Variety (March 1921)

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8 VARIETY'S CHICAGO OFFICE Chicago Friday, March 4, 1921 STATE-LAKE THEATRE BUILDING •l <> ¥ .1 ■ MAJESTIC, CHICAGO. Chicago. March 2. Sophie Tucker's far*»welt wovk; no small local event, fellers. Sophie has been touring, circumnavigating, criss-crossing, transperambulating and back tracking Chicago since birth of the season. She has made vaudeville records and broken them again and again. Every added week brought something new from her. ., , . Aj>d the final week brought every- thing hew—aha' Yhfc -Ife&tf *v; tttftteft* and punchiest act this tireless babe - has ever uncurtained in these woods. Opening with a poker bit at a table, her band was discovered on. Miss Tucker entered to a Harding reception, sat down, cleaned the game in a sweep, and went into a crashing dramatic song-poem about cards, chance, fortune, love and luck that spellbound the vast audi- ence and took it along with genuine legitimate fervor. It was a smash. The star was dressed like a maiden rather than as of old, like an animal trainer. She looked 20. Her voice was low, clear, sweet and soothing. She wabbled ballads, she Jazzed **Toddle," she crooned "Orievmg Io& You" (a special farewell version), she revived by request "Learning" and "It's AH Over," and she left them gasping, panting, clapping, whistling, cheering, talking to her, thru wing her ksses, sending her flowers, wishing her godspeed, blessing her and adoring her. Again this column proclaims that Sophie Tucker is the master show- woman of the times, th% most com- pelling personality of her class, a conscientious and sincere servant of the box office patron, a glutton for doing her share and no hog for ap- plause; she took her honors de- cently, courteously and even mod- estly; not one false move did she venture amid applause and acclaim to draw one tap that was.pot spon- taneous, no. given with great good will. Sh*e said, with genuine tears, that she would miss Chicago. Chi- cago said with genuine enthusiasm that It will miss her. The Corinne Tilton Review was the bottom liner This is another , of those exquisitely produced Moore- Megley miniature Follies. For once, though, these seemingly infallible presenters did not stand up to their accustomed mark as directors. Miss Tilton is a youngster cf personality and ability. But there is either too much of her or too little of the rest; anyway, she seemed like one of those pestiferous children whom one can't really chide, but who keep bobbing up and getting in the way and breaking in on their elders'con- versation. Miss Tilton was all over the revue, at times much too long for the sake of herself or the ve- hicle. The whole effort had the smack of a single which wasn't enough and was padded up with others to support it and with a pro- duction framed around it. The settings are delicious. The lightings are the finest, boldest and truest Moore-Megley have con- trived. The Idea of the revue is Cute, Cliff Hess' lyrics are snappy, Milton Schwartzwald's tunes are fair, the girls are almost fair, the props are sweet. But Miss Tilton, very pleasant to take now and then, was smeared over the whole face of it until it was a table d'hote meal of one course repeated with all sorts of different spices and dressings. One bit, which she started beauti- fully as a "souse," she stretched out until it became a nuisance. 8he sang repeat choruses of everything and let everything taper down. The result was that a fine act got one curtain at the end. Benny and Western did a nifty brother dance, but prolonged that a trifle, too. George Phelps proved a handsome and acceptable Juvenile, but his sin- gle song failed to stand up and de- liver. The best thing to do with this turn would be to take about 6 minutes out of it, 4 of Miss Tilton's, 1 of the dancers* and 1 of Pholps*. The leader should be told, too. to hide or shrink or something, so Miss Tilton can be seen; or she might move over for the same result. Lydia Barry grabbed the comedy honors. Miss Barry has been re- viewed in this department so ofton it need only be added that she never misses and she has a sense and style of humor all her own and more material that answers this de- scription than most vaudevillians. • • - . - Tailoring for Women of the stags Phone Central 4741 KOO.M