Variety (January 1914)

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VARIETY HAMMERSTBIN'S The bill starts with dancing and never stops, with the Vernon Castles giving them an overdose in the pictures after 11 o'clock. Considering the dancing from all angles, the show this week gives pretty good entertainment, although a better balance could be maintained. Burns and Fulton, programmed for "No. 15," following Cross and Josephine, were shifted to the tenth position. It was a long show, and the business was good, although there were some empty seats. Moran and Moran opened with a trot and tango exhibition. This is a youth- ful pair with a modern routine of waxed-floor stepping that is being done to death on the small time and in the big time houses. There wasn't much of a house to play to around 8 o'clock, but Moran and Moran worked hard just the same. The act is best suited for the pop houses where the pace isn't so fast. Max and Mabel Ford put the danc- ing bee abuzzing again-. Class and skill give the Fords high standing. They should attempt no singing. They were carded for the "sixth position," but changed places with George B. Reno ar.d Co. The Reno outfit, despite re- peated visits to the Corner, caused genuine laughter. Harry Kelly and Lee Harrison were "No. 4," and held favor. Will Rogers talked, chewed gum, whirled his lassos and danced with the usual laughing results. After Reno's "Misfits" came Al. Wohlman and Maurice Abrahams (New Acts). Foster Ball and Ford West stayed on too long, but scored nevertheless. The Girl from Milwaukee hasn't made any changes from the time she first opened in New York. She sings well. Charles and Fannie Van and the stage carpenter skit went breezily over, while John Cantwell and Reta Walker gave the dancing thing another swing. Stepp, Goodrich and King pulled a new finale with King (pianist) as the Salvation Army girl. He does some funny "cissy" work in the Sal number. The Chas. Ahearn cyclists were a com- edy wallop, while Cross and Josephine made it mighty rough sailing for the Fred V. Bowers act which fol- lowed. There were few left when Pons and Pons (New Acts) closed the show after the Castle pictures. Mark. FIFTH AVENUE Eleven turns and a picture to close with comprises the bill at the Fifth Avenue the current week. This neces- sitates commencing the show at 7.45, as the patrons of that house will not re- main late. Nor do they seem to be wildly hilarious about coming early. It was well on toward 9 before they were seated and when they were it was a good sized crowd, the house being apparently three-fourths full. The first three turns and the closer (New Acts) were probably recruited from the ranks of the three-a-dayers, so that the regular entertainment began with Maria Lo and Co., in fourth po- sition, and concluded with Trixie Fri- ganza, on tenth. Miss Lo presents some excellent tableaux with Delft and other backgrounds, most of which are enormous set pieces that must cost • small fortune to transport each week. Miss Friganza, who would seem to be the legitimate successor to Marie Dressier on the New York stage, though working along more refined lines, starts off with some clever wal- lops at the imitation bunk and with the aid of two dancing assistants and a leader scores a riot with her burlesque tango, Apache and other dances. Barry and Wolford are a couple of "reliables," with their topical chatter and parodies, and which, Heaven be praised, are exclusive. Dunbar's Nine White- Hussars form an effective and dignified instrumental and vocal turn. The men are all clean looking and well groomed. Fred Duprez has made wonderful strides as a mo.iologist. He works along mostly original lines. He now belongs in the front rank of the male singles. Jesse Lasky's "Clownland," from the standpoint of quantity and noise, is a big act. Victor Stone, one of the company, has succeeded well in copying Al Jolson's voice tonation for the rendition of a song. Lewis and Dody, character comedians, fared well. Eliminating the first three turns, the show could have commenced at 8.25 and been just as satisfactory. Jolo. AMERICAN If it will only last, the American Roof will likely have "Country Store Night" every evening. Last Monday, the second in the series of free gifts, the Roof had a turnaway, people even buying box seats at 75 cents to see the show. For the second Monday night Charlie Potsdam, the house manager, went to the thing very seriously. Jack Kenny (Hollis and Kenny) was called upon to take charge of the proceedings at the conclusion of the regular show. Mr. Kenny had been attending to these duties for the Loew Circuit in its other theatres where "Country Store" is a feature, and has done it so well (for inoffensive comedy) Mr. Kenny will probably receive the appointment of official "Country Store" manager for the Circuit. Another good show the first half of the week found plenty of appreciation before the packed audience. Some were upstairs who could not find seats, and Mr. Potsdam had suspended the free list. The feature of the program was "The Cavaliers," a production number that makes a big small time act. It was in the second part of the show, this part again being rearranged to permit of the "Country Store" finale without delay. The Two Franks opened the second half, and Ray Snow was also there, besides Anderson and Goines, the colored comedians. Holmes and Hollister closed the first part, with their comedy rube sketch. In this the man plays quite well and is ably assisted by the girl. It's all right of its kind for the time now on. but both get away from the sketch and walk out of their characters when, as the piece legitimately ends, the young woman announces her partner will im- personate James A. Hearne in "Shore Acres." This he does, about as well as any of the others who have tried it, but the impersonation is not properly blended in and doesn't belong, though it brings the applause. Holmes and Hollister should try for something more dignified in the line of a bucolic sketch, one that would permit the young woman to assume a character instead of playing straight. She seems to have comedy inclinations which are restrained in her present straight role. The couple should easily land the big time with another more legitimate and better written playlet. Bush and Shapiio, comedians, got many a laugh just before the sketch. Elsie La Bergere (New Acts) was the