Variety (August 1925)

MFl VAMEtY NEW ACTS THIS WEEK ■'.•j^y\M£j^^ij Wednesday, Augmt 18, 188S NAN HALPIRIM Songs SO Min^t On* Palac* "Someone I Loved," ainrs Nan Halperin during her new singing ^turn at the Palace. As a lyrlo it's - femarkably cood; •• a tnelody It's 'iiai of trteka Probably vaudeville never baa beard one melody witb «o many tempoa It's pusaUniTi not lyrically but musically. It seems to bold a medley of familiar numbers ivrltten to an original strain, and you can't make bead or taU oat of the music, but yon ten't mlas tbe lyric. One of tbe best ssml-rsoita- tive aamb«|« as Miss Halperin does .:>^t vaudeville bas beard in a long Vwhtl*. Ko writer ts mentioned. t, AaA wboever wrote Mlas Hal- (I'pmtin'm cortala spsecb, even Nan hsTMlf, U She did it, should be «r«dited witb extreme taste. Miss A. Halperin thanked the audience for % the very kind reception extended 11. None 9f her or Joys whatever V ^ to her. That .', tamily troubles V^ they msy be. ,1 Nan Halpertn is essentially a "''Taadevillian. She comes within th« V. J. C. Nugent analytical and ejepert i^ classification of artist, taking In Ls performer as welL Miss Halperin ^ shoold not be permitted st any time V to leave vaudeville. It needs some H seasona of the phoney vaudeville the big time has been surfeited with to have talent at last recog- nised and come into Its own. Tal- ent should be paid by tbe seconds, and scenic vaudeville by the hun- dredweight Miss Halperin has been over the Orpheum time. It's quite a while since she played the east, and then with another turn. The only re- minder of previous days was her "Bride" number. ' Dressed prettily, Miss Halperin opened with an introductory about "They Woht L4t Me Alone." nm- Blng that with a quick change into a kid number of considerable dialog, made fetebing by this vaudeville quality seller. After that she did the "Someone" bit, to another change, ft recited the story of a small town girl's fall from graoe through mairying a married nan. There were ten "True ^ Stories" in It. There's so much to this Nan Hal- perin of vaudeville, and how many are there? Those boys of the dallies^ espsolally those out of town who know their vandevill* so well as Bfiay be gleaned from their writings, there's a big ehance for many Interesting stories in iplcking out the real vaudeville talent. And boys, don't make the mistake that the local managers won't listen, sending your reviews to the home |> office. The reviewers along the line (i of tbe Orpheum Circuit could shape i;' the bills out there as they wUled >:^ If they only knew it. ^. And the pick of all of them would l>e real vaudeville entertainment, even on a bare stage, if It amuses, with entertainers like Nan Hal- perin. To say that Nan Halperin bas the best act, etc., or lengthy de- tail would be a waste of time. What does it matter what Nan Halperin has as long as she has something and Is In vaudeville to show It? That's where she belongs —that's where many others belong who have left vaudeville, to their sorrow, even If to their temporary personal glory or self-gratlflcation, and to vaudeville's loss notwith- standing. Bime. VIOLET HCMINO and Ca. (» "Likas and OiaUkas" (CMwady) 2t Mins.| Full State (Parlor) Palace Not a new playlet to vaudeville but new in its principals and its personality star, Violet Heming, an Kngltsb girl, well established over here among the leading women of the legit. Marion Murray lead this Edwin Burke playlet when It flrst came out a couple of years ago, breaking in in New Tork and then going ovor the Orpheum. It's doubtful If Miss Murrmy used tbe playlet in the east over a eouple of show weeks around New Tork. Mr. Bnrke turned out a nice little comedy one-acter te 'Xlkes and Dis- likes." It sedu ta brlas o«t that likes and dislikes are gauged by 'a>ulling" or anticipated or inherent hatred. In this sketch a wife suc- cessfully brings together her hus- band and a former suitor. It bas a most natural touch, when the hus- band learns tbe former suitor of bis wife lately married, wbereupon the wife, as becoming a woman, feels peeved through having lost an ad- mirer. This twist is so perfect It could almost have been written by Edgar Allan Woolf, without any discredit to you, Mr. Burke, but EMgar does seem to have such an insight upon married couples and the triangle. Miss Heming as the wife is charming. Not 10 per cent, of that may be said of her support which includes Edwin Stanley as tbe hus- band, and William Shelley as the friend. Between those two Mr. Shelley plays the ablest but neither of the men seem to catch the spirit nor the tone. It calls for Miss Hem- ing to hold up both of them instead of each playing up to her. Mr. Burke Staged the piece and It's a Liewis ft Gordon juroduction. Violet Heming last appeared with A. Ek Matthews in vaudeville in an- other Lewis A Gordon playlet. Mr. Matthews Is a fl.OOO a week leading