The New York Clipper (March 1919)

ROYAL Owing to the illness of one of the mem- ber* of the Lew Welch and company, that act did not appear and a alight change was made in the program with Richards, who wu to have opened the show, put down to cloning position, Selma Braatz filling in on the initial spot and Princess Rajah ad- vanced to third position, which Welch was to have filled. Selma Braatz started with some ordin- ary juggling with a hat, umbrella and ball, and then went into the more diffi- cult part of her offering, which consisted of a number of balancing and juggling stunts with some new apparatus. She waa assisted by a young man, in bell-hop uniform, who helped her by bringing the apparatus on stage, and did one acrobatic stunt that received a big hand. Deiro started with a aJMssasfl selection from which he went into a few fast num- bers. The jazz section of his playing scored the most applause. Deiro ia an artist and makes it a pleasure to watch his nimble fingers. Princess Rajah, assisted by a man and woman who are not billed, rendered two interpretative dances that scored. Her first dance took the house by surprise, for besides using an unusual setting, and in the dance spreading rose petals, she in- troduced a snake, which added to the weird effect of the offering. In this number her two assistants struck attitudes while she danced and came in for a few blows at the end of the offering. Her second number she executed alone, using another setting. In this number she balanced a chair with her teeth while she danced, and did some sensational work in the dance, which sent her off to a big hand. Olsen and Johnson proved to be the laughing hit of the first half. The boys are clever and render their material in a clean, neat manner, that goes over with a punch. They started with a telephone bit, "Hello, Frisco," which, although old, was delivered in such manner as to win the boys instant favor. Johnson showed him- self to be a capable jazz pianist;' while Olsen, besides having a pleasing voice, displayed ability on the violin. Emma Oarus, assisted by J. Walter Leopold at the piano, closed the first half, and despite the fact that intermission fol- lowed, they were not permitted to leave without a few words by Miss Oarus, who made a very neat speech. Her songs were rendered in a manner that scored, and her prohibition patter proved a laughing hit. Leopold assisted capably at the piano and also did well in his solo and hie numbers With Miss Cams. In the dance which closed the offering, although given for com- edy purposes, each displayed ability. Georgie Jessel started the second half and set a fast pace which he maintained all through his act. This is JesseTs home borough, and he found many friends wait- ing for him, and made many new ones. In his act he continually refers to his opening remark, which is a request for mustard on showing a frankfurter and a roll. Jessel has been using this vehicle for some time, and most of the people here have seen him before, but that did not in the least detract from the good impres- sion he made. The telephone bit is clever and his movie scenario bit proved to be a scream as a farce. Sally Fisher and a company of four men and one woman offered "The Choir Re- hearsal." which waa written for her by dare Rummer. The playlet' is well pre- sented and the few songs that are ren- dered are well sung. Mullen and Googan followed with an offering that can safely be called "hash.** In fact, it is nothing but a mess of foolish- ness gathered into one dish and served as a funmaker. Richards closed the show with a num- ber of character and interpretative dances. He makes a very gr a ce f ul girl, dances well and ranks well -with others in his line. O. J. H. VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS (Continued from pace • and on 11 and S) ALHAMBRA Davis and Pelle, two very skillful gym- nasts, in number one position, won a pro- nounced success at the Monday afternoon performance. The boys are heavily built and very muscular, and present a routine of hand lifts and hand stands that in- cludes only the more difficult feats in this line. Walter Clinton and Julia Rooney pre- sented their "After Dark" skit, and scored their usual big hit. They opened with a song and went into a dance. Then Miss Rooney gave an imitation of her brother Pat dancing, and her efforts brought ap- plause that made the house fairly ring. Clinton followed with a song and was joined by Miss Rooney for another song and dance. An encore brought them out for another vocal effort with stepping. This is an act that always wins favor. Miss Rooney has a most pleasing person- ality and she and her partner are capital dancers. Owen McGiveney presented his skit "Bill Sikes," which he calls a quick change dramatic episode from