The New York Clipper (March 1917)

March 14, 1917 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 21 HARLEM OPERA HOUSE (Last Half) Harry Swift is a resourceful manager. Sol Levoy, his assistant, being ill with the grippe, bad to be replaced by an il- lustrated song delineator last week. Swift did not nave to go out of tbe boose to do it, however. In tbe selection of bis em- ployees one of tbe requirements is that they possess vocal abilities and it was a very simple matter, as a result, to have Irving Hart, assistant treasurer of tbe house, temporarily leave tbe ticket cage and replace Sol on the program. The opening turn was the Hawaiian Duo, presenting native dances, and music on the Ukuleles. This act was a poor selection for the opening number and rather handicapped John Small and Tbe Small Girls (New Act) in the second spot. Hill and Ackerman, comedy acrobats, were placed in the third position. The use of a woman "plant" in the audience added speed and ginger to the act. Irving Hart held rather a hard spot with bis illustrated songs, following tbe serial picture. Arthur Aldrich, late tenor of the Hip- podrome, assisted by his wife, appearing as Aldrich & Fleming, (New Acta) was the next torn. Winona Winter, the singing comedi- enne, seemed to be the hit of the bill in the next spot, with her songs and im- personations. Her impression of a ven- triloquist waa responsible for several re- calls from the audience at the end of her offering. Harry First & Co. presented bis comedy- dramatic sketch, "The Marriage Fee." Harry seemed to have the "bee" on the audience, as bis delineation of the char- acter of "Weinstein the Marriage Broker" was greatly to their liking. The Bialto Four, operatic artists with selections from various operas, were in the next to closing spot. "In Mexico," a mediocre musical tab- loid, held the closing position. This act is altogether too talky. The story deals with the overthrow of the Mexican govern- ment and the installation of a usurper. The musical numbers were very poor, as the chorus girls had bnt little volnme to their voices and none of the principals dig- played any vocal ability at all.' • The girls in the chorus seemed to be rather negligent regarding their appear- ance also. In one of the numbers they appeared wearing dirty white shoes, which seemed to be rather noticeable to the audi- ence, as considerable comment was made, t A. TJ. t * BIJOU (Last Half) The show was opened by Peppino A Per- ry, who certainly know how to play their piano'accordions. Near the end of tbe act one of the team discards his accordion for a violin and plays -the. latter instrument very well. 2 Kitty Flynn followed witb a number of song selections. The act is reviewed under New Acts. The comedy picture, "Max Comes Across," featuring Max Linder, provoked many laughs. •. y -. • Wright & Davis presented a clever man- and-girl act. His efforts to sell the girl Love Insurance contained many funny lines. The business of measuring her for a policy was quite original. The act pleased the audience on Friday afternoon. ■ "General Orders" is the name of a rather unusual playlet with the Philippines aa its locale. The end of the playlet has an ele- ment of surprise and turns a serious situa- tion into a happy ending. The offering was well received and is one of the few small time playlets where the end is not obvious throughout Tommy Haydn appeared in place of Dem- srest & Doll. His English takeoff was well liked. The ball game business got many laughs. The dance at the end of the turn made a strong finish to a good act. The show was closed by Paul, Le Van & Dobbs, who are three skilled acrobats. The blackface member of the trio is a good com- edian and injects, many laughs into the act. H. G. VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS (Ccrtawd from Pag* I) AUDUBON (Last Half) "Intelligence," reviewed under New Acts, and Moran & Wheeler, shared the honors of this bill. Due to the efforts of Bert Wheeler, with his inimitable style of "nut" comedy, Moran & Wheeler went over for the big- gest kind of a hit. This lad has a winning way about him that "gets" the audience immediately. Unfortunately for him, his partner, who plays the "straight," is weak. Although, no doubt, Moran will improve with time, he will never shape up to his "nut" partner. Wheeler has big time stuff in him and is in need of a big time mate. For even small time, Moran will have to cultivate more stage composure. He presents a very stiff stage appearance, seems at a loss to know what to do with his hands, and finds it difficult to play up to Wheeler. Several objectionable parts of this act have been eliminated since it waa last re- viewed by The Clipper and the turn is better for the absence of certain lines. Wheeler's entrance is different than the one used at the City Theatre, and is a great