The New York Clipper (June 1919)

June 25, 1919 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 13 FIFTH AVENUE (Lart Half) This house was filled to Its seating capac- ity at the Thursday matinee, with several standees In the rear. In addition to Mabel Burke, who opened the hill with an an- imated sons',' there were nine acta on the programme, one more than-usual. After a alow,start, the audience falling to enthuse oyer the acta on the early portion of the bill, the show got under way and there were several hits. ■ "Homer Romalne knows how to provide thrills on the flying rings and trapeze. Sev- eral of his atoms on a swinging: trapeze made the crowd gasp, and his performance on the rings was fully as good. Flo and Ollie Walters, two petite girls, did a bit of talking, some singing, and displayed a few dancing steps. One of the girls is a comedienne and has adopted a peculiar man ner of enunciating . her words which does not appear to win favor. There was little class shown In any o£ their work and the audience was Indifferent. George Drury Hart and company of- fered a comedy playlet, written on an old theme which has been worked out fairly well. The work of the cast, however, is or- dinary. In fact, it Is very poor In places. The sketch may make them laugh, but there Is much room for Improvement In It. ■ The Temple Quartette, four men, one of whom works In blackface, were well liked. Several popular numbers were rendered by them in pleasing fashion and some dialogue, the man in blackface caused some mirth. ~ Lewis and Dody are making a re-appear- ance in vaudeville, after working In "Hello America." They were given a warm re- ception here and scored one of the big hits of the bill. See the new act depart- ment- for a full review of their offering-. The Misses Parker, assisted, by their, own SianlBt, who rendered a solo, the now ackeyeu one-handed rendition of the Sex- tette from "Lucia," sang several classic and semi-classic melodies. The audience failed to enthuse over the offering. Sully and Houghton talked and danced their way into pavor. They have pleasing personalities and generally know how to get good results from their material. There are a few good laughs in the act and some good dancing. Some singing is also in- cluded and they were fairly successful with that part of their work. Harry and Emma Sharrock presented their . now familiar "Behind the Grand Stand" act. Some comedy was rendered at the start and then came the mind-read- ing portion. The rapidity and accuracy -which Emma Sharrock, as Princess Zaza. answered all questions and the work of the male member of the duo won great favor. "An Artistic Treat," a posing act closed the show. The offering Is nicely put on and truly artistic. It held the audience. I. S. VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS (Continued from pages II and IZ) .i KEENEY'S (Last Half) Ferdinand opened the last half bill and, with his whistling, story telling and mim- icry, -won decided favor and took a -well deserved encore. He began with the "Poet and Peasant" overture, told several com- edy stories, rendered a popular song In French and, for his encore whistled a med- ley of popular numbers. He whistles with two fingers of his right hand in his mouth and uses his left to soften some tones and strengthen others. Gray and Byron, man and woman, pres- ented a singing: and talking act which opened In one and closed in two. The man started with a song which gave way to some dialogue with his partner and then came another song by the man. The girl then rendered a number. More dialogue followed with a song and dance going off to a good sized hit. Gladys Wilson, billed as "Vaudeville's premier xylophonlst." proved herself to be an expert player, scored a pronounced success and was forced to respond to an encore. She is an artist in her line. She rendered five selections, ranging from pop- ular to classic numbers and bad she been governed by the applause would have ren- dered several more. Parsons and Irwin, in their skit, "A Mes- sage From the Front," found themselves prime favorites. They started with talk and then each sang a solo and finished sing- ing together. They are good showmen and sing well. Mary liaynes and company, assisted by a girl at the-piano, sang five songs and was well liked. The girl at the piano also ren- dered a number. Hearty applause was ex- tended to Miss Haynes after each of her songs. Fern and Howell, in next to closing- posi- tion, scored a laughing hit With their black face comely act. They are clever burnt .cork performers and have good material which they put over to good advantage. Their comedy boxing bout always draws laughs and their singing at the close sends them off to a good hand. The Manlay Troupe of Arabs closed the bill with their whirlwind acrobatics and tumbling, which drew applause. E. W. PROCTOR'S 125th ST. (Last Half) Minnie Faust and Brother opened the bill with their acrobatic trapeze offering. The two put over some good stunts and re- ceived a big hand. Clark and Shaw went wel' with their comedy otiering. One of tba boys is a good Hebrew comedian, while the other holds up his end of the offering well. They offered some songs and patter. The patter has much room for improvement in the way of gags. The boys deliver their songs fairly well, and won many laughs. Dolly Gray and company presented -what was intended to be a sketch. The offering; drags from start to finish. It will be re- viewed under New Acts. Joe Brennan, assisted by his "plant" In the orchestra pit, pleased. Brennan Is capable of handling much better material than his present act contains and should get busy and get it. He is a good Irish comedian and is only wasting his talents on his present act Elsie Ford showed a few possibilities with her song- cycle and may develop. She will be reviewed under New Acts. . The Tlefer Trio, two lads and a girl, scored high with their dancing offering. The youngsters have some good material and Bhow ability. They will be found under New Acts. -. .