The New York Clipper (August 1919)

August 6,1919 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 13 McVlCKERS (Chicago) Hip Raymond made a splendid opener with his droll and silent clown comedy. He does a lot of foolish things that are ex- pected from a clown, and which the public always like to see. His business in piling tables on top of each other' is certainly amusing-. . He also sets considerable laughs out of the old, time-worn down gag of losing a finger. He then climbs to die top of the tables and swings to and fro, working the. audience up to a high tension until he' finally drops to the stage, finish- ing with a dance in one which went over Tery weH. Tbe Gypsy Revue, a company of men and women with special scenery of a gypsy camp, opened their offering with a little song and music. They then went in for Russian dancing, single, double and group, and forming many pretty pictures. The scenery could be retouched, as it looks as though it had been through a hard season. The offering went fairly well. Bennington and Scott, man and woman, opened with a neat song and dance in white costume. The male member displays ability in dancing and high kicking. The lady makes a pleasant appearance and her assistance handled with plenty of life, helped put them over in grand style. The Karl Eugene troupe of acrobats do some excellent work. Their makeup, in tights, is clean, and their appearance re- freshing. The part is a combination of hand to hand balancing, ground tumbling and acrobatics. Ifs a good lively act from start to finish, and went like wildfire. Dudley Douglas, a singing comedian, who has a good line of comedy songs and poses, knows the art.of delivering them in an able manner. He injects a few lines of comedy talk after each number and proved to be entertaining throughout the entire act The Berlo Girls are six shapely young- sters; one of whom opens the act with a neat song in one. Daring the song the curtain "rises and the other members of the act are discovered in several poses sur- rounding a tank, in which they perform difficult feata in the way of fancy diving. They are very graceful at all times, and at the finish, an old lady leaves the audi- ence after discovering that the girls are her daughters and raising a short rumpus. The Saxaphone Girls, four is all, have a well 'selected programme of pretty num- bers, one especially, played by one of the young-ladies, the old time songs which Ray- mond'-'Moore, the silver voiced tenor;'sang and made popular many years ago, "Down On the Farm," went over big, and judging from the way this number went the public still appreciates some of the oldtime popu- lar songs. They followed with other solos and finished with a splendid international march, sending them away to liberal ap- plause. Keane and Walsh, two young men in very neat attire, entertained with a rou- tine of comedy talk. One of the young men renders an Irish song and recitation which hits home, and followed with. the other doing a soft shoe dance, a little more talk and two songs for a finish they went exceptionally well, and were deserving of their reward. VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS (Costtinuad from pares 11 aad 12) WOODS SIGNS MORE WRITERS A. H. Woods has signed contracts with several more playwrights by which he gets control of their work for five years. ITiey.are Bayard Veillier, Willard Mack, Wilson Collinson, Ralph E. Dyar and Marjorie Blaine, all of whom have signed five-year contracts. . STORM DAMAGES THEATRE A' terrific windstorm which blew off the roof of Tom Coyne's Clinton Theatre at 'Camp Mills, Long Island, has put a dent in soldier theatricals there for a while. The wind also blew down all the electric poles, destroying the feed wire and cut- ting off Illumination. KEENEVS Mile. Verara. a violinist, opened the show with an offering that was received with favor. She is a capable violinist and confines herself almost entirely to the classics. She played one lively tone, bnt that her last number, for an encore she played "Kiss Me Frlsche and Qrossman, billed as comedian song writers, may be song writers of ability. But their title to be called comedians Is not so clearly established. They both have ro- bust voices and plenty of pep. so they scored a hit. They saDg several of their own com- positions and ended with a medley of popular aang bits they had written. There were one or two bits of hokum that did go over for large laughs, but the comedy as a whole was rather lax. Adonis and Company, the latter consisting of a well trained canine, offered a rather novel acrobatic act. Adonis performed sev- eral difficult balancing stunts and some good hand stands. He also pat the doc through his paces and concluded by suspending him- self from a chandelier, with his weight on one arm, and whirling around In that posi- tion. He scored. Hearst-Pathe offered an Interruption. Weston and Eilane. In a comedy act which thev call "At tbe Cabaret," resumed the vaudeville and scored hugely with their ho- kum. Tbe girl is supposed to be a war stamp salesgirl, and her efforts to get a "hard boiled egg" to buy are laughable. Of course, she has to succeed. Then comes a song with comedy bits, and, for a climax, they gave their impression of a typical East Side couple entering a cabaret. what happened after they sot in kept the folks laughing all the time. "Married Via Wireless," a musical comedi- etta, with some clever scenic and electrical effects thrown in for good measure, followed them. The story Is of a wireless operator who wishes to marry the daughter of his captain. Refusal, of course. They are mar- ried, anyhow, and the captain gives bis blesslneand forgiveness. All then ends hap- pily. The parts of the steward and stew- ardess were handled by a pair of nut com- edy