Dickens, and .which is all that he calls it. McGiveney is one of our - very best protean actors and his changes from one character to another are made with lightning-like rapidity. He portrays, Monks, the Artful Dodger, Nancy, Bill and Fagin, appearing twice as the two first mentioned and three times as each of the others. His performance is remarkable and received its full share of approval. Mignon, the mimic, reaped a whirlwind of applause, and was called upon to take an encore. Her first impersonation was of Eddie Leonard in one of his song and dance hits. This she followed with one each of Frances White, Al Jolaon, Han Halperin and Henry (Squidulum) Lewis. For her recall she gave an imitation of Bernard Granville, in one of his dances. Thai classy duo, John Hyams and Leila Mclntyre, closed the first half of the bill with their well styled model playlet "May- bloom." The sketch ranks among the very best in vaudeville and is also one of the best acted. Hyams and Miss Mclntyre are not only talented players, but each pos- sesses a pleasing personality and the man- ner in which they pnt their material over will stand as a model for many a day. Felix Bernard and Jack Duffy, in a song and piano act, were among the big ap- plause getters of the show. With Bernard at the piano, Duffy sang four numbers, his partner assisting in one of them. Ber- nard also played a piano solo and proved that he is an adept pianist. Duffy has a winning personality and the knack of getting the most possible out of a song. All of his numbers went over with a bang. For an encore the boys danced, and Ber- nard proved himself to be very clever in tills line also. They were so well liked that, after their encore, they were re- called several times and the stage was darkened before the applause ceased.. Those clever dancers Wallace Bradley and Grette Ardine presented "Folllce of Song and Dance." in which they were as- sisted by a capable pianist. They opened with a song and went into a dance. With a change to Chinese costumes they gave another song and dance, and Miss Ardine followed with an acrobatic dance. Then came a piano solo, after which a Spanish song and dance was given. For an encore, they gave an acrobatic dance. Jim Toney and Ann Norman, in "You Know What I Mean," scored the laughing hit of the bitt. They talked, sang and danced and won laughs for everything they did. "Art," a series of tableaux, closed the show and held the audience seated. E. W. FIFTH AVENUE Tiny Kline started with a sort of Oriental sword dance and followed by doing another dance while holding a chair in her teeth. The latter stunt was ex- ecuted nicely, the performer showing little sign of exertion. Some more work with her teeth was followed by some work on a whirling trapeze. Tiny Kline ia a fin- ished performer and goes through with her routine in businesslike fashion. At this show, the second spot was an easy one for her. Waters, magician, did a number of tricks, but some of them did not go very well. He started with the old disappear- ing egg trick—one which is well known to amateurs. The bird trick was better, but the card trick, in which he used a plate, was a poor one, and many in the audience saw what his method was. One stunt with a glass of water and a coin did not go at all, Waters stopping short in the middle of the trick and going on with the next one. The only trick which was really worthy of praise was the one in which he discovered the dollar bills in the lemon, and that is by no means a novelty. Phina and her Picks won deserved ap- plause with a song and dance offering. She is assisted by three young and clever girls, one of the latter looking as though she was about six years old. Phina started with a bines number. A ballad was then given by another of the girls, who wore a full-dress suit. A girl in an eccentric costume, then rendered a comedy selection and drew considerable laughter, his ap- pearance and the manner in which he sang sending it over to a round of hearty.ap- plause.. An imitation of Belle Baker sing- ing "Nathan" and a eulogy to the late Theodore Roosevelt, by the smallest of the troupe provoked mirth, and the big dancing finish served to make the offering one of the hits of the bill. Collins and Hart were a scream from the start and drew laugh after laugh by their funny antics. Their appearance in itself was good for a laugh and; a few stunts, some dancing and slap-stick com- edy, all done in one, went over well.' Fol- lowing these, the drop was lifted, and in three they did their burlesque on magicians and acrobats. Dora Hilton, assisted by a male pianist, sang a budget of classical numbers, and included a popular ballad. She did all of her work in a clear and pleasing voice, which, combined with her excellent enun- ciation and interpretation