- Cook and Goodall. the former of whom was In the "Oh Boy" show, took an encore with their comedy skit. They will be re- viewed in-the New Acts Department. The Seven Glasgow Maids scored their usual hit and took two encores. The girls dance gracefully and play Instruments well. The girl who handles the bass drum was given an exceptionally big hand., which She deserved. The lead has a pleasing voice and renreded her numbers well. Green and Brown turned out to be two blacks, one -of whom used extra blacking. They went over well (See New Acts.). Vine and Temple are a capable team who can easily handle better material than they are using. Most of the gags they are us- ing have been In service long enough to be pensioned. With better material, these boys should be able to make big time. Martin and Webb scored one of the big hits of the show with their patter and songs. The number of the team who takes the "plant" role, does well, and the other, as an Italian comedian, lends good aid. The Seven Dancing Serenaders closed the show with their dance offering and gave a good account of themselves. G. J. H. HAMILTON (Last Half) The undoubted hit of this bill was Sam Hearn, "The Rube 'With the Fiddle and Bow," who Is no rube when it comes to playing a fiddle charmingly and with tech- nical precision. Neither Is he one of those b'gosh sort of comedians who rely on that much abused phrase for hinterland sug- gestion In a rube act. He Is however a staccato-voiced comedian with a fine sence of comedy values and engaging personality that seems to lend humor to the funny stories he tells. At this house he not only amused and entertained but he also edified, this last being due to his splendid musician- ship on the violin. Belle and Gray, a couple of singing and dancing, or rather prancing, tightrope walkers, were the opening act on the bill. Their tightrope "stunts" are commendably done even though they are not absorbingly entertaining. Gray doing the neatest work of the two. Miss Belle's singing and danc- ing ability is not such as will bring her notable recognition. Thomas P. Jackson and company pres- ented a playlet entitled "Once A Thief," which told the story of an erring girl, re- cently released from prison and who Is seeking employment from a dye manufac- turer to whom she tells the story of her past He tests her integrity and she proves true blue. Sinclair and Gasper' are a couple of nice girls who came pretty near stopping the show. They sang and danced and talked, and provoked mirth with everything they did. Smart girls and distinctive entertain- ers are Sinclair'and Gasper. Their voices are not great and their dancing ability Is limited, but their mannerisms can always be relied upon to get them across. Sherman. Van and Hyman. erstwhile of the cabarets, in the middle West and else- where, playing the former places and In vaudeville Intermittently, are. a trio that work hard" to entertain. All of them sing and one plays the piano. Sometimes they are loud; but always they are bent on giv- ing the most that is in them. Their offering; is essentially entertaining; even though they do lack subtlety as comedians. M. L. A. AUDUBON <Last Half) The Three Lordens opened the bill with a sensational acrobatic offering. The trio use a trampolln. over which they have cast- ing. Every feat they did was a thriller. Sensational somersaults and other turns in mid-air. without a slip, all of which were done gracefully, brought the three a big band, which was no more than they de- served. Jack Reddy was handicapped in the sec- ond spot, aa he tried to put over some material resembling that of Jack Wilson's old act, or the one which Al Herman does now. In talking about the acts which pre- ceded him. -This part, however, is only a small bit of his act, as the rest consists of a "souse" bit and a "dope" character. In the latter part, he announces that there Is a moral to It, but what it was, was not clear. Perhaps it Is In the song, "What's the Use of Dreaming." Reddy has a good voice, but is inclined to overdo bis dramat- ics, especially In one recitation in which he pays a glowing tribute to women. He scored well here, but would find the going even easier with material better suited to his capabilities. "Two More," .a comedy sketch with two women and two men, by William B. Fried- lander, Is an exceptionally clever skit. One of the men showed a tew defects In his act- ing. The young man playing the part of Jack was excellent. The girls, also 'did well. The sketch kept the house laughing. The offering will be reviewed under New Acts. Berk and Valda and company offered a good dancing skit that will make the big time when it rounds out. The company is Granville English, who, unbilled, assisted at the piano. The act was one of the big hits of the show here. It will be found under New Acts. George Price and company, or rather, Henri Young at the piano, not only stopped the show in closing position, but was not permitted to go off until he bad rendered four encores. - Georgie has changed his Fannie Brlce Egyptian burlesque, and, for the first time, on Thursday evening, offered a ballet burlesque. He brought the house down with a bang, and later, was not al- lowed to change his costume, but In the ballet dress, imitated Belle Baker, Jimmy* Hussey, Pat Rooney and others. G. J. H. HGHTY-F1RST STREET (Last Half) It is getting to be a habit nowadays for some act to atop the show In this house each week, the turn which accomplished the stunt this time being Joseph L. Browning; with his "Timely Sermon." He had things Just his own way from the start and left the audience clamoring; for more and more of his disclosure on "Man and Woman." Brown is an entertaining talker and should find little difficulty In getting bookings. Burke and Betty were called upon to be the opening