The New York Clipper (February 1917)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER February 7, 1917 ROYAL Every Monday afternoon at the Royal seems to be a Standing-Room-Only Day. Last Monday there seemed to be more standees than ever. Perhaps it was caused by the appearance of Belle Baker, who is credited with being a particular favorite with the Bronxites. After the PathG News, Dixie opened the vaudeville show. Dixie is heralded as "the world's Wisest Mule" and will be re- viewed further under New Acts. Mohr & Moffati were in the second spot. They present a musical skit en- titled, "A Day With a Composer." Their material is good. Their last song is far superior to anything else attempted in the turn. Mohr's song hits were played well by the composer and gain deserved applause. Minerva Courtney & Co.. present "Heart o*. the Canyon." This vehicle gives Miss Courtney a chance to display her versatility. Her quaint style is bound to please. She won instant favor with the Royalists who are, as a rule, ad- vene to playlets and sketches. They en- joyed the slapstick- situations and the work, of Miss Courtney and her rather capable company made one laugh after another. George M. Boaener presents what be is pleased to call "characteristic types." At Monday's matinee, he presented three in all: an Englishman, a "dope," and an old Civil War veteran. The latter brought down the house, although it might be even more effective if por- trayed a little bit less, noisily. Toby Claude, supported by William Smythe &, Co., appeared in the place of "The Highwaymen," and scored satisfac- torily. The act is an old standby and can always be depended upon to get over successfully. The acts in the two spots following in- termission are both Billie Burke produc- tions. "The Man Off the Ice Wagon" proved to be a very good tenor and sang a num- ber Of popular songs to popular liking dressed in his work-a-day togs and non- chalantly swinging an ice-pick in his band. He brought the American flag into two of his songs and found a responsive audience. "Motor Boating" shared honors with the headliner. This quartette, two girls and two boys, inject plenty of ginger and snap Into their work. The result com- pensates them for their hard labor. The comedian of the four is directly responsi- ble for the success of the act by his nat- urally funny style. Their song about the movies pleased the Ttoyalites immensely. Belle Baker closed the show. She re- ceived a big hand upon her entrance. Her repertoire included several Dixie and Yid- dish numbers and also a. "wop" take off. She is to be complimented for. her un- assuming manner, a quality seldom found in headliners. She performs with a. nat- ural grace and seems to be enjoying her work aa much as the audience. Success- fully following such a noisy and success- ful act as "Motor Boating" is. no light task, but Belle Baker did it. , AMERICAN Milloy, Keough & Company are playing one of the best written and most compe- tently acted comedy sketches this week that has graced the boards of the American this, or any other season, for that matter. The lines are rich in political slang and the characters genuine types, easily found in any large city. The man who plays the boss is a real actor, and his henchman an artist who knows how to read dialogue of the humorous variety with an exact knowledge of its value. The girl of the act is pretty and plays intelligently. All things considered, there is no reason why this act should not fill an important spot on any vaudeville program, no matter how big or classy the company. The Dees, a Hawaiian duo, introduce singing and guitar selections after the fashion of Hula Hula land musicians and a dance which made the house ait up and take no- tice, Welch, Mealy and Montrose, the talking acrobats, registered their usual comedy hit. The heavyweight humor of "Scream" Welch had the bunch going from the moment he opened his mouth. The trio is a standard turn and en always be depended on to do its share of entertaining. The Paris Shop brings forth some pretty costumes or, rather, draperies, which will surely interest the female portion of any audience. The turn is composed of two men and a like number of women. ' The character work of th Frenchman and his model are, of course, not to be taken se- riously. The singing is acceptable and a handsome set portraying the interior of a dressmaking establishment gives the act the necessary tone. - The Valdare Troupe, three girls and a comedian who ride bicycles, comprise a turn which possesses plenty of ginger. The white tights of the girls form an attractive costume feature and the pleasant manner in which the routine is performed holds the interest from beginning to end. ' E. J. Moore, a magician with a good line of patter, has several old and a couple of brand new tricks. The orange trick with the ring was well done. The water basin trick at the finish is a real novelty and the accompanying comedy talk full of laughs- Sinclair and Dixon two young men in a singing, talking and dancing act, pleased in an early position. The boys have a nicely arranged assortment of comedy talk and dance very well together. The songs pass satisfactorily and, with the addition of a little new material, Sinclair and Dixon will rank with any of their'competitors. Downes and Gomez sing high class songs. The turn is a bit quiet, but had no difficulty in inking ^jth jjg American Monday after- noon regulars. The man has a fair bari- tone voice and the .woman a soprano of pleasing tone qualities. A repertoire of numbers more on the popular order would fit the team much better than the songs they are now using. EUer's Animal Circus opened and made good. The goats are well trained and the