improvement. The show was opened by the Smettens, who juggle hoops while performing rather hazardous acrobatic feats. Burns & Kissen, in the second spot, got a number of laughs with their patter, while their singing passed muster. This is a passable small time act. Chauncey Monroe & Co. presented a playlet that was fairly well acted. Creighton, Belmont A Creighton resort to an abundance of hokum, but get away with it in satisfactory shape. Their act got many laughs and seemed to please the audience. "Intelligence" closed the vaudeville bill. IT p FULTON (Last Half) . While fully realizing the difficulties un- der which a performer labors in playing a supper show and as a result making many allowances for shortcomings, there is no reason for an actor to be rude to bis audi- ence simply because it is an empty and un- appreciative bouse. A performer should en- deavor at all times to do his very best be- cause that is what he is being paid for. Tbe audience, which has paid its way into the theatre, is entitled to courtesy from the performer. A case in point is. that of Dorothy Wahl & Curtis Brothers, at this house. Miss Wahl sang two songs at Friday's second show in a haphazard way at the beginning of the act and then left the stage to the Curtis Brothers, not even appearing to bow at the end of the act The Curtis Brothers paid absolutely no attention to the audi- ence, smiling and talking continually to per- sons behind the wings, putting no effort into their work and getting through their act as quickly as possible. No bows. - The routine of the act will be reviewed under New Acts. The other acts on the bills strove their hardest to please and received gratifying applause, considering the house. The Van Camps opened the show. The tricks that the man does are performed very cleverly and the way he made »nimal» ap- pear from a hat particularly amused tbe kiddies. Lee Tong Foo, "the Chinese Nut," sings his numbers in his happy-go-lucky way and wins applanse. His Scotch takeoff is par- ticularly good. Maude Leone & Company act their play- let in a convincing way. The plot is good and the playlet should have no difficulty in pleasing small time audiences. Bernard & Lloyd have some very funny lines in their act which are sure-fire laugh getters. Their singing pleased. The show was closed by May Barclay, who replaced the Eqnillo Brothers. She more than made good in the closing spot H. G. HAMILTON (Last Half) The booking office was a bit a fault in the selection of the bill at this house for the last half. Better judgment could have been shown in the assemblage of the acts. There were two turns following each other which used motion pictures for their in- troductions and it seemed to take the edge off the performance considerably. George W. Brown, the champion walker, assisted by Willie W. Weston, was in the opening spot. As an introduction to the act, motion pictures were shown of Brown going about tbe country in his ex- hibition and training stunts. At the fin- ish of the picture, Brown A Weston en- gaged in a mile walk on an improvised "walking machine." Clinton A Rooney appeared in their songs and dances, Julia, as usual, giving her impersonation of Brother Pat. The picture machine is used in the act to give Julia time to make her change. Had it been eliminated at the Hamilton with Clinton filling in the time instead, tbe act would have been more appreciated, especially as it followed an act which used pictures. Ubert Carlton, blackface comedian, with his monologue and songs, was in a rather hard spot, but after consistent effort on his part "got" the audience with him. Spencer Charters A Co. appeared in the comedy playlet, "The Hermit." The theme is an exceptionally good one, with the character man carrying off the honors. The other two people in the sketch are passable. King & King appeared in their songs and dances. The act, in next to closing position, was placed wrong, as little abil- ity is displayed by the couple throughout the greater part of the turn. The man's eccentric dance seemed to be a life saver for it amused the audience considerably. It might be suggested that the act obtain a new line of talk, as the material used bored the audience considerably. . The Fire Violin Girls in their musical selections and dances held the closing spot. The act is a decided novelty and, with tbe exception of one girl, they all make a pretty appearance. This girl, the little one with the "bobbed" hair, seems to be a bit careless in ~her carriage, dress and mannerisms, which makes her appear rather conspicuous, much to her own detri- ment. A. U. BOULEVARD (Last Half) The Ruby Girls, previously reviewed in this paper as the Lillian Sisters, opened the show. Three talented girls present a pleasing musical act in this offering. ■ Grindell A Esther followed. This pair is a very clever team and experienced