Variety (July 1919)

vawetts up nuimco office PANTACIS THEATM ORPHEUM. San Francisco, July 1. While the current week's bill fell a trifle short In Bpots, It carried sufficient good vaude- ville to make a fair show on the whole, and there were few at the fiulsh.who didn't seem to appreciate the evening.. Frank Dobson and his 13 Sirens' headlined the show, and with the principal's versa- tility the specialty was assured of the expected hit and showed enough at 1U conclusion to warrant the honors It carried In position and billing. Individual returns were taken by Alice Bertram, William Lynn, Madge Darren and Eulalle Young, the quartet making a great combination In support of Dobson. Handsomely gowned, the Sirens constitute a set of types and lend class and dignity to an all around cxcellentlx presented tabloid. T. Roy Barnes and Bessie Crawford easily repeated their previous week's hit, Barnes throwing in some appropriate Uses that scored with emphasis. Madge Maitland was given the next to clos- ing - spot and with her repertoire of exclusive material easily marked up a genuine hit. Throwing her splendid baritone voice through the megaphone she stopped things briefly with her rendition of "Don't Cry, Freuchy," and "My Laddie." Brahm Van Der Berg passed quietly with piano selections, only a few of the numbers programed being played. The. audience is privileged to write a day in advance for re- I quested selections. The, turn was somewhat slow for a fast moving vaudeville bill, and at the finale was allowed to retire without any more than a short hand of applause. Lloyd and Wells' were also held over from last week and -appeared this week In black- . face with a brand new routine excepting their dancing. Prime favorites here because of their long local stay, they corralled the show's honors, but possess too much personality to hide behind cork. They went much better even than they did last week when they tied up the program. «■ Sheila Terry and Co^In "Three's a Crowd," the William Friedlander musical piece, suf- fered some walkouts in the closing position, handicapping a very pretty act. Those who • remained were well rewarded for their stay and the act closed to generous appreciation. Lew Williams and Ada Mitchell didn't ex- cite much enthusiasm with their quiet talk- ing skit, getting some scattered titters and a light hand at their exit. In the opening spot Emlle and John Nathane started something unusual for a San Francisco audience, getting a solid hand for their speedy acrobatic spec- i laity in a position seldom getting any returns whatever. They have' a corking opening turn and the Orpheumltes showed their appre- ciation with their finish, giving them quite as much as any other number on the bill. Jack Josephs. J Excellent yodelling finale insured their suc- cess. Martha Russell and Co. In a farce called "Rocking the Boat" did fairly well, Miss Rus- sell earning Individual honors with the sup- porting company falling in comparison. ~ Lucy Vincent and Jacque Reynen pleased with songs, and Hall and Ouilda, a mixed team, opened rather quietly, not creating ifouch of an Impression, although the dancing was' reasonably well received. Jack Josephs. CASINO. San Francisco, July 1. • George Lovett's "Concentration" headlined an excellent vaudeville program this week. The vaudeville runs the Will King Musical Comedy Company a close race for honors. Lovett really combines two acts, presenting a mind-reading and musical oracle exhibition that holds Interest With Madam Zedna an- swering the questions, and the lady at the piano, Introduced by Lovett as the "original Mercedes" and George Lovett in the audience, the trio without any apparent code and ex- changing only few words between them, excel In their line. The act here was a big suc- cess, and undoubtedly a big help for the box office. Lockhart and Laddie opened the show with a knockabout acrobatic offering that received more laughs and big applause than any act of its kind seen here in months. There Is flot a dull moment. Harry Cleveland and Blanche Trelease were second with bits from musical comedies with which they have been Identified out this way. The pair work well together and scored nicely. De Witt, Stross and De Witt, offered a musical turn way above the average received tor a hit, due mostly to the sustained note holding on the cornet by one of 'the men. Stone and. Manning displayed more class In their versatile