Variety (Dec 1905)

8 VARIETY. THE HEAD OF THE HOUSE. As I walked into the parlor after fin- ishing dinner, there stood the Head of the House, with her hat on and some- thing around her. resembling a lap robe. "Going out, dear?" says I, making the "dear" strong. "As I haven't anything new on," says she, "that's it." "Hope you enjoy yourself," says I, try- ing at the same time to think what date I could run in for the spare evening. "Have no hopes of doing so," she says. "I'm going with you." • "Well, well," says I. "It's a vaudeville show, you know." "I know," says she. "I can't get away from it. It's vaudeville all the time. At breakfast this morning you said 'Bring on that first act/ meaning fruit. You're bug, all right." "Just clip those knocks," says I, "or you'll get your picture in, too." "If they'll stand for yours," she says, "don't worry about mine." "That picture's not so bad," says i, thinking I could get some hot air from her. "It's all right, maybe," she says, "to* any one who's never seen you." "Like to see you get a check cashed on it." she says again. "Wouldn't it identify me?" says I. feeling foolish. "It would," says she, "after they hung it up in the Rogues' Gallery." "Come on," says I. "We'll go out." "Where to?" says she. • "HubersV*. "Oh, no,'/ says I. "A better place. A ten-cent show." "I wish I had your job," she says. "Why?" says I, suspiciously. "Never mind," says she. "I'll stay home." "Too bad," I says, thankfully. "It's all right," says she. "I'm happy enough. Guess I'll take a little carbolic before going to bed." "Be sure you take enough," says I. "Never fear," says she. "If I don't you will before I'm through." "You're up in the air," says I, kind of sorry. "Please get out," she says, "before I commence to tell what I really think of you." "All right," says I. "Good-bye. Don't forget the carbolic." ONE GOOD EXAMPLE. Tony Pastor collects the Actors' Fund tax on the few passes issued by him. A sftauip guarantees that the fund receives the money, removing the only objection to the old scheme where there was no assurance that the treasurer was not profiting instead of the fund. If every vaudeville manager would follow Mr. Pastor's excellent example the reproach that the variety houses do almost nothing for the Fund would be removed. The Actor's Fund is one of the real charities and deserves the sup- port of all branches of the profession. The new stamp scheme does not oc- casion a delay of five seconds nor does it entail an elaborate system of book- keeping. Shows tile Week HAMMERSTElNS. The bill this week seems mild in com- parison with those emblazoned lately at this house. Joe Hart and Carrie De Mar are the feature number in a miscellane- ous medley which may have been im- provised by Hart himself in an idle mo- ment. The dialogue is not bright nor is the "business" original. One topical song is fair, while another is an arrangement of the titles of different plays, mostly mod- ern. Miss De Mar should straighten out the kinks in her voice and keep away from "feah" and all affectation. Mr. Hart takes occasion to act as a wine agent for "Ruinart" for which, even though two cases are delivered, a better wine should have been selected. There is nothing adequate to be said for the en- core "Follow the leader" used by artists of their reputations. It's simply awful. • Harry Tate's Motoring plays a return engagement. It is humorous, with hu- mor of more than the ordinary brand, . and well acted throughout by the com- pany of five. A choice of the company would fall on the chaffeur. Like most foreign acts, something is lacking. In this instance it is a real automobile in- stead of the "prop." O'Brien and Havel are here for the first time this season, but Clara Havel is replaced by Effie Lawrence. Miss Law- rences resembles Clara somewhat, sings better, but does not dance as well. The sketch "Ticks and Clicks" is almost past maturity. The Tobin Sisters have a musical act of which the music, with the exception of the bamboo chimes, does very well. The women dress very decolette, and on the darkened stage in the opening, they appear to have on night gowns. The Rossow Midgets (with Charles Rossow also doing a single turn) have improved the work on their boxing match until it is very realistic and ex- citing. The Camille Trio on the hori- zontal bars are overweighted with comedy, so much so that no real acro- batics are displayed. A. O. Duncan, the ventriloquist, keeps abreast of current events as usual with his dummies, and is the only ventrilo- quist readily called to mind who can hold his audience in the present times without an elaborate stage setting. The Patty Brothers, or one of them, at least, walked upon his head figuratively and artistically. The moving pictures closed the show. Vesta Victoria, the English music hall artist, whose coming to this country has already been announced, will appear on February 19 at the Colonial for the first appearand of her American engage- ment. The four Milons, late of the Hippo- drome, were suddenly canceled for a Springfield Idate, being compelled to "lay off" this week in consequence. KEITH'S. Not a sketch graced the bill here this week, and the program was short by two of the customary number of attrac- tions listed. This may have been one of the causes for the poor attendance: There is no choice among the variety acts. Except Kate Elinore, no one threw any enthusiasm into the work. She has an irresistible manner of reaching out and taking the laughs from the