Variety (September 1918)

• g ill II •H FOLLIES OF THE DAY. Rnrner Gerard has produced an entirely nw “fS oI the Day” for 1W8. retaining the o»v 1 a of last your’fl show, which was a d6« partura from recognized burlesatie offerings •“Wy* off the title of the cur- rent Piece, and as Its name suggeate, It is a tttiriAHoiie on a groiiif of last years Broadway McSs/^et wSon Mr. Gerard chose tor hlB travesties a number of hits a number of seasons before, but Polly s GolDK Up" brings hlB burlesques more up to ►ho mimito As In HUT, much la dependent Spon the comics for laughs *'®thor than the Uavestles themselves. Harry Welsh, one of fhfl BiiDDerlest*footed men In burlesque, ha succMded X^^ P- Murphy, and Is teamed with the elongated Chester Nelson, retaUed from last season, as Is Gertrude Hayes, they being the three featured members. _ Three shows are travestied, Polly Past" "Going Up" and "Chu Chin Chow. As for the first named, Miss Hayes Is «l»en the name of "Polly Ina Bayes," who Is "sired by Belasco and hired by Cohan," but there t® attempt to burlesque the play Itself. to "Going Up,” several features of that sue oesB (still current In New York) are selected, and tniest to the piece Itself Is the reading ot telegrams while the supposed that However. Cohan & Harris need not fear that My of their fun has been lifted. ®**“,5i'**“ Chow" serves as an oriental scene, with a character In It called "Chew Chow Chow. This person. Miss Hayes, In the f®'® "fiuratt" explains there are forty thieves with hlin and he Is really known as Hltohy ^%e various scenes provided the h’J'eu'to for fun by Nelson and Welsh. Nelson shades hjs partner, carrying his rube which Is a plppen—throughout. To him It seemed was given most of the meat in the way of lines, or else he worked >? his own material. In a bit In one witn Welsh, when both were supposed to race In airplanes, he ventured "no airships f°f “I"®,j they are like poison: one drop and Its all over." His scheme of spelling potatoes with eight O's is a "darb.’’ Nelson s extremely funny makeup led Welsh to b®? ‘hat.he.was "a Malden’s last prayer.” The line hs®!* very old, but so well worked up that the house had a hlg laugh. Welsh does Hebrew and gets much out of his peculiar way of sliding about the stage. The men make a corking comedy team and work unusually well ^TheThow Isn’t strong In musical numbers nor voices. This fact Mr. Gerard certamiy recognlxed, for In the second act about halt way through there was Introduced a sonfestress In tbe peraon of Blsa May, who made no other appearance. She did well enough with an operatic number and "Smiles,” the latter wor* Ing The vocal section was concentratea at this point for a male quartet, consisting of Welsh, Nelson, Sam Green, Tom Duffy, and AI Smith pushed over a hit. Harmony was not trusted to, the comedy of the numbers doing the trick. However, Smith’s yodeling counted for much, that being about the ma^n straight Boni effort ot the quintet. In addition. Smith handled a number of bits well. Nelson handled a steel guitar Just before the show was over. He played at 11 o’clock Tuesday night, and had that specialty In which he was assisted by Duffy been on earlier. It might have gone over much stronger. The latter portion of the show can stand speeding at that. Two or more comedy bits could he separated, and one placed earlier, for the action was delayed. Another thing that can stand shortening Is the song efforts of Andy Barer, who sang no less than five old time melodies from the pit, that being his contribution to the vocal sec- tion. Andy has a tenor voice, and not bad coming from a leader, but had he stopped after bis third Bong he would have quit a blggor The^roducflon Is of high grade, four full- stage sets and two scenes In haps the most effective Interior Is Peacock Alley,” used for the finish. The lifting Is well carried out In a bright way. Costumes have not been overlooked and the choristers generally present a pleasing appearance. There Is no regular chorus number, although seme of the girls have dance bits In one of Miss Hayes’ songs, and several others have spe- olaltles here and there. Among the latter are Mildred Uaurle. Gertrude Saflln and P^llne Harer. The oast Includes Maybelle Courtney, she having little to do, and Del Duvall; the latter have several numbers and a specialty dance. "Polly’s Going Up” Is primarily a comedy show, and, as such, Is bound to draw thetn In. The Columbia, Tuesday nieht. wns pearly a sell-out, which speaks well In light of the young eeasonSs early reports. Also, its a lively show. Everybody seems to do a wee bit of the "shimmy,” and burlesque audiences ' will never get sore at that. loee. PARISIAN FLIRTS. Bo that the audience might understand why Charlie Robinson’s "Parisian Flirts carries a number of men presumably In the now draft age Robinson had the following lines