man in tbe Iceit. Nevertheless "Likes and Dislikes" with Violet Heming suiy be safely booked as a class comedy playlet, even with this east. But once only. I BERNARD and FAIN ' Coiftedy and Sengs IB Mins.; One v / ■• . This Is a familiar vehicle for Ber- nard, who formerly teamed with M^lss Myers. Miss Fain Is his new straight. The same Idea of the ae- tress-and-the-irate-cabby Is em- ployed. Bernard In misfit topper palled ovar his ears makes an au- dianca entrance. Interrupting her opening song. He comes onto the stage, changes to comedy Tux and oflf. In all, a -..Irlght comedy turn for the grade, I Although letting down toward its A conclusion. -• Miss Fain should not sing her solo In the calcium. Otherwise, under ordinary lighting effects she man- ages well. A new bit also is her ehasing him Into the audience through a stage box. Abel aEOROE LYONS Harpist t Min.; Ona Palace Goorge Lyons did not mind the No. 2 spot that Leo Beers appar- ently resented so Mr. Lyons has a Job this week, playing tbe harp and alone, at the Palace. He also played the harp when of Lyons and Tosco some years ago. Mr. Lyons can play the harp even unto pop melodies and he sings one song. It may be there is a novelty to a male doing a single harp spe- cialty. It is rare and also uncom- mon for a woman harp player who can play. To this may be attri- buted any welcome given Mr. Lyons and bis reception Monday evening at the Palace was quite clamorous. Mr. Lyons grabbed four bends with the final one after the lights had faded, but no encpre. With a woman at the instrument there is a certain gracefulness to the strumming If fingering a harp may be called that, and it may when it's Jazzed up if only a weenny bit. There is no particular grace In the Lyons execntloa. That may be blamed upon the male apacie. ea- pecially a vaudevilUan who goes after it. forgetting everything but the result In applause. Lyons' showing this week may send him along the big time and if not the east, then the west, for the Orpheum fans will like this turn. Blm«. DARE, COLE and HELENS Talk, Songs snd Dancing 15 Mins.) One Two. men and a girl offering a knockabout comedy act. The men handle the comedy in grotesque make-up and moSt of the knock- about stuff as well. Both are tum- blers and one man does a great neck fall. The gjrl is iftilized for a flirtation bit and later to space the tomfoolery of her male partners with dancing. Just a routine act evidently aimed for the three-a-days where It should do well if spotted right. Edba. NITZA VBRNILLI AND Ca (t) •Wonderland" (Daneoa) 23 Min.| Full Stag* (tpMlal Ut) Place Blaborata program hlUinsr eanaot disguise that the burden m this S3 minutes Is scenery. Clark Robinson is mentioned as the designer of the settings with one or mora pieces painted by Willie Pogany. Both did their work welL Mr. RobhiaoB may bo the prodaoer of the tora. If he's in the scenic building busl-. neas that ooold aocount for the full supply with probably mora where this earns from. The thing runs In six .soenea ^ sets, wHh BMMt of tho sets vary striking. Nltsa Vemlllo la tka premier daaoer, doing aavoral atylas and better adaptabla ta « protf aa - tion than to Taudavllla minus the settings. It vandevllla eaa be fooled by scenery this turn is as important as tbe program tries te make it—of not It's as Important as a solo dancer of no exceptional quality In any of tbe dances she attempts can make it. Spreading a single dancer into a 23-minute production turn and giv- ing one full page of the program to the act with tb* best of real vaudevilUans, those who entertain, satisfied to tell It all In two printed lines, is one of those things In vaudeville which have done so much to ruin vaudeville. Vaudevlle with the opening of the season had better get down to cases. Place the Benny Rubin act against thlis one as a production in turn of value—place Nan Halperin, a single and alone upon the stage without even a piano player against this "production stuff," or take the booking of tbe bill as It ran. the flrst two turns "dumlV' and the third number a pantomimic dancing act, and then call it vaudeville if you will or can. Miss Vemllle has for sunMrt John Walsh, a nice enough tenor, who suggests he tried to bo a tango dancer but thought better of it. Also a eouple of young girls in duet dances, starting with the Dutch clog and never getting tar enough away from it not to sug- gest that with 10 other girls, the line would have been complete. On No. S the act did not do badly as Miss Vemllle has personality on top of her dancing specialty, but the wondar in "Wonderland" si>ells why? -.