Variety (February 1909)

2D VARIETY AMERICAN. With a $2,000 feature act heading the bill at the American this wee-, the pro- gram drops off in quality, and lacks "class" without any question. In a word, it is too cheap, notwithstanding Amelia Bingham's presence. Also it is a difficult bill to place for the best results, and a rearrangement followed the first show Monday. This brought the Three Brothers Delton, a comedy acro- batic act, to open the show. In the com- pany, the Deltons could have taken any position and carried rit through. They were wasted at top, although making an excellent opening number; much too good for an eight o'clock show.. The exingencies permitting, a new colored act, Harper and Smith, should have had the Deltons' place, this colored act .followed Miss Bingham Probably a greater contrast has never been offered upon a variety stage. Amelia ^Bingham, for vaudeville, is superb. No criticism may be offered of Miss Bingham's vaudeville idea. A better one has never been evolved from.the grey matter of a "legitimate." Miss Bingham has set a standard for the 'legits" in vaudeville: those who have, those who will, and those who want to. Why could not Miss Bingham return her idea into the legitimate by giving an evening's perform- ance of four or five acts, taking into the legitimate a full cast—and as competent a one as her present principal support, Richie Ling, Lynn Pratt and Beth Frank- lin now make. Miss Bingham is far from knowing the vaudeville she conquered so easily, how- ever. Tuesday evening, "Camille", "Sans Gene" and "Fedora" were presented in the order named. The first and last should not be in the same program, and more especially Miss Bingham ought not to conclude her performance with a death scene as in "Fedora," a character she does not give convincingly, nor is her robust "CamiUe" calculated to impress those who know the story of the consumptive's end. "Sans Gene" and "Fedora" together are too much of an effort, with no breathing spell. The comedy in the sketch of Eddie Girard and Jessie Gardner's "Dooley and the Idol" arrived in the nick of time. Mr. Girard still has to mend the finish; it is costing him applause. This latest piece is a bully comedy number; yet capable of expansion. Miss Gardner is wearing a new and pretty white dress, and if Miss Gardner cares anything about it, she may be informed that "Don't Be Anybody's Moon But Mine," as sung by her, becomes a better number than as rendered at present in "Stubborn Cinderella," with a large chorus there for assistance. Another point; they say the "idol" is not a "Billiken," but a "Merriwinkle," re- puted to be "BillikenV wife, and a god- dess in another department. Following Incognito (New Acts) Grant Gardner and Marie Stoddard held the stage for twenty minutes, both scoring, Miss Gardner heavily, and Blake's "un- ridable" mule followed to several minutes of screams. Only the mule of the animal act is used this week. Weston and Young, with a company, presented "The New Reporter," dialog, "money changing" and frequent use of "signs" not having been altered. It is a fast act, and fitted in well. (Continued on page 22.) HAMMERSTEIH'S. The management evidently have de- cided to test the drawing powers of Rajah to the limit, for aside from "The Devil and Tom Walker," easily the legitimate hit of the program, the bill seems to have been made up with a noticeable indiffer- ence to the usual demands of the house. From the attendance Monday night the management can afford £o take chances. The house was packed. Rajah, in her third week, is without a doubt the best comedy act that Hammer- stein's has ever uncovered. It was hard to figure at. first why a sophisticated audience like that which patronises the Broadwa/ house would fall for the "Midway" thing, but it is all explained now. It's fast a joke, that's all. The comedy doesnt all come from the stage; thert» are several "audience comedians" who get the laughs with few choke remarks while Rajah is doing her "wiggles." "Oh, you kid" and "Shake yourself, Honey," were greeted with uproars. Besides these things Rajah has other values. There has been at least one act on each bill with her either bur- lesquing the dance, or spending consider- able time talking about it This week it is Hoey and Lee. The pair are showing the best routine that they have had since they rejoined hands. The only weak spot is the talk, which is the old material that never had any place in the offering. "The Devil and Tom Walker" simply came into its own on Broadway. The act is closing the first half. A novelty or comedy act is hailed with joy in these days of progressive vaudeville, and when an act contains both these much sought for ingredients, its value becomes almost limitless. "The Devil and Tom Walker" has them both, and is a production be- sides. If John B. Hymer has any other "Devils" under cover, vaudeville will be pleased to give them a hearty welcome. Niblo's "Talking Birds" were just enough out of the ordinary run of things to excite no little amount of curiosity. The turn is short, has novelty and is ex- ceedingly well worked. Gillihan and Murray, after a separation of four years, are once more together, and if they will only do away with the present talk, it will be a happy reunion all around. The singing is of a first rate sort and the comedian's "wench" is bully. He has wisely not attempted a burlesque, but secured a good looking soubrette costume, and gets more fun out of the new arrangement than he possibly could from a grotesque get-up. "The Gainsboro Girl" did rather well (No. 3). The act is a straight singing offering. It is given a background to get away from the usual high-class single singing specialties. It's a good idea, for were the girl to simply come out and sing her songs without the little play of lights, the result might be in doubt. Lyons and Parks, with the $1,600 harp standing out in strong relief, opened the show in very pleasing style. The act did better in the position than any that has played the house this season. The Majestic Musical Four opened after the intermission, and Wills and Hassan dosed the show, both passing easily. Doth. COLONIAL. Blanche I^ing (New