on h s program when the show was at the Olympic last week: "Every male member of Parisian Flirt Co. has filled all obligations In respect to military service.” Robinson’s contribution to the American board this season Is a two-part affair, the first entitled “The Wild Tjovers,” and the second "The Island of Bull.” Robinson appears dur- ing the periods In a monolog as a big, burly, overdressed tramp, and In the last Besslou working as the King of Booze Island. Al. Ravmo Is still there, and on his shoulders Is Placed much of the comedy byplay of the opening, with Raymo working ae a wop throughout, his second bait makeup being of the banditry typo, which seemingly was more relished In the fun-makldg sense than .his “bits” St the opening as the hand-organ man with a man-sized monkey Imitated by Marlon Benson. In past seasons there has always been an elements of the “raw” and the "blue” In a "Parisian Flirt” porformaace, and this year is no exception; There are several that fairly sizzled in point of suggestiveness, especially in the bathing beach bouse conversation. While Robinson has made efforts to improve his show In more ways than one, the entire production could stand rearrangement in some of the departments that would greately strengthen it. There Isn’t a male voice and not a male who can dance or do anything beyond talk. Robinson did pretty well with hts parodies In hie monolog. The chorus doesn't seem overworked, with a sort of Texas Tommy skip and pat that stood the girls in good stead throughout. The Olympic audience didn't applaud any of the ensemble numbers to any extent. A double singing number by May Bernhardt and Jerry Flemming got the most. Hal Groves as a "tad" and then a wild and woolly bad man, did what he could with thank- less lines. Fred Slgel and BJlIy Clark bad little to do in so far as comedy was con- cernod. Clark handling the "straight” without attempting anything that looked like a spe- cialty. ’That Jocko impersonation was a chance for a monkey "bit” that was left untouched, perhaps due to Benson's unfamUiarity with the characteristics of the street monk. The women are headed by Miss Bernhardt, with the show for several seasons, with her male characterizations given the usual atten- tion, Miss Bernhardt has personality and dominates the feminine end completely, with two others of the female princlijals having numbers that enabled them to show some new outfits. These were Jerry Plemmlug, a pert, plump, vivacious soubrette, and Freda Lehr, a shapely principal, both with the Robinson forces last season. Among the newcomers Is Hallle Randolph, and she put forth every effort to make her work stand out, her voice holding Its own with It being stamped perhaps' the "voice” of the feminine row. Sixteen girls, with the broiler tsrpe predom- inating, loomed up most ‘advantageously In the bathing suit number, with the varl-colored outfits at the last also making a nice "flash.’ The finale of the first part swung Into war- "Tlme tempo. . Robinson’s monolog showed up the lack of comedy in the first part, and there was a striking difference wHen he also got into the principal dialog In the closing period. It’s not a bad show, but It could be bright- ened, the girls given more work to do, the pink tight color scheme more varied, the men In- strncted to take up the cues faster, apd soft pedal placed on several of the suggestive lines that are dirty In every phase of construction and Intent. Scenlcally "Parisian Flirts” measures up well and there Is no pointed complaint against the costuming once the pink-legged Idea Isn't overdone. Mark. ' YOUNGSTOWN INJUNCTION. Youngstown, 0., Sept. 18. The Park Theatre, through its own- ers, Feiber & Shea, has secured a U. S. Circuit Court restraining order pre- venting the local authorities from in- terfering with the burlesque attrac- tions at that theatre. The mayor, elected on a reform ticket, last season objected to the American Wheel shows, stating at that time he thought Youngstown should have the Columbia Wheel attractions. According!/ Feiber & Shea arranged for the Columbia shows to appear at • the Park this season, which they have done. Some days ago the mayor came out against the Park and its policy. Feiber & Shea, nettled and irritated, secured the injunction, which will be argued in Cleveland. It is not locally anticipated the mayor will press the pro.ceedings. He is the only one in town as far as known who sees any reason why the Colum- bia shows should not play here. NEW BOOKING ARRANGEMENT. The American Burlesque Association has confirmed a booking arrangement whereby there is a readjustment of the time following the Monday and Tues- day engagement in Wheeling, W. Va. As now laid out the shows, play the opera house, Newcastle, Pa.; Wednes- day; Lyceum, Beaver Falls, Pa., Thurs- day, and the Opera House, Canton, 0., Friday and