other animals exceedingly clever perform- era. The Biler turn is a good feature act for any neighborhood house. FIFTH AVENUE In spite of the wintry weather, this house was filled for the opening perform- ance on Monday and those who braved the cold and snow were well repaid, for Manager Quaid had a pleasing bill laid out for them. Pete and His Pals, was the first vaude- ville offering. Just why this name is given to the act is a question, for a black face comedian and a bucking mule con- stiute the act, with a man in whitefaee assisting with some unnecessary talking. The act is similar to the comedy circus arts but lacks "pep." The mule is cer- tainly well trained and the man in black face is a comedian, but they dont seem to get together in the right way. Shorty DeWitt was liked so well for his singing and dancing that he was forced to respond with an. encore. Mabel Burke received her usual allot- ment of applause for her illustrated song rendering. The Pollard Musical Comedy Co. pre- sented their comic opera tabloid, "Mar- ried via Wireless" and entertained for twenty-Beven minutes. The company is smaller than when 'last seen here, four men and three women now constituting the organization. But what is lacking in quantity is made up in quality. The young lady doing the soubrette role is full of snap and ginger. She is a capital dancer and, while her voice is not very strong, she sings one number while she executes a strenuous dance. There have been a few changes in the act since last seen, among which is the torpedoing of a man-of-war by a sub- marine and the burning and sinking of the vessel. In the panoramic view, com- ing up New York Bay, the newly lighted Statue of Liberty is shown and in the East river appears one of Uncle Sam's deadnaughts, which fires several salutes. In the background is seen the illuminated city of New York. Lester Crawford and Helen Broderick, with a little bit of this and a little bit of that, "scored" with talking, singing and dancing. They have a line of bright, snappy patter, are capital dancers, have personality and have the knack of putting their material over. The three Vagrants, Italian street sing- ers, with their harp-guitar, flageolette and accordion, made one of the real big bits of the performance. The solo playing by the accordionist and the,singing by one of the trio also won hearty applause. They were forced to respond to an en- core, and if the audience had been al- lowed to have its way it would have de- manded two or three. Kay Dooley and J. Gordon Dooley "cleaned up" in "A Conglomeration of .Variety." Little Miss Dooley is just as chic as ever and is never quiet a minute. Mr. Dooley still does his comedy falls and gets plenty of laughs. Rose and Ellis, in a barrel jumping act, closed the show and were well liked. The feature pictures were Charlie Chaplin in "Easy Street" and an instal- ment of "Patria" with Mrs. Vernon Castle. JEFFERSON Owing to the length of the picture pro- gram, Charlie Chaplin in bis latest re- lease, "Easy Street," being an added at- traction, only seven acts of vaudeville are being given the first half of this week. La Belle Carmen Trio, man and two women performers on a tight rope, opened the bill and received a good welcome. Fiske and Fallon are a duo of clever en- tertainers. In a pianalogue and songs they met with spontaneous applause. They opened with the girl singing and the man, as an usher, announcing her numbers with blank cards. The girl has a pleasing so- prano voice which was evident in all her selections. The Chinese Musical Entertainers are re- viewed under New Acts. The Charlie Chaplin film followed and kept the spectators in continuous laughter. Harry Coleman presented a ventrilonuial act which met with instant approval. There are several gags which should be eliminated but, on the whole, the act was well liked. Burke Toughey & Co. offered a very bore- some sketch entitled "Casey's Visit" It was not at all entertaining and put the patience of the audience to a hard test as it ran entirely too long. The New York Comedy Four registered their usual hit The audience liked the act and showed it They were called upon for an encore. The Steiner Trio, comedy gymnasts, were enjoyed for their comedian stunts, as well as their acrobatic exertions. CITY There were only seven acts of vaudeville here, the Charlie Chaplin picture, "Easy Street," being the feature attraction. Lohse and Sterling received well merited applause for their neat acrobatic turn. Belle and Mayo, .in songs and patter, could improve. The woman sang off key • and it produced a very unnerving effect. The man tries to get laughs from jokes on his nationality. The act just gets'by. John B. Gordon & Co. presented a sketch dealing with two divorced husbands marry- ing each other's wives, only to find that they prefer their first wives and re-marry them. The audience liked the sketch, but it was the climax, when the women take their husbands' places at the card game, that brought forth the applause. The Three Rozellas offered a musical act which elicited much applause. However, there is room for improvement There is too much sameness to the first half of their program and while this was relieved later on in the act, a re-arrangement or more di- versified selection of material would be of great benefit "The New Producer," a pretentious of- fering of operatic selections went over big. It was to Margaret Youngblood, a sing- ing single, that the hit of the bill should go. She rendered each of her numbers in a pleasing manner and has personality to put them over. She was very good in each of her songB and the audience responded generously. The Ferris Wheel Girls closed the show with their novel acrobatic offering.