Variety (July 1919)

BggjGK/'if. • \ ^f^r'&W3'f^ < \ % '' '. • §p|fi||| ■ IP HP SSSIP'^Pffl^'PIB^J^ '- 1, •" f '•' tV ^! ; (^Wf'^f: , '^ , w.- ■ ■•■■ ■ ■ • ■■■..■■ ■ NEW ACTS THIS WEEK '"•V -1 '•'■'■' ••".'".' i :■.• ';.''■' /'.■'•■• :"•" :■'''" '■•■'' to ■ ■». i \ -s asi -..■■ ••■:- i it ■ :::.■ * :,•■.. >, js w\, ■' ■■-: >■■: Renee Bonatt . . Song*. 14 Mini.; One (Special Drop). 23rd Street Wherever this single came from is a mystery. Money has been expended upon the offering for clothes, hut the writer who accepted wages for the special material ought never to admit it and the backers' appear to\have had more confidence in the ability of Miss Bonatt than judgment. An enlarged telegram is lowered giving the infor- mation that "Jack," a' soldier, has been ordered to various foreign countries. Miss Bonatt, in a further explanatory lyric, tells of her soldier and exits with the lines which say that she will give an impression of how the girls in those climes greeted the soldier. Her next entrance is as a French ffrisette, fbl-j lowing with an alleged Egyptian girl and finally as a Russian maid. Each has its costume change and lyric. A tableau curtain with three openings disclosed a second drop which in its three sections lends atmosphere of each different foreign land. For a fin- ish another telegram states that "Jack" never left London. So Miss Bonatt has a concluding session with a never- ending and badly constructed lyric telling of the deeds of her soldier boy on the battle fields. The soldier boy idea itself is a bit but of the running. But Miss Bonatt with this material hasn't a chance. Ibet. - f T 7 ,-; Billie Seaton. Singing Comedienne. M Mips.; One. 5th Ave. Billie Seaton is back with new gowns and songs and is assisted by an un- programed pianist. Miss Seaton opens with a talky number about marriage. While sh> makes a change/, the pian- ist solos with a medley, picking out an accompaniment with the right hand on the piano strings. Her next song is preceded by a little cross-fire, kidding between she and her assistant. "Like Kelly Did" is her next and a patriotic spelling number "Woodrow" is used :.'t' for the finish. The pianist is an ex- cellent musician and Miss Seaton has a pleasing personality. She talks her songs in a manner reminiscent of Willa Holt Wakefield. They did nicely in fourth place. , j ■-• / / Private Bobby Randall. Comedy Talk and Songs. 16 Mini.; One. Hamilton. Although possessing ability as a sin- gle, Private Bobby Randall's routine is not laid out well enough to enable ;;■ him to derive the full benefits. He appears in civilian attire, with various army division insignias covering both sleeves of his coat. He works in black- face, endeavoring to run along the lines of Eddie Cantor. His routine is equally divided with comedy army talk and songs, the latter his best and re- sponsible for the appreciable returns. His talk,. combined with blackface means nothing as it stands, for better time. The lad is there, but needs work and rearrangement of material. ■ ■;...■; '.'"■ ■ c H Murry Bennett. Talk and Comedy Song*. 16 Mint.; One. 5th Ave. Murry Bennett in street attire opens with a good introductory song, "A Lit- tle Bag of Tricks." Then a couple of gags using a Hebrew dialect. Next a "Harem" number, a good comedy lyric, followed by some talk that is new about peace insignias. Next "an old man still in the ring" type of song and this comic hasn't a peer with this sort. "You Don't Need the Wine" also to big results. A serious recitation with a comedy twist is used for an encore. A little more dressing up and some at- tention to diction and Bennett should develop into a standard big time "sin- gle." He was easily the hit of the bill Monday night next to closing. Louise and Carmen. Musical. 10 Mini.; One. American Roof. ~r Miss Carmen was formerly of the Carmen Sister* The turn opens with a violin and banjo duet, consisting of a medley of old time and pop num- bers./ Then a well played violin solo by Louise. Next, that ever popular standby of banjoists, "The Miserei" from "II Trovatore" by Carmen. Turn closes with a medley duet. Monday night the orchestra finished about eight bars ahead of the team. This was partly their own fault/ as they seemed to be in a.hurry to finish.' Good open- er, for the pop houses. Bell, Pawl and Pauline. ._..._..:_.... Gymnastic and Talking. 