artistic number on the bill with poses, while Grace Leonard and Co., "No. 2," evoked some real noise with her male impersonations. Miss Leonard calls herself "The American Boy," first en- tering in full evening dress to top coat, and immediately after as a messenger boy, an impersonation no other female has tried over here. Miss Leonard does very well with it, also her "souse" number that follows. She has an or- chestra leader who fills in the short waits for changes with bits of easy songs that get over, besides holding a comedy conversation with her in the intoxication scene. Miss Leonard could have stood a better position. She was unmistakably liked. Robin, the jug- gler, did something in the opening spot. 8ime. WINTER GARDEN Advertising the Sunday vaudeville show at the Winter Garden now "as ii used to be" carries significance for the patrons and the management The former are back again and the manage- ment is pleased at seeing capacity once more. With the incoming "Whirl of the World" at the Winter Garden, Jule Delmar is once more enabled to bring together a Sunday bill with plenty of "names." No matter how the perform- ance last Sunday evening appealed to the regulars through familiarity, the program must have looked very big to the stranger within the doors. It started slowly with Marcel's Models, a hard position for an artistic turn of this sort. Oscar Lorraine, with his kidding violin, came next. Oscar got them with the Rigo imitation. In his first selection Mr. Lorraine did the dreaming eye- closing business. One couldn't tell whether he was seeing next week be- hind the closed lids or the new baby and mother at home. Herschel Hend- ler was next, with piano playing, and it was unusually hard for him, though he did quite well, considering. Right about here Mr. Delmar com- menced placing speed in the bill. The applause had to be very boisterous for an encore. There were three decided hits, Walter C. Kelly, Howard and Howard and Bernard Granville, not necessarily in that order, which is the order of their appearance, for Granville came on all alone at around 11, doing his full vaudeville act including two speeches. Granville was at home on the Winter Garden stage, but he pro- tracts and should have ended with his dance. Mr. Granville is rounding into a versatile performer. It won't be long before he can balance his dancing with the remainder. Mr. Kelly just told stories, fun tales, with the Kelly humor and they all got over. The table was there for the "Vir- ginia Judge," but the Judge never lifted the gavel. He didn't need it The au- dience wanted more but didn't get it Howard and Howard were a elean-up before they started. When Willie How- ard followed his wonderful Jack Nor- worth imitation with one equally ex- cellent of Al Jolson, the applause be- came a nuisance. Lydia Kyasht, the ballet dancer from the show, did two numbers in different parts of the bill. She's a pretty woman, graceful, well handled and makes a pleasing sight picture. Ralph Herz did a couple of songs and so did Lillian Lorraine. Rose Dolly and Lester Shee- han danced, Dorothy Toye, who was on too late, let out her double voice 4 with the aid of a fan, and the Skatelles closed the show. Held 'em, too, rather re- markable for a roller skating act Mr. Skatelle and Miss Skatelle are in even- ing clothes now, with the latter strip- ping to tights for the final dance. These two roller skaters are now away from the usual skating turn. Another dancing act was The Kennedys, who whirled around the stage and made real good. The Ward Brothers came along "No. 4," with their usual act, in which the "House Number," song sounds very similar to one sung by George Lash wood over here. Moon and Morris also danced. There were no ensembles or "girl acts" on the bill. Sime. HAMILTON Old Jupiter Pluvlus did hit wont toward keeping the uptown folks away from the Hamilton last Friday night He managed to keep 'em from getting In on time, and that was all. aa the house was comfortably filled by the time the big feature film. "An Ameri- can Cltlien." with Jack Barry more aa the principal player, was displayed. This moyle by the Famous Players' Co. Is about aa finished a picture product as has been seen In many a day. Every minute de- tail has been so carefully and studiously worked out that all the boys who make pic- tures overnight can learn a lesson by looking at this Barry mo re film. It's as good as a show and gives bully satisfaction. At the Hamilton It was one-half the show, as the bill ran a little off form In spots. The show ran until 11 o'clock, which Is un- usual. A dramatic act took up considerable time and on top of this Alice Hanson held the stage overtime. Knapp and Cornelia opened and gave the show a flying start with their acrobatics. Pierce and Knells were second with talk and songs. Tbe biggest laugh came when Pierce did his 8lmlan Imitation. William Schilling and Co. offered "Destiny." The smashing of stage articles end deluge of dramatics made a bit with the audience. If tbe reporter would stop raving and hissing bis words like a dyed-in-the-wool stage vllilan he would make a better Impression. It's an act that larks the big time flnlnh. La Malre, Rurnie and Turner comprise a rathskeller trio which makes a different en- trance from the other fellows. Tbe piano player dressed an s stage flunkey pushes the Instrument on while the other hoys were hit- tins; up a lively opening number. After some conversation the music man plays their ac- companiments and proven a busy acquisition It's an act bent framed for pop house results. The boys do well on a character number. Popular songs of tho raggedy sort help them along. Miss Hanson and her "nut" comedy knocked them at winter. She han Home new bits, one nn eccentric number with the boxing gloves that has tbe punch. Miss Hanson can hit any of tbe pop houses and work as long as she wants to. The Aerial Fa lists look like the Aerial Schorrs or some act of that kind pre- viously seen downtown. They work a neat little routine In the double trapeze bars. Mark. NEW SOXG8 IN "MOV1KS." The first act of "The Queen of the Movies" has been strengthened up since the opening of the show last week, by the introduction of a couple of new songs by Irving Berlin; also some slight revision of the action. The Globe, where the piece \% located, commenced to do husm^s after the cold spell. If ye* dM'l advertise la ▼▲AWT,