made it thoroughly enjoyable. There waa a piano solo included, however, which did not fit into the act at all, the player rendering a jazzy selection that was out of place. One selection from "Rigoletto" waa especially well done by Miss Hilton, "Dangerous Dan McGrew," a musical playlet, was presented by a cast of six men and three women. It will be fully re- viewed under "New Acts." Jimmy Hussey, assisted by Ralph Worsley, presented his soldier act, "Some- where in Vaudeville," and scored Che hit of the MIL Worsley was excellent in the role of the straight and Hussey did his part with Ms usual skill. As a Hebrew character impersonator, Hussey has few if any superiors in vaudeville. His dialect is, side-splitting, his general manner one that makes the crowd laugh, and the way in which he sings his parodies in keeping with the rest of his work. The material in the offering enables Hussey to use his talents to best advantage. Loyal's DogiB, with a canine called Toque featured, performed several unusual feats and did well in the closing position. Toque is remarkably well trained, and went through his routine without a hitch. ■ AMERICAN Billy and Edith Adams opened tho bill with a variety of clog dancing that scored unusually high for an opening number. They use a special wooden mat of then- own and start with a military clog. Miss Adams, however, revealed some startling costumes and, with the exception of the opening dance, displayed a pretty pair of bare knees all through the offer- ing. Flesh-colored tights would do the act no harm, however, as most of the danc- ing does not require that display, Peppino and Perry started with a pop- ular jazz number in which both members of the team used the accordeon. A num- ber of classical selections on the same in- strument followed and were nicely ren- dered. Peppino started a solo on the ac- cordeon and was joined by Perry off stage with the violin. A few popular songs on those instruments sent them off with a generous amount of applause to their credit. Margot Francois and partner went " through a series of sensational tumbling feats and found it easy going. Miss Fran- cois works in a white Colonial wig, while her partner works a la Toto. The feature part of the offering consisted of Miss Fran- cois doing the same tumbling stunts on stilts that her partner did without the sticks, most of which were out of the ordi- nary and scored big. Tyler and Crolus started slow, but worked up quickly. The male member of the team uses the ordinary "nut" style of patter and actions and some extempore talents that would be a valuable asset to the act if properly worked up. The lady of the duo is an unusually attractive woman, being one of the kind that looks well in anything. While she wore only two gowns in the offering, they were in excellent taste and set her features and form off to advantage. The gags in the latter part of the act are good and went over very well. A few songs received gen- erous hands and helped the act. Mareelle closed the first half. This offer- ing is supposed to be a miniature musical comedy and has very good possibilities. But it is handled in a wretched manner and, as it stands, will barely get over. The company, at present, consists of two men, one a blackface comedian, and four girls none of whom are more than ordi- narily pretty. The plot is badly worked up, the staging poor and the girls voices a nightmare. Virginia TtmiHn opened the second half with a aong cycle and found the going hard She started with a medley of .classi- cal and then rendered a few popular num- bers. In one of the latter the slide was flashed while a man in the box sang. A medley of old folk songs. completed the offering, although poorly connected Miss Rankin's voice is fair and doubtless she will eventually rid herself of a noticeable tumidness which was to her disadvantage here. - Saxton and Farrell are using an old act with a few new songs. But they handled their material nicely. They open in one with a song by the lady of the team, who is interrupted by what is supposed to be a request from the manager to stop singing the number. She throws up the job and the setting shifts to two, show- ing a dressing, room. Here, the other mem- ber of the act takes the part of a jani- tor and some patter ensues between the two. The old realiable "falling trousers" is worked in and handled in a wholesome manner. "* Lane and Moran, one of whom wears a service stripe on his sleeve, had the house in their favor from the start. The boys are good singers and neat dancers. The "nut" comedy by the member with the service stripe, is put over in a laughable manner. Conchas, Jr. and Company closed the show with his juggling and weight catch- ing offering. The stunts are thrillers and held the house to the last bow. O. J. H,