The New York Clipper (October 1916)

8 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER October 7, 1916 PALACE Henry Lewis ran away with the bill at the Palace this week in his new offering entitled "Squidgulum," a vaudeville Poussccofe that will keep everyone who ' sees it happy for a long time after they leave the theatre. And this was despite the fact that the bill was a good one throughout. The program started with Page, Hack and Mack, a trio of acrobats and tumblers who not only did stunts, but thrilled their audience with the most amazing twists and turns. It is one of the best acts of its kind seen in a long time. Jack King and Morton Harvey, a team of men, were well received in a piano- dialogue offering which revealed Harvey as an accomplished female impersonator even to his ability to sing notes far above the vocal range of men. Their turn does not hut long, hut is filled with ginger from first to last. Charles E. Evans used to win laughs with the "Parlor Match," but never more than with "A Forgotten Combination" which he is now presenting supported by Helena. Phillips. The combination is that of a safe in which are kept the diamonds of Mrs. Hewed, who is very eager to wear the jewels at a dinner. The combination being lost, she and her husband alter- nately search for it and a lost collar hut- ton in such a manner as to keep the audi- ence laughing continuously. The situa- tions were unusual and worthy of the ap- plause the act received. Miss Belle Storey has a voice that is capable of covering a wide range with a sweetness of tone which has won her a host of admirers. Many of them were present during Monday's performance and greeted her enthusiastically. Miss Storey makes a mistake in not leaving the stage between her numbers as, by remaining on, she creates a moment of confusion in the minds of her hearers as to what she is going to do that slackens the speed of her part of the program. "Lindy Lou," "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her How" and a number of other songs written by Joe Howard were sung by the composer and Miss Ethelyn Clark, his new partner. Howard is always popular with vaudeville audiences and was received cordially. Miss Clark is very pretty and with a wardrobe of charming gowns adds much to the drawing power of this act. Charlie Ahearn always presents a good act, always bicycles and always has a race with somebody. He did not fail to do all his old tricks during his turn, which came next, and added some new ones for good measure. In order to liven things a bit more he put an imitation Charlie Chaplin on a. bicycle also and lost nothing by it, for "Charley" rode a bicycle just as he doe* everything else, much to the merriment of the audience. Miss Josephine Victor whose perform- ances in many Broadway successes is well remembered, presented a new sketch en- titled "The Pink Ruby" for the first time and a description of it with one of •'Squidgulum*' will be found under New Acts. The usual Current News Pictorial opened the bill. JEFFERSON Manager Wm. H. Raynor offered a well arranged bill the first three days of this week, and the usual good Monday attend- ance was there for the first show. In number one position Archie Onri, assisted by Dolly, presented his novelty act and scored heavily. He opened doing an oil painting of a very pretty mill scene. He followed this with a number on the banjo, then he did a little magic and followed this with some very clever juggling. Daisy Leon, a great favorite here, was welcomed with a storm of applause. She sang four songs and they called her out to do another, not being satisfied with bows. She gets her song over the foot- lights nicely. The Seven Corkers filled position num- ber 3 to its fullest. They do a regular minstrel first part, and give an interest- ing performance. One of them, a tenor, sings a couple of old time songs, and another is an excellent bone soloist. The others sing, dance and pass merry quips. All in all it is a capital turn and was well received. The White Sisters, in a singing and dancing act, were next on the-bill. They are a little short on voices, but put their songs over in great shape. They are also clever dancers, and were so well liked that they were forced to take an encore. Andrew Kelly did an Irish monologue in which he spoke of McSwiggin, Downey and O'Brien. He failed to arouse any enthusiasm, and went off without a hand. Maurice Samuels and company pre- sented a sketch which told of the arrest of an Italian for the supposed murder of a countryman who first swindled him and then tried to steal his sweetheart. There are four men and a woman in the act and the man doing the supposed mur- der proved himself to be a clever de- lineator, and the woman also did good work. The skit has much human appeal and scored a decided success. The act carries a special drop. Cole, Russell and Davis, two men and a woman, do a sketch dealing with two ex-convicts in search of a job from the woman proprietor of a restaurant. They do some clever patter and some which is not so clever. They are all good per- formers and the woman is very pretty. As a finish the three do a song during which one of the men "lifts" a breast pin from the woman, and "props" in a comedy policeman make-up marches them off stage under arrest. This act also carries a special drop. Barlow's Circus in closing position held them in. Opening with a pony-riding dog Mr. Barlow follows with four dogs on the pony. Then comes a short menage act by a pony, a pony-riding cat, and as closing stunts the unrideable donkey and the revolving table. The act scored. FIFTH AVE. The entertainment at the Fifth Avenue for the first half is not up to the usual standard of excellence maintained by the Proctor management. Harry Cooper, assisted by Ross Robert- son, gives the bill an atmosphere of class which is otherwise lacking. Not that the rest of the show is poor in