HiOO "tevenw ntdg.. Cli'faro. Ill She kicked it through the roof Mon- day afternoon for a walloping wow. Lane and Moran fallowed her and Were not so lucky. They have ac- quired their Jests hither and thither, and Lane might apply less of them and sing more. Most of his laughs turned turtle at this show. The dancing is good. The singing is splendid. The comedy is strained, pained and sprained. One bow. Jack Hose, too, took a cropper. , H vwan, Bqse's, qwj* fault. He came on to a strong reception. A st^dnd 1 later Miss Tucker entered and helped along. Then Rose told a story! It was a frayed barroom stag tale with the fragrance of the cuspidor and the stale free lunch about it—every rounder knew it be- fore he got 20 words out, ami he must have used 1,000. It was the old one about the traveler and the farmer's daughter who came to his room in the dead of night and asked him if he was lonesome—Rose said Just that. It wasn't naughty—it was dirty. It went down like a chunk of lead. After that what he did didn't matter; he was through. He may think it was because he followed the headliner, because of the state of the barometer, or be- cause he had rehearsed all night for a cabaret show. But he skidded because he took advantage of Chi- cago's most respectable audience to spill—at length and with devious detail—a witless and malapropos sewer-gang anecdote. A man who has suffered so much already from breaches of good taste in the the- atre, who has so much natural tal- ent, wit and engaging personality should have known better. Ce Dora and her reckless bicycle and motorcycle whizzing in a giant globe didn't hpld as this sterling circus act should, but thrilled those who stuck. Bigelow and Clinton, neat rathskeller boys with a piano in "one," sang and behaved in workmanly style for No. 2 and get enthusiasm and favor. Lillian's Comedy Pets, 7 toy canine?, opened. Lait. CHATEAU, CHICAGO. Chicago, March 2. "Xochltl" is the name of the headliner. They do say it's pro- nounced as though spelled "Zo- sheel." Since there isn't a word spoken, no one knows. The act should have a name easier to hand around with the lips, for it is a dream. Ted Shawn produced and presents it. Shawn, as most every oue knows, is Ruth St. Denis* hus- band, and her partner in the Deni- shaw School of Dancing, Los An- geles. Nothing more refreshingly artistic, yet robustly entertaining, has ever come from Denlshawn or from anywhere, into vaudeville. An Aztec legend, staged in rugged settings running to copper hues and fanciful designs of the mystic pre- historic native tribes, is danced and pantomimed by six lovely young girls, symmetrical and athletic and cannily trained, led by Martha Gra- ham, a muscular young gymnastic- artistic danseuse, who looks like Lenore Ulric and dances Just like Florence O'Denishawn. Robert Graham, who looks like an Indian buck, though there is a dash of pas- tel streaked through the brown stain of his all-over make-up, is a powerful and majestic interpretative and figure dancer, lithe as a lion. The entire presentation has the flavor of poesy, imagination, color and vigor. It delighted here, held, and took applause honors. The Rooneys, openers, were out, due to illness. Panzer Duo subbed. Two men in white knickers, doing hand, head and foot balancing, fin- ished to a bang with a little top- mounter doing a shimmy while on his head on the understander's up- turned foot. Fiske and Fallon fol- lowed. This is a standard around here. The woman has a trick high voice, the man is a quiet foil-comtc. W>nt well, all but stopping the show Graca Cameron and "Duke" Rog- ers followed the Shawn dancers. These good folks were with White's 'Scandals," and they took along all of Lou Holtz's pet material, the Sola-Mia bit with the bum guitar intact, for instance. Miss Cameron is a low comedienne of pronounced ability. Rogers is a neat dancer and can do lyrics. But he picked a ghastly single number called "At the Undertakers' Ball," all about cof- fins, embalming fluid and such very -<r!s!yj appr^^eiatrtiy, it d'od. ' Bftf»< Cameron, barring several offenses of poor taste, entertained in three characters. As a tough newsgirl she was immense; when she spat between her teeth that was funny and in the picture, but when she used the word "snotty," took out her wad of gum and thumbed it in view of the audience through a song, turned her back and did a wiggle "without reservations" and talked a lot about castor oiL aha hurt her impression visibly. Rogers used "God" repeatedly where it didn't seem entirely needed. Here is a big-time pair, well equipped as per- formers, woefully misguided aa pickers—even as choosers—of prop- er, entertaining and welcome stage lines and business. Big time wouldn't stand for their present tftfcff 'Uf AH', UttiiLlt tbl/fcr dAt!fta r &•?