dancing than the usual small time hoofers, and could easily hold down a place in better houses. They were a good sized hit here. Fitch Cooper closed the vaudeville section, getting big returns for the various Imitations and novelty Instrument playing. Jack Josephs. CAL. ROAD SHOW. San Francisco, July 1. A road show composed of five Or- pheum acts laying off on the Coast, and headed by Trixie Friganza, will be organized to play the Giesa Houses, embracing several of the smaller towns in California.' The acts will play the theatres on a percentage basis, each act to receive half its regular salary and- an equal division of the profits. Bailey and Cowan and Bert Ford and Pauline Price will be members of the troupe. . PHIL FREASE MARRIES. San Francisco, July 1. Phil Frease, manager of the Prin- cess, was married to. Rita Lubelski, daughter of Tony Lubelski. NOTES. One-Night Show Close* Season. . ^ San Francisco,' July 1. The Frank Adkins "Jolly Bachelors" touring the one night stands at a dollar top. closed for the season at Vallejo last week. New Legit House in Santa Crux. San Francisco, July 1. The Hinds Estate will shortly begin the construction of a theatre in Santa Cruz. The house will be devoted to road shows. ESTRELLITA HAS DIVORCE. San Francisco, July 1. Testimony that throughout her mar- ried life she supported herself won a divorce here last week for Estrellita, the Spanish dancer, from Henry A. (Garcia) Gabardon. Pictures in Oakland Orpheum. San Francisco, July 1. • The Baker Players will complete six weeks of stock at the Orpheum, Oak- land, July 12. Harry Cornell, Orpheum msyaager, who took the house for the summer, re-leased it to Harold Reid, assistant treasurer of the Curran, who will run feature pictures for the balance of the season, opening with "The Shep- herd of the Hills'' July 13. HIPPODROME. San Francisco, July 1. . This week's layout at the Hip made an en- joyable, smooth running show with Dora Dean and her Sunbeams featured. The dusky re- view with a good supporting production did excellently with the usual routine. Miss Dea*. heading the aggregation and displaying some flashy gowns and many diamonds. The com- bination can be credited with a success In the featured spot. Ben Mowatt and Billle Mullen were a gen- uine surprise as well as the hit of the per- formance. Mowatt, formerly a club juggler, has now gone In lor talk and comedy and shows big time timber, but needs better ma- terial to make that grade of vaudeville. The v - talk was well put over and registered in a surprising manner with the real returns com- ing at th ecloslng section where the club juggling is Introduced. The Adams Trio were well rewarded for their musical selections and came in for their share of the honors at the finale, when they left to a solid hand. Luckle and Yost, a neat mixed team, got a fair share of returns for a well staged singing and talking skit. B The Great Arneson and Co. closed, doing a fairly good balancing act on a heavy cable, while Gus Henderson opened the bill with a good comedy acrobatic turn, getting some laughs for his rope walking. A good show of the usual Hip speed? . Jack Josephs. PANTAGES. San Francisco, July 1. Jack Robers' Shimmle Dancers, a local added attraction, were the feature this week and with the Camp Dick Jazz Orchestra play- ing their numbers and Tom Kelly acting as stage manager the quartet of coupTes walked away with the program's honors. Closing the Din with a cafe scene to add to the picture the dancers stirred up much interest, but it wasn't a "shimmle" number that brought the honors home, but a Texas .Tommy dance by Dutch" Mike and Stella Johnson, the couple credited In this section with the origination of the number. Tom Kelly pulled down a good sized hit with his brand of stories and songs, being as well known here as the theatre Itself. Kelly has been playing this town for years back and notwithstanding his Eastorn successes is classed as a "Coast defender" in local the- atrical circles. Any local engagement Is a sure fire guarantee for Kelly, and the Pan- cages engagement was no exception. The Camp Dick Jazz Band in the next to closing position walked away with a solid □and. Paul Locke's "Shimmle Dancers" start a. tour of the T and D Circuit of picture thea-! tres this week at San Jose. Rose Wilson has joined the dancing aggregation. George Boyver, lately manager at the Bur- bank, Los Angeles, is now in advance of one of the "Shepherd of the Hills" picture compa- nies.