10 Mini.; Full Stage. American Roof. Man and woman. The man is a ca- pable performer on the rings, but shows little that is new in the. way of tricks. The woman also does a stunt or two on the rings. The couple would improve their turn by eliminating the talking. Neither can handle dialog, j With the alleged comedy conversations out, the turn will make a good opener for the pop time. Sell. Jean Barrios. Female Impersonator. . I . ,.V 15 Mitu.; One. American Roof. . (I ^Opening in an attractive pink cos- tume Jean Barrios proceeds to put over three numbers before removing his wig. As a female impersonator Bar- rios compares with the best, Monday night he completely fooled most of the regulars with his make up. A male accompaniest slips over a couple of numbers while Barrios is changing for the final song. The turn looks ready for the big houses. Bell. PALACE. Show this yweek not very good. To the Monday nlglrters It was regarded as distinctly under Palace standard, and In several fea- tures that was true. Taken as a whole It was pepless, and a too quiet bill, will always find a number of persons walking before the finish. That was so Monday night, and the fact that the town was due for aridity at midnight wasn't fully to be blamed for the walkouts. Those who sat in at the wake of King Booze \ very likely didn't waste moment in the the- dtrcH '■' The first section did possess a punch which was more than is to be credited for the second part, and the jab was delivered by the "Over- seas Revue," the condensed version of the Will MorrisBey-Ellzabeth Brlce show, "Toot Sweet." The contest over billing of various . players apparently was made satisfactory, and ' on the program and the outside billing the names of Miss Brlce, May Boley and Clarence Nordstrom were all of one size. This Is the second week for the turn at the Palace. It will probably play the beaches. It should to be in demand by the managers. "Toot Sweet," whatever Its faults, was corking good entertainment, and Its vaudeville version is too. There are no draggy moments in the 60 minutes of its course. There are plenty pleasant melodies, those handled by Miss Brlce and young Nordstrom whose "I Am the Eyes of the Army" Is as good as anything in the score. There Is a whole spread of real comedy. ' And those comedy sections are amusing to the portion of theatre patrons who haven't been across as they are to the boys who were. It's too bad the quartet number from the show hasn't been retained, for it was the surest kind of a punch. The turn seems to be running about ten minutes longer than last week. One of the bits inserted may be a verse alloted to Lon Hascall called /'The ' Man from Texas." Lon got rather serious and sentimental. Morrlesey's number, "I'll Never Whimper," was a solid score. He ex- plained that the W. W. on his sleeve meant "water wagon" from the' night on. There 'was considerable kidding about the)dry edict until Hascall said "it was called/off." The act closed Intermission, getting & world of applause. The bill was of eight-act length because of the "Overseas Revue." Ahead of the big act there were three turns, leaving the other four for after intermission. The latter sec- tion was opened by the "Topics" film, short but full-of laugh-getting wit. The Ford Sis- ters were the first succeeding act, doing nicely enough with a dance routine that seems re- vamped since their former metropolitan ap- pearances. The .girls presented their usual neat appearance and the tlghted hard shoe finish brought them ample returns which gave them an opportunity for a "thank-you," which was, "We'd like to do more, but like all other Fords we go so far, then stop." Art, / L. Belner, accompanying at the piano, soloed with his own composition, "The Ghost of the Nile." Jack Norworth, splitting the headline with the revue, woo sixth. His routine sounded practically all new, lyrics being the main idea, *as usual, the melody of but one number counting. That was for the finish number with the pickaninny with "Pickaninny Para- dise." Norworth said the "pick's" name was Bernlce Buckingham. His other numbers were "In Honeymoon Time," "Tired Playing Second Fiddle," "The Gimmes," a conglom- erate lyric of highbrow terms, and "Heart- aches," a ballad. -Save the "pick" number the others were too quiet, possessing a lame- ness of style that detracted. Mr. Norworth Is capable of a change 'of pace so frequently In New York. Although Norworth finished strong enough the going was already too tough for Laurie and Bronson, a naturally quiet act. This pair has been pulling down honors In the next to dosing position, but an offering of different style was necessary this'time, for the show needed rescuing, not polishing off. The "pint- else- pair" were -as amusing as ever and seemed to register as many laughs, bo that the fault was not theirs. At the dose Laurie ventured, than it looked like the saloons were sure going to shut down. Aleen quite naturally replying, "Let 'er go." The Dixie Duo was second. This Is the billing given the new colored team of Noble SlsBie and "Bubte" Blake, who were overseas with Europe's band. They proceeded without event with their song and piano