specialists and got many laughs. Morey. Senna and I«e will be further re- viewed under "New Acts." Geo. N. Brown and Billy Weston closed the show with their walking exhibition, which resulted In a tie. The folks stayed to see the match. "Men, Women and Money" was the fea- ture. - S. K. VICTORIA (Last Half) The Two White Steppers, a lady and man who wear nothing but white costumes throughont their clog dancing act, received a good measure of applause from an audi- ence which Oiled every seat In this theatre despite the evening's rain. Conroy and O Donnell. one working In black-face, were amusing at times, as a couple of letter carriers wbo tali to one another and also sing. Their quips were good, even though some of them did sound ss though very old. Their singing wss marked by tbe fine tone of voice in which the one In black-face sang. This same member of the duo was chiefly re- sponsible for tbe humor the act contained. Faber and McGowan may be described as a nifty pair who sing, dance and talk In becom- ing fashion. A vermilion-nued silt skirt, worn by the girl of this pair, was quite in accord with tbe burlesque show girl type she de- pleted in tbe early part of their offering. Her partner Is a dapper young fellow with a, rather thin voice, who exhibited a good sense of comedy values. Their act was decidedly meritorious. Dave Harris placed himself In the honor niche of this program. He sings sweetly, does Dave, for his Is a lyrical tenor voice that Is eminently suited to the graceful manner in which he puts over a song. He confines him- self strictly to popular songs of the day, run- ning . the gamut from simple ballad to a shimmy, and finishing with a popular Chinese number. The number was called "Chung," and Harris was called upon for encores. But be failed to respond. Herbert Brooks and Company is Just Her- bert Brooks, assisted, inconsequentially, by a young lad*/ who caused admiration and envy by reason of tbe fulsomeness of her hair, which she wore in a long braid. Brooks is a deft manipulator of cards and what adds to the entertaining value of his act is the sense of humor that he displays throughont. For his talk is glib and spontaneous. At the finish, be has himself packed and apparently securely encased In a nickel-steel casket from which he manages to escape al- most as quickly as the casket Is shut out from the view of the audience. This rather old prestidigitator's stunt is done by Brooks ef- fectively and tended to arouse an appreciative amount of bewilderment. Brooks has a One closing art. ' M. L. A. AUDUBON (Last Half) Tbe show was opened by Leslie and Pa- galla, in a novelty cycling turn. The brunt of the work falls on the man and he bore It bravely. The woman assisted him capably and tbey scored a hit In the opening position. The. news reel, for some reason or other, was shown next. Dorothy and. Boater, In a "kid" singing and dancing act, were second. They opened with a kid love song and followed with a number of songs that bore on their life aa the pets of the family. Then then deviated and sang several straight song numbers. They have pleasing voices and dance rather neatly- All In all, the act la an entertaining bit of work and they scored a hit. They had to respond to an encore. Anthony and Rogers, In an Italian comedy act which much resembles several other Ital- ian comedy acts, followed. They have, a funny line of talk and several bits of busi- ness were put over neatly. Their imitations, by means of- dance steps, won laughter aplenty and they had to respond to several encores. They scored a large bit. Guy and Pearl Magley, In a dancing act, came next. Tbey carry special scenery end have appropriate costumes for every number they do. The act opens with a scene In Cblna. The girl Is reading and the man Is listening to some Chinese victrola record. She takes exception to his choice and puts on a fox trot. He is forced to dance with her. Next comes a dance of grandmother's days, in which they both did very well. Their last and best Is a sort of waits In which they do several trick steps. Their finish is sen- sational. She lays across his shoulders and be whirls ber around without any means of balance. She Just lays across his baek .and he whirls, that's all. They scored tremen- dously. Crawford and Broderlck, In their comedy patter and singing, came after them. These two performers have been doing this act for years and it is still good for laughs. Their talk concerns mostly one another, and that ever bandy topic, marriage. Tbey sang a song- or two, and danced a few steps which sent them off to a bit. They declined an encore. Tbe Old Homestead Eight, a singing set, closed the show. The men In this act have good voices and their numbers are well chosen with the exception of "Tosti's Good-' bye." This number was never Intended for, anything but a solo or a duet, and when they sang It as an octette, they Just killed it. They scored a bit. though. "Mary Began" was the feature. S. K. HARLEM OPERA HOUSE (Last Half) Wools and Patterson offered a song and dance act which lacked the much necessary vim, vigor and vitality. The singing was of the usual small time standard and the danc- ing showed little. The turn is much faster toward the.finish than at the start, which Is entirely too alow. Copeland and McKlaatck, colored comedians, sang, talked and danced. The turn will' be folly reviewed In the New Act Department. "The Cat" a comedy playlet was presented by a cast of three, a man and two women, and held interest It will also be reviewed under New Acts. Bernard and Merrltt two girls, opened with an accordeon duo, playing a medley of popu- lar melodies. One of tbe doo then sang a well known selection, showing little out of tbe ordinary In ber delivery of It One of tbe girls later played- the saxophone and