- . .:'■'"•<••:, -' Keating ft Flood, owners of the Lyric, Portland, Ore., stopped over for a few days on their way home from a trip through Mexi- co and other southern points. Charles Royal, of the Empress, Vancouver, 9. c, spent two weeks here before leaving for the Bast. - Jimmy Rowan's Musical Comedy show at the Columbia, Oakland, tor several months la j expected-to-close next-week, .indications. ara- the house will be dark for a while. Charles Bliss, night city editor of tike San; Francisco Chronicle and press agent for the Casino and Hippodrome, is holding down the sporting desk, during the absence of Harry Smith, who left for Toledo to cover the big Jlght. . .-. - • The Qaudsmldta have been engaged for. Tait's Cafe, opening July 14. Bert Ford and Pauline Price opened this week with their- wire turn. .'. - v riTf : ..---'Aft* - =Lv32"! With the arrival of the Pacific Fleet sched- uled for the near future, arrangements are being perfected for a full week of vaudeville at both theatres on Mare Island. Bert Wesner and Zoe Bates opened with; Marjorle Rambeau In "Byes of Youth" at the Curran this week. Claudf Morton has joined the Frits Fields-: show In Fresno, as musical director. Fanny Durack and Mtna Wylte, Australia's best women swimmers, arrived here last 'week on the Sonoma. They are planning a tour of the United States, to give exhibitions and participate in match events. The report circulated by some one evidently peeved that Charles Jacobs, the Denver booker, was in custody for bootlegging, Is without foundation. ,'. The George White MuBlcal Comedy Company will open at the Liberty July 6. The Blake ft Amber show opening at Joyland Park, Sacramento, will have Cecil Summers, Orvllle Spurrier, Minerva Ureka, Del Estes, Jess Mendelson, George Stanley, Flo Blsen and six girls In the chorus. ; r C. H. Douglass of the "Elite, Merced, has under construction a theatre for this city and will play vaudeville booked by B err Levey. Harry Kelllng, manager of the Modesto the- atre, Modesto, has severed bis connection, and expects tb enter the picture field.. $15,000 was realised at the benefit given by City Officials for Mary Scanlon, who was run down by a fire truck and maimed for life. The heneflt was held at the Clvio Audi-', torlum last Saturday. The vaudeville was pre- -sented under the direction of Edwin Morris, manager of the Hippodrome. The acts ap- pearlng Included, Three Musical Queens, The Two Edwards, De Winter and Rose, Pecan, Bijou Circus, James Br It t and Fanchon and- Marco. ••. '"• : Jack Tripp, known in Coast theatricals and former field representative for Bert Levey, has returned from two and a halt years' service In France, having volunteered with the 11th. Engineers *n 1017. He returns as First Class Sergeant, and was engaged in the battles at Cambral, St. Mlhel, Argonne and Chateau Thierry, in the latter battle owing to his bravery In. constructing bridges under fire, be was decorated with the Croix de Guerre and also wears wound stripes, Tripp is expecting shortly to again affiliate himself in Coast theatrical circles. m .';: "■; V-V v .■■:■<- S« Del Lawrence appearing at the head of his . stock company at the Majestic, who Is being ■ sued for divorce, denied that he earns $15,000 a year, as alleged by his Wife in her suit for $500 a temporary alimony. When ordered to pay $00 a week alimony, Lawrence stated he had no assets and that he Is working at the Majestic on a contingent contract by which he gets $00 a week and a share of the profits, but there have been no profits In the past five weeks and he has earned but $300, $125 of which is still due. Lawrence says he does not intend to contest the divorce suit and is will- ing to pay a reasonable amount to his wife and their children. MAY BOLEY Comedienne Palace, New York, this week (June 30); Completing engagement as fenturc of "Over- sens Revue." . The combination rodeo and carnival under the title "Mlnirg Gulch" at Reno, Nev., this week, Is the biggest show of 'its class over held on the Pacific Coast. It Is under the direction of Glen D. Hurst, owner of the Rlalto and Grand theatres, Reno. Six car- loads of material were brought from Los Angeles and two carloads of various outdoor devices from San Francisco. The free acts embrace the Two Edwards, Brooks and Lo- rolla, Five Dancing Girls and Lowry's Dogs, all from the Hippodrome Circuit, ■■'-">: I