the true sense of the word. Fair would be an honest criticism for the balance of the perform- ance. The Kemps open. A new partner has replaced Bob Kemp. The comparison is not fair to either performer. The act of songs and dances suffice to start proceed- ings on the present time. The sketch portion of the bill is accept- ably cared for by Edward Farrel and com- pany. The familiar idea of jealous wife, mistaken identity and resultant confusion is played with a fair sense of comedy values. The man handling the role of the hotel detective has a tendency to over- play. The dialogue is rapid-fire and the action fast. The line at the finish seems rather unnecessary. The act pleased. The well-known act of Kelso and Leigh- ton, now programmed as Mr. and Mrs. Kelso, pulled down the laughing hit of the show. Jimmy Kelso has the happy faculty of making old material listen great. This is a tribute to any light comedian. His work shows the fruits of long experience and a fine sense of comedy values. Miss Leigbton feeds acceptably and gowns be- comingly. The turn should aspire for a place on the big time. Dan Burke and Girls supply the dancing feature of the show. It seems inane for Mr. Burke to assume the dramatic char- acter of an old ballet master, considering the interpolation of a medley of songs played on the bells by one of the girls using her feet. In passing it may be re- marked she possesses a beautiful and shapely pair of limbs, attractively en- cased in black silk fleshings. The setting of the turn is artistic and the lighting ef- fective. The three girls are excellent danc- ers and Mr, Burke lends a fine soft shoe specialty. But why the dramatic atmo- shere created, only to be'spoiled at various timeB by the introduction of things incon- gruous to the idea. As a dancing feature it classes with the good ones. Harry Cooper scored effectively with his familiar mail man act. The turn needs no description here. The Three Escardos close with wonder- ful somersaulting by one of the men. The turn is neat and the three men work clean and fast. Chas. Chaplin in "The Pawnbroker" fur- nishes the picture for the week. DIAGHILEFF DANCERS ARRIVE Mr. and Mrs. Kamischoff and Messrs. Herman and Tariat, four members of the Diaghileff Ballet Russe, arrived this week from Havana whither they had gone last month from Spain. Dr. Anselm Goetxl has commenced with the orchestral re- hearsals of the ballet. MARIE BURIES HATCHET Marie Dressler's long drawn out liti- gation with the Keystone Film Company anent her share of the profits of the motion picture of "Tfllie'B Punctured Ro- mance" came to an end last Monday when her attorney, M. G. Goldberg, sub- mitted to Supreme Court Justice Goff the agreement which has been reached with the company and Miss Dressier. The court then approved an order dismissing the case, and both sides refused to dis- close the terms of the agreement. AMERICAN A toning down on the part of the Amer- ican Roof orchestra would help materially the acts who depend upon it for their song accompaniments. Monday night they played with more vigor than Intelligence, to the detriment of the numerous vocal turns on the bill. Nina Esphey opened with a pleasing routine of banjo numbers. The instru- mental work is good and the act nicely ar- ranged. In an early spot, the banjoist did exceedingly well. _ The amusing, if almost unintelligible, conversation of Torcot throughout the per- formance of his Trained Game Roosters entertained the Roof crowd highly. The work of the birds is really marvelous, and the wire-walking, hurdling and balancing tricks accomplished little short of wonder- ful. A "rooster" comedian helped to en- liven the proceedings, his unconscious clowning causing much laughter. The bur- lesque boxing match between the game roosters designated as Willard and John- son was startling in its fidelity to the recent Garden fiasco. A breath of "old Ireland" Is realistically conveyed in the little skit offend by Broughton and Turner. The girl is of the typical colleen class and her rendition of "The Top of the Morning Mary" is ev- eellent. Her partner showed a sweet Irish tenor to good advantage, using "Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms" and one other. The medley of old Irish tunes touched the audience In the right spot and they responded liberally. It is needless to outline here the act of Owen McGivney, featured this week at the forty-second street house. Suffice to say that his protean work is wonderful and the condensed version of Chas. Dickens' story "Bill Sykes," offers him full scope for the exercise of his truly remarkable talents. Following the intermission, Ethel Thayer Costello created a distinct impression by her beauty of appearance and well-trained singing voice. She uses four numbers, all well chosen. This is a turn especially de- serving of commendation for its class and method of presentation. Miss Costello should be heard from. The obese nomologist, Patsey Doyle, kept them laughing with a routine of jokes which are rather poorly strung together. His delivery is good, and he would be wise in brushing up the present offering with a few new gags intelligently constructed. In its present form, this single will find favor on the small time but it needs attention be- fore playing the larger houses. Doyle is a good performer. A little thought will make him a whole lot better. It is indeed a pleasure, to Bee a pair of gymnasts without the customary tights, tossing of handkerchief and pompadour hair-cuts. Standard Brothers are as good as they look. Their balancing is danger- ous and difficult, and the ease with which they accomplish their work in no way de- tracts from their skill. The finish of the somersault to a hand-stand while blind- folded is great. These two young men can close any show and hold their own. The Pawnbroker, featuring the inimita- ble Chaplin, is the picture attraction for the week.