#&% Joy it. They took one bow where they might have run off with the show, being its only real comedy turn. It might be well to pause right here to say that Just this thing is the predominant blowhole in vaude- ville. This gigantic institution Judges acts intact as they show—its vocabulary consists of two words: "Great" and "Rotten." .It takes no account of the rotten ones that might be made great with Just a few suggestions, a bit of direction. It does not follow at all that peo- ple who have talent, looks or spe- cial vocations are also people who have discriminating Judgment in selection mMrhatto any and what to do. Ziegfeld doesn't stand for it; Belasco doesn't think of it; artists otherwhere are engaged as artists, not as authors, directors and pro- ducers. But in vaudeville, if a man can ride a bicycle well enough to do a bicycle act, he is allowed to clown and sing mother songs. That isn't a far-fetched example—it happened Just as soon as Cameron and Rog- ers left the stage. Sig Franz is a unicycle rider, and a doggone great one. The curtain went up on him asleep on a bench; why, no one knew and no one yet knows. Lights went up and he dis- appeared, disclosing a scene with a Jail, a saloon, etc., and a pretty girl riding. Then he rode, with a tramp make-up and a very red nose. He all but broke his ankles to be funny. One woman sitting behind this re- viewer said audibly, "Gee! Why doesn't he ride?" Why? Because he was talking to a man in a box. The man was half asleep and didn't even know it. On came a scaffold ladder with a tall cycle. Franz looked it over, then came down- stage, and burst Into. "I Don't Have to Die to Go to Heaven." There was no reason; there wasn't even an alibi. With his painted nose and his closing trick all set, he sang this weepy ballad in a fair enough voice. But why? Why do bicycle riders do such things? Why do managers and bookers' allow them to? • Lait. * ... , time, were received with open arms and dismissed with five healthy curtains. Barnes and Freeman never lost a customer. Their finish is a trifle weak and with a little bolster- ing in this one spot make a sure Are comedy hit team for any house or circuit. •Ted,estrianism, # pre- sented by George Brown*, .with the aid of a half a dozen plants, got over, though the house did not effuse. 43LOOJ 190 N. STATE ST. ST..7*-!.A,<e flLt>G. Chicago Phone Randolph 3393 LARGEST AND BEST EQUIPPED POSING ROOMS IN THE COUNTRY ., ? R . A ^ D PIAN ° fURNI3HE0 F OR ALL MUSICAL ACTS ALLKINOS OF SCENERY AND SPOT LIGHT OPEN SIN PALACE, CHICAGO. Chicago. March 2. Capacity audience, a little late Ailing up. By the time the second act was finished there was not a seat 1n the lower portion of the house. The house has blown itself to a couple of new drops. The Three Bobs, two in comedy makeup, the third In straight, do a neat fast club Juggling act that earned three curtains. They also use a black crow which is a novelty in vaudeville, and a bulldog, both getting applause on their efforts. Pearson, Newport and Pearson is a dancing act that could easily win a steady berth in big time vaude- ville. The two men do marvelous taps with a few flipflops and head turns in unison, while the feminine member presides at the baby- grand, doing a single number in a fair way. A newer song would be to her advantage. The two men then come out for a fast finish with derbys pulled down over their ears. There is no reason for the hats and they might well be discarded. They should also learn how to take bows, as the way they are taking them now they appear to be surprised to receive them. Lillian Lcitzcl, opening in one on the web, then going to full on the rings, then to her rope for her turn- overs, is daintier than ever and has the appearance of a large Dresden doll. She does a little pantomine, pulling her short skirts over her pantalettes, very becoming