Variety (Jan 1906)

■•\ . ••■!•^>'^■'v••■ '^;.• VARIETY. •'-■,« .1 'V,<„.-i •^•. '?■;:':<■', KEENEY'8. 'r \ :-.■;<:■ ,,;] No one may doubt Frank A. Keeney's intention to provide tlie very newest and beat for his patrons, regardless of the results, which can seldom be foreseen. The bill this week on paper looked like a "corker," and no house, though \)t . larger capacity than this sung little place of amusement can often boast of four new acts at one time, which oc- curred here this week. Louise Allen Collier, The Alhambra Sextet, three Cartmells and Carrie Sor- enson, the "new ones," are reviewed un- der New Acts. . ,: '■; Not a person in the audience cared what had passed after Harry Tate's "Motoring" commenced to explode. The laughter was so hearty and infectious that seldom could the voices on the stage be understood. This is a comedy act of value, most likely one of the funniest in its humor that has been imported over, but the absence of a real snorting, puflSng automobile is the one missing feature. No fault may be found with the son, the chaffeur; the boy, the costermonger, or the owner of the car, supposed to be Harry Tate himself. Each is distinctive in his respective part. If the "bobby" c>an be made to understand that "furi- ous driving" on the other side is equiva- lent to "speeding" over here, the humor of the finale will be better understood. As the change from Oxford to Yale was easily carried out, why not this? Ada Overton Walker and Mrs. Mat- tie Mcintosh, with eight colored girls, who belied their description in looks, were well liked. Miss Walker, the wife of the Williams and Walker Walker, is a comedienne of sable hue, and pre- sented a much better appearance in a dusky shade than the almost white girls that surrounded her. Mrs. Mcintosh, without being heavily burdened with work or opportunities, did not fail to as- sist, but it is the Walker girl who car- ries the act to success. Wincherman's bears and monkeys amused the house while waiting for the moving pictures, and Edestus balanced in all positions and on everything in sight, upon opening the show. Only one overture is now listed on the [\ , program preceding the raising of the ***4 curtain, but no intermission has been granted, which is still an important over-* sight. The program announcement of the amateur nights installed states that "diamond prizes" will be awarded for the most "applauses" received by the competitors, with the following note: "Manager Keeney, believing there Is considerable talent in Brooklyn that has /been yet undiscovered, gives this chance to the public." Edgar Atchison Ely has canceled all his vaudeville engagements for the present. He will rejoin May Irwin's company, probably In Washington, D. C, some time late this month, and will re- main in his old part with "Mrs. Black Is Back," until the close of May Irwin's season. Then he will return to the va- rieties. . THE GOTHAM. When Otto Huber, the brewer, ran the Gotham, in East New York, as a music hall, there was a "green room" to the left of the balcony. Since the conver- sion of the theatre for vaudeville the large space formerly given over to "damp" parties has been devoted to the women, with a few single beds looking spick and span for the babies of the neighborhood who may accompany their mothers to see the show, but tire before the finish. '' ■■ -''■■' '■••:"■■■ ■■"■■■'•:■••■'-■'■•■■'■■■ The result is that the performance is not disturbed by bawling children, and the room resembles an auxiliary of a Red Cross establishment, v . Last week the Gotham had Karno's Mumming Birds as the attraction, and the people over In the cemetery end of Greater New York have not yet stopped laughing. The bill this week seems somewhat tame by comparison, although "The Vaudeville Exchange," as played by Watson, Hutchlngs, Edwards and company for the first time at this house, threw the audience into convulsions. The clientele that patronizes the Gotham demand the broad humor, and they are having it each week as an assured fact on "amateur night," which occurs Thurs- day evening. Frank A. Keeney copied the event, in- stalling it at his theatre on the same evening, preventing an exchange of the most amusing "turns" between the houses. The three Constantino Sisters were on early; too early, In fact, considering the others which followed. The girls have no great claims to dancing or even acro- batics, showing the ordinary rudiments of each, but they run their work along so briskly and with so much spirit that the audience likes them, without regard to the quality of what is given. Harry B. Lester told some very old stories and gave some impersonations, the best of which was that of George M. Cohan, although he did not use either of Mr. Cohan's latest songs. Through the facial resemblance of Raymond Hitchcock and Billy Clifford Mr. Lester also "does" those two, and in addition Clarice Vance (which is not announced) singing that "Nuthin' " song. It is done well, and were it not, the song Itself would be spoiled. If Lester intends to remain permanently In vaudeville here- after he must dig down, get some real stories and try for prominent and legiti- mate comedians to imitate. Oaylor and Graff opened the bill with any number of miscellaneous "bits" taken from various acts, and the Mc- Grath Brothers, on banjos' had trouble in securing applause on patriotic airs after having given classical airs. Lawson and Namon, with comedy bi- cycle riding and bag punching by the woman, seemed a novelty to the Browns- ville contingent present, while Haw- thorne and Burt, Hebrew comedians, and D'Alama's dogs were also there. H. A.Carelton Is to open a vaudeville? house In Oklahoma