routine, get- ting little in the way of returns until the finale number, descriptive of action in No Man's Land. This took the team off to a strong round of .applause. Ames and Wlnthrop were third. They are switching the offerings, but this week used the newer turn, "One Moment, Please." They drew laughs, starting with the Indian non- sense, but the routine seemed to be in need of speeding. ' Beasye Clifford In stereoptlcon poslngs dosed the show. The slides used are in need of renewing, as the colors were not firm enough to "drape" the figure. The Le VoIob with an exhibition of slack and tight wire opened the show acceptably. ibee. RIVERSIDE. Rather a neatly, arranged program at the ^Riverside this week, a fair portion of good comedy bringing out the best lines of the show. It was a bill somewhat hard to lay out, the-Importance of positions bringing the "single" woman on the program down In the closing spot with the weekly pictorial follow- ing. Ruth Roye was delegated to hold the tail end section, and did it well, but few of the light gathering leaving before her name was flashed on the Indicator. And just before came the comedy hit of the show in Norton and Nicholson with their "Dramatlo Car- toon" specialty, for so long a favorite number in the two-a-days. Miss Norton's short "bit" of panto prior to Nicholson's entrance cinched a character hit for herself, and with the en- suing cross fire and the cleverly arranged "business" the couple were a continuous laugh, The Apollo Trio opened with their poslngs In bronze, the, pictures and strength teats call- ing for periodical applause, with the trio col- lecting a hit of reasonable size at their exit. It's away from the'' stereotyped strong man , act, is wdl staged and a sure fire entertainer at either end of the current line of vaudeville shows. Masters and Kraft, eccentric dancers who have attempted something In a progressive line with their past, present and futurist num- bers, held the second spot and walked away with a safe hit. Both are decidedly good kick- ers and have a collection of steps something away from the usual run shown by'their com- petitors. The i travesUed Egyptian dance at , the finale suggests an idea originated by Johnny Dooley, but Masters and Kraft do it a little differently, condensing it to a mere flash and get off while the house Is In good humor. They have a splendid two-act for vaudeville and could handle a more Important ■ spot, Ernest Evans and Co. cavorted around to a fairly good reception, the team dancing by Evans and Miss Dean returning the best re- sults. Bvans apparently has concocted hiu own lyrics. They sound of the home made specie, the opening song of Introductory type being the best. The supporting girls, Estelle McNeal, Gertrude Zoble and Mildred Rife, all held their places well and did their share to bring the act under the tape a winner. It's a little away from the usual vaudeville spec- ialty, carries an attractive set and is helped by a good outfit of wardrobe. George Austin Moore came next, uniformed and with a line of good stories about the ex- periences of Alexander in the world war. Moore's routine has been clipped by a few others who preceded him over here, v ut as be relates it the monolog seems to iiiave a theme and is undoubtedly all his own. His rendition of the "Blues" at the finish was ex- cellently done and he closed a sure fire. The Four Marx Brothers in their' miniature musical production had the going soft, the comedy musical "bits" getting more than their usual returns at the uptown house, with both comics keeping up the humorous situa- tions In good shape. What was present ■ of the Riverside regulars seemed to recognize the boys • and showed their appreciation In ad- vance, greeting them at their Individual en- trances with a receptive hand, Florenze Tempest opened the second half with her songs in male and female attire. George Harris, at the piano, kept the house entertained during her several periods off, and tho combination retired with thoir usual honors. Norton and Nicholson came next with Miss Roye closing and just before 11 came the News Pictorial with many on their way out .