The New York Clipper (February 1919)

10 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER February 19, 1919 COLONIAL Howard and Helen Savage opened after the pictures and interested the audience with a shooting act that contained many thrills. Both are capable of handling the rife and won a big hand with a "disrob- ing" bit in which the man shoots large buttons from the wrap of the woman. After the last shot the wraps fall off her. Chief Coupolican explained at the open- ing of his act that he permitted the barber to clip his hair short for the reason that he was a soldier for twenty-four hours and had his haircut so that he could keep the "cooties" away. The announcement did not get a laugh. In fact, it was so unfunny that the oalance of the act suf- fered in consequence. A ballad was ren- dered in a fairly good voice, but a war recitation received little applause. A short monologue had little punch and, for a finish, he sang the "Marsellaise," after requesting the audience to remain seated during its rendition. The .Chief is sadly in need of new material. Traven and Douglas, assisted by Louis Thiel, presented "Morning Glory," a play- let that deals with the discharge of a school teacher who received letters from a man who afterwards turns out to be a soap salesman. He explains that "Morn- ing Glory" is the trade name of a brand of soap which when used by youngsters, will make them bright and happy. The old school commissioner enters then and the salesman makes him believe that he saw him in a cabaret with a "blonde." Confused, the old man admits it and tells the salesman that he will do anything if he does not tell his wife. The salesman asks that the school teacher be re-in- stated and it is done after the salesman sells the commissioner a quantity of soap. The act is well put on and all three in the cast do welL Henry Lewis scored a huge hit with songs and funny sayings. The cash regis- ter was missing, but that did not hinder him from being one of the big hits of the show. The Ford Sisters are about the classiest pair of steppers that have been on view for some time. Their costumes and smil- ing- countenances, together with expert dancing, put them in the hit class. Arthur Anderson accompanied at the piano and played, two solos that hit the mark. Joe Jackson opened after intermission. His work is not as good as in former years. He appears to be careless with the comedy at times and gets a laugh only when the handle bar appears in the hack of his trousers. Fenton and Fields were severely handi- capped owing to the fact that Fenton was suffering from throat, trouble. The open- ing, when they sing and talk Italian off stage and then appear in black face, won a good hand. The boys are excellent performers, but have a few old bits that have been done many times before. They step a little and this portion was one of the features. The audience liked them but, undoubtedly, they did not give the performance that they are capable of de- livering. William Seabury, assisted by Jeannette Hackett, uncovered a few dances that were clever. Seabury's solo dance is the bright spot of Che act. Miss Hackett looked beat in the opening number. The Argen- tine Jazs employed at the finish sent them off with a good hand. Mehlinger and Meyer held down next to closing with credit. Mehlinger surely knows the art of delivering a song, as his enunciation is perfect. Meyer played some of his popular hits while his partner "chirped" the lyric and each number re- ceived heavy applause. They were the hit of the show. "The Girl in the Air" held them in while the girl, seated on a bar that carried her out into the orchestra, sang three songs. J. D. VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS (Contained from r*ro • and on u, », ») A AMERICAN Dix and Dixie held the initial spot with a novel variety act, and were received with generous applause. They started with a tableau on a slack-wire with the man seated at a table on the wire. This was followed with a song by the two, who then gave a dance. Although the dancing has nothing in the way of new steps, it was neatly done. Some joggling preceded a song by the girl, that went over .mainly because of a mirror from which she flashed the light into the audience. A few slack wire stunts sent the act off to a big hand. Ed. Phillips offered a singing, talking and dancing act and received a good hand for his work. He knows how to put bis material over and some of his stories drew hearty laughter. He did not do so well with his singing because the orchestra played so loudly he could not be heard. An eccentric dance was well done and showed that that end of the offering could be worked up to good advantage. "The Bough Diamond," a sketch'with two women and one man, followed and pleased. The story deals with a west- erner who has come to see his boyhood sweetheart after an absence of ten years, and plays a joke on her and her mother. Mack and Pagelia, started fast and kept going to the finish of the number! - One of them takes the part of an Italian comedian and the other is an exceptionally good straight man. Although most of the jokes have already been heard in this kind of an act, the boys handle their material well and scored. A bit of com- edy, however, which is on the blue order, would not be missed. The Golden Troupe closed the first half of the bill and went off with a great big hand to their credit. The company consists of eight people and a leader of their own who takes his place in the orchestra. The music in the act is well selected, and the dancing, all of which is on the Russian style, was well done. A few numbers, which were played on a variety of stringed instruments, and a whistling contrivance, were exceptionally well played and scored nicely. The offering is among the best of its kind and should find it easy to get book- ings. Selma Sells opened after the intermission with a pretty song cycle that- was well presented. Miss Sells is petite, has a pleas- ing personality and possesses a good voice. She started with a few popular numbers that did not show her voice to good ad- vantage, but when she rendered a classical ballad, her voice was revealed with the best it had and the act went over for a big band. J. K. Emmet and Mary E. Ryan and company offered an oriental fantasy which they called "In Wishland." The act employs three people, the third being an- other, man. The story is worked around The Storm King who ia supposed to brinr nnhappiness wherever he goes. Miss Ryan, as the girl, wishes to see him and gets her wish by meeting another whom she mistakes for the Storm King. The whole act is presented in verse with a few songs by Emmet. His voice haa a pleasing qual- ity and is shown to best advantage in his yodeling numbers. The Victoria Four, which is something on the style of the old-time quartette, of- fered a number of songs that were well sung, and patter which, although had noth- ing to it, was delivered in a manner that pnt it over. The boys have good voices and a pleasing variety of songs. Mang and Snyder closed the bill with a strong man act in