City, which he will book In connection with the BlJou In WIchta, Kan. MINER'S BOWERY. "The house that made burlesque popu- lar" will never be able to do much for "The Mascottes," which belongs to Ja- cobs, Lowrie and James Butler, in St. Louis. The only redeeming feature of the show Is the girls. The show itself is in such bad shape that a "couchee-cou- chee" dancer is in it, who wriggles a few muscular movements to the chorus of a song. This girl, Cora Van Buren. has the second best voice in the com- pany, and it seems pitiful that a young woman who might depend upon her vocal efforts alone in an organization of this nature should degrade herself for the betterment of something her wriggles do not Improve. The opening piece, called "Irish Dad- dies," carries no weight. It allows some rough work in the humor department to be shown by Billy Williams and Tom Barrett, and of the two. if there is a choice, Mr. Barrett should have the de- cision. Bert PiEige "slsifies " himself as a last hope, but doesu't pretend that it is creditable. The finale Is a march song. Illustrated by three stereopticon pictures, which are alternately flashed back and forth. The girls form an inverted V to the can- vas, and with the noise of some twelve voices yelling with might and main the din gets a recall, but no new pictures. While the girls are singing, in the opening piece, one voice can be heard which Is far above the others for fresh- ness, but it is impossible to locate it until the Batchellor Sisters appear in the olio. It belongs to the youngest and prettiest of the "sisters," who play mu- sical Instruments, sing and dance, and have an act altogether too good for their present environments. The other girl has no voice worth hear, ing, and hurts her "sister, who should secure some girl partner of equal abil- ity, going direct into vaudeville after having some one shape up a turn for them there. Lavine and Page on the slack wire and contortions could make something of their act were they to work It prop- erly. Page should cut the song and do more contortions; Laviue should extend the slack wire performance, his acro- batic work on It being excellent. There is no reason why they should not both work at the same time, even if the length of the act must be cut down. Wilbur Held, in black-face, told some stories and sang a song. Further re- mark will be found about Mr. Page In "Talks to Artists." "The Big Three," Barrett, Williams and Edna Alleyne. do not deserve com- ment for the quality of the offering they are giving, while Bob Fields and Cora Muson try hard with songs and dances, securing some applause for their efforts. Swearing is prevalent throughout the whole show, but as you feel like cutting loose a few swear words yourself, it is not heeded. "A Jealous Woman" is the afterpiece. THE OFFICE BOY AND THE USHERS. "Say, do you know," said the office boy, upon seeing mo pop In the agent's office, "that I was just thinking about quitting this Job and go Into ushering again?" The boy was told he was learning something in his present position, that possibly in time he would b€KK)me an agent himself, but he only shook his head and replied: "No, sirree. I can't wait that long. There's no graft In this for me, at least. I used to usher, you know, in a theatre, and I managed to pick up a little scale now and then. Here I Just plug away day after day. Half the time my feet are on the desk, and no one comes In. Then, after the shows are over, they come with a rush, but there's no money in it for little Willie. I get my salary. ' of course. I'm sure of that, but I guess it's the usher business for mine. _^"Yoii»ought to know the ushers pretty well, and how they manage to pick up a nickel or more now and then, and they don't have to get up at seven o'clock in the morning either. I've heard that at the Williams' and Proctor's houses you can't make any raw bid for tips, so I guess I'll try for a Job at the Keith house. They say It's soft down there. Everybody In the house is out for a tip. They are so busy looking for money that they don't know who's on the bill. "You know that's a continuous Souse, and anybody who goes in can pick out any seat he can find In the orchestra. Well, the boys down there spread the people around so you couldn't find a seat with an X-ray, and when someone looks like a small piece of change Mr. Wise steers him Into a seat he has held out, even If a lot of tired women who Just dropped In from shopping for a rest are standing up against the orchestra rail waiting for one. "And if you buy a ticket In a box, say,' the kid that takes you there can't do enough. He takes your hat and coat, pushes the person In a chair out of the way and Just lifts you In a seat, all the time keeping his eye on your change pocket and your hand. Even the boy with the water gets nearsighted if you don't give up the first time. "This office work can't beat a Job like that. Hammerstoin's has colored ush- ers. Hurtig and Seamon's' seats are numbered, and In Pastor's you are not expected to give up. so It's Keith's for mine. . "I'm going to ask the boss to help me get the Job. Come down when I'm there. I'll see you are taken care of without g<'ttinp: held up." - Myers & Keller, the agents, have got- ten out a IVussian embossed booklet, called the "layingout Sheet," which has been greatly appreciated by those in receipt of it, and more especially as their names appear in bright letters of gold in the embossing. The Lecussons. a foreign arrobfitlc act, opens at the Hippodrome for the first time on March 5, v Col. Bordeverry wll go home and leave the field to the Chevalier De Lorls. The latter has a new piano In honor of the event.