and in u.iison with her general appear- ance. She goaled them for a heavy hand. Ford/md Cunningham have some nifty talk and a special song or two that scored heavily. Clark and Bergman with the jCria^ Sisters followed. Bergman announced that his partner. Gladys Clark, was ill with a severe cold and would not be able to show. This did not stop the ciean hit that Berg- man put over. He was in wonder- ful voice, working with pep and speed that drew the audience out of its seats with enthusiasm. His little by-play while the Crisp Sis- ters were dancing, and the able as- sistance of his whistling piano player put the whole act over with a sure fire quality that was a fore- gone conclusion before the act had run five minutes. Bergman cloaed with "My Mammy." having the services of an extra good song- plugger in a box. He took half a dozen encores and they were ap- plauding for more, necessitating a speech. Kmily Darrell. with her little bulldog. Oacar. put over a fast line of hoakum in showmanly style. Adelaide and Hughes, though not having been here ia * Jon*, tone LOG AH ttUOAJ&jjr, CHICAGO: ' Chicago, March 2. Situated in an advantageous lo- cality, both business and residen- tial, this theatre, managed by Abe Shiffman, hands out 100 cents on the dollar in . audeville values. The clientele is more family than pass- ing trade. An act that entertains, shows merit and does more than simply occupy the stage gets a re- ceipt in full by way of applause for its services. The theatre seats 1,- 500, has comfortable seats, a cosy mezzanine rest room, and occasion- ally plays drawing cards such as Sophie Tucker. The policy is a feat- ure picture with six acts playing split weeks. The house was never a success until this season. Pauline Saxon and sister and Anna Eva Fay were the attraction*. An extra matinee was given for ladies, primarily because of Miss Fay, who was held over for the last half. Lucy (Jillette. scheduled t3 appear, was withdrawn becai e of another dumb act on the bill. Harry Gardner and company substituted. Pauline Saxon and sister were moved from the initial to the second spot. Binns and Burt were moved from No. 2 to opening. They fol- lowed a feature picture and from the start drew heavily in applause. Evidently Hubert Dyer and com- pany have not played this house, or. if so, it mast have be:n a long time ago. for Binns and Burt's ring "bit' is an exact reproduction in action and stunts. The "bit" refers to passing before a man swinging on a pair of rings, narrowly escaping be- ing struck. It created howls and screams. The vivacious, fascinating and adorable Misses Saxon struck L3ld upon entrance. Their r» utine of songs, dances and "kid" talk oozes with talent and entertainment. The short time occupied on the stage is just enough to whet the appetite, and the Misses Saxon left an im- pre r*«on. With personalities far above a dollar and cent rating, these sisters are blue-white diamonds set in a platinum routine. Anna Eva Fay, with three assist- ants in the audience, mystified her auditors with occult powers of men- tal telepathy. Though she Is get- ting into years and her voice is not very strong, her mind fun tions with the same old alertness and accuracy. Always will she draw her love-puzzled, business-worried and curiosity-seekers, sending them away pleased, amused and reli ved. Dunham and Williams, two men, bill themselves as selling "Happi- ness," but sing ballads, sob stuff, disclosing little comedy. Thou, h there was a house full of prospective buyers, only a few scattered ones were satisfied and bought with ap- plause. Harry Gardner and hi- two assistants touched the bank roll quite heavily to outfit in costume and scenery his latest vehicle, a travesty on "Romeo and Juliet." Gardner is funny. The manner of acting and the enunciation of lines 1 showed newness. When he has the act whipped into shape it should show splendid possibilities. The stage settings are masterpieces. The costuming is nothing unusual and more comedy could be gotten o t of the many situations. All in all, the small timers took to Gard- ner's efforts nicely. screams from the baroness and fun personified in her male assistant aim, the impressions left when the our* tain ring's down. J. Rosamond Johnson went aa usual, and tied up the show. Sick* art and Moore provided lots of com* edy