>r^' aime. MLLE. DELIRIO AND CO. (7) Spanish Rsvuo IS Mins.; Full Stage (Special) State. Mile. DeUrio Is an accomplished exponent of Latin terpRlchor« with the tango and apache particularly her forte. The dancer has sur- rounded herself with Winifred Wiley, soprano; Fidel Irosabel. male dancer and a five-piece string combination billed as "the original Argentine Players." Tho setting la an attrac- tive Spanish drawing room with a garden.effect at the back. Miss Wiley's rich soprano Is heard behind the scrim at the opening with the latter proving transparent and gradually lighting showing an attractive stage picture of the singer in a hooped costume sur- rounded by the orchestra in native Spanish garb. The solo serves as an introd^iptor for Mile. Dellrlo and Irosabel who come on and oxecute a picturesque castaret dance. Miss Wiley changes to another attractive period costume and returns for "Marcheta" which prefaces a tango by Mile. Dellrlo and her partner. The orchestra follows with a medley of Spanish airs in Jaax tempo with Mile. Delirio returning for a gypsy dance neatly worked into a semi- cooch yet inoffensively done. Miss Wiley returns for a Mexican love song with the dancers returning for a wbirlwhid apache that brings the act to a close. The act is lavishly mounted and contains much genuine entertain- ment of Its type. Closed to good returns here hut worthy of better spotting. Edba. MORTON and QLASt Comedy, Songs, Talk, Oanoaa IS Mins.| Ons^ Thrsa» PuU SUgs (Spsolal) RIvsrsida ' Paul Morton and Naomi Glass have shown vaadeville some novel dances In seasons past, but their cur- rent vehicle^ which is one season old. but new to Variaty** files, is no exception. ' '*^-*^ The couple have eonsidarablo spe- oial scenery and props for their original dances and Introduces sev- eral aongs and aome croasflre. The daacing, however. Is the outstanding featdre of the turn. Opening In "one" they antranca from a prop subway kiosk. In aven- inf dethaa with Naomi in a fetch- ing green gown and wrap they cross- fire, then double, "That's What I Call Love." a comedy double fol- lowed by their sitting down dance performed on the practical stoop of a prop house entrance. Mora crossfire la followed by PauFs solo and excellent tap dance In which Naomi, after a change to pink summery costume. Joins him. The next bit is an original number, "The Straphangers." In'"throe" the pair are hanging on the straps of a subway train. An appropriate! double song Is followed by a whale of a novelty dance In which each execute gymnastics using the straps for "rings'* in executing the "Subway Glide." The last Is a dancing trav- esty on the "Automat" In which a stool on wheels is used and a pair of steps for their stairs double. The act from a dancing angle is on a par with anything seen in vaudeville In ages, but the dialog is not up to tha average of the other portion. The turn holds more novelty than the usual vaudeville dancing act and Is entirely away from the standard- ised hoofing turns seen around. The Subway Glide and Stairs Dance would make corking interpolations for a revue and would stand elab- oration into scenes^ Miss Glass looks fine in her costumes and has lots of personality. The vehicle, however, other than the dances, doesn't meas- ure up to the talents of this gifted pair. They went heavy at the River- side, closing the flrst half. Con. HIGHEST STANDARD CURTAINS INCORPORATCO •L taaS^^fff^^ MS W. Mid M^-€hl« 4lOVK«TI«IN<l CURTAINS—OROPS-^SCBNERY ACHILLES and NEWMAN Heavyweight Juggling 10 Mins.; Full Stage ($p*«ial Drop and Props.) 5th Avenue This style of heavyweight act la not new to vaudeville, although Achilles and Newman have framed a turn that In the main la pleaaing. Achilles Is well proportioned and Newman handles the comedy with some of his stuff most amusing. ,Moat of it haa be«n seen before. Achilles has some corking feats, handling his objects, such as can- non balls and torpedo-shaped weights. In effective showmanship manner. Tho Achilles and Newman act was accepted as worthy of more than passing attention. Mark. POLLA'S CLOVER GARDEN OR- CHESTRA (11) ,. „, Jazx Band 10 Mins.{ Full (SpecisI) This unit has been playing the dance music at the Grand Central Palace ball room, now closed for the summer. The band Includes 11 mu- sicians working full stage closed in by a jcold eye. The opening number Is a sym- phonic dance arrangement by W. C. PoUa, who also arranges for the Lopez orchestra, in addition to han- dling this one. "Copenhagen," with obbllgato ar- rangements for the brasses, follows. "Oh, How I Miss You Tonight," planologued by William Prevost, Is next, with the musicians ensembllng on the second hours. "The Farmer Took Another Load Away" is the next, a comedy number with four of the boys singing. One does a dame briefly and all wear fiurmer hats. "All the World Is Waiting for the Sunrise" follows, the cometlst tak- ing Individual honors. A medley of pop numbers trailed this with the leader doing a Charleston for the finish. The act Is a corking flash and en- tertainment turn for the Interme- diates. For big time It would re- quire a couple of "name" specialty people. All are excellent musicians. They took