battery. But their Ore of songs, talk and music can hardly be qual- ified as accomplishing the mission they set out to perform and it can be safely said they, did not attain their objective. The turn is poorly arranged, wltb the talking gags, which are fulling to score. Burke, evidently, must be accustomed to carrying hand grenades, for, at all times, he had his ukelele In his hand, whether it was to be used or not. > McCormack & Mellon were brought along; to straighten the "line" with songs, dances and eccentricities. This they accomplished easily and left the audience in good trim for Allen Dlnehart and company. In the comedy playlet, "Five Thousand Dollars a Year." This is ail offering that will always be a delight to Summer audiences, for It la thoroughly filled -villi humor and its com- edy-dramatic situations and seml-cilmaxea always held an audience in suspense. . Joseph L. Browning darted on after the feature picture with his sermon on timely subjects and held the audience throughout his discourse. Hla. "Maiden's Modern Prayer," proved to be a big laugh getter, despite the fact that Burke, in the rpenlng act,-had given an'abbreviated form of the same thing. - • Ernestine Myers and Paisley Noon, with their interpretations of the terpsichorean act, seared heavily with their offering and rounded out a capital evenings' entertain- ment A.U. AMERICAN (Last Half) Louise and Mitchell opened the bill with a fast acrobatic act. Louise started the of- fering with a song in which she was Inter- rupted by the young man. They shifted the drop to two, and went lnto'the acrobatic routine, which consisted of the girl taking the "strong-man" part. She lifted and bal- anced the young man In various positions and put over a number of thrilling stunts. Rollinson and King, one as black-face and the other with the light yellow make-up, offered some songs and patter. The singing needs a good deal of toning down and the patter should be either omitted or changed for something that will get laughs. Renard and Jordan took an encore with their comedy skit The team, man and woman, handle their material well and scored high. The man is a capable Hebrew comedian and the woman a pleasing straight The patter end of the act can -be worked up to better advantage. La Tour and Gold, also man and woman, .were one of the big hits of the bill. The woman is a capital "nut" - comedienne, and the young fellow is the possessor-of a pleas- ing voice. They danced fairly well and of- fered some good gags In a good manner. The Rose Revue, with two girls and a man, offered a number of songs and dances. The dancing has much room for Improve- ment, and the singing is only fair. The trio make a good appearance, however, and took a big hand. Al Tyler followed the new reel with a line of clever patter, which was practically wasted at this house, for It was over the heads of the audience. Most of the mate- rial Is up-to-date and exceptionally good. In any other house Tyler should find easy going. Octavia Handworth and company were seen in their well known sketch and met with their usual good success. Ward and King closed the show with singing and dancing. The boys are nifty steppers and pleased. G. J. H. RAY GOETZ HASA SCRIPT Bay Goetz has. just procured a new play called "Collete Come Across," and arrangements for the production have been made. Irene Bordoni, his wife, will be starred in the piece. HARLEM OPERA HOUSE (Last Half) Lillian and Twin Brother opened the bill with an exhibition of strong-man and Iron- jaw work. Lillian did the heavy work, using the young man to assist her. The act went well here. Harmon and McManus, two women, went well In the Becond'spot. Neither of the two possesses a good voice, but their delivery, which is of the usual "heavy" comedienne type, pleased the audience here. The In- jected a little plano-movlng comedy and put over a few comedy remarks. Klmblerly and Page scored one of the big hits of the but The girl. In a ragged dress* started the offering and was Joined by the young man. In one. After some preliminary patter, the setting shifted to full stage, with the scene laid In an artistic studio. They closed the skit In one. with some songs ana patter. The girl Is a capable comedienne and with better material, which they are capable of delivering, this team should go well on the big time. Newport and Btlrk, offered some comedy dancing, songs and acrobatic work. The patter Is not clever or laugh-provoking, and the dancing la ordinary. Ford and Urtna, assisted by a pianist, un- billed, followed with a good dancing skit. The pianist does his work very well and the two dance pleasingly. Miss Urtna de- livers his work very well and the two dance pleasingly. Miss Urma delivers a song In good manner, and also dances well. It is a decided relief to see a dance skit In which anything resembling the shlmmey Is absent, and which goes through on Its teal merit Burns and Frablto closed the show with their Italian comedy act. The balloon bit went over great and the rest of the com- edy netted then) two encores. O. J. H. WANTS HER DISCHARGE Because of the insolvency of the estate left by her husband, William Lepper Adingdon, Bijou Fernandez,* last week, while filing an accounting of his estate, also petitioned Surrogate Cohalan to dis- charge her from her duties as administra- trix. She charged herself with $792 in her accounting, consisting of $300 in jew- elry, and $480 more in jewelry and per- sonal effects, redeemed from a pawnshop, a $36 fur coat, and $0.91 received from the New York Telephone Company. She shows that she has paid $585 out of this, and advanced $221 of her own, mak- ing a total of $806. The unpaid creditors, she points out, are seeking $608.60. Sur- rogate Cohalan issued an order directing the creditors and heirs to show cause on July 20 why Miss Fernandez should not be discharged from her duties aa admin- istratrix and the accounting be settled,.