tbey concluded with a saxophone and accordeon duo. There Is nothing very unusual about either the playing or singing. The turn will do on the small time, but Is not likely to reach anything better. Emily Darrell came out followed by a bull up. and talked to the orchestra leader and be audience. She has a clever Una of charter which, while lacking In one or two spots. Is very cleverly bandied and used to the best ad- vantage. Andrew Mack closed with bis songs and stories. He led off with a song which ex- pressed tbe sentiment that returning service men should receive their jobs back followed by some stories.. His voice is as p least on as B ever and was appreciated. I. B. CONEY SETS MARDI CRAS DATE After a meeting of the Coney Island Carnival Company last week, it was defi- nitely announced that a "Mardi Gras" would be held as usual this year. The festivities win last from September 15 to September 20, and there win be parades each night excepting the last one. ■ On the last day, the. afternoon will be given over to the amusement of children. FIFTH AVENUE (Last Half) ' Thursday afternoon was one of the bleak kind that comes before a rain and a large crowd filled tbe house In anticipation of some good entertainment. It must nave been . an off day tor everyone or something, for all of the seats were occupied, as well aa soma of the standing room. The bill was an ordinary one, which start- ed very slowly, but picked up a bit as time went on. Tbe crowd, however, was In a receptive mood and wanted Its money** worth, with the result that much applause was audible. At that tbe Fifth Avenue audi- ence always waa a soft one. Henry and Adelaide started with a song and dance act. The girl sang, tbe man danced, and then both did some stepping together. The dancing was fair, one novel number being Included. Tbe sin ging was an atrocity. See New Acts for a'full review of tbe offering. Wbitledge and Beckwlth, two men. played two pianos and Included some talk. The spectacle of the two men playing the larga Instruments proved to be an Interesting one. Some of the playing was good, but the talk- ing showed about aa much speed as a cart hone which has had its legs amputated. The rendition of a klaa song was original. Duffy and Caldwell, man and woman, talked and sang. Tbey are a clever duo wbo will la time brush up the rough spots In the turn and then have a first-rate comedy act The dialogue seems to lsg toward the end. With that remedied, the turn will be vastly Im- proved. Helen Gleason and company offered! a sketch which takes place In one of tbe rooms of a steamship, wherein are Included twin beds. The crowd expected a bedroom play- let, bnt got something clean,- Instead, The conclusion comes suddenly and furnishes a good Sassana to an interesting offering. Leon Varvara scored a hit of plentiful pro- portions with his piano act A bit of talk wss Included and delivered In a voice dim- cult to hear. His playing struck home and Varvara could have taken an encore. Marshall Montgomery knows all there Is to know about ventriloquism. He held in- terest throughout winning applause for tbe many clever bits Included. The whistling finish waa a hit and he had to repeat It The Dixie Duo, Slssle and Blake, scored the big applause hit of the bill. They are a clever pair and tbelr work la really enter- taining. A descriptive number by the late Jim Europe Is one of tbe features of the turn which lacks a weak spot Jack Wyatt and His Lads and Lassies pre- sented a melange of Scotch entertainment There wss singing, dancing and, of course, some playing on bagpipes, without which few Scotch acts are complete. Tbe offering mad* a strong closing act and held the crowd until the finish, which consisted of a medley of songs, most of them well known. I. 8. AMERICAN ROOF (Last Half) Chrystle and Byan opened the show with a song and dance act in which they dis- played no unusual ability to do either, al- though tbey worked bard to put their ma- terial over and succeeded In making a alt. Ellison and Brown, colored funsters, got many laughs with Uielr cross-fire remarks. Tbelr talk centers chiefly around the racs track. A picture la shown of a supposed race on which the comedian loses all bis money. They closed with a parody. Scanlon. Dennos and Scanlon, on third, will be given a further review under New Acts. Chas. Reilly, character comedian, followed them. He bas added a lot of new gaga to his act and they went over la great style. He sings several Irish numbers In a pleasing tenor voice, and his Jewish parody wss re- ceived with favor. He had to respond to an encore, but declined a second one. The Seven Glasgow Maids, In a Scotch singing, dancing and musical act. fallowed him. They offered a number of Scotch songs, dances snd selections. A hit was theirs for the asking and tbey bad to respond to two encores. The lassie that played the ' drum was the bit of tbe act Following Intermission, Goldie and Ward, boy and girl act sang and danced to a hit For a further review see New Acts. Dare Austin and Company. In a comedy Elaylet entitled "His Wedding Morn." won raghs easily. Austin is, evidently, an Eng- lish comedian, for be has a pronounced Eng- lish sccent. His efforts are very funny for he has combined the quiet English style of fun making with the swifter method used la this country. ' U Wolfe Gilbert, song writer par excel- lence, not only scored a huge hit but sang two brand new songs that be had lust writ? ten. Gilbert couldn't give the audience enough of bis songs. He bad to beg off la tbe face of Insistent clamors for more. Leo Zarrell and company closed the show and scored a hit that would make many aa acrobatic blue with envy. The folks opened up and applauded generously for every stunt tney performed. Pictures concluded tbe bill. 8. K. .',. ■- ■- * .,