one ot the hits of the bill J*®'*- Con. CATHERINE REDFIELO and Co. Scenes from Opers 20 Mins.; Full (Special) Msjestic, Chicago Chicago. Aug. 11. Opera condensed and simplified so that children may understand it. Tableaux from "Mme. Butterfly," "Rigoletto" and "Faust" interpreted with reasonable competence by four ipen and three women, with the latter having very pleasant voices while the men get volume If not so much quality. The turn opens with a bit of cho- ral singing in Colonial costilme with Miss Redfleld coming down In "one" to explain the things to come and to play the piano. Moat of the num- bers are familiar to vaudeville audi- ences if only because they have been so often burlesqued. The act Is geared for the small time, cannot go above that, but within Its legiti- mate limits Is satisfactory as a dif- ferent sort of flash. Loop. MABEL MeCANB *HLIfo" (Songa) M Mina.| Onai Pull Stage (Special). Rivossido Mabel McCane is showing hep "single" to the east It Is a char* aeter song cycle by Bbuiche Merrill titled "Life." and consists ot flvo songs with spoclal drops and dr^>ea« Opening In "one" In eccentric cos«« tome Miss McCane pushes a peram<* bulator containing a Pekinese doA for "at's a Dog's Life." reciting her woes as nurse to a pup. It is her weakest number holding few laugha, Tha act goes to full sUge show« Ing the Interior of the girl's room with Miss McCane sticking to tho eccentrie oharacter. She monologs about her Uard lot in life as com-' pared to other giris, the prelude t» What Is It Happened to Me?' a; good comedy number followed by «. corking dramatic sentimental ballad. "I'll Get Along Somehow," whicu calls for considerabla amotlng br tho artist. :ri.,^ J After reciting her determinatioii to get the most out ot life regard- less. Miss McCane renders I'm. Ooin' to Be Bad." She is closed in by the divided drop as she tells off her determination to be a vamp» The act goes a full stage agaiii showing a marble stairway aa4 pliish hangings, the living room of her apartment in "vampland.',' Ai female flgure Is seated with' heir back to the audience. Dressed ln| Miss McCane's flrst costume the flgare represents "The Girl I Used to Be." the motif for her concluding dramatic song which is excellently handled and delivered and include* a strong lyric W, >'/ A bit of acting with the song- shows the wo:nan of the worM after a brief struggle wdth her former self succumbing to the lure of tho flesh pots and leaving to keep a date with one of her numerous admirers. She does a dramatic faint at tha top of the stairs, sliding down back- wards, head flrst, for a sure flro< finish in any man's theatre. Miss Merrill has Ullored Miss. McCane In the best vaudeville man- ner, barring the opening song antf bit of telephone dialog in scene two which lacks consistency. The act will stand up anywhorv and enter-r Uin on tho best of the bills. Mtos> McCane in her last scene, for th* first time, dons regulation costumo and flashes a daring low cut eveninflp Vown which enhances her physlcah charms. Con. OUATKMALA REVUE (7) Musical, Seng and Dance 17 Mins.; Throo (Speoisi) A little building up and this ae€ will make a neat flash for the bet" ter houses. The string quartet is a likely ensemble. W. Seldon and Vora, dance team, are neat In their terp stuff, although their snatch of a Charleston detracts from thcr general class. It should be elided^ Wynn Ralph is a comely soprano ot nice voice. The quartet comprises accordion/ piano,'violin and guitar, the latteif two doing solos and very good, too* The dancers open with a tangOy the prima vocalizing off stage. An- other waits number is done to Drigo's "Serenade," whic*- In Itself la a departure. The rose-colore«i draped setting .could be Improvecf on for appearance. Abel. MURRY and MADDOX 1 Talk . ' 12 Mins.; One (Special) Doesn't impress as a new com^ blnation despite the firat namtf spelled Murry. A Murray and Mad- dox are listed In Variety's flies, buf doing another act. This may be tb« same combination. There is a sImN larity in that the former review' states the girl of the team ran awa/ with the turn. That still goes. Before a i-estaurant exterior drop the conversation centres on the girl's appetite wlUi the man dodg- ing the check. It leads into side is- sues of an argumentative nature. The crossfire is fast and studded with slang expressions that hit and miss. The couple are in ordinary street attire with the gir! handling a vast majority of the punch lines. Her general conception of the material Is superior to the male half who fairly paries the verbal thrusts. He contributes a vocal solo of ques- tionable value. This pair talked themselves to » fair sized applause quota and on the strength of the girl should find it easy traveling In the smaller thea- tres. She, personally, meets twice daily requirements in so far as fast talking material is concerned. Bktff* J ■r i '■- J 11