and did it well. They look im« maculate in their captain's uniforms. The tenor might sing a number alonV utilising his fine voice. Singer's Midgets' frequency la Chicago makes them a familiar night. >..Every hR. ojf, the work and • spectacles ia delightful. Oiv xms large stage the midgets look Ilka toy8. Solly Ward and Co. and How- ard and Sadler not seen at this show. STATE-LAKE, CHICAGO. Chicago, March 2. House full of customers with a sidewalk full of would-be custom- ers. The bill is up to usual stand- ards of this house. Roy Harrah had hard sleighing, as his humorous talk did not entertain. Helen Carr did very little, and so Harrah skated like a demon. Lew Cooper appeared in blackface. It took him a little while before he could get the atten- tion of the crowd, but when he did had easy sailing. Bows a-plenty. Baroness De Hollub has the as- sistance of a talented elongated man. They held the audience in their hands from the start. The baroness ¥B~*sweJt*io look *P-and acts tfhu" Hlngs charmingly. Whoever wrote the act gave her something made to order. Blank bulkts are used whole- sale for the men supposed to kill themselves for her. Lots of noise. BIALTO, CHICAGO. Chicago, March 2. Undoubtedly Lillian Walker waa responsible for the full house, aa she was placarded in every avail- able spot. It took Jimmy Lyons just one second to know his audi- ' ence, and just that much time waa required to know Lyons would tie up the show. Even though Roach and McCurdy had things I coming their way and whipped things up to "STTiot, Lyons c ro wded e v e ry oth es— act into oblivion. Robert and De- mont are dancers worth careful at- tention. The man's singing is no advantage to the act and a straight dancing routine is what they need. The orchestra s poor tempo made the male member cut a good dance. The woman -does crackerjack con- tortions and steps in remarkable harmony to the music. GUck and Bright come in all of a sudden and go out the same way. They did not even cause a ripple. The extreme-cut dress worn by the woman is used for comedy, but it fails of its purpose, seeming to leave an impression undesirable to the~raajorlty. Music students had their money's worth with Rhode and Crampton's vehicle, bused upon a music teacher and pupii. Comedy is derived via lessons, but talent by both performers is displayed with their operatic rendition. Drops and wardrobe apropos send them off with a hurrah. Mystery, humor, music, excellent material and a nice drop of Reisenweber's complete Mills and Moulton's act; received encores that would do credit to a big time duo. Then Miss Walker breezed in and whiffed out, leaving a desire to again feast one's eyes upon "Dim- ples." Roach and McCurdy have not changed their funny talk one bit, and they still impress. They were mighty welcome and the audi- ence treated them accordingly. G. Swayne Gordon and Co. offered a sketch that is out of the ordinary. The drunk character outshines the others to the point that the audi- ence ignores the talk of the man and woman assistants, anticipating eagerly lines from the inebriate. Not that the drunk's support is not good; but the souse is so impressive. Cyclonic Jimmy Lyons is com- parable to 100 proof in bond. He is a showman who gives plenty of time for each story to sink in. It is rare that applause interrupts a monolog at this house. Wise judg- ment is responsible for Lyons' suc- cess. Since last seen hereabouts he has a makeup and costume of a returned soldier that is worth a for- tune. Supported by material that is golden, Lyons registers solidly. Jon la and her Hawaiian s close tha show. They are applauded as acts of this type usually are. Howe and . Fay and Lelinu's Circus were not seen at this show. Phone Central 868f Catering to the Profession 21 No. Clark SU CHICAGO Next Door to COLUMBIA TI1KATRB3 "ELI," The Jeweler TO THB PROFESSION Special DUcouot to Perrorrotr» WUEN IN CHICAGO 8tatt-Ulu Th—tf Bids. Grcuntf FloMW EUGENE COX SCENERY Ask COLUMBIA THEATRE 1734 OtiDEN AVE. Phoae Seeley 3801 CHICAGO l-KKD MANN'S RAINBO GARDENS ! At) la At I /..«,... .... MARK Af lAWHtNCI ( Hl( AGo ////: ORIGINAL RAINBO OR( HLSIRA < «»NTlNt»OUS UANUNl, AND VAUOl VII | r \ A M ( H ' S ( Hit M Ki iti ki ft.ii .... • -... . HAZEL RENE HATS - GOWNS - COSTUMES '•»•« »£»t«U« ( P.rm.rl. «l,b HAW. KjUIOI.* J Ed.ib sl>KklM>4