Variety (May 1909)

VARIETY 17 McLallen—Carton Duo. Novelty Skating. 10 Mint,; FuU Stage (Special Drops). PUia. Jack McLallen and May Carson have a novelty skating act in which the novelty extends beyond the billing matter. A brightly colored back drop shows a toy shop with a winter scene through the windows, a pretty picture. The pair dress in attractive costumes, resembling a page arrangement for the man, and a doll's dress for the girl. Both costumes are cut into quarters, contrasting in black and white. They open with a neat graceful routine of skating, executing intricate spins and turns. While the girl is setting out a square of lighted candles arranged about eight inches apart, the man does a capital dance on rollers. Both do a routine in and out of the candles on the dark stage. A feat of barrel jumping on the rollers follows, and the finish is a bit of pedestal dancing. The pedestal is con- cealed until it is needed under the guise of a toy wind-mill. A round or two of skating lets the pair off to good applause. Opening the show at the Plaza the pair did extremely well this week. Both are good looking, and novelty and good ar- rangement of their specialty do the rest. Rush. Thos. F. Smith. Songs and Dances. 9 Mins.; One. 125th Street. Thos. F. Smith was of Smith and Baker. Tight tkousers and a high hat is as far as iiis comedy makeup goes. He is billed as an eccentric singer and dancer, wading through four songs before any dancing is shown. The house became a little restless before he reached the dancing. The songs are of the English comic order, one or two having been done by Fred Rivenhall. Altogether the songs occupied about eight minutes, and the dancing one. Even at that the dancing made Smith a very large hit. There is no getting away from his eccentric work. He is one of our best lit- tle parties in this line. Smith, however, is not able to secure enough alone. A partner, male or female, is lacking. Dash. OUT or TOWN "Back to Iowa" (7). Comic Opera. 25 Mins.; Full Stage (Special Set). Criterion, Atlantic City. With Jacques Kruger heading, Thelma Fair and five others supporting, one of the most pretentious acts of its kind opened Monday. The setting is about that de- lightful restaurant in the tree tops—Rob- inson's, just outside of Paris. The set shows two dining rooms in the trees, curtained and separated by a partition. It would do credit to a big production. The story centres in a Cook's tourist from Iowa dining with the wife of an opera singer. The tourist's wife and the singer suspect the perfidy of the pair and occupy the adjoining room. The guilty ones escape through a secret passage, and return in the open, switching the guilt on the inno- cents. There are seven musical numbers offered, some very good. While there is a lack of dialog the act should make an ex- cellent attraction. /. B. Pulaski. Robert L. Dailey and Co. "The Vaudeville Agent" (Comedy). 15 Mins.; Full Stage. Y oung's Pier, Atlantic City. ^Misted by those two clever dancers, Gertie Vanderbilt and Rosie Green, Mr. Dailey made a creditable showing. The dialog consists of a succession of witty remarks by Mr. Dailey. Most of them scored. He has a way of telling things. A little music of the "rag time" variety and some exceptional dancing complete the of- fering. The gearing of the act is snap and speed, and should soon show class. /. B. Pulaski. Eleanor Gordon and Co. (4). "Tip On Tap" (Comedy). 20 Mins.; Full Stage (Interior). Majestic, Chicago. A racing episode and a tip that won out are the basis for the story unfolded by Miss Gordon and a capable company, in- cluding Jos. Sullivan, who, like the star, has appeared here in a stock company and is well known. The plot has to do with a woman's intrigues and an ambi- tion to earn money by selling "tips" to others than her husband. She finds in the pocket of her husband's clothes a tip, and places the bet herself with the money she has earned in the profession. The husband also bets on a horse, but does not tell his wife. She gives a bookmaker the money and, after complicated situa- tions, some humorous, a letter or telegram tells of the good fortune. There is some resemblance to 'Teaches" and other farces of this order. The theme is not new, and is rather too hackneyed for one so tal- ented as Miss Gordon. The Majestic clien- tele seemed to like it. Frank Wiesoerg. Mane King and Girls (4). Songs and Dances. 15 Mins.; Full Stage (3 Scenes; Special Sets). Majestic, Chicago. In spectacular environment Mazie King and four girls introduce a number of dances and songs, several of the latter specially written. The first scene shows a picturesque garden of flowers, the sec- ond an effective wintry illusion, and the third an electrical reproduction of Niagara Falls. The lights are well handled, the costuming consistent and pretty. The feature is the dancing of Miss King, who does nearly everything from ordinary evolution to toe manipulation. In the latter she is quite skilled and offers a diversified series, accomplished only by the very best dancers. The act has merit. HEADLINERS NEXT WEEK. NEW YORK. Karbo Comedy Co., "Vassar Girls," and Maude Odell (splitting top line), Ameri- can. Eddie Foy, Plaza. Annette Kellermann, Fifth Avenue. Pauline?, Alhambra. Julius Steger and Co., Hammerstein's. Eva Tanguay, Colonial. Vesta Tilley, Orpheum. James J. Jeffries, Fulton, Brooklyn. CHICAGO. Sidney Drew and Co., American. Elita Proctor Otis and Arthur Hoops, Majestic. WINTER0ARTEN LOSES AN ACT. Berlin, April 10. It has just come to hand that The Whirlwind Millers, an American dancing act, are