew two big audiences at the Breezy burlesque and musical comedy were offered by a capable cast of players, assisted by an extra large chorus. CHICAGO BURLESQUE. 14 (Special to The Billboard).— presenting their latest musical extravaganza, The Aviators, is the current attraction at the Star and Garter. At the Alhambra the Ritchie Comedy Company is presenting Vanity Fair. The Cherry Blossoms are at the Empire and Edwin Hayes, in The Wise Guy, is at the Folly. STAR AND GARTER. The Bowery Burlesquers. which is featuring Ben Jansen and Lizzie Freligh is a comical combination of wit and mirth. Jansen is a clever comedian and without him the show would be a_ frost. Costumes and scenery are Madame Xi(cuse me) is a very clever bur lesque on last season’s dramatic sensation, Madame X. There is some very clever acting in this which moves the audience from hilarity Chicago, Oct. beautiful. | to tears and back again for the small price of fifty cents. Brown, Lee and Green do a song and dance act in the olio which went well. i It might be mentioned here that Miss Minnie Lee was on the Western Wheel last season in Miner’s Americans. This fair soubrette is very clever and a great future lies before her. The Alpine Quartette is a frost. The tenor has a voice like a phonograph. EMPIRE THEATRE. With Frank Damsel and Frances Farr, the featured principals in The Ducklings Company, we looked forward to seeing a good show but were somewhat disappointed. The comedy is mediocre and none of the jokes or situations take strongly with the anudience. "Miss Farr is a very sweet and charming little creature from the front but her voice is too weak for any stage. Miss Catherine Ross, who sings illustrated songs in the olio has a fair voice but could improve it. Young Brothers, first novelty acrobats, do a few clever tricks which make good with the audienee. Mike MeDonald and John Price, who are listed as comedians, deserve rot the title. ALHAMBRA. The Big Banner Show played here last week to capacity houses and with such people headlining the bill as Al. Shean, Ed. Galleger and Mabel Leslie, we are not surprised. There are more comical situations in this show than any burlesque seen in the city this season and as far as costumes, scenery, ete., are concerned they have but one rival for first place and that, Molly Williams’ Cracker Jacks. This is, however, the best show seen here so far and I don’t think rivalry could stand to be placed in this paragraph. Al. Shean is great and very, very clever and works good with his partner, Ed. yalleger, while Mabel Leslie carries off the honors as prima donna. Miss Leslie has a very good soprano voice and her acting is splendid as she adopts herself to every situation which aids wonderfully in making the show the big success it Is. The chorus work hard and deserve a of credit. Miss Annette Goldie sings a couple of ragtime songs in the olio which goes well. lot BURLESQUE NEWS. the Australian song of Kennedy and Maidens bird, Evans, for the Mabelle Morgan, and Ted Evans, late have joined The Midnight balance of the season. Wm. McCue and May Wilkinson. members of The Midnight Maidens, were married on the stage of the Empire Theatre, Toledo, 0., September Frances Winder, formerly of the vaudeville team of Leslie and Winder, has signed with the Champagne Girls, a one-night stand bur| lesque show which is rehearsing in Chicago. This | will be Miss Winder’s first appearance on the burlesque stage.