Acts) and'Annette Kellerman make a first class pair of names at the top of a variety bill. Capacity houses at the Colonial this week are the best proof of that. Miss Ring probably deserves a little the better of the credit for drawing, this being her re- appearance in the varieties,, while it is the second week for Miss Kellerman at the house. The bill as a whole is not to be classed with that of last week's, or in fact is it up to the usual run of the Colonial, for the most part it is slow and draggy. Julius Tanen was the big- gest laughing success of the evening. The applause at the finish was strong, although in the case of a monologist, this is a minor consideration.. "Princess Trixie," "The Horse that Entertained the King," a fact that Harrison Barnes, the trainer, makes sure that the house shall not for- get, really has anything in its line whipped at all stages of the game. Mr. Barnes claims the horse understands.what it is doing. Of course there are a few of the "show men" who question this, but no matter how accomplished, it is very skilfully put over. The usual way of answering questions by means of nods or tapping with the front feet is not em- ployed. In this case "Trixie" in an- swering does so by spelling, selecting the various letters, on blocks, from a basket, thrown in any old way. The act held the house interested for fifteen minutes. Morrisey and Ayer will have to do a little fixing up before their specialty can be marked O. K. Both members play the piano, one playing while the other sings and then the reverse. This is continued until no less than seven or eight numbers are put away. Through this the music has a great deal to do with the success. The numbers in this case are not what they should be. Dancing would help the turn a great deal. The boys look well and the voices are all right, but the act needs rearranging. Paulinetti and Piquo opened the pro- gram with first rate hand balancing and ground tumbling. The pair both work in comedy makeup, depending upon a wire for the comedy. They are using the wire in the same manner as others, and secur- ing a great deal out of it. Edward J. Connelly returns to vaude- ville with "Marse Covington." Closing the first part, the act seemed to please the bouse. Richard Webster is the "new "darky" and does very well with the role. Otherwise the cast remains without change. Williard Simms is still in "Flinder's Furnished Flat," and still is able to ex- tract laughs. Abdul Kader and His Three Wives opened after the intermission, a good spot for the act. The drawings are all done without the aid of talk. Miss Kellerman closed the show. Blanche Ring, New Acts. Dash. Harry Bulger with Henrietta Bryon and a company in the "elephant scene" from "Algeria" will open Feb. 15 at the Co lonial. M. S. Bentham, the boy agent, turned the trick, he says. Jessie Couthoui will play in London during May, remaining abroad for three months. The appeal in the Geo. W. Day-Klaw & Erlanger (United Booking Offices) case will be argued during this or next month. It is on the validity of the K. ft E. vaude- ville contract. GREENPOINT. Many a vaudeville bill of half again the cost has been ouereU on Eroadway Trith out delivering the entertainment of this week's arrangement in Greenpoint. A good comedy pace was maintained throughout, with only one point of slack- ening during "Spiritland" (New Acts), a poetic fantasy in pantomime that may have been too finely drawn for the audi- ence. All the rest of the show was light entertainment of the approved vaudeville sort. Real vaudeville was new to the Lone/Islanders when Mr* Williams opened his house" some six months? ngo, but they have been educated rapidly. Thej> are wide awake and on the alert for points, although they still show favor for the more obvious sort of clowning. It was perhaps for this reason that the admirable little caricature of a super- cilious waitress lady of Irene Franklin escaped complete appreciation, although the catchy patter scheme invoked large applause at the finish. The "Redhead" song, of course, was a tremendous go all over the house and the varied repertoire of character songs and costume changes scored immensely. Tuesday night the theatre was half filled by a delegation from a local club, and Burt Green de- tached himself from the piano long enough to "pull a local." "The Queen of Vaude- ville" was the headliner and in next to closing place filled the bill most satis- factorily. Stuart Barnes never did better. He is working hard and getting his material over with complete certainty. Opening with a series of three songs, given almost without interruption, he reserves his talk until the finish. At the Greenpoint the monolog won him a sure encore and he closed with "Don't Take Me Home," doing a bit of "chatter" during the verses. The "Girl From Sherry's" with a "plant," is no longer in use. Up until the closing there had been very little clowning and so when Clarence Wil- bur and his "Ten Funny Folks" took the stage they had everything their own way. Wilbur's humor makes its surest appeal to the provincial understanding. It is rough and loud, but it provoked the Greenpint audience to noisy amusement. The Six O'Connor Sisters seem to be dressed better, but they would be still improved for having their harmony edited. The Piquays opened in a neatly dressed and splendidly executed routine of hand- stand and contorion, the latter mostly by a good-looking woman who wore tights gracefully. The finish is a novelty. The man fastens a pair of shoe-like devices on his hands and while holding himself in a hand-stand executes a ridiculous shuffle dance. This performance drew down a generous response and gave the pair a first-rate exit. Henry Clive was No. 2. They were a bit puzzled at the burlesque magician across the river. It took quite a while be- fore they decided whether '-r not to take him seriously. But the way they fell for that trick cabinet was a joy and a delight. "Love's Young Dream" had its usual early place and pleased mightily, while Stafford and Stone, in "A Hunter's Game" (New Acts) did extremely well opening the intermission. Rush. Isabelle Green and The Great Lavinle were recently married at Detroit.