audi- ence. Regardless of what she says, the right or left hand is always ready to follow the remark up and catch the laugh. The more often the hand reaches out, the more funny the audience be- lieves it to be, and if Kate Elinore ever reaches out with both hands at one time in a theatre a panic will follow. May Elinore sings a song or two, appears in tights and a long dress, but the jewels worn are the most noticeable part of her apparel. A most careful computa- tion of the value while the "sisters" were on the stage had reached one hundred and forty-two thousand, three hundred and four dollars, when the act ended, with still a yard or two of the blazers to be figured on. Sidney Grant either stripped down his stories and imitations through sheer laziness, or was obliged to. What he considered best in the lot was given, but so many are doing Williams, of Williams and Walker, that it would be as well to drop that also. "Archie" was not heard of either, directly. "The Sunny South" means quite a crowd of colored people, who sing and dance. The dancing is the part that is liked, the finish bringing forth great applause. One of the boys has a dance step indescribable, which is carried out half way across the stage. If possible it should be prolonged for the full width, as it grows steadily in effect and is pretty to look at. The four Londons in their casting act did Eome work which, while showing nothing new, having been done by the Lukens for some time, was well worked, excepting that the young "flyer" was un- certain. As a mechanical ventriloquist Ed. F. Reynard is rapidly forging to the front. He has greatly improved ventriloquially and hfs manipulation of the figures, with the ensemble finale, gives a climax which takes the house a few minutes to get over. Reynard displays thought in his act, and it is one of those which can stand repetition. Arthur Borani and Annie Nevarro al- most had a sketch and it was liked, as were Jen and Frank Latona "introduc- ing some wonderful piano playing." Why can't a program have some re- gard for the truth? Milt Wood did some wooden shoe dancing, and, it is believed, sang a song. Morton, Temple a,nd Morton, "acrobatic singing" (what- ever that .is), Pierce and Opp, as German accent butchers, the Ahearns on bicycles and Edwina Mercier with songs were also there. Kelly and Kent, who were booked to play the Grand Opera House on Sunday (to-morrow) night have been obliged to cancel owing to Miss Kent's illness D. F. Hennessy, of the Keith Booking Office, has been under the weather late- ly, according to his own report, but not sufficiently so to neglect his duties. ALHAMBRA. It is almost a beauty contest this week, and the blue ribbon must be hand- ed to May Meers, of the three Meers, with Belle D'Arcy in "Paris" well up. There are fifteen girls in Wayburn's Minstrel Misses who don't even enter. The Misses, as an act, is rapidly round- ing into shape, although few of the orig- inal girls are now in it. Bertie Herron is so much "it" in the performance that one wonders if the others are really re- quired. Bertie is in front all the time, Bertie is featured in the billing, Bertie has the best lines, Bertie wears the only pair of silk stockings in the bunch, and it could be remarked that the only thing lacking about Bertie is a gilt star on her chest so no error could possibly be made. The opposite end girl to Bertie seems capable with opportunity, while the last girl on the first line, to the extreme left in the closing number, is the best dan- cer. No change has been made in the "business." and the girls are poorly blackened up, lacking proper stage di- rection. Clayton White and Marie Stuart are repeating "Paris" here. It has been dis- covered where the Piccolo Midgets' mu- sic came from. The same is used in Miss Stuart's dance. Who used it first? Please answer, so this worriment may cease. Miss Stuart's spe-ci-al-i-ty is spoiled by the hare Up imitation. The sketch was received as well as ever. The Italian trio, about 500 pounds of men, graded in size according to weight, made sufficient noise to win applause, but haven't been long enough over here to know that black bows are not proper form for full evening dress. The Three Meers were well liked in their wire act and comedy. The double step and the finish on the "endless wire" are effective. Miss Meers, above re- ferred to, with her graceful carriage and refined appearance, is a valuable ad- junct, which the one in authority should realize. Chris Smith and a couple of Johnsons are colored. Hardly a bill nowadays is met without a team like this upon it, and in all. with one or two exceptions, the girl just tries to look pleasant owing to inability to do anything else. These acts as a rule give singing and dancing, and are so similar in character that com- ment on one covers all. Mathews and Ashley have a drop of their own. and one makes a change. Were it not for the parody at the finish, they would die. Without that they are not near as good as they were some two years ago. The act up to the parody should be rewritten, when there will be a chance, with the drop taken into the consideration, of building the offering into a strong one. Binns and Binns with music and com edy inject all the nonsense they have ever heard of or seen, even going so far as to pull a curtain over the picture of a draped^picture when "church music" is mentioned. Alcide Capitaine ha<l nothing new on the trapeze. James B. Donovan and Rena Arnold are reviewed under New Acts.