Saturday. The Casino, Chester, not ready at the opening of the new burlesque sea- son, is now playing its regularly sched- uled shows. DUNBARS QUIT SHOW. Turner and Dolly Dunbar are sever- ing connections with the "Million Dol- lar Dolls,” with Charles Mac and a new soubrette replacing them. THE KAISER IN HELL ByBERTMERKET The Devil one day calledl his imps> bo they say, And proceeded to tell ■with elation, .. • . That his very Dear Friend from Berlin did intend To come for a little vacation. And he wanted each one to prepare for the Him By devising some hellish reception, . _ ,. Such as jabbing great holes into poor souls. Or the practice of fiendish deception. When the Friend from Berlin was at last ushered in To the seat of Satanic Dominion, ' There were wails and moans, unearthly tones, And the Devil expressed the opinion, . . ,. , That of all the “damned” plays he had staged m his days. This one was the cream of perfection, . . • And he turned with delight to his Friend on his right; But the Friend bore an air of dejection. He said, "Listen, Sate, you can brag, you can prate Of being a ‘hell of a fellow,’ .You’re a Master, 1 know, but you’ve ruined yourjhow By exposing a broad streak of ‘yellow.’ It’s a pity, old dear, that 1 wasn’t here To give you some points on production. Such as cutting the tongue out of innocent young. Of rape and of hellish abduction.” . Then he went on to tell of his own little hell. And of tortures that he had propounded; 'Tie laughed at the plight of the Belgians in flight, TUI the Devil war truly astounded. He’d strut and he’d stalk, he would bellow and talk, With a. mien that was. far from retiring. Then blowing his nose and striking a pose. He uttered these words most inspiring— “1 have given command to cut off the hand Of every man’s son that is captured, ^ And to bayonet a child and then watch them piled In heaps, makes me truly enraptured. I grow wild with with delight at the gruesome sight Of bodies that are mutilated. It’s one of my whims to cut off the limbs Of babies newly created. The Devil arose from his seat of repose. And he thanked the oid butcher for calling; But the language he used and the way he abused His very dear Friend was appalling. He bent to the ground with a gesture profound— The imps started madly to scurry— He yelled, "You disgrace a respectable place. Get the hell out of here, in a hurry.” OTrBURTON, YONKERS, CLOSED. When the “ghost” fell down at the Warburton, Yonkers, N. Y., where bur- lesque stock was operating, the com- pany headed by Leo Stevens, comedian, balked at opening the Saturday night performance unless salaries were forth- coming. Stevens was paid $25 cash, with the promise of the balance after the first act. The curtain was held 25 minutes and when the players were ready to re- sume, the musicians had walked out. Efforts to locate the manager around the house failed. The audience becom- ing tired of the wait, went outside and demanded back its admission money. 1||ie girl in the ticket booth became excited and fainted. HARRY DIXON’S BOAST. Henry Dixon, he of the gentle voice, was bragging along Broadway this week that when his revue lately played Boston, not a line was eliminated by the censors. That surprised even Hank himself. Mickey Levan, who was barred from Boston burlesque! last season, appeared with the show. BURLESQUE CHANGES. Danny Murphy, Mittie DeVere and Bessie Rosa joined the “Innocent Maids” this week. / Marty Collins with the “Jolly Girls,” replacing Ben Dobson. Charles Van Austen has left “Cheer Up America,” with Leo Hayes assum- MARRIAGES. Beulah Booker (Paralta Pictures) to Kenneth O’Hara, Aviation Corps, in Los Angeles, last week. Carol Brown (Brownie Carroll) to Harry Winslow COnaut (non-profes- sional) at Rochester, N. Y., July 10. Helen Keane, chief telephone oper- ator at the Hippodrome to Edgar Kelly, Municipal Building, New York, Sept. 12 . Hazel Brennan, said to be a daughter of James Brennan, formerly of the Fuller-Brennan Vaudeville Circuit of Australia, and who appeared recently in musical comedy at the Alcazar, San Francisco, was married last week on the Coast to Frank Gondor, a New York business man. BIRTHS. Mr. and Mrs. Bert Fitzgibbon, at their home in New York, Sept. 7, son. Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugh (Ruth Tompkins) at their home in Cleveland, Sept, 14, daughter. Mr. and Mrs. George Mack, at their home in Cleveland, Sept. 3, daughter. The mother is professionally known as Mildred Dean. Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. McNorton (Cecil and Mac) at their home in San Diego, Cal., Aug. 24, son, Cecil and Mac were in vaudeville. Joseph Mc- Norton, a brother, formerly in the act, is now with the 301st Regiment in France. It(6dUCT1I^ ENGAGEMENTS. Ernest Marini and Dorothy Smoller, dancers, added to “Head Over Heels” at the Cohan, Sept. 13.