now appearing on the Orpheum Circuit in the States. The news caused a smile hereabouts, the variety people having some knowledge of the facts whereby the Berlin Wintergarten lost the act. It seems a foreign agency in New York cabled Franz Steiner, director of the Win- tergarten, proffering the Millers for a Ber- lin engagement at $300 weekly. Steiner is said to have cabled Martin Beck asking if the act was worth the money. No fur- ther communication was had between Steiner and the New York agency, nor was an answer received from Beck. Mr. Steiner must have suggested a good act, for the word is that The Millers are playing over the Orpheum Circuit at $360 weekly. The vaudeville-know-it-alls say the incident of the Millers will probably cure Mr. Steiner of making further in- quiries away from his own fireside. IRVING AND HACKNEY LEGITIMATE. There is a prospect of a starring tour for Laurence Irving and Mabel Hackney, brought over here by William Morris for his independent vaudeville chain. On Tuesday of this week they gave a special matinee at the HaCkett Theatre of a three-act farce from the French entitled "The Incubus." The performance was re- peated yesterday, and if a favorable de- cision is returned by William A. Brady, it will be put out next season. The play is described as having a par- ticularly risque theme, saved from of- fensiveness by its French polish of satire. It has to do with an "advanced thought" professor, who, declining *o assume family responsibilities takes unto himself a mis- tress, who proves to be twice as much trouble and responsibility as a whole harem. The matinee series is the private ven- ture of Edward R. Doyle, business man- ager for Grace George. Seven principals are concerned in the piece beside Mr. Irving and Miss Hackney. BIJOU'S NEW BOOKINGS. The Bijou, Brooklyn, opened Monday under the management of the People's Vaudeville Co. The first bill is made up of La Belle Troupe, Mary Hampton and Co., Edna Reaming, Hoey and Mozar, Wil- son Franklyn and Co., and pictures. The Joe Wood office books in the act. Monday morning last when Paul La Croix called upon his agent, Jack Levy, it was exactly eight months since Mr. Levy had seen his client ("client") who has been playing in the west. While La Croix was informing the agent that his position on the "five per cent." com- mission fee had not changed, some one called Levy on the 'phone, saying "Allen- town for Paul La Croix is off for next week." At the Greenpoint Monday after- noon while La Croix was going through his juggling, he suddenly stopped, re- marking reflectively "If I had stayed in bed this morning, I could be working next week." HOPKINS TO MANAGE BRIGHTON BEACH. Arthur M. Hopkins, the vaudeville agent, has been appointed to act as manager of the Brighton Beach Music Hall for the coming summer. He will also have the direction of the bookings for the vaude- ville establishment, taking his attractions from the United Booking Offices. The sea- son will commence June 7. The Music Hall will be in close and active competition for patronage with the New Brighton Beach, promoted by David L. Robinson, manager of Percy G. Will- iams' Colonial, who directed the present house last season. Both theatres, within a mile of each other, as well as Hender- son's in Coney Island, receive their book- ings from the United. Henderson's playa a less expensive grade of attractions and does not enter keenly into the competi- tion, but the fight between the two Brigh- ton Beach theatres is certain to be a vig- orous one. The older establishment has ui many repairs since last fall. The have been widened so that the house eaa be emptied in a minute and a half, and a brick wall is being built to replace the present proscenium wall of wood. In ad- dition an asbestos curtain can effectually cut off the stage from the audience. t ASBURY WAKING UP. Asbury Park, N. J., April 29. Asbury Park is to have a theatre at last. This New Jersey resort has a sum- mer population of 100,000, but since the Opery house burned down six or seven years ago has been without a regular place of entertainment except the Oaalno on the beach, leased by Walter Rosenberg. This waa originally built as a concert hall and band stand, and although it waa remodeled to permit of the hanging of scenery, was never really satisfactory. Announcement has been made that a syndicate is negotiating for the purchase of the West End Hotel property at As- bury Avenue and Kingsley Street, one block from the boardwalk and in the cen- tre of the summer population. Should the deal go through a theatre will be built on the hotel site and the Casino will bo turned over for the free use of the people. NEW FORM FOR LICENSE. A new form of application for. a theatre license was forwarded to local houeee from the office of the Police Commissioner this week. In the application, the owner or lessee of the premises must attest his signature before a notary public, and agree that any service of papers in an action brought by the municipal authorities may be served upon him by leaving it at the box office. The change from the customary man- ner of applying has been caused by the Douell ordinance affecting the amusement places. The II. B. Marinelli New York office is flirting with the foreign managers for Lamberti, the musical act. TWO WEEKS ENOUGH. Chicago, April 20. There is no more vaudeville at the Co- lumbus Theatre. The end enme Sunday night after an experiment of two weeks. It is said that the receipts during the fort- night did not meet the salaries of the acts, and the policy has been abandoned for good.