which they gave va- rious exhibitions of strength by lifting and balancing each other in different positions and brought them applause. G. 3. H. ROYAL Lady Alice's pets opened the bill with an unusual animal act and held the initial spot nicely. Her pets consist of a collec- tion of trained rats, dogs, cats and pigeons. The animals are well trained and execute their numerous difficult stunts in an enter- taining manner. Most of the work is done by the rats, who were generously ap- plauded. Ben Harney was scheduled to hold down second position, but owing to illness, could not appear. Linton and Lawrence sub- stituted for Harney. - • Linton and Lawrence are capable per- formers, and rendered an excellent ac- count of themselves. The team should brighten up their turn, however, with some new material. Linton is a.first rate pianist and a solo on the instrument that would display his capabilities should be interpolated in the act. The Four Readings b topped the show, and considering that they offer a dumb act, and in view of the calibre of the bill, their show-stopping stunt is a feat worth boasting of. They use a special drop hung in three,- depicting a gymnasium. The act consists mainly of ground tum- bling and sensational hand-to-hand catches. One of the company climbed to the top of a high slide on the stage, from which he slid across-stage to the hands of the other, for the feature stunt. It is a knockout. Harry and Anna Seymour found easy going with a singing and dancing comedy offering. The patter is old, but is cleverly delivered. It went over in great shape. A few imitations of stars by Miss Seymour denoted the fact that she is a corking mimic. "Very Good, Eddie" closed the first half, but found the going hard toward the latter part of the offering. This may have been il'ie to the fact that intermission fol- lowed. The act can stand considerable condensation. The chorus did their work welL The principals are all competent players. Ruby Norton and Sammy Lee opened the second half, and went off with the second best hand to their credit. Lee danced in a manner which is sure to strike home in the Bronx, and was generously applauded. Miss Norton rendered her songs in a pleasing manner and scored with every one of them. Both size up as a capable team and did their work in a way that merited them an encore. Harry and Emma Sharrock held next to closing with their novel mind-reading act, with some comedy that was well done by both and put over their mind-reading stunt in a good, showman-like manner. The hour was now so late that even Gus Edwards could not hold the house for his entire act. With Vincent OTtonnell, Alice Fnrness and Beatrice Curtis, lie offered his "Welcome Home" song revue. The girls scored with their numbers, and OTtonnell showed that he still retains his pleasing soprano voice. Edwards himself sang well, and put over bis numbers with the same degree of artistry that has always marked his efforts. In another position the act would score much better than it did. G. J. H. CLEF CLUB EXPANDING The Clef Club Arabian Knights, who have been giving a series of musical con- certs at the Selwyn Theatre Sunday evenings, opened a more extensive pro- gram last Saturday at Carnegie Hall. The audience was composed of a great part of the old 15th Regiment and many of the club's old admirers and friends. E. Gilbert Anderson conducted the or- chestra, which presented i an unusual pro- gram. FIFTH AVENUE Good business continues to hold sway at the Fifth Avenue. Every seat and all standing room was occupied long before the first act went on Monday night. Hugh Herbert, in "Mind Your Business," garnered the big laughing honors, with Jones and Greenlee, and Conroy- and Mur- phy, running next, in the order named. Juggling De Lisle opened the bill. He- performed several difficult feats with In- dian clubs, a racquet and tennis balls, but was not in very good form, slipping up on others several times. He did a difficult stunt, manipulating five hats, to- ward the conclusion of his act and left the stage when he was through, as though giving way to the following turn. To the surprise of all, however, De Lisle came out again juggling several clubs. The stunt was a good one. Johnny Small and Sisters presented their song and dance offering in the num- ber two position. The turn has a very pretty setting, which is marred, unfor- tunately, by a drop which is either poorly painted or very old. There are several good spots in the act and considerable applause was accorded the act at its fin- ish. The singing is good and the dancing excellent. Mabel Burke received her usual big hand for her rendition of an animated song. She was assisted by a male singer in the balcony who sang the chorus with her, and did his bit well. Hugh Herbert presented a humorous playlet and drew his usual number of laughs. As a Hebrew impersonator, Her- bert ranks with the best. There is noth- ing exaggerated about his work, the entire performance being natural and humorus without being overdrawn. The sketch is well written, being full of funny situa- tions. Two men. and. a woman in the supporting cast also did well. Da Vine and Williams, a man and woman, presented their comedy offering, but did not find the going any too easy. The.talking could.be much improved, and the turn as a whole lacks "punch." The farce on drama got them some laughs, but for the greater part, the act was slow. Conroy and Murphy, two men in black- face, kept the crowd laughing more De- cause of the way in which they handled their material than because of the quality it possesses. With the introduction of some bright lines and a less abrupt finish, the offering would be vastly unproved. It is a fairly good laugh getter as' it is but needs brightening up in places. Diana Bonnar is working in a new gown and has made some changes in her act. Instead of starting with her Italian selection, she is singing a ballad in Eng- lish. Heretofore, she rendered her songs- without explanation. Now she introduces a few remarks about her next piece, inci- dentally a nsw one in her repertoire. In- stead of closing with another number in Italian, she follows it with a ballad in- English, which she. renders in pleasing- fashion. Diana Bonnar is tall and stately, possessing great physical beauty. She has a likeable personality and a good, clear voice. The change in her material has improved the offering greatly. She was heartily applauded. - Jones and Greenlee, in the semi-windnp, scored a laughing hit. The turn has good material (although some of it is beginning' to grow old), and the performers make the best of it. They did not get off to a very fast start, but worked ardently and soon joined the hit class. There are two songs included that fit neatly into the act and give it the necessary variety. The Gelli Troupe, four men and a woman, closed the show and did well. They went through a -series of handsprings, whirls, lifts and other acrobatic stunts. One of them, a mannikin. provided the humor and did a sort of cackling' laugh . throughout that got him a laugh when- everhe-did it. I. S. *