no difficulty in getting over big. The man gets a lot of fun out of his thin physique. He is a capable comedian. The girl sings nicely and dresses in good taste. Her last costume is exceptionally pretty. The playlet ''Ankles* proved to be re- plete with laughs and was capably acted. The man who portrays the Jewish hus- band gives an excellent performance. His wife's acting is also far better than tbat usually found in small time playlets. The other two members of the cast give satis- factory support. Patsy. Doyle is just about as fat aa tbe man in the Grindell A Esther team is thin. His rotundity is the occasion for much mirth, and his funny stories add to the laughs. While Swain's Rats and Cats are very clever, it is questionable whether this kind of an act is suitable for a vaudeville audi- ence. To many tbe sight of rats is repl- iant. As a proof of this contention, when one of tbe rats started to run front on the stage and it appeared as if be was about to get into the audience, many of the women screamed in fright. The cats and rats share equal honors and are well trained. H. G.~" EIGHTY-FIRST ST. (Last Half) Betty Bruce Stewart, who offers a nov- elty dancing act, opened. See New Acta for review. Patsia De Forest and Allen Kearns have a skit with a bare nucleus of a plot, called "You Can't Believe Them." It eon- cerns the ever deceptive human race. The two meet at the seashore and talk to each other as if they were the reigning deities of wealth. It turns out that tbe man is really a department store head, while the girl is a saleslady at the ribbon counter in the same store. Tbe material is very difficult to handle, but is attrac- tive. A very good hand was accorded the act. "Howard" is a ventriloquist. He calls his skit, "At the Doctor's," and the mate- rial is all new and very cleverly handled. Two dummies come for treatment and keep up a rapid-fire talk while one of the patients is having a tooth extracted. The performer makes frequent use of the tele- phone, both the assistants "butting in" on the conversation in a laughable way. The close is a song, by Howard himself, a girl who talks over the 'phone and the two dummy assistants. The whole rou- tine keeps the house in ecstasies of mirth. This act has big-time possibilities. The Three Hickey Brothers are good acrobatic dancers, but a little too careless in their manner, indulging in talk among themselves. The comedian uses a bit oil business made famous by Joe Jackson at tbe Hippodrome and, unless it is original with him, should be dropped. This Trio of brothers registered a big hit and re- sponded with a laugh-provoking encore. Catherine Crawford's "Fashion Girls" were in the last spot, and the act was in- teresting throughout. The gowns worn are pretty and there seems an unlimited sup- ply of them. J. L- PROCTOR'S 58th STREET (Last Half) "Bob" Albright has told about the cold he caught in Fall River so much that it has become a part of his act. He was headlining at this house for the hut half and dragged in his old announcement, stat- ing that his voice was bo bad he had in- sisted on not appearing. TT fa stuff went big, however, and he responded with several encores, while his pianist played a couple of solos. One of the singer's encore num- bers is a patriotic preparedness talk, deal- ing mostly with some American firemen who won a tournament in London and other athletes who carried off the Olympic game honors. "Bob's" poem needs re- vision. Stagpole and Spier opened. The man is a good eccentric dancer but the patter with his partner, a woman, is zero in en- tertainment. Some new gags should be added to this routine. The team got a big hand for the early spot. The next team, Maley and Woods, reg? istered heavily. They are fair dancers, and the girl is neat In appearance. One "blue" jest is too suggestive to be used on any stage. Their encore number seems the best in the routine, and it might be good to lead off with it. Noel Travers and Irene Douglas offered a little playlet called "Meadowbrook Lane" which will fit in nicely most anywhere. It concerns a young school teacher whose home is about to be sold because of an unpaid debt An agent comes along, takes a liking to the girl and, a la Wallingford, gets a big roll of money from the mort- gage holder. The skit has some laughable situations and action. Charles Althoff kept the house roaring with his rustic skit, "The Sheriff of Hicks- ville." Althoff has an excellent make-up, while his gags are well related. His num- bers on the violin went big. Joyce, West and Senn, two men and a woman, have some good dance numbers, while one of the men is a pianist of fair ability. Although they got a big band, they offered no encore, seemingly being content to repeat bow after how. The Four Earls found a ready response to their clever acrobatic novelty, closing the shew. J. L.