-, 1 A good vaudeville program, but the house was light and the enthusiasm lighter, but those present seemed to enjoy every specialty. wynn. KEITH'S, PHILADELPHIA. Philadelphia, July 1. With .a headllner that came here unknown and with no big names surrounding him, this';... week's bill got a fine start with a capacity - house Monday. This has been unusual here ..' of late, the first day being the worst of the . .week, but Monday, evening the central part of the city was Jammed with a crowd which evidently came down to see "the new year in" and "booze gdng out." The weather, also" played In favor of the theatre, for it was cooler than usual. The Creole Fashion Plate had the place of Importance on the bllL. and held It down An. _ great shape. It was reported he did the afternoon show In his street clothes, his bag- gage being delayed by a strike in New York. . This was unfortunate, as most of the nowB- ' papermen review the show here Monday after- - noon. But the Fashion Plate made good on songs and alone In the evening cleaned up a ••' big hit. He made a fine appearance In two. handsome gowns, and after disclosing: his Identity won a big round of applause with two. songs in male attire. The Plate has a good singing voice, one' of the best heard from- an Impersonator, 'and while he is not as grace- ful or as clear an Impersonator as Julian . Eltlnge, he may be considered a closer rival for that' wonderful artist's laurels than In any of his predecessors. He closed very big and was a distinct hit. ..'•■■- Giving him a close race tor top honors In / the' applause line was Kharum, billed as the- Persian pianist. Whether Persian or some other nationality, the fellow can tickle the ivories, Ho varied his program, getting big returns -, for his rendition of a "Lucia" selec- tion with his left hand and got enough to take several bows, which he did as If he was in a hurry to get away or was afraid some one would recognize him. Little Emma Hnlg. who has Jack Waldron dancing with her this time, scored a good sized bit with a series of speedy dance num- bers. There is nothing slow about this mite of a dancer. She Is working every minute and at top speed. Waldron does very nicely in all his stoppings and sings an Introduction tor Miss Halg's first number. It is a very good dancing act and went big. Kltner and Reaney.were a laughing hit with their comedy talking and singing turn. The blackfaco fol- low has. a funny way of delivering his talk and the tall fellow Is a clever straight man, ? . both getting all there Is to be bad out of their material. There were more than the ordinary supply of "sight" .acts, but all of 'them''made good. Sandwiched in among them were Leona .- Stephens and Len D. Ifolllster in a short sketch called "Out In California." There Is not a great deal to It, one of those light affairs that depends upon the principals putting It oveh. This was well done by Miss Stephens and 'Mr. Hollister and the sketch fitted In very nicely in the bill. Brford's Sensation, one of those teeth acts by a trio of aorlallsts who have worked a routine of familiar tricks Into a novelty by shaping their act along new lines. . A couple of parrots shown by a woman, billed as Lucille and Cockle, with no billing for the woman, held some Interest and got > some applause. Emerson and Baldwin got a lot of laughs with their comedy juggling and magic and finished to a big hand with their speedy work with the clubs. The closing spot was well filled by Johnson, Baker and John- son. They work a lot of comedy Into their hat-splnnlng and juggling act and held the . house Bested as well as any closing act seen • here In some time. This might be considered ' quite a boost when It Is figured that many of those In front were anxiously waiting for a dash around <to see the "booze funeral" in its procession,. . j. ,.. keith'sHboston. Boston, July 1. Frisco is the headllner this week. And at the Monday afternoon show it must be ad- mitted, he was a surprise to the writer. The program distinctly stated that Frisco Is the' creator of the jazz dance, and everything that had been heard about him tended to make this Impression tho correct one. But evi- dently Frisco has decided for himself that he is a comedian, for tho principal part, and a creator of the'jazz dance on the side. Surely this must be the conclusion drawn from tbo performance Monday afternoon. There isn't any doubt about Frisco's ability to dance—he showed he could in the numbers he put over. And there Isn't any dobut about the ability of his beautifully built little partner, Lorette McDermott, not a small part of the act by the way. His band Is also a corker. But Frisco did not create as much jazz as the audience felt entitled to and spent several of his valuable minutes trying to be a come- dian, with loss to himself and his act. Per- haps this Is not his usual stunt. It may have been a bit of diversion on his part—but If it Is it is sure that he, who is now at the height of, his fame evidently,, won't last as long as others who have flashed before the public In tho past as creators of the modern dances. His opening numbor. the "Fifth Ave- nuo Glide" and tho "Kitchen Stove Rag," are the best numbers. But for the others it appeared as though be depended top much on costumes and too little on the govilus of his nimble feet. For just one little second In (Continued on page 22.) ■•• • - :< ... .'